104 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
city clergy, nor even a parochial clergyman ; and yet he acquired and preserved
a degree of popularity almost unprecedented, and gathered around him a congregation
as numerous and attached as any in the town.
There was
much originality of thought, combined with richness of fancy, variety of illustration,
earnestness, and zeal. He did not read his sermons, and seldom wrote
more than a general outline ; but there was so much method in their arrangement,
and he had his subject so thoroughly at command, that he was never at a
loss. His articulation was frequently indistinct, and his phraseology peculiar ;
his reasoning was plausible rather than solid, but his addresses, especially at
the communion table, were full of pathos and impassioned zeal ; and when he
had fairly entered on his subject he became exceedingly animated-his voice
was often elevated to the highest pitch-and it was almost impossible for anyone
who heard him to remain unaffected. On one occasion a Polish Jew, who
had begun to inquire into the truths of Christianity, was directed to this Chapel ;
and although he could then understand but little of what he heard, yet he was
so attracted by the manner of Dr. Jones, and so satisfied, as he himself said,
that the man was in earnest, that from that, moment he resolved to become a
stated hearer. He followed up this resolution ; and the result was, in a short
time after, he was publicly baptized by the Doctor.
Dr. Jones, it may be here remarked, was one of the clergymen who, in the
year 1794, attended in prison the unfortunate Watt, who was condemned and
executed for treason. Watt left behind him a full confession of the particulars
of a conspiracy-a document which, though attempted to be discredited, was so
fully attested by Dr. Jones and Dr. Baird as to place its authenticity beyond a
doubt.
In private life Dr. Jones was highly esteemed, alike for his unaffected kindness
and urbanity ; for his unflinching rectitude ; the extent of his information ;
and the uniform consistency of his Christian deportment. His conversation
was both instructive and amusing ; and having been acquainted with many of
the most eminent clergymen in England and Scotland, his anecdotes were very
attractive. Long before his death, a whole generation of his early clerical
friends had entirely passed away ; aad, at the close of fifty years, he found himself
one of only two alive, of a hundred and forty ministers of different denominations,
who, within the bounds of the Synod of Lothian and Tweeddale, were
running their course when he was inducted into his charge : at that period, too,
of his own congregation there were only twenty who then survived out of nearly
two thousand who had been assembled on the day when he preached his introductory
sermon.
In 1810 the Marischal College of Aberdeen, at the suggestion of his friend,
the late Dr. TViIliam Lawrence Brown, then Principal of that College, conferred
on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
Upon the 9th June 1828, when he entered the fiftieth year of his ministry,
he was presented by. his congregation with a handsome piece of plate, ae' a
As a preacher Dr. Jones was very impressive and commanding.
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