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 — John Shaqi
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
“In the case of most men of the world, with the avenues to honor, wealth,
and domestic happiness wide open before them, it is not often that a
public station so commanding would be voluntarily left for the hardships,
privations, and dangers, of the camp. What strong impulses could have
turned him off in that direction? Already the business of his office had
placed him in easy circumstances. Such was the amount of his business
that he kept two horses, one of which he drove, while the other was
kept up to rest, week by week, alternately. He enjoyed the respect and
unbounded confidence of the public; and he only needed to make himself
still as worthy of public favor as he had been hitherto, and then with
life and health, all that this world could afford was within his reach.
His preference for the army, so far as we know, sprang from these two
motives: First, he desired to participate in the glory which rested on
the memory of those he held the most dear, in the history of his country
and of his family. Second, he hoped to enjoy a more inviting exhibition
of human nature in the scenes of military life than experience or books
had afforded in civil life.
“His desire for something noble in character was greater than that for
wealth or unsubstantial fame. He was satisfied with the trial of what was
around him, and wished to try a new field. This is stated by himself in
his published memoir: ‘In the meantime, I continued my studies, storing
my mind with historical knowledge. The more I read, the more dreadfully
corrupt did the character of man appear. I could discern no bright spot
in the history of the past. Those conquerors of the world, and heroes
of history, were apparently but demons in human form. All the sorrow,
suffering, and misery in the world, seemed to be increased in proportion
to the power they obtained over their fellows. I began to feel very
distrustful of all men. In this state of mind, I entered the service of
my country. I fondly cherished the idea that I should find one bright
spot at least in the human character, as a star of hope—_a love of
country_—PATRIOTISM.’