REES, DAVID (1683? - 1748), Baptist minister and theological writer

He is said to have been born in 1683, the son of Rees David, a well-to-do farmer of the Caerphilly district and an active member of the Baptist church at Hengoed. Educated under Samuel Jones (1628 - 1697) at Brynllywarch, he appears to have been baptized and to have been induced to preach in the early 1700's during the early years of Morgan Griffiths's ministry. He was ordained minister of Lime-house, London, in 1709 and remained there until his death, 26 May 1748, at the age of 64.

He was responsible, on behalf of his church, for the article concerning the laying-on-of-hands included in the 1721 edition of the Welsh Baptist Confession of Faith, and acted as mediator in an Arminian controversy at Hengoed in 1730, but is best remembered for his disputation with Fowler Walker, Abergavenny, on infant baptism, and for his publications on the subject - (1) Adnodau or rai Lleoedd Cableddus a Sarhaus o Lyfrau … ar Fedydd Plant, 1732, and (2) Infant Baptism, No Institution of Christ …, 1734. He also published (3) A Free and Sober Enquiry into the truth of certain paragraphs contained in the Assembly's Shorter Catechism …, 1736, (4) Reasons for and against Singing of Psalms …, 1737, and three sermons entitled (5) The State of True Religion in all ages …, 1726, (6) A Modest Plea for the maintenance of the Christian Ministry …, 1729, and (7) A View of the Divine Conduct, in the Government of this Lower World …, 1730. His funeral sermon, by Joseph Stennett, appeared under the title of The Everlasting Covenant the best Support …, 1748.

Author

• Benjamin George Owens

Sources

• Hanes y Bedyddwyr ymhlith y Cymry: o amser yr Apostolion, hyd y flwyddyn hon: yn ddwy ran (Caerfyrddin 1778), 180
• H. B. Thomas, A History of the Baptist Association in Wales (1795), 45
• Hanes y Bedyddwyr yn Nghymru iii, 33
• Joseph Stennett, The everlasting covenant the best support, under all afflictions, and at a dying hour (London 1748)
• W. Rowlands, Cambrian Bibliography (Llanidloes 1869), 361, 365
• Hengoediana, sef, Hanes Eglwys y Bedyddwyr yn Hengoed (1861), 08
• The New Hengoediana, or the History of Hengoed Baptist Church (1910), 37
• William Richards, John Evans (ed.), The Welsh nonconformists' memorial, or, Cambro-British biography: containing sketches of the founders of the Protestant dissenting interest in Wales, 261
• H. Blackwell, NLW MSS 9271A: A Dictionary of Welsh Biography
• T. R. Roberts, Eminent Welshmen: a short biographical dictionary of Welshmen... from the earliest times to the present (1908)
• Josiah Thomas Jones, Geiriadur Bywgraffyddol o Enwogion Cymru (Aberdâr 1867-70), ii, 463
• Enwogion y Ffydd (1880), iii, 119
• Y Gwyddoniadur Cymreig (1889-96) (2nd ed.), ix, 48D
• Geirlyfr Bywgraffiadol o Enwogion Cymru (1870), 874

Additional Links

• VIAF: 54576643
• Wikidata: Q20732883

Published date: 1959

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