that by Faith only without Works before God Rom. 3.23 25. Rom. 4.1 5. Yet that Faith which justifies cannot be alone but is accompanied with good Works which justifies Believers before Men and manifests their Faith to be a True and living Faith Iames 2.17 18. as the Fruits of Trees do shew the nature of them but are no causes of their Root Life or Growth Justification is wholly of Gods Grace through the Redemption Righteousness and Blood of Jesus Christ Rom. 3.24 25. whereby those who truly believe in him have all their sins forgiven which will never be imputed nor remembred against them any more Romans 3.22 26. Hebr. 10.14.17 True Faith also by which the soul looks on Christ takes hold on him receives him becomes one with him and whereby Christ dwells in the Hearts of Believers is the gift of God Iohn 6.44 65. Eph. 2.8 3.17 Concerning the Spirit of Adoption and Regeneration 1. All those that truly believe God gives unto them Power or rather as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Right or Priviledge to become his children Iohn 1.12 and they receive the Spirit of Adoption by which they are led and enabled to come with confidence and boldness unto God and to call him Father through Iesus Christ Rom. 8.14.15 Gal. 4.5 6. The spirit it self also dwells and abides in them as the chiefest evidence of their being the children of God Iohn 14.16 17. Rom. 8.16 1 John 4.13 2. Regeneration Sanctification and Repentance which are the same in effect is a renewing of the Heart and a subduing and cleansing of the Power and Filth of sin with a quickning of the soul to live like Christ these are absolutely necessary to salvation John 3.3 5. Rom. 6 c. Yet these also as well as Faith are the gifts and works of God which he giveth through and for the sake of his Son and works by his Spirit in those whom he intends to save Ezek. 36.26 27 28. Acts 11.18 c. 3. No man much less all men hath by nature or before his conversion either the Spiritual light or true Faith or Christ or his Spirit in them or a will or love to that which is spiritually good or power to come to Christ or to be subject to his Law and Will but by nature and before conversion the best are blind unbelieving without Christ and without the Spirit unwilling wilful weak and wicked John 3.5 6. Rom. 5.6 8.7 Eph. 2.1 2 c. Yet sinning against the Light and Law of Nature and not worshipping God according to what is revealed of him by the works of Creation they are left inexcusable Rom. 1.20 21. Concerning Redemption from the Curse of the Law All true Believers are really and actually redeemed from the Curse and power or Dominion of the Law and are under Grace or the Blessings Promises and Privileges of the Covenant of Grace both Temporal and Eternal Rom. 6.14 7 4 6. Gal 3.13 On the contrary all Unbelievers and wicked persons are and remain under the Law and Covenant of works Gal. 5.4 Concerning the two Covenants From the beginning of the world there have been two Covenants in being viz. The Covenant of Grace and the Covenant of works called the Law and the Gospel and all and every person in the world have been and are under one of them the first requiring the Obedience of works the other the Obedience of Faith and these are the conditions of the two Covenants Rom. 10.4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. Heb. 8.7 8. c. 10.15 16 c. 22. Concerning Perseverance in Grace Those that do truly believe and are once in and under the New Covenant and in the true grace of God as the Apostle speaks Rom. 5.2 cannot absolutely fall and utterly perish for they are passed from death to life John 5.24 they are in Christ and God the Fathers hand John 10.28 29. they have the Spirit abiding in them unto eternal life 1 John 3.24 they sit together in heavâ—â—ly places in Christ Eph. 2.5 6. and he makes intercession for them John 17.20 and the Decree Oath and Promises of God are sure to all the seed Rom. 4.16 that they shall not depart from God Jer. 32.40 1 Iohn 3.9 and that he will never leave nor forsake them Heb. 13-5 6. and that he or every one that believeth shall be saved Mark 16.16 and shall not come into condemnation for there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 Concerning assurance of Salvation i. Believers are to be exhorted to make their calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 and this they may certainly attain unto for God hath promised it Christ hath prayed for it and many of the Saints have attained unto it 1 John 2.3 5. 3.14 c. 2. Though there are many signs and evidences of the truth of grace laid down in the Scripture and such as Believers may find in themselves as Love to God and to his people respect to all Gods Commands and hatred to sorrow for and power against all in-bred corruption c. Yet the chiefest and most undoubted evidence is the spirit it self 1 Iohn 3.24 4.13 and the Witness and Sealing of it Rom. 8.15 Eph. 1.13 which Believers have most commonly after they believe and not at their first believing Gal. 3.14 and there may be a true Faith mingled with much Doubting Mat. 14.31 and many of the children of light may walk in darkness and be ignorant of their state Isa 50.10 Yet such bruised Reeds God will not break nor quench such smoaking Flax i. e. such weak and Doubting Christians or their Faith till he bring forth Judgment into victory or help them to overcome Mat. 12.20 21. 3. It is possible also that such believers as have attained unto a full Assurance may afterwards either through the hiding of Gods countenance for Tryal of them or by falling into some great sin or by some sore and violent temptation or through their Remissness in Religious Duties or the like have their Assurance darkned shaken and weakned and thereby their Souls may be much troubled and discomforted Psal 30.7 Cant 2.1 2. 5.2 3 c. yet in their darkest and most doubting condition they cleave unto the Lord remember his former dealings acknowledge these doubts to be their Infirmities and they find and feel some workings of the Spirit and Grace within them and still continue in Prayer and other Ordinances waiting upon the Lord till he return unto them revive them restore the joy of his Salvation and settle them in their old Estates as he hath promised For this read Psal 22. 51. 77. throughout Lam. 3. Isa 8.17 50.10 c. Concerning Growth and Perseverance in Grace 1. Those that have true Grace whether little or much they should labour to grow therein and to add one Grace to another going from strength to strength perfecting holiness in the fear of God and still
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
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
Saints who in great sufferings are Or will pitty or justifie them though they harmless are Thy holy Laws and blessed Cause are like to suffer too The work thou didst once in the midst of us they would undoe After the 25. Psalm God is our hope and stay our refuge in our need He is our Shephard hee 'l preserve and his own Sheep wrll feed Hee 'l feed them with his VVord yea also with his Rod And he will manifest himself to be their mighty God If any do them hurt their Foes hee 'l surely slay And who they be that hinder them such hee 'l remove away He that doth touch them the Apple of his Eye Doth touch and he is sensible of all such injury VVo unto those that do his little ones offend T' wer better a Milstone were hanged on their Necks without end And they cast in the Sea that is quite bottomless Then to come under Gods sore Curse that punishment is less But happy are all such that follow their good Lord And patiently upon him wait hearing his holy VVord And in him do beleive and for their sins repent These shall not be ashamed at last nor for their sins be shent Upon the Saints suffering This is the Fire through which thou dost purge away Dross and â—in This is the VVater that doth wash in part the filth of sin This is the Wind that blows away our Chaff and which light is This is the School wherein we learn the best experiences This is the way wherein we do follow the Son and Saints This is the way to liberty with thee by our restraints This is the Food and Physick which thou givest to thy Children This is the means when they have sin'd to bring them back again This is that which tends to divorce thy People from this VVorld This is the Storm that tends to drive thyne into one accord This is the Hedge and Wall that keeps thy People from ranging This is the Chain that binds them up from the accursed thing This is the Fullers Sope that doth both whiten them and try This is the Fire in which they do their Lord most glorify VVith patience and contentedness therefore our sufferings we VVill indure without murmuring against men or 'gainst thee V. P. Some remarkable Passages in the Life and Ministry of this worthy Servant of Christ communicated by some faithful observing Christians and his antient intimate acquaintance MR. Vavasor Powel was born of honest and honourable Parentage his Father Mr. Richard Powel of a very antient Family in VVales living in the Burough of Knocklas in Radnorshire where his Ancestors had lived for some 100. years before him His Mother of the Vavasors a Family of great antiqâ—ity that came out of Yorkshire into VVales and so by both allyed to most of the best Families in North VVales though his best pedegree and highest discent was that which he derived from the most honourable Family of Abraham For the unworthiest persons many times p etend to the hiâ—hest worldly discents the newborn being only the best born He was brought up a Sâ—holler taken by his Unkle Mr. Erasmus Powel to be Curate at Clun where he also kept Schooll in which time it pleased God in the midest of his vanity and enmity to Christ and his People to call and convert him especially by the minist y of that eminent Servant of Christ Mr. Walter Cradock which was attended with deep humility in sighâ—â—nd sence of sin and a lost estate by nature and led bâ— a Spirit or Bondage through legal Terrors to clear manifestations of the love of Christ in Go pel Life and Lâ—bâ—â—ty encountering with manifold temptations within and without not only by Satans assaults in the mind but by his visible appearances sometimes in one shape sometimes in another to terrifie and afright him especialy in Prayer and in his drawing nigh unto the Lord but by Faith he still got the victory over him He in a little time profited above many and being very zealous and full of Love to Christ did bestir himself exceedingly in preaching the Gospel labouring therein more abundantly then any we have known giving himself wholly to the work both in publick private God also accompanying him with his blessing and presence in great success the generallity of the Country being then as Feilds white unto the Harvest flock ardently to his Ministry and many by his Preaching were turned to the Lord so that Radnorshire that before was a dark Country came to have much light and in a short space many eminent Professors begotten in it at which Satan begun to rage exceedingly and stirred up some of his Instruments to persecute the truth laying wait for his life and liberty some by a judicial way some by violence till they drove him out of the Country from whence he went to London where in the time of the War he continued sometime he was called to Dartford in Kent where he was very succesfull in his Ministry to the gathering of a Church afterwards times growing more peaceable he was called into Wales again where he renewed his former labours preaching the Word in season and out of season so that by him Christ made manifest the savor of his knowledge and grace in every place throughout the Country insomuch that there was but few if any of the Churches Chappels Town halls in Wales wherein he did not preach Christ Yea very often upon Mountains and very frequent in Fairs and Markets it was admirable to consider how industrious he was by his often preaching in two or three places a day and seldome two dayes in a week throughout the year out of the Pulpit nay he would sometimes ride a hundred miles in a week and Prrach in every place where he might have admission both day and night if he passed through any Fair or Market or near any great concourse of People so great was his love to Souls he would take the oppertunity in his Journey to preach Christ yea his whole life was a continual preaching giving seasonable instruction to every body he met with being fruitful and exemplary in Word Doctrine Conversation Spirit it was his custome where ever he came to leave some spiritual instructions and gracious favour behind him He was indued with such courage of mind furnished with such ability of body that he went through his work with great delight many admiting how he was able to hold out he was an able Minister of the new Testament and always in readiness upon all occasions to fulfil his Ministry and like the good Housholder brought forth of his Treasury things new and old being very indefatigable in his work speaking and praying sometimes 3. 4. nay 6 and 7. hours together he was very faithful in delivering the word of truth and in explaining it to the meanest capacity and still endeavoured to suit his discourse to the occasion and condition of the Hearers he neither regarded nor feared the
sin to offend Christ neither in the guilt nor filth of it nor no grace counterfeited nor corrupted to provoked Christ nothing espoused to steal away the affections from Christ but that the soul stand clear in its faith and love and every grace and stand loose from duties ordinances nearest and dearest relations that so there might be no cause of difference betwixt Christ and the soul That Christians should be faithful to the death for he that indureth to the end the same shall be saved Another time speaking to the Dr. returning him thanks for his Cure told him Contra vim mortis non est medicamen in hortis Another time after he had been composing himself to rest and had slept awhile he awoke and said He had been with Paul Harrison Craddocke and others of the Saints deceased At another time that he was brought into a fine pleasant Garden where he saw a fine Mansion house on one side of it into which he was to go but he was had on the other side of the Garden where there was a thing like a Coffin made up with deal Boards from whence he was afterwards brought to the Mansion house was satisfied in his dream that that was his passage through the grave to glory and did then again say that all would be in vain that was done to him however did assure those that were concerned about him that their Labours should not be in vain but God would remember it as a kindness done to himself Another time he expresses himself after this manner Sad times will come and many of them that stand now will fall some shall be put into Prison some impoverâ—shed some banished and some put to death and the Saints scattered so that their differences shall be done away when they are in their greatest distresses then the Lord will appear for them and will save them with a mighty hand In his sickness he beged of God that he would please to continue his understanding in which God did graciously answer him even to the last to the admiration of the Dr. Did very often and very earnestly press the Saints to be of one heart and to lay aside all their differences About praying for Magistrates said I have been blamed and judged by some Christian friends that differ from me for that liberty I took as if I had backsliden from my former Principles which the Lord knows I did not out of fear but according to my Principles and Conscience yet do now see that in some things therein I was right and in some things wrong To pray for them as sinners that God would shew them their sins therein I was right but since such a time naming the time God hath shewed me that prayer should not be put up for them as Magistrates and named two Scriptures On the Death of Mr. VAVASOR POWELL HEre weary Nature and unwearied Grace By wayes unlike have finished their race For under their Directors eye they tend By divers means to the same blessed end Nature by her decays accomplisht is And Grace by thriving brings the soul to bliss Trouble adds wings to both and speeds their way Vnto Eternal Rest where 's perfect Day This was thy prayer to hastens whose desire Grace Nature Trouble do in one conspire Nature impair'd by Sufferings hastes t' entomb Her wearied Limbs in her great Mothers womb And grace grown near to Glory brooks no more A distance from her fulness and her store So have I seen a pleasant stream to glide With gentle calmness to the Ocean side Adorning in his way the neighbouring Fields With the rich fruits which his free bounty yields When boysterous Winds and Storms assault with force His peaceful streams envying his work and course As him forbidding any more to bring Himself an homage to his Lord and King With whose rebuke provok'd he summons wide The strength of 's Waves for to controule their pride And heightned by opposing presseth on With violence unto his Ocean Such was thy course seeking ev'n from thy Youth The eternal Spring of Goodness and of Truth Refreshing others with the influence Of Christal Living streams deriv'd from thence When wrathful Tempests unprovok'd did swell Striving thy labouring mind for to repell From her just course this made thee speed thy love To Freedom Rest and what is else above There full repose light truth and peace do bless Thy welcome Soul with sacred happiness Nature now faints no more nor doth Grace grow And Trouble 's left behind to us below Upon the Death of that painful and Laborious Servant of Jesus Christ in the Work of the Gospel Vavasor Powell who died the 27 of the 8 moneth 1670. LIke to the ripened shock of Corn that 's brought Into the Barn or like a Shipfull fr ught With Indians riches which through raging Seas Ariveth at the Harbor of its ease So Vavasor was gathered into rest With Heavenly treasure being greatly blest A tried faith more pretious then the Gold That Ophir yielded Solomon of old A patience wrought by Bonds to such degree As made him triumph over misery Heavenly experiences from patience gained With such a hope as maketh not asham'd Did fraight this Pinnace which with furled Sail Safely is entred now within the Vail Where all the Saints shall Land Though Billows swell Opening their Jaws to swallow up like hell Yet know proud waves although you rage and rore You shall but break your selves against the shoare Then be encourag'd you that spread your sails On foaming furyes blown with various gales To make a happy Port you need not fear Whilst you with Vavasor your course shall steer If the Olempick Agonists did fight And run and wrastle with their utmost might If they did think it of so great renown To win the prize though but a with'ring Crown If they did streine and strive with all their powers To wreath their heads about with fading Flowers Then surely Heaven and a Crown of Life Is worthy of a Christians greatest strife Thus Powell thought and therefore did ingage Gainst Sin and Satan and a wicked age And like a Rock that is assaulted by Impetuous waves yet lifts his head on high As unconcern'd and makes his standing good Against the batteries of the Ocean Flood So Powel helpt by an Almighty hand In perils prisons deaths unmov'd did stand In the Lords work until he gave that call Come up to Heaven and reap the fruit of all An Achrostick upon his dear deceased friend Mr. Vavasor Powell V ain World to undermine unto thy shame A ll those choice Pillars that bear up thy frame V nto approaching Christ when they shall fly A ll thy proud pâ—mp in fiery flames shall lye S lighted Ambassadors when called home O ften bespeaks great evils for to come R epent then persecutors and be kind P owell hath pray'd that you may pardon find O h now these offers of soul saving grace W hich he from Christ proclaim'd do you imbrace
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