Untitled article by J. S. Miller

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, November 12, 1867

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST PUBLICATIONS.

By J. S. Miller

Since it becomes the duty of every Christian to avail himself of every means of grace which the Lord in his infinite goodness has placed within our reach, certainly to neglect to use such means of grace is to bring upon ourselves spiritual leanness. Prominent among the means of grace with which God is blessing his people at the present time, are the papers and books that are being issued by the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association.

I cannot better bring out the ideas which I wish to present to the reader than by referring to a little of my personal experience, and thus show what changes may be wrought, under the blessing of God, by the issuing of these silent messengers.

It was about thirteen months ago that I first became acquainted with the little band of Seventh-day Adventists at this place. At that time I was so ignorant of the present truth that when I first heard them talk about the “third angel’s message,” I was under the necessity of inquiring what they meant by that expression. At that time I was a tobacco-chewing, tea-drinking, pork-eating, nervous dyspeptic. To-day I have a tolerably correct idea of the general principles of present truth, and have abandoned the use of tobacco, tea, coffee, fleshmeats and many other hurtful things. Although the improvement in my health has not been so great as that in my habits, yet the change for the better is quite perceptible, and the tendency is still onward and upward. The change in my theological sentiments has been as great as that in my habits of living, and, as I think, equally for the better.

But what has brought about this wonderful change? I answer, it is due mainly, under the blessing of God, to Seventh-day Adventist publications. I would not ignore or undervalue the influence exerted by my brethren and sisters to bring about these good results; but where did they get their ideas with which they have been able to assist me? I answer, from the Review, Reformer, Instructor, and the little tracts and books that have from time to time been issued.

It is true, we may not immediately see the results of the seed thus sown, but as surely as the seed is good, just so surely will some of it find lodgment in good soil and bear fruit, “some thirty, some sixty, and some an hundred fold.” There are at least two individuals among my acquaintances who came into the third angel’s message by means of the Review having been accidentally thrown in their way. One of them was a postmaster, and became interested through looking over papers which the subscribers neglected to take from the office. While I was made sad to think that any one under this message should neglect to read so valuable a paper, I rejoiced to find that those little missives had accomplished that whereunto they were sent. The other individual referred to was in the message several years in advance of all others in this section, his only preaching being such as he could obtain from the Review. But how the Review first found him out, is, even to this day, to him a mystery. Some one sent it to him for awhile, and he became interested, and as a result embraced the message. For several years he stood alone, like ancient Noah, declaring an unpopular truth. To-day there are within fifteen miles of him above thirty who are keeping all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and are proclaiming His soon coming. I do not mean to convey the idea that these have all been brought in as the result of reading the Review, for the word has been preached first by Bro. Cornell, and subsequently by Bro. Redman, but it is quite certain that their labors would have been much more effectual had the minds of the community been previously prepared by reading the papers and tracts which treat on the various truths that are being brought out under this message.

A circumstance that has come under my notice this morning will serve to illustrate the advantages that may be gained by a judicious circulation of our publications. Last evening I handed Dr. Jackson’s valuable lecture on tobacco to a lad that works in the same place with myself. This morning the lad’s father, who works in the room with me, and who is an inveterate tobacco chewer, called me to him, and told me that he had been reading Dr. Jackson’s lecture, that he thought it was good common sense, and wound up by saying that he thought he should “wean off.” Now, whether he stops chewing or not, one thing is sure—the lecture has sent conviction to the man’s mind.

What is true of Dr. Jackson’s lecture, is true of every book and tract published at the Review office. If people can be induced to read them, they are sure to carry conviction, and some of the seed sown will take root.

Oh! that the brethren were fully awake in this matter. Do we love our neighbor as ourselves? If so, then let us present to our neighbors the light which others have so kindly presented to us.

A word or two with regard to reading. Have you read all the books and tracts that are issued from the Battle Creek office? Do not say that you have no taste for reading, and cannot remember what you read. Create a taste. Cultivate memory. We are quite apt to eat when we are hungry. We are pretty sure to remember that which really interests us. You may have thought once that Graham flour made very coarse, dry bread; and that you did not derive the strength from it that you did from the less wholesome fine dust. But was the fault in the bread, or was it in your depraved appetite? The same is true with regard to Bible truth. It may not at first seem palatable, but persevere, and you will eventually come to love the truth, and to discover that your spiritual strength is being renewed.

Among the books recently published, I would notice: 1. Thoughts on Revelation. This is a book that will bear reading more than once. It should be in the possession of every person who has come into this message, and should not only be read but studied. Nearly every one of our little company read this work immediately after it was issued. We are now giving it a careful perusal at our weekly reading circle, an institution which we started a few weeks ago, and of which I can say, that it is becoming indispensable. 2. The Ministration of Angels. I have just finished reading this valuable work, and can heartily recommend it to all the readers of the Review. I have obtained from this book many valuable thoughts aside from the subject on which it treats. And last, though not least in importance, I would call attention to Testimonies Nos. 11, 12, and 13. Have you obtained copies of them? Have you read them? And, most important of all, have you resolved to live out all the faithful testimonies contained in them? “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore, be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Eph. v, 14–17.

J. S. MILLER.

Ashaway, R. I., Oct. 29, 1867.