perienced by reading the poetical works of Williams, of Pantykelyn; and I regret to perceive it losing ground in the Baptist churches;-and it is the wonder of the earth, in my view, to what an extent it has been lost amongst the Calvinistic Methodists, where, ere this, it has prevailed in so eminent a manner. Prosperity follows it, wherever it is, and blight and barrenness ensue in those places from which it withdraws."

It is evident, that the principal thing that Mr. Evans feared to lose from the churches, when thus committing his feelings to writing, was the spirit of religion in praising God, as well as in other parts of the service of the sanctuary. There can be no doubt that order and decency are commendable in singing the praises of Jehovah, as well as in all other parts of his worship; but notwithstanding, a mere form can never supply the place of the spirit, and whatever commendation may be given to order, yet, if the hearts of the worshippers are destitute of the evangelical and fervent influences of religion, the principal ingredient is still wanting.

CHAPTER VIII.

Mr. Evans's last journey.-His death.-Funeral.-Funeral

sermons.

MR. EVANS began this his last journey into South Wales, April 28, 1838, with Mrs. E.; and a brother, Mr. John Hughes, of Ruthin, accompanied them, for the purpose of rendering them what assistance their circumstances might require on their journey.

The main object of this expedition, undertaken by him in his old age, and amidst many infirmities, after a long life of labor and toil, may be best seen in a circular addressed by him to the several ministers, and through them to the congregations; the substance of which appeared in a Welsh Mazagine, which then circulated among the Baptist churches of the principality by the title of Ystorfa Weinidogaethol (Ministerial Magazine). The address was as follows:

"BELOVED BRETHREN :-Although my case is irregular in some respects, yet it is an important one, and of great necessity and danger, and belongs entirely to the cause of Christ's kingdom amongst the Baptist denomination, in the town of Caernarvon.

We have had notice to pay up £300 of the debt of our meeting-house: I have paid, by sending Mr. John Edwards to collect among the English, £400 of the £800 that was due on our house of worship, four years ago, when I removed thither. The ministers, at the Liverpool Association this Easter, 1837, have entreated me (if I can) to go through North and South Wales to collect towards the remaining debt. The term of the lease of life has expired in my case, even threescore and ten years, and I am very much afflicted,—I have purposed to sacrifice myself to this object, though I am afraid I shall die in the journey, and fear I shall not succeed in my errand for Christ. We have no source to which we can now repair, but our own denomination in Wales, and brethren and friends of other communities that may sympathize with us. O brethren, pray with me for protection on the journey-for strength and health this once, on occasion of my bidding farewell to you all-pray for the light of the Lord's countenance upon me in preaching, pray for his own glory, and that his key may open the hearts of the people to contribute towards his cause in its present exigency. O help us, brethren, -when you see the old brother, after having been fifty-three years in the ministry, now, instead of being in the grave with his colleagues, or resting at home with three of them who are yet alive-brethren Lewis, of Llanwenarth, Davies, Velin Voel, and

Thomas, Aberduar*—when you see him coming, with the furrows of death in his countenance, the flowers of the grave on his head, and his whole constitution gradually dissolving; having labored fifty years in the ministry in the Baptist denomination. He comes to you with hundreds of prayers bubbling as it were from the fountain of his heart, and with a mixture of fear and confidence. O do not frown upon him!— he is afraid of your frowns. Smile upon him by contributing cheerfully to his case this once for all. If you frown upon me, ministers and deacons, by intimating an irregular case, I am afraid I shall sink into the grave before returning home. This is my last sacrifice for the Redeemer's cause."

According to his purpose, Mr. Evans finished collecting in the North, and, at the time already noticed, he commenced his journey to the South, having sent a stirring letter to the Magazine, intimating his intentions, circumstances, and the appointments he meant to follow up. He went on successfully, meeting with a cordial reception generally in the churches, and reached a place called Argoed, in time for the Monmouthshire Association, which was held with the church there that year. He preached on that occasion at 10 A. M. on the second day. His text was,

*The three are since dead, the first two named died before Mr. Evans, and Mr. Thomas since.

"By grace ye are saved." In this sermon he exhibited with much clearness the grace of God in the salvation of lost man, through Jesus Christ, and the peculiar work of faith in this great achievement. He preached with considerable energy, and there was a powerful impression produced by it on the assembly. This was the last Associational sermon he ever preached. It is impossible to notice here every idea he employed in this discourse to represent the great truths of the gospel. Some however may be noticed. In his introduction, he described an ungodly person following his sin, when led by the devil, as being like a man he had observed at Caernarvon, throwing a few beans to a herd of swine, which followed him for the sake of the beans he threw them now and again for the purpose of enticing them; but whither were they ultimately enticed, but to the door of the slaughter-house, into which they were driven to be slain? In some similar mode the devil by his temptations, with a bean of this sin, and a bean of the other sin, leads sinners to the gate of hell, in which they are driven to be tormented for ever and ever. When representing the powers of grace by the influence of the Holy Spirit, he described the gospel as a great electrical machine, as on the day of Pentecost,-he said that Christ was there turning the handle, and had commanded Peter to place the chain so as to touch three thousand of the hearers;―he described the Holy Ghost descending like fiery sparks on the chain, and striking them until