Part 3 of the article
It is not possible in an article of this size to give a chronological account of Elias's life, but surely enough has been said to cause us seriously to attend to the following questions. Wherein lay the power of this man's ministry? Why has such power departed from us today? What was there in his life and doctrine which led to the great usefulness of his preaching? Where is the contrast between him and us most evident? In an understanding of such questions lies the only hope for the visible church to-day. We can answer them by looking at Elias first in terms of his private life, in reference to his doctrine.
Elias obtained his strength and authority from very close communion with God. "Satan is not afraid of the soldiers," he writes to a fellow minister, "though they are armed - of the knowledge or gifts of any preacher; but he is afraid of the presence of God, the leader of the true army. As the Philistines cried out, 'Woe to us, God is come to the camp.' So a cry would be made in hell, and a great alarm in the regiment of Satan, if God should be pleased to appear among you." Elias was well acquainted with 'appearances' in his own home. His daughter said of him "To live in his family was to a great degree heaven upon earth. I can never forget the light that followed our family worship. And never can I forget the tears I saw on the chair in his study by which he bent on his knees; though nothing was heard, we were well aware that he was pouring out a profusion of tears in his secret prayers. Many times did I observe him coming out from his chamber, like Moses coming down from the mountain, with so much of the image of God upon his countenance that no one could look him in the face."
Sentences like the following recur throughout his letters, and illustrate what was uppermost in his heart - "The ministers of the Gospel are under great necessity of being experimentally acquainted with the work of the Holy Ghost ... Oh, that we might have more of the communion and fellowship of the Holy Ghost!" "O, may each carefully observe that nothing separates or darkens between his soul and God. Cherish a tender conscience, and a broken heart avoid an indifferent spirit, a hard heart, and a sleepy conscience. Press on for more intimate fellowship with God in private" "O, brethren, be not easy without his presence. I often fear that many are now in the churches that know no difference between the hiding and the shining of his countenance. O, be not satisfied with anything instead of him. Let us cry earnestly that we may be made more heavenly continually; we shall be here but a short time." "The greatest loss I feel, is that of the Spirit, and earnestness of secret prayer." "If private prayers were more frequent and earnest, the public ministry would be more effectual." There is room to give only one instance of the remarkable answers which attended Elias's prayers. Once at Carnarvon, he found some mountebanks were corrupting the place with their sinful amusements. On their refusing to desist, Elias in a Chapel meeting prayed to the Lord to put a stop to their proceedings. "Many," says Morgan, "were struck with the fervency, and power of his prayer, as being extraordinary. The next day, awful to relate, three of the players came to an untimely death; the wagon in which they travelled was overturned, and they were killed! Two others, in the act of dancing on the rope, fell and broke their necks!""Elias's character," writes Morgan, "was composed of determination, perseverance, and mental energy, to a high degree ... The character of pious gravity was stamped on all he did. He reflected Christ's image upon the world. He was never known to have cast off the livery of his noble calling upon any occasion. The seriousness of his appearance would repel any disposition in others to levity and frivolity." Owen Jones truly comments, "The strength of his character as a preacher lay in the hold which the great truths of the Gospel had taken upon his own spirit." This was in no small measure due to the high value Elias placed upon study. He never allowed his constant preaching and long itinerant journeys to lessen his deep conviction of the relationship between hard study and powerful preaching. Although he never had any regular schooling, he not only mastered the English language (having been brought up to speak only Welsh), but studied sufficient Greek and Hebrew to he able to consult the original Scriptures. Such writers as John Owen, and Jonathan Edwards were his constant text books; in his letters we find him recommending such Puritans as Brooks and Flavel. Dr. Jenkyn said of Elias "that he had collected more of the Puritan theology into his mind than any man of his age." Reflecting on his early ministry Elias wrote - "I was enabled to persevere day and night at my studies without fatigue and delay. I am now even in my 67th year, learning; and see greater need of knowledge daily." Again he writes "It is not in an easy, careless manner, that we get learning, understanding, and knowledge; no, it must be by labour, industry, and toil. Prov. 2: 3-4. "Those who knew him best," says Morgan, "testified that his sermons cost him many a tear, many an earnest prayer, yea many a sleepless night! His chief delight was in his study, and he would even bring his Bible down with him to his meals."
Elias obtained his strength and authority from very close communion with God. "Satan is not afraid of the soldiers," he writes to a fellow minister, "though they are armed - of the knowledge or gifts of any preacher; but he is afraid of the presence of God, the leader of the true army. As the Philistines cried out, 'Woe to us, God is come to the camp.' So a cry would be made in hell, and a great alarm in the regiment of Satan, if God should be pleased to appear among you." Elias was well acquainted with 'appearances' in his own home. His daughter said of him "To live in his family was to a great degree heaven upon earth. I can never forget the light that followed our family worship. And never can I forget the tears I saw on the chair in his study by which he bent on his knees; though nothing was heard, we were well aware that he was pouring out a profusion of tears in his secret prayers. Many times did I observe him coming out from his chamber, like Moses coming down from the mountain, with so much of the image of God upon his countenance that no one could look him in the face."
Sentences like the following recur throughout his letters, and illustrate what was uppermost in his heart - "The ministers of the Gospel are under great necessity of being experimentally acquainted with the work of the Holy Ghost ... Oh, that we might have more of the communion and fellowship of the Holy Ghost!" "O, may each carefully observe that nothing separates or darkens between his soul and God. Cherish a tender conscience, and a broken heart avoid an indifferent spirit, a hard heart, and a sleepy conscience. Press on for more intimate fellowship with God in private" "O, brethren, be not easy without his presence. I often fear that many are now in the churches that know no difference between the hiding and the shining of his countenance. O, be not satisfied with anything instead of him. Let us cry earnestly that we may be made more heavenly continually; we shall be here but a short time." "The greatest loss I feel, is that of the Spirit, and earnestness of secret prayer." "If private prayers were more frequent and earnest, the public ministry would be more effectual." There is room to give only one instance of the remarkable answers which attended Elias's prayers. Once at Carnarvon, he found some mountebanks were corrupting the place with their sinful amusements. On their refusing to desist, Elias in a Chapel meeting prayed to the Lord to put a stop to their proceedings. "Many," says Morgan, "were struck with the fervency, and power of his prayer, as being extraordinary. The next day, awful to relate, three of the players came to an untimely death; the wagon in which they travelled was overturned, and they were killed! Two others, in the act of dancing on the rope, fell and broke their necks!""Elias's character," writes Morgan, "was composed of determination, perseverance, and mental energy, to a high degree ... The character of pious gravity was stamped on all he did. He reflected Christ's image upon the world. He was never known to have cast off the livery of his noble calling upon any occasion. The seriousness of his appearance would repel any disposition in others to levity and frivolity." Owen Jones truly comments, "The strength of his character as a preacher lay in the hold which the great truths of the Gospel had taken upon his own spirit." This was in no small measure due to the high value Elias placed upon study. He never allowed his constant preaching and long itinerant journeys to lessen his deep conviction of the relationship between hard study and powerful preaching. Although he never had any regular schooling, he not only mastered the English language (having been brought up to speak only Welsh), but studied sufficient Greek and Hebrew to he able to consult the original Scriptures. Such writers as John Owen, and Jonathan Edwards were his constant text books; in his letters we find him recommending such Puritans as Brooks and Flavel. Dr. Jenkyn said of Elias "that he had collected more of the Puritan theology into his mind than any man of his age." Reflecting on his early ministry Elias wrote - "I was enabled to persevere day and night at my studies without fatigue and delay. I am now even in my 67th year, learning; and see greater need of knowledge daily." Again he writes "It is not in an easy, careless manner, that we get learning, understanding, and knowledge; no, it must be by labour, industry, and toil. Prov. 2: 3-4. "Those who knew him best," says Morgan, "testified that his sermons cost him many a tear, many an earnest prayer, yea many a sleepless night! His chief delight was in his study, and he would even bring his Bible down with him to his meals."
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