The Life and Death of Vavasor Powell, Hymns
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; Tis 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 tis 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 …a…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 mind… 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,
Ch…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 br…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 Moun…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 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 whats the price, he ſaid, tis cheap, come Buy,
Here's Gold and rich Garments, here's Oyl, here's Milk, here's Wine,
Thou wants come quick, accept of Chriſt and all there ſhall be thine.
Who is thy Maſter Chriſt, in Power he is here,
In Perſon in high Paradice; would you go to him there?
O yes to Heaven we would go: how ſhall we thither reach?
Come near and hearken to his Word; his …pirit will you teach.
The pirit ſaid ile ſhew and work whats to be known and done
They a…ſwered make us willing Lord, then to thee we will run.
A Dialogue betwixt Time and Youth.
Time ſpeaks.
Time,
I am ho…e headed ready to depart,
I waited for thee, but thou haſt not heart
To think, how I have turn'd ſo oft my Glaſs;
The leaſt and loweſt Sands runs now apace.
If once I turn my Back, no locks behind;
Thou'lt ſeek me, when and where thou'lt not me find,
Youth.
Youth,
My aged Father do not weary be,
Have patience yet a while. I will apply
My ſelf, to that which profits in the End:
Tis 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,
VVhichWhich he did bear not for himſelf but me.
Oh what love was herein
A plated Crown of pricking Thorns he wore,
Blows on his Head, Spits on his Face he bore
Beſides baſe ſhame and ſcorn, ſure this was ſore:
But more he bore for ſin
Gaul was his Meat, and Vinegar his Drink;
A Brook he drank from Pottom to the Brink:
My Blood ſhould write his Bruiſes, not my Ink;
Thy Blood Lord wrought my Peace
A Flood of wrath ſtream'd through his Soul within,
The Law him laſh'd, ſo did Satan and ſin.
Till Death him ſunk and Grave ſwallowed him in;
Thus did my Lord deceaſe.
Shall Tooth ach then or pain from one ſmall Bone
Make me have ſence of Self more then that one;
Come thoughts of Chriſts pain in, mine own begone:
For Chriſt will heal thee ſure
That Balm and Brazen Serpent, that cures me
Is that which cur'd the Worlds great malady:
Nothing like this Panpharma…on can be
Which Tooth and all will cure.
The Saints Portion after death.
Strangers we are whilſt we are here, clad with carnallity.
Sojourning towards our long home, even Eternity.
Twil not be long before we reach unto our journeys end:
Our Morning's paſt, Evening doth haſt, towards our reſt we bend.
VVho knocks? Tis I, what is thy Name? my Name is dreadful Dea h,
What is thy buſineſs now with me? tis 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 ile begon.
Loe here it is take it and read: hold tis his Seal and Hand;
I know it will, here ile not dwell, but obey his command.
Come thou away, come quickly dear; I long to ſee thy Face
My Father alſo ſent for thee, come quickly come apace.
I come, I come; ope then the Door: give light for it is dark:
The entries ſtraight; Lord lend thy hand, that I may reach the mark.
The Gulf twixt thee and me is great; I cannot through it venter,
Till thou lets down thy ſafe draw-Bridge, I have no hopes to enter.
Centenel let down the Bridge, let in my Freind to me:
Oh welcome, welcome my dear one my Heart did long for thee.
Now ſweet Son, thou ſhalt ſee my Face, for which thou didſt ſo long:
Thou ſhalt with me abide for aye, Angels and Saints among,
Thou ſhalt not Sigh, nor Sob again; thy Sins thou ſhalt not ſee.
Thy Blemiſhes and Weakneſſes no longer trouble thee.
Thou ſhalt have reſt from thy Labours: thy works ſhall follow thee:
All Angels and all Saints that are, or ever were thou'lt ſee.
Thou ſhalt be Crown'd with Righteouſneſs, yea with a glorious Crown.
Yea thou ſhalt in full brightneſs ſhine, as doth the beautious Sun.
Thou ſhalt ſit on my Throne, to judge Angels and wicked Men:
Thy Scandals ſhall be waſhed off, ſitting on high till when,
The Kingdome I deliver up, to thy Father and min…,
VVho ſhall be all in all for aye, in whom wee'l be and ſhine.
Hallelujahs to thee my Lord, to thee for ever more,
To thy Father and ſweet Spirit, I three in one adore.
Upon the Perſecution.
Tis a ſad age, when ther's ſuch rage againſt poor harmleſs Doves,
VVho through their need ſeek Meat to feed, from him their Soul that Loves.
A ſudden change yet not ſo ſtrange, is come upon poor Saints:
Alas dear ones! God hears their Groans their moans and ſad complaints.
The wicked ſtrive, Husbands from VVives, to ſeparate and part,
And the Shephards from their own Herds, that joyntly with one heart,
Would ſerve their Lord with one accord after his VVord and VVill:
But Dogs and VVoolves and cruel Elves, that ſeek themſelves would kill.
The innocent that no hurt meant, but ſpent their time and ſtrength,
To ſeek the way that poor Souls they, through Chriſt may gain at length.
That great reward which God prepar'd, and car'd for long ago,
They will obtain and the ſame gain, in ſpite of every Foe.
Another.
O God our God we by the Rod, are brought in part to ſee;
There is no man, that will or can, but thy ſ…le …eſty,
Hear the complaints of thy dear 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 …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.