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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 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 dispens-
ing 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 ma
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and reading verse by verse, he proceeded no faster than the meaning
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of the several passages so unfolded as to leave him free from all em-
barrassment. 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.]
After two years of careful investigation, he was fully satisfied,
that the Bible is its own interpreter; that it is a system of revealed
truths so clearly and simply given that the wayfaring man, though a
fool, need not err therein; that “all Scripture is given by inspiration
of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness;” [2 Timothy 3:16.] that “prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake
as they were moved by the Holy Ghost;” [2 Peter 1:21.] that it was written “for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of
the Scriptures might have hope.” [Romans 15:4.]
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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. Angels of Heaven were guiding his
mind, and opening to his understanding prophecies which had ever
been dark to God’s people. Link after link of the chain of truth
rewarded his efforts; step by step he traced down the great lines of
prophecy, until he reached the solemn conclusion that in a few years
the Son of God would come the second time, in power and glory, and
that the events co
probation would take place about the year 1843. [For a statement
of Wm. Miller’s position and an explanation of his disappointment,
see Appendix, note 1.]
Deeply impressed by these momentous truths, he felt that it
was his duty to give the warning to the world. He expected to
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encounter opposition from the ungodly, but was confident that all
Christians would rejoice in the hope of meeting the Saviour whom
they professed to love. His only fear was, that in their great joy at
the prospect of glorious deliverance, so soon to be consummated,
many would receive the doctrine without sufficiently examining the
Scriptures in demonstration of its truth. He therefore hesitated to
present it, lest he should be in error, and be the means of misleading
others. He was thus led to review the evidences in support of the
conclusions at which he had arrived, and to consider carefully every
difficulty which presented itself to his mind. He found that objections
vanished before the light of God’s word, as mist before the rays of the
sun. Five years spent thus, left him fully convinced of the correctness
of his position. And now the duty of making known to others what
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he believed to be so clearly taught in the Scriptures, urged itself with
new force upon him. “When I was about my business,” he said, “it
was continually ringing in my ears, Go and tell the world of their
danger. This text was constantly occurring to me: ‘When I say unto
the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not
speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in
his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless,
if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn
from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy
soul.’ [Ezekiel 33:8, 9.] I felt that if the wicked could be effectually warned, multitudes of them would repent; and that if they were not
warned, their blood might be required at my hand.”
He began to present his views in private as he had opportunity,
praying that some minister might feel their force and devote himself
to their promulgation. But he could not banish the conviction that
he had a personal duty to perform in giving the warning. The words
were ever recurring to his mind, “Go and tell it to the world; their
blood will I require at thy hand.” For nine years he waited, the burden
still pressing upon his soul, until in 1831 he for the first time publicly
gave the reasons of his faith.
As Elisha was called from following his oxen in the field, to re-
ceive the mantle of consecration to the prophetic office, so was Wm.
Miller called to leave his plow, and open to the people the mysteries
of the kingdom of God. With trembling he entered upon his work,
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leading his hearers down, step by step, through the prophetic peri-
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ods to the second appearing of Christ. With every effort he gained
strength and courage as he saw the wide-spread interest excited by
his words.
Though he had little of the learning of the schools, he became
wise because he co
possessed strong mental powers, united with true kindness of heart,
Christian humility, calmness, and self-control. He was a man of
sterling worth, who could not but command respect and esteem
wherever integrity of character and moral excellence were valued.
He was attentive and affable to all, ready to listen to the opinions of
others, and to weigh their arguments. Without passion or excitement
he tested all theories and doctrines by the word of God; and his
sound reasoning, and intimate knowledge of the Scriptures, enabled
him to refute error and expose falsehood.