it was in my power , I have freed myself from all guilt in their condemnation ." " Although I have been twice disappointed ," wrote this man of God , " I am not yet cast down or discouraged . . . . My hope in the coming of Christ is as strong as ever . I have done only what , after years of solemn consideration , I felt it my solemn duty to do . If I have erred , it has been on the side of charity , love to my fellow men , and conviction of duty to God ." " One thing I do know , I have preached nothing but what I believed ; and God has been with me ; His power has been manifested in the work , and much good has been effected ." " Many thousands , to all human appearance , have been made to study the Scriptures by the preaching of the time ; and by that means , through faith and the sprinkling of the blood of Christ , have been reconciled to God ." --Bliss, pages 256 , 255 , 277 , 280 , 281 . " I have never courted the smiles of the proud , nor quailed when the world frowned . I shall not now purchase their favor , nor shall I go beyond duty to tempt their hate . I shall never seek my life at their hands , nor shrink , I hope , from losing it , if God in His good providence so orders ." --J. White , Life of Wm . Miller , page 315 .
God did not forsake His people ; His Spirit still abode with those who did not rashly deny the light which they had received , and denounce the advent movement . In the Epistle to the Hebrews are words of encouragement and warning for the tried , waiting ones at this crisis : " Cast not away therefore your confidence , which hath great recompense of reward . For ye have need of patience , that , after ye have done the will of God , ye might receive the promise . For yet a little while , and He that shall come will come , and will not tarry . Now the just shall live by faith : but if any man draw back , My soul shall have no pleasure in him . But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition ; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul ." Hebrews 10:35-39 .
That this admonition is addressed to the church in the last days is evident from the words pointing to the nearness of the Lord ' s coming : " For yet a little while , and He that shall come will come and will not tarry ." And it is plainly implied that there would be a seeming delay and that the Lord would appear to tarry . The instruction here given is especially adapted to the experience of Adventists at this time . The people here addressed were in danger of making shipwreck of faith . They had done the will of God in following the guidance of His Spirit and His word ; yet they could not understand His purpose in their past experience , nor could they discern the pathway before them , and they were tempted to doubt whether God had indeed been leading them . At this time the words were applicable : " Now the just shall live by faith ." As the bright light of the " midnight cry " had shone upon their pathway , and they had seen the prophecies unsealed and the rapidly fulfilling signs telling that the coming of Christ was near , they had walked , as it were , by sight . But now , bowed down by disappointed hopes , they could stand only by faith in God and in His word . The scoffing world were saying : " You have been
279