the great controversy-第58章

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and　noble；　the　philosophers　of　the　East。　Students　of　nature；　the　Magi　had
seen　God　in　His　handiwork。　From　the　Hebrew　Scriptures　they　had　learned　of
the　Star　to　arise　out　of　Jacob；　and　with　eager　desire　they　awaited　His
coming；　who　should　be　not　only　the　〃Consolation　of　Israel；〃　but　a　〃Light　to
lighten　the　Gentiles；〃　and　〃for　salvation　unto　the　ends　of　the　earth。〃　Luke
2：25；　32；　Acts　13：47。　They　were　seekers　for　light；　and　light　from　the　throne
of　God　illumined　the　path　for　their　feet。　While　the　priests　and　rabbis　of
Jerusalem；　the　appointed　guardians　and　expounders　of　the　truth；　were
shrouded　in　darkness；　the　Heaven…sent　star　guided　these　Gentile　strangers　to
the　birthplace　of　the　newborn　King。

It　is　〃unto　them　that　look　for　Him〃　that　Christ　is　to　〃appear　the　second
time　without　sin　unto　salvation。〃　Hebrews　9：28。　Like　the　tidings　of　the
Saviour's　birth；　the　message　of　the　second　advent　was　not　committed　to　the
religious　leaders　of　the　people。　They　had　failed　to　preserve　their
connection　with　God；　and　had　refused　light　from　heaven；　therefore　they　were
not　of　the　number　described　by　the　apostle　Paul：　〃But　ye；　brethren；　are　not
in　darkness；　that　that　day　should　overtake　you　as　a　thief。　Ye　are　all　the
children　of　light；　and　the　children　of　the　day：　we　are　not　of　the　night；　nor
of　darkness。〃　1　Thessalonians　5：4；　5。

The　watchmen　upon　the　walls　of　Zion　should　have　been　the　first　to　catch　the
tidings　of　the　Saviour's　advent；　the　first　to　lift　their　voices　to　proclaim
Him　near；　the　first　to　warn　the　people　to　prepare　for　His　coming。　But　they
were　at　ease；

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dreaming　of　peace　and　safety；　while　the　people　were　asleep　in　their　sins。
Jesus　saw　His　church；　like　the　barren　fig　tree；　covered　with　pretentious
leaves；　yet　destitute　of　precious　fruit。　There　was　a　boastful　observance　of
the　forms　of　religion；　while　the　spirit　of　true　humility；　penitence；　and
faithwhich　alone　could　render　the　service　acceptable　to　Godwas　lacking。
Instead　of　the　graces　of　the　Spirit　there　were　manifested　pride；　formalism；
vainglory；　selfishness；　oppression。　A　backsliding　church　closed　their　eyes
to　the　signs　of　the　times。　God　did　not　forsake　them；　or　suffer　His
faithfulness　to　fail；　but　they　departed　from　Him；　and　separated　themselves
from　His　love。　As　they　refused　to　comply　with　the　conditions；　His　promises
were　not　fulfilled　to　them。

Such　is　the　sure　result　of　neglect　to　appreciate　and　improve　the　light　and
privileges　which　God　bestows。　Unless　the　church　will　follow　on　in　His
opening　providence；　accepting　every　ray　of　light；　performing　every　duty
which　may　be　revealed；　religion　will　inevitably　degenerate　into　the
observance　of　forms；　and　the　spirit　of　vital　godliness　will　disappear。　This
truth　has　been　repeatedly　illustrated　in　the　history　of　the　church。　God
requires　of　His　people　works　of　faith　and　obedience　corresponding　to　the
blessings　and　privileges　bestowed。　Obedience　requires　a　sacrifice　and
involves　a　cross；　and　this　is　why　so　many　of　the　professed　followers　of
Christ　refused　to　receive　the　light　from　heaven；　and；　like　the　Jews　of　old；
knew　not　the　time　of　their　visitation。　Luke　19：44。　Because　of　their　pride
and　unbelief　the　Lord　passed　them　by　and　revealed　His　truth　to　those　who；
like　the　shepherds　of　Bethlehem　and　the　Eastern　Magi；　had　given　heed　to　all
the　light　they　had　received。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　18

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　An　American　Reformer


An　Upright；　honest…hearted　farmer；　who　had　been　led　to　doubt　the　divine
authority　of　the　Scriptures；　yet　who　sincerely　desired　to　know　the　truth；
was　the　man　specially　chosen　of　God　to　lead　out　in　the　proclamation　of
Christ's　second　coming。　Like　many　other　reformers；　William　Miller　had　in
early　life　battled　with　poverty　and　had　thus　learned　the　great　lessons　of
energy　and　self…denial。　The　members　of　the　family　from　which　he　sprang　were
characterized　by　an　independent；　liberty…loving　spirit；　by　capability　of
endurance；　and　ardent　patriotismtraits　which　were　also　prominent　in　his
character。　His　father　was　a　captain　in　the　army　of　the　Revolution；　and　to
the　sacrifices　which　he　made　in　the　struggles　and　sufferings　of　that　stormy
period　may　be　traced　the　straitened　circumstances　of　Miller's　early　life。

He　had　a　sound　physical　constitution；　and　even　in　childhood　gave　evidence　of
more　than　ordinary　intellectual　strength。　As　he　grew　older；　this　became　more
marked。　His　mind　was　active　and　well　developed；　and　he　had　a　keen　thirst　for
knowledge。　Though　he　did　not　enjoy　the　advantages　of　a　collegiate　education；
his　love　of　study　and　a　habit　of　careful　thought　and　close　criticism
rendered　him　a　man　of　sound　judgment　and　comprehensive　views。　He　possessed
an　irreproachable　moral　character　and　an　enviable　reputation；　being
generally　esteemed　for　integrity；　thrift；　and　benevolence。　By　dint　of　energy
and　application　he　early　acquired　a

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competence；　though　his　habits　of　study　were　still　maintained。　He　filled
various　civil　and　military　offices　with　credit；　and　the　avenues　to　wealth
and　honor　seemed　wide　open　to　him。

His　mother　was　a　woman　of　sterling　piety；　and　in　childhood；　he　had　been
subject　to　religious　impressions。　In　early　childhood；　however；　he　was　thrown
into　the　society　of　deists；　whose　influence　was　the　stronger　from　the　fact
that　they　were　mostly　good　citizens　and　men　of　humane　and　benevolent
disposition。　Living；　as　they　did；　in　the　midst　of　Christian　institutions；
their　characters　had　been　to　some　extent　molded　by　their　surroundings。　For
the　excellencies　which　won　them　respect　and　confidence　they　were　indebted　to
the　Bible；　and　yet　these　good　gifts　were　so　perverted　as　to　exert　an
influence　against　the　word　of　God。　By　association　with　these　men；　Miller　was
led　to　adopt　their　sentiments。　The　current　interpretations　of　Scripture
presented　difficulties　which　seemed　to　him　insurmountable；　yet　his　new
belief；　while　setting　aside　the　Bible；　offered　nothing　better　to　take　its
place；　and　he　remained　far　from　satisfied。　He　continued　to　hold　these　views；
however；　for　about　twelve　years。　But　at　the　age　of　thirty…four　the　Holy
Spirit　impressed　his　heart　with　a　sense　of　his　condition　as　a　sinner。　He
found　in　his　former　belief　no　assurance　of　happiness　beyond　the　grave。　The
future　was　dark　and　gloomy。　Referring　afterward　to　his　feelings　at　this
time；　he　said：

〃Annihilation　was　a　cold　and　chilling　thought；　and　accountability　was　sure
destruction　to　all。　The　heavens　were　as　brass　over　my　head；　and　the　earth　as
iron　under　my　feet。　Eternitywhat　was　it？　And　deathwhy　was　it？　The　more　I
reasoned；　the　further　I　was　from　demonstration。　The　more　I　thought；　the　more
scattered　were　my　conclusions。　I　tried　to　stop　thinking；　but　my　thoughts
would　not　be　controlled。　I　was　truly　wretched；　but　did　not　understand　the
cause。　I　murmured　and　complained；　but　knew　not　of　whom。　I　knew　that　there
was　a　wrong；　but　knew　not　how　or　where　to　find　the　right。　I　mourned；　but
without　hope。〃

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In　this　state　he　continued　for　some　months。　〃Suddenly；〃　he　says；　〃the
character　of　a　Saviour　was　vividly　impressed　upon　my　mind。　It　seemed　that
there　might　be　a　being　so　good　and　compassionate　as　to　himself　atone　for　our
transgressions；　and　thereby　save　us　from　suffering　the　penalty　of　sin。　I
immediately　felt　how　lovely　such　a　being　must　be；　and　imagined　that　I　could
cast　myself　into　the　arms　of；　and　trust　in　the　mercy　of；　such　a　one。　But　the
question　arose；　How　can　it　be　proved　that　such　a　being　does　exist？　Aside
from　the　Bible；　I　found　that　I　could　get　no　evidence　of　the　existence　of
such　a　Saviour；　or　even　of　a　future　state。　。　。　。

〃I　saw　that　the　Bible　did　bring　to　view　just　such　a　Saviour　as　I　needed；　and
I　was　perplexed　to　find　how　an　uninspired　book　should　develop　principles　so
perfectly　adapted　to　the　wants　of　a　fallen　world。　I　was　constrained　to　admit
that　the　Scriptures　must　be　a　revelation　from　God。　They　became　my　delight；
and　in　Jesus　I　found　a　friend。　The　Saviour　became　to　me　the　chiefest　among
ten　thousand；　and　the　Scriptures；　which　before　were　dark　and　contradictory；
now　became　the　lamp　to　my　feet　and　light　to　my　path。　My　mind　became　settled
and　satisfied。　I　found　the　Lord　God　to　be　a　Rock　in　the　midst　of　the　ocean
of　life。　The　Bible　now　became　my　chief　study；　and　I　can　truly　say；　I
searched　it　with　great　delight。　I　found　the　half　was　never　told　me。　I
wondered　why　I　had　not　seen　its　beauty　and　glory　before；　and　marveled　that　I
could　have　ever　rejected　it。　I　found　everything　revealed　that　my　heart　could
desire；　and　a　remedy　for　every　disease　of　the　soul。　I　lost　all　taste　for
other　reading；　and　applied　my　heart　to　get　wisdom　from　God。〃S。　Bliss；
Memoirs　of　Wm。　Miller；　pages　65…67。

Miller　publicly　professed　his　faith　in　the　religion　which　he　had　despised。
But　his　infidel　associates　were　not　slow　to　bring　forward　all　those
arguments　which　he　himself　had　often　urged　against　the　divine　authority　of
the　Scriptures。　He　was　not　then　prepared　to　answer　them；　but　he　reasoned
that　if　the　Bible　is　a　revelation　from　God；　it　must　be　consistent　with
itself；　and　that　as　it　was　given　for　man's　instruction；　it　must

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be　adapted　to　his　understanding。　He　determined　to　study　the　Scriptures　for
himself；　and　ascertain　if　every　apparent　contradiction　could　not　be
harmonized。

Endeavoring　to　lay　aside　all　preconceived　opinions；　and　dispensing　with
commentaries；　he　compared　scripture　with　scripture　by　the　aid　of　the
marginal　references　and　the　concordance。　He　pursued　his　study　in　a　regular
and　methodical　manner；　beginning　with　Genesis；　and　reading　verse　by　verse；
he　proceeded　no　faster　than　the　meaning　of　the　several　passages　so　unfolded
as　to　leave　him　free　from　all　embarrassment。　When　he　found　anything　obscure；
it　was　his　custom　to　compare　it　with　every　other　text　which　seemed　to　have
any　reference　to　the　matter　under　consideration。　Every　word　was　permitted　to
have　its　proper　bearing　upon　the　subject　of　the　text；　and　if　his　view　of　it
harmonized　with　every　collateral　passage；　it　ceased　to　be　a　difficulty。　Thus
whenever　he　met　with　a　passage　hard　to　be　understood　he　found　an　explanation
in　some　other　portion　of　the　Scriptures。　As　he　studied　with　earnest　prayer
for　divine　enlightenment；　that　which　had　before　appeared　dark　to　his
understanding　was　made　clear。　He　experienced　the　truth　of　the　psalmist's
words：　〃The　entrance　of　Thy　words　giveth　light；　it　giveth　understanding　unto
the　simple。〃　Psalm　119：130。

With　intense　interest　he　studied　the　books　of　Daniel　and　the　Revelation；
employing　the　same　principles　of　interpretation　as　in　the　other　scriptures；
and　found；　to　his　great　joy；　that　the　prophetic　symbols　could　be　understood。
He　saw　that　the　prophecies；　so　far　as　they　had　been　fulfilled；　had　been
fulfilled　literally；　that　all　the　various　figures；　metaphors；　parables；
similitudes；　etc。；　were　either　explained　in　their　immediate　connection；　or
the　terms　in　which　they　were　expressed　were　defined　in　other　scriptures；　and
when　thus　explained；　were　to　be　literally　understood。　〃I　was　thus
satisfied；〃　he　says；　〃that　the　Bible　is　a