Death of Andrew Davies

We note with sadness the passing of a stalwart of the faith in Andrew Davies. When I went to London Theological Seminary in the early eighties, he was one of four Welshmen who did the bulk of the teaching. (The others were Graham Harrison, Philip Eveson and Hywel Jones). Mr Davies took us for church history (except that for one term he was off with a back problem) and it was often noted that his lectures became more like preaching than lecturing. I remember him telling us at some point that when we preach we are to strike when the iron is hot not to make it hot, an idea that he said is in Christmas Evans. I also remember him asking the class what is the purpose of preaching. Any number of answers were given but none that would satisfy him. Eventually, and I will never forget it, he said in a way that only Andrew Davies could, that the purpose of preaching is to move, to move the people. I may have resisted the idea at the time, even though I had already learned it from my pastor, Derek Garwood. Over the years I have come to believe it more and more strongly. Andrew Davies himself was always moved when he preached and he often moved the congregation too. What a loss. We pray for the family that remain.

I hear the funeral will be on September 14. So sorry I'll be out of the country.

Westminster Conference 2014 Day 1

It was a good day today in Oxford Street at the Westminster Conference. Today had a very Welsh flavour with three Welsh speakers (Stephen Clark, Adrian Brake and Andrew Davies) and three Welshish subjects. Welshmen seemed thicker on the ground than usual too.

The first paper was called holy worldliness (almost the same name as this blog). After a laudatory introduction concerning Whitefield we moved to the way he and Harris were less than perfect in their approach to marriage. Certainly the Harris, Whitefield, Elizabeth James affair is bizarre and Harris's obsession with Mrs Griffith wrong but I felt it was harsh to criticise Whitefield's unsuccessful letter of proposal to Elizabeth Delamotte. Failures by two men in one area does not justify the accusation of dualism. Anyway we had a half decent discussion following the paper.

We then had an excellent introduction to Thomas Charles who died in 1814. His Bible Dictionary had an incredible impact. It makes you wish you spoke Welsh. It begins

"The Holy Scriptures are a treasure house of all profitable and essential knowledge ….. Since they have all been given by the inspiration of God, they must partake of his perfection, and befit it. Because of the perfection of his knowledge, he cannot err; and because of the integrity of his nature, he will not deceive us in any matter; therefore, the knowledge given to us in the Scriptures is lofty, certain and complete. There is nothing which pertains to our condition and our blessedness in another world; nor anything which pertains to our circumstances and our duties in this world, that God, in his holy word, has not given us full instruction, how to behave in all things, in all situations, and towards everyone. The great plan of salvation, through a Mediator, shines clearly and fully in it, before a world of sinners."

You can get one in leather on ebay for around £60-70. There appear to some volumes available online.

The final paper was on Calvinistic Methodism and so the focus was on Wales again but it went well beyond that. The discussion after limped along a little.

Two excellent conferences coming up - Book now!

I've been a bit sleepy on the conference front but I do want to flag up two conferences coming up. The first is the Westminster Authentic Calvinism on December 2 and 3 and the second is the Carey Minsitry in the last days January 6-8. Double click then copy to see more clearly. 

PS Carey time-table here

Westminster Conference 2012 02

I chaired the second session and once again we were looking at 1662, this time with my old LTS church history teacher Andrew Davies, whose brief was to give us some biographies of ejectees. Being a Welshman, he plumped for Philip Henry, who ministered in North Wales and the lesser known Samuel Jones, who ministered in South Wales. We also had a snippet on Thomas Gouge which will appear in the published paper. It was an excellent paper. The discusiion wasn't too bad although we weren't very good at sticking to the subject of what authority we are obliged to submit to and on what issues. All the messages are being recorded and will be available on CD. The published papers usually appear in six months time.

Westminster Conference 2013

This is just a reminder that the Westminster Conference is on next week (Tuesday, Wednesday Dec 4 and 5) at Regent Hall (The Salvation Army) 275 Oxford Street, London W1C 2DJ.

The programmes is as follows

 

1662 and all that (Lee Gatiss)

Two eminent ejectess, Philip Henry and Samuel Jones (Andrew Davies)

Hagiography and history (Andrew Atherstone)

 

Pascal: Truth Through the Mind and Through the Heart (David Gregson)

Christian attitudes to Islam (Roger Welch)

Henry Martyn (Peter Law)

 

The cost is £40. More details here.

 

Aber 09 5

Joel Beeke's final message was aimed especially at young people and was on contagious and consistent integrity from Daniel 1. It was one of the best of the messages I thought. He spoke of Daniel's resolution (1:8) trial (1:14) and perseverance (1:21) making several good points regarding what integrity is, how to face temptation, the need not to be Babylonised and witness (you are the Bible they read).

He said that worldliness is the opposite of the Reformed idea of living in coram deo. It is turning your back on God and living without him. It is practical atheism. It is to put profit, pleasure and position first. Worldliness is interested in going forward rather than upward, in the outward rather than the inward.

What a privilege it has been to sit under this godly man's ministry this week. He has now left for Korea where he is speaking at a large ministers conference in Seoul.

In the evening Andrew Davies gave a fine evangelistic address from Romans 10 speaking of the voice of law, of faith (in conviction, confession and the comfort of justification and regeneration) and the Word itself, which urges us to go to Christ. He passed on that statement from J C Ryle that says of Daniel Rowland "He used also often to say, that a self-righteous legal spirit in man was like his shirt, a garment which he puts on first, and puts off last."

So very quickly, it seems, another conference is over for another year. It was good to have fellowship back here with our friends Keith and Janice Hoare and with Owen Milton and his wife Dilys. Lovely meeting so many but no chance to talk to most.

Family life

It's half term and we've just said goodbye to Eleri's sister and family as they continue their round trip from Cardiff via Wiltshire and London and back to Wales. They have three kids, a little younger than ours and the eight cousins get on really well. They've been bouncing on our new trampoline, watching videos, looking round Hamley's toyshop, etc. Yesterday Glyn and I went to hear Andrew Davies up at the john Owen Centre on preaching the cross. About 30 gathered. We were only able to be present for the morning session when Mr D gave a very full and well thought out paper on understanding the meaning of the cross. Inevitably he had to take cognisance of the various errors and heresies floating around at present. His emphasis, however, was on preserving the mystery of the cross and seeing penal substitution as the key model. He also had an interesting and helpful section on keeping the cross central in our systematic and biblical theology. The cross is good news and it must be preached as good news. It would have been good to sty for the more practical seminar that followed in the afternoon but though Glyn and I have generous, understanding wives one can only push these things so far.

I did take opportunity to get a copy of Philip Eveson's new book a commentary on Leviticus, which he kindly signed for me. The book is dedicated to all LTS students past and present so we should be reading it.

This morning has been very relaxing - pancakes for breakfast a couple of birthday celebrations and a lovely sandwich lunch. Family life is good.