The Life And Ministry Of Robert Bowles
Earthen Vessel 1893:
Mr. Robert Bowles, Pastor, Hertford
I was born in London, November 27th, 1824. From my earliest recollection I had a strong convictions of sin, and of the being, majesty, and perfections of God. So that I have often, when a child, crept into some secret place to call upon God to pardon my sin, and teach me to know and do His will. Under the influence of this fear I was kept from running into open sin, and was accustomed to go with my mother to hear most of the celebrated preachers of the day, who were considered orthodox. So that from the preaching and the discussions that sometimes followed it, I soon acquired some little knowledge of the letter of the word. Sometimes I would go out on a little voyage of discovery upon my own account, and bring home the report of some new star, and tell my mother that I was sure he was quite sound, and that she must go and hear for herself. When quite a youth I was in the habit of hearing a Mr. Goodspeed and others, who preached at a chapel in Cumberland-street, London; and there it was that I felt more deeply my lost and ruined state as a sinner. But how to get rid of the burden and guilt of sin, and to obtain peace with God and acceptance in His sight I could not understand. I felt that I was perfectly helpless and hopeless too. It was with this feeling of depression that I came out of the chapel referred to. I had only gone a step or two when I caught the sound of a voice, which proceeded from a little chapel or room in the same street. It was the voice of the late Venerable George Moyle. He was preaching there for the last time, before removing with his little flock to Artillery-street Chapel. I was greatly affected by a few sentences which fell from his lips on that occasion, expressive of the helplessness of the poor sinner, and his desire for salvation; all of which the Lord must do for him; and which words, simple as they were, found a sweet echo in my heart, as they described the path I was then in. So that I said in the words of Ruth, “Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest I will go; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” So I followed them to Artillery-street Chapel, Bishopsgate, there I continued and under this good man’s ministry I was fed and instructed, and the work begun was carried on. But it was some time before I really experienced the liberty of the Gospel; therefore I was kept groaning under the law, and a stranger to real communion with God. But under a sermon from Hebrews 4:16, my soul was then and there set at happy liberty. The experience of the bride in the Canticles became mine—viz., “The water is passed, the rain is over and gone, and the time of the singing of birds is come,” &c. I enjoyed a spiritual honeymoon, and vainly imagined that these haleyon days would continue for ever.
“But many days have passed since then,
Many changes I have seen,”
I was baptized by Mr. Moyle when I was between the age of 18 and 19. After I related my experience before the Church, one of the deacons (now in glory) remarked, “This youth is designed either for an early grave or for the ministry;” the latter proved to be correct. Concerning the ministry, how I was called and forced into it, the opposition from within and without, to relate all would fill a volume. Suffice it to say I was first called upon to speak at a weekly prayer meeting, held at the house of one of the deacons. The verse I was helped to speak from was Psalm 73:24: “Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory.” The former part of the text has been fulfilled to the present hour, the latter part remains, I trust, to be fulfilled also. After this I was called to officiate in one of the London workhouses, where I found among the rest a few of t.he Lord’s saints, who loved the truth. I continued going to and fro for some time, until one of the officials, who had received some hint of the character of my ministry, came and secreted himself in a part of the building where he could hear without being seen. As soon as the service was concluded he abused me most shamefully, and gave me to understand that such doctrines as election, justification, without the co-operation of the creature, &c., would not be countenanced within the wards of that house. I was warned off the premises. This gave me great distress of mind. Now I thought I have indeed run without being sent. I had better give up preaching; but whilst thus exercised in mind I was walking along Pitfield-street, near Hoxton Church, when, as though a voice from heaven had fallen upon my ear (never shall I forget that spot, for there I received my ministerial charge), the words were: “Say not I am child, for thou shalt go unto all that I send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shall speak. Be not afraid of their faces,” &c.
Soon after this I was invited to preach on the Lord’s-day afternoons at a little chapel at Mile End, called “Mount Pisgah.” While there I was asked to take the pulpit at Bethel Chapel, Poplar, where I remained some considerable time. But the Church then being open, and the friends who had been gathered under my ministry being Strict Baptists, a Strict Baptist cause was soon formed at Poplar, and which was my first pastorate. To give a full account of the rise and progress, and the building of Zoar Chapel, the why and the wherefore of my leaving, &c., would occupy too much space. The Lord gave me several seals to my ministry there; one is still living, but most of them are gone home.
After being at Poplar between 13 and 14 years, I received an invitation to enter upon my present pastorate, which was in the year 1860, and here, through mercy, I am still, “a miracle of grace,” having nearly reached my three score years and ten.
“Soon shall I pass the gloomy vale,
Soon all my mortal powers must fail;
Oh, may my last expiring breath
His lovingkindness sing in death!
Then let me mount and soar away
To the bright world of endless day;
And sing with rapture and surprise
His lovingkindness in the skies.”
Robert Bowles
Robert Bowles (1824-?) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher. In 1847, he was appointed pastor of a newly organized church meeting at Poplar, a position he held for thirteen years. In 1860, he was appointed pastor of the church meeting at Hertford, a position he held for nearly forty years, terminated by his resignation as the result of ill-health.
