A Few More Randomly Selected Testimonies
Previous to these lectures, he had received the following urgent request from Rev. Emerson Andrews, of the Baptist church in Rome, N. Y.: p. 131, Para. 2, [MEMOIRS].
"Rome, N. Y., March 20, 1838. p. 131, Para. 3, [MEMOIRS].
"DEAR BROTHER MILLER: -- . . . . We have heard something of you and yours, and want to see you here in person, and hear your whole course of lectures. I feel as if the time had arrived for you 'to preach the Gospel at Rome also.' There is more attention to religion now than formerly, and some anxiety. The desire to hear from you is very great. We want you to come immediately, the first Sunday if possible. Don't, I beg of you, make any delay, or excuse, but come right off. . . . I want you to be here before the time if possible." p. 131, Para. 4, [MEMOIRS].
A gentleman in this place, on the 20th of February following, wrote to Mr. M. as follows: "I am happy to inform you that your labors with us have been blessed, and twenty have united with our church [the Baptist] since you left Montpelier, and twenty or thirty more will soon join, all of whom date their awakening at the time you lectured here. Brother Kellogg (the Congregationalist minister) is strong in the faith, and his views are with Brother Miller on the second coming of Christ." p. 132, Para. 4, [MEMOIRS].
On the 1st of March, 1840, Mr. M. visited Watertown, Mass., and commenced his first course of lectures in that place. These continued nine days, and were attended by a crowded audience. Mr. M. was much pleased with his reception there, and, after leaving, wrote to his son:-- p. 145, Para. 1, [MEMOIRS].
"I have never seen so great an effect in any one place as there. I preached last from Gen. 19:17. There were from a thousand to fifteen hundred present, and more than one hundred under conviction. One half of the congregation wept like children when I parted from them. Mr. Medbury, the Baptist minister, a good man, wept as though his heart would break when he took me by the hand, and, for himself and people, bade me farewell. He and many others fell upon my neck, and wept and kissed me, and sorrowed most of all that they should see my face no more. We could not get away for more than an hour, and finally we had to break away. About twenty were converted while I was there." p. 145, Para. 2, [MEMOIRS].
Rev. R. B. Medbury afterwards gave the following account of the result of Mr. Miller's lectures there, through the "Signs of the Times":-- p. 145, Para. 3, [MEMOIRS].
"For several months past we have enjoyed, and are still enjoying, a pleasing work of grace among us. This revival, as stated in the account published in the Christian Watchman of the 8th instant, was in progress when Mr. Miller commenced lecturing here. In speaking of the results of his labors, however, it is but just to say that his influence here preceded him. It will be recollected that, some time in January, he lectured at Cambridgeport, about four miles from us. Many, both of our church and congregation, attended one or more of those lectures. The first two subjects of the present work among us, as well as some others, who have since been hopefully converted, regarded those lectures as instrumental of fastening permanent conviction upon their minds. Several Christians, too, were awakened to a new sense of their duty. p. 145, Para. 4, [MEMOIRS].
"There had, however, been rather more feeling than usual in several of our meetings previous to that time. And in the interval which elapsed between this time and the commencement of Mr. Miller's lectures here, the blessing of God had accompanied the means of grace at home to the hopeful conversion of about twenty. The work evidently received a new impulse while Mr. Miller was here. His lectures were attended by crowds, who listened with profound attention, and, we have reason to believe, in not a few cases with profit. Many persons from neighboring villages shared the benefit of his labors in common with us, and, in several cases, returned to their homes rejoicing. Other means of grace were, however, mingled with his labors, which were, no doubt, in a great degree owned and blessed of God. p. 145, Para. 5, [MEMOIRS].
"Among those who have since united with our church, many have mentioned Mr. Miller's lectures as the means, under God, of bringing them to repentance. They have generally stated that, for months or years, they had thought more or less on the subject; but that, on hearing him, they felt it was time to take a stand. The things of eternity assumed to them an unwonted reality. Heaven was brought near, and they felt themselves guilty before God. It was not so much the belief that Christ might come in 1843 as it was the certainty of that event, with the conviction that they were not prepared to hail his coming with joy. Many, however, who listened to his whole course of lectures with a heart unmoved, have since been melted into contrition, and become the hopeful subjects of renewing grace. p. 146, Para. 1, [MEMOIRS].
"Many Christians who attended Mr. Miller's lectures here have regarded them as the means of quickening them to new spiritual life. p. 146, Para. 2, [MEMOIRS].
The minister and deacon retired. The gentleman then turned to Mr. Miller, and said that he and his four companions were infidels; that they had attended his lectures; had become quite interested; but had very curious feelings, and wished to know what ailed them. p. 176, Para. 5, [MEMOIRS].
Mr. M. inquired whether they would attend any more of his lectures. p. 176, Para. 6, [MEMOIRS].
They replied that they should lose none of them. p. 176, Para. 7, [MEMOIRS].
"Well," said Mr. M., "I think I will not tell you what ails you; but, if you will give close attention during the week, I think you will find out." p. 176, Para. 8, [MEMOIRS].
They attended his lectures, and, before the end of the week, with a number of others who had been infidels, were rejoicing in the goodness and forgiveness of God. At the close of his last lecture, one hundred and twenty persons voluntarily arose for prayers; a goodly number were soon rejoicing in the Saviour, and a glorious result followed. p. 176, Para. 9, [MEMOIRS].
On the 10th of January, 1843, Mr. M. began a course of lectures in the Presbyterian church in Utica, N. Y., where an interest was elicited which extended to surrounding places. Invitations were received from many of the neighboring towns, which could not be complied with. The meetings closed on the 17th, when forty or fifty were inquiring what they should do to be saved. A good work had been commenced, which continued for several weeks. The "Methodist Reformer," published in that city, announced that "many thoughtless sinners and cold professors were stirred up to duty by them;" and the "Baptist Register" said, "Mr. Miller's appeals were often very pungent, and made a deep impression on the audience, and many came forward for prayer." p. 176, Para. 10, [MEMOIRS].
