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The Publishing Ministry
postage, and we will send you the five-dollar package and charge the
fund four dollars. [
This testimony appeared in 1868 at which time tract
societies had appeared in many states and the furnishing of books and
tracts to the worthy poor was assumed by them. Some of the books
here mentioned are now out of print.
]
In this charitable book matter, all must act upon the great plan
of liberality, such as is carried out in the publication and sale of the
American Bibles and tracts. In many respects the course of these
mammoth societies is worthy of imitation. Liberality is seen in wills
[373]
and donations, and it is carried out in sales and donations of Bibles and
tracts. Seventh-day Adventists should be as far ahead of these in the
book matter as in other things. May God help us. Our tracts should be
offered by the hundred at what they cost, leaving a little margin to pay
for packing, or wrapping for the mail, and directing. And ministers
and people should engage in the circulation of books, pamphlets, and
tracts, as never before. Sell where people are able and willing to
purchase, and where they are not, give them the books.—
Testimonies
for the Church 1:689, 690
.
Satan Draining Adventist Purses—Satan is constantly present-
ing inducements to God’s chosen people to attract their minds from
the solemn work of preparation for the scenes just in the future. He is
in every sense of the word a deceiver, a skillful charmer. He clothes
his plans and snares with coverings of light borrowed from heaven.
He tempted Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit by making her believe
that she would be greatly advantaged thereby. Satan leads his agents
to introduce various inventions and patent rights and other enterprises,
that Sabbathkeeping Adventists who are in haste to be rich may fall
into temptation, become ensnared, and pierce themselves through with
many sorrows. He is wide awake, busily engaged in leading the world
captive, and through the agency of worldlings he keeps up a contin-
ual pleasing excitement to draw the unwary who profess to believe
the truth to unite with worldlings. The lust of the eye, the desire for
excitement and pleasing entertainment, is a temptation and snare to
God’s people. Satan has many finely woven, dangerous nets which
are made to appear innocent, but with which he is skillfully preparing
to infatuate God’s people. There are pleasing shows, entertainments,
phrenological lectures, and an endless variety of enterprises constantly
arising calculated to lead the people of God to love the world and the