THOMAS BENNETT, JOHN STORR, JOSEPH EGLIN, THOMAS PERKINSON, JOSEPH WRIGHT, SAMUEL BRISCOE, JOHN TURNER, JOSHUA ROBINSON, THOMAS PRIESTMAN, and divers other Friends. A TESTIMONY OF THE MONTHLY-MEETING OF FRIENDS _Held in_ Burlington, _the first Day of the eighth Month, in the Year of our Lord 1774, concerning our esteemed Friend,_ JOHN WOOLMAN, DECEASED He was born in _Northampton_, in the County of _Burlington_, and Province of _West-New-Jersey_, in the eighth Month, 1720, of religious Parents, who instructed him very early in the Principles of the _Christian_ Religion, as professed by the People called _Quakers_, which he esteemed a Blessing to him, even in his young Years, tending to preserve him from the Infection of wicked Children; but, through the Workings of the Enemy, and Levity incident to Youth, he frequently deviated from those parental Precepts, by which he laid a renewed Foundation for Repentance, that was finally succeeded by a godly Sorrow not to be repented of, and so became acquainted with that sanctifying Power which qualifies for true Gospel Ministry, into which he was called about the twenty-second year of his Age; and, by a faithful Use of the Talents committed to him, he experienced an Increase, until he arrived at the State of a Father, capable of dividing the Word aright to the different States he ministered unto; dispensing Milk to Babes, and Meat to those of riper Years. Thus he found the Efficacy of that Power to arise, which, in his own Expressions, "prepares the Creature to stand like a Trumpet through which the Lord speaks to his People."--He was a loving Husband, a tender Father, and very humane to every Part of the Creation under his Care. His Concern for the Poor and those in Affliction was evident by his Visits to them; whom he frequently relieved by his Assistance and Charity. He was for many Years deeply exercised on Account of the poor enslaved _Africans_, whose Cause, as he sometimes mentioned, lay almost continually upon him, and to obtain Liberty to those Captives, he laboured both in public and private; and was favoured to see his Endeavours crowned with considerable Success. He was particularly desirous that Friends should not be instrumental to lay Burthens on this oppressed People, but remember the Days of suffering from which they had been providentially delivered; that, if Times of Trouble should return, no Injustice dealt to those in Slavery might rise in Judgment against us, but, being clear, we might on such Occasions address the Almighty with a degree of Confidence, for his Interposition and Relief; being particularly careful, as to himself, not to countenance Slavery even by the Use of those Conveniences of Life which were furnished by their Labour.