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Testimonies for the Church Volume 8
the tables of the money-changers, Christ drove the sheep and cattle
from the precincts of the temple, saying: “It is written, My house shall
be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”
Matthew 21:13
. Worse even than the defilement of the temple has
been the defilement of the publishing house by the printing of matter
which should never have been placed in the hands of the workers in
God’s institution.
God’s law has been transgressed, His cause betrayed, and His
institution made a den of thieves. The work of printing and circulating
stirring appeals for the truth, which should have been placed first,
to which the time and the talent of the workers should have been
devoted, has received little or no attention. The commercial work,
some of it of a most objectionable character, has gradually assumed
the supremacy. This work has absorbed the energies which should have
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been devoted to the publication of literature of the purest quality and
the most elevating character. Time has been wasted, talent misapplied,
and money misappropriated. The work which ought to have been
done has been left undone. Satan’s sentiments have been exalted. His
theories have been printed by presses which should have been used to
prepare the truth of God for circulation. Men have coveted promotion
when their principles were under the ban of God’s displeasure. Loss is
infinitely better than dishonorable gain.
Oh, what will God do with the timeservers? Think you that Jesus
will stand in the printing establishment, to work through human minds
by His ministering angels, to make the truth coming from the press
a power to warn the world that the end of all things is at hand, while
Satan is allowed to pervert the minds of the workers right in the
institution? The light I have is: Refuse to print another line of this
pernicious matter. Those who have had to do with its introduction
into the publishing house need to repent before God in contrition of
soul, for His wrath is kindled against them. Let this class of work be
forever excluded from our publishing houses. Give more time to the
publication and circulation of the books containing present truth. See
that your work in this line reaches perfection. Do all in your power to
diffuse throughout the world the light of heaven.
The apprentices and the other workers must not be so rushed and
hurried that they have no time to pray. The youth in our publishing
houses should be educated as were the youth in the schools of the