THE subject of this sketch was the son of the Vicar of Llgeitho, Wales. His brother at this date held “the living,” and Daniel, aged 22 was the officiating clergyman. A biographer says of him: “He excelled in reading the lessons and in athletic sports. He spent a part of Sabbath morning in the former exercise, and a greater part of the day in the latter. He did both well; the great difference was that the latter had more of his heart. He did the one because it was his duty and joined the young men of the parish of the other because he liked it.” He had a wish to become a popular preacher and as there was an Independent minister in the neighbourhood who drew many people to his church, he thought he would listen to his preaching to discover what it was that drew the people. He came to the conclusion that it was because he “thundered.” Rowlands set about imitating him in his “thundering” and preached from such texts as: “The wicked shall be turned into hell,” and “These shall go away into everlasting punishment,” and “The great day of His wrath is come.” He spoke from these texts with such eloquence that his hearers were awe-struck and soon his church was crowded. The people were profoundly impressed but there were no conversions. It was while all this was going on that the Rev. Griffith Jones, “the Apostle of Wales,” in his itinerary in connection with the Circulating Schools which he had inaugurated, that he came to Llandewi Brefi where he preached. When he commenced his sermon he noticed opposite him standing in the crowd a young man whose countenance appeared to him to wear unconcern, though his dress indicated that he was a clergyman. The preacher offered up a silent prayer to God that the young man’s heart would be converted to God and that he might be made in God’s hand an instrument of saving many souls. That prayer had an abundant answer. The young man was the Rev. Daniel Rowlands. He now began to preach with greater energy than ever. The people trembled as they listened to his sermons, but that was all as far as could be seen. His church became more crowded than ever, people coming from all quarters to hear him.
A pious Nonconformist minister came to hear him and once detected a most serious want in his preaching—though there was plenty of the law there was not a word of the gospel. The Rev. Philip Pugh saw the deficiency and kindly advised him to preach the gospel. Rowlands replied that he did not know the gospel for himself. To this his adviser said:
“Tell the people that though you yourself do not know the gospel that it is set forth in the New Testament and preach it to your people because it is God’s message to perishing sinners.” Rowlands took his friend’s advice and in due course God sent a message to Rowlands himself.
A great change was now seen in his preaching and though he did not cease to preach the law, he proclaimed the glad tidings of salvation to perishing men. Soon the effect was manifest and through the divine Spirit needy sinners were brought to a saving knowledge of Christ. Hearers were so impressed that cries of “Gorgoniant! diolch iddo byth.”* could be heard.
It is difficult to give an idea of Rowlands preaching. At times, so great was the emotion of the people that the preacher had to stop. They were so much taken up with the preacher’s message that the sun was setting without them being aware that the day was hastening on to its end. Such was the beginning of the Welsh Revival of the 18th century. Through the preaching of Whitefield and the Welsh preachers, the gospel with its blessings flowed through the Principality and turned it into a veritable garden of the Lord. On the doctrines of particular redemption the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church was founded. The people heard from their great preachers the doctrines of the grace of God and were refreshed and edified. Wales, like the Highlands of Scotland, had its day of merciful visitation when thousands gathered at Communion seasons and heard with joy messages that rejoiced their hearts and made them forget all their sorrows as they listened to the message blessed by the Holy Spirit and which to them as to the Thessalonians of old, was “the gospel of their salvation,” filling their hearts with joy unspeakable and full of the Holy Ghost.
What a change has come over those places which the Lord had so abundantly blessed. Fat lands have turned to barrenness spiritually. When will He visit Wales and the Highlands of Scotland again. May not His people take up the words of the Psalmist: “Mine eyes do fail with looking long for thy salvation” (Ps. cxix. 123—Scottish Metrical Psalms).