came directly up to him; and laying his hand familiarly on his shoulder, said, "Sir, you are the person that I "must be acquainted with." Mr. OWEN modestly replied, "That will be more to my advantage than yours, "sir." "We shall soon see that," said CROMWELL; and, taking him by the hand, led him into FAIRFAX'S garden, and from that time held a most intimate friendship with him as long as he lived. He now acquainted Mr. OWEN with his intended expedition into Ireland, and desired his company there, to reside in the College of Dublin; but he answered, that the charge of the church at Coggeshall would not permit him to comply with his request. But CROMWELL was not satisfied with the objection, nor would he take a denial; and at last, proceeding from desires to commands, he insisted upon his company; at the same time telling him, that his younger brother was to go as standardbearer in the same army. He not only engaged his brother to persuade him to a compliance; but also wrote to the church at Coggeshall, to desire leave that he might go; which letter was read publicly amongst them. They were utterly unwilling to part with him on this occasion; but at length CROMWELL told them plainly, "He must and should go." With great reluctance, and after much deliberation, Mr. OWEN complied. He went to Dublin, (not with the army, but in a more private way) and continued there about half a year, preaching and observing the affairs of the college. Then with CROMWELL's leave he returned into England, and went to his beloved charge at Coggeshall, where he was joyfully received.

$15. He scarcely had time to breathe there, before he was called to preach at Whitehall, which order he obeyed. And in September 1650, CROMWELL requested Mr. OWEN to go with him into Scotland; but he

being averse to this journey also, the General procured an order of Parliament, which left no room for objections. He staid at Edinburgh about half a year, and then returning into England, he went once more to his people at Coggeshall, where he hoped to have spent the remainder of his days: but God had prepared for him other work.

$16. He must now leave his beloved flock in the country, to superintend a college in Oxford. The first intelligence he had of this matter, was by one of the weekly newspapers at Coggeshall, where he read words to this effect; "The House taking into consid"eration the worth and usefulness of Mr. JOHN OWEN, "student of Queen's College, Master of Arts, has or"dered that he be settled in the Deanery of Christ's "College in Oxford, in the room of, &c." And soon after he received a letter from the principal students of that college, signifying their desire of his coming, and their great satisfaction in the choice the House had made of him to be their Dean. With the consent of his church he went to Oxford, and settled there A. D. 1651; and in the following year (when also he was diplomated D. D.) he was chosen Vice-chancellor of that university, in which office he continued about five years. This is the man who, for his non-conformity, was deserted by his friends, disappointed of a good estate, exercised with spiritual troubles, and had to grapple with many other difficulties and hardships, that is now chosen to preside over that university, which, for conscience sake, he had been forced to quit.

§17. It would be an inexcusable defect in this history, not to take notice of that singular prudence with which the Doctor (for so we must now call him) managed this honorable trust. He took care to restrain the vicious, to encourage the pious, and to prefer men

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of industry and learning. Under his administration the whole body of that university was visibly reduced to good order, and flourished with a number of excellent scholars and persons of distinguished piety. When men are advanced to places of power and authority, they often discover a magisterial air and a severity of temper towards inferiors, and generally incline to be partial in the distribution of their favors; but we find a very different temper and conduct in Dr. OWEN, while he sat in this chair of honor. Though himself an Independent, he discovered great moderation both towards Presbyterians and Episcopalians; to the former of whom he gave many vacant livings at his disposal, and the latter he was very ready to oblige. A large congregation of these statedly celebrated divine service very near him according to the liturgy of the church of England; and though he was often urged to it, yet he would never give them the least disturbance; and if at any time they met with opposition or trouble on that account, it was from other hands, and always against his mind.

$18. This moderation and goodness in the exercise of power gained him great love and respect. Yet we must observe also, that he would not suffer authority to be slighted when there was occasion to assert it, of which we may take the following anecdote as an instance. When one of Trinity College, at an act, declaimed in a very unbecoming and profane manner, contrary to strict orders, the Doctor several times desired him to forbear what reflected such dishonor on the university; but notwithstanding this he went on in the same manner. At length the Doctor seeing him obstinate, sent his beadles to pull him down, upon which the scholars interposed, and would not suffer them to come near. Then the Doctor resolved to pull

him down himself; and while his friends dissuaded him from it, for fear any of the scholars (for there were some of them sons of Belial) would do him some mischief; he replied, "I will not see authority thus tram"pled on;" and hereupon he pulled him down, and sent him to Bocardo,* the scholars standing at a distance amazed to see his courage and resolution.

$19. But while he restrained the loose and disorderly, he failed not to shew kindness to the sober and ingenious. He was hospitable in his house, generous in his favors, charitable to the poor, and especially to poor scholars; some of whom he took into his family, and maintained at his own charge, giving them academical education. One time, for instance, a poor scholar presented to him a Latin epistle, which the Doctor highly approving, he sent for him in, and asked him, if he wrote that letter? he affirmed he did; "Well," said he, "go into the next room and write me "another as good, and I will not be wanting to en"courage you;" which he did to his great satisfaction; whereupon he took him into his house to teach his children; and afterwards he became an excellent schoolmaster and bred up several good scholars. At another time, as he was hearing the scholars disputing for their degrees, he took special notice of one of Queen's College, who disputed very accurately, and discovered more than ordinary parts and learning, with which the Doctor was very much pleased; and making inquiry, he understood his circumstances were very low, though he made a considerable figure afterwards in the world, and gave him a handsome present by way of encouragement, which that gentleman ever after gratefully acknowledged.

*The name of a prison in Oxford.

§20. The government of a Vice-chancellor took up a great part of the Doctor's time, together with other avocations which daily attended him in that station; yet notwithstanding all, he redeemed time for his studies, preached every other Lord's day at St. Mary's, and often at Stadham, and other places in the country, and wrote some excellent books. In 1654, he published his book, "Of the Saints Perseverance," in answer to Mr. JOHN GOODWIN's book, entitled, "Re"demption Redeemed." It is a masterly piece, full of close and strong reasoning, whereby he has enervated all the subtle arguments, and answered all the objections of his opponent, and confirmed the truth by scripture evidence. And in the whole of this performance, he exhibits to religious polemics an excellent example of a Christian temper in the management of controversy. In 1656, he published his "Vindicia Evan"gelia," or, "The Mystery of the Gospel Vindicated," which was chiefly designed against JOHN BIDDLE, a Socinian, who had published two Socinian catechisms of the same nature with the Rocavian, written by VALENTINUS SMALCIUS, which also the Doctor takes into examination, being willing to give a full confutation to Socinian errors. It is an elaborate work, in which he has cut the sinews of the cause he opposes, and, as his memorialist expresses it, "stabbed it to the "heart." Soon after this he also published that excellent book, entitled, "Communion with God," which has ever since recommended itself to the spiritual taste of judicious readers, and in which the author has given sufficient evidence, that he was himself very intimately acquainted with a life of communion with Father, Son, and Spirit.

$21. He continued Vice-chancellor of the university till 1657, when he gave place to Doctor CONANT, and