Cherishing the Elderly

A selection from a letter by Rev. Charles Colcock Jones, to his son, Charles. The father conveyed to the son the loss of a friend in death. The friend was an elderly black servant in another family. Rev. Jones had visited her several times in her illness and conducted her funeral. He reminded his son of the honor that should be given to the elderly. The letter was written July 30, 1858.

The death of old and valued members of our families and households creates losses that never can be repaired. We ought to cherish the spark of life in the aged to the last hour, and pay them every attention, and add all we can to their comfort and happiness. God’s command is: ‘Thou shalt rise up before the old and gray-headed.’ How comprehensive! How beautiful!

The Children of Pride: A True Story of Georgia and the Civil War, edited by Robert Manson Myers, Yale University Press, 1972, p. 433. Iain Murray makes reference to this book of letters in a chapter on Charles and Mary Colcock Jones in his excellent book, Heroes (published by The Banner of Truth Trust).

Realities

A selection from a letter by Rev. Charles Colcock Jones, to Rev. George Howe, informing him of his father’s death. The elder Mr. Jones knew that death was soon to come, and had great peace till the very end. His son recounted a conversation between his father and mother shortly before his death. The letter was written March 19, 1863, three days after the passing of his father.

My mother repeated some of the promises of the Saviour that He would be present with those who trust in Him, even when called to pass through the dark valley of the shadow of death. To which he responded: “In health we repeat these promises, but now they are realities.” My mother replied: “I feel assured the Saviour is present with you.” His answer was: “Yes. I am nothing but a poor sinner. I renounce myself and all self-justification, trusting only in the free and unmerited righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Mother then asked if he had any word for his sons. He replied: “Tell them both to lead the lives of godly men in Christ Jesus, in uprightness and integrity.”

The Children of Pride: A True Story of Georgia and the Civil War, edited by Robert Manson Myers, Yale University Press, 1972, p. 1041. Iain Murray makes reference to this book of letters in a chapter on the Charles and Marry Jones in his excellent book, Heroes (published by The Banner of Truth Trust).

To See and Feel Your Need of a Precious Saviour

A selection from a letter by Mary Jones, wife of the Rev. Charles Colcock Jones. She wrote her son Charles about the death of a young man, George Helm. She used the opportunity to press on him his need for Christ. The letter was written on February 16, 1858.

Would that I could know how he died. I have often thought of his spiritual state. Did he return to the Ark of Safety? Had he an opportunity to seek his Saviour’s face? We may never know. Your father and myself gave him at parting a little token of our interest in his spiritual welfare. Why was he taken and you are left? God’s sovereignty has so ordained it, but for some wise design. My dear son, I pray the Lord to open your eyes and open your heart by this stroke to see and feel your need of a precious Saviour. Oh, to live without Christ and to die without Christ is to be lost forever! Poor, lost, and guilty as we are, we must have an Advocate with the Father—divine and all-sufficient Jesus Christ the Righteous!

The Children of Pride: A True Story of Georgia and the Civil War, edited by Robert Manson Myers, Yale University Press, 1972, p. 394. Iain Murray makes reference to this book of letters in a chapter on the Jones’s in his recent book, Heroes (published by The Banner of Truth Trust).

Seek the Lord

A selection from letters of Rev. Charles Colcock Jones (1803-1863), affectionately known as “the apostle of the Negro slaves.” His son Joseph, a professor in the University of Georgia, professed faith in Christ in 1858. But his son, Charles, a lawyer, gave no evidence of knowing Christ, but received many letters from his father that included pleas for him to be converted. There is some evidence that he was brought to faith in Christ after his father’s death. Below are three samples of exhortations of a father to a son to be saved.

“Do not put off making your peace with God. You stand in danger of eternal ruin every hour you live without repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ” (September 6, 1854).

“My dear son, I pray the Lord to open your eyes and open your heart to see and feel your need of a precious Saviour” (February 16, 1858).

“When, my son, will you seek the Lord? Why are you not a Christian?” (October 3, 1859).

Heroes, Iain H. Murray, the Banner of Truth Trust, 2009, p. 233. This is a wonderful volume, especially the chapter on Charles Colcock Jones, and his wife, Mary. He was once the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Savannah, Georgia, and was professor of Columbia Theological Seminary, but his greatest work was that of evangelizing slaves.