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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Cardieffe the 13 of Jan. 1668. THe 13. of January 1668. in the afternoon the Jaylor was commanded to bring the aforesaid Prisoner to the Bar before Sir John A. Kt. H. H. and Dr. W. B. Esqs Sir Iohn A. spake to the Prisoner as followeth or to this purpose Sir Iohn A. Mr. Powel you have by Order of the Council had the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy already tendered unto you and now we tender them again unto you will you take them Mr. P. Sir I desire leave of you and the rest of the Bench as necessarily previous and antecedaneous to my answer that I may be satisfied first in two questions 1. Que. In what capacity doth the Law and you look upon one whether as a publick or private person If as a private person as I suppose it and you do then one of these Oaths by Law cannot be tendered to me 2. Quest What tender do you count this whether a first or second I have just cause to propound this Question for one of you that sits upon that Bench as I am credibly informed from one that hath seen his Letter hath informed the Council or some of them that the Oaths have been tendred twice before now to me and that I refused them with other things as false so that my taking of them now would be but as the Poet said Clipeum post vulnera sumo To take the Buckler after I am wounded Hereupon the Dr. knowing himself to be guilty did in great fury break out into several hasty expressions all tending to silence the prisoner and commanding that the Oaths be shew'd him and if he would not take them let the Jaylor take him P. Sir it do h not become a man of your learning or place to be so angry and the wrath of man doth not eff ct the righteousness of God and Sir if you will be Dr. Saul to persecute the truth and people of G d as you do I hope I shall be as Deacon Stephen to stâ—nd up for them and Dr. if you please let you and I either according to Law or Reason discourse this point and let the Bench and Court judge thereof Hereupon Dr. B. went away in a great fury to fetch a Lawyer as they said to answer him in omuch that some of the people called him Dâ—ctor Fury which was afterwards fathered upon Mr. Powel though he did not say so Sir Iohn A. and the other two Justices moved Mr. Powel to take the Oaths again P. I beseech you Gentlemen give me leave to speak a few words first and then I shall directly answer you whether I can and will take them yea or no there being a little silence he went on and said These two Oath were framed and imposed as I suppose you well know the first of them viz. the Oath of Supremacy in the first year of Queen Elizabeth immediately after that hot persecution of the Papists in Queen Marys days and it was no doubt intended chiefly against Papists and to be a test and tryal of all persons that were admitted into or continued in any publick Offices either Temporal or Ecclesiastical The other Oath of Allegiance or Obedience was imposed upon that notorious act the Gunpowder Treason and the substance of both of them is to acknowledge the Queen or King of England to be the Supream Magistrates of these Kingdoms and that no Prince or Forraign power had any right thereto nor the Pope nor any other had power to dissolve or discharge any subject from their Obedience to the Queen or King and this power I do freely and heartily acknowledge and so far I do here declare if it gives you satisfaction Iustices said no you must take the Oaths as they are tendred P. Why may not that satisfie you which satisfied the King and his Council for in my Case stated and presented to them the last day before my discharge I did signifie that I was not free in Conscience to take those Oaths in the way they are now tender'd and yet they were pleased to grant me their Order for my discharge Sir I. A. But they did not know you refused the Oaths P. Yes Sir but they did as you may see if you please look upon this Copy of my Case which I presented to them which I desire you to read and their Order for my discharge and so Mr. Powel render'd them the Copy which they refus'd to receive Iustices But we have an Order from the King and his Council requiring you to take the Oaths P. Sir That Order was procured by false information against me to the Council which is punishable by the Law but I pray you let me see the Order that I may know what it requires and comport my self with their command as far as I can Sir I. A. No we will not shew it P. Sir Iohn the last time I was before you you would have had the Dr. to shew it and why should you now be against it I. B. Tender them unto him the Oath of Allegiance first or words to that purpose P. Do you require no more then the taking of that and shall the taking thereof be as the Apostle saith of an Oath an end of the strife Iustices Do you take that first and you shall know that afterwards P. Doth my liberty depend upon taking or not taking it Iust Do you take it P. Gentlemen you deal very strictly and severely and this is summum jus which is summa injuria for as our learned Casuists and Divines as Dr. Saunderson Mr. Perkins and others say that in taking of an Oath men must take them with respect to the Glory of God a mans own advantage or the good of another but as you tender this I cannot see how I do either if I take them for this Ordinance of God is made a snare to me for I am as a Martyr said imprisoned without cause and now this is made as a cause of detaining me there Be pleased Gentlemen to give me leave without offence to put you in mind of some words in your own Commission several times reiterated Thas you are to execute Justice secundum legem consuetudinem Regni nostri Angliae according to the Law Custom of England The Law of England doth not require that men should take the Oaths as often as every Magistrate pleases to tender them for as the L. Cook that was the glory of the Law shews in the 7th book of his Reports in the Case of Postnati Calvins Case a man is bound to take the Oath of Allegiance but once in his life time And for the custom of England it is not usual to imprison a man without cause as I have been or to impose upon men Oaths when and whilst they are prisoners unless they desire their liberty upon the account of taking them Dr. B. Upon this Dr. B. came in again in a great rage and said as some report why do you suffer him to bark at