The Bird in the Cage, Title page – Dedication
foreign OR THE Bird in the Cage, CHIRPING Four diſtinct Notes to his Conforts abroad.
I. Of Conſideration, Counſel, and Conſolation.
II. Some Experiences and Obſervations gathered in Affliction, and firſt intended only for private uſe.
III. The Lamentations of Jeremiah, in the ordinary meaſure of ſinging Pſalms.
IV. A true Chriſtians Spiritual Pilgrimage, ſetting forth his afflicted and conſolatory ſtate in another Metre.
And as a Preface hereto, an Epiſtle to the Welſh Churches, and a brief Narrative of the former Propagation, and late Restriction of the Goſpel, (and the true Preachers and Profeſſors thereof) in WALES. And a ſhort Vindication of the Author and others, from the Calumniation of their Adveſaries concerning the ſame.
By VAVA. POWELL.
Iob 29.16.
The dayes of Affliction have taken hold on me.
Ion. 2.2.
I cryed out of my Affliction to the Lord, and he heard me.
Deut. 33.15.
As they dayes, ſo ſhall thy ſtrength be.
Ier. 50.34.
Their Redeemer is ſtrong, the Lord of Hoſts is his Name, he ſhall throughly plead their Cauſe.
London Printed, for L. C. at the next ſhop to Popes-head Alley, on the Weſt-ſide in Cornhil, 1661.
V. P. A Servant of Ieſus Chriſt, and your Brother; To the Churches of God, and ſcattered Saints throughout all Wales.
GRACE, Mercy, Peace, and Patience be unto you all from God our Father, through Jeſus Chriſt the Son of God, and our Saviour.
Beloved Brethren, Whom I love dearly, remember dayly, long for greatly, pray for earneſtly, and praiſe God heartily: To whom I could write with my pureſt blood, and do ſend theſe lines from my very inwardeſt bowels; (my eyes even at the writing hereof, pouring forth teares for you as God knowes) partly out of endeared affection, but chiefly out of tender conſideration, and compaſſion of your late and preſent ſufferings (eſpecially ſome of you) of which I am a ſharer and with whom (yea for whoſe ſakes in part) I now ſuffer, and am ready if God count and make me worthy, and able, to lay down my life for ſo deſerving a Lord as ours is, and for ſo dear a People as you are, to whom alſo I am a debtor, though at preſent diſabled to pay that Pittance lent me for your ſakes: Pſ. 3.8. marg. That I ſwore the members of my Chur. againſt all Magiſtrates, & Miniſters and went preaching ſedition & rebellion throw two Counties, whereas I was a priſoner above 2 months before. This is like the Accuſation againſt Nehemiah & Paul Neh. 6.6. Act. 24.4, 5, 13.yet many of you (and the Lord himſelf) do bear me witneſs that I was unwilling to be a ſlothful ſervant, or to hide my Talent in a Napkin, whilſt I enjoyed my liberty, but to exerciſe it among you, labouring day and night, in perits often, and many waies: meeting, and encountring with great difficulties, but moſt of al with ſelf-diſcouragements and weakeneſſes, ſome whereof were known to my Obſervers, (as David calls his enemies) many to you my friends, more to my ſelf, but all to God: Who yet made uſe of me (a nothing Creature) in his hand among better and worthyer Inſtruments, to call, gather, & edify you, at which work I would have ſtill been, had not ſome of our own Country men laid hands unjuſtly upon me, & alſo informed againſt me falſly † (as you well know) whether out of hatred to the truth I preached and profeſſed: or that they might offer me as a Peace-offering to the Prince (they know for what, and I could tell) God will in due time diſcover.
Nevertheleſſe I deſire to pitty them, pray for them, and willingly to pardon the wrongs they have done to me, and though I cannot ſay I am ſo tranſported with affection,Rom. 9.2, 3. and zeal (as Paul) to wiſh my ſelf accurſed from Chriſt for their ſakes. Yet I am perſwaded I could be contented with Jonas to be caſt into the Sea, for the pacifying of Gods wrath towards them, or their fury towards you.
But my faithful Fellow-travellers, let us not be troubled that the winde now blowes in our faces, or that like Lazarus we receive our evil things in this world;Lu. 16.15. knowing that there is no Hell to the Saints, but what they have in this preſent life; and that to live perſecuted, and to die ſainted are commonly inſeparable; and therefore as our Lord and his Apoſtle exhorted; Rev. 2.10. 1 Theſ. 3.3. Heb. 10.32. 1 Pet. 4.12.Fear none of thoſe things which you ſhall ſuffer. Neither be moved by theſe afflictions, nor count them ſtrange, for ſome of you, when you were firſt illuminated, endured afflictions; and others of you who are Summer-converts, were told that you muſt ſuffer, it being the high-way and ſhorteſt cut to Heaven. Conſider then, if all your way be fair and ſmooth what cauſe you have to queſtion it, and if any of you have the favour, and friendſhip of the world, let ſuch a one ſuſpect himſelf to be one of it, Jo. 15.19.for the world will love only it's own. A day of cloſe diſcovery and through tryal is come, or coming upon us, and the leaves of profeſſion are like to hide hypocricy no longer; Mat. 13.20 21, 22. and 25, 8, 9.you know the ſtony and thorny ground were not diſcovered untill the time of temptation, nor the fooliſh Virgins diſcerned till the very coming of Chriſt: Judas was neither ſuſpected (nor did probably at all doubt himſelf) till within few hours of his death. Copper-coin may lie in the bag with gold and ſilver, but when it comes to the Touch-ſtone it is found reprobate; and Alcomy, (as ſome ſay) will bear ſix fires, but not the ſeventh: The words therefore of Chriſt,Luk. 21.8. Heb. 4.1. Take heed that ye be not deceived: and of the Apoſtle, Take heed leaſt any of you ſeem to come ſhort of the promiſe; are very ſeaſonable. And never more need then now of Self-ſuſpition, Self-examination, and ſelf-ſearching, whether we be in the Faith, and Chriſt be in us, yea, or no? What we build upon, and whether we can ſtand before the Son of Man at his appearing: Sincerity alwaies ſurpaſſed gifts, and all flouriſhes of Religion in the ſight of God, and that will be of greateſt requeſt among good Men henceforth; for the droſſe muſt be taken away, to make a veſſel for the Refiner;Pro. 25.4. and it's to be feared when the Churches are ſearched, they will be found like Sardis, to have but a few names, that keep their garments undefiled, and all thoſe that came in as ſelf-ſeekers, will ſteal out again to ſave themſelves: which, is indeed the only way to loſe themſelves; yet the foundation of God ſtandeth ſure, Mat. 10.39 2 Tim. 2. 19 Pro. 10.25. Eſa. 4.5. Pſa. 33.11. Heb. 7.24. Pſa. 89.28. Eſa. 54.10. Jer. 32.40. and 33.20, 25.and no member though never ſo mean or il-formed, if it be of, and in the body, and really united to the Head, ſhall be cut off; but all that are living ſtones ſhall continue in the building, and upon the whole glory (i. e. the whole Church, 2 Cor. 8.23.) ſhall be a defence; therefore be comforted, that the counſel of God, the Prieſthood of Chriſt, and the Covenant of peace are unchangeable, and abide for ever; which is the ſure foundation of every true Chriſtians confidence, and comfort. Be not ſlothful in proving your knowledge of, faith in, love towards, walking after, and ſuffering for Chriſt: For the viſible and ſeeming differences, are little and ſmal between the right Chriſtian, and the Hypocrite therein. But in the Anointing, Spirit, Vertue, Power, and Life within, which like the oyl in the Lamp, feeds the wick of profeſſion.
I beſeech you alſo in the Lord,Heb. 6.2. 2 Jo. v. 9. Pro. 4.2. 1 Tim. 4.6. 1 Tim. 1.10 Tit. 1.9. and 2.1. (as dear Brethren) that you be not moved from the Doctrin, which was delivered to you; which is the ſame with the Doctrine of the Apoſtles, called the Doctrine of Chriſt, good Doctrine, and ſound Doctrine. In oppoſition to theſe, are the Doctrines of Devils,1 Tim. 4.1. Mar. 7.7. Col. 2.21. Heb. 13.9. 1 Jo. v. 10. Rev. 2.14, 15, 24. and the Doctrines of men, which either directly deny Chriſt, or much derogate from him, who is the perfect Law-giver. And that Satan, and his Inſtruments may the better introduce their own Doctrines; they make it their deſign and indeavour to batter down the Scriptures (for their Dagon, cannot ſtand before Gods Ark.) As the Jewes make it death for any of their Religion, to read and keep the New-Teſtament. The Papiſts alſo, make it an Article of their Creed, that unwritten verities, (as they call them) and the Canons, and Traditions of their Church, are of equal authority with the Scriptures; & hold that they ſhould not be tranſlated into vulgar Languages, nor the Common-people be permited to read them †Contrary to Dut. 6.6. to the 10. Joſh. 1.8. & Pſ. 119.19. 16 105. Joh. 5.39. Act. 17.11. and 18.24. Ro. 15.4 2 Tim. 3.16 17. Col. 3.16.17. Rev. 13. & 22.10.. Alſo the Quakers generally deny, the Scripture to be the Word of God, *which are ſo called; See and compare Mat. 15.6. with Mar. 7.13. & Lu. 8-11. with Mat. 13. 37 & Ro. 10.8. with Deu. 30 14 See alſo Jo 10.35. Act. 4.31. & 12.49. & 13.44 46. & 19, 20 Eph. 6.17. 1 Tim. 4.5. H.S. in his book called the Everl. Rule. pa. 28.or a Rule; affirming there is no other Rule, Way, or Means, &c. but that which is manifeſt in men. And one of the learned'ſt of them, diſdainfully calls the Scriptures broken Ciſterns, your Scripture, your Word, & your Letter;†S.F. In his book cal'd Ruſt. ad Acad. pa. 115.116, 117. Theſe 3 laſt inſtances I & divers others heard from the Parties owne mouths. and ſome upon that account, call it the great Idol: others affirm the writings of their Teachers, to be of equal inſpiration and Authority with it; and that which is yet worſe, one woman, put her Bible under her foot, another Burnt it; and yet theſe two were great Quakers, but now are turned Singers, a degree as they concieve above them. But beloved you are better taught, & I hope will ſtill retain your love of, diligence and delight in, and zeal for this word of God: And eſpecially to walk more according to it, then thoſe that pretend to experience alike power with a greater meſure of perfection, than either the Prophets, or Apoſtles ever did. I am fearful and jealous, that this attempt, of taking away the authority of the Scriptures; will end in takeing away the very Bibles from us. Therefore I exhort you again in the words of Chriſt and Paul; Search the Scriptures and give attendance to Reading, & be ſtedfaſt in thoſe truths, which you have been taught, (from them, by the ſervants of the Lord; ſome whereof are now glorifyed, and others through grace ready to ſeal it with their blood) Concerning God and his Atributes, Chriſt, and his Offices, the Holy Spirit, and it's manifeſtations, the decrees of God before time, the two Covenants (viz. the Law and the Goſpel) the wreched ſtate of all men by Nature, and out of Chriſt; the freeneſs of Gods grace,Joh. 5 39. 1 Tim. 4.13 in oppoſition to mans free-will: The Doctrine of Juſtification, by the imputed Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, apprehended, and received by Faith, Sanctification (diſtinct from Juſtification) wrought by the Spirit in us. Perſeverance, Aſſurance, and growth in Grace by vertue of our union with Chriſt, and his ſpiritual in dwelling and operating in us. Living Godlily, Righteouſly, and Soberly in this preſent World: Denying our ſelves, following Chriſt, ſhunning ſin, reſiſting Satan, ſeparating from the world in matters of Gods worſhip: not medling with, nor mingling the Traditions of men with Gods truths: joyning your ſelves to, and continuing in the fellowſhip of Saints; and uſing carefully and conſcientiouſly all the Ordinances of Chriſt, as Preaching, Hearing, and expounding Scriptures, keeping up publick, family, and private prayers, Propheſying, and ſinging of Pſalms, Hymnes, and ſpirial Songs in the Churches, Repetition of Sermons, Obſerving the Sabbath, Baptiſm, and the Supper of the Lord; and upon occaſion, dayes of ſolemn faſting, or Rejoycing, viſiting one another, eſpecially the tempted, and the ſick, relieving the poor; and in caſe of ſcandal and hereſie, to deal with offending members, by Admonition, Suſpention, or Excommunication, according to the Nature of the Offence, and carriage of the Offender; doing all your duties to magiſtrates, Maſters, Parents, Husbands, Brethren, Neighbours and Enemies; according to the bleſſed commands of Jeſus Chriſt: Withall expecting the deſtruction of Antichriſt, the Reſtauration of the Jewes, the Coming, Kingdom, and Raign of Chriſt; & ſtill remembring your latter end, the immortality of your precious Souls, believing the Reſurrection of the Body, the Judging of all, and the Salvation of the Righteous.
Finally, my Brethren, the hour of temptation being come upon us, let us redeem time, be watchful and ſober, keeping our lights burning, our Lamps ſhining, our Loyns girded, our conſciences awakned, & our garments unſtained. Let us fear God more than men, Sin more than ſuffering, ſelf more then others, living baſely more than dying Chriſtianly and Nobly. Let us wiſely conſider Gods works,Pſ. 64.9. Eſa. 5.12. and wonders (though others ſhould ſlight them) and maintain Gods Wayes and Cauſe, though they be deſpiſed by moſt; and let us not carnally comply with, nor ſuperſtitiouſly conform to the world, to ſave our eſtates, Liberties or Lives: Nor yet forſake the aſſembling of your ſelves together, but edifie, confirm and comfort one another; Encouraging the weak, helping to reſtore thoſe that are faln, and to eſtabliſh thoſe that yet ſtand: Doing your duties commanded by God, what ever danger may come thereby: Keeping your ſelves from error and every evil thing, by the holy ſpirit in you: And (as our Saviour commands, John 14.1. be not troubled) praying alſo earneſtly, that neither I nor you may ſuffer for ſin, or ſin in ſuffering, not be ſenſleſs under preſent, or faint under future tryals. Let us cry and pray mightily to the Lord, that we may eſcape the evils that are coming upon the world, and to ſtand before the Son of Man at his appearing. To that King of Kings be honour, power, dominion, praiſe, and glory, now and for ever, Amen.
My dear friends, If the publiſhing of this inoffencively intended little Book, be well or ill; Know my love to you chiefly was the motive to it: and that of all other things, if God did pleaſe, I would chooſe to be doing the work to which I was called amongſt you, rather than any where, or any thing elſe; though I were to be fed with bread & water and to carry my chains & bonds with me. And I ſhould not count my life dear to me, ſo that I might have the liberty to Preach Chriſt, for the Salvation of my dear Country-men, and for your further edification; if not the will of the Lord be done concerning me, and his work by whom elſe he pleaſeth. I am perſwaded he will take care of you, Eſa, 65.10. Pſa. 73.24. Eſa. 45.27.and the reſt of his Flocks; and therefore to him again I commit you, who hath promiſed to be your God and guide until, yea, will be in and after death your ſalvation. The grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt be with you all Amen.