A BRIEF ACCOUNT.

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CHAP. I.

Jones's birth, early life, ordination, conversion, and ministry.

THE subject of the present Memoir was one of the most eminent reformers in the principality of Wales. He was very much blessed in his ministry, to the conversion of hundreds if not thousands, as well as in building up the church of God in his native country. Oh how laborious was he in seeking for the sheep of Christ in this wilderness world! How fully and entirely was his heart engaged in the great work and oh how tender and evangelical was his spirit in the promulgation of the glad tidings of salvation! We have no recollection of any minister of so feeling and melting a heart as Jones of Langan. He may be justly viewed in the light of a missionary or apostle. It is therefore presumed, that a brief account of such an eminent servant of God will be acceptable in a high degree to christians of all denominations. The materials for his life, as observed in the preface, are, it is to be lamented, very scanty at this distant period; but I shall endeavour to proceed, as far as I can, with such as I have, deeming it a duty to preserve these brief existing notices from impending oblivion, and relying upon the divine blessing to prosper the attempt.

Jones was born at Aberciliog, in the parish of Llanllwni, Carmarthenshire, in the year 1735. His father was a farmer.

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He had two sons and one daughter. The eldest son was intended for the church, and the youngest for the farm; but the Lord appointed it otherwise, and brought his plan about in the following remarkable manner. David, the younger son, when a little boy, fell into a vat of boiling wort, and was so much injured that he was a cripple for some years. When he was in this debilitated state, his mother one day pushed him from her in a playful manner, saying, "she was tired of nursing him." His reply to her was rather notable for a child, being the following scripture, "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up." His mother, upon this, clasped him in her arms, and said, "I will nurse you as long as you need, for that saying."-He retained the scars of the scalding on his back to his dying hour. He used to say facetiously, in reference to this circumstance, I carry the cause of my calling, under God, upon my back. Providence is often observed to move in a mysterious way." Thus the affliction Jones met with in his childhood, was, by God's direction, the turning-point of his life, and the cause of his entering the ministry. After he had recovered he was sent to school. Nothing further is remarkable of the course of his studies, than that he finished his education at Carmarthen Grammar School. He was ordained from this seminary, and sent to the vineyard of the Lord. Llanafan-fawr, in the county of Brecon, was the first curacy he served.

We will here just glance at the ministerial office. It is the most important of all undertakings in a man's life. It bears in an eminent degree upon the life and death of mankind in the next world. "To the one we are the savour of death unto death, and to the other the savour of life unto life." 2 Cor. ii. 16. The responsibility and dignity of such an office are unspeakable. A minister is raised to an elevation far above all worldly persons, in point of dignified and active employment. If he should be compared, for instance, with an ambassador in the court of kings, or a

physician in an hospital, he would appear far superior to them. He is an ambassador of the Most High God, commissioned by him on the most important business to lost souls, even their eternal welfare. He actually represents and resembles Christ before men for their best interests, having the same feelings, purposes, and desires. "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ; as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." 2 Cor. v. 20. Moreover, he is engaged under the great Physician of souls, in the hospital of a dying world, and it is his constant aim to administer means of restoring souls, stricken with the plague of sin, unto spiritual life and vigour. Go still higher, and compare a gospel minister with the stars of heaven, or an angel in glory, and he, by reason of his high vocation, shines brighter than all. It is not too much to say, that monarchs, knowing the importance of it, would not object to descend. from their thrones to ascend the pulpit, as a throne of a much greater glory. The sun, in his meridian splendour, does not more outshine a poor glow worm in a ditch, than a minister of God surpasses all other creatures whatever. Unspeakable is the subject of his ministry. The great, all-important, animating, and ceaseless desire of saving sinners, pervades his whole breast. His heart yearns deeply over the wretched spectacle of lost souls presented before him. He is most anxious to devote all the powers of his soul and body, all the labours of his head, heart, and hands, to such a blessed cause as the salvation of souls. What then can be so great and solemn an appointment as that of a minister?

It is to be feared that Jones, like many others, awful to say, was not in such a state of mind at the solemn transaction of ordination. He might have some reflections on such an occasion; for hard is the heart that is not exercised with some serious thoughts at this critical time. However it is painful to observe that he was not

a changed character when he undertook that most important office.

How unfit is an unconverted character for an engagement so holy and spiritual! A man that is carnal and at enmity with God, must be averse to him and his service. He has no heart, no strength, no skill, to discharge the various important affairs of that great office. No life of piety can be seen in his conversation and conduct. There are indeed no marks or signs of regeneration in him. Thongh he stands between the dead and the living, yet he is dead in his own soul. He may dispense the waters of life, yet he is unclean still. He may direct perishing dying souls to the heavenly Physician, whilst he himself however continues in his spiritual disease. He may also speak of a Saviour able and willing to save to the uttermost, yet he lives in his sins!—The sermons of an unregenerate man, however decent, have no effect. His words fall short of the mark; they are feeble and ineffectual, just like arrows shot from a bow without elasticity. His language is even frozen by the coldness of his heart: and not having a spark of love to God, and zeal for his service, he is not likely to be the means of enkindling such graces in the bosom of others. Alas, he stands up to teach people the way to heaven, when he himself is going along the road to hell! How awful it is that a man should even preach salvation, when he is actually on the way to destruction! Alas, there is no change, no alteration, in him, though engaged in such an holy, useful, and exalted office. Indeed he becomes rather worse! Many ministers, by trifling with holy things, become less thoughtful about their souls, and more hardened in their sins! And such trifling has the same effect on the hearers! A change in such a character, then, is of all things the most desirable. The conversion of any poor sinner is a most important event, but especially that of a minister. Oh how important it is to himself; for no person can be in so wretched and pitiable a state as such a character,

His lot, if he dies as he is, must be with the hypocrites and worst of persons in the nethermost hell!-Our church is as careful as it is possible to prevent such persons from intruding into her ministry; for she will have none to officiate at her courts but such as declare from their hearts that they are moved by the Holy Ghost! Yet how many leap over this immense barrier! This shows how corrupt and carnal man is. Oh how important is it that such a minister should be converted, and delivered from a perjury so dreadful, an hypocrisy so awful, and wrath so tremendous !

How long Jones might have been in such a pitiable, wretched, and awful situation, we cannot tell; but that he was so circumstanced, for some time after he entered the ministry, is certain. Oh what an unspeakable mercy must his conversion have been, and that of every minister similarly circumstanced. This the Lord of his infinite mercy vouchsafes now and then.. What is there his grace cannot accomplish ?—Oh what a change is wrought in such a minister's mind, when he is made to see his sinful and miserable state, the depravity and plague of his heart;—to feel the intolerable burden of sin and guilt. Oh it is an unspeakable inercy to him to have a refuge to flee to, as a poor lost ruined sinner! And what joy he must experience in entering such a strong-hold, and in being assured of safety and salvation there. This was exactly Jones's experience. Thus he was brought to see his sad state by nature and practice, and thus he was enabled to venture wholly on the most valuable merits of the cross. Then when such an awakened minister as Jones treats on the corruption and guilt of man, he describes what he is well acquainted with by painful experience, and he speaks as one that hath a clear view of his vileness and wretchedness. Before, his hearers observed no feeling or sincerity in his discourses; but now they hear the voice of God in them. Such a minister actually enters into their consciences, like a mes