CLOSE OF THE VOLUME by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 10, 1867

CLOSE OF THE VOLUME.

By Editor

This number closes the first volume of the enlarged Review. We ask the readers to glance at the index, and behold as it were, at one view, the amount of matter that has been furnished them during the past six months—matter on a great variety of subjects, yet all tending to the same end, to point out the signs of the times, warn of coming dangers, defend the truth, herald the approaching day of God, make plain the way of holiness, and exhort to a preparation for the end of all things.

It is with some satisfaction that we close the volume with respect to the enlargement, entered upon partially one year ago, and fully accomplished six months since. We now have a paper adequate in point of size to the wants of this growing cause, and we have a cause, the interests of which are adequate to the sustaining of such a paper. With the blessing of the Lord, conducted in the spirit of the present truth, the paper may be an instrument of untold power.

To the lonely ones, many of whom never have heard a sermon on present truth from the living preacher, and most of whom very seldom hear one, the past volume has borne twenty-six sermons on the great themes that pertain to these last days. This department has now been kept up, without a single omission, for one year, with a continually growing interest. We appeal to the preachers in behalf of all those who so prize these their efforts, that this department be continued.

But though the volume has closed, we are reminded that the message has not closed, nor the work ceased. As week by week, ere one paper is finished we are engaged upon another, so we cannot at the close of a volume sit down to contemplate our work; for the old volume is not fully finished, ere the new is on our hands.

We have said the work has not ceased. On the contrary we believe it is entering upon a new era of life and power. So it must be. The times call for greater efforts, unceasing exertion. So labored the apostles. The record is that they “ceased not” in their work for the salvation of men. This was one secret of their great success. So must we labor, brethren and sisters. The work must not cease till the rapidly-passing days of probation are all finished. Cease not to labor for your own soul’s salvation, for your neighbors around you, and for the edification of the household of faith, through the medium of the paper.

We turn to the opening volume. We trust its yet unwritten leaves may record a marvelous advancement on the part of the people of God in this great work. We want our hearts endued afresh with the spirit of the message.

“Turn and look upon us Lord, And break our hearts of stone.”

Take away all indifference, eradicate from our midst all seeds of carelessness and stupidity. Let the burden of the work rest upon us.

From the labors that may fall to our lot we would not shrink. We only regret that they are marked with so many imperfections. But we shall labor on with good courage, only too happy in the hope that the “Well done” of the faithful servant may, through the merits of Christ, be ours at last.

Many thanks to our many contributors, by whose words of encouragement and sympathy we have been cheered, and through whose efforts we have received, and still hope to receive, essential and efficient aid.