WILLIAM MILLER | AdventAI

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 7, 1856

WILLIAM MILLER.

COLLOQUIAL STYLE IN WRITING.

In writing, he sometimes indulged in a colloquial style. In the following he hints at an objection often urged against him, that he, being a farmer, should not presume to teach. He says:

"As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until Noah entered into the ark. Methinks I can almost see the scenes of that day. See you not that elegant building yonder, near that ark of gopherwood? That building was reared at a great expense, by the host, for the purpose of entertaining strangers who might come to visit that ark, and to ridicule and laugh at that old, white-headed man you see yonder pitching the ark. The host, you see, has become rich by the great gain he has made, from the furnishing of the workmen, citizens and strangers, with food and drink of the most costly kind. Look into the dining-hall of that establishment. See the table loaded with all the delicate viands of the season. See those bottles filled with the sparkling juice of the grape. See the host at his door, beckoning to each passer-by to enter and regale himself. Hear the conversation between the host and the stranger guest who has just entered his mansion:

"Guest. What great building is that in yonder field, on that eminence? "Host. That is called 'Noah's Ark.' "Guest. But what use is he going to put it to? It seems to be built for sailing. Surely the old man does not expect to sail on dry land." "Host. Yes; you are right. The old man says the world is coming to an end, [Gen. vi, 13,] and he has prepared an ark to save himself and family; for all flesh will be destroyed by water, as he says." "Guest. But how does he know this?" "Host. He says God told him." "Guest. What kind of a man is he? He must be a great fanatic, I am thinking." "Host. Why, yes, we think he is crazy a little; but you cannot discover it in any thing else but his building that great ark, and neglecting his farm and other worldly matters. But what he has lost I have gained." "Guest. A farmer, say you?—a farmer! Why did not God tell some of our 'mighty men, which are men of renown?' Gen. vi, 4. A farmer, too! There is no truth in it. But do any believe him?" "Host. Believe him! No. We have other things to attend to, and cannot spend time to hear the old farmer. But we were all very much startled, no longer ago than yesterday; for the old man has been telling some that he had prepared rooms for the beasts of the field, and for the fowls of the air, and every creeping thing; and yesterday they came, two and two of every sort, and entered the ark, apparently of their own accord. Gen. vii, 8, 9. This, you may be sure, startled us some; but the banquets and feasts of last night have dissipated the fears of all, and to-day things are as they should be." "Guest. It is rather strange; yet it cannot be true. God will not destroy the world in the midst of this hilarity and glee, and in the height of all the improvements at the present day. Much, much of the earth remains yet to be cultivated and inhabited. Our western wilderness is yet to be explored and settled. Then the world is yet in its infancy—not two thousand years old yet; and you know we have a tradition that the earth is to wax old like a garment. It cannot be true, what the old man tells you. I will warrant you the earth will stand many thousand years yet." "Host. Look! look! there goes the old fool and his family now, I dare say, into the ark. I remember me now, the old man told us, four days ago, that in seven days [Gen. vii, 4—10,] God would cause it to rain sufficient to destroy every living thing from the face of the earth. I shall have a chance to laugh at the old man four days hence. I told him to his face that, after his seven days were ended, he would be ashamed to preach any more, and we should have some quiet then." "Guest. But do your priests let him preach in their congregations and societies?" "Host. O no! by no means; that is, none that are called respectable, or of the higher class. Why, sir, they held a meeting last night at my banqueting house. After the cloth was removed, and while the wine was circulating freely, old Noah was the subject of the toast. And it would have done you good to have heard their sharp cuts and squibs; it caused a roar of laughter among the guests. See, yonder come some of them now. Let us go in and enjoy another treat. (They go in.)"

"Ah, said I, were these scenes acted before the flood, and will it be so in the end of the world? And will the generation of the righteous not pass off until they behold these things acted over again? So says our blessed Saviour, and so I believe." "Then shall 'heaven and earth pass away.' The righteous will pass off to meet their Lord, and the wicked be consumed to cleanse the world. Then will the prophecy in this chapter be fulfilled, and the word of God will not pass away.'" "Prepare, ye servants of the Most High, to render up your stewardship. Ye scoffers, take warning; cease your revilings, your newspaper squibs, your bombast, your revelings, and your banqueting. And you, my dear reader, prepare! prepare! for lo!— 'He comes, he comes, the Judge severe; The seventh trumpet speaks him near.'"

[Life of Wm. Miller.