his salutary exhortations flowed like a stream from his lips, which seemed to be touched with a coal from the altar of heaven, whilst he was preaching the gospel, to the edification of his hearers. Now he began to lift up his voice again to that degree, that judging from thence, one would have supposed him to have been pretty well restored: but the ground of his distemper not being taken away, he was soon necessitated to keep at home again; and his natural strength wasted away so fast, and he so declined, that his death began to be expected, which not very long after fell out accordingly. A little before he died, G. Fox being come to see him, asked him, whether any thing lay upon him to write to the friends in England? But he signified that he had nothing to write, only desired that his love might be remembered to them, and desired G. Fox to pray to God, that he might have an easy passage, for he felt his end approaching. He having complied with his desire, and seeing him begin to be heavy, bid him go and lie on the bed; which J. Coale did : but finding this, as it seems, more uneasy, with the help of his friends he rose again, and sat on the side of the bed; and his friends sitting about him, he felt himself so lively and powerfully raised, that he spoke to them after this "Well, friends, be faithful to God, and have a single eye to his glory, and seek nothing for self, or your own glory; and if any thing of that arise, judge it down by the power of the Lord God, that so ye may be clear in his sight, and answer his witness, in all people; then will ye have the reward of life. For my part, I have walked in faithfulness with the Lord; and I have thus far finished my testimony, and have peace with the Lord: his majesty is with me, and his crown of life is upon me. So mind my love to all friends." Then he ceased speaking; and a little time after he said to Stephen Crisp, "Dear heart, keep low in the holy seed of God, and that will be thy crown for ever." After a short pause, he said, "A minister of Christ must walk as he walked."

A little afterwards fainting, and being stayed by his friends, he departed in their arms, without the least sigh or groan, but as one falling into a sweet sleep; and being filled with heavenly consolations, he passed from this mortal life to that which is immortal, having attained the age of thirty five years and two months, and preached the gospel about twelve years. He had travelled much in the West Indies, sustained great hardships, and laboured in the ministry at his own charge, being freely given up to spend his substance in the service of the Lord. And though he went through many persecutions, imprisonments, and other adversities, yet he was not afraid of danger, but always valiant; and continued in an unmarried state, that so he might the more freely labour. in the heavenly harvest, and many were converted by his ministry. He lived to see the desire of his heart accomplished; for when first he was raised up to true godliness, being under the sense of his former transgressions, he cried to the Lord for deliverance, and said with David, "If thou, O God, wilt help me thorough ly, then will I teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall be converted unto thee." He had been long in a mournful state, though naturally of a cheerful temper; and having himself passed through a path of sorrow, he was the more able to comfort the mourners of Zion. The church was very sensible of this great loss; and I have reason to think his corpse was attended to the grave by more than a thousand of his friends, among whom I was then one; and his burial being very public and well known, drew the eyes of many spectators towards it. Let none think it strange, that I have here expatiated somewhat largely, seeing he was indeed dear to me, and I have his kind usage yet in fresh remembrance; for the piety of my mother, whom he had seen in England, caused him to give me marks of the esteem he bore to her memory: and his excellent endowments so affected me, that I was eager to go to that meeting where I heard he was likely to be; nay, I imagined I saw something in him so extraordinarily valuable, that I bore a very reverent respect to him, and the more, because difference of age deprived me of a familiar conversation with him.

On the 20th of the 11th month called January, 1668, Francis Howgil, after a sickness of nine days, died in the prison at Appleby, where he had been kept five years. During his sickness he was in perfectly good understanding, and often very fervent in prayer, uttering many comfortable expressions, to the great refreshment of those that were about him. He was often heard to say, That he was content to die, and praised God for the many sweet enjoyments and refreshments he had received in that his prison-house bed, whereon he lay, freely forgiving all who had a hand in his restraint." "And," said he, "This was the place of my first imprisonment for the truth, here in this town; and if it be the place of my laying down the body, I am content." Several persons of note, inhabitants of Appleby, as the mayor, and others, came to visit him; and some of them praying that God might speak peace to his soul, he returned, he hath done it. About two days before his departure, being attended by his wife, and several of his friends, he said to them: "Friends, as to matter of words, ye must not expect much more from me, neither is there any great need of it, or to speak of matters of faith to you who are satisfied: only that ye remember my dear love to all friends who inquire of me; for I ever loved friends well, or any in whom truth appeared. Truly God will own his people, as he hath ever hitherto done, and as we have daily witnessed: for no sooner had they made that act of banishment, to the great suffering of many good friends, but the Lord stirred up enemies against them, whereby the violence of their hands was taken off. I say again, God will own his people, even all those that are faithful. And as for me, I am well, and content to die. I am not at all afraid of death; but one thing was of late in my heart, and that I intended to have written to George Fox and others, even that which I have observed, viz. that this generation passeth fast away: we see many good and precious friends within these few years have been taken from us; and therefore friends had need to watch, and be very faithful, so that we may leave a good, and not a bad savour, to the next succeeding generation; for we see that it is but a little time that any of us have to stay here." A few hours before he departed, some friends from other places being come to visit him, he inquired about their welfare, and prayed fervently, with