The Life And Ministry Of T. Jones

Earthen Vessel 1895:

Mr. T. Jones, Zion, New Cross

Early Days

Dear Brother,—In compliance with your very kind request, I herewith send a few particulars of my early days, as leading up to the subsequent statement related at Zion, New Cross, on April 30, 1895, at public recognition services.

Well, sir, I was never drowned, scalded, nor burned. I am thankful that, through mercy, I escaped these evils, which are the general incidents accompanying autobiographies; nevertheless, I narrowly escaped the undertaker, as the doctors gave me up as incurable over twenty years since, assigning as their reason that the left lung had gone, and the right was fast going. I must leave other people to judge of the accuracy of those professional gentlemen.

In the month of August, 1846, in the busy time of harvest, it was said that a baby boy was born, that little stranger was your unworthy scribe. That common event took place in the southern part of Herefordshire, not far from the beautiful and picturesque town called Ross, situated on the banks of the Wye. In a quiet rural district, among the rustic population, my lot was cast. My father was an honest, upright, and hard-working man, and my mother (who still lives) I loved with all the fervency of my little soul. I deeply regret to record the mournful fact that I have never known them troubled about soul-matters, so that I have no recollection of home training, neither had I any parent’s prayers resting upon my mind and heart.

I still have a vivid recollection of being sent to the parish church with clean pinafore and strong nailed boots. That was an uninteresting time to me, as the worthy vicar could not talk plain, owing to the roof of his mouth not being properly organised. At the age of eight years it was generally considered that as our people were poor and constant additions were made from time to time, I was drafted out as a fitting subject to work on the farm. My young friends will smile at this. Time has changed; at any rate, circumstances are very different now. There were no School Boards nor officers to look after us. Well, I did not want them, having completed my school work in six months. At the tender age, a mere child, I was a “farmer’s boy,” up at five in the morning with lantern and candle looking after the horses. Those were hard and cruel days.

Before I had completed my twelfth year, I was bound an apprentice in the town of Ross. My master was a drunken, wicked fellow, who neither cared for man nor his Maker. He has long since gone to his grave. Here I learned wickedness, profanity, and vice, more than my work. It was here that a friend picked me up out of the gutter of sin, and prevailed upon me to go to the Sunday-school. There I learned to read the Word of God; there I was taught the evil of sin, and the terrible doom awaiting the impenitent; there lasting impressions were made—impressions still green and fresh to my memory and heart. But charity for your limited space forbids my saying more.

I am yours most heartily, 

T. Jones

Recognition Services At New Cross, April 30, 1895

This is a very special and momentous day to me, one in which I assume grave responsibilities, and take upon myself a work of great magnitude. It is, therefore, with mingled feelings of joy and fear, of hope and anxiety, I stand before you today. It is expected that some brief account of the way “He hath led me” be related upon this auspicious occasion. Only an epitome of thirty years’ Christian life, and over fourteen years’ service in the Master’s vineyard, can be given at this gathering. I am thankful that I can answer the usual questions altogether without a break, and thus economise our time. Four important questions are generally put-viz., Call by grace; Call to the ministry; Call to the present sphere of active service; and What I intend to preach. The questions, and the answers I may give, consummate the union of Church and pastor.

Call By Grace

I have no exciting story to relate in reference to the change wrought in my soul over thirty years ago. I may say that it pleased the Lord to commence that gracious work when I was young in years. Well can I remember while quite a boy being the subject of many convictions and anxious thoughts. These convictions deepened until I realised my sinnership before God and my great need of an interest in that salvation of which I had heard and read about. For months I felt this need, during which time I tried to pray, and attended the means of grace. In the set time it pleased my divine Saviour to cause the light to break in upon my soul, to remove my burden, and from that time I felt altogether a new being with new joy, new life, new hope, and new aspirations. I still possess a vivid recollection of the summer of 1864, for it was then the Lord graciously manifested Himself to me as my Saviour, my Lord, and my God.” The Lord was pleased to bring me in at the south gate; nevertheless, through all the experiences of life, trials, sorrows and affliction, I have called to mind the one great event of my life, and it has brought tranquillity and joy to my soul-the mere recollection of that day’s experience has been the means of reviving hope and confirming faith. Since that time I have been identified with our beloved denomination, where I hope to remain steadfast to the end.

Call To The Ministry

For years I had an intense desire to preach the Gospel of Christ, but, having had no educational advantages when young, I felt myself incapable of ministering to others while I needed so much teaching myself. However, I determined to improve my mind in that direction, and at once set about the task, and for several years I toiled on, reading and studying, keeping the secret locked up in my own heart. There were occasions when I offered prayer and conducted cottage meetings, and at some of these I read a chapter and made a few comments; and after a time I tried to speak from a text. It was in these exercises the foundation of my future life and work were laid. Passing over a period of years, I come to the day when my ministry really commenced, that was on Jannary 2, 1880, at Cubberly, near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. My wife, two little ones, and myself had gone to reside in Cheltenham through the influence of some relatives. It was a new place to me, and, of course, I was an entire stranger there. After residing there some few months, quite unexpectedly a man whom I had never seen called at the shop were I was engaged and asked to see me. The object of that interview was to ask me to go to Cubberly in his stead the following Lord’s-day. I knew nothing of the place—not even the way to it. He overcame all my objections, and I went. In the morning I preached from John 13:7, and afternoon, Eph. 2:19. This led the people to invite me to go again, which I consented to do.

First Pastorate

Shortly afterward, Mr. Phillip Weaver, who had been pastor nearly twenty years, became unwell, so that my services were in great demand. Mr. W. “fell on sleep” in the faith he had so long preached. Very soon the deacons called a special Church meeting to consider the desirability of electing some one of the supplies as pastor. My name was placed before the meeting, and every member voted in my favour. I felt constrained to accede to their wishes, and for seven years and nine months I laboured there, enjoying greatest peace, and many were added to the Church. I cannot part from this period of my past history without saying with the prophet, “My soul hath them still in remembrance.”

Second Pastorate

In the course of time, through the influence of my very highly-esteemed friend, Mr. W. E. Thomsett, I received an invitation to supply the pulpit at Providence, Slaithwaite, whither I went for two Lord’s-days in July, 1887. Very soon I received another invite for two Lord’s-days, and also a request that I should supply the two first Sabbaths in each month for six months. This was very unexpected, and as inconvenient, because at that time I was carrying on my business. However, after much exercise of mind, praying, and watching, I accepted their invitation, and soon received a call to the pastorate. There I laboured for six years, and found some of the warmest and most devoted friends, and a few of the most unkind and inconsiderate enemies. The latter were a source of great trial to me, and an hindrance to the work of Christ in that place. This so affected my mind that I determined to leave as soon as I possibly could, which event took place the last Lord’s-day in July, 1894.

My Call To This Sphere

I had promised to preach at College-park, Lewisham, on July 23, 1893, and knowing that Mr. Lynn had resigned the pastorate of this Church, I sent to the secretary, telling him that I had an engagement for one Lord’s-day, and, if agreeable to the friends, I would supply one day here as I wished to spend a few days in London. In due course I received a few lines, informing me that they would be glad if I could supply the pulpit on July 30, which I did. My next visit was on October 8. I believe on this second visit, I was asked if I was movable; to which I frankly answered that it was my intention of leaving where I was. My next visit was in February, 1894, having gone to Brighton the Sabbath before. The last time I supplied was April 22. Up to this date nothing definite had been arranged. But shortly after I received a letter from brother Armstrong, making a proposal to this effect—viz., “That the friends generally were of opinion that it would be well for all parties concerned if I could see my way to supply for three or six months with a view to the pastorate.” After due consideration, I felt that, as the people at Zion were acting so very deliberate, I would follow their example, and forwarded the following reply to them:—“That I would undertake to supply the pulpit for twelve months, and at the end of nine months a meeting should be held to decide as to the future course we were to take.” How that arrangement was carried out I leave to the friends present to determine. Permit me to say, that I have received universal kindness, love, and sympathy from all connected with this Church and congregation. Here I am with a deep conviction that I am were my Lord would have me be. “In the name of the Lord we set up our banners.”

What I Intend Preaching

To those who worship here I need not say a word as to what I intend preaching—they can judge from the past as to what they may expect in the future. But as there are friends from other Churches, I may say that I intend, by the Lord’s help, and relying upon the Spirit’s teaching to follow upon the lines of my greatly-beloved and highly-esteemed predecessor, Mr. J. S. Anderson. Like him I intend preaching a full, free, and eternal redemption, through Christ Jesus our Lord. To show upon every possible occasion that the application of such truths—the conviction of sin, and the regeneration of man, is the work of the Holy Spirit. The fundamental doctrines of Christ’s gospel will be the theme of the future as they have been in the past.

I intend, by divine help, to preach the Gospel encouragingly to the people, and to steer clear of the deceptive bogs of Antinomianism. To follow the Bible, to study the cross, to know the mind of the Spirit, and to conform to the sublime truths which are embodied in the articles of our faith as Strict Baptists. The nature of a Gospel ministry is, “Christ died,” “Christ risen,” “Christ exalted.” The Prince and Saviour, the Advocate and Intercessor. The great theme of a Gospel ministry is threefold.

Doctrinal.—Which embodies all those fundamental truths which are contained in the grand revelation of God’s great book-truths which form the foundation upon which the Church exists in the world. By this I mean all those cardinal truths and doctrines which constitute the glorious bulwarks of our faith and teaching.

Experimental.—The truths of God are, by the effective operation of the Holy Spirit, so graciously interwoven into the soul’s feelings that the lofty truths of inspiration become a part of the Christian’s life: so that his daily hopes and aspirations to know the mind of God, as revealed in the Word, becomes an experience which will develop into conformity to the “Image of God’s dear Son” here, and perfect likeness to our exalted Lord hereafter.

Practice.—The teaching of Christ and His apostles is pre-eminently practical. Hence, while rigidly adhering to doctrinal and experimental truth, we certainly shall emphasize the preceptive teaching of the Word of God.

Thus we have a Trinity before whom we reverently worship as Father, Son, and Spirit. We also have a Trinity of Gospel truth, which constitute our ministry—viz.,Doctrine, Experience, Practice. Such, then, is the course we purpose pursuing. The Bible is our text-book; from it we never wish to depart; its freedom of thought is the keynote of our liberty—its light, the lamp to our pathway. While possessing the good old book, purchased by the blood of “the noble army of martyrs,” we bow to no man—we acknowledge no authority but the Bible. Depending upon the promised help of its great Author, and the guidance of the divine Leader of the ransomed, we take upon us the responsibilities of the ministry, and work here in the name of the ever-blessed Trinity. Asking you, in the apostle’s words, “Brethren, pray for me, that utterance may be given me.”