Disappointment of 1843-44
45
a calm solemnity. The true believers rested in a sweet communion
with God,—an earnest of the peace that was to be theirs in the bright
hereafter. None who experienced this hope and trust can ever forget
those precious hours of waiting.
Worldly business was for the most part laid aside for a few weeks.
We carefully examined every thought and emotion of our hearts, as
if upon our deathbeds, and in a few hours to close our eyes forever
upon earthly scenes. There was no making of “ascension robes” for
the great event; we felt the need of internal evidence that we were
prepared to meet Christ, and our white robes were purity of soul,
[57]
character cleansed from sin by the atoning blood of our Saviour.
Days of Perplexity
But the time of expectation passed. This was the first close test
brought to bear upon those who believed and hoped that Jesus would
come in the clouds of heaven. The disappointment of God’s waiting
people was great. The scoffers were triumphant, and won the weak and
cowardly to their ranks. Some who had appeared to possess true faith
seemed to have been influenced only by fear; and now their courage
returned with the passing of the time, and they boldly united with the
scoffers, declaring that they had never been duped to really believe the
doctrine of Miller, who was a mad fanatic. Others, naturally yielding
or vacillating, quietly deserted the cause.
We were perplexed and disappointed, yet did not renounce our
faith. Many still clung to the hope that Jesus would not long delay His
coming; the word of the Lord was sure, it could not fail. We felt that
we had done our duty, we had lived up to our precious faith; we were
disappointed, but not discouraged. The signs of the times denoted that
the end of all things was at hand; we must watch and hold ourselves in
readiness for the coming of the Master at any time. We must wait with
hope and trust, not neglecting the assembling of ourselves together for
instruction, encouragement, and comfort, that our light might shine
forth into the darkness of the world.