dventist
meetings--some from curiosity, some merely to ridicule--feel the convincing
power attending the message, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh!"

At that time there was faith that brought answers to prayer,--faith that
had respect to the recompense of reward. Like showers of rain upon the
thirsty earth, the Spirit of grace descended upon the earnest seekers.
Those who expected soon to stand face to face with their Redeemer, felt a
solemn joy that was unutterable. The softening, subduing power of the Holy
Spirit melted the heart, as His blessing was bestowed in rich measure upon
the faithful, believing ones.

Carefully and solemnly those who received the message came up to the time
when they hoped to meet their Lord. Every morning they felt that it was
their first duty to secure the evidence of their acceptance with God.
Their hearts were closely united, and they prayed much with and for one
another. They often met together in secluded places to commune with God,
and the voice of intercession ascended to heaven from the fields and
groves. The assurance of the Saviour's approval was more necessary to them
than their daily food; and if a cloud darkened their minds, they did not
rest until it was swept away. As they felt the witness of pardoning grace,
they longed to behold Him whom their souls loved.

But again they were destined to disappointment. The time of expectation
passed, and their Saviour did not appear. With unwavering confidence they
had looked forward to His coming, and now they felt as did Mary, when,
coming to the Saviour's tomb and finding it empty, she exclaimed with
weeping, "They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have
laid Him."(659)

A feeling of awe, a fear that the message might be true, had for a time
served as a restraint upon the unbelieving world. After the passing of the
time, this did not at once disappear; at first they dared not triumph over
the disappointed ones; but as no tokens of God's wrath were seen, they
recovered from their fears, and resumed their reproach and ridicule. A
large class who had professed to believe in the Lord's soon coming,
renounced their faith. Some who had been very confident were so deeply
wounded in their pride that they felt like fleeing from the world. Like
Jonah, they complained of God, and chose death rather than life.

Those who had based their faith upon the opinions of others, and not upon
the word of God, were now as ready again to cha