DEN
 
 THE HOLY AET 
 
 OP 
 
 WINNING SOULS TO CHRIST, 
 
 EXEMPLIFIED 
 
 IN THE 
 
 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 OF THE LATE 
 
 EEV. M, JONES, 
 
 OF TRELECH, CARMARTHENSHIRE: 
 BY 
 
 THE REV. J. J. BEYNON. 
 
 LONDON 1 
 J. SNOW, PATERNOSTER ROW.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Whatever is calculated to advance the cause of Christ, 
 to serve our day and generation, especially the genera- 
 tions yet unborn, it ought to be our great concern to 
 promote and preserve. Religious biography is in a high 
 degree adapted to do this. Hence it is the Scriptures 
 present to our view, so great a cloud of witnesses, that 
 by the powerful attraction of their example, sinners 
 might be drawn to choose the same " good way," and 
 saints stimulated, to lay aside every weight, and the sin 
 which doth so easily beset them, and run with patience 
 the race that is set before them, looking unto Jesus, 
 the author and finisher of their faith. The written 
 lives of holy and useful men, in successive ages of the 
 church, and the varied circumstances of persecution, 
 and peace of suffering, and enjoyment, have been in- 
 strumental in a great degree, in promoting the interest 
 of religion in the world. The young minister needs to 
 be instructed, stimulated, and encouraged in his work, 
 and there is nothing more calculated to accomplish this, 
 than scripture, and other religious biographies. Ex- 
 hibit to him, and place before him in a proper light, 
 the trials and temptations, the conflicts and the achieve- 
 ments, the victories and the rewards of those Christian 
 heroes, who were once engaged on the field of action, 
 as he now is, and this under the divine blessing will 
 be attended with the happiest effects ; it will encourage, 
 and animate with a laudable spirit of emulation, the 
 young warrior to press forward, and aim at the same 
 high mark to aspire to glory too, and tread the same 
 path to heaven. 
 
 If the memory of the just be blessed, it is our duty 
 to extend the blessing, and hand it down to posterity 
 
 1C81
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 by means of the press ; thereby the pious deeds, and 
 examples of godly and successful labourers in the vine- 
 yard, will be preserved, and will prove to the church 
 in ages to come, something like the sacred ark and its 
 contents, to the Hebrews of old. It is much to be re- 
 gretted, then, that the memory of many good and useful 
 ministers of Jesus Christ, should be permitted to float 
 down the stream of oblivion, with that of the promis- 
 cuous multitude, for want of the disposition, or the 
 means to preserve it. This is especially the case in 
 Wales ; many ministers, eminent for their piety and 
 usefulness, have on this account been lost to the church, 
 almost as soon as they were dead. Mr. Jones, who is 
 the subject of this memoir, was one of the most useful 
 ministers in his, or perhaps, any other time. During his 
 ministry, he received upwards of 2,400 hopefully con- 
 verted persons to the fellowship of the churches under 
 his care. The writer was personally acquainted with 
 him, heard him for some years with delight, and hopes 
 with profit ; and had the honour of being received by 
 him into the church, of which he was the pastor ; and 
 now deems it his duty, to give this testimony of grati- 
 tude and affection to the memory of one whom he 
 esteemed as his friend and spiritual father. 
 
 It is to be regretted, that no diary has been found* 
 or other record, written by Mr. Jones himself, to- assist 
 in giving the particulars and incidents of his life and 
 labours, in the regular order in which it could be desired. 
 The writer here begs to acknowledge his obligation to 
 the Rev. S. Griffiths : from a funeral sermon by whom, 
 and a short memoir published in Welsh, he has derived 
 considerable assistance towards the account which is 
 here given of Mr, Jones's life. J J B 
 
 Dorrington, Salop, 
 
 August 20fft, 1848.
 
 LIFE & MINISTRY OF MR. JONES. 
 
 MR. JONES was born in the year 1768, at a 
 place called Troed-y-Rhiw-Cwmglyn, in the 
 parish of Llywel, and county of Brecon. It 
 was his lot, like many good and great men, to 
 descend from humble but respectable parents. 
 Is it not to be regretted, that there should some- 
 times appear in the Christian biographer, a dis- 
 position to throw a veil over the humble cottage 
 or the farm house, where the useful minister, 
 the man of God, first drew his breath ? Does 
 not this hide what should be made prominent, 
 the providence and the grace of God, in raising 
 up and qualifying whom he pleases for his work 
 and service ? It is otherwise with the sacred 
 historian: yes, there we are led to look in a 
 moral and physical sense "unto the rock whence 
 they were hewn, and the hole of the pit whence 
 they were digged." They do not hesitate to 
 tell us, that the best of kings, was once Jesse's
 
 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 son and Jesse's shepherd ; that the apostles of 
 Christ were once fishermen and tent-makers; 
 and that " he the Prince of the kings of the 
 earth," was born in a stable, and cradled in a 
 manger. They like to shew us, and we need to 
 see it more and more, that real greatness and 
 true excellence, are not in the power of this world 
 to bestow nor take away. 
 
 Mr. Jones was the only child of Evan and 
 Ann Jones, who grew to years of maturity. His 
 mother was eminent for her piety and consistent 
 profession. She was a member of the church of 
 Christ at Cefen Arthen. She early and earnestly 
 implored that the mercy of her God and Saviour 
 might be extended to her child; and like Timo- 
 thy he was taught from infancy to know the 
 holy scriptures. In her was exemplified the 
 beautiful promise and description in Psalm xcii, 
 12th, 15th, "those that be planted in the 
 house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of 
 our God, they shall bring forth fruit in old age." 
 She was adorned with the ornament of a meek 
 and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of 
 great price. 
 
 The incidents, and remarkable escapes of
 
 OF MR. JONES. 
 
 childhood, generally make a lasting impression 
 on the mind. Some of these Mr. Jones would 
 at times relate with much feeling and interest. 
 The following was one of them. When he was 
 about four years of age, his father and mother 
 having occasion to attend a fair at Brecon, left 
 their child, little Morgan, under the care of a 
 friend for the day. Morgan slyly watched an 
 opportunity to follow them, and rail away from 
 the house in the direction his parents had gone. 
 Having proceeded a good way, he knew not what 
 course to take. However, at last he reached the 
 great road leading from Carmarthen to Brecon, 
 or as it is best known as the Gloucester and 
 H averfordwest road, and being now exhausted, 
 he was here in great danger of being killed by 
 cattle and horses, large droves of which often 
 pass on this road, from Wales to England; 
 little Morgan got among them, but an invisible 
 hand preserved him, for he was a chosen vessel 
 unto God, who had a great work for him to do > ( 
 and as in the case of the infant Moses, a pro- 
 tector was provided in due time. It is said by 
 his Welch biographer, " some one had mercy 
 on him, and having used means to find out his
 
 8 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 home and his parents, restored him to them." 
 
 His parents gave him as good an education as 
 in their circumstances could he expected : he 
 was sent to school in the neighbourhood for 
 some years, and was taught to rpad and write 
 better than most in that part of the country, be- 
 fore he was taken away from it. As he was 
 designed for agricultural pursuits, when about 
 the age of twelve, he went to live with one of 
 the deacons of the church at Cefen Arthen, a 
 respectable fanner, whose name was Philip 
 Thomas. He was about this time, under deep 
 and serious impressions, and was, what many 
 would call a very religious boy ; but it appears 
 that he did not know the truth savinglv, till he 
 was between thirteen and fourteen years of age. 
 According to his own account, he thought that 
 about this time he was enabled by grace, to yield 
 himself to the Saviour, and as a lost sinner, to 
 seek mercy and salvation th'rough faith in Christ 
 Jesus. It was now that he first knew any thing 
 of that peace with God, which passeth all un- 
 derstanding, liberty from the law as a covenant 
 of works, and access to God under the influence 
 of the spirit of adoption. At fourteen years of
 
 OF MR. JONES. 
 
 age he was admitted a member of the church at 
 Cefen Arthen, by the late Rev. Peter Jenkins, 
 who preached and administered the ordinances 
 of the gospel in that place, during the interval 
 between the death of their late minister Mr. 
 Jones, of Ty-gwyn, and the ordination of the 
 
 Rev. Thomas over the church as its pastor. 
 
 In a short time after this, circumstances oc- 
 curred, which led to his going to live with Mr. 
 Morgan Davies, a respectable man, and one of 
 the elders of the church just referred to; whether 
 he was related to Mr. Davies or not, the writer 
 is not certain, but Mr. and Mrs. Davieis, who 
 were without children, treated him as if he had 
 been their own child, and continued to do so as 
 long as they lived; and he endeared himself 
 greatly to them by his piety and exemplary 
 conduct. As he was designed for agricultural 
 and farming pursuits, he had placed under his 
 care the principal part of Mr. Davies's farming 
 stock. But the time was now come for the 
 purpose of God respecting him to be developed ; 
 " His thoughts are not as our thoughts, neither 
 are his ways our ways :" God calls and qualifies 
 his servants for his own work and service, let
 
 10 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 their profession, calling, advantages, or disad- 
 vantages, or the purposes of men respecting 
 {hem, be what they may; when his time is 
 come, when the Lord hath need of them, every 
 thing else must yield to him. Moses must leave 
 Jethro's flock, whether he had anticipated it or 
 not. When the time is come for God to be 
 exalted in the camp of Israel, by the fall of the 
 proud champion of the Philistines, the son of 
 Jesse must leave his father's sheep in the wilder- 
 ness, and take the field in the name of the God 
 of Israel. Levi must leave the " receipt of cus- 
 tom," and the sons of Zebedee their nets and 
 fishing boats. 
 
 While Mr. Jones lived in Mr. Davies's family 
 such was his desire for books, and thirst for read- 
 ing, and the acquirements of knowledge, that he 
 appeared sometimes to have no power to attend 
 to any thing else. He had such a retentive 
 memory, that he could repeat the sermons he 
 heard almost verbatim to the family, and what- 
 ever he read he retained ; yet he would remem- 
 ber nothing or next to nothing, connected with 
 his business and occupation. When sent to 
 fetch the cows or the horses, he would some-
 
 OF MR. JONES. 
 
 times forget his errand, and though they were 
 required by a certain time, yet he would forget 
 all, and on being followed would be found read- 
 ing as he went along the field, or sitting under 
 a tree or hedge quite absorbed in thought, un- 
 conscious, till roused, that there was anything 
 the matter or done amiss ; and though he ap- 
 peared so neglectful, and unfit for business, yet 
 this did not in the least diminish Mr. and Mrs. 
 Davies's respect for him, but rather increased 
 it, even to veneration. He was often called 
 upon to take part in the prayer meetings, which 
 were held from house to house in the neigh- 
 bourhood, and often at Mr. Davies's; he was 
 remarkably consistent, scriptural, and tender in 
 his prayers; they bore evidence that they pro- 
 ceeded from a feeling heart, and a soul on terms 
 of holy familiarity with God. When it was 
 known that young Morgan Jones was to be at 
 the prayer meeting, the house was often too 
 small to hold the people, as many were anxious 
 to hear him. Were the prayers offered at our 
 prayer meetings, more of this character, and 
 spirit, the writer is inclined to believe that 
 there would be no cause for the almost uni-
 
 12 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 versal complaints in respect to attendance. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Davies concluding from the 
 eminent piety, aptness to teach, mental qualifi- 
 cations, and earnest desire to be useful, which 
 Morgan Jones evinced, that God had designed 
 him for the ministry, sent him to a respectable 
 school in the neighbourhood. The church also 
 of which he was a member, about this time took 
 knowledge of him ; and after deliberation and 
 prayer, invited him to exercise his gifts, first at 
 some private meetings of the friends, and church 
 meetings of the members, and when he had 
 passed through this trying but very proper or- 
 deal, to the great satisfaction of the church, he 
 was encouraged to proceed with his studies with a 
 view to the Christian ministry; and was fully 
 authorised to preach publicly, wherever, and 
 whenever he had an opportunity. This is 
 generally the way in which young me'n are 
 introduced into the ministry, in the congrega- 
 tional churches in South Wales. Providence at 
 this time also seemed to favour him in a re- 
 markable manner, in removing obstacles out of 
 his way, and in opening a door for his admis- 
 sion to a respectable academy, kept by the lato
 
 OF MR. JONES. 13 
 
 Rev. John Griffiths, at Glandwr, in Pembroke- 
 shire. Mr. Griffiths was famed in his day as 
 being an excellent scholar, and many of his 
 pupils and students did him great credit, as 
 they excelled much in classical learning. Mr. 
 Jones here made a very considerable progress in 
 the knowledge of the English, Latin, and Greek 
 languages, as well as other useful branches of 
 education. He, by his assiduity, and the skill 
 of his tutor, became so well-grounded in his ac- 
 quaintance with the above-mentioned languages, 
 as to be able to consult Pool's Synopsis, and 
 other works in Latin, with his Greek Testament 
 to his great advantage. 
 
 Mr. Jones during the time of his studies, 
 was enabled to maintain the life of religion in 
 his soul, and his first love nnabated, which 
 under such circumstances is no very easy matter, 
 though* one of great importance ; much of the 
 future character and usefulness of the minister 
 depend upon what he is when a student ; then he 
 is the minister in embryo. He, who when a 
 student gives reason to the pious and watchful 
 tutor to suspect his piety, or to grieve on account 
 of his indifference and negligence, is never like-
 
 14 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 ly to make a zealous or useful minister. Mr. 
 Jones, during the four years he spent at Glan- 
 dwr, stood high in the esteem of his tutor, the 
 students, and the church, as a man, a Christian, 
 and a scholar. 
 
 When Mr. Jones finished his studies he was 
 invited to hecome the pastor of the church and 
 congregation, meeting at the Rock chapel, in the 
 parish of Trelech, in the county of Carmarthen. 
 This church, which it seems was formed some 
 time in the sixteenth century, was for some years 
 connected with the church meeting at Henllan, 
 in the same county. During its connection with 
 that church, the minister of Henllan preached 
 and administered the ordinances of religion to 
 the people at this place. At that time they 
 used to meet at a house by the side of a small 
 river, near a place called Dinas. Some years 
 after, a small chapel was built, where the pre- 
 sent one stands, and the minister from Henllan 
 still continued to supply the pulpit, and admin- 
 ister the ordinances. There is some account 
 of one Mr. Thomas Jones, of Llanffrwd, as an 
 acceptable preacher among them at this time. 
 A separation having taken place between the two
 
 OF MR. JONES. 15 
 
 churches, we are informed that the Rev. 
 
 Jenkins, of Crug-y-mace, took the oversight in 
 the Lord of them. He was it seems a plain, 
 good, and sensible man ; not being present at 
 one of their church-meetings, which here are 
 held in the day, he was asked how it was that 
 he was not with them ? " I was getting in my 
 hay," he said, " that is a work that must be done 
 while the sun shines, and I must get hay for 
 my horse, to come to you in winter, else I can- 
 not come." Some years afterwards one Mr. 
 Lewis Richards, of Fron-las, a member of the 
 church, " who was a pious and sensible man, and 
 who had for some time preached the gospel with 
 much acceptance, was chosen by the church and 
 was ordained to take the oversight of them in 
 the Lord." He laboured with much diligence 
 for some years, and it appears not without some 
 degree of success. He was called to his rest 
 in the year 1723. The Rev. J. Davies, of 
 Neath, was next invited to become the pastor, 
 and accepted the call. He was a gentleman of 
 property, and of the most pious and amiable 
 character ; he left Neath and came to reside on 
 his own estate, called Fynondafelog, near his
 
 16 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 charge, in the parish of Trelech. Few men 
 bore a more respectable character than Mr. J. 
 Davies; his prudence, wisdom, urbanity, and 
 faithfulness as a minister, gave him great power 
 and influence in the country ; he was highly 
 and universally esteemed in his day, and his 
 memory has been handed down to posterity 
 with a sweet and refreshing odour. Mr. Davies 
 died in the Lord, in the year 1765. 
 
 In the year 1767, the Rev. Owen Davies, of 
 Croft-y-cyff, received a call from the church, 
 and left his charge at Crofl-y-cyff, and under- 
 took the pastoral care of the church at Trelech. 
 It appears that he was diligent and useful among 
 them for many years. A remarkable circum- 
 stance took place about the year 1787, which in 
 the end caused the dissolution of the relation 
 between Mr. O. Davies and the church at this 
 place. A few members of the church at Glan- 
 dwr, having imbibed erroneous views of certain 
 doctrines, especially of the person, and atone- 
 ment of Christ views inconsistent with those 
 professed by the church at that place, and be- 
 lieved to be unscriptural, and most pernicious to 
 the souls of men. These persons caused a very
 
 OF MR. JONES. 
 
 considerable degree of trouble to the minister 
 and the church at Glendwr, especially as they 
 used every means to prejudice the ministry* 
 and seduce the minds of others. Means were 
 used to convince them of their errors, and bring 
 them to repentance, but without success. The 
 church, after deliberation and prayer, deemed it 
 necessary to expel them ; the persons referred 
 to, however, had succeeded in contaminating 
 others, for a few followed them. This party by 
 some means, unaccountable as it may appear, 
 prevailed with Mr. Davies, and induced him to 
 attempt to admit them to the fellowship of the 
 church under his care, which held the same 
 views of Christian doctrines, and church govern- 
 ment, as the church at Glandwr. Mr. Davies 
 attempted to force these discarded persons upon 
 the church. Whether Mr. Davies professed to 
 be an Independent or not, the writer is not cer- 
 tain, however, in this case he acted very contrary 
 to the principles of Independency. But the 
 church on this occasion, gave a practical demon- 
 stration of those principles. After due consider- 
 ation and prayer, it came to the determination 
 not to allow Mr. Davies, and the few who sided
 
 18 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 with him to carry their point. On the ordin- 
 ance Sabbath, when Mr. Davies intended to 
 admit the persons already mentioned, the elders 
 and deacons, with the church, a very small 
 number excepted, agreed (painful as it was to 
 them,) to prevent the possession of the chapel 
 by Mr. Davies and his party, and in conse- 
 quence of this Mr. Davies with his friends 
 retired to his own house at Dinas, and there 
 ministered to those who followed him. There 
 is not a doubt but that Mr. Davies himself was 
 deceived in respect to the persons whose part 
 he took ; he certainly was imposed upon, and 
 deceived some -way or olher, in regard to their 
 sentiments, and the circumstances under which 
 they were dismissed from Glaridwr. This fact 
 is, I think, quite evident from the open profes- 
 sion they subsequently made of Socinian tenets, 
 which they did not plainly do when they sought 
 his friendship and help, and t also from the cir- 
 cumstance of his great attachment, manifested 
 before he died, to some of those persons who 
 took an active part in opposing him. To one or 
 two of them he expressed a wish before he died, 
 that he might be buried at Trclech ; which wish
 
 OF MR. JONES. 19 
 
 was complied with, though preparation had been 
 made to bury him at Rhyd-y-parc, the place 
 where the new party met to worship. After all, 
 it must be confessed that Mr. Davies was highly 
 to be blamed, in the attempt which he made to 
 introduce persons into the church, with whose 
 character and religious views, he certainly was 
 not sufficiently acquainted, and especially in his 
 attempting to do this, without the concurrence of 
 the church. There is no knowing, what this 
 good man suffered in his mind, in- consequence 
 of this hasty and imprudent step. How im- 
 portant it is, for ministers to act with a holy 
 caution, and to have a proper understanding 
 with the churches under their care. Lord chan- 
 cellor King says "It was the general rule, and 
 practice during the three first centuries, for the 
 churches to do nothing without the minister or 
 bishop, and for the bishop to do nothing with- 
 out (i.e. without the concurrence of) the church 
 in all ecclesiastical concerns." Attention to this 
 rule would prevent many unhappy broils and 
 divisions, on account of which the religion of 
 Christ is seen bleeding in our land, from wounds 
 received in the house of her friends.
 
 20 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 But to return from this digression. Mr. Jones 
 having now finished his studies, was invited to 
 preach at Trelech, and receiving a call from 
 the church, was ordained on the 13th of 
 March, 1 790, in the 22nd year of his age. The 
 following Ministers were present, and several of 
 them took part in the service, &c. Rev. Thomas 
 Thomas, Pentre-ty-Gwyn; J. Griffiths, Glan- 
 dwr; B. Evans, Trewen; Thomas Davies, Pant- 
 teg; Richard Morgan, Henllan ; David Peter, 
 Carmarthen; Isaac Price, Cry g-y-bar; Stephen 
 Lloyd, Brynberian; Philip Morris, Cefen- 
 y-Gwndwn; William Gibbon, Neyaddlwyd; 
 David Davies, Swansea; John Davies, Alltvven; 
 and about six or seven more, all gone to their 
 rest. The church and congregation when Mr. 
 Jones came were small ; and the moral state of 
 the county, was discouraging ; and Mr. Jones 
 himself appeared to some as David did to his 
 brethren, almost contemptible, being but a 
 " stripling," and having a very weakly and sick- 
 ly appearance, so much so, that even some of 
 his friends were not without having their shining 
 hopes sometimes overcast with fears on account 
 of it. However Mr. Jones entered upon the
 
 OF MR. JONES. 21 
 
 work in his master's name ; and in a sense, the 
 prophet's vision of the dry bones was exemplified 
 in his ministry, and the success which attended it. 
 Like the prophet, he was called to view the 
 valley which was full of dry bones; like the 
 prophet also, he evidently had his commis- 
 sion from God to prophesy and say unto 
 them, " ye dry bones, hear the word of the 
 Lord." Mr. Jones preached, and a wonderful 
 effect through the power of God followed ; as in 
 the vision, there "was a shaking;" there was a 
 great stir among the people over a very consi- 
 derable extent of country : a vast number ga- 
 thered together to hear the word of the Lord; and 
 as in the vision, Mr. Jones, in unison with the 
 church, prophesied unto the wind : "Come from 
 the four winds, breath, and breathe upon these 
 slain, that they may live ; and the breath came 
 into them, and they lived, and stood up upon 
 their feet, an exceeding great army." The 
 church, and the minister were now most earnest 
 and importunate in their prayers, in public and 
 in secret, for the manifestation of the Spirit, and 
 grace of God in the conversion of sinners ; and 
 when this is the case, the church will not be 
 c
 
 22 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 left long without a revival. Hundreds now at- 
 tended the ministry of Mr. Jones, who had not 
 been used to attend, and scores were convinced 
 of their sinful state, and were induced like those 
 on the day of Pentecyst to cry " What shall we 
 do to be saved/' The meeting house now be- 
 came too small to accommodate the people who 
 came to hear, many often stood listening at the 
 outside, while Mr. Jones addressed them from 
 one of the windows. The preaching of the word 
 was accompanied with great power, many were 
 converted, and gave evidence of the saving work 
 of grace in the soul ~ y and, to speak in the words 
 of scripture, " The Lord added to the church 
 daily such as should be saved." 
 
 In about two years after his settlement and 
 ordination, Mr. Jones married a young lady of 
 the name of Parry; she was a yonng lady of re- 
 spectable character, connexion, and property; 
 living at the time on her own estate, at Esger- 
 y-graig, in Cardiganshire. Here Mr. Jones 
 lived for some years^bui though Esger-y-graig 
 was a considerable distance from Trelech, yet 
 he did not neglect his charge, but travelled in 
 all weathers, not only on the Sabbath, but very
 
 Cf MR. JONES. 23 
 
 frequently on week days, and week day even- 
 ings, to preach the word, and attend to the 
 affairs of the church under his care. This he 
 continued to do until he had an opportunity to 
 purchase a suitable place, called Gareg-wen. 
 which lay at a convenient distance from his 
 sphere of labour. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Jones had eleven children ; 
 four of them died young. Rachel, the eldest 
 daughter, when about eight years old, though 
 she was young in years, had attained to far 
 greater knowledge of divine things than is com- 
 monly met with in children of that age. Seldom 
 perhaps were those words of the psalmist, quoted 
 by our Lord, better exemplified, " out of the 
 mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast per- 
 fected praise," than in the last days of this 
 interesting child. Such were her views of the 
 person, grace, and love of the Saviour, and ex- 
 pressions of love to him dependance upon him 
 and desire to be with him, that several Christian 
 friends, and her father among them, were much 
 astonished and delighted to hear what fell from 
 her, in her last moments. 
 
 There is in some children a propensity to
 
 24 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 certain callings and pursuits, that appears to 
 us sometimes remarkable. Though Mr. Jones 
 lived a considerable distance from the sea, yet 
 his son Lemuel, a fine sensible boy, would be a 
 sailor. His father, after allowing him time to 
 consider, finding his mind was abidingly turned 
 that way, gave him suitable instructions sought 
 out a suitable situation for him and having 
 found a respectable captain, it was arranged that 
 Lemuel should be placed under his care. Mr. 
 Jones had the consolation that his child was not 
 sent to sea, as sometimes is the case, on account 
 of vice, or ungovernable temper : Lemuel was 
 of a most amiable disposition. The scene in 
 which he took leave of his father and mother, 
 brothers and sisters, to enter on his new life, and 
 join his captain, was a moving and affecting one. 
 But they knew nothing then, it was not fit 
 they should, of what soon was to follow. Some 
 time after, the father received the mournful in- 
 telligence that his dear Lemuel was no more, 
 having been drowned on the coast of Ireland. 
 It would be impossible to describe the feelings 
 of the parents on this occasion, only those who 
 have been placed in like circumstances, can fully
 
 OF MR. JONES. 25 
 
 sympathize with the distressed parents under 
 such an unexpected bereavement. Two other 
 sons died in their infancy; Levi, when about 
 one year old, and Morgan about seven. When 
 Mr. Jones died, he left Mrs. Jones* and seven 
 children to mourn his loss ; and there is reason 
 to hope that most, if not all of them, can call 
 their father's God, " their God." One son, the 
 Rev. E. Jones, had been for some years co- 
 pastor with his father, and was so when he died; 
 but has since resigned his charge, and gone to 
 England, preferring the English to the Welsh. 
 BUT LET US NOW TAKE A BRIEF VIEW OF 
 MR. JONES IN HIS WORK, AND THE GREAT 
 SUCCESS WITH WHICH IT PLEASED GOD TO 
 
 BLESS HIS LABOUR. 
 
 He was a workman indeed, who needed not 
 to be ashamed. "He was instant in season and 
 out of season." All who knew him were convinc- 
 ed that he loved the Saviour, and that he loved 
 precious souls. His whole aim was to win 
 souls to Christ; it was for this he preached, 
 and for this he prayed, faithfully, fervently, 
 and perseveringly ; and, as might be expected 
 
 Mrs. Jones died January 20th, 1848, rejoicing in the Lord.
 
 26 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 from such conduct, his labours were remark- 
 ably blessed, so much so, that hardly a month 
 passed away for many years, without some 
 evidences of conversion to God through his 
 ministry. During his time the church was 
 visited with several revivals, these were pen- 
 tecostal seasons indeed, attended with wonder- 
 ful manifestations of the Spirit. There is 
 some account of one of these seasons in the 
 Congregational Magazine for 1829. On the 
 ordinance Sabbath in the month of May, 1829, 
 he had the unspeakable pleasure of giving the 
 right hand of fellowship, as a token of admission 
 to the church, to one hundred and ten new 
 members; and in the month of June following, 
 sixty-four were received. The writer of this was 
 present and preached on the occasion, and can- 
 not easily describe the pleasure which the scenes 
 and services of the morning yielded ; he thought 
 it was a "little heaven on earth." When the 
 minister addressed the candidates and gave 
 them the right hand of fellowship, almost every 
 eye in the congregation shewed by tears, the 
 deep feeling and sympathy that existed. There 
 the minister of Christ and the Sunday school
 
 OT MR. JONES. 27 
 
 teachers, saw that their labours had not been in 
 vain in the Lord ; they were permitted to see 
 and enjoy the fruit of their labour and reap to- 
 gether, and participate in the joy of an abundant 
 harvest. The church then rejoiced to see the 
 children she had travailed for, brought forth ; 
 parents to see their sons and their daughters for 
 whom they had prayed and wrestled, now yield- 
 ing themselves to Christ and to his church, and 
 asking the way to Zion with their faces thither- 
 ward, saying, " Come and let us join ourselves 
 to the Lord in a perpetual covenant, that shall 
 not be forgotten," yes, and there was joy in 
 heaven, angels rejoiced and God rejoiced. 
 
 Here at Trelech and the neighbourhood Mr. 
 Jones was enabled to preach the word, and do 
 the work of the Christian ministry, with much 
 zeal, fidelity and indefatigable labour, with but 
 little interruption through illness, for the space 
 of forty-six years; indeed a little was not allowed 
 to interrupt him in his work: he exemplified 
 what Paul said f himself, " Neither count I my 
 life dear unto myself so that I might finish my 
 course with joy, and the ministry which I have 
 received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel
 
 28 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 of the grace of God :" and Mr. Jones, as we 
 might expect from the character of his labour, 
 was not left without success. Few men have 
 been favoured with so much success as Mr. 
 Jones : the church was not large, nor were 
 things very encouraging, when he undertook the 
 charge at the age of twenty-one. I believe the 
 number of members then was, from one hun- 
 dred, to one hundred and forty, but when he 
 dropt his mantle and entered into the joy of 
 his Lord, it was increased to one thousand four 
 hundred. He received, during the time of his 
 ministry at Trelech, to the fellowship of the 
 church at that place, and its branches, two 
 thousand four hundred and ten persons: many 
 of these had died in the Lord, and had enter- 
 ed into their rest before he was called to his 
 reward. 
 
 During Mr. Jones's ministry at Trelech no 
 less than sixteen ministers were called to the 
 work of the Christian ministry, and were or- 
 dained bishops over churches in different parts 
 of England and Wales; and twenty more en- 
 gaged as lay preachers, some of them men of 
 considerable talent, and excellent preachers, and
 
 OF MR. JONES. 29 
 
 all useful in their different spheres. Who can 
 calculate the good all these were the means, 
 as instruments under the influence of the Holy 
 Spirit, of accomplishing ? There is reason to be- 
 lieve that some hundreds, yes thousands, have 
 been converted under the ministry, of the minis- 
 ters and preachers above referred to, most of 
 whom were the fruit of Mr. Jones's ministry : 
 what a number then at the last day, will appear 
 on the right hand of the Judge, the trophies in- 
 deed of divine grace ; but the fruit instrument- 
 ally, directly or indirectly of Mr. Jones's la- 
 bours ? In what an affecting light will every 
 faithful minister appear at the last day; especi- 
 ally such as have been honoured with being 
 made so extensively useful in the world ! What 
 a contrast will then appear between such a man 
 as Mr. Jones, and the man who had been the 
 hero of a thousand battles ! Who would not 
 then be found of Mr. Jones's character, and in 
 Mr. Jones's position, and that of all others, who 
 like him, were here instrumental in saving men's 
 souls, rather than in the character and position 
 of conquerors, who then shall meet the myriads 
 whom they, through ambition and vain glory,
 
 30 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 had hurried to the presence of God prematurely 
 and in an unprepared state ? 
 
 But Mr. Jones's labour and usefulness were 
 not confined to Trelech and the immediate 
 neighbourhood. He and the late Mr. Morgan 
 of Henllan, travelled many miles for years, at a 
 great sacrifice of property and comfort, and 
 often in great danger, with a view to preach the 
 gospel to the English population in the lower 
 part of Pembrokeshire. The people here were 
 in the most deplorable state of moral darkness, 
 gross immorality, and all kind of wickedness. 
 These worthy men, from love to Christ and pre- 
 cious souls, preached to these people the gospel 
 of the grace of God. They had great difficulty 
 in finding openings, and places to preach at. 
 At Tenby they got permission of the mayor to 
 preach under the Town Hall, but he gave them 
 to understand, that he could not be answerable 
 for the conduct of the people. When they met 
 at the time appointed under the Town Hall, 
 they found a vast number of persons assembled 
 together. Many had come with a design, and 
 were prepared to interrupt the preachers; but 
 lhat God who protected his servants of old in
 
 OF MR. JONES. 31 
 
 the lion's den, was present on this occasion, 
 both to protect and assist his servants. There 
 was evidently an invisible hand restraining the 
 wrath of the enemy. They all listened with 
 the greatest attention to the end of the service. 
 After the service was over, several of the party 
 (the mob,) went to one whom they viewed as 
 their leader, and asked him why he had not 
 begun, as they were all ready to follow him ? 
 He gave them no particular reply, but with an 
 oath said, that the first who preached (Mr. 
 Morgan,) was such a scholar! This man after- 
 wards used means to procure land for them to 
 build a chapel on, but they were under the 
 necessity for want of means to relinquish it. 
 Mr. Jones some years after mentioned the cir- 
 cumstance to the late Rev. Matthew Wilkes, 
 who said, "why did you not come to us in 
 London ; we have plenty of money, we could 
 have found the money for you ? On another 
 occasion, when Mr. Jones and Mr. Morgan were 
 on one of their preaching excursions, through -this 
 county, they found at a certain place a consi- 
 derable numb'er of men, having met by previous 
 appointment with a view to illtreat, if not to
 
 32 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 murder them. Seeing their danger, Mr. Jones 
 had the presence of mind and courage, to ride up 
 to the mob, and with a placid countenance, and 
 in the language of peace, and persuasive words 
 addressed them ; at the same time distributing 
 among them about twelve shillings: this pro- 
 duced a wonderful effect, their countenances 
 were changed and their designs and purposes 
 altered; instead of the fierce and fiendish ap- 
 pearance which they exhibited at first, they now 
 put on the smiling aspect of friends, and began 
 to cheer them, and swore that no person should 
 lift up a finger against the two gentlemen ; 
 threatening that if any dared to do so, they 
 would make it bitter for thein. Thus we see 
 how God can restrain the wrath of man, and in 
 a moment change the lion to the lamb. They 
 preached, amongst other places, at a castle near 
 Pembroke, belonging to the late Lord Milford. 
 A gentleman in the neighbourhood, not being 
 favourable to them, went and informed his lord- 
 ship, who enquired if many went to hear them, 
 being answered in the affirmative, he, much to 
 his credit, said that instead of preventing them, 
 he would grant them a lease of it; and the
 
 or MR. JONES. 33 
 
 Lord blessed their labours in this part, and 
 made them the happy instruments of great 
 good. Many very wicked and ignorant cha- 
 racters were converted, churches formed, cha- 
 pels built, and ministers settled, as the result 
 of their labour of love. 
 
 Mr. Jones, besides his well-known labours 
 within the confines of the principality, extended 
 his visits to some parts of England, especially 
 London. He and the late Rev. D. Davies of 
 Swansea, exerted themselves much on behalf of 
 the Welsh population in and about London. 
 Their ministry was blessed by God,and many un- 
 der their preaching, were converted and brought 
 to the Saviour. Many of them ere this, have 
 met their spiritual father in the mansions of 
 glory : and, as the writer of this is informed, 
 many are still living, who are witnesses of the 
 gracious influence which attended the ministry 
 of those two eminent servants of God; and are 
 like Paul's letter of commendation, " Living 
 epistles known and read of all men, written not 
 with ink but with the Spirit of the living God." 
 
 Mr. Jones took an active part in the build- 
 ing of the present Welsh Chapel, in Guildford
 
 34 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 Street, in the Borough ; and took upon himself 
 a considerable part of the responsibility for the 
 large sum of money laid out in building. 
 
 Such was his anxious concern for this infant 
 cause, that he could not rest; but like David, it 
 might be said of him that he would not give 
 " Sleep to his eyes nor slumber to his eyelids," 
 until he saw the church at this place comfort- 
 ably settled, under the pastoral care of a most 
 worthy young minister, the late Rev. D. Davies. 
 
 Mr. Jones's visits to London, to preach the 
 gospel to his countrymen, were the means of his 
 forming acquaintance with several London min- 
 isters, and among them the late Rev. Matthew 
 Wilkes, and many a droll anecdote he used to 
 relate of that worthy man. Mr. Jones it seems 
 was quite a favourite with Mr. Wilkes. Through 
 his introduction, Mr. Jones took part in the ser- 
 vices of the missionary society at the meeting, 
 when three Hotentots, Martha, Mary and John, 
 were introduced ; and also had his portrait taken 
 for the Evangelical Magazine for April, 1808. 
 
 But I beg now to invite the attention of the 
 reader to some traits in Mr. Jones's character, 
 and in the character of his ministry, as well as
 
 OF MR. JONES. 
 
 some other circumstances which contributed by 
 the blessing of God, to render him so eminently 
 and extensively useful. 
 
 MR. JONES'S PERSONAL APPEARANCE BORE 
 FAVOURABLY ON HIS USEFULNESS. 
 
 In stature he was about the middle size, 
 rather inclined to corpulency, especially after 
 the age of twenty eight, and almost to the close 
 of life. His physiognomy indicated a great 
 share of intelligence and benevolence, and in his 
 behaviour there were combined such dignity, 
 and Christian meekness, as annihilated prejudice, 
 and in general defied the most unfeeling and 
 daring of his enemies to treat him with con- 
 tempt. But there were other qualities, and other 
 traits in Mr. Jones's character, which cannot 
 exist without telling, some time or other, on the 
 ministry ; and generally in proportion as they 
 are evinced, the ministry is blessed. There is a 
 correspondence, and connexion, between the qua- 
 lifications and faithfulness of ministers, and their 
 success. 
 
 ONE THING or ESSENTIAL IMPORTANCE 
 
 IN ORDER TO THE SUCCESS OF THE CHRIS- 
 TIAN MINISTRY IS, PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL
 
 36 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 RELIGION; AND THIS MR. JONES EMINENTLY 
 POSSESSED. 
 
 He was early called by the grace of God from 
 a state of sin to a state of grace. Without this 
 there is no piety ; there may be the form, but 
 there is no life, no spiritual discernment, no ex- 
 perience in the things of God ; therefore no fit- 
 ness to instruct others, and to speak a word in 
 season to him that is weary; in a word, no suit- 
 ableness for the great work of the ministry. 
 The importance of sincere Godliness in a min- 
 ister, is written in the deep wounds, that the 
 church of Christ hath received by ihe hands of 
 ungodly ministers. Mr. Jones's piety shed a 
 lustre on his character, and it seldom failed to 
 impress with veneration, all who approached him; 
 it pervaded all his intercourse, and was seen and 
 felt by all who came in contact with him. His 
 was the cheerful piety, which like sweet per- 
 fume, sent forth sweet odour, and rendered his 
 society most agreeable, and generally beneficial 
 to all ; even to little children. Whoever visited 
 Mr. Jones, or whomsoever he visited, were con- 
 vinced of his ardent piety; and without this, or 
 where there is ground of suspicion in respect to
 
 OF MR. JONES. 37 
 
 this, in the case of any minister, that minister, 
 like Sampson, is shorn of his strength. 
 
 MR. JONES WAS CALLED, QUALIFIED, AND 
 SENT OF GOD, TO PREACH THE GOSPEL. 
 
 He was not of the number, good Rowland 
 Hill used to call "men made parsons." Know- 
 ledge, and assurance of this is of great impor- 
 tance, in order to give weight and authority to the 
 ministry. Paul was not indifferent on this point; 
 in most of his epistles he introduces himself as 
 the " Servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an 
 apostle, through the will of God." And again he 
 declares, that what he delivered to the Corin- 
 thians he had received from God; and appeals to 
 the consciences of his hearers as to the truth of 
 this, " Not handling," says he, " the word of 
 God deceitfully, but by manifestations of the 
 truth, commending ourselves to every man's 
 conscience in the sight of God. ' 
 
 The following things may be considered 
 as satisfactory evidence of a divine call to 
 the work of the ministry. The first is con- 
 version, no one is fit, until the heart is renewed 
 by grace. Paul says, that he was first call- 
 ed to be a saint, afterwards an apostle, " But
 
 38 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 when it pleased God, who separated me from 
 my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 
 to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach 
 him among the heathen; immediately I con- 
 ferred not with flesh and blood." Thus, it is 
 evident, that no man has any right to engage 
 in the work of the Christian ministry, before 
 he is a truly converted character himself. The 
 second mark of a divine call, is a desire to 
 promote the glory of God in the conversion of 
 souls. The third is the hand of providence in 
 opening the way. The fourth is the favourable 
 opinion of wise and Christian friends, and the 
 encouragement given by them. The fifth, and 
 not the least, is aptness, or fitness to teach; 
 God calls no man to any work for which he 
 doth not qualify him. And the last evidence 
 is success in the work. "If (says the apostle,) 
 
 1 be not an apostle unto others, yet doubt- 
 less I am to you, for the seal of mine apostle- 
 ship are ye in the Lord." See I Cor. ix. 2. 
 
 2 Cor. iii. 3. 
 
 Mr. Jones established, and maintained among 
 the people, a persuasion of his being sent of 
 God not by pretension and confident asser-
 
 OF MR. JONES. 39 
 
 tions of it not by reference to his ordination, 
 as is the case with them who cannot get men 
 to think so highly of them as they think of 
 themselves; but by his ability, faithful labour, 
 humility, meekness, holiness, love for souls* 
 conformity to his Lord's will, and the manifest 
 demonstration of the Spirit, in connexion with 
 his ministry. These were the things that con- 
 strained the people to believe that Mr. Jones 
 was sent of God. 
 
 MR. JONES'S CONVERSATION CONTRIBUTED 
 MUCH TO HIS SUCCESS, AND THE PROMOTION 
 OF RELIGION IN THE FAMILY AND IN THE 
 
 CHURCH. 
 
 Whether in the cottage of the poor, the farm 
 house, or the mansion of the gentleman, Mr. 
 Jones was the gentleman and the Christian. In 
 his conversation there was nothing of the poison 
 of detraction, nothing of the bitterness of sar- 
 casm, and nothing of the moroseness or stiffness 
 of ignorance and pride. Mr. Jones's intelli- 
 gence, affability and gentleness in conversation, 
 rendered his society a great treat, and was es- 
 teemed so, alike, by rich and poor, old and 
 young. He was cheerful without levity, inter-
 
 40 LIFE AXD MINISTRY 
 
 esting, instructive and engaging to all, even to 
 the servant and to the child, without sacrificing 
 the dignity becoming the minister. He was a 
 good historian, and had an excellent memory, 
 therefore he had a fund of interesting anecdote 
 and useful knowledge at his command. 
 
 But what especially rendered Mr. Jones's 
 visits and conversation useful, and subservient 
 to the furtherance of the Gospel, was their reli- 
 gious bearing. He probably never was known 
 to enter a -house, or to pay an ordinary visit to 
 any family, without saying something before he 
 left, to recommend the Saviour and his service. 
 Seldom was he known to be long in a'ty com- 
 pany, without dropping at least a few sentences 
 adapted to promote the spiritual benefit of those 
 around him. He did this with so much wisdom 
 and prudence, that it seldom failed of producing 
 the most happy results. In this Mr. Jones 
 exemplified the words of the apostle, " Never- 
 theless beirg crafty, I caught you with guile." 
 How important it is, that ministers should em- 
 brace every opportunity in all their intercourse 
 wiih the people, to recommend Christ, and en- 
 deavour tu save souls. We should remember
 
 OF MR. JONES. 41 
 
 what we say in the heaving of children, is as the 
 sowing of seed ; the harvest is to follow, and 
 will be good or evil, according to the quality of 
 the seed sown : we should see to it, that we sow 
 good seed, and if we do not see it spring up 
 immediately, let us not be discouraged. 
 
 Mr. Jones and three Christian friends on one 
 occasion, were in a conversation on some religi- 
 ous subject, when one of the company said, 
 among other things, now there are three souls 
 that will soon be in another world, and is there 
 reason to believe, that it will be our happiness 
 to meet in heaven ? Mr. Jones said, " why do 
 you say three souls, there are four souls here ?" 
 (the daughter of one who took part in the con- 
 versation being present, a child about seven 
 years of age,) and looking at the little girl he 
 said, " she has an immortal soul, her soul is as 
 precious as ours, her salvation and eternal hap- 
 piness involve as much interest as ours, and we 
 must not feel willing to go to heaven without 
 her." About twelve years after this, Mr. Jones 
 met her, and not knowing she was a subject of 
 piety, put some questions to her, (as was usual 
 with him, when he could do so with prudence,)
 
 42 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 relative to her soul, and found that she was a 
 sincere and experimental Christian, and that she 
 had for some ^ears made a public profession of 
 religion. He then, among other things, asked 
 her how long since, and hy what means, she was 
 brought to the Lord; she said "perhaps you 
 will be surprised to hear, it was on the occasion 
 of your conversation with some friends on the 
 subject of meeting in heaven ; one of the com- 
 pany having remarked 'here are three souls that 
 must soon be in another world, and will it be 
 our happiness to meet in heaven,' you, looking 
 at me said, ' why do you say three souls ? here 
 are four souls, her soul is as precious as ours, 
 and her salvation and eternal happiness as im- 
 portant.' From that time, now about twelve 
 years since, the salvation of my soul became (as 
 I trust,) the object of my supreme concern, and 
 I have sought it where alone it is to be found, 
 by faith in Jesus Christ." 
 
 On another occasion, the writer was present 
 with Mr. Jones at a gentleman's house, when 
 an old gentleman present, a widower, said some- 
 thing about getting married. Mr. Jones looked 
 at him with a smiling countenance, and said,
 
 OF MR. JONES. 43 
 
 "my dear sir, you must allow your daughter 
 to have her turn next, (the old gentleman's 
 daughter, being then in the room.) I will pro- 
 pose another kind of marriage for you, much 
 more suitable and necessary, and such as would 
 contribute infinitely to your happiness ; it is the 
 marriage of your soul to Christ, and union with 
 his church." Mr. Jones here explained in a 
 pleasant way what he meant, and took occasion 
 to show the nature and importance of faith in 
 Christ, pointing out at the same time, the ne- 
 cessity of immediate attention to the salvation 
 of the soul, from a consideration of the short- 
 ness and uncertainty of time. The conversation 
 now took a solemn turn, and produced a very 
 favourable effect, so that there was reason to 
 hope, the old gentleman was brought to consi- 
 der his latter end, and " apply his heart unto 
 wisdom." Mr. Jones was far from thinking 
 those Christians right, who, when in company 
 with men of this world, wrap themselves up in 
 their own thoughts, look morose and sanctimo- 
 nious, and decline taking any part in their con- 
 versation, when, though possibly trifling, and 
 of little interest, it is yet in its character, harm-
 
 44 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 less. Such conduct has a repulsive effect, and 
 necessarily places those who indulge it, at a 
 disadvantage, when attempting to introduce con- 
 versation on more important topics ; whereas, an 
 easy cheerfulness of intercourse on matters of 
 minor consequence, gives a greater facility of 
 access, in introducing and recommending more 
 momentous themes. In this way you conciliate 
 good-will, you give yourself a tacit claim to an 
 hearing, and enlist courtesy on your side. This 
 sentiment was beautifully exemplified in Mr. 
 Jones's conversation. 'An enemy, or a stranger 
 to Mr. Jones, might fancy that there was too 
 much egotism in it, and it may he granted, 
 that possibly he did err occasionally, in this. 
 Yet it should be remembered, that the traveller 
 who has mixed in many strange scenes, and 
 witnessed many strange incidents, is allowed to 
 use the pronoun / often, in connexion with 
 those scenes and incidents, without being liable 
 to the charge of egotism. Such had been the 
 case with Mr. Jones, and he not only adhered 
 to truth in his narratives, but rendered them 
 illustrative of the providence and grace of God, 
 so that every one who heard him with unpre-
 
 OF MR. JONES. 45 
 
 judiced mind, might see in him exemplified the 
 noble sentiment, " Not unto us O Lord, not 
 unto us, but unto thy name give glory." 
 
 From the brief view which we have attempt- 
 ed to give of Mr. Jones's agreeable and Christian 
 intercourse, the reader will not wonder to find, 
 that his society was much courted by persons of 
 every rank. Among others of the higher rank 
 in the Principality, we may mention the late 
 pious Colonel Lloyd, of Bronwydd, and his em- 
 inently pious lady. Here Mr. Jones was a fre- 
 quent, and most acceptable visitor. This family 
 ranked among the first in South Wales. Dr. 
 Burgess, late Bishop of St. David's, and other 
 pious and learned men of that time, were frequent 
 guests at Bronwydd. Bronwydd is a beautiful 
 mansion, situate in a delightful spot in Car- 
 diganshire, on the confines of the river Tivy, 
 near Newcastle in Emlyn, and commanding a 
 beautiful view of some hills, and eminently pic- 
 turesque scenes in Carmarthenshire. In the 
 time of Colonel Lloyd and his lady, Bronwydd 
 was a kind of central point, where learned and 
 pious clergymen of the established church, and 
 dissenting ministers, and many families of dis-
 
 46 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 tinction, used to meet, without any consideration 
 of sect, or party. When they met here all were 
 as one family, they talked, they prayed, they 
 sang together, as one in Christ Jesus. The at- 
 mosphere in which they breathed, was that 
 of Christian love. Perhaps, since the time of 
 the countess of Huntingdon, few houses in the 
 kingdom could be found like Bronwydd, the re- 
 sort of so many pious ministers and other chris- 
 tians, of different names ; and especially as it 
 respects the uniform and frequent devotional 
 exercises, in which all united. There was 
 generally a good congregation, at least twice a 
 day, composed of domestics, workmen, and vi- 
 sitors ; the singing was often heavenly, the la- 
 dies generally taking the lead on the piano-forte. 
 But besides the daily services in the house at 
 Bronwydd, there was a large and commodious 
 chapel, called Trinity chapel, built at the ex- 
 pense of Mr. Lloyd, where there was preaching 
 frequently during the week, as well as on the 
 sabbath. As the family at Bronwydd, espe- 
 cially Mrs. Lloyd, and some other families in 
 the neighbourhood, did not understand Welsh, 
 and there being no English preaching in either
 
 OF MR. JONES. 47 
 
 church or chapel, in that part of the country, 
 Mr. Lloyd engaged ministers to preach an Eng- 
 lish sermon, every alternate Sunday, throughout 
 the year. These ministers were of three differ- 
 ent denominations, two ministers of the Church 
 of England, two Independents, and two of the 
 Calvinistic Methodists. For many years Mr. 
 Jones, and the late Rev. B. Evans, of Trewen, 
 (a veiy pious, learned, and gentlemanly man,) 
 were the two belonging to the Independents. 
 
 The late Rev. Jones, vicar of Llangan, 
 
 was one of the preachers at this chapel. This 
 gentleman was well known in the religious world 
 in his time ; he was a great friend of the Lon- 
 don Missionary Society, took an active part in 
 its behalf, and preached one of the first ser- 
 mons for it. Mr. Morgan Jones, and Jones of 
 Llangan, often met at Bronwydd, as did also 
 many others of the like spirit and disposition ; 
 the conversation between these gentlemen and 
 Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd, was of the most delightful 
 and elevating kind, for the intelligence and piety 
 that pervaded it. Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd were 
 exceedingly well read, in both old and modern 
 divinity, and possessing powerful minds and ex-
 
 48 LIFE A\D MINISTRY 
 
 cellent memories, it was such a treat as is not 
 to be enjoyed every day, to listen to their dis- 
 course. Sometimes, in this circle, there would 
 be indulged a little innocent joke and repartee. 
 One instance may be here mentioned. On one 
 occasion the Colonel was under the necessity of 
 leaving Bronwydd rather early in the morning, 
 for the purpose of attending the review of some 
 thousands of volunteers, raised by several gen- 
 tlemen in the neighbourhood, at the time when 
 Bonaparte threatened to invade England. In 
 the course of the day, his guests had to pass the 
 field, where the review was held. They rode 
 into the field, and bye and bye, when Colonel 
 Lloyd had an opportunity, be rode up to them, 
 and as he drew near, Mr. Jones of Llangan call- 
 ed out and said, " Well, Colonel ! there had 
 been no need of the red coat, had it not been 
 for sin." " No, gentlemen," said the Colonel, 
 "nor of the black either." Let not the reader 
 suppose from \vhat has been stated, that we 
 mean to intimate that the company at Brorwydd 
 confined their conversation solely to religious 
 topics. No, they were in the world and they 
 talked of the world ; but whatever the subject
 
 OF MR. JONES. 49 
 
 was, a religious bearing was given to it; all was 
 under the influence of religion. 
 
 BUT HOWEVER USEFUL AND SUBSERVIENT 
 TO THE CAUSE OF RELIGION, MR. JoNEs's 
 
 CONVERSATION EVIDENTLY WAS ; IT WAS AS 
 A PREACHER THAT HE ACQUIRED HIS GREAT 
 POPULARITY, AND THROUGH THE BLESSING 
 OF GOD, SUCCEEDED BEYOND MOST MINIS- 
 TERS, IN BRNIGING SINNERS TO REPEN- 
 TANCE, AND TO BELIEVE IN THE LOUD 
 JESUS CHRIST. 
 
 Mr. Jones was a popular preacher, and 
 a workman who needed not to be ashamed. 
 There were three things chiefly remarkable in 
 his preaching, matter, piety T and animation. 
 His sermons were always rich in evangelical 
 truth, and they were delivered with such ear- 
 nestness and pathos, that they seldom failed 
 in producing the most delightful, and sometimes 
 the most extraordinary effects. A minister in 
 order to be extensively useful, must be a faithful 
 and energetic preacher, and at the same time a 
 man of prayer. Such a preacher will not be 
 left to labour long without success; and the 
 success generally is in proportion to the charac-
 
 50 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 ter of the labour. God works by means, and 
 effects the most, by the best adapted and best 
 used means. This sentiment is well understood 
 in the natural world, the husbandman knows 
 that his success depends on his industry, and till- 
 age of his ground, and that in proportion to his 
 skill, labour, and suitable cultivation, will be his 
 success. Is not this true in regard to the moral 
 field ? God has blessed, and will ever bless the 
 faithful preaching of the gospel ; if our ministry 
 had more of the zeal, the life, the love, and the 
 faithfulness of Whilfield, and others like him ; 
 we should see more conversions, and greater and 
 happier effects produced, than we do at the 
 present time. It was almost impossible for a 
 preacher like Mr. Jones to labour long without 
 success. God hath ensured success, at least a 
 degree of it, to all who are faithful. His word 
 shall not return void unto him. 
 
 In sentiment, Mr. Jones was a Calvinist 
 of the old school. Dr. John Owen was one of 
 his favourite authors; but he did not confine 
 his theological reading to any one class of 
 writers. His ministry was remarkable for its 
 variety ; like the planets of our system, which
 
 OF MR. JONES. 51 
 
 receive their lustre from the same central lu- 
 minary, every subject he treated of, found its 
 centre of light, and vital influence in the cross. 
 Sometimes for a month or two, he would preach 
 on the leading and fundamental doctrines of the 
 Christian religion ; he would illustrate, prove and 
 point out their harmony, connexion, and impor- 
 tance. Then, on the practice of religion, and 
 the duties connected with different stations, and 
 circumstances in life. Again, on Christian ex- 
 perience, the various trials and temptations of 
 believers, and the marks and evidences of true 
 piety. It might indeed be said of Mr. Jones, 
 that he was " a skilful workman, giving to saints 
 and sinners their due portion." He was wise 
 and discriminating in giving milk to babes, and 
 " strong meat to them of full age." Few men 
 knew better how to heal the wounded in spirit, 
 and how to " speak a word in season to him that 
 is weary." 
 
 His morning sermons especially, for many 
 years, were well studied, and full of matter. 
 On difficult texts, his remarks were often in- 
 genious, and his criticism natural and correct 
 He consulted with much advantage, Pool's Sy
 
 52 LIFE AXD MINISTRY 
 
 nopsis, and other authors, calculated to assist in 
 illustrating the holy scriptures ; and in the study 
 of the New Testament, he found considerable 
 help, from his acquaintance with the original 
 language. 
 
 His manner in preaching was rather remark- 
 able. He had not much action, only a slight 
 movement towards either side of the pulpit, the 
 hands at the same time leaning on, or grasping 
 the edge of it. His appearance was very agree- 
 able, and countenance placid. For about half 
 an hour his delivery was very deliberate, then 
 generally he would, as he eame to the applica- 
 tion, get warmer and wanner, and now his voice 
 which was naturally good and musical, would 
 undergo such a change, that one might be ready 
 to question, whether or not, it was the same per- 
 son that spoke. The intonations of his voice, 
 (the writer will not say whether or not they 
 were consistent with the rules of oratory,) in 
 these earnest, searching, and pathetic appeals 
 to the hearts and consciences of the people, pro- 
 duced such an effect, as can hardly be believed 
 by any, who have not been eye and ear wit- 
 nesses. The writer, has seen the whole congre-
 
 OF MR. JONES. 53 
 
 gallon melted to tears, and some even over- 
 powered, sobbing and crying out, either under 
 a sense of guilr, or of joy and gratitude for de- 
 liverance. 
 
 Mr. Jenes did not confine his preaching to 
 the meeting house, but preached on the sab- 
 bath evening, almost invariably at farm houses ; 
 taking different directions, so that the whole 
 neighbourhood might enjoy the means of grace. 
 And by these visits the words of the prophet 
 might be seen verified; "and I will make 
 them, and the places round about my hill, a 
 blessing, and I will cause the shower to come 
 down in his season ; there shall be showers of 
 blessing." The congregations on these occa- 
 sions were large. In th^ summer he sometimes 
 preached out of doors. Many by means of 
 these itinerant visits were called, with an effec- 
 tual calling, and were added to the church under 
 his care. Was not this as it ought to be ? Was 
 it not apostolic? I believe the revival of religion, 
 and its success in Wales, have been promoted 
 principally by such means. 
 
 Through Mr. Jones's itinerant labours, the 
 cause of evangelical religion, was greatly pro-
 
 54 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 moted. At places of inconvenient distance from 
 the mother church, at Trekch, no less than four 
 branch churches were formed, and continued in 
 that relation, till the time of Mr. Jones's death ; 
 but since then, three have very properly separ- 
 ated, and have had two ministers settled over 
 them, the other still remaining connected with 
 .Trelech, under the ministry of Mr. Jones's 
 worthy successor. 
 
 Mr. Jones had the meeting house at Trelech 
 twice rebuilt and enlarged.. He also built four 
 commodious chapels for the accommodation of 
 the branch churches. Thus we see what re- 
 markable success attended his ministry ; how 
 God owned, and blessed him. " For no man 
 could do these things except God was with him." 
 
 ONE THING MORE IN HIS CHRISTIAN AND 
 MINISTERIAL CHARACTER MUST BE PARTI- 
 CULARLY NOTICED. THE GREAT SECRET AND 
 SOURCE OF HIS SUCCESS WAS PRAYER. 
 
 He was a man of prayer. He prayed in his 
 study, he prayed in his way over the hills, and 
 mountains to preach, that his master's presence 
 might be with him. He was over-heard on one 
 occasion, as he was leading his horse down a
 
 OF MR. JONES. 56 
 
 steep hill. It being a rainy morning, he had 
 on a cloth hood, which covered his head, so 
 that he could riot well hear the tread of foot- 
 steps behind him. A person following him, 
 catching the sound of his voice, drew nearer, 
 and heard him pleading with God, as with a 
 familiar friend, and entreating him to " go with 
 him> and bless his message, and make it a bles- 
 sing to souls." He believed that there was no- 
 thing too hard for the Lord. He did not think 
 any, even the most hardened and the most 
 wicked, out of hell, too wicked for God to con- 
 vert, and bring to repentance ; and by believing 
 prayer, he " took hold of God's strength," and 
 engaged Omnipotence on his side, for the accom- 
 plishment of that which Vas near his heart, even 
 the salvation of precious souls. It appears evi- 
 dent, that a minister's success will be in pro- 
 portion to the spirit of prayer possessed, or the , 
 faith and importunity, with which he seeks the 
 Lord on this behalf. Can this be denied ? 
 Have not all who have been eminently useful, 
 been also eminent for their frequent and impor- 
 tunate prayers? Have we not reason to charge 
 ourselves at the present time with great defici-
 
 56 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 ency in this matter ? Can we appeal to our 
 own hearts and to our God, and say, we are 
 verily guiltless in this concern ? 
 
 Mr. Jones, however, not only prayed himself 
 for the success of the gospel, but he also had a 
 praying church. The church upheld him, by 
 its prayers. It was delightful to know, that in 
 hundreds of families, morning and evening and 
 sometimes oftener, prayers were offered for him 
 especially, and for the spread of the gospel 
 throughout the world. A church cannot but 
 prosper that is in such a state. But more of this 
 hereafter. 
 
 There was one thing more, which I deem 
 worthy of notice here, that contributed consider- 
 ably to Mr. Jones's influence and success, and 
 in which it would be well for all ministers to 
 follow his example. 
 
 THIS WAS HIS PUNCTUALITY AND STRICT 
 ATTENTION TO THE FULFILMENT OP ALL 
 HIS ENGAGEMENTS. 
 
 Trifles were not allowed to prevent Mr. Jones 
 being present, where he had engaged to be, 
 whether at the prayer meeting, the society, the 
 church meeting, or an appointment to preach.
 
 OF MR. JONES. 57 
 
 Even what some would deem sufficient to justify 
 their absence, was not deemed so by him. He 
 was known when in a bad state of health, and 
 more fit to be in his bed, than to go about; to 
 walk through the deep snow, (the roads being 
 impassable for his horse,) with a view to be in 
 time for the solemn services which he had en- 
 gaged to conduct. Many such instances might 
 be mentioned of his willingness to serve the 
 cause of Christ, though at a great cost and 
 sacrifice of comfort to himself. He often went 
 beyond his strength, and the bounds which 
 prudence would prescribe, and all from such 
 disinterested motives; that of him it might be 
 said, with eminent propriety, that he sought 
 not his own things, but the things which are 
 Jesus Christ's. Few men have ever been found 
 more free from private and selfish aims, in act- 
 ing their part in the affairs of the kingdom of 
 Christ than he. His plans and his conduct 
 were ever those of a man, whose grand object 
 was the advancement not of himself, but of the 
 Redeemer's cause. 
 
 What has been said respecting his punctuality, 
 in his attendance at his own places of worship,
 
 58 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 applies also to his attendance at the annual or 
 quarterly meetings of his ministerial brethren. 
 Perhaps no minister was ever more remarkable 
 than he, for his regular and strict regard to this 
 part of his duty. To the utmost of his power, 
 and beyond his power, he travelled far and near, 
 to assist his brethren on these occasions; and it 
 was delightful to see the smiles of approbation, 
 with which his presence was hailed, both by the 
 ministers, and the vast assemblies, which were* 
 congregated to hear the gospel ; a stranger pro- 
 bably would marvel at this, at first, but would 
 cease to marvel, after listening to Mr. Jones for 
 half an hour. The sobs, and the tears of the 
 congregation, would convince him, it was not 
 without cause, that they smiled to see the man 
 that could tell them such melting* things of the 
 love of Christ, and the grace of God manifested 
 to poor lost and guilty sinners. 
 
 It was not, however, Mr. Jones's popularity 
 as a preacher, alone that rendered his presence 
 so acceptable on these occasions, but also bis 
 remarkable wisdom, and peaceful temper of 
 mind. He was, in the proper sense of the word, 
 a peacemaker. The want of this, has been the
 
 OF MR. JONES. 59 
 
 bane of many churches, and the ruin of the use- 
 fulness of many ministers; without such a spirit, 
 no man is fit to he a Christian pastor, though 
 every other qualification meet in him. 
 
 Paul manifests a heautiful spirit of sympathy 
 with his brethren, when he says, " Who is weak 
 and I am not weak? Who is offended and I 
 burn not ?" Mr. Jcnes had drank deep into 
 this spirit. Hence his influence was propor- 
 tionally great, both in his own and the neigh- 
 bouring churches, and among the ministers. 
 Perhaps few could be found who possessed 
 greater wisdom and aptness than he, to remove 
 disputes, and terminate differences, and recon- 
 cile parties at variance. The circumstance of 
 his having been the minister of a church for 
 forty-six years, which, with its branches, at the 
 time of his death, consisted of about one thou- 
 sand four hundred members, without having had 
 any division, or any disturbance of a serious 
 character, during the whole of that time, is a 
 sufficient warrant for the above remarks. It is 
 astonishing, but delightful to think, with what 
 harmony, he, and about twenty lay preachers, 
 connected with tke church, worked together.
 
 60 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 Some ministers have objected to lay preachers, 
 on account of the difficulty of governing and di- 
 recting their operations. The importance of 
 such agency in the church no one now can 
 question, and the objection above-mentioned, 
 ought not, for the honour of the Christian reli- 
 gion, to be named. Mr. Jones's experience was 
 a striking refutation of it. The numerous lay 
 preachers connected with his church, loved and 
 respected him ; therefore, they looked to him 
 as children to their father, received his instruc- 
 tions, and followed his suggestions.* Mr. Jones 
 had a great insight into the different tempers 
 and spirits of men. Few have evinced greater 
 penetration and discernment in this respect than 
 he, and to this was owing in a great measure his 
 success, in managing and bringing to a happy 
 termination, disputes which occurred either in 
 the church, or among friends. 
 
 But finally, there was another most potent 
 agency put in motion by Mr. Jones, which cuii- 
 
 A respectable and intelligent person, who knew Mr. Jones, 
 
 said, " The Rev. Mr. , and the Rev. Mr. , use 
 
 their whips to drive their cattle to the field, but Mr. Jones of 
 Trelech, takes a bundle of fresh cut grass under his arm, and 
 they run after him to the field.
 
 OF MR. JONES. 61 
 
 tributed not a little to the flourishing state, and 
 the beautiful verdure, with which it pleased the 
 great head of the church, to bless this part of 
 the moral field. 
 
 MR. JONES SUCCEEDED IN INFUSING INTO 
 THE CHURCH UNDER HIS CARE, SOMETHING 
 OF HIS OWN ACTIVE SPIRIT AND ZEAL, FOR 
 
 THE PROMOTION OF TRUE RELIGION, AND 
 THE CONVERSION OF PRECIOUS SOULS. 
 
 This church during a great part of Mr. Jones's 
 life, approached to what every church should be r 
 a right working church. The writer in reading 
 Jethro on that subject, almost concluded that the 
 author must have been a pupil of Mr. Jones's, 
 and a witness of the operation of the church 
 under his care. It has been observed that the 
 church at Trelech, was blessed with great pros- 
 perity, and several i-emarkable revivals. Some 
 account of one or two of them may be found in 
 a number of the Congregational Magazine, for 
 1829. In the month of May, 1829, Mr. Jones 
 had the unspeakable pleasure of giving the right 
 hand of fellowship, to one hundred and ten per- 
 sons, as a token of their admission to the church, 
 after a careful examination in reference to their
 
 62 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 views, conduct, and Christian experience* In 
 the month of June following, he received sixty- 
 four members, and for several successive months, 
 from twenty to twenty-five each month. So 
 that within that year, about four hundred new 
 members, were added to the church. As these 
 revivals commenced with the church, it may be 
 interesting and instructive, to give a brief account 
 of its movements. At all the revivals, under Mr. 
 Jones's ministry, the church in the first place, 
 was awakened to a sense of its position, and in 
 the language of the prophet, " To put on its 
 beautiful garments." Isaiah Hi. 1. 
 
 Mr. Jones had a remarkable aptness te dis- 
 cern, the state and temperature of the church ; 
 and whenever he saw symptoms of coldness, he 
 used every means to find out the cause, and 
 remove it. There are still a few living, who 
 remember Mr. Jones's feeling and pathetic ad- 
 dresses to the church, on the state of the world, 
 and the duty of the church ; and how, at the 
 same time, he urged the church to action, with 
 the assurance furnished by the word of God, 
 that it should not be in vain. In the revivals 
 of religion which occurred under Mr. Jones's
 
 OF MR. JONES. 
 
 ministry, there was nothing unusual ; no extra- 
 ordinary and continuous services with the pro- 
 fessed intention to excite, and produce them. 
 There was nothing perhaps more than ought to 
 exist in a Christian church at ail times. I do 
 not know whether a revival, as we generally call 
 it, is much to the credit of any church, for cer- 
 tainly it supposes a state of things in such a 
 church, which cannot be justified. It is in fact 
 an awakening from its slumbers. Were the 
 church what it should be, there would be no 
 room for a revival ; but as there is too much of 
 the lukewarmness and formality, condemned of 
 old in the Laodicean church, by the great head 
 of the church himself, so long as such a state of 
 things exists, revivals are needful. 
 
 We have stated that all the revivals, with 
 which it pleased God to bless the church at this 
 place, commenced with itself. There were cer- 
 tain movements, and indications of more life 5 
 greater attention to Christian duties in the family, 
 in the church, and in the world ; greater seri- 
 ousness seemed to pervade all, during their 
 solemn assemblies, as well as in their conversa- 
 tion, with one another. There was evidently
 
 64 LIFE AND MINISTKY 
 
 deep and intense feeling and concern, for the 
 advancement of pure religion, and the conversion 
 of sinners; and the church now became more 
 conspicuous and more attractive ; now it appear- 
 ed as arrayed in the beautiful attire of purity, 
 spirituality, holiness, unanimity, and love. This 
 feeling and spirit were exhibited and felt by all, 
 in the attendance on the means of grace; especi- 
 ally the prayer meetings. In the family too, 
 this hallo ved spirit was seen and lelt, in the 
 solicitude of parents for the salvation of their 
 children, masters for their servants, pious child- 
 ren for their parents, and servants for their 
 masters. 
 
 It might here be stated, that there are but 
 few houses in that part, without family worship. 
 It is not allowed for the head of a family, who is 
 a member of the church to neglect it. But 
 there is a vast difference between the mere for- 
 mal performance of this service, and that which 
 is conducted in the fervour, spirit, and truth of 
 religion, when the love of Christ, and precious 
 souls, inspires and constrains the heart. In very 
 many instances affectionate remarks were ad- 
 dressed, to the different members of the family
 
 OF MR. JONES. 65 
 
 besides which, all were called upon to repeat a 
 verse from the Bible. This was done morning 
 and evening ; and what is there more likely to 
 help forward a revival of religion, than such at- 
 tention to religion in the family? 
 
 But it was neither in the church, nor family 
 alone, that the spirit of deep piety was to be 
 seen ; it was carried into the common transac- 
 tions of life, and the conversations of the people 
 with one another, especially on the Lord's day. 
 It is said " Out of the abundance of the heart 
 the mouth speaketh." Christian conversation, 
 is evidently an important means of grace, and it 
 is enjoined upon us to speak that which is good, 
 to the use of edifying, that it may minister 
 grace unto the hearers. The old members in 
 this place, left an example in this, worthy to be 
 followed by all Christians. 
 
 It is greatly to be regretted, (for the religion 
 of Christ suffers, and souls perish through it,) 
 that professors in many instances, as soon as 
 they leave their seats in the house of God, show 
 their worldliness, by their conversation about the 
 world. The word cannot profit them ; and no 
 thanks to them, if souls are converted ; no revi~
 
 66 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 val can be expected in a church, where the 
 members act so inconsistent a part. The con- 
 versation of the generality of professors, at 
 Trelech, was such, as not only evinced the life 
 and healthful state of religion, in their own 
 souls; but contributed greatly to bring others 
 under its influence. Such pious conversation, 
 tends to establish and edify the true Christian, 
 to instruct the wavering, and encourage the 
 anxious enquirer. This truth was verified, in the 
 experience of hundreds, of all classes. They 
 made it a point to notice the young, and talk to 
 them; especially any who were observed under 
 serious impressions. This greatly encouraged 
 and assisted such, in seeking an interest in the 
 great salvation. 
 
 It was the general practice on the sabbath, 
 in going to, and coming from, the house of 
 God, as scores travelled the same road, to form 
 themselves into different classes, and each class 
 to have some religious subject, Christian doc- 
 trine, .or Christian experience, for the topic of 
 conversation. Many could bear their testimony, 
 that it was good for them to be there. How 
 often could they say with the two disciples
 
 OF MR. JONES. 67 
 
 Did not our hearts burn within us, as he talk- 
 ed to us by the way ? A very interesting in- 
 stance of this occurred one sabbath morning at 
 Trelech. Many of the people had to go three 
 and four miles, and some six miles from the 
 meeting house to their homes, yet this was often 
 found too short, so that they could hardly part 
 at last. The sermon, generally, was the sub- 
 ject of conversation in returning. On one occa- 
 sion, as soon as they had come out of the meeting, 
 a party who had to go the same way, entered, 
 as they were wont to do, on the subject of that 
 morning's sermon. They had proceeded a con- 
 siderable distance, when one of the company, a 
 gentleman farmer, Mr. Thomas Jones, Trefawr, 
 suddenly stopped, and said, "Now I remember 
 my horse is behind in the stable !" a person 
 went back for the horse, and he went on with 
 his companions, preferring the conversation, to 
 the pleasure of riding. 
 
 The revival of religion within the church, was 
 also evinced by the prayer meetings, and the 
 societies, (as they were called,) which were de- 
 signed for conversation on Christian experience; 
 with a view in part, to the instruction of anxious
 
 68 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 enquirers, and candidates for fellowship, with the 
 dburch. These meetings were well attended; 
 often crowded to excess. It might, here, he 
 stated, that prayer meetings in connexion with 
 this church, were held in many distant hamlets, 
 in different directions; at farm-houses and cot- 
 tages, where the people desired to have them ; 
 and generally one of the deacons ot elders, or 
 some other suitable person, was appointed to 
 conduct them. A short address was generally 
 given, and some of (he brethren engaged in 
 prayer. Then such as were under serious im- 
 pressions, were brought forward by a Christian 
 friend, or invited to come forward ; when they 
 were asked different questions, relative to the 
 state of their souls, their experience, hopes and 
 fears, their views of religion, and the means 
 whereby they were brought to seek &e Lord. 
 No Christian could attend these meetings, with- 
 out being convinced, that the Spirit of the Lord 
 was poured out, as a spirit of grace and suppli- 
 cation. There was such devotion, spirituality, 
 holy wrestling with God, for the Spirit's pre- 
 sence and influence, and such meltings of heart, 
 that it was impossible, almost, not to feel as
 
 OF MR. JONES. 69 
 
 Jacob felt, when he exclaimed, " How dreadful 
 is this place, this is none other than the house 
 of God, and the gate of heaven." Such was the 
 effect sometimes, of the prayers and conversa- 
 tion at these meetings, that the whole congre- 
 gation, would be melted into tears, and many 
 sob aloud, under the conviction of sin, or sense 
 of gratitude for mercy. The conversation with 
 young converts, was often very affecting, and 
 proved frequently, the means of the conversion 
 of others, as all weie allowed to attend these 
 meetings, who were disposed to do so. 
 
 Mr. Jones was wont to urge on the church, the 
 duty of glorifying the Holy Spirit, by humble 
 dependence on his aid, with earnest, and united 
 prayer, for his presence and influence; and 
 thus acting, it never failed of being blessed with 
 remarkable unction, spirituality, and zeal for 
 the honour of God, and the salvation of souls. 
 To use a scriptural figure, "Zion travelled in 
 birth for souls, and as soon as she travelled, 
 she brought forth her children." The deep 
 concern, and earnest desire of the church, for the 
 advancement and extension of true religion, was 
 not confined to it, merely in its collective and
 
 70 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 aggregate capacity, and its public services ; but 
 extended to families ar.d individuals. It seem- 
 ed as if the Spirit, had been poured upon every 
 Christian family, and upon every individual 
 Christian apart. The fruit of the Spirit, in an 
 uncommon manner, was visible in Christian fami- 
 lies; in the love, peace, and long-suffering, which 
 the members exercised one towards another; 
 the affectionate manner in which masters and 
 parents, catechised and addressed their servants, 
 and their children ; and also the pathetic, and 
 heart-melting prayers, offered for them to God. 
 It might naturally be expected, that God would 
 not long leave such a church, without some signal 
 manifestation of his love, power, and grace. 
 
 It is not the ministry alone, that is designed 
 to convert the world. The very existence of 
 Christian churches, or at least their main and 
 principal design, is to aid in the accomplish- 
 ment of this great object. The law of self-pro- 
 pagation, is as visible in the spritual as in the 
 natural world. When God created the world, 
 he gave this law to every thing that had life, 
 both animal and vegetable. By a word, he 
 brought all into existence at first, and then he
 
 OF MR. JONES. 71 
 
 said, " Increase and multiply." And the crea- 
 tures produced according to this law, are no less 
 the creatures of his power, than if they were 
 created immediately by him. The power to 
 produce is still his: only he works now by 
 means. In like manner, the principle of the 
 gospel is that of self-propagation. When God 
 converts, he expects the converted to endeavour 
 to convert others; and this is the nature of 
 the grace of God in the heart, "Come, see 
 a man, which told me all things that ever 
 I did." "Andrew, having found ihe Messiah, 
 findeth his brother Simon, and brought him 
 to Jesus." God expects every Christian, and 
 every church, to act on this principle. Conver- 
 sion is as much the work of God, and salvation 
 as much of grace, when brought about through 
 the instrumentality of the church, as when ac- 
 complished immediately by the power of God, 
 without means, as in the case of Saul. Here 
 now, in a degree, was exemplified the descrip^ 
 tion of the prophet, " Arise, shine, for thy light 
 is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon 
 thee." " For behold, darkness shall cover the 
 earth, and gross darkness the people, but the
 
 72 LIFE AXD MINISTRY 
 
 Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall 
 be seen upon thee. Lift up thine eyes round 
 ahout, and see all they gather themselves to- 
 gether, they come to thee, thy sons shall come 
 from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at 
 thy side. Then thou shall see and flow together, 
 and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged. 
 Because the abundance of the sea shall be con- 
 verted unto thee, the force of the Gentiles shall 
 come unto thee." 
 
 There is one thing which should be seriously 
 considered by the churches of Christ, and all 
 Christians. It is that revivals of religion to any 
 extent, in the conversion of the world, cannot be 
 expected till the spirit be poured on the church; 
 till the church shines, and appears indeed the 
 church of God. It must convince the world 
 that there is reality in religion ; and that the 
 possession of it makes men better and happier. 
 If religion in the church appeared more inviting 
 and attractive to them who are without; if profes- 
 sors were more exemplary and holy in their 
 conduct and conversation, more evidently happy 
 in God as their portion, sinners would be led to 
 observe it, and inany be induced through the
 
 OF MR. JONES. 73 
 
 grace of God to say, " We will go with you, for 
 we have heard that God is with you." When 
 such is the state of the church, and when it has 
 commanded the attention of the world, and has 
 produced such happy impressions, there is no- 
 thing more natural, than that the house of prayer 
 should be well attended. This was the case at 
 Trelech, especially on the Lord's day, and a 
 wonderful unction, and power from above, accom- 
 panied the word. It was evident, that the Lord 
 had answered the prayers of the church, and 
 that the Spirit was now poured upon it, as a 
 spirit of grace and supplication. 
 
 Mr. Jones had been favoured before, with 
 great success, and revivals, especially soon after 
 his ordination, and in the year 1822 and 1823 ; 
 but this which took place in 1829 was the most 
 remarkable. Mr. Jones's ministry at this time, 
 was attended with more of the divine blessing, 
 than usual, not only at Trelech, where there 
 were added about four hundred members to the 
 church in one year, but also at the other places 
 where he administered the word. Scores were 
 added to the different churches, which then were 
 branches of the church at Trelech. It would
 
 74 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 be almost impossible to give a description of the 
 feelings and emotions, produced by the word, 
 and the manner, appearance, and language, 
 whereby the convinced and converted sometimes 
 evinced the state of their minds. It is not in> 
 probable, that were such scenes presented, and 
 such effects produced, in some of our English 
 congregations, many would be as much amazed 
 and as much in doubt, as those were, who wit- 
 nessed the pentecostal revival, and perhaps, 
 would be ready to charge both ministers and 
 people, either with drunkenness, or with mad- 
 ness as they did then. Acts, ii. 12, 13. 
 
 Mr. Griffiths, Mr. Jones's Welsh biographer, 
 in describing the state of the hearers, during 
 these revivals, says, "They were not all uniform 
 in the effects produced; all were not affected 
 alike ;" and we may apply the apostle's words, 
 " There were diversities of gifts, but the same 
 Spirit. There were diversities of operations, but 
 it is the same God that worketh all in all." 
 Sometimes there was a great weeping without 
 noise, and at another, there was a great propen- 
 sity, even an overpowering one to pray; one 
 would fall on his or her knees here, and another
 
 OF MR. JONES. 75 
 
 there, without any invitation, or call from any 
 man. These prayers had nothing studied and 
 formal about them ; there was the most intense 
 feeling, deep sense of need, and anxious desire 
 after God and salvation ; so much so, that they 
 appeared as if they had forgotten every one 
 about them, and everything, but God who is the 
 object of prayer. Sometimes in hearing some 
 of them, one would be led to conclude, by their 
 groans, their anguish, and their earnest petitions 
 for mercy, that they heard the groans, and saw 
 the flames of hell, aod viewed, themselves as on 
 .the brink. Sometimes also, some of them were 
 heard to use another language, and express very 
 different feelings, the feelings of joy, and lan- 
 guage of praise, giving themselves up to God, 
 with all they had, crying, " Gogoniant byth am 
 drugaredd." "Glory to God for ever for mercy." 
 Mr. Jones's ministry was much calculated 
 both to produce, and to foster the revival of reli- 
 gion. It was so especially at this time, though 
 he was now an old man, and had laboured about 
 forty-six years among the people, yet such 'was 
 the life and animation of his ministry, that they 
 would say to one another, "Our old minister is
 
 76 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 getting younger than ever in his old age." Allud- 
 ing to the life and animation of his ministry. 
 
 Mr. Jones was not only the means of the re- 
 vival of religion at home, but also in the neigh- 
 bouring churches. The old ministers at this 
 time, in South Wales,* though many of them 
 were very good men, and sound in the faith, vet 
 had very little life and animation about their 
 ministry, and some of them were much preju- 
 diced against what savoured of methodism. Mr. 
 Jones's society and preaching were the means 
 of producing a very favourable change in many; 
 among others, it is said, that the late Rev. K. 
 Morgan, the minister of the church at Henllan, 
 became quite a new man, as to his manner of 
 preaching; not only was he attached to Mr. 
 Jones, as a man and a Christian, but also to his 
 zealous and ardent manner of preaching the 
 truths of the gospel; and it is said his own 
 preaching, partook much (after his acquaintance 
 with Mr. Jones,) of the life and ardour of his 
 preaching. 
 
 The church at Henllan, was then, and still is, 
 a large church, consisting principally of farmers; 
 
 TbiR refers to the tiro* of his settlement at Trelech.
 
 OF MR. JONES. 77 
 
 many of them rich and living on their own pro- 
 perty. Mr. Morgan was a wise and learned 
 man. The writer has heard the following anec- 
 dote of him. Mr. Morgan was fond of young 
 ministers, and often got them to preach for him; 
 some of the old men were not satisfied with their 
 ministry, and they called on him one day, and 
 told b im so. " Pooh ! " said he, " I f y ou rear no 
 calves, you will have no oxen," and he never 
 heard any more complaints on that head. 
 
 BUT WE SHOULD NOT FORGET, ANOTHER 
 IMPORTANT MEANS OF MR. JoNEs's SUCCESS, 
 WHICH WAS THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 
 
 Mr. Jones was a great advocate for, and con- 
 tributed to a very large extent, to the promotion 
 of sabbath schools, in the neighbourhood. He 
 had been for years before his death, greatly en- 
 conraged by the efficiency, and faithfulness of 
 the teachers of the different schools under his 
 care ; and the great success, and the abundant 
 blessing, which evidently attended their labour 
 of love. Mr. Jones left these schools in the 
 most flourishing condition. There were about 
 twelve schools connected with the places of wor- 
 ship under his care. Some hundreds of pious
 
 78 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 teachers were engaged; we may indeed call 
 them bible class teachers, for it should be made 
 known, that at these sabbath schools, men and 
 children of every grade met, not only that 
 children might learn to read, but that all might 
 learn, and know more of the mind and will of 
 God,, by studying his holy word, and expound- 
 ing it. to one another. Scarcely any class of 
 men render greater service to their fellow men, 
 and to the church of God, than faithful and 
 efficient Sunday school teachers, and the bible 
 class instructors.' These schools and classes are 
 the nurseries of the church- A vast amount of 
 .good has already resulted from them; thousands 
 are in glory, who were brought to Christ by 
 means of them, and thousands more are on the 
 way to heaven, and take an active part in en- 
 deavouring ,to bring others with them. These 
 schools and bible classes contributed not a little 
 to the revival of religion, and the increase of 
 the church at Trelech ; and what a privilege 
 to be allowed to take a part in such a glorious 
 work, a work in which the Son of God him- 
 self delights, and which he has most signally 
 blessed.
 
 OF MR. JONES, 79 
 
 MR. JONES WAS WELL KNOWN AS A MAN OF 
 PUBLIC SPIRIT; Fajr above most of his breth- 
 ren, at an early part .of his life especially. 
 
 He was one of the first to advocate the mis- 
 sionary cause in Wales. He attended some of 
 the first missionary meetings in London, There 
 his soul was fired, with holy zeal for the work ; 
 he carried this home to his own church, and by 
 his preaching, writings, and conversation, in*. 
 fused and spread this holy fire through, not only 
 his own church, but through the neighbouring 
 churches also. He published at this time, a 
 little book in the Welsh language, called " Dydd 
 yn Gwavvrio." " The Morning's Dawn, or the 
 Dawn of the Morning." This little work was 
 designed to give the natives of the Principality 
 some account of the London Missionary Society; 
 its origin, nature, and object; as well as to point 
 out the state of the nations of the earth, the 
 misery and wants of the heathen, and the duty 
 of christians to send the gospel to them; and that 
 it was vain and absurd to pray for the conver- 
 sion of the world, without using the appropriate 
 means. It contains an interesting account of 
 the formation of the society, the first meetings
 
 80 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 which were held, the first missionaries, their 
 voyages and dangers, and the scenes of their 
 labours. This little book produced the most 
 wonderful effect, in favour of missions, through- 
 out a great part of South Wales. It was then 
 but the dawn of the morning, but now it is the 
 broad day light ; now the sun of righteousness 
 has arisen, and has shined upon the dark places 
 of the earth, and the benighted islands of the 
 sea ; yet it is not perfect day, the sun has not 
 as yet reached the meridian, but is advancing, 
 and all doubts are now scattered and vanished, 
 respecting the final issue. 
 
 Mr. Jones wrote and published a few small 
 works, besides the above mentioned one. One 
 on the " Fulfilment of the Prophecies," "A Cate- 
 chism on the Covenants," "The Principles of the 
 Christian Religion/' and also translated a sermon 
 of President Davies's, of America, on the "Resur- 
 rection." This was considered by many good 
 judges, as remarkably well executed, the whole 
 matter being expressed, in very easy, powerful, 
 and chaste language, which, considering the 
 different idioms of the two languages, is not a 
 very easy task, to do well.
 
 OF MR. JONES. 81 
 
 But we must now give a brief account of Mr. 
 Jones's last illness, and death. This is the con- 
 clusion of all lives, however valuable, " and he 
 died." Mr. Jones had been ill, and danger- 
 ously so, several times previous to his last and 
 mortal illness. The church held at different 
 times, special prayer meetings, with a view ear- 
 nestly to pray, that if consistent with the divine 
 will, he might be spared, and restored again to 
 health and usefulness in the church on earth; 
 and it pleased God to answer prayer, on his be- 
 half, on more than one occasion: for prayer is 
 still as powerful and efficacious as in the apos- 
 tolic time, if offered in faith. Acts, xii. 5. But 
 the time of his departure was now drawing near. 
 About three years before his death, be was 
 visited with a very alarming and distressing dis- 
 ease, called Hydro thorax, or dropsy of the chest; 
 he never recovered after this, nor was he free 
 from pain, and the distressing symptoms attend- 
 ing such complaints. He was forced often to 
 sit up whole nights, as he could not lay down 
 in bed ; yet such was his love to his master, his 
 service, and to precious souls, that he has been 
 known to preach two or three times on the sue-
 
 82 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 ceeding day, with great power and unction from 
 above. Abont six weeks before his death, he 
 preached his last two sermons, and administered 
 the Lord's supper, at one of his chapels, called 
 Tfynnonbedr, or Peter's Well. His text in the 
 morning, was, "A little while, and ye shall not 
 see roe, and again a little while and ye shall see 
 me, because I go to the Father." John xvi. 16; 
 and in the afternoon, or evening, the last ser- 
 mon, the text was, Gal. vi. 14. " God forbid 
 that I should glory, save in the cross of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ." On the following sabbath 
 morning, he joined in the worship of God, at 
 Trelech, but did not preach. He then returned 
 to his own house, and never left it again, till he 
 was carried to his grave. For about five weeks, 
 his afflictions were heavy and distressing, but he 
 was supported under them, saying sometimes, 
 that now " grace to die he wanted, and not grace 
 to live ; this he hoped he had had, and that his 
 heavenly father had promised, and he believed 
 him, and took him at his word." On the Thurs- 
 day preceding his death, he was exceedingly ill, 
 and fainted away several times, so that it was 
 thought he was dying. On the Friday, he was
 
 OF MR. JONES. 83' 
 
 still alive, and in the evening seemed to rally a 
 little, but it was but for a short time; for on the 
 Saturday he was evidently worse, and on the 
 Saturday night swooned away three times, so that 
 it was not expected he could survive till morning- 
 On the sabbath morning, being the day ap- 
 pointed for the celebration of the Lord's supper, 
 his son, and co-pastor, the Rev. E. Jones, was 
 unable to leave him, as it was thought he was 
 dying, so that the ordinance was not adminis- 
 tered that morning ; contrary however to the 
 expectation of many, who were present, he 
 continued till the following Wednesday, about 
 twelve o'clock, when his happy spirit was re- 
 leased from its earthly house of this tabernacle, 
 and took its flight, without a sigh, to the realms 
 of glory, the rest that remaineih for the people 
 of God. The nature of Mr. Jones's last illness 
 was such, as to render it impossible for him to 
 say much, but what he did say, evinced that he 
 died in the full assurance of the faith of the 
 gospel, and enjoyed the presence of that Saviour, 
 whom he had for so many years preached to 
 others. However desirable it is, to hear the 
 dying testimony of our Christian friends, in
 
 84 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 favour of religion ; yet it is more satisfactory to 
 have a whole life of many years, to bear its tes- 
 timony to the truth and reality of it ; and the 
 question respecting our dying friends, rather 
 should be, how they lived, than how they died. 
 The death of a good man may be sudden, or of 
 such a nature as to preclude the possibility of 
 speech, or any other outward sign. 
 
 About this time, several of Mr. Jones's old 
 and particular friends died, some before, and 
 some after him. These pious friends and he, 
 used to meet, and talk familiarly, and with com- 
 posure and delight ; about their latter end, and 
 about heaven, and their hopes and expectations, 
 in reference to it. They seemed as they talked, 
 as if on Pisgah's top, viewing the heavenly land 
 with unutterable delight, as their happy home. 
 One friend reminded him of his service nnd 
 usefulness in the church ; his short answer was, 
 "None but Christ, none but Christ now." One 
 of his daughters asked him how he felt, and how 
 it was with his soul ? he said in answer, " This 
 is new experience, or a new lesson, I am learn- 
 ing how to die/' He often said, that he had 
 observed many of the servants of God, who had
 
 OF MR. JCXNES. 85 
 
 laboured much in the vineyard of Christ, at last 
 talcen away, or removed to their reward, in a 
 very silent manner ; so it was, in some respects, 
 in regard to his own removal. Thus was this 
 good and useful servant of Jesus Christ, removed 
 from his labour to his reward, after a remark- 
 able and successful career, of about forty-six 
 years. He died on the 23rd of December, 
 1835. 
 
 On the Saturday morning following, hundreds 
 of his friends assembled together at his house to 
 show their last token of respect, to the mortal 
 remains, of their late worthy and beloved minis- 
 ter. It is a custom in this part, to have a 
 sermon preached at the house of the deceased, 
 before the body is carried to its long home. On 
 this occasion a sermon was preached, by the 
 Rev. T. Jones, of "Saron; and prayers were 
 offered, by the Rev. W. Miles, of Tyrhos, and 
 
 the Rev. Breese, of Carmarthen. (Mr. 
 
 Breese was soon called to follow Mr. Jones.) 
 A scene now occurred, which would baffle all 
 attempt at description. Several hundreds of 
 the people expressed a strong desire, to have 
 one glance more of the features and the face,
 
 86 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 once so dear to them, and it was deemed right 
 to gratify them in this desire. The body was 
 carried out of the house, and placed in a position 
 where all might have a view of it; then the lid of 
 the. coffin was removed, so that all might see 
 the face, when this was done, hundreds gave 
 vent to their intense feelings, some by a loud 
 cry, and others by sighs, and groans, and tears. 
 Here was such a scene and such feelings, as 
 are seldom, if ever witnessed, even among the 
 warm hearted Welsh Christians. Here was real 
 mourning, but it was not the sorrow of those 
 who have no hope. After this affecting scene, 
 the body was carried to a place called Lloyn yr 
 hwrdd; (here is a large chapel, which was built 
 by Mr. Jones, on his own estate, but long be- 
 fore his death it was secured in trust. Close 
 to the chapel, Mr. Jones had a small spot of 
 ground enclosed on his own property, designed 
 for a burial ground for himself and family.) 
 when they arrived at this place, the body 
 was taken to the chapel, when the service was 
 introduced by the Rev. J. Evans, of Penygroes; 
 the Rev. S. Griffiths, of Horeb, preached from 
 2 Tim. iv. 8, and then the body was laid in its
 
 OF MR. JONES. 87 
 
 clay cold bed, there to rest till the last trumpet 
 shall sound ; and again an address was delivered 
 at the grave, by the late T. Griffiths, of Howen. 
 Then the hundreds who had followed their late 
 beloved pastor to his long home, separated with 
 such mournful feelings, as cannot be easily 
 described. 
 
 " Blessings are upon the head of the just, but 
 violence covereth the mouth of the wicked ; the 
 memory of the just is blessed, but the name of 
 the wicked shall rot." "Let me die the death 
 of the righteous, and let my last end be like 
 his." 
 
 The writer will now conclude his short, and 
 very inadequate memorial of his much esteemed 
 friend and father, by the introduction of two 
 letters, written by Mr. Jones in the time of 
 health and prosperity. The spirit which breathes 
 in them, will in a measure demonstrate some of 
 the statements respecting his character, and 
 kindness of disposition. The first was written 
 to the Rev. D. Thomas, now of Wotton-under- 
 hedge, on the occasion of his settlement among 
 the English in Pembrokeshire ; and the other 
 to the writer.
 
 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 Trelech, March 27th, 1816. 
 Rev. and dear Sir, 
 
 I received your favour, of the 18th inst. I 
 really rejoice that you are fixed in that part of 
 the Lord's vineyard you are ; you are placed in 
 a situation much lesembling that of our mission- 
 aries. Of course you must expect some priva- 
 tions, must exercise much patience and self 
 denial ; but on the other hand, you have many 
 great advantages you will daily exercise your- 
 self in the English language you will have to 
 watch the increase of the infant cause of your 
 Redeemer : he saying to you, "feed my lambs;" 
 what pleasure will it afford your soul, to mark 
 their progress in Christian knowledge, experience, 
 and consistency of character; you will have great 
 opportunities, almost all round in different neigh- 
 bourhoods to break up new ground, and preach 
 Christ where he is but little known. Oh pray 
 much for spiritual wisdom, for flaming zeal in 
 your great master's cause for tender love to 
 immortal souls for a serious yet affable temper. 
 Whatever opposition you may meet (which you 
 may expect from hell, from prejudices, enmity, 
 passions of men, and perhaps from the igno-
 
 OF MR. JONES. 89 
 
 ranee and weakness of some of God's people,) 
 let none discourage you in your great work. If 
 God be for you, who can be against you, and 
 prevail ? I congratulate you upon this account. 
 You are now in a respectable connection of 
 Independent ministers in the English part of 
 Pembrokeshire. I have the presentiment, that 
 the Lord intends to do a great work still among 
 the English there. I hope the time of their 
 visitation in mercy is come. How pleasant in 
 the day of the appearance of the great shepherd, 
 will it be for you, and hundreds (I hope) of 
 souls brought from darkness to light by your 
 ministry, to meet in his presence, to receive 
 with inconceivable joy, an everlasting crown of 
 glory ; and the more abundant you be in labour 
 and sufferings, the more glorious will your crown 
 be. What a joyful, holy, and happy meeting 
 will this be, of pastor and his flock, to part no 
 more. Therefore brother faint not, be not weary 
 in doing good, but so run that you may obtain. 
 But pardon me, I do not intend to dictate to 
 you, only I think that my age, and standing in 
 the church, together with some experience of 
 the greatness of the work of the trials in it of
 
 90 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 the enmity of hell, and of the unbelieving of 
 opposition of some success, and of the Lord's 
 support, with some recollection of my former 
 visits to the dear English, in Pembrokeshire, as 
 one having obtained mercy, thus to write my 
 mind freely to a dear brother, just going to en- 
 gage in the most important work a mortal can 
 be engaged in. May the Lord be with you, 
 according to his promise may his face go with 
 you may he be your light, your support, and 
 your salvation, your all and in all, for time and 
 eternity; may you be as a star in his right 
 hand, a burning and shining light upon the 
 candlestick where you are placed. 
 
 Dear brother, though it is inconvenient for 
 me, in Easter week, to come down, (and there 
 are other instruments more able to carry on the 
 ordination, just on the spot,) yet I wait for 
 opportunity to pay a visit to Castle Martin and 
 Rose ; then shall be glad to visit you, and your 
 flock. 
 
 My Christian love to all enquiring friends. 
 I wish you much of the divine assistance and 
 presence at your meeting, may many have cause 
 to say, of a truth the Lord was there. Wishing
 
 OF MR. JOXES. 91 
 
 success, I remain dear brother, your's in the 
 bonds of the gospel. 
 
 MORGAN JONES, 
 The Rev. D. Thomas. 
 
 Trelech, April llth, 1817. 
 Rev. and dear Brother, 
 
 I received your's of February 18th; it gave 
 me pleasure to hear that you and Mrs. Beynon 
 are well, and satisfied that it was the will of 
 God, in his providence, ihat you should remove 
 from Bishop's Castle to your present situation, 
 especially as there is reason to hope that the 
 Lord crowns your exertions for his glory, which 
 is certainly the greatest encouragement to a man 
 devoted to his master's service, as every gospel 
 minister should be. Remember my dear bro- 
 ther, the time is short, then we should endeavour 
 so to run as to obtain. What are we running 
 for ? honours ? no : for pleasures of sense ? no : 
 for gold that perisheth ? no : for riches and 
 wealth ? no : for earthly crowns and kingdoms ? 
 no : but we run for the approbation of our mas- 
 ter, the supreme judge of the quick and dead;
 
 92 LIFE AND MINISTRY 
 
 will he say in the hearing and sight of listening 
 and wondering worlds, " Well done thou good 
 and faithful servant ?" We are running for a 
 crown, a crown of glory, and an everlasting one 
 running for a kingdom, heavenly and eternal, 
 therefore let us faint not. 
 
 " 'Tis almost done, 'tis almost o'er, 
 We follow them, who are gone before, 
 We soon shall reach the happy shore, 
 Where brethren meet, to part no more." 
 Let us strive to gain the mastery. Be dili- 
 gent, faithful, zealous, and watchful ; our rest is 
 in yonder country ; if we expect rest (besides 
 that we have in Christ,) this side the grave, we 
 shall be disappointed. Here, those graces, which 
 have no exercise in heaven, will have abundant 
 exercise, faith, hope, repentance, patience, and 
 sympathy. 
 
 I rejoiced greatly to hear that you had meet- 
 ings for Christian experience, as well as to con- 
 verse upon selected passages of scripture ; light 
 and heat united are very precious. I am now 
 an old man, about forty eight years of age, you 
 are young, therefore now is your time for appli- 
 cation, diligence, and exertion. Time insensibly
 
 OF MK. JONES. 93 
 
 slips away, and old age will creep upon us un- 
 awares, for life is but a span. 
 
 At Norbeth, it appears to me, that the cause 
 of Christ gains ground j very great audiences, 
 and about fifty members. At Templeton a 
 a great many hearers. I hope Mr. Thomas 
 will see the tabernacle filled with pious profes- 
 sors. Praying for, and wishing you success in 
 your ministry, wishing you and dear Mrs. Bey- 
 non much of the Lord's presence, and all tem- 
 poral happiness, consistent with your everlasting 
 good, with respects to Mrs. B. I remain your's 
 in the best bonds. 
 
 M. JONES. 
 J. J. Beynon,
 
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