400 MISSIONARY CHRONICLE FOR SEPTEMBER, 1820 Berks.-Independent Dissenting Congrega- North Britain.-Huntly Female Auxiliary Oxon.-Friend at Benson, collected by Mr. Mr. John Clapham, jun., Leeds, for a Native From a few friends at Leeds, for ditto, to 40 9 0 1510 0 300 700 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 Mr. John Oldfield, Parkton, near Hudders- 99 0 Hants.- Havant. - Rev. W. Scamp and Oxford. Dr. Macbride, for promoting Northamptonshire.-Peterborough. Col 26 17 10 1000 300 10 0 0 lection after a Sermon by Rev. Mr. Isaacs 600 Dorset.-Wareham.-B. P. F... Blandford.- Ladies' Association per Mrs. Worsley, Trea surer.... Subscriptions....... Surrey.-Parley Oakes, Croydon. Lincolnshire. Sleaford. - Col- Helpringham.-Subscriptions 220 29 3 3 Warwickshire. Coventry.-A Friend by Stirlingshire and its Vicinity, in aid of Mis- Cambridgeshire.- Sobam. 4 0 10 Chelmsford. Late Rev. S. Douglas Dunmow.-For Expenses. 4 3 4 20 0 -Moiety of a 11 50 Rev. Matthew Wilks, London Donations in aid of the Anglo Chinese College at Malacca. The acknowledgments of Presents in our next. 10 10 0 Missionary Hymn. They come not to the help of the Lord.'-JUDGES V. 23. EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE AND MISSIONARY CHRONICLE. OCTOBER, 1820. MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. THOMAS JONES, HOMAS Jones was born at Tycanol, in the vale of Neath, South Wales, and in his youth became a member of the dissenting. Church, at Bridge-end, having been awakened to a serious concern respecting his eternal welfare, by the preaching of Mr. Evan Williams, at that place. In the year 1774, being then about 25 years of age, he was admitted a student in the Academy at Abergavenny, under the tuition of the late Dr. Benjamin Davies, from whom, on leaving the seminary, he received an honourable testimony as to character, diligence, and proficiency. Mr. Jones was first settled at Crediton, in Devonshire, but his ordination over that church took place at Ottery, St. Mary, in May 1780, on which occasion were present, among other ministers, Messrs. Thomas Reader, Peter Fabyan, Samuel Buncombe, and Herbert Mends. In the following year, he removed from Crediton to Chalford, where he spent the remainder of his days, living a retired, but not an inactive life, usually preaching four sermons in the week to his own congregation, besides his labours in the vicinity. Itinerant preachers who, after the example of the Evangelists, carry the tidings of mercy far and wide, are worthy of high honour; but let not the diligent pastor of a single church be stigmatized as an idler in the vineyard. If he make full proof of his ministry, his bodily labour may be nearly equal to that of his itinerant brother, and his mental labour much greater. Much is said in our day of the faults of professors and of teachers of religion, and much also of the dissentions which occur in Christian societies. Few persons, however, take a fair view of these matters; for, in the first place, such circumstances are usually much aggravated by report; and, in the second place, a multitude of facts of an opposite character, are kept out of sight. Exceptions to a general rule, both in physics and morals, excite much more observation than the uninterrupted continuance of the rule. If two or three churches in a county fall into contention, the whole district is quickly reported to be disorderly, no regard being had to the twenty or thirty societies which continue peaceful. If one 'standard-bearer' in the army of Jesus' fainteth,' the the noise of his fall echoes both through the camp of Israel, and the armies of the aliens,' while of the hundreds who remain 'good soldiers of Jesus Christ,' little or nothing is either said or thought. It 2 M is with no small pleasure we record on our pages the name of Thomas Jones, of Chalford, as a man in whose life, the church and the world agree to acknowledge, a practical transcript of his doctrine might be read. Nor is it without gratifica tion we state that during the long period of 37 years, Mr. Jones and the church over which he presided, lived in peace and harmony;-a fact which redounds to the honour of both parties, ard of that religion which bound them together. As a preacher, Mr. Jones was plain, (in the sense of intelligible, not of inferior) scriptural and judicious. Possessed of a sound understanding, respectable acquirements, and genuine piety, his sermons, though not of a popular cast, were much esteemed by the people of his charge. After preaching above six thousand times at Chalford, his congregation was much larger than when he commenced his labours in that place. His aim, in common with that of every faithful minister, was to save himself and those who heard him; and his success, though far inferior to his wishes, was not inconsiderable. When this memorial shall reach the eye of those who were once under his instructions, God grant it may be the means of leading them to enquire, whether the Gospel, which they heard from his lips has been to them the savour of life unto life,' or is likely to be the vour of death unto death.' 6 sa With what anxiety has the good man often looked on those of his flock who appeared to neglect the great salvation which week after week, and year after year, he was making known to them. In social and public prayer, Mr. Jones particularly excelled; and in this part of his work, the slowness of his delivery, which perhaps rather interfered with the effect of his preaching, was not unsuitable. There have been few men to whom the testimony of Jesus respecting Nathaniel, might be more fairly applied than to Thomas Jones. He was a Christian indeed, in whom was no guile. His character was precisely the opposite of that which the apostle James describes and censures. His disposition inclinef him rather to do a kind action, unaccompanied by words of condolence, than to say to the distressed, Be ye warmed and filled,' and yet do nothing for their relief. It must be acknowledged that suavity of manners, when the index of genuine kindness, adds much to the pleasure of social intercourse. A smile on the countenance is however a very poor substitute for benevolence in the heart. Every one who was really acquainted with Mr. Jones knew, though a stranger might not instantly perceive, that his heart was susceptible of kindness and of pity. of For the last two or three years his life, his health and strength were much impaired. In the year 1818, his articulation having, in consequence of paralysis, become indis tinct, he resigned his pastoralcharge. His mind appeared to sympathise with his body, and was often much depressed. Yet he was not destitute of a good hope. Two months before his death, when conversing with a friend respecting his pros pects for futurity, he said, in his characteristic manner, I know where I am, and where I going.' His last audible words, expressed in a whisper a few hours before his departure, were, Allis well.' am of He died January 10th, 1820, in his 72nd year. His funeral dis course, on the day of interment, was preached by Mr. Bishop, of Gloucester, the next senior minister of the Gloucestershire Congrega tional Association. An address at the grave was delivered by Mr. Nichols, |