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OF THE

PROPHECIES

AND

PROPHETIC CHRONOLOGY,

SELECTED FROM

MANUSCRIPTS OF

WILLIAM MILLER

WITH A

MEMOIR OF HIS LIFE;

BY JOSHUA V. HIMES.

BOSTON:

PUBLISHED BY JOSHUA V. HIMES, :

14 Devonshire Street.

1

THE EDITOR'S REMARKS.

WE hold the doctrine of a man's responsibility for the sentiments which he publishes, whether they are his own or another's. He is accountable to the community, and will be held accountable at the great tribunal, for the good or the evil they produce. We have had this thought in view in all that we have done to give publicity to Mr. Miller's writings; both in the publication of the Boston edition of his Lectures, and of the numerous Essays and Letters from his pen which have appeared in the "Signs of the Times" during the past year.

Notwithstanding the fears of many, esteemed wise and good, that the effect of this class of writings upon the community would be deleterious; we have, on the contrary, witnessed, as we expected, the most happy results. Their moral and religious influence upon all classes who have given them a candid examination has been most salutary.

We are now induced to add a second volume on similar subjects, with a short memoir of Mr. Miller's life. We send it forth with the fullest assurance of its usefulness to the church and the world. It will be a valuable aid to an understanding of the chronology of his Lectures; as also the dictionary of prophetic figures, and principles of interpretation, will be of great service to the biblical student.

As it respects the general views of Mr. Miller, we consider them in the main to be in accordance with the word of God. We do not, however, adopt the peculiarities of any man. We call no man master. Yet we frankly avow that there is much in his theory that we approve and embrace as gospel truth. For example: His views of the literal interpretation of the prophecies-The character and divinity of Christ, and his personal reign on the earthThe restoration of Israel according to the faith of Abraham, with the rejection of the "judaizing notion" of the return of the carnal Jew to Palestine-The true millennium of the saints in the resurrection state; and the utter rejection

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IV. Explanation of Prophetic Figures

V. Synopsis of Mr. Miller's Religious Views
VI. A Bible Chronology from Adam to Christ

VII. A Dissertation on Prophetic Chronology

PART SECOND.

ADDRESS AND LECTURES.

I. An Address to the Believers in the Second Advent near,-
II. Lecture on the Battle of Gog-Ezek. xxxix. 1-11
III. Lecture on the Two Sticks-Ezek. xxxvii. 15-17
IV. Lecture on the Times and its Duties-Rom. xiii. 12
V. Lecture on What is Truth-John xviii, 38

VI. Lecture on the Visions of Ezekiel-Ezek. xii. 27.
VII. Lecture on the Harvest of the World-Rev. xiv. 16

VIII. Lecture on the Final Judgment-Acts xvii. 31
IX. Lecture on the Great Sabbath-Ezek. xx. 12

PART THIRD.

REVIEWS AND LETTERS.

I. A Review of Ethan Smith's and David Cambell's Exposition

Page.

7

15

20

25

32

36-

40

54

67

85

. 101

111

118

132

145

157

of the "Little Horn" and Return of the Jews-Dan.viii. 9 172

II. Brief Review of Dowling's Reply to Miller, No. I.

182

III. Review of Dowling, No. II.

187

IV. Brief Review of S. Cobb's Lectures on the "Miller Mania" 192
V. Review of "A Bible Reader" on the Two Witnesses, Rev. xi. 8 198

VI. Remarkable Fulfilment of Prophecy relating to France and

the "Two Witnesses." Quotations from eminent Exposi-
tors of Prophecy, with Remarks by Mr. Miller

203

LETTERS.

I. On the Second Advent

. 212

II. On the Return of the Jews

III. To Mr. Cambell, on the Little Horn, Evening and Morning

225

Vision, Jews' Return, Millennium before the Resurrection 232
IV. Closing of the Door of Mercy-Millennium-The Chronology 236
V. Mr. Miller recovering-Disappointment in being deprived of

meeting the Conference-His Resignation, &c.,

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MEMOIR OF

WILLIAM MILLER.

WILLIAM MILLER was born at Pittsfield, Mass., Feb. 15, 1782. When he was four years of age, his father removed to the town of Hampton, Washington County, New York, the present residence of Mr. Miller. The country was then new, and his means of education, till nine years of age, were very small. His mother, however, taught him to read, so that when he was sent to the common school, he could read in the Bible, Psalter, and an old Hymn Book, which at that time constituted the whole of his father's library. After his ninth year, he was sent to school three months in the year, till he was fourteen. During this time, he was noted by his companions as a prodigy for learning, as they called it, particularly in the branches of spelling, reading, and writing. At the age of fourteen, he became anxious to obtain books to read. The first history he obtained was Robinson Crusoe; and the first novel he ever saw was Robert Boyle. He read them with avidity, and being so much interested in them, he read them many times over. He then became still more anxious to obtain books, especially histories and journals of travellers. A number of gentlemen in the vicinity of his father's residence, on being made acquainted with his love of reading, kindly offered him the privilege of their private libraries, which he accepted with much gratitude. From this time till he was twenty-one years of age, he was a most devoted stu

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