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THE

EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE

AND

MISSIONARY CHRONICLE.

MARCH 1823.

MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. THOMAS JONES,
OF DENBIGH, NORTH WALES.
(Concluded from p. 51.)

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SOME characteristics of Mr. Jones's manner and habits as a preacher we think worthy of notice. With a commanding person and a good sonorous voice, his delivery was attractive and calculated for usefulness, as removed from the extreme of boisterous vociferation on one side, and of cold, dull monotony on the other. Were we to apply to those who best knew him for his charac ter in this particular, would not their delineation, accord with the model pencilled by the poet? "Would I describe a preacher, such as Paul,

Were he on earth, would best approve and own,

*

*

*

* *

I would express him simple, grave, sincere ; In doctrine uncorrupt, in language plain, And plain in manner; devout, solemn, chaste,

And natural in gesture; much impressed Himself, as conscious of his awful charge, And anxious mainly that the flock he feeds May feel it too; affectionate in look, And tender in address, as well becomes A messenger of peace to guilty men. As a pupil of adversity, he had ceaseless opportunities to exemplify the Apostle's precept, "Let patience have its perfect work." He suffered excruciating pains from the stone, and sometimes even for days without intermission. He was obliged to submit twice to the painful operation of incision; viz. in 1797

VOL. I.

and 1802.* His own MS. account of his bodily sufferings is affecting and edifying. As an instance of their sanctified effect on his mind, we quote the following reflection:

"It always was, as it is still, my bounden duty to exclaim, What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me, the blackest and the poorest sinner; the most unworthy of his unprofitable of his servants within children, the most unfaithful and his house and vineyard. Certainly in viewing the many and singular mercies I have experienced (without considering such as I know not of} I have great cause to bless the God of the whole earth, and to wonder att

*Mr. Jones and his friends much considered one circumstance under the last operation as an instance of a remark able providence that contributed to the preservation of his life. In a few days after the stone was extracted, such a dangerous inflammation near the incision took place that baffled the attempts of his medical attendants to assuage, and would have proved fatal, had he not thought of applying leeches. But none were to be found at the usual places in the town of Mold, where they were generally kept. However, after much search, one was found near the town; and owing to an unusual strength and eagerness exerted by the aquatic insect, the wishedfor relief was effected. The stone extracted by the first operation was under the second operation, was two ounce and three quarters, and the other, ounces and a quarter. K

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his great patience, his gracious and constant goodness towards me. In considering his saving grace and all his free mercies in Christ, which I cannot but hope I partake of, I feel constrained delightfully to say, Not to me, not to me, but to thine own name, O Lord, be the PRAISE. With respect to myself and my best fruits, (but rather my unfruitful life,) I have great cause for shame and grief. O that my life, in time past, had been, and that it were now, pro

ductive of much and abundant fruit

to the praise of my Creator, my Supporter, my Guide and Saviour! Nevertheless it becomes me, in the view of my insignificancy, to add, that through grace I am what I am. To him be the praise for every deliverance, and all his goodness, for ever and ever. Amen."

Mr. Jones was married three times. He had for his first wife Miss E. Jones of Mold, a lady of deep piety, who died in 1798. By her testamentary disposal of her property, and wholly unsolicited by him, his own independence from his paternal property was improved, He continued to live in Mold from 1795 to 1804, when he removed to Ruthin, and married Miss A. Maesmor of Llanelidan, Denbighshire, a pious young woman, who in consequence of taking a severe cold, died of a rapid consumption in less than 18 months after her marriage. She possessed considerable property at her own disposal, and was solicitous to demise it to Mr. Jones; but was overruled by his objection to the measure. In 1806 he married another pious lady, Miss M. Lloyd of Llanrwst, who now survives him, to deplore the loss of his affectionate and profitable so ciety, and has reaped from his death, as well as life, a Christian proof of his regard for her person and character. In 1809 he removed to Denbigh, where he resided at the time of his death, which we have now to notice, with

a few particulars of the state of his mind during his last illness.

his bed, a few of his religious friends A day before he was confined to were present with him in his study, and were thus addressed by him : "Perhaps, my friends, you may expect from me some great things; but I have nothing now but Jesus, the subject of my public ministra

tion.

which I laboured in preaching the In the narrow sphere in word, and meeting the societies, my object has been, to be of service to sinners. And with respect to what I have written, I do not repent, though I have cause to repent of my faults. The end I had in view in all, was to defend the truth of God. But in all, as far as relates to myself, there is a great deal of imperfection. But not according to my best things, or my worst things, will the Judge deal with me." He then wept. A few days before his decease a religious friend came to visit Em by his desire. Mr. Jones expressed great satisfaction at seeing him; but was too weak to enter much into conversation. After a while he desired him to read Ps. 23, and to engage in prayer. He then dwelt in a very comfortable strain on those words in 2 Tim. i. 12. "I know whom I have believed," &c. He gave out a stanza of a Welsh hymn, and desired those who were in the room to join in singing it. He afterwards attempted to sing another stanza, expressive of his confidence of deliverance through his Saviour, in the floods of Jordan and in the judgment to come. He was unable to continue awake for any length of time, from the effect of the medicine which he took. But when awake he was very ready to converse. He desired his friend to pray that he might be enabled to suffer patiently, and added, "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of

God." It is grace enough for me at present to be enabled to humble myself and to suffer patiently, and to see the hand of God in all, and that all is in the hand of a Father. "When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold ;" and "that will be for ever wonderful, to be made pure." The following morning he desired his friend to read a chapter and to pray; and expressed his thankfulness for being much easier with respect to bodily pain.

Before his friend departed, he desired to be kindly remembered to the Brethren at the Association at Bala, which was then approaching, and expressed a desire that the Lord's presence might be among them; and that they would "pray unto the Lord of the harvest, to send labourers into his harvest." After saying more to the same purpose, he added, "Be earnest in prayer, walk in love and humility, strive to be useful in every place, and every part of the work, and to be increasingly strict with respect to doctrine and discipline. After a while he repeated a Welsh stanza, expressive of his confidence, that God would in infinite mercy be to him, in the distressing hour of death, a father, a brother, and a friend, when he should be deprived of the favour and friendship of all others. He then said, "There is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. O my Father, let me depart in peace according to thy word;" and, after repeating many other comfortable passages of Scripture, he said with a loud voice, "O death, where is thy sting? I thank God for giving the victory to such a vile worm." When in great bodily pain he said, "My sins deserve a hundred millions more than this if I have the smiles of thy countenance, all is well-O my Ebenezer, hitherto hath the Lord helped me." On Saturday night

and

previous to his death, he asked what it was o'clock; he was answered 12: then he said in English," Shall I, a poor worm, commence an eternal sabbath? Then in his own language, "The righteous hopeth when he dieth; I die in peace, thy peace be with thy Church," Being much troubled with the hiccough, he observed, "The hiccough is rather a rough chariot, but it will nevertheless convey me to everlasting joy." The last intelligible words he was heard to utter, were the following, "O shall I die in peace with the infinitely great God! O happy Heaven, happy Heaven!”

Mr. Jones contributed, no less by his labours with his pen than by the success of his personal ministry, to excite and promote a religious feeling in his countrymen. As one of the principal translators and authors of his day, his name will be noticed with respect in the annals of Welsh literature. The Welsh publications he put in circulation, amounted to at least 25,000 or 26,000 copies, and consist of the following works: Sylwadau ar Undeb Crefyddol.Translation of Gurnal's Christian Armour in 4 vols.-Gair yn ei Amser. -English Welsh Dictionary, third edition now publishing.-His joint labours with the Rev. T. Charles, in publishing Trysorfa Ysprydol, and Vindication of the Welsh Methodists.-Drych Athrawiaethol.-Ymddyddanion Crefyddol-Sylwadau ar Lyfr Mr. D Atteb Byr. Catecism Eglwys Loegr, (Translation from the Latin.) -Merthyrdraith.-Llyfr Hymnau. -Achos Pwysig.--Cwyn ymosstyngar.-Llythyr at y Bedyddwyr.Anrheg.-Ymddyddanion ar Brynedigarth.-Besides several Elegies, select Sermons, and School-books.

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His poetical and controversial works are original. In those years of national trial when the kingdom was threatened with the French in

vasion, he wielded his pen with a happy dexterity and skill, in op posing the progress of jacobinical principles; and in stimulating his Welsh fellow-subjects to rally around the standard of their king and country. His public character as a Minister of the Gospel, was supported, not only by the attainments of the sound Divine, but by the consistent spirituality of the Christian and the amiable virtues of religion. He was affable and courteous, hospitable and charitable to the extent of his ability, affectionately beloved by his friends, and much respected by many, even of the Clergy and the higher class of society.

THE REMAINS OF THE

TRANSFIGURATION.

And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were amazed, and running to him saluted him.-MARK ix. 15.

THE scribes and pharisees took advantage of the absence of our Lord, to harass and perplex his disciples. Like those who wish to entrap the young, and who assail them while their friends and guardians are at a distance, they regarded this as a noble opportunity for exposing their ignorance to the people. The questions which they put to them were not proposed with candour and meekness; or from a sincere desire to know the truth respecting their Master, but to puzzle them, and to draw from them such answers as they might employ to the prejudice of the claims of Jesus. Their kind and considerate Lord saw the snare that was spread for them, and appeared for their help in the season of need. Such was the attraction of his presence, that the people turned away from the scribes, and running to our Lord saluted him with respectful and affectionate homage. Neither their threats nor

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their cavils could keep them from yielding to this impulse.

But what was it in our Lord's appearance which amazed them, and attracted them to him? To this question I answer, it was the remains of that splendour which had irradiated him on the mount. After Moses had been with God forty days and forty nights, his face shone when he came down from the mount. But though our Lord had been only one night and a part of one day on the mount, his face shone with bright lustre. Aaron and all the children of Israel were afraid to come nigh to Moses, but the people were attracted by the splendour of our Saviour. The lustre on the face of Moses was awful and dazzling; that on our Lord's, though bright, was mild and pleasing. The one came from the scene of terror, the other from that of grace and love. The one was suited to the law, which was a dispensation of severity and bondage; the other to that of the Gospel, which is a dispensation of benignity and peace. This lustre required no veil as that of Moses did, for it was most pleasing and grateful to the eyes of the spectators. It resembled the moon walking in her brightness, rather than the sun in his meridian glory. It did not long continue, for that face was soon exposed to shame and spitting, and on his eye-lids sat the shadow of death.

This beautiful circumstance in our Lord's life suggests various reflections. It shows us how ready we should be to quit the scene of idle and captious dispute for the presence and the worship of the Saviour. The questions which these scribes were putting to the disciples might have excited the curiosity of the people, or flattered their prejudices in favour of the Mosaic institutions, or the temporal conquests

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