88
Counsels to Writers and Editors
for the messenger of light to come into their household. Almost every
family takes one or more secular papers, and these frequently contain
love stories and exciting tales of villainy and murder which injure the
minds of all who read them. Those who consent to do without the
Review and Herald lose much. Through its pages, Christ may speak
to them in warnings, in reproofs and counsel, which would change the
current of their thoughts, and be to them as the bread of life.
Content of Our Periodicals—Our papers should not be filled
with long discussions or long doctrinal arguments, which would weary
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the reader; but they should contain short and interesting doctrinal and
practical articles. The price of our papers should not be made so low
that no margin is left to work upon. The same interest which has been
manifested to circulate the Signs of the Times should be shown in
extending the circulation of the Review. If this is done, success will
attend the effort.
We are upon the enchanted ground, and Satan is continually at
work to rock our people to sleep in the cradle of carnal security. There
is an indifference, a lack of zeal, that paralyzes all our efforts. Jesus
was a zealous worker; and when His followers shall lean on Him, and
work as He worked, they will see and realize corresponding results.
An effort must be made to place a proper value on our publications,
and bring them back gradually to a proper basis. We should not be
affected by the cry of speculation, money-making! We should press
steadily forward, unmoved by censure, uncorrupted by applause. It
will be a greater task to work back upon a proper basis than many
suppose; but it must be done in order to save our institutions from
embarrassment.—
Testimonies for the Church 4:598-600
(1881).
On Our Library Tables—Many Sabbathkeepers neglect to take
the Review, and some have neither the Review nor the Signs. They
plead as an excuse that they cannot afford to take these papers which
it is so important for them to have. But in many cases several secular
papers will be found upon their tables for their children to peruse. The
influence of most of the periodicals of the day is such as to render
the word of God distasteful, and to destroy a relish for all useful and
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instructive reading. The mind assimilates to that which it feeds upon.
The secular papers are filled with accounts of murders, robberies, and
other revolting crimes, and the mind of the reader dwells on the scenes
of vice therein depicted. By indulgence, the reading of sensational or