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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A48398	The life and death of Mr. Vavasor Powell, that faithful minister and confessor of Jesus Christ wherein his eminient 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.	Bagshaw, Edward, 1629-1671.; Powell, Vavasor, 1617-1670.	1671 (1671)	Wing L2003; Wing B418_CANCELLED	114,187	204

E ntred he is to glory through that way L aid open by him whilst he here did stay L ove thou the Paths of Life in this your day An Elogy on the Death of the Precious and Faithful Servant of the Lord Mr. Vavasor Powell who dyed in Prison for the Testimony of Jesus Christ. TRiumphant holy soul at last set free By Order from above to Liberty Most Glorious from Bonds of 10 years date In closest Prisons Castles desolate In Jeremiahs Dungeon and with John In Patmos Isle Brother Companion Th' Accusers charge the same pretended crimes For witnessing ' gainst Sodom's sins o' th times For the word of God and Testimony true To Jesus Christ and what Obedience due To his blest Gospel Kingdom Government O're Saints and Nations in establishment England with Sackcloth gird thy self lament And howle who stonest zealous Prophets sent To call and warn and witnesses dost kill To stop their mouths thy measure great to fill Thy day is come year of thy visitation Thy bloody sins presage thy desolation Lament benighted Wales thy Prophets gone Who or'e thee us'd to weeps and still bemoan Thy sins and souls when willing hearts did fly Like Doves to th'windows to 's blest ministry Cry out my Father Israels Chariots gone The Horse-men also and l'me left alone Where is Eliahs God Oh cry let some A double portion of his spirit come On mournful watchmen left whose souls do give The Lord no rest till Zions glory live Here is the patience of the Saints that keep Christs testimony till they fall asleep Victorious soul hence from thy labours rest Thou dying for and in the Lord art blest Thy soul made up of love and not confin'd To narrow judgment but with Saints combin'd As Saints in tender sweet Communion Still mourning after all their Union Under the Altar now thy blood doth cry How long till Christ arise to victory Mean while white Robes are given thee untill The last sore Plagues the Nations shall fill And Saints with Crowns return dust rais'd again To Judge the world with Christ and with him reign VAVASOR POWELL Anagram Vp al leau ' Sorow V nto thy long'd fo● Jesus thou art fled A ll Saints the while lamenting thou art dead V pon them yet methinks I hear thee call A Las why weep you I am out of thrall S ouls where I am do Hallelujas sing O hast and follow to attend your King R est thou sweet soul in thy eternal joys P oor mortals what have we but transient toyes O nce thou didst live to Preach thy Saviours grace W ell now rewarded with his glorious face E nvy did haste thy joys create our woe L ord pardon them that know not what they do L et us turn grief to care lift up our hearts Thou art secure may we so act our parts An Epitaph A Corps lyes here whose soul 's above Debaucht mens hate devout mens love The Welch mens friend the maul of sin Who wooed all did many win Within this Grave one lyes inhum'd Whose prayers the prisons had perfum'd Haunted by Nimrods in his Life Waits for the joy of the Lambs wife In Honourable memory of my Esteemed Friend VAVASOR POWELL Acrostick Anagram Pale Sorow Vale. V ain are those hopes fixt on best things below A s providence by proof this day doth show V iew well this Tomb there resteth in this place A Cabinet of Gifts experience grace S o famous faithful forward in Gods ways O ut doing most 'bove most deserving praise R eaps now rewards is crown d with conquering Bayes P owell the great Apostle once in Wales O n stubborn hearts his Doctrine much prevails W i th dexterous skill and with admired success E ach Sermon Preacht abundantly was blest L abouring and suffering till his strength did fail L et all mourn moderate but Pale Sorow Vale. Vailed first in flesh then Prison now Earths womb Possess thee till Christ glorious day doth come Vpon the Death of that Faithful Servant of the Lord and constant witness of his truth Mr. Vavasor Powell who dyed a Prisoner of the Lord the 27 of the 8 moneth 1670. VAVASOR POWELL Anagram V. P. a savor well An other Lov 's paver awe V aliant for truth on Earth a good degree A mongst Gods worthies was attaind by thee V ast was thy knowledge thy experience such A s few there are do equalize by much S o Wales thy native Country can tell O f how great worth how much thou didst excell R eproach'd however thou didst Savour well P roved thou wast by tryals manifold O re now refined into purest Gold W eeping we 're left thy sable shrone about E ach thought of thee a fresh sigh sending out L ook here Lov 's paver hath to death resign'd L ook once again a Wo is left behind Unworthy world thou in it couldst not rest Paid off thy score receiv'd th' quietus est If I would choose how I discharg'd would be Fain would I choose a like discharge with thee On Vavasor Powells death a Memorial by 〈◊〉 Friend in three Elegies 1. VIctorious cruell death O greedy grave A mbitious still the sweetest blood to have V ain's thy assauit th' ast here but lost thy sting A nd now among the just his spirit shall sing S ure thou' rt deceiv'd this partial victory O re flesh and bones the holy soul made free R eleas'd at once from flesh and prison too P owells discharg'd which Power refus'd to doe O kind and friendly stroak what death kind grown W ell was it said and true even deaths our own E re long how he escapt his judge will trie Life suckt by long confinement makes a cry Vile age the vertuous ones thus to suppress Promoting vice on high and wickedness A Threnetick for Sion 2 Elegy in 12 Odes 1. But stay what 's this something 's amiss About this guilty City Hark what a cry ecchoes on high Which few hear fewer pitty 2. The voyce is Sions among the Lyons And in the Leopards Denns Alas shhe cryes where shall my eyes From tears be wip't and when 3. My sighs and sorrows by tears plough Furrows Upon my face it grieves That widdows scorn must thus be born VVhilst yet my husband lives 4. At once affected and yet rejected VVhat bought and sold again By bloud once sav'd yet now inslav'd To fierce and bloudy men 5. Ah what 's the reason in such a season Of hopes of prayers and tears Our lights so misted and bands so twisted And yet loe greater fears 6. That Turtle Dove Christs only love O're flames hangs in suspense My sons decease and griefs increase Gods anger 's more intense 7. My helps are gone and now I 've none To take me by the hand The best are taken the rest be shaken O' t puts my loyns t' a stand 8. Sure 't bodes a stroak if God revoke Embassadors of peace Our days soon end if to contend His spirit our

for suffering many months Poverty is the gift God as well as Riches When Saints perceive their sins growing weak they should prosecute them most A wicked man may give good Counsel from God to a good man and he not taking it may be destroyed Pharoh Necho to Iosiah It may be said of many a man that he is honourable and yet a Leaper 2. Kings 5.1 There is no evil in sin but there is some what in the name of Christ that speaks the contrary as sin is darkness so Christ is light c. A Beleiver is to shut the Eye of Reason if he will clearly see with the Eye of Faith The great Principles and Misteries of Divinity 〈◊〉 are to abide in God to live on God to walk with God and to live to God There are three sorts of Gospel Sacrifices 1. Thanksgiving Psal 51.17.19 Amos 4.5 Heb. 13.15 Hos 4.2 2. Liberality to the Poor Mich. 6.8 1 Cor. 16.1.2 2. Cor. 18.19 Heb. 13.16 3. Our selves Rom. 12.1 Sanctifying Thoughts 1. The Thoughts of God free and constant love to me 2. The thoughts of what Christ hath done for me 3. The thoughts of what I have been and done against God 4. The thoughts of what God and Christ are to me and I to them 5. The thoughts of Christs Excellency and some Saints Eminency 6. The thoughts of Death and Judgement 7. The thoughts of what I shall be and shall have hereafter A Christian should be much taken and rejoyce at 1. The least Revelation of Truth 2. The least Communion with God 3. The least additional measure of holiness 4. The least success God gives him in his work T is observed that the first word spoken by Christ in his ministerial office is an assertion to or of the authority of Scripture Mat. 4.4 God is not only the holy one of Israel but the holy one in Israel Ezek. 39.7 By Prayer God doth converse with me by Preaching he doth teach me by Meditation he doth fill me by Saints society he doth warn me by singing Hymnes he doth ravish me by his Supper he doth feed me By his Love he doth endear me to him by his Son embolden me By his Spirit unite me to him By his promises stay me with him Publick Disputations are seldome rightly managed being too often attended either with firceness and frowardness too much insulting over an Adversary if any advantage be gained or be left to one● self in some thing or other to be worsted and shamed Or if some good hath been not to be so ready to give God the glory as in other things A suffering Christian should see that Innocency be the beginning and Patience the end thereof Six necessary Questions that every Christian shoul● ask his own Heart 1. Whether I am a Saint or a Hyppocrite a wise or foolish Virgin 2. What are the truest and strongest grounds I have of my Saintship 3. Whether if I be a true Christian is my Spirit Legal or Evangelical 4. With which of the Saints mentioned in Scripture can I most compare my self 5. What are the Reasons in respect of my self why I continue without full assurance 6. What is my master sin and what power hath it in my Soul or I over it God carries on the work of Grace in Believers 1. According to their natural parts and natural constitutions 2. According to the means they are under whether Legal or Evangelical Preaching 3. According to the things he hath to do by them or calls them to suffer 4. According to the shortness or length of time they have to live 5. According as they have been before the Conversion greater or lesser Sinners Recreations the Object and Subject being right must be 1. Not on Lords-days Fast-days c. 2. Not in the Night for it is given for rest 3. When we stand in need of it 4. Seldom 5. Not over-long 6. Not over costly 7. Suitable to mens conditions 8. To a good end In Duties we should 1. Look for to meet and enjoy God 2. Expect to hear and receive from God 3. Return somewhat to God As a Watch must be dayly wound up by him that carries it otherwise it is useless So the Soul must be spiritually wound up by Christ else it will be unuseful and unserviceable Christ hath more to do to bring us to be reconciled to God then to bring God to be reconciled to us Reasons 1. Because God is willing Men unwil●ing 2. Because God is satisfied and contented with Christs merits so are not Men. Soul freedome 1. To be freed from doubts of its eternal condition 2. Of scrupulous opinions 3. Of the power of Corruption 4. Of stinging Conviction of the Law 5. Of the fiery fierce temptations of Satan 6. From the fear of death Saints do commonly sleight and undervalue what ever suits not with their own Judgements James 1.8 A double minded man that is a man whose mind hangs between a double Object Christ and the World A Saint that hath been sick and near death and is recovered and returns into the World again is like a poor peeld Sheep that is brought out of the high Hill and Storm and almost to the Fold and then chased again to the storm Or a weary Traveller that is near his home that must needs return a great part of his way to fetch what he did neglect Or a man that hath been long at Sea and is in sight of shore but forced to Sea again Or an Apprentice that when he expects to be set at liberty must serve another Apprentiship Or Iosephs Brethren who returning home was forced back again into Egypt Things that seem small to Christians at a distance when God brings them to the Soul they seem great as persons or things at a distance as sin duty c. Two great Evils follow hardness of Heart Rom. 2.5 Impenitency and Wrath. When may sin be said to be a mans own 1. When he commits them out of his own as Satan doth Iohn 8.44 1 Iohn 38.9 2. When he hates it not but loves it yea more then any good Psal 52.3 3. When he nourisheth it Iam. 5.5 They pick the sweetest bits to nourish the hearts 4. When a man provides for it Rom. 13.14 5. When men live in sin 1. Tit. 5.6 6. When it is their Element meat Prov. 1.7 Sleep v. 16. Apparel Psal 73. Chain Prov. 10.23 Men carry their lives as men carry pretious water in a brittle Glass 2 Sam. 14.14 or a Candle in a paper Lanthorn A Saints second part of Sin is sorrow A true Saint hath his high places to walk upon Heb. 3. Last As 1. God himself his being 2. Christ as Mediatour his Light Strength c. 3. The Spirit as his Air. 4. The word as his Staff 5. Mount Zion as his delightful place 6. Gods decrees as his Record 7. Experiences as his helps 8. Hopes of Salvation as his encouragement The Evils I have feared and experienced in my self

shall be a fruitful Land Upon the thirsty parched ground Pools of Water shall stand This Cloud of Witnesses do all agree to teach That it is lawful on a Hill or Mount to Pray and Preach Here on appears the Grass that feeds the Beasts and Beasts Men Why should not men upon a Hill praise God for their fond then That God who dwells on high and yet is every where Will now be serv'd in Spirit in every place with fear My Pulpit and my Pew shall be a Turfe of Grass As well as Wainscot in a Kirk for I prize every place Alike to worship God who dwelleth every where For that which I in places look is whether Christ be there Upon Preaching in a Market place A Merchant brought from far rich Ware and Pearls to sell Where many came but not to buy yet some approved well The Sellar and the rate and rich Commodity Some ask the Servant what 's the price he said t is cheap come Buy Here 's Gold and rich Garments here 's Oyl here 's Milk here 's Wine Thou wants come quick accept of Christ and all there shall be thine Who is thy Master Christ in Power he is here In Person in high Paradice would you go to him there O yes to Heaven we would go how shall we thither reach Come near and hearken to his Word his ●pirit will you teach The pirit said I le shew and work what 's to be known and done They a●swered make us willing Lord then to thee we will run A Dialogue betwixt Time and Youth Time speaks Time I am ho●e headed ready to depart I waited for thee but thou hast not heart To think how I have turn'd so oft my Glass The least and lowest Sands runs now apace If once I turn my Back no locks behind Thou 'lt seek me when and where thou'lt not me find Youth Youth My aged Father do not weary be Have patience yet a while I will apply My self to that which profits in the End T is time enough for young men to amend I must have recreation fit for Youth Let Old men if they will ply Time and Truth Time Farewel the Glass is out Death takes my place Youth Oh time I pray thee stay whilst I have grace Our Time is short our journey long our Work undone in part Our Thread near spun our Glass near run all this unlaid to Heart Upon the apprehension of Christs love to me and the feeling of my love to him Who would not love thee Lord more then Self Sin or World Who would not ravisht be That sees thy Love or thee Who can think of thy Name and not leap at the same My names V.P. who Lord loves thee Upon the occasion of a Tooth-ach No pain like that my Saviour bore for me No suffering like his suffering on the Tree VVhich he did bear not for himself but me Oh what love was herein A plated Crown of pricking Thorns he wore Blows on his Head Spits on his Face he bore Besides base shame and scorn sure this was sore But more he bore for sin Gaul was his Meat and Vinegar his Drink A Brook he drank from Pottom to the Brink My Blood should write his Bruises not my Ink Thy Blood Lord wrought my Peace A Flood of wrath stream'd through his Soul within The Law him lash'd so did Satan and sin Till Death him sunk and Grave swallowed him in Thus did my Lord decease Shall Tooth ach then or pain from one small Bone Make me have sence of Self more then that one Come thoughts of Christs pain in mine own begone For Christ will heal thee sure That Balm and Brazen Serpent that cures me Is that which cur'd the Worlds great malady Nothing like this Panpharma●on can be Which Tooth and all will cure The Saints Portion after death Strangers we are whilst we are here clad with carnallity Sojourning towards our long home even Eternity T wil not be long before we reach unto our journeys end Our Morning 's past Evening doth hast towards our rest we bend VVho knocks T is I what is thy Name my Name is dreadful Dea h What is thy business now with me t is for to fetch thy Breath VVe come my Freind I look'd for thee come shew me thy Commission From Christ thy Master and my Lord with thee then I le begon Loe here it is take it and read hold t is his Seal and Hand I know it will here I le not dwell but obey his command Come thou away come quickly dear I long to see thy Face My Father also sent for thee come quickly come apace I come I come ope then the Door give light for it is dark The entries straight Lord lend thy hand that I may reach the mark The Gulf twixt thee and me is great I cannot through it venter Till thou lets down thy safe draw-Bridge I have no hopes to enter Centenel let down the Bridge let in my Freind to me Oh welcome welcome my dear one my Heart did long for thee Now sweet Son thou shalt see my Face for which thou didst so long Thou shalt with me abide for aye Angels and Saints among Thou shalt not Sigh nor Sob again thy Sins thou shalt not see Thy Blemishes and Weaknesses no longer trouble thee Thou shalt have rest from thy Labours thy works shall follow thee All Angels and all Saints that are or ever were thou'lt see Thou shalt be Crown'd with Righteousness yea with a glorious Crown Yea thou shalt in full brightness shine as doth the beautious Sun Thou shalt sit on my Throne to judge Angels and wicked Men Thy Scandals shall be washed off sitting on high till when The Kingdome I deliver up to thy Father and min● VVho shall be all in all for aye in whom wee 'l be and shine Hallelujahs to thee my Lord to thee for ever more To thy Father and sweet Spirit I three in one adore Upon the Persecution T is a sad age when ther 's such rage against poor harmless Doves VVho through their need seek Meat to feed from him their Soul that Loves A sudden change yet not so strange is come upon poor Saints Alas dear ones God hears their Groans their moans and sad complaints The wicked strive Husbands from VVives to separate and part And the Shephards from their own Herds that joyntly with one heart Would serve their Lord with one accord after his VVord and VVill But Dogs and VVoolves and cruel Elves that seek themselves would kill The innocent that no hurt meant but spent their time and strength To seek the way that poor Souls they through Christ may gain at length That great reward which God prepar'd and car'd for long ago They will obtain and the same gain in spite of every Foe Another O God our God we by the Rod are brought in part to see There is no man that will or can but thy s●le ●●●esty Hear the complaints of thy dear

deportment He was very humble and plain in his carriage prefering others before himself though far inferiour in Gifts and Grace to him and a most ready servant to do good to all both for Soul and Body He was very just in all his dealings and would rather receive wrong then offer injury to any and kept still a great jealousy over himself least he should do any thing unbecoming the Gospel He was very pittiful to all in distress whether Saints or sinners and especially in the case of sin which he would deeply lay to heart and weep bitterly in consideration of the weightiness of sin upon there Souls and greatly would he lament the scandalous offences in Professors which tended so much to the dishonou● of God greif of the Saints and ha●dening of sinners and indangering their own Souls He was very active in doing good and little time spent by him in idleness after great and tedious Journeys and pains in Preaching he would be as fresh to attend any work for God as if there had been no such thing it was his constant practice to be speaking of good to all he conversed with and to convert worldly discourse into spiritual things and when he apprehended any to discourse of the things of God in a common light Spirit he would endeavour to work them up to more seriousness and spirituallity Where ever he was at home or abroad he would be still furthering of good things and improve all oppertunities with whom so ever he conversed were it in his Journey or upon the Road to instil something for the good and benefit of their Souls wherein as a follower of his Master he was a lively pattern to the Saints and wherein God blessed him exceedingly He was to receive exhortation admonition and reproof being under all his excellencies great worth a man subject to passion infirmity which he would imbrace with all humble submission and acknowledge thankfulness and his Conscience was so tender that he would of himself both privately and publickly express his fears and jealousie of himself and would desire others to tell him his faults which he might not so well discern in himself He was a faithful and diligent observer of the out goings of God upon his Soul whereof he kept a dayly account and record taking notice both of the actings of grace and the stirrings of corruption and the assaults of sin and Satan or World made upon him It was his dayly practice to draw forth some instruction and advantage from every object and every thing that accrued viz. from Scriptures ordinances Gods dealings with him in every respect from conferrences with Saints or Sinners from any providence or accident whether prosperous or adverse from Creatures Heaven Earth Seasons from the graces and vertues as well as failings and infirmities of Saints and Professors A great observer of D●eams and what God might speak to himself or others by them for warning instruction or reproof He was very heavenly his Heart so set with diligence and intentness upon the things of God that when he was alone and none to discourse with he would many times be singing of Hymns in his house and elsewhere and often in his Bed assoon as he awaked in the morning being excellent at extempory Hymns which have been to the refreshing of many who have declared to have injoyed as much of God in joyning with him therein as in any other ordinance And his Soul did follow so hard after God that he hath been heard to pray very audibly and fervently in his sleep and yet knew it not vvhen he avvaked He vvas of an undanted courage for God no fear of suffering could turn him back in the vvork of the Lord he had such a fervent zeal for Christ and the Truth and such enmity to and hatred against that he regarded not the greatness of men in administring reproof to them vvhat danger so ever might accur to him thereby he used to say he feared the corruption of his Heart more then any sufferings he met vvith from men He vvith much compassion and feeling affection used to sympathize vvith the vveak and tempted making their condition his ovvn but vvould magnifie his office vvith great zeal by improving the authority Christ had given him to curb the insolent stubborn and rebellious He vvas one of a vvorthy publick Spirit zealous in and furthering of all things that might tend to promote the good of his Neighbour and Nation but especially the Saints and Sion in advancing the Name Interest Kingdome and Soveraignty of Jesus Christ and seting himself withal his might against Babilon that common publick Enemy of mankind He was very tender of the Consciences of others though differing in judgement from him and where he discerned sincerity and truth of Grace expressed much endeared affection to them as Brethren being a dear Lover and Promoter of love to Saints as Saints without relation to perticular perswasion or private opinion He was exceeding successful in the work of the ministry which was sealed to him by the conversion of many Souls confirmation consolation and edification of more both in England and Wales He was instrumental to the gathering of Churches to the healing and composing of many differences and breaches wherein he travelled much by Messengers Letters Conferrences and Journeys far and near It was his usual course in order to preserve and maintain life and love amongst the Churches he most neerly conversed with to put them upon the debating and resolving of several questions from time to time he handed to them which proved exceeding profitable to the increase of knowledge and to the ends proposed He was much in visiting from house to house taking a particular account both of inward and outward man inquiring after their family walks duties and deportments and in an especial manner did he with diligence attend the sick administring all things necessary for Body and Soul Exhorting Comforting and Praying with and for them He was exceeding zealous to keep the Communion clean and pure by keeping a diligent Watch puting forth early warning and reproof against the first appearances of envy and scandal and a faithful rejecting the hardened and impenitent Sinners in which Cases he used to be mighty powerful in the administring of that ordinance of excommunication shewing the terribleness thereof so that many hearts would tremble greatly thereat and yet be found also therein with great tenderness and heart meltings to the offenders themselves As he was Master of a Family he was wonderful careful to do the things that was just and equal and principally he did design to promote the power of godlidess amongst his Servants he used to tell them that they should at any time leave work to pray or read and when he sound them at any times in the Feilds reading or confering about the things of God he would bid them go on and continue in it and oh how few are they that prefer and promote the

him which so continued the next day as to cause him to keep his bed the next morning being the Lords day several friends came to see him and would needs send for a Doctor hough he was not very free thereto When the Dr. came he appoints him several things and read his bill to him which he approved on but told the Doctor that he had no medicine for Mortality saying his days were accomplished his Gripes and Bloody Flux encreased violently upon him notwithstanding all admi●ostrations to him and very little check for ten days usuld be given to it though variety of means were used and that such as had been blessed to help others in his Case Afterwards the Blood staid but his Flux remained and was for some time so moderate that there was great hopes of his recovery though himself said otherwise all along the Dr. ordered he should be kept from speaking much but so zealously was he affected for the glory of God and with the love of Christ that neither his pains bodily weakness tender advice of friends could possibly restrain him but would notwithstanding all brake forth into high and heavenly praises sometimes by prayer sometimes by singing His patience under all his pains was very great when there came one of his greatest gripes he would bless God and say he would not entertain one bad thought of God for all the World The sight of the pardon of sin and reconciliation with God was so clear and without interruption even to the last that it was as a fire in his bosom till he spake of it and very hardly would he be restrained at any time and when he had spent his strength in speaking then would he compose himself to get a little more strength that he might go on to speak further of the Grace of God towards him and to give seasonable advice to all about him and so continued till God took away his strength and speech from him The Thrush growing so sore in his mouth that he could speak no more to be understood and yet then by signs would signifie that all was well within He enjoyed his understanding to the last which he said he had begged of God His remembrance of Gods people and prayers for them was very frequent and particularly his Christian friends in Wales earnestly desired the Saints to be of one mind Some that were frequent with him in his sickness say that such an earnest of glory their eyes and ears never heard nor saw before He kept his bed a moneth within one day and so finished his course service and suffering at four of the clock in the afternoon upon the 27 of the 8 moneth called October 1670. at Karoone house the then Fleet Prison in Lambeth Some few of his Death-bed expressions collected by some friends that were about him IF the Devil should tell me I am proud or unfruitful or unthankful I have cause to believe him for I can charge my self with a great deal but if he should tell me I have no grace and am not Christs I should not believe him He did bless God that he had not withdrawn the light of his Countenance nor left him to be buffeted by Satan nor to the Love of any thing in the world to make him desire to live here any longer Speaking of the Martyrdome of the Saints said I had rather have dyed for Christ then for sin He said three things I did design in the whole course of my life viz. To be clear in the Righteousness of Christ for justification that I might exalt the grace of God to poor sinners and admire it to my own soul Secondly To be sincerely to God what I did seem to be to man that I might be upright in what I did and really that which I did profess Thirdly That I might walk answerably to the Love and Grace of God which he hath bestowed upon me and added The two first I have much endeavoured but the last I have been very short in My principle was to promote holiness love and union among the Saints and have sometimes denyed my self in my own judgement that so I might have an opportunity to promote other truths among different Brethren These 30 years since God wrought upon me I do not remember that ever I had one hard thought of God nor repent me that I did make a Profession nor progress in the ways of God notwithstanding all my reproaches and sufferings But have had much cause to wonder at Jesus Christ that hath called me an undone sinner me an undone sinner and counted me me a vile wretch worthy to suffer any thing for his names sake and this he did speak with so much brokenness and spend his strength so much that those Christian friends that were near unto him did entreat him to compose himself if it might please God to give him a little rest and at another time to this purpose I have been much considering since I was upon my sick bed how the Lord Jesus whilst upon the Earth carried it to poor sinners and am much satisfied that it is a great fault among Churches and Christians that they have no more pitty and bowels to poor sinners and use no more means to gain them unto Jesus Christ further adding that Jesus Christ had such compassion to sinners when he was upon the Earth that therefore he was called a friend of Publicans and Sinners After some time of silence he breaks out in these words Oh now I find more in that word then ever I did they overcame by the blood of the Lamb. Though God hath given me a very tender good and affectionate Wife yet I do not grudge to part with her to go to Jesus Christ When a Christian friend speaking to him said that now he had a great deal to take comfort in both in what he had suffered for Christ so and in that he had been an instrument to convert so many souls to Christ He answered that his Religion now was in the Righteousness of Christ Sincerity and Uprightness He did bless God that it was not now with him as it was in South-Sea-Castle because there he had no friends about him to do any service of love for him as now he had When there was some hopes of recovery his wife asking him whether he would be willing to stay with us if God should restore him answered I am willing to do what God will have me but yet unwilling to come back again into the storm When his friends endeavoured to keep him from speaking he said you restrain me and will not let me speak for Jesus Christ and then would weep and grieve that he was not permitted to speak as much as he would When he spoke of sufferings to come he gave two words of advice to the Saints and those that were round about him as 1. To keep all things clear betwixt Christ and the Soul and Christ and Conscience that there might be no