MEREDITH, THOMAS (fl. 1747-1770), Methodist exhorter, and Antinomian.
Originally from Llanbryn-mair, he lived at Mochdre, Mont., and in the Association held at Tyddyn, 1747, he is named as an exhorter. In 1750 he belonged to Howel Harris's party but was turned out in 1751, perhaps because he inclined to Antinomianism and had come under the influence of Thomas Sheen (q.v.). He returned to his old haunts and succeeded in winning over a few followers. In 1770 selected portions of the works of William Erbury (q.v.) and Morgan Llwyd (q.v.), etc., collected by him, were published under the title A Scourge for the Assirian the great Oppressor (W. Laplain, Salop). His views are to be found in a book, An Illustration of Several Texts of Scripture, which includes several of his letters and which was published posthumously in 1770 from the same press. There is a mystical element in his work, which shows a tendency to the old doctrinal heresies of the Monophysites.
Bibliography:
- Robert Jones (Rhoslan), Drych yr Amseroedd, 1820, 136, 143;
- Hanes Meth. Cymru, i, 409, ii, 241, 324, 377;
- J. Gwili Jenkins, Hanfod Duw a Pherson Crist, 140;
- R. Bennett, Meth. Tref. Uchaf, 79, 183, 107-9;
- Llyfr. y Cym., 518;
- Mont. Worthies, 195.
Author:
Rev. Gomer Morgan Roberts, M.A., (1904-93), Pont-rhyd-y-fen / St Dogmael's / Llandybïe
