As to the latter part of his life, we have this teftimony to give of him, That he was a lover of discipline and good order in the church, diligent in attending meetings for worship and truth's fervice, whilft of ability; a good example therein, by fitting in a ftill, quiet and unaffected manner in filence, and when raised up to bear a publick teftimony, was comfortable and acceptable to friends.

And when his natural faculties were fomewhat impaired, and he confined at home through old age and infirmities, he appeared more and more heavenlyminded, and seemed to grow in the life of religion, that we hope he is now at reft in the fruition of that happiness, prepared for fuch as hold out to the end in well-doing.

Signed on behalf of the faid meeting, held at Castleton, on the 22d of the third month, 1754, by

THE

TESTIMONY OF FRIENDS

FROM THE

QUARTERLY-MEETING HELD AT YORK.

ON

N reading the teftimony given from the monthlymeeting of Gifbrough, concerning our late ancient and worthy friend JOHN RICHARDSON, deceased, of which we approve, and do find ourselves under an engagement to add this short teftimony: That from certain experience of the fervice he has had amongst us in a fresh and lively ministry, and in the exercifing of the difcipline of the church in a gofpel fpirit, whereby many received comfort and edification; and fome of us having knowledge of him from his early appearance in the miniftry, remember. that he was acceptable to friends, being found in doctrine, reaching to the witnefs of God in those to whom he ministered: he was a diligent and faithful labourer, travelling several times through most parts of this nation, and visited friends meetings in Scotland and Ireland, as alfo twice the English plantations in America, leaving many feals of his miniftry, having had the approbation and unity of his friends with his fervice both at home and abroad. He was a tender

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murfing father in the church, over the youth whom God had vifited, to encourage and ftrengthen those newly convinced, to whom also he was a good example; and though of a sweet and courteous disposition, yet careful in the fpirit of wifdom, to caution and guard fuch against the deceitful workings and false representations of the spirit of error; and to diyers of us who vifited him towards the clofe of his time, he appeared in a heavenly frame of mind, to our great comfort, evidencing a preparation for that eternal bliss whereunto (we doubt not) he is entered, and reaps the fruits of his labours.

Signed in and on behalf of our quarterly-meeting, held at York the 27th and 28th of the third month, 1754, by

has been repeatedly revived in my mind, to leave the following account concerning my dear father WILLIAM RICHARDSON, having alfo seen something of his own in manufcript, concerning his convincement, with remarks on fome other things; but I being young when he died, did not then much heed it, and when I would gladly have feen it for my own fatisfaction, I could not, nor as yet can meet with it; therefore,

Inasmuch as my father was early convinced of the truth, a fufferer for it, and bore a publick teftimony

to it, I found it my duty, as near as I could remember the contents thercof, to leave this fhort account concerning him, viz.

He was born at North Cave, in the eaft part of Yorkshire, in the year 1624, of honeft parents, and of good repute, and was educated in the Epifcopal way, being foberly inclined from his childhood and upward, a lover and seeker after purity and virtue : and I have heard him fay, gave his mind much to retirement, reading the Holy Scriptures, breathing and seeking after the Lord, especially in the fields, being by calling a fhepherd; and it pleafed the Lord to open his understanding fo clearly, that he faw and longed for a more excellent difpenfation to come; and alfo faw that the priests were wrong, and generally proud and covetous, fo that he was weary with following them, and much weaned from them and all company, except two or three men who did meet with him, and spoke one unto another concerning their inward conditions, and what they had experienced of the Lord's dealings with them. This was before they had heard of the name Quaker, as it was in a short time after given to a people which the Lord raised up to give teftimony of the notable and ancient, yet newly revived and bleffed difpenfation of Chrift's coming, and manifeftation by the Holy Spirit, inwardly in the hearts and minds of the children of men, in order to enlighten, quicken, fanctify, and

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