365 Quotations from Welsh Christians

What has raised our nation from the ignorance of barbarism but the Bible? - What has given us our present exalted character among the enlightened nations of the world, but the practice of the Bible principles. Let us cherish this light among us, lest he come and remove our candle-stick out of its place, and our country be plunged into deeper ignorance than before; lest ages of intellectual darkness again afflict our country. Who would wish to see the gospel light extinguished in our land? What a morning to awake in! Thomas Price (Carnhuanawc) 1787-1848

(To the woman who became his wife) Mary, are you saved? Her reply, Well, you know, Seth, that I have been con­firmed. His, Yes, my dear, and vaccinated; but are you saved? Seth Joshua 1858-1925

The only New Testament precedents for spreading the gospel are godly living, praying, and bold speaking. Geoffrey Thomas

Pharaoh commanded that Moses should be drowned; in after days Pharaoh was paid back in his own coin. Thomas Rhys Davies 1790-1859

Trust not either late repentence or long life. Not late repentance because it is much to be feared lest the repentance which the fear of death enforces dies with a man dying and the hypocrite who deceived others in his life may deceive himself in his death. God accepteth none but free will offerings and the repentance that pleaseth him must be voluntary and not of constraint. Not long life, for old age will fall upon the neck of youth and as nothing is more sure than death so nothing is more uncertain than the time of dying. Lewis Bayly 1575-1631

I hope I shall contend with my last breath and blood, that it is owing to special, distinguishing, and irresistible grace that those that are saved are saved. Howell Harris 1714-1773

Adoption confers upon us everything that sin makes impossible for us. Aliens become sons, strangers become children, and enemies inherit all the blessings of God. Peter Jeffery

Holiness is the symmetry of the soul. Philip Henry

Q. Though He was a person of such heavenly rank, was He not very humble? A, Yes ; He was meek and lowly of heart, and hath taught us to be so. Q. When He was ill-used and reviled what did He do? A. When He was reviled. He reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously. Q. When any wanted Him to do what was wrong, how did He act? A. He obeyed God rather than men, and told them their faidts in a becoming manner. Edward Williams 1750-1813

Remember that the Holy Ghost is compared to a dove, and that if you begin to shoot at each other, the heavenly dove will take wing and instantly leave you. The Holy Spirit is one of love and peace - not of tumult and confusion. He cannot live amidst the smoke and noise of fired shots: if you would grieve the Holy Spirit ... you have only to commence firing at one another and he will instantly depart. William Williams of Wern 1781-1840

I am only as tall as I am on my knees. Stephen Olford

Sound doctrine always has been, is today, and ever will be, the foremost mark of the true church. Geoffrey Thomas

The Bible only comforts those who think. Geoffrey Thomas

Prayer is the rope up in the belfry; we pull it and it rings the bell up in heaven. Christmas Evans

... never rest in duties and ordinances, but constantly rest in Christ alone and look for every blessing you need, in and thro' him, the infinitely prevalent Mediator. Banjamin Francis 1734-1799

We have many blind people wo treasure up the word of God in their memory. One blind lad commits a whole chapter to memory by having it read over to him about four times. I have also met with many melancholy instances of very great ignorance among grown up people which has induced me to press them earnestly to attend the Sunday schools. Thomas Charles 1755-1814

There is a little girl only five years and a half old who can repeat distinctly above one hundred chapters and goes on learning a chapter every week besides the catechism and searching the scriptures for passages on different points in divinity. Thomas Charles 1755-1814

My friend, the mole in the meadow has never seen a king; shall he therefore say there is no king? O thou atheistic mole! thou hast never travelled out of thy own narrow field; and if thou hadst, thou hast no eyes to see with; and wilt thou dare to say there is no God? Dost thou think all others as blind as thyself? All that thou canst say is, that thou dost not see God, and dost not wish to see him. How dost thou know that the being of a God is not so manifest on the other side of the river of death, that no doubt is entertained concerning it throughout all the expanse of eternity? Can the earth-mole say there is no grand Lama in Tibet? Poor worm! thou must travel through the gates of death, and fathom the bottomless pit, and measure the land of destruction, and scale the very heaven of heavens, and surround all the borders of time and eternity, before thou canst assure thyself there is no God! Christmas Evans 1766-1838

God is at work in my life. And why would he do such a thing? There can be only one explanation: it is because he has chosen to. My Salvation depends then on God. He chose me in Grace. And this God is unchangeable. Having set His love on me, will He fail to bring me to Heaven? Stuart Olyott

Christ puts most of his oil in broken vessels, in broken hearts there is most grace and best kept. Vavasor Powell 1617-1670

Q. If He was a person so great and divine, how did He behave to His mother Mary, and her husband Joseph, when a child? A. He was very dutiful, and always obeyed eveiy lawful command. Q. How did He love learning, and improvement in wisdom? A. He gi'ew in knowledge daily, as He did in stature, and was very wise as well as very good. Q. Did He ever pray to His heavenly Father? A, Yes; He prayed much Himself, and hath taught us to pray often and with importunity. Edward Williams 1750-1813

Slander has amarvellous way of driving us into the arms of our Heavenly Father. Stuart Olyott

If Thou wouldst end the world, O Lord, Accomplish first Thy promised Word, And gather home with one accord From every part Thine own, Send out Thy Word from pole to pole, And with Thy blood make thousands whole, And, after that come down. Thomas William(s) Glamorganshire 1761-1844 (Original in Welsh)

I bought this Bible in the 16th year of my age. I am a daughter of Jacob Jones and Mary Jones, His wife. The Lord may give me grace. Amen. Mary Jones His the True Onour of this Bible. Bought in the Year 1800. Aged 16th. Mari Jones (1784-1864)

O, my head should be all waters, Weeping day and night away: Zion’s army, with its banners, Melts before the heat of day; O reveal again the pillars, Mainstay through her night of loss, God’s own promises, unchanging, Sealed supremely on the cross. Ann Griffiths 1778-1805 (original in Welsh)

Many have a brother’s face, but Christ has a brother’s heart. Thomas Rhys Davies 1790-1859

On the mount of crucifixion Fountains opened deep and wide Through the floodgates of God's mercy Flowed a vast and gracious tide Grace and love, like mighty rivers Poured incessant from above And Heaven's peace and perfect justice Kissed a guilty world in love. (from the Welsh original) William Rees 1802-1883