The Review by Jos. Clarke

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 13, 1863

The Review.

By Jos. Clarke

The Review has been a blessing to thousands, who hail its weekly visits with joy. By it many are enlightened, many are comforted and strengthened, many instructed and encouraged, or corrected, or reproved; and often the same individual experiences all these benefits from one copy of this weekly journal of the S. D. Adventists.

It is not filled with accounts of bloody victories, or of sickening defeats; but often we find in it accounts of victories over the world, the flesh, and the Devil; such victories as angels reckon to be far greater than ever mortals won on battle-fields where the warrior is bathed in human gore, where are heard sounds of confusion, where human life is cheap, and virtue is trodden beneath the iron heel of war.

Many an honest, devout soul received his first lessons on present truth from this paper; and many a lonely one hails its weekly visits as his only preacher. It makes up for many a want, and gives to the lone pilgrim a means by which he may, if disposed, almost keep even pace with those who enjoy church privileges.

When I first saw the Review, it filled me with joy to find such a paper, and such a people, who honored God's holy law. I thought the ideas it promulgated respecting many other things were rather extravagant; but on attention to its instructions I found its knowledge of God, and his word and Spirit, so far excelled my fond conceits, that I hid my face in the dust, still praising God that I had found teachers who cared for my soul. Many a pang I caused them before I laid down all my pride of opinion; but their patience and love won my heart, while their arguments enlightened my understanding.

This paper is good, because it is the exponent of the third message, and the organ of the chosen people of God, who in these last days are washing their garments in the blood of the Lamb, who are shaking off the dust of earth, and arousing themselves from the stupor of the Papal ages, and are girding on the armor for the final conflict.

What S. D. Adventist can afford to be without this paper? By reference to Review, Vol. xxi, No. 1, it will be seen that Bro. Fuller has found somewhere in Pennsylvania some S. D. Adventists who do not take the Review. Can it be so? I do not see how they can get along without the paper. I should think they would suffer much, spiritually. Such losses are not easily made up.

I had supposed that all the brethren got the Review in some way. If there are any who do not read the Review, I hope they will soon get it; for it is truly meat in due season.

If you wish to keep with the body, if you wish to be posted on all points, so as to avoid the snares of the enemy, if you wish to walk understandingly with the people of God, then take the Review, and read it carefully.

One thing I have noticed: those who love to read the Review, love to read the Bible; I have seen no exception. Jos. CLARKE.