
<< Back to The Revivals Classic Books for Today Index Page
 King James Bible
|
Return to Revivals Main Index >>
The Revivals From: Classic Books for Today #156 By S. B. Shaw (1905) (Used by Permission)
"Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?" Psalm 85:6
In the Coegnant Colliery 200 hauliers and miners joined in prayer and praise. Those who desired to confess Christ were asked to signify the fact by holding their lamps aloft. Lamps went up by the score.
And so I might go on, but perhaps I can not do better than give a somewhat free translation by Mr. Thomas of some of the sweetest songs of the revival. The three verses selected are good specimens of what you repeatedly hear sung with such fervor:
(1) "Gwaed y Groes,"
Jesus Christ lifts up the weary,
With a smile divinely sweet;
Jesus Christ brings down the mighty,
Kneeling, trembling at His feet.
Blessed Saviour, Send a breeze from Calvary!
(2) "Dyma Geidwd,"
Here's a Saviour for the fallen, Here's a Healer for us all,
Here is One who loves forgiving Sinners, damaged by the fall.
Praise Thee, Jesus, Ever, for remembering me!
(3) "R Hwn Sy'n Gyru'r mellt Hedeg,"
Thou that sendest forth the lightning,
Thou that walkest on the sea,
Send the arrow of conviction
To these hearts, we pray to Thee.
Open wide our self-made prisons,
Send the firebrand from the flame,
Lift Thou up the weak and weary,
Teach the mute to praise Thy Name.
It is contrary to all precedent to have crowded revival services in the week before Christmas, but there are most hopeful signs that this out-pouring, hitherto largely confined to the colliery districts, will descend copiously upon such important centers as Newport and Cardiff. Al-ready we hear of many remarkable conversions in some of the town churches, and of well-attended prayer-meetings in the large business houses; and when the Christmas holidays are over, and the New Year begins, we shall most probably be rejoicing over much more stir-ring scenes.
It Spreads To Cwmbran
The revival which has broken out in South Wales does not remain in that part alone, and it does not re-quire the presence of Evan Roberts to infuse the spirit of this revival into the Christian Church. Extraordinary services have taken place in the Wesleyan Chapel at Cwmbran during the past fortnight. Cwmbran is situated exactly half way between Pontypool and Newport, and not far from the villages where the Spirit of God has been manifested so recently in such a remarkable way.
The first signs of the revival took place three Sundays ago, when after the sermon had been preached by the circuit lay agent on "Let me die the death of the righteous," he asked a few to testify for Christ, and one after another stood up and told what God had done for them. The last to testify was a brother who had been the greatest drunkard in the neighborhood. He told them how God led him to see the light when he was quite drunk (a statement for which the writer can vouch), and had now kept him for two years. His words took a firm hold on his companions, of whom no less than six have surrendered all to Christ during the past week, some of them being notorious drunkards.
The meetings have not been carried on in the usual way. They have been opened by prayer and reading, with short running comments by Mr. A. Brace, a young local preacher, varied with invitations to come to the front of any with whom God's Spirit was striving at the commencement and at different stages of the meeting.
What was and is remarkable right throughout the meetings is the spontaneity on some occasions as many as half a dozen commencing to pray at one time, and continually brothers and sisters are on their feet to pray, waiting turns. One old brother attempted six times to pray, and each time was forestalled by some one.
It was a glorious sight to see sinners rising and coming to the penitent form seeking forgiveness. Amongst those who have confessed Christ is a young man who had been brought up in the Roman Catholic faith. After the singing of "Come to Jesus," the question was asked, who will come to Him now? A man got up and shouted, "I will," and then broke down. Then his wife came out to the penitent form, and all his children. Another case occurred during the singing of "Throw Out the Life Line." A passer-by who was drunk was so affected by the singing that he turned into the meeting. It was wonderful to see the change that took place in him before the meeting was over. He came forward and confessed Christ, and when the meeting closed he wasa sober man. To describe all the incidents would take too much of your space. Never has the Spirit of God been felt in such a powerful manner before. Up to the present there have been sixty converts, and the meetings are to continue.
Effects On Bridgend
Rev. J. Sharp, Tondu, Glamorgan, writes: "This very gracious and spiritual wave of revival has reached the Bridgend Circuit. Last week, Mr. Dan Roberts and his helpers visited the Calvinistic Methodist Church, Aber Renfig, where united and overflow meetings were held. On Sunday all the churches were moved. At Tondu scenes were witnessed in the Sunday School as had not been seen before. The whole time was given up to praise and prayer. The class-rooms were full of inquirers of all ages. The work was continued in the church in the evening, when several more volunteered for Christ. Monday brought the joyful news from Ogmore Vale, Maesteg, Bryncoch, Cefn and Fountain, of similar results. Many who have long been prayed for have yielded; backsliders have come back, and many wonderful cases of conversion have taken place. The football field, the dance, and the dramatic entertainment have been given up and other matters laid aside for the revival meetings.
Continue >>
Back to Top
<< Back Home
|