Llangwm (1859)



When the after-meeting was announced at Llangwm, and the unconverted were asked to leave, every person in the crowded audience sat glued to his seat. A local minister was asked to pray, and another opportunity was given for those who were not yielding to depart. Not a soul stirred. Mr Phillips prayed, and a third effort was made to get the unconverted to disperse, but again in vain. Another minister prayed, and then David Morgan peremptorily insisted on knowing whether any present were surrendering that evening to Christ. Like men awaking from a swoon, a number now languidly rose and walked out as if heavy weights were attached to their feet. Before they had gone fifteen yards from the chapel they stopped. David Morgan stepped to the threshold and cried, " My commission allows me to come out after you into the highway and compel you to come in; but lest anyone should think that I am applying unwarranted pressure, I will come no farther; still, if any one of you repents withdrawing from God's house, let him now come back.'' Before he had reached the big seat four or five of them followed him with a rush, like sheep chased by dogs into the fold.

When the preachers left the chapel, they saw a man with his face bowed on a wall hard by, sobbing bitterly. When asked the cause of his grief, he replied that he " had a soul like anybody else." He was a man whom his neighbours considered feeble-minded and had discouraged from offering himself as a church member. It was in a prayer- meeting here that a publican's son thanked God for the voluntariness of Christ's sacrifice. " There were not enough nails," he affirmed, ** in all the shops of Jerusalem to hold Him on the Cross, had it not been for the glorious nail of His own will."

An old pilgrim, bidden by a hypercritical minister to examine herself lest the spirit that prompted her to *' praise God among much people " should be a deceiving one, retorted calmly, " I mean to do my best to take hold of eternal life, John Hughes; and if I fail, I shall be good enough for the devil afterwards."

From, 'The '59 Revival', by J J Morgan, pages 123-4.


Related Wells