Страница 50 из 120
animosity excited by this Heaven-sent message.
It is those who do not love the Saviour that desire him to remain
away, and such eagerly receive the testimony borne by unfaithful
servants, “My Lord delayeth his coming.” [Matthew 24:48.] While they refuse to search the Scriptures to learn if these things are so,
[217]
they grasp every fable which will put off the coming of Christ into
142
The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4
the distant future, or make it spiritual, fulfilled at the destruction of
Jerusalem, or taking place at death.
Again and again did Wm. Miller urge that if his doctrine were
false, he should be shown his error from the Scriptures. In an address
to Christians of all denominations he wrote: “What have we believed
that we have not been commanded to believe by the word of God,
which you yourselves allow is the rule and the only rule of our
faith and practice? What have we done that should call down such
virulent denunciations against us from pulpit and press, and give
you just cause to exclude us (Adventists) from your churches and
fellowship?” “If we are wrong, pray show us wherein consists our
wrong. Show us from the word of God that we are in error; we
have had ridicule enough; that can never convince us that we are
in the wrong; the word of God alone can change our views. Our
conclusions have been formed deliberately and prayerfully, as we
have seen the evidence in the Scriptures.”
At a later date he stated: “I have candidly weighed the objections
advanced against these views; but I have seen no arguments that
were sustained by the Scriptures that, in my opinion, invalidated my
position. I ca
for my Lord, or from exhorting my fellow-men, as I have opportunity,
to be in readiness for that event.”
In a letter to a friend and fellow-laborer, he spoke thus: “I could
[218]
not see that I should harm my fellowmen, even supposing the event
should not take place at the time specified; for it is a command of our
Saviour to look for it, watch, expect it, and be ready. Then, if I could
by any means, in accordance with God’s word, persuade men to
believe in a crucified, risen, and coming Saviour, I felt it would have
a bearing on the everlasting welfare and happiness of such. I had
not a distant thought of disturbing our churches, ministers, religious
editors, or departing from the best biblical commentaries or rules
which had been recommended for the study of the Scriptures. And
even to this day, my opposers have not been able to show where I
have departed from any rule laid down by our old standard writers of
the Protestant faith. I have only interpreted Scripture in accordance
with their rules.”
Instead of arguments from the Scriptures, the opponents of the
Advent faith chose to employ ridicule and scoffing. The careless and
William Miller
143
ungodly, emboldened by the position of religious teachers, resorted
to opprobrious epithets, to base and blasphemous witticisms, in their
efforts to heap contumely upon Wm. Miller and his work. The gray-
headed man who had left a comfortable home to travel at his own
expense from city to city, from town to village, toiling unceasingly
to bear to the world the solemn warning of the Judgment near, was
sneeringly denounced as a fanatic, a liar, a speculating knave.
Time, means, and talents were employed in misrepresenting
and maligning Adventists, in exciting prejudice against them, and
holding them up to public contempt. Ministers occupied themselves
in gathering up damaging reports, absurd and malicious fabrications,
[219]
and dealing them out from the pulpit. Earnest were the efforts put
forth to draw away the minds of the people from the subject of the
second advent. But in seeking to crush out Adventism, the popular
ministry undermined faith in the word of God. It was made to appear
a sin, something of which men should be ashamed, to study the
prophecies which relate to the coming of Christ and the end of the
world. This teaching made men infidels, and many took license
to walk after their own ungodly lusts. Then the authors of the evil
charged it all upon Adventists.
The Wesleys encountered similar accusations from the ease-
loving, godless ministers who were constantly intercepting their
labors, and seeking to destroy their influence. They were pronounced
uncharitable, and accused of pride and vanity, because they did not
pay homage to the popular teachers of their time. They were accused
of skepticism, of disorderly practices, and of contempt of authority.
John Wesley fearlessly threw back these charges upon those who
framed them, showing that they themselves were responsible for the
very evils of which they accused the Methodists. In a similar ma
may the charges against Adventism be refuted.
The great controversy between truth and error has been carried
forward from century to century since the fall of man. God and
angels, and those united with them, have been inviting, urging men to
repentance and holiness and Heaven; while Satan and his angels, and
men inspired by them, have been opposing every effort to benefit and
save the fallen race. Wm. Miller was disturbing Satan’s kingdom,
[220]
and the arch-enemy sought not only to counteract the effect of the
message, but to destroy the messenger himself. As Father Miller
144
The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4
made a practical application of Scripture truth to the hearts of his
hearers, the rage of professed Christians was kindled against him,
even as the anger of the Jews was excited against Christ and his
apostles. Church-members stirred up the baser classes, and upon
several occasions enemies plotted to take his life as he should leave
the place of meeting. But holy angels were in the throng, and one
of these, in the form of a man, took the arm of this servant of the
Lord, and led him in safety from the angry mob. His work was not
yet done, and Satan and his emissaries were disappointed in their
purpose.
Comparing his own expectations as to the effect of his preaching
with the ma
Wm. Miller said: “It is true, but not wonderful, when we become
acquainted with the state and corruption of the present age, ... that
I have met with great opposition from the pulpit and professed
religious press; and I have been instrumental, through the preaching
of the Advent doctrine, of making it quite manifest that not a few
of our theological teachers are infidels in disguise. I ca
moment believe that denying the resurrection of the body, or the
return of Christ to this earth, or a judgment day yet future, is any the