you. But know, though you see my bones broken to shivers, my soul is replenished with inexpressible joys."

Every limb, member, and bone of his body were broken with the iron bar forty hours before the executioner was permitted to strike him upon the breast, with a stroke which they call Le coup de grace, the blow of mercy that death-stroke which put an end to all his

miseries.

JOHN OWEN, D.D.

THE following account is extracted from the Memoirs of his Life, prefixed to an edition of his works in folio, and appears to have been written by those who were intimately acquainted with our Author, and whose principles were similar to his own.

This very eminent Divine was second son of Henry Owen, Esq. originally of Dolgelly in Merionethshire, North Wales, and was born at Stadham in Oxfordshire, where his father was minister, in the year 1616. He had such an extraordinary genius, and made so quick a proficiency in his studies at school, that he was very early ripe for the university, being admitted into Queen's college at about twelve years of age, and when he was but nineteen commenced master of arts, 1635. He pursued his studies with incredible diligence, allowing himself for several years not above four hours' sleep in a night; so that he soon had made a considerable progress in learning. Sometimes he would, for the benefit of his health, use some recreations, but chiefly such as were violent and robust, . as leaping, throwing the bar, ringing of bells, and such like exercises. While he continued in the college, his whole aim and ambition was to raise himself to some eminence in church or state, to either of which he was then indifferent. It was his own acknowledgment since, concerning himself, that being naturally of an aspiring mind, affecting popular applause, and very desirous of honour and preferment, he applied himself very close to his studies, to accomplish these ends he had so much in view; and he was ready to confess with shame and sorrow, that then the honour of GoD, or serving his country, otherwise than he might thereby serve himself, were most remote from his intentions. His father having a large family, could not afford him any considerable maintenance

at

at the university, but he was liberally supplied by an uncle, one of his father's brothers, a gentleman of a fair estate in Wales, who having no children of his own, designed to have made him his heir. He lived in the college till he was twenty-one years of age, from which time he met with extraordinary changes, which, through the unsearchable wisdom of Gon, turned to his great advantage, and made way for his future advancement, and eminent usefulness. About this time Dr. Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, and chancellor of Oxford, imposed several superstitious rites on the university, upon pain of expulsion. Mr. Owen had then received such light, that his conscience would not submit to those impositions; however temporal interest might plead for his compliance, yet other more weighty considerations of a religious nature prevailed; for now GoD was forming impressions of grace upon his soul, which inspired him with a zeal for the purity of his worship, and what he thought to be reformation in, the church. This change of his judgment soon discovered itself upon this occasion, and was observed by his friends, who thereupon forsook him as one infected with puritanism; and upon the whole, he was become so much the object of resentment from the Laudensian party, that he was forced to leave the college.

We must remember that about this time he was also exercised with many perplexing thoughts about his spiritual state, which, joined with outward discouragements, threw him into a deep melancholy, that continued in its extremity for a quarter of a year, during which time he avoided almost all manner of converse, and very hardly could be induced to speak a word, and when he did speak, it was with such disorder as rendered him a wonder to many. Though his distress and melancholy did not abide in that violence, yet he was held under very great trouble of mind, and grievous temptations for a long time, and it was near five years before he attained to a settled peace; in which space the all-wise God, who designed him for such eminent service, was perfecting his conversion, and at last brought forth judgment unto victory. His very great troubles and distresses of soul were succeeded with a great degree of lasting serenity and joy, which more than recompensed his past sorrows and difficulties.

When the wars in England broke out, he owned the parliament's cause, which his uncle, who had maintained him at the college, being a zealous royalist, so vehemently resented, that he turned him at once out of his favour,

settled

settled his estate upon another, and died without leaving him any thing. He lived then as chaplain with a person of honour, who, though he was for the king, used him with great civility; but he going at last to the king's army, Mr. Owen left his house, and came up to London : He took lodgings in Charter-house Yard, where he was a perfect stranger. At this place we must consider him as not yet freed from his melancholy and spiritual troubles; but now we may observe the wonderful method Gop took to work a perfect cure on his mind, and ease him of all his fears and sorrows. And it was thus: He went one Lord's Day with a Mr. Owen, a cousin of his, to Aldermanbury Church, with expectation of hearing Mr. Calamy. He waited for his coming up into the pulpit, but at length it was known that Mr. Calamy was prevented by some extraordinary occasion; upon which many went out of the church, but Mr. Owen resolved to abide there, though his cousin would fain have persuaded him to go and hear Mr. Jackson, then an eminent preacher in the city, it not being certain whether there would be any person to supply Mr. Calamy's place. Mr Owen being well seated, and too much indisposed for any farther walk, he resolved after some stay, if no preacher came, to go to his lodgings. At last there came up a country minister to the pulpit, a stranger not only to Mr. Owen, but to the parish, who having prayed fervently, took for his text these words: Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Matth. viii. 26. The very reading of the words surprized Mr. Owen, upon which he secretly put up a prayer, that GoD would please by him to speak to his condition; and his prayer was heard: for in that sermon the minister was directed to answer those very objections which Mr. Owen had commonly formed against himself: And though he had formerly given the same answers to himself without any effect, yet now the time was come when GOD designed to speak peace to his soul; and this sermon (though otherwise a plain and familiar discourse) was blessed for the removing of all his doubts, and laid the foundation of that solid peace and comfort, which he afterwards enjoyed as long as he lived.

It is very remarkable, that Mr. Owen could never come to the knowledge of this minister, though he made the most diligent inquiry. During his abode at the Charter House, he wrote his book, called "A Display of Arminianism," which met with such acceptance, as made way for his advancement. It came out in 1642, a very

season

seasonable time, when those errors had spread themselves very much in this nation; so that the book was the more taken notice of, and highly approved by many. There were some considerable persons who had a just sense of the value of this work, and did not fail to give real and particular marks of their respect to so learned an author. For soon after the publishing of it, the committee for purging the church of scandalous ministers paid such a regard to it, that Mr. White, chairman of that committee, sent a special messenger to Mr. Owen, to present him the living of Fordham in Essex; which offer he the more cheerfully embraced, as it gave him an opportunity for the stated exercise of his ministry: He went thither, to the great satisfaction not only of that parish, but of the country round about. He continued at this place about a year and a half, where his preaching was so acceptable, that people resorted to his ministry from other parishes; and great was the success of his labours, in the reformation and conversion of many, through the hand of the Lord that was with him. Soon after he came to Fordham, he married a gentlewoman, (whose name we know not) by whom he had several children, all which the Doctor outlived. In 1644, he published his discourse, "Of the Duty of Pastors and People."

Upon a report that the sequestered incumbent of Fordham was dead, the patron, who had no kindness for Mr. Owen, presented another to the living; whereupon the people at Coggeshall, a market town about five miles from thence, earnestly invited him to be their minister, and the Earl of Warwick, the patron, very readily gave him the living; which favour of opening a door for preaching the Gospel in that place, he thankfully acknowledged ; for here he taught a more numerous and judicious congregation, seldom fewer than two thousand, where he found the people generally sober, religious, and discreet. A very fervent affection was cultivated between minister and people, to their mutual joy and satisfaction; and here also he met with great success in his ministry, and with the universal approbation of the inhabitants, and of the country round about. Hitherto Mr. Owen had followed the presbyterian way; but he was put upon a more diligent inquiry into the nature of church-government and discipline. After a due search and study upon this head, he was fully convinced that the congregational way was most agreeable to the rule of the New Testament. His judgment in this matter has been printed, with the

several

several reasons for it, in two quartos. Several ministers of the presbyterian denomination were dissatisfied with this charge of Mr. Owen's judgment, and particularly Mr. Cawdry reproached him very unhandsomely, to whom he gave a much more civil answer. He had formed a church at Coggeshall upon these congregational principles, according to his own light, which continued long. The worth of so great a man, so eminent a light, could no longer be concealed; his fame and reputation spread both through city and country. He was sent for to preach before the parliament: This sermon is entitled,

A Vision of Free Mercy, &c." on Acts xvi. 11. April 29, 1646. He pleads for liberty of conscience and moderation towards men of different persuasions, &c. in an "Essay for the practice of Church-government in the Country," which he subjoins to that sermon. In the year 1643 he published his book, entitled Salus electorum, sanguis Jesu: Or, "The Death of Death in the Death of Christ." He dedicated this book to Robert, Earl of Warwick, where he pays his tribute of thanks to his Lordship for that privilege of opening the door for his preaching the gospel at Coggeshall; and in his Preface to the Reader he tells us, "That this performance was the result of more than seven years' serious inquiry into the mind of GOD about these things, with a perusal of all which he could attain, that the wit of men in former or later days hath published in opposition to the truth." It is a noble undertaking, carried on with all the vigour of argument and learning, of which he himself was so conscious, that though the most modest and humble of all writers, yet he scrupled not to declare, That "he did not believe he should live to see a solid answer given to it."

Colchester was about this time besieged, and Lord Fairfax, General of the parliament's forces, quartering at Coggeshall some days, he became acquainted there with Mr. Owen, and likewise four commissioners sent by the house down into Essex, to look after their affairs in that county, entered into a conversation with him. About this time also he became known to Cromwell, who happened to hear him preach, and solicited his friendship. He acquainted Mr. Owen with his intended expedition into Ireland, and desired his company to reside there in the college at Dublin; but he answered, the charge of the church at Coggeshall would not permit him to comply with his request: Cromwell was not satisfied with the objection, and would have no denial; but at last from desires he proceeded to VOL. III.

2 H.

commands,