Chapter 2—Conversion
In March, 1840, William Miller visited Portland, Maine, and gave
a course of lectures on the second coming of Christ. These lectures
produced a great sensation, and the Christian church on Casco Street,
where the discourses were given, was crowded day and night. No wild
excitement attended the meetings, but a deep solemnity pervaded the
minds of those who heard. Not only was a great interest manifested
in the city, but the country people flocked in day after day, bringing
their lunch baskets, and remaining from morning until the close of the
evening meeting.
In company with my friends, I attended these meetings. Mr. Miller
traced down the prophecies with an exactness that struck conviction
to the hearts of his hearers. He dwelt upon the prophetic periods, and
brought many proofs to strengthen his position. Then his solemn and
powerful appeals and admonitions to those who were unprepared, held
the crowds as if spellbound.
Early Impressions
Four years previous to this, on my way to school, I had picked
up a scrap of paper containing an account of a man in England who
was preaching that the earth would be consumed in about thirty years
from that time. I took this paper home and read it to the family. In
contemplating the event predicted, I was seized with terror; the time
seemed so short for the conversion and salvation of the world. Such a
deep impression was made upon my mind by the little paragraph on
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the scrap of paper, that I could scarcely sleep for several nights, and
prayed continually to be ready when Jesus came.
I had been taught that a temporal millennium would take place
prior to the coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven; but now I was
listening to the startling announcement that Christ was coming in 1843,
only a few short years in the future.
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