A LIVELY TESTIMONY TO THE Living Truth, Given forth by Robert Jeckell upon his Deathbed.  
In the presence of many eye and ear Witnesses whose names are subscribed.  
Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, etc.  
London, Printed in the year 1676.   

A Relation of Robert Jeckells Death, and his Testimony for Truth before his Departure.  
RObert Jeckell of Newcastle upon Tine, having a desire to come to Swarthmoore, began his Journey in company with several other Friends, and began to be sick the same day that he came from home, and was sick at several places by the way: But still pressed forward to his Journeys end, and would not be satisfied, to stay short of Swarthmoore, where he came the 2d. of the 5th. month 1676. and went to his Bed presently after he came in, where he lay sick 9 days, and then died upon the 11th. of the same month, and made a Comfortable end, being all the time of his Sickness, in perfect sense and memory, as may be seen by the following words, which were spoken by him a little before his Death.  
Two days before his Death, he said, Well Friends, it's the belief of my heart, that the Lord will raise me up, to bear a faithful Testimony for God and his Truth.  
In the Evening before his Departure, when Friends stood about him, expecting him to give up, (according to the belief of his heart) he was raised up, by the power of the Lord, and spoke with an audible voice as followeth.  
No separation like unto this, Soul separated from the Body, the Spirit returning to God that gave it, and the Body to the Earth from whence it came. For great has the loving kindness of the Lord been unto me, not unto me only, but unto you all my dear Friends, who are faithful unto Death; I can speak it to his praise, and unto his glory for evermore: and in it can bid you everlastingly farewell.  
I have always been faithful to the Truth, as to what was manifested, for God hath loved me from a Child. And he said, spreading out his arms, Oh the blessed precious Truth is above all the World! and this is my living Testimony, I have to bear for the Lord and his Truth: For always I loved Truth, and preferred it before all the World; for Truth is precious, and to be valued before all things below it: Therefore oh dear Friends prise Truth, this precious Truth, for it lives for ever. Let nothing divert your minds from that sense of Truth you have, for as that is kept too, Truth answers Truth in every heart.  
As to the principle of Truth, it will reign over all; though strange things may happen in this Nation, yet the Lord will crown his blessed Truth, and his Glory over all: Therefore all my dear Friends, be faithful to that manifestation in your own particulars, for a Profession will stand none in stead, unless they live in the life and power thereof; for this is an everlasting Truth that will live for ever: all that feel God's love let them prise it, for it is better than words.  
And it was the desire of my heart, to come and visit my dear Friend Geo. Fox, and I am very well satisfied therein; and it was the travail of my soul a long time before I came, and now I am come to give up all, and herein I am fully satisfied.  
At another time he said, Though I was persuaded to stay by the way, before I came to this place; yet this was the place where I would have been, and the place where I should have been, whether I live or die.  
And dear George, I can add nothing unto thee, for thou want'st nothtng of the good Spirit, for thou art in God and God in thee; but let us give all the praise and the glory to God: but I pray unto God that he may preserve thee, from all evil spirits.  
Another time G. F. spoke to him and said, he might offer up his Spirit and Soul to the Lord, who gives breath and life to all, and takes it again; and he lifted up his hands and said, The Lord is worthy of it, and I have done it. G. F. asked him if he could say, Thy will O God be done, in Earth as it is in Heaven; And he lifted up his hands and eyes, and cheerfully said he did it. And he said, he had been faithful in a Profession to what he knew, until the manifestation of the Truth broke forth. And his mouth was often filled with praises to the Lord, and said, though he had had multitude of business, yet the Lord had carried him over all.  
And dear Friends, dwell in love and unity together, and keep out of all jars, strife and contention, for the Enemy lies near to draw out; And if you be divided one against another, than you will come to a loss: Profession will stand none in stead, for alas any may make a Profession, but it's those that live the life of Truth, and dwell in the obedience of it, that obtains the Crown. For alas a silly woman may say, Lord, Lord help me, when the ditch is before her; but the Lord doth not bid her fall into it, but there is that near that will manifest, and open the eye, and preserve out of it. That Living principle of Truth, which will preserve all that dwell in it.  
And Friends, be sure to continue faithful unto the end, and be not weary in well-doing, for that is a good testimony, they that continue faithful unto the end shall be saved.  
At another time he said, all deceit and fraud will come to nothing, I am an innocent man, and clear of all men, upon the face of the Earth.  
If there be any bad Spirits, (that under a pretence makes a Profession of Truth) do take occasion to speak evil of me when I am gone, you are Living Witnesses, and can bear a Living Testimony, (speaking to Bridget Pindar and Elizabeth Hopper) that I am an Innocent man, and that the Lord hath cleared me, and I lie down my head in peace.  
And Bridget and Elizabeth, you are my Neighbours: As to my dear Wife, I give her freely up to the Lord, for she loved the Lord, and he will love her; and I desire she may be kept faithful to the Truth in all things; and that you may advise her, and be assistant to her 〈◊〉 what you can. And I have often told my dear Wife, 〈◊〉 what we have in outward things, it was the Lords first before it was ours, and in that I desire that she may serve the Truth to the end of her days.  
And I desire those Friends, whom I have entrusted in my Will, (naming them all) to see my Will truly performed, and to be faithful to their Trust, that so they may discharge a good Conscience in the sight of the Lord; And that they may see all things cleared and discharged, for I am well able to discharge those things.  
And now my dear Friends, in the everlasting power of God, I commit you all to the Lord, to be preserved and kept, in his everlasting power, and bid you all everlastingly, yea everlastingly farewell.  
All is done: And to the Lord I leave you all, unto him I commit you all. Farewell.  
Let me go hence in peace, for I shall go hence and be no more seen in mutability.  
About two hours before he died, G. F. took him by the hand, and asked him if he was satisfied of his seeing him; And he lifted up his eyes, and with a gladness of heart and smilingly he praised the Lord, And said that his Comfort flowed in as a flood. And G. F. asked him, what he said; And he spoke those words over again. And G. F. said unto him, thy everlasting peace and rest is in Christ, that bruises the head of the Serpent, who is over all from Everlasting to Everlasting, who is the Everlasting food of Life, for thy Soul and Spirit, and in him thou wilt lay down thy head in peace, who is the Crown of life: And many other words he spoke to G. F. and G. F. to him, which would be too large to mention.  
These words before written, were spoken in the hearing of these witnesses, and several others: 

Isabella Yeamans.  
Bridget Pinder.  
Elizabeth Hopper.  
Sarah Fell.  
Susanna Fell.  
Rachel Fell.  
Agnes Ormandy.  
Edw. Brathwaite.  
Edw. Haistwhittle.    
ANd also dear Friends, this lives in our hearts as a Testimony concerning our dear Friend Robert Jeckell, that God's power was with him, and his presence did attend him, & in much patience the Lord preserved him, in the time of his Sickness, from day to day; and he was in perfect sense and memory, all the time of his weakness; he often saying to us, Dear Friends, give me up, and weep not for me, but be willing to bear a part with me, for I am content with the Lords do, (and leave me not, till you have seen all finished concerning me;) which he has done to the praise of the Lord, and to the great comfort and refreshment of our immortal Souls.  
And he often declared, That he had no pain, but that he saw how he went away by little and little, always lifting up his hands while he had strength, praising the Lord.  
And this is our Testimony, that he is entered into the everlasting fullness of Joy, where there is pleasures for evermore.  
For at the time of his Departure, God's heavenly power did fill our hearts, to our great peace and satisfaction: Insomuch that we can say, Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, for they shall be had in everlasting remembrance; for the Lord sealed it upon our hearts, at the time of his separation, that he had received ●is own with increase.— Praises be to the Lord for ever, who hath been our support, and borne us up, in this our great Exercise; so that we can give encouragement, to all that may meet with the like trial, not to be bowed down, under any Exercise which the Lord may call unto, nor let it into their heart, to question why the Lord doth it; for he is able to sanctify every Exercise, and to make all things easy to them that love and fear his name; to whom be the glory of all for evermore.  
Swarthmore in Lancashire, 14 d. 5 mo. 1676. Bridget Pinder. Elizabeth Hopper.