Memoirs of William Miller - Sylvester Bliss

eligion. Those who ascribed it all to the Lord, or a
majority of such, went into various fanatical views
and practices, and imbibed a bitter spirit, which
soon made a wide breach between them and those
who were willing to admit their own imperfections,
and to confess their mistake.
To be consistent, those who ascribed that
movement entirely to the Lord had to consider that
some event, in connection with the fulfillment of
prophecy, did transpire at that time. And, as they
had taught that Christ would then come, they
conceived the idea that he came invisibly, and
closed the door of mercy to the sinner -- illustrating
it by the parable of the Bridegroom’s coming and
shutting the door, after which the foolish virgins
sought admittance in vain. Thus they contended
that the work of preaching the gospel was ended.
It was an object of some importance to these to
get from Mr. Miller some expression favoring their
interpretation. It was known that he held that, for a
period previous to the actual coming of Christ, he
would cease to intercede for, and the Holy Spirit
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