Oliver Bowles Explained

Oliver Bowles (died) was an English Presbyterian minister and divine.

Life

Oliver Bowles, minister of Sutton, was one of the oldest members of the Westminster Assembly.^[1] He attained the degree of B.D., and was tutor to John Preston at Queens' College, Cambridge.^[2] He probably died in or before 1646.^[3] However, some sources report that Timothy Cruso was impressed by the dying counsels of Bowles (died 5 September 1674), who advised him never to trouble his hearers "with useless or contending notions, but rather preach all in practicals".^[4] His son was the Presbyterian minister Edward Bowles.

Works

He was author of:

1. Zeale for God's House quickned: a Fast Sermon before the Assembly of the Lords, Commons, and Divines, 1643, 4to.
2. De Pastore Evangelico, 1649, 4to; 1655 and 1659, 16mo (published by his son, and dedicated to the Earl of Manchester).

Sources

• Wright. Stephen. 2004. Bowles, Edward (bap. 1613, d. 1662), clergyman. 3068.

Attribution:

• Gordon. Alexander. Bowles, Edward. 6. 67-68.
• Gordon. Alexander. Cruso, Timothy. 13. 264-265.
• Gordon. Alexander. Preston, John (1587-1628). 46. 308-311.

Further reading

• Kirby, Ethan Williams (1964). "The English Presbyterians in the Westminster Assembly". Church History, 33(4): pp. 418–428.
• "Oliver Bowles (1574-1644)". A Puritan's Mind. Retrieved 24 September 2022.

Notes and References

1. Gordon 1886, p. 67.
2. Gordon 1896, p. 308.
3. Wright 2004.
4. Gordon 1888, p. 264.