PUBLISHERS’ BOOK DEPARTMENT
By Editor
ISSUED MONTHLY IN BEHALF OF THE CIRCULATION OF OUR DENOMINATIONAL LITERATURE
“I HAVE come to the Fountain of love,
He fills all the springs of my heart,
Enthroned all others above,
Our friendship no power can part;
And so long as the fountain is full,
The streams without measure must
flow,
And the love that he pours in my soul
To others in blessing must go.”
ON account of our issue of May 13 being too early in the month to receive the April reports, we include them in our summary for the month of May. Hereafter it is expected that the Publishers’ Book Department will be issued regularly on the fourth Tuesday in each month, and only reports for the month previous will be published. The next issue will be on July 22. All the reports for June must be in as early as July 15. IN the report from Norway, it will be noticed that the Christiania church held a special season of prayer for the canvassers. This is an act worthy of imitation. If all our churches will do likewise, there will come to our book work a marked change for the better. It would greatly encourage our faithful workers, and would bring blessings upon the members of our churches. Every morning the Review and Herald Publishing Company calls all the employees together in their respective departments, and devotes fifteen minutes of the first part of the day to prayer, and on Sunday mornings the entire force assembles in the Office chapel, and spends thirty minutes in worship. In all these prayer meetings, the canvassers and the canvassing work are never omitted in the prayers. This we believe is the practice in all our publishing houses, and we are glad to know that the churches are joining us in special prayer services in behalf of our canvassers and their work. “Patriarchs and Prophets” and the Sunday-School Lessons
IN some respects “Patriarchs and Prophets” is one of the most important books we publish. It treats upon the themes of the Bible history. This sacred history has been recorded for the benefit of man. It reveals the character and purposes of God, and makes manifest the wiles of Satan. The revelations in this book bring to view the true character of God through his dealings with man. By revealing the weakness of the human character, and setting forth how the grace of God has enabled man to conquer in his struggle with sin, it is of great importance at this time when the world has forgotten God as a helper in a time of need, and has surrendered to the power of sin through lack of confidence in God. The very principles set forth in this inspired history are essential to prepare the people for the reception of the message at this time. It so deals with the great truths of the Old Testament Scriptures, and breathes forth the spirit of Christ, that it never fails favorably to impress every one who reads it. It never leaves prejudice where it is placed. All the important truths of the Old Testament are treated in a way that inspires confidence in God and faith in his Word. The manner in which the Sabbath is brought out is such as to carry conviction. The great center of all truths—the sanctuary and its services—is, through the Spirit of God, set for the people of this generation, that they may not be overtaken with the false conceptions of the ministry of God that are to flood the earth before the return of our High Priest. The chapter on Satan’s enmity against the law is due the people of this time. They should have had it years ago. Many honest people would be living in obedience to God’s law to-day could they have had this chapter alone. The experiences of the children of Israel, which were kept on record for those upon whom the end of the world is come, contain enough of the present truth to prepare the people for the reception of the whole message. The entire contents of the book is of great importance, and now that a most favorable opportunity is presented for the introduction of this important volume, we should not fail to make good use of it. On July 6, and continuing on through the remainder of the year, the International Sunday-school Lessons will be upon some of the principal subjects in connection with the exodus and the general history of the children of Israel. The great masses of the people who study these lessons being especially interested in the study of the topics which embody a large portion of “Patriarchs and Prophets,” and on which there is given special light through the spirit of prophecy, renders the remainder of this year a remarkably favorable time for the sale of “Patriarchs and Prophets.” Whether they need it or not, it has become quite common among people to seek “a help” in the study of any subject. Our scholars have established this practice among the common people. When these wise men set about to investigate a matter, they at once supply themselves with all the books they can procure on that particular subject. This practice will make it easy for our people to introduce “Patriarchs and Prophets” as an essential commentary upon the topics of the International Lessons for the third and fourth quarters of 1902. There should be a special effort made in every locality to place this book in the homes of the people while they are interested in the study of the subjects upon which the Lord has given great light. While the Bible-studying people of this nation are studying the Sabbath question, we should not fail to place in their hands a book that will lead them to the truth upon this important question. “Patriarchs and Prophets” is published in the English, German, Danish, Swedish, and Holland languages. The principal nationalities in this country can be supplied with this important work.