(To Thomas Owen again)
ANXIETY FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE GOSPEL
Llanfechell 28 March 1828
I feel anxious to send you a few lines, observing that Easter and the yearly meetings are drawing nigh, remembering that I had the privilege of being with you at each Easter of the last three years. I should be happy to hear that the Lord has rent the heavens, and descended among the Welsh in Jewin Street,3 and that the mountains have melted before him. May the preaching in your Association this year, be in 'manifesation of the Spirit, and with much power'! May the weapons of the warfare be powerful through God to the pulling down of strongholds'. The castles there are strong, and stand up yet against the Lord and His Christ! Satan, the strong man armed, stands up against the Gospel, and keeps his possession of sinners! Ignorance, thoughtlessness, carnality, worldly-mindedness, and a legal spirit, are like strong castles, and it is by these that Satan, the world, and sin keep possession of men, and stand up against the success of the Gospel.
Ministers of the Gospel are the soldiers employed by Christ, the King of glory, to fight against those powerful enemies, and to attack the strong fortifications. The Gospel succeeds by no carnal weapon; it is by no earthly sword, neither by any human learning, gifts, or reasons that the castles are to be cast down, and men to be taken out of the possession of these enemies. The Word of God is the sword, the bow and arrow in this warfare. And it is through God that the weapons are strong, effectual, and successful to cast down the towers, and to deliver men out of the power and possession of their strong enemies. It is by the secret and powerful operations of the Spirit.
Satan is not afraid of the soldiers, though they are armed, or 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 at the Association. 'The weapons are strong through God' only. The sermons are powerful when He speaks and manifests Himself: the Word goeth forth with power. Then the castles -thoughtlessness, unbelief, carnal reasons, love of empty pleasures -will come down, as the strongholds of Jericho formerly. And sinners that are kept in bondage by sin and Satan will come out of their prisons - 'the snare is broken.'
O that God would manifest Himself among the hundreds that hear the Word there, who have hitherto lived in their sins and in the possession of Satan! Dear friends, are you free from the blood of the ungodly multitude that hear the Word in your chapel? Do you pray as often and as earnestly as you should for the presence of the Lord in your assemblies, that He would own and bless His Word? Let every one in the church examine himself, and see whether there be anything in him that grieves the Spirit, and causes God to withdraw far away from His people? May you that grow old in age and profession take care that you do not wax rusty and stiff in your experiences, living in a backsliding spirit, strangers to communion with God, unconcerned about divine things, and indisposed to glorify Him! It is very painful that any that profess that they are going to heaven, and as they think draw near the much-desired haven, should become more worldly-minded, and as they approach the confines of the world of spirits, should become more carnal! O strive that you may in your old age bring forth fruit, and be fat and flourishing,' Psalm 93.14! Oh! young people, take care that ye be not light and trifling in your religion, spending the morning of your age, the summer of your life, without the power of religion and the fellowship of God. O strive that ye may experience the peace and joy that are in true religion, and enjoy the feast of the Gospel! If you should but have these blessings, you would not feel any disposition to taste the poor enjoyments of worldly people, and you will not be buried in the graves of lust and sin. Let every one of you be laborious in the vineyard if the Lord, according to his state and situation, during the period of his life. Let each examine himself. Is there anything I may do for God that is not attempted? If so, let his hand lay hold of it immediately, for there is no work nor device in the grave.
Teachers of the Sunday School, is there anything more that ye may do? Is there no room for you to be more spiritual in your conversation with those that are under your care? Could you not say a few words respecting the evil of sin, the miserable state of a person without Christ, the dreadful situation of those that die in their sins? then of the glory of Christ, and the great privileges of those that believe in Him? Leave off every conversation that tends to excite curiosity, or leads to pedantry or self-conceit. Let all your conversation tend to the salvation of souls, to their sanctification and consolation. Remember the little children, for few parents bring up their children as Christians ought to do. Have compassion on the rising generation, and give them a religious education in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, until their parents are awakened to a sense of their duty. O that they may be soon aroused before their death cometh! May the glory of the Lord appear among you all! and when you draw nigh to God, remember me, the poorest of your brethren, and your servant for Christ.
Llanfechell 28 March 1828
I feel anxious to send you a few lines, observing that Easter and the yearly meetings are drawing nigh, remembering that I had the privilege of being with you at each Easter of the last three years. I should be happy to hear that the Lord has rent the heavens, and descended among the Welsh in Jewin Street,3 and that the mountains have melted before him. May the preaching in your Association this year, be in 'manifesation of the Spirit, and with much power'! May the weapons of the warfare be powerful through God to the pulling down of strongholds'. The castles there are strong, and stand up yet against the Lord and His Christ! Satan, the strong man armed, stands up against the Gospel, and keeps his possession of sinners! Ignorance, thoughtlessness, carnality, worldly-mindedness, and a legal spirit, are like strong castles, and it is by these that Satan, the world, and sin keep possession of men, and stand up against the success of the Gospel.
Ministers of the Gospel are the soldiers employed by Christ, the King of glory, to fight against those powerful enemies, and to attack the strong fortifications. The Gospel succeeds by no carnal weapon; it is by no earthly sword, neither by any human learning, gifts, or reasons that the castles are to be cast down, and men to be taken out of the possession of these enemies. The Word of God is the sword, the bow and arrow in this warfare. And it is through God that the weapons are strong, effectual, and successful to cast down the towers, and to deliver men out of the power and possession of their strong enemies. It is by the secret and powerful operations of the Spirit.
Satan is not afraid of the soldiers, though they are armed, or 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 at the Association. 'The weapons are strong through God' only. The sermons are powerful when He speaks and manifests Himself: the Word goeth forth with power. Then the castles -thoughtlessness, unbelief, carnal reasons, love of empty pleasures -will come down, as the strongholds of Jericho formerly. And sinners that are kept in bondage by sin and Satan will come out of their prisons - 'the snare is broken.'
O that God would manifest Himself among the hundreds that hear the Word there, who have hitherto lived in their sins and in the possession of Satan! Dear friends, are you free from the blood of the ungodly multitude that hear the Word in your chapel? Do you pray as often and as earnestly as you should for the presence of the Lord in your assemblies, that He would own and bless His Word? Let every one in the church examine himself, and see whether there be anything in him that grieves the Spirit, and causes God to withdraw far away from His people? May you that grow old in age and profession take care that you do not wax rusty and stiff in your experiences, living in a backsliding spirit, strangers to communion with God, unconcerned about divine things, and indisposed to glorify Him! It is very painful that any that profess that they are going to heaven, and as they think draw near the much-desired haven, should become more worldly-minded, and as they approach the confines of the world of spirits, should become more carnal! O strive that you may in your old age bring forth fruit, and be fat and flourishing,' Psalm 93.14! Oh! young people, take care that ye be not light and trifling in your religion, spending the morning of your age, the summer of your life, without the power of religion and the fellowship of God. O strive that ye may experience the peace and joy that are in true religion, and enjoy the feast of the Gospel! If you should but have these blessings, you would not feel any disposition to taste the poor enjoyments of worldly people, and you will not be buried in the graves of lust and sin. Let every one of you be laborious in the vineyard if the Lord, according to his state and situation, during the period of his life. Let each examine himself. Is there anything I may do for God that is not attempted? If so, let his hand lay hold of it immediately, for there is no work nor device in the grave.
Teachers of the Sunday School, is there anything more that ye may do? Is there no room for you to be more spiritual in your conversation with those that are under your care? Could you not say a few words respecting the evil of sin, the miserable state of a person without Christ, the dreadful situation of those that die in their sins? then of the glory of Christ, and the great privileges of those that believe in Him? Leave off every conversation that tends to excite curiosity, or leads to pedantry or self-conceit. Let all your conversation tend to the salvation of souls, to their sanctification and consolation. Remember the little children, for few parents bring up their children as Christians ought to do. Have compassion on the rising generation, and give them a religious education in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, until their parents are awakened to a sense of their duty. O that they may be soon aroused before their death cometh! May the glory of the Lord appear among you all! and when you draw nigh to God, remember me, the poorest of your brethren, and your servant for Christ.
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