The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

VI. The Gentle and Persuasive Approach

Miller frequently applied his close reasoning powers. At other times Miller was gentle and persuasive. In speaking of the church, in her various circumstances, he says tenderly and appealingly: PFF4 693.1

“In tracing her history from the patriarch Abraham to the present day, we find her variable as the wind, and changeable as the weather. PFF4 693.2

“To—day, she is coming up out of the wilderness leaning on the arm of her Beloved; Tomorrow, ‘like a young roe leaping upon the mountains, and skipping upon the hills.’ PFF4 693.3

“Now she is seen among the trees of the woods; next in a palace of silver inclosed in boards of cedar. PFF4 693.4

“There we saw her in the clefts of the rock; here we behold her in the broad way, in the streets of the great city. PFF4 693.5

“Again we find her among the foxes of the desert; and anon we perceive her seeking him whom her soul loveth. PFF4 693.6

“She is asleep on her bed by night; and the same night the watch finds her in the city. PFF4 693.7

“Behold her Lord knocking at the door for admittance, while she is too indolent to arise and let him in. The next moment she is opening to her Beloved, but he had withdrawn himself. At one time the voice of her Beloved, sounding over the hills and echoing among the mountains like the roar of distant thunder, has no impression; next, the soft whisper of love gains all her attention. PFF4 693.8

“Here blows the rough north wind and strong south wind upon her spices, yet they put forth no fragrancy. And there the lightest breeze makes her roses blossom, and all the air is perfume. PFF4 693.9

“See her countenance today black as the tents of Kedar; and tomorrow comely as the daughters of Jerusalem, and fair as the purple curtains of Solomon. Today she is ‘a garden barred, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed;’ tomorrow, ‘a garden open, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.’ Now she is weak as a babe; a single watchman can ‘smite, wound, and take away her veil;’ and then she is courageous and valiant, ‘terrible as an army with banners.’ Today she is made to keep another’s vineyard; tomorrow she is realizing a thousand pieces of silver from her own. She is truly a changeable being, carried about by the slightest circumstances.” ²³ PFF4 693.10