Untitled article by Geo. W. Amadon

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, October 1, 1867.

SCATTER THE PUBLICATIONS!

By Geo. W. Amadon

According to the recent light in Testimony No. 12, a great work is to be done in the way of circulating Tracts. To those of our brethren who wish to do much good at a trifling expense, we would say, Procure a good supply of our small tracts—those worth from 1 cent up to 5 cents—and scatter them. Never be found a dozen miles from home without being well supplied with these little documents on Present Truth.

Allow us to tell you what we have. On the Sabbath Question, which is emphatically the leading theme with us, we have for such circulation, “Seven Reasons for Sunday-keeping Examined” (16 pp., 2 cents), a good tract to hand out to any first-day observer; “Who changed the Sabbath?” (16 pp.) an excellent document to present to those who think Christ or the apostles changed the Sabbath; “The Sabbath by Elihu” (16 pp.), a standard tract, which is just the thing to convince a reasonable person that the seventh day is the Sabbath; “Time Lost” (8 pp.), dissipates as into thin air the silly objection so often raised, that since creation time has been lost, and so, if we would keep the true seventh day, we can’t tell when it comes; “The Institution of the Sabbath” (16 pp.), is a superb tract, the design of which is indicated by the name; “Preach the Word,” a very clear argument on the Sabbath, and noticing the “eight texts” which speak of “the first day of the week,” and proving that they do not prove anything in favor of Sunday—good for all first-day believers; “The Two Laws” (8 pp.), is a grand tract for first-day Adventists, who generally confound the ceremonial law with the moral code. So much for the small tracts on the Sabbath Question.

On the Second Coming of Christ, we have “Sixteen Short Answers to Sixteen Common Objections against the Second Advent Faith” (32 pp.), which is good for everybody, and is an excellent tract to remove sixteen objections out of the way of the Advent Faith; “The Seven Seals” (8 pp.) shows where we are in this world’s history, and also removes one prominent objection to the sleep of the dead—souls under the altar—in a very convincing manner; “The Heavenly Meeting” (4 pp.) is a gem of the first water on the question of the Advent—it describes in entrancing language the joy which will be experienced by the saints when they shall see Him whom their soul loveth; “Truth” (16 pp.) dwells convincingly on the Sabbath and Advent, and shows the necessity of our being “rooted and grounded in the truth” in these last days of error and fables.

On the Life and Death question we are well supplied. We have “Appeal on Immortality,” (8 pp.), which is a tract hard to be resisted by those who will candidly read it; it is scriptural, logical, and convincing; “Brief Thoughts on the Nature of the Soul, the Resurrection of the Dead, and the Final Destiny of Man” (8 pp.), is an exceedingly comprehensive tract on this great question, and withal very candid; “The Wicked Dead; Are they now being Punished?” (20 pp.), devoted mainly to answering the objection founded on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, which it does in a masterly way, besides imparting much other information on this great question; “Much in Little” (16 pp.), this is truly Multum in Parvo, presenting terse, pithy extracts from various authors on different branches of the life and death theme—an exceedingly valuable tract; “The Sin of Witchcraft, or an Exposition of the case of Samuel and the witch of Endor,” (32 pp.) should be scattered widely—a worthy tract, worth its weight in gold; “Thoughts for the Candid,” (8 pp.) a very candid tract, and one which must carry conviction to the candid mind; “The Doom of God’s Enemies,” (32 pp.) a very able tract on the question of the punishment of the wicked; (24 pp.) just the thing to hand to your friend who believes in an eternally-burning hell—it may help him; “What is Truth,” (8 pp.) should be scattered from one end of the land to the other.

Then we have many miscellaneous tracts. “Judson’s Letter on Dress,” (12 pp.) to which is appended “The views of Seventh-day Adventists on the Subject of Dress, as set forth by the Gen. Conf. of May 16, 1866,” showing the views of this people on that important question in these days of fashion and show; a good tract to hand to that church-going friend of yours; “Popular Objections to the Resurrection of the Body, briefly considered,” (20 pp.) a triumphant refutation of several infidel objections to this glorious theme, which is the chief corner stone of the believer’s hope;—pass it out to the multitude who need its enlightening influence; “The Celestial Rail Road,” (32 pp.) is a most happy exposure of many of the inconsistencies of the popular religion of the day, with an Appendix of Explanatory Remarks; this is an excellent Rail Road tract, and should be circulated widely; it is a stirring document; “Geology and the Bible; or a Pre-Adamic Age of our World Doubtful,” (16 pp.) good for your sceptical friend who believes that the six days of creation were six vast indefinite periods of millions of years each; pass it out, and let it go about doing good; “Infidelity and Spiritualism,” (16 pp.) showing that the two go hand in hand, and that both are of their father, the Devil; “Scripture References,” (24 pp.) a most excellent little work to put into the hands of any who you think will take the trouble to hunt out the references to the subjects mentioned; we publish more of this tract than any other one on our list.

Dear brethren and sisters: We have now presented to you a list of tracts which you can use to the glory of God, and for the salvation of poor mortals. Our shelves are loaded with these tracts, but they ought to be out in the field where they can be doing good. What we do for others must be done “quickly.” A spirit of slumber should not be permitted to come over us now, situated as we are in the last moments of probationary time. But every one should use his whole influence in trying to bring perishing souls to a saving knowledge of the truth. Again we say, Scatter the publications. Our books are written by men who fear God, and many have been the earnest, agonizing prayers offered to God for the light which is herein

set forth. We speak of course of the past labors of our faithful, leading brethren. These tracts are an embodiment of God’s truth, and God will delight to bless the circulation of his truth, and when received and obeyed by those who are now fettered down by error, it will make them free.

Then let these little paper messengers circulate in a thousand directions, and do their part in dispelling the mists of error, and preparing the way for that time, when, suddenly and almost miraculously, a multitude of voices shall be heard in every direction, saying, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and have the faith of Jesus.” Tracts never lose their patience with an opposer, and they are the most effective preachers. What a world of good might be done through the circulation of tracts. All cannot preach, but none have so little talent but what they could hand out a tract.

But some are too poor to buy tracts to give away, yet they are men of judgment and discernment. What shall be done in their case? Let a fund be created for the purpose of printing our small tracts for general circulation in the manner set forth in Testimony No. 12, and let judicious persons have them and scatter them. We have a duty in this matter, and may God move on some one, the proper ones, to set this matter home forcibly to the church. Stewards of the Most High God, awake to your duty! Let the funds roll in, and let the tracts be sent out. Order our publications, and circulate them, and let us all faithfully do our part in getting the last note of warning before the world. God bless the dear brethren who have done so much in the past; but don’t stop, brethren, and turn about and think you have done some great thing, but push ahead and keep doing. In due season we shall reap if we faint not. Why, about $75.00 will print and make ready for the market 2000 of our large 32 page tracts; or 4000 16 page tracts; or 8000 of 8 pages, or 16000 of 4 pages, or 32000 tracts of 2 pages. Again we inquire in view of the great light which now shines down from Heaven on the church, what is our duty as a people? It is of God that we have such conveniences as railroads and telegraphs and steam printing presses in these last days. Through modern mechanism a great deal can be accomplished in a little time. God can have the world effectually warned in a little while, and cut the work short in righteousness, and be a God of justice still.

But we close. Let us all seek and inquire our duty in the sight of the Lord in the matter of circulating tracts.

GEO. W. AMADON.