William Miller | Early Life & Conversion Season 2 | Episode 3
William Miller was the oldest of 16 children
and was born in Low Hampton, New York.
His parents were Christians,
and in his home there were only three books:
the Bible, the Psalter, and the prayer book.
He had an insatiable desire to learn,
and would read these over and over again,
but his desire to learn would lead him to others in the area
with more extensive libraries than in his home.
He would borrow books,
and by the light of burning pine knots
he would read them late into the night.
This soon distinguished him
as one of the most educated people in his area
both of his own age group and those older as well.
[music]
As William Miller reached the age of marriage,
he met a young lady named Lucy Smith
here in the town of Poultney, Vermont, a few miles from where he lived.
After they got married, he moved here to this town
and found out that they had a library here.
Here he would spend hours, day after day
and was introduced to the writings of Voltaire,
David Hume, and Thomas Paine; all great deists.
Deists believe that God created the world and set it in motion,
but after that he took a step backwards,
detaching himself from the everyday affairs of man.
William Miller would go on to become a deist.
[music]
In 1812 America was at war with England
and William Miller had a strong sense of patriotism,
and like his father before him he volunteered to fight for his country.
In the town of Poultney where he lived,
47 men volunteered to fight
on the condition that he would be their officer.
[music]
Two things stood out in William's mind from this war.
The first was when a shell,
just like this one from the Battle of Plattsburgh,
exploded within two feet of him and three other men.
Whilst the others sustained injuries,
he walked away unscathed.
The second was the battle of Plattsburgh itself.
The Americans were heavily out numbered,
the British were much better trained and experienced,
having just defeated Napoleon,
yet they were soundly beaten
by an army they should have routinely defeated.
The protection and providence of God was vividly impressed upon his mind
and was not something he could easily shake.
[music]
After returning to his hometown after the death of his father
he would sometimes attend church
with his mother, his wife, and his children.
Whilst he was a deist, he enjoyed listening to his uncle preach
and he also wanted his children to attend church.
When his uncle was away, however,
one of the deacons would read a prepared sermon
and one Sunday he told his mother that he did not want to go to church
because he found the deacon's reading to be boring.
He did say, however,
that he would be open to reading in the future if an opportunity arose.
Like any good mother would,
she arranged for him to be the reader the next time his uncle was away,
and it turned out that the sermon
was about parental duties and the importance of prayer.
Whilst he was reading, he broke down crying,
struck by the inconsistency of the fact
that he did not pray, yet he encouraged his children to pray.
[music]
Suddenly the character of the Saviour was vividly impressed upon his mind,
how he would atone for our sins and suffer death in our place.
He later said, 'God opened my eyes and oh my soul,
what a beautiful Saviour I saw Jesus to be.'
He fell in love with Jesus and the Bible
and this would take him on a journey that would go far in life.
[music]
The love of Jesus can melt the most stony of hearts.
Whilst William believed in God, it was an impersonal God.
Yet when he saw the loving character of God,
it melted his heart and pierced through his logical and rational mind.
Maybe you are someone, or you know someone
who has similar doubts that William had.
Pray. Pray that they may see the love of God.
Pray that they may open their hearts and allow Him to come in.