I had my Heart several times in a good frame of Prayer Fifthly I learned f om Psal 149.2.4 How it is mutually between God and his People they joy in him and he take pleasure in them I also was thinking of the grounds of Saints doubts about their salvation viz. Ignorance in the Covenant of grace want of observing their Hearts of keeping up Holiness Slothfulness and favouring some secret sin and not profiting by ordinances I was noting that the wicked are not ashamed to profess that they endeavour hurt to the righteous without a cause Prov. 1.11 and that the godly should gâ—ow more bold by how much the more their afflictions increase 1. Thess 2.2 I had my heart this day so tned in Pâ—â—yer I was this day convinced of the negligence in that duty of desiring to see the Faces of the Saints as Paul did 1. Thess 3.11 I received a special Letter this day from our dear Brother I. B. which suited much with my condition and judgement I learned a word from one that I could not expect such words viz. I did not heretofore prize neither great things that were temporal of spiritual but now I prize the least things of either sort from 2. Cor. 7. chap. 4 5 6. I observed 1. That in the greatest trouble Gods People may have the greatest comforts 2. That their comfort is originally from God 3. That God may send in these comforts at such times and in such a manner as they expect not this Evening my Soul was a little refreshed by divers promises and softned in Prayer Being the Lords day I observed from Prov. 3.16 In all thy wayes acknowledge him that godliness is an eying of God owning of God imitating of God and respecting of God in all our wayes and upon the consideration of these two following questions I had many thoughts some of which were refreshing and satisfying to me from the first question how we may know that we have received real good benefit by our afflictions Secondly How we may know when God doth afflict in Love and Faithfulness Psal 119.75.71 also divers other meditations from Rev. 12.10 They overcame by the word of their testimony and by the Blood of the Lamb c. and concerning the spiritual Race which a Christian is to run I had some enlargedness and tenderness of heart God according to his usual way and dealing with me foreseeing what I could not to wit more approaching affliction did this day administer an Antidote even comfort by Letters from the hands of several special Freinds also those words keep sound wisdome keep my saying in the midest of thine heart and keep thy heart with all diligence were I adjudged words worthy of observation hearing this Evening of a gratious Brother and Preacher sickness my heart was moved earnestly to pray for him I observed in the Morning a special exhortaion out of Prov. 5.1 My Son attend unto my wisdome and bow thine Ear unto my understanding also verse the 23. that sin is a great folly so chap. 18.13 Judg. 19.23 This day I received a sad Letter from a Brother T. E. that is turned Quaker which added much â—o my affliction the good Lord shew him the E â—or of his way and humble and reclaim him this day I was sensible of my aptness to be angry and was put seriously to enquire into the voice and will of God by these additional afflictions and I find a need of the continuance of them and my heart brought into a more submissive frame to bear and suffer his Rod. This day I bless the Lord was a good day to my Soul I had enlargedness and much freeness with some measure of softness and earnestness in Prayer especially for the Saints of God and perticularly for my own country Christians I had also a strong resolution to watch my self more carefully and do my duty more diligently then formerly out of Prov 7. I observed several helps or means to prevent and preserve the Soul from sin viz. 1. A laying up the Commandements in the Heart 2. A looking on them or eying of them 3. Getting endeared affection to Christ 4. By taking heed of the occasions thereof This day was but a flat drowsie day to my Soul nor great good gained but sin and grace not discernably active and affections unwarmed and unquickened yet convinced of lost time and comforted a little from 1 Thess 4. With thoughts of Christs coming I was this morning instructed from wisdomes words Prov. 8.8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness and there is nothing froward in them that I should take more heed for the time to come of a froward Month and Tongue this day also I hope I can humbly say it I injoyed the Lord both in Meditation and Prayer and being sensible of the want of skil in beleiving and more diligence in sanctification and thereupon I am resolved through grace and hope to be enabled to take more heed to my ways and as the Lord also presented that Scripture to me Thess 5.15 But ever follow that which is good This day I had a check in my Spirit for lightness of heart and besides an outward special Providence I observed I learned from the sin I saw and heard of in others to loath or at least desired to loath it in my self I also observed from Prov. 9.18 That one main Reason why People do not leave sin is because they do not know or consider the punishment of sin also what a commendable thing it is for Christians to be patient and beleiving in all Persecution and Tribulations Thess 2.1 chap. 4. This day being the Lords day through Gods grace I had my heart much softened and enlarged to call upon God especially one time I observed also that that want of the love to the truth and love to unrighteousness are the causes of men falling from the faith 2. Thess 2.10.12 also anoâ—her excellent Lesson from that word 2. Thess 3 1â— where he speaks of busie Bodies which signifies properly to be too intent about the work we should not be This dâ—â— I had my heart set somewhat upon the consideration hâ— t vâ— p â—â—â—s Pâ—ov 11.2 12 13. The â—ust â—hall be delâ—veâ—ed and the just shall be saved on of troubâ—e 〈◊〉 dâ— I was noâ—eing a great difference between having the light and the love of the truth this day I received an Answer from a Christian Freind of a Bâ—others business of concernment which signified his love and care and increased my affection to him I was somewhat affected also with the sweet Counsel of Christ to the Church of Sardis I had my Soul in some good frame especially in Prayer and comfort from the consideration of the promises in Psal 1.3 That the good man shall bear Fruit and that his Fruit shall not wither and Isa 49.25 and Jer. 33.20 From the stability of the Covenant I likewise considered 1. That there is that in Christ which answers
and tribulations inward and outward by Sin World Satan and the gracious supports under all Thirdly In his Narraritical dedication to the Ministry wherein his dexterous and eminent skill unwearied activity singular faithfulness and admirable success appeared beyond many Fourthly In the perils hazards jeopardies persecutions imprisonments that he underwent for the Gospel insomuch that it is conceived it may be as truly said of him as any since the primitive days what was said of the Apostle Paul 2 Cor. 6.4 c. 11.26 c. You have some account of him not only in his heart-walk but in his House Church and Generation walk also First You have some discovery of his heart-walk out of some part of his Diary wherein you find his vigilant vigorous and steady watch not only to improve the motions of the spirit but to withstand the motions of sin and Satan his close and hard persuit after God by all ways means to keep the heart clean and the life holy to keep up grace in the act godliness in the power thereof observing daily his spiritual experiences both in his gettings losings Secondly You have some account also of him in his family-walk which so much be speaks the Christian wherein you find him as a man of knowledge filling up every Relation in the fear of God managing his affairs with discretion doing not only the things that were just and equal but singular also Designing with Joshua that he and his house might serve the Lord which he cared for in the first place witnessing therein a singular love and regard to all the souls under his roof A strict and zealous observer of the Sabbath a great lover of Hospitality administring with liberal heart and hand to all especially to the household of Faith insomuch that the blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon him causing the widows heart to sing for joy eyes to the blind feet to the lame a father to the poor and the cause he knew not he searched out Job 29.30 31. and so divising liberal things by liberal things he stood Thirdly You have some thing of him also in his Church-walk wherein he approved himself a workman that needed not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word to every one a portion giving bread in due season taking heed to himself and to all the Flock over which the Holy Ghost had made him an Overseer to feed the Church of God which he purchased with his own blood taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind And having the word of God dwelling richly with him in all wisdom did teach and admonish in Psalms Hymns and spiritual Songs A true lover and an affectionate promoter of peace and holiness a zealous and impartial withstander of sin errour and prophaness One that had dexterous skill to get into the hearts of sinners And one to whom the Lord had given the tongue of the Learned that knew how to speak a word in due season to him that was weary very compassionate and tender hearted full of true sympothy and fellow feeling under all weaknesses and temptations that attended any being experimentally able to administer consolation by the comfort wherewith he himself under many tryals had been supported and comforted by the Lord. Fourthly You have some account also how he behaved himself in his Generation-Walk wherein you will find he witnessed in a publick spirit much sincere love to his Country great faithfulness courage and activity to the Cause and Interest of Christ as it was stated for him against Antichrist and so covenanted for pleaded in his day And in the asserting and managing thereof it may be said of him that he bore in his Body the marks of our Lord Jesus and to which he was faithful from first to last even to death And not with so many that appeared so zealously cursing Merozat first for not helping the Lord against the mighty and soon after fell in with the mighty against the Lord Nor with so many Princes Elders and Father's contrary to former Covenants and Ingagements who made a Captain to go back again into Aegypt to the building again the things that they had pulled down and pulling down the things they had built But did in that day of tryal you 'll find as zealously and impartially withstand his Friends for Hypocrisy and Apostacy as others for Prophaness and Superstition foretelling and lamenting such steps as the certain foundation of ruine and confusion Neither did â—e see cause as an evil doer in reproach to Christ and his cause pleaded by him to beg and give thanks for pardon for serving of him Nor to deny forsake and forswear his Master and Crucified Cause but with courage and faithfulness you 'll find him â—earing of and rejoycing under the Cross owning and confessing him as well at Gibbet and in the Supulchre as when the Hosannahs were sung to him And so keeping the word of his patience serving his Generation according to the will of God he fell asleep dying in the assured Faith and Hope of the Resurrection of that Cause that he had so done and suffered for so lived and dyed in It is true under all the Worth and Excellency spoken of you 'll find him also a man of like passions with his Brethren and not without his infirmities having all this Heavenly Treasure in an Earthen Vessel and being a Son of Adam as well as a man of God that he might not be esteemed of more than was meet and that Christ alone might have the preheminency to be the great Example and to be imitated in all things the best of men being no otherwise to be followed than as they follow Christ because as saith the Apostle in many things we offend all The natural infirmity that he much groaned under and complained of was passion and rashness and which he would when overtaken with make haste out of and with due acknowledgements for his evil therein return speedily to a sweet frame and temper again It remains that since the pleasure of the Lord is thus manifested in the removing such a Father with many other such like eminent ones a late from us that the due improvement of such sad providences be endeavoured according to the ends before hinted whereby our holy Powels excellent Bridges worthy Blakes faithful Woods may yet though dead live and preach to us and may be a means to help forward the cry of doubling the spirit of the Elias's that are taken away upon the Elisha's remaining Mr. POWEL'S ACCOUNT OF HIS Conversion and Ministry Some Remarkable Passages in the Life of Mr. Vavasor Powel from his Conversion to his Death being the space of 30 years and upwards written with his own hand and found with the Confession of his Faith and other Memorable occurrences among his Papers TIll the twentieth Year of my age though I was trained up in learning from my Childhood
day I injoyed much consolation both from the Scripture specially Psal 37.24.35.39 Though he fall meaning the good man he shall not utterly be cast down nor condemn him when he is judged but the salvation of the Righteous is from the Lord he is their strength in the time of trouble and the Lord shall help them and deliver them he shall deliver them from the wicked and save them because they trust in him also by conference that day with several persons yet in the Evening I had strong assaults from Satan from which the Lord did in part deliver me but yet much trouble from my own Evil heart the four following lessons I was desirous to learn this Evening 1. To get my Soul more setled in the assurance and apprehension of salvation 2. More sensible of my own and other mens sins and my own and other mens sufferings 3. More humbled for my unprofitableness in my imprisonment 4. More willing to dye and more mindful of death This day I received and unexpected mercy and was prevented from a temptation which made my heart rejoyce and preventing grace especially that which prevented from sin have been frequently cause of rejoycing to me This day I had little change in the frame of my Spirit either to good or Evil but some sence I had of my own weakness yet I had some comfort from those words Psal 40.17 but I am poor and needy yet the Lord thinketh on me and Psal 42.8 Yet the Lord will command his loving kindness and his Song shall be with me and my Prayer unto the God of my life This day I had a good and comfortable day to my Soul especially in Prayer Four things I saw cause to be humbled for First that I had not more sence of the sins and sufferings of Gods People or of my own Secondly That the Works Glory Wayes Ordinances People of the Lord are in such Contempt Thirdly that there is no more Stability Zeal and Courage in the Saints for good and against Evil. Fourthly That there continues still such darkness upon and divisions amongst Christians I had it much in my Heart to desire two things from the Lord viz. First Power against my sin Secondly Preparation for sufferings This day I was much troubled for hearing one sweare several Oaths and not reproving him for the same and convinced also from Psal 50.7 Hear O Israel and I will testifie against thee I am God even thy God that God had many things against me in particular and I was convinced providencially of one cause of my sufferings Being a day to seek the Lord in private Prayer I had my Heart somewhat softned and yet I was troubled it continued so hard and I learned from the 2. Cro. 6.37 That I should in this my suffering bethink my self both what I was and what I had done that I should pray more earnestly and turn more throughly and perfectly unto the Lord and that Evening I could and did pray most heartily for my Enemies and Persecutors This day being the Lords day I had several times refreshings from the Lord in Prayer and in speaking his word and that word in Iob. 10.14 Was set with weight upon my Heart If I sin thou markest me and wilt not acquit me from my iniquity I learned thence what a dangerous thing it is to sin under affliction and the dangers did appear much by that place in Lev. 26.36 And upon them that are left alive of you meaning those that were unaffliction verse the 26. I will send a faintness in their Hearts c. The same day I had a consideration of the great evil of sinning against the Lord after assurance This day I observed these words Psal 59.3 For loe they lye in wait Davids Enemies for my Soul the mighty are gathered against me not for my transgression nor for my sin O Lord I could truely and with comfort say that mine Enemies did persecute me but not for my sin or transgression which is a comfort to me this day also by a special providence God brought a dear Friend who praying wit me my Heart was much affected and melted This day in the morning my Heart was very free to pray for my Persecutors and Enemies as freely and really is I was to seek and receive pardon for my own sins I had power also to apply those words to my self Psal 62.2 He is onely my Rock and my Salvation he is my defence I shall not greatly by moved and in verse 6. I shall not be moved God did bring this Scripture as an Antidote for that Evening there came several persons one after another to tell me that I and several others were to be tryed at the Sessions and I observed that my Heart was very little moved thereat but could willingly refer my self to the Lord and be quiet in and contented with his will though never so contrary to my own carnal and natural will This Evening in discourseing with a poor Christian antient woman I found by the tenderness of Heart the had for sin and her zeal for God that she was in a far better temper of Spirit then I was in which helped on my Humility somewhat this Evening also I had some power to resist Temptation and to check Corruption I had my Heart enlargned and softned in Prayer and through Gods goodness was much freed from Temptations yet had some bodily distemper but I judged it very little and light in comparison of what it might be I experienced the Lords coming in and especially in Prayer I observed that Scripture Psal 68.28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength strengthen O God that which thou hast wrought for us yet this Evening I was moved to passion This day spent so most part in writing Letters for Christian Freinds at some of which my Heart was moved having a great desire that they might continue in the Faith and stand fast in the Lord. This day I was affected with some ill news I heard and my heart was moved with pitty towards some in affliction I had some comfort from Psal 69. verse 36.29 Those whom thou hast wounded he persecuted and afflicted are those whom God hath wounded and though poor and sorrowful yet his salvation will set them up on high but especially from verse the 32. Their Hearts shall live that seek God and this day in observing the Characters which a godly Preacher gives in his Book of those that have their sins pardoned that they are those that seek pardon wait in the use of means till they obtain it they do freely pardon others and they do love God for his pardoning goodness all which in a measure through free grace I found in me also Psal 71.20 Thou wilt bring me up again c. was very refreshing to me This day being the Lords day I had several considerations of the Sabboth as it was a sign between God and his People Exod. 31.13.17 Ezek. 20.12.17 A sign of his favour
THE Life and Death OF Mr. VAVASOR POWELL THAT Faithful Minister and Confessor of JESUS CHRIST Wherein his Eminent Conversion Laborious Successful Ministry Excellent Conversation Confession of Faith Worthy Sayings Choice Experiences Various Sufferings and other Remarkable Passages in his Life and at his Death are faithfully Recorded for Publick benefit WITH Some ELOGIES and EPITAPHS by His FRIENDS Heb. 11.4 Who being dead yet speaketh 11.38 Of whom the World was not worthy Rev. 14.13 Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord they rest from their Labours and their Works follow them Printed in the Year MDCLXXI An Advertisement to the Reader MR. Powel a little before his death spent much time and pains in the composing a new Concordance to the Holy Bible with the chief Acceptations of the principal words in the Old and New Testament having also added marks to distinguish the Commands Promises and Threatnings The same is now Printed for publick good and to be had bound up with the Bible in 8to or in 12 o. at Booksellers Shops in London c. Also bound alone at 2 s. in 12 o. and 2 s. 6 d. in 8to being more usefull than any extant of like volume THE PREFACE THe holy Spirit tells us that whilst the wicked are to perish as their own dung their names rot and memories blotted out and cut off from the Earth That the memory of the Just is to be blessed to be had in everlasting remembrance and as an eternal excelleny they are to be the joy of many Generations And therefore is it that the Pen men of the Scripture have been so careful to transmit to posterity so faithful an account of the Worthies of former Generations to instruct others no doubt in like manner to Record and Preserve the memories of Worthy men in after Generations And surely not without special design of singular use and advantage when we consider First how much it tends to vindicate and preserve the precious savour of their names who for righteousness sake have been vilified and reproached cast out as evil and esteemed as Dung and off scouring And Secondly How much God is like to be glorified on their behalf for puttting so much Heavenly Treasure in Earthen Vessels and so fully magnifying his grace in them and by them Thirdly and especially by the holding forth thos Virtues Graces and Excellencies that shined in them they may though dead yet be speaking and so become living Monuments Patterns Examples and Preachers to them that come after them So that their Faith Love Patience Humility Zeal Courage Wisdom Temperance may provoke instruct and comfort many Their Temptations Tribulations patient Sufferings and Experiences help and strengthen more And of admirable use to the Church no doubt in all ages have been the Books of Martyrs and Lives of the Eminent Saints and Confessors that have done and suffered worthily in their dayes Men for the most part being apter to be Governed by Example than by Precept And therefore are those frequent and special Exhortations Heb. 6.9 Be ye followers of them who through faith and patience have inherited Promises Jam. 5.10 Take my Brethren the Prophets who have spoken to you in the name of the Lord for an Example of suffering affliction and of patience Heb. 13.7 Remember them which had the rule over you whose faith follow considering the end of their conversation Prov. 2.20 That thou mayest walk in the wayes of good men and keep the paths of the Righteous Cant. 1.8 Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the Flock Psal 37.37 Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace Heb. 12.1 Wherefore seeing we are also compassed about with so great a Cloud of Witnesses viz. the Catalogue of Eminent Saints Martyrs Confessors in the former Chapter let us lay aside after their Example every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset and let us run with patience the race set before us looking as especially unto Jesus Heb. 12.2 So also to Abraham our Father Es 51.1 That we may walk in his Steps Rom. 4.12 The good Kings in Israel took David for their Pattern and therefore are said to do right as did David their Father walking in his way The evil Kings were said not to walk with him but taking Jeroboam for their Example to follow his steps Fourthly A faithful record of the worth and excellency of good men is of excellent use to help forward the conviction or agravate and further the condemnation of malicious Persecutors who may thereby better understand who they are they have gone forth against what Persons of honour worth and renown and how like the Children of Kings Judg. 8.18 And that the reason of their so lifting up hand and heel against them is no other than theirs of old mentioned 1 Joh. 3.12 Joh. 5.16 Joh. 15.18 19 21. Joh. 16.2 3. 8.44 1 Cor. 2.8 Joh. 7.7 Psal 35.7 And to be informed therefore of that undoubted wrath and vengeance that will certainly overtake all such who not only imbrue their hands in the innocent blood of the Righteous in their day which cries for vengeance against them but become guilty also of all the blood that from the beginning of the World upon like account and in like spirit hath been shed as Mat. 23.34 35. And that what evil in word or deed hath been done to any of the Saints upon the account of Righteousness is reckoned as done to the very person of Christ Mat. 25.31 c. Fifthly That Gods displeasure and voyce of his Rod to the Generation where such stroaks are may be the better felt heard and layed to heart where such persons of worth and excellency are snatcht away such Angels Ambassadours Fathers recalled such shining Stars burning Lights savoury Salt taken away such Chariots and Horsemen of Israel removed foretelling greater judgements also neer at hand and loudly calling for due search after the cause Jer. 2.20 as well as a true repentance and speedy reformation for the same And so is the preserved Memory of the Just blessed to the glory of God to present and future Generations to Saints and Sinners good and bad here and hereafter in this World and that which is to come In which blessed Service is this designed undertaking to be adding another Link to the Chain of Worthies another Witness to the Cloud of Witnesses by endeavouring hereby to recommend and preserve his precious Memory who by the account yet obtained of him you will perceive hath attained so good a degree done so worthily in Ephraâ—a and famously in Bethlehem and certainly obtained a name if not with the three yet among the thirty of our Davids Worthies Which may be more obvious when you consider what is faithfully said of him First In his eminent Conversion who was taken in his Enmity and prophaness led gradually through legal darkness terrours and bonds to Gospel light love and liberty Secondly In his signal temptations
by visible representations and outwardly real apparitions At this time and long after he also shewed me my sins in their number and nature to be such and so many as that there was no pardon for them and therefore tempted me oft and divers wayes to destroy myself Sometimes by casting my self into a River to drown my self whither he brought me and whilst I reasoned the case with him this was frequently his motive to me the fewer sins I committed in this world and the shorter time I lived in it the less would be my torment He often tempted me also to destroy my self with a knife so that I was often necessitated to fling it out of my hand when I was at meat alone in my Chamber to rise from my meat for fear so that I durst not for some time carry a Knife with me But when the Lord did relieve sometimes by one means and sometimes by another I was strengthned with this resolution that God should do what he would with me for I would never do as Judas did destroy myself When Satan saw that he was disappointed in that temptation then he told me that I was a Reprobate and let me profess what I would my Damnation was sure and my hypocrisie and sinnes under profession would be worse than any other sinnes and therefore it were better of the two to lay down my profession and the duties thereof to that temptation the Lord helped me to answer him thus That whilst I lived in scandalous sins he never thus tempted me and I was resolved if I knew God would Damn me yet to have as few sins as I could to answer for hereafter When these temptations failed then he began to raise up Persecution against me as one day going through the Town where I was born from Kingston to Lanvaire-waterdine I met with two Gentlemen Kinsmen of mine in their drunkenness who called ' upon me to come to them and without any the least provoking word or carriage they fell both upon me and one of them with a Crab-tree Cudgel wounded me sore and their pretence was I had reproved them for sinne but God raised me up and gave me a heart freely to forgive them Another time four men laid wait in a secret place as I went upon a Lords day in a morning to the Ordinance with several weapons being all of them as was confesseed by one of them afterwards under a vow to kill me but God by his providence prevented them in sending two Strangers unexpected to help who riding before discovered them wherupon they fled yet vented their malice upon some other Christians whom they wounded But one of them that day came to a Meeting and in hearing of me was so convinced of his sinne that he was seen and heard publickly to repent for what he had done and never after was known to persecute any Another time a very wicked man entered into an Oath that when ever he met with me he would kill me he waited his opportunity dwelling near me several times to do it and one Lords day he went to the place where I preached with a full intention either at my going or returning home to execute his purpose but being at the Sermon and hearing Christ so freely offered to sinners the word did so affect him that he wept saying within himself what a villain am I to intend evil against such a man And the next day in the morning very early he came to the house where I lodged desiring to speak with me in private and with tears confessed this to me and desired me to pardon him and pray for him and ever after was very friendly to me Another time being in Brecknock-shire at an honest mans house I preached to several that were then together my Text was in Ezek. 34.16 from which I observed That though the little Flock of Christ be despised and dispersed yet they shall be gathered prised and preserved As I was handling this Doctrine about twelve or sixteen lusty rude Roysters broke into the house and did several times attempt to offer violence to my self and to the rest of the Brethren with me but it pleased God to restrain them at length by the procurement of Mr. Hugh Floyd the High Sheriff for the year I was bound over to the Sessions and an indictment preferr'd against me wherein I was accused first for drawing away the Kings Subjects Secondly for speaking against the Book of Common-Prayer Thirdly for Sacrilege Which last accusation was grounded upon the drawing down of a Meeting-house door by me and the Church-Wardens that the people which came in a great croud might hear with the better convenience but the Lord did so own his own Cause and me the unworthiest of his Servants that I was then delivered also Yet finding the persecution so hot against me that I could not be permitted to serve the Lord there I did by the advice of my Brethren leave my Native Countrey of Wales and by the guidance and providence of God was carried and conducted safely to London where I arrived in August Anno 1642. Another time as I was preaching upon the side of a Hill being denyed leave in a publick place a company of Roysters came with swords slaves and fowling-pieces and after some opposition one of them cryed down with him down with him but the Lord stirred up some of the people to preserve me and prevent them Another time a wicked Butcher who had long threatned me laying wait as it seems for me he one night stood in a narrow passage through which I was to come with a great Clubb but his blow falling short of me by the protection of God I escaped his hands During my abode in London where I continued Preaching for above two years I had great experience of Gods goodness in providing for me and in succeeding my Ministry to the spiritual good and conversion of many but the greatest of all my mercies since my conversion are as follows concerning the time and manner of my obtaining assurance After I had been about four years in constant doubts and great fears as to my eternal condition being often times tempted by Satan to destroy my self and Preaching also to others shaking and terrifying Doctrines particularly out of Luke 11.21 Take heed lesâ— the Light that be in thee be Darkness At that time for a Months space or above I was verey sad melancholy and much troubled neglecting to eat drink or sleep and this was occasioned principly through the apprehension I had of that distance which I saw to be between Christ and my soul which was set home upon my heart with much power from these words Cant. 2.9 Behold he stands behind our Wall he looked through the window upon me For I looked upon a Wall to be between Christ and my soul then me thought he came nearer and looked through the window upon me whilst I was in this estate refusing to be comforted the all-wise God
that you shall shortly reach Immortality but never Eternity Make Christ your all and you will be sure to lay down your self all Consider that when you are not assaulted with Temptaions Satan is damming and pounding and and he will suddenly draw up his Sluce and let loose upon you Satan doth not like God warn before he strike Christ work is Wages his Service perfect freedom The Love of the Master the sweetness of the Service and the greatness of the reward are sufficient incouragements to serve Christ A Christians security and safety is in doing his duty and he should study his duty more then his safety He that loves not Christ more then his Lust or his Life is like to lose Christ and his Life but he that loves Christ more then his Life shall be sure to save and keep both Strive greatly to have and to exercise a good Conscience towards God and Men and commit by Soul Life and Cause to the Lord and to exâ—â—ct the worst of Men and the best of Christ Christ is â—â—â—o the Soul as the Loadstone to the â—on drawing it to it self or the Cristial to the other â—tones putting Beauty and Lustre on them A Christian beholds Christ in the deepest Afflictiâ—n as well as in the most spiritual Ordinance Corruptions are like Worms in the Maw or Stoâ—ach which will eat through the Soul unless scatâ—red killed and purged out The only way some times for a Christian to avoid the force of Temptation is Souldier Like to fall down on his face when he sees the Cannon or Musket fired against him Make haste to do thy work Christian and God will make haste to give thee thy Wages Thou must dye once whether thou suffer or no and thou canst dye but once if thou suffer The sins of Saints are new sufferings to Jesus Christ and the sufferings of Saints are the Wounds of Christ Reading the Scriptures helps Meditation Meditation Prayer and Prayer every good work Men may come too late to God when the Door is shut but God never comes too late to Men. Let the Child be contented to take the Breast the Mother will give it and then it shall have both so be contented with what Christ gives you and you shall want nothing To see the want of Grace is much the worth of Grace more T is hard to get Grace hard to get assurance of Grace hard to use it and not abuse it T is very hard to behold our own Gift without Pride and the Gifts of others if they excel ours without Envy Do not commend thy Freind nor discommend thy Foe too much least thou be judged to be partial He commands most and best that commads in Love Humility and Self-denyingly He hath not learned to rule that hath not learningâ—ed to obey An even through Paced Self-fearing Heart melt-Christian is always best The world is a great nothing deluding the bad disturbing and distracting the good Satan works more upon men by sleight then by might avoid his cunning and thou wilt avoid his cruelty Hypocrites Hearts are like stinking Ponds wherein Frogs live and Fish dye Lusts feed and Grace if it were there starves The Devil is like the Turkycock or Crocodile if you turn upon him he will fly from you but you fly from him he will pursue you It is better sometimes to sleight the Devil then to fight him Thoughts of our own death will tend much to deaden sin God hath set the Tongue between the Brains and Heart that it may advice with both and within two Guards to keep it in and yet it is unruly Prayer is a good preparative to suffering when Christ had prayed he went out to meet Judas Ioh. 18.4 Ruffling opinion sowing and Church railing Persons and Professors have commonly more Self then Grace It is the duty of a Christian to suppress and search himself when he doth not know Evil by himself Christ and Sin are most magnified in the Eyes of Believers in their afflictions but in a different manner and to a different end and then Christ is most desired and Sin most dispised A Christian should earnestly desire that his sin might sit in a white Cloud and that he might go out of the World as a Perfume and not as a Snuff The holy Law of God teaches a Man to see his own Deformity and requires from him a Conformity Sin is like a sleepy Lion in the Soul which Temptation soon awakens Christ puts most of his Oyle in broken Vessels in broken Hearts there is most Grace and best kept The less a man strives for himself the more will Christ strive for him Oh my Soul look for death hourly long for it greatly prepare for it carefully meet and welcome it joyfully for it is Christs part to direct his Spouse the Soul to him and thy Freind that comes to set thee at liberty from thy sins discharge thee from thy Pâ—ison dismiss thee from thy Debts and bring thee at once to enjoy all thy desires Oh Lord as a sign that I shall be able to dye for thee let me find my Corruption dying in me by power from thee He that will not take Example shall make an Example Afflictions are Christs Love Tokens Jer. 12.7 Heb. 12.6 Rev. 3.9 and Christians are never more tendred then when most afflicted as Ephraim Jer. 31.20 A Christians Soul should be like the Dial going according to the Sun or following Christ Small sins yeilded too make way for greater and one sin for another He that converts a Sinner covers a world or multitude of sins and gains more then a World to wit a Soul Saints should labour to Lord it over their Corruptions as their Corruptions did formerly Lord it over them God hath given a Man a little Mouth and a narrow Throat that Man may not exced in eating To take pains about unnecessary and unprofitable things is laboriously to mispend time Zeal without Knowledge to guide it is like mettle in a blind Horse which stumbles and overthrows the Rider Young Christians commonly want a Curb and old Christians a Spur. Be not ambitions of Love and thou shalt not be so soon an object of Envy It is good to curb natural and acquired Gifts but to give the Reins to Grace and let alwayes Grace lead rule and master Gifts A Heart unconverted is contended with nothing but what is helping it unto Hell and it hath never enough of that very sin and the Heart converted is never satisfied but with what helps it towards Heaven and yet thinks he hath never enough thereof viz. Christ and Grace Welcome thou thy Landlord Christ into thy Cottage now and he will welcome thee into thy Palace hereafter Get Christ and Christian to bind thy Conscience to the peace and thy Affections and Flesh to the good behaviour Spend all thy Grace against thy Lust but none for it Thy hardest duty in Christianity is to deny self and to destroy sin As the Martyr
that I resolve some things I have not power to do This day I learned in the morning three things 1. His coming into the World 2. His walking before and living in this world rightly 3. His departure out of this world also this day in the Evening the Lord shewed me kindness in some degree and I had the consideration of the state to others upon my heart yet I was convinced that I wanted more softness of Heart Though this day was somewhat painful to my body yet I had some refreshing thereon to my Soul for 1. I observed out of Heb. 12.16 Encouragement to suffer also inquiries into Beleiveâ—s building upon the true Foundation from Math. 7.24 withal many comforts from Christs carriage between his Resurrection and Ascention from this day to the 29. I observed not much save that my heart was in an ordinary Frame not much elivated in good nor cast down with evil God moved my heart to praise him for his mercy the night before and indeed it was worthy of praise and I found a very great encouragement in my spirit to the Lord for it this day I received divers Letters from my Freinds in the Country which were very refreshing and the Lord came very seasonable into my Soul through many expressions in Psal 91. It pleased the Lord this day to draw forth and to inlarge my heart much in Prayer with many tears and from the 1. Kings and Ier. 50.20 To comfort me much in respect of the pâ—â—â—â—n of sin also to consider four Lessons 1. To be think my self more of the sins I had committed 2. To confess thâ—m more sensibly 3. To turn from them more effectually 4. To look upon it as a work of Christ a it was to the Preists under the Law to cleanse the Sanctuary either the Churches of God of the hearts oâ— his People 2. Chron. 29.16 This day did God tenderly afflict me in my head yet wonderfully whilst I was at Prayer removed it I perceived it in the midle of Prâ—yer departing from me I heard also from Christians in the Country which much refreshed me I observed two comfortable words from Ier. 50.33.34 51.53 For the Church of God and methought according to that Scripture Psal 102.14 I had some pleasure in the Stones and did favour the dust of Zâ—on and from Hos 8. I observed son Lessons 1. To take heed of leaving to take heed to the Lo d especially in an evil time 2. Of short repentance 3. Of being a Vessel of no delight in Goes sight 4. Of being giving up to sin Being the Lords day I think I may say it was a sweet day to my Soul in â—ivers â—espects This day was good to the outward man but I sound a carnal rickling of self conceitedness in some thing I had done and was doing and I was convinced that my time stole away insensible I observed that the Character of bad profession are out of Hos 10. are 1. To bring forth Fruit unto themselves 2. To have a divided Heart 3. To be worse by affliction 4. To have the evil of evil verse 14. This day I would ever remember because of my great folly in my great frowardness towards my Wife and another my Conscience reproved me for it and I was convinced from Prov. 14.17.29 What evil I did thereby Being a day of Prayer I found my heart by Gods goodness much enlarged sorrowing much for the faults of the former day I learned from Exek 10. Three duties 1. To know the time 2. To redeem it and 3. To consider how soon it may be at an end Being the day my Wife went to W. I found an inclinaâ—ion in me to â—owardness but God restrained it and I found that Evening a continued sence and sorrow of and for my former evil I learned from Eccles 11. 1. That a man should hasten to do what good he can because of the evil that is coming upon the Earth 2. Put away evil from my Flesh This day and night following I was much troubled with temptations out of Eccles 12. I observed many things that should move to mind their mortality and that there is a time when the days will be so evil that they will not be desired also in the 9. 10. it is said twice that the Preacher sought out 1. Matter 2. Words This day I had power to repulse temptation also a consideration that the blessed and righteous man 1. Doth not go in sin presumptuosly 2. Nor continue in sin carelesly nor 3. Give way to sin conâ—ivingly I also considered that God in affliction doth no more to a Child of his then the Angel did to Peter Acts the 5. Smite him to awake him out of Sleep Being the Lords day I was refreshed in the morning with the presence and spirit of God in Prayer and from the consideration of the wisdome watchfulness and inweariedness of Satan in deceiving and tempting I should learn to be watch ul and careful in keeping from the same The following Week my Book being from me I did not write my observations only I remember that upon the sâ—atch day I had comforts both by power I had against temptations and from a Letter I had which came from several Freinds in Wales Also the last day of the week I found my heart much intent upon preaching and with tears I did both study my Sermon and pray for a blessing thereon yet had not liberty to preach it Also the following week wherein I was in wards I had not my Book only I remember 1. That I was well contented with my condition 2. Very cheerful and comfortable 3. Had a greater mind to do good 4. Free from temptation 5. Resolved to let the Lord himself bring me out in his time and way 6. When I came out was stird up to praise the Lord yet was not without temptations afterwards Some Lessons that I hope I have learned or gained more experience in since my imprisonment 1. To be more sober and serious in my carriage and to shun and loath more jesting jearing and foolish laughter vain speaking and unbeseeming behaviour 2. To prize secresie or being in secret for private Meditation Self-examination and Prayer more then before 3. I have gained more power against passion and anger besides some other corruptions and more moderation in discoursing with men of differing judgements 4. A very great and earnest desire that there may be a general Union between the Saints of God at least a forbearance towards one and other wherein they cannot agree 5. And especially a Heart really to pray for and to pardon my worst and greatest Persecutors 6. To justifie God willingly and fully in all that he hath done and to acknowledge that it is not without cause nor so much as mine iniquityes have deserved God dealing with me under the Covenant of Grace and as a Father 7. To look more at the good and gain I have received from the Lord in and by sufferings then
sooner awaked had told his Wife but he heard at some distance either a Carbine or a Pistol discarged which made him prsently conclude that his Dreams was true and was then immediately to be fulfilled Whereupon though he had opportunity enough to make an escape yet he chose to stay and to prepare himself for a Prison Therefore as soon as the Souldiers came into the house he presented himself unto them and told them he understood their design and was as willing to go along with them as they were to require him and so by them was carried to Prison which according to their Warrant was to the next Sessions Salop being 17 miles off where he was committed with several others to the custody of a Marshal From thence he was conducted to Salop where he continued Prisoner about Nine Weeks and then by an Order of the King and Council was released with the rest of his B ethren Mr. Powel being thus set at liberty thought it was his duty to improve that mercy by continuing to Preach as he had done formerly but one Sir M. P. at that time the High Sheriff of the County of Mountgomery sent to prohibit his meeting and upon Mr. Powels refusal to neglect the oppertunity of serving God among his People the High Sheriff wrote a Letter to Secretary Morice wherein he accused Mr. Powel of Sedition Rebellion and Treason and the like Crimes which though untruly Suggested yet at that time easily beleived and he doubted not but to procure power to imprison one who was represented so dangerous but before any return came so willing are some men to be doing Mr. Sheriff directed a Warrant to take Mr. Powel and make him Prisoner which was accordingly done where he was continued several Moneths all oâ—dinary wayes of releif by Law allowed in such Cases being wholly obstructed The Jaylor in whose hands Mr. Powel was kept was one that formerly told this story concerning himself How being one night in his Bed there appeared to him about Eleven of the Clock at Night a bright shining light and in the light a speckled Bird which bad him read Mat. 3.2 Early in the morning he got up and having no Bible of his own he went to borrow one of his Neighbours and found these words Repent for the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand Upon which he entreated Mr. Powel before he was a Prisoner to Preach and to take this Text for his Subject And then he was so affected as at the Sermon he was observed to weep and confessed afterwads to some that he was almost wrought upon But a little time wore out that Impression for at Mr. Powels coming to Prison he was so much altered from any thing of good that he not only very uncivilly used his Convincer but very often sought to trapan and ensnare his Prisoner After some Moneths stay the Sessions came and after much importunity Mr. Powel was called and instead of being released or having any just cause rendred why he should still be continued in Prison the Oaths of Supreamacy and Allegiance were tendred to him and though he urged that it was necessary he should first be cleared of that which was already charged upon him before he entred upon any new Matter especially since those Oaths were designed against the Papists who he saw were spared and of him as to any inclinableness unto Popery they had no suspicion Yet neither in this could he be heard but upon his refusal of those Oaths so arbitrary and unnecessarily tendred he was again committed unto Prison the Judge refusing to take any Bail for him till the next Sessions But he had not long continued here when upon a false information returned against him one of the Messengers of the Council Mr. Wickâ—m was sent down with a Warrant to bring him before the King and the Council whether he was brought within few dayes following and whilest he was waiting at the Council door a Cavilier Captain one of his own County came to Mr. Powel and upbraided him advising him to run away for that would be his best course To whom he replied before all the other Company that God had made him to stand when he and his Companions the Cavaliers had run away To which no answer was made neither by that Captain nor by any of the Company But after 6. or 7. hours waiting one of the Clerks of the Council came with a Warrant in his hands which he delivered to the Messenger to carry Mr. Powel Prisoner to the Fleet where he was detained almost two years wanting but six Weeks and for above 12. Moneths of that time in so close a Confinement that he was not suffered to go out of his Chamber Door which together with the offensive smell of a Dunghil which was just before his Window did so much impair his Health that he never after perfectly recovered it Whilest Mr. Powel was thus a Prisoner in the Fleet his Enemies could not satisfie themselves by exercising cruelty upon his Body but they also endeavoured to take away his good name and credit by spreading a Report that he was in Prison there for a great part of the Revenew of the Tythes of Wales From which Aspersion though many worthy Persons had formerly cleared him by a Book Printed in the Year 1653. called Examen Purgament Vavaseris Yet noe knowing how far such a Report might influnece to the reproach of the Gospel Mr. Powel did then write a breif Narrative concenting the proceedings of the Commissioners in Wales against the ejected Clergy and therein as knowing his own intigrity he did defy all his Enemies to prove the least Title of that Slander To which Vindication no reply was ever put nor indeed can be made since all that knew Mr. Powel must affirm this of him that very few in this Self seeking Age were more of the Primitive temper in seeking the Souls rather then the Goods of others which though pressed upon him with much importunity he hath often refused And so far was he from desiring unjustly to enrich himself that he did voluntarily quit the oppertunity of justly doing it Having now spent almost two years in the Fleet there came a sudden order for the sending away of him and Collonel Rich which without giving them so much as two hours time to provide themselves was executed upon them upon the last day of September 1663. and in the Duke of Yorks Pleasure Boat whereof Captain Lambert was Commander they were both conveyed to South-Sea Castle by Portsmouth where Mr. Powel continued about five years not being restored till the removal of the Chancellour Hide did open a Door for him as for many other Prisoners to sue for his Habeas Carpus and so at length he obtained his liberty Mr. Powel after his release out of South Sea Castle had scarce his liberty ten Moneths when passing from Bristol through some Parts of Monmouth-shire he having in that County several opportunities in divers places
him which so continued the next day as to cause him to keep his bed the next morning being the Lords day several friends came to see him and would needs send for a Doctor hough he was not very free thereto When the Dr. came he appoints him several things and read his bill to him which he approved on but told the Doctor that he had no medicine for Mortality saying his days were accomplished his Gripes and Bloody Flux encreased violently upon him notwithstanding all admiâ—ostrations to him and very little check for ten days usuld be given to it though variety of means were used and that such as had been blessed to help others in his Case Afterwards the Blood staid but his Flux remained and was for some time so moderate that there was great hopes of his recovery though himself said otherwise all along the Dr. ordered he should be kept from speaking much but so zealously was he affected for the glory of God and with the love of Christ that neither his pains bodily weakness tender advice of friends could possibly restrain him but would notwithstanding all brake forth into high and heavenly praises sometimes by prayer sometimes by singing His patience under all his pains was very great when there came one of his greatest gripes he would bless God and say he would not entertain one bad thought of God for all the World The sight of the pardon of sin and reconciliation with God was so clear and without interruption even to the last that it was as a fire in his bosom till he spake of it and very hardly would he be restrained at any time and when he had spent his strength in speaking then would he compose himself to get a little more strength that he might go on to speak further of the Grace of God towards him and to give seasonable advice to all about him and so continued till God took away his strength and speech from him The Thrush growing so sore in his mouth that he could speak no more to be understood and yet then by signs would signifie that all was well within He enjoyed his understanding to the last which he said he had begged of God His remembrance of Gods people and prayers for them was very frequent and particularly his Christian friends in Wales earnestly desired the Saints to be of one mind Some that were frequent with him in his sickness say that such an earnest of glory their eyes and ears never heard nor saw before He kept his bed a moneth within one day and so finished his course service and suffering at four of the clock in the afternoon upon the 27 of the 8 moneth called October 1670. at Karoone house the then Fleet Prison in Lambeth Some few of his Death-bed expressions collected by some friends that were about him IF the Devil should tell me I am proud or unfruitful or unthankful I have cause to believe him for I can charge my self with a great deal but if he should tell me I have no grace and am not Christs I should not believe him He did bless God that he had not withdrawn the light of his Countenance nor left him to be buffeted by Satan nor to the Love of any thing in the world to make him desire to live here any longer Speaking of the Martyrdome of the Saints said I had rather have dyed for Christ then for sin He said three things I did design in the whole course of my life viz. To be clear in the Righteousness of Christ for justification that I might exalt the grace of God to poor sinners and admire it to my own soul Secondly To be sincerely to God what I did seem to be to man that I might be upright in what I did and really that which I did profess Thirdly That I might walk answerably to the Love and Grace of God which he hath bestowed upon me and added The two first I have much endeavoured but the last I have been very short in My principle was to promote holiness love and union among the Saints and have sometimes denyed my self in my own judgement that so I might have an opportunity to promote other truths among different Brethren These 30 years since God wrought upon me I do not remember that ever I had one hard thought of God nor repent me that I did make a Profession nor progress in the ways of God notwithstanding all my reproaches and sufferings But have had much cause to wonder at Jesus Christ that hath called me an undone sinner me an undone sinner and counted me me a vile wretch worthy to suffer any thing for his names sake and this he did speak with so much brokenness and spend his strength so much that those Christian friends that were near unto him did entreat him to compose himself if it might please God to give him a little rest and at another time to this purpose I have been much considering since I was upon my sick bed how the Lord Jesus whilst upon the Earth carried it to poor sinners and am much satisfied that it is a great fault among Churches and Christians that they have no more pitty and bowels to poor sinners and use no more means to gain them unto Jesus Christ further adding that Jesus Christ had such compassion to sinners when he was upon the Earth that therefore he was called a friend of Publicans and Sinners After some time of silence he breaks out in these words Oh now I find more in that word then ever I did they overcame by the blood of the Lamb. Though God hath given me a very tender good and affectionate Wife yet I do not grudge to part with her to go to Jesus Christ When a Christian friend speaking to him said that now he had a great deal to take comfort in both in what he had suffered for Christ so and in that he had been an instrument to convert so many souls to Christ He answered that his Religion now was in the Righteousness of Christ Sincerity and Uprightness He did bless God that it was not now with him as it was in South-Sea-Castle because there he had no friends about him to do any service of love for him as now he had When there was some hopes of recovery his wife asking him whether he would be willing to stay with us if God should restore him answered I am willing to do what God will have me but yet unwilling to come back again into the storm When his friends endeavoured to keep him from speaking he said you restrain me and will not let me speak for Jesus Christ and then would weep and grieve that he was not permitted to speak as much as he would When he spoke of sufferings to come he gave two words of advice to the Saints and those that were round about him as 1. To keep all things clear betwixt Christ and the Soul and Christ and Conscience that there might be no
and mildly desired Mr. Powel to withdraw and they would consider of it P. Sir sayth he I will but first I crave leave to speak a few words which I humbly leave to your consideration I am though your Countreyman yet a stranger haveing been not above twice before in your County and at this time but one day only and that in tranâ—iâ—n I have been taken in my lodging and committed Prisoner without any just ground that hath been yet objected There is neither Sedition Treason nor any other crime laid to my charge the ground specified in my commitment I have already shewed to be a mistake which I have rectifyed All that is pretended against me is that I preached a Sermon in Merthur in this County to a poor willing people against which Sermon there is no exception made and seeing it is so I desire you to consider and seriously to weigh whether you do well to imprison me upon such account especially since there is such a general tolleration at least connivance of such things now throughout the Nation and I my self have found it in divers other places and having heard of the moderation of you Gentlemen of this County I was emboldned so much the more to preach the word of the Lord hoping to have furtherance and no hindrance from you therein I bless God I am not ashamed of what I have done nor afraid of men having looked so many men and Death in the Face so oft and therefore the will of the Lord be done concerning me though I would desire you to consider the words of Christ with the same Judgement ye judge ye shall be judged and be sure as the Apostle saith That he that sheweth judgement without mercy shall find judgement without mercy B. If you think we wrong you you may remove your self by a Habeas Corpus P. Doctor when you have done your worst as you do I must do my best but I wish the Lord may forgive you the inury you do me and others Gentlemen if I have said any thing amiss or provoking being to speak to things suddenly I would desire that that may be no cause of any other proceedings then you intended but look into the true Cause of my sufferings and so he went out The Deputy Lieutenants had some hot discourse before Dinner about it and it was supposed the most part of them were inclining to release the Prisoner but as it seems some false Report was sent out of Monmouth-shire against him concerning some words that the Prisoner should speak a Sermon in that County which being afterwards enquired into was found false and Dr. B. himself said if that Apostate that raised the Report were in his County he would bind him to his good behaviour Yet thot with the earnest instigation of Dr. B. prevailed so far as that when the Prisoner was called again before Sun-set or a little before most of the Gentlemen were moved against the Prisoner some judged because the Dr. misrepresented a Passâ—age of the Prisoner mentioned before spoken only to the Dr. viz That when he had done his worst he told them the Prisoner bid them all do their worst which he neither said nor intended it But others supposed that Wine had prevailed so far over some of them as too oâ— t it doth as to make them now speak for the first and fastest yea at once who had not a word in the Morning to say And thus in a great confusion the Prisoner with threatening words and strict charge given to the Taylor by some he was again remanded and recommited and in his going forth he told them Gentlemen what you have done I submit willingly to being no more troubled at it then at this Hair and so drew one of his Hairs and my Prayer shall be for you that you may find more mercy from â—od then I have found from you But that God that I serve is able to save me This meeting being ended they put the Prisoner under a new Commitment which was drawn before by the Doctor or his Clerk as some saw it in the next Room in a Statute Book Hereupon the Deputie Lieutenants it seems writ a Letter to the Lord Lieutenant Caâ—bury to signify what they had done and they received an Answer from him to render them thanks to detain the Prisoner till further order Thereupon in one day viz. 30 th of Octob there were two new Commitments again upon the Prisoner One subscribed by two of the Deputie Lieutenants commanding the Prisoner to be kept in safe custody till furorders from the Deputy Lieutenants of this County who subscribed the Warrant of his â—ommitment at â—owbridge The other Commitment by five to keep him in safe custody till they did receive further orders from their Lord Lieutenant to both these Commitments Dr. B. hand is set both bearing the same date as was said before viz. October 30. 1668. Vpon the 8th day of November 1668. Sir John A. Kt. and Dr. W.B. Esq came to the Angel in C. and sent for Mr. Vavasor Powel to come to them which he did accordingly Dr. B. VVE have received an Order from the Council to tender you the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy Mr. P. Gentlemen if that be your business I pray you let me return to my Prison again for I am committed already and I think it is neither regular nor usual to tender them to a Prisoner you should either before my commitment especially before presentment or indictment against me have done it or upon examination or have convicted and indicted me first and then tendred them and so the Prisoner went towards the door intending to return to the Prison B. Thereupon Dr. B. went between him and the door and said nay stay Sir you shall not be gone and so called for some of the under Officers or Deputies P. Sir though I might have continued in my Prison and not have come hither and may yet choose whetheir I stay or no yet as I was willing to shew that respect to you in coming so to express my readiness to answer any thing that may be objected against me I do not mean to depart without leave B. Come Mr. Powel Will you take the Oaths for we have an Order from some of the Council and my Lord Keeper to tender them to you P. Sir I desire to see your Order Sir J. A. Let him see it B. No he shall not see it P. Sir you may chuse but if you have such an Order it would be civility in you and some satisfaction to me to let me see it B. We might have tendred the Oaths to you at the last meeting P. For it had been more proper for you to have done it before you had committed me then either which was after my first commitment several days then or now But Dr. you have at first dealt very illegally by committing me without cause or colour of cause and so run your self into a Praemunire
and ever since your work hath been to seek to set things aright but all the while you do wrong me and the truth the Lord forgive you B. If I have wronged you I have an estate to answer question me for it P. Though that I might do so yet I bless God I am a Christian and my principle as well as my practise is rather to forgive wrongs then otherwise leaving and committing my cause to God who will plead it but Dâ—ctor you are so transported with zeal against those people called Phanaticks that you forget Law and Reason B. Wherein P. You forget Law when you commit a man before any examination either of him or against him And it is against reason to commit a man to Prison by vertue of Letters from the Lord Lieutenant which were dated four or five years ago when I was elsewhere a Prisoner and discharged within the year by an Order from the King and his Council to which Order the Lord Lieutenant own hand is B. The Letters were not of so long a date for they were dated in the year 1665. P. Mark that Gentlemen said Powel to them that stood by he himself confessed those Letters were written in the year 1665. which is at least two years ago and my order doth plainly shew bearing date Dec. 1667 that I was set at liberty long after the date of those Letters B. Well will you take the Oaths yea or no for we must return your answer P. I pray you let me know whether my liberty doth depend upon the taking or refusing of them Sir John A. and the Town Clark would perswade Mr. P. to take the Oaths and then he should know P. If I may not know that I may as well forbear declaring whither I will take them or no since I am a Prisoner already B. But you must give a positive answer whether you will or will not take them therefore let us know what your answer is P. Since you do press me so much to give my answer my answer then is this That I have taken them already and I conceive I am not bound by the Law to take them again that is my answer Then Sir John A. made some sign to the Doctor to shew Mr. Powel the Oaths in the Statute Book and so the Doctor sought them but could not readily find them then the Town Clerk went to help him and one of them said the Oath of Allegiance was in decimo sexto Jacobi the other Doctor said it was in another place but neither of them knew where P. Gentlemen Are you so unacquainted with the Law the Oath of Allegiance which you looke for is in Tertio Jacobi and there you find the occasion of it which was the Gunpowder Treason and that Oath was never intended so much against Protestants though Non conformists as against Popish Recusants and yet which of them have it imposed upon them or are imprisoned for want of taking it B. Well will you take them here they are and we tender them to you P. I have answered you already and need give you no other Yet I will say more That if you can prove that you have power to tender both the Oaths to me and that I am in either of those capacities that the Statutes primo or quinto Eliz. mentions I will take them but I know you cannot A. and B. Well will you put that answer under your hand and so tender Mr. P. paper P. I am free to put it under my hand but you may if you please return my answer if you must return any at all But Sir John A. and the Doctor could not agree in that particular how Mr. P. should do it B. But we have power to give that Oath to you P. Sir if you have I say again I will take it therefore peruse that Statute so Sir Iohn A. looked into the Statute and spake somewhat to the Doctor privately which seems by the Drs. answer to him was that they could not For the Drs. answer was but we can B. But why are not you bound as well as others P. Because that the Statute directs the Oath to be taken by Officers Ecclesiastical and Civil and such as were to receive publick profits and other persons mentioned both in that and the other Statute of the Fifth of Elizabeth and though I may be looked upon as an Ecclesiastical person yet it appertains to the Bishop to give it me B. Are you a Minister Ordained P. I have heretofore told you I was B But by whom P. Did not I tell you by God and Men. B. I you mean the man Christ P. If I did so my meaning is right but I mean by such men as he hath appointed B. Come come your Conscience tells you that you care for a Bishop no more then another man P. That 's true enough I care for him and you alike yet of the two I respect you more being a Civil Magistrate B. But will you take them answer yea or no and veral other words the Doctor urged Mr. Powel again P. If you must have yet a more positive answer since you will neither let me see the order requiring me to take them nor shew me that the Law which ought to be your rule doth impose them upon me though I do not absolutely and peremptorily refuse them yet I will not take them now B. Here Dr. B. interrupted Mr. P. in his speech and cry'd out to some present to bear witness that he said he would not take them thereupon one in the room said I do bear witness P. Sir said he to the Dr. you deal very dis-ingeniously to catch at advantages when none are given and to abstract and separate my words and Sir said he to the other man you are also very uncivil to bear witness before you hear me out and so Mr. Powel turn'd him to Sir John A. and said I desire you would both hear and observe what I say and intended to say but that I was interrupted That since I have taken the Oaths already and that I shall not know upon what terms I am to take them again and the Law requires it not from me I will not take them at this time but will take further time to consider thereof B. Thereupon the Dr. went down stairs and so Mr. Powel departed and as he was going with the Deputy Keeper the Doctor bid the Keeper keep him safe c. Mr. Powel turning to the Doctor I would have you know that neither my principles nor cause put any necessity upon me to make an escape but I hope I shall be able to stand when you fall meaning in the great judgement when and where the wicked shall not stand Psal 1.6 and so went to his prison again A Brief and true Relation of a third Convention of Mr. Vavasor Powell and the transactions between some of the Justices of the Peace of the County of Glamorgan and him at the Town hall in