an address to Christians of all denominations , urging that if his doctrines were false , he should be shown his error from the Scriptures .
" What have we believed ," he said , " that we have not been commanded to believe by the word of God , which you yourselves allow is the rule , and only rule , of our faith and practice ? What have we done that should call down such virulent denunciations against us from pulpit and press , and give you just cause to exclude us [ Adventists ] from your churches and fellowship ?" " If we are wrong , pray show us wherein consists our wrong . Show us from the word of God that we are in error ; we have had ridicule enough ; that can never convince us that we are in the wrong ; the word of God alone can change our views . Our conclusions have been formed deliberately and prayerfully , as we have seen the evidence in the Scriptures ." -- Ibid ., pages 250 , 252 .
From age to age the warnings which God has sent to the world by His servants have been received with like incredulity and unbelief . When the iniquity of the antediluvians moved Him to bring a flood of waters upon the earth , He first made known to them His purpose , that they might have opportunity to turn from their evil ways . For a hundred and twenty years was sounded in their ears the warning to repent , lest the wrath of God be manifested in their destruction . But the message seemed to them an idle tale , and they believed it not . Emboldened in their wickedness they mocked the messenger of God , made light of his entreaties , and even accused him of presumption . How dare one man stand up against all the great men of the earth ? If Noah ' s message were true , why did not all the world see it and believe it ? One man ' s assertion against the wisdom of thousands ! They would not credit the warning , nor would they seek shelter in the ark .
Scoffers pointed to the things of nature , --to the unvarying succession of the seasons , to the blue skies that had never poured out rain , to the green fields refreshed by the soft dews of night , --and they cried out : " Doth he not speak parables ?" In contempt they declared the preacher of righteousness to be a wild enthusiast ; and they went on , more eager in their pursuit of pleasure , more intent upon their evil ways , than before . But their unbelief did not hinder the predicted event . God bore long with their wickedness , giving them ample opportunity for repentance ; but at the appointed time His judgments were visited upon the rejecters of His mercy .
Christ declares that there will exist similar unbelief concerning His second coming . As the people of Noah ' s day " knew not until the Flood came , and took them all away ; so ," in the words of our Saviour , " shall also the coming of the Son of man be ." Matthew 24-39 . When
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