fourth beast are Rome, and that the little horn of Daniel 7th is Papacy, while Dr. Jarvis and Mr. Hinton admit that the exceeding great horn of Daniel 8th is Rome. The literal resurrection of the body, the end of the world, and a personal coming of Christ, have not een questioned by several who have written against me. "Thus there is not a point for which I have contended that has not been admitted by some of those who have written to disprove my opinions. I have candidly weighed the objections advanced against these views; but I have seen no arguments that were sustained by the Scriptures that, in my opinion, invalidated my position. I cannot, therefore, conscientiously refrain from looking for my Lord, or from exhorting my fellow-men, as I have opportunity, to be in readiness for that great event. For my indiscretions and errors I ask pardon; and all who have spoken evil of me without cause I freely forgive. My labors are principally ended. I shall leave to my younger brethren the task of contending for the truth. Many years I toiled alone; God has now raised up those who will fill my place. I shall not cease to pray for the spread of truth. "In conclusion, suffer a word of exhortation. You, my brethren, who are called by the name of Christ, will you not examine the Scriptures respecting the nearness of the Advent? The great and good of all ages have had their minds. directed to about this period of time, and a multitude are impressed with the solemn conviction that these are emphatically the last days. Is not a question of such moment worthy of your consideration? I do not ask you to embrace an opinion of mine; but I ask you to weigh well the evidence contained in the Bible. If I am in any error, I desire to see it, and I should certainly renounce it; but do look at the question, and, in view of the teachings of the inspired Word, decide for eternity. more? "What shall I say to my unconverted friends? I have faithfully exhorted you these many years to believe in Christ; you have excused yourselves. What can I say Will not all the considerations that are presented in the Scriptures of truth move your hearts to lay down the weapons of your rebellion? You have no lease of your lives, and, if the Lord should not come, your eyes may be soon closed in death. Why will you not improve the present moment, and flee from the wrath to come? Go to Christ, I beseech you; lay hold on the promise of God, trust in his grace, and he will cleanse you by his blood. "I would exhort my Advent brethren to study the Word diligently. Let no man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit. Avoid everything that shall cause offence. Let your lives be models of goodness and propriety. Let the adversary get no advantage over you. We have been disappointed; but disappointments will work for our good, if we make the right use of them. Be faithful. Be vigilant. Exhort with all long-suffering and patience. Let your conversation be in heaven, from whence you look for the blessed hope. Avoid unnecessary controversy and questions that gender strifes. Be not many masters; all are not competent to advise and direct. God will raise up those to whom he will commit the direction of his cause. Be humble, be watchful, be patient, be persevering. And may the God of peace sanctify you wholly, and preserve you blameless unto the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour WILLIAM MILLER. Jesus Christ! "Low Hampton, August 1, 1845." CHAPTER XXIII. THE VALUE OF FAITH UNFINISHED LETTER VISIT TO NEW YORK CITY, PHILADELPHIA, ETC.— ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC VISIT TO CANADA, ETC. IN the month of September Mr. Miller attended conferences in Addison and Bristol, Vt., and lectured in each place. He then took a journey into Connecticut, and visited Hartford, attended a camp-meeting in Newington, near Hartford, and one at Square Pond, in Tolland county. He then visited Middletown. He was much pleased with his journey, and returned home refreshed. After this, in connection with Elder A. Hale, he lectured, in November in the State of Vermont, at Waterbury, Mor ristown, Stowe, Waitesfield and Burlington. Besides at these places, he seems to have labored but little during the remainder of the year. He occasionally communicated articles for the Advent Herald, giving expositions of Scripture, &c.; but the approaching infirmities of age admonished him that his labors were nearly ended. On the 11th of December, he wrote: "I am much troubled with my old complaint. Bless the Lord, I hope to be with him soon," &c. On Christmas Day he communicated the following: 66 THE VALUE OF FAITH. "BROTHER HIMES:- I send you a few of my Christmas thoughts, in verse; they are the simple effusions of my heart, and can claim no merit beyond a medium of expressing my joys and sorrows. Was the dear Saviour born 1847 years ago to-night? Some think he was. Did the angels sing the Christmas chant, 'Peace on earth and good will to men,' 1847 years ago? If I could know this fact I would believe that, before another Christmas, I should hear, as did the shepherds in Judea, the same voices, chanting Glory on earth! Hallelujah! The King of Glory comes to dwell with men below!' This would be glory; the thought that it may be so fills me with joy unspeakable. I hope it is true. I do believe the Bible; if that's not true, there's nothing true on earth. 6 "When weak, the tempter me assails, And draws my love from Christ astray; 'Come back, my child, I am the way.' "When, filled with doubts, for sins I mourn, "When Death, the tyrant, claims his due, It fills my soul with dread to view The cold, dark tomb, and mouldering clay; "If war and famine fill the land, And pestilence and flame should be,— "Go, then, ye sceptics, laugh and sneer; And your vain boasts be heard no more. "If those, who once companions were Faith hears the word Jehovah speaks, The truth by faith that leads to God. "WILLIAM MILLER. "Low Hampton, Dec. 25, 1845." He left, among his MSS., the following fragment, which was probably commenced as a New Year's communication to those addressed: "Low Hampton, Dec. 1845. "To the dear brethren who love the appearing of our dear and precious Saviour Jesus Christ: "Let me address you in love, with the affection of one who has been often refreshed by your readiness to hear, believe, and obey the truth, and has taken sweet counsel with many of you in the house of God,-where our faith has been more and more established by the word of his grace, where our prayers were mingled at the same altar, and have arisen in the same cloud of incense to the mercy-seat of our Redeemer,-where our hearts burned with the same love and gratitude to God for the good and glorious news of the near approach of the King of kings,—where our songs of praise and hallelujahs to the Lamb, in unison and sweet harmony, cheered our drooping spirits, while, like strangers and pilgrims, we expected soon-yes, very soon-to reach the long-sought and promised rest;- where heart mingled with heart, soul with soul, and love with love, holy, heavenly and divine, uniting us in the oneness of gospel truth; — where prejudice and party names were dissipated like the midnight fogs by the morning sun,-and where, may I not say, we learned the first practical lesson of gospel union! "Were we wrong then? If so, then wrong will give a love as holy as angels breathe, and pure as the water of life. Who was our Master then? - Jesus Christ, who was at the door. Who claimed preeminence above his fellows then? None. Like little children, we sucked the honeyed flower and ate the naked truth. The Bible! a precious book! The Bible! no treasure on the earth was prized like that! We knew our friends and brethren by this Book of books. If we met a stranger, and in his pocket, hand, or heart, we found a Bible, we called him brother; and even the infidel would call him opprobrious names which they had affixed to us. O, "That looked and seemed like the apostolic age. But 0, how short! The spirits of the dark abyss were moved to spoil, if possible, this holy, happy union of gospel love. The base and sordid hypocrites from east to west began to foam and fret; the bigots all began to scowl and sneer; the world began to rage. The man-made wisdom and worldly greatness of the earth began to shake the drowsy spirits of their titled champions, and they arose to combat-what? a |