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
John Stuart Mill · en
“‘And another thing it is well for us to remember. The world
will watch for our halting. They cannot think we believe what
we speak, for they count our faith a strange faith; and now
beware, and not give them any vantage-ground over us. They
will, perhaps, look for the halting and falling away of many.
But I hope none who are looking for the glorious appearing
will let their faith waver. Keep cool; let patience have its
perfect work; that, after ye have done the will of God, ye may
receive the promise. This year will try our faith; we must be
tried, purified and made white; and if there should be any
among us who do not in heart believe, they will go out from
us; but I am persuaded that there cannot be many such; for it
is a doctrine so repugnant to the carnal heart, so opposite
to the worldly-minded, so far from the cold professor, the
bigot and hypocrite, that none of them will, or can, believe
in a doctrine so searching as the immediate appearing of Jesus
Christ to judge the world. I am, therefore, persuaded better
things of you, brethren, although I thus speak. I beseech
you, my dear brethren, be careful that Satan get no advantage
over you by scattering coals of wild-fire among you; for if
he cannot drive you into unbelief and doubt, he will try his
wild-fire of fanaticism and speculation to get us from the word
of God. Be watchful and sober, and hope to the end for the
grace that shall be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus
Christ.
“‘Think not, my brethren, that I stand in doubt of your
perseverance. I know your faith, your love, and hope, to be
rooted and grounded on the word of the Almighty. You are not
dependent on the wisdom or commandments of men. Many, if not
all of you, have examined for yourselves. You have studied,
and found true, what at first was only reported unto you. You
have found the Bible much more precious than you had before
conceived; its doctrines to be congenial with the holy and just
character of God; its precepts to be wise, benevolent and kind;
and its prophecies to be clear and lucid, carrying conviction
of the truth and inspiration of the Scriptures, by a harmony of
manner and matter from Genesis to Revelation. In one word, you
have found a new Bible, and I hope and believe you have read
it with new delight. I fear not that you can ever be satisfied
with the views of our opponents; their manner of explaining
Scripture is too carnal to satisfy the devoted child of God.