A Confession by J. S. MILLER

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 5, 1869

A Confession.

By J. S. MILLER

SINCE confession, as well as forsaking of sins, is one of the conditions upon which the transgressor is to obtain mercy, I feel that a few words in this direction are due from me. The New England Camp-meeting, which has just closed, has, under the blessing of God, been the means of awakening me from the fearful and dangerous sleep of carnal security.

For many months past I had been in the condition described in the Laodicean testimony—“neither cold nor hot.” Gradually, but rapidly, I had been receding from the position occupied by the body, until I had returned to nearly all my old habits, and nearly all my old doubts and darkness had returned to me. As to the causes which brought me to this fearful state, they are simply the old story—neglect of duty, and a general want of consecration.

Some nine months ago, when Bro. and Sr. White visited New England, I attended the Lancaster meeting, where I, for the first time, saw those servants of God. At that meeting, Sr. White had a reproving testimony for me, which, under the impulse of the moment, and without realizing the depth of its meaning, I acknowledged to be all correct. No sooner had the meeting fairly closed, however, than I began to meditate on the testimony given me, and to compare it with certain false reports, which had gained some currency among the brethren and sisters in various parts of New England. Satan tempted me to believe that these reports had reached the ears of Bro. and Sr. White, and that from them they had made up their judgments, and so given me reproof.

As these doubts increased, my interest in the message began to decrease. As the spring arrived, I found myself growing restless under the restraining influence of my brethren at Lancaster, and soon decided to so change my business as to leave that locality.

As time flew by, although I retained my profession as a commandment-keeper, I grew more and more worldly, and less and less interested in things pertaining to the coming kingdom. But the blessing of God did not attend my efforts in worldly matters, and I decided to return to Massachusetts. I arrived at a village a few miles from Lancaster, near the last of August, when I, for the first time, heard of the proposed Camp-meeting. Here was an unlooked-for calamity. Had I been a hundred miles away, I might have excused myself from attending the meeting. But here it had come directly across my path. A good angel seemed to whisper in my ear that I ought to attend this meeting; yet I was sorely tempted to contrive to have business call me suddenly away. But the good angel triumphed, and I decided to go. I went; but before going, I decided that while I would do my best to show my love and regard for the brethren, I would resist such influences as would undoubtedly be exerted to induce me to return to a belief in many things that I had come to look upon as fanaticism. But, as the meeting progressed, I found it to be a different affair from what I had anticipated. There was scarcely a sermon or testimony delivered by Bro. White, Sr. White, or Bro. Waggoner, that did not in some way hit my prejudices or my practice.

I was forced to admit that the third angel’s message is the work of God, and to resist it was to insure my own destruction. The only thing left for me, was to yield to my convictions, and by humble repentance seek the forgiveness of God. This, I trust, I have obtained. And now I desire the forgiveness of my brethren and sisters, and especially of Bro. and Sr. White, for my want of confidence in their testimony.

It is exceedingly humiliating for me to make the above confession; but, while I regret that my course has been such as to make it necessary, I thank God for his grace that enables me to act up to my convictions of duty. Brethren and sisters, pray for me, that the Spirit of God may keep me from the evil that is in the world.

J. S. MILLER.

South Lancaster, Mass.