“In the literal version of Arias Montanus it is translated ‘decisa est’—was cut off; in the marginal reading, which is grammatically correct, it is rendered by the plural ‘decisæ sunt’—were cut off.
“In the Latin version of Junius and Tremellius, nechtak is rendered ‘decisæ sunt.’—were cut off.
“Again: in Theodotion’s Greek version of Daniel (which is the version used in the Vatican copy of the Septuagint as being the most faithful), it is rendered by συνετμἡθησαν—were cut off; and in the Venetian copy by τετμήνται—have been cut. The idea of cutting off is pursued in the Vulgate, where the phrase is ‘abbreviatæ sunt,’ have been shortened.
“Thus Chaldaic and Rabbinical authority, and that of the earliest versions,—the Septuagint and Vulgate,—give the single signification of cutting off to this verb.”
[22] Dowling’s Reply to Miller.
[23] It will be evident to the reader that Mr. Miller held the doctrine of endless misery in a local hell at the time he gave this discourse. In fact, there is no evidence that he changed his views on the immortality question to the time of his death. His writings and his labors give evidence that his mind was not called to the investigation of the subject, it being fully occupied with the great second advent question. The discussion of the immortality theme among the Adventists seems to have been left to younger men at a later period.
J. W.
[24] From personal acquaintance with Mr. Miller, and a thorough knowledge of his teachings, we are happy to state that during his entire public life he had no sympathy whatever with those teachings and influences which lead to fanaticism; and that his broad and liberal feelings of Christian fellowship are expressed in the following address.
J. W.
[25] While it may now appear very evident that the stand taken by Mr. Miller, relative to the character, and the final results, of the fanaticism of which he speaks, was a proper and right one, it is not so clear that he disposed of the question of the gifts and manifestations of the Spirit of God, in harmony with the general scope of Scripture testimony upon the subject. The reader will observe that he does not produce the proof, in his accustomed style of proving his points, that the great commission, with its duties, and its blessings, was given to the ministry for only a limited portion of the Christian age. Mr. Miller, Mr. Himes, and other leading Adventists, failed to show the time when, and by whom, the gifts were removed from the church of God. This gave the fanatics great advantage; and as they maintained the scriptural position upon the perpetuity of spiritual gifts they gained very large numbers to their ranks. The false positions of those who opposed them added fuel to the flame of fanaticism already kindled, and resulted in the breaking up of the once united and happy body of believers.