“THOUGHTS ON DANIEL AND THE REVELATION.”
By George Ide Butler
We have spoken of canvassing for our own publications, and also of the fact that this volume is now ready for the canvasser. This is the first real effort our people have made to prepare something for the canvassing work. The matter contained in the two volumes heretofore sold by our people is put into one volume. It is bound in an attractive shape. It contains some additional illustrations and the portrait of the author, Eld. Uriah Smith. It contains 840 pages. It is printed on good paper in medium sized type, and has a table of contents, and also a general index. It is a fine-looking book. This book is designed specially for canvassing, and not to be sold, like our other books, in the general market. We hope by this means to bring it before the general public and those not of our faith. The two volumes sold by the Office and by our ministers and tract societies generally, contain about the same matter, and can be obtained cheaper. But they are not in a convenient form to be used in canvassing. They are not in as attractive shape as this volume. We must put our books that are for general circulation in such form as will suit the popular taste. No matter what the form of the book, if it only contains the truth of God, which will reach and save the people. We greatly rejoice that at last we are prepared with works specially relating to the truths of the message, the coming of Christ, and a preparation for the eternal world, in such form that they can be successfully brought before the reading public. This is a desideratum we have greatly desired. We expect a large sale of this book, even the present season. We hope to see ten or fifteen thousand sold the present year. Eld. Haskell, two weeks since, gave an account of the interest taken in it in several places already, where it has been introduced. In several places orders have been taken for it from ministers, judges, lawyers, doctors, editors, business men, and by the people generally not of our faith. This shows what can be done in many places. Why should not our whole country be thoroughly canvassed for this most important work? Many would canvass for it if they thought they could make money at it. We would not make this the principal object by any means; but we have no doubt but those who canvass for it can make good wages as soon as they learn the business. This has been demonstrated already. There is, to the public mind, a kind of fascination about the books of Daniel and the Revelation. The ministers of the popular churches dare not generally undertake to explain them. They say they are mysteries; yet the reader finds them in the old family Bible. There is the strange figurative language of prophecy. Many love to read it who have little knowledge of its meaning. Here is a book containing the very clearest exposition ever given of these visions of prophetic wisdom, the very latest researches, by the ablest commentators. Here the wonderful prophetic periods spanning the long centuries of the past are explained so simply that the ordinary reader can comprehend every one of them. Here is wisdom for the skeptic. It confounds all his unbelief. It reveals the hand of Omnipotence and the wisdom of Omniscience. It is more strange and wonderful than anything ever seen in the magician’s performances. There are chapters here recording the mightiest events of human history, and explaining the problems which puzzle the greatest statesmen of the present age. The wonderful Eastern Question here finds its solution. The end of the papacy is here portrayed. The closing scenes of human history are here revealed. In such themes as these, it would be strange if a good canvasser could not interest a thoughtful mind, and sell the book. But how insignificant is this object to that of disseminating the light of glorious truth to those in darkness. These volumes contain the very pith and marrow of present truth, the very foundation on which it stands. If the truths contained in these volumes are accepted, the other truths believed by us are inevitable. Here is a noble work for our young men to engage in, and our young women also. It will do every one of them good to become absorbed in these blessed themes themselves. It will elevate their minds and benefit their hearts. How little and insignificant are the works usually sold compared with the great truths contained in this! We expect to see a great stir on this subject. Steps will be taken to get our people interested in this kind of canvassing. It will not lead away from the truth, but toward it. At our camp-meetings the present season we hope something will be done to organize and set in motion this good work. What a power we could be, if we could get all our forces to act as a unit in an advancement of this truth. More will be said on this subject hereafter. Any of our brethren who wish to engage in this work can correspond with the REVIEW AND HERALD Office, and terms and outfits can be obtained.