READ; YES, READ by R. F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 13, 1879

READ; YES, READ.

By R. F. Cottrell

I FEEL like supporting the advice which has been given to our people to read; particularly to read the volumes entitled, Spirit of Prophecy, Testimonies, etc. Every church should have the volumes recommended as a circulating library, so that all, the poor as well as the more wealthy, can have the privilege of reading them.

Nelson, in his work on infidelity, states two facts as causes of infidelity; the first is the depravity, or wickedness, of the human heart; the other is lack of knowledge, or ignorance. The wickedness of men makes them averse to that revelation which condemns it, and for this reason they love darkness rather than light, and as a consequence they remain from choice in ignorance of the teachings of that revelation, and the evidences on which it is based.

It seems to me that there is something similar to this in respect to the confidence, or want of it, in the books of which we are speaking. Those who read them most have the most confidence in them. It is simply because they know what they teach, and, knowing, they cannot oppose them. And those who are the most skeptical are those that know the least about them.

Some years ago I was conversing with one who had decided objection to the Testimonies, and desiring to ascertain the cause, I found to my surprise that he had never read them and knew nothing about them. It was not for want of opportunity, but because he had no desire to know what they taught.

Let all have the opportunity to read and know the contents of these volumes. It will be a source of much comfort and encouragement to believers; and if opposers will read, they may learn what it is which they oppose.

R. F. COTTRELL.