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Miller’s Works, vol. 1. Views of the Prophecies and Prophetic Chronology

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    LETTER V. MR. MILLER RECOVERING-DISAPPOINTMENT IN BEING DEPRIVED OF MEETING THE CONFERENCE-HIS RESIGNATION-HIS FRIENDS

    DEAR BRO. HIMES:- Again, by the blessing of God, I am able to sit up and write a few lines to my friends. You, and the dear friends of the Conference in Boston, have been in my mind both in my sleep and while awake, and my prayers have been continually raised for the blessing of God upon your deliberations-that the Spirit of the Most High might direct your counsels. I have feelings, and feel yet a confidence in God, that your Conference 1General Conference of the believers in the Advent near, held in Boston, Oct. 14,15, 1840. will be instrumental of doing much good, in rending the veil of tradition from all faces, and exposing the unscriptural doctrine of “peace and safety,” the “spiritual millennium,” and “return of the Jews.” Why was I deprived of meeting those congenial minds, in this good, this glorious cause of light and truth? Why am I to bear this last affliction, and not enjoy this one pleasure of meeting once more fellow-laborers in a cause so big with prospects, so glorious in its results, so honoring to God, so safe for man? Why are the providences of God so mysterious? I have often inquired-Am I never to have my will? No, never; until my will shall harmonize with thine, O Father! Yes, God is right, his providence is right, his ways are just and true, and I am foolish thus to murmur or complain.MWV1 241.1

    I had set my heart on this, to see and to hear brothers Jones, Litch, Ward, Cole, Himes, Plumer, Millard, Burnham, French, Parker, Medbury, Ayres, Smith, and others. Yes, and then to see those private brethren, too-brothers Shaw, Nichols, and Wood-but I cannot name them all. Those colored brethren, too, at Belknap street, with christian hearts; Heaven, I hope, has stamped them as its favorites. Oh! I had vainly hoped to see you all, to breathe and feel that sacred flame of love, of heavenly fire; to hear and speak of that dear and blessed Savior’s near approach.MWV1 241.2

    Away, ye cold, ye calculating formalists, ye proud and haughty worldly professors. I had rather have one hour with those whom I have named above, and hundreds more that could with the same propriety be named, than to enjoy an age of all that you call great or good. But here I am, a weak, a feeble, toil-worn old man, upon a bed of sickness, with feeble nerves, and worst of all, I fear, in part unreconciled to God. But bless the Lord, my soul; I have yet great blessings, more than I can number. I was not taken sick far away from home; I am in the bosom of my family: I have my reason; I can think, believe, and love. I have a Bible. O, blessed book! If I cannot read, I have a daughter who loves that book, and she can read for me. How pleasant it is to hear these infant voices read that holy book. How soft the couch of sickness may be made by dutiful children, and the book of God. I have a hope, yes, yes, “a blessed hope,” founded on that word that never fails; my hope is on Him, who soon will come, and will not tarry. I love the thought; it makes my bed in sickness; I hope it will in death. I wait for him; my soul, wait thou on God. I have the Spirit; O blessed Holy Spirit! He whispers in my heart, “Fear not, I am with thee; be not dismayed, I will sustain thee.” I have a promise from the great I AM: “Though, after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.”MWV1 242.1

    I have many friends, and I am persuaded they will last forever; for they are not built on worldly prospects, on earthly honors, nor selfish creeds. If they could gain any of these by me, I might suspect them. But no; if they love me, it is for the work’s sake; it is for my Master’s sake; and if they truly love my Master, he will love them; and this love of his is eternal, and being reciprocal, makes us one forever. I am confident that I have daily prayers from many hearts. I feel it truly. You worldly wise may smile at this idea, and call it fanaticism. But look ye, can you not believe that many do believe the message that I bring? O yes, no doubt some fools, say you. Well, call us what you please; but do not those who do believe call it good news? Perhaps they may. Well, if they in their minds should call it good, would they not be apt to call it very good, yes, even glorious, great, very great? We will admit all that. Very well; I now inquire, if a messenger should bring you news that you had drawn a prize of fifty thousand dollars, and being poor, yes, very poor, had spent his time and health to give you notice, would you not wish him well? I would not be ungrateful, say you. Neither will these. For what is fifty thousand dollars’ worth of gold, compared with this good news, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him?” Away with paltry gold; it bears no just comparison. Will, then, these thousands of hearts be now ungrateful, whom I have seen rejoice, with joy so great, that all the air was love where we were sitting? And I have no need to say, where I have carried the news, that thousands have been made to hope in God, that never hoped before. Are these ungrateful? No, never.MWV1 242.2

    I see, my brother, I have been preaching, instead of writing to you. I must close. Yours,MWV1 243.1

    WILLIAM MILLER.
    Low Hampton, Oct. 15, 1840.

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