[Bates’ Pamphlet #2] Second Advent Way Marks and High Heaps

FIFTH WAY MARK - A CRY AT MIDNIGHT

“At Midnight a cry was raised, the bridegroom is coming, go ye out to meet him. Then all the virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.” We have already shown that the tarrying time for the bridegroom by the prophetic periods was six months, beginning the 19th April down to 22nd October, 1844. The Midnight of this dark stupid time would be about July 20th. S. S. Snow gave the true Midnight Cry in the Tabernacle in Boston at this time, and it was received by the virgins in a different light from what it ever was before. He says he had been trying to make people believe it before, but without effect, because it was generally believed as we had been taught from 1840, that the Midnight Cry embraced the whole subject, even beginning back to the French Revolution, and some were old enough to believe it had begun in the day of the Apostle. But now it began to move with rapid progress. God was giving the light by his spirit. I well remember some that I conversed with, who related the wonderful manner in which they were moved upon to examine this subject before they had heard it. BP2 72.1

At Midnight, in the dead of the night of this tarrying of the Bridegroom, “the cry was raised,” which caused great agitation and excitement, looking with unparalleled interest at definite time, 10th of the seventh month. BP2 72.2

A camp meeting was held in Concord, N.H., somewhere about the first of August. Here, as we afterwards learned; the cry resounded throughout the camp. On the 12th of August, another was held in Exeter, N. H. On my way there, something like the following seemed to be continually forcing upon my mind. You are going to have new light here, something that will give a new impetus to the work. How many thousand living witnesses there still are scattered over the land that experienced the manifestation of the spirit’s power in applying to their hearts the many scriptures, and especially the clear exposition of the parable of the ten virgins, at that meeting. There was light given and received there, sure enough; and when that meeting closed, the granite hills of New Hampshire rang with the mighty cry, Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him! As the stages and railroad cars rolled away through the different States, cities, and villages of New England, the rumbling of the cry was still distinctly heard. Behold the Bridegroom cometh! Christ is coming on the tenth day of the seventh month! Time is short, get ready! get ready!! In a few weeks this Way Mark, like a beacon to the tempest-tossed mariner, was clearly seen in our pathway throughout New England, and onward into other parts as it moved by camp meetings, conference and papers. Here S. S. Snow published the true midnight cry (Aug. 22, 1844). “Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.” General excitement and looking with awful and unparalleled interest to a definite point. What a striking and perfect fulfilment. Who does not still remember how this message flew as it were upon the wings of the wind - men and women moving on all the cardinal points of the compass, going with all the speed of locomotives, in steamboats and rail cars, freighted with bundles of books and papers, wherever they went distributing them almost as profusely as the flying leaves of autumn. They purported to contain the last warning to a guilty world. (How true it was that this was the last warning that they would ever receive from Advent believers.) And then the agonizing prayers and entreaties for our families, friends and brethren. Surely time can never efface those deep impressions, besides the deep searchings of heart and consecrations of time, friends, property, all, all, to God. Surely here is where we put on the wedding garments - “was made white.” Say, was this the work of God? If you deny it, you veto the work and power of God among men, in every age, and make religion a something which man can never understand. Admit that there were frailties and improprieties in some, and every thing else that man is subject to; but it does not follow by any means that all was wrong. By the assistance and grace of God, I feel bound to say without fear of contradiction, that his mighty cry was the power and work of God. I should peril my soul to deny it, and so will every honest hearted one that had any thing to do with it. Why, if this was not the work of God, then I should forever despair of finding the road to heaven. I say again, in the fear of Him before whom I soon expect to appear to receive my final destiny, it is downright infidelity in any Advent believer to doubt this being the fulfillment of the parable of the ten virgins. It was the only conclusion we all came to at the time we felt and knew the most about it that we ever shall in this mortal state. And surely none could understand it better than those that were burdened and pained to be delivered of this cry. For eight long months we were discussing the subject of this cry, while the sound was rolling away in the distant heavens. “And the foolish said to the wise; give us of your oil,“ - that is, give us your evidences, your light; we want preparation. “Buy for yourselves,“ - that is, search your Bibles, pray God for grace to prepare you. “While they went to buy, the Bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.” Here is where the division took place which was so clearly manifest at the very close of the cry, and has been a standing witness ever since. While they went to buy - clearly showing that they left a part of the virgins in the right position with oil in their lamps waiting. When he comes, this waiting party go in, and the door is shut. Where are the others? Gone away for oil. Do any of my readers say this is not fulfilled? I ask what you mean then, by writing, preaching, talking, and lamenting the division among the Advent people? Don’t you see that you are to the very letter acknowledging the fact. But you say that would be acknowledging ourselves the foolish virgins. Whether you do so or not, the parable and our experience make it clear; each party had their choice. BP2 72.3

“Afterwards came also the other virgins, saying master, master, open unto us.” After when is this knocking? Why it is after the door is shut! And there has been a clamoring at the door ever since the cry was finished - a perfect fulfilment of the parable in all its features. This calling for an open door after it is shut, must certainly be fulfilled here, and not in the air. Thus we have the likeness perfect and complete. Suppose, for instance, your likeness should be painted, leaving out your hand, foot or nose, or even the expression of your eyes, you would detect it in a moment, and point to the defect; and when finished, you would pronounce it a likeness. Well, this parable is a likeness of the kingdom of heaven, and finishes after the 12th verse, and no where else. And after it was finished, we were at least eight months examining its features, and proving it to be what our Lord had told us it was; and how many thousands there were that pronounced it a perfect picture. Many have since denied it, but that has not altered the features of it in the least, nor produced the least proof of when, or where, or how, this cry with all its appendages will or can be, in the future. I say there is not faith enough in all those who have doubted this mighty work to put forth one hundredth part of the energy, moral courage and zeal, to do this work as it was done when accomplished. And I ask who else will attempt it? Not those surely that believe it is done. Neither the world nor such as have pronounced it mesmerism. You know very well that God has called out a people to do his work and will; and think you that it will not be done in scriptural order, and in the right time? It has been and it is the height of folly to believe that God will require his people to do it twice. I know it is triumphantly stated that the door is not shut; and there has not been any striving to open it, because no one would ask for admittance until they knew it was shut. They must know the fact first, say they, and they say they do not. Answer, why did not these same virgins understand that their vessels were empty of oil before it was too late? So in the case of the clamor about the door - they have then already been proved to be foolish virgins, and are as likely to make a fatal mistake in this part of the parable as the other. How many scores of writers could be called up here, if time and space would admit of it, to prove how clearly this cry has been fulfilled, and that our work ended here for the world. I know it is called infidelity now and even blasphemy to say so. Admit this to be your testimony then about all the advent believers have committed blasphemy, and their confession to backslidden advent blasphemers or a fallen church and guilty world, will never atone for one sin or back track which they have taken. One letter out of the many was joyfully received, (though it came at a late hour,) as so much interest was felt for the author. I will extract a few lines: “Oh the glory I have seen to-day. My brother, I thank God for this light. My soul is so full that I cannot write. My doubts and fears and darkness are all gone. I see that we are yet right. God’s word is true; and my soul is full of joy. Methinks I hear you say, Br. Miller is now a fanatic. Very well, call me what you please; I care not. Christ will come in the seventh month, and will bless us all. Oct. 6, 1844.” This then was our united testimony respecting the tallest way mark in our pathway. See Isaiah 14:31 and 40, 2, 6; Jeremiah 8:19, 46:12; Lamentations 2:19. BP2 74.1