BIOGRAPHY

OF

ALEXANDER MILLS.

ALEXANDER and Jane Mills, the parents of the subject of this memoir, were Dissenters, and for many years communed with the Independent Church at Chatham. Their children, before they were placed out to school, and at their return, were conducted to the same place of worship which their parents frequented, and thus were early instructed in the first principles of Christianity.

Mr. Alexander Mills, their fourth child, was born on the 16th of August, 1789, and carefully instructed in the common and most useful branches of education; by choice, he was apprenticed to Mr. Pinn, Taylor and Draper, at Chatham; from whom he received every mark of kindness and affection; by whom he was

regarded more as a son than as an apprentice, enjoying every proper indulgence. This kindness, as far as possible, was repaid by the great integrity, and, in all things, the uniform consistency of Alexander, whose memory will ever be cherished in that family with sympathy and

esteem.

It appears, from some of his papers now before me, that he feared the Lord from his childhood; and that his serious impressions were either first received, or firmly rivetted, by visiting, with his friends, the Sunday Schools, in which he afterwards became a very zealous and active teacher. From a letter addressed to the Church at Milton, Kent, which will be given in the subsequent pages, it appears, that at the early age of fourteen, he devoted himself, in the most solemn manner, to the service of Jesus Christ, and never afterwards repented his vow. For upwards of twelve years, he has been known to the writer as a consistent, holy, and devoted Christian. In every character which he sustained through life, the influence of religion directing his motives, and regulating his practice, was apparent to all.

As the head of a family, and a brother, he ever felt a deep concern for the temporal and spiritual interests of those around him, and his heart was sensibly affected by the occurrence of any thing unpleasant among those to whom he was united. As a neighbour, he was friendly and obliging; anxious to avoid whatever might be disagreeable, and solicitous to promote the prosperity of every one near him. As a tradesman, he was upright, strictly conscientious, and accurate; looking well to the state of his affairs, that no one might suffer loss from connexion with him. His books, examined after his decease, had they been intended as a specimen of bookkeeping, could not have been more correct,and the orders executed were posted in his ledger up to the day of his death. The only thing in which he appeared culpable on this point, was an indifference to the enlargement of his trade; if orders came, he received them, and executed them with punctuality; but he never was very solicitous about increase: even that laudable emulation, which some persons manifest, and which is wholly separate from meanness, he never zealously cultivated, but

I

went on steadily from day to day, easy and contented.

In the beginning of February, 1806, at the age of sixteen years and a half, he was admitted into fellowship with the Church at Chatham, of which he continued a bright ornament, zealously seeking, in his prayers and in his conduct, the spiritual prosperity and increase of the body with which he was associated; ardently and justly attached to the Pastor who presided over them; carefully avoiding all disputations that might lead to division, and earnestly studying and pursuing the things that made for peace,

so that all who knew him, would point tỏ Alexander Mills as one whom the Saviour had pronounced blessed, for he was a peace-maker.1

His character, as a minister, shall be given, after a few extracts from his letters are presented. All the letters which have fallen into my hands, contain some devout and fervent wish for the spiritual happiness of his correspondent; and some single pious remarks, suggested by the

1 Matt. v. 9.

circumstance noticed in his epistle: but they do not contain any connected observations upon religious sentiment or experience; it has, therefore, been found difficult to present an interesting selection. It is possible that some of his correspondents may have letters on religious subjects, more enlarged. The following is presented only as a specimen of his usual writing on the common occurrences of life.

"It may be severely trying to feed on bread and water,—and yet these things ought to be secondary considerations: to feed upon Jesus, the bread of life, is of the utmost importance; and how great is the mercy, that such poor, sinful, unworthy creatures, are permitted to do it! I hope and pray that you may have such a believing view of him, at the sacrament, as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, as to be enabled to say, his flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed.” 2

"I shall not cease to pray to the God of all grace, to supply all your needs according to his

* John vi. 55.