On This Day: From William Milne's Journal
One Missionary, Two Journal Entries, Same Day, Eight Years Apart
The following journal excerpts are taken from The Memoirs of William Milne, which I recently republished for the first time in nearly 200 years in a lightly abridged edition.
The first edition was published by China’s first protestant missionary, Robert Morrison, at Milne’s own mission press in Malacca. Morrison was the original compiler of these Memoirs. Another edition was published the following year (2025) back in the United Kingdom.
The audio version of what follows can also be heard on this podcast (starting at 24:00).
This first excerpt, from 1812, was written as Milne was finishing his studies before departing for the mission field later that year. It was part of a series of “Resolutions” that he recorded:
January 18th, 1812-
Never to spend time in seeking to know that which cannot be known by the utmost labor in this life; and which, in half an hour, may be fully known in eternity.
Never to spend time in seeking for that which, when attained, cannot serve the interests of rational beings, and the glory of God.
Whatever knowledge or talent is attained, let it be devoted to the service of God, and the interest of the Gospel.
This second excerpt, from 1820, was written during Milne’s final years in Malacca, after his wife had passed away (March 20, 1819) and his own health was failing as he was pouring himself out for the work of the Gospel among the Chinese.
January 18th, 1820-
I preached in church to, I suppose, about two hundred persons — (the largest number I ever saw in church) from Psalm 116:8. Great attention.
At three o’clock, about one hundred Chinese, young and old, assembled in the College hall — they were first addressed by Mr. Medhurst in Fokien (a Chinese dialect) — and by me in Mandarin. It was a pleasing sight — there were upwards of sixty fine boys (scholars), all neat and clean, and upwards of thirty grown persons. Two hymns were sung, which had been prepared for the occasion.
Evening, 8 o’clock. — At Ta-Pih-Kung’s (temple) preached to about forty or more persons (in and out) — two hymns were sung. The Lord crown these efforts with his blessing! My heart, alas, is dead, while my hands and tongue are active. My body is worn out. O Lord, heal me, and I shall be healed — have mercy upon me — make me happy in Thee.
(This was quite the crowd for this particular location. For comparison, on January 17th, 1822, he recorded the following short note: In the temple—six persons.)
