We conclude this brief and somewhat imperfect portraiture with the
following characteristic paragraph from the pen of Mr. Evans,
illustrative of his views, not only of the right kind of pulpit
ministration, but also of the injurious influence and tendency of the
principal theological controversies which during his day agitated the
Baptist churches in the principality of Wales:—
“I consider that a remarkable day has begun upon Wales. The dawn of
this day was with Vavasor Powell and Walter Caradork; the former
amongst the Baptists and the latter amongst the Independents
(Congregationalists). Several churches were gathered in both
denominations in the twilight of morning. But when Rowlands and
Harris rose—it was the sunrising of this revival day. Mr. Jones, of
Pontypool, was one of the sons of the sunrising. About ten or eleven
o’clock, a host of Baptists, Calvinistic Methodists, and
Congregationalists, arose; and among this class I had the honor of
entering the field. The day was warm—the sermons and prayers were
short, and the doctrine was evangelical. But I have reached the
evening, and the day is greatly cooled. Power, tenderness, and the
cross of Christ, marked the sermons in the morning; but length and
tediousness are the distinguishing features of the prayers and
sermons in the evening. It was too warm to preach two hours in the
heat of the day. It appears, also, that talents are become much
weaker and more effeminate as the evening spreads its shades. Beyond
a doubt, the preaching of intricate points—something like questions
concerning the law, and endless genealogies, have been the means of
cooling the work and the workmen in the evening of the day. They
will now lift up their heads and talk to every traveller that passes
the field; and towards Merionethshire, they will inquire, ‘Dost thou
know any thing about Sandemanianism?’ and in other districts they
will ask, ‘Dost thou know something about Williamsism {75} and
Fullerism?’ and in consequence you may see young doctors many,
springing up, talking like learned Lilliputians. ‘Some say that
Christ died for all, and others that it was for his church he died;
but the truth is this,’ said the Lilliputians: ‘he did not die for
any man, _but for the sin of all men_.’ I was there also on the
great platform of this period, but I dared not condemn all systems by
a sweeping sentence of infallibility, and take the bagpipe under my
arm, as some were disposed to do, and cry down every new voice
without proving it. ‘Prove all things.’”
SERMONS OF CHRISTMAS EVANS.
A New translation from the Welsh.
INTRODUCTION.
IN presenting to the public a selection from the sermons of Christmas
Evans, we find ourselves embarrassed by two circumstances:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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