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faith were the words of the prophet： 〃Your brethren that hated you； that
cast you out for My name's sake； said； Let the Lord be glorified： but He
shall appear to your joy； and they shall be ashamed。〃 Isaiah 66：5。
Angels of God were watching with the deepest interest
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the result of the warning。 When there was a general rejection of the message
by the churches； angels turned away in sadness。 But there were many who had
not yet been tested in regard to the advent truth。 Many were misled by
husbands； wives； parents； or children； and were made to believe it a sin
even to listen to such heresies as were taught by the Adventists。 Angels
were bidden to keep faithful watch over these souls； for another light was
yet to shine upon them from the throne of God。
With unspeakable desire those who had received the message watched for the
coming of their Saviour。 The time when they expected to meet Him was at
hand。 They approached this hour with a calm solemnity。 They rested in sweet
communion with God； and earnest of the peace that was to be theirs in the
bright hereafter。 None who experienced this hope and trust can forget those
precious hours of waiting。 For some weeks preceding the time； worldly
business was for the most part laid aside。 The sincere believers carefully
examined every thought and emotion of their hearts as if upon their
deathbeds and in a few hours to close their eyes upon earthly scenes。 There
was no making of 〃ascension robes〃 （see Appendix）； but all felt the need of
internal evidence that they were prepared to meet the Saviour； their white
robes were purity of soulcharacters cleansed from sin by the atoning blood
of Christ。 Would that there were still with the professed people of God the
same spirit of heart searching； the same earnest； determined faith。 Had they
continued thus to humble themselves before the Lord and press their
petitions at the mercy seat they would be in possession of a far richer
experience than they now have。 There is too little prayer； too little real
conviction of sin； and the lack of living faith leaves many destitute of the
grace so richly provided by our Redeemer。
God designed to prove His people。 His hand covered a mistake in the
reckoning of the prophetic periods。 Adventists
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did not discover the error； nor was it discovered by the most learned of
their opponents。 The latter said： 〃Your reckoning of the prophetic periods
is correct。 Some great event is about to take place； but it is not what Mr。
Miller predicts； it is the conversion of the world； and not the second
advent of Christ。〃 （See Appendix。）
The time of expectation passed； and Christ did not appear for the
deliverance of His people。 Those who with sincere faith and love had looked
for their Saviour； experienced a bitter disappointment。 Yet the purposes of
God were being accomplished； He was testing the hearts of those professed to
be waiting for His appearing。 There were among them many who had been
actuated by no higher motive than fear。 Their profession of faith had not
affected their hearts or their lives。 When the expected event failed to take
place； these persons declared that they were not disappointed； they had
never believed that Christ would come。 They were among the first to ridicule
the sorrow of the true believers。
But Jesus and all the heavenly host looked with love and sympathy upon the
tried and faithful yet disappointed ones。 Could the evil separating the
visible world have been swept back； angels would have been seen drawing near
to these steadfast souls and shielding them from the shafts of Satan。
（375）
Chapter 21
A Warning Rejected
In preaching the doctrine of the second advent； William Miller and his
associates had labored with the sole purpose of arousing men to a
preparation for the judgment。 They had sought to awaken professors of
religion to the true hope of the church and to their need of a deeper
Christian experience； and they labored also to awaken the unconverted to the
duty of immediate repentance and conversion to God。 〃They made no attempt to
convert men to a sect or party in religion。 Hence they labored among all
parties and sects； without interfering with their organization or
discipline。〃
〃In all my labors；〃 said Miller； 〃I never had the desire or thought to
establish any separate interest from that of existing denominations； or to
benefit one at the expense of another。 I thought to benefit all。 Supposing
that all Christians would rejoice in the prospect of Christ's coming； and
that those who could not see as I did would not love any the less those who
should embrace this doctrine； I did not conceive there would ever be any
necessity for separate meetings。 My whole object was a desire to convert
souls to God； to notify the world of a coming judgment； and to induce my
fellow men to make that preparation of heart which will enable them to meet
their God in peace。 The great majority of those who were converted under my
labors united with the various existing churches。〃Bliss； page 328。
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As his work tended to build up the churches； it was for a time regarded with
favor。 But as ministers and religious leaders decided against the advent
doctrine and desired to suppress all agitation of the subject； they do not
only opposed it from the pulpit； but denied their members the privilege of
attending preaching upon the second advent； or even of speaking of their
hope in the social meetings of the church。 Thus the believers found
themselves in a position of great trial and perplexity。 They loved their
churches and were loath to separate from them； but as they saw the testimony
of God's word suppressed and their right to investigate the prophecies
denied they felt that loyalty to God forbade them to submit。 Those who
sought to shut out the testimony of God's word they could not regard as
constituting the church of Christ； 〃the pillar and ground of the truth。〃
Hence they felt themselves justified in separating from their former
connection。 In the summer of 1844 about fifty thousand withdrew from the
churches。
About this time a marked change was apparent in most of the churches
throughout the United States。 There had been for many years a gradual but
steadily increasing conformity to worldly practices and customs； and a
corresponding decline in real spiritual life； but in that year there were
evidences of a sudden and marked declension in nearly all the churches of
the land。 While none seemed able to suggest the cause； the fact itself was
widely noted and commented upon by both the press and the pulpit。
At a meeting of the presbytery of Philadelphia； Mr。 Barnes； author of a
commentary widely used and pastor of one of the leading churches in that
city； 〃stated that he had been in the ministry for twenty years； and never；
till the last Communion； had he administered the ordinance without receiving
more or less into the church。 But now there are no awakenings； no
conversions； not much apparent growth in grace in professors； and none come
to his study to converse about the salvation of their souls。 With the
increase of
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business； and the brightening prospects of commerce and manufacture； there
is an increase of worldly…mindedness。 Thus it is with all the
denominations。〃Congregational Journal； May 23； 1844。
In the month of February of the same year； Professor Finney of Oberlin
College said： 〃We have had the fact before our minds； that； in general； the
Protestant churches of our country； as such； were either apathetic or
hostile to nearly all the moral reforms of the age。 There are partial
exceptions； yet not enough to render the fact otherwise than general。 We
have also another corroborated fact： the almost universal absence of revival
influence in the churches。 The spiritual apathy is almost all…pervading； and
is fearfully deep； so the religious press of the whole land testifies。 。 。 。