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290
Early Writings
Christians to exchange this greeting at the time of the Lord’s sup-
per (Justin Martyr
First Apology
65). Later writings indicate that it
was not the custom to give this ‘holy kiss’ to one of the opposite
sex (
Apostolic Constitutions
II. 57; viii. 11).”—
The S.D.A. Bible
Commentary 7:257, 258
.
It was the custom among the early Sabbathkeeping Adventists
to exchange the holy kiss at the ordinance of humility. No refer-
ence is made to obvious impropriety of exchanging the holy kiss
between men and women, but there is a call for all to abstain from
all appearance of evil
.
Page 118:
Making a Noise
.—The gospel net draws in all types
of people. There were some who felt that their religious experience
was not genuine unless marked by noisy, demonstrative shouts of
praise to God, loud and excited prayers, and animated amens. Here
again the church in its early experience was given a note of warning,
calling for decorum and solemnity in the worship of God
.
[303]
Pages 229-232:
William Miller
.—In the references to the great
advent awakening in America in the 1830’s and 1840’s, William
Miller is often mentioned. In the book
The Great Controversy
an
entire chapter is devoted to the life and ministry of William Miller
under the title “An American Reformer” (Pages 317-342). William
Miller was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1782 and died in
Low Hampton, New York, in 1849. At the age of four he moved with
his parents to Low Hampton, New York, near Lake Champlain and
grew up on a frontier farm. He was always studious and a careful
reader. He became a leader in his community. In 1816 he set about
to give careful study to the word of God, and his study led him to
the great time prophecies and the prophecies relating to the second
advent. He concluded that the second coming of Christ was near.
After reviewing his positions over a period of years and assuring
himself as to their certainty, he responded in early August, 1831, to
an invitation to publicly present his views on the prophecies. From
then on his time was devoted largely to the heralding of the Advent
message. In due time he was joined by hundreds of other Protestant
ministers who participated in the great Advent Awakening of the
1840’s
.
At the time of the Disappointment on October 22, 1844, Miller
was worn and ill. He depended largely on his younger associates