1841 William Miller Evidence from Scripture & History - A2Z.org

church ft is those contribdtions which are deposited
for charitable and pious uses, such as Paul informed his
brethren to lay by them in store on the first day of the
week. These will be increased to a great and nstonishtrim
degree in this age of the church. Theological
wztings and pnblications, too, are the goods of the
church : there will be a great increase of these. '6 Come
see what groat hngs we are doing," will be the generai
language of the church, and be names of donors and
the sums they contribute will be published through the
world. " And knowest not that thou art wretched. "
The corruptions of the church will be kept out of sight;
and pride, pqpulnrity, self-righteousness, depravity, will
be tl~e besettmg sin^ of the members and great body of
public professors, and few, very few of the ministers of
the churches will be valiant or bold enough to tell them
the truth. And miserable." Real piety will be very
little enjoyed; the ho es of a large body of professors
will be but the hope ofa hypocrite. Y And poor." Without
a tried faith, suffering but little or no persecution,
the church will lack those riches which are more precious
than fine gold, the trial of their faith GI And blind,"
without faith, living by thin seen more than on the
promises of Gob And xed," having on their om
righteousness. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried
in tho fire." That is, the Amen, the fhithful and true
witness, counsels the Laodicean church to buy the old
tried in the fire, which ma mean either that faith wgich
will sbod the fiery trial of temptation and persecution.
or that truth which is like '6 apples of gold in pictures
of silver ;" 6' that thou mayest be rich ;" rich in faith or
in the knowledge of the truth; $6 and white raiment that
thou mayest be clothed," that miment which John saw
the saints in heaven clothed with, which is the righteousnew
of the saints, the imputed righteousness of
Christ,"the Lord our ri hteo2csnesa.* If ~t is not so, why
counsel the church to fuy of him Yes, my brethren,
we are counselled to buy a raiment without
wrinkle, (6 md that the shame of thy nakednew btz
appear." Truly, when Christ comes, and we find we have
been trusting in self, although we have called d v e a