Owen Jones on Elias 06

CHAPTER 6 THE BALA SUMMER ASSOCIATION, 1835

The Associations of Wales— Description of one of these at Bala — The preaching day, the Green, the valley, the roads — Behaviour of the crowd — The Stage and the preachers — John Elias at the desk — Sermon — Effects on the people

The Associations had a greater effect upon Wales than the Grecian games had upon Greece. People from all parts of the country came to those games, it is true; and good opportunities for traffic were afforded to the merchants ; and artists and literary men had the best means for making their works known. But they had no Gospel to infuse into the minds of the multitude ; people could hear the poets sing of the exploits of heroes; they could see the pictures of painters, and other noble works of art. There was, however, no strong force present in these meetings, which, entering into the souls of the people, could work a thorough change upon them. Poetry and philosophy, art and learning of all kinds, have proved themselves in all ages utterly insufficient for such a task. But in the Associations of Wales the Gospel was preached, that Gospel to which is mainly due the present state of civilization in Great Britain and Europe. Christ and Christ crucified, and the doctrines of the Reformation, were the great themes of these Associations.
Let us look, for a moment, at one of them. It is held at Bala, in the month of June. The representatives of the churches - deacons and ministers - have come together by Tuesday evening. At eight o'clock the following morning is the first meeting of the Association. It is a meeting of the preachers and ministers by themselves. There are several candidates for the ministry to be ordained in this Association, and in this morning meeting they have an opportunity of giving their religious experiences, and especially to express their feelings at such an important epoch in their lives. And before the close of the meeting many of the older ministers give them warm words of encouragement and advice. At eleven the candidates for the ministry that have passed all the necessary examinations, and have been presented by the churches, are ordained. Various forms are gone through, and with great solemnity. An address is delivered by the Rev. John Jones, Talsarn, who was appointed to the duty beforehand, upon Church polity. The candidates are asked to express their views on the chief points of doctrine, and then the Moderator calls for the approval of the Assembly. Finally, the Rev. Wm. Roberts, Amlwch, delivers the charge, and the meeting is closed with prayer. At the end of this meeting an elder gets up to announce the order of the meetings for the morrow. He announces also that precisely at nine o'clock that evening, it is expected that family worship will be held in every house at Bala. There is to be a service on the Green at six o'clock in the morning, where some of the younger ministers are to preach. At ten o'clock, John Elias and David Griffiths, Pembrokeshire, are published to preach.
It is Thursday morning, then. The day is fine. The scenery around is beautiful. Above the town, stretching towards the south-west, is the Tegid Lake. Beyond, we see the Aran, about 3,000 feet above the level of the sea. , Looking towards the east, we see the black Berwyn range. Not far from the Green, which is a field, just below the town, the river Dee flows out of the lake, towards Corwen and the valley of Llangollen. In the interval between the first service and the ten o'clock one, let us take a mere glance at the town. The houses look very clean and neat, for they have been newly whitewashed, many of them, for this great occasion ; and you observe how beautiful those trees are in the principal street. The streets are full of people ; and look at the roads which lead to the town — what an interesting sight ! This road here which runs along the north-western side of the lake brings men and women from Dolgelly, Barmouth, Dyffryn, &c. And this one here, which enters the town so near the Green, brings the people from Festiniog and the distant parts of Carnarvonshire and Denbighshire. And this, which comes from the north-east, brings them in from Corwen, Llangollen, other parts of Denbighshire, and even from Flintshire. You observe the vehicles that pass swiftly along the roads full of people. Do you see those men on the mountain ponies ? they have come from Llanberis, at the foot of Snowdon ; and here are others from Llanarmon and Llangynog, the other side of the Berwyn mountains. It is fine and clear.— Do you see the files of men and women coming down the hill-side? they are three or four miles away, yet they expect to arrive on the Green by the ten o'clock service, or, at least, before John Elias begins to preach. And you hear the singing as they come. You observe, also, how they arrive in companies of twenty, thirty, and very often forty. These have travelled far, and have started possibly two days before, and they have been holding prayer meetings on the way, and singing some of the old Welsh tunes, such as "Yn y dyfroedd mawr a'r tonau," &c., "Rhad ras yw'r newydd gan," &c; and by the time they arrive they seem to be in a most happy mood to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They remind us most forcibly of the times of Llangeitho. They have come over hill and dale, and lonely mountains, as the princes came over the ocean "as o'er a brook, to view fair Portia." But these have come not to view any fair Portia, but to view, if haply they may, the fairest of the children of men, who is altogether lovely, the Rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys.
Now it is half-past nine, and the Green is filling fast. A great many that are arriving rather late simply put their horses in, and then make straight for the field. There they go, some of them carrying stools and chairs to sit on during the long service. At one end of the field there is a stage made of wood, and covered with canvas, and on both sides of the stage you see the waggons and carriages, forming a kind of half-moon. These vehicles are now full of men and women; and the open space in the centre is nearly so, though it is only half-past nine. And look how the crowd increases. And does it not strike you how orderly they all behave, and how sober they all look? Even the young men and young women seem to be in earnest. And let us just listen for a moment to their talk. That man there was saying how he remembered, ten years ago, on that very Green, on that very spot, the Holy Spirit falling upon them as upon the apostles at Jerusalem. Those women are talking together of the great pleasure they had in the prayer meetings on the wayside, and with what joy they sang the old tunes as they came. And the question you hear from those who have but just arrived is, without exception, "Has John Elias come?"
It is now ten o'clock, and the preachers are on the stage. There we see Ebenezer Richard, of Tregaron, the father of Mr. Henry Richard, M. P. That tall man, with sober looks, is William Roberts, of Amlwch. It was he who delivered the charge last night to the newly-ordained ministers. That slightly built man, with pale face, and something wild in his eye, is Michael Roberts, Pwllheli. He is one of the most eloquent and thrilling preachers of the time. That form, not far from him, is John Hughes, Pont Robert, a strongly- built man, a powerful preacher, and one of the great men of the Association. That young man, who seems to be about forty years of age, with fine features, and ruddy countenance, is John Jones, of Talsarn ; and that one near him is Henry Rees, a man that impresses you with his earnest piety and his holy look. Look at these two well, for they are likely to leave their mark on Wales. But where is John Elias? There he is, having just come in, and he is sitting down by the desk. He is rather tall and slender ; his hair is dark, his forehead full, his cheek bones high ; his eyes are grey, and full of life and fire. He has a mild appearance of countenance mixed with lines of great boldness and authority. How very expressive his features are! After looking upon that face once, you are compelled to look again and again. And how meek and humble he seems!
A hymn to be sung is given out by one of the preachers, who afterwards reads a portion of Scripture, and engages in prayer. The first preacher. Rev. D. Griffiths, Pembrokeshire, rises, gives out another hymn ; then he reads his text, and preaches for a short time only, in order to give place to John Elias. John Elias stands by the desk. He looks mildly at the congregation. He calls upon those who are on the very borders of the crowd to draw nearer, as there is still room at the sides. And we may notice here what a change has already passed over the face of the multitude. Those who before were at a little distance, are now drawing nearer of their own accord. Those that were resting on the walls there, are now moving rapidly forward ; and the thousands on all sides are looking steadily towards one point — the desk at which stands John Elias, the great orator.
He gives out a hymn in a clear voice, and the congregation join heart and soul in the tune. And now John Elias reads his text, Isa. vi. 9, 10: "And he said. Go, and tell this people. Hear ye, indeed, but understand not ; and see ye, in- deed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed." He proceeds in the most clear manner to expound the context, and to show the connections of his text. Mark how plain he makes it that it is not God, nor the prophet, that blinds their eyes and hardens their hearts ; it is the wrong use which they make of the blessings in their hands. In a masterly style, and with the charm of superior oratory, he goes on and divides his discourse into two parts.
I.— The condition of the people, and the effects of the prophet's mission upon them : their heart was fat, their ears were heavy, and their eyes were blind.
IL— The final consequence of this : a fat heart, blind eyes, and heavy ears, prevent the people from returning to God and receiving salvation.
He observes that the hardening of the hearts of the people is attributed to God, to the preachers of the Word, and to the people themselves. And as he speaks of the preachers of the Gospel hardening the hearts of men, look how he weeps before the congregation, and hear his words: "O my Father, Thou knowest that I did not wish to preach from this text, and that I wanted another, but I should not. Thou knowest that I have been praying and entreating for another message, but another message Thou wouldst not give me. I would rather be a common hangman, going from here to London, than that I should come to Bala to make the heart of this people fat, their ears heavy, and their eyes blind."
While he thus speaks to his Father in Heaven, look at those strong men falling down dead like logs of wood, their limbs stiffened, their eyes glaring. (No mere description, but real fact attested by men now living who witnessed it with their own eyes.) The subject which he has in hand to-day is not an uncommon one. But do you observe how he infuses new life into every point he has in hand, and how apt and telling his illustrations are ?— There is a man walking along the high road, sauntering slowly, never dreaming that there is any danger near. But the coach is approaching swiftly in the same direction. The horses are galloping up to him ; the tramp of their feet on the ground is heard clear and far. Why does not that man turn aside? He is heavy of hearing. Cry out, then, "Out of the way, man ! "But he does not stir. The coach passes over him, and he is found dead on the road. So these men, who have deadened their senses by their sins, do not hear the heavy rumbling of the chariot of everlasting justice; and the chariot comes up with them at last and rolls over them, leaving them crushed under the wheels ! Look how he feels for the glory of God, and how now and again he assumes a threatening attitude ; how the dark cloud hangs over his brow, and how he stretches forth his arm to denounce the judgements of God upon them for their sins: *' Their heart is as fat as grease." They are altogether devoid of  feeling. Plunge a sword into fat, it does not feel. So is the heart of sinners, they feel nothing at all. The majesty of God appears, and the glory of His justice, with its flaming sword moving over the heads of the people. And see again how he changes and modulates his voice, and how the tears rush from his eyes as if to ask why the men are so hard-hearted, and how they fall in great profusion down his cheeks. And the preachers are weeping. Ebenezer Richards, see, is in convulsions, and knows not what to do.
Robert Owen, of Rhyl, and Owen Thomas, of Liverpool (Rev. R. Owen died December 16, 1883; the latter is now Dr. O. Thomas, minister of Prince's-road Chapel, Liverpool.) are sitting together; Robert Owen turns with pale face to Owen Thomas, and asks, "Well, well, my dear fellow, what shall we do?" Other preachers are praying ; and mark the congregation : many have fallen down on the ground as though dead; others stand as if they were statues of stone, with fear depicted upon their countenances; and some seem as if the ground beneath were shaking with the shocks of an earthquake. His bursting shot pierces the audience as a shell passes through a regiment of soldiers, exploding in their midst, leaving many dead, others groaning, mortally wounded. Many are struck pale as death by the power of his rebuke, and are ready to recline on the grass completely overwhelmed. Finally, the preacher takes another turn, and with sweet face and smiling countenance, and with hands uplifted to heaven, he exhibits to them the unsearchable riches of the love of God — that He is ready to receive them all back to His arms to-day if they do but repent. The congregation feels relieved, and we hear on every hand ejaculations, "amens," and "hallelujahs.'' The sermon is over, the preacher prays, a hymn is sung, and they leave the green till the afternoon service. But what a gloom rests upon the faces of the people as they move from the field; they seem as if a great calamity had fallen upon the nation ; as if a great battle had been fought, where thou- sands of their countrymen had been left dead on the battle- field. But not so ; it is the effect of the sermon. Young and old hare been so deeply impressed that they cannot think or talk of anything else, and they are all afraid of hardening their hearts by living in their sins.
The Rev. Ebenezer Richards preached at two o'clock in the afternoon, upon the same spot. He said that the pulpit had become painful to him, especially after the charge they had heard the day before upon the consecration of several friends to the ministry, and more especially still, after the sermon they had listened to in the morning: - "My whole frame was in terror, and I have not come to myself yet. I felt, indeed, as I listened, as if the earth shook for miles around me ; I should be readier even now, if I consulted my own feelings, to ask you to turn this meeting into prayer. Still, we have fallen upon a very happy text: 'The Lord is with you while ye be with Him.'"

Owen Jones on Elias 05

CHAPTER 5  INSTANCES OF POWER

At the Bala Association of 1807 — Preaching at Pall Mall, Liverpool — Massillon and Whitefield — Preaching at Cemaes, Anglesey — Great descriptive power at Tredegar — Effect of his preaching upon foreigners — Great descriptive power at Bangor — Great power at Bala — Again at Carnarvon — Again at Pwllheli.

In the year 1807, John Elias was, as usual, in the Association at Bala. The first days of these Associations were spent with various matters in connection with the cause. After this was over, the last day was always devoted to preaching services. In this Association, John Elias and Evan Richardson, his old teacher in the school at Carnarvon, were appointed to preach together in the service at two o'clock in the afternoon. The chapel was full of people ; and there were hundreds outside that were unable to gain admission. One of the other preachers opened the service by reading and prayer. After the prayer, Mr. Elias got up, and stood in the window of the chapel, so that he might be able to preach to those within and without. His text was Eph. iii. 18, 19 : " That ye may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height ; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God." Before he had gone far with his sermon, the people in the chapel began to shout with joy. He beseeched them earnestly to control their feelings, that they might not obstruct and hinder the service, in order that those who had come from a great distance might not have come there in vain. After that they became much calmer to the end of the sermon. The preacher was clothed with the power of the Holy Ghost. The Gospel from that window was crowned with great majesty and glory. The thoughts of the preacher seemed to flow without end from a perennial fountain ; and his commanding eloquence was like the rush of a mighty wind and the sound of many waters. He commenced preaching at twenty minutes past two, and continued till four o'clock. Mr. Richardson then got up ; but not to preach. He said, "Let us pray." He himself was in the happiest feelings during the sermon, and he prayed very fervently ; and the pent-up feelings of the congregation within and without broke out with irresistible force, and there many of them continued praising God till the next service at six o'clock.
In the month of December, in the year 1809, he was preaching in the chapel at Pall Mall, Liverpool. His text was Eph. ii. 12: "That at that time ye were without Christ." In this sermon he gave a most vivid picture of the lost condition of men without Christ. While he delineated that terrible state, the minds of the hearers were filled with awe. They beheld the ungodly without Christ ; and they were afraid lest they themselves should be amongst the number. The preacher appeared to be in a terribly earnest mood. He was drawing no imaginary picture ; but a picture that was real, there and then, in that chapel. And, with his tears falling down his cheeks, he shouted with a loud voice, "To be without Christ! Oh! Oh! the dreadful condition of men without Christ! No tongue can ever describe, no mind can ever comprehend the terrible state of that man that is without Christ! He is naked, and without anything to put on ; he is diseased, and without a physician ; he is famished, but there is no bread for him; guilty, and no righteousness for him; vile, and no fountain to wash him; lost, and no Redeemer; damned, and no salvation for him!" After this pathetic strain, from the abundance of his own feebleness, he wept, and put his face in his hands down on the Bible ; and the people meanwhile were in a flood of tears. After a short pause, he lifted up his head, his countenance beaming with the brightest and sweetest smile. "Blessed be God! Every man that is without Christ here to-night need not be so any more. He can have Christ this moment!" And the congregation responded, with a shout of gladness, "Thanks be to God for ever!"
Massillon, when he was delivering his funeral oration upon Louis XIV in Notre Dame, repeated those words of his text slowly, " Lo, I have become great ! " He looked upon the assembly clothed in black, then upon the sombre pomp of the funeral, and upon the mausoleum in the centre of the church ; he then lifted up his hands to heaven, and said, "God alone is great, my brethren!" And with one impulse the people rose to their feet and turned towards the altar, and made a reverent bow. Once when Whitefield was preaching, Lord Chesterfield was among his hearers; the preacher was graphically describing a poor blind beggar, who had been left by his dog ; the place was dangerous, a precipice being not far off. The blind man was moving on, and drawing nearer and nearer to the brink. So vivid was the description that Lord Chesterfield actually rushed forward and said, "He is gone, he is gone ! "The eloquence of John Elias was often of this description ; he had a wonderful power of causing his audience to realize what was said. "Those, mine enemies," he said once, "which would not that I should reign over them, bring them hither, and slay them before me." The power with which he uttered these words, says a man that heard him, and who is now living, was so great, that he and others felt as if there was a mighty decree going forth for all the enemies of Christ to be brought forward there and then for execution.
He was preaching at Cemaes, in Anglesey, upon the doom of the ungodly : he painted hell and its torments with such power that, according to an eye-witness, the people felt that hell was really before them, and that they themselves were on the point of falling down into the flames. One of the hearers suddenly shouted, "Oh, for Mr. Richardson, if it were only for five minutes!" (Mr. Richardson, Carnarvon, whose sermons were always upon the bright side of the Gospel.)
In the Association at Tredegar, South Wales, John Elias was preaching upon the words (i Cor. xv. 3) : "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.'' A man that was present at the time said that the vivid descriptions of the preacher were such that they not only heard of the Crucifixion, but saw it. This was in the morning service; the Rev. Ebenezer Richards was to preach at two o'clock. He commenced by saying, "My dear friends, I question whether I shall be able to preach to you to-day, because my mind has been so thoroughly overcome and absorbed by the sermon we heard this morning. I was thinking - when I heard our dear brother describing the Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ - that it took place on the rising ground there, and that it was no history or description, but reality."
He was preaching once in a town where many Englishmen were, and some Frenchmen, who were prisoners of war at the time. Having heard of his great fame as a preacher, they went out of curiosity to hear him, and they testified that, though they understood not a word of what was said, yet there was something in the preacher, his earnestness, his powerful delivery, his looks, and appearance, which they had never seen or heard before. (Whitefield and Lady Huntingdon bear witness to the same thing; in the preaching of Daniel Rowlands).

At Bangor Association, he was preaching upon Acts xxvi. 28, 29: "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost and altogether such as I am, except these bonds." He described the condition of Paul at the time, and the circumstances in which he was placed. He stood before Festus, the governor, and King Agrippa and Bernice, with the chief captains and principal men of the city ; and he was there a prisoner in bonds for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. The graphic description he gave of these circumstances, especially of the prisoner in bonds, made a sailor that was there shout over the place, " Shame, shame, strike off those chains from the man's hands!"
At the close of an Association at Bala, he was preaching upon Isa. xlix. 24: "Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive be delivered?" With intense dramatic effect, he said: -
"Satan, what sayest thou? Shall the prey be taken from the mighty? Never! I will intensify the darkness of their minds, the hardness of their hearts, the power of their sins, and the strength of their chains. Never shall the prisoners be delivered. The feeble efforts of these preachers I scorn and despise.
"Gabriel, Gabriel, messenger of the Most High, Shall the prey be taken from the mighty ? I am afraid not. For two days have I been hovering over this great multitude, while they hear the words of everlasting life ; but I have not yet seen the chains knocked off, and the prisoners set free. And now, the meetings are nearly over, and I cannot carry the tidings home of the repentance of a single sinner."
He then turned to the preachers upon the stage, "What think you, ministers of the dying God? Shall the prey be taken from the mighty? Alas, Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ? We have laboured in vain, and have spent our strength for nought. The Lord is as if He were hiding His face from us. We are afraid there is but poor hope of deliverance.
"Zion, Shall the prey be taken from the mighty? Alas, the Lord hath forsaken me, and my God hath forgotten me. I am abandoned and left alone, and my enemies say of me. This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after. I feel doubtful enough about their deliverance.
"Ye men of prayer, what say you? Shall the prey be taken from the mighty? Lord God, Thou knowest. High is Thy hand, and strong is Thy right hand. Oh, that Thou wouldst put forth Thy mighty power and overcome. Though we are weary and near fainting, yet we have a slight hope that the Jubilee of the prisoners is at hand."
Then, looking towards heaven, he said: "And what is the mind of the Lord respecting these captives?' Thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered. Blessed be God in heaven, there is not the slightest shadow of a doubt about the question, but everlasting certainty. The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion, with songs and ever- lasting joy upon their heads."
John Elias preached at Carnarvon upon the words (Matt. XXV. 30): "And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
He said he would not keep altogether to the verse he had taken as a text, but would take up the whole parable of the talents. He said, "It is a talent to be a man ; it is a talent to be in Wales ; it is a talent to be a man, for if thou wert a devil there would be no hope for thee ; it is a talent to be in Wales, for if thou wert in China thou wouldst be a pagan ; and if in Rome, a Papist." After graphically describing the man of one talent, who had made no use of it, who had hid his master's talent in the earth, and who now was returning it to his lord as he found it, with the words, " There thou hast that is thine!" he described his lord commanding his servants to bind him hand and foot and to cast him into outer darkness. "Bind him!" "Why should we bind him ? He is not a drunkard, he is not a robber, he is not a murderer." "But he is unprofitable, he has not used any of the great privileges that were given him in this world. Bind him, I say! But who is he  Is he a pagan? No ; he is a man that has heard the Gospel thousands of times ! Is he a Papist ? No ; he is a Protestant, and a Methodist, that has heard all the powerful sermons of these Associations ; he is a man who is to-day, in the Carnarvonshire Association. 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into outer darkness : there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth!'"
Then, when the congregation was almost gasping for breath, with deepening earnestness he appealed pathetically to the multitude, — "Oh ! lend me now a thousand prayers. I feel my spirit this very moment in contact with souls in convulsive agony, passing through from death into life." And now deep sighs were heard in the congregation.
Then he went on again with his theme — the Lord reckoning with His servants : "You must give an account of everything you have had. Thou must reckon with thy Lord for every shilling thou didst ever possess.'' '* I never squandered Thy money" "If thou hast not squandered My money thou hast squandered My Father's money.''
Mr. Lloyd, Beaumaris, was behind him in the pulpit, and smiling. John Williams, Llecheiddior, was sitting below, and from the impressive solemnity of the subject and the place, he shouted, " O friends, what shall we do?" "Come to Christ without delay," said William Havard, who sat by him, "I am with Him long ago!" John Jones, Talsarn, and William Morris, Cilgeran, were weeping, and all the congregation deeply moved. When John Ehas saw several of the preachers weeping he changed his voice and countenance, and a sweet smile played upon his lips. He said : "The service of our Lord is not hard ; God, in Christ, reconcileth the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them — without imputing, without imputing their trespasses unto them." With these words a burst of thanksgiving and praise to God broke forth, and the preacher could follow no further. He closed by giving out a beautiful Welsh hymn: —

''Ti Farnwr byw a meirw

Sydd ag allweddau'r bedd,

Terfynau eitha'r ddaear

Sy'n dysgwyl am dy hedd;

Dyw gras i ti ond gronyn,

Mae gras ar hyn o bryd,

Ryw filoedd maith o weithiau

I mi yn fwy na'r byd."

On September 16, 1831, John Elias preached on an ever-memorable occasion at Pwllheli, Carnarvonshire. His text was Psa. Ixviii. i: "Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered." There were several thousands present at the time. Seldom was there such an overwhelming power following the preaching of even John Elias. All the people, without exception, seemed to feel the authority of the Gospel of Christ ; and there was a consciousness in the congregation that God had already arisen. The Rev. Lewis Jones, of Bala, told Dr. Owen Thomas, Liverpool, that he never in his life was in such a place, and under such strong feelings, as in that service. The man in the pulpit had really become to him an object of terror. He was sitting in the side-pews, and a strong fear possessed him lest John Elias should turn to that side of the chapel in the movements of his eloquence. A great number throughout the western parts of Carnarvonshire were added to the Church of Christ as the effect of that sermon, and the occasion proved the beginning of a great revival in that part of the country.
A butcher — who had never thought for a moment in his lifetime that he possessed an immortal soul, who had always imagined that when death came he would perish like the beasts of the field — went to hear John Elias on this great occasion at Pwllheli, and was converted under that sermon. This word "converted," mark, is of no ambiguous meaning here. This man, for the first time in his life, was roused from his oblivious sleep. From that moment he felt that he had a spirit, that he was to live for ever, and that he was the enemy of God. He became a new man henceforth, and his life a new life. This is only one case out of hundreds of similar ones that followed the preaching of that sermon at Pwllheli.
Dr. O. O. Roberts, Bangor, had gone out one morning with his gun and two dogs for sport. In returning he came across a path that led him, unawares, past a small chapel in the neighbourhood of Llanrwst, where a monthly presbytery and preaching meeting was held. Before he reached the spot he could hear the voice of some one speaking with great enthusiasm', and when he came to the chapel he found it was Jolm Elias. His text was the writing by the fingers of a man's hand upon the wall of the king's palace, Mene, Mene, Tekel Upharsin. He paused a moment, attempting to go forward towards home^ but he stood as if paralyzed, and could not move an inch ; the gun dropped from his hand, and he had no power to lift it up; he forgot the dogs and all. The preacher was in the height of his eloquence ; the doctor could see with his own eyes the fingers of the hand writing on the plaster of the wall of the chapel, as real as it was in the feast of Belshazzar ; in so graphic a way was the event brought before his mind. He stood upon the court in front of the chapel, and, according to his own testimony, as given to a friend afterwards, he felt his hair standing on his head like the quills of a porcupine. (See Dryso7-fay 1871, p. 114)

Owen Jones on Elias 04

CHAPTER 4. THE RHUDDLAN EPISODE

Rhuddlan; Sabbath fairs — John Elias and a few friends going into Rhuddlan on one of the great fairs— Taking his stand at the front of the New Inn— Text and sermon — The great effects which followed — Similar incident at Flint.

Not far from Rhyl, on the banks of the river Clwyd, there is a place called Rhuddlan. It is situated about four miles from the sea. The valley is very broad here, and the country around exceedingly fruitful. On one side of the town is the old castle, with the beautiful meadows, and the river running through. As the inhabitants depended mostly upon farming, it was found that Rhuddlan was a central place, and very convenient for the whole country for miles around. And in the time of harvest the farmers and the workpeople resorted there, and there were certain fairs held in the harvest season which were called " hiring fairs." But these were held on Sundays, and they were continued for every Sunday during harvest. They sold scythes and sickles and all kinds of harvest implements. The young of both sexes attended in hundreds ; players of all kinds came there — fiddlers and singers were to be seen and heard in different parts of the town. The public- houses were generally full of people, and from several of these the sound of the fiddle, the harp, and the dancing could be heard over the small town. Here and there were shouting and rioting, and all over the place a great din and noise. Rhuddlan on these occasions was the scene of great immorality and wickedness. John Elias, during one of his preaching journeys, became aware of all this, and he made up his mind that he would go there to preach. It had been the custom of the place and country from time immemorial. Nevertheless he determined to go there. It was announced beforehand to the religious people of the different localities around in order that they might be present. This took place in the summer of 1802. When the Sunday came there assembled some hundreds of supporters. A number of friends came with John Elias from Denbigh and St. Asaph. A good man of the name of John Roberts had come with him from Denbigh, who had a very good voice and was a great singer. They arrived at the fair between two and three o'clock in the afternoon. John Elias and his party went up to the New Inn. Before the door there were two or three stone steps. He stood upon the highest of these. The place was already full; but when anything extraordinary occurs in a fair the people flock together directly from all parts. It was a strange kind of audience that crowded around John Elias on this occasion. Many of them had their sickles under, or on their arms, and their scythes glistened with point upwards. At that moment the hum of the fair was high, the sound of the riot and the revelry, the fiddling and the dancing from the taverns was loud in their ears. But John Elias had come there on purpose to preach to this people, and he was not a man that was to be daunted by anything. It is said that there were some thousands of people before him. He looked soberly and earnestly upon them, and gave some of the words of the twenty-fourth Psalm to be sung:

"Yr Argwlydd biau'r ddaear lawr

A'i llawnder mawr sydd eiddo;

Yr Arglwydd biau yr holl fyd,

A'r bobl i gyd sydd ynddo."

"The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein " (verse i). He gave the words out with great authority, and the appearance of the preacher was such as to inspire all present with awe. Then they commenced singing, and one that heard it said he never heard such effective singing. Its influence upon the riotous crowd was great and immediate. In a few minutes there was not a sickle or scythe to be seen; and before the end of the time the congregation assumed a more quiet and sober appearance. After the singing was over John Elias read a portion of Scripture. He was an excellent reader, and he did not fail to arrest the attention of all at that time. Then he prayed. In that prayer he was a man wrestling with God ; he wanted special help on that great occasion. He thanked God for His mercy; thanked Him especially for His mercy to the people of Rhuddlan and the valley of Clwyd; thanked Him for not letting the spot on which Rhuddlan and the old castle stood open into a great yawning chasm, and swallow the great sinners that congregated there down into hell. He prayed earnestly that God would put it in the minds of the gentry of the land and those who were in authority, who had the law on their side, to give their help, and to stand up for the keeping of the Sabbath day holy. He even mentioned the names of some of them, such as the bishop and the dean, and the clergymen of the Church of England. (Mr. Thomas Andrews, the old man who remembered the occasion, could not say for certain whether it was in the prayer or the sermon, or in both that the names were mentioned.) During the time he was engaged in prayer he was full of the deepest earnestness ; and his appearance spoke to the heart and conscience of the crowd that God was with him. During the whole of this time the tears were flowing freely down his cheeks. And before he finished the din of the fair was gone, and a strange yet strong feeling of dread and soberness took possession of the throng. Another hymn was sung, and then he took his text, Exod. xxxiv. 21:" Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in spring time and in harvest thou shalt rest." He read these words slowly, boldly, authoritatively. He took the several parts of the verse separately, 1. Six days thou shalt work. 2. On the seventh day thou shalt rest. 3. In spring time thou shalt rest. 4. In harvest thou shalt rest. He quoted instances from Scripture to show how God visited Sabbath breakers with punishment. He mentioned also the case of the great fire in London, which commenced on the Sabbath day, and which came upon the people as a visitation for their crimes, and especially for their want of reverence for the Sabbath. He enumerated some of the excuses which were possibly arising in the minds of his hearers. " ' What if it should be a wet harvest ; must we rest on the Sabbath when it is a fine day, and leave our crops to spoil in the wet ? ' Yes, thou must obey the commandment of God, In the time of harvest thou shalt rest. Rather than thou shouldst desecrate the Sabbath, God would send a number of angels to reap thy corn." Then he cried to the people with all his might, " O, ye robbers ! robbers ! You are robbing the Lord ; you are robbing my God of His day ! " Such terrific words fell upon the people like the shock of an earthquake. They were caught red handed in the act of breaking God's day ; and they were filled with fear lest some of the judgments they had heard should fall upon them there and then. This sermon put an end for ever to these fairs. Many said after the sermon was over that they would not for the world go there again. That single sermon of John Elias put a complete stop to it. No poetry, however beautiful, could have done this ; no philosophy, how- ever broad and deep, could have accomplished it. But here is an instance in modern times which cannot in any way be controverted, of the Gospel proving itself mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. A strong and immemorial custom was put an end to at once and for ever. The Rev. Robert Roberts, who lived at St. Asaph, was returning from the meeting, and going -towards his home, when he overtook another man, who was also returning home. However, while this man was turning from the main road towards his house, he thought that the arm on which his sickle rested was paralysed; the sickle fell down ; the man saw it ; but he could not venture to take it up, for fear that his other arm should be paralysed also. But his arm was not paralysed. He lost his sickle, but had his arms, and something besides ; for soon after he joined the cause of Christ, and proved a faithful Christian to the end of his life.

John Elias speaks of this great event in his autobiography (he wrote a short account of his life at the request of several of his friends a few months before he died) and says that God helped him greatly on the occasion, and that the friends of the Lord obtained a complete victory. He mentions also another occasion where the Lord delivered him. There was a great festal day at Flint; he, anxious to do good, and desiring to put an end, if possible, to the sinful customs of those times, preached on the street there, and gathered a large number of people around him. Some enraged persecutors drove a wild bull upon the congregation. But as they were driving him on the bull fell down and broke his leg.

Owen Jones on Elias 03

CHAPTER 3 COMPLETE SUCCESS

Work in Anglesey — Advancing power — Effective preaching — Death of Mrs. Elias — Second marriage — Accident — Last illness and death — Funeral.

The Methodist cause was weak enough at the time John Elias came to Anglesey. There were but few chapels in the whole island, and not many hearers, except on rare occasions, when some of the South Wales preachers came through the land. There were a great many calls upon him. He had to preach not only on Sundays, but on week nights in various houses here and there. Not only so, but he preached often in lonely places, on the mountain side, on the sea-shore, or on the road-side. And though his mind was productive, he had to work hard in order to be equal to the task that was before him. He had to go away from home for days, often for weeks, and sometimes for two or three months together. It was difficult enough to produce new sermons under those circumstances. Yet he tells us that he was successful beyond his own expectation. He observes that he often found in one hour more material for sermons than he could find at other times in hours of leisure for reading and meditation.
He preached for a full year upon the intercessory prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ. He made a series of sermons upon 2 Cor. V. and Heb. xii., etc. His preaching was by far the most effective in the land. The people flocked to hear him from all parts. They listened to him as men that were going to the Judgement Day. The effects of his preaching were visible and palpable. The owners of windmills stopped them on the Sabbath day. The sins already referred to be- came uncommon. Drunkenness visibly diminished, smuggling was done away with; and those who had plundered wrecked vessels, took their booty back again to the seashore. New churches were established, new chapels built. The gentry of the land, who would never hear a Dissenter, went gladly to hear John Elias. He had been to London for a time, and had again returned; a village smith said to a friend in reference to the occasion, "I am very glad to see that John Elias has returned ; the dust will be taken off every old garment and old saddle before next Sunday."
At Denbigh, in the beginning of the year 1800, hundreds had come together to hear him. The power that followed his preaching was overwhelming. A real dread of punishment and hell fire had come upon men till many screamed in despair. The man who related this remembered well, though but a boy at the time, how his attention was fixed by the fiery speech of the preacher, and how frightened he was at the cries of the people. Llanrhuddlad was not far from Llanfechell ; here his wife was a member, and it was this church he joined. Before Easter, 1801, the people of Llanrhuddlad were very busy preparing for a play. It was a kind of acting, accompanied always with great wickedness and immorality. It was to be acted on Easter Monday on a large stage prepared for the occasion. John Elias heard of it ; and the Sunday previous he preached a sermon against the iniquity from Josh. vi. 26 : "Cursed be the man before the Lord that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho." The effect of that sermon was to fill the minds of all with awe and dread. Those who had prepared their parts for the play went home and burnt their books ; and that was the last that was ever heard of it.
He was desired by the Anglesey Presbytery to speak against the evil customs of those times on the seashore. There were many wrecks on the Anglesey coast, and the inhabitants of the country by force of habit had come to look upon what was washed ashore from the ships as their own. John Elias obeyed the wishes of his friends. There had been at that time several violent storms, resulting in numerous wrecks. John Elias spoke with thunder against the wicked custom. The effect was so great everywhere that the wreckers carried to the sea shore many waggon loads of salvage, and heaped them up on the beach, where they found them.
The success which followed his labours in Anglesey was very marked. The number of professors increased greatly; forty-four chapels were built, some of them very large; and the Sunday-schools were numerous and well attended.
His life in Anglesey was spent in incessant labour for the kingdom of God. He journeyed over the island, preaching on week days and on Sundays. He travelled over the counties of North Wales, and went for long journeys to South Wales. He visited Liverpool and Manchester often, and even London many times, remaining there for several Sundays in succession.
He passed through many trials and misfortunes, which we cannot now pause to enumerate. The Lord, however, delivered him out of them all.
On April 2, 1829, his beloved wife died. They had lived happily together, enjoying much of God's goodness and kindness for upwards of twenty years. She was a woman of uncommon wisdom and energy, and in every way adapted to be the wife of John Elias. She undertook all the labour and care of the business herself for her love to Christ and the Gospel. Even in her last illness she would not suffer her dear husband to stop at home and desist from preaching the Gospel for a single Sunday. He was to preach at Holyhead. He went there according to appointment ; but after he had gone, she altered much for the worse. The son and daughter intimated their wish to send for their father to return home. She overheard their conversation and said, "By no means ; for what is my life compared with the great cause he is engaged in?"
On February 10, 1830, John Elias married Lady Buckeley, the widow of Sir John Buckeley, of Presaddfed. He changed his residence after the event, and went to live to Fron, near Llangefni, Anglesey. He was again blessed of the Lord in his second wife. She was a lady of great piety, affectionate and amiable, tender and sympathising; and he blesses the Lord in his autobiography for the guidance He had given him in the choice.
John Elias met with a severe accident in June, 1832. J. Davies, Fronheulog, near Bala, was driving him in a vehicle to the Association. Two lads got behind the carriage, and, in descending a hill, jumped off, upon which the shaft cracked with a loud noise. John Elias jumped out, and fell on his head, injuring himself seriously. He was for a long time unable to resume his ministerial labours. In the year 1833, however, he was able to do so, though he was never free altogether from nervousness and giddiness in the head. He lived for many years after this unfortunate accident.
While preaching in the Association at Llanerchymedd, he caught a cold, the issue of which was a dangerous disease in his foot. He was confined to his room, and often in great pain. He was nevertheless in a very happy state of mind. The Rev. H. Griffith, of Llanddrygan, wrote the following letter to the Rev. E. Morgan, M.A., vicar of Syston, describing the state of his mind a few days before his death.

Bodlondeb, June 4, 1841.

"The state of Elias's mind is very comfortable, and at times even extatic. One night, when in great pain, he felt so happy that he thought he was in heaven. But he does not like to say much on this head, lest he should appear to boast. His own expressions are, ' I am as happy as to the frame of my mind as a person can be under such pain as I suffer. There is no cloud intercepting between my soul and my God ; those comforts I used to enjoy in the means of grace and in the ministry are still flowing freely into my soul ; I think they are some- times more strong and vivid in their effects now than formerly.'"
According to the testimony of many, he was in a happy frame of mind during the three months' illness he endured. Though the communications he received from God for the pulpit seemed to have stopped, yet he found greater comfort than ever from the great truths he had preached. The last night of his life, June 7, was the most painful he ever suffered, and yet he could say of it, it was the happiest period he ever passed in this world.
John Elias died on June 8, 1841. He expressed a wish to be buried near his dear friend, the Rev. R. Lloyd, Beaumaris, at Llanfaes. The two had been ordained at the same time at Bala, at the first ordination that ever took place in the Body after separation from the Church of England ; and they had lived as very intimate friends ever since. The funeral took place, Tuesday, June 15, 1841. The order of procession was the following:

Rev. E. Williams, rector of Llangefni,

Rev. H. Griffiths, Llanddrygan, Rev. H. Jones, Llanfaes, on horseback;

Dr. Roberts, Carnarvon, and Dr. Roberts, Mynydd-y-gof, in a gig;

Dr. Charles and Dr. Lloyd, on horseback;

The hearse with the body: A mourning coach. In which were his son, two brothers, and Mr. Owen Hughes;

Three gigs; Twelve ministers on horseback, two and two;

Thirty-two gigs, besides cars;

One hundred and fifty horsemen, two and two.

But in front of all there was an immense number of men and women on foot, four abreast. The procession had to go along the road from Llangefni to Menai Bridge. There were hundreds of spectators along the route; all work was given up; and the people were everywhere looking at the silent procession and weeping. At Menai Bridge great numbers joined, and it continued to swell all the way to Beaumaris. By the time they arrived there it was a mile and a half in length, and it was calculated that the number of people present was 10,000. All the vessels were with flags half-mast, the shops were closed, and the window blinds were everywhere down. As they drew nigh to the churchyard of Llanfaes, the singers belonging to the Methodist Chapel, Bangor, drew up on either side of the road singing a hymn, while the body of John Elias passed between them. The services were read by the Rev. H. Griffith, assisted by the resident minister. After the service was over they returned to Beaumaris, where a funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. John Foulkes, from Heb. xiii. 7. The evening before the funeral the Rev. William Roberts, Amlwch, preached a funeral sermon at Llangefni Chapel upon the words 2 Kings ii. 11-14. In this service, when a hymn was given out at the close, the people failed to sing it through from inward commotion and tears.

Owen Jones on Elias 02

CHAPTER 2 GROWING POWERFUL

Education at Carnarvon — Preaching at Bryndu — Removing to Anglesey — Striking efifects of his preaching

John Elias felt very much at this time the want of education. He saw the great importance of it in the career he had begun. He desired especially to know the English language. There were some Welsh people in Manchester who supported a cause ; they sent to ask him to come there to school, and promised to keep him while there. John Elias asked the friends in the monthly meeting to give him permission to go. But they refused, and reprimanded him severely for making such an unreasonable demand, imputing his desire to pride and ambition. Shortly after, he asked them to let him go to the Rev. Evan Richardson, who kept a school in Carnarvon. This they granted, and he went there. He remained with Mr, Richardson for some months, and this was all the schooling which he received. But he was a thorough student, and he made very good progress during the time he was there ; and though he did not learn anything thoroughly, yet he was put on the right way with many things. He carried on his studies faithfully and perseveringly after leavings and he can be said to have been a hard student to the end of his life. "But I am learning still," he said, when he was sixty-seven years of age, "and I see more the need of learning and education every day."
It was during the time he was with Mr. Richardson at Carnarvon, that he first went to Anglesey. There was a monthly meeting to be held soon at Bryndu, in Anglesey. In connection with these meetings they had preaching services, as is the case still through Wales. A man from Bryndu went to Carnarvon to ask Mr. Richardson to come there to preach. He said he was unable to come, but that he had a young student in the school that would preach very well. This, however, did not satisfy the man at all; he wanted Mr. Richardson himself to come. At last he said he would come if he could ; if he could not, he would send John Elias. The meeting came, and there was great expectation for Mr. Richardson. The chapel was full of people. Just at due time, who comes in but John Elias. He went up the steps of the pulpit slowly ; after entering it, he turned his face towards the wall and prayed for a moment or two. Then he sat down, and cast one solemn glance upon the congregation. He gave out a hymn to be sung. After that, he opened the Bible, pulled out his pocket handkerchief, and buried his face in it to pray. Then he commenced reading with a clear voice ; and he read the chapter with such new emphasis, and such clear utterance, that the people thought it was a new chapter, and not the one that they had heard read many a time before. After the reading, he prayed with great fervour and absorption of mind. He preached again till they all felt that a great and new light had dawned upon them. From his youthful appearance they felt doubtful at first whether they would allow him to preach ; but before the service was over he appeared unto them as a seraph come from heaven. Soon after, he preached in several other places in Anglesey, and the power of his preaching was felt to be intense wherever he went.
In the beginning of the year 1799,  he removed from Carnarvonshire to Anglesey, and in February of that year he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. Richard Broadhead. She lived at the time at Llanfechell, and kept a shop there. This became John Elias's home for many years. He was fortunate in the choice of a wife. She had a very high opinion of his work, and she was ready to sacrifice everything in order that he might apply himself altogether to the service of God. She would not have him disturbed on any account after ten in the morning and two in the afternoon. No one should be allowed to see him except in a case of sickness. Four children were born to them. It seems they were very happy in their family relations. Matters did not prosper well with them for the first years. Yet they trusted in the Lord, and John Elias bears his testimony, which may be added to thousands of others, that no one that trusted in the Lord was ever disappointed. The wife looked after the business, and John Elias had all his time to devote to his great work.
Eighty years ago the condition of things in Anglesey was very different from what it is now. A cloud of thick darkness and ignorance hung over the land. Many sins were prominent, especially the sin of fornication. Drunkenness was prevalent over the island. Those that inhabited the shores plundered the vessels that were wrecked ; and smuggling was carried on on a large scale ; and their Sabbath was a disgrace to the island. John Elias applied himself to his work with great zeal; and he was very successful in his efforts to combat these evils. He preached severely and violently against the sin of fornication; and especially against the corrupt habits of the time in the intercourse of the sexes before marriage. His words fell like burning brands upon sinners ; and the tide of sin was effectually checked in Anglesey.
At that time the Lord was as if He were punishing the iniquity of the land in the ways of His Providence. There were several bad harvests, one after the other. Food was dear. Some were becoming very poor and others very rich. John Elias seized the opportunity, and preached upon such words as Isa. Ivii. 17: "For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid Me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart."
Again, he was opposed by many; but his sermons nevertheless were doing much good to the country; for many of those who had the ability were induced to remember the poor. He preached also upon the ninth and the tenth chapter of Hosea. He was firm in his belief that these hard times had come upon the country as a punishment for the sins of the people. And he preached these doctrines with terrific force. He saw signs that God was about giving the nation up to its sins, unless they repented. He described the awful calamities that had come upon the nations of antiquity, because of their crimes; he called those great catastrophes the visitations and judgements of God. But after his terrible descriptions he always pointed out the great fact that still there was hope: "'Woe also to them, when I depart from them.' Has He abandoned our nation? No; He has not! But the glory of God has removed from the place where it was. It is not now on the mercy-seat, where it used to be; it is not in the sanctuary; not in the sermons, as it was in the days of Harris and Rowlands. I cannot tell you exactly on what spot the glory of God is now, whether on the threshold or in the middle of the city, or on the mountain side, or far away on the horizon, preparing to depart for ever. I can only say that it is not now in its place. But I venture to tell you, from the meaning of this little word when that it is not yet gone; and that it is still within the reach of the human voice, if you wish to cry out." And then in sobs and tears he cried, "Shall these hard-hearted people see Thee again return into Thy sanctuary &tc They shall, says God, if they repent for their sins."
This is an instance of the preaching with which he travelled the land in those early years.

Owen Jones on Elias 01

This is from Owen Jones' Some Great Welsh Preachers
Early years — Religious impressions — Going to Bala Association — Preaching — First efforts.

He was born at Brynllwyn bach, in the parish of Abererch, near Pwllheli, Carnarvonshire, on March 6, 1774. His parents were not very religious, but his grandfather was. He took to the boy very much. He taught him when young not to use bad words, and always to tell the truth, and not to follow bad boys. He taught him also how to read, so that he could read the Welsh language when four or five years old ; and before he was six he could read the Bible well. At this time even he felt deep religious impressions. He was afraid of God ; great terrors came over him in the night, and he often dreamt of the Judgement Day. He would never play on Sunday. One time when he was persuaded to do so, he was unable to say his prayers before going to bed that night, and in the darkness, he felt keenly the piercing pangs of guilt. He once heard a lad swearing. This was a new thing to his ears. He thought the boy was clever in the use of such words, and felt inclined to follow his example. He retired into a lonely spot, into the middle of a field, and tried the experiment and succeeded. But that instant he was seized with such terror that he was afraid the earth would open and swallow him up to destruction. His grandfather on Sundays 15 2^6 John Elias. took him to the parish church in the morning, and after the service was over there he went with him to hear the Calvinistic Methodist preachers. It was a source of great grief to his grandfather to see the people wandering about on the Sunday, going nowhere and doing nothing ; and when he • met a number of them together, he would often ask John Elias to read them a chapter of the Bible. On one occasion, when the preacher was long in coming, the old man actually induced the boy to go into the pulpit and read a chapter to the congregation. Time passed ', his years told upon the old grandfather, and he became too weak to go into the meetings any more. Still, the habit clung to the boy. He would often walk ten miles to hear the first sermon on Sunday morning, and many miles more to hear the second and third. He was not a member of any church as yet, but he had a longing desire to hear the Gospel from the mouths of the old preachers. And some years passed away before he became a member. He felt himself altogether unworthy to enjoy such a privilege. He was afraid that he had not obtained thorough conviction, and that he could not be a good follower of Jesus Christ. After the service was over on Sunday night, it was the custom to hold a church meeting. But John Elias would often go out into the fields after the sermon to pray.
It was usual at this time for people to go from the different parts of North Wales to the Bala Association. On the Green, in the open air, the old preachers preached to the thousands around them, and the effects were often great. An Association was coming, and there was a party going into it over the mountains from Pwllheli. This was in 1792. John Elias asked permission to accompany them. It was readily granted. They assembled together at the place appointed. Amongst them was a great number of young men and young women from all parts of the country around Pwllheli. They started together for Bala. They talked of the great truths of the Bible, of the sermons they had heard, and of the experiences which they had enjoyed. At other times they sang a hymn or psalm ; and when they rested on the way one or two of the party would engage in prayer. John Elias said that during the whole of this journey he did not observe the slightest frivolity in any of the party; but, on the contrary, they were all impressed with the great fact that they were going to the Association at Bala, where they expected to have happy meetings, and to enjoy the presence of God. After arriving at Bala, they were delighted with the services, for the preaching was with great light and power. When all was over they started home again, talking on the way of what they had seen and heard. The effect of all this upon John Elias was to deepen his religious impressions, and to induce him to cast his lot with this people for ever. About this time, while walking towards Pwllheli, a great light dawned in his mind upon those words in 2 Cor. v. 18, 19, "the ministry of reconciliation." He saw such glory in the plan of God to reconcile a lost world unto Himself, " not imputing their trespasses unto them," that this doctrine of imputation was ever afterwards of great value in his sight. He felt an inclination to preach, though he had not yet joined the Church of God. It was while listening to a sermon of Robert Roberts, Clynnog, that John Elias was converted. The terrors of law and con- science came upon him. But as Robert Roberts went on, he said, "There is sufficient virtue in the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse away all the guilt of sin!" This came with the light of the Spirit of God into the mind of the young man ; and with the strong emotions that came to his breast he broke out and said, "Thanks be to God! Blessed be His name for the blood of Christ! " He thought it would be of great help to him if he could get into a religious family anywhere. He heard that a preacher of the name of Griffith Jones, who was also carrying on the business of weaving, kept a man to help him. And as he knew something about the work of a weaver he made up his mind to go to Penmorfa, where G. Jones lived, to ask him to take him in. He went, and was admitted. Here he felt happy ; the only source of grief was that he was not yet a professor. A preacher one day came to preach into the house of Griffith Jones, and the neighbours came there to hear him. After the sermon was over Griffith Jones told John Elias to go with the servant to turn the hay while they held a church meeting. John Elias obeyed with a bleeding heart. He went to the field, but could not turn the hay. He did nothing but cry and roll himself with grief on the ground. In an hour or two the master came unto them, and, seeing no work done, he complained. John Elias replied, "When you told me to leave and to go and work in the field those words of the Bible came into my mind with great force : ' And they that were ready went in with him to the marriage ; and the door was shut' And I felt that to-day you did this very thing with me : you shut the door upon me and I was left out. However, soon after this, when the old man told him that he was going to Hendre Howel to a church meeting, John Elias followed, and became a member." He was then a little over nineteen years of age. After he had joined the society, Mr. G. Jones asked him to engage in prayer at the family altar, and when he discovered the light and fervour with which he performed that duty, he asked him to do it alternately with himself. In a short time they desired him to take the lead in prayer in one of the church meetings ; and then they asked him to do the same thing in a public prayer meeting. In each instance he complied, and in each the unction from the Holy One was upon him, and grace was poured into his lips. That first prayer-meeting was marked as a wonderful one, and was the talk of the neighbourhood for a long while. The people resolved to hold two or three such meetings every week, and they invited John Elias to each of them.
His love towards Christ and his fellow men increased so rapidly that he could not restrain himself from speaking of Christ to the family, to his relations, his neighbours, and all the people on every occasion, especially when returning from the services. He often spoke to the people that accompanied him until their hearts burned within them. Simultaneously, it came to the minds of many that this young man would make a preacher. His friends encouraged and advised him to exhort a little, and this he commenced doing ; he under- took this duty cautiously, gradually, and almost imperceptibly, so that he could not say exactly when he commenced preaching. They wanted him also to commence the services for the preachers that came there from time to time, and when the preacher had disappointed, they asked John Elias to say a few words. Thus he commenced the great work of preaching the Gospel ; and the word went abroad that he was beginning to preach. There was an old preacher at Llanllyfni of the name of William Dafydd {dd sounded like th in with). He took John Elias with him around the country to commence the services in the places he preached in. He had a very high opinion of the young man. " Brethren," he said, "when I am in the dust this young lad will be a great man." At Christmas, 1794, John Elias was received as a preacher in a monthly (Presbytery) meeting that was held at Eryn-yr-odyn, near Carnarvon. The event made a deep impression upon his mind ; he was only a little over twenty years old; but though young, he looked upon, the work he had undertaken with the greatest gravity and solemnity. They invited him to preach in the small places around; his fame spread abroad, and invitations came from the distant parts of the country. After he had preached a few times, the rumour travelled the country that a great preacher was rising. A sufficient proof of the nature of those services is the fact that the people in returning from them wore a solemn and sober aspect, and were unable to be light and frivolous as usual. Some who had heard Howel Harris when he preached in Carnarvonshire, said that a second Howel Harris had come ; and others said he was greater than Howel Harris. As he was so young, and as his preaching was so wonderful, people everywhere felt a curiosity to hear him. But the reception he had was not everywhere favourable ; there were not a few that were prejudiced against him because of his youth, his peculiar manner, and other things. Some of the old preachers were opposed to him. One time he had gone to Bala to preach, but after arriving there, he found that the Rev. John Roberts, Llangwm, was there before him j and the old man became very surly, and John Elias had to leave Bala that Sunday without doing much. The fol- 230 John Elias. lowing Monday, however, he was to preach in some small chapel near Bala. He started towards the place much disheartened by the treatment he had received. But, as it happened, Mr. Roberts followed him, and came into the meeting without his knowing. John Elias prayed for help from heaven with the great work he had undertaken, and that he should not be left in any way to his own wisdom ; and he preached effectively. The old man was overcome ; he was fully convinced that God was with the young preacher ; and he returned to his home, at that time in Carnarvonshire, and told the friends that were prejudiced against John Elias how they were mistaken with regard to him. At another time he was to preach at Bryn-yr-odyn, Carnarvonshire, but John Jones, of Edeyrn, was there before him, and he and some other friends were sitting together in the chapel-house awaiting the time of the meeting. John Elias came in, after having travelled for a long distance over a difficult road through the rain. John Jones frowned upon him, and the other friends followed his example ; and they did not even ask him to sit down after his long journey. However, he was not much daunted by their conduct; he pulled off his wet coat, and said he would go and commence the service. He went, and soon the old preacher followed, and took his seat behind him in the pulpit. While the young man was praying, he did his best to interrupt him in various ways. He coughed, and rolled himself backwards and forwards, and moved his feet to and fro on the floor. But John Elias went on, quite unconscious of what John Jones was doing, and he prayed with wonderful effect upon the people, and preached till they all felt that God was in the place. After he had finished the old man commenced, but he could not get on at all that evening, though a man of extraordinary power, and he soon gave up the attempt. By this he was ashamed of himself; he asked John Elias to forgive him, and ever afterwards they were the best of friends. The Rev. Ebenezer Morris heard of his fame ; and he persuaded him to come on a preaching tour through South Wales. Mr. Morris testified, after hearing him preach on this occasion, that he never saw during his experience such effects following the preaching of any man. He was only twenty years old when he came to the Montgomeryshire Association, which was held at Llanfaircaereinion. He commenced one of the meetings by reading and prayer. (Rev Humphrey) Gwalchmai, who was then but a boy, tells us that he recollects well the sober and serious appearance of the young man, and his anxious prayer for the blessing of God upon the Association. All the people around were in tears, and they trembled as if suddenly called into the presence of God. And the talk, after the Association, was not the sermons, but the prayer of the young man from Carnarvonshire.