Christ refused to receive the light from heaven； and； like the Jews of old；
knew not the time of their visitation。 Luke 19：44。 Because of their pride
and unbelief the Lord passed them by and revealed His truth to those who；
like the shepherds of Bethlehem and the Eastern Magi； had given heed to all
the light they had received。
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Chapter 18
An American Reformer
An Upright； honest…hearted farmer； who had been led to doubt the divine
authority of the Scriptures； yet who sincerely desired to know the truth；
was the man specially chosen of God to lead out in the proclamation of
Christ's second coming。 Like many other reformers； William Miller had in
early life battled with poverty and had thus learned the great lessons of
energy and self…denial。 The members of the family from which he sprang were
characterized by an independent； liberty…loving spirit； by capability of
endurance； and ardent patriotismtraits which were also prominent in his
character。 His father was a captain in the army of the Revolution； and to
the sacrifices which he made in the struggles and sufferings of that stormy
period may be traced the straitened circumstances of Miller's early life。
He had a sound physical constitution； and even in childhood gave evidence of
more than ordinary intellectual strength。 As he grew older； this became more
marked。 His mind was active and well developed； and he had a keen thirst for
knowledge。 Though he did not enjoy the advantages of a collegiate education；
his love of study and a habit of careful thought and close criticism
rendered him a man of sound judgment and comprehensive views。 He possessed
an irreproachable moral character and an enviable reputation； being
generally esteemed for integrity； thrift； and benevolence。 By dint of energy
and application he early acquired a
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competence； though his habits of study were still maintained。 He filled
various civil and military offices with credit； and the avenues to wealth
and honor seemed wide open to him。
His mother was a woman of sterling piety； and in childhood； he had been
subject to religious impressions。 In early childhood； however； he was thrown
into the society of deists； whose influence was the stronger from the fact
that they were mostly good citizens and men of humane and benevolent
disposition。 Living； as they did； in the midst of Christian institutions；
their characters had been to some extent molded by their surroundings。 For
the excellencies which won them respect and confidence they were indebted to
the Bible； and yet these good gifts were so perverted as to exert an
influence against the word of God。 By association with these men； Miller was
led to adopt their sentiments。 The current interpretations of Scripture
presented difficulties which seemed to him insurmountable； yet his new
belief； while setting aside the Bible； offered nothing better to take its
place； and he remained far from satisfied。 He continued to hold these views；
however； for about twelve years。 But at the age of thirty…four the Holy
Spirit impressed his heart with a sense of his condition as a sinner。 He
found in his former belief no assurance of happiness beyond the grave。 The
future was dark and gloomy。 Referring afterward to his feelings at this
time； he said：
〃Annihilation was a cold and chilling thought； and accountability was sure
destruction to all。 The heavens were as brass over my head； and the earth as
iron under my feet。 Eternitywhat was it？ And deathwhy was it？ The more I
reasoned； the further I was from demonstration。 The more I thought； the more
scattered were my conclusions。 I tried to stop thinking； but my thoughts
would not be controlled。 I was truly wretched； but did not understand the
cause。 I murmured and complained； but knew not of whom。 I knew that there
was a wrong； but knew not how or where to find the right。 I mourned； but
without hope。〃
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In this state he continued for some months。 〃Suddenly；〃 he says； 〃the
character of a Saviour was vividly impressed upon my mind。 It seemed that
there might be a being so good and compassionate as to himself atone for our
transgressions； and thereby save us from suffering the penalty of sin。 I
immediately felt how lovely such a being must be； and imagined that I could
cast myself into the arms of； and trust in the mercy of； such a one。 But the
question arose； How can it be proved that such a being does exist？ Aside
from the Bible； I found that I could get no evidence of the existence of
such a Saviour； or even of a future state。 。 。 。
〃I saw that the Bible did bring to view just such a Saviour as I needed； and
I was perplexed to find how an uninspired book should develop principles so
perfectly adapted to the wants of a fallen world。 I was constrained to admit
that the Scriptures must be a revelation from God。 They became my delight；
and in Jesus I found a friend。 The Saviour became to me the chiefest among
ten thousand； and the Scriptures； which before were dark and contradictory；
now became the lamp to my feet and light to my path。 My mind became settled
and satisfied。 I found the Lord God to be a Rock in the midst of the ocean
of life。 The Bible now became my chief study； and I can truly say； I
searched it with great delight。 I found the half was never told me。 I
wondered why I had not seen its beauty and glory before； and marveled that I
could have ever rejected it。 I found everything revealed that my heart could
desire； and a remedy for every disease of the soul。 I lost all taste for
other reading； and applied my heart to get wisdom from God。〃S。 Bliss；
Memoirs of Wm。 Miller； pages 65…67。
Miller publicly professed his faith in the religion which he had despised。
But his infidel associates were not slow to bring forward all those
arguments which he himself had often urged against the divine authority of
the Scriptures。 He was not then prepared to answer them； but he reasoned
that if the Bible is a revelation from God； it must be consistent with
itself； and that as it was given for man's instruction； it must
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be adapted to his understanding。 He determined to study the Scriptures for
himself； and ascertain if every apparent contradiction could not be
harmonized。
Endeavoring to lay aside all preconceived opinions； and dispensing with
commentaries； he compared scripture with scripture by the aid of the
marginal references and the concordance。 He pursued his study in a regular
and methodical manner； beginning with Genesis； and reading verse by verse；
he proceeded no faster than the meaning of the several passages so unfolded
as to leave him free from all embarrassment。 When he found anything obscure；
it was his custom to compare it with every other text which seemed to have
any reference to the matter under consideration。 Every word was permitted to
have its proper bearing upon the subject of the text； and if his view of it
harmonized with every collateral passage； it ceased to be a difficulty。 Thus
whenever he met with a passage hard to be understood he found an explanation
in some other portion of the Scriptures。 As he studied with earnest prayer
for divine enlightenment； that which had before appeared dark to his
understanding was made clear。 He experienced the truth of the psalmist's
words： 〃The entrance of Thy words giveth light； it giveth understanding unto
the simple。〃 Psalm 119：130。
With intense interest he studied the books of Daniel and the Revelation；
employing the same principles of interpretation as in the other scriptures；
and found； to his great joy； that the prophetic symbols could be understood。
He saw that the prophecies； so far as they had been fulfilled； had been
fulfilled literally； that all the various figures； metaphors； parables；
similitudes； etc。； were either explained in their immediate connection； or
the terms in which they were expressed were defined in other scriptures； and
when thus explained； were to be literally understood。 〃I was thus
satisfied；〃 he says； 〃that the Bible is a system of revealed truths； so
clearly and simply given that the wayfaring man； though
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a fool； need not err therein。〃Bliss； page 70。 Link after link of the chain
of truth rewarded his efforts； as step by step he traced down the great
lines of prophecy。 Angels of heaven were guiding his mind and opening the
Scriptures to his understanding。
Taking the manner in which the prophecies had been fulfilled in the past as
a criterion by which to judge of the fulfillment of those which were still
future； he became satisfied that the popular view of the spiritual reign of
Christa temporal millennium before the end of the worldwas not sustained
by the word of God。 This doctrine； pointing to a thousand years of
righteousness and peace before the personal coming of the Lord； put far off
the terrors of the day of God。 But； pleasing though it may be； it is
contrary to the teachings of Christ and His apost