“Could you go over the incidents that led to the silence?” I asked. After a few moments’ pause, Mr. Evens Roberts said: “Yes, I will tell you now. On the evening of last Wednesday week, I was getting ready to go to the service at Briton Ferry. I had my overcoat on, my gloves in my hand, and my hat on my head, when a voice said. ‘Don’t go.’ I ought to have told you that before that, before I came downstairs, whilst I was washing, a voice had said in Welsh, ‘Paid myn’d i Briton Ferry’ (‘Don’t go to Briton Ferry’), and then when I got down to the passage, as I have told you, the voice said, ‘Don’t go.’ We were all ready then, and Mr. Mardy Davies was here. Then I felt some pressure (a burden) on my soul. I went back into the room, sat on a chair, and was compelled to pray for the salvation of souls. Then came a second outburst, a greater burden than the other, and I was compelled to go on my knees in great agony of soul. The voice continued to say, ‘Don’t go to-night.’ Then I tried to convey the message to Mr. Mardy Davies, but I failed, so I was compelled to write it down. About that time a voice said, ‘You are to be silent for seven days.’ The sisters were here at time, and after Mr. Mardy Davies left they were asked in writing to sing, ‘Lead, kindly Light.’ The singing was tender and solemn, and they cried as they sang, ‘One step enough for me.’ They afterwards sang, ‘I need Thee every hour,’ and were deeply affected as they sang: -

Mi lyna’n dawel wrth Dy draed.
Mi ganaf am Dy werthfawr waed:
Mi garia’r groes, mi nofia’r don,
Ond ceal Dy anian dan fy mron.

“Submissively at Thy feet I bow.” &c.

“Presently, one of the sisters asked, ‘What are we to do?’ the answer was, ‘Wait until I receive an explicit message from Heaven. He has suggested (this word was doubly underlined in the book) that one of you should go home and the other remain with me.’ After a space of time, and much prayer, the answer came: ‘Annie to remain here to wait upon me, and Mary to go home for holidays, or to go with Maggie and Dan.’”

In the last paragraph I am quoting the memorandum book, and I must explain that “Mary” means Miss Mary Davies (Gorseinon), “Maggie,” Miss Maggie Davies (Maesteg), and “Dan,” Mr. Dan Roberts.

On Thursday morning the book contained the instruction (to Miss Annie Davies): - There is no person except yourself to see me for the next seven days - not even my father or my mother. I am not ill. Tell Mary to inform Dan that he need not trouble, for it is the Lord’s will.”

I may here add from my personal knowledge that Mr. Dan Roberts received that message and acted upon it, although he took the first opportunity available on Thursday after the first silence had been broken to see his brother.

Tell him (continued the note) not to come, for he cannot see me. I cannot see Mary or Maggie.

FIRST DAY.

Continuing to quote from the book, Mr. Evan Roberts read: - On the Tuesday, at 4.22 p.m., I asked the Lord for a message, and received the answer, “Isaiah liv. 10.” A voice spoke plainly in English and Welsh. It was not an impression, but a voice. There was at this time a struggle going on my mind as to what the people would say to this.

SECOND DAY.

On the second day it is noted: -

Referring to the first day’s silence, my experience of the first day was Genesis i., 2 - “Darkness was upon the face of the deep.” But, praise His Holy name, the Spirit of the Lord moved upon the face of the waters. On the second day God has given a command. “Let there be light; Let there be light; light has come into my soul, but this perpetual watching fills my sky with dark clouds - hovering and weary on their way to the West - seven days’ journey. It is always a seven days’ journey to perpetual rest. Life is only a seven days’ journey.

I cannot read my Bible properly, for while I read I may see some wonder, and just then give a word of acclamation, and thus rob this silence of its strength, for silence is a mighty weapon. I would prefer being like Ezekiel, unable to speak. If I were unable to speak there would be no need for this watching. Yet possibly the lesson intended to be taught is to be watchful. I must teach myself to say with beloved Jesus, “Thy will be done.”

THIRD DAY

11.30 third day - Saturday. A wave of joy into my heart to-day about 11.30 - the sound of the name of Jesus, Jesus,” uttered in my ear came to me, and I was ready to jump for joy, and I thought He is enough for me, enough for all men - enough for all eternity. On this third day I was commanded not to read my Bible - the day would have been easier for me otherwise.

“A caller from Australia sent in a letter,” said Mr. Roberts to me, “and this is one item of what I wrote on the back of the letter, which I returned to him.” (And he again referred me to the book.) “Send your prayers to Heaven as direct as you send this (letter) to me, and God will answer immediately.”

Upon looking at the book I noticed that, besides this item, Mr. Roberts had written on the letter twelve questions bearing upon prayer. On another page of the book Mr. Evan Roberts had written: - “Let my conversation be such as could be printed and read by the public without raising a blush upon my cheek. Live a practical life - a life of faith, so that if I leave Wales without a penny in my pocket I shall be satisfied.”

Reverting to the conversation with regard to the first days’ silence, Mr. Roberts said: - “On the margin of a newspaper which was tear-stained I wrote to say that my tongue was tied, and that I should not speak. When I was left alone the Spirit said, “Now, watch, and don’t utter a word.’ I was afraid, but found out on retiring to my room that it was not want of power to speak on my part that prevented me speaking, so that it was evident that it was intended to be a lesson to me in obedience.”

Then coming back to the diary, I noticed a memo. to this effect: - “Third lesson. Speak, Lord in such a way that I may differentiate Thy voice from the cunning of the Evil One.”

I then asked him what this meant, and he said that it was a thought which he had written down after meditating upon the bare possibility of listening to the voice of the Evil One instead of that of God.

FOURTH DAY.

‘A Sunday thought, which I must note in passing, was this: - 6.30 p.m., Sunday. - Paid ag aros nes myn’d i’r nefoedd cyn dechreu canmol y gwaed. Nis gall canmolicth o’r gwaed yn y Nef ddwyn un enaid i’w dderyn. Mae canmol yr Iesu ar y ddaear ddwyn un enaid i’w dderbyn, bydd yn fwy o werth na’r canmol a wneir tuhwnt i’r bedd am dragwyddoldeb.

TRANSLATION:

6.30 p.m. - Wait not until thou goest unto Heaven before beginning to praise the Blood. To praise the Blood in Heaven cannot bring any one soul to accept it. To praise is worthy - if thou canst by singing the praise of Jesus on earth bring but one soul to accept Him, it will be a greater thing than all the praise beyond the graves to eternity.

Referring again to the diary, I remarked that there was, I presumed, another thought jotted down as the days wore on. “Fourth day. I am going to be what God wants me to be.” Mr. Evan Roberts said, “Yes.”

FIFTH DAY.

On the fifth day was this note, which clearly indicates the burden which the silence entailed upon the evangelist - “Too tried to write.” Later on were these notes: -

Yr wyf wedi body n agos iawn at Dduw y prydnawn hwn - mor agos nes chwysu.

TRANSLATION:

I have been very near to God this afternoon - so near as to make me sweat.

“I must take great care, first, to do all that God says - commands - and that only. Moses lost himself here - struck the rock. Second, to take every matter, however insignificant, to God in prayer. Joshua lost himself here; he made a covenant with the Gibeonites, who pretended that they lived in a far-off country, while they were living close at hand. Third, to give obedience to the Holy Spirit. Fourth, to give all the glory to Him.”

Mr. Evan Roberts explained to me that the understanding of the word “all” in the last sentence was emphatic. He had drawn three lines under the words, and a voice told him to put a fourth. And he put it. Then came this entry on the book: “Here am I, an empty vessel; take me, Lord!”

And following this was the expression of a desire to go to Palestine, and I give it because the same book contains a striking sequel to it: -

“I want to go to Palestine,” it read. “If it is the Lord’ will, I shall go. I should like to go ere long, just to use my experiences afterwards to draw people to the feet of the Cross. I should like to walk on the slopes of Calvary, and while there think of the Blessed Saviour while He wended His way with heavy-laden steps to its summit.”

The next item in the diary was in Welsh: -

9.37. - Y mae chwant arnaf waeddi, “Three cheers i’r Iesu,”neu fel y csnodd “Tudno”: -

“Canaf ar bwne nef a byd. A Dwyfol Arwr deufyd.”

TRANSLATION:

9.37. - I have a mind to shout “Three cheers for Jesus,” as “Tudno” (a noted Welsh bard) sang: -

“O Heaven and earth, the topic now I sing. The Godlike Man of this world and the next.”

SIXTH DAY

Then come more memoranda, and among these the sequel to the Palestine wish - “Sixth day. You remember I said I would like to go to Palestine. Yes. Well, you know I said that should have no money to go. Well, a lady has written to me to-day offering to give me £20 towards ‘one of the delightful’ trips to Palestine Diolch!

6.25 p.m. - Voice: Mae ffyydd y bobl yn cael ei phrofi yn gymaint a’th ffydd di. Oni chedwais i di am bedwar mis ar y pineal, ac yn ngwydd yr holl fyd?

Os ceddwn yn gallu dy gadw yn y cyhcedd, a ydyw Fy ngallu yn llai i dy gadw yn y dirgel?

Os cedwais i di am bedwar mis, oni allaf dy gadw am saith niwrnod?

5.21. - Llais: Cymer dy bin ao ysgrifena: “Wele, myfi yw yr Arglwaydd yr Hwn a’th gododd i fyny o’r dyfnder. Myfi a’th gyneliais hyd yn hyn. Agor dy lygid ar y mensydd a gwel hwynt yn wynion. A oddefaf fi i ti i arlwyo bwrdd i’m gelynion? Fel mae byw fi, medd yr Arglwydd, ffeneetri y nefcedd a agorir, a’r gwlaw a ddisgyn ar y ddaear grasboeth. Gwelir y blodau eto yn harddu yr anialwch, y doldir yn gyfaneddlo brenhinoedd, a ddaer a dardd ae a flagura yn ei chyfoeth. Y nefeedd a edrych dan chwerthin ar gyfoeth cuddiedig y ddaear yn dwyn gogoniant i Dduw. Agor dy law, a llanwaf hi a nerth; agor dy safn, a llanwaf ef a doethineb; agor dy galon, a llewir hi a chariad. Edrych i’r gorllewin, a galw filoedd. Edrych i’r do a dywed, ‘Tyred’; edrych i’r gogledd, a dywed ‘Denwch’: edrych i’r Dwyrain. Edrych i’r Dwyrain! Edrych i’r Dwyrain, a dywed, ‘Cyfoded yr Haul, gwasgared ei wres. Cyfoded bywyd. Bydded byw y cenedloedd a wrthodasant fy enw. Tro at y brenhinoedd a dywed, ‘Plygwch.’ Tro at y marchogion a dywed, ‘Ymddarestyngwch’; Tro at yr offeiriad a gwaedda, ‘Cyfiawnder, barn, tosturi, maddeuant.’ Ynysoedd, forcedd, a theyrnasoedd, gwrandewch arnaf. Myli yw yr Hollalluog Dduw. A rai di mi godi fy ngwialen arnoch? Oni thyngais drwy y prophwyd Esaiah, ‘I mi fy hun y tyngais, aeth y gair allan o’m genau mewn eyfiawnder, ae ni ddychwel, mai i mi y plyg pob glin, y twng pob tafod,’”? - Isaiah xlv.,23.

TRANSLATION:

6.25 p.m. - A voice: The faith of the people is being proved as much as thine own. Did I not sustain thee during four months on the pinnacle, in sight of the whole world? If I sustained thee in public, is my power less to sustain thee in private? If I sustained thee during the months, can I not sustain thee for seven days?

5.21. - Voice: Take thy pen and write: - Lo, I am the Lord, Who hath lifted thee up from the depth. I have sustained thee thus far. Lift up thine eyes and look on the fields, and, behold, they are white. Shall I suffer thee to spread a table before Mine enemies? As I live, saith the Lord, the windows of heaven shall be opened and the rain shall come down on the parched earth. With flowers the wilderness shall yet be decked, and the meadowland shall yet be the habitation of kings. The ground shall sprout and blossom in its fullness, and the heaven shall look down with laughter upon the hidden riches of the earth, yielding glory unto God. Open thine hand, and I will fill it with power. Open thy mouth, and I will fill it with wisdom. Open thy heart I will fill it with love. Look towards the west, and call thousands; towards the south, and say “Come”; towards the north, and say, “Draw nigh.” Look towards the east, towards the east, towards the east, and say, “Let the sun arise and shed forth its warmth. Let life spring up. Let the nations which have rejected My name live.” To kings turn thyself and say, “Bend.” To knights, “Submit ye.” To the priests, “Deal out judgment, pity, forgiveness.” Ye islands, seas, and kingdoms, give ear unto Me, I am the Almighty. Shall I lift My rod over you? Did I not swear by the prophet Isaiah: “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return. That unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear”? - Isaiah xlv. 23.

SEVENTH DAY

“Seventh day.” - Under this heading the memorandum is: -

5.17. - At my table, tears in my eyes. Why? I have just been opening my heart to my Master, and said that I am only a worker in his fields, doing my best, while others working for the same Master leave His work to come to hinder me. [This refers, so he explained to me, to some of the critical and sarcastic letters which he receives now and again.] I asked my dear Master to protect me. I want to work for my Saviour. Why cannot we have the millions for Him? He died to save millions. How many can I bring to Him? I feel much stronger now God has answered my prayer.