Character of Periodical Articles
11
in this way from their friends with whom they have been associated.
These experiences may be to the readers as a love feast, because the
writers have been eating the bread which came down from heaven.
We do not need romance, for in the daily life we meet with real
experiences, which, if told in short articles, and in simple words, would
be helpful to many. Let our workers try this. We want truth, solid truth,
from solid, consecrated men, women, and youth. You who love God,
whose minds are stored with precious bits of experience, and with the
living realities of eternal life, kindle the flame of love and light in the
hearts of God’s people. Help them to deal with the problems of life.
[19]
A Pen Controlled by the Holy Spirit—Speech and pen are to be
under the control of the Holy Spirit. If this is not the case with the
writers for our periodicals, they might better lay aside the pen, and
take up work of another order. God calls us into the mount to talk with
Him, and when by faith we behold Him who is invisible, our words
will not be cheap and common. The space in our papers is too precious
to be filled up with articles that are not the best. Crowd in subjects
weighty with eternal interests. Put not the crib too high for the minds
of the common people. Let the articles be written with Christlike
simplicity, and let them be free from all chaff and stubble, for this will
be consumed as worthless. God calls for consecrated pens. The articles
published in our papers should be full of practical, elevating, ennobling
thoughts, which will help and teach and strengthen the mind that reads
them. God help our editors to choose wisely....”—
Manuscript 80,
1899
.
Spiritual Articles vs. Current News—It is not the business of
any of God’s stewards to extol any human being, be he living or dead.
God has given us no such message to bear. Let all who by pen or
voice are brought before the public be sifted of all inclination to laud
any human being; for in doing this work they are entirely out of their
boundary. In giving expression to these sentiments, so easy to flow
from human lips and pens, time is lost which is very precious now,
and which should be used in appropriate speech, after much prayer to
God and converse with Jesus Christ. Let every word be seasoned with
grace, and thus reveal that you have been in communion with God and
[20]
are imbued with His spirit.
Again, there are brought into our periodicals selections which can
be found in other papers and books, and which need not be repeated.