in the Western thirty-four; this, together with the sermons he preached in the North Wales Associations, make the number of public Associational sermons preached by him amount to one hundred and sixty, and since he made the above entry, he preached in two Associations in North, and in one in South Wales, making a total of one hundred and sixtythree.

Mr. Evans, in his general labors and usefulness, was peculiarly and eminently a laborer for all Wales. It is true that others have been so, and that some are so at present, among the Baptists and other denominations; but he labored under greater disadvantages than almost any other minister that was ever engaged in so public a capacity, on account of the very limited means of his support, and also it is probable that his journeys have been far more numerous than those of any other minister of his day. He did not visit any part of Wales where he did not meet with some who claimed him as their spiritual father, the Lord having so extensively blessed his travelling ministry for the conversion of souls unto himself. In his day the Baptist Associations acquired their great popularity; and in his day arose a number of the most respectable ministers that were ever known in the principality. The names of many of these worthy brethren readily occur to the writer's mind, and he feels happy in having an opportunity of paying their memory a small but just tribute of respect, by recording their names

on the page of biography on this side of the Atlantic. He particularly refers to the late Breeze, of Newcastle-Lewis, and Watkins, of Caermarthen-Harris, of Swansea-Davies, of Tredegar-Herring, of Cardigan-Evans, of Penygarn-Jones, of Newtownand Evans, of Dolan; all of whom were on the ministerial stage with Mr. Evans; and it is not perhaps too much to say, that he was in some measure, more or less, a blessing to all of them: he undoubtedly contributed to their vigorous and zealous exertions in the cause of religion. As one of them justly observed, many years ago: "There is life and evangelical savor attending Christmas Evans, wherever he is." "None of us understand and comprehend the extent of Christmas Evans's usefulness," said another. There were two things, especially, at all times of great importance in his conversation. First, the evangelical tendency of his doctrine, as has been already noticed at some length in these Memoirs; and, secondly, the stirring up of the minds and energy of others to preach the truth as those who believed their message.

He also exerted himself to a very commendable degree to establish and maintain true discipline. There was nothing for persons of unbecoming deportment to expect from him but terror, on all occasions. The doctrine of Christ in the profession, and the spirit of Christ governing the heart and conduct, were points he always inculcated in support of disci

pline, without respect of persons, rich or poor. "Many persons," he said, "are remarkably strenuous for not respecting the person of Katy Rondall,* in their discipline, but not so much so in the discipline of Mr. and Mrs. His unflinching firmness in this respect occasioned him much trouble from some persons in the churches where he ministered.

But notwithstanding his strict, and we may say almost severe, conduct towards persons of a doubtful character, yet there were none more ready, particularly in his latter years, to vindicate those who were wrongfully accused; and he certainly manifested much good sense and sympathy towards such persons on a variety of occasions.

* There was, it appears, a poor woman of this name in North Wales, with whom Mr. Evans was acquainted, and for whose piety he entertained a high opinion.

CHAPTER X.

Remarks of a Congregational minister on Mr. Evans's character. His own observations on his time.-The principal controversies which occurred in his day.-His attention to reading. His published works. His doctrinal views.— His remarks on preaching.-A Letter to a friend on Associational union and church discipline.-A Letter to a minister on the spirit of forgiveness.

*

A MINISTER of the Congregational denomination, who was well acquainted with Mr. Evans, said of him-" He is a connecting link between the beginning and the ending of this century.' He has the light, the talent, and the taste of the beginning, and has received every new light that has appeared since. He was enabled to accompany the career of religious knowledge in the morning, and also to follow its rapid strides in the evening. In this he is unlike every other preacher of the day: the morning and evening light of this wonderful century meet in him. He had strength to climb up to the top of Carmel in the morning, and remain there during the heat of the day, and

* The eighteenth century, 1700-1800, was probably referred to.

see the fire consuming the sacrifice and licking up the water; his strength continued, by the hand of the Lord, so that he could descend from the mount in the evening and run without fainting before the King's chariot to Jezreel."

Mr. Evans could not avoid noticing a variety of circumstances which occurred in the religious community in his day; and vast was the diversity of vicissitudes he witnessed in the world and in the church, during a season of more than half a century of ministerial labor; many a one that was thought to be a burning and a shining light for a time, he saw vanishing away like a meteor, and many a star of the first magnitude he saw sinking below the horizon of life's hemisphere, into the dark and gloomy shades of death, and rising the other side to shine more brilliantly in the firmament of light and glory beyond the sky. In reference to this he writes upon one occasion from the fullness of his heart: Meditating on the goodness of God towards me in Anglesea, both before going there and since I left-now in my old age, and see the work prospering wonderfully in my hand, so that there is room to think that I am a blessing to the church, and the church is such to me; whilst I might have been a burden to it, or rather a curse, by which she might have been induced to wish me laid in the earth, that I might no longer prevent the progress of the work. Thanks be to God, that it is not so! though I deserve no better; yet I am in

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