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Welsh Revival
Welsh Revival
S O N s , E R I N : F i t s , G L Y N S E A M .
i k Witness and I Minister
The Journal of the South Wales Bible Training College, Porth, Glam
(Edited by the Principal, Dr. D. M. PHILLIPS, MA.)
s'
-
t
,
The Late Rev. R. B. JONES
(Founder of the Institute).
Vol. II. N. 11 (New Edition). MAY, 1939.
ill Al LY.WJ & JtJVCS, YRILY r.rt.s,iNc.r. rt.
C O N T E N T S .
CONTENTS.
THE REPORT OF THE BIBLE COLLEGE FOR 1937-38 (Principal Dr. D. M
Phillips) 1
THE SECRET OF THE KINGDOM (Late Principal R. B. Jones)
3
JESUS SHALL REIGN (I. Watts) 7
LECTURES ON PREACHING (Principal Dr. Phillips) 8
TEN HOURS IN THE COMPANY OF EVAN ROBERTS THE WELSH REVIVALIST
(Principal Dr. Phillips) 12
THE PRAYER KEY (William Olney)
15
THE APPEAL (William Obey)
16
T h e R e p o r t o f t h e B i b l e C o l l e g e
f o r 1 9 3 7 - 3 8 .
E t
Ilrlit ness anb a Ininist cr
the journal of tbe Males 1Bible training anstatite. north
vol. II. No. 11(NewSeries)May1939
The Report of the Bible College
for 1937-38.
By Principal Dr. D. M. Phillips, M.A.
A WITNESS AND A MINISTER
to include all referred to in Gen. i. 1 as "the heaven and the earth."
If such a statement appear strange and arbitrary, a little consider-
ation will remove that impression. That the "heaven" of Gen. i. 1
refers to a part of the material creation cannot well be doubted. It
does not include any spiritual sphere usually regarded as the place
of the Almighty Creator's throne. Judging by the light of the
context, notably Gen. i. 6-8, where we have record of the making
of the firmament, we are justified in interpreting the word "heaven'
(lit. "heaved-up things") as representing, principally, the atmo-
spheric heaven, including, possibly, the planetary systemof which
the earth is not only a member, but also, in a spiritual sense, the
centre. It is a persistent conviction that in many a Scriptural
passage the word "heaven" has just this unsuspected material
sense, signifying the aerial envelope in which earth's denser
material revolves. This atmosphere of rarified matter is as much
a part of the earth as are continents and oceans; hence the
legitimacy of the use of the term"earth" to include the material
heavens as well.
Sin, as will again be noted, has usurped possession not only of
the visible planet, but also of the invisible firmament which sur-
rounds it. As to whether the rebellion could have found oppor-
tunities elsewhere to spread, Scripture is silent, but it is sublimely
vocal on the point that God has sworn that, with the hand raised
against His Throne, He will have war until it be utterly destroyed
and His Kingdomonce more established.
We have referred to the establishing of the Kingdomas the
restoration of the status quo. It needs saying that the reference is
not to any state already once realised upon the earth as it is. A
great fact it is, that the Kingdomof God has never yet been realised
among Adam's race. The status quo ante-dates the six days of
Gen. i., by perhaps, many ages. That pre-sin period is covered by
that great first verse of Genesis. The second verse introduces us
to the terrible effects of the destruction with which the primitive
rebellion was visited"And the earth was waste and void; and
darkness was upon the face of the deep." In accordance with this
view, the work of the six days is regarded, not as the first creation
of the heaven and the earth, but rather as their restoration from
their ruined condition. If we would gain some knowledge of the
spiritual status quo in that primitive earth, it would seemthat it
may be had froma perusal of the last two chapters in Revelation.
There, as one is led to judge, is described the condition of the new
heavens and the newearth in the Post-millenial ages; sin and its
curse having been destroyed, all authority other than God's put
down, and the eternal order, the Kingdomof God, brought in;
probably in all things an exact replica of what once obtained upon
the ea-rth as originally created.
A WITNESS AND A MINISTER
Leaving however such preliminary thoughts, we may now
address ourselves more specifically to our subject, and one can
perhaps obtain some glimpse of its tremendous importance, and of
the way in which it overshadows and dominates everything else in
God's scheme of Creation and Redemption, if we observe that in the
Scriptures, the Kingdom, as it specially relates to men on earth,
is seen in many phases. We find it successively, first, in God's
purpose, then in abeyance, in embryo, in type, in mystery, in
universal, full application, and, lastly
'
in its perfect manifestation.
This sevenfold analysis will, it is hoped, serve to enable us to catch
a viewof God's infinitely grand purpose in Christ, and of the varied
processes He has planned and the means He has ordained in order
to its consummation. These seven steps will be seen to cover the
whole stretch of Scripture revelation fromone horizon to the other.
Let us look first at
1 . The Kingdom in God's Purpose.
Away back in that wonderful first chapter of Genesis, we have
reference to it. The waste and empty earth having been restored
to its pristine glory, in the sixth day the Creator once more speaks,
saying, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." It
is difficult not to feel that here is expressed something more than
man's likeness to God in respect of his moral nature and spiritual
character. What meaning can such words as "image" and "like-
ness" have as applied to God Who is infinite Spirit, except as they
hint that even then the Son of God was well on His eternal way
toward His incarnation. Had He already "emptied Himself, taken
the formof a servant, and become in the likeness of man?"
Humanity is surely older than Adam. Adamwould only be the
first expression of it upon the renewed earth. The first man is the
Son of God, the Heirbeing the Firstbornof all things. But,
without pursuing this, let it be noted that the first mark of man
made "in the image and likeness" of God is that of kingly power.
The words are, "Let us make man . . and let themhave
dominion."
Confusion and disharmony are never fromGod, and
so his first care for the world just restored is, that it should be a
world of order under proper government. In other words, it must
be a kingdom, the Kingdomof God, the throne of which, as God's
vicegerent, is vested in man. It is impossible to miss in this
Scripture the clear unveiling of man's primal dignity in the purpose
of God's creation. He is God's king, the one through whomthe
Divine Being would mediate rule over the earth and all therein.
It is of great moment to realise this, that man in God's image is a
king; that in the creative purpose he was meant to rule. This
vision breaks upon the mind of the Psalmist in the beautiful eighth
t h e s o n s o f G o d . " " s o n s "
J E S U S S H A L L R E I G N .
A WITNESS AND A MINISTER
Psalm(3-6). One is tempted to linger over this point because,
although it may be accepted as a beautiful idea, it is eaSy to avoid
having its impression as a capital fact deeply made in heart and
mind. Man's royal position is vital to our thinking, because it is
so to the whole systemof things. If man is king over the restored
earth, his throne is the very centre of the new order of things, the
corner-stone of the whole structure. Let himtherefore forfeit his
place and power and the whole necessarily collapses. Referring to
this very thing, Paul writes, "For the creation was subjected to
vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of himwho subjected it."
The king having shown himself wanting, the kingdominevitably is
destroyed and converted into a condition of sad anarchy. When
Adamfell, it meant more than the fall of an individual, it was the
collapse of a whole realm. This being so, it is not surprising to
find that Redemption has for its explicit purpose the restoration of
man to his lost royal dignity Salvation is not fully realised in the
rescue of a soul fromperdition, but in its re-creation in the image
and likeness of God, in order that the dominion once lost may be
restored to his hand. The power of grace to redeemwill not be
fully known save by those who can sing, "Unto Himwho hath . .
made us KINGS." Reverting to Paul's words, mute creation is
represented as somehow being conscious that its redemption from
bondage is involved in, and conditioned by this very thing"For
the earnest expectation of the created waiteth for the revealing of
the sons of God." "sons" because of their being in God's image
and likeness and hence fit to take the dominion originally intender'
for such. Her e then is the Scriptural key to political and social
problems. Earth's ills and miseries will yield only to the Divine
remedy. God's methods are men in His image and likeness. The
whole of earth's pains and disabilities will automatically
vanish
when the many sons are at last brought to glory, the glory of man's
long-lost position. it should therefore be clear that he who labours
to reclaimthe sinner and to perfect the saint is, of all men, the one
who contributes most effectively to the solution of the problems
involved in the present external conditions of society.
JESUS SHALL REIGN.
JESUS shall reign where'er the sun People and realms of every tongue
Doth his successive journeys run; Dwell on His love with sweetest song;
His kingdomstretch fromshore to shore And infant voices shall proclaim
Till moons shall wax and wane no more. Their early blessings on His name. '
I. WATTS.
L E C T U R E S O N P R E A C H I N G
P E R S O N A L I T Y A N D I N F L U E N C E C o n t i n u e d .
W E
A WITNESS AND A MINISTER
LECTURES ON PREACHING
By Principal Dr. D. M. Phillips, M.A.
PERSONALITY AND INFLUENCEContinued.
WE pointed out in the last lecture that many of the leading
preachers of the past had irrisistible influence on congregations.
It was further explained that such influence was due to the fact that
their whole personality was in the delivery of the sermons. They
were people of great charm in sonic respects and their personality
impressed audiences in a very powerful manner.
Individuals composing a congregation differ greatly in their
mentality, and in the contents of their consciousness. But there is
not a single individual making up a congregation, who is not a
personality. The man or woman may be a small personality; but
he or she has all the elements of personality. It follows that the
whole personality of the preacher must be in the sermon before he
can influence all the personalities of his congregation. Many
preachers have but little or no influence with a large section of their
congregations because their sermons only appeal to one aspect of
personality. The reason for that, is the fact that only one aspect
of the Gospel truth has possessed their personality. Some preachers
only appeal to the intellect of the hearers as if their personalities
were made up of intellect only. This class of preachers only
influence the intellectual section of their congregations. They
forget that emotion and will are essential elements of personality
as well as intellect. There is another class of preachers, who only
address themselves to the emotions and neglect the intellectual side
of personality. The influence of these is superficial and ephemeral.
It vanishes like the morning mist. It does not feed and nourish the
intellect. More, very often it hardens the emotions rather than
softening them and leading them to repentance. Further, some
preachers direct their message to the will or the active power in
personality; they urge people to action and do not touch the affect-
ions of the heart, neither do they attempt to enlighten the intellect.
These never attain a high position in the ministry because they
neglect the powers that move the will to voluntary action. In their
personality only one aspect is predominant, namely, the will. The
whole personality of the preacher must be in the sermon in a bal-
anced state before he can be of the greatest influence. The sermon
must contain sufficient matter for the intellect, a powerful appeal
to the deepest emotions of the soul, the conscience must be stirred to
its depths, and the whole will must be aroused to intense action.
H . P E R S O N A L I T Y A N D T H E P R E A C H E R ' S M O O D .
A WITNESS AND A MINISTER
H.PERSONALITY AND THE PREACHER'S MOOD.
PERSONALITY
has various moods. These moods are .due very often
to bodily health, and at other times to mental conditions. Again,
preachers, like other men, are of different temperaments. In a way
it is well that moods change and temperaments differ. The variation
breaks the monotony. A preacher always in the same mood would
soon tire his congregation, and the same would be
-the case if all
preachers had the same temperament. A preacher-always in the
same mood cannot spring any surprise upon his congregation. The
hearers do not expect anything but sameness of mood from him.
Variation of mood and different temperaments are one of the con-
ditions of influence.
Again, the mood must be the product of the whole personality of
the preacher before it can be of real influence.
An artificial or
feigned mood is fatal to spiritual effect.