MR. EVAN EVANS. GWYNEDD, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
HE was born in Merionethshire, in the principality of Wales, in the year 1684, and came to Pennsylvania with his parents in 1698; under whom he received a sober religious education; but, being early in life convinced, that a form of godliness, without the real enjoyment of the quickening principle of grace and truth, would not afford solid and lasting peace to his soul, he therefore sought earnestly after it, and resigned his heart to the baptizing power of God, which fitted him for eminent services in the church.In his constant attendance at our religious meetings, he was a remarkable example of unaffected piety; for whilst he sat in silence, the earnestness wherewith his soul "wrestled for a blessing," was obvious in the steady engaged appearance of his countenance. He was favoured with an excellent gift in the ministry, which he exercised in solemn dread and reverence; and as he always retained an awful sense of appearing in public testimony, he was particularly cautious and watchful, not to presume to speak without assurance of a necessity being laid upon him, and equally careful to attend to the continuance of it: And therefore his "Preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in the demonstration of the spirit and of power."
His service was rendered more effectual, by the distinguishing marks which he bore, of "An Israelite indeed, in whom was no guile," a plainness and simplicity of manner in word and deed, with a zeal seasoned witb divine love; and as he had large experience in the work of regeneration and the mysteries of the heavenly kingdom, as well as the snares of the world, he was thereby well qualified to administer to the states of the people.
He travelled through many of these colo|nies in the service of the ministry, in company with his relation and dear friend John Evans. Their friendship was pure, fervent, and lasting as their lives, and their separation a wound to the latter, the remembrance of which he never wholly survived. He also frequently visited the seve|ral counties in this province, and more particularly many of the adjacent meetings in their infancy; wherein his unwearied labours of love, tended much to their comfort, growth, and establishment in the truth.
He was religiously concerned for the support of our christian discipline; and as he was always diffident of himself, he laboured faithfully for the discovery of truth and a disposition of mind to embrace it; whereby he was often enabled to lay "Judgment to the line, and righteousness to the plummet," whether in reproof to the obdurate, or instruction and comfort to the penitent. In visiting friends families his service was great; for being endued with a spirit of discerning and the authority of truth, his ad|vice was adapted with great propriety and advantage, to the particular states and con|ditions of persons and families. His conduct and conversation in common life, adorned the doctrine he preached, being a good example of plainness, moderation, and uprightness of heart.
He was abroad in the service of truth when attacked with his last illness; and as the disorder was slow and tedious, he attended several meetings in the forepart thereof; in some of which, his lively powerful testimonies clearly manifested, that the God of his youth who had raised him up an instrument in his hand, and on whom he had relied all his life, continued to be his shield and support in the evening of his days and period of life; which was on the 24th of the fifth month 1747. He was buried at Gwynedd.