1840, when the Ottoman power in
Constantinople may be expected to be broken. And this, I believe, will be
found to be the case."(560)

At the very time specified, Turkey, through her ambassadors, accepted the
protection of the allied powers of Europe, and thus placed herself under
the control of Christian nations. The event exactly fulfilled the
prediction.(561) When it became known, multitudes were convinced of the
correctness of the principles of prophetic interpretation adopted by
Miller and his associates, and a wonderful impetus was given to the Advent
Movement. Men of learning and position united with Miller, both in
preaching and publishing his views, and from 1840 to 1844 the work rapidly
extended.

William Miller possessed strong mental powers, disciplined by thought and
study; and he added to these the wisdom of heaven, by connecting himself
with the Source of wisdom. He was a man of sterling worth, who could not
but command respect and esteem wherever integrity of character and moral
excellence were valued. Uniting true kindness of heart with Christian
humility and the power of self-control, he was attentive and affable to
all, ready to listen to the opinions of others, and to weigh their
arguments. Without passion or excitement, he tested all theories and
doctrines by the word of God; and his sound reasoning, and thorough
knowledge of the Scriptures, enabled him to refute error and expose
falsehood.

Yet he did not prosecute his work without bitter opposition. As with
earlier Reformers, the truths which he presented were not received with
favor by popular religious teachers. As these could not maintain their
position by the Scriptures, 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 preachers of the advent truth. "The
Bible, and the Bible only," was their watchword. The lack of Scripture
argument on the part of their opponents was supplied by ridicule and
scoffing. Time, means, and talents were employed in maligning those whose
only offense was that they looked with joy for the return of their Lord,
and were striving to live holy lives, and to exhort others to prepare for
His appearing.

Earnest were the efforts put forth to draw away the minds of the people
from the subject of the second advent. It was made to appear a sin,
something of which men should be ashamed, to study the prophecies which