This Week’s Review by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 3, 1864

This Week’s Review

By Editor

THIS WEEK'S REVIEW.—With no small degree of interest Bro. Smith will be read this week, as he follows Eld. Preble in his wandering course. As our opponents on the Sabbath question have no harmonious system of truth on the subject to present, they can wander from the Sabbath to washing the saints' feet, or anywhere else, without departing from the character of their work, which is to cast doubt over that which in itself is plain, confuse and tear down. They may contradict themselves in every other paragraph, and no matter for that, as they have no system of truth relative to the Sabbath question to suffer by these contradictions. Their work is easily done, because it is all tearing down. The reason why it is sometimes laborious to discomfit them, is because they have nothing to defend. Their work is simply to stand off and throw fire-brands into the camp of the saints. One incendiary can burn buildings faster than one hundred men can build them. One man can tear up more railroad track than ten men can put down.

Let it be borne in mind that while Bro. Smith fully meets his opponent, and exposes his contradictory positions, he also presents a harmonious system of truth, showing the agreement between the law and the gospel in the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. Forget not this fact, that Bro. Smith accomplishes a two-fold work: first, of meeting Eld. Preble's objections to the Sabbath; and second, of showing the relation which the law and the gospel sustain to each other in the salvation of sinners.

It is a matter to be deeply regretted that Eld. Preble did not send his note of correction to the Crisis Office. That correction would have appeared admirably well in the columns of the same paper which had borne his egregious misstatement to its thousands of eager readers. In fact Eld. Preble should have read up upon all such vital points before taking upon his hands the responsible work of disposing of a question relative to one of the commandments of the great God.

The Crisis for the 20th contains Eld. Preble's concluding article. He winds up with a challenge for discussion with any man Sabbatarians may select, who is qualified to handle the subject. When Bro. Smith is through with him, if he is not then satisfied, Bro. Loughborough or Bro. Cornell may, at a proper time and place, favor him with an opportunity of oral discussion.

The experience of Bro. Moon of California is like that of hundreds of others who have been led to see the harmony of present truth from reading a few copies of the Review, or a few tracts and pamphlets. Yet many of our people seem to have no interest in casting bread upon the waters in this way. Astonishing stupidity holds many in inaction. Our increase of subscribers averages only about fifty each week, when it should be hundreds at such a time as the present.

Our people in the East have called for help. And now that two of our most efficient missionaries are in the East, and the writings of an Eastern opponent, published in an Eastern paper, are being ably reviewed in our paper, these Eastern brethren should be awake. Will they be content with their penury sum of Systematic Benevolence, and make no sacrifice beyond this to spread the truth? There should come pouring in from New England, weekly, hundreds of new subscribers to meet other hundreds from all other portions of the field. Brethren, you can have the Review sent to your friends, from Maine to California, one year, for the small sum of one dollar of our depreciated currency. Will you not awake to your duty in this respect?

God bless Bro. Cornell. His friends in Michigan and elsewhere are happy to hear that he is meeting with his usual success. One man who chooses to wear out, is worth forty who are willing to rust out. With the armor kept bright, sister Cornell laboring by his side, can add one-half to the good accomplished.

May these pilgrims rejoice, when the final gathering comes, to see many precious souls gathered from old Maine as the fruits of their labors.

We want more articles, short, and to the point, like Bro. Gurney's, and sister Lawton's appeal to the youth. Don't trouble the reader with a long, prosy introduction; but come right to the subject of living interest, and when you are done, stop writing. Bro. Clarke says, Report. That is right. Ministers should report. They need not give all the particulars how they left home, and how they proceeded on their journey. We want the points of religious interest in a spirited style, with as few words as will fully express them. Let the brethren and sisters report their holy and instructive thoughts. Items of experience are very precious. We go for a reform in the Review. We desire to see it rise in interest, in instruction, and in spirituality, so that our brethren will wish to send it to their friends everywhere. So much for the Review this week. We hope to have a better paper next week.