p. 12 | THE GREAT SURPRISE by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 6, 1876

THE GREAT SURPRISE.

By Uriah Smith

The greatest surprise a man meets is to throw himself with all energy and determination into any work with confident expectation of accomplishing a certain result, and then have it turn out exactly the contrary from what he intended.

In looking over the history of this cause, we see many places where such surprises must have overtaken those who have risen up against the truth to overthrow and demolish it. They strike a blow at the car of truth with which they intend and expect to hurl it from the track, if not to demolish it altogether. A little dust is raised which for the time being may obscure the work. But when that clears away, lo! the cause is found steadily advancing, brighter and more vigorous, rather strengthened than otherwise

by the efforts meant to crush it, the attack having about as much effect in hindering the work as smoke would have in checking a railway train.

So we find it at the present time in Minnesota. An unaccountable outburst, a wild raid has been made since last camp-meeting, against the cause in that State. In the expectation of its enemies, the cause was to be immediately revolutionized there, and Seventh-day Adventism blotted out. But no meeting ever held in the State was equal to the camp-meeting just closed. Nowhere was the cause there able to show such numerical and mental strength, nor give better promise of the future; and this, if not as a permanent result of the opposition against it, at least, in spite of it.

And thus it will always be. The wrath of God will cause to praise him; and the remainder thereof he will restrain. Men can do nothing against the cause of God, but for it. Let us keep steadily on with the work we have in hand.

U. S.