p. 231 | PAY IN ADVANCE by C. L. PALMER

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 23, 1867

PAY IN ADVANCE.

By C. L. PALMER

Let us do our work well by doing it right; let us pay for our paper before we read it. I hope we pay for our food before we eat it, and our clothing before we wear it out; why should we ask the cause of God to credit us a whole or half a year when we pay the world and worldly-minded men promptly? Do we not owe God for past and present blessings? Then let us be diligent in the business of paying for our paper even though it cost a little self denial. I think this matter of letting our accounts run year after year while we read the paper weekly, is almost a denial of faith. Forgive me if I speak plain; I would not wound were I not certain there was occasion, and that there is a healing balm for all such wounds. The Saviour said to the young man, “Sell what thou hast and give to the poor, and come and follow me;” and the professed people of God certainly ought to pay their debts, and not shame these servants of God who have the care of the publishing department, by compelling them week after week to send out requests to pay up. How does this look to the opponents of truth? How does it appear before God? I would ask, Is it any better because you owe it to the cause of God whom you profess to love above all earthly things and to honor by obedience, than to owe to the tradesmen of your town? I ask, is it honest to take a paper week after week and never pay for it? I always feel a desire when handing a person a Review to examine, like blotting out the article which says to delinquents, Pay up. And must it always be so? Must this shame and disgrace abide with you who have formed the habit? or will you each one say, I will from this time forever reform in this thing. C. L. PALMER.