Departed June 2nd, 1761.

The Great Boy James Oates was born at Norwood Green in 7th Parish of Halifax on September 14th, 1745 and was baptized in the Church of England, but has been amongst the Brethren since childhood, during which state he always bore the character of plain, downright, and honest, and was beloved by the Labourer of the plan wherein he lived and of those by the children’s father who visited him from time to time for his genuine simplicity. He was received into the Great Boys Choir on January 13th, 1760, after which it was obvious that getting a true acquaintance with the Man of Sorrows lay very near his Heart. When he was visited and spoke with from time to time by his Choir Labourers, they always found him the same simple and openhearted course, ardently desiring to become a joy to that heart which broke in death for him; for which reason the close of his conversation with them was generally about coming into the Choirhouse, where he might spend his time uninterrupted by in a true devotion of soul and body to the humanity of Christ, the Boys Choir head and prince. Accordingly, this favour was granted him on April 21st, 1760 to his inexpressible joy. The business which he followed in the Choirhouse was that of a stuffweaver, which he began with his father while at home and exercised great diligence thereat principally with a view to come soon into the Choirhouse and that there he might be as little burdensome as possible. He showed as much diligence at his work here as one could well expect of a boy in his years, but being naturally of an active turn of mind and strong in body he often solicited to be put to another business which required harder labour and more exercise. But this being not convenient according to our circumstances, he was told to pursue that business which he had learned. Herein he showed such an unfeigned obedience, as was exemplary to all of other boys. However, by his continual sitting and faithfulness at his work it is supposed the disorder he got in his bowels was contracted. About a year ago he first began to complain of a pain in his bowels, which sometimes was so violent as to oblige him leave of work and keep to his room, where in obedience he made use of all medicines given to him by our physician, but his desire to be again amongst the boys at his work was sometimes the motive for his saying he was well when it was not entirely so. However his disorder seemingly left him, and he began to gather strength, but secretly his thoughts were principally set upon going home, which he often uttered to his Labours with longing tears and even was so sure of this point, that he desired his companions in the Shop to take notice that he would be at home with our Saviour and his tabernacle laid in the burying ground before next midsummer. This he also told the boy William Ashley when he was waiting for his last kiss last last October. In this situation he went on, improving in the knowledge of himself and acquaintance with that heart who confesses himself to the poor and needy; confident and clear amidst all the sensations of his own poverty and often weeping after the soul of Christ, whose communication he found to be his life. He was received into the congregation on March 23rd of last year, to his great joy and abasement, for he often said when others were received he was not worthy of such a great grace; Soon

after which he began to sicken with his old disorder and was obliged to betake himself entirely to the sickroom. His first thoughts were: now I shall go home, notwithstanding which he was obedient to the physicians in taking everything he prescribed and soon became such a companion to his sickwaiter as he scarcely ever had before for his sinnerlikeness, gratitude, clearness of heart and constancy in the enjoyment of our Saviour. His patience in his sickness and pain was an astonishment to everybody, which was alleviated by nothing but his heart living in the torments, pain, and anguish of his beloved, whose nearness and converse was the occupation of his soul by day and night. If any Brother or Boy wanted to refresh himself, he know not how to do it better than by visiting our dear James Oates, who was always found conversing most intimately with our Saviour with clearness and serenity and oftentimes with tears. In his sleep, this happy converse was not interrupted, but went on in the same track as when awake, being often heard speaking with our Saviour by those who watched with him saying: my good Saviour, my dear Saviour, my best Saviour! There was nothing at all of falsehood or obliquity to be found in him, but that same downright honest openhearted and genuine simplicity shined in all his words and actions constantly panting for the last kiss. On May 9th, he was all the day in ecstasy, continually occupied with our Saviour and his coming so that the hearts of many Brethren who heard him were melted and their eyes overflowed. He often enquired about John Morgan, who lay ready for the departing kiss with him in the same room and expressed his concern for him, wishing him safe with our Saviour. He also mentioned something of the band he kept with John Morgan in the beginning of his sickness and declared of himself how it had been with him and how he had spent his time before he came to the knowledge of our Saviour, that since that time our Saviour slept before his heart, he had loved him with all his might, but was ashamed his love was not stronger, since the friend of his soul had done so much for him and earned his soul and body a thousand times over. Upon being asked whether he would choose to go to our Saviour now or wait until He came to visit the congregation, his answer was: I cannot stay, he has charmed my heart, but if it pleased our Saviour, I would do either; often uttering at intervals: On the first Sight of him personally! and frequently called out sleeping and waking: My Saviour come soon!

While the congregation were enjoying the Lord’s course in the Congregation Hall about 5 Minutes before John Morgan went home (though he knew nothing of Morgan’s Situation), he burst out in this prophetic strain, saying to himself. “Yes, yes, my Saviour, I now see Thou will come soon; yes, I know thou wilt, ay, ay, Thou will, oh yes, I see it very plain, I see Thou art a-coming, ay, ay, Thou art there a-smiling, Thou art coming just now.” When he was told our Saviour had taken John Morgan to himself, he said, I am glad of it and thank him with joy; now I only wish he would soon come and pay me such another visit, the sooner the better.

On the 14th, the boys of his room visited him; he was very lively and told them how happy he was and how much he longed to be at home; he wished none might withhold their hearts from our Saviour, for his sufferings deserved a thousand times more then what they were able to give him, and said how happy it would be it each of them might obtain the favour which he was a candidate for. On being told that perhaps our Saviour had some views with some of them for which they must stay yet longer here below, he replied, “it is very probable, but may they then be good hearts, give him joy and execute his views; as for me, it is my happy lot to go home.” He then made his observations upon some of the boys, and lastly they sung several verses for him, a happy melting feeling attended the Brethren who had the watch with him observing the boy in a gentle slumber, sat down in stillness and fell into a daze, when immediately he was awake again with a dream that our Saviour came into the room and, looking with surprise, found the boy awaked, who called him and asked him, who that was that came into the room and awoke him. The Brother replied, I saw nobody. Yes, says the boy, there somebody did awake me, and I believe it was our Saviour.

On the 21st, when the Meeting was over in which the congregation had been singing “O Jerusalem above” (though unknown to him), he sent for the Labourer and said I only wanted to tell you, I think it cannot be long before our Saviour comes and takes me with him, I have such a feeling of him as I cannot express, only he is very near. This he uttered with a most tender feeling and tears on both sides. Then a band was kept. The conclusion was: I have the best prospect before me, I have not long to continue here, I perceive plainly my friend draws nearer and nearer.

On the 26th, he was uncommonly pretty, talked charmingly about our Saviour and his happiness in him. Awaking from sleep he called out to his sickwaiter and said: Well Charles, now it is all over, now I have no more pain, for I have seen our Saviour, have been with him, kissed his wounds, and he told me he would come again very soon, and take me with him to himself. This he uttered with such a countenance as captivated the sickwaiter. He then desired his Labourer might be called, and when he came into the room he lifted up his weak head and said with a smiling pleasant appearance: I have been with our Saviour, and there was a most charming company with him, and bonnily did they sing, ay bonnily, right bonnily, and pretty it was, I never heard such bonny singing before. Being asked what they sung, he answered with a broken voice: The Wounds, the Wounds of our dear Saviour &and all about his blood and how he suffered, and they also sung, that it was all done for me, and a great deal more, but I cannot tell it you all; I am sure if you had heard it you would say so too, I know he’ll not be long before he comes again and that will be a fine coming for me.

On Monday, June 1st in the morning early, Brother Abraham took his leave of him before he set out upon his journey for Lindsey House. He lay the whole day in a happy sabathic stillness, looking out for his friend & cheering the minds and hearts of everyone who visited him. On the 2nd in the forenoon, he had another happy band with his Labourer about that first moment, when he should embrace the wounded feet of his Saviour and said, I can hold it out no longer, today my joy will be completed. In the afternoon it appeared evident that his beloved bridegroom drew near his heart with smiles of grace, but his speech failing him it was difficult to understand what he uttered. After the Choir Evening blessing the Labourer went up to the sickroom, found him in a manner absent to all about him, uttering something to himself. My dear Saviour, my precious Saviour, my good Saviour, and as soon as that, verse was sung for him. Now he does get permission to leave this mortal tent and he lifted up his eyes with such a charming glance as captivated the minds of all about him, seemingly intimation he looked for his last blessing, whereupon it was imparted to him during the singing of that verse: O thou holy tormented corpse, do as Elisha did, he is the child with a penetrating feeling of the precious nearness of the friend of his soul, in whose arms and bosom he fell softly and happily asleep without any other signs then of a person dosing into the most agreeable slumber with the blessing of his Choir in the 16th year of his age.