The New Volume by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 6, 1865

The New Volume.

By Editor

The Review enters this week, for the twenty-sixth time upon a new volume. Compared with any previous occasion of this nature, the circumstances that now surround us, and the prospects before us are most favorable and encouraging.

1. This volume finds upon our books a larger list of subscribers than has existed at the commencement of any previous volume.

2. Interest among the people on the great truths which it is the mission of the Review to advocate, is not diminishing, but increasing: the field of its operations is not contracting but constantly expanding.

3. The little silent messengers, the books and papers, are doing a greater work than ever before. Instances are more numerous of persons' receiving the truth by reading alone, never having heard the living preacher. Truth is mighty, and these little preachers, bearing forth their precious burden so calmly and patiently, never shrinking from duty, nor becoming discouraged by opposition, nor cast down by reproaches nor impatient at the foolishness of their opponents, are finding their way to many honest hearts.

4. There are no dissensions in our midst threatening to rend the body. The people of God are united as perhaps never before, in obedience to the injunction of the apostle to all be of the same mind, and joined together in the same judgment.

5. The harvest is ripening all around us, ways are opening and calls for help coming in from all directions.

6. The course of events in all quarters of the globe, and in all departments of life, is such as to furnish an irresistible confirmation of our position. We are publishing truths of which there were to be signs in heaven above and earth beneath, in nature and among men, in the natural, political, and moral worlds. If from all these sources, or any one of them even, we were meeting with a denial of our faith, if they were disproving instead of confirming our position, how this would be calculated to discourage, unnerve, and dishearten us. But how is it? On every point we are beholding more than we could have expected from the signs of the times. We are almost startled at the sudden and rapid fulfillment of prophecy. No one can doubt unless he persistently shuts his eyes to events transpiring all around. We have but to look into the prophetic word, and open our eyes to facts that everywhere lie plain and open before our faces, to see that the last remaining outlines of prophecy are being filled, and the great consummation is drawing near.

We have thus briefly glanced at six particulars, any one of which, singly, would be sufficient to cheer and encourage us forward in this great work; but existing as they do, all together, what limits shall we place to our courage, or what bounds to our zeal? Shall we let our hope grow dim, or our faith die? Shall we falter or become weary? Be this the language of every heart, We will arise, for now it is high time to awake out of sleep.

As for the Review, it is not yet what we wish to see it. We hope for a great improvement during the coming volume. Shall not this volume be the best that has yet been published? We will do what we can, and will you, brethren and sisters, upon whom much also depends, do the same? We have thrilling themes to occupy our thoughts and pens, we have glorious hopes to express, and we have infinite rewards to which to point each other on. Let the Review be filled with these, to comfort the discouraged, refresh the weary, revive the faint, strengthen the weak, and make the strong still stronger for the work of God.

May the Review expose uncompromisingly all error, and hold up faithfully the truth. May it reveal and warn against the by-paths of fanaticism and sin, while continually pointing forward in the strait and shining path that leads to glory.

And when the remnant shall finally reach the holy hill of God, and plant their feet in everlasting security on the banks of eternal life, as they review the means by which they have been enabled to accomplish the heavenly journey, may they have it to say that the Review has been an encouragement and a help to them in reaching that glorious place.