Object and Importance of Our Literature
By R. F. COTTRELL
If the question is asked, “Around what book does all our denominational literature cluster?” all will agree in reply that the Great Book alone is entitled to that central position. I desire to take another step, and assert that the Bible is essentially and in reality a denominational or sectarian book; for in it are found the principles and doctrines of the true people of God. On the other hand, just so far as our books contain the eternal principles of Scriptural truth, they are no more denominational than the Bible itself. “The Bible has a fulness, a strength, a depth of meaning that is inexhaustible.” Dr. Adam Clarke says: “From this Word all doctrines must be derived and proved.” “The Word of God alone contains my creed.” And Chrysostom’s testimony has gathered strength as it has rolled down through the centuries: “An intimate acquaintance with the Holy Scriptures is a secure haven, an impregnable bulwark, an immovable tower, an imperishable glory, an impenetrable armor, an unfading joy, perpetual delight, and whatever other excellency can be uttered.” The question may then be asked, “If the Bible contains all that is essential, would it not be well for us to devote our entire energies to its publication, circulation, and study?” We grant that we should do a great work in this direction; but there are in the providence of God important crises when an especial message is to be given. Noah’s preaching differed materially from that of any other period of earth’s history in that it proclaimed a flood of waters as present truth. Many other examples might be cited. Now the Scriptures clearly show that— “We are living, we are dwelling,
In a grand and awful time;
In an age on ages telling—
To be living is sublime.”
As anciently the servants of God used the best means at their command for the furtherance of the gospel, so the advantages and facilities of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries have been harnessed for the great advent movement of the last generation. The one mighty object of our literature is to simplify and emphasize God’s message for to-day as contained in Holy Writ. Is it saying too much that any publication failing to accomplish this end fails in the great and vital object of our denominational literature, and should have no place in our catalogue of books and periodicals? We believe not. For a moment let us view the development of our publishing work. In the year 1855 a person could purchase all of our books and tracts, and subscribe for all our periodicals for one year, for the sum of three dollars. In the year 1862 the same could be secured for seven dollars and a half. At that time we had but one publishing house; to-day twenty-two publishing houses are in operation, publishing the third angel’s message in fifty-one different languages. About thirteen hundred books, pamphlets, and tracts are printed, and ninety-eight periodicals are in circulation; and should one desire to purchase a complete set of these publications with a yearly subscription to each of our papers, it would cost about four hundred dollars. Thus we are constrained, as we see how our work has grown from obscurity to its present dimensions, to say with Moses, God’s servant of old, “What hath God wrought!” The foregoing covers a wide range of subjects. Of primary importance to us as a people, are the writings of the spirit of prophecy. Through them God has told us that every family should possess an entire set of the Testimonies. These are not to take the place of the Bible, but to magnify the beauty and importance of that inspired Word. Regarding the works for circulation among the people of the world, the servant of the Lord has spoken as follows: “Instruction has been given me that the important books containing the light that God has given regarding Satan’s apostasy in heaven, should be given a wide circulation just now; for through them the truth would reach many minds. ‘Patriarchs and Prophets,’ ‘Daniel and the Revelation,’ and ‘Great Controversy’ are needed now as never before. They should be widely circulated because of the truth they emphasize.” Again, in speaking of “Great Controversy:” “I am more anxious to see the wide circulation of this book than for any other I have written, for in the ‘Great Controversy’ the last message of warning to the world is given more distinctly than in any of my other books.” Mention is also made that “The Desire of Ages” should receive attention; also that the Lord especially blessed his servant Uriah Smith with wisdom from above in the preparation of “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation.” Later on, the message was borne that other books should be written upon the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation which would present the truth in story form, and our beloved brother, Elder S. N. Haskell, was seen as the proper person to do the writing. As a result of his effort, we have the “Story of Daniel the Prophet,” and the “Story of the Seer of Patmos.” Because some books have been mentioned by the spirit of prophecy, we would not take the position that they should be handled to the exclusion of all others, but their great importance is certainly unquestionable. Neither should our health and temperance literature be neglected. “Wherever the canvassing work is presented among our people, let the health books11and the religious books be presented together as parts of a united work. The relation of the religious and health books is presented to me as illustrated by the union of the warp and the woof to form a beautiful pattern and a perfect piece of work. In the past the health books have not been handled with the interest which their importance demands. Though by a large class they have been highly appreciated, yet many have not thought it essential that they should go to the world.” “The indifference with which the books have been treated by many is an offense to God.” Thus the “Testimonies for the Church” should be given their proper place in the families and homes of God’s people. Our books, pamphlets, tracts, and periodicals, both of a religious and of a temperance nature, should be placed in the hands of the people of the world with all our energies. “In this age the trivial is praised and magnified. There is a call for anything that will create a sensation. The country is flooded with worthless publications, which were written for the sake of making money, while really valuable books are unsold and unread.” “My heart aches as I see those who profess to be looking for the Saviour devoting their time and talents to circulating books that contain nothing concerning the special truths for this time,—books of narration, books of biography, books of men’s theories and speculations. The world is full of such books, they can be had anywhere; but how can the followers of Christ engage in so common a work, when there is crying need for God’s truth on every hand? It is not our mission to circulate such works. There are thousands of others to do this, who as yet have not sufficient knowledge of anything better. We have a definite mission, and we should not turn from it to side-issues. Men and means are not to be employed in bringing before the people books that have no bearing upon the present truth.” “The world is deluged with books that might better be consumed rather than circulated. Books upon Indian warfare and similar topics, published and circulated as a money-making scheme, might better never be read. There is a satanic fascination in these books. The heart-sickening relation of crimes and atrocities has a bewitching power upon many youth, exciting in them the desire to bring themselves into notice, even by the most wicked deeds. There are many works more strictly historical whose influence is little better.” “We have no permission from the Lord to engage in either the printing or the sale of such literature, for it is the means of destroying many souls.” But in this wonderful age of book-makers and book-making, our literature holds a unique position. We could dwell at length upon the richness and true literary excellence of many productions; as we study, we can but sense the deep spiritual breath of life they impart; the power and force of expression carries with it the conviction of eternal truth. This we state without boasting. It is precisely what should be manifest in a movement that is heaven-born. Running through it are seen the silver threads of principles everlasting; upon it are visible the finger-marks of a hand unseen, credentials divine. May God impress us with its object and importance.