p. 231 | Why We Don't Stop by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 24, 1883

Why We Don't Stop.

By Editor

THERE are some who wonder why the SIGNS OF THE TIMES should devote so much space to the Sabbath question, and to teaching the doctrine of the soon coming of Christ. It is all well enough to speak of these things occasionally, in a general way, but why keep writing about them continually. Many seem considerably troubled over the matter, and no doubt wish we would stop. Indeed, some have threatened that if we did not stop they would "expose the whole thing." We don't wonder that they are annoyed, but we cannot stop on that account. It is our design not only to annoy people, but to make them tremble. See Joel 2:1. We say we cannot stop, and the reason why will perhaps be better appreciated by our readers after reading the following story, which, though old, is good:—

A Scotch clergyman once preached the same sermon on repentance three consecutive Sundays. A good elder came to him to remonstrate against this breach of custom. "Dominie, the people have heard that sermon once before," he began, mildly. "Ah! have they?" responded the preacher, as he looked over his glasses into space.

"Yes, they have heard it twice before," ventured the elder, this time rather doggedly. "Indeed!" said the preacher, with a smile that was full of meaning. "Well, Dominie, to tell the truth, you have preached that sermon three times, and the people are pretty well tired out."

The minister rose from his chair, showing his six feet and two inches of longitude to advantage, and inquired: "Elder, that sermon was on the subject of repentance, was it not? Now, tell me, have the people repented, as I told them to?"

The abashed official, stammered: "Well, no, Dominie, I don't think they have." "Then," thundered the minister, "go you and tell them that I propose to continue to preach that sermon until they do repent."