Christmas Evans, the Preacher of Wild Wales: His country, his times, and his contemporariesHood, Edwin Paxton
History
Christmas Evans, the Preacher of Wild Wales: His country, his times, and his contemporaries
Hood, Edwin Paxton
Evans, Christmas, 1766-1838
similar disorder amongst men, and even amongst professors of
religion, and into congregations. ‘Let every one keep his own place,
that there be no schism in the body.’ The body can do much, can bear
heavy burdens, all its parts being in their own positions. Even so
in the Church; much good can be done by every member keeping and
filling his own place without high-mindedness.”
“THE MAN IN THE HOUSE OF STEEL.
“A man in a trance saw himself locked up in a house of steel, through
the walls of which, as through walls of glass, he could see his
enemies assailing him with swords, spears, and bayonets; but his life
was safe, for his fortress was locked within. So is the Christian
secure amid the assaults of the world. His ‘life is hid with Christ
in God.’
“The Psalmist prayed, ‘When my heart is overwhelmed within me, lead
me to the Rock that is higher than I.’ Imagine a man seated on a
lofty rock in the midst of the sea, where he has everything necessary
for his support, shelter, safety, and comfort. The billows heave and
break beneath him, and the hungry monsters of the deep wait to devour
him; but he is on high, above the rage of the former, and the reach
of the latter. Such is the security of faith.
“But why need I mention the rock, and the steel house? for the peace
that is in Christ is a tower ten thousand times stronger, and a
refuge ten thousand times safer. Behold the disciples of Jesus
exposed to famine, nakedness, peril, and sword—incarcerated in
dungeons; thrown to wild beasts; consumed in the fire; sawn asunder;
cruelly mocked, and scourged; driven from friends, and home, to
wander among the mountains, and lodge in dens, and caves of the
earth; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; sorrowful, but always
rejoicing; cast down, but not destroyed; an ocean of peace within,
which swallows up all their sufferings.
“‘Neither death,’ with all its terrors; ‘nor life,’ with all its
allurements; ‘nor things present,’ with all their pleasure, ‘nor
things to come,’ with all their promise; ‘nor height’ of prosperity;
‘nor depth’ of adversity; ‘nor angels’ of evil; ‘nor principalities’
of darkness; ‘shall be able to separate us from the love of God which
is in Christ Jesus.’ ‘God is our refuge, and strength; a very
present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear, though the
earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst
of the sea—though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the
mountains shake with the swelling thereof.’ This is the language of
strong faith in the peace of Christ. How is it with you amid such
turmoil, and commotion? Is all peaceful within? Do you feel secure
in the name of the Lord, as in a strong fortress, as in a city well
supplied, and defended?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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