Glossalalia and other preternatural phenomena in British evangelical Christianity 1730-1910

Abstract

Glossalalia and other preternatural phenomena in British Evangelical Christianity: 1730-1910. S.Holbrooke-Jones. In refuting the claim of Wesley's critic that 'all the extraordinary gifts and operations of the Holy Ghost belonged only to the apostolical and primitive time,' Part I offers evidence of glossalalia and other preternatural phenomena occurring at various times throughout history: 1) In the New Testament it examines evidence for these spiritual manifestations; particularly the primary sources of Acts II and I Cors. XII, XIII and XIV. 2) In subsequent Church History it records many instances of glossalalia and other kindred phenomena; paying particular attention to Montanism and Jansenism. 3) It assimilates evidence for preternatural phenomena in British Evangelical Christianity during the period 1730-1910 i.e. from the rise of Methodism to the beginning of the modem Pentecostal movement. It lists the following periods of spiritual activity when glossalalia and, or, other preternatural phenomena were frequently manifested: a) The Eighteenth Century Revival and the Rise of Methodism. b) Edward Irving and the Rise of the Catholic Apostolic Church. c) The Port Glasgow Manifestations of 1830. d) The Ulster Revival of 1859 e) The Welsh Revival of I904. f) The Pentecostal Movement of 1907. In Part II there follows an appraisal of the evidence offered with: 1) a detailed discussion of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and in the writings of St.Paul. 2) an examination of the historicity of the evidence for glossalalia and other preternatural phenomena in the New Testament and subsequent Church History. 3) a psychological and physiological study of the phenomena in early Methodism, the Ulster Revival of 1859 and in the 1904 Welsh Revival. The Conclusion lists the incidence of glossalalia and other preternatural phenomena within British Evangelical Christianity (1730-1910) and while acknowledging the doubts about the genuineness of the phenomena, affirm that despite some counterfeits and delusions, a genuine 'heartwork' accompanied by authentic manifestations of the Holy Spirit hos taken place.