Evangelical Library Lecture Samuel Davies Part 2

Last Monday I gave the second part of my zoom lectue on Samuel Davies and his trip to this country in 1754. Even though I was only trying to deal with half the trip, the part that took him outside London, it was still beyond me and we had to give a rather scrappy account of the East Anglian leg of the journey. Hopefully there was something there for the 20-30 who tuned in. It should be on our Evangelical Library YouTube channel soon and I will endeavour to publish much of the two lectures in In Writing. This extract covers part of his time in Northampton

On August 9 Davies rode to Northampton. Conscious that Doddridge had ministered here Davies felt the town now had a desolate and melancholy look. “The dear remembrance of him engaged my tender thoughts as I rode along, and threw me into pensive melancholy. How much has my mission suffered by his death! I think I never felt such friendly sensations towards an entire stranger.” He called on Doddridge's successor, Robert Gilbert (1708-1760) but found him in company. In conversing with Gilbert the next day, he found there was but little prospect of success for fundraisers in Northampton, the people being lately put to very great expense about their own affairs. He visited the illustrious James Hervey (1714-1758), rector at nearby Weston Favell, and spent most of the day in endearing conversation with him. He notes “I have observed that when I have contracted personal acquaintance with great authors, they have seldom answered the idea I had formed of them from their writings but Hervey greatly exceeded it. The spirit of devotion animates his conversation and the greatest modesty and delicacy of imagination adorns it. The Scriptures are his favourite topic and he charms one with his remarks upon their beauties. He also frequently throws out some pertinent quotation from the Latin and Greek classics, of which he is an excellent master. Blessed be God that there is such a man on this guilty globe.” On the Sunday, Davies preached in Doddridge's pulpit. “The sight of his monument with a very significant inscription, struck my mind with uncommon energy.” The congregation had decreased since Doddridge's death though Davies was not aware that Gilbert preached anything different. He drank tea with Doddridge's widow, “for whom I found a greater friendship than I could decently express.” He was prevailed upon to preach in the evening (Isaiah 66:2). Many gave him the warmest expression of their satisfaction and seemed quite revived. He spent the rest of the evening in conversation with Gilbert (“naturally grave and reserved”) and his assistant, William Warburton.

The next soom lecture will be Dr Densham on Calvin and worship on February 26

Evangelical Library Lecture Samuel Davies

 

On Monday we had the thrid of this Autumn's Evangelical Library lectures when I spoke on zoom on Samuel Davies (born in 1723) and his trip here in 1754. With references to Whitefield, the Wesleys and a host of others, I hope people enjoyed it. You can access the lecture here on YouTube.  

Five More Books Recently Read

I liked that idea of reviewing five books recently read, which I did last month. Here are another randoom five. I so enjoyed Alexander McCall Smith's collection of stories last time that I read another recently. Ths time the gifted story teller takes a series of old photographs and crafts his stories from these. It's a bit like Vivaldi perhaps - every piece well told but may be it's too easy. I also read for the first time Douglas Adams'  The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy., I bought a little box set years ago and have never looked at it so now I've made a start. A well written novel that is still quite funny. Secret Societies by Nick Harding simply goes through different ones informatvely and encyclopediacally. Filled a few gaps in my knowledge. I know Mack Tomlinson through my father-in-law and he recently gifted me a copy of his new hardback on the Brainerd brothers. It's a brilliant book - very informative. By looking at David alongside his brother John, a more realistic and nuanced picture emerges. This is really worth getting hold of. And then finally, Rev Samuel Davies Abroad is a book I've long known about for years. My recent studies on Samson Occom prompted me to look for it again and having found an old library copy online I have devoured it. Samuel Davies came to Britain in around 1754. His diary for the period os fascinating.

Reading the Bible D

To one that trembles at the divine word,the threatenings of it do not appear vain terrors, nor great swelling words of vanity, but the most tremendous realities. Such an one cannot bear up under them, but would tremble, and fall, and die away, if not relieved by some happy promise of deliverance. He that trembles at the word of God is not a stupid hearer or reader of it. It reaches and pierces his heart as a sharp two-edged sword; it carries power along with it, and he feels that it is the word of God, and not of men, even when it is spoken by feeble mortals. Thus he not only trembles at the terror, but at the authority of the word; - which leads me to observe farther, that he trembles with filial veneration of the majesty of God speaking in his word. He considers it as his voice who spake all things into being, and whose glory is such, that a deep solemnity must seize those that are admitted to hear him speak.
Samuel Davies (in a sermon on the Objects of divine favour)