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Counsels to Writers and Editors
many other papers can give all the information essential for any of us.
But the name Signs of the Times means that in this paper a class of
literature will be found that will give the trumpet a certain sound. Let
there be fewer pictures, and more real, solid, spiritual food....
Guard the Paper.—Present truth. Guard the paper, lest there shall
be introduced into it articles that are not suitable for this time. God
help you, my dear fellow laborers, to work as if you were in full view
of the whole universe of heaven. Important issues must soon be met,
and we wish to be hid in the cleft of the rock, that we may see Jesus,
and be quickened by His Holy Spirit. We have no time to lose, not a
moment.
“Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and,. ye that are near,
acknowledge My might. The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness
hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the
devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth
the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes,
that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from
seeing evil; he shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the
munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty: they shall behold the land
that is very far off.”
In constantly dealing with matter for the papers, many seem to
lose their discrimination. May the Lord not only anoint your eyes that
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they may see, but pour into your heart the holy oil that from the two
olive trees flows through the two golden pipes into the golden bowl
which feeds the lamp for the sanctuary. “And he answered me and
said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then
said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the
whole earth.” Unless we are wide awake, we are not able to discern
spiritual things. We lose the sense of the power of the truth, and handle
sacred things as we handle the common things. The result is weakness
and uncertainty, and we are not safe counselors or guides. Wake up,
brethren; for Christ’s sake, wake up.—
Letter 89, 1899
.
The Watchman—The Southern Watchman is an excellent paper,
and one way in which you can help is by getting subscriptions for it. I
urge our church members to take this paper, and to ask others to take
it. It contains reading matter that is just what is needed by those not of