A certain gentleman once asked Mr. Davis "what business he had to go up and down babbling?" for so he called the preaching of the Gospel. Mr. Davis, in the presence of all, turned to him, and, with a countenance which testified a good cause and a good conscience, said, "Sir, I was upon the work of my Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. Do you know him?" Whereupon the gentleman was struck with silence, and many more with amazement.
The preaching of Mr. Davis, we suppose, must have been very fervent and affectionate, calculated to a very considerable degree to work upon the passions. It was probably in connexion with this that some disorders arose in their public assemblies. Some females became hysterical, and cried out; and various indications of strongly excited feeling were manifest for a time; and numerous cases of affliction, many of them nervous disorders, appeared amongst them. These things being noised abroad, and exaggerated, caused some reproach.
The subject is thus noticed in the records of the Church:—"Feb. 17th, 1691, a day was kept solemnly by fasting and prayer for the afflicted, where Satan raged extremely; and the faith of God's children was by the uplifted arm of the mighty God of Jacob made to rise proportionably, to the praise of the glory of God in Christ; and since that day, through the goodness of God, the distemper has much abated on several, as a testimony that our God is the God hearing prayer in Zion." Again: "May 23rd, 1691, was a day kept solemnly in fasting and prayer for the afflicted, when God was eminently present; and at the close of the day some of our brethren, naming the awful name of Jesus of Nazareth, brought several of them to themselves, to our great amazement, and as an earnest to encourage our faith that that glorious name ere long will make them perfectly whole." Again: "June 31st, 1691, was kept, the greatest part of the day, solemnly in prayer for the afflicted, for the discovery of any secret mystery of iniquity, if any was at work in reference to them; and for the more clear discovery of the matter of Thomas Haley, because it had been such a thorn in the flesh of this Church of Christ."—We present these extracts to show that there was something rather peculiar in the state of the Church at this time, and in the view they took of the circumstances that arose.
As a specimen of the spirit of the times we may state, that there was a pamphlet published by the opposers of Mr. Davis, entitled, 'A plain and just Account of a most horrid and dismal Plague begun at Rowell, alias Rothwell, in Northamptonshire, which hath infected many places round about; or, a faithful Narrative of the execrable and noisome Errors, and abominable and damnable Heresies, vented by Richard Davis, pretended pastor to a people at Rowell, and by his emissaries, the shoemakers, joiners, dyers, taylors, weavers, farmers, &c.; together with a brief account 1. Of his and his parties' practices; 2. Visions and revelations; 3. Great boasts; 4. Admission of members into their society; 5. His people's self-condemnedness; 6. The number and quality of his hearers' admired fits; 7. Some queries to the country people as matter for further search; 8. An expostulation and advice to the people of Rowell. By Mr. P. Rehakosht, &c., inhabiting on the east side of the seat of the Plague. London: printed for the Author, 1692.' Whoever this author might be, the spirit of his work reflects far greater discredit on himself than any of its charges do on the pastor and his flock. Mr. Davis condescended to reply, and near the close of his pamphlet we find the following noble passage:
If there be any errors I maintain, I care not how soon they fall, though I fell with them; nay, if I could be convinced that I erroneously worded any matter, I should soon publicly declare against my own wording. It is not my own honour I seek, but the honour of him that sent me; and I hope I am always ready to bury my own honour in shame, provided I could secure thereby his name from dishonour and contempt. I should think hard of no confession of mine that should give glory to God. But if it be the truth of Christ I am assaulted for (as thereto I am persuaded it is), then all the attempts against it will be in vain: his truth is like himself—eternal, and will abide steadfast, bright, and insuperable, when I and my opposers are moulded to dust and ashes. In parting, I shall again recommend to them Gamaliel's prudent advice, viz., to let us alone; for if this council be not of God, it will fall of itself; but if it be of God, it shall stand in spite of all their rage and persecution, and they themselves will at last be found fighters against God.
Mr. Davis had to pass through a large measure of censure and rebuke from his brethren. Intelligence was conveyed to the London ministers of Mr. Davis's very disorderly proceedings in sending out the members of his Church to preach; also, respecting disorders in the assemblies, and some reports of erroneous doctrine, as if he were approaching Antinomianism. Remonstrances were sent down to him. Mr. Davis stood upon his defence. He was harshly treated; and being of an ardent temperament, some things would be done and said by him that the prudent would not justify. A public controversy arose. Pamphlets were published on both sides; and neither side, perhaps, could be considered blameless in the matter. That there were some eccentricities in the case of Mr. Davis, and some incautious expressions, every impartial person we suppose would allow; but the spirit of fervent piety, the ardent attachment to the doctrines of divine grace, combined with a deep sense of the obligations to Christian holiness, and some eminent attainments in the divine life, with great labours, and much success, commend Mr. Davis to the grateful remembrance of all the friends of truth and piety.
The following testimony was borne to the sentiments and preaching of Mr. Davis, by the members of the Church at Rowell:—
We, the members of the Church of Christ over which Mr. R. Davis is pastor, and his constant hearers, having seriously considered the principles laid to his charge, do declare and testify they are utterly false, and that the current of his doctrine has been as he himself has laid it down. And further, the design of his preaching amongst us has been to offer pardoning grace, through the blood of Christ, freely to sinners; to press them to accept thereof on pain of damnation; to press us to holiness, from the principle of saving faith; to advance the person and offices of the Lord Jesus—likewise, the person, offices, graces, and gifts of the Spirit; and likewise, to advance electing grace reigning through the righteousness of Christ Jesus. We also attest, that all those evil practices laid to his charge, and especially the ridiculous falsehoods about admissions, are abominable untruths;—whereunto we have subscribed our names at the general Church-meeting, it being a solemn day of fasting and prayer.
(Signed by 40 brethren, members of the Church.)
The authors of the 'History of Dissenters' state: "With all his peculiarities and extravagancies, which were probably increased by the unkind and bitter opposition of his brethren, Richard Davis appears to have been a very pious man, and an extraordinary zealous minister of Christ. From some occasional sermons of his which were published, it is plainly seen that he must have been remarkably popular. There is a simplicity, an animation, and a pungency in them, which, if seconded by a suitable elocution, must have made a powerful impression on the hearts of his hearers. His zeal was of the most ardent kind; and England at that time, perhaps, scarcely could produce a man of more ardent labours in the Redeemer's cause. Not satisfied with performing the duties of the pastoral office to his flock at Rowell, he added the character of an itinerant too, and extended his journeys 80 miles in every direction around the place of his abode. His converts became members of his Church; and as they lived at a distance, and could only attend on particular occasions, they had religious meetings among themselves for prayer, for conversation, for preaching, as opportunities were afforded. That they might enjoy these in the greatest abundance, he called forth the most intelligent members of the Church into action, and employed them in itinerating within his extensive circle.
"Of these lay preachers, whom Mr. Davis sent out, several afterwards became pastors of Churches, formed from the societies which he had collected in the towns and villages in which he was wont to preach. To the honour of Mr. Davis it may be mentioned, that he had imbibed a principle, the want of which at that time was exceedingly injurious to the cause of religion, and circumscribed within narrow limits the usefulness of many excellent men—it may be named the principle of propagation. On this principle did Mr. Davis act, and he united in himself the office and character of pastor, itinerant, and primitive bishop, presiding over his humble presbyters who aided him in the labours of his diocese. While we throw a veil of compassion over his infirmities, it must give pleasure to every friend of religion to witness the fervour of his zeal, and the multiplicity of his labours, to extend the knowledge of Christ as far as his exertions could possibly reach. Let posterity give to his memory the praise which is justly due, and hail Richard Davis as the morning star of propagation."—History of Dissenters, vol. i. p. 396.