"Is this Vermont, the state which boasts of its freedom, of its republicanism? Shame on Vermont!" The audience were somewhat agitated; but he requested them to be quiet, and proceeded with his discourse. No one was injured, and good evidently resulted from the interruption; for it aroused the old gentleman's energy, and gave additional interest to the remainder of the sermon. On Thursday, the 24th of September, they commenced a Conference at Derby Line, Vt., which continued four days. The pain in Mr. M.'s shoulder had increased considerably, and resulted in a tumor of considerable size, which was much inflamed. Yet he preached six times, with a good degree of vigor. On Monday, the 28th, a widowed sister of Mr. M., living in Canada, having met him at Derby Line, he left with her for her residence in Hatley. He was there confined about three weeks with the tumor on his shoulder, which was very painful, affecting his neck and head, and discharged freely for many days. In consequence of this indisposition, he was unable to fulfil several appointments, which he had made in that region, much to the disappointment of the inhabitants. As soon as he was able to ride, they started for Low Hampton; but the weather and roads made the travelling very tedious. On his way home he spent a Sabbath, and preached a discourse of two hours' duration, at Rickford, Vt., which left him so weak that it was with difficulty he could walk. On arriving at Fairfield, Vt., they spent a night, and Mr. M. preached in the evening. They arrived at Low Hampton after an absence of about nine weeks, during which he had been treated with great kindness and respect wherever he visited,— with the exception of the incident at Montgomery. "My tour into Canada," he wrote soon after his return, "would have been pleasant and agreeable to me, had it not been for sickness, which confined me to the house." On the 27th of November following, he wrote to Elder Buckley, who accompanied him on the above journey: "I cannot tell you what I have done since you were here, but I can tell you what I have not done. "1st. I have not done with vanity. It is as natural as my breath; and if I ever cease from vain and trifling con versation in this world, you must place me in society which I have no regard for,- either to love or to hate, where I could be a hypocrite without any drawback. For I have often noticed, when I am alone and with no one to converse with, that I am not tempted to speak words of vanity. This is the reason why I choose to be alone much of my time. In my opinion, this accounts for the ascetic lives of the early Christians. What think you—is it not best for me to become a hermit? "2d. I have not done with pain. I have been troubled with head-ache, teeth-ache, bones-ache, and heart-ache, since you left; but much more of the last ache, when I think of so many of my once dearly beloved brethren, who have, since our disappointment, gone into fanaticism of every kind, and left the first principles of the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. And now, can you blame me for desiring a hermitage, away from these evil tidings and shameful acts of our friends in this time of severe trial? "3d. I have not done with corruption. My swelling discharges a little every day, and I see myself falling to corruption daily. It may be that I am corrupting others who may be brought into contact with me, for instance, the fanatics. If they never had heard of Millerism,' they would have been sober, worldly-seeking, church-loving, and sectarian-building men and women to this day; and they would have been respected as much as other church members are by the rich and popular worldlings. Yes, yes; so says the world; and you know that what the world says must be true. This is, in these modern times, the best evidence. If, then, I had been a recluse, instead of running at large, it might have saved the world a great deal of trouble, and the church the knowledge of a great deal of corruption. "4th. I have done no good thing. I can prove this by every writer, Christian and political, editors, doctors of divinity, professors and ministers of all denominations, from the Roman Catholic to the Mormon,- save only a few despised Adventists, who, in the eyes of the world, are as much below the Mormons, as Christ was below Barabbas in the Jews' estimation. "But,' say you, 'you say you have done no go, thing. Was it not a good thing to tell us, who love Christ's appearing, that he was near to come? Was it not a good thing to read the Bible to us, and show by history its fulfilment and truth? Was it not a good thing to warn sinners of their danger, which might lead them to repentance and a preparation for the judgment? Was it not a good thing to preach the kingdom of heaven at hand and the judgment? Was it not a good thing to preach the resurrection of these bodies, the inheritance of the saints, and the reign of Christ and his people on the earth made new forever? Was it not a good thing to comfort the saints with the words of his coming, and to stir them up to a remembrance of the things which Christ, the prophets, and apostles, have spoken concerning his coming? And have not you done all this?' "No, no. "Who has then?' "I answer, it was the grace of God which worked in me of his own good pleasure both to will and to do. "Since I have been preaching this hour, I will give you my text, 2 Cor. 12: 11, last clause: Though I be nothing.' And now, lastly, the improvement. 1st. You may learn, by my subject, that I am nothing like the clay in the hands of the potter. "2d. You may learn, if any good has been done, that God has done it by his grace; and if any evil, it is a chastisement for disobedience; for shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?'- Amos 3: 6. 6 "3d. We may learn, by the effect of any work, whether it be of God. If wicked men, and proud, selfish, popular professors join hand in hand to oppose you, you may be sure that God is in the work. "4th. You may learn, by my subject, that I am not well of my disease. Nor do I expect to be till Christ comes; for which event I look with a great interest and desire. "Yours, WM. MILLER." Having desired a visit from Elder Himes, who had spent the summer in Great Britain, and having received intelligence that such a visit would have to be deferred till the January following, he wrote him, on the 7th of December, 1846, after expressing his regrets for the delay, as follows: "I feel lonesome; yet I have great reason to bless God, and to take courage. I also rejoice that, with all the departures from the faith which has cheered the people of God in every age, you, and those connected with you in conducting the Advent Herald, have remained steadfast. In this, I have abundant reason to thank my Heavenly Father. Amidst my severe disappointments and trials, God has given me a few faithful companions who have not been shaken from the truth, nor been turned unto fables and new theories of men, by the cunning craftiness of those who lie in wait to deceive. Yes, my brother, if you will continue to hold up the truth as you have done thus far, God will bless you; and when the Master comes, be it sooner or later, he will say to you, 'Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.' "If this should be the last letter you receive from old Brother Miller (which may be the case), remember it has been his earnest desire, and the last wish of his heart, that you might be preserved from imbibing those views so derogatory to the Word of God; -the return of the carnal Jew, a millennium before the coming of Christ, probation after the Advent,— sinners or sin and death dwelling in the new earth, regeneration for resurrection, unconscious state of the dead,— annihilation of the soul, &c. All these views, with many others of a like character, I have no faith in, nor fellowship for. I therefore feel that it is my duty, and my present infirmities admonish me that it is one of my last, to affectionately, yet earnestly, warn my dear brethren against these dangerous errors and practices. Examine the Word of God, and judge of their fruits. Follow no man, or men, unless they have the spirit of Christ, which is not a spirit that manifests itself in a love of self. 66 My health is very poor. I never expect to see many of my dear brethren again in the flesh; and perhaps, before you come, I may be with Christ in spirit, and my body under the cold clods of the valley. I have often wondered why God had so long spared me, and suffered death to rob us of so many more useful than myself. "WILLIAM MILLER." With the exception of an occasional article for the press, Mr. Miller made no public effort during the winter. His health would not permit. As the time approached for the usual Annual Meeting in New York city in May, 1847, he made arrangements to be present; but his health was not sufficient. In writing of his inability to be present, under date of May 6th, 1847, he said: "I cannot charge myself with any corrupt motive in promoting the Second Advent doctrine. If I have any regret, it is because I have done so little, and because I have been so inefficient. I have lacked in zeal more than I have lacked in faith. I believed, and do still, in this glorious and Bible doctrine of the second coming of our dear Redeemer, and of his everlasting kingdom or reign in paradise restored. "I fear that I shall not be able to attend at Boston." His health was, however, so much improved, that, with Elder Buckley, his companion in travel of the previous year, he left home on the 20th of May, and arrived in Boston on the 22d, three days before the Conference commenced. The day following was Sunday, and he preached two discourses, in the afternoon and evening, at the Saloon, at No. 9 Milk street, where the Adventists then worshipped. On Monday evening he preached, in the same place, on the resurrection of the body. He took part in the discussions of the Conference during the week, preached once on the following Sabbath, and on Monday left for home, where he arrived on Tuesday, June 1st. This was his last visit to Massachusetts. DREAM - CHAPTER XXIV. EVENTS IN EUROPE LOSS OF SIGHT HEALTH DEEXPRESSION OF SYMPATHY BY THE NEW YORK CONHIS REPLY LETTERS OF ELDERS KIMBALL AND ROBINSON. ON the 15th of September, 1847, he was present at a tent-meeting at Basin Harbor, in Ferrisburg, Vt., which continued four days. In a letter written on the 27th of the same month, he makes the following reference to it: |