William Miller

“ By painting sin in virtuous colours Satan knows that if he should present sin in its own nature and dress, the soul would rather flee from it than yield to it; and therefore he presents it to us printed and gilded over with the name and shew of virtue, that we may more easily be overcome by it, and take more pleasure in committing it. Pride, he presents in the soul, under the name of neatness and cleanliness. ”

“ How little do we reflect on the use and value of time! it is in every body's mouth but in few peoples practice. How circumspect we ought to be in the right management of our time for God never gives us two moments together; he gives us only the second as he takes away the first and keeps the third in his hands, leaving us in an absolute uncertainty, whether he will give it us, or not Time is precious, life is short ”

“ First, I believe that there is a God; an incomprehensible perfect being, a Spirit infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, and truth; having his being of himself, and giving being to all things. ”

“ I endervour to walk through the world as a physician goes through Bedlam; the patients make much noise, pester him with impertinence, and hinders him in his business; but he does the best he can, and so gets through.
I feel like a man who has no money in his pocket, but is allowed to draw for all he wants upon one infinitely rich ”

“ It is evident there never has been any abrogation of the Spirit, meaning, or end of the law, as to the devoting the seventh part of our time to God. What then will they have to answer for, who set apart this day for travelling, and worldly amusements: what an awful account many professors will have to give, who violate this day, by working, posting their books, keeping their servants unneccessarily at home to dress dinners and things which might have easily have been obtained on the preceding day. ”

“ That all the sons of men are born children of disobedience wanting original righteousness, and under corruption or the whole nature slaves to the flesh, the world and devil, and consequency children of wrath, obnoxious to the justice of God, and the condemnation of the law ”

“ Early sobriety, early knowledge of religion, and early habits of piety, are the most probable means of securing the favor of God.
As every flower hath its sweet favour, so every good word carries meat in the mouth, and comfort in the performance of it. ”

“ You are now in the prime of your age and vigour, and may be in favor, and business: but all this will leave you, and you will one day better understand and relish what I say to you, then you will find that there is more truth, comfort, and pleasure in retiring and turning your heart from the world to the good spirit of God, and in reading the Bible, than all the courts and favor of Princes.
It is supposed that the Scriptures are read by the poor and illiterate only, and that there is nothing in them worthy the attention of the great, the wise, and the learned ”

“ I exhort therefore, that prayers and giving of thanks be made for all men, for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty; for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God, our Saviour. ”

“ God is serious who exerciseth patience towards us; the Holy Ghost is serious in striving against the obstinacy of our hearts; the holy scriptures bring to our ears the most serious things in the world; the holy Sacrament represents the most serious and awful matters; the whole creation is serious in serving God ”

“ The inhabitants of Nillus are deaf by the noise of the waters; so the world makes such a noise in men's ears, that they cannot hear the things of heaven.
Sicily is so full of sweet flowers that dogs cannot hunt there; and what do all the sweet contents of this world, but make us lose the scent of heaven. ”

“ There is no book in the world so admirably adapted to the capacities of all men: It is so sublime in its, language, so noble in its doctrine, yet plain in its precepts, and excellent in its end; that the man must be ignorant, and deprived, indeed, who lives without reading it.
Queen Elizabeth spent much of her time in reading the best writings of her own and former ages, yet the by no means neglected that best of books the Bible; for proof of which take her own words. "I walk," says she, "many times in the pleasant fields of the Holy Scriptures ”

“ That God, having from all eternity, of his mere good pleasure, elected a remnant of mankind to everlasting life, did, in infinite wisdom, find out a way to save and deliver them out of this sinful and miserable estate, and to bring then into an estate of salvation ”

“ A convincing proof that youth trained up early to habits of industry, even at public works seldom fail to rival and excel in virtue, those who, possessed of wealth and independence, too often squander their time in the haunts of idleness and dissipation. ”

“ Remember it is no hasty reading, but seriously meditating upon holy and Heavenly truths, that makes them prove sweet and profitable to the soul; it is not the bees touching of the flowers that gathershoney ”

“ That he lived a holy and sinless life, and fulfilled all righteousness, being made under the law, that he underwent the miseries for sin, a cursed death upon the cross thereby satisfying divine justice for the sins of men, and so reconciling us to God, and bringing in an everlasting righteousness. ”

“ TO a refined and liberal mind, it must, and it has always given great pleasure to observe, the progress and advancement of knowledge, and good sense in the lower orders, whose leisure is little, and whose access to Books is circumscribed how much greater satisfaction must it give, to observe that progress manifested in an age, generally reckoned unfit for mental exertion. ”

“ And now, if thou pleasest, read the following work, and receive his counsel from me. First, thou must know that every man cannot be excellent, yet may be useful. An iron key may unlock the door of a golden treasure; yea iron can do some things that gold cannot do. ”

“ And that all those who by Baptism outwardly profess faith in Christ, as the true Messiah, make up the universal visible church of Christ on earth, of which Jesus Christ is the only ruling head, and as such, hath instituted ordinances for Worship and discipline, which are to be observed and kept pure in particular churches, and hath appointed the standing office of a Gospel Ministry, or the church ”