Publisher's note:

The North of Wales in the 1770s was one of the least Christian parts of Britain. The next three decades brought a transformation akin to that of the apostolic era and at the centre of the change was Thomas Charles, ‘the Lord’s gift to North Wales’.

Debarred from the pulpits of his own denomination, and dependent on his shop-keeper wife at Bala, Charles quietly became the leader of the people (‘Calvinistic Methodists’) whose God-anointed witness gathered thousands to the gospel. This astonishing advance involved Bible distribution, the use of circulating schools, preaching, and publishing. More than all these things, there was an outpouring of the Spirit of God and the most enduring lessons of the period have to do with the quality of spiritual life which was then recovered.

This volume, first published in 1838, shows us both what that life was in Thomas Charles’ own experience and how wisely he taught it to others.

Charles’ main characteristic, said Edward Morgan (his editor), was his large measure of love and humility. His life itself, ‘with heaven in his face’, as men said, was a sermon.

For insight into real, biblical Christianity this book will always be one of the classics of evangelical literature. John Elias’ verdict of many years ago remains true, ‘Whatever proceeds from Mr. Charles is excellent’. This was one of the last books in the hands of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones before his death and it led him to conclude that Thomas Charles ‘is definitely one of the most neglected of the spiritual leaders’.

Contents

Biographical Introduction
Preface
ESSAYS
1. LETTERS TO MR D. CHARLES
2. LETTERS TO MISS SARAH JONES (AFTERWARDS MRS THOMAS CHARLES)
3. LETTERS TO HIS WIFE
4. LETTERS TO MISS WRIGHT, OF TARVIN
5. LETTERS TO MR RICHARD JONES, OF WREXHAM
6. LETTERS TO MRS ANN JONES, OF WREXHAM
7. LETTERS TO MR ROBERT JONES, OF TY BWLCYN
8. LETTERS TO MRS THOMAS COLLEY, OF CEFNGWIFED
9. LETTERS TO MISS ELIZA COLLEY, OF CEFNGWIFED
10. LETTERS TO MR JOHN WALKER, OF CHESTER
11. LETTERS TO MR AND MRS JOHN WALKER, OF CHESTER
12. LETTERS TO MR AND MRS WILLIAM ASTLE, OF LONDON
13. LETTERS TO THE REV MR JOHN MAJOR, OF SHAWBURY
14. LETTERS TO MISS MARY ASHWELL, OF MILBORNE PORT
15. LETTERS TO MR R- D-, OF LIVERPOOL
16. LETTERS TO EDWARD MORGAN
17. LETTERS TO MISS MARY FOULKS, OF MACHYNLLETH
18. LETTERS TO MISS MARY HUGHES, OF LIVERPOOL
19. LETTERS TO MRS E-, C- N
20. LETTERS TO THE REV HENRY GREY, OF STENTON

PAPERS – Preface to the Rev Mr Oliver’s Hymn Book
1. SUNDAY SCHOOLS
2. MINUTES OF QUARTERLY MEETINGS