CHAPTER IV.

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER.

'Since the dear hour that brought me to thy foot,
And cut up all my follies by the root,

I never trusted in an arm but thine,
Nor hoped but in thy righteousness divine:
My prayers and alms, imperfect and defiled,
Were but the feeble efforts of a child;
Howe'er performed, it was their brightest part,
That they proceeded from a grateful heart:
Cleansed in thine own all-purifying blood,
Forgive their evil, and accept their good:
I cast them at thy feet-my only plea
Is what it was-dependence upon Thee.'

THE directors of the London Missionary Society having deemed it right to discourage Mr. W. Jones's wishes for employment in the holy work of Christian Missions, his mind appears to have been increasingly impressed with the importance of additional efforts to be useful at home. His labours in the Surrey Chapel Sunday-school were regular, and he was frequently called upon to

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deliver the address to the children. His ability as a public speaker was soon discovered by his friends, and many of them urged him to extend his public efforts. His first attempts as an expounder of Divine truth were in but a lowly character. His earliest lecture was delivered at a cottage in Windmill-lane, a district near the present Clapham Park. It was on the 9th January, 1814, from the words " And the door was shut." From a memorandum made on the occasion it appears that he was called on unexpectedly to deliver the address, which was, consequently, strictly extemporaneous. Very frequently afterwards he visited the cottage, when the labours of the Sunday-school were over. The toil was considerable, as he had at least eight miles to walk. On one occasion,' he writes, the night was wet and dark. I reached the cottage with much difficulty, the road being exceedingly bad. I had a slip into a siding, which made me sadly wet. On reaching the cottage only one person was present, shortly afterwards two others came in. I was hurt at the indifference of the cottagers, and determined to leave, fearing that I should take cold. At the moment when I contemplated retiring, I thought of ONE who tarried and preached to one woman at the well of Samaria. The servant ought not

to be greater than his Lord. I, therefore, remained standing on a sack, while my shoes were being dried at a neighbouring cottage. The attendance was small, but to me at least the season was very far from an unhappy one.'

Soon after this occurrence he was invited by the Rev. Elisha Newth, then assistant minister at Surrey Chapel, to spend a Sunday at Kingston. He consented, after some hesitation, to preach during the day at three places of worship in the neighbourhood of Kingston.

'I well remember the day,' he writes:I rose very early, and my excellent mother met me at breakfast, and gave me her blessing before I started. I walked to Kingston, about ten miles, and was there received by Mr. Ranyard, a pious tradesman, with great kindness. In the morning I went to Hampton, and preached from 2 Samuel vii. 14, 15.-" I will be his father and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten hi h the roden, and the

lesson of humility. At the close of the brief service, I determined never again to undertake similar engagements should I mercifully get through the day.

In the afternoon I preached at Claygate, about six miles from Kingston, from 1 Cor. iv. 20. —“The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." I was more collected at this service. In the evening I appeared once more at Hampton with much fear and trembling. My subject was Romans iii. 23.-" All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." About 160 people were present. I hope I was more humble than in the morning, and my mind was happy.'

How unworthy great and good

This was the commencement of labours in the holy work of preaching the Gospel, which I remember with joy and pain. are my poor addresses to the work! Little did I expect to what an extent these imperfect efforts would be carried in after years. I hope that the bread I was permitted to cast upon the waters, has been found again after many days. Some facts have come to light, but I leave all such statements with the Lord. He has been a kind Master to me.'

year 1815, incidents occurred with Surrey Chapel Sunday-school, of how acknowledged to be a diligent

that beyond the stile the ground went rapidly and steeply down to the edge of the cliff. I had presence of mind to throw myself down on my breast. I kept sliding down, but, at length, a small projecting stone caught my waistcoat and stopped me. After some time I crawled to a spot of safety, taking the stone of mercy with How often have we to raise our Ebenezer as we pass through the world, and to write thereon, "Hitherto the Lord hath helped me.

me.

He continued for several years in the office of Messrs. Dawson and Wratislaw, discharging conscientiously and happily the responsible duties with which he was intrusted. The sudden decease of the latter partner, in the year 1819, caused considerable changes, the senior clerk being taken into partnership. Shortly afterwards, two of the gentlemen who had been articled in the office determined to commence business themselves. Overtures were made by Messrs. Fuller and Saltwell, the gentlemen alluded to, to Mr. W. Jones, which resulted in his joining them at their new office in Carlton Chambers, in the capacity of managing clerk. The rest is briefly told :—pleased with the services rendered, and in part as an acknowledgment of the business brought by him to the office, Mr. Fuller placed him at length in the position of an articled