Professional Documents
Culture Documents
SKETCHES
— OF——
PUBLIC LABORS
—or-
WILLIAM MILLER,
STEAM PRESS
Or THE SEVENTH-DAT ADVENTIST PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION,
BATTLE CREEK, MICH.
1875.
INTRODUCTION.
CHAPTER I.
ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE—MARRIAGE—DEISTICAL SEN
TIMENTS—MILITARY LIFE.
CHAPTER II.
REMOVAL TO LOW HAMPTON—HIS CONVERSION——STUDY OF
THE BIBLE—KULES OP INTERPRETATION, ETC.
"RULES OF INTERPRETATION.
"'ARTICLE THREE.
"' I believe that God, by his Son, created man
in the image of the Triune God, with a body,
soul, and spirit; and that he was created a moral
agent, capable of living, of obeying, or transgress
ing the laws of his Maker.
"'ARTICLE FOUR.
"'I believe that man, being tempted by the
enemy of all good, did transgress, and became
polluted; from which act, sin entered into the
world, and all mankind became naturally sinners,
thrust out from the presence of God, and exposed
to his just wrath forever."
" 'ARTICLE FIVE.
"' I believe that God, knowing from eternity
the use that man would make of his [free] agency,
did, in his council of eternity, ordain that his Son
should die; and that through his death salvation
should be given to fallen man, through such means
as God should appoint.
''' ARTICLE Six.
" ' I believe that, through the agency of the
Holy Spirit, sinners are made the recipients of
mercy, in conformity to the divine plan, founded
on the wisdom and knowledge of God ; the fruits
of which are manifested in the recipient by works
of repentance and faith; and without which no
man, coming to years of discretion, and able to
choose between good and evil, can have an inter
est in the blood and righteousness of Christ,
HIS ARTICLES OF BELIEF. 61
"'ARTICLE SEVEN.
"' I believe that Jesus Christ is an offering of
God to sinners for their redemption from sin, and
that those who believe in his name may take him
by faith, go to God, and find mercy; and that
such will in nowise be rejected.
"'ARTICLE EIGHT.
" ' I believe that Jesus Christ was the sacrifice
for sin which justice demanded; and that all those
who confess their sins on the head of this victim
may expect forgiveness of sin through the blood
of the atonement, which is in Jesus Christ, the
great High Priest in the holy of holies.
" 'ARTICLE NINE.
"' I believe the atonement to be made by the
intercession of Jesus Christ, and the sprinkling
of his blood in the holy of holies, and upon the
mercy-seat and people; by which means the
offended is reconciled to the offender, the offender
is brought into subjection to the will of God ; and
the effect is, forgiveness of sin, union to the divine
person, and to the household of faith.
"' ARTICLE TEN.
"'I believe all those for whom Christ inter
cedes, who are united to God by a living faith,
and have received the forgiveness of sin through
the sprinkling of the blood of Christ, can never
perish; but are kept by the mighty power of
God through faith unto salvation.
62 LIFE OF MILLER.
"'ARTICLE ELEVEN.
'"I believe that all the promises of God are
and will be accomplished in Christ Jesus; and
that none of the human family are or can be en
titled to the promises of grace, but those who are
born of the Spirit in Christ Jesus, any more than
the antediluvians could have been saved from
the deluge without entering the ark.
''' ARTICLE TWELVE.
"'I believe that Christ will eventually take
away the sin of the world, and cleanse the earth
from all pollution, so that this earth will become
the abode of the saints forever, by means which
he has appointed; all believers being regenerated,
sanctified, justified, and glorified.
" ' ARTICLE THIRTEEN.
'"I believe that all final impenitents will be
destroyed from the earth, and sent away into a
place prepared for the devil and his angels.
"' ARTICLE FOURTEEN.
"' I believe Jesus Christ will come again in his
glory and person to our earth, where he will ac
complish his divine purposes in the saving of his
people, destroying the wicked from the earth,
and taking away the sin of the world.
" ' ARTICLE FIFTEEN.
"' I believe that the second coming of Jesus
Christ is near, even at the door, even within
twenty -one years,—on or before 1843.
HIS ARTICLES OF BELIEF. 63
CHAPTER III.
INTERVAL BETWEEN HIS CONVERSION AND HIS PUBLIC
LABORS— CORRESPONDENCE — DIALOGUE WITH A PHY
SICIAN.
CHAPTEE IV.
COMMENCEMENT OF PUBLIC LABOES—PUBLISHES HIS VIEWS
IN PAMPHLET—INTERVIEW ON THE HUDSON RIVER
BOAT—HIS BEGAED FOE, THE BIBLE—COERESPONDENCE
—BECOMES A LICENSED PEEACHEE—LETTEE ON UNI-
VERSALISM—RECORD OF HIS LABORS.
look into your Bible and see if j^ou can find the
word Rev. applied to a sinful mortal like myself;
and govern yourself accordingly .... Let us be
determined to live and die on the Bible. God is
about to rise and punish the inhabitants of the
world. The proud, the high, the lofty, must be
brought low; and the humble, the meek, and the
contrite, will be exalted. Then, what care I for
what the world calls great or honorable ? Give
me Jesus, and a knowledge of his word, faith in
his name, hope in his grace, interest in his love,
and let me be clothed in his righteousness, and
the world may enjoy all the high-sounding titles,
the riches it can boast, the vanities it is heir to,
and all the pleasures of sin; and they will be no
more than a drop in the ocean.
"' Yes, let me have Jesus Christ, and then van
ish all earthly toys. What glory has God re
vealed in the face of Jesus Christ! In him all
power centers. In him all power dwells. He is
the evidence of all truth, the fountain of all mercy,
the giver of all graoe, the object of all adoration,
and the source of all light; and I hope to enjoy
him to all eternity. What! such a sinful wretch
as I enjoy Christ ? How can this be ? Yes, yes ;
through the electing love of God, the sprinkling
of the blood of the covenant, and the work of re
generation, such a sinner as I may be cleansed
from sin, purified, and made white, and glorified
in the New Jerusalem, together with him, and
with all who love our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ, and who love his appearing.
"' Bro. If., shall you and I appear together in
that general assembly and church of the first
born ? If God will, I hope we shall there meet,
Miller. 7
98 LIFE OF MILLER.
almost two years since you heard the news, " Be
hold, the bridegroom cometh ! "—and yet you cry,
A little more sleep, a little more slumber. Blame
not your people if they go to sleep under your
preaching. You have done the same. Bear with
me, my brother. In every letter you have written
me, you have promised to study this all-important
subject, and in every letter you confess your neg
ligence. The day draws near. More than one-
sixth of the time is gone since my brother Hen-
dryx promised, and yet asleep ! 0 God, forgive
him! Are you waiting for all the world to wake
up before you dare get up ? Where has your
courage fled ? Awake ! awake ! O sluggard !
Defend your own castle, or take sides with the
word of God ; destroy or build. You must not,
you cannot, you shall not be neutral. Awake!
awake! Tell Deacon Smith to help wake you.
Tell him, for me, to shake you, and not give out
shaking, until Bro. H. will put on the whole ar
mor of light.
"' In every church where I have lectured on
this important subject, many, very many, seem to
awake, rub open their eyes, and then fall back to
sleep again. But the enemy is waking up. In one
town (North Beekmantown) I received a letter, the
day after my first lecture, from some bullies and
blackguards, that if I did not clear out of the
State, they would put me where the dogs could
never find me. The letter was signed by ten of
them. I stayed, and, blessed be God! he poured
out his Spirit, and began a work which gainsay-
ers could not resist.
"' Some ministers try to persuade their people
not to hear me; but the people will go, and ev
ery additional lecture will bring an additional
LABORS BLESSED. 101
CHAPTEE V.
NEW DOORS OPEN—HIS LABOBS COUNTENANCED BY MINIS
TERS OF HIS DENOMINATION—HIS FIBST DONATION OF
TWO HALF-DOLLARS—DEATH OP HIS MOTHEB—INCIDENT
AT SHAFTSBURY—RESULTS OF HIS LABOBS—TESTIMONY
OF A CONVERT FROM INFIDELITY—LETTER OF REV. C.
FITCH—URGENT APPEALS TO VISIT VARIOUS TOWNS, ETC.
CHAPTEE VI.
VISITS MASSACHUSETTS—INVITATION TO LOWELL—EXTRACT
FROM THE LYNN RECORD—IS INVITED TO BOSTON——CON
VERSATION WITH ELDER HIMES—PUBLICATION OP HIS
LECTURES BY MR. MUSSEY—LABORS IN PORTSMOUTH—
INTERVIEW WITH ELDER ROBINSON, ETC.
CHAPTER VII.
PUBLICATION OP THE "SIGNS OP THE TIMES "—VISIT TO
WATERTOWN, PORTLAND, NEW YORK CITY, AND OTHER
PLACES—LETTEKS OP ELDEKS MEDBTTRY, FLEMING, AND
GREEN—HIS SICKNESS, RESIGNATION, ETC.
CHAPTER VIII.
LECTURES IN BOSTON (4m, 5m, AND GTH COURSES), IN AN-
DOVEB, PROVIDENCE, GAL WAY, N. Y., CLAREMONT, N. H.,
BBNSON, VT.,—HIS ILLNESS—INCIDENT AT SANDY HILL,
AT WORCESTER —— THE PHRENOLOGIST — MEETINGS AT
HARTFORD.
CHAPTER IX.
LECTUBES IN NEW YORK—NBWABK—SABATOGA—NEWBUBY-
POBT—PALMER—THE EAST KINGSTON CAMP-MEETING—
BRANDON—BENSON—CHICKOPEE—NEW HAVEN, ETC.
CHAPTEE X.
SYNOPSIS OF HIS VIEWS—AUDKESS TO BELIEVERS IN THE
NEAR ADVENT— INTERVIEW AT WATERFORD— UTICA—
DISTURBANCE AT PHILADELPHIA—THE THIRD OP APRIL
—STATEMENT OP HIS AFFAIRS, ETC.
'"FATHER MILLER.
C H A P T E R, X I.
ME. MILLER AND HIS REVIEWERS—DOCTORS HOWLING,
CHASE, JARVIS, ETC.—THE FOURTH KINGDOM—THE LIT
TLE HORN—PROPHETIC NUMBERS—SEVENTY WEEKS—
COMING OF CHRIST, ETC.
And Dr. Dowling said : ' Mr. Miller says the four
hundred and ninety years begin B. c. 457, which
is correct. He says they end A. D. 33, which is
also correct.'—p. 49.
" 6. The connection between the 70 iveeJcs and
$300 Days.—This was a vital point in the chro
nology of Mr. M. to bring the end in 1843. The
Rev. William Hales, D. D., the most learned mod
ern chronologer, says:' This simple and ingenious
adjustment of the chronology of the seventy
weeks, considered as forming a branch of the
2300 days, was originally due to the sagacity of
Hans Wood, Esq., of Rossmead, in the county
of Westmeath, Ireland, and published by him in
an anonymous commentary on the Revelation of
St. John, Lon., 1787.'— New Anal. Chro., vol. 2,
p. 564. He elsewhere calls it' the most ingenious
of its class.'
" The argument which Mr. Miller used in sup
port of this point was based upon the literal
meaning of the Hebrew word, which, in our ver
sion of Daniel 9 : 24, is rendered ' determined'
—c,ut off, or cut out,—and the circumstances in
which Gabriel appeared to Daniel, as stated in
the ninth chapter, with the instruction given.
"In the 8th chapter of Daniel is recorded a
vision which was to extend to the cleansing of
the sanctuary, and to continue 2300 days. Daniel
had ' sought for the meaning' of that vision, and
a voice said: ' Gabriel, make this man to under
stand the vision.' Gabriel said to Daniel: ' I will
make thee know what shall be in the last end of
the indignation; for, at the time appointed, the
end shall be ;' and then proceeded to explain the
symbols, but said nothing of their duration. At
the close of the explanation Daniel fainted, and
MILLER AND HIS REVIEWERS. 201
CHAPTER XII.
HIS TREATMENT OF OPPONENTS—SPECIMENS OF HIS PREACH
ING.—COLLOQUIAL, EXPOSTULATORY, EXPOSITORY, ETC.
the host and the stranger guest who has just en
tered his mansion.
" Quest. What great building is that in
yonder field, on that eminence ?
" Host. That is called Noah's ark.
" Guest. But what use is he going to put
it to ? It seems to be built for sailing. Surely the
old man does not expect to sail on dry land.
"Host. Yes; you are right. The old man
says the world is coming to an end (Gen. 6:13),
and he has prepared an ark to save himself and
family; for all flesh will be destroyed by water,
as he says.
" Guest. But how does he know this ?
" Host. He says God told him.
" Guest. What kind of a man is he ? He
must be a great fanatic, I am thinking.
" Host. Why, yes; we think he is crazy a lit
tle ; but you cannot discover it in anything else
but his building that great ark, and neglecting
his farm and other worldly matters. But what
he has lost I have gained.
" Guest. A farmer, say you ?—a farmer! Why
'did not God tell some of our ' mighty men, which
are men of renown'? (Gen. 6:4.) A farmer,
too ! There is no truth in it. But do any be
lieve him ?
" Host. Believe him! No. We have other
things to attend to, and cannot spend time to
hear the old farmer. But we were all very much
startled, no longer ago than yesterday; for the
old man has been telling some that he had pre
pared rooms for the beasts of the field, and for
the fowls of the air, and every creeping thing;
and yesterday they came, two and two of every
sort, and entered the ark, apparently of their
224 LIFE OF MILLER.
CHAPTER XIII.
HIS SICKNESS—VISIT TO MASSACHUSETTS—FANATICISM—
ME. MILLER REPUDIATES IT.
* While it may now appear very evident that the stand taken
by Mr. Miller, relative to the character, and the final results, of
the fanaticism of which he speaks, was a proper and right one, it
is not so clear that he disposed of the question of the gifts and
manifestations of the Spirit of (Jod, in harmony with the general
scope of Scripture testimony upon the subject. The reader will
observe that he does not produce the proof, in his accustomed
FANATICISM. 257
style of proving his points, that the great commission, with its
duties, and its blessings, was given to the ministry for only a lim
ited portion of the Christian age. Mr. Miller, Mr. Himes, and
other leading Adventists, failed to show the time when, and by
whom, the gifts were removed from the church of God. This
gave the fanatics great advantage ; and as they maintained the
scriptural position upon the perpetuity of spiritual gifts they
gained very large numbers to their ranks. The false positions of
those who opposed them added fuel to the flame of fanaticism al
ready kindled, and resulted in the breaking up of the once united
and happy body of believers.
Seventh-day Adventists have held the scriptural position upon
the perpetuity of the gifts from their first existence. They have
taken heed to the admonition of Paul to " Despise not prophe-
syings; " but to "Prove all things; " and " Hold fast that which
is good." 2 Thess. 5 : 20, 21. They have with their Bibles in their
hands applied the rule of John by which to test the spirits. " Be
lieve not every spirit; but try the spirits, whether they are of
God." 1 John 4 :1. With this position those who have held it
have been prepared to meet every form of fanaticism that has
sought a place among us, and now our people are reaping the
good fruits of their patient, firm, and energetic efforts upon this
point, in the unparalleled union and order throughout the ranks.
We would not encourage a disposition to blame those who acted
according to the best light they had under the pressure of the
trials of the past; but we here express our solemn conviction
that very much of the past fanaticism and Confusion among the
Adventists who could not adopt an unscriptural position, is
chargeable to those leaders who took a false position relative
to the perpetuity of spiritual gifts. j. w.
Miller. 17
258 LIFE OF MILLER.
" Not only Mr. Miller, but all who were in his
confidence, took a decided position against all fan
atical extravagances. They never gave them any
quarter; while those who regarded them with fa
vor soon arrayed themselves against Mr. Miller
and his adherents. Their fanaticism increased;
and though opposed by Mr. Miller and his friends,
the religious and secular press very generally, but
unjustly, connected his name with it;—he being
no more responsible for it than Luther and Wes-
ley were for similar manifestations in their day.
CHAPTER XIV.
HOME OF MB. MILLER—TOUR INTO WESTERN NEW YORK—
HIS PERSONAL APPEARANCE—ADDRESS TO ALL DENOMI
NATIONS—VISIT TO WASHINGTON, ETC.
CHAPTER, XV.
THE PASSING OP THE TIME—HIS POSITION—LINES ON HIS
DISAPPOINTMENT—CONFESSION—VISIT OP ELD. LITCH—
MB. MILLER AND THE METHODIST MINISTERS—TOTJR TO
OHIO—RETURN, ETC.
CHAPTER XVI.
* The leading object in giving matter of this kind from the pen
of Mr. Miller is to let the Christian character and tender spirit of
the man appear, whom God had raised up to do a great work. He
had been a brave soldier in the service of his country, and had
fearlessly stood in defense of unpopular truth, and had dared to
meet opposition, scoff's, and even scandal, from the popular
churches. But now, under the most trying circumstances, we see
the aged Christian warrior, clothed with humility as with a gar
ment, and his spirit all softened and sweetened by divine grace,
tenderly entreating his brethren to be patient, gentle, true, and
kind. j. w.
Miller. 22
338 LIFE OF MILLEE,
" ' Sir, —Your kind offer to publish all the letters
from those who have been converted from infidel-
340 LIFE OP MILLER.
CHAPTER XVII.
" ' The present state of our faith and hope, with
the severe trials which many of us experience,
call for much brotherly love, forbearance, patience,
and prayer. No cause, be it ever so holy, can
exist in this present world, without its attendant
evils. Therefore, it becomes necessary for all who
are connected with this cause to exercise great
charity; for charity covers a multitude of sins.
"' The cause we advocate calls upon all men to
read the word of God, and to reason, judge, com
pare, and digest for themselves. This is certain-
ADDRESS TO THE BRETHREN. 351
CHAPTER XVIII.
HIS APOLOGY AND DEFENSE—DEFINITENESS OF PEOPHBTIC
TIME—ERRONEOUS VIEWS CONNECTED WITH THE DOC
TRINE, ETC.
*The reader may now understand the real position of the man
whom God had led in the gi eat movement which occurred in ful
fillment of the first message of Rev, 14. We believe that the
third message, now being proclaimed, and the preparatory work
for the coming of the Son of man DOW in progress with those
who embrace it, is by the direct providence of God, in fulh'llment
of certain portions of his word. And this position makes the
conclusions that the first and second messages of the same series
were given under the same providence, and that God raised up
William Miller to bring out the great truths of the first message,
appear very reasonable. Hence we are the more willing to let
him speak for himself, that the candid reader may correctly view
this representative and providential servant of Jesus Christ,
whose name is associated in the public mind with Adventism ev
erywhere.
But few public men "grow old gracefully." Mr. Miller en
tered upon his public labors as a lecturer upon the prophecies in
the strength of manhood, after acquiring habits of self-reliance,
firmness, and undaunted courage, as an army and civil officer,
And this stamp of character, sanctified by the grace of God, con
stituted one of the important qualifications necessary to meet the
different forms of determined opposition and persecution which
he met. And then, after nerving himself to the battle for thir
teen years, forming the strongest combative habits at that period
FAITH IN ADVENT EXPEDIENCE. 369
quire relative to the second and first messages, and would feel
the deepest interest in the man whom God raised up to lead off
in the opening work of giving the great threefold warning to the
world.
Those who have been continually publishing a new tixe upon
the heels of a failure, have been, not only disgusting the public,
but, at each effort, have been virtually condemning the position
of Mr. Miller on the time question, and losing regard for his val
uable labors. These can have but little, if any, interest in his
life and views.
And on the other hand, those who stood with him on the time
question in 1844, and have confessed to the world that they were
in error, and have given up their past second-advent experience,
virtually condemn his position and work, and can take, compar
atively, but little interest in the history of his life, views, and la
bors. Both of these classes have departed from the position of
Mr. Miller, and have denied, or, at least, hold very lightly their
past second-advent experience, and have left the field to Seventh-
day Adventists, who stand upon the "original advent faith."
And while occupying the position we do relative to the past
movement, the public have reason to expect that, while we hold
that Mr. Miller moved in the providence of God in his work, we
should publish the facts as they existed in his life, views, and la
bors, in explanation and defense, so far as such facts constitute a
defense, of our position.
We still love the advent name, and hold it very dear. And
while we hold the name, consistency would lead us to cherish and
also hold dear the very means that made us Adventists. To still
hold the advent name, and turn round and curse, or deny, or
even hold lightly, the means God employed to make us what we
are, seems the very climax of inconsistency. When Seventh-
day Adventists can no longer honor the great second-advent
movement, but feel called upon to confess to the world that the
pioneers of the cause were mistaken on the very calculation that
shook the world, and which resulted in making Adventists a
separate people, then they will drop "Adventists" from their
denominational name, and pass for simply Sabbatarian Christians.
.K W.
FAITH IN ADVENT EXPEDIENCE. 371
CHAPTER XIX.
HIS FAITH 1ST HIS PAST WOBK—VISIT TO NEW YORK CITT
—PHILADELPHIA, ETC.—ADDKESS TO THE PUBLIC—VISIT
TO CANADA, ETC.
CHAPTER XX.
LOSS Ol' SIGHT—HEALTH . DECLINES—EXPRESSION OF SYM
PATHY—HIS REPLY——HIS LAST SICKNESS AND DEATH
—FUNERAL — LETTER OF CONDOLENCE TO SURVIVING
FRIENDS.