and middle-aged. Men sought their homes with
praises upon their lips, and the glad sound rang out upon the still night
air. None who attended those meetings can ever forget those scenes of
deepest interest.

The proclamation of a definite time for Christ's coming called forth great
opposition from many of all classes, from the minister in the pulpit down
to the most reckless, Heaven-daring sinner. The words of prophecy were
fulfilled: "There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after
their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming?' for
since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the
beginning of the creation."(609) Many who professed to love the Saviour,
declared that they had no opposition to the doctrine of the second advent;
they merely objected to the definite time. But God's all-seeing eye read
their hearts. They did not wish to hear of Christ's coming to judge the
world in righteousness. They had been unfaithful servants, their works
would not bear the inspection of the heart-searching God, and they feared
to meet their Lord. Like the Jews at the time of Christ's first advent,
they were not prepared to welcome Jesus. They not only refused to listen
to the plain arguments from the Bible, but ridiculed those who were
looking for the Lord. Satan and his angels exulted, and flung the taunt in
the face of Christ and holy angels, that His professed people had so
little love for Him that they did not desire His appearing.

"No man knoweth the day nor the hour," was the argument most often brought
forward by rejecters of the advent faith. The scripture is, "Of that day
and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father
only."(610) A clear and harmonious explanation of this text was given by
those who were looking for the Lord, and the wrong use made of it by their
opponents was clearly shown. The words were spoken by Christ in that
memorable conversation with His disciples upon Olivet, after He had for
the last time departed from the temple. The disciples had asked the
question, "What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the
world?" Jesus gave them signs, and said, "When ye shall see all these
things, know that it is near, even at the doors."(611) One saying of the
Saviour must not be made to destroy another. Though no man knoweth the
_day_ nor the _hour_ of His coming, we are instructed and required to know
when it is near. We are furthe