365 Quotations from Welsh Christians

It is the Holy Spirit of God who must dispose and fit us for every duty. It is he that draws the soul near to God, and teaches us how to converse with him. ... three prerequisites of prayer ...a due consideration of God's marvellous perfections ... a knowledge of the holy Scriptures ... a knowledge and consideration of ourselves. Griffith Jones, Llanddowror 1684-1761

Remember what he was when on earth, and follow him in his contentment under the greatest poverty, in his humility and self-denial when most honoured, in his patience under the severest sufferings, in his faithfulness under the greatest temptations, in his love for his most inveterate enemies, in his hatred to every sin, in his zeal for the glory of God and in his compaastoo towards the souls of men. Be resolved and determined through grace thus to follow him, whatever impediments may come in your way. Griffith Jones (1684-1761)

I need not tell you that those always are the best sermons which bring one's heart nearer to God, which render Christ dearer to us, by representing our need of him, our misery without him, and our privileges by him, and which convince us of the necessity of holiness, and of the Spirit's influence to that end, exciting and assisting us to mortify the dearest sin, and to vanquish the strongest temptation, and weaning us from earthly enticements, teaching us to live in communion with God, and to bear up comfortably under all the disquietudes of this life, and fitting us for a comfortable passage through the pangs of death. Griffith Jones, Llanddowror 1684-1761

True faith in Christ is an active and vital principle, and worth effectually in the soul, to lead men to endeavour after a real conformity to the Spirit and life and doctrine of the blessed Redeemer ... Divine love must sway their delights, desires and affections, for faith worketh by love. They must cleanse themselves from all pollutions of flesh and spirit; for faith purifieth the heart ... Faith will work an admirable change for the better in every part of man; for if any be brought by it into Christ Jesus, he is a new creature, old things are done away, and behold all things are become new. Griffith Jones, Llanddowror 1684-1761

It is the end of religion to have God for our portion, who is the Author, fountain, life and substance of all happiness, and the all-sufficient, yea, the only and sufficient support and felicity of our souls. It is God and his Christ, with the Holy Spirit, that is our all in all, the everlasting and overflowing fountain of bliss. It is from this fund of all-sufficiency that we must be supplied with all we want - all grace and mercy, all peace and pardon, all help and wisdom, all our righteousness, sanctification and redemption. Griffith Jones, Llanddowror 1684-1761