Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
THE REVEALING OF THE REVIVALIST. EVAN ROBERTS BEGINS TO PREACH His commencing to preach was the realisation of an idea that had long been in his mind, though it had not taken any definite form between the age of ten and eighteen; but the desire was there, and it was one cause of the many struggles to which we referred. Whatever work he took in hand, he was not entirely satisfied with it. He constantly felt that he had no aim in life. This troubled him a great deal at times. He saw everyone but himself, as he thought, with a definite aim in view. I used to be ashamed of myself, said he, at the thought that everybody was working with some object to aim at, while I had none. This made me restless and unsatisfied with everything that I undertook. His idea was be a missionary for Christ, but he had no clear conception of it. Whenever he arrived home, be expected some news either by letter or some other way. Sometimes he would expect a letter containing money for him to go to school, and as soon as he came into the house he would ask whether one had arrived. At times he was possessed by some great expectation for a way to open for him to do important work in the world. If he were asked what it might be, he would not be able to give a definite answer. The expectation was as yet only a longing, with no conscious form; and, hence, we cannot give a definite description of it. As this craving increased, the time of his apprenticeship seemed unending to him. He counted the days as they passed, and those that still remained. His vocation was nothing short of slavery now, not-withstanding his readiness to obey his employer. He respected the agreement he had made with his uncle, who was his master, and for that reason did not care to break it. On the other hand, there was some irresistible influence at work drawing him to commence preaching. He would now and then try to still the voice of this desire when he beheld all the work it entailed, but back it came with more force than ever. It would not on any account be silenced. At this time, he was between two straits. He had a great wish to finish learning his trade, and a still stronger to begin his new calling under the Banner of the Cross. The latter idea was a thought that had been for years in his mind, and had by this time become so strong that it overcame all other aspirations. Throughout the year 1903, his anxiety and thirst for becoming a preacher increased with great rapidity, and in its last months he was compelled to declare them openly. As he caught the handle of the bellows and blew the fire, he would say to himself, Men speak of white slaves, here is a white slave, I in this place. On November 18th, 1903, he wrote a letter to his friend, Mr. W. H. Morgan, who was at the University College, Cardiff. The letter shows that he failed to suppress his desire for preaching any longer. Mr. W. H. Morgan was raised in the same church as he, and the people urged Evan Roberts to begin to preach at the time that Mr. Morgan began, but he refused. His answer to them was, No, let Mr. W. H. Morgan go first. The letter and his friend’s reply were as follows — Forest, Llanedi, Pontardulais, Nov. 18th, 1903 RESPECTED BROTHER, — I know you will be surprised when you understand the message of this note, and I am surprised myself. And without any more ado, the message is this: I have determined to give up my vocation, and join the same calling as you. Will you believe this? I have had quite enough of bodily labour, as my soul thirsts for knowledge and a wider sphere of usefulness. I know I am going on in age. But am I too old? There was a time in my life when the desire was strong, but when I understood that the influence of the schools destroyed the spirit of the ministerial students, I had no heart within me any more to venture there. But now I see no other means whereby I may ascend the Pulpit. And like all the others, I am resolved to tread the same path. But to tell you the truth, I am often on the verge of weeping at my ignorance, and I nearly twenty-six years old. Oh! what a gulf between us. But if this is the Lord’s will, May it be done, hard though it be. Remember, I have not mentioned a word to Jones nor any of the Church, I have informed them at home, and it is surprising how glad they are! But is there ground for gladness? Will you be good enough to send me your opinion (not your feeling) and your advice. Thanks, if you will. It will be reasonable for you to ask what is the cause of this. Well, to tell you candidly, I have been with Prof. Williams, Phrenologist, Swansea, and this is what he said. That I would (a) succeed, and (b) excel in electricity, etc. but seeing how strong were my moral and religious capacities, that I could and ought to think seriously of the Pulpit, and that it was folly for me to have ever taken to bodily labour. On searching, I find the following things urge me to this: — (1) A passionate desire of my soul for ten years, which I could not destroy. If the desire came when I was sad and Iow only, I would think nothing of the Pulpit, but when on the heights of joy and success, and whenever I heard a sermon, whether good or poor, this was the cry, The Pulpit for me. (2) The voice of the people You may not know anything concerning this. While on a visit to Builth, I went to a prayer-meeting, and took part. After the service was over, the minister asked me if I were a student. I answered, No. Then he advised me ‘Look here, young man, you have talents for the Pulpit. Do not abuse them. It is a matter for prayer Yes, my friend, pray over it, pray over it!’, etc. Others from the church at Moriah and Mountain Ash, together with Jones, M. Ash. (3) The Infinite Love of God, and His promise of the Holy Spirit. Last Sunday evening, as I was meditating on the greatness of the work and the danger of my dishonouring the Glory of the Lord, I could not refrain from weeping. And I prayed that the Lord is would baptise you and me with the Holy Spirit. I have no sermon ready. I wonder will I be received by the Church at Moriah, and the district after that. I am, humbly, And wishing you success and God-speed, E. J. ROBERTS, c/o Evan Edwards. The following is his friend’s reply to him. — 18, Longcross Street, Roath, Cardiff, 3.12.’03. Dear Evan, I am profoundly sorry that you have not heard from me sooner. To tell you the truth — the point blank truth — all is due to myself — my procrastination and extreme unwillingness to give my opinion and advice in a hurry. My opinion is that you have taken a step, which has long been expected of you by many of your friends and chance acquaintances. Yon are well qualified for it, although it is a step to a higher status — both intellectually and socially, and also from the point of view of religion. To fully qualify yourself for this new status, there is needed intense application and dogged perseverance, thorough integrity in life and thought. My advice is this get through the district as soon as possible, say, by the end of March. Then sit the August examination. In the following October you ought to join some School, say Newcastle Emlyn — prepare for the Welsh Matriculation as a preliminary to your taking a degree. Though it needs much time and hard work, yet I believe it amply repays you for all your drudgery and toil. If such a course seems too long, then there is nothing to be done but to prepare for the Trevecca exam. I have no more to tell you, but I shall be home in three weeks time, and we can get a talk over things then. You have made a fine resolution. Now do not break it, but stick on, and there is one at least whose sincere wish is for your success in your new plane of life — a wish coupled with an intence gladness that you have decided on such a course. Believe me, Sincerely yours Wm. H. MORGAN. The struggle between his desires to finish learning his trade and to preach grew fiercer and fiercer, and on December 17th, the battle turned conclusively in favour of preaching. On Saturday night, he went home from Pontardulais never more to return to the bellows, the hammer, the anvil, and the sledge. How to face his uncle was the next thought, after leaving him so suddenly. Evan Roberts could not think of facing him personally but he was too honourable to leave him without a full explanation of the state of things. His mother went instead to explain the circumstances, and to act in the most honourable way towards his master. Mr. Edwards felt that it was not fair to lose him in this way without notice, unless he received some pecuniary compensation. A sum of money was agreed upon, and paid in order that everything should end peaceably. On Sunday evening, December 18th, 1903, he delivered his first sermon in Moriah (C. M.), Loughor. His text was Luke IX. 23. ‘And He said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. He based his remarks on the former portion of the verse. The subject was, Man’s right to choose the subject of worship. This sermon will be found in this volume as it was written by him. He preached his second sermon from the later portion of the same verse. The subject was, Christ’s right to lay down the conditions of his kingdom. These subjects were quite consistent with Evan Roberts’ attitude of mind. The ruling passion of life was to get the world to follow Jesus. These two sermons contain ripe and penetrating ideas on the matters taken up. Their clear and sound characterises are surprising, considering they were his first discourses. They could not have been produced by anyone save a man who knew by experience what it meant to follow Christ, according to the meaning of the verse, and one who had seen to the very heart of the gospel. Owing to some peculiar characteristics in the sermons they attracted the attention of some of the most observant men there, one of whom after hearing him said, Well, If he compiled those sermons himself, there is a brilliant future before him. This same person further remarked, they must have been done by him, for they are not like any other man’s work. The utterances bore the stamp of Evan Roberts, showing that it was in his own mind they were formed. Having received the approval of the church, the Rev. Daniel Jones, the minister of Moriah, brought his case before the West Glamorgan Monthly Meeting, held in Libanus, Garth, Maesteg, on December 30th and 31st 1903. The request of Mr. Jones, that Evan Roberts should go through the Swansea district, on probation, was granted. He commenced his journey on trial through the district on January 3rd, 1904. He had twelve churches to attend, and the rule required him to visit every one of them twice. He complied with this regulation, and received the approval of the entire district. Several of the ministers and deacons of the churches saw that in some things he far excelled the majority of young men entering the ministry. His case was again brought to the Monthly Meeting, and the following is recorded in the minutes of one held at Lisworney, Vale of Glamorgan, April Bth and 14th, 1904. — It was notified that the young brother from Loughor has gone successfully through the district on probation, and the Rev. W. Jenkiris, M.A, and Mr. Thomas Davies, Pantardulais, were named to go there to examine him. On the appointed night these two gentlemen went to Moriah, Loughor, in accordance with the decision of the Monthly Meeting, to test the young candidate. Mr. Thomas Davies speaks thus of him. — I knew Evan Roberts before he began to preach, as he was a member of the Singing Festival. I frequently met him in the singing practice of the district, and especially in the quarterly meetings of the Sunday School. He often took part in them, and on several occasions he read papers in them dealing with Sunday School matters. When I Catechised him as a candidate for the ministry, I felt that he was specially adapted for the work. His answers were ready and to the paint, leaving nothing to be desired. I asked what prompted him to enter the ministry, whether the idea of an easy life, or the respectable office of a minister, or what? His answer was, My motive is a passionate desire for the privilege of proclaiming a Saviour to the lost. The following are the words of the Rev. William Jenkins, M.A, Swansea, with regard to him an that night: The pleasant appearance of the young man who stood before us at once made a favourable impression upon us, for we beheld in him one who had been beautified by nature and grace, and one who manifested a modesty that was becoming a young man facing the ministry. Our impressions were deepened by his simple and clear replies when he was questioned as to his experience and Knowledge of God’s Word. We felt that he was a religious and enlightened young man, in the habit of praying, reading and thinking. The church voted unanimously for him, and that in a way that showed that he was deeply in their affections; we also had every satisfaction in him, and urged him to prepare for the Provincial Examination, which he did. Mr. Davis, and I cannot claim that we foresaw the great and wonderful things which he was soon to bring to pass, nor the conspicuous place that the candidate was to take in the religious history of our country, but, looking back on that society in the light of the Revival which is so full of the Divine, we feel that we did not err in our conviction that there was before us then a young man of brilliant powers, as well as of a winning disposition. We saw an occasional gleam of the great light that is found in his address to the students at Bala, which shows that Mr. Roberts is no ordinary man, even apart from the great that is upon him. But to the Spirit who has taken him belongs the praise, and no one is more ready to render it to Him than the Revivalist himself. The examiners took their report to the monthly meeting, held, at Pentredwr, Llansamlet, May 25th and 26th, and in the minutes we find the following record: The delegates who were at Loughor examining the candidate for the Ministry, reported that they had been satisfied in him, and found the church unanimous for him to have liberty for him to proceed, and that was passed. The first thing Evan Roberts had to face now was the Provincial Examination, held in August The subjects for 1904 were — the Doctrine of Sin, and the Gospel of St. Luke, I – VIII. The text books he studied on them were, Dr. Candlish on the Doctrine of Sin in Clarks handbooks, and Dr. Farrar’s Commentary on Luke in the Cambridge Series. The examiners were the Revs. John C. Evans, Borth, Cardiganshire, and Benjamin Lewis, Tenby. During the time he was, preparing, he spent hours every day in prayer. Sydney Evans, who was preparing for the same examination, would call sometimes to go through some of the work together. Evan Roberts says that the sinful condition of the world would often drive him to the throne of grace, notwithstanding the great work to prepare for the examination. One day he was in anxiety about the coming test in the above books, and as he was praying for strength to meet it, the words came to his mind. — Shall I bring forth the womb without giving strength to conceive? After that he did not trouble at all about it. I felt, he remarked, that only two things were before me — praying or studying the appointed books, and praying had the greater share. August 16th, 1904, he sat for the Examination at Pontrhydyfen, a few miles from Port Talbot. Not an atom of anxiety about passing possessed him this day, but he grieved much because of the world’s pitiful state, and prayed for its salvation several times during the sittings. Fourteen passed in South Wales, and he stood eighth on the list. Considering his educational advantages, and the time he devoted for prayer, he took a very good position.

Be the first to react on this!

Group of Brands