The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 338
disturbing their self-satisfaction, and his plain and cutting words aroused
their enmity. The opposition manifested by church members toward
his message emboldened the baser classes to go to greater lengths; and
enemies plotted to take his life as he should leave the place of meeting.
But holy angels were in the throng, and one of these, in the form of a
man, took the arm of this servant of the Lord and led him in safety from
the angry mob. His work was not yet done, and Satan and his emissaries
were disappointed in their purpose.
Despite all opposition, the interest in the advent movement had
continued to increase. From scores and hundreds, the congregations
had grown to as many thousands. Large accessions had been made
to the various churches, but after a time the spirit of opposition was
manifested even against these converts, and the churches began to take
disciplinary steps with those who had embraced Miller’s views. This
action called forth a response from his pen, in 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
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