Mill, John, Dd

Mill, John, D.D.

a very learned English divine and Biblical critic, was born at Shapp, Westmoreland, in 1645. In 1661 he became a servitor in Queen's College, Oxford, where he secured the master of arts in 1669. He was afterwards elected a fellow, and became eminent as a tutor. Having entered into orders, he was greatly admired for his pulpit eloquence. In 1676 he became chaplain to the bishop of Oxford. In 1680 he received from his college the living of Bletchingdon, in Oxfordshire, and in the year following received the degree of D.D., and became chaplain in ordinary to Charles II. In 1685 he was elected principal of St. Edmund's Hall, Oxford, and in 1704 was appointed prebendary of Canterbury. He died in 1708. He is famous for having devoted the labor of thirty years to the preparation of a new edition of the Greek Testament, finishing it only fourteen days before his death. It appeared under the title of ῾Η Καινὴ Διαθήκη, Novum Testamentum Graecum, cum Lectionibus Variantibus MSS. Exemplarium, Versionum, Editionum, SS. Patrum et Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum, et in easdem notis; Studio et labore Joannis Millii, S.T.P. Oxonii, e Theatre Sheldoniano (1707, fol.). The various readings are reckoned at about 30,000, the text being that of Robert Stephens's edition of 1550. The collection of such a mass of various readings, instead of supplying arms for infidelity, as some seem to have feared, has served to place the uncorrupted integrity of the Scriptures in a stronger light than ever. Dr. Whitby (q.v.) attacked the work in his Examen variantum lectionum Joh. Millii (1710), but Dr. Bentley (q.v.), under the signature of Phileleutheros Lipsiensis, ably vindicated the labors of Mill; and Michaelis, Marsh, Harewood, and critical scholars generally, attest the great value of his edition. It has been aptly remarked that "the infancy of criticism ends with the edition of Gregory, and the age of manhood commences with that of Mill." Mill's edition ranks next to that of Wetstein in importance and utility, its prolegomena being beyond price. See Marsh, Divinity Lectures, 7:9, 10, 13; Wood, Athen. Oxon.; Jones, Christ. Biography, s.v. ; Brit. and For. Rev. 1871, February, art. 8; Lond. Qu. Rev. July 1871; Blackwood's Mag. 28:443; Chambers, Cyclop. s.v.; Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Authors, 2:1279 sq.; Home, Bibl. Bib. (1839), page 16; Orme, Bibl. Bib. s.v. SEE CRITICISM.