THE Last WORDS AND TESTIMONIES Of and for William Allen.  
Late of Cowen in Essex, a faithful Servant of the Lord; who finishing his Testimony, departed this Life the 21. of the 11th. Month, 1679.  
LONDON, Printed and sold by Benjamin Clark in George yard, Lombardstreet, 1680.   

The last Testimony and living Words of our dear Friend and Servant of the Lord William Allen, who departed this Life the 21. of the 11th. Month, 1679.  
THe Earth is filled with the glory of the Lord, Praises, Praises, unto my God, who Reigns over all, who hath Redeemed my Soul from the Grave, and my Life from the horrible Pit, who hath plucked my Feet out of the mire and Clay. Glory, Glory be unto thy great Name Oh my good God As for my part I have fought the good Fight, and have kept the Faith, and a large share of the Glory of my God is sealed unto my Soul, it's but an earnest of it that I have here, of that Crown of Life and Glory which my Father hath in store for me.  
It hath pleased the Lord to exercise me, as he did my Father Job for the trial of my Faith and Patience; I have trodden his Steps these twelve Months. A full reward thou hast given me of Life and Glory: Oh my good God how good art thou to me: I have received abundance of good at thy hand, and shall I not receive a little evil? Blessed be thy name for thy goodness; my Cup overflows I cannot utter it. And so continued, at times oft expressing the glory of the Lord, and the Immortality that rested upon him; and charged friends to be faithful, and that the dread of God might always be upon their hearts, that they might answer his Love, in yielding Obedience to his requirings: and then though they might meet with Exercises for the trial of their Faith, yet the Lord would be with them if they abode faithful to the end; And the same Crown of life they should enjoy which he had an assurance of. Therefore (said he) Watch, and keep your Garments and Oil in your Vessels, that ye may be ready to enter with the Bridegroom. But as for those that shall continue in Hypocrisy and Disobedience, eat the Cross of Jesus and neglect to work while it is day; the night will come upon such, and that at unawares, when neither the Father nor the Son works, and the foolish Virgin's state they will be found in: and though they may desire Oil of the Wise, they will have none to spare, ●ut the door will be shut upon such, and the Sentence will be, time shall be no more, than woe and misery will be their Portion for ●ver.  
He divided the word aright to his two Daughters, and giving them good Counsel and Exhortation, said, there was a blessing for ●hem for their Father's sake, if they should bow ●o Truth, and abide faithful therein.  
He longed he said, to hast away, but was ●illing to drink the Cup at his Father's hand, ●nd wait his pleasure  
More was spoken by him, as friends came 〈◊〉 to see him, and as his strength would per●it, which was not taken in writing. Then his speech growing very low, he could not well ●e heard, and seemed for some hours to lie as ●he was departing; at last, he said to a friend, was almost gone, but I cannot go yet, there is ●me secret counsel of God in it, which cauld friends to believe that he had yet a farther testimony to bear to some, which was so; for ●●er some little time, more friends coming in, he was beyond outward likelihood enabled to declare much to them, and exhorted to faithfulness, and said, I am glad to see my friends about me: I go to my God and your God, my Father and your Father; my bosom is full of Love to all my Father's Children. And then said, now Lord Jesus how acceptable is it to leave all the World and be gathered up to thee. And so commiting his Spirit to the Lord, soon fell asleep, and is entered into Rest and Immortal Glory.  
The Testimony of Martha Allen, concerning her deceased Husband William Allen.  
I Have parted with a man of God, a Minister of Jesus Christ, an ancient in Israel, who hath fought the good Fight and kept the Faith, and is entered into his rest. He would often lament for those that set down in an easful State; and would often say, that a terrible day would overtake those that are careless and at ease in Zion that slumbers away their time, who are in the Holes, and Caves, and Dens of the Earth. And in the time of his health (that he was able to go forth and visit friends) he would oft say to me, God hath made me a● Huntsman, I must visit many of them there, as ●n their Holes and Caves, I must be clear of ●heir blood. And would oft speak of the ●ore travel and pangs that he had for some, which made his Soul oft sorrowful, as unto death. So in that truth, light, and life that dwelled in him, am I given up to follow the Lord to the end of my days till my change comes: who am a Companion to all that fears the Lord.  
Martha Allen.  
This is the Testimony that lives in my heart, concerning my dear and well beloved friend William Allen; who died the 21st. day of the 11th. Month 1679. Who in his life time was a man of an upright heart and walked in the integrity of the Gospel of Christ, of which he received a dispensation in the early days of his convincement, about the year 1654. And the Power of the Lord made a speedy change ●n him, and stirred up a Zeal in his Soul against ●he false ways and worships, superstitions and profaneness of those times. Which Zeal for God produced living Testimonies from him in divers Towns and places (where he traveled) against those things which were evil, which sometimes occasioned him to come under hard sufferings, bonds, and imprisonments; In all which he behaved himself as a Faithful and Courageous Soldier of Christ Jesus, and a good example to his fellow sufferers, Preaching the Gospel of peace, both in life and doctrine; stopped the mouths of many gainsayers: And had a sweet and comfortable effect, upon many who were reached in their Consciences by his Testimony and Ministry, and by his innocent Conversation; so that they embraced the Truth he Preached, and suffered for, and became Heirs of the Salvation of God, to their everlasting comfort, and the furtherance of the Gospel.  
I have known him about 24 years, In all which time his Conversation in the Churches of Christ where he was led to labour and travel was amiable and lovely, and his Testimony received with good acceptation among the faithful. He was a man of a severe carriage to such as made a profession of Truth, and walked not with a straight foot in the Gospel; but very tender over all such as were young and under exercises about their inward condition, and did sometimes speak very effectual to their conditions to the easing their afflicted Spiri● as divers have testified, and can testify.  
He was a good example in this Count● where he lived, encouraging friends both b● exhortation and diligence, in observing th● good order of truth to keep things clea● and to keep the Gospel void of offence 〈◊〉 much as in him lay, and after he fell into 〈◊〉 way of trade in the World, his care was 〈◊〉 keep his word, and that men might be paid i● due time according to their expectations. 〈◊〉 which thing it would be well if all the professors of truth would follow his example▪  
He was a man that never exalted himself above his Brethren, but carried a good respect to them, and to their counsel and judgement, according as God had given judgement and wisdom to his Children; neither did h● exercise himself in things too high for him but dwelled in a contented Habitation, in th● measure and dispensation of the Grace an● Gospel committed to him, serving the Lord Jesus and his Church and people therein with out weariness to the end of his days, no● eyeing his own Interest thereby, but in simplicity of heart ministered to every one's condition, according to the leadings of the gift o● God that was in him.  
In fine, His Life and Conversation made ●n lovely, and his End was honourable, and 〈◊〉 is crowned with Immortality and eternal ●fe, and hath left the World in a good age, ●ving attained to about 63 years, and hath ●t an example of Innocency and Sincerity to ●em that are left behind, and blessed will all ●ey be, that in Faithfulness follow the same, ●d fulfil their Race as he hath done, they all also partake of the same Crown of Immortality and eternal Life.  
Steven Crisp.  
Great hath been the lovingkindness of the ●ue God, who after a long night of darkness ●at hath been over the Nations, yet he hath ●t left himself without a Witness, which in ●ery Age and Generation strove with the ●ns and Daughters of men, and bore witness ●to him, and gave men to see what it was ●at he required of them, and in this Age, as 〈◊〉 other Generations, he hath raised up Wit●sses and Ministers, who has born testimony 〈◊〉 the Coming of Christ, and of his being ●ade manifest in Spirit, in the hearts of Men ●d Women; among whom was this faithful servant and Minister William Allen, who is gone to his Rest prepared for him, having ●nished his course in a good time, in the fee●ing of the Power and Majesty of the Lor● of which I am a Witness with him, I bei● with him a few days before his departure when I saw him in great weakness of Bod● yet bearing a sweet and heavenly Image, a● his spirit livingly breathing to God, whi●● brought the day of my tender years (in whi● I first saw him) into my remembrance, wh● first the Lord shined upon me, and gave me sight of the good Land: this man of God b●ing the first public Minister of the Gospel 〈◊〉 Jesus that ever I saw, whose appearance w● beautiful and lovely, and God's Image w● upon him, and he bore the Image of the heavenly; his words were weighty, and gra● Sentences, who looking upon me, and perceiving my weak condition, he breathed u● to God, for my growth and preservation 〈◊〉 the Truth, which (blessed be the Lord,) Go● heard his Prayers, and answered the desire 〈◊〉 his Petition; for indeed I was as a Bran● plucked out of the fire. This was the Love 〈◊〉 the long-suffering God, who waited to 〈◊〉 gracious to the workmanship of his han● Oh Lord keep me in the remembrance of th● ●y for ever, that thy Name may be honoured 〈◊〉 me; for surely thy Love is great, and thy ●ercy endureth for ever to thy seed that ●eaths after thee, and cannot be satisfied without the enjoyment of thee; praises to thy ●ame for ever.  
●orwich the 3d. 1. Mo. 1679/80. John Fediman.  
The Lord having visited a Remnant in our ●ge and Generation, with the knowledge of ●s everlasting Truth, by causing his Day to ●wn from on high, did raise up several faith●●ll Ministers, as Instruments in his hand, for ●e carrying on of his Work, and redeeming ●s people from the Kindred's, Tongues and ●nguages, and from the many byways, ●ere they were scattered upon the barren ●ountains, to bring them to the one Shep●●rd and one Sheepfold, among whom was ●r deceased Friend William Allen, who was ●lled forth near the beginning of the day, ●d endued with a living and powerful Mini●●y, whereby many by him were turned from ●rkness to light, and from Satan's power to ●e power of God, (some of whom remains ●is day as the seal of his Ministry) which though it was not adorned with the words 〈◊〉 man's wisdom, yet it was reaching and convincingly effectual unto many, who we● made sensible of the Life that dwelled in hi● and by which he sounded a certain Alarm 〈◊〉 those he traveled amongst, (being mostly i● Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshir● and Parts adjacent) and was read and understood by the breathing travelling Babes, t● whom he ministered suitably, giving Milk t● them, and Meat to those of riper age, (h● being skilful in dividing the Word aright so that by him the mourners were comforte● and the feeble strengthened and encouraged, t● persevere on in their most holy Faith; but hi● testimony was as a sword to the rebellious and disobedient, and would oft declare, tha● the Message committed to him, was not only to proclaim liberty to the captives, and gla● tidings to the meek, but the day of vengeance of our God, to all that obeyed not the Gospel, that being convinced of the truth, sat● down in a whole-hearted state, and knowing God did not like to retain him in their knowledge, and therefore would oft cry, In a● much as the day hastens, wherein the Lord would take vengeance on such in flames o● fire, Come away, come away, haste, flee for our lives, come out of Babylon, stick not 〈◊〉 her skirts, partake not with her of her sins, ●st you partake of her plagues, but come up, ●ome up to the holy Hill, that you may be●old what the Lord is doing in his Sanctuary, ●ho is creating Jerusalem a praise, and her people a rejoicing, the day being now come ●at was prophesied of, that she should be in●●bited without walls, the Lord himself be●●g a wall of fire round about her, and her ●ory in the midst of her. Therefore let the ●habitants of the Rock now sing, and shout ●oud for joy, for Sion's Light is come, and ●●e Glory of the Lord is risen upon her, and 〈◊〉 now become as an overflowing Stream.  
And it was not only given to him to be●●eve, but also to suffer for the Testimony committed to him, being in perils and prisons oft, ●s at Colchester Castle, being taken at Weathers●eld as he was going to a meeting near that ●own, and committed by Dudley Templar, ●alled Justice, Anno 1658. (as also at Cam●ridge-Castle, Ely, and Lyn) while he was at ●●e Castle at Colchester, (he having after some ●me some liberty granted him) was made serviceable there, sounding forth the everlasting Gospel, so that divers were awaken● and gained to the Truth; amongst others, 〈◊〉 was made instrumental to me, and hath be● as a Father to me for these divers years, see●ing and travelling for ●y preservation in t●● way of life, so that we were near and dear 〈◊〉 one another; and oft have I been refreshe● (with many more) through that stream 〈◊〉 Life that ran through him in the Assemblies 〈◊〉 the Lord's people, so that I can truly say, 〈◊〉 was pleasant to me to sit and hear the sound 〈◊〉 Life through him, his care being (as he wou● oft by way of counsel say to others) to wa● that God might give the breath, (that w● might be as Trumpets in his hand) for the● only it gave a certain sound; his heart w●● upright to God, (and his care was over th● Flock of God, where his lot was cast) who●● glory he sought above all, and hath his reward with him in Glory for ever, though h● met with exercises as to the outward man, (incident to mankind while in this Tabernacle of clay) especially within a year and ha● before his decease, being much afflicted wit● bodily Weakness and Sickness, but would o● say he was content in the Will of his Father and to drink the Cup at his hand. In whic● ●ime he shown forth the Meekness and Patience of him that dwelled in him, and a large share ●e had of his Father Job's exercises, as he ●ould himself say. But the Lord in due time ●eeing it was enough, (and that he had born a ●rge share of the heat of the day) (spending ●nd being spent for the Gospel) put a period ●o his days: Who was filled with the glory of ●he Lord to the last (so that he said he could rout for joy but that he wanted strength of ●ody) which he said was but an earnest of ●hat he should more fully enjoy when this earthly Tabernacle was dissolved. Who now 〈◊〉 entered into his rest and shines as a Star in the firmament, and his memory is blessed, who ●et lives, and with whose Spirit we feel uni●y and Fellowship (though the earthly Tabernacle is returned to its centre) which unity ●sts and endures through ages and generations, ●here the Spirits of just men made perfect are ●elt, that are gone before us; and that life which ●welt in them remains with us; which is our ●oy, Comfort, and Encouragement to persevere on in the way of life: and to us is a certain Testimony that (though the Lord is plea●ed to remove his Servants and Prophets from 〈◊〉) he will not leave nor forsake us, but will still lead his people, as a Flock to the fresh Pastures of life, there to lie down, where none can make afraid; wherein the blessed sense of the overcomings of his love, the holy high praises is offered up unto him who is worthy of it, for all his Mercies and Blessings daily enjoyed, increased, and multiplied upon us, who hath been our preserver and upholder to this very day, and is our stay and strength in the deepest exercises: Blessed are they who keep to him, they never are forsaken. To him be the Glory and Praise for ever.  
John Furly Junior.  
The Testimony of Ann Furly the Elder, concerning our deceased Friend William Allen.  
HE was a man whom God made instrumental to my being convinced of the blessed Truth, and in whom the Power of God much dwelled, his Ministry was a living Ministry, he lived in that which he declared of, he did not only exhort to faithfulness, but he was always found in it himself, he was Valiant upon Earth for God's blessed truth, and as the Lord required it of him he thought not his life dear, but did hazard it many a time; in particular here at Colchester, where he exposed himself to the rage of the cruel Troopers (to the apparent hazard of his life in the time of their sore beating and abusing friends when assembled together (he then openly declaring the truth amongst us) but the secret arm of the Lord preserved him and his people that day, that was no hurt done, for which the Lord was praised for his great deliverance, for it was his Wonderful hand only that effected it. And now after all his labours, the Lord hath given him a good reward and received him up to glory as he will do every one who abides faithful to what he makes manifest.  
Ann Furly the Elder.  
The Testimony of Martha King, concerning our dear Friend William Allen.  
THis dear worthy of the Lord and Valiant in Israel, who engaged in the Lamb's Warfare till he overcame; he was made a● Pillar in the house of God, and as a Trumpet that gave a certain sound; Sounding forth an alarm from God's holy Mountain, whereby many were awakened to righteousness, and their Spirits quickened; and a remnant are the seal of his Ministry at this day; to whom he was an instrument in the hand of the Lord, for the turning their minds from darkness to light, and from Satan's Power to the Power of God. My Spirit is bowed before the Lord, and the cry of my Soul is, that all who were so turned by him may for ever walk worthy of the Lords goodness, and answer his ●arge love to our Souls, so shall we answer the ●abour and travels of this our dear deceased friend, that they be not bestowed upon us in vain, who breathed for the prosperity of Zion, that all whose faces were turned Sion-wards night not look back, nor linger in the Suburbs of Babylon; those that did so, he would oft declare should be left behind, and Amalek should prevail over them.  
Much might be written concerning the bles●ed life and power which dwelled in this our dear friend, wherein he obtained a good increase, through his faithfulness to the Lord: the streaning forth thereof was very sweetly refreshing, ●nd consolating to those whose hearts were tru●y bowed to God.  
Now, this remains, that we follow his steps ●n all faithfulness, holiness, and Godly fear, and pure obedience to the Lord, watching to his Power, having a single eye to him the living fountain, from whence all our refresh come, that we may have bread in our own Houses and water in our own Cisterns, and witness a growth and increase in the increases of God, so shall we also finish our course with joy, and lay down our heads in rest and peace with the Lord as he hath done.  
Martha King.  
OUr dear friend William Allen is gone, and Immortal is his Crown, and he is at rest in his Father's bosom. In his sickness he would say that he was filled with the joy of the Lord, and with the presence of his Father. Our loss is great, for I can truly say that he was an Instrumennt in the hand of God to do good to my Soul, and to many more, and the living presence of the Lord was with him, for our Souls have been refreshed with his living Ministry many a time, and although his body is removed from us, yet we enjoy him in that I which is Immortal, as we abide faithful.  
Susanna Potter. Colchester in Essex. 11th. 1. Mo. 1679/80.  
Dear Friends,  
There is something in my heart to wri●● concerning our dear Friend William Alle● whom the Lord hath taken out of the Bod● but his Life still lives with the upright in heart he was a man that did truly fear the Lord and sought his Glory alone; he turned man● from darkness to light, and from Satan power to the power of God, and there ar● many living Witnesses thereof. The Lord was good to him night and day, beyond what words can declare, and although h● felt Exercises as to the outward man to abound, yet his consolation in the heavenly power much more abounded; for the Lord filled him with the flagons of his Love, and new Wine of the Kingdom, that he was straitened in the earthly Tabernacle, being so filled with the living presence of the Lord, ●●at he would say he wanted room, Let me ●o.  
Much might be spoken as to that living ●ower that wrought in him, and his faithfulness thereunto, and many of his living ●xpressions doth remain with me, as concerning Friends keeping low in the middle ●ath of judgement, where the Redemption ●f Zion comes to be witnessed. But not ●nto us, not unto us, but unto the heavenly ●ower, Spirit and Life, that wrought effectually in him, and preserved him to the ●nd of his days, be all praise, power, dominion, and thanks given, for ever and evermore, Amen, saith my Soul.  
Elizabeth Fryet.  
FINIS.