Publishers’ Page

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Feb 16, 1905

Publishers’ Page

Conducted by the Department of Circulation of the Review and Herald Publishing Association

Using Opportunities

Individuals favored of heaven with a knowledge of the message for this generation, should be watching for opportunities to disseminate this knowledge through the current mediums of communication in a manner that will attract the attention of the people.

A commendable example of using opportunities offered through the daily papers is found in the following article written by Frank Lane in the Montreal Daily Witness:—

“To the Editor of the Witness.

“SIR: In last Saturday’s issue of your paper a correspondent, in referring to the Scriptures, says that there are some things that Christ said and did which require further explanation, or words to that effect. He refers to various things in the life of Christ, among them being the destruction of the swine, the unjust steward, the cursing of the fig-tree, and the question of hating father and mother, etc.

The Destruction of the Swine

“First, in reference to the swine: Jesus did not cause their destruction. He permitted it, and it was in mercy to the owners that loss had been permitted to come upon them. They were absorbed in earthly things, and cared not for the great interests of spiritual life. The two demoniacs had been the terror of the country, but the people who beheld these men, clothed and in their right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to his words, considered the loss of the swine as of greater moment than the deliverance of these captives of Satan. It was Satan that caused the destruction of the swine, and it was his purpose to turn the people away from the Saviour, and prevent the preaching of the gospel in that region. But this very occurrence roused the whole country as nothing else could have done, and directed attention to Christ.

The Unjust Steward

“Referring to the parable of the unjust steward, Christ did not commend him, but he made use of a well-known occurrence to illustrate the lesson he desired to teach. To the unfaithful steward his lord’s goods had been entrusted for benevolent purposes, but he had used them for himself. So with Israel, God had chosen the seed of Abraham. With a high arm he had delivered them from bondage in Egypt. He had made them depositaries of sacred truth for the blessing of the world; light was given them that they might give it to others. But his stewards had used these gifts to enrich and exalt themselves. The Pharisees, filled with self-importance and self-righteousness, were misapplying the goods lent them of God to use for his glory. The stewardship was to be taken from them, and they were called upon to provide for their future. Only by seeking the good of others could they benefit themselves. Only by imparting God’s gifts in the present life could they provide for eternity.

Hating Father and Mother

“Hating father and mother, etc. In order to accept the invitation to the gospel feast we must make our worldly interests subordinate to the one purpose of receiving Christ and his righteousness. The heart that is absorbed in earthly affection can not be given up to God. The companionship of Jesus is to be valued above the companionship of earthly friends. Matthew gives the explanation of this text as follows: ‘He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.’

Cursing the Fig-tree

“The cursing of the barren fig-tree was an acted parable. That barren tree, flaunting its pretentious foliage in the very face of Christ, was a symbol of the Jewish nation. The Saviour desired to make plain to his disciples the cause and certainty of Israel’s doom. For this purpose he invested the tree with moral qualities, and made it the expositor of divine truths. The Jews, like the barren fig-tree, spread their pretentious branches aloft, luxuriant in appearance, and beautiful to the eye, but they yielded nothing but leaves. All the trees in the orchard were destitute of fruit; but the leafless trees raised no expectation and caused no disappointment. By these trees the Gentiles were represented. They were as destitute as the Jews were of godliness, but they had not professed to serve God. With them the time of fruit was not yet. The Jews, who had received greater blessings from God, were held accountable for their abuse of these gifts. The privileges of which they boasted only increased their guilt.

The Desire of Ages

“In conclusion, the writer would say that he has been much helped in the study of God’s Word by a book entitled ‘The Desire of Ages,’ from which he has largely quoted in this letter. Your troubled correspondent might be much helped by procuring the same.

“FRANK LANE. “London, Ont., Jan. 24, 1905.”

The daily papers afford an excellent opportunity of circulating notices of our publications, defending divine principles, and even teaching the people the special message for this time. Men and women everywhere should be watching for these opportunities, and studying and working to properly use them.

Professor Schurman in a recent lecture before the students of Cornell University said:—

“I do not think that there is a bit of history in the Bible. There may be material for history, but no history. But although we are thus recoiling from the old dogmatisms, I believe that no age since Christ’s own needs the teachings of Jesus Christ so much as our own, and no place needs them so much as our seats of education.”

Those who possess a knowledge of the teaching of Christ, in this time of the world’s great need of it, will not be free from their obligations to Christ himself nor their debt to the starving people, until they do all in their power to impart this knowledge. There ought to be thousands of men and women, who are now following the common avocations of life devoting their best energies in the circulation of “The Desire of Ages.” When there is such a demand for the knowledge this work contains, with a proper preparation for its presentation, and the power of God sure to accompany it, to question a support in a work of this kind is to question God himself.