Chapter I: Front Matter

[Picture: Portrait of Christmas Evans]

SERMONS
OF
CHRISTMAS EVANS.

A New Translation from the Welsh.

WITH A

MEMOIR AND PORTRAITURE OF THE AUTHOR.

BY

REV. JOSEPH CROSS.

* * * * *

PHILADELPHIA:
LEARY & GETZ, PUBLISHERS.

FOR SALE BY CARLTON & PORTER, METH. BOOK CONCERN, NEW YORK.
SWORMSTEDT & POE, CINCINNATI, OHIO.—STEVENSON & OWEN, NASHVILLE,
TENN.—I. P. COOK, BALTIMORE.—JAMES P. MAGEE, BOSTON.
WM. M. DOUGHTY, CHICAGO, ILL.—J. L. READ, PITTSBURG.
H. H. MATTESON, BUFFALO, N. Y., AND ALL BOOKSELLERS
THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

1857.

* * * * *

ENTERED according to act of Congress, in the year 1846, by
J. HARMSTEAD,

in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania.

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE Sermons of Christmas Evans contained in this volume, and the extracts from his journal and other writings given in the following Memoir and Portraiture, are translated by two different hands, and in very different styles. The former are clothed in very good English, but the diction of the latter requires an apology. Unable to procure a better version, we have furnished such as we found; and it is hoped that even this, with all its imperfections, will not be wholly unprofitable to the reader.

The writer does not wish to be held responsible for the Theological Views put forth, either in the extracts alluded to, or in the sermons. Christmas Evans was a Calvinistic Baptist, and several of his sermons inculcate, to some extent, the peculiar doctrines of that denomination; though they are generally free from sectarian bias, and may be read with advantage by spiritual Christians of all evangelical creeds.

JOSEPH CROSS.

_Philadelphia_, _May_ 10, 1846.

CONTENTS.

MEMOIR AND PORTRAITURE.
Page
INTRODUCTION 9
MEMOIR.
Early Years 17
Profession of Religion 17
Commencement of Preaching 18
Backsliding and Recovery 19
Change of Views 19
Depressing Views of Himself 20
Labors in Lëyn 22
Visit to South Wales 23
Settlement in Anglesea 24
Powerful Sermons 25
Sandemanianism and Sabellianism 27
Time of Refreshing 28
Covenant with God 29
Studying the English Language 29
New Troubles and Sorrows 33
Legal Prosecution 35
Caerphilly 36
Another Covenant 37
Cardiff 39
Sermons for the Press 41
Welsh Jumping 42
Caernarvon 49
Pulpit Popularity 50
Interesting Letter 51
Tour through the Principality 56
Monmouthshire Association 57
Last Sermon, Sickness, and Death 57
Funereal Sorrow 58
PORTRAITURE.
Personal Appearance 59
Moral and Christian Character 59
Social Disposition 60
Reading and Study 60
Devotional Habits 61
Christian Beneficence 62
Spirit of Forgiveness 63
Catholic Generosity 64
Ingenuousness and Honesty 65
Sarcastic Rebukes 66
Pulpit Talents and Labors 67
SERMONS.
INTRODUCTION 79
Serm. I. The Time of Reformation Heb. ix. 10. 81
II. The Triumph of Calvary Isaiah lxiii. 90
1–6.
III. The Smitten Rock 1 Cor. x. 4. 99
IV. Fall and Recovery of Man Rom. v. 15. 108
V. One God and One Mediator 1 Tim. ii. 5. 120
VI. The Living Redeemer Job xix. 23–27. 129
VII. Messiah’s Kingdom Dan. ii. 44, 140
45.
VIII. The Sufferings of Christ 1 Pet. ii. 24. 153
IX. The Purification of Heb. ix. 14. 164
Conscience
X. The Cedar of God Ezek. xvii. 172
22–24.
XI. The Prince of Salvation Heb. ii. 10., & 182
v. 9.
XII. Finished Redemption John xix. 30. 189
XIII. The Resurrection of Jesus Mat. xxviii. 6. 196
XIV. The Ascension Acts iii. 21. 205
XV. Tribulation conquered John xvi. 33. 216
XVI. The Glory of the Gospel 1 Tim. i. 11. 223
XVII. The Song of the Angels Luke ii. 14. 236
XVIII. The Stone of Israel Zech. iii. 9. 242
XIX. Justification by Faith Job ix. 2. 250
XX. The Shield of Faith Eph. vi. 16. 259
XXI. The Paraclete John xiv. 16, 269
17.
XXII. The Father and Son John xvi. 274
glorified 13–15.

EXTRACTS.

I. The Demoniac of Gadara 287
II. Entering Port 292
III. The Unclean Spirit in Dry Places 294
IV. Satan an Angel of Light 296
V. The Young Child 298
VI. Varieties of Preaching 300
VII. The Six Crocodiles 301
VIII. Envious Ambition 303
IX. The Dove, the Raven, and the Eagle 304

[Picture: Picture of Christmas Evans Preaching]