OF THE WELSH BAPTISTS, FROM THE YEAR SIXTY-THREE TO THE YEAR ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY. BY J. DAVIS. PITTSBURGH: PUBLISHED BY D. M. HOGAN, No. 78, WOOD STREET. EPHRAIM LLOYD, PRINTER. Entered, according to act of Congress, in the year One thousand eight hundred and thirty-five, by J. Davis, in the clerk's office of the District Court of the United States for the Western District of Pennsylvania. PREFACE. AS NOTHING makes stronger impressions upon the mind than example, a view of the lives and principles of eminent persons, and the consideration of the rise and progress of the Christian Religion, might be the most powerful means, under the blessing of God, to lead others to follow the footsteps of those who have denied themselves, taken up the cross, and followed their Lord through evil and good report. Every one, therefore, who has any concern for the glory of God, and the welfare of his fellow creatures, will, most cordially, encourage every effort, in order to obtain these glorious ends. How far this book will answer that purpose, is not for us to say; it must be submitted to the judgment of the reader. Though the most part is a translation (abridged,) of Thomas's History of the Baptists in Wales, yet we have collected all that we deemed interesting from every other author that we could find on the subject. It might not be improper to mention the names of some of the authors, from which many of these documents have been taken, and also to make a few remarks relative to the character of the men, and the time in which they lived, as far as we have been informed by authors of later date. Gildas Fritwn, is the oldest Welsh Historian we could find; because almost all the books that were written before Dioclesian's time, were consumed in that fire, that he ordered to be kindled, (in his wrath and indignation) against the followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. Gildas wrote some of his books in Latin and some in Welsh, in and about the year 548. He was a good man, and a Minister of the Gospel. More of him hereafter.* Twrog was one of the first ecclesiastical Welsh Historians; for Gildas wrote chiefly on the troubles of the times, and the duty of religious people, and the degeneracy of the age. Twrog wrote about the year 600. We have not seen his writings; but Dr. Thomas Williams says he has seen it in the parish church of Gelynnog, Carnarvonshire, in 1594, covered with black stone.t Tyssilio also wrote his history in Welsh, about the same time. His works are often quoted by other Historians. Jeffre ap Arthur, Bishop of Llanelwy, and Caradog of Lancarvan, are considered the best national historians; both of them wrote in Welsh, 1132. The works of the former were translated into Latin by himself; and the other *De Exidio Britannie; and Hanes y ffydd, 4th ed. p. 184.; also Thomas's Preface, p. 19. + Drych y prif oesoedd, p. 217, and Arch. Brit. p. 225. |