Chapter 14—The Missionary Periodicals
Value of a Missionary Paper—The Signs of the Times is our
missionary paper; it is doing its work everywhere, and is opening the
way for the truth to be more fully presented. This paper has been made
a blessing to very many souls. All should feel the deepest interest to
have it a spiritual messenger, full of life and plain, practical truth. In
the Christian world there are many starving for the bread of life. The
Signs of the Times, laden with rich food, is a feast to many of these
who are not of our faith.
This paper should not contain many long articles, but the truth
should be prepared with great care and made as attractive as possible.
Articles which make sharp thrusts upon other churches are out of place
in this paper, for they create prejudice. The truth should be presented
in its simplicity, in the meekness of wisdom, having an influence to
persuade. The matter should be the very choicest; the language should
be chaste, elevating, every word breathing the spirit of Christ. The
argumentative and practical combined will make a paper beaming with
light, to go forth as a lamp that burneth, as a messenger indeed from
heaven.
To Be Intensely Interesting—Our brethren do not all see and
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realize the importance of this paper; if they did they would feel greater
personal interest to make it intensely interesting, and then to circulate
it everywhere. All who have a part to act in the preparation of matter
for this pioneer sheet are engaged in a sacred work, and they should
be connected with God; they should be pure in heart and life. God
can work with them and give them wisdom that they may become
intelligent in the knowledge of the truth. God sees the motive of each
worker, and will impart His grace in rich measure in accordance with
the spirit in which the labor is done. The silent preacher, enriched with
precious matter, should go forth on the wings of prayer, mingled with
faith, that it may do its appointed work in shedding the light of truth
upon those who are in the darkness of error.
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