in Constantinople may be expected to be broken . And this , I believe , will be found to be the case .”— Josiah Litch , in Signs of the Times , and Expositor of Prophecy , Aug . 1 , 1840 .
At the very time specified , Turkey , through her ambassadors , accepted the protection of the allied powers of Europe , and thus placed herself under the control of Christian nations . The event exactly fulfilled the prediction . ( See Appendix .) When it became known , multitudes were convinced of the correctness of the principles of prophetic interpretation adopted by Miller and his associates , and a wonderful impetus was given to the advent movement . Men of learning and position united with Miller , both in preaching and in publishing his views , and from 1840 to 1844 the work rapidly extended .
William Miller possessed strong mental powers , disciplined by thought and study ; and he added to these the wisdom of heaven by connecting himself with the Source of wisdom . He was a man of sterling worth , who could not but command respect and esteem wherever integrity of character and moral excellence were valued . Uniting true kindness of heart with Christian humility and the power of self-control , he was attentive and affable to all , ready to listen to the opinions of others and to weigh their arguments . Without passion or excitement he tested all theories and doctrines by the word of God , and his sound reasoning and thorough knowledge of the Scriptures enabled him to refute error and expose falsehood .
Yet he did not prosecute his work without bitter opposition . As with earlier Reformers , the truths which he presented were not received with favor by popular religious teachers . As these could not maintain their position by the Scriptures , they were driven to resort to the sayings and doctrines of men , to the traditions of the Fathers . But the word of God was the only testimony accepted by the preachers of the advent truth . “ The Bible , and the Bible only ,” was their watchword . The lack of Scripture argument on the part of their opponents was supplied by ridicule and scoffing . Time , means , and talents were employed in maligning those whose
335