Evans, John

Evans, John D.D., an eminent Nonconformist divine, was born in 1680, at Wrexham, in Denbighshire. His father was minister of Wrexham. The son was first placed under the care of Mr. Thomas Rowe, near London, and studied afterwards at the seminary of Mr. Timothy Joule. He was ordained and settled at Wrexham, August 18, 1702. "Dr. Daniel Williams, of London, hearing that Mr. Evans was invited to Dublin, to prevent his leaving England sent for him to the metropolis, where he first assisted the doctor, afterwards became co-pastor, and at length succeeded him at his death. In the Arian controversy he refused to subscribe to any articles, but maintained the orthodox sentiments." In the public services of the dissenters he was often called to preside, and was appointed to assist in completing Matthew Henry's Commentary, of which he supplied the notes on the Epistles to the Romans so well, that Dr. Doddridgea says, 'The exposition of the Romans, begun by Henry, and finished by Dr. Evans, is the best I ever saw.' He was for some years preparing to write a history of nonconformity from the Reformation to the civil wars, but, by his death, the work devolved on Mr. Neal. He died May 16, 1730." Besides a number of separate sermons, he published Discourses concerning the Christian Temper, 38 Sermons (4th ed. London, 1737, 2 volumes, 8vo), with Life by John Erskine (1825, 8vo), which are called by Dr. Watts "the most complete summary of those duties which make up the Christian life," and by Doddridge "the best practical pieces in our language." See Bogue and Bennett, History of Dissenters, 2:364; Jones, Christian Biography, page 143; Skeats, Free Churches of England (London, 1868, 8vo), page 249.