to come in competition with extended plans for the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom. Presbyterians and Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Methodists, and Baptists, all gave him their hearts as a Christian, and have been known to open their pulpits to him as a minister of the gospel. He lived and died as though the salvation of the heathen was an object important enough to unite the thoughts and affections, the prayers and labors of the great family of believers throughout the world; and to the everlasting abjuration of all that party spirit, those narrow prejudices, and those sleepless jealousies, which have so long disturbed the tranquillity of the church. When shall the spirit of mutual animosity and crimination be superseded and eradicated by the irrepressible desire to glorify God, and see him glorified in the conversion of the world! O that the season of chilling alienation had gone by-that "the winter were past, and the rain were over and gone; that the time of the singing of birds were come, and the voice of the turtle were heard in our land !”—But I forget my theme.

Such was Samuel J. Mills. But I must forbear saying more of one, who was ever reluctant to speak or to hear of himself, and seek rather to possess than publish his virtues.

CONCLUSION.

THE writer has thus discharged a duty, for which he has felt no small degree of incompetence, but in the performance of which he has received no small degree of comfort and instruction. Who can survey the leading events of such a life, and the prominent excellencies of such a character, without being alternately humbled for his own deficiencies, and animated to more vigorous exertion? A career so illustrious, may well excite every reflecting man to "forget the things that are behind, and press forward to those that are before."

If there is one sentiment which a view of this devoted man's exertions is calculated to impress more deeply than another, it is the practicability of accomplishing a great amount of good in one short life. In adverting to the preceding pages, we involuntarily give way to the exclamation, What cannot one man accomplish! Without resources, without vigorous health, without fame, and with only a heart devoted to God, how much may be effected in one short

life!-When we hear an obscure licentiate of the gospel ministry, with modest intrepidity, addressing one of his brethren in language like this, "Though you and I are very little beings, we must not rest satisfied until our influence is felt to the remotest corner of this ruined world;" we may well blush, and be ashamed that we know no more how to make the most of human life.

Men are not apt enough to lay out their plans for extended action. In this respect, how much wiser are the men of the world, in their generation, than the children of light? How magnificent the plans, how unwearied the watchfulness, how persevering the efforts after worldly aggrandizement? How ardent the hopes, how inspirited, how confident the expectation of men in the eager pursuit of the meat that perisheth, and the crown that fadeth away? Ah, what a weight of reproach falls upon the head of that Christian who can quietly see the interests of his Master's kingdom languish for the want of determined exertion? "EXPECT GREAT THINGS— ATTEMPT GREAT THINGS"-should be the sacred and unalterable motto of men in every department of active labor, who have consecrated themselves to Jesus Christ. If a pagan could adopt the maxim, "Nothing is too difficult to be accomplished by mortals;" with what confidence may a Christian say, "I can do all things through Christ strengthening me?"-If he pur

sues an object replete with responsibility, he also has encouragement peculiar to himself, and resources which the world knows not of. He may have a deep impression of his own weakness and insufficiency; but why should he not have strong confidence in the sufficiency of promised grace? Why should he not let go his own weakness, and take hold of divine strength? Why should he not be " strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might?" Nay, why may he not, "glory in his infirmity, that the power of Christ may rest on him?”

Under the influence of the example which this volume presents, who is there that will not be awake to the demands of duty, and begin to enjoy the exalted satisfaction of consecrating his undivided heart and life to a cause greater than his own, and that with pious zeal and intense application? What are a few years of labor and fatigue, a few scenes of suffering and sorrow-what is one short life of self-denying, humble, prayerful, patient exertion, for an object so immeasurably important as the glory. of God in the salvation of men? Should one solitary Christian, at the close of these pages, institute the solemn inquiry, How shall I make the most of human life? they will not have been written in vain.

In making up his judgment on so momentous an inquiry, no man, at the present age of the world, can satisfy his conscience, without taking

into the account the grand objects to which the subject of this narrative was so successfully devoted. There is a mighty work yet to be accomplished for the redemption of fallen men. Though a few sections of the globe have been delivered from their galling manacles, whole kingdoms are to the present hour in the "bonds of iniquity." "Darkness covereth the earth, and gross darkness the people." According to the most judicious calculations, the population of the earth may be computed at eight hundred millions. Of these there are

The proportion of those who bear the Chris

tian name, has been judged to be,

leaving six hundred millions who are destitute of the gospel. Let any man whom "the dayspring from on high hath visited," survey these regions of darkness and death without emotion,