The Life And Ministry Of Samuel Jones

Earthen Vessel 1880:

Memoir Of Mr. Samuel Jones

Compiled By His Son

As my father, Mr. Samuel Jones, late of Peckham Grove, Camberwell (a notice of whose death appeared in last month’s obituary of the EARTHEN VESSEL), was all his life identified with the Strict Baptist body, a short sketch, drawn up mainly from his own manuscript, may not be uninteresting.

He was born at 23, Budge-row, London, June 21, 1817, of respectable, God-fearing parents. At first his life was despaired of; and he says, writing in 1872: “I was a sickly child for some time, and in the nurse’s arms till I was three years of age; yet, through the kindness of my covenant God, I never had a serious illness till I was past fifty, although I have had much hard work, bodily and mental.” In his childhood he met with several accidents, but always mercifully spared. His mind was early impressed by serious thoughts, and when still young, living with his sister at Mortlake, Surrey, he could point to many spots where he has received mercies at the Lord’s hand. When eight years of age, he was sent to school at Welwyn, Herts, where he says he had religion enough to be laughed at for it. Walking through Pansbanger Park, his attention was directed to some ivy clinging to a tree, his mother saying to him, it was like sin to a man’s heart, it sticks close. This remark he never forgot. He remained at school five years, and then returned to London. to be with his father in business as hot-presser, and he says, boys forty years ago had to do all the drudgery, very different to what it is now. In 1833 he lost his mother, who died of paralysis, aged 55. She was buried in Bunhill Fields, the service being performed by Philip Butcher and J. Andrews Jones, late of Jireh chapel, whose Church my father many years afterwards served as deacon. The death of his mother was a great loss to him at this time, just entering life. He had a great desire to be a railway engineer, and was present at the opening of the Greenwich Railway, the first out of London; but his path in life was ordered otherwise.

From the time he left school in 1830, till 1834, he attended with his parents at Bury-street, and at Mr. Palmer’s, Founder’s Hall, Lothbury; both these places of worship now cease to exist, in fact, such great changes has time worked in the city of London, that my father could count thirty-five places of worship pulled down in his recollection. What he calls the first link of the chain in reference to his Divine life, was hearing a sermon at Bury-street, one Thursday evening, by Mr. Denham, of Margate, who afterwards settled at Unicorn Yard, Southwark, and there, with his father’s consent, my father worshipped from December, 1834. At this time he took a great interest and delight in Sunday-school work, sometimes crossing London Bridge eight times on a Lord’s-day from six in the morning till past nine at night.

Referring to this period of his history he says: “I am one of those who cannot put a date to my first serious thought of myself as a sinner before God. I felt such as I never felt before; nothing on earth could pacify me.” For some months he experienced much soul-trouble and anxiety, but at last, he says, “I gave my God no rest, and was saying, like Jacob of old, ‘I will not let Thee go except thou bless me.’ I obtained deliverance July 5, 1835, and I have never doubted the quality of the work from that day, though it has now been sorely tried for almost forty years by the world, by sin, by the devil, and by self.” About this time he was present at a baptismal service at Little Alie-street; Mr. Dickerson preaching from the words: “What is that to thee? follow thou Me,” and soon after he was himself baptized and admitted a member at Unicorn Yard chapel, on the first Lord’s-day in November, 1835.

Referring to his twenty-first birthday, he says, “My coming of age was a solemn day with me; I poured out my soul to the Lord to take care of me, as my father was no longer obliged to do so; that day I shall never forget, I asked my Lord to take charge of me; and He has done so.”

In 1841 he married Anne Worley, whose parents had for many years worshipped at the same chapels as his own parents. They celebrated their silver wedding day in 1866, surrounded by many tokens of God’s love and goodness. As the fruit of their union, there are four sons and one daughter, who all survive him.

In 1845 he commenced business on his own account as hot-presser and paper glazer, in Bush-lane, Cannon-street. This, he says, was uphill work at first, and for a time he had to work very hard; but he had many kind friends, for whose assistance he was always grateful, and he has recorded many instances of God’s great goodness to him in time of need. In the result, industry and perseverance, both sanctified by acknowledging God’s hand in all, met with their reward. He moved his business to St. Thomas Apostle, and afterwards to Watling-street, where he continued to prosper, and where he lived known and respected for many years, being called to fill many parochial offices.

During the greater part of this time he was endeavouring to serve his Lord, on the Lord’s-days preaching (as opportunity afforded) the Saviour he himself loved and trusted. He was well known in this capacity in Watford, Bushey, King’s Langley, and other towns and villages of Hertfordshire and neighbouring counties. He often spoke of the great pleasure he found in this work.

In 1865, his house in Watling-street being required for city improvements, he removed his business to College-hill, and his residence to Brixton, and thence to Camberwell, where he died.

In 1873, being afflicted with asthma, which kept him a prisoner during the winter months, he retired from business, and taking a house at Margate spent the summer months there. Finding a lack of accommodation for those holding the same views of truth as himself, he, with others, hired the Mart, in High-street, for preaching services, and afterwards was mainly instrumental in building the place of worship known as Mount Ephraim Baptist chapel, Thanet-road, where Mr. Wise is now settled.

Last autumn he returned from Margate apparently in his usual health; but, as I have said, he suffered severely from asthma in the cold weather. For some years past it had been his custom to have all his family with him on New Year’s day. This year he wrote saying he did not feel strong enough to entertain us all. Still we did not think him materially worse till Thursday, Jan. 29, when the severe fogs set in. We sent again for the doctor, who pronounced him in a critical state owing to the bad atmosphere. On Friday he was particularly anxious to see all his children; but this wish could not be gratified till the next day, when he saw us all; but we did not think he was so near his end. During the evening he said, “Lord, hold Thou me up and I shall be safe.” He afterwards became worse, and at nine the doctor said he would not live through the night, and this proved true, for at two o’clock in the morning of Sunday, Feb. 1, he passed quietly away. He had frequently spoken to us of his willingness to depart, and died trusting in the finished work of Christ his Saviour, and so truly may it he said of him, ‘ Being absent from the body, he is present with the Lord.” His body was interred at Norwood cemetery on Feb. 6, Mr. Meeres, of Bermondsey, officiating. My father was the author of some pamphlets, one published some years ago called “The Church Meeting,” and more recently “Pliable,” and “History of the Strict Baptists in Thanet.” He was universally respected as a straightforward and upright man of business. “May we die the death of the righteous; may our last end be like his.”

Samuel Jones