365 Quotations from Welsh Christians

A church, if long without a revival, becomes like the earth when it has been long without rain. When the earth has become very dry it repels the rain. The clouds heavily charged with water stand over it for days without pouring their contents. What is the reason? The want of attraction in the earth. The clouds of God's promises stand over the church fully charged with the rain of divine influence. How is it there is no outpouring? Because there is no attraction in Zion, the united heart and prayer of faith are wanting. William Williams of Wern 1781-1840

The mind of man is like a mill which will grind whatever is put into it whether it be husk or wheat The Devil is very eager to have his turn in this mill and to employ it for grinding the husk of vain thoughts hence the necessity of constant watchfulness in order to keep the wheat of the word in the mind Keep thy heart with all diligence. William Williams of Wern 1781-1840

The prayer of faith is sure to succeed. Our prayers often resemble the mischievous tricks of town children who knock at their neighbours houses and then run away And we often knock at heaven's door and then run off into the spirit of the world instead of waiting for entrance and answer. William Williams of Wern 1781-1840

A stony heart is a heavy one for a stone is heavy and the sand weighty; it draws its possessor to the earth, it is an earthly one. The Holy Spirit first strikes it with the hammer of the word till it is broken in pieces. He then gradually takes it out piece after piece and when the last is taken out the new creature is light enough to ascend to heaven. William Williams of Wern 1781-1840

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

The prayer meeting is the pulse of the church. If the pulse beat strong and regular it indicates a strong and healthy constitution but if feeble and irregular, it is a sign of ill health and weakness. When the constitution of the church gets healthy and strong, the prayer meeting will be thought much more of than our anniversaries. William Williams of Wern 1781-1840

Every child of Adam may honestly say if I had been in his place it is certain I should have done as he did This ought to reconcile us to the old father. William Williams of Wern 1781-1840

Many wicked thoughts may present themselves to my mind for which I am not accountable so long as I do not welcome and harbour them. Should a gang of thieves call at my door to seek lodging and entertainment I cannot help it but if I take them in I then become a partaker with them. If the mind invite unhallowed thoughts in and entertain instead of driving them away it then participates with them and is responsible but it cannot help these thieves calling .... William Williams of Wern 1781-1840

The door of heaven shuts from below and not from above. Your iniquities have separated between you and your God. William Williams of Wern 1781-1840

Ejaculatory prayer is like the rope of a belfry the bell is in one room and the end of the rope which sets it a ringing in another Perhaps the bell may not be heard in the apartment where the rope is but all can hear it in its own Moses laid hold of the rope and pulled it hard on the shore of the Red Sea and though no one heard or knew anything of it in the lower chamber the bell rang louder than ever in the upper one till the whole place was moved. William Williams of Wern 1781-1840