Sabbath　question？　But　few　believe　as　you　do。　It　cannot　be　that　you　are　right
  and　that　all　the　men　of　learning　in　the　world　are　wrong。〃
  To　refute　such　arguments　it　was　needful　only　to　cite　the　teachings　of　the
  Scriptures　and　the　history　of　the　Lord's　dealings　with　His　people　in　all
  ages。　God　works　through
  456
  those　who　hear　and　obey　His　voice；　those　who　will；　if　need　be；　speak
  unpalatable　truths；　those　who　do　not　fear　to　reprove　popular　sins。　The
  reason　why　He　does　not　oftener　choose　men　of　learning　and　high　position　to
  lead　out　in　reform　movements　is　that　they　trust　to　their　creeds；　theories；
  and　theological　systems；　and　feel　no　need　to　be　taught　of　God。　Only　those
  who　have　a　personal　connection　with　the　Source　of　wisdom　are　able　to
  understand　or　explain　the　Scriptures。　Men　who　have　little　of　the　learning　of
  the　schools　are　sometimes　called　to　declare　the　truth；　not　because　they　are
  unlearned；　but　because　they　are　not　too　self…sufficient　to　be　taught　of　God。
  They　learn　in　the　school　of　Christ；　and　their　humility　and　obedience　make
  them　great。　In　committing　to　them　a　knowledge　of　His　truth；　God　confers　upon
  them　an　honor；　in　comparison　with　which　earthly　honor　and　human　greatness
  sink　into　insignificance。
  The　majority　of　Adventists　rejected　the　truths　concerning　the　sanctuary　and
  the　law　of　God；　and　many　also　renounced　their　faith　in　the　advent　movement
  and　adopted　unsound　and　conflicting　views　of　the　prophecies　which　applied　to
  that　work。　Some　were　led　into　the　error　of　repeatedly　fixing　upon　a　definite
  time　for　the　coming　of　Christ。　The　light　which　was　now　shining　on　the
  subject　of　the　sanctuary　should　have　shown　them　that　no　prophetic　period
  extends　to　the　second　advent；　that　the　exact　time　of　this　advent　is　not
  foretold。　But；　turning　from　the　light；　they　continued　to　set　time　after　time
  for　the　Lord　to　come；　and　as　often　they　were　disappointed。
  When　the　Thessalonian　church　received　erroneous　views　concerning　the　coming
  of　Christ；　the　apostle　Paul　counseled　them　to　test　their　hopes　and
  anticipations　carefully　by　the　word　of　God。　He　cited　them　to　prophecies
  revealing　the　events　to　take　place　before　Christ　should　come；　and　showed
  that　they　had　no　ground　to　expect　Him　in　their　day。　〃Let　no　man　deceive　you
  by　any　means〃　（2　Thessalonians　2：3）；　are　his　words　of　warning。　Should　they
  indulge　expectations　that　were　not　sanctioned　by　the　Scriptures；　they　would
  be　led　to
  457
  a　mistaken　course　of　action；　disappointment　would　expose　them　to　the
  derision　of　unbelievers；　and　they　would　be　in　danger　of　yielding　to
  discouragement　and　would　be　tempted　to　doubt　the　truths　essential　for　their
  salvation。　The　apostle's　admonition　to　the　Thessalonians　contains　an
  important　lesson　for　those　who　live　in　the　last　days。　Many　Adventists　have
  felt　that　unless　they　could　fix　their　faith　upon　a　definite　time　for　the
  Lord's　coming；　they　could　not　be　zealous　and　diligent　in　the　work　of
  preparation。　But　as　their　hopes　are　again　and　again　excited；　only　to　be
  destroyed；　their　faith　receives　such　a　shock　that　it　becomes　well…nigh
  impossible　for　them　to　be　impressed　by　the　great　truths　of　prophecy。
  The　preaching　of　a　definite　time　for　the　judgment；　in　the　giving　of　the
  first　message；　was　ordered　by　God。　The　computation　of　the　prophetic　periods
  on　which　that　message　was　based；　placing　the　close　of　the　2300　days　in　the
  autumn　of
  1844；　stands　without　impeachment。　The　repeated　efforts　to
  find　new　dates　for　the　beginning　and　close　of　the　prophetic　periods；　and　the
  unsound　reasoning　necessary　to　sustain　these　positions；　not　only　lead　minds
  away　from　the　present　truth；　but　throw　contempt　upon　all　efforts　to　explain
  the　prophecies。　The　more　frequently　a　definite　time　is　set　for　the　second
  advent；　and　the　more　widely　it　is　taught；　the　better　it　suits　the　purposes
  of　Satan。　After　the　time　has　passed；　he　excites　ridicule　and　contempt　of　its
  advocates；　and　thus　casts　reproach　upon　the　great　advent　movement　of　1843
  and　1844。　Those　who　persist　in　this　error　will　at　last　fix　upon　a　date　too
  far　in　the　future　for　the　coming　of　Christ。　Thus　they　will　be　led　to　rest　in
  a　false　security；　and　many　will　not　be　undeceived　until　it　is　too　late。
  The　history　of　ancient　Israel　is　a　striking　illustration　of　the　past
  experience　of　the　Adventist　body。　God　led　His　people　in　the　advent　movement；
  even　as　He　led　the　children　of　Israel　from　Egypt。　In　the　great
  disappointment　their　faith　was　tested　as　was　that　of　the　Hebrews　at　the　Red
  Sea。　Had　they　still　trusted　to　the　guiding　hand　that　had　been　with　them　in
  458
  their　past　experience；　they　would　have　seen　the　salvation　of　God。　If　all　who
  had　labored　unitedly　in　the　work　in　1844；　had　received　the　third　angel's
  message　and　proclaimed　it　in　the　power　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　the　Lord　would
  have　wrought　mightily　with　their　efforts。　A　flood　of　light　would　have　been
  shed　upon　the　world。　Years　ago　the　inhabitants　of　the　earth　would　have　been
  warned；　the　closing　work　completed；　and　Christ　would　have　come　for　the
  redemption　of　His　people。
  It　was　not　the　will　of　God　that　Israel　should　wander　forty　years　in　the
  wilderness；　He　desired　to　lead　them　directly　to　the　land　of　Canaan　and
  establish　them　there；　a　holy；　happy　people。　But　〃they　could　not　enter　in
  because　of　unbelief。〃　Hebrews　3：19。　Because　of　their　backsliding　and
  apostasy　they　perished　in　the　desert；　and　others　were　raised　up　to　enter　the
  Promised　Land。　In　like　manner；　it　was　not　the　will　of　God　that　the　coming　of
  Christ　should　be　so　long　delayed　and　His　people　should　remain　so　many　years
  in　this　world　of　sin　and　sorrow。　But　unbelief　separated　them　from　God。　As
  they　refused　to　do　the　work　which　He　had　appointed　them；　others　were　raised
  up　to　proclaim　the　message。　In　mercy　to　the　world；　Jesus　delays　His　coming；
  that　sinners　may　have　an　opportunity　to　hear　the　warning　and　find　in　Him　a
  shelter　before　the　wrath　of　God　shall　be　poured　out。
  Now　as　in　former　ages；　the　presentation　of　a　truth　that　reproves　the　sins
  and　errors　of　the　times　will　excite　opposition。　〃Everyone　that　doeth　evil
  hateth　the　light；　neither　cometh　to　the　light；　lest　his　deeds　should　be
  reproved。〃　John　3：20。　As　men　see　that　they　cannot　maintain　their　position　by
  the　Scriptures；　many　determine　to　maintain　it　at　all　hazards；　and　with　a
  malicious　spirit　they　assail　the　character　and　motives　of　those　who　stand　in
  defense　of　unpopular　truth。　It　is　the　same　policy　which　has　been　pursued　in
  all　ages。　Elijah　was　declared　to　be　a　troubler　in　Israel；　Jeremiah　a
  traitor；　Paul　a　polluter　of　the　temple。　From　that　day　to　this；　those　who
  would　be　loyal　to　truth　have　been　denounced　as　seditious；
  459
  heretical；　or　schismatic。　Multitudes　who　are　too　unbelieving　to　accept　the
  sure　word　of　prophecy　will　receive　with　unquestioning　credulity　an
  accusation　against　those　who　dare　to　reprove　fashionable　sins。　This　spirit
  will　increase　more　and　more。　And　the　Bible　plainly　teaches　that　a　time　is
  approaching　when　the　laws　of　the　state　will　so　conflict　with　the　law　of　God
  that　whosoever　would　obey　all　the　divine　precepts　must　brave　reproach　and
  punishment　as　an　evildoer。
  In　view　of　this；　what　is　the　duty　of　the　messenger　of　truth？　Shall　he
  conclude　that　the　truth　ought　not　to　be　presented；　since　often　its　only
  effect　is　to　arouse　men　to　evade　or　resist　its　claims？　No；　he　has　no　more
  reason　for　withholding　the　testimony　of　God's　word；　because　it　excites
  opposition；　than　had　earlier　Reformers。　The　confession　of　faith　made　by
  saints　and　martyrs　was　recorded　for　the　benefit　of　succeeding　generations。
  Those　living　examples　of　holiness　and　steadfast　integrity　have　come　down　to
  inspire　courage　in　those　who　are　now　called　to　stand　as　witnesses　for　God。
  They　received　grace　and　truth；　not　for　themselves　alone；　but　that；　through
  them；　the　knowledge　of　God　might　enlighten　the　earth。　Has　God　given　light　to
  His　servants　in　this　generation？　Then　they　should　let　it　shine　forth　to　the
  world。
  Anciently　the　Lord　declared　to　one　who　spoke　in　His　name：　〃The　house　of
  Israel　will　not　hearken　unto　thee；　for　they　will　not　hearken　unto　Me。〃
  Nevertheless　He　said：　〃Thou　shalt　speak　My　words　unto　them；　whether　they
  will　hear；　or　whether　they　will　forbear。〃　Ezekiel　3：7；　2：7。　To　the　servant
  of　God　at　this　time　is　the　command　addressed：　〃Lift　up　thy　voice　like　a
  trumpet；　and　show　My　people　their　transgression；　and　the　house　of　Jacob
  their　sins。〃
  So　far　as　his　opportunities　extend；　everyone　who　has　received　the　light　of
  truth　is　under　the　same　solemn　and　fearful　responsibility　as　was　the　prophet
  of　Israel；　to　whom　the　word　of　the　Lord　came；　saying：　〃Son　of　man；　I　have
  set　thee　a　watchman　unto　the　house　of　Israel；　therefore　thou　shalt　hear
  460
  the　word　at　My　mouth；　and　warn　them　from　Me。　When　I　say　unto　the　wicked；　O
  wicked　man；　thou　shalt　surely　die；　if　thou　dost　not　speak　to　warn　the　wicked
  from　his　way；　that　wicked　man　shall　die　in　his　iniquity；　but　his　blood　will
  I　require　at　thine　hand。　Nevertheless；　if　thou　warn　the　wicked　of　his　way　to
  turn　from　it；　if　he　do　not　turn　from　his　way；　he　shall　die　in　hi