294 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. Mr. Evans entered upon the ministerial work as one sen- sible of its importance, and deeply impressed with the worth ofsouls. It soon appeared that his labours were both accept- ab,e and useful. The goodpeople among whom he preached warmly solicitedand pressed himto continue with them, which he did to the endof his days. Though, at the commencement of his ministry, he does not appear to have been above thirty years of age, he was unwearied in all his labours to promote their best interests, and to extend the boundaries of the Redeemer's kingdom. He presently succeeded in gathering a respectable congregation, which, as our author observes, has continued by a succession of new members down to the present time. After having spent about ten years, with exemplary diligence, unwearied perseverance, and eminent 'success in promoting the gospel among his countrymen, he finished his course in the prime of life, and in the height of his usefulness, to the unspeakable regret of his numerous friends, by whom he was exceedingly respectedand beloved. His ministry was chiefly exercised in Radnorshire and Breck- nockshire. Dr. Walker enumerates him among the popular, itinerants of Wales, and charges him with having received a salary for itinerant preaching in both those counties. If he did so, it only proves his great activity and uncommon labours. When one man does the work of two, it is fit he should re- ceive double wages. There is reason to think, says our author, that he was for some time the only baptist minister in Wales. Some of the other preachers, and Mr. Vavasor Powell among the rest, were probably baptized by him. i His people, it s added, were all baptists, and do not appear to have admitted mixt communion, though some of the neigh- bouring churches did ; nor did they practise singing in their public worship, except, perhaps, at the Lord's table. The church afterwards increased, and spreadinto several branches ; and now forms three or four distinct and respectable churches, assembling in the counties of Radnor, Brecon, and Mont- gomery. Mr. Evans had, doubtless, many enemies ; but his principal opponents are said to have been the Quakers ; who viru- lently opposed him from the press, as well as otherwise, conceiving a very strong and unreasonable antipathy against him. A book was published against him, about the time of his death, by one John Moon, who called Mr. Evans " the blind Welsh priest of Radnorshire," and attempted, very Walker's Attempt, part i. p. 158. Mai
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