Holy Spirit Now Descend, Thomas Davis and the Evangelical Revival in Georgian Berkshire, by Michael A G Haykin, published by Etrick Press, paperback, 185 pages, £5.95 obtainable from the Free Presbyterian Bookroom.
This is the first volume in a projected series of “Evangelical Lives”. The author believes, correctly, that the stories of men like Thomas Davis, who “is an almost complete unknown today”, are worth retrieving from obscurity. Davis (1734-96) was a Baptist minister in the town of Reading. His ministry there was much blessed.
In his youth, Davis became “a ringleader in all kinds of wickedness” but, one New Year’s Day, out of curiosity, he went to church and was convicted of cumbering the ground (Lk 13:7). Under that same sermon, he was brought to believe in Christ. He later commented that “justice was lifting up the axe” to give a death-blow to him, when “mercy stepped in”.
In 1767 he became a minister in Reading. According to the custom of the times, Davis drew up a confession of faith, which is quoted here and discussed at some length. For instance, the sixteenth article states, “I believe that all those, chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, shall be sanctified by the Spirit dwelling in them; sin is subdued, grace is strengthened, faith increased, love inflamed, and all by the continual supplies of the Spirit of God, who worketh in and upon them according to His good pleasure”. We would disagree only with his views on Baptism and on the Millennium.
The revival in the congregation that called Davis to Reading is described in a chapter entitled, “Where a Spirit of Prayer Prevails”. Biographical details are given of some of the converts. Various individuals associated with Davis are also described; one of them was Richard Burnham, best known as a hymn-writer. One would just point out that religious poetry can be profitable but ought in no way to displace the Psalms from public worship.
Little is known about Davis, and therefore this is a short book, even when a great deal of other material, in some way connected with him, is brought in. The book is interestingly written, by an author who spent many years as a seminary professor in America.