his assistance, he sometimes held Sunday evening meetings in their school-rooms. On such occasions he did not take a text, but spoke on some important subject. Indeed, it is known to his family that efforts were made at one time to induce him to give himself up entirely to the ministry of the Church of England. They proceeded from an estimable clergyman, whom he numbered amongst his most valued friends, and who had good reason for knowing that, in the event of his acceding to his wishes, he might have without much difficulty obtained episcopal ordination. A strong feeling that he had been called by the providence of God to the post which he occupied, and that it would be impossible properly to discharge increased responsibility, led him to decline all the suggestions of his friends. Though not ordained to 'minister in holy things,' he still felt it to be a privilege to assist, in however humble or subordinate a character, in the services of the Sanctuary. It is a source of delight to me,' he says, to be reckoned amongst "the hewers of wood and drawers of water." The various services in which I have in the course of nearly forty years, and in no less than 260 distinct places of worship, been engaged, have been, I well aware, am attended with much, very much infirmity. I hope I desired

to glorify God in the conversion of sinners, and my comfort has been to know that the treasure of the Gospel is placed in earthern vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.'

A few words may here be appropriately added on Mr. Jones' character as a preacher, and the general style of his pulpit addresses.

6

It will not be difficult to describe the character of his discourses. In their doctrine they were simple and affectionate exhibitions of the truth as it is in Jesus.' In this manner they were admirable comments on the apostolic precept Speaking the truth in love.' He aimed at the heart rather than the head, the affections rather than the intellect, and sought to bring his hearers to the Saviour, by a declaration of the Saviour's love. He attempted no great things, he cared not to be indulging in novelties either of doctrine or interpretation, but sought to woo the sinner into acquiescence by the compulsion of love. God is love,'- The love of Christ constraineth us,'-' If God so loved us we ought also to love one another,' such texts as these were the index to his teaching, the one centre, as it were, to which all his efforts converged. With considerable command of language, and an easy and attractive delivery, there was a chastened earnest

ness in his manner, that carried the conviction to the hearts of all who listened to him that he desired their spiritual good. He spake as one who was himself no stranger to the blessings of which he would fain that others should be also the recipients, —as an Andrew, wishing to bring his brother to Jesus. And when he warned the sinner, and spoke of the punishments due to sin, he still spoke with gentleness. A Barnabas, and not a Boanerges, he looked for the Lord rather in the still small voice,' than in the wind and earthquake. Never was there a better illustration than in his teaching of the truthful remark of an excellent man, with which we may appropriately close this chapter :-Tender seriousness,—the index of a heart touched with the melting sympathies of Christ,-best becomes us as guilty sinners speaking to our fellow-sinners. Love is the life, power, soul and spirit of pulpit eloquence; entreating rather than denouncing, the character of a preacher's office; and it is the delivery of our Master's message with the looks and language of his own manifested tenderness, that attracts and triumphs over the hearts of a willing people.'

CHAPTER VI.

THE SECRETARY.

Rays from the Sun of righteousness

Cur humble missiles dart;
Mighty at once to wound and bless,
To break and bend the heart.'

NEXT to the conversion of my soul by the power of the Holy Spirit, I consider my connexion with the Religious Tract Society as perhaps the most important event in my life. It is not for me to tell what the results may have been, or yet may be, but yet I know from his own word that it pleases God by the weak things of the world to accomplish his designs of mercy and grace.'

In such terms does Mr. W. Jones write concerning the Society with which his name will long be identified. We have amongst his papers a narrative of the circumstances which led to his first connexion with it, and of his earliest labours

in its cause. As his first journey led to a result in his own case, at the time but little expected, we will give a somewhat detailed account of it.

'In the year 1820,' he writes, my friend Mr.. J. Davis was requested by the Committee of the Religious Tract Society, to obtain the services of two gentlemen, who might, in company with himself, visit the north of England and Scotland, and advocate the claims of the Institution. He was good enough to ask me to become one of the members of the deputation. The Rev. Mr. Mather, of Sheffield, promised to give us his assistance.

We left London by the mail for Sheffield at eight o'clock one evening, and reached our destination on the following evening at half-past six. This was thought tolerably good travelling thirtyfive years ago, but a wonderful contrast to the railroad progress of these times.

Immediately on the arrival of the mail, Mr. Mather met us, and I had to preach at once at the Baptist Chapel, though somewhat fatigued by my twenty-two hours' journey. My text was taken from Heb. iv. 16, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in every time of need." I briefly explained the objects of the Society in the course of my address.

A few days afterwards I had the high gratifi