A wonderful assemblage of over 300 pages of original and unpublished manuscript sermons in both Welsh and English by prominent Welsh Congregationalists of the late 18^th century. Many of the divines were spiritual children of and successors to the labors of Howell Harris, Daniel Rowland, George Whitefield, etc,. who’s progeny were split between the Calvinistic Methodists and the Welsh Congregationalist movements.

A wonderful assortment constitutive of late 18^th century revivalist and evangelical thought in Wales and perhaps of the kind of “in house” ministry training young preachers received, as there are a fair number of theological lectures included as well.

A completely unique grouping and worthy of preservation.

3pp MSs sermon outlines [2 Corinthians 11.3; Matthew 28.20] partially in ink and partially in pencil by the Rev Jenkin Lewis of Wrexham. [Scriptum per me]

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22pp [of 24] MSs sermon on Exodus 20.3, Thou shalt have no other Gods before me, in sepia ink. A full manuscript sermon, unsigned, certainly 18^th century, some losses, including a stain on the first sheet and lacking a final leaf. Superb content and legible.

24pp [same hand as previous] MSs sermon on Exodus 20.4, 5, 6. Preached at Fairfield, April 26^th, 1761. This and the previous excellent on the decalogue, and very legible.

25pp [same hand as previous] MSs sermon on 2 Corinthians 5.14, For the Love of Christ Constraineth Us, because we thus judge, &c. An excellent evangelical discourse, dated January 6, 1760. Interestingly, significant portions of the sermon have been cribbed verbatim or nearly verbatim from Thomas Manton’s sermon on the same. There are some modified transitions, etc., The previous two by the same minister do not appear to be lifted from elsewhere.

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16pp MSs sermon on Matthew 18.11, For the Son of Man is come to save that which was lost. Preached March 5, 1789 by Rev. John Richards at Penygroes [minister at Trefgarn Wales]. [Scriptum per me]

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8pp MSs of sermon outlines and a hymn by various important late 18^th century Welsh divines. All in Welsh. Includes a sermon by John Griffith [November, 1789]; one by Benjamin Jones at Bethel [1789]; one by Ebenezer Skeel [1789]; Benjamin Hughes [1789]; another by Benjamin Hughes [1789]; Ebenezer Jones [1789]; David Davies [1789]; and John Thomas [1790]. It is ended with a six stanza hymn by John Griffith of Glandwr.

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32pp MSs sermon on Psalms 119.54, Thy statues have been my song in the house of my Pilgrimage. Highly legible.

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16pp MSs of addresses or sermons by Benjamin Phillips, some in English and some in Welsh. Then a page entitled Lines Composed by Mr. John Devonats, Late of Graig, in his last sickness, 1769.

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8pp MSs in two hands; the first five pages of which are composed of a non-authorial holograph from Benjamin Keach’s Tropologia. There is then a separate page with religious injunctions and an address panel, “Mr. Thos Woolcock. Pelcorn. Haverford West. South Wales. To be left at Sign of 3 Mariners.”

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8pp MSs sermon outlines by Jenkin Lewis and Mr. Browne at Wrexham, dated to 1792.

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 16pp MSs of sermon outlines by John Richards, John Griffith at Newport, Morgan Jones at Penygroes, David Lloyd at Glandwr, John Griffith at Glandwr, Benjamin Phillips, and Morgan Jones again, but at Grandwr, Wales, 1789.

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16pp MSs complete sermon. Author not indicated, appears somewhat earlier than the rest, perhaps early to mid 18^th century. On Luke 2.10, 11. In Welsh.

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1p 7 stanza hymn by William Griffith. Dated 1790.

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6pp folding MSs sermon “Of Faith” by John Griffith, the first page of which is in Welsh [1789].

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16pp MSs of addresses or sermon outlines, all in Welsh. Includes John Phillips at Penygroes [1788], Morgan Jones at Penygroes [1788], John Thomas [1788], Benjamin Evans [1788], and John Griffith [1788].

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15pp MSs of addresses or sermon outlines, in Welsh. Includes John Davies [1790], John Griffith [1790], William Evans [1790], etc.,

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7pp MSs sermon on John 17.15 by Arthur Clegg at Wrexham, Feby 19, 1792.

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2.5pp MSs notes of a lecture or sermon, Reasons against eternal generation, by Mr. William Evans at Wrexham

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1p. folio MSs hymn by Richard Lloyd, in Welsh, seemingly presented on the occasion of ordination to the Gospel ministry.

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Plus a 50pp incomplete 18^th century theological MSs in in Welsh, a 16pp non-authorial holograph of extracts from the writings of William Gurnall dated to 1790, a single sheet hymn [in Welsh] by John Griffith [1789], and a 12 stanza apparently unpublished poem on the “senses” as lines of the Devil’s attack. The last seems likely to have been penned after a reading of John Bunyan’s Holy War, as the “sense gates” language bears some similarity. It is unsigned and untraced.

The assemblage was originally the property of Rev. Thomas Picton [1775-1861]. Born in Wales, he was converted as a young man and immediately sensed a call to preach. He was trained under John Griffith of Grandwr beginning 14 years of age, and began preaching at around 17 years old. When he emigrated to American [1796] he seems to have gathered together these original notes of the formative preachers and lecturers to bring with him.

After his arrival in America, he graduated Princeton and became just the second official “Chaplain” at West Point, and the only Presbyterian, preaching regularly at the Chapel for all the troops, etc., He was succeeded by the prominent evangelical Anglican, C. P. McIlvaine.