various civil and military offices with credit, and the avenues to wealth
and honor seemed wide open to him.

His mother was a woman of sterling piety, and in childhood he had been
subject to religious impressions. In early manhood, however, he was thrown
into the society of deists, whose influence was the stronger from the fact
that they were mostly good citizens, and men of humane and benevolent
disposition. Living, as they did, in the midst of Christian institutions,
their characters had been to some extent moulded by their surroundings.
For the excellencies which won them respect and confidence they were
indebted to the Bible; and yet these good gifts were so perverted as to
exert an influence against the word of God. By association with these men,
Miller was led to adopt their sentiments. The current interpretations of
Scripture presented difficulties which seemed to him insurmountable; yet
his new belief, while setting aside the Bible, offered nothing better to
take its place, and he remained far from satisfied. He continued to hold
these views, however, for about twelve years. But at the age of
thirty-four, the Holy Spirit impressed his heart with a sense of his
condition as a sinner. He found in his former belief no assurance of
happiness beyond the grave. The future was dark and gloomy. Referring
afterward to his feelings at this time, he said:

"Annihilation was a cold and chilling thought, and accountability was sure
destruction to all. The heavens were as brass over my head, and the earth
as iron under my feet. Eternity--what was it? And death--why was it? The
more I reasoned, the further I was from demonstration. The more I thought,
the more scattered were my conclusions. I tried to stop thinking, but my
thoughts would not be controlled. I was truly wretched, but did not
understand the cause. I murmured and complained, but knew not of whom. I
knew that there was a wrong, but knew not how or where to find the right.
I mourned, but without hope."

In this state he continued for some months. "Suddenly," he says, "the
character of a Saviour was vividly impressed upon my mind. It seemed that
there might be a being so good and compassionate as to himself atone for
our transgressions, and thereby save us from suffering the penalty of sin.
I immediately felt how lovely such a being must be, and imagined that I
could cast myself into the arms of, and trust in the mercy of, such a one.
But the question arose, How