every collateral passage in the Bible, it ceased to be a difficulty. In this way I pursued the study of the Bible, in my first perusal of it, for about two years, and was fully satisfied that it is its own interpreter. I found that by a comparison of Scripture with history, all the prophecies, as far as they have been fulfilled, had been fulfilled literally; that all the various figures, metaphors, parables, similitudes, &c., of the Bible, were either explained in their immediate connection, or the terms in which they were expressed were defined in other portions of the word; and when thus explained, are to be literally understood in accordance with such explanation. I was thus satisfied that the Bible is a system of revealed truths, so clearly and simply given, that the wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err therein.' In pursuing his study of the Holy Scriptures, Mr. Miller adopted the following rules of interpretation: "1. Every word must have its proper bearing on the subject presented in the Bible. Proof, Matt. v, 18.

"2. All Scripture is necessary, and may be understood by a diligent application and study. Proof, 2 Tim. iii, 15-17.

"3. Nothing revealed in the Scriptures can or will be hid from those who ask in faith, not wavering. Proof, Deut. xxix, 29; Matt. x, 26, 27; 1 Cor. ii. 10; Phil. iii, 15; Isa. xlv, 11; Matt. xxi, 22; John xiv, 13, 14; xv, 7; James i, 5, 6; 1 John v, 13–15.

"4. To understand doctrine, bring all the scriptures together on the subject you wish to know; then let every word have its proper influence; and if you can form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be in error. Proof, Isa. xxviii, 7-29; xxxv, 8; Prov. xix, 27; Luke xxiv, 27, 44, 45; Rom. xvi, 26; James V, 19; 2 Pet. i, 19, 20.

"5. Scripture must be its own expositor, since it is a rule of itself. If I depend on a teacher to expound to me, and he should guess at its meaning, or desire to have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or to be thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed, or wisdom, is my rule, and not the Bible. Proof, Ps. xix, 7-11; cxix, 97-105; Matt. xxiii, 8-10; 1 Cor. ii, 12-16; Eze. xxxiv, 18, 19; Luke xi, 52; Matt. ii, 7, 8. "6. God has revealed things to come, by visions, in figures and parables; and in this way the same things are oftentime revealed again and again, by different visions, or in different figures and parables. If you wish to understand them, you must combine them all in one. Proof, Ps. lxxxix, 19; Hos. xii, 10; Hab. ii, 2; Acts ii, 17; 1 Cor. x, 6; Heb. ix, 9, 24; Ps. lxxviii, 2; Matt. xiii, 13, 34; Gen. xli, 1–32; Dan. ii, vii and viii; Acts x, 9–16.

"7. Visions are always mentioned as such. 2 Cor. xii, 1.

"8. Figures always have a figurative meaning, and are used much in prophecy to represent future things, times and events-such as mountains, meaning governments, Dan. ii, 35, 44; beasts, meaning kingdoms, Dan. vii, 8, 17; waters, meaning people, Rev. xvii, 1, 15; day, meaning year, &c. Eze. iv, 6.

"9. Parables are used as comparisons, to illustrate subjects, and must be explained in the same way as figures, by the subject and Bible. Mark iv, 13.

"10. Figures sometimes have two or more different significations, as day is used in a figurative sense to represent three different periods of time, namely: first, indefinite, Eccl. vii, 14; second, definite, a day for a year, Eze. iv, 6; and third, a day for a thousand years, 2 Pet. iii, 8.

"The right construction will harmonize with the Bible, and make good sense; other constructions will

not.

"11. If a word makes good sense as it stands, and does no violence to the simple laws of nature, it is to be understood literally; if not, figuratively. Rev. xii, 1, 2; xvii, 3-7.

"12. To learn the meaning of a figure, trace the word through your Bible, and when you find it explained, substitute the explanation for the word used; and if it make good sense, you need not look further; if not, look again.

"13. To know whether we have the true historical

18.

event for the fulfillment of prophecy: If you find every word of the prophecy (after the figures are understood) is literally fulfilled, then you may know that your history is the true event; but if one word lacks a fulfillment, then you must look for another event, or wait its future development; for God takes care that history and prophecy shall agree, so that the true believing children of God may never be ashamed. Ps. xxii, 5; Isa. xlv, 17-19; 1 Pet. ii, 6; Rev. xvii, 17; Acts iii, "14. The most important rule of all is, that you must have faith. It must be a faith that requires a sacrifice, and, if tried, would give up the dearest object on earth, the world and all its desires-character, living, occupation, friends, home, comforts, and worldly honors. If any of these should hinder our believing any part of God's word, it would show our faith to be vain. Nor can we ever believe so long as one of these motives lies lurking in our hearts. We must believe that God will never forfeit his word; and we can have confidence that He who takes notice of the sparrow's fall, and numbers the hairs of our head, will guard the transla

tion of his own word, and throw a barrier around it, and prevent those who sincerely trust in God, and put implicit confidence in his word, from erring far from the truth.

"While thus studying the Scriptures," continuing the words of his own narrative, "I became satisfied if the prophecies which have been fulfilled in the past are any criterion by which to judge of the manner of the fulfillment of those which are future, that the popular views of the spiritual reign of Christ-a temporal millennium before the end of the world, and the Jews' return—are not sustained by the word of God; for I found that all the scriptures on which those favorite theories are based, are as clearly expressed as are those that were literally fulfilled at the first advent, or at any other period in the past. I found it plainly taught in the Scriptures that Jesus Christ will again descend to this earth, coming in the clouds of heaven, in all the glory of his Father.

"I need not speak of the joy that filled my heart in view of the delightful prospect, nor of the ardent longings of my soul for a participation in the joys of the redeemed. The Bible was now to me a new book. It was indeed a feast of reason; all that was dark, mystical or obscure, to me, in its teachings, had been dissipated from my mind before the clear light that now dawned from its sacred pages; and oh, how bright and glorious the truth appeared! All the contradictions and inconsistencies I had before found in the word were gone; and, although there were many portions of which I was not satisfied I had a full understanding, yet so much light had emanated from it to the illumination of my before darkened mind, that I felt a delight in studying the Scriptures which I had not before supposed could be derived from its teachings. I commenced their

study with no expectation of finding the time of the Saviour's coming, and I could at first hardly believe the result to which I had arrived; but the evidence struck me with such force that I could not resist my convictions. I became nearly settled in my conclusions, and began to wait, and watch, and pray, for my Saviour's coming."

"From the time that Mr. Miller became established in his religious faith, till he commenced his public laborsa period of twelve or fourteen years-there were few prominent incidents in his life to distinguish him from other men. He was a good citizen, a kind neighbor, an affectionate husband and parent, and a devoted Christian; good to the poor, and benevolent, as objects of charity were presented; in the Sunday school was teacher and superintendent; in the church he performed important service as reader and exhorter, and, in the support of religious worship, no other member, perhaps, did as much as he. He was very exemplary in his life and conversation, endeavored at all times to perform the duties, whether public or private, which devolved on him, and whatever he did was done cheerfully, as for the glory of God. His leisure hours were devoted to reading and meditation; he kept himself well informed. respecting the current events of the time; occasionally communicated his thoughts through the press, and often for his own private amusement, or for the entertainment of friends, indulged in various poetical effusions, which, for unstudied productions, are possessed of some merit; but his principal enjoyment was derived from the study of the Bible."