USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Torrington > History of Torrington, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1737, with biographies and genealogies > Part 54
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Rev. Luther Hart, who was well acquainted with him says : " His personal appearance was of no little advantage to him as a preacher. With a large frame and well proportioned, tall, erect, and with a countenance expressive of intelligence and mildness, he stood before his congregation as if he had been the personification of dignity itself. His features too in all their diversified changes, were a striking index of the successive emotions excited in his breast by the theme he was discussing, and by the combined influence of his looks, his whole manner and the nature of the truths he proclaimed, he exerted under God a three-fold power on the understanding and moral susceptibilities of his auditors."
The impression his personal appearance made upon all classes was very remarkable, and what Dr. Charles Woodward said, thousands of others could have said with great propriety : " The most remarka- ble physique I ever beheld."
read in their Bibles. Several of the scholars obtained hope respecting themselves, some under twelve years of age, but the greatest number between twelve and eighteen.
IV. The uniformity every where observable as to the views, and exercises of the work is a circumstance particularly to be noticed, both antecedent to their obtaining relief as well as afterwards. Most generally, let any person become informed in respect to a single in- stance, of the views and feelings of a sinner under concern, and of his consequent exercises and different views and apprehensions, and he would for substance learn what others could say. The same excuses, pleas, cavils, and objections, against the doctrines and precepts of the gospel while under conviction, and the same kind of submission, when brought to a cheer- ful surrendery of themselves to God, which were found in one case were to be looked for in another. To find persons who never conversed, one with the other, communicating the same ideas, has been very striking to many. And it ought to be particularly observed here, that this is not the case merely in neighborhoods or societies, but in distant and different quarters, wherever the work has spread, amongst those who never saw nor heard of each other. The observations already made respecting the nature of the work in this society, apply with equal truth to other societies, so far as can be known, both far and near. All are made to drink into one spirit, and to speak one language. After all -
V. It is by no means pretended that the wheat is wholly free from a mixture of tares, or that all who entertain hope of themselves are really friends to Christ. The parable of the sower may doubtless be applied in a greater or less degree ; and it is to be feared that more or less will finally wither away. Sufficient to such is the evil thereof. It is very gratify- ing to the friends of Zion that there are so few instances of this nature, where apparent evidence of a change of heart has been exhibited. One observation farther.
VI. It is conceived, and it is thought no more than proper to acknowledge it, that the measures which have been adopted by the state for the spread of the gospel - the address from the general assembly, recommending a more careful observation of the Sabbath - the regulations respecting schools - together with the various late publications - have been employed under Providence to promote and spread this great and glorious work which God hath already wrought, and is still accomplishing."
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A lady still living, who was brought up near neighbor to him, and whose family was very intimate with that of Mr. Mills, has attempted many times to describe him but always ends by saying, "when I used to see him while I was very young, I always thought of him as God."
" In person he was tall and strongly built. His bearing was dignified, and on horseback his appearance was commanding. His eyes were large and expres- sive and his voice was rich and full. His prominent natural traits were a childlike simplicity, drollness, impulsiveness, tenderness and a large hearted benevolence. He was sound in the doctrines and devoted to his flock. As a speaker, he was at times memorably eloquent, and swayed his hearers power- fully by the wit or pathos of his discourse. He had a glowing interest in the evangelizing enterprises which sprung up about the opening of the present cen- tury, and was one of the pioneers in the missionary work in Vermont. He enjoyed the confidence and respect of his brethren, and was one of the editors of the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine. " Father Mills of Torringford ; " his name confers honor on the place where he served so long and so faithfully in the gospel ; and a grateful people may well celebrate the centennial of his settlement." I
MR. MILLS AS A PASTOR.
While possessing unusual dignity of personal appearance his great- ness of soul rendered him capable of meeting in the kindest and most gentle manner any and all classes of persons under all circumstances in such a manner as to attract them to himself and to the cause he represented, and to leave the impression on every mind of his very deep sincerity as a gospel minister, and his great desire to do good to all men. If in the impression he made on others there was one thing more prominent than another, it was his very great anxiety, and eagerness to lead men from the danger of a sinful life to safety under the light of the gospel, and so fully was this true that the uncon- verted seemed almost anxious to help him and willing to become the subjects of saving grace, so as to relieve the concern which he felt in their behalf and to cause him to rejoice. Every body was made to feel this by his constant manner of life and conversation. Going out one morning on horse back he met a young lady also on horse back, and addressed her with a sweetness, and melodiousness of voice that no one could imitate : "Good morning my daughter, I started out this morning to see if I could find any body that was anxious about their souls ; " giving a very deep and full emphasis to the last word. Nearly seventy years have passed since those words were spoken, but they are fresh in the mind of her who was then the young lady, and she can repeat them in the same measured style and
I Torringford Centennial, p. 27.
68
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somewhat of the same emphasis with which they were originally spoken. They have been living characters upon the tablet of memory as the hand writing upon the wall of the ancient king's palace, growing none the less since that day. This was the great theme : Souls and salvation ! He took a great interest in the pros- perity of the people, and sympathized with them, "as bound with them" in their misfortunes and sorrows ; he was joyful with them ; was witty, amusing, and full of anecdote, and curious representations ; but, he seemed never to lose sight of, and never willing that others should entertain the impression that he could deviate from, the one great object and mission of his life, to save men from the second death. His common address to all the young was, my daughter, my son, with a modulation of voice as though he was really the father of every one of them, and had all the responsibility as such to lead them from earth to heaven.
As illustrative of these statements, the following letter of his, written about the year 1800, to Rev. Alexander Gillett, with whom he seems to have had some previous arrangement or plan as to some meeting to be held elsewhere than at home. It was written on a part of a sheet of paper and is preserved among the papers of the Torrington church.
" DEAR BROTHER. It is time for every one, even for the whole world to awake from their slumberings. A little more sleep, a little more folding the hands, will not answer. It ought not to answer. I have never done any thing yet worth being born for. I have sometimes thought, had I never been born, the world would have lost nothing. After all I do not know as I can go next Wednesday ; possibly I may. You must come on, If I can go I will ; If not I will exchange with him on the Sabbath, or with you both, any way that will best commode. Yours, SAML. J. MILLS."
From every source the testimony is the same and direct as to this one thing that in the parish, in the home, and everywhere he carried with him the one great thought of saving the people from the way of sin and death. His sympathies were with the people ; with the poor and suffering, and he scarcely knew any limit to benevolence where relief to the suffering was the object. At a certain time in the winter it came to his mind that a certain poor woman in the parish might be in want of food, and taking his saddle bags he filled them with provisions and went to her house in the morning and told her he had come to take breakfast with her. " Well," said she "you are welcome to such as I have, but I have nothing but roast potatoes." " That will do," said he, and after sitting down and eating, he brought
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in what he had with him, finding thus that he had not come any too soon.
A poor woman of the neighborhood was present one day while his wife was setting the table, and as she put on a loaf of bread and left the room, he seized it, handed it to the woman and told her to cover it with her apron and carry it home. Mrs. Mills came in soon after and asked what had become of that loaf of bread, and he replied, " Madame, are you sure you put any bread on the table ?"
A worthy man in the parish, of Arminian views, refused to pay his rate for the support of the pastor, and for this he was arrested, bound, and placed on a horse that he might be carried away and dealt with according to the law. But just then Father Mills came up, his great heart swelling with emotion, and exclaimed " Untie him, untie him ; take him off, take him off ;" and the man was released.
A colored man came to his back door on an errand and Mr. Mills said to him, " Why did you come to the back door ? When you come to my house, come to the front door, for we shall all go into heaven by one door."
Rev. Abel McEwin, D.D., says : "In hospitality he was not sur- passed. Food and fuel, and provender for horses, were without stint. The host was generous in all things; especially in fruit, both to himself, and in the distribution of it to others. One autumn the boys stole his peaches. In a sermon soon after, he reported a visit which he made in a neighboring town, where the people complained that the boys stole peaches. Hearing this he said he expressed his surprise and abhorrence of such conduct. The reply was ; " But Mr. Mills, don't the boys steal peaches in Torringford ?" " Dear me," said he, " what could I say, I could not tell a lie ; I was obliged to say, yes."
MR. MILLS AS A PREACHER.
To preach the gospel seems to have been his greatest joy and delight, and to this work he devoted his life. On this topic, the Rev. Noah Porter, D.D., writes :
"Some things in Father Mills were too prominent for even a stranger, who had the slightest personal acquaintance with him, soon to forget. His tall, well proportioned form and dignified bearing gave him a princely air. His voice, too, so deep toned and mellow, was very commanding. He was often tender in his addresses, and even in his remarks in conversation on evangelical subjects : and was often melted to tears, though rarely, if ever, interrupted by emotion in his utterances. Such tenderness in so gigantic a frame, and so powerful intellect, was exceedingly winning and impressive. His sermons abounded in
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anecdotes and other illustrations taken from common life, drawn out in collate- ral and rather homely style, and adapted to the comprehension and habits of a plain, agricultural people, shut out from the busy world ; such as were the people of his charge. Yet if I do not mistake, his sermons were not commonly loose or immethodical ; but on the contrary, were closely argumentative, and powerfully convincing. This was particularly the case on subjects pertaining to the sovereignty of God, which were leading topics in " the Litchfield county Divinity " that was so often talked of in his day, as having been connected with the revivals for which the county was distinguished.
Mr. Mills, I believe, spent much of his time among his people, preaching from house to house ; had few books and read but little ; drew his discources from the resources of his own mind, enlightened by the word and spirit of God, and in consequence was able to give to every one a portion in due season." I
The Rev. Abel McEwin, D.D., of New London, writes Decem- ber 18, 1848:
" Rev. Samuel J. Mills was of the same age of my father .; they lived in ad- jacent parishes and were intimate friends. In my childhood and youth, I saw much of Mr. Mills at his home and at my own home.
" The mind of Mr Mills was peculiar. In him were combined strength of intellect, comic powers, and deep sensibility. As a sermonizer he was eccen- tric, ever original. Drollery undesigned, and sometimes perhaps designed which would have marred the service of any other man, in his were not merely effective, but turned to serious account. People who hearing his ordinary dis- courses, inadvertently laughed inside or out, often wept before he closed. He was always grave; his hearers could not always conceal their amusement. His brethren sometimes admonished him that his sayings were too ludicrous for the pulpit ; yet they all received him as a lover of truth and of souls, and as a dex- trous, faithful and powerful preacher. 'The pious Jeremiah Hallock denomi- nated him ' the godly Mr. Mills.'
" My wife, before marriage, belonged to a family in his neighborhood. After our settlement in a distant part of the state, we made frequent visits to her for- mer home. Soon after our arrival, we were greeted by our venerable friend. The prime object of the call was, after the salutation, to ask me what I had lately preached. I must give an outline of two or three sermons. This, on his part, and mine was merely to give him opportunity to detail twice or thrice as many of his. The report though laconic, was graphic. Usually after my return home, the clues which he had drawn from his texts, the plans of his discourses, and the Millsish illustrations, so haunted me that I could do little else, until I had attempted to make two or three sermons out of the exotics which he had pitched into my mind. Once our arrival in Torringford was in April, a time of mud and a great scarcity of forage. Before I alighted from the carriage, he was present on horseback. 'Come,' said he, ' I have a lec- ture in West street ; and the people are now waiting. Where is a horse for Mr. McEwin ?' We were soon on our way, and the services were in due time performed. Returned to the house of our friends, he went to my wife and said ; ' It was kind, very kind of your husband, before he took his tea, to go and help me out of the lurch ; it was worth a stack of hay.'"
I Sprague's Annals, 1, 672.
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"The famous Roger Griswold heard Mr. Mills preach at Litchfield. On his return to New London county he said to me : 'I heard a man preach at Litchfield ; Mr. Mills; I never heard of him before, I know not what the clergymen think of him, but I must say that I never heard the man in the pulpit or out of it, so eloquent as he was in one of his sermons.' Some time after this, I said to Mr. Mills ; 'you saw our Judge Griswold at Litchfield.' 'Yes,' he replied, ' I looked down among the judges, and I did not want any one to tell me which Judge Griswold was.' I added, 'Mr. Mills, as you are an elderly man, and I am young, I will venture to tell you what he said of your preaching. He said that in one of your sermons you was more eloquent than any man he had ever heard in the pulpit or out of it.' He replied instantly, 'I know which sermon it was. Monday,' he added, "I went with Mr. Huntington to dine with the court. They said, the judges are coming ? I was determined not to be introduced to him ; so I placed myself by the side of the door, and, as he en- tered, seized his hand and said ; Judge Griswold how do you do? I am glad to see your face and eyes. With a grasp as hard as mine, the judge replied ; Mr. Mills, how do you do ? I am glad to see you.'
" The English language did not seem to be copious enough for the old gentleman's eccentricity. He coined words, and he used current language with a very equivocal meaning. He was sent by the clergy of Connecticut on a summer's mission to Vermont. When he re- turned, he was asked what sort of a jaunt he had. 'Fatiguing, fatiguing,' was his reply; 'it was so tremendolous hot.' 'Hot in Vermont ? " said the inquirer. 'Hot? yes, and mosquitoes.' ' Mosquitoes in Vermont ?' ' Yes, a great many of them would weigh a pound,' 'O, no, Mr. Mills, not a pound.' 'Yes,' said he, ' I can testify that a great many of them would weigh a pound.' A neighbor called on him one morning, and to him Mr. Mills said : ' I have been to work to day like a dog.' 'Not like a dog, ' re- sponded his friend. ' Yes,' said he, 'like a dog ; but of dogs there are many kinds ; and one sort never go a step beyond where they are driven.' His oddity was not affectation. He was ludicrous without design, and without consciousness of the fact. His very griefs he sometimes expressed in terms and by figures which made those who sympathized with him laugh. He and his wife lost their first infant child. Then the second was taken away. Some female friends came in to express their sympathy. One of their number commenced their condolence ; ' You lost your first child.' 'Yes,'
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he replied with a gush of tears, 'and now the fat is all in the fire again.'
" To find subjects for sermons and to plan them was his pastime. Though this exercise appeared in him like play, the result of it showed the work of a man. Writing a sermon after the frame of it was set up, did not agree with his constitution. He could preach on any emergency. Well was it for him that he could make passing events or objects that met his eye serve for illustrations. 'Once,' said he, ' I went up to B- to preach ; my pocket was full of written ser- mons. But one text which I had never used would employ all my thoughts. I culled over all my manuscripts ; but God would have me take that new text : ' Wherefore do the wicked live ?' I went into the pulpit all raw and dark. My doctrine was, the wicked live for the benefit of the righteous. As I went on to illustrate, I looked out at the window and said, ' the wicked live to cut down these great hemlock trees for the righteous. Much as ever,' ' said he, have the people of B- forgiven me to this day.'
" He was passionately fond of music, though he could sing but in- differently himself. Sacred music was a feast of fat things to his soul. He must have in his parish, during the three winter months, a singing school headed by a skillful master. At the close of this term, he appointed what he called a singing lecture. On one of these occasions, he invited his neighbor, Dr. Lee of Colebook, a writer of music, to preach. His text was; 'and it came to pass when the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took a harp and played with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.' At the close of the discourse, according to the custom of the old pastor, he presented himself in the pulpit. 'This,' said he ' is true doctrine, I have come into this meeting house a great many times, and I saw that the devil was here. I wished to begin service, but I did not like to introduce the worship of God, while the devil was in the people. I took up the Psalm book and read ; but I could see him skipping about from pew to pew in the galleries ; but the instant the chorister got up and blew the pitch pipe, he quit, and all was sobriety and decorum among the young people and child- ren.'
" I have seen this man in the days of affliction. He was an affec- tionate father ; but he loved Christian missions better than his own children. About to leave his neighborhood after a visit, I was stand- ing with him upon the broad street ; a horseman rode up and handed
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to him a letter. He broke the seal and read a few lines ; stopped ; and, with the letter in one hand and spectacles in the other, his face filled with astonishment and consternation, he said, 'Samuel is dead. This beats all. " When Obookiah died, I thought that beat every- thing ; but this beats that.' At this time the rider took out a watch and handed him saying, ' this was his watch.' The patron of mis- sions gave place to the father. He took the watch, and with streaming tears and a voice choked with grief his lament burst forth : 'Samuel is dead ; I shall never see Samuel again ; he is in the bottom of the sea ! '
" This surviving parent lived to a great age. In the last stage of his life his house was burnt and a new one built. I made my last call. He wa's sitting among the shavings, watching the workmen who were finishing the interior of the building. His eyes were dim ; his memory had failed. When I accosted him, he took my hand, but I perceived he did not recognize me. In his hand he had Woodbridge's small geography. He gave it to me, and our conversation began. 'Did you ever see that book sir ?' ' O yes, it is Woodbridge's Geography, ym children use it.' 'The world, sir, is round, is it not ?' ' Yes sir.' 'Rolls over does it not ?' ' Yes sir.' ' Is it not a miracle that when we get on the downward side, we don't fall off ?' 'No sir, if we should fall off, that would be a miracle ; because the law of gravitation would be counteracted, which draws us to the center of the earth.' ' True sir,' said he 'but I don't know who you are.' I told him my name. It was in vain. " You, sir, recollect my father,' said I; ' Robert McEwin of Winchester ?' ' Much as ever,' he replied. I pulled another cord. I have been much at your house in early life. I was a companion of Jerry, and Flora, and Samuel. You married me. My wife was S. B. I have often preached for you. I live at New London.' He rose up, girded his huge arms around me, laid his broad chin on my shoulder and wept."
A grand daughter used to relate the following as coming under her knowledge. While preaching on a theological topic, which greatly displeased some of the congregation, one of the prominent men rose in the audience and exclaimed " Mr. Mills, you make machines of us all, you do," and stamped out of the church in the midst of the service.
As showing his great love for the preaching of the gospel, he con- tinued to desire to preach when his mind had become unreliable. In his last attempt he forgot his text after having started quite well
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in the sermon, and turning to Rev. Mr. Goodman said, " My son I have forgotten my text." Mr. Goodman repeated it and he went on a little time and said " I must stop." Thus closed the preaching of one who had moved the hearts of thousands by his eloquence.
The following extract is from the funeral sermon of Father Mills, by Rev. Luther Hart of Plymouth.
" Father Mills !" why this is an appellation designating the wonderful man that has greeted my ears ever since my earliest childhood, and inspired affection and reverence at every successive repetition. With hundreds of others, I have cause to remember him with deep emotion on more accounts than one. It was he that some thirty years ago, in discoursing on the distinguishing grace of God, was the instrument in God's hand of showing me the perversity of my heart, by waking into action its latent enmity against divine sovereignty. And if ever my poor soul bowed at the feet of Christ, it was in connection with his faithful and affecting disclosure of that humiliating doctrine.
I exceedingly lament that I am not able, on this solemn occasion, to give as minute an account as will probably be expected, of a minister who for many years, and for many reasons, attracted more attention than perhaps any other clergyman in this region, and whose praise is still in all the churches.
When I entered into the ministry, his sun had already declined in the far west. He belonged also to a different association, and a different circular meeting, so that I had little opportunity to enjoy his society. And had I been familiar with him during the last ten years, I should have seen little of those commanding traits which once so eminently distinguished him as a man, and a minister, in the days of his undecayed vigor. It is long since he entirely forgot me and almost every other person he did not see daily. Much important matter respecting him might have been afforded me by numbers of his people who formerly hung on his lips with delight, had I had time to apply to them for the requisite information. But notwithstanding my conscious incompetence to delineate satisfactorily the life and character of the venerable Mr. Mills, I venture with not a little diffidence to submit the following sketch. Concerning Mr. Mills's personal piety I never heard but one opinion. He was eminently a man of prayer. His habitual deportment was grave and solemn, peculiarly accordant with the dignity of the sacred office. His conversation related almost exclusively to subjects connected with the kingdom of Christ. With worldly affairs, whether domestic or civil, he had little concern. His thoughts, affections, conversations, and labors were chiefly, nay, almost exclusively, de- voted to matters of infinitely higher moment. He was pre-eminently a pro- fessional man. Some other pastors have been among their people more, and have been more sociable and familiar ; but what one has ever been more ready to visit the sick, the sorrowful and the poor ; and to administer religious in- struction, Christian consolation, or temporal relief, according to the various wants of his people, and his own ability to supply them? At the side of what sick-bed did he neglect to perform the appropriate office of an ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ? By the dwelling of what broken-hearted widow was he accustomed to pass, without at least coming up to her door to impress in a few words on her heart for her instruction or comfort, some weighty truth which she could scarcely ever forget? And what child of misfortune and
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