e for the Lord's appearing; or it has called forth a hatred,
more or less perceivable, but known to God, of His coming. It has drawn a
line, ... so that those who will examine their own hearts, may know on
which side of it they would have been found, had the Lord then
come--whether they would have exclaimed, 'Lo! this is our God, we have
waited for Him, and He will save us;' or whether they would have called to
the rocks and mountains to fall on them to hide them from the face of Him
that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. God thus, as
we believe, has tested His people, has tried their faith, has proved them,
and seen whether they would shrink, in the hour of trial, from the
position in which He might see fit to place them; and whether they would
relinquish this world and rely with implicit confidence in the word of
God."(663)

The feelings of those who still believed that God had led them in their
past experience, are expressed in the words of William Miller: "Were I to
live my life over again, with the same evidence that I then had, to be
honest with God and man I should have to do as I have done." "I hope that
I have cleansed my garments from the blood of souls. I feel that, as far
as it was in my power, I have freed myself from all guilt in their
condemnation." "Although I have been twice disappointed," wrote this man
of God, "I am not yet cast down or discouraged.... My hope in the coming
of Christ is as strong as ever. I have done only what, after years of
solemn consideration, I felt it my solemn duty to do. If I have erred, it
has been on the side of charity, love to my fellow-men, and conviction of
duty to God." "One thing I do know, I have preached nothing but what I
believed; and God has been with me; His power has been manifested in the
work, and much good has been effected." "Many thousands, to all human
appearance, have been made to study the Scriptures by the preaching of the
time; and by that means, through faith and the sprinkling of the blood of
Christ, have been reconciled to God."(664) "I have never courted the
smiles of the proud, nor quailed when the world frowned. I shall not now
purchase their favor, nor shall I go beyond duty to tempt their hate. I
shall never seek my life at their hands, nor shrink, I hope, from losing
it, if God in His good providence so orders."(665)

God did not forsake His people; His Spirit still abode with those who did
not rashly deny the light which