“On the morning of the third day, the Congregational minister called on him, with a deacon of his church, and wished to ask him a few questions. Five other gentlemen soon came in, and took seats in the room. Mr. Miller told the clergyman that he might ask any question he pleased, and he would answer the best he could. The minister accordingly asked him some twenty questions, each one of which Mr. M. answered by quoting a text of Scripture. He then thanked Mr. M. for his politeness, and acknowledged that he had answered him fairly. ‘But,’ said he, ‘I do not believe your doctrine.’
“‘What doctrine?’ said Mr. M.
“‘I don’t believe God has revealed the time.’”
“Mr. M. asked him if he would answer three questions.[17]
“The minister replied that he did not come there to answer questions. One of the gentlemen present then inquired of the minister why he would not answer. He said he did not come for the purpose of answering questions, and did not choose to. The gentleman then said to him: ‘I have disbelieved the Bible, but have been one of your principal supporters many years; and, when Mr. Miller has answered so many of your questions, if you will not let him ask you three, I can pay you no more of my money.’ He added, ‘I have seen more evidence in proof of the truth of the Bible in the few lectures I have heard from Mr. M. than in all the sermons you have ever preached.’
“‘Why,’ said the minister, ‘how does Mr. Miller prove the truth of the Bible?’
“‘By the fulfillment of prophecy.’
“‘And do not I prove it in the same way? Do not I show how all the prophecies in reference to Christ were fulfilled in him?’
“‘Why, yes, you do that; but you have never shown that those prophecies were written before Christ; and it is very easy to write a history. But Mr. M. has shown us how the prophecies are being fulfilled in our own day; he has shown us how the history of Napoleon is a perfect fulfillment of prophecy; and I know that that prophecy was written before the time of Napoleon.’
“The minister and deacon retired. The gentleman then turned to Mr. Miller, and said that he and his four companions were infidels; that they had attended his lectures; had become quite interested; but had very curious feelings, and wished to know what ailed them.