no　shouting：　that；　too；　is　reserved　for　the　shout　from　heaven。　The　singers
  are　silent：　they　are　waiting　to　join　the　angelic　hosts；　the　choir　from
  heaven。　。　。　。　There　is　no　clashing　of　sentiments：　all　are　of　one　heart　and
  of　one　mind。〃Bliss；　pages　270；　271。
  Another　who　participated　in　the　movement　testified：　〃It　produced　everywhere
  the　most　deep　searching　of　heart　and　humiliation　of　soul　before　the　God　of
  high　heaven。　It　caused　a　weaning　of　affections　from　the　things　of　this
  world；　a　healing　of　controversies　and　animosities；　a　confession　of　wrongs；　a
  breaking　down　before　God；　and　penitent；　brokenhearted　supplications　to　Him
  for　pardon　and　acceptance。　It　caused　self…abasement　and　prostration　of　soul；
  such　as　we　never　before　witnessed。　As　God　by　Joel　commanded；　when　the　great
  day　of　God　should　be　at　hand；　it　produced　a　rending　of　hearts　and　not　of
  garments；　and　a　turning　unto　the　Lord　with　fasting；　and　weeping；　and
  mourning。　As　God　said　by　Zechariah；　a　spirit　of　grace　and　supplication　was
  poured　out　upon　His　children；　they　looked　to　Him　whom　they　had　pierced；
  there　was　a　great　mourning　in　the　land；　。　。　。　and　those　who　were　looking　for
  the　Lord　afflicted　their　souls　before　Him。〃Bliss；　in　Advent　Shield　and
  Review；　vol。　I；　p。　271　（January；　1845）。
  Of　all　the　great　religious　movements　since　the　days　of　the　apostles；　none
  have　been　more　free　from　human　imperfection　and　the　wiles　of　Satan　than　was
  that　of　the　autumn　of　1844。　Even　now；　after　the　lapse　of　many　years；　all　who
  shared　in　that　movement　and　who　have　stood　firm　upon　the　platform　of　truth
  still　feel　the　holy　influence　of　that　blessed　work　and　bear　witness　that　it
  was　of　God。
  402
  At　the　call；　〃The　Bridegroom　cometh；　go　ye　out　to　meet　Him；〃　the　waiting
  ones　〃arose　and　trimmed　their　lamps；〃　they　studied　the　word　of　God　with　an
  intensity　of　interest　before　unknown。　Angels　were　sent　from　heaven　to　arouse
  those　who　had　become　discouraged　and　prepare　them　to　receive　the　message。
  The　work　did　not　stand　in　the　wisdom　and　learning　of　men；　but　in　the　power
  of　God。　It　was　not　the　most　talented；　but　the　most　humble　and　devoted；　who
  were　the　first　to　hear　and　obey　the　call。　Farmers　left　their　crops　standing
  in　the　fields；　mechanics　laid　down　their　tools；　and　with　tears　and　rejoicing
  went　out　to　give　the　warning。　Those　who　had　formerly　led　in　the　cause　were
  among　the　last　to　join　in　this　movement。　The　churches　in　general　closed
  their　doors　against　this　message；　and　a　large　company　of　those　who　received
  it　withdrew　from　their　connection。　In　the　providence　of　God　this
  proclamation　united　with　the　second　angel's　message　and　gave　power　to　that
  work。
  The　message；　〃Behold；　the　Bridegroom　cometh！〃　was　not　so　much　a　matter　of
  argument；　though　the　Scripture　proof　was　clear　and　conclusive。　There　went
  with　it　an　impelling　power　that　moved　the　soul。　There　was　no　doubt；　no
  questioning。　Upon　the　occasion　of　Christ's　triumphal　entry　into　Jerusalem
  the　people　who　were　assembled　from　all　parts　of　the　land　to　keep　the　feast
  flocked　to　the　Mount　of　Olives；　and　as　they　joined　the　throng　that　were
  escorting　Jesus　they　caught　the　inspiration　of　the　hour　and　helped　to　swell
  the　shout：　〃Blessed　is　He　that　cometh　in　the　name　of　the　Lord！〃　Matthew
  21：9。　In　like　manner　did　unbelievers　who　flocked　to　the　Adventist
  meetingssome　from　curiosity；　some　merely　to　ridiculefeel　the　convincing
  power　attending　the　message：　〃Behold；　the　Bridegroom　cometh！〃
  At　that　time　there　was　faith　that　brought　answers　to　prayerfaith　that　had
  respect　to　the　recompense　of　reward。　Like　showers　of　rain　upon　the　thirsty
  earth；　the　Spirit　of　grace　descended　upon　the　earnest　seekers。　Those　who
  403
  expected　soon　to　stand　face　to　face　with　their　Redeemer　felt　a　solemn　joy
  that　was　unutterable。　The　softening；　subduing　power　of　the　Holy　Spirit
  melted　the　heart　as　His　blessing　was　bestowed　in　rich　measure　upon　the
  faithful；　believing　ones。
  Carefully　and　solemnly　those　who　received　the　message　came　up　to　the　time
  when　they　hoped　to　meet　their　Lord。　Every　morning　they　felt　that　it　was
  their　first　duty　to　secure　the　evidence　of　their　acceptance　with　God。　Their
  hearts　were　closely　united；　and　they　prayed　much　with　and　for　one　another。
  They　often　met　together　in　secluded　places　to　commune　with　God；　and　the
  voice　of　intercession　ascended　to　heaven　from　the　fields　and　groves。　The
  assurance　of　the　Saviour's　approval　was　more　necessary　to　them　than　their
  daily　food；　and　if　a　cloud　darkened　their　minds；　they　did　not　rest　until　it
  was　swept　away。　As　they　felt　the　witness　of　pardoning　grace；　they　longed　to
  behold　Him　whom　their　souls　loved。
  But　again　they　were　destined　to　disappointment。　The　time　of　expectation
  passed；　and　their　Saviour　did　not　appear。　With　unwavering　confidence　they
  had　looked　forward　to　His　coming；　and　now　they　felt　as　did　Mary　when；　coming
  to　the　Saviour's　tomb　and　finding　it　empty；　she　exclaimed　with　weeping：
  〃They　have　taken　away　my　Lord；　and　I　know　not　where　they　have　laid　Him。〃
  John　20：13。
  A　feeling　of　awe；　a　fear　that　the　message　might　be　true；　had　for　a　time
  served　as　a　restraint　upon　the　unbelieving　world。　After　the　passing　of　the
  time　this　did　not　at　once　disappear；　at　first　they　dared　not　triumph　over
  the　disappointed　ones；　but　as　no　tokens　of　God's　wrath　were　seen；　they
  recovered　from　their　fears　and　resumed　their　reproach　and　ridicule。　A　large
  class　who　had　professed　to　believe　in　the　Lord's　soon　coming；　renounced
  their　faith。　Some　who　had　been　very　confident　were　so　deeply　wounded　in
  their　pride　that　they　felt　like　fleeing　from　the　world。　Like　Jonah；　they
  complained　of　God；　and　chose　death　rather　than　life。
  404
  Those　who　had　based　their　faith　upon　the　opinions　of　others；　and　not　upon
  the　word　of　God；　were　now　as　ready　again　to　change　their　views。　The　scoffers
  won　the　weak　and　cowardly　to　their　ranks；　and　all　these　united　in　declaring
  that　there　could　be　no　more　fears　or　expectations　now。　The　time　had　passed；
  the　Lord　had　not　come；　and　the　world　might　remain　the　same　for　thousands　of
  years。
  The　earnest；　sincere　believers　had　given　up　all　for　Christ　and　had　shared
  His　presence　as　never　before。　They　had；　as　they　believed；　given　their　last
  warning　to　the　world；　and；　expecting　soon　to　be　received　into　the　society　of
  their　divine　Master　and　the　heavenly　angels；　they　had；　to　a　great　extent；
  withdrawn　from　the　society　of　those　who　did　not　receive　the　message。　With
  intense　desire　they　had　prayed：　〃Come；　Lord　Jesus；　and　come　quickly。〃　But　He
  had　not　come。　And　now　to　take　up　again　the　heavy　burden　of　life's　cares　and
  perplexities；　and　to　endure　the　taunts　and　sneers　of　a　scoffing　world；　was　a
  terrible　trial　of　faith　and　patience。
  Yet　this　disappointment　was　not　so　great　as　was　that　experienced　by　the
  disciples　at　the　time　of　Christ's　first　advent。　When　Jesus　rode　triumphantly
  into　Jerusalem；　His　followers　believed　that　He　was　about　to　ascend　the
  throne　of　David　and　deliver　Israel　from　her　oppressors。　With　high　hopes　and
  joyful　anticipations　they　vied　with　one　another　in　showing　honor　to　their
  King。　Many　spread　their　outer　garments　as　a　carpet　in　His　path；　or　strewed
  before　Him　the　leafy　branches　of　the　palm。　In　their　enthusiastic　joy　they
  united　in　the　glad　acclaim：　〃Hosanna　to　the　Son　of　David！〃　When　the
  Pharisees；　disturbed　and　angered　by　this　outburst　of　rejoicing；　wished　Jesus
  to　rebuke　His　disciples；　He　replied：　〃If　these　should　hold　their　peace；　the
  stones　would　immediately　cry　out。〃　Luke　19：40。　Prophecy　must　be　fulfilled。
  The　disciples　were　accomplishing　the　purpose　of　God；　yet　they　were　doomed　to
  a　bitter　disappointment。　But　a　few　days　had　passed　ere　they　witnessed　the
  Saviour's　agonizing　death；　and　laid　Him　in　the　tomb。　Their　expectations　had
  not　been
  405
  realized　in　a　single　particular；　and　their　hopes　died　with　Jesus。　Not　till
  their　Lord　had　come　forth　triumphant　from　the　grave　could　they　perceive　that
  all　had　been　foretold　by　prophecy；　and　〃that　Christ　must　needs　have
  suffered；　and　risen　again　from　the　dead。〃　Acts　17：3。
  Five　hundred　years　before；　the　Lord　had　declared　by　the　prophet　Zechariah：
  〃Rejoice　greatly；　O　daughter　of　Zion；　shout；　O　daughter　of　Jerusalem：
  behold；　thy　King　cometh　unto　thee：　He　is　just；　and　having　salvation；　lowly；
  and　riding　upon　an　ass；　and　upon　a　colt　the　foal　of　an　ass。〃　Zechariah　9：9。
  Had　the　disciples　realized　that　Christ　was　going　to　judgment　and　to　death；
  they　could　not　have　fulfilled　this　prophecy。
  In　like　manner　Miller　and　his　associates　fulfilled　prophecy　and　gave　a
  message　which　Inspiration　had　foretold　should　be　given　to　the　world；　but
  which　they　could　not　have　given　had　they　fully　understood　the　prophecies
  pointing　out　their　disappointment；　and　presenting　another　message　to　be
  preached　to　all　nations　before　the　Lord　should　come。　The　first　and　second
  angel's　messages　were　given　at　the　right　time　and　accomplished　the　work
  which　God　designed　to　accomplish　by　them。
  The　world　had　been　looking　on；　expecting　that　if　the　time　passed　and　Christ
  did　not　appear；　the　whole　system　of　Adventism　would　be　given　up。　But