Cheshunt, Nov. 1, 1823.—Is it not a pity that there is no biography of that apostolical man of God, Jones of Langan? Is it to the honour of Wales, after enjoying most extensively, delightfully, and long, the ministry of that eminent servant of Jesus,-showing him then great honour, to care nothing about him after his labours are finished, but to bury him in oblivion at Manorowen ?— Few ministers indeed were so eminently blessed as Jones. Oh what have I felt under his remarkable sermons! And sweet is the remembrance of them even now. Oft, whilst the heavenly dew descended and distilled as he was preaching, did my soul melt with love! Oh what unction! Oft, while he exalted the bleeding Saviour in his ministry, did my soul fly to him-dying for me. I felt as in the precious arms and embraces of my Surety, my all!-Come, gracious Spirit, with all thy rich anointing grace, rest upon our souls, rest upon our conversation, rest upon our preaching.-Oh how useful Jones's preaching must have been in general! Indeed no tongue can declare what wonders the Lord performed by it."* The next statement respecting Jones's great excellency and usefulness, shall be taken out of the letter of another excellent tutor, that succeeded Kemp, the Rev. J. K. Foster. * Jones had however occasion sometimes to lament over the hardness, folly, and perverseness of sinners, as well as other ministers. I well remember him once observing in his sermon, that he was engaged sometimes in preaching the gospel, much like a man standing at a stall in a fair or market, having most precious ware to dispose of; yet many, notwithstanding all his recommendations, were passing by without noticing them. "So I stand here," said Jones, "recommending the most precious things possible, each of them being more valuable than all the world, yet scarcely does any person even look upon them. Alas, most neglect them, passing by with indifference! However a poor helpless miserable sinner now and then approaches, and suitable treasures with pleasure. He longs at last for them, and rejoices to have them free." and views those great He wrote the beautiful Introductions and Preface attached to Lady Huntingdon's Life. The few following lines are sweet and confirmatory on the subject. "Cheshunt College, July 13th, 1839.-Little, I am sorry, is said in the Countess' Life and Times, respecting the Rev. D. Jones. He was a man greatly blessed of the Lord. Oh I have witnessed more of the stirring and melting influence of God's presence, under that extraordinary man's preaching, than ever I did under any other minister's. The powerful effects of the word preached by him must have been very great and extensive wherever he went.-The Lord bless and prosper you in the intended memoir of Jones." I am happy also to present another testimony to Jones's usefulness, from a letter written to him on some points by his cotemporary, the Rev. Peter Williams, the celebrated Welch commentator of the scriptures. The lines I quote allude to the cause of Jones's success, under God, in the ministry; and they are the following. "Carmarthen, 1788.-I know that the scope and purport of your discourses were to display the sovereign and abundant riches of God's grace, and—the power of his holy word, under the influence of his Spirit, to convince sinners, and to convert the disobedient from the error of their ways, and to render the most daring rebels submissive to the glorious sceptre of the King of Zion;-and that not on condition of their future good behaviour, or their doing this or that good action, so as to induce them to claim some degree of merit to themselves, but even while they are rushing after iniquity, as the horse to the battle.-Your loving brother in the gospel of Christ." The following extract from a letter of the Rev. John Elias, respecting Jones's useful ministry, will, in addition to what has been said already on the subject, prove interesting and satisfactory. He writes thus : "Fron, Jan. 11, 1841.-Though I had not the pleasure of knowing much of Jones of Langan, as he resided at the other extremity of Wales, yet I greatly respected him, and revere his memory. I now recollect hearing him preaching many times, with great pleasure and delight. His ministry was truly evangelical, and most sweet and refreshing. He was very popular. People would assemble in great multitudes to hear him, when he came to North Wales. The gospel banquet was most amply set before poor hungry sinners in his ministry. Hundreds feasted joyfully on the spiritual food provided for them. Oh! such opportunities were delightful and invigorating indeed.*-But the description given of Jones by Mr. W. Williams of Pant-y-celyn, though in a few lines, is most full and satisfactory: it is impossible to say more. The following are the well-known words. 'Dodd y cerrig â'i ireidd-dra, A thrwy rym ei 'fengyl fwyn, Blygu 'n ystwyth fel y brwyn.' The soothing healing qualities of God's word were generally administered, by God's blessing, under Jones's ministry. Mr. John Elias was preaching before him at some association, in a very awful and powerful manner. Hundreds of the vast assembly were overwhelmed by the terrors of the law, death, judgment, and eternal punishment. These and similar dreadful realities were set forth in a most animated, penetrating and impressive manner. The law was accomplishing its salutary purposes on the minds of sinners. They were deeply wounded for sin,―lamenting their wretched state, seeing clearly what was coming. Many even of the professors were cast down by painful fears and distressing apprehensions. -Jones came after him most suitably, with the glad tidings of salvation. Aud he, going on in his usual sweet manner, observed, "I find that Sinai has been most awful in its operations here: its thunder and lightning have appeared. The canons of the law have been most effectually at work. Most painful effects have been produced. I come, after the death-like operations, to see who among the dying will accept of the heavenly balm. The Physician is ready to pour into your wounds oil and wine."-The glad tidings were most reviving to the afflicted distressed souls.- Most suitable were the two sermons to each other. 66 But doubtless many interesting particulars respecting Jones may be procured from old professors in Glamorganshire, as he was such a notable character. I can write but little, as I am so unwell. Indeed the act of writing is painful to me." This account of Jones's effectual and prosperous ministry given by Elias, though brief, is very pleasing and interesting. There has been a reference, in this as well as previous chapters, to the above remarkable part of a stanza on Jones. The following is an humble attempt at a translation of the lines. Hearts hard as stone are melted, It is obvious that the blessing of the Lord on his ministry is understood here, to give this wonderful efficacy to it. Isai. lv. 11.-Moreover Jones abounded in the work of the Lord. The following lines from Jones of Cymmar's Elegy are very descriptive of him :— "Ni chareu segurid tra fu yn y byd, Ond bod yn ddefnyddiol a lanwodd ei fryd : As this volume is become larger than we at first imagined, those pieces of composition intended for the end of it, will be introduced after Williams's Memoir. CHAP. XIII. The monthly sacrament Sunday at Langan,―revivals. THAT Soul-reviving ordinance, the Lord's supper, was administered at Langan once a month; and Jones, if in South Wales, endeavoured to be there by that blessed opportunity. It is not in the power of language to describe the astonishing effects of his ministry on the great assembly, consisting chiefly of the children of God. When we consider the preacher and the flock of Langan, it is not wonderful that there was such an outpouring of the Spirit of God, and such enjoyment of the divine presence; for hither congregated men of the greatest piety from all the country around for fifteen or twenty miles. Perhaps there were none then equal to them in the kingdom, for strong faith in the Saviour, ardent love to God, and fervent prayer to the court above. When persons of such a description, longing and panting for their God, were sitting under such a preacher as Jones, full of the Holy Ghost, we may well conceive what the result would be. They feasted on the marrow and fatness of the gospel, until their souls were filled with laughter, and their mouths with praise. Many of these pilgrims had been tuning their harps the previous Saturday at a place called Salem, Pencoed, a place of worship erected by Jones in the neighbourhood of Langan, where a preparatory meeting was always held previous to the sacrament Sunday. Here their taste for the divine truths on the sabbath, was invigorated and strengthened. Indeed many of the ministers, clergy and exhorters, leaders of societies as well as other members, met Jones at this chapel on those Saturdays, to be instructed, stirred up, and |