Memoirs of William Miller - Sylvester Bliss

Miller. His mother knew of it, and it was as the
bitterness of death to her. Some of his pious sisters
witnessed, with tears, his improprieties. And when
his mother spoke of the affliction to her father
Phelps, he would console her by saying, “Don’t
afflict yourself too deeply about William. There is
something for him to do yet, in the cause of God!”
Although Mr. Miller avowed himself a deist,
and was recognized as such by deists, this offence
against all propriety, in trifling with what his
dearest relatives regarded as most sacred, this
thoughtless trifling with the humble messengers of
the Gospel, was the darkest feature in his character.
To him it was the most natural course which the
circumstances of his position could suggest, and,
undoubtedly, appeared to be the least violation of
former convictions and educational proprieties
which would allow him to stand as he did, in the
favor and confidence of his unbelieving associates.
He had not then become acquainted with the source
of strength, by which he might have been sustained
before the enemies of the Christian faith; he was
unprepared to take the Christian position, and he
66