"Do you think they are fools, Brother William? You know they do not believe in damnation. They preach all men will be saved.'

"Ah, ha! What fools the apostles were! If they had preached thus they would have saved many a bitter cry; and Father Paul might have saved himself many a bitter groan in endeavoring to save his kinsmen according to the flesh, and not have wished himself accursed from Christ for their sakes. I really wish - if it is true that all men will be saved that Paul had known it before he made that expression, that he might save 'some,' when he might have said that he had the promise of God that 'all' would be saved. Paul must have been as crazy as Bro. William. O, how many long arguments it would have saved,- how many twistings of texts, and windings and turnings,- if Paul, Peter, John, Matthew, Mark, Luke, Jude, and even Christ, had not said anything about two classes of mankind in a future state, and nothing about punishment being everlasting! But the Universalist is wiser than all these, now-adays; for they do not preach so now, do they, J- -? "WM. MILLER.

"March 27, 1832."

During the summer of 1832, Mr. Miller appears to have been much engaged in attending protracted meetings, which were at that time very common in many parts of the country. Under date of "Hampton, Oct. 1, 1832," he wrote to Elder Hendryx :

When your letter arrived I was attending a protracted_meeting, in Westport; and the next day after I got home I went to Poultney, to attend one there. I went to Keesville, to attend one, as soon as we left Poultney, and only arrived home last Saturday. . . . . I have spent a great share of my time in attending protracted meetings this

summer and fall.”

In the same letter he thus exhibits his fondness for the Bible, and points out the great doctrines which he believed it inculcated:

"I want to see you more than ever, and when we have less company, so that we can sit down and have a good dish of BIBLE together. The light is continually breaking in;

and I am more and more confirmed in those things of which I told you, namely, redemption by grace; the efficacy of Christ's blood; justification by his righteousness imputed to us; sanctification through the operation of the Divine Spirit; and glorification by our gathering together unto him at his appearing. I also believe those things to be founded upon election, particular, personal, and certain; governed by the mind, will, and plan of God, which was, is, and will be eternal; and which is revealed to us so far as to give us confidence, hope, and full assurance that nothing in the Divine plan, either of the means or end, can or will fail of their accomplishment."

The church in Low Hampton being destitute of a pastor, in a letter to the same, dated Nov. 17, 1832, Mr. Miller describes the kind of minister they wished for.

"We do not want one who thinks much of his own gifts, and is lifted up with pride; neither do we want a novice I mean, a fool; one who knows nothing about the Gospel of Christ. We want one who will stir up our minds, will visit, is good to learn, apt to teach, modest, unassuming, pious, devotional, and faithful to his calling. If his natural talents are brilliant, with those qualifications, they would not hurt him. If they are only moderate, they may do well enough for us. Some of our people want a quick gab.' But I should prefer a quick understanding. . . I set out for Salem to-morrow morning."

In a letter to the same, dated Hampton, Feb. 8, 1833, he writes: "The Lord is scattering the seed. I can now reckon eight ministers who preach this doctrine, more or less, besides yourself. I know of more than one hundred private brethren who say that they have adopted my views. Be that as it may, 'truth is mighty and will prevail.' If I should get my views printed, how many can you dispose of, in pamphlet form? . Our people are about giving me a license to lecture. I hardly know what to do. I am too old, too wicked, and too proud. I want your advice. Be plain, and tell me the whole truth."

*The first minister who publicly adopted his views, was Elder Fuller, of Poultney, Vt.

Shortly after, he published his views, in a pamphlet of sixty-four pages, entitled :

"Evidences from Scripture and History of the Second Coming of Christ, about the year 1843; and of his Personal Reign of One Thousand Years. By William Miller. 'Prove all things: hold fast that which is good.' 1 Th. 5: 21. Brandon, Vermont, Telegraph Office, 1833."

Soon after the publication of this pamphlet, he had occasion to visit the city of New York. As he was passing down the Hudson, in a steamboat, a company of men standing near him were conversing respecting the wonderful improvements of the day. One of them remarked, that it was impossible for things to progress, for thirty years to come, in the same ratio as they had done; "for," said he, “man will attain to something more than human." Mr. Miller replied to him, that it reminded him of Dan. 12: 4,—"Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." A pause ensuing, Mr. M. continued, and observed, that the improvements of the present day were just what we should expect at this time, in the fulfilment of Daniel's prophecy. He then commenced with the 11th chapter of Daniel, and, comparing the prophecy with the history, showed its fulfilment all listening with close attention.

He then remarked, that he had not intended trespassing so long on their patience, and, leaving them, walked to the other end of the boat. The entire company followed, and wished to hear more on the subject. He then took up the 2d, 7th, 8th and 9th chapters of Daniel. His hearers wished to know if he had ever written on the subject. He told them that he had published the above pamphlet, and distributed among them what copies he had with him.

This was one of his first audiences, and some gentlemen of high standing listened to his remarks.

He scattered the most of his pamphlets gratuitously, sending them as a response to letters of inquiry respecting his views, and to places which he could not visit.

Under date of April 10, 1833, in writing to Elder Hendryx, and speaking of the evil of resorting to excommunication from the church for slight causes, in view of a particular case, he says: "Is the remedy better than the disease? Should we cut off a man's leg because he has a thorn in his

toe? I think not. Should we set a wheat field on fire and burn the whole crop, because of a few tares in the field? No; let both grow until the harvest. O, how much injury is done in church discipline! The hypocrite uses it as a tool to make others think he is very pious. The envious use it as a weapon to bring down those they imagine are getting above them. The bigot uses it to bring others to his faith; and the sectarian, to bring others to his creed, &c. But, my dear brother, how many difficulties do you think we have in our churches where the spirit of Christ is manifested through the whole trial, or where it began with 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do'? Therefore, I can frankly and honestly say, the remedy which has been applied to cure this moral disease, is worse, a thousand times worse, than the original cause.

In the same letter, he says: "We have no preacher, as yet, except the old man [Mr. M.] with his Concordance. And he is so shunned, with his cold, dull and lifeless performance, that I have strong doubts whether he will attempt again. But-hush-not a word of what I tell you! I had a letter from brother Sa few days since. He wants me to go down and spend a few days in lecturing on the prophecies with his folks [in Jay, N. Y.] But the cross!

Last Sunday, in the P. M., I tried to hold forth the truth from Isa. 65: 25; the Sabbath before, from the same chapter, 17-19 verses. I wish I had the tongue of an Apollos, and the mental powers of a Paul: what a field might I not explore; and what powerful arguments might be brought to prove the authenticity of the Scriptures! But I want one thing more than either the spirit of Christ and of God; for he is able to take worms and thresh mountains. O my brother, let us pray for each other, especially on the Sabbath, each that the Lord would bestow this gift of the Holy Spirit upon the other. Peradventure the Lord will

answer."

In the same letter he thus expresses his regard for the word of God:

"O may the Bible be to us a rock, a pillar, a compass, a chart, a statute, a directory, a polar star, a traveller's guide, a pilgrim's companion, a shield of faith, a ground of hope, a history, a chronology, an armory, a store-house, a mirror, a

toilet, a closet, a prayer-book, an epistle, a love letter, a friend, a foe, a revenue, a treasury, a bank, a fountain, a cistern, a garden, a lodge, a field, a haven, a sun, a moon, a star, a door, a window, a light, a lamp, a luminary, a morning, a noon, an evening, an hour-glass, a daysman, a servant, an handmaid.

"It is meat, food, drink, raiment, shelter, warmth, heat, a feast, fruit, apples, pictures, wine, milk, honey, bread, butter, oil, refreshment, rest, strength, stability, wisdom, life, eyes, ears, hands, feet, breath; it is a help to hearing, seeing, feeling, tasting, smelling, understanding, forgiving, loving, hoping, enjoying, adoring, and saving; it teaches salvation, justification, sanctification, redemption, and glorification; it declares condemnation, destruction, and desolation; it tells us what we were, are, and shall be; begins with the beginning, carries us through the intermediate, and ends only with the end; it is past, present, and to come; it discovers the first great cause, the cause of all effects, and the effects of all causes; it speaks of life, death, and judgment, body, soul, and spirit, heaven, earth, and hell; it makes use of all nature as figures, to sum up the value of the gospel; and declares itself to be the WORD OF GOD. And your friend and brother believes it. WILLIAM MILLER.

"Hampton, April 10th, 1833."

IN the autumn of this year, Mr. Miller received a license to preach, from the church of which he was a member, as follows:

"Let brotherly love continue: the Baptist Church of Christ, in Hampton and Whitehall, do certify that Brother William Miller is a member in regular standing in this Church. Brother Miller has been improving his gifts with us in expounding the words of Divine Truth, in public, for some