| GEORGE MILLS was born in the parish of Cripplegate, London, in the year 1796. His life began and continued in most afflictive circumstances. "Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; yet man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward." It pleased God to take his affectionate mother from her family, leaving five children, two of whom, the subject of these remarks and the youngest, were entirely helpless. I-low strange do the dealings of the Almighty appear to short-sighted man! When the Psalmist endeavoured to understand how God dealt with man in his providence, he found the work too great for him; "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it." "But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies: for he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men." "Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?" The Parent of all good was pleased to care for those children, by the hand of strangers. The father who now had the comfort and honour to provide for his own, became negligent and careless; and through profane company, and intemperate habits, gave himself up to the most abandoned life. Surely "wine is a mocker, and strong drink is raging," or as Moses describes it, "Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps."
This cruel father had so far lost all parental affection, that he sold one of his children to a company of chimney-sweepers, for the sum of two pounds. Whether he was cared for or not, I cannot tell. George and his youngest brother, had often moved the sympathy and charity of some tender-hearted mothers, who knew their wants, and heard their artless cries for bread. At length, they consulted together, and agreed to take them to the poor-house, that they might be better cared for. After some time, the eldest brother, who thought that George would be of some service to him, took him from the poor-house; but he also treated him in the most unkind and cruel manner. This moved the sympathy of Mr. Isaac, a Jew, in his behalf, who threatened to take George from his brother, if he used him so cruelly. This humane son of Abraham coming in one day, and witnessing the brutal treatment which he received, took him immediately to his own house. He was now about eight years of age. Here a brighter light began to dawn upon his path. "The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble." He might say, "thou Lord art good and doest good, teach me thy statutes." As he grew up he showed a most excellent disposition, which gained him the favour of his master, and the whole family; with whom he lived fifteen years. He was the subject of serious impressions, and among other things he felt acutely on the subject of constantly breaking the christian Sabbath, and often had a secret desire to be able to keep it, instead of the Jewish Sabbath. He often thought of leaving, and made some attempts; but as they were unwilling to part with him, and had always treated him so kindly, he knew not how to accomplish it. Trifer, to make unclean, is one of the greatest offences which can be committed against the superstitious Jew. One day he had to take a fowl to their butcher to be killed, and as he was returning, threw it against his young master; who ran to his father, exclaiming, "Father, George has trifered the fowl! He has thrown it at me;" and for this offence, he was sent from the family. Now, having an opportunity of enjoying the means of grace, he attended different places of worship to hear the word preached. He felt the drawings of the Holy Spirit, but resisted his strivings, and experienced such a mental conflict, that he might have adopted the language of the poet; "Tis worse than death my God to love, And not my God alone." Having become settled in life, and being blessed with a "help-meet for him" in spiritual things; through the entreaties of his wife, he united with us in church-fellowship, in the year 1832; being drawn by the cords of divine love, as Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended to the things that were spoken in God's word. I have no information when or where he was converted to God. He was a man of very few words, and he made but very little profession by word, of his enjoyments, or sorrows. In relating his christian experience to his class-mates, he generally gave them to understand that he had no doubt but he was a child of God; because he had the witness of the Holy Spirit. As I have before said, his Christianity shone more brightly in his life, than in his conversation. It was visible to all close observers for many years that he was a man of God. Through a weak constitution, his wife also being afflicted, he had to wade through deep waters, yet in patience he possessed his soul; and unless some friend made it his business to enquire into their circumstances, their depressed state would not be known to any but themselves and the Lord. But the consolations of God were with him, wherein he says, "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth He correcteth: even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." In all his trials and afflictions he charged not God foolishly; but would rather say with the Psalmist, "Thou which hast showed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth." In all, he gave evident marks of patience, industry, and fidelity to God and man. The humble business by which he subsisted, was that of preparing bundles of fire-wood, and selling them from door to door. I would refer to one circumstance which occurred in his business as a test of his principles. He went to his dealer's yard to purchase a small supply of wood; and having placed his purchased lot on his hand-cart, he saw one of the workmen take some wood from the yard and throw it on his. He knew the man's intention was to gain his favour, and perhaps his pence; but he was surprisingly disappointed. Mr. Mills was too conscientious to receive the favour, but desired him to "take it off!" and the man with fear and shame complied with his request. He went home triumphing in a conscience void of offence, both towards God and towards man, as having gotten a victory. Characterized as he was by meekness and gentleness, he was yet bold in his heavenly Master's cause. If he were walking out at any time, and saw a servant of God, no matter to him of what denomination he was, if he preached Christ, and should be persecuted by "lewd fellows of the baser sort," and no friend to stand by him, he would go up to him, and assist in the way he best could; remembering him who hath said, "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." He was taken ill on the 29th of July, 1848. I visited him in his illness, as often as opportunity was afforded me; arid generally found his mind tranquil and serene, patiently waiting the coming of his Lord. He was also visited by Mr. Warren, of the London City Mission, who makes the following remarks on his experience in his last affliction;_ "The period during which I was acquainted with the late Mr. Mills, was the last two years of his life. His conduct during that period, was of the most irreproachable character; his life rather than his words indicated the principle by which he was actuated. In the intercourse I had with him during his health, two things were especially manifest, humility, and a constant apprehension of his own weakness and unworthiness. He felt that all he was, he was by the power of divine grace! His faith and hope in Christ Jesus were of a quiet unostentatious kind; still there it was. "When laid aside by his last illness, the certainty, confidence, and clearness of his mind, in respect of his interest in Christ, were remarkably increased and developed; indeed, he mounted at once to the full assurance of faith. He sailed into port with a full breeze in his favour. His sense of the love of God in Christ, of the forgiving love of God, his experience of the presence of God in filling his soul with joy and peace, joined with the most self-abasing views, raised him to such a height of confidence in Christ, that I felt he was got into a region where I could not lead him; I could only follow, wondering and adoring the mercy of God, and the power of divine grace. "To allude only to one interview I had with him, I read on that occasion the 12th chapter of Isaiah. When I had done he said, 'I bless God, I can say, His anger is turned away from me. Although I am a poor unworthy creature, sinful in myself, yet, bless his name, his anger is turned away and he does comfort me; and I can say, God is become my salvation. Christ is all my hope, and he will save me-yes, me; the promises are made to me.' "He said much more to the same purport. He seemed to be aware that his end was approaching, but the thought of that only filled him with joy. He was speechless, and to all appearance senseless, many hours before his death; and after an illness of much acute suffering, patiently borne, he entered into rest, on the 19th of August, 1848, in the 52nd year of his age. His end was emphatically, nay, triumphantly, peace. May my last end be as peaceful and hopeful as his. Amen." |