Should the eye of any rest upon the above piece, who were engaged in the past Advent movement, but who have now gone back into the world and given up the blessed Hope, there is a return to which we would invite them.
You remember how brightly the "candle of the Lord" has shone around his people in days gone by, and how their pathway was lighted up before them. That light was not a false light, nor has it yet become extinguished! but it has grown brighter and brighter upon the path of the just. To that light we invite you to return.
You remember the faith that actuated believers in those days, when Wm. Miller himself was upon the stage of action, and the world was made to tremble before the power of truth, backed up as it was by a consistent example on the part of its advocates. Then faith and works agreed; and the world was impressed with the divinity of truth, and compelled to acknowledge the hand of God in the movement. To that faith we invite you to return.
You remember the love that burned brightly in the hearts of the saints, both to God, and one to another, and the zeal with which they strove to arouse their fellow men to a knowledge of the truth. We invite you to return again to your first love.
We would urge this upon you, because no promise that God has given us has failed. We mistook a prophecy and were disappointed. When that disappointment is explained, consistency requires, if we have the love of truth in us, that we still hold on. This disappointment is explained. Further light has made all clear; and the past, which the world blindly regard as an utter failure, and a standing refutation to all our claims, has not only become as clear as the noon-day, but even a mighty bulwark to our present position.
The true watchmen are yet heard proclaiming "The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye; return, come." "Then shall we know," says the prophet, "if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning, and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.—Ed.