THE Last Testimony OF That faithful Servant of the Lord, and Minister of Jesus Christ, RICHARD FARNWORTH. Whereunto is Prefixed A brief Testimony concerning his Life Death, and Travels, etc. To which is added A few words of Exhortation unto those that believe in the Light of the Lamb.  
Published for the Consolation of the household of Faith; and for the stopping of that mouth which is opened in Blasphemy against God, his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven.  
By a Companion of those who hold the Word of God, and Testimony of Jesus Christ, and suffer for the same: JOSIAH COLE.  Then I heard a voice from Heaven, saying unto me, Writ; The dead which die in the Lord are fully blessed, even so saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labours, and their works follow them, Rev. 14.13 
London, Printed in the Year, 1667.   

A Brief Testimony concerning the Life and Death OF That faithful Servant of the Lord, and Minister of Jesus Christ, Richard Farnworth, etc.  
FOrasmuch as it hath pleased God Almighty (after the long night of woeful gross Darkness, Apostasy and Ignorance, which hath been over the Nations, amongst those who have had a Profession of Christianity) again to make known and manifest, the true, new, and living way which leads unto Life Eternal, even by and through the Revelation and Operation of his Eternal Power, and Word of Life, in the hearts of a Remnant, whom (in this our day) he first reached unto and visited, and raised up to be Witnesses thereof; that by them it might be born Testimony unto, amongst those who were strangers to it, and that thirsted after it, that so thereby they also might receive the manifestation and knowledge thereof, for want of which many perish, and are strangers to the way of Life; having only (at best) a Form of godliness without the Power: In which dead Forms, or outside empty Professions, some are at ease and rest, as though they were in the true Heaven that should never pass away, and some are at rest and at ease without any profession, living in all uncleanness; unrighteousness, and abomination; and some cannot find rest in either. The faithful and true Witness of God being awakened in their Hearts and Consciences, which takes the false peace from them, and lets them see the emptiness of all outside professions, which are without Life and Power, and also the abominations, and vanities of the world, and makes sin exceeding sinful to them: And by this true and faithful Witness are desires, and breathe, and pant begotten in their hearts after the knowledge of God & Christ, after fellowships & acquaintance with the Father and the Son▪ which desire cannot be satisfied without the knowledge & enjoyment of the presence of the Lord, and of the light of his countenance. And for this cause many run to and fro, and wander like Sheep gone astray from the true Shepherds fold, and are wearying themselves upon the barren Mountains, in vain looking thereunto for Salvation, and seeking the living amongst the dead, and so spend their labour for that which doth not satisfy. And in these several states and conditions aforesaid, the whole Christian world lieth, who are not turned to the Light and Spirit of Jesus in themselves; and true rest and salvation cannot be found by them, until they return to the Light and Power of the Spirit of God in their own hearts, which is that whereby a dislike of sin is begotten in them, and also desires after Life and Salvation; and freedom from sin is thereby begotten; and that is it alone which can answer every desire, which is begotten by its self. Well,  
But when it pleased the Lord to reveal the Son of his Love, and to make known his eternal Power (in these latter days) for the rending of the Veil of darkness that had long been over the heart, by which he caused the Light to shine out of darkness, which gives the knowledge of his own glory; he did not then give the knowledge and manifestation thereof unto all People, but he chose certain Witnesses, whom he raised up to declare of the manifestation of this Power, and to preach the Word of Life nigh, in the heart and in mouth; and he furnished them with Armour of Righteousness, and with all spiritual weapons; which were mighty through him, to break down the strong holds of Iniquity, & the spiritual wickednesses that were in the high places; and empowered them as Instruments in his hand to turn many from darkness to the Light, that the Salvation of God they might come to see; and the Work of God greatly prospered in their hands; and multitudes were brought to the acknowledgement of the Truth, to the saving of their Souls: and though they met with great opposition, and persecutions; by the Emissaries of Satan, even in all Quarters where they came; yet that was not prevalent to hinder the prosperity of that Work whereunto they were called of God, but it still prospered, and doth still prosper, to the spreading of the unchangeable Truth abroad, even as is seen at this day.  
And of this number whom God Almighty at the first raised up by his Power for this Work aforesaid, the late deceased Richard Farnworth was one, concerning whom the chief occasion of this my present writing is; that so a Testimony concerning him, and of what the Lord did by, and through him, may remain upon Record for Generations to come; and that this present Generation of the Just, may see and hear his last Testimony, which proceeded from his own mouth a little before his departure out of the body; and I doubt not, but thereby the Consolation and spiritual Comfort of the Household of Faith will be added unto.  
And, for these Causes, I could not well rest satisfied in my spirit without taking in hand to publish these things; though I well know that there are many living Witnesses that knew the Life, Labours, and Travels of the said R. F. who are the Seal of his Ministry: And also the many Writings of his own, which remain upon Record, will speak forth to those, who are of a true Spiritual understanding, what he was; yet notwithstanding all these things were in my mind, and divers of other Considerations, which occasioned me to defer the publication hereof so long as till now; yet being I could not be so clear in my duty towards God and my Brother, in neglecting to give forth this my Testimony concerning him, and in suffering so precious a Testimony, as his last was, wholly to be put in oblivion, I have with freeness and cheerfulness of heart undertaken it.  
And when it pleased God to manifest his Eternal Power in the heart of the aforesaid R. F. it is well known unto many how effectually it wrought in him; insomuch, that although he was (before) a man of great abilities, and parts, and knowledge, accounted of among men, even excelling many of his equals; yet he was content and willing, in obedience to the Power of God, to become a Fool to the World, and to be stripped and emptied of his own wisdom and knowledge, (which stood in the state fallen from God and his Power) and to suffer the loss of all worldly reputation and favour, and the pleasures and delights thereof, that he might win Christ Jesus, and be found his Servant, clothed with the Righteousness of Faith, preferring the simplicity that is in Christ, beyond all worldly wisdom and honour whatsoever; and his Sufferings for the sake of Christ, beyond all worldly reputation; and so great was the change that was wrought in him, that he became a wonder amongst many; and the Word of God and his Power was great and mighty in him, and through him; in which he was sent forth by the Lord (who had manifested himself unto him) to preach the Everlasting Gospel to the poor, and to declare of that great Power of God, of which he was made a Witness, and of the Effects of its operation; and so powerful was his Message and Testimony, that many were begotten into a firm belief thereof; and believing the Report, were turned from Darkness to the Light of Jesus, with which they were enlightened, and from Satan's power unto the Power of God, which wrought mightily in their hearts, to the changing of their minds and affections from things that are below, towards things that are above all that is fading and corruptible, and to the bringing of Life and Immortality to light in them: And although they were attended with many foul temptations, because of their obedience to the Truth and Light of the Spirit of Grace, and brought in many distresses in their passage from Death unto Life, yet was he so experienced in the Depths and Subtleties of Satan, and also in the Deal and Goodness of God in such conditions and estates, that he had obtained the tongue of the Learned, and could (as oft times he did) speak words in Season, to the strengthening of the weak, and refreshing of the weary; and to the reviving of that which was near ready to faint: So that he was in the Lord's hand, even as a father to the fatherless, and as eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame; and the eye that truly saw him, blessed him; and the ear that heard him, gave witness unto him: for through the Power of God which enabled him, he delivered the poor and the needy, and built up many (that believed) in their most precious Faith, and confirmed them therein: And went about from place to place, through the Land of his Nativity, turning many from Darkness to Light, and confirming the Churches, and doing good: And his Service was very great for the Lord in his day; for he was so furnished with Heavenly Wisdom and Understanding through the Grace of God; and also so seasoned thereby, that his Patience, Meekness, and Humility exceeded many: And although God had so endued him with heavenly Virtues and Abilities exceeding many, yet was he not puffed up therewith, neither sought to exercise lordship over those that were weaker, and younger than himself, but gave place unto any that had the least Gift of God, to exercise; so that through the Spirit of Meekness and Humility, with which he was adorned, he was exceeding lovely and beautiful, and the hearts and souls of many were affected therewith, who in simplicity thirsted after Righteousness, and such waited for him, as for the Rain, upon whom his Doctrine so dropped: Yet nevertheless he was terrible to the Worker of Iniquity, and the Sword of his mouth was very sharp, for the Word of God was therein; and when he had to do with any who opposed the Truth and Way of Life and Salvation, which we profess and walk in (as ofttimes he had) his Weapon was very sharp to them, and they were not able to resist the Wisdom of the Spirit by which he spoke; for thereby he confounded their wisdom, and broke their weapons in pieces; so that they were oft ready to Blaspheme God, because of the plague that it was to them; and a Conqueror he was over the▪ Beast and false Prophet, against whom he made War in Righteousness, in and through the Power of the Lamb, in whose Spirit he hath finished his Testimony and Course in the Faith.  
And as the Enemies of the Truth of God were many, and in divers shapes, that this valiant Soldier of the Lamb had to encounter withal, so he was always furnished with Armour and Weapons, fit for the Work and Service in which he was exercised, by which he was enabled to encounter with, and Conquer all: But at last, that his Armour and Weapons might be proved to be sufficient to encounter with the Enemy of Truth, in all kind of Appearances and Transformations, it was his lot with me, and divers others of the Servants of the Lord, to be engaged against the Enemy of Truth, who had transformed himself into the likeness of an Angel of Light, and under a seeming pretence of appearing on the behalf of God and his Cause, etc. and against Formality and Traditions, etc. begun strongly to oppose the Truth of God, and the Ministry thereof in and through his Servants and Messengers (who have approved themselves as the Ministers of God, and as his Ambassadors) and to cry against our Assemblies and manner of Worship, and our Exercise therein, (as only Formal;) in which we have always found the glorious Presence, Power and Majesty of the Lord amongst us, refreshing, comforting and strengthening of us, even  as our hearts and souls can or could desire; so that we were engaged to justify the Lord, in opposition to that gainsaying spirit of delusion, by which many were beguiled and led away after Satan, to their hurt: And in our Testimony for the Lord, and against that self-separating gainsaying spirit, the Power of the Lord did greatly accompany and assist us, and was as greatly with us, as in any service that he had called us unto; The sincere and upright in heart (who have kept their first Love, and their first Faith) are Witnesses of it; and how in Love we laboured for the restoration of those who were beguiled through the craft of the Enemy; and for the preservation of those who hitherto have escaped his snare, that is well known to many witnesses. But if none were sensible of it, the Lord he knows, and is witness, that in sincerity of heart (in the Name of the Lord) towards God and his People we were exercised; and in our labour and travel for them, the Blessings of the Lord and his Peace, and the comfort of his Spirit, did possess and fill our hearts beyond the understanding of the world, although many, towards whom we were so in love exercised, could not believe, but some withstood our Testimony, and kicked against it in their hearts, and resisted the Counsel of God against themselves, to the grief and sorrow of our hearts.  
Therefore it pleased the Lord, in Love, Mercy and good Will to his Servant, my dear Brother, R. F. that his Travels, Burdens, and grievous Sufferings might be put to an end; and that our testimony for the Lord might be sealed with the Life of his Servant against that Antichristian intruding Spirit of Opposition, which laboured to intrude its self into the Church, to sit as Ruler and Judge there. I say, for these causes, and for none contrary hereunto, it pleased God to visit my dear Brother, R. F. and to take him out of the Body; at which, I perceive, some who are ignorant of what the Lord intended thereby have rejoiced: But let such know, that they have made a wrong application of the dealing of the Lord therein; by which they have hardened themselves, instead of being humbled through that which was ordered of God for their humiliation and good; and if possible that such may yet see, and turn to the flock of the Companions of Christ: And also that the flocks who are (and have remained) in the true Fold may be refreshed thereby, I shall here insert the Last Testimony of the aforesaid R.F. which was given by him, a very short space before his departure out of the body, in the presence of several good Friends; at which time in the name, strength, and power of God, he was moved to sit up in his Bed, and spoke (concerning the Love of God and concerning our Testimony, against the aforesaid antichristian, intruding, factious spirit) with as much strength, power and freeness of spirit, as at any time he had done in the time of his outward health. Whose words were as followeth.  
Friends, God hath been mightily with me, and hath stood by me at this time, and his power and presence hath accompanied me all along, though some think that I am under a Cloud for something; but God hath appeared for the owning of our Testimony, and hath broken in upon me as a flood, and I am filled with his Love, more than I am able to express; and God is really appeared for us. If God himself had come down and spoken as a man, he could not have spoke more clearer to us than he hath done, by the many Testimonies from Heaven in his People concerning this thing. Therefore I beseech you Friends, here of this City of London, (live or die) be you faithful to your Testimony which God hath committed to you, and as it ariseth in your hearts, be faithful to the Lord therein. After which he was silent for a little season, and then his mouth was again opened in the Name and Power of the Lord, even as before, and he spoke very preciously unto Friends concerning the things before mentioned, testifying of the greatness of the Love and Power of God, of which he was made partaker, and which he then felt; and of the preciousness of the Truth, which he had with us born witness of; and exhorted them to faithfulness and steadfastness therein, and to singleness, that nothing might be suffered to creep in of another nature, to intermix therewith, saying, No Lincy-woolcy Garment must be worn, etc. with much more to that effect, which cannot be remembered. And having thus given his last Testimony, as a Seal unto all the former Testimonies which he had given for the Lord, and on his behalf, in about two or three hours' time after, being filled with the Peace and Love of God beyond declaring, (as himself signified) he departed this Life, even like a Lamb, and slept with his Fathers and Brethren, and is entered into everlasting rest with the Lord.  
And this may serve also as a sufficient Testimony, to stop the mouths of all who vaunt themselves in his death, as though he had been taken away in Judgement and Displeasure of the Lord, because of his appearing on the behalf of God against that antichristian spirit of opposition, which contends against our Meetings, and Preaching, and the manner of our exercise in the Worship of God, as Formal, etc. And let such know, that if his being removed prove a Judgement unto any, it will be to them, who rejected the Mercies of God by him tendered to them, and have thereby hardened themselves against the Lord and his Servants, and have made a wrong application of the deal of the Lord with his Servant, even as those who know not the purpose of God therein; and so have showed themselves not to be the Friends of God, as Abraham was, from whom God did not hid the thing that he intended; but let such yet repent, if a place can be found for them.  
And so let all my dear friends every where, who believe in the Light of Jesus, and who have tasted of the Love, Goodness, and Power of God, dwell in the sense and feeling of his Love and Power, and let nothing divert or turn aside the minds of any from persevering in that pure holy way of Life, which they are called to walk in, and in which the daily renewings of the peace and good will of God is witnessed; neither let any be slack or remiss, in performing that ancient, godly, Christian practice of Assembling yourselves together in the Name and Fear of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know the exceeding benefit and advantage that ye have received thereby, because of the Lords Appearance amongst us, who,  to his Promise hath not failed us unto this day; but his Name and Power hath been great amongst us, and still is, opening the mysteries of his Kingdom, and revealing of the virtue of his Life in our hearts and souls, by his own Spirit, to our great refreshment and comfort; so that we have not at any time been sent empty away, who have in sincerity thirsted after him, and in faithfulness waited for his appearance; which is sufficient to encourage all to persevere in that godly practice of meeting together with all integrity, without wavering. And forasmuch as our assembling together at this day, is the great thing that the Enemy of Truth strikes at in all his Instruments of all kinds, in which he appears against us; it behoves all to stand and be faithful therein; that the Cause of God may not be betrayed by any, through their declining from that godly Practice and duty, that the enemy may not be encouraged thereby to vaunt against the remnant that are faithful, to oppose them therein also; but rather, through your faithfulness and stability, the enemy may be discouraged in his enterprises, and put to flight, that you may be Conquerors over him, and may tread Satan under foot, and may reign with the Lamb for ever.  
And my Friends, consider the faithfulness of many of the Servants of the Lord, who loved not their lives unto death, who are gone before, who preached and made known the Truth and way of Life to you, how they laboured and traveled amongst you, in the name and strength of the Lord, to beget you unto God, and to build you up in the most precious Faith; and how they exhorted you time after time to that godly practice, of Assembling together, and how they gave Example and Precedent therein as well as Exhortation thereunto. Nay, have not divers of them laid down their Lives (not counting them dear to them) for that very Practice of Assembling together? Yea, certainly they have so; some in Prisons, and some otherwise. Oh therefore, my Friends, this Duty of Assembling together, ought not to be slighted; nay, hath not the present Liberty that we do enjoy, in our meeting together, cost the Lives of many? was it not with the blood of many (of them that bore the same Testimony which we bore) that this present Liberty hath been purchased? and ought not this Liberty then to be prized, and made a right Use of? I am jealous with a godly Jealousy, that all who are concerned, do not rightly weigh, ponder, and consider these things; but I desire all to consider it, and let not that Testimony fall (by the neglience of any) which hath been sealed with the Lives of so many of God's Servants and Messengers, whose Knowledge and Understanding in the Way and Mysteries of God, was not inferior unto any that are left behind, and yet they cheerfully offered up their All for that Testimonies sake. Therefore, my Friends, he diligent and faithful to the Lord, walking in his Covenant of Light, which will be a true Guide unto you, and an Instructor, and will keep your Desires fresh towards the Lord, and your Love one towards another; so that you will be constrained to Come together, and to wait together upon the Lord, to receive refreshment from his presence, which you will see and feel in the midst of you, as your hearts are kept in his Fear; and enter not into consultation with flesh and blood, nor into reasonings which will say, Thou needest not go to Meetings, because thy Teacher is present in all places, and so will draw thee into negligence of meeting with the Children of Light; for if thou give heed unto such reasonings, thou wilt soon find, thy Love will wax cold towards the People of God, and thou wilt lose the sense of the Teachings of the Lord, who is present in all places; for although he be in all places present, yet hath he ordained and appointed, that his People should Assemble themselves together to wait upon him, and to worship him, and hath given the promise of his Presence unto such that do so. But if any draw back from answering his requirings, his soul will have no pleasure in them: and such will die as to God, & will become as dry and withered branches, and their Love will decay, & wax cold, and they will not have a sight, nor a sense of the Omnipresence of the Lord, nor of his Teachings, though they may talk of it, as multitudes do at this day, who are altogether strangers thereunto, further than by hear-say. And therefore once more I say unto you all, Be faithful to the Lord in your several measures and stations, where the Lord hath set you, and be diligent in that godly Practice of Assembling yourselves together, in which a Testimony for the Lord is born, which many have laid down their Lives for, and let none make their blood of no effect, by slighting Meetings; the present Liberty for which hath been purchased through the shedding their blood, but let all meet together, and being met, wait upon the Lord in faithfulness, that you may feel the Springs and Fountain of Life opened amongst you, and in the midst of you, that you may be refreshed and strengthened, and may grow, and be enabled to encounter with your souls Enemy in all his appearances, and may put him to flight, and may tread Satan under foot, and reign as Kings on Earth, and as Conquerors, to the praise of his Name (who hath called you, that he may take delight to dwell amongst you, and to do you good) who over all is worthy, God blessed for evermore.  
J. C.  
THE END