FROM the time that Mr. Miller became established in his religious faith, till he commenced his public labors, - a period of twelve or fourteen years, - there were few prominent incidents in his life to distinguish him from other men. He was a good citizen, a kind neighbor, an affectionate husband and parent, and a devoted Christian; good to the poor, and benevolent, as objects of charity were presented; in the Sunday-school was teacher and superintendent; in the church he performed important service as a reader and exhorter, and, in the support of religious worship, no other member, perhaps, did as much as he. He was very exemplary in his life and conversation, endeavored at all times to perform the duties, whether public or private, which devolved on him, and whatever he did was done cheerfully, as for the glory of God. His leisure hours were devoted to reading and meditation; he kept himself well informed respecting the current events of the time; occasionally communicated his thoughts through the press, and often, for his own private amusement, or for the entertainment of friends, indulged in various poetical effusions, which, for unstudied productions, are possessed of some merit; but his principal enjoyment was derived from the study of the Bible. His state of mind at this time can be better given in his own language.MWM 80.5

“With the solemn conviction,” writes Mr. Miller, “that such momentous events were predicted in the Scriptures, to be 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 of the evidence that had affected my own mind. If the end was so near, it was important that the world should know it. I supposed that it would call forth the opposition of the ungodly; but it never came into my mind 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. I therefore feared to present it, lest, by some possibility, I should be in error, and be the means of misleading any.MWM 81.1

“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 conclusions; and I would not present a view to others, while any difficulty appeared to militate against it. I 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 I wished to see if they were valid.MWM 81.2

“Sometimes, when at work, a text would arise like this: ‘Of that day and hour knoweth no man,’ etc.; and how, then, could the Bible reveal the time of the advent? I would then immediately examine the context in which it was found, and I saw at once that, in the same connection, we are informed how we may know when it is nigh, even at the doors; consequently, that text could not teach that 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.MWM 81.3

“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, etc., 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 a thousand years from that time, nor long enough for the world’s conversion after the preaching of the gospel as a witness.MWM 82.1

“The question of the resurrection and 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.MWM 82.2

“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 difference between 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 faith;’ that ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female;’ but that ‘If ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.’ I was, therefore, obliged to discard an objection which asserts there is a difference between the Jew and Greek; that the children of the flesh are accounted for the seed, etc.MWM 82.3

“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 compare them to straws, laid down singly as obstacles, on a well-beaten road: the car of truth rolled over them, unimpeded in its progress.MWM 82.4

“I was then fully settled in the conclusions which seven years previously had begun to bear with such impressive force upon my mind; and the duty of presenting the evidence of the nearness of the advent to others, - which I had managed to evade while I could find the shadow of an objection remaining against its truth, - again came home to me with great force. I 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 of the evidence; but the great majority passed it by as an idle tale. I was, therefore, disappointed in finding any who would declare this doctrine, as I felt it should be, for the comfort of saints, and as a warning to sinners.”MWM 83.1

His correspondence during this period shows ardent longings for the salvation of his relatives and friends.MWM 83.2

In a letter to a sister, dated June 25, 1825, after writing on various subjects of family interest, he says:-MWM 83.3

“DEAR BROTHER AND SISTER: - All the news that we had to tell having been told above, I will now add a few lines; and O! may they be directed by Infinite Wisdom! What are your prospects for eternity? Is there a land of eternal rest, beyond the confines of this world, in prospect? Do you believe that the blood of the everlasting covenant can and will cleanse you from all sin? Are you satisfied with your present evidence of an interest in that blood? That we shall die is certain; and due preparation for a better world is wisdom; and we ought, as rational beings, to make ourselves familiar with the road and acquainted with the inhabitants of said country. O, my soul! go thou to the mansions of the dead, and learn there the end of all living. That we ought to be cleansed from all sin, in order to be happy, is certain; for sin constitutes all misery; and a person living in the enjoyment (falsely so called) of sin cannot enter into rest. How necessary, then, is the work of regeneration and sanctification! And may we obtain that evidence which will enable us, with Thomas, to say, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Redemption is the work of God. How proper, then, that Jesus should be called the Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel! Redemption is from sin. How improper, then, that we should live any longer therein! We ought as much to strive to attain to perfection as if it was attainable here below.MWM 83.4

’Lord, I believe thy heavenly word; Fain would I have my soul renewed. I mourn for sin, and trust the Lord To have it pardoned and subdued.MWM 84.1

My King, my Saviour, and my God, Let grace my sinful soul renew; Wash my offences with thy blood, And make my heart sincere and true.MWM 84.2

O may thy grace its power display! Let guilt and death no longer reign; Save me in thine appointed way, Nor let my humble faith be vain.MWM 84.3

Ye favored lands, who have his word, Ye saints, who feel its saving power, Unite your tongues to praise the Lord, And his distinguished grace adore.’MWM 84.4

“P.S. June 30th. - I have this day been to Whitehall, to see the celebrated Marquis de Lafayette, that made such a conspicuous figure, half a century ago, in our Revolution. He is a pleasant-looking old man, a friend to freemen, a terror to tyrants, and one that has spent his treasures, his blood, and the best part of his life in the cause of freedom and the rights of man. He has suffered much; yet he retains a good constitution. He goes a little lame, occasioned by wounds he received in the Revolution. He deserves the thanks of Americans, and he has received a general burst of gratitude from Maine to the Mississippi. He has visited every State in the Union and almost every important town. I had the pleasure of dining with him; and after dinner he took a passage for New York.MWM 84.5

“Yours, etc., WM. MILLER.”MWM 84.6

That Mr. M. was one of the men prominent in his section of the country is shown by his mingling with them, as above, on the various public occasions.MWM 84.7

He derived such pleasure from the study of the Bible, that it was almost his constant companion; and a portion of each day was devoted to its private perusal. He loved to meditate on its teachings and to talk about its promises.MWM 85.1

Being naturally of a poetical temperament, it would not be strange if, occasionally, his dreams took shape from his waking thoughts. It is, however, due to Mr. Miller to say, that he had no peculiar faith in dreams; and the following is given more for its singularity, the simplicity with which it is related, and its devotional spirit, than for any other reason.MWM 85.2

On the evening of the 4th of November, 1826, he sat up to a late hour, conversing with some friends on a religious subject, and retired to rest about twelve o’clock. Soon after he fell asleep. His sleeping thoughts assumed so distinct and vivid a form, and made so deep an impression on his mind, that, two years subsequently (January 17, 1828), he committed to writingMWM 85.3

RULES OF INTERPRETATION

HIS DREAM