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Second Angel’s Message
155
God sent his professed people a message that would have cor-
rected the evils which separated them from his favor. A state of
union, faith, and love had been produced among those who from
every denomination in Christendom received the Advent doctrine;
and had the churches in general accepted the same truth, the same
blessed results would have followed. But Babylon scornfully re-
jected the last means which Heaven had in reserve for her restoration,
and then, with greater eagerness, she turned to seek the friendship
of the world.
Those who preached the first message had no purpose or expec-
tation of causing divisions in the churches, or of forming separate
organizations. “In all my labors,” said Wm. Miller, “I never had
the desire or thought to establish any separate interest from that of
existing denominations, or to benefit one at the expense of another.
I thought to benefit all. Supposing that all Christians would rejoice
in the prospect of Christ’s coming, and that those who could not see
as I did would not love any the less those who should embrace this
doctrine, I did not conceive there would ever be any necessity for
separate meetings. My whole object was a desire to convert souls
to God, to notify the world of a coming Judgment, and to induce
my fellow-men to make that preparation of heart which will enable
them to meet their God in peace. The great majority of those who
were converted under my labors united with the various existing
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churches. When individuals came to me to inquire respecting their
duty, I always told them to go where they would feel at home; and I
never favored any one denomination in my advice to such.”
For a time many of the churches welcomed his labors; but as
they decided against the Advent truth, they desired to suppress all
agitation of the subject. Those who had accepted the doctrine were
thus placed in a position of great trial and perplexity. They loved
their churches, and were loth to separate from them; but as they were
ridiculed and oppressed, denied the privilege of speaking of their
hope, or of attending preaching upon the Lord’s coming, many at
last arose and cast off the yoke which had been imposed upon them.
In the days of the Reformation, the gentle and pious Melancthon
declared, “There is no other church than the assembly of those who
have the word of God, and who are purified by it.” Adventists, seeing
that the churches rejected the testimony of God’s word, could no