“A letter written about the same time with the above, to a sister of Mr. Miller’s whose husband was a Universalist, is particularly severe on those sentiments. Beginning with subjects of mere family interest, he proceeds to those of a religious; and, in speaking of the nearness of the advent, he says:—
“‘I now tell you that I am more and more convinced of its truth. I have lectured on it, in a number of places this winter, and many people believe that the calculation is right. Some are afraid of it, and others will not believe; but among them all it makes a great deal of talk. Some say Esq. Miller is crazy; others, that he is a fool—and neither of them are wide from the truth. But Bro. J. and sister A. will say, “We wish Bro. William would let that subject alone. We do not want to hear so much about Christ’s second coming, the end of the world, the judgment-day, and the destruction of the wicked. He knows no more about it than the man in the moon.” So say I. But the Bible tells us; and that will never fail. You will see, within a few weeks, some numbers in the Vermont Telegraph, signed W. M. Read, and then judge. If it is not printed in the paper, I will send it to you in pamphlet form. I think it will be printed, at any rate.
“‘I want to know if J⸺ is a Universalist yet; and, if so, whether he can tell me who are the partakers of the second death, and what the second death is? You will find the description of them in Rev. 20th chapter, and 21:8. Be sure you are not deceived, Bro. J.; for the time is shortly coming that will try every man’s work, whether it be good or evil; and if you love the Lord Jesus, show your love by believing his word, and being reconciled to his word and will. How little love to Christ do we show when we are unreconciled to his justice, his word, or the righteous judgment of God on the finally impenitent! Yes, brother; it is not contrary to the carnal mind of man to be happy, if we can be happy in our own way. Neither should we be very angry with God, if he made all others so, if we thought that was the only hope for us. But if the Universalists could contrive any plan that would be plausible, to save themselves and condemn the Calvinists, or those who preach endless misery, their actions show that they would do it quickly; or why do they rail at those who preach as Christ did? “Except a man is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment.” Why do they oppose those meetings where souls are brought to cry out, as in the days of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do to be saved?” Did you ever hear such a cry in a Universalist meeting—where brethren and sisters were all together in prayer, with one accord praying and agonizing for the souls of their brethren according to the flesh? No!
“‘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. Oh, 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-a-days; 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:—