A SIGNALLY great and powerful work of grace has lately commenced, and still continues increasingly to proceed, In the principality, almost every church having, in some measure, participated in its divine and blessed influence.
The cheering result is a general awakening, as well as a vast amount of additions within the last six or seven months. I am happy that notwithstanding the unprecedented stir, the said revivals have not been accompanied with any extravagant enthusiasm, or wild unseemly excitement, as too often is the case when an extraordinary increase takes place. It evidently appears that Divine agency has been, and still continues to be, at work, to a surprisingly great and glorious degree, amongst us. The Lord is doing great things for us, whereof we are glad.
Thousands of immortal souls are snatched from the grasp of the evil one, and brought to the knowledge of the truth; many of whom were notorious in sin, and ringleaders in the servlce of satan, but now are docile and submissive subjects of Immanuel, having willingly bowed to his sceptre, together with hundreds that have been wandering; some of them for years, from the fold of their Saviour, who are returning with weeping, begging to be restored again to the enjoyment of the gracious privileges of God's house.
From, "The Baptist Reporter," February 1850, page 72.
PONTYPOOL. -Being obliged to stay here over Lord's-day, Oct, the 14th, I took up my temporary abode at the southern extremity of this singular town, I found next morning, during breakfast, that. a public baptism was to take place that morning, within four hundred yards of my lodging. Titherward I wended my way. The chapel is a large substantial building, accommodated with vestries, and its appearance, with that of the walls and palisades thereabout, indicated a healthy state of mind and treasury. I found the baptistry on the left of the chapel, formed out of the large reservoir in connection with the Monmouthshire Canal, and Its waters can be let out or In, just to answer the purpose of the officiator. The furthest extremity is, I am told, paved, and there is a flight of stairs to lead "down into the water." The space around this reservoir is on a rising projection, and would accommodate about 2000 people, and was this morning covered with human beings. Neither the minister nor the candidates had yet made their appearance. The crowd appeared to be devotional and orderly, which is accounted for, in part, from the prominent standing of the Baptists at Pontypool...
When the clock was striking ten, the minister, with the deacons, made their appearance from a private door at the back of the premises; they were followed by the singers ond the new converts, forty-four in number, Their appearance and their singing could not but make an impression, There were some of them who evidently had seen more than sixty summers, and a few who could not be more than just in their teens... The minister stood at ·the head of the pool, and everyone could see and hear him. He spoke but few sentences, but they were telling. "I stand here," said he, "as a minister of Christ, to transact public business for Him. I have my commission which I will read;" taking out his Testament, "I cannot deviate from my instructions, or attempt to improve them; for that would be a reflection upon my King - 'Go you into all the world. Preach the Gospel'... 'Do you believe in the Son of God?"' said he, turning to the candidates, which was responded to in the positive; "then," continued he, "I am hereby commanded to baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.' In conclusion, he referred to the Greek term 'baptizo.' He then descended into the water and baptised thirty-four people - the choir singing during the whole time... This young minister performed the ceremony with much propriety, gently laying the candidates backward in the watery tomb, without an apparent effort or agitation. The other ten were baptised in the same place in the afternoon. The young minister, Mr David Lloyd Isaac, has been the pastor of this church, I am told, for the last ten years and has added about one hundred persons by baptism during the last three months.
From, "The Baptist Reporter," October 1849, page 433.
A bad outbreak of cholera happened (May-Oct) at approximately the same time as the revival. The town had 61 die.
This chapel added not less than 85 in the revival.