AS for the time of dear F. Howgil his Sick­ness (which he endured with much Pati­ence and Chearfulness) he begun the Eleaventh of the Eleaventh Moneth, 1668. (and continued till the Twentieth Day of the same Moneth) and then departed this Life; having then, for the Te­stimony of Jesus, been Prisoner Four Years and Eleaven Moneths: He was not unsensible of the [Page 4]Decay of his outward Man some time before, which moved him to a disposal of his outward Estate, and the setting of his House in order: His Love was very dear to his Brethren and Fellow-labourers, with whom he had laboured and travelled in the Work of the Ministry; In Testimony whereof, he left to each of them something, as a Remembrance of his Love; and also was mindful of the Church, and left a Legasie to be distributed amongst the Poor of the Houshold of Faith in these Parts.

And though the Time of his Departure did draw very nigh, and his Sickness encreased, yet in all that time he was in perfect and good Re­membrance, and oftentimes very fervent in Pray­er, and uttered many comfortable Expressions, to the great Refreshment of those who were with him.

And about two dayes before his going hence, being attended by his Dear Wife, and several Friends, he begun to say unto them, Friends, as to matter of words, you must not expect much more from me; neither is there any great need of it, as to speak of Matters of Faith to you, who are satisfied; only, that you remember my Dear Love to all Friends, who enquire of me; for I ever loved Friends well, or any in whom Truth appeared. And truly God will own his People, as he [Page 5]hath even hitherto done, and as we have daily witnessed; for, no sooner had they made that Act against us for Ba­nishment (to the great Suffering of many good Friends) but the Lord stirred up Enemies against them, even three great Nations, whereby the Violence of their Hand was taken off: And I say again, God will own his Peo­ple, even all those that are faithful. And as for me, I am well, & content to dye; I am not at all afraid of Death. And truly one thing was of late in my Heart, and that I intended to have written to G. F. and others, even that which I have observed, which thing is, 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 you see, that it is but a little time that any of us have to stay here.

And often, in the time of his Sickness, he said, He was content to dye, and that he was ready; and praised God for those many sweet Enjoyments and Refreshments he had received on that his Pri­son House Bed, whereon he lay; freely forgiving all who had a hand in his Restraint.

And he said, This was the Place of my first Im­prisonment (for the Truth) here at this Town; and [Page 6]if it be the Place of my laying down the Body, well, I am content.

Several Persons of note, Inhabitants in Appul­by aforesaid, as the Mayor, and others, came to visit him; some of which praying, That God might speak Peace to his Soul (he sweetly replyed, He hath done it) and they all spoke well of him: So that he hath left an exceeding good Testimony for the Lord in this Place, to the great Honour of Truth, and our mutual Comfort.

And a few Hours before his Departure, some Friends (who lived several Miles from that Place) came to visit him; he enquired of all their Well­fare, and pray'd very fervently (with many Hea­venly Expressions) That the Lord, by his Mighty Power, might preserve them out of all such things as would spot and defile.

And a little after, he was saying something con­cerning Weeks (or a Time) after which Persecu­tion shou'd be ended; but his Weakness was so great, and his Voice so low, that it was not fully heard by us.

A little season after, he recovering a little strength, further said, I have sought the Way of the Lord from a Child, and lived innocently, as amongst men; and if any enquire concerning my Latter End, let them [Page 7]know, that I dye in that Faith in which I lived, and suf­fered for.

And after these words, he spake some other in Prayer unto God, and sweetly fin shed his Course in much Peace with the Lord, as we that were present had clear and perfect ground to believe; he being all along in a precious Heavenly Frame of Spirit, and was filled with the refreshing Presence of the Lord, which we alwayes felt to abound in him to his very last.

F. H. dyed the 20th of the 11th Moneth, 1668. in the Fiftieth Year of his Age.