disposition, of a courteous and affable temper, and pleasant conversation; a gentleman born and bred, a scholar, a true Christian, an eminent author, a good neighbour, and a kind friend." He also says, "He had a peculiar gift for government in the Church, and used to come up constantly to the yearly meeting in London, and was very serviceable therein by his grave counsel and advice, especially in difficult matters." Another Friend says, "He was greatly respected by his neighbours for his services amongst them; his heart and doors were open to the poor; both sick and lame, who wanted help, had it freely; taking care to provide useful things for such occasions-blest also with good success; often saying, 'He mattered not what cost he was at to do good." Of his last illness we read, "His sickness was sudden, which deprived him of the use of his limbs; yet he retained the faculties of his inward and outward senses clear all along, and, notwithstanding at times his pains were great, his exemplary patience and composed resignation were remarkably apparent to those that visited and attended him, so that their sorrow in parting with so dear a friend was intermixed with comfort in beholding the heavenly frame of mind wherewith he was adorned." This chapter may be fittingly concluded by a list (taken from Wyeth) of Ellwood's writings, not including tracts and broadsheets : An Alarm to the Priests (1660). Forgery no Christianity (about 1675). Truth Prevailing and Detecting Error (1676). The Foundation of Tithes Shaken (1678). An Antidote against the Infection of W. Rogers' Book, "The Christian Quaker” (1682). A Caution to Constables (1683). A Discourse concerning Riots (1683). A Seasonable Dissuasive from Persecution (1683). An Epistle to Friends (1686). The Account from Wiccomb Examined (1690). An Epistle to Friends (1694). A Further Discovery (1694). Truth Defended (1695). The Answer to George Keith's Narrative (1696). A Sober Reply on behalf of the people called Quakers (1699). History of the Old Testament (1704). The Glorious Brightness of the Gospel Day (1707). History of the New Testament (1709). Davideis (1711). XXX.-WILLIAM PENN'S DEATH AND BURIAL. O good gray head which all men knew, O iron nerve, to true occasion true, O fallen at length, that tower of strength, Which stood four-square to all the winds that blew! Ο TENNYSON. N July 24th, 1712, William Penn was suddenly seized with an attack of paralysis, of which he had had two before. "His intellect," says Maria Webb, never recovered from the effects of this attack. His sweet temper and happy spirit remained, and a heart overflowing with love to God and man was as visible as in his brighter days. In fact, the memory of all recent things, and with it mental anxiety and intellectual powers had vanished, whilst the spirit remained the same. He continued to attend Friends' meetings, and sometimes spoke a few sentences exhorting Friends to love one another, while with a countenance beaming with sympathy and kindness he used to meet with and part from them. In this condition life wore away with little variation for five years." These five years were spent in his mansion at Ruscombe, near Twyford, over the site of which the traveller from London to Reading now passes in the last deep cutting between Maidenhead and Twyford on the Great Western Railway. On Wednesday, the 30th of July, 1718, Penn peacefully passed away; on the following Tuesday, August 5th (not the 7th as usually stated), he was buried at Jordans in the presence of "twenty or thirty publick friends, and a vast number of Friends and others," so says Rebekah Butterfield in her journal. William Penn stands before us pre-eminent for his many-sided greatness. Hero, patriot, saint, and confessor -writer, legislator, and ruler, he was the friend of the greatest and best of his day, and stedfastly adhered through good and evil report to these grand principles of religious liberty and mutual tolerance, so unpopular in his time, but now admitted by all. He is a bright example of one who strove ever to do right, regardless of the consequences it might involve to himself. may well apply to him the lines of Whittier : The Quaker of the olden time, How calm and firm and true, Around him, had no power to stain With that deep insight which detects And knows how each man's life affects The spiritual life of all, He walked by faith and not by sight, By love and not by law : The presence of the wrong or right We He felt that wrong with wrong partakes, That nothing stands alone; And pausing not for doubtful choice O Spirit of that early day, So pure and strong and true, The cross of truth to bear, And love and reverent fear to make Our daily lives a prayer! It may not be out of place to give here a list of Penn's chief works : Truth Exalted (1668). The Guide Mistaken. The Sandy Foundation Shaken. No Cross, No Crown. Innocency with her Open Face (1669). The People's Ancient and Just Liberties Asserted (1670). A Caveat against Popery. Truth rescued from Imposture (1671). A Postcript to Truth Exalted (1671). A Key opening the Way to every Capacity. An Essay towards the Present and Future Peace of Some Fruits of Solitude (Reflections and Maxims, 1693). An Account of the Rise and Progress of the Quakers (1694). Primitive Christianity Revived (1696). |