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joyful anticipations they vied with one another in showing honor to their
King。 Many spread their outer garments as a carpet in His path； or strewed
before Him the leafy branches of the palm。 In their enthusiastic joy they
united in the glad acclaim： 〃Hosanna to the Son of David！〃 When the
Pharisees； disturbed and angered by this outburst of rejoicing； wished Jesus
to rebuke His disciples； He replied： 〃If these should hold their peace； the
stones would immediately cry out。〃 Luke 19：40。 Prophecy must be fulfilled。
The disciples were accomplishing the purpose of God； yet they were doomed to
a bitter disappointment。 But a few days had passed ere they witnessed the
Saviour's agonizing death； and laid Him in the tomb。 Their expectations had
not been
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realized in a single particular； and their hopes died with Jesus。 Not till
their Lord had come forth triumphant from the grave could they perceive that
all had been foretold by prophecy； and 〃that Christ must needs have
suffered； and risen again from the dead。〃 Acts 17：3。
Five hundred years before； the Lord had declared by the prophet Zechariah：
〃Rejoice greatly； O daughter of Zion； shout； O daughter of Jerusalem：
behold； thy King cometh unto thee： He is just； and having salvation； lowly；
and riding upon an ass； and upon a colt the foal of an ass。〃 Zechariah 9：9。
Had the disciples realized that Christ was going to judgment and to death；
they could not have fulfilled this prophecy。
In like manner Miller and his associates fulfilled prophecy and gave a
message which Inspiration had foretold should be given to the world； but
which they could not have given had they fully understood the prophecies
pointing out their disappointment； and presenting another message to be
preached to all nations before the Lord should come。 The first and second
angel's messages were given at the right time and accomplished the work
which God designed to accomplish by them。
The world had been looking on； expecting that if the time passed and Christ
did not appear； the whole system of Adventism would be given up。 But while
many； under strong temptation； yielded their faith； there were some who
stood firm。 The fruits of the advent movement； the spirit of humility and
heart searching； of renouncing of the world and reformation of life； which
had attended the work； testified that it was of God。 They dared not deny
that the power of the Holy Spirit had witnessed to the preaching of the
second advent； and they could detect no error in their reckoning of the
prophetic periods。 The ablest of their opponents had not succeeded in
overthrowing their system of prophetic interpretation。 They could not
consent； without Bible evidence； to renounce positions which had been
reached through earnest； prayerful study of the Scriptures； by minds
enlightened
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by the Spirit of God and hearts burning with its living power； positions
which had withstood the most searching criticisms and the most bitter
opposition of popular religious teachers and worldly…wise men； and which had
stood firm against the combined forces of learning and eloquence； and the
taunts and revilings alike of the honorable and the base。
True； there had been a failure as to the expected event； but even this could
not shake their faith in the word of God。 When Jonah proclaimed in the
streets of Nineveh that within forty days the city would be overthrown； the
Lord accepted the humiliation of the Ninevites and extended their period of
probation； yet the message of Jonah was sent of God； and Nineveh was tested
according to His will。 Adventists believed that in like manner God had led
them to give the warning of the judgment。 〃It has；〃 they declared； 〃tested
the hearts of all who heard it； and awakened a love for the Lord's
appearing； or it has called forth a hatred； more or less perceivable； but
known to God； of His coming。 It has drawn a line； 。 。 。 so that those who
will examine their own hearts； may know on which side of it they would have
been found； had the Lord then comewhether they would have exclaimed； 'Lo！
this is our God； we have waited for Him； and He will save us；' or whether
they would have called to the rocks and mountains to fall on them to hide
them from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne； and from the wrath of
the Lamb。 God thus； as we believe； has tested His people； has tried their
faith； has proved them； and seen whether they would shrink； in the hour of
trial； from the position in which He might see fit to place them； and
whether they would relinquish this world and rely with implicit confidence
in the word of God。〃The Advent Herald and Signs of the Times Reporter；
vol。 8； No。 14 （Nov 13； 1844）。
The feelings of those who still believed that God had led them in their past
experience are expressed in the words of William Miller： 〃Were I to live my
life over again； with the
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same evidence that I then had； to be honest with God and man I should have
to do as I have done。〃 〃I hope that I have cleansed my garments from the
blood of souls。 I feel that； as far as it was in my power； I have freed
myself from all guilt in their condemnation。〃 〃Although I have been twice
disappointed；〃 wrote this man of God； 〃I am not yet cast down or
discouraged。 。 。 。 My hope in the coming of Christ is as strong as ever。 I
have done only what； after years of solemn consideration； I felt it my
solemn duty to do。 If I have erred； it has been on the side of charity； love
to my fellow men； and conviction of duty to God。〃 〃One thing I do know； I
have preached nothing but what I believed； and God has been with me； His
power has been manifested in the work； and much good has been effected。〃
〃Many thousands； to all human appearance； have been made to study the
Scriptures by the preaching of the time； and by that means； through faith
and the sprinkling of the blood of Christ； have been reconciled to God。〃
Bliss； pages 256； 255； 277； 280； 281。 〃I have never courted the smiles of
the proud； nor quailed when the world frowned。 I shall not now purchase
their favor； nor shall I go beyond duty to tempt their hate。 I shall never
seek my life at their hands； nor shrink； I hope； from losing it； if God in
His good providence so orders。〃 J。 White； Life of Wm。 Miller； page 315。
God did not forsake His people； His Spirit still abode with those who did
not rashly deny the light which they had received； and denounce the advent
movement。 In the Epistle to the Hebrews are words of encouragement and
warning for the tried； waiting ones at this crisis： 〃Cast not away therefore
your confidence； which hath great recompense of reward。 For ye have need of
patience； that； after ye have done the will of God； ye might receive the
promise。 For yet a little while； and He that shall come will come； and will
not tarry。 Now the just shall live by faith： but if any man draw back； My
soul shall have no pleasure in him。 But we are not of them
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who draw back unto perdition； but of them that believe to the saving of the
soul。〃 Hebrews 10：35…39。
That this admonition is addressed to the church in the last days is evident
from the words pointing to the nearness of the Lord's coming： 〃For yet a
little while； and He that shall come will come and will not tarry。〃 And it
is plainly implied that there would be a seeming delay and that the Lord
would appear to tarry。 The instruction here given is especially adapted to
the experience of Adventists at this time。 The people here addressed were in
danger of making shipwreck of faith。 They had done the will of God in
following the guidance of His Spirit and His word； yet they could not
understand His purpose in their past experience； nor could they discern the
pathway before them； and they were tempted to doubt whether God had indeed
been leading them。 At this time the words were applicable： 〃Now the just
shall live by faith。〃 As the bright light of the 〃midnight cry〃 had shone
upon their pathway； and they had seen the prophecies unsealed and the
rapidly fulfilling signs telling that the com