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
ordained for his Church and Disciples onely that especial Ordinance called his Supper or the Communion of his Body and Blood to put them in remembrance of his Death till he came again and to confirm that spiritual Union and Communion they have with him and as an ordinance to convey more Grace unto their souls And this together with Baptism are and may be accounted though not so called in Scripture Gospel-signs and seals of the Covenant of Grace as Circumcision and the Passeover were before unto the Jews Mat. 26.26 27 28 29. 1 Cor. 10.16 11.23 24 25 26. Rom. 4.11 Col 2.11 12. 2. The command and example of Christ and his Apostles are to be observed both in the giving and receiving of this ordinance After the Bread and Wine are Blessed or set apart and a Blessing sought on them The Minister is to take both of the Bread and Wine himself and to give of both kinds to the Disciples or Members of the Church sitting or leaning Mat. 26.20 26. But to give it privately to persons upon their sick beds or to keep back the Wine from the People or under pretence of humility to give it unto the Congregation kneeling are contrary to the Institution of Christ see Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 11.20 23. 3 As the true Churches and Disciples of Christ should often partake of this ordinance so those that are without Christ his Covenant and Church who are ignorant unbelieving and ungodly have no right thereto at all and Christ forbids to give holy things to such and they that eat and drink the same unworthily do both profane and pollute the Name and Ordinance of God and eat and drink damnation to themselves not discerning the Lords Body Acts 2.42 20.7 1 Cor. 11.25 27 29 Mat. 7.6 Concerning Preaching and Prophecying Preaching of the Gospel or Evangelizing which is to be to all Nations and to every creature is to be performed by such as are gifted called and sent either immediately by Christ as the Apostles and seventy Disciples were or by his Church Acts 13 1 2 3. or in case of Persecution by such as are scattered Members to whom God may open a door for the preaching of his word to such as want the same Acts 8.1 4. 11.19 20 21. 2. Prophecying is another Gospel-Ordinance which is either a fore-telling of some future things by divine Revelation which is an extraordinary and peculiar gift of God yet promised John 16.13 and given to several in Gospel-days Acts 11.27 21.9 10. 1 Cor. 14.26 Eph. 4.11 or else it is a speaking unto men to edification and exhortation and comfort or a teaching of believers to observe all things that Christ hath commanded which is a distinct thing from Preaching though of the same Nature and doth more properly and peculiarly belong to the Church and those that are within as the other doth to the world and those that are without 1 Cor. 14.22 Mat. 28.19 20. compared with Mark 16.15 Concerning Prayer Prayer is a special part of Gods worship being a pouring out of the soul in confessions supplications and thanksgivings to God through Christ by the help of his spirit Eph. 6.18 Jude v. 20. 1 Tim. 2.1 8. c. 2. Though that most excellent and comprehensive perfect Prayer that Christ taught his Apostles 〈◊〉 Directory and Rule to Teach Believers to pray accordingly and likewise that very Prayer may be used Verbatim Yet Christ did not impose it upon them nor tye them thereto neither did Christ or his Apostles ever ordain or impose any other form much less then should any other Persons usurp this authority over the Church and people of God and therefore all such as make enjoyn or observe such humane Forms follow the Traditions of Men and not the Word of God see 1 Cor. 11.1 23. 2 Cor 1.24 Mark 7.6 7 8. Though the Prayers of Unbelievers be abominable to the Lord because of their sins and their being out of Christ yet it 's their duty to pray and it is lawful for believers to pray where Unbelievers are present we find our Saviour himself and many of his Saints using divers gestures in prayer as kneeling lying on the face standing all very lawfull and acceptable if the heart be filled with true faith love sincerity humility and zeal to God Concerning singing of Psalms Imposition of Hands and other Gospel ordinances not yet repeated 1. Singing of Psalms particularly Scripture-Psalms Hymns and Spiritual songs is a continued Gospel-ordiâ—ance and duty and to be performed by all but espeâ—ially in the Churches Mat. 26.30 Eph. 5.18 19. Col. â— 16 c. 2. Laying on of Hands is one of the Principles of â—he Doctrine of Christ and a Gospel-ordinance praâ—tised in the primitive times and not yet abrogated â—s appears by any Scripture being used upon those â—hat were sent out of the Churches to preach the Gospelâ— Acts 13.3 or upon believers after their Baptisme in order to their receiving the Holy Ghost or the gifts thereof Acts 8.17 9.17 19.6 or else for the healing of the sick Acts 28.8 c. 3. Visiting of the sick and for the elders to anoint them in the name of the Lord is a Gospel Ordinance and not repealed Jam. 5.14 15. Concerning Excommunication Another Ordinance continued in the Time and Churches of the New Testament is a power given by Christ to deal with such members as walk disorderly 2 Thes 3.6 that refuse to hear the Church Mat. 18.17 commit some scandalous sin 1 Cor. 5. or deny and destroy the Faith or Fundamentals of Religion as the Resurrection c. 2 Tim. 2.16.27 18. 1 Tim. 2.20 2. The Ordinance is to be solemnly performed in the name of Christ by the whole Congregation yet ministerially by the Officers thereof and according to the nature of the offence whether by Admonition without Ejection 1 Thes 5.14 or Ejection and casting out till repentance manifests it self in the excommunicated Person and then he is to be restored 1 Cor. 5. with 2 Cor. 2.6 7 8. or else aâ— utter and absolute excommunication and rejectinâ— of the Person till the coming of Christ 1 Corinâ— 16.22 Concerning Magistrates and Rulers 1. Magistracy is an Ordinance of God and Ruler or Magistrates whether supream or subordinate anâ— Gods Ministers Reigning by under and for him entrusted with the sword of Justice for the encouragement and praise of such as do well but a terror to eviâ— works or a revenger and executor of wrath upon those that do evil Rom. 13.2 14. 1 Pet. 2.14 1 Tim. 2.2 Prov. 8.16.17 2 Chron. 19.6 2. The most High God who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords who ruleth in the Kingdom of Men and giveth it to whomsoever he will he exalteth and pulleth down altereth and removeth Kings and other Rulers at his pleasure Psal 75.6 7. Dan. 4.25 2 Chron. 11.4 2 King 9.3 6 7. sometimes giving bad Rulers and at other times taking away such as are good in a
been very hurtful 6. That the Lord did move the hearts of the Brethren to come so willingly and express so much affection to me 7. That God moved my heart and strengthned me to come home that night which proved advantagious 8. That when the disease was at the highest and sorest the Lord was pleased in that state to keep the eye of my mind directly upon himself 9. That when I was much troubled about my Will and was afraid the Lord would have taken me away before I had finished it God heard my weak sensless crying unto him and gave me much satisfaction when it was done The Lord did not let loose any of my spiritual enemies sin or Satan upon me The Lord supported me with his former fatherly dealings and the succors comforts and experiences he had afforded in the like afflictions The Lord kept my spirit indifferent and unbyassed towards life or death not desiring the one more then the other but willing that God should choose for me The Lord shewed me things neerer thâ—n I saw them beâ—ore and smaller things as duties sins c. seemed greater to me then they had done I was helped by the Lord to beaâ— the affliction with that patience that I was so far from thinking it too heavy that I wondred it was so light I found a quicker discerning and a better taste to try words then before and to know who spoke and what was spoken discreetly seasonably and effectually That I had more sence of other sick and suffering Saints then I had before especially the poor and the rather because I considered how they wanted the accommodations I had As I had no extraordinary discoveries of the Lord so I had several small and mediate expressions of his tenderness and kindness I had clearer knowledge and greater conviction of some sins particularly 1. Self which I found to cleave to me ever to the end 2. Of Frowardness which I saw to be an abhoring to the Lord and it troubled me much to hear it in my Family 3. Wordliness especially in having to do with worldly men 4. Slothfulness in private duties 5. Want of more care to refâ—rm my Family 6. Using too many words about earthly things with my Wife 7. Using too much fleshly wisdom in my preaching and too much time wiâ—h too many words in my Sermons and too many complements to Saints offering Sacrifice or doing service unto the Lord when God would have me be receiving mercy from him this God shewed me once when being weak I went to perform duly I had comfort from the Lord. 1. From several Scriptures as Rom. 14 8. Philip. 1.21 Iob 33.26 Psal 71.3 Esaiah 1.25 Ezek. 21.44 Prov. 1â— the last verse Iohn 16.14 Ioh. 17. Prov. 7. to 21. 2. Gracious Answers of Prayer and feeding upon promises 3. From the Visits and Prayers of the Saints 4. That when I vvas to dispose of the estate the Loâ—d had given me I did find I vvas more thoughtful hovv to do it to Gods gloâ—y then I vvas to get it Some few of the Hymns found within his Papers A Hymn on the Sabboth day THe rest of rests to me is Christ in whom I do rejoyce His day a Sabboth is to me T is not mine but his choice He rose and rested on that day to shew his work was done His blest example is my Rule his Candle is my Sun This is the Queen of dayes to me For t is my Kings birth day He was begotten from the dead that I might live for aye Not live in lust to do my will but live to please my Lo d To preach his word and sit at board 'mong â—aâ—â—ts of one accord To pray and preach to sing and praise to meditate and talk From day dawning unto dark night should be our work and walk Another on the same The Sabboth is a day of rest from Service Work and Sin When God had ended all his work the Sabboth did begin God set apart the seventh day and did it sanctifie Adam in innocence was bound that holy kept should be Then to the Iews God gave command this day for to observe And sorely punish wicked men that from the Law did swerve But when the time that Iewish rites were to be done away Christ did set up instead of it another call'd by day This was prefigur'd in the Law and foretold frequently This Christ and his Disciples kept strictly and ardently This mindâ— us that the work is done which Christ ingag'd to do Christs resurrection was thereon which makes us keep it too Some without ground would sleight this day counting alike all dayes Yet I with Saints will keep the same to celebrate Gods praise Upon my going forth to Preach To be my Shephards underling his Sheep to seek and save It joyes me more then any thing no work else do I crave To free a Soul from Death and Hell more then my life I prize Converting Preachers make me one shall shine for they are wise O let me Lord have skill to bring thy lost and scattering Sheep Into thy School and Fould also to teach and feed and keep My Lambs and little Ones are like to perish and be lost Oh seek and save them Lord thy self thou knowest how much they cost Thy precious Blood was shed for them that they might ever have Enjoyment of thy precious self this had no more they crave Upon the occasion of preaching upon a Mountain How fair and eek how beautiful are those Messengers Feet That preach glad tidings on the Hills their voice must needs be sweet Sweet is thy holy Trumpets sound that calls and summons all To lissen to and list themselves under the General God gave his Law at first on smoaky Mount Sinai God oft times did appear to his in such a place and way Alters were built by Saints to worship the true God The Temple on a Mountain was built where God made his abode Christ did resort to Hills to Watch to Preach to Pray Châ—ist was transfigured on a Mount clad in divine array On a Hill he tryed was and that he overcame When from a Hill he did descend he had the greatest fame Christ wrought great Miracles on a barren Hill Christ did ascend from off a mount the Scriptures to fulfil Upon a Mount in Galile Christ gave commissions To his Apostles for to preach unto all Nations From off a Mountain high John saw that glorious sight The new Jerusalem Christs brâ—de cloathed in white and bright The Mountains minds us of Gods faithful promises Gods Wisdom Might and Providence on Hills appear all these The prosecuted Saints did hide themselves in Hills Their th' Idolators worshipped God after their crooked wills Christ Kingdome and his Church his Mount of holiness Shall break and quell all Mountains and all Hills of wickedness Gods Mounâ—ains shall bring peace the Hills shall leap and sing On Mount Olive Christ will stand to judge the world as King The barren Wilderness
laid his hand of sickness upon me by which I was brought even to the gates of death and in the sight both of Physicians and Friends and in my own expectation I was a dying man yet much more sensible of the danger I apprehended my soul to be in than of my bodily weakness sweating with the horror of it and diligently examining my self by the best signs I could either find at that time oâ— had found before which I had writ down with the grounds of my fear in a little Diary which Book I then desired to see but having lent it to a Christian Friend that was far distant could not so that being satisfied 〈◊〉 lay even at the next door to despair waiting for noâ—hing less than to be suddainly cast into Hell Whilst I was in this Agony the Lord God of all grace who brought back from the depth of the Sea did about noon present to me that Scripture Jo. 3.36 He that believeth 〈◊〉 the Son hath everlasting Life Which words were then revealed to me and opened thus First that there was nothing necessary to Salvation but onely believing in Christ Secondly that to such as did believe in Christ there was a certaintie of Salvation My understanding being cleared in these two particulars I was then to seek and to learn whether I did believe or not and to know that I examined my self what signs of true Faith I had and how I could prove that I did believe and finding no certain evidence being also convinced that I had before many years gone in that way to no purpose I continued still in an hopeless state but upon a suddain and unexpectedly a mighty power no less than that spirit which raised up Christ Jesus from the dead and which declared him to be the Sonne of God did enable me to believe and witnessed effectually in me that I did believe Which divine impression I look upon to be all one with that sealing spoken of in Eph. 1.13 And the witnessing of the Spirit of God with our Spirits Rom. 8.16 and thereupon I had perfect peace my heart not at all condemning me But according to 1 John 3.21 I had a confidence towards God and not only so but my heart likewise was filled wtih admiration and great joy according to that saying Whom having not seen ye love in whom though now you see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 After this manifestation and wonderful operation of God which I could never express either by word or writing so clearly and distinctly as then I apprehended and felt it in my soul The Lord added the mercie of natural life and health and so I experience the fulness of those two Scriptures Heaviness in thâ— heart of man maketh it stoop but a good word maketh it glad Prov. 12.25 And a sound heart is life tâ— the flesh Prov. 14.32 And being restored both to my health and the exercise of my Ministry I waâ— taught by the Lord to preach in another manner than before Namely to lay Christ as the foundation and to Preach chiefly and mainly and qualification and duties in a secondary and subservant way Yet from hence also did Satan take occasion to thrust at me and throw me into the other extream even unto that which is truly and properly called Antinomianisme to destroy and utterly deny the use of the Law but the Lord did timely and graciosly prevent my fall in this also and to fulfil unto me that Scripture He that fears the Lord shall come out of all viz. out of all extreams as the foregoing words do shew Eccles 7.18 To omit many other remarkable providences of God towards me for the space of two years that I was in London as also his goodness to me for some space that I was in the Army I was at length called to Dartford in Kent where indeed Gods favours of several kinds for the space of two years and an half were very many as to own such a nothing Creature and enable me to bring home in that Town and thereabouts I hope to Gods glory I may speak it many souls to Christ where also I gathered a Congregation among whom I had very sweet and comfortable Society After some time of my abode there it pleased the Lord to visit that Town with the Plague where about thirty Houses were shut up at once and the dead bodies were carried by my Chamber wall and window yet it pleased God to preserve me and my Family wonderfully from the Disease although I continued in the Town and preached constantly three times a week and some that had the Sickness upon them came publickly to hear After which the Lord stayed the Plague and delivered me from that affliction also Yet not long after this it pleased the Lord to visit me with a very dangerous Feaver and Ague insomuch as I was in the eyes of all my Friends and in the judgement of Physicians also hopeless as to Life yet God gave me Faith to be healed by that means prescribed James 5. And I sent unto some Godly Preachers in London desiring them to come unto me and perform that duty of anointing me with Oyl And whilst I was waiting for and expecting their answer and questioning whether they would have Faith and freedome to practice the same the Lord brought that Scripture to my remembrance and fixed it upon me Rom. 3.3 Shall unbelief make the Faith of God of none effect or shall they as it was then applyed to me make void the Faith that God hath given me or hinder me of being healed wherupon I was confirmed that it should not but I did believe that God would recover me and accordingly after a suddain and strange trance which I fell into and continued in for about six hours wherin I did sweat abundantly yet discerned not at all during that time how it was with me or what was done for me my sickness presently abated and I recovered Having spent above two years at Dartford and being now upon my return home into Wales I was willing to take along with me a Certificate or Testimonial from the Synod which sate then and had the tryal of all Publick Preachers To this purpose I applyed my self to some of them to whom Mr. Stephen Marshal was one they questioned me about Ordination and told me that unless I would be Ordained they could not approve to which I answered I was willing to be tryed as a Christian and as a Scholar but had some doubts about Ordination as that particularly whether the Eldership mentioned 1 Tim. 4.12 were to be understood of one or more Congregations in which I was not yet satisfied and then addressing my self particularly to Mr. Marshal and reasoning the case with him they at last gave me this following Certificate THese are to Certify those whom it may concern that the bearer hereof Mr. Vavasor Powell is a man of a Religious and blameless
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
that you shall shortly reach Immortality but never Eternity Make Christ your all and you will be sure to lay down your self all Consider that when you are not assaulted with Temptaions Satan is damming and pounding and and he will suddenly draw up his Sluce and let loose upon you Satan doth not like God warn before he strike Christ work is Wages his Service perfect freedom The Love of the Master the sweetness of the Service and the greatness of the reward are sufficient incouragements to serve Christ A Christians security and safety is in doing his duty and he should study his duty more then his safety He that loves not Christ more then his Lust or his Life is like to lose Christ and his Life but he that loves Christ more then his Life shall be sure to save and keep both Strive greatly to have and to exercise a good Conscience towards God and Men and commit by Soul Life and Cause to the Lord and to exâ—â—ct the worst of Men and the best of Christ Christ is â—â—â—o the Soul as the Loadstone to the â—on drawing it to it self or the Cristial to the other â—tones putting Beauty and Lustre on them A Christian beholds Christ in the deepest Afflictiâ—n as well as in the most spiritual Ordinance Corruptions are like Worms in the Maw or Stoâ—ach which will eat through the Soul unless scatâ—red killed and purged out The only way some times for a Christian to avoid the force of Temptation is Souldier Like to fall down on his face when he sees the Cannon or Musket fired against him Make haste to do thy work Christian and God will make haste to give thee thy Wages Thou must dye once whether thou suffer or no and thou canst dye but once if thou suffer The sins of Saints are new sufferings to Jesus Christ and the sufferings of Saints are the Wounds of Christ Reading the Scriptures helps Meditation Meditation Prayer and Prayer every good work Men may come too late to God when the Door is shut but God never comes too late to Men. Let the Child be contented to take the Breast the Mother will give it and then it shall have both so be contented with what Christ gives you and you shall want nothing To see the want of Grace is much the worth of Grace more T is hard to get Grace hard to get assurance of Grace hard to use it and not abuse it T is very hard to behold our own Gift without Pride and the Gifts of others if they excel ours without Envy Do not commend thy Freind nor discommend thy Foe too much least thou be judged to be partial He commands most and best that commads in Love Humility and Self-denyingly He hath not learned to rule that hath not learningâ—ed to obey An even through Paced Self-fearing Heart melt-Christian is always best The world is a great nothing deluding the bad disturbing and distracting the good Satan works more upon men by sleight then by might avoid his cunning and thou wilt avoid his cruelty Hypocrites Hearts are like stinking Ponds wherein Frogs live and Fish dye Lusts feed and Grace if it were there starves The Devil is like the Turkycock or Crocodile if you turn upon him he will fly from you but you fly from him he will pursue you It is better sometimes to sleight the Devil then to fight him Thoughts of our own death will tend much to deaden sin God hath set the Tongue between the Brains and Heart that it may advice with both and within two Guards to keep it in and yet it is unruly Prayer is a good preparative to suffering when Christ had prayed he went out to meet Judas Ioh. 18.4 Ruffling opinion sowing and Church railing Persons and Professors have commonly more Self then Grace It is the duty of a Christian to suppress and search himself when he doth not know Evil by himself Christ and Sin are most magnified in the Eyes of Believers in their afflictions but in a different manner and to a different end and then Christ is most desired and Sin most dispised A Christian should earnestly desire that his sin might sit in a white Cloud and that he might go out of the World as a Perfume and not as a Snuff The holy Law of God teaches a Man to see his own Deformity and requires from him a Conformity Sin is like a sleepy Lion in the Soul which Temptation soon awakens Christ puts most of his Oyle in broken Vessels in broken Hearts there is most Grace and best kept The less a man strives for himself the more will Christ strive for him Oh my Soul look for death hourly long for it greatly prepare for it carefully meet and welcome it joyfully for it is Christs part to direct his Spouse the Soul to him and thy Freind that comes to set thee at liberty from thy sins discharge thee from thy Pâ—ison dismiss thee from thy Debts and bring thee at once to enjoy all thy desires Oh Lord as a sign that I shall be able to dye for thee let me find my Corruption dying in me by power from thee He that will not take Example shall make an Example Afflictions are Christs Love Tokens Jer. 12.7 Heb. 12.6 Rev. 3.9 and Christians are never more tendred then when most afflicted as Ephraim Jer. 31.20 A Christians Soul should be like the Dial going according to the Sun or following Christ Small sins yeilded too make way for greater and one sin for another He that converts a Sinner covers a world or multitude of sins and gains more then a World to wit a Soul Saints should labour to Lord it over their Corruptions as their Corruptions did formerly Lord it over them God hath given a Man a little Mouth and a narrow Throat that Man may not exced in eating To take pains about unnecessary and unprofitable things is laboriously to mispend time Zeal without Knowledge to guide it is like mettle in a blind Horse which stumbles and overthrows the Rider Young Christians commonly want a Curb and old Christians a Spur. Be not ambitions of Love and thou shalt not be so soon an object of Envy It is good to curb natural and acquired Gifts but to give the Reins to Grace and let alwayes Grace lead rule and master Gifts A Heart unconverted is contended with nothing but what is helping it unto Hell and it hath never enough of that very sin and the Heart converted is never satisfied but with what helps it towards Heaven and yet thinks he hath never enough thereof viz. Christ and Grace Welcome thou thy Landlord Christ into thy Cottage now and he will welcome thee into thy Palace hereafter Get Christ and Christian to bind thy Conscience to the peace and thy Affections and Flesh to the good behaviour Spend all thy Grace against thy Lust but none for it Thy hardest duty in Christianity is to deny self and to destroy sin As the Martyr
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 â—pirit will you teach The pirit said I le shew and work what 's to be known and done They aâ—swered make us willing Lord then to thee we will run A Dialogue betwixt Time and Youth Time speaks Time I am hoâ—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 Panpharmaâ—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 minâ— 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 sâ—le â—â—â—esty Hear the complaints of thy dear
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