---
title: 'The Last Conversation on Earth Between Archibald Alexander and Samuel Miller'
type: post
author: 'R. Andrew Myers'
date: 2024-01-07
url: https://confessional.org/blog/2024-the-last-conversation-on-earth-between-archibald-alexander-and-samuel-miller
---

# The Last Conversation on Earth Between Archibald Alexander and Samuel Miller

“Towards evening \[of Dr. Miller’s last day on earth\], however, Dr. \[Archibald\] Alexander was requested to visit him once more, and try whether his strong, familiar voice would not yet awaken his dying colleague. He came about five o’clock, and approaching the bed-side, asked, in his piercing tones, ‘Do you know me?’ ‘Oh, yes!’ replied Dr. Miller, who had been aroused as far as possible for this last interview. His voice was almost inarticulate, yet the reply not to be mistaken. In the same way, he answered all the questions put to him — as to the foundation of his hope, his desire to depart, his view of the fundamental truths, which, after he had taught them for more than threescore years, after he had commended them to many others, as the most precious consolation of a dying hour, were now passing the test of their purity and excellence in the crucible of his own departing spirit, agitated with the pangs of dissolving nature. To every inquiry he most intelligently replied, ‘Oh, yes!’ ‘Oh, no!’ — with emphatic earnestness throwing all the residue of his strength into the half smothered words. Said Dr. Alexander at length, having offered a short prayer, and being about to take leave, “You are now in the dark valley!’ ‘Oh yes!’ was the only reply. ‘I shall soon be after you!’ Thus parted for a little time, at the brink of the river, these veteran soldiers of the cross.” — [**Samuel Miller, Jr.**](/authors/samuel-miller-jr), *The Life of Samuel Miller*, Vol. 2 (1869), pp. 539-540