Strena Vavasoriensis,: a Nevv-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 publick ministers of this nation. His hymn sung in Christ-Church London; with an antiphona there unto; and a lively description of his propagation.
Griffith, Alexander, d. 1690.
Page 25
A true Description of Mr. Vavasor Pow∣ells, and his Itinerants Propagati∣on in Wales.
WHat? Propagation, and root out all,
Then if you please, her Extirpation call,
Like Lucifer, that's stil'd a Morning star,
And yet in Hel's the blackest Fiend by far;
If then of her you'l have a true Relation,
She's the Abaddon in the Revelation,
That Apollyon, that all thing destroyes,
That Epidemick Plague that Church annoyes;
That flaming Dragon, that did latel'assail,
To sweep the Stars down with his fiery tail;
That Worm-wood 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 mens purses sings a Godly Song;
And Herod-like feigning t'adore the Babe,
Through Church-mens sides gives him a deadly stab:
Thus Religion prov'd to be •he Cloak
Vnder whose shrowd thousands of Frogs did croak,
Page 26With Jeroboams Priests they fill'd their hand,
And then like Pharaohs plagues infect the land:
Jerusalem and Sions glory razes,
Mounts Calves at Dan, and Bethels higher places,
Which bellow'd like an Amsterdamian Bull
Nonsence and Blasphemy whole Pulpi•s full.
Perhaps you'l itch to know the stock and root
From whence these Branches of Propagation shoot:
Th'are hatcht in Hel, Be'lzebub is their Sire,
Atheism their Mother, Nurse infernal fire:
Their Offsprings are Schisms, Sects, and Heresie,
Destruction, Sacrilege, and Symony;
Their Maid Hypocrisie, her daily dresses,
Shews of Godliness, and such like tresses,
Which she from Sathans Wardrope stole by night,
While they do Act good Angels parts of light:
These Frogs and Locusts wait upon her train,
By sacred Ruines thinking all to gain;
And hoping when Christs-Doves were dispossest,
Scritch-Owles, and Zim, and Jim might build their nest:
They Cry'd down learned Athens, and that light,
That did destroy their Gloe-worms 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,
Til 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 plundring God, makes most for his Glory:
No tithes, no gleabs, no offrings needeth he,
Without a Priest, All taught of him shall be.
Page 27Thus many were seduc'd with this false glasse,
And made to couch like Issachars Asse
To any burthen: that spake libertie,
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 soar'd 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 expir'd; a boon me thinks you crave,
To grant her decent burial, and a grave.
