have assisted me in my endeavors to awaken the church and arouse the world to a sense of their awful danger. "I pray God, my brethren and sisters, that you may receive a reward in this life of an hundred fold, and, in the world to come, eternal life. Many of you have sacrificed much, your good names, former associations, flattering prospects in life, occupation, and goods; and with me you have received scorn, reproach and scandal from those whom it was our souls' desire to benefit. Yet not one of you to whom my confidence has ever been given, has, to my knowledge, murmured or complained. You have cheerfully endured the cross, despised the shame, and with me are looking for and expecting the King in all his glory. This is to me a cause of gratitude to God. May he preserve you unto the end. There have been deceivers among us, but God has preserved me from giving them my confidence to deceive or betray. "I found on my arrival here that my brethren had relinquished the meeting-house to a small minority of our church, who separated from us last spring, because the second coming of Christ was there preached-though they claim to be looking for him. Rather than contend with them, our brethren have peaceably relinquished the chapel to them, and will build, if time continues. . "WILLIAM MILLER." CHAPTER XIX. THE SEVENTH MONTH MOVEMENT —- ANTICIPATIONS OF CHRIST'S COMING THE DERRY CAMP-MEETING DISAPPOINTMENT THE NOBLEMAN AND HIS SERVANTS NEED OF PATIENCE CONFERENCE AT LOW HAMPTON EASY MODE OF CONVERTING MEN, ETC. FOR a few months previous to this time, the attention of some had been directed to the tenth day of the seventh month of the current Jewish year, as the probable termination of several prophetic periods. This was not generally received with favor by those who sympathized with Mr. Miller, till a few weeks previous to the time designated, which, on that year, following the reckoning of the Caraite Jews, fell on the 22d day of October. Mr. Miller had, a year and a half previous, called attention to the seventh month as an important one in the Jewish dispensation; but as late as the date of his last letter (September 30) he had discountenanced the positiveness with which some were then regarding it. On the 6th of October he was first led to favor the expectation which pointed to that month, and thus wrote: "If Christ does not come within twenty or twentyfive days, I shall feel twice the disappointment I did in the spring." About the same time, also, the belief in the given day was generally received. There were exceptions, but it is the duty of the impartial historian to record the fact, that those who had embraced the views of Mr. Miller, did, with great unanimity, heartily and honestly believe that on a given day they should behold the coming of the King of glory. The world cannot understand how that could be; and many who professed the name of Christ, have spoken contemptuously of such an expectation. But those who in sincerity love the Saviour, can never feel the least emotion of contempt for such a hope. The effect on those entertaining this belief is thus described by Mr. Miller, in a letter dated October 11, 1844. "I think I have never seen among our brethren such faith as is manifested in the seventh month. 'He will come,' is the common expression. He will not tarry the second time,' is their general reply. There is a forsaking of the world, an unconcern for the wants of life, a general searching of heart, confession of sin, and a deep feeling in prayer for Christ to come. A preparation of heart to meet him seems to be the labor of their agonizing spirits. There is something in this present waking up different from anything I have ever before seen. There is no great expression of joy that is, as it were, suppressed for a future occasion, when all heaven and earth will rejoice together with joy unspeakable and full of glory. There is no shouting; that, : too, is reserved for the shout from heaven. The singers are silent they are waiting to join the angelic hosts, the choir from heaven. No arguments are used or needed: all seem convinced that they have the truth. There is no clashing of sentiments: all are of one heart and of one mind. Our meetings are all occupied with prayer, and exhortation to love and obedience. The general expression is, 'Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.' Amen. Even so come, Lord Jesus! WILLIAM MILLER." The natural heart would be unable to realize that any emotion, but that of fear and dread, could fill the minds of those thus believing. But when the secrets of the great day shall be made known, it will be seen that the coming of Christ was ardently desired by them, and that their hearts were filled with a holy joy, while they were subdued by awe, as standing in the presence of the Governor of the Universe. The state of mind thus produced was a great moral spectacle, upon which those who participated in it will ever look back with pleasure, and without regret. The next day Mr. Miller wrote again as follows: "Low Hampton, October 12th, 1844. "DEAR BROTHER HIMES:- Perhaps you may think me rather too troublesome to write every day; but time is now so short, and the fulfilling of those glories which you have assisted me, more than any other human being, to proclaim, is so near, I cannot help or refrain from congratulating you daily on the glorious prospect we have of soon entering the gates of the beloved city, and of soon harping on the golden harps the everlasting song of hallelujah to the Lamb. "Yes, my brother, you have borne the shame attached to my name, for some few years past, without a murmur or complaint. I believe it was for Jesus' sake, for we had nothing in common, in a worldly point of view, to prompt you, at least, to such an unnatural connection. Our sectarian creeds were at antipodes, our ages very dissimilar, and our habits at a wide difference. You had seen enough, when we became acquainted, to know that your worldly reputation and interest must suffer; and yet you fearlessly left all, launched forth into this glorious cause, so little under stood, so perfectly hated by all the worldly-minded and popular men of our age. This, to me, was a remarkable evidence that God was my helper, and that he would in the end justify us in the work which he must have called us to perform. "You must bear with me, then, in my folly, if I should seem to boast; for there has been no scene in my life where the hand of God has been more visible than in raising you up to assist me in this work. Had it not been for a few of you, who helped stay up my feeble hands, I must have fainted; but, blessed be the name of God, I am now stronger than ever in faith, and more and more confident that we are within a few days of the crown of glory. I do not expect to see you again in this life, but I do hope to see you soon crowned in glory, and robed in the spotless garment of Christ's righteousness. I expect soon, with you and all true believers and co-workers in this blessed work, to meet around the great white throne, to receive the reward of our sufferings for the name of Jesus. I feel unworthy, and were it not for Christ's worthiness, and the promise of God to save all that believe, I should have no hope. But, blessed be God, his grace and spirit have given me hope, and taught me to believe all things which are written in the law and in the prophets.' 6 All "Our meeting last evening was very interesting and solemn. Our brethren came in from adjacent towns. of our hearts are comforted and faith strengthened that the seventh month begins to-morrow. We have two meetings to-day, and we expect the Spirit of God to be with us. Let us all be faithful even to the end. If we faint not we shall reap a rich harvest.” Monday, October 13th, he again wrote: "Yesterday was a glorious day with us. We commemorated the Lord's supper. Some of those who went out from us came back, and confessed their wrong. "In what a grand and awful time we live. "Great God, my soul looks up to thine Eternal purpose still, The promise which the word divine The phenomenon of a large number of intelligent persons looking for the end of all earthly things was an enigma to mere spectators, and would naturally elicit comment. The following remarks, in the "Middlesex Standard," by a visitor at a camp-meeting held in Derry, N. H., about this time, were conceived in a spirit of candor : "The Second Advent!-the coming of our Lord in person upon this earth, with signs, and wonders, and terrible judgment!the heavens rolling together as a scroll! — the elements melting with fervent heat!-the mighty consummation of all things at hand, with its destruction and its triumphs! the sad wailing of the lost, and the rejoicing songs of the glorified! From this over-swarming hive of industry, from these crowded treadmills of gain, — here were men and women going out in solemn earnestness to prepare for the dread moment, which they verily suppose is only a few months distant;-to lift up their warning voices in the midst of scoffers and doubters, and to cry aloud to blind priests and to careless churches, 'BEHOLD, THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH !' "It was one of the most lovely mornings of this loveliest season of the year, a warm, soft atmosphere, clear sunshine falling on the city spires and roofs, the hills of Dracut, quiet and green, in the distance, with their white. farm-houses and scattered trees,- around me the continual tread of footsteps hurrying to the toils of the day,— merchants spreading out their wares for the eyes of purchasers, -sounds of hammers, the sharp clink of trowels, the murmur of the great manufactories, subdued by distance. How was it possible, in the midst of so much life, in that sunrise light, and in view of all-abounding beauty, that the idea of the death of nature' the 'baptism of the world in 6 |