my consent to my son's going out as a missionary, I would more willingly place my hand on a block, and lose it, than comply with your wishes." I was summoned to a subsequent meeting of the directors. Dr. Waugh was in the chair. His conduct was touchingly kind. He said to me, "My dear lad, we cannot accept you as a missionary—your parents will not give their We are quite satisfied with your examination, but we don't think you are quite strong enough just yet to jump over the fifth consent. commandment." • Thus ended this anxious matter. I am perfectly persuaded that I was prevented by the good providence of God from embarking in the great enterprise. The Lord, perhaps, had other work for me to do. I have always been glad that I offered myself to the work; and when I have looked at the little counting-house of Mr. Hardcastle from London Bridge (the place has long since been removed), I fully enter into the beautiful description given of it by my late friend, Mr. Townsend, of Bermondsey : "I scarcely ever pass over London Bridge without glancing my eye towards those highlyfavoured rooms appertaining to Mr. Hardcastle's counting-house, at the Old Swan Stairs, and feel ing a glow of pleasure at the recollection that there, the London Missionary Society, the Religious Tract Society, and the Hibernian Society, formed those plans of usefulness on which Divine Providence has so signally smiled. This pleasure is greatly heightened when I also recollect that in those favoured rooms was brought forth that gigantic agent of moral and spiritual good, the British and Foreign Bible Society. Those rooms, in my judgment, are second to none but those in which the disciples met after their Lord's ascension, and from whence they went forth to enlighten and bless a dark and guilty world." CHAPTER III. THE LAWYER. If on our daily course our mind The trivial round, the common task, THE appointment of the subject of this memoir to the office of clerk to Mr. Rogers, an attorney, has been noticed in a previous chapter. For three years he continued to fulfil the duties of this situation with satisfaction to his employer and happiness to himself. At the end of that time Mr. Rogers thought it desirable to obtain a partnership in a respectable and established practice. He was directed to a Mr. Thomas Mason, and with him he formed a partnership, and took his young clerk with him to his new scene of occupation. Their offices were in Fosterlane, Cheapside. There was a want of congeniality of disposition between the partners which was a bar to harmony of feeling, and, as a natural consequence, there was need of much forbearance on the part of those placed under them, Mr. W. Jones' time, therefore, passed heavily away, and the licentiousness of some of the clerks, whose conversation was most corrupting, was among the trials which he was called to bear. Still, by God's grace, he was stedfast to the profession which he had made, of his determination to live as one who had been redeemed with the precious blood of the Saviour. He commonly took his meals at rooms in the immediate vicinity of Paternoster-row, and during the period allowed for dinner, was accustomed to read useful and religious works. How little probability did there seem at this time of his eventually occupying the large adjoining premises as Superintendent of the Religious Tract Society. The decease of Mr. Rogers in February 1812, caused a change in his prospects and plans. He determined no longer to continue with Mr. Mason. He mentioned his intention to his aunt, and through her obtained a letter of introduction to Messrs. Baker and Dimond, respectable solicitors in Bedford-place. They had no vacancy among their clerks, but directed him to apply to Messrs. Dawson and Wratislaw, of Saville-place, New Burlington-street. To his great joy, he was received by them into their establishment. The remuneration was left entirely to them, and its amount was arranged to be settled after he had been a short time in their employ .ment. The entrance on the duties of his new situation was a deeply interesting era in his life. His stipend was twice as much as he had been accustomed to receive, and grateful indeed did he feel that now he would be enabled to procure additional comforts for his beloved parents. The business was a large one, employing no less than twenty clerks. Here again his religious principles were put to a severe test. Though he had not to complain of the gross licentiousness which he was compelled to endure in his former office on the part of his fellow-clerks, yet he did not find even one here who had any real love for the things of eternity. It was, to say the least, a perilous position, morally considered, for a youth of seventeen. The Lord, however, preserved him from falling into temptation. His progress in the office was rapid. He was soon placed D |