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Editorial

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Feb 9, 1911

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 6.

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Editorial

By Editor

“As thou goest step by step, the way shall open before thee.” So one translation renders the Hebrew of the first part of Prov. 4:12.
ONE step at a time; light given and walked in, and then more light; that has been the progressive experience of many, who look back with thankful hearts at the pathway over which the Lord has led them into this advent message.
At the time when the early advent believers, before 1844, were preaching the second coming of the Lord, the late Elder R. F. Cottrell was an observer of the Sabbath, having been brought up in that way, in more or less close association with the Seventh-day Baptists of western New York. He heard the judgment-hour cry of 1844, but it did not appeal decidedly to him. He saw that there was something yet lacking in the practise of those who were preaching that first message.
IN a letter to the REVIEW of Nov. 25, 1851, he announced his decision for the threefold message of Revelation 14. Of his experience he wrote:—
My early education was such that I have believed in the personal appearing of Christ, according to the Scriptures, from my youth. In 1843 and 1844, I heard the solemn cry, “The hour of his judgment is come,” and though I felt no disposition to oppose it, and thought I loved his righteous appearing, yet I was not disappointed when the time passed by. I saw the proclaimers of the advent in darkness in regard to the commandments of God, and bowing to an institution of the Papacy; and perhaps this was the reason I did not believe. But since I have heard the message of the third angel, which was since the commencement of the REVIEW AND HERALD, I have reviewed carefully the whole movement, and the solemn inquiry in my mind has been, Was it from heaven or of men? After some nine months’ careful and cautious examination, I have just arrived at the decision. I believe with all my heart it was from heaven. . . . I greatly rejoice that when “the temple of God was opened in heaven,” his children on earth saw, by faith, “the ark of his testament.”
FOR many years, until his death, Elder Cottrell was a frequent contributor to the REVIEW, excelling in short articles that helped to open the Word. While he rests from his labors, still, in some of our best hymns, his voice sings among us—
“The wonders of redeeming love.”
One of his Sabbath hymns, at least, has been translated into the Chinese, and away in that far land, Chinese believers in the blessed hope sing of—
“The God that made the earth, And all the worlds on high.”
Those who have wrought in the seed-sowing and then fallen asleep in Jesus, now rest from their labors; but truly their works do follow them, and the influence of their lives is winning souls to the truth.