charge was one Anne Jarrat, who, June 22, 1646, made the following deposition: "This examinate saith, on Wednesday last, in the night, about eleven or twelve o'clock, Anne Stennet and Anne Smith, the servants of John Mackernesse, did call out this examinate to go with them to the little croft, with whom this examinate did go; and coming thither, Master Denne, and John Mackernesse, and a stranger or two, did follow after. And being come to the river-side, Master Denne went into the water, and there did baptize Anne Stennet, Anne Smith, Godfrey Roote, and John Sowter, in this examinate's presence." It was accounted a sad crime to perform this ceremony in the night. The oppressions of the times not suffering it to be observed in open day, ought, however, to bear all the blame. Though his persecutors discovered a most intolerant spirit, and by their extreme bigotry, exposed themselves to the reproach of all unbiassed minds, they succeeded in one thing according to their wishes. For, through their repeated oppressive proceedings, Mr. Denne was at length obliged to quit his living; and seeing no prospect of usefulness in the church, he went into the army. As he was a man of great courage and zeal for the liberties of his country, he behaved himself so well in the character of a soldier, as to gain a reputation not inferior to many who had made it the profession of their lives. At the conclusion of the war he returned to his former exercise of preaching, and took every opportunity of defending his principles. In the year 1658 Mr. Denne was engaged in a dispute concerning baptism with Dr. Gunning, in St. Clement's church, near Temple-bar, London. The disputation lasted two days; and he is said to have afforded strong proofs of his abilities and learning, as a good scholar and a complete disputant. Indeed, he was accounted by one who had a considerable hand in the public affairs of the nation, "the ablest man in the kingdom for prayer, expounding, and preaching." In his views of the doctrines of the gospel he took the middle way, with Bishop Usher, Bishop Davenant, Mr. Baxter, and others. Mr. Edwards, who was never suspected of partiality to those called sectarians, acknowledges" that he had a very affectionate way of preaching, and was much esteemed among the people;" yet he denominates him a great antinomian, and a desperate arminian!"‡ Another writer observes, that he was formerly "a high altar Edwards's Gangræna, part iii. p. 86, 87. +Crosby's Baptists, vol. i. p. 221-224, 302-307. Edwards's Gangræna, part i. p. 76, 77. man, a bower at the name of Jesus, and a conformist to the abominable innovations introduced by Canterbury; that he opposed the remonstrance and the petition of the wellaffected, pleading for a riddance of episcopacy, the ceremonies, and other corruptions; and that he was a rigid arminian, an enemy to free grace, and an antinomian.' Mr. Denne united with his brethren, the baptist ministers in London, in their protestation against Venner's insurrection, and in avowing their unshaken loyalty to the king. His death is supposed to have taken place towards the close of the year 1660. After his interment the following lines were put upon his grave-stone: To tell his wisdom, learning, goodness, unto men, I need to say no more, but here lies HENRY DENNE. His WORKS.-1. The Doctrine and Conversion of John the Baptist: a Visitation Sermon, 1642.-2. Antichrist Unmasked, 1644.— 3. The Foundation of Children's Baptism Discovered and Raised, 1645.—4. The Man of Sin discovered, whom the Lord will destroy with the Brightness of his coming, 1645.-5. The Drag-Net of the Kingdom of Heaven; or, Christ drawing all Men, 1646.-6. The Levellers Design discovered, 1649.-7. A Contention for the Truth; in two Public Disputations between Dr. Gunning and Henry Denne, concerning Infant-Baptism, 1658.-8. Grace, Mercy, and Peace. FRANCIS TAYLOR, A. M.-This excellent divine was for some time rector of Clapham in Surrey, and afterwards rector of Yalding in Kent, to one of which places he was presented by Archbishop Laud. In the year 1643 he was chosen one of the assembly of divines, and paid constant attendance. In the assembly he discovered great learning and moderation. His distinguished abilities and erudition were, however, most richly displayed in his writings. He wrote the Annotations upon Proverbs, in the Assembly's Annotations, as they are commonly called. He was most famous in all kinds of Hebrew learning and Jewish antiquities. He held a correspondence with Boetius, Archbishop Usher, and the most celebrated scholars of his time. Among the letters to the archbishop, still preserved, there is one from Mr. Taylor, dated from Clapham, in 1635. Upon his removal from Yalding, he became preacher at Christ's church in the city of Canterbury, where he appears to have died about the restoration. He left behind him the character of an able * Rutherford's Survey of Antichrist, part i. p. 193. Edit. 1641. + Kennet's Chronicle, p. 358. Wharton's Troubles of Laud, vol. i. p. 369. Parr's Life of Usher, p. 475. critic and a most celebrated divine. He had a son of the same name, who, though he lost his sight by the smallpox, while a student in Cambridge, was a minister of good learning, genuine piety, and great usefulness; but was silenced and imprisoned in 1662,+ His WORKS.-1. The Danger of Vowes Neglected, and the Necessitie of Reformation, a Sermon before the House of Lords, at the late solemn Fast in the Abbey-church, Westminster, May 27, 1646–1646. -2. God's Glory in Man's Happiness, 1654.-3. Opuscula Rabbinica, 1654.-4. Examen Prefationis Morini in Biblia Græca de Textus Ebraici Corruptione, 1660.-5. Tractatus de Patribus Rabbi Nathan. -6. Capitula Patrum.—And most probably some others. EVAN BOWEN appears 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 denominates gospelpostillions. 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 more than once. He observes that there were four thousand souls in the parish; and brings four separate charges against Mr. Bowen: as, "That he had been an itinerant, and had received a salary for his labours, as appeared from the account of the sequestration." We may, therefore, suppose he was a man of approved abilities for so laborious an office; and he might have been many years 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 was fifty-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 be no 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 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 clergymen 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. 271. ↑ Palmer's Noucon. Mem. vol. ii, p. 323. Walker's Attempt, part i. p. 159. fact most probably was, that Mr. Bowen, when a youth, or during the former part of his life, had been employed in this business; and what disgrace was there in this? If the doctor had said, that he tollowed his trade even while he was an itinerant, it would have shewn him to be a man of most extraordinary abilities, and the charge would have been no great crime. "He was untaught in the English tongue, and confessed he had never read the Primer in English." Had he been well taught in the English tongue, it would have been no very important qualification for preaching among the mountains of Wales. There were thousands of excellent scholars who never read the Primer. The puritans were not very partial to that book. The truth is, Mr. Bowen was a most laborious, acceptable and useful preacher. He was a nonconformist to the established church, and supposed to have been of the baptist denomination. He died about the year 1660.+ WALTER CRADOCK was descended from a reputable family, born at Trefela, near Llangeven in Monmouthshire, and educated at Oxford, most probably with a design to the christian ministry. Upon his return from the university, having heard of the fame of Mr. Wroth, a zealous puritan minister in Wales, and of his singular way of preaching, he had the curiosity to go and hear him. The happy consequence was, that he believed Mr. Wroth was a true minister of Christ; was fully convinced of the truth and importance of his doctrine; and began himself not long after to preach the same gospel, with much concern for the salvation of his countrymen. Afterwards he became curate to Mr. William Erbery, another zealous puritan, who was vicar of St. Mary's church, Cardiff, in Glamorganshire. Mr. Cradock was remarkably zealous and courageous in the cause of Christ; on which account the Bishop of Landaff calls him "a bold ignorant young fellow;" and says, "he was very disobedient to his majesty's instructions," most probably by refusing to read the Book of Sports, and that he preached very schismatical and dangerous doctrine; for which he suspended him and deprived him of his curacy. For proof of his disobedience, and of his schismatical and dangerous doctrine, his lordship observes, "that he used this base and unchristian passage in the pulpit: Walker's Attempt, part i. p. 161. ii. 409. Thomas's MS. Hist. p, 129. That God so loved the world, that he sent his Son to live like a slave, and die like a beast." These troubles came upon him in the year 1634. Mr. Cradock having received the episcopal censure, and being driven from his stated ministerial exercises, he preached up and down the country as he found an opportunity, sometimes in the churches and sometimes out of them. In imitation of his Master, "he went about doing good," and wherever he could procure hearers, there he preached. He was uncommonly zealous and laborious, and preached in most places throughout north and south Wales, with great acceptance and usefulness. His fame spread through the country, and his labours were made a blessing to the people. This gave him comfort and encouragement in his work. His ministry was instrumental in the conversion of Mr. Vavasor Powell, who became his zealous fellow-labourer in the vineyard of the Lord.t In the year 1639, Mr. Cradock, with the assistance of Mr. Wroth, formed a church according to the model of the independents, at Llanfaches. About the same time he settled at Wrexham, where he preached in the church. His constant and laborious preaching made him many enemies; and his name is said to have made so deep an impression on their minds, that they denominated all persons eminent for piety, Cradockims. It was accounted a sufficient reproach to call them by his name; which, in fact, was conferring no small honour upon him, and was no real disgrace to them. This term of supposed reproach continued in practice above a hundred years. By Mr. Cradock's ministry at Wrexham many sinners were called " from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God;" among whom were Mr. Morgan Lloyd and Mr. David ab Hugh, who afterwards became eminent ministers of the gospel. During the confusion of the civil wars, this pious divine was obliged to leave Wrexham; and being driven out of Wales, he fled to London, where he became pastor of The king, in his remark on this expression, observes, that this was not much unlike that not long since uttered: " That the Jews crucified Christ like a damned rogue between two thieves." Then, surely, the royal comment was equally schismatical as the text!!-Wharton's Troubles of Laud, vol. i. p. 533. + Cradock's Works, Pref. Edit. 1800. Life of Vavasor Powell, p. 106. Edit. 1671. Thomas's MS. Hist. of Baptists, p. 159. I Thomas's MS. Eccl. Hist. p. 299. |