H. C. MILLER by H. C. Miller

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 13, 1869

H. C. MILLER

By H. C. Miller

From Bro. Miller.

Since my return to Battle Creek, I have read the testimony which the Lord has seen fit in mercy to send unto me. Great has been the mercy of God to me, and great his forbearance toward me. I wonder that I have not been stopped in the course I have been going in my blindness, and unwise zeal, by the hand of God removing me from before his face. In the light of that testimony my past life becomes in my sight, only a sad mistake; sinful before God, and injurious to his cause, his people, and to myself. Yet there is with the reproof a ground for hope, and I feel to rejoice that while he points out the wrong, he has shown a way to escape, and by his grace assisting me, I will try at once to commence undoing, as far as in my power, the wrong work I have done, that I may have his forgiveness, and his blessing once more bestowed upon me, and may stand again in the favor of God, and in full communion and fellowship with his people, against whom I now see I have done much evil. May I have the forgiveness of those whom I have hurt by my wrong course. I feel sad while I understand that I have been the obstacle, and the only obstacle, in the way of the conversion of those who are near to me by natural ties; and sorrow to think I have so acted that my own request for their conversion could not be granted. My efforts shall now be directed to removing the stumbling-blocks. In the work I now try to enter upon, I ask those who are standing in the light, to assist me by their prayers and counsels, and I will try to gain a teachable spirit. May God help me to turn at once, and turn right.

Concerning an article I wrote which was published in the REVIEW some time last June, I think, entitled, “Paul’s advice to Timothy,” I wish to say a few words. In answer to a letter of inquiry which I wrote to Bro. W., he kindly wrote a reply through the REVIEW. Instead of feeling thankful for the advice given, and trying to look at it with a teachable spirit, I seized upon a portion of the position taken, and allowed my combative spirit to become aroused again, as I often had before at the same thing, and allowed my mind to dwell upon it until I thought of hardly anything else. I thought I was right. I became possessed with the idea that I ought to write upon the subject, and set right those who were wrong upon the point. I searched books in my zeal to get together evidence to sustain my point, when I ought to have sought counsel of God, and light, and a humble and teachable mind. I turned to weak man, and counseled with those who were not in position to give good counsel, and at last wrote the above named article. I firmly believed it was right. Now though there seems to be two spirits struggling for the mastery in my mind, I cannot help feeling that the positions therein taken are wrong, and extreme. That though they may be according to the views of certain men, they do not harmonize with the light that has been given from Heaven. I wish to stand where the Lord directs, where his light shines. I ask Bro. White’s forgiveness for my disrespectful reception of his advice so freely and kindly given. I will try hereafter to receive the counsel of those who have so much more wisdom than I have, in a humble manner, and will try to possess a teachable mind. And may all to whom this shall come, who have been in the least affected by what was set forth in the said article, consider it again in the light of this confession, that it was conceived in a wrong spirit, and is therefore wrong, and a hindrance to the work of the Lord.

My effort, with the help of the Lord, shall hereafter be put forth as a learner, and not as a teacher. May the Lord grant me wisdom and strength to so labor to undo what I have done, that I may soon receive the forgiveness of God, and have that blessedness which the psalmist says he has “whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”

H. C. MILLER

Battle Creek, March, 1869.