and his bodily sufferings extreme; yet his soul seemed to be filled with the love and power of God. His spirit was comfortable and joyful, and his zeal and fortitude unabated, even to the last. When any of the brethren and sisters came in to see him, instead of complaining of his sufferings, he would often express his joy and comfort, his love to the work of God, and his desires for their faithfulness and prosperity in the gospel. He was an eminent example of patience and meekness under sufferings, and always manifested his willingness to suffer for the increase of the gospel.

*

Elder William delighted greatly in singing divine songs, for which he had a remarkable gift; his voice was strong, and his music melodious and powerful; and when under the immediate operation of the power of God, it seemed like the music of some superior being. A little before he expired, being unable to sing, he rose from his bed, and asked one of the brethren, who was greatly gifted in spiritual songs, to sing for him, and who according to his request, sung for him a few minutes; but he was so far gone, that he was soon obliged to lie down again, and shortly after breathed his last, about six o'clock in the afternoon, July 21st, 1784, aged 44 years.

CHAPTER VI.

Sketches of the life, character and ministry of Elder Fames Whittaker.

JAMES WHITTAKER was the son of Jonathan Whittaker, of Oldham, near Manchester, in England. His mother's maiden name was Ann Lee, probably a distant relation of Mother Ann. She was a member of the society under James and Jane Wardley, and was a faithful believer. His father stood in opposition for awhile; but was afterwards convicted and embraced the gospel, and had an anxious feeling to come to America with his son; but was not able: he died in the faith.

James was born February 28th, 1751, and received the testimony of the gospel in his childhood; he used to accompany his mother to the meetings of James and Jane Wardley, and was remarkably faithful and obedient to the instructions of his teachers. In his youth he was placed under the care of Mother Ann, and by her was carefully instructed in the way of God. Having by his faithfulness gained a great portion of the life and power of the gospel, he became eminently useful to her in the ministry.

Concerning his early experience in the way of God, he gave the following particulars. "I was brought up in the way of God by "my Mother, and knew no unclean thing. But when my soul

Aaron Wood, who is now living at Watervliet,

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66 was waked up, I found myself a child of wrath. I then cried "mightily to God: I do not think I spoke more than five words "in a day; and I verily thought that the earth trembled under me "for the space of a whole year. At this time I saw, by vision, my own soul in America with Mother's soul; and I heard all "the conversation that passed between us and the men that put 66 us into prison in Albany; and yet during the whole time of our imprisonment, I never once thought of my vision; but as soon as we were set at liberty, it all came fresh to my mind."

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Among other extraordinary manifestations of God to him, in early life, we give the two following instances in his own words. "One day, as I was walking with Mother, I felt the heavens open, "and such flows of the heavenly manifestations and givings of "God fell upon me, in so marvellous a manner, that my soul was "filled with inexpressible glory; and I felt such an overflowing "of love to Mother, that I cried out, As the Lord liveth, and as 46 my soul liveth, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." He added further, "that Mother then and there prophesied that he would succeed her in the ministry."

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"When we were in England," said he, "some of us had to go 46 twenty miles to meeting, and we travelled anights on account of "persecution. One Saturday night, while on our journey, we sat "down by the side of the road to eat some victuals. While I was sitting there I saw a vision of America; and I saw a large tree, "and every leaf thereof shone with such brightness as made it "appear like a burning torch, representing the church of Christ, "which will yet be established in this land. After my company "had refreshed themselves, they travelled on, and led me a con"siderable distance before my vision ceased."

Elder James was evidently ordained of God to be Mother Ann's successor in the ministry. After attending her funeral, and speaking to the assembly under a great weight of grief and sorrow, he returned home, and the believers being assembled, he spoke and said, "My two friends and Elders are gone! I pray God to help me!" He then called upon all the brethren and sisters to help him keep the way of God, and urged the necessity of their being more faithful in the work of the gospel than they had ever been, as those who had the greatest gift for their protection were gone. The tears flowed abundantly. He spoke of the great weight that fell upon him with regard to the protection of the society, and his great concern and labor that the gospel might be kept and honored. So solemn and impressive were his words at this time, and so evident the power of God that appeared in him, that it produced a great impression upon the mind of every feeling believer. It was clearly seen and felt that Mother's mantle had fallen upon him, and that God had chosen him to lead and protect his people.

Elder James, in his person, was rather above the common stature, well proportioned in form, of more than ordinary strength for his size, and a man of great activity. His complexion was fair, his eyes black, and his hair of a dark brown color, and very straight. He possessed an open and placid countenance, mixed with a pleasing gravity, that at once evinced the goodness of his heart and the amiable mildness of his disposition. His voice was clear and solid, but mild and pleasant. In short, his visage, deportment and conversation were all marked with an inexpressible something which could not but impress the feelings of a stranger with confidence and respect. It was not an uncommun expression among strangers, on hearing him, to say, "I love to hear that James Whittaker "speak."

In his temper and disposition he was mild, gentle and forbearing: yet firm, undaunted, and inflexible in his duty. So amiable was his deportment, and so winning his manners, that he often disarmed the most violent opposers of their rage. He was much beloved by those who knew him, both believers and unbelievers ; and none were his enemies, except those whose opposition to the way of God which he taught, rendered every subject of it an object of hatred. He possessed great meeknesss, humility and simplicity of soul, was remarkably tender hearted, kind and charitable, and abounded in heavenly love. The sympathetic powers of his soul were such, that when he wept it seemed as tho no feeling heart could refrain from tears; and when he rejoiced, every soul that possessed the life of the gospel, could not but feel the power of his joy, and rejoice with him.

In reproving sin, he was sharp and powerful; yet wise and careful not to hurt the soul. In laboring with lost souls, in admonishing the careless, instructing the ignorant, strengthening the weak, relieving the buffetted, and binding up the broken hearted, his gift of wisdom and understanding was remarkable. He knew how to come to lost souls in every situation, and to administer help in due

season.

He passed through many scenes of sorrow and affliction for the gospel of salvation, and planted and nourished it in many souls. Being young while in England, he did not suffer so much persecu tion there as Mother Ann and Father William, and others; yet he had his full share of sufferings to pass through; so that it might be truly said that, the sufferings of Christ abounded in him. In America he suffered much every way; yet he always bore his sufferings with fortitude, and even with cheerfulness; so that when most cruelly abused by persecutors, he would often kneel down and pray for then with great fervency; sometimes saying in the words of Christ, "Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do."

he

As he was brought up in the gospel from his childhood, possessed a remarkable degree of purity of spirit. Indeed it seemed as tho every feeling of his soul breathed purity, righteousness and love: hence he was at all times able to bear a strong testimony against all impurity, unrighteousness, and every kind of evil. He often said, "The gospel is without fault; it is as strait as "straitness; it is pure as the heavens; and if you obey it not, you "will lose your souls."

With tears rolling from his eyes, he often expressed his love to God, and his thankfulness for the gospel in the following language; "O how precious is the way of God to my thirsty sonl! I feel the "love of God continually flowing into my soul, like rivers of living "water! It is sweeter to my taste than the honey in the honeycomb. "I know that God owns me for his son; and yet I will pray to him. "I know how to pray, and I know how to be thankful for the "gospel; even my breath is continual prayer to God."

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Sometimes he used to say, "I could willingly lay down my "life for my brethren, if I were called to it; for I feel that degree "of love for them, that they feel near and dear to me, like my own "soul." Again he would say, My only treasure on earth is in "them that believe; I have no relation but in the people of God. "They who are faithful to serve God are my relations; they are "my interest and my treasure, and all I have is theirs."

As there were some who received great faith in Mother Ann, and were zealous during her ministration; yet as their faith centered in her person, and not in the revelation and power of God which dwelt in her, and which was transmitted through her to her successors; consequently such ones were exposed to suffer loss; and some indeed did suffer great loss, after she was taken from them. Father James felt a deep sense of their danger in this respect, and of the unspeakable worth of souls; and being thus impressed with the great importance of a deep and genuine work of salvation in every soul, he did not cease to warn the people, with tears in his eyes, to be faithful and persevering, and not lose that which they had already gained, by neglecting to labor for an increase of the gospel in their own souls.

In solemn warnings to the people, and for their encouragement, he used to say, "Wherever you are, whatever may betide you, "how dark soever things may appear, how unjustly soever you "may suffer, keep your faith; for the time will come when all "wrongs will be righted." And again; "I am not ashamed "to build up your faith; for your faith is most holy; but I know "you have infirmities, and I pray that the forbearance of God "may be lengthened out to you, till you learn to do right: for "you must have an exceeding righteousness; your righteousness "must exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees.

"Therefore treasure up in your hearts that holy treasure which "will keep you in time of trouble. Keep your faith: for the end "of your faith will be the salvation of your souls; and when I am 46 gone, and you see the branches flourish, then know ye that the "root is holy. I have ventured my life and soul among you, and you have received the gospel, and you are welcome to it."

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Father James was a man of great humility, and often abased himself publicly before God, in deep humiliation of soul. Speaking one sabbath day at Harvard, in public, before a large concourse of people, and after addressing himself to the assembly with great solemnity, and evidently under a great weight of the power of God, which brought a very solemn and affecting sensation upon all the assembly, he kneeled down; and the believers immediately fell upon their knees, and also many of the world who were deeply affected with his discourse. While on his knees in deep humiliation, he uttered these words; "I am but a poor worm of the dust, " and a very little one too! I feel many times as tho I could crum"ble into the dust before God." He often abased himself in this

manner.

At another time, in a public assembly at Enfield, before he began to speak, he kneeled down under great humility of soul, and said, "God has committed the gospel to my trust."-He paused— the tears flowed plentifully down his cheeeks-He proceeded66 I pray that God would lay nothing to my charge!-Christ is "revealed; I feel his power in sorrow and in love-God has "blessed me with a broken heart and godly sorrow for sin." After this he delivered a very affecting discourse, in which he preached the gospel of self-denial and the cross, and urged the absolute necessity of confessing and forsaking all sin, and closed his discourse in these words; "As you treat this gospel; so God will treat you. "If you slight it, God will slight you; if you regard it, God "will regard you; for as the testimony of Noah condemned the "old world; so shall this testimony condemn the present genera❝tion."

Father James often solemenly warned the believers not to suffer their souls to be overshadowed and darkened with those things which had a tendency to shut the gift of God from the soul. "I "warn you brethren," said he, "not to be overcome with the cares "of this world, lest your souls lose the power of God, and you "become lean and barren." Again he said, "The way to labor "for the gospel is, to keep your minds exercised in laboring upon "the things that belong to your peace, and not on the things of the "world: for if yon give your minds to labor upon the things of "the world, they will become corrupted." And again; “You "ought to be watchful over your words, at all times, and be care"ful to know that you speak the truth; not tell things that you do