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。
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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。 。 。 。
Very extensively； church members are becoming devotees of fashion； join
hands with the ungodly in parties of pleasure； in dancing； in festivities；
etc。 。 。 。 But we need not expand this painful subject。 Suffice it that the
evidence thickens and rolls heavily upon us； to show that the churches
generally are becoming sadly degenerate。 They have gone very far from the
Lord； and He has withdrawn Himself from them。〃
And a writer in the Religious Telescope testified： 〃We have never witnessed
such a general declension of religion as at the present。 Truly； the church
should awake； and search into the cause of this affliction； for as an
affliction everyone that loves Zion must view it。 When we call to mind how
'few and far between' cases of true conversion are； and the almost
unparalleled impertinence and hardness of sinners； we almost involuntarily
exclaim； 'Has God forgotten to be gracious？ or； Is the door of mercy
closed？'〃
Such a condition never exists without cause in the church itself。 The
spiritual darkness which falls upon nations； upon churches and individuals；
is due； not to an arbitrary withdrawal of the succors of divine grace on the
part of God； but to neglect or rejection of divine light on the part of men。
A
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striking illustration of this truth is presented in the history of the
Jewish people in the time of Christ。 By their devotion to the world and
forgetfulness of God and His word； their understanding had become darkened；
their hearts earthly and sensual。 Thus they were in ignorance concerning
Messiah's advent； and in their pride and unbelief they rejected the
Redeemer。 God did not even then cut off the Jewish nation from a knowledge
of； or a participation in； the blessings of salvation。 But those who
rejected the truth lost all desire for the gift of Heaven。 They had 〃put
darkness for light； and light for darkness；〃 until the light which was in
them became darkness； and how great was that darkness！
It suits the policy of Satan that men should retain the forms of religion if
but the spirit of vital godliness is lacking。 After their rejection of the
gospel； the Jews continued zealously to maintain their ancient rites； they
rigorously preserved their national exclusiveness； while they themselves
could not but admit that the presence of God was no longer manifest among
them。 The prophecy of Daniel pointed so unmistakably to the time of
Messiah's coming； and so directly foretold His death； that they discouraged
its study； and finally the rabbis pronounced a curse on all who should
attempt a computation of the time。 In blindness and impenitence the people
of Israel during succeeding centuries have stood； indifferent to the
gracious offers of salvation； unmindful of the blessings of the gospel； a
solemn and fearful warning of the danger of rejecting light from heaven。
Wherever the cause exists； the same results will follow。 He who deliberately
stifles his convictions of duty because it interferes with his inclinations
will finally lose the power to distinguish between truth and error。 The
understanding becomes darkened； the conscience callous； the heart hardened；
and the soul is separated from God。 Where the message of divine truth is
spurned or slighted； there the church will be enshrouded in darkness； faith
and love grow cold；
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and estrangement and dissension enter。 Church members center their interests
and energies in worldly pursuits； and sinners become hardened in their
impenitence。
The first angel's message of Revelation 14； announcing the hour of God's
judgment and calling upon men to fear and worship Him； was designed to
separate the professed people of God from the corrupting influences of the
world and to arouse them to see their true condition of worldliness and
backsliding。 In this message； God has sent to the church a warning； which；
had it been accepted； would have corrected the evils that were shutting them
away from Him。 Had they received the message from heaven