moth, separated from the old 'Babylonish Baptists,' for so he and his adherents designated the Baptists of Wales.

We shall insert here an account of the meeting held at Ramoth, in which Mr. Jones separated himself from the Baptist body in the principality. The date of the meeting is not precisely known, but it appears to have been about the time or soon after the removal of the Rev. John Williams to New-York, America. "The object of this meeting," says Mr. E.," was to attempt an adjustment of the new disputes that prevailed amongst us in the several districts already mentioned, and to ascertain who were favorable to a reform according to the truth, and who were for continuing still longer in old great Babylon, as they said, meaning the old Baptist community. Ministers from different parts assembled on the occasion, Mr. John Prichard, Pwllheli; Mr. Evan Evans, and Mr. John Hughes, Garn; Mr. William Foulkes, Nevyn, and others, were present. Brother Evans, of Garn, and myself preached at ten A. M.; and a conference was held in the afternoon, when brother John Jones declared his determination to separate from the Baptist body in Wales, and unite himself to the Baptists of Scotland. He produced several letters he had received from Mr. A. McLean, which, for the benefit of the church, Mr. Jones has translated since into the Welsh language. He also took from his pocket a large sheet of paper, elegantly written, con

The

taining a long series of reasons why he separated from the Welsh Baptists; these he also published from the press. Some listened with feelings of peculiar sorrow and grief to the articles of the separation which was to be effected forthwith, considering that the old Christian union, which had now subsisted between us for some years, was to be dissolved, without the least hope of its ever being restored. ministers then present were able to answer and refute but little of the new articles introduced by the Reformer. I myself had embraced several of the points contended for, such as 'naked faith,' (i. e. without love,) in the naked truth,' (not in the love of it,) for it required the utmost stretch of ingenuity to banish every modification of love, and the affections of the heart in order to be 'sound in the faith.' However, I held a long dispute with Mr. Jones at that meeting on account of his precipitate separation, showing that he himself could not be purely sincere, according to the apostolic plan, upon his own view of it; for,' said I, 'thou* condemnest us for going about to preach, averring that the church should meet in one place, and that it should have at least two ministers in that place. And why dost thou condemn us for that which thou thyself wilt continue to practise, even after this separation? For thou wilt have a few brethren at Llanuwchllyn, Trawsvynydd, Dolgelley,

6

*This was the reformed manner of address at the time.

Harleach, Ramoth, Bryn-y-bwbach, and also at Crickieth, and there will be breaking of bread in several of those places, and thou, brother, wilt be the pastor of all these different branches, upon the same plan precisely as I am in Anglesea.' Mr. Jones felt the force of this reasoning, but instead of confessing ingenuously that he could not reply to it, he became greatly agitated, and said 'that the Baptists had in them a quarrelsome spirit of contradiction, and I along with them, though he had thought better things of me before.' Then he stood on his feet at the table in front of the pulpit, in a spirit of great perturbation, and in a very hasty manner took hold of the Bible, and said, That he, in the name of the Lord, separated himself from the Babylonish Baptists of Wales, and that he conscientiously separated himself from their errors in faith and practice, to the truth, and to the communion of the brethren in Scotland, who receive the truth. He then sat down. Many of the spectators looked upon him with astonishment, while he performed the ceremony of excluding himself from the Baptists of the principality, and there were some who beheld the scene with trembling, and with tears, as if they saw a burning mountain emitting smoke and sparks of fire, which occasioned deep sighs to burst forth from hearts big with grief and sorrow. Others appeared as cheerful as if the trumpets of jubilee had begun sounding; or, like the thieves and robbers in the French revolution, who broke out in

hopes of obtaining a booty for themselves in the destruction of others; and some appeared as if stupified, not knowing what the end of these things would be. The scene was dreadful!

The spirit which prevailed at the meeting was that which agreed in the main with the taste of those who were heretofore considered to be persons of an unfeeling and prayerless character; particularly deficient in religious affections, fervency of spirit, and earnest prayer. In this revolution the last became first; these people turned out great talkers against zeal in religion, and they became in one day-one night-the most respectable of the brethren, and were regarded as the subjects of some extraordinary influence. This class of religionists had a profitable summer's work; some of them travelled forty miles to Ramoth, and all the way employed themselves in scolding the popular preachers; but assumed their peculiar business to be, the establishing the souls of the disciples in the faith.'

The consequence of this was exceedingly prejudicial to the Baptists in North Wales; it was the means of checking their progress, in all probability thirty or forty years. Mr. Jones succeeded to gather together a few people of Sandemanian spirit at Ramoth, and at Harleach; at other places, such as Caernarvon, with Mr. E. Francis, and at Glynceiriog with Mr. John Edwards, no advance was made. They received but few members, except some from among

the Baptists, who had no real pleasure in the exercises of religion, and walking with God. They opposed the cause of Missions, and the Bible Society; they impeded the prosperity of the other Baptists, and kept an open door to receive the irregular and disaffected members of that body, which was the means of hardening the minds of evil disposed persons against true discipline, and of encouraging them in their opposition and insubordination. They have made themselves notorious in these matters, and their notoriety in this respect continues to the present day. Of all the meetings ever held in England or Wales, (I do not know of Scotland,) I am not aware of any, from which delusion so dangerous and fatal to spiritual views and feelings proceeded, as that held at Ramoth on this occasion."

To this account of the meeting, Mr. Evans attaches a portraiture of Mr. Jones, which he introduces in the following manner : "Mr. John Jones, who is now in eternity these some years, and I, who am now drawing this portrait of him, shall soon be in the eternal world-washed, I hope, from all our sins in the blood of the Lamb." He then proceeds: "Mr. Jones, as to his person, was tall, standing about six feet high, stooping a little in his shoulders, slight and agile; his legs and feet were well-shaped; his hair was of a sandy color, frizzled and raised in front, with high forehead and keen eyes; his voice was strong and high-toned, inclining rather to the dry