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William Miller
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Those who believed that the Advent movement was of God, went
forth as did Luther and his co-laborers, with their Bibles in their
hands, and with fearless firmness met the opposition of the world’s
great teachers. Many to whom the people had looked for instruction
in divine things were proved to be ignorant both of the Scriptures and
of the power of God. Yet their very ignorance rendered them more
determined; they could not maintain their position by the Scriptures,
and 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
advocates of truth. “The Bible and the Bible only,” was their watch-
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word. The weakness of all arguments brought against them, re-
vealed to Adventists the strength of the foundation upon which they
stood. At the same time it angered their opponents, who, for want
of stronger weapons, resorted to personal abuse. Grave doctors of
divinity sneered at Wm. Miller as an unlearned and feeble adver-
sary. Because he explained the visions of Daniel and John, he was
denounced as a man of fanciful ideas, who made visions and dreams
his hobby. The plainest statements of Bible facts, which could not be
controverted, were met with the cry of heresy, ignorance, stupidity,
insolence.
Many churches were thrown open to the enemies of the Advent
faith, while they were closed against its friends. The sentiments
expressed by Doctor Eck concerning Luther were the same that
inspired ministers and people to refuse Adventists a hearing. Said
the papal champion: “I am surprised at the humility and modesty
with which the reverend doctor [Luther] undertakes to oppose, alone,
so many illustrious Fathers, thus affirming that he knows more of
these things than the sovereign pontiffs, the councils, the doctors,
and the universities.” “It would be surprising, no doubt, if God had
hidden the truth from so many saints and martyrs until the advent of
the reverend father.” Thus thought great and wise men in the days
of Noah, thus argued the opponents of Wm. Miller, and thus still
argue those who oppose the proclamation of the Advent faith and
the commandments of God.
When Luther was accused of preaching novelties, he declared:
“These are not novelties that I preach. But I affirm that the doctrines
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of Christianity have been lost sight of by those whose special duty