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the crucified Saviour." "I am afraid," said Rowlands, "that I have not that faith myself in its vigour and full exercise." "Preach on it," said Pugh, "till you feel it in that way; no doubt it will come. If you go on preaching the law in this manner, you will kill half the people in the country; for you thunder out the curses of the law, and preach in such a terrific manner, that no one can stand before you." This excellent minister had been also useful to Rowlands in giving him some judicious advice with regard to his manner of preaching, which he very much valued, as suitable to him a young minister; and though he complied with his directions, yet there was one habit he would not give up: he frequently stretched out his hand in preaching, closing all his fingers except one, by which it appeared as if he was pointing at some one. Many thought he was pointing to them in his animated addresses, and were thus, under God's blessing, convinced of sin, and brought to the knowledge of the truth. Rowlands being aware of this, observed, "I will never discontinue that useful practice." No doubt it is a great advantage for young men in the ministry to be judiciously directed in these points. It is very true that few persons are capable of rightly performing this act of kindness to a minister; rectifying what is wrong in him, and encouraging what is promising and useful. Another trait of peculiar excellency appeared in Pugh's conduct towards his young friend he never tried to make him dissatisfied with the church, and to bring him among the dissenters. He agreed with Rowlands that it was his duty to remain in the church, and to proceed in the line that seemed to be pointed out for him by divine providence, though he then met with many trials in it, and was likely to meet with more. As a clergyman, he was likely to be more extensively useful.

Another extraordinary person had commenced operations in another part of Wales, (Trefecca, Brecknockshire,) very much like Rowlands, and with equal success; Howell Harris by name. He was only a layman, being refused admittance

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into holy orders. In the year 1735 he ventured to go house to house, in his own parish, to exhort sinners; and gradually he extended his sphere of usefulness to the adjoining parishes. His fame soon spread over the whole country, and great multitudes attended his preaching. It is said that such was the authority and power with which he delivered his discourses, that many could not refrain crying out, being overpowered by the awful exhibition which he made of their lost condition. In the year 1737 he extended his itinerant labours to Radnorshire, being invited there by some gentleman; and after this he went on in this extraordinary line, following the leadings of providence. He readily complied with every invitation to preach, went wherever he was sent for, and discoursed to crowded auditories generally three or four, and sometimes five or six, times a day. His preaching was pungent and powerful, and calculated to convince the conscience of sin. He says, "I took no particular text, but discoursed freely, as the Lord gave me utterance. Necessity was laid upon me to go and awaken souls. Thus I went, though with fear and trembling, lest others of bad intentions should take occasion to go about after my example." It is not certain whether these two eminent men knew any thing of each other at this time, and it is equally uncertain what time they became acquainted, and when they united their labours of love. But it is very plain the Lord was carrying on by the instrumentality of them both the same work, the ministration of death arousing a world dead in trespasses and sins.*

* The following lines of Williams's are a brief summary of the above.

"Dyma'r pryd daeth Harris fywiog

Yn arfogaeth fawr y nef

Megis Taran annioddefol

Yno i'w gyfarfod ef:

Dyma ddyddiau sylfaen gobaith
Dyddian gwewyr llym a phoen
Wrth gael esgor ar ei meibion
Newydd wraig yr addfwyn Oen."

CHAP. II.

Rowlands establishing religious societies, his assistants, and progress of the work.

In the year 1737* the Lord led Rowlands to adopt a new way to train up He and to discipline the children of God. was induced to call the professors together, in order to hear them relate their various experiences, and by that means to encourage or to correct them, as the circumstances required, and so train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. This proved a most useful method to build up the church of God. This sort of church meeting became like a nursery for the family of heaven. It became their home

and their Father's house. This is the church into which convinced and penitent souls are received. It is a sign of separation from the world. Rowlands rejoiced to meet the people of God in this select and separate manner, especially as most useful and excellent ends were accomplished by it. Those meetings, in consequence of the secluded mode of carrying them on, have ever since been called private societies. By this is not meant secret, but separate and apart from the world, as believers are, for whom alone they were intended.

The first private meeting in Cardiganshire was established by him in the following manner. Rowlands desired one of his members that belonged to Llancwnlle, to go to all that were in communion there, and invite them to meet him on a certain night in a house situated in a very solitary place in the parish, called Gelly-Dywyll, near Bwlchidiwargan. It is at the bottom of the valley, and between Nantcwnlle

*The above date is established in a Pamphlet called "The Constitutional Deed of the Welch Calvinistic Connexion."

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and Llangeitho. All the persons invited went there according to appointment; but they could not at first understand Rowlands' meaning in bringing them together in such a place. They were rather fearful, thinking he was going to reprove some of them. However, they perceived soon after they came together, that his end was to examine them as to the nature of the Lord's supper, and to give them suitable instructions on that important subject. They spent most part of that night in this delightful employment, being greatly edified and established in the truth. Perhaps it was the fear of persecution that prevented their going to the church. In the same manner he collected together the members that belonged to Llangeitho, and no doubt also the professors that were at Ystradffin and elsewhere.

A minister of Rowlands' great mental endowments, and uncommon acquaintance with the plague of his own heart and the wiles of Satan, was well qualified to converse with individuals on the all-important concerns of their souls. There was no spiritual disease, however intricate, but he was acquainted with; and he well knew what remedy was suitable for it, and how to apply it. His mental eye was so penetrating and quick, that he could also in general distinguish between grace and its counterfeits. The discerning of spirits is useful at all times, especially in the time of revivals, to distinguish between the precious and the vile, and to prevent imposition.-Rowlands' meetings soon became more methodical. He used to converse with about four or five persons, each meeting, on the state of their souls, as to their comforts, depressions, difficulties, trials, temptations, and their causes. He expressed his opinion and sentiments on what was said, by way of advice or warning-consequently the doubtful were encouraged, the weak strengthened, and the faulty reproved; union, sympathy, and brotherly love were promoted, and the spiritual interest of the members was advanced in various ways. Such a conversation on spiritual concerns is doubtless the foundation

of mutual love, union, and sympathy; and also the means of increasing these blessings. This is communion of saints.* All the members attended weekly, at a certain fixed time, not in classes, but in one body. The meeting commenced with reading a portion of God's word, singing, and prayer; and ended, after the conversation, with singing and praying. It lasted about an hour and a half. Rowlands published some excellent Rules for the various members of his increasing societies; they were very scriptural and suitable to instruct and guide christians in the right way. It is to be regretted that these are not to be met with now: but it is thought that they are much embodied in his sermon on brotherly reproof, especially as to the spirit and dispositions becoming christians. A specimen of his manner of addressing the members of his society, may be taken from his writings, which no doubt will prove gratifying to the serious reader. How edifying, for instance, is the following address.

"The grace of God in the heart is such a plant as neither the tares of the field nor the thorns of the brake can destroy. Strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, it endures not only the scorching heat of the summer, but the chilling frost of winter. Let all who have eyes to see, perceive that your grace is a plant of this kind. Maintain your ground against the smiles and frowns, the allurements and discouragements of the world. ......Be steadfast in your profession; be well acquainted with the real state of your souls. You are aware of the mark at which Satan and all his archers aim their shafts; it is your "conscience void of offence," your holy life and conversation. Be strong therefore in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."......Let your spark be kindled into a fervent flame, and let your grain of mustard seed grow into a wide-spreading tree.......Pray that the means of grace, like so many brooks, may swell your stock, till your little stream becomes a river, and your river as

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* Charles's Memoir, page 337.

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