the great controversy-第74部分

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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　restitution。　All
who　found　peace　in　Christ　longed　to　see　others　share　the　blessing。　The
hearts　of　parents　were　turned　to　their　children；　and　the　hearts　of　children
to　their　parents。　The　barriers　of　pride　and　reserve　were　swept　away。
Heartfelt　confessions　were　made；　and　the　members　of　the　household　labored
for　the　salvation　of　those　who　were　nearest　and　dearest。　Often　was　heard　the
sound　of　earnest　intercession。　Everywhere　were　souls　in　deep　anguish
pleading　with　God。　Many　wrestled　all　night　in　prayer　for　the　assurance　that
their　own　sins　were　pardoned；　or　for　the　conversion　of　their　relatives　or
neighbors。

All　classes　flocked　to　the　Adventist　meetings。　Rich　and　poor；　high　and　low；
were；　from　various　causes；　anxious　to　hear　for　themselves　the　doctrine　of
the　second　advent。　The　Lord　held　the　spirit　of　opposition　in　check　while　His
servants

370

explained　the　reasons　of　their　faith。　Sometimes　the　instrument　was　feeble；
but　the　Spirit　of　God　gave　power　to　His　truth。　The　presence　of　holy　angels
was　felt　in　these　assemblies；　and　many　were　daily　added　to　the　believers。　As
the　evidences　of　Christ's　soon　coming　were　repeated；　vast　crowds　listened　in
breathless　silence　to　the　solemn　words。　Heaven　and　earth　seemed　to　approach
each　other。　The　power　of　God　was　felt　upon　old　and　young　and　middle…aged。
Men　sought　their　homes　with　praises　upon　their　lips；　and　the　glad　sound　rang
out　upon　the　still　night　air。　None　who　attended　those　meetings　can　ever
forget　those　scenes　of　deepest　interest。

The　proclamation　of　a　definite　time　for　Christ's　coming　called　forth　great
opposition　from　many　of　all　classes；　from　the　minister　in　the　pulpit　down　to
the　most　reckless；　Heaven…daring　sinner。　The　words　of　prophecy　were
fulfilled：　〃There　shall　come　in　the　last　days　scoffers；　walking　after　their
own　lusts；　and　saying；　Where　is　the　promise　of　His　coming？　for　since　the
fathers　fell　asleep；　all　things　continue　as　they　were　from　the　beginning　of
the　creation。〃　2　Peter　3：3；　4。　Many　who　professed　to　love　the　Saviour；
declared　that　they　had　no　opposition　to　the　doctrine　of　the　second　advent；
they　merely　objected　to　the　definite　time。　But　God's　all…seeing　eye　read
their　hearts。　They　did　not　wish　to　hear　of　Christ's　coming　to　judge　the
world　in　righteousness。　They　had　been　unfaithful　servants；　their　works　would
not　bear　the　inspection　of　the　heart…searching　God；　and　they　feared　to　meet
their　Lord。　Like　the　Jews　at　the　time　of　Christ's　first　advent　they　were　not
prepared　to　welcome　Jesus。　They　not　only　refused　to　listen　to　the　plain
arguments　from　the　Bible；　but　ridiculed　those　who　were　looking　for　the　Lord。
Satan　and　his　angels　exulted；　and　flung　the　taunt　in　the　face　of　Christ　and
holy　angels　that　His　professed　people　had　so　little　love　for　Him　that　they
did　not　desire　His　appearing。

〃No　man　knoweth　the　day　nor　the　hour〃　was　the　argument　most　often　brought
forward　by　rejecters　of　the　advent　faith。　The　scripture　is：　〃Of　that　day　and
hour　knoweth　no