the great controversy-第67章

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to　some　extent　in　other　parts　of　Germany。　The　movement　continued　after　his
death；　and　the　advent　message　was　heard　in　Germany　at　the　same　time　that　it
was　attracting　attention　in　other　lands。　At　an　early　date　some　of　the
believers　went　to　Russia　and　there　formed　colonies；　and　the　faith　of
Christ's　soon　coming　is　still　held　by　the　German　churches　of　that　country。

The　light　shone　also　in　France　and　Switzerland。　At　Geneva　where　Farel　and
Calvin　had　spread　the　truth　of　the　Reformation；　Gaussen　preached　the　message
of　the　second　advent。　While　a　student　at　school；　Gaussen　had　encountered
that　spirit　of　rationalism　which　pervaded　all　Europe　during　the　latter　part
of　the　eighteenth　and　the　opening　of　the　nineteenth　century；　and　when　he
entered　the　ministry　he　was　not　only　ignorant　of　true　faith；　but　inclined　to
skepticism。　In　his　youth　he　had　become　interested　in　the　study　of　prophecy。
After　reading　Rollin's　Ancient　History；　his　attention　was　called　to　the
second　chapter　of　Daniel；　and　he　was　struck　with　the　wonderful　exactness
with　which　the　prophecy　had　been　fulfilled；　as　seen　in　the　historian's
record。　Here　was　a　testimony　to　the　inspiration　of　the　Scriptures；　which
served　as　an　anchor　to　him　amid　the　perils　of　later　years。　He　could　not　rest
satisfied　with　the　teachings　of　rationalism；　and　in　studying　the　Bible　and
searching　for　clearer　light　he　was；　after　a　time；　led　to　a　positive　faith。

As　he　pursued　his　investigation　of　the　prophecies　he　arrived　at　the　belief
that　the　coming　of　the　Lord　was　at　hand。　Impressed　with　the　solemnity　and
importance　of　this　great

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truth；　he　desired　to　bring　it　before　the　people；　but　the　popular　belief　that
the　prophecies　of　Daniel　are　mysteries　and　cannot　be　understood　was　a
serious　obstacle　in　his　way。　He　finally　determinedas　Farel　had　done　before
him　in　evangelizing　Genevato　begin　with　the　children；　through　whom　he
hoped　to　interest　the　parents。

〃I　desire　this　to　be　understood；〃　he　afterward　said；　speaking　of　his　object
in　this　undertaking；　〃it　is　not　because　of　its　small　importance；　but　on　the
contrary　because　of　its　great　value；　that　I　wished　to　present　it　in　this
familiar　form；　and　that　I　addressed　it　to　the　children。　I　desired　to　be
heard；　and　I　feared　that　I　would　not　be　if　I　addressed　myself　to　the　grown
people　first。〃　〃I　determined　therefore　to　go　to　the　youngest。　I　gather　an
audience　of　children；　if　the　group　enlarges；　if　it　is　seen　that　they　listen；
are　pleased；　interested；　that　they　understand　and　explain　the　subject；　I　am
sure　to　have　a　second　circle　soon；　and　in　their　turn；　grown　people　will　see
that　it　is　worth　their　while　to　sit　down　and　study。　When　this　is　done；　the
cause　is　gained。〃L。　Gaussen；　Daniel　the　Prophet；　vol。　2；　Preface。

The　effort　was　successful。　As　he　addressed　the　children；　older　persons　came
to　listen。　The　galleries　of　his　church　were　filled　with　attentive　hearers。
Among　them　were　men　of　rank　and　learning；　and　strangers　and　foreigners
visiting　Geneva；　and　thus　the　message　was　carried　to　other　parts。

Encouraged　by　this　success；　Gaussen　published　his　lessons；　with　the　hope　of
promoting　the　study　of　the　prophetic　books　in　the　churches　of　the
French…speaking　people。　〃To　publish　instruction　given　to　the　children；〃　says
Gaussen；　〃is　to　say　to　adults；　who　too　often　neglect　such　books　under　the
false　pretense　that　they　are　obscure；　'How　can　they　be　obscure；　since　your
children　understand　them？'〃　〃I　had　a　great　desire；〃　he　adds；　〃to　render　a
knowledge　of　the　prophecies　popular　in　our　flocks；　if　possible。〃　〃There　is
no　study；　indeed；　which　it　seems　to　me　answers　the　needs　of　the　time
better。〃　〃It　is　by　this　that　we　are　to　prepare　for　the　tribulation　near　at
hand；　and　watch　and　wait　for　Jesus　Christ。〃

366


Though　one　of　the　most　distinguished　and　beloved　of　preachers　in　the　French
language；　Gaussen　was　after　a　time　suspended　from　the　ministry；　his
principal　offense　being　that　instead　of　the　church's　catechism；　a　tame　and
rationalistic　manual；　almost　destitute　of　positive　faith；　he　had　used　the
Bible　in　giving　instruction　to　the　youth。　He　afterward　became　teacher　in　a
theological　school；　while　on　Sunday　he　continued　his　work　as　catechist；
addressing　the　children　and　instructing　them　in　the　Scriptures。　His　works　on
prophecy　also　excited　much　interest。　From　the　professor's　chair；　through　the
press；　and　in　his　favorite　occupation　as　teacher　of　children　he　continued
for　many　years　to　exert　an　extensive　influence　and　was　instrumental　in
calling　the　attention　of　many　to　the　study　of　the　prophecies　which　showed
that　the　coming　of　the　Lord　was　near。

In　Scandinavia　also　the　advent　message　was　proclaimed；　and　a　widespread
interest　was　kindled。　Many　were　roused　from　their　careless　security　to
confess　and　forsake　their　sins；　and　seek　pardon　in　the　name　of　Christ。　But
the　clergy　of　the　state　church　opposed　the　movement；　and　through　their
influence　some　who　preached　the　message　were　thrown　into　prison。　In　many
places　where　the　preachers　of　the　Lord's　soon　coming　were　thus　silenced；　God
was　pleased　to　send　the　message；　in　a　miraculous　manner；　through　little
children。　As　they　were　under　age；　the　law　of　the　state　could　not　restrain
them；　and　they　were　permitted　to　speak　unmolested。

The　movement　was　chiefly　among　the　lower　class；　and　it　was　in　the　humble
dwellings　of　the　laborers　that　the　people　assembled　to　hear　the　warning。　The
child…preachers　themselves　were　mostly　poor　cottagers。　Some　of　them　were　not
more　than　six　or　eight　years　of　age；　and　while　their　lives　testified　that
they　loved　the　Saviour；　and　were　trying　to　live　in　obedience　to　God's　holy
requirements；　they　ordinarily　manifested　only　the　intelligence　and　ability
usually　seen　in　children　of　that　age。　When　standing　before　the　people；

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however；　it　was　evident　that　they　were　moved　by　an　influence　beyond　their
own　natural　gifts。　Tone　and　manner　changed；　and　with　solemn　power　they　gave
the　warning　of　the　judgment；　employing　the　very　words　of　Scripture：　〃Fear
God；　and　give　glory　to　Him；　for　the　hour　of　His　judgment　is　come。〃　They
reproved　the　sins　of　the　people；　not　only　condemning　immorality　and　vice；
but　rebuking　worldliness　and　backsliding；　and　warning　their　hearers　to　make
haste　to　flee　from　the　wrath　to　come。

The　people　heard　with　trembling。　The　convicting　Spirit　of　God　spoke　to　their
hearts。　Many　were　led　to　search　the　Scriptures　with　new　and　deeper　interest；
the　intemperate　and　immoral　were　reformed；　others　abandoned　their　dishonest
practices；　and　a　work　was　done　so　marked　that　even　ministers　of　the　state
church　were　forced　to　acknowledge　that　the　hand　of　God　was　in　the　movement。

It　was　God's　will　that　the　tidings　of　the　Saviour's　coming　should　be　given
in　the　Scandinavian　countries；　and　when　the　voices　of　His　servants　were
silenced；　He　put　His　Spirit　upon　the　children；　that　the　work　might　be
accomplished。　When　Jesus　drew　near　to　Jerusalem　attended　by　the　rejoicing
multitudes　that；　with　shouts　of　triumph　and　the　waving　of　palm　branches；
heralded　Him　as　the　Son　of　David；　the　jealous　Pharisees　called　upon　Him　to
silence　them；　but　Jesus　answered　that　all　this　was　in　fulfillment　of
prophecy；　and　if　these　should　hold　their　peace；　the　very　stones　would　cry
out。　The　people；　intimidated　by　the　threats　of　the　priests　and　rulers；
ceased　their　joyful　proclamation　as　they　entered　the　gates　of　Jerusalem；　but
the　children　in　the　temple　courts　afterward　took　up　the　refrain；　and；　waving
their　branches　of　palm；　they　cried：　〃Hosanna　to　the　Son　of　David！〃　Matthew
21：8…16。　When　the　Pharisees；　sorely　displeased；　said　unto　Him；　〃Hearest　Thou
what　these　say？〃　Jesus　answered；　〃Yea；　have　ye　never　read；　Out　of　the　mouth
of　babes　and　sucklings　Thou　hast　perfected　praise？〃　As　God　wrought　through
children

368

at　the　time　of　Christ's　first　advent；　so　He　wrought　through　them　in　giving
the　message　of　His　second　advent。　God's　word　must　be　fulfilled；　that　the
proclamation　of　the　Saviour's　coming　should　be　given　to　all　peoples；
tongues；　and　nations。

To　William　Miller　and　his　colaborers　it　was　given　to　preach　the　warning　in
America。　This　country　became　the　center　of　the　great　advent　movement。　It　was
here　that　the　prophecy　of　the　first　angel's　message　had　its　most　direct
fulfillment。　The　writings　of　Miller　and　his　associates　were　carried　to
distant　lands。　Wherever　missionaries　had　penetrated　in　all　the　world；　were
sent　the　glad　tidings　of　Christ's　speedy　return。　Far　and　wide　spread　the
message　of　the　everlasting　gospel：　〃Fear　God；　and　give　glory　to　Him；　for　the
hour　of　His　judgment　is　come。〃

The　testimony　of　the　prophecies　which　seemed　to　point　to　the　coming　of
Christ　in　the　spring　of　1844　took　deep　hold　of　the　minds　of　the　people。　As
the　message　went　from　state　to　state；　there　was　everywhere　awakened
widespread　interest。　Many　were　convinced　that　the　arguments　from　the
prophetic　periods　were　correct；　and；　sacrificing　their　pride　of　opinion；
they　joyfully　received　the　truth。　Some　ministers　laid　aside　their　sectarian
views　and　feelings；　left　their　salaries　and　their　churches；　and　united　in
proclaiming　the　coming　of　Jesus。　There　were　comparatively　few　ministers；
however；　who　would　accept　this　message；　therefore　it　was　largely　committed
to　humble　laymen。　Farmers　left　their　fields；　mechanics　their　tools；　traders
their　merchandise；　professional　men　their　positions；　and　yet　the　number　of
workers　was　small　in　comparison　with　the　work　to　be　accomplished。　The
condition　of　an　ungodly　church　and　a　world　lying　in　wickedness；　burdened　the
souls　of　the　true　watchmen；　and　they　willingly　endured　toil；　privation；　and
suffering；　that　they　might　call　men　to　repentance　unto　salvation。　Though
opposed　by　Satan；　the　work　went　steadily　forward；　and　the　advent　truth　was
accepted　by　many　thousands。

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Everywhere　the　searching　testimony　was　heard；　warning　sinners；　both
worldlings　and　church　members；　to　flee　from　the　wrath　to　come。　Like　John　the
Baptist；　the　forerunner　of　Christ；　the　preachers　laid　the　ax　at　the　root　of
the　tree　and　urged　all　to　bring　forth　fruit　meet　for　repentance。　Their
stirring　appeals　were　in　marked　contrast　to　the　assurances　of　peace　and
safety　that　were　heard　from　popular　pulpits；　and　wherever　the　message　was
given；　it　moved　the　people。　The　simple；　direct　testimony　of　the　Scriptures；
set　home　by　the　power　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　brought　a　weight　of　conviction
which　few　were　able　wholly　to　resist。　Professors　of　religion　were　roused
from　their　false　security。　They　saw　their　backslidings；　their　worldliness
and　unbelief；　their　pride　and　selfishness。　Many　sought　the　Lord　with
repentance　and　humiliation。　The　affections　that　had　so　long　clung　to　earthly
things　they　now　fixed　upon　heaven。　The　Spirit　of　God　rested　upon　them；　and
with　hearts　softened　and　subdued　they　joined　to　sound　the　cry：　〃Fear　God；
and　give　glory　to　Him；　for　the　hour　of　His　judgment　is　come。〃

Sinners　inquired　with　weeping：　〃What　must　I　do　to　be　saved？〃　Those　whose
lives　had　been　marked　with　dishonesty　were　anxious　to　make　restit