p. 141 | Prepare to Spread the Light

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 27, 1864

Prepare to Spread the Light.

By John Norton Loughborough

In this time, when men's minds are filled with the world and most everything but the love of truth, the direction of Christ, to search the Scriptures, is important; and yet the bare reading of the words by some in this fast age, produces unpleasantness. "What!" they ask, "have I to stop and study, and carefully search the Bible to know God's will? It might be a pleasing task if I was not so much hurried, but I hav'n't time." Some say, "I suppose we might see the glorious truths of God's word sooner than we do, if we prayerfully searched for them, but I wait for the Lord to lead me along and open the truth to my understanding."

These very remarks were made to me a few days since. My thoughts at once reverted to the Saviour's words, "Search the Scriptures." While meditating on this subject to-day, and trying with help to heed this injunction, the following testimony of Bishop Horsley taken from his comments on the 97th Psalm, fell under my observation; and it seems so good, I give it to the readers of the Review.

"It should be a rule with every one, who would read the Holy Scriptures with advantage and improvement, to compare every text which may seem either important for the doctrine it may contain, or remarkable for the turn of the expression, with the parallel passages in other parts of Holy Writ; that is, with the passages in which the subject matter is the same, the sense equivalent, or the turn of the expression similar. These parallel passages are easily found by the marginal references. . . . It is incredible to any one, who has not in some degree made the experiment, what a proficiency may be made in that knowledge which maketh wise unto salvation, by studying the Scriptures in this manner, without any other commentary

or exposition than what the different parts of the Sacred Volume mutually furnish for each other.

"I will not scruple to assert that the most illiterate Christian, if he can but read his English Bible, and will take pains to read in this manner, will not only attain all that practical knowledge which is necessary to his salvation; but, by God's blessing, he will become learned in everything relating to his religion in such a degree, that he will not be liable to be misled either by the refined arguments or by the false assertions of those who endeavor to engraft their own opinions upon the oracles of God. He may safely be ignorant of all philosophy, except what is to be learned from the sacred books; which indeed contain the highest philosophy, adapted to the lowest apprehension. He may safely remain ignorant of all history, except so much of the history of the first ages of the Jewish and of the Christian church, as is to be gathered from the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments. Let him study these in the manner I recommend, and let him never cease to pray for the illumination of that Spirit by which these books were dictated; and the whole compass of abstruse philosophy, and recondite profound history, shall furnish no argument with which the perverse will of man shall be able to shake this learned Christian's faith. The Bible, thus studied, will indeed prove to be what we, Protestants, esteem it—a certain and sufficient rule of faith and practice, a helmet of salvation, which alone may quench the fiery darts of the wicked."

Not only is the above true of those who search the Bible, but still greater proficiency may be made by the use of such simple and easy helps as are offered for sale at the Review Office. The Bible Atlas spread out before you as you read of the journeyings of the Israelites, of the mission of Christ, or of the travels of St. Paul, will give you a good idea of the geography of the old world, at the same time that you are storing your minds with sacred truths. The Bible Dictionary will give you a flood of information on ancient customs, habits, dress, &c., which will help you again to a clearer understanding of those texts which make use of customs and articles which are not now in use. Above all, there are all the carefully and prayerfully written books and publications of the Office, especially calculated to post you on the great theme of the Lord's coming, and preparation for the event, by obeying the messages which are to prepare us for it.

Brother, or sister, have you these works by you? "Well," how often do we have it answered, "I read it several years ago, but I have not got it now. I wanted one the other day to give to a man I was talking with, but I didn't have it. I must get one sometime." I think you ought to have a full assortment of publications by you all the time if you are able. If not, better work an extra hour or two each week to get means to buy these helps to learn the truth. Then, when your neighbors inquire about your faith, you have the documents to help them with. May be they will gladly buy a book. If not, if they desire to read, give them one. "Ye are the light of the world." Don't leave all your materials for making and disseminating light so far off that you cannot disseminate light when a sudden demand is made for it. Search the Scriptures. Post up yourself, and be prepared to scatter light and truth to others.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Topsham, Me., Sept. 19, 1864.