Dr Alan C Clifford gave me permission to post this piece. It tells of a little known Calvinistic Methodist (Presbyterian) minister/preacher, Rev. John Jones (1796-1857), who ministered in Wales almost 300 years ago, and was mightily used of God in the salvation of souls. Dr Clifford likens him to the Richard Baxter (1615-1691) in England. This is the first taste of a man whose usefulness in God's service is not well known, but which ought to be better known than it is.
‘We are disposed to think that he, during those years (from 1821 to1857), made for himself a deeper home in the affections of his fellow countrymen than perhaps any of his mighty predecessors or contemporaries - so deep a home, indeed, that the longing that is still felt for him in the breasts of his hearers is as keen and strong as if he had died yesterday’ (Dr Owen Thomas, The Life of John Jones, Talsarn (1874), cited from Owen Jones, Some of the Great Preachers of Wales (1885), p. 462).
‘He consecrated all the powers of his soul for the Gospel of Christ. Preaching absorbed all the energies of his life... He became the most efficient and most popular preacher of the age in Wales. The epithet is applied to him to this day, “The preacher of the people.” And no one since his time has arrived at anything like his popularity’ (Owen Jones, op. cit., p. 532).
Between his birth at Dolwyddelan to his death at Talysarn, was there any Welshman who brought more blessing to Wales through the preaching of Christ than he? Did any preacher present the Saviour of sinners more gloriously, eloquently and tenderly than he? Was there any minister whose heart throbbed with more love to Jesus and his fellow-men? Is there any better Spirit-anointed model for preachers today than the Christ-exalting John Jones Talsarn?
Let us hear him:
JESUS, MIGHTY SAVIOUR
Extract from a sermon preached on 11 January 1849 at Caersws
“O mighty Jesus, the Son of God, the Redeemer of mankind, who hast been anointed from eternity to be King over us; we are sorry from our hearts that we have lived for so long a time without giving ourselves to
Thee. But now, we come as we are. Receive us, dear Jesus, and deliver us through Thy blood, and take us to serve Thee and to live for Thy glory for evermore. Mayest Thou live for aye as our King, and may
everlasting crowns be on Thy head. Amen!”
COME TO CHRIST
Extract from a sermon preached at Bala in 1835
“You have, my friends, something yourselves to do, and it is of no use at all to expect the operations of the Spirit of God, while we ourselves neglect our duty...Turn the prow of thy little vessel to the deep; let it sail upon the wide ocean of Christ’s Atonement; spread the sails, and steer it on by the guidance of the Word of God. The winds will blow, the mighty forces of redemption will play upon thy vessel; the tides will carry it, and thou shalt find thy little bark one day in the haven of eternal rest.”
CHRIST OFFERS HIMSELF
Extract from a sermon preached on 18 July 1847 at Carmarthen
[While John Jones preached on the Parable of the Ten Virgins, a solemnity and dread came over the people, till the chapel was full of sobbing, sighing, and weeping. But when the climax of dread had been reached, with beautiful voice he said...]
“My friends, the hand that was pierced is here tonight, offering unto you the wedding-ring; Christ is willing to be yours in that day if you receive Him now.”
CHRIST’S KEEPING POWER
Extract from a sermon preached on 30 June 1847
at Peniel near Beddgelert
‘... I know Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day’ (2 Timothy 1: 12).
“We know not what is to meet us from this to the end of life’s journey, but we know Who is able to save. I know not what troubles and sorrows may come to my lot; I know not what their nature may be; I know not how long they may last, nor what my feelings may be when I suffer them; but I know Who is able to save.”
“I know not where I may die, whether on the lonely mountain when returning from some distant journey, or far away from home amongst strangers, or whether I shall be allowed to die in the bosom of my family, with my wife and children standing round my bed - I do not know. But I know Who will abide with me when all men are leaving me, Who is able ‘to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him’ [Hebrews 7: 25).”
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There were at Peniel at that time several old men, who had turned to Christ in the revival which commenced at Beddgelert in 1818, and from thence affected the whole area. Their appearance in the seats just around the pulpit was very imposing. They were all strong and stalwart. When Mr Jones was preaching that afternoon, they were deeply moved. Before the end of the sermon they were lifting up their hands until the preacher came to the end of his sentence, bursting out with the words, “Blessed be God!” “Amen!” “Amen!” (Owen Jones, op. cit., pp. 503-4 (edited).
Compiled and presented by Dr Alan C. Clifford after returning from a visit to North Wales (7-12 September 2011).
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