“WHOSO READETH, LET HIM UNDERSTAND”
By P. M. Howe
In nearly all, if not in all, our churches there are three classes: (1) Those who take the REVIEW and read it; (2) those who take the REVIEW and do not read it; and (3) those who do not take the REVIEW, and so, of course, can not read it. Many of those who do take and read the REVIEW, read in a hurried manner, and soon forget its instruction. It really seems to me that all the good that can possibly be gained by the weekly visits of this church paper must be obtained by a careful study and consideration of its pages. There is an alarming lack of consecration and spiritual life in many Seventh-day Adventist homes. The Bible, and the REVIEW, which is a true guide to Bible study, are both spiritual. These, if heeded, will insure a consecrated, spiritual atmosphere in the home. What is needed is a revival of “home work.” Much that is published week by week in the REVIEW alone is, in part, if not altogether, lost upon the REVIEW family because it is not read, and put into practice in the daily life. If we were converted and followed the leading of the Holy Spirit, there would be no need that the publishers should spend time and money to increase the circulation of the paper. The churches, all scattered abroad, would be the living epistles of the blessedness of the weekly visits of the REVIEW. Every one who reads would say to his brother or sister, “Come and see.” It is too bad to spend precious time and money, and take up space in the columns of our church paper, to encourage church-members to subscribe. Not long ago a brother said to the writer: “The REVIEW is too dear. We have lots of reading-matter, papers, etc., in our home. Why don’t they put the paper down as cheap as other papers are?” My answer was, “If you will take the paper for five years, read it prayerfully, and then conscientiously believe it too dear, I will pay the $7.50, making you a present of the papers.” Dear readers of the REVIEW family, what would you take for your interest in Nos. 50 and 51? What would every live church elder and deacon take for the special letter relative to the canvass for “Christ’s Object Lessons” in No. 50? What would you, fathers and mothers who profess belief in the Third Angel’s Message, exchange for the timely warning given in the same article to come out and be separate from the world to save your children? and what compares in value with the first-page article, “Words to Parents,” in No. 51? Would you allow a thought of a comparison between the blessed REVIEW AND HERALD and some secular weekly or daily sheet for one moment to tarry in your mind, if you sensed the solemnity of these days and the importance of a consecrated life, devoted wholly to God and His cause, for yourselves and your children? Oh, may the Lord help every one of us to awake out of sleep! You and I are responsible for the increased circulation of the REVIEW. Every English-speaking Seventh-day Adventist family in the world should read this paper for 1901. Why do not the elders see to it that every one is visited and reasoned with until a sense of the need is felt? No wonder that churches are in trouble or dead. They do not know the truth; they do not discern the signs of the times; they are not looking for Jesus to come soon. Let us cease to criticise the paper, let us read and believe. Let us pray for the managers and the editors, that Christ may continue to give them the true light. Thus the REVIEW will be the faithful watchman on the walls of Zion, crying out the right hour of this dark world-night of sin, to save us from being surprised and overcome by the enemy. Then will the words of the Lord, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come,” be fulfilled in us. Then will 1901 be a year of advancement in Christian growth and true missionary work; then the message will be carried to regions at home and abroad. What a mighty work may be done if we unitedly go forth in Jesus’ name. “Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” “The last shall be first.” May we arise to take advantage of our opportunity to hasten the coming of Jesus. He is saying, by the Spirit, “Behold, I come quickly.”