1844 Gaerwen, Anglesey.
‘(Letter from Mynyddygof, Anglesea, Oct. 1844.) “ Mr James Donne is now on his publication through Anglesea. I went to meet him last Wednesday at Llanallgo; he preached at Pentraeth that night. On Thursday I went with him to Garnedd, Gilead and Gaerwen * * * * I am happy to say that there is a revival at the latter place. The gospel has been preached there with most powerful effects. ‘many have been added to the church’ there ‘such as’ I hope ‘shall be saved.’ There has also been very great rejoicing. O how pleasing, to see some ‘noise and shaking amidst the bones.’ Some seem disposed to condemn our connexion as enthusiasts in religion. But when I look within, and feel my deadness of spirit and hardness of heart; and when I look at our congregations generally, how they seem to be inured to the preaching of the word; how they brave every sermon; how they rebut every gospel appeal; how many a church seems to be congealed into a state of real, actual ice, and many of the hearers of the gospel living in a state of open active hostility against God; yes, in many places the light of God’s countenance is but dimly seen, the “glory seems to have departed;” now when I deeply and earnestly ponder these things, I think I can say that my very soul longs to see those glorious happy times when the gospel shall be attended with that energy of spirit and ardour of soul, that heart-searching prayer, that all convincing power, and holy enthusiasm that characterized the ministrations of the early Welsh Methodists. Wilberforce, when he heard of the abolition of slavery, is said to have ‘leaped with joy’ he was instantly seized with indescribable raptures. How much more cause has the guilty sinner to ‘leap with joy’ and rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory,’ when he has reason to think that he is emancipated from the iron grasp of sin and Satan, and ‘delivered from the bondage of corruption to the glorious liberty of the children of God.’ O, let us strive to live under the soothing, melting and life-imparting beams of the sun of Righteousness, let us not be content with mere evanescent impressions; let them be permanent, let them reach the heart and change the heart.”’ (Joseph Owen, Cofiant a Llythyrau, ynghyda Phregethau Y Parch. J. Ffoulkes-Jones, B.A., Machynlleth, Machynlleth, 1884, p.41-3)
This information was kindly provided by Geraint Jones
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