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    July 2, 1889

    “Those Books—What Shall Be Done with Them?” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 66, 27, p. 426.

    THE question will probably at once be asked, What books? The answer is, Those books which have been made necessary by the movement for religious legislation, and which have been written especially upon the point involved.ARSH July 2, 1889, page 426.1

    “The National Sunday law.” This pamphlet is the argument that was made before the Senate committee last December, upon the National Sunday law. It is, in fact, more than the argument that was actually made there, because there were so many interruptions that it was impossible to make a connected argument as was intended. This pamphlet is the argument that was made, with such additions throughout as are necessary clearly to develop all the points that were raised; and there is scarcely a single point involved in the question of Sunday laws that is not here fully discussed and explained. All the fallacies and the wickedness of Sunday laws that is not here fully discussed and explained. All the fallacies and the wickedness of Sunday legislation are exposed; the Scripture principles upon the connection between religion and the State are clearly brought out; the objections that we have to meet in the minds of statesmen are there reported in the very words of United States Senators themselves, and the answers given in full to all the objections and to all the counter-arguments. The papal authority for Sunday legislation is clearly shown by plain historical facts that no one can successfully deny; and the utter baselessness of any Sunday law in connection with the fourth commandment, is fully shown by the plain established principles of legislation and of law.ARSH July 2, 1889, page 426.2

    This little work is now issued by both the REVIEW AND HERALD and the Pacific Press. It contains 192 pages, price twenty-five cents, with liberal discounts to tract societies. This pamphlet ought to be sown broadcast over the land before Congress meets in December next. The Sunday-law workers are laying their plans as thoroughly as possible, to renew the effort at Sunday legislation just as soon as Congress assembles. This pamphlet will forestall the movement, at least to the extent of making legislators cautious in dealing with any such legislation; and this it would do in the mind of every man who reads it, the pamphlet being the product of actual argument, the outcome of a real occurrence, and the objections being those which are made by United States Senators themselves. All this makes it matter of such a kind as would be read by public men everywhere, and by all classes, whether they be in favor of Sunday law or against it, or whether they be practically uninformed on the controversy. Now, will our brethren take hold of this work in earnest? Will they place this pamphlet before the people? Those who have circulated the petitions for signatures, and those who are doing so still, can go right over the same ground. They can go to the same persons, and introduce this pamphlet on the “National Sunday Law.” This is what should be done.ARSH July 2, 1889, page 426.3

    Another book for the times, is “Civil Government and Religion.” This is a companion, we might say, to the “National Sunday Law.” There are some things in each that are not in both; so that both books can, with perfect propriety, be sold to the same person. We will not say that both should be sold at the same time, but either of the books, when read, will make way for the other one. If the pamphlet on “Civil Government and Religion” has been distributed, this is an excellent preparation for the “National Sunday Law” pamphlet. If the “National Sunday Law” has been distributed first, it will prepare the way for “Civil Government and Religion.” “Civil Government and Religion” has 176 pages, price twenty-five cents, issued by both the REVIEW AND HERALD and the Pacific Press.ARSH July 2, 1889, page 426.4

    We have already seen some of the effects of circulating these pamphlets. Persons who have been thoroughly in favor of Sunday laws, and were actually working to secure them, have been turned just as strongly against any such legislation as they were before in favor of it. As was said at the beginning of this article, these pamphlets have been made necessary by the course of current events. The third angel’s message has now been brought to national notice, and it is never going backward. It will become more and more a matter of national concern. The message has now reached that point, and we to whom the message has been committed, must work to that point, or we will not be doing the work of the message. The Lord has given us this truth and this message to give to the people. We have been looking for this time to come these many years. It has already come, and now is the opportunity to reach the nations with the message. Shall we do it? or shall we fail? Here are the means made ready to the hand of every one. By the effort which is being made throughout the whole nation in favor of a Sunday law, the way has opened for every one to do something. The question is, whether we will do it now, while we have our liberty, or leave it till our liberty is taken from us, and the law shall have passed, and we have not even the liberty to buy or sell. It ought to be an easy matter for every one to decide, whether our work ought to be done before our liberties are taken away or afterward.ARSH July 2, 1889, page 426.5

    There is yet another book that must be mentioned. It has not been left until the last because it is the least important; for it is not so by any means. This is “Great Controversy, Vol. IV.” It is true that this book must be distributed more by the regular canvassers than by the mass of our brethren; but this makes it none the less important that it should be circulated. None can read “Vol. IV.” And have any excuse if they are overtaken by the perils of the last days, and are not saved. the matter in “Vol. IV.” concerns our own time; and the very things that are now coming on, and the time of trouble which is to come, are of greatest importance; and the canvassers who can sell “Vol. IV.” Ought to consider that they are indeed spreading the message in so doing.ARSH July 2, 1889, page 426.6

    These three are emphatically books for the times, and I repeat, The way is open for every individual to do something in spreading the third angel’s message easily and effectively. Shall these books be printed to no purpose? Shall they lie on the shelves unused? or will our people everywhere enter at once, with all their energy, upon the work of circulating them everywhere?ARSH July 2, 1889, page 426.7

    A. T. JONES.

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