{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_73721/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_73721","id":"gutenberg_73721","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/73721","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Biographies","Category: History - American","Category: Religion/Spirituality","Miller, William, 1782-1849"],"text":"[Illustration: I remain as ever looking for the Lord Jesus Christ unto\neternal life.\n\nWm. Miller.]\n\n\n\n\nLIFE OF WILLIAM MILLER.\n\n\n\n\n                                 SKETCHES\n                                    OF\n                            THE CHRISTIAN LIFE\n                                   AND\n                              PUBLIC LABORS\n                                    OF\n                             WILLIAM MILLER,\n\n              GATHERED FROM HIS MEMOIR BY THE LATE SYLVESTER\n                      BLISS, AND FROM OTHER SOURCES.\n\n                          BY ELDER JAMES WHITE.\n\n                               STEAM PRESS\n           OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION,\n                           BATTLE CREEK, MICH.\n                                  1875.\n\n\n\n\nINTRODUCTION.\n\n\nBefore us is a plain volume, the title page of which reads, \u201cMemoir of\nWilliam Miller generally known as a Lecturer on the Prophecies and the\nSecond Coming of Christ, by Sylvester Bliss, author of Analysis of Sacred\nChronology, a brief Commentary on the Apocalypse,\u201d etc.\n\nMr. Bliss was for more than twenty years the local and able conductor of\nthe _Advent Herald_, which sustained the leading doctrines promulgated\nby Mr. Miller, published at Boston, Mass. The publisher of this volume,\nElder Joshua V. Himes, Mr. Miller\u2019s intimate fellow-laborer and friend,\nin his preface says:\u2014\n\n\u201cThe name of William Miller, of Low Hampton, N. Y., is too well known\nto require an extended introduction; but while well known, few men have\nbeen more diversely regarded than he. Those who have only heard his name\nassociated with all that is hateful in fanaticism, have necessarily\nformed opinions respecting him anything but complimentary to his\nintelligence and sanity; but those who knew him better, esteemed him as\na man of more than ordinary mental power, a cool, sagacious, and honest\nreasoner, a humble and devout Christian, a kind and affectionate friend,\na man of great moral and social worth.\n\n\u201cHowever his public labors may be regarded by a majority of the\ncommunity, it will be seen, by a perusal of his life, that these were\nby no means unproductive of great good. The revivals of religion which\nattended his labors are testified to by those who participated in them;\nand hundreds of souls will ever refer to him as a means, under God, of\ntheir awakening and conversion.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the public learn to discriminate between the actual position of Mr.\nMiller and that which prejudice has conceived that he occupied, his\nconservativeness, and his disapprobation of every fanatical practice will\nbe admitted, and a much more just estimate will be had of him.\u201d\n\nWe hold that the great movement upon the second advent question, which\ncommenced with the writings and public lectures of William Miller, has\nbeen, in its leading features, in fulfillment of prophecy. Consistent\nwith this view, we also hold that in the providence of God Mr. Miller\nwas raised up to do a specific work; therefore to us the history of the\nimportant events in his Christian life and public labors possess peculiar\ninterest.\n\nIt is true that Mr. Miller and his associates and numerous friends were\ndisappointed in the definite time of the second coming of Christ. And\nas might be expected from the nature of the case, those who have not\nsufficient interest to investigate the subject, especially those who are\nopposed to the doctrine of the soon coming of the Redeemer, conclude that\nthe second advent movement has been a fanatical mistake.\n\nBut we take a more favorable view of this matter. We hold that Mr. Miller\nwas correct in three of the four fundamental points of Adventism, while\non the fourth he was mistaken. But even this one mistake, viewed in the\nlight of Scripture and reason, does not in the least affect his general\nposition.\n\n1. Mr. Miller was correct in his views of the pre-millennial second\nappearing of Christ. No doctrine is more plainly stated and more fully\nsustained by the sacred Scriptures than the personal appearing and reign\nof Jesus Christ. And whatever may be said of the views and labors of\nMr. Miller, this fact will not be denied, that very many ministers of\nthe different denominations changed their views upon the millennium,\nrenouncing the popular view of the conversion of the world, and the\nspiritual coming and reign of Jesus Christ.\n\n2. Mr. Miller was correct in his application of the prophetic symbols\nof Daniel and John. In this he is sustained by Protestant expositors\ngenerally.\n\n3. He was also correct in his exposition and application of the prophetic\nperiods. The dates fixed upon have stood the test of the most rigid\ncriticism. And those Adventists who have changed to other dates have done\nso simply because of the passing by of the first periods of expectation.\n\n4. But Mr. Miller was mistaken in the event to occur at the close of the\nprophetic periods, hence his disappointment. In the case of the 2300 days\nof Dan. 8, which period was the main pillar in his calculations, his\nerror was in supposing the earth to be the sanctuary of that prophecy,\nand that it was to be cleansed by the fires of the last day.\n\nThe primary signification of the word sanctuary is \u201ca sacred place.\u201d\nNeither the earth, nor any portion of it, has been such a place since the\nfall of man, and the reign of Satan and of death began. The apostle\u2019s\ncommentary upon the typical system, in his epistle to the Hebrews, points\nto two sacred places as the sanctuary of Jehovah; first, the typical\ntabernacle of the Jews; and, second, the greater and more perfect\ntabernacle of which Christ is now minister in Heaven.[1]\n\nBut other great men have made as grave mistakes relative to the event to\noccur at the close of the great periods of Daniel as Mr. Miller. These,\nhowever, are soon forgotten, while that of Mr. Miller is ever fresh in\nthe public mind. The learned late Geo. Bush, Prof. of Hebrew and Oriental\nLiterature in the New York City University, in a letter addressed to Mr.\nMiller, and published in the _Advent Herald_ for March, 1844, made some\nvery important admissions relative to his calculations of the prophetic\ntimes. Mr. Bush says:\u2014\n\n\u201cNeither is it to be objected, as I conceive, to yourself or your\nfriends, that you have devoted much time and attention to the study of\nthe _chronology_ of prophecy, and have labored much to determine the\ncommencing and closing dates of its great periods. If these periods are\nactually given by the Holy Ghost in the prophetic books, it was doubtless\nwith the design that they _should_ be studied, and probably, in the end,\nfully understood; and no man is to be charged with presumptuous folly who\nreverently makes the attempt to do this. On this point, I have myself\nno charges to bring against you. Nay, I am even ready to go so far as\nto say that I do not conceive your errors on the subject of chronology\nto be at all of a serious nature, or, in fact, to be _very_ wide of the\ntruth. In taking a _day_ as the prophetical term for a _year_, I believe\nyou are sustained by the soundest exegesis, as well as fortified by the\nhigh names of Mede, Sir Isaac Newton, Bishop Newton, Kirby, Scott,\nKeith, and a host of others, who have long since come to _substantially_\nyour conclusions on this head. They all agree that the leading periods\nmentioned by Daniel and John do actually expire _about this age of the\nworld_, and it would be a strange logic that would convict you of heresy\nfor holding in effect the same views which stand forth so prominent in\nthe notices of these eminent divines. Your error, as I apprehend, lies in\nanother direction than your _chronology_.\u201d\n\nHere Prof. Bush speaks frankly and truthfully, and his words of candor\nand wisdom sustain the Adventists in that feature of their faith most\nobjectionable to their opponents. But what was the event for which Mr.\nBush looked to mark the termination of the 2300 days? Let the following\nextract from the same letter to Mr. Miller answer:\u2014\n\n\u201cYou have entirely mistaken _the nature of the events_ which are to\noccur when those periods have expired. This is the head and front of\nyour expository offending. You have _assumed_ that the close of the\n2300 days of Daniel, for instance, is also the close of the period of\nhuman probation, that it is the epoch of the visible and personal second\ncoming of Christ\u2014of the resurrection of the righteous dead, and of the\ndissolution of the present mundane system. The great event before the\nworld is not its _physical conflagration_, but its _moral regeneration_.\nAlthough there is doubtless a sense in which Christ may be said to come\nin connection with the passing away of the fourth empire and of the\nOttoman power, and his kingdom to be illustriously established, yet that\nwill be found to be a _spiritual coming_ in the power of his gospel, in\nthe ample outpouring of his Spirit, and the glorious administration of\nhis providence.\u201d\n\nEvidently, Mr. Bush looked for the conversion of the world as the event\nto mark the termination of the 2300 days. Both Mr. Miller and Mr. Bush\nwere right on the time question, and both were mistaken in the event to\noccur at the close of the great periods. Mr. Miller held that the world\nwould be regenerated by fire, and Mr. Bush, by the gospel, at the end of\nthe 2300 days. The conversion-of-the-world theory of Mr. Bush has had\nthe terrible test of the last thirty-two years of apostasy, spiritual\ndarkness, and crime. This period has been noted by departures from\nthe faith of the gospel, and apostasies from the Christian religion.\nInfidelity in various forms, especially in the name of spiritualism, has\nspread over the Christian world with fearful rapidity, while the dark\nrecord of crime has been blackening since Prof. Bush addressed his letter\nto Wm. Miller. If this be the commencement of the temporal millennium,\nmay the Lord save us from the balance. Both these great men mistook the\nevent to terminate the 2300 days. And why should Mr. Miller be condemned\nfor his mistake, and Mr. Bush be excused for his unscriptural conclusion?\nIn the name of reason and justice we plead that, while the Christian\nworld excuses Prof. Bush for his mistake, professedly pious men and women\nwill not too severely censure Mr. Miller for his.\n\nIf it be objected that the second advent movement, as introduced in our\ncountry by Mr. Miller, could not have been in harmony with Providence,\nin fulfillment of prophecy, because those who engaged in it were\ndisappointed, then we suggest that, if God\u2019s people never have been\ndisappointed on the very point of their expectation when prophecy was\nbeing fulfilled in their experience and history, then it may be that\nprophecy has not been fulfilled in the advent movement. But if one\ninstance can be shown in Sacred History where prophecy was fulfilled by\nthose who were entirely incorrect on the vital point of their confident\nexpectation, then, after all, prophecy may have been fulfilled in the\ngreat second advent movement of 1840-4. This matter should be fully\ntested.\n\nThe prophet of God had uttered these words about five hundred years\nbefore their fulfillment: \u201cRejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout,\nO daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy King cometh unto thee; he is just,\nand having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass.\u201d Zech. 9:9. In\nfulfillment of this prophecy, while Christ was riding into Jerusalem in\nthe very humble manner expressed by the prophet, the chosen twelve, and\nthe shouting multitude, cried, \u201cHosanna to the son of David! Blessed is\nhe that cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!\u201d Matt.\n21:9. The people, and even the disciples, did not as yet understand the\nnature of Christ\u2019s kingdom; and they verily thought that Jesus would\non that occasion claim his right to the throne of David, and then, and\nthere, be crowned king of Israel.\n\nAnd when Jesus was requested to rebuke his disciples, he replied, \u201cI tell\nyou that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately\ncry out.\u201d Prophecy had gone forth, and must be fulfilled, if the Spirit\nof God from necessity should call hosannas from the very stones.\n\nBut the people did not understand the nature of prophetic fulfillment of\ntheir time; and their disappointment was complete. In a few days they\nwitnessed the dying agonies of the Son of God upon the cross, and as\nChrist died, their hopes in him died also. Nevertheless, prophecy was\nfulfilled in the ardent hopes and triumphant hosannas of those who were\nso soon overwhelmed with bitterest disappointment.\n\nIn gathering material for this work, we have copied very largely from\nMr. Bliss, especially from the correspondence and writings of Mr. Miller\nwhich are incorporated into his Memoir. And we have thought best to\nintroduce matter from the pen of Mr. Miller, not found in his Memoir, as\nhis writings, probably, better represent the advent movement and cause\nthan those of any other. And as the best means by which the people may\nlearn the real sentiments, the candor, and the true piety of this humble\nservant of Jesus Christ, we would let his writings testify.\n\nThe introduction into this small volume of so large an amount of\nmatter from Mr. Miller makes it necessary to omit a large portion of\nhis Memoir that is devoted to his earlier life, as we hasten to his\ndeeply interesting Christian experience. But in necessarily omitting\nportions, we hope not to appear to do Mr. Miller and his biographer\ninjustice, while we content ourself with little more than space for this\nintroduction, and foot notes.\n\nIn the preparation of this work, we have been greatly edified and\nrefreshed in spirit, as we have necessarily read very much from the\nable, candid, and godly pen of Mr. Miller; and we heartily wish the same\nblessing upon the candid reader.\n\n                                                              JAMES WHITE.\n\n_Battle Creek, January, 1875._\n\n\n\n\nWILLIAM MILLER.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n    ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE\u2014MARRIAGE\u2014DEISTICAL SENTIMENTS\u2014MILITARY\n    LIFE.\n\n\nWilliam Miller was born at Pittsfield, Mass., February 15, 1782. He was\nthe eldest of sixteen children, five of whom were sons, and eleven were\ndaughters. His grandfather, William Miller, moved from West Springfield,\nMass., about 1747, and settled on the place in Pittsfield, now familiarly\nknown as the Miller farm. His father, William Miller, was born December\n15, 1757, and remained on the farm taken up by his father until he moved\nto Low Hampton, N. Y., in 1786. At the time of this removal the subject\nof this sketch was four years old. His biographer says:\u2014\n\n\u201cIn his early childhood, marks of more than ordinary intellectual\nstrength and activity were manifested. A few years made these marks more\nand more noticeable to all who fell into his society. But where were the\npowers of the inner man to find the nutriment to satisfy their cravings,\nand the field for their exercise? Besides the natural elements of\neducation, the objects, the scenes, and the changes of the natural world,\nwhich have ever furnished to all truly great minds their noblest aliment,\nthe inspiring historical recollections associated with well-known\nlocalities of the neighboring country, and the society of domestic life,\nthere was nothing within William\u2019s reach but the Bible, the psalter, and\nprayer-book, till he had resided at Low Hampton several years.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn a newly settled country, the public means of education must\nnecessarily be very limited. This was the case, at the time here referred\nto, in a much greater degree than it usually is with the new settlements\nof the present day. The school-house was not erected in season to afford\nthe children of Low Hampton but three months\u2019 schooling in winter, during\nWilliam\u2019s school-boy days. His mother taught him to read, so that he soon\nmastered the few books belonging to the family; and this prepared him\nto enter the \u2018senior class\u2019 when the district school opened. But if the\nterms were short, the winter nights were long. Pine knots could be made\nto supply the want of candles, lamps, and gas. And the spacious fireplace\nin the log house was ample enough as a substitute for the school-house\nand lecture-room. But even the enjoyment of these literary advantages\nsubjected the zealous student to a somewhat severe discipline.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs soon as William\u2019s age and strength rendered him able to assist\nhis father about the farm, it was feared that his reading by night\nmight interfere with his efficiency in the work of the day. His father\ninsisted, therefore, that he should retire to bed when he retired\nhimself. But the boy could not be kept in bed. When the other members\nof the family were all asleep, William would leave his bed, then find\nhis way to the pitch-wood, go to the fireplace, cast himself down flat\non the hearth, with his book before him, thrust his pitch-wood into the\nembers till it blazed well, and there spend the hours of midnight in\nreading. If the blaze grew dim, he would hold the stick in the embers\ntill the heat fried the pitch out of the wood, which renewed the blaze.\nAnd when he had read as long as he dared to, or finished his book, he\nwould find his way back to bed again, with as little noise as possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cHe possessed a strong physical constitution, an active and naturally\nwell-developed intellect, and an irreproachable moral character. He had\nappropriated to his use and amusement the small stock of literature\nafforded by the family, while a child. He had enjoyed the limited\nadvantages of the district school but a few years before it was generally\nadmitted that his attainments exceeded those of the teachers usually\nemployed. He had drunk in the inspiration of the natural world around\nhim, and of the most exciting events in his country\u2019s history. His\nimagination had been quickened, and his heart warmed, by the adventures\nand gallantries of fiction, and his intellect enriched by history. And\nsome of his earliest efforts with the pen, as well as the testimony\nof his associates, show that his mind and heart were ennobled by the\nlessons, if not by the spirit and power of religion.\n\n\u201cWhat, now, would have been the effect of what is called a regular\ncourse of education? Would it have perverted him, as it has thousands?\nor would it have made him instrumental of greater good in the cause of\nGod? Would it have performed its appropriate work, that of disciplining,\nenlarging, and furnishing the mind, leaving unimpaired by the process\nits natural energies, its sense of self-dependence as to man, and its\nsense of dependence and accountability as to God? or would it have placed\nhim in the crowded ranks of those who are content to share in the honor\nof repeating the twaddle, true or false, which passes for truth in the\nschool or sect which has \u2018made them what they are\u2019?\n\n\u201cWe think it would have been difficult to pervert him; but where so\nmany who have been regarded as highly promising have been marred by the\noperation, he would have been in great danger. He might have become\nexternally a better subject for the artist; but we doubt if he would have\nbeen a better subject to be used as an instrument of Providence. There\nare those who survive the regular course uninjured. There are those who\nare benefited by it so far as to be raised to a level with people of\nordinary capacity, which they never could attain without special aid. And\nthere is a third class, who are a stereotype representation of what the\ncourse makes them; if they raise a fellow-man out of the mire, they never\nget him nearer to Heaven than the school where they were educated.\n\n\u201cWhatever might have been the result of any established course of\neducation, in the case of William Miller, such a course was beyond his\nreach; he was deprived of the benefit, he has escaped the perversion.\nLet us be satisfied. But still we must record the fact that it would\nhave been extremely gratifying if something of the kind could have been\nplaced at his command. He desired it. He longed for it with an intensity\nof feeling that approached to agony. He pondered the question over and\nover, whether it was possible to accomplish what appeared to him to be\nnot only a desirable gratification and honor, but almost essential to his\nexistence.\n\n\u201cIt should be noticed, however, that his circumstances became somewhat\nrelieved as he advanced in years. The log house had given place to\na comfortable frame house; and, in this, William had a room he was\npermitted to call his own. He had means to provide himself with a new\nbook, occasionally, and with candles to read at night, so that he could\nenjoy his chosen luxury, during his leisure hours, in comparative comfort.\n\n\u201cIt was on one of these times of leisure that an incident occurred which\nmarked a new era in his history, though it did not introduce fully such\nan era as he desired. There was a medical gentleman in the vicinity of\nhis residence, by the name of Smith, who possessed an ample fortune, and\nwas known to be very liberal. In the plans which had passed through the\nmind of William, to secure the means of maturing his education, he had\nthought of Dr. Smith. At any rate it could do no harm to apply to him.\nThe plan was carried so far as to write a letter, setting forth to that\ngentleman his intense desires, his want of means to gratify them, his\nhopes and his prospects, if successful.\n\n\u201cThe letter was nearly ready to be sent to its destination, when\nWilliam\u2019s father entered the room, which we may properly call his son\u2019s\nstudy. Perhaps it had not occurred to the son to consult his father in\nthe matter; and to have it come to his notice in so unexpected a manner\nsomewhat disturbed him for the moment. But there was the letter in his\nfather\u2019s presence. He took it, and read it. It affected him deeply.\nFor the first time, he seemed to feel his worldly condition to be\nuncomfortable, on his son\u2019s account. He wanted to be rich then, for the\ngratification of his son, more than for any other human being.\n\n\u201cThere were the irrepressible yearnings of his first-born, which he had\ntreated in their childish development as an annoyance, now spread out in\nmanly but impassioned pleadings to a comparative stranger to afford him\nhelp! There were plans and hopes for the future, marked by an exhibition\nof judgment and honor that could not fail of commanding attention! All\nthat was tender in that father\u2019s heart, all that was generous in the\nsoldier, and all that could make him ambitious of a worthy successor, was\nmoved by that letter. The tears fell, and words of sympathy were spoken;\nbut the plan was impossible.\n\n\u201cThe letter of William\u2019s was never sent. It had the effect, however, of\nchanging his father\u2019s course toward him, so that he was rather encouraged\nthan hindered in his favorite pursuits. By this time, the natural genius\nand attainments of young William Miller had distinguished him among his\nassociates. To the young folks, he became a sort of scribbler-general.\nIf any one wanted \u2018verses made,\u2019 a letter to send, some ornamental and\nsymbolic design to be interpreted by \u2018the tender passion,\u2019 or anything\nwhich required extra taste and fancy in the use of the pen, it was pretty\nsure to be planned, if not executed, by him. Some of these first-fruits\nof his genius are still in existence; and, although it requires no critic\nto discover that he had never received lessons of any of the \u2018great\nmasters,\u2019 still these productions would compare very favorably with\nsimilar efforts by those whose advantages have been far superior to his.\n\n\u201cThe facts connected with the early life of Mr. Miller, and the incidents\nin his personal history, now spread before the readers of this work,\nwill enable them to see, in the boy, a type of the future man. The\nmost embarrassing circumstances of his condition could not master his\nperseverance. And if he could not accomplish all he desired to, the\nsuccess which attended his efforts, in spite of great discouragements,\nwas truly surprising. The position he had won opened to him a fairer\nprospect, though still surrounded with serious dangers.\u201d\n\nWilliam Miller was happily married in 1803, and settled in Poultney, Vt.\nHis biographer continues:\u2014\n\n\u201cOne of the first objects of his interest, after he had become settled,\nwas the village library. His constant use of its volumes brought him into\nthe society of a superior class of men. His wife took a deep interest in\nhis improvement and promotion; and made it her pleasure and business to\nrelieve him as much as possible from all the family cares which might\ncall him away from his books. She felt very sure that it would not be\nlost time on his part, or lost labor on her own part. Still, the time he\ncould devote to books, on the best possible arrangement, was not so much\nas he desired; for he had been trained to the farming business, and he\nmade that his employment, for some years, in Poultney.\n\n\u201cOne effort of genius, though trifling in itself, which attracted toward\nhim the public attention of the village and its vicinity, was a poetic\neffusion, the inspiration of his patriotic ardor. Preparations were\ngoing on, at the time, for the public celebration of the anniversary of\nour national independence; and the inspiration of that memorable day\nseized Mr. Miller while he was hoeing corn in the field. He had written\npoetry before; and so, after the labor of the field was done, he put his\nthoughts into a written form, to be adapted to the familiar old tune,\ncalled \u2018Delight.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe appointed marshal, or manager, of the services of the day, was\nEsquire Ashley, who was then a neighbor of Mr. Miller, and afterward\nbecame an intimate friend. But the poet of the day, as he became, was\ntoo reserved to offer his tribute, though there is reason to believe it\nwould have been thankfully accepted; for the business of the manager\nhardly afforded him time to write poetry for the occasion, if he had the\nability, or even to select it. Mr. Miller was willing to have his piece\nseen and used if it was thought to be suitable, but he could not announce\nhimself as its author. So he took the manuscript and walked as usual to\nEsquire Ashley\u2019s house. He seated himself leisurely below the chamber\nwindow, where that gentleman was making his preparations for the great\ncelebration. Then, taking an opportunity to place it near where Mrs.\nAshley was at work, he shortly after withdrew. As soon as Mrs. Ashley\ndiscovered the paper, she took it to her husband, supposing it was one\nof his papers which had fallen from the window. He took it and read the\nhymn; it struck him as being just what was wanted; but he knew nothing of\nits origin. It was carried to several others, who were thought of as its\nauthor, but no author or owner of it could be found. \u2018Perhaps an angel\nfrom Heaven had sent it.\u2019 So they talked at any rate.\n\n\u201cHowever, the hymn was copied with the pen, and the sheets multiplied to\nsupply all who wished for one. The day came, and the hymn was sung with\nthe greatest enthusiasm to the favorite old tune, \u2018Delight\u2019! But among\nthose who distributed the copies, there was a worthy Baptist minister,\nby the name of Kendrick, who had taken a warm interest in Mr. Miller.\nHis suspicions had pointed him to the author of the piece; and when\nMr. Miller came, with others, to get a copy, his appearance and manner\nconfirmed Elder Kendrick\u2019s suspicions. Further inquiry brought forth\na confession of authorship. To use the phrase of the old folks, \u2018it\nwas a great feather in his cap.\u2019 He had touched the right chord in the\nright way. The pious and patriotic emotions of the aged were revived;\nthe ardent responses of the young to these patriotic emotions found\nexpression in the new hymn; and nothing more was needed to make its\nauthor the popular favorite.\n\n\u201cIt is not known that an entire copy of the hymn is now in existence.\nA sister of its author has repeated to us a few of the stanzas, which\nwe give, more for the purpose of exhibiting his religious and patriotic\nsentiments than from an expectation that our readers will be affected\nas were those who first heard it. Its style and meter were strictly in\naccordance with the standard contained in the hymn book used on Sundays,\ndoubtless the only standard the writer of it was familiar with; and the\neffect arose from the natural force and simplicity of the versified\nthoughts, and the perfect ease of the musical execution. But to the\nfragments of the hymn:\u2014\n\n    ...\n\n    \u201c\u2018Our Independence dear,\n    Bought with the price of blood,\n    Let us receive with care,\n    And trust our Maker, God.\n      For he\u2019s the tower\n        To which we fly;\n        His grace is nigh\n      In every hour!\n\n    \u201c\u2018Nor shall Columbia\u2019s sons\n      Forget the price it cost,\n    As long as water runs,\n      Or leaves are nipped by frost.\n        Freedom is thine;\n          Let millions rise,\n          Defend the prize\n        Through rolling time!\n\n    ...\n\n    \u201c\u2018There was a Washington,\n      A man of noble fame,\n    Who led Columbia\u2019s sons\n      To battle on the plain;\n        With skill they fought;\n          The British host,\n          With all their boast,\n        Soon came to nought!\n\n    ...\n\n    \u201c\u2018Let traitors hide their heads,\n      And party quarrels cease;\n    Our foes are struck with dread,\n      When we declare for peace.\n        Firm let us be,\n          And rally round\n          The glorious sound\n        Of liberty!\u2019\n\n\u201cThe reader will see that the piece was designed for home consumption.\nIt was exactly suited to the occasion; and was marked throughout, in\nspirit, style, and thought, with the elements of his education. And this\nproduction, with others in prose and poetry, made him at once a notable\nin the community; secured to him a wide circle of friends, and opened the\nway for his promotion to office and honor. The old men were all ready to\ngive him a lift, almost without distinction of \u2018party.\u2019 The young folks\nmade his house a place of common resort, to which they gathered to spend\ntheir leisure hours; while himself and wife became the central unit which\ndrew them together and kept all in motion.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn his political sentiments, he was decidedly democratic. But he had\nintelligence enough to see that the practical patriotism of men did not\ndepend so much on the party name they took as on their common sense and\nintegrity. He knew that there were bad men enough in either party to\nruin the country, if they had the power to do it; and good men enough in\nthe same parties to promote the public prosperity to the best of their\nability. His position, therefore, was taken in view of the tendency of\ndifferent political principles and public measures, in their ultimate\nbearing on the established institutions of the country. He enjoyed, in a\nremarkable degree, the confidence of both the political parties of the\nday.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn the case of most men of the world, with the avenues to honor, wealth,\nand domestic happiness wide open before them, it is not often that a\npublic station so commanding would be voluntarily left for the hardships,\nprivations, and dangers, of the camp. What strong impulses could have\nturned him off in that direction? Already the business of his office had\nplaced him in easy circumstances. Such was the amount of his business\nthat he kept two horses, one of which he drove, while the other was\nkept up to rest, week by week, alternately. He enjoyed the respect and\nunbounded confidence of the public; and he only needed to make himself\nstill as worthy of public favor as he had been hitherto, and then with\nlife and health, all that this world could afford was within his reach.\nHis preference for the army, so far as we know, sprang from these two\nmotives: First, he desired to participate in the glory which rested on\nthe memory of those he held the most dear, in the history of his country\nand of his family. Second, he hoped to enjoy a more inviting exhibition\nof human nature in the scenes of military life than experience or books\nhad afforded in civil life.\n\n\u201cHis desire for something noble in character was greater than that for\nwealth or unsubstantial fame. He was satisfied with the trial of what was\naround him, and wished to try a new field. This is stated by himself in\nhis published memoir: \u2018In the meantime, I continued my studies, storing\nmy mind with historical knowledge. The more I read, the more dreadfully\ncorrupt did the character of man appear. I could discern no bright spot\nin the history of the past. Those conquerors of the world, and heroes\nof history, were apparently but demons in human form. All the sorrow,\nsuffering, and misery in the world, seemed to be increased in proportion\nto the power they obtained over their fellows. I began to feel very\ndistrustful of all men. In this state of mind, I entered the service of\nmy country. I fondly cherished the idea that I should find one bright\nspot at least in the human character, as a star of hope\u2014_a love of\ncountry_\u2014PATRIOTISM.\u2019\n\n\u201cHappy, indeed, should we consider ourselves if there were no drawback\nto this apparent prosperity to be noted. Rarely is it the case that the\nhonor of God and the honor of man are coincident. If Mr. Miller was not\npuffed up by the latter, he had lost much of his regard for the former.\nIn his worldly advancement, there was a serious and dangerous departure\nfrom the Christian sentiments which were instilled into his mind during\nhis early life. Still there was no defect in his character which the\nmost rigid worldly standard of external morality could detect. He was\nperfectly upright and honorable in all his dealings. He was generous,\nalmost to a fault, with his friends, compassionate and liberal to the\npoor, and he held in the highest contempt every act that could tarnish\na man\u2019s personal and private honor. He was not profane, even to the\nextent that too many are who pass for gentlemen. He was not intemperate,\nalthough he was very much exposed to this ruinous habit from the example\nof those into whose company his business called him\u2014a habit which had\nbroken down some of his predecessors in office, by rendering them\nincapable of attending to their business. He escaped from it without the\nleast stain.\n\n\u201cIt could be shown, from sentiments embodied in some of his essays, in\naddresses delivered before societies existing at the time, and in his\npoetic effusions, that his moral and religious views were of a type that\nwould pass with the world as philosophical, pure, and sublime. But the\nmen with whom he associated from the time of his removal to Poultney,\nand to whom he was considerably indebted for his worldly favors, were\ndeeply affected with skeptical principles and deistical theories. They\nwere not immoral men; but, as a class, were good citizens, and generally\nof serious deportment, humane and benevolent. However, they rejected the\nBible as the standard of religious truth, and endeavored to make its\nrejection plausible by such aid as could be obtained from the writings\nof Voltaire, Hume, Volney, Paine, Ethan Allen, and others. Mr. Miller\nstudied these works closely, and at length avowed himself a deist. As\nhe has stated the period of his deistical life to have been twelve\nyears, that period must have begun in 1804; for he embraced or returned\nto the Christian faith in 1816. It may fairly be doubted, however,\nnotwithstanding his known thoroughness and consistency, whether Mr.\nMiller ever was fully settled in that form of deism which reduces man to\na level with the brutes, as to the supposed duration of their existence.\nAnd the question is worthy of a little inquiry, To what extent was he a\ndeist?\n\n\u201cRobert Hall, with his usual comprehensiveness and truth, has remarked\nthat \u2018infidelity is the offspring of corrupt Christianity.\u2019 It is much\nmore successful in the discovery of supposed arguments against the\nexistence of the Deity of the Scriptures, in the perversion of that which\nis divine, than in its institution and appointed use. Voltaire chose the\nruins of human nature, in their most perverted and blighted condition,\nand Volney chose the \u2018ruins\u2019 of human habitations, for the theater on\nwhich to display their mighty but evil genius. And they conjured forth\nthe same evil spirit which had instigated or caused the ruin, in each\ncase, to utter a false testimony, in reference both to ruined man and\nhis ruined habitations. These men became the oracles of that falsehood to\nthe world! But it was never the intention of God, that man, or the world\nfitted up for his habitation, should be in this ruined condition; it is\nthe work of rebellion and sin!\u2014of sin against the greatest displays of\nlove and goodness that were possible, and against the purest and most\nreasonable law that could be given; of rebellion that was marked by\ncontempt of the universal Sovereign, and of authority enforced by the\nlightest test of submission. And God has spoken to us, to inform us that\nhe has made provision for the restoration of all men, and that it is his\npurpose to restore all who become interested in that provision, with the\nworld now in ruins, to a condition which no history but the Bible has\nmade known.\n\n\u201cPaine could rail and belie the supernaturalism of the Bible, like an\nincarnate demon, and then indorse all the supernaturalism of the most\nstupid pagan mythology, in his patriotic and poetic productions, which he\npublished to the world. And that mind must be strangely out of balance\nnaturally, or wretchedly perverted, which could bow to the authority of\nVolney\u2019s \u2018specter,\u2019 or Paine\u2019s paganism,\u2014the pure creations of fictions\nand superstition,\u2014and then reject the Bible because it demands faith in\nthat which is not familiar to the senses.\n\n\u201cIt is generally true that those who become decided skeptics take that\nmost hopeless position, because they have become so depraved or perverted\nthat they feel the want of an infidel theory to afford them a license and\nquiet, in their chosen course. It was not so with Mr. Miller. In the days\nof his greatest devotion to deistical sentiments, he desired something\nbetter. He had his difficulties with the Bible under its current\ninterpretations, and he tells us what these difficulties were. But a man\nlike him could never be made to believe it consistent or safe to abandon\nthe Bible, unless something more worthy of his trust were first put in\nits place. And such a condition must secure to that matchless book a\ncertain and permanent supremacy. This was Mr. Miller\u2019s safety.\n\n\u201cBut if the poison which had infused its taint into the system did not\nappear as a loathsome blotch upon the surface, its victim was not only\nkept away from the sole remedy, but that remedy was treated by him with\nan afflicting and dangerous levity. This was now the painful feature of\nhis case. Once it was not so. When he was a mere boy\u2014\u2018between the years\nof seven and ten\u2019\u2014as he tells us, a sense of the plague of his heart\nand of his lost condition caused the deepest concern in reference to\nhis future prospects. He spent much time in trying to invent some plan\nwhereby he might find acceptance with God. He tried the common and most\nnatural course, in such a state of mind, that of being \u2018very good.\u2019 \u2018I\nwill do nothing wrong, tell no lies, and obey my parents,\u2019 he thought.\nBut his mind was still unsettled and unhappy.\n\n\u201cGood works are very proper, but they can never be accepted as the price\nof pardon and redemption. He thought, too, as all do in the same state\nof feeling, that something might be effected by sacrifice. \u2018I will give\nup the most cherished objects I possess.\u2019 But this also failed. There\nis only \u2018one offering\u2019 that can avail. In that, every sinner must rest\nhis hope and plea, or remain without peace with God. The experience of\nMr. Miller\u2019s childhood made him thoughtful and serious, if it did not\nresult in the attainment of this inward sense of peace. Under his inward\nconflicts and apprehensions of worldly sorrow, when a young man (in\n1803), he poured out his soul to \u2018religion\u2019 in this touching strain:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018Come, blest religion, with thy angel\u2019s face,\n    Dispel this gloom, and brighten all the place;\n    Drive this destructive passion from my breast;\n    Compose my sorrows, and restore my rest;\n    Show me the path that Christian heroes trod,\n    Wean me from earth, and raise my soul to God!\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Two things,\u2019 says D\u2019Aubigne, \u2018are essential to sound Christian\nexperience. The first is a knowledge of our condition as sinners; the\nsecond is a knowledge of the grace of God, in its manifestations to the\nsoul.\u2019 Mr. Miller, like most if not all others, had learned the first\nin his early life; but he had evidently not then attained the second\nof these elements of a true religious life. And, by not attaining\nthat important position in the process of deliverance from our fallen\ncondition, he became wearied of a sense of his need, if he did not lose\nit entirely. In the chosen employment of his intellect, with a more\nample supply of books at command; in the midst of an admiring and merry\nsocial circle; in receiving the honors of the world from the hand of\nhis superiors, and in reaping an honorable portion of the treasures of\nthe world, why should he desire any other source of enjoyment\u2014and one\naltogether unknown, unappreciated and unpopular, in the circle where he\nmoved? What use had he for that religion he had seen verified and felt\nthe need of, in the less cultivated family circle at Low Hampton?\n\n\u201cIf those who never become acquainted with the lessons of truth may be\nsatisfied without the consolation of which its lessons speak, with those\nwho are made familiar with these lessons, it is generally very different.\nThey can seldom feel satisfied with themselves without making a hearty\nsurrender of life, and all God has given them, to his service. As they\nknow this is their reasonable service, anything short of this, they know,\nmust be unreasonable. But how few take this narrow path! How many turn\naway to join the multitude! The talent, however, is in their hands. They\nmust dispose of that, if they will not submit themselves to the disposal\nof its Giver. Some make it the reason for entertaining and venting a more\nmalignant and blasphemous form of hatred against everything which bears\nthe name of God. This quiets all fear of being reproached as religious,\nand it is the awful snare into which many are led by the fear of man.\nAnother class of these unfaithful recipients of the talent of truth\ntry to get along with a popular external expression of respect for its\nclaims; and thus they escape the dreaded reproach.\n\n\u201cA third class, naturally too frank even to appear to venerate what they\ndo not heartily respect, and too deeply impressed with the goodness\nof the Deity to become blasphemers, but still too fearful of man to\nencounter his frown, seek to save themselves from it by making the\ndefects of the humble but unpopular representatives of truth a subject\nof merriment. This course was taken by Mr. Miller. This is the class to\nwhich he then belonged. He banished from his memory the impressions of\nhis early life, and must silence all fear of reproach on account of them;\nso he gave to his skeptical associates an assurance that he had mastered\nhis superstition, as they deemed it, by performing, for their sport, the\ndevotions of the worship to which he had been accustomed, and especially\nby mimicking the devotional peculiarities of some of his own family\nrelatives.\n\n\u201cAmong these pious relatives there were two, in particular, whose\npresence or names were calculated to remind him of his repudiated\nobligations, and whose influence over him he labored to repel, by making\nthem the theme of his mirth. One of these was his grandfather Phelps,\npastor of the Baptist church at Orwell; the other was his uncle, Elihu\nMiller, who was settled as the pastor of the Baptist church at Low\nHampton, in 1812. These were men of unpolished exterior, but of decided\ncharacter, strong voice, and ardent devotion. Men whose features were\nso strongly marked would make fine subjects for striking portraits; and\nif all their traits could be brought out, there would be found a large\nbestowment of the treasure of heavenly wisdom and virtue in the earthen\nvessels. It was the excellence of the heavenly traits, and the roughness\nof the earthly, which made them so desirable and so ready subjects of\ncaricature.\n\n\u201cThese humble ambassadors of Christ, and other pious relatives, often\nvisited Mr. Miller\u2019s house at Poultney; and, although he received them\nwith affection and respect, and entertained them in the most generous\nmanner, he was in the habit of imitating, with the most ludicrous\ngravity, their words, tones of voice, gestures, fervency, and even\nthe grief they might manifest for such as himself, to afford a kind of\nentertainment for his skeptical associates, which they seemed to enjoy\nwith peculiar relish.\n\n\u201cLittle did he then think that he was measuring to these faithful men\nwhat was to be measured to him again, pressed down, shaken together, and\nrunning over. And probably it was not known to him that these praying men\nhad already expressed the hope\u2014almost a prophecy\u2014that their prayers would\nbe answered, and that he would some day be engaged in perpetuating the\nwork they were endeavoring to advance.\n\n\u201cThere was more than one heart that was almost inconsolably afflicted\nby this conduct of Mr. Miller. His mother knew of it, and it was as the\nbitterness of death to her. Some of his pious sisters witnessed, with\ntears, his improprieties. And when his mother spoke of the affliction\nto her father Phelps, he would console her by saying, \u2018Don\u2019t afflict\nyourself too deeply about William. There is something for him to do yet\nin the cause of God!\u2019\n\n\u201cAlthough Mr. Miller avowed himself a deist, and was recognized as such\nby deists, this offense against all propriety, in trifling with what his\ndearest relatives regarded as most sacred, this thoughtless trifling\nwith the humble messengers of the gospel was the darkest feature in his\ncharacter. To him it was the most natural course which the circumstances\nof his position could suggest, and, undoubtedly, appeared to be the\nleast violation of former convictions and educational proprieties which\nwould allow him to stand as he did, in the favor and confidence of his\nunbelieving associates. He had not then become acquainted with the\nSource of strength by which he might have been sustained before the\nenemies of the Christian faith; he was unprepared to take the Christian\nposition, and he became what the influence around him naturally\ndetermined. To give the true state of the case, the darker shades must\nappear with the lighter. He took the position of an unbeliever. But that\nhe was not a deist of a rank type will appear more fully from his own\nstatements.\n\n\u201cWe have thus stated Mr. Miller\u2019s social and public position, his\nworldly prospects, and his religious state. The longsuffering of God was\nstill to be exercised toward him. He was to become satisfied with the\ninsufficiency of the world. Then the light which had become darkness was\nto be revived within him; the breath of life from God would disclose the\nall-sufficient portion, and he would go forth to build again the faith he\nhad destroyed.\n\n\u201cMany were the prayers that ascended in his behalf; and some of those\nwho were the most deeply interested for him would pass away before their\nprayers would be answered. But the great lessons of longsuffering, of\nfaithfulness, and of the power to deliver out of the most artful snare\nof the adversary, would be the more magnified, on the part of God; the\npraying, who were yet alive, would hail the answer with greater joy, and\nthe delivered one would be the better prepared to take others, in the\nsame fearful condition, by the hand, and lead them to Him who came to\nseek and save the lost!\u201d\n\nWilliam Miller received a captain\u2019s commission and entered the army\nin 1812. His biographer gives more than thirty pages relative to his\nmilitary life, in which those whose hearts are fired by reading of\nvictories gained by the use of carnal weapons can see much to admire in\nhim as a patriotic soldier. But as our principal object is to bring him\nbefore the public as an intelligent Bible Christian, a bold soldier of\nJesus Christ, and an able and sound expositor of the word of life, we\npass over his military career, giving only one incident, which will be of\ninterest to the Christian reader.\n\n\u201cA few reflections on this period of Mr. Miller\u2019s life and the mention of\nan incident or two of some interest, must close this chapter. Everybody\nis familiar with the fact that the army is a bad school of morality.\nIntemperance, licentiousness, gambling, fighting, stealing, profanity,\nand Sabbath-breaking, are the common vices of army life. It was the\nconstant practice of these vices by those around him which sickened Mr.\nMiller of their society. And that he should escape entirely from the\ncontamination would be too much to expect. However, it is both a matter\nof surprise, and highly creditable to him, that his moral integrity and\nhabits were not affected to a hopeless extent. There were, however, some\nredeeming traits to the too generally dark moral picture of army life.\nThere were a few men in the 30th regiment of infantry who were known as\nmen of prayer and undoubted piety. And an incident in their history,\nwhich Mr. Miller has often spoken of with great interest, should be\nmentioned. One of these praying men, if memory has not failed in the\ncase, was Sergeant Willey.\n\n\u201cHis tent was occasionally used for the purpose of holding a\nprayer-meeting. On one of these occasions, when Mr. Miller was \u2018the\nofficer for the day,\u2019 he saw a light in this tent, and, wishing to\nknow what was going on, as his duty required, he drew near, and heard\nthe voice of prayer. He said nothing at the time; but, the next day,\non recollecting it, he thought it was a good opportunity to try the\nsergeant\u2019s piety, and indulge his own relish for a joke, by calling\nSergeant Willey to account for having his tent occupied by a gambling\nparty the night before. When the sergeant appeared, Captain Miller\naffected great seriousness, and spoke in a tone bordering on severity,\nas follows: \u2018You know, Sergeant Willey, that it is contrary to the army\nregulations to have any gambling in the tents at night. And I was very\nsorry to see your tent lit up for that purpose last night. We cannot have\nany gambling at such times. You must put a stop to it at once. I hope I\nshall not have to speak to you again about it!\u2019\n\n\u201cThe poor sergeant stood thunderstruck, for a moment, to hear such an\nimputation cast on him and his associates. And then, hardly daring to\nlook up, he replied, with the most touching simplicity, and in a manner\nwhich showed that he was alike unwilling to suffer the scandal of\nentertaining gamblers, or to make a parade of his devotions, \u2018We were\nnot gambling, sir!\u2019 Captain Miller was touched with his appearance. But,\nstill affecting greater severity than at first, being determined to press\nhim to a confession, he said to the sergeant, \u2018Yes, you were gambling!\nAnd it won\u2019t do! What else could you have your tent lighted up for, all\nthe evening, if you were not gambling?\u2019\n\n\u201cSergeant Willey now felt himself under the necessity of being a little\nmore explicit, and answered, in a manner deeply expressive of his grief\nand innocence, \u2018We were praying, sir.\u2019 Captain Miller, by this time, was\nalmost in tears; and indicating, by a motion of his hand, that he was\nsatisfied, and that the praying sergeant might withdraw, he continued\nalone for some time, sensibly affected by the courage manifested by these\nChristians in that ungodly camp, by the becoming deportment of their\nrepresentative under such a serious scandal, and by the doubtful course\nhe had taken in reference to them.\u201d\n\n\u201cOne fact must be mentioned, which will speak more than volumes in behalf\nof his commanding integrity, as it shows the place he occupied in the\nrespect and confidence of the soldiers. After the war, two members of his\ncompany, who lived as neighbors in the extreme northern part of Vermont,\nhad some business difficulties, which grew to be so serious that they\ncould hardly live together as neighbors on speaking terms, to say the\nleast. This was a great affliction to themselves, as brother soldiers,\nto their families, and to the whole neighborhood. These men had often\nthought of their former captain, though they were much older than he was,\nand wished the difficulties could be submitted to his examination and\ndecision. But it was a long way to his residence, and the time and cost\nof the journey seemed too much to admit of such an arrangement. However,\nthe matter became a source of so much trouble that the proposition was\nmade by one, and gladly accepted by the other, to visit Captain Miller;\nto submit the case to him, by telling each his own story, and to abide\nby his decision. The long journey was performed by these old soldiers\nseparately, as duelists go to the place of single combat. They arrived\nat Captain Miller\u2019s nearly at the same time. Arrangements were made for\na hearing. Each told his story. The decision was made known, after all\nthe facts of the case had been duly considered. It was received in good\nfaith by the parties. They took each other cordially by the hand, spent a\nlittle time with their captain, and returned to their homes in company,\nas friends and brothers.\n\n\u201cParadoxical as it may appear, some of the most distinguished and\nhonorable soldiers have been the most successful bloodless peace-makers,\nwhile, on the other hand, some of the most contemptible cowards, with\npeaceable pretensions always on their lips, have distinguished themselves\nby very little besides their successful contrivances to keep all engaged\nin war with whom they have had to do. Without claiming any special\ndistinction for Mr. Miller on the score of what are styled brilliant\nachievements in the field of danger, the character of a great lover of\npeace belonged to him as a distinguishing personal trait. He delighted in\npeace, naturally; it is not known that he ever intentionally provoked a\nquarrel; and a considerable number of cases could be cited, in which he\nhas been called to perform the office of a peace-maker, and in the duties\nof which he has been remarkably successful. But enough. More must be left\nunwritten than it would be practicable or necessary to write.\n\n\u201cThe watchful Providence which guarded him in the hour of deadly peril;\nthe longsuffering which spared him while neglecting the talents bestowed,\nor misusing them in rebellion against the Giver; and that wisdom and\ngrace which overruled all the dangers experienced, and the derelictions\npracticed, as in many other persons of distinguished usefulness, demand\nour hearty adoration. The close of Mr. Miller\u2019s military life was to be\nthe commencement of a new era in his history. The circumstances which\npreceded that change, the means and instrumentalities employed in its\naccomplishment, and the practical results which immediately followed in\nthe circle of his acquaintance, must be left to another chapter.\u201d\n\nThe following, relative to Mr. Miller\u2019s connection with the army, we take\nfrom his \u201cApology and Defense,\u201d published in 1845:\u2014\n\n\u201cIn 1813, I received a captain\u2019s commission in the U. S. service, and\ncontinued in the army until peace was declared. While there, many\noccurrences served to weaken my confidence in the correctness of\ndeistical principles. I was led frequently to compare this country to\nthat of the children of Israel, before whom God drove out the inhabitants\nof their land. It seemed to me that the Supreme Being must have watched\nover the interests of this country in an especial manner, and delivered\nus from the hands of our enemies.\n\n\u201cI was particularly impressed with this view when I was in the battle\nof Plattsburg, when with 1,500 regulars, and about 4,000 volunteers, we\ndefeated the British, who were 15,000 strong; we being also successful\nat the same time in an engagement with the British fleet on the lake. At\nthe commencement of the battle, we looked upon our own defeat as almost\ncertain, and yet we were victorious. So surprising a result against such\nodds did seem to me like the work of a mightier power than man.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n    REMOVAL TO LOW HAMPTON\u2014HIS CONVERSION\u2014STUDY OF THE BIBLE\u2014RULES\n    OF INTERPRETATION, ETC.\n\n\n\u201cOn the retirement of Mr. Miller from the army, he removed his family\nfrom Poultney, Vt., to Low Hampton, N. Y., to begin there the occupation\nof farming. His father had died there, in the year 1812, leaving the\nhomestead encumbered with a mortgage. That was cancelled by Mr. Miller,\nwho permitted his mother to live there with his brother Solomon, while\nhe purchased for himself another farm, in the neighborhood, about half a\nmile to the west. This lay mostly above the general level of the valley\nof the Poultney river, and comprised about two hundred acres of land,\nwith a surface somewhat uneven, and with soil similar to that usually\nfound in sections geologically marked by black slate and limestone. Two\nmiles to the east was the village of Fairhaven, Vt., near the Poultney\nriver; and eight miles to the west, on the southern extremity of Lake\nChamplain, at the foot of bold, precipitous hills, was the village of\nWhitehall, N. Y.\n\n\u201cOn this spot, in 1815, Mr. Miller erected a convenient farm-house,\nsimilar to those built throughout the interior of New England at that\nepoch. It was of wood, two stories high, with an ell projecting in the\nrear. The front and ends were painted white, with green blinds, and the\nback side was red. It fronts to the north. A small yard, inclosed by\na picket fence, and ornamented by lilacs, raspberry and rose-bushes,\nseparates it from the public road leading to Fairhaven, which is one of\nthe interesting objects in the foreground of the extended view to the\neast, as seen from the window of the \u2018east room,\u2019 so full of tender and\nholy recollections to all visitors.\n\n\u201cTo the west of the house, a few rods distant, is a beautiful grove,\nwhere, in later times, he often prayed and wept. This spot was selected\nby the political party to which Mr. Miller belonged, for the place of\na public celebration of the national independence, on its anniversary,\nJuly 4, 1816. Mr. Miller was selected as the marshal of the day; but, not\nfancying a party celebration, he used his influence so that all persons,\nirrespective of party, were invited to partake of its festivities. In\nthose days of party excitement this was considered a wonderful stretch of\ncharity.\n\n\u201cMr. Miller\u2019s grandfather Phelps was in the practice of preaching at the\nhouse of Mr. M.\u2019s father, when he made his occasional visits. There was\nno church at the time in that section of the town. Through his labors Mr.\nMiller\u2019s mother was converted; and a little church was there organized,\nas a branch of the Baptist church in Orwell, Vt.\n\n\u201cIn 1812, Elisha Miller, an uncle of the subject of this memoir, was\nsettled over the church in Low Hampton, and a small meeting-house was\nafterward erected. On Mr. Miller\u2019s removal to Low Hampton, he became\na constant attendant, except in the absence of the preacher, at that\nplace of worship, and contributed liberally to its support. His relation\nto the pastor, and the proximity of his house, caused it to become the\nhead-quarters of the denomination on extra as well as on ordinary\noccasions. There the preachers from a distance found food and shelter;\nand, though fond of bantering them on their faith, and making their\nopinions a subject of mirth with his infidel friends, they always found a\nhome beneath his roof.\n\n\u201cIn the absence of the pastor, public worship was conducted by the\ndeacons, who, as a substitute for the sermon, read a printed discourse,\nusually from \u2018Proud-foot\u2019s Practical Sermons.\u2019 Mr. Miller\u2019s mother\nnoticed that, on such occasions, he was not in his seat, and she\nremonstrated with him. He excused his absence on the ground that he was\nnot edified by the manner in which the deacons read; and intimated that\nif _he_ could do the reading, he should always be present. This being\nsuggested to those grave officials, they were pleased with the idea; and,\nafter that, they selected the sermon as before, but Mr. Miller did the\nreading, although still entertaining deistical sentiments.\n\n\u201cThe time had now come when God, by his providence and grace, was about\nto interpose to enlist the patriotic soldier in another kind of warfare;\nwhen, to his mind, so fond of those departments of truth which appealed\nonly to reason and sense, was to be opened a more inspiring field;\nwhen the persevering and delighted student of history was to see and\nappreciate the connection between the most stirring scenes and mightiest\nrevolutions in this world\u2019s affairs and God\u2019s great plan of redemption,\nto which all the events of time are made subordinate.\n\n\u201cDetecting himself in an irreverent use of the name of God, as before\nrelated, he was convicted of its sinfulness, and retired to his\nbeautiful grove, and there, in meditation on the works of nature and\nProvidence, he endeavored to penetrate the mystery of the connection\nbetween the present and a future state of existence.\n\n\u201cAs a farmer, he had had more leisure for reading; and he was at an\nage when the future of man\u2019s existence _will_ demand a portion of his\nthoughts. He found that his former views gave him no assurance of\nhappiness beyond the present life. Beyond the grave, all was dark and\ngloomy. To use his own words: \u201cAnnihilation was a cold and chilling\nthought, and accountability was sure destruction to all. The heavens\nwere as brass over my head, and the earth as iron under my feet.\n_Eternity!\u2014what was it? And death\u2014why was it?_ The more I reasoned, the\nfurther I was from demonstration. The more I thought, the more scattered\nwere my conclusions. I tried to stop thinking, but my thoughts would not\nbe controlled. I was truly wretched, but did not understand _the cause_.\nI murmured and complained, but knew not of whom. I knew that there was\na wrong, but knew not how or where to find the right. I mourned, but\nwithout hope.\u201d He continued in this state of mind for some months,\nfeeling that eternal consequences _might_ hang on the nature and object\nof his belief.\n\n\u201cThe anniversary of the battle of Plattsburg\u2014September 11\u2014was celebrated\nin all that region, for some years, with much enthusiasm. In 1816,\narrangements had been made for its observance, by a ball, at Fairhaven.\nThe stirring scenes of the late campaign being thus recalled, Captain\nMiller entered into the preparations for the expected festivities with\nall the ardor of the soldier. In the midst of these, it was announced\nthat Dr. B. would preach on the evening previous to the ball. In the\ngeneral gathering to that meeting, Captain Miller and his help attended,\nmore from curiosity than from other actuating cause.\n\n\u201cThey left Captain Miller\u2019s house in high glee. The discourse was from\nZech. 2:4: \u2018Run! speak to this young man!\u2019 It was a word in season. On\ntheir return, Mrs. M., who had remained at home, observed a wonderful\nchange in their deportment. Their glee was gone, and all were deeply\nthoughtful, and not disposed to converse in reply to her questions\nrespecting the meeting, the ball, &c. They were entirely incapacitated\nfor any part in the festive arrangements. Other managers of the ball were\nequally unfitted for it; and the result was that it was indefinitely\npostponed. The seriousness extended from family to family, and in the\nseveral neighborhoods in that vicinity meetings for prayer and praise\ntook the place of mirth and the dance.\n\n\u201cOn the Lord\u2019s day following, it devolved on Captain Miller, as usual in\nthe minister\u2019s absence, to read a discourse of the deacons\u2019 selection.\nThey had chosen one on the Importance of Parental Duties. Soon after\ncommencing, he was overpowered by the inward struggle of emotion, with\nwhich the entire congregation deeply sympathized, and took his seat. His\ndeistical principles seemed an almost insurmountable difficulty with him.\nSoon after, \u2018suddenly,\u2019 he says, \u2018the character of a Saviour was vividly\nimpressed upon my mind. It seemed that there might be a Being so good and\ncompassionate as to himself atone for our transgressions, and thereby\nsave us from suffering the penalty of sin. I immediately felt how lovely\nsuch a Being must be; and imagined that I could cast myself into the\narms of, and trust in the mercy of, such an One. But the question arose,\nHow can it be proved that such a Being does exist? Aside from the Bible,\nI found that I could get no evidence of the existence of such a Saviour,\nor even of a future state. I felt that to believe in such a Saviour\nwithout evidence would be visionary in the extreme.\n\n\u201c\u2018I saw that the Bible did bring to view just such a Saviour as I needed;\nand I was perplexed to find how an uninspired book should develop\nprinciples so perfectly adapted to the wants of a fallen world. I was\nconstrained to admit that the Scriptures must be a revelation from God.\nThey became my delight; and in Jesus I found a friend. The Saviour became\nto me the chiefest among ten thousand; and the Scriptures, which before\nwere dark and contradictory, now became the lamp to my feet and light to\nmy path. My mind became settled and satisfied. I found the Lord God to be\na Rock in the midst of the ocean of life. The Bible now became my chief\nstudy, and I can truly say, I searched it with great delight. I found\nthe half was never told me. I wondered why I had not seen its beauty and\nglory before, and marveled that I could have ever rejected it. I found\neverything revealed that my heart could desire, and a remedy for every\ndisease of the soul. I lost all taste for other reading, and applied my\nheart to get wisdom from God.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. Miller immediately erected the family altar; publicly professed his\nfaith in that religion which had been food for his mirth, by connecting\nhimself with the little church that he had despised; opened his house for\nmeetings of prayer; and become an ornament and pillar in the church,\nand an aid to both pastor and people. The die was cast, and he had taken\nhis stand for life as a soldier of the cross, as all who knew him felt\nassured; and henceforth the badge of discipleship, in the church or\nworld, in his family or closet, indicated whose he was and whom he served.\n\n\u201cHis pious relations had witnessed with pain his former irreligious\nopinions; how great were their rejoicings now! The church, favored with\nhis liberality, and edified by his reading, but pained by his attacks on\ntheir faith, could now rejoice with the rejoicing. His infidel friends\nregarded his departure from them as the loss of a standard-bearer. And\nthe new convert felt that henceforth, wherever he was, he must deport\nhimself as a Christian, and perform his whole duty. His subsequent\nhistory must show how well this was done.\n\n\u201cTo the church, his devotion of himself to his Master\u2019s service was as\nwelcome as his labors were efficient. The opposite party, especially\nthe more gifted of them, regarded him as a powerful, and, therefore, a\ndesirable, antagonist. He knew the strength of both parties. That of the\nformer he had often tested, when, in his attacks, though they might have\nbeen silenced, he had felt that he had a bad cause; and the weakness of\nthe latter had been forcibly impressed on him in his fruitless efforts to\nassure himself that they were right. He knew all their weak points, and\nwhere their weapons could be turned against them. They were not disposed\nto yield the ground without a struggle, and began their attack on him by\nusing the weapons and assailing the points which characterized his own\nformer attacks on Christianity; and to this fact, under God, is probably\nowing his subsequent worldwide notoriety.\n\n\u201cHe had taunted his friends with entertaining \u2018a blind faith\u2019 in the\nBible, containing, as it did, many things which they confessed their\ninability to explain. He had enjoyed putting perplexing questions to\nclergymen and others\u2014triumphing in their unsatisfactory replies. These\nquestions had not been forgotten; and his Christian friends, also, turned\nhis former taunts upon himself.\n\n\u201cSoon after his renunciation of deism, in conversing with a friend\nrespecting the hope of a glorious eternity through the merits and\nintercessions of Christ, he was asked how he knew there was such a\nSaviour. He replied, \u2018It is revealed in the Bible.\u2019 \u2018How do you know\nthe Bible is true?\u2019 was the response, with a reiteration of his former\narguments on the contradictions and mysticisms in which he had claimed it\nwas shrouded.\n\n\u201cMr. Miller felt such taunts in their full force. He was at first\nperplexed; but, on reflection, he considered that if the Bible is a\nrevelation of God, it must be consistent with itself; all its parts must\nharmonize, must have been given for man\u2019s instruction, and, consequently,\nmust be adapted to his understanding. He, therefore, said, \u2018Give me\ntime, and I will harmonize all these apparent contradictions to my own\nsatisfaction, or I will be a deist still.\u2019\n\n\u201cHe then devoted himself to the prayerful reading of the word. He\nlaid aside all commentaries, and used the marginal references and his\nconcordance as his only helps. He saw that he must distinguish between\nthe Bible and all the peculiar and partisan interpretations of it. The\nBible was older than them all, must be above them all; and he placed it\nthere. He saw that it must correct all interpretations; and in correcting\nthem, its own pure light would shine without the mists which traditionary\nbelief had involved it in. He resolved to lay aside all preconceived\nopinions, and to receive, with child-like simplicity, the natural and\nobvious meaning of Scripture.\n\n\u201cHe pursued the study of the Bible with the most intense interest\u2014whole\nnights, as well as days, being devoted to that object. At times,\ndelighted with truth which shone forth from the sacred volume, making\nclear to his understanding the great plan of God for the redemption of\nfallen man; and at times puzzled and almost distracted by seemingly\ninexplicable or contradictory passages, he persevered, until the\napplication of his great principle of interpretation was triumphant. He\nbecame puzzled only to be delighted, and delighted only to persevere the\nmore in penetrating its beauties and mysteries. His manner of studying\nthe Bible is thus described by himself:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018I determined to lay aside all my prepossessions, to\n    thoroughly compare scripture with scripture, and to pursue its\n    study in a regular and methodical manner. I commenced with\n    Genesis, and read verse by verse, proceeding no faster than the\n    meaning of the several passages should be so unfolded as to\n    leave me free from embarrassment respecting any mysticisms or\n    contradictions. Whenever I found anything obscure, my practice\n    was to compare it with all collateral passages; and, by the\n    help of Cruden, I examined all the texts of Scripture in which\n    were found any of the prominent words contained in any obscure\n    portion. Then, by letting every word have its proper bearing on\n    the subject of the text, if my view of it harmonized with every\n    collateral passage in the Bible, it ceased to be a difficulty.\n\n    \u201c\u2018In this way I pursued the study of the Bible, in my first\n    perusal of it, for about two years, and was fully satisfied\n    that it is its own interpreter. I found that, by a comparison\n    of Scripture with history, all the prophecies, as far as they\n    had been fulfilled, had been fulfilled literally; that all the\n    various figures, metaphors, parables, similitudes, &c., of the\n    Bible, were either explained in their immediate connection, or\n    the terms in which they were expressed were defined in other\n    portions of the word; and, when thus explained, are to be\n    literally understood in accordance with such explanation. I was\n    thus satisfied that the Bible is a system of revealed truths,\n    so clearly and simply given that the \u2018wayfaring man, though a\n    fool, need not err therein.\u2019\n\n\u201cIn thus continuing the study, he adopted the following\n\n    \u201cRULES OF INTERPRETATION.\n\n    \u201c1. Every word must have its proper bearing on the subject\n    presented in the Bible. _Proof_, Matt. 5:18.\n\n    \u201c2. All Scripture is necessary, and may be understood by a\n    diligent application and study. _Proof_, 2 Tim. 3:15-17.\n\n    \u201c3. Nothing revealed in Scripture can or will be hid from those\n    who ask in faith, not wavering. _Proof_, Deut. 29:29; Matt.\n    10:26, 27; 1 Cor. 2:10; Phil. 3:15; Isa. 45:11; Matt. 21:22;\n    John 14:13, 14; 15:7; James 1:5, 6; 1 John 5:13-15.\n\n    \u201c4. To understand doctrine, bring all the Scriptures together\n    on the subject you wish to know; then let every word have its\n    proper influence; and, if you can form your theory without a\n    contradiction, you cannot be in error. _Proof_, Isa. 28:7-29;\n    35:8; Prov. 19:27; Luke 24:27, 44, 45; Rom. 16:26; James 5:19;\n    2 Pet. 1:19, 20.\n\n    \u201c5. Scripture must be its own expositor, since it is a rule\n    of itself. If I depend on a teacher to expound to me, and\n    he should guess at its meaning, or desire to have it so on\n    account of his sectarian creed, or to be thought wise, then his\n    guessing, desire, creed, or wisdom, is my rule, and not the\n    Bible. _Proof_, Ps. 19:7-11; 119:97-105; Matt. 23:8-10; 1 Cor.\n    2:12-16; Eze. 34:18, 19; Luke 11:52; Matt. 2:7, 8.\n\n    \u201c6. God has revealed things to come, by visions, in figures\n    and parables; and in this way the same things are oftentimes\n    revealed again and again, by different visions, or in different\n    figures and parables. If you wish to understand them, you must\n    combine them all in one. _Proof_, Ps. 89:19; Hos. 12:10; Hab.\n    2:2; Acts 2:17; 1 Cor. 10:6; Heb. 9:9, 24; Ps. 78:2; Matt.\n    13:13, 34; Gen. 41:1-32; Dan. 2d, 7th & 8th; Acts 10:9-16.\n\n    \u201c7. Visions are always mentioned as such. 2 Cor. 12:1.\n\n    \u201c8. Figures always have a figurative meaning, and are used much\n    in prophecy to represent future things, times and events\u2014such\n    as mountains, meaning governments; Dan. 2:35, 44; beasts,\n    meaning kingdoms; Dan. 7:8, 17; waters, meaning people; Rev.\n    17:1, 15; day, meaning year, &c. Eze. 4:6.\n\n    \u201c9. Parables are used as comparisons to illustrate subjects,\n    and must be explained in the same way as figures, by the\n    subject and Bible. Mark 4:13.\n\n    \u201c10. Figures sometimes have two or more different\n    significations, as day is used in a figurative sense to\n    represent three different periods of time, namely, first,\n    indefinite; Eccl. 7:14; second, definite, a day for a year;\n    Eze. 4:6; and third, a day for a thousand years. 2 Pet. 3:8.\n    The right construction will harmonize with the Bible, and make\n    good sense; other constructions will not.\n\n    \u201c11. If a word makes good sense as it stands, and does no\n    violence to the simple laws of nature, it is to be understood\n    literally; if not, figuratively. Rev. 12:1, 2; 17:3-7.\n\n    \u201c12. To learn the meaning of a figure, trace the word through\n    your Bible, and when you find it explained, substitute the\n    explanation for the word used; and, if it make good sense, you\n    need not look further; if not, look again.\n\n    \u201c13. To know whether we have the true historical event for\n    the fulfillment of a prophecy: If you find every word of the\n    prophecy (after the figures are understood) is literally\n    fulfilled, then you may know that your history is the true\n    event; but if one word lacks a fulfillment, then you must look\n    for another event, or wait its future development; for God\n    takes care that history and prophecy shall agree, so that the\n    true believing children of God may never be ashamed. Ps. 22:5;\n    Isa. 45:17-19; 1 Pet. 2:6; Rev. 17:17; Acts 3:18.\n\n    \u201c14. The most important rule of all is, that you must have\n    _faith_. It must be a faith that requires a sacrifice, and, if\n    tried, would give up the dearest object on earth, the world and\n    all its desires\u2014character, living, occupation, friends, home,\n    comforts and worldly honors. If any of these should hinder our\n    believing any part of God\u2019s word, it would show our faith to be\n    vain. Nor can we ever believe so long as one of these motives\n    lies lurking in our hearts. We must believe that God will never\n    forfeit his word; and we can have confidence that He who takes\n    notice of the sparrow\u2019s fall, and numbers the hairs of our\n    head, will guard the translation of his own word, and throw a\n    barrier around it, and prevent those who sincerely trust in\n    God, and put implicit confidence in his word, from erring far\n    from the truth.\n\n    \u201c\u2018While thus studying the Scriptures,\u2019\u2014continuing the words\n    of his own narrative,\u2014\u2018I became satisfied, if the prophecies\n    which have been fulfilled in the past are any criterion by\n    which to judge of the manner of the fulfillment of those which\n    are future, that the popular views of the spiritual reign of\n    Christ\u2014a temporal millennium before the end of the world, and\n    the Jews\u2019 return\u2014are not sustained by the word of God; for I\n    found that all the Scriptures on which those favorite theories\n    are based are as clearly expressed as are those that were\n    _literally_ fulfilled at the first advent, or at any other\n    period in the past.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I found it plainly taught in the Scriptures that Jesus\n    Christ will again descend to this earth, coming in the clouds\n    of heaven, in all the glory of his Father:[2] that, at his\n    coming, the kingdom and dominion under the whole heaven will\n    be given unto Him and the saints of the Most High, who will\n    possess it forever, even forever and ever:[3] that, as the old\n    world perished by the deluge, so the earth, that now is, is\n    reserved unto fire, to be melted with fervent heat at Christ\u2019s\n    coming; after which, according to the promise, it is to become\n    the new earth, wherein the righteous will forever dwell:[4]\n    that, at his coming, the bodies of all the righteous dead will\n    be raised, and all the righteous living be changed from a\n    corruptible to an incorruptible, from a mortal to an immortal\n    state; that they will be caught up together to meet the Lord\n    in the air, and will reign with him forever in the regenerated\n    earth.[5]\n\n    \u201c\u2018The controversy with Zion will then be finished, her children\n    be delivered from bondage, and from the power of the tempter,\n    and the saints be all presented to God blameless, without spot\n    or wrinkle, in love;[6] that the bodies of the wicked will then\n    be all destroyed, and their spirits be reserved in prison[7]\n    until their resurrection and damnation;[8] and that, when the\n    earth is thus regenerated, and the righteous raised, and the\n    wicked destroyed, the kingdom of God will have come, when his\n    will will be done on earth as it is in Heaven; that the meek\n    will inherit it, and the kingdom become the saint\u2019s.[9]\n\n    \u201c\u2018I found that the only millennium taught in the word of God is\n    the thousand years which are to intervene between the first\n    resurrection and that of the rest of the dead, as inculcated\n    in the twentieth of Revelation; and that it must necessarily\n    follow the personal coming of Christ and the regeneration of\n    the earth,[10] that, till Christ\u2019s coming, and the end of the\n    world, the righteous and wicked are to continue together on\n    the earth, and that the horn of the papacy is to war against\n    the saints until his appearing and kingdom, when it will be\n    destroyed by the brightness of Christ\u2019s coming; so that there\n    can be no conversion of the world before the advent;[11] and\n    that as the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, is\n    located by Peter after the conflagration, and is declared by\n    him to be the same for which we look, according to the promise\n    of Isa. 65:17.\n\n    \u201c\u2018This is the same that John saw in vision after the passing\n    away of the former heavens and earth; it must necessarily\n    follow that the various portions of Scripture that refer to\n    the millennial state must have their fulfillment after the\n    resurrection of all the saints that sleep in Jesus.[12] I also\n    found that the promises respecting Israel\u2019s restoration are\n    applied by the apostle to all who are Christ\u2019s\u2014the putting on\n    of Christ constituting them Abraham\u2019s seed and heirs according\n    to the promise.[13].\n\n    \u201c\u2018I was then satisfied, as I saw conclusive evidence to prove\n    the advent personal and pre-millennial, that all the events\n    for which the church look to be fulfilled [in the millennium]\n    before the advent, must be subsequent to it; and that, unless\n    there were other unfulfilled prophecies, the advent of the\n    Lord, instead of being looked for only in the distant future,\n    might be a continually-expected event. In examining the\n    prophecies on that point, I found that only four universal\n    monarchies are anywhere predicted, in the Bible, to precede the\n    setting up of God\u2019s everlasting kingdom; that three of those\n    had passed away\u2014Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Grecia\u2014and that the\n    fourth\u2014Rome\u2014had already passed into its last state, the state\n    in which it is to be when the stone cut out of the mountain\n    without hands shall smite the image on the feet, and break to\n    pieces all the kingdoms of this world.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I was unable to find any prediction of events which presented\n    any clear evidence of their fulfillment before the scenes\n    that usher in the advent. And finding all the signs of the\n    times, and the present condition of the world, to compare\n    harmoniously with the prophetic descriptions of the last days,\n    I was compelled to believe that this world had about reached\n    the limits of the period allotted for its continuance. As I\n    regarded the evidence, I could arrive at no other conclusion.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Another kind of evidence that vitally affected my mind was the\n    chronology of the Scriptures. I found, on pursuing the study of\n    the Bible, various chronological periods extending, according\n    to my understanding of them, to the coming of the Saviour. I\n    found that predicted events, which had been fulfilled in the\n    past, often occurred within a _given time_. The one hundred\n    and twenty years to the flood; Gen. 6:3; the seven days that\n    were to precede it, with forty days of predicted rain; Gen.\n    7:4; the four hundred years of sojourn of Abraham\u2019s seed; Gen.\n    15:13; the three days of the butler\u2019s and baker\u2019s dreams; Gen.\n    40:12-20; the seven years of Pharaoh\u2019s; Gen. 41:28-54; the\n    forty years in the wilderness; Num. 14:34; the three and a half\n    years of famine: 1 Kings 17:1; the sixty-five years to the\n    breaking of Ephraim; Isa. 7:8; the seventy years\u2019 captivity;\n    Jer. 25:11; Nebuchadnezzar\u2019s seven times; Dan. 4:13-16; and\n    the seven weeks, three-score and two weeks, and the one week,\n    making seventy weeks, determined upon the Jews; Dan. 9:24-27;\n    the events limited by these times were all once only a matter\n    of prophecy, and were fulfilled in accordance with the\n    predictions.\n\n    \u201c\u2018When, therefore, I found the 2300 prophetic days, which were\n    to mark the length of the vision from the Persian to the end\n    of the fourth kingdom, the seven times\u2019 continuance of the\n    dispersion of God\u2019s people, and the 1335 prophetic days to\n    the standing of Daniel in his lot, all evidently extending\n    to the advent,[14] with other prophetical periods, I could\n    but regard them as \u2018the times before appointed,\u2019 which God\n    had revealed \u2018unto his servants the prophets.\u2019 As I was fully\n    convinced that \u2018all Scripture given by inspiration of God is\n    profitable,\u2019\u2014that it came not at any time by the will of man,\n    but was written as holy men were moved by the Holy Ghost, and\n    was written for our learning, that we, through patience and\n    comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope,\u2014I could but regard\n    the chronological portions of the Bible as being as much a\n    portion of the word of God, and as much entitled to our serious\n    consideration, as any other portion of the Scriptures.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I, therefore, felt that, in endeavoring to comprehend what\n    God had in his mercy seen fit to reveal to us, I had no right\n    to pass over the prophetic periods. I saw that, as the events\n    predicted to be fulfilled in prophetic days had been extended\n    over about as many literal years; as God, in Num. 14:34, and\n    Eze. 4:4-6, had appointed each day for a year; as the seventy\n    weeks to the Messiah were fulfilled in 490 years, and the 1260\n    prophetic days of the papal supremacy in 1260 years; and as\n    these prophetical days extending to the advent were given in\n    connection with symbolic prophecy, I could only regard the\n    time as symbolical, and as standing each day for a year, in\n    accordance with the opinions of all the standard Protestant\n    commentators. If, then, we could obtain any clue to the time\n    of their commencement, I conceived we should be guided to\n    the probable time of their termination, and, as God would\n    not bestow upon us a useless revelation, I regarded them as\n    conducting us to the time when we might confidently look for\n    the coming of the Chiefest of ten thousand, One altogether\n    lovely.\n\n    \u201c\u2018From a further study of the Scriptures, I concluded that\n    the seven times of Gentile supremacy must commence when the\n    Jews ceased to be an independent nation, at the captivity of\n    Manasseh, which the best chronologers assigned to B. C. 677;\n    that the 2300 days commenced with the seventy weeks, which the\n    best chronologers dated from B. C. 457; and that the 1335 days,\n    commencing with the taking away of the daily, and the setting\n    up of the abomination that maketh desolate, Dan. 12:11, were\n    to be dated from the setting up of the papal supremacy, after\n    the taking away of pagan abominations, and which, according\n    to the best historians I could consult, should be dated from\n    about A. D. 508. Reckoning all these prophetic periods from the\n    several dates assigned by the best chronologers for the events\n    from which they should evidently be reckoned, they would all\n    terminate together, about A. D. 1843.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I was thus brought, in 1818, at the close of my two years\u2019\n    study of the Scriptures, to the solemn conclusion that in about\n    twenty-five years from that time all the affairs of our present\n    state would be wound up; that all its pride and power, pomp and\n    vanity, wickedness and oppression, would come to an end; and\n    that, in the place of the kingdoms of this world, the peaceful\n    and long-desired kingdom of the Messiah would be established\n    under the whole heaven; that, in about twenty-five years, the\n    glory of the Lord would be revealed, and all flesh see it\n    together\u2014the desert bud and blossom as the rose, the fir-tree\n    come up instead of the thorn, and, instead of the briar, the\n    myrtle-tree\u2014the curse be removed from off the earth, death be\n    destroyed, reward be given to the servants of God, the prophets\n    and saints, and them who fear his name, and those be destroyed\n    that destroy the earth.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I need not speak of the joy that filled my heart in view of\n    the delightful prospect, nor of the ardent longings of my soul\n    for a participation in the joys of the redeemed. The Bible was\n    now to me a new book. It was indeed a feast of reason; all that\n    was dark, mystical or obscure, to me, in its teachings, had\n    been dissipated from my mind before the clear light that now\n    dawned from its sacred pages; and oh, how bright and glorious\n    the truth appeared!\n\n    \u201c\u2018All the contradictions and inconsistencies I had before found\n    in the word were gone; and, although there were many portions\n    of which I was not satisfied I had a full understanding, yet\n    so much light had emanated from it to the illumination of my\n    before darkened mind, that I felt a delight in studying the\n    Scriptures which I had not before supposed could be derived\n    from its teachings. I commenced their study with no expectation\n    of finding the time of the Saviour\u2019s coming, and I could at\n    first hardly believe the result to which I had arrived; but\n    the evidence struck me with such force that I could not resist\n    my convictions. I became nearly settled in my conclusions, and\n    began to wait, and watch, and pray for my Saviour\u2019s coming.\n\n\u201cThe above are the conclusions to which he arrived on the general\nsubject of prophecy; but his views on other scriptural topics may not\nbe uninteresting in this connection. His general theological opinions\nmay be inferred from his connecting himself with a Calvinistic Baptist\nchurch, as the one most congenial to his faith. But he has left, among\nhis papers, an unfinished compendium of his belief, which bears date, and\nis appended to the annexed certificate, as follows:\u2014\n\n                                       \u201c\u2018LOW HAMPTON, SEPT. 5, 1822.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I hereby acknowledge that I have long believed it my duty\n    ... to leave, for the inspection of my brethren, friends and\n    children, a brief statement of my faith (and which ought to be\n    my practice); and I pray God to forgive me where I go astray.\n    I made it a subject of prayer and meditation, and, therefore,\n    leave the following as my faith,\u2014reserving the privilege of\n    correction.\n\n                                             \u201c\u2018(Signed,) WM. MILLER.\n\n    \u201c\u2018ARTICLE ONE.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I believe the Bible is given by God to man, as a rule for our\n    practice, and a guide to our faith\u2014that it is a revelation of\n    God to man.\n\n    \u201c\u2018ARTICLE TWO.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I believe in one living and true God, and that there are\n    three persons in the Godhead\u2014as there is in man, the body,\n    soul, and spirit. And if any one will tell me how these exist,\n    I will tell him how the three persons of the Triune God are\n    connected.\n\n    \u201c\u2018ARTICLE THREE.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I believe that God, by his Son, created man in the image of\n    the Triune God, with a body, soul, and spirit; and that he\n    was created a moral agent, capable of living, of obeying, or\n    transgressing the laws of his Maker.\n\n    \u201c\u2018ARTICLE FOUR.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I believe that man, being tempted by the enemy of all\n    good, did transgress, and became polluted; from which act,\n    sin entered into the world, and all mankind became naturally\n    sinners, thrust out from the presence of God, and exposed to\n    his just wrath forever.\n\n    \u201c\u2018ARTICLE FIVE.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I believe that God, knowing from eternity the use that\n    man would make of his [free] agency, did, in his council of\n    eternity, ordain that his Son should die; and that through his\n    death salvation should be given to fallen man, through such\n    means as God should appoint.\n\n    \u201c\u2018ARTICLE SIX.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I believe that, through the agency of the Holy Spirit,\n    sinners are made the recipients of mercy, in conformity to the\n    divine plan, founded on the wisdom and knowledge of God; the\n    fruits of which are manifested in the recipient by works of\n    repentance and faith; and without which no man, coming to years\n    of discretion, and able to choose between good and evil, can\n    have an interest in the blood and righteousness of Christ.\n\n    \u201c\u2018ARTICLE SEVEN.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I believe that Jesus Christ is an offering of God to sinners\n    for their redemption from sin, and that those who believe in\n    his name may take him by faith, go to God, and find mercy; and\n    that such will in nowise be rejected.\n\n    \u201c\u2018ARTICLE EIGHT.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I believe that Jesus Christ was the sacrifice for sin which\n    justice demanded; and that all those who confess their sins on\n    the head of this victim may expect forgiveness of sin through\n    the blood of the atonement, which is in Jesus Christ, the great\n    High Priest in the holy of holies.\n\n    \u201c\u2018ARTICLE NINE.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I believe the atonement to be made by the intercession of\n    Jesus Christ, and the sprinkling of his blood in the holy of\n    holies, and upon the mercy-seat and people; by which means\n    the offended is reconciled to the offender, the offender is\n    brought into subjection to the will of God; and the effect is,\n    forgiveness of sin, union to the divine person, and to the\n    household of faith.\n\n    \u201c\u2018ARTICLE TEN.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I believe all those for whom Christ intercedes, who are\n    united to God by a living faith, and have received the\n    forgiveness of sin through the sprinkling of the blood of\n    Christ, can never perish; but are kept by the mighty power of\n    God through faith unto salvation.\n\n    \u201c\u2018ARTICLE ELEVEN.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I believe that all the promises of God are and will be\n    accomplished in Christ Jesus; and that none of the human family\n    are or can be entitled to the promises of grace, but those\n    who are born of the Spirit in Christ Jesus, any more than the\n    antediluvians could have been saved from the deluge without\n    entering the ark.\n\n    \u201c\u2018ARTICLE TWELVE.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I believe that Christ will eventually take away the sin of\n    the world, and cleanse the earth from all pollution, so that\n    this earth will become the abode of the saints forever, by\n    means which he has appointed; all believers being regenerated,\n    sanctified, justified, and glorified.\n\n    \u201c\u2018ARTICLE THIRTEEN.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I believe that all final impenitents will be destroyed from\n    the earth, and sent away into a place prepared for the devil\n    and his angels.\n\n    \u201c\u2018ARTICLE FOURTEEN.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I believe Jesus Christ will come again in his glory and\n    person to our earth, where he will accomplish his divine\n    purposes in the saving of his people, destroying the wicked\n    from the earth, and taking away the sin of the world.\n\n    \u201c\u2018ARTICLE FIFTEEN.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I believe that the second coming of Jesus Christ is near,\n    even at the door, even within twenty-one years,\u2014on or before\n    1843.\n\n    \u201c\u2018ARTICLE SIXTEEN.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I believe that before Christ comes in his glory, all\n    sectarian principles will be shaken, and the votaries of the\n    several sects scattered to the four winds; and that none will\n    be able to stand but those who are built on the word of God.\n\n    \u201c\u2018ARTICLE SEVENTEEN.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I believe in the resurrection, both of the just and of the\n    unjust\u2014the just, or believers, at Christ\u2019s second coming, and\n    the unjust one thousand years afterwards\u2014when the judgment\n    of each will take place in their order, at their several\n    resurrections; when the just will receive everlasting life, and\n    the unjust eternal condemnation.\n\n    \u201c\u2018ARTICLE EIGHTEEN.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I believe in the doctrine of election, founded on the will,\n    purpose, and fore-knowledge of God; and that all the elect will\n    be saved in the kingdom of God, through the sanctification of\n    the Spirit and the belief of the truth.\n\n    \u201c\u2018ARTICLE NINETEEN.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I believe in the ordinance of baptism by immersion, as a\n    representation of Christ\u2019s burial and resurrection\u2014also of our\n    death to sin and life to holiness.\n\n    \u201c\u2018ARTICLE TWENTY.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I believe in the ordinance of the Lord\u2019s supper, to be\u2019\u2e3a\n\n\u201cThe last article was left thus incomplete, and the series of articles\nwas not extended, as it was evidently designed to have been, so as\nto give an expression of his faith on subjects not included in the\nforegoing. It is not known that his views, as above expressed, ever\nunderwent any change\u2014excepting as his belief in the date of the second\nadvent was afterwards shown, by the passing of time, to be incorrect.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n    INTERVAL BETWEEN HIS CONVERSION AND HIS PUBLIC\n    LABORS\u2014CORRESPONDENCE\u2014DIALOGUE WITH A PHYSICIAN.\n\n\nAll truly great and good men who have been the honored instruments in the\nhands of God of accomplishing good, and of leading his people in the way\nof truth, have had wrought in them a deep experience in the things of the\nSpirit of God. This being the case with William Miller, we are happy to\ngive in this chapter some of the important facts in his experience. His\nbiographer says:\u2014\n\n\u201cFrom the time that Mr. Miller became established in his religious faith,\ntill he commenced his public labors\u2014a period of twelve or fourteen\nyears\u2014there were few prominent incidents in his life to distinguish him\nfrom other men. He was a good citizen, a kind neighbor, an affectionate\nhusband and parent, and a devoted Christian; good to the poor, and\nbenevolent, as objects of charity were presented; in the Sunday-school,\nwas teacher and superintendent; in the church he performed important\nservice as a reader and exhorter, and, in the support of religious\nworship, no other member, perhaps, did as much as he.\n\n\u201cHe was very exemplary in his life and conversation, endeavored at all\ntimes to perform the duties, whether public or private, which devolved\non him, and whatever he did was done cheerfully, as for the glory of\nGod. His leisure hours were devoted to reading and meditation; he\nkept himself well informed respecting the current events of the time;\noccasionally communicated his thoughts through the press, and often, for\nhis own private amusement, or for the entertainment of friends, indulged\nin various poetical effusions, which, for unstudied productions, are\npossessed of some merit; but his principal enjoyment was derived from the\nstudy of the Bible. His state of mind at this time can be better given in\nhis own language.\n\n    \u201c\u2018With the solemn conviction,\u2019 writes Mr. Miller, \u2018that such\n    momentous events were predicted in the Scriptures, to be\n    fulfilled in so short a space of time, the question came home\n    to me with mighty power regarding my duty to the world, in\n    view of the evidence that had affected my own mind. If the\n    end was so near, it was important that the world should know\n    it. I supposed that it would call forth the opposition of the\n    ungodly; but it never came into my mind that any Christian\n    would oppose it. I supposed that all such would be so rejoiced,\n    in view of the glorious prospect, that it would only be\n    necessary to present it, for them to receive it. My great fear\n    was that in their joy at the hope of a glorious inheritance\n    so soon to be revealed, they would receive the doctrine\n    without sufficiently examining the Scriptures in demonstration\n    of its truth. I therefore feared to present it, lest, by\n    some possibility, I should be in error, and be the means of\n    misleading any.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Various difficulties and objections would arise in my mind\n    from time to time; certain texts would occur to me which seemed\n    to weigh against my conclusions; and I would not present a view\n    to others, while any difficulty appeared to militate against\n    it. I therefore continued the study of the Bible, to see if I\n    could sustain any of these objections. My object was not merely\n    to remove them, but I wished to see if they were valid.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Sometimes, when at work, a text would arise like this:\n    \u201cOf that day and hour knoweth no man,\u201d &c.; and how, then,\n    could the Bible reveal the time of the advent? I would then\n    immediately examine the context in which it was found, and I\n    saw at once that, in the same connection, we are informed how\n    we may know when it is nigh, even at the doors; consequently,\n    that text could not teach that we could know nothing of the\n    time of that event. Other texts, which are advanced in support\n    of the doctrine of a temporal millennium, would arise; but on\n    examining their context, I invariably found that they were\n    applicable only to the eternal state, or were so illustrative\n    of the spread of the gospel here as to be entirely irrelevant\n    to the position they were adduced to support.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Thus all those passages that speak of the will of God being\n    done on earth as in Heaven, of the earth being full of the\n    knowledge of the glory of God, &c., could not be applicable to\n    a time when the man of sin was prevailing against the saints,\n    or when the righteous and wicked were dwelling together, which\n    is to be the case until the end of the world. Those who speak\n    of the gospel being preached in all the world, teach that, as\n    soon as it should be thus preached, the end was to come; so\n    that it could not be delayed a thousand years from that time,\n    nor long enough for the world\u2019s conversion after the preaching\n    of the gospel as a witness.\n\n    \u201c\u2018The question of the resurrection and judgment was, for a\n    time, an obstacle in the way. Being instructed that all the\n    dead would be raised at the same time, I supposed it must\n    be so taught in the Bible; but I soon saw it was one of the\n    traditions of the elders.\n\n    \u201c\u2018So, also, with the return of the Jews. That question I saw\n    could only be sustained by denying the positive declarations\n    of the New Testament, which assert: \u201cThere is no difference\n    between the Jew and the Greek;\u201d that the promise that he\n    shall be the heir of the world was not to Abraham and his\n    seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith;\n    that \u201cthere is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor\n    female;\u201d but that \u201cif ye are Christ\u2019s then are ye Abraham\u2019s\n    seed, and heirs according to the promise.\u201d I was, therefore,\n    obliged to discard an objection which asserts there is a\n    difference between the Jew and Greek; that the children of the\n    flesh _are_ accounted for the seed, &c.\n\n    \u201c\u2018In this way I was occupied for five years\u2014from 1818 to\n    1823\u2014in weighing the various objections which were being\n    presented to my mind. During that time, more objections arose\n    in my mind than have been advanced by my opponents since;\n    and I know of no objection that has been since advanced which\n    did not then occur to me. But, however strong they at first\n    appeared, after examining them in the light of the divine\n    word, I could only compare them to straws, laid down singly as\n    obstacles on a well-beaten road; the car of truth rolled over\n    them, unimpeded in its progress.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I was then fully settled in the conclusions which seven\n    years previously had begun to bear with such impressive force\n    upon my mind; and the duty of presenting the evidence of the\n    nearness of the advent to others\u2014which I had managed to evade\n    while I could find the shadow of an objection remaining against\n    its truth\u2014again came home to me with great force. I had,\n    previously, only thrown out occasional hints of my views. I\n    then began to speak more clearly my opinions to my neighbors,\n    to ministers, and others. To my astonishment, I found very few\n    who listened with any interest. Occasionally, one would see the\n    force of the evidence; but the great majority passed it by as\n    an idle tale. I was, therefore, disappointed in finding any who\n    would declare this doctrine, as I felt it should be, for the\n    comfort of saints, and as a warning to sinners.\u2019\n\n\u201cHis correspondence during this period shows ardent longings for the\nsalvation of his relatives and friends. In a letter to a sister, dated\nJune 25, 1825, after writing on various subjects of family interest, he\nsays:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEAR BROTHER AND SISTER:\u2014All the news that we had to tell\n    having been told above, I will now add a few lines; and oh! may\n    they be directed by Infinite Wisdom? What are your prospects\n    for eternity? Is there a land of eternal rest, beyond the\n    confines of this world, in prospect? Do you believe that the\n    blood of the everlasting covenant can and will cleanse you\n    from all sin? Are you satisfied with your present evidence of\n    an interest in that blood? That we shall die, is certain; and\n    due preparation for a better world is wisdom; and we ought as\n    rational beings to make ourselves familiar with the road and\n    acquainted with the inhabitants of said country. O my soul! go\n    thou to the mansions of the dead, and learn there the end of\n    all living.\n\n    \u201c\u2018That we ought to be cleansed from all sin, in order to be\n    happy, is certain; for sin constitutes all misery; and a person\n    living in the enjoyment (falsely so called) of sin cannot enter\n    into rest. How necessary, then, is the work of regeneration\n    and sanctification! And may we obtain that evidence which\n    will enable us, with Thomas, to say, \u201cMy Lord and my God!\u201d\n    Redemption is the work of God. How proper, then, that Jesus\n    should be called the Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel!\n    Redemption is from sin. How improper, then, that we should live\n    any longer therein! We ought as much to strive to attain to\n    perfection as if it was attainable here below.\n\n        \u201cLord, I believe thy heavenly word;\n          Fain would I have my soul renewed.\n        I mourn for sin, and trust the Lord\n          To have it pardoned and subdued.\n\n        \u201cMy King, my Saviour, and my God,\n          Let grace my sinful soul renew;\n        Wash my offenses with thy blood,\n          And make my heart sincere and true.\n\n        \u201cOh! may thy grace its power display!\n          Let guilt and death no longer reign;\n        Save me in thine appointed way,\n          Nor let my humble faith be vain.\n\n        \u201cYe favored lands, who have his word,\n          Ye saints, who feel its saving power,\n        Unite your tongues to praise the Lord,\n          And his distinguished grace adore.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018P. S. June 30.\u2014I have this day been to Whitehall, to see the\n    celebrated Marquis de Lafayette, that made such a conspicuous\n    figure, half a century ago, in our Revolution. He is a\n    pleasant-looking old man, a friend to freemen, a terror to\n    tyrants, and one that has spent his treasures, his blood, and\n    the best part of his life, in the cause of freedom and the\n    rights of man. He has suffered much; yet he retains a good\n    constitution. He goes a little lame, occasioned by wounds\n    he received in the Revolution. He deserves the thanks of\n    Americans, and he has received a general burst of gratitude\n    from Maine to the Mississippi. He has visited every State in\n    the Union and almost every important town. I had the pleasure\n    of dining with him; and after dinner he took a passage for New\n    York.\n\n                             \u201c\u2018Yours, &c.,\n\n                                                        WM. MILLER.\u2019\n\n\u201cThat Mr. M. was one of the men prominent in his section of the country,\nis shown by his mingling with them, as above, on the various public\noccasions.\n\n\u201cHe derived such pleasure from the study of the Bible that it was almost\nhis constant companion; and a portion of each day was devoted to its\nprivate perusal. He loved to meditate on its teachings and to talk about\nits promises.\n\n\u201cIn the winter of 1828, the church in Low Hampton, of which Mr. Miller\nwas a member, was refreshed by an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In a\nletter, dated March 12, written to Elder Hendryx, to whom reference has\nbefore been made, Mr. Miller says: \u2018One young man came to my house last\nnight after nine o\u2019clock, to request prayers. He said he had been eight\nyears under conviction, and appeared to be almost in despair. I thought I\ncould say to him, as did John the Baptist to his disciples: \u201cBehold the\nLamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!\u201d Twelve or fourteen\nrequested prayers last Sunday evening. It is really the work of the\nLord. I never lived in a reformation so general, so solemn, and with so\nlittle noise. Surely, we have reason to rejoice and be glad. The Lord has\nremembered the low state of his people, and hath come down to deliver.\nTwo of my children, William and Bellona, as I have a good degree of hope,\nare subjects of grace. Pray for us.\u2019\n\n\u201cIn the same letter he makes mention of trials, as well as blessings.\nHe says: \u2018On Saturday, the first day of March, our meeting-house was\nconsumed by fire. We should have almost despaired of ever building again,\nhad not the Lord visited us by his grace, and likewise opened the hearts\nof our Christian friends from abroad. $400 have been subscribed from the\nadjoining towns. There is now some prospect that we shall build. You know\nwe are weak in numbers. We are really so in resources. I must bend my\nwhole force to gain the above-mentioned object.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. Miller succeeded in the accomplishment of his wishes, according to\nhis ability and known liberality.\n\n\u201cHe continued to make the Bible his daily study, and became more and\nmore convinced that he had a personal duty to perform respecting what\nhe conceived the Bible to teach of the nearness of the advent. These\nimpressions he thus describes:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018When I was about my business, it was continually ringing\n    in my ears, Go and tell the world of their danger. This text\n    was constantly occurring to me: \u201cWhen I say unto the wicked,\n    O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak\n    to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die\n    in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thy hand.\n    Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn\n    from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in\n    his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.\u201d Eze. 33:8,\n    9. I felt that, if the wicked could be effectually warned,\n    multitudes of them would repent; and that, if they were not\n    warned, their blood might be required at my hand.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I did all I could to avoid the conviction that anything was\n    required of me; and I thought that by freely speaking of it to\n    all, I should perform my duty, and that God would raise up the\n    necessary instrumentality for the accomplishment of the work.\n    I prayed that some minister might see the truth, and devote\n    himself to its promulgation; but still it was impressed upon\n    me, Go and tell it to the world; their blood will I require at\n    thy hand. The more I presented it in conversation, the more\n    dissatisfied I felt with myself for withholding it from the\n    public. I tried to excuse myself to the Lord for not going\n    out and proclaiming it to the world. I told the Lord that I\n    was not used to public speaking; that I had not the necessary\n    qualifications to gain the attention of an audience; that I\n    was very diffident, and feared to go before the world; that\n    they would \u201cnot believe me nor hearken to my voice;\u201d that I\n    was \u201cslow of speech, and of a slow tongue.\u201d But I could get no\n    relief.\u2019\n\n\u201cIn this way he struggled on for nine years longer, pursuing the study\nof the Bible, doing all he could to present the nearness of Christ\u2019s\ncoming to those whom circumstances threw in his way; but resisting his\nimpressions of duty to go out as a public teacher. He was then fifty\nyears old, and it seemed impossible for him to surmount the obstacles\nwhich lay in his path, to successfully present it in a public manner.\n\n\u201cHis freedom to converse on the subject, and the ability with which he\nwas able to defend his own views, and oppose those differing from him,\nhad given him no little celebrity in his denomination in all that region;\nand some were rather shy in approaching him. Elder T. Hendryx, a Baptist\nclergyman, now in the State of Pennsylvania, who has kindly furnished the\nbiographer with many original letters from Mr. Miller, thus speaks of his\nfirst acquaintance with him:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018My first acquaintance with Bro. Miller was in the summer\n    of 1831. I had been requested to visit the Baptist church\n    in Hampton, and concluded to go. When about to start, I was\n    informed by a brother in the church of which I was a member, in\n    Salem, N. Y., that there was a brother in the Hampton church,\n    possessing considerable influence, who had many curious notions\n    on doctrinal points, and on the prophecies\u2014particularly on\n    the latter; and also (to use the brother\u2019s language) that he\n    was \u201chard on ministers who differed with him.\u201d Having recently\n    commenced preaching, without much confidence in my own ability,\n    and not having made any engagement to the church, I at first\n    almost concluded not to go. On further reflection, I decided to\n    go, and put my trust in Him who had said, \u201cLo, I am with you\n    alway.\u201d On my way I endeavored, by prayer and meditation, to\n    divest myself of all prejudice against his peculiar notions,\n    whatever they might be (for as yet I was ignorant of them), and\n    at the same time to fortify myself against being led into error\n    by him.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I arrived at Bro. Miller\u2019s on the 6th of July, 1831. You may\n    well suppose that my situation was not very enviable. I moved\n    tremblingly and with the utmost caution. In spite of me, I\n    could not act like myself; and it was not till I had been there\n    nearly a week, and preached several discourses, that I could\n    feel at home, or enjoy my wonted freedom in preaching the word.\n    Several other ministering brethren visited at Bro. M.\u2019s during\n    my stay there, and I found that I was not altogether alone\n    in those feelings. But how perfectly groundless those fears!\n    Instead of pouncing upon my errors like the tiger, no brother\n    ever dealt with me more tenderly, or exhibited a better spirit\n    in presenting his views.\n\n    \u201c\u2018After being with Bro. M. some time, he asked me my views on\n    the millennium. Having thrown off all reserve, I readily gave\n    them. I had embraced the old view\u2014the world\u2019s conversion a\n    thousand years before the advent; and answered him accordingly.\n    His reply was: \u201cWell, Bro. H., prove it! You know I want the\n    Bible for all that I receive.\u201d \u201cWell,\u201d said I; and, taking my\n    Bible, I turned to the 20th of Revelation, and was about to\n    read, when I thought I would examine it again, and with very\n    close attention. I was in a deep study. Bro. M. was waiting,\n    and watching me closely. He began to smile. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you\n    read, Bro. H.?\u201d said he. I was astonished; for I could not make\n    it out. At last I said: \u201cI go home next Monday. I will draw\n    the passages off, and hand them to you when I return.\u201d I took\n    some four days for it, and gave him a long list of passages.\n    He read them, and said: \u201cBro. H., what has become of your old\n    theory? This is mine.\u201d \u201cWell,\u201d said I, \u201cit is mine, too.\u201d In my\n    examination, _my_ theory had been overturned, and I came out\n    where I now stand.\n\n    \u201c\u2018One thing I observed in Bro. M.\u2019s character; If he ever dealt\n    harshly with a brother for holding an error, it was because he\n    saw, or thought he saw, a spirit of self-importance in him.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe labors of Elder Hendryx were attended with a blessing, as appears\nfrom a letter of Mr. Miller\u2019s to him, dated August 9, 1831. In it he\nsays:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018The Lord is pouring out his Spirit among us, but not in\n    so powerful a manner as I could wish. Baptism has been\n    administered every Sabbath but one since you were here. Two or\n    three have obtained hope every week.\u2019\n\n\u201cAs Mr. Miller\u2019s opinions respecting the nearness and nature of the\nmillennium became known, they naturally elicited a good deal of comment\namong his friends and neighbors, and also among those at a distance.\nSome of their remarks, not the most complimentary to his sanity, would\noccasionally be repeated to him.\n\n\u201cHaving heard that a physician in his neighborhood had said \u2018Esquire\nMiller,\u2019 as he was familiarly called, \u2018was a fine man and a good\nneighbor, but was a monomaniac on the subject of the advent,\u2019 Mr. M. was\nhumorously inclined to let him prescribe for his case.\n\n\u201cOne of his children being sick one day, he sent for the doctor, who,\nafter prescribing for the child, noticed that Mr. Miller was very mute in\none corner, and asked what ailed him.\n\n\u201c\u2018Well, I hardly know, doctor. I want you to see what does, and prescribe\nfor me.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe doctor felt of his pulse, &c., and could not decide respecting his\nmalady; and inquired what he supposed was his complaint.\n\n\u201c\u2018Well,\u2019 said Mr. Miller, \u2018I don\u2019t know but I am a monomaniac; and I want\nyou to examine me, and see if I am; and if so, cure me. Can you tell when\na man is a monomaniac?\u2019\n\n\u201cThe doctor blushed, and said he thought he could.\n\n\u201cMr. Miller wished to know how.\n\n\u201c\u2018Why,\u2019 said the doctor, \u2018a monomaniac is rational on all subjects but\none; and when you touch that particular subject, he will become raving.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Well,\u2019 said Mr. Miller, \u2018I insist upon it that you see whether I am in\nreality a monomaniac; and if I am, you shall prescribe for and cure me.\nYou shall, therefore, sit down with me two hours, while I present the\nsubject of the advent to you, and, if I am a monomaniac, by that time you\nwill discover it.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe doctor was somewhat disconcerted; but Mr. Miller insisted, and told\nhim, as it was to present the state of his mind, he might charge for his\ntime as in regular practice.\n\n\u201cThe doctor finally consented; and, at Mr. Miller\u2019s request, opened the\nBible and read from the 8th of Daniel. As he read along, Mr. Miller\ninquired what the ram denoted, with the other symbols presented. The\ndoctor had read Newton, and applied them to Persia, Greece, and Rome, as\nMr. Miller did.\n\n\u201cMr. Miller then inquired how long the vision of those empires was to be.\n\n\u201c\u20182300 days.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018What!\u2019 said Mr. Miller, \u2018could those great empires cover only 2300\nliteral days?\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Why,\u2019 said the doctor, \u2018those days are years, according to all\ncommentators; and those kingdoms are to continue 2300 years.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. M. then asked him to turn to the 2d of Daniel, and to the 7th; all\nof which he explained the same as Mr. Miller. He was then asked if he\nknew when the 2300 days would end. He did not know, as he could not tell\nwhen they commenced.\n\n\u201cMr. Miller told him to read the 9th of Daniel. He read down till he came\nto the 21st verse, when Daniel saw \u2018the man Gabriel,\u2019 whom he had \u2018seen\nin the vision.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018In what vision?\u2019 Mr. Miller inquired.\n\n\u201c\u2018Why,\u2019 said the doctor, \u2018in the vision of the 8th of Daniel.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Wherefore, understand the matter and consider the vision.\u2019 He had now\ncome, then, to make him understand that vision, had he?\u201d\n\n\u201c\u2018Yes,\u2019 said the doctor.\n\n\u201c\u2018Well, seventy weeks are determined; what are these seventy weeks a part\nof?\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Of the 2300 days.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Then do they begin with the 2300 days?\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Yes,\u2019 said the doctor.\n\n\u201c\u2018When did they end?\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018In A. D. 33.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Then how far would the 2300 extend after 33?\u201d\n\n\u201cThe doctor subtracted 490 from 2300, and replied, 1810. \u2018Why,\u2019 said he,\n\u2018that is past.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018But,\u2019 said Mr. Miller, \u2018there were 1810 from 33; in what year would\nthat come?\u2019\n\n\u201cThe doctor saw at once that the 33 should be added, and set down 33 and\n1810, and, adding them, replied, 1843.\n\n\u201cAt this unexpected result the doctor settled back in his chair and\ncolored; but immediately took his hat and left the house in a rage.\n\n\u201cThe next day he again called on Mr. Miller, and looked as though he had\nbeen in the greatest mental agony.\n\n\u201c\u2018Why, Mr. Miller,\u2019 said he, \u2018I am going to hell. I have not slept a wink\nsince I was here yesterday. I have looked at the question in every light,\nand the vision must terminate about A. D. 1843; and I am unprepared, and\nmust go to hell.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. Miller calmed him, and pointed him to the ark of safety; and in\nabout a week, calling each day on Mr. M., he found peace to his soul,\nand went on his way rejoicing, as _great a monomaniac_ as Mr. Miller. He\nafterward acknowledged that, till he made the figures 1843, he had no\nidea of the result to which he was coming.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\n    COMMENCEMENT OF PUBLIC LABORS\u2014PUBLISHES HIS VIEWS IN\n    PAMPHLET\u2014INTERVIEW ON THE HUDSON RIVER BOAT\u2014HIS REGARD FOR THE\n    BIBLE\u2014CORRESPONDENCE\u2014BECOMES A LICENSED PREACHER\u2014LETTER ON\n    UNIVERSALISM\u2014RECORD OF HIS LABORS.\n\n\n\u201cThe public labors of Mr. Miller, according to the best evidence to be\nobtained, date from the autumn of 1831. He had continued to be much\ndistressed respecting his duty to \u2018go and tell it to the world,\u2019 which\nwas constantly impressed on his mind. One Saturday, after breakfast, he\nsat down at his desk to examine some point, and, as he arose to go out to\nwork, it came home to him with more force than ever, \u2018Go and tell it to\nthe world.\u2019 He thus writes:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018The impression was so sudden, and came with such force, that\n    I settled down into my chair, saying, I can\u2019t go, Lord. Why\n    not? seemed to be the response; and then all my excuses came\n    up\u2014my want of ability, &c.; but my distress became so great, I\n    entered into a solemn covenant with God, that if he would open\n    the way, I would go and perform my duty to the world. What do\n    you mean by opening the way? seemed to come to me. Why, said I,\n    if I should have an invitation to speak publicly in any place I\n    will go and tell them what I find in the Bible about the Lord\u2019s\n    coming. Instantly, all my burden was gone, and I rejoiced that\n    I should not probably be thus called upon; for I had never had\n    such an invitation. My trials were not known, and I had but\n    little expectation of being invited to any field of labor.\n\n    \u201c\u2018In about half an hour from this time, before I had left the\n    room, a son of Mr. Guilford, of Dresden, about sixteen miles\n    from my residence, came in, and said that his father had sent\n    for me, and wished me to go home with him. Supposing that he\n    wished to see me on some business, I asked him what he wanted.\n    He replied that there was to be no preaching in their church\n    the next day, and his father wished to have me come and talk\n    to the people on the subject of the Lord\u2019s coming. I was\n    immediately angry with myself for having made the covenant I\n    had; I rebelled at once against the Lord, and determined not to\n    go. I left the boy, without giving him any answer, and retired\n    in great distress to a grove near by. There I struggled with\n    the Lord about an hour, endeavoring to release myself from\n    the covenant I had made with him; but I could get no relief.\n    It was impressed upon my conscience, Will you make a covenant\n    with God, and break it so soon? and the exceeding sinfulness of\n    thus doing overwhelmed me. I finally submitted, and promised\n    the Lord that, if he would sustain me, I would go, trusting\n    in him to give me grace and ability to perform all he should\n    require of me. I returned to the house, and found the boy still\n    waiting. He remained till after dinner, and I returned with him\n    to Dresden.\n\n    \u201c\u2018The next day, which, as nearly as I can remember, was about\n    the first Sabbath in August, 1831, I delivered my first public\n    lecture on the second advent. The house was well filled with\n    an attentive audience. As soon as I commenced speaking,\n    all my diffidence and embarrassment were gone, and I felt\n    impressed only with the greatness of the subject, which, by\n    the providence of God, I was enabled to present. At the close\n    of the services on the Sabbath, I was requested to remain and\n    lecture during the week, with which request I complied. They\n    flocked in from the neighboring towns; a revival commenced, and\n    it was said that in thirteen families all but two persons were\n    hopefully converted.\n\n    \u201c\u2018On the Monday following, I returned home, and found a letter\n    from Eld. Fuller, of Poultney, Vt., requesting me to go and\n    lecture there on the same subject. They had not heard of my\n    going to Dresden. I went to Poultney, and lectured there with\n    similar effect.\n\n    \u201c\u2018From thence I went by invitation to Pawlet, and other towns\n    in that vicinity. The churches of Congregationalists, Baptists,\n    and Methodists, were thrown open. In almost every place I\n    visited, my labors resulted in the reclaiming of backsliders,\n    and the conversion of sinners. I was usually invited to fields\n    of labor by the ministers of the several congregations whom\n    I visited, who gave me their countenance; and I have never\n    labored in any place to which I was not previously invited. The\n    most pressing invitations from the ministry and the leading\n    members of the churches poured in continually from that time,\n    during the whole period of my public labors, and with more than\n    one-half of which I was unable to comply. Churches were thrown\n    open everywhere, and I lectured, to crowded houses, through the\n    western part of Vermont, the northern part of New York, and in\n    Canada East; and powerful reformations were the result of my\n    labor.\u2019\n\n\u201cSoon after he began to lecture on the subject, Mr. Miller began to\nbe importuned to write out and publish his view. In a letter to Elder\nHendryx, dated January 25, 1832, he says:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018I have written a few numbers on the coming of Christ and the\n    final destruction of the beast, when his body shall be given to\n    the burning flame. They may appear in the Vermont _Telegraph_;\n    if not, in pamphlet form. They are written in letters to Elder\n    Smith of, Poultney, and he has liberty to publish.\u2019\n\n\u201cOn the same occasion, he adds: \u2018I am more and more astonished at the\nharmony and strength of the word of God; and the more I read, the more I\nsee of the folly of the infidel in rejecting this word.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe articles referred to were sent as anonymous to the editor of the\n_Telegraph_, who declined their publication unless informed of the name\nof the writer. This being communicated to him, they appeared, in a series\nof sixteen articles, over the initials of W. M. The first article was\npublished in the paper of May 15, 1832, and they caused much conversation\nand discussion.\n\n\u201cSoon after this, he addressed another letter to Elder Hendryx, which\nis so quaintly written, contains so much of general interest, and is so\nillustrative of his habits of thought and modes of expression, that it is\nhere given:\u2014\n\n                                          \u201c\u2018HAMPTON, MARCH 26, 1832.\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEAR BRO. HENDRYX:\u2014I received your favor of the 19th inst.\n    day before yesterday, and should have begun to answer it then,\n    but, on coming home, I found Bro. D. at my house, a licentiate\n    from Hamilton, who came on purpose to learn these strange\n    notions of \u201ccrazy Miller,\u201d or at least to save Bro. Miller,\n    if possible, from going down to the grave with such an error.\n    He was a stranger to me; but, after he introduced himself, we\n    went to work, night and day, and he has just left me,\u2014Monday,\n    3 o\u2019clock P. M. He has got his load, and, as he says, he never\n    was so loaded before.\n\n    \u201c\u2018You may say this is boasting. No, no, Bro. Hendryx, you\n    know better. I only made him read the Bible, and I held the\n    concordance. No praise to me; give God the glory. At any rate,\n    he will find it hard to resist the truth. He wants me to let\n    him come and board with me, two or three months, to study the\n    Bible. He is a young man, of brilliant talents; he preached two\n    sermons here yesterday, and they were very well done. I have\n    somebody to labor with almost daily. I have been into Poultney,\n    and some other places, to lecture on the coming of Christ;\n    and, in every instance, I have had large assemblies. There is\n    increasing anxiety on the subject in this quarter; but they\n    will see greater signs of these times soon, so that Christians\n    will believe in his coming and kingdom. The harvest is about\n    closing up, and the wrath of God is about to be poured upon our\n    world. Pestilence, sword, and famine, will succeed each other\n    in swift succession, and the kingdoms of this world will soon\n    be destroyed by the \u201cstone cut out of the mountain without\n    hands.\u201d Yes, brother, it will soon be over when sinners can be\n    converted. I would, therefore, advise you to lead your hearers\n    by slow and sure steps to Jesus Christ.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I say _slow_, because I expect all are not strong enough\n    to run yet; and _sure_, because the Bible is a sure word;\n    and where your hearers are not well indoctrinated, you must\n    preach _Bible_; you must prove all things by _Bible_; you must\n    talk _Bible_; you must exhort _Bible_; you must pray _Bible_;\n    and love _Bible_; and do all in your power to make others\n    love _Bible_, too. One great means to do good is to make your\n    parishioners sensible that you are in earnest, and fully and\n    solemnly believe what you preach. If you wish your people to\n    feel, feel yourself. If you wish them to believe as you do,\n    show them, by your constant assiduity in teaching, that you\n    sincerely wish it. You can do more good by the fireside, and in\n    your conference circles, than in the pulpit. Pulpit preaching\n    is, and has long been, considered as no more than a trade.\n    \u201cWhy, he is hired to preach!\u2014he must, of course, tell a good\n    story,\u201d &c., &c. And the very reason why there is more good\n    done in conference meetings and protracted meetings is simply\n    this: The god of this world is shut out. They will say, He\n    expects nothing for this; surely our salvation is his anxious\n    desire. Reflections of this sort make strong impressions of\n    conviction on the mind. If this man of God will make so much\n    sacrifice, surely I ought to think, at least, how much my\n    brother has my benefit in view in his preaching....\n\n    \u201c\u2018_May 20, 1832._ It is now almost two months since I began\n    this letter, and I ought to make some apology for my long\n    neglect. But I hate apologies; for we never tell the whole\n    truth. You have, undoubtedly, seen, or will see, two numbers\n    in the _Telegraph_ before you receive this letter. A number\n    more will soon follow. I expect it will start some queries, if\n    nothing more. There is much opposition expressed by some who\n    ought to have taught the same things. But people will think\n    and reflect; and truth will in the end prevail. Do come, on the\n    13th and 14th of June, to our Association. I expect Bro. Sawyer\n    will be ordained then. _Do come._ I have much to say to you;\n    but I cannot write as I wish....\n\n    \u201c\u2018I have just come from a prayer-meeting this morning, at our\n    school-house, at sunrise. We are praying for the second coming\n    of our dear Redeemer, when the \u201csanctuary will be cleansed.\u201d\n    Pray with us, my brother. I am more and more satisfied that the\n    end of the world is at hand. The evidence flows in from every\n    quarter. \u201cThe earth is reeling to and fro, like a drunkard.\u201d\n    One short year ago, and Zion was rejoicing with her multiplied\n    converts; now she is down \u201cby the cold streams of Babylon.\u201d One\n    year since, and we were enjoying a plentiful harvest; now we\n    are sleeping in the cold, and the staff of life is neglected.\n    Is the harvest over and past? If so, soon, very soon, God will\n    arise in his anger, and the vine of the earth will be reaped.\n    See, see!\u2014the angel with his sharp sickle is about to take the\n    field! See yonder trembling victim fall before his pestilential\n    breath! High and low, rich and poor, trembling and falling\n    before the appalling grave, the dreadful cholera.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Hark!\u2014hear those dreadful bellowings of the angry nations! It\n    is the presage of horrid and terrific war. Look!\u2014look again!\n    See crowns, and kings, and kingdoms tumbling to the dust! See\n    lords and nobles, captains and mighty men, all arming for the\n    bloody, demon fight! See the carnivorous fowls fly screaming\n    through the air! See\u2014see these signs! Behold, the heavens grow\n    black with clouds; the sun has veiled himself; the moon, pale\n    and forsaken, hangs in middle air; the hail descends; the seven\n    thunders utter loud their voices; the lightnings send their\n    vivid gleams of sulphurous flame abroad; and the great city\n    of the nations falls to rise no more forever and forever! At\n    this dread moment, look! look!\u2014O, look and see! What means\n    that ray of light? The clouds have burst asunder; the heavens\n    appear; the great white throne is in sight! Amazement fills\n    the universe with awe! He comes!\u2014he comes! Behold, the Saviour\n    comes! Lift up your heads, ye saints,\u2014he comes!\u2014he comes!\u2014he\n    comes!\n\n                                                      \u201c\u2018WM. MILLER.\u2019\n\n\u201cA letter written about the same time with the above, to a sister of Mr.\nMiller\u2019s whose husband was a Universalist, is particularly severe on\nthose sentiments. Beginning with subjects of mere family interest, he\nproceeds to those of a religious; and, in speaking of the nearness of the\nadvent, he says:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018I now tell you that I am more and more convinced of its\n    truth. I have lectured on it, in a number of places this\n    winter, and many people believe that the calculation is right.\n    Some are afraid of it, and others will not believe; but among\n    them all it makes a great deal of talk. Some say Esq. Miller\n    is crazy; others, that he is a fool\u2014and neither of them are\n    wide from the truth. But Bro. J. and sister A. will say, \u201cWe\n    wish Bro. William would let that subject alone. We do not want\n    to hear so much about Christ\u2019s second coming, the end of the\n    world, the judgment-day, and the destruction of the wicked. He\n    knows no more about it than the man in the moon.\u201d So say I. But\n    the Bible tells us; and that will never fail. You will see,\n    within a few weeks, some numbers in the _Vermont Telegraph_,\n    signed W. M. Read, and then judge. If it is not printed in the\n    paper, I will send it to you in pamphlet form. I think it will\n    be printed, at any rate.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I want to know if J\u2e3a is a Universalist yet; and, if so,\n    whether he can tell me who are the partakers of the second\n    death, and what the second death is? You will find the\n    description of them in Rev. 20th chapter, and 21:8. Be sure you\n    are not deceived, Bro. J.; for the time is shortly coming that\n    will try every man\u2019s work, whether it be good or evil; and if\n    you love the Lord Jesus, show your love by believing his word,\n    and being reconciled to his word and will. How little love to\n    Christ do we show when we are unreconciled to his justice,\n    his word, or the righteous judgment of God on the finally\n    impenitent! Yes, brother; it is not contrary to the carnal\n    mind of man to be happy, _if_ we can be happy in our own way.\n    Neither should we be very angry with God, if he made all others\n    so, if we thought that was the _only_ hope for us. But if the\n    Universalists could contrive any plan that would be plausible,\n    to save themselves and condemn the Calvinists, or those who\n    preach endless misery, their actions show that they would do\n    it quickly; or why do they rail at those who preach as Christ\n    did? \u201cExcept a man is born again he cannot see the kingdom of\n    God.\u201d \u201cAnd these shall go away into everlasting punishment.\u201d\n    Why do they oppose those meetings where souls are brought to\n    cry out, as in the days of the apostles, \u201cMen and brethren,\n    what shall we do to be saved?\u201d Did you ever hear such a cry in\n    a Universalist meeting\u2014where brethren and sisters were all\n    together in prayer, with one accord praying and agonizing for\n    the souls of their brethren according to the flesh? No!\n\n    \u201c\u2018Do you think they are fools, brother William? You know they\n    do not believe in damnation. They preach _all men_ will be\n    saved.\u2019 \u2018Ah, ha! What fools the apostles were! If they had\n    preached thus they would have saved many a bitter cry; and\n    Father Paul might have saved himself many a bitter groan in\n    endeavoring to save his kinsmen according to the flesh, and not\n    have wished himself accursed from Christ for their sakes. I\n    really wish\u2014if it is true that all men will be saved\u2014that Paul\n    had known it before he made that expression, that he might save\n    \u201c_some_,\u201d when he might have said that he had the promise of\n    God that \u201c_all_\u201d would be saved. Paul must have been as crazy\n    as Bro. William. Oh, how many long arguments it would have\n    saved, how many twistings of texts, and windings and turnings,\n    if Paul, Peter, John, Matthew, Mark, Luke, Jude, and even\n    Christ, had not said anything about two classes of mankind in a\n    future state, and nothing about punishment being everlasting!\n    But the Universalist is wiser than all these, now-a-days; for\n    they do not preach so now, do they J\u2e3a?\n\n                                                         WM. MILLER.\n\n    \u201c\u2018_March 27, 1832._\u2019\n\n\u201cDuring the summer of 1832, Mr. Miller appears to have been much engaged\nin attending protracted meetings, which were at that time very common\nin many parts of the country. Under date of \u2018Hampton, Oct. 1, 1832,\u2019 he\nwrote to Elder Hendryx:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018... When your letter arrived, I was attending a protracted\n    meeting in Westport; and the next day after I got home I went\n    to Poultney to attend one there. I went to Keesville to attend\n    one as soon as we left Poultney, and only arrived home last\n    Saturday.... I have spent a great share of my time in attending\n    protracted meetings this summer and fall.\u2019\n\n\u201cIn the same letter he thus exhibits his fondness for the Bible, and\npoints out the great doctrines which he believed it inculcated:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018I want to see you more than ever, and when we have less\n    company. The light is continually breaking in; and I am\n    more and more confirmed in those things of which I told\n    you, namely, redemption by grace; the efficacy of Christ\u2019s\n    blood; justification by his righteousness imputed to us;\n    sanctification through the operation of the divine Spirit;\n    and the glorification by our gathering together unto him at\n    his appearing. I also believe those things to be founded\n    upon election, particular, personal, and certain; governed\n    by the mind, will, and plan of God, which was, is, and will\n    be eternal; and which is revealed to us so far as to give us\n    confidence, hope, and full assurance that nothing in the divine\n    plan, either of the means or end, can or will fail of their\n    accomplishment.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe church in Low Hampton being destitute of a pastor, in a letter to\nthe same, dated Nov. 17, 1832, Mr. Miller describes the kind of minister\nthey wished for:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018We do not want one who thinks much of his own gifts, and is\n    lifted up with pride; neither do we want a novice\u2014I mean, a\n    fool; one who knows nothing about the gospel of Christ. We want\n    one who will stir up our minds, will visit, is good to learn,\n    apt to teach, modest, unassuming, pious, devotional, and\n    faithful to his calling. If his natural talents are brilliant,\n    with those qualifications, they would not hurt him. If they\n    are only moderate, they may do well enough for us. Some of\n    our people want \u201ca quick gab.\u201d But I should prefer a quick\n    understanding.... I set out for Salem to-morrow morning.\u2019\n\n\u201cIn a letter to the same, dated Hampton, Feb. 8, 1833, he writes: \u2018The\nLord is scattering the seed. I can now reckon eight ministers who preach\nthis doctrine, more or less, besides yourself. I know of more than one\nhundred private brethren who say that they have adopted my views. Be that\nas it may, \u201ctruth is mighty and will prevail.\u201d If I should get my views\nprinted, how many can you dispose of, in pamphlet form?... Our people are\nabout giving me a license to lecture. I hardly know what to do. I am too\nold, too wicked, and too proud. I want your advice. Be plain, and tell me\nthe whole truth.\u2019\n\n\u201cShortly after, he published his views, in a pamphlet of sixty-four\npages, entitled: \u2018Evidences from Scripture and History of the Second\nComing of Christ, about the year 1843; and of his Personal Reign of One\nThousand Years. By William Miller. \u201cProve all things; hold fast that\nwhich is good.\u201d 1 Thess. 5:21. Brandon, Vermont, _Telegraph_ Office,\n1833.\u2019\n\n\u201cSoon after the publication of this pamphlet, he had occasion to visit\nthe city of New York. As he was passing down the Hudson, in a steamboat,\na company of men standing near him were conversing respecting the\nwonderful improvements of the day. One of them remarked that it was\nimpossible for things to progress for thirty years to come in the same\nratio as they had done; \u2018for,\u2019 said he, \u2018man will attain to something\nmore than human.\u2019 Mr. Miller replied to him that it reminded him of Dan.\n12:4, \u2018Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.\u2019\nA pause ensuing, Mr. M. continued, and observed that the improvements\nof the present day were just what we should expect at this time in the\nfulfillment of Daniel\u2019s prophecy. He then commenced with the 11th chapter\nof Daniel, and, comparing the prophecy with the history, showed its\nfulfillment, all listening with close attention.\n\n\u201cHe then remarked, that he had not intended trespassing so long on their\npatience, and, leaving them, walked to the other end of the boat. The\nentire company followed, and wished to hear more on the subject. He then\ntook up the 2d, 7th, 8th, and 9th, chapters of Daniel. His hearers wished\nto know if he had ever written on the subject. He told them that he had\npublished the above pamphlet, and distributed among them what copies he\nhad with him.\n\n\u201cThis was one of his first audiences, and some gentlemen of high\nstanding listened to his remarks. He scattered the most of his pamphlets\ngratuitously, sending them as a response to letters of inquiry respecting\nhis views, and to places which he could not visit. Under date of April\n10, 1833, in writing to Elder Hendryx, and speaking of the evil of\nresorting to excommunication from the church for slight causes, in view\nof a particular case, he says:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018Is the remedy better than the disease? Should we cut off\n    a man\u2019s leg because he has a thorn in his toe? I think not.\n    Should we set a wheat field on fire and burn the whole crop,\n    because of a few tares in the field? No; let both grow until\n    the harvest. Oh, how much injury is done in church discipline!\n    The hypocrite uses it as a tool to make others think that he\n    is very pious. The envious use it as a weapon to bring down\n    those they imagine are getting above them. The bigot uses it to\n    bring others to his faith; and the sectarian, to bring others\n    to his creed, &c. But, my dear brother, how many difficulties\n    do you think we have in our churches where the spirit of\n    Christ is manifested through the whole trial, or where it\n    began with \u201cFather, forgive them, for they know not what they\n    do\u201d? Therefore, I can frankly and honestly say that the remedy\n    which has been applied to cure this moral disease is worse, a\n    thousand times worse, than the original cause.\u2019\n\n    \u201cIn the same letter, he says: \u2018We have no preacher, as yet,\n    except the old man [Mr. M.] with his concordance. Last Sunday\n    I tried to hold forth the truth from Isa. 65:25; the Sabbath\n    before, from the same chapter, verses 17-19. I wish I had the\n    tongue of an Apollos, and the mental power of a Paul; what a\n    field might I not explore; and what powerful arguments might be\n    brought to prove the authenticity of the Scriptures! But I want\n    one thing more than either\u2014the Spirit of Christ and of God; for\n    he is able to take worms and thresh mountains. O my brother,\n    let us pray for each other, especially on the Sabbath, each\n    that the Lord would bestow this gift of the Holy Spirit upon\n    the other. Peradventure the Lord will answer.\u2019\n\n    \u201cIn the same letter he thus expresses his regard for the word\n    of God: \u2018O may the Bible be to us a rock, a pillar, a compass,\n    a chart, a statute, a directory, a polar star, a traveler\u2019s\n    guide, a pilgrim\u2019s companion, a shield of faith, a ground\n    of hope, a history, a chronology, an armory, a store-house,\n    a mirror, a toilet, a closet, a prayer-book, an epistle, a\n    love letter, a friend, a foe, a revenue, a treasury, a bank,\n    a fountain, a cistern, a garden, a lodge, a field, a haven,\n    a sun, a moon, a star, a door, a window, a light, a lamp, a\n    luminary, a morning, a noon, an evening, an hour-glass, a\n    daysman, a servant.\n\n    \u201c\u2018It is meat, food, drink, raiment, shelter, warmth, heat,\n    a feast, fruit, apples, pictures, wine, milk, honey, bread,\n    butter, oil, refreshment, rest, strength, stability, wisdom,\n    life, eyes, ears, hands, feet, breath; it is a help to\n    hearing, seeing, feeling, tasting, smelling, understanding,\n    forgiving, loving, hoping, enjoying, adoring, and saving; it\n    teaches salvation, justification, sanctification, redemption,\n    and glorification; it declares condemnation, destruction and\n    desolation; it tells us what we were, are, and shall be; begins\n    with the beginning, carries us through the intermediate, and\n    ends only with the end; it is past, present, and to come; it\n    discovers the first great cause, the cause of all effects,\n    and the effects of all causes; it speaks of life, death, and\n    judgment, body, soul, and spirit, Heaven, earth, and hell; it\n    makes use of all nature as figures, to sum up the value of the\n    gospel; and declares itself to be the Word of God. And your\n    friend and brother believes it.\n\n                                                  \u201c\u2018WILLIAM MILLER.\n\n    \u201c\u2018_Hampton, April 10, 1833._\u2019\n\n\u201cIn the autumn of this year, Mr. Miller received a license to preach,\nfrom the church of which he was a member, as follows:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018Let brotherly love continue: the Baptist church of Christ, in\n    Hampton and Whitehall, do certify that Bro. William Miller is\n    a member in regular standing in this church. Bro. Miller has\n    been improving his gifts with us in expounding the words of\n    divine truth in public, for some time past, to the approbation\n    and edification of the church. We are satisfied that Bro.\n    Miller has a gift to improve in public, and are willing he\n    should improve the same wherever his lot may be cast among the\n    Zion of God, that the name of the Lord may be glorified, and\n    his followers edified. Done in church meeting, Saturday, Sept.\n    14, 1833. By order of the church.\n\n                                         \u201c\u2018(Signed) BYRON S. HARLOW,\n                                         \u201c\u2018_Clerk, pro tem._\u2019\n\n\u201cIn a letter to his sister, before referred to, written two days\nsubsequent to the date of the above, and dated, \u2018Low Hampton, Sept. 16,\n1833,\u2019 he speaks of the above license, and of his labors, as follows:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018I have just returned from Dresden, where I have been to spend\n    a Sabbath, and to preach to them the word of life. My texts,\n    yesterday, were Hosea 13:1; Isa. 61:7; and Ps. 102:16.... I\n    do feel anxious to come and see you; and, if the Lord will,\n    and your people should not object, to try to speak to them\n    of the things of the kingdom. My brethren have given me a\n    license\u2014unworthy and old, and disobedient as I am. Oh, to grace\n    how great a debtor!\u2019\n\n\u201cHe then proceeds with matters of mere family interests, and closes with\nthe following exhortation to his brother-in-law, respecting the doctrine\nof Universalism:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018Just as sure as the word of God is _true_, depend upon it,\n    universal salvation is _not_ true. Was this what David saw when\n    he saw the end of the wicked? Enter into the sanctuary of your\n    own conscience, my brother, and you will find, \u201cNO,\u201d responded\n    with appalling force. Enter into the sanctuary of God\u2019s word,\n    and, in every page, you will have to meet this little word,\n    \u201cNO,\u201d or declarations as plain. \u201cStrive to enter in at the\n    strait gate; for _many_ shall seek to enter in, and shall _not_\n    be able.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018Look at Dan. 12:9, 10; here we have the _end_ described.\n    What does conscience say? Be careful, my brother; remember\n    that eternal consequences hang on your decision; and what is\n    the answer? \u201cMany [not all] shall be purified, and made white,\n    and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and _none_ of the\n    wicked shall understand.\u201d See Mal. 4:1-3. Where are the wicked,\n    the proud, and all that do wickedly? Do they enjoy the healing\n    beams of the Sun of Righteousness? No. Again, in Matt. 13:49,\n    50. Are the wicked permitted to dwell with the just? Is Heaven\n    and happiness their abode? Enter into the sanctuary, and what\n    do you hear? No! _No!_\n\n    \u201c\u2018Again, in Matt. 25:12, 30, and 46. Do the foolish virgins\n    enter in to the marriage supper? or are they ever married to\n    the Lamb? _No!_ Is the unprofitable servant \u201cin light and\n    glory\u201d? No! _No!_ And are the goats enjoying the same communion\n    with the sheep? or are they going \u201cinto life eternal\u201d? No!\n    _No!_ NO! Read, again, Rom. 1:18, to the fifth verse of the\n    second chapter. Would it be unjust for God to condemn the\n    characters there described? Your judgment tells you, _No!_ Your\n    conscience responds the same answer, _No!_ Your tongue must\n    _one day_ answer, NO! For every tongue must and will confess\n    to the glory of God. O my brother, enter into the sanctuary\n    and knock while the door may be opened; seek while you may\n    find; look while you may live; and you will most assuredly\n    learn \u201c_their end_.\u201d All the plausible reasoning of all the\n    Universalists under the whole canopy of heaven cannot save _one\n    soul_. \u201cExcept a man is born of the Spirit he cannot enter the\n    kingdom of God.\u201d\u2019\n\n\u201cDuring the fall of 1833, and the ensuing winter, Mr. Miller seems to\nhave been constantly occupied in lecturing in Dresden and other towns\nin New York and Vermont. The very modest estimate which he had of his\nown abilities and qualifications as a preacher, is apparent in all his\ncorrespondence, where any reference is made to his public labors. In\nwriting to Eld. Hendryx, under date of Low Hampton, Feb. 25, 1834, he\nsays:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018You have undoubtedly heard that I have been trying to\n    _preach_ (as some call it) about in this vicinity. I have\n    been laboring, it is true, in my weak manner, in Dresden, two\n    or three months; and the Lord has seen fit to bless us with\n    a little reformation. I have likewise preached in Putnam,\n    Wrentham, Poultney, and in this place. You laugh, Bro. Hendryx,\n    to think old Bro. Miller is preaching! But laugh on; you are\n    not the only one that laughs; and it is all right\u2014I deserve it.\n    If I could preach the truth, it is all I could ask.\u2019\n\n\u201cBeing now recognized as a regularly licensed preacher his brother\nHendryx naturally addressed him as the \u2018Rev. William Miller.\u2019 To a letter\nthus directed, Mr. Miller, under date of \u2018Hampton, March 22, 1834,\u2019 thus\nreplied:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEAR BRO. HENDRYX:\u2014I wish you would look into your Bible and\n    see if you can find the word Rev. applied to a sinful mortal\n    like myself; and govern yourself accordingly.... Let us be\n    determined to live and die on the Bible. God is about to rise\n    and punish the inhabitants of the world. The proud, the high,\n    the lofty, must be brought low; and the humble, the meek, and\n    the contrite, will be exalted. Then, what care I for what the\n    world calls great or honorable? Give me Jesus, and a knowledge\n    of his word, faith in his name, hope in his grace, interest in\n    his love, and let me be clothed in his righteousness, and the\n    world may enjoy all the high-sounding titles, the riches it can\n    boast, the vanities it is heir to, and all the pleasures of\n    sin; and they will be no more than a drop in the ocean.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Yes, let me have Jesus Christ, and then vanish all earthly\n    toys. What glory has God revealed in the face of Jesus Christ!\n    In him all power centers. In him all power dwells. He is the\n    evidence of all truth, the fountain of all mercy, the giver of\n    all grace, the object of all adoration, and the source of all\n    light; and I hope to enjoy him to all eternity. What! such a\n    sinful wretch as I enjoy Christ? How can this be? Yes, yes;\n    through the electing love of God, the sprinkling of the blood\n    of the covenant, and the work of regeneration, such a sinner\n    as I may be cleansed from sin, purified, and made white, and\n    glorified in the New Jerusalem, together with him, and with all\n    who love our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and who love his\n    appearing.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Bro. H., shall you and I appear together in that general\n    assembly and church of the first-born? If God will, I hope we\n    shall there meet, to part no more. How can I realize the glory\n    that will there be manifested? And how could I bear the thought\n    to be banished from the face of Jesus, and from the glory of\n    his power? Forbid it, O my Redeemer! Forbid! and let grace\n    reign through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ\n    our Lord.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe same devotional feelings are manifest in all his epistles, and also\nevince that he experienced nearness of access to God, and great religious\nenjoyment.\n\n\u201cMr. Miller kept no journal, nor any record of the places he visited,\ntill October, 1834. Beginning at a place called \u2018The Forks,\u2019 supposed to\nbe \u2018Moore\u2019s Forks\u2019 in Clinton County, N. Y., the names of places where,\nthe dates when, and the texts from which, he preached, are given in two\nsmall memorandum-books as follows:\u2014\n\n    \u201cPLACE.               TIME.       TEXT.             TEXT.\n    Forks, N. Y.,        Oct. 1.   Luke 15:18.       Rev. 8:13.\n    Keesville, N. Y.,     \u201d   5.   Rev. 1:20.        Job 23:24.\n    Beekmantown,          \u201d   6.   Dan. 8:13, 14.     \u201d  10:14.\n    Plattsburgh,          \u201d   8.   Dan. 8:13, 14.    Rev. 20:6.\n    Keesville,            \u201d  11.   1 Cor. 3:11.\n        \u201d                 \u201d  12.   Rom. 8:6, 7.     Luke 15:18.\n    Westport,             \u201d  14.   Dan. 8:13, 14.     \u201d  10:14.\n        \u201d                 \u201d  15.   Rev. 20:6.\n\n\u201cAfter visiting the above places, he returned home to Low Hampton, and\nsoon after wrote to Eld. Hendryx, as follows:\u2014\n\n                                     \u201c\u2018NORTH HAMPTON, OCT. 23, 1834.\n\n    \u201c\u2018MY DEAR BROTHER HENDRYX:\u2014Your favor of Sept. 17 came to hand\n    while I was absent on a tour into Clinton County, of about\n    six weeks. I gave thirty-six lectures on the second coming of\n    Christ, was at two covenant meetings, attended two protracted\n    meetings in said time, saw a number of new-born babes in\n    Christ; and now, being at home, I shall write to Bro. H. and\n    rest myself a little.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I am every day more convinced that the whole word of God\n    is given for our instruction, reproof, and correction; and\n    that the prophecies contain the strongest evidences of the\n    divinity and truth of the Bible; and present to saint and\n    sinner the strongest motives for a holy life, and repentance\n    and faith toward God, that can be produced. When John preached\n    repentance, he prophesied that the kingdom of Heaven was at\n    hand, as a principal motive. The apostles prophesied that God\n    had appointed a day, in which he would judge the world in\n    righteousness, by that man, Jesus Christ; and your unworthy\n    brother in Christ proclaims that the day is at hand, when \u201che\n    that is filthy will be filthy still, and he that is holy will\n    be holy still;\u201d and that Christ is now standing at the door and\n    knocking for the last time. And, my dear brother, I can truly\n    say that \u201cthe testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.\u201d\n    And yet how many professed ministers of Christ, at the present\n    day, treat that part of the word with total neglect, and even\n    laugh and jeer at those who would warn the people of their\n    approaching danger. But God has supported me beyond my most\n    sanguine expectation. And although they say much before they\n    hear, yet when they do hear they seem confounded.\n\n    \u201c\u2018The evidence is so clear, the testimony is so strong, that we\n    live on the eve of the present dispensation, toward the dawn\n    of the _glorious day_, that I wonder why ministers and people\n    do not wake up and trim their lamps. Yes, my brother, almost\n    two years since you heard the news, \u201c_Behold, the bridegroom\n    cometh!_\u201d\u2014and yet you cry, A little more sleep, a little more\n    slumber. Blame not your people if they go to sleep under your\n    preaching. You have done the same. Bear with me, my brother. In\n    every letter you have written me, you have promised to study\n    this all-important subject, and in every letter you confess\n    your negligence. The day draws near. More than one-sixth of\n    the time is gone since my brother Hendryx promised, and yet\n    asleep! O God, forgive him! Are you waiting for all the world\n    to wake up before you dare get up? Where has your courage fled?\n    Awake! awake! O sluggard! Defend your own castle, or take sides\n    with the word of God; _destroy_ or _build_. You must not, you\n    cannot, you shall not be neutral. Awake! awake! Tell Deacon\n    Smith to help wake you. Tell him, for me, to shake you, and not\n    give out shaking, until Bro. H. will put on the whole armor of\n    light.\n\n    \u201c\u2018In every church where I have lectured on this important\n    subject, many, very many, seem to awake, rub open their eyes,\n    and then fall back to sleep again. But the enemy is waking up.\n    In one town (North Beekmantown) I received a letter, the day\n    after my first lecture, from some bullies and blackguards, that\n    if I did not clear out of the State, they would put me where\n    the dogs could never find me. The letter was signed by ten of\n    them. I stayed, and, blessed be God! he poured out his Spirit,\n    and began a work which gainsayers could not resist.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Some ministers try to persuade their people not to hear me;\n    but the people will go, and every additional lecture will bring\n    an additional multitude, until their meeting-houses cannot\n    hold them. Depend upon it, my brother, God is in this thing;\n    and he will be glorified; and blessed be his holy name! Do pray\n    for me, my brother, that I may have grace equal to my need, and\n    that I may always see my need, feel my weakness, and be kept\n    humble, and that I may always declare the truth. _Do pray!_\n\n    \u201c\u2018I think, if the Lord will, I shall be in your section of\n    country next spring or summer. Do give me a list of some\n    brethren between here and your place, if you can.\n\n                      \u201c\u2018I remain yours in Christ,\n\n                                                  \u201c\u2018WILLIAM MILLER.\u2019\n\n\u201cTwo days subsequent to the date of the above, Mr. M. was again in the\nfield; and, according to his memorandum-book, gave lectures as follows:\nOct. 25 and 26, at Paulet, Vt.; Nov. 6, 8, and 9, at Orwell, Vt.; 10 and\n12, Cornwall, Vt.; and Nov. 16, in Hampton, N. Y. His success in the\nabove places is indicated in the following extract from a letter which he\nwrote Elder Hendryx from Low Hampton, on the 28th of Nov., 1834:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018I have had good success since I wrote you before. The Lord\n    has been with me. I have been into a number of towns in\n    Vermont. Some old, hardened rebels have been brought to plead\n    for mercy, even before my course of lectures was finished.\n    Blessed be the holy name of God! He has given me more than\n    I should have dared to ask. How good, my brother, it is to\n    preach, having God for paymaster! He pays down. He pays in\n    souls. He paid the Shepherd thus, and he was satisfied; will he\n    not pay his servants too? Yes, yes. Bless his name, O my soul,\n    for all his benefits!\n\n    \u201c\u2018I find that studious Christians are the best hearers: and the\n    reason is obvious. The more we know of mankind, the less room\n    there is for bigotry, superstition, and prejudice. Those are\n    evils always attending ignorance.\u2019\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V.\n\n    NEW DOORS OPEN\u2014HIS LABORS COUNTENANCED BY MINISTERS OF HIS\n    DENOMINATION\u2014HIS FIRST DONATION OF TWO HALF-DOLLARS\u2014DEATH\n    OF HIS MOTHER\u2014INCIDENT AT SHAFTSBURY\u2014RESULTS OF HIS\n    LABORS\u2014TESTIMONY OF A CONVERT FROM INFIDELITY\u2014LETTER OF REV. C.\n    FITCH\u2014URGENT APPEALS TO VISIT VARIOUS TOWNS, ETC.\n\n\n\u201cAfter the commencement of the new year (1835) Mr. Miller lectured,\nduring the first week of January, in Addison, Vt., and the second, in\nCornwall, Vt. He then returned home, where he remained till the 12th of\nFebruary, writing on the 11th to Elder Hendryx as follows:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018The Lord opens doors faster than I can fill them. To-morrow\n    I have an appointment in Whiting, which will occupy a week.\n    The next week I shall be in Shoreham; the last week in this\n    month, at Bridgeport; the first week in March, in Middletown;\n    the second, in Hoosac. I have calls from Schroon, Ticonderoga,\n    Moriah, Essex, Chazy, Champaign, Plattsburgh, Peru, Mooretown,\n    Canton, Pottsdam, Hopkinton, Stockholm, Parishville, and other\n    places too numerous to mention. The Lord has blessed me thus\n    far; in almost every place where I have lectured, the Spirit\n    has given fruit. Where I went forth expecting trials and\n    persecution, I have found God a present help. Pray for me,\n    that my faith fail not, and that I may ever feel my weakness,\n    and that my dependence may be on Israel\u2019s God. Pray that I may\n    do my duty in the fear of God, and in the love of the truth;\n    and then, whatever may become of me, God will be glorified and\n    souls saved.\u2019\n\n\u201cAfter filling the two former of those appointments, he returned home\ntill the 8th of March, when he lectured in Bridgeport, Vt., three days,\nand gave six lectures. He lectured in Granville on the following Sabbath,\nMarch 15, and again returned home.\n\n\u201cIt seems to have been his intention, when he left home on the 7th of\nMarch, to return to Whiting, he having received an invitation to that\neffect. A powerful work of grace had followed his lectures there, and\nseveral infidels had acknowledged the authenticity of the Scriptures\nas demonstrated by the fulfillment of prophecy, and were under deep\nconviction, and wished to see him. Whether he went there or not, does not\nappear. But, on the 21st of March, he writes, \u2018I have been very sick with\na cold, for a day or two past, and I am only able to sit up for a short\ntime.\u2019\n\n\u201cOn the 19th of April, he again visited Granville, where he also lectured\non the 20th and 21st. On the 26th, he lectured at Middletown, N. Y. On\nthe 28th, he again wrote from Low Hampton:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018I have been laid up with a severe cold, and have been only\n    to two or three places since I wrote last (March 21). But I\n    have now recovered my health again, so that I have been the\n    last two weeks at Granville and Middletown. Next Sunday (May\n    3), I am to be at Fort Ann village, N. Y., if the Lord will;\n    and when I shall get through lecturing in this region, I cannot\n    tell. Doors open faster than I can fill them. I have calls from\n    Wells, Bishop\u2019s Corner, and Tinouth.\u2019\n\n\u201cThese lectures and sermons of Mr. Miller met the approval of a large\nnumber of the ministers of his denomination, with whose approbation, from\nthis time, he went forth, as a public laborer, indorsed and sanctioned by\nthe following certificate:\u2014\n\n                                                    \u201cMARCH 19, 1835.\n\n    \u201cThis may certify, to whom it may concern, that we, whose names\n    are hereunto affixed\u2014being ministers in the denomination of\n    regular Baptists\u2014are personally acquainted with Bro. William\n    Miller, the bearer of this certificate; that he is a member,\n    and a licentiate in good regular standing, in the particular\n    Baptist church, in Hampton, N. Y.; that we have heard his\n    lectures on the subject of the _Second Coming and Reign of\n    our Lord Jesus Christ_; and that we believe his views on that\n    particular subject, as well as others pertaining to the gospel,\n    are worthy to be known and read of all men. As such an one,\n    we commend him to God, and the affectionate acceptance of our\n    brethren in the precious Saviour.\n\n                                    J. SAWYER, JR., _South Reading_.\n                                    E. HALPING, _Hampton_.\n                                    AMOS STEARNS, _Fort Ann_.\n                                    EMERSON ANDREWS, _Lansingburg_.\n\n\u201cAfter visiting Fort Ann, N. Y., on the 3d of May, he lectured in\nWhitehall, N. Y., on the 10th and 17th of the same month; in West Haven,\non the 7th of June, and in Middlebury, Vt., on the 14th. From that place\nhe went into the province of Lower Canada, and lectured, on the 21st and\n23d, at Bolton; the 25th, at Hutting; the 28th, 29th, and July 1, at\nDerby; July 2, at Georgeville; the 5th and 6th, at Bolton, again; the\n7th, at Outlet; and the 8th and 9th, at Stanstead Plain. On the 12th,\nhe lectured at Derby, Vt.; the 13th, at Troy, Vt.; the 14th, at Lowell,\nVt.; the 15th, at Eden, Vt.; the 16th, at Cambridge, Vt.; the 17th, at\nJericho, Vt.; and the 19th, at Orwell, Vt.\n\n\u201cDuring this tour, while in Canada, a woman placed two half-dollars in\nhis hand, which was all the assistance he received previous to 1836. His\nexpenses for travel, &c., were paid from his own funds.\n\n\u201cOn his way home from Canada, he was much depressed in his spirits. To\nuse his own words, he was overwhelmed with a dark cloud, for which he\ncould not account. He felt impelled to hasten home, with a presentiment\nthat there was trouble there. Leaving Jericho, Vt., instead of filling\nseveral appointments, he took the nearest route, and hastened home with\nall speed. Calling at Orwell, by the urgent request of his Uncle Phelps,\nhe stopped to speak to the church on the Sabbath, leaving immediately\nafter service for home, where he arrived late at night. His family were\nastonished to see him return so soon, and he was delighted to find them\nall well.\n\n\u201cAt an early hour on Monday he went to visit his mother, to take to her a\npresent from her daughter in Canada. His mother lived about half a mile\nfrom Mr. Miller\u2019s, with her son, Solomon. He found her in the enjoyment\nof good health, and he spent the day with her, returning home unusually\ninterested with his visit. His mother did not receive his views, but\nalways told him to preach the whole truth, as he believed it, and do his\nduty. Soon after Mr. Miller had left his mother, she was seized with the\npalsy. Mr. M. was sent for. She was unable to converse any; but, by the\npressure of the hand, signified that she knew him, and before the close\nof the week, expired. Had not Mr. Miller been impressed with a sense\nof \u2018trouble at home,\u2019 he would have taken a more circuitous route, and\nfilled several appointments, according to previous arrangements. By thus\nchanging his original purpose, he enjoyed the opportunity of a day\u2019s\nconversation with his mother, which he would otherwise have been deprived\nof. He often recurred to this as a signal instance of God\u2019s favor.\n\n\u201cOn the 2d of August, he lectured at South Bay, N. Y.; on the 9th, at\nDresden, N. Y., and, on the 23d, at South Bay, again. On the 28th, he\nagain writes from Low Hampton, to Eld. Hendryx, as follows:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018I am yet engaged in warning the inhabitants to be prepared\n    for the great day of God Almighty, and am endeavoring to prove\n    by the Scriptures that it is near, even at the doors.... I\n    always present this as an inducement for men to repent. I call\n    on them in the name of my dear Master to turn, repent, believe,\n    and obey him. I beseech them, for the value of their souls,\n    to believe in Christ. I implore them to lay up treasures in\n    Heaven. I importune them, again and again, to read, reflect,\n    examine, and see if the word of God is not true. I show them\n    its complete fulfillment thus far, and then I pray God to\n    direct the arrow to the heart. I ask God, through Jesus\n    Christ, to nerve the arm that pulls the bow, and to sharpen the\n    arrow that twangs from it. I then put all my confidence in God\n    and in his promise, \u201cLo, I am with you even to the end of the\n    world.\u201d ...\n\n    \u201c\u2018I have this moment received a letter from Bro. Wescott [the\n    Baptist clergyman], to be in Stillwater next Sabbath [August\n    30]; and I shall be under the necessity of leaving in a few\n    minutes. I shall be absent until about the 1st of October.\n\n    \u201c\u2018My good old mother Miller is dead. She died about four weeks\n    since. The rest of us are all in good health.\n\n                        \u201c\u2018Yours in gospel bonds,\n\n                                                      \u201c\u2018WM. MILLER.\u2019\n\n\u201cHe visited Stillwater, N. Y., according to invitation, and continued\nthere one week, lecturing each day. On the 13th, he was at Bristol. On\nthe 1st of November, he visited Middletown, N. Y., and gave a course of\neight lectures. He then lectured again, five days, at Bristol, commencing\non the 15th of November; and, beginning on the 29th, he labored five days\nlonger at Middletown\u2014usually giving two lectures each day. On the 6th of\nDecember, he was at Whitehall, N. Y.; on the 20th, at Poultney, Vt.; and\non the 27th, at Westhaven. This terminated his labors for the year 1835.\n\n\u201cOn the 3d of January, 1836, he lectured at a Brother Aborn\u2019s; on the\n24th, at Dresden, N. Y.; on the 7th of February, at Fort Ann village, N.\nY.; on the 13th of March, at Orwell, Vt.; and on the 15th, at Shoreham,\nVt. His public lectures during these winter months were interrupted\nby the preparation of his course of sixteen lectures for the press,\nwhich were published in Troy, N. Y., in the spring of this year, by\nEld. Wescott. All the copies of that edition supplied to Mr. Miller, he\npurchased at the regular prices.\n\n\u201cOn the 24th of April, he again visited Stillwater, N. Y.; and, on the\n15th of May, New Haven, Vt. On the 16th he commenced a course of lectures\nat Weybridge, Vt., which closed on the 20th. On the day following, he\nbegan his labors at Monkton, N. Y., which continued eight days.\n\n\u201cOn the 19th of June, he visited Lansingburg, N. Y., and continued till\nthe 26th. To pay his stage-fare, he received, on this occasion, four\ndollars, which, with the two half-dollars received in Canada, was all\nthe remuneration he had thus far received for his expenses. Subsequent\nto that time, as he says in his \u2018Apology and Defense,\u2019 he never received\nenough to meet his expenses of travel to the places where he was invited;\nso that his public labors were never of any pecuniary advantage to him,\nas has been currently reported and believed; but, on the contrary, they\nwere a heavy tax on his property, which gradually decreased during that\nperiod of his life.\n\n\u201cOn the 21st of July, he writes, from Low Hampton, to Eld. Hendryx: \u2018I\nhave been confined at home, for three weeks past, by a bilious complaint.\nI was taken unwell while lecturing at Lansingburg, N. Y.; but I finished\nmy course of lectures, and returned home, and have not been well since.\nMy lectures were well received in that place, and excited attention. The\nhouse was filled to overflowing for eight days in succession. I feel that\nGod was there, and believe that in his glorified kingdom I shall see\nthe fruits.... Infidels, deists, Universalists, and sectarians, were\nall chained to their seats, in perfect silence, for hours\u2014yes, days\u2014to\nhear the old stammering man talk about the second coming of Christ, and\nshow the manner, object, time, and signs, of his coming. O my brother!\nit makes me feel like a worm\u2014a poor, feeble creature; for it is God\nonly who could produce such an effect on such audiences. Yet it gives\nme confidence; for I solemnly believe it is truth; and God will support\nhis word, and will be present where it is preached, however feeble the\ninstrument; for \u201cLo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the\nworld.\u201d Therefore, if I were preaching before all the kings of the earth,\nwhy should I fear? for the King of kings is with me. If all the lords\nwere there, yet he is Lord of lords, and of the great men of the earth.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. Miller again lectured in Dresden, N. Y., on the 7th of August; in\nOrwell, Vt., on the 11th of September; and in Keesville, N. Y., on the\n18th. He then gave courses of lectures, beginning at Lawrence, N. Y.,\non the 22d; Stockholm, on the 29th; Parishville, on the 7th of October;\nMassena, N. Y., on the 14th. He gave ten lectures at Fort Covington, N.\nY., beginning on the 20th, and was at Chataugay, N. Y., on the 27th.\nThis terminated his labors for the year 1836. In allusion to these last\nvisits, he wrote on the 23d of December:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018I have not visited a place where the Lord has not given me\n    one or two souls for my hire. I have spent eight weeks in St.\n    Lawrence County, and delivered eighty-two lectures this fall.\n    Next week I am going to Shaftsbury and vicinity.\u2019\n\n\u201cHe visited Shaftsbury, Vt., the 23d of January, 1837, and gave his\nfull course of sixteen lectures. At the close of one lecture, a Baptist\nclergyman arose, and stated that he had come there for the purpose of\nexposing the folly of Mr. M., but had to confess that he was confounded,\nconvicted, and converted. He acknowledged that he had applied various\nunhandsome appellations to Mr. Miller, calling him \u2018the end of the world\nman,\u2019 \u2018the old visionary,\u2019 \u2018dreamer,\u2019 \u2018fanatic,\u2019 and for which he felt\ncovered with shame and confusion. That confession, evidently so honest,\nwas like a thunderbolt on the audience.\n\n\u201cVery few particulars of interest have been gathered respecting his\nlabors during the year 1837. According to his memorandum-book, he\nlectured in Wells, Vt., on the 3d of February; in Shrewsbury, Vt., on\nthe 3d of March; in Andover, Vt., from the 5th to the 12th of March; in\nWeston, Vt., four days, beginning with the 13th; in Mt. Holly, Vt., on\nthe 17th; in Orwell, Vt., on the 23d of April and 7th of May; in Danby,\nVt., the 14th of May; in Poultney, Vt., eight days, beginning with the\n21st of May; in Orwell, again, on the 4th of June; in North Springfield,\nVt., from the 11th to the 17th; in Ludlow, Vt., from the 19th to the\n21st; in Mt. Holly, Vt., from the 25th of June to the 2d of July;[15]\nin Orwell, Vt., on the 9th of July; at Fairhaven, Vt., from the 11th to\nthe 20th; in Whiting, Vt., on the 23d; in Fairhaven, Vt., on the 13th of\nAug.; in Moriah, Vt., from the 14th to the 22d of October; in Ludlow,\nVt., from the 29th to the 6th of November, and at Stillwater, N. Y., on\nthe 31st of December.\n\n\u201cWith the 1st of January, 1838, he commenced a second course of lectures\nat Lansingburg, N. Y., in compliance with the urgent request of the\nBaptist church in that place, and of E. B. Crandall, their pastor.\nThe lectures continued nine days, and were listened to by crowded and\nattentive audiences. The result also was most heart-cheering. Infidelity\nhad several strongholds in that neighborhood, and many of that class\nattended his lectures, and were greatly affected by them. In a letter\ndated on the 25th of that month, two weeks after the close of the\nlectures, a gentleman of that place writes to Mr. Miller:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018I have never witnessed so powerful an effect in any place as\n    in this, on all who heard. I am of the opinion that not less\n    than one hundred persons, who held infidel sentiments, are\n    brought to believe the Bible. Infidelity is dumb in this place,\n    as if frightened, and converts are many.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe following testimony of one who was converted from infidelity during\nthese lectures, is copied from the _Boston Investigator_ (an infidel\npaper) of January, 1845:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018MR. EDITOR:\u2014I was a warm supporter of the views of Abner\n    Kneeland, attended his lectures and _protracted dances_,\n    disbelieved in divine revelation and a future existence, and\n    fully accorded with Mr. Kneeland\u2019s views of religion. Having\n    read every work of note that I could obtain, and having heard\n    many lectures opposed to God and the Bible, I considered\n    myself prepared to overthrow the Christian faith, and feared\n    no argument that could be brought from the Bible. With these\n    feelings, I attended a full course of Mr. Miller\u2019s lectures. He\n    gave his rules of interpretation, and pledged himself to prove\n    his position. I approved of his rules\u2014to which I refer you\u2014and\n    the result was, he established the fact that the Bible is what\n    it purports to be\u2014the word of God\u2014to my mind, beyond a doubt;\n    and I have taken it as the man of my counsel.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I notice your doubts of the truth of the statement in\n    relation to hundreds of infidels being converted under the\n    preaching of Mr. Miller. This may possibly be owing to your\n    never having given Mr. Miller a candid and thorough hearing.\n    He is a man mighty in the Scriptures, and has done terrible\n    execution in the ranks of the \u201cKing\u2019s enemies,\u201d with the sword\n    of the Spirit, which is the word of God.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I am personally acquainted with nearly one hundred, who held\n    to similar views with Abner Kneeland, who were converted under\n    the preaching of Mr. Miller; and we did not yield the point\n    without a struggle, nor without due consideration. Each and\n    every prop and refuge of infidelity and unbelief were taken\n    away from us, and our sandy foundation was swept by the truth\n    of the Almighty as chaff is driven by the wind. Yet we parted\n    with them much as a man parts with a _diseased tooth_. We tried\n    to cure and keep it there, and when made to know that the\n    _root_ and foundation was rotten, it was painful to part with;\n    but we rejoiced and felt better after the separation; for there\n    is balm in Gilead\u2014there is a Physician there.\n\n                                \u201c\u2018_Lansingburg, N. Y., Jan., 1845._\u2019\n\n\u201cOn the 14th of January, Mr. Miller lectured at Westhaven, N. Y., and two\nweeks from that day, at Low Hampton, N. Y. On the 4th of February, he\ncommenced a course of lectures at Panton, Vt., which he continued eight\ndays. He then returned to West Haven, N. Y., and lectured seven days,\nbeginning February 18.\n\n\u201cOn returning to Low Hampton, he found the following letter from Rev.\nCharles Fitch, pastor at the Marlboro\u2019 Chapel, Boston. It was the\nbeginning of an acquaintance between those dear brethren in Christ, and\nas such, will be read with interest by all:\u2014\n\n                                            \u201c\u2018BOSTON, MARCH 5, 1838.\n\n    \u201c\u2018MY DEAR BROTHER:\u2014I am a stranger to you, but I trust that,\n    through the free sovereign grace of God, I am not altogether a\n    stranger to Jesus Christ, whom you serve. I am the pastor of\n    an orthodox Congregational church in this city. A few weeks\n    since, your Lectures on the Second Coming of Christ were put\n    into my hands. I sat down to read the work, knowing nothing\n    of the views which it contained. I have _studied_ it with\n    an overwhelming interest, such as I never felt in any other\n    book except the Bible. I have compared it with Scripture and\n    history, and I find nothing on which to rest a single doubt\n    respecting the correctness of your views. Though a miserable,\n    guilty sinner, I trust that, through the Lord\u2019s abounding\n    grace, I shall be among those that love his appearing. I\n    preached to my people two discourses yesterday on the coming\n    of our Lord, and I believe a deep and permanent interest will\n    be awakened thereby in God\u2019s testimonies. My object in writing\n    you, my dear sir, is twofold.\n\n    \u201c\u20181st. Will you have the kindness to inform me, by letter,\n    in what history you find the fact stated that the last of the\n    ten kings was baptized A. D. 508, and also that the decree of\n    Justinian, giving the Bishop of Rome power to suppress the\n    reading of the Scriptures, was issued in 538? All the other\n    data which you have given, I have found correct, and I know of\n    no reason to doubt your correctness in these. But, as I have\n    not yet been able to find a statement of those facts, you will\n    do me a great favor by just informing me where I may find them;\n    and I shall then feel prepared to defend the truth, and to\n    point others to the right source of information.\n\n    \u201c\u2018There is a meeting of our Ministerial Association to-morrow,\n    and, as I am appointed to read an essay, I design to bring up\n    this whole subject for discussion, and trust that I may thereby\n    do something to spread the truth.\n\n    \u201c\u20182d. My second object in writing was to ask if you would put\n    me in the way to obtain a dozen copies of your lectures. I know\n    of none to be obtained here. I know of several individuals\n    who are very desirous to obtain the work, and if you can tell\n    me of any place where it can be obtained in this city, or in\n    New York, you will greatly oblige me. If you can give me any\n    information of importance on the subject, not contained in your\n    book, I should greatly rejoice, because, as I stand a watchman\n    on the walls, I wish to \u201c_give the trumpet a certain sound_,\u201d\n    and to make that sound as full, and explicit, and convincing,\n    as possible.\n\n                 \u201c\u2018Yours in the faith of Jesus Christ,\n\n                                                   \u201c\u2018CHARLES FITCH.\u2019\n\n\u201cOn the 12th of March, Mr. M. commenced a course of lectures, and\ncontinued eight days, at Benson, Vt. Previous to this, he had received\nurgent requests from the Rev. Mr. Hill, of the First Church in Troy, N.\nY., and Rev. Mr. Parke, of the church in West Troy, uniting with their\nrespective churches, for a course of lectures in each place; and they\nwere expected, in West Troy, to have been commenced previous to those in\nBenson, Vt. Their disappointment, and the great anxiety of ministers and\npeople, at that period, to secure his services, may be judged of by the\nfollowing letter from the pastor of the church in that place:\u2014\n\n                                        \u201c\u2018WEST TROY, MARCH 12, 1838.\n\n    \u201c\u2018WILLIAM S. MILLER, ESQ.:[16] Dear Sir, I received a line\n    from you, dated March 1, and was glad to hear that Father\n    Miller had concluded to visit West Troy on Saturday last. With\n    much anxiety, all looked forward to that day, expecting the\n    privilege of hearing something upon the subject of Christ\u2019s\n    Second Coming. But alas! we are _disappointed_. Dear Sir, I\n    write these few lines, letting you know something of the state\n    of feeling in this place upon the subject of Mr. Miller\u2019s\n    lectures. In the street, in the house, in short, wherever\n    (almost) you meet an individual, the first thing is, Has Mr.\n    Miller come yet? When is Mr. Miller going to be here? What\n    is the reason he does not come? &c. If the old gentleman can\n    possibly come down to West Troy, I wish him to come as soon as\n    possible. I hope he will not delay. I think we have a little\n    claim upon him, if our wishes may be brought into account.\n    Dear Sir, upon the reception of this, please write me the\n    reason of the _disappointment_; also, when he will come, if at\n    all, that I may give an answer to them that ask.\n\n                           \u201c\u2018Yours in haste,\n\n                                               \u201c\u2018FREDERIC S. PARKE.\u2019\n\n\u201cAt the same date, Mr. Miller\u2019s son received a letter from Troy, N. Y.,\nstating that \u2018Rev. Mr. Hill is at present very anxious, and most of his\nchurch, for your father to come to East Troy first, and he has undertaken\na negotiation with Eld. Parke, for your father to visit them half of the\ntime.\u2019\n\n\u201cIn compliance with these urgent requests, he commenced a course of\nlectures at West Troy, N. Y., on the 8th of March, and continued till the\n15th, when he began in East Troy, where he continued till the 25th. These\nwere attended with happy results. In the March of the next year, the Rev.\nMr. Parke wrote Mr. Miller as follows:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018It is my privilege to say that God in mercy is doing a great\n    work in West Troy. Old and young and middle-aged are alike made\n    the happy recipients of grace. The Dutch Reformed church are\n    enjoying an interesting state of things. The Methodists are\n    full of the Spirit, and the Baptists are pressing on in the\n    good cause. Praise the Lord! A number date their awakening to\n    your lectures on the Second Coming of Christ.... You have great\n    reason to rejoice that God is pleased to make you the honored\n    instrument of awakening poor sinners.\u2019\n\n\u201cPrevious to these lectures, he had received the following urgent request\nfrom Rev. Emerson Andrews, of the Baptist church in Rome, N. Y.:\u2014\n\n                                      \u201c\u2018ROME, N. Y., MARCH 20, 1838.\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEAR BROTHER MILLER:\u2014 ... We have heard something of you\n    and yours, and want to see you in person, and hear your whole\n    course of lectures. I feel as if the time had arrived for you\n    to preach the gospel at Rome also. There is more attention to\n    religion now than formerly, and some anxiety. The desire to\n    hear from you is very great. We want you to come immediately,\n    the first Sunday, if possible. Don\u2019t, I beg of you, make _any\n    delay, or excuse_, but come right off.... I want you to be here\n    before the time if possible.\u2019\n\n\u201cEngagements at Troy made it necessary to defer compliance with the above\ntill they were attended to. After a few days\u2019 rest, he visited Rome,\nN. Y., began his lectures there on the 6th of May, and continued till\nthe 16th. In the absence of any journal, or of any reference to these\nlectures in any of the letters preserved by him, their results cannot be\nhere recorded.\n\n\u201cIn June following, he again visited his friends in Canada East, and\nlectured at Outlet on the 10th and 11th, and Bolton from the 12th to the\n14th, returning home before the end of the month. After this, he gave\ncourses of lectures, commencing on the 26th of August, at Braintree, Vt.;\non the 16th of September, at White Creek, Vt.; on the 3d of October,\nat Pittsfield, Vt.; on the 7th, at Randolph, Vt.; on the 16th, at\nBrookfield, Vt.\n\n\u201cThis last course was given at the urgent request of Rev. Jehiel Claflin\nand the Baptist church in that place. As early as the 26th of June, Mr.\nC. wrote him: \u2018There are a great many people in this and the adjoining\ntowns, who are very anxious to hear you lecture on the subject of the\nmillennium.\u2019 And, on the 16th of July, he wrote: \u2018I received your favor\nof the 30th ult., and read the same with much delight, to find that you\ncould gratify the wish of so many friends in this, and adjacent towns.\nI read your letter in meeting, yesterday, to my congregation; and, some\nbeing present from abroad, I consulted them according to your request,\nand found an increasing anxiety in their minds that you should come and\nlecture in this vicinity, or near by.\u2019\n\n\u201cOn the 7th of November, he commenced a course of lectures at Montpelier,\nVt., which he continued there and in the neighborhood till the 23d. On\nthe 17th, he writes from that place to his son:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018There is a great excitement on the subject in this place.\n    Last night, we had a solemn and interesting meeting. There was\n    a great breaking down, and much weeping. Some souls have been\n    born again. I can hardly get away from this people. They want\n    me to stay another week; but I shall go to the next village\n    on Monday. Mr. Kellogg, the Congregational minister here, is\n    a good man, and his church are living Christians. Montpelier\n    is quite a considerable village, and contains some very\n    intelligent people, who appear to listen with much interest.\n    This afternoon, I meet the citizens, and am to give them an\n    opportunity to ask questions and state objections.... May God\n    help me to give his truth! I know my own weakness, and I know\n    that I have neither power of body nor mind to do what the Lord\n    is doing by me. It is the Lord\u2019s doings and marvelous in our\n    eyes. The world do not know how weak I am. They think much more\n    of the old man than _I_ think of him.\u2019\n\n\u201cA gentleman in this place, on the 20th of February following, wrote to\nMr. M. as follows: \u2018I am happy to inform you that your labors with us\nhave been blessed, and twenty have united with our church (the Baptist)\nsince you left Montpelier, and twenty or thirty more will soon join, all\nof whom date their awakening at the time you lectured here. Bro. Kellogg\n(the Congregationalist minister) is strong in the faith, and his views\nare with Bro. Miller on the second coming of Christ.\u2019\n\n\u201cOn the 24th of November, he commenced a series of lectures in Jericho,\nVt., which continued till the 2d of December. On the 28th of this month,\nhe went to Stockbridge, Vt., and on the 30th, to Rochester, where he\ncontinued till the 6th of January, 1839.\n\n\u201cOn the 7th of January, 1839, he wrote to his son from Bethel, Vt., that\nhe had lectured in those places to large audiences, and was on his way to\nWoodstock. He arrived at that place on the 7th, and commenced a second\ncourse of lectures, which continued to the 14th. From that date to the\n20th, he lectured at Pomfret, Vt.; from the 21st to the 27th, at Bethel,\nVt.; and from the 28th to the 31st, at Gaysville, Vt.; from which place\nhe returned home. On the 28th, he wrote from Gaysville to his son:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018There has been a reformation in every place that I have\n    lectured in since I left home, and the work is progressing\n    in every place rapidly. The meeting-houses are crowded to\n    overflowing. Much excitement prevails among the people. Many\n    say they believe; some scoff; others are sober and thinking.\n    Give my love to all\u2014mother and the children.\n\n                          I remain yours, etc.\n\n                                                      \u201c\u2018WM. MILLER.\u2019\n\n\u201cOn the 10th of March, he commenced in Essex, Vt., and lectured till the\n17th. From the 18th to the 25th, he was at Williston, Vt.; and on the\n26th, he commenced another course of lectures at Waterbury, Vt., which\nclosed on the 1st of April. Having projected a tour into Massachusetts\nabout this time, he was obliged to disappoint a large number who had\nsolicited visits from him. As evidence of the great desire to hear him,\nhe then had on file urgent requests from Frederick Daley, \u2018Preacher\nin charge,\u2019 Northfield, Vt.,\u2014with fifteen signatures from Strafford,\nVt.,\u2014expressing \u2018a great anxiety on the part of the public to hear a\ncourse of lectures;\u2019 from Joseph Chase, Middlesex, announcing that the\nmeeting-house had been opened for him without a dissenting vote, and\nurging him to come by all means; Wm. D. Leavett, Grantham, N. H.; urging\nhis presence there, \u2018at an early day as possible;\u2019 Z. Delano, Hartford,\nVt., wishing him to come as early \u2018as practicable;\u2019 Jonathan Woods,\nDover, Vt., \u2018many people being desirous to hear;\u2019 Hiram Freeman, pastor\nof the Congregationalist church in Middlesex, Vt., stating that \u2018the\nchurch would gladly see him, and were generally anxious for him to come,\u2019\netc., etc.; none of which appear to have been complied with.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI.\n\n    VISITS MASSACHUSETTS\u2014INVITATION TO LOWELL\u2014EXTRACT FROM THE\n    LYNN RECORD\u2014IS INVITED TO BOSTON\u2014CONVERSATION WITH ELDER\n    HIMES\u2014PUBLICATION OF HIS LECTURES BY MR. MUSSEY\u2014LABORS IN\n    PORTSMOUTH\u2014INTERVIEW WITH ELDER ROBINSON, ETC.\n\n\n\u201cIn compliance with an invitation from Mr. Seth Mann, of Randolph, Mass.,\ndated January 15, 1839, informing him that \u2018I, myself, and many of our\nBaptist and Pedo-Baptist friends here, wish you to come and preach to\nus,\u2019 Mr. Miller visited Massachusetts, and arrived for the first time in\nBoston on the evening of April 18. The next day he wrote as follows:\u2014\n\n                         \u201c\u2018Boston, April 19, 10 o\u2019clock A. M., 1839.\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEAR SON:\u2014I am now in this place, hearty and well. Start at\n    half-past twelve for Randolph, where I expect to be next week.\n    Roads were very bad. Snow-storm night before last in Keene, N.\n    H.; pleasant yesterday and to-day. I have been running about\n    this morning; visited India wharf, the new Market, Faneuil\n    Hall, etc., etc. Busy time in Boston. I have no news as yet.\n    Will write as often as you will wish to hear. I stopped at the\n    Pemberton House, No. 9 Howard street.\n\n                              Yours, etc.\n\n                                                        WM. MILLER.\u2019\n\n\u201cHe reached Randolph, and commenced his first course of lectures in\nMassachusetts on the 21st of April of that year. He closed his lectures\nthere on the 28th; commenced in Stoughton, Mass., on the 29th, and\ncontinued to the 6th of May; lectured at Braintree, Mass., on the 7th and\n8th, and from the 9th to the 13th in East Randolph, Mass. His lectures\nin these places were attended by powerful revivals. On the 27th of May\nMr. Mann wrote him from Randolph, saying:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018The Lord, we trust, is doing a gracious work in this place.\n    There have been twelve or fourteen already converted, and at\n    the close of the last meeting about twenty arose for prayers.\n    Our last conference meeting was so crowded that we had to\n    adjourn to the meeting-house.... There appears to be a great\n    solemnity on the minds of nearly all in Mr. M\u2019Leish\u2019s society.\n    A powerful work is going on in East Randolph.\u2019\n\n\u201cIn July following, Rev. Charles Peabody transmitted to Mr. M. the\nunanimous vote of the church for him to repeat his lectures in Randolph;\nbut he does not appear to have done so.\n\n\u201cPrevious to Mr. Miller\u2019s visit to Massachusetts, Elder T. Cole, of\nLowell, had heard of the results attending his labors in Vermont, and\nhad written for him to visit that city. The dress of Mr. Miller was\nvery plain and ordinary, much more befitting his profession of a farmer\nthan of a preacher. Elder Cole, from the reports of his great success,\nexpected him to appear like some distinguished doctor of divinity. When\nMr. M. came to Randolph, Elder C. obtained a promise of his services in\nLowell, to commence on the 14th of May, and was requested to meet him\nat the cars. He had heard that Mr. Miller wore a camlet cloak and white\nhat, but expected to see a fashionably-dressed gentleman. On the arrival\nof the cars, he went to the depot to meet him. He watched closely the\nappearance of all the passengers as they left the cars, but saw no one\nwho corresponded with his expectations of Mr. M. Soon he saw an old man,\nshaking with the palsy, with a white hat and camlet cloak, alight from\nthe cars. Fearing that this one might prove to be the man, and, if so,\nregretting that he had invited him to lecture in _his_ church, he stepped\nup to him, and whispered in his ear:\u2014\n\n\u201c\u2018Is your name Miller?\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. M. nodded assent.\n\n\u201c\u2018Well,\u2019 said he, \u2018follow me.\u2019\n\n\u201cHe led the way, walking on ahead, and Mr. M. keeping as near as he\ncould, till he reached his house. He was much chagrined that he had\nwritten for a man of Mr. M.\u2019s appearance, who, he concluded, could know\nnothing respecting the Bible, but would confine his discourse to visions\nand fancies of his own.\n\n\u201cAfter tea, he told Mr. M. he supposed it was about time to attend\nchurch; and again led the way, Mr. Miller bringing up the rear. He showed\nMr. M. into the desk, but took a seat himself among the congregation.\nMr. M. read a hymn; after it was sung, he prayed, and read another hymn,\nwhich was also sung. He felt unpleasant at being left in the pulpit\nalone, but took for his text: \u2018Looking for that blessed hope, and the\nglorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.\u2019 This\nhe sustained and illustrated by apposite quotations of Scripture, proving\na second personal and glorious appearing of Christ. Elder C. listened\nfor about fifteen minutes, when, seeing that he presented nothing but\nthe word of God, and that he opened the Scriptures in a manner that did\nhonor to the occasion, like a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, he\nwalked up into the pulpit, and took his seat. Mr. M. lectured there from\nthe 14th to the 22d of May, and again from the 29th to the 4th of June.\nA glorious revival followed, and elder C. embraced his views in full,\ncontinuing for six years a devoted advocate of them. On the 25th of July,\nelder C. wrote Mr. M. that, since the lectures, he \u2018had baptized about\nforty, sixty in all having joined the church; and there are yet some who\nare seeking the Lord.\u2019 Mr. Miller says of his visit:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018At Lowell I also became acquainted with my Bro. J. Litch, who\n    had previously embraced my views, and who has since so aided\n    their extension by his faithful lectures and writings, and\n    energetic and consistent course.\u2019\n\n\u201cFrom the 24th to the 28th of May, Mr. M. lectured in Groton, Mass., and\nfrom the 3d to the 9th of June, in Lynn, Mass. In connection with his\nvisit to this place, he made the following entry in his memorandum-book:\n\u2018Thus ends my tour into Massachusetts, making eight hundred lectures from\nOctober 1, 1834, to June 9, 1839\u2014four years, six months, nine days.\u2019 The\neditor of the _Lynn Record_ gave the following notice of Mr. Miller, and\nhis visit to that place:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018MILLER AND THE PROPHECIES.\n\n    \u201c\u2018We took a prejudice against this good man when he first\n    came among us, on account of what we supposed a glaring error\n    in interpreting the Scripture prophecies so that the world\n    would come to an end in 1843. We are still inclined to believe\n    this an error or miscalculation. At the same time we have\n    overcome our prejudice against him by attending his lectures,\n    and learning more of the excellent character of the man, and\n    of the great good he has done and is doing. Mr. Miller is a\n    plain farmer, and pretends to nothing except that he has made\n    the Scripture prophecies an intense study for many years,\n    understands some of them differently from most other people,\n    and wishes, for the good of others, to spread his views before\n    the public. No one can hear him five minutes without being\n    convinced of his sincerity, and instructed by his reasoning and\n    information. All acknowledge his lectures to be replete with\n    useful and interesting matter. His knowledge of Scripture is\n    very extensive and minute; that of the prophecies, especially,\n    surprisingly familiar. His application of the prophecies to the\n    great events which have taken place in the natural and moral\n    world is such, generally, as to produce conviction of their\n    truth, and gain the ready assent of his hearers. We have reason\n    to believe that the preaching or lecturing of Mr. Miller,\n    has been productive of great and extensive good. Revivals\n    have followed in his train. He has been heard with attention,\n    wherever he has been....\n\n    \u201c\u2018There is nothing very peculiar in the manner or appearance of\n    Mr. Miller. Both are at least equal to the style and appearance\n    of ministers in general. His gestures are easy and expressive,\n    and his personal appearance every way decorous. His Scripture\n    explanations and illustrations are strikingly simple, natural,\n    and forcible; and the great eagerness of the people to hear him\n    has been manifested wherever he has preached.\u2019\n\n\u201cOn his way home he lectured at the following places:\u2014Commencing on\nthe 16th of June at Westford, Vt.; the 23d, at Cambridge, Vt., and on\nthe 30th at Colchester, Vt. As a result of his labors in Colchester,\ntwenty-three were added to the Baptist church between that time and the\n2d of December following.\n\n\u201cThe letters addressed to him and his son at this period show that a\nreport was in circulation that he was dead; and, that as soon as that was\nsuccessfully contradicted, another was current that, on re-examining his\ncalculations, he had discovered a mistake of one hundred years. Both of\nthese rumors were several times subsequently revived, and had to be as\noften contradicted.\n\n\u201cOn the 15th of September, in compliance with \u2018the wish of many in\nRutland, Vt.,\u2019 who were \u2018very anxious to hear\u2019 his \u2018course of lectures,\u2019\nhe visited that place, and lectured each day, to the 22d, when he\nreturned to his family, and made arrangements for a second visit to\nMassachusetts.\n\n\u201cHe commenced his labors at Groton, Mass., on the 13th of October,\nand lectured ten days. In reference to these lectures and others in\nneighboring towns, Rev. Silas Hawley, Congregational minister, wrote from\nGroton, on the 10th of April, 1840, as follows:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018Mr. Miller has lectured in this and adjoining towns with\n    marked success. His lectures have been succeeded by precious\n    revivals of religion in all those places. A class of minds\n    are reached by him not within the influence of other men.\n    His lectures are well adapted, so far as I have learned, for\n    shaking the supremacy of the various forms of error that are\n    rife in the community.\u2019\n\n\u201cClosing his lectures in Groton, Mr. M. gave a third course of lectures\nin Lowell, continuing from the 23d of October to the 1st of November.\nThese, like the previous lectures in that place, were attended with\nprecious fruits.\n\n\u201cFrom the 2d to the 10th of November, he lectured in Haverhill, Mass.,\nwhere he made the acquaintance of Elder Henry Plummer, pastor of the\nChristian church, who embraced his views, and was a steadfast friend till\nMr. Miller\u2019s decease.\n\n\u201cOn the 11th of November, Mr. M. commenced a course of lectures in\nExeter, N. H., which continued till the 19th. On the 12th, a conference\nof the Christian Connection was in session there, and they called on Mr.\nMiller in a body. He was a stranger to nearly all of them; and few of\nthem regarded his views with anything more than mere curiosity. Several\nof them questioned him respecting his faith; but they were speedily\nsilenced by the quotation of appropriate texts of Scripture.\n\n\u201cIt was on this occasion that he became acquainted with Elder Joshua V.\nHimes, then pastor of the Chardon-street church, Boston. Elder H. had\nwritten to Mr. M., on the 19th of October, inviting him to give a course\nof lectures in his chapel. He now renewed his invitation, and got the\npromise of a course of lectures in December. Before commencing there, Mr.\nMiller gave a second course of lectures in Stoughton, Mass., from the\n24th to the 29th of November, and one in Canton, Mass., from the 1st to\nthe 6th of December. In this last place, he writes to his son, that he\n\u2018lectured three times on the last day, to a house jammed full.\u2019 Pressing\ninvitations for further labors in the surrounding region had to be\ndisregarded, in order to fulfill his engagement in the metropolis of New\nEngland.\n\n\u201cHe arrived in Boston on the 7th of December, and from the 8th to the\n16th lectured in the Chardon-street chapel,\u2014his first course of lectures\nin that city.\n\n\u201cOn the 12th of December, Mr. Miller writes from Boston to his son:\u2014\u2018I am\nnow in this place lecturing, twice a day, to large audiences. Many, very\nmany, go away unable to gain admittance. Many, I am informed, are under\nserious convictions. I hope God will work in this city.\u2019\n\n\u201cAt this time he stopped at the house of Elder Himes, who had much\nconversation with him respecting his views, his plans for the future,\nand his responsibilities. Elder H. became impressed with the correctness\nof Mr. M.\u2019s views respecting the nearness and nature of Christ\u2019s coming;\nbut was not fully satisfied respecting the time. He was, however,\nsufficiently convinced that Mr. Miller was communicating important\ntruths, to feel a great interest in their promulgation.\n\n\u201c\u2018When Mr. Miller had closed his lectures,\u2019 says Elder H., \u2018I found\nmyself in a new position. I could not believe or preach as I had done.\nLight on this subject was blazing on my conscience day and night. A\nlong conversation with Mr. Miller then took place, on our duties and\nresponsibilities. I said to Bro. Miller, \u201cDo you really believe this\ndoctrine?\u201d\n\n\u201c\u2018He replied, \u201cCertainly, I do, or I would not preach it.\u201d\n\n\u201c\u2018What are you doing to spread or diffuse it through the world?\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018I have done, and am still doing, all I can.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Well, the whole thing is kept in a corner yet. There is but little\nknowledge on the subject, after all you have done. If Christ is to come\nin a few years, as you believe, no time should be lost in giving the\nchurch and world warning, in thunder-tones, to arouse them to prepare.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018I know it, I know it, Bro. Himes,\u2019 said he; \u2018but what can an old farmer\ndo? I was never used to public speaking; I stand quite alone; and, though\nI have labored much, and seen many converted to God and the truth, yet\n_no one_, as yet, seems to enter into the _object_ and _spirit of my\nmission_, so as to render me much aid. They like to have me preach, and\nbuild up their churches; and there it ends with most of the ministers, as\nyet. I have been looking for help\u2014I want help.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018It was at this time that I laid myself, family, society, reputation,\nall, upon the altar of God, to help him, to the extent of my power, to\nthe end. I then inquired of him what parts of the country he had visited,\nand whether he had visited any of our principal cities.\n\n\u201c\u2018He informed me of his labors,\u2019 as given in the foregoing pages.\n\n\u201c\u2018But why,\u2019 I said, \u2018have you not been into the large cities?\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018He replied that his rule was to visit those places where invited, and\nthat he had not been invited into any of the large cities.\n\n\u201c\u2018Well,\u2019 said I, \u2018will you go with me where doors are opened?\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Yes, I am ready to go anywhere, and labor to the extent of my ability\nto the end.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018I then told him he might prepare for the campaign; for doors should be\nopened in every city in the Union, and the warning should go to the ends\nof the earth! Here I began to \u201chelp\u201d Father Miller.\u2019\n\n\u201cWith this epoch commenced an entire new era in the spread of the\ndoctrine of the advent. B. B. Mussey, Esq., a distinguished Boston\npublisher, undertook the publication of a revised edition, of five\nthousand copies, of Mr. Miller\u2019s Lectures, on condition that Mr. Miller\nwould secure the copyright. Mr. M. did so, which subjected himself to\nsome blame, where the reason for the act was not known. Mr. M. gave to\nMr. Mussey the entire profits of the edition for two hundred copies of\nthe work, which Mr. Mussey gave him.\n\n\u201cOn the 17th of December, Mr. M. lectured in Westford, where he was\nrefused the use of the Congregational church\u2014the first place of worship\nthat was ever closed against him. From the 19th to the 26th of December,\nhe lectured in Littleton, Mass. The result of these lectures is indicated\nby a letter of Rev. Oliver Ayer (Baptist), who writes, in January:\u2014\u2018I\nbaptized twelve at our last communion. I shall, probably, baptize from\nfifteen to twenty next time. There have been from thirty-five to forty\nhopeful conversions. There is also quite a work in Westford, ten or\ntwelve conversions, and twenty or thirty inquirers. The work is still\ngoing on.\u2019\n\n\u201cOn the 28th he returned to Boston, and repeated his course of lectures\nin Mr. Himes\u2019 chapel, closing on the 5th of January, 1840. The day\nfollowing, by request of the Baptist church under the care of the Rev.\nMr. Parker, he visited Cambridgeport, and lectured there each day till\nthe 13th of January. From the 14th to the 20th, he gave a second course\nof lectures to Elder Plummer\u2019s society, in Haverhill, Mass.\n\n\u201cOn the 21st of January, 1840, he visited Portsmouth, N. H., and\ncommenced his first course of lectures in that city. The following\narticle, in reference to them, from the pen of Elder David Millard,\npastor of the Christian Society there, appeared in the columns of the\n_Christian Herald_ a few weeks subsequently:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018On the 21st of January, Bro. William Miller came into town,\n    and commenced, in our chapel, his course of lectures on the\n    Second Coming of Christ. During the nine days that he remained,\n    crowds flocked to hear him. Before he concluded his lectures,\n    a large number of anxious souls came forward for prayers. Our\n    meetings continued every day and evening for a length of time\n    after he left. Such an intense state of feeling as now pervaded\n    our congregation we never witnessed before in any place. Not\n    unfrequently from sixty to eighty would come forward for\n    prayers on an evening. Such an awful spirit of solemnity seemed\n    to settle down on the place that hard must be that sinner\u2019s\n    heart that could withstand it. Yet, during the whole, not an\n    appearance of confusion occurred; all was order and solemnity.\n    Generally, as soon as souls found deliverance, they were ready\n    to proclaim it, and exhort their friends, in the most moving\n    language, to come to the fountain of life. Our meetings thus\n    continued, on evenings, for six weeks; indeed, they have thus\n    continued, with very little intermission, up to the present.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Probably about one hundred and fifty souls have been\n    converted in our meetings; but a part of these were from\n    other congregations, and have returned to their former\n    meetings. Among the converts are a considerable number from\n    the Universalist congregation; these still remain with us.\n    From our meetings this blessed work soon spread into every\n    congregation in town favorable to revivals. In several of them\n    it is at present spreading with power. For weeks together, the\n    ringing of bells for daily meetings rendered our town like a\n    continual Sabbath. Indeed, such a season of revival was never\n    witnessed before in Portsmouth by the oldest inhabitant.\n    It would be difficult, at present, to ascertain the exact\n    number of conversions in town; it is variously estimated at\n    from five hundred to seven hundred. We have received into\n    fellowship eighty-one; nine of these were received on previous\n    profession. We have baptized sixty-seven, and the others\n    stand as candidates for baptism. Never, while we linger on\n    the shores of mortality, do we expect to enjoy more of Heaven\n    than we have in some of our late meetings, and on baptizing\n    occasions. At the waterside, thousands would gather to witness\n    this solemn institution in Zion, and many would return from the\n    place weeping. Our brethren at the old chapel have had some\n    additions, we believe some over twenty.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe Rev. Mr. Peabody, of Portsmouth, in a sermon published soon after,\nspoke of the revival which commenced there in connection with Mr.\nMiller\u2019s labors, as follows:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018If I am rightly informed, the present season of religious\n    excitement has been, to a great degree, free from what, I\n    confess, has always made me dread such times, I mean those\n    excesses and extravagances which wound religion in the house\n    of its friends, and cause its enemies to blaspheme. I most\n    cheerfully express my opinion that there will be, in the fruits\n    of the present excitement, far less to regret, and much more\n    for the friends of God to rejoice in\u2014much more to be recorded\n    in the book of eternal life\u2014than in any similar series of\n    religious exercises which I have ever had the opportunity of\n    watching.\u2019\n\n\u201cAt the time of these lectures, Eld. D. I. Robinson was stationed in\nPortsmouth, as the pastor of the Methodist church, and attended a part of\nthe course. He writes:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018I heard him all I could the first week, and thought I could\n    stop his wheels and confound him; but, as the revival had\n    commenced in the vast congregation assembled to hear, I would\n    not do it publicly, lest evil should follow. I therefore\n    visited him at his room, with a formidable list of objections.\n    To my surprise, scarcely any of them were new to him, and he\n    could answer them as fast as I could present them. And then he\n    presented objections and questions which confounded _me_ and\n    the commentaries on which I had relied. I went home used up,\n    convicted, humbled, and resolved to examine the question.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe result was, that Eld. R. became fully convinced of the nearness of\nthe advent, and has since been a faithful preacher of the kingdom at\nhand. Eld. Thomas F. Barry, also, at this time embraced Mr. Miller\u2019s\nviews, and continued an able and consistent advocate of the same till his\ndeath, at Oswego, N. Y., July 17, 1846.\n\n\u201cOn the 30th and 31st of January, Mr. M. again lectured in Exeter, N. H.,\nand from the 2d to the 6th of February in Deerfield, N. H., after which\nhe returned to Boston.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII.\n\n    PUBLICATION OF THE \u201cSIGNS OF THE TIMES\u201d\u2014VISIT TO WATERTOWN,\n    PORTLAND, NEW YORK CITY, AND OTHER PLACES\u2014LETTERS OF ELDERS\n    MEDBURY, FLEMING, AND GREEN\u2014HIS SICKNESS, RESIGNATION, ETC.\n\n\n\u201cFrom the 8th to the 29th of February, Mr. M. gave his third course of\nlectures in Boston, in the Marlboro\u2019 Chapel and other places, as the\ndoors opened. It was during this series of meetings that the publication\nof a journal, devoted to the doctrine of the advent, was effected. Mr.\nMiller (in 1845) thus narrates its origin:\u2014\n\n\u201cFor a long time previous to this, the papers had been filled with\nabusive stories respecting my labors, and they had refused to publish\nanything from me in reply. I had greatly felt the need of some medium of\ncommunication to the public. Efforts had been frequently made to commence\nthe publication of a paper which should be devoted to the advocacy of\nthe doctrine, and the communication of information on the fulfillment of\nprophecy. We had, however, never been able to find a man who was willing\nto run the risk of his reputation and the pecuniary expense in such a\npublication.\n\n\u201cOn my visit to Boston in the winter of 1840, I mentioned to Bro. Himes\nmy wishes respecting a paper, and the difficulties I had experienced in\nthe establishment of one. He promptly offered to commence a paper which\nshould be devoted to this question, if I thought the cause of truth would\nbe thereby advanced. The next week, without a subscriber or any promise\nof assistance, he issued the first number of the _Signs of the Times_,\non the 28th of February, 1840\u2014a publication [now, 1875, _Messiah\u2019s\nHerald_,] which has been continued to the present time.\n\n\u201cWith this commenced an entire new era in the spread of information\non the peculiar points of my belief. Mr. Mussey gave up to him the\npublication of my lectures, and he published them in connection with\nother works on the prophecies, which, aided by devoted friends, he\nscattered broadcast everywhere to the extent of his means. I cannot here\nwithhold my testimony to the efficiency and integrity of my Bro. Himes.\nHe has stood by me at all times, periled his reputation, and, by the\nposition in which he has been placed, has been more instrumental in the\nspread of these views than any other ten men who have embarked in the\ncause. His course, both in laboring as a lecturer and in the manner that\nhe has managed his publications, meets my full approval.\u2014_Apology and\nDefense_, p. 21.\n\n\u201cAfter the issue of the first number, its printers, Messrs. Dow &\nJackson, proposed to Elder Himes to issue the paper semi-monthly for one\nyear, he to furnish the editorial matter gratuitously, and they to have\nall the proceeds of it. These terms being accepted, they re-issued the\nfirst number on the 20th of March, and continued it, as per agreement,\nfor one year, when it reverted to Eld. Himes, its projector, by whom it\nhas been continued to the present time [1853].\n\n\u201cOn the 1st of March, 1840, Mr. M. visited Watertown, Mass., and\ncommenced his first course of lectures in that place. These continued\nnine days, and were attended by a crowded audience. Mr. M. was much\npleased with his reception there, and, after leaving, wrote to his son:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018I have never seen so great an effect in any one place as\n    there. I preached last from Gen. 19:17. There were from a\n    thousand to fifteen hundred present, and more than one hundred\n    under conviction. One-half the congregation wept like children\n    when I parted from them. Mr. Medbury, the Baptist minister, a\n    good man, wept as though his heart would break, when he took me\n    by the hand, and, for himself and people, bade me farewell. He\n    and many others fell upon my neck, and wept and kissed me, and\n    sorrowed most of all that they should see my face no more. We\n    could not get away for more than an hour, and finally we had to\n    break away. About twenty were converted while I was there.\u2019\n\n\u201cRev. R. B. Medbury afterward gave the following account of the result of\nMr. Miller\u2019s lectures there, through the _Signs of the Times_:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018For several months past we have enjoyed, and are still\n    enjoying, a pleasing work of grace among us. This revival, as\n    stated in the account published in the _Christian Watchman_\n    of the 8th instant, was in progress when Mr. Miller commenced\n    lecturing here. In speaking of the results of his labors,\n    however, it is but just to say that his influence here preceded\n    him. It will be recollected that, some time in January, he\n    lectured at Cambridgeport, about four miles from us. Many, both\n    of our church and congregation, attended one or more of those\n    lectures. The first two subjects of the present work among\n    us, as well as some others, who have since been hopefully\n    converted, regarded those lectures as instrumental of fastening\n    permanent conviction upon their mind. Several Christians, too,\n    were awakened to a new sense of their duty.\n\n    \u201c\u2018There had, however, been rather more feeling than usual\n    in several of our meetings previous to that time. And\n    in the interval which elapsed between this time and the\n    commencement of Mr. Miller\u2019s lectures here, the blessing of\n    God had accompanied the means of grace at home to the hopeful\n    conversion of about twenty. The work evidently received a new\n    impulse while Mr. Miller was here. His lectures were attended\n    by crowds, who listened with profound attention, and, we have\n    reason to believe, in not a few cases with profit. Many persons\n    from neighboring villages shared the benefit of his labors in\n    common with us, and, in several cases, returned to their homes\n    rejoicing. Other means of grace were, however, mingled with\n    his labors, which were, no doubt, in a great degree owned and\n    blessed of God.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Among those who have since united with our church, many have\n    mentioned Mr. Miller\u2019s lectures as the means, under God, of\n    bringing them to repentance. They have generally stated that,\n    for months or years, they had thought more or less on the\n    subject; but that on hearing him they felt it was time to take\n    a stand. The things of eternity assumed to them an unwonted\n    reality. Heaven was brought near, and they felt themselves\n    guilty before God. It was not so much the belief that Christ\n    might come in 1843 as it was the _certainty_ of that event,\n    with the conviction that they were not prepared to hail his\n    coming with joy. Many, however, who listened to his whole\n    course of lectures with a heart unmoved, have since been melted\n    into contrition, and become the hopeful subjects of renewing\n    grace.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Many Christians who attended Mr. Miller\u2019s lectures here have\n    regarded them as the means of quickening them to new spiritual\n    life. I know not that any one has embraced all his peculiar\n    views; but many have been made to feel that time is short,\n    that the coming of Christ is at hand, and that what they do\n    for their fellow-men must be done quickly. They have felt that\n    hitherto the doctrine of the second coming of Christ has had\n    little or no practical effect upon them, and that, while they\n    could suppose at least one thousand years between that event\n    and the present time, its influence must be less than if it\n    were a matter of constant expectation. They think that the\n    contemplation of this subject has awakened feelings which the\n    anticipation of death never kindled in their breasts. Earth has\n    receded, and their attachment to all sublunary objects has been\n    loosened. Eternity has seemed to open near before them, and its\n    scenes have become more distinct objects of vision; while the\n    soul, with all that pertains to its immortal weal or woe, has\n    been felt to eclipse every other object of earth. In a word,\n    they profess to have consecrated themselves unto the service of\n    God, and to labor to be found watching whenever the Master of\n    the house shall come, \u201cwhether at even, or at midnight, or at\n    the cock-crowing, or in the morning, lest, coming suddenly, he\n    should find them sleeping.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018_Watertown, May 21, 1840._\u2019\n\n\u201cIn compliance with the wishes of Elder L. D. Fleming, pastor of the\nChristian church in Portland, Me., Mr. Miller visited and gave his first\ncourse of lectures in that city, from the 11th to the 23d of March. The\nresult of these was thus stated by Elder Fleming, in April following:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018There has probably never been so much religious interest\n    among the inhabitants of this place, generally, as at present;\n    and Mr. Miller must be regarded, directly or indirectly, as\n    the instrument, although many, no doubt, will deny it, as some\n    are very unwilling to admit that a good work of God can follow\n    his labors; and yet we have the most indubitable evidence that\n    this is the work of the Lord. It is worthy of note that in\n    the present interest there has been, comparatively, nothing\n    like mechanical effort. There has been nothing like passionate\n    excitement. If there has been excitement, it has been out of\n    doors, among such as did not attend Bro. Miller\u2019s lectures.\n\n    \u201c\u2018At some of our meetings, since Bro. M. left, as many as\n    two hundred and fifty, it has been estimated, have expressed\n    a desire for religion, by coming forward for prayers; and\n    probably between _one_ and _two hundred_ have professed\n    conversion at our meetings; and now the fire is being kindled\n    through this whole city and all the adjacent country. A number\n    of rumsellers have turned their shops into meeting-rooms, and\n    those places that were once devoted to intemperance and revelry\n    are now devoted to prayer and praise. Others have abandoned\n    the traffic entirely, and are become converted to God. One\n    or two gambling establishments, I am informed, are entirely\n    broken up. Infidels, deists, Universalists, and the most\n    abandoned profligates, have been converted\u2014some who had not\n    been to the house of worship for years. Prayer-meetings have\n    been established in every part of the city, by the different\n    denominations, or by individuals, and at almost every hour.\n    Being down in the business part of our city, on the 4th inst.,\n    I was conducted into a room over one of the banks, where I\n    found about thirty or forty men, of different denominations,\n    engaged, with one accord, in prayer, at about eleven o\u2019clock in\n    the day-time! In short, it would be almost impossible to give\n    an adequate idea of the interest now felt in the city. There is\n    nothing like extravagant excitement, but an almost universal\n    solemnity on the minds of all the people. One of the principal\n    book-sellers informed me that he had sold more Bibles in _one\n    month_, since Mr. Miller came here, than he had in any four\n    months previous.\u2019\n\n\u201cAn article in the Maine _Wesleyan Journal_ gave the following account of\nhis person and style of preaching:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018Mr. Miller has been in Portland, lecturing to crowded\n    congregations in Casco-street Church, on his favorite theme,\n    the end of the world, or literal reign of Christ for one\n    thousand years. As faithful chroniclers of passing events, it\n    will be expected of us that we should say something of the man\n    and his peculiar views. Mr. Miller is about sixty years of\n    age, a plain farmer, from Hampton, in the State of New York.\n    He is a member of the Baptist church in that place, from which\n    he brings satisfactory testimonials of good standing, and a\n    license to improve publicly. He has, we understand, numerous\n    testimonials, also, from clergymen of different denominations,\n    favorable to his general character. We should think him a man\n    but of common-school education; evidently possessing strong\n    powers of mind, which, for about fourteen years, have been\n    almost exclusively bent to the investigation of Scripture\n    prophecies. The last eight years of his life have been devoted\n    to lecturing on this favorite subject.\n\n    \u201c\u2018In his public discourse, he is self-possessed and ready;\n    distinct in his utterance, and frequently quaint in his\n    expressions. He succeeds in chaining the attention of his\n    auditory from an hour and a half to two hours; and in the\n    management of his subject discovers much tact, holding frequent\n    colloquies with the objector and inquirer, supplying the\n    questions and answers himself in a very natural manner, and,\n    although grave himself, sometimes producing a smile from a\n    portion of his auditors.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Mr. Miller is a great stickler for literal interpretations;\n    never admitting the figurative, unless absolutely required to\n    make correct sense, or meet the event which is intended to be\n    pointed out. He doubtless believes, most unwaveringly, all he\n    teaches to others. His lectures are interspersed with powerful\n    admonitions to the wicked, and he handles Universalism with\n    gloves of steel.\u2019\n\n\u201cIn connection with the foregoing was appended a statement of Mr. M\u2019s\nopinions, which elicited from him the following comment:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018In all the cities which I have visited, the editors of\n    religious newspapers have almost invariably misstated and\n    ridiculed my views, doctrines, and motives; but in Portland\n    I found, as I honestly believe, an honest editor. He gave a\n    candid, honest, and impartial account.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. Miller was strongly urged by \u2018the wardens of the First Baptist\nSociety, worshiping in Pleasant street,\u2019 where he lectured a portion of\nthe time, to give them \u2018another course of lectures,\u2019 but he was obliged\nto decline the invitation; and, on the last Tuesday in March, left\nPortland, and by stage and railroad reached his home in Low Hampton on\nFriday night following, \u2018being absent from home nearly six months, and\nhaving delivered three hundred and twenty-seven lectures.\u2019\n\n\u201cOn his way home, a young man, dressed in black, who, Mr. M. afterward\nlearned, was a clergyman in a neighboring town, became his companion\nfor a short distance in the stage. The young man was very talkative\nrespecting the ministers of his acquaintance,\u2014remarking what a smooth\npreacher A was, how learned B was, and how popular C was, &c. When the\nstage stopped for the passengers to dine, the young man proved to be an\nacquaintance of the landlord, and they commenced conversation respecting\n\u2018the prophet Miller.\u2019 The landlord inquired of the gentleman in black\nif he had read Mr. Miller\u2019s lectures, which the former had loaned him a\nfew days previous. \u2018No,\u2019 the clergyman said; he read the introduction,\nand found that Mr. M. was not a _learned_ man, and therefore he had no\nconfidence in the work. This reply struck Mr. M. with much force, as\nevidence of the manner in which many let those reputed to be learned do\ntheir thinking for them.\n\n\u201cFrom the 5th to the 29th of April, he lectured in Hampton, N. Y., to\nfull houses, and a good work followed. On the 2d of May he commenced a\ncourse of lectures in the Baptist church in Benson, Vt., and lectured\nthere and in the church of the Rev. Mr. Francis (orthodox) nine days. On\nleaving this place, Mr. Miller wrote to his son: \u2018The several clergymen\nin the town met with us. The Lord came down in his power and by his\nSpirit; a gracious influence was felt, and many a stout heart yielded to\nthe gospel of Christ. About thirty had obtained a hope, and about one\nhundred more were anxious, when I left.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. Miller next visited New York city, and commenced his first course\nof lectures there, from the 16th to the 29th of May, at the corner of\nNorfolk and Broome streets, to good assemblies. On the 19th, he wrote:\n\u2018Last night we had a solemn time. An anxious and deep attention was\ngiven by the whole congregation.\u2019 Considerable interest was excited by\nthis course, and the ground was prepared for subsequent labors. At the\nclose of these lectures, Mr. Miller returned home, where he remained a\nfew days, and then made another visit to Canada East. He lectured at\nHatly on the 21st of June, and at Bolton on the 24th. On the 28th he\ncommenced a course of lectures in Georgeville, which closed on the 5th of\nJuly. Writing from this place, on the 29th of June, he speaks of \u2018large\ncongregations,\u2019 \u2018serious attention,\u2019 and of the prospect \u2018that much good\nwould be done there.\u2019 He then returned to Low Hampton, where he lectured\non the 12th of July.\n\n\u201cHe remained at home about four weeks, when he visited Dresden, N. Y.,\nand lectured from the 9th to the 12th of August. Of that place he writes,\nunder date of August 13: \u2018We had a good time; the Lord was there.\u2019 He\nthen adds: \u2018I do not know what to say about coming to Massachusetts\nagain. Day after to-morrow I begin a course of lectures at Fort Ann. The\nnext week I go north, where I have three places, which will take three\nweeks at least. I have more business on hand than any two men like me\nshould perform. I must lecture twice every day. I must converse with\nmany\u2014answer a host of questions\u2014write answers to letters from all parts\nof the compass, from Canada to Florida, from Maine to Missouri. I must\nread all the candid arguments (which I confess are not many) which are\nurged against me. I must read all the slang of the drunken and sober....\nThe polar star must be kept in view; the chart consulted, the compass\nwatched; the reckoning kept; the sails set; the rudder managed; the ship\ncleared; the sailors fed; the voyage prosecuted; the port of rest, to\nwhich we are destined, understood; and to the watchman call, \u201cWatchman,\nwhat of the night?\u201d\n\n\u201cOn the 15th of August, 1840, he commenced his anticipated lectures at\nSouth Bay, in the town of Fort Ann, N. Y., and continued to the 20th.\n\n\u201cOn the 2d, in compliance with a previous invitation, he commenced a\nsecond course of lectures in Colchester, Vt., which terminated on the\n29th. Of these meetings Elder Columbus Green thus writes:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018The audiences were very large, notwithstanding it was a time\n    of great excitement, and our place of worship was as still\n    as death. His lectures were delivered in the most kind and\n    affectionate manner, convincing every mind that he believed the\n    sentiments he uttered. He made the most powerful exhortations\n    that I ever heard fall from the lips of any one. A deep\n    solemnity pervaded the minds of the community. Young men and\n    maidens, amid the pleasures of early years; men in the meridian\n    of life, hurrying on with locomotive speed in pursuit of the\n    treasures of earth; gray-haired sires, and matrons whose hoary\n    locks gave evidence that many winters had passed over them, all\n    paused and pondered on the things they heard, inquiring, \u201cAm I\n    ready?\u201d Many came to the conclusion that they were unprepared\n    to meet their Saviour, repented of their sins, and, through\n    the merits of Jesus, obtained pardon full and free. For two\n    years after this, there was a constant state of revival in that\n    place; and many were the souls that dated their convictions of\n    sin at that time, when the faithful old man warned them of the\n    world\u2019s approaching doom. No man was more highly esteemed than\n    he was; and it was not uncommon for impenitent men to vindicate\n    his character when his motives were impeached.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Many there regarded him as \u201ca chosen vessel of the Lord,\u201d who\n    had been instrumental in building them up \u201cin the most holy\n    faith;\u201d who had taken them, as it were, to Pisgah\u2019s top, and\n    shown them the promised land, that better country for which\n    patriarchs and prophets sighed. Among the public servants\n    of the Most High, to them most dear, our departed brother\n    held a conspicuous place. Years have passed since I enjoyed\n    those happy seasons with them, and swift-rolling rivers and\n    snow-capped hill-tops now lie between us. But, in whatever\n    light they may now regard the efforts of him who sleeps in\n    death, they then appreciated them. For one, I have never since\n    seen the time when I was not thankful to God that I was counted\n    worthy to see the light, and rejoice in it. And my prayer is\n    that the torch of truth may illume our path through time,\n    and that we may at last have an abundant entrance into the\n    everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.\n\n    \u201c\u2018_Montgomery, Vt., March 14, 1850._\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. Miller next lectured in Burlington, Vt., from the 30th of August to\nthe 5th of September; in Salisbury, Vt., from the 12th to the 20th of\nSeptember; and from the 26th of the same month to the 1st of October, in\nSudbury, Vt., after which he returned to Low Hampton.\n\n\u201cIn anticipation of attending the first General Conference of believers\nin the second coming of Christ, which was to assemble on the 14th of\nOctober, 1840, in Boston, Mr. Miller left home on the 8th, and proceeded\nas far as Fairhaven, Vt., about two miles from home, where he was taken\nwith a severe attack of typhoid fever. In the afternoon of the same\nday he was carried back to Low Hampton. He was thus deprived of the\nlong-desired privilege of meeting fellow-laborers in the work in which he\nwas engaged. On the 15th of October he was able to dictate a few lines to\nthose assembled in conference, as follows:\u2014\n\n    ... \u201c\u2018Why was I deprived of meeting those congenial minds in\n    this good, this glorious, cause of light and truth? Why am I\n    to bear this last affliction, and not enjoy this one pleasure\n    of meeting fellow-laborers in a cause so big with prospects,\n    so glorious in its results, so honoring to God, and so safe to\n    man? Why are the providences of God so mysterious? I have often\n    inquired. Am I never to have _my will_? No, never, until my\n    will shall harmonize with thine, O Father! Yes, God is right;\n    his providence is right; his ways are just and true; and I am\n    foolish to murmur or complain.\n\n    ... \u201c\u2018Oh, I had vainly hoped to see you all, to breathe and\n    feel that sacred flame of love, of heavenly fire; to hear and\n    speak of that dear, blessed Saviour\u2019s near approach!... But\n    here I am, a weak, feeble, toil-worn old man, upon a bed of\n    sickness, with feeble nerves, and, worse than all, a heart, I\n    fear, in part unreconciled to God. But bless the Lord, O my\n    soul! I have great blessings yet, more than I can number. I was\n    not taken sick far from home. I am in the bosom of my family.\n    I have my reason; I can think, believe, and love. I have the\n    Bible\u2014O blessed book! If I cannot read, I have a daughter who\n    loves that book, and she can read for me. How pleasant it is\n    to hear those infant voices read that holy book! How soft the\n    couch of sickness may be made by dutiful children and the book\n    of God! I have a hope,\u2014yes, yes, \u201ca blessed hope,\u201d\u2014founded on\n    that Word that never fails. My hope is in Him who soon will\n    come, and will not tarry. I love the thought; it makes my bed\n    in sickness; I hope it will in death. I wait for him. My soul,\n    wait thou on God. I have the Spirit; O blessed Holy Spirit!\n    He whispers in my heart, \u201cFear not, I am with thee; be not\n    dismayed, I will sustain thee.\u201d I have a promise from the great\n    I AM: \u201cThough after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my\n    flesh shall I see God.\u201d I have many friends, and I am persuaded\n    they will last forever. I am confident that I have daily\n    prayers from many hearts.\u2019...\n\n\u201cWhen sufficiently restored, he returned to Fort Ann, and lectured from\nthe 26th to the 30th of December, 1840, in compliance with the \u2018unanimous\ninvitation\u2019 of the Baptist church there, Rev. J. O. Mason, pastor, who\nhad dispatched a messenger for him. From the 2d to the 8th of January,\n1841, he lectured at Ballston Spa, N. Y.; and again, from the 9th to the\n12th, at Fort Ann.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII.\n\n    LECTURES IN BOSTON (4TH, 5TH, AND 6TH COURSES), IN ANDOVER,\n    PROVIDENCE, GALWAY, N. Y., CLAREMONT, N. H., BENSON,\n    VT.,\u2014HIS ILLNESS\u2014INCIDENT AT SANDY HILL, AT WORCESTER\u2014THE\n    PHRENOLOGIST\u2014MEETINGS AT HARTFORD.\n\n\n\u201cOn the 31st of January, 1841, Mr. Miller again visited Boston, and\ncommenced his fourth course of lectures in that city. He continued there\ntill the 19th of February. The first eighteen lectures were given in the\nChardon-street Chapel, \u2018which was crowded almost to suffocation, and\nthousands were obliged to retire for want of room.\u2019 Beginning on the 9th,\na second course of eighteen lectures was delivered, by invitation of the\nBaptist church in South Boston, Thomas Driver, pastor.\n\n\u201cIn compliance with an invitation from Rev. N. Hervey, pastor of the\nBaptist church in Andover, Mass., Mr. M. commenced a course of lectures\nin their house on Sunday, February 21, 1841. The students of the orthodox\ninstitution there requested him to lecture only evenings, that they\nmight attend his full course; but he could not consistently comply with\ntheir wishes. His labors continued there till March 2, and were attended\nby a very large and attentive audience. Mr. Hervey, in whose church they\nwere delivered, has given the following sketch of them:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018His exposition of the prophecies, together with his earnest\n    and impressive appeals to Christians and sinners to prepare for\n    the coming of the Lord, was the means of arousing Christians\n    to action, and of the conversion of a number of persons who\n    before were without hope and without God in the world. In\n    the course of the lectures, an incident occurred which shows\n    his familiar acquaintance with the Scriptures and promptness\n    to meet objectors to his views. About the fourth day of his\n    labors he received a letter, signed \u201cAnonymous,\u201d containing a\n    long list of passages from the Old and New Testaments, which\n    were evidently quoted by \u201cAnonymous\u201d from _memory_, without\n    naming their chapter and verse. These passages were thought\n    by the author of the letter to be directly opposed to Mr.\n    Miller\u2019s view of the near approach and personal reign of Christ\n    on earth. To these texts was affixed a single question. The\n    letter, on being taken from the office, was presented to Mr.\n    Miller, who read it through, and immediately said: \u201cAnonymous\u201d\n    has not quoted a single text right. In the evening, previous\n    to his lecture, he took the letter from his pocket, and\n    inquired if there was a person in the audience by the name of\n    _Anonymous_. If so, he would like to have him stand up. The\n    house was filled on that evening by a large congregation. Mr.\n    Miller waited some time for the appearance of \u201cAnonymous;\u201d\n    the congregation remained in breathless silence to see the\n    stranger. But no one answered to the call. Mr. Miller then\n    read the letter, and, as he read each passage, also read the\n    same from the Bible. The audience were satisfied that not one\n    text was correctly quoted. Mr. Miller again repeated the call\n    for \u201cAnonymous\u201d to stand up, if he was present. No one arose.\n    Mr. Miller then read the question which closed the letter,\n    namely\u2014\u201cMr. Miller, how dare you assert your theory with so\n    much confidence without a knowledge of the Hebrew and Greek\n    languages?\u201d To this Mr. Miller promptly replied, \u201cIf I am not\n    acquainted _with the HEBREW and GREEK_, I know enough to quote\n    the _English_ texts of the Scriptures rightly.\u201d \u201cAnonymous\u201d\n    never made himself known, and it was the impression of many of\n    the audience that the author of the letter, if he _was_ skilled\n    in the Hebrew and Greek, was _exceedingly deficient_ in his\n    knowledge of the _English_ Scriptures.\n\n    \u201c\u2018During Mr. Miller\u2019s stay in Andover several persons called\n    to converse with him on the topics of his lectures, and\n    he was very ready to devote his time to conversation with\n    persons desirous of receiving information. He entered into the\n    conversation with all his heart, and hundreds will remember\n    with delight and devout gratitude to God the interviews they\n    have enjoyed with him, and the instructions they have received\n    from his lips. He was ever ready to answer all reasonable\n    questions, and could generally distinguish between the caviler\n    and the sincere inquirer after truth. Two young men, who were\n    in the course of study at the Theological Seminary at Andover,\n    called to see Mr. Miller while at the house of the writer,\n    and spent some time in conversation with him upon the advent\n    of Christ. After the conversation, as they were about leaving,\n    one of the young men asked Mr. Miller the following question:\n    \u201cWell, if the Lord is coming so soon, Mr. Miller, what shall\n    _we do_ who are _studying_ for the ministry? We have some time\n    yet to prepare for the pastoral office.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018To this the good man promptly replied: \u201cYoung men, if God has\n    called you to study, keep on in your course, and I will aid you\n    all in my power; but if he has called you to preach, study your\n    Bibles, and commence preaching immediately.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018The young men bade their adviser good day.\n\n                                                            \u201c\u2018N. H.\u2019\n\n\u201cFrom the 3d to the 13th of March, he lectured to crowded audiences at\nthe Marlboro\u2019 Chapel, his fifth course of lectures in Boston. From the\n13th to the 19th of the same month, he lectured in Fairhaven, Mass.;\nfrom the 20th to the 26th, in New Bedford, Mass.; and from the 27th of\nMarch to the 5th of April, to large audiences in Providence, R. I. The\nTown Hall, a commodious building, was granted by the City Council for\nthat purpose. On Sunday, the 4th, by the invitation of Rev. Mr. Jameson,\nof the 3d Baptist Church, he lectured there all day to full and solemn\ncongregations. His keeping no journal, makes it impossible to give the\nparticular results of these lectures; but in each of the last three\nplaces a large number of intelligent members, in the several churches,\nembraced his views.\n\n\u201cFrom the 8th to the 15th of April, 1841, he labored in Lowell, Mass.,\nwhen, after an absence of three months, he returned home to enjoy a\nseason of rest. At this time he estimated that, since the 1st of October,\n1839, he had \u2018traveled four thousand five hundred and sixty miles, and\npreached six hundred and twenty-seven lectures, averaging one and a half\nhours each, resulting in about five thousand hopeful conversions.\u2019\n\n\u201cOn the 23d of May, in compliance with a very urgent request from\nAddison, Vt., he commenced a course of lectures there, which continued\ntill the 30th, when he was taken sick with a painful inflammation in\nhis left limb. He immediately returned home, when the other limb was\nsimilarly affected. This terminated in painful swellings and copious\ndischarges, which began to heal about the 10th of June, but confined him\nto his room till the last of August; so that he rested from labor during\nthe summer.\n\n\u201cFrom the 12th to the 20th of September, he lectured in Hartford, N. Y.,\nto crowded houses. On the 26th of September, and onward to October 6, he\nlectured at Ballston, N. Y.; and on the 10th of October, he commenced a\ncourse of lectures at Galway, N. Y., which closed on the 17th. With these\nlectures a revival commenced, which, according to a letter from Rev. Wm.\nB. Curtis, pastor of the Baptist church, extended into the neighboring\ntowns. Under date of March 12, 1842, he wrote to Mr. Miller as follows:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018The glorious work soon became general and powerful, and we\n    continued our meetings (including the week you were with us)\n    eight weeks, with only a day or two intermission. I find I have\n    over one hundred names of persons who profess to have obtained\n    hope in the pardoning mercy of God. Including those converted\n    in other meetings originating from this revival, it is probable\n    that from one hundred and fifty to two hundred have been\n    converted to God in this vicinity since your labors here. In\n    justice to yourself and the truth, I must say that the extent\n    and power of this glorious revival was greatly promoted by\n    your lectures. Many converts date their first impressions from\n    hearing you. The work has prevailed principally in the Baptist,\n    Methodist, and Christian societies, while there have been but\n    few conversions among the Presbyterians, who stood aloof from\n    you when here.\u2019\n\n\u201cOn the 18th of October he returned to Low Hampton, and presided at a\nConference of Second Advent believers, which assembled in the Baptist\nchurch there, from the 2d to the 5th of November, 1841.\n\n\u201cOn the 10th of November, in compliance with an invitation numerously\nsigned, he commenced a course of lectures in the town-house at Claremont,\nN. H., and continued to the 18th. A letter signed \u2018J. Andrews,\u2019 written\nsoon after, states: \u2018Now all the town is aroused to the subject of\nreligion. The Baptist, Methodist, and Congregational societies are all\nunited in this work. Some are converted, and from sixty to seventy-five\nare anxiously seeking the Lord.\u2019\n\n\u201cOn the 14th of November, the First Baptist Church, Mr. Parker, pastor,\nin Cambridgeport, Mass., voted unanimously to renew an invitation, which\nthey had some time before extended to Mr. Miller, and with which he had\nbeen unable to comply, to give a course of lectures there. In compliance\nwith that request, he made arrangements to commence there on Sunday, the\n21st of November; but, in consequence of the breaking down of the stage\non Saturday, he was detained in Nashua over the Sabbath, and gave three\nlectures to the citizens of that place. He reached Cambridgeport on the\n23d, and continued till the 28th. On the day following, he commenced his\nsixth course of lectures in Boston, at Boylston Hall, where he addressed\nlarge audiences each day and evening till the 9th of December.\n\n\u201cThese repeated series of discourses in Boston had a powerful effect\non the community. As usual, large numbers went away, unable to gain\nadmittance, and many were hopefully converted from sin to holiness. This\nlast was a common feature in all his labors, and was one great reason\nwhy calls from those who did not entertain his views were so frequent\nand urgent. This reason is given in an invitation extended to him by the\nBaptist church in New Ipswich, N. H., November 29, 1841. Their pastor, J.\nM. Willmarth, thus writes: \u2018The majority desire you to come, principally\nbecause they have understood that your addresses to sinners are plain\nand pungent, and frequently attended with the divine blessing in the\nconversion of souls.\u2019\n\n\u201cA course of lectures in Dover, N. H., continuing from the 11th to the\n19th of December, terminated his labors for the year 1841.\n\n\u201cFrom the 8th to the 16th of January, 1842, he lectured at Fonday\u2019s\nBush, N. Y.; from the 17th to the 26th of January, in Jamesville, N. Y.;\nand from the 27th of January to the 3d of February, in the Presbyterian\nchurch at Sandy Hill, N. Y. A conference of Advent believers was held\nin this church, commencing on the 1st of February and closing on the\n4th. The services were held the last evening at the court-house. On\nthat occasion about one hundred persons arose for prayer, and a revival\ncommenced which continued for weeks. On this evening an incident occurred\nwhich did much to deepen the impressions made by the lecture. H. B.\nNorthop, Esq., a prominent lawyer of that county, arose, at the close\nof the meeting, and remarked that he had stood at that bar many times\nand addressed a jury of twelve sensible men, presenting evidence and\narguments which he knew were weak and fallacious, and he knew others\nmight have seen it; but he had sat down with the confident expectation\nthat those twelve men would give him their verdict. He had attended\nthese lectures, and had done it with a mind strongly predisposed to\nreject the doctrine, and exceedingly skeptical. He had attended with a\ndetermination, if possible to overthrow the theory, and to exult with\na feeling of triumph if he succeeded. He had watched every word and\nsentence, and made an effort at every point where he thought there was a\npossibility of making a breach; but had been unable to do it. And now,\nafter making himself acquainted with history, sacred and profane, with\nprophecies and prophetic periods, so far as his circumstances would\npermit him to do, he would frankly confess that he had never found any\ntheory that would compare with this for strength of evidence. He would\nnot say he believed the event would come in 1843, or within ten years\nof that; but he could see no reason why it would _not_ take place then!\nAt any rate, he was satisfied, if there was any truth in the Bible, the\nevent was near; and this is the nearest calculation we can possibly come\nto respecting the time.\n\n\u201cThe effect of such a declaration, from such a source, can be better\nimagined than described.\n\n\u201cRev. Seth Ewer, in a letter of the 2d of March following, wrote:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018For about four weeks we continued meetings, day and\n    evening.... We find new cases of conviction daily, and frequent\n    hopeful conversions. Our house of worship is thronged every\n    evening. Last Sabbath evening the question was put, whether\n    they wished to continue the services; and hundreds arose in\n    the affirmative.... Between fifty and sixty profess to have\n    obtained a hope.\u2019\n\n\u201cFrom the 12th of February, 1842, to the 17th, he lectured in Benson,\nVt. At the close of this meeting he took a violent cold, which prevented\nhim from speaking for a few days. He commenced a course of lectures at\nNashua, N. H., on the 24th of February; but, after speaking a few times\nto crowded houses, the state of his lungs and the want of a suitable\nplace to speak in compelled him to relinquish his labors there on the\nthird day.\n\n\u201cFrom the 6th to the 9th of March, Mr. Miller lectured in Medford, Mass.\nWhile here a friend took him to a phrenologist in Boston, with whom he\nwas himself acquainted, but who had no suspicion whose head he was about\nto examine. The phrenologist commenced by saying that the person under\nexamination had a large, well-developed, and well-balanced head. While\nexamining the moral and intellectual organs, he said to Mr. Miller\u2019s\nfriend:\u2014\n\n\u201c\u2018I tell you what it is, Mr. Miller could not easily make a convert of\n_this man_ to his hair-brained theory. He has too much good sense.\u2019\n\n\u201cThus he proceeded, making comparisons between the head he was examining\nand the head of Mr. Miller, as he fancied it would be.\n\n\u201c\u2018Oh, how I should like to examine Mr. Miller\u2019s head!\u2019 said he; \u2018I would\ngive it one squeezing.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe phrenologist, knowing that the gentleman was a particular friend of\nMr. Miller, spared no pains in going out of the way to make remarks upon\nhim. Putting his hand on the organ of marvelousness, he said: \u2018There!\nI\u2019ll bet you anything that old Miller has got a bump on his head there as\nbig as my fist;\u2019 at the same time doubling up his fist as an illustration.\n\n\u201cThe others present laughed at the perfection of the joke, and he\nheartily joined them, supposing they were laughing at his witticisms on\nMr. Miller.\n\n    \u201c\u2018He laughed; \u2019twas well. The tale applied\n    Soon made him laugh on t\u2019 other side.\u2019\n\n\u201cHe pronounced the head of the gentleman under examination, the reverse,\nin every particular, of what he declared Mr. Miller\u2019s must be. When\nthrough, he made out his chart, and politely asked Mr. Miller his name.\n\n\u201cMr. Miller said it was of no consequence about putting his name upon the\nchart; but the phrenologist insisted.\n\n\u201c\u2018Very well,\u2019 said Mr. M.; \u2018you may call it Miller, if you choose.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018_Miller_, _Miller_,\u2019 said he; \u2018what is your first name?\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018They call me William Miller.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018What! the gentleman who is lecturing on the prophecies?\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Yes, sir, the same.\u2019\n\n\u201cAt this the phrenologist settled back in his chair, the personation of\nastonishment and dismay, and spoke not a word while the company remained.\nHis feelings may be more easily imagined than described.\n\n\u201cThe following description of Mr. Miller\u2019s phrenological developments\nwere furnished by a phrenological friend in 1842, and may be of some\ninterest to those acquainted with that science:\u2014\n\n\u201cORGANS VERY LARGE.\u2014Amativeness, Adhesiveness, Combativeness, Firmness,\nConscientiousness, Benevolence, Constructiveness, Ideality, Calculation,\nComparison.\n\n\u201cLARGE.\u2014Philoprogenitiveness, Alimentiveness, Acquisitiveness,\nSelf-Esteem, Imitation, Mirthfulness, Form, Size, Order, Locality,\nEventuality, Time, Language, Causality.\n\n\u201cFULL.\u2014Inhabitiveness, Concentrativeness, Caution, Approbation, Wonder,\nVeneration, Weight, Color, Tune.\n\n\u201cMODERATE.\u2014Marvelousness, Secretiveness, Hope, Individuality.\n\n\u201cFrom the 12th to the 20th of March, he lectured in the Town Hall\nin Worcester, Mass. The meetings were well attended, the hall being\ncrowded during most of the time; two thousand people were judged to have\nbeen present. While explaining the 7th chapter of Daniel, Mr. M. very\nsignificantly inquired how there could be a millennium, according to the\ncommon understanding of it, while the little horn warred with the saints,\nwhich he was to do till the coming of the Ancient of Days? A Baptist\nclergyman arose, and offered to answer that question the following\nmorning. The next morning he came in and requested additional time, and\nhis answer was postponed another day. When that time arrived he came in\nand presented the common view respecting the millennium, and inquired\nif there was no way to harmonize that text with it. Mr. M. said, that\nwas what they were waiting for him to do! But he left it there. This\ncaused Mr. M. to be listened to with more than usual interest. A revival\nattended his labors, and considerable effect was produced on the public\nmind.\n\n\u201cFrom the 22d to the 28th, he lectured in the City Hall in Hartford, Ct.\nFrom two hundred to three hundred persons in that city became favorable\nto his views as the result of those lectures. Mr. M. was prevented from\ngiving his whole course of lectures, on this occasion, by a severe attack\nof catarrh and influenza, which made him unable to proceed. The Hartford\n_Christian Secretary_, a Baptist periodical, said of these meetings:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018One fact connected with this conference struck us somewhat\n    forcibly; and that was, the immense crowd which attended\n    the whole course of lectures. We are unable to speak of the\n    attendance during the day, but in the evening the large hall\n    was filled to overflowing with attentive listeners. Probably\n    not less than from fifteen hundred to two thousand persons were\n    in attendance every evening. This large mass of hearers was\n    made up from nearly or quite every congregation in the city.\n    How many of them have become converts to this new doctrine we\n    have no means of judging, but presume the number is not very\n    small. Of one thing we are satisfied, and that is this: unless\n    the clergy, generally, present a better theory than the one\n    offered by Mr. Miller, the doctrine will prevail to a very\n    general extent.\u2019\n\n\u201cIt was on this occasion that the writer of this became convinced that\nthe second advent is to be pre-millennial; and the first resurrection, a\n\u2018resurrection out from among the dead.\u2019 At the close of these labors, Mr.\nM. returned to Low Hampton, for that rest which his overtasked frame now\ngreatly needed.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX.\n\n    LECTURES IN NEW YORK\u2014NEWARK\u2014SARATOGA\u2014NEWBURYPORT\u2014PALMER\u2014THE\n    EAST KINGSTON CAMP-MEETING\u2014BRANDON\u2014BENSON\u2014CHICOPEE\u2014NEW HAVEN,\n    ETC.\n\n\n\u201cOn the 24th of April he commenced a course of lectures in the large hall\nof the Apollo, 410 Broadway, in the city of New York, as usual to large\naudiences, closing on the 10th of May.\n\n\u201cOn the 7th of May, he visited Newark, N. J., and gave two discourses\nin the Universalist chapel in that city. In compliance with three very\nurgent requests from Rev. Joshua Fletcher, pastor, and the unanimous vote\nof the Baptist church, in Saratoga, N. Y., Mr. M. again visited that\nplace, and lectured from the 14th to the 22d of May. From the 24th to\nthe 28th of May, he gave his seventh course of lectures in Boston; and\nfrom the 29th of May to the 3d of June, 1842, he lectured in Newburyport,\nMass. At the commencement of his lecture, in the evening of the first\nday, an egg was thrown into the hall, at him, but fell upon the side of\nthe desk. At the close, stones were thrown through the windows, by a mob\noutside, who indulged in some characteristic hootings and kindred noises.\nThe congregation dispersed without damage, save the glass of lamps and\nwindows. Under those circumstances, the town authorities closed the hall,\nand the lectures were adjourned to the chapel in Hale\u2019s Court. They\ncontinued till Friday, June 3, a goodly number having received Christ to\nthe joy of their souls.\n\n\u201cFrom the 4th to the 12th of June, he gave a second course of lectures in\nthe Casco-street church, Portland, Me. They were attended by crowds of\nanxious hearers, and many Christians were refreshed, while some sinners\nwere converted to God. From the 16th to the 26th of June, he lectured\nat Three Rivers (in Palmer, Mass.) A member of the Baptist church there\nafterward wrote, through the _Christian Reflector_, the organ of that\ndenomination, as follows:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEAR BROTHER GRAVES:\u2014It is with gratitude to God that I\n    am able to turn aside from the joyful scenes around me to\n    inform the friends in Zion what God hath wrought for us. Rev.\n    William Miller, on the 16th of June last, commenced a course\n    of lectures on the second advent of Christ to this world in\n    1843. The lectures were delivered in our meeting-house, which,\n    however, would hold but a small part of the audience, it being\n    estimated at five thousand; and notwithstanding prepossessions,\n    prejudices, and the slanderous reports circulated about this\n    man of God, the people gave heed to the word spoken, and\n    seemed determined to examine the Scriptures, to see if these\n    things were so; and deep solemnity pervaded the vast assembly.\n    The children of God were soon aroused to a sense of their\n    duty; sinners were seen weeping, and heard to say, \u201cPray for\n    me!\u201d The number increased, until one hundred in an evening\n    prayer-meeting were seen to arise to be remembered in the\n    prayers of the saints. Soon converts began to tell us what\n    the Lord had done for them. Some deists, some Universalists,\n    and many of the thoughtless, of both the middle-aged and the\n    youthful part of the community, have been brought to submit\n    their hearts to God, and are now waiting for and hasting to\n    the coming of the day of God. As to the character of the work,\n    let me say, I have never seen a more thorough conviction of\n    the total depravity of the heart, and the utter helplessness\n    of the sinner, and that, if saved, it must be by the sovereign\n    grace of God, than has been manifest in all that have given a\n    relation of their experience.\u2019\n\n\u201cOn the 29th of June, 1842, Mr. M. commenced a course of lectures on\nthe camp-ground at East Kingston, N. H. This was the first camp-meeting\nheld by believers in the advent near, and was noticed by a writer in the\n_Boston Post_ as follows:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018The Second Advent camp-meeting, which commenced at East\n    Kingston, N. H., on Tuesday, June 29, and continued from day\n    to day until Tuesday noon, July 5, was attended by an immense\n    concourse of people, variously estimated at from seven to ten\n    thousand....\n\n    \u201c\u2018The meeting was conducted with great regularity and good\n    order from beginning to end. The ladies were seated on one\n    side, and the gentlemen on the other, of the speaker; meals\n    were served uniformly and punctually at the times appointed,\n    and the same punctuality was observed as to the hours appointed\n    for the services.\n\n    \u201c\u2018The preachers were twelve or fifteen. Mr. Miller gave\n    the only regular course of lectures\u2014the others speaking\n    occasionally. Many of the people, without doubt, assembled\n    from motives of curiosity merely; but the great body of them,\n    from their solemn looks and close attention to the subject,\n    were evidently actuated by higher and more important motives.\n    Each tent was under the supervision of a tent-master, who was\n    responsible for the good order within the same, where religious\n    exercises were kept up at the intermissions between the public\n    exercises and meals, and where lights were kept burning through\n    the night....\n\n    \u201c\u2018Some fault was found, or dissatisfaction felt, with that\n    part of the regulations which precluded all controversy, _i.\n    e._, which prevented people of opposite theological sentiments\n    from occupying the time or distracting the attention of the\n    audience, which would otherwise have introduced confusion and\n    defeated the object of the meeting. Nothing could be more\n    reasonable than this regulation, and no peace-loving person\n    would make any objection.... The meeting broke up with harmony\n    and good feeling.\u2019\n\n\u201cA few years later, a distinguished American writer and poet, J. G.\nWhittier, who was present at this meeting, made the following reference\nto it:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018Three or four years ago, on my way eastward, I spent an\n    hour or two at a camp-ground of the Second Advent in East\n    Kingston. The spot was well chosen. A tall growth of pine and\n    hemlock threw its melancholy shadow over the multitude, who\n    were arranged upon rough seats of boards and logs. Several\n    hundred\u2014perhaps a thousand\u2014people were present, and more were\n    rapidly coming. Drawn about in a circle, forming a background\n    of snowy whiteness to the dark masses of men and foliage, were\n    the white tents, and back of them the provision stalls and cook\n    shops. When I reached the ground, a hymn, the words of which I\n    could not distinguish, was pealing through the dim aisles of\n    the forest. I know nothing of music, having neither ear nor\n    taste for it; but I could readily see that it had its effect\n    upon the multitude before me, kindling to higher intensity\n    their already excited enthusiasm. The preachers were placed in\n    a rude pulpit of rough boards, carpeted only by the dead forest\n    leaves and flowers, and tasselled, not with silk and velvet,\n    but with the green boughs of the somber hemlocks around it.\n    One of them followed the music in an earnest exhortation on\n    the duty of preparing for the great event. Occasionally he was\n    really eloquent, and his description of the last day had all\n    the terrible distinctness of Anelli\u2019s painting of the \u201cEnd of\n    the World.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018Suspended from the front of the rude pulpit were two broad\n    sheets of canvas, upon one of which was the figure of a\n    man\u2014the head of gold, the breast and arms of silver, the\n    belly of brass, the legs of iron, and feet of clay\u2014the dream\n    of Nebuchadnezzar! On the other were depicted the wonders\n    of the Apocalyptic vision\u2014the beasts\u2014the dragon\u2014the scarlet\n    woman seen by the seer of Patmos\u2014oriental types and figures\n    and mystic symbols translated into staring Yankee realities,\n    and exhibited like the beasts of a traveling menagerie. One\n    horrible image, with its hideous heads and scaly caudal\n    extremity, reminded me of the tremendous line of Milton, who,\n    in speaking of the same evil dragon, describes him as\n\n        \u201c\u2018Swinging the scaly horrors of his folded tail.\u2019\n\n    \u201c\u2018To an imaginative mind the scene was full of novel interest.\n    The white circle of tents\u2014the dim wood arches\u2014the upturned,\n    earnest faces\u2014the loud voices of the speakers, burdened with\n    the awful symbolic language of the Bible\u2014the smoke from the\n    fires rising like incense from forest altars\u2014carrying one back\n    to the days of primitive worship, when\n\n        \u201c\u2018The groves were God\u2019s first temples, ere men learned\n        To hew the shaft, and lay the architrave,\n        And stretch the roof above it.\u2019\n\n\u201cThere were near thirty tents on the ground, and the interest of the\nmeeting continued to the last. Mr. Miller left the ground on the 4th of\nJuly, for Northampton, Mass., where he lectured from the 5th to the 7th,\nand then proceeded to Low Hampton.\n\n\u201cHe remained at home till past the middle of August. On the 20th of that\nmonth he commenced a course of lectures at Brandon, Vt., which continued\ntill the 28th. On the 25th, a large tent had been pitched at Chicopee,\nMass., where Mr. Miller was anxiously expected; but he did not arrive so\nas to commence his lectures till the 1st of September. He then lectured\neach day till the 4th, when the meeting closed. That was a very large\ngathering, and, as was estimated, some four hundred or more found peace\nin believing.\n\n\u201cFrom the 7th to the 11th of September, he lectured at Castine, Maine. On\nreturning to Boston, on the 12th, at the request of the passengers, he\ngave a lecture on the boat. He went to Albany on the 13th, lectured there\nin the evening, and on the next day took the canal-boat, on which he also\nlectured, on his way to Granville, N. Y., where he lectured from the 18th\nto the 23d of September. From the 8th to the 16th of October, he lectured\nin Whitehall, N. Y., and from the 20th to the 30th, at Benson, Vt., where\nMr. Himes held a tent-meeting in connection with his lectures.\n\n\u201cOn the 3d of November, Mr. Himes erected the big tent in Newark, N. J.\nMr. Miller was not able to be present till the 7th, from which time to\nthe 14th he gave fifteen discourses. Five days before the close of that\nmeeting the weather became so inclement that the meetings could not be\ncontinued in the tent, and they were adjourned to the Presbyterian church\nin Clinton street, which was kindly opened during the week. On Sunday,\nthe 13th, the meeting was held in the morning in Mechanic\u2019s Hall, which\nwas crowded to suffocation, and found to be altogether too strait for\nthem. At 2 P. M., Mr. Miller spoke from the steps of the court house\nto nearly five thousand people. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the\nweather, and their being thus driven from pillar to post, the meetings\nwere very interesting, and were productive of much good.\n\n\u201cAt the close of the meeting in Newark, he commenced a course of lectures\nin New York city, which continued till the 18th of November. On the\n19th of November, he commenced a course of lectures in New Haven, Ct.,\nin the M. E. church, Rev. Mr. Law, pastor. On Sunday, the 20th, although\nthe house was large, it was crowded; and in the evening many were unable\nto gain admittance. He continued there till the 26th, the interest\ncontinuing during the entire course. _The Fountain_, a temperance paper\npublished in that city, gave the following account of the meeting:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018Mr. William Miller, the celebrated writer and lecturer on the\n    second advent of our Saviour, and the speedy destruction of the\n    world, has recently visited our city, and delivered a course\n    of lectures to an immense concourse of eager listeners in the\n    First Methodist church. It is estimated that not less than\n    three thousand persons were in attendance at the church, on\n    each evening, for a week; and if the almost breathless silence\n    which reigned throughout the immense throng for two or three\n    hours at a time is any evidence of interest in the subject of\n    the lectures, it cannot be said that our community are devoid\n    of feeling on this momentous question.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Mr. Miller was accompanied and assisted by Rev. J. V. Himes,\n    who is by no means an inefficient coadjutor in this great and\n    important work. We did not attend the whole course, the last\n    three lectures being all we had an opportunity of hearing. We\n    were utterly disappointed. So many extravagant things had been\n    said of the \u201cfanatics\u201d in the public prints, and such distorted\n    statements published in reference to their articles of faith,\n    that we were prepared to witness disgusting, and perhaps\n    blasphemous, exhibitions of \u201cMillerism,\u201d as the doctrine of the\n    second advent is called.\n\n    \u201c\u2018In justice to Mr. Miller we are constrained to say that he is\n    one of the most interesting lecturers we have any recollection\n    of ever having heard. We have not the least doubt that he is\n    fully convinced of the truth of the doctrine he labors so\n    diligently to inculcate, and he certainly evinces great candor\n    and fairness in his manner of proving his points. And he proves\n    them, too, to the satisfaction of every hearer; that is,\n    allowing his premises to be correct, there is no getting away\n    from his conclusions.\n\n    \u201c\u2018There was quite a number of believers in attendance from\n    other places, and a happier company we have never seen. We\n    have no means of ascertaining the precise effect of these\n    meetings on this community, but we know that many minds have\n    been induced to contemplate the Scripture prophecies in a new\n    light, and not a few are studying the Bible with unwonted\n    interest. For our own part, this new view of the world\u2019s\n    destiny is so completely at variance with previous habits of\n    thought and anticipation that we are not prepared to give it\n    entire credence, though we should not dare hazard an attempt to\n    disprove it.\n\n    \u201c\u2018The best part of the story is, that a powerful revival has\n    followed the labors of Messrs. Miller and company. We learn\n    that over fifty persons presented themselves for prayers at\n    the altar of the Methodist church on Sunday evening. On Monday\n    evening the number was about eighty.\u2019\n\n\u201cIn the month of May following, Rev. A. A. Stevens (Orthodox Cong.), then\na member of Yale College, in a letter to the _Midnight Cry_, stated that\n\u2018the powerful and glorious revival which then commenced, continued for\nsome two months, with almost unabated interest.\u2019\n\n\u201cAt the close of these lectures, Mr. M. returned to New York city, where\nhe gave six discourses, from the 27th to the 29th of November, and then\nreturned to Low Hampton. Arriving home, he wrote as follows:\u2014\n\n                                        \u201c\u2018LOW HAMPTON, DEC. 7, 1842.\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEAR BROTHER HIMES: ... I did not get home till 10 o\u2019clock on\n    Saturday night. On Wednesday, at 6 o\u2019clock, P. M., same day we\n    left New York, we were brought up all standing in a snow-bank,\n    which we kept bunting, with two or three locomotives, until\n    the next evening at 7 o\u2019clock. On Thursday, by the mighty\n    power of three locomotives, we gained twelve miles from Great\n    Barrington, where we were brought up the night before, to the\n    state line, where they left us and we waited for the Boston\n    cars, which had been due thirty hours. That night we slept in\n    the cars, as the night before, and Friday we got as far as\n    Lansingburg. Saturday I came home, cold and weary, worn out\n    and exhausted. On my arrival, I found a messenger after me and\n    my wife, to visit her mother, who was supposed to be dying.\n    My wife went, and soon returned with the news of her death.\n    After attending the funeral, we came home on Monday night, and\n    yesterday I got some rest. This morning I feel some refreshed.\n    But the fatigue of body and mind has almost unnerved this old\n    frame, and unfitted me to endure the burdens which Providence\n    calls upon me to bear. I find that, as I grow old, I grow more\n    peevish, and cannot bear so much contradiction. Therefore I\n    am called uncharitable and severe. No matter; this frail\n    life will soon be over. My Master will soon call me home, and\n    soon the scoffer and I shall be in another world, to render\n    our account before a righteous tribunal. I will therefore\n    appeal to the Supreme Court of the Universe for the redress of\n    grievances, and the rendering of judgment in my favor, by a\n    revocation of the judgment in the court below. The World and\n    Clergy vs. Miller.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I remain, looking for the blessed hope,\n\n                                                  \u201c\u2018WILLIAM MILLER.\u2019\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X.\n\n    SYNOPSIS OF HIS VIEWS\u2014ADDRESS TO BELIEVERS IN THE NEAR\n    ADVENT\u2014INTERVIEW AT WATERFORD\u2014UTICA\u2014DISTURBANCE AT\n    PHILADELPHIA\u2014THE THIRD OF APRIL\u2014STATEMENT OF HIS AFFAIRS, ETC.\n\n\n\u201cMr. Miller had not been sufficiently definite respecting the time of the\nadvent, in the estimation of some who embraced his views. The expression\n\u2018about the year 1843\u2019 they regarded as too general. As he was about to\nenter on the long-looked-for year, he prepared and published the following\n\n    SYNOPSIS OF HIS VIEWS.\n\n    \u201c1. I believe Jesus Christ will come again to this earth.\n    Proof. John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16; Rev. 1:7.\n\n    \u201c2. I believe he will come in all the glory of his Father.\n    Matt. 16:27; Mark 8:38.\n\n    \u201c3. I believe he will come in the clouds of heaven. Matt.\n    24:30; Mark 13:26; Dan. 7:13.\n\n    \u201c4. I believe he will then receive his kingdom, which will be\n    eternal. Dan. 7:14; Luke 19:12, 15; 2 Tim. 4:1.\n\n    \u201c5. I believe the saints will then possess the kingdom forever.\n    Dan. 7:18, 22, 27; Matt. 24:34; Luke 12:22, 29; 1 Cor. 9:25; 2\n    Tim. 4:8; Jas. 1:12; 1 Pet. 5:4.\n\n    \u201c6. I believe at Christ\u2019s second coming the body of every\n    departed saint will be raised, like Christ\u2019s glorious body. 1\n    Cor. 15:20-29; 1 John 3:2.\n\n    \u201c7. I believe that the righteous who are living on the earth\n    when he comes will be changed from mortal to immortal bodies,\n    and, with them who are raised from the dead, will be caught up\n    to meet the Lord in the air, and so be forever with the Lord. 1\n    Cor. 15:51-53; Phil. 3:20, 21; 1 Thess. 4:14-17.\n\n    \u201c8. I believe the saints will then be presented to God\n    blameless, without spot or wrinkle, in love. 1 Cor. 4:14; Eph.\n    5:27; Col. 1:22; Jude 24; 1 Thess. 3:13; 1 Cor. 1:7, 8.\n\n    \u201c9. I believe, when Christ comes the second time, he will come\n    to finish the controversy of Zion, to deliver his children from\n    all bondage, to conquer their last enemy, and to deliver them\n    from the power of the tempter, which is the devil. Deut. 24:1;\n    Isa. 34:8; 40:2, 5; 41:10-12; Rom. 8:21-23; Heb. 2:13-15; 1\n    Cor. 15:54, 56; Rev. 20:1-6.\n\n    \u201c10. I believe that when Christ comes he will destroy the\n    bodies of the living wicked by fire, as those of the old world\n    were destroyed by water, and shut up their souls in the pit of\n    woe, until their resurrection unto damnation. Ps. 50:3; 97:3;\n    Isa. 66:15, 16; Dan. 7:10; Mal. 4:1; Matt. 3:12; 1 Cor. 3:13; 1\n    Thess. 5:2, 3; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; 1 Pet. 1:7; 2 Pet. 3:7, 10; Isa.\n    24:21, 22; Jude 6-15; Rev. 20:3-15; John 5:29; Acts 24:15.\n\n    \u201c11. I believe, when the earth is cleansed by fire, that Christ\n    and his saints will then take possession of the earth, and\n    dwell therein forever. Then the kingdom will be given to the\n    saints. Ps. 37:9-11, 22-34; Prov. 2:21, 22; 10:30; Isa. 60:21;\n    Matt. 5:5; Rev. 5:10.\n\n    \u201c12. I believe the time is appointed of God when these things\n    shall be accomplished. Acts 17:31; Job 7:1; 14:14; Ps. 81:3;\n    Isa. 40:2; Dan. 8:19; 10:1; 11:35; Hab. 2:3; Acts 17:26.\n\n    \u201c13. I believe God has revealed the time. Isa. 44:7, 8; 45:20,\n    21; Dan. 12:10; Amos 3:7; 1 Thess. 5:4.\n\n    \u201c14. I believe many who are professors and preachers will never\n    believe or know the time until it comes upon them. Jer. 8:7;\n    Matt. 24:50; Jer. 25:34-37.\n\n    \u201c15. I believe the wise, they who are to shine as the\n    brightness of the firmament, Dan. 12:3, will understand the\n    time. Eccl. 8:5; Dan. 12:10; Matt. 24:43-45; 25:6-10; 1 Thess.\n    5:4; 1 Pet. 1:9-13.\n\n    \u201c16. I believe the time can be known by all who desire to\n    understand and to be ready for his coming. And I am fully\n    convinced that some time between March 21, 1843, and March 21,\n    1844, according to the Jewish mode of computation of time,\n    Christ will come, and bring all his saints with him; and that\n    then he will reward every man as his works shall be. Matt.\n    16:27; Rev. 22:12.\n\n\u201cWith the commencement of the new year, he issued the following\n\n    ADDRESS TO BELIEVERS IN THE NEAR ADVENT.\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEAR BRETHREN:\u2014This year, according to our faith, is the last\n    year that Satan will reign in our earth. Jesus Christ will\n    come, and bruise his head. The kingdoms of the earth will be\n    dashed to pieces, which is the same thing. And he, whose right\n    it is to reign, will take the kingdom, and possess it forever\n    and ever. And the God of peace shall tread Satan under your\n    feet shortly. Therefore, we have but a little time more to do\n    as our good brother, Paul, was commanded, Acts 26:18, to open\n    their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from\n    the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness\n    of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by\n    faith that is in me.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Let us then put forth our best energies in this cause; let\n    every one of us try, by persuasion, by the help and grace of\n    God, to get one, at least, of our friends to come to Christ, in\n    this last year of redemption; and, if we succeed, what an army\n    of regenerated souls may we not hail in the new heavens and new\n    earth! I pray God, my brethren, that nothing may deter you from\n    this work. Let scoffers scoff, and liars tell lies; we must not\n    suffer ourselves to be drawn from our work. Yes, the glorious\n    work of salvation, within a few short months, will be finished\n    forever. Then I need not exhort you more on this point; you\n    yourselves know the value of this great salvation.\n\n    \u201c\u2018And another thing it is well for us to remember. The world\n    will watch for our halting. They cannot think we believe what\n    we speak, for they count our faith a strange faith; and now\n    beware, and not give them any vantage-ground over us. They\n    will, perhaps, look for the halting and falling away of many.\n    But I hope none who are looking for the glorious appearing\n    will let their faith waver. Keep cool; let patience have its\n    perfect work; that, after ye have done the will of God, ye may\n    receive the promise. This year will try our faith; we must be\n    tried, purified and made white; and if there should be any\n    among us who do not in heart believe, they will go out from\n    us; but I am persuaded that there cannot be many such; for it\n    is a doctrine so repugnant to the carnal heart, so opposite\n    to the worldly-minded, so far from the cold professor, the\n    bigot and hypocrite, that none of them will, or can, believe\n    in a doctrine so searching as the immediate appearing of Jesus\n    Christ to judge the world. I am, therefore, persuaded better\n    things of you, brethren, although I thus speak. I beseech\n    you, my dear brethren, be careful that Satan get no advantage\n    over you by scattering coals of wild-fire among you; for if\n    he cannot drive you into unbelief and doubt, he will try his\n    wild-fire of fanaticism and speculation to get us from the word\n    of God. Be watchful and sober, and hope to the end for the\n    grace that shall be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus\n    Christ.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Think not, my brethren, that I stand in doubt of your\n    perseverance. I know your faith, your love, and hope, to be\n    rooted and grounded on the word of the Almighty. You are not\n    dependent on the wisdom or commandments of men. Many, if not\n    all of you, have examined for yourselves. You have studied,\n    and found true, what at first was only reported unto you. You\n    have found the Bible much more precious than you had before\n    conceived; its doctrines to be congenial with the holy and just\n    character of God; its precepts to be wise, benevolent and kind;\n    and its prophecies to be clear and lucid, carrying conviction\n    of the truth and inspiration of the Scriptures, by a harmony of\n    manner and matter from Genesis to Revelation. In one word, you\n    have found a new Bible, and I hope and believe you have read\n    it with new delight. I fear not that you can ever be satisfied\n    with the views of our opponents; their manner of explaining\n    Scripture is too carnal to satisfy the devoted child of God.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Then let me advise to a continual searching for truth, both\n    for faith and practice; and wherever we have wandered from the\n    word of God, let us come back to the primitive simplicity of\n    the gospel once delivered to the saints. Thus we shall be found\n    ready at his coming to give an account of our stewardship, and\n    hear our blessed Master say, \u201cWell done, thou good and faithful\n    servant; enter thou in to the joy of thy Lord.\u201d Every truth we\n    get from the blessed book prepares us better for his coming\n    and kingdom. Every error prevents us, in part, from being\n    ready. Let us, then, stand strong in the faith, with our loins\n    girt about with truth, and our lamps trimmed and burning, and\n    waiting for our Lord, ready to enter the promised land, the\n    true inheritance of the saints. This year the fullness of time\n    will come, the shout of victory will be heard in Heaven, the\n    triumphant return of our great Captain may be expected, the\n    new song will commence before the throne, eternity begin its\n    revolution, and time shall be no more.\n\n    \u201c\u2018This year\u2014O blessed year\u2014the captive will be released, the\n    prison doors will be opened, death will have no more dominion\n    over us, and life, eternal life, be our everlasting reward.\n    This year\u2014O glorious year!\u2014the trump of jubilee will be blown,\n    the exiled children will return, the pilgrims reach their\n    home, from earth and Heaven the scattered remnant come and\n    meet in the middle air,\u2014the fathers before the flood, Noah and\n    his sons, Abraham and his, the Jew and Gentile, all who have\n    died in faith, of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people,\n    will meet to part no more. This year! the long-looked-for year\n    of years! the best! it is come! I shall hope to meet you all\n    through faith in God and the blood of the Lamb. Until then\n    farewell. May God bless you, and sustain you in the faith.\n\n    \u201c\u2018May you be patient in all tribulation, and endure unto the\n    end. May you this year be crowned with immortality and glory.\n    And finally, my brethren, pray God, your whole body, soul, and\n    spirit, be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord\n    Jesus Christ.\u2019\n\n                                                   \u201c\u2018WILLIAM MILLER.\n\n    \u201c\u2018_Low Hampton, Jan. 1, 1843._\u2019\n\n\u201cIn compliance with the wishes of Elder Marvin Eastwood and his\ncongregation, in Waterford, N. Y., Mr. Miller lectured there from the\nlast day of December, 1842, to the 8th of January, 1843.\n\n\u201cOn the morning of the third day, the Congregational minister called on\nhim, with a deacon of his church, and wished to ask him a few questions.\nFive other gentlemen soon came in, and took seats in the room. Mr. Miller\ntold the clergyman that he might ask any question he pleased, and he\nwould answer the best he could. The minister accordingly asked him some\ntwenty questions, each one of which Mr. M. answered by quoting a text of\nScripture. He then thanked Mr. M. for his politeness, and acknowledged\nthat he had answered him fairly. \u2018But,\u2019 said he, \u2018I do not believe your\ndoctrine.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018What doctrine?\u2019 said Mr. M.\n\n\u201c\u2018I don\u2019t believe God has revealed the time.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cMr. M. asked him if he would answer three questions.[17]\n\n\u201cThe minister replied that he did not come there to _answer_ questions.\nOne of the gentlemen present then inquired of the minister why he\nwould not answer. He said he did not come for the purpose of answering\nquestions, and did not choose to. The gentleman then said to him: \u2018I have\ndisbelieved the Bible, but have been one of your principal supporters\nmany years; and, when Mr. Miller has answered so many of your questions,\nif you will not let him ask you three, I can pay you no more of my\nmoney.\u2019 He added, \u2018I have seen more evidence in proof of the truth of\nthe Bible in the few lectures I have heard from Mr. M. than in all the\nsermons you have ever preached.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Why,\u2019 said the minister, \u2018how does Mr. Miller prove the truth of the\nBible?\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018By the fulfillment of prophecy.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018And do not I prove it in the same way? Do not I show how all the\nprophecies in reference to Christ were fulfilled in him?\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Why, yes, you do that; but you have never shown that those prophecies\nwere written before Christ; and it is very easy to write a history. But\nMr. M. has shown us how the prophecies are being fulfilled in our own\nday; he has shown us how the history of Napoleon is a perfect fulfillment\nof prophecy; and I _know_ that that prophecy was written before the time\nof Napoleon.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe minister and deacon retired. The gentleman then turned to Mr.\nMiller, and said that he and his four companions were infidels; that they\nhad attended his lectures; had become quite interested; but had very\ncurious feelings, and wished to know what ailed them.\n\n\u201cMr. M. inquired whether they would attend any more of his lectures.\n\n\u201cThey replied that they should lose none of them.\n\n\u201c\u2018Well,\u2019 said Mr. M., \u2018I think I will not tell you what ails you; but, if\nyou will give close attention during the week, I think you will find out.\u2019\n\n\u201cThey attended his lectures, and, before the end of the week, with a\nnumber of others who had been infidels, were rejoicing in the goodness\nand forgiveness of God. At the close of his last lecture, one hundred and\ntwenty persons voluntarily arose for prayers; a goodly number were soon\nrejoicing in the Saviour, and a glorious result followed.\n\n\u201cOn the 10th of January, 1843, Mr. M. began a course of lectures in the\nPresbyterian church in Utica, N. Y., where an interest was elicited\nwhich extended to surrounding places. Invitations were received from\nmany of the neighboring towns, which could not be complied with. The\nmeetings closed on the 17th, when forty or fifty were inquiring what they\nshould do to be saved. A good work had been commenced, which continued\nfor several weeks. The _Methodist Reformer_, published in that city,\nannounced that \u2018many thoughtless sinners and cold professors were stirred\nup to duty by them;\u2019 and the _Baptist Register_ said, \u2018Mr. Miller\u2019s\nappeals were often very pungent, and made a very deep impression on the\naudience, and many came forward for prayer.\u2019\n\n\u201cFrom the 21st to the 29th of January, 1843, Mr. Miller lectured in\nBennington, Vt. He then went to Philadelphia, Pa., and lectured in the\nlarge hall of the Chinese Museum, which was crowded to excess, from the\n3d to the 10th of February. On the evening of the 7th, a gentleman arose\nand confessed that he had been an infidel, but could now praise God for\nwhat he had done for his soul. Many others followed, bearing testimony to\nGod\u2019s pardoning mercy.\n\n\u201cThe interest attending the lectures continued to increase from the first\ntill the evening before their close. On that evening the house was filled\nto overflowing at an early hour. When the lecture commenced, the crowd\nand confusion were so great as to render it almost impossible to hear\nthe speaker; and it was thought best, after notifying the people what\nwas to be done, and giving an opportunity for all who wished so to do to\ngo out, to close the doors, and thus secure silence. This was done, and\nthe speaker proceeded to his subject. For about half an hour there was\nprofound silence, and deep interest was evinced by the immense audience,\nwith the exception of a few unruly boys. This would have undoubtedly\ncontinued had it not been for the circumstance of a lady\u2019s fainting, and\nit becoming necessary to open the doors for her to go out. When the door\nwas opened, there was a rush of persons who stood outside for admittance.\nAs soon as this was done, and a few had come into the room, an unruly boy\nraised the cry of \u2018fire,\u2019 which threw the whole assembly into confusion,\nsome crying one thing, and some another. There did not appear to be any\ndisposition on the part of the multitude to disturb the meeting; but all\ncame from the rush and cry. The disorder arose more from the excited\nfears of the people than from any other cause. Order was again restored,\nand the speaker proceeded for a few moments, when another rush was made,\nand the excitement became so great within as to render it expedient to\ndismiss the meeting.\n\n\u201cThe police of the city were willing to do what they could, but there was\nnothing for them to do; for they could not govern the excited nerves of\nthe audience.\n\n\u201cOn Friday morning the multitude were again assembled at an early hour\nfor service, and Mr. Miller proceeded to answer numerous questions which\nhad been proposed. A most profound attention was manifested until the\nmeeting was about half through, when a man arose and wished to propose\nsome questions, which interrupted the order of the meeting.\n\n\u201cThe owners became alarmed for the safety of the hall, and ordered the\nmeetings to be closed after the afternoon service. Although this fact\nwas unknown except by a few persons, yet the room was literally packed\nwith a mass of living beings, who listened with breathless silence to Mr.\nMiller\u2019s last lecture.\n\n\u201cThere had been no intimation given throughout of what had transpired\nto close the meetings, until he came to bid them farewell. There were\nthen bitter tears and strong sighs. The announcement of the fact came\nunexpectedly. The appeal was melting beyond expression. Probably more\nthan a thousand persons arose to testify their faith in the truth of\nthe advent near, and three or four hundred of the unconverted arose to\nrequest an interest in his prayers. Mr. Miller closed the services by\na most feeling and appropriate prayer and benediction. No blame was\nattached to the owners of the Museum for their course.\n\n\u201cAbout this time it was announced, by a correspondent of Bennett\u2019s _N.\nY. Herald_, that Mr. Miller had fixed on the 3d of April for the advent.\nThis being industriously circulated, led Prof. Moses Stuart to say of\n\u2018the men of April 3, 1843,\u2019 \u201cI would respectfully suggest, that in some\nway or other they have, in all probability, made a _small mistake_ as\nto the _exact day_ of the month when the grand catastrophe takes place,\nthe _1st of April_ being evidently much more appropriate to their\narrangements than any other day in the year.\u201d\u2014_Hints_, 2d ed., p. 173.\nThe _New York Observer_, of February 11, 1843, in commenting on this\nsuggestion of Prof. Stuart, thought it sufficient \u2018to quiet every feeling\nof _alarm_!\u2019 As remarks like these, and other equally foolish stories\nwhich are referred to in the following letter, met the eye of Mr. Miller,\nhe thus denies them through the columns of the _Signs of the Times_:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEAR BROTHER HIMES:\u2014At the request of numerous friends, I\n    herein transmit to them, through you, a brief statement of\n    facts, relative to the many stories with which the public\n    are humbugged, concerning the principles I advocate, and the\n    management of my worldly concerns.\n\n    \u201cMy principles, in brief, are, that Jesus Christ will come\n    again to this earth, cleanse, purify, and take possession\n    of the same, with all his saints, some time between March\n    21, 1843, and March 21, 1844. I have never, for the space of\n    more than twenty-three years, had _any other time preached\n    or published by me_; I have never fixed on any month, day,\n    or hour, during that period; I have never found any mistake\n    in reckoning, summing up or miscalculation; I have made no\n    provision for any other time; I am perfectly satisfied that\n    the _Bible_ is _true_, and is the _word_ of _God_, and I am\n    confident that I rely wholly on the blessed book for my faith\n    in this matter. I am not a prophet. I am not sent to prophesy,\n    but to read, believe, and publish what God has inspired the\n    ancient prophets to administer to us, in the prophecies of\n    the Old and New Testaments. These have been, and now are, my\n    principles, and I hope I shall never be ashamed of them.\n\n    \u201c\u2018As to worldly cares, I have had but very few for twelve\n    years past. I have a wife and eight children; I have great\n    reason to believe they all are the children of God, and\n    believers in the same doctrine with myself. I own a small\n    farm in Low Hampton, N. Y.; my family support themselves upon\n    it, and I believe they are esteemed frugal, temperate, and\n    industrious. They use hospitality without grudging, and never\n    turn a pilgrim from the house, nor the needy from the door. I\n    bless God that my family are benevolent and kind to all men who\n    need their sympathy or aid; I have no cares to manage, except\n    my own individual wants; I have no funds or debts due me of any\n    amount; \u201cI owe no man anything;\u201d and I have expended more than\n    two thousand dollars of my property in twelve years, besides\n    what God has given me through the dear friends, in this cause.\n\n                         \u201c\u2018Yours respectfully,\n\n                                                     WILLIAM MILLER.\n\n    \u201c\u2018_Philadelphia, Feb. 4, 1844._\u2019\n\n\u201cThe almost unparalleled abuse to which Mr. Miller was subject, through\nmost of the secular and some of the religious papers, during this period,\ncalled forth the following manly rebuke from the _Sandy Hill Herald_, a\npaper published in Mr. Miller\u2019s own county:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018FATHER MILLER.\n\n    \u201c\u2018While we are not prepared to subscribe to the doctrine\n    promulgated by this gentleman, we have been surprised at the\n    means made use of by its opponents to put it down. Certainly\n    all who have ever heard him lecture, or have read his works,\n    must acknowledge that he is a sound reasoner, and, as such, is\n    entitled to fair arguments from those who differ with him. Yet\n    his opponents do not see fit to exert their reasoning powers,\n    but content themselves by denouncing the old gentlemen as a\n    \u201cfanatic,\u201d a \u201cliar,\u201d \u201cdeluded old fool,\u201d \u201cspeculator,\u201d &c., &c.\n    Mr. Miller is now, and has been for many years, a resident of\n    this county, and as a citizen, a man, and a Christian, stands\n    high in the estimation of all who know him; and we have been\n    pained to hear the gray-headed, trembling old man denounced as\n    a \u201cspeculating knave.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018Speculating, forsooth! Why need he speculate? He has enough\n    of the good things of this world to last him through the few\n    days which at longest may be his on earth, without traveling\n    from city to city, from town to village, laboring night and\n    day like a galley-slave, to add to a store which is already\n    abundant. Who that has witnessed his earnestness in the pulpit,\n    and listened to the uncultivated eloquence of nature, which\n    falls in such rich profusion from his lips, dare say that he is\n    an impostor? We answer, without fear of contradiction from any\n    candid mind, None! We are not prepared to say how far the old\n    man may be from correct, but one thing, _we doubt not that he\n    is sincere_; and we do hope that some one of his many opponents\n    will take the pains to investigate the subject, and, if it be\n    in their power, drive the old man from his position. It is\n    certainly a subject worthy of investigation, and one fraught\n    with momentous consequences; and no matter who the individual\n    is that promulgates the doctrine, if he offers good reasons and\n    sound arguments, drawn from the word of God and from history,\n    we say he is entitled to his position until, by the same\n    means, he is driven from it. Mr. Miller certainly goes to the\n    fountain of knowledge, revelation, and history, for proof,\n    and should not be answered with low, vulgar, and blasphemous\n    witticisms.\u2019\n\n\u201cWe like the following remarks, copied from an exchange, in relation to\nthis subject:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018MILLERISM.\u2014This is the term by which the opinions of those\n    who oppose the idea of a millennium, and maintain that the end\n    of the world will take place in 1843, are distinguished; and\n    they are thus denominated because Mr. Miller first propagated\n    it.\n\n    \u201c\u2018We certainly are not a convert to the theory; but we feel\n    bound in duty to lift our voice in reproof of, and enter our\n    protest against, the _infidel scurrility and blasphemous\n    witticisms_ with which some of our exchanges abound, and from\n    which religious periodicals are not wholly exempt.\n\n    \u201c\u2018If Mr. Miller is in error, it is possible to prove him so,\n    but not by vulgar and blasphemous witticisms and ribaldry;\n    these are not arguments. And to treat a subject of such\n    overwhelming majesty, and fearful consequences\u2014a subject which\n    has been made the theme of prophecy in both Testaments; the\n    truth of which, occur when it will, God has sealed by his own\n    unequivocal averments\u2014we repeat it, to make puns and display\n    vulgar wit upon this subject, is not merely to sport with the\n    feelings of its propagators and advocates, but is to make a\n    jest of the day of Judgment, to scoff at the Deity himself, and\n    contemn the terrors of his judgment bar.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe _Pittsburg_ (Pa.) _Gazette_, also said:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018We do not concur with Mr. Miller in his interpretations of\n    the prophecies; but we can see neither reason nor Christianity\n    in the unmerited reproach which is heaped upon him for\n    propagating an honest opinion. And that he is honest we have\n    no doubt. True, we think him in error, but believe he is\n    honestly so. And suppose he does err in his views of prophecy,\n    does that make him either a knave or a fool? Have not some\n    of the greatest or best men who have lived since the days of\n    the apostles erred in the same way? And who will say that all\n    these, including Whitby, Bishop Newton, and others of equal\n    celebrity, were monomaniacs, and driven by a pitiable or\n    culpable frenzy to the adoption of their opinions? The truth\n    is, as we apprehend, that many of those who are so indecorous\n    and vituperative in their denunciations of Miller, are in\n    fearful trepidation, lest the day being so near at hand, should\n    overtake them unawares, and hence, like cowardly boys in the\n    dark, they make a great noise by way of keeping up their\n    courage, and to frighten away the bugbears.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe editor of the _Countryman_, in giving the synopsis of Mr. Miller\u2019s\nviews, added:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018The abstract of Miller\u2019s views, which we give on our fourth\n    page, so far as we give it in this paper, is and has been,\n    according to what we have been able to ascertain, the professed\n    belief of orthodox Christians, from the day of Christ\u2019s\n    ascension into Heaven until the present hour. Therefore they\n    are not merely Mr. Miller\u2019s views, but the acknowledged views\n    of the Christian church, the received Bible doctrine; and if\n    Bible doctrine, then are they the truth.\n\n    \u201c\u2018One of the apostles, who shared as largely in the confidence\n    and personal instruction of his Master as any, concludes a\n    reference to this subject in these words: \u201cWherefore, beloved,\n    seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent, that ye may\n    be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless.\u201d 2 Pet.\n    3:14. If the things here referred to have not taken place\u2014and\n    who will say they have?\u2014they, of course, are yet to transpire.\n    If so, is not the caution of the apostle as important in this\n    our day as it was when he uttered it? And if it was an event\n    to be looked for and hoped for _then_, should it be an object\n    of less solicitude _now_? Every intelligent, free moral agent\n    upon earth, whether aware of it or not, has an interest in\n    this issue. He may absorb his mind in other matters, he may\n    drown reflection in the whirl of business or pleasure, he may\n    wrap his soul in projects of wealth or ambition, and fill his\n    aspiring eye with the anticipated glories of some dazzling\n    hight, but his interest still cleaves to the immortality of his\n    nature, and, sooner or later, he must discover that it is the\n    most important interest ever presented to his consideration, or\n    that is attached to his being or his destiny. Is it not, then,\n    the hight of wisdom to give heed to these things, and examine\n    them with all that diligence and dispassionate attention their\n    importance merits?\u2019\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI.\n\n    MR. MILLER AND HIS REVIEWERS\u2014DOCTORS DOWLING, CHASE,\n    JARVIS, ETC.\u2014THE FOURTH KINGDOM\u2014THE LITTLE HORN\u2014PROPHETIC\n    NUMBERS\u2014SEVENTY WEEKS\u2014COMING OF CHRIST, ETC.\n\n\n\u201cAs it will be proper to take some notice of the controversy between Mr.\nMiller and those who entered the lists against him, it may as well be\nreferred to in this connection. As his views gained adherents, various\npublications of sermons, reviews, &c., were issued from the press\u2014the\ndesign of which was to counteract his expositions of prophecy. Some of\nthese were direct attacks on him, and others only indirect, by opposing\nthe long-established principles of Protestant interpretation. The\ncontroversy had respect principally to the following points:\u2014\n\n\u201c1. The Fourth Kingdom of Daniel, 7th chapter.\n\n\u201c2. The Little Horn of the same.\n\n\u201c3. The Little Horn of the 8th.\n\n\u201c4. The Length of the Prophetic Periods.\n\n\u201c5. The Commencement of the Seventy Weeks of Dan. 9.\n\n\u201c6. Their Connection with the 2300 days of Dan. 8.\n\n\u201c7. The Rise of the Little Horn of the 7th.\n\n\u201c8. The Nature of Christ\u2019s Second Advent.\n\n\u201c9. The Return of the Jews.\n\n\u201c10. The Epoch of the Resurrection.\n\n\u201cMr. Miller laid no claim to _originality_ in his position respecting any\nof the above points; but maintained that they were established opinions\nof the church, and, being so, that his conclusions from such premises\nwere well sustained by human as well as by divine teachings. While his\nopponents attacked the view he took of these points, no one of them\nassailed the whole; but each admitted his correctness on some of the\npoints; and, among them, the whole were admitted.\n\n\u201c1. _The Fourth Kingdom of Daniel._ This he claimed to be the _Roman_.\nIn this, he had the support of the ablest and most judicious expositors\nof every age. William Cunninghame, Esq., of England, an eminent\nexpositor, in speaking of the four parts of the great image of the dream\nof Nebuchadnezzar, says that they are \u2018respectively applied by Daniel\nhimself to _four kingdoms, which have, by the unanimous voice of the\nJewish and Christian churches, for more than eighteen centuries, been\nidentified with_ the empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome.\u2019\nShould this be questioned, the witnesses are abundant. In the Jewish\nchurch, we have the Targum of Jonathan Ben Uzziel, Josephus, and the\nwhole modern synagogue, including the names of Abarbanal, Kimchi, David,\nLevi, and others. In the Christian church, such as Barnabas, Iren\u00e6us,\nChrysostom, Cyril of Jerusalem in his catechism, Jerome, and according\nto him, all ecclesiastical writers, Hyppolitus and Lactantius in the\nearly ages; since the Reformation, Luther, Calvin, Mede, T. H. Horne,[18]\nSir Isaac Newton, Bishop Newton, Dr. Hales, Scott, Clarke, Brown,[19]\nWatson,[20] Bishop Lloyd, Daubuz, Brightman, Faber, Noel, Dr. Hopkins,\nand almost every biblical expositor of any note in the Protestant church.\nThose who make this application of the four parts of the image have no\ndifficulty in making a like application of the four beasts of Daniel\nseventh. The remarkable similarity of the two visions requires this.\n\n\u201cThis long-established opinion was controverted by Prof. Stuart of\nAndover, in his \u2018Hints,\u2019 before referred to. He said: \u2018The fourth beast\nin Dan. 7:6, &c., is, beyond all reasonable doubt, the divided Grecian\ndominion, which succeeded the reign of Alexander the Great.\u2019\u2014_Hints_, p.\n86.\n\n\u201cProf. Irah Chase, D. D., said: \u2018The fourth empire was that of the\nsuccessors of Alexander, among whom Seleucus was pre-eminent.\u2019\u2014_Remarks\non the Book of Daniel_, p. 20.\n\n\u201cOthers, of lesser note, copied from these, and took a similar position\nrespecting the fourth kingdom.\n\n\u201cOf those who opposed Mr. Miller on other points, John Dowling, D.D., of\nNew York city, in his \u2018Exposition of the Prophecies,\u2019 did not assail this.\n\n\u201cRev. W. T. Hamilton, D. D., of Mobile, Ala., in his \u2018Lecture on\nMillerism,\u2019 said: \u2018I freely admit, that in his general outline of\ninterpretation (excluding his dates), following, as he does, much\nabler men who have gone before him, Mr. Miller is correct. The several\ndynasties prefigured in the great metallic image of Nebuchadnezzar\u2014in\nthe vision of the four beasts, and of the ram and he-goat\u2014Daniel himself\npoints out. Mistake there is not easy.\u201d\u2014p. 18.\n\n\u201cDr. Jarvis, D. D., LL. D., of Middletown, Ct., in his \u2018Two Discourses on\nProphecy,\u2019 also applies the fourth beast in the same manner.\u2014p. 42.\n\n\u201cJ. T. Hinton, A. M., of St. Louis (\u2018Prophecies Illustrated\u2019), said:\n\u2018The dream of the image, the vision of the four beasts, that of the\nram and he-goat, and the \u201cScriptures of truth,\u201d give us four detailed\ndescriptions of the history of the world, from the time of Daniel to the\n\u201ctime of the end;\u201d and the Apocalyptic visions refer to the same period\nas the latter portion of the prophecies of Daniel.\u2019\u2014p. 25. \u2018The dream\nof the image is of the greatest importance; it leaves _without excuse_\nthose who would reduce the remaining prophecies of Daniel to the narrow\ncompass of the little acts of the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes. Nothing\ncan be clearer than that the gold, the silver, the brass, the iron, and\nthe clay, are designed to cover the history of the world in all its\nsuccessive ages.\u201d\u2014p. 27.\n\n\u201cAgain he says: \u2018We think our readers will concur with us, and with the\ngreat mass of writers on prophecy, that the \u201cten horns\u201d or Daniel\u2019s\n\u201cfourth beast,\u201d and \u201cthe beast rising out of the sea, having seven\nheads,\u201d of the Apocalyptic visions, refer to the ten kingdoms into which\nthe Roman Empire was divided. Of the identity of the ten-horned beasts of\nDaniel and John there can be no reasonable doubt.\u201d\u2014p. 232.\n\n\u201c2. _The Little Horn of the seventh chapter of Daniel._ This he held\nto be the papacy. This was no novel view of that symbol, being, as it\nwas, the view of the whole Protestant world. See Dr. Clarke\u2019s Notes on\n2 Thess. 2; Croly on the Apoc., pp. 113-117, Horne\u2019s Int., vol. 4, p.\n191, Watson\u2019s Theol. Dic., p. 62, G. T. Noel, Prospects of the Church of\nChrist, p. 100, William Cunninghame, Esq., Political Dest. of the Earth,\np. 28, Mede, Newton, Scott, Daubuz, Hurd, Jurieu, Vitringa, Fleming,\nLowman, and numerous others of the best standard expositors.\n\n\u201cProf. Stuart, Prof. Chase, and others who applied the \u2018fourth beast\u2019 to\nthe four divisions of Alexander\u2019s successors, applied the little horn of\nthe same chapter to Antiochus Epiphanes.\n\n\u201cMr. Hinton took the same view that Mr. Miller did of this symbol.\nHe said: \u2018If any other events of history can be set forth and made\nto fill out _all the particulars_ mentioned by Daniel and John, we\nshould be happy to see them stated; till then, we shall believe the\nlittle horn rising up amidst the ten horns, and having three of them\nplucked up before it, to refer to the rise of the papacy in the midst\nof the kingdoms into which the Roman Empire was divided in the sixth\ncentury.\u201d\u2014p. 237.\n\n\u201cDr. Dowling, Dr. Hamilton, and others, who admitted that the fourth\nbeast symbolized the Roman Empire, also applied its little horn to the\npapacy.\n\n\u201c3. _The Little Horn of the eighth chapter of Daniel, that became\nexceeding great._ This Mr. Miller believed to be a symbol of Rome. In\nthis view he was sustained by Sir Isaac Newton, Bishop Newton, Dr. Hales,\nMartin Luther, Dr. Prideaux, Dr. Clarke, Dr. Hopkins, Wm. Cunninghame,\nand others.\n\n\u201cDr. Horne said of the first three above named: \u2018Sir Isaac Newton, Bishop\nNewton, and Dr. Hales, have clearly shown that the Roman power, and no\nother, is intended; for, although some of the particulars may agree very\nwell with that king (Antiochus), yet others can by no means be reconciled\nto him; _while all of them agree and correspond exactly with the Romans,\nand with no other power_.\u201d\u2014_Intro._, vol. 4, p. 191.\n\n\u201cIn addition to these, almost all the old writers who applied it to\nAntiochus Epiphanes did so only as the type of Rome, where they looked\nfor the Antichrist. St. Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem, in the fourth\ncentury, said: \u2018This, the predicted Antichrist, will come when the times\nof the (pagan) Roman Empire shall be fulfilled, and the consummation\nof the world approach. Ten kings of the Romans shall rise together, in\ndifferent places indeed, but they shall reign at the same time. Among\nthese, the eleventh is Antichrist, who, by magical and wicked artifices,\nshall seize the Roman power.\u2019\n\n\u201cProf. Stuart, Prof. Chase, and even Dr. Dowling, with others, applied\nthis symbol to Antiochus Epiphanes.\n\n\u201cRev. R. C. Shimeal, of New York (\u201cProphecy in Course of Fulfillment\u201d),\ndissented from Mr. Miller, and also from the foregoing, and understood\nthis horn to symbolize the Mahommedan power. Mr. Hinton took the same\nview.\n\n\u201cMr. Miller was sustained in his application of this point by Dr.\nHamilton and Dr. Jarvis. The latter said: \u2018Sir Isaac Newton, with that\nsagacity which was peculiar to him, was the first, I believe, who showed\nclearly that this little horn was the Roman power.\u2019\u2014p. 43.\n\n\u201c4. _The Length of the Prophetic Numbers._ In explaining these, Mr.\nMiller adopted the Protestant view, that they represent years. There is\nprobably no point respecting which Protestant commentators have been\nmore agreed than this. Faber, Prideaux, Mede, Clarke, Scott, the two\nNewtons, Wesley, and almost every expositor of note, have considered this\na _settled question_. Indeed, so universal has been this interpretation\nof these periods that Professor Stuart says: \u2018IT IS A SINGULAR FACT THAT\nTHE GREAT MASS OF INTERPRETERS in the English and American world have,\nfor many years, been wont to understand the _days_ designated in Daniel\nand the Apocalypse as the _representatives or symbols of years_. I found\nit difficult to trace the origin of this _GENERAL, I might say ALMOST\nUNIVERSAL, CUSTOM_.\u2019\u2014_Hints_, p. 77.\n\n\u201cHe also says: \u2018For a long time these principles have been so current\namong the expositors of the English and American world, that scarcely\na serious attempt to vindicate them has of late been made. They have\nbeen regarded as _so plain_ and so well _fortified_ against _all\nobjections_, that _most expositors_ have deemed it quite useless even to\nattempt to defend them. One might, indeed, almost compare the ready and\nunwavering assumption of these propositions, to the assumption of the\nfirst self-evident axioms in the science of geometry, which not only may\ndispense with any process of ratiocination in their defense, but which do\nnot even admit of any.\u2019\u2014_Hints_, p. 8.\n\n\u201cProf. Stuart, however, dissented from this \u2018almost universal custom,\u2019\nand claimed that the prophetic days\u2014the 1260, 1290, 1335, and\n2300\u2014indicated only days. Of the 1260 he said: \u2018The very manner of the\nexpression indicates, of course, that it was not the design of the\nspeaker or writer to be _exact_ to a day or an hour. A little more or\na little less than three and a half years would, as every reasonable\ninterpreter must acknowledge, accord perfectly well with the general\ndesignation here, where plainly the aim is not statistical exactness, but\na mere generalizing of the period in question.\u2019\u2014_Hints_, p. 73.\n\n\u201cAgain he says: \u2018A statistical exactness cannot be aimed at in cases of\nthis nature. Any near approximation to the measure of time in question\nwould, of course, be regarded as a sufficient reason for setting it down\nunder the general rubric.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018By the 1260 days,\u2019 he said, \u2018no more than three and a half years\nliterally can possibly be meant\u2019 (p. 75); and of the 2300: \u2018We must\nconsider these 2300 evening-mornings as an expression of simple time, _i.\ne._, of so many days, reckoned in the Hebrew manner.\u2019\u2014p. 100.\n\n\u201cProf. C. E. Stowe, D. D., of Andover Mass., in his \u2018Millennial\nArithmetic,\u2019 claimed that \u2018_day_ does not mean _year_ in the prophecies\nany more than elsewhere and that \u2018a definite designation of time was not\nhere intended, but only a general expression.\u2019\u2014p. 13.\n\n\u201cProf. Chase agreed with Prof. Stuart respecting the 1260 days; but\nsaid of the 2300: \u2018The period predicted is _not_ two thousand and three\nhundred _days_ but only _half_ that number\u20141150.\u2019\u2014_Remarks_, p. 60.\n\n\u201cDr Dowling agreed with Prof. Chase that the 2300 were half days; but\ndiffered both from him and Prof. Stuart respecting the 1260, of which\nhe says: \u2018I believe, as Mr. Miller does, and indeed most Protestant\ncommentators, that the 1260 years denote the duration of the dominion\nof the papal Antichrist. After comparing these passages, and the entire\nprophecies to which they belong, with the history and character of\npapacy, I cannot doubt that this is the mystical Babylon, whose name is\nwritten in Rev. 17:5; and that, when the 1260 years are accomplished,\nthen shall that great city, Babylon, be thrown down, and shall be found\nno more at all.\u2019\u2014_Reply to Miller_, p. 27.\n\n\u201cProf. Pond, D. D. (of Bangor, Me.), in his \u2018Review of Second Advent\nPublications,\u2019 was in doubt whether the periods of Daniel could be proved\nto be years; but was willing to cut the matter short by conceding the\npoint that it may be so.\u2014p. 22.\n\n\u201cDr. Jarvis, Mr. Hinton, Mr. Shimeal, and Prof. Bush, sustained Mr.\nMiller respecting the significance of the prophetic days.\n\n\u201cIn speaking of the application of the 2300 days to the time of the\npersecution of Antiochus Epiphanes, Dr. Jarvis says: \u2018This interpretation\nwould, of course, be fatal to all Mr. Miller\u2019s calculations. It is not\n_surprising_, therefore, that it should be eagerly embraced by many of\nhis opponents. But, with all due deference, I think there are insuperable\ndifficulties in the way of this scheme, which makes Antiochus Epiphanes\nthe little horn.\u2019 \u2018I make no difficulty, therefore, in admitting the\nevening-morning to mean a prophetic day.\u2019\u2014_Sermons_, p. 46. He further\nsays that Daniel was told to shut up the vision, \u2018because the fulfillment\nof it should be so far distant; a strong collateral argument, as I\nunderstand it, for the interpretation of 2300 prophetic days.\u2019\u2014_Ib._, p.\n47. And \u2018The vision is the whole vision of the ram and he-goat.\u2019\u2014p. 45.\n\n\u201cProf. Bush, in writing to Mr. Miller, said: \u2018I do not conceive your\nerrors on the subject of chronology to be at all of a serious nature,\nor in fact to be _very wide of the truth_. In taking a _day_ as the\nprophetical time for a _year_, I believe you are _sustained_ by the\n_soundest exegesis_, as well as _fortified_ by the high names of Mede,\nSir Isaac Newton, Bishop Newton, Faber, Scott, Keith, and a host of\nothers, who have long since come to _substantially your conclusions_ on\nthis head. They _all agree_ that the leading periods mentioned by Daniel\nand John _do actually expire about this age of the world_; and it would\nbe strange logic that would convict you of heresy for holding in effect\nthe same views which stand forth so prominently in the notices of these\neminent divines.\u2019 \u2018Your results in this field of inquiry do not strike\nme as so _far out of the way_ as to affect any of the great interests of\ntruth or duty.\u2019\u2014_Ad. Her._, vol. 7, p. 38.\n\n\u201cWriting to Prof. Stuart, Prof. Bush said: \u2018I am not inclined\nprecipitately to discard an opinion _long prevalent in the church_, which\nhas commended itself to those whose judgments are entitled to profound\nrespect. That such is the case in regard to the _year-day_ calculations\nof prophecy I am _abundantly satisfied_; and I confess, too, at once to\nthe pleasure that it affords me to find that that which is sustained by\n_age_ is also sustained by _argument_.\u2019 Again he says: \u2018Mede is very\nfar from being the first who adopted this solution of the symbolic term\nday. It is the solution naturally arising from the construction put,\nin _all_ ages, upon the oracle of Daniel respecting the SEVENTY WEEKS,\nwhich, by Jews and Christians, have been interpreted weeks of years, on\nthe principle of a day standing for a year. This fact is obvious from\nthe Rabbinical writers _en masse_, where they touch upon the subject;\nand Eusebius tells us (_Dem. Evangl._ 8, p. 258\u2014Ed. Steph.), that this\ninterpretation in his day was _generally_ if not _universally admitted_.\u2019\n\n\u201cI have, in my own collection, writers on the prophecies, previous to\nthe time of Mede, who interpret the 1260 days as so many years, and\nwho are so far from broaching this as a _new_ interpretation that they\ndo not even pause to give the grounds of it, but proceed onward, as if\nno risk were run in taking for granted the soundness of the principle\nwhich _came down to them accredited by the IMMEMORIAL usage of their\npredecessors_.\u2019\u2014_Hierophant_, vol. 1, p. 245.\n\n\u201cIf the old, established principle of the year-day theory is wrong, then,\nsaid Prof. Bush, \u2018not only has the whole Christian world been led astray\nfor ages by a mere _ignis fatuus_ of false hermeneutics, but the church\nis at once cut loose from every chronological mooring, and set adrift in\nthe open sea, without the vestige of a beacon, light-house, or star, by\nwhich to determine her bearings or distances from the desired millennial\nhaven to which she had hoped she was tending.\u2019\n\n\u201c5. _The Commencement of the Seventy Weeks._\u2014These were believed by\nMr. Miller to be the weeks of years\u2014four hundred and ninety years\u2014and\ncommenced with the decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus to restore and build\nJerusalem, according to Ezra seventh, B. C. 457. This has also long been\nconsidered by commentators to be a settled point; and it probably would\nnot have been disputed were it not for a desire to avoid the conclusion\nto which Mr. Miller came, on the supposition that it was the beginning\nof the 2300 days. On so settled a point as this it is only necessary to\nmention such names as Horne (see Int., vol. 1, p. 336, vol. 4, p. 191),\nPrideaux (see Connection, pp. 227-256), Clarke (see Notes on 9th of\nDaniel), Watson (Theol. Dic., p. 96), William Howel, LL. D. (Int. of Gen.\nHis., vol. 1, p. 209), Scott, and Cunninghame.\n\n\u201cThis point was not much questioned by any. A Mr. Kindrick, in a \u2018New\nExposition of the Prophecies of Daniel,\u2019 said: \u2018They are seventy\nyears only, and commenced with the birth of Christ and ended with the\ndestruction of the Jewish nation.\u2019\u2014p. 4. Rev. Calvin Newton affirmed, in\nthe _Christian Watchman_, that they were fulfilled in seventy literal\nweeks. And Prof. Stuart said: \u2018It would require a volume of considerable\nmagnitude even to give a history of the ever-varying and contradictory\nopinions of critics respecting this _locus vexatissimus_; and perhaps a\nstill larger, to establish an exegesis which would stand. I am fully of\nopinion that no interpretation as yet published will stand the test of\nthorough grammatico-historical criticism.\u2019\u2014_Hints_, p. 104.\n\n\u201cMr. Shimeal, while he admitted that they are weeks of years, commenced\nthem four years later than Mr. M.\n\n\u201cDr. Hamilton sustained Mr. Miller on this point. He said: \u2018The\ninterpretation which Mr. Miller gives of Daniel\u2019s seventy weeks,\ncommencing with the decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus, in the seventh\nyear of his reign (B. C. 457), for the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and\nterminating with the death of Christ, A. D. 33, is, in the main, correct,\nbecause here Mr. M. but gives a tolerably faithful report of the result\nof the labors of the learned Prideaux and others in this field of\nresearch.\u2019\u2014p. 18. This interpretation was not denied by Dr. Jarvis, Mr.\nHinton, and Mr. Morris. And Dr. Dowling said: \u2018Mr. Miller says the four\nhundred and ninety years begin B. C. 457, which is correct. He says they\nend A. D. 33, which is also correct.\u2019\u2014p. 49.\n\n\u201c6. _The connection between the 70 weeks and 2300 Days._\u2014This was a\n_vital_ point in the chronology of Mr. M. to bring the end in 1843. The\nRev. William Hales, D. D., the most learned modern chronologer, says:\n\u2018This simple and ingenious adjustment of the chronology of the seventy\nweeks, considered as forming a branch of the 2300 days, was originally\ndue to the sagacity of Hans Wood, Esq., of Rossmead, in the county of\nWestmeath, Ireland, and published by him in an anonymous commentary on\nthe Revelation of St. John, Lon., 1787.\u2019\u2014_New Anal. Chro._, vol. 2, p.\n564. He elsewhere calls it \u2018the most ingenious of its class.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe argument which Mr. Miller used in support of this point was based\nupon the literal meaning of the Hebrew word, which, in our version of\nDaniel 9:24, is rendered \u2018determined\u2019\u2014_cut off_, or _cut out_,\u2014and the\ncircumstances in which Gabriel appeared to Daniel, as stated in the ninth\nchapter, with the instruction given.\n\n\u201cIn the 8th chapter of Daniel is recorded a vision which was to extend\nto the cleansing of the sanctuary, and to continue 2300 days. Daniel had\n\u2018sought for the meaning\u2019 of that vision, and a voice said: \u201cGabriel,\nmake this man to understand the vision.\u201d Gabriel said to Daniel: \u2018I will\nmake thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation; for,\nat the time appointed, the end shall be;\u2019 and then proceeded to explain\nthe symbols, but said nothing of their duration. At the close of the\nexplanation Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; and he says he\n\u2018was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.\u2019\n\n\u201cThree years subsequent to that vision, Daniel\u2014understanding \u2018by books\nthe number of years whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the\nprophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations\nof Jerusalem,\u2019\u2014set his face unto the Lord to seek by prayer and\nsupplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes. He proceeded\nto confess his own sins and the sins of his people, and to supplicate\nthe Lord\u2019s favor on the sanctuary that was desolate. While he was thus\nspeaking, Daniel says:\u2014\u2018Gabriel, whom I had seen in _the vision_ at the\nbeginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the\nevening oblation; and he informed me, and talked with me, and said: \u2018O\nDaniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the\nbeginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come\nto show thee; for thou art greatly beloved; therefore understand the\nmatter and consider _the vision_. Seventy weeks are _determined_\u2019 &c.\n\u2018From the going forth of the decree to restore and to build Jerusalem\nunto Messiah the Prince:\u2019\u2014after which Jerusalem was to be made desolate\n\u2018until the consummation.\u2019\u2014Dan. 9:20-27.\n\n\u201cDr. Gill, a distinguished divine and scholar, rendered the word\n\u2018determined,\u2019 _cut off_, and is sustained by good scholars.\n\n\u201cHengstenberg, who enters into a critical examination of the original\ntext, says: \u2018But the very use of the word, which does not elsewhere\noccur, while others, much more frequently used, were at hand, if Daniel\nhad wished to express the idea of determination, and of which he has\nelsewhere, and even in this portion, availed himself, seems to argue\nthat the word stands from regard to its original meaning, and represents\nthe seventy weeks, in contrast with a determination of time (_en\nplatei_), _as a period cut off from subsequent duration, and accurately\nlimited_.\u2019\u2014_Christology of the Old Test._, vol. 2, p. 301. Washington,\n1839.\n\n\u201cGesenius, in his Hebrew Lexicon, gives _cut off_ as the definition\nof the word, and many others of the first standing as to learning and\nresearch, and several versions have thus rendered the word.[21]\n\n\u201cSuch being the meaning of the word, and such the circumstances under\nwhich the prophecy of the seventy weeks was given, Mr. Miller claimed\nthat _the vision_ which Daniel was called on to consider, and respecting\nwhich Gabriel was to give him skill and understanding, was _the vision_\nof the 8th chapter; of which Daniel sought the meaning, which Gabriel was\ncommanded to make him understand, but which, after Gabriel\u2019s explanation,\nnone understood; and that the seventy weeks of years\u2014_i. e._, four\nhundred and ninety that were _cut off_\u2014were cut off from the 2300 days of\nthat vision; and, consequently, that those two periods must be dated from\nthe same epoch, and the longer extend 1810 years after the termination of\nthe shorter.\n\n\u201cThe same view was advocated by several English divines. Rev. M.\nHabershon says: \u2018In this conclusion I am happy in agreeing with Mr.\nCunninghame, who says, \u201cI am not aware of any more probable era which\ncan be selected for the commencement of the 2300 years than that which\nhas been chosen by some recent writers, who supposed this period to\nhave begun at the same time with the seventy weeks of Daniel, or in the\nyear B. C. 457, and consequently that it will terminate in the year\n1843.\u201d\u2019\u2014_Hist. Dis._, p. 307.\n\n\u201cThe celebrated Joseph Wolf, though dating the seventy weeks and 2300\ndays from B. C. 453, commenced them at the same epoch.\u2014_Missionary\nLabors_, p. 259. And Dr. Wilson, of Cincinnati, who is high authority in\nthe Presbyterian church, in a discourse on \u2018Cleansing the Sanctuary,\u2019\nsays: I undertake to show that Daniel\u2019s \u2018seventy weeks\u2019 is the beginning\nor first part of the \u2018two thousand three hundred days\u2019 allotted for the\ncleansing of the sanctuary; that Daniel\u2019s \u2018time, times, and a half\u2019 is\nthe last or concluding part of the 2300 days.\u2019\n\n\u201cProf. Stuart, Dr. Dowling, Prof. Chase, and others, who denied the\nyear-day calculation when applied to the 2300 days, of course dissented\nfrom Mr. Miller on this point. Dr. Dowling went so far as to _deny_(!)\nthat the Hebrew article _hai_ (THE) is in the phrase \u2018the vision.\u2019 in the\noriginal of Dan. 9:23.\n\n\u201cOf those who admitted the year-day theory, Dr. Hamilton, Dr. Jarvis, Mr.\nHinton, and Dr. Pond, denied any connection between the two periods. Dr.\nHamilton commenced the 2300 days B. C. 784, and ended them with the era\nof the Reformation, A. D. 1516. The others did not hazard any opinion\nrespecting the time of their commencement.\n\n\u201cMr. Miller was supposed to be sustained on this point by Prof. Bush,\nwho did not consider him in any serious error respecting the time. And\nMr. Shimeal said, \u2018I trust it will not be deemed a violation of that\nmodesty which becomes me, if, for the reasons here given, I withhold my\nassent from the conclusion of the Rev. Dr. Jarvis on this subject; which\nis that the seventy weeks form no part of the two thousand three hundred\ndays.\u2019\u2014p. 34.\n\n\u201c7. _The rise of the Papacy\u2014the Little Horn of Dan. 7._\u2014Mr. Miller\nclaimed that the one thousand two hundred and sixty years of the papacy\nwere to be reckoned from A. D. 538, by virtue of the decree of Justinian.\nThis decree, though issued A. D. 533, did not go into full effect\nuntil 538, when the enemies of the Catholics in Rome were subjugated\nby Belisarius, a general of Justinian. In this view, as to the rise of\npapacy, he was sustained by Croly (see his work on Apoc., pp. 113-117);\nG. T. Noel (see Prospects of Ch., p. 100); Wm. Cunninghame, Esq. (Pol.\nDestiny of the earth, p. 28); Keith, vol. 1, p. 93; Encyclopedia of Rel.\nKnowl., art. Antichrist; Edward King, Esq., and others.\n\n\u201cProf. Stuart and Prof. Chase, in applying this little horn to Antiochus,\nand the beast of the Apocalypse to Nero, explained these numbers in days,\nsatisfactorily to themselves.\n\n\u201cDr. Jarvis, who admitted that they symbolize years, denied Mr. Miller\u2019s\ncommencement, without assigning any other. He said: \u2018I would rather\nimitate the caution of the learned Mr. Mede, with regard to the time of\nthe great apostasy, \u201cand curiously inquire not, but leave it unto him who\nis the Lord of times and seasons.\u201d\u2019\n\n\u201cAnd of the 1260, 1290, and 1335 days, Mr. Dowling said, \u2018If I am asked\nthe question, As you reject the interpretation Mr. Miller gives of these\nprophetic times, can you furnish a better? I reply, _I do not feel myself\nbound to furnish any_\u2019!\u2014_Reply to M._, p. 25.\n\n\u201cDr. Hamilton rather agreed with Faber and Scott, in dating from the\ndecree of Phocus, A. D. 606.\n\n\u201cMr. Shimeal sustained Mr. Miller in dating from the decree of Justinian,\nbut reckoned from the _date_ of its _issue_, instead of from its going\ninto effect.\u2014p. 45.\n\n\u201c8. _The Coming of Christ._\u2014Mr. Miller contended that this was to be\nliteral and personal. This was the view which had been entertained by the\nchurch in all ages, and is recognized in the formulas of faith adopted\nby all evangelical churches. Whether his coming is to be pre or post\nmillennial, is another question; but that Christians, in all ages, have\nbelieved that Christ will come again in person to judge the world, will\nnot be questioned.\n\n\u201cThat Christ will ever thus return was denied by Prof. Stuart and Prof.\nBush. The former said that he had \u2018a deeper conviction than ever of the\ndifficulties which attend the supposition of a _personal_, _actual_,\nand _visible_ descent of Christ and the glorified saints to the\nearth.\u2019\u2014_Hints_, 2d ed., p. 153. Again: \u2018All the prophecies respecting\nthe Messiah are invested with the costume of figurative language.\u2019\u2014_Ib._,\np. 183. And again: \u2018Christ himself assumed a visible appearance,\u2019 at his\nfirst advent, \u2018only that he might take on him our nature and die for sin.\nWhen he appears a second time, there is no necessity for assuming such a\nnature.\u2019\u2014_Ib._, p. 185.\n\n\u201cProf. Bush gave as his opinion, that \u2018the second advent of the Saviour\nis not affirmed to be _personal_, but _spiritual_ and _providential_;\nand that the event so denominated is to be considered as having entered\nupon its incipient fulfillment at a very early period of the Christian\ndispensation.\u2019\u2014_Anastasis_, p. 9.\n\n\u201cMr. Dowling and others, who admitted the personal coming of Christ at\nthe _close_ of the millennium, claimed that the predicted reign of Christ\non earth during that period is to be _spiritual_.\n\n\u201cBut Mr. Shimeal sustained Mr. Miller in his belief that the advent\nwill be personal and pre-millennial. And Bishop Hopkins, of Vermont\n(Two Discourses on the Advent), while he claimed that the time was not\nrevealed, said, nevertheless, \u2018we would admonish you, with still greater\nearnestness, to keep your souls in constant readiness for your Lord\u2019s\nadvent, and in a state of sacred desire to behold him in his glory.\u2019\u2014p.\n29.\n\n\u201c9. _The Return of the Jews._\u2014Mr. Miller looked for no return of the\nJews previous to the resurrection of the just; and the righteous of that\nnation, who have died in the faith of Abraham, with all Gentile believers\nof like precious faith, he regarded as the subjects of all unfulfilled\npromises to Israel\u2014the fulfillment of which will be in the new earth, and\nin the resurrection out from among the dead.\n\n\u201cThat the promise to Abraham has reference to the resurrection state, is\nno novel or unscriptural view.\n\n\u201cRabbi Eliezer the Great, supposed to have lived just after the second\ntemple was built, applied Hosea 14:8 to the pious Jews, who seemed likely\nto die without seeing the glory of Israel, saying: \u2018As I live, saith\nJehovah, I will raise you up in the resurrection of the dead; and I will\ngather you with all Israel.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe Sadducees are reported to have asked Rabbi Gamaliel, the preceptor\nof Paul, whence he would prove that God would raise the dead; who quoted\nDeut. 9:21: \u2018Which land the Lord sware that he would give to your\n_fathers_.\u2019 He argued, as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had it not, and as\nGod cannot lie, that they must be raised from the dead to inherit it.\n\n\u201cRabbi Simai, though of later date, argues the same from Ex. 6:4,\ninsisting that the law asserts in this place the resurrection from the\ndead, when it said, \u2018And also I have established my covenant with them,\nto give them the Canaan;\u2019 for, he adds, \u2018It is not said to _you_, but to\nthem.\u2019\n\n\u201cMennasseh Ben Israel says: \u2018It is plain that Abraham and the rest of the\npatriarchs did not possess that land: it follows, therefore, that they\nmust be raised in order to enjoy the promised good, as, otherwise, the\npromises of God would be vain and false.\u201d\u2014_De Resurrect. Mort._, L, i.,\nc. 1, sec. 4.\n\n\u201cRabbi Saahias Gaion, commenting on Dan. 12:2, says: \u2018This is the\nresuscitation of the dead Israel, whose lot is eternal life, and those\nwho shall not awake are the forsakers of Jehovah.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018In the world to come,\u2019 says the Sahar, fol. 81, \u2018the blessed God will\nvivify the dead and raise them from their dust, so that they shall be no\nmore an earthly structure.\u2019\n\n\u201cLuther, Calvin, and many other divines of the era of the Reformation,\napply the promises to Abraham in a like manner; as do many divines of the\npresent time.\n\n\u201cOf those who entered the list against Mr. Miller, Dr. Dowling, Mr.\nShimeal, and Dr. Hamilton, strenuously contended for the return of the\nJews in the flesh to Palestine.\n\n\u201cProf. Stuart sustained Mr. Miller so far as the question has respect to\nthe true Israel, applying the promises to all who are of the faith of\nAbraham.\n\n\u201c10. _The Epoch of the Resurrection._\u2014Mr. Miller held that the\nresurrection of the just will be pre-millennial, and that that of the\nwicked will be at the close of the millennium. This hinges on the\ninterpretation given to Rev. 20:4-6. It is worthy of note that, during\nthe first two centuries, there was not an individual who believed in any\nresurrection of the dead, whose name or memory has come down to us, who\ndenied that a literal resurrection is there taught.\n\n\u201cEusebius admits that Papias was a disciple of John the Evangelist, and\nthat he taught that, \u2018after the resurrection of the dead, the kingdom of\nChrist shall be established corporeally on this earth.\u2019\u2014[Hist. Lib. 3,\nSec. 39.] And Jerome quotes Papias [De Script. Eccles.] as saying, that\n\u2018he had the apostles for his authors, and that he considered what Andrew,\nwhat Peter said, what Philip, what Thomas said, and other disciples of\nthe Lord.\u2019 Iren\u00e6us taught that at the resurrection of the just the meek\nshould inherit the earth; and that then would be fulfilled the promise\nwhich God made to Abraham.\n\n\u201cJustyn Martyr, who was born A. D. 89, seven years before the Revelations\nwere written, says that he and many others are of this mind, \u2018that Christ\nshall reign personally on the earth,\u2019 and that \u2018all who were accounted\northodox so believed.\u2019 He also says, \u2018A certain man _among us_, whose\nname is John, being one of the twelve apostles of Christ, in that\nRevelation which was shown to him, prophesied that those who believe in\nour Christ shall fulfill a thousand years at Jerusalem.\u2019\n\n\u201cTertullian, who wrote about A. D. 180, says it was a custom of his\ntimes for Christians to pray that they might have part in the first\nresurrection; and Cyprian, who lived about A. D. 220, says that\nChristians \u2018had a thirst for _martyrdom_, that they might obtain a better\nresurrection,\u2019\u2014the martyrs being raised at the commencement of the\nthousand years.\n\n\u201cThe first of whom we have any account that opposed this doctrine was\nOrigen, in the middle of the third century, who styled those who adhered\nto it \u2018the simpler sort of Christians.\u2019 Mosheim assures us that the\nopinion \u2018that Christ was to come and reign a thousand years among men\u2019\nhad, before the time of Origen, \u2018met with _no opposition_.\u2019\u2014_Ch. Hist._,\nvol. 1, p. 284.\n\n\u201cAt the era of the Reformation this doctrine was revived, and taught by\nLuther and Melancthon; it is in the confession of Augsburg (A. D. 1530);\nwas the belief of Latimer, Cranmer, and Ridley; is in the Articles of the\nChurch (Ed. vi., A. D. 1552); is not denied in the more prominent creeds\nand confessions of faith of the churches, and was believed by Mede, Sir\nIsaac Newton, Bishop Newton, Milton, Knox, Bunyan, Gill, Cowper, Heber,\nPollok, Greswell, and many other distinguished names of modern times.\n\n\u201cThis point was vital to Mr. Miller\u2019s theory, for, however correct\nhe might be in his _time_, without this _event_ he must fail in his\napplication of prophecy.\n\n\u201cProf. Bush, while he admitted that all \u2018the leading periods\nmentioned by Daniel and John do actually expire _about_ this age of\nthe world\u2019 (_Letter to Mr. M._, p. 6), claimed that \u2018the great event\nbefore the world is not its _physical conflagration_, but its _moral\nregeneration_.\u2019\u2014p. 11.\n\n\u201cMr. Hinton said: \u2018It is possible we may have reached the goal of the\nworld\u2019s moral destiny. It is, indeed, our deliberate opinion that we are\nin the general period of termination of the 23d century alluded to by the\nprophet ... and that the events alluded to in the phrase \u201cthen shall the\nsanctuary be cleansed\u201d are now actually passing before us.\u2019\u2014p. 121. But\nhe considered the _event_ \u2018a resurrection from death in trespasses and\nsins.\u2019\u2014p. 336.\n\n\u201cDr. Dowling, Dr. Hamilton, and others, while they did not admit, with\nProf. Bush, that the present age \u2018is just opening upon the crowning\nconsummation of all prophetic declarations,\u2019 contended that the\nmillennium \u2018is to be ushered in, not by a literal resurrection of the\nbodies of the saints, but by the figurative resurrection of the holy men\nof all past ages, in the numerous instances of eminent piety that shall\nappear in every nation under heaven.\u2019\u2014_Dr. H._, p. 30.\n\n\u201cProf. Stuart, while he admitted that the resurrection here brought\nto view was a resurrection of the body, limited it to the martyrs,\nand denied that there is to be a descent of Christ to the earth, or a\n_visible_ reign of the martyrs with him.\n\n\u201cDr. Jarvis did not deny the event for which Mr. Miller looked; and\nMr. Shimeal taught, with Mr. Miller, the resurrection of the glorified\nsaints, and their visible reign with Christ on the earth; but he held\nthat they would reign over the converted nations, and denied the\nconflagration previous to the end of the thousand years.\n\n\u201cAnd Bishop Hopkins gave as his opinion that the consummation \u2018is drawing\nnigh; how nigh none can tell.\u2019\n\n\u201cThere were various other issues between Mr. Miller and his reviewers;\nbut they were more collateral than vital to the question at issue, and\nare not, therefore, particularly noticed in this connection.\n\n\u201cIt is seen, from the foregoing, that Mr. Miller\u2019s points, taken\nseparately, were not new or original with him; and that the peculiarity\nof his theory consisted in putting them _together_; and that, while\nnone of his opposers condemned the whole, and each point separately was\nadmitted by some of them, there was no more unanimity between them than\nbetween him and them. They had not only to battle with Mr. Miller\u2019s\ntheory, but each had to disprove those of the others.\n\n\u201cIt was, therefore, not surprising that the reviewers of Mr. Miller made\nno impression on those who held his opinions. It was seen that to oppose\nhim they were ready to abandon old established principles of Protestant\ninterpretation. Even the _Boston Recorder_ (Orthodox Cong.) said: \u2018_It\nmust needs be ACKNOWLEDGED THAT OUR FAITH IS GREATLY SHAKEN IN THE\nINTERPRETATIONS ON WHICH, IN COMMON WITH MOST OF OUR OWN BRETHREN, WE\nHAVE HERETOFORE RELIED, and which forms the FOUNDATION of the baseless\ntheories of Miller_!\u2019 And the _Christian Advocate and Journal_ (Meth.\nEpis.) said: \u2018If his (Prof. Chase\u2019s) views in regard to the prophecies\nof Daniel be correct, the _long-established opinion_ that the Roman\nEmpire is the fourth kingdom of the prophet, _must give way_ to the more\nsuccessful researches of Dr. Chase. Some other opinions, _which have been\nthought to be settled beyond a doubt_, ARE TERRIBLY SHAKEN.\u2019\n\n\u201cThose who adhered to the established principles of interpretation did\nnot fail to perceive that Prof. Stuart, Dr. Dowling, Prof. Chase, &c.,\nhad not fairly met Mr. Miller, and that their expositions would not stand\nthe test of sound criticism.\n\n\u201cOf Professors Stuart and Bush the New York Evangelist said: \u2018The\ntendency of these views is to destroy the Scripture evidence of the\ndoctrine of any real end of the world, any day of final judgment, or\ngeneral resurrection of the body. The style of interpretation, we assert,\ntends fearfully to _Universalism_. This tendency we are prepared to\nprove.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe Hartford _Universalist_ said of Professor Stuart: \u2018He puts an\nuncompromising veto upon the popular interpretations of Daniel and\nRevelation, and _unites with Universalists_ in contending that most\nof their contents had special reference to, and their fulfillment in,\nscenes and events which transpired but a few years after those books were\nwritten.\u2019\u2014_Oct. 15, 1842._\n\n\u201cMr. Hinton said of the same: \u2018We regret that, in the midst of the\ngreat moral conflict with Antichrist, which is now carrying on, those\ninto whose hands the saints were so long given should find so able\na coadjutor. We have, however, no fears that Christians of sound\ncommon sense, and capable of independent thought, will, after a candid\nconsideration of the scheme which excludes papacy from the page of\nprophecy, and that which traces in the prophetic symbols a faithful\nportraiture of its abominations, make a wrong decision. Since we have\nread the work of the learned Stuart, we have rejoiced the more that\nour humble abilities have been directed to the defense of the old\npaths.\u2019\u2014_Proph. Illus._, p. 231.\n\n\u201cOf Mr. Dowling, Dr. Breckenbridge said: \u2018As for this disquisition of\nMr. Dowling, we may confidently say that it is hardly to be conceived\nthat anything could be printed by Mr. Miller, or Mr. Any-body-else,\nmore shallow, absurd and worthless. There is hardly a point he touches\non which he has not managed to adopt the very _idlest conjectures_ of\npast writers on the prophecies; and this so entirely without regard to\nany coherent system, that the only clear conviction a man of sense or\nreflection could draw from his pamphlet, if such a man could be supposed\ncapable of believing it, would be that _the prophecies themselves are a\njumble of nonsense_. Such answers as his can have no effect, we would\nsuppose, except to bring the whole subject into ridicule, or to _promote\nthe cause he attacks_.\u2019\u2014_Spirit of the 19th Century, March No., 1843._\n\n\u201cAgain he says, in speaking of \u2018the general ignorance which prevails on\nthis subject,\u2019 that of it \u2018no greater evidence need be produced than the\nfact that this pamphlet of Mr. Dowling has been extensively relied on,\nyea, _preached_, as a sufficient answer\u2019 to Mr. Miller.\n\n\u201cOn surveying the whole field of controversy, Professor Bush, while he\nclaimed that the spiritualists were nearer the truth, said of them: \u2018They\nhave not answered the arguments of their opponents, nor can they do it\non the ground which they themselves professedly occupy in respect to a\nmillennium. Assuming that that period is yet future, and its commencement\nof no distant date, the Literalists, or Adventists, bear down with\noverwhelming weight of argument upon them, maintaining that the second\ncoming precedes and ushers in that sublime era. The spiritualists say,\nNay, but refuse to commit themselves to a defined position. All that they\nknow is, that there is to be a millennium of some kind, occurring at some\ntime, introduced in some way, and brought to an end from some cause; and\nthat immediately thereupon the Lord is to descend from heaven, burn up\nthe earth, raise the dead, and administer the judgment; but as to the\nwhat, the when, the how, the why\u2014on these points they rest content in\n_knowing nothing_, because of the impression taken up that _nothing is to\nbe known_.\u201d\u2014_N. C. Repos._, 1849, p. 248.\n\n\u201cDr. Jarvis, in his sermons, was particularly severe on Mr. Miller, but\nafterwards did him ample justice, as in the following. He said: \u2018Mr.\nMiller, in his eagerness to make out his scheme, absolutely falsities\nthe language of the Bible. He makes Jehoram to have reigned five years,\nwhere the Scripture positively says he reigned eight; and between Amaziah\nand Azariah, or Uzziah, he introduces an interregnum of eleven years,\nfor which he has not even the shadow of an authority in the Bible. He\nquotes, indeed, chapters 14 and 15 of the 2d book of Kings; and this\nmay be sufficient for those who are ready to take his opinions upon\ntrust. But, if you examine the chapters to which he refers, you will be\nastonished to find that there is not in either of them one word upon the\nsubject.\u2019\u2014_Sermons_, p. 55.\n\n\u201cIn his preface to his sermons Dr. Jarvis makes the following correction\nof the above. He says:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018It will be seen that in speaking of the curtailment of the\n    reign of Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat, from eight to five\n    years, and the introduction of eleven years of interregnum\n    between the reigns of Amaziah and Uzziah, he has censured Mr.\n    Miller in too unmeasured terms. These particulars he is bound\n    to explain.\n\n    \u201c\u2018It would have been easier, and perhaps more advantageous to\n    the author, to have made the alterations silently, and omitted\n    the censure. But would it have been equally honest?\n\n    \u201c\u2018In preparing the introductory volume of his \u201cEcclesiastical\n    History,\u201d he had carefully avoided reading modern writers on\n    chronology, for fear of being biased by their systems. For this\n    reason he had never read the learned work of Dr. Hales; and\n    though familiar with Petavius, Usher, and Marsham, a good while\n    had elapsed since he had consulted them on the parts of history\n    connected with the prophecies. But these great writers being\n    entirely silent as to any interregnum in the kingdom of Judah,\n    the existence of such an interregnum was entirely a new idea\n    to him. Mr. Miller quoted 2 Kings, 14, 15, without mentioning\n    the verses from which he drew the inference; and it was not\n    till the author had read Dr. Hales\u2019 \u201cAnalysis\u201d that he saw the\n    correctness of that inference. If this admission gives Mr.\n    Miller an advantage, he is fairly entitled to it. We cannot,\n    for one moment, suppose that he knew anything about Dr. Hales\n    or his work. As a plain, unlettered man, his perspicuity in\n    reading his Bible, and _his Bible only_, is much to his credit;\n    and we ought to consider it as giving additional force to the\n    reasons assigned by Dr. Hales, that an ignorant man, as Mr.\n    Miller confessedly is, should, from the mere examination of\n    the Bible, have arrived at the same conclusion. The censure,\n    however, in the sermon, holds good with regard to the reign of\n    Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat (2 Kings, 8:17; 2 Chron. 21:5);\n    but, being equally applicable to Archbishop Usher, should not\n    have been laid particularly at Mr. Miller\u2019s door.\u2019\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII.\n\n    HIS TREATMENT OF OPPONENTS\u2014SPECIMENS OF HIS\n    PREACHING\u2014COLLOQUIAL, EXPOSTULATORY, EXPOSITORY, ETC.\n\n\n\u201cMr. Miller did not consider that his reviewers always treated him and\nhis arguments with the utmost fairness; and, in speaking of them, he\nsometimes retorted in terms of great severity. Considering his treatment,\nby the religious and secular press, and the contumely which was\nincessantly heaped on him, that he should, at times, manifest a degree of\nimpatience, was more an occasion of regret than of surprise. Few men have\nbeen called to endure so great an amount of reproach as fell to his lot;\nand few could have endured it as he did. He was human, and shared in all\nthe weaknesses common to humanity; but, whenever he failed to endure the\nsmart of undeserved wounds with all the sweetness of gospel charity, no\none more sincerely regretted it than he did; and his liability to err in\nthis respect was with him a subject of many prayers and tears.\n\n\u201cHis severity, however, was often richly merited; and he knew how to\nbe severe, without being uncourteous. Those who used their learning\nto fritter away the plain meaning of Scripture, and to make it teach\nsomething which the common reader would never have perceived in it,\nmerely for the purpose of opposing his conclusions\u2014he had little\ninclination to spare.\n\n\u201cIn speaking of the 8th chapter of Daniel, and the question, \u2018How long\nshall be the vision?\u2019 he says, \u2018The answer is, \u201cUnto 2300 days.\u201d\n\n\u201c\u2018But,\u2019 says the critic, it is \u2018evenings-mornings.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018No matter: all men seem to understand it _days_; for it is so\ntranslated in every language with which we are acquainted at the present\nday. Therefore, this can never be made plainer, if this compound Hebrew\nword should be criticised upon until the judgment shall set. I am sick\nof this continual harping upon words. Our learned critics are worse on\nthe waters of truth than a school of sharks on the fishing-banks of the\nnorth, and they have made more infidels in our world than all the heathen\nmythology in existence. What word in revelation has not been turned,\ntwisted, racked, wrested, distorted, demolished, and annihilated by\nthese voracious harpies in human shape, until the public have become so\nbewildered they know not what to believe? \u201cThey have fouled the waters\nwith their feet.\u201d I have always noticed where they tread the religious\nspirit is at a low ebb. It becomes cold, formal, and doubtful, at least.\nIt is the mind of the Spirit we want, and God\u2019s word then becomes spirit\nand life unto us.\n\n\u201c\u2018The words \u201c_evenings-mornings_\u201d convey to our mind the idea of days;\nthus this vision is 2300 days long,\u2019 says the reader.\n\n\u201c\u2018Yes. But how can all this be?\u201d says the inquiring mind. \u2018Can three\nkingdoms rise up and become great; from a small people become a strong\nnation; conquer all the nations of the earth, and then in its turn,\nbe subdued and conquered by a kingdom still more fortunate; and so on\nthrough three successive kingdoms, and do this in little over six years?\nImpossible.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018But God has said it, and I must believe. Now the only difficulty is in\ntime.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018How can this be?\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Very well,\u2019 says the dear child of God; \u2018I remember me: God says I must\n\u201cdig for the truth as for hid treasure.\u201d I will go to work, and, while I\nam digging, I will live by begging. Father in Heaven, I believe it is thy\nword; but I do not understand it; show me thy truth.\u2019\n\n\u201cI had rather have one humble prayer of this kind, with an English Bible\nin my hand, than all the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin Bro. S. ever knew.\n\n\u201cThe child then takes the word _day_, and compares spiritual things with\nspiritual, to find what his Heavenly Father means by days in a figurative\nsense. The first text he lights upon is in Num. 14:34, \u2018_each day for a\nyear_.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018May this not be it?\u2019 says the child.\n\n\u201cHe takes hold of it by faith, carries it home, lays it up in his cell of\nsweets, richer than a lord, and again goes forth in search of more. He\nnow lights upon Eze. 4:6: \u2018_I have appointed thee each day for a year._\u2019\nHe is now rich in very deed\u2014two jewels in one cell. He does not stop to\ncriticize, like a Stuart, and query, and reason himself out of common\nsense and reason too; but, Abraham-like, he believes, and lays up his\ntreasure at home.\n\n\u201c\u2018I see,\u2019 says the child, \u2018this use of days was so ordained by my Father\nin two cases; and two witnesses are enough. But I am not certain that I\nhave a right to use these jewels in this place. I will go and beg, and\ndig again.\u2019\n\n\u201cIn this excursion he lights on Daniel 9:23-27: \u2018Seventy weeks are\ndetermined upon thy people.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Seventy weeks of what?\u2019 says the critic.\n\n\u201c\u2018I do not care a fig.\u2019 says the believing child, \u2018whether you call it\n_days_ or _years_: I know how long it was in fulfilling.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018How long?\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Exactly four hundred and ninety years: from the decree given in the\nseventh year of Artaxerxes, four hundred and fifty-seven years before\nChrist, unto his death, thirty-three years after the birth of Christ,\nmaking exactly four hundred and ninety years, or seventy sevens of years\nof the vision.\u2019\n\n\u201cProf. Stuart having applied the days in Daniel 12 to the times of\nAntiochus, when the context shows that the resurrection will follow their\ntermination, Mr. Miller said: \u2018Suppose Prof. Stuart had been a believing\nJew, and lived in the time of Antiochus, and had been of the same mind\nhe is now, or says he is, and one of his brother Jews had come along and\nprophesied or preached that the Jews were to be a scattered and a peeled\npeople, _dashed_ and scattered among all nations, more than two thousand\nyears, then to come; and suppose the professor had been then an expounder\nof the law and the prophets, and was called upon to explain this text as\nbeing then fulfilled, what would he say to his brother Jew, the prophet?\nHe would say, as any man must say by him:\u2014\n\n\u201c\u2018Sir, you are a false prophet; for God has told us plainly, in this\nvery text, that, when this three and a half years are fulfilled under\nwhich we are now groaning, then our scattering or dashing will be\naccomplished\u2014yes, and finished, too. So says the word. Therefore do you\nkeep away from my flock of Pharisees, for I do not want my people excited\nby your false, alarming doctrine. Do you not see that, at the end of\n1335 days, Daniel will stand in his lot? And do you not see, sir, that\nhis standing in his lot means the resurrection? Read the first three\nverses of this chapter.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Ah,\u2019 says the prophet, \u2018that does not mean the resurrection, but\u2e3a\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018But what?\u2019 says the professor.\n\n\u201c\u2018Oh! I do not know\u2014difficult to understand,\u2019 says the prophet.\n\n\u201c\u2018I see,\u2019 says the professor, \u2018you are a Sadducee. You do not understand\neither the Hebrew or the Chaldaic, or the exegesis of the Scriptures. How\ndare you prophesy evil of this nation, when God hath spoken peace after\nthese days? I say you are a Sadducee. I will have no fellowship with you.\nYou must not come into my synagogue.\u2019\n\n\u201cWould not this be the natural result of such a case? I leave it for the\nreader to judge.\n\n\u201cOr, suppose that the professor was now in controversy with a Jew,\u2014a\nSadducee,\u2014and was under the necessity of proving the doctrine of the\nresurrection by the Old Testament, would he not put into requisition this\nvery text, and prove by the same a resurrection unto eternal life? And,\nif he did not believe such plain and positive proofs as these texts would\nbe, would he not consider him a poor, blinded Sadducee? Let us be careful\nthat our own mouths do not condemn us.\n\n\u201cIf, then, these days can only end with the resurrection, it is\nimpossible that these Scriptures can apply to Antiochus. And, as the\nrules which he has given us in his Hints are the same, in substance,\nwhich I was forced to adopt more than twenty years ago, I cannot believe\nthat Antiochus Epiphanes is even hinted at from Daniel 11:14 to the end\nof the 12th chapter. And, if the prophecy does not belong to Antiochus,\nthen he must acknowledge that the little horn can apply only to the papal\npower; and must agree with nearly all Protestant writers that \u2018time,\ntimes, and a half,\u2019 are, together with the other numbers in this chapter,\nto be understood in a symbolical sense.\n\n\u201cIn writing, he sometimes indulged in a colloquial style. In the\nfollowing he hints at an objection often urged against him, that he,\nbeing a farmer, should not presume to teach. He says:\u2014\n\n\u201c_As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the Son\nof man._ They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,\nuntil Noah entered into the ark. Methinks I can almost see the scenes\nof that day. See you not that elegant building yonder, near that ark\nof gopher-wood? That building was reared at a great expense, by the\nhost, for the purpose of entertaining strangers who might come to visit\nthat ark, and to ridicule and laugh at that old, white-headed man you\nsee yonder pitching the ark. The host, you see, has become rich by the\ngreat gain he has made, from the furnishing of the workmen, citizens\nand strangers, with food and drink of the most costly kind. Look into\nthe dining hall of that establishment. See the table loaded with all\nthe delicate viands of the season. See those bottles filled with the\nsparkling juice of the grape. See the host at his door, beckoning to each\npasser-by to enter and regale himself. Hear the conversation between the\nhost and the stranger guest who has just entered his mansion.\n\n\u201c_Guest._ What great building is that in yonder field, on that eminence?\n\n\u201c_Host._ That is called Noah\u2019s ark.\n\n\u201c_Guest._ But what use is he going to put it to? It seems to be built for\nsailing. Surely the old man does not expect to sail on dry land.\n\n\u201c_Host._ Yes; you are right. The old man says the world is coming to an\nend (Gen. 6:13), and he has prepared an ark to save himself and family;\nfor all flesh will be destroyed by water, as he says.\n\n\u201c_Guest._ But how does he know this?\n\n\u201c_Host._ He says God told him.\n\n\u201c_Guest._ What kind of a man is he? He must be a great fanatic, I am\nthinking.\n\n\u201c_Host._ Why, yes; we think he is crazy a little; but you cannot discover\nit in anything else but his building that great ark, and neglecting his\nfarm and other worldly matters. But what he has lost I have gained.\n\n\u201c_Guest._ A farmer, say you?\u2014a farmer! Why did not God tell some of our\n\u2018mighty men, which are men of renown\u2019? (Gen. 6:4.) A farmer, too! There\nis no truth in it. But do any believe him?\n\n\u201c_Host._ Believe him! No. We have other things to attend to, and cannot\nspend time to hear the old farmer. But we were all very much startled, no\nlonger ago than yesterday; for the old man has been telling some that he\nhad prepared rooms for the beasts of the field, and for the fowls of the\nair, and every creeping thing; and yesterday they came, two and two of\nevery sort, and entered the ark, apparently of their own accord. (Gen.\n7:8, 9.) This, you may be sure, startled us some; but the banquets and\nfeasts of last night have dissipated the fears of all, and to-day things\nare as they should be.\n\n\u201c_Guest._ It is rather strange; yet it cannot be true. God will not\ndestroy the world in the midst of this hilarity and glee, and in the\nhight of all these improvements at the present day. Much, much of the\nearth remains yet to be cultivated and inhabited. Our western wilderness\nis yet to be explored and settled. Then the world is yet in its\ninfancy\u2014not two thousand years old yet; and you know we have a tradition\nthat the earth is to wax old like a garment. It cannot be true, what the\nold man tells you. I will warrant you the earth will stand many thousand\nyears yet.\n\n\u201c_Host._ Look! look! there goes the old fool and his family now, I dare\nsay, into the ark. I remember me now, the old man told us, four days ago,\nthat, in seven days (Gen. 7:4-10), God would cause it to rain sufficient\nto destroy every living thing from the face of the earth. I shall have a\nchance to laugh at the old man four days hence. I told him to his face\nthat, after his seven days were ended, he would be ashamed to preach any\nmore, and we should have some quiet then.\n\n\u201c_Guest._ But do your priests let him preach in their congregations and\nsocieties?\n\n\u201c_Host._ Oh, no! by no means; that is, none that are called respectable,\nor of the higher class. Why, sir, they held a meeting last night at my\nbanqueting house. After the cloth was removed, and while the wine was\ncirculating freely, old Noah was the subject of the toast. And it would\nhave done you good to have heard their sharp cuts and squibs; it caused\na roar of laughter among the guests. See, yonder come some of them now.\nLet us go in, and enjoy another treat. (_They go in._)\n\n\u201cAh, said I, were these scenes acted before the flood, and will it be so\nin the end of the world? And will the generation of the righteous not\npass off until they behold these things acted over again? So says our\nblessed Saviour, _and so I believe_.\n\n\u201cThen shall \u2018heaven and earth pass away.\u2019 The righteous will pass off to\nmeet their Lord, and the wicked be consumed to cleanse the world. Then\nwill the prophecy in this chapter be fulfilled, and \u2018the word of God will\nnot pass away.\u2019\n\n\u201cPrepare, ye servants of the Most High, to render up your stewardship. Ye\nscoffers, take warning; cease your revilings, your newspaper squibs, your\nbombast, your revelings, and your banquetings. And you, my dear reader,\nprepare! prepare! for lo!\u2014\n\n    \u2018He comes, he comes, the Judge severe;\n    The seventh trumpet speaks him near.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe foregoing will also serve as a specimen of his mode, at times, of\naddressing an audience. At other times he was very earnest and solemn.\nIn arguing that we must be beyond the end of the 1260 days of Daniel and\nJohn, from the fact that the church is not now in the wilderness, he\nsaid:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018Can we be mistaken in the fulfillment of this prophecy?\n    Is the church now in the wilderness? And if you should\n    respond, She is, I ask you, When, then, was she out? Not in\n    the apostolic age; for she was not more free then than now.\n    And then, let me inquire, where are your twelve hundred and\n    sixty years? They can have no meaning. O Christian! I beg of\n    you, believe in the word of God; do not, I pray you, discard\n    time, any more than manner. Is it not selfishness in us to\n    discard the set times which God has fixed, and not man? Where\n    is our faith? Why are we so slow of heart to believe? Three\n    times we have witnessed,\u2014yes, in the lifetime of some of\n    us,\u2014the fulfillment of the \u201ctime, times, and a half,\u201d in the\n    accomplishment of the \u201cforty-two months,\u201d in the completion of\n    the \u201ctwelve-hundred and three-score days,\u201d and yet, O God, we\n    refuse to believe! Shame on that professor who will not open\n    his eyes!\n\n    \u201c\u2018They tell us we cannot understand prophecy until it is\n    fulfilled.\n\n    \u201c\u2018But here it is three times fulfilled in this day in which\n    we live. What excuse have you now, O ye heralds of the cross?\n    Ah! say you, that is _your_ construction; we are not bound to\n    follow your explanations. No, no! But for ages you and your\n    fathers have been telling us that these prophecies were true;\n    and you have told us that when they come to pass we should\n    know what they meant; and, although ages on ages have rolled\n    their rapid course, yet nothing has transpired, as you will\n    own; and we, if we should search, and find, as we believe, the\n    prophecies fulfilling, and tell our reasons, you then can taunt\n    us with a skeptic argument,\u2014\u201cthis is _your_ construction,\u201d\n    and then not dare to tell us what it means! Awake, awake, ye\n    shepherds of the flock! Come, tell us why these things are not\n    fulfilled. Deceive us not. You stand upon the walls, both\n    night and day; then tell us what it means. We have a right\n    to ask, \u201cWatchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the\n    night?\u201d An answer we must have; or you must leave your towers.\n    It will not do to answer us, \u201cI am under no obligation to tell\n    you.\u201d[22] Has Zion no better watchmen on her walls than this?\n    Alas! alas! then we may sleep, and sleep, until the trumpet\u2019s\n    dreadful blast shall shake our dusty beds, and the last angel\n    raise his hand and swear \u201cthat time shall be no longer.\u201d Why\n    are you thus negligent and remiss in duty? If I am not right\n    in my construction of God\u2019s holy word, pray tell us what is\n    truth, and make it look more plain,\u2014and will we not believe?\n    Thus you will cleanse your garments from our blood, and we must\n    bear the shame. What time of night? Come, tell us plainly.\n    There are portentous clouds hanging over our heads; we hear the\n    murmurs of the fitful winds; we see sad omens of a dreadful\n    storm; and where is our watchman\u2019s voice? Your silence gives\n    us fears that we are betrayed. Awake! awake! Ye watchmen, to\n    your post! It is no false alarm. There are judgments, heavy\n    judgments, at the door. \u201cOur God shall come, and shall not\n    keep silence; a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be\n    very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens\n    from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.\u201d\n    How shall the fearful stand in that great day, when heaven and\n    earth shall hear his mighty voice, and they that hear must come\n    to judgment? Where will the unbelieving scoffer then appear?\n    When God makes inquisition for the blood of souls, and when\n    the under-shepherds stand, with their flocks, around the \u201cgreat\n    white throne,\u201d to have each motive, thought, word, act, and\n    deed, brought out to light, before a gazing world, and tried\n    by that unerring rule, \u201cthe word.\u201d I ask you, scorner, jester,\n    scoffer, how will you appear? Stop, stop, and think, before you\n    take a fatal leap, and jest away your soul!\u2019\n\n\u201cIn closing a discourse on the text, \u2018We shall reign on the earth,\u2019 he\nthus proceeds:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018We shall reign on the earth, says our text. Not under its\n    present dispensation, but after it is cleansed by fire; after\n    the wicked are destroyed by fire, as the antediluvians were by\n    water; after the resurrection of the saints, and when Christ\u2019s\n    prayer, taught to his disciples, shall be answered, \u201c_Thy will\n    be done on earth, even as in Heaven._\u201d When the bride has made\n    herself ready, and is married to the Bridegroom, he will then\n    move her into the New Jerusalem state, prepared as a bride\n    adorned for her husband, where we shall reign with him forever\n    and ever, on the new earth and in the new heavens. \u201cAnd God\n    shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be\n    no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there\n    be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.\u201d Then\n    the whole earth \u201cshall be full of his glory;\u201d and then, as says\n    the prophet, Isaiah 54:5, \u201cFor thy Maker is thine husband; the\n    Lord of Hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of\n    Israel; the God of the whole earth shall he be called.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018And then, my dear hearer, if you have had your heart broken\n    off from sin; if you have by faith been united in spirit to\n    the Lamb of God; if you have patiently endured tribulation and\n    persecution for his name,\u2014then you will live and reign with\n    him on the earth, and this earth will be regenerated by fire\n    and the power of God; the curse destroyed; sin, pain, crying,\n    sorrow, and death, banished from the world, and mortality\n    clothed upon by immortality, death swallowed up in victory.\n    You will rise up in that general assembly, and, clapping\n    your hands with joy, cry, \u201cHoly, holy, holy is the Lord God\n    Almighty, which was, and is, and is _now come_.\u201d Then you will\n    be in a situation to join the grand chorus, and sing the new\n    song, saying, \u201cThou art worthy, for thou wast slain, and hast\n    redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and\n    tongue, and people, and nation, and hast made us unto our God\n    kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth.... Saying,\n    with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive\n    power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and\n    glory, and blessing.\u201d And all who meet in that grand assembly\n    will be then heard to shout, \u201cBlessing, and honor, and glory,\n    and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and\n    unto the Lamb forever and ever.\u201d And methinks I can now see\n    every one who loves our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in this\n    assembly rising upon their feet, and in one united prayer of\n    faith, crying, \u201cCome, Lord Jesus, O come quickly!\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018But you, O impenitent man or woman! where will you be then?\n    When heaven shall resound with the mighty song, and distant\n    realms shall echo back the sound, where, tell me, where will\n    you be then? _In hell!_ O think! _In hell!_\u2014a dreadful word!\n    Once more think! _In hell!_ lifting up your eyes, being\n    in torment. Stop, sinner; think! _In hell!_ where shall be\n    weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Stop, sinner, stop;\n    consider on your latter end. _In hell!_ \u201cwhere the beast\n    and false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night\n    forever and ever.\u201d I entreat of you to think\u2014_in hell_! I\n    know you hate to hear the word. It sounds too harsh. There is\n    no music in it. You say it grates upon the ear. But think,\n    when it grates upon the soul, the conscience, and the ear,\n    and not by sound only, but a dread reality, when there can be\n    no respite, no cessation,[23] no deliverance, no hope! You\n    will then think,\u2014yes, of this warning, of a thousand others,\n    perhaps of this hour, with many more that are lost,\u2014yes, worse\n    than lost,\u2014that have been squandered in earthly, vain, and\n    transitory mirth, have been abused; for there have been many\n    hours the Spirit strove with you, and you prayed to be excused.\n    There was an hour when conscience spake; but you stopped your\n    ears and would not hear. There was a time when judgment and\n    reason whispered; but you soon drowned their cry by calling in\n    some aid against your own soul. To judgment and reason you have\n    opposed _will_ and _wit_, and said \u201c_in hell_\u201d was only _in the\n    grave_. In this vain citadel, in this frail house of sand, you\n    will build until the last seal is broken, the last trump will\n    sound, the last woe be pronounced, and the last vial be poured\n    upon the earth. Then, impenitent man or woman, you will awake\n    in everlasting woe!\n\n    \u201c\u2018Be warned; repent; fly, fly for succor to the ark of God,\n    to Jesus Christ, the Lamb that once was slain, that you might\n    live; for he is worthy to receive all honor, power, and glory.\n    Believe, and you shall live. Obey his word, his Spirit, his\n    calls, his invitations; there is no time for delay; put it not\n    off, I beg of you,\u2014no, not for a moment. Do you want to join\n    that heavenly choir, and sing the _new song_? Then come in\n    God\u2019s appointed way; repent. Do you want a house not made with\n    hands, eternal in the heavens? Then join in heart and soul this\n    happy people, whose God is the Lord. Do you want an interest\n    in the New Jerusalem, the beloved city? Then set your face as\n    a flint Zionward; become a pilgrim in the good old way. \u201cSeek\n    first the kingdom of Heaven,\u201d says Christ, \u201cand then all these\n    things shall be added unto you.\u201d\u2019\n\n\u201cAt other times his discourse was of the most mild and gentle kind. Thus,\nin speaking of the church of Christ under various circumstances, he says:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018In tracing her history from the patriarch Abraham to the\n    present day, we find her variable as the wind, and changeable\n    as the weather.\n\n    \u201c\u2018To-day, she is coming up out of the wilderness leaning on the\n    arm of her Beloved; to-morrow, \u201clike a young roe leaping upon\n    the mountains, and skipping upon the hills.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018Now she is seen among the trees of the woods; next in a\n    palace of silver inclosed in boards of cedar.\n\n    \u201c\u2018There we saw her in the clefts of the rock; here we behold\n    her in the broad way, in the streets of the great city.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Again we find her among the foxes of the desert; and anon we\n    perceive her seeking Him whom her soul loveth.\n\n    \u201c\u2018She is asleep on her bed by night; and the same night the\n    watch finds her in the city.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Behold her Lord knocking at the door for admittance, while\n    she is too indolent to arise and let him in. The next moment\n    she is opening to her Beloved, but he has withdrawn himself. At\n    one time the voice of her Beloved, sounding over the hills and\n    echoing among the mountains like the roar of distant thunder,\n    has no impression; next, the soft whisper of love gains all her\n    attention.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Here blows the rough north wind and strong south wind upon\n    her spices, yet they put forth no fragrance. And there the\n    lightest breeze makes her roses blossom, and all the air is\n    perfume.\n\n    \u201c\u2018See her countenance to-day black as the tents of Kedar; and\n    to-morrow comely as the daughters of Jerusalem, and fair as the\n    purple curtains of Solomon. To-day she is \u201ca garden barred, a\n    spring shut up, a fountain sealed;\u201d to-morrow, \u201ca garden open,\n    a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.\u201d Now she\n    is weak as a babe; a single watchman can \u201csmite, wound, and\n    take away her veil;\u201d and then she is courageous and valiant,\n    \u201cterrible as an army with banners.\u201d To-day she is made to keep\n    another\u2019s vineyard; to-morrow she is realizing a thousand\n    pieces of silver from her own. She is truly a changeable being,\n    carried about by the slightest circumstances.\u201d\u2019\n\n\u201cThe following extract from a discourse, is another specimen of this mode\nof address:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018Come, and let us return unto the Lord; for he hath torn, and\n    he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After\n    two days will he revive us; in the third day he will raise us\n    up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we\n    follow on to know the Lord; his going forth is prepared as the\n    morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter\n    and former rain unto the earth.\u2019 Hosea 6:1-3.\n\n    \u201c\u2018The text to which I have directed your attention, in the\n    above paragraph, is one of the richest and most interesting\n    prophecies that was ever delivered to mortals by any prophet\n    since the world began. Every word speaks, and is full of\n    meaning; every sentence is a volume of instruction. No wisdom\n    of man could communicate as much in as few words. It is a pearl\n    of great price, lying deep in the waters of prophecy; it is a\n    diamond, which will cut the film that covers the visual organ\n    of the readers of God\u2019s word; it is a gem in the mountain\n    of God\u2019s house, shining in the darkness, and the darkness\n    comprehendeth it not. It puzzled the Pharisee, confounded the\n    scribe, and perplexed the Sadducee. It has, and will continue\n    to have, the same influence on similar characters until the\n    end of time. The great men of the earth will not stoop to its\n    light, because it lies too low. The small men of the earth\n    will not pick it up, for fear of ridicule from those above\n    them. And now, dear reader, I am afraid you will go and do\n    likewise,\u2014either treat it with contempt or ridicule. But you\n    will find, if you will examine, that in it is contained,\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u20181. OUR DUTY TO GOD.\n\n    \u201c\u2018_Come, let us return unto the Lord_;\u2019 and, \u2018_If we follow on\n    to know the Lord_.\u2019 Here is the whole duty of man, as clearly\n    described as any crystal could make it. Repent, believe, and\n    obey, are clearly inculcated. What better words could an\n    orator make use of, to excite the minds of men to noble deeds\n    of daring than are here used by the prophet? \u2018_Come_\u2019\u2014he\n    invites\u2014\u2018_let us_\u2019\u2014he will go with them\u2014\u2018_return_.\u2019 Ah! what a\n    word\u2014_return_! Traveler, have you ever wandered far from home,\n    in a cold, unfeeling world, among strangers, among robbers,\n    enemies, thieves, and hard-hearted worldlings? Have you been\n    sick and weak, wounded and torn, spoiled and robbed, smitten\n    and cheated, hated and reviled, and this, too, for days,\n    months, or years? Have you at last \u2018_returned_\u2019 to your family,\n    your friends, your native land? Do you remember those familiar\n    objects, as you returned\u2014the way, the mountain, the hill, the\n    valley, and the plain; the grove, the turn, the house, and the\n    brook? Do you remember the tree, the rock, the barberry-bush,\n    the gate and the post, the door-way and latch? \u201cOh, yes,\u201d say\n    you; \u201cI remember, too, my beating and palpitating heart, and\n    the falling tear which I stopped to wipe away from my blanched\n    cheek, while my hand was on the latch. I remember how I\n    listened to hear the loved ones breathe, although it was then\n    in the dark watches of the night.\u201d\n\n    \u201cThus tells the wanderer the tale of his \u2018_return_;\u2019 and in\n    like manner could all the wandering sons of Zion speak of their\n    \u2018_return_.\u2019 You, then, who have experienced these things, can\n    realize the value of the word \u2018_return_.\u2019 And from my soul I\n    pity the wanderer that never has returned \u2018_unto the Lord_;\u2019 to\n    Him that loved us, to Him who died for us; more, vastly more,\n    than mortal friends could ever do\u2014he died. And so, say you, can\n    fathers die for children, and mothers for their sons; children\n    can give their lives, though rare the gift, to save the life\n    of parents; husbands, and wives, and friends have fallen, to\n    save each other from death. All this is true. But here is love\n    greater than these; \u2018for while we were enemies Christ died for\n    us.\u2019 Yea, more: he left his Father\u2019s presence, his glory, and\n    that Heaven where angels dwell; where he, the brightest star in\n    all the upper world, stood highest; where seraphim and cherubim\n    in glory cast down their crowns, and worshiped at his feet. \u2018He\n    became poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich.\u2019\n    Again: he bore our shame, and by his stripes we are healed.\n    He was buffeted for our offenses, and despised by mortals,\n    for whom he suffered in the flesh. He rose from death for our\n    justification, and ascended on high, to intercede for sinners,\n    and has sent down his Spirit to bring us wanderers home.\n\n    \u201c\u2018_For he hath torn._\u2019 True, he suffers our sins to tear us,\n    and those earthly powers, in whom we trust, to break our proud\n    hearts, and, therefore, tears away our vain supports. He tears\n    our affections from earthly things, that he may place them on\n    a more enduring substance. He tears our hearts from idol gods,\n    that he may place them on God supreme. He tears our soul from\n    the body, that we may no longer live in the flesh to sin, but\n    depart in the spirit, and be with Christ.\n\n    \u201c\u2018_And he will heal us._\u2019 Yes, he will heal us from all our\n    backslidings, and love us freely for his own name\u2019s sake. He\n    will heal us from sin, by showing us its deadly nature. He will\n    heal us from worldly affections, by placing our affections in\n    Heaven. He will heal our hearts of idolatry, by the taking\n    possession of them himself. He will heal us from death, by the\n    resurrection from the grave.\n\n    \u201c\u2018_He hath smitten._\u2019 God has so ordered, in his providence,\n    that his children cannot have intercourse and association with\n    men of the world, and with the kingdoms of this earth, but\n    that persecution, or loss of Christian character, is sure to\n    follow. The prophet is showing the present state of the church,\n    while the tares and wheat are growing together. The children\n    of God shall be smitten\u2014meaning they shall be chastised,\n    persecuted, ruled over. See the Roman power, from the days of\n    their connection with the Jews until the present time, ruling\n    over, persecuting, and trampling under foot the church of God.\n    Our text is not only showing us our duty to God, but it teaches\n    us the sufferings of the church, the dealings of God with her,\n    and her final redemption; the first and second coming of her\n    Lord; her final deliverance from death and all enemies, and her\n    glorified reign.\n\n    \u201c\u2018_And he will bind us up_:\u2019 which is a promise of God, that,\n    although the church should be torn and smitten, yet he would\n    heal them, and bind them up. In due time he would gather them\n    into one fold; he would bind up all their wounds, and heal them\n    of all their maladies. He would visit their transgressions\n    with a rod, and their iniquities with stripes; but his loving\n    kindness he would not take from them.\n\n\u201cAn extract from his lecture on the parable of the \u2018ten virgins,\u2019 will\nclose these specimens. He thus gives his understanding of what is denoted\nby their \u2018trimming\u2019 their lamps:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018The world, for a number of years, have been trimming\n    their lamps, and the wise and foolish have been engaged in\n    translating the word of God into almost every language known\n    to us upon the earth. Mr. Judson tells us that it has been\n    translated into one hundred and fifty languages within thirty\n    years; that is three times the number of all the translations\n    known to us before. Then fourfold light has been shed among the\n    nations, within the short period of the time above specified;\n    and we are informed that a part, if not all, of the word of\n    God is now given to all nations in their own language. This,\n    surely, is setting the word of life in a conspicuous situation,\n    that it may give light to all in the world. This has not been\n    done by the exertions of Christians or professors only, but by\n    the aid of all classes and societies of men. Kings have opened\n    their coffers and favored those engaged in the work; nobles\n    have used their influence, and have cast into the treasury\n    of the Lord of their abundance; rich men have bestowed of\n    their riches; and, in many cases, the miser has forgotten his\n    parsimony, the poor have replenished the funds of the Lord\u2019s\n    house, and the widow has cast in her mite. How easy to work the\n    work of the Lord when the hearts of men are made willing by his\n    power!\n\n    \u201c\u2018But shall we forget those who have forsaken the land of their\n    fathers, the home of their nativity, and have spent lonesome\n    years of toil among strangers,\u2014yes, worse than strangers,\u2014among\n    heathen idolaters, and the savages of the wilderness, in the\n    cold regions of the north, and under the scorching rays of a\n    vertical sun, among the suffocating sands of the desert, or in\n    the pestilential atmosphere of India; who have risked their\n    lives to learn a language, and prepare themselves to trim a\n    lamp for those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death? No,\n    we will not forget them; the prayers of thousands have ascended\n    before the golden altar, morning and evening, on their behalf,\n    and Israel\u2019s God has been their protector. Surely we may hope\n    that these have oil in their lamps, who have sacrificed so much\n    to bestow a lamp upon others. But remember, my brethren, the\n    Lord he is God, and let him have all the glory. This is the\n    time, and the same time that Gabriel informed Daniel, \u2018Many\n    should run to and fro, and knowledge should increase.\u2019 This,\n    too, is the same time when the angel flying through the midst\n    of heaven had the everlasting gospel to preach to them who\n    dwelt upon the earth. Here are Christ\u2019s words fulfilled where\n    he says, \u201cAnd this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in\n    all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall\n    the end come.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u20182d. It is plain, to any diligent observer of the signs of the\n    times, that all the societies for moral reform in our world at\n    the present day are parts of the fulfillment of the parable,\n    giving more light. What of our Bible societies? Are not these\n    trimming the lamp for millions of human beings? Thirty years\n    past, more than three-fourths of the families in what we call\n    Christian lands were without the lamp of life, and now nearly\n    all are supplied. Many of those who sat in heathenish darkness\n    then are now rejoicing in the light of God\u2019s book. And much of\n    this has been performed through the instrumentality of Bible\n    societies; and not only through the agency of the church, but\n    political men, men of the world, the great men, merchants of\n    the earth, and those who trade in ships, all who live under\n    the influence of the gospel,\u2014the \u2018kingdom of Heaven,\u2019\u2014have\n    engaged in the work. Will not the most skeptical acknowledge\n    that this society has succeeded beyond the most sanguine\n    expectation of its most ardent advocates? And is not this\n    strong circumstantial evidence that the Bridegroom is near,\n    even at the door?\n\n    \u201c\u20183d. The missionary societies, of all sects and denominations,\n    which have been established within forty years, have as far\n    exceeded all former exertions of this kind as the overflowing\n    Nile does the waters of the brook Kidron. See the missionary\n    spirit extending from east to west, and from north to south,\n    warming the breast of the philanthropist, giving life and vigor\n    to the cold-hearted moralist, and animating and enlivening the\n    social circle of the pious devotee. Every nation from India to\n    Oregon, from Kamtschatka to New Zealand, has been visited by\n    these wise servants (as we hope) of the cross, proclaiming the\n    acceptable _year_ of the Lord, and the _day_ of vengeance of\n    our God, carrying the lamp, the word of God, in their hands,\n    and oil, faith in God, in their hearts. All classes of men are\n    engaged in this cause, from the gray hairs of old age down to\n    the sprightly youth of ten years. Who, then, can doubt but that\n    the virgins, in this sense, have and are trimming their lamps,\n    and the bride is making herself ready? Go ye out to meet him.\n\n    \u201c\u20184th. The Sabbath-schools and Bible-classes are but a part\n    of the fulfillment of the parable, yet clearly an evidence\n    that the virgins are now trimming their lamps. This system of\n    teaching the young and ignorant took its rise between forty and\n    fifty years since, at the very time that the Christian world\n    were praying, and ardently praying, for the coming of Christ,\n    before that part of the Saviour\u2019s prayer was forgotten, \u201cThy\n    kingdom come.\u201d From a little fountain this stream of water has\n    become a great river, and encompassed the whole land. Every\n    quarter of the globe is drinking at this fountain or stream\n    of knowledge, and the youth are taught to trim their lamps.\n    And when the Bridegroom shall come, may we not reasonably hope\n    that the thousands of the young men and young women, who have\n    assisted in giving light to others, may be found having oil\n    in their vessels, and their lamps trimmed and burning, and\n    they looking and waiting for the coming of their Master, that\n    when he comes they may rise to meet him in the air, with ten\n    thousand of their pupils, who will sing the new song in the\n    New Jerusalem forever and ever? Search diligently, my young\n    friends, and see to it that ye believe in this word, which is\n    able to make you wise unto salvation.\n\n    \u201c\u20185th. Tract societies are of much use, and are an efficient\n    means to help to trim the lamps. Like snuffers that take away\n    the preventives to the light, so are tracts. They take away\n    from the mind the prejudice that thousands have against reading\n    the word of God; they remove those rooted and groundless\n    opinions, which many have, that they cannot understand the\n    Bible; they serve to excite the mind to this kind of reading;\n    they enlighten the understanding in some scriptural truths;\n    they are pioneers, in many instances, to conversion; they can\n    be sent where the word of God cannot at first be received; in\n    one word, they are the harbingers of light, the forerunners of\n    the Bible. And in this, too, all men in this probationary state\n    seem to be more or less engaged, from the king on the throne,\n    down to the poor peasant in the cottage, writing, printing,\n    folding, transporting, paying, or reading, those silent little\n    messengers of the virgins\u2019 lamp. \u2018Then all those virgins arose\n    and trimmed their lamps.\u2019 Has not God\u2019s hand been seen in all\n    this? And glory be to Him who hath disposed the hearts of men\n    to work the work that God bids them, and to fulfill the blessed\n    word which he hath given them. This institution took its rise\n    about the same time with the Bible society.\n\n    \u201c\u20186th. Temperance societies. These serve one purpose in\n    trimming the lamps and preparing the way for the virgins to\n    go out and meet the Bridegroom. Our world, twenty years ago,\n    might be called a world of fashionable drunkards; almost all\n    men drank of the intoxicating bowl, and thought it no harm. But\n    when the lamp began to dart its rays around our tabernacles,\n    it was found by woful experience that those who drank of the\n    poisonous cup were totally and wholly unprepared to receive\n    the warning voice, or to hear the midnight cry, \u201cBehold, the\n    Bridegroom cometh!\u201d No, \u201cthey that were drunken were drunken\n    in the night,\u201d says the apostle. \u201cTherefore let us watch and\n    be sober.\u201d And Peter tells us, \u201cBut the end of all things\n    is at hand; be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.\u201d\n    How foolish would it have been for a drunken man to be set\n    on a watch, or a praying man to be found drunk! Therefore,\n    in order that men might be in a suitable frame of mind to\n    receive instruction at the close of this dispensation, and be\n    in a situation to listen to the midnight cry, God ordered the\n    virgins, and they arose and trimmed their lamps; and in all\n    human probability thousands, who would have met a drunkard\u2019s\n    grave if this society had not arose, are now watching, with\n    their lamps trimmed and burning, ready to meet the Bridegroom\n    at his coming. Perhaps this temperance society is the virgins\u2019\n    last resort. The Judge stands at the door; go ye out to meet\n    him. This society, like the others before mentioned, is a\n    general thing, and all sects, denominations, and classes of\n    men, are engaged in it, and it has an important influence upon\n    all men who are in this probationary state, and who may be\n    termed, as in our text, \u201cvirgins.\u201d This society is of later\n    origin than the others, and seems to be a rear-guard to wake\n    up a few stragglers which the other societies could not reach.\n    And now, drunkards, is your time; Wisdom stands at the door\n    and knocks; let go the intoxicating bowl; be sober, and hear\n    the midnight cry, \u201cBehold, the Bridegroom cometh!\u201d For your\n    souls\u2019 sake drink not another draught, lest he come and find\n    you drunken, \u201cand that day come upon you unawares and find\n    you sleeping.\u201d Oh, be wise, ye intemperate men! for they only\n    went into the marriage who were found ready, \u201cand the door was\n    shut.\u201d \u201cThen came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord,\n    open to us. But he answered and said, Verily, I say unto you,\n    I know you not. Watch, therefore, for ye neither know the day\n    nor the hour when the Son of man cometh.\u201d \u201cBut the wise shall\n    understand,\u201d says Daniel, 12:10.\n\n    \u201c\u2018And now, my Christian friends, let me inquire, Are your lamps\n    trimmed and burning? And have you oil in your vessels? And\n    are you prepared for the coming Bridegroom? And are you awake\n    to this important subject? What say you? If this parable, to\n    which I have directed your minds, has reference to the last\n    day and the coming of Christ; if the \u201cvirgins\u201d have reference\n    to all men in the probationary state, and dividing them into\n    two classes, wise and foolish; if the \u201clamp\u201d is the word of\n    God, and \u201coil\u201d means faith in his word, or grace in the heart,\n    as some say, then my conclusions are just, and the evidence\n    is strong that we live at the end of the gospel kingdom, and\n    upon the threshold of the glorified state of the righteous.\n    Then examine your Bibles, and if you can more fairly prove any\n    other exposition of this parable than I have this, then believe\n    yours, and time must settle the issue; but if you can find\n    nothing in the Scriptures to controvert plainly my explanation,\n    then believe, and prepare to meet the Bridegroom; for, behold,\n    he cometh. Awake! ye fathers and mothers in Zion! ye have long\n    looked and prayed for this day. Behold the signs! He is near,\n    even at the door. And, ye children of God, lift up your heads\n    and rejoice, for your redemption draweth nigh. For these things\n    have begun to come to pass. And, ye little lambs of the flock,\n    remember, Jesus has promised to carry you in his arms, and\n    that he will come and take you to himself, that where he is\n    there ye may be also. But remember, all of you, the wise had\n    oil in their lamps, and they were trimmed and burning. Search\n    deep; examine yourselves closely; be not deceived; and may the\n    Spirit, which searcheth all things, and knoweth what is in the\n    mind of man, assist you.\n\n    \u201c\u2018But, my impenitent friends, what shall I say to you? Shall\n    I say, as the Master in the parable, \u201cBehold, the Bridegroom\n    cometh: go ye out to meet him\u201d? Prepare to meet your Judge. Now\n    he has given you a time for repentance; you have a probationary\n    season, and possibly now the scepter of mercy is held out to\n    you. Repent, or it will soon be said to you, as Jeremiah said\n    to the virgin, the daughter of Egypt, \u201cIn vain shalt thou use\n    many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured;\u201d or, as in the\n    parable, \u201cI know you not.\u201d Have you no oil in your lamps? Delay\n    not a moment; believe the gospel, and you will live; believe\n    the word of God; receive the love of the Bridegroom, and make\n    no delay; for while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and\n    they that were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the\n    door was shut. Oh, think what must be the exercise of your\n    minds when these things shall be real; when you will stand\n    without and knock, saying, \u201cLord, Lord, open to us!\u201d Again I\n    ask, Will you repent, believe, and be saved? Are you determined\n    to resist the truth until it is too late? Say, sinner, what\n    think ye?\n\n    \u201c\u2018We will risk the consequence. We do not believe in your day\n    you tell us of. The world is the same it always was,\u2014no change,\n    nor ever will be; but if it should come, it will not this ten\n    thousand years,\u2014not in our day, certainly. You do not believe\n    yourself. If you did, we should call you a fool.\u2019\n\n    \u201c\u2018Are these your arguments, sinner?\u2019\n\n    \u201c\u2018Yes.\u2019\n\n    \u201c\u2018Well, if I had brought no more, no stronger arguments than\n    these, I would not blame you for not believing, for not one of\n    yours can you or have you supported with a particle of proof.\n    They are mere assertions; your believing or not believing will\n    not alter the designs of God. The antediluvians believed not.\n    The citizens of the plain laughed at the folly of Lot. And\n    where are they now? Suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.\u2019\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII.\n\n    HIS SICKNESS\u2014VISIT TO MASSACHUSETTS\u2014FANATICISM\u2014MR. MILLER\n    REPUDIATES IT.\n\n\n\u201cAt the close of his lectures in Philadelphia, Mr. Miller went to\nTrenton, N. J., to spend the Sabbath (February 12, 1843). By invitation\nof the mayor of that city, he lectured there three days, and was listened\nto by crowded houses.\n\n\u201cFrom Trenton he returned to New York city, but held no public meeting\nthere. He improved the opportunity to visit a brother at Williamsburg,\nLong Island, where he had an interview with the editor of the _Gazette\nand Advertiser_, who thus referred to it:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018Our curiosity was recently gratified by an introduction to\n    this gentleman, who has probably been an object of more abuse,\n    ridicule and blackguardism, than any other man now living.\n    A large number of the veracious editors of the political\n    and religious newspapers have assured us that Mr. Miller\n    was totally insane, and sundry preachers had confirmed this\n    assurance. We were somewhat surprised to hear him converse on\n    religious subjects with a coolness and soundness of judgment\n    which made us whisper to ourselves,\n\n        \u201cIf this be madness, then there is method in\u2019t.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018When our interview closed, we were left wondering at the\n    cause of that malignant spirit of slander and falsehood with\n    which a man has been assailed, who has spent his time and\n    substance in a course of unceasing toils to persuade men \u201cto\n    flee from the wrath to come.\u201d\u2019\n\n\u201cFrom New York, Mr. M. went up the Hudson River as far as Lansingburg,\nN. Y., where he lectured from the 17th to the 21st of February. The day\nfollowing, in compliance with the urgent request of the Baptist church\nin Half Moon, N. Y., he visited that place, and commenced a course of\nlectures, which continued till the 5th of March.\n\n\u201cAt the request of Mr. Davis, pastor of the Presbyterian church in\nBallston Center, Mr. M. next lectured in his house from the 6th to the\n11th of March; and, on the 12th, gave two discourses at the Spa. As\nusual, a large number were present, and God\u2019s blessing was manifested.\n\n\u201cOn the 15th of March, he delivered two discourses at Rock City, in the\ntown of Milton, N. Y., about six miles from Saratoga Springs. He had\nattempted to go as far as Albany, to fulfill an engagement there; but,\nafter getting within fourteen miles of that city, he was obliged to\nreturn to Rock City, where he was taken sick with his old complaint,\nerysipelas, in his right arm. He remained at the house of Dea. Dubois,\nwhere he received the kindest attention, till the 23d of March. On that\nday he was removed to the house of Herman Thomas, in the same place.\nHe was carefully provided for there till the 30th, when he was so far\nconvalescent as to be removed by his son. By short and easy journeys he\nreached his home at Low Hampton on the 31st, as comfortably as could have\nbeen hoped for.\n\n\u201cOn the 6th of April he commenced a letter to Mr. Himes, in which he\nsays: \u2018I am now at home; was brought home six days since. I am very weak\nin body, but, blessed be God! my mind, faith, and hope, are yet strong\nin the Lord,\u2014no wavering in my belief that I shall see Christ this\nyear,\u2019 &c. This letter not being completed on the 13th of April, his son\nforwarded it to Mr. Himes, adding, \u2018Father is quite low and feeble, and\nwe fear he may be no better.\u2019\n\n\u201cHis complaint manifested itself in a multiplicity and succession of\ncarbuncle boils, which were a great drain on his system, and wasted his\nstrength rapidly. On the 3d of May, when their violence had greatly\nabated, he wrote: \u2018My health is on the gain, as my folks would say.\nI have now _only_ twenty-two boils, from the bigness of a grape to a\nwalnut, on my shoulder, side, back, and arms. I am truly afflicted, like\nJob, and have about as many comforters, only they do not come to see me,\nas Job\u2019s did.\u2019 Two weeks later, he was again much more feeble, and his\nphysicians prohibited visitors from seeing him.\n\n\u201cOn the 28th of May, his son wrote: \u2018Father\u2019s health is no better, on\nthe whole. He continues very weak and low, confined to his bed most of\nthe time.\u2019 In addition to his numerous boils, he had, by a fever, been\nbrought near to death\u2019s door.\n\n\u201cAbout the 1st of July he was so far recovered as to be able to walk\nabout his house, and his health continued to improve, so that, from\nthe 6th to the 9th of September, he gave a course of lectures in N.\nSpringfield, Vt. He lectured in Claremont, N. H., on the 11th; in\nSpringfield, N. H., on the 12th; in Wilmot, N. H., on the 14th; in\nAndover, N. H., on the 17th; in Franklin, N. H., on the 18th; in\nGuilford, N. H., from the 21st to the 24th; in Gilmanton, N. H., on the\n25th; and at Concord, N. H., on the 26th and 27th. On the 2d of October\nhe gave two addresses at the camp-meeting in Exeter, N. H., and arrived\nat Lowell, Mass., on the 3d. He went to Boston on the 6th, gave three\ndiscourses, and then returned home to Low Hampton, where he remained till\nthe 9th of November.\n\n\u201cDuring this tour, Mr. Miller was much pained by witnessing a tendency\nto fanaticism on the part of some who held to his views. As he had no\nsympathy for anything of the kind, and has been unjustly identified with\nit in the minds of the public, it becomes necessary to show its origin,\nthat its responsibility may rest where it rightly belongs.\n\n\u201cThe views of Mr. Miller being embraced by persons belonging to various\nreligious denominations, it was impossible, from the nature of the case,\nfor those of any particular faith to teach their own private opinions in\nconnection with the Advent, without exciting the jealousy of those who\nheld opposite sentiments. To avoid any such clashing of opinions, the\nfollowing platform was adopted by the first conference held by believers\nin the Advent (October 14, 1840), in their Address unanimously presented\nto the public, namely:\u2014[24]\n\n    \u201c\u2018Our object in assembling at this time, our object in\n    addressing you, and our object in other efforts, separate and\n    combined, on the subject of the kingdom of Heaven at hand,\n    is to revive and restore this ancient faith, to renew the\n    ancient landmarks, to \u201cstand in the way, and see, and ask for\n    the old paths, where is the good way\u201d in which our fathers\n    walked, and the martyrs \u201cfound rest to their souls.\u201d We have\n    no purpose to distract the churches with any new inventions,\n    or to get ourselves a name by starting another sect among the\n    followers of the Lamb. We neither condemn nor rudely assail\n    others of a faith different from our own, nor dictate in\n    matters of conscience for our brethren, nor seek to demolish\n    their organizations, nor build new ones of our own; but simply\n    to express our convictions, like Christians, with the reasons\n    for entertaining them, which have persuaded us to understand\n    the word and promises, the prophecies and the gospel of our\n    Lord, as the first Christians, the primitive ages of the\n    church, and the profoundly learned and intelligent reformers,\n    have unanimously done in the faith and hope that the Lord will\n    come quickly in his glory, to fulfill all his promises in the\n    resurrection of the dead.\n\n    \u201c\u2018We are agreed and harmonize with the published creed of\n    the Episcopal, Dutch Reformed, Presbyterian, and Methodist\n    churches, together with the Cambridge Platform of the\n    Congregational church, and the Lutheran and the Roman Catholic\n    churches, in maintaining that Christ\u2019s second and only coming\n    now will be to judge the world at the last day.\n\n    \u201c\u2018We are not of those who sow discord among brethren, who\n    withdraw from the fellowship of the churches, who rail at\n    the office of the ministry, and triumph in the exposure of\n    the errors of a secular and apostate church, and who count\n    themselves holier than others, or wiser than their fellows. The\n    gracious Lord has opened to us wondrous things in his word,\n    whereof we are glad, and in view of which we rejoice with fear\n    and trembling. We reverently bless his name, and we offer\n    these things, with the right hand of our Christian fellowship\n    and union, to all disciples of our common Lord, of every sect\n    and denomination, praying them, by the love of the crucified\n    Jesus, to regard the promise of his coming, and to cultivate\n    the love of his appearing, and to sanctify themselves in view\n    of his approaching with power and great glory; although they\n    conscientiously differ from us in minor points of faith, or\n    reject some of the peculiarities which exist in individuals of\n    this Conference.\n\n    \u201c\u2018We do not seek to excite the prejudices of our fellow-men,\n    or to join with those who mock at sin, or who scoff at the\n    word or promise of the great Jehovah, or who lightly esteem\n    offices and ordinances of the church, or who empty of their\n    power the threatenings of the holy law, or who count the blood\n    of the atonement a useless thing, or who refuse to worship and\n    honor the Son of God even as they honor the Father; nor do we\n    refuse any of these, or others of divers faith, whether Roman\n    or Protestant, who receive and heartily embrace the doctrine of\n    the Lord\u2019s coming in his kingdom.\u2019\n\n\u201cIt was thus unanimously agreed that the sectarian questions which divide\nChristians should be avoided in the presentation of the advent doctrine,\nand that \u2018minor points of faith,\u2019 and the \u2018peculiarities\u2019 in the belief\nof any, should not be made prominent, to impede their united labors.\n\n\u201cIn the autumn of 1842, Mr. Miller\u2019s views were embraced by John\nStarkweather, a graduate of the Andover Theological Seminary, and a\nminister of good standing in the Orthodox Congregational denomination.\nHe had been a minister at the Marlboro\u2019 chapel, in Boston, and at other\nplaces, and was regarded as a man of peculiar sanctity. He was at\nthat time, unemployed by any people, and Elder Himes being obliged to\nspend much of his time in preaching in other places than Boston, Mr.\nStarkweather was called as an assistant pastor of his church, at the\nchapel in Chardon-street.\n\n\u201cMr. Starkweather commenced his labors there in October, 1842. He was\ntall, well formed, and had a voice of great power and not unpleasant\ntones. His personal appearance was thus prepossessing, which, with his\nreputation for superior sanctity, enabled him easily to secure the\nconfidence of his hearers, who nightly thronged the chapel.\n\n\u201cHis principal theme was the necessity of a preparation for the\nSaviour\u2019s coming. At such a time no subject seemingly could be more\nappropriate. But Mr. Starkweather had embraced peculiar views respecting\npersonal sanctification; and, contrary to the understanding which had\nbeen had on the subject of sectarian views, he made his own notions\nnot only a test of readiness for the Lord\u2019s coming, but of Christian\nfellowship,\u2014demanding the largest liberty for himself, and granting none\nto others. He taught that conversion, however full and thorough, did not\nfit one for God\u2019s favor without a second work; and that this second work\nwas usually indicated by some bodily sensation.\n\n\u201cDuring the winter, the losing of strength and other cataleptic and\nepileptic phenomena became manifested, and were hailed by him as\nevidences of the great power of God in the sanctification of those who\nwere already devoted Christians. He denominated such \u2018the sealing power.\u2019\n\n\u201cThose who were familiar with the history of fanaticism in past ages,\nwho had read with pain the termination of the career of the eloquent\nEdward Irving in England, who knew the devastation caused by fanaticism\nin the time of the Reformation, of its effects in the early ages of\nChristianity, and of the results produced by it even in many portions of\nour own country during the infancy of some of the sects among us, were at\nno loss respecting its character.\n\n\u201cIt was at first supposed that Mr. Starkweather was an innocent cause of\nthis, and that he was ignorant of his strong mesmeric powers, by which\nhe had obtained a sympathetic influence over some of his hearers. He was\nreasoned with on the subject, but to no purpose. His mind was bent in\na certain direction, and pursue his course he would. His actual spirit\nwas not discovered until leading brethren publicly dissented from such\nexercises as any necessary part of Christianity. At this the uncaged lion\nwas aroused, and it became evident what manner of spirit he was of.\n\n\u201cNear the close of April, 1843, it was deemed necessary to take a decided\nstand on the subject. A meeting had been appointed for the afternoon, and\nMr. Himes, who had been absent during these occurrences, with judicious\nbrethren determined to endeavor to stem the current of fanaticism which\nhad commenced. In a calm and faithful manner, he gave them the history\nof various movements which had been destroyed or greatly injured by\nfanaticism; and, without intimating that evidences of such then existed,\nhe exhorted them to learn from past experience, and see to it that they\navoid the rocks on which others had been shipwrecked.\n\n\u201cMr. Starkweather arose in reply, and was so vehement that Mr. Himes felt\njustified in again addressing the audience, exposing the nature of the\nexercises that had appeared among them, and their pernicious tendency.\n\n\u201cThis so shocked the sensibilities of those who regarded them as the\n\u2018great power of God,\u2019 that they cried out and stopped their ears. Some\njumped upon their feet, and some ran out of the house. \u2018You will drive\nout the Holy Ghost!\u2019 cried one. \u2018You are throwing on cold water!\u2019 said\nanother.\n\n\u201c\u2018Throwing on cold water!\u2019 said Mr. Himes; \u2018I would throw on the Atlantic\nOcean before I would be identified with such abominations as these, or\nsuffer them in this place unrebuked.\u2019\n\n\u201cStarkweather immediately announced that \u2018the saints\u2019 would thenceforth\nmeet at another place than the Chardon-street chapel; and, retiring, his\nfollowers withdrew with him.\n\n\u201cFrom this time he was the leader of a party, held separate meetings,\nand, by extending his visits to other places, he gained a number of\nadherents. He was not countenanced by the friends of Mr. Miller; but the\npublic identified him and his movement with Mr. Miller and his.\n\n\u201cThis was most unjust to Mr. Miller; but to this day the Romanists\nidentify, in the same manner the fanaticism consequent on the\nReformation, with Luther and those who repudiated the doings of Munzer,\nStorch and others.\n\n\u201cWhile Starkweather was thus repudiated, he persisted in forcing himself,\nwherever he could, upon the public, as a religious teacher and lecturer\non the Advent.\n\n\u201cOn the 9th of August, 1843, a camp-meeting commenced at Plainfield, Ct.,\nat which Starkweather was, and some manifestations were exhibited which\nwere entirely new to those present, and for which they could not account.\nAnother meeting was held at Stepney, near Bridgeport, on the 28th of the\nsame month, where the developments were more marked. A few young men,\nprofessing to have the gift of discerning spirits, were hurried into\ngreat extravagances. Elder J. Litch published a protest against such\nexhibitions, in which he said:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018A more disgraceful scene, under the garb of piety, I have\n    rarely witnessed. For the last ten years I have come in contact\n    nearly every year, more or less, with the same spirit, and\n    have marked its developments, its beginning, and its result;\n    and am now prepared to say that it is evil, and only evil,\n    and that continually. I have uniformly opposed it wherever it\n    has made its appearance, and as uniformly have been denounced\n    as being opposed to the power of God, and as resisting the\n    operations of the Spirit. The origin of it, is the idea that\n    the individuals thus exercised are entirely under the influence\n    of the Spirit of God, are his children, and that he will\n    not deceive them and lead them astray; hence every impulse\n    which comes upon them is yielded to as coming from God, and,\n    following it, there is no length of fanaticism to which they\n    will not go.\u2019\u201d\u2014_Midnight Cry_, Sept. 14, 1843.\n\n\u201cDuring Mr. Miller\u2019s confinement by his sickness, he had not come\nin contact with any of these things; but, on his last tour into\nMassachusetts, he had seen something of it, and took the earliest\nopportunity to do his duty respecting it, by a prompt disclaimer.\nBefore reaching home, he stopped a day at Castleton, Vt., and wrote the\nfollowing letter, which was published in the _Signs of the Times_ of\nNovember 8, 1843:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEAR BROTHER: My heart was deeply pained, during my tour\n    east, to see in some few of my former friends a proneness to\n    wild and foolish extremes and vain delusions, such as working\n    miracles, discerning of spirits, vague and loose views on\n    sanctification, &c.\n\n    \u201c\u2018As it respects the working of miracles, I have no faith in\n    those who pretend beforehand that they can work miracles.\n    See Rev. 13:13, 14: \u201cAnd he doeth great wonders, so that he\n    maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight\n    of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the\n    means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight\n    of the beast.\u201d Whenever God has seen fit to work miracles,\n    the instruments have seemingly been unconscious of having the\n    power, until the work was done. They have, in no instance that\n    I recollect, proclaimed as with a trumpet that they could or\n    would work a miracle. Moses and the apostles were more _modest_\n    than these modern pretenders to this power. You may depend upon\n    it, whosoever claims the power has the spirit of Antichrist.\n    Rev. 16:14: \u201cFor they are the spirits of devils, working\n    miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth, and of\n    the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day\n    of God Almighty.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018I know they pretend to prove that men are to have this\n    power unto the end of the world, by Mark 16:17. But take the\n    whole passage together, and what does it prove? Not that all\n    believers can do these miracles, but that these miracles would\n    follow those who believe; that is, those who believed in the\n    record that God had given would, in the apostolic age, have a\n    confirmation of the truth of that word by those miracles, which\n    would follow them.[25] The word would be thus confirmed by\n    miracles, performed by prophets and apostles, who were inspired\n    to write the Old and New Testaments. I see no reason for the\n    working of miracles in this age; \u201cfor if they believe not Moses\n    and the prophets, neither would they believe though one should\n    arise from the dead.\u201d Since the apostles\u2019 day, none have worked\n    miracles but the anti-Christian beast.\n\n    \u201c\u2018The discerning of spirits is, I fear, another fanatical\n    movement to draw off Adventists from the truth, and to lead\n    men to depend on the feeling, exercise, and conceit of their\n    own mind, more than on the word of God. It builds up a spirit\n    of pride and self-righteousness, and thus loses sight of the\n    humbling doctrine, to account others better than ourselves. If\n    all Christians were to possess this gift, how should we live\n    by faith? Each would stand upon the spiritual gifts of his\n    brother, and, if possessed of the true Spirit of God, could\n    never err. Surely the devil has great power over the minds of\n    some at the present day. And how shall we know what manner of\n    spirit they are of? The Bible answers: \u201cBy their fruits ye\n    shall know them.\u201d Then it is not by the spirit.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I think those who claim this power will soon manifest, by\n    their fruits, that they have another rule than the Bible. I\n    have observed that those persons who think that they have\n    been baptized by the Holy Ghost, as they term it, become more\n    sensitive of themselves, and very jealous for their own glory;\n    less patient, and full of the denunciatory spirit against\n    others who are not so fortunate as themselves. There are many\n    spirits gone out into the world; and we are commanded to try\n    the spirits. The spirit that does not cause us to live soberly,\n    righteously, and godly, in this present world, is not the\n    spirit of Christ. I am more and more convinced that Satan has\n    much to do in these wild movements. He has come down, having\n    great wrath, knowing he hath but a short time; and he will, if\n    possible, deceive the very elect.\n\n    \u201c\u2018On sanctification I have but little at present to say.\n    Sanctification has two prominent meanings in Scripture: setting\n    apart for holy purposes; and being cleansed from all sin and\n    pollution. Every soul converted to God is sanctified in the\n    first sense. He devotes himself to God, to love, serve, and\n    obey him forever. Every one who obtains complete redemption,\n    body, soul, and spirit, is sanctified in the second sense.\n    The first kind is, or ought to be, now enjoyed by every _true\n    believer_ in Christ. The other will never be accomplished till\n    the resurrection of the just, when these vile bodies shall be\n    changed. We are sanctified, in the first sense, through faith\n    and a knowledge of the truth; and, in my opinion, are not\n    perfect until we are perfect in faith and knowledge of the word\n    of God. Yet many among us, who pretend to be wholly sanctified,\n    are following the traditions of men, and apparently are as\n    ignorant of truth as others who make no such pretensions, and\n    are not half so modest. I must confess that they have to me an\n    appearance of boasting.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I would not judge harshly; but I cannot see any reason to\n    believe them any more holy than many others who make no such\n    claims. I would say nothing to prevent any man or woman from\n    living holy. This is what we are all seeking after, and what\n    I expect to attain, when Christ shall come and blot out my\n    sins, according to his promise. Acts 3:19. I think those with\n    whom I have conversed, who pretend to have obtained this\n    grace, instead of enjoying more than others, labor, in their\n    arguments, to lower down the standard of holiness to their\n    present capacity. Instead of looking for a blessed hope at the\n    appearing of Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile bodies,\n    and raise our capacity to enjoy and adore him forever, in\n    an infinitely higher state of perfection, they think they\n    are actually enjoying all the promises _now_, and are not in\n    need of any further work of grace to give them a right to the\n    eternal inheritance of the saints.\n\n    \u201c\u2018If this be so, and we are truly perfect, sanctified, and\n    prepared for our possession in Heaven, then every moment we are\n    debarred our right of entering and taking possession of our\n    inheritance would be an illegal withholding of us from our just\n    rights of participating in the enjoyment of the will of our\n    blessed Master. But it is not so. We are minors, and subjects\n    of chastisements. Prov. 3:11, 12: \u201cMy son, despise not the\n    chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of his correction; for\n    whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son\n    in whom he delighteth.\u201d Heb. 12:5-9: \u201cAnd ye have forgotten\n    the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My\n    son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint\n    when thou art rebuked of him; for whom the Lord loveth he\n    chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye\n    endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what\n    son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without\n    chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards,\n    and not sons. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh\n    which corrected us, and we gave them reverence; shall we not\n    much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018Therefore, let us all be modest, unassuming, and godlike,\n    pressing on to the mark. Let us not, therefore, judge one\n    another any more. Rom. 14:13: \u201cBut judge this rather, that\n    no man put a stumbling-block or an occasion to fall in his\n    brother\u2019s way.\u201d 1 Cor. 8:9-13: \u201cBut take heed lest by any means\n    this liberty of yours become a stumbling-block to them that are\n    weak. For if any man see thee, which hast knowledge, sit at\n    meat in the idol\u2019s temple, shall not the conscience of him that\n    is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered\n    to idols; and through thy knowledge shall the weak brother\n    perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the\n    brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against\n    Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will\n    eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother\n    to offend. If my brother is truly perfect in every good work,\n    he will bear with me and my weakness.\u201d Rom. 15:1: \u201cWe, then,\n    that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and\n    not to please ourselves.\u201d 1 Cor. 9:22: \u201cTo the weak became I as\n    weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all\n    men, that I might by all means save some.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018I have not written this to condemn my \u201cperfect\u201d brother,\n    or to call out a reply. He may call one thing perfect\n    sanctification, and I another. If he is \u201cperfect\u201d and strong,\n    he can bear my weakness. If he wants contention, it will show\n    that he is not perfect, but contentious. I beg of my brother to\n    let me follow on to know the Lord; and God forbid that I should\n    call him back. I hope he will not boastingly exclude me from\n    the path he would tread. May God sanctify and prepare us for\n    his own use, and deliver us from the wrath to come.\n\n                     \u201c\u2018Yours, in the blessed hope,\n\n                                                         WM. MILLER.\n\n    \u201c\u2018_Castleton, Vt., Oct. 12, 1843._\u2019\n\n\u201cNot only Mr. Miller, but all who were in his confidence, took a decided\nposition against all fanatical extravagances. They never gave them any\nquarter; while those who regarded them with favor soon arrayed themselves\nagainst Mr. Miller and his adherents. Their fanaticism increased; and\nthough opposed by Mr. Miller and his friends, the religious and secular\npress very generally, but unjustly, connected his name with it;\u2014he being\nno more responsible for it than Luther and Wesley were for similar\nmanifestations in their day.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV.\n\n    HOME OF MR. MILLER\u2014TOUR INTO WESTERN NEW YORK\u2014HIS PERSONAL\n    APPEARANCE\u2014ADDRESS TO ALL DENOMINATIONS\u2014VISIT TO WASHINGTON,\n    ETC.\n\n\n\u201cIn the interval between Mr. Miller\u2019s return from Boston to his home at\nLow Hampton and the recommencement of his public labors, he was visited\nby his dearly beloved friend, the late Elder Nathaniel Southard, who\nwrote as follows of\n\n    \u201c\u2018THE HOME OF WILLIAM MILLER.\n\n    \u201c\u2018It was Saturday forenoon when we passed over the rough road,\n    and stopped at a one-storied house, where a post-office is\n    kept. It is the residence of William S., oldest son of Bro.\n    Miller, P. M., at the office, which, for distinction, is\n    called Low Hampton. He was not at home; but one of his little\n    daughters told us the residence of her grandfather was in sight\n    on the hill. Without waiting for her to point it out, I easily\n    recognized it\u2014from previous description\u2014among the good-looking\n    farm-houses in sight. It was not the largest or handsomest. The\n    back part of it only, which is painted red, could be seen. It\n    is two stories high. The northern front and ends are painted\n    white. On the way we passed the small, plain meeting-house of\n    the Baptist church to which Bro. M. belongs.\n\n    \u201c\u2018At the gate of his hospitable mansion we met a young man in a\n    wagon, with crutches by his side, whose round, open countenance\n    showed him to be a son of William Miller. He gave us a cordial\n    invitation to enter. Three visitors were already in the house,\n    to whom myself, wife and child, being added, made a number\n    which we feared would be burdensome. We soon found ourselves\n    perfectly at home, though we had never before seen one of the\n    family but its venerable head.\n\n    \u201c\u2018The next day other visitors arrived, one of whom was a lady\n    from Iowa, and three from Vergennes. The day was very stormy.\n    We went to the place of worship, and found a congregation\n    consisting of fewer persons than we left at the house. The\n    preacher, Bro. Increase Jones, gave a plain, practical sermon\n    on the text, \u201cThe end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore\n    sober, and watch unto prayer.\u201d In the afternoon we opened\n    the Scriptures, and tried to pursue the apostolic method in\n    speaking of Jesus and the resurrection.\n\n    \u201c\u2018On our way from the meeting, after referring to the number of\n    guests, we asked Robbins if they usually had as much company.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Pretty nigh,\u2019 said he; \u2018I wish I had kept count of the\n    number of visitors for the last six months.\u2019\n\n    \u201c\u2018Did they come in such numbers when Bro. Miller was sick?\u2019 we\n    inquired.\n\n    \u201c\u2018It seemed to make but little difference,\u2019 he replied.\n\n    \u201c\u2018We just then passed by the open carriage gate into the\n    spacious inclosure at the west end of the house.\n\n    \u201c\u2018It seemed to be the hardest task,\u2019 he proceeded, \u2018to make\n    friends understand that it was not friendly to visit a sick man\n    in such numbers. I have had to stand here and keep people out\n    of the house, and sometimes there were six asking admission at\n    once.\u2019\n\n    \u201c\u2018As it was, I have no doubt company added weeks to his\n    sickness, and dollars to the doctor\u2019s bill. I afterward learned\n    that the expenses of his sickness were one hundred dollars.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Let us try to get a glimpse at his wealth and resources.\n    Twelve years ago he was the owner of about two hundred acres\n    of land, less than half of which was capable of cultivation,\n    yielding a liberal return to hard labor. No one, who knows\n    with what energy, diligence, and firmness, Bro. Miller has\n    prosecuted the labors he seems to have been raised up to\n    perform, will need to be told that he is a man of industrious,\n    temperate, frugal habits. Such a man in such a place, with\n    a help meet for him, could not be poor and thriftless.\n    Twenty-five years ago he built his house. Other buildings were\n    erected as they became necessary, but none within the last\n    dozen years, except a bee-house, and small, plain shed, or\n    boiling-house, where food is prepared for his hogs.\n\n    \u201c\u2018He showed me his home farm, consisting of ninety-six acres,\n    lying wholly on the south side of the road. There is some\n    common wall upon it; but the moss-grown, weather-beaten stones\n    unanimously contradict the foolish and malicious lies which\n    have been told about its recent origin. He also owns a rough\n    tract of fifty acres, north of the road, and twenty acres of\n    interval a little distance to the east. When he let out his\n    farm to his son, he sold him $500 worth of stock, and has since\n    sold seventy acres of land to his son-in-law. What he has thus\n    realized, and $100 yearly for the use of his farm, have enabled\n    him to meet the expenses of traveling, printing, and giving\n    away books, company, sickness, &c.\n\n    \u201c\u2018He has brought up eight children, two others having died in\n    early life. His whole family, like Job\u2019s, originally consisted\n    of seven sons and three daughters. Four of them are now in the\n    house with him, and two sons are at the West. As a specimen of\n    the fertility of his farm, he showed us a potato weighing two\n    pounds and seven ounces.\n\n    \u201c\u2018While contemplating this lovely family, and their plain but\n    comfortable dwelling-place, equally free from the marks of\n    wasteful neglect or extravagant expenditure, I saw, as never I\n    saw before, the folly and malignity of those falsehoods which\n    have been so industriously told about them. Look at them.\n\n    \u201c\u2018A diligent student of the Bible tells us he finds prophetic\n    periods reaching down to the resurrection and the second coming\n    of Christ.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Nonsense!\u2019 cries one, who must stand at the Judgment seat of\n    Christ; \u2018Mr. Miller is a man of property, and he holds on to\n    it.\u2019\n\n    \u201c\u2018But won\u2019t you please to look in the Bible, and see the\n    evidence that these periods are just running out?\u2019\n\n    \u201c\u2018Humbug!\u2019 says another, who must give an account for the\n    manner in which he treats that message from Heaven; \u2018Mr. Miller\n    is building a solid brick wall round his farm.\u2019\n\n    \u201c\u2018But will you not consider and discern the signs of the times,\n    which show that the kingdom of Heaven is nigh, even at the\n    doors?\u2019\n\n    \u201c\u2018It is all a money-making scheme,\u2019 says a third, who must soon\n    give up his stewardship; \u2018Mr. Miller is putting up some large\n    buildings in New Haven, and he has a barrel of jewels in his\n    house, which have been given him where he has preached.\u2019\n\n    \u201c\u2018The amazing stupidity of these fictions almost hides from\n    view the malice which invented them. But when we look at his\n    wife and daughter, to whom a husband and father\u2019s reputation is\n    as the apple of the eye, we begin to feel them as a personal\n    injury, though they are nothing, in this view, in comparison\n    with the public mischief they occasion.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Bro. Miller\u2019s faith remains unwavering. He said he should be\n    happy if he felt as sure of Heaven as he did that he had the\n    truth on the prophecies of Daniel.\n\n    \u201c\u2018His eyesight is improved since his sickness, so that he now\n    uses spectacles which he had laid aside as being too young\n    several years ago. He reads the small Polyglot Bible with the\n    greatest ease. He is a diligent reader of Second Advent papers.\n    After he has received one he seldom lays it aside till he\n    has become acquainted with all its contents. The rest of his\n    reading is nearly confined to the Scriptures. He is able to\n    write freely, and it requires no small share of his time to\n    attend to the numerous letters he receives.\n\n    \u201c\u2018He starts early next week (Providence permitting) on his way\n    to Rochester, Lockport, and Buffalo, N. Y. It will be necessary\n    for one of his sons to accompany him, as he is not strong\n    enough to travel alone.\n\n    \u201c\u2018We were interested in seeing his old family Bible, which cost\n    $18.50, and his quarto copy of Cruden\u2019s Concordance, which was\n    originally purchased, in 1798, for $8. These two books were\n    almost the only ones he looked at while preparing his lectures.\n    A clergyman once called at his house in his absence, and, being\n    disappointed in not seeing him, wished the privilege of looking\n    at his library. His daughter conducted the visitor into the\n    north-east room, where he has sat so many hours at his ancient\n    desk. Those two books, and no others, lay upon the table.\n    \u201cThat is his library,\u201d said she. The clergyman was amazed. Her\n    remark was strictly true, as far as theological writings were\n    concerned. He never had a commentary in his house, and did not\n    remember reading any work upon the prophecies, except Newton\n    and Faber, about thirty years ago.\n\n    \u201c\u2018When we spoke to him about the stories in relation to his\n    property in New Haven, he pleasantly remarked that those who\n    believed them could easily satisfy themselves; for he had sold\n    to Bro. McDonald, of Williamsburg, near New York city, all\n    his property, real or personal, out of Low Hampton, for five\n    dollars, and the purchaser had offered to give half of it to\n    any one who would find any.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Monday afternoon we reluctantly took leave of this peaceful\n    spot, which had been our pleasant home for two days, rejoicing\n    that calumny could there find no truthful basis on which to\n    found its reckless and cruel assertions.\n\n                                                      \u201c\u2018N. SOUTHARD.\n\n    \u201c\u2018_Carleton, Vt., October 23, 1843._\u2019\n\n\u201cIn company with his wife and son George, Mr. Miller started for\nRochester, N. Y., on the 9th of November. On his passage down the canal\nfrom Whitehall, by request of the passengers on the boat, he spoke to an\nattentive audience from Titus 2:13.\n\n\u201cFrom the 12th to the 19th of November, he gave his first course of\nlectures in the city of Rochester, speaking to full houses on the\nafternoon and evening of each day. The ground had been previously\nprepared for him by a course of lectures in June, delivered by Mr. Himes\nand others, in connection with the \u2018great tent.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. Himes had commenced a paper there called the _Glad Tidings_, and\npublished thirteen numbers of it, which were extensively circulated; and\nthe late Elder Thomas F. Barry, a devoted brother, had remained in that\nfield during the summer. By those instrumentalities quite an interest had\nbeen created, and the labors of Mr. Miller there were abundantly blessed.\n\n\u201cReceiving a pressing invitation from Rev. Elon Galusha, pastor of the\nBaptist church, and sixty-eight others, in Lockport, N. Y., to visit that\nplace, he lectured there from the 21st to 30th of November. The salvation\nof some souls and a general expression of interest in the subject of his\ndiscourses, were the result of his labors.\n\n\u201cFrom the 2d to the 10th of December he lectured in Buffalo, N. Y., in\nthe theater, to a house full of attentive hearers. Writing from that\nplace, on the 4th, he says: \u2018Yesterday I saw the tears of some in the\ncongregation, who, I am informed, were old, hardened infidels.\u2019\n\n\u201cIn compliance with an invitation from Rev. A. Claghorn, pastor of the\nBaptist church, and twenty-three others, he next lectured in Lewiston,\nN. Y., from the 11th to the 17th of December. There were many hearers\npresent from Canada, as well as from the American side of the line, who\ngave him a respectful hearing. Writing respecting this place, Mr. M.\nsays:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018I was here, as at Rochester and Lockport, challenged to a\n    public debate by a Universalist. I will not contend with them.\n    It would be an admission that they _might_ be right, which I\n    cannot for a moment believe. Michael would not contend with the\n    devil. Why? Because he would not admit he could be right. Was\n    he afraid of the devil? No. But he said, \u201cThe Lord rebuke thee,\n    Satan!\u201d And so say I to his ministers.\u2019\n\n\u201cBeing invited to visit Penfield, N. Y., by Rev. David Bernard and the\nunanimous vote of his church, he lectured in the Baptist meeting-house\nthere, from the 20th to the 27th of December. Some souls professed\nconversion, and the pastor and a number of his people avowed their faith\nin the near coming of Christ.\n\n\u201cMr. Miller returned to Rochester on the 29th of December, continued\nthere a few days, gave five discourses, and on the 3d of January, 1844,\nhe left for home by the way of Troy. After reaching Low Hampton, he\nwrote:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018On Saturday, January 6, I arrived home, having been absent\n    about eight weeks, and given eighty-five lectures. I have\n    seen a number of infidels converted to God; and more than one\n    hundred have obtained a hope where I have been.\u2019\n\n\u201cOn the 28th of January he again visited Boston, and gave a course of\nlectures in the Howard-street Tabernacle. This was his ninth visit to\nBoston, and his seventh regular course of lectures there. On no previous\noccasion had such crowds been present to hear as were then assembled\nin that capacious building. On the Sabbath (January 28), all day and\nevening, the seats and aisles were filled with as many as could find a\nplace to sit or stand. Many of the young with the middle-aged, and even\nmen with gray hairs, stood and listened to the story of the coming One,\nwith the evidences of his near approach. Had the Tabernacle been twice\nits size, it would hardly have held the multitude who sought admittance.\nThe interest continued during his entire course of lectures, which closed\non the 4th of February.\n\n\u201cOn the 5th of February, in company with Mr. Himes, he left for New York\ncity; but the weather was inclement, the boat was delayed in the Sound\nall the next day by ice, and the passage was uncommonly tedious. Mr.\nFowler, the phrenologist, being one of the passengers, to while away\nthe time, gave, by request, a lecture on his science. After the lecture\nhe was blindfolded, and in that state examined quite a number of heads.\nAt the request of the company, Mr. Miller\u2019s head was examined. All were\neager to hear the opinion of the lecturer. Among other things he said:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018This man has large benevolence. His object is to do his\n    fellow-beings good. He has great firmness\u2014is a modest man,\n    open, frank, no hypocrite, good at figures, a man of great\n    mental power, might make a noise in the world, has no personal\n    enemies; if he has enemies, it is not because they know him,\n    but on account of his opinions.\u2019\n\n\u201cAt the close of the examination his blindfold was removed, and he was\nintroduced to Mr. Miller, to the no small amusement of the company.\n\n\u201cThey arrived in New York on the evening of the 6th of February, 1844,\nand found a conference assembled in Franklin Hall. Mr. Miller gave two\ndiscourses there on the 7th; when, finding the place too small, they\nadjourned to the Broadway Tabernacle, where he lectured in the afternoon\nand evening of the 8th and 9th of February, to crowded assemblies. It\nwas estimated that not less than five thousand persons were present. The\naudiences were solemn and attentive.\n\n\u201cOn the 10th of February they went to Philadelphia, and on the 11th Mr.\nM. commenced a course of lectures in the saloon of the Chinese Museum,\nclosing on the 18th. That immense hall was filled to overflowing.\n\n\u201cWhile laboring here, a friend gave the following description of Mr.\nMiller\u2019s personal appearance:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018There is a kindness of soul, simplicity, and power,\n    peculiarly original, combined in his manner; and he is affable\n    and attentive to all, without any affectation of superiority.\n    He is of about medium stature, a little corpulent, and,\n    in temperament, a mixture of sanguine and nervous. His\n    intellectual developments are unusually full, and we see in\n    his head great benevolence and firmness, united with a lack of\n    self-esteem. He is wanting in marvelousness, and is naturally\n    skeptical. His countenance is full and round, while there is a\n    peculiar expression in his blue eye, of shrewdness and love.\n    Although about sixty-two years of age, his hair is not gray,\n    but of a light, glossy auburn; his voice is full and distinct,\n    and his pronunciation somewhat northern-antique. In his social\n    relations, he is gentle and affectionate, and insures the\n    esteem of all with whom he mingles. In giving this charcoal\n    sketch to the public, I have merely sought to correct numerous\n    misstatements, and gratify the honest desire of many distant\n    believers with a faint outline of the character and appearance\n    of the man.\u2019\n\n\u201cWhile drawing crowded houses of intelligent and attentive hearers,\nhis name was seldom mentioned in the religious press, except by way of\nridicule or denunciation; and many churches, particularly those of his\nown denomination, were taking disciplinary steps with those who had\nembraced his views. This called forth from him the following\n\n    \u201c\u2018ADDRESS TO BELIEVERS IN CHRIST OF ALL DENOMINATIONS.\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEAR BRETHREN: We would ask, in the name of our dear Master,\n    Jesus Christ, by all that is holy, by the fellowship of the\n    saints, and the love of the truth, why you cast us off as\n    if we were heretics? What have we believed, that we have\n    not been commanded to believe by the word of God, which you\n    yourselves allow is the rule and only rule of our faith and\n    practice? What have we done that should call down such virulent\n    denunciations against us from pulpit and press, and give you\n    just cause to exclude us (Adventists) from your churches and\n    fellowship? In the name of all that is dear, all that is holy\n    and good, we call upon some of you to come out and tell us\n    wherein our great sin lies. Have we denied the faith once\n    delivered to the saints? Tell us, we pray you, or, wherein is\n    our fault? If there is an honest man among you, of which we\n    cannot doubt, we shall expect to see your reasons publicly and\n    honestly avowed; and if we are guilty of heresy or crime, let\n    the Christian community know it, that we may be shunned by all\n    who know and love the truth.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Is it heterodox to believe that Jesus Christ will come\n    again to this earth, to receive his saints to himself, and\n    to reward all men as their work shall be? If so, then our\n    fathers, and our ministers, our creeds, and our Bibles, have\n    taught us heresy; and from our infancy we have misunderstood\n    our teachers, and misapplied our Bible. Do tell us what mean a\n    class of texts like these? John 14:3: \u201cAnd if I go and prepare\n    a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself;\n    that where I am there ye may be also.\u201d Acts 1:11: \u201cWhich also\n    said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?\n    This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall\n    so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.\u201d 1\n    Pet. 1:7 and 13: \u201cThat the trial of our faith, being much more\n    precious than of gold that perisheth, though it may be tried\n    with fire, might be found unto praise, and honor, and glory,\n    at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Wherefore, gird up the loins\n    of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that\n    is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.\u201d\n    Rev. 1:7: \u201cBehold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall\n    see him, and they also which pierced him; and all kindreds of\n    the earth shall wail because of him.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018Does our crime consist in looking for him and loving his\n    appearing? This, too, we charge upon our fathers and teachers;\n    we have heard, ever since we had consciousness, as our duty\n    explained and enforced, to watch and look, to love and be\n    prepared for his return, that when he comes we may enter into\n    the marriage supper of the Lamb. We also have Christ and the\n    apostles for our example in so doing. Witness Matt. 24:44;\n    25:13; Mark 13:34-37; Phil. 3:20, 21; 2 Tim. 4:8; Titus 2:13; 2\n    Pet. 3:12; Rev. 14:15.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Or are we to be severed from our brethren because we believe\n    the prophecies of the Old and New Testaments to be the true\n    prophecies of God; or because that we think we can understand\n    them, and see in the history of our world their fulfillment?\n    Are we to be cut off from our connection with your churches\n    because we believe as your ministers have told us we ought to\n    for ages past? Acts 24:14: \u201cBut this I confess unto you, that\n    after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of\n    my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law\n    and in the prophets.\u201d 26:22: \u201cHaving therefore obtained help\n    of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and\n    great, saying none other things than those which the prophets\n    and Moses did say should come. King Agrippa, believest thou\n    the prophets?\u201d 1 Tim. 4:14: \u201cThat thou keep this commandment\n    without spot, unrebukable, until the appearance of our Lord\n    Jesus Christ.\u201d Rev. 1:4: \u201cBlessed is he that readeth, and they\n    that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things\n    which are written therein; for the time is at hand.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018Again, let me inquire: Are we treated as heretics because we\n    believe Christ will come this year? Are we not all commanded\n    to watch? Mark 13:37: \u201cAnd what I say unto you, I say unto\n    all, Watch.\u201d And I would ask, Is it not our duty to watch this\n    year? If so, will you tell us how a man can watch, and not\n    expect the object for which he watches? If this is the crime,\n    we plead guilty to the charge, and throw ourselves upon the\n    word of God, and the example of our fathers, to justify us in\n    so doing. Eccl. 8:5, 6: \u201cWhoso keepeth the commandments shall\n    feel no evil thing; and a wise man\u2019s heart discerneth both\n    time and judgment; because to every purpose there is time and\n    judgment.\u201d Dan. 12:6, 7: \u201cAnd one said to the man clothed in\n    linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall\n    it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed\n    in linen which was upon the waters of the river, when he held\n    up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by\n    him that liveth forever, that it shall be for a time, times\n    and a half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the\n    power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.\u201d\n    1 Pet. 1:9, 13: \u201cReceiving the end of your faith, even the\n    salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have\n    inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace\n    that should come unto you; searching what, or what manner of\n    time, the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when\n    it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory\n    that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto\n    themselves, but unto us they did minister the things which\n    are now reported unto you, with the Holy Ghost sent down from\n    Heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. Wherefore,\n    gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end\n    for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation\n    of Jesus Christ.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018Now, if we are wrong, pray show us wherein consists our\n    wrong. Show us from the word of God that we are in error; we\n    have had ridicule enough; that can never convince us that we\n    are in the wrong; the word of God alone can change our views.\n    Our conclusions have been formed deliberately and prayerfully,\n    as we have seen the evidence in the Scriptures; and all\n    reasoning against our views has only served to confirm us in\n    them.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Or, are you ready to say that our crime consists in examining\n    the Bible for ourselves? We have inquired \u201cWatchman, what of\n    the night?\u201d We have besought and entreated them to give us\n    any signs of the coming morning, and have waited patiently\n    for an answer; but have waited in vain; have been turned off\n    with some German or French philosophy, or had the book closed\n    in our face, and been insulted for our deep anxiety. We have,\n    therefore, been obliged to study for ourselves; and if we\n    are to be cut off for honestly believing in the exactness of\n    prophetic time, then Scott and Wesley, and the Newtons, and\n    Mede, Gill, and others, should all be excommunicated for the\n    like offense. We, therefore, once more call upon you to show us\n    our errors; and until this is done, we must continue to believe\n    the Lord will come in this Jewish year.\n\n                                                      \u201c\u2018WM. MILLER.\u2019\n\n\u201cOn the 17th of February, Messrs. Miller, Himes, and Elder Josiah Litch,\nleft Philadelphia for Washington city, which they reached on the 20th.\nOn the evening of that day they held their first meeting in the Baptist\nhouse, near the Navy-yard. It became so thronged that, on the 26th, they\nremoved to the Apollo Hall, near the President\u2019s mansion, where they\ncontinued till the 2d of March.\n\n\u201cDuring these lectures, on the 28th of February, the \u2018Peacemaker,\u2019 on\nboard of the \u2018Princeton,\u2019 exploded, killing Colonel Gardiner and Mr.\nUpshur, the United States Secretary of State, and wounding others. That\nevent added interest and solemnity to the lectures, and caused them to be\nmore fully attended. There were present at the lectures a goodly number\nof persons belonging to both houses of Congress.\n\n\u201cWriting from Washington on the day of that explosion, but before the\noccurrence, Mr. Miller said:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018They throng us constantly for papers, books, and tracts,\n    which Bro. Himes is scattering gratuitously by thousands,\n    containing information on this subject. They send in from this\n    vicinity and from \u201cold Virginia\u201d for papers and lecturers; but\n    the one-hundredth part of their requests can never be complied\n    with. Never have I been listened to with so deep a feeling, and\n    with such intense interest, for hours.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. Miller gave nineteen lectures in this place, and Messrs. Himes and\nLitch fifteen.\n\n\u201cCalls for them to extend their tour further south came up from\nCharleston, S. C., Savannah, Geo., Mobile, Ala., and from many other\nof the larger places in the Southern States. Some of these were very\nimportunate, but previous arrangements prevented a compliance with those\nrequests.\n\n\u201cThey returned north, held meetings in Baltimore from the 3d to the 8th\nof March, and, on the 9th, returned to Philadelphia. There Mr. Miller\ngave two more discourses on the 10th; on the 11th he lectured in Newark,\nN. J., in the Free Presbyterian meeting-house; on the 12th he gave one\ndiscourse in New York; on the 13th he spoke in Brooklyn and Williamsburg,\nN. Y., and on the 14th he returned to Low Hampton.\n\n\u201cHe seems to have kept no minute of his subsequent labors, but closes his\nnote-book, at the termination of this tour, with these words: \u2018Now I have\ngiven, since 1832, _three thousand two hundred lectures_.\u2019\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XV.\n\n    THE PASSING OF THE TIME\u2014HIS POSITION\u2014LINES ON HIS\n    DISAPPOINTMENT\u2014CONFESSION\u2014VISIT OF ELD. LITCH\u2014MR. MILLER AND\n    THE METHODIST MINISTERS\u2014TOUR TO OHIO\u2014RETURN, ETC.\n\n\n\u201cThe vernal equinox of 1844 was the furthest point of time to which Mr.\nMiller\u2019s calculation of the prophetic periods extended. When this time\npassed, he wrote to Mr. Himes as follows:\u2014\n\n                                      \u201c\u2018LOW HAMPTON, MARCH 25, 1844.\n\n    \u201c\u2018MY DEAR BROTHER HIMES:\u2014I am now seated at my old desk in\n    my east room. Having obtained help of God until the present\n    time, I am still looking for the dear Saviour, the Son of God\n    from Heaven, and for the fulfillment of the promise made to my\n    fathers, and confirmed unto us by them that heard him, that he\n    would come again and would receive us to himself, or gather in\n    one body all the family of the first-born in Heaven and earth,\n    even in him. This, Paul has told us, would be in the _fullness\n    of times_. Eph. 1:9, 10.\n\n    \u201c\u2018The time, as I have calculated it, is now filled up; and I\n    expect every moment to see the Saviour descend from heaven.\n    I have now nothing to look for but this glorious hope. I am\n    full in the faith that all prophetic chronology except the\n    1000 years in the 20th of Rev. is now about full. Whether God\n    designs for me to warn the people of this earth any more, or\n    not, I am at a loss to know; yet I mean to be governed, if time\n    should continue any longer than I have expected, by the word\n    and providence of Him who will never err, and in whom I think I\n    have trusted, and been supported during my twelve years arduous\n    labors, in trying to awaken the churches of God, and the\n    Christian community, and to warn my fellow-men of the necessity\n    of an immediate preparation to meet our Judge in the day of his\n    appearing.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I hope I have cleansed my garments from the blood of souls.\n    I feel that, as far as it was in my power, I have freed\n    myself from all guilt in their condemnation. It is true, but\n    not wonderful, when we become acquainted with the state\n    and corruption of the present age of the Laodicean church,\n    that I have met with great opposition from the pulpit and\n    professed religious press; and I have been instrumental,\n    through the preaching of the Advent doctrine, of making it\n    quite manifest, that not a few of our theological teachers\n    are infidels in disguise. I cannot for a moment believe that\n    denying the resurrection of the body, or the return of Christ\n    to this earth, or of a judgment day yet future, is any the\n    less infidelity now than it was in the days of infidel France;\n    and yet, who does not know that these things are as common as\n    pulpits and presses are? And which of these questions are not\n    publicly denied in our pulpits and by the writers and editors\n    of the public papers?\n\n    \u201c\u2018Surely, we have fallen on strange times. I expected of course\n    the doctrine of Christ\u2019s speedy coming would be opposed by\n    infidels, blasphemers, drunkards, gamblers and the like; but I\n    did not expect the ministers of the gospel and professors of\n    religion would unite with characters of the above description,\n    at stores and public places, in ridiculing the solemn doctrine\n    of the Second Advent. Many who were not professors of religion\n    have affirmed to me these facts, and say they have seen them,\n    and have felt their blood chilled at the sight.\n\n    \u201c\u2018These are some of the effects which are produced by preaching\n    this solemn and soul-stirring doctrine among our Pharisees of\n    the present day. Is it possible that such ministers and members\n    are obeying God, and watching and praying for his glorious\n    appearing, while they join these scoffers in their unholy and\n    ungodly remarks? If Christ does come, where must they appear?\n    and what a dreadful account they will meet in that tremendous\n    hour? But I feel almost confident that my labors are about\n    done, and I am, with a deep interest of soul, looking for my\n    blessed and glorious Redeemer, who will then be King over all\n    the earth, and God with us forevermore.\n\n    \u201c\u2018This I can truly say is my chief desire. It is my meditation\n    all the day long. It is my song in the night, and my faith and\n    hope amidst the scenes of this sin-cursed earth. It consoles me\n    in sickness, comforts me in tribulation, and gives me patience\n    to endure the scoffs and tauntings of an ungodly, selfish,\n    and unfeeling world. My faith and confidence in God\u2019s word\n    is as strong as ever; although he has not come in the time I\n    expected. I still believe the time is not far off, and that\n    God will soon, yes, too soon for the proud scoffers, justify\n    himself, his word, and the cry of alarm which has been given\n    through your indefatigable labors, with others whom God has\n    raised up to assist in giving the midnight cry.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I am highly gratified with your present position; if you had\n    gone to criticising words in order to find another time, yet\n    future, men would not have thought you honest in your views,\n    would have lost all confidence in you, and the good you have\n    done would have been neutralized, had you shifted or changed\n    your ground.\n\n    \u201c\u2018You have good, honest and sure ground yet to stand upon;\n    for Christ says, \u201c_So likewise ye when ye shall see all these\n    things, know that he is near, even at the door._\u201d Now we have\n    lived to see all the signs fulfilled, the time accomplished.\n    \u201c_Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth\n    come._\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018This is the position I have now to take, and what more work I\n    have to do, will be done in this manner. I will,\n\n    \u201c\u20181. PROVE BY SCRIPTURE AND HISTORY THAT TIME IS FULFILLED.\n\n    \u201c\u20182. SHOW THE SIGNS ALL COMPLETED.\n\n    \u201c\u20183. THE DUTY OF WATCHING, FOR WE KNOW NOT WHAT HOUR THE LORD\n    MAY COME. And if God has anything more for me to do in his\n    vineyard, he will give me strength, open the door, and enable\n    me to do whatever may be his will, for his glory and the best\n    good for man.\n\n    \u201c\u2018To him I leave the event, for him I watch and pray, saying,\n    \u201cCOME, LORD JESUS, COME QUICKLY. AMEN. _Even so, come, Lord\n    Jesus._\u201d\n\n                                                  \u201c\u2018WILLIAM MILLER.\u2019\n\n\u201cOn the 2d of May he wrote as follows:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018TO SECOND ADVENT BELIEVERS....\n\n    \u201c\u2018Were I to live my life over again, with the same evidence\n    that I then had, to be honest with God and man I should have to\n    do as I have done. Although opposers said it would not come,\n    they produced no weighty arguments. It was evidently guess-work\n    with them; and I then thought, and do now, that their denial\n    was based more on an unwillingness for the Lord to come than on\n    any arguments leading to such a conclusion.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I _confess my error_ and acknowledge _my disappointment_; yet\n    I still believe that the day of the Lord is near, even at the\n    door; and I exhort you, my brethren, to be watchful, and not\n    let that day come upon you unawares. The wicked, the proud, and\n    the bigot, will exult over us. I will try to be patient. God\n    will deliver the godly out of temptation, and will reserve the\n    unjust to be punished at Christ\u2019s appearing.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I want you, my brethren, not to be drawn away from the truth.\n    Do not, I pray you, neglect the Scriptures. They are able to\n    make you wise unto eternal life. Let us be careful not to be\n    drawn away from the manner and object of Christ\u2019s coming; for\n    the next attack of the adversary will be to induce unbelief\n    respecting these. The manner of Christ\u2019s coming has been well\n    discussed.\u2019\n\n\u201cShortly after this he wrote the following lines respecting his\ndisappointment:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018How tedious and lonesome the hours,\n      While Jesus, my Saviour, delays!\n    I have sought him in solitude\u2019s bowers,\n      And looked for him all the long days.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Yet he lingers\u2014I pray tell me why\n      His chariot no sooner returns?\n    To see him in clouds of the sky,\n      My soul with intensity burns.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I long to be with him at home,\n      My heart swallowed up in his love,\n    On the fields of New Eden to roam,\n      And to dwell with my Saviour above.\u2019\n\n\u201cDuring the last week of May, the Annual Conference of Adventists was\nheld in the Tabernacle at Boston. Mr. Miller was present, and, at the\nclose of one of the meetings, in accordance with a previous notice,\narose, and frankly confessed his mistake in the definite time at which\nhe supposed the prophetic periods would have terminated. The following\nnotice of this confession, written by a hearer, appeared in the _Boston\nPost_ on the 1st of June following:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018FATHER MILLER\u2019S CONFESSION.\u2014Many people were desirous of\n    hearing what was termed Father Miller\u2019s Confession, which,\n    according to rumor, was to be delivered at the Tabernacle\n    on Tuesday evening last, when and where a large concourse\n    assembled, myself among the number, to hear the \u201cconclusion of\n    the whole matter;\u201d and I confess I was well paid for my time\n    and trouble. I should judge, also, by the appearance of the\n    audience, and the remarks I heard from one or two gentlemen\n    not of Mr. Miller\u2019s faith, that a general satisfaction was\n    felt. I never heard him when he was more eloquent or animated,\n    or more happy in communicating his feelings and sentiments to\n    others. Want of time and space will not permit me to give even\n    a mere sketch of his remarks, which occupied more than an hour.\n    He confessed that he had been disappointed, but by no means\n    discouraged or shaken in his faith in God\u2019s goodness, or in\n    the entire fulfillment of his word, or in the speedy coming of\n    our Saviour, and the destruction of the world. Although the\n    supposed time had passed, God\u2019s time had not passed. \u201cIf the\n    vision tarry, wait for it.\u201d He remained firm in the belief\n    that the end of all things is at hand, even at the door. He\n    spoke with much feeling and effect, and left no doubt of his\n    sincerity.\n\n                                                                 D.\u2019\n\n\u201cHis disappointment in the passing of the time was great; but it did not\nat all impair his confidence in God, or affect his usual cheerfulness of\ndisposition. Eld. Josiah Litch, who visited him on the 8th of June, at\nLow Hampton, thus wrote:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018I found both himself and family well and in fine spirits.\n    Indeed, I have never seen him when he seemed to enjoy himself\n    better than at present. If any evidence of his sincerity\n    in preaching the advent of Christ in 1843 were wanting, in\n    addition to his arduous and unrequited toil of twelve years,\n    his present humble submission to his disappointment, and the\n    spirit of meekness with which the confession of disappointment\n    is made, is sufficient to satisfy the most incredulous that\n    nothing but a deep conviction of duty to God and man could\n    have moved such a man to such a work. That he is greatly\n    disappointed in not seeing the Lord within the expected time,\n    must be evident to all who hear him speak; while the tearful\n    eye and subdued voice show from whence flow the words he utters.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Although disappointed as to time, I never saw him more strong\n    than now in the general correctness of his expositions of\n    Scripture and calculation of prophetic times, and in the faith\n    of our Lord\u2019s speedy coming.\u2019\n\n\u201cIn company with his son George and Mr. Himes, Mr. Miller left home\non the 21st of July, 1844, for a tour as far west as Cincinnati. They\nreached Rochester, N. Y., on the 23d, and on the 24th commenced a series\nof meetings in a beautiful grove in Scottsville, near that city. Mr.\nMiller was listened to with unusual interest.\n\n\u201cFrom Rochester they visited Buffalo, N. Y., Toronto, C. W., Lockport, N.\nY., Cleveland, Akron, Cincinnati, and other places in Ohio. At this last\nplace he lectured, on the evening of August 19, to an audience of about\nfour thousand persons, and continued there one week.\n\n\u201cThey had proposed going further west, but freshets in the rivers in\nthose parts prevented. They returned from Cincinnati, up the Ohio and\nMuskingum rivers, to McConnellsville, which they reached on the 28th of\nAugust, and where Mr. M. delivered five lectures.\n\n\u201cOn the 2d of September they left this place by steamboat, down the\nMuskingum river to Marietta, from thence to take a boat to Pittsburg, on\ntheir way to Philadelphia. On board the boat for Marietta they found from\nthirty to forty Methodist ministers, who were on their way to attend the\nMethodist Episcopal Conference in that city.\n\n\u201cMr. M. noticed some sly glances from one to another, which seemed to\nsay, \u2018We will have some sport with the old gentleman.\u2019 He, however, took\nno notice of them, but went to a retired part of the deck, and commenced\nreading. Soon a dandy-looking minister walked past him several times, and\nfinally asked him:\u2014\n\n\u201c\u2018Is your name Miller?\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. M. replied in the affirmative, and kept on reading.\n\n\u201cHe then asked him if he was the Miller who had prophesied the end of the\nworld.\n\n\u201cMr. M. said he did not prophesy, but supposed that he was the one to\nwhom he referred.\n\n\u201cThe minister said that he did not believe we could know when the world\nwas to end.\n\n\u201cMr. M., thinking he had a right to his unbelief, made no reply.\n\n\u201cThe minister then said he did not believe God had revealed the time.\n\n\u201cMr. M. replied that he could prove by the Bible that God had revealed\nit; and that, if he was an honest man, he would make him acknowledge\nit, by asking him a few questions in reference to the Bible, if he would\nanswer them.\n\n\u201cThe man retired, procured his Bible, and returned with about twenty\nother ministers, who gathered around him. An elderly one, who looked\nlike an honest man, took his seat in front, on the capstan. All were\nattention. Mr. M. asked the man to read the first three verses of Dan. 12.\n\n\u201cThis he did aloud.\n\n\u201cMr. M. then asked if the _resurrection_ was brought to view in those\nverses.\n\n\u201cThe man looked at them for a while, and said he did not know that it was.\n\n\u201cMr. M. asked him if he would tell what they did mean.\n\n\u201cHe said he did not choose to do so.\n\n\u201c\u2018Oh! very well,\u2019 said Mr. M.; \u2018we have nothing more to say together; for\nI did not agree to convince you, if you would not answer a few questions.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe elderly minister then asked him why he would not answer.\n\n\u201c\u2018Because I do not choose to do so.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Why,\u2019 said the old gentleman, \u2018I should have no objection to answering\nthat question. It does refer to the resurrection.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Well, father,\u2019 said Mr. M., \u2018I perceive you are an honest man. I will,\nif you please, ask _you_ a few questions.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe old gentleman said he would answer them if he could.\n\n\u201cMr. M. asked him to read the 6th verse\u2014\u2018How long shall it be to the end\nof these wonders?\u2019\u2014and say what wonders were referred to.\n\n\u201cThe dandy minister then spoke\u2014\u2018Don\u2019t answer that question; he will make\na _Millerite_ of you.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe elderly minister said he was not afraid of the Bible, let it make\nwhat it would of him; and replied, that the \u2018wonders\u2019 referred to must\nmean the resurrection, &c.\n\n\u201c\u2018Well,\u2019 said Mr. M., \u2018is the reply of the one clothed in linen, who\nsware \u201cthat it should be for a time, times, and an half,\u201d given in answer\nto the question, how long it will be to the resurrection?\u2019\n\n\u201cHere the dandy minister again spoke\u2014\u2018Don\u2019t answer that question; for, if\nyou do, he will make a _Millerite_ of you.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe other gave him to understand that he was afraid of no result to\nwhich an honest investigation of the Scriptures might lead, and that\nhe should answer any questions he choose to. The admission of the\ndandy minister, that honest answers could not be given to a few simple\nquestions on a portion of Scripture, without making men \u2018Millerites,\u2019\nexcited the interest of all to the highest point.\n\n\u201cThe elderly minister replied that he thought it must be given in answer\nto that question.\n\n\u201cOn hearing the answer, the dandy minister shrunk back, closed his mouth,\nand interfered no more.\n\n\u201cMr. M. asked who it was that gave this answer.\n\n\u201cThe other readily replied that he was undoubtedly the Lord Jesus Christ.\n\n\u201c\u2018Well, then,\u2019 said Mr. M., \u2018if the Lord Jesus Christ, in answer to the\nquestion, How long it should be to the resurrection, has sworn with an\noath that it shall be for a time, times, and an half, is not the time\nrevealed?\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018But,\u2019 said the other, \u2018you can\u2019t tell what that time, times, and an\nhalf mean.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018I did not agree,\u2019 said Mr. M., \u2018to do that; our _understanding_ of it\nis another thing. But has not God there revealed the time, and sworn to\nit with an oath?\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Yes,\u2019 said the other, \u2018he has.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Well, then,\u2019 said Mr. M., \u2018I have proved all I agreed to.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Why,\u2019 said the minister, \u2018I never saw this in this light before. Can\nyou tell what is meant by time, times, and an half?\u2019\n\n\u201c_Mr. M._ \u2018I will try. Read, if you please, the 6th verse of Rev. 12.\u2019\n\n\u201c_Min._ \u2018\u201cAnd the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place\nprepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred\nand three-score days.\u201d\u2019\n\n\u201c_Mr. M._ \u2018Now read the 14th verse.\u2019\n\n\u201c_Min._ \u2018\u201cAnd to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that\nshe might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished\nfor a time, and times, and half a time.\u201d\u2019\n\n\u201c_Mr. M._ \u2018Do not those two denote the same period of time?\u2019\n\n\u201c_Min._ \u2018Yes.\u2019\n\n\u201c_Mr. M._ \u2018Then must not the time given in answer to the question be the\nsame as the 1260 days?\u2019\n\n\u201cThe minister acknowledged it must be so.\n\n\u201cMr. M. pointed him to the various places where the same period is\npresented under different forms,\u2014forty-two months, 1260 days, time,\ntimes, and half a time\u2014and showed him how 30 days to a month, and 12\nmonths to a year, would make 3\u00bd years, equal to 1260 days. He then\nasked him if we might not know that God had revealed the time to the\nresurrection in days.\n\n\u201cHe said, Yes; but asked if we could know how to reckon them.\n\n\u201cMr. M. pointed him to Dan. 7:25, the time of the continuance of the\nsaints in the hands of the little horn, a period of the same length, and\nasked if that could denote simply 1260 days; \u2018for\u2019 said he, \u2018you know\nthat they persecuted the saints more than so many literal days.\u2019\n\n\u201cThis he admitted; but asked, if not literal days, what they were.\n\n\u201cMr. M. showed him that the language was symbolical; that if it had\nbeen given in literal time, it would have had a bad effect on past\ngenerations, as they would have seen that the judgment could not come in\ntheir day, and they might not have lived in continual readiness for it,\nas they should do. He then referred to Num. 14: 34, and Eze. 4:6, where\nGod has appointed a day for a year; showed him how the 70 weeks were\nfulfilled in 490 years\u2014as many years as there were days in 70 weeks\u2014and\nshowed there were just 1260 years from the time the decree of Justinian\nwent into effect, A. D. 538, to 1798, when the papacy was subverted by\nNapoleon.\n\n\u201cThe minister acknowledged the pertinency of these references, and\nconfessed that the time sworn to by Christ must denote 1260 years.\n\n\u201cMr. M. then showed how the 2300 days and the four great kingdoms, &c.,\nbring us down to the end, and how they must terminate about this time;\nbut confessed that the expected time had gone by. He spoke about an\nhour, during which the strictest attention was given by those who stood\naround. Many confessed they never thought that \u2018Millerism\u2019 was anything\nlike that.\n\n\u201cOn arriving at Marietta, Mr. M. was detained a part of the next day in\nthe boat, and the inhabitants came down with the request that he would\nstop and lecture, offering him the Methodist house. But he was obliged to\nhasten on, and could not comply with their invitation.\n\n\u201cThey arrived at Harrisburg, Pa., on Sunday, the 8th, and lectured four\ndays in the old Methodist chapel to good audiences. On the 11th Mr.\nMiller wrote to the _Signs of the Times_ as follows:\u2014\n\n                                       \u201c\u2018HARRISBURG, SEPT. 11, 1844.\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEAR BRO. BLISS:\u2014We are now in this place laboring to prove\n    to the people that the Bible is the revealed will of God, and\n    that all may and will be known which concerns us, to make\n    us perfect in every good work, by every sincere and candid\n    inquirer, in this age of general expectation of some moral\n    or physical revolution in the earth. And we believe, and we\n    so teach, that the revolution so much expected, and so long\n    desired by every child of God, is the coming of King Jesus, the\n    marriage of the Lamb, and the completion of all the promises\n    given us who believe in God\u2019s word. We are as confident as\n    faith in the blessed word can make us, that Christ is now at\n    the very door, and soon our wondering eyes will be ravished by\n    all the beauty, splendor, pomp and glory of our descending King.\n\n    \u201c\u2018These thoughts make me happy while I write; but, O God! what\n    then will be my feelings, when faith will end in sight, and\n    hope in fruition? I know that my mind is too feeble to imagine,\n    my faculties too weak to comprehend the emotion of my soul,\n    when I shall stand before him; yes, and see him as he is, and\n    be like him; yes, more than that, ten times more grand, more\n    glorious still than all, shall be forever with him. No more a\n    stranger in this giddy world, no more a pilgrim from the dizzy\n    maze of life\u2019s ten thousand cares, no more a wanderer from my\n    Father\u2019s house, no more to meet the scoffs of friends or foes,\n    or meet the upturned lip, or curl of scorn from that black\n    coat, and hear the oft-repeated epithet, in accents of deep\n    derision, \u201c_There goes old Miller._\u201d My soul rejoices when I\n    think a few more days, at most, and all these scenes will be\n    forgotten in the eternal sunshine of his glory. Why not begin\n    the song of everlasting gratitude to God for this blessed hope.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I find in every place where Bro. Himes and myself have\n    traveled and labored, the same selfish, Pharisaical bigotry\n    among the sects, and more especially among the several editors\n    of pretended religious newspapers. Many of these misrepresent\n    and falsely accuse their brethren of other sects in their\n    trade\u2014and they only fatten on the destruction of those who do\n    not wear their sectarian badge. This would be a dark picture\n    for the Christian religion, were it not for a few exceptions in\n    the moral heavens; but there is now and then a brilliant star\n    in the galaxy, that shines the brighter in consequence of the\n    surrounding darkness; and in every sect we find a few of their\n    numbers whose faithful hearts and honest lives denote they have\n    not bowed the knee to Baal. Were it not for this, I long ago\n    would have yielded up the point, that wicked men and devils,\n    and the gates of hell, had in this our day prevailed against\n    the church. But thank the Lord, a remnant yet is left; the\n    Bible yet is true, and these men are but the tares which soon\n    will be gathered and burned. I do believe few men will be left.\n\n    \u201c\u2018The organ of the \u201c_Church of God_,\u201d so called, in this place,\n    has spit his venom out, and I hope his poison will not taint\n    his own body; but if it does, and should he reap the fruits, I\n    hope he will remember his false assertions only go to show the\n    bird was hit, and all his gall falls harmless at the feet of\n    those he meant to wound. I will write you again when I get home.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I remain as ever \u201clooking for the blessed hope,\u201d &c.\n\n                                                  \u201c\u2018WILLIAM MILLER.\u2019\n\n\u201cThey then passed on to Middletown, where they remained two days; to\nSandersville, where Mr. M. gave one lecture; and to Philadelphia, where\nthey arrived on the 14th of September. On the 16th, Mr. M. commenced his\nlectures at the Museum Saloon, in Julian street.\n\n\u201cOn the 19th, Mr. M. reached New York city, and the next day gave a\ndiscourse in Franklin Hall. On Sunday, P. M., he preached in the church\nin Chrystie street, from these words: \u2018But this I confess unto thee, that\nafter the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers,\nbelieving all things that are written in the law and the prophets; and\nhave hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall\nbe a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.\u2019 Acts 24:14,\n15. He spoke with great ease and clearness respecting the reasons which\nhad fixed his mind on 1843. He acknowledged that there had been a\nmistake, but expressed his assurance in the near coming of Christ, for\nwhich event he entreated all to be in readiness. In the evening, he spoke\nin the same place, to a crowded and attentive audience, upon the seven\nlast plagues of Rev. 16:15-17, six of which he believed had been poured\nout during the last three hundred years.\n\n\u201cHis health was at this time suffering considerably from the fatigues\nof the western tour; and, feeling it his duty to rest for a season, he\ndeclined the many urgent invitations which were then pressing upon him\nfor lectures elsewhere, and returned to his family at Low Hampton. From\nthat place he wrote as follows:\u2014\n\n                                               \u201c\u2018SEPTEMBER 30, 1844.\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEAR BROTHER:\u2014I am once more at home, worn down with the\n    fatigue of my journey, my strength so exhausted and my bodily\n    infirmities so great that I am about concluding I shall never\n    be able again to labor in the vineyard as heretofore. I wish\n    now to remember with gratitude all those who have assisted me\n    in my endeavors to awaken the church and arouse the world to a\n    sense of their awful danger.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I pray God, my brethren and sisters, that you may receive\n    a reward in this life of a hundred fold, and, in the world\n    to come, eternal life. Many of you have sacrificed much\u2014your\n    good names, former associations, flattering prospects in life,\n    occupation, and goods; and with me you have received scorn,\n    reproach, and scandal from those whom it was our souls\u2019 desire\n    to benefit. Yet not one of you _to whom my confidence has ever\n    been given_, has, to my knowledge, murmured or complained. You\n    have cheerfully endured the cross, despised the shame, and with\n    me are looking for and expecting the King in all his glory.\n    This is to me a cause of gratitude to God. May he preserve you\n    unto the end. There have been _deceivers_ among us, but God has\n    preserved me from giving them _my confidence_ to deceive or\n    betray....\n\n                                                  \u201c\u2018WILLIAM MILLER.\u2019\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVI.\n\n    THE SEVENTH MONTH MOVEMENT\u2014DISAPPOINTMENT\u2014THE NOBLEMAN AND HIS\n    SERVANTS\u2014NEED OF PATIENCE\u2014CONFERENCE AT LOW HAMPTON\u2014ETC.\n\n\n\u201cFor a few months previous to this time, the attention of some had been\ndirected to the tenth day of the seventh month of the current Jewish\nyear, as the probable termination of several prophetic periods. This\nwas not generally received with favor by those who sympathized with Mr.\nMiller, till a few weeks previous to the time designated, which, on that\nyear, following the reckoning of the Caraite Jews, fell on the 22d day of\nOctober. Mr. Miller had, a year and a half previous, called attention to\nthe seventh month[26] as an important one in the Jewish dispensation;\nbut as late as the date of his last letter (September 30, 1844,) he had\ndiscountenanced the positiveness with which some were then regarding it.\nOn the 6th of October he was first led to favor the expectation which\npointed to that month, and thus wrote: \u2018If Christ does not come within\ntwenty or twenty-five days, I shall feel twice the disappointment I did\nin the spring.\u2019\n\n\u201cAbout the same time, also, the belief in the given day was generally\nreceived. There were exceptions, but it is the duty of the impartial\nhistorian to record the fact that those who had embraced the views of\nMr. Miller did, with great unanimity, heartily and honestly believe that\non a given day they should behold the coming of the King of glory.\n\n\u201cThe world cannot understand how that could be; and many who professed\nthe name of Christ, have spoken contemptuously of such an expectation.\nBut those who in sincerity love the Saviour, can never feel the least\nemotion of contempt for such a hope. The effect on those entertaining\nthis belief is thus described by Mr. Miller, in a letter dated October\n11, 1844:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018I think I have never seen among our brethren such _faith_\n    as is manifested in the seventh month. \u201cHe will come,\u201d is the\n    common expression. \u201cHe will not tarry the second time,\u201d is\n    their general reply. There is a forsaking of the world, an\n    unconcern for the wants of life, a general searching of heart,\n    confession of sin, and a deep feeling in prayer for Christ\n    to come. A preparation of heart to meet him seems to be the\n    labor of their agonizing spirits. There is something in this\n    present waking up different from anything I have ever before\n    seen. There is no great expression of joy: that is, as it were,\n    suppressed for a future occasion, when all Heaven and earth\n    will rejoice together with joy unspeakable and full of glory.\n    There is no shouting; that, too, is reserved for the shout\n    from Heaven. The singers are silent: they are waiting to join\n    the angelic hosts, the choir from Heaven. No arguments are\n    used or needed: all seem convinced that they have the truth.\n    There is no clashing of sentiments: all are of one heart and\n    of one mind. Our meetings are all occupied with prayer, and\n    exhortation to love and obedience. The general expression is,\n    \u201cBehold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.\u201d Amen.\n    Even so come, Lord Jesus.\n\n                                                  \u201c\u2018WILLIAM MILLER.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe natural heart would be unable to realize that any emotion, but that\nof fear and dread, could fill the minds of those thus believing. But when\nthe secrets of the great day shall be made known, it will be seen that\nthe coming of Christ was ardently desired by them, and that their hearts\nwere filled with a holy joy, while they were subdued by awe, as standing\nin the presence of the Governor of the universe. The state of mind thus\nproduced was a great moral spectacle, upon which those who participated\nin it will ever look back with pleasure, and without regret.\n\n\u201cThe time immediately preceding the 22d of October was one of great\ncalmness of mind and of pleasurable expectation on the part of those\nwho regarded that point of time with interest. There was a nearness of\napproach to God, and a sweetness of communion with him, to which those\nwho experienced it will ever recur with pleasure. During the last ten\ndays, secular business was, for the most part, suspended; and those who\nlooked for the advent gave themselves to the work of preparation for that\nevent, as they would for death, were they on a bed of sickness expecting\nsoon to close their eyes on earthly scenes forever.\n\n\u201cThere were some cases of extravagance, as there have been in all\ngreat movements; and it would have been strange had there not been.\nBut the published accounts of these were greatly exaggerated, and\nhundreds of reports had no foundation in fact. All reports respecting\nthe preparation of ascension robes, &c., and which are still by many\nbelieved, were demonstrated over and over again to be false and\nscandalous. In the investigation of the truth of such, no labor and\nexpense was spared; and it became morally certain that _no instance of\nthe kind anywhere occurred_.\n\n\u201cThe most culpable incident, which had any foundation in fact, was in\nPhiladelphia. In opposition to the earnest expostulations of Mr. Litch\nand other judicious persons, a company of about one hundred and fifty,\nresponding to the pretended vision of one C. R. Georgas, on the 21st\nof October went out on the Darby-street road, about four miles from\nMarket-street bridge, and encamped in a field under two large tents,\nprovided with all needed comforts. The next morning, their faith in\nGeorgas\u2019 vision having failed, all but about a dozen returned to the\ncity. A few days later the others returned. That was an act the report\nof which was greatly exaggerated. It met the emphatic disapproval of Mr.\nMiller and the Adventists generally, and its folly was promptly confessed\nby the majority of those who participated in it.\n\n\u201cThe day passed, and the expectation of the advent at that time was\nproved to be premature. The friends were at first quite saddened, but\nwere not disheartened by the passing of the time. This was the _only_\nspecific _day_ which was regarded by intelligent Adventists with any\npositiveness. There were other days named by those whose opinions were\nreceived with no favor; but their unauthorized declarations should not be\nimputed to the body.\n\n\u201cThe fact that many suspended their business for a few days was censured\nby opponents; but it was only acting consistently with their faith,\nopponents being judges. Dr. Dowling, a celebrated Baptist clergyman in\nNew York city, in a review of Mr. Miller, used this strong language:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018Were this doctrine of Mr. Miller established upon evidence\n    satisfactory to my own mind, I would not rest till I had\n    published in the streets, and proclaimed in the ears of my\n    fellow-townsmen, and especially of my beloved flock, \u201cThe day\n    of the Lord is at hand! Build no more houses! Plant no more\n    fields and gardens! Forsake your shops and farms, and all\n    secular pursuits, and give every moment to preparation for this\n    great event! for in three short years this earth shall be burnt\n    up, and Christ shall come in the clouds, awake the sleeping\n    dead, and call the living before his dread tribunal.\u201d\u2019\n\n\u201cIn the first communication received from Mr. Miller after this time, he\nwrote from Low Hampton, Nov. 10, 1844:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEAR BRO. HIMES:\u2014I have been waiting and looking for the\n    blessed hope, and in expectation of realizing the glorious\n    things which God has spoken of Zion. Yes, and although I have\n    been twice disappointed, I am not yet cast down or discouraged.\n    God has been with me in Spirit, and has comforted me. I have\n    now much more evidence that I do believe in God\u2019s word; and\n    although surrounded with enemies and scoffers, yet my mind\n    is perfectly calm, and my hope in the coming of Christ is as\n    strong as ever. I have done only what after years of sober\n    consideration I felt it to be my solemn duty to do. If I have\n    erred, it has been on the side of charity, the love of my\n    fellow-man, and my conviction of duty to God. I could not see\n    that I should harm my fellow-men, even supposing the event\n    should not take place at the time specified, for it is a\n    command of our Saviour to look for it, watch, expect it, and\n    be ready. Then if I could by any means, in accordance with\n    God\u2019s word, persuade men to believe in a crucified, risen,\n    and coming Saviour, I felt it would have a bearing on the\n    everlasting welfare and happiness of such. I had not a distant\n    thought of disturbing our churches, ministers, religious\n    editors, or departing from the best biblical commentaries\n    or rules which had been recommended for the study of the\n    Scriptures. And even to this day, my opposers have not been\n    able _to show_ where I have _departed from any rule laid down\n    by our old standard writers of the Protestant faith_. I have\n    only interpreted Scripture in accordance with their rules, as\n    I honestly believed. And not one honest man, who understands\n    this question, will deny this assertion of mine. But that, over\n    which I could have no control, transpired to produce on the\n    public mind an unhappy effect.\n\n    \u201c\u2018The public excitement commenced some six years ago. Although\n    I had been proclaiming the Second Advent for six years before,\n    there was not one of our churches that I visited but what\n    _acknowledged the happy effects of the doctrine_; and many\n    were hopefully converted, who united themselves with the\n    several sects as their own judgment dictated. In 1839 and\n    1840, the opposition to the doctrine began to rage, united\n    with ridicule and misrepresentation. The Universalists\n    commenced the contest, and were followed by every sect in\n    our country. Then the brethren who loved the appearing of\n    our Saviour, found themselves among opposers. And instead of\n    meeting sound argument and light among their former brethren,\n    they were almost universally met with scoffing, ridicule, and\n    misrepresentation. Odious names and cruel epithets were applied\n    to us; and in many cases our motives were impugned, and a war\n    of extermination was commenced against the Advent faith. Many\n    of our brethren caught a measure of this spirit, and began\n    to defend themselves in like manner, against the attacks of\n    the several sects. The name of \u201c_Babylon_,\u201d and I am sorry\n    to say it, was applied to _all_ of our churches without any\n    _discrimination_, although in _too many_ instances it was not\n    unjustly applied. We were thus placed at the time we expected\n    our deliverance; and if Christ had come and found us in this\n    condition, who would have been ready, purified, and made white?\n    But the time passed, and the Adventists were humbled; and thus\n    we see that our God was wise and good, in the tarrying of the\n    vision, to humble, purify, and prepare us for an admittance\n    into his blessed kingdom.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I would now beg and pray, my brethren, that we may humble\n    ourselves, avoid disputes, and enter into our chambers, and\n    hide ourselves for a little while until the danger is over.\n    Hold no unnecessary controversy with the despisers of our\n    blessed hope, let us separate ourselves from them in very deed.\n    We have thus far done all we could\u2014and now is the time of their\n    triumph, but it will be short. I am determined by the grace of\n    God to follow this rule. God will fight our battles for us, and\n    in due time we shall see who is the only Potentate. Now let\n    patience have its perfect work. Our duty now is to comfort\n    one another with these words, strengthen those that are weak\n    among us, comfort the feeble, establish the wavering, raise up\n    the bowed down, speak often one to another, and forsake not\n    the assembling of ourselves together; let our conversation be\n    in Heaven from whence we look for the Saviour, for the time\n    has now come for us to live by faith, _a faith_ that is tried\n    like gold seven times purified. Let us hold fast our profession\n    without wrath or doubting, for he is faithful who has promised,\n    and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Let us\n    be careful that we become not overcharged with the things of\n    this world, and so that day come upon us unawares; but know,\n    brethren, that the day will not come upon you as a thief; you\n    will see and know the sign of the Son of man.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I would advise you, Bro. Himes, to continue publishing\n    your papers in Boston and New York. We must have a medium of\n    communication with one another, so that amid the moral darkness\n    which has shrouded the people on the prophecies, we may have\n    light in all our dwellings. This cannot be far from the time.\n    I feel confident that God will justify his word, and the time\n    which we have preached; for we cannot have varied far from the\n    truth in our own views of the seven times, the 2300 days, the\n    1335 days, the trumpets, &c.\n\n    \u201c\u2018_Brethren_, hold fast; let no man take your crown. I have\n    fixed my mind upon another time, and here I mean to stand until\n    God gives me more light\u2014and that is _To-day_, TO-DAY, and\n    TO-DAY, until he comes, and I see HIM for whom my soul yearns.\n    Permit me to illustrate by parable.\n\n    \u201c\u2018A certain nobleman about taking a long journey, called\n    together his servants, gave instructions to every one\n    respecting their work, and commanded them to be faithful in\n    their several occupations; and at his return, he would reward\n    every one as his work should be. He also informed them how many\n    days he should be absent; but the time of night when he should\n    return, he did not make known; yet, if they would watch, they\n    should know when he was near, even at the door. And he informed\n    them how they might know. They would first see the lights of\n    his carriage in the distance, and they would hear the rumbling\n    of his carriage wheels, and go out to meet him, and open the\n    portal gates for him immediately. Whether he should come in\n    the first, second, third, or fourth watch, he would not then\n    inform them; but commanded them to watch. After he was gone,\n    many of the servants began to neglect their master\u2019s business,\n    and to form plans for their own amusement. Thus engaged, the\n    days appointed for their master\u2019s return were forgotten. The\n    giddy whirl of dissipation had filled their mind, and time\n    passed rapidly along; and the days were nearly run out when\n    some of the servants discovered in the steward\u2019s book the\n    number of days recorded when their master should return. This\n    was immediately read in the hearing of the servants, and\n    created no small excitement among them. Some said the time was\n    not revealed, because the master said the watch was not known.\n    Others said the master would never return, he would send his\n    principal servant, and then they would have a feasting time to\n    their own liking.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Thus they were wrangling and disputing until the days,\n    according to the best reckoning they could make, had run\n    out, and the night came, in which some of them expected him.\n    The porter, and a few others determined to watch, while the\n    remainder of the servants were feasting and drinking. The\n    porter and his companions kept a good lookout; for, at the\n    first watch, they expected their master. They thought they saw\n    the light and heard the rumbling of the wheels. They ran among\n    the servants, and cried, \u201cBehold, the master cometh.\u201d This\n    caused no small stir among them, and many made preparation for\n    their master\u2019s return. But it proved to be a false alarm. Then\n    those servants ridiculed the porter and his friends for their\n    _fears_ as _they_ called it, and returned to their feasting\n    again. But the porter and his friends were still vigilant\n    until the second watch, when they were again disappointed, and\n    the servants were more vexed than ever. They now scoffed, and\n    mocked, and then turned some of them out of doors. Again they\n    waited for the third watch, and again they were disappointed.\n    Now the majority of the servants, being more angry than ever,\n    beat and bruised the porter and his friends, and turned them\n    all out of the house, locked the doors, and laid themselves\n    down to sleep. At the fourth watch the master came, and found\n    the porter and a few of his companions watching. The doors were\n    barred and the remainder of the servants were asleep.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Now let me ask, Will the master condemn the porter and his\n    friends for making three false alarms? Will he punish them\n    for disturbing their carousing brethren? Which of these two\n    classes of servants will have shown the most love for their\n    master? Let every one answer to himself these questions, and\n    decide his own case justly. Our former brethren say they\n    _watch_, but do not expect him.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Bro. Himes, give us the signification of the word WATCH.\n    Yours as ever, looking, &c.\n\n                                                      \u201c\u2018WM. MILLER.\u2019\n\nAgain Mr. Miller wrote on the 18th of November from Low Hampton:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEAR BRO. HIMES: Be _patient_, establish your heart, for\n    the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. For you have need of\n    _patience_, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye\n    might receive the promise. For yet a little while and he that\n    shall come will come and will not tarry. This is the time\n    for _patience_, it is the last trial the dear Second Advent\n    brethren are to experience. For this will carry us to the\n    coming of the Lord. \u201cBe patient, therefore, brethren, unto\n    the coming of the Lord.\u201d James 5:7. This is the way God will\n    sanctify his host. Now there will be a great falling away,\n    for the want of this grace, _patience_. But all that endure\n    this last trial unto the end, the same shall be saved. 2 Pet.\n    1:4-11. As our father Abraham did, who hoped against hope, and\n    so after he had _patiently_ endured, he obtained the promise.\n    It is evident as the sun at noon that we are in this time of\n    _patience_. We have done the will of God in this thing. We\n    have written the vision and made it plain, we have run all\n    our published time out, and the world say that \u201cevery vision\n    faileth,\u201d and therefore we have now need of _patience_, to wait\n    unto the coming of the Holy One. Then let us have _patience_,\n    and exercise it; for we can see, this trial will bring _joy_\n    and the hope of _glory_. Rom. 5:2-5. \u201cBlessed is the man that\n    endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the\n    crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love\n    him.\u201d James 1:12. Hearken, then, my brother, is not the trial\n    of our faith more precious than gold? and shall we not stand\n    in this last trial of our faith by _patience_? \u201cFor whatsoever\n    things were written aforetime, were written for our learning,\n    that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might\n    have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to\n    be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus.\u201d\n    Rom. 15:4, 5. Then whatever was written, was for our example\n    who live in this our last day; let us then through _patience_\n    have hope. \u201cLooking for that blessed hope, and the glorious\n    appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.\u201d Titus\n    2:13.\n\n    \u201c\u2018We have done our work in warning sinners, and in trying to\n    awake a formal church. God, in his providence, has shut the\n    door;[27] we can only stir one another up to be _patient_,\n    and be diligent to make our calling and election sure. We are\n    now living in the time specified by Malachi 3:18; also Daniel\n    12:10; Rev. 22:10-12. In this passage we cannot help but see\n    that, a little while before Christ should come, there would be\n    a separation between the just and unjust, the righteous and\n    wicked, between those who love his appearing and those who hate\n    it. And never since the days of the apostles has there been\n    such a division line drawn as was drawn about the 10th or 23d\n    day of the 7th Jewish month. Since that time, they say, \u201cthey\n    have no confidence in us.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018We have need of _patience_ after we have done the will of\n    God, that we may receive the promise; for he says, \u201cBehold,\n    I come _quickly_, to reward every one as his work shall be.\u201d\n    You may inquire, how long quickly means. The false-hearted\n    professor will tell you it may mean ages upon ages yet to come;\n    but the real lover of Christ will _hope_ it is _near_. Christ\n    has told us how near. Matt. 24:32, 33. Again, the apostle James\n    has told us that we are to have _patience_, for it is nigh.\n    He then tells us that the husbandman waiteth for the precious\n    fruit of the earth, and hath long _patience_ for it, until\n    he receive the early and latter rain. How long then does the\n    husbandman wait? The former rains, in Judea, fell after the\n    autumnal equinox, at their seed time, to quicken the grain;\n    and the latter rains, after the vernal equinox, to insure a\n    plentiful crop. [_Carpenter\u2019s Introduction_, p. 334.] \u201cBe ye\n    also _patient_; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the\n    Lord draweth nigh.\u201d How nigh? It cannot be seen, by the reading\n    of the passage, that we are to be in this _patient_ waiting for\n    his coming, after we have done the will of God, sown the seed,\n    given the midnight cry, longer; and it may be much less than\n    the husbandman waited. Therefore let us stablish our hearts, be\n    determined to go forward, let us not look back, \u201cRemember Lot\u2019s\n    wife.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018I think the event for which we look cannot be afar off. I\n    know of no rule by which we can fix on any day or hour. But\n    Christ tells us we may know when it is near even at the door.\n    James 5:9, tells us, when this time of _patient waiting_ comes,\n    then, \u201cBehold, the Judge standeth before the door.\u201d I feel\n    as confident as ever that God will justify us in fixing the\n    year. And I believe as firmly that this Jewish year will not\n    terminate before this wicked and corrupted earth\u2019s history will\n    all be told. The amount of scoffing and mocking at the present\n    time is beyond any calculation. We can hardly pass a man,\n    professor or non-professor, but what he scoffingly inquires,\n    \u201cYou have not gone up,\u201d or \u201cGod cannot burn the world,\u201d &c.,\n    ridiculing the Bible itself, and blaspheming the word and power\n    of God. And yet ministers and moral editors wink at it. And\n    some of them are performing the same, to the no small joy of\n    the most depraved characters in the community.\n\n    \u201c\u2018If this is not a sign of the last day, we are sure never to\n    see fulfilled 2 Pet. 3:3, 4, \u201cKnowing this first, that there\n    shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own\n    lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for\n    since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they\n    were from the beginning of the creation;\u201d nor Jude 18, \u201cHow\n    that they told you there should be mockers in the last time,\n    who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.\u201d I pity the\n    inhabitants who may live in an age of the world that is worse\n    than this. I cannot believe this earth will ever again be so\n    cursed. Where are our moral judges and rulers? Has virtue fled\n    from the earth? and is there no fear of God in all the land?\n\n    \u201c\u2018Come, Lord Jesus, oh! come quickly, or we shall be as when\n    God overthrew the cities of the plain, like unto Sodom and\n    Gomorrah. Where are the watchmen upon the walls of Zion? Can\n    the sign of Peter and Jude be fulfilled before their eyes,\n    and they not see it? Do they not know that one sign plainly\n    fulfilled is proof enough? for God is not man that he should\n    lie, nor is like unto the sons of men that he should be\n    mistaken. I would beg to know what could be called _scoffing_\n    and _mocking_, if the conduct of all classes of men opposing\n    the Second Advent doctrine is not. Paul tells us, 1 Thess.\n    4:17, \u201cThen we which are alive and remain shall be caught up\n    together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air;\n    and so shall we ever be with the Lord.\u201d And some are tauntingly\n    inquiring, \u201cHave you not gone up?\u201d Even little children in the\n    streets are shouting continually to passers-by, \u201cHave you a\n    ticket to go up?\u201d The public prints, of the most fashionable\n    and popular kind, in the great Sodoms of our country, are\n    caricaturing in the most shameful manner the \u201cwhite robes of\n    the saints,\u201d Rev. 6:11, the \u201cgoing up,\u201d and the great day of\n    \u201cburning.\u201d Even the pulpits are desecrated by the repetition\n    of scandalous and false reports concerning the \u201cascension\n    robes,\u201d and priests are using their powers and pens to fill the\n    catalogue of scoffing in the most scandalous periodicals of the\n    day. England and France, with their sinks of pollution, London\n    and Paris, cannot, will not, and dare not, compete with our\n    Boston, New York, or Philadelphia, in scoffing. If these will\n    not open the eyes of our good men in these cities, then I shall\n    believe there is none there. And at any rate, the world must\n    and will be burned up, and few men left. Adieu, my brother, I\n    am _patiently waiting_ for my King, &c.\n\n                                                      \u201c\u2018WM. MILLER.\u2019\n\nOn the 29th of November he wrote to Eld. I. E. Jones, which appears in\nthe _Advent Herald_ for Dec. 25, 1844:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEAR BRO. JONES.\u2014Yours of the 23d inst. was received\n    yesterday, and I am now seated to answer it. The disappointment\n    which we have experienced, in my opinion, could never have been\n    foreseen or avoided, and we have been honest men and believed\n    in the truth of the Bible. I have had time a few weeks past\n    to review the whole subject, and with all the aid of Stuart,\n    Chase, Weeks, Bush, and the whole school of modern writers, I\n    cannot see why we are not right. And even by taking the whole\n    together, instead of disproving the position we have taken, as\n    it respects prophecy, they confirm me in my views. But, say\n    you, time has shown we are wrong. I am not so certain of that.\n    Suppose Christ should come before this year of Jewish time\n    should expire. Then every honest man would say we were right.\n    But if the world does stand two, or even three, years more, it\n    would not in the least alter the manner of the prophecy, but\n    would affect the time. One thing I do know, I have preached\n    nothing but what I believed, and God\u2019s hand has been with me,\n    his power has been manifested in the work, and much good has\n    been effected; for people have read the Bible for themselves,\n    and no one can honestly say that they have been deceived by me.\n    My advice has always been for every one to study the evidences\n    of their faith for themselves.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Again, I can see no object that Satan could have in\n    publishing a doctrine which his own subjects would so generally\n    oppose. No one can possibly plead that those who have excited\n    the mobs, or the mobs themselves who have committed violence,\n    were obeying the example or spirit of Christ. This would be\n    blasphemy in the highest sense. Very well; then Satan would be\n    opposing Satan, but on the part of the Adventists, Satan would\n    be a non-resistant. Can this be true? If it is, then I have no\n    rule by which to judge where the Spirit of Christ may be known.\n    To tell us that those who have headed the most violent mobs in\n    our country were performing the will of God, is an insult to\n    common sense. Yet in no case have the nominal churches dealt\n    with their brethren for such an offense.\n\n    \u201c\u2018It cannot be that we are deceived. That Christ will come and\n    justify us yet I will not doubt. Our meetings are like yours,\n    sweet and heavenly refreshings from the presence and Spirit of\n    God, with no wicked to molest us; they have left us entirely.\n    For some time in October they crowded our house night and day;\n    but now \u201cthere is room enough.\u201d The trap is laid for them,\n    they appear to know that Christ will never come. They that\n    were crying for mercy a few days since, are now scoffing and\n    mocking us, and ridiculing each others\u2019 fears. Even some old\n    professors are worse than the world. Have not such individuals\n    sinned against the Holy Ghost? And when they say, Peace and\n    safety, will not sudden destruction overtake them? While the\n    wicked were thus expecting him, how could the Scriptures have\n    been all fulfilled if he had come? They could not. But now they\n    are ready for the snare, and out of their own mouths will God\n    judge them; for they well knew they were unprepared, and the\n    way they knew, or why were they so anxious for mercy? But when\n    the danger was past, all of their preparation was over.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I feel confident that we shall see very serious times. We\n    shall _need_ much _patience_. And this peculiar grace will\n    last us through, \u201c_unto the coming of the LORD_.\u201d I am almost\n    certain we shall not need _patience_ longer than the farmer\n    waits for the precious fruits of the earth, and hath long\n    patience for it until he receive the early and latter rain.\n    But I will try to be _patient_. James 5:7-11. To whom did the\n    apostle address himself in his exhortation? To what age of the\n    church? To that age where the coming of the Lord draweth nigh,\n    and the Judge standeth at the door. Why did he caution them\n    to be patient? Because he supposed they would be impatient\n    to have the Lord come. Is there any sign among our nominal\n    churches and sects, that they are impatient for Christ to\n    come? No, evidently it is the reverse; they desire him not to\n    come. Then if the Judge standeth at the door, are they not\n    James\u2019 brethren? No. Will you tell me who are James\u2019 brethren\n    in this age? They are those who are converted from Judaism and\n    scattered. Chap. 1:1-4. They ask wisdom of God, in faith, not\n    wavering. Verses 5 and 6. The poor among them are exalted, and\n    the rich are made low. Verses 9 and 10. They endure temptation\n    without wavering, and after their trial are blessed with a\n    crown of life. Verse 12. They are begotten of God with his work\n    of truth, and doers as well as hearers of the word. Verses\n    18-22. They have forsaken creeds, and look and continue in the\n    law of liberty. Verse 25. They visit the afflicted and have no\n    fellowship with the world. Verse 27.\n\n    \u201c\u2018They must not countenance nor support war, for that cometh\n    from lust. Chap. 4:1-3. They must not have respect to the rich,\n    and despise the poor; for that is judging unrighteously. Chap.\n    2:1-10. They must show their faith by their works, and have no\n    boasting where their works are not made manifest. Verses 14-26.\n    They must not strive to be masters or rulers of their brethren,\n    and have but few D. Ds. or A. Ms. among them. James 3:1-12.\n    They must have no envying or striving against the truth, and be\n    possessed of that wisdom which cometh down from above. Verses\n    13-18. They are to humble themselves and speak no evil of the\n    brethren. Chap. 4:10-17. They are to cry unto the Lord in their\n    afflictions and persecutions and make no resistance. Chap.\n    5:4-6. They will stablish their hearts in faith by patience,\n    and grieve not the brethren. Verses 7-9. They will take the\n    prophets for their example, and remember that the end of Job\u2019s\n    trials from the Lord was his patience. Verses 10 and 11. They\n    will not swear nor take any oath. Verse 12. If afflicted, they\n    will pray; if merry, sing; if they are sick, call for the\n    elders to pray, and if they sin, confess their faults; and if\n    others sin, restore if possible. Verses 13-20.\n\n    \u201c\u2018And now, my brother, if you can find such a band, they are\n    the apostle\u2019s brethren. Say to such, \u201cBe _patient_ therefore,\n    brethren, unto the coming of the Lord, be ye also _patient_;\n    stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.\u201d\n    Read this to all the _holy brethren_; for it is the best and\n    only advice I can give them; and tell them I request their\n    prayers, that I may follow the same advice; for their prayers\n    are better to me than the world\u2019s love, and much more to be\n    desired than a good name from those who hate my King. I ask no\n    favors of C\u00e6sar\u2019s household, but that I may enjoy in peace my\n    blessed hope. I have never courted the smiles of the proud, nor\n    quailed when the world frowned. I shall not now purchase their\n    favor; nor shall I go beyond duty to tempt their hate. I shall\n    never seek my life at their hands; nor shrink, I hope, from\n    losing it, if God in his good providence so orders. I thank\n    God for your steadfastness in the truth, and pray him that you\n    may endure unto the end. I remain as ever looking for, and\n    expecting the King in his glory soon.\n\n                                                        WM. MILLER.\u2019\n\nAgain Mr. Miller writes for the _Herald_, Dec. 3, 1844:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEAR BRN. HIMES AND BLISS.\u2014I cannot sit down to write\n    without the reflection that this letter may never reach its\n    destination. Yet I believe in occupying until Christ shall\n    come. Therefore, I still feel it to be my duty to occasionally\n    drop you a line, to let you know how my soul prospers, and\n    how my faith holds out. As it respects the soul, I have never\n    enjoyed more calmness of mind, nor more resignation to the holy\n    will of God, and patience of spirit, than I have within a few\n    weeks past. My soul, I think, is stayed on God and I enjoy\n    peace like a river. For years past I have often had a spirit of\n    impatience for Christ to come, and I have felt grieved in soul\n    because I found in my heart so much of what I called a spirit\n    of fretfulness and a mind full of impatience. But I bless God I\n    have had but little of that recently. I have had great reason\n    to thank God for his abundant goodness in this respect. My\n    _faith_ is stronger than ever; and this is somewhat remarkable,\n    when I reflect on the disappointment I have met in my former\n    expectations. But here, too, I see the good hand of God in my\n    strength of faith.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I have read with much interest and great satisfaction your\n    \u201cAddress to the Adventists.\u201d And I am perfectly satisfied it is\n    the right ground for you to take. I believe the ground we have\n    formerly stood upon, as it regards the chronology of prophecy,\n    is the only ground we can take; and if the defect is in human\n    chronology, then no human knowledge is sufficient in this age\n    to rectify it, with any degree of certainty; and I see no good\n    that can be accomplished by taking a stand for any future\n    period, with less evidence than we had for 1843-4. For those\n    who would not believe, with the evidence we then produced, we\n    cannot expect will now believe with much less testimony.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Again it is to me almost a demonstration that God\u2019s hand is\n    seen in this thing. Many thousands, to all human appearance,\n    have been made to study the Scriptures by the preaching of the\n    time; and by that means, through faith and the sprinkling of\n    the blood of Christ, have been reconciled to God. And those of\n    us who have been familiar with the fruits and effects of the\n    preaching of this doctrine, must acknowledge that he has been\n    with us in so doing, and his wisdom has in a great measure\n    marked out our path, which he has devised for such good as he\n    will accomplish in his own time and manner; as in the case of\n    Ninevah by the preaching of Jonah. If this should be the real\n    state of the case, and we should go on to set other times in\n    the future, we might possibly be found frustrating, or trying\n    to, at least, the purposes of God, and receive no blessing. I\n    think my brethren will all admit that God has been in the work,\n    and he has tried our faith in the best possible manner. The\n    vision has been made plain on tables. We have had a tarrying\n    time. And now we are having our time of patience unto the\n    coming of the Lord. Then I say, Let patience have its perfect\n    work. I have great hope, and a good confidence. I think I may\n    safely say that the Lord will make his appearance yet before\n    this Jewish year shall terminate. And if so, and we should be\n    looking for years to come, we should not do well. Therefore,\n    the only safe measure for me to pursue, under the best light\n    I can now get, is to keep what light I have burning, and look\n    and expect him every day until he comes. This is my present\n    position, and the greatest danger which those are in who take\n    this position, will be the loss of patience and a neglect of\n    watching and prayer. To remedy this, I would advise that we\n    keep ourselves as much as possible from worldly associations,\n    vain and trifling conversation, wrangling or disputing on any\n    subject; and when we do hold conversation, let it be with those\n    whose conversation is in Heaven, from whence we look for the\n    Saviour. And when we pray, remember God hears every word, and\n    knows every motive which dictates our prayers; and be sure that\n    we be honest before God.\n\n    \u201c\u2018If the experience which we have passed through, from the\n    beginning of the present year,\u2014the tarrying time from April\n    until October and the sanctifying influence of the seventh\n    month, with the humiliation and patience of those who are\n    evidently looking for the redemption of the true Israel,\u2014is\n    not the beginning and preparation of the final _cleansing of\n    the sanctuary_, then I will acknowledge I am deceived. The\n    great fault with us who have been expounding the time of the\n    fulfillment of prophecy, is, we have crowded all these things\n    into a very unwarrantable short space of time, we have given no\n    time for preparation, we were too impatient. Therefore, we are\n    exhorted to be patient, and James says, \u201cThe Judge standeth at\n    the door.\u201d I am fully convinced the work has already begun. Let\n    us then have patience, brethren, from this time until he comes;\n    for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.\n\n    \u201c\u2018We have erred in many things, and even the second advent\n    brethren were not prepared for the coming of Christ; they had,\n    many of them, left the work of the Lord, and had been doing\n    their own work. The work of the Lord, which he had commanded us\n    to do, was to make the vision plain, to write it on tables, to\n    give the alarm, the midnight cry, and wake up the virgins; and\n    while these things, and these things only were attended to, our\n    work prospered, and God was with us. And now, my dear brethren,\n    permit me to be plain: I hope all who are worth saving are\n    humble enough to bear my reproof, and I mean to give it with\n    the sincerest of motives, and with the kindest affection of my\n    heart.\n\n    \u201c\u2018The causes which required God\u2019s chastising hand upon\n    us, were, in my humble opinion, PRIDE, FANATICISM, and\n    SECTARIANISM. _Pride_ worked in many ways. We ascribed our\n    conquest in argument over our opponents to ourselves. We\n    were seeking the honors or applause of men more than of God.\n    We were some of us seeking to be leaders, instead of being\n    servants\u2014boasting too much of our doings. And _Fanaticism_:\n    I know our enemies accused of this before we were guilty;\n    but this did not excuse us for running into it. A thousand\n    expressions were used, without thought or reflection, and I\n    thought sometimes very irreverently, such as, \u201cBless God,\u201d &c.\n    I was afraid it was done in very many cases to the appearance\n    of outward piety, rather than as the hidden manna of the\n    heart. Sometimes our meetings were distinguished by noise and\n    confusion, and, forgive me, brethren, if I express myself too\n    strongly, it appeared to me more like Babel than a solemn\n    assembly of penitents bowing in humble reverence before a holy\n    God. I have often obtained more evidence of inward piety from a\n    _kindling eye_, a _wet cheek_, and a _choked utterance_, than\n    from all the _noise_ in Christendom. _Sectarianism_: this is\n    always produced by some private opinion of man, rather than by\n    the plain declaration of God\u2019s word. For years after I began\n    to proclaim this blessed truth of Christ at the door, I never,\n    if possible to avoid it, even alluded to sectarian principles;\n    and the first objection my Baptist brethren brought against me,\n    was, I mixed with, and preached unto, all denominations, even\n    to Unitarians, &c. But we have recently, my brethren, been\n    guilty of raising up a sect of our own; for, the very things\n    which our fathers did, when they became sects, we have been\n    doing. We have, like them, cried Babylon! Babylon!! Babylon!!!\n    against _all but Adventists_. We have proclaimed and discussed,\n    \u201cpro et con,\u201d many sectarian dogmas which have nothing to do\n    with our message. May God forgive us. And now, brethren, we\n    have need of patience, that after we have done the will of God,\n    we may receive the promise. Yours as ever,\n\n                                                      \u201c\u2018WM. MILLER.\u2019\n\nOn the 28th and 29th of December, 1844, a Conference was held at Low\nHampton, where the following address, prepared by Bro. Miller at the\nrequest of the brethren, was presented by a committee, and unanimously\nadopted by the Conference:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018ADDRESS TO ADVENT BELIEVERS.\n\n    \u201c_To the dear Second Advent brethren, scattered abroad_:\n    despised, but not forsaken; poor, yet making many rich;\n    discarded by the proud Pharisees of our day, yet not\n    discouraged; cruelly treated for the doctrine you love, and yet\n    holding firmly to your hope of salvation at the door.\n\n    \u201c\u2018We the undersigned, partakers of the same hope, children of\n    the same faith, looking for the same deliverance, loving the\n    same Lord, feeding on the same word, enjoying the same Spirit,\n    suffering the same trials, subjected to like disappointments,\n    and having the same care and fellowship for your welfare and\n    furtherance in the truth, as ye have one for another and for\n    us, address you by this our epistle, in the way of consolation\n    and advice; knowing that while we may comfort and console your\n    hearts, we are establishing and strengthening our own. For if\n    through many disappointments, temptations and trials, you stand\n    fast in the faith once delivered to the saints, we rejoice in\n    your steadfastness, are comforted together with you, and are\n    strengthened even in the inner and the outer man.\n\n    \u201c\u2018We thank God always on your behalf, when we hear, as we\n    already have heard, that your and our late disappointment has\n    produced in you, and we hope in us also, a deep humiliation and\n    close inspection of our hearts; and although we are humbled,\n    and in some measure pained in our hearts to see and hear the\n    scoffs and jeers of a wicked and perverse generation, yet we\n    are in nowise terrified or cast down by the adversaries of our\n    faith. We pray you, then, brethren, to \u201clet patience have its\n    perfect work,\u201d knowing \u201cthat patience worketh experience, and\n    experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed.\u201d No, we are not\n    ashamed, for we all know why we hope. You can and will, all\n    of you, from the least of you to the greatest, old or young,\n    when inquired of for the reason of your hope, open your Bibles\n    and with meekness and fear show the inquirer why you hope in\n    the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus\n    Christ. You need not in a single instance refer the inquirer to\n    your minister to give the reason of your faith and hope.\n\n    \u201c\u2018We bless God for you, my brethren, that you are all taught\n    of the Lord. Your creed is the Scriptures; your spelling-book\n    is the Bible; your grammar is the word indited by the Spirit;\n    your geography respects the promised inheritance of the holy\n    land; your astronomy respects the bright starry crown of\n    righteousness; your philosophy is the wisdom which cometh down\n    from God; your bond of union is the love and fellowship of the\n    saints; your teacher is the Holy Ghost; and your professor, the\n    Lord Jesus Christ; your recitation room is your closet; your\n    recitations are heard in your prayers, and your songs fill up\n    your vacations. We speak not of rewards, diplomas, and degrees,\n    for these are reserved in Heaven for us, when these dusty walls\n    of this tabernacle shall be dissolved, and we are called home\n    into the new heavens and new earth, to a full fruition of that\n    hope of which we are not ashamed. Ashamed of this hope? No.\n    Ashamed of looking for this hope? No. Ashamed of expecting\n    Jesus? Why, what a question!! When we look, do we not expect?\n    The ministers of our formal churches, some of them, say \u201cthey\n    look, but do not expect.\u201d Yet, brethren, we have expected time\n    and again and have been disappointed, but are not ashamed.\n\n    \u201c\u2018We would not yield a hair\u2019s breadth of our expectations for\n    all the honors of C\u00e6sar\u2019s household, with all the popular\n    applause of a worldly church. We exhort you, then, by all the\n    love and fellowship of the saints, to hold fast to this hope.\n    It is warranted by every promise of the word of God. It is\n    secured to you by the two immutable things, the _council_ and\n    _oath_ of God, in which it is impossible for God to lie. It\n    is ratified and sealed by the death, blood, resurrection and\n    life of Jesus Christ. You have already had a foretaste of the\n    bliss of this hope, in the seventh month, when every moment you\n    looked for the heavens to open and reveal unto your anxious\n    gaze the King of glory. Yes, then your whole soul was ravished\n    with a holy joy, when you expected every moment to hear the\n    shout of the heavenly host descending from the Father\u2019s glory,\n    to welcome you, a weary pilgrim, to your blessed abode of\n    eternal rest. In that eventful period where was the world with\n    all its vain allurements and empty show? It was gone.\n\n    \u201c\u2018If our Saviour then had come as we expected, no tears would\n    have fallen for a receding world, nor sighs have heaved\n    our breasts for a dissolving earth, with all its pomp, its\n    pleasures, or its praises. All this was then no more to us\n    than is a bubble in Niagara\u2019s cataract. God\u2019s goodness gave us\n    then a slight repast, like Elijah\u2019s meat, that lasted forty\n    days. And how can you, or we, give up a hope so full of joy,\n    of holy love and heavenly anticipation, as is this? The world\n    may frown and scoff; the unbelieving church may laugh and\n    sneer and try to call us back. They may and will report their\n    slanderous tales to complete our trials, vainly supposing they\n    can wound our pride, and by this means take away our hope, and\n    make us, like themselves, a whited sepulcher. In all our trials\n    those who have obtained this blessed hope by the study of the\n    Scriptures have remained steadfast and immovable among the\n    scoffs and jeers with which we have been assailed.\n\n    \u201c\u2018This, to us, is a source of great joy; and it shows\n    conclusively where our faith is founded and our hope\n    predicated. It is upon the sure word of prophecy, and no other\n    evidence, that we rely. This is our main support, as even\n    our opposers will, and do, admit; or why do they, in their\n    attacks upon us, first try to show that prophecy is not to be\n    understood, or if it is, that it is couched in such mystical\n    and ambiguous language, that the ignorant and unlearned (as\n    they are pleased to call us poor Bible students, in their\n    mighty elemency) cannot comprehend its true import? Or why do\n    they ridicule us as a set of fanatical, unlearned heretics,\n    in trying to understand the sure word of prophecy, without\n    first coming to our bishops, or themselves, to learn what the\n    original text may mean? Why do they use these and similar\n    arguments in order to overthrow us if they are not sensible of\n    the fact that the prophecies of God\u2019s word are our main pillar?\n    Why do they, without any discrimination, try to make our sure\n    word of prophecy so dark, mysterious, and incomprehensible, and\n    in many instances acknowledge their own ignorance, and then\n    call us heretics because we search and believe what to us looks\n    clear, consistent, and harmonious with every part of God\u2019s holy\n    word? But, say they, \u201ctime has proved you in an error; unerring\n    time has favored us, and proved what you say we failed to do.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018True, gentleman, time has failed us in one or two instances,\n    yet you cannot show why? And as you do not show any reason for\n    the failure, permit us to give ours before we take your ground\n    and deny that prophecy can be understood. Every man of common\n    intellect and information knows that we are dependent in some\n    things on what we call human chronology for the conclusion\n    of our premises as it respects _time_. Again, they well know\n    that our most learned and studious writers and historians\n    disagree in the chronology of the events from which we date,\n    some four or five years. It is true that we who have been most\n    efficient in presenting this subject before the public, have\n    chosen, and we think wisely too, the earliest possible time at\n    which these momentous things might be expected to transpire,\n    believing that it would be infinitely better for the souls of\n    our fellow-beings to come short of the time, rather than to\n    pass over. And indeed, we do not see any good reason now why we\n    should not have done in this matter as we have; for if we had\n    looked only to the very last point of disputed time, and the\n    accomplishment had come before that, or even at that time, how\n    could there have been a tarrying time as the Bible predicts?\n\n    \u201c\u2018How could there have been a time for the trial of our faith\n    and patience, and the purifying and sanctifying of the whole\n    house of the true Israel? If we had not anticipated the time\n    a little, with what propriety could the wicked scoffer and\n    those who professedly belong to the house of Israel say, \u201cThe\n    days are prolonged, and every vision faileth\u201d? and what has\n    God said we shall answer this rebellious house of Israel with?\n    With another specified time? No. How then shall we ever silence\n    their caviling and scoffing, if we can fix no future time? We\n    answer, That is not our work to do. God has promised to do that\n    work. Hark! and hear what the Lord saith. \u201cI will make this\n    proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in\n    Israel.\u201d God will perform his engagements in his own time and\n    manner. We have only to believe and be patient.\n\n    \u201c\u2018But we are taunted with, \u201cOh! you have prolonged your\n    _vision_ again and again; and you have failed every time; now\n    won\u2019t you give it up and come back to us? You are not honest\n    if you will not.\u201d When they thus call us dishonest, have we\n    nothing we can say? If we altogether hold our peace, they will\n    be wise in their own conceits, and go and report that they\n    have shut up our mouths so that we could not say a word for\n    ourselves; and thus the cause would be injured. But never fear,\n    brethren; God has told you what to say; do as he bids you, and\n    he will take care of the consequences. God says, \u201cBut say unto\n    them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.\u201d\n    See Eze. 12:21-25. So we see God has been in this thing; he\n    well knew into what a straightened place we should be brought;\n    he knew what the rebellious house of Israel would say, and he\n    has given us the best weapon of defense.\n\n    \u201c\u2018The word of God has a sufficiency of all armor, that the\n    man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to every good\n    work. We therefore hope that none of us will try to change the\n    chronology of the visions; for they must all fail in all our\n    eyes; and if any vision should be so construed as to fix on\n    another definite time in the future, we cannot conceive how the\n    Scripture would be fulfilled, that \u201cevery vision faileth.\u201d Let\n    us then be satisfied in patiently waiting for God\u2019s time. But\n    let us be careful that we do not lay off our armor, cease our\n    watching, go to sleep at our post, or be caught in a snare,\n    when the Son of man shall come. It is better to be ready before\n    the time, and wait a while, than not to be ready when the time\n    shall come, and be lost. We exhort you then with the Lord\u2019s\n    advice, \u201cbe like men waiting for their Lord, that when he\n    cometh they may open to him immediately.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018Again, we exhort you, brethren, that every one may edify, and\n    be edified, that ye forsake not the assembling of yourselves\n    together, as often as your situation and circumstances shall\n    permit; that we may comfort and console each other in our\n    trials, be established ourselves in the present truth, and our\n    minds be stirred up to remember that our Judge is now standing\n    at the door. How can we who have taken so great delight in\n    the study of the blessed Bible, again return to the beggarly\n    elements of vain philosophy and tradition of the fathers? We\n    cannot sit under preaching where the Bible is discarded from\n    the pulpit, except as a text-book, and the plainest passages\n    of Scripture are mysticised and explained away, our hope in\n    the resurrection of the body taken from us, and the kingdom of\n    Heaven preached as in this state of division, persecution and\n    death, and the promise of being caught up in the air, ridiculed\n    by the oft-repeated slang of ascension robes. These things we\n    cannot fellowship; we will not hear them repeated. We therefore\n    advise you, dear brethren, to hold meetings for prayer, reading\n    of the Scriptures, exhortation and singing, if you may not be\n    able to obtain a lecturer or preacher. And may the Spirit of\n    God bless you with his presence, and preserve you blameless\n    unto his coming.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Again we exhort you, brethren, to be faithful in business.\n    Let every one labor with his hands, in the several callings in\n    which God has placed us, that none of us may be a burden to\n    any, and that we may all of us have wherewith to communicate\n    and do good, for it is more blessed to give than to receive;\n    and that we may none of us give any occasion to our enemies to\n    reproach us with being busybodies in other men\u2019s matters, or as\n    not providing for our own house. In thus doing we may put to\n    silence the reproaches of those who are seeking every occasion\n    to destroy the doctrine that we rejoice to believe. We may,\n    while we are engaged in our several occupations, be fervent\n    in spirit, serving the Lord. If we could not, it would be\n    evidence that we were not engaged in a proper calling; or, that\n    our hearts were not right with God. Paul, the great apostle\n    to the Gentiles, labored with his hands, that he might not be\n    chargeable to the saints; and what was duty then, will be duty\n    as long as the gospel remains to be preached. And we thank God\n    we have never preached any other doctrine, you yourselves being\n    our judges.\n\n    \u201c\u2018We also beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord\n    Jesus Christ, that ye be not led about by every spirit; but\n    try the spirits. For every spirit is not of God; and it is now\n    evident that there are many spirits in the earth,\u2014even the\n    three unclean spirits which are working miracles, and deceiving\n    not only kings, but the whole earth. It therefore becomes us to\n    be very cautious by what spirit we are led. The spirit of error\n    will lead us from the truth; and the Spirit of God will lead\n    us into truth. But, say you, a man may be in error, and think\n    he has the truth. What then? We answer, The spirit and word\n    agree. If a man judges himself by the word of God, and finds a\n    perfect harmony through the whole word, then we must believe we\n    have the truth; but if he finds the spirit by which he is led\n    does not harmonize with the whole tenor of God\u2019s law, or book,\n    then let us walk carefully, lest we be caught in the snare\n    of the devil and fall from our own steadfastness; and so be\n    deceived, and lose the crown for which we are running. Let us\n    follow the teachings of the apostle Paul in Titus 2:12, \u201cThat\n    denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,\n    righteously, and godly, in this present world.\u201d Or, as Peter\n    tells us in his second epistle, chap. 3:11, \u201cSeeing then that\n    all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons\n    ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.\u201d In both\n    cases the context teaches us to look for the coming of the day\n    of God; or, which is the same thing, \u201cthe glorious appearing of\n    the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018There are a few individuals among us who are teaching that\n    Christ has come, and that we were not mistaken in the time,\n    but only in the manner of his coming. Let us be careful lest\n    we cease from our watchfulness and so that day come upon us\n    unawares. Remember that the same Jesus will come in like manner\n    as they saw him ascend; and every eye shall see him, and we\n    shall see him as he is, and be like him, when that day shall\n    come for which we look; and then \u201cthe heavens being on fire,\n    shall be dissolved, and the elements melt with fervent heat.\u201d\n    If the one can be spiritualized away, all the rest must of\n    course be spiritualized in like manner; and it would make the\n    whole description of the Judgment but a jumble of nonsense. We\n    hope but few will be carried away by such vain trifling with\n    the Bible.\n\n    \u201c\u2018If God does not mean what he says, to whom shall we go for\n    instruction? Who has been his counselor? and who has set in\n    the council chamber of the Almighty? Man is but grass, and the\n    flower thereof fadeth. He is but of yesterday, and his life but\n    a breath. \u201cCursed is the man who trusteth in man, and maketh\n    flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.\u201d Hold\n    on then, brethren, to the sure word of prophecy, for you will\n    reap soon the fruits of your faith, if you faint not.\u2019\n\n\u201cJanuary 29, 1845, by the action of an ecclesiastical council, Mr. Miller\nand the majority of the church in Low Hampton were virtually separated\nfrom the Baptist denomination. About this time Mr. Miller wrote the\nfollowing, which appeared in the _Advent Herald_ for Feb. 12, 1845:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEAR BRO. BLISS: I have received a number of letters\n    from almost every part of the country, almost all of them\n    propounding the same questions, viz., What I thought of the\n    experience we had in what was denominated the seventh month?\n    And also, What was my opinion concerning the closing of the\n    door of mercy, or probation for sinners? To save a multiplicity\n    of letters, I thought best to answer these queries through the\n    _Herald_, if you should think proper.\n\n    \u201c\u20181. The experience of the seventh month. The sympathetic and\n    simultaneous movement on the minds of almost all the Second\n    Advent brethren, and on many others preceding the tenth, the\n    rapidity with which that sentiment was received, the general\n    credence that was given to it, by nearly all of those who\n    were looking for immediate redemption, the humbling effect it\n    produced on the hearts and conduct of those who believed,\u2014in\n    the abandonment of all worldly objects, the sacrifice of\n    earthly goods, and in many cases the total dedication of soul\n    and body to God,\u2014the deep and anxious feelings of heart which\n    many of us felt, all marked its character. Then we expected\n    every moment the heavens would open and reveal to us the dear\n    Saviour with all his shining hosts, and we should see the\n    graves open and the loved forms of our relations rising from\n    their dusty beds in immortal bloom and eternal life; and we\n    ourselves pass the sudden change from mortality to immortality,\n    from time to eternity. Then, as we verily thought, we had bid\n    adieu to this world of sin, of misery and woe, and expected\n    to be ushered into the new heavens and new earth wherein\n    dwelleth righteousness. Oh, blissful day! How solemn, yet\n    how interesting. I hope to see another day like this, and\n    literally realize what I then expected. It was a day long to be\n    remembered, and I cannot account for it on any other principle\n    than to suppose God\u2019s benevolent hand and wisdom was in the\n    movement....\n\n    \u201c\u2018But you ask why I do not show whether the probation of\n    sinners is ended.[28] I answer, It is a close point, and if\n    handled at all, it ought to be done very wisely and with\n    a great deal of humility. I would not grieve, if possible\n    to avoid it, one of Christ\u2019s little ones. There is much\n    sensitiveness on this point among our good brethren, therefore\n    I would much rather keep my views in my own breast, if I could,\n    and do right, than run the risk of hurting the oil and the\n    wine. You will, therefore, permit me to give my views by the\n    Scripture; and first, Dan. 12:10, \u201cMany shall be purified,\n    and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly;\n    and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall\n    understand.\u201d It will be readily seen by this text, that before\n    the end, the people of God must be \u201c_purified, made white, and\n    tried_.\u201d Now if probation goes on until the last moment of\n    time, how can those who are regenerated in this last moment\n    have their faith and patience tried?\n\n    \u201c\u2018Again, Rev. 7:13, 14, \u201cAnd one of the elders answered,\n    saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white\n    robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou\n    knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of\n    great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them\n    white in the blood of the Lamb.\u201d How can it be said, that those\n    made _white_ \u201ccame out of great tribulation,\u201d if in the next\n    moment after they experience the new birth, they are beyond all\n    tribulation and trial? Also in the first passage, the wicked\n    are to do wickedly; and _none_ of the wicked shall understand.\n    Yet if _one_ of these wicked is converted after the time\n    specified, then the word _none_ could not be true in fact. This\n    must be in time, it cannot mean in eternity.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Zech. 13:9, \u201cAnd I will bring the third part through the\n    fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try\n    them as gold is tried; they shall call on my name, and I will\n    hear them; I will say, It is my people; and they shall say,\n    The Lord is my God.\u201d Here we learn that they are tried in this\n    state, where they will need to pray.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Mal. 3:18, \u201cThen shall ye return, and discern between the\n    righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him\n    that serveth him not.\u201d When shall that test be given, which\n    shall make us discern between the _righteous_ and the _wicked_?\n    The answer is plain, before the day cometh that shall burn as\n    an oven. For in that day no doubt could rest on any mind, who\n    is who, or what is the character each individual would appear\n    in.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Rev. 22:11, \u201cHe that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and\n    he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is\n    righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy,\n    let him be holy still.\u201d This text is perfectly plain and needs\n    no comment. The 12th verse, \u201cAnd behold, I come quickly; and\n    my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work\n    shall be,\u201d shows that a little while before Christ comes,\n    every character will be determined. \u201cHe,\u201d that is, any _one_,\n    or every _one_ who is _unjust_ or _filthy_, let him be so\n    still; and so on the other hand, he that is righteous or holy,\n    let them be so still. \u201c_And behold_,\u201d connects the sentence\n    before and what follows after, and is a caution for us to take\n    particular notice of the reason why they are in this peculiar\n    situation or fixed state, as though the idle servants could\n    have no more time to mind their day\u2019s work, which God had given\n    them in their day of probation to perform.\n\n    \u201c\u2018The eleventh hour was passed, and no chance for them to enter\n    the master\u2019s vineyard now, in this last hour. While on the\n    other hand, the good servant might know that the good master\n    was at the door, and he would quickly pay them their wages, and\n    relieve them from their toils. See Matt. 20:1-16.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Then this agrees with St. Paul, Heb. 10:36, 37, \u201cFor ye have\n    need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God,\n    ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he\n    that shall come will come, and will not tarry.\u201d After we have\n    done our work, we have need of patience to wait for the Master,\n    \u201cfor yet a little while, and he that shall come will come,\n    and will not tarry.\u201d I did believe, and must honestly confess\n    I do now, that I have done my work in warning sinners, and\n    that in the seventh month. I know my feelings are no rule for\n    others; therefore, let every one who feels he has a duty to do\n    for sinners, let him do it. I will have no hard feelings. But\n    I must be honest; when I am inquired of, I must state my own\n    conviction honestly. I have done it, and given my reasons from\n    the word of God. And now let me say, brethren, we will have no\n    contention on this point, for we be brethren. Let every man\n    be fully persuaded in his own mind, and so let them speak or\n    preach, as God and their own consciences may dictate.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I have a strong expectation that Christ will come before the\n    Jewish year will expire; but let us all see to it that we are\n    ready every day, so that when he comes we shall not be ashamed\n    before him. This letter must suffice for all those friends who\n    have requested my views on the subject. My love to all who love\n    our Lord Jesus Christ and pray for his kingdom.\n\n                                                      \u201c\u2018WM. MILLER.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe editors of the _Advent Herald_ replied to Mr. Miller\u2019s arguments,\nand contended that probation only terminated with the personal coming\nof Christ. His letter, as published, gave little satisfaction to either\nparty. Both claimed him. To determine his actual position, Prof. N. N.\nWhiting wrote him, and Mr. Miller replied as follows:\u2014\n\n                                      \u201c\u2018LOW HAMPTON, MARCH 10, 1845.\n\n    \u201c\u2018MY DEAR BROTHER:\u2014Your favor of the 5th was gladly received,\n    and I take this early opportunity to answer your inquiries as\n    far as my memory or knowledge will admit.\n\n    \u201c\u2018As it respects your first question, whether, in my judgment,\n    \u201cthe time of probation came to an end on the 22d of October or\n    not,\u201d I answer, My mind was not definite on that day. But the\n    experience and scenes of that month were astounding to me, and\n    my mind was brought to a conclusion that God, by his invisible\n    angels, was separating the two classes of men, the chaff from\n    the wheat. But to say my judgment was fully convinced that it\n    was closed, I must say, No. I know it is true that, in answer\n    to a score of letters, making the same inquiries as yourself,\n    in my letter, published in the _Herald_, of February 12, I\n    gave several texts, which, to me, were evidence that, before\n    Christ came, there would be a time when men would seek, knock,\n    and cry, and it would not be opened; for, how sinners could or\n    would knock in the eternal state, I have no means of knowing.\n    The editors of the _Herald_, knowing more about the controversy\n    which had begun in the ranks of the Adventists than I did or\n    could, in order to prevent the mischief or harm which they\n    supposed my letter might do, attached their notes, which gave\n    the brethren on the other side of the question more reason to\n    suppose I had taken the ground that the door was shut in the\n    seventh month....\n\n    \u201c\u2018With our present light, it would be impossible for any man\n    to prove that the door is shut; it can only be a conjecture,\n    founded upon circumstances in the case. There are two cases\n    which I will mention: one would be the cessation of the\n    operation of the Spirit upon the hearts of the truly pious in\n    laboring and praying for sinners; and the other must be the\n    fearful looking for the fiery indignation, which, I think,\n    according to the Scripture, must seize upon the hearts of\n    those who have willfully rejected Christ. The hypocrite is\n    given over to believe a lie, considering himself safe in his\n    profession; and, consequently, the despair of some, and the\n    perfect recklessness of others, and the restraint of the Holy\n    Spirit being withdrawn from the minds of the impenitent, would\n    immediately produce a time of trouble such as Daniel 12:1\n    speaks of: \u201cAnd at that time shall Michael stand up, the great\n    Prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there\n    shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was\n    a nation even to that same time; and at that time thy people\n    shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in\n    the book.\u201d These would at least be evidences to my suspicion,\n    if not to my full assurance. It was a fact, for a few days\n    in the seventh month in the circle of my acquaintance, that\n    the reports I heard from every quarter led me to have strong\n    suspicion that we had approached the time which I cannot but\n    believe we must experience before the end. I think at present\n    the evidence is strong against the idea of the door being\n    shut; but those brethren who have adopted the suspicion at\n    least ought to be treated with a great deal of kindness. I do\n    not like much I have seen published and spoken on both sides\n    of the question. It is one of that kind of questions which is\n    calculated to divide warm friends; for it cannot be settled\n    satisfactorily but by time and experience.\n\n    \u201c\u2018The arguments, in my humble opinion, on both sides, want a\n    great quantity of brotherly love to make them digest easily.\n    I, then, beg and pray, my brethren, that we may let contention\n    alone before it is meddled with.[29] And I now plead with those\n    who have supposed the door to be shut to yield the point to our\n    brethren of the opposite view; for it is evident at present\n    that all the evidence is against its being now shut, if we can\n    believe the reports of our brethren from different parts; and\n    surely my soul will not permit me to doubt their veracity who\n    have been with us as pioneers in the work of calling up the\n    world to this important point of our faith, the second advent\n    of Jesus. Let us be silent at least for two months, if Christ\n    does not come before, and by that time I think we shall obtain\n    more light; and if Christ does come, we shall not wish to be\n    found contending with brethren of a like precious faith on a\n    subject dependent wholly on circumstances in which we may be\n    so likely to err. I do hope my advice will be heeded in this\n    thing, and that we will be patient, and not grieve each other;\n    for the Judge is at the door....\n\n                                                  \u201c\u2018WILLIAM MILLER.\u2019\n\nWriting on the 7th of April, he referred to these things as follows:\u2014\n\n                                       \u201c\u2018LOW HAMPTON, APRIL 7, 1845.\n\n    \u201c\u2018MY DEAR BRO. HIMES: I should utterly despair of the second\n    advent cause were it not evident, by its past and present\n    history, that God is for us. You know, my dear brother,\n    there was a time when you and I, with a few choice brethren,\n    stood alone.... We acknowledged our weakness, and claimed no\n    superiority over our fellows. We provoked no one to combat, and\n    made no attack on the prevailing or popular institutions of the\n    day; yet they began to be alarmed. Why? Because, as the people\n    began to hear the foolish reports of our enemies, they became\n    more and more anxious to know what these things meant....\n\n    \u201c\u2018Among the many pious who took sides with us were some of\n    those uneasy, ever-changing, unstable, insubordinate, and\n    self-exalted spirits, who stood ready to jump on and ride\n    into notice and power the moment they saw how the case would\n    go. This kind of spirits have always seized the reins of\n    government, are never satisfied with their present position,\n    and will change with every new moon. There are many of this\n    class among us, if not of us, at the present time, who are\n    trying to lead away followers after them.\n\n    \u201c\u2018This is a peculiar time. The greatest variety of fanciful\n    interpretations of Scripture are now being presented by new\n    luminaries, reflecting their rays of light and heat in every\n    direction. Some of these are wandering stars, and some emit\n    only twilight. I am sick of this everlasting changing; but, my\n    dear brother, we must learn to have patience. If Christ comes\n    this spring, we shall not need it long; and if he comes not, we\n    shall need much more. I am prepared for the worst, and hope for\n    the best. God will not forsake us, unless we forsake him....\n\n    \u201c\u2018It is a small thing to be judged of man\u2019s judgment, says\n    the apostle; so that you need not fear man. I have often been\n    consigned to perdition, and yet I have a blessed hope. I often\n    think, when I hear a brother judging and condemning another,\n    what an excellent pope he would make. Therefore, fear them\n    not; for if we judge and condemn our brother, we are making\n    ourselves \u201cjudges of the law, rather than doers of the law.\u201d ...\n\n                                                      \u201c\u2018WM. MILLER.\u2019\n\nWe find in the _Signs of the Times_ for March 12, 1845, a statement\nfrom Mr. Miller relative to himself and the Bible, taken from _The\nInvestigator_, an infidel paper published in Boston.\n\n    \u201c\u2018TO THE EDITOR OF THE INVESTIGATOR.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Sir,\u2014Your kind offer to publish all the letters from those\n    who have been converted from infidelity to Millerism, prompts\n    me to give you a short account of my own conversion, which may\n    enable you the better to judge what Millerism is.\n\n    \u201c\u2018When I was of age, I settled in a village where all the\n    heads of the families were deists, as they were then called,\n    and they put into my hands all the deistical writings of that\n    age. I soon became one of them, and the consequence was, I\n    denied the Bible being of divine origin, calling it a \u201cbook of\n    priestcraft,\u201d and argued that the professors of it themselves\n    must, if honest, concede that it could not be from God; because\n    it professed to be a revelation from God, and yet more than\n    half was a mystery which could not be understood. And some\n    went as far as to say we ought not to try to understand it.\n    This, to my mind, was a plain and palpable contradiction. I\n    therefore rejected the Bible, when I ought to have rejected\n    the expounders of it. Thus, from 1804 to 1816, I was a firm,\n    and, as I then thought, a consistent, opposer of the Christian\n    faith. In 1816, by the grace of God, my eyes were opened to see\n    the weakness and folly of my own faith, founded on nothing but\n    the philosophy, assumptions and fancies of erring mortals. I\n    saw a great want of evidence for a faith in these matters, more\n    substantial and certain than anything I then had. I felt in my\n    inmost soul that eternal consequences might hang upon my faith\n    in these things, for anything to the contrary which I could\n    show. I had often laughed at my Christian friends for having\n    a \u201c_blind faith_,\u201d believing what they could not understand.\n    I now saw that my faith was as _blind_ as theirs, if not more\n    so, for I could prove nothing hereafter, and of course I had no\n    reasonable hope.\n\n    \u201c\u2018This brought me to examine for myself the evidence of the\n    Christian\u2019s hope. I therefore laid by my former prejudices,\n    prepossessions, commentators, writers, pro and con, and\n    determined in my own mind to examine the Bible for myself. And\n    if the Bible did prove itself to be of divine origin, I would\n    believe it, let the consequences be as they might; but if it\n    did not, then I would reject it and be a deist still. Then I\n    began the Bible, determined in my own mind to know whether God\n    or man was the author. I spent the greater part of two years\n    in reading and comparing scripture with scripture, prophecy\n    with history, and I had not gone half through with the reading\n    of it, before I was perfectly satisfied of its divine origin.\n    No mortal man, or men, could have written with such harmony,\n    wisdom, and truth, without inspiration. The Bible answered all\n    my inquiries, settled all my doubts, established my faith, and\n    gave me hope which has been nearly or quite twenty-seven years\n    an anchor to my soul. I have seen much of it fulfilled, since\n    then, and I can truly say, If there is any one thing on earth\n    which I love above all others, it is the Bible.\n\n    \u201c\u2018And now, sir, let me tell you, _Millerism_ is to believe,\n    try to understand, love, and proclaim to others, the good news\n    contained in the Bible. This is all I have ever done to call\n    down the slander of the several sects which I have received. I\n    can say, honestly, I have never designed to proclaim or publish\n    any sentiment, word, or doctrine, but such as I found clearly\n    taught in that blessed inspired volume. Let God be my judge, I\n    know I believe it. And I pray God that you, my dear sir, may\n    become a Millerite too.\n\n    \u201c\u2018For I believe there is no religion in our world that gives\n    such a _blessed hope_ as the religion of the Bible. All others\n    are dark and incomprehensible concerning a future state.\n    \u201cTo be, or not to be,\u201d was a question which the ancient\n    philosophers of Greece and Rome could never settle among\n    themselves. Nor all the wisdom of our modern writers were able\n    to settle this important point for our hope. But you will\n    acknowledge, if the Bible is the word of inspiration, then that\n    point is forever settled, and we have an answer to the question\n    of immortality and eternal life.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I admire your frankness and generosity as an opponent, and\n    believe you are not wishing to bind men to your particular\n    views or creed; but are willing to search yourself, and to let\n    all others search for true light, on so important a subject as\n    I think this matter is,\u2014the truth or falsity of what I call the\n    blessed Bible. I have strong hope, my dear sir, that you will\n    give this subject a thorough investigation. As it respects the\n    statement of Bro. Himes, if you will keep open your columns as\n    fairly as you hitherto have done, you will soon be convinced\n    it was not a very random shot. I am, sir, a lover of an honest\n    man. Yours, &c.,\n\n                                                      \u201c\u2018WM. MILLER.\u2019\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVII.\n\n    MUTUAL CONFERENCE AT ALBANY\u2014DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES\u2014PLAN OF\n    OPERATIONS\u2014ADDRESS TO THE BRETHREN\u2014ACTION OF THE CONFERENCE\n    DEFENDED BY MR. MILLER, ETC.\n\n\n\u201cOn the 23d of April, Mr. Miller, in company with Mr. Himes, visited\nAlbany, and commenced a course of lectures on the prophecies. Mr. M.\nspoke with his usual clearness and ability, was in good spirits, and was\nlistened to by a large and respectful audience.\n\n\u201cOn the 29th, the Conference assembled at 9 A. M., at the \u2018House of\nPrayer,\u2019 in Grand street. After singing, and a prayer by Mr. Miller, it\nwas temporarily organized by the choice of Mr. Miller, Chairman, and Mr.\nHimes, Secretary, who stated the objects for which the Conference had\nbeen called, namely, \u2018to consult together respecting the condition and\nwants of brethren in the several sections of the country; that we may\nbe better enabled to act in concert, and with more efficiency, in the\npromulgation of gospel truths.\u2019\n\n\u201cAfter the names and residences of members were ascertained, the\nConference was fully organized by the choice of Rev. Elon Galusha, of\nLockport, N. Y., President, and S. Bliss and O. R. Fassett, Secretaries.\n\n\u201cA committee of twelve, consisting of William Miller, Josiah Litch, N. N.\nWhiting, J. V. Himes, Sylvester Bliss, L. D. Fleming, Erastus Parker, H.\nCaswell, I. R. Gates, I. H. Shipman, Prosper Powell, and Elon Galusha,\nwere appointed to arrange business for the action of the Conference.\nWhile they were thus engaged, the others were profitably occupied in\nlistening to statements of the condition of things in different sections\nof the country. The committee reported, in part, on the second day, and\nin full on the third and last day of the session as follows:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO THE CONFERENCE.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Your committee, appointed for the purpose of taking into\n    consideration the great principles upon which we can unite and\n    act in advancing the cause of truth, for the edification of the\n    body of Christ, the salvation of souls, and the preparation of\n    man for the near advent of the Saviour, submit the following\n    report:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018In view of the many conflicting opinions, unscriptural views,\n    leading to unseemly practices, and the sad divisions which have\n    been thereby caused by some professing to be Adventists, we\n    deem it incumbent on us to declare to the world our belief that\n    the Scriptures teach, among others, the following\n\n    \u201c\u2018IMPORTANT TRUTHS.\n\n    \u201c\u20181. That the heavens and earth which are now, by the word of\n    God, are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of\n    Judgment and perdition of ungodly men. That the day of the Lord\n    will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens\n    shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall\n    melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are\n    therein, shall be burned up. That the Lord will create new\n    heavens and a new earth, wherein righteousness\u2014that is, the\n    righteous\u2014will forever dwell.[30] And that the kingdom and the\n    dominion under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of\n    the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting\n    kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.[31]\n\n    \u201c\u20182. That there are but two advents or appearings of the\n    Saviour to this earth.[32] That both are personal and\n    visible.[33] That the first took place in the days of\n    Herod,[34] when he was conceived of the Holy Ghost,[35] born\n    of the Virgin Mary,[36] went about doing good,[37] suffered\n    on the cross, the just for the unjust,[38] died,[39] was\n    buried,[40] arose again the third day, the first-fruits of them\n    that slept,[41] and ascended into the heavens,[42] which must\n    receive him until the times of the restitution of all things,\n    spoken of by the mouth of all the holy prophets.[43] That\n    the second coming or appearing will take place when he shall\n    descend from Heaven, at the sounding of the last trump, to give\n    his people rest,[44] being revealed from heaven in flaming\n    fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not\n    the gospel.[45] And that he will judge the quick and the dead\n    at his appearing and kingdom.[46]\n\n    \u201c\u20183. That the second coming or appearing is indicated to be now\n    emphatically nigh, even at the doors,[47] by the chronology of\n    the prophetic periods,[48] the fulfillment of prophecy,[49]\n    and the signs of the times.[50] And that this truth should\n    be preached both to saints and sinners, that the first may\n    rejoice, knowing their redemption draweth nigh,[51] and the\n    last be warned to flee from the wrath to come,[52] before the\n    Master of the house shall rise up and shut to the door.[53]\n\n    \u201c\u20184. That the condition of salvation is repentance toward God,\n    and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.[54] And that those who have\n    repentance and faith will live soberly, and righteously, and\n    godly, in this present world, looking for that blessed hope,\n    and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour\n    Jesus Christ.[55]\n\n    \u201c\u20185. That there will be a resurrection of the bodies of all the\n    dead,[56] both of the just and the unjust.[57] That those who\n    are Christ\u2019s will be raised at his coming.[58] That the rest of\n    the dead will not live again until after a thousand years.[59]\n    And that the saints shall not all sleep, but shall be changed\n    in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump.[60]\n\n    \u201c\u20186. That the only millennium taught in the word of God is\n    the thousand years which are to intervene between the first\n    resurrection and that of the rest of the dead, as inculcated in\n    the 20th of Revelation.[61] And that the various portions of\n    scripture which refer to the millennial state are to have their\n    fulfillment after the resurrection of all the saints who sleep\n    in Jesus.[62]\n\n    \u201c\u20187. That the promise, that Abraham should be the heir of the\n    world, was not to him, or to his seed, through the law, but\n    through the righteousness of faith.[63] That they are not all\n    Israel which are of Israel.[64] That there is no difference,\n    under the gospel dispensation, between Jew and Gentile.[65]\n    That the middle wall of partition that was between them is\n    broken down, no more to be rebuilt.[66] That God will render\n    to every man according to his deeds.[67] That if we are\n    Christ\u2019s, then are we Abraham\u2019s seed, and heirs according to\n    the promise.[68] And that the only restoration of Israel, yet\n    future, is the restoration of the saints to the earth, created\n    anew, when God shall open the graves of those descendants of\n    Abraham who died in faith, without receiving the promise, with\n    the believing Gentiles who have been grafted in with them into\n    the same olive tree; and shall cause them to come up out of\n    their graves, and bring them, with the living, who are changed,\n    into the land of Israel.[69]\n\n    \u201c\u20188. That there is no promise of this world\u2019s conversion.[70]\n    That the horn of papacy will war with the saints, and prevail\n    against them, until the Ancient of Days shall come, and\n    judgment be given to the saints of the Most High, and the\n    time come that the saints possess the kingdom.[71] That the\n    children of the kingdom, and the children of the wicked one,\n    will continue together until the end of the world, when all\n    things that offend shall be gathered out of the kingdom, and\n    the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of\n    their Father.[72] That the man of sin will only be destroyed\n    by the brightness of Christ\u2019s coming.[73] And that the nations\n    of those which are saved and redeemed to God by the blood of\n    Christ, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and\n    nation, will be made kings and priests unto God, to reign\n    forever on the earth.[74]\n\n    \u201c\u20189. That it is the duty of the ministers of the word to\n    continue in the work of preaching the gospel to every creature,\n    even unto the end,[75] calling upon them to repent, in view of\n    the fact that the kingdom of Heaven is at hand;[76] that their\n    sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come\n    from the presence of the Lord.[77]\n\n    \u201c\u201810. That the departed saints do not enter their inheritance,\n    or receive their crowns, at death.[78] That they without\n    us cannot be made perfect.[79] That their inheritance,\n    incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, is\n    reserved in Heaven, ready to be revealed in the last time.[80]\n    That there are laid up for them and us crowns of righteousness,\n    which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give at the day\n    of Christ to all that love his appearing.[81] That they will\n    only be satisfied when they awake in Christ\u2019s likeness.[82]\n    And that, when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all\n    the holy angels with him, the King will say to those on his\n    right hand, \u201cCome, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom\n    prepared for you from the foundation of the world.\u201d[83] Then\n    they will be equal to the angels, being the children of God and\n    of the resurrection.[84]\n\n    \u201c\u2018ASSOCIATED ACTION.\n\n    \u201c\u2018We are induced, from present circumstances affecting our\n    spiritual interests, to present, for your consideration, a few\n    ideas touching associated action.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Order is Heaven\u2019s first law. All things emanating from\n    God are constituted on principles of perfect order. The New\n    Testament rules for the government of the church we regard as\n    binding on the whole brotherhood of Christ. No circumstances\n    can justify us in departing from the usages established by\n    Christ and his apostles.\n\n    \u201c\u2018We regard any congregation of believers, who habitually\n    assemble for the worship of God and the due observance of\n    gospel ordinances, as a church of Christ. As such, it is an\n    independent body, accountable only to the great Head of the\n    church. To all such we recommend a careful examination of the\n    Scriptures, and the adoption of such principles of association\n    and order as are in accordance therewith, that they may enjoy\n    the advantages of that church relation which Christ has\n    instituted.\n\n    \u201c\u2018PLAN OF OPERATIONS.\n\n    \u201c\u2018In the midst of our disappointed hopes of seeing the King of\n    glory, and being made like him, and still finding ourselves in\n    a world of sin, snares, and death, the question forces itself\n    upon us, _What now is our work?_\n\n    \u201c\u2018To us it seems clear that our first work is to make straight\n    paths for our feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of\n    the way. We are in duty bound to give the household meat in\n    due season, and to build ourselves up in our most holy faith.\n    While doing this, we are to continue in obedience to the great\n    commission, to preach the gospel to every creature; so long\n    as the love of Christ dwells in us, it will constrain us. We\n    shall not be released, while in our present state, from our\n    obligations to be \u201cworkers, together with God,\u201d in saving\n    those for whom the Redeemer died. It is evident that the duty,\n    which of right devolves on every minister of the gospel, of\n    proclaiming the hour of God\u2019s judgment, is, if performed at\n    all, to be done by those who are convinced of its truth....\u2019\n\n\u201cThe above, after a full discussion and careful examination, was\nunanimously adopted; as was also, from the pen of Mr. Miller, the\nfollowing\n\n    \u201c\u2018ADDRESS TO THE BRETHREN.\n\n    \u201c\u2018The present state of our faith and hope, with the severe\n    trials which many of us experience, call for much brotherly\n    love, forbearance, patience, and prayer. No cause, be it\n    ever so holy, can exist in this present world, without its\n    attendant evils. Therefore, it becomes necessary for all who\n    are connected with this cause to exercise great charity; for\n    charity covers a multitude of sins.\n\n    \u201c\u2018The cause we advocate calls upon all men to read the word of\n    God, and to reason, judge, compare, and digest for themselves.\n    This is certainly right, and is the privilege of all rational\n    members of the community. Yet this very liberty may become a\n    stumbling-block to many, and without charity, be the means of\n    scattering, dividing, and causing contention among brethren.\n    Human nature is such that those who are governed by a desire\n    to rule over others will seize the reins, and think all must\n    bow to their decision; while others will think such unfit for\n    the station they assume. James foresaw the evils under which we\n    labor, and gives us a caution in his third chapter, to which\n    we shall do well to take heed. Our present difficulties arise\n    more from the multiplicity of masters and leaders among us\n    (some of whom are governed by carnal motives) than from any\n    want of light. The word of God affords light enough to guide us\n    in all cases, \u201cthat the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly\n    furnished unto every good work.\u201d But among the thousand-and-one\n    expositions of Scripture, which are every day being palmed upon\n    us, some of them, at least, must be wrong. Many of them are so\n    weak and silly that they bring a stigma on the blessed book,\n    confuse the mind of the inquirer after truth, and divide the\n    children of God.\n\n    \u201c\u2018To remedy this evil, we must learn to judge men and\n    principles by their fruits, and not be too hasty in receiving\n    the exposition which may be presented by every pretender\n    to wisdom and sanctity. Any exposition of Scripture which\n    conflicts with other texts must be spurious. Any man whose\n    object is to obtain followers must be avoided. Whatever\n    produces envy and strife, brethren, is of the devil; and\n    we must resist his temptations in their beginning. If God\n    has been with us from the commencement of our illumination\n    respecting the hope of his glorious appearing, shall we\n    abandon the truth wherein our souls have been comforted, and\n    our brotherly love established, for fables? We ought to be\n    careful lest we grieve the Holy Spirit. How did we receive this\n    doctrine at first? Was it not by searching the word of God,\n    and a careful comparison of scripture with scripture? Yes; our\n    faith did not rest on the word of man. We then required chapter\n    and verse, or we would not believe. Why should we leave our\n    former rule of faith, to follow the vain and changing opinions\n    of men? Some are neglecting the lamp, and seeking to walk by\n    sparks of their own kindling. There is a propensity in many to\n    make all prophecy apply to our time and country. Others have\n    split on this rock. Some of the best writers and commentators\n    have thus erred. They have, in many instances, considered\n    themselves, their sect, or their nation, as the peculiar\n    favorites of Heaven; and have therefore often failed to apply\n    prophecy aright. An Englishman, writing on prophecy, will\n    make the English territory the principal place of action\u2014the\n    Frenchman, France\u2014the German, Germany\u2014and an American, the\n    United States. So is it with all sectarians. When minds are\n    contracted by selfishness and bigotry, they lose sight of the\n    glory of God, and his word, and seek only their own glory. On\n    the other hand, they neglect, if they do not actually reject,\n    such parts of the oracles of God as militate against their\n    views, and rush headlong into error. If we are thus liable\n    to be deceived by the cunning craftiness of men, we ought to\n    be cautious how we are led by every fanciful interpretation\n    of Scripture. Let us then be more wary, and, like the noble\n    Bereans, search the Scriptures daily, to see whether these\n    things are so. Then, if we err, we shall have the consolation\n    that we have made a careful examination of the subject, and\n    that the error was one of the head, and not of the heart.\n    Christians should receive no evidence but the testimony of God\n    as a ground of faith.\n\n    \u201c\u2018We are commanded to be sober, and hope to the end for that\n    grace which is to be brought unto us at the revelation of\n    Jesus Christ. Our disappointment, as to the time, should have\n    no effect on our hope. We know that Christ has not yet been\n    revealed, and the object of our hope is yet in the future.\n    Therefore, if we believe in God\u2019s word, as we profess, we ought\n    to be thankful for the trial of our faith.\n\n    \u201c\u2018We shall not have to wait long for the glorious appearing\n    of Christ. Therefore, let us lift up our heads and rejoice,\n    knowing that our redemption draweth nigh. We regret to see\n    any impatience manifested among the friends of Jesus. God is\n    now trying our graces. How solemn the thought that any should\n    lose the crown when near the goal! Let us arise, shake off our\n    dullness, redouble our diligence, let all the world know there\n    is such a grace as Christian perseverance, and let all see that\n    we are truly seeking a better country. Can it be possible,\n    after we have run well for a season, loved the appearing of\n    Jesus, come to a time when we must expect him, and should\n    be ready to cast ourselves into his arms, that we shall go\n    back, or again strike hands with a thoughtless world? May God\n    forbid! Let us then go forward. It is death to go back; to go\n    forward can be no more.\n\n    \u201c\u2018We are pained to see a disposition to murmur against those\n    who have been pioneers in the war\u2014who have sacrificed all\n    earthly considerations to support a truth so unpopular as the\n    second advent and personal reign of Jesus Christ.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Brethren, shun such as cause divisions among very friends.\n    Remember the admonition of James: \u201cGrudge not one against\n    another, brethren, lest ye be condemned; behold, the Judge\n    standeth at the door.\u201d We see, by this rule, that when a\n    brother loses his fellowship for the saints, he is certainly\n    in darkness. We must be careful not to follow what he may term\n    \u201clight.\u201d Love for brethren is a test of our interest in Christ,\n    without which all gifts and works are like sounding brass, and\n    a tinkling cymbal. Let us cultivate, with peculiar care, this\n    loveliest of all Christian graces, and frown on the man who\n    attempts to cause division. \u201cOffenses must needs come, but woe\n    to that man by whom the offense cometh!\u201d What can we say more,\n    to stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance?\n\n    \u201c\u2018We would, therefore, recommend more study of the Scriptures,\n    and less writing, and that we be careful not to submit to\n    public inspection mere speculations until they are closely\n    scrutinized by some judicious friend. Thus we shall avoid\n    many errors. We should always be more jealous of ourselves\n    than of others. Self-love is the strongest, most dangerous,\n    and deceitful foe that we meet in our Christian warfare. We\n    have arrived at a period of deep interest and peril. It is\n    interesting, because the evidence of the Saviour being at the\n    door is plain, so that no sincere student of prophecy can be\n    at a loss to know that that day, for which all other days were\n    made, is near. How interesting to live in expectation of the\n    day which patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, desired to see,\n    but died without the sight! Persecution and death lose their\n    sting, in prospect of the coming Conqueror, who hath all power,\n    and who hath engaged to put all enemies under his feet. We need\n    not murmur; for, in this our day, God will bring to pass this\n    act, this (to the worldly man) strange act, for which all the\n    weary saints, for six thousand years, have lived and prayed.\n    We entreat you to hold fast the confidence which you have had\n    in the word of God unto the end. \u201cYet a little while, and he\n    that shall come will come, and will not tarry.\u201d \u201cHere is the\n    patience and the faith of the saints.\u201d \u201cBe ye also patient;\n    stablish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.\u201d\n\n                             \u201c\u2018WM. MILLER, _Chairman of Committee_.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe doings of that Conference were unanimously ratified by the annual\nConferences subsequently held, in that year in New York and in Boston;\nand the \u2018important truths\u2019 there inculcated were often unanimously\nre-affirmed, so that they have become the settled principles of those\nknown as Adventists. Others, dissenting from them, but agreeing in\nunimportant particulars, and yet claiming to be Adventists, are not\nrecognized as such by Adventists.[85]\n\n\u201cMr. Miller was in Boston, where he arrived on Saturday, May 24, to\nattend the annual Conference there of the week following. That commenced\non Monday, May 26, when Mr. M. discoursed from Rev. 6:17: \u2018For the\ngreat day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?\u2019 He made\na personal and practical application of this event, and presented the\nevidence of its probable nearness.\n\n\u201cDuring the Conference, he spoke feelingly of the passing of the time. He\nremarked that, \u2018Ere this, he had been in hopes of meeting all present in\nthe heavenly kingdom. But, if we love the Lord Jesus Christ, however much\nwe may be disappointed, we shall not forget Christ\u2019s coming. God may see\nfit to disappoint us, sometimes, for our good. We may not see the wisdom\nand fullness of the whole of God\u2019s plan; but he never tries us but for\nour profit. Therefore, we should not be disheartened or cast down.\u2019 Every\ndisappointment only made him more strong in the belief of the certainty\nof the nearness of Christ\u2019s appearing.\n\n\u201c\u2018I had,\u2019 he said, \u2018denied the Bible for twelve years. I used to read\nit to see how curiously men would act, and contradict each other. But\nsuddenly I became more solemn; its truth began to dawn upon my mind; and\nI was in great darkness for six months. I saw that I was a poor sinner;\nbut I was soon enabled to love Jesus Christ, and have continued to love\nhim even till the present time. I saw that, if the Bible was true, Christ\nwas the only Saviour of men. I then began to study the Scriptures more\nfully\u2014determined to study, text by text, till I was fully satisfied as\nto their import. In comparing scripture with scripture, such a light\nbroke in upon my mind as I had never before seen. I was about two\nyears in going through with the Bible in this manner; and I found it\na perfect piece of order and beauty. And, though I have been greatly\ndisappointed, yet I have never ceased to love and regard the authority of\nthe Scriptures.\n\n\u201c\u2018Brethren, we must keep humble. I sometimes tremble when I see\nindividuals endeavoring to exalt themselves, and denounce others who\ndo not see just as they do. Be careful not to err in favor of self.\nBe careful to avoid self-righteousness. I have noticed that those who\nhave left the second advent cause are the very ones for whom I used to\ntremble, in view of their arrogancy and self-righteousness. We must not\nlook to ourselves, but must look alone to God. We must cling to our\nHeavenly Father\u2019s arm, that we may hold fast our confidence even unto\nthe end. The word of God teaches us that we are to be guided alone by\nhim. Had our brethren who have apostatized thus looked to him, they would\nnever have fallen into the awful errors into which they have been led. I\nlove those brethren, but I tremble for their errors. Oh! let us depend\nwholly on God, that we may be preserved also from departing from the\nrectitude of our faith! And may we all be enabled to live out the prayer,\n\u201cNot my will, O God, but thine be done.\u201d\u2019\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVIII.\n\n    HIS APOLOGY AND DEFENSE\u2014DEFINITENESS OF PROPHETIC\n    TIME\u2014ERRONEOUS VIEWS CONNECTED WITH THE DOCTRINE, ETC.\n\n\n\u201cAfter the Boston Conference, Mr. Miller accompanied Mr. Himes to\nPortland, Me., where he gave discourses in the afternoon and evening\nof Sunday, June 1, to crowded audiences. Many of those present,\ndoubtless, were drawn to hear him by motives of curiosity, because of the\ndisappointment in time. The necessity of patience and of watchfulness\nwere subjects on which he discoursed.\n\n\u201cHe returned to Boston, and from thence went to a camp-meeting at\nChamplain, N. Y., on the 10th of June. After this, he returned home, in\nthe enjoyment of good general health, but somewhat afflicted by boils.\n\n\u201cAs the author of a movement which had resulted in disappointment, and,\nin some respects, disaster, Mr. Miller deemed it proper that he should\nmake a personal statement to the Christian public, show the motives\nthat had actuated him, and disavow any sympathy with the extremes into\nwhich some had gone, contrary to his earnest remonstrances. His growing\ninfirmities made him shrink from the labor of writing, and caused him\nto desire an amanuensis. For this purpose, the writer of this visited\nhim in the month of July, 1845, and Mr. Miller dictated his \u2018Apology and\nDefense,\u2019 a tract of thirty-six pages, which was published by Mr. Himes,\nin Boston. It was addressed \u2018To all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in\nsincerity,\u2019 and commenced with:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018As all men are responsible to the community for the\n    sentiments they may promulgate, the public have a right\n    to expect from me a candid statement in reference to my\n    disappointment in not realizing the advent of Christ in A. D.\n    1843-4, which I had confidently believed. I have, therefore,\n    considered it not presumptuous in me to lay before the\n    Christian public a retrospective view of the whole question,\n    the motives that actuated me, and the reasons by which I was\n    guided.\u2019\n\n\u201cHe then proceeded to narrate his early history, and gave an account\nof his \u2018deistical opinions,\u2019 his \u2018first religious impressions,\u2019\nhis \u2018connection with the army,\u2019 his \u2018removal to Low Hampton,\u2019 his\n\u2018determination to understand the Scriptures,\u2019 his \u2018manner of studying\nthe Bible,\u2019 the \u2018results arrived at,\u2019 and his subsequent labors; all of\nwhich have been noticed at greater length in the foregoing pages. He then\nsummed up his labors as follows:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018From the commencement of that publication, I was overwhelmed\n    with invitations to labor in various places, with which I\n    complied as far as my health and time would allow. I labored\n    extensively in all the New England and Middle States, in Ohio,\n    Michigan, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and in Canada\n    East and West, giving about four thousand lectures in something\n    like five hundred different towns.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I should think that about two hundred ministers embraced\n    my views, in all the different parts of the United States\n    and Canada; and that there have been about five hundred\n    public lecturers. In all the sections of country where I\n    labored,\u2014not only in the towns I visited, but in those in their\n    vicinity,\u2014there were more or less that embraced the doctrine\n    of the advent. In some places only a very few, and in other\n    places there have been a large number.\n\n    \u201c\u2018In nearly a thousand places, Advent congregations have been\n    raised up, numbering, as nearly as I can estimate, some fifty\n    thousand believers. On recalling to mind the several places\n    of my labors, I can reckon up about six thousand instances of\n    conversion from nature\u2019s darkness to God\u2019s marvelous light,\n    the result of my personal labors alone; and I should judge the\n    number to be much greater. Of this number I can recall to mind\n    about seven hundred, who were, previously to their attending\n    my lectures, infidels; and their number may have been twice\n    as great. Happy results have also followed from the labors of\n    my brethren, many of whom I would like to mention here, if my\n    limits would permit.\n\n    \u201c\u2018In all my labors I never had the desire or thought to\n    establish any separate interest from that of existing\n    denominations, or to benefit one at the expense of another. I\n    thought to benefit all. Supposing that all Christians would\n    rejoice in the prospect of Christ\u2019s coming, and that those who\n    could not see as I did would not love any the less those who\n    should embrace this doctrine, I did not conceive there would\n    ever be any necessity for separate meetings. My whole object\n    was a desire to convert souls to God, to notify the world of\n    a coming judgment, and to induce my fellow-men to make that\n    preparation of heart which will enable them to meet their God\n    in peace. The great majority of those who were converted under\n    my labors united with the various existing churches. When\n    individuals came to me to inquire respecting their duty, I\n    always told them to go where they would feel at home; and I\n    never favored any one denomination in my advice to such.\n\n    \u201c\u2018But my brethren began to complain that they were not fed\n    by their ministers, and wanted expository preaching. I told\n    them it was their duty to interest their ministers in the\n    prophecies; but, if they could not receive the teachings under\n    which they sat, they must act in accordance with their own\n    sense of duty. They then began to complain that they had not\n    liberty in the churches to present their views freely, or to\n    exhort their brethren to prepare for the Judgment. Those in\n    the neighborhood of advent preaching felt that, when they\n    could listen to these glorious truths, it was their privilege\n    so to do. For this, many of them were treated coldly. Some\n    came out of their churches, and some were expelled. Where the\n    blame lay it is not necessary here to inquire; there was,\n    doubtless, wrong on both sides. The result was, that a feeling\n    of opposition arose, on the part of many of the ministers and\n    churches that did not embrace these views, against those who\n    were looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of\n    the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.\u2019\n\n\u201cHe then spoke of various points as follows:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEFINITENESS OF PROPHETIC TIME.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I had never been positive as to any particular _day_ for the\n    Lord\u2019s appearing, believing that no man could know the day\n    and hour. In all my published lectures will be seen, on the\n    title-page, \u201cabout the year 1843.\u201d In all my oral lectures I\n    invariably told my audiences that the periods would terminate\n    in 1843 _if_ there were no mistakes in my calculation; but\n    that I could not say the end might not come even before that\n    time, and they should be continually prepared. In 1842, some\n    of my brethren preached, with great positiveness, the exact\n    year, and censured me for putting in an IF. The public press\n    had also published that I had fixed upon a definite day, the\n    23d of April, for the Lord\u2019s advent. Therefore, in December of\n    that year, as I could see no error in my reckoning, I published\n    my belief that some time between March 21, 1843, and March\n    21, 1844, the Lord would come. Some had their minds fixed on\n    particular days; but I could see no evidence for such, unless\n    the types of the Mosaic law pointed to the feast of tabernacles.\n\n    \u201c\u2018During the year 1843, the most violent denunciations were\n    heaped upon me, and those associated with me, by the press\n    and some pulpits. Our motives were assailed, our principles\n    misrepresented, and our characters traduced. Time passed on,\n    and the 21st of March, 1844, went by without our witnessing the\n    appearing of the Lord. Our disappointment was great, and many\n    walked no more with us.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Previously to this, in the fall of 1843, some of my brethren\n    began to call the churches Babylon, and to urge that it was\n    the duty of Adventists to come out of them. With this I was\n    much grieved, as not only the effect was very bad, but I\n    regarded it as a perversion of the word of God, a wresting of\n    Scripture.[86] But the practice spread extensively; and, from\n    that time, the churches, as might have been expected, were\n    closed against us. It prejudiced many against us, and created\n    a deep feeling of hostility between Adventists and those who\n    did not embrace the doctrine; so that most of the Adventists\n    were separated from their respective churches. This was a\n    result which I never desired nor expected; but it was brought\n    about by unforeseen circumstances. We could, then, only act in\n    accordance with the position in which we were thus placed.\n\n    \u201c\u2018On the passing of my published time, I frankly acknowledged\n    my disappointment in reference to the exact period; but my\n    faith was unchanged in any essential feature. I therefore\n    continued my labors, principally at the West, during the summer\n    of 1844, until \u201cthe seventh-month movement,\u201d as it is called.\n    I had no participation in this, only as I wrote a letter,\n    eighteen months previously, presenting the observances under\n    the Mosaic law which pointed to that month as a probable time\n    when the advent might be expected. This was written because\n    some were looking to definite days in the _spring_. I had,\n    however, no expectation that so unwarranted a use would be made\n    of those types that any should regard a belief in such mere\n    inferential evidence a test of salvation. I therefore had no\n    fellowship with that movement until about two or three weeks\n    previous to the 22d of October, when, seeing it had obtained\n    such prevalence, and considering it was at a probable point of\n    time, I was persuaded that it was a work of God, and felt that,\n    if it should pass by, I should be more disappointed than I was\n    in my first published time.\n\n    \u201c\u2018But that time passed, and I was again disappointed. The\n    movement was of such a character that, for a time, it was\n    very mysterious to me; and the results following it were so\n    unaccountable that I supposed our work might be completed, and\n    that a few weeks only might elapse between that time and the\n    appearing of Christ. However that might be, I regarded my own\n    work completed, and that what was to be done for the extension\n    of these views must be done by younger brethren, except an\n    occasional discourse from myself.\n\n    \u201c\u2018As time has progressed, I have been pained to see many\n    errors which have been embraced, in different sections of the\n    country, by some who have labored in connection with myself;\n    errors which I cannot countenance, and of which I wish to\n    speak freely, although I may lose the fellowship of some for\n    faithfully doing my duty.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I have been pained to see a spirit of sectarianism and\n    bigotry, in some sections, which disfellowships everything that\n    does not square with the narrow prejudices of individual minds.\n    There is a tendency to exalt individual opinions as a standard\n    for all to submit to; a disposition to place the results of\n    individual investigation upon a level with solemn conclusions\n    to which the great body of brethren have arrived. This is very\n    wrong; for, while we are in this world, we are so short-sighted\n    that we should never regard our conclusions as infallible,\n    should bear with the imperfections of others, and receive those\n    that are weak in the faith, but not to doubtful disputations.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Some have an inclination to indulge in harsh and denunciatory\n    remarks against all who do not agree with them. We are all\n    liable to err; but we should avoid thus giving occasion of\n    offense. We should instruct with meekness those who oppose\n    themselves, and avoid foolish and unlearned questions, that\n    gender strifes.\n\n    \u201c\u2018There may be causes operating on the minds of others, of\n    which we know nothing, that influence them contrary to the\n    truth as we have received it. We should, therefore, in all\n    our intercourse with those we deem in error, treat them with\n    kindness and affection, and show them that we would do them\n    good, and not evil, if God, peradventure, will give them\n    repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, and that they may\n    recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken\n    captive by him at his will.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Some are prone to indulge in a spirit of uneasiness and\n    disorder, and looseness with regard to church government and\n    doctrine. In all the essential doctrines of the Bible, as they\n    have been held by the pious of the church in all ages, were\n    given to the saints, and for which we are commanded earnestly\n    to contend, I have never seen any reason to change my faith.\n    Jesus I regard as my all-sufficient Saviour, by whose merits\n    alone I can be saved. No being but him, \u201cwhose goings forth\n    were of old from everlasting,\u201d who should take upon himself\n    our nature, and bear our sins in his own body, could make an\n    atonement, on the efficacy of which I should dare to rely. The\n    Bible speaks as plainly of my Saviour\u2019s divinity as it does\n    of his humanity. He is, therefore, Immanuel, God with us. The\n    Bible tells us plainly what the Saviour is. That should satisfy\n    us, without venturing beyond the Bible to say what he is not.\n\n    \u201c\u2018It is in the use of terms not found in the Scriptures that\n    disputations arise. For instance, the difference between the\n    Calvinist and Armenian I often thus explain: Both are in the\n    same dilemma. They are like a company of men in the lower story\n    of a house when the tide is entering, and from which there is\n    no escape only by a rope by which they may be drawn up. All\n    endeavor to lay hold of the rope. The one is continually afraid\n    he has not hold of the right rope; if he was sure he had the\n    right rope he would have no fears. The other has no fear but he\n    has hold of the right rope; he is continually afraid his rope\n    will break. Now both are equally fearful they may perchance not\n    escape. Their fears arise from different causes. How foolish it\n    is, then, for them to begin to quarrel with each other, because\n    the one supposes the rope may break, and the other that it is\n    the wrong rope!\n\n    \u201c\u2018Now I have found Christians among those who believed that\n    they were born again, but might fall away; and among those\n    that believe that, if they were ever born again, they should\n    certainly persevere. The difference between them I regard as\n    a mere matter of education; both have their fears, and both\n    believe that those only who persevere unto the end will be\n    saved. I, therefore, look on men as bigots who quarrel with\n    others and deny that those are Christians who cannot see just\n    as they do....\n\n    \u201c\u2018I have thus given a plain and simple statement of the\n    manner of my arriving at the views I have inculcated, with a\n    history of my course up to the present time. That I have been\n    mistaken in the time, I freely confess; and I have no desire\n    to defend my course any further than I have been actuated by\n    pure motives, and it has resulted to God\u2019s glory. My mistakes\n    and errors God, I trust, will forgive. I cannot, however,\n    reproach myself for having preached definite time; for, as I\n    believe that whatsoever was written aforetime was written for\n    our learning, the prophetic periods are as much a subject of\n    investigation as any other portion of the word.[87]\n\n    \u201c\u2018I, therefore, still feel that it was my duty to present all\n    the evidence that was apparent to my mind; and were I now in\n    the same circumstances, I should be compelled to act as I have\n    done. I should not, however, have so done, had I seen that\n    the time would pass by; but not knowing that it would, I feel\n    even now more satisfaction in having warned my fellow-men than\n    I should feel, were I conscious that I had believed them in\n    danger and had not raised my voice. How keen would have been my\n    regret, had I refrained to present what in my soul I believed\n    to be truth, and the result had proved that souls must perish\n    through my neglect! I cannot, therefore, censure myself for\n    having conscientiously performed what I believed to be my duty.\n\n    \u201c\u2018But while I frankly acknowledge my disappointment in the\n    exact time, I wish to inquire whether my teachings have been\n    thereby materially affected. My view of exact time depended\n    entirely upon the accuracy of chronology; of this I had no\n    absolute demonstration; but as no evidence was presented to\n    invalidate it, I deemed it my duty to rely on it as certain,\n    until it should be disproved. Besides, I not only rested on\n    received chronology, but I selected the earliest dates in the\n    circle of a few years on which chronologers have relied for the\n    date of the events from which to reckon, because I believed\n    them to be best sustained, and because I wished to have my eye\n    on the earliest time at which the Lord might be expected. Other\n    chronologers had assigned later dates for the events from which\n    I reckoned; and if they are correct we are only brought into\n    the circle of a few years, during which we may rationally look\n    for the Lord\u2019s appearing. As the prophetic periods, counting\n    from the dates from which I have reckoned, have not brought us\n    to the end, and as I cannot tell the exact time that chronology\n    may vary from my calculations, I can only live in continual\n    expectation of the event. I am persuaded that I cannot be far\n    out of the way, and I believe that God will still justify my\n    preaching to the world.[88]\n\n    \u201c\u2018With respect to other features of my views, I can see no\n    reason to change my belief. We are living under the last form\n    of the divided fourth kingdom, which brings us to the end. The\n    prophecies which were to be fulfilled previous to the end have\n    been so far fulfilled that I find nothing in them to delay the\n    Lord\u2019s coming. The signs of the times thicken on every hand;\n    and the prophetic periods must certainly, I think, have brought\n    us into the neighborhood of the event.\n\n    \u201c\u2018There is not a point in my belief in which I am not sustained\n    by some one of the numerous writers who have opposed my views.\n    Prof. Bush, the most gentlemanly of my opponents, admits that I\n    am correct in the time, with the exception of the precise day\n    or year; and this is all for which I contend. That the 70 weeks\n    are 490 years, and the 1260 and 2300 days are so many years,\n    are admitted by Messrs. Bush, Hinton, and Jarvis. That the 2300\n    days and 70 weeks commence at the same time, Prof. Bush does\n    not deny. And Dr. Jarvis admits that the former carry us to the\n    resurrection and Judgment. Prof. Bush, Dr. Jarvis, Mr. Hinton,\n    and Mr. Morris, admit that the legs of iron and fourth beast\n    are Rome, and that the little horn of Dan. 7 is papacy, while\n    Dr. Jarvis and Mr. Hinton admit that the exceeding great horn\n    of Daniel 8 is Rome. The literal resurrection of the body, the\n    end of the world, and a personal coming of Christ, have not\n    been questioned by several who have written against me.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Thus there is not a point for which I have contended that has\n    not been admitted by some of those who have written to disprove\n    my opinions. I have candidly weighed the objections advanced\n    against these views; but I have seen no arguments that were\n    sustained by the Scriptures that, in my opinion, invalidated\n    my position. I cannot, therefore, conscientiously refrain\n    from looking for my Lord, or from exhorting my fellow-men, as\n    I have opportunity, to be in readiness for that great event.\n    For my indiscretions and errors I ask pardon; and all who have\n    spoken evil of me without cause I freely forgive. My labors are\n    principally ended. I shall leave to my younger brethren the\n    task of contending for the truth. Many years I toiled alone;\n    God has now raised up those who will fill my place. I shall not\n    cease to pray for the spread of truth.\n\n    \u201c\u2018In conclusion, suffer a word of exhortation. You, my\n    brethren, who are called by the name of Christ, will you not\n    examine the Scriptures respecting the nearness of the advent?\n    The great and good of all ages have had their minds directed\n    to about this period of time, and a multitude are impressed\n    with the solemn conviction that these are emphatically the\n    last days. Is not a question of such moment worthy of your\n    consideration? I do not ask you to embrace an opinion of mine;\n    but I ask you to weigh well the evidence contained in the\n    Bible. If I am in any error, I desire to see it, and I should\n    certainly renounce it; but look at the question in the light of\n    the inspired word, and decide for eternity.\n\n    \u201c\u2018What shall I say to my unconverted friends? I have faithfully\n    exhorted you these many years to believe in Christ. You have\n    excused yourselves. What can I say more? Will not all the\n    considerations that are presented in the Scriptures of truth\n    move your hearts to lay down the weapons of your rebellion? You\n    have no lease of your lives, and, if the Lord should not come,\n    your eyes may be soon closed in death. Why will you not improve\n    the present moment, and flee from the wrath to come? Go to\n    Christ, I beseech you; lay hold on the promise of God, trust in\n    his grace, and he will cleanse you by his blood.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I would exhort my Advent brethren to study the word\n    diligently. Let no man spoil you through philosophy and vain\n    deceit. Avoid everything that shall cause offense. Let your\n    lives be models of goodness and propriety. Let the adversary\n    get no advantage over you. We have been disappointed; but\n    disappointments will work for our good, if we make the right\n    use of them. Be faithful. Be vigilant. Exhort with all\n    longsuffering and patience. Let your conversation be in Heaven,\n    from whence you look for the blessed hope. Avoid unnecessary\n    controversy and questions that gender strifes. Be not many\n    masters; all are not competent to advise and direct. God will\n    raise up those to whom he will commit the direction of his\n    cause. Be humble, be watchful, be patient, be persevering. And\n    may the God of peace sanctify you wholly, and preserve you\n    blameless unto the glorious appearing of the great God and our\n    Saviour Jesus Christ!\n\n                                                    WILLIAM MILLER.\u2019\n\n    \u201c\u2018_Low Hampton, Aug. 1, 1845._\u2019\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIX.\n\n    HIS FAITH IN HIS PAST WORK\u2014VISIT TO NEW YORK CITY\u2014PHILADELPHIA,\n    ETC.\u2014ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC\u2014VISIT TO CANADA, ETC.\n\n\n\u201cIn the month of September, Mr. Miller attended Conferences in Addison\nand Bristol, Vt., and lectured in each place. He then took a journey into\nConnecticut, and visited Hartford, attended a camp-meeting in Newington,\nnear Hartford, and one at Square Pond, in Tolland County. He then visited\nMiddletown. He was much pleased with his journey, and returned home\nrefreshed.\n\n\u201cAfter this, in connection with Elder A. Hale, he lectured, in November\nin the State of Vermont, at Waterbury, Morristown, Stowe, Waitesfield and\nBurlington. Besides at these places, he seems to have labored but little\nduring the remainder of the year. He occasionally communicated articles\nfor the _Advent Herald_, giving expositions of Scripture, &c.; but the\napproaching infirmities of age admonished him that his labors were nearly\nended.\n\n                                    \u201c\u2018LOW HAMPTON, JANUARY 13, 1846.\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEAR BROTHER HIMES:\u2014I am yet in this land of toil, where sin\n    has spoiled all the blessings and enjoyments of earth, which\n    were appointed by our beneficent Creator for the best good of\n    his creatures, and which, had it not been for sin, would have\n    led us to reverence and adore that Being who had produced, by\n    his power, this earth and all its appurtenances, and placed in\n    it man\u2014rational, intelligent, social man\u2014to enjoy this vast\n    and wondrous piece of mechanism.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Perhaps we are unable rightly to appreciate the blessings\n    which were placed within the reach of man at his creation,\n    when \u201cthe sons of God shouted for joy.\u201d Yet I think that we\n    do realize some of the evils to which man is heir by reason\n    of \u201csin, and death by sin,\u201d which have entered the world. How\n    manifest it is, at the present day, that all the influences\n    of the pit are inciting men to crime, bringing in their trail\n    consequences ten-fold more dreadful than those entailed upon\n    us by the sin of our first parents! If there were one spark of\n    philanthropy existing in the world, methinks it must bleed at\n    beholding the rapid increase of evil within the last few years.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I confess that to me it would be but a dismal and appalling\n    prospect in the future, did not a ray of light beam forth from\n    the word of God, that there should be a glorious and final\n    renovation of all things! This \u201cexceeding great and precious\n    promise,\u201d to the man of God, is the only hope that cheers him\n    in his weary pilgrimage. Every means that the wisdom of man\n    could devise for the melioration of the condition of man has\n    failed; ministers of the gospel have been sent into every land;\n    Bibles have been scattered broadcast in the earth, translated\n    into almost every tongue, and placed in the hands of the poor,\n    \u201cwithout money and without price;\u201d schools of every grade,\n    from the college to the common, have sprung up, in which have\n    been developed the highest mental qualities of man; societies\n    have been multiplied for the moral improvement of our race,\u2014to\n    Christianize the heathen, to reform the inebriate, to break\n    the bonds of the enslaved, to liberate the debtor, to stop\n    the horrid practice of legal murder, to promote peace among\n    nations, to protect the orphan, to clothe the naked, to feed\n    the hungry, to nurse the sick, and even to bury the dead.\n    These, and many other noble and benevolent enterprises, have\n    been formed within the present century. But how much good have\n    they accomplished? That great good has been done, cannot be\n    denied. But it is likewise true that evil has predominated in a\n    far greater ratio than at any former period.\n\n    \u201c\u2018When I look back to the period when we began to publish the\n    news of a coming Saviour, I think it the happiest time of\n    my life. How were our hearts refreshed by the readiness of\n    the dear brethren in Christ to hear, believe, and obey, the\n    simple gospel of the kingdom! With what delight have I, in\n    company with many of the dear, anxious children of God, read\n    and re-read the Scriptures, searched diligently and compared\n    the prophets, Jesus Christ, and his apostles, to see if these\n    things were so! What glorious light I have often seen in that\n    holy book while thus engaged! And with what joy have I taken\n    sweet communion with kindred hearts in the house of God, where\n    our faith was more and more established by the word of his\n    grace; where our prayers were mingled at the same altar, and\n    arose together, as incense, to the mercy-seat of our Redeemer,\n    for a preparation to meet the coming glories, which we then\n    expected shortly to realize; where our hearts burned with love\n    and gratitude to God for the good news of the near approach of\n    the King of kings; where our songs of praise and hallelujahs\n    to the Lamb cheered our drooping spirits, and prepared us more\n    vigorously to pursue our weary pilgrimage to the land of\n    promise, which, from evidence to us conclusive, and which I am\n    not ashamed of, we soon expect to reach!\n\n    \u201c\u2018Then, heart beat in unison with heart, soul mingled with\n    soul, and love, holy, heavenly, divine, united us in that\n    oneness of gospel truth, and prejudice and party were\n    dissipated from our thoughts like midnight darkness, or the\n    morning mists by the rising sun. This was a time of love, a\n    time of faith, working by love and purifying the heart. It was\n    this hope, \u201cthe blessed hope,\u201d that made us purify ourselves\n    from our sectarian prejudices and bigotry.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I have often thought that we then enjoyed a foretaste of the\n    love and fellowship of the saints in light. Why is it not so\n    now? The reason is as obvious as the sun at noonday. We have\n    been drawn from our _first principles_ by wicked and designing\n    men, who have crept in among us and drawn us into parties, to\n    follow men instead of God, and to form new tests instead of\n    the Bible. Some of our lecturers first began the confusion by\n    declaring an unholy crusade against the sects, which brought in\n    men of blood instead of men of peace. True, after the manner\n    of men, the sects had provoked us to the course we took by\n    all the wicked arts and misrepresentation of our views and\n    motives that human and satanic agency could invent\u2014by slander,\n    ridicule, and wresting the word of God from the meaning which\n    had long been laid down in their own creeds, and departing from\n    those rules by which their fathers, for centuries, had applied\n    mystic Babylon to the church of Rome. We were not called, in\n    my humble opinion, to engage in so universal a war. I think\n    we have, in this, \u201cleft our first principles,\u201d which were to\n    preach the blessed hope, and beseech men to be ready for the\n    \u201cglorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus\n    Christ,\u201d without personal or denominational considerations.\n    While we pursued this course, God blessed us in our work. We\n    were commanded by the word to be patient, sober, to judge\n    not, not to be high-minded, but to fear, and, by so doing,\n    manifest the same spirit that was in Christ. What have been the\n    fruits of this departure from the plain line of duty? Surely,\n    they have not been love, peace, and joy, such as we formerly\n    experienced, when we believed in our hearts that Christ was at\n    the door. On the contrary, it has, in many instances, separated\n    those who had been knit together in the closest friendship,\n    fomented jealousies, produced \u201clo! heres, and lo! theres!\u201d\n    while some have blasphemously arrogated to themselves names and\n    titles which belong to Christ. With such I have no sympathy,\n    no fellowship. I will refer them to Christ\u2019s words, Rev. 3:3:\n    \u201cRemember, therefore, how thou hast received and heard, and\n    hold fast, and repent. If, therefore, thou shalt not watch, I\n    will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour\n    I will come upon thee.\u201d\n\n    \u201c\u2018The glorious appearing of Christ is my only hope; to this\n    I cling\u2014it is my anchor; and all who look for and love his\n    appearing are my brothers and sisters, and with such I have\n    fellowship in the Lord, and exhort them to watch.\n\n                                                  \u201c\u2018WILLIAM MILLER.\u2019\n\n\u201cOn the 11th of March, 1846, in company with Messrs. Himes and Apollos\nHale, Mr. M. lectured at Glenn\u2019s Falls, N. Y. It does not appear that\nhe visited any other place till about the time of the annual Conference,\nwhich met in New York city on the 12th of May.\n\n\u201cHis bodily infirmities rendered it unsafe for him to journey without the\nattendance of some one to render him all needful assistance; therefore he\narranged with Elder Henry Buckley, of Hampton, N. Y., to accompany him to\nNew York city.\n\n\u201cThey left home on Saturday, the 9th of May, and proceeded as far as\nLansingburg, N. Y. On the Sabbath he went to Middletown, N. Y., where\nhe preached twice, returning, after service, to Lansingburg. On Monday,\nthe 11th, they proceeded to New York city. He took part in the debates\nand preaching of the Conference, and, though feeble, seemed to enjoy the\nmeetings.\n\n\u201cAfter its adjournment, they visited Philadelphia. On Sunday, the\n17th, he preached in the morning and evening to large and attentive\ncongregations. The next day he visited his former acquaintances, and, on\nthe 19th, he left for Providence, R. I. There they attended a meeting\nof the Friends, which continued four days, and to which Mr. M. preached\nfour discourses, with his usual interest. On the 25th he visited North\nScituate, R. I., and gave two discourses. On the 26th he preached\ntwice in North Attleboro\u2019, Mass., and, on the 27th, arrived in Boston.\nThe Annual Conference was adjourned from New York to meet there, and\ncommenced on the day previous. He again took part in its debates, but\nspent most of his time in visiting friends and acquaintances in the\nvicinity. They visited Westminster, Mass., where Mr. M. preached on the\n3d of June; and, on the 5th, he arrived home, much fatigued with his\njourney, but in good health and spirits.\n\n\u201cOn the 24th of June, in company with Elder Buckley, Mr. M. visited\nCranbury Creek, N. Y., where he preached seven discourses in four days.\nNo other place being open for the meetings, they were held in a large\nbarn, owned by Judge Gilbert. It was comfortably furnished with seats,\nand accommodated very respectable congregations, composed of the more\nintelligent and pious portion of the community. Mr. M.\u2019s discourses there\nwere spoken of by those present as logical and interesting.\n\n\u201cDuring the warm months he attempted no public labors; and his pen, even,\nseems to have lain idle. The next communication received from him was\npublished in the _Advent Herald_ of September 9, 1846, as follows:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC.\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEAR READER:\u2014Permit me to address you once more by calling\n    your attention to the great events which the word of God\n    declares are soon to come to pass, that I may faithfully\n    perform my duty; and that you may be able to answer, in that\n    way which will be satisfactory to your own soul, in the day\n    when God shall judge the secret thoughts of men by Jesus Christ.\n\n    \u201c\u2018In my former communications to you on this subject\u2014which\n    is near my heart, fills my soul at times with indescribable\n    joy and consolation, and is big with the hope of soon, very\n    soon, coming into possession of immortality and eternal\n    life\u2014I readily confess I was misled in my calculations;\n    not by the word of God, nor by the established principles\n    of interpretation I adopted, but by the authorities which\n    I followed in history and chronology, and which have been\n    generally considered worthy of the fullest confidence. And I\n    fear many of you have been blinded to your own interest, which\n    may be of eternal consequences to you, by hasty expressions\n    of full confidence in these authors, before I had carefully\n    and more extensively examined the subject to which I had, in\n    the simplicity of my heart, called your candid and serious\n    attention.\n\n    \u201c\u2018The testimony of historians, as to the dates of events,\n    cannot affect the testimony of the word of God, that, at\n    certain periods from these events, his promises shall be\n    fulfilled. They may fail, but his word cannot fail. I confess\n    I have been thus mistaken as to the definite time; but what of\n    that? Will you or any man dare to take the ground that, because\n    Mr. Miller or any other man made a mistake, the word of God\n    is not true? No, no. There would be nothing in that worthy of\n    being called an argument.\n\n    \u201c\u2018But, above all things else, I was deceived in the number and\n    character of those who, without study, argument, or reason,\n    rejected the (to me at least) glorious news of the coming\n    Saviour. Neither did I suppose that a man or woman could have\n    been found on the habitable earth, who loved the Lord Jesus\n    Christ and believed the Bible, who would reject the second\n    advent or the redemption of the body; the final salvation of\n    the soul, or the inheritance of eternal life, at the appearing\n    of Jesus Christ. Yet facts warrant me to say I find more than\n    one-half who profess Christianity denying one or more of these\n    fundamental pillars of the Christian hope.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I am thankful to God, although much and sorely disappointed,\n    that I never pretended to be divinely inspired, but always\n    directed you to the same source from which I obtained all the\n    information I then had and now possess on this glorious and\n    heart-cheering subject. Let me, then, exhort you, kind reader,\n    by the value of truth, by the worth of your own soul, and the\n    love of life everlasting, to examine your Bible on the coming\n    of Christ, the redemption of the body, the salvation of your\n    soul, and the everlasting inheritance. Lay by all prejudice,\n    all opinions not founded on the plain and clear declarations\n    of God\u2019s word; keep close to that rule which will thoroughly\n    furnish you, and make you perfect in every good work; examine\n    for yourselves; let no man deceive you in these days of\n    deception, when the devil has come, deceiving, if possible,\n    the very elect. Now is the time for you to exercise the \u201csober\n    second thought;\u201d a good time for you to come over on the side\n    of truth, to choose the good, and refuse the evil. I beseech\n    you, do not say, \u201cNay, I will not examine!\u201d Do not say, \u201cI\n    am well enough off, and I have got the truth!\u201d Perhaps you\n    have; if so, it will not hurt you to re-examine, for every\n    re-examination only makes the truth the brighter, our evidence\n    more clear, and our love for the truth more fervent; it helps\n    to establish our faith and hope, and keeps us from wavering.\n\n    \u201c\u2018And now, dear reader, let me propose a few questions, in view\n    of what I have said, for you to answer to God and your own\n    soul; and I pray you not to trifle with them, or one of them,\n    if you can find a plain Scripture text which authorizes the\n    question. And I beg of you delay not to answer every question\n    which may or can be answered; and let your answers be such\n    as you will be willing to meet before the throne of God in\n    the day of Judgment, to which day I appeal in thus addressing\n    you. I append a text to every question, to show you they are\n    scriptural:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u20181. Will Christ appear the second time? Heb. 9:28.\n\n    \u201c\u20182. Will he come himself? 1 Thess. 4:16.\n\n    \u201c\u20183. Who will see him? 1 John 3:2; Rev. 1:7.\n\n    \u201c\u20184. Who will not be ashamed before him at his coming? 1 John\n    2:28; 4:17.\n\n    \u201c\u20185. What will Christ come to do? 2 Thess. 1:7-10; Heb.\n    1:10-12; Rev. 21:5.\n\n    \u201c\u20186. When Christ comes, will there be a resurrection? and of\n    whom? 1 Cor. 15:23; 1 Thess. 4:14-18.\n\n    \u201c\u20187. Where is Christ now? Acts 1:11; 3:21.\n\n    \u201c\u20188. At what time will Christ be sent again to earth? Acts\n    3:20, 21.\n\n    \u201c\u20189. When may we know he is near, even at the door? Matt.\n    24:30, 33.\n\n    \u201c\u201810. Has any one of the signs been seen which are given by our\n    Lord in Matt. 24:29; Mark 13:24, 25, or Luke 21:25, 26; or by\n    Paul in 1 Tim. 4:1-3; also 2 Tim. 3:1-9; or by Peter in 2 Pet.\n    3:3, 4, by any one living in this generation?\n\n    \u201c\u201811. When is the day of redemption? Eph. 4:30; Luke 21:28.\n\n    \u201c\u201812. When shall our bodies be redeemed? Rom. 8:23.\n\n    \u201c\u201813. When shall our souls be saved? 1 Pet. 1:7-13.\n\n    \u201c\u201814. When shall the righteous inherit eternal life? Mark\n    10:17; Matt. 19:29; 25:46.\n\n    \u201c\u201815. What is the earnest of that inheritance? Eph. 1:13, 14; 2\n    Cor. 1:22; 5:4, 5.\n\n    \u201c\u201816. If we are to receive all this when Christ appears, and\n    not until then, can you blame any Christian for loving his\n    appearing? 2 Tim. 4:8.\n\n    \u201c\u201817. And, if you were commanded to watch for him, and these\n    blessings were promised when he comes, would you not look with\n    intense interest until his coming?\n\n    \u201c\u201818. And, if you were commanded to watch, would you watch\n    without expecting him? Luke 12:35-40.\n\n    \u201c\u201819. And, if he did not come when you expected, would you\n    not be disappointed in some proportion to your love for his\n    appearing?\n\n    \u201c\u2018Remember this is the situation of your Advent friends; this\n    is our experience. And may God help you to love, watch, and\n    expect the dear Saviour until he shall come.\n\n                                                  \u201c\u2018WILLIAM MILLER.\u2019\n\n\u201cOn the 4th of September, in view of many contradictory opinions afloat,\nhe proffered the following advice:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018When we write to a brother to complain of some of his\n    opinions, let us consider of it three days before we write;\n    pray God nine times to direct us before we take up the pen;\n    read it in the room of our brother three times before we send\n    it; seal it only when we love him for being God-like; send it\n    when we would delight to be the bearer; while it is going,\n    think with what tears of joy he will devour its contents; and\n    remember to pay postage.\u2019\n\n\u201cOn the 8th of September, Mr. M. commenced a tour into Canada. He went\nby way of Lake Champlain to Burlington, Vt., where he preached in the\nevening of that day. There he met Elder Buckley, who accompanied him on\nhis tour. From this place they went to Essex, Vt., where Mr. M. gave\ntwo discourses. On the 12th, they commenced a two-days\u2019 meeting in\nCambridge, Vt., where there was a good attendance. On Tuesday, the 15th,\nthey commenced a meeting in Montgomery, Vt., which continued over the\nfollowing Sabbath, Mr. Miller generally preaching twice a day.\n\n\u201cWhile at this place he was taken with a severe pain in one of his\ntoes. He was soon relieved of that, when the pain commenced in his left\nshoulder. He then desired to return home, but was persuaded to continue\nhis journey. On the 22d, he gave two discourses in South Troy, Vt.\nThe meeting was held in a large hall which had formerly been used for\na ball-room. While he was preaching in the evening, the windows were\npelted with eggs, clubs, and stones, thrown by some \u2018rude fellows of the\nbaser sort,\u2019 who were outside of the building. Some of their missiles\nentered the room. One stone, about the size of a hen\u2019s egg, struck the\ndesk in front of Mr. Miller, where he was speaking. He paused, and, with\nemphasis, asked, very composedly:\u2014\n\n\u201c\u2018Is this Vermont, the State which boasts of its freedom, of its\nrepublicanism? Shame on Vermont!\u2019\n\n\u201cThe audience were somewhat agitated; but he requested them to be quiet,\nand proceeded with his discourse. No one was injured, and good evidently\nresulted from the interruption; for it aroused the old gentleman\u2019s\nenergy, and gave additional interest to the remainder of the sermon.\n\n\u201cOn Thursday, the 24th of September, they commenced a Conference at Derby\nLine, Vt., which continued four days. The pain in Mr. M.\u2019s shoulder had\nincreased considerably, and resulted in a tumor of considerable size,\nwhich was much inflamed. Yet he preached six times, with a good degree of\nvigor.\n\n\u201cOn Monday, the 28th, a widowed sister of Mr. M., living in Canada,\nhaving met him at Derby Line, he left with her for her residence in\nHatley. He was there confined about three weeks with the tumor on his\nshoulder, which was very painful, affecting his neck and head, and\ndischarged freely for many days. In consequence of this indisposition,\nhe was unable to fulfill several appointments, which he had made in that\nregion, much to the disappointment of the inhabitants.\n\n\u201cAs soon as they were able to ride, they started for Low Hampton; but\nthe weather and roads made the traveling very tedious. On his way home\nhe spent a Sabbath, and preached a discourse of two hours\u2019 duration, at\nRickford, Vt., which left him so weak that it was with difficulty he\ncould walk. On arriving at Fairfield, Vt., they spent a night, and Mr. M.\npreached in the evening. They arrived at Low Hampton after an absence of\nabout nine weeks, during which he had been treated with great kindness\nand respect wherever he visited,\u2014with the exception of the incident at\nTroy.\n\n    \u201c\u2018My tour into Canada,\u2019 he wrote, soon after his return, \u2018would\n    have been pleasant and agreeable to me, had it not been for\n    sickness, which confined me to the house.\u2019\n\n\u201cOn the 27th of November following, he wrote to Elder Buckley, who\naccompanied him on the above journey:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018I cannot tell you what I have done since you were here, but I\n    can tell you what I have not done.\n\n    \u201c\u20181. I have not done with vanity. It is as natural as my\n    breath; and if I ever cease from vain and trifling conversation\n    in this world, you must place me in society which I have no\n    regard for,\u2014either to love or to hate,\u2014where I could be a\n    hypocrite without any drawback. For I have often noticed,\n    when I am alone and with no one to converse with, that I am\n    not tempted to speak words of vanity. This is the reason why\n    I choose to be alone much of my time. In my opinion, this\n    accounts for the ascetic lives of the early Christians. What\n    think you\u2014is it not best for me to become a hermit?\n\n    \u201c\u20182. I have not done with _pain_. I have been troubled with\n    head-ache, teeth-ache, bones-ache, and heart-ache, since you\n    left; but much more of the _last_ ache, when I think of so\n    many of my once dearly beloved brethren, who have, since our\n    disappointment, gone into fanaticism of every kind, and left\n    the first principles of the glorious appearing of the great\n    God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. And now, can you blame me\n    for desiring a hermitage, away from these evil tidings and\n    shameful acts of our friends in this time of severe trial?\n\n    \u201c\u20183. I have not done with corruption. My swelling discharges\n    a little every day, and I see myself falling to corruption\n    daily. It may be that I am corrupting others who may be brought\n    into contact with me,\u2014for instance, the fanatics. If they\n    never had heard of \u201cMillerism,\u201d they would have been sober,\n    worldly-seeking, church-loving, and sectarian-building men and\n    women to this day; and they would have been respected as much\n    as other church members are by the rich and popular worldlings.\n    Yes, yes; so says the world; and you know that what the world\n    says must be true. This is, in these modern times, the best\n    evidence. If then, I had been a recluse, instead of running at\n    large, it might have saved the world a great deal of trouble,\n    and the church the knowledge of a great deal of corruption.\n\n    \u201c\u20184. I have done no good thing. I can prove this by every\n    writer, Christian and political, editors, doctors of divinity,\n    professors and ministers of all denominations,\u2014from the Roman\n    Catholic to the Mormon,\u2014save only a few despised Adventists,\n    who, in the eyes of the world, are as much below the Mormons as\n    Christ was below Barabbas in the Jews\u2019 estimation.\n\n    \u201c\u2018But,\u2019 say you, \u2018you say you have done no good thing. Was it\n    not a good thing to tell us, who love Christ\u2019s appearing, that\n    he was near to come? Was it not a good thing to read the Bible\n    to us, and show by history its fulfillment and truth? Was it\n    not a good thing to warn sinners of their danger, which might\n    lead them to repentance and a preparation for the Judgment?\n    Was it not a good thing to preach the kingdom of Heaven at\n    hand and the Judgment? Was it not a good thing to preach the\n    resurrection of these bodies, the inheritance of the saints,\n    and the reign of Christ and his people on the earth made new\n    forever? Was it not a good thing to comfort the saints with\n    the words of his coming, and to stir them up to a remembrance\n    of the things which Christ, the prophets, and apostles, have\n    spoken concerning his coming? And have not you done all this?\u2019\n\n    \u201c\u2018No, no.\u2019\n\n    \u201c\u2018Who has then?\u2019\n\n    \u201c\u2018I answer, it was the grace of God which worked in me of his\n    own good pleasure both to will and to do.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Since I have been preaching this hour, I will give you my\n    text, 2 Cor. 12:11, last clause: \u201c_Though I be nothing._\u201d And\n    now, lastly, the improvement.\n\n    \u201c\u20181. You may learn, by my subject, that I am nothing\u2014like the\n    clay in the hands of the potter.\n\n    \u201c\u20182. You may learn, if any good has been done, that God has\n    done it by his grace; and if any evil, it is a chastisement for\n    disobedience; for \u201cshall there be evil in a city, and the Lord\n    hath not done it?\u201d Amos 3:6.\n\n    \u201c\u20183. We may learn, by the effect of any work, whether it be of\n    God. If wicked men, and proud, selfish, popular professors join\n    hand in hand to oppose you, you may be sure that God is in the\n    work.\n\n    \u201c\u20184. You may learn, by my subject, that I am not well of my\n    disease, nor do I expect to be till Christ comes; for which\n    event I look with great interest and desire. Yours,\n\n                                                      \u201c\u2018WM. MILLER.\u2019\n\n\u201cWith the exception of an occasional article for the press, Mr. Miller\nmade no public effort during the winter. His health would not permit.\nAs the time approached for the usual Annual Meeting in New York city in\nMay, 1847, he made arrangements to be present; but his health was not\nsufficient. In writing of his inability to be present, under date of May\n6, 1847, he said:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018I cannot charge myself with any corrupt motive in promoting\n    the Second Advent doctrine. If I have any regret, it is because\n    I have done so little, and because I have been so inefficient.\n    I have lacked in zeal more than I have lacked in faith. I\n    believed, and do still, in this glorious and Bible doctrine of\n    the second coming of our dear Redeemer, and of his everlasting\n    kingdom or reign in paradise restored.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I fear that I shall not be able to attend at Boston.\u2019\n\n\u201cHis health was, however, so much improved, that, with Elder Buckley, his\ncompanion in travel of the previous year, he left home on the 20th of\nMay, and arrived in Boston on the 22d, three days before the Conference\ncommenced.\n\n\u201cThe day following was Sunday, and he preached two discourses, in the\nafternoon and evening, at the saloon, at No. 9 Milk street, where the\nAdventists then worshiped. On Monday evening he preached, in the same\nplace, on the resurrection of the body. He took part in the discussions\nof the Conference during the week, preached once on the following\nSabbath, and on Monday left for home, where he arrived on Tuesday, June\n1. This was his last visit to Massachusetts.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XX.\n\n    LOSS OF SIGHT\u2014HEALTH DECLINES\u2014EXPRESSION OF SYMPATHY\u2014HIS\n    REPLY\u2014HIS LAST SICKNESS AND DEATH\u2014FUNERAL\u2014LETTER OF CONDOLENCE\n    TO SURVIVING FRIENDS.\n\n\n\u201cOn the 15th of September, 1847, he was present at a tent-meeting at\nBasin Harbor, in Ferrisburg, Vt., which continued four days. In a letter\nwritten on the 27th of the same month, he makes the following reference\nto it:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018DEAR BROTHER HIMES: I cannot refrain from writing a few words\n    to you, to let you know how my soul and body prosper since our\n    tent-meeting at Basin Harbor.\n\n    \u201c\u2018That was to me a profitable time. It seemed like former\n    times, when the truth cut to the heart all who heard.\n    The preaching was plain, powerful, and convincing. The\n    prayer-meetings were humble, devotional, and penitent, and very\n    properly conducted. No uproar, confusion, or fanaticism, which\n    disturb the mind, and leave a bad savor upon the hearts of the\n    fastidious. The Conferences were perfect love-feasts, and the\n    songs such as the poet describes:\u2014\n\n        \u201c\u2018My willing soul would stay\n            In such a frame as this;\n          And sit and sing herself away\n            To everlasting bliss.\u2019\n\n    I never expect to enjoy another such a feast of tabernacles in\n    the flesh. God was with us. Praise his holy name.\u2019 ...\n\n\u201cToward the last of January, 1848, Mr. Miller was attacked with a\ndimness of sight, which deprived him of his usual privilege of reading\nand writing, which, through life, had been to him a source of great\nenjoyment. His health, otherwise, continued as good as could be expected,\nin his gradually declining age.\n\n\u201cWith the loss of his sight, he had to depend on others to read to him,\nand to write the letters which he dictated. He desired the continuance of\nletters from his correspondents, but requested them to excuse him from\nreplying.\n\n\u201cThe hope of soon meeting them where the lame man shall leap as an hart,\nthe tongue of the dumb sing, the blind receive their sight, and the deaf\nhear, and the belief in the nearness of that day, was a great consolation\nto him under his accumulating infirmities. His loss of sight was\ncommunicated by his son, Wm. S. Miller, Esq., in a letter dated February\n10, about two weeks after his attack.\n\n\u201cOn the 7th of March, a letter, from a daughter-in-law of Mr. Miller,\nstated that his general health was then better, but that he had been\nunable to read a word for seven weeks anterior to the preceding Sabbath.\nOn that day, his son Robbins took the glass from the spy-glass, and held\nit to his eye, so that he read a few words. She added:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018His eyes are not sore: the physician whom he has consulted\n    says the retina is affected. Father bears his affliction well.\n    I have never heard him murmur, nor say that it was hard. I\n    think that he feels somewhat \u201ccast down, but not forsaken.\u201d\u2019\n\n\u201cAppended to the above letter, Mr. Miller wrote, without being able to\nsee a word:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018God bless you, bless you all, and save you, is my prayer.\n\n                                                        WM. MILLER.\u2019\n\n\u201cAfter this, his general health was some improved, so that he was able to\nbe about and to busy himself with light work. He was able to distinguish\none object from another, and could often recognize his friends and\nacquaintances; but, with the best glasses he could get, he could not so\ndistinguish letters as to read words. He sometimes attempted to write\nwithout seeing the letters that he traced.\n\n\u201cOn the 14th of September, 1848, he wrote to Mr. Himes:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018Permit me to write a few words, although you may not be able\n    to read them. Yet it may fill up a lonesome hour or two of many\n    a wearisome day to think I have indited some of my thoughts\n    to my old brother traveler. It would, indeed, be a sad and\n    melancholy time with me were it not for the \u201cblessed hope,\u201d of\n    soon seeing Jesus. In this I flatter myself that I cannot be\n    mistaken. And although my natural vision is dark, yet my mind\u2019s\n    vision is lit up with a bright and glorious prospect of the\n    future....\n\n                                                      \u201c\u2018WM. MILLER.\u2019\n\n\u201cAbout the last of April, 1849, his health began to decline more rapidly.\nThis being communicated by Mr. Miller\u2019s son to Mr. Himes, and received\nby him at New York during the session of the annual Conference there on\nthe 10th of May, 1849, he stated to the Conference the intelligence,\nand moved that they convey to Mr. M. an expression of sympathy. The\nfollowing resolution was immediately drawn up by the president, and\nunanimously adopted by a rising vote:\u2014\n\n                        \u201c\u2018ADVENT CONFERENCE, NEW YORK, MAY 10, 1849.\n\n    \u201c\u2018_Whereas_, Our beloved Brother William Miller has been called\n    to endure a great fight of afflictions; and as God has been\n    pleased, after employing him in advancing the cause of truth,\n    to lay his hand on him, and suspend his labors; therefore,\n\n    \u201c\u2018_Resolved_, That we deeply sympathize with our brother in his\n    sorrows, and assure him that our love to him is steadfast, and\n    that he has our earnest prayers that \u201cthese light afflictions,\n    which are but for a moment, may work out for him a far more\n    exceeding and eternal weight of glory;\u201d and that we hope,\n    ere long, we may meet with him and all the saints in the new\n    heavens and earth, where there will be no more sighing, sorrow,\n    or death.\n\n                         \u201c\u2018(Signed,) NATHAN N. WHITING, _Pres._\n                         \u201c\u2018SYLVESTER BLISS, O. R. FASSETT, _Sec\u2019s_.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. Miller received the above on the 12th of May, by the hand of\nhis biographer. On entering his room, he was reclining on a lounge.\nAt the mention of his name, he immediately arose, and recognized the\nmessenger. He was much affected with the expression of sympathy sent by\nthe Conference, and returned the following reply, which was received by\nthe Conference at Boston, to which place it had adjourned, where it was\nentered on its minutes, May 29, 1849.\n\n                                        \u201c\u2018LOW HAMPTON, MAY 12, 1849.\n\n    \u201c\u2018To my beloved brethren in Christ, assembled in Conference,\n    and to the saints scattered abroad. Grace be unto you, and\n    peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018I give thanks to God for your kind remembrance of me, as\n    expressed in the resolution of the 10th of May inst., in\n    your late meeting at New York city, and forwarded to me by\n    the hand of Bro. Bliss. I have not ceased to make mention\n    of you alway in my prayers, that you might walk together\n    worthy of your high calling in Christ Jesus, that you may\n    be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and\n    spiritual understanding, being fruitful in every good work,\n    and increasing in the knowledge of God. I feel myself greatly\n    revived by your expression of sympathy, and trust that you will\n    never have occasion to feel that it has been misplaced.\n\n    \u201c\u2018My multiplied and increasing infirmities admonish me that the\n    time of my departure is drawing nigh. My earthly labors have\n    ceased, and I now await the Master\u2019s call, to be ready at his\n    appearing, or, if it so please him, for the little while his\n    coming may be delayed, to depart and be with Christ, which is\n    far better than to abide in the flesh. I feel that I have but\n    little choice, whether I shall be continued in life till that\n    event, or my spirit be gathered to the spirits of just men\n    made perfect. However God may be pleased to deal with me, I\n    am sustained by the blessed assurance that, whether I wake or\n    sleep, I shall be present with the Lord.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I daily have you all in grateful remembrance; and rejoice\n    that so many of you continue steadfast in the faith once\n    delivered to the saints, looking for that blessed hope and the\n    glorious appearing of the great God, even our Saviour Jesus\n    Christ. I pray God that your faith may fail not, and that you\n    may continue working together in harmony, building up one\n    another in the most holy faith, and, by your blameless lives\n    and godly conversation, commending this gospel of Christ to the\n    hearts and consciences of dying men.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I have but little hope, in my present weakness and\n    infirmities, of seeing the faces of many of you in the flesh.\n    Permit me, therefore, to exhort you not to be ashamed of the\n    doctrine of the kingdom of Christ, nor of acknowledging on all\n    proper occasions your confidence in the nearness of his coming.\n\n    \u201c\u2018My belief is unshaken in the correctness of the conclusions\n    I have arrived at and maintained during the last twenty years.\n    I see no reason to question the evidence on which rest the\n    fundamental principles of our faith. I cannot avoid the belief\n    that this earth is to be restored to its Eden state, and\n    become the eternal residence of the saints; that Christ is to\n    come personally, to reign on the earth; that he will redeem\n    us from death, and ransom us from the power of the grave;\n    that he will change our vile bodies into the likeness of his\n    glorified body, and destroy those who destroy the earth; and\n    that at his coming will be the restoration of all things,\n    spoken of by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world\n    began, the establishment of the new heavens and new earth, the\n    resurrection of the righteous, and the change of the living\n    wicked from the earth,\u2014whose resurrection will not transpire\n    till after one thousand years.\n\n    \u201c\u2018The evidences of Christ\u2019s coming are continually thickening;\n    it hasteth greatly; and should this earthly house of my\n    tabernacle be dissolved, my hope is still strong that I shall\n    shortly meet him in the air. The political clouds in the\n    Eastern horizon indicate to me the near approach of the battle\n    of the Lord God Almighty, the destruction of the kingdoms of\n    the earth, and the establishment of the kingdom of God. We\n    may not know the precise time, but I entreat of you all to be\n    prepared for the approaching crisis.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Grudge not one against another, brethren. Be patient, for the\n    coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Be not many masters, but let\n    each one do the work which God has fitted him for. Avoid vain\n    janglings and questions which gender strife. Keep constantly\n    in view the great question of the coming of the Lord,\u2014the hope\n    which purifieth the heart, and tends to the unity of the whole\n    body of believers. If you do this, you will do well, and will\n    each seek the other\u2019s good in preference to his own, and thus\n    become living epistles, known and read of all men.\n\n    \u201c\u2018In unity of effort will be your only strength. Therefore\n    I recommend your meeting often in conference, as you have\n    done, to consult with and encourage each other, in these\n    times of trial and temptation. Be not turned away from your\n    great work by friends or foes; but let each one occupy the\n    talent intrusted to him\u2014each working in his appropriate field\n    of labor. Be charitable to all, and not indulge in harsh and\n    bitter denunciations against those who are not enabled to see\n    with you. Cultivate that spirit of good will toward all men,\n    which shall fit you to be instrumental, in the hands of God, of\n    saving some; and be less interested to advance the prosperity\n    of party or sect than to extend the cause of truth. Above\n    all, keep close to the word of God. And, finally, brethren,\n    farewell. Be perfect, be of good cheer, be of one mind, live in\n    peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.\n\n                                                      \u201c\u2018WM. MILLER.\u2019\n\n\u201cHe was at this time somewhat disposed to melancholy, but while the\nwriter was with him, which was two days, he partook of his food with the\nfamily, and ate with considerable relish\u2014which was, they stated, what he\nhad not done before for several weeks. He never doubted his acceptance\nthrough the blood of Jesus, but rather shrank from the expected\nsufferings attending the dissolution of the body. Still he was willing to\nendure all that for the sake of the prospect beyond. In a letter written\nat this date, he said:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018If the meeting of one kindred spirit is so cheering to a sick\n    man here, what must be the joy of our greeting in the other\n    world! The thought of death is a chilling one; but a meeting\n    with the kindred spirits who are with Christ waiting for the\n    consummation of his kingdom reconciles me to the idea of\n    passing through the dark valley.\u2019\n\n\u201cIn November, 1849, Elder L. Kimball, who had had the charge of the\nchurch in Low Hampton, took his leave of that people. He writes:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018Agreeably to Bro. Miller\u2019s urgent request, we held the\n    evening meeting (of the first Sunday in Nov.) at his house. He\n    said he wanted to hear me preach once more. He also desired the\n    singers to attend. After assembling, he called me to his room,\n    and gave me for a text, \u201cAnd when they had seen the brethren,\n    they comforted them and departed.\u201d Acts 16:40. He was drawn, in\n    his easy chair, from his room to the kitchen, where he remained\n    till the close of the services. He was unable to take any part,\n    but expressed himself gratified, and wished that he could have\n    said a few words to the brethren and friends present. It was to\n    me a solemn season.\u2019\n\n\u201cAbout the first of December, Elder D. I. Robinson visited him. He\nwrites:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018Such was the state of the roads that I did not arrive there\n    till sunset. His house stood in sight of the stage-road to\n    Rutland, so that it was a subject for observation to all the\n    passengers in the stage. It was pointed out to me by one\n    of them, who lived in an adjoining village. It was to me a\n    fruitful subject, as I beheld, for the first time, both beauty\n    and sublimity in the cultivated vale and snow-capped, venerable\n    mountains in the vicinity. I thought how appropriate\u2014how like\n    the hills and vales of Judea, where Amos and other shepherds\n    and former servants of the Most High lived, were called, and\n    sent to warn mankind!\n\n    \u201c\u2018As I approached across the farm, I passed the grove where he\n    had meditated, wept, and prayed, and entered the house of the\n    aged, wornout, sick and dying servant of God, who had been so\n    scorned by the world. I felt favored of God. I was welcomed in\n    the simple, hearty, easy style of a Vermont Christian farmer\u2019s\n    family. That pleasant, beaming countenance of his wife, and\n    the hearty shake of the hand, told me I was at home; and\n    the kettle of hominy, just taken from the fire, was at once\n    prophetic of my supper. And all the members of the family,\n    intelligent, modest, and cordial, made me feel how really glad\n    they were of the call, and to hear from those abroad.\n\n    \u201c\u2018I was quickly invited into the \u201ceast room,\u201d where \u201cFather\n    Miller\u201d greeted me, though he could not see so as to know me;\n    but, when told, recollected distinctly. He was much changed,\n    and yet so changed as to leave all the good outlines of former\n    acquaintance behind. His sufferings through the summer and\n    fall had been very great. He was much swollen by dropsy. His\n    strength and sight were much diminished. His venerable white\n    locks were few and thin, and his flesh was like that of a\n    child. But his voice was full, his memory good, his intellect\n    strikingly strong and clear, and his patience and resignation\n    were remarkable. He asked of my welfare, and of the friends;\n    and said he was never so strong in his mind that we were right\n    as now. He was sure it could not be long before the coming of\n    the Lord. He wished him to come soon; but, if not, to be taken\n    himself to the Lord.\u2019\n\n\u201cHe was drawn to the table in his chair, and ate supper with the family,\nprobably for the last time. Elder R. left the next morning between\nfour and five o\u2019clock; but Mr. Miller was awake, and arose to take an\naffectionate leave of him.\n\n\u201cFor several months he had been confined mostly to his room. During a\npart of the time he had been confined to his bed, lounge, or easy chair;\nand he suffered excruciating pain, which he endured with Christian\npatience. During his greatest sufferings, he solaced himself by\nquotations of numerous passages of Scripture, and favorite hymns of Watts\nand others, expressive of the hope and joy of the redeemed.\n\n\u201cHe had watched all the occurrences in Europe with great interest;\nbut, giving up the idea of seeing the Saviour before his death, he had\narranged all his business, and waited for the summons when he might\n\u2018depart and be with Christ.\u2019[89]\n\n\u201cOn the 13th of December he had one of the most severe attacks of pain\nwhich he was called to endure. It was then thought he would not survive\ntill the next morning, and Elder Himes was immediately telegraphed for,\nat the request of Mr. M. Mr. Himes wrote:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018On my arrival, early in the morning of the 17th, he\n    had obtained some relief, and was quite comfortable. On\n    entering his room, he immediately recognized my voice, and,\n    on approaching his bed-side, he was able to distinguish my\n    features, though his eyes were dim.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Then you do know me, Father Miller, do you?\u2019\n\n    \u201c\u2018Oh! yes; I understand,\u2014I know what is passing.\u2019\n\n    \u201c\u2018He was then silent for a few moments, apparently in a deep\n    study. Presently he introduced the subject of my connection\n    with the Advent cause, and spoke of my responsibility;\n    expressed much anxiety about the cause, and alluded to his own\n    departure. I assured him that he had faithfully discharged\n    his duty, was clear from the blood of all men, and could now\n    leave this matter in the hands of God; and, so far as I was\n    concerned, I hoped for grace to enable me to be faithful in the\n    ministry I had received. He seemed to assent, and fell into\n    a doze,\u2014being weak, and unable to converse longer than a few\n    moments at a time.\n\n    \u201c\u2018He then spoke on the subject of the \u201cspirit of adoption,\u201d\n    which we have now, and of the final adoption for which we look\n    _at_ the second coming of the blessed Saviour. Last evening he\n    said to Bro. Bosworth:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018Tell them [the brethren] we are right. The coming of the Lord\n    draweth nigh; but they must be patient, and wait for him.\u2019\n\n    \u201c\u2018His mind is still clear and strong on the subject of the\n    conscious intermediate state. He believes that when he shall\n    be absent from the body he will be present with the Lord. He\n    expects that his flesh will slumber in the ground till Jesus\n    comes and bids it rise, when he will be perfected. He never\n    looked for the crown at death, but at the time when Jesus\n    should come in his glory. The intermediate state is not that\n    for which he longs most (though, with the apostle, he thinks it\n    is \u201cbetter\u201d than this state of toil and sorrow), but the final,\n    the glorified state, when the body shall be redeemed, and made\n    like unto the glorious body of Christ, is the subject of this\n    hope.\n\n    \u201c\u2018For some weeks past, his mind dwelt much on the subjects of\n    the Judgment, the \u201cadoption,\u201d and the new heavens and earth.\n\n    \u201c\u2018Such views of the future glory tended to mitigate the pains\n    of his body, which, at times, were violent.\n\n        \u201c\u2018Happy the spirit released from its clay.\u2019\n\n    was one of the hymns in which he was deeply interested during\n    the last four weeks of his life. It was sung by his children,\n    and those who visited him, repeatedly, at his request. It\n    enraptured his soul during his last hours, when he seemed to be\n    absent, conversing with God and Heaven. He often repeated:\u2014\n\n        \u201c\u2018Victory! victory! shouting in death!\u2019\n\n    \u201c\u2018The closing scene finally came. On the 20th of December, in\n    the morning, it was manifest to all that he must soon depart.\n    During the morning he made no particular conversation, but\n    would break forth in expressions like the following:\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018Mighty to save!\u2019 \u2018Oh, I long to be there!\u2019 \u2018Victory!\n    victory!\u2019 \u2018Shouting in death!\u2019 &c.\n\n    \u201c\u2018He finally sunk down into an easy sleeping or dozing state.\n    Occasionally he roused up and opened his eyes, but was not\n    able to speak, though perfectly rational, and knew us all. He\n    continued to breathe shorter, and shorter, till five minutes\n    past three o\u2019clock, P. M., when he calmly and sweetly gave his\n    last breath. The silver cord was loosed, the golden bowl was\n    broken at the fountain, and the wheel broken at the cistern;\n    the dust was left to return to the dust as it was, and the\n    spirit returned to God who gave it. Peacefully and happily he\n    died, with his wife, children, and friends, about his bed! I\n    closed his eyes, while all other eyes were filled with tears.\n    It was a solemn scene. While the wife and children and friends\n    were weeping the loss of a beloved relative, I was there to\n    weep the loss of a father in Israel.\n\n    \u201c\u2018The funeral service was attended on Sunday, December 23. The\n    Advent chapel in Low Hampton being too small to accommodate the\n    family, friends, and citizens, who were desirous of attending,\n    Mr. Shaw, pastor of the Congregational church in Fairhaven,\n    kindly offered the use of his large and commodious house. It\n    had been Mr. Miller\u2019s request that the funeral service should\n    be held in the Advent chapel; but this being found impossible,\n    the family decided to have a short service at their residence,\n    to bury the body, and then to proceed to the Congregational\n    house, for the performance of the more public service.\n\n    \u201c\u2018The relatives of the deceased, and a large number of his\n    neighbors and others, assembled at the house at 10 A. M. I\n    read the following portions of Scripture, namely, 1 Thess.\n    4:13-18; Phil. 3:20, 21; Col. 3:1-3. The choir from the\n    Fairhaven church then sung the hymn commencing with\u2014\n\n        \u201c\u2018Unveil thy bosom, faithful tomb.\u2019\n\n    After a prayer, those present took leave of the corpse, and\n    the procession\u2014formed under the direction of Dr. Smith, of\n    Castleton\u2014proceeded to the old family burying-ground, about\n    half a mile distant. The body being lowered into the tomb, the\n    following hymn was sung by the choir:\u2014\n\n        \u201c\u2018Happy the spirit released from its clay,\u2019 &c.\n\n    \u201c\u2018With a last, lingering look, we turned from the tomb, and\n    proceeded with the numerous friends to the meeting-house, to\n    attend the more public service. About one hundred sleighs\n    followed in the procession.\n\n    \u201c\u2018On arriving at the house, I found it densely filled with\n    people, with the exception of seats reserved for the family,\n    and those who had formed the procession. The service was\n    commenced by singing the hymn in the \u201cHarp,\u201d beginning with\u2014\n\n        \u201c\u2018How blest the righteous when he dies.\u2019\n\n    Mr. Shaw, pastor of the church, read the 90th psalm, and\n    addressed the throne of grace; after which the hymn\u2014\n\n        \u201c\u2018Why do we mourn departed friends?\u2019\n\n    was sung. I gave a discourse from Acts 26:6-8: \u201cAnd now I stand\n    and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto\n    our fathers; unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly\n    serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope\u2019s\n    sake, King Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. Why should it be\n    thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the\n    dead?\u201d With a narration of the prominent events in the history\n    of the deceased, and a brief synopsis of his views, the speaker\n    presented the hope of the promise of God to the fathers, to\n    be consummated at the coming of the Lord. The services lasted\n    three hours, and were concluded with the hymn\u2014\n\n        \u201c\u2018They sleep in Jesus, and are blessed.\u2019\n\n    The audience were attentive and interested to the close.\n\n                                                       J. V. HIMES.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. Miller left a wife, six sons, and two daughters.\n\n\u201cAt the annual Conference, held in New York, in May following, by a\nunanimous vote, the following letter of condolence, prepared by a\ncommittee appointed for that purpose, was addressed to the relatives of\nthe deceased:\u2014\n\n                             \u201c\u2018IN CONFERENCE, NEW YORK, MAY 8, 1850.\n\n    \u201c\u2018_To Mrs. Lucy Miller, her children, and other relatives_\u2014\n\n    \u201c\u2018AFFLICTED FRIENDS: Since our last meeting, you have been\n    called to mourn the death of a beloved husband, a tender\n    parent, and an affectionate friend. In your bereavement\n    we truly sympathize. In your loss we also have lost a\n    friend and brother. But we mourn our loss in view of higher\n    considerations. We regard him as a man called of God to a most\n    important work; and as a man greatly blessed in the successful\n    performance of that work. The unsullied integrity of his life\n    was crowned by a peaceful and hopeful death. The deep sense\n    of gratitude we feel to God for the benefits conferred on us\n    through his instrumentality, we trust will find a response\n    in many Christian hearts. Through the divine blessing on his\n    teaching, our attention has been directed to a more faithful\n    study of the Scriptures, to clearer, more harmonious and\n    correct views of divine truth. We have thus been led to rejoice\n    in hope of the glory to be revealed at the appearing of Christ.\n    We fondly hoped that he might have been spared till our\n    expectations were realized. He has passed away. May we remember\n    that our obligations are increased by the truth which he\n    taught. May we be prepared for a reunion with him and all the\n    redeemed in that day. Our sincere and united prayer is, that\n    the grace which sustained him under his severe trials, and in\n    the closing scene, may support you in your bereavement, and in\n    all the afflictions of the present state, and secure to you the\n    enjoyment of the glorious future. Tendering to your acceptance\n    this expression of our sympathy and condolence, we remain your\n    affectionate brethren in the faith once delivered to the saints.\n\n                                \u201c\u2018(Signed,) N. N. WHITING, _Pres._\n                                \u201c\u2018O. R. FASSETT, S. BLISS, _Sec\u2019s_.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe death of Mr. Miller was very generally noticed by the religious\nand secular press, many of whom spoke in just terms of his honesty and\nability. Other papers connected with his memory extravagances with which\nhe had no sympathy and never participated in.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nFOOTNOTES\n\n\n[1] For a full exposition of the subject of the sanctuary and the nature\nof its cleansing, see Thoughts on Daniel, by U. Smith, and The Sanctuary\nand Twenty-three Hundred Days, by J. N. Andrews.\n\n[2] See John 14:3; Acts. 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16; Rev. 1:7; Matt. 16:27;\n24:30; Mark. 8:38; 13:26; Dan. 7:13.\n\n[3] Dan. 7:14, 18, 22, 27; Matt. 25:34; Luke 12:32; 19:12, 15; 22:29; 1\nCor. 9:25; 2 Tim. 4:1, 8; James 1:12; 1 Pet. 5:4.\n\n[4] 2 Pet. 3:7-10; Isa. 65:17-19; Rev. 21:22.\n\n[5] 1 Cor. 15:20, 23, 49, 51-53; Phil. 3:20, 21; 1 Thess. 4:14-17; 1 John\n3:2.\n\n[6] Isa. 34:8; 40:2, 5; 41:10-12; Rom. 8:21-23; 1 Cor. 1:7, 8; 4:14;\n15:54, 56; Eph. 5:27; Col. 1:22; 1 Thess. 3:13; Heb. 2:13-15; Jude 24;\nRev. 20:1-6.\n\n[7] It will be seen that Wm. Miller held the doctrine of consciousness in\ndeath, which most of the Adventists have renounced.\n\n                                                                     J. W.\n\n[8] Ps. 50:3; 97:3; Isa. 60:15, 16; 24:21, 22; Dan. 7:10; Mal. 4:1; Matt.\n3:12; John 25:29; Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 3:13; 1 Thess. 5:2, 3; 2 Thess.\n1:7-9; 1 Peter 1:7; 2 Peter 3:7, 10; Jude 6, 7, 14, 15; Rev. 20:3, 13-15.\n\n[9] Ps. 37:9-11, 22, 28, 29, 34; Prov. 2:21, 22; 10:30; Isa. 40:21; Matt.\n5:5; 6:10.\n\n[10] Rev. 20:2-7.\n\n[11] Matt. 13:37-43; 24:14; Dan. 7:21, 22; 2 Thess. 2:8.\n\n[12] 2 Pet. 3; Isa. 65:17; Rev. 21:22.\n\n[13] Rom. 2:14, 15; 4:13; 9:6; 10:12; 11:17; Gal. 3:29; Eph. 2:14, 15.\n\n[14] The supposition that two of the periods of Daniel extended to the\nsecond advent constituted Mr. Miller\u2019s mistake, hence the consequent\ndisappointment.\n\n                                                                     J. W.\n\n[15] At this place they raised, and placed in his hands, quite a sum of\nmoney for his services. He took $1.50 to pay his stage fare to the next\nplace, and directed them to give the balance to some benevolent object.\n\n[16] A son of Mr. M., who was at that time postmaster in Low Hampton.\n\n[17] Mr. M. was in the habit of replying to those who denied that God\nhas revealed the time by asking them: \u201cWhat \u2018wonders\u2019 are referred to in\nDaniel 12:6?\u201d \u201cWho gave the answer to the inquiry there asked?\u201d and \u201cIf\nthose \u2018wonders\u2019 include the resurrection,\u2014and the Lord has sworn with\nan oath that it shall be for a time, times, and a half,\u2014is not the time\nrevealed?\u201d adding. \u201cWhether we understand it correctly or not, is another\nquestion.\u201d\n\n[18] See Introduction, vol. 1, p. 333; vol. 4, pp. 189, 191.\n\n[19] See Harmony of Scripture.\n\n[20] Theol. Dic., p. 228.\n\n[21] A Hebrew scholar, of high reputation, makes the following remarks\nupon the word: \u201cThe verb _chathak_ (in the Niphal form, passive,\nnechtak), is found _only_ in Daniel 9:24. Not another instance of its use\ncan be traced in the entire Hebrew Testament. As Chaldaic and Rabbinical\nusage must give us the true sense of the word: if we are guided by these,\nit has the _single_ signification of CUTTING or CUTTING OFF. In the\nChaldeo-Rabbinic dictionary of Stockius, the word \u2018_chathak_\u2019 is thus\ndefined:\u2014\n\n\u201c\u2018Scidit, abscidit, conscidit, inscidit, excidit.\u2019\u2014_To cut_, to cut away,\nto cut in pieces, to cut or engrave, _to cut off_.\n\n\u201cMercerus, in his \u2018Thesaurus,\u2019 furnishes a specimen of Rabbinical usage\nin the phrase chathikah shelbasar\u2014\u2018a piece of flesh,\u2019 or \u2018a cut of\nflesh.\u2019 He translates the word as it occurs in Daniel 9:24, by \u2018pr\u00e6cisa\nest\u2019\u2014WAS CUT OFF.\n\n\u201cIn the literal version of Arias Montanus it is translated \u2018decisa\nest\u2019\u2014WAS CUT OFF; in the marginal reading, which is grammatically\ncorrect, it is rendered by the plural \u2018decis\u00e6 sunt\u2019\u2014_were cut off_.\n\n\u201cIn the Latin version of Junius and Tremellius, nechtak is rendered\n\u2018decis\u00e6 sunt.\u2019\u2014_were cut off_.\n\n\u201cAgain: in Theodotion\u2019s Greek version of Daniel (which is the version\nused in the Vatican copy of the Septuagint as being the most faithful),\nit is rendered by \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03bc\u1f21\u03b8\u03b7\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd\u2014_were cut off_; and in the Venetian copy\nby \u03c4\u03b5\u03c4\u03bc\u03ae\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\u2014_have been cut_. The idea of _cutting off_ is pursued in the\nVulgate, where the phrase is \u2018abbreviat\u00e6 sunt,\u2019 have been shortened.\n\n\u201cThus _Chaldaic and Rabbinical authority_, and _that of the earliest\nversions_,\u2014_the Septuagint and Vulgate_,\u2014_give the SINGLE SIGNIFICATION\nOF CUTTING OFF TO THIS VERB_.\u201d\n\n[22] Dowling\u2019s Reply to Miller.\n\n[23] It will be evident to the reader that Mr. Miller held the doctrine\nof endless misery in a local hell at the time he gave this discourse. In\nfact, there is no evidence that he changed his views on the immortality\nquestion to the time of his death. His writings and his labors give\nevidence that his mind was not called to the investigation of the\nsubject, it being fully occupied with the great second advent question.\nThe discussion of the immortality theme among the Adventists seems to\nhave been left to younger men at a later period.\n\n                                                                     J. W.\n\n[24] From personal acquaintance with Mr. Miller, and a thorough knowledge\nof his teachings, we are happy to state that during his entire public\nlife he had no sympathy whatever with those teachings and influences\nwhich lead to fanaticism; and that his broad and liberal feelings of\nChristian fellowship are expressed in the following address.\n\n                                                                     J. W.\n\n[25] While it may now appear very evident that the stand taken by\nMr. Miller, relative to the character, and the final results, of the\nfanaticism of which he speaks, was a proper and right one, it is not so\nclear that he disposed of the question of the gifts and manifestations\nof the Spirit of God, in harmony with the general scope of Scripture\ntestimony upon the subject. The reader will observe that he does not\nproduce the proof, in his accustomed style of proving his points, that\nthe great commission, with its duties, and its blessings, was given to\nthe ministry for only a limited portion of the Christian age. Mr. Miller,\nMr. Himes, and other leading Adventists, failed to show the time when,\nand by whom, the gifts were removed from the church of God. This gave the\nfanatics great advantage; and as they maintained the scriptural position\nupon the perpetuity of spiritual gifts they gained very large numbers to\ntheir ranks. The false positions of those who opposed them added fuel to\nthe flame of fanaticism already kindled, and resulted in the breaking up\nof the once united and happy body of believers.\n\nSeventh-day Adventists have held the scriptural position upon the\nperpetuity of the gifts from their first existence. They have taken heed\nto the admonition of Paul to \u201cDespise not prophesyings;\u201d but to \u201cProve\nall things;\u201d and \u201cHold fast that which is good.\u201d 2 Thess. 5:20, 21. They\nhave with their Bibles in their hands applied the rule of John by which\nto test the spirits. \u201cBelieve not every spirit; but try the spirits,\nwhether they are of God.\u201d 1 John 4:1. With this position those who have\nheld it have been prepared to meet every form of fanaticism that has\nsought a place among us, and now our people are reaping the good fruits\nof their patient, firm, and energetic efforts upon this point, in the\nunparalleled union and order throughout the ranks. We would not encourage\na disposition to blame those who acted according to the best light they\nhad under the pressure of the trials of the past; but we here express our\nsolemn conviction that very much of the past fanaticism and confusion\namong the Adventists who could not adopt an unscriptural position, is\nchargeable to those leaders who took a false position relative to the\nperpetuity of spiritual gifts.\n\n                                                                     J. W.\n\n[26] \u201c1. The ark rested on the seventh month, seventeenth day. This has\nan appearance of a type, the rest of the gospel ark at the judgment. Gen.\n8:4.\n\n\u201c2. The sanctuary and worshipers, and all appertaining to it, were\ncleansed on the seventh month, tenth to seventeenth day. Lev. 16:29-34.\nSurely this is a type.\n\n\u201c3. The Israelites of God were to afflict their souls, from the evening\nof the ninth to the evening of the tenth day, seventh month. Lev.\n23:27-32, a type of the troubles, Dan. 12:1.\n\n\u201c4. The holy convocation of all Israel, seventh month, 1-15th day, Lev.\n23:24; Num. 29:1. Is not this a type of the gathering of the elect? Ps.\n81:3, 4; 98:6-9.\n\n\u201c5. The great feast, seventh month, fifteenth day, all Israel appeared\nbefore the Lord. Lev. 23:34; 1 Kings 8:2. Type of the marriage supper.\nHeb. 9:9, 10.\n\n\u201c6. The jubilee trump sounded, seventh month, tenth day, throughout all\nthe land. Lev. 25:9, 10. Type of final redemption. 1 Thess. 4:14-17.\n\n\u201c7. The time of release of all Hebrews in bondage, seventh month,\nfifteenth day. Deut. 15:1-15; 31:10, 11; Jer. 34:8-14, at the feast of\nthe tabernacles. This evidently is typical of the release of the Israel\nof God.\n\n\u201c8. The atonement was made on the tenth day of the seventh month, and\nis certainly typical of the atonement Christ is now making for us. Lev.\n16:1-34, antitype. Heb. 9:1-28.\n\n\u201c9. When the high priest came out of the holy of holies after making the\natonement, he blessed the people. Lev. 9:22, 23; 2 Sam. 6:18. So will our\ngreat High Priest. Heb. 9:28. This was on the seventh month, tenth day.\n\n\u201c10. This was in harvest time, the feast of harvest was kept in the\nseventh month, from the tenth day to the seventeenth. Lev. 23:10. And the\nend of the world is compared to the harvest. Matt. 13:30. Christ says\nplain in \u201charvest time.\u201d\n\n\u201c11. Also in the feast of tabernacles, in the great day of the feast\nin the last day. John 7:2, 37. So in the last great day, Jesus\u2019 voice\nwill call forth the righteous dead. John 5:28, 29; 1 Thess. 4:16.\u201d\u2014 _Wm.\nMiller in Sings of the Times for May 17, 1843_.\n\n[27] Here Mr. Miller expresses the views and feelings of the Adventists\ngenerally for a time after the disappointment in October, 1844. Many of\nthe leading men in the movement soon became impatient, and backed out of\nthis position by rashly condemning the time movements of 1843 and 1844 as\nthe result of error, and they took the majority of believers with them.\nThis division left those who took good heed to the godly exhortations of\nMr. Miller exposed to great trials and the ravages of fanaticism.\n\nGod had the great sanctuary question in reserve for the Adventists,\nwhich, in connection with the three messages of Rev. 14, if they had\nwaited patiently in the position where his word and providence had\nbrought them, would have explained the past, given certainty to the then\npresent, and would have opened before them the future work of the third\nmessage.\n\n                                                                     J. W.\n\n[28] From this communication, the reader will be able to gather much\nrelative to the trials of the time when it was written. Mr. Miller had\nnot the true light upon the sanctuary question, consequently held that\nthe 2300 and 1335 days reached to the second coming of Christ. But at\nthe same time, his convictions were so very strong that the hand of\nGod had been in the distinct movements of 1843 and 1844, that leading\nAdventists could not influence him to reject the work of God in his past\ndeep experience. This communication called out a reply nearly twice its\nlength from the editors of the _Herald_. He respected and loved these his\nfellow-laborers; and any statement that he was not influenced by them to\na greater or less extent would be unreasonable. And although at a later\nperiod he did enter the lecturing field, he held firmly, to the day of\nhis death, that he was fully justified in preaching the time.\n\n                                                                     J. W.\n\n[29] The leading object in giving matter of this kind from the pen of\nMr. Miller is to let the Christian character and tender spirit of the\nman appear, whom God had raised up to do a great work. He had been a\nbrave soldier in the service of his country, and had fearlessly stood in\ndefense of unpopular truth, and had dared to meet opposition, scoffs, and\neven scandal, from the popular churches. But now, under the most trying\ncircumstances, we see the aged Christian warrior, clothed with humility\nas with a garment, and his spirit all softened and sweetened by divine\ngrace, tenderly entreating his brethren to be patient, gentle, true, and\nkind.\n\n                                                                     J. W.\n\n[30] 2 Pet. 3:7, 10, 13.\n\n[31] Dan. 7:27.\n\n[32] Heb. 9:28.\n\n[33] Acts 1:9, 11.\n\n[34] Matt. 2:1.\n\n[35] Matt. 1:18.\n\n[36] Matt. 1:25.\n\n[37] Matt. 11:5.\n\n[38] 1 Pet. 3:18.\n\n[39] Luke 23:46.\n\n[40] Luke 23:53.\n\n[41] 1 Cor. 15:4.\n\n[42] Luke 24:51.\n\n[43] Acts 3:21.\n\n[44] 1 Thess. 4:16, 17; 1 Cor. 15:52.\n\n[45] 2 Thess. 1:7, 8.\n\n[46] 2 Tim. 4:1.\n\n[47] Matt. 24:33.\n\n[48] Dan. 7:25; 8:14; 9:24; 12:7, 11, 12; Rev. 9:10, 15; 11:2, 3; 12:6,\n14; 13:5.\n\n[49] Dan. 2d, 7th, 8th, 9th, 11th, and 12th chaps.; Rev. 9th, 11th, 12th,\n13th, 14th and 17th chaps.\n\n[50] Matt. 24:29; Luke 21:25, 26.\n\n[51] Luke 21:28; 1 Thess. 4:18.\n\n[52] 2 Cor. 5:11.\n\n[53] Luke 13:24, 25.\n\n[54] Acts 20:21; Mark 1:15.\n\n[55] Titus 2:11-13.\n\n[56] John 5:28, 29.\n\n[57] Acts 24:15.\n\n[58] 1 Cor. 15:23.\n\n[59] Rev. 20:5.\n\n[60] 1 Cor. 15:51, 52.\n\n[61] Rev. 20:2-7.\n\n[62] Isa. 11; 35:1, 2, 5-10; 65:17-25.\n\n[63] Rom. 4:13.\n\n[64] Rom. 9:6.\n\n[65] Rom. 10:12.\n\n[66] Eph. 2:14, 15.\n\n[67] Rom. 2:6.\n\n[68] Gal. 3:29.\n\n[69] Eze. 37:12; Heb. 11:12, 13; Rom. 11:17; John 5:28, 29.\n\n[70] Matt. 24:14.\n\n[71] Dan. 7:21, 22.\n\n[72] Matt. 13:37-43.\n\n[73] 2 Thess. 2:8.\n\n[74] Rev. 5:9, 10; 21:24.\n\n[75] Matt. 28:19, 20.\n\n[76] Rev. 14:7.\n\n[77] Acts 3:19, 20.\n\n[78] Dan. 12:13; Rev. 6:9-11; Rom. 8:22, 23.\n\n[79] Heb. 11:40.\n\n[80] 1 Pet. 1:4, 5.\n\n[81] 2 Tim. 4:8.\n\n[82] Ps. 17:15.\n\n[83] Matt. 25:34.\n\n[84] Luke 20:36.\n\n[85] The great sin of this time evidently was the disposition of the\nleading men in the cause to draw back from the clear position, powerful\nwork, and deep experience, of the time movement. They were disappointed\nand greatly embarrassed. And, instead of patiently waiting for God to\nopen to their minds the great sanctuary question in his own good time,\nthey impatiently and rashly cast away their confidence in the work of\nGod, and abandoned themselves to the fearful work described in the\nfollowing prophetic exhortation of Paul: \u201cCast not away therefore your\nconfidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of\npatience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the\npromise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and\nwill not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if any man draw\nback, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who\ndraw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the\nsoul.\u201d Heb. 10:35-39.\n\nThe application of this exhortation is so very natural and forcible that\nit will hardly be called in question. It was a fearful time. Satan was\nin a most powerful manner attaching the fancies and extravagances of\nfanaticism to the only true and correct position. This made the gulf\nbetween the two parties still wider. Both in their extreme positions hurt\neach other. The course of those who were drawing back filled the other\nwith terror, while their extremes in turn confirmed the more prudent that\nto draw back was the only safe position.\n\nIn such a position, with God\u2019s frown upon them, he could not bless their\nassociated efforts at the Albany Conference to rise above existing\nelements of confusion, and shake off the reproach that was being brought\nupon the second advent cause. Associated action, upon proper ground,\nhas been right in all periods of the Christian church; but that work at\nthe Albany Conference proved itself not of God, in that it has, in the\nmain, come to nought. The present condition of the surviving leaders in\nthat compact to facilitate a grand march into Egypt, and who drew Mr.\nMiller in a degree into their confederacy, is indeed deplorable. But that\nfaithful man of God, with the weight of years, and the feebleness of the\nterrible strain of labors upon him, could not be induced to deny the hand\nof God in the advent movement, to which he had confidingly devoted all.\n\n                                                                     J. W.\n\n[86] With Mr. Miller, there were very many who deplored the spirit in\nwhich the Babylon question was handled by rash spirits, and a very few,\nincluding Mr. Miller, never accepted the view that the term applied to\nall corrupted Christianity, Protestant as well as Papal. But we do not\nregard the error of these a tithe as injurious to the cause of truth and\nreligion as the conduct of selfish and rash ones who held the truth in\nunrighteousness.\n\n                                                                     J. W.\n\n[87] The reader may now understand the real position of the man whom\nGod had led in the great movement which occurred in fulfillment of the\nfirst message of Rev. 14. We believe that the third message, now being\nproclaimed, and the preparatory work for the coming of the Son of man now\nin progress with those who embrace it, is by the direct providence of\nGod, in fulfillment of certain portions of his word. And this position\nmakes the conclusions that the first and second messages of the same\nseries were given under the same providence, and that God raised up\nWilliam Miller to bring out the great truths of the first message, appear\nvery reasonable. Hence we are the more willing to let him speak for\nhimself, that the candid reader may correctly view this representative\nand providential servant of Jesus Christ, whose name is associated in the\npublic mind with Adventism everywhere.\n\nBut few public men \u201cgrow old gracefully.\u201d Mr. Miller entered upon his\npublic labors as a lecturer upon the prophecies in the strength of\nmanhood, after acquiring habits of self-reliance, firmness, and undaunted\ncourage, as an army and civil officer. And this stamp of character,\nsanctified by the grace of God, constituted one of the important\nqualifications necessary to meet the different forms of determined\nopposition and persecution which he met. And then, after nerving himself\nto the battle for thirteen years, forming the strongest combative habits\nat that period of his life when he was about sixty years of age, when\nstrong men\u2019s habits generally become very strongly established, to\nsee him calmly and gently laying off the armor, and under his bitter\ndisappointment, to witness his resignation to the will of God, and his\naffectionate appeals and warnings to his younger brethren to be holy men\nof God, ready for the coming of the Son of man, carries the strongest\nconviction to candid minds that God had raised him up to do the very work\nwhich he did do. As he thus laid his armor off, he said to his brethren\nthat his work was done. In this we can see the hand of God. He had spent\nthe strength of his ripe manhood in giving the first message. His burden\nfell off, which he interpreted, for a short time, to mean that the work\nof warning sinners was done. But the great work of the third message\nwas then in the future, and had God designed to use him in giving it,\nhe would have given him a new lease of life, and opened the subject to\nhis mind. But he did not see this work nor feel its importance; and why\nshould he? He had done his work faithfully and well, and was soon to\nsleep in Jesus.\n\nIt is proper here to state that Mr. Miller did not view the second\nmessage as we do. Neither did he change his views upon the immortality\nand Sabbath questions. Having finished his mission in giving the first\nmessage, and having reached the point in respect to age and debility,\nfrom his extremely arduous labors as a lecturer for thirteen years, with\nno periods of cessation, only when compelled by sickness, the candid\nreader can see the love and wisdom of God in not impressing his mind with\nthose subjects which he could not investigate and vindicate before the\npeople.\n\nHaving done, and well done, the great work given him to do, the probation\nof public labor with him successfully past according to the will of God,\nhe could say in the language of Paul, \u201cI have fought a good fight, I have\nfinished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up\nfor me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge,\nshall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also\nthat love his appearing.\u201d 2 Tim. 4:7, 8.\n\nIt is just what might be expected, that those who understandingly embrace\nthe principles of the third message, would first inquire relative to the\nsecond and first messages, and would feel the deepest interest in the man\nwhom God raised up to lead off in the opening work of giving the great\nthreefold warning to the world.\n\nThose who have been continually publishing a new time upon the heels of a\nfailure, have been, not only disgusting the public, but, at each effort,\nhave been virtually condemning the position of Mr. Miller on the time\nquestion, and losing regard for his valuable labors. These can have but\nlittle, if any, interest in his life and views.\n\nAnd on the other hand, those who stood with him on the time question\nin 1844, and have confessed to the world that they were in error, and\nhave given up their past second-advent experience, virtually condemn his\nposition and work, and can take, comparatively, but little interest in\nthe history of his life, views, and labors. Both of these classes have\ndeparted from the position of Mr. Miller, and have denied, or, at least,\nhold very lightly their past second-advent experience, and have left the\nfield to Seventh-day Adventists, who stand upon the \u201coriginal advent\nfaith.\u201d And while occupying the position we do relative to the past\nmovement, the public have reason to expect that, while we hold that Mr.\nMiller moved in the providence of God in his work, we should publish the\nfacts as they existed in his life, views, and labors, in explanation and\ndefense, so far as such facts constitute a defense, of our position.\n\nWe still love the advent name, and hold it very dear. And while we\nhold the name, consistency would lead us to cherish and also hold dear\nthe very means that made us Adventists. To still hold the advent name,\nand turn round and curse, or deny, or even hold lightly, the means God\nemployed to make us what we are, seems the very climax of inconsistency.\nWhen Seventh-day Adventists can no longer honor the great second-advent\nmovement, but feel called upon to confess to the world that the pioneers\nof the cause were mistaken on the very calculation that shook the world,\nand which resulted in making Adventists a separate people, then they will\ndrop \u201cAdventists\u201d from their denominational name, and pass for simply\nSabbatarian Christians.\n\n                                                                     J. W.\n\n[88] God in his providence is justifying the preaching of time by the\nlight of the heavenly sanctuary, in connection with the third angel\u2019s\nmessage.\n\n                                                                     J. W.\n\n[89] Mr. Bliss, Mr. Miller\u2019s biographer, served a party who held the\npopular views of consciousness in death. This is also true of Eld. Himes,\nwho professed faith in the same views of man in death at that time. This\naccounts for the decided efforts of both these friends of Mr. Miller to\nuse his last experience on the side of natural immortality. It is proper,\nhowever, here to state that Eld. Himes, when differently related to the\nAdvent people, was suddenly and unexpectedly found on the other side\nof the immortality question, and has since given his pen and voice in\nsupport of unconsciousness in death and immortality alone through Christ.\nThe effort to use the honest convictions of this aged and wornout pilgrim\nbefore and at his last sickness on the side of popular error shows a want\nof plain Bible testimony to sustain a sinking cause.\n\nThe state between the cessation of the mortal life and the resurrection\nto immortal life being unconsciousness, hence no apparent lapse of time\ndo those who sleep in Jesus, it seems most reasonable that the Holy\nSpirit should impress the dying Christian with the scenes of glory which\nhe is next to witness at the resurrection of the just, whether the time\nof that resurrection to consciousness be near or distant. And how very\nnatural for those who die in the faith of consciousness in death to\nsuppose that they immediately enter upon the glories of the heavenly\nworld.\n\n                                                                     J. W.\n\n\n\n\nINDEX OF SUBJECTS.\n\n\n  Articles of belief, pp. 59-64\n\n  Address to believers in the advent near, 173-176\n\n  Admissions of a lawyer, 155\n\n  Address to Christians of all denominations, 272-277\n\n  Address concerning the disappointment, 282\n\n  An illustration of the Advent message, 304\n\n  Address to believers, after the passing of the time, 320-334\n\n  Answer to letter of N. N. Whiting on the subject of the \u201cshut door\u201d,\n        335-338\n\n  Albany Conference\u2014Declaration of principles, 344-350\n\n  Albany Conference\u2014Miller\u2019s address, 350-355\n\n  Associated action, 347\n\n  Apology and defense, 359-362\n\n  Address to the public, 381-385\n\n\n  _Boston Investigator_, letter in, 101\n\n  _Boston Post_, letter in, 162\n\n\n  Conversion, 43, 357\n\n  Conviction of duty to preach, 65, 72\n\n  Correspondence on his views, 68\n\n  Calls for labor in many places, 102\n\n  _Christian Secretary_, 159\n\n  _Christian Reflector_, account of labor in, 191\n\n  Camp-meeting, East Kingston, N. H., 162\n    Exeter, N. H., 248\n    Plainfield, Ct., 254\n\n  Conference address, 249\n\n  Counsel to believers, 315-319\n\n  Conference at Albany, 343\n\n  Conference letter to his family, 407-408\n\n\n  Deistical Sentiments, 25-32\n\n  Difficulties in his study, 66, 67\n\n  Death of his mother\u2014his impression, 105-107\n\n  Dr. Dowling, 190, 195, 200, 204, 205, 206, 211, 213\n\n  Dr. Chase, 190, 192, 193, 195\n\n  Dr. Jarvis, 190, 193, 196, 199, 205, 211, 215\n\n  Dr. Hamilton, 190, 193, 204, 205\n\n  Disappointment of seventh month movement, 300\n\n  Definiteness of prophetic time, 362\n\n  Death and funeral, 405-407\n\n\n  Early life, 13-18\n\n  Early Christian life, 64-66\n\n  Eld. Hendryx\u2019 first acquaintance with Miller, 73\n\n  Eld. T. Cole, Lowell, his disappointment, &c., 122\n\n  Eld. Himes\u2019 first acquaintance, 127\n\n  Extension of labors, 128\n\n  Eld. David Millard, testimony of, 131\n\n  Eld. D. I. Robinson, letter of, 133\n\n  Eld. L. D. Fleming, Portland, Me., his account of labor, 139\n\n\n  Four fundamental points, 7\n\n  First public lecture, 80\n\n  Fanaticism, its commencement, 249\n\n  False reports of Mr. Miller\u2019s property, 267\n\n  Faith in his experience in the work, 369-374\n\n\n  _Gazette and Advertiser_, Long Island, testimony of, 245\n\n\n  Home of Mr. Miller, 262\n\n  How to deal with those in error, 385, 386\n\n  His last sickness\u2014described by Eld. Himes, 403-405\n\n\n  Interview on a Hudson River steamer, 91\n\n  Interesting conversation with ministers, 177\n\n  Illustration by time of Noah, 222\n\n  Interview with Methodist ministers on a steamer, 286-289\n\n  Interesting letter from Harrisburg, 291\n\n\n  John Starkweather, leader in fanaticism in Boston, 251\n\n\n  Low Hampton, settlement there, 39\n\n  Labor in a revival, 71\n\n  License to preach, Baptist churches in Hampton and Whitehall, 93\n\n  Letter to Eld. Hendryx, 75, 82, 88, 91, 96, 98, 101, 102, 106, 108\n\n  Letter from Charles Fitch, 113\n\n  Letter from pastor in West Troy, 115\n\n  Letter from pastor of Baptist church in Rome, N. Y., 117\n\n  Letter to his son, from Burlington, Vt., 118\n\n  Letter from Boston, 121\n\n  _Lynn Record_, notice in the, 124\n\n  Letter of S. Hawley, Cong. minister, Groton, Mass., 126\n\n  Lectured on steamboat, 166\n\n  Letter from home, 169\n\n  Letter from Mr. Miller on false reports of time, 182\n\n  Letter of Miller on the fanaticism, 255\n\n  Letter to I. E. Jones in _Advent Herald_, 311\n\n  Letter to the Boston _Investigator_, 339-342\n\n  Loss of sight, 392\n\n  Letter written when he was blind, 394\n\n\n  Military life, 33-38\n\n  \u201cMonomaniac:\u201d interview with a physician, 76-78\n\n  Memoranda of preaching, 98\n\n  Ministers of various denominations approve his labors, 104\n\n  Maine _Wesleyan Journal_, testimony of, 141\n\n  \u201cMidnight Cry,\u201d letter from a member of Yale College, 168\n\n  Miller and his reviewers, 188\n\n  Mr. Shimeal, 193, 199, 205, 206\n\n  Miller\u2019s views sustained by the great body of expositors, 189-216\n\n\n  Newark, N. J., meeting in the \u201cbig tent\u201d, 166\n\n  _N. Y. Herald\u2019s_ false report of the time set, 181\n\n  _N. Y. Observer_ on same, 181\n\n  Notes on points of doctrine, 52-54\n    on prophetic periods, 56\n    on money received, 110\n    on replying to questions, 177\n    on Hebrew word _hhatak_, determined, cut off, Dan. 9:24, 202\n    on the fanaticism, 249\n    on Miller\u2019s views of spiritual gifts, 256, 257\n    from _Signs of Times_ on the types, 295, 296\n    on the disappointment, 307\n    on Mr. Miller\u2019s humility and kindness of spirit, 337\n    on Scripture citations on points of doctrine, 345-349\n    on drawing back from Advent faith, 355, 356\n    on the subject of Babylon, 363, 364\n    on the \u201cshut door\u201d, 368-370\n    on the sanctuary and time, 8, 372\n    on the intermediate state, 402\n\n\n  Patriotic sentiments, 21-24\n\n  Prophecies, his first views of the, 51-59\n\n  Public labors, commencement of, 79\n\n  Publication of lectures, 130\n\n  _Pittsburgh Gazette_, testimony of, 186\n\n  Prof. Stuart, 190, 192, 193, 194, 197, 199\n\n  Prof. Hinton, 191, 192\n\n  Prof. Bush, 196, 197, 198\n    his letter to Wm. Miller, 8, 9\n\n  Prof. Pond, 196\n\n  Phrenological Examination in Boston, 156-158\n\n  Passing of the time, 278\n\n  Patience under disappointment, 306\n\n\n  Religious Impressions, 41-43\n\n  Rules of Interpretation, 48-51\n\n  Results of early labors, 83-101\n\n  Reverend, repudiates the title of, 97\n\n  Reproof of various errors, 364-367\n\n  Resolution of sympathy in his blindness, of N. Y. Conf., 395\n\n  Response to resolutions of N. Y. Conf., 396-399\n\n\n  Study of the Scriptures, 46\n\n  _Signs of The Times_, publication of, 134\n\n  Synopsis of his views, 170-173\n\n  _Sandy Hill Herald_, remarks of, 183-185\n\n  Seventy weeks and 2300 days, 217-221, 372\n\n  Specimens of his preaching, 228-245\n\n  Sickness of Mr. Miller, 247\n\n  Seventh month movement\u2014his view of it, 375-379\n\n  Sickness in Canada, 386-388\n\n\n  The Scriptures, his love of, 92, 93\n\n  _The Fountain_, temperance paper, testimony of, 167\n\n  _The Countryman_, testimony of, 186\n\n  Treatment of opponents, 217\n\n  The seventh-month movement, 295\n\n\n  Universalism, letter on, 87\n\n  Universalist exhorted, 95\n\n\n  Visit of Lafayette, 70\n\n  Visits to Massachusetts, 121\n\n  Visit to his house, by D. I. Robinson, 400\n\n\n  Way opens for public labors, 102\n\n  Watertown, Mass., account of Mr. Medbury, Baptist minister, 136\n\n  Whittier, the poet, letter of, 163\n\n  Washington City, labors in, 277\n\n  \u201cWhat I have not done\u201d\u2014an interesting letter, 388-390\n\n\n\n\nCATALOGUE\n\nOf Books, Pamphlets, Tracts, &c., Issued by the Seventh-Day Adventist\nPublishing Association.\n\n\nTHE ADVENT REVIEW & HERALD OF THE SABBATH, weekly. Terms, $2.00 a year,\nin advance.\n\nTHE YOUTH\u2019S INSTRUCTOR, monthly, devoted to moral and religious\ninstruction. Terms, 50 cts. a year, in advance.\n\nTHE HEALTH REFORMER, monthly, devoted to an exposition of the laws of\nlife, etc. Terms, $1.00 a year, in advance.\n\nTHE ADVENT TIDENDE, a religious monthly in the Danish language. Terms,\n$1.00 a year, in advance.\n\nTHE SVENSK ADVENT H\u00c0ROLD, a religious monthly in the Swedish tongue.\nTerms, $1.00 a year, in advance.\n\nTHE HISTORY OF THE SABBATH AND THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK. By J. 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Full\nCatalogues sent gratis, on application.\n\n\u2042 Address\n\n                                                       REVIEW & HERALD,\n                                                       BATTLE CREEK, MICH.","title":"Sketches of the Christian life and public labors of William Miller : $b Gathered from his memoir by the late Sylvester Bliss, and from other sources","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":117490}