some more; and the matter being proposed to George Fox and the rest of the brethren, they very well approved, and fatherly consented we might be joined together in the work and service of the Lord among his children and people; and forthwith ordered that the names from all parts of the city and suburbs, of the ancient women friends, should be taken, which being accordingly done, some from every quarter met, and they readily received the motion of life in the love of God, as it opened among the brethren; and there was a heavenly union in our being thus joined together, and the Lord was with us and among us, and continued his good presence, both with them and us to this day. And whereas they have been gainsaid by some; such gainsayers considered not the work of God's power therein, which was the ground and foundation by which the men's and women's meetings were first gathered and confirmed, and ever since preserved in that service; and the blessing of the Lord hath attended, and doth still attend them, for the refreshing and comforting many a poor soul, to whom God hath in mercy administered by them, to their great comfort and joy.

"So that over all, the Power that first gathered and settled us in this service is still the same, and as it hath, will break down all that rise in opposition thereto, and preserve them

honourable that have been faithful in this the the Lord's business: for he hath blessed, and will bless all such who continue their obedience, serving the Lord to the end; and so every one that hath felt and tasted of his power, will have great satisfaction with me, who am a living witness of his heavenly appearance amongst us in the first; and therefore I was willing to give this account and testimony, to you the women friends, and all others before I go hence, being now grown ancient, and not likely to continue; but calling to mind the beginning and establishing of this meeting, which many now know little of, I was the more induced to leave these few lines before I go hence: who am your ancient friend and truly loving brother,

"GILBERT LATEY."

Hammersmith, the 22d of the 6th Month, 1705."

"A SALUTATION of endeared love to the whole flock of God, but in a more particular manner to the friends and brethren of the monthly meeting at the Savoy in Westminster ;whose prosperity, welfare, and perseverance in the work and service of the blessed Truth, whereunto the Lord hath called you, I have ever desired, that in it his heavenly power and life may be felt, to preserve you all in love and unity, which is the bond of peace; and so dwell all

in his pure fear, to act for his glory; and as all here are kept and preserved, they will know their places in the body bound up together in love, where the elders will have a godly care for them which are younger, and the younger be in subjection to their elders. So will good order be kept, and heats be shut out from among you, and mercy overshadow the judgment-seat, where peace and good-will may be felt to abound, in which the Lord's presence will be felt to preserve you all; and this hath been the breathing desire of your ancient friend and brother,

"GILBERT LATEY."

"Hammersmith, the 25th of the 6th Month, 1705.

GILBERT married Mary, the only daughter of the faithful and worthy servants of the Lord John and Ann Feilder, of Kingston-upon Thames, in the county of Surrey, by whom he had eleven children, of which only two lived to the years of men and women.

Gilbert, though he was long weak and feeble as to the outward, was fresh, strong, and living in his inward man; and in the latter end of the fifth month, 1705, was at the meeting at Hammersmith, and no other public friend being there, and a large meeting being then assembled,

the Lord moved him to stand up, and so sup. ported him by his divine power, as to enable him in the same to sound forth the acceptable day of God, and an invitation to all to come to Him, in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, the alone mediator between God and man, who is the way and only means to restore man again into the image and favour of God; concerning which he there declared about an hour, with a great deal of fervency and wonted zeal, as if he had been under no infirmity of body, even to the admiration of many of the hearers: but as the Lord made use of him of long standing, so he was at this time carried forth in a more than ordinary manner in this his last sermon. And being resigned up to the will of God patiently, he waited on the Lord till He should be pleased to remove him, and having lived to a good old age, being in the 79th year of his pilgrimage, on the 12th of the 9th month, 1705, the Lord took him to himself: whose last words were to crave his help, and so departed in great peace.

And now in conclusion, I may say of Gilbert, in general, that as he attended all the kings and princes of this nation, which were in his time, as also the present queen, with most of the great dukes, marquesses, earls, and lords, that were ministers of state in former reigns, as well as many of the bishops; so likewise in the present

queen's reign, he was not wanting, as occasion offered, and his strength permitted, to solicit the ease of the Lord's people; and having long served the families of some of the great persons in the nation, he had often easy access, they knowing when they heard Gilbert's name, that he came not for any worldly advantage to himself, as some of them have told their ladies, who were not acquainted with Gilbert; saying, He cometh not for any thing we have, for he needeth nothing of that.

And in all these attendances, he still kept to, and bore the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which he was crucified to the world; for which, and his great self-denial, he was taken much notice of and beloved; insomuch, that a very eminent friend and minister of Christ, in one of the former reigns, being then of another nation, having great interest among the great men at court here, and attending there often, meeting with a friend one day, told him he had been at court, and said, that of all men, among friends, that he ever knew or heard of, he never followed a man that had a sweeter character than Gilbert had at court.

It was his practice, in soliciting kings, princes, and great men, to keep to the anointing and love of God; and, as that gave utterance, to speak : in that he oftentimes reached and had place in them he had thus to do with; and as that go