Mr. Owen was a Welch
preacher; lie lived upon his own little estate, and preached the gospel
to the poor ignorant people gratis. lie was a burning and a shining
light in this obscure corner, a bright star that moved in a large orb.
He had a circuit about thirty miles in extent, which he performed in
about three months, and then back again. His preaching was very
affectionate and moving. Great numbers of people attended his ministry,
and were much impressed by it. His indefatigable labours much impaired
his health, as he often rode in the night, and in cold rains, over the
mountains, scarcely allowing himself neccssaiy food. He rarely ate any
flesh, and avoided all strong liquors. His principal food was milk, to
which he used himself, by lodging in poor houses where they had nothing
else, and only beds of straw.
He had many remarkable deliverances in answer to prayer. As he was once
coming home, in a very dark night, he lost his way, and found himself in
a dangerous place. In this extremety he alighted from his horse, and
prayed to God to direct him. Before he had done praying, the heavens
cleared over his head, so that he plainly perceived the way and escaped
the danger. Another time, going to preach in a frosty, snowy season, he
was benighted on the hills, and a sudden storm arose, which drove the
snow so violently in his face that the horse could not go forward. He,
therefore, let him go as he would, till he perceived himself in danger
of the bogs, so that it was not safe to ride any farther. After he had
commended himself to godly prayer, he left his horse to shift for
himself, and walked in his boots in a deep snow till midnight, when he
was so spent, and so affected with the cold that he despaired of life.
Providentially in a little time he came to a cow-house, into which he
attempted to enter, hut when he got to the door he found it barred
within. He scrambled about for above an hour, trying to get in, but to
no purpose. At length, when all hope was gone, he discovered a hole at
one end of the place, and, with much difficulty, got in that way, and
lay between the cattle till morning, when he crept out again, and seeing
a house not far off he went to it, and knocked at the door. The master
of the house arose and let him in, when he found his hair and beard
frozen, his hands benumbed, his clothes stiff with frost-and snow, and
himself scarcely able to speak. He made a good fire and gave him some
hot milk and put him into a warm bed, where he lay some hours, after
which he preached the same morning without suffering by it. |