Brooks - BX9338 .B7 1813 v3

F. TAYLOR--BOWEN. 381 critic and a most celebrated divine.* He had a son of the same name, who, though he lost his sight by the small- pox, while a student in Cambridge, was a minister of good learning, genuine piety, and great usefulness ; but was i silenced and imprisoned n 1662.+ His WORKS.-1. The Danger of Vowes Neglected, and the Neces- sitie of Reformation, a Sermon before the House of Lords, at the late solemn Fast in the Abbey-church, Westminster, May27, 1646-1646. -2. God's Glory in Mates Happiness, 1654.-3. Opuscula Rabbinica, W54.-4. Examen Prefationis Morini in Biblia Greeca de Textus EbraiciCorruptione, 1660.-5. Tractatus de Patribus Rabbi Nathan. -6. Capitula Patrum.-And most probablysome others. EVAN BOWENappears to have been born in Wales, where he laboured in the work of the ministry. He was employed for some time in the Principality as one of the itinerant preachers, whom Dr. Walker profanely denominatesgospel- postillions.# Afterwards he obtained a settled ministry. Mr. William Williams being ejected for some delinquency, he was appointed by the commissioners to be his successor at Llanafan. Dr. Walker mentions this affair morethan once. He observes that there were four thousand souls in the parish ; and brings four separate charges against Mr. Bowen : as, "That hehad been an itinerant, and had received a salary for his labours, as appeared from the account of the sequestration." We may, therefore, supposehe was aman of approved abilities for so laborious an office; and he might have been manyyears employed in the ministry. After he had proved himself to be an able minister of the gospel, he would be accounted no unfit person for the charge of so large a parish. . " He wasfifty-five years of age." This is a heavy charge, indeed ! if such a number of years necessarily disqualify a man for the ministerial work. This, surely, could beno great blemish in his character. By the experience of many years, and a long acquaintance with the world, he would not be less qualified for the numerous duties of so populous a parish. But a he was a mason by occupation." The charge may be true, and be no greater blemish in his character than his years. Dr. Walker himself mentions several cler- gymen who kept tippling-houses, and, surely, the occupation of a mason will not be accounted less honourable. But the Neal's Puritans, vol. iv. p.571. 1- Palmer's Neuron. Mein, vol. ii. p. t Walker's Attempt, part i. p. 159,

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