EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE, AND MISSIONARY CHRONICLE. FOR MARCH, 1851. MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. WILLIAM JONES, AMONG the many localities in which the Congregational Churches of South Wales have recently been called to lament the loss of their beloved and devoted pastors, a conspicuous place has been assigned to the county of Glamorgan. Repeatedly, and at no distant intervals, have the Christians of that district had occasion to propose the 'ancient inquiry:-" Our fathers, where are they?" and "The prophets, do they live for ever?" The late Rev. Griffith Hughes, Whitecross, whose memory persons of all classes united to honour, is no more. The late Rev. Thomas Williams, Bethesda-y-fro, the sweet singer of Israel, and the talented preacher, is gone. The Rev. Daniel Griffiths, of Neath, whose talents as a preacher aroused the Principality, is not to be found here. The Rev. Herbert Herbert, of Newton Nottage, with the Revs. Jones and Evans, of Merthyr Tydfil, are sleeping in the grave. And we have to add, sorrowfully, to the list of the sainted dead, the revered name of William Jones, Tabernacle, Bridgend, the late venerable Secretary of our County Association, who sustained for thirty-seven years the pastorate of the Congregational churches assembling in Bridgend, Brynmenin, Coity, and Bethel, and whose praise is in all the VOL. XXIX. churches. The excellence of his cha racter, the extent of his usefulness, and the estimation in which he was held, not only in Glamorgan, but in the different parts of North and South Wales, as well as the Metropolis and Liverpool, which were the scenes of his occasional labours, demand that in the EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE a tribute should be paid to his memory as a Christian, and a Christian Minister. The Rev. William Jones was born in the town of Bala, Merionethshire, North Wales, in the year 1784. His parents' names were William and Elizabeth Jones. They were members of the Calvinistic Methodists in that town, and his father was an officer in that church; so it was his happiness to be blessed with godly parents. And powerful was the influence which their advice, and prayers, and examples exercised over his youthful mind. He was allowed, when a child, to attend the meetings of the church, by his godly parents, at Bala and early convictions brought him as a penitent sinner to the foot of the cross. It was not, however, till about the sixteenth year of his age that he could date that decided change which at once made him a new creature in Christ Jesus, and opened to him those resources of infinite mercy which K was to preach the gospel of Christ; to reveal more extensively his glory, to forward the sublime purposes of his redemption. I entered not, however, on the work of the ministry, until I had taken the advice of those on whose judgment and prudence I could rely; and chiefly through the instrumen tality of the late Rev. Thomas Charles, D.D., of Bala (Methodist minister), I was introduced to the academy." Feeling, however, the importance of mental cultivation as a preliminary to the Christian ministry, he sought admission into the academy at Wrexham, then under the presidency of the late Rev. J. Lewis, D.D. (afterwards of Newport, Monmouthshire), and he was fully admitted in the year 1806, in the 22nd year of his age, where he spent four years, pursuing, very diligently, his studies, with great honour to himself and his competent tutor. were to be the foundation of his hope, | can certainly say, that my only desire and the occasion of his joy for ever. No longer did he feel any satisfaction in the companions which once were his choice. His heart was renewed by Divine grace; his views, his feelings, his habits, his whole character, was changed. The things which he loved before had lost their charms. So far as instrumental agency was concerned, he assigns this change to a sermon which he heard from the late Rev. Thomas Philips, D.D., Neuaddlwyd, Cardiganshire, founded on David's choice :— "I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness," Psal. lxxxiv. 10. He heard it with a solemnity appropriate to the subject itself, as well as to the excellent talents of that great and extraordinary preacher. As a penitent sinner, he was drawn to a throne of grace; the ears of mercy gently bowed to listen as he approached in prayer. The God of his parents he soon found to be his God. The whispers of pardon, the aboundings of Divine love, melted his heart," old things passed away, and all things became new." Consequently he united himself with the Independent Church at Bala, of which he continued an honourable and useful member, until it pleased God to commit to his charge that ministry which was to be afterwards the business of his life. In reference to this, he related his experience to the writer several times, thus: "I cannot remember a time when I had not a wish to enter the ministry; but when I began to feel the power of religion, and the vast importance of an interest in Christ, my desire for this work increased; though my motives assumed a different character. It was my wish to devote myself to the study of the Holy Bible; and as I found that every renewed discovery of its excellencies, and its adaptation to sinners, endeared it the more to my heart, I longed to proclaim it to those who were without God in the world. I Having honourably completed his academical course, he accepted the unanimous invitation of the churches at Bridgend and Brynmenin, Glamorganshire, to become their pastor; and commenced his labours there in June, 1810. After having preached with great acceptance and usefulness to the people, he was ordained, February, 1811; on which occasion his venerable tutor, the late Rev. D. Davies, of Swansea; the late Rev. G. Hughes, Whitecross; the late Rev. E. Jones, Pontypool; conducted the leading parts of the service. At Bridgend and Brynmenin, a wide and barren field presented itself before him. He entered upon the cultivation of it with diligence and zeal, and was privileged to witness the fruit of his labours. Many sinners were awakened and converted under his ministry, and considerable accessions were made to the churches and congregations. New chapels were erected-one at Bridgend, one at Coity, others at Bethel and Penuel; and the debts upon them were entirely liquidated. without a share of those failings and imperfections which attach to the characters of the best of men; but few, we believe, ever acted with more uniform consistency, integrity, and affection. The genuine piety which lay at the foundation of his entire character, shone forth conspicuously in every circle in which he moved; and he has been enabled to pass through an ensnaring and tempting world without a spot or blemish. As a man, our departed brother had his peculiarities. There was a firmness and determinateness in his natural disposition, which some might think he carried to an extreme. Whatever he set his mind upon, he was determined, if possible, to accomplish. He was very strong in his prejudices and aversions. These peculiarities, perhaps, rendered him less amiable in the estimation of some, than he would have appeared without them. But we expect not perfection in the present state; he is now "without fault before the throne of God." In the year 1814, Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Mary, the youngest daughter of Thomas and Susannah Turberville, Trokandy, near Treoes. The fruit of this marriage was ten children, of whom seven are now alive:-Susannah, now Mrs. Wright, of London; Mary, now Mrs. Powell, of New Bridge; Sarah, now Mrs. Philips, Bridgend; Elizabeth, alias Miss Jones, Cow Bridge, Gwenllian, or Miss Jones, Bridgend; William and Edward. He had the comfort of seeing his children, almost all, enlisting under the banner of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. His marriage union was the source of the great est domestic happiness, and will ever be regarded with grateful praise by his surviving friends and family. How truly his heart was formed to enjoy every social and family endearment, none who knew him can doubt. But, to his great lamentation and loss, he had the painful task of following the remains of his dear Mary unto the grave. She departed this life Oct. 23, 1836; and the writer preached, on her funeral, upon the words that she herself desired; viz." For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better," Phil. i. 23. And Mr. Jones comforted himself in the belief, that his severe loss was a great gain to his departed beloved wife. A few years after, he was bereaved again, of his second daughter, Margaret, on whom the domestic concerns devolved entirely, after her mother's death. All the rest of the children were dispersed from their father's home, till he was "left alone as a sparrow on the housetop," which made it necessary for him, in his old age, to look out for another helpmeet once more. He married the second time, with Mrs. Howells, Ystrad-owen, a member of the Congregational church As a preacher, his style was plain and at Maendy, who proved to him an in- simple; and there was great evenness in valuable partner in his old age. She his discourses: like his late revered still survives to mourn the loss of the tutor (the late Rev. J. Lewis, D.D.), he best of husbands. Mr. Jones was not, was never caught with a poor sermon. 1 As a Christian, Mr. Jones was upright, sincere, consistent, devotional. He had acquired by his uniform and correct deportment a weight of character that commanded general respect. Whatever men might think of his religion as a Christian, or his tenets as a Dissenter, all would acknowledge that Mr. Jones, Bridgend, was a good man. He loved the gospel; he lived the gospel; and was cheered to his last days by those hopes and prospects which the gospel presents. As a minister, he was sound and truly evangelical in his views; "a scribe well instructed in the mysteries of the kingdom;" a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." |