where his cheerful smile can no more be seen, and from whence his eloquent tongue can no more be heard, until the morning when the 'Resurrection and the Life' shall call his ransomed home. It was remarked, that so much sorrow was never before witnessed on an assemblage of people, as at this funeral.

The mournful tidings of his death flew rapidly to every part of the principality, and a deep gloom sat on the countenance of thousands, and especially was this the case among the people of Anglesea. It is impossible for persons at a distance to conceive of the grief which prevailed in those places, where he had labored for so many years. The pulpits were soon clad in sable mourning, and so generally did this prevail, that there was scarcely a Baptist meeting-house in all Anglesea, that did not exhibit the emblems of mourning on the sad occasion. On the first Sabbath evening after the funeral, the Rev. D. Rhys Stephens preached a funeral sermon at Mount Pleasant, Swansea, from Heb. xi. 4. Sermons on the occasion were also preached at Caernarvon, by the Rev. D. Jones, of Liverpool; at Holyhead, by the pastor, the Rev. W. Morgan; and by most ministers of the denomination in their respective places of worship, in North and South Wales.

Thus terminated both the earthly and ministerial career of one of the most excellent and popular men of his day and it has been remarked, that he was

more generally popular this last journey than on any previous occasion; for all the houses in which he preached were actually thronged, and hundreds in some instances remained on the outside, not being able to find admission from the crowded state of the houses. In his death he received great honor of the Lord-he was marked to die in the cause of the Lord, and as a sacrifice in the cause for which he grieved and prayed so much the debts of places of worship-yea, we may justly say that ultimately he became a martyr to this cause. He had also to put off his garments as it were in the midst of his usefulness, without being left a burden in any sense whatever; (in this, as well as in other circumstances of his death, he seems to have had his desire, as expressed in his Covenant with God, Article XI, page 81;) and more than all, he had the smiles of his Saviour to cheer his spirits through the valley of the shadow of death, until he safely reached the opposite shore of the promised land. His pious soul seemed to move stronger and quicker until he found an undisturbed and eternal repose on the bosom of his much-loved Jesus. Addison sent for a young nobleman of a mind highly cultivated, but not above receiving a lesson from a friend-"You sent for me," said the Earl; " you may rely upon my observing your commands in the most sacred manner." Addison took him by the hand and softly said, "See with what peace a Christian can die." To this the poet refers in these lines:

"He taught us how to live, and O! too high

A price for knowledge, taught us how to die."

"Mark ye the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace."*

* Psalm xxxvii. 57.

CHAPTER IX.

Mr. Evans's Personal, Moral, Social, and Ministerial Char

acter.

As to his person, it may be remarked that Mr. Evans stood very near six feet high; in his best days he was rather corpulent, but some time before his death he grew much thinner, and was rather inclined to stoop in his shoulders. His countenance was broad and open, and his forehead large, calculated to strike the beholder with the idea of power and authority. There is an excellent painting of him by Branwhite, in the Baptist College, in Bristol, (England,) executed upwards of twenty years ago, from which the plate attached to this volume is taken. Other portraits of him were taken in later years, and are good likenesses of him at the period at which they were taken; but the publisher chose the first, in order to show him in his strength and vigor, that the reader might be able to form a more correct idea of his personal appearance.

It will be recollected that Mr. Evans lost one eye, when young, but his other eye was somewhat larger than common, and rather prominent. His searching,

piercing look was calculated to startle the beholder, and make him look upon himself with shame and confusion in the presence of one of so dignified an appearance. But if he liked the company of the person, all doubt and diffidence was soon removed by Mr. E.'s friendly interrogatories, cheerful smile, and pertinent anecdotes. If the countenance is to be taken as an index to the mind, there was every thing in his countenance denoting a person of note and of unusual powers and eloquence.

As to his moral character, much already has appeared in the progress of this memoir. As a Christian, he was enabled, by the grace of God, to hold on his way with much credit to himself, so that he did not lose his church-privileges from the time he first entered upon a profession of religion. His conversation was unimpeachable—his humility manifest to all, and his diligence and zeal worthy of general imitation. There was no vain show about him to make himself appear holier than others; but his whole conduct was invariably characterized with becoming modesty. He hated every empty form with perfect hatred. His disposition was cheerful, and generally his countenance indicated the enjoyment of the divine favor. He said once to a brother that was much given to complaining, "Dost thou think, brother, that thou hast ever received one good gift of God, that thou art always complaining so much?" He was exceedingly careful in his whole deportment in the