Welsh Calvinistic Methodism

WELSH CALVINISTIC METHODISM
By William Williams
Bryntirion Press. 320 pages.
£8.99 (paperback) £12.99 (hardback)
ISBN 1 85049 125 9 (paperback)
ISBN 1 85049 149 6 (hardback)

As a non-Celt reviewer, I was intrigued by the roll-call of great names of the 18th and 19th century Welsh revivals.
In our modern era of understandable pride in Welshness, how wonderful it would be if the heritage of revival came to the fore again. As this book indicates, with the fire of revival came the smoke of revivalism. Ultimately, it is impossible to have fire without smoke, sadly too often we have smoke these days without fire.
In his appendix, Dr. Lloyd-Jones comments on the significance of Calvinistic Methodism with its blend of doctrinal accuracy and experiential faith. It is not surprising that two of the great marks of this movement were preaching and hymnody. True biblical teaching should always lead to inspired praise.
It is also intriguing to read Dr. Lloyd-Jones 30 years ago relating the revival days to the barrenness of his day. How much more relevant the words are today. For example, these great preachers felt that parish boundaries were of no significance compared with the eternal destiny of men and women. All too often, the opposition to this revival preaching came from the established church and its ministry. These men and women were characterised by a depth of concern for the lost and a readiness to suffer. But with their zeal and their awareness of the awesomeness of hell went a consistency of living that had its own message. The author could comment that the weight of their character completely crushed the persecution.
There was frailty in this movement, the sad divisions that come from people who hold firmly to strong doctrine. But these men under God turned the grim conditions of the church and nation in the 18th century into a completely new picture and by God's grace it could happen again. This reviewer found himself praying as he finished the book that the Lord of the harvest would mercifully do it again.

Philip Hacking

© Evangelicals Now - September 1999
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