WM. MILLER’S APOLOGY AND DEFENCE. August 1. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY J. V. HIMES. No. 14 Devonshire St. 1846. Mr. Miller’s Apology and Defence. To ALL WHO LOTS THE Loud Jesus Cjibist in Sincerity. As all men are responsible to the community for the sentiments they may promulgate, the public has a right to expect from me, a candid statement in reference to my disappointment in not realizing the Advent of Christ in A. D. 1843—4, which I had confidently believed. I haveJtherefore, considered it not presumptuous in me to lay before the Christian public a retrospective view of the whole question, the motives that actuated me, and the reasons by which I was guided. It may not become me to speak particularly of 11 ray manner of life from my youth,” which is known to an extensive circle of neighbors and acquaintances; but I have ever endeavored to live “ in all good conscience .before God until this day,,r and to discharge conscientiouslv my obligations to my fellow men. I was early educated to reverence the Scriptures as a revelation from God to man ; and I was more or less a reader of the Word, without beiog savingly affected by it. I was, however, always perplexed with what I then deemed inconsistences and contradictions in the Bible, which I was unable to harmonize; and yet I knew that if the Bible was what it purports to be, it must in some way all be harmonized. 1 )f its authentici- various parts, and, unsuccessfully, resorted to all DEISTICAL OPINIONS. reconcile all its 3 means within my reach. I was-particularly anxious to have them harmonized by the preachers of the word; and accordingly embraced every opportunity, to present for their removal, the difficulties under which I labored. But I obtained from them no satisfaction; they usually adduced the opinions of various commentators, which were as contradic-toty as were their own, or told me they did not understand them, and that I could not, because God had hidden their meaning under a mystical veil. This served more to perplex my mind than to shed light on the questions at issue. In this state of mind, at the age of twenty-two, I removed from Hampton, N.Y.,where I had resided from the age of four years, to Poultney, Yt. There I became acquainted with the principal men in that village, who were professedly Deists; but they were good citizens, and of a moral and serious deportment. They put into my hands the works of Voltaire, Hume, Paine, Ethan Allen, and other deistical writers, in which the difficulties that had perplexed my own mind were discussed in so plausible a manner, that I concluded the Bible was only the work of designing men; and I discarded it accordingly. I, however, believed in a Supreme Being as brought to view by the works of Nature and Providence; and believed that there was to be an hereafter, in which our happiness would be proportioned to the virtue of our lives in the present slate. With these views, I was associated with others in the defence of deistical sentiments, for about twelve years. FIRST RELIGIOUS IMPRESSIONS. Before the close of this period, however, I began to suspect that Deisrn tended to a belief of annihilation, which was always very abhorrent to my feelings. In the fall of 1812, as I was returning to Poultney from the court at Rutland, in company with Judge Stanley, I asked him his opinion respecting our condition in another state. He replied by comparing it to that of a tree which flour- 4 »hes for tt lime, srud (urns afija in (o earth ; and te/ that of a candle which burns to nothing. I was then satisfied that Deism was inseparably connected with, and did lend to, the denial of a future existence. And I thought to myself, that rather than embrace such a view, I should prefer the heaven and hell of the Scriptures, and take my chance respecting them. Still I could not regard the iJibie as inspired. CONNECTION WITH THE AKMY. In 1813,1 received a Captain’s commission in the U. S. service, and continued in the army until peace was declared. While there, many occurrences served to weaken iny confidence in the correctness of Deistical principles. I was led frequently to compare this country to that of the children of Israel, before whom God drove out the iuhabitants of their land. It seetned to me that the Supreme Being must have watched over the interests of this country in an especial manner, and delivered u* from the hands of our enemies. I was particularly impressed with this view when I was in the battle of Platsburg, when with 1500 regulars, and about 4.000 volunteers, we defeated the British, who were 15.000 strong; we being also successful at the same time in an engagement with the British fleet on the lake. At the commencement of the battle, we looked upon our own defeat as almost certain, and yet we were victorious. So surprising a result against such odds, did seem to me like the work of a mightier power than* mao. REMOVAL TO LOW HAMPTON. At the close of the war, I removed to my present residence in Low Hampton, N. Y.; and being retired from public liTe, in the busy scenes of which I had been engaged for len years, I bad more leisure for reading and reflection respecting another state. I could, however, find no assurance of hap* pi ness beyood the grave; all was dim and uucer-tain there. One day in May, 1816,1 detected myself in the act of taking the name of God in vain, « 5 hábil I had acquired in the service; and 1 was instantly convicted of its sinfulness. I was then led to inquire how a just Being could consistently save those who should violate the laws of justice. The works of Nature or of Providence, could give no answer to this question; and I was almost led to despair. In this state of mind, I continued for some months, when suddenly the character of a Savior was vividly impressed upon my mind. It seemed that there might be a Being so good and compassionate as to himself atone for our transgressions, and thereby save us from suffering the penalty of sin. I immediately felt how lovely such a Being must be; and imagined that I could cast myself into the arms of, and trust in the mercy of such an One.- But the question arose, How can it be proved that such a Being does exist? Aside from the Bible, I found that I could get no evidence of the existence of such a Savior, or even of a future stale. I felt that to believe in such a Savior without evidence, would be visionary in the extreme. I saw that the. Bible did bring to view just such a Savior as I needed; and 1 was perplexed to find bow án uninspired book should develope principles so perfectly adapted to the wants of a fallen world. 1 was constrained to admit that the Scriptures must be a revelation from God; they became my delight, and in Jesus I.found a friend. DETERMINED TO UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES. Soon after this, in me fall of 1816,1 was conversing with a friend respecting my hope of a glorious eternity through the merits and intercessions of the Savior, and he asked me how I knew there was a Savior ? 1 replied that He was revealed in the Bible. He then asked me how 1 knew the Bible was true ? and advanced my former deislical arguments on the inconsistences, the contradictions, and the mysticisms in which l had claimed it was shrouded. I replied that if the Bible was the word of God, every thing contained therein might be understood, and all its parts be made to harmonize; 6 and I taid to him that if he would give rne lime» Í would harmonize all these apparent contradiction?, to my own satisfaction, or I would be a Deist still. MANNER or STUDYING THE BIBLE. 1 then devoted myself to prayer and to the reading of the word, 1 determined to lay aside all tny prepossessions, to thoroughly compare Scripture with Scripture, and to pursue its study in a regular and methodical manner. I commenced with Genesis, and read verse by vetse, proceeding no iaster than the meaning of the several passages should be so unfolded, as to leave me free from embarrassment respecting any mysticism or contradictions. Whenever I found any thing obscure, my practice was to compare it with all collateral passages; and by the help of Cruden, I examined all the texts of Scripture in which were found any oí the prominent words contained in any obscure portion. Then by letting every word have its proper bearing on the subject of the text, if my view of it harmonized with every collateral passage in the Bible, it ceased to be a difficulty. In this way I pursued the study of the Bible, in my first perusal of it, for about two years, and was fully satisfied that it is its own interpreter. I found that by a comparison of Scripture with history, all the prophecies, as far as they have been fulfilled, had been fulfilled literally ; that all tbé various figores, metaphors, parables, similitudes, kc. of the Bible, were either explained in their immediate connection, or the terms in which they were expressed were defined in other portions of the word, and when thus explained, are to be literally understood in accordance with such explanation. I was thus satisfied that the Bible is a system of revealed truths, so clearly and simply given, that the 11 wayfaring roan, though a fool, need not err therein.” THE RESULT ARRIVED AT. While thus studying the Scriptures, I became satisfied, if the prophecies which have been fulfilled 7 in ibe past are any criterion by which to judge of the manner of the ful61ment of those which are future, that the popular views of the spiritual reign of Christ, a temporal millennium before the end of the world, and the Jews' return, are not sustained by the word of God; for I found that all the Scriptures on which those favorite theories are based, are as clearly expressed as are those that were liletaUy fulfilled at the first advent, or at any other period in the past. I found it plainly taught in the Scriptures that Jesus Christ will again descend to this earth, coming in the clouds ol heaven, in all the glory of his Father: * that at his coming the kingdom and dominion under the whole heaven will be given to Him and the saints of the Most High, who will possess it for ever, even for ever and ever :f that as the old world perished by the deluge, so the earth that now is, is reserved unto fire, to be melted with fervent heat at Christ’s coming, after which, according to the promise, it is to become the new earth wherein the righteous will for ever dwell: t that at his coming the bodies of all the righteous dead will be raised, and all ibe righteous living be changed from a corruptible to an incorruptible, from a mortal to an immortal state, that they will all be caught up together to meet the Loid in the air, and will reign with him for ever in the regenerated earth: $ that the controversy of Zion will then be finished, her children be delivered from bondage, and from the power of the tempter, and the saints be all presented to God blameless, without spot or wrinkle in love: | that the bodies * See John ziv. 3; Acts i. x¡ ; 1 Thess. if. 16; Ret. i. 7; Watt zvi. 27; zziv. 30 *, Mark viii. 38; ziii. 20; Dan. vii. 13. fDan. vii. 14,18, 22,27; Matt. zzv. 34; Luke zii. 32; ziz. 12,13; zzii. 20; 1 Cor. iz. 25; 2 Tim. iv. 1, 8; James i. 12; l Pet v. 4. 12 Pet iii. 7—10; Isa. Izv. 17—19; Rev. zzi. 22. $ 1 Cor. zv. 20,23,49,51-53; Phil. iii. 20,21; 1 Thess. iv. 14-17; 1 John iii. 2. B sa. zzziv. 8; si* 2,5; zli. 10—12; Rom. ▼iii- 21—23; 1 Cor. i. 7, 8; iv. 14; z*. 54, 56; Eph. v. 27; Col i. 22; 1 Thess. iii. 13; Heb. li. 13—15; Jude 24; Rev. zz. 1—6. 8 of the wicked will then all be destroyed, and their spirits be reserved in prison until their resurrection and damnation : V and that when the earth is thus regenerated, the righteous raised, and the wicked destroyed, the kingdom of God will have come, when his will will be done on earth as it is done in heaven, that the meek will inherit it, and the kingdom become the saints.* * I found that the only millennium taught in the word of God is the thousand years which are to intervene between the first resurrection and that of the rest of the dead, as inculcated in the xx. of Revelation; and that it must necessarily follow the personal coming of Christ and the regeneration of the earth:! f that till Christ’s coming and the end of the world, the righteous and wicked are to continue together on the earth, and that the horn of Papacy is to war against the saints until his appearing and kingdom, when it will be destroyed by the brightness oi Christ's coming; so that there can be no conversion of the world before the advent: 1$ and that as the new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness, is located by Peter alter the conflagration, and is declared by him to be the same for which we look, according to the promise of Isa. Ixv. 17, and is the same that John saw in vis[on after the parsing away of the former heavens and earth; it must necessarily follow that the various portions of Scripture that refer to the millennial stale, roust have their fulfilment after the resurrection of all the saints that sleep in Jesus.$ $ I also found that the promises respecting Israel’s restoration, are applied by the apostle to all who UPm. 1. 3; xcvii. 3; Isa. lx. 15, 1G; xxiv. 21,22; Dan. vii. 10; Mai. i*. 1; Matt. ill. 12; John xxt. 29; Acta xxiv. 15; 1 Cor. in. 13; 1 Thesa. t. 2,3; 2Theaa. i. 7—9; 1 Pot i. 7; 2 PeL Hi. 7,10; Jude 6,7,14,15; Rev. xx. 3,13—15. **Paa.xxxvii.9—11,22,28,29,34; Prov. ii. 21,22; x.30; In. xl.21; Matt v.5; vi. 10. f f Rev. xx. 2—7. t j Matt xiii. 37—43; xxiv. 14; Dan. vii. 21,22; 2Then. ii. 8. M 2 Pet iii; Jaa. Ixv. 17; Rev. xxi, xxii. 9 are Christ's,—the putting on of Christ constituting them Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise # THE AGE OF TIIE WORLD IN WHICH WE LITE. I was then satisfied, as I saw conclusive evidence to prove the advent personal uod pre-millennial, that all the events for which the church look to be fulfilled before the advent, must be subsequent to it;.and that unless there were other unfulfilled ftrophecies, the advent of the Lord, instead of being ooked for only in the distant future, might be a continually expected event. In examining the prophecies on that point, I found that only four universal monarchies are any where predicted in the Bible to precede the setting up of God's everlasting kingdons; that three of those bad passed away,— Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Grecia,—and that the fourth, Rome, had already passed into its last state, the state in which it is to be when the stone cut out of the mountain without hands shall smile the imoge on the feet, and break to pieces all tbe kingdoms of ibis world. I was unable to find any prediction of events which presented any clear evidence of their fulfilment before the scenes that usher in the advent. And finding all tbe signs of the tiroes and the present condition of the world, to compare harmoniously with the prophetic descriptions of the last days, I was compelled to believe that this world had about reached the limits of the period alloted for its continuance. As I regarded the evidence, I could arrive at no other conclusion. THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE SCRIPTURES. Another kind of evidence that vitally affected my mind, was the chronology of the Scriptures. I found, on pursuing the study of the Bible, various chronological periods extending, according to my understanding of them, to the coming of the Savior. I found that predicted events which had been ful— •Rom/ii. 14, 15; iv. 13; ix. 6 ; x. 12; xi. 17; Gal. iii. 29 ¡ Eph. ii. 14,15. 10 filled in the past, often occurred within a given time. The one hundred and twenty years to the flood, Gen. vi. 3; the seven days that were to precede it, With forty days of predicted rain, Gen. vii. 4; the four hundred years of the sojourn of Abraham’s seed, Geo. zv. 13; the three days of the butler's and baker's dreams, Gen. zl. 12—20; the seven years of Pharaoh's, Gen. zli. 28—54; the irrty years in the wilderness, Num. ziv. 34; the three and a half years of famine, 1 Kings zvii. 1; the 8¡zty-five years to the breaking of Ephraim,—Isa. vii. 8; the seventy years captivity, Jer. zzv. 11; Nebuchadnezzar's seven times, Dan. iv. 13—16; and the seven weeks, three score and two weeks, and the one week, making seventy weeks determined upon the Jews, Dan. iz. 24—27; the events limited by these times, were all once onlv a matter of prophecy, and were fulfilled in accordance with the predictions. When, therefore, I found the 2300 prophetic days which were to mark the length of the vision from the Persian to the end of the fourth kingdom, the seven times continuance of the dispersion of God's people, and the 1335 prophetic days to the standing of Daniel in his lot, all evidently eztcnding to the advent, with other prophetical periods, I could but regard them asiVtbe times before appointed," which God had revealed “ unto his servants the prophets." As 1 was fully convinced that "all Scripture given by inspiration of God is profitable," that it came not at any time by the will of man, but was written as holy men were moved by the üoly Ghost, and was written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope, I could but regard the chronological portions ol the Bible as being as much a portion of the word of God, and as much entitled to our serious consideration, as any other portion of the Scriptures. I therefore felt, that in endeavoring to comprehend what God had in his mercy seen fit to reveal to us, 1 had no right to pass over the prophetic pe- 1 nods. I saw that as the eren is predicted to be fulfilled ¡d prophetic days had been extended over about as many literal years; as God in Num. xiv. 34, and Ezek. iv. 4—6, had appointed each day for a year; as the seventy weeks to the Messiah were fulfilled in 490 years, and the 12G0 prophetic days of the Papal supremacy in 1260 years; and as these prophetical days extending to the advent were given in connection with symbolical prophecy, 1 could only regard the time as symbolical, and as standing each day for a year, in accordance with the opinions of all the standard'Protestant commentators. If, then, we could obtain any clue to the time of their commencement, I conceived we should be guided to the probable time of their termination; and as God would not bestow upon us an useless revelation, I regarded them as conducting us to the time when we might confidently look for the coming of the Chiefest of ten thousand—One altogether lovely. COMMENCEMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PROPHETIC PERIODS. From a farther study of the Scriptures, I concluded that the seven times of Gentile supremacy must commence when the Jews ceased to be an independent nation at the captivity of Manasseh, which the best chronologers assigned to B. C. G77; that the 2300 days commenced with the seventy weeks, which the best chronologers dated from B.' C. 457; and that the 1335 days commencing with the taking away of the daily, and: the setting up of the abomination that maketh. desolate, Dan. xiu 11, were to bedated from the setting up of the Papal supremacy, after the taking away of Pagan abominations, and which, according to the best historians I could consult, should be dated from about A. D. 50S. Reckoning all these prophetic periods from the several dates assigned by the best chronologers for the events from which they should evidently be reckoned, they all would terminate together, about A. D. 1843. I was thus brought, in 1818, at the 12 close of my two years study of the Scriptures, to the solemn conclusion, that in about twenty-five years from that time all the affairs of our present state would be wound up; that all its pride & power, pomp aod vanity, wickedness and oppression would come to an end; and that in the place of the king* doms of this world, the peacefuf^nd long desired kiogdom of the Messiah would be established under the whole heaven: that in about twenty-five years the glory of the Lord would be revealed, and nil flesh see it together, the desert bud and blossom as the rose, the fir-tree come up instead of the thorn, and instead of the briar the myrtle-tree, the curse be removed from off the earth, death be destroyed, reward be given to the servants of God—the prophets and saints and them who fear his name, and those be destroyed that destroy the earth. 14 LOOKING FOB THAT BLESSED HOPE.** 1 need not speak of tLe joy that filled my heart in view of the delightful prospect, nor of the ardent longings of my soul, for a participation in the joys of the redeemed. The Bible was now to roe a new book. It was indeed a feast of reason : all that was dark, mystical, or obscure tome in its teach-iogs,had been dissipated from my mind, before the clear light that ¿ow dawned from its sacred pages ; and 0 bow bright and glorious the truth appeared. All the contradictions and inconsistences 1 had before found in the Word were gone; and although there were many portions of which I was not satisfied I had a full understanding, yet so much light had emanated from it to the illumination of my before darkened mind, that 1 felt a delight in studying the Scriptures which I had not before supposed could be derived from its teachings. I commenced their study with no expectation of finding the time of the Savior's coming, and I could at first hardly believe the result to which I had arrived; but the evidence struck me with such force, that I could not resist my convictions. I became nearly settled 2 13 in my conclusions, and began to .wait, and watch, and pray tunny Savior’s corning. TOE QUESTION OF DUTT. With the solemn conviction that such moment-ous events were predicted iu the Scriptures to he fulfilled in so short a space of time, the question came home to me with mighty power regarding my duty to the world in view ut‘ the evidence that, had-affected my own mind. If the end was so near, it was important that the world should know it. 1 supposed that it would call forth the opposition of the ungodly ; but it never came into my miod that any Christian would oppose it. I supposed that all such would be so rejoiced in view of the glorious prospect, that it would only be necessary to present it, for them to receive it. My great fear was, that in their joy at the hope of a glorious inheritance so soon to be revealed, they would receive the doctrine without sufficiently examining the Scriptures in demonstration of its truth. 1 therefore feared to present it, lest by some possibility I should be m error, and be the means of misleading any. OBJECTIONS TO THE DOCTRINE. Various difficulties and objections would arise in my mind, from time to time; certain texts would occur to me, which seemed to weigh against my contusion?; and 1 would not present a view to others, while any difficulty appeared to militate against it. 1 therefore continued the study of the Bible, to see if I could sustain any of these objections. My object was not merely to remove them, but l wished to see if they were valid. Sometimes when at work, a text would arise like this, “ Of that day and hour knowetli no man,” &c.: and how then could the Bible reveal the time of the advent? 1 would tiien immediately examine the context in which it was found, and I saw at once, that in the same connection we are informed bow we may know .when it is nigh, even at the doors: consequently that text could not teach that 14 we could know nothing of the time of that event. Other texts which are advanced in support of the doctrine of a temporal millennium, would arise; but on examining their context, I invariably found that they were applicable only to the eternal state, or were so illustrative; of the spread of the Gospel here, as to be entirely irrelevant to the position they were adduced to support. Thus all those passages that speak of the will of God being done on earth as in heaven, of the earth being full of the knowledge of the glory of God,&c. could not be applicable to a time when the Man of Sin was prevailing against the saints, or when the righteous and wicked were dwelling together, which is to be the case until the end of the world. Those which speak of the gospel being preached in all the world, teach that as soon as it should be thus preached, the end was to come, so that it could not be delayed 1000 years from that time, nor long enough for the world's conversion after the preaching of the gospel as a witness. The question of the resurrection aud judgment, was for a time an obstacle in the way : being instructed that all the dead would be raised at the same time, I supposed it must be so taught in the Bible; but I soon saw it was one of the traditions of the elders. So also with the return of the Jews: that question I saw could only be sustained by denying the positive declarations of the New Testament which assert, “ there is no differencebelween the Jew and the Greek ”—that “ the promise that he shall be the heir of the world was not to Abraham and his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of laith ”—that 11 there is neither Jew nor Greek, bood nor free, male nor female,’1 but that 11 if ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” I was therefore obliged to discard au objection which asserts there is a difference between the Jew and Greek— that the children of the flesh fire accounted for the seed, fee. 15 In this wAy I was occupied for five years, from 1818 to 1823, in weighing the various objections which were being presented to my mind. During that time, more objections arose in my mind, than have been advanced by my opponents since; and I know of no objection that has been since advanced, which did not then occur to me. But however strong they at first appeared, after examining them in the light of the divine word, I could only corn-pare 'hern to straws laid down singly as obstacles, on a well beaten road: the car of truth rolled over them, unimpeded ia its progress. STILL IMPRESSED WITH THE DOTY OF PRESENTING THE EVIDENCES OF THE ADVENT. I was then fully settled in the conclusions which seven years previously had bejzun to bear with such impressive force upon my mind; and the duty of presenting the eviJence pf the nearness of the advent to others,—which I had managed to evade while I could fiod the shadow of an objection remaining againct its truth—again came home to me with great force. 1 had, previously, only thrown out occasional hints of my views. I then began to speak more clearly my opinions to my neighbors, to ministers, and others. To my astonishment, I found very few who listened with any interest. Occasionally, one would see the force ol the evidence; but the great majority passed it by as an idle tale. I was, therefore, disappointed in finding any who would decUre this doctrine, as I felt it should be, for the comfort of samts, and as a warning to sinners. I continued to study the Scriptures, and was more and more convinced that I had a personal duty to perform respecting this matter. When I was about my business, it was continually ringing in my ears, “ Go and tell the world of their danger.” This text was constantly occurring to me, “ When I say unto the wicked, 0 wicked man, thou shait surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in 16 hit iniquity; 1ml his blood will I require at thy hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way lo turn from ¡I; if he do not "turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; hut thou hast delivered thy soul.*’—Ezeh. xxxui. 8, 9. I fell that if the wicked could he eiTcciunlly warned, multitudes of them would repent; and that if they wero not warned, their blood might be required at my hand. 1 did all 1 could lo avoid the conviction that any thing was required of me; and I thought that by freely speaking of it to all, I should perform my duty, and that God would raise up the necessary instrumentality for the accomplishment of the work. I prayed that some minister might see the truth, and devote himself to its promulgation; but still it was impressed upon me, “Go and tell it to the world: their blood will I requite at thy hand.” The morel presented it in conversation, the more dissatisfied I felt with myself for withholding it from the public. I tried to excuse myself lo the Lord for not going out and proclaiming it to the world. I told the Lord that 1 was not used to public speaking, that I had not the necessary qualifications to gain the attention of an audience, that I was very diffident and feared to go before the world, that they would “ not believe me nor hearken to my voice,11 that I was 11 slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” But 1 could get no relief. In this way I struggled on for nine years longer, pursuing the'study ol the Bible, doing all I could to present the nearness of Christ’s coming to those whom circumstances threw in my way, but resisting my impressions of duty, to go out as a public teacher. I was then fifty yeais old, and it seemed impossible for me to surmount the obstacles which lay in my path, to successfully present it in a public manner. SIR. MILLER WHITES A SERIES OF ARTICLES FOR THE PRESS. Quite a number wished me to write out my views. 1 accordingly prepared a series of articles over the 2# 17 signature of W. M. and sent them to the Vermont Telegraph, a Baptist paper, then published at Brandon, Vt. The éditor refused to publish them unless he could know the name of the writer. I accordingly communicated it to him, supposing that he would not make it public. The articles then appeared in a series of sixteen numbers, the first of which was published in the paper dated May 15ih, 1832. I had supposed in communicating my views to the world in this series of articles, that I should have performed all that was required of me; but I could not escape the impression, “Go and tell it to the world, their blood will I require at thy band.” It some how became known that I was the writer of those articles; I began to be flooded with letters of inquiry respecting my views; and visitors flocked to converse with me on the subject. I became more distressed, lest the blood of souls should be required of me. nc COVENANTS WITH GOD TO GO WHERE THE WAT OTENS. One Saturday after breakfast, in the summer of 1833,1 sat down at my desk to examine some point; and as I arose to go out to work, it came home to me with more force than ever, “Go and tell it to the world." The impression waji so sudden, and came with such force, that I settled down into my chair, saying, I can’t go, Lord. “ Why not ?” seemed to be the response ; and then all my excuses came up, my want of/ability, &c. ; but my distress became so great, I entered into a solemn covenant with God, that if be would open the way, I would go and perform my duty to the world. “What do you mean by opening the way?" seemed to come to me. Why, said 1, if I should have an invitation to speak publicly in any place, I will go and tell them what I find in the Bible about the Lord's coming. Instantly all my burden was gone; and I rejoiced that I should not probably be thus called upon; for I had never bad such an invitation: 2* 18 my trials were not known, and I had but little expectation of being invited to any field of labor. In about half an hour from this time, belore I had left the room, a soo of Mr. Guilford, of Dresden, about sixteen miles from my residence, came in and said that his father had sent for me, and wished me to go home with him. Supposing that he wished to see me on some business, I asked him what he wanted ? He replied that there was to be no preaching io their church the next day, and his father wished to have me come and talk to the people on the subject of the Lord's coming. I was immediately angry with myself for having made the covenant I had; I rebelled at once against the Lord, and determined not to go. I leit the boy without giving him any answet, and retired in great distress to a grove near by. There I struggled with the Lord (or about an hour, endeavoring to release myself (rom the covenant 1 had made with him; but I could gel no relie!. It was impressed upon my conscience, “Will you make a covenant with God, and break it so soon ? ” and the exceed* ing sinfulness of thus doing overwhelmed me. I finally submitted, and promised the Lord that if be would sustain me, I would go, trusting in him to give me grace and ability to perform all he should require ofVmeJ J returned to the house, and found the boy still waiting; he remained till after dinner, and I returned with him to Dresden. UR. MILLER COMMENCES BIS ORAL LECTURES. The next day, which, as nearly as I can remember, was about the first Sabbath in August, 1833, I delivered my first public lecture on the Second Advent. The house was well filled with au attentive audience. As soon as I commenced speaking, all my diffidence and embarrasment were gone, and I felt impressed only with the greatness of the subject, which, by the providence of God, I was enabled to present. At the close of the services on the Sabbath, I was requested to remain and lecture during the week, with which I complied. They flocked in from the neighboring towns, a revival id commenced,and it was said that in-thirteen families all hut two persons were hopefully convened. On the Monday following I returned home and ¿pond a letter from Elder Fuller, of Poultney, Vt., requesting me to go aud lecture there on the same subject. They had not heard of my going to Dresden. I went to Poultney and lectured there with similar effect. From thence I went by invitation to Pawlet and other towns in that vicinity. The churches of Congrega tionalists, Baptists and Methodists were thrownopen. In almost every place I visited, my labors resulted in the reclaiming of backsliders, and the conversion of sinners. I was usually invited to fields of labor by tbe ministers of the several congregations whom I visited, who gave me their countenance; and I have never labored in any place to which I was not previously invited. The most pressing invitations from the ministry, and the leading members of the churches poured in continually, horn that time, during the whole period of my public labors, and with more than one half of which I was unable to comply. Churches were thrown open every where, nod I lectured to crowded houses, through the western part of Vermont, the northern part of New York, and in Canada East. And powerful reformations were the results of my labors. rtJBLlSUES HIS VIEWS IN JL FAMPULET FOBM. I received so many urgent calls for information, and to visit places with,which I could not comply, that in 1834 I concluded to publish my views iu pamphlet form, which I did ir. a little tract of 64 pages. These I scattered, the most of them gratuitously, sending them in reply to letters of inquiry, and to places which I could not visit. In the same year, unknown to myself, a license to preach was granted me by my Baptist brethren. About the same time 1 received a recommendation to the public aa a lecturer oo tbe prophecies, which was sigued by about fifty ministers of my Baptist 20 brethren, and by some twenty or thirty from other denominations. I continued to labor and travel at my own charges until 1S38; and many churches thereby greatly added to their numbers. The first clergyman that embraced my views in full, was Elder Fuller, of Poultney, Vi. Many others previous to 1838, expressed themselves favorably, but none of them came out in full, or if they did, they all, with that exception, relapsed and abandoned their advocacy. HE WHITES HIS COURSE OF LECTURES. In 1836 I wrote my series of sixteen lectures, which were published by Elder Wescolt, in Troy, New York, the profits of which I gave to him.— All the copies I received of that edition, I purchased at his regular prices. The first assistance I received from any source to defray my expenses, were two half dollars which I received in Canada, in 1835. The next assistance I received was the payment of my stage fare to Lansingburg, in 1837. Since then I have never received enough to pay my travelling expenses ; so that my labors have been of no pecuniary advantage to me. I should not have alluded to this, were it not for the extravagant stories which have been circulated to my injury. VISIT TO MASSACHUSETTS. I received an invitation from Randolph, Mass., to visit that place, which I did on the 2lst day of April, 1839. This was my first visit to that State* I lectured there, and in Stoughton, East Randolph, Lowell, Groton, and Lynn. I closed my lectures at Lynn on the 10th of June following, making S00 lectures which I had given since June 9th, 1834.— At Lowell, May 14th, I became acquainted with Elder T. Cole, who had written to me to visit him before I left home. He was among the first ministers in that State who embraced these views, and was the means of introducing me into many of the churches of the Christian connection. Elder Plum-er of Haverhill soon after embraced them. 21 At Lowell l also became acquainted with my Bro. J. Lilch, who had previously embraced my views, and who has since so aided iheir extension, by his faithful lectures and nlritings, and energetic and consistent course. The first church that was ever closed against me was the Congregational church in Westford, Mass., December 17th, of the same year. I visited Exeter, in November. 1839, and on the 12th,l became acquainted with my Bro.J.V.Himes, who with about twenty other ministers of the Christian connection, were present to hear me lee* ture. He invited me to Boston, which I visited December 8th, of the same year. I then gave my first course of lectures in the Chardon St. Chapel. Soon after this, about the 1st of January, 1840, Mr. B. B. Mussey republished my course of lectures in an editiun of 5000, of which he gave me 200 copies. PUBLICATION OF THE SIGNS OF TUE TIMES—NOW ADVENT HERALD. For a long time previous to this, the papers had been filled with abusive stoi’ from.me in reply. I had greatly felt the need of 6ome medium of communication to the public. Efforts had been frequently made to commence the publication of a paper which should be devoted to the advocacy of the doctrine, and the communication of information on the fulfilment of prophecy* We had, however, never been able to find a man who was willing to run the risk of his reputation and the pecuniary expense, in such a publication. On my visit to Boston in the winter oí 1840,1 mentioned to Brother Himes my wishes respecting a paper and the difficulties I had experienced in the establishment of one. He promptly ofiered to commence a paper which should be devoted to this question,—if I thought the cause of truth would be thereby advanced. The next week, without a sub- INVITATION TO VISIT BOSTON burs, and they had refused 22 scriber or any promise of assistance, be issued the first No. of the Signs of the Times on the 20th of March, 1840,—a publication which has becu continued to the present lime. With this commenced an entire new era in the spread of information on the peculiar points of my belief. Mr. Mussey gave up to him the publication of my Lectures, and lie published them in connection with other works on the prophecies, which, aided by devoted friends, he scattered broad cast every wnere to the extent of hts means. I cannot here withhold my testimony for the efficiency and integrity of my Br. Himes. He has stood by me at all tiroes, periled his reputation, and by the position in which he has been placed, has been more instrumental in the spread of these views than any other ten u?en who have embarked in the cause. His course, both in laboring as a lecturer, and in the manner that be has managed his publications, meets my full approval. THE FRUITS OF MR. MILLER'S LABORS. From the commencement of that publication, I was overwhelmed with invitations to labor in various places ; with which I complied as far as my health and time would allow. I labored extensively in all the New England and Middle States, in Ohio, Michigan, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and in Canada East and West, giving about four thousand lectures in something like five hundred different towns. I should think that about two hundred ministers embraced my views, in all the different parts ol the United Stales and Canada ; and that there have been about five hundred public lecturers. In all the sections of country where 1 labored, not only in the townsl visited, but in those in their vicinity, there were mote or less that embraced the doctrine of the Advent: in some places only a very lew, ond in other places there have been a large number. In nearly a thousand places Advent congregations have been raised up, uumbering, as near as I can estimate, some fifty thousand believers. On 23 recall mg to mind the several places of my labors, I ca^ reokoo up about six thousand instances of con-jgrijon from nature’s darkness to God’s marvellous light,—theresult of my personal labors alone ; and I sfipuíd judge the number to be much greater. Of (his number 1 can recall to mind about 700 who were,*previously to their attending my lectures, infidels; an