OLIN 
 BX 
 
 7795 
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 Li 798 ; 
 
The original of tliis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924084588296 
 
TESTIMONY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MONTHLY MEETING of FRIENDS, 
 
 AT 
 
 PTRMONT IN WESTPHALIA, GERMANT, 
 
 CONCERNING 
 
 JOHNPEMBERTON, 
 
 PHILADELPHIA IN NORTH AMERICA: 
 
 WITH 
 
 HIS EPISTLE TO THE INHABITANTS 
 OF AMSTERDAM. 
 
 Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my Iq/l end be Hie his. 
 
 Numb, xxiii. lO. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PRINTED BY HENRY TUCKNISS. 
 
 1798. 
 
CORNELL UNIVERSrrV LIBRARY 
 
 3 1924 084 588 296 
 
 A SENTIMENT of the wife William Penn, on 
 an occafion fimilar to the prefent, may here be fitly 
 revived : 
 
 «« 
 
 « 
 
 " It Is not always enough (he fays) that we bring 
 our friends to their graves ; there is a duty we ow6 
 to their memories, when they are buried out of the 
 view of the living, efpecially when their own inte- 
 grity and diligence in the work of the Lord, have 
 left their own monuments (or evidences) behind 
 them, that they might not be forgotten^ by their 
 furvivors.'' 
 
 The like confiderations have prevailed in our religi- 
 ous fociety' from early times, to preferve memorials of 
 many, who by precept and example, have manifefted 
 an uniform dedication of heart for promoting the tem- 
 poral and eternal happinefs of mankind, and were in- 
 ftruraental, under the divine anointing, to fpread the 
 glad tidings of the gofpel in the earth ; who, on the 
 apjJroach of the folemn period of life, have been mer- 
 cifully favoured'with a fuftaining foretafte of the full 
 fruition of that unmixed confolation and joy unfpeak- 
 able which our Lord promifed, for the encouragement 
 of his faithful fervants, flioiild be their reward. 
 
 On thefe motives it appears, that the m.onthly meet- 
 ing of Pyrmont, the members whereof, although fe^r 
 in number, newly brought into a public profeffion pf 
 the truth with us, and acknowledged as brethren, were 
 impreffed with a fenfe of duty, to tieftify their chriffian 
 unity and fellowfhip with a friend and brother, who, 
 after acceptable labour among them in word and doc- 
 trine, laid down his natural life in that place, divers 
 
i: iv ] 
 
 of whom were afFeftionately attentive to him in his ill- 
 nefs, and feme of them witneffes of his expiring mo- 
 ments. 
 
 Their narrative of his manner of life among them, 
 is fo defcriptive of his general circumfpefib deportment 
 at home, and a lively confirmation of the accounts 
 tranfmitted by many fellow-members and others, in a 
 more private way, of his watchful care and humble 
 demeanour in various parts of England, Ireland, and 
 Scotland, whqre, a few y^ars before, from a perfuafi- 
 pn of religious duty, he had been drawn in the love of 
 the gofpel to vifit the people, that divers of his friends 
 who retain the remembrance of him in deferved efti-» 
 mation, have requ^fted to hp furniftied with copies of 
 this meniorial ; but as written tranfcripts are too com- 
 monly incorredt, from a defire to comply with their fe- 
 licitations and a hope of benefit to the furviving con- 
 nexions and relatives of the deceafed, a fmall number, 
 of copies, from the original tranflation, are thus pub-'- 
 lifhed, as a tribute of love alfo to his memory, by an 
 affeftionate brother. 
 
 y. p. 
 
 Philadelphia, Firft-manth, 1798. 
 
 " By ftrangers' hands his wearied limbs compos'd, 
 " By ftrangers' hands his dying eyes were ^os'd." 
 
 "'<"<i^<^^i^)>"><" 
 
 IJ. B. The following Memorial being firft written in 
 the German, and tranflated by one of the Friends at 
 Pyrmont, beft acquainted with the Englilh language, 
 imperfedlions in refpeft to dialed are very excufable. 
 
TESTIMONY, ^c. 
 
 .*^4g^.^>. 
 
 OEEING it is recorded in Holy Writ, and confirm- 
 ed by experience, that *' the memory of the juft is 
 bleffed," ^nd our beloved friend John Pemberton, 
 having, on a religious vifit to jthe Friends and friendly 
 people in this nation, finiihed his courfe and laid down 
 his head in peace aniongft us, the confideration of his 
 religious fervice, and the lively fenfe thereof, remain- 
 ing fre(h and as a good favor on our minds, has engag- 
 ed us to tranfmit a fhort teftimony concerning this our 
 beloved friend, • to pqfterity. " 
 
 It is not in oyr view to extol the inftrument, or 
 praife the dead, but feeing the apoftle exhorts, faying, 
 «* Remember them which have the rule over you, who 
 have fpoken unto you the word of God : whofe faith 
 follow, confidering the end of their converfation ;"* 
 and having beenjffitneifes of the exemplary life of this 
 pious man, as^ell as of his glorious exit from the 
 ftage of aftivity, we believe that fome account thereof 
 may tend to the praife of his heavenly Mafter, whom' 
 he faithfully ferved, and whofe kingdom and honor hei 
 laboured to promote ; as likewife prove inftruftive and 
 encouraging to ourfelves and others. 
 
 It appears, from accounts which we have received, 
 that our dear friend had for feVeral years felt a religi-; 
 ous concern to attend his mind, in gofpel love, ro re- 
 vifit his friends and the friendly people in Europe, ancj. 
 
 * Heb. xiii. 7. 
 
[ 6 ] 
 
 having the concurrence of his friends and brethren at 
 home, he accordingly embarked in a fhip bound to 
 Amfterdam, accompanied by Alejcander Wilfon, a 
 member of the fociety of Friends in Philadelphia, and 
 landed, after a fliort and uninterrupted paffage, at the 
 faid place, where he fojourned fome time, and having 
 laboured under heavy exercifes to difcharge his duty 
 there, and left for the inhabitants of that great city, an 
 epiftle of tender caution and advice, he direfted hjs 
 courfe by vs^ay of I.ingen, Ozjiaburg, Herfood, Biele- 
 feld, &c. to Pyrmont, feeling an inward draught in, 
 his mind to thefe parts of Germany. — In moft of the 
 places, where he pafled through, he had public meet- 
 ings, in order to difcharge his mind, direfting the 
 people to Chrift, " the way, truth, and life," and we 
 have been informed by good accounts from thofe places, 
 that his fervice has been generally well received, aq.ji 
 much efteem and affeftion fhewn to him by the people. 
 
 He was often led, in a manner unufual in thefe parts, 
 to go into houfes to hiiii-unknpwn — gather the family 
 about him, and after an awful paufe, to diftribut^ 
 wholefome doftrine, counfel, and advice, among them. 
 This manner, as it were, like in the apoftles' days, 
 to break the bread from houfe to houfe, feemed fome- 
 time^ at firft to furprize the people ; but when, after 
 a Ihort while, their minds were overffliadowed by that 
 * irivifible power which accompanied his words, and the; 
 witnefs of tj-uth in them was reached, tears were often 
 feen to flow, and at parting the unknown were ob- 
 ferved to take their leave of him, as well acquainted, 
 in a tender and afFeding manner. 
 
 In a large meeting which was, at his requeft, held at 
 Bielefeld, where many well-inclined people of divers 
 ranks being aflembled, and fome Friends of Pyrmont, he 
 was enabled, in a wonderful manner, to fpeak fo clearly 
 to the different ftates of the people, in the demonftra- 
 tion of the Spirit and of power, that it evidently ap- 
 
C 7 1 
 
 peared they tvere not human inventions or his own con- 
 cei6i, which- he brought forth, but that he followed the 
 immediate revelation of the eternal Spirit, " which 
 " fearches all things, yea, the deep things of God," 
 and it appeared, too, that fome received him as a true 
 meffenger of God, and his teftimony with gladnefs. 
 
 Some time before he vifited this placej he walked 
 feveral miles jinto the country, to fee fome, religious 
 people ; on his return he was caught in a Ihower of 
 tain, and his tender conftitution being much weakened 
 by age and travelling, it brought a fevere cold on 
 him, from which he never fully recovered, and his 
 illnefs increafing upon him when at Bielefeld, it re- 
 duced him fo much, that he was obliged to keep his 
 bed and chamber for fome time. His condufl: under 
 tjiefe trials was with much patience and refignation to 
 the Divine Will, and it may not be improper, here to 
 infert a note which he made in his journal during his 
 -ftjiy at this place, dated the 6th of the Ninth-month, 
 1794: " The chill and fever," fays he, " returned, and 
 *' I was very unwell all the afternoon, and it continu- 
 " ed till midnight with a great thirft, yet through the 
 *' adorable mercy of a gracious God, I felt more of 
 *' the incomes of his love and life-giving prefence^ 
 *' than I have experienced a long timd", that I was en- 
 *' abled to make melody in my heart and recount his 
 " fatherly care and tender dealings with me, from the., 
 *' days of my infancy, and prayer and praifes were 
 " living in my heart, and I had to blefs his holy name; 
 " and this comfortable vifitation of his love and mer- 
 " cy continued fome hours, that I was ready to con- 
 *' elude, I might be foon releafed from the trials and 
 « affliftions of this life." 
 
 His arrival at Pyrmont was on the 12th of the Ninth- 
 month, accompanied by our above-mentioned friend 
 Alexander Wilfon. Both of our beloved friends pro- 
 duced certificates from their refpedive meetings at 
 
C 8 3 
 
 l?hiladeiphia, wherein their friends and brethren cer- 
 tified the full unity which they had with their religious 
 concern, expreffing their concurrence and approbation 
 therewith, &c. and the ftay of our much-beloved friend 
 John Pehiberton, amongft iis, has lafted about fout 
 inonths, during which time he was moftly very poorly 
 in health, but neverthelefs almoft daily occupied in the 
 fervice of truth ; for as his bodily ftrength permitted 
 him, he not only attended punftually our public and 
 monthly meetings, and vifited friends in their families, 
 but had alfo many private opportunities, and feveral 
 public meetings, with the town's people, which were 
 very numerous, and wherein he was enabled to preach 
 the free gofpel of Chrift with divine authority ; fo, 
 that not only fometimes the whole affembly feemed to 
 be clothed with an awful reverence, but alfo the hearts 
 of many were moved, and the witnefs of God in them 
 reached by his living teftimony. At fuch opportunities 
 he feemed, to the admiration of thofe that knew his 
 weak conftitution, not to feel his bodily weaknefs at 
 all, ufually lifting iip his voice as a ftrong youth, for 
 to teftify of the great love of God towards mankind. 
 His words were not tending to draw^ people from one 
 form of worfliip to another, but to acquaint them with 
 the fubftance of true religion, that they might not re- 
 ly upon human inventions, or opinions of men, but 
 build upon Chrift, the Rock of Ages, and hope of 
 ^lory in themfelves. It was his principal concern to 
 xurn people from darknefs to light, and from the pow- 
 er" of Satan to God; endeavouring to fhew that God 
 has given a meafure of his Spirit and light, or graces 
 to all men, as a talent which he has placed in their 
 hearts, being the " manifeftation of the Spirit, given 
 " to every man to profit withal," otherwife named by 
 the apoftle, " the grace of God, that bringeth falvati- 
 *' oh, which has appeared to all men, teaching uS, 
 " that, denying ungodlinefs and worldly lufts, we 
 " Ihould live foberly, righteoufly, and godly in this 
 " prefent world," and that no outward obfervations 
 
C 9 1 
 
 ■<vlll rendet people acceptable in the fight of their Cre- 
 ator ; but that men muft diligently attend to the teach- 
 ings and reproofs of this light and grace in themfelves, 
 carefully avoiding the evil which it reproves them for 
 in the fecret of their hearts, and faithfully following 
 the good which it leads them to, and gives them alfo 
 ftrength to perform, if th€y will be chriftians indeed, 
 who love God their Creator above all, and their neigh- 
 bours as theqjfelves. 
 
 We believe it may truly be faid of him, that he ap- 
 proved himfelf a faithful houfeholder, well inftrufted 
 in the kingdomj bringing forth out of his treafure, 
 things hew and old, as the ftates of his hearers requir- 
 ed, and well knowing how to divide the word* 
 
 His miniftry was in plainnefs of fpeech and attended 
 with divine authority, for his words, whether they con- 
 tained exhortation, comfort, or reproof, reached the 
 inward ftates of thofe whom it concerned, and he has 
 often fpoke, both in our meetings, and at other oppor- 
 tunities, fo exa£lly to the ftates of individuals, that 
 there was no doubt left, but he was led by th^ unerr- 
 ing Spirit of truth, and more efpecially in his particu- 
 lar fervice among us, as fellow-profeffors of the fame 
 •principle of that unchangeable truth, for the promoti- 
 on of which he fpent his life, where he behaved like 
 a tender father in his exhortations, encouraging th(| 
 weak but fincere hearted, and carefully nurfing tH^ 
 ■young tender plants. But he alfo knew how to ufe 
 brotherly freedom, where fevere reproofs and rebukes 
 were neceflary, and his words were often felt, as tha 
 pruning-knife of a fkilful gardener, who knows how to 
 cut away the wild fprouts, without hurting the fruit-bear- 
 ing branches ; for he was always careful to mix much 
 dharity and meeknefs with t;he neceifary feverity, and like 
 the compaflionate Samaritan, not only to pour wine, 
 but alfo oil into the wounds of the bruifed. His ex- 
 hortations were particularly againft an eafy, lukewarm, 
 
 B 
 
C 10 3 
 
 inconfiderate mind -, that Friends might not fit dowi 
 at eafe in a falfe reft, trufting to old experience or for- 
 mer openings, or contenting themfelves with a mere 
 outward and lifelefs form of even good and excellenf 
 things, and remaining eftranged from the power of 
 godltnefs, which manrfefts iffelf in the whole life and 
 converfation of true believers. And as a faithful 
 watchniaai upon the walls of Zion, he gave timely 
 warnings, alSd laftly, lipon his death-bed, againft a 
 frowai'di felf-conceited, ranting, and Khertine fpirit, 
 vrhi«h win not be' fubjeft to order, defpifing dominion 
 trader the pretence of liberty, fpeaking evil of dign& 
 ties, fHid caufmg rents and divifions under a fair fhev? 
 ©f an outward holinefs j that Friends might guard 
 againft it, keep humble and live in brotherly concprd 
 together, cleaving to the unity of the one good Spirit, 
 which is the bond of peace. And it is remarkable,- 
 that this grievous fpirit which troubled the churches 
 of Chrift in all ages, made itfelf manifeft ibon after 
 his deceafe, and caufed a feparation, to the great afflic-* 
 tion of the upright hearted, though there is hope, that 
 fome who are caught in its fubtle fnares, and have 
 fwerved from the unity with their breth^ert, will in 
 tim€ *come to fee their error and return to ijieir firft 
 love, whkh thinketh no etil.* 
 
 He was a zealous promoter of good, order and dif- 
 eipline among Friends^ earneftly recommaiding plain- 
 dealing with each other, and as living and powerful 
 as his public miniftry was, as impreffing and inftruftive 
 was his awful filence, when his wife Mafter did not 
 l-equire of him to fpeak. The folemn reverence of his 
 waiting fpirit appeared fo manifeftly in his countenance, 
 that others, who beheld him, were thereby invited ta 
 ftiilnefs, and fuch as had a defire of hearing words,.: 
 were taught by his example to turn their minds inward' 
 
 ■» 
 
 * This breach, by late accounts, has been ha^pKr healed, and 
 harmony reftored. ' 
 
i3 the ineafure of grace in tbemfelves, feewi^g that it 
 is infinitely better, to keep filent before the Lord, 
 than to utter words that are not accompanied with the 
 life-giving apd baptizing power of the Spirit,' which 
 muft needs enliven them, if they fhall be truly profit- 
 able. 
 
 In this manner he has been very ufeful amongfl: us as 
 a divine iriflfument, and we believe, that many find 
 caufe of humble thankfulnefs on his apcount, towards 
 the Father of lights and Spiritsj and author of every 
 good and pe^fe^ gift, that he teaches his people to pro- 
 fit, not only immediately by his good Spirit, but alfo 
 through the miniftry of his fisiithful fervants. He 
 therefore had jalfo his tender care, that the fincere 
 minded might grow in every good thing, and that 
 every thing elle, which ^ould obftru^ or hiodei" ,theijr 
 |idvailcement, might be removed 'out of their itvay. 
 The good effeSt upon the minds of thofe who in fome 
 meafure knew the value of his idi'int^f^ft^*^ labours, 
 that they thought to oyi^e him that honour, which the 
 jipoftle deflres fliould be doubly given to the el4ers that 
 rule well, and fuch found it their duty to efteem him 
 very highly in love, for his work's fake ; as on the 
 other hand, his mild, innocent, anid child-like behavi- 
 our, tended to influence love and affefilion, in almofl 
 every one who converfe4 with him, and particu- 
 larly gained the hearts of youth in favor of truth, for 
 he was a lover of children, and had often affefting op- 
 portunities with them, reminding thetn of the efteeitil 
 and obedience, which they owe to their parents and 
 tutors, who watch over them for their good, and ex- 
 horting them to attend to the inftruftion and reproofs 
 of grace, in their yet tender hearts ; thus feeking the 
 acquaintance with their Creator, in the days of their 
 youth, for fuch as feek the Lord early, fliould find 
 him, and j|iat none could begin too early to fear the 
 Lord and live a fdber, pious life. 
 
C X2 ] 
 
 Many of his expreffions, which he uttered at divers 
 opportunities, do yet bear the evidence of the divine 
 fpring from which they proceeded, turning up Hvely 
 in the Riind, from time to time, and may not improper- 
 ly be compared to pieces of bread caft upon the waters, 
 which foon difappear, but are found again after many 
 days. Thefe things are now new and frefli in our me- 
 mory, and oh ! may they ever be remembered by us 
 and our children, and remain a caufe of praifing the 
 condefcending goodnefs of the great Shepherd of Ifra- 
 el, who wrought by him, and who alone is worthy of 
 all praife, now and evermore. And in this view, we 
 think, we may fafely touch upon fome other of the 
 excelleiit qualities of our beloved friend, whereby perr 
 haps. Tome may be enticed to follow him, as he did 
 Chrift, and others encouraged to hold on their way 
 faithfully, prefling towards the mark for the prize 
 of the high calling of God, in Chrift Jefus, feeing hi§ 
 example gives an evident proof, that there is a poflibi- 
 Jity to get jit it. 
 
 He was a man whom God had endowed with much 
 wifdqm and found judgment, as we have had opportu- 
 nities to obferve in divers cafes ; withall he was low in 
 his own eyes, humble and obliging in his whole con- 
 duft. His converfation was innocent, harmlefs, and 
 where he felt himfeliF free enough, was often cheer^? 
 ful, and even plealant, yet he knew to keep within the 
 limits of that chriftian gravity, which becanie him as 
 a minifter of the gofpel. He poffeffedjin great mea- 
 fure, that unafFedted civility, and fincere promptnefs to 
 ferve, which are fure marks of a triie education, that 
 diftinguifties itfelf as much from artful policy, as from 
 rough manners. He was a ftriking example of mode- 
 ration, cleanUnefs, and a comely order, \vhich unde- 
 niably appeared in the whole management of his af- 
 fairs, even in thofe of the leaft importance ; ,and it may 
 not be improper, here to remark, as a proof of his 
 prudent cautioufh-^fs, that he had left written direfti- 
 
I 13 ] 
 
 ons concerning his burial, ^c. which he had put down 
 about two months before his deceafe, when it not yet 
 feemed likely that he would leave us fo foon. This 
 afforded him the great advantage, that, when the mo- 
 ment of folemn clofe drew near, he had nothing more 
 to do but to die. 
 
 Having from his great weaknefs which he continual- 
 ly laboured under at Pyrmont, again recovered fo much 
 ftrength, as to think of purfuing the weighty objed of 
 his coming, he fet out to Barontrap, where he had a 
 pubUc meeting with the inhabitants, but met with much 
 oppofition from the magiftrates,.and fome rude people 
 of the place ; neverthelefs, he was favoured to clear 
 himfelf, and admonifh the people. But next day, as 
 he was vifiting fome well-inclined people, he flipt from 
 fome fteps, and got a heavy fall, which muft have been 
 very painful to him, though he did not much complain, 
 and the confequence of this fall, and a frefli cold, 
 which he had taken in a damp room, hindered him 
 from going on further than Lemgow, where he like- 
 wife met with fome oppofition from the magiftr^es, 
 and (laid feveral days under painful exercifes of body 
 and mind. Neverthelefs, he had a meeting there, but 
 the people feeming to be afraid, there came only a few 
 befide the mafter and miftrefs o£ the houfe, who had 
 received him kindly, and the weaknefs of his body 
 increafing, he, was obliged to return to Pyrmont ; tak- 
 ing his leave in an affeftionate manner of the whole 
 hoiifehold, who in general feemed to Ihew a great 
 efleem for him. 
 
 The confideration, that in the 67th year of his age, 
 he had left an agreeable abiding place, a tender, lov- 
 ing fpoufe, and all his dear and near fri^ds and rela- 
 tions at home, in the midft of whom he poffeffed all 
 thofe things,in abundance, which can render an abode 
 in this worKWgreeable, and that he could leave ajl 
 thefe with a view, or at leaft very probable expeftati- 
 
[ ?4 3 
 
 on, hever to fee fhem again in this life ; and take up 
 the hardfhips of a long, dangerous, and expenfive voy- 
 age, without any worldly view whatfoever,; — this conr 
 fideration has fometimes ftruck fome with admiration, 
 and made even fuch as are nqt willing to own a Divine 
 influence for the feryice of truth, freely acknowledge, 
 that nothing elfe than love to his fellow-creatures, and 
 obedience towards his Creditor, could be the motive of 
 his coming fo far. 
 
 After his return to Pyrmont he h^d repeatedly ac- 
 ceffes of an inflammatory fever, ?nd on the 23d of the 
 Eleventh-month, in tbe evening, it feized him fo fud- 
 denly with a violent chill, that he was obliged to leave 
 the qpmpany of fome friends who were come to fee 
 him, and go to bed. Next morning the phyfician cam| 
 to fee him, ^nd at parting, wifliing him" that he mignt 
 get bettear, he replied, *' My hope is in the Lord." 
 And truly it muft have been fo, for he remained from 
 the beginning of his illnefs to his end, in a patient, 
 refigned frame of mind, although, to appearance, in 
 grdit pain of body. His mind feemed to be totally free 
 from temporal concerns, and only occupied with ob- 
 jefts relating to everlafting truth, and ' particiilarly he 
 feemed much concerned for the welfare of the little 
 fociety pf Friends i whis place, even to his v^ry lalt 
 moments, as many of nis dying exprell||p, which were 
 moftly taken down ^from his lips, c^ rlv .manifeft, 
 fin abfliraft of which we think fit to iwmk here. 
 
 A few days before his deceafe, his companion men^ 
 tioned to him a ftrait and difficulty that friends?,of P^^ 
 mont were brought ungler, by reafon of feveral huV 
 dreds of French emigrants, who were con^ffbf ta|^e up 
 their winter-barters at, and to"^be billetted on, tlie in- 
 habitants of Pyrmont. After a little paufe, he'faid in 
 iubftance as follows, " Friends are often brought taj 
 " the ftrait and narrow gate, and, therefore, it is nM 
 «' ceffary and inciimbent, to aft in the comifel of bell 
 
t IS 3 
 
 ««. ■ivifdom, and if any thing is impofed on them by th^ 
 «' laws of the country, and the authority of the ma- 
 « giftrate, to fufFer it,, in the meek and patient fpirit 
 « of Jefus." At another time, he defired his com- 
 panion, to raife him up in the bed, and fit a little be; 
 hind him, being unable to fit alone, and one of his 
 intimate friends who had been pretty conftantly with 
 him, being prefent, he defired him to fit down, and 
 faid in fubftajjce as follows : " Friends, who live in 
 " the truth, and are concerned 'to fulfil their religious 
 *' duty, have often deep^ proving feafons to pafs 
 *' through, before they can come to a clear and cer- 
 ** tain difcerning of the Divine Will, with refpeft to 
 "leaving their outward habitations,, and -when they 
 *' come at that, and travel abroad in the fervice of the 
 *' gofpel, they have allp many and deep baptilins to 
 *';.pafs through ; but on looking over my fteppings 
 " along in this land, f have had to believe, i^t I have 
 *' laboured faithfully to difcharge my duty, ajpyi have 
 " peace therein, although in this prefent ficknefs, I 
 " have had more poverty of fpirit to inherit, than in 
 " thofe heretofore;" with many more weighty exptef- 
 fions, which could not be fully recollefted ; and as the 
 aforementioned friend remarked, that be firmly believ- 
 ed, his coming among them was in beft wifdom, and 
 his fervice acceptable, and ufeful^to the fincere-hearted, 
 he replied; " I have nothing to boaft of." — -Which 
 fliews, that he was truly humble and low in his own 
 eyes, afcribing all to him from whom all good comes. 
 — A young ^man coming in, he fiefired her to fit 
 down, and after a little pauf^he faid in the words of 
 the apoftle: "TLet brotherly love continue," adding, 
 " this is not only neceffary for the men, but for the 
 " vFomen alfo, and without' this, we are but poor 
 •' crjatures." At one time he expreffed, " It feems 
 " to draw nearer and nearer towardi the folemn 
 " clofe ;" and at another time he faid : " I have not 
 If' been fo tried in any ficknefs in all my Ufe,, although 
 *' I never experienced fo much o£ i&eJove of God, in 
 
C 16 3 
 
 " any of my journies heretofore, as 1 have in this." 
 After a while his companion faid to him, " I havd 
 " fometimes a little hope on thy account, but my 
 *' mind is deeply tried between hope and fear :" to 
 which he calmly anfwered^ " I have given the mattef 
 " up:" 
 
 His diforder having inuch incfeafed, he fuffered exi 
 ceedingly, but kept ftill, remarkably patient and re* 
 figned, and being a little relieved from the great op- 
 preffion and difficulty of breathing, which he had la- 
 boured under, he faid ; " It is a great favor to kno'vtf' 
 " that my Redeenler lives, and becaufe he livesj I liV6 
 " alfo." This he expreffed about 3 o'clock, in the 
 morning of the 31 ft, being the day of his deceafe, and 
 a little after he faid to his companion, and the frienfi 
 that affifted him ; " You are veiry kind^ and I have 
 *' been carefully nurfed ; I wifh you may grow and in- 
 *' creafe in every thing that is good, and become a fpi- 
 *' ritual and holy houfe unto God." A while after a 
 friend faid to him, that it was pleafing and encourag- 
 ing to fee him fo much refigned ; to which he replied 
 nearly as follows : " Ah ! we may fee miracles have 
 *' not ceafed, great and marvellous are his works, he 
 " is mighty to fave, and able to deliver to the very 
 " uttermofl all thofe that truft in him ; his ways are 
 " ways of wonder, and paft finding out ;" and about 
 9 o'clock he faid, " the Spirit .fearches all things, yea, 
 " the deep things of God." A little after, the phy- 
 fician, who had conftantly and carefully attended him^ 
 came in, and after enquiring, intimated to his com- 
 panion, and the friend that affifted, that he did not 
 expeft him to continue much longer in life ; then he 
 arKed,what the phyfician faid, and being informed, 
 that he faid, he did not expeft that he would continue 
 much longer in mutability, he calmly and compofed- 
 ly anfwered, " we muft be refigned," and again, " we 
 '• muft be refigned to the Divine Will." This anfwer, 
 and the compofed manner in which he expreffed it. 
 
t t7 ] 
 
 ieemed t0'to affeft the phyfician, thab he marvel* 
 led, and faid, it rejoiced him to fee him in fuch a 
 condition, and fo much refigned ; to which he replied, 
 *' This is what we are all taught to labour for." And 
 a while after, feeming to be much exercifed in his 
 mind about the profeffors of truth at Pyrmontj he faid: 
 ** Some are now very full of themfelves, and are per- 
 " fecutihg the Lord's church, but it is a wrong fpiritj 
 *' they perfecute, but it is a wrong fpirit, and a mali- 
 " cious fpirit. ' There is a fpirit which is doing the 
 ** church much harm^ but I am not of that fpirit, and 
 *' it is bell to avoid that fpirit, which fets up for it- 
 " felf. They run from one evil fpirit to another, and 
 *' it is a deceiving fpirit. My heart is heavy on ac- 
 *' count of thefe things." A while after this, he faid 
 &gain : *' The Spirit fearches all things ; yea, the 
 '■* deep things of God ;" and then a little after, he 
 expreffed himfelf nearly as follows : " The fear of 
 *' the Lord is a fountain of life, which opens the 
 *' myfteries of Gbd's kingdbm, but the wifdom of this 
 " world is fooliflinefs with God," adding, " but I 
 *' don't want to launch into many words, but to bring 
 *' into a famenefs of foul :" [that is, with Chrifl in 
 humility, meeknefs, arid refignation.] About 1 2 o'clock 
 he faid, in a triumphant manner, " I am departing for 
 " heaven, and from you all, to the kingdom of God 
 " and of Chrift." After this he faid, " You can prove 
 *' thefe thi^s, whether they are agreeable to the 
 " Scriptures of God and of Chrift, yea or no." And 
 then he expreffed, in a weighty manner, nearly as 
 follows : " It is not circumcifidn, nor uncircumcifion, 
 " but a new creature; faith comes by hearing, and 
 " hearing by the word of Ggd, which lives and abides 
 " for ever, not by the law." And a little after, 
 « They who are juftified, are juftified by the faith of 
 « Jefus Chrift:" and afterwards he earneftly faid, 
 " Woe unto the world, becaufe of offences." 
 
 C 
 
[ ...i8 ] 
 
 His mind fe^med to be overflowed withr divine love, 
 and his words were of God, and of Chrift and his 
 kingdom ; and the laft that could be dillinftly under- 
 ftood, which he uttered with a melodious voice, were 
 thefe : " I can fmg the fongs of Zion and of Ifra,el," 
 which is a demonftrative proof that he had not follow- 
 ed cunningly devifed. fables, but the living fubftance 
 of truth and true religion. And we have no doubt 
 that his gentle and patient fpirit, which eafily and qui- 
 etly forfookits afflifted habitation of clay, on the 31ft 
 of the Firft-month, 1795, about 7 o'clock in the even- 
 ing, is received into one of the happy manfions pre- 
 pared for the righteous and juft, having laid down his 
 life for the teftimony of truth, which he had lived in, 
 and whofe caufe he endeavoured to. promote ; andj 
 " though the memory of the wicked ftiall rot, yet the 
 " memory of the juft is bleffed." Prov. x. 7. ' ; 
 
 His remains were interred in Friends' burying-ground 
 at Pyrmont, after the manner of Friends in Philadel- 
 phia, and agreeably to his own written direftions afore- 
 mentioned ; and the awful ftillnefs which was pbferved 
 among the inhabitants in the ftreets, feemed clearly to 
 exprefs the efteem which they had for him, and thofe 
 \vho followed to the grave behaved quietly and refpedt^ 
 fully. 
 
 Signed on behalf of our faid meeting, held the 
 7th of the 3d month, 1796. 
 
 Le-ivis Seebohm, Frederick Flake, 
 
 David Franks J Frederick Seebohmi 
 
 Conrad Galle, Lewis Heydorn, ■ 
 
 Deiierick Scebohm, Helena Seebohm^ 
 
 Henry Meyer, Wilbelmina Seebohm. 
 
TENDER 
 
 CAUTION AND ADVICE 
 
 TO THE 
 
 INHABITANTS of AMSTERDAM. 
 
 B^ one who d^reth their prefent and everlq/litig Welfare. 
 
 THE Scriptures of Truth inform, and it is confirm- 
 ed by daily experience, that " It is appointed uq- 
 " to men once to die,'" and the profeffors of chrifti- 
 anity affent to this truth, that.aftef death comes "The 
 " judgment," and as our works have been here, fo will 
 our reward be hereafter, 
 
 It is a felf-evident truth, that there Is in us an im- 
 mortal part, which, will be either happy or miferable 
 when time to us fhall be no more. — rAnd it is alfo very 
 evident, from, m^hy fcripture teftimonies, ' that God 
 willeth the happinefs of all mankind, for, fpeaking by 
 the mouth of his prophet, he faith-r-" As 1 live, faith 
 " the Lord God, I have no pleafure in the death of 
 " the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his ways, 
 " and live ;'* and immediately after, he makes ufe of 
 this moving language — " Turn ye, turn ye from your 
 *' evil ways ; for why will ye die, O houfe of Ifrael :'"* 
 and in another place he faith — " Look unto me, and 
 " be ye faved, all the ends of the earth.'" And our 
 bleffed Lord, in the days of his flefh, when, on a cer- 
 tain time, he drew nigh unto that great city, Jerufa- 
 lem, wept over it, and in the bowels of heavenly com- 
 paffion lamented, " O Jerufalem, Jerufalem, thou that 
 " killeft the prophets, and ftoneft them which are ferit-. 
 
 ■^ Heb. ix. 27. '' Ezek. xxxiii. ir. -"^Ifaxlv. zl. 
 
[ 20 3 
 
 " unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy 
 *' children together, "even as a hen gathereth her chicks 
 ens under her wings, and ye would not-."'' Now, as 
 it is apparent from the foregoing teftimonies, that God 
 created mankind to be happy, he has in mercy writ-, 
 ten his, law in their hearts, and pl?iced a uieafure of 
 his good Spirit in their inward parts f which teftifies 
 againft all evil, and brings reproof and condemnation, 
 when this holy law is tranfgreffed : — And it is man's 
 duty and 'greateft inter eft to regard thjs law which is 
 light, and fquare his anions cpnform ably to its diftates, 
 for in obedience there is confdlation and peace. 
 
 Being now far advanced in life, I have had opportu- 
 nity of obferving and alfo lamenting the miftakes of 
 many, whofe time and attention are taken up in an 
 eager purfuit of the falfe and delufive pleafures of this 
 tranfitory life, and an over-anxious defire after the 
 gains and profits of this perifhing world ; in which 
 they are fo much involved as to neglefl: their duty to 
 God and their own fouls. For the injunftion former- 
 ly given, ftill remains obligatory on us : " Hear, O 
 *' Ifrael ; the Lord our God is one Lord ; and thou 
 *' fhalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, 
 *' and with all thy foul, and with all thy might. '"^ 
 Now whatfoever the mind of man is moft intent and 
 fixed on, becomes his god, or idol-— therefore my de- 
 fire is, that the inhabitants of this great city may fe- 
 rioufly refleft and confider what their minds are mpft 
 intent upon ; whether it is to ferve and pleafe God, 
 their great Creator and difpenfer of all their bleffings, 
 and at whofe difpofal their lives and fubftance are, or 
 to ferve and pleafe themfelves. For the Scripture faith, 
 " Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourfelves fer- 
 " vants to obey, his fervants ye are to whom ye obey ; 
 " whether of fin unto death, or of obedience unto 
 " righteoufnefs?"^ 
 
 " Matt, xxiii. 37. ^^Jerem.xxx!. 33. f I)eut. vi. 4, 5. sRom. vi. 16. 
 
Z 21 3 
 
 And as the judgments of the Lord are now abroad 
 in the earth, and great calamity and djftrefs prevail, 
 and are brought near and on your borders— it is in- 
 cumbent on all to be thoughtful and ferious, turning 
 their minds inward, to enquire after the caufe and end 
 thereof; endeavouVing thereby to learn righteoufnefs ; 
 regarding the example of the people of Nineveh, w^ho, 
 at the preaching of Jonah, humbled themfelves, and 
 thereby obtained the compaffionate notice of the Al- 
 mighty, fo that the threatened deftruftion was withr 
 held. 
 
 I have felt my mind much exercifed and concerned 
 for the welfare of the inhabitants of this place, the 
 few days that my lot hath been caft among them, and 
 do fervently defire that the remarks and counfel I have 
 penned in gofpel love, which breathes peace on earth, 
 and good will to men, may be read with attention, and 
 bleffed to them. 
 
 So wiflieth, fo prayeth. 
 
 Your Chriftian Friend, 
 
 JOHN P EMBERTON, 
 
 From Philadelphia, in North America. 
 
 '4m/ierdam, i%th of the ph Month, 1794- 
 
AMONG the various literary communications from perfons of 
 mature judgment and experience, expreffive of their affeftionate 
 regard and fyrapathy of fpirit with him, in his arduous, ,religious 
 engage mepts in Europe, a letter from a Friend, of Cumberland, 
 in Great Britain, who accompanied him on his vifit to the High- 
 lands and other northern parts of Scotland, fo hafmonizes with 
 the fenfe of Friends of Pyrmont, contained in the foregoing Me- 
 morial, that an abllrafl from it feems to claim infertion as a fea- 
 fonable 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 <' Yanwath, 25th 4th month, I795. 
 
 " ' l/'HE friendfhip I had for, and the many tokens 
 
 i '. of good will I received from, thy wor&y, de- 
 
 ceafed brother, makes me thus willing to addrefs thee. 
 
 It is now ?lbout feven years , fince i took my laft 
 
 leave of him j yet his memory is as frefh to my mind, 
 as it is dear to my remembrance, and the account of 
 his death feems as much to have awakened my tender- 
 nefs, as if I had beheld hisi lafl ftruggles, or feen him 
 laid in the grave. 
 
 " Though it may be forrowful to afFeftion, to trace 
 thofe virtues that can be feen' no' more, but in remem- 
 brance — 'ftill there is a fecret fatisfaftion in recoUefting 
 and relating the piety of thofe to whom we have been 
 united in a difinterefted friendfhip : an^ as in travel- 
 ling, the difpofition and chamber are unfolded, arid 
 being in difficulties together endears us to each other, 
 thefe may account for my knowledge of, and affedion 
 for, my deceafed' friend. 
 
 " When we firfl; fet out together, in 1787, we were 
 little known to one another, and our difference in years 
 was vgry confiderable ; yet treating me with the ten- 
 dernefs of a father, and the confidence of a friend, I 
 foon felt united to him in his engagementj and beheld 
 
C ^23 J 
 
 his proceedings with inward approbation. His deport- 
 ment amoj&g men, for his ftation and years, was a 
 model to be imitated. In his difpofition he was mo- 
 deft,— yet, when his duty (as it frequently did) led him 
 ^amongd:he great and diftinguiflied, his manner was 
 plain, folid, and 'tiignified. To the difFerenj^ ranks of 
 'liaber peopH he was open andr communicative : To the 
 poor he addreffed himfelf with great tendernefs and 
 condefcenfion, often ^ fignifying to them, thatjfhe was 
 not himfelf abovfi thelTuflferings incident to human be- 
 ings, and that they were equally under the notice of 
 Divine Goodnefs ; and he feldom left them, without ' 
 their partaking of his benevolence. • Even in the pub- 
 lic prifons, thofe receptacles of hum^a wretqhednefs, 
 the fweet influence of his chrifti&n charity was diffufed, 
 not only in' his generous donations to allevjatg thejlr 
 mifery of hunger and want ; but in expreffions of kind, 
 concern for that part whicb never di(5s : fo that the* 
 dark and fullen countenances of robbers would foften 
 into a fenfe of gratitude, and the tongues that lately 
 blafphemed their Maker, would now pray to him for 
 ^e prefervation of their benefactor. 
 
 *' In what concerned the order and ecoftomy of our 
 religious fociety, he was clear in his conceptions, and 
 ready in expreilion ; yet ^o the judgment of others, in 
 what related to himfelf, he paid the greateft deference: 
 and if, at any time, he perceived a hefitation in others 
 to ftrengthdn his own fehfe of duty, he felt the hum- 
 bhng opprefHon of a difiident mind. Amidft his trials 
 he was generally preferved in patience j if, indeed, it 
 was at any time fufpeinded,s it was when he thought he 
 had fallen fhort in the performance of his religious 
 duty; often faying. Ah! I am a poor, unprofitable fer- 
 •uanf^; yet many can bear teftimony, that health .and 
 flrength of body, and the comforts of this life, *were 
 facrificed .to the fervice of his great Mafter. 
 
*' tn his foifd and acceptable miniftry, he hdd oftfeii 
 io recommend pfirity of heart and life, sEnd numble 
 •walking, before God, and daily dependence on him i 
 indeed, though in all his cdndufl: he was careful to aft 
 agreeably to the principles and true, fimplicity of our 
 pfofeffioq^ and this concern was extended^ to all pror 
 f(3fling with(Us, wherever he came ; yet in his ptiblie 
 labours anfeng others he was more engaged to impfefs 
 a reyetence foi' the Almighty on the mind^ of the peo- 
 ple, and to promote the caufe of univerfal righteoul|t 
 nefs, than to eftablifli points of opinion, or fix pirti* 
 4:Mar modes of religious GcgtduQ:— It might be faid,, 
 Ms good will was univerfaL 
 
 ' " I am inclined to Believe, that his natural turn of 
 fnind was open and,|Unfufpefting, with a difpofition t6 
 innocenf cheerfulnefs j but of all men I ever 'knewj, 
 the'^p-eateft change of countenance was exhibited from 
 hi's different fituktions of mind. When his fpirit was 
 deeply exercifed, therf ' was, in his afped an almoft 
 awful folemnity ; biit when he relaxed ,j,among,. his 
 friends, the moll unreferved and iincere cheerfulnefs 
 I ever faw. 
 
 " He was a fhining example of punftuality, difiaC 
 iereftednefs, and integrity: In fine,vperhaps to none 
 in the %)refent ^ener|ition could th® character given 
 in Holy Writ tp Nathaniel, be more properly ap- 
 plied."