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
“On the morning of the third day, the Congregational minister called on
him, with a deacon of his church, and wished to ask him a few questions.
Five other gentlemen soon came in, and took seats in the room. Mr. Miller
told the clergyman that he might ask any question he pleased, and he
would answer the best he could. The minister accordingly asked him some
twenty questions, each one of which Mr. M. answered by quoting a text of
Scripture. He then thanked Mr. M. for his politeness, and acknowledged
that he had answered him fairly. ‘But,’ said he, ‘I do not believe your
doctrine.’
“‘What doctrine?’ said Mr. M.
“‘I don’t believe God has revealed the time.’”
“Mr. M. asked him if he would answer three questions.[17]
“The minister replied that he did not come there to _answer_ questions.
One of the gentlemen present then inquired of the minister why he
would not answer. He said he did not come for the purpose of answering
questions, and did not choose to. The gentleman then said to him: ‘I have
disbelieved the Bible, but have been one of your principal supporters
many years; and, when Mr. Miller has answered so many of your questions,
if you will not let him ask you three, I can pay you no more of my
money.’ He added, ‘I have seen more evidence in proof of the truth of
the Bible in the few lectures I have heard from Mr. M. than in all the
sermons you have ever preached.’
“‘Why,’ said the minister, ‘how does Mr. Miller prove the truth of the
Bible?’
“‘By the fulfillment of prophecy.’
“‘And do not I prove it in the same way? Do not I show how all the
prophecies in reference to Christ were fulfilled in him?’
“‘Why, yes, you do that; but you have never shown that those prophecies
were written before Christ; and it is very easy to write a history. But
Mr. M. has shown us how the prophecies are being fulfilled in our own
day; he has shown us how the history of Napoleon is a perfect fulfillment
of prophecy; and I _know_ that that prophecy was written before the time
of Napoleon.’
“The minister and deacon retired. The gentleman then turned to Mr.
Miller, and said that he and his four companions were infidels; that they
had attended his lectures; had become quite interested; but had very
curious feelings, and wished to know what ailed them.
“Mr. M. inquired whether they would attend any more of his lectures.
“They replied that they should lose none of them.
“‘Well,’ said Mr. M., ‘I think I will not tell you what ails you; but, if
you will give close attention during the week, I think you will find out.’
“They attended his lectures, and, before the end of the week, with a
number of others who had been infidels, were rejoicing in the goodness
and forgiveness of God. At the close of his last lecture, one hundred and
twenty persons voluntarily arose for prayers; a goodly number were soon
rejoicing in the Saviour, and a glorious result followed.