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Sermons of Christmas Evans. a New Translation from the Welsh

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Sermons of Christmas Evans. a New Translation from the Welsh M. M ^^ M / ^ 3l10«»i13e SERMONS or CHRISTMAS EVANS. ^ ^m translation from tl)e tDfUl). MEMOIR AND PORTRAITURE OF THE AUTHOR. \::rrL^ BEV. JOSEPH CROSS. PHILADELPHIA: LEART & GETZ, PUBLISHERS. FOR SALE BY CARLTON & PORTER, METH. BOOK CONCERN, NEW YORK. SWORMSTEDT & FOE, CINCINNATI, OHIO.—STEVENSON & OWEN, NASH- VILLE, TENN.—L P. COOK, BALTIMORE.—JAMES P. MAGEE, BOSTON, WM. M. DOUGHTY, CHICAGO, ILL.—J. L. READ, PITTSBURG. H. H. MATTESON, BUFFALO, N. Y., AND ALL BOOK- SELLERS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. 1859. rUI"i:G LIBRAHY 38448B A pros, LSNOX AND TJc^^ii,' i'-jC-t'DATlONS B 1939 L Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1846, by 4. HARMSTEAD, the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. PRINTED BY SMITH & PETERS, FrankUn Buildings, Sixth Street, below AroJi, Philadelphia. ADVERTISEMENT. The Sermons of Christmas Evans contained in this volume, and the extracts from his journal and other writ- ings given in the following Memoir and Portraiture, are translated by two different hands, and in very different styles. The former are clothed in very good English, but the diction of the latter requires an apology. Unable to procure a better version, we have furnished such as we found ; and it is hoped that even this, with all its imper- fections, will not be wholly unprofitable to the reader. The writer does not wish to be held responsible for the Theological Views put forth, either in the extracts alluded to, or in the sermons. Christmas Evans was a Calvinistic Baptist, and several of his sermons inculcate, to some ex- tent, the peculiar doctrines of that denomination ; though they are generally free from sectarian bias, and may be read with advantage by spiritual Christians of all evange lical creeds. Joseph Cross. Philadelphia, May 10, 1846. CONTENTS. MEMOIR AND PORTRAITURE. Page Introduction .---------9 Memoir. Early Years 17 Profession of Religion -------- 17 Commencement of Preaching - - - - - - -18 Backsliding and Recovery ------- 19 Change of Views ..-------19 Depressing Views of Himself - - • - - - 20 Labors in Leyn .---------89 Visit to South Wales 23 Settlement in Anglesea --------24 Powerful Sermons .-----•-- 25 Sandemanianism and Sabellianism ------ 27 Time of Refreshing 28 Covenant with God - .-- 29 Studying the English Language ------ 32 New Troubles and Sorrows -------33 Legal Prosecution --------- 35 Caerphilly 36 Another Covenant --------- 37 Cardiff 39 Sermons for the Press -------- 41 Welsh Jumping --------- .43 Caernarvon .--------. 49 Pulpit Popularity 50 Interesting Letter --------- 51 Tour through the Principality -------56 Monmouthshire Association ------- 57 Last Sermon, Sickness, and Death ------ 57 Funereal Sorrow -----«•-- 58 Portraiture. Personal Appearance -------- 59 Moral and Christian Character ------- 59 a2 5 CONTENTS. Page Social Disposition 60 Reading and Study 60 Devotional Habits - * 61 Christian Beneficence - . 62 Spirit of Forgiveness 63 Catholic Generosity . 64 Ingenuousness and Honesty 65 Sarcastic Rebukes . 66 Pulpit Talents and Labors 67 SERMONS. Introduction - - - - - - 79 Serm. I. The Time of Reformation Heb. ix. 10. 81 H. The Triumph of Calvary - Isaiah Ixiii. 1 —6. - 90 III. The Smitten Rock 1 Cor. X. 4. 99 IV. Fall and Recovery of Man - Rom. v. 15. - - 108 V. One God and One Mediator - 1 Tim. ii. 5. 120 VI. The Living Redeemer - Job xix. 23—27. - 129 VII. Messiah's Kingdom Dan. ii. 44, 45. - 140 VIII. T'je Sufferings of Christ - - 1 Pet. ii. 24. - - 153 IX. The Purification of Conscience Heb. ix. 14. 164 X. The Cedar of God - - Ezek. xvii. 22—24. - 172 XI. The Prince of Salvation Heb. ii. 10., & v. 9. - 182 xn. Finished Redemption - John xix. 30. 189 xin. The Resurrection of Jesus - Mat. xxviii. 6. - 196 XIV. The Ascension - Acts iii. 21. 205 XV. Tribulation conquered John xvi. 33. - - 216 XVI. The Glory of the Gospel - - iTim. i. 11. 223 XVII. The Song of the Angels Luke ii. 14. - 236 XVIII. The Stone of Israel - Zech. iii. 9. 243 XIX. Justification by Faith - Job ix. 2. - 250 XX. The Shield of Faith - Eph. vi. 16. 259 XXI. The Paraclete John xiv. 16, 17. - 269 xxn. The Father and Son glorified - John xvi. 13—15. 274 EXTRACTS. 1. The Demoniac of Gadara - 287 II. Entering Port . - 292 III. The Unclean Spirit in Dry Places 294 IV. Satan an Angel of Light 296 V. The Young Child 298 VI. Varieties of Preaching . - - 300 VII. The Six Crocodiles 301 VIII. Envious Ambition - . - 303 IX. The Dove, the Raven, and the Eagle 304 MEMOIE PORTRAITURE CHRISTMAS EVANS. — INTRODUCTION, The introduction of Christianity into Britain is said to have taken place about sixty-three years after the crucifixion. By whose agency it was effected, cannot now be satisfactorily determined. Tradition has ascribed it to Joseph of Arimathea. This, however, is exceedingly doubtful. It has also been attributed to the apostle Paul. That the apostle Paul visited Britain, is quite probable, from the testimony of Theodoret and Jerome. That he was the first preacher of the gospel in Britain, is certainly a mistake. The weight of evidence seems to be in favour of Claudia, a Welsh lady, belonging to Caesar's household. The circumstances were these : The Romans invaded Britain about fifty years before the incar- nation. Failing to conquer the Welsh, they made peace with them, and dwelt among them in amity. Many Welsh soldiers joined the Roman army, and several Welsh families went and resided at Rome. Among the latter were Claudia and her husband. Saint " Paul was then a prisoner under Nero ; dwelling, however, in his own hired house," and receiving all who came to hear the word of God. Under his ministry, Claudia was converted to Christianity. She soon returned to her native country, and scattered " the Seed of the Kingdom" among her own people. This was in the year of our Lord sixty-three. About a century after this, Faganus and Daminicanus went to Rome, were converted there, and became " able ministers of the New Testament." In the year of our Lord 180, they were sent back to Wales, to preach to their own countrymen. They were zealous and successful laborers. They opposed the pagan superstitions of the Welsh with wonderful energy. They pur- sued Druidism to its dark retirements, and poured upon it the withering blaze of the gospel. Through their preaching, Lucius, 9 9 10 INTRODUCTlOTv. king of Wales, was brought to embrace Christianity. He was tbe first king that ever bowed to the Prince of Peace. The royal con- vert was exceedingly zealous in the propagation of the truth. The Macedonian cry issued from the throne of Wales, an earnest appeal to Eleutherius for help. Then " the word of the Lord had free course, and was glorified." Under the reign of Dioclesian, aboul the year 300, the Welsh Christians suffered a dreadful persecution. Their books were burned, their houses of worship were destroyed, and multitudes obtained the crown of martyrdom. The first three were Alban, Aaron, and Julius. They were all excellent men, and greatly beloved by their brethren. They died in triumph, and their blood became the seed of the church. Many others soon followed them in the same path. Dioclesian gave strict orders for their destruc- tion. Not a Christian was to be spared, not a Christian church, not a book or a scrap of writing that could transmit their faith and history to future generations. This was the tenth persecution. The great dragon had sent forth his flood to destroy the church. But " mightily grew the word of God and prevailed." The bush still lived, "And flourished unconsumed in fire." The first Christian king, we have said, was a Welshman. So, in part, was the first Christian emperor. Constantine the Great was born in Britain. His father was Roman ; his mother Welsh. Having resided some time in Britain, they removed to Rome. Constantine ascended the Imperial throne. Converted, he made Christianity the religion of the empire. The intolerant edicts of his predeces- sors were abolished ; and the absurd rites of paganism, as far as possible, suppressed. The emperor employed all his energies and resources in spreading the gospel. But his course, if honest, was injudicious. In the end, he dishonoured Christianity more by his imprudence than he glorified her at first by his zeal. He opened the door of the church so wide as to admit Antichrist himself. The " man of sin" came and seated himself in the temple of God. Intoxicated with her prosperity, the church throughout the empire gradually embraced the grossest superstitions. But the Welsh Christians strenuously resisted all innovations. They adhered firmly to the primitive simplicity of Christian faith and worship. Yet they lost a portion of their spirituality. The storms INTRODUCTION. H of tribulation are often more favourable to the growth of vital religion, than the sunshine of prosperity. The church becomes dizzy when placed upon the pinnacle of worldly praise. The boatmen w^ax careless when their craft glides gently along on a smooth sea, before a pleasant gale. This is the natural tendency of the human mind, in circumstances of prosperity. It was thus with the Christians of Wales. Other things operated unfavourably. The Pelagian controversy divided and distracted the churches, and destroyed the spirit of Christian meekness and love. The Welsh were soon involved in a civil war with the Picts and Scots. In their distress, they solicited the aid of the Saxons. The Saxons promptly responded to the call. But the ally soon became an enemy. They fell upon the Welsh, drove them to the mountains of Cumry, and took posses- sion of their land,* These disasters threatened the extermination of Christianity in Wales. But there were a few faithful ones, whose ark outrode the deluge. Gildas, Dyfrig, Dynawt, Teil, Padarn, Pawlin, Daniel, Codag, Dewi, and several others, stood firmly against the degeneracy of the times, and were " valiant for the truth upon the earth." Through their labors, the religion of Jesus survived among the hills of Cumry.
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