His Education, and Early Devotion to the Missionary Cause
We can scarcely fail to have observed, that the Divine Spirit often gives a particular impulse in conversion, which prepares its subject for some particular service. There are those who are impressed with enlarged views of divine truth; and not unfrequently of the importance, consistency, and beauty of some particular truths, which in the developements of Divine Providence, it is seen they are destined to defend and maintain. And there are those who are almost instantaneously roused to purposes of active benevolence; and the first discernible tendencies of whose affections are toward the wants and woes of their perishing fellow-men. To one who is conversant with the peculiarities of their exercises on spiritual subjects, it is not more certain, that Jonathan Edwards and Andrew Fuller were prepared, in the early stages of their Christian experience, for the distinguished part they have acted in illustrating and demonstratini the eraiul truths of” revealed religion, than were Da id Braincrcl and Samuel J. Mills, for distinguished eHbrts as Missionaries of the cross.
The direction of young Mills’ thoughts may be gathered from a single suggestion, soon after his return froai Litchfield. The first idea his father had of his change of mind, arose from an observation he made,” that he could not conceive of any course of life in luhich to pass the rest of his dciijSj that woidd prove so pleasant, as to u;o and coninvuncale the Gospel salvation to the poor Thus early did a sovereign God, who has pity on. the Heathen, set apart Samuel J. Mills for a Missionary. It is somewhat remarkable that from this same hour, he never once lost sight of his darling object. Though but a youth of sixteen, he discovered a zeal in the Missionary cause, an eagerness in the pursuit of Missionary intelligence, and an enlargement of thought in his plans, to become acquainted with the true state of the unevangelized world, which left little doubt ttiat he was chained to his purpose by a superior power.
It was a heart yearning over the miseries of perishing millions, that first led him to think of acquiring an education m Itli a view to the gospel ministry. Having consulted his parents, and unfolded all his purpose, which, should God permit, was no less than to devote his life to the cause of Missions in foreign lands; and having received their approbation and their blessinsr, he resolved on measures for chanoine; his course of life. The Spirit of God came over him like Elisha in the field. While toiling at the plough was his heart touched with compassion for the heathen world, and he bid adieu to his farm, to obtain an education on purpose to carry the Gospel to n.illions who perish for lack of knowledge. Thus in a retired field in Litchfield county, was the King of Zion beginning that grand course of operations which have produced such a mighty revolution in the American Churches, and which bear so intimate a relation to the progressive glories of his kingdom. Having put his secular concerns into other hands, and having previously connected himself with the Church, under the pastoral care of his father. Mills became a member of Williams“‘College, in Massachusetts, in the autumn of 18D{i As a scholar, he was of respectable standing; but as a youth who “walked with God,” and whose unilbrra deportment evinced that he was devoted to interests superior to his own, he shone as a light in the earth. Ardent and matured as his piety was at more advanced periods, it may be said of Mr. Mills, that he began his career very much as he ended it. At this early period, his piety was of that strong, yet fervent, that unostentatious, yet practical and efficient kind, that gave the highest evidence that he was a child of God. Engaged in pursuits, in which many a godly youth is allured from duty, by the glare of science and the love of fame, he not merely retained his integrity, and made sensible progression m holiness, but by a deportment so circumspect and kind, that even the enemies of religion could not but respect him; and by a consistency and sweetness of character, which gave so much lustre to vital piety, that his friends felt the reproach of his example: did he become the means of conversion, steadfastness, ami zeal, and ulll be long remembered as a dislin-uished blessing to the Seminaiy ol vvbicb be was a member.
To many a pious youth, the wcigbt of moral obligation seems to be too much suspended duritig a four years’ residence within the walls of a college. Too many aj)pear to feel that they have discharged their obligations, while irrespective of the present, they only prepare for the future; and it does not come within the perview of their plans to do good, but only to obtain it. It may possibly deserve reilcction, whether the indifference of the pious young men who arc members of our colleges, to the obligations of active usefulness, may not be one reason w by the light of science so often dazzles only to attract and consume the insect that carelessly flutters around it, and why our seminaries of learning, with all their eminent usefulness, so frequently prove a snare. Every where Mills’ object was but one. To him, nothing had charms so powerful, as the glory of his Redeemer and the salvation of men. The conversion ot” a siimer from the error of his ways, the deliverance ot one immortal beinsr from everlasting burnings, was to his benevolent mind enough to compensate a thousand fold for all the laurels of a Ciesar. While he was a member of College, there was a revival of religion in that Institution, of which he was the chiet’instrument. There are not a few of his fellow-sUidents now in the ministry, who owe their hopes of tieaven, and their usefulness on earth, to his instrumentality. Nor would we fail to remark, that some of those beloved men, whom the American
Church has been permitted to send into the seclusions of our own wildernesses, and to plant on the banks of” the Ganges and the Indus, will long remember his instrumentality in their conversion and Missionary zeal. His contemporaries at the College will delight to linger on the recollection of his excellence; and can never forget how the srslvation of the dear youth with whom he was associated, the revival of pure and undefiled religion, and the desolations of the heathen world, were themes that often drew tears from his eyes and persuasion from his tongue, as he visited from room to room, and walked from grove to grove.
The following extracts from his own Diary will better evince the state of his mind at this period, and be more gratifying to our readers, than any narrative of our own,
“June 25, 1806. 1 hope I shall have an opportunity to retire and address the Throne of Grace to-day without molestation. O that God would be with me, and assist me in the performance of duty! It will be a stupid time indeed, if the Lord does not pour down his spirit and convince me of my unworthiness and dependence. O how unworthy we are at this institution to partake of the crumhs that fall from our Master’s table! Blessed be God, he has, as I trust, w rought a good work upon the hearts of some, and is forcing conviction and light upon the minds of others. I hope nothing may retard the progress of this most glorious work.
‘• Thursdmi 2(5. Attended conference this evenino-, composed j)rincii);llly of the Freshman Class.
A very good meeting. Many very solenui; K
much cast down. It was very evident God was strivij)£: with some of his disobedient creatures. The work is the Lord’s, and he is abundantly ai)le to carrv it on. — Arise, O Lord, thou and the ark of thy strength! It seems to me I never longed so much ibr the Sabbath as I do now. I am afraid the impressions of my classmates will wear off. But all things are possible with God.
“SiUurduif, 28. Think I feel something of a praying frame this morning. — O for more fervour, more engagedness, more activity, in the cause of the blessed God! I hope this may be a sweet day to my soul. Think I sec something of my unworthiness.
“Sabbath Mornimj;^ 29. Have some view of my dependence upon God and of my awful stupidity. I pray God to be with me to-day, and keep me from injuring his cause, and preserve me in a praying frame! — At JYoon. — Just returned from meeting — an uncommon time with me — think 1 have never been so carried above this world before; never found myself so nigh the foot of the cross. Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, give me, unworthy me, a spirit of prayer! O humble me — keep me at the foot of the cross. Grant that I may alv.ays feel uneasy when I wander from that delightful place! Grant that f may make it my home there, and never w ound my Redeemer in the house of his friends!
‘’ Ao/;. 10. [xlfter vacation.] 1 have been in town two weeks. Professing Christians not so much alive as they generally were last term. O that God would revive us ao;ain! — that his saints might rejoice, and that immortal souls raight be ransomed from eternal death! O that He would make his children feel their dependence, and bring them to cast themselves at his footstool! All our strength is from the Lord; I hope he will not cast us off for ever, but carry on his own work as best pleases him. We are brought Very low; and if the Lord look not upon us, where is our hope? Where can we look but to thy Holy Hill.^”
The outpouring of God’s Spirit, here alluded to, though not very extensive, was among the most signal expressions of favour to the Church* The instrumentality the subject of these Memoirs had in this work of grace, we shall lay before the reader in the language of one of his most valued classmates, who is now successfully engaged in the Christian ministry. ‘’ During the last term of his first year, there was a revival of religion in College, which commenced in his class. It was then my opinion, and I believe the general opinion, that Mr. Mills was principally instrumental in the hands of God, in producing the blessed work. Certain it is, that no one was so much resorted to as he by those under serious impressions. He was singularly devoted and engaged, a little before the revival commenced, and while it lasted. Nor did he, after it had ceased, relapse into that state of apathy and indifference so common with many, and to which there are so many temptations in College. It may well be said of him.
that he ’ walked with God,’ and I trust his footsteps wcvc <p:e lon after he left the College.”
It is ill itself grateful, and of some importance to the subsequent parts of his history, to observe the invariable tendencies of his mind toward the grand objecis of benevolence to which his life was so sacredly devoted. The follow ing extract is from his Diary, while a member of College, though under an obliterated date.
‘• O that I might be aroused from this careless and stupid state, and be enabled to fill up life well! 1 think I can trust myself in the hands of God, and all that is dear to me; but I long to have the time arrive, when the Gospel shall be preached to the poor Africans and likewise to all nations.’’’
Ejaculations like these were the true index of his soul. It is his zeal and exertions as a Christian philanthropist, that will attract the deepest and most protit;ible attention. In this respect, it is no exaggeration to say, he stands almost without a parallel among men not actuated by the miraculous agency of the Holy Ghost. What the memorable Howard was in some few branches of temporal charity, was Samuel J. Mills, in a vast variety of simple yet magnificent plans of Christian beneficence. Few who khcu him will question the justice of the observation, that he possessed feelings which suffered him to say very little of himself Though one of the most modest men 1 ever saw, he once said to a conodential friend, and a brother in the ministry of a
kindred spirit,” Brother C s, though you and I
are very little beings, we must not rest satisfied till we have made our influence extend to the remotest
corner of this ruined world.” This was his real
spirit. Simply to become a Missionary himself, and live and die in Pagan lands, surrounded with all the evidences of successful labour, was with him a very small matter. His charities were the most exalted, and his plans most sublime. He knew how to labour for an interest, distant enough to bring nothing to himself, and “form a purpose to feel and act efficiently for more than two-thirds of the human race, never baptised by the Christian name.”