Strena Vavasoriensis, A NEW-YEARS-GIFT FOR THE WELCH ITINERANTS, Or a HUE and CRY after Mr. VAVASOR POWELL, Metropolitan of the Itinerants, and one of the Executioners of the Gospel, by colour of the late Act for the Propagation thereof in Wales; AS ALSO A true Relation of his Birth, Course of Life, and Doctrines; TOGETHER WITH A Vindication of several places of Scripture wrested and abused, against the present Government, and all public Ministers of this Nation. His Hymn Sung in Christ-Church London; With an Antiphona thereunto; and a lively Description of his Propagation. Raro antecedentem Scelestum Sequitur pede Poena claudo. Pro. 16.5. Answer a Fool according to his folly; lest he be wise in his own conceit. Gen. 4.14. I shall be a Fugitive and a Vagabond in the Earth, and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me, shall slay me. LONDON, Printed by F.L. 1654. To the Reader. Reader, YOu must be pleased not to wonder that our Cry is so loud, for we beat on a strong Quest, and must hunt dryfoot after Mr. V.P. who is the Subject of this Discourse; a man that hath passed by no Person or Profession but hath either vilified the one or traduced the other: His Cruelties have been so immane, and his Cheats so frequent and obvious, that we should undertake too great a task to pursue them all, having with his Errors and Blasphemies rob God of his Glory, Christ of his Honour, the Scripture of her Truth, the Church of her Ministry, and the Christian People of our Nation, of the Comfort of Christ's blessed Ordinances, every way endeavouring to undermine the very Fabric both of this Church and State, so that the Hue and Cry is great. You must not expect any Curiousity in the stile, being the Drolleries only of his own brain, and the reiterating of the passages of his own obscean & violent discourses, which may not with verity be Metamorphosed from their first shape; here is not a passage falsely related, nor maliciously aggravated, and though All that is here is True, yet All that is true, is not here told, for we purposely pretermit many things, that we may reserve more in store. We found out the sent of some part of his Doctrine in Wales, and here in London more bitterness of his Seditions, for which he was 3 times committed to the custody of the Messengers attending His Highness' Council, and being thence with great clemency released, he became as wild Actaeon (transformed into the shape of a Deer) and knew not where to betake himself lest he should be torn by his own dogs. Ovid met. lib. 3. Quid faciat? Repetatne domum, et Regalia tecta, An lateat Sylvis? timor hoc, pudor impedit illud. He was afraid to stay here, and ashamed to return home; but being gone he is much lamented by his brethren for betraying their trust, and more condemned by all honest men for violating his promise, in continuing (as we understand) as busy and violent in the Country, as ever he was here, against this present Government: whosoever pleaseth to make search after him, may soon know him by his Characteristical marks, herein truly expressed. I am sure you shall not find him idle. Virg. Ecl. Nam si non aliquâ nocuisset, mortuus esset. Let us entreat your patience in tracing his footsteps, and the Lord preserve you from his ways: A NEW-YEARS-GIFT FOR The Welsh Itinerants, Or a HUE and CRY after Mr. VAVASOR POWELL. IF you will have first his Pedigree blazed, he was the 1 His Birth. Grandchild of one William Vavasor of Newtown in Montgomeryshire, a man fresh in our memory for his hyperbolical discourses, so that by descent he hath not much degenerated from his Ancestors. This old man had a Daughter named Penelope, a Lady not altogether as as Ulysses his Wife, who gained more by the trade of Tippling than Spinning, And this Gossip was the Mother of our young Donatus. She was married to one Howel the poor Ale man of Knwcklas in Radnorshire, and a badger of Oatmeal, but Non genus aut proavos— we like Mr. Vavasor never the worse for that. They lived long in that house of no good report, and the young Gentleman was no great probationer in Christ's School, by his own confession (during his Minority) being willing to approve of all games, were they never so wanton or vile, for his Mother or Sister's livelihood. But tired at length 2 Education. with walking their Guests horses, and finding no great gain at such a petty Alehouse, he was elevated in his thoughts for higher preferment, and so became an Ostler (I would say Groom) to Master Isaac Thomas, an Innkeeper and Mercer in Bishop-Castle in Shropshire. Alas! it was impossible that so high and generous a spirit should be captivated to horses heels; The hopeful young man continued not long in rubbing on that Trade, but began to be so eloquent with Welcome Gentlemen, that at last, together with the benefit of his Master's Notes, he presumed to open Scriptures, and being then taken up by a great Gamaliel, he was for a good space (you may think) well Educated and Principled at his feet. 3 Marriage. This Gallant Spark lived a while (though not purely chaste, yet) a single life; but at last the strength of his Flesh prevailed over the weakness of his Spirit, being then Monkey proud, he was so taken with sweet and dear Mistress Quarrel, sometimes a walking Pedlar, and seller of Hot-waters in Preisteign in Radnorshire, wherewith he was often Comforted, that his inflamed spirit did revive; and her husband shortly deceasing, though his dead Corpse had not lain a fortnight in the Grave, they being sweetly enamoured the one with the other, she proves to be his Consort, and so he Carries her as a Dear Sister about, though her little Child, lately deprived of his Father, and now rob of his Mother, raised the Hue and Cry after them; but wantonness admits neither of delays nor entreaties. Here is sweet Amity and Conjuntion, a couple well met and joined together, a Walking Pedlar, and an Itinerary Preacher, both very expert in their Trades. 4 Course of life. His Proficiency grew on, and no sooner becomes he a Schoolmaster, but takes upon him the habit of Sir John; and lest without Ordination (under the Episcopal Government) he might incur the danger of suspension, borroweth of an old decayed Minister (his near Kinsman) his Letters of Orders, razeth out the other, and inserts his own name, and under Colour of these Counterfeit Letters missive, he goes unsent, and gins to thunder out of the Pulpits (as though he had been a fiery Spirit raised out of Hell:) but by reason of his inconformity, and the many Errors which he broached, his Calling was questioned, and the Orders being well scanned, were found Spurious and Counterfeit, and he bound to appear at the next great Sessions to be held for that County of Radnor, where appearing, and indicated for nonconformity, forging of Orders, and Seditious Doctrine, was with much ado reprieved from the Gallows, and very near to undergo the danger of a true Suspension. The Modesty of the man was such, that with old Volpone (having 5 Removal to England. escaped thus narrowly) he is resolved thenceafter to harras and prey abroad, and so, for mere shame, his Country is rid of him, and he makes his transmigration into England: but I shall pass over with silence his great Cheating and Seducing of poor souls in Kent and Essex, where he continued, and spread his Errors divers years, and sparingly discover his return, and trading again among his own Natives and Countrymen. No sooner did these late troubles, and intestine Wars break forth 6 Return to Wales to Propagate. in England, but as soon as Wales was reduced under the power of the Parliament, he fled thither, not only of any affection to their Cause, but for his own designs, security, and advantage, and was as active and vigorous as the perpetual motion of a tongue, or the invention of a wicked brain could possible be, for the rooting out of the Ministry, branding the Calling as Antichristia and rendering the persons by all scandalous aspersions, to become odious to the people. And for the more speedy effecting thereof he, together with others of the same Cut, (who, Tunc tua res agitur paries cum proximus ardet Vealegon.- if they become more meek and modest, may peradventure prove nameless) promoted the Act for Propagation of the Gospel in Wales, so really intended by the pious Care and Charity of those Members of Parliament; yet by the unworthy managing thereof by these men, it proved like another Ephesian Image of Diana (though believed to be descended from heaven) for the benefit only of this Demetrius, and his tradesmen, the Silver Shrines taking up the whole devotion of that Worship. A true description whereof you shall (God willing) in the latter end herein find to be lively delineated. For his encouragement in the work, he had his Stipend and Salary of one hundred pounds a year allowed unto him out of prebend's, 7 Stipend Dean and Chapters, and other Tithes, besides the vast Emoluments of many other Sequestered Benefices in North-Wales, which were, and continue daily paid unto him, and received Tickets from the Commissioners in South-Wales for the like Sum, besides the wages of divers of the Itinerants and Schoolmasters, who are but his Journeymen and Stipendaries. 8 Greatness and wealth. And yet this man hath the Impudence to Protest and Vow before God and men (as his usual manner is in his Sermons) that he never received a penny for his Pains and Preaching. Thus the poor Groom is become great and wealthy, having purchased some of the late Kings, Fee-farm Rents and Lordships, though for the most part in another man's name: And to perpetuate his memory (as wicked Absalon being Sonless reared up his Pillar in the King's Dale) hath built for himself a very fair and sumptuous house in Kerry within the County of Montgomery. We are sure that old Howel (his Father) his Inheritance which he sold in Kuwcklas, could never had made such Purchases and Buildings. 9 Itinerary way. Being thus encouraged and warmed to the work, he rides his Itinerary Stages throughout to some purpose, and what a rout he and his Tunto made of all the Ministers in Wales (except some few, who either fed them, depended upon them, or had some Correspondence with them) we make no question but some abler Pens will shortly set forth to the uttermost. However, because he is now under File, give us leave briefly to Limn forth the manner of their Propagation. 10 And manner of Propagation. The great Cabal of the Itinerants' instruction was to render the Ministers persons odious, and their Calling in its very basis to be Anti-christian, and so in itself unlawful and useless, and none to be protected or Countenanced by the Civil Magistrate. This without any greater Engine was instrumental enough to batter and eject them out of their Freeholds and Being, without any respect either to their fidelity and ability in their Teachings, or sobriety in their Conversations. And in what a narrow straight they were, either to be wholly deprived of all subsistence for the maintenance of themselves and Families, or turn Apostates to their Ordination, we leave to that most ingenious and modest Censure of a Noble Member of the House, in his Answer to a Narrative of the Cause and manner of the Dissolution of the last Parliament. 2. Though he and the Itinerants cried down Tithes as Mosaical Ceremonies and Antichristian, yet he and they, or such as are their Agents, have had the disposing of above Forty Thousand pounds a year in Tithes, Glebe's, impropriations, Rents reserved, and other ecclesiastical benefices and promotions, for above four years' last passed in the thirteen Counties of Wales, far surmounting the sum of One Hundred and Threescore Thousand pounds, and as yet to our knowledge unaccounted for, and what account is given to the State for the Tenths, since the Act of Propagation of all ecclesiastical promotions in Wales, we refer to the better knowledge of that worthy Gent. Mr. Baker, Master of the first fruits Office. 3. That notwithstanding all this great Revenue by them received, there are above seven hundred Parishes in the thirteen Counties unsupplied with any Ministers, who (we are confident) dare own the charge, and you may ride ten or twenty miles on the Lord's day, where there is twenty Churches, and not one door opened, and for most of the Itinerants, they are such ignorant persons, that they can neither read, nor understand English, nay some of them more scandalous than any of the ejected Ministers, and all of them in their Principles and Doctrines destructive to Government. But we will not digress from Mr. Vavasor: 11 His Preaching. The Asp receives her poison from the Viper, and what he spits these lick up; We shall give you an account of some of his base and spurious Doctrines, that by his you may understand theirs. Now his chief work is to preach and advance Christ's Personal Reign here on Earth, 12 false Doctrines being the Ancient Error and Foppery of the Chiliasts or Millenaries, hissed and exploded out of the Church of Christ in the very Infancy thereof. And what is his end and intention therein, may be conspicuous and apparent (as his wild discourses against the present Government under his Highness' Protection, have evidently discovered) to be the Destruction of the Magistracy of England, as well as the Ministry of Wales. At Welsh Pool, a Town in Mountgomery-shire, he taught. That Christ was to reign a thousand years here upon the Earth. And that he was to sit ne●t unto him Behold the intolerable pride of this Creature to extol himself upon the right hand of his Creator. We should think that our Saviour's reprof to Zebedees' sons should correct if not satisfy this Ambition; Sobriety should have ushered him to beseech a place at the Footstool of his Tribunal, and in Charity to give some room for the poor despised Ministers, to appear with him, though here as yet they found neither Comfort nor mercy at Mr. Vavasors hands. At Llandetty in Brecknock shire he preached, That Christ was already come in the flesh the second time, and that at London a Girl of twelve years old, told her mother, that she saw him in the Chamber; and said, that a Godly man related this unto him, and knew it to be true, and they that heard him that day should shortly see him too. And one John Davies his Proselyle and Journey man in Mountgomery shire, having received the same by Tradition from him, told very lately to a justice of Peace of that Country, That he had seen Christ, and was to go the next morning to see him again: And being demanded by the Justice, what manner of man he was, replied, that he was a little old man, with a small grey beard. And so Mr. Williams an Itinerant of Mr. Vavasors approbation, preached in a Sermon in Monmouth-shire, That Christ jesus was such another man as old Rice Williams of Newport, one of the Commissioners for the Propagation, and that he had a large grey beard. Thus it seems the Tithes are their God, and the Propagators that pay them their salaries out of the Tithes are their Christ's. At the same Town of Pool Mr. Powel openly delivered before the Bailiff, and the rest of that Corporation, That let them Repent, or not Repent, both Priest and People were all damned, And did then absolutely declare, That Christ had no Church either in England or Wales, but what he and his associates had gathered for him. And in a disputation with Mr. A.G. in Keington in Herefordshire, he was driven to that pinch as to maintain, That the Nation of England was a Nation of Unbelievers; And that the words of Christ in 13th. Chap. of Matthew, concerning the tares and drag-net were contrary to other Scriptures. At Manavon in Mountgomery he taught, That all our Forefathers were damned, blasphemously abusing that place of Scripture to confirm his uncharitable opinion (I Cor. 15.18.) Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. A wretched and malicious Gloss, to acknowledge our forefathers to die in the Faith of Christ jesus, and the glorious hope of his Resurrection, and yet that they shall eternally perish: Whereas the Apostle in that Chapter by convincing Arguments confirms the Doctrine of our Resurrection by the Resurrection of Christ, which he had fully proved both by forcible Reasons and also by Signs and Wonders, which if not true as he had preached, than the Corinthians vainly believed Paul's Preaching, and dying in the Faith of Christ would be ineffectual unto them, If they who died therein Eternally perished. At Baryw in the same County he taught, That Baptism was never ordained for the remission of sins, 1 Pet. 3 21. Tit. 3 5. Act 22 16. contrary to several places of Scripture, which affirms, that Baptism saves us, that it is the Lavar or washing of Regeneration, which though all this be Analogically spoken, being the Obsignation of the thing signified by the sign, yet in the true use thereof the Exhibition and Perception of the sign and thing is conjoined. But this Mr. Vavasors Ordinary use to vilify that sacred Ordinance, as he always doth by his Common recital of that place of Scripture, Gal. 5.6, 15. In Christ jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new Creature, which he and all his followers scornfully apply to the Contempt of Baptism, In which place is only meant, That the jews called to the Faith of Christ after their Circumcision, gain nothing by their former Circumcision, nor the unbelieving Gentiles being called, lose any thing by their uncircumsion, for seeing in Christ the Circumcision is spiritual, there is no need of carnal. At Guilsfield in the same County he preached, That Christ was not the Redeemer of the World, and being reprehended for his blasphemy, answered, that they should not always observe what he said, for he that speaks much (said he) must speak some things amiss. And how ridiculous and obseene divers of his passages have been, 13 His obscenity. Trefeglwys, Llanbryn-Main, Machynleth. we are very loath to deliver to chaste Ears, yet we must beseech your Patience to these true Relations. In divers parish Churches in Mountgomery shire he delivered in his Sermon this story, That they were many in Company travelling towards London, and one of them rid on an Ambling grey horse, and meeting another Company, where there was a Gentleman that rid on the like coloured pacing horse, when the one grey Horse met the other, they stood still, and made much the one of the other, and would not part Company; even so the Saints of God know one another by their paces and colours, and will not part Company the one from the other. And how modest the Gentleman is, may appear by his Obscene expressions in a Sermon preached at Llunddynam in the same Country, where being willing to justify a Sister, that had slipped, becomes her Compurgator in these words, That he called God to witness, He never saw a Saint Occupie or F— a Saint, which he explained thus in the Welsh tongue, Your ywf yn Galow Duw yn dîst, ni welais i yr'ioed Saint yn myned are Saints. And one Richard powel Vicar of Llanigon in Brecknock shire, one of the Approvers in the Act for the Propagation of the Gospel, and Itinerant in that County (receiving the same by tradition from Mr. Vavasor) hath usually delivered in his Sermons both in Herefordshire and Brecknock shire, Concerning the manner of Christ's Spirit entering into man, that he could not use any sitter Comparison, than, as the seed of Man entered into the body of a Woman, so the Spirit of Christ entered into his head. And the same Richard powel maintained, That God was not Creator of the World, as was proved against him by sufficient understanding Witnesses, before a worthy, and godly Justice of Peace of the County of Brecon. And often delivered in his Sermons, That the Lords Prayer is a rotten Prayer. This man is a most scandalous, ignorant, covetous, deboyst fellow; and marched before his Parishioners and others against Sir William Waller's forces when they were at Abergavenny, reading the Litany out of the Common-prayer, which he carried in his hands; and yet was made an Approver in the Act, and receives tithe in kind from his three neighbouring Parishes. Mr. Vavasor powel, to justify another Sister of his own Congregation who had wilfully drowned herself in Drawwell near the Welsh Pool, delivered publicly in his Sermon there, That she was a Saint in Heaven, and they who thought otherwise were wicked persons, and accursed; That she came to her end by the Motion of the Holy Spirit, and that it happened oftentimes when the Saints are filled with the Spirit, they run into great Pools, instead of green Meadows, and so embracing their Saviour they make an End of their Lives by divine providence, and there souls are Eternally saved. Surely this Spirit possessed Mr. Vavasor both at Christ-Church and Blackfriars, which brought him three times into Capt. Cumpton's hands, one of the Messengers attending His Highness' Council. And brought (as we understand) a Gentleman of this City very lately to stretch, unless his man (like Naaman's servants) had been more careful of his Master's neck than himself. Thus the Circumcellians of old, when they could not solicit others, took pains with their own throats. We must not forget his Compassion and Charity towards men, 14 His Incompassion and especially towards the Ejected Ministers of Wales, and their Children. In Llanyrvil in Mountgomery shire he taught, That it were a good deed to cut the throats of all the Old Ministers: And had it not been for the charity of some few of the Saints (as he termed them) it had been performed long ago. And to a Gentleman in Red-Castle that petitioned him for relief and maintenance for the poor Children of the Ejected Ministers, he answered, That their heads should be dashed against the Walls as Babylonish brats, and so their portions should be paid. He preacheth and inveigheth most bitterly here in London against Tithes, but how vigorously he levies his salary in Wales, by countenancing his Agents and Farmours to gather Tithes, may truly appear by several of his false passages which are too tedious to relate; He pretended that the Godly party in Wales were in danger of their lives, and that two and forty of them were slain at the hearing of the Ejected Ministers Sermons; and so since the Dissolution of the former Parliament, by these false and abominable sarmises, he obtained a Commission for the raising of Forces, wherewith he did insultingly tyrannize over the poor Inhabitants of that Nation; witness his insolent carriage against the last years High Sheriff of the County of Mountgomery; the taking of Mr. Owen's of Machynleth out of his house, and binding him to the Great Sessions; his seizing upon Mr. Herbert of Dolegrog without any cause at all, which so affrighted the Gentlewoman his Wife, that she miscarried of a Child; besides the imprisoning of the divers of the Ejected Ministers for discharging their duties in preaching and maintaining the truth of the Gospel of Christ Jesus. And with these new raised Troops enforced the people to pay their Tithes, as evidently appeareth in Mr. Ralph Kinnastons Case, a Gentleman of very good worth and quality in that County, whose fields with his armed Troops he forcibly entered into, forced the payments of his Tithes, contrary to former Orders, and unless the mildness and wisdom of the Gentleman had prevented his fury, it might have been the cause of great mischief and effusion of Blood, but I believe a Bill of indictment hath been preferred in the great Session already against his Caesar Borgia and his Myrmidons for a Riot. 15 His Cruelty. If we should relate unto you his Pride, appressions and Cruelty, it would take up too large a volume. He preached at Welsh Pool publicly (where finding that few took notes of his Sermons) That they were proud fellows, and despisers of God's word, affirming that if King David were then present the holy Prophet would write his Sermon: And yet contrary to this Doctrine, at Christ Church and Blackfriers in London he fell roughly upon an ejected Welsh Minister, whom he supposed to have taken notes of his Sermons, being jealous of his own Errors, and afraid to have his seditious speeches and falsehood truly displayed. At Guilsfield aforesaid he publicly delivered these words, (viz.) That in respect they had not submitted themselves to the Saints (meaning himself and his Congregation) they should be in a short time all destroyed with the Sword, and that the War horses should wade up to their rains of their bridles in the blood of the said Parishioners, and of the other Enemies of the Saints, and doubted not but he should live to see the same performed. 16 His Oppression His proceed against Mr. Hugh Lloyd in Brecknock is an evident testimony of his unspeakable oppression, whom (being a Gentleman of good estate and quality, and sometimes a justice of Peace of his County) he arrested in that Corporation, imprisoned, and kept in, without bail or mainprize, until he paid him One Hundred pounds, and this upon a bare Arrest, and none durst bail him. 17 His faithless dealing. And his treacherous deal with Mr. Humphrey jones, late Bailiff of the Town of Welsh Pool (which I often mentioned) who is a very discreet Gentleman, and of good parts and abilities, are well worth your Observation; He being a constant hearer of the word, a godly man, and frequently taking both the notes of his Sermons, and of other reverend Divines who were afterwards ejected, denying Mr. powel the Copies which he requested, that he might the better frame most destructive Articles against them; the Gentleman (perhaps) not so much out of any tenderness toward them, as out of his respects towards him, being unwilling to make manifest such sad stories and Blasphemies as were there recorded out of his own Sermons, did (as that renowned Constantine the great dealt with the Articles against the Nicene Bishops) commit them to the fire, which Mr. Vavasor took in such high contempt, that he maliciously framed threescore Articles to be exhibited the next great Sessions against him, But Mr. Jones being as provident as himself had compiled the like, to countermine and repel his; Mr. powel being certified therewith, did by the mediation of Friends agree with the Gent. and that neither of them should exhibit Articles against the other; but when Saturday the last day of the Sessions came, and the Jury being discharged, Mr. Vavasor contrary to his promise and agreement, being maliciously bend to render the Gent. more scandalous, and defamed, before the honourable Bench and Country, produced (though ineffectually) several witnesses against him, and amongst the rest one of his own Congregation, a poor man of Guilsfield, living upon the Alms of the said Parish, whom he had kept the whole week in Town, and fed with Venison: the fellow being thus instructed and fitted for his purpose, swore some matters of Fact against Mr. jones, whereof he said he was Eyewitness, and afterwards (upon the Gentleman's request) being demanded by the judge, whether he knew the man, he confessed, he did not, though the Gentleman was present at the Bench: The Honourable judge checked Mr. powel, for countenancing such wicked and unworthy proceed, whereby Mr. Jones was vindicated in the face of the Country, and what a faithless and malicious man Mr. powel is, we leave to the consideration of all honest men. Mr. powel's Prosecution against a poor Dyer of New Town is most fresh and notorious: This Dyer having (it is confessed lived wickedly with a lewd woman in that Town, but at last repenting his former courses, was married to an honest woman, with whom be cohabited very lovingly; This Whore becomes one of Mr. powel Congregation, and then challengeth a former marriage with the man: and Mr. powel did so prosecute the Cause, that upon the bare evidence of the wicked woman the Dyer was convicted, burnt in the hand, and divorced from his honest wife, though it had been formerly proved before a Justice of the Peace that this lewd Woman lay that night (in which she swore that she was married to the Dyer,) with another Knave. The Judge did not well relish Mr. powel's earnestness for the Dyers execution, but reproved him for his incivility, and busying himself with such things as were excentrical to his profession, and dissonant to his Calling: But the truth is, he was herein, as he is in all other things so fragmatical and busy, that not one Suit in Law, or any other difference in those parts where he itinerates, passeth his Cognizance, siding with the one party or other. I could tell you, How he would have undermined a poor Widow in New Town (called Widow Rose) from her house, and dwelling, that he might be commodiously situated as Lord in the heart of the County, but that the goodness of her Landlord, who would not consent to his wicked motions, prevented his designs. 18 His Malignancy & sedition. Lastly, for his Malignancy, and seditious inciting of the people against all subordinate Magistracy here on Earth under the King of Kings Christ Jesus, his insufferable expressions for the supplanting and undermining thereof, is a clear demonstration that he is the firebrand, and incendiary of the Whole Nation. At Llandynam he publicly delivered, That he knew not who were the Keepers of the Liberties of England, more than who were the Church of England, but that he conceived they were neither the Parliament, nor the Council of State, but rather the people; and it is his professed opinion, That Magistrates, and specially Commanders and Officers, have nothing to do, or intermeddle with Church government. As jenkyn john Howel (alias, Capt. jenk: jones) that great Clero-Mastix, or persecutor of the Clergy, who is an Approver in the Act for the Propagation, and an Itinerant in the County of Brecknock, and hath at present sixscore Horse, with Men, Arms, and Ammunition, listed, and ready at his Command, preaching at the parish of Llandetty where he lives, upon a day set apart by the Parliament to thank God for the great victory obtained against the Scots at Dunbar, told his hearers, That successful Warriors were not fit to reform, nor to meddle with Religion, because they were men of blood; and this his doctrine he proved by the choice which God made of Solomon to build the Temple, and by his refusal of David. This was his doctrine, but not a word of the Victory, nor any of the Victors. What the aim of the holy man was, the declared Opinion of his friends (who I am sure are men of the same Principles) concerning the present Government, hath now sufficiently unfolded, by their numerous Congregating and meetings in Wales, which requires speedy prevention. But Mr. Vavasors unparallelled Raptures at Christ-Church and Black friars in London, At Christ-Church, 18 Dec. 19 at blackfriars, 26 Dec. at Christ-Church are evident and plain testimonies hereof: truly, no good Christian could choose but be astonished to hear so many sacred places of Scripture miserably wrested upon his brazen Anvil, for to frame his Engine to levelly all Magistracy and Government down to the ground. We will not rake up his whole Dunghill, but only lightly touch what we have received by faithful Information. He spared not His Highness the Lord Protectors Person, or Government.] Mr. Vavasor, Had you been a true Minister of Christ, and Propagator of his Gospel, you would have learned Christ far better. He teacheth you, John 19.11. Act. 23.5. Ro. 13.1.5 That All Power is given from above; And the Apostle out of Moses, That you should not speak evil of the Ruler of God's people, But be subject unto the higher Powers, not only for wrath, but also for Conscience sake. You should not have Cursed, but followed St. Paul's Rule, Tim. 3. Poured out supplications, and prayers, and have given thanks for him, That under him you might lead a quiet & peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty. For I must tell you, if you had been but in Babylon, the Prophet jeremiah would have taught you another Lesson, Jer, 29 7. To pray for the peace of that City, for in the peace thereof shall ye have Peace. But you are the Diviner spoken of by that Prophet in the 8 ver. v. 8.9. Who prophecy falsely to the people in the Lord's name, whom he hath not sent: He said, That many reigned now as Kings, without the advice of the Saints, but the Lord would bring them down again. And that this Power was not of God, and should shortly and suddenly be destroyed; to prove this, he abused that place of Scripture, 1 Cor. 4.8. You reigned as Kings without us. Had you but truly weighed the Apostles drift, and meaning, in those words, you would not have so wrested the words of God's Spirit. But see the justice of God (dum vis esse praedo, fies praeda) while you would smite another, you stab yourself with your own weapon to the very heart. Let us both examine the Text. The Apostle in the 10th v. of the preceding Chapter speaks to some Teachers, 1 Cor. 3.10. that Arrogated to themselves to be Pastors of Congregations, and seemed to succeed him, planting where others laboured: yet they should not presume after their own fancy, upon gold to superstruct hay, as you do, in your own Inventions, Prophetical raptures, and vain Revelations. Observe moreover, how that in the Chapter which you cited, ver. 4. you are wished not to be wise above that which is written; that is none should by his own vain discourses, as you do, adulterate the sense of the Scriptures: For what Gifts you have, they are received, v. 7. and it is God that makes you to differ. Then the Apostle doth indeed speak Ironically concerning such as you are, as though he had said, v. 8. Though you Persuade yourselves, that you are in a happy condition, and want nothing of spiritual gifts, extolling yourselves above the Ministers of Christ, as Kings, they being imprisoned, despised, and ignominiously exposed to Misery and Scorn; yet what doth he in this, but tacitly and modestly reprove you? as the subsequent words will evince, I would to God ye did reign; that is, You think you reign, but it is only in outward show, not truly and really. Good Mr. Vavasor, what Application can you make of this Text to this present Government? It is a Text that hints, and touches you to the quick. It is you that Reign as Kings, being full and rich, but the Handwriting on the plaster of the wall, hath now (we believe) changed your countenance, and troubled your thoughts. Let us entreat you to read that Scripture, Dan. 5.25, 26, 27. You have applied this part of God's word, as you did another place out of the prophecy of Isaiah as unhappily framed and fitted for your own throat as the other was, Isa. 14.12. How art thou fallen from heaven O Lucifer Son of the Morning? etc. for thou hast said in thine heart, etc. I will ascend above the height of the Clouds, I will be like the most high, etc. We will be more modest, than to apply the Scripture according to your exposition in the Pulpit. But good Mr. Vavasor, we shall apply the following verse to yourself, Thou shalt be brought down to the sides of the pit of your own mistakes. The word Lucifer doth not (as you suppose, and as you explained to your Congregation there in Christ-Church) signify the Devil, Though it be true of you according to the Proverb, Thou art as proud as Lucifer. Venus' one of the Planets is called Lucifer or the Morningstar, that brings on the daylight, we beseech you to confer in the Original (because you often boast of your several Languages) the 13th of this Prophet v. 10 with job 31, 26. And Christ our Saviour is also called the Morningstar, the Dayspring, Luc. 2.78. 2 Pet. 1.19. Rev. 2.28. But we suppose scarce any of your Neoterick Expositors comment as you do, and few of the Fathers unless by way of allusion. The true meaning is to represent the Conspicuous estate of the Caldean King and Empire shining as bright as the daystar in the sky. See Diodati, and the late English observation of your reading. But you said than you would confirm that place with the like in Timothy. I must tell you the Hue and Cry is almost ceased, and now we must take it up again. You are caught, you are caught, (Virus dum vomis ipse vores) your place in Timothy is, 1 Tim. 3.6. We must have the Patience to read the words as you delivered them, with crying Victoria. Not a Novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the Devil. Your Comment was, 1 Tim. 3.6 that lest he being lifted up with Pride, fall into the condemnation of the Devil. There you said, the Effect is taken for the Cause, Condemnation for Sin. So a Novice, and who is he? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, one newly come to the Faith, not as yet well grounded, perhaps one Newly Baptised or newly entered into the first Elements and Principles of Divinity. What must such a one not do? v. 1. He must not desire the Office of a Bishop. Then your Application of Lucifer in the words of Isaiah must be this, That you who appeared as Lucifers, shining as bright as Day Stars in the Skies (seeing you are but Novices (not Milites Emeriti) neither well grounded (some of you not as yet Baptised) nor going on to Perfection, Heb. 6.1. having not as yet attained the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ, being advanced to that high degree that you have waxed proud, having obtained the office of Bishops, and with Diotrephes treading under foot the Ministers of Jesus Christ, and being fallen into the same Condemnation of the Devil whereinto he was fallen, which was (as one very well observes) the Calumniating of his Brethren, you and your Brethren worthily deserve the name of Lucifers in your own sense, being such Novices by your own confirmation, and fallen into your Customary sins the Calumniating and traducing of the true Ministers of Christ Jesus. Esa. 14.15 That there is no question but you shall be brought down to the side of the pit. Gideon Your Example of Gideon for the discovery of Pride by the desire of Rule and Dominion over others, Jud. 8.22. is altogether as impertinent as the former Texts were, whether you aimed at Persons or Governments. You said, Gideon was a good man, a great Commander, and obtained many victories agaisnt the Enemies of God, he had many brave Sons, and much honoured by the people, but they came not to be Colonels in a year. That the people of God would by all means make Gideon King, Come rule thou over us, both thou and thy Son, and thy Son's Son also, for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. But Gideon would not accept of the Government, he would not v. 23 Rule over them, neither should his Son Rule over them. Your Example herein cannot hold, because he would not Rule, therefore others should not. Gideon did not refuse the Government because they desired him, but because their desire was not regulated by God's Rule; they preferred the Sword of Gideon before the Sword of the Lord, but the Sword of the Lord and the Sword of Gideon delivered them from the hands of Midian. Gideon refused their Election and Choice, because it trenched upon the Prerogative Royal of the Lord, and the Choice of Gideon in their sense was the Rejecting of the Lord. But Mr. Vavasor you must observe that Judges were then raised by God in Commiseration of the Affliction of his People, in an Extraordinary way, by the special motion of his Spirit, fitting them for some Particular service, and that immediately, and in an instant to be put in Execution, but not for any settled Course of Government to be continued by Succession, but as the State and Condition of his people did require it, still reserving the Prerogative in himself, which was not to be entrenched upon, until according to his promises a Choice and Succession should be Revealed unto them, which in its due time was accomplished. The aim of your Example is, That as Gideon refused to Rule, so you would have none others, but that All should Reign as Kings, and Rule the Nation as Saints, whose inheritance the Earth is; but how far herein you dishonour God, abuse the Saints, debase and vilify Christ's Kingdom, and adulterate his blessed truth, God in his due time may reveal unto you, and enlighten your perverse judgement. We are assured the Lord hath, and (doubt not) doth reign, where Kings or Protectors do rule and govern, the one being not inconsistent (because subordinate) to the other. Nay we know the Lord did promise the Israelites a King; Deut. 17 17 18 Gen. 17 6. Pro. 8.15 16. Rev. 6 15. And to Abraham that Kings should comes out of his loins. And it is his Ordinance, that by him they shall reign, and Princes decree Justice. And his blessed Truth, contrary to your vain thoughts confirms, That Kings of the Earth, and great men, and rich men, and chief Captains, and mighty men, and bondmen, and freemen, shall continue till the great day of the wrath of the Lord, which is the end of the World. Your Expressions concerning gideon's Sons savour more of your wont virulency than of truth. gideon's Son You said that he had many brave Sons, and were much honoured by the People] How brave they were the Scripture doth not relate; but we read that he had seventy by divers wives, and Abimelech, (who slew them all but the youngest) by his Concubine. They could not be as yet very valiant, as plainly appears in the discomfiture of the Midianites, Jud. 8, 20. when jether his firstborn (being a very youth) was fearful to draw his sword to slay Zeba and Zalmanna. If Gideon had made any such to be Colonels and Commanders, we should not have commended his judgement: But that men of age, valour, and discretion (having hazarded their Lives and Fortunes both by Sea and Land in the Common service) should receive such Military Titles and Commands as befits their Achievements, is far less honour than they deserve, let them be whose Sons you please; and we will assure you far more congruous, than for Peter to draw his sword, and Ministers for the Propagation, to presume to be Colonels, Captains, and Commanders, whose valiant service was none other, but the rooting out of their deadly and professed enemies (the formidable forlorn hope of the black coats) and gathering Tithes, never daring to look any other kind of enemy in the face. But we acknowledge ourselves far unworthy to vindicate any man's honour and reputation. When you left Gideon, you fell upon his Son's parable (Judg. 9.9.) which speaks of the Trees going forth to anoint a King over them, Jotham's parable, Judg. 9 ● 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. the Olive-Tree, the Fig Tree, and the Vinetree found their condition to be so good, that they would not Reign. But you said you would not meddle with the Bramble.] We commend you very much therein; for than you would have discovered your own nature and disposition: But we will spare you that labour, and supply where you left. The Bramble is a most fruitless, tearing shrub; fit for nothing, but the stopping of Gaps, and afterwards to be burned: And by the Parable of this Bramble, Jotham meant, proud and ambitious men, base in birth, wicked in life, barren in goodness, and cruel in nature; If you examine your heart, you will find the true Mythology and moral of this Parable couched in your own breast. Concerning that place of Amos 6.13. Have we not taken to us Horns by our own strength? Certainly, either your Concordance failed you, or your quotations were false. For the Horns you meant, were in the 1 King. 22.11. you are the man, that with Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah have made you Horns of Iron, persuading Ahab and Jehoshaphat to war against Ramoth Gilead, that the valiant Soldiers may consume one another. Good Sir, let me entreat you to draw in your Horns, and when you push with them again, to think of your old friends, and acquaintance. Having only touched these places of Scriptures, which together with infinite others, he wrested, and mis-applyed, we shall proceed upon his seditious and invective Accusations. He abused the Honourable Council, and called their Proclamation A Libel. He basely traduced, and vilified the Commanders, Officers, and Soldiers of the Army; nay, their wives and families escaped not the lash of his Tongue. And told the Swordmen in general, That the Spirit of God was departed from them; that heretofore they had been precious and excellent men, but that their Parks, and new houses, and gallant Wives, had choked them up.] Well done, (Mr. Vavasor) you plead well for them who spent so much blood for your Liberties and Protection: I am sure they deserved a better Character at your hands, if they had not fought with more Courage than you did at Worcester, you had ere this time lost your life, aswell as your man did then your money, by your base and Cowardly running away. If the Spirit of the Lord had forsaken them, the Censure was too uncharitable; but without doubt he went not from them to speak unto you: And we believe you had wished that your Fee'farm Rents, Propagation-moneyes, New house at Kerry, 1 Kings 22, 24. and a pint of Mrs. Quarrels hot waters had first choked up your Railing, before you had thus traduced their worth. That they had All revolted, and fallen from the Lord, and forsaken his people, who were left Fatherless; wishing them to repent of their perjury, against their former Declarations, Protestations, Remonstrances, Promises, and Vows, specially at Tripoli Heath: And to return.] But Mr. Vavasor, You must consider that all their Promises and Vows included Conditions, and therefore might be disobligated. Have you never learned that Rule? That the Obligation ceaseth when you have the Request or Consent of the most part of those, for whose benefit you have obliged yourself. If you had understood to whom their Promises had References, and for whose benefit they were undertaken, than you had acknowledged, that by Request or Consent, they might be (as they are) disobligated without perjury. But you have vented here the seed of Sedition to the height, by endeavouring to convince their Consciences as guilty of perjury, and so to engage the Soldiers to imbrue their hands in their own blood, by renting their unity, and denying their Obedience to their superior Officers and Commanders under the present Government and Protection. Can Absolom have dealt more treacherously with David his Father? Or Nero more inhumanely, either in burning Rome, and translating his wickedness upon the innocent Christians? or in renting the bowels of his own dear Mother? They have more cause to Cry unto you for to Repent and Return. His Highness Chaplains, and great Vniversitymen, who have (as he said) had Thousands a year to set up this New Government, shall not escape him.] Gentlemen, we know you not; but if you had any hand therein, we wish that your Thousands were Millions unto you. Our Pen hath been too much daubed in his filth, for to presume either to vindicate your innocency, or set forth your goodness, (for certainly, if Mr. Vavasor and his party had been suffered to go on in their evil Designs, they had soon destroyed both Magistracy and Ministry, who falsely pretending (as Saints triumphant on Earth) to Rule infallibly by a Divine and extraordinary right, would consequently under that Notion claim right to possess all men's Properties, as well as Govern them, and judge none meet to publish the Gospel, but such as were principled in their ways.) We understand you are ingenuous, and truly Godly Men, bred up in the Schools of the Prophets; God bless your Endeavours in advancing Christ's spiritual Kingdom here on Earth, in reviving the dying statutes of your Universities to their former vigour, that the Arts and Sciences may flourish again in your Schools; And that both your Eyes may so Recover their former Perspicuity to Continue such Seminaries of Learning and Religion, as to furnish this distressed Nation with golden Plants, that — Uno avulso non deficit alter Aureus & Ramus— Esay 34.14, 15. One may still bud out of the stem of the other; That these Satyrs may not cry to their fellows, nor the Scritch-Owls find a place of Rest with us; That this great Owl may not make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather her shadow among us any more: Bat that your bright Suns may descry these Glow-Worms, and dispel these. Bats, that they may gather into their Caves again. He cannot forget the Lawyers his ancient friends, saying, That the judges (those Carnal Crew) were brought in by the Soldiers to set up this Government] will nothing serve your turn but still to undermine these Marble pillars of the Nation, they have been the Common mark of your Pasquil's, and invectives since the Ejection of your Country Ministers, that you may levelly the Law as well as the Gospel. How often have you termed them Thiefs and Pick-purses, And that there was not passed two honest Lawyers in the whole Nation, as you publicly delivered in your Sermon at Llansanfred in Radnorshire? And do you not remember how in your Sermon, at the last great Sessions held for the same County, when you had sufficiently vilified their Persons and Profession, you desired them not to imitate the Devil their Master who always at his departing made clean work and swept all away? certainly you think, that they are troubled with the same Devil, that haunted you about the Welsh Pool, whereby distracted you were for a good while Mewed up in your Chamber. We could wish you to be as charitable towards them, as they have been favourable towards you in your former indictments, and beseech you to consider with yourself, if you be left once again to the Mercy of the Law, as (we believe) you will, Up goes Mr. Vavasor. To conclude, He would pawn and hazard his life and his Ministry, That this Power shall suddenly be destroyed: And that this was revealed unto him, as the Dissolution of the former Parliament.] for the pawning of your life, we think, as you have already forfeited it, so you are now weary enough of it, and believing that God hath numbered your Kingdom and finished it: you mould gladly become one of Petilians Martyrs who canonised judas for a Saint, Dan. 5 26 We know very well, you would rather have died gloriously in this City of London, than to be ignominiously picked into your own Country as you were. Parliament joan handled you more roughly in Whitehall yard at your departure, Laying hold upon your skirts with terms befitting your spirit, That you may humbly supplicated to be rescued from her Claws. For the pawning of your Ministry, you may well expose that to the Broker, which was never your own, unless with the Egyptian whore (Potiphers Wife) you pawn poor josephs' garment, which he left in her hand to preserve his own chastity, and fidelity to his Master. But you say, That it was revealed unto you, That this Power shall suddenly be destroyed.] for that, We leave it to God's gracious Providence and determination, For it is he that putteth down one, and setteth up another: But what manner of Prophet, and Diviner you are, may soon appear by these strange predictions: You Prophesied above two years passed in your Sermons in Wales, That Tithes should no more be paid, and above three years ago, That there should never appear any Enemy more in the Land, And here in Whitehall chapel you Prophesied with great confidence, That all the Statues in that Garden should be shortly drawn down by public Authority; And in all these (you must confess) your Spirit hath foully deceived you: but to satisfy all unbiased judges, I shall end with a story of your own invention. When you were in some part of Worcestershire where some of the late King's party lay in the field, You sent a Messenger, over night, to give you intelligence of the event of the battle, and being informed before you went to bed, that they were discomfited, you wrote a Letter directed to yourself, discovering the truth, and manner of the fight, and delivered this Letter to your man, commanding him to take horse the next morning, & ride three or four miles from the place you quartered, and to return with speed, and deliver the Letter unto you, as you came out of your Pulpit, being to preach there the next morning: In your Sermon you encouraged the People, assuring them, that it was revealed unto you that night, that the Enemy should be destroyed: And wished them never to believe that you were a Prophet sent from the Lord, unless they should be very shortly certified thereof, nay you hoped, before you parted from that place; And true it was, Your Man met you at the Church-door, and delivered to you the Letter, being well instructed for the particulars thereof: I hope this wonderful prediction confirms that you have an illuminated Spirit: but herein was the Mischance; Your man mistaking your own, took another Gentleman's Horse, who being much abused (by the wretched Rider) discovered your cheat. Thus you are a foolish Prophet, like a Fox in a Desert, you have seen a vain vision, you have spoken lying Divinations, because you have sedused my people. Ezech. 13.3, 4, 7, 10. And now, lest that according to your wont boastings (being returned to your Congregated, and Listed Troops in Wales) you should triumph that you have gloriously passed throughout all your troubles before his Highness and his Council; As you thanked God in Christ-Church, That you escaped the bands of the Court Catchpoles (Terms little befitting The Councils Messengers, who deserved far better at your hands, for your Civil and Free entertainment) We beseech them to believe your own expressions, delivered after your first enlargement in the same Pulpit, That you were accounted by them but a frantic, fanatic, and mad man, possessed with an evil Spirit, and under the power of darkness: We must confess you were not taken for any other kind of man among the ingenuous sort of people in your own Nation: And it was the great Providence of God that he hath been pleased by your Carriage here in London, to discover to his Highness the Lord Protector, and the Honourable Council, the Truth of your mad and malicious Spirit, whereby they may truly understand the sad condition of those Ministers, who have been ejected and persecuted by your means, and of the seduced people who are over-swayed and misguided by your turbulent and cruel disposition, having such influence upon all those places of Wales, where you had any power, that there is not any one in Military, Civil, or Ecclesiastic Authority, or office, but such as condescended to your principles. But we know that we have long wearied you, with tracing the filth of this sent: There is neither Parish nor place in Wales, nor in this honourable City of London, but may be a Remembrancer either of his Errors, or Blasphemies, or Obscaenities, or Cruelties, or Oppressions, or Seditions, That we dare boldly say, He may be a true Parallel to the grossest Heretics of old, And future Sharks shall be but as Apes to imitate his Villainies. And that you may have some intermixture of his Sweet mirth with his Sour passions, we shall endeavour to recompense your patience with a taste of this Harmonious Hymn sung in his Congregation at Christ-Church, together with an Antiphona answering thereunto, And so close up all with a true description of his Propagation in Wales. 18 Decemb. 1653. His Hymn at Christ-Church. TO Christ our King, let us praise sing, who is our Saviour dear, Who is our Protector, and our Rock, who will come, and soon appear To humble his, and try their hearts, And make them clean and pure, To set his Kingdom upon Earth, Which ever shall endure: His Saints shall reign with him on Earth, And great ones then shall bow, The Battle, and the Battle-ax, And men of War shall know That he will arise, and he will rule, And their power will fall, And Christ our great Commander, He Shall be our General. Hast Lord, come quickly down, Thy Saints, do wait, and pray, And men would saign, if they knew how, Thy Prophets kill and slay: But they shall live, and eke stand up, And give their Testimony Against the Monarches of the Earth, That sit, and reign on high. THe Antiphona thereunto. THe Devil's your King, his praise you sing, His Spirit leads you here, Who is your Protector, and your Rock, And in You doth appear. 'Tis he exalts, and lifts your hearts, To make you his most sure, To set his Kingdom upon Earth, Which shall not long endure: His Saints shall reign with him in Hell, And to him they shall bow, The Battle, and the Battle-ax, And men of war do know, Though he be up, and his doth rule, Yet his Power will fall, Since Satan your good Master, He Is your great General. The Lord will come in his due time, His Saints for to preserve, And all your lying Prophets slay, Who from his Word do swerve. His Word shall stand, his Saints shall live To give their Testimony Against false Teachers of the Earth, Who strive to Reign on high. A true Description of Mr. Vavasor powel's, and his Itinerants' Propagation in Wales. WHat? Propagation, and root out all, Then if you please, her Extirpation call, Like Lucifer, that's styled a Morning star, And yet in Hel's the blackest Fiend by far; If then of her you'll have a true Relation, She's the Abaddon in the Revelation, That Apollyon, that all thing destroys, That Epidemic Plague that Church annoys; That flaming Dragon, that did latel'assail, To sweep the Stars down with his fiery tail; That Wormwood that imbitters Sea and Springs, And from the pit great Swarms of Locusts brings: She was the Church-Granado, tore, and rents, Religion, Faith, Works, and the Sacraments; That Indian Herican that fiercely tears The Spouses ship, while that to Heaven she stears: She talks of Christ, like Cheaters in a throng To pick men's purses sings a Godly Song; And Herod-like feigning t'adore the Babe, Through Church-mens sides gives him a deadly stab: Thus Religion proved to be ●he Cloak Under whose thousands of Frogs did croak, With Jeroboams Priests they filled their hand, And then like Pharaohs plague's infect the land: Jerusalem and Zions glory razes, Mounts Calves at Dan, and Bethels higher places, Which bellowed like an Amsterdamian Bull Nonsense and Blasphemy whole Pulpits full. Perhaps you'll itch to know the stock and root From whence these Branches of Propagation shoot: theyare hatched in Hell, Be'lzebub is their Sire, Atheism their Mother, Nurse infernal fire: Their Offsprings are Schisms, Sects, and Heresy, Destruction, Sacrilege, and Simony; Their Maid Hypocrisy, her daily dresses, Shows of Godliness, and such like tresses, Which she from Satan's Wardrobe stole by night, While they do Act good Angels parts of light: These Frogs and Locusts wait upon her train, By sacred Ruins thinking all to gain; And hoping when Christs-Doves were dispossessed, Screech-owls, and Zim, and Jim might build their nest: They Cried down learned Athens, and that light, That did destroy their Gloeworms in the night, While her bright Suns did glister in the Sky Their Bats and Owls abroad durst never fly: The Devil at Delphos was struck dumb for fear, Till Babilas his bones away they bear. Great is Diana, 'tis the Silver shrines, That made them dig so deep in Churches Mines, The first fool Wales, telling them a story, That plundering God, makes most for his Glory: No tithes, no glebe's, no offerings needeth he, Without a Priest, All taught of him shall be. Thus many were seduced with this false glass, And made to couch like Issachars' Ass To any burden: that spoke liberty, Though in effect Souls-murthering slavery. Former Monopolies went by retale, The Church and Church men she vends by whole sale. Empson and Dudleys' projects were but toys, Cranfield and Ingram only made a noise, Micha'l Mumpesson soared and had a fall, But Propagation robs our God of all. And thus by colour of this Act of Grace, All Rights of Church and State they did deface. But she's expired; a boon me thinks you crave, To grant her decent burial, and a grave. Her EPITAPH. HEre Propagation lies, that did aspire, Like Phaeton to set the World on fire, Cried down Order, and Ministerial Call, And thought to give this Government a fall: She would have caused the Gentry flock in Swarms; To beg relief like Cripples without Arms; And would have made the learned Lawyers plead, From door to door (poor Souls) for Crusts of Bread. Lament Itinerants! this Trade is gone, Take up your Tools, and Occupation; Silence in Churches; you have long forgot Your first callings, inheritance and lot. And (Gentle Reader) because you shall not think that some Itinerants who lately died wanted Epitaphs, we shall entreat you to peruse one, which a dear friend bestowed upon Mr. L. who lately died, and was interred in the City of Hereford. In Perpetuam Magistri L: Itinerantis Memoriam QVi Sermonavit vivus * i e. ex tempore. sine think, sine thanko, Mortuus in foveam jacitur * i e. sine tintinnabulis. , sine clink, sine clanko 2. Sam 17.23. And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, andgat him home to his house, to his City, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the Sepulchre of his Father. FINIS.