THEIR AUTHORS AND ORIGIN. 171
conversation upon religious experience, and for sympathy and counsel.
Williams wrote in prose as well as in poetry. In 17G8 lie published in Welsh " Three men from Sodom and Egypt," and "The Crocodile of the River of Egypt," and some other treatises.
After a period of suffering he ended his holy, laborious, and successful course at Pautycelyn, near Llandovery, January llth, 1791, aged 74.
Williams was as much celebrated for his poetry in his native tongue as he was for his talent and usefulness in preaching the Gospel. The popularity of the preacher opened the way for the reception of his poems, and the excellence of the pieces themselves made them retain their place when once received. They are now generally used by all denominations of Christians in the Princi pality, and held in the highest veneration by the people. They originated in a challenge given by Harris at an "Association" meeting to the brethren to try their hands at producing a few stanzas, to be read at the next meeting. Williams s perspicuity of expression and richness of imagination at once declared him " facile primus ;" and, thus encouraged, he began to write for the service of Christ. His first Welsh book of hymns was his " Alleluia," which went through three editions about 1750. In 1762 he sent forth his next book of hymns, " The Sea of Glass." This soon passed through five editions. Then followed a third volume, " Visible Farewell ; Welcome to Invisible Things." And yet another, called " Alleluia again." His Welsh hymns are now collected in one volume. Soon after his first " Alleluia," Williams published a work rich in Christian theology, " A View of the Kingdom of Christ." He translated " Erskine on the Assurance of Faith." He also produced " Pantheologia," and a work resembling Bunyan s "Pilgrim s Progress," entitled " Theo- memphus " (1781). He also wrote a large number of elegies, including one of considerable length on the death of Whitefield. This was published in 1771, and dedicated to the Countess of Huntingdon.
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