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 PrintableVersion The Calvinistic Methodist Fathers of WalesThe Doctor’s holiday readingTHE CALVINISTIC METHODIST FATHERS OF WALES (two volumes) These two volumes trace the story of how a nation, largely ignorant, frequently debased and with scarce regard for God, was turned round amazingly in the space of a century. And the story is told not in terms of a succession of dates and statistics, but rather in the biographies of the man through whom the change was wrought. Names like Daniel Rowland, Howell Harris, Thomas Charles and John Elias will possibly be familiar and their story is to be found here. But others like Robert Roberts (Clynnog), Ebenezer Morris and Thomas Jones (Denbigh), not to mention a host of others, all find their place in this quite remarkable account. Don’t be put off from buying and reading these volumes because you are neither Welsh nor a Calvinistic Methodist. Above all these were men of God, undoubtedly blessed by their Saviour, and were used by him to change the face of a nation. Most had very humble origins, but soon displayed quite remarkable abilities to preach in a way that captured not just the ears but the hearts that formerly had been utterly hostile to the gospel. It is possibly this aspect that should make John Aaron’s fluent and engaging translation of Y Tadau Methodistaidd required reading for all would-be preachers today. One benefit would be a transformation of the very concept of preaching, coupled with an awareness of what God can do through such Spirit anointed proclamation. Martyn Lloyd-Jones took these two volumes (in Welsh) with him on his first summer holiday as a minister, feasted on them and returned to them repeatedly in the course of his ministry. The story is traced from before the beginnings of the revival in the 1730s to over a century later, by which time an amazing transformation had taken place in the spiritual life of the people. Here are exciting accounts of men whose physical safety was often at risk through the boldness of their preaching. Various doctrinal dissensions that threatened the continuation of the work are dealt with, as is the controversy over the ordination of men to the ministry that liberated the churches from what otherwise would have been the stifling hand of Anglicanism. Above all, the accounts recorded here testify not merely to what God can do but to what he has done and to what we surely need him to do again in our time. These are two hefty volumes but they are very easy to read and may well awaken you to a much-needed awareness of what preaching could and should be like, as well as the effects that God may yet be pleased to accomplish through it. Graham Harrison, © Evangelicals Now - January 2009 |
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