THis is my Testimony and belief concerning him, that he is entred into everlasting favour with the Lord, who in his life-time much regarded the Honour of his Maker, and it was the delight of his Soul to be imployed either amongst young or old in his Fathers business; it was his hearts delight and Souls great joy, to have the oppertunity to benefit others. He was a Man very much Dead to the World, the sense whereof I felt Livingly upon my Spirit at present, and I hope the com­fortable fellowship and Heart-gladding society, that I have had with him for these three years and more, and that wherein we have mutually enjoyed in one another, shall never be forgotten by me, but shall be matter of Praise and Thanksgiving to the God of true unity, who was pleased to bless us together, and work up our Spirits into an oneness, so that I may truly say, my Dear Friend (to my know­ledge) was never exercised one way or another, with sorrow or grief, but my Soul was engaged to sympathize with him, and to feel the weight of his Burthens, and then we both breathed together to [Page 12]the God of Grace, whose Mercies are infinite till he in his tender Bowels of compassion was pleased to afford ease and Relief. And as in his Life-time we were Indisolveably knit together in our Spirits, so that at his Death our Loves were not abated, but much more Large then ever.

About Four hours before he departed, we kept our Family Meeting in the room where he Lay, i [...] being his desire, and there Lovingly together, we enjoyed one another in the Lord, to the melting and tendring of (I believe) the hearts of all that were present; And in the time of the Meeting, he was filled with Divine praises and Heavenly Hymns and a Heavenly presence was felt supporting his Spirit all the time of his Sickness, but more espe­cially during the time of the Meeting, so that he was first exercised in Singing Praises to the Lord, and in magnifying his great Power, evidenced in him­self, and in this Family; his cryes were strong tha [...] the Lord might carry on his Blessed work begun in this Family, and he besought the Lord to pros­per his truth daily more and more, every where till all were Subjected thereunto, which he declared should come to pass, he likewise confessed the many Singular favours he had Partaken of in this Eamily and as it were with regret bemoaned his absence from it so long, that he should have so long wander­ed not knowing his place and service in the Body When the Children were all sitting round about him in the Meeting, his Heart was open, and large towards them, in exhorting and beseeching [Page 13]of them, to persevere and go on in the name and au­thority of the mighty God, and that they might be faithful unto him in their measures, and not to despise the day of small things; but as they were faithful in a little, more should be added; his Mouth and Heart was full of Praises to the Highest for many particular mercies, but more especially that he had received the knowledge of the everlasting Truth; and had walked in it for some time perfectly and uprightly, in his measure, for which at that time he declared he had the Testimony of a good Consci­ence, and was entred into Eternal Peace with the Lord, which I do firmly believe, and without doubting, am perswaded that it is true; and it is the desire of my Heart, that I may so walk in my Generation, that in the end I may enjoy but such a comfortable Death as he did.

It was as hard a Tryal as ever I met with, I may say, which I desire may be sanctified of the Lord; but now am well satisfied that he is gone into ever­lasting bliss, to be with the Lord for ever.

And it is the belief of my Heart, that when e­ver it shall please the Lord to call me out of the body, that as we were lovely together in this Life, that forever we shall be Ioyned, (as I am preserved faithful,) and that in a more nearness then could be enjoyed here, we shall sing Praises to God and the Lamb for ever. So in this belief, I rest my self contented with my condition at present.

DEar John Matern Died not as a Fool Dieth, that feared not the Living God, but his Heart was bent to seek after a City, whose Builder and Maker is God; He made his Calling and Election sure, and a good Savour he has left behind him, and his Works follow him; he was a diligent Man in his Vocation, and very zealous for Gods Glory, his aim was at Eternity, and through the mercy of the Lord he missed not of it; so that when he lay on his Death-Bed, the Glory of the Lord over-shadowed him, and his Innocent cryes were unto him, that all might be kept faithful that professed his name; and more particularly, that both small and great in our Family might be preserved to the Lord, and his Heavenly Sounds of Praises to God, with a raised up voice by the Assistance of the Power and Glory of God upon his Spirit.

I believe I shall never forget, me thinks mine Ears are full of them still; hearing the sound of that sweet Harmonious melody, with a raised up voice, when otherwise, if Gods power had not enabled him, confessed he was scarce able to move his Tongue, he have Heavenly Exhorations to the young ones, to persevere and go on in obedience to the Lord, in that truth they had received; and encouraged his honest and faithful companion, and assistant to go on in the work of the Lord. I dearly loved him because of his simplicity and lowliness of Mind, his faithfulness and diligence in his place, and because his Heavenly care was intirely to do good; when I remember his dear simplicity, how like an Innocent [Page 15]Child he was in his place, my Soul breaks within me, and I am melted even into great tenderness and love unto him, more then can be uttered; Tongue cannot utter, nor Pen set down the excel­lencie and eminency of this love, which is so over­comming, he was a very wise and learned man, as to outward Learning; but how he denied himself, and how humbly he behaved himself, and how free he was from priding himself, because of his Great parts and natural endowments as a man, I can say according to my Judgment he went before many; well he is gone, and in the name of the Lord he bles­sed the Family he had lived in, and praised God that he had placed him in it, such blessed things, he ac­knowledged he had been partaker of in it, and after he had done his work, he went to his Father, even as an Innocent Lamb unconcerned about his Death, as fearing it not, but on the contrary praising God, for the certain trust he had in his Power, telling us how certain he was of Eternal Salvation; the Glory of the Lords power rested upon his Spirit, and sweetly did he give up the Ghost.

O blessed, art thou my dear companion, my Soul loved thee, and embraced thee, and I love thee still, and thy life is with us, I pray God as that sin­cerity that was in three, may remain in Thousands, and Ten Thousands, that Gods Host in this day may be innumerable, Amen.

God is with us, and we know though we may be taken out of this Life according to his pleasure, yet his Truth and Faithfulness, departs not from the [Page 16]Families of his faithful ones, who can truly say, they seek his sweet Face and countenance, and Glory in all things; and we can say that the secret hand of the Lord, works not against us, but for us, Oh! my Soul be glad in the God of thy Mercies, everlasting praises be to thy name for evermore.

DEar Friends and Children, but especially you Children of this Family, it is upon me to re­late something unto you of my exercise, which I have gone through since the Lord did put it into our Hearts, to take upon us the exercise of Educa­ting of Children; and indeed the very first step into it was with fear and trembling, but though I was very tender, the Lord hath called me to a blessed Work, and had blessedly assisted us by his mighty power and out-stretched Arm to this very day. O the days of Sighing and Mourning that I have gone through amongst disorderly Servants and Children, that sometimes I did not well know how it was with me, or whether I went backwards or forwards in my condition, O the travel the Travel that was in my way to Zion, that indeed some times I was almost ready to dispair; but it did please the Lord sometimes, to arise in his mighty power to streng­then, and encourage, and uphold me in his blessed work, and when his Glorious Light shone round [Page 17]encouraged to walk in his way, and then I thought I should run swiftly; when Exercises came again, and when the Fogs and Mists did arise again, and the Sun was Darkened again that I could not see which way to go; then did I crie unto the Lord, that he would be pleased to keep me in the measure of his blessed Truth, for I said in my Heart, that it should be my reasolution, that I would never turn back again to folly; Thus I passed on through much Difficulty, and the Lord did mightily uphold me, but sometimes I knew it not; and indeed when I have beheld others Eating of the Dainties of Gods House, I have been ready to murmure, and say, O Lord why do I fare so hardly, my meat being bitter Herbs, and of an unsavoury taste; Thus I Travelled in Sorrow, through a long Winter, and in the Lords blessed time, he was pleased to arise with healing under his Wings, and did scatter the Clouds, by his mighty Power, and out-stretched Arm, and what we have been Travaling and Labouring for a­mongst Children; we have seen a blessed increase, and I can truly say it is God's Heavenly Interest; Praised be to his name for evermore.

For he hath made his work pleasurable, easy, and delightful unto us, for his arm is about us day and night, and his Sun is arisen upon us, and our days are very sweet unto us, and we can look back upon our exercises and dark places, where we have stuck and behold them with delight, for the Lord hath been, and is abundantly kind unto us, praises be to his name for ever more.

O a blessed time, and happy it is for all them that fear the Lord, for thou O Lord hast made our days, sweet, and thy blessed work easy unto us, for we can sing of thy mercies all the day long, and behold the work of thy own right hand to prosper, and the fruits of our Labours to flourish as a Rose, and we can glory in thee for evermore; and when the work of our day is pleasently spent, in the fear of the Lord at evening tide, when Shiloh's Brook runs softly, as it is in our wonted practice, we do assem­ble together before the Lord, with our Family and Children, to magnifie his power, and Speak well of his name, and to crave a blessing upon us, and his tender Plants, and then he ariseth in his mighty power, and his bedewings descend, and his fatness drops from Heaven, and over-comes our hearts, and enliveneth our Souls and Bodies, that every member may magnifie his Holy Name; O blessed day indeed, can we desire more then we have, or ask more then we receive, Oh! no, no, the Lord hath been abun­dantly kind, and hath filled our hearts with his Heavenly Treasure; for now we can gather Grapes off our own Vines, and they are Pleasant to our taste; O what shall we render unto thee O Lord, for thou art worthy of all Honour and Praise, and with all that we have and are; We give the Glory unto thee for ever and evermore.

Now I have a Testimony lives in my Heart, for dear John Matern whom the Lord hath taken away, a dear Man indeed, one that truly feared the Lord, [Page 19]and was a faithful Steward; and when he came to lie upon his Death Bed, he had Reaped an hundred fold, and he brought in his increase with much re­joycing into the store-house of the Lord, yea with great joy and reioycing, for the Lord imbraced him, and kissed him with his lips, this was the last day of his appointed time, and I my self was pretty much with him, he was a weak man as he confessed, and scarce able to stir his Tongue, but the Glory of the Lord shone round about him, and did raise up his pure life, that he lay praising the Lord, and the har­mony of Heaven was in his Mouth, that his weak­ness was pressed down, and the sting of Death not re­garded; we had a sweet meeting with him, as other Testimonies will further relate, with many of the Children, and a part of the Family, so when he found himself almost spent with the blessed Exercise that was upon him, he held up his hands, and we caused them to depart the Room, so then he lay still and Slumbered a little time; and when he stirred I went to him, he desired me not to speak, except to praise and magnifie the Lord; but I asked him if he knew me, and he smiled upon me, & said yea; and I said thou lyest sweetly; he again answered yea, as I remember these were the last words he Spake, so he lay a little time, and went sweetly away.

HE was a man that truly feared the Lord, and was an instrument in his hand in his day, for the help of others. He laboured daily for us his Scho­lars, both for our Souls and Bodies; he taught us with diligence, that we might not frustrate the in­tent of our comming to the School, as to our learn­ing, and prayed continually to the Lord, that we might be Edified as to our inward condition.

O what a blessed end he made!

O he was full of Praises and Songs of joy to the Lord. And I am satisfied that his reward was the greater, for his labour and prayers for us; he is with the Lord, and blessed of him for ever.

HE was a just and an upright man in his genera­ration, fearing God and hating evil, he che­rished the good, and purished the evil in whomso­ever of his Schollars he found it, without respect of [Page 21]Persons, which caused him on his death-bed to en­joy peace unutterable.

He hath fought the good fight of faith, and kept his Garments clean from the spots of this World, & is entered into rest and joy with his maker for ever, which no man can deprive him of.

THat he was a just and an upright man, one that feared God and eschewed evil, in his day, and generation, and the Lord was with him in his do­ [...]ngs, and he did that which was right in the sight of [...]he Lord, and the Lord supported him, and carried [...]im through all Tryals, and he had done the Lord's work faithfully in his day and age, and now he is [...]one to his rest prepared for him in Jesus Christ, he [...]ath been saying up a treasure, and now he enjoys it, [...]e hath heard the joyfull sentence, well done thou good [...]nd faithful Servant, thou hast been faithful in a few [...]hings, I will make thee Ruler over much, enter thou into be joy of the Lord. So now he is entred into the joy [...]f his Lord, and is happy for ever, and magnified be is name for redeeming him out of the Jawes of Sa­ [...]n, and I wish all may make such an end as he did, [Page 22]then will they be blessed of the Lord to all eternity, world without end.

OH he was a blessed Man, one that I believe in his measure feared God and eschewed evil; as Job did, Oh he was a good Man, I believe the fear of the Lord was always before his Eyes; Oh I can say he is in Heaven with the Lord, Oh he is in a better place then we are yet in, for he is with God the Father, where the fulness of all joy and comfort is; Oh that we may all be as faithful to the Lord in our places as he was, and then God will gather us to himself, and then we shall be blessed of him and receive the sentence; Well done thou good and faith­ful Servant, thou hast been faithful in a few things, [...] will make thee ruler over many things, enter thou int [...] the joy of the Lord, Oh it is a blessed sentence to al [...] them that receive it, as he hath; Oh how sorry h [...] used to be if he saw any of us do amiss, I can say i [...] would very much grieve him, but when he saw an [...] of us do well; Oh he would be glad, and incourag [...] us to go on in the way of the Lord, so I cannot bu [...] [Page 23]give him the Glory, the Honour, and the Praise both now for ever and evermore.

HE was a man that feared the Lord and walked in his path, and I can truly say the Lord was with him, and the last day that he lived, he lived to the praise of his name, and it was his endeavour and intent as long as he lived, to fear the Lord his maker, and the name of the Lord was praised by him, as long as he breathed in this World.

O that all People would arise for the name of the Lord, that none may stick in the deep pit of Dark­ness, but that they may come and fear the Lord, that none may stay behind, but come on with the Lord's people, and walk on hand in hand with them, and so press forward to the mark Christ Jesus, as this man did, who is gone to his rest in peace.

O Lord it hath pleased thee to take away one of thy Servants who served thee in uprightness of heart, O Lord I humbly of thy Children, thy presence [...]s with us at this time, and Oh pluck up the root of iniquity, and throw down the great Tree, of Wickedness, that is growing in the hearts of Peo [...], [Page 24]that thy work may prosper, and the light of thy countenance may shine through the Nations.

Oh raise up yet more Witnesses for thy self; tha [...] all may fall down before thee, and magnifie thy name who art God over all blessed for evermore.

O Lord thy love is unspeakable, when th [...] scatterest the Clouds and makest the Ram [...] descend as upon the tender grass, and visitest us with the day Spring from on high, then are we con­strained to praise thy name; Oh thou refreshest u [...] from time to time, for we have none in Heaven bu [...] thee, nor in the Earth in comparison of thee; O [...] we have fresh encouragement to follow hard after thee; O thou hast often broken our hearts befor [...] thee the living God, and haste caused abundance o [...] melting tears and Soul-ravishing gladness among us, and a remnant can say that one day in thy Court is better then a thousand elsewhere, and it is better to be a door-keeper in thy house, then to dwell i [...] the Tents of Wickedness; Oh Lord what shall w [...] say unto thee, or what shall we render unto thee fo [...] thy mercyes; for thy Arm of power hath been a­bout us to this very day.

Thy Hand is not slackened, nor thy Ear dull t [...] bear the Sighing of the needy, thou lookest dow [...] upon them with an Eye of pity and compassion, an [...] [Page 25]thy love is the same that ever it was unto thy Chil­dren, and thy all-seeing Eye is every where, and in every place to watch over them, who art the watch­man of Israel, who never slumbers nor sleepest, but feedest thy sheep, and makest them to lye down in the green pastures of Life. O that when we depart out of this world, we may lay down our head in peace with thee, as the blessed man John Matern hath done who is deceased; Oh he is gone to his rest­ing place, who was faithful to the end of his dayes; and when he had finished his course in this world, the Lord took him into himself, Oh how pleasantly [...]e lay upon his Bed, praising the Lord whom he ser­ved in his lfie time, he made his Calling and Election sure, and is at rest with the Lord his maker, who aboured for our good every way, and is gone to a very pleasant habitation, where he will have joy for ever.

THat he was a man that feared God, with the up­rightness of his heart, and his greatest Travel was to do the will of God, making it manifest a­mongst us, and telling us what the Lord would have us to do, and exhorting us to leave off the evil of our doings & to follow the Lord & to fear him, and it was [Page 26]his greatest joy if he saw any of us bring forth a Testi­mony for the Lord, O how would it refresh him, yea that he could nor forbear but must praise the Lord before he went out of the Meeting, and if there were any that did grieve the Lord Spirits, and Rebel against him, then he would be so grieved and trou­bled, that he could scarce take his rest upon his Bed, I can truly say that he was a man that sought the well-fare of our Souls and Bodies too, and he taught us with all the might he had, and that faithfully, and if he found out a nearer way, he told it us, and if there be any that have not improved their time, I can truly say that the fault is theirs, and nor his, for he did as much as he could for us; and when he was upon his Death bed, he exhorted us to fear God; and he Praised and Glorified the God of Heaven, unto the last breath that he fetcht in this world, so that the Lord hath taken this good man out of this world, and he is gone to his rest in peace, with the Lord Jesus Christ, where is joy for ever and evermore.

THis I can say of a truth, he was an upright man in his generation, serving God with his whole heart, he had a very great care that he might teach faithfully, that so he might not bring any guilt upon his conscience; and moreover he had a great Travel in the Lord for us, who were under his tuition, that we who felt the Power of God in us, and had in some measure regenerated and changed us, that we might walk uprightly and according to the truth▪ he also had a Travel for them that had not felt the Power of God to change them, but were yet in re­bellion against God's Spirit, that they might come to feel themselves in some measure changed, and his Travel was great for the prosperity of truth every where (and we whom he taught find a great want of him, but the Lord supplyeth it;) and this can I say for him, that the very same day about four hours before he Dyed, we had a meeting with him, where he being raised up by the Power of God, (though very weak in body, but of Perfect understanding) [...]e exhorted us even with a mighty Power that most, (I belive I may say all,) were broken, and tendered before the Lord; and all the while I was with him he did Sing Heavenly Praises unto the Lord, in the inward man, and dyed in the Faith of Christ Jesus [Page 28]the Son of God, and then his Soul ascended up to the God of Heaven, and now he enjoys pleasures with­out end, and at this time considering the manner of his Death, my Soul cannot but render to the God of Heaven, Glory and Dominion for ever, Amen.

HE was a man that feared the Lord, and wa [...] very serviceable in his place, and I can trul [...] say he was a fit Instrument in the hand of th [...] Lord, and taught us his Scholars with all the dili­gence as could well be expected; In his life time h [...] laboured through hardships that we might be educa­ted in the truth, as well as in other things. and believe he dyed in the Lord, and his reward fol­lows him; for assuredly the Lord did bless him, an [...] will bless all others that lived as he did.

Oh that we may all walk as he did, in the wa [...] of Christ, and follow his steps for ever▪ I can sa [...] with many more of my School-fellows that we ne [...] desir [...]d a better Tutor then he was. When I hea [...] he lay upon his sick bed, many times I have cried the Lord, in my heart to raise him up again; but hath been the will of the Lord to take him awa [...] and now he is at peace to all eternity.

THat he was a righteous Man, walking upright­ly with the Lord his Maker and Creator; he was a man with whom the Lord was, both in his goings out, and commings in; this can I truly say in living experience: He was an adversary to all manner of evil, but he cherished the good as the apple of his Eye; wherefore I am sensible that he is departed in peace, and though I was not here at the day of his death, yet my Soul was sensible of the goodness of the Lord towards him on his Death-Bed; as praising and magnifying the name of the Lord; and now I am sensible he is at rest and peace with the Lord his Maker and Creator, in that desi­red Heaven, wherein never any unclean can ever enter.

This was the Lord pleased to put in my heart to Write concerning our dear and well beloved Teacher, who is departed, and entered into the blessed rest with the God of our Fathers, Abra­ham, Isaac, and Jacob, world without end.

HE was one that lived in the fear of the Lord; and when he lay upon his Death-Bed, he Glorified the Lord, and made a sweet melody in his Soul; and at the present time we had a blessed Meeting, and the presence of the Lord was amongst us, and he also pleased the Lord, and made a hap­py end, for surely he made a Covenant with the Lord, and I am sure he was filled with the presence of the Lord; Oh, he was a blessed man indeed, he had made it manifest, for in his life-time it was his greatst joy to see any of his Scholars grow up in the fear of the Lord; and if at any time he saw the enemy to prevail over any, he would with grief of heart admonish them to return, and repent, that they might find mercy with the Lord, and beseech them to have a care least the Enemy should prevail again, he also was greatly exercised, if any of his Scholars did not mind their business and Learning, as to the outward, and would encourage them that minded the same, assuredly he Preached Righteous­ness in his life and conversation, assuredly he hath made his calling & election sure, & now he is at rest with the Lord, for he hath left a good Savour be­hind him, and the rememberance of him is blessed, he is gone to the Lord, and is at peace with him, for ever and evermore.

THat he was an upright true honest man, one that feared God and eschewed Evil, one that laboured for the good of the Souls of them that he taught, he taught them inward as well as outward knowledge; he was a man that spent himself much for the Lord, he was a true labourer in the Lord, and one that Preached his Holy name unto us, and made it known, but now he is gone out of this Body of Flesh; O he hath laid down his Head in Peace with the Lord, and is at rest with the highest in the Holy Jerusalem, the City of the everlasting God. I can truly say that he hath been much troubled when any of the Boyes had been disorderly, and he would often exhort them to fear the Lord. O he was a Man that spent himself much for us, but now he is repayed for it; he would often cry unto the Lord for us, that we might all fear the Lord, from the least to the greatest, and the last day he lived he prai­sed the Lord; and we had a Meeting in his Cham­ber which he desired, and he did exhort us, and pray the Lord for us.

He was a righteous man, the Lord hath blessed him, blessed be his name for it. O how he would fight against the Devil, to the praise of the Lord, and honour of his name, in whom he trusted and had his life and beeing,

HE was an upright hearted man in his doings, he served the Lord with all his Heart, and was faithful in his place to every one that he was concer­ned with, to do them good, and it was his greatest delight to see truth prosper, especialy amongst the young ones, with whom he was concerned, it was his greatest joy and satisfaction to see the Lords power breaking in upon them, so that he could not but Praise and Glorifie the Lord many a time for it, often upon his very Death-Bed he lay praising and glorifying of the Lord for his great mercies bestowed upon him.

And although I lost a dear and tender Husband, who was very dear to, and tender over me, yet (be­ing in the Lords will,) I am content with the will of God, being also that he now reaps the reward, which many a time he travelled for; and in forsack­ing his country, and his Fathers house, to come a­mongst a people that served the Lord with upright­ness of heart, he had his desire answered, and what great joy and peace he departed this Life, and is gone into everlasting happiness, to be with the Lord for ever and evermore.