Memoirs of William Miller - Sylvester Bliss

y witnessing a tendency to fanaticism on the part
of some who held to his views. As he had no
sympathy for anything of the kind, and has been
unjustly identified with it in the minds of the
public, it becomes necessary to show its origin, that
its responsibility may rest where it rightly belongs.
The views of Mr. Miller being embraced by
persons belonging to various religious
denominations, it was impossible, from the nature
of the case, for those of any particular faith to teach
their own private opinions in connection with the
Advent, without exciting the jealousy of those who
held opposite sentiments. To avoid any such
clashing of opinions, the following platform was
adopted by the first conference held by believers in
the Advent (October 14, 1840), in their Address
unanimously presented to the public, namely:
“Our object in assembling at this time, our
object in addressing you, and our object in other
efforts, separate and combined, on the subject of
the kingdom of heaven at hand, is to revive and
restore this ancient faith, to renew the ancient
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