YOLo XXI ALLEGHENY, PA., .

JANlTARY 1, 1000
VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER
No.1
FALLEN FROM GRACE VERSUS COLLAPSED
110re evident does it become, daily, that our Lord's d('('lara-
tion, "Babylon is fallen!" doeR not signify tIll' outward eol-
laps!' of "Churchianity;" but that nominal "Chri,;tendom" ha"
fallen from divine favor ;-jU'lt as tIl(> fall of nationa I .Judaism
from divine favor, at the rejection and crucifixion of "Me,,-
siah at his first presence, meant not the collap,;e at the mo-
ment of that religio-political system. The collapse of .Judaism
came after it had been faU.en from divine favor for 37 yearR,
. in A. D. 69-70: and during that interim God's true people,
"Israelites indeed," were called out by the voice of the Gospel
DIspensation. And just so now, the collapse of nomillal
Chri,;tianity, "Christendom" or "Babylon," i" not to hI' P:\.-
p!'l'tl'd until A. D. HH.J.. though fallen from favor ... incc IS,S.
Thl' eollapse will be sudden and awful when it doeR c'omc': and
\\ hill' only the few realize the fallen-from-graC(' condition of
Babylon in the present, none will be ignorant of her c'ollap"e
when it comes. Rut to know then will he too late ,,0 far
thl' little flock of overcomers IS t'OIH'l'rned ;-thev an> all ealled
now, during thl' interim, "Come out of her, my 'people, that ye
he not partakers of her sins, and that VI' reccive not of her
plagues"-punishment.-Rev. If!: 2-4. .
The collapse of Babylon is grnphieally deserihl'd by tlU'
ReYelator as like the easting of a great millstone into the sea.
Raying, "Thus rsudd{'nly1. with violencl' shall that great city,
Bah) Ion. hc thrown down and h{' fouwl no mOIl' at alL" He>r
"udcl,'n destruction is descrihed as a great conflagration, and
the declaration is made that it is Iwcause "the hour of hpr
judgment [krisis1" will have come, that will tllUH suffer
ov{'rthrow or "plagues." "Ther!'forc shall her plagues come> in
Olle' dl1;y [prophetic: time> iR a day for a year], death and
mournmg and famme, and she> shall he utterly burned with
tire. for strong iR the Lord God who judgeth her." 'Vhoever
arl' worthy the name, "my people," will Iwar and obey tl\('
Lord'" voice and come out of Babylon and "reeeiYe not of 111'1'
plagues;" because their obedie>nce 111 fleeing out as soon as
thpy Babylon's rea! will proYe that they wpre
np\pr m real accord WIth her RillS. ThoRe who 1'C'moill after
6peing Babylon and her hlasplJ{'mous doctrines in the light
now arl' reekoned as endorsing thl' blasphemies llnd
dc'serYing the "plagues" mOAt thoroughly-aR mueh or mol'l'
than the "tare" clasR of l)('('ausp thcv have greatpr
light. . ,
)Iany err in not fleeing promptly when fir"t they n'alizp
tllP true pondition of affairs. SOlllP say,-I will use mv offic'p
or influen('e in Babylon, and then ohPY tlJP Lord after '1 haVe'
gatherpd some of the "wheat." Thl'v for/rct that obedil'n('l' iA
better than all else in divinp estimlltion-bdtN eYen thlln
sacrifiee. Are they wiser than God that they may eWn for
a month advantageously 0)' "afel)' ignore' hi" 'YoI'd? Latp)' on
tlH'Y find that even the "tarc" class considpr thpm liS
a time at least "di'l8embll'd" llnd misrepre... pnted their own
as well as miRrppre>Aented tl\(' faith of tIll' denomination
whH'h had agrl'l'd to uphold. Thpir IIlI'uel1ce which at
first mIght have lIeen powerful for the tnlth hl'eomes vitiutpd
hy reason of tlwir neglp(t to olwv God's \'oic'l'-hy tlll'ir at-
tempt to guide lind t:l Ipan to the>ir ;'wn undpr-
standing.
Othpr8 say. I am ine from Bab;vlon in spirit, God knowA!
Although my name is still on the deuominatlOnal rolls, I take
no interest in her affairs-my Hympathies arp all with the
truth, and I rarely attend other meetings. But is this right-
to 1)(> half out and half in Babylon? Iii this the obedien('p
required of an "overeomer" and' pleasing and a(,(,l'ptable to
God '! Surely not. He publicly entered into a COI'e110nt with
tlw d(nomination when he joined it, and he "hould faithfully
livp up to all the conditions of that covenant until he as
'[I1i/,[/('I,lI rpllounces (,1' cancels his m{'mhership.
Others say, I merely retain my membership in the chureh
<lnd ... ing in the ehoir, pte., for the foak(' of p('ace> ill my famB) .
otlwrwi8e I would speedily withdraw. But is tlli,.; "overcom-
ing,,, or being overcome? The latter, surely: it is a balancinfl
of regard for God and his Word, with regard for husband or
wift' or phildrcn or friends and their wishes. Thus the Lord
tN,to< us, whether we love houses. lands, reputation, friend".
hushand, wIfe or children, more t him! \Ve should be
prompt to obey and thus to show that to us God's will
o<upPllOr to every othe>r consideration.
Additionally, we onee said to a cll'ar brother who made
su('h a remark as the above: Brother, excuse the illustration.
Imt it ma.y you to see your po'lition on tllis question in
Its trill' lIght If I tell you of a mattpr which, it "celllS to mp.
aptly illustrates your position in a way you have not thus far
thought. of it. is tId,,: In Chicago. at onp of the great
Lut('herlllg' estabhshments (perhaps at all) they haye a trained
hullock whosl' duty it is to decoy the cat.tle that are ready for
"Iuughtl'r. The hewilderl'd cattle are naturally fearful of
II:1I'm and would be difficult to drive to the butchering spot.
Lut with the decoy bull they are easily Il'd. He gallops up to
the hprd to.ssing his head and tail as a friendly j!re<>ting and
thplI. wheelIng around, he becomes their leader and gallops off
l\ 101lg- the narrow. where they can go only single file.
He> knows :well. hIs bu.smess, and near the killing plaC'P
he "tepR aSIde mto a lIttle spare> prOVIded for him alone, whill
the herd push one another along to their slaughter. Now,
dear hrother (we remarked), you and others in the nominal
chur<'hes, who know better and who merely sing, or preach, or
hold Homl' petty "office," or merely help to count another ont'
on the reports ?f. Babylon's. prosperity or to giYe anotlH'r
dollar to her J?I11Ions, are 11kI'. decoy bull-using your
and to the mJury and bondage of other.,
who, Heeklllg' the right way of true liberty and lifl', are looking
to you for eounsel and heing misled by your The
brother in question at once thankfully acknowledged the Coree
of the> illustration, and requested that some of the free "With-
an.d tracts to accompany them bl' sent him
for hI" lIse III g'ettmg free and setting a worthy l'xample to
othl'rs.
THE FEDERATION OF BABYLON
"Christendom" was united in the dark ages, and the rl'-
suIts were terrible, every way. The more truth and rl'forma-
tion came the more did "Christendom" split up. Had the
re>form contmued, and had the light of truth shined "till morp
clearly, the reRult would have been that Rplit after split would
haYp occurred, until each individual Christian would havc'
stood free, and all denominationaliRm would have perished.
This would bl' the ideal condition; for all the UniQ1l8 of the
pa<;t and present are unseriptural and tend to impede thl'
Christian's progre>ss, They are mechanical unions, and not
[2553J
(3-4)
(4-5) ZION'S WATCH TOWER PA.
heart unions: they are the work of Satan, and not God's
workmanship: they tend to prevent heart-union and foster
errors, which otherwise would quickly die. Not until enlight-
ened by tbe spirit of God's word are any prepared to exer-
cise the liberty when'with Christ makes free indeed, and
to come out from all false Christian unions or sectarian com-
munions, into that broad place which recognizes one Lord, one
faith, one baptism and one church, whose ,wmes are written
1 herwen. And only sueh are prepared for proper union on
thp Rflme basis ao; that of the church of Apostolic timeR.
Whrn, therefore, we from time to time in these columns
alludp to tlH' growing evidcnpes of a federative 1lf1ion among
:tIl the great dpnominations of Christendom, and when we
poilit Ollt ell!, th" SI'rip1nrPR illllipatp sl1rh a union, Ipt no one
f,UPPO'3P tll'lt ('ithrr wp nr HIP Rr'ripblrp'3 apprOl'r of f.uph a
union. Ol' that it'i inflllpnpe "\Yill he favonhle to eithpr
thp trllt11 or the Quite to thp contrar:v, the in-
fhtpJH'o will t,p !J:,n('fnl ",hat('Ycr h encouraging or hPlpful to
Bahylon is proportil''lat
p1
v ininrio11s to thc truC' churrh. The
various s('rjq {Jf rf':di7P that many of the doptrinal
('Trors, \\ I,idl have hcn'tnforC' hound thpir v'otaries hplplessly
aNI m,'d':lni(,:lllv, \\ill no hol,I as firmlv as bdore, and
thpy aro snpTla'ntinv "ith nrw bonas (of bt('r t1pvic(':
1ii::!., low' of t:1 hili ty and prillp in
and spirit. An(l of thp rlis('reditl'd
dOl'tdnp'l (wlrieh can no longpr be lInfnrkd standard", hut
whiph mnst ho carril'd along ti'!htly clo'3l'd) they arp raiRing
th(' Rtan.Jard of mon'.l and politirul reform, the bannpr of a
n('w
No O'J(' ('[In RflV that thdr ('flIPflOP jg 1m pvil of itself; and
onlv the f('w who 'arc spiritually mindrd (thp trll" dmr"h) in
anrl ont of thPir sed" ('fin so mupll s('e tllat moral and poli-
tirf!l rptorm a worldly work rnrl nnt thp "ommiRsio!1 (If 1hp
('hllrrh whj('ll i'3 flTJoinh'o to prf>a('h. not sllpll ]'('forms, but the
cross of Christ and complete ng('1'/rration of he(l1t.
'rho'll' \\ ho 11.1'(' looking for a union in Christendom in whil'h
denomination::ll llameR and dpnominational lin('R will bp 011-
literated, are looldng for what they will n('wr Sf'e lmtil the
rreat polhp'll' e0mpR, and th(' entire system,
f-orial. politi('ul and finan('ial gops down in the great
nnar('hou'3 trollhl(' with whirh thp presl'nt ag(' will ('Ioce. The
m,io" -\Yhirh will h(' cpml'ntl'd will hp hr'!l'lv one of common
RC'l'tilT'pnt and ('o-op('ration in moral and po1itipal reforms.
Anll this f('(lerative union, flS aIr('ndy pointpd out, b('gnn in
IRH) in tl'e orgflnization of th" Eyang('!il'al AJIianpe. We
are vparly for it'3 final Imot to hp tied in Rome man-
npr th:lt will inpllJ(lc with other Protpstant (lC'nominntions
the Episeopal church, and a tDorkinq agrcement with Papaev.
Thm tho "Irnaqe of the Rl'ast" (Rf'v. IC!l will r(,l'eive life
-vigor, pnl're:y-be made adi\-e. And that aptivitv whil'h
will RI'l'm t'"l promisp gr('nt things for Rabylon, and whil'h wlIJ
activply f'upprpss libl'rty and 1)(' ('wrtpd powerfullv ngainst the
of the truths now ]1uhlisllNI by llS, will be but the
Ii ftip!! IIp of tIl" grf'at millston(> prrparatory to it'3 bring
violl'ntlv and l]llir'kly dp,'ltroVPfI, for it will Ronn be (>virlent that
!'llPh a 11(>W union of (Jl1lrI'l1 ap/I statl' (wllOllv diffC'rrnt from
that of th(> past) will bC' a llnion of thp ('laRses again'lt the
ma ",ps: nnd it will bf' the of thp ma in revolution
that will, ail God's agency, hllrl the Babylon system to utter
destrurtion.
THE TIME OF OPPORTUNITY IS SHORT
1'1Ip mOTl' l'lp:l rlv \\ f' sr(' pn'Rl'nt conclitions and foresee
tllOQI' npprolll'hing, thl' morl' it "hould Ftimulate our zeal to
be and to do \\ hill' we hayl' the opportunity-for a dark night
appro,ll'hl''i, wlll'rein no 1'1:1Il ('an work. \\"hoev('r desires to
lay IIp in heavpn. lJy voluntarily sa('rificing time,
mOIH'V, infhH'11l'p and otlH'r l'ilrthJy 1'0nqi,I('rations for the
Rpn ,;.(' (If tl" Lore! ]lV f.prviee of "lJ!'dhren," should bpstir
lJimsc If. l('"t tll!' han:l' st awl tll" Sllmmf'r of opportunity
f'nd, :'lId J1(' finl! that hI' has frilpd to 011('r his sal'Tifire which
Ill' pll'-,'ntt'l1 to GOll 1hl'o1'l'til'a Ily wlwn hI' was hnptizl'd into
C'hlht''l tl('llth. And whl)v('r, 11aying llf'eoml' nominally a ml'm-
hl'r of tIll' "ro,a1 pril'st hood," dops not offrr any sacrifice
dllring tlJis GO'i]1I'! day of forfpits plal'e as a mem-
])('r of t'l It jllll'-t hoorl-lli'! nanlP wiJI sllrely hp blotter! nut
and tIll' (TOWn, apportionl'd to him on tl](' strength of
('OVl'nllTlt to will hI' Sl't o\'('r to an01hpr who will ap-
prel'iate and 11'i(' the pr!t>lZegc of self-dpnial, self-sacrifice,
'luffering with CIlrist.
THE PROSPECTS FOR 1900
It is our opinion that tIJp y(>ar jllst lwginning will be a
very prosperous year for thl' truth, This is not merely "a
WiRIl, fath('r to the thought." nor if! it hf'l'anse thl' "Good
Hopes" alrea.dy sent in seem to giv(' promisf' of fnnd'3 for a
widcr spread of the truth; for, as an offset, we have noticed
that our paper (the chief item of cost in our publication)
will cost us nearly double what it did last year-in other
words, a dollar will do only about sixty cents worth as com-
pared to last year. No; but we have felt for several months
past that Churchiamty has reached and is at a crisis, where-
a e!l'avage is sure to take place,-whlch will sC'parate from
her some true saints who hith('rto have been perplexed re-
"pecting the Lord's will, but who will not gradually become
convinced tlmt "Babylon" is no longer his mouthpiece, but
already spewpd out of his mouth (Rev. 3:16), and that her
evolutionary teachings are not of him but in radical opposi-
tion to his Word and plan.
\Ve have confidence that God's time is ripe for present
truth to be morp wjrlely madp known among hi'3 people ae a
I'alt of the Gospl'l whieh is eithpr a saVOr of lift' unto lifp
or of death unto d('ath. \Ye have cO'lfidenp(>, too, that all th('
apd all the coJaborers npl'('ssary will bp forthcoming,
we fire plans accordingly. wlJO ('o-operate
WIll sharp thp s"rvil'e and the attf'ndnnt; thosp who
do not their privilpg('s will hut mar tlH'ir own hJes8-
ings, hut shall not hindpr thl' work tlJat is rIllp 10 IJI' rlOJ1P
"Thn J,'m1 wi!! prnviilp'" 1]](1(',,11, "-I' f'XpCl't tJ.:lt f'lllh 1'('11'
now will notp rnpid sprf'ilrl of tILl' tnlth Ulltll "nlf' rl(\p'1'
."-until the work is intl'rfC'red witll frJreihlv hI'
inflllcnl'(,s. Then we f'hall that onr (11'111.'
-tllat the "pJert" lwve all bf'('n spalcd, and that 1101l!.!ht, 1"'-
mains hut to "stand" and assist othprs to stano. Inl1f'I"l, tlli'l.
n'3 we all know, is a important part of the for,
whilC' othcrs are being reacTIrd with the truth. thosp r lre',ll1v
arc being a ssaulterl by the ndw'rsarv, so tha t [l n mny
be and only the faithful be able to' stand.-Rre EpIi
{): lO-18.
TO HIM THAT HATH USED SHALL MORE BE GIVEN
'rlle "Volunteer" sptnt is ,!!rO\\ TJH'-l' \\ J](l 11:, VI' -,'n l'eJ
thus have be('n blessed and ar(' !W)l'!' anxiolls for tIll' (OlHl'll"t
chan thpy wprp for the 1'J1l'Y look allro:1d apcl "f'C' t1I011-
blinrlpd by th!' god of this worJr1 enl;,tillg to kilJ and 1w
killed, and they read the reports ("If tl1(' lriJll"l, wonlldl'd and
prisoners, and the hardships enrlurpd, and tne 1"ne8 to he
borne; and then thry say: How small is th(' sprYil'r, how
slight. the and E'uffering and self-denial our gra('iou"
KIng WIllIng to accept as "rca.wnable scn-iec" from us who
have consecrated to him our all-l'ven unto death-and to
whom he has already given such rich rewards flS well as
promisC'll U8 a share in his Millennial kingdom. We nr(' rp-
solved that neither cares of tbis life, nor pride, nor f'plf-e'l'('
sha II hindpr us from engaging in this battle against darkne'i5
and the infiu('ncps of tIle prince of On tllC' l'ontrarv,
\\ e will be y('t more vigilant, yet morC' "nthusiastic in planting
the truth, the stanrlard of our wl1('re it pan be spell
by many now ignorantly fighting against him and it.
L('t none think of the "Vohmtperl"" as illitprat" "hanrl-hill-
<liRtrihutl'rs." Quitp to the contrary, tlles(> "ministrrs of the
trll,th" who are reaching larger num'bprs and p''rting a grl'at-
('f mfhlCnl'(' than if they occupied the chief puTpits of thl' land,
are far above the av('rage of those whom tl1f'v sene-both
in secular and in Biblical intf'lIigl'nce. One is' a stove-man-
ufacturpr and dealer; sevrral are stor('keepers, onp owning and
fiv:e stores; some are ('ollege grarlnates,
archltC'l'tR and CIVil eng-meers; S01l1(' flre clC'rks holdin'" re-
munerative positions of trust-one of the latter Join",
diligent "Volunteer" work, economized rigidly' his
p('n.ses and accumulated five hundred dollars during last year.
sent to to assist in puhlishinl!: more
good-tJdlngs-nmmumtlOn. Spveral are the chosen leaders of
meetings in their various locnlities; several are stenographers
ImaJeandfemalp): at least two arc artists, one of thrse of dis-
tindion a protrait painter; others are house wives; others are
mpchanips, who, after a wepk of toil. find recrcation (Ind heart-
r"freshm('nt hy spending part of each Sunday as m('ssengers
(anf!pls) of the Lord to carry to their "brethrpn" yet in
Rn?yTon the true GosprI mpsca.!!(',-"good-tidings of !!reat joy
wh]('h Rhall be unto all people" through ''him who lon'd us
and bought us with his own precious blood."
Plenty of worldly business can f'ommand such servants
h(>('auRe of thp pay offer('d; but no other religious work has
pver caliI'd for and Ilotten volunteers of this nor for a
work of this kind, who'll' only pay in the present time is the
divine bles'ling "a hundred fold more in this prf'sent time
with perspcution,-and in thp world to ('omp etf'rnal life'-
"glory, honor and immortality." No otlwr Gosp"l was ever
worthy of so int('lIi!!ent a class of servants; but :1 'I respects
this Gospel its most honorable 8prvants f('pl that [Ill that the.y
hav(> 9nd are, 9r(> offerings far too insignifi('(mt to tl''3tifv to
<iod their new-found apprp('iation of hiR gloriou'3 eharnd"r
and plan. They feel impelled to pay their \'OWS unto the
[2554J
JA"UARY 1. 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER
(5-7)
Lord, to keep their covenant of self-sacrifice even unto death,
becaust' thry have the qcnume faith in the Lord's promlscs,
which works by lM'c and purifies the heart from pride and
selfishness.
A FRESH CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
In the world's warfare defeat leads to fresh calls for sol-
diers: with us success calls for more "Volunteers" and more
succrss and more blessing, "rlehes of grace" (with possibly
more persecution and slander) and by and by "a far more
exC'eeding and eternal weight of glory." There is more, much
more work to be done, and we are desirous that many more
of the Lord's ('onsecrated people should share the heartcheer
and C'hara('ter-strengthpning which this service
Herl' is the very opportunity for which you have prayed-
an opportunity for servmg the trllth, and the Lord and the
"hrtthr(,lI." You wi"hl'd and prayl'd for the needful talents
to prl',ent thesl' good tidings, and you hoped and prayed for
opportunztlrs and for meU11S: and now, behold I the Lord has
prOVided you all these in this "Volunteer" work. Notice that
it is a "rpasona ble Qerv1re" as no othl'r is; because-
(I) It is not an unreasonable misrrpresentation of God's
character and plan and methods with drum and tamhourine,
and singing of hymns to concert-hall tunes, misnamed diVine
worship and service.
(2) It is not the unreasonable misrepresentation of the
dh-ine charartrr and plan as preachl'd in one-half the 200,000
pulpits of "Christendom" which blasphemes Goel's chararter
and misn'presents his plan by declaring that only the satnts
of the present time will ever be saved-far less than onl' out
of every thousand of the world's population; * and that the
great mass, both of the livmg and the dead, will spend an
eternitv in torment indescrihable.
)' I t not the unreasonable misrepresentation of (fod's
charaC'ter and plan prl'sented in the other half of the pulpits
of "Christendom"-which, llshamed of their "hell fire and
damnatIOn C'reeds," hypocritically acknowledge them, while
aC'tually they deny them and preach "onother gospel" of
Evolution and Higher Criticism, which makes void the Word
and plan of God, and repudiates the cross of Christ and all
for his atoning sacrifice.
(-1) It is a "reasonable service" because it appeals only to
reason and Scripture, as no other gospel message on earth
or known among men appeals to these, and to no other author-
itie" and standards. And it does, this, too, in a most reason
One In a thousand of the world's population would be 1,600,000.
That many samts would be a power for good.
able manner: not taklng vows in order to get into pUlpits and
into college'professorships, and under good salaries, to capture
the sects ("creeping into houses and leading captive silly
women"), but by proffering WIthout and with-
out price the priceless jewel of rO'/1sisten t tru t h which from
our own experience we know will eVl'ry true recipient.
Nor has the Lord given us cause for shame respecting the form
in which our mt'ssageR are delivered-they are neat, creditable
to the most refined who engage in the service. And in turn
"the adornment of a meek and qll1et spirit" whiph the Lord's
faithful take to this humble service (laying down their lives
for the brethren) one of the strongeRt or
episilt's of Christ-likent'ss that can he presented to those we
may hope to interest, and it already hail spoken loudly to
thoHe who at first were too prejudiped to read.
(I)) Coulrl there be a more hleRsed or a more reason
ahle srrviee than this? :Kav, verilv! \Ye can fancy, indeed,
that the heavenly anaels lo'ok dow'n upon our privileges and
opportuIllties llnd. fOI;dly that in divine providenee it
might have hrE'n their privilegl' to join with in this most
reasonable, mORt honorahle and hl('RRPcl service.
THE PLAN OF CAMPAIGN FOR 1900
Confident of the reenlistment of the veteranH of 189!). we
have prepared for thcm a new campaign whidl we believe
they will heartily enjo;v. We will get relldy for Spring
paign hundreds of thousands of pamphlets whiph we helieve
you will enJOY We will call for Yolunteers and reen-
listments about "MardI, so please be ready.
:!\-Ieantime most of the "volnnteers" have plenty of work
for the suitable weather between now and spring: and the
spirit of the Lord-the spirit of love for the Lord, love for
the truth and love for the "brethren"-is conRtantly constrain-
ing frt'sh volunteers for plapes not yet served with thl' book-
le( "Btble rs. Erolution" and we are printing ami will con-
tinu(' to print, plenty of these to supply the
The new booklets will be supplied only for the fields where
the other distribution has been made. This free offer for this
spepjn I work will not affect the regular ReIling price of the
booklets ;-they are not free for any other kind of sl'rvice,
tho all are supplied at very low rates. We hope that we may
have many and prompt responses to this call for Gideon's
Bllnd armed with the ,Tnlnlee trumpet to give the lovful
sound, and with lights in their vessels,-ready and willing
to break the vessels, to let the light shine out while they
cause the joyful sound of the real good tidings to sound
throughout the land.-See Judges Chap. VII.
A POSTOFFICE THIEF IS STILL ROBBING OUR MAIL!
We specially request that no money be sent by mail. Altho
this is mentIOned in every issue quite a number fail to hepd it.
TIIPV thus not onlv the monev sent but cause
and' us trouble and postage writiti g about their 10sRes. Fur-
tht'rmore they trouble others who properly send Postal Orders,
DraftR or Express Orders; for the mail-thief frequently by
mistake takes theRt' (which he cannot use and must destroy
lest they betray him). Henc" the many who do right in thIS
matter are put to trouble even tho they suffer no financial
loss. If all would the proper rule, the thi('f would be
spared temptation, and he would soon eease to rifle letters
addrt'ssed to us-finding no money therein.
One dear Brother sent a donation in money, which went
astray. He wrote subsequentlY thllt his thought was-This is
the Lord's money and for the Lord'R rat/se and he will protect
it. He erred in this, failing to realize that hIS course wasil
jl'mpting of Providence' "Thou sha It not tempt the Lord thy
GOll" or i'ohonld we tempt onr wpnk in llpll fellow-('I ea tnres,
"THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH"
JAN. 7.-LuKE 2: 1-16.
"Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall sare hIS people from their sins."-:!\Iatt. 1 :21.
J('RUS is the topic of the International Sunday School Le8- Joseph, nevertheless, being allopt('d by him as hiR son. he
son ('0111 for the entire year 1900. It should be a very might, without impropriety, inlwrit him. Luke shows
profitablp study, for the more intimately we know our dear the genealog;l; of Mary, hy whl/'h our Lord aetually reo
Redeemer in the light of the Scriptures the more we shall lated, apcording to the to our race and to the roya;
apprpC'iatt' Illm, love him and seek to copy him. other family of Dayitl through the linp of Nathan.*
hfe' than could bear so continual and close a f'crutiny, yet The time of our Lord's birth waR an am,picjous one in
always he full of freRh revelatIons of moral dignity and ehar- several respects, and very evidently divine wif'dom had exer
apter-any other life similarly f'tudied and eriticised would cised itself in respect to the world's affairs hy way of prepara-
reveal its seamy side of weakneRR, sin and ignohility. tion for this important t'vent: (I) The f'pnit of world
Of th" four records, only John's attempts to trape our conquering' that began with Nebuehal!ne:r,zar's kingdom was
Lord's to the heavenly sour('t', and to show that fllvorable to it, in the sense that it hrought the various fam-
before h" was made flt'Rh he waR a spuit bemg with tIl(' Father ilies or nations of mankind into cloRer eontaet with each
and a sharer of his glory-a god with the God. But all of the othrr, broadening tht'ir (2) This poliey had reRulted
are clear in their statement that he in th.. tnm,planting of peoplps from one bnl! to another, and
made flesh"-not that he r"maint'd a spirit being, and aRSl1med thus had made them more e'osmopolitan in their spntiments.
flesh as clothing in which to appf'ar to men, but, however (3) and .Judah, thus transplanted m their captl\'ity
explainahle, that the lifp power of the spirit being, the Logos, to Babylon, became so attached to the new condItions that
became the lifp power of the human being, horn of a woman l'omparatiycly few of them availed themselws of the offer
and under the Law, subject to all the conditions and circum- of Cyrus to return to their own land, only about fifty thousand
stances of the Jews. Matthew traces Joseph's genealogy; for of all the tribes, out of spveral millions. The J eWH among
altho the statement is clear that Jesus was not the son of -----..--see MILLNNIAL DAW", VOL. v, Chap 6.
[2555]
(8-9)
Z J () .1\" S TVA Tell TO TV E T<
wel(' In 110 IIl1'alh alld had by no medII.., ahan-
donl'\l .Iil of tlH'i, !IOpl'" in thf' _\Inahallli(' ('ovenant nor all of
their faithflllllp"" to til(' Law-altho they were lax in
thl'H' m,lttl'r" and too illIl of a 10\ l' of g.tin and eal:\C to eult!-
vatp tilt' ... "int of I ... ral'litp" 11l1h'pd. they hacl
their influpn,p aJllo!lg"t all the natIOns with whom thpv'dwelt.
and wen' \\'ltll. ... "C... to thp hoppl:\ of ll:\fael ill tlll' onE' (jocl and
III a I'oming .\Ip,;,;iah. the :'lon of God, to bE' thp world's De-
liverpr (-t I TIlt' tTJllmph for a time of the (frcek Empire
had hrought to thp ,i\ J1Jl':pd world a highly developpd litera-
ture-titp <:rel'J.. langmlgp had rpa('hed its 7,pnith. and wa,.;
thE' Iitprar.v langmlgc' of tIl,' C'I\ world. (;; \ The Roman
Emplrp had "oIHlu,'r,',1 till' \\ orlcl aJl(I was in the height of it,;
powp!'. alln a... .I [("lIlt there \\a,; a time of universal ppal'(',
and IIPllt'f' a JlIon' fa ulT<lhle timp than any before for the
announn'mpnt of thl' (io""pl and for thp safety of its reprl'sen-
tatives in pa""ing from nation to nation. (6) 1,;rael itself
had rea,IIE'cl pro)Jahly its ll1glll'st dp\ el(lpmf'nt, illt.ellel'tually.
morally :lJIcl n'ligiou"l.v. and adclitionally we are told in the
Hcripture" that "All JlI(,1J wl're III p,rpl'cf(/fioll" of tlll' Me"siah',.;
c'oming -Lllkp :1. Iii.
11 ,Ut ... ill"t ,It til .... mo<;t approJll'latl' tImp. as dl\inel.v
arrange,l for. that ('al',;ar Augu,;hl,;, the Roman EmpeIor,
I"l:\uf'd Ilh dl'C 1'('1' th(' taxing of his worldwide empire.
Thp (I.(,\'I'C wa ... not nH'rplv an lIs<;eK"ml'nt of taxeK, but WlIS
I "tlll'l a ('pn<;u", or ('Ilrollnwnt for taxation. Bllt instead of
"'l'IHlillg a... ,;c<;so\,,, to thl' ]>('ople, aecortiing to the present cus-
tom. tIll' an angl'm('nt then was that every male eiti7,E'n mnst
report himsf'lf at the headquartE'rs of his own family litH'.
This wa'" till' o('pasion for tl1(' (omlnJ.! of .To"l'ph lind his
espoused \\ it". :\Iar,v, thf' mother of ,Te"u,;. to 1ll'thlehE'Ill, their
nati\'(' C'lt \'. O\' famih- f'it", for theY WE're !loth of the housp of
David I tllo t tll ongh' (liffcrf'Ilt and Bethh'hem was 'the
('it.'" of Dand." Thufl in a providenti11l manner and by a clperee
over \\ hieh tlll'.'- had no control whatever, Jo'!eph and Mary were
hrought to till' nr:v c'ity in whieh most appropriately the great
lleir of Da, i,l "hould be born, aR had bpen foretold by the
prophet.-:\rie.111. [) ,2.
ThE' noting of thesp littlp i lIejclpntaIf; hy which divine
pro" idenee prpparpd for our Saviollr's birth and for the send-
ing forth of the Gospel message, are strengthening to the faith
of the Lord's people. Realizing God's eare in the past over
('ven the little things, gives a foundation for l'onfidence in his
wisdom and provision for the features of his plan which are
yet future-the flllfihnent of all the exceeding great and pre-
ciou'! pl'omisp" "hich centered in him who was born in Bethle-
hem. And so a1"'0 a n'ali7,ation of the divine providence in the
larger affair... of the divine plan stimulates faith also in the
Lord's proyjclf'nces as r('<;peets the personal and more private
affairs of hi<; p(oplp. L('t us more and more realize that, as
pven the incidelJts connected with the birth of onr
Saviour were ord('r('d of tIle Lorel. so also he is both able and
willing to order all of the affairs of his spiritual children.
Let us reaSOIJ with the Apostle that, if God 10fed us while
we were ."et "inn('r,;, ... 0 as to make such eareful provision for
0111' redpmptiolJ, mudl more 1I0W that we are no longer rebels,
aliens, strangcrs, foreign('rs, but have become his sons, fellow-
heirs with Christ and all the saints, we may ha,-e confi,dence
in his love and in his providential care, that according to
Ius promisl' all things shall work together for good to them
tha t loY\' him-to thp ca lied ones accordillg to his purpose.-
Rom. !i.S-lO; S:2S.
1111' 'lamf' d('('1'('p that brought .Toseph and :Mary to Bethle-
hem hrollght man." others of tIlt' family of David,
and a<; the inn<; nl' hotpls of that time were f'omparativel,v
limited in nUln!>el'; and in ('apacity, it is not :mrprising that
t]l(' inn proper was fnll of gue"t" when ,Tospph and
an ivpc1. 1n(lf'p(1. it ",a<; rathpr thl' ('ll"tom for many tra \'elerA
to ('alT.'- with tllf'm their own loclging outfit, and 'to provide
for their own c'oll\-eniE'nl'ps in the l'onrtvard ('onnected with
the inn.... Anc] hpllc'(' the E'xpE'rien('c'" o'f .To<;eph and ]\[ary
\\,pre no IlIP.ln" I''\(('ptional. \Yhen therpfor(' the Bahe ,Tesus
wa'3 bOln, a mangpr hecame his mo"t convenient cradle.
The eity of Bpthlehem "I. ill exist'l, and prohably is not so
dissimIlar to what it was in that day, for in that land cus-
tom'! "pelll to ha\(' ('hanged hut littlf' 'ill I'pntlll ip". A c'pl'tain
grotto b f'laimed to hE' tIl(' one which niIlPtl'f'fi hundred years
ago WI\'" tIl(' stable of the inn, and a I'ertain stone manger is
'lho\\n. which it IS claimed, was the one in which the Babe
J was laid. Over this has bpen erected a Catholic I'hurch,
alld various ceremonie'! are ('ontinually performed in and
about and connected with "the sal'red manger." \"ith such
cl'remoni('s we ('an feel littl(' sympathy, helieving them to be
rather of the nature of idolatries. To ns the eE'nter of interest
i.., not the holy ground on which our Saviour trod, nor the
holy man!?er in which he a'l a hahe. nor his holy mother:
yea, tho we renrence his flel:\h. and are deeply interested in all
that pertains thereto, espef'iaJly in all its experien('es, from
the time of it" eonsecration to death, at baptism: nevertheless,
our still greater interest iH III our ri"en Lord, the npw crea-
tnre perfected, the spiritual On(', far above manhood, far above
angels, principalities and powers and evpry nam(' that 'is
l1aml'd-nE'xt to the Fathpr, and exalted to hi" right hand
of po\\er Thl' ,\p0'ltlp VOlI'''''' this ,;entlUlPnt wl'll. savlllg. "Tho
WI' have known Christ after thp flesh, VE't now hen('eforth
know we him rflol no more"-onr of him a<; th('
risl'n and glorifiE'd Lord and Sa"iour thorough1." out"hinp"
all of our interpflt in his earthly lifll. (2 Cor. ;): 16 \ Ancl
his Iif(' is intl'rp,;tillg and profiLt hit, to 11'-. a" "'.'
have "('1'11 and "hall flee.
Had the ppople 1.... ,;pmhIPl] at Bethlf'llPm r.'nltz('cl who thi!l
was that had corne to their 11(' wa" from tIlE' hl'a\ell-
Iv ('ourtfl, that hI' was the Logofl madp flp,;h. that h(' had ('omI'
to "save hi" pE'opll' from thpir ,;iJls"-how gladly .wonld
hav(' wplc'omE'd him into th(' inll and hav(' givl'lI to hI'- 11';1'
and l'omfort its CllOi(,E'flt apartment,;' But knew hUll not.
and henep lost this great pridlE'ge of ministering to him
Similarly, in eYery city and to",n wher<' the Lord'" peopl<' an'
(his true "aints), there arp many who would make tlwllI "pl-
('ome and give them the best at their diHpof\al, did they hnt
reeognize tllem as the mes"pngers of .T('>'us and of tllC Hea, pll-
ly Father; but as the Apofltll' l:\ays, "The world know(:th. u"
not, because it knew him 1I0t." (1 .Tohll :1:1) The dlSf'lpll'
mUl'lt not expef't to bE' ahovp Iii ... Lord. ancl h('lIcl'. ('\'I'n when
goillg UpOIl mif\ ... ions of m('n')' and hpnp\-olpn"e allcl, 01";
hassadur,; for (lo,1. WE' should (':,\IWc-l that the Lcn d" Pl0Vi-
dence would furllish for u<;. not tl)(' most palatial f'OIHlitions.
hut morE' prohahly v.'r." humbl!' ('onclitiOJI';. And wllf'u WI' fin,l
It thus we should rejoice that to "ome 1':'\ tpnt at Ipa ... t we h:1\ ('
I'xperienees which liarmonize with tllOSC of our Lord. Thl'
Lord's peoplf' will obtain a blessing. in proport,ion as. tlll-\'
are prepared to reeeive a11 opportumtles for God s servlCf' a"
divine favors and to appreciate them, no matter how humbl,'
the conditions and it is noteworthy that neither Joseph, nOl
Mary, nor nor the disciples, nor the Evangelist whu
reeorded the incident, offers the slightest complaint or sug-
gestion of dissatisfaction tlle arrangement provided
divine providence. In proportIOn as t.hey ",:ould have felt
l'latisfied with the arrangement'! prOVIded, In proportIOn
the divine plans would not have worked for theIr good.
The vicinity of Bethlehem is a pastoral country, and. to-
day is covered with flocks. It was the custom at that ttnlf'
for the shepherds to remain with their flocks by night a<; ,l
guard against thieves as well as against wild beasts Tt
in this vipinitv that David (afterward king) , WhE'1l a sh('pllf'rcl-
boy protE'f'ting his flocks. slew on one occasion a lion <lIId at
another time a bear. TIl(' shepherds as a ('lass wpre not
partieularlv well educated people as rE'speets SdlOOls, nnd
many of them were thoughtful and thus secured, in their
leistire time while watching their flocks. by reflection nlln hy
('onversation, considerable knowledge, so that they might hI'
tprmed an intellectual and thinking dass of peoplc--th('lr
minds being turned more to reflection on than
are the minds of some who are constantly Immpr>,ed 111 tr.llic
and of mechanics. The shepherd whom God honored in
him king of his typical kingdom, was a great poet. and ('Y!-
dently much of his time while shE'pherding was gh en to t hI'
muse and one of his most beautiful poems (Psalm 2:1) n'v-
resen'ts Jehovah himself as the Shppherd of his ppoplE'.-hi'l
flock for which he cares. It was to men of thifl thoughtful
('last<: and no doubt men familiar with David's Pl:\alm". and
with the Messianic hopes therein set forth, that the Lonl ,;('nt
the first message respecting his Son made flesh.
ThE' dE'scription of the appearance of an angel, and of tl!e
fear whidl the brightness of his countenl1nl'e engendered, IS
hoth flimple and natural. All mankind more or feels in-
stinctivelv a fear of the supernatural, a trepIdation at th..
very thou!!:ht of being in the presence of the holy. angE'1l'l: Ano
this is proper as well as natural, .for all realize thpIr own
imperfections through the fall, fearmg more .01' t.he
results to themselves would hl' unfavorable If dIVIDe Just!ee
were laid to the line and to the plummet in respect to thl'ir
affairs. All seem instinctively to realize their need of men::v
at the hands of him with whom we havp to do. And kO It
was with these shepherds, they were affrighted as they beheld
the heavenly visitor in their midst; but his .message J.lot
one of justice nor in any sense of condemnatIOn, but of dlVm('
merey. He soothed them the wordB, ".He not afraid; for
behold I bring you good tIdmg" of great JOy which shall
unto all people." Can we wonder that jo?, took the place or
fear in their hE'arts as thpy heard the grl\CIOIlS words? Surely
not. And so it is with all who from that rlay to the prE'sE'nt
[2556]
JANUARY 1, 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER (10-11)
time have heard this true Gospel message, not merely with
the outward ears, but truly, with the ears of their under-
standing-comprehending it.
How false and how sad has been the understanding of
this message by many of God's people as it has ephoed to them
down the ages! How few have heard it gladly, appreciatively!
How remarkable that nearly all of the different churches and
their thousands of ministers and hundreds of thousands of
Sunday Rc}1001 teachers should unite in a complete contradic-
tIOn of mpssage of the angels-a contradiction which not
only wounds thpir own sentiments and grieves their own
hearts, but which robs our dear Saviour's mission of nine-
tpnths of its and thoroughly dishonors and maligns
thp name of our gmciou'! Heavpnly Father by its misrepresenta-
tion of the salvation which he has provided in Christ Jesus.
Some prrhaps may be surprised. and even shocked, at Buch
an arraignment of the which thry and other well-
mp,lI1ing but hlinded Christians are delivering in the name
of thE' Gospd-for the word "GospE'I" i'! dE'rIved from the words
"good tidingB." Vi-I' are quite ready to believe that the vast
rna iority of those who promulgate the had tzdings of eternal
mlspry. as being the diVine mE's'!age and sentE'nce to the vast
milloritv of mankind, art> wholly unaware of how seriously
they misrqJresent the divine charaetpr and government in the
whiph thpy purry to men ;-they misstate the Gosflel,
not of intpntion. but of hlimlne'!s, the very blindnt>ss men-
tioned hv the Apostle as originating with the great adversary
-the blindness by whiph he blinds the minds of the vast ma-
to hindpr them from realizing the glorious light of
GOfl's goodness revealed in Jesus Christ our Lord.-2 Cor.
4:4.
Oh, if wp could only get all true Christians to Rtudy this
tenth verRe of our leRBon, and to Ree the depths of its R'ignifi-
eanpe. it woulll qUIckly revolutionize the teachingB of
('111 i,temlom! TInt as our Lord declarE'd some of thE' deep
thillgB of the divinE' plan are hidden from many of the wise
and prudC'nt according to the course of this world, and are
rp\ Pil!l'd only to the humblt>-the babes. Nevertheless, the
tp,tlmony of God standpth Rure, and all whose understandings
ha\'P lll'en openpcl and who have been enabled to compre-
hpIHI Romp of the lengths ancl the breadths, and the heights
8n,1 the d"pths of God's love, may rejoice that the ignorance of
the worl<! in general on thiR subject and the opposition of the
grPflt who iR hlincling them, cannot continue for-
enr, Imt must soon give plape. when the Lord'R clue time
sha II eome ;-when he who died on Calvary for the world'B
redpmption Rhall begin his glorious reign by binding that old
Rcrppnt, tIl(> clpvil, Satan, that he should deceive the nations
no morp for thC' tholland years of the Millennial reign. Then
all Rhall see out of obscurity; then all Rhall diRcern what at
prpspnt i" thp pnvilpge of 'only the favorecl few to see, re-
sppetmg the dh 1I1t> charactt>r and plan-that the message of
tllp [1ngcl was true. every worcl of it-that the grand results
to flow from the birth of the Saviour in Bethlehem justified
the meRage BPnt by the great Jehovah,-a goocl message of
grrat joy whiph C'ventually shall be to all people-whose en-
lightenment and bleRRing shall have no hindrance, no restric-
tion, [lI1l1 a'l a rrsult all shall come to a knowledge of the
truth and to an opportunity of availing themBelves of the
graeC'. mprry and peare provided for all in the great salvation
sPcllred by the ransom-sacrifice of our Lord Jesus.
The angel further explained his great Gospel message,
l'howing it'! basiR, and declaring that all the good things
mpntionNl should pornI' to pasR because the Saviour, Messiah,
had lwen born-the one so long- looked for in Israel, the
promised seef! of Abraham in w110m not only Israel should
be hlrRsecl and exaItecl to honor, dignity and co-operation. but
in whom also "all tht> families of the earth should be blessed."
And let UR hrre remark that the order of presentation
by the heavenly meBBenger, and evidC'ntly divinely ordered,
is the propt>r preFlentation of this subject whil'h should be
acloptl'cl by all who seek to he uRed of the Lord as his am-
basRador'l in the calling of the elect church. First, there is
the grand pronounpement of divine favor and blessing, that
it is a cause for joy, and that ultimately it shall extend to
every creature; secondly, there is the specific explanation of
how all this is to be accomplished-through a Saviour,
a Deliverer, who, as stated in our Golden Text, in order to
dE'liver his people from the wages of sin, death, into eternal
life and bleRsing, mURt first of all Bave them from their sins.
And we see from othrr Scriptures that this salvation from
our Rins Bignifies not only the payment on our behalf of the
pl'nalty for Adamic sin, but alRo, subsequently, man'n in-
strurtion in righteoUSnl'SR and lifting out of sin; in which
uplift each one is required to co-operate to the extent of his
will and of his ability.
So all teaching of the grace that is to come to mankind
should be coupled with the pllllo::lophy of the ::lalvation-the
SavIOur made flesh and the tleh de\ oted or sacnficed for our
sins, and the Saviour glorified, that in due tIme after the
spleetion of his church he might, with her, according to the
divine plan, establish his kingdom of righteouRTICss for the
uplifting of the world of mankind out of ignorancC'. sllpprsti-
tion and general degradation into which the grpat aelH'l'-
sary had gotten them through the fall ancl throu!!h -ub-
sequcnt blinding and misleading. In this connl'dion it
well to remember that our Lord's name, Jrslls, Si!!l1lfipQ
Sat'io11r, ancl that all who would be of the elect Churl'h lllUbt
have the Rpirit of the Bridl'groom (as well a'! bv faith b"
coverrd with the garment of imputed nghtC'ou-ylPSs) : ancl
that his spirit iR one of opposition to sin to the f'J'trn t of srlf-
sacrifice. "\Ye also are to "re'list unto blood [dpathl strlPlIZ,9
against sin."-Heb. 12.4.
Then the angel g-ave the shepherds an intimation of the
humble conclitions under which this great King of t>urth was
born into the world-as a hahe, wrappl'd in Rwaelf!ling hflnds
and lying in a manger. This W'lS not onlv to tllPir
iclentifil'ation of but nerpRary alRo to hring clown thPir
thoughts from the great and grand results to its hllmhle he-
glmmuls, IpRt they shoulcl be mislpd in their exppdation'l, An,l
as it is with every part of tht> divine plan, so it shollld hl'
in reRpect to all of our proclamations of the same. "\Ye are
not only to tell of the future glory and and gran-
cleur, but we are to tt>ll also of the prespnt humiliation-not
only of our Saviour who humhled himself to take a low l'state
amongBt men. and to die for our Rins. but al"o to point out
that the "elect" are call eel to walk in hiR footRtl'pR, unf!t>r
Rimilarly humiliating eirpum"tanpPs-to Buffer with him. if
they would reign with him; to die with him, if they would
live with him. And thus alRo tIle prophet" spoke not 011 of
the glory that Rhoulcl follow. but also of the sufTl'rinl:(R of
Christ (head and body) whirh mu'!t preet>de the (1
Pet. l'll) The lesRon to everyone who has enrs to hpar it
iR, "No crORS, no crown." Let UR, then. humble ourplYe<:
undt>r tIl(' mighty hand of God, and rejoire in ewry "tep of
the humiliation, that he may exalt us in due timp to share the
glories of his Son our Lorcl. and to Bhare with him the grand
work of blessing all the families of the earth.
It was a fitting climax that. aftt>r the one angel had toM
the surprisecl shepherds of the good tidingR of grea t iov for all
people and was re'ldy to depart. he should be joined bv our
angelic hORt, singing, "Glory to God in the high""t,
and on earth pearl', good wIll toward men." Thi'! W'l'! IJnt
a reiteration of the Gosppl mps"are already dplivprpd, It
declarecl that the work which "houlel be by the
babe just born, Rhould rpclound to the highl'st glory aTIlI !1C)nor
of .Tehovah God, his Father. It declared also that throuO'l]
this work to be accompli"hed by Jesus should pomp to p'nth
divint> good-will and eonRf'qupntly pf'ace-and all thnt tlW3"
,,"oulcl imply in the way of blessings of reBtitution ancl privi1p!!p
of attaining everlasting life. But how murh in conflirt with all
this are the erroneous theorieR whieh havC' gainecl rrNlrll('e
in Christt>ndom, which teach that, notwithtanding tht> ran-
som which our lord Jesus gave, and notwithRtanding the
turning asicle of tne original sentenf'C' upon ollr r.1(p a tIl('
rt>sult of the propitiation for our sins aceeptC'd by the Fathpr,
the vast majority of the human family will npvt>rthelpRs, to
all eternity, be in rebellion againRt God. ancl in torturp WIll
continually blaRpheme his name ;-ancl that WIthout f'Yl'r
having had a full. rl'aRonable opportunity to know thp f'aYlOUr
or to arf'ept his salvation. How Rtrange that anv ",houl.l think
that such a plan would be glory to God in the' higllP'it!
How strange that any RlJOuld to 8('(' thC' wry plain
statement of the Scripture that God has provi<lpd tllrouuh
Christ that e-yery memher of the human f,tmily shall hnvC' ')
full opportunIty of coming to a knowledge of tIl(' tmth. nIHl
then of relinquishing Rin and of acpepting nC'w life of rig-htl,ol1-
neRS under the New Covenant-and that then whopvpr Rtlll
refuses and will not Bubmit himsf'lf to thi'! rightpol1<: ar-
rangement shall be uttt>rly deRtroyed from amongst the pro-
pIe-in the second death.-that none wiII bE' Rufff'red to live In
sin and opposition to God to blemiRh any part of GOIl'"
dominionR, but that all the incorrigihle shall be as tho th"y
had not been. In no other way can Wl' pos'!iblv imagine that
the time will ever come when there wiII be full peare among
men. "There is no peart> for the wirked, saith my GOll."
The only solution whirh God offf'rB rl'sperting the eRtab-
Iishment of peace iR in eonnertion with the eRtil hliRhmen!, of
his kingdom, for which our f!ear Redeemer taught to pray,
"Thy kingdom come, thy wiII be done on earth aB it is donI'
in heaven." That will mean peace in its fullest and mORt
absolute sense. The Scriptural proposition does not include
[2557]
(11-13)
ZION'S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, !'A.
the violation of any man's will, but merely the offering
through of an opportunity for hlq everlasting blessing
and peace. or his cutting off in the death if he fails
to appreciate the divine offer.
The shepherds having heard of God's grace manifested their
interest by viSiting and paymg their hOlnage to the Saviour:
and so each one who has heard of the grace of God with an
appreciative heart can do nothing les8 than seek the Lord and
do him reverence and serve IllS cause by proclaiming the
gracious message with which he has been favored. Let us
each do so, and thus more and more increase in our hearts the
,l0Y'l of the Lord and our appreciation of his grand
Galatians 3: 8, 16. 2l.l
Respecting the date of Jesus' birth, we hold that It was
about Sept. 25th to Oct. 1st B. c. I, and that the annunciatIOn
(Luke 1: 28) was nine months earlier, namely Dec. 25th B. c. 2.
The evidences re this position are given in detail in MIL-
LENNIAL DAWWN, VOL. n., pages 54-62.
"JESUS INCREASED IN WISDOM AND STATURE"
JAN. 14.-LuKE 2:4152.
"And Jesus inaroosed in wisdom and statwre, and in favor u:nth God and Man."
:\Tu"h pceuliar spe('ulation haq !J('cn indulged in respecting noble character. 'Vhom the Lord uses we may safely estcem
the chIldhood, boyhood and young manhood of our Lord Jesus, honorable.
with whleh we have no sympathy whatever. The Bible Although the Jewish Law not so stIpulatl', tr:ldition
studrnt shoulrl confine himself to the Bible record, and not informs that it was the custom to consider every hoy who
give loose rl'in to imagmation and more lIkely had fulfilled his twelfth veal' as "a Son of the Law." and to
to he nntrue than ('orrp('1. Had the Lnrd forpsecn necessity for a certain extent from age amenahle to the rerlUlrements
information rC'specting this periorl of our SavlOur's career he of the Law: and the narratIve of our lesson scrmq to confirm
undoubtC'dly woulrl haw' prO\'i(lerl for it in the inspired rec- this tradition, telling nq that when t\\( h(' years of
ord. This (lo('q not imply that thrrp nothing noteworthy age (Ill his thirteenth year) he accompamed thc famIly to the
or commendahlc in our C'arher hfl'. hnt rather that by Feast at Jrrusalem. Is there not a lesson hrre for
comparati\'Ply ignoring tlJiR the Lord would point us more all godly parents, suggesting that the training of the infancy
particularly to the thrre and a half of publIc ministry period should be of such a character as to prrparp thc ('hilc!
in .fordJn, and hy the holy Spirit, In for the consideration of sober and relIgious maHrrs at the
a word, the Lord thm IJoints ont that it was not the man \'Prv threshold of bovhood? "VI' think there And we
Jesus words and ads were valuable to UR and lessons think it a serious rriistake made hy some well-intentlOnrd
for our l'mulation, hut the wordq and ads of Chrzst Jesus, parents when they conclude that their childrl'n of twelvp yca IS
the iinom/"d after he had been anointed With have sufficient mind to have grasped the elementary prmclples
thl' h,d.1 :--Jlliit \\ It 11I1nt mpa Xe\'ertheles'l keeping Rtrictly of a secular educatIOn and to be prepared for highl'r studies
within thl' lInes of thr littlr that is written in the Scriptures of a secular character, but unfit for higher rpliglOus
we may draw vaJuahlp and IH'lpfuI from the The cl1l1dren who are ready at tnat age for Illghrr nlar
hoyho'Jd and young manhood of our studies have already heen carefully lllstructed along r!ementary
Nothmg if! known the twelve years of our lines; and if any are unprepared for higher studies in rehgwus
Lord's life, l"C{'pt that unrler dh inp dlrel'tlOn his mother and matters it is at least that their elementary rehgious
fostprfathl'r tonk him down into Egypt, out of the reach of training may have been neglected by their divinely appointed
Herod, wllPrc thl'v l't'mained \\ ith him for a few months until instructors-their parents. No Christian parent can avoid
aftl'r IT"wd's d{'flth, rpturning then to their home city, Naza- this his natural reqponsibIlity toward his chIldren-ill moral
reth in Galilee. It will be remcmhered that the occasion of and religious training a'l well as in the secular and ph;"lcal.
the flight into Egypt was Herod's icar that a king 'should The Feast of the Passover continued seven davs, but it was
ansI' in the familv of David, in harmony with the Jewish the custom for many of the pIlgnmf! from dis"blllt parts to
traditIOns. ItlHI that thm Herod's own family would be ousted remain over only two days, until after the principal cere-
from thl' kingly position. Herod was not of the family of monies. It if! probable that ,Joseph and Mary, III company
DaYid, nor a Jew at all-he was of the family of Esau, .Jacob's with their kinsfolk, started on the return journey on the third
hrother. The story of the wise men coming from the East day of the feast. It was customary for thl' wnmen pi a cara
seeking a new-born king of the Jews Will be rememberpd, and van to move on ahead, the men coming after. and a boy of
now 11 ('ro,l. learning of their mission, urged that when they Jesus' age might be with either of the parents and not be
had found the infant they sought they should inform him, missed until nightfall; and so it seems to haYr hprn in this
Herod fl'lgnlllg that h<:' also desired to do homage to the new case. As one day had been spent in the journey. so another
king. But the wise men, under divine direction, ignored day was spent returning, and a third day in searC'hini!' throug-h-
Herod's request. Rubsequently, learning some of the particu- out the city; finally they found Jesus in the Tpmple, sittmg
lars tlip birth at Bpthlchl'm, Herod caused the death with the teachers of the Law, the "Doctors." This was not so
of tlIp rna Ir-dlildren of that city of two years old and under- unusual as might at first appeur; for at that time information
thus endeavoring to insure the death of the newborn king. was gained less from books and more from oral teaching, and
It is not at all probable that the number of babes slaughtered the Doctors of the Law were supposed to br ready to instruct
under this (lC'prC'e was great; as the population of Bethlehem all who desired information, especially during the holy Pass-
was small the number of male children of such an age would over week. Many young men availed themselves of such op-
necessarily be few. portunities, and the custom seems to have been for the Doctors
The Tl'xt informs us that Jesus grew like any other to sit on a special semi-circle of seats, while before them were
boy-that dcvdopment was gradual, both as respects ph.ys low benches for the older students: the younger boys sat on
ical and intelleetual stature. 'VI' are not, therefore, to thmk the ground, literally "at their feet." Thus Paul, as a youth,
of Jl'SUS in boyhood'R days as a sage a teacher, a healer, etc., was a pupil to Gamaliel, or, as the recurd reads, "sat at the
as we find him subsequent to his anointing with the holy feet of Gamaliel," to learn of him. Gamaliel was one of the
Rpirit. \\1' may properl;' suppose that the per- chief Doctors of the Law in his day.
feet boy would. in maIlY respects be ke.ener and .brighter than 'Ve are not to understand that the boy Jesus was bold,
the average boy who inherits sundry ImperfectIOns from the and that he went before the learned men of his day to de
fall. * nounce them as ignorant and as incapable teachers, and to
The tC'stimony rl'specting Mary and Joseph leaves no doubt show himself off, as some precocious but ill-trained youth of
that thry were pious pl'opll', and this is confirmed by the first today might attempt to do. On the contrary, we are to sup-
verse of tIllS lesson, which informs us that it was their custom pose the boy Jesus to have a well-balanced mind, which prob-
to go e\'Cry y,-,ar to the F<:'ast of the Passover: this require ably recognized the fact that he had lived but few years in
mmt of the Law was ol!sernd by the most devout .Jews only. the world and had comparatively small experience in lifr, and
It is as ImnC'ccssary as it iR improper for us to go beyond the that he by no means knew all, but recognized many questions
Scriptural dC'clarations on this subjert, and to assume, as some upon which he would like to have further information, and
do, that Mary hrrself was miraculously conceived and born that he asked his questions honestly, with a desire and hope of
frre from sin. Indred, if w(' had no record testifying to Mary's obtaining satisfactory answers from the teachers who "sat in
piC'ty the f:ll't that she was honored by the Lord above all Moses' seat."
other women, in that she was chosen to be the mothl'l' of Jesus The nature of the questions is not stated, but the time and
according to the flesh, would prove her nobility of character surroundings would seem to indicate that they were of a
and purity of heart ;-for it is not even supposable that the religious charaetr, and that the mind of Jesus was already
Lord would so specially honor, blC'ss and use any other than a grappling with the gr<:'at questions which properly belonged to
* See MILLF:NNIAL DAWN, VOL. v, Chap 4. him as a member of the Jewish race to which God had made
[2558]
JANUARY 1, 1900
ZION'S WATCH TOWER (13-15)
and ignore Joseph, and subsequently imply that JOBeph was
the father of JeBuB; (2) Joseph having accepted Mary, ac-
cepted also her son, Jesus, and became his foster-father, and
under just such CIrcumstances today the child would be taught
to consider such an one a parent, and to call him "father."
(3) It iB not at all probable that the Btory of the immac-
ulate conception of Jesus was ever made known to any but
the closest members of the family, and it is highly improbable
that the subject had ever been discussed with the boy Jesus,
only twelve years of age,-nor would it .have been. proper. to
do 1'0. Mary's language, therefore, is entIrely ConBlstent WIth
all the factI' set forth in the Gospel narrative.
QUite po"sihly the mind of the boy Jesus, while investi-
gating the BubJect of hiB own l"eBpOnBibilities toward the
Heavenly Father and hiB plan, had wondered whether or not
his mission might not in some degree begin with his thirteenth
year, since at that time he was reC'ognized as a "Ron of the
law." Quite possibly some of hiB queBtions before the Doctors
of the Law were along this line, and quite probably he had
finally about reached the conclusion that the typeB of the
priestly office indicated clearly that his n:isBion would not
begin until he was thirty years of age. HIS reply to Mary'S
chidin" was along this line: Did you not expect me to be
about "my Father's business? Did you not know that I had
reached 'the age when I am a ""on of the Law," .and that
therefore certain responsibilities have come upon me III respect
to the Heavenly Father and hiB Word his plan?
then as thou"h remembering the conC'lmnon that he had JUBt
reached in the subject with the Doctors, he broke
off the conversation yielded himself to their wishes, and
accompanied them te: :Nazareth, making (so far as recorded)
no further suggf'stion of any other than t.he ordinary
of life until he had attained the age of thIrty years. ThIS IS
expressed in the words, "And he was subject unto them."
Joseph and Mary realized clearly that the boy waB more than
ordinary, very extraordinary indeed, yet they did not
comprehend the situation nor fully grasp the import of hiS
words. NevertheleBs, Mary treasured this with the other pe-
{'uliar testimonieB respecting him in her heart. and doubtless
it was from her lips that Luke received the information con-
tained in our leBson.
Tradition de('lares that JOReph dif'd while ,Jesus was yet
young, and that the latter took up the carpenter's trade and
became the support of the family. This findR some support in
the Scriptural testimony where J eSUB himself iB called a car-
penter, and his mother and brethren are mentioned, but Joseph
is ignored. (Mark 6:3) Furthermore, no reference is made to
Joseph in connection with our Lord's ministry, though his
mother and his brethren are Beveral timeR mentioned. It is
quite probable, then, that the long period of eighteen years of
our Lord's life, from the time of the incident of this lesson
to the time of hiB baptism, was spent in the performance of
the ordinary duties of life. What a thought this gives us
with respect to our Lord's development of patience-patiently
waiting until the Father's time should come and he should
begin his ministry; patiently studying meantime. as best he
could, to know more and more of the Father's will and plan;
patiently waiting for the baptiBm of the holy spirit, which
would enable him to fully comprehend the situation and his
own personal relationBhip to it. What a lesson there is here
for all his followers, and everyone of UB may well realize the
truth of the words, "Ye have need of patienre." and again,
"Lpt patipn{'e haw her perfp{'t work." "That a there is
for us also in thf' thought that wr are not to attempt to hasten
the divine plan, hut to wait patiently for its unfolding-not
to attempt to begin any work for thf' Lord unlesB we are sure
that his time has come, and that he has raIled us to do it;
then, like our Lord, to he instant in season and out of season,
whpn convenient and when inconvenient, under favorable and
unfavorahle conditions; to do with our might what our hand
has found to do. And we gather thf' further thought that the
most humble forms of lahor are honorable when they are ours
in harmony with God's providpnce.
Happily for us, we are not born undf'r th(' Law nor under
the limitationI' which hinder us from rereiving the call and
responding to it before thirty years of agp. On the contrary,
under the *New Covenant of grace it is our privilege to present
our bodies living sacrifices to the Lord's service at as early an
age as our knowledge of divine things and our enlightened
judgmentB will permit. We, instead of waiting to grow to the
fulness of stature mental and phvsieal, are permitted to begin
at once, as members of the Royal Priesthood, and to be grow-
ing at the Bame time we are serving. But let UB not forget
certain great and precious promises as the Seed of Abraham;
-promiBes of divine bleBsing under MeBBiah, of exaltation to
be the chief nation of the world, and of the subBequent privi-
lege of blessing all nations and of being the medianes through
whom all mankind might be brought to the knowledge of God
and to hiB service. From what we know of the operationI' of
our own minds at the age mentioned, we may presume that
Jesus was brimful of respecting the hopes of IBrael,
and no doubt from his mother he had received some intimation
at least that divine providence had indicated he himself
was to bear some important part in connection WIth the fulfil-
ment of the Scriptures; and he was seeking t.o know part
marked out for him by the Heavenly Father III the testImony
of the Law and the Prophets.
Although he did not have a Bible. in his hon;e, that he
could consult respecting the divine he dId. have the
common pnvilege ot the youth of hIS day of meet-
ings m the one lIttle synagogue of Nazareth, whIch was but a
small country town. Then', from Sabbath to Sabbath, he
heard til(> la" read and to some extent commented upon, Bome-
times abo the psalms and prophecies. 'With these sources of
information the eager mmd of the boy had grappled, and now,
on the ocC'a8ion of his first visit to the great city of Jerusalem,
notbmg attracted him so much as the Temple and its
bolie'al services, and happening upon a court or chamber In
whieh the great questions of the Law and the Prophets were
hping by the ablest teachers o! the Jesus
became deeply interested and enthused m the BIble study
that he forgot all earthly intent was he
in studying about the Heavenly Father s plan
of God, in WhICh he himself was to be so prmclpal an actor.
aturally his questions would be deeper and more logical
than those of other bovs of his age, and naturally the Doctors
of the Law would be deeply interested in him because of this
in conjunction with the modesty which we may be accom-
panIed it. And flR during theBe feaBtB great was
exercised. especially toward strangers from a dIstance, Jesus
waR prohahly entertained by one and another of these new-
found friends.
The narrative records that, when found by Joseph and
was both hearing the Do{'tors and asking them
que;tlOns There is a valuable lesson here .for all young
RonS reRpecting their conduct toward theIr elders lll-
Ho\\' (hfl'erent the thought we get from thIS state-
1l1pnt than \Ie \\'ould have gotten had it read that they found
lnstl'llrtlllg the Doctors, or attempting to teach them.
'Ye do not douht for a moment that the Doctors were as much
instru('ted hv .TeBUB as he was by them, possibly more so on
somp pointB 'at leaBt; nor do we doubt that if they were tl'\;ly
great men they would be humble-mmded .enough t:o .recelve
instructionI' from anyone-even from a clnld; and It. IS even
intImated in the context that they asked J esus
tionR, "and were astonished at his understandmg and hIS
ans1{'crs." In both cases the proceeding waB that deference
to the other as implied in the asking of the questIons: J eSUB
haymg to the Doctors and asked them queBtions
htR depth of mind and clearneBs of underBtandmg
and logical reaBoning, led them in turn to ask questions of
him.
ThiB question plan we commend to all of the dear friends
of the truth aB a wiBe and proper one, no less to us of today
than to the boy JeBuB and to the DoctorB of the Law. We
have seen inBtances in which some of the Lord's dear people
have greatly injured their influenC'e in the truth by of
too large a degree of Belf-{'onfidcnce. self:as81Irance, In speak-
ing of the divillp plan to others-espec.lally the
MeekneBs is a jewel whereyer found, and IS espeCIally deSIrable
as an adjunct and sling for the truth. Let the be shot
forth with all the force it can carry, but always WIth meek-
and humility; and the questIon form of suggesting truth
will often be found the mOBt fOI ceful.
Naturally Joseph and Mary were to fi.nd their
little son in the company of and recelvmg conslderatI?n from
the greateRt teachers of their d.ay, and. pro.bably .nothmg was
li'lid to Jesus publicly respectmg theIr dIBappomtment and
their bubsequent search for him: pro.bably when alone Mary
upbraided him for his neglect to be WIth the caravll;n: yet she
did this in a very kind and moderate manner, WhICh
to indicate that it was a very unusual occurrence, whICh III
turn speaks to us of parental obedience on the part of Jesus.
Mary's expresBion, "Behold, .thy father and I h3;ve sought
the!' Borrowing," has been questIOned hy some as bemg a con-
feSSIOn that Joseph was the father of Jesus, but we answer,
Not so; it would be unreasonable to suppose (1) that Luke
would particularly trace the genealogy of Jesus through Mary.
[2559]
See June 15, 1919, lssue for critical examination of Covenants.
(15-16) ZIONJS WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY.
the necessity for growth,-adding to faith virtue, and to virtue
knowledge and to knowledge self-control, and to self-control
patience. and to patiencc godliness, and to godlines" brotherly-
kmdness, and to brotherly-kindnp,"," 1"\"('.-See 2 Peter 1 :5-8.
"In malice be ye children, but in understanding be ye
men."-l Cor. 14 :20.
INTERESTING LETTERS
DEAR BROTHER RCSSELL:-In regard to the work here in
Boston the report is good. The Volunteer work is blessing all
who engage in it and goes on grandly. Scarecly a Sunday but
that we distribute the tracts at some church where the
preacher's thpmc is Evolution. Two Sundays ago the Pastor of
Tremont Temple preached a sermon advocating the doctrine
of Evolution. This is the largest Protestant church in New
England (congregation of 3000 :lTld over), and the Pastor is
the gentleman who notified police headquarters last June to
have a stop put to further distribution of our tract. But he
did not succeed. 'VI' are finding more work than was at first
anticipated and are giving more books. Our report for month
of November is as follows :-Nov. 5th in Dorchester 11
dmrches, 1024 booklets; Nov. 12th in W. Roxbury and Ja-
maica Plain 14 churches, 986 booklets; Kov. 19th in Donhes-
tel' and RORlindale 18 churches, 1269 booklets; Nov. 26th in
Newton 13 churche'!, 1444 booklets; also in Brookline during
month 4 churehes, 154 booklets; total of 60 churches, 4877
hooklets; average 81.2. We find churches larger than WI'
anticipated. Quite a number with congregations of from 300
to 600 which accountR for our using more booklets than ex-
pected as well llR the larger average. 'VI' still have 25 to 30
I brcthren awl sistc!:;;) engaged in work. and though we haY<'
accomplishpd a good work, the end is not yet. 'VI' are anxious
to do all the important towns accessible hy electric cars, pro-
vided you pan keep us supplied. We leave that part for you
to decide. Pnquestionably all who work are receiYing bless-
IllgR, and al'l' being huilt up in zeal and love in thl'

Sr. G. deRires to be remembered. Your brother, in loY!'
.1Ild service of our Redeemer,
ALEXA:-iDER M.
[We arp filling orderR right along. Let the good work
procepd. God bless the "Volunteers." EDITOR.]
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:-I am glad that at last I have
lonpentratpd my mind enough to write to you. Kot till Mrs.
Boehmer was here did I read and Rtudy anything in the truth
much a:-. to do me any good, hut while she was here my
"hole attention was turned. She gave me Vol. 1. of
DAWN but at first I could not read it without a grl'at deal of
\, ill power. I read It only to show her I uSl'd the gift-it
...eemed so unintereRting. But at last it grew more interf'sting
and I devoted most all of my time to reading it and I gave
up almost all of my play especially with everybody Imt my
IIrother and sister. (Do you consider thlR wrong on my
.-\nd I went to all the DAWN Circles and meetings h('rf' while
she was with us, and mamma said the holy Spirit was
upon me.
When Rister Boehmer left us all of my holy interl'st",
seemed to die out of me. I could read nothing Scriptural so
that I could remember it or act upon it in my daily ('ourSI'
of life. I think the reason why God ll't it happen so was
lIecause I got to thinking I was far ahead in the raee and
looked boastfully down on my neighbors. (Don't you think
too Rut I went to meeting every Sunday and learnl'd O.
much good! from Brother Wright and I think he b the
hest leader that could be chosen-that is, a human leader.
But I could remember nothing through the week.
Now here i" another case: A largf' "tough" is always try-
ing to catch us for no reason at all hut he claims for an
p'l:cuse that we throw stones at him, but we dId not. T wrotp
to Bro. Boehmer about It and he said I should avoid him as
best I ('ouId. and in doing thiR I am obliged to run sometimeR
or get hit. Xow do you ('onsidl'r this right or wrong? Twil'('
we stoppell and a"kl'd him what he wanted hut he only hit us.
\\'hen Hlo Boehmer \\ as hp1'e he Raid it would do me good
to enter a gyll1naRium whieh I dId the 1st of Kov. It iR in a
Congregational l'Inu eh' 1 am alRo entitled to a pJin]('ge of
boys' club and six lepturcR. Do you think I will fall into
wrong there 9
Here is ;f:1 whieh will at least be ('nough to makf' on('
\VATCH TOWER which will help some one along .Just like til('
TOWER of Nov. 1 issue helped me along; esppeially the artIcles
about Nehemiah wlueh induced mp to write. So many things
fit my case pxactly,-like where it says while we are in the
truth we will be aS8ailed the most, and when we get
and lazy alJout stud:dng the truth w(' will not bl' aqsailed
This is exactly right because it went so with me and I shall
be happy in the hardest of earthly troubles. Your remark that
each should build the walls near his home, has opened my
eyes enough to see that I was in the wrong, because I do better
in school and away from home than I do at home. Now I
will try to do the best I can at home but will not lose my
good part away from home.
I felt like opening my whole heart to you, and I have
done it with the best intentions. I hope that your anRwer to
this letter will come soon aml b,!"<:,, fillings that will do mp
good.
Yours sincerely, HUGO KUEHN,-Ol110.
[REPLY:-I am always deeply interested in the young who
give their heart8 to the Lord. My Christian lifl' bpgan at
about the same age a8 your own (13), and I know how great
a blessing it is to be('ome a soldier of the cross at an parly
age. At no time do we more need divine wisdom and graep
than in boyhood and entering manhood, and how eomfortmg'
it is to all such to be able to realize that having eommitted
their all to the Lord he is caring for them, guiding and
their affair8 in the eour8e which will be most to their ad-
vantage as respects the present and the eternal life.
In 1'1' the rude youth disposed to attack you with stonl''':
:My advice would be that you go to play in another quart!'r,
and that generously you eonsider that the man may he just a'!
much unbalanced in mind or as soured in disposition as Romp
who in the languag<> of Scripture. "Shoot out arrows, C\ <'11
bitter words, at the righteous." (Psa. 64: 3) On thl' whole 1
believe that those who throw literal stones are much less dan-
gerous than some who are outwardly more decorous who ha\-p
the "poison of asps under their lips" (Rom. 3: 13), and" ho
backbite. speak evil of and slander others-even the Lord' ...
"brethren." Let us thank God that the time is eoming when
there will no longer be in the world any except those who
have the "spirit of a sound mind"-the disposition of thp
Lord.-2 Tim. 1 :7.
Respecting your attendance at a gymnasium, and the hear-
ing of lectures: It would seem to me that no edl need result
from merely availing yourself of these privileges, and should
addse that you do so, unlesR there would be something in th!'
way of a bondage connected with this-some obligations-and
quite likely there are none that would be objectionable in sueh
a club. \Vith much Christian low, Your brother and servant
in the Lord, EDITOR.l
WATCH TOWER BmLF. & TRACT SOCIETY.
DEAR BRETHREN:-The Volunteer distribution of the book-
lets. The llible 1'CI'SU8 the Evolution TI:tOry, has been com-
pleted in the District of Columbia. after a eampaign lasting
seven months. Fourteen Volunteers-brother8 and sisters-
viRited l!i4 elmrcheR and distributed 10,934 booklets, bcsldes
other tracts. The pongregations in the various churches varied
all the way from 400 down, the average attendanpe being 71.
This work was taken up in aceordancp with the offer made
in TOWER of April IMh, '99, it being our desire in tlJis manner
to show our love and appreciation of the Lord and his truth-
by engaging in a work which might result in the blessing of
his true "brethren." The work has progressed with perfect
harmony of hearts, hands and a willingness to serve in any
ehannel, however humble, and has most evidently been under
divine direction, for we have had many indications of provi-
dential guidance in sebction of churches to be worked, etc.
We have been greatly blessed in this work whieh has given
us many opportunities for letting our light shine for the Mas-
ter.-upon some occasions the brethren being invited within
the church building to explain the object of the visit and
something of God's plan as testified to in the literature dis-
tributed. 'Ve were well received on the whole, notwithstand-
mg some cases of opposition. "Ve are thankful to God for
these great privileges of Rerving his truth. and also to Brother
Russpll and the Tract Societv as instrumentR in his hands
'Ye are still "Volunteers," and ready to carry the good war-
fare into the acljaeent towns with the booklets still on hand.
With love to all who are simIlarly engaged in the Vohm-
tl'pr work. Your fl'llow "Soldiers,"
THF. CHURCH AT "'ASHINGTON, D. C.
[2560]
VOL. XXI ALLEGHENY, PA., JANUARY 15, 1900
VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER
No.2
CHURCHES AS SOCIAL OLUBS th.e minister of days, with his seemly
Rev. John widely known in "orthodox" circles (as dress, his dignified manner, his sense of responsibility, who
"Ian Maclaren," his literary nom de plume), wrote for pub- came the secret place of divine fellowship, and spoke as
lication recently, that in his judgment the churches of various one carrymg tlle message of the Eternal. He may not have
denominations are rapidly becoming social clubs-ceasing to been so fussy in the aisles as his successor, nor so clever at
appreciate or use the place hitherto considered the true posi- games, nor able to make so fetching a speech on 'Lo\-e Court-
tion of the church. TIle text for his criticism was found on a ship, and Marriage.' '
printed postal card sent out by an American Y. 1\1. C. A., . "There are no doubt many points in which the cOllgrega-
which read word for word as follows: hon of the present has advanced on the conO'reO'ation of thp
"no NOT FORGET past, but it has not been all gain. for the cIlier note in the
"The next Social. :vorship of the former gencration was reverence-people met
"The next Candy-pull. m the presence of the Eternal, before whom everv man is II'S'!
"The next Entertainment. than nothing. AmI the chief note of their children who meet
"The next Rong Service. to listen to a ('hoir and a clever platform is self-
"The next Gospel ;\1!'l'ting. complacency." -Thp, Ladies' Home
"The next meeting of the Debating Club. * * * *
"The next Chicken-pie Dinner. "Ve have frequently pointed out these same tendencies, but
"The next date when you ought to make the secretary we are glad to be able to quote the words of another-of one
happy with your cash." who stands so high in Churchianity. But Dr. Watson will ere
Commenting upon this card, he says:- long find that Ill' must not criticize "Babylon;" and that if hp
"This remarkable list of operations, combining evangelistic persists he will lose caste with the lm'ds thereof. So con-
zeal, creature comforts, and business shrewdness, requires no servative a journal as The Advance has already intimated that
"ommentary; the give us a convincing illustration of an "Candy-pulls" and other modern methods of making Chris-
up-to-date religious imtitution-a veritable hustler of a tianity attractive must not be interfered with by "old fogies."
Y. 1\1. C. A. And so say we' Let the innovations proceed-thev an'
"The Christian church and a Y. M. C. A. are of course vel' V essential to the very existence of "Babylon." And beside's, the
different institutions, and the latter is free from any tradition's sooner the social Churchianity clubs act out their real senti-
of austere dignity, but one is not surprised to find that the ments all along the line, the better it will be for true Chris-
dmrch has also been touched with the social spirit and is also tianity, whose separation from Churchianity is now due to be
doing her best to make religion entertaining. One enters what accomplished in this harvest time-"wheat" from "tares."
jg <'aIled a place of worship and imagines that he is in a draw- it becomes apparent tha,t, with the vast majority,
iug-room. The floor has a thick carpet, there are rows of relIgIOn IS merely "a form of godlmess," the more will those
theater-chairs, a huge organ fills the eye, a large bouquet of who have the power of it as well realize the width of the gulf
1I0wprs marks the minister's place; people come in with a. which really separates the two classes in divine pstimation.
Jaunty air and salute one another cheerily; hardly one bends The louder grow the revelry and irreverence and the scoffing
Ill" head in prayer; there is a hum of gossip through the at God's Word by "higher critics" and the boasts of Evolution,
bUilding. the louder in the ears of the Lord's true saints will sound the
"A man disentangle" himself from a conversation and bus- Master's command: "Babylon is fallen, is fallen! Come out
tIl'S up to the platform without clerical garb of any kind, a" of her, my people, that ye be not pflrtakers of her sins, and
likply as not in layman's dress. A quartet advances, and. that ye receive not of her plagues."-Rev, 18 :2, 4.
facmg" the audience, sings an anthem to the congregation. * * * *
"Inch does not rise, and later they sing another anthem, also The Editor of the Washington City Times gives his opinion
to the congregation. There is one prayer, and one reading of some of the methods of Churchianity, thus:-
from Holy Scripture, and a sermon which is brief and bright. . "A ,sensational Brooklyn preacher lately discoursed on sub-
Among other intimations the minister urges attendance at the .Jects like these: 'Would Christ Belong to a Labor Union?'
oyster supper, when, as is mentioned in a paper in the pews, '\Vould Christ Go to a Brooklyn Theater?' and so on. It is
there will be oysters and meat-turkey, I think-and ice-cream. rather difficult to conceive the moral status of people who
This meal is to be served in the 'church parlor.' actually approve of sermons of this sort. Undoubtedly a large
"No sooner has the benediction been pronounced, which has part of the audiences which they attract come from mere
some original feature introduced, than the congregation hurries as they might come to any other sort of show; and
to the door, but although no one can explain how it is man- they mIght as well be at the theater for all the good that it is
aged, the minister is already there shaking hands, introducing likely to do them. One of the most deplorable features of
lwople, 'getting off good things,' and generally making things modern American life is the tendency toward sensationalism in
'hum.' One person congratulates him on his 'talk'-new name the pulpit. It is bad from every point of view. It excites
for a sermon-and another says it was 'fine.' emotions which are in no way religious, and are all the worse
"Efforts have been made in England also to make church for passing under that name. It is in execrable taste, it mis-
hfe really popular, and, in one town known to the writer, leads people to a sort of contempt for religion, and it makes
WIth some success of its own kmd. One church secured a new the churches which indulge in it odious.
set of communion plates by the popular device of a dance; "It has grown out of another bad featul I' of ollr modern
vanous congregations gave private theatricals, and in one case life-the plutocratic ideal. Any sensible person may easilv
had stage property of their own. Bible classes celebrated the understand that when the attraction of a church for fts mem-
<,ouclusions of their sessious by a supper; on Good Friday bel'S depends on this sort of thing, and on the ability of the
there were excursions into tlle country accompanied by a mili- people of the church to dress well and pay for a handsome
tary band, and a considerable portion of the congregational building and a showy choir, there is no more real religion in
income was derived from social treats of various kinds. This the whole business than there is in a cirpus....
partirular town is only an illustration of the genial spirit "It would be murh more to the pomt for the sensational
;;preading throughout the church in England. One minister preacher above quoted to ask himself, in private. whether his
11;;('" a magic lantern to give force to his sermon; another has church is the kind which Christ would be likely to approvp.
adupd a tavern to his church equipment; a third takes up the or if it is full of money-changers and the sellers of doves.
latest murder or scandal; a fourth has a service of song; a "It is time that sensible and thoughtful people in
fifth depends on a gypsy or an ex-pugilist. this country understood what a church is really intended to
"If this goes on, the church will soon embrace a theater be. It should not be a bad imitation of fashionable society.
aud other attractions which will draw young people, and with all the meannesses, caste distinctions. pettiness, and
prevent old people from wearying in the worship of God. jealousy of that society, veneered over with a coating of
[Contrasting these modern and irreverent and unscriptural formal religion.. , ."
methods with those of the past, Dr. Watson continues:-] CHRISTIANITY IN JAPAN
"Perhaps it may be the perversity of human nature which Not long since Japan was considered the brightest example
is apt to cavil at new things and hanker after the good old of progress in Christian missions, and with good reason.
times-which were not always good, by any means-but one Everything coming from Europe or the United States was
is not much enamoured with the neW departure, nor at all looked upon with favor-the Christian religion included, In
convinced that what may be called for brief the 'candy-pull' a few years the number of converts to various shades of nom-
system is any improvement on the past. After a slight expe inal "Christianity" ran up to 40,578 in 1878. However, a
flence of smart preachers, and church parlors, and ice-cream great change has occurred there: and within the past two
suppers, and picnics, one remembers with new respect and keen years the total converts claimed by all the sects is only 403.
[2561] (19-20)
(21-22) ZION'S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY. PA.
The beginning of this change of sentiment seems to have
dated from the time that the different denominations began
more or less to compete. It would seem that at first denom-
inational and creed differences were considerably hidden from
the Japanese, and they seem to have embraced Christianity in
something of its simplicity of spirit if not of doctrine. How-
ever, when they began to send some of their young men to
American and English colleges, the fact of the great varieties
of contradictory doctrines, all claiming to represent Christ's
teachings, became known, and was naturally followed by
denominational reapings, chiefly, we believe, Presbyterian.
Thl' Japanese are a practical people. and concluded thllt, if
Christians of the 'Vest were so confused and divided respect-
ing the teachings of the Bible. the Japanese could properly
cxerf'ise their own judgment'l on the subjcch also. In doing
so they are rapidly tending toward agnosticism, doubt. uncer-
tainty, unbelief, just as thinking people everywhere are doing.
expept as they get the truth and with it the spirit of a sound
mind. How we would like to put into the hands of these
Japancsl' and all truth-seekers the light of present truth show-
ing forth the divine plan of the ages. We are on the lookout
for the Lord to bring forward to the light some earnest, fully
consecrated .Japanese capable of presenting the plan by
tranRlating DAWN, VOL. L., pre'lenting it to his Christian
countrymen. We thought we had found the one two years ago,
but it proved otherwise ;-Christianity was unpopular, but the
truth much more so-too unpopular for him.
Rev. Dr. Christlieb, for years the representative of the
"Evangelical Protestant Mission Society" of Germany, dis-
cussed the RPt-back in Japan in a volume just published,
entitled, "The Tendencies of Japanese Civilization and Chris
tianity," in which he explains:-
"The opposition now generally entertained by the Japanese
against the Christian church is due to the changed attitude
which they have in recent years developed in so marked a
degree to all influences from abroad-a conservative reaction
of a pronounced type. This return to nativism is largely due
to the easy success in the war with the Chinese. This reaction
from the former enthusiasm for innovation has assumed a
particularly determined character. The Japanese have reached
the conclusion that they had been too hasty in discarding the
old in favor of the new, and this spirit has found its way
even into the Christian elements of Japan, which aspired to
the establishment of a church independent of the churches in
countries that had been Christian for centuries. Although the
Japanese have known Christianity only for thirty years and
there is scarcely a single adult native who haR been a Chris-
tian since his childhood. yet they began to regard themselves
more capable to develop a Christian culture and life than
thoRe who brought them the new faith.
"These ideas and ambitionf:l are largely due to the fact
that attempts were made to build up a Christianity wholly
divorced from the national character of the people. The reac-
tion is, to a certain extent. the result also of the radical anti-
Japanese type of life that representatives of WeRtern Chris
tianity aimed to develop, completely ignoring the many excel-
lent traits that make up the national character of the people.
"StIll another element that has entered into tllis reaction
is the fact that the Japanese, who is naturally not too deep
intellectually and who is but half civilized, has been made
acquainted with "'estern agnosticism and atheism us found in
the writings of Schopenhauer and Herbert Spencer. Through
these a certain dangerous contempt for the supernatural has
been developed, especially among the younger generation. All
these factors and others have united to produce the modern
opposition to Christianity in the Japanese empire."
PREACHING OF JOHN THE BAPTIZER
JAN. 21.-LuKE 3: 1-17.
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord."
Doubtless manv commentor'l on this lesson will claim that
John the ministry began with the year A D. 26,
and hy positiveness of assertion seek to make up for
of evidl'nce on this subject. Let all therefore bear m mmd
that such a dating of John's ministry will be purely arbitrary,
to make it conform to the erroneous view which prevails among
scholars in respect to the date of our Lord's birth. It should
not be forcYotten, however, that. although it is well established
from the Scriptures that our Lord was six months younger
than his secondcousin, John, there is no other Scriptural date
which sO closely and definitely eonnects the history of our Lord
and of John the Baptizer with general history, do.es. the
statement of this very lesson, that John began hIS mIlllstry
(when hI' was thirty years of age) in the fifteenth year of the
reign of Tiberius Those who claim that Jesus began
his' ministry A. D. 27, instead of A. D. 29, claim Joh!1's
ministry began in A. D. 26; and in order to make thIS fit WIth
the statement of the first vprse of this lesson, they are obliged
to count the reign of Tiberius Cresar two years before its ad-
mitted date. For a particular discussion of this subject, how-
ever, we must refer our readers to MILLENNIAL DAWN, VOL.
II., p. 54. .,.
Of John it is written that he was filled WIth the holy SpIrIt
from his birth. But we must not misunderstand this to mean
that he was begotten of the holy Spirit, in the sense that
Christians are begotten of it. for he lived before the time of
spirit-begetting-in the Jewish. age, no.t in the Gospel or Chris-
tian age. Thus our Lord saId of hIm that, although there
had not arisen a greater Prophet than John, nevertheless, the
least in the kingdom of God is greater than he--the least one
in the house of sons is on a higher plane than the greatest one
in the house of servants. (Matt. 11: II; Heb. 3: 5, 6) The
Apostle again explains that "the holy Spirit was not yet given,
because Jesus was not yet glorified."-John 7 :39.
I:p. harmony with this we must understand that John was
filled with the holy Spirit, holy power or influence from God
from his birth, after thl' same manner that the other prophets
throughout the Jewish age had been under that holy spirit.
The expression would lead us to understand that, although
John was not born immaculate, as was Jesus, he nevertheless
was well born, under holy influenees, which tended to develop
in him natural characteristics suitable to the mission he was
intended of God to fulfil. This does not involve the thought
of divine interference with the free will of the individual, for
Paul tells us that he also was chosen of God from his birth
to be a special servant to do a special work. (Gal. 1: 15)
Nevertheless, the Lord did not interfere with his exercising
his own free will, even permitting him to go so far into blind
error as to become the persecutor of the church. And eYen
when the Lord rebuked 11im in the way to Damascus, that was
not an interference with his wtll or nature. but merely a re-
moval of hi'l blindness, his ignorance, permitting his true will
to come into exercise. And so no doubt others of the Lord's
people from time to time have been from earliest childhood
special subjects of divine Providence which has gmded and
shaped their experiences without interfering with thpir wills,
so as to make of them .special instruments for the accomplish-
ment of divine purposes.
Of John's life from infancy to manhood we know nothing
except the bare record, "The child grew and waxed strong in
spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his showing
unto Israel" (Luke 1:80)-not in the sandy' deserts, but more
properly in the wilds, the uncultivated regions, perhaps in the
"hill country," where his parents resided at the time of his
birth. Possibly a part of the Lord's providence in respect to
John's training for his work consisted in the ordering of the
affairs of his parents. so that possibly they were forced by
circumstances to reside in such a wilderness-home, where they
would have comparatively little intercourse with others, and
where John, probably as a forester, would have the experiences
which the Lord saw would best fit him for the work intended.
All Christians should learn to trust to the Heavenly Father's
guidance, remembering his special promise, which is applicable
to each one who is in Christ, viz., that "all things shall work
together for good to them that love God," and remembering
this they should be content with the lot which Providence
seems to mark out for them-not indolent, but content, when
they have done all that their hands find to dO,-not restless,
peevish, dissatisfied, complainers against God and his provi-
dence. "Trust in the Lord and do good." It may be that the
Lord is fitting and preparing us individually for some special
service, and that the permitted experiences alone will prepare
us for that service. Indeed, we know from the Word that God
designs his "elect" for joint-heirship with our dear Redeemer
in the glorious Millennial kingdom; and we can well realize
that because of our imperfel'tion We need much moulding and
fashioning, chiseling and polishing to make us "meet for the
inheritance of the saints in light." We are to remember also
that we are incompetent to judge of our own imperfections,
and hence incompetent to judge of the experiences which would
be most helpful to us. It is difficult for us sometimes even to
see ourselves as others see us; much more difficult, undoubt-
edly, it would be to see ourselves from the divine standpoint.
Here faith in God comes to the front-"This is the victory
which overcometh the world, even your faith."
The time of John's "showing'" or presentation to Israel
[2562]
JANUARY 15. 19CO ZION'S WATCH TOWER (23-24)
was undoubtedly the time when he reached the legally required
thirty years of age; and then it was that the word of the
Lord came unto him, causing him to begin his mission. \Ve
are not to think of this expression as having to John the same
signification as it has to us who are of this Gospel age. The
word of God came to John as a prophet, for our Lord de
dared,-"There hath not arisen a greater prophet than John
the Baptist." The Lord made clear to John that the time had
come for the beginning of his ministry, not merely by an im
pression or surmise, but with positiveness, as in the case of
all the prophets. In harmony with his commission he went to
the thickly settled regions in the vicinity of the River Jordan,
preaching repentance-that the people should reform-and
baptizing in the Jordan those who professed a reformation.
For this reason John sought the pools or deep places of the
river ;-for instance, he went to Enon, near to Salem, "because
there was much water there"-a pool sufficiently deep for the
purposes of immersion.
\Ve are not to fall into the too common error of supposing
from the record that John preached to the people that
repentance and baptism would work for them a remission of
their sins. To so interpret these words would put them in
direct conflict with the entire testimony of the Scriptures,
which is to the effept that without the shedding of blood there
is no remIssion of sins. The usual representation of this sub-
ject is thcrcfore clearly in error. To the contrary, we are to
understand this verse to mean that John preached a baptism
signifying repentance llnto, or preparatwn for, a remission of
sins. The time had not vet come for the blotting out of the
sins, and John neither hrid nor could have obtained authority
to def'lrlfe sins remitted because of repentance and baptism.
Had it been possible for him to have made such a proclama-
tion. truthfully, it would have proven that there was no ne-
cessity for the coming of our Lord Jesus to gi't'e himself a
ravsom for Israel and for all the families of the earth. If
repentance and immersion in water would bring the forgive-
ness of sins, the "8aviour and a great one" whom God had
promised to Israel for so long would have been wholly unnec-
essary. But when we view John's work and preaching as
merely a preliminary one, to make ready a repentant people,
deSIring to have their sins forgiven, desiring full at-one-ment
WIth God, and expecting a Saviour to accomplish all this,-
then all is harmony.
And this thought, that the remission of sins was a work
futur(' from John's a work to be accomplished by Christ,
is fully borne out by the succeeding context. a quotation from
IsaIah thp Prophet, which has not even yet been fulfilled, but
includes the entire work of the Millennial age. That age will
be one for rem of stns and blotting 01lt of sins, and the
full reconCIlIatIOn of so many as will accept God's grace in
Christ under the New Covenant. (Compare Acts 3: 19-21) In
that time, under those favorable condItions, and not before,
will the statement be fulfilled, "All flesh shall see the salva-
tion of God."
\Ve are to bear in mind that John's work as a messenger
was exclusively to Israel, and had nothing whatever to do
with any of the Gentiles. To Israel he acted as the Elijah or
Forerunner of Messiah in the flesh, seeking to induce that
nation, in tts "harvest" time, to accept the formal offer of
God's kingdom by accepting Jesus as the King. But John's
mission was not successful to his nation, and profited only a
few of the people; those few who believed John's testimony,
and received it into good and honest and repentant hearts,
were prepared to Jesus and to appreciate and receive
the remission of sins offered by God through him. The re-
mainder of that nation, rejecting John's teaching, and being
in an unrepentant condition of heart, were not properly exer-
cised, were not ready for Jesus, and did not appreciate the
offer of remission of sins through his blood as a consequence,
and as a nation were rejected of God and wholly overthrown.
While John thus acted as the Eliiah in introducing Jesus
in the flesh to fleshly Israel, and gathered out a certain class
who were ready to receive Jesus, and who were blessed by
him, so we see that in God's plan there is a greater antitvpe
of Elijah than was John, as there is a greater Christ than
was our Lord Jesus. The greater Christ is the spiritual one,
"The Lord from heaven"-"Now the Lord is that Spirit."
And this glorified spirit Lord is the Head of "the church which
is his body," and this body of many members will, in "the first
resurrection," be made like him and to share his glory, :lnd
with him and under him constitute the great Messiah, who
shall take unto himself his great power and reign, establishing
God's kingdom amongst men, and causing his will to be done
"on earth as it is done in heaven." (Matt. 6:10) The coming
into power of this great Christ, the spiritual Christ (head
"lnd body) constitutes the second advent to mankind-"the
manifestation of the sons of God" for the deliverance of the
groaning creation. (Rom. 8:17-19) Thus the second advent of
Christ the Head (with the church his body) will be seen to be
on a very much higher plane than was the first advent of our
Lord in the flesh, although the first advent was all-important
in that without it and its sacrifice for sins there could have
no second advent of Jesus, the Head, in the glory of
kmgdom power, and there could have been no glorified mem-
bers of his body to be associated with him.
After thus noting the relationship of the two events, it is
proper for us to note also that as the blessings of the first
a?-vent were offered to nominal fleshly Israel so the presenta-
tIon of the blessings of the second advent will be to nominal
Spiritual Israel ( "Christendom"), and as a Forerunner or
herald was appropriately sent to fleshly Israel, to prepare
them for first advent, likewise it would be appropriate that
a proportIOnately greater Forerunner should precede the sec-
ond advent, and seek to make ready therefor all nominal
Spiritual Israelites. As we have already shown, * this greater
Elijah, who heralds the spiritual Christ, is composed of many
members; Jesus in the flesh was himself the Head of this
Elijah class, and all of his true followers, who will be, when
glorified with him, members of the glorious Christ, will have
previously been in their earthly lives members with him of the
Elijah class, whose mission it is to show forth the principles
of righteousness and true holiness, and to exhort both by
word and conduct all men to repentance and to preparation
for the seco!!d glorious the setting up
of kmgdom, the actual blottmg out of sins, the
of every way, the leveling up of deep
crevIces of character, the levelIng down of the hills of pride to
the proper level of humility; and in every sense of the word
seebng to prepare all flesh to see the salvation of God.
. we are to r;member that the Scriptures dis-
tmctly mdICate that the te:,tImony of this greater Elijah will
be ..equally unsuccessfu.l WIth that of the lesser antitype of
ElIJah, John the BaptIzer. The church in the flesh has not
succeeded in making straight the paths of the Lord for a.
triumphal entry to his upon the earth. A few have
but tIle message has utterly failed a<; respects the vast
maJorIty, even those who prf'fess respect for and to be wait-
in.g for kingdom. Ne:,crtllP]ess, all God's good purposes
WIll be ultImately though nef'essarily introduced
by troubles, calamities. distress upon "Chdstendom," in the
end of this age or "harvest" time, similar to those troubles
whi?h came upon fleshly Israelites who were unready for the
SaVIOur, and "knew not the time' of their visitation," at his
first advent. All this unreadiness, however, shall not hinder
the work ,of Messiah. As at first. advent he gathered
all IsraelIteR mdeed to the new (hspensabon, so now he will
his "little flock" to himself; his kingdom will be
It shall rule over all; . it accomplish the
of every crooked path; It WIll level up tIle path
of rIghteousness and holiness, and mak!' of it "a highway"
f;eed from stumbling blocks o! error and from Satan's decep-
tIOn. (Isa. !l) All man,kl,nd then to a knowledge
o! the trllth wIll have the prIVIlege of progressing through the
tImes of restitution up this grand hi;rhway of obedience to the
grand lost for himself and his rac(' hy father Adam's
but for Adam and his race by the
precIOus blood of ChrIst. All flesh indeed shall see the salva-
tion of our God, and so many as will may share therein, for
this is the blessing which God has provided for all the fam-
ilies of the earth, through the true spiritual Seed of Abraham
-Christ and his elect church.-Gal. 3: 16, 29.
It would seem that .John's ministry at first was somewhat
popular, notwithstanding his probably uncouth "backwoods"
appearance and great plainness of speeeh; so that great multi-
tudes came to him: amongst these were some who seemed to
John to be .so vile that he could not properly accept them until
they had gIVen some proofs of reform. These he d!'nominates
"c,hildren of vipers"-very harsh language, we would be in-
clIned to say, \Ve are not to understand that such language
is proper to be copied by the Lord's people of torlay. We are
t.o suppo<;e t.hat there were special conditions at that
tIme whIch made thIS language appropriate. and that John, as
a waR divinply guided into giving this sharp reproof.
The Lord s people of the Gospel age are instructed on the con-
trary. to speak meekness, gentleness, patience, long-
suffermg, etc.,- m meekness instructing those that oppose
themselves"-"reproving with all long-suffering." The Lord's
people of today are under general instructions of God's Word
as regards all their conduct, and are not to depart
unless it would be under special divine direction, as were the
* M1LLENNIAL DAWN, VOl,. II, Chap. 8.
[2563]
(24-26)
ZION'S WATCH TOTT'ER
prophets of old-such as is not given to any at the present
time 80 far as we are aware.
When John speaks of his hearers "fleeing from the wrath
to come," We are not to get the thought that he preached, or
that the people believed in, the doctrine of eternal torment, and
that the words refel'l'ed to this. Quite to the contrary, there
is no teaching in the Scriptures. The "wrath to come"
lefelTed to by .John proph('tically was the trouble that wa'\
about to come upon that nation unless they would receive
2\Iessiah, ,vho had not vet be('n offered to th('m, hut who wouM
shortly apppar, and fo'r "hose appearance they were to make
r('ady by true rep('ntal1<'p amI baptism. The "wrath to come"
did come upon thp nabon IIN'ause of its rejection of :Messiah,
as our Lord and the _\postlP Panl sp('eially testify. (See Luke
21:23: H0111. !J:22; 1 Thes. 2:16) Tt Imrned fi('rcely against
them in the In cat time of trouble" hith l('d to the collapse of
tlwir national polity in .\. II. <i!J-70, and tlll'y have been und!'r
that wrath and unahl(' to as a nation
from that day to t1l(' prp'\ent tinl(' W(' "hall find ponfirmati01l
of this interprdation of t1l(' "wrath to ('0111('" fnrthpr down
in this l(,sl,;on
In .Tol\l1s pn'lH1Iing h(' fonnd one dilI1culty. and that was
that his 1I('arl'1 s Wl're irnhnl'd with the thonght that they wen-
God's specially (ho:'o('n. "el('et" peoplp. whose glorifieation had
hpen foretold in th(' proplll'ts, amI that since th('re were no
hetter peoplp in tIll' world it "as unrpasonable to "uJlpose that
God would pas.. by the \"l'ry l)plo't. They reasoned that lie
must takp "Ollll'. in 01 (lpl' to fulfil his and that they
were not only the 1I10"t pl/{'dient to his law outwardly, but also
were thp natural seed of .\hl'aham. to whom the promises
were made. LikewiHe prineipal oppo"ition to the teaching
of holiness, entire eon;;ccration to the Lord. toda.v throughout
"Christendom." i", the "alll(' error. fal ..( theory has gotten
into the mind'\ of ChriHtian l)('oP]('. "hieh leads tIl pm to reason
that holineR'I cannot hp p.. "pntial to the Lord's fa,-or. Their
propes;; of J'{-a"oning is Ont of the' "b.,t('pn hundred
million" of tIl(> world's popnlatioll 1hprl' al e onl'y about. three
llUndr('d lllilJion" tllat lIIa).;p till" profpssion of
tianity, mill tlJi,., all 01(' (;np).; Catholics, Roman Ca'tll-
olies, and what Bishop Fo",h'r (l\'1. (ll',.,ignated thp "rillg-
strakpd aud Hpceklell" of PI otp,.,t.allti"m- aud all. Kow.
say they, God mu"t eprta inly intelHl to hav(' 1o'0Illp. and if Ill'
takes all kilHlH of ('hri"t ialh Ill' wi]] Illne only
few, and if nl('rel.v all :llllhition to Ill' allPad of till' dedI were
to moyp hilll. hp ('ollhl ",pall'ph- lpjeet any who elaim to be
Christian!'. allll who a\(' p\ en IIp('pn1.
they reasoll that holinp",,., to the Lord, "unetifieation of thought
and word allll (1 ('('d, ellIlJ10t Ill) ('ssential to (Ih inp favor. and i"
thereforp rath('r f'arrying matt('r;; to an p,trelll(>. The dl'c1ara-
tion that only "OIl' pllll' ill 11Cllrt "hall "'PI' and that
"without 1lOline"H no man Rllflll s('(' tIl(' Lortl." an'. tv them.
extreme Htatements, and mu"t hp paHsed hy, 01' l'1"e t.he worll
"holinesR" must 11e ('on"il1('1'('11 as u;;(11 in ol<1en time>! in a
very restridNl 'I('lISp. a" lllplmin/! 1Iot nppnly or dolpntIy
wicked.
Thus we sp(,' th.lt till' ,llltitypil al Elijah to th(, ,lew;; ell'
('ountered tllP ;;amp diflipllltics that :11 e encountered now hy the
antitypil'al Elijah to nominal "'piritunl Tsra('l.
Bnt note .Tohu';; answ('r; he laid down the conditions Yer.v
-.tnf'tIy: Do not permit )'onrsrlycs to h(' (!eeeivcIl into think-
ing that God is und('r compulsion to acc('pt "uell a>. you, and
that otherwise his word would breomp yoid; do 110t think that
he eould not get ehildr{,ll of Abraham that woul<1 11p purer than
vou. and therrforr that lIP must take vou; God is unlimitpd
in power and 11111imitcll in rc;;ource. and. if Ill'cessary, he
('ould raiRP up ehilllren io .\lJraham out of tlll'i:ll' stones--out
of some that you eonsidrr aH far from tlH' po>.silJiIities of
being Abrall3m'R ehilllrPIl as though t]1('Y wer(' tlw"c stones at
vour feet. And Rimilnrlv w(' amnver "Christ('ndom" today.
tIlUt God utterly rpjcdR' hyp0l'rit ieal Chri;;tianit)" as
Rented hy tl](' vast majority of its plof('ssorH. still blinded hy
the god of this world. :lnd ignorant of the tru(' (haructer of
God anll of .Tc,;uR ChriRt whom he ha'3 sent; IIOt purl'
in hpart, not consccratcd fully to the T,ol'll. \Voulu that WP
had a trump('t voh'e that wr might tcJI tIll' millioll'; of nom
inal Christendom th(' true state of the pasp. and would that
they had .circumeised cars to hear and rdorm, and be IH'("
parcd for the glorious events now due to b(' ushered in.--with-
out being ohliged to pa;;s through the great trouble tilllp. All
we can assure them is that God will find the fuJI numher of
hil:' elect. and that the fuJI number is eompletl' now.
an(1 that in all it is but a "little flock" to whom it i'l the
l!'ather's good pleasure to give thc kingdom; and that soon
thp;;e will all be glorified with tlwir glorious Hea(l and Lord.
and that tlwn the kingdom r"tahlishrd will Ill' Il'\ eall'd to
hIps" :111 the famiIie;; of the rartll. \\'(' deeply
sympathize with them in the fact that their condition necessi-
tates that the introduction of the kingdom shall be wiih a
time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation, and,
thank God, shall never again be.-Dan. 12: 1; Matt. 24 :21.
John, proceeding with his discourse, points out to his
Jewish hearers that the time of judgment had come upon
thei1' nation. The axe was laid at the root of the trees; every
Israelite who was not an Israelite indeed was to be overthrown,
and to be cast into the "fire" of tnmble with which that age
and national polity terminated. The three and a half years of
our Lord's ministry to the Jewish nation, and their final
rejection by him. are represented by the barren fig tree para-
ble. in harmony with the statement of John foregoing.-See
Luke 13:6-!J.
.Tohn evidentlv struek the chord of fear to some extent.
hut he struck it properly. There is a proper presentation of
the truth, anu a proper fear of God and his retribution, whidl
may properly be kept before the mind of the transgressor; but
this is wholly different from the terrorizing fear of eternal
torment, which plays so important a part in all the theological
teaching, directly and indir('et!y. today. and whieh has driven
Rome to ilH;anity, some to >.kepticism and infidelity, and has
hindered the great rnaiority Hen of ,;aints from appreciating
the true character and plan of our GOIl. Let us present thp
wrath to come, truthfully, not misrepreRenting the character
of our God; fl)r assuredly God will not hold them guiltless
WllO blaspheme his holy name.
Und('r John's preaching the ppople began to inquh(' what
pourse they should pursue, and "umming the matter up John';;;
instruction was that they should practice justice, mercy, loYI'.
generosity; they should avoid violenee, extortion, etc.; Rnd
Hhould seek to be rontent with such thinp:s as they llad. ThiH
was expellent advice, and lllHloubtedly those who followed it
would be in iust the rip:ht ('ondition of heart and mind to
welcome the Lord Je;;us, and his good tidings of 1'cmission of
through his blood and thus to herome reconciled with tIll'
}'atl1t'r. .\nd Rimilarly if any 110W inquire respecting the rom-
ing troulJh., thp wrath that is to come in the rnd of this age'
upon "Chri,.,t.l'ndom,"-" hat mURt we do? 'We answer them,-
Pral'ti('e rig-hteousnesR, trutll, godliness, kindness. bcnevolen('e.
justiee. trust in the Lord. ;;eek to "alk in his ways. Or WI'
may quote them the words of the prophet, speriaily bearing
llpon tllil:' time, viz., "Seek ll1eeknes;;, 'l('pk righteousness; it
may be that ye shall be hid in the day of th(' Lord's anger."
(Zeph.2:3) And furthermore. we may rely upon it that thos{'
who thus seek righteousnesR. etc.. will b(' the on('s most ready
to welcolllP our King, and his kingdom. and we may be surr
that when in this harvest tim(' "ome fail to make their call in/!
and election sure, and prov(' nnworthy of the'
erOWlh apportioned to them, tlJ(' Lord will he pleased to seleet
from among "ueh penitent seekers of riglltponsnPRs some as
suhstitutes to eomplete his elect rhurrh.
f'o powerfnl was ,John's presentation of the truth. that the'
people began to wonder wllethpr or not hp might he the Coming
Onp. the :M:es::.iah, but he ;;et tllP thought at rest speedily,
.1;;"llling' them that he "as "0 inferior to the Messiah that Ill'
would be unworthy the honor of doing toward him the most
mcnial Rervice of removing his sandal>!. Then. having given
them a little glimpse of the character of Messiah, he proceeded
to t{lll them respecting his work. that it would be higher than
his own, and that those who received him would recpive a
higher baptism also: "He shall baptiz(' you with the holy
spirit and with fire"-somp of them (thr few) with holy
Apirit. the remailHlpr (the with tIll' firr -jUdgments.
tll(' great time of trouble whic'h their national life
amI many individual HVPA.
He gave them an illustration of the matter, showing them
that they had reached the 1larvest-time of their age, and that
now a separating wa>! to be expected-the separating of the
true wheat from the chaff; alld he repr('sented our Lord's work
with Israel as being that of a reaper winnowing the "wheat."
frpeing it from the "phaff" clem('n1. How forceful was tlw
figure! how t1'1W thp fads! Our Lord indeed gathprcd from
that nation all UIC true 'wheat' we may be sure that not a
solitary grain wa!' 10Rt. AIl that wheat was p:athered into hiA
barn. into a place of safety, into a higher dispen;;ation.-they
constituted the b('ginning or firRt mpmbers of the Gospel
ehurrh. It was upon this wheat elass that the holy spirit
ramr at Pentr('ost. and it has abode with this true church
since. After the spparating (winnowing) of the "whpat," and
the gathering into the barn. and its baptism of the holy
"pirit, in dllP tillH'. the "(']laff" of that nation was burned up
with 11ll'lllenrllablr fire-a time of trouble which nothing could
stop or hinder. It will he rpmemhered that various steps were
tnkpn to hinder the destruction of the nation of Israel, but all
failed: Pypn the Roman Emppror waR of prp"erving
[2564]
]ANl'RY 15, 1900 Z JON'S TVA T C H TO TV E R
the nation, and of establishing order there, and the Roman
army went not to destroy them but to establish peace in their
midst; but the Lord had declared that the fire of trouble
he should not be quenched by any power, that
It sbould do Its work to the full; and it did.
Likewise it will be with the great "fire" of trouble with
which this Gospel age shall end, and into which the "tare"
dass of Christendom will be cast; it will not be an utter
of life (although many lives ,,,ill perish in the
great tl ouble of Day of Wrdth), but It \I III Lompll't,,];,-
consume earthly governments and Churchianity in a fire of
anarchy. Nothing shall quench that fire, or hinder that utter
destruction of present systems. But praise God that when
this fire shall have consumed the stubble and the falsities and
deceptions of present institutions, it will have but prepared the
way. for which .he has designed and provided
for m hIS commg kmgdom. This "fire," and the to
follow it, are particularly referred to in Z@ph. 3: S. 9. '"
CONSECRATION FOLLOWED BY TEMPTATIONS
JAN. 28.-MATT. 3:13-4:11.
"'['Ius is my belored Son. In whom I am 1lcll pleased."
After John had been preaching and baptizing for about
six months, about September, A. D. 29, Jesus, who had been
residing in Galilee and was nearing his thirtieth birthday, set
out to find John and to be baptized of him and to begin his
public ministry at the earliest possible moment. He was to be
a Priest as well as a King for his people, "a Priest forever
after the order of Melchisedec," and the law required of a
priest that he be at least thirty years of age. Hence Jesus'
ministry was hindered from beginning until this age was
attained, but he was free to begin it at the earliest possible
moment after that time.
He was of course acquainted with his second-cousin, John
the Baptizer, who evidently well knew of his upright life and
unimpeachable character, and who was astounded to have him
apply for baptism, whereas the class John was seeking was
the renegade and sinful. According to the original reading,
.John "would have hindered him, saying, I have need to he
haptized of thee, and comest thou to me?" Realizing that
.Jcsus had no sins to wash away, it seemed to John inappro-
priate that this cpremony should be performed upon Jesus, for
we are to rrmcmber that John's baptism was merely a baptism
nuto repentance-reformation-and not Christian baptism.-
Hee Acts 19 :4, G.
Our Lord did not attempt to explain to John that he was
introducing It new baptism, not for sinners but exclusively for
holy ones, ancl not, therefore, in any sense of the word sym-
holic of the cleansing from sin. but symbolic of a sacrificial
death for the sins of others. It was not then due time to
pxplain Christian baptism, and to have done so would merely
have confuKed .John and thosr who might have heard, without
profiting him any, because the new baptism belonged to the
new dispensation which did not begin until Pentecost, except
in the person of our Lord Jesus himself. And in anv case the
forc(' and meaning of the symbol is merely what is Ilnderstood
by the baptized one. It is perhaps well that we call special
attention to this point, in view of the fact that a large and
influential body of Christian people* are even today practicing
.John's baptism, "for the remission of sins," wholly failing to
realize the import of the new baptism-Christian baptism-
first symbolized by our Lord Jesus himself,
Our "Disciple" friends will not dispute the Scriptural
'1tatement that our Lord Jesus was holy, harmleBs, undefiled,
;;eparate from sinners, and hence that he had no sins to wash
away, and consequently that for him John's baptism of ref
ormation would have been worse than meaningless; it would
have been a contradiction of fact and contrary to faith; and
"whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Hence it would have been
wrong for our Lord Jesus to have been baptized for the
remission of sins-Jolm's only understanding of baptism. 'We
may be sure, therefore, that since "in him was no sin" his act
of baptism was the first of a new order of baptism-'practiced
by his followers after Pentecost. (Acts 19:4,5) We here note
the fact that Christian baptism is only for believers in Christ
-not for unbelievers, not for sinners. Faith in Christ is the
Justifying power; we are justified through faith in his blood.
When justified w.e ready for Christian baptism, and not
hefore, but when lustIfied we have no sins to wash away, being
"justified freely from all things." To the Christian believer
baptism symbolizes precisely the same thing that it did to
Lord, viz., consecration-the full surrender of his will his life
his all, to the Heavenly Father's will. By such a
o! his will he becomes. dead to the world, to hopes and
alms, and becomes alwe toward God, to walk m newness of
life, and .by and by have newness of life actually, as a
;;harer WIth Jesu8, hiS Lord, hIS Redeemer, in the "first resur-
rection," All thi8 i8 symbolized in the proper Christian
baptism.
Our Lord, being free from sin. required no justification bv
another, and when he had reached manhood's estate pr(''1entc;1
* The Christian denomination, otherWIse termed "Disciples"
III-42
himself wholly, unreservedly, to do the Father'" \\ 111. At tile
of consec!"ation hi8 earthly hfe was yIelded up as a
for sms of the whole worId,-and this was sym-
bohzed by Ius Immersion in water. The remaining three and
a half years of his life were already on the altar, and he
merely waited for his sacrifice to be consumed, erving with hi;;
last breath, "It is finished!" Likewise he has indted all of
his elect churell to become joint-sacrificers with him.
and to become his Joint-heirs in the kingdom
to be gIven to the Royal Pnesthood, As Jesus' baptism there-
fore, his death sacrificially fol' sins, so the baptism
of ChnstIans symbolizes their participation with the Lord in
his sam'ifice (after they have first been justified by faith freely
from all things by the merit of his blood). In our Lord's ease
the consecration was quickly followed by the symbol and with
his followers the consecration should he 'followed by the symbol
as ,quickly as they recognize the meaning of the symbol,-
wInch for centuries has been beclouded and obscured.
.Quickly following our Lord's consecration and its symboli-
l'.lltIOn camp the evidence that hiR sacrifice was accepted of
G.od: the heavens were opened him. This probably sig-
!hat he. was .granted It 'ISlOn of heaven, confirming to
.hIS to the Father, and connecting up thp
of hIS experience as a mun with his prehuman expc-
nences: and there came a voicl' declaring him to be God';;
well-beloved he as we.n. as ,John (John 1 :34) wit-
a mamfestatIOn of the. dlvme descending upon
lllm hke a dove. 'Ve are not lllformPll that the people saw thl'
heavens opened, heard the voiel' and flaw the dove' on thl'
contrary, the records seem to indicate that only and
saw and and that thp latter was granted thl'
pnvilege to the llltent that Ill' might bpar witness to the fact.
A dove was a favorite figure with tIle Jews as an emblem
of peace and salvation. Indeed. dove, with its olh l'
branch, seems to become a symbol to .all civilized peoples.
It was most appropnate, therefore. that smce some figure wa;;
to be used as an outward evidence of divine blessing, tIle dov(
should figure. Yet we are not to suppose that thl'
holy 15 a dov:, nor that it bodily shape like a dove.
but as mstructed m all the Scnptures, that it is a divinl'
power .or dove reprl'sf'nted fittingly the meek
and qmet SPlrlt which IS one of the striking ornaments of all
those .who possess the spirit of holiness unto the Lord. Such
as these which our Lord enjoyed are not granted
to hIS followers nor to be expected today,-neither the voicl'
.the opened heavens, nor the don. The coming of the holv
SpUIt to the church at Pentecost was signalized by an outwar;1
demonstration, which sen
1
es thc entire chllrph throughout thr
.. Such outward demonstrations wen' at the be-
a.s to us that we are not following some
vam of our own or other' mpll';; mind"! in respect
to the holy SPlrlt, and now we merely han> the realities whieh
at first were s1m.bolized or represen'ted in tangible All
,,:ho, after behevmg unto repentanee, arp justified from their
sms, and subsequently present themsl'lVl's to 1.hr Lord to bl'
haptized into his death .(Rom. 6::q. recl'ive :tn opening of
th.e heavens before them. m tIle srnse of an opening of their
mmds to see heavenly tlungs, to appreeiate spiritual matters
as. Apostle "God revpa,Is them unto us by hi"
SPlrlt; Splrlt searcheth all tllIng-s, yea, the deep things
of. God. -thmgs which "eye hath not seen. nor ear heard.
neither Illlth entered into the heart of [the natural] man." ( I
Cor. 2:10) They also by faith llear the voice of the Father
speaking unto them, saying that. having thus come unto
through .Jesus, and having thus consecrated their lives to him,
they are now beloved SOilS, accepted in the well-beloved One
also th.e hlessing of the holy spirit, in the shed-
dlllg abroad m theIr bpurts of the peace-giving. meek and
gent.1e of holiness. and this becomes more and more a
reahty With them a
o
hepome mor(' allf} more "filled with
the spirit."
[2565]
ZION'S WATCH TOWER ALLIlGHENY. PA.
Jesus was led of the spirit-his own spirit, illuminated by
the spirit-baptism wInch he had just received-t() go apart
from John and the concourse of people into quiet solItude, and
for thlR purpose he chose a wilderness place. Mark says he
was impelled or "driven" of the spirit into the wilderness.
The thought we get is that there was a great pressure upon
our Lord's mind at this time. In a prevlOus lesson we noted
study at Jerusalem at an early age respecting the "Fa,ther's
business," and how he should go about it. \Ve found the Law
instructing him that it would not be proper for him to engage
in the Father's bURiness until he was thirty years of age, and
that m conRideration of this fact he desisted and served his
parentR. The momentous time for which he had been waiting
for eightepn years had come. He hastened to present himself
at the earlIest moment, that hiR service should not be delayed;
but now, under the enlightenment of the holy spirit, instead
of beginning his ministry precipitately, he felt that he must
know definitely the proper course to pursue: he must not
make a miRtake at thp very outstart of his servICe; he must
know the Fath.er's will, that he might render his service in
harmony therewith. Such motives impelled him to seek soli-
tude for thought and prayer, and for reviewing the various
ScriptureR whieh hithl'rto he had studipd and hut imperfectly
comprehended. but which now began to be luminous under the
infll1PIH'(' of thp holy \\hich he had received.
lIow proppr it would bc that all of the Lord's people, when
tlH'y have made a consecratIOn of to the. d.ivine
"ervic(', Rhould be lmpellpd by the new mmd, the new SpInt, to
go apart firRt and to eommune with the Father, to study
his \\' ord resppeting how they should render then lIves most
ar,pppt" hlp m hiR RPrvlce! \Vere this courRe pursued how
many livcR would be totally different from. what are;
how many failures and changes and turnmgs, hIther
thithpr would hI' aVOldcd! Our Lord expressed the matter m
onp of 'hiR parableR, whpn he said that anyone taking up his
cross to follow him shou1<l Rit down first and count the eost-
learn whnt the Father's will would bp, as well as the results to
bp sought. And If any of God's dear cl?ild.ren have !,1eglected
thus to seek tne right path at the begmnmg of theIr conse-
cration we refer them to the example of our dear Master, who
was in this as in all thing;:;, having not only the spirit of
a sound mind, but a sound mind itself, through which that
"pirit operated perfectly. However, our study of the divine
wIll nepd not be RO eomplptely alone as was our Master's-we
havp "brethren," he had none, being himself the forerunner.
We may profitably take counsel of such as give evidence of
faith m and con'lecration to God, that we may learn the more
quickly and the morc thoroughly the Father's will concerning
UR' cspP('ially may we have the aid of the words and example
of 0111' elder Brothpr, JCSllS. \Ve mURt never forget, however,
that our conse('ration is to the Father's business, and that
hrpthlen cnn only he really hplpful to us a'l they as.sist us in
ul1l1erstanding the Father's plan and our part therelll: other-
wise thpv might beeome hindrances by substituting their own
or sectarian plans and seeking our consecration thereto.
Our Lord's tpmptations may be Raid to have begun at thiR
point-tho'll' tpmptatwns in which "he was tempted like as we
are. vet without Sill." It was not the boy Jesus, nor the youth
was tpmptpcI "as we are." An? our Lord's tempta-
tions at'tpr hi'l ('onRecration were not like the temptatIOns
which hcspt the world, but like the church's temptations. In
other word'l, our Lord was reckoned a new creature from the
timp of hi'! conse('ration at .lordan, as we are counted new
CTpatures in him from the time of our consecration; and it
was tIl(' cons/'('ra trd J ('sus who wa s tempted and tried like as
hi'! ronseernted followprs are tempted and tried. We shall see
furtlll'r ('vidpncps of thiR as wp proceed to notice the character
of our Lord's tpmptations, and to comparc them with the
temptations whidl ('omc to his consecrated "brethren." Many
have wondpred \\ hv their tcmptations seemed to commence
(.ftpr thpir ('onRecration to til(' Lord. rather than before: seem-
ingly they pxppeted that a ftcr consecI':/.ti?n the adversary
IVould f\pe from thpm, and they should have lIttle or no tempta-
twn-totaJIy misunderstandlllg tIl(' divine arrangement. Such
tpmptations or tests of ('haracter as come to the
are not appropriate to the unconsperated: th:e IS not
the illdgment day of the world, but the testlllg tIme for the
chur('h.
It would appear that our Lora's tpmptations progressed
throughout the entire forty days, but that the three tempta-
tions speeifically descrihed were thc eulmination of that period
of testing. We may imagine our Lord in the wilderness soli-
tude, intpntly thinking over the various prophetic references
to himself, and linking these together, as an architect would
first draw the outline of a building and subsequently fill out
feature after feature of its internal arrangements. The out-
line before our Lord's mind from the Scriptures, beyond any
peradventure, was the kingdom. He was to be the King, the
tleed of Abraham, under whose gracious government and wise
instruction all the families of the earth were to be blessed.
This, the profile, was already clearly delineated in his mind,
but other features needed to be properly adjusted. How was
he to fulfil the type of the Law which represented the priest
as giving up his life for the sins of the people? Where would
come in the type of the pverlasting priesthood? Where would
come in the class of Israelites represented by Rebecca, as he
himself was represented by Isaac, and the Father by Abraham,
in the type? And if Israel would receive him, and become the
Rebecca, where would come in the sacrifice, and how? And
then other prophecies no doubt pressed his mind for a place
in the plan, viz., the declaration that although Israel were as
the sand of the sea only a remnant should be acceptable, and
how then would the predestinated number of the "elect" be
found, to complete the glorious royal priesthood; and by what
process would the blessing come to all the families of the
earth, if himself, as the High Priest, and hiR true followers,
as the royal priests, were all to suffer and to die for righteous-
ness' sake, as sacrifices?
We may well suppose that adjustment and re-adJustment,
fitting and refitting, with much reflection and prayer, occupied
many of the forty days, and there may have been temptations
interminglpd with thpRe all: as for instance. questiomngs re-
specting the necessity of those features represented in the
types and specified in the prophecies of the sutferings of Christ
which must take precedence to the glories that would follow.
There may have been temptations, too, to deal diRhonestly with
the records, to "wrest the Scriptures," and thus self-deepived,
to choo;:;e a way not in fullest conformity to the divine out-
line; but we may safely suppose that as soon a'l such sugges-
tions, one after another, prespntpd them8elve8. they were
promptly rejected.-our Lord being fully determined that he
would be absolutelv obedient to the Father's will and accom-
plish the work wliieh he had sent him to do in exactly the
manner prescribed.
So intent had been his study, and so earnest hiR desirp for
quiet fellowship with the Father and his law. th,lt fO! ty da)s
were spent under such conditions, and apparpntly so deeply
absorbed was our Lord that he did not even thmk of food
Nor does this appear so strange to us, when we Tf'member that
he was perfect, while we are imperfect, physically as well as
otherwise. "He afterward hungered."
It was at the close of this period of Bible study and
prayer, when our Lord was weak from fasting, that the Ad-
versary assaulted him with three temptations particularized
in our lesson.
The word here translated "devii" is diabolos, and is used
with the definite article-the devil. The arch-deceinr is thus
Scripturally distinguished from the fallen angels, who through
out the Scriptures are spoken of in the plural, designated by
another word sigmfying demons. Here, then, is one place in
the Scriptures where the personality of the prince of devils is
definitely affirmed, and his person and power aeknowlpdgcd by
our Lord himself. It is not necessary for us, however, to
assume that Satan appeared to our Lord in a human form;
he mayor may not thus have been personally manifest. If
personally manifest, we may rest well assured that he pre-
sented himself in his very best appearance, as an angel of lIght.
Indeed, we may well remember that our Lord, in his prehuman
condition, had, as the Father's agent, been the Creator of
Satan, and we remember that Satan was an angel of vcry high
order, whose sin consisted in an attempt to usurp authority
and to become the potentate of earth, by stealing the sympa-
thy, affection and obedience of humanity, and that on this
account he fell under divine reprobation. We can imagine
that a visit from him to Jesus would not be at all inappro-
priate, as he undoubtedly knew the facts of our Lord's conse-
cration, and to Borne extent knew of the work which the
Father had given him to do in the redemption of the fallen
race of men. We can imagine him even presenting himself in
a friendly manner, and assuring our Lord Jesus that he felt
a great interest in him and in his work; that he himself had
been painfully surprised to note the penalty of sin upon man-
kind, and the dreadful degradation which had resulted; and
that now he would be glad indeed to have something done by
which poor humanity might be delivered from its groaning,
travailing, dying conditions. As a friend, thoroughly versed in
the situation all around, and interested in its success, and
thoroughly conversant with the mental moods and foibles of
humanity, he was in a place where he felt qualified to offer
some suggestions respecting the very work which our Lord
Jesus wished to perform, the plan for which he was now
considering.
[2566]
JANUARY 15, 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER (29-31)
TEMPTATION TO USE SPIRITUAL FAVORS FOR PERSONAL
PROFIT
First, he manifests his personal interest in our Saviour
by suggesting his weakne.,s from laLk of food and the necessity
for takinO' proper care of his physical health if he would do
the great noble work he had He h.im
also of his power-that he had Just been Imbued wIth
divine power, and that he had now full ability to supply his
wants, and need only to the \\old and have the stones
turned into food. Thus also, he ::.uggested, he would be demon-
strating to himself the verity of the new power which he
witnessed coming upon him, and had subsequently felt. ViThat
more cunning temptation could be devised than this? Com-
pliance with it evidently meant, not only the relief of his
hunger and the strengthening of his physl?al frame, but ad-
ditionally it apparently meant thE' conversIOn of Sat:tn, who
now seemingly was in a repentant attitude, and deSIrOUS of
cooperating with him in the undoing of the evil work of the
long ago. It was a strong temptatIOn.
Such temptation comes also to all the consecrated; not
in exactly the same form, nor in the same language, but
somewhat similarly-suggestions that the new relationship
with God, and the strength which it brings, may be used to
some extent at least in creature comforts-may be utilized
for our temporal advancement; may be made to make us
shine before men as very honorable and favored of God; may
be used to command large salaries, or at least as a means
for seeking them, even if never found. We may then all note
carefully how our Lord resisted his would-be friend hiS
worldly-wise suggcstions. He flatly refused the suggestIOn of
using his spiritual power to serve his temporal wants. The
spintual gift could no more be used to procure temporal com-
forts than it could be sold for money to Simon (Acts.
8:18-24); but without going into details, and without boast-
ing that he was too holy to think of such a sacrilegious use
of the power entrusted to him, Jesus simply answered the
adversary in Scriptural language, that man's life was. not
wholly dependent upon what he should eat, but that obedIence
to the Word of God would be a surer guarantee of life. And
after this manner each of the Lord's followers should answer
every questIOn which in any manner proposes .the
of earthly blessings and comforts at the sacnfice of the spir-
itual. To qUIte a number of the Lord's "brethren" the ad-
versary has presented this same temptation in this form: 1
you fo'llow too closely to the truth, and permit the holy Spirit
of the truth to make you very zealous in its service, you will
soon have no brcad, no food, for the world's people with whom
you must deal do not appreciate such things. They will dis-
charge you from their employ, or they will cease to deal at
your store, or they will dismiss you from being their pastor,
or they will withdraw from yOU their fellowship, their society,
etc., and you will starve for "all the good things of this present
hfe. The proper answer is that God is able to take care of all
those who respect his spiritual blessings too much to sell
them for a mess of pottage, as did Esau in the type; and
that we are convinced that whoever lives according to the
\Vord of God, tho he may lose some of the comforts of the
present time, will eventually gain the far better, the life
eternal with exceeding glory.
Our Lord's positiveness of reply shut off the temptation
quickly, and discouraged the adversary from further pro
ceeding along that line; and so it is with us, his followers:
if we are positive in our rejection of temptation it increases
our strength of character, not only for that time, but also
for subsequent temptations; and it disconcerts to some extent
our adversary, who, noting our positiveness, knows well that
it is useless to discuss the matter with persons of strong con-
victions and positive character; whereas, if the question were
parleyed over, the result would surely be the advancing of
further reasons and arguments on the adversary's part, and a
danger on our part that we would be gvermatched in argument,
for, as the Apostle declares, the devil is a wily adversary,
and "we are not ignorant of his devices." Prompt and positive
obedience to the word and spirit of the Lord is the only safe
course for any of the "brethren."
TEMPTING GOD BY UNAUTHORIZED EFFORTS
Disappointed in his first effort, the adversary quickly
turned the subject, not even dissenting from our Lord's judg-
ment in the matter. The second temptation he presented is
like all others that came to our Lord and that come to his
consecrated followers, viz., not a temptation to gross wicked-
ness-to steal, to kill, etc.-but a temptation to do the Lord's
work in another way than that which the Lord had planned-
the misuse of the divine powers given him by endeavoring to
accomplish good results in an improper manner.
Satan took our Lord Jesus to Jerusalem and up to the
flat roof of one of the wings of the Temple-not physically,
but mentally, just as mentally we can go to place::;
and do certain things without change of physical location.
The suggestion now made was this: I (Satan) can give you a
good suggestion respecting a way to bring yourself qUIckly
into prominence before the people of Israel, and you will be
pleased with It. because it is a Scriptural way; indeed I have
found that it is foretold in the prophecy that Messiah at hlP
coming will do this: and the people will readily recogniz4?
it as a fulfilment of the words of the Prophet David, ancI
thus they will embrace your cause quickly, you will become
the leader of the people, and your work will go on mo"t
grandly: and as I said before, I will rejoice in seeing thE"
prospenty of the work, for I am heartily sick of the degrada-
tion which I have witnessed for now four thousand vpar".
My is that you go to the roof of the southern' wing
of the Temple which on its rear part C'verlooks the
of Hinnom, towering above it six hundred fpet. and which
also overlooks the court of the Temple in which there arp hun-
dreds of devout Jews: then leap from this eminence, and ariSE
unhurt by the fall. This will demonstrate more quipkly than
anything else you could do or say that the power of the High-
est is upon you. and that you are the l\Ies"iah. This. I say,
is referred to in the Scripture which says,-"He Rhall give his
angels charge C'oncerning thee: and in their hand" they shall
bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a
stone."-Matt. 4: 6.
Similar are the temptations which Satan presents to the
consecrated followers of Jesus :-Make a great show before the
world and the nominal church; attract thcir attention any
means, and not simply by the preaching of the cross of Chn"t;
use the spiritual powers and blessings that you have repeived
for doing some great and striking work, whiph will appeal to
the natural man, and thus secure quipk and great sucC'e"";
do this instead of doing the quiet and less conRpicuous work.
of presenting spiritual things to the spiritual class, whidl
work the vast majority can in no wiRe appreciate, but will
only shun you, consider you peculiar, and whiph not only wiII
lose you the sympathy of the mass, but will bring you specially
the hatred of some of the principal professors of Christendom.
Again our Lord answered promptly and correctlv: "It is
written again. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy Goo:'
Satan would like to have U'l walk by sight, noi by faith; hI:
would like to have us continually tempting God, and oemand-
ing some ocular demonstrations of hi!" favor and proteption,
instead of accepting the testimony of his Word, and relying
thereon implicitly in faith. In the light of the unfolding of
the Scriptures we see that Satan, probably unwittingly. quoted
a paRsagp of Scripturp wholly out of itR proppr mpaning and
interpretation, a passage which referred. not to the literal
feet of Jesus, and to literal stoneR. ann to litpral angels. but
to the symbolic feet-memherR of the body of Christ today, and
to the Rtones of Rtumbling. doptrinal and otherwise. which
are now permitted in the pathway of the faithful, and to the
angels or ministers of divine truth who in the present
time would be commissioned to hear up the fpet memhprs
with such counsels, admonition" ano e"poRitiollS of ScripturE
as would be necessary for thpm.-Psa. !)l'lI, ] 2.
TEMPTATION TO OBTAIN D'P,STRED GOOD RESULTS BY
COMPROMISE
Ratan's third temptation we may pre"ump was prespnted
likewise in a friendly and sympathetic manner, indicative of
a desire for co-operation in our Lord's great work. He took
him to a high mountain-not literally, but mentally. Indeed.
there is no literal high mountain near ,Jerusalem, nor
where in the world. from whirh all the kingdoms of the world
and their glory could he seen. Satan took our Lord mentally
to a vlry IJigh Rymbolic mountain (kingdom I. He pictured
before him the immensity of hiR (Satan's) own power thrfJugh
out the world, hiR control of all the nationE. and peoples to a
large extent, and this our Lord subsequently acknowledged
'When he referred to Satan as "the prince fruler] of .hii'l
world." Thi'l panoramic presentation of Satan'R power and
influf'nce throughout the world was designed to impress upon
the mind of our Redeemer the thought that Satan's friendship
and assistance would be most valuahle--nay. almost of vital
importance to the RucpeSR of his mission, and hence that it
was very fortunate indeed that at thi" jundure Satan hud
called upon him in so friendly a mood, and that 1>e apparently
so sincerely welcomed his efforts and was ready to co-operate
therewith.
posbihly pointed out to our Lord that Messiah was
specially referred to as the King of Israel, and to bless Israel,
and he may have admitted that a light of influence would
e"tend to ail nations through him, but the C'enter of his argu-
ment would seem to be that he proposed to Jesus a still larger
[2567]
'31 -35) ZION'S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, p"
l.mgdom than hra"'l. He to IBm a kmgdom embrac-
ing all the nations of the earth, and that he should have the
('ontrol of all these. ant! he able to brill!? m tl1l' blessed re-
forms which were <!t>.;iglll'd of God, only one condition being
insisted upon, VIZ., that whatever kingdom or rule or authority
might be established recognize Satan. The adversary
thus seemed to sec what he thought a favorable opportunity
for consummating his original planR, for we cannot suppose
that his original intpntion was to gain control of a dying
and depraved race, but that he lIlul'll rather would be the lord
or ruler of a highly elllight<'l1ed and well-endowed people. He
willing, thereforI'. to -Pi' corried into effect all the gra-
,ious work which nOll hall and willing to reform
himself and to be('onw tllr leader of reform, provided only
tlJat he should be recogllll.p,l a'! haying the chief place of in-
fluence in connection with mankind. It was after this man-
n(-r that he wished ollr Lord to do worship or rcverence to
!llm--to recognizc illflueIH'r and co-operation in the work,
.1 nd not for a mompIIt (all \H' ,;uppofle that he expected him to
knrel before him and to him as God.
Our Lord'R reply to last temptation bho\\R that it
fully awakened him tn a rplt hzntion of the fact that tllPre wa,;
110 real reformation at work in Satan's heart; that he wn"
,till ambitious, as at the beginning of his down-
\\ard course; and 11(' IPalil.ed that to even discus;; the mattter
fllrt,her with onl' \\110 1mr] thus avowed his real
"\' ould be disloyalty to the Fnther. ant! hence his words, "Get
thl'l' hence, Satan"-lf'ltvl' me; you ellnnot co-operate with me
:It all; my work i'\ III ful! :wcord with the absolute standard
"f thl' divine will; I (un he' a party to no program contrary
to this, howl'ver alluriug of its features might be in
promiSing a Rpeedy of tIle world, and a speedyestl!h-
lJshment of a reign of right.eousness and blessing and an
:1\ nidanpe of personal ,-ufT"ring; I cannot foeI'Ve two ma,sters:
1 "an only re('ognize tIll' nne supreme Jehovah, as Lord of
llcaven and of cartll. and tlwrefore could not recognizc you ill
.lny position of authOIIty ('x('ept as the great Jehovah wOlIl,i
a ppoint yon to it, whir h I know he would never do, so long
a" you are of the pre1'('nt ambitious spirit. I am operating
a!nng the lilli' of the de('laration, "TJJOu t-ohalt worship [rever-
'-IIl'cl the Lord thy God, alld him only shalt thou SPrl'c."
We may readily dis('('rl! that this temptation of our Lord
v. a" but a s:lmple at ion nf Rudl u" heset his follower;;
,til along the narrow \\ay. from the sallie source, dirc<tly or
1 hroug-h Fiatan throngh his mouthpiece,.;
i" eontinnally flaying to t1ll' '-aint"', TIere is a morp "ul'('essful
of your obil'ct than that whH'h on lue
pursuing, a more way tItan thl- Lord's way. BE-nrI
a lIttle; makE- compromlM' \\ itlt the spirit; do not
hew too close to the line of the word of God and the e:\ample
\If thE- Lord ,Tcsus nnd the npostlc,,; you mnst be more like
ill(' world, in ordl'r to ,',Nt fln influence-mix a little into
politics. and a good deal into secret societies; keep in touch
with the fads and foibles of the day, and above all thingR
keep any light of present truth under a bushel,-thu8 alone
,-an you have influence and accomplish your good desires toward
men. But our dear Master assures us that we are to be faith
ful to the Lord and to his plan, and let things work out as
bE-st thpy may along that line; and that we m:lY fl'st assured
that in the end the Father's plan not only is the best but
really the only plan for accomplishing his great designs, and
that if we would bE- associated therein with him as colaborers,
it must be by recognizing him as our only Mastcr, and with
an eye single to his approval.
Our Lord's utter refusal of every other way of carrying
out his mission than the one which the Father had marked
out, the way of self-sacrifice, the narrow way, was indeed It
great victory. The ndVErsary left him, finding nothing in
him that he could take hold of or work upon, so thoroughly
loynl was he to the very word and the spirit of ,Tehovah. An,l
then, the trial being ended, we read that holy angels camE-
and ministered to our Lord-doubtless supplying him with
refreshment such as he had refused to exercise the divine
power to obtain for himself. And such we may rl'('ognize as
being the experience of our Lord's followers: with victory
comes a blessing from the Lord. fellowship of spirit, refresh-
ment of heart, a realization of divine favor that makeR
stronger for the next trial.
Another lesson here is that temptation does not imply
As our Lord was tempted "without sin" so may hi"
brpthren be if they follow his example and with purity of
heart, purity of intention, seek only the Father's will. SlII
could only come through yielding to the temptation. But
let us not forgE-t that hE-sitancy after the wrong is SE-en in-
crE-ases the power of the temptation. And we may notl' her('
that while Satan is tempter, endeavoring to ensnarE- us into
wrong paths and wrong conduct. God is not so; "he tpmpteth
no man" (Jas 1;13), and even tho he permit tlJ('
and his agents to beset his people, it is not with the object of
ensnaring them, but with the opposite object. that t1tl'y
by such trials and testings be made the stron!!er, devPloping
character through exercise in resisting E-vil. Let us remember
too for our strengthE-ning, the Scriptural assurance that God
will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are abll' to rE-
sist and overcome but will with the temptation provide also
1L way of escape.
To avail ourselves of this provision requires mE-rely faith,
and the more we exerciSE- our faith in such matters tlle mon'
of it we will have, becoming stronger in the Lord and in tlw
power of his might; and thus by divine grace and under the
assistance We may come off overcomerR-conquerors.
and more than conquerors, through him who loved us and
bought us with his own precious blood.-2 Cor. 12: \); 1 Cor
10:13; Eph. 6:10; Rom. 8:37-3\).
A LITTLE WHILE
A little while with \\I'an- feet to tread the narrow way.
A little while, tlJ(' tlJJlp not be long,
.\ little while the One to follow day by day.
l little while to sutT"r and be ;;trong.
.\ little while with faltt-nul-: tonguE- to testify for God,
:\ little while to sutT,'r S( orn and shame,
.\ Itttle whilE- with voke aud pE-U to spread the truth abroad.
A little while to glOrify hi" naml'
A little while with humble faith to wage th" goodly fight.
A little while, grasp firm the two-edged sword.
.-\. little while. Satanic hosts shall all be put to flight.
A little while, then, trust thou in the .
A little while, a little while, Oh, let this be our song,
A little while, lay not the armor down;
A little while, a little while, the strife will not be long.
A little while, and we shall wear the crown!
-GERTRUDE W. SEIBERT.
VOf,. XXI ALLEGHENY, PA., FEBRUARY 1, 1900 No.3
THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW THE JOYFUL SOUND
walk, 0 Lord, in the light of thy countenan<:e."-Psalm 89: 15
have eVE-r heard these blessed tidings; the four-fifths are totally
blinded by the god of this world, and see nothing and hea"r
nothing of God's grace. And the matter has been as bad
this, or worse proportionately for six thousand years. How we
"hould rejoire that under divine providence we were born in
lands where the light of truth sends forth at least a feeble ray,
and where many are not totally deaf to "the joyful sound!"
Yet coming to civilized lands, we are surprised, almost
appalled, at the gross darkness which beclouds the minds of the
people of so-called Christendom, and by the dimness of vision
and dullness of hearing of the vast majority in these most
favored parts of the earth-of the majority of those whose
lines have fallen unto them in pleasant places comparatively.
Mentally we see nearly two-thirds of the Bo-called enlightened
[2568]
"Snlvation 0 the joyful sound,
\Vhnt for our race'
Deliv'utn"l' io!' thc world is found
Through (;(llI'S ahounding grace."
ThiR joyful sah-ation "ound if< the Gospel, as declared by
the aug-elil' messengprs--"Uood tidings of great joy. which shall
he unto all people." But ala". how few have heard this joyful
-ound! As mentally we glance over the sixteen hundred mil-
lions of the world's population, we find that even the most
I'xtravagant claims would "how that not one-fifth of the wholl'
POEMS ,SO HYMN OF D,\\,
'messed are the peolJlc t!tat know the joyful sound; they sh{lll
is the fill "oum!. as the poet has Wl'!l expressed
It. "aying:
FEBRUARY 1. 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER
(35-37)
fifth of humanity bowing to the Virgin Mary, addressing her
III prayer, and crossing themselves with reverence at the men-
tion of her name, and generally grossly ignorant of the divine
t'haracter and plan-believers in an eternity of torment for all
except those of their own communions, and in long periods of
purgatorial agony for the great majority of their member".
Heart-sick with the picture, we exclaim, a that these peoplp
('ould hear the joyful sound! for evidently they have at very
most merely heard an indistinct strain of it conglomerated with
the jargon of Babel's confusion and Satanic discord.
Looking expectantly to the remaining third of the so-called
enlightened fifth of humanity, known as "Protestants/, we
inquire, Are these the blessed people who know the Joyful
,",ound? A hundred discordant voices answer, Ye'l! but we
inquire. If you have heard it, why such discord, such clashing
of doctrines, such separation from each other by creed-fences?
Are not all the people who know the joyful sound one people
-the one church of the living God, whose names are written
in heaven? This at once arouses doubt respecting "Protest-
antism." and we hearken for evidences to the contrary, that
many at least. if not all, know "the joyful sound." "'e per-
('eive that in many respects amongst these are found people
who know more the diYine character than do tht'
outside fifteen hundred millions; and yet here also we find great
blindness. obscure mental vision, great deafness to the voicc
from heaven. Truly amongst these also the great adven,alY
has done a work, so that although in their midst more
he heard of 'the joyful sound" than amongst other classes ot
1he world, vet Ratan has here also introduced the discords so
:-IS almost to drown the heavenly music-"the joyful sound."
For while to some extent Protestantism discerns God's love and
lU'ltice, the adversary has beclouded its vision and dulled it,;;
llearing- for the truth, by whispering theories that are at
variance with divine justice and love. and make void and mean-
ingless "the joyful sound." To some he whispers that God
never had either or pro\-ision for any except "the
dect;" to others he whispers that Gorl has the sympatlly for
all, but lack., the wisdom and power to give practical assist-
ance to any but the few: and thus in the minds of nearly all
"the joyful sOUllll" is reduced to a song of praise and joy and
thanksgiving and salvation from a little flock, with which will
minglp to all eternity the anguishing wails of the vast majcrity
of thousands of millions.
There are a few (but alas how few!) who not only hear
"the joyful sound," but who discern that the discord is' of the
adversary. and that the joyful sound, if separated from Satanic
IJIharmonies, is beautiful, harmonious heyond any other sound
or song. Full of the f..pirit of the f..ong themsclve", the:l'- haste
10 make its heauty known to others, and to point out the
.. rigin of the di"cord. Thev feel certain that it will be merely
necessary to indicate the discord and its source to have othen,
11kI' themselve.:; in",tantly discern and reject the .discord, and
1 ejoice more fully than eyer in "the joyful sound"-the tru('
But alas! what disappointment is theirs: they find
that ewn amongst thE' "Prote"tant" fifteenth of humanity not
only is the dal kness great, but the depravity of heart and
mind are so (lense that the darkness and discord are p1'efel'red,
and "the joyful sound." the good tiding'l of great joy for all
people, is spurned. an(l considered to be the discord that is of
thl" Only here and there can any be found who
"know the joyful sound"-who can di8tinguish the joyful
-ound of thp heavenly ml'ssage from those by which Satan has
"deceived all that dwell upon the earth."-Rey. 18 :23; 19 :20:
211:3.
SOUNDING THE JUBILEE TRUMPETS
The may arise, Why did God permit Satan. through
IllS human agencies, to bring false doctrine amongst his ppople
during the dark ages, tIm" to blind and deafen them to the true
lIght. and the heavenly harmonies of the divine plan?
We answer that God's purpose during this age has been the
",eleetion of merelv the "little flock" of "overcomers" to be
joint-heirs with lil'l Son in the coming killgdom
which is to "bless all the families of the earth;" and by per-
mitting darkne;;s to come upon this nominal church da",s he
l1as (1) taught a great lesson both to angels and men con-
('erning the necessity of not only starting right, but remaining
loyal to the Lord and his Word, and maintaining a teachable
attitude of heart. (2) DoubtleRs the majority of the "little
flock" has been selected from the two ends of this Gospel age
-its beginning and its closing years. (3) There may have
1I(,E'n mUl'h more knowledge of the joyful messagc amongst
(:0<1',;; ppople during 'the dark ages" than we now haye means
"f knowing. ,ince tl](' history of that time had few recorders,
.md their records then dealt chiefly with the error-blinded
systems and ignored or misrepresented the unpopular instru-
mentalitie" God in making "the joyful sounrl"-somp
of whom quite probably were denominated heretics, because
they knew the joyful sound of the true Gospel, and propor-
tionately denounced the popular "doctrines of devils."
At all events, under divine providence the joyful sound is
now heard above the din of "Babel" by those who "have an ear
to hear," and it is found to be the very same gospel which was
preached by the Lord and the Apostles and announced by the
angels on the plains of Bethlehem-a "joyfUl sound," "good
tidings of grt>at joy which shall be unto all people." Moreover,
as we have seen in other studies,* we are now in the early dawn
of the Millennial day, which in the Scriptures was typically
represented to Israel by their Jubilee year-of release from
hondage and the return to original pO'lsessions, etc. And as
the priests were to announce the Jubilee year in the Day of
Atonement, by the blowing of silver jubilee trumpets, so herE'
we have the antitype : the royal priests in this, the close of the
antitypical Day of Atonement (the Gospel age), are to blow
the trumpets of truth (silver being a symbol of truth), an-
nouncing to the people that the grace of God is come nigh
unto them. and that during the Millennial day (of one thou-
sand years) now dawning the great High Priest, also Prophet
and King, shall stand forth as God's representative, and by
Yirtue of his own sacrifice shall give the needed bleSSing of
knowledge to all mankind, and shall lift up out of degrad,l-
tion and sin and death, by his providence and grace, all who
to come back to righteousness and fellowship with thl'
Father through him.
So then, as it was appropriate in the type that this an-
nouncement should be made at the close of the Day of Atone-
ment, so that indicated that it is a part of the divine plan
that the sounding forth of the joyful sound, the message of
the Jubilee of divine love and fayor and blessing should be
given at the present time-just in the closing days of the
Gospel age-the closing hours, so to speak, of the great
of Atonement.t and at the dawning, so to speak, of the :Millen-
nial age of Jubilee.
Now another matter, little in itself, and easily overlooked
in our translation of the Bible, is the fact that the very word
(turrlah) used in our text, rendered "a joyful sound," is the
same Hebrew word that is used in Lev. 25: 9, where the sound-
:ng of the Jubilee trumpet is commanded. How strikinglv the
Lord has arranged his Word. to make it a ba'lis for faitli al1f)
joy to his people. How clear it is to those who "Know the
joyful sound," and yet how obscure to all others! 'Yell does
our text say, "Blessed are the people who knou' the joyful
>oound!" The blessing upon them is certainly not because of
their own merit, for we are all conscious of the fact that in our
fl:::sh dwelleth no perfection, and that none of us could he com-
to God by our own righteousness-all of thc<;\) blessed
people who know the joyful sound haye reason, thE'refore, to
give thanks unto him who loyed them, and who hought them
with his own precioU'l blood, in whose merit alone thev havE'
standing with the Heavenly Father. And yet these blessed
people have something to do with the matter of tlwir
-something to do with the fact that they have heard, and
hearing have known or disE'E'rned the joyful sound. while others
hearing h3;ve not ?iscerned it. They ha've the !:earing of faith:
from the lIttle whICh they first heard they must have cultivated
a love righteousness, ,and a hatred of iniquity; they must
have cultwated honesty With themselves, hone'lty with the Lord,
honesty in handling his Word-"not handling the ''lord of God
deceitfully." (2 Cor. 4:2) They must haye consel'rated their
hearts fully to the Lord, and thus have ('ome fnl1\- 11nder the
guidance of "the spirit of the truth," else thE'v ,,'ould not be
able to discern better than ot)wrs between the 'joyful sound of
the truth amI thp sound of error Evidentlv in these
we see fulfilled the S('ripture. "He is a reward('r of them that
(lilig-ently seek him [to know him. to know hi" willl."-Heh.
11'6.
THE NEW SONG OF MOSES AND THE LAMB
Our Lord in symbol pointed out to us the fact that th<,
message of his. grace in the ('lORing day" of this Gospel ag<'
be so dIfferent from the commonly a('ceptPfl messagl'.
1I11snamNl the Gosp<,], that it would properly he termed a nrll'
sunf!, although it would he the old song of Moses-the messagp
of hlessing typified by the writings of Moses and by all the
('erf'l1lonies of thc Law. and thE' of the Lamh. the good
tidings annollI1ced in ponncetion with our Lord's birth. and
throughout his own ministry. when all the people "bare him
record, and wondE'red at the grapious wonls that proceeded out
of his mouth" (not threat.:; of eternal torment to nine-tenths
of the human family); and the t<'stimony of all the apostles
rpspeeting thE' Lamb of GOI] and the great work to he apcorn-
pli"hed hy him in taking "away th(' sin of the 11'0rld" It is
See l\hLLENNIAL DAWN. "OL ll. Chap 6
t Tabernacle Shadol"s of Better Sacrifices
[2569]
(37-38) ZION'S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHF.>lY. PA.
merely this same that is now be:ing sung by those whom
God has with a knowledge of present truth-it is "the
Joyful sound" which only the people thus tlessed know or can
SIng.
It is a worldly proverb that truth is strangpr than fiction,
yet this proverb h illui'trated throughout "Christendom" today
-the vast, vast maJonty of professed followers of Christ are
strangers to the truth, but thoroughly familiar with the fictions
of human iuvention-"traditions of the elders," whidl "make
VOId the \Vord of God." It is in full accord with this that the
angr! to the Revelator that no man can learn to sing
tIll'; song excppt the elect-the 144,000, the "little flock." (Rev.
14:3) Indeed. nothlllg' is more than that it is neees
Farv to be f,omewhat of an "overromer" of the world and Its
!SpIrit whir-h nominal ere any would h we
the courage to Ring this def'lare brfore men the
an(l and h"ights and d"pths of the goodness and grace
of the divine plan, of whieh .Jesus an(l his sacrifice are
center. To all othprs "the fear of man bring-eth a and
stoppeth thpir mouths from "forth the praisp of him
who caJlpd us out of into mal light." "But
the people that do blOW theIr God [his character and plan]
shall he valIant anll do exploits." and like tht) apostles of old
wIll fpr! and f,ay. \Yhdher it be right to ohey God or men,
Judge yc; hut \\ e ('anllot hut speak the things which we have
Sl'l'n and heard.-Dan. 11':12; Apts 4:1!l. 20.
1'01' np('(l WI' that the fact that only the 144,000
can ",ing implie
o
, that those ahle to smg the song
coulel not fall from thplr amI become eashtways,
and lose the priyilpge of >,ing-ing it. On the contrary, the Scrip.
turcs Iv abS1,r" lh that onIv bv unceasing faith-
fulness will any bl: pf'rmlttpel to contlllue to he rcckoned as
of that ... lpIt pompany. foreknown and prearranged of
God. Our Lonl dparlv that he will blot out the
of who ar0 unfaithful thllt othpr namps may be
writtpn in thl'lr He dparly intimates that unfaithful
wIll that the prown set apart for the faithful will,
if hp prove unfaithful. Ill' given to another.-Rev. II.
THE WALK OF THE BLESSED PEOPLE
Tn Ilarmonv with thp forpgoing is the intimation of our
tp"\.t whilll implie,' that in onlpr to be of the people who will
kno\" the joyful It \,ill be to "walk III the light
of God's eountenance," Or, reversing the statement, the
thought is that all who walk In the light of God's countenance
shall be his blesbed people. and bhall know the joyful sound.
\Vhat a le%on of here: not a lesson of human
perfection and self'l'ommendation to Goel. but a lesson of abid-
111q m Chnst under the robe of hib righteousness, and of walk-
1ll1-: 'WIth him and in the path of just. which
"bluneth more and more unto the perfect day." And whoever
wuuld walk with Jesus in the light of divine favor, in the
of dIvine approval. must needs walk the narrow way of
and splfsaerifice-"even unto death." \Vhoever
c!pli!!hts in sin and sinful practices cannot walk in the company
of .Jesus, eannot be recognized as a membel of hIS or under
hI" robe-can nelthpr pftrt nor lot in matter, what-
('\-er bp done WIth him or for him in the future age. As
the Apostle It, tho",p acccptpel of Christ. and who
won1(1 maintain affiliation with him. must remember that all
(If the "royal priesthood" are gIven tllP truth. not to make them
valll or or heady and high-minded, but to purify them,
and to sanctify them. He dpplares "He that hath this hope in
him punfieth himself, even as he is pure."
A TEXT FOR THE YEAR
'1,7e to the friends of the truth the adoption of the
words of our text as a talisman for the year, if not
for the remainder of the pilgrim journey. \Ve believe that
these lllspired words will help all who llnderstanel them to more
and more up to the divine ideal which they
to our minds: "Blessed are the people that know the joyful
sound-they shaH walk, 0 LOI d, in the light of thy C01lllte-
nance."
Another line. in fuB harmony with from the succeeeling
might profitably he added: "Let the beauty of the Lord
our God be upon us." Only those who see the bcauty of the
great King. who discern something of his his mcrcy
and love. wisdom, his power, can clothe their new minds
with these glorious graces which more and more shine before
our anointed vision as the lJeauty of the Lord our GOIL And
the more dearlv thpy arC' discerned, the more fa ithfullv pan
WP cOP,v thpm, anel tIle hettpr do we love the ioyful sound, and
the hetter can we sing' the Song of and thp Lamb.
THE VOLUNTEER WORK
The open winter has b.,pn YC'ry favorable to the Volunteer
\Y0l k far, but we that those who have not already
commpnced work make all their preparations for the
springtime, when we hope to hear from all, and to have a goodly
of readinl-: matter ready for their use.
:\Ieantime you will do well to have a meeting, caB for en
listments in the service, appoint a committee with a central
head to hy out the work systpmatically, that all congregation'.!
in your cIty may be serwd without duplipating. appoint your
scribe to communicate with the \V.\TCH TOWER offipe re'-'peeting
the number of volunteers. tIl(' number of the average
attendance of each, and the time for distribution.
WE HAVE FOUND HIM! EUREKA!
FEB. 4.-JOHN 1:3546.
.Htt-r his wilJerness temptation, Jesus returned to Bethab
ar... where John was preaching, fully convinced of the char
acter of miSSIOn-that it was not to be after the manner
of Satan's suggestion of worldly methods, leading on to popu-
larIty and honor of men-that on the contralY it would be his
part to bear witness to the truth in such a truthful and simple
mannpr as would commend it and him to sueh only as were
inlleed. No doubt by this time he saw that before
the glorificatIOn could come the new Israel must be selected,
the "royal priesthood. the holy nation, the peculiar people"
or spiritual Israel. He had reason to expect
that there was at least a remnant of this class in the nation
of 1Rnw! after the flesh. and although fully realizing that no
man could come unto him except the Father which sent him
..lIoI11e! draw him. he nevertheless recognized the propriety of
putting himsplf in the way of those whom the Father would
draw. that II(' might receive them as quickly and as favorably
a.. Hence his return from the wilderness was to the
ncinity of John's mission work. where not unreasonably he
might pxppct to find of the Israelites indepd.
Our lesson -hmv8 that the Heavenly Father had made use
of John thp Baptizpr's Mission and had exerted through it a
drawing influence upon thp hearts of some who by this time
werE' quite reaely to learn of Jesus as the Way. the Truth and
the Life-the channel of approach to God. The drawing power
which the Father exerts during this age is the truth-the
knowledge of divine toward mankind manifested
through the spnding of ME'ssiah to save the people from their
sins-to eleliver them from the power of sin and Satan, as well
as from the death penalty.
It was after our Lord's return from the wilderness that the
delegation of pricsts and Levites, sent from Jerusalem. came
to John asking, "Who art thou?" to whom he replied that he
was not the Christ but merely a forerunner, a herald. To
these John pointed out Jesus, saying: "Behold the Lamb of
God, which taketh away the sin of the world," explaining how
he knew Jesus to be the Messiah by a previously appointed sign
which God had given him-the deseent of the holy Spirit in the
form of a dove.-Verses 1934.
It was the very next day after this testimony to the priests
and Levites that John. in the presenee of two of his disciplps,
looking' Intently upon Jesus as he passed near (no doubt won
dering how our Lord's Messiahship would be made known),
exclaimed. "Behold the Lamb of God!" This was the same
testimony (only abbreviated) that he had given to the priests
and Levites. and which had evidently fallen. in their case, upon
dull ears. But note the difference in the case of those who
were "Israelites indeed:" the two disciples immediately fol-
lowed .John's testimony became to them the drau:ing
power of God, because they were in a condition of heart to be
susceptible to that influence. Thus we see clearly illustrated
how some are drawn and others are not drawn by the same
message, and we sep also that the divine drawing does not
operate arbitrarily, but in accordance with certain fixed prin
ciples pertinent to the divine plan. It was not sufficient that
a testimony should be given. it was not sufficient that a curio
osity should be aroused; it was necessary additionally that the
interest awakened should be so powerful as to lead to action
on the part of those who were drawn. as the poet expresses it,
"He drew me, and I followed on."
The Lord is seeking not merely the curious, but the truth-
hungry, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, and for
[2570]
FEBRUARY 1, 1900 ZIONJS WATCH TOWER
(39-40)
with himself. and here, as in every instance, he that disciples did not follow the cour;e that some are inclmed to
seeketh, III thIs proper attitude of heart, findeth. The two follow today, VtZ., to seek to learn of the Master all that he
discIples had not follow"d the Lord far until their faIth and would communicate, and then go torth and pose as wise ones
zeal began to be rewarde(l: the Lord turned to them and was amongst their giving them the information they had
the first to speak. and thu>; he illm.trated his own words re- received in drIblets, and avoidlllg the mention of Jesus as the
tho;e dra" n of the Father to hIm, "He that cometh Father's channel of communicatIon of the truth to them.
unto me I will in no wise cast out." Had our Lord not thus Properly. they investigated privately to an extent sufficient
condescendp(1 It would have been a difficult matter for these to Justify their confidence. and then immediately began to tell
humble to have approached one so far above them the good tidings to their friend;. f'o ea('h one who has found
in dignity and in appearan('e-one whom they had just lea\ned the Lord should seek to make lum known to others; and more
was the great long promIsed of God to be the Prmce than this, like Andrew. we should not only seek to acquaint
of the kmgs of the earth. Applying this feature of the lesson our friends with the fact. but ;llOuld seek to bring them to the
to ourselves. and remembering that the Lord is the same yes- Lord for personal conta('t with him-such spiritual contact
terday, today and forever, helps us to appreciate his conde- that they may see hIm with the eye of faith, and hear him
scemlOn manifested toward all who would come unto the with the ear of faith, that thev may know him. whom to know
Father throucrh him-we who now come to him because of is life eternal. Too many take a different course, and are sat-
the hearing of faith and the sight of faith, as well as those isfied merely to tell the good news to their friends without
who then approached 111m because of the sight of the natural bringing them through faith and ('onsecration into conta('t with
eye aUfI the hearing of the natural ear. the Lord. Let us more an(1 more learn the right way to serve
Our Lord's salutation, "What seek ye 1" not only overcame our fripnds. Let us If'arn that knowlprlge is valueless except
the diffidence of those who sought him, but the more they as it su('('eeds in bringing the hearer into faith contact with
would ('onsider his words subsequently, the more meaningful the Saviour.
they would find them, as we do today. And this seems to be 'Ylwn Peter was brought to the Lord. ".Tpsus looked upon
the which the Lord puts to all those who approach him." or as wp might it. "read him through and
llim. anfl essay to become his followers, ""'hat seek ye?" Are through." and then said. Your present name is Simon. and
you seeking- loaves and fishes of earthly advantage? Are you you are the of .Tohn. hut you ;hall be ('ailed Cephas-
seeking earthly honor and social lllld politi('al influence and Hebrew for Peter (Greek, ppflos. a stone). This may be un-
prefcrment? The answer soon or later will he manifested by del' stood as a kind of prophecy on our Lord's part a
the ('onduct of the seekers. though evidently all do not realize, great change in Pptpr's fharacter Pl'tpr was naturally very
at the tll11P. what are their real mot!vps in "eeking the Lord. impUlsive-not suffipientlv ;olid. too easily ('nrried about; and
It wpre hett('r, however, tlmt each shoul(l rempmbpr our Lord's yet our Lord ;aw in him sterlIng qualities of heart.
own cJo.presslOn on this suhiect. and ;it down and count the cost honesty. of purpose; and knowing the influpn('e wludl
at thp YCly beginning-that ea('h one ,h0nld learn that to seek his teachings and thp Spirit woul(l exerdse upon such
the Lord truly is to sepk after righteollf,ness. fellowshIp with a character, he foretold a change whidl would make of Peter
the Fat her and with the Son; and that this means the forsak- one of the stallJ1f'hest and most suhstantial of his ('orps of
ing of sin. far as the heart is eon('erne(l. and so far as pos- disciples. This prophp('v of phange was Implipd in the new
Rible thr> purifying of the flesh by the "washing of water name given him. signifying solidi tv-a stone-wherpas his pre-
throngh the 'Yord."-Eph. 5: 26. vious name. Simon, signifie(l a liRtener.
All should learn also that seeking to he disciples of Christ Although Peter was the onIv one of the twelvf' whose name
implies not only a fellowship with 111m in the glory that is was thus chang-ed. we may readilv supposp that the ('haral'tprs
Roon to 1)(' rpvealed. but also a fellowship with him in the suf- of all were considerably changed. un(ler the influence of the
ferings of this present time-a "filling up of that which is greilt Tpaehpr a nd of the holy Spirit. which ('arne upon them
lJE'lllnrl of the affli('tions of Christ." If. as our Lord sugge'lted, at Ppntpeost. And so it is with n1I who he('ome the Lord';;
eadl onp would sit down and count the cost beforehand. there disciples: to enter the school of and to remain there
would be lC'ss suhsequpnt disapPOintment. and although the means. as the Apostle expresses it. that wp will he "fruns-
numher of his followers woulrl he much smaller. there would formed by the renpwing of our minds." And the Lord promise'!
be many Ips,! "tares" the "wheat." and this would all such that thpy shall have "a nl'W name," C'xpressive of the
mean the hetter spiritual of thp "wllPat." npw character. hut whidl no man can apprp('iate pxcept those
The woulfl-Iw dis('iples of ,Jesus heard the question without who recl'ive it-the namp of ChriRt-Rpv 2'17.
dis('C'rning, of course. its depth, nevNtheleRs. being in the right In the ('ase of Philip. the order of pro('edure was rl'versed,
condition of heart their answer was along proper lines-Rabbi and instead of his coming to the Lord. as dId the first two.
(master). wlH're a I e you stopping? seem to have under- and instead of his heing brought to the Lord. as in the ('ase
"too(l that like thpmsplns he was a Galilean. and that like of Peter and probably .Tame;. the Lonl. on the pontrarv. "found
themselw; anrl otllPrs he was mprely viSIting in that vicinity him" or appr0a('herl him on tllf' sulllect. inviting him to be-
on account of .Tohn's mission work. wlndl drew great multi- come one of his disciples. This shows us the diversity of divine
tudes. Their question implied in a pleasant way a desire to operation in respect to those who arp ready for thp truth. It
become more intimately acquainted WIth Jesus. And he ac may reach them in one way or in another. but all who are
cepted it in this manner, and invited them to his stopping ready for it we may be sure will be hrought in contact with
place; as it was ahout four o'eloek in the afternoon they re- Messiah-drawn of the Fathpr. 'Ye arp not to question that
mained with 11im the remainder of the day, and we may well Philip had hepn previously under rlivine pn'paration and drawn
imagine what the Evangelist has not recorded respecting the into a condition of hpart ready to reeeivp Jesus, else he would
pleaRure and profit which ('ame to them during these hours of not h'we be('ome his followf>r whpn invited.
intercourse. As a result thev were convin('ed of Jesus' Mes- Philip was douhtlesR acquainted with Andrew and Peter,
siahship-their own intercourse with him tending- to corrob- since they were of the same ('itv. and like Andrew he seems to
orate John's testimony. And thU'l it is with all who of a true have thoilght at on('e of telling. the good tidings to another.
heart spek to know of God's appointed way; not only are the.v and he remembprNl his friend Nathaniel, whom he knew to be
kindly rp('eived by the Lord. but the very opportunitie8 for God-fearing, and liYing in expectation of the fulfilment of the
knowledge. fellowship and communion which they desire are divine promisp of the ]\fpssiah. 'Ve note with pleasure the
grantpd to them. directness of his presentation of the suhje('t. "We ha,Ye found
Andrew was one of these two disciples of John. and altho him of whom Mosps in the law [in the Pentateu('h. the first
the other is not definitely mentioned it is the general supposi- five hooks of thp Old Tf'stamentJ and the Prophets eli(1 write.
tion that it was the Apostle .Tohn himself, who seems to have Jesus of Nazarpth." He did not attempt to interpst Nathanid
been of a very modest disposition. Quite unwilling to make his merely with the prospe('t of joint-heirship in the king-dom.
own name very prominent in his writings. Thus on other occa- though th'lt of ('01lrSP would he implied inrlire('tly; hut he dr('w
3ions he mentions himself not by namp. but as "that disciple attention to our Lord's person. And his language shows that
whom Jesus loved."-John 13 :23; 19' 26. he was not '1 mere enthusiast, but that he had been making a
Andrew and John both had brothers, and the implication study of the fact that Ml'ssiah had heen by Mose8
of the Greek text seems to be that both at on('e sought their and thp prophpts. and that he h'ld evielently heen endeavoring.
brothers. to bring them to the Lord, but that "Andrew first to the best of his ability, to test our Lord's title bv those
findcth his own hrother Simon," and it may he surmised that prediC'tiolls and had found flatisfaetory evidpl1('e that wa'"
John through modesty neglected here to mention that he also indeed the Christ. the Sent of God. So it should bp with all
found hi8 hrother Jamefl, and brought him to the Lord. This of us when we attempt to present the of Christ to the
is a good illustration of the proper course for thofle who have attpntion of other8. ';Vp should have the promises of God and
found the Lord-they should at once begin to think of their thpir fulfilmpnt in mind; and the"e should be our argument.
brethren, friends. neighbors. and should carry the good tidings It is not calling attention to Christ, nor at all following the
to them as quickly as possible. It was quite proper that these example of Philip, to assail men with threats of eternal tor-
[2571]
(41 42) Z/Oi\;"S W ..fTCH TOWER All} 1
1
\
1Ilt'1lt. ano to IIlg(' thull to J,1111 hUIll'1l1 "alI('d 'L
(Jmrdl; nor it folIowl1Jg Philip'" e:-..ample to present as
IIIducem('nt., the IlrO;,jJ('l'l of financial and HO,'i'll pro;.pent,Y
through dmrch On tIl(' \'ontrary, tIl!' to
I'e delin'!'l'tl rl'"pNting ollr Lord, and that he i" thl' DehverL'l'
",horn tIll' F,lth('!' and that whoey('r would have tIll'
I"ather';. fl'llow;,hip and come to and in
him find the of nod and the ml'J'('Y of unto ."d
, atiol1.
Xathal1ld I" (ommonlv Ill1der-.tood to hI' anotlll'r ll.lm(' fOJ
B,1l tlllJl('lIll'''', .lllll 1Ir llkl' thr otlWI;" had heen In
att('n<1an,'(' at .Tohn';, \\'e may Il'a<1il:v ;,upp0;.r that
Johu';, \\01 knot onlv att!'a( tl'd to 111m thl' of
l ..ral'l. ;'I'!'king a hf(; of rrformation, IJ1It that it drew to him
al.,o "eftain III tIl(' work. who W('lr kno\\n
"di;,clple;,," and who a",istcd him in admllll"tl'ring h'lptism
to tho..l' "ho ('amp a" rl'jJl'ntant slIlnl'!,;;. (.John '*: 1, I This
olin.. anothe!' the"c indeed,
\\ho \\1'11' of ,John'" "oTllpany, lUlll Wl'!'l' thu" introdn"l'd
to ,fl'''Il'', an,l \\1'1\' ll,.. lIy to hl'eOIlll' hi" thl'ir fidehty
10 ..... ,I lid t111'ir l'1\(lea\ or to ,,('1"\,' thl' LOl d a(,l'onl
to tIll' ot tlll'l1' ahdih. ll'd dite('tlv to their morl' inti
Ihate :b"O(]UtWII with ,f('''lh allfl hh So douhtll' .. , \H'
wIll /iIHI It today. that 'Ollie who arl' l'ngug('tl III \Iolks of IT-
IUIllI from IJrolH'r 1lI011n', nil' ..pl'('ially PII'IMll'd fOl llpl'per
truth,. allo grullopr pri\ llegl'''l in l'onnel'tion \\ ith thl'
h.nYI',t wOIk, ano \11' ..houhl hp \\iIIing- to put iu the
1I,Iy 01 ,lIf']I. altl'r tIl(' l',amph' of our Lo]'(l with thl' ..(, hi .. fir,t
JI"'lpll'''
"el'm" to hal(' hl'l'n rathl'r of tIle Inl'1'edulou51
pt' of miud: II\' W:b fparful t11at hi;, fri,'nd PhilJp was heing
d""l'il I'd hy an impo,tor, awl hl' I)(',(,(an to ol\'<'1'
Naz,l1'l'th \\:h notl'd Ih l)(,lllg rathl'l' a fallatieal ('it,\';
hl'"idl'''. 110 doubt Nathallll'1 h:lll III lIlIIHI thp dp('\;nation of th('
(tlo}lhl't rl'''IH'dillg HdhlPlll'lll tlIP ('ity that would 1)1' hon
oll'd a .. :\!l'"iah'" l,ilthpl,lll. allfl ",0 Ill' itllllll1'P(l. Ts it rea-
-onahh' tor to "'(tl'd, that an,V gn'at good would ('Ollll' from
" b 1h"1 (' allY Sn ipt u]'(' to that ptrl'd" Hl' wa" of
UIlU .. l' of the fad that our Lord wa.. horn in Beth-
1,'hl'llI. alld LIJ..I'II a", all I1Ifant to thl' honll' of .fo"l'ph iu
IIi" allfl thl' ]'(':hOl1lllg "hi('h it implie...
1\ ,'rl' 1'\ i,ll'ut I) 'l'ry proppI . Hut a" WI' notl' Philip's rl'ply.
\\l' an' tl1ll of admiral ion fOt It." awl \I-i,,(lom. TIe
dill not att.'llIpl to e'}llnlu m,llter.. l\"lli('h all' dilli"l1lt to hp
undl'lstood. nHd \I'hll''' had Hot ,vl't lIt'ell I'xplaillec1 to him: nor
did ht' W.llel III hi" faith ht','alb(' of thi", ",ng;.(l>,tion of douhl.
On th!' l'ontrarv hI' ",lid. "COlli" all(1 ..I'I' " Wlll'lI yon Il.lye
dll' mall. and I;ay(, hl'arrl him as I ha\l', no doubt \Iill remain
'II \0111' nllllli that hI' i, 110 ol'tlinar\, mall. amI that hp i" all
h., ; 1.1 ims to hI' .
It \\ould lie \\1'11 if all of th(' Lord'!'\ dt'lH followen would
]('arn well a proper, simple directness of approach on rdlgiolls
exemplified hy Philip's word'! to Nathanil'!; and also
t.IlPy should learn not to attempt to take the place,
hnt to hrlllg all true direl't to him, as the Teacher,
the explainer of the featm ('onne('ted with himself
and his work. l\latteN often look lhtIp!'l'ntly on the outside
from what they apppar on the as faith and grl'ater
pnvilege di"play them. God has purposely arrangpd it that
those who look from thl' oubllll' only many
:lIld undl'"iraJl1,' while who gl't to
VII'W from the ilhlde of faith ('an R('l'
of grael', beauty. harmony, divinp workman..hip. .\nd
till;; p:\.tl'I'ior view tIll' onp that naturally com1';' to all of liS
fl!',t, as It l'ame to ":\athanil'l, and tlll' proper ('om .. \, to he
l'unml'd I" that Philip-comp on thp in"Hlp and
.. pc how it look,; takl' the ;.tandpoint of faith in th(' di\ ine
Il'\-e!ation, and froll! t h,1 t "tandpoiut note tlH' gl a ndl'lIl of the
dil"ille plan.
Thi" 'am(' 11'8"on j, poi i t('d an anpl'(lote
told hy Pa,tor :-;purgl'oll. d",('a",,(!. of a man who in\ ltcd
mto ,Ill or('hard to ('at ..omI' of the fruit; he for he
..ai,1 that hI' llad pil'kl'd 111' .. 01111' of thl' appll's the I
that fell frolll the trl'l'o. allll W('I e poo!' and hilll'l. The
OIl nl'r rl'plil'd tllOse tn'e.. "'''II' ph\{'l'd thp1\' on P111\,0..,', .. 0 that
hadlJoY" would 1I0t Iw attnll't('(1 illto thl' o!',.]Iald to ..1('a I.
"Unt,'" Ill'. "l'onll' in.. id('. and tIll're tIll' applp, an> d('li-
Tlm-. it i" with th(l'l' "ho "pp Chri,tiallity ollly f1'om
Thp l',tplior. mi"I"plhPlltatioll- of trill' ]'f'
ligion all(l tfll(, failh in p!'omill('lIt pIa('p,. anll I'\,PII If thpy
))(' ahll' to (li .. :1", l,l'fwpplI tIll' tlU" ,lIld It ..
lIli .. rppH'''I'nLltion in thl')' an' apt to -1'(' ollly
thl' ..df-r1Plli,tl,. thp ('!'lh"P... tIl(' per,,('('ution for righlpolhIH'o,'
,.Ikp. d('" allli know nothing of thl' hp:I' pnly
IIl'a('1' :1l1r1 h)' tho.. p wllo lwvp l'nft'n'(1 into
1H'\\'llP-.-. of lifp "ith Chri .. t. "ho :11'1' ,ul'portl'r! "I'll thl'
gl,I('IOIl" p!'ollli .."", of thp divinp \Yord :l1In hy thp f,,1Iow,hl!,
of 'piJit grantl'd to thl'lll. "hi,.]1 Ill'l'lnit .. tllf'l1l to IPjoi,'p ('H'II
III trihulation and ('(l1lnt thpir a" hut II!!ht ami,'-
tiono ('llllul ing hut for a 11l0nll'nt. \\ lll'n "omparl'cl with thl'ir
lllghl'!' .I0ys. a lid t h('I!' hOlH" that tltl"l' "lull I hI' ph'rna I
Ll'i u.. !t'an' Ihl,. l(','on \\ ilh two "!l':lr
upfon' our (1 I Th(' iml'0rblH'1' of filllling- the Lord, and
not lIll'!l'l,\' of gailllllg' lllfortuation ahout him. (21 TIll' pro-
and illlpOl'lalll'(' of out thl' "hrl'thrl'n," and of
hi in;.:ing thl'm not nll'rely to 1I kll(HI ll'dgl' of t truth,
hut l"I)P('illlly to t hI' Lord. a llll to intimatp ('ommII1110n and
f(,l1ow,hip with him.
THE KINGDOM ATTAINABLE ONLY BY A NEW BIRTH
FEB. 11.-.JOHN 3:1-18.
NI<'lId.. W<l' 1'\ Idt'ntly a good lIlan. and "not far from our Lord';, l'l'pIi l'... 11110tpci "itlt grPllter dl'taiJ. '0 lntllllat\'
I h.. J..illgdom"-no\ fur from tltl' attitlHll' of heart nl'('el'sary to It with that Xipol1l'llluO h(':nQ froIII till'
Thp attaillnll'nt cd thp kl11gtlolll. HI' wa" a man of learning grl'at Teacher that hil11l'l'lf and of tllP ,Tl'wi"h lI,lllOn
dn.1 I II 1l1l Pili 'l' , a promilll'nt mpmhcr of tIle pllil'f of the poul(\ not e11tl'r till' kingdom withont horn :Illf'\\ ;
1('\1'. ,111(1 onl' of tJll' of their chil'f or Suprl'me Court, and naturallv hi" mind ran to thl' natural hirth and h., In-
t hl' Hi, \I'('alth, learning, l'te., gaye him HI!Yan quired how it pOH;,ihll' that a full-grown man l'ould Ill'
()\pr ntany of the poor and unlearned, and yet they horn oyer again. Su('h H '1ue"tion wa;, hy ou]' Lonl,
Llollght di'ad, antagl", a .. nul' Lord on another o('casion ex- and gllVI' for thl' l'xplallation that lit\' fir,t hirth
J.ln,-.-.pd it: "!Iow I with what dilfi('ultyl ,hall thl'y that whi('h all ('xp('ril'l1l'(" 1 k .. tIll' hirth of the f]p"h. h" whiph
ha I" I i,'lll'S [of any killd I ('lItpr into tIll' kingdom of God" mllukilld j" lJorn to humall nat urI'. Hnd with a 11()(fy. io a
It I,nuld lI,ltul'all,v liP mol'l' difficult. for a man of largl' ill- a figm'(', an illu-.trntion of a llig-her !'piritual hirth. to a
Ihll'lIl'(' and "ol'ial ,talllling to receive from ,J(';>lIS, naturl' with a ,"pirit hody. "'rJlat wlti('h horn of
,lIld to h",'(Hllp follo"l'r, titan for humble fil'1hern1f'n to (10 the flesh: that Wllil'!1 horn of tILl' "pit'it. IS '\/li61."
prillI', ('astt'. t,hougltt of what IWopll' woull! think a man pannot "I'l' t!'l'l". flowl'r", ptl', nOI plltpl' illto
.lod pte" W0111<1 all Ipntl to llinder llim. For tll{' l'njoYlnent of until after 1](' hl'('n hOl'lI of tllp
a" "I'li a.. with a hopp to hav(' H morl' quiet connr 'likewisp no onl' ('an pithl'r ;,ee or l'nt('r into tIll' hl'av
Sdt lOll. Xieo111'mu" Yi,itl'd .1p;,us by l'nly king(lom, P,(Pl'pt he he born of the spirit. In othpr a
E,"lplltl,\' Ill' had IJt'l'n imprl'ssNI hy tIll' awl tlte human heing ('an s('c parthly hut only H ltea'l'1I1,v or
flltral'il''' nf our Lord, 1'01 w(' find 11im rl'al1v to aeknowledge ;,pirit-liorn on(' ('an l'l'P and sharI' in thp lWHyelll.v thing.. : and
:I", 1\ gr('at '{'l'a,'ltl'!' ..('lit. of God, althollgh not ready to tlte lonlr king-dom of God. thl' for
him tIll' 1II'''iall. Our while ;om whil'h IHrael wa;, waiting, to hI' a kingdom and not,
111111 to Xil'oc!l'l1Iu". wa" ('Yidentlv a diffl'!'l'nt one an earthly on('. of .. pirit and not Ile,h hl'ing,,;
frol1l ,,11.lt 11\' llal1 ('''pl'..tp,l of 1Ih!'\iah. .\., a ,Jp\v hI' of ('ourse and onl." horn oj wat!'l amI of tIll' l'pirit wo111(1 py('r ;,p('
hilll tIll' 11 .. nal .T('wi,h tho11ght the kingdom of God, or ('nter into that kingdom
1/:::.. that T:-rapl wa .. tllat kingdom. merely ,horn of powl'r Th(' rl'fl'Tl'nl'(, to watl'r \Va .. ..I('(1 hy
hy Ow Gpntilp" ullttl should appl'ar for l1eliver q11Pstion from Nipodpmlls, ,Jolm and Iii .. haptif'l11
'in('!' and to '11hjllgatp all lwfore that the .Jewi;,h unto rl'pp-ntanCI'-whptlwr or Tlot Ilad :Jnytlling to l111 with
law might h('('oI1lP tIlt' law of thl' world, forth with powl'r tllP new birth, Onr Lord'o haptif'1ll
trom ,Tpl'INJ!l'lll. thl' wide diffl'rpn('l' of wat('r unto rl'pentanl'c "ith the hrgf'tting \Vhidl lwgun
hpt'IPI'II ;,11ch and th(' kiwI of a kingclolll pro('laim('d h,l' at Fl'ppntan(p from !'in ('s!'l'ntial to thl' fl!!ht
J".,I1;' and his \,"" may rl'a..onahh- infl'r, thell'fol'e l'onditioll of 111',1]'t \\hich would prl'par
p
a .Tpw for .. fl'r
his thollgh not '-tntl'(l, Wl'rl' linl' ancl from thp ('althl)' lypi.'al king(lom. :1T1d makl' him rl':Jdy for thl'
r2,,721
ZION'S WATCH TUWF..H (42 4.1)
begettlll" of the hoh' ::;plrit through \,hl<h. if obedient, he
would finally be born into the heavenly kin/.(dom in "the
resurrection." Thill of the word "born" as representing
resurredion ill a Seriptural one, for do we not read that our
Lord .Jesus in hi" fl'Rurredion wat! "the first-born from th('
d('ad"-"th(' fir8t-born amongst many brethren"-and was it
not irl respeet to "brethren" who would with him be
sharers in tlle kingdom that he addressed ?-RolJI.
8:29; Col. i: I;). 1R.
While Wl' hold that this Scripturp in it.. full. ultimatl'
meaning. relates to the fir.,t rcsurrection of thc kingdOill claNs
into kingdom power. glory, honor and immortality. we nevcr-
theless c'oneede that the worcl gellao ,;ometimes rendered
begotte1l, \\'l' coneedl' al.;o that Her.y OIl(' who is to be born
of the spirit in the first re!lurreetion mu;..t first bp begotten of
the spirit ill thl' presl'ut Iifp. "'P c'ol)('('(lc ah;o that the nl'\\"
life !lOW begun freclllpntly ;..poken of a;.. though the new
cr/'ature Wl'rp ,tlreYdy burn by II fil!uratiw to new-
ness (Of Ii fl'. "You hath he qukkenpd [macle' a li\'e. by a figura,
tive re;..urrPlt ionl who were dead in and ;..in,;," But
these partIal lind fi/{uratiye lI"e;.. of tl1l' words "alh'p" and
"resurrect ion" a nd "horn" "houl,1 not be permitted to diseount
our thought f('slJPetinl{ t hp rea h tie" and powl'rs and I{lorip,..
which l'an 1)(' lIttail}('d onlv by a ,..llllre in thp ac'tlml rl';..ur-
rec,tioll-"born from the ,il'arl."
Whih' .]p;..u... was talking with cPlltp
the", Illel whifltlecl throug-h thl' apartment in which they weT('
rattling the door;... et("., and .Jesus seized upon
a good illu-.tration b,Y whieh to eonve." to the mind of Xil'o-
<!emu,. the <!Itferencl' between human beings and >.pirit
:lIJd h /lb-p him II "Icarl'r coneeption of the nature and power,..
of HlI' da-.i" who would the spiritual kingdom when
"pt up in power and great glory. He baid, The wind
whcre it pll'ai"e-.: you IlPar its souncl, but eannot know wbencl'
it ("onlt nor wlJither it alHI ;..0 it will be with tho,..c
IJorn of thp ... pirit-all inhl'riton1 of the heavenly kingdom:
tllly will hI' invi-.ihle and can /.(0 and come a>l the wind.
and men in the fle ... h will bl' unable to see them, as they are
unable to tIll' wind. tlJOugh will be f'verywhere prelient
Jlnll lIlrlllc'ntllc1, I" the wind.
Nl('ollcmlh wa.; at the thought that the kingdom
of Go.1 would be ,,0 c1iffl'rl'nt from what himself and others
had expel'tecl. _\Il "hould not have been "0 "trange to
NIl'o<!pnllh: lIP In\\'p l'enlPmherl'd that th" pow('I'S whic'h
our Lord de"c, ... l'c,1 a.; tllO"C whi,'h woulll belong' to the spint-
Ilorn ,'la.; \n'rp tIl<' \erv power... \\ hidl in thp from timp
to tllll l' had hCl'n manlfp"ted through hoi.'" angel". who hping
0Tl ,ppl'i.11 nll""iolh apIH'a 1PII ,,1\(1,1I' nI.'". and whl'T1 thpi!
1l11'-,-IOTl \\ ll' a' ,'olllpli"hpll. I II1>,t a" "wlcll'nly. ("oming
81111 g"jng 111,,(" th\' \\lI1d-nonp knl'\\ \\hence or wltither. XIl'O-
d,'mu" Ih a tpa("hc'r of the La\\, ;..llOlIld ha had the"e thing"
in mllld. and our Lonl rathpl' r"prove>, him for not
the >.ubje('t !lu ic'kl.": .-\ re you. a teaeher in T,..ral'!. ignorant
of thhC h it difficult for you. who III P aequaintwl
\lith the Lll\\. to realize thei"e teaehing;..? I han' heen telling
ou only \I('h thin/{" as are known and to a conslderahle pxtenl
have beell dl'llIoll,..trated amongst men through the of
ypt you arp ullwilling to rl'peil-e the testimony. How
I uuld yOIl e-'J!p!'t to believe, if I sllOuld proceed to l'xpla in to
you hpa\Pllly 1111<1 ,..piritual thlllg's pertaining to that kingdolll
'
You ;..tllely would he unprepared for sueh information. XUI'
would havc Iwen to blamc' for not undl'rstanding'
"piritllal thing" If our Lord had tolll of them; for on"- th('
('an an,l appreciate tho,.,e things.
Our Lorel wa;; explaining to him that he must not expect a
('omprehensioll of "ueh at that timl'. but ..hould mer('ly
Hpect a partial understanding, sufficient. however. as II basis
of faith; dearer eomprehension would come with the "'pirit
i,apti"m at Pentepost. "The natural man receiveth not the
things of the "pit'it of God, neither can he know them, hepausl'
they lire spiritually lJj.;eprned. , ,. God hath revealPlI them
unto u" [;,plrit-hegottl'n one'll by his Spirit" (1 Cor. 2: 1-L 10).
and we ma" entpr into the realities when born from the dead
in his li ke-n1',,"'.
Continuing, our Lord reminded Nicodemu.; that no man had
ever ascl'nded into heaven [none had ever been there, or seen
heavenly thing"1 except he himself, who had come down from
the heavenly (ondition to the earthly condition-even the Son
of Man,* Although aside frolll the main line of this le'-son.
it is not amiss that Wp her(' note the harmony of our Lord's
words with th(' word" of the Pl'ter in his di"eour;..e 011
thl' dll v of "Dayid is not ascended into the heavens."
(Acts '2: 34) .\11 the te"timonies of the Srripturei" are in har-
mony on tbi", 'oubj('et. although oppos('d by nearly all unin-
01de,t r.reek :'IfSS. omit tl,e "Off!', ""'''ie'' is i>t Itea,'c>t"
splled \Hitt, ..". hpath"n a" 1\\,11 who f01l0", th..
tradition;.. of mt'n IINt\'ad of givin/! heed to till' .url' \oVord of

Having tllll" :llI,..IVPf(d llue"tions to the \pry
limit of po;..;..ihilit,\' at tl\l' tim('. our 1.01 d turned tI\(' "ubjl'('t,
allli b.' way uf ;..howillg thp I!ralHI ba'-is for this spiritual king
dom. and that he him"'l'lf euuld 1I0t enter into that kingdom
while still in the flesh (l ('01'. I.'i::>Ol. hut that hp also
he "ehangl'd" to "pirit ('oIHlitiulI'" hy resurn'etion. Ill' point",
Ollt his cominl! ignomilliou" dClIth. Hud how it illu"trat"d
and typifipd b." Mo;..pi" alHI tlH' hrazl'lI "prppllt in thp .. -
np",... The wholp worl,l bittplI hv till' tiprv "eqJl'nt. of Sill.
Tl\(' whole worM i" dyill/!. awl it \\,:1,.. npeMlll that our \.orl!
"houlll h,' liftpd up H;.. a '-in-oll"pring on h('half of till'
\Iorld. that IJl' might "Ub;"l'quently hp lifted up in I,dor.", and
III onl"r tllllt 1III I inl! paid thc' for all. pternal
lifl' might he 011'pl"pd to all-"that who;..opv"r IlPllpvpth in him
"holllcl not pprish. hilt ha\e l'ypr1asting lifl'."
In pa!lsing the point. ld u" notil'p that our Lord .;:lId not
a \101'11 liang-PI' of thp world going into ptprnal
tornl<'nt. nor lli,l 111' Uttpl' a \'o'ord rpi'pl'("ting till' l-a hat IOn of
any ill ig-llOranl'p Hi;.. Ih'(,laration I\a" that thp world was
po 1811;11(/. Rnd thllt tlw ollly in which tllP.\' ('ouM ohtllin
pte'rnal life lit all \lould hI' throllgh helipyilll! in him. So th('n
to all who :Irp willing to 1akp til(' "tatpmc'nt of
Word. it h ("!c'al pnollgh that th.. wi,kpd who T\'jp(,t till' Lonl
('allllOt IlIl\c' pte'rnal Iif1'. an(1 ]WII<'l' c'oulel not l-pcnd an eternity
ill mi;"pI"\'. !Jl'('aU>-t' without lifp thpf(' ,'an he no fpcling--with-
Ollt life'thp\" Illp ]1f'I"I,wrd. It i.; ,lear l'llulIgh that \lho
pn'r ,..ha11 1;1' ;..:lvpd in thi" al!p 01' iII till' ag-.. to l'omp lI1u"t hI'
IJ\" belif'rill(/ ill .1e;..u;.., au,l ,'allllOt hl' ,,:\\pel thlollgh Il!nor-
IInc'e. 1I;'COrdllll! to (;o;..pel. \I 11i"'1 h th.. 0111.1' allthoriz.. ,1
(HlP
Thpn our Lord g.1I p Ni('odemll' ,I lnll'! o. \\ h,\
thp F,lther ha,.. prOl idl'li thp hlp"l-illg \lhi<-h hp 111111
hel'lI (Ie;....rihing-thp kingdom. all,l t lIP liftinl! lip or
of the Ron of )1an a,.. a ]lrple'1ui,..itc. Tlip I eason i" Go.!",..
pathetic love for Hp helH'ld that althollgh mankllld
werp in father Adam';.. "I'ntpnl'p of dpath. vet 1II.1I1V'
among,..t them \\0111,1. if grantcd an opportunity, gladly a("c'(',,\
the divine arrang.. nH'nt. l\llll "01111' hac'k into at-one-mpnt \\'Itll
their God, i\nd rpioi('p to abide in hi;, favor and to do hi" \I III
On this aeeount God hac! ;,ympathy for ma nkind, and prepa!l',1
It great plan of sah-ation, of which thp fit"t coming- of
III the fle"h as a bOCl'i{irp for 8i118 thp fil 01 m,llIl,
f('station. "God;..o lovpd till' \I'orld that h.. g-avl' Iii" onl,v
h('gotten Non [to IlI'mililltion awl "ac'rift,'e in dp,tth I. that who-
helip\-pth in him 1I0t perish. hilL hal p [oht,tin I
p\'erhl;..ting lif.. " It ha.; heen .;aHI I", ,..01111' (1)(' that tlli" 16th
IPhe i.; the goJdpn n'r;..p of tlip HI"I ... ('olllallllllg mOH' than
an.'" othpl' Oil<' a 1011l!clh..d of tlH' (;'hp"! Lnthpr
ealled thi" 'the little 01 "til<' littl\' Hihlp"
Pl'lhaps in an"lI"er to anotlwr Ilue"tton. or merl'l,\'
as a part of the further discourse to 01\1 Lorel
next pxplainl'(1 to him that God',., Ohjpl't in SOli
into th!.' worlel Wll;.. not to h,llp tllP \lorhl "OllllpllllIP'1. lor tit"
\I'orld was c'olHlenmNl. "haring with A.lanf th\' orig-illal
l'llllcleulIIatlOu or "'l'ntelH'l' of death. Ou tllP ('ontl aI'\"' God ,..pllt
his Ron to l-lIn' tIll' world-to 1'l'rOI e/' II!flnki'/(l '{I>JIII Ihol
bI'l/lolre u/' ('ondol/Ilatioll. Tid.; h in hal'mon\' \dth ,llIoth'l
;,t,ltenll'lIt of Heripture "hi('h dpel.lI'p;" of hplie\;'r" that Ther"
1I0W 1If) ('{mdPlllllallOn to tlll'lll that arp ill ('111 is!
((lolll. vpt onlv "plip\'l'l';; hal-p
:111 tl1(' rPTllainc!l'r of thc'> ",orl,I'a\"(' ;..till ullelpr \Hath. "('llildll'll
of wrath." anel thl'rp i.; 110 othpr way of P;"c',II)<' P,.'ppt throll(!h
Christ, for "Therl' IS no other nalTlp gil-I'll 111111,,1' hp.1 \('11 01
l\ mong men "h( ,,(' mtbt hI' i"a veil."
The IHth \"Pr"e i;, ill ",itlt thi. thought, that h",
lie\pr,., (';,(':I(lP thp conc!t'mnatioll that on tIll' \lorld. hut that
tho"p who do not aC'cl'pt of Chri-.t reJllaill IIlIdel' tllp ('oT/delll-
11f1tion upon thpm at hirtli. a;.. :\'!.un'" Iwir,... Np\"pl-
a.; i" elp,'larpel ill thl' l!lth thp "onelplTlllation 1\1
rca,ly up011 ml'n i" jUlitifiecl h.' tllPir \,ourfop. if after speing' tl1\'
light thl''y do not. IOI-c it. hut rejp,'t it. and fight again..t it.
However, \lC arp to rememhl'r in tlJi.; l'Olllll','tion thp Apostle''::
dpelaration that manv in the timl' i"('P only in part,
the god of tid... worlel Itlinding them more or 1(';.."
(2 (or. 4: 4) Anll we rejoiep in tl1l' a;.."mHllep of thp "am..
.\po>.tle (.fohn I :9) that .TeRus j" the tnll' Light. ",hidl ulti-
matl'ly, in the kingdom, be a great Run of
with healing in hil- hl'ams, whidl i"hall ;..hed forth light and
knowledge to memher of the human family Iluring' ht ..
"Millennial reign; that all ha"e the opportunity
of ceasing to he "ehildrpn of wrath." and of tllP COli'
demnation that 011 thpm throll!!'h Adam'" (Jj"ohpelienll'. and
of (ominl! Ita, k til!' Ml'eliator. during thp timp, nf
[257:q
(44-45) ZION'S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA.
to all the gout! thmgb through ,,In.-Acts
3]!l-n.
\\'hlle our Lord in to NIcodemus dealt only
wIth thp new bIrth uf "tlw chu,r'h whIch IS Ius body," and
whir'h WIth lum. horn of the shall con"tItute the heav-
enly km(!dum tk,t tlte wurld. he nevertheless else-
"here m'Ul!late" that the 1 e"tItutlOn ble-,-,ings which "hall come
to mankind will be also after the nature of a new birth, though
not a IJJrth to spIrItual condItions. Speaklllg to his disciple"
of tlH' finIal kmgdom, when they "hould sit with him in
h" tllrone-tlte of calls that Millennia]
age and work 1 egencl'atzon-Greek, palmgcnesta. (Matt. 19:
28) TIll" h nut the ;,ame word rendered "born again," but
Hgnifies more nearly re;.tItutlOn, re;,toration or renovation.
NOTHING TO DRAW WITH AND THE WELL IS DEEP
FEB. 18.-JOlIN 4: 5-20.
"Gorl a SPIrit, and they that tvOrshlp htm must 1corsl11p 111m lJl splnt and In truth."
Samarm wa;. the name of a stretr-h of country lying be- b a III howeyer. alung thp hne of the Apostle's
b",'pn ,Judea alld (:aIIlep: \\(' l!llght call It a county and say ,yorrh. to wen uf luw' e;.tate." \\'e eannot a\'uid
th.lt Ih (11Id city. ot thp 'amp name. wa;, Its county ;,eat. Its tit It the why many l'hri;.tl:lI1 lwuple would
illh,'I.J1tanb WPT(' klloWIl as and the Jews, whIle utterly dl,dain to speak to a ,\om:,n b tllUt they have
dealIng With tl1l'm cOI.lmerclally. would ha\'e no Illtercourse almo't to imblJJCd the SI)]!It of their
"Iti! th"1n and lJUt treatcd them III cyeQ' le!Jglolh which would dec!alP that Gu,l wuuld so
H'SPC(t lh th('y tlPatl'd Gentllt III general, a" belIlg hilolllJnate ;.l!<'h a penon that he would dehyer her uyer to the
of dlVlIlP Lt\or. "allt'll', and to the commonwealth til \ d. to be etplllally tormented, as soon she e,lIIle intu IllS
of brae!. \\Jthout (:od. and haVlllg no hope in the world." at death. They lea,on. that on!'
(Eph 2 12, The allrp,t(,1'- of SamarItans were Gentlles, de'phed ot the LOld he and ;.purnccl by
and WC'fP tn Samanll hefore, as the Is- h'lmanlty. Th"y need a c!parpr knowledge of thc dn me \,"ord
WPf(' tran'l'ortnl to by (2 Cod s attitlH!l' toward Iii, ull\\'ll1ingncss
h.lIIg"l 17.2-1.,(1) 'fhp,1' thruugh pontad with the th:lt any ,huuld anfl plod'lOll til,:t the \\J!fully
Jp\\,. and through iht<'rmarnagp WIth cprtam relwgade Jews, \\I..I-;:ed, \\hu reJed all his shall Ilot he> tOlmPllted, but
obtained a smattcflllg of knowll'dge of the .TcWIsh hopes and he llJOttl'd out of (2 Pet. :l:!l: :l: 2:)) True
,'omhilllng th( to -OI11P f''\tent WIth false Ideas of 'Ie\\, ot the dlYlnc (h,lra('1('r and plan af(' ,pry helpful to
tltl'Ir OWIl As a ppop!p thr'y art' dr""'llhf'd by the GOfr, people in sha.ping thclr eoUl propelly.
a"l fpc>lllIg aft,,!, Cod. If haply they might find hIm Hld there bepn a company of to whom Lord
(Ar'ts 17:27) But til(' tl!lle hacl not yet come for Go,l to reveal fun],! have talker} at this time, we all' hou!l'! tn ,nppo'e that
hInh"lf to the \\orld, or 1'1 any of the WOld to aeeept would haye heen e:-"pplllled on their hnhalf. to
tllUS far all dl\ 1111' la\(lr had 1IP(,1I conepntIat"d upon lIPfd,'l t of the dl'-leputable Samantan: hut tlll'r(' hPIIIg none
I;<racl. tb" ,('prl of ..\lmdL'lI1 and upon only such of as of tIll' "r-Illldren" to be "fea" at the timf'. he Ipt ;.ome of the
malIltalllp,\ tIH,jr eOVC'I1<ll't relatIOnshIp hy ('!l'r'Umel;.lOn; hence of knowledge and fall to tllf' 8am,1ntan" \\ho,
thp ,Ip\\-. WPIP I'llJht !II lIot 1I('knowlpdging the Samaritans, and like thf' GpntIles, Wl're not "f'!lIlrl]'('n." hnt in pomp IrhOIl were
in havlIlg no d,'aling" with t]1<'ll1 r('ligiously. nor "dog<' (See ::\latt. 1.'5 2i) Onr ponr,e here an
WIth tlll'm k(wially Thik wa' not a matter of bigotry, but of for hIS an illustratIOn of the
divll1P rp!.':lilatJOII and prolllhitioll.-Deut. 7: 1-6. th,1t we should "do good unto all 111('1/ as 11'e lUll e OppOI'-
It wIll IlP )('nwmh(,I('<1 that our Lorel flistinetly set the seal tll1!lty. e'pedally to the uf faith." Further, it IlIlI"-
of apprond to eOllr-(', whf'1I forth his dIsciples tlates our Lord's own declarati0n, that It hI' m('at and
to (]P(']arp the kingdom of (jed at hane!. He said to them, "Go drIllk to do the Father's will, to be engaged in the Father's
not into the way of tll(' O('ntIles, and into any city of the blhmess. Although he was weary. and knew th'lt further
Nan/(/nta1l8 rntel' 1/C not: for I am not sent save to the lost talklllg would interfpre with his rest and refreshment. I,p was
sheep of th(' "hOI/Sf' of Is/arl." \Yc remember. too. the city ready to saerifi('e own eOllycni('n('e that he mIght he helpful
of thp f'oll('prlling wllich the Apostles James and to another. even to a social outea"t. So the nhort'l
.Tohn s,lid. "Lord. wilt tllOu that we command fire from heaven, all of the Lord's people to he "in-tant in spason and out of
to tIlPm?" Tn \\ hom J(''lUS answered, "Ye know not sea in preaehing to willlllg ear-.
what y(> arp of Thp Son of is not come to destroy TIH're was wisdom in our Lord's mpthod of introdl1l ing
men'" Ilv('s. hut to th('m." we remember hImself to the "oman. He made a th'lt would not he
that ,T,,-us would not p"rform }Iis miracles in healing the diffieult for her to complv with, anr! at the time he bid
Samnritan silk. and that it was for this reason that the Sa- himsplf ullder obligatIon to I]('r: and P'\P"f]('IWp ;-.how, that
aIHl "oul,l not rpceive him, or permIt him this is one of the best of all-eonde'-e(,l1-
to through thpir cIty 011 iourney,-Luke 9:5156 sion and an expres"ion of eOllfidenpe in tl,dr g-ellprositr, with
It l\a"l dllnng on(' of tllPse numerous journeys from Judah the Implieatioll whir-h it giYes of to return the
S llmnl,l, pn rontp to Galilee. that our Lord. wearied fayor in some manner.
from till' p\.h:nl"ltion of ]'1 (,:lchill.'! and from the further ex- 'Xot hepdmg the rudenes" of th(' wom'm's r('plv to re-
han,-tlOlI of "italitv in he,tlmg the siek, and from jour- our Lord proeeeded to te:1ch a the
nf'yilll!' at Jacob's welL while his disciples turned aside grace of God. using the good water of ,Tacoh's depp wpl! as an
to a ,illag(' to pili tellJIJg' the woman that if she und('rstoO'l the
wPlI h'lrl a great rppntation throughout that region, pri\'ilege she enjoyed she in turn would he asl.;:ing him for
of the puntv of its that llf'JIJ<:: a Ihlestone "!Ivlllg' watpr"-flowing water. not stag'n'lnt, always fresh.
('olmb ,v mo;<t of tl](' wa t"r found ,,';1 s hrnckish. hut .T She perceived that thpre was some d('ep mpaning to our Lord's
""lL 'll1lk to n Il"pt1l of oy('r a l'IInd)",l f('pt. anll alIout He could not refer to Jaeoh's wel!, for he harl no
fp('t m <1iallwtpl'. stru('k a (']'p\ ]('c in the rOI k, whif'h yielded Ipather Im('ket and cord" ith which to draw from it; hence
II larg(> of (lp'lralJl(' "'lter. \Y(' are to rpmpmhrr. too. her inquir:v. 'Yhenee hast thou living water? Fathrr ,Jacob
tIll' sear('ity of waJp!, In tlwt part (If (hp ('ountrv. e'peeially prod'led this wPll. and knew of n(l bptt('r watpr for himself
at ;.omp S("I'OnS of till' Year. ,,111('h for the fa('t that and familv. Are vou able to provide bettpr watpr than this!
tIll' Samaritan wom:m ;,f our hall 'Illite a distance to Are greater than he? Our Lord tlwn led another stpp in
('om(' to oht tin ller at this goor! an,! npyer failing: well- the exposition of spiritual things. h('r that the W:lter
spri'll-!'. \Yhen sllc arI in(!. ,,'ho on the eurb which he had to give was of a differ('nt kind; that it would
of thp wpll. I'f"ting. ,,'as at once r('eogni:wd by her a'l a Jew. not sati'lfy thirst for the time heing. hut would be a con-
anc] ,hp "'n,, at Olll'(' r('pogld7P(1 him as a Samaribn. not tinual well-spring within, ever giving
mC')(ly hv fnpinl hut In- features 'Yatpr. living water. pure watpr, is a wonrlerfnl symbol,
of ,TI \\.; 11:1\ lIlg a "hite fringe on thC'ir yerr to eypryone: and thirst is anotllf'r. ig
while til(' Ramal 1h"d hlu0. l-r,wiu'." longing. Phvsical thirst saill to be much
For a ,T"w t'l 1'1Hk(' n r(''I1H'-t, to ask a of n Sa- 1I10re painful than phrsieallningp!, Thp Ifltter loses its powerg
marihn, unu... ual, HU<1 ('on',ef]uentlv whf'n as];pd for in w"akness, h11t continues nn(l intensifieg
a drink of till' ":lter (hp \yoman drawing she was aston- llourl)" until thp verv la"t br('ath. 'Vater h that which
('nolJgh to IlIquirp how it e'no(' that h('. a Jew. would flllpnel1Ps. whi('h this demanr! of lIaturp' and 80 there
make '-udl :T Tl'fjll""t of IIp!' a Rnmnritan. ana h('r question has aho a and a water of life which alone can
in it the ('lpll1pnt of ,,'1Ii('11 i'l explained later on bv it.
hpr aeknowlNlgment that she not a yirtuous woman. All E\'pry lImhition and dpsire i'l 1I thir"t. A man's rrreatness,
however. it tll(, more rpmarkahle that our Lord his indidclualih-, is mellsured (1) by the number of hi'l thirsts
would conr]pseend to haye anr with her. There or de"ire"; (2)' hy the charaeter or' fJuality of those thirsts or
[2574]
FEBRUARY 1, 1900 ZION}S WATCH TO"YVER
(46-47)
(3) by the capacity and intensity of those thirsts
or desires. And true educatIOn is the instructor of men as
respects proper and improper desires, or thirsts: and respect-
ing whlC'h should bl' gratIfied, and how to do so most wisely.
He who has no desires has nothmg to satisfy, and is practi-
cally a nonentity. The lesson of life is not that we should be
without desires and plenty of them, but that desires
should be transfonnl!d from sinful desires to righteous deSires,
from smful cravings to holy craYings. Thus the followers of
the Lord are to hunger and thirst after righteou'lness. and are
to be iilll'd-satisfied-not by losing their desires, but by real-
izin!:! them-by approprIating the Lord's provision, which IS
alJUudant and continuous, satisfying all proper longings. Im-
proper longings are to be resisted, controlled, rooted out, while
proper longmgs are to be bUIlt up, cultivated, to be supphed
and to be enjoyed forever.
Thi'l Ratisfying water of life can be obtained from no other
sourc'c than our Redeemer, and all who have receivC'd it well
know it and can never be sufficiently thankful for it; for in
it th"y have the peace of God which passeth all understanding
rulIng in their heartR. InRtead of thirst for honor
men. they have the thirst for fellowship and honor with the
Hea H'nly Father and the Redeemer. Instead of a thin,t for
earthly wealth, their tramformed deRires now thirst for heav-
enly treasurC'''. Instead of thIrst for sensual pleasures. their
desires are tranRformed so that their ehiefest joys and de"ires
are for spiritual pleasures. And all these thirsts are abun-
dantlv and continually satisfied through the refreshment of
the "'ord of Truth. and the holy Spirit of the truth-the water
of lifp. which is communicated to us by our Redeemer, and is
in eh one a perC'nnial living fountain.
Of cour"e the S'1maritan woman did not grasp the meaning
of our Lord's words, nor could we, under the same circum-
stancp", for we are to rememher that the well from which our
Lord givcs us to drink i" deep, and that neither the Samaritan
woman nor we have anything to draw with. however,
livin'! unfler the new dl"pensation of the holy Spirit. have heen
abun,lantly "upplierl. for, as thp "The spirit
searr'hrth all thing". vea, the derp th!ll?s of God. . .. That
we might know [appfl'riate, he satisfi ..d withl the things that
are freely' ginn uni p us of God."-1 Cor. 2: 10. 12.
Our Lord did not the wop;an's reque"t for the true
watpr of life. (l) hl'rfluse thp time for be"towing thp holy
Spirit of the truth had not yet pornI'. and did not come until
aftpr the great at Calvary-until Prntecost. (2)
Be(;tllse "he wa" a S'lmaritan. ancl aR such could not receive
dinllP fn, or and tIl(' holy Spirit until the appointed time,
whi,'h not until the door of favor would he open to all
GentIle,-not until tllrpe and a hnlf venrR after Pentl'Post:
npn'rthpless the woman's nnd 'faith and thp faith of
her townsmpn seem to indipate an honesty of heart pleasing
to th.. Lord. on acpount of whidl he let fall to them some
"pnlmh,," of comforting truth which may have prepared them
for the Go"pel whpn later it was fully openeti to them and to
all Gpntiles, (3) Bpcause the woml'n was not vet in the con-
clition of h..art to recrive the water of hfp. It ":a,, unnrcessarv
to explain to the woman the first two sinpe the last
wa" n harrier whiph she could more rearlilv uniJerstand. and
henpe onr Lord ('ailed hpr attention to the' fart that she was
living' in "in. Rhe pprpeivefl that he was gifted with a pro-
phrtip insight whirh pprmitted him a stranger to know of her
.:;inflll courRe of hfe. without a'5king.
It may be qurripd why our Lord would thus confer with a
woman unprrpared to receive the blessings he had to give. and
onr to whom hp crmld not have given the then. even
if she had bppn prepared. The answer is (1) that hI' \Va" mak-
ing 11"0 of an opportunity to it" fullpst pos"ihle advantage;
(2) that drspite hl'r sinful ('ourSI' of life the Lord saw traits
of honp"tv in the woman's pharacter. eviden('ed from the nar-
rati,''': (3) hE' might rpasonahlv hope th'lt the influencp of
this f
1
j"collrse might tpnd tnward righteou"ne"" and toward a
true thirst for thp writer of life. whiC'h "ix yell's later. undpr
the gpneral preaching of the (without'restriction to the
Jews) might bring some of these Samaritans to a realization
of the fact that the well of the water of hfe is derp, that they
had nothing wherewith to draw, and that if they would have
this sati"fymg pOl tion they must receive it as a gift from him
who laid down his life that he might ha,'e the privilege of
supplying the water of life to whosoever wills. Alld should
the poor Samalltan woman never have come under the in-
fluence of the G0spel. With an opportunity to drink of the
water of life, we have the n'lsurance of the divine 'Vonl that
sUf'h an opportunity will be granted to her in the future,
togpther WIth all who do not now have an opportunity.
"'I' the Lord for the information afforded us in his
Word, that although the water of life is now givc:! individ-
ually, and enjoyed only by the "elect," "e"en a'5 many as the
Lord our God shall call," vpt the time i'5 eoming that it "hall
no longer bo thus a well of water springing up within the
Lord's people. but during the ;\filiennial age will be a river of
water ot life, broad and full and plear a" C'l'yst'tl, flowing out
from thp throne of God and of the Lamh. and of the bride
the Lamb'q wife and joint-heir. to all the families of the earth:
and that then there will not only be trees of life. who"e It'aves
will be for the healing, restitution. of the nation'5 but that the
Spirit ancl the hride (then glorifh'd) shall say, Come and he
that he'1reth may say, Come. and whosoever will may come
and have the water of life freelv.-Rev. 22: 17.
The Samaritan woman seen;ed anxious to avoid any dis-
cussion ot her own character and hfe. and skilfully turned the
to a theological one-whether the Jews or the Sa-
maritans wpre right in their different view'l respecting divine
worship and its propel' place. And in this we see that human
nature is the same today. :Men and women of today
would rather dispuss theologIcal prohlemR and denominational
controversies, than turn their glanee inward, and note the
inconRistencies of their own li"e'l. with a desire to rpform them.
Nor did our Lord too closely press the moral he had
so promptly touched and to some extent made Renslbve. an.d
his course in this should be a les"on to hi'S followers. It IS
sufficient that attention he called to a and often this is
Plore efficaeious than if they he teased and angered. and put on
the defensive, by disrespectful "nagging."
Our Lord summed up in few word'S a great lesson re"pecting
the proper of God. He told the woman most point-
edly that the Samaritans had neither part nor lot in the
matter, and worshiped they knew not what, while the .Jews,
on the contrary. were followine; the divine instruetion. Npver-
th('le<;<;. he pointed to the fad that a great flispcnsational c'hnnge
was imminent, in whieh all distinctions and barriers of place
and mannpr would pa"s away, and that under the npw
sation of this Gosppl age any and all having enr'l to hear nnd
eves to see GO(l's grace wouIrt be pprmitted to God
a'nywhere. but only in spirit (with the heart. sincprplv). and
in truth. in harmony with the di"ine arrangemf'nt. in the true
wfly-throuoh Christ. who is the Wav. the Truth and the Life,
Rnd bv alonp there is aecess to' the Father-the l\1es"iah,
the procurer and of the watf'r of life,
An Oriental fable tell'l of a fountain who"e wfllers were
infused with a peculiar power. so that wherever a dn
1
p of this
water fell on a barren plain it caused a npw fountain to gu"h
forth, so that provided with this wat ..r th(' trapl"r might
through any desert, however wide or dry, anrl be always re-
freshed.
"'Vild and fanpiful th(' ll'gend: yet may not m('aning" high,
of h('ttpr thin!:!" to pnme. \Vitllin its shadow lip?
Tvp(' of a hettt'r f01u;tain, tn morbI" now
The full, free salvation of Chrht our Lord revealed'
"Bl'n('ath the pross thoqe waters lie, and he who find'S them
th('re.
All the wildprne"q of life the liying stream may bear;
And fo1l0w in his "teps. until wh('re'er he gnes
The moral wa"tes b('gin to burl, and blossom a", the
THE MEMORIAL SUPPER
The anni"er"ary of our LOl f]''' death rpekoned aceording to
Jewish calendar will this ypar he April 1:1 at ::l P.
quently the celeblation of the Memorial Supper will be on the
previous evening. April 12. after six o'clorl.;: P 1L 'VI' make
this early annnuncement for the of fripnds afar off.
Further statements and local announ('empnts later.
Gethsemane can I forget 9
Or there thy conflict see.
Thine agony and bloorly sweat.
And not rpmI'mher thee?
"'hpn to the cross I turn mine
And rest on C.dvury.
o Lamb of God, mv f':1prifice.
I must rf'mellllH"r thee,
eves
. ,
[2575]
INTERESTING LETTERS
DFAR BROTRER RUSSELL:-A few days since dear Brother
W,I" In to call on me, aud 1II the course of our eonver,
"It lUU he mentioned YOU, anll that he had often had a desIre
to Illl'et you JIl th.. but that it was qUIte improbable now.
He h gettlllg very feeble, and It is a great effort for lum to get
al,out Illuch, hut he is anxiou.. to do all he posblbly can, Some
time ago he fPlt a Itttle lJctter and took his horse and
and IIPllt out and sold nine DA"'XS. He returned beammg WIth
jov 1ha1 1he Lord had IllS work. It is hard for him
to' \\ nIL" aJJ(1 hc me. some tIme wh('n I would be writing
10 Oll, to teII you ot his great 10H for you a a brother in
( lill-t. ,lI](! hi.; to you for all the interest you
Ink,,]> III 111m \\hIle he wn.; in the colportpur work. He saId
tll,t, d"tll,llp-, you IdllW of his 10\(' and prayers already, but
111,11 -"m<'1mll''; it \\a.; to us if some of the
III "I III "II ,',tnll' to u-; WIth a of love, and he was sure
Y,,'1 1',"1I1d al'pn'f'i:tle thr m"tin' with Wlll..]1 it wa" sent. Also
111 It 1", 1\ I- I ('!lwmhpri,l" v"u bpfon' the throne of f:1\'or, that
'''(]' el,' I]' \[;1-1,,1' ","ul,1 til(' n"p,Ipd grace to
ti,,' II'" k I,!'i,,] I' you. f.:o T \\Tite this to you,
,\'1 l. 11.1 ,]"11; hrother. I ('an ael,(llIat that is my own
"I ".1"1 ",: VOllr ]I\,l::tlf. I think we arc too apt to
:", L' "II, ],,\ I' :In,! IIf,t e' it a.; we and thus others
tll,'1 ,,>Ill" to [PI,I \\,' elo not 10\(' thcm. ::\Iay the dear
J "1,1 ]J!,'" vou ahnndanth', more t1l:1n you are able to think.
\/(" \I I,ll to'thank for'tJ](, "trong nOlln-hing foud you have
IJl'I'n -I'II',l>!l1l!.: he[or(' in t
1
1e TmlTHS httely.
YonI' 1lrolher, by tllP fnvor of tl](' Loni.
W. E. VAxA'ImeRGH.-South Dakota.
[\\'p ('aIJnot in words our deep appreciation of the
love of the iJrl'1ltrcn su Oftl'Il expr('%ed in th(,11 Iptters as above.
\\C II--II/'(' dcar hrl'1lt;'I'n and all that theIr 101'1' is most
h('add.I' I'" 'pnwated, "'e Ime th(' hr('tl1TPIl aJl(I tnke
in h.1 Ilig down our life in thl'lr \Ye are gl.ld to know
th,lt you I'l'Tlll'rnhpr 11.; an,1 the Lord's "h:u':('st" work, wltieh he
11,1" l;pl'l1 pll',l-l'd to ('l'ntlr h('re in in ,v'Hlr pray('rs.
If WP lllll V PH!:!I' (rom tl,e Idtpr-, n'("'1 I pd, t of prayers
ll""l'llIl ,],Iily on our ])('half. "'e cannot tPlI you how deeply
\1 J al'pn'( late tlli,,: it kl'Pp'; 1l1!mhl(' a" we r('TllcTllher our
l]",'d", :111,1 It a.; \\e r"memhpr the Lord's suf-
fi, Il'llI'y nll,1 to ponr O\1t his in answ('r
to .1"0111' I" 11.""1 and 0'1"'_. Thr'"c praypr.; and 1h" dl\'ine po.wer
t" \Illltll tlt"v 111'1' att'l<'hl'rl nrp to our lwart" a bulwark agalllst
thf' Inill'? iLlllhllt1rl,'d who you anil us continually
hl'calhC "f 0111' ]oyalty tl' thc Lonl \Yord.
"PIIIY for th., P",IN' of
Tl1<''''' _Jla!! j>w-!If'r that Ion tllee."-Psa. 122:6.
Thee \Iord" nIP tr1le of thr the higher and
IlPr (,ltIldr' n pf PP'("( lh of the earthly who
111(' tllp Lorrl'" loll'-"lllg Ilpnn ('anq' are srekmg to
\ f! It Hn,! arl' prI11',lrtlOj( JI.'I," Tho-e 'I ho are indif-
t.:ll'nt to lh( \\pIfare (,f Ziun anil tl,1' Lor,!'s Pall',e now. are
ill :t "]'[>J!('rv plar'" and :lr" in \frpat of falling.
('OlltIJltH'. dp.l1' aT.d t,) prll." fpr (1 Tllf's.
;'):2. ; 11,,11. ]'!'I:-Ol, flndl.e ,1-l,n1'('d tfldt. lH th" Paul
w(> h"H' It ('a:(' for all thf' ('ltnr,.Ju', clfd! fo til,'
"11""p, :111'! (('lllinn,llly 111'''1' YOll li[>"n (Jill' h"art refu.e the
tlll"l1l' or 1
1
r' ]H',I\'\'nl,I' g,'a,'E'. nf1(1 \\auIt n.; "pn "s pray for
"'1'1' il't"rl'-t" '11\(1 \\.. jf,lrf'.-Sl'C Heh. l:l' 17; 2 Cur. l1'2R;
'1'1",-. I II; Phil. 1':1. --Eld NlR.l
[) 'oIl I:WII TIT [( fp:-t.;. (np1forting,
i1l'1111' j :\1' ,11,1 I'dl II <lId al! 1Ill' l'ondu"tl'd by our
d"111 1'1i':li"l BI"il"'r. rnillk l'r,qwr. prol'" to hr, and our
,,,],. l' "1"1 i- 11l ,j 11:, _1',1' \lltl! Tl, 1".'1" of ... itv lim-
Jr,,' ")""'11>- ('I 11 1"11:1 r tJilln II" 11 ,(I Ilr,p",] TIH' public
1
r
'( I of Vl11 11 \\1\ II 1 t\\il. in:l no11 .... ( 'LlrLlll ('h:lpel ""vpre
'\ 11 ,1",1."; "'J:.i,I'li'l' 1:(1' 11I1""!lIf'lll'V (,f till' wf':I1]]('r. fully
I , 'I "': 11' 'lIt j"" It '\' :';1 ill,ll11'di.tI" rt -nIt of one of
J "." It I- II :'1, pl"",n " t 1",t \1 I' nnnoUlll'1' nt. one party
'I ,,(p',all'I,1 II 1!r"l ,1'21:11 llronp<! :<llrl ld't'Tllv intE'rested, who
,'11'1' I I,' , I'f"""'! 1,1"'-"111 trnlll. .
,,\ .. ,] .,(" in l.r,lt"I111v tIt'lllk \,(,11 11'0.;r contributing
tIt 1 it" tI t "t Pdt'l in) f(lr thp f":paROn
, " II ' , ,'" ," ,] ,',,,1 ',Ill }'''f1l1iIV ('(im','('IHl to allv o[ the
}"'I- '" j.] III f.'JlIl 1;lll
i
;I''l' J'_ Hn "hlp nnrl 1m iug' ex-
l,r,'I'"I, r "r 1 ," \\ ,,:,,1 "f (:()rJ, d'<I'1[' i"del',] it noh]p work fnr the
(-Ill " (,r :1 .... ;t i...: ;n Chri .... t ,TI' .... 11'.. ('lir TIrllePTI1f'r,
TJI,r ""d f. ,) ,I in (1111'. \ j .. itJm' and {''(horting to deeper conse-
(,;"tjPf( ll/" j,tt]" -('a1tpfi'd group.;.
YT fll',,_, "f lhl' IH nC'iH'lHl natnrp of thr rr('cnt eonv0ntionR,
it- 1" 1", n In.')1 innr ,] fhat ppr1wp" mueh I!ood wou1n rt'slllt
'" 'I "H 11:1' at during the Rtntc Fail' and
1" ',:", ((1"11 Ill" t f,dl nn(l WI' \\'(],p gl:llI to 1f''1rn tllrough
!I] /" :'l " P f11 d lH rH' ... nf ,",11/'11 :1 p'f'ptlnfr 'Yfll"1l n,l,--o (lntC'r+dnpd
:',,'! ,'I. .,fi
C
'I,(,,]1,\' on('.; hI' hflf1 tim.; far mf't in Tr'(fl';.
/,rk'JTh
c
,_ nnrJ Tndian amI Oklahoma Territories, and we there-
fore take the liberty of mentIOning the matter to you for
advisement. If so, a cordIal, brotherly welcume awaIts you
and other friends, who would be entertained to the extent of
our abihty.
The Musical Towers ordered were promptly received and
used to advantage at meetings.
Our prayers are with you and we crave yours, to the effect
that we may be faithful overcomers, even unto death. Yours
in Christ, E. \V. BRENNnSEN.-Texas.
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL :-1 feel inrlined to give you a
hrief account of our Volunteer work, even though you may
hear from others l'O!1ccrnmg the same.
\Ve put out about 4:50 of the booklets last Sunday evening.
I felt compelled to go out with the others, as I had been think-
ing of the letters in last TOWER ami of the privilege
thus offer('d us of sharing in the blessing- that surely ('ames
to tho.;e who (10 thu'l serve Him. I would urge all in every
place to take up this good work of serving Gml's household
of faith (of whom there may be many yet in Babylon) WIth
this "meat in due season."
By a singular coinpident I went first to the 1\1 E. ('hurch,
where I {'onvrrted 25 years ago. The SE'eond hooklet I gave
out was to a young man who offrre,1 to pay for it. Upon
bring assured that it was freely gnoen to all Bihle
he still urged that I accept a dime and send it to the Tract
Sodety, whi('h I will do quite soon.
A little boy came running down. asking me if 1 wou],1 giye
him another one of those "little for an old lady who
wantt'd it. .
How true that "Obedience is better that sacrifier," it
first, or preeminent, and surely inyolw.; tilE' true and accept-
able sacrifice. How many we se('. t',;pE'cially among tll(,
of the Roman Catholic s:vstem, and mi ...
who are making great sacrifip('s. yet not llrroTilin.g to a knowl-
edge of his plan. and I'on.;equently misdirf'dpfl.
JE'SUS said, "My sheep hear my yo]('e" '''Yr ou!.!ht
to ohpv Gml rather than mE'n." I firmly lH'!Ip\'f' that all :1ft'
thi.;, who engage in tlIP han'c.;t' wOIk. wh]('h ('VI
umler th(' gui,lanee of the Chief Rpaprr.
The dlllf('h 11('re has hE'en benditl'fl thr pU]lll"".
tion of the \Ynshim:ton ant] in la... t TO\n r: 1'11"
is clearly dispernnhle in the inrreasE'd zeal of all for th" \1(11 k.
May wp'not hopt' that the inf'rf'a.;e of 7pa] h"11' :llltl
in other places mflY be prophetic of a larg('r work during th,>
coming year?
J\fr.y' our hE'!JY;>nly FathE'r 111ess thr work to tll(, glory of
llis name. and pre.;erve tlS all with vou unto thE' ('.;tnhlIsllInent
of his ]dnp-dom! Yours in tlIe hope' of the high railing.
1\1R". C. A. OWl N.-Jl1dirrnrr.
[Two letter" have been recein'd from "i-t('r... in who
are mothers. who are surprisf'd at our advir'e to Hugo Ku"hn
m til(' .January 1st YVATCH TO\n:R. One is surpri-p(l that we
woulr] approye of anything that wonld hring tlll' hoy into
touch with fof'cbriani.;m; the otht'r whrthf'r 'or not
all hoys' under church anspict'.; arr of thp kinrl known
to her, and if so shf' wonders very mUf'h th:lt WI' ('oul,l nd\
who are seeking to walk in th(' foohtep.; of .T""u.; to
hay(' anything to do with thcm, Rhr .;av.; that' in additlOn to
the gymna.;him for phy.;i('al culturr, tlU'v haye "l!l<!r
E'ttps. hillivrdA, hoxing !!loYes, etco, all palrtl]ated to h'ad a hoy
far from the narrow \V;,y of true .
\Ye certainly did not suppose that the of
were u.;"d in suph a manner, nor can we yet think that thi.,
is the cu.;tom; it would seem too f'xtreme to he gpnrral.
\V(' hope that thost' known to this sister are rare eX(,E'ption.;.
\Ve would advisE' all boys who seek to walk in the
footstepA of OUT Lord to shun all suph places, and rather to
do without the g-vmnastir exercises, if thry could only be ob,
tained under sUl'h conditions.
Our thought, in amwering Hugo's question, waR that the
llOYS' clubs WCTe merely IE'eture and re('reation gui]d", entirely
h'1rmle"s and at the same time profitahle, and that the only
wa" whpther or not it" a"sodation with a nominal
phureh sy"tf'm should pTopcrly separate from it those who
sought to p].'a thc Lord. Our answp]' was along these lines,
and we still think that a wide rlistinl'tion should he oh.;erved
hrtwpen joining a church, being boun(l with a misrepresent-
ing' ('rE'ed, t't('. and joining a boys' cluh without cr..ed or other
bon'ln.!!e eXI'E'pt as respects good morals, and not for religious
purpOSI'S, hut mrrely for cooperation in obtaining the privileges
of the l(,l'ture pour.;e and the U'3e of thE' gymnasium at a mod.
erate e'p('nse. To minglE' with mora 1 hOyR in this way is, in
our jurlgmrnt. men>]y a business trflnsartion. and tIle same
rules whi('h would hinde]' a hoy from thus as,;ol'iating with
oiher hov.; in a moral lind crre0"1rss club would similarly hin-
d"r th" Christian father of the boy from dealing in any kind
[2576]
FEBRUARY 1, 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER
(51-52)
of worldly business with sectarian Christians and others. The
"eems to imply thIS point in I Cor. 5: 10.
But we would smcerely regret to be understood as advising
countenanclIlg or having any sympathy with the kind of boys'
dubs described by our sister's letter. Far better that the
boy should have no use of gymnastic appliances, or
that he should construct some for hi'! own use; far better that
he should never mingle wIth other boys at all, than that he
"hould run the least risk of having hI" heart polluted; for we
remember how broadly applicable are the Apostle's words.
"Evil communicatlOns corrupt good m,mners."-! (or. 1:): :):3.
-EDITOR. I
VOL. XXI ALLEGHENY, PA., FEBRUARY 15, 1900
VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER
:;'0. ..J,
that this happ:v p('riocl lllay be enjoye'l in the near futurC'."
Hev. Dr. James Llsk, Bordentown, J., pa8tor 01 the
lla t ehurch. says'-
"A8 to your question, I certainly do "0 bdiew. How-
ever students of the \Yonl m,ly IlItl'l'IJIet your 'Hlbh-
cnl mJlIC'llllium,' tlll're ean be uoubt that "orne gll',lt
change is soon to take place. The dinne is h'llIg
rapidly complete,l, 1',0 Hlr :J'l the prC'srnt ordpr of thing" b
concerned. Prophecy is rapidly bll!I;.{ fulfil1ul."
* * *
PULPIT VIEWS ON THE MILLENNIUM
The Philadelpllla pres'! recently interviewed the ministers
of Pennsylvania and Jer"ey on the suuject of the 1\111-
Il'\I!llulll. askIllg :-LJo IIUU bcllew that the Biblical JhllennlUm
18 at hl/nd!' The majonty of the denied faIth m a
1\ldlcllnlUm, some an expecbtwn that the churches
\\ oul,! 1ll IIlg" It ahOtlt by missionary etIort, and a few declared
faith III a reIgn of Chnst n,,:n at hand, as follows:-
Hev. \YiJliam Pa., has made a care-
ful or the "11l11clII1lUm" que"tlon. He says:-
"I Lplieve that the millennium period is near-that we The majority of those who saw no evidence of a lIIillpl'-
are ItVlD" III tile 'Ia;"t days,' foretold 1Il the Bible. The proph- nium meant that they saw no eddeIH'e of tl.l: speedy convPI ;,,1U1l
ecies are'"'all IJPlllg and the SIgns of the time all ind!- of the worln to suph a condition thnt co,l's wlll wonlll be
cate It. T'1"re arc 'wars and rumors of wars' now; there IS done on earth even as in hpan'n. And in this we Lom-
mOl al ]a \.lty p,-erywhere; the average church attendance is mend their judgment as sound. llut that "0 IT.an:;
Rt,utlmgly only 30 people out of e\ery 100 any should be so deluded by human theory a" to 1',0
ch11ldl III tillS countr.y. There is moral and polItICal cor- the pIalll statement., ot G()(l's \Yord-that Christ's 1111Ipnnial
ruptlOn. . reign is for the very purpoc,e of WI/hUlling all (I Cor.
"All of these thmgs indicate the approach of the millen- 15 :25, 26, 28) False ideas of the "kinl!dom" and of thc
niullJ, ,\II.\('lIe lIlay by looking up the references in the "judgment day," an,l imp('rfeet view" of the eharaC'tl'r allli
Blbli' on ;"ubject. scope of the a tonen1l'nt, are at the bottom of this blindness to
"The llllllelll1mm will not be brought about by any human the signs of our times.
agemv. \\p ale not growing better." METHODIST FIGURES FOR 1899
Riv. Cl.llenee E. Eberman, Lancaster, Pa., pastor of the Rev. A. B. Sanfurd. D. D., edItor of the Year
}'Ioranan l'!11l11 h find president of the Pennsylvania Christian Book," says in "The Ph tladelphia Methodt8t,"-
or L'nion baHI:- "Your readers may be interested to hcar concerning the
"Sclltiment or speculation can decide very little total member;"lnp of the church for 18!Hl, as the stathtil's
great tjubtion. The BIble alone have been prepared for the new Year Book." nuw
tealhm". 1 belleve confidently that Chnst IS commg agam passing through the pres". In some mpasure, the Iesult is
and hlH advent WIll usher in his kingly reign of prehmlllary, smce the Tl'l'elpt of the figul'l's h om a feW re"ent
a years upon thi'l earth." fall conferences will slightly change thc ad,litions thn 1.ltcr
Hl'v. Gporg
p
Fulton, Lpbanon, Pa., pastor of the Fourth appear in the General J\linutes. The "Year nook" tutnb \\Ill
Street Pll,.,IJvtl'rHlll church, said:- not, however, be greatly affected, and show a del'T('a"e III
"I belIeve that the evidence of the nearness of the mil- members and probationers during the past year amountmg tu
lennium IH than ever before. SIgns have been found 21,934. In the analysis of tIllS result, several intere;"tIng
in 1" l'ry gpneration Slllee Christ's ascent that pointed to facts appear.
coming. The principal proofs are wars ;tnd earthquakes, dIS- "1. The increase in full members through the whole church
tress of nations, sea and waves roarmg, lawlessness and has been but 6,661. It is a seriou'l fact that such
iniquitv preYaiIlllO' to an alarming degree. The Bible says bodies as the New England, the New York. the Plulad.. lphia.
'When' the of the kingdom shall have been preached the Central Pennsylvania. the New .Jer'ley and the \VIlmlllgton
to all the "'Olld as a witnes'! unto all nations, then cometh Conferences suffered lossps, the decrease III these
tIl(' PJI(I.' Till" I" a sign. It belongs only to our own age and instances varying from the minimum of 1,368, to the maximum
the ('vidence here is strong. Another sign :s the prophetIC of 2,436.
moYcnH'llt.-the restoratIOn of Israel which has begun." "2. The decrease of probationers in the year 18()9 has
Rp,. :-;,'dlll'V N. Dssher, \Vest Chester, Pa., rector of the been 28Ji!)i).
Church o( the 'Sure Foundation, said:- "3. This decrease in members and probationers is aeeom-
"The ::\hllennlUm is a diVIDe conception, with Scripture panied by a decline in Sunday S('11001 spholars during 18!l()
the onlv >.Ulllce of light ann authority. No definite time is of 16.716. It is a notic'eable fapt that the d('pJine in Sundav
stat('d thereID. I believe, however, the world is fast preparing School scholars thus o('eurs in tIll' conferen,l'''. '\llll'h
for it." as a body contribute a total loss in proh.l tion('rs of ;'72.
H('v. William .J. Houck, Carlisle, Pa., pastor of Grace "It may be said in conc]u"ion. that tIll' nd dpl'!ine III m,'m-
United Brethren church, says:- bers and probationpIs of 21.1):3-1 is the fir"t positi,'p dpl'line
"I believe that the Biblical millennium is at hand." that ha<; of'f'urren sinpe 1881. and. with that e'('"ption. 'lince
HI'\'. E. 1\IcLIDn, Bloomsburg, Pao, pastor of St. Mat the year 1863. The above facts are but are such as
thew's Lutheran church, says:- It may be wholesom(', for the churph to know."
"I am certain that a great change is imminent. Every- * * *
thing pomts clearly to a mighty social and .religlOus uphea,:al We do not rejoice in such eviden('es of a dec'line in de-
and re..onstructlOn. The very fact that thIS subject occupIes nominatlOnali'lm: nor do we pxp('ct it to contilltlP. J f th..
men'" thoughts so largely and that the 'secular press' asks losses of denominationulJ'lm mpant that Cod's l'hIldrrn WPTe'
the que>.tIon is proof of it to me." out into the lllwrf,1l wh .. rl'1nfh Chnst mllke:, {rei' III
Pastor F. .Jonte Stanley, of the First Presbyterian church, deed, then we wonl,1 fI'jOICp. Hut only a smaII pn.pOl t II III of
Atlantic CIty, N. J., b('lieves "that the signs of the times, the pr('s('nt deehne cnn he ('rl',ht"t! to thl' "prmd of
as I read tlwm, pomt to the millennium as not being far otI. truth. It means. thpT<'forp. indifTpTplJ('P, worldliness.
One of the indi"ations i'l the gathering of the .Jews at Pales- It Will not surpri"e us if in th(' near filture a Trllst
tine; another that the GentIles hear the Gospel the world Chur('hianity will have a spason of great prosperity. lastlll!.!
over, and still another is that the nations are coming together until the grand collapse which the S"nptures dedare wIll b..
commercially. intellectually and religiously." sudden.
H('v. W: W. Mofl'ett, D. D. Lambertville, N. J., pastor of PROPOSED FEDERATION OF PROTESTANT CHURCHES IN
the Centenary l\I. E. church. says'- GERMANY
"The tren'd of revelation on 'the subject of the millennium Prof. Hcysc'lllag has .lll app('a I to German Protl"'t-
seems to teaf'h that a time will come in the history of the ants whi"h is bping rcgardf'CI favoro1hly hv manv of thpm. It
world when the Gospel shall dominate all natioll'l ann Jpsus tends in the diref'tion of the genrral' rdi!.!ious f('clpration w('
8hal1 rei"n in the majority of human hearts. To the close long IlPen C',(ppf'bng-whirh "iII rpvive t:"1 aIlIJ\'
student ;f the world to-day there seem to be many indIcations and suppress religious liberty and stltle pre8cnt truth; but
[2577]
ZION'S WATCH TOWER ALL)(GHENY, r A.
not Imtl! it has borne its witness and gathered the "wheat"
of the (jo"'pel "harve"t." The Llte1'ury DIgest gives a sum-
mary of the proposed plan as follows:-
"There is to he no formal union of the various state
churches, nor are thrse to lose their historieal identity in the
propospd new Not a UllIon is proposed, but a
feclPlation of the "tate churches, with the Pru""ian ehurch
whieh repre'\cnts the Emp('ror, the sumnms eplscopUS of the
Protp"tant church of that king-dom, a" the head. The can
!('",ionaI tat lIS of cach church shall I emain undisturbed.
"'1')((, o/J.Jed of thc federation is to unite the churches of
t he empire for practical purpo"c'i. Chief among the"e pur-
pOP'i is po-operation in providing fOl the rplig-ious needs of the
()PI man" in i he Diaspora, i. e., those "ho are seattered in the
val iou lan(ls and nee(l religiou, care. Then. too, the
Protf'f,tant ehurdl of the empire mlht have some means hy
whiph It pan, as a he representl'd, jut as the Catholic
church has a repll'sentatiYe in thf> PopP. A further but later
purpo'\e is to s('('ure unity in church gOYl'l'Ilmpnt amI polity.
In otllPr WOl,I'i, it is to hI', with tllP changes. a fed-
eration for the good of the church such as the orf!anization
of ihp pmri!(' ha.., hppn for tIl(> "btp.
"This federation is to find its expression in an imperial
Protestant synod, whiph shall consist of repreRentatives of
the various btate chureh I/:0vernments, as also of the congrel/:a-
tions, in sueh proportions as shall be agreed upon. The
officials of this synod shall be the representatives and the
exeeutive board."
A CONGRESS OF RELIGIOUS HISTORY
This, at the coming Paris Exposition, hi proposed as in
"tpad of a 1',1IlianH'nt of Rpligion" such a" was held at the
Chicago World's Fair. It is proposcd to ayoid doctrines and
merely to show 'Uorks-mi ... sions. etc., and m all
these matters Catholicism hopes to make the chief showing,
and reap the gTpatest advantage.
Disapprovlllg of the Congress The Midland, a
United Presbytenan journal, refers to the Chicago Parliament
of as follows:-
tell us that thpir work has been made more
difficult, in India at least. by the boasts of devotees of the
false systems of religion thpre that in Chicago thpy had met
and tnumphed onr Chri"tianity. Tho not intolerant, the
Christian religion is absolutely exclusive. It can have no
fellowship with systems which insult the true God and know
nothing of that blcssed Kame by which alone salvation comes
to any human soul. Its mission 18 to C:'I.pOSC and uproot all
other systems and rescue men from their delusion and de-
structive influence. We are convinced that these parliaments
tend to obscure the di'\tlnction between the only true religIOn
and the systems of error it mmt seek to destroy. One such
experiment was one too many. If a secowl is to be attempted
we hope ihe good sense of Christian people will keep them
from partiCIpation."
,Ye are pleased to note an expression of so much loyalty
to the and the only Name in which is salvati0!l' It
is as lare as it is refreRhing in these days .of evolutlOnaly
1tllbelief and Higher CritiCIsm mfidelity. Would that thiS
editor and his readers might see that the blpssed day of
Chnst's Millennial kmgdom i" near. in the whIch all the deaf
ear" shall be opened to hear the joyful sound of salvation and
to know of that only name and of the etcrnal life offered to
all who will obey him.
"WITHDRAWAL LETTERS"
1'h"'\e an' llot samplpR to hI' cop1ed 11y ppll, but regular let-
tel all reud,v to date und sign an(l ean he posted unspaled for
one ('l'Bt p:\(h 1t is a kind hut plain -trtt('ment of our view of
the true lIn hilIll' Chureh and its head Christ Jesus and Its
hon(lagl' of loye eontrast"d WIth human institutions under
Bods. ('onfpI llBd and held together with
erepd-bol1dage. All who get frl'p from "Babylnn" "hould send
one of letters to each chureh memher \nth whom he as-
sociatpd in "Babylon." It will do them good and it will
that you ",-ill not be misunder,tood and misrl'pn'sentpd IImll-
tcntlOllally. OtherWIse wlthdra"al I.., almost certain to be
misrepresented as "Infidelity"-as leaving the trlle dll11 eh and
not mprl'ly leaving a hllmall organizatIOn never reeognized by
the Lord nor instituted bv him. but by fallible men.
Order all you need" it'h tracts and envelopes apcompanying
free-after gettmg a sall/ple and deciding you wbh to thplll.
"THIS CHARGE I COMMIT UNTO THEE, SON TIMOTHY"
I TIMOTHY 1: IS.
Morc than a year ago wc intimated a desire to do some- "Pilgrim" work could be much better carried on there from
thing more than has hppn hithprto attl mptpd to aSHIst God's suph a home office and by one thorougbly famihar with the
dear in Grrat Britain and Ireland. to hear the great methods the Chief Reaper has been pleased to he1'(. True
S]lPplw1'(l's '0]( P and to be led into the grepn pastures nIl thee branches have alt'eadv been started in Great Bntum,
of preRrut truth. Our thought was to send over one of thp but none of them work as sm'oothly and as "e he-
"Ptlgnm" brpthren, lmt the Lord's proYldeu('r dId not sel'm lieve they will operate under the propospd plan. Many, we he-
to 0IH'n ill(' way for it. an(1 ilhtpa(l Hrothl'J' already lieve. hesitate to order tracts, pappI's, and books of the
tlH'rp, >.tarted as a "PIlgrim," and we believe WIth bene- dibtanee, difference in money. etc.
ficia 1 1'(snlts. for whidl the Lord hl' The I]('xt questIon naturally was, To whom shall "0 im-
:-;till wr arc not s}1tisfkd that all i" being done there that portant a mISSIOn be entnl"tpd? And the questIOn, under the
coul(l IJp (loIH', an<1 our last annual report we hu'e been requ%ted guidance of Ollr Lord, to be sati,factol'lly
sr('}.,iIlg- to kIlOW the mllJd of the Lord rl'spl',tJng thl' great in- answered. \Vith his hearty eonsent we have chosen our dear
['r"aH' of his work in thp spread of the "harye,\t' message, Brother Henninges, in efli"lency for tIllS servipe we have
"hil h WI' \l('lieYe we may rea"onab'y expect in the next few fullest confidence and who has given many proofb of his
y",ll"s. \\'hd" we "xpret that of thc incl'l'ase will as loyalty to the Lord and IllS cau"e, and of whose full consepra-
uSllal bp in ihi'\ land, sprually prepared and gpecially favored tinn o'f heart to the Lord we ha,'e no doubt. He has had per-
all(1 fnlorahlp It "epms to us that the thirty-five mIllIons at sOllal e:'l.perienee in all departments of the work for t1lP past
Brit:lln for several reasons t!l'sene spepial and eight years-the last seven of which he has spent in the
"fl'ol t. (1) Because of our unity of language and " atph Tower office and as a member of the 'Vatch Tower
relJl!:lOn.., )(\(O:l1s. (2) Bpcau"e of the prevnlenee of a rehgwuH family, whose "table talks" are in the nature of Bible schools.
,',pntiment among the masses. (3) BreamlP we ha ve I ea"on ".e could not spnd you, dear British brethren. anyone in
to hope that the l}1lllentahle war is llot only awakpn- our Judgment hetter quallfieci to aggist you in carrying on
ing thp IH'ople. as wars always seem to do, but ad(htionally be- the work we all so dearlv love to serve. We trust that vou
"ausp of the reypr'es m('t with may prove to be wIll wpleomp him hrartiiy alld co-operate with him to 'the
lJy brmgmg to the people a larger degree of humility and extput of your Judgmpnts and opportunities. We shall greatly
spcCIally the religious to ponder over the pddpIll'eS miss him herc, but will feel a pleagure in saerificing our own
\I'C pr""('nt respecting the completion of the "elect" dmrch convemences for your sake,,-that the grace of our Lord may
and thc spcedy innllgmatlOn of the Millennial reign of right- aho1l1al toward who have not yet "tasted that the Lord is
(-1c) Bp('ausl' larg-e a population of one tongue graeious." May he always abound as at present in the knowl-
I.!l'mg wlthm comparatiyply so small a spaep ghould make edge of the truth and in its spirit of love for the
efforts tlH're (lollhly "ffpl'tlYl' of rl'sults. all ot1lpr eonsidera- ''"e haye been m correspondenpe with the British Post-
tions being equal. ' master General and find that the postal rates and terms are
Apeordingly we haY<' planned. and from the firgt of the less favorable there than we had expected-less favorable
year have hppn arranging to send to Great Britain a rppre- than ours: but having gone thus far we are not yet discouraged
sentatiyl' to look thp til'Lel oyer. with a \ie\\" to the -hoping for some good results from a personal inspection of
ment of a branch office in London from whpnpe that whitening the field anyway. Brother Henninges will 1/:0 dIrect to Lon-
field could he more thoroughly llllnp"t"d. Thp Pl<lpOsltlOn is. don, VIew the SItuation and write uS,-meantime awaiting our
that the "Colporteur" work. t11e "Yolunteel''' WOI k and the reply. lIe will make a "Pilgrim" visit to various cities and
[2578]
FEBRUARY 15. 1900
ZION'S WATCH TOWER (54-55:
towns where already there are little gatherings of Watch
Tower readers; and this alone we believe wIll justify, should
the London "branch" proposition prove to be infeasible.
Of course, Sister Henmnge'J will accompany her husband,
not only as his natural help-mate, but as his helper in the
Lord's work. We commend our dear sister very highly to
you all as a very earnest and faithful child of God and servant
of his cause; full of the spirit of self-sacrifice, and firm for
every principle of righteousness as she dIscerns it. SIster
Henninges has been a member of the \Vatch Tower family
for h\ elve years; joming in the office work with her brother
when quite young. May God's blebsing continue with botr
these dear members of our family, maklllg them blessings In
vanous way'J to the houbehold of faIth across the great deep
THE GOOD TIDINGS DISCREDITED
FEB. 25.-LuKE 14:16-20.
"He came unto his own, and' his Ote1/, receIved him not."--John 1: 11.
Remembering th(' pronrb, "A prophet has no honor in his
0'\n ('ountry," our Lord did not begin his ministry In Nazareth
\\ h('1 (' almost twenty-eight years of his life had been spent
and wherp he was w('ll known to the people. His
began in .Tudea, and the people of Nazareth un,
douht(>(lly 1)("1 I'll ('onsirlpraLle respeding the marvelous works
and words of th('ir suddenly notahIe fpllow-citizen, hefore he
came thither. All this wOlild he in theIr favor, and tend to
prepare tlll'm to rpceive MesRiah and hiR m('Rsage, offsetting
the familJanty whidl '!() frequently begets contempt.
Our bhows that our Lord had bpen in th(' habit of
a ttPllll PIg t 1](, rp11 -er\"ices of t he every Sab-
bath <1ay, al\(l intimatpR that it lwd heen his cu'!tom to do
thp rpa<1ing of thl' In w-wllleh implipd an education far be-
yond that of thp rna lorlty of his day. As
anr'l' not Rtfl,tly a part of the law, our Lord's example
in t111h to as far as with the mORt
relJglOW. ppoplp of hiR day. and llis v. illingne'!s to take part
in the puh!](' sprvi(,l's. arc' a to his people everywhere,
in harmony WIth thp of thp that we should not
forg(t tl\(' of 0111'"('1, together, as the manner of
Bomr is, for thp Lon1"R ",orship.-Hebrrw x :2;-).
The of Reriptllre read hv our Lord from the
of IS'uah was ([uite the dated Scripture
for that for it would appNtr that it waR a custom
of the .J to haYe Seripture refl (linf!'! each Sabhath day,
taking up of the Old Testament Seriptures
altl'rnat!1\ At all en,ph. tIl(' l('Roon refld hv our Lord i'!
easily id(:ntifiprl as a Gn'pk tr,tllslation from isaiah 01. He
rral]' tlIP fir-t \ eroe of thp chapter. and rearling in the
midrllp of the se('ond ve1'''p, dosed the roll, flnd rpturnC'd it to
the Rl'nnnt h[n ing eha1'ge of the doset in ",hidl the rolls
wen' kept. an(l thl'n. aeeonling to the of the time, as
an lnrll<'atlOn that 111' was r"ndY to make remark", sat
dow11 How mur'h of an pxp1r.mltion of the Spriptures he gaye
hiS WP arp not definitely tol(l, hut douhtless he rom-
lJlputp,l lihC'rn 11\' upon the 1'nnOUR feature'! of the prophecy,
f'ummillg up his Iemark'! ,nth that whirh is recorded, viz.,
that thp prophe,y was Il1 process of fulfilment at that very
moment.
Till' nlldipnpp. eompo'!Nl phiefly of his acquaintances. had a
mi,pd srntllnent a '! him; WIth the natural fpelll1g of
irrenrpnN' for tho'll' with whom w(' are intimately arquainted
was blpnrlpd anotlwr fepling of pride Il1 a fellow-citIzen, who
had atta]l\l'd f,ueh I enown : and as they hstpnrrl to his ex,
position of the propheey they were filled \\-ith admIration, "and
all bear him witn('ss, and wondered at the gracIOUS ,,'orels
whieh pror'('('rled out of mouth." Th('y said witllln them-
seln" nnd to eadl other. \\'1' haye nrver heard suph wonder-
goor] tir]Il1!!R hdore in our 11\('R. and this from Ollr
neighhor, the rarpenter Little did the)' rpalize, when thus
admil ing his graeious that something woulrl Ocpur
in a fl'w mompnts which would frenn' them, amI
lpl\'! th"m to dp-Ire to munl('r tIll' 011p who now dpchre(l him-
self to ])(' the fulfillpr of this prophpey, the Anointp(l of thr
Lord. the rpady to give in due tIme the men-
tlOllprl fh(' proplH't.
The pl'ople of were more intprPRtpd, howe\'er,
in thp I1l11ar'h's of Jesus than in his plaim to he thp ..\Tes'!iah.
Thp mil nr-les W('}"p 1, hnd they eould apprpriatC' them,
hut h'.lph,ll!! that he W,l" thp "C'ellll'd fnr-fetehp(l,
wh('n they hn(l known him for so long a" the son of ,Joseph, the
carpputpr. Thry therefore to wondpr, and PORSlhly to
quest i,m, how he woulrl do in Kaznreth some of the
wonderful miradps done hy lum at CapE'rnanm and ('18e-
WhPIE'. of wh]('h thpy ha(l h('ar(l, Knowing tIllS to be the
attitwle of their minrl our Lonl antlPipated theIr refjue"t
for miraples, and pxplainpd thnt tllPy mnst not expect muar-!es
from him-though thp,\' p... ('''pl'('t .. rl morC' miraelp,!
amongst hlR th III had heHnl of doing amongst
HtrangerR. marlp a lIttle (,"planation, w11l<'h
waR not at all to thC'm.
Our Lord does not say that he wa" not permitted of tIl('
Father to do milae!Ps at Xazareth. Hlthough IS implip,j
in the fapt that he (lid none. and lmphl'rl III t!)(' (',,[dana-
tions and whir'h 11l' ;!aY(' ])ollhtl(' ... s hI' ,,,,-
guided in the matter certain pnncip!ps goy('rning Ius HRt
of thp power from on hIgh. As We' ha \ p a lrpady he Illlg-ht
not use tlu... powpr III hiR own intpre"t; Wt' may ]lI:e-
wisE' suppose that hp w(,uld not ])(' at hllPrty to nop it slmply
a gratItl('ntlOn tIl hut th.lt It conl(! lIP on1;
in reRpon';(' to prorl') faith. The plople of Kazardh p\'lr]Plltl:-
were not in thl' attitnrlp of faith. !I(.t tll('1'pfol P III thc propp)
attitnrle of 11E'art. to n'pei\p Gorl's "'TOllg ('on-
(lItlOn of their hl'fl1'b WHR m It\' t1l1'Ir ;)e+1On8. \I lwT'
our Lonl r"hhprl to gratIf;' th"u \\'" 110te the dIf
f('n'ncp hptwppn tlllS enriolls am] l111!lp]]('Ying rl(,irp for In11'-
acles, anrl the ('()urse of adlOn following it, in eontrflst WII]'
the faIth of the f'Ylo-PhoPl1lpian woman. hC'r hlllnihty nl
lwart. and the mamier in \\'hiph "hp ]'PPPIYl(l our LOHl''!' Hl-t
tf' grant lwr (Mntthp\\, X\' 22-2R) \\'p Pill
but f,uppo-e that hrJrl t1lp ppople of NfI?:lTdh hppn in a propPI
attittHle of hpart they woulrl hayp HPppph(1 0111' refusal
to work mlrar-!ps in a difTerpnt m:llllIPr. anrl wOll]d han' -airl
"\Yell, we enjoy the grneionR WOld... from his mouth
for they ha\'e brought a IH'aling and to 0111' hpart,'
And if sllPh had been their attitude no dOllht later our Lord
would ha\'e performed of hpalillg' in thpir (']ty also.
way of explaining to thC'm ,,-h\' h(' might not pprforrr;
his in theu as w011 towflrr] othel R' 0111
Lord (,Ited hyo il1uRtrat i ons from th,' prophph of th.. pa"t-
Elijah SPilt to tl1(' poor Gpnti1p wirk\\'. to l)p a to hpj'
hom('. \I hile of ls13el weI (' P b\'; an,!
hea}lll!!: Xaaman of wl11lp m'lT]\, 1l'fH'rs III 1Rrl1el were
ThpRe apt illustratIon" W('l p llnkinrljv rreeI\'e<l
by hi" l)('ar('rs, be('ause, drawing thp para]]r 1. it likpll('rl tl)('m
to stan-ing poor and diseasC'd lpPPl alHl implip(l our Lord',
('omparative grpatnf>ss an(l to thpm ns a (lIS!H'il,pr
of divine hount\'. Aftpr the snnw mallJ)('r onr Lorrl ..
told the that. hp. a'! thE' Gom] Phvsician. 1,[,,] I'(.m'
to heal the sick anrl that the wpll npp(]ed' not a
That thi'! wa'! their attItlHle of h" lr1 nnd fppling no 1]('('(1 (,f
him, 811(1 tlw he (lisppnspd. thp\' (1](1 not 1'pall7.p th"I1'
sin-sieknPRR. and t.hl'ir dpadness ill tI and ltlI'l
henC'e did not rpa!ize their n('('(l of IPd('rlption anrl dpllVPr-
anre from the p0\\,pr of "in and rlpath.
Tlw efTppt of our LortI's illustratl0J1R WflR plpdri( n1
upon the proud heartR hPiorp him, whose only interp"t III llirr..
from the firRt had h('pn that of prl(l" III him a R fI f,'llo\\'
citizpn amI hope for of pow('r ),Tow. ho\\'-
pnr, pri(](' was turnprl to flll,l thpv \\'on1<1
murder tIle one who had PRI1P(,t of th'lll a"
to compare thpm t,) hungry widoWR and J1"('rling Ill'
a HI. The con;rrpgation immpr]wtplv her'pmp a moh, Hl\p(;
with angry pas"ion; and surging forth wlth him th<, PI 0\', 'l
1('(1 III thp dirpdion of a prppipiee with a Vlew to hlln
headlong from it. TIut tIl(' of '!onw powr'!'.
a pow('r n[1tural to a pprfpet human OJI!' J,Ol ,] p,i
thpm with his mw(l, and pflR,!pd from th('lr nOlle
to him, and \wnt on his wav.
Lpt UR notp ('nrpfull.\' thp \\hich 0111' 1,0)(1 r]p-
('lnrp,] wa" III of flllfi1mpnt that (]n1'. IIp d(' .. lnr.";
to ]JP thp Anointprl Onp mpntlOnprl by th(' 1'101'111,t-1]1'
anOInting of the holy dating- from thp t Imp ,.r hi-
when .John horp Wlt!l('SS Plat thp hoI;' <1P"'('1l,1('\
upon him amI ahodl' wllh Illm The> nnol1ltlllg \\'H'- f"r a ]>'11'-
pose, ao, the prophet (lpehI ('(!. nml 0111' Lo1'rl ('onfirmpr] tllf
same, saying that }w wa'! anointp(l to prpflph thp !!ocppl
THE GOOD TIDINGS BORNE BY THE MESSENGER OF THE
COVENANT
\Yp arp to bdwP('ll thp of tl,P
or "good t](llll,!!..... nll<1 tl,p good '.\ll1eh are' t"
comp to pa-R in r]!lp hmp TIl(' pr"n"llill'! h('gl111 bv om
Lorel and ha ... hpPll ('ontJ1111('rl t],row-hollt thC' GO"j1pl ngp
hv all thOH who hv th(' "HH'P of (;pd h('('aDlp In
partlf'lllar of hI" l;o<1y," ('hur('h mpr which lw th(' -hear
[2579]
7-ION'S WATCH TOWF.N .\J.lrr.llr,y, P.
fOfHer. ,I (ur. Eph i ,,\ilPf Ihb pre<ldung
lit tIl{' 1.30"pel ha,e been gi\(JI. and have accom
ph"hed it" and illtpntlOll, thell will follow the gloriou"
ddllahtip" lefprrl'd to in it. And if the Illere dl'Rcription of
1hl' coming ble""lIIg" is called the GORIJl'1. good news, good
1iding" for all people, what may we not hope Ip"pectillg the
thl'm"eln", of "hidl the i:, now given
til thp hpanng amI of faith 9
The wa'- to hi' pI eaphed thp .\nointed Head and
"" tIl(' anoint..d l11pmhpl" of hi" bOlh', to all who have ears
t;. hl'ar It. 111 thp intpri'"t of ;I!lP Illtrtiel1lar class, ,iz.,
I hI' poor. thi' hfokl'lI-hea thp htl'rn pOOl' any more
tlll\l1 the litpl all," brokl'n-lll'nrtl'd, 1I1It tIll' "pOOl in I-opirit."
tltp hUlllblp-mllldp(l. "ho are n/:-'o the ",V1npathetip, the tender,
t hI' henrt-Lrokpll. in (OlltraRt with the hanl-lH'arted. \\'1'
make this di"tindion a" hd\\'l'en the poor in and the
poor in "pirit bl'('au"p it i" a nl'cl'ssalY one. which Rome
fa iling to n ha,'I' I",pn into grip,'ou<; l'nors. True,
1I0t many ridl, I'ltlH'r 111 or illtl'lll'd, will attain the
klllgdom: the ma ]H'II1;! ('hil'f1y tl1l' poor of this world
III and illtl'lleC't. hut lil'll in faith. (I <;'01'. 1:26-29;
.Iame., it:,j) Howl'yt'l., It 1'0 not IJ('('aUM' of thell' poverty of
1I1tl'Iled and of purRe thnt there will be more of this claRR
..-I1O"en, but merelY heeau'op po\-prtv of purRe and intellect are
fI1lJ('h more fa\-o;ahll' to thl' de\:elopment of humility than
;( \'(, lleheR of nnv kin(l: an(l hUlllility is a pI ime essential
111 nn inheritan(,(,'with tll(' "aintf' in light.
\\'Iule all of thl' aIlointl'(1 gospellers may during this age
hpar their messarre without rpstriction as to nationality or
(0101' 01' to h,IS all car to heal', .Tew or Gentile.
hond or free and while thpv may not be able to discern in
,lClvun('e whi;'h will prosprr: this' or that-nevertheless they
"Ill not wa'ote time amI pffort upon th08e whom they find
to bl' menta IIv "ridl antI inpreased in goods, and feeling that
tlIPv haY(' of nothing." (Rev. iii:17) No: they arp
1 a tiler to take note of who, when they hear the good
tiding", give 1" idl'll('e of proper "par8 to hpar," the meek, the
poor in rpalizing that it i8 this class that the Lord
h "l'pkm/-r dnring this age, . .
Similarl\'. the anointed one" are not to 8pend their tIme
.. n(II',lvoring'to break the hard hearts of tIll' worldly, for thi"
h not a part of its eommission. God himself, through
III 0\ Idenres. is attending to the work of breaking the hard
hearts; some are broken and softened by the trial", difficulties,
pel]Jlexities and adversities of the present life; some are
tOln and blepdin
rr
through severe trials of life and earthly
(IIsappointments; 0 and the time of trouble fast appr?aehing
,,, designed of the Lord as the time for breakmg and
meltm" lIianv hard hearts, in preparation for the Millennial
and its blessings of reRtitution, etc. Now, howevl'r,
thl' i., to "bind up the broken-hearted."
How mueh there is of tld" very kind of work that needs
<lIJln>: I TIH' poor in "pnit, contrite and mellowed of heart,
with the world, vexed with the flesh and the
;(IVprbUn-, arc to he found in nearly every quarter of the
wOlld; ,ill(1 "hosoen'r has reeeived the anointing of the holy
SI"llt rralize that this power upon him is given to bl'
.''\l'rl'isp,1 upon this nPl-d,\' in the oil and the
wille of t!lp di\inl' promi"p, to PllCer and comfort and bless,
,I TId prppd rl' for joint-lll'irship in the kingdom, Rome of the
V,'I v \\ hom the Lonl will be pleased to accept. To these
tIll: gOSllel lila \' hI' preaehpd frpely; they will not turn again
awl rellll thl' Illt'bb,'ng'l'l s. hut will hear it, and it will comfort
dnd ]Jind up thpll' wounded hearts.
If tlll'lI \\ I' !lave foulHl thl' cb,," to whom the anointed
011('" all' to addrc"" themsllv('R, what is the special
ot !wa('p :lIHI hlessing which the." arp to bear, and
"hid, the Prophd awl our Lord denominutl' the "Go,"pPI"-
1hl' good tidlllg" / 1" it tllp annO\ll1<'pment of the election of a
1lal1<lfnl to allll till' leprohation of all the remaindel to
In .. tl'rnity of tOl'\lll'lIt '/ )\"0. tlJi" j" not the Gospel which the
P10IJhet and .11'I-ou" (Ipplal{'d. To; it the mesRage of God's good-
of mtpntion, il\\t in('apa('ity of execution, wlti('h will rl'-
'oult in a Yl'ry fl'\\' hl'lIIg "a\'Nl and tIll' great ma"s of humanit,\'
!ll'ing eternally tOlnwntl'd" Ko, not so. E\'idently our Lonl
was not "pnt to pl'eadl this of rlamnation, so
,-,ommon it ,-" no part of the me"sage here dpe!ared,
nor wou1<l a 1l'llIo]mtion to ('ternal mispry be <;all,'d
"!!o"pel" II utllftJlI,\
Let u' what i" implil'(1 in tId" "Go"pel" mrs'oagl' spt
forth in the :--;l'l'Iptn1'l" Ll't n" know how wi(lph' it ditf(']
from the various me"sag('s of II<ath('ndom. aIHI froTn thp ('Olll-
monly accepted of "Christendom." Let notp the
1fnl' Go,pl'l m('o;",ll!l' that "houl,1 hi' prodaimed hy all whf)
n,I',,' be('!l anolntt'd ""llh the holy :--;pint, Tt diVJdp(1 Ily
tIll; Prof,hd into 11\(' (1, Dplivel'anl'e to tIle ('''p-
ti, ; ) reeo, erlllg uf :sight tu the blllld; (3) St't!.lIIg at
liberty them that are bruised; (4) the announcement of thl'
acceptable year of the Lord. as preceding the8e
and (1)) the announcement of a day of vengeance in the dost'
or end of the acceptable year of the "time of tronblp
such as was not since there was a nation." This last p'lIt.
tho proper to be proclaimed by the anointed wus
not due to be proclaimed the "1l'ad" at thl' tlln('
of our Lord's diseoursp. All mankind al e ca pt1\'es, all art'
blind, all are bruised; hence it is a blessing that
is a nnounceu in this Scriptural "GoRpel" ml's"ag('.
(I) The captives arc the slaves of sin; A<1am and all
racp, "sold under sin." (Rom. 7: 14) Through di"olwdit'n"('
in Eden the ulee was born in tillS ,,1<1\\'ry, "horn in Sill, sll<\])(,11
in iniquity." Some of the rare ha\'l' already hpl'lI
remanded' to the grpat prison-hou'oe of <1l'atlt, whill' all
are on their way thither. The "good tidingl-o" whi('h ,T('"n"
prea('hed and whfph all hi" followers undl'r thl' sanl<' HnollltJnl!
of the spirit lllU.,t preadl, is the re:snrrp('tion of thl' dead. or
as the Apostle expressed his tl'aching, it. is '''1el-ou'' aIHI tilt'
resurrection." (Acts 17:18) Jesus, the Rpdl'l'llll'r. thl'
anointed Head of the spiritual Reed whidl, as God's kingdom,
is shortly to bring to mankind full OppOI iunity of
not onlv from the prison-house, but from HII tIl{' other 1II('l'
dents of their slavery through tlte first having l'l'-
deemed the first Adam and his with hi" own
life.
None but the anointed ho(h' of ('Ill arc eonuni->Rlolw,1
to preach this good tidings, an'd e\,pI)' llll'lI\lwr of that hody
is so commissioned irreRpeeti\'e of hmn.! n (listinl'tlOn, of
"clergy" and "laity;" and "hoe\'l'r not fnllil thl'o IIll"-
sion is unfaithful to his commis'oion And ,lIa" , a" ,,(' look
around us, throughont the length an(l 1l\I',"lth of Chnl'chianity.
falsely called Christianity, WI' fin(1 tIll! t ('\ Idpntly VPl y jew
indeed have been anointed beeausp, e1'\' fl'W in<1I,p(1 know tim'
message of the th,l t til<' maJority of
ministers in all denominations are hl':\1 ti I\' to th('
doctrine of the resurrection becanse it i" in ('I j )'('et conjJ id \\ it II
theIr ullSrriptural theories.
(2) The promisl'd rpeo\,('ring of 'oigltt to n)1' blind ha a
far deeper signification than mere natll1'.tl e"ight. It rd'-Is
to the blindness which sin IlllS bronght upon the hearb of
men, perverting their mental vision, hintll'ring them from
seeing the divine being and his diYine attributes in their trill'
light,-as loving, graeious and it ue. jmt antl wise, Thp
blindness that is upon mankind, and "the gross darkness that
covers the people" in general, is deseribed by the Apostle aA
being the work of the great a(lversary Satan, who by falAt'
doctrines not only amongst the heathen but al"o amongst
Christians, has misrepresented tIll' divine character, the diYinl'
'Word, the divine plan, "putting light for darkness, and dark-
ness for light," and has thus dpl'eived the whole world. all
nations, with the very sma II e'\:('l'ption of thp fi'w who"e e:ves
of understanding have he{'n pnlightpnl'tl with the tnw light
'Ve have no hope for thi8 gl'ne)'al oppning of tlil' blilHl l'yl's
in the present the f{'\\, now gl't the l')'l";ul\'(' h
some respeets indeed it is hetter that the lila lority should Ill'
permittl'd to remain hlil1(l ..d lmtil bv the p"tahli"hment of the
Millennial kingdom the eondition .,hall he l11u('h 1110re favor
able than at present, that when then the {'yPi'\ of their undpr
standing' ha\'e been opened, and their rl'''po/H.. ibilitws propor
tiol1ately increased, it may be ul1dpr !'in'um"tanl'p" more
favorahle to them.
(::I) "To set at liberty thpm that are hruis{'(I" gins thp
thought of sin'R captives sore and distressl'tl from thl' mana"ll's
with which they are bound. This figure fitly rpprl'"pnt" tlH'
!lon(lage of eon uptiol1, infirmity, etc., which are l'onl'omi
tants to thp dl'ath penalty. The promise for sueh a. rleliveranl'l'
means "restitution" in at'tive operation (Al'tR ::1:102)), in
the assistance and uplifting of the world of mankind during
the Millennial all the gloriou" pprfpl'tionA lost for all
through father Adam's di"ohetliencl'. allli his ,-pntl'l1l'(, of t!i"dh_
\Vhat a glorious hopp is herp' Xo woml{'r thi" also
inelmled as a part of the gootl tidings. How romparatiYely
va!lJ('less would all the otlll'l" fpatures of bleRsing be. if sii'k-
nes" and pain and imperfl'ption pont.inued. It is whpn Wp sPt'
not onlv Sin, the taRkmaRter, itself rl'mo\'l'd, but alRo all of
its ),l''ililts eountl'ral'tc,!. and a 11 th{' sinner-ral'e pri\'i1pgp(1 to
return to tllP full li]ll'rtv of sonR of God. and that all this ie;
provided for through tI{p rl'dl'mption that HI in Chnst
and through the kingdom whll'h is to be estahlished in hi!;
hands for the blessing of all the familieR of the
we discern why it i" ('ailed "good tidings of grpat jor, ... bidl
Rhall be unto all people." and hpar the echo of .Tohn's rroph.
ecy from the of the futur!' perfeetJOl1, sayIng.
"Thpre shall hi' no mo)'p tlpath, neither "orro" nor ('rymg'.
[2580)
FEBRUARY IS, 1900 Z 1 0 lY ,S TVATe H T 0 TV E R (57-58)
neither shall there be any mOIl' p<llD. for the fOllller things
are passed away."-Rev. 21 :4.
(4) "The acceptable year (or acceptable time or epoeh)
of the Lord" is this Gospel age, which began with our Lord's
eonsecration at his baptism, and his anointmg with the holy
spirit, and which will continue until the last member of the
body of Christ has "filled up that which is behind of the
afflictions of Christ"-until all the sufferings of Christ (head
amI body) are complelR, when the glory of the Lord .,hall be
revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.-Isa. 40: .J.
This Gospel age is called the acceptable epoch, because
during this time God is willing to accept sacrifices for sins.
First he accepted the sacrifice of his only begotten Son our
Lord, and secondly he has been accepting throughout the age
all those who cOllie unto the Father through Jesus, and who,
justified by his merit, present their bodies livinJ.;: sacrifices
to God a reasonable service, and thus become joint-sacri-
flcers with Jesus, and joint-heirs with him in the coming king-
dom, as it is written, "Heirs of God. joint-heirs with Jesus
Christ, if so be that WI' suffer with him, that we may be also
glorified together."'"-Rom. 8: 17.
WE WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT
HoweYer. It i" wpll to noticc that while the "Gospel" in-
eludes all the foregoing blessings for mankmd in general, it
brings a sooner and still greater bles;;,ing to tlIP "little flock"
whose ears are Llesscd that thpy heal'. and \\ are
hlesse,l that thcv in advance of the \\ OIld. To the"e all
of the coming 1Ie""ing" :11 c antJclpatell, not literally, bnt b,Y
faith, for "Wp \\,lik faith, not by sight." thc true
church ("whost' names are written in hpaven" Ht'b. 1::!:2:l)
i" not only .llbttlieJ. b,\' faith, and thus rcckonedly released
ftOIl1 captivit,\' to t-:in an,l Dcath, Lut al"o Ipekonedh' i" I
\\ ith Christ. I eckonpul v ha" become "new creatures" in Chn"t,
reckonedly, under COVt'nant. are no longer in till'
flesh but in tllP spirit. and so aN'ounted of God, and so ac-
counted also of ea('h otIHr. who henceforth know each other,
not aftt'r the but aftrr the new creahlreR.-
2 Cor. 5'16,
The"e ha\e a new sight. seelllg With the eye vf faith thing'i
that are not vi"ible to the natural sight. They are guided
Into all truth, as It becomes due; yes, they discern "the deep
things of God," because they possess the spirit of God (I Cor.
2 :9, 10), seeing with the eye of faith things whieh the natural
eye hath not seen, hearing with the ear of faith things which
the natural ear has never heard, neither has entered into thll
heart of the natural man to conceive of or imagine-the thing..
which God hath in reservation for them that love him.-and
who manifest their love by their devotion to him and his. The
eyes of their understanding being opened, they are enabled to
"comprehend with all saints the length and breadth, the height
and depth, and to know the love of Christ, which
(human) knowledge."-Eph.3:18.
Altho this special class is not set at liberty from the
bruises and imperfections of the mortal body dUl'lng the pre.. -
ent life, but require in this as in other things to walk by faith
and not by sight, nevertheless, in one sense of the word they
are set at liberty from these imperfections, because unu"r the
tcrms of the New Covcnant* thev have the anct' ot' tllP
Lord that none of the natural 'blemishes and imperfections
and physical weaknesses are henceforth counted against them,
their standing bemg reekonedly that of new ('reature--, and
their judgment in the Lord's sight being a('cording to their
intentions of heart, and not according to the wt'akne,,--l' __ of
their fle.,h, which is reckoned dead.
'Ve exhort all of the redeemed who llll\'e made a cO\enallt
with the Lord, "a covenant of sacrifice," to remember why
they al e reckoned as members baptised into the body 01 the
anointed one (the Christl-here plainly Ret forth by the lIeal]
of our body, viz., that each ont' is to bl' a preacher ot
Gospel and not of another L(t u" be faithful for t't a
lIttlc longer, until the great High l'rH"t Rhall fully qualify
us as the "royal priesthood" in the of the kingdom, that
then it may be our privilege with him to bring to mankmu
all the wonderful blessings forpstated 111 his gospel, for the
blessing of all the fllnll he" ot the pluth, \\ ith a full opportu-
nity of attaining thp truth ami the liberty of the sons of God.
.. IS, 1919, for ult!cal e,a11l1llatioll of Covellants
statement of his it implies that a full know ledge
of it would not be gpecially advantageou" to us. Howevl'l'. a
hint or inference respecting a portion of the scrlllon is fur-
nished in the statement that during its progress It man pn''''
ent, by an unclean "ph'it, cripd out-evidently op-
posing .,ollIPtlllng Jesus had SaId. saying, "Let us alone: wh,lt
have we to do with thce, thou J of ?\,IYal <'Ih" .AI t thou
come to destroy us?"
The clear inference is that Jesus hall becn spcakl1lg agal1l",t
sin, and the power which it cxercised over humanity, 111\ 01\ .
mg all in the death penalty, With Its sicknesH and pam auu
trouble; and irwidentally no doubt lIP hall mentioned demoni-
acal so cOlilmon at that tillle--and more COml1lUIl
today than 1II0"t people suppo,;e. It is Our guess that the
gospel preached at Capernaum mUbt have followcd some\\ hat
similar lines to the gospel preached at Nazareth, dedanng the
time at haml in \\ hich Go,1 would bc pleascd to reccive IHlek
into harmony with himself those who had bePIl alieu<\ted
through sin, and who had thus hern brought lIu,lpr the bond-
age of corruptIOn. He no doubt declarcd him'<rlf to bp the
great Life'glver, the Good Physician, sent to lwal em th'"
woes and to reveal to mankind the Heavenly Fathrl'. aIHI to
become to as many as would avail themselvc" of it, "the \\ ay.
the Truth and the Life," by which they might return to dt-
vine favor in fullcst mea.,ure. The language of the cvil
speaking through the man as its mouthpiccc,* ('Iearly implIes
that these fallen spirits had at lcast a general understaJl(ling
of the time when their evil course would he run, and that theY
knew that the just wages of their sinful course is d('struction--=-
not eternal torment. They rccognizrd .Jesus and his mi""ion
and his holiness, and that hc was the representative of the
HeaVl'nly Father, but they had no hope for themselveR-no
expectation other than that when thc time should come they
would be utterly destroyed, annihilated. From vanous f:'erip-
tures, however, we learn that these fallen angels, demons,
wicked spirits, will not be destroyed without first being gtven
an opportunity for repentance and rcconeiliation with God. *
Our Lord did not deign to hold conversation with the.,e
spirit beings, who had fallen under the ban of dinne con'
"AND HE HEALED MANY THAT WERE SICK"
}IARCII -l-,-M.\RK 1:21-34.
. made Caperuaum his homr am] the center of his work
in Galill'e for a considerable timl'. It will be remembered that
it was here that the Roman centurion, whose servant Jesus
healed, lived, of whom the Jews testified that he was a friend
of their nation, and had built them a synagogue or house of
won.,hip and Bible studv. (Luke vii: 5)' Some ruins in that
\ 1,'lltIty have rccently iJPen exhumed which are supposed by
scholars to be the remains of this synagogue, because they
seem to be on the site of Capernaum. and represent the most
"uhstantial synagogue structure in all that region, the walls
being ten feet thick, se\'Cnty-four feet nine inches long, and
fifty-six feet nine inche" wide, with a roof supported by foUl'
of columns.
As indicating our Lord's strict attention to the Father's
business. we have the statcment that "straightway," at once,
on arrivinO' at Capernaum from Nazareth, our Lord went into
the synag;gue (probably the one built by the centUl'ion), and
began his teaching, This reads peculiarly at the present day,
when custom completely barricaded e\'ery opportunity for
free of opinion in almost all places devoted to
worship. The Jewish arrangement was certainly a liberal one,
and every way favorable to the truth. because whatever errors
might creep in, the truth always had an opportunity for
challenging them and exposing their wcaknesses and referring
to the (!Jvinely inspired oracles. 'Vho can doubt that if we
had imt such simplicity or arrangements today. by which truth
could challenge the various errors which have crept into all
sectarian teaching. the result would be favorable-not favor-
able to sectarian systems, it is true, but favorable to thc
establishment of each individual in the truth, as presented in
the divine oracles.
The peoplc who hcard our Lord's discoun'e were astoni"hp,l
( 1) At the things which he taught, and (2) at the manner
in which he presented them. He taught with authority, that
is to say, our Lord had a clear understanding of the subjects he
handled, and his prescntations were not vague suppositions
and imaginations, and foundationless hopes and speculations;
but were clear cut and distinct; and well proven by the testi-
monies of the Law and the Prophets, so that they were con
elusive in the minds of his hearers. who hitherto had heen
used to hearing the scribes guess. wonder, suppost'. etc. Since * See What Say the Scriptures About SpirituahslIl '-Pflce 10
the Lord ha!;! not seen tit to pro\'ide with enn a condensed tI", office
III-4.' [2581]
(58-59)
ZIONJS WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA.
demnation, amI wIth whom thl' HeavenJy Father eould no
longer havp He did not, therefore, expJain to
them that Ills fir,.,t ad\'ent was to pay the ram.om prIce,
and to start the gospel \\ hH'h wouJd "eJert the "lIttle
flock" to he ml'm]wrs of hIS "borlv" anrJ ioint-heirs wIth hIm
in the kingdom. that \\ hpn eompll:te and glorIfipd shouJn hJe"s
and Judge the world and .llHJgP tlll' fallen angpJf' aJso. (1 Cor.
6: 3) AmI our LonJ'" in havIng nothing whatever to
do with thl'"e fallen hut Oll the ('ontrary eommanding
thpm to hold their pearl'. shouJeJ hp a Jp,,"on to everyone of
his followers. who f'houJd in this ane} in every other mat-
ter to waJk in his str'ps. \Yf' havc known somp to gpt them
into ,-priolls rlJfTi"ultlf's thr01wh ('uTlosity-whieh h'd
thpm ('Itlll'r to '-pITltnalhl ir' spanr'es to pri\'flteJy have
mllnlr,dJon \\ ith the,p faJlpn TheIr cunnmg amI decelt-
fuJness i" far too depp for humanity, anrJ he who sepks com
mUlllon WIth thpTll in anv mannpr or dpgrcp does so 111 vioJl!-
tion, not onJ.v of thp Reriptural command (Lev. 20.6; Isa. 8:
IHI. but ill vJOlatHm nl"o of ('"'(nmple: and such run
great rIsk of tJm'- ])('ing pntrapppeJ anrI falllllg from their own
Thp ApostJp gin'" us to unner"tand that even
umnIJin!!:Jv anrJ unwlttingJy we frpCjuentJy wle"tJe. not with
flp'-h amI bloorJ, hut with tJ1('''f' ('viJ spirits, who I11spire and
me fallpn fl'llow-enatlllps-Eph. 6:2.
Thf' une]l'an spirit "ton'" thp man in roming out, that is,
vlO]e'nt I'on\ nl"ioll'-. and u'-erl the mouth in utter-
ing a lowl ny. Onr Lord. of roursr. ronId have forhldden
sueh mamfr,,,tation" of the rlemon spirit. hut prefprred to allow
it to hl' so, that thus might hp manifestprl the malIgnant dis-
pOSItion of the pvi] "pirits. as wpll as the powpr of his rom-
mand wh]('h, WIth all thl'ir mallgnity, thpy eonJrl not disobey.
The p!fppt of thp mirapJp upon thp audlpnpe of cour"e was
wonderful. Thpv saw "tJ1(' man Chri"t .Tesus" p'(prclsing in
thpir vprv prp'-I:ncp a "uppr1111man power-col1trolJing spirit.
bpinl!s No wondpr wprl' amazed. and no wonder hIS fame
sprl'al! throu!!"hout all OaJilpe.
Lraving thf' our Lord. arcompanied hy .Tames
anrl .Tohn, wpnt with :"lmon Pptpr amI Amlrew, hi" brother, to
thplr homf', whl're Pder's mother-in-bw laY siek of a fever.
Jesus yisitp(l hl'r, amI "rp]mkf'rJ thp fpver." took her by the
hand and hPlpl'd her up (Luke 4 3!l). and immediately the
fever was gOllp. and pven the usually aceompanying prostration
of strpngth did not n'main. but on the contrary, she was able
to entertain and serve her company,
The fame of .Tpsus ;,prpa(J rapirlly. and at sundown, in the
cooJ of the Ilay. many were brought to him to be healed,
and many pos;,p;,spll of dl'vIls, to have the evil spint.s cast out.
The r'ol]{'our"e was a grent one. from all parts of the city, and
again our Lmd manifestpd his mf'rcy in healing ailments, and
ca"tillg out demolls; agam, llOwever, refusing to converse with
thp and eVl'n refusing llnd forbidding their giving testi-
mony n''-J)('( tlllg him, Praisp llnd ('ommpllllation from an evil
sourrf' are nl'ver to be dcsired.
TllP 'Iup,tlOn naturally arises. \\'hy did the Lord perform
Rueh mlr.lflps? lf thn- werf' men'l" from henevoJence and
with a to jlPJp tIll' afllIcted. why did 11(' not do more of
tl1l'm'l-for Ilht:\T\(,p. in thp l'lty of Na7areth, rpgardJess of the
('onclltlOlI of the lwal h, of tho;.p who wpre affhpted. \Yh" did
be not at one word ll'huke all the fevers nnd all the 'other
di"ul,-es \\1l1eh :dllil,tpel humanity. throughout the whole of
GaJilPp, th(' whoJe of the whoJe of Asia, the whoJl' of
Afl)( ,I, tiJp \\ Jt(l)p of E\I1 (ljlP am! tllP \', hole of An1Prica? Quite
('vidpl\t t1,,' llPrfol nL1lh'p of t hp"-,, mill\(,lp,; Wlh not merely
frnm hell('\ (I}I'\" p tIm :1re] mankincl
IneIel'd. we h:1\e rpason to question whether or not it \vould
be a hpnp\ oknt al t to eurp aJI tl1l' ill, of humanity in the
pn"pllt tinH'. 'fhp ae,JIPS and pams. tJle troubles amI' sorrows,
{)f are in many ;'1'11"1''' of tlll' WOld hJes"ings 111 dis-
gui,p, Jlht \\a" tIll' part of thp originaJ sentpncr of Adam.
whl,Jt dpelall'" "rn thp ;,\\eat of thv fape shalt thou eat
bread" Ill' who SUI'('pl'd" in avoillIncY tiJ(' f'arning of hb daily
food h,\' '-omc kineJ of toiJ ha,., '-u(,pe;;Jpd in plaping 1;1
an unf:n orahlp ('OIHl,tion, for HJJpnl'''s I,; not only the mother
of \ ll'p. hut thp fatlll'r of SimIlar]", there IS a
rninl'tJ \' of in'-tI ul'1lOn in anll troubJe \vlllch shoulel
not he 'O\'pr!ook"ll. Thp Projlhct rder... to tJIIS that
inJJ('ll" 111 tIIJI\ll.ltwn. '-:1\ mg'. "13"f"lp I W:1S afllIejpel I wellt
nlld mallY "f thl; Lrll d's ppoplr' (all if \\'111 trace
some of thpir gl'l'atp"t awl gl'l'ate,t in the de-
... l'JopnH'nt of true dwr:ll'1l'r to tlllir p,-perien('"" ill \
kind, of trou1lJp" aneJ di,,'a;.p. Xotp \\1wrp WI' will tllloughout
tl1(' \\or!rl the finp"t allcl thp n01l1l'st and the 1>p,t haJanred
and traee th"..;p charadprs ill thclr deypJopment,
and we finrl that mue'h of tJIP dll,-pJing and pob,hmg whIch
has made them Wh,lt thpy are was donp by affiietioll of one
kind or another-;ruided, If they were consecrated Christians-
by the unseen hand of Providence.
The mIracles which our Lord performed in the little coun-
try of Palestllle. by whIch a small proportIOn of their sick
were rehel-eel 1l'mporanly, was merely a prophee'Y of the great
healIng blesslllg, frpeing from the power of Satan and sin,
whieh he preaphed. and which is to be fulfilled in due time-
during his Millennial kingdom.
His obJect in performing miracJcs was not, however.
merely to thus prophesy the futufe and gl ea ter universaJ
of hIS reign. but more particuJarly as signs. as evi-
tll'mp,. as witne,,,ps respeptlllg hIS teaehillg". It wa,; hi ... doc-
trines or teachings that were to move men; 1"0 that as the
powl'r of God thpsl' might draw to him that certain class
which the Father has glyen him during this age. If hl' wouJd
utter thmgs re"lll'('t!ng a eOlJ(btlOn, a bIrth of the SpIrIt
to a spirit nnture. a spirit kingdom, etc. it \vouJel be eminpnt-
Jy pro!,er for JIParer to enquire respecting his authority for
making such amI promises, unknown to others and
unpro\-en from any earthJy standpoll1t. It was therefore
proper that our Lord shouJd antIcipate such enquirips rpspect-
ing hl'- authOrIty for hIS teachings by giVlllg mirapuJous dem-
onstratIOns of hIS superhuman powl'r, \vhich he pxplall1ed tv
be of the Fathn and wltnesslllg to his intpgnty.
But "ompone may saY, If such mlracuJous manifestatIOn;;,
werp proper and rea'sonable to thp genpratlOll in personaJ con
tapt with our Lord, why would not SImilar miradps ])1.' proper
and for of the time, and for others all
down tlnough the GospeJ age? \Ye reply that some e\ideIlCefl,
proofs or mirneJps would hI' pro]JIT now, am! that greater
mirae]es are Jlf'fore us today. as to the truth of
Christw11ltv. These are not the same orcJpr as those which
llltrodlll-ed'th" Go,-ppl agp in tJ1(> "haryp'-t" or ('IHI of the
.TewI,h age; they are, indped. of a far hlg-IIPr ordpr. and more
in harmony WIth the agp In whilh we Ii\('. Thpy arp none the
less real than the mirarJps of .Tesus' dav, though thpv may be
obtnlsl\'P aIHl less likeJy to be notJ(:pd, P"('Ppt 'attpn'tion
hp ('allerl to tl1l'm. Our LOfel to Il'fpr to these
pre'l'nt-day mir:lI'!l'" \\hen he saHI to lbSllpJp,. "(ireatpr
\vork" tlw"or "h,l11 yr do. 1\('l',1II-.p 1 go unto }'.Itlll'l "-
Jno. 1-1:12.
WhIch IS the greater work-the opening of the eyes of the
naturally blind. or the opening of the eyPs of thp unell'rstand-
ing? Whieh is the more vah1<1ble? In the enll of the Jl'wish
age our Lord heaJed eyes that were bllllded elthpr by aCCIdent
or poison or a or what not. and that ,vas a muade. but
today the Lord'" dlseipJes, under the guidance of the hoJy
spirit. and through it, are abJe III many to open the
eyes of the that those who are blind to spir-
ituaJ things mIght see them-and thIS blll1dness, thp Apostle
tells us, is not a mere trIfling thing flr aCI ident or sting, but
is the skillful and intentional injury of the mentaJ eye by the
god of this world, Satan. (2 ('or. -1' -1) Do we not. thprefore,
see many more muacles of this kind-the opelllng of the eyes
of the understanding WIth the eyl'-sah I' of tIH' truth III this
harvest-time of the Gospel age-than are recordeel of the
naturaJ sight restoration amongst the IsraPlitl's in the harYest
of the .J ewish age? And which is the more spri0us of t1lC two
blindnesses? \Yhether would we prefer to hp blinrl naturally
or to be hJll1d to thp spiritual things? \Yhethpr. tllerefore, is
it the greater miracle to be relie\'ed of natural or to
be relIeYed of Rpiritual darkness? Undoubtedly the latter.
RlmiJarly WIth all the diseases, we might draw parallels
and finrl these t11(' greater muades. Peter's mothl'r-I1l-1aw was
being consumed WIth a fever which the word of the Lord re-
buked. But how many men and how many women throughout
('In istendom today are being consumed of a fever of ambitIOn
or pride or discontent, to whom the word of the Lord comes,
through some of the household of faith. speaking peape, release
from burdensome anxiety and cares of thIS life, lust for rIehl'S,
and consumlllg ambItIOns and pride of life? How many have
been restored to nOImal ronditions and granted to have the
ppal'p of God rull1lg in their hearts, with thankfulness, and
how many buph have found their strength renewed, so that
being relpased from fevers they arm-e to do vigorously
the Lord's business, to minister, to serve. the Lord and his
"\)] P1hrpn 'I" also w" mIght tracp the lamenesses and
ImpotpJ1('IPs of the past, and find analogies in the present--
d"ad handb. worsp than dead, u... ed activeJ
v
in the service of
e\'iJ. have been rerovered for activity in 'the sernce of the
Lord; men and women dead in trespasses and sins. awakened
to newnl',s of Jife III the sprvipe of tJle Lorrl and of the truth,
Such miraPles as these, far greatl'r than the ones of Jesus'
day III the He is now performing through his willll1g
servants and handmaidens, and these are the greatest witnesses
imaginabJe to the reality of the Lord's gracious message that
[2582]
FEBRUARY IS. ZION'S WATCH TOWER
(60-61)
he I" the the Sent of God, to bring salvation to the
race of mankmd.
The transformations of life and character, hopes and aims,
by whieh some in the present time are blessed, like the phys-
ical healings in the han est time of the Jewish age, are proph-
ecies of what the grace of God can and will do for humanity
when God's due time shall come, when his kingdom shall come,
and through its administration of love and justice his will
shall be done on earth as it is done in heaven. He who can
see now the parthly blessings and healings, accomplished by
our Lord, were but foretastes of the coming general blessings
to be accomplished during the Millennium, should be able
also to see that the regenerations of heart and transforma-
tions of character now in progress in the "elect" church are
merely foretastes or a first-fruits, illmtrative of the blessings
of transfornlcd character which the kmgdom will accomplish
for all who Will come into subjection to its righteous arrange-
ments.
"THE SON OF MAN HATH POWER ON EARTH TO FORGIVE SINS"
J\IARCH 11.-MARK 2: 1-12.
Following the miracle of our last lesson and probably
other miracles not recorded in this connection, our Lord ap-
parently made another preachmg tour; after returning to his
home elty of Capernaum the lllcidents of this les:;on trans-
pired. E\idently our Lord, with his mother and brethren, had
bcen making Capernaum his home for some time, and it is
elltirply probable that the housc mentioned in this lesson was
our Lord'" own home. Dr. Schaff suggests that aeeording to
the Grpek text this might read "at home," in:;tead of "in the
hou:;e." As we saw in our last lesson, however, Capernaum
was the home also of Peter and Andrew, and the mcident of
this might possibly have occurred there, though this is
le:;s probahle.
Till' rl'tllln of the youn" and wonderful Teacher to his own
city and home was ;Idely known-"noised;" the result
was a con:;iderable concourse of people, not only filling the
houoe and the courtyard, but even the door or gateway.
Among:;t these callers were Phariseps and Doctors of the Law
(rabhls, I, who came out of the various towns of Galilee
and Judea to hear Jesus, and to note his miracles.-See Luke
5:17-18.
Our Lord's was the preaching of the Gospel, and,
as already pointed out, the healings, miracles, etc., were inci-
dpnta an,1 not hy any means his chief \York or object-the
of (Acts 3:21) not having come, the
mlraelcs of our Lord were merely attestations to and cor-
rOhOl'.ltlH' of teaehings respec'ting the kingdom and the
kingdom plass which he had come to call and gather-out of
hrdPI an(1 from amongst the Gentiles. Undoubtedly he
prpal"1ll'd the message dplivered in Nazareth
the Lord's bPing upon him, anointing him to preach the
good tIdings to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted and to
deelan' a conllng deliverance to the captives of sin and death,
aIHI the restmation of sight to those blinded by Satan, and the
setting 'It IIherty of all the captIves subject to the bondage of
con uptlOn, hut probably this one message was presented from
\'<11 iou'> at variou'! times, and various teAts used,
as also various parables introduced in of it. This,
ho\\('ver, the "'Yord," the message, which our Lord was
('OmmbSlOned to deliver, and we may be sure he did it faith-
fully.
h"hile 011r Lord was in the midst of discourse a
paralytic, e\ Idently full of fluth, horne on a stretcher of some
k!lld four sought opportumty to reach him, with
full faith in hlR power and willingness to heal. Finding no
of making their way through thE' crowd, the
hem PI" took their bur den onto the roof by the outside stair-
in that country-the hUlldingR being
but one in height. It is not at all probahle that the
buil(ling and roof were of the ordinary kind that would have
oLligpd that lIfting of stones and cement and dirt, and the
Incaking of the heneath, for thiR would involve an
ah-nrdity, and the falling of the Rton('s and and dust
upon our Lord and the congregation would havl' heen
fl'rahle well a" dangprou". The more reaRonahle RuppoRi-
tion j" that the homlp one of the pommon kmd, en-
dO-Ilig :1 "ourtvll1 d ('apahle of a("'ommo(lating quite a large
audipnl'e. the living roomR being huilt around the wall of the
courtyanl at one end, and a veranda or porch-roof over a part
of the open court. covered with tileR, whi('h eouId be removed
without mwh ddfi,ulty. The thought would he that our Lord
stood under thiR vernnda, preaching; that some of his audience
were under it and othprs standing out, exposed to the
sumhine in the court. Dr. Thompson makes the following
comment:
"The wholp affair was the extemporaneouR device of plain
to opening their roofR and lettIng down
grain, straw and othpr articles, aR they Rtill do in
(Eastern) country. I have often Reen it done, and have done
it myi-elf, to house.; in Lebanon. I have the impression, how-
ever, that the covering, at leaRt of the lewan (court) was not
made of earth, but of coarRe matting. or boards, or stone slabs,
that could he quickly rpmoved."-Compare thi'! with Luke.J: 19.
Our Lord was not otfendpd hy this llltruslOn. He douLtles.;
remembered that all things work together for good to the
Lord's people, who will accept them thus. So far from feelIng
offended at the intrusion and persistency, he ('ntHely over-
looked these when balancing them with the quality which he
so much All of the Lonl's ppople can well
take note of this lesson, and learn more and more to a"ccpt
the affairs of life as they come as being all sub.le('t to dIvine
prOVIdence and all guaranteed in advance to be profitable, to
work out some good reRult, If we will but so permit, by n'celv-
ing them in faith. Let us learn also to overlook aIHI forget
when' there is evidence of of
heart, faith. good intentions.
In various ways we learn that under the head of "paralYSIS"
in olden time.;, in Oriental countries, various diseases were
included, which are now specified under different names. For
instance, titanus (lockjaw) would at that time and in that
country be described as paralysis-indeed, any <liseaRe wllleh
would render the individual powerlpss-whdhpr
merely a deadness or accompnnied by violent The
inCidents connected With tid,. mirade wouM s('pm to in(licate
that it was a serious case, and had in it of the
element of for seeing the Lord quickly and
ohtaining his help promptly. Otherwise propriety would have
dictated a different course.
It might be questioned whethpr the fnith waR that of the
palsied man or that of his friends, but we think the circum-
stance'! warrant the belief that the siek man himRelf e... erciRed
the faith and prompted his friends to take the they did
in obpdienee to his request. This is implied in the fact that
our Lord does not of the faith of the heal (rR. hut rloes
speak directly to the paralytic reRpeeting his faith.
Our Lord must have Reen a very proppr ("onditlOn in tlw young
man's heart, he never would have Raid to 111m, ullsolicited,
"Son, thy :>ins are forgiven thee." Kor was this
unpremeditated; our LOId evidently wished that the miracle
he was about to perform should not lldra("t from the pn'adI-
ing whieh it interrupted, but, on the eontrary, should impress
it as well as illustrate it. He fOrl,knew al"o that an
unusual statement would awaken in hIS hean'r" qu('stionlJlgs
respecting his authority. and thus tIll' miracle
performpd woul.l emphasl7,p the fact that he was thc
and that the redemption of sinners an(l the of
had heen committed to him by tlw Fatlll'r.
The question of the s('ribes '(that is, the Rahhi", til(> Do(-Iors
of the L,lw) , Is not such a statr'ment a \ pry
proper one, and they are not to he hlanH',1 for maklllg the
enqUIry. Our Lord did not d('ny Its propriety. hut an"w('l"pd it
by saying, It would, of 1)(' easy for anyhorty to make
the claim of forgiving sin:>, and it might be impos_ilile to
pute IllS daim, hut in my CM,p I will my daim to
he ahle to forgive "in" hy mv powpr to hpal this man phys-
ically; wllPn, then'fore, you "hall pprceiH' mIl":u'ulous ('ure
of a physIral ailmpnt, it will he a re-pl(ting thp truth-
fulness of my st.ttpment in reganl to his SIlls-that you may
know that as the Son of T h,lVP powpr, to for-
give sins. (Compare Luke:;: 2-1) Th('n rame the hpa lIng of the
paralytic. whirh, put in this form, herame a proof, Tlot only
of our Lord's healing power, hut of hIS power to forgiye
sins. And when the sirk man, in olwdience to our Lord'" com-
maml, took up hIS rOlHh or strpt,pher and went forth III the
presenre of all, no womler they wert' amazp(1 lllld praised God.
Apparently all were fully 'Iatisfip(1 wlth thp demonstration,
Luke saYlllg that thpy wprp all filled With fpar-rp\"erence-in
view of so mighty a dpmonstration of dlVlllp power in tlH'ir
miost. It was not a ll's'lon of fear towanl God in tl1('
of a dn'all of an ullthinkahle ('yprlasting future torment, but
do fear, 111 the RenSe of reRpect for the God whose 10\ e and
sympathy and compassion harl hepn so manife'ltpd
-a God who not only wa" willing to forgive SillS. hut al"o
willlllg to hPip and to IPllt'\e IllS creatures from thp ditficulties
[2583]
(62 64) ZION'S WATCH 70WER
wIll<h ,in had brought upon thr111 \\hat wc will ahout the
depra\ity ,tnd of hnman r,'a<-Olllng, tlwre 1'-. :litel
all. a pov.cr of common m hum,lnJty \\IIICh, If IJloperly
actuatell. i'i the stronge"t pO'i'iihle Iewr in mO\ ing them 1TI the
rIght dirpdion-far more influentIal WJth rcasonmg p('ople
than ,III tlj(' fal,c and lIlUeaHllldhlc th(,Olie" \\Jlldl ('ould bc
C oncodeu.
Un, ]ps<-on for 11'i, found in this inPHlent. is that we. lIke
"l1r Lord. -houId spek to turn cvcrv cal thlv mattcr to somc
I-'nntl ac (ount fl'i respprt'i our rp"l ini,-ion in the world-the
d." 1:1I ,ttJOI1 of tlH' good and thc of tIle king"
dom (Ia-s to be jointhpjr
q
\\'Jth our Lord in his 2\Iillennial
1-'1,,1\ .\Jlotlwr tholl;.']lt I" that 11l ('\l'ry in'itanee the lwalmg
nf 11,,, ""111 from thp nnd r'oJl(]emnrrt\Cln of sin should
h,' lIi,if'pc] fir,-t. a" thp highp"t allil mn,-t important thing, far
"1.t1<'Jlking ('oJlllltinn<, allil
\ltllollgh our Lord pro\'('11 to his lreal ('I that hi'i pro,
Iltllllll "Jl,pnt I,f f"r"in'Il"'" \\ a,- 1'\ 1,II'Jlt Iv ]Ja<'l';:I',1 ]JV pO\\ er Jlnll
,1IltlH,] Jty. :h 1'\ ]IV 1.1IP mir[l111'. II(' (hd not
P\pl.lIll t" tll('llI tll(' 11,,\\' ;Illd thl' \111\ of hi" ponllud, :In,] hpnpp,
\\ hill' ;":1\ Illg thl'l1l proof. hp lpft th;' Ilup<,t lon<- of 1.11t'ir mind'i
11ll:lIl'\\('ll'd TTl" Ill'arPI', hl'lll]lg,'11 to thp hllll"" of 'iprnlntQ.
.Ind n."t to tIl" hon-I' of "on--tlj(' h,,]y f'pirit of hegdtin
h
anll
:(d"ptJoll not 1m\ lllg yd I,ppn /IiYl'll hl'( au-p wa', not \ rt
L:'IOllfl("! (.T"llll 7 :W I To tltp 11011"1' of "on'i. howeypr, till':'
IlIuit"1 p,pial/I,'d in t!l(' f'lliptll1'''' ill nw li!!llt of the hoI"
o..:JlIllI '-0 that \\,. m:l\ Ulll!"I-lalld tIll' 110\\ anll tllP \\h"
11 pll .h th,' fad. thus.' .
Th,'n' a 1110\ 1"lon 1I1l11l'r till' ,f1'\',1,-1I 1:IW for tIl(' for-
gl\ ('111'-,- or ('on'rillg of tIll' -inc- of tlll !)('oplp, through tllr
"tT"lllIg of "p(('ia! olf,'rillg, h." thp III ip"t,;. hut our Lord
\\a'- ll"j a I'rl<,t "f tIl" \alOIlI( 01'<10'1. an,l thp palsipl!
!Ilall I,dor,' !Iim h,l(l 11111 hr"lI!!ht a -ill-oll,'rillg, under the
lprrn- of th,- '}I'wish ],IW TTo\\p\er, \\'1' 01'0' tIl(' "itllat.ion in a
III'\\' hgllt wlwn wr rpali7(' that thp paml.dip P\ idrntly brought
to 1110' Lord thl' qapnf:pp appropriat, to tl1(' npw dispcn'iation,
",I ]nokplI aIHI a "olltnt(, Ilpal1 .. 11111 of faith, and rempmher
also that ollr Lenl :It his l)npti,m tIl(' office of the
antItypipal 11lgh pI il''-t 1.IIP 1I10l1lPllt II(' was anointed \yith tl]('
!IllI.v "pint. fI"d tllat c,fI('rIfi(" of himself was rounted ns
:!I\"I.I lrv !1I111 alld a, a""l'ptl'II tIl(' FfItlwr, from the momrnt
of IllS to dp,lth. in his water baptism.
Hplll'" we <-PI' tllfIt our Lord's authority to pronounce the fOI"
giyplle'iS of "ill" \\a'i in \'iJtuc of llis havinrr sacrifirell his
!llImanit,\, (whil'h in propp"" of upon the
altaI I \l1lil" IIp, as a lIew preaturp, wa" a priest of the new
IIrdpr. thp "royal prip,;thooll," fully empowered to forgive sins.
Furthermore, this \\ illingn('f;s of our Lord to forgive an'}
to !IPal gin,; us a "ugg""tioll of his \\iIlingne... s and ability to
do tIIP"1' sume - (fOlgh'e the sins and heal the body)
Whl'll thp time" of gellPra I shall come from thp
1)]'P"('II('P of ,Jehovah-'the of rc,;titution of all things
whl('h Co<1 llilth spok"n ]J,\' thp mouth of all the holy prophcts
.. 111(' tIll' \\I'rl,! h"gall "--.\rt,
TIll' \ (lif1i"lIltil" ul1l]pr whil'h hllmanity labors, I'alle,l
di,-ea,-es, -111 111 val ious respects; for instance. palsy
or J]. condition of sin in which the imh-
vidual loses his power-sometimes merely becoming impotent,
1I1 the sense of helpless: at other time'i, in combination with
may come an in'iensibility of conscience. a deadness to all
prindples of righteousness, such as the Apostle deseril)('s as
feeling." In this condition are quite J]. good many at
the present time: they are not only helpless as respects all
ability to go to the great Physieian, but additionally they are
devoid of any desire, any appreciation of their need; they haVE
no feeling on the subJect. These must he left for the present,
but we may reJoiee that the time i'i coming, acpording to th"
jllOmlSe of the Lord's \Vord, when all shall pome to a reahza-
1lOn, a sensihility of sin, and to a knowledge of the way of
from it" condemnation and its pcnaltieR. In the present
tlmp, however. 'iome. like this paralytic. arc not past fepling,
and yet are so a" to nped the of fJ ipl1l1s in
bringing them to the Lord
En'rv true Chl'lstwn hp such It frienll to evclY
fPll()w-C1:patm p \\ ho a desire for the Lord's blcssing, and
hpaling from and suph should Ill' not onl,\' sym-
nathptic but IHlpfnl in bnnging their fricnds to the good
Physipian of thp "tltd. Xor should they be readily stopped by
lmpedimpnt
q
, 01l ... tallp". but 11kI' tho'ie in thc illustration, they
should be ready and WIlling to take advantage of pvcry proppr
.. al1l1 londition to plaep their friend near to thl
Lord nnd his powpr. that the blessing might rp'iult. Alld will
1,01. the Lord be pleasell \vith our faith as \\'1'11 as theIrs. If we
do all ill our power in thcir aid?
"Trui' f:1I1h. like true'it lovp, il1\'ent,,;
Dpnied tIl(' door, It eircumyents."
Anothrr tholll!'ht herr is that the first a1111 impor
tant thing for all js thp forgiycnp'iS of sillS It IS 111 vain
that any would c:nr1pavor to avoid this fil st p'i'ipntin1 stc:p
to\vard acceptable ('Ill istinnity. Rome are lIlf'linpd to put
Iloctrine instead of faith and repent:!mp, bllt \\ill not do
There is no use whatpver in endeavoring to grow a erop of
wheat on soil whose sod has not bepn broken Thp faHo\\
ground must first be broken up ere the sl'rd ran find propP!'
root and bring forth fruit. So only those whose hearts havc
])('en plowed and brought into the cOll(htion of mppkIlP'i'i :InrI
eontritpness, and a dC'iire for fellowship with thp Lonl-theH'
,done are proper 'iubjeets to be Ilrought to tIll' Lord. True, it
IS not within our power to break thp stony lll'arts. nor to plow
the hllow ground: all that we ('an <10 is to note those in
whose lives pxperiences have produeed such results, anll to
<-ow the good sepd of the kingdom in sueh hearts. This being
the case, we must not be surprised that not many are
for present truth; but toward tho<;e \\'ho give su('h
we an' not to llIakp the mistake of leading them to suppos('
t hat repentance and forgiveness are nonessential, hut rather
we are to point them to th('se as primary ronditions upon
"hich alone they can properly make progress, both in knowI-
pdge and in grace. 0 as to attain ultimately to the graeious
things which Gall has promised to them that lovp him.
THESE MANY YEARS
[TlIi" POpID a rrprint of that published in issue of September 13, 18!l4, which plpasc sep.]
INTERESTING LETTER
DE.\R DIWTIIFR HUSC,I:LL -EIHlo>pd fiJl(1 onlpr for ,)-
h"lI1g lOs. e,pensp" m('nrl'l'd by IJrlllging Bro. 10
our Odober eonferpnpc. ",hi('h lIP handl'd ha, k to u,; ns a dOlla-
1 to the Tract Fnnrl, to IlPlp ddray tIll' post of "BIllle 1 S.
J'lolutlOn." The rpmalllder i" from the ehnreh in Gbsgow.
Ristpr Ferrie will tdi you abont our method of carrYll1g
out the Volunteer mo\'(mpnt. Up to date we have given thp
hook" at 73 e-hure-hes, alii} ha\ c di'itributed 10,0!l;) copies, being
an average of abollt \\'1' haH been greatly "nrprised at
the smallnps" of thp 10ngregatlOns. \Ve distribute only at the
forenoon spn ice, "hjph in most cases has the smallpst
llttenuanee, but it invariably indndes the more earnest portion
of the eongrellation, and we nre of the opinion that by this
Tnrthod the npe wheat. will be reached. There have bepn J]
fpw inquines for fnrthcr literature, from whom we hope to
hpar again. \VI' ha\p suffered no other annoyanee than an
o('('asional refusal to aecrpt the booklet.
All the brothers and "isters who arc able take part in the
,\ork, and some occasionally travel a considerable distance III
ordpr to enJoy this prIvilege, A few of us llwet in the morn
mg for a season of prayer before going out, and have found
it most rrfreshing and helpfuL
\\'e note WIth pleasure your promi"p of another pamphlpt
for rli"trihution at thp ,,]lIIrI'1IP" wlll"h ha\e !I'('ei\pd thc onl'
on Evolution. The churrh here feel very grateful for \\hat
you have given us. and deplore their inability to take a larger
share in the finaneial responsibility. We are deeply interested
in the work and are willing to do anything in our power to
lessen your burdens.
Assuring you of the continued affection of all the members
of our little company, and their hIgh appredntion of your
noble work, I am
Yours in the one hope, ALEX. TAIT,-Scotland,
[The "Volunteer" work in Great Britain naturally com"
menced later than here. hut we are glad to note that 'it pro-
gresses splendidly. Ours is a campaign of blood-"the blood
of the cross," and is far more worthy of time, energy, treasure
and our life-blood than any other known in the world.
Courage! dear fellowsoldiers. Steady! the eye of our Cap-
tain is for victory only by "laying down our lives for the
brethren" as he set us an example, \Ve regret that we are out
of our error-destroying and new-hope and new-life-infusing
ammunition. "Good Hopes" for this year justify us in begin-
ning the work for this year liberally and paper mill already
has our order for forty"six tons of paper for "Volunteer" work
for immediate delivery. We hope to he able to begin filling
orders about .-\pril I.-EIIITOR I
[25R4]
TEXAS AGRICULTURAL FRIENDS TAKE NOTICE
A brother in the truth in the Nursery business at Post
Oak, Texas, finds himself financially embarrassed and asks our
aid in disposing of his large stock of fruit trees which he
describes as of excellent quality one and two years old and 4
to 6 feet high. He has a descriptive catalogue which we will
forward to all interested. He says the prices are right. He
offers the Tract Fund one half the receipts from this forced
sale: but as we do no advertising we turn this advantage
over to the friends, who can thus secure good treef! for Texas
climate at HALF PRICE: packed free and dehvered at
Office. No orders received for less than $2. Drop poi:>tal canl
for free catalogue to us.
The catalogue at hand besides the fruit trees includes grape
and other vines and shade and ornamental The pri('e::l
seem reasonable and the goods at half price should be a
bargain. 'fhi8 notice is quite a digre8sion from our rule.
VOL. XX! ALLEGHENY, PA., MARCH 1, 1900 1\0. ;)
RE-ENLISTED VOLUNTEERS1 TO ARMSl
The new lot of "Bible vs. EvolutIOn" ammunition is not yet
ready, but by Mar('h 15 to AprIl 1 we will have plenty of the
new pmmuniti0n for U::le where the Bt/)le 1
'
S. El'olution has
alre'lrlv been distrihuted. lOU will like it, we vou this
in ad,:anl'e. It will consIst of "Which is the True Gospel?"
and "What Say the Scriptures about Hell?" in the shape of a
double number of the 'YATCII TowFR. Get your Reveral srllWa..;
together and let us have your orders statmg (1) the number
of white Prote"tant churdles in thl' dh.trI(t; the ,n ('J age
attendance at service whi('h thp dmr('h memlH'l (llldlv attl'lJd;
(3) the number of Volunteprs m your s<Ju.Hl; (.j,)' to what
address would you prefer to have the ammunition sent.
"MARK THE PERFECT MAN1 BEHOLD THE UPRIGHTl"
MATT. 4:25-5:12.-ApRIL 1.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
What arc essential to our attainment of the of yourself. and claim much, carrying a high head, and having
most conditionR God has to bestow? 'Yhat must we a lofty and self-important look.
be in ordpr to inherit the kingdom, be filled with righteousness, No doubt there is worldly wisdom in the worldly
obtain divine mercy and comfort, be called the sons no doubt there is some truth in the worldly suggestIOn, so
of God. and be permitted to see his face, obtaining a great far as succpss in earthly matters in the present time is con-
rpward in heaven? "-hat what topic, what Bible cerned. But here as in other instances, the Lonl shows u"
('ould he more interesting to us or a more profitable that his ways are not as man's ways, but higher. as the
dud.v tlun this onp? The great TeaclH'r made it the topic, heavpns are higher than the earth. He assures that Ill' tIpt
the text. of one of his principal diseourses at his first advent, humbleth himself shall be exalted in due time, while 111' who
and the gist of his argument to be reporded for the exalts himself shall be brought low, in dul' timp. ("!Iratt. 2:3:12)
admon Ition of his true followers throughout this Gospel age. In the Scriptures he points us to our dear Redpeml'r as thp
\\'llllc the d'an!eter of our Lord, which we as his followers of the humble and obedient one, whom he ha.,
are to eop.v. iR one; (lna the atbinment of that one character now exalted to the right hand of divine power; and our
or tIl{' attainment of all the blessings God tion is also called to the great adversary, who, takmg a rpvpr,e
hp s to in order to present the matter the course, sought to exalt himself. and has been abdsed, and is
more di,tindly to our minds the Lord divides this one char- ultimately to be destroyed.-Phil. 2:!); Beb. 2: 14.
adl'r or into differl'nt sections, giving us a . sharp distinction should be noted bctween )wiJ;g poor in
\ i('w of ea('h parti('ubr part; just as a photographer would and being poor in poeket, or in intellectual gifts and
takp a front new, yiew. left-side view. r{'ar view attamments. 'Ye havp all ppople "ho w('re pOOl' in tlH'"e
angling vip,,'s. of any inte"psting Rubiect. so that all the detaIls earthly senses. yet proud in spint. The point to lIP notiep(l
of construdion might be ('l(,flrly discernible. is that what rver our financial or intPll('ctual gifts :lna ('onrli-
THE FIRST ESSENTIAL the thing if} the diY.ine sight i" hllnllhty of
. . SPHlt. Suph a diSpOSItIOn IS esspntlHl to tho<p who would
The first cbaraC'tpr-pIC'turp "hleh our Lord presents w.
e
may receive the wisdom which cometh from ahove-thpy Inll--t haye
reasonahly. W:lS some respprts at least Impor- a humble apprpciation of tl1('ir own dcfil'icn('i('s lInd l:1('k of
..1t IS ImmJl.lty.. are the (poor wisdom. els(' they canno!; rp(>eivc freply, heartily. tIl(' wi,dom
III splnt) for. thplrs IS. the kmgrlom. "e do whi('h Carl is pk'lsprl to grant in the pr('sent tiT'll'. only to
under"taNl tlth to that IS the only those who arc in the attitude of 11"art to repeive it. ."nd It
gra('e, and that IA humble therefore the will bp sepn also that this hllTllllitv of mind is as a
but ra t!ll'r. h]f{t to the. attumment of the kmgdom basi" for the spirit of a sounll miiHI-for ,,'ho is in :1 pro!,er
humlhty IS a prl'!'p'1uh1tL' ?f Imp.orbnee.. In other wOTds, condition to think justly, [{'asona]'ly, impnrtwllv. ("I.(l'i,t
while all htllT'hlp ppo,P!p w1l1 not attam kmgdom, the kmg- of all he ha\e a Immhi., dispositio'n? Upn('e must agree
dam cannot he attawed by who IS not humble: the that humility is a primary element in the dhlposition or mind
kingdom is thpirs. in the sense that it is possible for this ?lass of Christ.
to :tl'eept the tern'A and to attain to the honors and blessmil'R,
whil" all of a dit1'('nnt attitUlle of mind-the proud, the CONSOLATIONS THE REWARD OF SYMPATHY
tIll' sl'lf-con(,plt{'ll, are absolutply debarred from any The Recond beaUtu(le or ('ondition 1l1('ntio]]('11 bv our
of atbimng tIl(' kingdom so long as these contrary Lord stands rplated to thp arp' tit I)'
conditions lie at thl' foundation of their characters. that mourn." Mourning of iR not n gnu'p. lmL It !lp-
o that all of tllP Lord'A ppople might see this point clearly tokens an attiturlp of mind whi('h is alpepblJ1p in th..
and distin('tly. ann rpalize and forever that "The Lord sight. Kor should we think of a mournful
thp proud nnn showeth his favors to the humble" consolation or joys. as bpll'g a ChriHtian hpirit. ',"p e,llInot
exclusivdy' How this thought should put a guard upon every suppose that our He:>Vlnly F,tth"r and tll" holy a]('
one of thp Lord':" little ones who iR speking to be conformed l'ontinual mourners, flR thpv \vold,l certa inIv II(' if ]]l01]rn in"
to the image of Gall's dp:lf Ron. How thpy would possessed any merit of itfl<'if. Thp tho!:gl,t T:dlwr
wateh and foster thl' dpYl'lopment of this spirit of humility in are yc that mourn now-to whom ",Irthly ('OIH]IfIOIlH
tl]('ir 0wn hp:trts. an,l how it woulll he more and more dHwernible are not entirely Ratisfaptory and happifying-who nr(' not
to others in thplr daily course of life. and what a blessing and blind to the ditlipultil's a]](1 triah through whilh th" human
what an influence for good, especially upon the "brethren," family as a \vhole is passing-sin a]](l p'un llll(l
would result! trouble. dying and crying: are tho,e who h:l \ {' Hvmpa-
Growing out of first essential quality or characteristic, thy of heart under p]{'fopnt l'onditionR, and to whom thl'Y all'
as a trpp of many bran('hes out of the root, come the other not satisfactory; for the time iR coming when. undl'r (iod's
graceR of the spirit, whiph .the Lord has providpll('e, a better on!pr of things sllall be utl'd. and
divinplv approved. How different our Lord s III their dissatisfal'tion with preRf'nt conditionl:l will Imt hrine:
thiR from all human teachings! Earthly wisdom tl]('m into do'.pr sympathy anrl with tho'\p 11l'1tI' I
would say, on th", contrary: Hold up your head; things for whi('h thp divine plan is prpparing. "'hpll (iorl's
think well of yourself, if you would have othpr people kingdom Rh,dl come and hiR will hI' donI' on earth as it iR
think well of vou; be high-spirited. instead of poor in spirit, done in lwavpn, an cause for mourning and for sorrow and
a little haughty, rather than of humble demeanor; it will for WIn he done awnv: that will be a timl' for consola-
have a greater influenpe in many respects, for no one will tion. for Ratisfaction. to this plaRR.
think more highly of VOl] than you think of nor Indeed. a goorl of comfort coml's to the Lord'R
give you credit for more than you claim; hence, thmk highly people even in the present age-through faith built upon the
[2585] (64-68)
(68-69)
ZION'S WATCH TOWER .. \LLEGHl:NY, PA.
exceeding great and precious promises of the dlYine 'YOI'd.
fact that they are able to discern the wrong", the inequi.
the of the tIme, m this class
that ver.r eonditlOn of heart to whieh dlvme promises appeal,
others so touched at heart With sympathy for
the groalling neatlOn, arc unable to so thoroughly appreciate
the before in the gospel. Hence It lS by a natural
law that s1l(h url' drawn to the Lord',; \Vord, and are enabled
to drnw thprefrom which speaks peace to their
lleurb, and them an lIlner .loy wIueh the l'\ympathetic
eannot know under present eondltlOns, are the sym
pa thetlc 1
.A WP can eulth'nte the first of these graces, humility of
mllld, and by Cll Itl\ a tlOn lIl'\t'lop more anli more of thh, first
and ('hanu'tprJst!c, so we ean ('u]tlnltl' abo the
ond gra( p. thp "ymp:tthptir' "pillt. To do tIllS we should fre-
<{lH'ntlv think of mterel'\ts, their trials, their
dIfIi, and "hou],1 "eek to enter into the"e a" though tllPy
Wl'l p ,Ill our own, and "llOuJd to lend a helping hand and
to "do good unto all n1l'n Wl' have opportulllty, especially
to till' IIOlhpilOld of faIth "-Gal (): 10,
HOW THE GENTLE INHERIT
Thp tlIlnl of theM' which the Lord dpplarl's blpssed
or, a" \\p "ay, gpntlpnebs, 'Vebster's DIC-
tIOna ry dPijlll'" m,'pknp" to bp, to the divine will;
patlen,p ,lIlll from moral and religious motives,"
It, wIll hp Ill'Tl 'Pl\ ed that there quite a dIfference between
patIent. gentle to the divine will, and the
and patipIJ('e whirh may frequently be
Hlmply for the gratifipation of dl'sires. Patient
to the divine will impo,,"ible to who have
not. till' fir"t gracc, m thp li"t, a humhle mind' the proud and
finrl It to be submISSIve to divine condi-
tum,,; "elf riHes up, ppn their ju(lgmentf>, and mislead,;
thplr l'onH"ipnl'pH to Hueh an p"tent that they cannot have full
('OIdid('n('" III dl\ in(, pnl\ uh'nl'e, hut fel,I tJ;at they mm,t put
forth their hand and steady the ark. .
!lIoreo\ er. pa tll'l!t HU)Jm can he developed only in
thol'\e \\ 110 mourn, III the senHC of having largc "ympathief<,
amI \\110 Iia \(' hpr'n ('omfortp,l by the prombes of God,
!hwugh willeh till' holy Rpirit eomforteth his people, Realiz-
IIlg t hp ('\ of our tlmp, and that thpv arr permitted of God
fo.r the pIPl'\ent, for a purpose, these not only f<ymp,lthize
\\ Ith th(' ('reatIon, hut sympathy and the eomfort
recl'l\ ed Ib n'wanl tend to make tIIPm pa tient, submls"l\ e
to the d" 111(' wIll npmrmJlerlllg that all are working
togethl'l' for to th(:m that, love God, thpy are prpparl'd
to n"'ognl/,p (11\ me pro\ lllp!l('e III wh:ltever mav befall them,
.llId pll'!!anrl to !ollk for the of prOYldplIl'l'B,
Ih wllll'1l wIll he IIPlpful to them and to others, in
prp]lIlJ'1ng for the future and (,ternal jov".
third gra('('-patH'nt to thc dlvinl' will-
"Ili"h ('an ))(. notpd with whom WI' rome in contact,
mIght Ill' "ai(l to 1lC the outpr mnnifpBtation of tI1C second
gnu'(', \\ Il]eh inwarrl, of the hcart. anrl whi('h might not be
Ollh\ a I d1.\, our fellow-('rpa tures, TllP grape of
mpaJlI\ Ibp]f III Oll! patient in all
tIll' of lIfe. rpalizlJlg that to who are III Christ
all ale und('r dl\ me l'\uI)('rvi"lOn, and thi" patienpP in
to (lod'" prO\ irlenp('H in our own and
a];.,o naturally an(l properly to patienee with
Ot!IPl III thl'ir weaknPHsPs an,1 failures and ignorance, and
jlllljlprly to to\"\] d thcm we have oppor-
tmll ty,
, "mepk," patipntlv submi%i\'e to the divine wilL
IIIlU'T1t thp l'arth Thp Lord di,I not mpan, nor IS it true,
that the 1'.1t!pnt and to the diVine will inlll'rit the
paIt],1 at tl", tlllle, ,quitP to tlIP eontrary, the arrogant,
tl,, IIllpatlPllt, til(' aggl l', thp selfish, sueceNI in grasping
tl", (,hid of jJo\\'('r, of mfllll'lIee and of wl'alth now;
a;1I1 tl,,' p,ltll'ntl.\' ha\'p ('oJllparatl\ely a poor ehance.
1ltp ]'('\\:1Ill of gra('e, theldore, like the is future:
foJ Im\ Illg Oil ulldpr th( dlVIIlP Il'admg', these shall he heirs of
Cod, joint ,heirs ChriHt; and thp earth is a part of
th,\t gn'at mhpTltarH'l'. \\luph in turn, hr ,Ii\'inl' arrangl'ment,
at thl' of the )fiIlpnlllal age, upnn th('
\\ or]d of ill a nk 11111 who thpll Hun 1\ e-those proved worthy of
etem,tl h fe hr tlIP :I\fIllenniai
Xp\ aH tlH'1 P is a in which thp Lorrl's people
arl' eomfnrtpd now. so tlwle is a RPnH" III whH'h tlIPY now
1I1hPlit the earth-a figuratIve hy faith, The A'postle
sppak-; of when he "All arl' YourH-things
or thmgs to pom('," (I Cor, Thosp who ha\'e
thl' prnppr attltlHle nf min'l and are patlentlr suh-
ml"SI\'p to the rll\ lIle wIlL gpt more ot hlPssing out of the
thmgB of the present time than do theIr actual owners, because
their hearts are in the attitude in whieh it is pos<,ible to
reeeive The world, full of selfibh craving, IR never
satisfied, neyer contented; the child of God, patiently suL-
ulls"ive to the divine will, IR always satisfied-
"Content whatever lot I see,
Smee 'tis God'R hand that leadeth me."
FILLED WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS
The fourth Lle""mg IR that of hunger and tlurst after
righteousnes". Ko one can haye this hunger and thust unless
he pre\'iously hayl' to a conHideralJle extent th.. ehar-
aeten"ties. If he have not Immihtv of mind he will be sat-
iRfied with his of righteousneH", l)('Ii1g' unalJle to
see bcyond Ius own low plane, unable to di"eern the lll'ights
and grandeurs cf tllP r!Inne perfeetwn. He cannot hung-PI'
and thirst after that whieh Ill> does not in some ml'asure com-
prehend, Unll'ss he have the spint of "ympathy, which
,liHeprns the wrongs, the inequitieH of our tinll' (wluch
111 great mpasure mankind is unable to pounteraet and over-
lome-hy wlm'h Rome of the human family, very detipipnt in
the \ Irtups, have an overplus of wealth and influen('e and
authonty, while Home pos,essing superior virtues ha\p "ean'ply
the of life) hp eannot yearn for the hettl'T l'OIU11-
tion of thingR whi('h the r!r'l'iare pan only he mtro-
dW'erl hy the cstablishment of )Tillenlllal kmgdom,
It iH a indieation then, if we find m Oll! hcarh a hun-
genng and It thirsting for justiee, for nghteOtlHneSS, for truth
-an antipathy to untrnth in ewry form, and to all injustiel',
in-eqmty-an antipathy, nevertheless, modified, mfluenped,
controlled, by the thIrd grace of tlu'! lIst. viz" Ily patient
f>uhmh'!ion to the (hvine will. Thl' eontrol of this la"t quality
IS what the ApoRtle refers to when he says, "Let your mod-
eration be known unto all men," It is tillS quality \\ lueh
steppmg in hinders our hunger and after nght('ou'Ine"",
and onr zeal for it, (both as truth and praltlee I
from making us anarphiHtic or e:-.tremi"t'l in of thp
word. This quality of hungl'r and thlr"t after
1111('ontrolled by till' other of thesl' graeel'\ of the Spil It. lIaH Il'd
many worldly people, as reforml'rs. mto wIld whl'rea"
the philll of God although IUl\'ing thll'\ l'\ame hungpr and
in a larger degree than othl'rs. yet, uIHler thl' ('ontrol of thc
spirit of a sound mind, inl'\truetl'<! from thl' "'onl, re"ts
in and for tlwir fultillnH'nt. jlatipntl:
miSSIve, and assured of the yietory of III God's
due time.. whiph he adopts as Ius time
Those who 11l\\'e and cultivate thiH hungpr and
thirHt hp "ntisfil"l, ahundnntlv by and hy. \Ylwll
God'H kingdom shall he and whp\1' a" a of
its reign all evil and all sin, all m-eqmtie'l I
he suppressed, anrl God's holv wi1l shall "he dO\1p on earth
l'nn as it is done in heaven," Gur Inrngpr and aftpr
righteouHnel'\s is not to be destroyell, but, our Lor'l prom-
i"ed, Jt IS to he satibfierL The appetite for truth an(1 Tlght-
wIll sti1l he there, llUt the prevalenl'c of truth and
nghteousness shall he its satIHfadion.
In this grapP, as in the others. there is a Sl'nHe in which
by faIth wp alrl',Hlv attain some of till' fulfillnlPnt
to eome-although it is hut a foretaste, Thof<e WllO Imvp the
hunger and for righteousness, in llIle WIth thp otIwr
graces of the spirit, find in the gracious promises of the Lord
that comfort and consolatIOn whil'h alrl'adY, eVl'n in
hfe, can hl' IIV faith, llnd' Will ph pro\ to
bc "ml'at in due E.eason for tl1<' houl'\el1old of faith." "uslaln-
mg, ktrengthcning, and at least sat!"fying
the hunger and the thirst, as they realize the divlIle
for e\ erla"ting rightcollHnel'\R is \,xpl'('rhng and ahundant, mOll'
than all that they could have thought or hah'
HOW TO OBTAIN MERCY
The fifth hll'ssed conrlition is that of merl'ifulne'!s. },Jl'rcy
is thl' outward e,pression that man can (hl'\cern,
from an apprcciation of righteousness and It hunger and thirst
for it in the rcnewcd IlPart. After we have taken the prp,'('(I-
ing steps, and have Iparnl'd to apprecIate the il1Pljnities of the
present time, and our own imprfeetions (unrighteousnl'% I
an(l those of other men; and aftpr WP h:1 \'e ]pnrnerl that GorI
a lonl' is ablp to right thl'se mattprs in tlw full and l'omplptl'
Sl'nsl', and that he has made provision for tlw righting of
evpry \\Tonl!. and for thl' restoration to his fnvor of all who
will accept his grape in Christ, to he made known to all III
dup time-it is thcn we !lPglll to fepl ml'reifnl, hl'nl'volpnt,
kind. toward othprq, to an e,tent and dp!!rN' that we could
not feel these sentimpnts prl'\'lou"l:v. Iwople, who
havl' 1I0t travl'lpd on the pathway markpd hy
of charaltl'r lind in grapl', Pllnnot to the same dl'gree
sympathize with nor fl'el merciful toward
The Lord lays great '!tress upon tll1q of
dl'elanng that whate\er elqe may bl' our IIttairtments of knnwI
[2586]
MARCH 1, 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER (70-71)
edge or of grace, if we have not this one we can never be
acceptable to hIm-if we do not have mercy upon others
neIther WIll our Heavenly Father have mercy upon us. And
to insure that we do not consider this mercy to be merely an
outward form, an expression of forgiveness and benevolence,
our Lord expounds the matter, saying, "If ye do not from
the heart forgive one another, neither will your Heavenly
Father forgive you." It must be a genuine mercy, and not a
feignpd one; it must cover from sight, and so far as possible
hlot from memory, the failings and of others, else
it cannot hope for forgivene,;s and blottmg out of its own
short-pomings wInch its hunger and thirst for righteousness
has clearly revealed to it. Only the merciful shall obtain
mercy: and if we have not mt'rcy at the hands of the Lord all
is lost; for by nature We were children of wrath, even as
and under just condemnation.
The exercise of mercy, benevolence, forgiveness, is a bless-
ing. not mt'rely hecause it is essential to our own forgIveness;
and henpe to our salvation, but also because thi" condition of
hpart Whldl sympathIzes with others in their failures and
imperfr(tlOns hrlpR to rId our hearts of certaIn of the works
of tht' f1psh and of the devil, which incline to pling to the Lord's
people long' after they have been by faith. and even
after th"v have made full consrpration of themselves to the
Lord ami are "eeking to "walk, not after the flesh, but after
the
TIIP Apostle includes amongst the works of the flesh which
requIre putting away, after we are fully the Lord's, the follow-
ing-anglr. mahpe, hatred. envy, strife. All of these qualities
of are antagonized by mercy, and hy it they
are driven from their secret hidings and entrenched po,utions
In our hearts. The hlessed character of mercy is closely re-
lated to love. for It is in proportion as we obhin the L'ord's
of 10\'e that we manifest toward others mercy, eHIl a'\
lie h IllS love to" ard Ui' in the mercy extpnded to
Ih III ChI 1.m'p alHI nwrpv, considt'ration fo'r has
mu(,h to do with driving out 'envy. How can we envy those
whum WI' love sincerely? How can we have malice toward
tlHhe "ho are our enemies, if we love them and have mercy,
upon them, and forgive them from our hearts 9
How ('an we have hatred toward them, if we have mercy upon
them. awI fel'l toward them only a forgivmg spIrit? And
how ('an we he strifeful, if we have a merciful, a forgiving
to forgIve agaim.t U'l, aR we hope for
forgi' of our the divine law 9
":\!C](T Ip]()]ppth justice," the explains.
I.T,IS. 2 D1nnl' mel('v divine an(l tIm,;
preparp(l thp way for tIl(' rt'sPue of our rape from tht' sentt'npe
of amI 1'0 those who have bepomt' partakers of the
dlVlIH' an(l In whom It ha'\ rea(,lwd a devel-
opnH'ut. will pprmit their merey to triumph over thplr pon-
of (for they have no law of ovpr theIr
fello\\ whi(h needs to he satisfied).
"'hill' may not be hlind in the Lord'R people, while
thpy mav diset'rn thp of clearlY, and whIle
th,,\' nu;v to let jllsti('p rule in respept to' all of thell'
own and thoughiR, and aptions. neYerthl'less they are
to Ipt mf'rr'.\' triumph in tht'ir hearts oyer as re-peds
who agtrinst them, amI they arp not to hold
who have (lOll<' thpm injun', n01 to
to a ,'engt' amI to inflid upon theIr
Hath('r, aJ e to It for Go(l to he
It for 1111'. who am a against perfept
tl(e. through the weaknessf'R whH'h I havp mherite(!. to have
upon my fellow-neaturt', who inherited
ilar vd (IItfprent it IS for mp to exerpise ap('ortl-
ingly' th" dn Il1p pommand, the hlessed charapteristi(' of meny.
forgivenef.s. And those who do so not get
riel of thp f'nl works and of tllP world the and
the de'll. hut inl'reaRingly lle('omt' filled more and morf' WIth
the of lovf' an(l and patient to the
dl\ IIII' will. and thus the mf'reiful are e, en in the
time.
"WITHOUT HOLINESS NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD"
Thp SIxth step of of IH'art-pnrity of
motin', purity of intention, pm ity of effort, pm ity of will:
in the sense of sinpenty, of en(T, of truth-
In other words, Blpssed are th" those
"ho havI' right True. tllPre arf' worl(lly
people who to e"tent mIght dalm of IH'art. pur-
intention, hut until tl1('y ha,e pome alon;.: the way of
dl\ Ill(' appollltmpnt in untIl han' !J('(omf' fol-
tlllough faith and l"l!lRe(TatlOn to hlm, and nntIl they
IHI\ e taken the pre('t'dlllg of Wf' l'ould nut
n'('ogTll7e them as bt'ing of the here spe(iflp(1.
;,[any have misunderstood this statement, "pure in heart,"
and have thought of It as signifying ab"olute perft'ctlOn-not
only outward hut inward; not only of words and of deeds. hnt
also of thoughts. ThIS view of the matter has tended to dl,,-
courage "orne who honestly saId to themselves, I am not perfect
Il1 deed nor in word nor Il1 tllOUght; how then can I claIm to
be ble""cd under this as one of the pnre in heart/
\Ye answer that this is a mlseonceptlOn. The Lord knows as
well and better than we do. that Il1 our flesh d welis no per-
fectlOn; that by reason of the fall all of Adam's chIldren have
their teeth set on edge by the sour grape of sin, that
times we cannot do the things that We would do, and through
ignorance we no (louht frequently leave undune the thll1-g"
which we ought to do.-Jer. 31:29, 30; Rom. 7:W-IH.
The Lord taught a grt'at dunng th(' age by
the giving of the law to that ppople, with a of lIfe
attaphed to it, but the Apo"tlp us that God fon'knew,
even whpn he gave that law to the that "by the
deeds of the law should no f1f'sh bp In Right"-
that on the pontrary the clearer the law would he the
more plear would be the knowledge of Impprff'dion.
God's provision in Christ is that he wIll forgiw Impel-
feetions which are due. not to personal llllt to the
origmal sin. and the weaknes'\es and imperfedions which have
resulted from it-he will ('xtend his merpv toward us a"
those which are not wilfn!. That our
Lord .Te'ln'\ was not ignoring- human impprfectlOn pyjdpnt
from the statel1wnt he in rpft'renpe to thl' fifth of
these !Jlp'\sed via., that the mprpifnl
obtain mercy"-an implipation of our ncpd of meny. Having
lh that we mav obtain nlt'rev. l}(' not in this "ixth
heatitude dedaring th;lt we he pl'de('t in
thought, word and dt'e(l: for if were '\0, or p(.uld attalll to
su('h a condition. it would he wholly for God to
proyide us merpy and forgiveness 'of sins Christ's
saprifiee.
Th.. thought of "purt' in heart" i-; not perfect ion of pondud
nor of word. nor of thought, hut perfe(tion of intention as
all of these. Our deslr(' and l'ffort mURt 1)(' for per-
feetion-in thought, word amI dep(l. The sbndanl ht'fore us,
to whi('h our hf'arts, our wills, must giYe IS the diVIne
"Be yp perfept. aR Father in lll'aven IR per-
fept." (Matt. :i: 48) God set no lower than this
Ill'l fpdion. hut Ill' lla,; III ()\'idp<l for grael', m('1 ('y
and peace through Christ, if we will walk in hip footsteps,-
this purity of heart heing onl' of tl1(' e'\'('ntjal in the
narrow way.
. tl!e pure. in lwart haw thp of Goel
1 ('ontlllue to tl!l' end of thp pllglllnagp, not
onl.v attallung the hkl'ne-s of thf' LOld .T.. ('III 111 the
hfe (Rom. S :2!l1 in thpu purity of ll ..art. punt\' of
intention, siIH'enty of thpir efforts towanl God an(l lllpn.' hut
pventually a((orcling to the Lonl's promisp. h,\' the
power of the first bt' ('hnngpd from earthly to
heawnly. ('olHlitwn;.;. Tl]('n, as thf' d..
"we shall hf' like him. for we 111m a.- 1!l' And
when wt' have l,p('omp ('hangp(l to bp lik, thp "lonou"
Ron of God, who i'l "the ImagoI' of th.. 1)('1-
"I' hf' able to th, H,'a, ..nlv
Father and shall he introduP('(f to hl1ll b\' onr
Hpdpemer-"('o1llpldf' in llim," "without 01 \\rinkl(. or
any tlllng."-1 .Tohn 3'2; Beh. 1:3; El'h ;; 27. ('Ill :2 Ill.
In in the other a portion. a fOl
('omps in thl' pr(,sf'nt lifp. There i'\ a thmg as h:n mg
the p,\'t's of our unr!prstHnding opener!. that w.. rna v h.. pnaIllp(1
to "('omprt'lwnd with all what IS tIl<' hrpadth :1lI(1
lpngth and height and df'pth. and to know tl!l' lov(' of "
(Eph.3:18) But. not all hayf' 0pf'nlllg of th( m('ntal ..V(';
not all ar.. privilt'g('(l to thp gIOlI"- of .fdlO\'ah's ('hlu ai,tpr
in harmony, lURti(,p. \\'I,,<Jom. Imf' and
powpr po-ordinated and po-oppratlllg in for thp hIP-"lIIg
of eYf'ry ereaturp, a('Pording to thp purposp "hi(,1t God ..d
in himself before tht' \\orId was.
But who m'!y this thi" d( lifer and
who may. hy it, hI' pnahl('(1 mon' a nIl lIlOl f' to grow in
lik.. ness of. that glorious pprfe('tion? Only ,tll(' pure in heart,"
the tIl(' TIt(N' ,dw Lav(' a douhle
min(l, a double will, arp Reripturallv to han' a (Ionhle
a douhle eye. They st't' spirit;1fI1 things (ross-eyf'd,
(lonhlt'. and proportionatelv 1l1(li"tin( th'. -:'I[anv of
pf'oplp han' faile(l thus far to' gro,,' up IIItc'J Christ in all
""I' (lonbl\' :1l1(1 pOnflhp(ll\'-th.. " of
thf' h..avl'nly things, '\olTIl'thing the' pluthlv. th(',""
Illlt dllllh- alHl the hnes of th, (linn;' C'l1:lJ Itd"l
an(l proportionatply they iaek to ('opy it. Lpt all
haYe named the name of Christ more an(l mon' to have
[25871
(71-73)
7. I () .\' , S TVATe H T 0 TV E R S', p"
but the one am! un I',\'l' t,) ht- glol'.... and &el \"icc
-a pure, a i"in"f'rp, a faithful hf'art.
THE SONS OF GOD ALL PEACEMAKERS
The i"eyenth heatitude an out,vunl of tho
:-n.th. lhf' punty of heart tOIl an! <lod. which otheh ,'allllOt
discern, "Ill manifest itsl'lf in thi., seL'nth char,H'tf'l ishe of
and growth-namel.", in peaceabll' an,l
efforts to promotl' IH'a('1' in others, For be."oIH[ fjup"tion no
one will be a peacpmaker from tId" diyilll' standpoint unle"s Ill'
have already beeome "ineerr, pure in lH'urt toward God; and
unle"s he haYe a1,,0 the preerdlllg del'e!opmenh of grace in his
heart: (I) humility, (2) (:1) patIent submi:-sion,
(4) hunger and thirst for rightrousne,,, (whieh includl'''
I (,) a lon' 01' towolrd otll('r" (6) "inl"'1 iii
of hrart. And one who hal" dl'l'l'lopf'd tl1(',l' t;,
any parti('ular ,legn'(' can "urely he Ilothing tl.an peaceably
himi'>elf. an,l a pcaermakl'r WIth othl'l".
Very (,Ildently hut a IIII1II1Jl' I of thp Lord's prople
haV' progn,,,,pd ,,0 far a;; tD ha,p tId, graee markedl.v de-
I f'lopf'd aud (''\rmplitil'd in th('ir III"" Th" nHl]orit.'"
l'l'en of "ho hayr named tIl(' nanll' of Chnst. "ppm to
]lur"ue a I'l'l wllieh jlldi,'atl" th,l t el en it thpir
heart'! an' plll" and their ;;.vmpathif" Jargl', the." han' still
mudl to lp:l!1l in the J',ehool of for of l,,'ing
)lpn,'(' promot"r, tl)('y arp strifp Yet not of
PI i] intent, Ilut rath('r of halJit, ,11)(1 of ignor,lIwe and of fadUle
to dbeerll the wid" diffl'rp!H'" ht't\\pplI the didne ('oursp of
loye, and thp (,0111"1' ot "hirh ple\'ails ill
the world Strif,'-making ,ltipflv "d up witll thp tongu"
though It ma.l lit' arou,p,1 hI' a gp,hlr" 01 1Jy a glall"I', Likp-
\\i'll'. I,,'al"'IIHlklllu ,Itipth dOll I' wltll tIl!" tllllUll1' thollgh it
alFo may 0l'prat7. tlllougl; th,' "."1', no" ChI
ppoplp \Ie all kllO\\ \lho haw' tOllglH',. whil'lI aI(' ,'ontinuall,1
;,tilllllg ul' "tl if1" Th" a(lI pr"al'v "olltrul, lIUlIl)' ill mall-
UPI' 10llg aftpr thp." IUl\ P PS('aIWll flolll Ill' (,olltrul ill lIUll1."
othpr aJl(I lal gd.1 1"'(',111-(' tlll',\' do 1I0t detect
that III till, th('I- ,II'!' l["ing 'll'rdce-do not eypn ,Ieteet
that thp." al e "tilT"! up of "t! ill', hatn'd, em'.", malIce, and
)llllJ1tPI k of root" of hittpl'lIPS" h.,' WIIldl mall.\' are defiled
"hpn will ('hri,tiall" learn the length ami ureadth and
depth of the illiUlH'tioll'l "Speak ('I il of no m,III:' and "Let no
I orrupt l'ommllllH'ation pl'o"I,pd out ot your mouth, 1mt that
whi('h is good, to the u",' of p,lif.I'l!Ig"" ::'2: El'h. 4:2!l)
ITow 10llg "Ill It takp of (;0'1', tl'lW "hildll'lI to lealll
that ill ut/{'Jing an (yil tiling (p\l'll if tlll'Y w,'re po"itin' of
Iti" tJ uth I, tl]('." l'e dOing ,I wOII,1 of (viI? How lOll).!
"ill It take th"m to ]1',1111 that it 1I0t alway" to
"pf'ak thl' tillth, nol' 1'1'(,11 prop('1' to do :-0 wheil it
woul,l he for the e,lifying of How nUlIY lill<'
upon lille, IIIII-t thp\' IIll\e to ('OIlVIlll'(' them that tl1('y al(' not
Oldy to al()J(1 ,dUlllt othpr Iwoph:,. alld fault,
fiJlllll1g, and 'YIIJ(i'lIl, ll1lt that all thr,p are P\ of tlll'l1
dp!i"wncY ill lovp-of thpir dpfi"J('IH'\' ill thl' hke!'l"" of
,[n,1 thp;1 la,k oj th,' of thp peacemakl'r: awl tlwt
thp"e lIef'(l to hp "tril'rn ag,lin"t eanw,tl.\', it would
1II,II.. p tlll'il ,'aIlIng aIHl ,'lpctlOl1 :-11IP to a pl:\('(' 111 the hpa'Pnly
k j ngt!olll "
Oil, tll,d all ,,,ould learn Ill' h",11 t, ,\llll l'outiunalh' "l'pk to
p"pmplify III lIfe, the ot thp
thing'l Hi(' tl'lH', \I t11lng, ,lI',' ,,-h,lt,op\'l'r
things all' )n,t, "habol'l'er thll!!:" ,ll'(' plllP. v,hat'oPYer thing,
,11'1' 10,1'].", \lhal"o,''''!' alP "f grv,d l'PI'"It, if thrll' \)('
,11I,1 \Iltw. ,1nd If th"IP he .11I,1' 1II,li,,', think llll tllr;;e thing,,"
Thokl' "h" ar(' thinking ou th(' tI Ill' ant! 1')\'pI)' and goot! au,l
hpHlltifnl \I ill "ppak to Pl1<'h "th,'l' of tIll' SIlIl1l'; he1l('('
the IllIjlOlUl]U'P (If luning' our heall, tillp,l with good things. in
"I ']1'1 that ont of thp alJllndanl'p of thl' good thing" of onl'
1"'Hl h Olll lIIa.I' 'll)('ak cOlltinll,I1I.I- gooll thing,.. that the
Lonl w'lIl1,l appIU\I', and that "onld 111Ini"tpl' to thosl'
"h,) Iu'ar---l'htl. 4:
S ; Lnk(' 6A.i.
h haY(' a \er.,' ple('lOns promi,l'. wpll of thl'il'
pII'01t,--"Thl'\' \", ('a1lf',1 thp "ltil,IIPn (If Go,l"-tlwl' haY('
Cod'" "pInt, 'thf' 01 Iii, dpar Son lll'en tni('ed in
their they have hf'I'n "anditip,1 with thl' truth, thrv
shall ultimatp1y iJ(' "meet for the inhl'l itan('p ot til\' "aint;; Iii
light." On1.,' at he,lIt will the LOld f'H'1' lp,'ognize a"
hi" sons aIHI lOIl't-hl'il'l WIth hi'l gn'at SOil, om Lonl. in thp
kingt!olll. :\fO!('OVP1, thi" i;; it "llI,'h \II' may \ll'll n'l'og-
nize for our,pln', p,l] aUll to ,.om,' ""tl'llt fOI p,Il'l,
othrr, ,11" ('I Illpn,'lng thp degree of Olll' ).!Il)wth ,1' childl'PIl of
GOd-Oll1 ppa"('ah1,' ,11Ul mil (',Il Piulrp" to
slIi,h a cour,,(' in lIf,,:t- \llll tpnt! !OW,\l.] ["'diP
L"11l1 n" in thl' I (lad
\VIIJ(h \II' 11I1ht k,'pp tl) "nh (;od,
1,(',ld II- In ('hn,t, th" lIVln:; ",tV.
Xor Il't n, frolll hI" SlI.,y
Dome of the Lord'" people tind in t1lenhelve8 naturally COil'
siderabll' of a ;;pirit of rombativeness, unfayorahle to peace,
Indeed, it refj1llrps "omething of the spirit of pombativl'ness to
fight a good fight against the" orld, the flesh and the adver
sary, and to "contend earne"tly for the faith;" t;O that those
who haye eombati""nl'ss natnrally find themJ',ch'"" in all-
with others along Rome hne continuall.". Howevcr.
they Rhould 110t be diseourH!!ed bv this, but should r('JlIpmbel
that eombatill'nrs" i" a ndllahle and soldier, if tllrne!
and exerei'led in the 1 ight direction. Its rxercise toward fel
low creatures mUi'>t he modified by mercy, hy a rralization 01
our own imperfedions and the imperfections of all. Comba t-
ivene"" llIU;,;t I,e trained to fight along thp line;; of lo\'(' and
mercy-to fight for the truth anu for all the servants an'[
agencies of till' truth, amI against the error,-but not against
the blinded and ignorant se-rvants of the errol'. Comhativ('-
ness mU'it be given pll'nty to do in fighting again"t the nnpl'l-
fections and weaknesses of our own na flu es. and heing thu,
bu"iIy engaged in this good work, it will find eomparativel,l'
little bme for assaulting- others: ,lila rl'ali;dllg thp diflicultIl'>'
conneded with thr COllfjuprlng of ;;elf it will ha\(' the grl'att'l
compa""ion for the Weakl1l''lSeS of otlle!'>-.
ATTAINING GREAT REWARD IN HEAVEN
The IJle"sing that through p('rsecution i'l tht' eighth
beatitude. Jt is not unbl tht' Lord'" propIe hale l' .... pprll'll(t'd
'lome of the"" pn'('edlng 01 his gr,ll't' th,lt tl1('y leu,h
the point wlll'n' they ean "glory in trihulatiollh abo." ;h did
the Apostll' Paul. Bnt our Lord a,
hl'twel'lI ditl'I'J'('llt kill(I" of 111,11 klllg ont tIll' hh'''srd
kiwi :t- ,li"tuH't from all othl'l "Olt". \\,p aI'(' not to indtt'
l'erEoI"'ntioll h.I' fault-tillding and general and
f'Om1latll-e OppO,ltlOll to PI'l'ryhody alld PI'prytlllllg: 1101' all' ,H'
to invitp pel"p('utioll u." fallaticit;m. Rathl'r, Wl' art' to ('nit I
vate thl' "spIrit of a "ou\l(l mind," and to 1t:\I TI gr,ldnally
what the mind of the Lord 1'1. ak rt'\pah',1 ill thp :-;"llp
tnrei'. Evcll theil, no donht we will he .1' ,'usrd by til ..
world of thl' uf Uod 1'5 ott
esteemed fooh;,;hne,.s "ith JJ1f'n, as OftI'll ! hp \\ of IIIl'n I'
froJJ1 tIll' dlvinp
'Yhelw\l'r a "0111,,1' of adion wou1<l ,11']1(',11 to 1", folllatu,t!
and lUlleaSonahll', WP arf' to to do It 11nll1 WI' havI'
first made surI' that we find the "alllp spilit. tp,ldung ,lnd
example ill our Lord and 111 the apO,Ul'k: th\?l1 we may R,l f('I,v
follow. 01 "hat the world may sa." or think I
mg OUI For in;;:tanre, from tl1l' diVIne ,tandpOlnt It
is insanit.', for a man to l.1uor day and night to ama,s mIllIon-.
for hi" ('hi1<lren to light ovcr at his death, but frow tilt
human standpoint this IS the reaFonahle roUi -P. 1"loll! thf'
nil ine standpoint it waS wise for the apo'itle" to th"11
li,'es in the service of the b uth, saerifiell1g eHI tIdy
,1IId pi ORlwcts. name an,1 fa me. to obtain eY('nt nally ,I hptt(,)
resnllectlOn. and eternal glory, honor and iJ'1J1lOrtallt.I, hilt
thi,. fl'llm the wOlld';;: "LlIl,lpoint was fan.ltll'i"Il1.
] f Iwr'l(','ution l'omps to u" :l'l a of our follo\\lJ1g th..
L(II d, ,llId the and eX.lmplr, aJl(ll! It
i" hp,'au,(' of our fruthfullle"s to the lOWS of eOllspcratioll to
hih kP!\'i('1' that all m,\llner of ('liI s,lld agall1"i U". 1,11,.. 1)
thpn i ndped we ma." rejoil'l'; for ;;0 WPI e tlllJ prophl'lk prT'p-
,ntpd, RO "as our Lord lWli'ecuted, so Wl're til(> aposUeOl allli
1111 till' faIthful onl''i ,,11)('(' prl"pl'utt'(l. thus in guod
in ('111 it uecolllps a witnesf' or tp"timon,')
to 11:3 that we be in like good company in that day" 11pn
! hI' Lord "hall make 11p his jl'we]",
All who have "uch t'xperieneps llIay well reJoice, lllHl If H'
the Lord's words intimate, the more of RIH.'h e "'"
have the more will bl' our rell'aJ(1 in hea\'ell, tlll'n tl\{' 111m I' \I,'
may rl'joif'e in the-.e rxperiene"s, And if WI' he WIthout any
kuth "xpellenrps it behooye" 11S to look wPlI tf' o11rseh
peradventure it !lwan that we arr not faithf11lly walklllg in the
"nal row way" of self-saerifiee,-or are not doing With OUI
might what our hands find to do, hut are hol,lmg haek our
saerifi"e, Should such hI' the reflectIOn of an) lpt 111m not II"
diseourage,L but, in thp language of the Prophet, let him "Innd
the sacrifH'e to the altar," With fre,,11 eoras oi love and ot
zeaL pra."ing the Lord to a"l'ept the and to, fumi,h
for !JPl1lg and ,lomg- aJl(I s11trenng for HIS ('au'p,
and for the Lord's and the tI11th'" "akl'.-P"n. llR.27,
The pri"matie 811m of all thrse g-rape" l'l-lo\'e; and thwf'
who 1I:l"e tht'lI1 :l1e loyahll' :ll1l1 shall hv and bv be m.H!"
gloriou,I:' lowl.", with and like him i'i :'alt0l!ptIH'1
loYely." Our rail IS to attain thl'Fe 1Iles"ed l'on(htlOns III the
k1l1gdom.
Teach uS in and pra."e!'
To wait for thill(' appOinted hour'
.\11,1 fit hy thy groll'c to
Thp h inmph, of thy ]J0w"].
[2588]
THE ROYAL LAW-THE GOLDEN RULE
MUT. 7:1-14.-ApBIL 8.
<:"3-74)
TYING GRAPE CLUSTERS TO THORN BUSHES
But while we arc not to judge our "brothrr," who with
professes to be enlleavoring to walk in the tootsteps of 0111'
:;\raster, and who gives any evidences at all of sincerity in tlw
matter, we nevertheless arc to do a certain kind of judging
ac; respect'! mankind in general. Elsewhere the Lord. intimatr"
that "by their fruits" we are to "k;Jow" gravevines from
thorn-buslJes, and figs from thistles. And in this sermon he
intimates that we are to judge or discern between the
brethren and "dog'!" nnd "swine"-the selfish, the sensual, who
mind earthly things and who have never been begotten of the
spirit of God. We may know these by outward evidences, for
"If any man havo not the spirit of Christ he is none of his;"
and if he is none of his, not a branch of the Vine, we are not
to waste our time in trying to tie onto him bunches of the
fruits .:>f the vine. We arc not to attempt to deceive others
or ourselves by helping to counterfeit the true holy spirit in
the selfish, unregenerate world. We are not to expect that
this olass, whose appreciation is only for earthly things, to
appreciate holy, heavenly things, any more than we would
expect that dogs would appreciate the difference between meat
from the butchershop and the holy, consecrated meat eaten
only by the priesthood. We are not to expect that the swinish
RAFTERS IN THEIR EYES and groveling, who think only of money and the things of thi!;
Emphasizing thh, lesson, our Lord suggests that those who life, would appreciate the pearls of truth which arc so preciou:.
are always finding fault with the "brethren" who, like them- in the sight of the brethren, begotten of the spirit.
_plYl'H arc seeking to walk in the narrow way-who can never This does not mean that we should never bring holy things
OIl' noble efforts of the "brethren" to copy the Master, but to the attention of those who are not the Lord's consecrated
HI P ('ontinnally picking at them, are the very ones who have people; but it does mean that a mere presentation of the first
thp gleatest of faults in themselves,-lovelessness. The ex- principles of righteousness and truth should quickly manifest
aggl'l a tion of our Lord's words of reproof to this class Brcms to us those who have an ear for the truth, and those who
to a vein of sarcasm, for literally he Why do you have not.-that finding the hearing car we might give dIligence
sbl. so at your fellow who is troubled with a grain of saw- to serve it, and finding the ear closed we might ceaf,e to waste
dUf,t in his eye, while you have a whole rafter in your own our time, knowing that the effort would be fl uitless as respects
pvc All the "brethren" are more or less troubled with diffi the calling of this Gospel age-to saintsIJi p, to the divine
cultirs of one kind or another, weaknesses of the flesh,- nature, to joint-heirship in the kingdom. Th<' ::\lillennial age
berausr all have the treasure of the new nature in imperfect will soon be ushered in, and that will be God's for
partllen vessels-marred by original sin. "There is none breaking the hard hearts, for opening the hlind eyes, and.
rightpolls nn. not one" ah!'olntely perfrd. Yet thp brethren unstopping' thr rIpllf pars.
[25891
"n'IIa/socrer ye u:ould that men should do to YOll, do yc ete", so /0 them."
Tn tlll!. '\I' haY{> another leaf from <"11' Lord's great whose hearts are full of love. even though they have sawdust
on the Mount. Thic; if; not a sermon to sinners but to their eye of faith. or intellectual discernment or spiritual
the Lord's conspprated people; and although therp were multi- discernment, and p<'rhapo also splinters in their hands, which
tndpc; within the hparilw of our Lord's voice, all of "hom affect all the deeds of hf<,. and render their work imperfect,
helonged to the typically consecrated nation. yet our Lord and though many of them have splinters in their feet also, so
addressed himsl']f spl'cially to his twelve chosen diSCiples, who that their walk is by no means perfect, as they would desire
were being -particularly and fully instructed, thd they, under It to be-yet if tll<'y have the spirit of faith amI of love and
the spirit dispensation soon to be inaugurated, might become of sympathy, the spirit of Christ, they are his, and far morp
the twelvp foundations of the heavenly kingdom, represer.ted acceptable to him than any could possibly be who arc deVOid
symbolically in the New Jl'rusalem of Revelation.-Rev. 21: 14. of the spirit of love and sympathy, and who therefore in tltis
. TntI', many of thl' features of this royal law were then parable are representp<l as pervertell in their j\lllgmcnt
amI still are sound advice for all who can receive them; but of others, becanse posoec;oi11g so little of the Lord's spirit an,1
the fact remains that comparatively few are blessed With the so much of the spirit of the ndvl'rsnry-the great "aceuspr of
opening of pye'! and unstopping of ears to permit their appre- the brethren."
dation of these holy pearls of truth; and assuredly they This lovell'ss, fanltfindllJg. brethren-accusing- class the
Wl'rp addressed to and intmded for onlv those who could Lord denominates hypOCI itl'o. \rhy? Because in fanlt
1 ('(,('l\"!' them. Th,lIlk God for the g-ood hope thai erl' long, the with others they are l'yi<1l'ntl.v Wishing to give the inferencp
klllg<lom being establislled. all the hlind eyes shall be opened, that they are not afflicted "'ith tIl<' same malady of sin them-
all tIll' deaf ears shall be unstopped, and that in God's "du'C! selves; they evidently to give the impression that they
timp" t prel'epts of the Golden Rule of love will be appre- are holy, and since know in thl'i! O\n1 hearts that this is
"latplI h:-' all and be applicable to all-whetlll'r OW? respond to untrue, and that they have llIany failings, many imperfection:-l
tlH'lII or reject them. -therefore their course i'! hypoclltical, deceptive, dis.
Following our Lord's example and injunction, "I' nre en- pleasing to God. Their claim that thl'ir fault-finding h
,!pa voring to set meat in due season. "things new and old," prompted by love for the erring anel a hatred of sin is decep-
hl'fore the lJOusehold of faith, the children of the kingdom, and tive and hypocritical as our Lord's words ell'arly show. Other-
llOt before "dog-s"-those who arc still outside of divine favor, wise they would find plenty to do in hating_ and eondemnin
a
who have not vet rl'l'('ived the grace of God lind bpen adopted
mto his familv and ponstituted '!ons. These precious truths and battling with their own sins and wcaknesses ;--casting out
arc pearls of great pripe-of great value-t,) tllOse who have their own rafter of selfeoneeit and hypocrisy. The experi-
thr hearing ear and the understanding and apprpeiative heart ences thus gained would make them very tl'l1(ler and merciful
-those who have been begotten of the spirit and are "new and loving in their assistance of others.
in Christ and seeking to live the new life. All of the "brethren" should carefully ,lpW this picture
\Ye do not attempt to preoent thec;e matters tt; the brutish, the which our Lord portra)'<'d. and should note" ell to sec whether
knowinl! that they would not appre(iate them; but or not they have any of the evil disposition of heart-fault-
would merely feel a disappointment and reseni our good inten- finding, nagging, harsh criticism ancl denunciation-different.
t ions to our in jury. Our Lord points this out later on in the degrees of the same fault. If thry find any trace of a
(wrse 6), and his words are in full accord with "beam" of lovelessnrss anti c;cIf-eonceit in their spiritual eye.
thos!' of Solomon. "Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee."- they should go at once to the grcat Physician and have it.
Provo \'1:7, 8. thoroughly eradicated, that they thnc; may speedily becomp
It is to the household of faith, then. that thl' Lord savs, gentle, sympathetip nssistants to the "brethren," and be pre
"Jndge not that ye be not jmlged." It is useless that we give pared as successful surgeons and physicians for the great work
t alhip!' to othprs th,l11 the pupilc; in the school of Christ, of the Millennial age-the kindly and sympathetic opening of
for noi having put themselves under the itlstrucbon of ihp the blind eyes of humanity and the healing of all the wound:-l
grl'nt Teacher it giws evidence that hiR insb uctions are not of sin.
apprpciated by them. But all true disciples (lrarners. pupils)
...houl,l give earnest heed to this injunction, and should under-
that it contains a very important lesson, wlJirh unlearned
will render them unready for the great examination, unready
for graduation, unready for the kingdom; because in thl'ir
,,'(amination this will be one of the tests. If thev have bl'en
fault finding, cynical, hypercritical, etc., judging others harshly
and unrharitably, it will be a cIear token thllt they have not
,leveloped the spirit of Christ, the spirit of love.-which is
full of kindness and consideration: hence such would be judged
or condemned as unfit for the kingdom, for ae'eording to our
way of judging others we will be judged-sine'e nothing elsr
will better demonstrate our true spiritual condition,-the
or absence of love.
'Vhatever measure of mercy and generos] ty we mete out
to others will be the measure of divine mercy that will be
extended to us. If all the Lord's people could' have well im-
pressed upon their hearts this lesson from the great Teacher's
lips, how wonderfully it would affl'ct their attitude toward
others, in thought as well as in deed; how generous, how for-
giving, how sympathetic for the weaknesses of others they
would become; how the spirit of love would grow in thPir
hparts and manifest itself in their words and deeds!
(74-77) ZiON'S WATCH TOWER
NARROW IS THE WAY
Our Lorel inhmatl'" th,lt a lifp of l'alpfl1hw,s rp-lwpt
inl! not onl)' our aptJon..; hut also OUI wore], :In,1 1'\ I'll 0111 \ Pi Y
thoughts (Wh1Ch are the spnngs from whenp(' pI Il('pl'd ollr
worels a1111 actIOns) wiJl be II very "nalTO'" way"-a ,IJf]ipI11t
way. And yet It is the onl)' hy "hl('h \\;, ('an h"l'p til
enter into thp IIf" anll kingdolll of ill.""; wllleh al I' no\,
Iwfore us in the call. The ]no,HI "HY, thp \\H)',
the selfish "av, the \"m!d]y wav, ']01" not Il'ad to thl' kmg-
dorn: on the eontrary, it t'o dl'ath-to thp ,,('con,1 Ilpath,
to utter ,l<'..;trudinn, Thl' m.1ny HIP going in that \\av no\\',
anll onl\' thp fp\,' find ,1\1,] ('ntpl' into tIl(' stl':Jit g,lte alld II,H,
row wa)' to th" kll1gdolll amI itR glory. hOllor allil 111l!lWI talIt.",
TillS not, howpvel', either or 1IIlpl." thflt thl' IH ('-plIt
age is the only onl' in whidl all." 0pJlOI tunit.', wIll lip gl\'(,n
to espape the de... tnlptJon to\yarcl wInch the hroad "a)' anti
tllP world tenll: though it is the on])' way no\\' 0l'rn Thp
\YoT!1 of the Lord P]'ie\\'llPrp pOInt..; out to Ih tliat aftl'r th,'
seleet little flopk, tht: elect chureh, the hrirlp, thp bo,h' of
Christ shall haye hepl1 "r1ectl'l] from m:1llkinrl-
('ompo..;pc1 of who sppk and walk in thp n1l'r0\\' ",1)'-
aftl'r theqe shall haye hel.'n glorifiel! with thp Rpllp,'ml'l. "II!
ponw a time \"l,en, in the LOl'll'q pron<!l'npp. a !!J'lllld Ingll\\ a."
of be opened to tht' worll] of 1lIl1nkinll, Ihtrinl!
the Millennial age. \\'hile it WIll he an upward wa)' and not
a dmyn\\'anl 0111', so that It \yill re'11lll'p pffmt to walk thpleon
and to attain to the full restitutioll, thp ]ll i/p at ih fill thpl'
p)](l, it wIll he difl('rpl1t flOm the nan O\\',
the diffipult way now oppn beforp thp pled dlllrl'h,
ppculiar people. It "'ill he a wflY of 11ghteOlhl1pSS, hut not a
way of ;,acrifire, as is tIle preRent l1all0W \\,,1)', "hich thu-l
sp]Pdq the "ro."al pri!,qthood," enph one of whom, muqt
his hody a Hnng sacnfiee, in order to make Ius ca]hng and
p]l'ption "Ill P.
Xo -ha]] hI' in that !..::]':lfl(] -:\fi]]l'l1nia] lligh\"ay; 1
1
oth-
ing to hlllt or IIp-tlOY or intinll,1.lt<' flolll \\pll"loing: nothill!..::
to HPe!Ut'l' 01 to clpYOIll :1 Ill'p)' "ho kPI'!.;: to w,llk
I !'r]ltpoH"ly find to pome hnd;: into h,t11110n\' \"ith till' Lm II:
\\ 1111 thl"p lip"l'tmenb alt' now nh"Ht Ih. hppau,,' S:tt:Jn,
thp ]11 hlPP of worl,!, ]..; unhoH!1I1. :I,l'S. n:
Hp\' 20 2) A}] who now Pill", t11(' "nail 0" ":1)'" c'II' ""111-
pp]]PIl to fight 11 gool] tight, to ponh'nrl P:1Illl,tl" fOI th, f.llth.
to the <11" iJ. If tlil'\' "'Oil],] kl'pllrp tilP grl' ,tI'l "p;izp"
of Olll hwh p'lllin'" \\'1" 11llht not onll ",'lItt"lrl \\ 1111 tlll'
"'of thp rfl,..;h. \\l1lph ,'1' h'1\I: i't!Jplltl"!. hnt \\1'
mll,t \\ itll \I i,] 1',1 i,l p,a1tp,1 IEI'll
() 12\, l>11t 1111' I Iwl U' thl' 1'1"1 I' g].)('p, th It tl\l'II'II)'
w" In:"- I (1T1le 011' 'on'IHPror, throul!h him \\'110 lo\'pe! ane]
I:OII.':lit'lh ''ltl, IIi, 0\\''1 prpCIlJlIS hlood,-l TIIIl fl'12: ,JUlIe
:{: .1<1>' 4'7; H::17,
thinking hy our,dve'i the l}ueRtion' \YOU]I] I wi..;h
t]w hrothpr to 110. to or to thmk thus re'pedll1g' me, if I
were he an'] 111' \\ PI I' 1'/
rull.', elo,el,\' follm"p(j, will ver)' gplll'raJl,\' be a guille,
and ypt we ha\'(' knlmn in whieh thp LOId's jlpopll.'
so for an I',\:CUql' for ..;lanrlpr, for 1'\'11 spl'aking,
for goSqlP, that the." fouml some kiwI of a way of e,cusing
thpnhe]vcs for th(' yjolation ot thp (ioll]pn RlIlp, e\'pn "Ill'll
they remcmhered It and at heart wi'ihcd to ohey it. Let UH be
VPI\' palPfu!. Ill'nr hrl'thlpn, JlO\\' ,,(, hanl]le the Lorel', lulp-
tha't "I' do not handlt' the \\'01,1 of GOII rlppeitfnJlv-that we
do not hlin(1 alJd ,]pppi','l' rl'slll'eting It..; tJ UP impOl-
tflnpP-that "e (10 nllt tIm..; ntiate allll illlpilIr OIl!
-that "I' do not tIm..; th\',lrt onr prayl'l" for the hol." i"pl!it,
For thl' holy i"pil1t ('an tlow lllto 0111 IIt'arts 0111)' tile P1l:1n'
lid j..; 0Jl,'n: and the ehHmwl 1"111 b
p
kl'pt open onh' b." kpPp'
lll" thl"; (iolden Rn]1' eont1nuaJly at work at fuJI gauge.
(iol,lI'n Rule am] nIl that '0 Ill'"
I){'(au..;e rrl',pntl'tl 11,\' the great Teal'her ill a I'lpall': and
"hm p('r lIght than e\'pr hl'foT!', WI'T!' the ght, or
of thc ::\Iosaie Law, and of the Lorel'" tp<1ehing, tIll ough
the In oplwb
TnclePII, in somp the efTorh \I hiph havp heen ex-
ppndell upon the ant] the lne"-the thorn,bllshe.,
and the p!l,leaVOIIll!! to tlf' to these varlOU, innta-
tion, of the fruit., of thp of ('III an,l to makp the
meat of the hou'ehold palatabll to them, ha\'p bepn pO";ltin'l.v
injuriouk to the Lore!..; caUke, The "bretln en" havp been neg-
Icc-tell in thp (,ndmvor to fppII the "do!..:" claRs: the Plakmg
reatly of thp bllll,' for th\' hridpgroom, anll al!orl1lng hpr with
the of tJ uth. has been mglpctpll in thp endeavor to in,
tCf(,,,t the in thp pparh Thp rpal value of the true
vinp, IT! plollu"lJ1g gooll fruit, aIHI the willp Ilifferenpp of nn-
turp bd\\,p,'n it Hn,1 a bramhle ha..; bePTI grpatly ob,
selHp,1 b) the appropriatIOn of the \ Inc'" natural flllltagp to
the bramblp Ipt Ih not be \\,\kp abr)\p what i, wntten: lpt
liS attpnll IT! thp pn',ent tiJllP to thp wOlk \lhidl Go,1 11'1'
arpOlntpe! for thi, a,!..: f', ane! lea\'p to hi" appointell timp the
W'I1pral \lork fOI th" \lorle! oi manklll'l.
HOW TO OVERCOME LOVELESS SELF,CONCEIT
Hetnflllllg to thp \I hJ('h tIl(' "hr..thrpn" mu..;t ]parn,
anll h:1\ Il1g kppr'lalh' III IlIlT1d tlu' POlTeption of the
tf'\l(]PJlr'y to Ill'h!I' onp anllthl'r, our LOTlI gi\('" how
tllpkp "rlln!! 'lllahtJI'''; ma\ 111'r'radJPat,,1 \\'e arp to a..;1,: of the
LOle! thf' nppe!,'e! 11I1':1kIllP of lov,' alld k,nnpatll)' \llnr'h Will
11IJle!,r 11..; frnm .lue!'!in!! ot Ill' r..; , and \1 hidl \I ill hpl P u..; in ('or-
f('ptillg Ollr o\\n ddpr't..; 1f \If' 'I-k ..;inppre]y, tllIly, Wp wIll
Tt"'pivp ]Ii, grapI' ane! help in e!in'ptlOn, Anll \I 1111e a..;k,
ing, it is our 11uty to hp ";I'eking the thing'i whieh \Ie lack, the
hoI-.' of ]OVI' to till our hl'artq an,1 if we sl'ek it wc shaH
fille] it \YI' arl' to upon UJ(: LonI'..; 'itore,hou..;e of grace
and h,v ('ontillu('11 p/fort..;, a, "pII pra)pr without
11IlI] a..; a rpqnlt it will "urp]v hI' openpd to ns. The
thp ,pl'king, thp kno('klllg, will all imply faitlt in the
LOTI!. \I lll('h "ill I", in Ili'l allli it will a]qo imply
faithfu]npss Oil our 1':11 t anel a elp,lrp to he ('onformed fully to
thl' Lore]'..; will ,\11,1 goo,l of our IlParts shall he
g'ratIfil'd, h('('an..;I', a..; all parthly p,lrl'lIt "onle! respoIIII to hi>!
for I'artltl)' fooll, ,0 ,\ ill tl1P Lord and
snpply gTlII'p III pvery tilllP of IIpl'II to Ill>! ('hIldren He wiII not
<1pr'PI\'p us nor gl\'P u..; ('vi] thing-. whpn ,,(' the g'OOG,
hut \\ 11] elo for n..; p'(ppprlmgly alJlllldallt]y rnorp than \ve could
ask or think, for iq not our 11I'a\'f'nh' Father much better than
any iml,prfppt human father eonl,1 illhkihly hp?
Lnkl"" rpfprpnp(' to thj..; dl..;('onr,p (] 1: 1:1) de(']ares that
tIl(' goo,] thing that Cod will lip to !!ivp thpse asking,
,,,,d,ing, knor'killg onp8, i'l Ill"; hoi" "pirit. And this is pxaptly
"hat nppe]pIl, as an ofl\pt to the unhol)', unloving, splfiHh,
]llIlgmg anl] fault,finlling kpint of the fle;,;h, which mu..;t he
out The antidotp for the poison is that "e sholllil he
fillp,! "Ith tl1I' hoI)' qpirit, thp of loYI', for "]ove work
pth no III to nPighbor;" love long anrl is kind;"
10' I' "I"; not plIf1'p(1 up" to sp(, the fault" of othprs and to be
hlll1(! to Ihi own; it "vallntpth not itself" to he a g'eneral
cntil', fault,findpr and "ae('u"er of the brethren." Love is
..;ympathdic, 11l']pful, the ..;pirit of nOll -I Cor. 13.4; Rom.
]:1 10
"WORKING IN YOU THAT WUIOH IS WELLPLEASING IN HIS
SIGHT"-Heb, 13:21
"TI"'ll'fo]'('. all \\h,lt.I,,"'pI
do 1I11t" \011, do 'I' ,'\plI '0 to tl,,'III" TIl(' WOld "thl'l'Ifme"
til'" ('OllllpI,tloll hl't\\('l'lI tIn, '11111 thp pleep(llI1g f",ltures
of tl", 1t that will hI' a tp..;t 01 I ule hy
\11,1, II \\1' lIla\ \111('11 allli to \1 hat p,tpllt "I' an' mis-
lucl!!llI,! thp JllOti\'p, of othl'l', IllICI o!TIpiall\' plI,!<',I\'OIIll" to
1"'llldlll th,' ""I." ,h,lipatl' 01"'latlOlI 01 1'1l1:I\mg thl'lr
t"I. Thl' \I'r"p j..; tlll'lpfoll' kllO\1 II 'I> tIl(' 'nolrlpn Hulp,"-
th" 1111" \lllleb (:oe! \\,>111.1 bn\p hh I'""plp Ihl' In l"'l'pet to
all thl' .tl1.llh of 1Jfe-p'llI'('I.1II,\ ill thpir Il'latlOlI']l1jl and
\\ Itb thp "'Il..thrl'lI" \\ !I"II '!hpo'l'll to Jin,l a f.llllt,
or I'lI'k n 11.1\\, \1 !lpn tn ("lIld"lIlll allothpl or to 1'1 iti,
('1/1' :IlIothpl', falllt" 01 to !lold 111111 11I1 /I, O.]llIlIl. "'I' ":111 "pn-
I'! ,II h kllo\, of til(' III "l'lld,\ IJI JlII)'1 Opl Il't,\ of kU 110m; or
JESUS SAID UNTO HIM. FOLLOW ME
M \RK 1:1-22 -::\L\Rl'1f JR.
('IIf"'lnallln, \\].1'11' Olll L"ld ha<11,,'pn tp1!ehlTlg' olne! lll':tl,
Ing. (1n tlll ot C,I1111'1' 01. \\1' to(In,'
the' L,tI.p (>f (:a1lI,'1' It \\,h ,f "It\ of l'on'ldl].I'1>1(' I'om-
ll\l']rinl 11lIp"lt.lnl'p, '''I lI'"i,<1 h' io; tlil' 1IU'JII,''', ane! un-
<1ollbtp,]J." th,' III t!J1t "i"llut\' ',la, (jllIt"
The tense of the CI pl'k wOHltl to IIlrllt'1I tl' tha t 011 r Lord
k('pt gOlllg b,Y thp "l'a,,,II(,rl' hl'l I' anr] t11('re to dis,
to the ppop]p, Inultituc]p, of \"hom flo('ke,! to hear
him. It dUlIllg thi, jOlllllp." that he
fOr!1lpll\' kIlO" n L,'\ I, a l'lhtO!1l,IIOU"1 fI!-U'llt ,d t hI' TIu!1lan
!!O\I'IIII;"lIt-,1 \"\'1'11\11' l'fll1PptOI, wh" \'a, nttr'mlillg ttl his
,'1111 wlHJIlI 1l1lr LOI,I :lIl,lrt, ..;p,1. "a:;llIg, "Follow
me," :111<1 wllo ollt'''''11 thl' "Illl to
11)' g,'t a fa I-I' t hought from the brp"l ty of the IlnJ ra-
til'e, alHI illfer that Lp\'i (-:\[:Itth"w I had Il('ypr heard of
oT",u" Ilefor
p
. antl tlIat our 1.0)'(1. >1" hI' P1",p(1 hlllt, I';]-t upon
lllm kill,1 of ,1 "llIl'h 1,,<1 h1m to ]]]-t,mt]y drop IllS
as thongh hpreft of IllS 011 the l'ontrary,
[2590]
:'ItARCII 1, 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER (77-78)
we are to rememher that tIle Lord and were
"ell known in that Yicwitr for amI that probably
:\1atthew had not only knowledg-e of our Lord, but also faith
in him, a'"l thp Xot until now. however, had .Tesu'l
inVIted him to hecome one of His immediate disciples; not
until now, therefore, could Matthew to hppome such.
Thele e\ identlv were many who hean[ the Lord di'lcourse
tinw and agan;, and who were to he reckOllPd flS amongst hi"
friellfl'"l, but who were hv no means inYlted to become specwl
compallJons in the lJlinistry of the
Gosppl, a" were the twel\'e.
Xor ale we to suppose that -:\fatthew left his money-
draw('r open, and his aC('ounts with the Ronum government
un'"lettle,l. to immediately follow the Rather, we
that it may 'ha \'1' taken day'!, or weeks,
to his affairs and to enable him to rcspoml to the
call to apostlpship. "'e should rememher that the
hi,torY of several Years, and many di"eoursE''l, ponyer;,ation'l
aIHI ii1piopnt", are in the 'Go"pel narrative into very
hrid
It \\oul,1 "ppm prohahle that as Simon''l name wa'l phanged
],\' t hI' LIII,I to PdpI', so I.p\ i'R namp \ya changecl to :\1atthew,
Wllldl "thp gift of God." Hp was a puLlipan-a per-
who f1ump,} the taxe'"l and the puhlIp reyel1ue. The name
"]>nhl1<'.ln" a]](1 thp profp,Rion were hoth odious to
tIl<' ,T.,\\, \\110 n'rv reludantlv Rullmitted tlwm-elves to the
t1l"\ rppui.dinn, o(the PuhlIc'an" wer(' eounted un
]>ntl ioh,' ,1I,loyal to tlwir own nation, in th<lt they apcepted
thl' q'J\ i,'" of nn allen goYernment. and mafle of their
kno\\ ]pr]C!,. of thpir all,1 p,'ople in to pollpct
]'('\('11UP, dl','me,1 The oflke, will h(' sepn,
011'('11'.1 lll,lll\' 0PI'01 tuuitip'l for .]i-honp,tY an,} E',tortion:
111 I! "'1 \ ('t,'. hut WI' paImot for a uwmpllt -u1'po"e th11t L('V]
\nl'"l o;le of thp,,1' puhli('an'l, for harl he heen '00 we
mny ]11' h(' would not ]HIYe It''l'n ca!1pI] to the apo'lt!eRhlp
a n(l \\ ou],l not hayp r0'"lp01H!pf! to the call. for we ar(' not to
fo] that it i'"l \\Titten. "Xo man pan ('ome to me eXl.'('pt the
Fathl'r "hich me <Iraw lllm "-.Tohn 6:4-L
THE CONSECRATED HOME HONORED
:\f,ltth('w a man of infillenpe, and soon a" he ac-
ppptl'(] th(' Lord", ('all, and re'lpom!cd hr con'oecrating him-
an,] all. hp ;,et allflllt to lIR(' hi" influpl!ce in drawing
otll('l, to tllp S.1YiOllr. He would announre hi'l own devotion
to th,' P:I11'1' in a mann"r and under sUl'II ffn'orahle dr-
if pO"-lh]p wouM win some. To ends he
al l.mge,] a lnll](!Ul't for the Lord and his at hi" houRe,
.In,[ 111\'11<'.1 ],I,ll1\- of hi" frirl1,l" awl Illl,ine"'l a%opiatp".
Th.. ,p III ollr are ,all..d ":\Iany pllh!iean'l anll sinnerR."
\\ p IWY0 ;,ppn the plIbhean" wpre o"trapised by the
"el'lh(', an,] Phari_pes-not thpv \\'('n- wi('ked, bllt
th('ir wa" a'ml heing thus cut off
"llf'lal1\' from tllp the nlIh!iean" 'YPH' foree,l to
hnn' nlo,t of thpl1 sopLtl inft'l w/th the hr
way of ('ontrast palled ",inners." By the term sinners we
not to understand vile per'lons and eYildoers,
IllIt rather who did not profess nor attempt the holi-
IH''"l'l daimed hy the Phari"ees-persons who did not claim to
h(' ah"o]utp of the flIvine law-who tIllI not profess to
make the outside of the cup or p!atter clean, tho
pprhal''' 1I1 the inside was a" clean or more
dean than were the hpart'l of the PlwrI,ee", who profe"sed
perfeet holiness. Thi" OlIr Lord intimatp,] Oil "pveral oeea-
\"hl'll. thpr"fl1l 1'. \\'(' rpnd that onr Lo] Ii tlw friend
of plllllI<'1In" 11]lfl s we ar" not to lIn de] he
madp ('IIl1ljHlnWll'"l of tIl(' or mond ],'per
c
ot tlm('.
\"1' a] (' l,lth,,] to that in the 11 "af!(' of that tmJ('
one IIf ,T('ws \\'ll'l <Ipsigllatp,] th(' holy peoplp
and alloth"r (1.1;,,, aR not hoh-
nl'........ ( ..... llll1P} ..... 1
?-Iatthp\\', pn,]payor to hring hi" fripm!'"l and asso,'mh's
into "OIltal't WIth thp :\Ia,tpr and his tpa,'hing, pertainI.\'
.,IllII1lP]Hlalt]e, and h a gOOf] Ilh];,tlatlOn of w1l,.t each one who
"nt<-'I" tl](-' lIo"k do. Eaeh ;,hOlIl,1 "pek to e:o..ert
II1flllpn('" \\'h"rp It l" g]'('atest, tho'"le with whom
he i, al.''1lIaintefl and \\'ho are al.'qllaintef] with hIm, amI lIpon
whom pith(,1 hh pa;,t and good charad('r 'lholIld have
an II1flllenc(', or ehe those to whom hiR r,lf!ipal ehange of lIfe
wOlIl,] he the mo"t manifeRt. Another for us is the
propriety of lI"ing ho;,pitality a" a ehannel f,w the advance-
ment of tlIP trllth-the homps of tho"e who have con'"lPpratN!
tlwnhph e'l to tl](' LOJd sholll(! he home", in whi,1t
tl1<' pon;,itlp]'ation should bp tl1<' "ernf'(' of the
alld It" inlhlpn('p "lIould he to f]ral\' out to the Lon],
that they mig-ht hp taug-ht of hIm. Tor; the (,Oll-
secration of the home i" o\'er!ookp(] al"} allla!!oni"t)c influ-
('nces are permittell to dominate. WIth tIle rp'1jlj th"t nPlther
the LOll] nor the Lon]'" people are entertained, nor hi"
<.;prved in tlwl11. Such a hou<.;e and home a grpat bles'l-
ing, alii] thp hea,! of such a hou"e ha'"l rea'lon to
question whether or not he is overcoming, and therefore an
"oyerpomer," to whom only the pnze is whether
he is being oven'ome hv adver;,e influencf''"l.
The Lord a" C'ourag-eou.,; ppople, a people RO full of
faith, and loye to him and hi", that they will f'Onqlll'r ad-
yerse influpnp,,'l in the of righteou;,ne;,,,. '''hat would
we think of :\1attl](-'w if he had said to the Lord: ::'II a "ter, I
would mud) like to have a hanquet at my home, and to indte
there somp of that I mIght introdupe to them,
an,] tllat thus a fayorahle infJuenpp might he exertp,] on !whalf
of t1lp truth; hut I haye no !ihertv in mv own hom('-mv WIfe
would not 11Par of it for fl mv ell! ldren ai'e un-
ruly, 11aye no for me a" a parent,' a)'1(] wou!fl create
a gH'at If T \\prp to l1lpution 'ouph a tllln!!' as a
hanquPi IJ1 110nor, RO greatly are olTenfh',1 that I
am gl\ ing up my IU<Tatiyp ]msines". and so fe:01 ful aI('
that thpy \\ ill not hayp the so('ial as hefore,
or thp prh'ilege" of pxtraYagance?
'Ye would hll1l a mo"t unfit man to hI' an apo'ltle,
or to eyen the po"ition of elf!pr fir deal'on iu tJ1f'
chureh, af'eording to thl' t"rm" laid down tIl(' Apo"tl(' Paul.
(! Tim. 'YP woul.! pFteem ;']1I'h an Ollp unwoIthv
of anr re"poneilJle in thp f'hun'h, alii] <'0 !lpfi(jpnt in.
the qualitiPR of an "O\'erf'ompr" that he would 1)(' lJl g-reat
dangpr of 10'l1l1g the prizp, un!c'l;, he promptly in-titutpd a
reform of hiR C'haral'tpr. It i" only \\ hat WP f'xppet. to
find :\Iatthew', \ prv diffprent from thi,,-to find that he
hall a charaptpr: Xo]' pan \\1' e,!wC't thnt tl](-' :\Ia"-
ter would have sai,l to him, "Follow me," he haf! "u('!I
dtarader that wonM pprmit him to follow in thp :\l:aRter's
foot"tpp'l, for surely our Lonl .Tesu", while g( ntle, kind and
loving. was ne\'('r wpak or charaderle"s.
A'nd \\hat wonld WI' haye thollf!ht of ;-'fatthew'" wife and
family, Ita (I they ohiPPied to the hanqupt? We WOU}f! haye
f'onRidpred tlwm ratlwr hopelpsR aR re"peds anfl
that hi'l wife had not learn(-,fl pven thp elempnt of wife-
hood :-that she was a hinderpr inRtead of a hdping mate,
As it wa'l we may he that with thp Lord pame a,
special blessing to' that home.
SPIRITUAL FOOD AT THE BANQUET
It woulr! sppm from othpr narrati\ e" of thi" same hanf(net
(whidl was proh'lbly '"lpn'ral w('pkR after ::'IInttJ](-'w'R ('all) that
a large numhpr of people wI're gatllered at l\fnttlww's h01I'oe,
a"id" from tho"p who part00k of t1lp hanquet (Lukp :;. 2fl) ,
and from the ponnpdion of the llarratiYe it suppo;,('(l that
it wa'l on one of the regular fast day" of the' Phari"eps. TheRe
fact.,; lpd to the two qUf'stionR: '
(I) "'lly dol''' your T":lphpr \\ itll thp"p I)('opl(',
who do not profes" Randification Thp oll]edion \Va.,; not
that our Lonl not tf'a('h thp puh!iean" nnd Rinners,
hut that he not pat \\ ilh th..]]], \\ lIiph i]]]pliC',] a
equahty, and thp Phans('e" evif]ently rppognbed that our
Lord and his apostles were professing and !I\ ing lives of
entire C'onsecration to God.
In to this query our Lord snif!, "They that are
whole nepd not a hut they that are sipk;" thp
imphpation heing that the had alight to go to and
mingle witlt thoRe wl10m he sOllght to relien', and might
mingle with tl1('m in whatp\ pr manner he Raw to be expedient
for their f'ure. TIll" language doeR not imp!y that the Phar-
\\I'j(' not ;,i,k, alii] that thC'y did not Iwed onr Lord's
mini-tn'. tho tll" fad \vas that no't admitting that tlwy were
-w'-l<'k tl](',\' \\'']'(' not dl-j)(hl"] to rep('ivp hi" good m('diPine
of dodrill<' Tl\( Ihouf!ht otllprwi,,(, exprpssed hy
onr Lord II' th. ,nnw .'0llnl'I'tI0lI, "I ('al1l(' not to pal}
th(' IllIt -,Illn(-'r" to ]'('p('11tal1('p." AnYI'll<' \\ IJ() ('on-
s](lpr('(l him-"If to 1", J iglJtpOlh \\ould 111' 1IP\01l<1 t1lp ('all of
n-pentHn('p Tli" fil',t wou1,! hc to !('nrll t1.at hI' \\a- lIot
1 lIot ])('] f('1 t, hp]H'p O]l! Lord Wpllt (],1(lh' to tho,p
wlto admlttl'f] that WPlP lIot rig-htpou". ;]1'f] hpart'"l
thplPfol'e W('1 P !H'ttp1 for the truth th'l11 otllPr'"l. Our
LOlf] intimatl'f] thl" III his parahle of the puh!ican'R and the
Ph:u ing us that III (iod'" th, puhlJ-
call hall the 1Iptter "tanding, llppau'"le of hi,; a('knowledgment of
impprf('('tion" am] hi" petitIOn for nlPr..y.
Another of the' add'"l othpl" of our Lord's
wonb-"(jo ye and Ipanl \I hnt that m".lndh: I will have
I11Pf('V and ;lOt (:\Iatt. fl'I:{1 Our Lord here
quotp,] from 1I0;,ea Ii r.. TIl<' !<'''''on the Phari""e'l
-hould haH' Iparnecl from thi'"l WHR that ill t]Il'ir parti('ulanty
-af'rifi('p" -('Ifdpl!l:tl-. tithing of mint, anisp. pum-
mm. etf. tIl(' \ pry thmg'"l 111 \\'hi,'h thp\, hon-tl'(] :IR endences
of thf'lr holinp" wpre \\ lll('h (;'ofl 0](1 IIOt appreciate
(2591]
(79 7(,)
/. ! () .\' . S 11" . 1 T C H r () w R
lll',n],) 1ll1l<]1 .I' hi' \I'Jlild 11'<,,1' 'LJ'IJI" Icl' ... d 1111'11,1'. '1'llpl
lid II' hat! 'ttllljJ<l'-dJlI.lI,' J""IIn;!- t<lI",lrrl t]1('11 felltt;1
.11'\\', the ('ollll'a--Ittit 1,,111, It I' .'LlI,i lH'. C dlli;!hll'd
io have Idtl'll tliUll out ttt ,Iltd th'.'m lll'an'r ttt 11:,'
],01<1 all(1 11\',l1l') 10 ll;.!hl( 11I1_ IIIJlll"IIl 1- lno\t'ad of hal Ill:!
1Ith "pllli Itl lIlt'l' I'. \Ihilli \Ittuld It.1 '" , ]"'1 n Vll,\ lit
"1;!ld . .tnd \\Oll]'] li I\(' 1)\I'P,I1I'd 1k'Ill ttt h,-, l't'Upll'lll'
III ]1('"-) l (\ t1\1'\' hnd IlI-ll:tc1 a ]11\11'11, .......... 11Itlll1P11t \\ Iii ij
tttll;'" ,did 1Io,I,lt'd of ,,,11 -,,11".I1101\I'd and tOlll-
1,1:11.'lIt ('1'1lt!1111111 \If lllllltt :uHl }I\(llt, '\1\ '\}llllJtll .. ddl' to tlll'
., ,:lJldltl(1I1 'It hl',nl lllllt'.tl!\ 111 Id' 1.L-J=.:. .... \\lth lll\jijl
lIh'll \'
rASTniG FEASTING--TYPICAL AND ANTITYPICAL
(.!.' -1]\1' qtl( ... ll II \\d- \\ 11\ ]-.. I: 'ILl\ \OID )1.;-"'11'1
dId ,lil .' ['1\ ,111111111' \\ IllJll ,II" 11!1](11\ dod it'a .... tlll;.!.
,llil jl',,'H \\ 1\11t \\! PhHl'l ..... t'I'..... I,l .... \ 1 wt" III t:I(' \\ll'k.
,Jllli 1111' Iqlj\),II'I-. l,J .1111111 ..... ,11 .... 1.1,1 ... 1' 1-.. ,lot Ulh
l .... 1:.!1I \ '''I ,llld \ ,lUI ..... t('r ,II t' HI' ... 1) \11 dlld .1'- \\t' '---
Lukl' I'; . .
Tlll' Llll d ..... :\;1 ..... '\\'1 I ..... V('l Y j'(llllJH ('}1('ll-":\.I' ,IH'l Llr-l (\alllin},!.
,llltl 1I'ljllll'" "'II'ldl'1.I],I" ,t\1(11 1/1 lit 'lJ'ltll' Iatl'd Hc ",-
I'LIIIIP'] --
(al 'Iltal it \\olddllp 11Iapltl"IJlI,111' illr 1,:.; follOI\Pl' to
],(' Jl1 all,1 mnllllllllg at a timl' \1 It(,ll Ih"y \vprp ](,.
1'1'11 III).! ,,111'11 1I0ll,Jprflll at ,I time ,0111'11 thl' Bridl"
).!Ioom \\'a' clll'l'lll';! tlll'lr heal t-, refreshillg
alld thl'lll. nl"'lIll1;.! tll\ Cle" of th('ir nn'\"I-
an,] gidllg th('m hl'all11;! 1',11' tn Hl'pn'riat(' tht,
IIiVitll' falor that \1,1<; pnmill).! IIllto th.. lI1. Slltlt wOllld 1I0t
],e all app](lpria (' I lTIW for fa llig a lid 1l1OUl'JlIlI).! By and
hI' \lhl'n Ill,' Hrtll.. "room WOII]d hi' ,IW,IV. ther(' would he all
of p(,1 amI <,Ort'OI\ allll tlH'1I \I'onld hI'
III onlpJ', J\n,1 it ha.; hl'C II: thl' Lon]''- I'I>oplp
t Itl oll).!hOllt tlie agl' haVI' frp'[lH'llt ly fplt ('allpll UpOIl
III of a Ill] to ,,pk a l'10,,(' ap
proal'11 to the T,OI II tIl(' hllml,lillg I't tit" fle,ll. and han'
tOlll111 a ,ahmhlp to ellcl.
r- "I . 1
Bllt ha, a e!ua .
So long the "ith 1'1>01'1,'. ,lIId especlally
lOll" as 11(' honOlp,1 11\ th" it lequlre<l
"ollJpa;'dll"ely littl(, to 1", ttn" ot llh
It 'HIS In 1Il,ln,)' all llOnl)r 10 1", I ,died to tollow lum.
alHl an llonor to ,fil'e "olllethillg ut ".lltll1.\' lllt(,ll'stS to 1)('
a follower; \m<l tId, m:llle hi" l,in(l oi 'l,lt-d\'llial or fUbting'
)pallv a of Bllt htl'l 'HI 11 ial" eame. whell
till' got iilto th(' tOll" of "nl'lI\ll-". \\ hell causl'
Illlpoplllar. alld (h\' l1\11lti(lldl''' f'l,11l!01 t,d jttl IllS ,Ieuth--
1hpil It reqlllrp,1 _I,lt'II"llial (,lIlttt.\pll',d l.1'1111g') to
11111\ allll fnllO\\ hnn: all,1 "0 it I,,'pil ,til tl\1 the Gos
I"'l ag,,--nO)H' (',tll 1'1' .1 fttlloll'l'], of tlt\' T.,l1l1h \\'Ithout self-
Ilt-ili,t!. LI"tll1;.!. l\'llhill;! tilt' dp,ilc, .llltl of tIll' fl,'sh
. ,\lid 1l10rtIf\il';! Otll\,]', in ihc of
tltt' nl'\\ ('I:;Jtl1le allll it, ,..phitllal del\'lo]lllJent.
;\IIW. Jll th(' "1'eOlIlI Prc';l'nl('. \\C 1111;!ht that
Ihl' fe,l,t ha,.. h\'glln flom a ,.pirituul btalllipoint
1hl'l I' all' man\' nntl ,,0 great hk,,<,ing'. 1'>0 111l1eh antI so
,pillt!'al flllHI. that 10 tho'-\' \\lw ,111' imi(ell into the
LoJ'tl'" h:IlHJll\'t1ng ]IIIIlS(' and II IWllI he (':lUbeS to down
lit mp,d. ,\lid tt' Ilhttm 11\' hring, fOltlJ thlll[['3 new and ol,!.
'I\'\\ l,v allll ll'fI'l'-hllll.J.\' \1',1. it almo,t \\P1)('\1)'S as tho the
',I-till" tin1t' pa--ed. all(1 that the amI "1
0
\'': of
'I:t' ',';'1111" l,a\(' 1"';!llll. Xot tltat Ih,'I'l' alc' no Illd]S' alld
,]I/li, -tl, I"" al I OHllll).! io tltc' fll,,,It. hut that as new creatures
'1'- 1'ttt1'l" '\1" 'II I' 111,hl'd an,] \'!.JltI:lratl'd ,,!tIt the 111cat ill
.[11" Ih"j Ill(' ,111l111dTIpultIl'" ;]Ild se1t(ll'llIll1s (fast
l,!..-I 1111 1l1"l'!.,1 i,' tht' llOW be so lightly
!ltd Itt Ill' 1\'>11111 10 Ill' t'o111lHlIl'd \\ith the "pilltual refJ'e"lt,
1ll,"l1- tl'" tlll"P 1)(' Imt fOlda"t('" oi Ihe great mal'
: fl'ol .... t '-..{lOn til ilt'
il" In ,ltldllll'll ttt th(, i,I('1 Ih.lt 11111 L<lII1'- 1>1I'-,'''r-l' \III!I
Itl- ell-' Ildl" \\I'lllt] ,llItHltttl' 'Olln\\" \\,1' dllothe\ 1<1'.1 v\ludl
the 1']1,11 hlb dill not tIlI1l1'1l'11l'llll. 1'1/ .. that uut' wllrk
\\.t' not ]lke tllHt uf ,Tuhn till' 1l0t a work of
letOl1ll.1tlllll -('('kill).! to patdl 111' thc Jcwl"h and ,11
I a ngPlll( llt .loll1l llad ],een to (10 tl',lt Ii ht,
('nu],!. and h:I:1 failetl alHl bCl'n belll'a<1ed; amI the \\mk whll'll
,Jp,u, ,wa, dOlllg a llew \VOlk altogether: h,' II,,' not at-
jplllpll1l;!, to 1'.ltl h alld ]'('fnrlll wJth hi" tIOt'l1 inl"
hit \I'd' maklll" an ('Billl'l" Ill'\\' "athp],]ll" ou1
" 111ll1 ('h. \\ hieh r-\\,ou],] J]Pt hZ, a .1l'\yi-h ell11rl'L .t
j,'''\1 h tll1l1l'1L 1)\]t :l \\hll]!I' l1il1'I'Il'nt ill"tttUtlOll a Chri,jl.l1l
,hill "h. Thl" \\'il'- the rC.l;on hI' llOt alii J1Il'tmc: tn 111,,-
''I" witli thl' Ph:l1'bl'I's th(' propndip,,; :lIHI 11I1JllllJll idle-
of IlIPll mdho(I,. alld 10 "traightl'1I thclll (1ut. HI' \',ou],] ]t'!
al011(, tlip old g,\rml'llt. a]n'aclI \\'0111 out ami 1(,1,11' to hI' J.lltl
aeilll. hI' \F,uld PIlJ\ i,k a 'lit \\' g:nl1lt'nt. npt
lightt'OUSIIP':" hy tIlL' 1.1\\,. b\lt a\l illll'lIted
lIes" al"'onllllg 10 falth. 111'0n tile ml'l Jt" pi hi' Oil n
ifi('l' for
n,H] lip nt!emrtPII to 101\1],1111' ('Ill Isti,llllt \' \\ ltlt ,1 \I I1.1l '11 I
tl](' J't'sult would have h('e11 tu 1,0(11. fttl tl't,) ,lll'
pne dpmallding ah"oll1telless pt
whilh impOSSible to "il\ll('rs; the other d(,lIlan<1l1l" thaI
thp of Il).!hteousness "hou]c] hI' a('kII PI\ 1-
p,lg"d. ,llld that faith should 1,(' the onlv rondition 01 101'
gil ,1ll11 meny.
(,'I Thp f;ame was i11u-,hat('d I,\, ihp pu"tom pf
that tune ill the u<;(' of of ,1nimal" in '-lead of 11,,,
and hottles of f;uph "kins arl> lhed to
the pre<;ent time in variOli" part,> of the wotld. aJl(I ('a11ed
hottl(,f;. Ke\V wlTIe put into in fl'llI1('lIhll).! \\'ould
tlH'm to almost point. \IlHI eould
neVer he used again for new winl'. hepau,,1' I h.. v IHl\-
ing' gmll' out of them thc nPII' ,,,inl' in fClll1ellting wOIIl,1
hurst them. The lesson whir-h our Lord talloht here i, that
Jul1ai"m havlllg had it" day. had It" 1'111 1'0<:''',
and that it was not tIll' di\'in<' intention that It sholll,] I",
reformed. as his hear('1"'3 expeded. The "y"tem had her-ol1l"
('frete. allll to haYe' attl'lIlpt('tl to ]lut into' ,TudaislI1 th(' lJI'l\
Iloctrines. the new wine of thp II ou]d hav,> meant 1",1 1
1I0t onlv the .Jewish natIOn would have be('n conl'u]"ell ,Illd
\YIcr'keel by the f;pirit of the 1\ew teaehings, hut al"o that the
doctrine<; themselns would have gOlle down "ith the '1'11'1 k
of the nation. Consequently it was the di\ mc plan that .I
nl'w., Israel be 1'>tarted. "a nation. ,1 pepuliar pl'tt-
pIe. and that It should be the receptacle oi Ihe n"\I- gLlt I'
and truth then due.
Simituly now in the end of the ag(' \\,' pel' ", I"
the impOSSIbility of putting the new wine whil'h tl,,'
is now pro\ iding into the old \\'ine skin" of sl'dal'l:lI1i'lll.
and all sectarian,> rpalize tld<; that tn r('I'I'I\('
what is now being preRented a.; truth llltO theil llt,-
nomjnations would mean the utter Wll'l'k ttl
the denomination". God is therefore llOW, M, in the ellll of
the Jewish age, calling out of the \vhole f;vstpm slIlh a" all'
Israelites inde(,ll, that they may reeeive at iii" hand" the" illt,
(dodrine) of the new just at halHl. As for th,'
old in"lltutions. they ha ve served :l purpose partly O'ood alltl
partly bad. Their 'work. so far as the pim'; I' POII-
('erned. is at an end. "The yoipe of the Bnclegroom ,11111 ,,:
the bride shall no more b(' heard" in Babylon at a]!. (TII'v
18:23) Babylon will not permit them to be heald, Th,'
voice, the teaching of truth is consequcntly onhl,!t, her
walls; and whoevpr has an pal' for the truth, whoever dl'''lre,
to he filled with present truth, mnst eome oui 1'>ide of seetar
ianism before he can thus he fillcd and blessed and used as a
vef;s('] in I)('arin!! the blessing to 18:4. 2'1.
0111' u-lI,II e!l'(lllll ot I ,'1phl almg our dear TIc'dcempr's death
ttll lis ;ll1llll'I'I',:lI'y \\ill b.' folJo\\'el] this a larger num-
hl'r \\(' IH'li('n'. than (,H'I hl'fo]('. Th(' date' \vill he the evening
'If .\pril 121h a Hl'r G 1'. date em I csponding to "the
fOUltecnih (]al of the month" Jewl,:h time.
Our Lord. < thc of the I'a,,,ovcr lamb (1 Cor.
l: 7). \\ as cnlt'lliPl1 thl' tla I bdorc the "Peast of Passover"
began; all,l 'on the saltH' llIght in "hieh hc \I as betrayed"
he took I>n'all. ll'pll'f;elltill).! hi" Jle,h. and "fluit of the vine."
hi" blow!. and with thesp lllsbtuted a new me
mOl ial hv "hil'h th(' spiritual hr.lelites \\'I're to c('lehrate
th('ir ]liral Pas;onr. ,ecurcd by his "bloo,l of
sprinkling" applIed hy faith. and Iii..: fie-h. e,1t('n hy faith,
"m('at indeed. (j: 35.
THE MEMORIAL SUPPER
Our celebration has nothing jn eommon with that of tIl('
.Tews: mdeed what theY eelebrate i1'> the "Feast" week' while
we pelebrate on the day preceding their Feast the deatl; of the
Lamb of God whieh taketh away the sin of the world. The
day wc celebratl' represents the entire Go<;p('l age. in whieh
the entire body of Christ Jesus, the
suffer \vith him as voluntary sacrifiees. The Feast week to us
typifies the glory and joy soon to be introdueed,-in the }Iil-
lennium.
"Our LOl d's word,> ref;peeting this Memorial are. "Tlus
110 ye in remembranee of me." And the Apostle aallR. "A<;
nft as ye do this do show forth the Lord's death till lw
eomp"-till he in his kingdom shall lmve come in power and
shall have gathered you unto himself. Many Christian people
[2592]
z [ u .Y 'S W.-1 Tell TOW E R ( "i I) 33 I
h<1'.p a-bumed tIle libClt,Y to celelJlat<' thi- MCIllOI'J,t1 at "arion,
times-weekI), monthly, quartedy, e
l
e, but in h,llmony "Ith
the caIly church we understand OUI LOltl to mean that "e
-hould celebrate this as we celebrate am oth('l' eHnt-on it-
anni,'ersary; just as we now mIght ',\s oft a the Fourth
,A July is celehrated it shows forth the Independence of thi;;
nation.
Those who celebrate our Lonl'b dcath ill t;le "Last Supper"
at noon everv Sunda\', mistake it for the \\cl'kh' "Lon' Feast"
,,1' of practiced enry Lor(l's Day by the
,'allY clnll eh in memory of our LOrtl'b rcsll treel IOn and hi"
,)pel;ing of the of their undel in the breaking of
bread.. Rightly undprstood, nothing in ''. l'ekly feast" of
JOY rescmbled the annual commelllOl atlOn of our JHastcr's
SOlI'OW and death-nor j" the "eup" lllentioned in con-
nection with them.
The church at Allegheny will celeln,lte the JUemorial
Supppr commemorative of our RedeemP1"'; dcath for U", anti
of our Pass-orcr from death unto life throu::;h the merit of
IllS f'acJifice, and of our consecration to "be dl'old ,vith him"-
to drink his "cup"-on the evemng of April 12th at 7 ::JO
I)'clock at Bible Hous(' chapel, Allegheny, Pa. Friends of the
truth who can make it convenient to mept, with Us 'viII bp
\1 elcomed cordiallv: bnt we advise that wherever there all'
home-meetings or \vherever such gatherings seem possible they
he not deserted, No other season seems so favorable for the
.!rawing of the hearts of the Lord's people closely together;-
,'wn as it seems also to be specially an hOUl of temptation
to all professing to be the Lord's followers, \"ho like Peter of
olrl "ppm to be specially sifted nt thi" senson of the yenr.
'J he achice of our LOlli to the early at tllne
of thp still spcciall.\' appropriate, '\V,1tch anr!
1'1 :l;' !",t ; c enit'r inti) temptation 'I" Anrl recogni7ing thh
thl ohler sy-tclll<; Homan Cllthohc ani! <;till
IJlceede the ,nth a fa"t or Lenten season-wlllch
l'ntel"tl mto not formally but III the spirit "I' beliel'e a
\(>1':' helpful custom to many-uot only physically but
uall\'.
Fd,],);" \I ,1 <; fOl the Ltl
a" otiginall:- olbPl'I'l' l the 1"']11', people - the R,I of
coullting bl'illg \' ,:hange'l. The mOl e fl cquent ('ekhr,l
tioll" or tIl(' LOl'l]''i Sup!,"\' by ate ';prm
celebratIOn of the an institu1 Jon ",hIt h both
l!l fact n1l'! th('or\, i, :\11 :1hOlll'll.ltlOl\ to our Lord--drll\ mg
as it the flllim-- oi the d1lt-aey of thl' 01 iginal san'ili,,'
at Calvary
\Ve tI'11'ot O':1t j
l
l" L"nl'- l'I',,!,I, ('\('lnvh.], \1111 ',10
in remembrance of thp gore.lt sin-,arnf!rl'-not me](']y a- all
outward 111emorinl hut ,t1so awl spccially at the tim.'
fecding on the Lon! h,1! faith in their he,Ll'ts, and afre,I'
pledging tlwir cOll-pcrati01l unto death with him while par-
taking of the "cup" For fudhrr pa 1 ollr
of 1. lSDH.
\Ve will be glad to ha\-e plOmpt po,t,l! cald J('porb flom
the appointed seeretary or bPrilJe of eaeh little group-\\here-
ever "two or three" meet in his deal' name tu do thIS. Makl'
all your arrangements heforehand that the prccious season
of heart "communion" he not disturbed by business affairs,
Let us not onl:' unitt, in IHayer amI communion, but also so
far as practicable in our song" of prai::<e-using nUlllbH" 2:1.
122 and 1 of Hymns of nUl! II.
AVOID FLATTERY
In a recent letter one of the after giYing
l'<1rtieulars respecting his efforts to ieed the Lord's sheep
:lnd lamb., concludes thus:-
"Pray for me. dear brother, that I may be b:pt a 'servant.'
Could ;vou not in some \\ ay through the TOWER suggest tu th...
friends not to praise a 'pilgrim' to his face: they do not
know what 'offences' they sometimes causl', what fet'ling-- of
latent pride they arouse."
YOLo XXI ALLEGHEKY. PA.. MARCH 15 AND APRIl, I, 1900
WHICH IS THE TRUE GOSPEL?
Nos, G -;
"I am l'Ot A.shamed of the Gospel of Ohrist."-Rom. 1: Hi.
.\ })bcourse P,lstor C. T. Russell of Allegheny, Pa., delivered at The Florida Chautauqua .\ssembly, Defuniak SPI ing".
Fla" 4, 1900, as reported by the Associatl'd
xa apology necessary for our subjed-"Which is
the true Gospel of which the Apostle was not If
time and thought may be profitabl,l' expended in the study
o)f the earthly sciences-sociology, finance, etc., etc., built
largely upon human inferences and conjectul'Ps-surely none
could (lispute the plOpriety of studying the of divine
1 evelation. If it be profitable to investigate the physical dis-
eases of mankind and their causcs, and the law., of medicine
and of sanitation for the offset of these, it cannot be
disputed that the Gospel which God has presented as the
antidote for and soul-death, and as the science
pertaining to life eternal, is worthy of still gn-ater and more
profound
The greatest mlllds, the noblest specimens of our race, ha,-e
admitted our topic to be the one above all others in impor-
tance, and have 'I'cighed it earefuIl)'-whether as a result
they accepted or rejeded it. 'Ve are not now discussing the
weight of mental acumen enlisted for and against the Gospel:
we are merely noting the fact that all men of abIlity have
recognized that the subject is WOl thy of their careful con-
-ideration, and as having claims upon their attention para-
mount to an,l- and all oth'lrs. Indeed, it may be set down as
a fact that whoever has given the subject of religion no con-
is one of three things,-a novice in mental exer-
cisc, or a near relatIve to "the fool who hath said in his
heal t, There is no God," or a coward, preyed upon by fears,
instigated by Satan to hinder honest investigation of the
divine message of love and mercy.
Even a hasty glance into the intelligent faces of this large
audience assures me that you all have given some thought
to our theme ;-though experience assures me that compara-
tively few of you have ever reached conclusions on this sub-
ject fully satisfactory to yourselves. Hence your faith and
love and zeal toward God and your zeal for the Gospel are
less strong than you could desire. Let us hope that as we
reason together on this great subject to-day, we may, by God's
grace, see more clearly than ever before which is the true
Gospel-the one of which the was not ashamt'd. and
of which, therefor!', none of us need feel ashamed,-tlll' Gos-
pel, therefore, which should more and more move and enpl g-izp,
us as the power of God unto salvatIOn.
No one of intelligence will cllspute the meaning ot th,
word "Gospel;" it signifies "good tidings," good ne', ",-.1
good messnge. in some unaecountable mnnlll'l,
by common conRent, "a real Gospel sel mon" is almobt unive1'
sally understood to signify bad tidings-tidings of ctprnal
misery to the great mass of our race-to all except the littlp
flock of God's faithful people. A., a ponscquence the preachel
of a "Cospel sermon" i<; expected to figuratively shake the
congregatiun over an abyss of everlaRting tortur\.:. maklllg
strong an effort as possible to intimidate them thereby to a
thorough of life, in hope of thus escapmg an
awful etermty.
True, this that ,Ye might term "the Cospel (1) of damna-
tion" is not so gcnerally preached ns it once was, beCaUb\'
more enlightened minds of cultured people rppudiate It as a
fetich of the past. Yet tId., pCI've1 sian of the Gospel is still
to be heard in country plael's, at camp mpeting,;, occasionally
in the city pulpit. allll universally in SalvatlOn Army meet-
ings. Nothing is furthcr from our intention than a critieism
of the conscIences alld honesty of intention of tllOse who thus
preach, It is no part of our mission to criticise person" and
motives, but "With malice toward none and with charit,
toward all" wc consider it not only our pnvilege but Olll
duty to criticise doctrines, that thereby the truth may be
more freely established, and error brought into disrepute.
Before we proceed to the consideration of the Gospel of
whieh the Apostle was not ashamed-the Gospel set forth
in the Scriptures-it will be expedient for us to take a glance
at the different gospels set forth by the various denomina-
tions of Christendom. It is not our thought that each de-
nomination represents a different gospel, for the differences
in many instances are chiefly respecting cprcmonies, forms,
methods of government, name, etc., and not in respect to the
[2593]
ZION'S WATCH TOWER
ALLEGHENY. PA.
or held forth. there are three
lines of faith, or doptrinf'--thrce di"tinpt go"pels set
forth in Christendom, all recogmzed as "01 tltodox," because
thev all contam as their fumlamcntal the doctrIne of the
eternal tormpnt of all mankind, except the comparatively
fcw Each of thrpe has mIllions of
!'upporters, divided into numerous derlOminatlOn<;. These in
point of numbers are
(I) The Roman Catholip faith. or gospel, in which con-
pur thp (;f('pk Catholic's and Armpnian CatholiPR, and some
of tlw high-chun'h EplRPopahanR. .
(:2 I The which is IlPld hy thp varIOUS
Prp.. llvtPrJan dpnomm ItioTl-, thp CongregationalistI', Baptists,
and manv Luthprans and Epl-popalmns.
I 'Thp ArmillJan go-pel, held and phid}v rppresented
I,v thp of nam('_ anll amI hy
thp Fn,p-\\'ill 110\\PHr, many of the denomina-
tlOns at Iwart ar'c'('pt thp Armiman while their C'1mreh
(onn('ptlon" i(l('nbfv th('m With tIl(> ('alvmie,tIp go-pel. Henpe
WP mav 1'0 f;r a" Protc'_tanti_m is ('oncprnNI, that the
Armllll'an :;nd thp Calvini-t arc alJout equally sup-
port('rl. .
11 may not hp po__illlp for us to hancllp :lllr suhJcpt prop-
erly and thoroughlv WIthout offpring ('nUrism of these
tlll'PP wh Hli for ('pnturJP_ themselves
In ('llll_tIan mmd_, pal'11 fortifi('rl hy th(' dpc'lc.wne, of Its own
('ounpJls, hy ,olummou" opinion_ from thei: s('veral
tIHologiral sl'minarH'''. but WP pan and WIll shen-
:noirl saymg one solitary worrl In (niH'1sm of .th?<;('
who \\ e Iwlil'\ e ('on"l'il'ntiou"ly uphold thp_p Sf!\ pra I ponfhptmg
"'p ('all you to wit;-w_s that WP a:p all
en ]olllPd to "('ontPIHI pa rnp-t1." for thp f:1I t It dehvered
to thp (thp tl'11P Gosp('ll. at tIl(> same time that we
nn' ('nl0I!lPII hv tItp "amp authority to pvil of no.man."
"'p sllall to kl'Pp strictly WIthin tl'p<;('
proper lilH's. an'l, :ul(lithnally, aR the arlmomshes,
thp truth in love,"
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ROMAN CATHOLICISM
TIll' gosp(1 acrorrlmg to Homan ('ntholi('l_m is that all
mpn fpII 1Tl to sin :1Tlcl ltndpr spnt('nc'p of ptprllill torment: that
Chri-t apr'ompll>,h('cl a rp(!r'mptive work whi"'l. l'onpplementpd
II\' thp l'oac'rifi(,ps of th(' ma__. ano h." ami penancps.
J;r'rmit" all ]IP!Ip\pr_ (Roman to .pspapp
d('rnal tormpnt. whi('h will hp thp SUH' portIOn all lwretlPs,
of tlH'ir goorl '\,orks. or mor.d,:. for it- O\yn
J!popl,', it Ilold'4 tlwt p\('n It- IllgllP-t offi"lal", m('lndmg
hop>. and POppH. go to Pnrgatol'." for refinpm('n,t, pUrIficatIOn
from -in and to ])(' prpTlHl'pcl for Ilpa\'Pn. It cla.lm>. that
wIll spPIHI only a sllOrt tIme In Pnrgatory.. out of
hy the n1<'l'it of prayprs, maH<;ps, et(' .. on th('.n hehalf then
aftpr dpath Hllt thpir p,pl'('tatlon IS th3;t ,nltlmat.ely
Pnl'gatorv will 1)( no morf', its thonsands of mIllions
pn'pa 1 pcl' for a kttpr amI happH'r con(lltion. But .accordlng
to all thp grr'at thpologianR of Papac'y, and a(cordmg to
tht> Papal hnlls, all Protpstanh. all rp1P(':er:, of Papacy s
\\ ill sllff('r ('Jl(llp<;s tormpnt. IS the
C:ltholi(' i!f>-ppl fairly preRented, as we unoprstand 1t. It
dof'<' not sppm to us to he vpry good news--not very good
tilling". ('v('n to wlw gpt the very best it has to offer,
and it (prtaml." wonl(l ])(' wry bad tidings to all out of har-
mon." with Pap:'''.'' .
Ld Ih IH,t look fit thp grr'at Protpl'otant dodrlTlP rr'prp-
in til(' WOl (I ('a clod rilH' of th(' ple('tion
of til(' ('hnrl'11 ancl tl,, rpplohation of all Otl"'1 ".
THE GOSPEL PRESENTED BY CALVINISM
('ah III hIll c,llillls t 11'It faith in Christ is pS'4pntial to sal-
vation aTHI It adnllb th,lt faith pom('" hy hearing amI hparing
],\' thp \\'01 <I oj (;0(1. more than a mere
k'nowJro,lgp of ('lIT I"t HlHI helil'f in a" a goo(l ex-
pmplary man. who clipcl fI maltyr to IllS p,trpJ.ll,P
It rr'(l1llrr'" faith in clpath a for man s
Fin ancl at lpast somp m:lT1ifp"tahon towarrl" nghteousness
of 'life before any ('onld he rpr'ognize(l as of the elect
church. Conseqnpntly. a('cordmg to CalnnTsm, th.e elect
churr:h conld not induoe the hpathen of the prepf'nt time and
all the way bac'k throngh thp past, who have nevpr IleaI'd of
the only n'amp ginn lInder ht>ann or amongst men
we mu;t he Raved. Stretphed to its very hroaclp"t. CalnTlTsm
could not inPludp more than in twpnty of ea.rth's fifty
thousano million" that are estlmateo to hfl\'p lIwd fr?m
Adam's day until the prespnt. time. I TI otl]('r :,'ords, ae('ordmg
to the hroadest possihlp estimate of VIew, .more than
forty-seven thousflnd millions of humamty were, III the lan-
guagf' of th: \Yf'stn:i1!stf'r Confpssion of Faith, by"
as non-elect m the dlVI!!e plan. "
And what dol'S thIS mpan- pa<;Reo hy" or "non-elect 9"
It means, according to Calvinism, that God, who knew the end
from the begmning, before creating this world and mankind
upon It, determined that he would "pass by" and not elect
those forty-seven thousand millions of his creatures to hfe
and happIness, but would predestine thpm to an eternity of
torture, and that carrying out this diabolical plan, he pre-
pared a great plape large enough to hold forty-,,-pven thousand
millions, and fuel sufficient to produce the necesRary eom-
bustion there to all eternity-did all this with a full ap-
preeiation of all the flwful faets and of the
case.
Moreover, we remember the statement of Calvinism which
many of us learned in our youth, to the pff('et that God's
favor toward the eleet is not beeause of anv worthiness on
nor of any works which' they had done,
but of hIs own sovereign grape" he SaV('R them from all the
horrIble ponditions which he has prpd('stinNI sball be upon
the others. Now if the salvatIOn of the elept is not bepause
of their works or worthiness, but because of God's Rovereign
grace only, the simplest mind ean see that Goo might with-
out any violation of prineiple have extended tllat sovereign
grace to others-to all, sinee it was not of worthi-
neSR nor becau<;e of works, but merply of his own volitIOn
that any are saypd,-aeporoing to Calvini"m.
. The Jonathan Edwarrls, when preaching upon
thIS l'oubJect In 1\ ew England yeal's ago, a ftpr pirturing the
awful torm('nt of the non-elept, was asked the que"tion, \Yould
not the thought of the of the lost mar the bliss of
God's people in glory? His answer m Hlbstanee was,
you will be so rhanged that such mattC'rs wIll not aff('pt vou'
you will look over the battlements of heaYen and seC' in' to/
nei,ghbors and friends, .'-C'a. own parpnt<; anci
Pllllciren, hTOtlwr" an,l sisters, and turning rouml ,,'ill praise
God the louder hecause his justice is ma(lp l1Innife"t.
Now, mv dear friend<;. I do not rharo-e any who are here
prpsC'nt \Yith having "0 fal<;e a vipw of "the (iiYinp pharaeter
[In(l plan this. Jndf'e(l, J am glacl to notp that our Cal-
vini"tir fripndq in general are r('pmliating doctrine, re-
alizing th'1t tlwre is in it a seriou" lapk, not only aR reqpeet'l
divinp lovC', hut also as rC'spects divine justirC'. I was glad
SOl11e years ago to note that sonw of OTTr l're-h.',tprian friends
,,'C'rC' so moved by higher ano nobler conccptions of the AI-
mIght.', that they \yished to rid thpl11splyps of any part in so
bla"phC'l11oUR a statement resppcting hiR pharactpr ancl his
plan, I \\ as sorry, however, that wlwn the matter of "the
rC'V1Rion of the Preqh.',tprian standards" wa .. takC'n up it was
found that only a minority was in favor of rf'\'ll'oion, and I
was still more sorry to note that that minont." of intelligent,
godly people was willing to contInue to to sueh a
horrible mis-statement of their true views-willing, shall 1
say, to continue to "hlaspheme that holy namC''' hepause a
majority of theIr brethren were umdllin[.; that such blasphem-
ous misrepresentations should be discontinued.
I am glad to believe that if this mattC'r were brought to
the intelligent attention of Presbyterians in general, a large
majority would be found willing, nay, anxious, to undo the
wrong and to make such reparation as would he within their
power, by way of honoring the great .Jehonh and attesting
their appreciation of his love and his justipe, as well as of
his wisdom flnd of his pow('r. This is th" POInt: Cal-
VlTTlSm, in its an-.;if'tv to PHtalllish thC' WI"rl0Tl1 an,l power of
God, Ill" foreknowledge and hiR ahihty to can,\' out his plan,
1m" c'onp('lvf',1 ot a plan WhlPh is far from HIP ('orrpct one,
!aeking Loth in .lu"tI('e and in loyf'.
It may he argued thflt love is a grac(' flnrl th'1t its expr-
eise II' not Incumbpnt upon Jehovah' that all that c'ould be
asked or expected of him would be simple .llhtipe, and some
might bp ready to claim that for God to etemally torment
these forty-seven thouRflnd millions "pal'ospd "y" would be in
striet accord WIth justice. This we deny' We (Inim that
ha ving the po" er to create mankind woul,l not justify their
creation if the Crwtor saw that thC' result would he the ever-
lasting torture of a single creature, Justiee would say that
pow('r iR not to be exercised to the injury of another, and
that to exercise the creative power under such foreknown
conditions would be injustice, And wisdom attuned to justice
would say, Better a thousand times never to have created
anybody than to have created one being to suffer unjustly
eternally.
This' statement, dear friends, is a fair, state-
ment of the go<;pel according to our beloveo hrother, John
CalYin, amI who suhspribe to the \YestminstC'r Confps-
sion. amI their alliC'<;. This surely is not the gospel of which
the Apo,..tle Pflul, in our text, declared. "I am not ashamed
of the COl'opel of Christ." Paul would assuredly have been
[2594]
MARCH 15 AND APRIL 1, 1900
ZION'S WATCH TOWER
(85-86)
ashamed of such a and so are all true Christians, who
have the true spirit of love and just!re,-none more so, per-
haps, than tho"e who unfortunately, through circumstances
of birth, etc., and hitherto without realizing what it meant,
have been lending their name and influence to this great
blasphemy against the divine character,
THE ARMINIAN VIEW OF THE GOSPEL
Let us now examine the Arminian view. This view is
growing" popular. Its message or gospel is, God is love-he
loves you; he loves everybody; he is doing all that he can to
save enrybody; if you are lost it will not be God's fault,
but your own. On the surface, at least, this theory seems
much more loving' and much more just than the one already
examined, but before we go far we will also find it very de-
fectin, vC'ry far from being either a reasonable or a Scriptural
Go'pel. We will find it inconsistent with its own statement--
illogical.
For instance, while it sounds nice theoretically to say that
God is doing all that he can do to save the whole world at
the present time, everybody knows that this I" not true; that
on the contrary you or I or any other intelligent human be-
ing if possesspel of the one-thousandth part of the divine
power and wisdom could speedily accomplil'lh the evangeliza-
tion of the whole world. Nor will it do to SdY that God has
committed himself to a certain mode of procedllre through his
church, an(l that if the church to contribute with suffi-
cient liberality both money and evangelists the heathen will
not hear of "the only name given under hea\ en or amongst
men whereby we must he saved," but will go to eternal tor-
ment, etc. :Keither will it do to say that God is doing all
that he ('an do and is hampered by the lack of interest in
the church; bccause his wisdom and foreknowledge foresaw
all thesC' ('ondition" as they are, and he could not justly be
excu"ed from the real responsibility of the matter, since he is
thl' Crl'ator, and in him is vested the all-power as well as
the all-wisdom. RuC'h a elaim as this would he tantamount
to saymg that God has erred in wisdom when he thought to
Ipave the ('onycr"lOn of the world to the church, seeing that
the dlllreh has not accomplished this. Such a elaim would
be mC'rpl.\' pxcming God from doing all that he can do, in-
"tea(l of shmdng that he is doing all that he can do.
But l('t us look more critically into this matter. If this
view \\ C' are ('I iticising is C'orrect, if God is doing all that he
can to save the worhl, and if he has been doing this during
all the past agC'''. then without question the world's conver-
sion is a hopele,s thing, and we can never expect to see better
than at pre"ent. This theory presupposes a raCe or
battlp hPi\\ C'C'n the Almighty and Satan, each seeking to cap-
ture the human family, anel to the discredit of the theory
it shm\'" i-iatan the victor thus far. Startmg out with one
pair, both on the Lord's side, the first 1656 ended with
a flood in which the whole worlel of mankincl \va" blottl'o. out
bl'ca11"C' of \Yickpdn('"s, aJHI only eight person" reckonp(1 "uffi-
cient!.\' IlghteOlh to hC' prC'serve(l. Rtartlllg' again With those
eight )'PI ('ountea sutliclently righteon" for preservathn,
IYP fillt! that thele are in tbe world today sixtpl'll humlre(1
TIllllioll', 11l1(! that out of that whole numhpr thple are about
onp hllll(!Je(1 11'illiolls nominal Roman C'atholir, anll one
h ul1(11 "I nll!1inn, nominal PloteRtant" anti a very murh
llUlllhl'l of truC' "saints of God." ,
\Yhat woul(l he the lesson from this if the Arminian
themy I,p ('OI'lPC't. that Go(l doing all that he can do to save
the \\01'1(1 The Ip"son would he that with all his good in-
tentions of love and mprry our God is thoroughly mcapable
of thp work he 'mdprtook to do. And if thew are the result<;\
in siv. thousall(1 what could WI' hope for in the future?
How many hundreds of millions of years would it be bpfore the
whole world would be converted? \Ve an<;\wer that aceonling
to statistiC's it would never be, for show that the
natural inrrease of population throughout the world ia far,
far Iwyon(l the proportion of even nominal conversions from
heathendom. Indee(l, acrording to some good rerkonings, the
percentage of Christians every year is the births
of heathen ],111,15 so far outnumberIng the births of Christian
lands-evcn countlllg all the children born in Christendom
as Christians.
T" in vipw of thesp facts, prepared to claim
0111' Co:l has hppn doing all that hI' could do for the
conversion of the world? If so, that Christian may as well
write upon hi" hopI'S at on('e the word "Iphahod." If we saw
that thp C'a lvinistic view magnifies the wisdom and power
of God at tbe expense of his justice and loyl', \\ I' find on thp
other hand that the Arminian view magnifies the love of God
at the expense of his wisdom and power. TIl(' true Gosppl
must show divine wisdom and power in full accord with
divine justice and love: of any other we must needs be
ashamed.
DISTINCTIONS WITHOUT PRACTICAL DIFFERENCE
But, my dear friends, we may as well now as at any time
concede that there is comparatively little ditrcrence in the
outcome of these two popular Protestant Gospels-the differ-
ence is mel ely a theoretical one respecting how the results
are to be reached. The results themselves are the same in
both cases-the eternal doom and torment of over forty-
seven thousand millions of human creatures. For our Armin-
ian friends no less than Calvinists agree that there is no
salvation aside from faith in ChriRt, the only name given; and
they admit also that of those who belirve in ChriRt only the
sanctified are of real church: and their Gospel is also
that only the real church to be Raved and that all others
are to be eternally and most horribly tormented ;-some claim
in literal flames, others say by the torment'l, and gnawing
of conscience and remorse, which they procepd to say Will be
\\ than the literal ftame.-and \\ e respond, If wor"p, sO
much worse for the argument.
All "urely agree as re"peetR thpQe two theories or Gospels
helcl out to the wOlld by Protestant Christendom that it
would make no difference' to the fortv-"evpn thou-.and mil-
lions, whether they go Illto that awful' "tate of hopeless woe
by divine predl'stination and lack of love and justice, or by
divine incapacity and lack of foreknowledge and proper ar-
rangements. Vi'e believe that no true Christian will be ready
after examining the subjC'ct thus far to say that he fully ap-
prows either of these theories, and that he is not ashamed
of both of them.
CONSIDER NOW THE TRUE GOSPEL
Let us now proceed to examine what i" the true Gospel,
presented to us in the Word of God-the Gospel of which the
Apostle was not ashamed.
The word "go"pel" itself should be the clue-"hould save
the intelligent Christian from helllg misled by thl' various
theorie" of had titling, of great for nearly all people,
miscalled "gospel." He who thinks it good news that one
out of a thousand of the huml'n family is to be saved and
the remaining !l!l9 to be eternally tormentpd, iR either not a
Christian at all, or he is decidedly undeveloped in Christian
character, in mercy, in love, in .iustiee. In our opinion he is
at most only a "babe in Christ" who has need first of the milk
of the \,"01:(1 awl of the "strong meat" thereof,
that he may grow up into Christ in all and be able to
eomprehend with all saints the lengths and breadths and
heights and depths of the love of God whieh passeth all un-
derstanrling -Eph. 3: 18, 19.
"'hen occasionally we corne aeross some one who <rives
evidenpe of heing a Christian, ancl who still entertains ';;uch
horribly blasphemous views reRpecting thC' H('avenly Father's
eh?raeter. we feel like quoting to him the Lord's words
t
'
1(, PIOpll('t, ":\f" \\av" arC' l1'lt as "our W'lV", nor
n:" tlJ0ught.., l' -\ "0111' thol1ght" for a" tl1(' hpnve'll..; are
hl!!lh'r thnn tlJ(' .C'3rth so aT( my ways hlgllC'r tll'HI wavs
and my plans hlglH'r than plans." (1 sa fi;:i R. f)) And
pnr/. of (lUI' ohjppt in this cli"p(lUfFC', d('ar fripnd", i.., to ha"e
e:ves anointed of th(' Lord. tllnt thpy may spe
thmgs. dli'<pprn some of thl' Lord'i'< hivher \V:W8 and
In,!!her plani'< WllH'h he pre"ents to us in his Word undl'r the
name tidings.
NOT UNIVERSAL SALVATION BUT A UNIVERSAL OPPOR-
TUNITY FOR SALVATION
Thp tells 11" that Go(1 jll'l'adw<1 the Go"'pC'1 h... fore-
haml .\hraham, "hpforphancl" ,lgnif"lIlg hefol'\' it wns (lIle
to. hpglll; for thC' Gos]wl (Ii(l 1I0t Il1'gin II ith .\ll1nhnTll, hut
\\ l.th Olll T:(lnl .Tp"u.., Chri"t, fI" 1.11(' ..\po"tlp flgniu
thl" salvntI<'1l "]H'!!.ln to h... t!('('!.1rl'(1 hv our Lonl wa"
ponfirll,p(ll1Ilto u" h" tlwm that hpal(1 hllll." (Hl'h 2'1) .-\1l
that P\'('I' \' pnt Il1'forp our Lorcl's prec1phing W,l.., not thl' Cn,,-
p('1. but tyP('" and prOllllS"" whi('h fm .. ,hndo\\ \'ll it.
Lpt I1S notirC' np'xI \\ hnt. 1P('onbllg to the Apo"tl(', POIl..,titl1tP<!
tlll-; forl'"tJtC'l1lpnt of th(' Go'prl to Ahraham; hl' snvs that it
Wil" P0uph.c1 ill tl1P won
l
". "In tll.'e nllll III thv s('ell shall all
lIation" hp hlp",,('(1" (Cal ::](i. 2!l) NotC' thiS e,Jrrfllll,,:
it dop, !lot -aI', Tn thy "e,'(1 i'<hall onp out of a thol1snll.1 o'ut
of thp hl1liliC'" of thp Pflrth Iw hle%p.l, all(1 thp rpmaimler
hp (lonmC'11 to an in(ll'scIihably horrihl(' eternity, but thnt tbe
Go"pC'1 i;, a GospC'1 of applieahll' to all the
f[lJlll!Je" of the ('alth-through Chri"t, the trl1e sC'ed of .\bra-
halll.
"'hC'n our Lonl .Tpsus wa" horn into thp world, the Heav-
enly FatllPr Rent a meRs-'ge respecting him, and the angels
\\ ho hare that mps' agp declared that it was a Gospd message.
Let us hearken to what the angels said about the eternal
[2595]
,S7 118)
ZION'S WATCH TOWER
All EGHJ!XY, P .
tOT'lIrnt of thl' vast ma )01 it\ of 0111' rae r. 'Ihpv sail} to th('
"l' 'hring good [g05pell of
;.!I(at whieh 11 he unto all peopll'." (Luke 2: 10) Lpt
It ill' notell that the Gospel of the anw,I", likr tIl('
rommuO!rated to Abraham, lonta1l18 no rl'ference to
tIll' damnation and eternal misery of anv of the Lord's ('I ea
t.mes. ana that consequently olir frien"ds of the
ami othl'rs who in ignorance preach damnation and call
Jt the GOSPl'I. nrc doing' so in utter violation of the meaning
of the "on] and of the use" of that word throughout thp
.... ( Ilpture'-. Howl'ver well they may mean, they are 111 this
PI tandy ellllllllitting a ,,rong. It grievous wrong, an(1 "e long
1" '-ee th(' light, of the lmowledge of thl' goodness of God shme
Into thcir and rrlieY(:! them of this blindness whleh
'limes not frolll <:()(l nor from his 'YOI'd, but from the pllllce
d <1:\1 ('or.
It ,\"Ill rl'ljlli!p all the :I\hllennial age (which is to folIo\\'
h enspel ngr in wlnl'h we lin) to blrss all thr families of
'hp rflrth with thl' joyful knowl"dge of didnr grace in Christ.
III"t so hurrlv as tl](' thousand millions wrnt down
IlItll <1l'ath ,;ithout hp:1li'lIg (If the :"aviolll, WIthout eomlllg
to ,I (]I':11 kn0'\ II'<1g1' of thr truth. \\ Ithout the goorl tiding..,
.If gr('at joy rra(hing their surely must they all
,'OIllP fllrth from tl](' gra\'(. that tlJi", vpry Gosppl message of
'good may he (}p(']arrd to them. and that they may
I". tl"!l'll allll pillH'r ])(. aC'C'('ptrd to etprn:ll life or dr
uuworthy of life, in th(' dratll. 'Ye say
III.-t "'0 for three reahons'
(l I Th(: allnOU]]('rlllrut of tIl(' to Abraham
'In thy h('(',l all the Lllni11(.., of thp earth be blessed."
,IIH] ali of thou"land millions belong to this
( ]:1 sppeified. thr families of thr earth-and they have not
.' pt bppn 1llpssec] with this knO\Y!t'dge of thr only name where-
III i.., the hlesRinl!.
(21 Thr Hamp is tnlr of th(' messagp )IY the angels,-
till' good tidingH of /!rpat joy for all people, and these forty-
H'yrU thousflnd of humanity are surely the great
hili k of all p<'ople
I.JI \\ (' :I I (. sure that must be giYen to
tl,,'m In tht fllturp hepause the Srriptural declaration is that
, ( III l}ie(l fOi' the "he tastr<l death for <'very
mall." and ah :t ron"equencp m:ln IIlU"t have an oppor-
tlmit\ "lantl'd llim for hencfitil1'r hv that drath, and of aYaH-
Ill/! of thf' l'riyi1('gc of liff' "hiph was ser\ll'pd
hli 0111' ransom sacrilire.
DID CHRIST DIE FOR THE OHURCH ONLY?
Hilt some onp would prrhaps say, Christ dieil only for thr
of thr ('hu]'('h and not for tlIP sins of the world, and con-
'('(JllPutly th(' sins of the world rannot be forgiven them. 'Yr
an'-wl'r. Xo; tIle Rcriptural <leelaration most positively is
that ".fl'slls Christ by thp grapr of God tasted death for every
man." "to hp testified iu due time." And, additionally, thp
Apo,tlp "ITe is a propitiation [satisfaction] for our [the
l'hIlTlh'"l an,l 110t. for ours only, but also for the sins
of the whoh world."-1 .Jolm 2:2.
\Yhat C'ould he plainrr than this? If the price for thr
of th(' wllo]p "II 01'1,1 has hf'<'n paid to Justice, we may
rest wen assured tIlfit .lustice will furnish opportunity through
the Rrdecmer wherehy all these whose sins were atoned for
may ('ome to It knowledge of Chri!!t. and to an opportunity of
acceptiug diYine gra('e through him.
But some one will say. Why should God adopt a plan
whleh would neer"sitatr a rcsIlTrection of the dead, and a
postreRurrection trial for C'trrnal life rxcept for all the eled
,hurl'h of tllis GOQpel age?
W<, answer.- (] I Tt is not for us to inquire why the Lord
ItdoptR ('rrtain plaus which differ from those which our poor
tillite minds might arrange for Ilim: rather it is for us to
:l!'knowledge that our wisdom is insufficient on such a subject
and that we should coml' humbly to the Lord to hear from his
Word whatever he may bp pleased t{) inform us respecting his
purposes. (2) As a matter of fact only those who approach
thr question from this standpoint need expect to see the truth
or to "romprrhrnd with all f'aint!' th<' lrngths and breadths
and height!' and drpHI!' of the' loyr of God."-Eph. 3: 18; I
Cor. 2:12
C:od has 1]('rn plrasl'd. howpver. to reveal to us some of
rea'-ons for arranginl! his plan as we see it. He assures
lIS of his fllll wisdom and powpr to manage every feature of
hii'l own work ac('ording to his own good pll"asure, assuring
us that hp knows the rnd from thr beginning, amI that the
'n,l will full:,- ,Jllsbfy f-t('}l that hp has bken. His
\\'(Jnl. no 1('"" than oh<prvation. "how", 11'; that rlul'lng all
1hesp "ix thou"and ymrs the world has been getting a lesson
rcspectmg the exeeeding sinfulness of sin find it" wages of
FOrrow and (lpatll Hi'- 'Yonl a'-"lIre< 11" alc:o tklt eluring
thl' next age. the :Millenlllum. the wholf' world WIll br brought.
to a knowlrdge of the of rightpousness and love and
peace, and WIll sep the divine law in prartH'al operatiun. ano
witness its heneficent results m all those who will come into
harmony wlth the great Mediator.
Thus mankind learns the lesson of edl and Its conse-
quences first in the present life, and the lesson of righteous-
ness and its blessed results under divine prondence, in the
Millennium; and when thus fully pqUlpped with knowledge
on. both sidps of the question and instrurted by the Royai
PrIesthood. (the completed and glorified plect Gospel churrh),
mankind will be ready for the tests, that will be applied by
the Lord .Jesus. undpr whiC'h the ohrdipnt and faithful will
be granted full perfection and eternal life. and thr disobedient
and ineorrigiblp will "be destroypd from amongst the people."
-Ads 3: 22. 23.
"IF YE BE CHRIST'S, THEN ARE YE ABRAHAM'S SEED ANL
HEIRS"
Another matt"r, really the key to the who](' <]llehtlOn whleh
we are dlseussmg, IS revpaled in God's 'Yord. \ 17 . that in thr
diviDp purpose the promIsed "/Sped of Abraham" that should
perform the great work of hlessing all the families of the
"arth, is to be one, in thp sense of one kim}, hut not in the
sense of 0111' person-that is to say, that the seed of .\1)1:1h,11I1
consists of .Jesus Christ the Head, and of the ('hllrch whi('h I,
thr Xot the nominal or professing church. hllt the trill'
ehllrch. "who"e uanlPS ar(' written in hea\'cn." alHl who walk
in the footsteps of their Lord, alld arp found faithful untu
dPltth, and "hall he grant I'd with their Lord thl' crown oi
life.
This Gosppl age intervening between the tim" of the grpa I
sin offering and the time when the blessing of parth's
will commence, God has set apart for the work of sriertlll/!
or electing the body of Christ., the chur('h. the bridr. th..
"little flock." the "royal priesthood," thl' ,Joint hPirs WIth
Christ in his kingdom. These, like their Hea(!. ale ('alled WIth
a "high calling:' a "heavenly calling," anll the "ah':1tion pI 11-
nded for thrill is higher than that which nOll pllrpo"es till'
the world in general. He is selecting this "litt1(' floek" and
trying them and proving them, fitting' them and pohshing'
them for the heavenly kingdom, and it is to thcse, as tlll'
Apostle' Peter declares, God has given "exceeding' great and
precious promises [far any promises given to an:
other of his creatures1 that by these [prom1scs] we might
become partakers of the diYine lIature," and joint-heirs with
his Son. This is denominated It "heavenlr cJ.Iling" in con-
trast with the earthly sal\'ation intended for \\'hoc:oeypr will
"in due time."
This true Yiew of the calling and election of the ehlll ch
is another fcature of tIle Gospel. If it is splendid, good nr" s
to know that ultimately all families of the ('[trth are to Ill'
blessed with opportunities for salvation through the Christ, it
is still an additional feature to the good news to know that
God has invited us to become members of the Christ company.
"members in particular of the body of Christ.' Ko wondpr
the Apostle calls this our "high ealling," our "heavenly call
ing": it is to the attainment of this great prize that the
t\.postle exhorts all the faithful to lay asidp wright and
every besetment and to run with patience the race set before
us in the Gospel, looking unto Jesus, the author, until he
shall have become the finisher of our faith.
This is the true Gospel, dear friend;;. the one we find set
forth in the Scriptures, set forth by Paul himself, and of
which III' was not ashamed. This Gospel showc: the character
of our Creator in a most wonderful wisdom, ablp
to discern tlIe end from the beginning; his power, able to
accomplish that which he pleases; his justice, squaring every
feature of the plan from first t{) last, according to the most
absolute features of l'ighteousness; his love, whose lengths
and breadths and heights and depths we have not yet been
able to explore; a love which sympathizes with his creatures
in their fallen estate; a love which provided a Saviour, and a
great one; a love which prompted that Saviour to give his life
as our ransom price; a love which met all the requirements
of divine justice for us; a love which still pursues mankind,
and in this Gospel age ralls us to joint heirship with his Son
in a nature and kingdom far above angels, principalities and
powers, of which the Apostle says:
"Behold wlIat manner of love the Father hath bestowed
upon us that we should be called the SOilS of God." This
divine love, still pursuing its original plan for man's salva-
tion, will use the "elect" glorified house of sons, of which
Christ J rsus is the Hpad (Eph. I: 22). in blessing all families
of the earth with full opportunity of knowledge and full
assistance up tIle highway of holiness (Isa. 35:8) that so
man:> a" \\'III attain to I p<titlltion to all that was lost in
[2;)961
ZION'S TVATCH TOWEl<
Adam IJy coming back into harmony wIth God through tIl('
grel'lt Mediator.-A('ts :3: 1923.
NONE NEED BE ASHAMED OF THE TRUE GOSPEL
Verily, dear friends, of thIs Gospel we are not ashamed.
"for it is the power of God unto !'alvation to everyone that
believeth." It has in our a and renewing
pr, a pOWI'I "hich no ('Iror "oulu pORsihly
have. and which all the theories of eternal torment ha' c
IIl'ver equaled and never will. Let UR morp ami morl' "Rho\\
fOI th the pI of our God, who hath called out of dark
ness into his marYelous light." hy renouuC'ing all Goddishon-
()j illg l'l'(,l,ds aIHI al1l1 ill"tpa,l hol,l forth the \Yorll of
life, and witneRs the good eonfl'ssion-the "good oi
grl'at joy whi<'h "hall he to all pl'Op1P.'
All who \\111 dprlHlp thp till(> (:0-1'('1 will IIppd to hI' "I'll
"Ilod \lith th(' 1)j('palatiol1 of thc of ]lpa('c (l!('ntl('IH'''.
patil'nee. I fOl. ",trangl' \0 say. tIt!',v \\'111 find bittN
opposition frolll prot('sspd "!'l'vants of thp LOlll "ho havl'
been blinded and prejudicl'd h:,,' misrc'pre"elltatlOns of
t bl' <.;ospeJ.-by which he to (h ive fl'olll the Lord all
wIto have a I(,lIInant of 111 thplr thinking.
A11 \I ho hav(' I'nl''' to heal'. lIIHI "ho do hear th(' tl'll(' GOflpel.
\\ III quickly lhshnguH.h it from the ml"prabll' l'ounterfelh-
wll1eh for so long han' pa"sed ('urr('nt among God's pl'opl!'
Lpt. all Ru('h r{'memb!'r that ability to hear i" an l'viclpnl'l' of
llniIle favor. and let them not he l.ut g!orIfy Clod on
\hls lwhalf. Let su('h rempmb!'r. also. that thplr a('('('ptanl'"
of truth a
Q
due, III thp fapl' of unpopularity. h a part of their
The Lord puts his plan. hi;:; \Yord. a'i III"
tiw ... .lying-He that ashamed of me and oj
him WIll the Ron of b(' a"hnJllpd. when hp ('om('th III tlJ"
glory of his Fnthpr with his holy k i'-\' :1<:;
WHAT SAY THE SCRIPTURES CONCERNING HELL?
"To Ih(' roll' lind 10 thp T(',IIII/Oil,ll II th{'!J I/ot (/{'{'or<lI/I[1 to thl8 H {lid If 18 tH'('oll"" Ihell' I/O ["flhl Itl Ih('l// "

A ('onect. understanding of this has become almost h" almoRt fl',mtl(> 111 tllfil' to til" IIl'1 hIJiu;.!
a necessitv to Christian stpadfaRtJll'ss. For centuries it has The plain inferpn"e I" that tlll'Y do not I)('lip,'c It. The-
heen the 'teaching of "orthodoxy," of all shades, that God. only dass of people that to nny dpgree "how thl'ir faith ill It
lllfore creating man, lUHl create<l a great aby!,s of fire and hy their works i;:; the Ralvation Army; al1l1 ar(' thp suh,
tt'rrOl's, capable of containing all the hillions of the human jeets of ridicule from ahno;:;t all other Christian". hl'rau"l' the"
fnmily which he purposed to bring into being; that this abys>- are >oomE'what consistent with their belief. Y!'t their pP('llliar_
hi' hallnamell "hpll :" nncl thnt all of the an,l threat- and often absurd, methods. strikhlgl.v in ('ontra"t ,lith
"lllngs of tllC' wete de"igued to deter a'5 many as pos.:;ihl" tho,,!' of the Lord of whom it was written, "HI' ilhall not f'rv.
ill "little fJo(k") from wrong(loing as would mak" thi" nor lift np. nor cause hi" Yoi"e to be heard ill tll,'
:l\dul place their perpetual homl' 42:2). are very mild comparpd with wllat mil!ht be expeeh'd
As knowled/!e increases and superstitions fade. if thev were fullv convinced of thp ,lo('trim. \\Te cannot
monstrous .... iew of the dh-ine arrangement and character IS Imagine how sincere believers of this terrible dod rine go from
losing force; and thinking people rannot but disbeliew day to abont the ordinary affairs of life, or meet quiptl:
the legend, whie-h used to he illustrated on the church wallfl in elegance ewry SUllday to henr an e"say from tIl( pulpIt Oil
111 the degree of art nnd realism. samples of which the peculiar subjects often ach-ertised. Coul,l they do "0 whill'
are still to be seen in Enrope. Some now claim that the place really believing all the time that fpllow mortal" an' ,lying n\
is Jit!'ra1. hut the fire symbolic, etc. ete., while others reo the rate of one hundred a minute, and "litE-ring
I'lltlint(' tIll' ,loetrillp of "hell" in sense and degre". "That lone land of deep dl'spair:' wlll'l"
\rhilp g1:1<1 to faJ], nnd truer ideas of th" "Xo God regards their bitter prayer" 9
gr"at, and wise, and just. and loving Creator prevail, we are If they really bcliet'ed few saints e-(lulll (:omp,lccnth
alarmed to notice that the tendency with all who abandon sit there and think of those hurrying eyery moment mto tha't
this long reyered doctrine is toward doubt, skepticism, awful state deReribed by that good, hut
infidelity. deluded man, Isallc \Yatts (whose own heart illlmeasUl
'VIrV' should this be the casp, when the mind is merely ably warmer and larger than that he :lscril'l'd to tlu' gnat
hl'in:r (leliYel'"tl from an error,-do you ask? Beeause Chris- ,Jpho\"ah), when lie wrote the hVIllII-
lian ]1eopl" 11<1'1' RO long 1>epn taught that the foundation fOl "Tempests of angry' fire shall roll
tlJi_ awful blasphemy again<;t Gou's cllurncter and government To blast the rebel worm.
IS deeplaid, and firmly fixed, in the 'Vord of God-the Bibl(' .\nd beat upon the naked soul
-al1<l. to "'hatevpr de,grec that belief in "hell" In one eternal storm."
I_ !,haken. to that extent their faith iu the Bible, as th" People often become frantic with grief wlll'tl friend>! have
1 "\",,Jation of the hue God, i'l shakpn also ;-so that thos(' h(,('11 caught JIl SOIll" tprriblp l'ata'5trophe, as a fil ('. or a wreck.
who have dropped their belief in a "hell," of some kind of though they know they will soon be relieypd by death; yet
"ndless torment. arl' often 0pl'n infidl'ls. and at God's they pretend to helie\'(' that God i" le"s laYing than them-
\Yord. selves, and that he l'an look witll indifferl'nce. if not witll
Guided hy the Lord's providence to a realization that the (leJight. at of his creatures enduring an eternity of
Bil,le heen slandf'red, as well as its divine Author, and torture far more terrible, which he preparl''' for them and
that. rightly nnderstood, it nothing on this subject prevents any escape from for('vf'r. only "0. but
df'rogatory to God's c'llaraf'ter nor to an intelligent reason, w(' expect that they will get litcrally into .'hl'.lham'" 1I0;:;om, and
will attempt to lay b:ue tlll' S"ripture teaching on this suh- will then look !l"ross the gulf allll ",'e all,l Iwar the agoni!''-
it'd.. tllltt thereby fnith m God and \,yord may be 1'1"- of OJ(' JlJnltitud('s (SOIlll' of whom no,\, low and wee"
in thl' heart.. of his people, on a hettel', a reason- over): all,l th"y imagine that th('y will h" "0 chnngell, an,l
able foundation. Tn(]l'ed, it is our opinion that whoever shall hecome like their present idp:t of COlI, so hal'llenell
hereby find that his false 'dew rested upon human miseoncep' all pity. and so harren of 10\'1' awl that they will
t.ion" and misinterprptation", will, at the saml' time. learn to delight in sueh a God and in slwh a plan.
trust hereafter less to his own and other men's imaginings. It is wonderful that otherwisl' sen"ible men and wOIllPn.
and, by faith, to gra"p more firmly the \Vonl of God, whi('h "ho 1o\'(' their and "ho establish hospitals, orphall-
ifl able to make wise unto salvation. ngl's. asvlullls, and societies for the preypntion of cruelty even
That the advo"ates of the doetrinp of dernal torment ha.w to thf' hrutl' ereation, are so unhalancPd IIll'ntnlly that the,
little or no faith in it is very manifest from the fact that it can h!'li('ve and Bubs"l'ibe to su"l. a 110ctriue. alII! vet hI' so
has no power over their course of ll"tion. '''hill' all the inllitrel ent about investigating authority! .
denominations of Christendom "ustain the dodrine that eter- Only one exception can we think of-those "ho hold th,
na.l torment and endless, hopeless desp'lir will ('onstitute the ultra,Calvinistic doetrine; who that God has decreed
punishment of the wieked, they ar" mostly quit" at "ase in it tll1/S. that an the ('fforb; they ('ouId put fortll could not
allowing tile wipk!'d to take their ,'ourse. whill' they pursue altl'r the result with a single person; and that all the prayer,.
the even tenor of their way. Chiming hells and pealing tlley cou1l1 offer would not change one iota of the awful plan
organs. artistic ehoirs, and costly Nlifi('l'''. and upholstered they believe God has mark{'d out for his and their eternal
ppws. and polislll'd oratory whi ..h morp aud mOl'(' avoids pleasure. TIH'se indeed could sit still, so far a'l effort for
referencl' to this alarming thl'me, afford rest and entertain thpir fellows i.., concerned: but why sing the praises of such
ment to fa"llionable congregation" that gather on the Lord's a scheme for the damnation of their neighbors whom God
lilly and are knowll to the world as ..hur"he" of Christ and ha" told tlll'm to love as tlwmselves
representatives of his doctrines. 'But they !?cem little con- Why not ratllPr h"g-in to 1101l1Jt this "do('trine of devils,"
pernerl ahout thp eternal wp]fare of thl' nmltitudes, or even of thi"l agninst the' gr(,!lt God, hatched in the "dark
them""lvp" and tJIPir own famili('s. though 01](' would natura]].' age"."" Jl('n a "r,lfty I)] i('"t 1100<1 tnn!!ht that it i.. right ta
pr.. that with awful in vip,,' tlw" would ,10 evil thnt gl'od may
ITJ- 44 [25971
ZIONJS WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY PA.
The doctrine of eternal torment was undoubtedly intro-
duced by Papacy to induce pagans to Join her and support
hpr It t10urished at the same t;me that "bull ficrhts"
and gladiatorial contests were the public amu'lements
enJoyed; when the Crusades were ealled "holy wars," and
wlll'n men and women were called "hcretics" and were often
:;Iaughtered for thinkmg or speaking contrarv to the teach-
mg.., of the Papacy; at a time when the sun' of gospel truth
"as obseurc; whrn the "'ord of God had fallen mto disuse
and wa" to be read by any but the clergy, who'll"
love of thrlr neighbors was often shown in tortnrinO" "heretics"
to mdupe them to reeant and dpny thrlr faith and their BiLleR
-to save thrm, if pORsible, theY explained, from the more
awful future of "hrrrtips,"-eternal to! ture. Thev did not
?orrow this doctrine from the heathen, for no heathen people
111 t hI.' \\ or1,1 haVI.' a clochine so prup1. "0 fiendish ancl flO
IlnlU't. FlI1cl it. \\ hornr can, ancl sholl' It up in all it.., black-
that. if It may hI.' shown that thp eR"pnce of
ba rblll ma lipp. hate ancl ungoclline"R has not heen ex-
elusl\pl,\' applpc'latecl bv whom God ha'l mO'lt hicrhly
fa\ orrcl with light from every quarter, and to whom he
('omnllttr,l the on1\' oraplr-lJi" \\'on!. Oh' the shame and
pon that will eovpr t1w fapr.., of many, even good men,
\\ ho WI thought that they .clio Gocl service while propa-
gatlllg" tlll.., bhlsphl'mous dodrll1r, when thev awake in the
rr",urJedion, to ]l'arn of til(' lovr ancl ju"tice of Goo, and
\\ hpn thpy pomr to know that the Bihle oors not teach thi'!
r;()(I-,lishonol"lnQ', lovr-extinguishing, truth-llPclouding, saint-
hinorring, sinner-haroening, "damnable heresy" of eternal
torment.-2 Pet. 2: 1.
But we reprat that. in the light and moral development
of this day, sensible people do not believe this doetrine. How-
ever, since they: think t.he Bible teaches it, every step
they progreRs m real mtelligence and brotherly kindness,
wh J('h IIITHlrrs beJief in <'ternal torment, iR in most ca'les a
'ltrp away from Goo's word, whirh is falsely accused of being
the authority for thi" teaching. Hence the second crop of
rvil fnut, which the devil'R engraftment of thi" error is pro-
(hwing, i" skepticism. The intelligent, hone'lt thinkers are
thus drivrn from the Bible into vain philosophie8 and sciences,
falsPly an(l into infidelity. Nor do the
really bclirve this doctrine, nor i'l it a restraint to crime,
for convid8 ancl the lower classes are the firmest believel s
in it.
But, says one, Has not the error done some good? Have
not many hppn brought into the churches by the preachincr of
this doctrine in the past? 0
No erlor, we anSWH, ever did real good, but always harm.
\\ hom PHOI' bring"'" into a chUl ch, and whom the truth
would. not move, are an injury to the churl'h. The thousands
terrol"l7,rd, hut not at heart converted, which this doctrine
foreed into Papacy, and whiph Rwelled her numbers and her
wealth, diluted what little truth was held before, and min-
gle,} It \\ Ith thl'ir unholy Rentimcnts, an,} errors 80 that. to
meet the changed condition of things, thl' "clprgv" found it
needful to add error to error, and resorted to methodR, forms,
etc., not taught in the RcriptureR and useleRs to the truly
whom the truth controls. Among theRe were pic-
tun's, ImagcR, beadR, vestments, candles, gram'! cathedrals,
altar", etp., to h('lp the unronv('rted heathen to a form of
go(ll ine"R more l1('arly correRponding to their former hpathen
wor-hip. but Japking all the pow('r of \'ital g'(),llinl'sR.
1'11(' heathpn were not heu('tited, for thl'v w"re "till hpathen
in God's sight, but dl'luded into apinO" 'what thpv did not
or do from tIll' hcart. were addpd "tareR"
to phoke the "wheat," without hl'ing' profited themselves.
Thp Lord tplls who thl' speo of this I'normous prop.
(Matt. l::l: ::In). The same iR true of thosp whf) a the
namp "('hri..,tian" today. who arl' not really at heart converted
by tllp truth, but merely frightened by the error, or allured
by promised earthly advlllltageR of a ROC'ial for hll"in('sq kind.
Rnlh add nothing to the tnw churdl: bv their idea" and
manners thl'Y bl'come Rtnmh}ing hlopks to tIll' trulv COTlRe-
cratl'l\. and ]". thrir inahihh' to the hnth, 'thp real
food of the saintR, thl'Y 11':1(1 even the few tJ ue pastors to
of'frauc] the trul' "sh('pp" in OJ d('r to satisfy the demand" of
these for sometlling pll'a"ing to tlwir lmconverted
ta"tl''' .. No: 111 no way ha.. thiR error appompli"llPd good
e)(f'ppt 111 the Rl'nRI' that God is ahlp to mak,' I'vpn thl' wrath
of man to praise llim. Ro alRo he will owrrule this CYil
thing I'vl'Tltually to Rerv(' hiR purpo"('R. \Yhpn hv and hv all
mpn (durm/? the l\1:ill('nnium) !'hall come to !'pe 'thrOllgh' this
grpat deceptJOn l>y which Ratan has blindrd the world to
God'R true charaeter, it will perhaps in them a
warml'r, !'tronger love for Goel.
Seeing, then, the unreasonablenesq of man'8 view, let UR
lay aside human opmions and theories and come to the 'Yord
of God, the only authonty on the subject, remt>mbermg that
"God is His own II1terpreter, and He will make it plain."
"HELL," AS AN ENGLISH WORD
In the placp beal in mind that the Old Testament
Scriptures were written in the Hebrew language, and the 1-.ew
Testament in the Greek. The ,vord "hcll" is an Engli"h word
sometimes selected by the translators of the Er,ghsh Bihle to
the sem,e of the Heblew word sheol and the Greek
\vonls, hades, tartaroo and gehenna,-sometimes rcndered
"grave" and "pit."
The word "hell" in old English usage, before Papal
theologIans picked it up and gave it a new ancl speeial sig
nificance to suit their own purposes, simply I1Jpant to conceal,
to hzde, to eoz"er: hence the concealed, hldden or rOl'rred place.
In o}c} Engh"h literature reco1(}" may be founel of the hell-
lIlg of potatclt's-puttmg" potatoes into pits; and of the 1wll-
ing of a house-covering or thatphing it. The word hPll waR
therefore properly used synonymously with the words "grave"
and "pit," to tran..,late the words sheol and hadrs aR slg-lIlfr-
fying thr 'lecret or hidden condition of death. Howevel. the
Rame spirit \vhich was \nlling to twist the word to trl"lOJ Ize
the ignorant is willing still to perpetuate the error ;-pre-
sumably saying-"Let us do evil that good may follow."
If the translators of the Revi"ed Version Bible had been
thoroughly disentangled from the Papal error, and thoroughly
honest, they would have done more to help the English student
than merely to substitute the Hebrew word sheol and the
Greek word hades aR they have done. Thev should have trans-
lated the words. But t'hey were evidently afraid to tell the
truth, and ashamed to tell the lie; and so gaY!' us sheol and
hades untranf,lated, and permitted the infenncc that the'll'
words mean the same as the word "hell" has hecome per-
verted to me'ln. Their COlJr"e. while it for a timr shll'lo'i
them"elveR, dishonors God am} the Bibll', \Yhich thr common
people still suppose teaches a "hell" of torml'l1t in the words
sheol and hades. Yet anyone can see that if it WUR proper to
translate the word sheol thirty-one times "gl nve" and three
times "pit," it could not have been improper to have so
translated it in every other instance.
A peculiarity to be observed in comparing these cases, as
we will do shortly, is that in thoge texts where the torment
idea would be an absurdity the tran"lators of the King James
version have used the words "grave" or "pit"; while in all
other cases they have used the word "hell;" and the reader,
long schooled in the Papal idea of torment, reads the word
"hell" and thinks of it as signifying a place of torment. in
stead of the grave, the hidden or covered place or condition.
For example, compare Job 14: 13 with Psa. 86: 13. The for-
mer reads,-"Oh, that thou wouldRt hide me in the grave
[sheo]], etc.," while the latter read",-"Tholl hast deliYered
my soul from the lowest hell [sheo]] ," The Hebrew word
being the same in both cases, there is no reason why the same
word "grave" should not be used in both. But how absurd it
would have been for Job to have prayed to Go(l to hide him
in a hell of eternal torture! The EngliRh rearler would have
asked questions and the secret would have gottrlJ out sI)('pllily.
\Vhile the translators of the Reformation times are some-
what excusable for their mental bias in this matter, as thev
were JURt hreaking away from the old Papal ou'),
modern translators, specially those of the recent Revised Ver-
sion, are not entitled to any such consideratlOll. Theological
profe"sors and pastors of congrl'gations ('onsioer that they are
iustified in follow1l1g the course of the rpvlsers in not explall1-
ing the meaning of either the Hebrew or Greek words sheol or
hades and by their use of the words they abo give their con-
fiding flocks to unoerstana that a place of torture, a hke of
fire, is meant. While attributing to the ignorant only the
best of motIves, it is manifestly only duplicity nnd cowardice
\\ hich induce" educated men, who know the truth on this sub-
ject, to prefer to continue to teach the inferentially.
But not all ministpr8 know of the errors of the translators
and deliberately cover and hide those errors from the prople.
Manv, inderd, do not know of them, having mprely accepted,
without inve"tigation, the theorie'l of their seminary pro-
fp"sors. It is the professors and learnl'd oneo.; who are most
bl'lmcworthy. These have kept back the tnlth ahout "hell"
for rea Rons. First, thpre is evi(leptlv a of under-
stflncling or I'tifluette among- them, that if thpy wi"h to main-
tain their in the "profession" they "must not tell
taleR ont of school;" i. e., thpy must not divulge profegsional
secrpts to the "common people," the "laity." Second, they all
fpar that to let it bp known that they have been teachinO" an
unscriptural doctrine for years would 'break down the
respect and reverence for the "clergy," the denominations and
[25981
MARCH 15 AND ",-PRIL 1, 1900
Z ION'S TVATeH T 0 TV E R (91-93)
the theological schools, and un<;ettle confidence in their wis-
dom. An{ oh, how much depend'! upon confidence and rever-
ence for men, when God's 'Yard is so generally ignored!
Third, theY know that many of tIle members of theIr sects are
not constrained by Hthe love of Christ" (2 Cor. 5: 14), but
merely by the fear of hell, and they see clearly, therefore, that
to let the truth be known now would soon cut loose the names
and the dollars of many in their flocks; and this, to those
who Hdesire to make a fair show in the flesh" (Gal. 6: 12)
would seem to be a great calamity.
But what will be the judgment of God, wllOse character
and plan are traduced by the blasphemous doctrine which
thpse untranslated words help to support? Will he commend
these unfaithful servants? Will he justify their course? Will
the Clnef Shepherd call these hIS beloved friends, and make
known to them his further plans (John 15:15) that they may
misrppresent them also to preserve their OWIl dignity and
reverence? Will he continue to send forth Hthings new and
old," Hmeat in due season," to the household of faith, by the
hand of the unfaithful servants? No, such shall not con-
tinue to be his mouthpiece or to shepherd his flock. (Ezek.
34:9. 10) He will choose instead, as at the first advent, from
among the laity-Hthe common people"-mouthpieces, and
will give them words which none of the chief priests shall be
able to gainsay or resist. (Luke 21: lfj) And, as foretold,
Hthe wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the under-
standing of their prudent men shall be hid."-Isa. 29 :9-19.
"HELL" IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
The wonl Hhcll" occurs thirty-one times in the Old Testa-
ment. and In evcrv it is sheol in the Hebrew. It does
not mean a lake' of fire and brimstone, nor anything at all
resemlJIing that thonght: not in the slightest drg1'ec! Quite
the revprse: inFotead of a place of blazing fire it is described
in thc context as a state of Hdarkness" (Job. 10: 21) ; instead
of a place where shrieks and groans arc heard, it is described
in the eontext as a place of Hsilence" (Psa. 115: 17); instead
of represpnting' in any sense pain and suffering, or remorse,
the contpxt rleReriht''l it as a place or condition of forgetful-
(Psa. R8 '11, 12) HThere is no work, nor device, nor
in the grare [sheol] whither thou goest."-Eccles.
9:10.
The meaning of she01 is "the hidden state." as applied to
man's condition in death, in and beyond which all is hidden,
exeept to the eye of faith; hence, by proper and close associa-
tion, the word was often used in the sense of gru're-the tomb,
the hidden place. or place beyond which only those who have
the enlightRned eye of the understanding can see resurrection,
rf,titlltion of being'. And be it particularly noted that this
identical word sheol is translated Hgrave" thnty-one times
and Hpit" thrce times in our common version by the same
trallslators-more times than it is translated "hell"; and
twice, where it is translated Hhell," it seemed so 3 bsurd,
according to the present accepted meaning of the English
word "hell," that scholars have felt It necessary to explain
in the margin of modern Bibles. that it means grave. (Isa.
14:9) and Jonah 2:2.) In the latter ease, the hidden state,
or grave. was the bplly of the fish in which Jonah was buried
alive. and from which he cried to God.
ALL TEXTS IN WHICH "SHEOL" IS TRANSLATED "HELL"
(I) Amos fl :2-
H
Thou!rh tht'v rli!! into 1Ir77, thence shall
mine hand take thpm." [A figurative Pxprt'",ion; but cer-
tainlv pits of the earth are tIl/! only hells mt'n can rllq into.]
(2) Psa. 16:10-
H
Thou wilt not leave mv soul in hell.'
neither wilt t}101l suffer thine Holv One to sel' corruption."
[This refers to our Lord's three 'days in the tomb.-Acts.
2:31; 3:15.]
(3. 4) Psa. 1R:;j and 2 Sam. 22' ()-margi n.-HThe cords
of hell compassed me about." [A figure in which trouble i'!
represented as hastening one to the tomb.]
(5) Psa. 55: 15.-"Let them go down quick into hell"-
margin. Hthe grave."
(6) Psa.!l: 17.-"The wicked shall be turnerl into hell,
and all the nations that forget God." This text will be treated
later, under a separate heading.
(7) Psa. 86: 13.-
H
Thou hast delivered my soul from the
lowest hell"-margin, "the grave."
(R) Psa. 116: 3.-
H
The sorrows of death compassed me,
and the pains of hell gat hold upon me." [Sickness and
trouble are the figurative hands of the grave to grasp us.]
(9) Psa. 139:8.-
H
If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou
art there." [God's power is unlimited: even over those in tIle
tomb he can and will exert it and bring forth all that are in
the graves.-.John 5:28.]
(10) Deut. 32 :22.-"For a fire iR kindled ill mine anger,
and shall burn into the lowest hell." [A figuratiw> representa-
tion of the destruction, the utter ruin, of Israel as a na tIOn-
Hwrath to the uttermost," a<; the Apostle caller1 it, God'E
anger bmning that natIOn to the deep," as
here translates the word shrol.-l Thes. 2: 16 ]
(11) Job 11: 8.-
H
It [God's wisdom] ig as high as heawn ;
what canst thou do? deeper than hell rthan any PIt]; what
canst thou know 9"
(12) Job 26:6.-
H
Hell [the tomb] is naked before him
and destruction hath no covering." '
(13) Provo 55.-"Rer feet go down to death; her stepE
take hold on hell [i. e.. lead to the grave]."
(14) Provo 7:27.-
H
Her house the way to hell [the
grave], going down to the chambprs of death."
(15) Prov.!l: 18.-
H
He knoweth not that the dead are
there, and that her gue'!ts are in the depths of hell." [Here
the harlot's gueRts are represented as dead, or dvmO',
and many of the victims of sell'luality in pr<:mature
from diseases which also hurry off their posterity to the
tomb.]
(16) Provo 15:11.-"Hell and destruction are before thl
Lord." [Here the grat'e is associated with destructicm and
not with a life of torment.]
(17) .Prov. 15:24.-
H
The path of life IkadC'th) upward
for the WIse, that he may depart from hell heneath." [Thi"
illustrates the hopp of resurrection from the tomb.'
(18) Provo 23:14.-
H
Thou shalt beat him with the rod
and shalt deliver his soul from hell" ri. e., wise
will sa,e a child from vicious ways which le:ld to premature
death, and may also possibly prepare him to p,wape the
H gecfm'd death"].
(19) Provo 27:20.-"Hell (the gravel and destruction are
never full: gO the eyes of man are never satisfied."
(20) Isa. 5: 14.-
H
Therefore hell hath cnlarged herself
and opened her mouth without measure." (Here the grave
is a symbol of destmction.]
(21, 22) Isa. 14:9, 15.-
H
Hell (margin. grave] from
beneath is moved for thee, to meet tllee at thy commg." ....
"Thou shalt be brought down to hell" [the g;uve-so rendered
in verse 11].
(23) Isa. 57 :9.-
H
And didst thyself eYen unto
helL" [Here figurativt'ly of deep degndati01;.l
(24, 21)) Ezek. 31:15-17.-"1n the day when he went
down to tIle grave, .. " I mad!' the nations to shake at
the sound of llis fall, when I cast him down to hell wi tIl
them that desef'nd into the pit.. " Thev also wcnt down
into hell with him, unto them that be slah; witll the gword.'
[Figurative and prophetic description of th.' fall of Babylon
into destruction, Rill'nce, tIle gra,e.]
(26) Ezek. 32:21.-
H
The strong amonO' tllP mirrhtv shall
to him .out ?f the midst of -heTT wit'll tlH'm help
hIm. [A of samc figure reprcsenting Egypt's
overthrow as a natIon to ,l0lll Babylon in destrllction-bnried.]
(27) Ezek. 32:27.-
H
And they shall rIot lip with the
mighty that of the lJllpireunwiRed. whieh are gone
down to hell WIth theIr weapons of war: and thp\, have laid
their swo.rds under their heads; but their i!ll(juitip,\ shall be
upon theIr bones. though thev were the tprI'or of thc miuhtv
in the land of the living." . [ThE' gra\'p is th" only
where fallen oneR are buried and lie with their weapons of
war under their heads.]
(28) Hab. 2:5.-
H
Who enlargeth hi'! as hell [the
grave] and as death, and cannot he satisficd."
12f1\ JOl)vh 2-"Thpn .Tonnh prayp(l unto tIl(' Lord
(;or1. Ol1t of the helh. an(l sai.l. 1 prit'cl I,v of
ninp i1tl1idion unto tIle 1.01'11. nnrl II<' hp:11'11 IIIP:' O1lt of the
hellv of hell cril'd 1. and thol1 llennlp"'t mv VOH'P" [Thf'
Iwlh' of the fish waR for a time hi", mnn!ln.l
31) Isa. 2R:]!i]R.-
H
B,caust' ha\'p said. \YP lJa,e
maclp it r'o,('nant with rlpath. Hnd with hell [tht> gravE'] are
we at wlwn the oYt'rflowllll! sr'ol1r;2:e ,hall
through, it sllall not ('ome unto us, for WP made lies our
refuw" and under falsehood have we hid There-
fore, Raith the Lord, . . .. Your eovpnant wlth death shall
he disannulled, and your agreement with hdl rthe grave]
shall not [God thus de('lares that the present
prevalent idea, hy which death and the graY(' arc represented
as friends, rather. than enemies, shall ceasl'; and men shall
learn that death IS the wa,qes of sin, now and that is in
Satan's powt>r (Rom. 6:23; Heb. 2:14) and not an angel
sent by God.]
ALL OTHER TEXTS WHERE "SHEOL" OCCURS-RENDERED
"GRAVE" AND "PIT"
Gen. 37 :35.-"1 will go down into the g1are unto my
son."
. Gen. 42: 38.-
H
Then "hall :VI' bring down my gray hairs
WIth sorrow to the gra'll?" rSee also the same expression in
[2699]
03 94) Z I () .V ' S W.--:1 T C H TOW E R AI,LCGHE'iY, I' \
H :!U. 31. The ,lId lIot lLke to send (;0'1''3 SeIYllllt,
J.ll'l.b. to hell "Imply V""Hn-p 111-; \\t'le eYJl.J
I 2:ti.-"Th,' Lor.J kJlI<'th. ,lrlU nnket!r alI\"( !rl'
\'1 Illgf'th down to '!raJ 1', and Illlllgl'th up:'
I EIIJ!!s 2.(,. !l-"Lpt not ll!- lin<lr hpa.l go tlown to the
1/1
1
/11' I\lth pP,lI'" " hO,lr h',1.Jl'll11[! the'll uown to the
4111/(' "ith ],]c,od:'
.101, I:n.-'II, that !!o,';h <101111 (r, t1l0 g'I/," .,
.i"I, H.13.--O]'. tL.lt tllnl1 'I IIl,!,l 111dp 111l' in thl' gUIl'e.
that thol1 \\()l1ld,t 1,p('p 1111' "'r'd 'Plld n,y '11nth 1."
tl..U llvll \\''IJI,),t aT'I"'IILt Ill":' ,I'( i'llll ;pl rlWpw1:.;!f1l'
I It"ll! rp,'t m.!' .
.1,,], 17 j'\-"ff [\\,It 11", 1,/"" ,- ''''IH' hOIl-" T 1,,1\'-
lily Il('{} in 1j,(, da 1 kll:'-o. ..... ' I.L l 1) \ .llt fl1r 1(".... 111 r('I'tIOIJ--
1.1 11", 'monJin!!:'j
.1,,1, 17!t'.-"Tl,PY .1Ia11 /-:" d'''111 ;, 1
1
11' hoI- "i the lilt
I!!I,II ,,1. \\ ll"n ollr ] ",( to!!pihe] ;11 til d'l't "
.J(dl 21' I:1-' Iht,\ .... ptltd I :\1'11 I: l.\'" )j' lllillh.1i Ii. 1 til ,:
lIl('JII"lIt go down to t11(' ,!II'I ( .,
.fol, :111<1 h,.\1 ,'oll,U111e th,- "now
I\at,'rs: ,,0 doth thp 'Inn e wh"')1 1t.\\ e "innp,l:' I All
haH' silll}('tl, hl'm'C' "J)p:Jth pn",",] UPOn all 111\'11," and all go
down to thp gral c. Hilt all ha\(" 1""'1\ rpl!ppmeu by 'the
prpf'ious hloo(l of C1111"t."; h0n('p all hc awakcned amI
,'n!llP forth fI"nin in ('od',\ dup timf'-' 1Il the mornin!!."
;:;. 12, I!) I
1'sa. 6:5.-"In death there 1" no IP!lwmhrllncc of thee: in
t lie qnwe who shall give thpe 'I"
1'sa. 30: 3.-"0 Lord thou hast brotlg'ht up my soul from
the "rave: thou kept me alivp, that I should not go
,lowI; to the pit." [This gratitude for
1 ecovery from danger of death.l
Psa. 3 I: I7.-"Let the wicked be a"hamed; let them he
-ilent in the grave."
PBa. 4!) '14, 1;'. lIlargin.-"Likc sheep thl'Y are laid in thp
1II'at'C: death shall f!'ed on them; and th., upright [the saints
:'-Dan. 7 :27] shall lHlve dominion over tlwm in the morning-
rthe Milh'nnial morningl; and their beauty Rhall consume,
tllP grave being an hahitation to OIll' of them. But God
will rpdpem my soul from the power of tIl(' 91Ut'e."
Psa, SH: 3 -":My life draweth nigh unto the gmvc."
l',;a, 89: 48.-"flhall he deliypr his from the hand of
t 11p qrave T"
Psa. HI :7.-"011r hones arc spattered at the grave's
mouth."
Provo 1: 12.-"Lp{ 11" swallow thpm up ali\'(' as the gl'aLe:
:11](1 whole. tho,; that. go down into the pit" [i. e., as of
.111 parthquakp. as in 1\l1m. If, <10,:331.
1'101'. :10 l.). ] Ii --"Four 'H.I- not. It rllongh: the'
l/ra1'I'." (tr.
};"('1. !l: 1O.-'\\-1'abo\'\ pr thy ha nil tln,]dh to do. do it
\\ ith thy might.; for fliPI'(' is no' work. llor rl\'\ ieP. nor knowl-
-t!!!l'. \\ i"<!om. III nIP '1)(/1 r. \\ hLtll"r tholl goP"t."
of S f,.-",TpHlon'lY iR cruel a'l thp qJ-are."
pomp j<; hrOl;ght down to the grave."
I"n. -"I "hall I!0 to tllP gall's of th" gmt r I am
,J"I']'I\,('(l of thr l'l"idne of
ha. qnllc ,'al1ilOt prai,p tIlt'\'. d'-f1th eflnnot
",j, lind\' Ihp(" Ih('\' that !.!l) 110\\11 intn ;he ptl ".lIlJll't hopl'
1"1 th\' truth." .
);'um. 1fi --"1 f . thl'y !!O ,lnwn tjlli('k into thp
"'f th('n "h'111 \(' 1lIIlkr-.1au(1. ... Th" 12:rOll11,l ,layl' a<;lllldpl
that \\.h 1II"]I'!' fllPln. all,1 tIll' partll (1)('/lp,1 lar JlIonth am]
. " a 11"1',(,1 t1a'J]J I']>. :'n,l tl,,,ir l](lI1"'-, .1'1(1 ,dl the n'('n that
'l,!,,,J'tallll'd lln
t
p Korah..111(1 .111 th.. ir Tlwy and all
'hnt flppprlalTlPd 10 t]H'm \\,pnl dO"'1l nli\-.. into the pit, and
,j\(. ":llth "Io-"d llpon tlll n' flmJ Ill",' n"II.li(,! from .tmong
tllp
1'/"1. ..:1].) "Ill Ill" .1".\ \l11<'n Ill' \lent down to t1l0
,'}III (',
1Ir""[1 13'1 f --' r \'111 thp11l from tIle powpr of ULp
,/1
1
(1('; I "ill 1,,1""1'1 tlll'lI1 flOl11 dp:1th. 0 fJeflth, r will be
1'I:1!!l]('" () 1/1'111 I" I "ill 1>p dp;;truetion. Repentance shall
\'r hi,l flom min(' P'l'''.'' (Thr Lorc1 dic1 not ransom any from
.1 pl:1PP of fin' aIHl tormpnt. for thpre is no such place; but
liP ili'l r,lIHOT!l a11 mankind from thp qra,re, from death. the
TIln.dl\ 111 ouglt lLJloll Hll .\,lam', ",in. as thi" YPhe de-
, In j('-. I
Tlie abo\'p li<;t illc1ud('R evprv inHtance of tIle Use of thp
Engh-.h word "1Ip11" and the H'ehrpw word in tl](' Old
l'p",tampnt. From pxamination it mnst bp evident. to all
rpa(]Prs that Gorl';; for four thoU>mnd years con
tain not a sin!!'le hint of a "hell," sneh as the word is now
nndprstoou to -;ignify.
"HELL" IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
In the New Tp<;bmpnt the Grpek word hodes
exactlv to the Hehrf'w WOI tl proof see the quota-
tlonR of the Apostlp'I from the Old Te'ltament.. III which
Trnder it hades. For llIst.\Jlce. Acts 2 :27, "Thou WIlt not
leave my soul in is a quotation flom Psa. 113 .ltl,
"Thou ,,:ilt not leal P my ,oul JIl sheol." Am] in 1 Cor. 15 ;5.t.
.).) , "Death i'l swnlloll ;',1 up llJ vidory. 0 death, where j.,
thy sting? 0 grave llwdf 1. WhpI I' b thy victory'I': IS
allusion to 1sa. 2') :8. "He will sw,dlow np dl'ath III VIetor)' .
and to Hos. 13: 14, "0 dpath 1 will he thy plagues; 0 sheol
l will he thy rt0btruction:'
"HELL" FROM THE GREEK WORD "HADES"
11; 23.-"Allll th"u, Cnpernaum, which al t p:-.altl'd
lJnto hpay"n. shalt 1)(' hlOIl,!llt tlowll to hr71 ;., Luke 10: l:i
"Slldl be down to h II." [fn prl\ il"gt's of kno\"l",l!!,'
and <,pportul1Jty the dty \nl'3 llJg-hl." fav?red. ('I', ilgnrab\-ph
. (':-.al((',l unto he:l' pn ;., bnt bec:111-<' of of Go,l's favol '.
Jt, 1,,0111(1 he (lrha<;pd. or. fi[!urati"ely, ('""t (10\\ n to hadrs, 01',']-
thrown, destroyed. It i3 now so thoroughly buned 1Il ohlivion.
thflt ewn the site where it stood is a matter of thSputl'
Capernaum i'l certainly dcstrol/t'd, down to hadcs 1
Luke 16 :23.-"111 hell he lifted up Ius eye;;, bplllg III tor-
meuts." [A parabolic figure explainell further along. un,lPI ,I
separate heading.]
Rev 6:8.-"And hehold a palp hoI',,!': and his name that
sat on him was Dpath, and Hell followed with him." [Symbol
of de'ltruction or the qra1c.l
Matt. 16: 18.-"lJpon rork 1 will build my church
and the gates of hpll Rhall not premil against It." [Althoug-h
bittl'r and pprsl'rution, even unto dpath, should
afflict thp churrh during the Gospel age, it should never
prevail to her utter pxtermination; and event ually, her
reRurrection accomplished by her Lord, the ehu]'('h WIll pu-
n i1 over hades-the tomb]
CHRIST IN 'HELL" (HADES) AND RESURRECTED FROM
"HELL" (HADES"-Acts 2:1. 14. 22-31
"Anu when the day of Pentecost waR fullJ' come, ' ...
Peter .... lifted up his voice and said.. , .. Ye men of
1,rael, hpar theRe words: Jesus of Nazareth, :l. man
of God among you, .... being deli,verpd by th.e detenlllnate
roun-;el and foreknowledcre of God [He was dellYered for our
offemes'), ye have taken'" and by wickpd han,'
and slain: whom God hath raised up, ha\'lng loosed the palll"
[or bands] of death, because it was not possible that Ill'
i\hould be holden of it [for the Word of JP]lovah had pre
viouslv declared his resurrection]; for David sppaketh
cernin'g him [personating or speaking for himl, '1 I
forpsaw the Lord [Jehovah] always before face; for he
on my right hand, that I should not be moved. Therefore dill
my heart rejoice, and my tongue was gll1d; moreover also
flesh ;;hall rest in hope, bpcau-;e thou wilt not Ipuve my soul !II
hell [ha,dps, the tomb, the state of dpa.th1, Ilpither wilt thou
Ruffer thine Holy One to see corruptlOII. 'Thou [Jehonhi
hast madf' known to me [Christ] thf> of lifp.''' Hprl'
Lord. as personified by the propl1Pt Dadd. hi" Lllth
in .Jehovah's promise of a re'lUl redion and 1Il the f;lll and
glorious accomplishment of ,Teho\'ah'-; plan through hIm. allu
I Pjoiees in the prospect.
Peter then proceeds, and. bl'dhrPll..Jpt nlt'
treely speak unto J'ou of the patriarch DavHl, that he 1; both
uead and buried, and his sepulcher ig ,,ith U'l unto thI'I
[so that this prophecy could not have rpfpJ']'p(l to hlmselt
perBonal1y; for David's goul Ipft in "hell"-ha.r!e8. the
tomb, the state of death-and his flp,h did spc eorruptlOn1.
Therefore being a prophet, and knowing' that God haa sworn
with an oath to him, t1l:ct of the fruit of hi., 10ins accordlllg
to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit 011 his throne.
he, seeing this before [prophetically), spake of the res,urrec-
tion of Christ rout of "hel1"-lwdes, the tomh--to whlch hI'
lIJust "0 for OUr offenses], that his soul was rIot Ipft in lidl
llilldes'::-the death state), neither his flesh did see corruption"
Tll1l'l Peter presents a str?ng, argument, on the
\\ord;; of the prophet Davld--showlllg first, that Chnst. who
was delivered by God for our offellses, went to "hell," thp
o-rave the condition of death, destruction IPsa, 16:10\ and.
that according to promise he had been
hell, the grave, death, by a ralslllg
up to life' being creatl'd agalll, the same IdentJcal belllg, yet
more o-lorious and exaltedo even to "the express image of the
...' d "th' J" Father's person." (Heb. 1: 3) An now. IS same esus
(Acts 2 :36), in his subsequent revplahon to the Chureh,
declares-
Rev, 1: 18.-"1 am he that liveth, and was dead, and,
behold I am alive forevermore. Amen; and have the keys of
hell [iUJdes, the grave) and of death."
Amen! Ampn! our hearh respond; for in his resurrec-
tion we sl'e the glorious outcome of the whole plan of Jehovah
[2600]
Z10i\"S WATCH '1
to be accompli5hcd through the power of the Re"urrected One
who now holds the keys of the tomb and of death and in due
time will releasf' all the prisoners who are, therefore, called
the "prisoners of hope." (ZeclL 9:12; Luke 4:18) No craft
0r cunning can by any possible deVIce wre'3t these Scriptures
rntlre and pervert them to the support of th,> t monstrous and
Papal tra(htion of eternal torIl\(nt. Had that
hel'n our ppnalty, Chriht, to he our YI( arlOU'3 ;;acrifice, mU'3t
and to all eternity, el\(lure such torment, winch no onp
WIll claim. But dt'atl: was our and' U,l'lst died for
HII' and "al"o for the of Ult> \\hole world."-l
Cor. 11):3; 1 John 2:2.
Itpy. 20:13, l-L-".\.nu the sea gaH' up the de",l \\hich were
III it; and death and hdl [the gnnpj dl'1lv,'lrc! up the deacl
\',llIeh \WI e III them: and they were enry man, acconl
h Ol('ir works. And death pml hdl fthe grave] were
into the lake of fire: this is the ;,eelmd dl'atl ." [Thp lake
t IiI c i" Jlli' "!!lIlbol of final and ';\-"I!a,ting destruction.
Death and hell l the grave] both go mtn It. Thue shall be no
1lI01p (It'ath; "thp last enemy that hhall l)r de,troved is death."
-I Cor. 1:i'26; Rev. 21:4" .
OTHER OCCURRENCES OF THE WORD "HELL"
Having examined the word 8h('01. the word in thl'
I lId Testament rpndered "hell." and the \\'01,1 hades, mo"t
fre'luently in the New rendered "hell" we now
llot!re enry remaining instance ill f'C'ripture of the Engh;,h
,\old "hpll." In thp New Testament two other words aI('
rl'lIC!erC'd "hpll;" namely, gehenna and tartaroo. \vhieh we will
,oll<"ll!l'r in thl' order named,
"GEHENNA" RENDERED "HELL'
Thi" word oC'curs in the followlllg" all twehe
liml'<.,:-Matt. 5'22, 2!l. 30; 10:2R; !R:fl; :?3:1G, 33; Mark
'I 43-47; Luke 12: 5; JdS 3: G. It is the Grecian mode of
,..pelling the Hebrew words which are tran'!lated "Yalley of
IIlJInom." This val1py lay iust the of Jerusalem.
and ,..erved the purpose of spwpr and burner to that
( ity The offal. garbage. dC'., were emptied there, and fires
\\ PI C' kppt continually burning to consume utterly all thing'!
,lppo"'lted therein, being added to asEtist combu'ltion
,lml insure completp (Ipstruction. But no living thing was
,,\-,'1' pcrmitted to he C'ast into G('hennrr. The Jews were not
,I!lowcd to torturc anv creature.
'Yhen we con'lider' that in thf> ppoplt' of God was
l!i\ mg us object le",,-on,; illu'Itrating Ill" dealll111'" and plan>;.
present and futurC', WI' shou1<l p'(pect that this Valley of
Hinnom, or Gd/cII//((. would al;;:o play it" part in illustrating
thlllg"l futurC' 'Ye know that l'1"a"]',, priesthood and temple
\lIu,tratpd the royal priesthood. the Christian church as it
will be. the true tpmph' of God; and we know that their chief
.'itv was a figun, of the New Jprusalem. the seat of
and eenter of authorit;v-the city (goYernment) of th"
r:rpnt King. ImmanuC'l. 'Ve remember. too, that Christ'"
c:o\-,-rnment i'3 rppresl'nt"d in the book of Renlation (Rev. 21:
lm,lf>r the figure of a city-the New Jerusalem. There,
,\ftl'r dl'sC'ribing thl' class permitted to enter the privilegt's
alld blessings of that honorable and glorious,
and all who have right to the trees of life-'we find it also
df'f'lnred that tl1Pre shall not enter Hllo It anything that
defileth, or that worketh abomination, or a he; hut
only such as the Lamh shall write as \Yorthy of Iifl'. Thi"
,it". whiC'h thus will represent the entire sayed world in thl'
,-nd of the Millennium, was typified in the earthly ('Ity.
,Teru'lalem; anel the defiling, the abominable, etc., the clas'l
l111worthy of life everlasting, who do not pntrr in. were repre-
"entpd b.V the and till' filthy, lifelt'ss carcasses cast into
(i('hf'n na outsi,le the utter uestnh,tion was thus
,..ymlJolized-the seron(1 death. Accordingly, we find it stated
that thosp not fonnd worthy of lIfe ar!' to he cast into the
"],Ikp of fire" (Re\". 20:15)-fire 11('1'''' a., even-where, lwing
us('d as a svmbol of destrllctwn, and thp "vmbol. lake of fire,
l,ping from this same Gehenna. or 'Valley of Hinnom.
Therefore, whIle Gehenna served a useful purpose to the
.'Ity of Jerusalem as a place for garbage burning, it, like the
('ity itself, was typical, and illustrated the future dealings
of God in refusing and committing to all the im-
pure l'lements, thus preventing them from dpfiling the holy
City, the New Jerusalem, after the trial of the Millennial age
of judgment shall have fully proved them and separated with
unerring accuracy the "sheep" from the "goat"."
So, then, Gehenna was a type or illustration of the second
death-final and complete destruction, from which there can
be no reC'overy; for after that, "there remaineth no more
sacrifice for sins," but only "fiery indignation whirh shall
deI'our the adversaries."--Heb. 10: 26.
Let us remember that Israel, for the purpose of being used
as types of God's future dpaling with th.. raeI'. was typically
tll'ate,! a'l though the had lJeen gl\l'!l hefllll' till'!
left Egypt. though only a typlcJI lamb had been slam. \\ hell
,Terusalem was built, and the of tilt'
true tpmplP, the ('hurrh, and the true kingdom as It will L,
estahlIshed by in the :Jlillennlllm-that people tvpificd
the \\orld in the :JIillenlllal age. Their
the glorified loyal and thl'lr law and its dem,Uld,..
of perfl'ct ohedience rqJresentetl the law and undt'l
the Xew COV!'IWllt. to be brought into operatlOn for the
mg of all the ob!'dient. and for the eon(!l-mnatJOll of all \\ hI'
\\ hen gl antd fullest OppOl tunit,\'. ,vill not h!'artily SIlOIlJIL to
the allli 1.J\h of the Great
then. I'r.1el'::; conclitlOlJ. etc. III Pil,C:Ul ,d
those ot othe worlcl In the ('onllng "lg('. how arrl'uprj,ttl' ilj,'t \\,
shoul(1 l1nd th.. valley or ahy,..,... Udl "11 11 11. ,I figUlt, or tIl<
;;: ..('ond cleatll, the utt!.'r cll',tJ 1I,tl1111 III ,he comlll" a"e of all
that H of ple;;enatlOn; awl Low t;'" h th,
"Iake of file 11111nlllg \\ith bllllhtllllP' ('He\". IV,2lJ,
drawn from thi<; same Gehcll1/U, or '-alll'v of HllJnom, bUrnll1"
continually WIth brim;,tone. TIle '!mrlllnC'
hrimstone.': adds force to thp "fire," to expr;,,'l tlI,
utter and Irreyocablp dl'structIH'nl'SS of thl' death; for
lJurning is the mo;;:t deadly agi'nt known. IrO\\
reasonable. too. to expect that Isral'1 would h,l\ I' court, aud
Judge'l or prefigming the judgmpl'1.<; of the nHI
age; and that the sentence of those (figurat in) comts of
that (figurative) people under those (figurati"e) laws to that
(figurative I abyss. outside that (figurative) CIty. would
largely correspond to the (real) sentencefl of thp (real) court
and judges in the next age. If these points are kept in mind.
they greatly assist us in understanding the words of om
Lord III reference to Gehenna.: for thouO"h the literal yalle\-
just at hand was named and referred to,'"vet his words
with them lessons concerning the future' age and th" ant;-
typical Gehenna-the seC'ond death.
SHALL :BE IN DANGER OF GEHENNA-Matthew 5:21, 22
"Ye have heard that it was said bv them of old time 'Thou
shalt not kill; an,1 who<;oe\'i'l kill shall hI' t(l
judges:' b,:t I say nnto you, that whosoever is angry witt
brother WIthout a C'ause slwll rfutUle-under the rpO"ula-
tions of the real kingdom1 be amenable to the jUdges;'"and
:"llOsoe\'('r shall to hi, brother. 'RaN' h illam]. shall bp
111 danger of th/' high coun('il; hut \\ hosoe\'er shall Say, 'Thou
fool,' shall be in dangl'r of hdl [Gchellnal fire." .
To understand the"e refl'renl'es to council and judge<; and
Gehellna. all "houid know something of Jewish regulatIOn,..
The "Court of Judges" con'listcd of seven n1<1II (or twenh-
thrce,-the number is in dispute). and had. powrr to ludg-.
s?me classes of crimes. The High Council. or Sauhedrin; con-
<;Isted of seventY-Ol:e me'n of recoC'nized It'arJlill'Y and ahil1t\
This constituted the higlll'-,t comtof the Jews. ;nd its super-
YlSIOJI was oyer tIle gl a\ pst ofTenses. The mOot "-i'l iou'i hen-
tence was death: hut ('crtain vrrv ohnoxious cl'lminal" werp
suhjeeted to an aft!'r d!'a1h. hemg refllf-ed burial an,l
cast \\ ith the of dogs, the city refu<;!', etc.. into
gehenna., there to be con"umpcl. The objeC't of this hurnlJ11!
III Gehenna was to makp the crim!' and the C'I imlnal
in the eyes of the people. and signified that the C'ulprit W,I,.. a
hopeless case. It mU'lt b!' r,'mpmhprc(1 that hrad l"'Jlpd fOl
reSU!TectJOn from the tomh. au.d Itpucp tit!',\' \Hr,' p:llliculal
III earmg for the eorpsps ot 1.
1
IPlr c]Pa'l. :\ot Tf'all/ing fulh'
God's po\\'er. they appalrntl,v thought }ll' upc,led tll"lr a,..,,:
tance to that extf'ut. (Exod. l:l: I!I. Heh. 11. c\( h j I.".
16) Hence the destrudion of thl' hod\' lJ1 G,'1Irnlill aftl'l
death (figuratiYely) illlpli!'d the loss o( hOt)e of futllr.' hfp
by a rpsurreetion. Thu'3 to <.,uph ad/('n j'(/ I('[Jre<"PJltl'<! 1 h,'
death in. the same figllratin wa.\' that they as a ppoplr
represpuh'd or Ilillstrat('d a fut\ll e ordcl of Oliu!!" un,l!'r th,
New CO\enaut.
Notice om 1,01(1. iu OIP a],ovc wonl . pOlJ1ted ou(, t"
them that theIr ('on"trl1pt!on of the Law, "PH'le though it. wa,..
was far below tIl(' real Import of that Law, as It shall he
under the real kingdom and judges. which tlll'ir,..
only typIfied. He shows that the command of their la\\.
"Thou shalt not kill." reached much farth"r than they sup-
posed; that malicious an,qrr and vitupl'ration "shall be" pon-
sldered a violation of GO(]'s law, under the l"ew Covenant.
and that suph as, undpr thp favorable conditions of that new
age, will not reform so thoroughly as to fullv observe God'"
law will be count-ed worthy of that. whi('h the Geh('nna near
them typified-the serond death. However. the sevC'ritv
of that law will he pnforepd only in proportIon as the elIsel-
plme. advantages and of that agp, ellablin<T pach to
pomply with its laws. shall be dislegarded. ,..
Thp t1lOught IS rontinupd in
[2601]
(95-97) ZIONJS WATCH TOWER
ALL(GH(>;Y, PA.
Matthew 5: 22-30
"Ye have heanl," et<: .. "but I unto you .... it is
hettn for thee to lObI' one of thy than that thy
\\holp hudy lJe mto G,,!lrnl/fl."
H"I e agam the oppratlOn of Gor]'" law under the Kew
CmenHllt h wIth Ih oppratlOn under the Old or
,J P\\ I,h ('o\('nant, and the of is urged by
tlw ,tHt('lllpnt that it is far more profitable that men
rHu,p to gUltify depraYed (though they be dear to
tllt'm a, a right C,\ P, anrl appan'ntly as a. nght
hawll than that they gratify and lose, III the
'("'ollrl dpath, th.. futurp hfp IHo\Hled through the atonement
for" II ,,110 wIll I pturn to p.rledlOn. and God.
of our Lord not ollly to show us
til .. /"'''((/1''11 I HOll1. of la\\, anll how fully it
wIll h,. dplilwd a III I enfore('d in th.. )1J II I'11I1 1U1Il. hut they
"'1 \ pd a a to t hI' ,1 al "0. \\ ho 1'1 saw
thr"u"h \ro".. ('oIllmaIlll" onlv the (,],IHlp Pxt(']]or of the law
of - thpv foulld it 'dJlfi('ult III theIr fallpn to
k('('l' IIl\ iolat< (.\ pr; thp of the law, tlll'Y
lllll,t 110\\ tlil' of tlllir kpeping the finpr nlPan-
ill" of tIll' law I('\lal,d hv Hall tllt'v and
n';"'I\('(1 t(alhlll" fnll,', tlll'V \\oul(1 ha\p'r'lip<! out, Alas
l
If <."d \1, hy'th. \"'ry aIllI intellts of the
h('art \\(' an' all lIIll lpnll, nil UW]Ollp. and ('an hope for naught
IJ1It (olld"II111atlOn to (J"hrnlll( (to 'II/t"r rll'strllctwn. hrute
lH'a,t'l. TIll'v \\ou!II h.I\( I'ri,,(!, 11'0 a greatpr prieiit-
l](loll t hnll tl;.lt of .\aloll. a High anll Tpachpr able
to Hl'IH,"tatl thp law, and ablp fu!iy apJllel'late and
m/,Htltl/,. \\ Itll our fallen aIlll mhel'lte,l
a'lld h,t hllll ,,11(,1' 11<.; ')wtter "aeJifipe,.,,' and apply to us the
npl'd(.d gn'at('r forgi\ of sin, and ll't hIm as a great
'II Ian lll'al 11'0 :nHl 1 that we elll! obey the
[Il'l f(d 1.:1\1 of (:ocl frOll! our TllPn they would have
f() lllHI C]lri"t.
Bllt tllh th(v (lid not lparn. for tl1l' of their
W,'IP "dilll of hparmg;" heIll'e thev knew not
thHI (;(J(I all (':llly prl'parp(1 the very a'ml 'I.aerifip('
allli tl':1l h(') alld th(',v nl'eded. \\110 in due tIme re-
dl" 1]](,d tllo,p IIlld('r tlH' typieal law. a;< wpll as all not under
It, Hlld \\ Ito "Ill dup time," WIll bpvin his restor-
in" \\ or]..-I ..,tolllll1 to the blmd pyes of their under-
<,t;lldlnl!. aIH! to tlH'ir deaf ears. Then the "vail shall
)", tH]..PIl :I\\HV..-tlll' \ail of igllOlallee, pridp anci human wis-
dom \I h Il'h 1:m now to blilld the world to God's true
law alHI tl1l(' plan of >.ahation III Chllst.
\1ll1 not only ,lid our Lord's tl':H'hing herp ;<how the Law
of thp "\'pw ('nant, and t('a('h tllP .Jew a le>."on, but it is
of h('lIpfit to thp Goslwl ,'ll1lrl'h abo. Tn plOportion as we
)PH III tit, (',\af'tIlPs<.; of GO(l's Lnw, alld wltat wuld cOII;<titute
III If", tlon undpr requin'mpnt<.;, w.. that onr Rpdeemer
\la, I'''rfp('t. HIl,1 that WI', toLdly unahlp to pommend
Hh (' ... t" (:o.} :h ]..Pp1,,'r... of that law. ('an find accpptanpe WIth
th,' Fatlll'r ollh' III thp mPllt of our Rpd..eml'r. while none can
lIP of th.lt 'hl;,h ... ('O\(I ..,1 hv thp rolle of his righteousness,
I':\((/'t th,' who e'n(lpavor to do vllly those things
\\ I'll 1'1('H--lng to (:od. \\ hiph inpludl'i\ the avoidance of sin to
tl](' P"t('lIt of alnlltv. Ypt tlwir a(ppptal)]hty with God rests
not III t)Il'ir 11lrfPItlOn. but upon tlIP pprfeeLiol1 of Christ, so
1(,,,,, a- tlll'\' :tlnd( in him. n('\,pl t]lpll'q. are hpnefiterl
bv d('HI 'in,ight mto till' pI') !<'('1 la\\ of (1,1. ('\'PII
tllPV arl' no' dl'jl,',ldl'lIt on tltp p('rfPI t kpPjllng ot It. 'I'h.,\,
dp!;glil t) do \\ill to thl' ("tPllt of thpil al11lIty,
:1'1.1 Ih,' h,;t"1 '111'\ ]..110\1 hi, !H'lfl'ct law, th.. hptt('1 tltl',V all'
:,:,1(' to 1111,' tlll'III'I'1\P'" .111,1 to eonform to it f'o. thpl1. to U8
:11-0 tIll' l.111d, \lI'l.} ... h:I\(.1 of valup.
TIll' point. lio\\p\pl, to hI' "1H'('iallv lIot,('p,1 lwrp is that
(},!lr'llIlII \\ hllh till' kllt'w. :1 Ill) of wltll'h OUI' Lonl "pokl'
to tlll'm. \\ I' Ilot a lak( of fil'(' to hI' kept hurlling to all
11('11111\' Into \\llldl all \\0111(1 hI' ('a"t \\ho l!pt ":llIgry with .1
hrllt111';'; allei (',111 him a "foo!.' Ko; thp .I(,\\., g.ltlIPrpd no
"lllh p,h"lIll' IIkil flom tll\' \\old, .. TIlt' "t"ln,tl
IllPnt tltPII! \' \1',\"0 llllkllO\l11 to thplI1. It had no plac(' III theIr
tIJ('olll!.:v. :;, \', ill h" It a "omplllatively modern
invelltlOl1, IOlllillg dO\\I1. WP han shown, hom Papaey-
tIll' glPat TI](' point is that Gehe/l/ll1 symholtzes thp
H'( onel death-uttpr. ('omjlll'tp and (,\prla ..;tlll/Z deiitruption,
Thl'; i'l ,Iparlv "hown by Its h"ing pontrasted with /If(' as its
"Tt hptt"r' for thp" to enter into /lfe halt, or
1l,allllpd. tllan otlH'1 \I j.;p to Il(' into Geh(')ma." It is bet-
t"r that vou "IHm1<l denv sinful gratifieations than
that vou shou1<l ;lll f;lture hfe, and pp1'l3h in the seeond
death.
ABLE TO DESTROY BOTH SOUL AND BODY IN GEHENNA
Matthew 10:28; Luke 12.5
"Fl'ar not them" III('h kll\ thp hut are not able to
kill the soul: but rather fear him whiph is able to destroy
both soul and body in hell [Gehenna]." also another
aeeount of the discourse hv Luke-12' 4, fi.
Here OU1' Lord pOlIlted out to his followers the great
cau;<e thpy had fill' courage and bravery unrIel' the most trying
circumstances. They were to expect persPpution, and to have
all mannPI' of evil spokPll against them falsely, for his sake,
and for the sake of the "good tidings" of whiph he made them
the ministers and heralds: yea, the time would camp, that
whosoever would kIll thpm ",'ould think th:lt he did God a
serVIce. Thl'ir ronsolation or reward for tillS was to bp re-
celvell, not in the life, hut in the life to come. They
were and thpy helievcd, that he had corne to givp hIS
lifc a ransom for many, anrl that all in their mu"t in
eonsequenpe, in due tlmp. hear the Dehverpr's \oipe and pome
forth. either to reward (if thpir trial had heen passed in this
hfp future trial, or judgment, must he the
case with the great mll]onty who do not, in tIllS prps('nt lifc,
pome to the nepessary knowledge and opportunity to
a pomplpte trial.
endl'r pre"pnt conrlitions men are ahle to kill our hodiI's,
hut nothing that thpy can do will affl'et our future hplIlg
(soul I." whil'h God has shall he revive'] or re;<tored
hy hh power in the resurrel'tion day-tllP 1\'1 illpnIllal age.
Our revIHd ;<ouls WIll have new ho,lips (spiritual or natural
-"to eal,h his own [kind oil hody'). aIllI thpsp none
will have hhprty to kill. Gorl alone luts powel to dp"troy
tlt/erly-soul and hody. He alon... therefore. should he feared,
and tI1l' 0pp0'lltion of mpn pvpn to tIl(' dl'ath not to he
fearp(l. if thelehy wp gain dIvine approval. Our Lord's 1)\(1-
din;! then h" Fear not them whiph can terminat<' the prp,pnt
(dying) hfe in these poor dYlllg hodies. Can' little for it,
its food, its clothing, its pleasures. in with that
future existenpe or being" hi('h Gorl has pro\ hIed for you, and
which, if sppured, may be your portion forevrr. Fpar not the
threats, or looks, or aet" of men, whose power can extpnrl no
farth('r than the existence; who can harm and kill
these hodies, hut can do no more. Rather ha\" respept and
deference w God, with whom are the issues of /tle erer-
lasting-fear him who i'l ahle w destroy in Gcllenna, the see-
onrl death, both the present dying existence and all hope of
future existence.
UNDYING WORMS AND QUENCHLESS FIRES-Matthew 18:8, 9;
Mark 9:43-48
Here it is conclusively shown that Gehemm as a figure
represented the second death-the utter destruction which
must ensue in the ease of all who, after having fully received
the opportunities of a future being or existenre through our
Lord's sacrifice, prove themselves unworthy of God's gift, alld
refuse to accept it, by refusing obedience to his just require-
ments. For it does not say that God will preserve ;<oul or
body in Gehenna, but that in it he can and will "destroy"
both. Thus we are taught that any who are condemned to the
second death are hopelessly and forever blotted out of
existence.
[Since these two passages refer to the same discourse, we
quote from Mark-remarking that verses 44 and 46, and part
of 45, are not found in the oldest Greek MSS.. though verse
48, which reads the same, is in all manusenptro. \Ve quote
the text as found in these ancient and reliable MSS.1 "If thy
hand offend thee. cut it off: it i'l better for thee to enter into
life maimell, than having two hands to go illto Gehenna, into
the fire that neYer Fhall he quenched. And if thy foot offend
thee, ('ut it ofT: it IS better for thee to entpr halt into lIfe,
than having two feet to be cast into Gehenna. And if thine
eye offend thee, plupk it out: it hetter for thee to enter
into the kingdom of God with one eye, than hrcying two eyes
to be cast into GehemUL, where the worm diES not and the
fire is not quenched."
After reading the above, all must agree with the prophet
that our Lord opened his mouth in figures and obscure say-
ings. (Psa. 78:2; Matt. 13:35) No one for a moment FUp-
poses that our Lord advised the people to mutilate their
bodies by cuttin6 off their limbs, or gouging out their eyes.
Nor does he mean us to understanrl that the injuries and
(lisfigurements of the pre'lent life will continue beyond the
grave, ",ltpn we II "('nter into life." The ,Jews, whom the
Lorrl addressed. having no conception of a place of
ing torment. and who knew thp word Gehel1Ha to rpfer to the
valley outside their city. which was not a plape of torment,
nor a place where any living thing was cast, but a place for
the utter destruction of whatever might be cast into it, recog-
nizing the Lord's expression regarding limbs and eyes to be
figurative, knew that Gehenna also was m'ed III the same
figurative sense, to symbolize utter destrueticn.
* \Ve WIll supply free on application a tract on "What is the Soul?"
[2602]
M"RCH 15 "ND APRIL 1, 1900 ZIONJS WATCH TOWER
(97-99)
The Lord meant simply this: The future life, which God
has provided for redeemed man, is of value, and
it will richly pay you to make any sacrifice to receive and
enjoy that life. Should it even cost an eye, '1 hand or a foot,
so that to all eternity you would be obliged to endure the loss
of these, yet life would be cheap at even such a cost. That
would be 'better far than to retain your memb('n, and lose all
in Gehenna. Doubtless, too, the hearers dlew the lesson as
applicable to all the affairs of life, and understood the Master
to mean that it would richly repay them to dcny themselves
many comforts, pleasures and tastes. dear to them as a right
hand, precious as an eye, and serviceable as a foot, rather
than by gratification to foyfpit the life to come and be utterly
destroyed in Gehenna-the second death.
But what about the undying worms and HI{' unquenchable
fire?
'VI' answer, In the literal Gehenna, whiph is the basis of
our Lord's illustration, the bodies of animals, etc., frequently
fell upon ledges of rocks and not into the fire kept burning
below. Thus exposed, these would breed and be de
destroyed by them, as completely and as surely as those which
burned. No one was allowed to disturb the contents of this
vall!'y; hence the worm and the fire together completed the
work of destructwn-the fire was not qUi'nched and the worms
died not. This would not imply a neverendmg fire, nor ever
lasting worms. The thought is that the worms did not die off
and leave the carcasses there, but continued and completed
the work of destruction. So with the fire: it was not
quendled, it burned on until all was consumed. Just so if a
house were ablaze and the fire could not be controlled or
quenched, but burned until the building was destroyed, we
might propl'rly call such an "unquenchable fin'."
Our Lord wished to impress the thought of the complete
a nIl finality of the st'cond death, symbolized in Gehenna.
All who go into the second death will be thoroughly and
completely an(l forever destroyt'd; no ransom will ever again
be giyt'n for any (Hom. 6: 9) ; for none worthy of life will be
('a",t into the sl'ponll death, or lake of fire, but onlv those who
lore unrighteomness after coming to the knov;ledge of the
truth.
Xot only in the above instances is the second death point-
edly illustrated by Gehenna, but It is evident that the same
Teacht'r us('d the same figure to represent the s?me thing in
the symbols of Revelation,-though there it is not called
Gchrnna. but a "lake of fire."
The same valley was once hefore used as the basis of a
by the Prophet Isaiah. (Isa. 66:24) Though he
gin's it no namt', he describes it; and all should noticp that
he speakR. not as some with false ideas might expect, of
billions ali\'e in flames and torture. but of the carcasses of
those \\ ho transgressed against the Lord, who are thus repre-
sented as utterly destroyed in the second death.
The two preceding verses show the time wht'll this prophecy
will be fulfilled, and it is in perfect harmony with the sym-
bols of Rl'yelation: it appertains to the new dispensation, the
:MilIennium, the "new heavens and new earth" condition of
things. Then all the righteous will see the justice as well as
the wisdom of thp uttpr destrudion of the inporrig-ihlt'. wilful
of I as it is written: "They shall be an
abhorring unto all flesh."
Matthew 23:15, 33
The class hpre addressed wag not the heathen who had no
knowledge of the truth. nor the lowest ann IHOSt of
the .Tewish nation. but thp Rcrihes and Pharibees. outwardlv
the and tl1' leaders and teacbers of the pcople.
To these our Lord said, "How can ye cscape the of
GehNina 7" TIH'se men were hypocritical: they wer(> not true
to thpir convictions. Ahundant tpstimonv of thc truth had
been borne to them, hut they refused it; it, and en
deavored to counteract Its mfiuence and to discourage the
from accepting it. And in thus. the holy spirit
of hght and truth. they were hardenlllg' thplT hl'arts against
the \'Pry agpncv which God designed for th!'ir blessing. Hence
th!',v \\'pr(> wlck(>dly his grace, and such a course, if
pursued, must eventually end in conrlemnation to the second
dpath, Gehenna. Evt'ry step in the direction of wilful blind-
ness and opposition to the truth makes return more difficult,
ami makes thp wfongdoer more ancl more of the character
which God ahhors, and whiph the spcond dpath i" intenrled to
uttprly dC'sb oy. The Scribt's and \,1'1'(' progrcssmg
rapidly in fhat course: hencp thl' wflrmng inquiry of our
Lord. "How pan yp escape?" etc. The sense is thie,-Although
you boast of your pIety, you will surely be destroyed III
Gehenna, unless you change your course.
SET ON FIRE OF GEHENNA--J'ames 3:6
"So [important] is the tongue among our mpmbers, that it
defileth the whole body, and setteth on fir" the course of
nature, and. [or when] it is set on fire of Gehell'na."
Here, III strong, symbolic language, the Apostle points out
the great and bad Illfluence of an evil tongue-a tongue set on
fire (figuratively) by Gehenna (figuratively). For a tongue
to be set on fire of Gehenna signifies that it is set gomg in
evil by a perverse disposition, self-willed, selfish, hateful,
malicIOUS, the "ort of dispo'iition which, in spite of knowledge
and opportunity, unless controlled and reformed, will be
counted worthy to be destroyed-the class for "hom the "sec-
ond death," the real "lake of fire," the real Gehenna, IS Ill'
tended. One in that attitude may by his tonglle kindle a grcat
fire, a dpstructive disturbance, which, wherever it ha" cun-
tact, will work evil in the entire course of nature. A few
malicIOUS words often arouse all thl' evil passion'i of the
speaker, engender the same in others and react upon the first.
And continuance in such an enl course finally corrupts the
entire man, and brings him under bentence as uttuly unworthy
of life.
"TARTAROO" RENDERED "HELL"
The Greek word tartaroo occurs but once in the
and is translated hell. It is found in 2 Pet. 2: 4, which reads
thus:
"God spared not the angels who sinned, but cast [them]
down to hell [tartaroo], and delivered them into chains of
darkness, to be reserved unto judgment."
Having examined all other words renderpd "hpll," in the
Bible and all the texts in which they occur, \\ e conclude the
examination with this text, which is the only ont' in whieh
the word tartaroo occurs. In the above quutntion. all the
words shown in Italic type are translated from the one Greek
word tartaroo. Evidently the translators wpre at a loss to
know how to translate the word, but eonelllded they knew
where the evil angels ought to be. and so they made to
put them into "hell," though it took s!x to tWiSt the
idea into the shape they had predetermmed It must take.
The word tartaroo, used by Peter, very closely resembles
tartarus, a word used in Grecian mythology as the name for
a dark abyss or prison. But tartaroo seems to more to
an act than to a place. The fall of the angels who smped was
from honor and dignity, into dishonor and ccnll(>mnatlOn, and
the thought seems to be-"God spared not tIl(' angcls who
sinned, but degraded them, and delivered them into chains of
darkness."
This certainly agrees with the facts known tn us through
other Scriptures; for these fallen spirits frequented the earth
in the days of our Lord and the Hencl' they
not down in some place, but "down ,n th", s('nsl' of bemg
deO"raded from former honor and liberty. and re"trainl'd undt'r
as by a chain. Whenever these fallen spirits, in
spiritualistic seances, manifest their powers thn1ligh mediums,
pretending to be cE'rtain dead human helllgs, th.,'y must
do their work in the dark. he('ause darknes., I.- the cham by
whi(,h they are bound until the great Millenniul day of judg-
ment. ";hether this implies that in the imJlll'diate future
they will be able to materialize in daylight is ddficult to de-
termine. If so. it would greatly increase R1'tan's powcr to
blind and deceive for a short season-until th" Sun of Right-
has fully risen and Ratan is fully hound.
Thus we ('10.,1' our investigatIOn of thl' IliblC' U;-\l' of tht'
word "IIPI!." Thank God. we find no such pllle(' of I" (,J
ing torturl' as the crepds and hymn-hook", and many pulpits,
erron('ousl\' teal'h. Yet we have found a "hell," she!)/, hI/des,
to which all our rapE' were conllpmn('d on :ll'POlll1t of Ad,lm's
sin. flnd from whi('h all are rpllel'med hy OUf Lon!'", dl'ath;
and that "hell" is thE' tomh--thl' death conc;ition. And we
find anoth('r "hell" (Gphenna-the sl'('oml {/(I/I h-utter de
ul'tlOn) hrought to our attl'ntion as the' final IJl'n:dtv upon
all who, afti'r ht'ing renl'emen and hrought to thp full knowl-
E'dge of the truth, and to full ability to obey it. shall yet
choose nl'ath by choosing a course of oppOSItIOn to God and
And our hp:uts say, Aml'n! True and right-
c;us are thy wavs. thou King of natIOns' \\'ho shall not
venerate the'e, 0 Lord, and glorify thy name? For thou art
entIrely holv. And all nations shall come and v,orship before
thl'e, hecause thy righteous dealings are made manifest.-Rev.
15 :3, 4.
PARABLE OF THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS-Luke 16:1931
The great difficulty with many in reaning tIllS sPTlpture !s
that, though they regard it as a parahl!'. tllPy leason on It
and draw conclusions from it as though it were a literal
Atatemcnt. To regard it as a litE'ral statement in\olveA spvcral
absurdities; for instanl'e. that the ri('h man went to "hell"
because he had enloyed many earthly blPRsiJlgs and gave
nothing hut crumbs to Lazarus. Not a word is said about his
wickedness. Again, Lazarus was blessed, not lJecause he was
[2603]
10 9-100) Z I 0 .N 'S TV ATeH T 0 TV E R
ALI.GHENY, P '..
<I ",il'lcere child of God. full of faIth anti trust, not because he
'" as good, but sImply because he was poor and sick. If
interpreu.d literally. the only logical lesson to be drawn
irom it is, that unless we are poor beggars full of sores, we
will never enter into future bliss; and that if now we wear
anv fine lincn and purple, and havc plcnty to eat eyery day.
\I e' are surc of future tornwnt. Again, the coveted place of
favor i'l ".\braham's and if thl' whole statement bc
Ilt(,]":11. the bosom must hI' literal. and it surely would not
h"ld HI many of earth's millions of sick and poor.
Hilt \\hv consider absurdities? As a parable, it is easy of
11I1<'lprefat;un. In a parable the thing Stud i'l never thc thing
lJIl'allt \\"c know thIS from our Lord's own l'xplanatlOns of
hI- para ble'l. \';hcn hc said "wheat," he mcant "children of
1111' hlllg-dom;" when he slud "tarc'l." he m0Hnl "thc children
"f I Ii" dc'\ il ," when l,c' saill "1 capers" IllS scn'ants ,vere to be
IIl1d"1 -10m!. etc. (:-latt. The samc were rc'pr0-
-"lIt,'d hI' ,1Iffprcnt '" mooIs in <1ifTercnt paraLles. Thus the
, Illlt'at." 'of one parablf' c'orrpspond to the "faIthful seryants."
al,,1 til(' "\\ l'ie virgins" of othcrs. So, In this parable, the
'11111 man" n'prpsenfs a class and "Luzr,rus" represent'l an,
I,tllt'l l'Ias,'
In attemptmg to expound a parable SU0'11 a" thi'l. an c':'
pIa natIOn of wInch the Lord does not furnish us, mode'lty III
l'''prp'l<,mg our opinion it is ecrta.inly approprIatp
\Vl' therefore offer the followmg- explanatIon WIthout any
,dl('lllpt to fOIce our \'iew" upon the reader, excppt so far
ill .. 0\\ n truth-enlightened judg"luent may commend them In
,lI'lonl with God's Word and plan, To our understandmg,
.\.braham reprcsented God, and the' "rich man" represented tlH'
nation. At thc time of the of the parable,
.11111 for a long- time prpvious, the Jews had "fared sumptu-
"1I-lv ('\'l'ry day"-hcing the recipients of God's
\8 Paul "\Vhat' advantage, then, hath the Jew? "Much
('\'l'rv wa\,: r'hiefly, because to them werc committed the'
o( (;od [Law awl Prophecy]." The promises to Abra-
ham al1ll nand and their organization as a typical kingdom
"f nocl il1\'cstC'd t.hat people with royalty, liS npresented by
t lIP ric h man's "purl'Ip." The typical sacri.fiees of the
thpm, in a t\-plcal sense. a holy (rIgbteous) natIon,
rl'prl'''ented by thl' r;l'll man's "fine linen."-symbolic of
rI/!hteou'iness.-Rc\. )!l: 8.
Ln zanl'i repre'lcutpd the outcasts from dh-hle fa\'?r under
t Ill' law. who, sin-siek, hungered and thirste1 after nghteollR'
nes-. "Puhlican" and "inncrs" of Israel, seekinr, a better life,
,lIld truthhungry Uentiles who were after Gocl" can
.. tltut('cl tIle Lanll'lt>. class, Thcse, at the tIme of the utter-
anc'(' of this paralll('. wPre entIrely destitutp of those special
oIIVlIH' "hich 1sr.lel enjoyed. They lay at the
,,[ lhc rIeh man. riph promises of royalty were thelfS;
1I0t. 1'\ cn typically werc thpy cleansed; but, in reoral sickness,
, '. f "d " D
pollutio1l alld t hpy wel"(' pompalll.ons 0 ogs. ogs
wprp rl'gar<!pd DR dctpstahlp In thos!' days, and the
t ypIl'ally C'1('an .J cw calle,l the ontsidprs "heathcn" and "dogs,"
'lIId woulei nc\'pr c'at with them. nor marry, nor haye any
,jpallllg.. with thpm.-,Tohn 4:fl.
.\s to how thpse at<' of the "crumbs" of divine favor whiph
ip1! from Israel's tahl(' of bonntips, thc Lord's words to thp
"vroPhrl'nieian woman glvc' us a key. He sairl to this Gen-
t Ill' woman-"It is not meet [proper] to tak" the children's
: hrul'litps'] bread :md to cast It to dogs [Gentiles];" and she
.1Il'lwpred. "Truth, Lord, Lut the dogs eat of t1le crumbs tllat
fall from thpir ma;;tpr's tnllll'." (Matt. 15:26, 27) Jl'SUS
;If'al,,d hpr daughter. thus gl\ing the desired erumh of favor.
Hut therp came a great chspensational change in Israel's
hl'ltorv whe'n as a. nation thl'y rejected and crucified the Son
"f (;od TIIPn tlH'lf typwll righteousne'ls th('
promlsl' of ro;valty p"ased to be theirs, and the kingdom was
lak,'n from them to be gIven to a nation bringing forth the
fruit'l th('rpof--the Gosppl Chure)l, "a holy nation, a peculiar
pe0l'l<-.' (Titll'l:2 14: 1 Pet. 2: 7, fl; Matt. 21 :43) Thus the
"nl'h man" (bed to all these spel'ial advantages. and soon hI'
.Tpwi'ih nation) found himself in a cast-oft' condition.-
'n trIlmlation and affliction. In such condition that nation
:1<1;; sufTl'rl'd from that day to this.
Lazarus aIso dIN] thc con(litioll ot the humbll' Gentiles
.11ld thl' Gocl-seeking "outcasts" of hrael und('nvent a great
,'h'nlgr. heing carried by the ang-els (messengers-apostles,
,'te.) to Ahrahllm's Abraham is represented as t.he
;at.ller of tl](' faithful, and receives all the children of faith,
,.,,110 ;\]'' tIlll" rcr'C'gnizf'c1 as thc heirs of all tIle promises mad('
to .\1Ira1lalll. ior tl](' ('hilclren of the llpsh are noi the children
"f Gr,tl, "Imt thp ehilclrc'n of thp promise are counted for thp
<eed" (dlllilrpn of Ahraham), "whieh s{'eu is Christ: "-:mcl
'if ve hp ("hTl-t'" 'hf'n arp yP fh<'1if'vpr
c1
AhrallUm''l spec!
rchildren], and heirs accordmg' to the [AbrahannrJ promise."
-Gal 3:29,
Yes, the termination of the condition of thlllgS then exist-
ing was well illustrated by the figure, death-the dissolution
of the Jewish polity and the withdrawal of the favors which
Israel had so long enjoyed, There they were cast off and
have since been shown "no favor," while th(! poor Gentiles,
who before had been "aliens from the commonwealth [thp
polity] of Israel and strangers from the covmant of promisp
[up to thIS time given to Israel only] having no hope and
without God in the world." were then "made nigh hy the
blood of Christ" and reconciled to God.-Eph, 2: 12,
To the symbolisms of dl'ath and burial uscd to illustrate.:
the dissolution of Israel and their burial or hiding among
the other nations. our Lord added a furthpr figurc-"In hell
[hades, the grave] he lifted up his pyes, b'ing in torments,
and seeth Abraham afnr off," etc. The dead cannot lift up
their eyes, nor see either near or far, nor converse; for it is
clif.tinctly stated, "There i'l no work, nor deYil'e, nor knowl-
pdge, nor wisdom, in the grave;" and the dead are described
as those who "go down into silence." (Ee<l. 9:10; Psa.
n::i: 17) But the I.ord wished to show that f'ufferings
or "torments" would be add'd to the Jews n" :' nation after
tlleir national dissolution and burial amongst thc other peo-
ples dead in trespasses and sins; and that tht'.v would plead
in vain for release and comfort at tIle hand pi the formerlv
despised Lazarus class, .
And history has borne out this parabolic prophecy. For
l'ighteen hundred yl'ars the Jews have not only been in dis
tress of mind over their casting out from the favor of God
and the of thpir temple and other necessarips to the
offering of their sacrifices. but they have reientlessly
persecuted by all classes. ineluding professed Christians, It
was from the latter that the ,Jews have exppeted mercy,
t'xpressed in the parable-"Send Lazarus, that l1l' may dip thr
tip of his finger in watpr and cool my tongue;" but the great
gulf fixed between them hinders that. Xevprtheless. God
recognize the relationsllip established in hi'l covenant with
them. and addresses them as children of the covenant. (Verse
21)" These "torments" have been the penalties attached to
the violation of their covenant, and were as certain to be'
visited upon them as the blessings promised for obedience.-
Lev, 26.
The "g-reat gulf fixed" l'eprc'ients the widI' differC'npe he
t.ween the Gospel church and the Jew-the former
free grace, joy, comfort, and peace. as trup of God. and
the latter holding to the law, which condemns and
Prejudice, pride ane! error, from the Jewish form ih'
hulwark'l of gulf which hinder the Jew from coming into
the condition of true sons of God by accepting Christ and the
of his grace. The bulwark of this gulf which
trne sons of God from going to the Jew-under the bondagC'
of the law-is their knowledge that by the deeds of the la\\
none can be justified before God, and that if any man kee'p
the law (put himself under it to try to commend himself
to God by reason of obedience to it), Christ shall profit him
nothing. (Gal. 5:2-4) So, then, we who arc of the Lazaru'l
class should not attempt to mix the Law and the Gospel.
knowing that they cannot be mixed, and that we can do nn
good to those who still cling to the law and reject the saen
fice for sins given by our Lord. And they, not seeing thp
chan,ge of dispensation which took place. argue that to
the Law as the power to save would be to deny all the past
history of their race, and to deny all of God's special dealings
with the "fathers," (promises and dealings which through
pride and selfishness they failed rightly to apprehend and
use) ; hence they cannot come over to the bosom of Abraham.
into the true rest and peace-the portion of all the true
children of faith,-John 8 :39; Rom, 4: 16; Gal. 3 :29.
True, a few Jews probably came into the Christia!1 faith
all the way down the Gospel age, but so few as to be Ignored
in a parable which represented the Jewish people as a whole.
As at the first, Dives represenu.d the orthodox Jews, and not
the "outcasts of Israel," so down to the close of the parabl<
he continues to represent a. similar class, and hence does not
represent such Jews as have renounced the Law Covenant
and embraced thl' *Kl'w ('(wcnant, or such as have becoml
infidel".
The plea of the "rich man" for the sending of
to his five brethren we interpret as follows:
The people of ,Judea, at the time of our Lord's utteranel
of this parable, were repeatedly referrpf1 to as "Israel."
"the lost sheep of the house of Israel," of Israel," etc
15. 1919. ;\1(', for cntical pf C'o,"",nant,
r2604]
MARCH 15 AND APRIL I, 1900
ZION'S WATCH TOWER 000-101)
becausp all of the tribes were represented there: but actually
the majority of the people were of the tribes. Judah and
Benjamin, but few of the ten tribes returned from
Babylon under Cyrus' general permission. If the nahon of
the Jews (chiefly two tribes) were represented in the one
"rich man," it would be a harmony of numbers to understand
the "five brf'thren" to represent the ten tribes chiefly scattered
abroad. The request relative to them was doubtless intro-
duced to show that all special favor of God ceased to all
Israel (the ten tribl's, as well as to the two more directly
addrl'ssed). It Sl'ems to us evident that Israel only was
meant for no other nation than hrael had ""MOSI''' and the
prophpts" as instructors. (Verse 29) The majority of the
ten tribes had so far disregarded Moses and the prophets that
they did not return to the land of promise. but prl'ferred to
dwdl among idolators: and hence it would be meless to at-
tempt further communication with them, even by one from
the dl'ad-the figuratively dead, but now figuratively risen
Lazarus class.-Eph. 2 :5.
Though the parable mentions no bridging of this "great
gulf," oth('r portions of Scnpture indicate that it was to be
"fixpd" only throughout the Gospel age, and that at its
clos(' the "rich man," having receive,l the measurement of
punishment for his sins,* will walk out of his fiery troubles
ov('r the bridge of God's promises yet unfulfilled to that
natwn.
Though for cl'nturies the Jews have been bitterly per-
secute,l by pagans, Mohammedans and professed Christians,
thpy are now gradually ri'iing to political freedom and in-
fluence; and although much of "Jacob's trouble" is just at
han<}, yet as a people th('y will be very prominent among the
nations in the beginning of the Millennium. The "vail" (2
Cor. 3: 13-16) of prejudice Rtil! exists, but it will be grad-
ua llv takep away as the light of the Millennial morning
* Isa 40 I, 2, margin; Rom. 11:27-31. and MILLENNIAL DAWN,
VOL. II, page 227.
dawns; nor should we be surprised tv hear of great awaken-
ings among the Jews, and many coming to acknowledge
Christ. They will thus leave their hadeull statc Inationa"
death) and torment. and come, the of the nntlrms. to
be blessed bv the true sped of Abrahnm. "hich is Head
and borly. Their bu!wark of racp prpJur!Jc, and pridp lS fall-
inlr in some placeR and the humble, the poor in splflt, are
beg-inning already to look upon him whom thpy have pierced,
and to inquire, Is not this the Christ? And as they look the
Lord pours upon them the spirit of favor an,1 supplication.
(Zech. 12: 10) Therefore, "f'ppak yc romfort ably to J crURa-
lem, and cry unto her thnt her appointed time is accom-
plished."-Isa. 40: 1, 2, margin.
In a word, this parable seems to teach precicely what
Paul explained in Rom. ll: of unbelief the
natural branches were brokpn off awl tl!e ,,'i!,1 br:lI1rhes
grafter! into the Abrahamic The par.ll,Jp 11',1 VI'S
the Jews in their trouble anr! doeR not refer to thdr final
restoration to favor-doubtless because it was not prrtlllent
to the feature of the subject trent cd ; but Paul us
that when the fulness of the Gentiles-the full number from
among the Gentiles nccessary to makp up the bri,le of Chrht
-is come in, "they [natural Israel] shalI obtnin mercy
through your [the Church's] mercy." He nssures us tlut
this is God's covenant with fleshlv Ismel (who lost his higher,
spiritual promises. but are sdll the of certain
earthly promises, to become the chief nation of enrth, etc.
In proof of this statement, he quotes from the prophet. say-
ing: "The deliverer shall come out of Zion [tIl(' glorifipr!
church], and shall turn away ungodliness from .Jnrob [the
fleshly seed]." "As concerning the Gospel [high ca thpy
are enemies [cast olT] for your but the
election, they are beloved for the father'R 'iak(''3.'' "For <lod
hath concluded them alI in unhe]jrf, that he might havp merry
upon all. 0 the depth of the riches, both of the wiodom and
knowledge of God!"-Rom. II :2G-::l::l.
FAITHFUL CO-LABORERS HEARD FROM
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:-I hnve Just been reading again
in the To\\ ER of 1st the article entitled ")Iark the
Pel fe<'t )Ian," et('., anrl want you to know how mUch I have
enJPye,1 lt an,! prolited hy it. Aft"r thanking the Giver of
pvel,\' goorl ani! 1"'1 fect gift I thank you, anr] contlllually pIny
thnt thl' favor of the Lorr! he with you ill all
your "ork. anrl that vou mav ever be ddewled from the as-
of the arlvers[;ry. Putting myself for a moment in
your pLlce. I was able to see that woul,] rr]oicp to know
that thp !JOlHehol,l were appr"nating the things "new and
01,1," nll,l 1 wantp,1 b.v little n<Ite to h<'lp "hol,1 up" your
hands. Please do not trouble to acknowledge this, but be-
heve IllP,
YourR in the Lord, ELLIOTT H. TnO"IPSO:N,-IYash.
DEAR BROTHER ReSSELL:-I I could telI the two dear
who aIrangPll the Index how muph I appreciate it. It
I" p"aptly what 1 have needei!. It certainly l"l"luirl'd a good
IIp:lI of pntIent work to pro,luce it and I hope all of the
TOWEI( l't'a,]prs will appreciate it.
How IIlUph I would like to be at Allegheny at the great
Memorial and enjoy the sucred scason With you all. Not that
I \I oul,] hp willmg' to be ab"ent from Scranton at that time,
hut the fPmemhranee of five yean; ag0 when I wa" there and
thp rieh I received at that tuue makes me long for
onp more such precious season. 0 ,vhat it five years
it ha" b"pn! Every day has been full of a /'on-;ClOlI,;ness of
thp <lpar Lord's favor, and tho I cannot say that I have al-
wnv'i done the very hest I might ha\'" <lnllp. it has bepII
on; continual effort to follow' uur V"ader anll Guide
on thl' narrow way. All of the timp I have bepn
of hi" tl'n,ler love, and his favors havp been more numerous
thnn thl' hair'i of my IIPad. And you. 13lother Hu",;ell, you
have bl'l'n a true and faithful under-,;hepherd and kind and
loving pa Rtor to Ud all and I hope thnt all have harl it keen
apprp('iation of this. Some I know have, for m'lny time have
I heard prayers go up from consecrated hearts for you.
Brothprs 'Woodworth and Ho<lges are both growing young
men, and are indeed ,!!etting to br "able milll"ter" of the
""on!." Thpy are capahlp of for <Irf"npl' any-
where. Hoping this may find von nil wrl1 an,1 ha PPY ,it Alle-
ghenv. I RPnd greetings to thp Church tllPre in the namp of
thp little company at Scranton. Lovin!!lv vour hI oj llPJ' in
Christ, HA.YDEN SAMsoN,'-::"Pennsylvania.
DEAR BROTHER RpssELL '-1 have the pleasure at this time
of wnting to you, and I assure you that It i,s a
indeed. You are burdpnpd no dnnbt With from thp
of the fnlth, but your kllld patien/'l' s(','mR RO prOllll-
nent in your writmgs that I am qUIte sure you will Uppll"'l:de
a letter, even from me.
The faith in thp coming Kingdom has grown at this pInel'
under my care until we have a few-a little 11,111<] of f, ,11,,\\ PI "l
of the Lon]-w!lo, I an' prc,entmg li\ lIlg "/'II!iI'l''3
unto him who bought tlwm. TIle work
and the pnth not very smooth so fnr a" tIll" wOIl,1 j, Cllll-
cerned. \Ve mept With a good man,\' ob,tad"".
have bepn prejurli"e,] hy the blllld th,.. t ar" It'.lflmg thf'lll;
still we are 1Tl hope" that "orne will ,.,,,e tIll' lil!ht ewn in "neh
darkn('ss as here prevails.
I thought it might be proper to mpntion tlwt we ]1.1\'e
great deS'1l'es for another '"Pilgrim" \I'I\. \\'p hop" tll,lt
one is h"adl"! this way, and p<ln ,top wilh lh for a fe,\' I],t'
All profite<l so much hy the vi"it of Blot!IPr ]), ,I (" I in X""'It1-
bel', and our lo,p and praY/'I'; Il.l\'p f"ll"\\,,',l 111111 all tlll',e
days. the e!OUI!s grow dmk llPOll \\01 I,t
mav Gn']"., dear onp,,-foJ' hI' kTl()\h \\'h" :II" hh--l,, LlIth-
fUI'to tllPir I'alling and ",how fOith tl'(' of h'll\ \dlO
hath pnlled ue; out of lilto 111" I1J.II\"llou" lI"hl" h
the prayer of one who is the lea"t to 11/' ,',t1l<-rl ,I ,"ll \'''111'>
in IIIs sprnce, E. L. Duowx,-liUl. Tl','.
\VATCII TOWER BrnLE AND TRACT SOCIETY,
K1XD SIRs:-CominR out of our little cllnpel Lorll'El
Day night 1 was han,l("! a littll' book. "The Dll,I,' the
EwlutlOn Thea! .II." Aftpr eareful readmg ] W:l \\ "u,krfl"lly
blesserl and thank God It W,l, thrown in illY \\ ,I \. (h J \\ a"
lmngry for '3Ul'h truths. I am nn old la,ly in' a hl;Jllp of f:titll
and prayer and cannot huy thingfl. I wn" ,,0 ha l'JlY a It'T
careful I eading to find on the Lapk of the little book tllnt yon
woulrl contribute a paper to any of tIl<' Lord'" age'] who pould
not huy the same. I am an"ious to rca,l ,',lite-l
by the author of M1LT,EN:N1AT. D '-'VN. for I sC:lfc('1 v p"Pp(t to
be ahle to get 1,01,1 of the thr('r VOlnlIlf'R of tlut wondprful
message amI will hl' 50 thankful for anything cnn ,.,('11'1
Ille frep Pprhaps through mr it will reach nnp nnd <In
great gool!. Go,l will tll(' Iwantiful truths sent out from
your hOURP. Anything that one of his pan do, to
assist will be done by MRS. CARRIE McBR1DE,--St. Louis.
[2605J
PARABLE OF THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS
"These shall go alcay tnto eve1'lashng pUnishment,
\Yhile the f'cripture", as we have shown, do not teach the
doctrines of everlasting torment, they do most
emphatif'ally teach the everlasting pUnishment of the wicked,
the in the parabll' as "goats" Let us ex-
aminp the parable, and then the sentence pronounced at its

It has been truly said that "Order is Heaven's first law;"
fl'\\'. we think, have realized how emphatically thIs is
trill'. [n glnnrmg hack over the plan of the ages, there IS
\\ lllrh giw-; "urh conrlu"!ve evidence of a Divine
DllPrtOj a, thp mdrr observe,l In all its parts.
eo,l ha" hnd ,ldinlte and stated times llnd seaSflns for
evpry part of Ill" work; and in the end of earh of these sea-
f-on" thprp ha" hl'pn a fini,hing up of its work and a clearing
off of thp prpparatory to the heginmng of the npw
\. (,rk of thp dl'ppn'n.tlOn to follow TIm" in the end of the
.T,\\ j,h age Older i" ob'lf'rvPll-a harve,.ting and pomplete
f-ppa ration of tll(' "\\ hpa t" plaRR from the "chaff," and an
pntllp rpjpption of thp lattpr cbss from God's favor. \Vlth
thp fp',\' i Ildgp,l \\ orthy in the end of that age, a new age-
t lip (:o"I't'\ agl'-hl'gan And now we fin<l our,plves amId
th" ,,('pnps. thp "harvest," of this age' the "wheat"
an,l tllP "tarps" \\hirh hllVp grown together during tIllS age
nrp [Willg \\'ith the former class. of whlrh our Lord
.Te"h h tIll' }fpad, a npw age is ahout to hI' inaugurated, and
th,'"" "whpat" arp to rpign flS kings and priests in that npw
di'!,{,n',ation. while thl' "tare" element is judged as utterly
ul1\\orthv of that favor.
ohsprvin,g this or,ll'r with referencl' to the .Tewish
agp anrl thp onp ju"t <'losing, our Lord ll1forms us through
the p!\Tahl p unrlpr ponsidpration that the RHme or,ler will be
obsprn',l with rdl'rf'U('p to the flg'e to follow thIs agf'.
Tlw ImTVPst of the .lewi"h ag!' wa" likl'ned to the ,;epara-
tion of wheat from ehafT; tlIP hnrvpst of this age to thp sf'par-
atlOn of \\ IIPnt from tarPR: flnrl tllP harvest of the Millennial
agp to tlIP spp:1Jatlon nf "hpl'p from
That thp parahlp of the Rlwep and the goats refers to the
?\TIlh'nnial agp IS plparly in,lipated in verses 31 and 32-
.. " hr'J! tl,P WJ1/ of man shall, come HI hIS glory, and all the
holy angels \\ ith him, thl'l/ '\hall he "it upon the throne of his
glol\', an,l IlPforp him shall lw gathered all nations; and he
l'hafT spparate tlH'm one from another. as a shepherd di-
virll'th his RIH'Pp from thp goatR." As in the present age every
Het of tho"l' on trial (thl' church) goe,; to make a part of
that ,,11 a rartp!, whieh, in <1UI' tIme, will determine the final
,I.. of the .Tudge in our CaRl'. '\0 will it be with the world
(tllP "nations") in' the age to compo AI' in the preseni age
thp tJ ial of thp majority of the in,lividual memhprs of the
phurdl pndR. and the deeision of their case i., reached, long
hpforp thl' pnd of the age (2 Tim. 4: 7-8), so under the Mil-
h'nma I rpign thl' deeision of Rome individual cases will be
rl'aeherl long hl'forp the I'n,l of the age (I sa. 65 :20) ; but in
('aeh agp tlH're It, "harvest" or g,'neral separating time in
till' pnd of thl' agl'.
In thl' ,lawn of thp }'lillpnnial age, aftpr the "time of
trouhle." thpre will he a gnthprlng of li\'lng natIOns
hpforp Chn,t, nnd, in thpir appoint,'d timp anrl order, thl'
rip III of all nation, ,hall hp eallp,l to apppar hpfore the judg-
Im'nt ;.(':1 t of ('Ii rIst--not to reppivp an llllnwrliatl' spntence,
Il1lt to r('('('!\'p a faIr an,l impnrtinl, ill,li\'lrlual trial (Ezek.
18 2--t. In. 201 un,l,'r tIl(' mn"t fa\orahlp eilt'um"tnnpes, the
f(',ult of whi('h trwl wIll Ill' a final s('ntln('e. as worthy or
unworthy of evprl:l"ting life.*
The s,'('II(' of this parable tllerefore, is laitl after the time
of trouhlp. \\hpn thl' natIOns shall 1!:l\P hCt'n suhdllpd. Satan
houll,1 (R('v. 20 I. 2) an(l thl' authority of Cl,riRt's kingdom
EI I' tlll", tIl(' bri,!l' of Christ (tllt' overeoming
,hur, hi \\ III ha\'l' hpen "eated \\ ith him in Ins throne of
"l'Il'ltunl IH)wpr and WIll have taken part 111 pxpputing the
judgmpnb of the g'1 pat of \Hath. Then tlH' of man
allli III" brIde, thl' glorIfi,'d ,'huTlh. will Ill' ft'\ pa leu and he seen
bv IIII'll, \\ Ith the ('VI'S of tlwir llmllrstanoIn;.( and ;,;hall "shine
f;'rth as the Foun 'in thp kingtlum of their Fl,thpr."-}'latt.

H"rp is thp Xpw a'\ .Tohn saw it (Rl'v. 21), "that
1101.\' rs,llm bol of gOI'f'l'llmclltl poming down from
God out of lwavpn." During tlll' tin1l' of trl'uble it will bp,
comll1g down. and hefore thp pnel of It. it will 11ave touchc'd
thp earth. This is the "ut out of tIll' mountain'\ with-
out hands (but hy the power of God). and it wIll then have
hpromp n great monntain (king,lom), filling the whole earth
(Dan. 2 It" ('amI "'7 ha\ Illg hrokpn to the eYil king-
d0lr'\ of till' Jlllnre of
--. THE PLAN of THE ,\CoI:" Chapter
bllt the 1'lghtcolls into life etenwl."-Matt. 25 :31-46.
. Here is that glorious city (government)) prepared as J,
brIde adorned. her. husband (R;ev. 21:2), and early in the
of MIllennIUm the natIons will begin to walk in
the hgl?t of .It. 24) may bring their glory and
honor mto It, but there shall In no wise enter into it [or
become a palt of it] anything that defileth:' etc. (Verse 27)
Here, from the midst of the throne, proceeds a pure river
of water of hfe (truth unmixed WIth error), and the Spirit
and the Imde "ay, Come, and take it irl'ely. (Rev. 22: 17}
Hl're begIns the world's probation, the world's great judg-
ment day-a thousand years. *
But ,even in this favored time of blessing and healing- of
natIOns. when Satan is bound, evil mankind
In process of release from the grasp of dl'ath, and when the
knowledge of the Lord fills the earth, two claSbes will be de-
veloped, which our Lord here likens to shpep and goats.
Thpsl'. he tells us, he will separate. The sheep
who are ml'.ek, teachable and willing to be lerl, shall, dUrIng
the age, be gathered at the Judge's right hand-
of approval and favor; but the goat class, self-
wIlk(! and stubhorn, always climbing" on the roch--seeking
promInence and approval among men-and f{'eeing on miser-
ablp refuse, while the sheep graze in the rich pastures of the
truth furnished hy the Good Shepherd-tht,se are gathered
to the JtHlge's left hand, the opposite of the pORition of favor
-as subJects of his disfavor and pondemnati0n.
This \:ork of separating shel'p and goats \\111 require all
of the l\hllpnnial ag'e for its alpompliRhml'nt. During that
ag-p. l'aph individual, a., hp romps grad naIl.... to a knowlNlgp of
God and hi" will, takes his plap(, at the right h,lnd of favor
or the left hand of disfllYor, aerordIng '\ s hI' improves or mis-
improves the opportunities of that golden fI).:e By the end
of that age, all tb(' 1t'0l'1d of mankind wl1l hav!' arranged
them"elvcs, as shown in the parflble, into tW0 clas'\cs
Thl' l'n,l of that nge will he the pnd of thl' worll]'s trial
or jurlgnlPnt, and thpn final 'lisposition will 1)(' ma,l" of the
two claSSl'R. The of "shepp" "],ISR will 111' grantl'd
tlwm heeu,use, dunnJr th" age of trial an,l rlispiplinp. they
pultIvatpd and mamfested the heautIful l'!wral't('l' of love
whieh Paul dpseribes as thl' fulfilling of ihp Iflw of God. (Rom:
They will have manife'\ted it to pfleh oth"r in theIr
time of Rorest need; and what thev will havc done for one
the Lord pount as donp unto him. eounting them
a 11 IllS brethl en-plnldren of God, though they \"ilI be of the
human nature, whIle he of the divinc. .
The condemnation of the "goat" cla"s j" f-IJOwn to hI' for
the laek of this spirit of low. {Tn,lpr the same favorahle
as the "sheep," thl'Y reRiRt thl' mould-
ing influence of the Lord'., discipline, and harden thpir hparts.
The goodness of God doeR not lea,l them to true rpppntance;
hut, like Pharaoh, they take advantage of hi" and
do evil. The "goats," who will not have d"vplopell tlIP l'll'ment
of lol'(" the )aw of God's being and kingrlom. \nll he POllUted
of everlasting life, and will he while
thp ""heep." who will havp devplope,l Goel-likene"s (low),
nnd \\ ho will have l'xhihited it in thpir pharapters. are to be
in,;taHed as the suhordinatl' rulers of earth for fnture lges.
In tlIP end of the Millennial age, in the final arl
of human affairs. Christ thus addrpsseR shepp: "Comp. ye
hle,,'\ed, .... inhprit the kingdom preparc(l for you from
thl' fOllUda tion of thc world."
It IS manifl'st the "sheep" hpre address('(l, at the clo'lp of
the Millennium, are not the sheep of the Gosppl age. the
Gospl'l churph, but those "other sheep" to whom the Lord
rpferre<l in .Tohn 10: 16. And the kingdom prepared for them
in the divine plan, from the foundation of the world, is not
the kingllom prl'pared for thc Gospel church. The ch1ll'ch WIll
r,'peivp hl'r kingdom at the beginning of the Millennium;
but thiR i" the kingdom prepared for the "sheep" of the .:\111-
IpIlJ1ial age. TllPir king-dom will he the dominion of earth
whil'h \Va" originallv given to Adam, hut which
through sin, and which is again to be restored when man is
hrought to pprfeetion, and so made fit to receive and enJoy it.
That dominion will not he It, <lominion of some of the race over
otherI', but It, joint dominion, in which every man will be a
king, and nil wIll have equal rights anrl privileges in appro-
lJliating and ('!l]oying ('very earthly good. It will be it sover-
pign ppop)p-a great an<l grand republic on a basis of perfect
rightl'ouRness, wherein the rights of every man will be con-
sprnd; because the golden rule will be inscribl'd on every
heart, and evpry man will love his neighbor as himself. The
,10minion of all \\ ill he over the whole earth, and all it" rich
fllHI b01lJ1tiful stores of ble'lsing. (Gen. 1 :2R; Psa. R:5-8) The
See THE PLAN OF THE: AGES, Chap. 8, The Day of Judgment.
001-102)
[2601)]
MARCH 15 AND APRIL I, 1900
Z ION'S i17ATe H TOW E R 002-103)
kingdom of the world, to be given to the perfected and worthy
ones of the redeemed race at the close of the Millennium, is
clearly distinguished from all others by being called the king-
dom prepared for them "from the foundation of the world;'
the earth having been made to be the everlasting home and
kingdom of perfect men. But the kingdom bestowed upon
Christ, of which the church, his "bride." becomes joint-heir,
is a spiritual kingdom, "far above angels, principalities and
powers." and it also shall "have no end"-Chri'lt's 1\Iillennial
king-dom. "hich 1tnll end being- merely a beginning of Christ's
power and rule. (1 Cor. 15 :25-28) This endless heavenly,
spiritual kingdom was prepared long before the earth was
founded-it'l inception being recognized in Christ, "the begin-
ning of the creation of God." It was intended for Christ
Jesu'l. the First Begotten; but even the church, his bride and
joint-heir, was chosen or designed also, in him, before the
foundation of the world,-Eph. 1 :4.
The kingdom or rule of earth, is the kingdom that has
been in preparation for manlcind from the foundation of the
world. It was expedient that man should suffer six thousand
years under the dominion of l'vil, to learn its inevitable re-
sults of misery and death, in order by contrll,:t to prove the
justice, wisdom and goodness of God's law of love. Then it
will require the sl'vl'nth thousand-years, under the reign of
Christ, to restore him from ruin and death, to the perfect
condition, thereby fitting him to "inherit the kingdom pre-
pared for him from the foundation of the world."
That kingdom, in which all will be kings, will be one
grand, universal republic, whose stability. and blessed in-
fluence will be assured by the perfection of its every citizen,
a result now much desirl'd. but an impossibility because of sin.
The kingdom of Christ during the Millennium will be, on the
contrary, a theocracy, which will rule the world (during the
period of its imperfeption and restomtion) "ithout regard
to its consent or approval.
The brethren of the Gospel church are not the only
"bretbren" of Christ. All who at that time will have been
re'ltored to perfection will be recognized as sons of God-sons
in the same sen&e that Adam was a son of God (Luke 3: 38)
-human sons. And all of God's sons, whether on the human,
the angelic or the divine plan, are brethren. Our Lord's
love for these, his human brl'thren, is here expressed. As
the world now has the opportunity to milllster to those who
are shortly to be the divine sons of God, and brethren of
Christ. so they will have abundant opportunity during the age
to come to minister to (each other) the human brethren.
The dead nations when again brought into existence will
neell foorl. raiment amI 'lhl'ltl'r. Howl'\-er great may have
heen thpir in thi'l life. death will have brought
all to a common level: the infant and the man of mature
Yl'ars. the millionaire and thl' paupl'r. the ll'arned and the
unlearnpd, the cultured atld the ignorant and degraded: all
will have an abundant opportunity for the exercIse of benevo-
lenPI', and thus they will be privilegl'n to be co-workers with
God. We are here reminded of the illustration given in the
C.l,e of La,.;arus .Tesu'l onlv awakened him from neath. awl
thpll \\ pre the rejoicing friends permitted to loo'le him from
his grave clothes and to clothe and feed him.
EVERLASTING
The C'wrlastingness of the punishml'nt bl'ing thus estah-
lishl'd, only one point is left 0pl'n for rliscu'lsiclIl; namely, the
nature of the punishment. Take your Conpordance and search
out what saith the great ,Judge legarding the punishment
of wilful sinners who de'lpise and reject all bles'led pro-
vhioll'l for them through Christ. 'Vhat do find? Does
God there sav-All sinners shall lh-e in torturl' forever? 1'\0:
find not asingle text where life in any eondition is prom-
Isell to that plass.
God's declarations assure us that ultimatelv he will have
a clean universe, free from the blight of sin 'and sinners,-
because "All the wicked will he destroy."-Psa. 145 :20.
But while we do not find one verse of the Bible saying
that this class can have life in torment, or in any other con-
dition. we do find numerous passages teaching the rewrse.
Of these we give a few merely as samples-"The wal!es of sin
is death" (Rom. 6:2:l) "The soul that sinnetll. it shall dIe."
(Ezek. lR'4, 20) "The wicked shall peri'lh." (Psa. 37:20)
"Yet a little while and the wicked shall not be." (Psa.
37: 10) ThuR God has told UR plainly thl' nature of the ever-
lasting pllniRhment of the ,\ icked-that It will he death, ue-
strnction.
The false idl'as of God's plan of dealing with the incorrigi.
Further, these are said to be "sick and in prison" (more
properly, under ward or watch I. The grave is the great
prison where the millions of humanity have been held in un-
conscious captivity; but when released from the grave, the
restoration to perfection is not to be an instantaneous work.
Being not yet perfect, they may properly be termed sick,
and under ward: not dead, neither are they yet perfected in
life: and any condition between those two may be properly
symbolized by sickness. And thl'y will continue to be under
watch or ward until made well-physically, mentally and
morally perfl'ct. During that time there will be abundant
opportunity for mutual helpfulnes'l, sympathy, uction and
encourag-ement, and anv failure to will mark a lack of
the Lord''l spirit of love.
Since all mankind will not he rai'led at OIlCI'. but gradually,
during the thousand years. each new group will find an army
of helpers in those who will have preceded it. The love and
benevolence which men will then Rhow to each other (the
brethren of Christ) the King will count as shown to him.
No great deeds are assigned as the ground for thl' honors and
favors conferred upon the righteous: they will have simply
come into harmony with God's law of love and proved it by
their works. "Love is the fulfilling of the law" (Rom.
13: 10), and "God is love." So, when lIlan is restored again
to the image of God-"very good"-man also will be a living
expression of love.
"Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the founda-
tion of the world," does not signify a rule independent of
the divine law and 'Oupremacy: for although God gave earth's
domimon to man at first, and de.. re,toring it to him when
he has prepared him for the great trust, we are not to suppose
that God intends man to rule it. than as under,
or in harmonv with, his supreme law. "Thv will be done in
earth as in heaven," must forever be the prInciple of govern-
ment. Man thenceforth will rule his dominion in harmony
with the law of heaven-delighting continually to do his will
in whose favor is life, and at whose "right hand [condition
of favor] there are pleasures forevermore." (Psa. Hi: 11 )
Oh! who would not say, "Haste ye along, ages of glory!"
and give glory and honor to him whose loving plans are
bloRsoming into such fulnl'ss of blessing?
Let us now examine the message to those on the left-
"Depart from me, ye cursed" (condemnl'd) -condl'mned as
unfit vessels for the glory and honor of life, who would
not yield to the moulding and shaping influence'l of divine
love. 'Vhen these, "brethren." were hungry and thirsty, or
naked. sick. and in prison. ye ministered not to their necessi-
ties, thus continually proving yourselVl's out of harmony with
the heavenly city (kingJom); for "there shall in no caRe
enter into it anything- that rlefileth." The decision or spntence
regarding this class is-"Depart from me into everlasting
fire of destruction1, prepared for the devil and his
angelR." Elsewhere (Heb. 2: 14) we read without symhol that
Christ "will destrOlf . . .. him that had the PO\\ er of (leath,
that is, the devil."
"And these [the "goats"] shall go away into evprlasting
[Greek, awnios-lasting] punishment, but the righteolls into
life eternal [Greek, aionios-lasting.]" The punishment will
be as as the re\\ ard. Both \\ ill be eveIla,tlllg'.
PUNISHMENT
hIe. taught I'Vl'r since the great "f.ll1ing away." \\ hit'h elll-
minatell 111 Papacy, and into our mindo; fl01l1 ('hill!-
hOOll. are alone responRlhle for thl' vil'w g'pnprall,v hl'ld. that
the everlasting pUnishment pl'O\'irlell for \\ dful RinnPI, h [\
life of tOl"lllPnt This view he!ll, notl\ thl'
dear of GOlFs ',"all! that thplr pllnishment i, to
hl' d(,(llll. Hl'ul' Paul \'l'l v P'\plH'ltlv \\ hat thl'
ll1ent to hp. Speaking of the ,ame :\fIllpnlll,tl Da,\'. anll of
the saml' who, ueo;pite all the favOlable opportulllties
and the fulness of knowledge then, will not come into har-
monv with Christ, and hence will "know not God." in the true
sl'nse and "obey not." he savs-"who shall be ]'1I1,ished." Ah,
yes I but how punished? He tells us how: They "shall be
punishpd WIth ererlasfinq dpsfn/efwn" [a destruction from
\\'hlch thel e o;hall be no recover,\', no redpmptlOl1 or re'lUlTeC-
tJon-Hl'h. 1O2o-2!l] from thl' pll',pncp of thl' LOTll and from
the glory of his power." (2 TJw,. 1:!I) This
reprl'sl'ntC'11 in the parable the eYPllastlng "fire" pre-
pared for the devil and his angels: it is "the lake of fire and
brimstone," which is the second death (Rev. 20:14), into
whiph the "goat" class of this parable are sent.-Matt. 25: 41.
TIm'! the meaning and rea&onahleness of this statement
C'oncerning everlasting punishment are readily seen when
[2607]
004-105)
ZION'S WATCH TOTER
ALLEGHENY. It..
looked at from the correct standpoInt. The fire of the parabll',
by whwh the punishment (deRtruetlOn) is to be
WIll not he fin'. for the "firp" is a" m\J{h a symbol
as til<' ""heep" and "goatH" are symbol",. 1"11'1' Iwre. as else
\\ hel 1', d"NtnlptlOn. and not ]Jl ,tny Nense pI cserva
tlOn
Wf' nlJght wpll h'a,f' tIl!" suhle('t here, and consider that
we ha\ e fully "hown that HIP f'\'prlastmg of the
"goat" will hf' dl"truC'tlOn: but we direct attention to
one other point whieh dindlC!:' the truth upon this subJect.
\YP refer to the Greek WOlll ko[asln. tranNlated "punIRhmenC"
in \ erse 46. This word haR not III it thi' lemote",t id('R of
i{)rIlH'nt. It" pnmary "Ignification to cut off, or pnmp. or
lop off. a" ]Jl the prunIng of t anll a ",c'l'ofl(lary mp,lIling
IR to restrain. The wwked wlil bp f'Vl'rlastlllgly resitaim'd,
cut off from life in thl' sPI'ond l!Path. Ilhl",uation oi th..
u-p of kO[,ISln can ea"ily lip Iidd from Grel'k. da""Il'al writll1g::-
Thl' (;repk word for "t()rlll('nt" i, 1}(ISIfWS, a \\on! totally lin
rl'i:ttl'd to the word kolasln.
/\OhlSlll. tho wore! u_ed III :\latt. 16, occurs in but one
otlll'r pln('P in thf' TIlhll', \ iz., I John 4: 18. where it is im-
!,roIH'rly rl'ndf'J'('(1 "tormf'nt" in tIl<' common version, whereas
it 'hould rpad, "Fear hath rl'Htraint" Those 'Who a
eop.v of Young's Analytil'al (\)J)('on!anee will "ee from it
(P:J:!1' !l!I:i) that the dpfinitilln of thp '\orll kolaslB "prun-
HII/, '('\/1"11111111/, AmI thl' author of the Emphatic
Diaglott, after translating ko/aM11 in ::'obtt. 25 :46 hy the
",'uiting off," says in a fOllt 1I0te:
"'111(' l'ommon YerHion ,lI1ll many mod"1'11 ones render
kolasln OlonlOn 'everlastmg pUl1ishmp;lt,' ('onveylJlg the idea,
as gpneralJ,V intf'rpretf'd. of /)(lS III OS, torment. l\olasi/l in its
yanolh ill only thrpl' other pla('P"l III the N('w
Te-tam('!It Al,tR 4:21; 2 Pd. 2:n; I .Tohn 4:1H. It is de-
11\ I'd 11011] k"[";:")(I. 1\ hi('h I. Tv cut off, as lopping
off of tref''1, to PJ'lIlll' 2. To res/raw, to repress.
TIll' (Jlp"k.S writp-'TllP dlariott'er restr:tinR lkalazei] his
:t To to pU/llsh. To eut off an in
dl\ldual irom life, or from "'O('ll'tV, or el'en to restrain, is
a", n puni",llInent: hNtl'e' lUlH arisen this third or
IJlptn phori"a I of thp word. Thf' primary ..,i/?ll1fi('atioll hat"
1.""11 "dopll'd rill thl' DingloU I it agH''', Iwttl'r with
t hr' 't'lolld 1I11'11I1l1'1' ot t IH' t"!I('P. \ illg thl' fOTl'l'
and oj thf' Thf' rightl'ouR go to ltf!', thl.'
\\11 k"d to till' ('uttlllq tiff from Itff', dealh.-2 1'hes. 1:n."
\'0\\ l'arpfully th(- tl'xt. and note the antithesis,
thl' '0111 I .,1 !>pt\\ I'l-n thl' rf'waJ'l1 of the "sheep" and the
I('\\,,,d 01 the' . :!oab," whu'h till' eorref't idea of kolasin
gi,,',- t h,' 0111' gol's IIItO l'\'('rlasting- ltje, while the
nthel I' (lit off from life-forever restrained in
d"ath .\110 thi'l e,a(tly agrp('s WIth what the ScriptureR
\\ h"It' (,I,l' dl(lare l'On( erning thf' wages or penalty of
"lIful
for a JJlOJJ1pnt th!' wordH of -11: "Depart
flOIll lilt' .\ I' "lIr",rd rollet' rpdrf'med by Chrbt from thl.' Adamil
,U] 01 ""'II 11'111 lla tion to d('a til, but now condemned or
"111 , ..d..h woJl h\' of th(, dC'ath, hy til<' On" who 1'\'-
l;"('I1]('O th.. 111 fJ oJl\ tIl(' first purse L into Yerlasting firt'
1-.\ 11111101 01 drS/rill/lim l. prl'}mred for the devil anll
hi .... In( ........ fllt!.!(lr .... I .... Pl \ 1."
1:,'IIIt-'IIJi"n that tlll'I i'l tll(' final -entence at the dORe of
tI", 11,,11 t1lal-:<t th., "f tlIP l\ll!lennium: and that non"
\I III 11"'11 hI' VOlltS of Satall Il!norantly or nnwilhngly, <is
"'0 111:1111 lIl," alt'. for til .. /lr... lt Df'!Jverer. Christ, will n'-
Ill"'" "II 1;" Id., t"llIptatIO!l'. and pro"idp a-Nl.,tanu: toward
JJlIl'.OVI'IIII'l't \\ lIult \\111 f'lIalt!l, all who wlll to o\'en'O!lH'
IlIiI,'II'lIt "pakll""l" anti to llttalll Pf'rff'l'tJOn Thf'f-(' "goat",:'
V,llll IIIVP ('\11,111d .... nrp tht
1

,,j '--,11:," For th.. , .. alld S,l1all. and for no nOll ha-
J'I' 1',11 ,,01 "Il,i tlt'Htlt-thf' ,'\ .. r!.l",tll1;': ,ll-,h uction. Flrp \\111
",",,' IIOIll I :od Ollt of l)I'all'lI alll! 1'0IIS1l1l1( tholl CO!l",um-
]tl,' al1d dl'\ollrtllg tirt' nil ('an appn.'lat.. , unlp;>, thl'lT
"",,- "I., 1"lIdl'lI hy fal,l' l!ol'lrlllt' aIHI l>rejudil'. No 0111' P\PI
1<11"" "I .1 /,,, .\/'II'11l1f 1'1'1'. a III I firp IlP\t'r pJ'l'"prH':-'. but
/(11t'/lI,I'8, (;ol! u,P' it 'h a "ml/ol of uttpr d.."tnll
111111 -ltt'\ .!un .
, . THE LAKE OF FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, WHICH IS THE
SECOND HI:!o :!O 10. 14, If;, :!l Ij
"Tit. I" ke of til' ...1Ild hnm"tone" is '>I'veral timeR men
11"1I,'d IU the' hook. of RpvplatlOn, whi{'h all Christian8 admit
to I". a hook ot mhol" Ho\\e\ ('r, they think and
"'I"',' k of til h p'lI t I{'ulnr NYJl\hol a literal statement gh-
11, g _tlollg ..,ul'p0J't to tIll' torment do{'trine, notwithstanding
thl' fad, that. the '\ymhol I.. l'lparly defined ItR meaning tlw
""l'Olld dPHth "Awl death and hl>ll were cast into the lake of
flr!' '1'111, is Ih/' seco/ld death," et{'. (Rev. 20:14) It J...
.Ol!lt'l of fiG "n lak!' of fire with brim
!-otone" (Rev, 19 :20), the element brImstone bl'ing mentioned
to mtensify the symbol of destruction, the second death:
hurning hrimGtone heing one of the most de.."ldly elements kllo\\n.
It h dpstrueti\'e to all fOI Illf! of hfp.
The symbolism of this lake of fire is further shown by the
fad that the symbolic "beast" and the symbolic "false prophet."
and death and hell [hades], as well as the devil ami
Ill'" followers, are destroyed in it.-Rev. 19:20; 20:10, 14,
I:;: 21 :8.
This destruction or dl"ath ealled the Second death in
I'ontradistinction to the First or AdamiI' death, and not to
that everything which into it dies a second time
For IJlstance, death (the firRt or Adamic death), and had!'s
the grave, are to be ('aRt into it;-this work \HIl require thr
pntire Millennium to aceompllsh It, and in no sen8e will they
('wr haye bepn dl"stroyed bl'fore. flo also "th.> deVil," "th..
hpa",t," and "tlte fa 18e prophet," will TIC'ypr haVP been dp-
stroved beforf'.
the first. or AdamiI' df'ath, a rpSHJ rt'l'ilOn has been
pro\ ided. All that are in their graves sInH therefore come
forth. The Revelator prophetically dee!arpf!: "Thf' Sf'a gave
up the d('ad whieh were in it, and death and hell rhades, thl'
grave] gave up the dead whieh were in tllPm. And
1 saw the dead, small and great. Rtand before God, and the
books were opened." (Rev. 20: ]21 It \\US in view of
(lOll'S plan for relleeming the raep from :\Ilamie de:lth that in
both the Old and New Testaments it is {'ailed a 'sleep." In
JHrael's history of the good and the wick..d It is rppeatpdly
Htat(,ll that they "slept with their fathl'r"" The ApoRtle'
uHrd the same symbol, and our Lord also. Rnt no such sym
hoI if! used in reference to the Seeonll dea th. On the con-
trary. thp figures of total and Uttf'f destnlctlOn un'
usp,l to "ymbolize It; viz" "fire and hrim",tollp: " because that
\\ ill bp a from whieh therp \\ill II!' no rrcover.,
BJf'..,..,pd thought! the Adamil' df'ath (\\ 11\('h dalllled the
whl,]p rapf' for thp of their progenitor) shall be forf'ver
"wallowrd up. and l'('a-(' in thiR Se('OJlll death into WlllCh
It. i", to he past by tl1l" great R,,(ll'el1ler who hought the wholt-'
worl(l with the sa{'rificl' of hlllJ,-plf. Thus God tells UR through
tilt' Prophet. "I will ranRom them from the power of the
gra't- rsileo/I. 1 will rrd'-"1lJ thplll from dpf! th tl
gra I l' I sll!'oll 1 will bl' thy <!f'strultJOn." l:{: 14) TIll'
tir",t or Adamie dl'ath shall no longpr hav(' lilll'rty or PO\\l'!
0\('1' IlIpn. aH It ha.. had for the pa'lt thou1-and yearH; no
longer shall ally dip for Adam's ",in. (Rom ..ll'l'.
:W: Ezek. Tlll'n::f'forth th,- New Coven'lIlt, Realp,i
with the prel'iou
G
blood, shall hI' jn forl'l'. and only 1('I/flll
will be counted as Sill and with th,'
WUIl!'R of '\in-death-the Seeond death I'hll'l will the AdamH
dfath he l'aHt into and swallowf'd up hy tlIP sel'ond death
And hades and sheol-the dark, Sf'l'!'et l'OI11htion, the grav.-.
1\ ltil'h III the prt>Rf'nt timp to us of a hope of flltlJl"
Ilfp h, God's rl'"lITreetion power ill Chri.. t-",hall be no mort'
for the Hel'lll1d drath will devour no heillg fit for life--noIH'
for \\hom tlwrf> remalJlH a Rhadow of hop(" hut t-oul'h only <1.,.
by the unerring .Judgt'. han' 1Jl'l'Ji illlpartially anll
illlih found worthy of dl'stl'llrtiorr And t;;atan, that
1,\ Illg tl'mpt('r who <leceived and ruined the ral'p, and who, With
Pl'l -i"tent l'nergy and ('unning, ha" '!ought continually to
i hI' art the pnrpoRP of God for our R<1h ,ltion through Chri"t.
and with him all who are of hlS "hi.., angpIR." Rhall 1)('
and ",hall never awakp from death to trouhll' tIll'
world agalll. Hpre hI' said to h" 1'<1",t mto "the Ink" ot
firt,:'-thp "l'('ond death: and Paul in Heh. 2 14. rpferring to
the ,.amr thlllg. it (lestrt]('tlOn-"that hf' migllt des/roll
dl'ath. and him tllat, hath thf' po\\pr of (!l'ath, that i'\ tIl(
d(\ J!:' And "thf' bea... t. and the falRe prophet," the grpat
fahl' H,V",tl'nh whi< h havp long oppresbpd and misled nomina I
t'hrl",tendom, shall IlPH'r ""eape from it. Thl'f,r systemH art>
,.aid to 1)(' (',ht "alhp" (that is, while they .lJ'p still orgaIllzell
I1IHI 0pl'rati\l'1 lilt" th,' lal\p of firl' hurning WIth hrimstonp.-
Hl'\ 11l.20.
Thp grl'.lt timp (If trouble, the Lord's jlldgn1l'nt, wllJl'h
will uttl'rly destroy thp-t' RyRtem'l, will undoubt{'dly cau-"
grpat Rl)('lal, finanl'ial and religious diffieuity and pain to all
tho"" idl.'nt ifipl! with these deceived and deelving 8ystemH,
hefore they ,Irl' lIttl'rly destroyed. TheRe sy"tpJUs will be eaRt
in, destro) pd. at the bl'ginning of the Millennium, whilt,
Rai<ln'" dpstnJ('tJOn IS Tt'served until it" when all the
"goats" Rhall hepn Rl'parated from tIlt' and they
Hhall perish with in the Recond (!l'ath. I1S "his angels,"
1Il(_R(nger.. or .wrvllntR. None of theRe abuminable charaeter'
among men, who, knowing the truth, yet lo\'(' unrighteou'"
JJ('Rh-nonr of "the fearful and unbelieving"---thoBe who will
not trust God af1Rr all tht> manifestations of his grace afford-
ed during tIl(> Millennial rrlgn of Chri"t; 1101' tht> abominahll'
[26081
'T'RCII 15 \"D .\I'RII 1,1900
ZION'S WATCH TOWER
who at heal t aJ p murderel s .ll1<1 and 80rCl'rers
and idolaters and lial s: none of escape from thl'
second death, to defile the earth agalll. All such, after a full
and abundant 0pPOI tunity for rpformatlOn, "'ill be judged
unworthy of lifp, and ,nll bp fore",r cut ofT ill the sl'lond
dl'ath, symbohzl'd by the lake of lhe and
'I1'H'ral prophetIC' pen of the ::\Iill"nnial age and its
wOlk In ('hapten; aud (.f RevelatIOn, clearly thl'
ohjpd and result of tha t agl' of trial. 111 harmony with the
I l'lIlallHIl'r of the S('ripturl''' a 11 ('1d.\' noted.
Chapter 20, verses 4, 11, ",ith Yerse8 1, 2, 10, 11 of
dmpter show the beginning of that Age of Judgment, and
rhl' )(,,,tJ a lII111g of l'n 01 S alltl
'Ihl' "Ul'aRt" alld the prophet" are the l'hief s,)
alll! tIll' or of error ,,'hich.
to,Qrtlll I. IOIl..,tItutl' "Bah\ Ion." T111" jUl][Yment the
"tllrones" of the pre"ent timc, alHI against "the beast and the
fa I-p II! ophct" s/li:dclI!s folloll - upon the introduction
of Millennial judgment rPlgn. The of the present
dominion of earth will bp "cabt down," and the (10minion
tralhferred to the grpat Plophpt, King and ,Tudgp,
"\Ihose nght It is." ('oIllJlar,' ])nn. 7: 14. E7pk,
I'llI'n thl' ..,y..,tPIIl.., of 1'1101 \1'111 he '-1H'prlIly judged worth.I' of
dnlructlOn, "the lakp of filp." "the sel'ond death."-Rev
1q 20,
Thus the second udion (or dpath) hegins C[uite early
1I1 thp new iu(lgllll'lIt: It hE'i!ill<; ",ith the fnlse syRtems sym,
holw'd hy the fa]-e plOphet. etr. hut it will not reaeh
Iii, \1'01'1<1 of mankind. a" iIHlivic!lwl<;, ulltil thpy have fir'lt hacl
flll1 tria I. with fnll 0ppOl tllnit,v to choose life anc] live for-
(,\'(,1' l.3. nlld :3-7, indicate the
f,n'olablp trial in which alL both dead and living (pxcept tIl('
,hili pll. "ho. "ith (']11 i-t, :Irp prie<;ts,
:In,[ ,llldgi'''' I, \l'ill be brought to n full knowledge of the truth.
I'd11'\ ell from and pnJII, allc] freed from every blin(ling
"I I <11' ane] prpJ1H]irp. and hie(l "according to tllPir lGo,.7,s."
T]l<' ::rrand outcome of thnt tl ial will be ft clean universe,
\_ thp TI('\'plntor it. "El cr,ll crcatul'C "hieh is in
hl'nl pn and on thp parth .... hpanl I saying, Blessing and
hOIl<ll' and amI pml'pr hp nnlo him that sitteth upon the
1111 0111'. anc] unto th., Lnmh forenr " But thiR re"ult will be
:ll'romplislwc] in hnl 1lI0ny wIth all nod's dealings past and
1<J.''-ent. "hiph ]1:111' rp('ogllI7pII man's frpe(loll1 of "ill
t" chOORP good or i'YlI, lifp or death.
\Vp rnnnot donbt thpn that in the close of the MillenniaI
agp nod "Ill again for a "little permit evJi to
tTlumph. in o](lt'r therl'hy to tp"t his rreature<; (who ,nIl bv
that ti!lll' han hp('ol11p thoroughl.v aCC[lIainted ,dth both
anll e' II, anel til(' of each, and will have had his
i anc] low fnlly demonstrated to them), that those ",hI)
tin,lIh- prl'fl'1 :In,1 choo-" 1'1'11 mnl' li" "ut
':0,1 "Ill for all dl'IIlJi I' I l'mOI c all I' ho lio lIot love rio-ht,
:unl hatp JIIiqllitl'. '"
"'P reacl, regarding that that Satan will endeavor
10 l('ali all mallklllrl, whose number<; will then bp 11"
thp ,-nnel of thp ,eft for nlllltitll'lp; hut thnt many of thpm
"Ill folio\\' ta II'''' ('vi I exa mple and choose pvi] and dlS-
nb('dll'Il<'C. "ith ("I'pripnpp IlPfore thpm. :Ind unhampere.l
III' p1'l''''l'nt weaknp,,-t'_ nlll] l>lilldill,!r "'e nee.1 noi
HOIIPvpr." 1)('11 <io,l <1op.., not tl'll dihpI tllr
l11111111el 01' tIll' ]1I01'Ol tiOll of tho,..' to be fOlll1cl worthv of lifp,
:11],1 to bp jud;:(',I lIodh" of .]p,lth (tIll' b,'rOlHI apnlh),
\lp 11Iay Iwt ,10glllati/p. Of onp tIling we lila\, be confi,h'l1t.
(;<ld "illeth not th0 Ilpath of thp \1 i('k",l, but woul(1 1h.1( flll
,llllull1 tlll n to him an<l livc; alld 111' onp "ill hp ,l""t!'''\'l'd III
that' lakp of file and hI jlll-tonp" of Util'l' ll""tllll'-
lIon -Gclirllllll) who is \101 thy of Ilfp. "lw_p livill" 101l"pl'
\'ollid 1)(' n to lJim-l'lf 01 io o1hph ill h,l1nl;';'lIv ,,'ll!I
1 htpol1sne""
That Uttt'l nil'] ho]ll']p,,- l]p-tl'mtlOn i, illtt'lIdl'll 1II1h fO!
I[ II/III prJl "ho, lIke :-:,llan. ill p1'l,le of heal t nIH] 1('-
hplllon <io,l. "Ill 10\r and 1]0 PI il thp
1l1anifpbtll tlOn" of <iod's oV:l1, nnel notll lI,llIlg t hell
t'"I.]lCI iplI('r "Ith itR :-;"pllling],v thp .11111
10\" of nod in the of .1 LIII"OIll, :1 and
:IlIolhpr OjlpOl bUlIt.\- of lifp for 111.111. IIl stead of Ip.ullllg all to
an abhOlrl'lIre of \lill I(>.ld "omp to 1h.lt no.] i ..
too lovillg 10 pnt thl'm ofT 1Il tll(' "p('owl ,1",lth. 01 tIwl If li.,
uld _0 he "oul.] !rill' tll"lIl otllPl alld othpr futul(' 0jl1101-
tUliit TIuil,llllg t11lh u]lon a wpnklH'''''' 111 thp
rhvme charaetpl'. lll1l' 1", kd to h v to takp alll'nllt]<'"
of thp I!lape (favor I of Co,l. liS a for WIlful "ill
thpv -hall [Yo no flll tl,PI lUI tl1<,il fo]II' shall be ma(lr IlII111i-
Th,i;' ulh,] <1,,-111Iljlllll '\In 1'1(,\.' to thp riglltpOlh th"
harmony and ]If'l'/el t 1,.1],1111" of Ju"tll'l', II hdolll, IOl'c all,l
pow('r in the Dlville Ruler.
Revelation 21: 8
Thc tl'ue C!J<ll'.lLtCI' of the go..lt e1.l"s i" portrayed. '1)1l
f".ufu] aIHI l1l1bl'lievillg ["ho will not tlu-t God], the a1l0111
IlInhlp, Illurrlelers [)nother-hatersl, "IIOlplllongel", sorc('r,'I-.
)(101:ltpI" I -l1ch a IllhappropJiate nnl] mi"ll"e divine fnVOl-
I\ho glvc to ,-elf or othl'r creatllle or thillg that "P1\'](',
.11I,l honor" ]Ileh to UOll]. all11 a Jl linl <;"-"\\,hO-(I(>Vp1
]OH'tlt and lIlakptlt a lie" [in a "on!. all "ho do nol 10YI' tIll
tlllth nnd "cck it. all'] at nllV Co-I l]dPII(] allI] holl] itl . -Itall
Ilftve tltpir part in thl' l:Jke hll111dh "Iih fire allIl In II]]'
[Oclteill/o, of uttpr dp"hIlPlIOIl), "hiclt h tli,
:"e(011l1 denth," Sur1t com 'I (m],: 1Il' rppubl VI' to
llOlIest. Upl ight bl'in!:, It i.., han] to tolpl.tlt' t bpl11 nOli'. "bp1,
\'" can sympathize II jtlt tllPm, kllOlI ing that ,,!lelt
ate nmy in great me,hUlp 111<' of illlielitp,] <II
th(' flesh. \Yp arp mmcd 10 a of tl"
1Plllembranl'e that in 0111' own ensp- oftpn," h('l1 we woul,] d,
goo,]. evil is present" lih 11". Hnt ill thr of thp }fl1
]Pllllinl judglllellt, "hl'n tbp Lor,]. thp I Iuhtpoll, shall
iJ.)\ I' giypn alhant.l,Qp allI! 0Pllol I of knOll an<1
a],ilItl'. "ill ],,, an ahhOlr('lll'p ani] r" all
,,!In nn' 111 halmmJl' \,itb thl' Kill" of (;1011'..\IlI! thp liQllt-
('Plh "Ill hp ",Ial] "IIPII. tl}(' IJ i.ll pnelPI]. tll1' 111(1 ,,(I;f,
01 which the;e h.l\'p ]))'OH"] 1I1l'I'IIIt h\' ,11.111
],p taken flOIl1 thpn1. anll whl'n tllP pOl'lll1'tp].., 01 the l'.11 Il,
:\11,] all their work alII] intluellcp "hall bp el""tluyell.
THE DEVIL, THE BEAST AND THE FALSE PROPHET
TORMENTED
Hry. of tlte l]estIu('tlOn of illIli\'i<1\1.J1- \\11,
IOIll ,,-itlt Ratan in thp la.. t relwllinn, allI] vprsp ];"j t.ll- <II
t hat same dl"tl'uction in otlH'r "01'<1-. tll(' ".1 1111101
of fire." They are (TC! (JlIred or in fin'. Thi" ]"'1l1C'
t II(' tltp tOln)('nt of 10 e.1l1not rd"1 to /illlillll'
I,('iilfls "Ito arc con"ulIlpd, Hpll"(' till' '1l1p"tion 11.11
10".., .]Imn to thig, "'ill Satan aIH] a f.J1"p ]lIophpt nIHI :,
hI' torture<l forevrr? aIH] tlli" \ 1":11'11'
an<;wel' in Go(l'g OWIl \\01'1]- "\ll thr lIil\.::p,1 \1111 III
dl'-troy." Concerning' Rnt.lll. 11)(' arp]1 "IH'I11\' of Co,l n11l] n1.1n,
Co,] 1h:1t hi' \\ III I,, ell. an.] n<lt
in 'any sense or 10I1l]itiOlJ.--1Tl'1I 14.
The hpf]st ane] fals,> T11'ophpt "hi,,1t I]m ill!r tll<' Co'
1"'1 a!!:p hayp dI'Ppin',] all'] Iprl \l'ill hp P:1-t into a
tJ ollh]p ill th/' of <io-pll aUI'. '1'1](' tOl-
1l1(,l1t of tho'l' "ill ],(' (li(Jnin/!, i r .. It "ill
"'IIIUml/' a<; long as l111til tIll" all' llttpllI' POlhUU1pIL
:-;0 alRo thp pf rr1'or. "hieh will '-11<1,I"nll' IIlnnif""t
at th'e pnd thp ",rillplll1i"l a!rp an.] ]pac] "UO:1t"" io rl.,-
'-hlletion. "ill h(' ('OIlSll1llp.l. (TI/'\'. That ,],'p,'ilinc-
(not flS tn kim]. liut u)(,1'<,I\' ('.Il]p,] Salan
aftpl' ih will lip p,ht into tll(' '.Il!1l' ROI t nf 11 oulll,
:1l1.1 ']1'''1IUdioll III tlip I'IH] of tlip :\fI1J"lllli,'1 n/2'e, :,,- till'
,1n<1 .11"/' Illophd arp IlO\\' I,,'illg- pa"t illt'), ill tlll' "lid
<If thr fl,,,,pp]
TIel'. ]C)''l, '-ppakill!r of OIlP of 1111'''' -I-tt'lll-, ... .1'- ']["1
,,1/01.'(' ro-p up tOlPvpr am] (,YC'I" T1I.lt t<l tb" 1"1111'1"
1",ll1(,/' (' -lIloL,,"i of tIll' of tlll'-r of ,],
""ptlon :I1l,1 l'nOl "Ill bp tll(' 1,,--011 \IIlI llP\,pr bp f<ll
"ott"Il-:1- ,,'l]iph eontlnu.,- io :I-PPII,] aitc'l ,I ,],-
IIdil'" 1111', i_ tli:tI th(' !11" ]loh ,1nnl d- "<ld,-
:-;, 'l' a1 I -:1 '1 R-) 0,
Of n C)-]l Ill' ll'nl.IIL ill, i,](,11 t.il 11', illolt :il] \lill .11
ollre cOllepd., j I\,d if a 7111'1'1/1 "'01 of .I l't':ht :In<1 Illl.lC"
",,,rl' ll)('alil. III \1, thl'n fp\\, If :111\', in ,i,,11,/p,l :11'
ll.lble to 111, l"'nalty of V"1 ] 1: anI] If \111' :llI,! 111,
ill1:lge allil OI aIH] will" alld 'Ill' :1I P -\ IIIho]_. '-0 a]-'J :11'
1.11(' torlllr'l/l, ,Ill'] 81lloke nn(] (il'(' alld 7" 1))"tO))!'
T]l(' of 1]C'ath and tllP !!"l al'p IIIto UIt"1 Ildll"l
nol' _('POII() ,]p.ltll. 11111ill,U thp ",111](,1Il1I.l1 .1i!('J i, :1 1.,llt of 11"
lItt.'r .1p"tI1lC'l101l "hi('ll "ill ]]](Illd., 1'1('11 IllipIOp"I. I111"110lh
'1I)(! t11111g. 101 :',,") '1'11,' ""('Oll',
,]p'lth. thp of th:lt illdi\llln.il 1I 111, v,llI h(' final' l'
\Vii] IIP,pl 1lI. _\ml 1('1 all Il,,, 10\.'1'- "f ri,0htt'lIn--
.\111('11: for to <1e"trol' th" dC',ltb. 10 l"I"OIP th,
-"lItplll'" 01 tb.lt jll,t and inlp.IJ!I:d tll.ll, IIOlild bp tn Id
ag,lln lIot Rntan, llll! nil ,,110 lOYI alld ]lladi"
\lIOllg nll1] ,]('cpp1l0n amI "I}O <1i..,ll1,lIOI tIl<' 1.01'] \IJlh thPl1
"111 Ofr"llI! and "II<Jro.lI<JI to "1,'1-
t]IIOW t110"e "lio Ion' .111,1 l]p-ilp to 'l'll'l' Illlll an,[ "1'11' 1ll-
f,nor. \\'e lpioicp lhat thplp i.., no Il:tllgt'l of tli",. but t1lal
divine ju..,(ipp unitp, wit1l divill/' 101'(' nnd 1")\1<'1. te
hI ing- ill P\'pI I oil a ]"'llIlnlll'lIt
107 108)
Z ION'S WATeH TO lV E R
or negligent of God's enjoyed, and of their and
to hlln, shall e thp fate of the /Cl// ully "\\ icke,l,"
and he ea,t mto thp ']l'ath,
In further proof of this, we fiJl(1 that the Hehrew word
shub, \\'hich in our text "turnel}," slgmfies turned
back. to a place or condition, Those referred to
in tIllS text haye been either in sheal or liable to cntpr it, but
beillg' redpemed by the pI ('cious hlood of Chrbt, \\ ill he hrought
out of sheol, If theII they al I' 1Clcked, they, and all who
forg('t (;011, shall he turned vack or retlll ned' to shrol.
DID THE JEWS BELIEVE IN EVERLASTING TORMENT?
Xotmg that \\ l' t"aeh that the doctrine of tor-
lI1('nt \\,h englafted npon the doetrineq of the church
I]uring thc period of the apo"ta"y, the gH'at fallw;.! away
\\'hlch culmmate,! in Papacy. havp inquil ('II \\ hpther it
not accordmg to tIll' works of that till'!
dod1ine was filmly hpl,! 1>\- t]'e ,lews; and, if they
It not spem' pYi,lpnt . that the early being
larlYel\' con\-erts from ,Tw]ai,-m, 1Jrought t.his doctnne \Yith
III the WIT of Christianity?
\\'p f1IhWN, Xo; tIll' I],wtrinp of torment
naturalh' from thp dodl ine of hUllllln illlmortalIty, whi,'h 'h a
\Y,h i,n hk.. the
1'l'p"I'll t form thp 1'Iatollle of (de('lan
Th,',p til,t atliJ mpd that c',leh man pontamp,] a fl agment of
dpity, and that wOllI,l pleH'nt him hom eypr ing. Thl"
fOlllldatinn Ini,l, it wa, tn a pl.II'" for PVll
dOl'I for Hut to the prp,lIt oi t h'h" h"athen
h" It l'ecOllll'd that fail"d to dpw]np, or at
to that ,Iepth of dl'gra<1ntion from 1)('IIl'Y',)"IH'e
allll reason anll pity, ry to paint. hy word aIll] pen
allll brush, of horrOls amI agonies a" \\ere ,0011
incorporatpd mto their ,lodl illP. all,l a helIef th"l "of ,h,.. 1are'[
to in the .. ,l chmch of
To appreciatl' the it to Ipm"lllhpr that.
when the C'hn"tian chllrch \la" (;I('er.. ,too,l at
the head of illtellIgcllcl' nnd cinh7ation. Ale,\nlllI ..r till' (;J('nt
hall cOllqlll.'rl"! thp \\ orl,!, am] hall ea,l (; 1I"'ep
eyery\\h.le; nw] though, flOll1 n pOInt of \1('\\-, HOJ1le
had'takpn lwr it III ]ltp1.1tl1lp, For, el'lI-
tllrl('''. nnl] lp,l th" mtpl-
leetual \\011<1, and implegnntl"! amI allpdpI] "\"1,\ It
hecame for alll! t"aeh"I' ot Ilth,-r
theOl ie" to chum that th.. ir alll] thpoJ'le, WPIt' ne,nly
the aq those of the all,1 to ell,h'an)r to
IJPtween theIr o](] all,l the p0l'lI]nr (;1 pI'lnll
And sought to make capital h,\' claiming that
their qy"telll emhracell all the good points of \\ Ith
others '\yhich Plato ,Ji,l 1I0t
Of t]11q \\'l'rp the in the ChI rhureh in
the thinl aIll] fourth centm ips. Conrel]lIl!.!: thp .l'0p-
nlarly acceptpd eon of the tlll'y
that thp gOOI] of \\cr(' foun'] III
am] thnt Ill' onp of the gn',lte,t plll],h-
opherq, !'tc, Thus a hll'nding of nll']
took plac(', TillS hecalllp th, morp IJrollollllel'l! as ani!
('mpprorq hegan to utinizp I eligioll" an(] to fa YOI'
tho,p lllO"t lIkely to awl' tIll' people and 1I.1nke them
ahi,lllll!' \Yhile heathpn t,:achers \\1'11' tn.lckhng !o 1111-
pl'l'inl spl'llhny, am] tpnc]lIl1,C! an pUIl1Shmellt for
\\ ho violutl'rl thp !:l of the (\\ ho 1ulcil
,1Iv1I1l'1y a ppointe(]), we eannot suppose othel \\'he than that
the aJllhitiou, iii tIle chmch at that t1111e, who ,\\ere
to and to the
II'Jigiollq power would make promment doctlllle"
aq woulll in the of the I'lllpelOrS seem to ha\ e an pqual
holll upon the fparq f11ll] of the peopk. And what
eoultl hI' more to thp pUI']Hhe than the rJoctnne of the elldless
tOlIllPnt of the rpf! aetary?
Thl' sallle opl'J'atpd' \yith .To'ol'phus when
writing coneelllin!.!: the lJPJil'f of the .Tews. Hi'! works shoulll
hI' apologies for ,TlH]aism, and as efforts to exalt that
nntioll in tlw ey"s of H'lllle nnd thp worl,l. It be 1'1'-
mplllhplP,1 that the .Te\\'\ hall the reputation of hell1g' a very
Il'hpl1ioll" people, YE'I y 1IJl\\ llling to be rulp(l I';'l'n by, the
I' They \\ el I' hoping. in harmony \\ ith Go,l
to l)('coll1l' t1l'e chief nabon. :JIany rehellions had
occlllIl'd among' thcllI, amI their peculiar rl' Jigioll, ,hffel :nt
flolll all otheh. cmlll' in fOJ ih of blame for fayonng
too !IIuch the slJll'lt of
hnd nil ol>jeet in \\ dting his two principal
and "\\'al of the ,Te\\ He wrotE' t1wm III
t]1(' (; Il'ek language \\ h i!e hying at Rome, \\ here Ill' \\ as ,the
fllell,l anr! glll"-t of the Roman "mpel 'es-
TURNED INTO HELL
"TIll' \\ieke(/ be turned mto hell, and the that
forw't (;od,"- !): 1..
Thh of the LoreI reco]'(le,l b\' tll(! \\'c
find \\ Itlwut any quahjjeHtlOn \\ hateYer. m;,l \\ e lI11ht aeeept
it a" a fad. If the claim" of "Ortho,lo\:y" H"pecting
IHII \\ el e tIll", \\ ollid be, mdl'p,}, a f"aI ful me"ag"
Hut I"t Ih thl' tl'11(' IIWHlIInC! of the wonl
awl our tp'\t \\Ill I"ad "The \\Iek"d I", tllln"d mtu the
[(JilI/I/11i1i u/ dill/it, :I1HI nil thl' that fOlg,t (;Ol}," TillS
\\p \',,111'\", but 1J(''\t. \\ho HIe thp \\Iek,d'/ In on(' all
JIl"1I al" \\II'k,d. III that nil alt' of Co,l\, law; but
ill nl" Cull",t thl' \\ ir'k,',l an' tlllh" who, with full
hIlO\\ I,d:,:,' of th, (''\('''''dlllg of alld tlle 1t'1Ilt'lly
pm\ 111,<1 for theIr H"',\'I)' flOm lJaudul l'ffech, lellfully
!"'I,ht III
\, \1'1 It'\\-ollh "Oll'rr'lat,,j h'li"\"h-ll<\Ye ('ome to a
tfll" hl;O\\ 1"d,!!(' of (:0<1. Th, \\ orld kIlO\\, llim 1I0t. all,l the
,'nllllot for,C!..t (:od Imtd th,,\ nIl' liht brought to a
knO\\ I"d,!!" of llilll. Til" ('on,p('lat,'d 11.1\'e b"c'u ('nllghtened,
Jp,] oC Ill(' d tIl rough fallh to IllHh'htanl] th,' d"ep aIllI
hidd"n thlll,!!' of Cud, \\ 11II'h )'('\,'nl til(' glOlY of Cod'" eharac-
t"r hilt \\ JllI'h, tllllllgJI III 111" \\'01'], appc'al unly as
fool to t hp \\ olld.
\\,' h.I\" 11ithpI to \\ ill 1I0t be in thl' age to
rOlli". ior tlll'lI "Tlll' pnlth JI(' full of th(' kno\\ledue of
the Lord thp rO\"'r tlw s('a," (I,n. ll'!l) :\Iuc1tthat
\\p 1I1l\\ )'("'Pl\" 1>\' Llltll will then 1", dplIIOIhtlated to the
\\Illld. \\ Jl('n II" '\\ 1111 Jllan flOIll th" powel of
th" grn\l' 1:1 1'+) to gathpr hh
h;)('1, flOlll til(' of death oI:l),
\\11('11 tli( all' H\\al,en(',l llnd.'r thp g"llial of the
"'lin of tI!('v \\ ill Ilot hI' slow to re,1Jiz
e
the
truth of thp hit Ill'rto idl" tall'. that Chri",t,
b,\ tlip I!I al'(' Ilf (;od, t;ht,'d d,:ath for (.\ "1 Y llIan"
\\". ha\p a],o that th(' gl:ldllal a'Cl'nt of the King's
l1iC!ll\I,I\ ot 1I1llill"" ill that ;'C!(' I\ill I,l' p""ibl(' to ,Ill <I Ill]
('olliparatl\('I,\ I""alb' all th('
l'I!"h. "t"--\\'Ill hn\, h"('n gatll('lt'd out, ;\Il,l
llI:tdp lor th"lr f,pt It III that aC!p that thi, te"\t applies,
I'hlh" \\ ho IgilOJ'(' tilt' fa \ "I illg ('II 1'llIIbt:lnl'(" of that agt', aJlI]
\\ Ii] llot h(' ob('(l)('nt to thp righteous .1ud,!!p 01
-\1 III h u]y bp thp wie]..pIl, .:\11'] I'VplY loyal of the
klll,!!dolli Ilf (:od \\ill a PplO\ e tll(' ,JlI,]guH'nt which
,lll'11 an Ollp (/III/ill into ,,'wo/-thp cllndltiou of dpath.
an 0111' \\oIJld II,' 111/\\'01 thy of h!t': anI!, "('II' he per-
mittell to 11\1', Ill" Ilfp woul,] he a to hlm,plf anll to the
ft"t oi mankin(I. am] a 011 the work of Uod,
\\ill h" th(' 8r(Onrl dcath, hom \\hich thPfe wIll he no
ILI\lllg h"'11 rau'i>Ill"d frolll thp grl\\'(' (s/,eoll
lly thl' ,a"1 dIC(' of if th('y (lie again on :!c('ount of their
0\1 II "11"'1(' 1l'lllallll'th 110 morp "arrifice for sm," (Heb.
10,:>(;) '(,hli,t dipth no 1l101e; dpath hath 110 1ll00e dominion
11\ l'f hlln" (Itom n !1) Thp df'ath he dreaded
,111/1 I,y all, it to be the pnd of pxistence to
.111 tho'i' d"('lll"',1 11II\\orthv ,f life Hut 111 It thpre can be
no cUllt'lllIg, Likp death, it the pxtmctlOn of life.
It hpI'alhl' through mank:mrJ hall hpcomp suhJect to
,1(',11 h (,!lru/, !/(/f!n) that cam" to dplivf'r and
',"" Ih 11"1l1 d(',ltll (1 ,'"hn :1 H: IIp!>. 2:1.+1 Dpath is a
1",1t I"ll III "'\1,1"11("', tll(' :t1""ll"(' ot lift TheIl' h no dif-
1"11'/1 1
" hl'!\\I"1l tl,, (1iIidl/IUI/Slll tlI" \dnllllr and
11111 ('1"1,' I" 11(11'" (,t .I HI,". fl(lJII til<' \\hilp flom the
-I'" lld til,"" \1 Iii I,, ll(l H 1"',1' ll" l..tllln til Ilfp Thp lilst
ll' illl ..... jlli('lH t p" ...... et! l'!dHl all tlll ,t( eOllllt of RIn,
\\hll, III" -""'lle! tI('.tlh ('.In 1>l' illclllJ(,1 ollh' lw \\ilful, indi-
, 1I111:l 1 -Ill .. ..
'j'lat tl,, al'l'li(-atioll of Olll tl''\t to thp cOllling age
I' "\ Id"llt '''I hill h ,II lilt, ,!lld ,inll' I, C!" Illto sltf'1)1 or !tudes
1I1l\1 ,"lllInll" tlllt. I!I tIll' tIllll' \\hen it
.111/,]1(" (J,,111 III ( '11 II I. ," ,II,dl t11('\(' ,\Illi thp that
flll"c't (;Il:l IIlll,t I", lI,illtlll' lh,1I hd\'(' kllll\\11 hllll thpv
. ]lllt hllll :Illd Ill'\('1 \(t 11.1\, till' lllb"lh ],"(';1
IIIIIIIC!llt to tlI.lt kllll\\ 1,dC!(. ll"l \\ Iii lh,'\ ],p untd thp COlll-
111" tilll", \\ hplI thp kn'l\\ ],.,!!!" of th, LOllI till thp whole
nlld nOli" ,hnl] 1Il"'d' to Ullto ]I('IC!hhOl. KilOI\'
thon th,' 1.01", fOl :Ill ,h.lll kno\\' lJiI1l flOIll tIll' to the
"It',l!,,t Ilf tl)('m,-f'f1 II,!): .1pL :1I ;:).4
Th" 1I"],ll'\\ \\OId (/01, 1t'llI]"I(',l in
(,1,,\\ II('J(' Ihpd 11\ tlIp ,,111I1' \\ 1it,,!, awl J('wll'lpI] "hl'.lthell,"
"( and "I',pol'l,'" The thought to ],p,-au\ \\ ho
do lI11t ],"('Olll(' ('O\'plI,llIt !,I'o!,!", PYI'II thp,\' llP n.lt
n/Jrltllj II ,('krd, Th,' nll \\ho UWlt'1 that full
"nm\ do not ],eeollle bLlehte'- incl.-e,l) \\ ho ,lIe fOlgl'tful
[2610]
MARCH 15 AND .\PRtL 1, 1900 ZION)S WATCH TOWER 008-109)
Titus an(l Domitian. and where he wa" in con"tant
contact with the Grecian phtloRopher". These hooks were writ-
ten for the of off the people, their
courage, laws, ethics, etc.. to the be"t advantage before the
Grecian philosopher" an(l Roman dignitartls. This object i"
conrtly admItted 111 his preface to his "Antiquitie,;," in which
he
"I have undrrtaken the present work as thinking it will
appear to '\11 the Grpek.., worthy of their study.... Those
that rea(l mv book mav ,,'ondpr that mv di"courbe of laws
and fad" f'(;ntmns much' of philosophy. ...
However. that havp a nl111(l to know the reasons of
everything may find here a \"t'ry curious philosophical theory."
In a "ord, as a man who himself had become
imbued with the spirit of the Grecian philosophers then pre-
vailing. Josephu" (hew from the Law and the Prophets, and
from the traditions of the el(lers and the theones of the
vanous sect" of the ,Jew". all he could find that in the most
remote degrce woul(l tend to show'-
that thp .Jewi"h rcligion wa" not far bchind popular
(jJ"('f'ian hut that SOIllPIi hat analogou" theorics had
l)('pn lli n from law, an(l hel(l hy Jews, long
bPiore thc nrprian philo"ophpr" hroached them.
f'pf'ondly, that it wa" not their religious whiph made
the ,Tc\\" a" a pcople hanl to control or "rebellious," as all
libpJty-lovPI \\ pre lrv the Cre"ars. Hence he attempts
to pro\'('. at a timc when viI tue was csteemeu to mainly
in that law "taught first of all that God
is tIle Fathpr awl Lonl of all things, and bestows a happy
hfp 111lOn tho"p that follow him, hut such as do not
"alk In the path" of virtuc into inevitable miRcrie"." And it
i" III "'lIPpOl t of thi.., i(lca. and for such purposes, evidently,
that Jo",pphll_. aftpr ..,aying: "There are three philosophical
5P<'t- alllong the ,Jpw..,: fir"t, thc Phari"ee"; ..,erond, the Sad-
du'('-. and thirrl, the plOcepds to gin an account of
theIr threp e"peC'ially uetailing any fcatures which
Grerwn And because the last and least,
tlw mo..,t Ip"pm],ll'd the doctrincs of the Stoics anu
h'adlllg (irel'ian theOliC'".. dcvott>" nearly ten times as
mneh to thplr vip\\" as to the views of both Sadducees
amI I'h.1rI"'I'P'" comhined. And the ES5enps were so insig-
niti( .lllt a that the Xt>w Testament does not even men-
tlOlI th(lll. "hill' .TOf'l'phus admits they were few.
\\ hat('1 PI' Vle\\" t1wy 1]('1,1. thelrfore. on subject. cannot
he elailllc(l having .Tewi..,h sanrtion, when the vast majority
of .Tt'\\'" hpld The vcry fact that our Lon}
amI tllp (lid not refer to them is goou evidence that
the E"-('n<',,' hy no mpan" repre"ented the Jewish
Thi" probably grew up later and probably
aIhol1>p(l frolll (;recwn its irlea" concerning immor-
and tllf' torment of the non-virtuous. It
shoul,l lIe rpm('mbprell that .Tosephus was not born until three
[Iftpr our Lon]'s C'ruf'lfixion. and that he published his
"\. D. 7;:' and "AntIquities" A D. !J:3-at a time when
he an(l other lIke all the of the wor1<1, were eagerly
swallo\\ 1l1g' nrecian phllo"ophy and science falsely so called,
agam"t \\'hidl Panl lIarne,1 thl' ehtl1rh.-Co1. 2'8; 1 Tim. 6:20.
direct('(l sppcial attention to the ERsenes becau"e
it suited his oh,lert to do 50. He admits that the Sadducees,
next to the of Jewish people, did not believe 111
human immortality. And of the Pharisees' views he makes a
blinu statement, to mislead. as follows: "Thev
also believe that souls have an vnmortal vIgor in them [Thi's
might be understood to mean that the Pharisees did not
belil've as the f'addureeR that death ended all existence, but
beliew(l in u vigor or lIfe beyond the grave-by a resurrec-
tion of the dead]. and that under the earth there will be
rewards and puniflhments, accoruing as they have lived vir-
tUOU'llv or viciouslv in thi" life: and that the latter are to
be ined in an e\'erlasting prison [death-not torture], but
that the former [the yirtuoU'l] shall have power to 1'evive and
In e again."
Is it not apparent that Josephus has whittled and stretched
the views of the Phari"ees, as much as his elastic conscience
would allow, to "how a harmony between them and the phIlos-
ophies of Greecp? Paul, who had been a Pharisee, contradicts
Josephus. 'Vhile Josephus says believed "that only the
virtuous would revive and Ih-e agam [Doe" not this imply a
resurrection, and imply al'5o that the others would not live
again, but remain dead, in the great prison-the tomb?]"
Paul, on the contrary, Rays: "I have hope toward God, which
they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection
of the dead, both of the just and un]u"lt."-Acts 24: 15.
'Ve hav6 no heSItancy about accepting the te..,timony of the
inspired Apostle Paul, not only in regard to what the Jews
believed. but also as to what he and the earlv chmeh bclieved'
and we rcpeat, that the theory of the everla"ting torment of
the wicked, ba"ed upon the theory that the human soul cannot
dip, i" contrary to both the 01u and the Kew Tl'''ltament teach-
ingR. and was introduced among Jews and Christians by Gre-
cian philosophers. Thank God for the purer phIlosophy of
the Scnptures, which teache'l that thp dl'ath of thp f'oul
(being) i" the penalty of sin that all sou!':
condemned through Adam's sin ,\ PI P J'('dl'emell by Chri"t's
soul (!'la. 53: 10); and that only for wilful, in(hvidual sin
wIll any ule the Second death-an' eveI!astIng ]Illilishlllent, but
not an everlasting torment.
CHOOSE LIFE THAT YE MAY LIVE
"I have >.et before thee thi" hfe and goo(l, dpath and
eyil." "I have set bcfore thee lIfe alHl death. and
thel dore choose life, that both thou anll tllY bPed
lin."-Deut. 30 l,j, l!J.
'VI' come now to the consideration of other Scripture state-
ments in harmony with the conclu"lOns f'pt forth 11l the pre-
ceding al tirles.
The here quotell are hom to ISJael. To ap-
preciate them we j'('member that ISlal'l a" a people, anu
all their covenant", sacrifices, etr.. hall a typical SIgnificance.
Go,l knew that they rould not ohtam life by kpcping the
Law, no matter how nmch woulu choose to do po, because
they. like all others of the fallen race. Wf're wcak, depraved
through the efi'ert of the "sour grape" of SIn which Auam had
eatf'n, and which his children had continued to eat. (,Jer.
31.2(1) Tim". as Paul dl'chtre". the law gl\('ll to could
not give them life because of the weaknes"e" 01 depraVIty of
their fallen natme-Rom. 8:3, Heb. 7:1!l: 10.1-10.
Kevel theless. God foresaw a benefit to them from even an
attl'mpt to lIve perfectly: n:lmpl,l. that it would
develop tlwlI1. as well a" them the neell of the better
sacI ifice (the I ansom which our Lord gave) and a
qrealer deliverer than :;\1oses. And" ith all thl" thpir trial
furni..,hed a pattern or of the individual trial insured
to the whole wmld (" hich Israel typIfipd) anll Rpcurcd by the
better sacrifices for sin, whiph "ere thpre prefigured, to bE
arcomplIshed by the great plophet of \\ hom "a'l but a
typc.
TlmR that the trial for Ii ff' or death JlI pspntp(l to
Israel ,\ aR hut typical of the indivillual trial of the whole
world. and its issues of hfe a11<l (lpath (of etelnal hfe or
the "econd death). may help "ome to "'ee that tllf' great thou-
of trial. of which 0111 Lonl Jesus has becn ap-
pOlnte(l the .Twlgp, contains thp til 0 is_nes, hfe aTHl dpath.
All will tlwn be ra lled upon to decidp. llIHler that most favor-
able oppOltumty, fur amI hfe or sin a11<I (leath,
and a choice mu"t be made. And, although thcre will be rc-
warus and according to tlH' ll('eus of the prespnt
life. a" well a" according to their rondud U1Hlpr that bwl
(.fohn :l l!): :\1att. 10:42: :\[ntt II 20-24). the YC'ruict III
the p11<l WIll be III harmony ,dtll thp phoi('(' (:>.l)Je-..,eu by the
con(lur't of each (llII ing that age of tI wl
The serond trial, and it" I C'" II It. all' shown
in the "onl" of Moses lIuotpu 1'et('r (Acts :3:22, 2:1): "A
Prophet shall the Loul your Cod up unto you of your
brcthren, hke unto mf'. Hun shall e bp II' III all things what-
soevcr he bhall say unto you. And It shall comp to pa"" that
evel'." soul [being] which will not hear fobf'y] that Prophet
[an.l thus choof'p lifcl shall hc destnJl/cd flom among the
people." In few words this calls attentIOn to the world's
grcat tI ial. yet futurf'. It shows the grput Prophet or
Teacher raised up by Go<l to give a new judgllll'nt 01' tnal to
the condemncd I ace which Ilf' has rpd('pnH'd from tll(' eondem-
nation which came upon it through it" progcnitor, Adam. It.
too, the pOlHlItions of eternal hfl' to 1)(' righteous
obl'dlenre, and that with the close of that trial SOllle will be
ju<lged worthy of that hfe, and some worthy of
the bl'cond death.
Our Lord .Tesus, having redeemPll all by lli" !lPrfcct and
precious sacrificp, is the Heau of tlJi'! gl pat 1'1 ophet: and
during the Gospel age God has been selectIng the' members of
his body, who, with Christ JesuR, be Go(l's agents in
judging the world. Together they will be that Great Prophet
or Teacher promised. "Do ye not know that the saints shall
juuge the world ?"-l Cor. 6 :2.
The trial of mankind an(l henc(' its penalty
or curse, the (leath, was only upon man. But the seconL
trial j.., to he much mOle It will not only be
thp trial of fallen and imperfect mankind, but it will include
PlelY utllPr thing and principle and bemg out of harmony
[2611J
'llu Ill, Z f ( I IV '.\
W/1 Tell 'j () /IV I-: R --\1 J 1\,111 "'J\', p"
,Teho\,lh 'God \\Iil ""11" 1'\"1\ \\0'" Illto III .I,!! II H' II 1 ,
\\ith evelY tllIll"" ....
Thp ",llldglll('l1l to \\II! JlII,lwl" thl' llldglll('lIt to eOIl-
,It'lIllwtioll of all f"I-l' -')('1,11 ,lI}(! 11'11"1011-
TIll'''''' \\ 111 1". Jlld/!I'd. "O'I(}t'II1I1I"! am! l,alll'-ll<',l (',II]" till'
\lill('nIlHI! ,I., \, til(' 1Igh! 01 trllth ",III-illg th"m 10 ,'ollle into
alld th"ldol" to 1',,,",, 'fhi, jlldgment
ill old"1 th"t till' tll,d of lI1all prof'''(''! IIl1hinder,,'!
",\ 1'1101', pJ('IIIc!Il''', ..t" It \\ill :tl,o illpllll!l' Ihl' ilial of 'th,
dllt!'l'J... \\ hI( h allgl'l- "" hll'h "I'pt lIot I li"ll lir,1
",>t,ltl''' ot pilI "lid o""dll'n"t' to (:od, J1 \\ I itt,'n
I II<' :\po,t\,' ot th, 1I1l'lI1iJel of the bOI!; of tlle gr..,11 Prophet
,In<1 11Igh 1'lIl',t, who h to he ,TIIl!g" of ,111-' Kllow ,\'t' 1I0t
l.h,lt tIll' "lint..; .,h,dl ]ll(lg" allge!, ?"-l COl (j ':;,
Thi, hpillg (h" ".J-", til(' ('ondl'lI1n,ltion ot til(' 1\lI!!ennial
tllal (,!<-",11 Il('t 1011 , ",,"'0110 d".lth) \\ ill ('0\'('1' a \\ id('r rang(' ot
oll'I'I}(]"r, th,ln th(' )H'II,t1ty 01 ellr"" fOI th" "III of .\dam, whic!t
pa",-('d IIPOIl all 111('11," In a \\ 01 d, th" d,"tllletlOlI ,It the 1'10""
of thl' tI ..11 \\ ill bl' tbp IItt"1 d(',t Ilidion of ('I'rlll being an,!
"rer'l t11111f1 whi('h will 1I0t ,!.!Iollfy (iot! "'HI h(' of and
h]l'",,,illg to hi" g-"lIl'l,tl "I pal lOll
FUTURE RETRIBUTION
\.\ 1111 .. 111l' :--"IlptllJt" t('.H'h that. the prp'lent GO'lpel agl' i,
ih" "]JIlll'h', ,/udgnll'nt-day or IlPriod of trial, and that th,'
,lndgnwnt-tla\ or tilllp of tJial will he thl' l\hllennia!
,I/!e It a Ipa,onHh!1' qUI'",tion to ask,-To what
",It'nt \\ 111 t h,l''' "ho a I'l' not of t hI' conspcrated ('hureh 1)('
held J('Hpon"'lhlp, III thp age. for their mlbdeeds, of
"I'uelty, di ... mill immOlality. of the present time? And
10 what ,'\.tl'nt \\ilI those of the sam" class then be rewardftd
for prft"pllt eR'ot t-; to lIy(' moral and hen("'olent li\'l's?
III thl' jlll"('dlllg !',I)!t... Wt' 1l1l('ll) show tIll' ,'xtl('IlIt>
all,} tOI \\dtlll p('llally, \\ hll'h IIl\oln'd hi, "Iltlle
I a( 1', of -lJI t. alld oul. a- I hl' It''lIlt of ('hI hI', (!l'ath
our hom Ihat pl'l;alt,\ of thai wilfu! 'III I- :III)'
of It OJ' ""h pO--Ih1<,
]<'orgl\ahl" aI'<' Iho",p "hi('h flOIU \\",Iknp,,,.. ,,
/Ilf'urr('(1 tliJolIgh that Oil" _\dami(' \\ hil'h ('Ill spttle,! onl'p
for all Th,'\ :1 It' a, arc not \\ dful. but .Ill' ('omlllittpd
lhroug-h Igllf;lalll'" 0\' wpaklle... ot the' 11",h, (;od
pledge,] to f'lIgl\"" all 'lIl'h UpOll 0111 I "!"'lItallf't', III tIll'
lIallH' am! 1I1l'I It. of Chll'-t.', ,\a(,l'itipp,
{Tnpanlollabll' ,,"I'- \\ ltil'h (',lIl1lot ht' fOI!!I\(,Il, al(' "IIl'h
an' \\ dfully dOllP, '\' thp p'wilt.,\ of th.. til,t \\ dfu!
"aH ,1palh-,:\tllll'tlOll ot bt'llIg-,o d,'ath i, tiH' ppnalt,) 01
,,\pry \\ ilful ,ill ag-allht fllll kno\\ ]"dg
p
,HId ahdit\' to
dll'! io do tIll' light. '1'111, i, ,',i1I ..d ,t','olld d",lth, III di-;tinctioll
fl'OIll till' lil,t 01 .\d,III111' !,pll,dty, j I 0111 1\ hil'h ('III
-aprifi('p \\ill Ip1".I" all mallkind,
Th.. IIl1to I -",'owil ,l",lth," fOI Ih" of
\\ 1111 h tIll' ,\ po-Ilt, ,It-d,II'''' it i, Ih")e,,, to pI II .101111
'c, Iii), llot 0111,\ ,I \\lltU! hilt a "in (']"HI knowI
"dgl', a ,111 fill' ",hi('h 110 a,lelju,ltl' 1',('11-, (',Ill be found,
d I... a again,t ('](':11 knm\ Ipdg", oJ' .. Idightenlllpllt
IU It b ".i1I,'d tllP ag,lill'-t thl' holy
,1\1:Itt 'll ,12" fol' \\ III('h th,'\ e I" 110 fOl'gin'ne""
But tIIPI" .11l' othel partly\\ Iifill whi('h all', thpll"
jlJl(', 1'altl.lIl,\ IlIlp,lldollabll', III ,IH'h 11\(, tNnptaboll' "ithlll
:UIl! \\IlhlJld I all of \dll('h all' dll('ptl,\- or lIHllrpl'tly I'(',\ult,.. ot
Ihl' fnlll h,l\p a ",halt' ,-tbl' will ('OI1-('lltlllg ullllt'r the pres'
-un' of ihl' t"lIIptatlOlI 01 h"'''lI1-'' of tht, The Lord
:lloll{' kno\\'" hm\ to plop('l'h .. ,timat" our 1'l"pon'lbllitw, allli
!fuilt III _1I,'h lIul to th" tI Ill' "llIlei oi Co,l thl'rp Ig but
on., prop"l "0111 -t to ta k" ,-IPp"!l!.IIH" an,I nu appl'a! for
11I,']'( \' III 1IIl' IWllH' ,lIld nll'l'It of Chri,t. th" grl'at ,a('riti('(' tor
-Ill, 'Th,' l.lJI Ii \\ III a p"nitpnt, J1I thp Sl'II'" of
hllll to hi" f'l\or: hut h" \\ ill hI' ma<ll' to "utf"r
.. I 1.11"" -J.R I iOI th.. ,III, HI 11l0I'OItiOll ,I- (;od
_""H it to ha\(' hp"11 \\ 111'1111\' ('ommitt",1.
Not infrp'lIlPntly l\ pel -;011 rl'aliz('K thaI he
Ita,.; pOl11nlltte,I :In,! that it had Rome wilfulnes'l in it, Hp
fl'piK ('on<l"lIInl'(1. guilty before Gud; realizing his 0\\ n
!!III 11. and fOI t!'1'l t i ng I I", fuuntain for "li n a n,l unclt'ann!''''',
"I"'n",1 h,\ (;od tor 0111' \\ pak, fa11('n r,ll'p, Ill' ia11" into a "to1tl'
of 1,t'l1"\ illg i h,lt Ill' haE ('oll1ll1ittf'(1 thl' "lin unto death
"n' It \\andpl' 111 dn'ar, IlIItil tin,l thp cl('anRlllg
fountain, Ll'! j('lllt'ml)('r, hO\\l'\,r. that thl' YI'IY fal't" of
their ROnO\\ for and thl'ir d..-II'l' to I'cturn to fa\ol
,Ire proof... tll,11 th!')' ha\'p not (,olllll1itt,,<! sin IInto ,1 path : {Ol
fhl' t1l.lt tho-!' \\ho "Ollllllit _III of thi, _"It
":Innot. hi' rl'np\\ p(1 IInto rl']1entall(,l', (Hpb, G: GI Pellitent..;,
lIll'n, ma,\' fl'pi ('onli<lent that thf'ir ,in" W"I .. ill !,art. at
I..a"t, I'p... 1l1t" of thl' fall. an,l hl'n('(' not UlitO dl'ath, hilt
illl! fOlgl\'('lIl''''' a 11<1 i!'p,
:'n('h til<' \\on,ll'l fill of fioel, throngh Chi I..;t
inr thp :tc'('('ptaIH'" of 1"'''ly "'0111 whil'll, forRaking SIll :UI,1 tht
10\1' of 11, nghtpon,np",\ :\Ill! lifp through him \\ ho 1'1
rht' 'Ya\', \\('11 11'\ th.. Truth and till' Lifl', Thus all. whethl'r
1I,ltmal\\ ... tron/!f'1 01 \\'I'aker, h,j\'l' an eljual opportunity to
5,1111 ('\,I1a"tin!! hI'" a'" \\,,11 ,I", to gain till' grpat ]11'1('(' of JOlllt
lI('If"lllp "ilh
FORGIVABLE AND UNPARDONABLE SINS
are irn!,lJrtant que"tIolI", ('''!,''('I.III) tIl Iii" \\01!t!,
nllli w('l1 \\onl,I it hp for th('m if thc\- ('Ollie! Ip.dl/p thrir
1"'1 Lu}('p awl profit theI They a; (. flllllll\ Lillt ,11,0 to the
.. hur('h, !JPC.lU,l' uf our interest in the world, ,III'! h"('llUKe of
our ,if'sirl' to undl'fstand and teaph corrcl't1y 0111' Fllthpr'"
plan",
Wt h,I\" 1l',.IIne,I that. thl' sM'riti(,p of Chlht ,N'un'" fur
a 1\ lIIankind, "ill', an a w.lk('ning- from di'ath, :lI1(I I I",
prinll' cre of thell'dftp!, eominO' to IlPrfl'('tion, :111(1. if t h.. " wi II.
of li\ fOlcvpr, "Ther(' h(> a ]'(',lIll'i'('tlOlI of the ,Ifta,!,
both o(thp jll",t allil the UII (.\('h I Thl' obi'"t
of thpir bpirw acrain brOlwht into \\ ill be to gin'
th('1II a fa \ ur,Jlll' tUII{ty to ,l'('UI t' pn'II,l"lillg lifp, Oil tlll'
eonditlOlI'" whil'h COIl to
will \VI' han' 110 intimation whatl'Yl'r ill tho' thaI,
wh,," ,1\\"k"IHd, th,' mOI,11 ('olllhtion ot 11\('11 \\ ill h.I\'e l'hallg(',l,
bllt h,IY" lIIuch, III !Joth rl',l,OIl alld to "Ill'"
that a", thl',\" \\Pllt IIlto '!l'ath \\l'uk and ,I"pr,lvl',1 they wJ11
eome out of it. A" thpr(' i" "no work, nor (IC\'ll'(', 1101' knowl
edge, nor WIsdom III the g-rnve" (Eecl. !l,IO), they will han:
Iftarned nothillg; and since th('r Wl're amI um' 01 th,' or
life and divine .\\01' wlll'n they died, thl',\' will b,' 1111
'\'CHthY' and a.-- they holYl' leeeh-ed neitlwl' full I'pw,nd, 1101 }IIII
for tl;(' (Iced, of the preRent life, it i, that
"ueh a tInlf' of aw,lkPllincr a" Co,l ha, prolllht,! e!lIllIIg
thl' l\lilll'nlllum i, :-=fol It'\\ a I'ding, a wI plIlIl'-h IIIg,
nnt! giving to all mankind the fll! {'tpllla! lIt" "'",
('llIed Chri",t'i' great
\Yhile strictly the worl,l h 1I0t uo\,\ Oil I II,'"
that iR, the pr('sl'nt i., 1101, thft time f01 it", full aile! (,0Illp1"t,
trial. Yet men arp not 1I0W, 1101' hayl' tllPy ever b,'('11 pntJ1o'lx
\\ ithOl;t light and ahility, for the use of \\ hi ..]1 the)' an' ,It"
countable, ]n thl' (lal'k('st day" of the wOI'I,I'" an,1 III
th.. deepe",t degradation of ,savage life, Ill'Pll
at a of the light of ('on"clpn(',' pOllltlllg m,H P ()J
l('s<; dil'e('tlY to rJO'ht('ouslles,\ and virtuC', Th.lt thC' ,It'pd, oi
the IH'pi>Cnt' life' much to do with tIll' flltlll t', 1',1111 taught
very deady \\ hen. before Felix, he I {'a "ollPd of I11-11(', all'!
,plf-gO\erlll;lCnt, in \ ip\\" of illlIgllH'II1 to, ('Olllt', ,0 th,ll
Felix tJ'pmbled,-Acfs 24:23, Dwglott tralhlatlOn
.\1, the Ilrst advent of our Lonl. ,Ill iU(,I'l',hP'! Ilwa:-ul'l'
ot h .. ht (',IlIH' to lII..n, all,l to th,lt (',tt'nt thl'iI
a'\ Iw fotaid: "TillS thp "ollCl"mlHltiull, that light
is ('OUll' into the world, and lIIen lon'd ,larknp"" nttllPr th,llI
hght, hp('allsP their dl'eus welL' e\ il." (,101m :j l!l) For th'Ht:
('\'il dl'l',I" ('ornmitted against the light \\ hl'tJl('r ot
,'olheil'n('p or of re\'('lation, men will !la\ p to an ac('ount,
and will recl'i\'l', in thl'ir day of judgment, a just l'l'compen"C'
of I'l'war,1. An,!, Iikewi,,;e, to the extent of theil' ..tIort to !t\' ..
!i"htpoll",ly: thp\, \\ill rl'cl'ivt, their rl'\\ ,\1',1 1Il the ,l:ly of tllal
10: ,
If ml'n \\uuld consider what even I'ea"on ,li,"(,1'I1S, thdt a
tin\(> of I .."koning, of judgll1f'nt, h (,oll1ing, that (:0,1 will twt
foren'l pprmit {'\ iJ t.o triumph, and that in ,,01111' WHy hI' \\ ill
pnni.,h p\'Ildol'rs. it woultl ,a,,, thpm lIIany
1'0\\, and ehastisements in the age to eome the PI'O-
ph"t. "\Vo,' unto them that deep to hide their (,OIll",e1
flOIll the Lon!, and their works arp in tllP ,lark, and thpj
",a\" "'v ho ,cpt It liS? and \\ ho knoweth liS '/" (baiah 2H:].' I
"The of the Lord are III HeQ' p!al'l', behold-
IIW th,' l'\ il ,1nd thl' "uod" (PI o\', Li::I); anti "Uo,! .,ha II
hrinU' work into" judgment. with ('\'PI)' secl'"t thing,
whptlll'r It hI' /rood. or \\ hethpr It be e\ il." \ E('cl. 14\
HI' "\\'JI! hring to light the hidden thillg-s of darknl'ss. :llId
will makp nuuufl'"t the eounsels of thp hearts."-l COl, -!:3,
The agl' of Chri"t's rpign will be a. time of lust .ilH!g'
nwnt: a IIII though It \\ ill bp all agl' of golden
to all. it will he a time of 'levere (!J'lciplinp. trIa! and PUll'
i'lhment to man,\', That the judgment \\ ill he fall' and im
partial. and with due ('onsideration for thp and
[2612]
MARCH 15 AND APRIL I, 1900 ZIONJS WATCH TOWER
(111-112)
the opportunities of each individual, is also assured-by the a course of discipline and correction-as the necei:!sary means
character of the Judge (the Christ-John 5:22; 1 Cor. 6:2), for their perfecting, or, otherwise, their condemnation to the
by his perfect knowledge, by his unwavering justice and second death.
goodness, by his divine power and by his great love as shown Thp man who, in this life, by fraud and injustice, ac-
in his sacrificp to redeem men from death, that they might cumulatpd and hoarded great wealth, which was scattPTed
enjoy the privilege of this favorable, individual trial. to the winds when he was laid in the dust, will doubtless
The varied circumstances and opportunities of men, in awake to lament his loss, and bewail his poverty ann his
this and past ages, indicate that a just juogment will recog- utter inability under the new ordPT of things to repeat un-
nize diffprences in the degree of individual responsibility, lawful measures to accumulate a fortune. With many it will
which will also necessitate differences in the Lord's future be a severe chastisement and a hitter experience to overcome
dealings with them. And this reasonable deduction we find the propensities to avarice, selfihness, pride, ambition and
clearly confirmed by the Scriptures. 'Ihp Judge has been, idleness, fostered and pampered for years in the present I.ife.
and still is, taking minute cognizance of men's actions and Occasionally we see an illustration of this form of pum'lh-
words (Prov. 5 :21), although they have been entirely un- ment now, when a man of great wealth suddenly loses all,
J,ware of it; and he declares that "Every idle ['pernicious,' and the haughty spirit of himself and family must fall.
injurious or malicious] word that men shall speak, they shall We are told (Dan. 12:2) that some shall awake to shame
give account thereof in the day of judgment" (Matt. 12:36); and age-lasting contempt. And who can doubt that. when
and that even a cup of cold water, given to one of his little every secret thing is brought into judgment (Ecr!. 12: 14),
ones, because he is Christ's, shall in nowise lose its re- and the dark side of many a charaeter that now stands meas-
ward. (Matt. 10:42) The context shows that the "per- urably approved among men is then made known, many a
nicious" words to which .Jesus referred were words of wilful face will blush and hide itself in confusion? "Yhen the man
cwd malicious opposition spoken against manifest light. (Matt. who steals is required to refund the stolen property tu its
12 :24, 31, 32) He also affirmed that it would he more tolerable rightful owner, with the addition of twenty per cpnt intprest,
for Tyre, Sidon and Sodom in the day of judgment than for and the man who deceives, falsely accuses or otherwi'le wrongs
Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum, which had misimproved his neighhor. is required to acknowledge his crimps and so
greater advantages of light and opportunity.-Matt. 11 :20-24. far as possible to repair damages, on peril of an eternal los8
In the very nature of things, we can see that the pun- of life, will not this be retributive jU'ltice? Note the clear
lshments of that age will be in proportion to pa'lt guilt. Ev- statement of this in God's typical dealings with Israel, whom
ery sin indulged, and every evil propensity cultivated, hardens he made to represent the world.-l Cor. 10: 11; Lev. 6: 1-7.
the heart and makes the way baek to purity and virtue more See also "Tabernacle Shadows," page nn.
difficult. Consequently, sins wilfully indulged now, will re- As we are thus permitted to look into the perfe<'t plan of
quire punishment and discipline in the age to come; and God, how forcibly we are reminded of his word through the
the more deeply the soul is dyed in willing sin, the more prophet Isaiah, "Judgment lllsp will I lay to the line, and
severe will be the measures required to correct it. As a righteousness to the plummet." (Ia. 28: 17 ) We also see the
wise parent would punish a wayward child, so Christ will wholesome influence of such disciplinp. Parents, in clisl'iplin-
puni<;h the wicked for their good. ing their children, realize the imperlltive necessity of mak-
Ris punihments will always be administered in justice, ing their punishments proportionate to the character of the
temper<'cl with mercy, and relieved by his approval and re- offences; and so in God's government: great punishments
ward to those who are rightly exercised thereby. And it following great offences are not greater than is necessary
will only be when punishments, instruction llnd encourage- to establish justice and to effect great moral reforms.
ments fail; in short, when love and mercy have done all that Seeing that the Lord will thus equitably ad just human
wisdom oon approve (which is all that could be asked), that affairs in his own due time, We can afford to endure hardness
any will meet the final punishment which his case demands- for the present, and resist evil with good, even at the cost of
the second death. present disadvantage. Therefore, "Recompense to no man
None of the world will meet that penalty until they evil for evil." "Let this mind be in you, which was also in
have first had all the blessed opportunities of the age to come. Christ Jesus our Lord."-Rom. 12:17-19; Phil. 2:5.
And while this is true of the world, the same principle ap- The present order of things will not always continue:
plies now to the consecrated children of God in this our judg- a time of reckoning is coming. The just Judge of nil the
ment (trial) day. 'VI' now receive God's favors (through earth says, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay"; and the Apostle
faith), while the world will receive them in the next age, viz., Peter adds, "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly
instruction, assistance, encouragement, discipline and punish- out of temptation and to reserve the unjust unto the day
ment. "For what son is he whom the Father chastiseth not! of judgment to he punished." (2 P<,t. 2:9) And, as We hnve
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, sepn, those punishments will be adapted to the nature of the
then are ye bastards and not sons." Therefore, when we re- offences, and the benevolent object in view-man's penna-
ceive grievous chastisement, we should l'ccept it as from a nent establishment in righteousness.
loving Father for our correction, not forgetting "the exhorta- Other Scriptures corroborative of this view of future
tion which speaketh unto us as unto children, My son, despise rewards and punishments are as follows: 2 Sam. 3: 39; Matt.
not thou the of the Lord, nor faint when thou art 16 :2i; 1 Pet. 3: 12; Psa. 19: 11; 91: 8; Provo 11: 18; Isa.
rebuked of him; for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and 40:10; 49:4; Matt. 5:12; 10:41,42; Luke 6:35; Rev. 22:12;
scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."-Reb. 12:4-13. Rom. 14:11, 12.
Row just and equal are God's ways! Read carefully the
rules of the coming age-Jer. 31 :29-34 and E:1'ek. 18:20-32. LET HONESTY AND TRUTH PREVAIL
They prove to us, beyond the possibility of a doubt, the sin- Raving demonstrated that neither the Bible nor reason
cerity and reality of all his professions of love to men: "As offers the slightest support to the doctrine that eternal tOT-
r live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death ment is the penalty for sin, we note the fact that the various
of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and church creeds, and confessions, and hymn-books, and theo-
live: Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye logical treatises, are its only supports; and that under the
die ?"-Ezek. 33: 11. increasing light of our day, and the consequcnt emancipation
All who in this life repent of sin, and, as the term re- of reason, belief in this horrible, fiendish doctrine of the
pentance implies. begin and continue the work of reformation dark ages is fast dying out. But alas! this is not because
to the best of their ability, will form character which will Chri'3tian people generally are zealous for the truth of God's
be a benefit to them in the age to come; when awakened in Word and for his character, and willing to destroy their grim
the resurrection age, they will be to that extent advanced creed-idols. Ah no! they still bow before their admitted
towards perfection, and their progress will be more rapid and falsities; they still pledge themselves to their defense, and
easy; while with others it will be more slow, tedious and dif- spend time and money for their support, though at heart
ficult. This is implied in the words of our Lord (John 5 :29, ashamed of them, and privately denying them.
30-Diaglott): "The hour is coming in the which all that The general influence of all this is, to cause the honest-
are in their graves "hall hear his voice, and shall come forth; hearted of the world to despise Christianity and the Bible;
they that have done good unto the resurrection of life [those and to make hypocrites and semi-infidels of nominal Chris-
whose trial is past, and who were judged worthy of life, will tians. Because the nominal church clings to this old bIas-
be raised perfect-the faithful of past ages to perfect human phemy, and falsely presents its own error. as the of
life, the overcomers of the gospel age to perfect life as divine the Bible, the Word of God, though stIll rev-
beings], and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection erenced, is being practically repudiated. Thus the BIble, the
of judgment."-These lire awakened to judgment-to receive great anchor of truth and liberty, is being cut loose from,
III-4S [2613]
(112-116)
Z ION' S 11'.4 T CH TOW E R ALLEGHfNY, FA.
bJ the very ones who, if not deceived regarding its teachings,
would be held and blessed by it.
The general effect. not far distant. will be, first open in-
fidelIty, then anarchy. For much, velY much of this, luke-
warm Christians, both in pulpit and pews, who know or
ought to know better, are responsIble. Many such are will-
ing to compromise the truth, to slander God's character, and
to stultify and deceive for the sake of peace, or
ea"e. or pre-ent earthly advantage. And any minister, who,
by uttpring a word for an unpopular truth, will risk the loss
of hIs "tipend and his reputation for being "established" in
the bog of error, is considered a boll! man, even though he
igTIollliniou"ly WIthhold hIs name from his published pro-
tests.
If profesElE'd Christians would be honest with themselveb
and true to God, they would soon learn that "their fear
toward God is taught by the precepts of men." (Isa. 29:13)
If all would deCIde to let God be true. though it should prove
every man a liar (Rom. 3: 4), and show all human creeds to
be imperfeet and misleading. there would be a great creed
smashing work done very shortly. Then the Bible would be
studied and a ppredated as never before; and its testimony
that the wages of sin is death (extmction), would be recog-
nized as a "just recompense of reward."
\y _ :,3\(- hnt a meTe ()f the 11ght no,," Shltllng- 111 "due sea<;;,on" for the "houlO:ehold of faIth ]n\lte c0rre5-\-,r,rJdtt1ce
from all v.ho "hunger a'1d 1111rst after light n \Ve have free trnctc;;. and books to loan to the pc.or In 5-Pjrlt who are poeT 1n pUlse See 2
YOLo XXI
------
-----
ALLEGHENY, PA., APRIL 15, 1900
No.8
VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER
* * *
Rev. Dr. Donehoo, of Pitt"burgh, the very next Sunday
(April ht) took a snnilar stand against the '''estmin-ter Cou-
fes-ion whIch when onlamed. he solemnly YOwed that he
bel;eYed and would teaeh. Yet, while stIlI 'posing as a Prl's-
hytenan and domg violenee to hI" oath of o{fieI'. he
in the following language. quoted in tll(' daily pre"". that
has for the many years of Pre"bytenan membcrship ana
ministrv bcen a!'tinrr a lie-he confesses he "uerer could be-
liel c" he We quote:-
"The question suggl'sted to me by th!' text is the following,
'Arc mpn foreordained to be damned ',' It is ahout the hluntest.
unreasonable one that an unpre.1udice,1 I !'ader
of the Bible eould have presented for his 1 am
sorrv to sav that it is one that has been pre"cnt in my
thotights from mv earliest recollection. I haye heanl it dis-
cussed m the pulpit, have read many works on the and
have often gravely considered it in pnvate conyersatJOn with
hrethren, tho I llave neyer for one instant had any doubts
on the suhject so far as I am concerned. \\'hatevt'r the \,"est-
minster divines may haw believed on the suhject. their
language a" now understood expresses in unmlstakahle phrase
Ihat "u('h was their belief. Thus thpy del'lare: 'By the de
cree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, men
and angels are predestinated unto evel lasting life, and others
are foreordainl'd to everlasting death, and their number Ifl so
certain ann definite, that it cannot be either increa"cd or
dimini"hed.'
"I never could believe such a thing, and I pray to God to
preserve me from ever either unWIttingly endorsml! or so much
as entertaining such an insane thought in my heart. Nor
would I refer to this at all were it not just now published
all over the land that the great Preshyterian church was
about to drag a faithful minister of the gospel to trial for
proteflting against the idea that any man is foreordained of
God to be damned to all eternity. If such a sifting procesE.
as that just now hinted at was t.o be fearlessly put in force
throughout the chureh. and every man who preaches and prays
pwry Sabbath day of his life the very opposite of this horrible
dogma, whether he has the brains or the courage to admit it
or not, there would be such a depletion in the ranks of thE'
ehur!'h as would throw St. Bartholomew in the shade."
The gentleman frankly avows that he would have kept quiet
still longer. and have continued to tacitly endorse the slander
against God had it not been his fear that a hunt for "heretics"
might he started in Presbyterian cire1es. He hopes that a
sufficient number of Presbyterian ministers will growl to deter
the others from enforcing the laws and rules of the denomina-
tion. Yet strange to say, the men who stay inside thp
dpnomination and denounce it, and declare their perfidy in
respect to its teaehings and their unfaithfulness to God's char-
acter and Word, are honored; while honest men who refuse
thus to stultify themselves and to blaspheme God's holy name
for hread and ''honor one of another" are disesteemed. After
all then the chief fault is with the people;-the preachers
merely dehase themselves to supply the popular demand. It is
time for all who have any moral honesty to show it. "Co!JlE'
out of her, my people. that ye he not partakers of her S1nS
and tllat ye receive not of her plagues."-Rev. 18:4.
Sure!>- it \\ould haye been mu"h morc to Dr. HiIIi'; credit
to haye first r"blgned all relatJOnsl1Jp to and
then in a H'I \' humhle manner to ha ye to Plymouth
church hi" of the pa"t and JJIS rcsolubol; lwnce-
forth to pre,leh the truth, or at lea"t Ill" connctions
ing It.
1 lIl' ""haking" of the ccl'le"iastical "heavens" continues.
Dr. HIlII-' (lcnuneiatlOn of the \Vestminster Confession of
Fa I tho wll i('h as a he has supported for many
yenr-. 1- about as he could make It. He is eredited
with the followmg language in hi" di"course to the Plymouth
('hm, h Brooklyn, N. Y., on Sunday, Mareh 25:-
, Thc Confe""ion of Faith say" that pertain m('n and angels
are iOI eOT(lamed to everlasting death. being particularly and
un(hallg"ably de"lgne,l, and their number i" so c('rtain and
d,fillit" that it "allllOt be eith!'r inereasecI or and
man who enters the Presbyterian dmreh has to
"ole'mnlv swear to believe and teaeh this frightful vIew. And
!'\'I-ry .;tt"mpt to re; I"P and exp(1 that bt.ltement from the
erecd ha" becn succes"fully earnbated by a majority that wishes
to rdain the doctrine. It would seem as if a man would prefer
to IJl' burned at the stake rather than hohl or a""ert or charge
SJl(h innllIte erudty upon th!' all-mrrclful and all-loving God.
The day the ",'ho1:l"tips wrote that (hapter in the Confession
of Faith thry got th" (Ievil eonfu"rd with God.
"I would ratll"r shakr my fi-t III the face of the Eternal
anrl lImp: cypry vile ppith!'t toward his stainles" throne, where
(tenlal mcrry sits with tIle world", atoning Sayior. than lift
my hand "ith that ('rpe,1 hpfore God's throne and affirm that
I ta or h!'l ipy('(l it."
1'11<' matter i" hcfor!' the Chicago Prp"bytery, whieh is di-
"I(]!',I III ""utin1<'nt-many of its mpmbers ayerring that they
agTee to Dr. I!JIII,,' view" of the suhjpct. The gentleman pro-
pm.ps to rp"ign hi" (mlllertion with Prpsbyterianism if the
latt"r 01'11'<'18 to IllS attaeks upon It hom the in"ide. The
world look" on approYingly, an(1 "ays, Bruyo, Dr. Hillis! But
to our yipw tllP gcntlpman has little to he proud of; for, grant
ing t hat, as he says, he has held privately for years the views
he now p"pr!'s"cs puh1iely, it follows that for all those years
hc In pd a lie bpfon' thp whole world. And if for those years
he kppt -Ilpne!' h('('au"!' he was making a personal name and
fame an(1 following, \\llldl he has now attained. it follows that
for a II those y!'ars, a,'('orrling to the gentl!'man'" own words
(plOt",1 a110\ e. h!' wa" doing wor"e than "shaking his fist in the
ftH'P of tIl(' Et!'rnal"-\\orsp than to lmv!' "flung-cvery vile
"IlIthd t(l\\anl Corl'" throne whpre etcrnal merey sits
\I dh tl,(' \101 I,]'" atoning RavlOr"
'\'1lat an a"tounding !'onfe"sion this is to hp spnt forth to
th!' \lurId! "'1' arp I"mindcd of our LOJd's words. "Out of
thm!' own lIIout h 1 wIll jurlgp th!'!'!" AJ)(I yet this side of the
('a -e stJ Ik!'s ycry few. \Vh
v
? Recau_e t h!'v are in a "imilar
plIght ha, illg I;een for directly or ilidirpdly upholding
tlJJs sanH' crl'!',l anrl thus t.o the PAtent of tl!l'ir influence (either
mim-t!'ls au,l officcrs or cl,,!' as pommon membprs of !'hurehes
I1YO\\ ill!! the"c too, hav!' hpen tIm"
thl' Etprnal all(1 throne. Oth!'r ministers in Pres-
In-tprIan phuTlh!'s look with ellYv at Dr Hillis' fre<'dom and
wi-h that thp limp might soon' come that theY would have
sllll,ipllt IlHln ulua 1 Illflupup!' and to "tand alone, that
thcy. t.oo. lIllg!lt ,I"e!arp th!'ir imleppnd!'nec and eease their
a!!ain-t tll" tin lllC dlaral'ter which !'auses uneasi-
noh, It h-tallllillg lOllg USa!!l' to It and notwith"tanding
fad that ""tIIPr
s
,10 tlH' same." Ad,lp,1 to i" now another
fear. that th" tid" of public s!'ntiment on tIle turn-that the
pl'ws. If thpy kill'" as IJJU('h a" the pulpits respecting such mat-
ters. would bc II111"h more honest ;-aIHI that the risk of jump-
ing out too soon a "rpformcrs," IIn,1 losing prestige and
possihly hrcad aJ)(1 hutter. ma:v hp offset soon by the reverse
of not jumpmg soon enough to Iret glorv as a "reforml'r"
and on the h!'ing eovpred with odium as tho"e who
hay!' del'ehed the prople long po-sible.
[2614]
SELF-DENIAL AND CROSS-BEARING CONDITIONS
"Then said Jesus unto his disclples, If any man will come after me [be my foUower], let hlm deny hlimself, a,nd take up his craBB."
Matt. 16:24.
Generally the thought attached to this passage in the fore its complete disintegration, and ildorms us that this
minds of Christian people is that the Lord is here laying down remnant, being less than the number which God had pre-
the terms and conditions upon which eternal torment may be determined, the elect church, is to be completed during this
escaped. This result of false teaching, received from earliest Gospel age by the selection of the remainder from amongst
infancy, thus casts a false shadow upon very many of the the Gentiles to be fellow-heirs with the Israelites in the same
utterances of our Lord and the apostles. To the Jew, howe,-er, promise made to Abraham. These are denominated "spiritual
who had no thought in his mind of eternal torment for any- Israel," and the Apostle points out that this change in the
body, the above utterance would have no such significance. The divine operation was foreknown to the Lord, and was a part
disciples, to whom it was addressed, received it exactly for of his plan, as revealed through the prophets-that the Gen-
what it says. To understand it as they did let us take their tiles also should be fellow-heirs of the same promise.-Rom.
standpoint: As Jews they shared the nation's hopes, based II: 7-12.
upon the Abrahamic promise, viz., that in due time God pro- The Apostle proceeds to show that the blindness will con
posed to bless all nations, and that Israel was to be his in- tinue upon fleshly Israel until the Gospel church is completed,
strumentality through which the blessings would flow. We and that then blindness will be turned from them, and they
are to remember that based upon this hope all Israel was in shall see; and God's favor shall come upon them, and they will
expectation of a Messiah whose first work it would be to be amongst the first to be blessed under the new order of
organize Israel in some sense of the word, and then, as its things following the glorification of the elect church.
great Head and Guide, bring to tJ8SS the blessed conditions. With these thoughts in our minds, putting ourselves ex-
The disciples knew that Jesus claimed to be this great actly in the place of the apostles, we are much better pre-
Messiah, and they had left all to follow him, in order that they pared to understand the meaning of the Master's words, "If
might have a share with him in his kingdom,-according to any man will be my follower he must deny himself and take
his promise, a very honorable share in it, a seat in his throne. up his cross." The Apostle points us to the same thought,
When, therefore, he addressed them on this subject in the saying that it is only if we suffer with him that we shall
above words nothing could haye been further from their reign with him; if we be dead with him, that we shall live
thoughts than that he should mean that only those who would with him. The reference is exclusively to those on the "nar
conform to these strict rules would escape an eternity of row way," and does not at all refer to the world of mankind.
torture: on the contrary, their understanding would be that The verses following, a part of the same discourse, declare
all who would not conform to these rules, and be close fol- that whosoever would save his life shall lo<;e it, and whoso
lowers of Jesus' example, would fail to share with him in the ever shall lose his life for the Lord's sake shall find it; this
kIngdom glories and honors-fail to be associated with him as also is exclusively applicable to those who had had their eye8
joint-heirs of the kingdom. They certainly expected that his opened, and had become his followers, and is not at all ap-
kingdom, when organized, would bless all nations, and if it plicable to others.
would bll'sS all other nations assuredly it would bless also All who become Jesus' followers first take two steps, viz.,
the Jewish nation, out of which the Master was proposing to justification and consecration, or sanctification. Justification
select his joint-heirs. From this standpoint our Lord's words is imputed to them as the result of faith in Christ as their
are rea<;onable. and from no other standpoint. Redeemer, and its object is to place fallen sinful human beings
It would be thoroughly unreasonable every way to sup- on such a reckonedly perfect plane or standing' before God
pose that the Lord laid down the hard and fast condition that as would permit them to present their bodiI's living sacrifices,
c\ ervone who would not become his follower and a cross-bearer "holy and acceptable to God" through Christ. Consecration,
to the full extent of self-denial, even of parents and children self-surrender, sanctification, called in our tl'xt self-denial, con
if need be, would be tormented on this account, or even sists in the giving up of our wills to the will of the Lord: and
dl'stroyed. In fact, we know that the same great Teacher de- our wills controlling' this implies our all.
clared, "No man can come unto me except the Father which This class, having receiYed their share of the ransom,
sent me draw him," and we see most evidently that but a (justification) and having used it, exchanging its hope,; of
small proportion of the nations was at that time drawn to restitution for the heavenly hopes, "heavenly calling," spirit-
Jesus by the Father through the word of grace. We see that ual prosperity and prospective joint-heirship with Christ, have
the great majority were blinded. How evident, then, it is that no longer any earthly rights or hence su('h mmt either
our Lord had no reference to the blinded ones who did not be- gain the spiritual life they have started out for or must lose
come his diSCiples, but intended his remarks exclusively for the all life. And the terms or conditions upon which the heavenly
class whose eyes had been opened and whose ears life is to be attained are the saerifiee of the earthly
had been unstopped, and who had become his followers by a life and its interests. ThereforI', a<; hl're Rtatl'd. in rp'-'pect to
consecration. Note the Master's words, "Blessed are your eyes, this class, whoever of them savl'S his earthly life (refusing to
for they see, and your ears, for they hear;"-here is the sug- sacrifice it, etc.) after having made tIll' conse('ration. loses it
gestion that the majority of the Jews did not see and did not entirely-loses all hope of a future Iif... And on thc other
hear, and hence had no call to be followers of Jesus in the hand, those of this class who are now faithful in laying down
same special sense; the majority being not even drawn of the the present life for the Lord's sake shall find life eternal
Father, not being in a condition of heart to be drawn by the under the g-lorious conditions of the king-dom. "If we be dead
truth. with with him, we shall also live with him."-2 Tim. 2: 11, 12.
Kote how our Lord refers to this matter, and speaks of the The succeeding verse (26) is a part of the same diseourse.
Jewish leaders, saying that they were blind guides, leading not to people in general, but appli('able to the the
the blind people, and all about to "fall into the ditch." (Matt. followers and cross-bearers only, the little flock. It reads:
13: 14) ThiS falling into the ditch seems to those who are "What is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and
deluded by the eternal torment theory, to be but another sug lose hiS own soul (being, existen('e), or what shall a man give
gestion that all the Jewish nation, both leaders and people were in exchange for his soul (his future existence)?" We are to
fast hastening to "hell," to torment. But on the contrary, the remember that only one offer of life eternal has yet been made
Scriptures show clearly that the ditch to which they were to mankind; and this was the offer that Jesu,; making to
hastening was the great time of trouble which came upon their his followers, and that has since been made this
nation after our Lord's crucifixion, and which culminated with Gospl'1 age to whoever has ears to hl'ar and a will to walk in
the utter destruction of their city by the of Titus in the the narrow way. There is no offer of eternal life to the world
year 70 A. D.-since which time they have been nationally dis- yet, altho the Scriptures clearly show us that thl're is to be
integrated and destroyed. an offer of eternal life under other condition,; during thl.'
That the apostles did not understand that all who did not Millennial agl.'; but none can either accept or reject those con
follow with them in the narrow wav of self-sacrifice, self-de- ditions yet, for they are not offered to any.
niaI. cro<;s-hearing, were to be torm'ented, testified by the now invited to eternal life under its most gloriou>:
Apostle Peter who. speaking under the inspiration of the holy conditions of "glory, honor, immortality," and joint-heirship
spirit. declared to these same Jews that they had crucified with the Redeemer in the king'dom are exhorted by our Lord
Messiah, and then he adds, "But I \Vot that in ignorance ye to appreciate highly the value of l'ternal life; and it is implied
did it, as did also your 3: 17. that anvone who will at all ('onsider the matter will readily
This blind ignorance is referred to also by the Apostle Paul: acknowledge that to give all that he of earthly life and its
in discuRsing the matter in his to the Romans he vanities in exchang'e for his life eternal would be to get that
pointed out that Israel was blinded and did stumble and fall great boon at a Vl'ry small price-at a great bargain; We sel.'
into the ditch, and did not attain the great prize which it men who as death draws near, are willing' to give their all to
was seeking', and that the elept only obtained that prize. He retain their hold a little longl'r on the present life; how
points us to the elect "remnant" '-'elected from the natiol1 be- mu('h more Rhould we be willing to lay down our lives
[2615] (116-117)
( 118-119)
ZION'S WATCH TOWER
voluntary sacrifices, in daily self-denials, in sharing the suffer-
ings of Christ in this present time, that we may thereby at-
tain, according to God's good promise in Christ, the glorious
and eternal life promised to the overcomers.
WHAT CONSTITUTES CROSS-BEARING?
But now we come back to the original proposition of our
text. and inquire particularly re"pecting the declared termll
of discipleship, What do they signify, and how do they apply
to us indivldualIy in our daIly lives? What is it for us to
deny ours!'lv!',,? It signifies that having consecrated ourselves
to the Lord we should have no wills of our own; self should
be or. as the Paul expresses it. "Ye are dead,
and your life hid with Christ in God." "Reckon ye your-
selve'i dpall indeed unto Sill. hut alive unto God." Self-denial,
then. mea 11' to ignorp Relf-will, splf'gratification: and this
)l\l'lllll!q all the f'arthly ambltIonq and dpsires, the sinful, and
no lp.,s lho,l' that arc lautlahlp and proper. 'Ve pledge our-
at thp vpry hpglTlIIm:: that WI' ale not following our OW11
llnl! our own hut arp tD be wholly subject to
tJJp wIll of our lTpad. thp Lord if wp mav be in turn
"oun!pd in llq mpm1)('rs in parti('lllar of his bocl1'. the elect
"hurl'h. .
Vpry gra('jouqly. the Lonl vail" froIII our qight at the bp
ginning of thp way Romp of tlIp of thp and ('on-
hdwppn tlIp inind of tllP flp,1I all,l tlI" IlPW mind. which
tJlis fnll ('on,p('ratioll lIlyolyp if we pre,s along the line
tow::nl tlIe mark wlndl lIP h'I' qpf for lIq a" the st'lndard of
dlar:\('ft'r. ('ouM WI' I'Pp all tlJ.lt i, ITTlplipd from the vpry bp-
of tlIe ra('c Wt' would I,I) (li,hpar!('ned no doubt. hut ac;
we g-row in gra('p. and hPI'OlIIl' 'TIOlli-: in t1l(' Lord and in thp
powpr of hi" ml!::ht, WI' grow nl .... o iu knowlpdgp and in lovl'
tDwanl tll(, Lord and to\\al,1 all ,,110 an' in fellowship witll
him, amI thn" it hp('omeq daily fol' 11", aR we sing.
till' I'll1oothq
NlIlI'P we lparnpd to 1mpit."
As II IpslIlt, hy and hy thp trial" wllil'll pame at first ;,pem
to Ill' ao; not hing, 1mt othpr trials ('Olnl' instpad. ab Wp di"('em
mo(1' Inorp ,,]('arly. the the a('cpptablp, tIlE'
perf((,t will of Clod. Thus our trial ('ondition progressp", and
what. is n'qllirptl of 110; that step hy "tpp WI' shall bp faith-
flll to wh'lt WI' "ee to Lp the Lord'" will, and qlwll seek to the
he.;! of our a111lity t.o snhmit olll'sl'l\'p,; therpt.o. This i" Relf-
rlcnial.-foJ saking' all 1'1,,1' to he ,Tl'qm: disciples.
is ('Io"ely rplated to sclf-denial, and yet a
dlstiJll'tion hptwppn tllPm may llP notpd. Self-(lpnial relate,.,
morp partillllarlv to pa""ivl' ;l],p!lipn('p alld pndllranee for tlJ('
Lord'" qakp; t ro.... "-],paring relate" more partil'1I1arly to a('-
tivitip" in thp Lord's servicp. which WI' find to be contrar1' to
nllr natural in('linations. in Relf-dpnial
('ollra):,' and zeal; l'ross-llParing ll1pau" vi('tory, oyprcomin!!'
Onr may hp ,idorip" gl\lI1PII in 0111' own hearts. of
\VIiii'll lll,ly l,now nothing. and of whi('h they should
know n"thin!!. Ii WI' dpsirp to h:l\'p Oil' fulnp"s of the Lon1','
hlps,in!!. for Wt' an' to lll},kp slIrp tll,lt Wp flo not deny our-
,I'h'p, to hI' I'pPII of Illpn. hilt llH'I't'ly for the Lord's approval.
Onr l'roo;o-Ilparings, hm\'e\,pr. llIay 1)(' Sl'en. to some extent at
]I'ast. I,y who a rp in l'llbl' p''''d ad, with us, and 11,\
hy wllO arp in till' "narrow way,"
CROSS-BEARERS GENERALLY MISUNDERSTOOD
Anll how approIlliatp it i" that all pross-bearers ;,hould
re('{)!.!nizp PI1I'h otlw]'. and hp a1;lp to sympathizp with one an-
oth('r and gi\l' an word. a Rympathizing look or
It hplpin)! llan(1, no; npportllnity mH:> oiTpr. As for others. we
('annot pXpl','t flom them. for from their standpoint
we arp l'ollJltpIl fool, (Ad" 26:2.1-; 1 Cor, 1:18; 2:14; 3:18).
IInwi"p. foll"wlIlg an lInwi"p cOllrsp. hringing our lliffipnltie"
IIpon ],PI'all
c
p WI' on an il]pal Pat-
tprn. thp p'lttprn of our dpar Rp(lp<mer. instead of following'
the pattprl! of l'llllrphianit1' and til(' world fhlPh. of (,ollrs!'.
hllV!' onlv snppr" for tIll' faithful. awl oftpn 110 doubt think
IIf thpm' a" thpy sppak of thpm. aq hPing hypocrites. This
mdppd all part of thp croqsheal'illg'. especially when thosp
who clpridl' and who snppr an' whom WI' love and whosp
pstppm WI' wonld pnioy. if WI' ('ould have it in coniune'Hon
with the 1Ifa"tpr'" "\\'ell done, good and faitlIfnl spryant,"
Look, for instan('!', at our Lord Jesus. and the cross wInch
Ill' hore-not the literal ('ross of wood whi('h he bore to
Cahary. amid sllame and jpers, hut the crossbearing which lip
('ontinually throughout the three and a half years
of hi" from the time of hi" consepration at Jordan.
Notp llOw faithfulne"s to thl' truth. in testifying respecting his
mis"ion. thp kingdom that he was pstablishing. and thp tHms
and conditions of membership in it, being mi"lmderstood by
the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees. INI to opposition
continually, so that they not only maligned his name, but in
their hatred sought his life and finally obtained it. Note that
they were not worldly people, as that word is generally under-
stood, but members of the leading denominations of his day:
and that the so-called holiness people of that day were his
most bitter assailants. He could indeed have fallen into
line with the Pharisees or with the Sadducees, and have been
considered "respectable," and have had a large following,
but fidelity to the truth would not permit him to do this, but
forced him to take a stand independent of all sects and parties,
and this brought against him the wrath of all of them, and
was his continual and daily cross-hearing, that had to be
borne. if he would "overcome" and be granted association with
the Father in the kingdom. And may not all of his faithful
followers expect similar experiences, under similar conditions
11OW? We think so; we know so; they have suph experipnces,
The Apostle mentions some of these crORses. and del'lares
that the endurance of them are marks of his
as a servant of the Lord: "In muph patienpP, in afflictions, in
necesRities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonment'!, in
in labor", .in watchings, in fastings," by dishonor, by
l'Vll rpport. as deceivers and yet true. a" sorrowfl1l. yet always
rejoiping, as poor. yet making' many ri('h. as having nothing,
yet possessing all things." (2 Cor. 6:4-10) How much our
Master knew of being cOllnted a deceiver, while ypt he was tIll'
true one. of heing callpd Beelzebub, while really thp Prince of
lifp! What a eros" it must have bppn to endure RlI('h slander-
OUq misreprpsentation". and contradictions of sinner" against
him"elf; and ho\\" faithfully he horp the ('ross. And shall not
all of hi" folIowpr" exppet to similarly "hare this with
Ilim. and be misunderstood, misrppreRented. mi"judgcd. hy thosp
who arp more or IE'sS blin(led h1' the adversarv! SlIPh dis
honor, such pvil reports, are amongst thp whiph our
Lord sppcifieally declared would bp a part of our cross-bear-
ing when he said. "Blesspd are ye whpn men sh:llI revilp and
persecute you, and say all manner of pvi] against you falsely
for my sake. Rpjoi('e and be pxceeding glad (in all l';Up]1
cros"-bearing",), for great is your rewanI in heaven."
CHRIST'S FOLLOWERS SHARE HIS CROSS
In a word, our Lord callR upon his disl'iplpS to folIo\\'
him. in direct opposition to the world-currpnt. He dpelareq
that the disciple must not expect to he ahove hi" Lord in
hping spared such expericnpes, but promises great rewards
at the end of the journey-life eternal, with glory
The awfulnes" of the teaching of the creeds of
respecting the fate of the world in general is only grasped
when we begin to seriously ponsidpr the narrowness of thp
way in wldch all of the Lord's true followers lUI' ('a ]Jed to
walk in his footqtE'p". Surely, if all excppt surh faithful
saints. an extremely "little flopk," are to lIP ptprnall1' tor-
mpnted, it would mean that thpr!' are to bp lIlany nlPmhprs of
every family on earth eonsigned to that awful ;mll
agony. How absurd i" the proposition. how 11llrpac,0lInhlp. how
unscriptural, when the Spripturps are rightly und!'rstood!
But how rpasonabl(' iq the propp]- int.prpretation of our text,
how reasonable its applieation to thosp who havl' hppn drawn
of the Father to the Ron. and who thpn have aeC'Pptpd of the
Son and his gTPat "acrifin' for sin. and who hayp (onqidered
it a reasonahle spITice to prespnt their hodie" livin;.:: "l1('rifices,
anll have ponsp('ratpd tllPir all to him. that they might have
fpllowsllip in lliq sufferings. and 1Iltimatp fellowship al"o in
his glory. Th('se l'an sep rpadily tllat the kingdom honor anti
g-lory to which they arp l'allpll. arp hlpssings so great. honors RO
profound. and their works as kings and prie<,t" and iudgps in
the Millennial age so parti('ular, that all of thesp testings of
faith, patienel'. lon' and obedience arp wholly rpasonahle to
them,
All such we exhort, pspecially at thi" particular season of
the commemoration of ollr dear Redeemer's death. that they
catch not merely at the outward form of self-denial, practieed
hy nominal Christendom during the Lentpn season. hut that.
whatpvpr of outward self-denial they may practice they may
learn the full meaning of self-consecration and immolation
which our Lord's words signify: and t.hat they be not eontent
with the wearing of a erOSR as an ornament, but grasp fully
and clearly the purport of the Master's words respecting
the true croRs-bearing, that in due time they may also attain
to the crO\vn-wearing promised M a reward to the faithful.
Let us at this season of the veal' renew our covenant of
sa('rifice with the Lord, determined, in the of the
Apostle, that we will more zpalouRly than eVl'r-La1' flside
every weight, and every sin, and run with patience
the ra('e set before us in the Gospel. unto Jesus, ;n
whose footstpps WI' sppk to run.-Heh. 12'1
[2616]
CHRIST THE FIRST TO RISE FROM THE DEAD
MARK 5:22-24, 35-43.-ApRIL 15.
"He is ril/en, as he said."-Matt. 28: 6.
The selection of th () narrative of the awakening of the
daughter of Jairus as an Easter lesson was no doubt under the
common but mistaken supposition that the miracle performed
upon this child was similar to the miracle of our Lord's
resurrection, which Easter Sunday generally celebrates. We
will examine the lesson on its own merits, and then see that
the SCrIptures distinctly and pointedly distinguish between
the two miracles-and that the miracle performed upon Jairus'
daughter is nowhere designated a resurrection, nor was it such
III fact.
Jairus was evidently a man of considerable influence in his
community, for to be a ruler of the synagogue meant, in the
custom of that time, that he was also a member of the local
Sanhedrin, the court which tried certain cla'Sses of offenders,
preserved general order, convened the assembly, etc. The rul-
us of the synagogue had its affairs in charge also, and invited
its rea(ler'S and speakers, managed thc "chools in connectIOn
with it, etc. As a man of high station in the eity, he no
doubt wa'S acquainted with the nobleman of the same city
(Capernaum), whose Jesu" had hpaled, a'l rcconl<,(l in
.Tohn 4:46-,")3. His knowledge of that ca'le no douht helpcd
to incrcase his own faith in the Lord'" power 'l0 rpmayk-
ablv manifested in the of this les'lon.
'It was whlle Jesus was at the house of ::\{atthew (Lcd,
the publiean-see lesHon of ]\fareh 18), I'll joying" the banfJuet
whi('h Matthew had intende(l 'lhonld bring hi,; publican
in ('ontad with the and prob,lhly toward the con-
elusion of the hanquet, that .Tairus arrhpu on he 'll'cne to
hescelh our Lord for the re"o\-ery of uaughter. In the
account as given hy Matthew (!l: 18) the ruler is
ns saying that his daughter was already dead, while in tho
account before us the implieatlOn is tllolt altho she wa" ill
an pxt! pme condition life rpmained. The probability i"
that at the time Jail 1I'l left Iii" (,hilu she was in an extremely
critical conllition, and that he surmised that by the time hc
was talking- with the Loyd she wa'l quite probabiy dpad-(an.l
such was the and the sen-ants alreally enroute to notify
Jail'll"). Quite po'lsihly Jainl __ mention011 the matter from
thi'l staTIllpoint: She was at the point of death when I left
hcr; i" no doubt <lead nOw, but come and lay thy hand.;
on her that slle may be healed and live. It was a wonder-
ful exhihltion of faith. and one whiph our Lord evidently fully
apprec'iated. for he dill not hesitate to go with him.
It was during thi" journey from the home of Matthcw to
the home of Jairus, a great throng of people accompanying
him. that the poor woman who had an issue of bloo(l twehe
year,. and had sppnt all that she had and wa" nothing hpt-
tered, bnt rather g-rew worse, ponceive,l the thought that if
she pould but touch the hem of garment should he
cured-and hy the exerl'ise of hpr faith in this manner wa"
healpd. 'Ve can imagine the feelings of Jairu.; in consl'-
quence of this delay; while it added to his faith in the powpr
of it at the same time tested his faith in respel't to
the recovery of his phild. The test hecame more 'levere, Ill'-
came jU'lt at this juncture mes'lengers arrived from his wife,
saying that the child was d0ad, ayid that it would therefore
be unnecessary to trouble the great Teacher.
Similar are the Lord's providential dealings with many of
his poeple: he gives us a ground for faith, and then, as we
exercise that faith and al't in harmony with it, he gives fresh
corroboration; meanwhile testing it, by permitting various dif-
ficultips. contrary suggestions, doubts, fears, etc.-not only
such a'l would arise in our minds, hut 'luch as would be brougllt
to us through others, sometimes those nearpst and dearest.
Yet our experiences ha,-e been that in all such trials of faith
the Lord has been ready to speak peace, pomfort and full
assuran0e to our hearts, if we would but listen to hi'S word'l.
So it was with Jairus. When the servants arrivl'u. and said,
Hope is gone, submit to the inevitable; ,Jesus also 'lpoke a
word, saying, "Be not afraid; only bplieve." O. how mlll'h
there is in faith! How necessary God causes that it shall be
during this present age. He desires that His people shall
"Walk by faith." ''Without faith it is impos'lihle to please
God," and the Apostle assure'S us that "This if! the victory that
overcometh the world, even your faith." Indeed, in many rl'-
spects faith (not credulity) is the prime essential of an "over-
comer." No one can be an overcomer without it; with it any-
once can be an "overcomer." God's g-race in Chri'lt making full
provision for all such. Divine promises and blessing arc to
the faith-full only-both as respects the present J.nd the
eternal life.
Jesus when he had come to Jairus' house, permitted only
Peter, James and John to accompany him as witnesses of the
power of God. The favor manifested toward thesl' three
apostles 011 so many occasions is not to be esteemed as simply
a selfish partiality but rather as an indication that these three
who were specially zealous amongst the apostles were further
advanced in spiritual things, and best able to appreciate the
privileges granted them. Their selection was but another
manifestation of what our Lord called attention to in one of
his parables as being the divine principle of government, viz.,
that "to him that hath shall be given, and he shall have more
abundantly"-to him that hath used, and profited by divine
favor most faithfully, shall proportionately more and larger
favors be granted; because he more than others has by hi"
faithfulness become capable of enjoying and appreciating and
profiting by additional favors. The Lord evidpntly loves
fervency (warmth) of spirit or disposition. No doubt he ap-
preciates some who are naturally cold and phlegmatic, but just
as evidently he appreciates still more those who have a keener
interest, a warmer love, anrI more inten'le manifestation!'.
Noting our Lord's appreciation of zeal should lead aII "ho arc
his follO\"ers today to strive after greater fervency of spirit,
greater zeal and enprgy in running- the rape spi hefore U'l in
the Gospel-greater interest in the )Iastpr's C'ame in all ib
hraJwhes.
The journey hoth had eonsumed consid"l'a hIe tinJ(',
and the prpparatiom for the burial WE're far auvancC'd at the
time of our Lord'..; arrivnl, for it was the ('ustom to
have a. speedv burial aftl'r death. The lured momners (whom
)Tatt hE'w' desirrnates "minstrE'ls") were alrpady thpf(', aIII I tIJ()
1111'leemly tumult of thl) time was in progre.. s. Our Lord
rebuked the mourners anu 'lpoke of j hp mn id as ,Iccping, jU'lt
as he similarly snid of La:r.arus, "Our friend Lazanl" sleepeth;
I go thnt I mav awake him." This arouspd the lauah of
scorn. hi'l hparprq not what he mP,lIlt. ev7.n a'l
the di"piples did not apprppjate the word ,,,hen u'ied
in ponnedion with Lazarus, until our Lorn ",Illl plair,]",
"Lazarus is dE'ad."
The use of tl1C word "'lleep" for dpath is vl'ry frequent In
the Scriptures, both Old and Kpw Tn the Old
Tpstament the patriarplls arp saill to "slepp with th,-,ir fathpn."
and this was said a like of hoth gOlHl and hl'd, king" awl
prophets and common pl'ople. Tn thp Xpw thl'
Apostle 'lpeaks of tllOse that in Jesus," for WhO'll we
are to sorrow not a'l otllers who hn, e no hopI', he('ause we
belieVE' in the resurrpC'tion of the dpau. In t hp 1',1 .. 1' of St,p-
phen it is said that he "fell a,.lepp," and thp .\po'ltle in
speaking of the clo'ling of the Go.. pl'l age dpf'lnr.'.l that 'lome
of the <:burch wOll1(1 not thu'l s]epp. "'Y0 .. hall nut
all sleep, bnt we 'lhnll aII he chan'!p,!." (I Kin!!- .10; Apt ..
7:GO; 1 Thes. 4:10.1: 1 Cor. 1;):;)1). Dr. Lightfnot ealh vt-
tention to the f'ld that the thpologi('al WI itill'r'S, the
Talmud. 00n1 ain the exprl's'iioll "whl'll he ..lel't' hundred"
of times, as signifying the timl' of dpath; 011,1 our word ('pmc-
tery mpltn'l "..lpeping pl.ll'p." Dr. 'I'r('nlh. the 1I01,'d .. <'1101ar.
say" of this woru slepp, "Tlwf('hv the r"alitv of dp:lth is not
deniec!. but only the fapt implil,tly as.. llnw,'l that dp:lth will
be followed by a resurrectiol1. ,I" i... (follO\\<'d) by an
awakening."
Death would not have been p\'('n figurativPly ".tllp,l slpep,
except for the provi'lion for a ] P"1l1TPl'tion, nor w01l1,1 it lyave
been appropriate had no awakpning of the rIpall bpl'n intpnded.
And altho this awakening eoul(l not take phll'e Wlll01lt are-
tlemption, and altho the rpdemption pripe :;"Ppul'ing thp awaken-
ing was not paid until Calvary. nHprtlll'less all of (iod',;; peo-
ple who 11all faith in Iii" promi'lP ma,l" to .\hrallnm ("In th.v
seed shall all the familips of the Pluth he realizpd
that what God had promisell 1](' wonld surply fnlfil. nn(l that
since millions of tIT(' familil's of the earth had 12'111\0 dowl\ into
death py jor to the promi'le, and hdore t.hl' comln'! of thl' Rl'P,l
of Abrahnm, therefore the fnlfillmpnt of that promi,e sig-nified
a general from thp "lppp of dpath for all mankind-
in order that all might have the opportunity of Iwing hle'S'll'd
by the gloriouR Seed of Abraham.
It was from this that 0111' Lord sp0kl' and aptpd ;
he was a!rpudy, sinpe his haptism at Jordan, in prope'ls of pay-
ing the ransom-his pn1.ire life wa'l con'lPpratpd and hJ.d bpen
accepted of the Fathpr, altho the sacrifirp had not yet bepn
finished, and was not pompletell until on Calvary hp cril'll in
his dying moment, "It is fini<;hecl." AR a rp<.nlt of thp
finishing of the ransom therp. our Lord dpclarpd that in dne
time the prison-house of deflth would bl' oppned and that all
the sleeping pri'loners wonld come forth; he dedarpd. "Alt
that are in their graves shall hear the yoire of ihe Son of
Man, and come forth;" they that have done well (thoRe lIOW
on trial. and approved by the Lord as ovcrpomers) unto the
resurrection of life, and thpy that have done ill (those who
(2617) 1119-1"0)
(121-122) ZIONJS WATCH TOWER Ar,LIlGIUNY, P...
havl." not escaped the condemnation, nor been approved of
God) unto a resurrection by judgment-trial.-John 5:28, 29.)
That judgment-trial will be their blessed opportunity of
coming to a knowledge of the truth respecting the divine
character and plan, and if they will of coming into harmony
with it, and by the development of character during the Mil-
lennium reaching full perfection of restitution at its close.
Meantime, they sleep-"sleep in Jesus," in the sense that a
hope of awakening in the resurrection morning centers in
Jesus by divine arrangement, through the atonement sacrifice
which by the grace of God, he gave a ransom for all.-
I Tim. 2 :6.
Thus we see that the future life held out before us in the
Scriptures is a resurrection hope. In harmony with this the
Apostle declared, "Of the hope and resurrection of the dead
am I called in question." (Acts 23: 6), and again it is de-
clared that his constant theme in preaching was "Jesus and
the resurrection." (Acts 17: 18) There is no hope of a future
life without a resurrection, and there is no hope of a resur-
rection except in Jesus-that he died for our sins, and thus
paid the death penalty which was against us, and thus per-
mitted the wages of sin, death, to become merely a temporary
"sleep." from which he will awaken mankind, that they may
be hll'sseu under all the great and wonderful privileges of hiS
kingdom during the Millennial age, otherwise in Scripture
called the day of judgment, or trial for the world, as this
present Gospel age is the day of trial for the church.
When ready, in the presence of his three chosen disciples
and the father and mother of the maiden, Jesus took her
by the hand, saying, "Talitha cumL" These words are in the
Aramaic language spoken by the common people of that time.
"Talitha" in the ordinary dialect of the people, is a word of
endearment to a young maiden, so that the words are
equivalent to 'Rise, my child.' "-Alford.
AWAKENING OF THE DEAD NOT RESURREOTION
The maid awakpned to life and consciousness. She did
not come ha('k from heaven or from hell, but merely awakened
out of the sleep of death, and renewed the experiences of life
as before. Such an awakening from sleep-such a restoration
of the hfe forces that had been temporarily suspended, is of
the nature of a resurreption, but is not a resurrection. "VI."
are to rememher that the maiden was not alive before-
that perfect life has not been enjoyed by any member of
Adam's race since father Adam's fall into disobedience and
under the divinl' sl'ntence of death. As the Apostle declares,
"In Adam all dip," and again, "Death passed upon all," and
this maiden was no exception to the rule. Our Lord, in speak-
ing on the suhject, implied that none have life in any sense
of the word, l'XI'l'pt tho'll." who aCl'ept him, and they only in a
rpckonpd sensl' by faith. His words were, "Let the dead bury
their dead." He that hath the Son hath life." As the maiden
was thl'rl'fore legally dead, without perfect life, and without
the right to it, before she fell asleep, so likewise, when she
awakenl'd, in anSWl'r to our LOld's command, she awakened
merl'ly to that dl'ath pondition in which she previously was.
To llave resurrected her he would have meant to have lifted
her completely out of death in every sense of the word, out
of mental. moral and physical dl'gradation. up to the grand
heights of perfection of mind and body, as represented in the
person of fatlwr Adam, and our Lord did nothing of this
kind. He merely awakened her, leaving hl'r upon the same
plane of death on which Rhe had been born, and had thus far
lived for twelve The maiden will still have her op-
portunity of sharing in the general "resurrection by judg-
ments" or restitution during the Millennial age-unless at
some subsequent time she accepted the Gospel of the Lord
Jesus, and became one of his followers, a member of the
church of this Gospel age; in which event she would, if faith
ful, be accounted worthy of a part in the chief or first resur
rection to glory, honor and immortality. But the point we
here make is merely that this lesson does not treat of her
resurrection, but of her awakening.
In harmony with this is the plain statement of the Scrip-
tures that our Lord Jesus himself, in his resurrection, was "the
first fruits of them that slept." (I Cor. 15:20) Again, the
Apostle makes the same point very emphatic in his discourse
to Agrippa, saying that all of his preaching was in harmony
with the statements of Moses and the prophets: "That Christ
should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise
from the dead."-Acts 26:23.
These plain statements of Scripture cannot be ignored with
impunity by those who desire to lK> taught of God, and to
rid themselves of erroneous theories and speculations respect-
ing the word resurrection. Our Lord's resurrection was indeed
the first, and hence the others were not resurrections at all.
Our Lord was raised up-clear up-all the way Up-1)ut of
death-into the full perfection of life. It was not necessary
that he should be raised to the perfection of human nature
agam, for indeed it was the human nature of Jesus that was
sacrificed on our behalf-1)ne sacrifice forever-which could
never be taken back or rescinded-1)therwise it would have
meant the repeal of man's redemption-the undoing of the
at-one-ment work.
Rather, we are to remember that when our Lord Jesus
made his consecration at baptism he was ''begotten of the
spirit," a spirit being-and that which was begotten of the
spirit was in due time "born of the spirit," a spirit being--
and referring to this spirit birth, his resurrection, we read that
he was "the first-born from the dead." "the first-born among
many brethren." (Rom. 8: 29; Col. 1: 18) These are additional
proof texts to the effect that neither Lazarus nor Jairus'
daughter, nor the son of the widow of Nain, nor the young
man whom the Apostle Paul awakened, nor Dorcas, whom
Peter awakened, nor the child of the ShunnamitR woman
whom Elisha awakened, were "born from the dead" in any
sense of the word, either on the fleshly or on the spiritual
plane.
Let us, then, in thinking of our dear Redeemer's resurrec-
tion, seek more and more to grasp its greatness, and to
realize that nothing of the kind ever occurred before, and that
as he was the first-born from the dead, so his "brethren," the
church, are to come next in order. Let us remember also that
his resurrection to spirit nature is quite a different resurrec-
tion from what the world of mankind may ever hope to share
-theirs being a restitution resurrection to human conditions,
human perfection and life. The higher, chief, or first resur-
rection which our Lord experienced, is promised as a special
reward to his faithful church and to no others. It is this
that the Apostle calls the resurrection of the dead, which
he in 1 Cor. 15:42-44. Our great endeavor, there-
fore, as followers in the footsteps of Jesus, should be the same
that was before the mind of the great Apostle, when he said.
"That I may know the power of his resurrection (the first
resurrection, to spiritual conditions, glory, honor and im-
mortality), and the fellowship of his sufferings, being maM
comformable unto his death, if by any means I might attain
unto the (special, chief) resurrection of the dead."-Phil.
3:9-15.
THE VOLUNTEER WORK
f"ince the RPnding forth of the double number of our therefore why such a distinction should be made in the call.
journal last issue, the "Volunteer" enlistments have increased The reason is that so far as we are able to judge, colored
wonderfully. The dear friends of the truth everywhere seem people have less education than whites-many of them quite
to think that if this iSf,ue is to be the "ammunition" used bv insufficient to permit them to profit by such reading as we
the Voluntel'r'l the results will be momentoU'l; hence many are have to give forth. Our conclusion therefore is based upon the
anxiolls to l'nlist in the service which promises nothing of supposition that reading matter distributed to a colored
earthly fame or reward, but large appreciation by the Captain congregation would more than half of it be utterly wasted, and
of our salvation, and large rewards in the world to come. a very small percentage indeed likely to yield good results.
There are probahly as many as a hundred colored brethren 'Ve advise, therefore, that where the Watch Tower literature.
on the 'Vatch Tower li'lh, some of them very clear in the is introduced to colored people it be not by promiscuous cir-
truth, and wry in its service, financially and other- culation, but only to those who give evidence of some ear
wi'll'. We have receh'ed letters from several of these, who had for the truth.
intended engaging in the volunteer work, expressing surprise We avoid, so far as possible, putting the pearls of present
that in the call for volunteers in the March 1st issue we re- truth into the hands of the vicious aHd depraved, whites as well
stricted the inquiry to white Protestant churches. They as blacks. Wherever we have reason to believe that people
rightly realized that we have not the slightest of race love sin rather than righteousness, we have no desire to reo
prejudice, and that we love the colored brethren with just the move from their minds any of the shackles which ignorance
same warmth of heart that we love the white, and they queried and superstition have put upon them; rather, we would leave
[2618]
ZION'S WATCH TOWER
(122-123)
laborers are few pomparatively, and the wages promised by
the )laster are enormous-"glory, honor and Immorhlity"
to the faithful.
'VI.' have de<'i<led to discontinul' the I!'eneral volunteer cir-
culation of the "Bihle versus Evolution" pamphlet. and to
lise this "olunteer numhpr every" here instea <1. COnRl'qucntly
all the new recruits to thi" volunteer sen'i!'c will be supplied
with the new ammunition, and the various companIes muy get
together at once and, through one of their number. appointeJ
as sel'retary or lieutenant. communicu(f> with us. mforming us
le"pectin!! the nUlllher of Protestant white churches, and so far
as they he ahle to judge, the average dttendance at eaC'h,
and the number of volunteers WIth tlwir name!'. The Captain.
General of our forcl's is the Lord Je"us, under who"l' banner
alone we are enrolltd. and whose cuu;,e alone we ;,('rve.
Your and the kind of a reception you receive when
circulating the truth. will in many lIlstances depend largely
upon your own lJ1:1nner. It is an old saying that "Like begets
like." and If yOll go forth with your heart" full of love for the
dear "brethren" whom you seek to "1'1'\'1.', and if previous
to stal ting you go Oll your knees to the Lord to ask his
blessing u!Jon your"eh'e-, as hi" and upon your effort
in hi" ",eniee, praymg for wisdom, grace and a fulness of his
spirit of ]OVl', your manner will not he hold and blatant: but
kind, courteous. humble. yet withal courageous, for you are
there as a brother on the hll'liness of the Elder Brother, the
KIng. and ha\'e nothing "hate"er to be a'ihanwd of.
Your mi""'lOn is Loth h0110rable and laudable. It is an ap-
peal. not to the pa"sion" and prejudices of the peoplf', but to
their intelleet" and their hearts. This kinel of preaching i" as
honorahle that done from the platform; yea, much more
honorable, for many IIlini"ters are confes;,ing in public from
time to time, and to their ;,hamp. tl,at for they have
been preaching. <'ontrary to their a Goddh,JlOnor-
ing, inconsistent. unreasonable and un;,criptura I message.
They have bl'('n charging good round salaries for this falsifica-
tion and defamation, while \'ou, on thc contrary, as a true
ministRr of the Lord aIHl truth, not only to others
"meat in due season" from the l\la;,tl'r''l table, hut do it with
good (onReience, and without I.',uthly rpward or any hope of
name or fame.
EFFECTUAL VOLUNTEER WORK
One dl'ar brother. "ho"e Il'tter appears in this i ......ue, had
the "Dawn" in hiR but was too prejudiced to study
it, until he witnessl.'<1 a "Voluntl'er dbtribution" at a church
he attended, a1.d saw amongst the Volunteers one whom he
lecognized as the head of a large mercantile businesR. He said
to himself at once, "There is something real and tangible about
the faith of tlH'se Christian people, and I must study the
literatnre to find the hasis of snch and crMsbear-
ing." He did inve"tigate. and as a result is now a Voluntl.'er
himself. He a man of college pducation, good natural
ability, fills a fine position, and is not aRhampd of the Lord,
nor of the ,""ol'd of his grace, which has e.,tablisheu his own
heart and giwll him It faith and a hope beyond all C'omparl'.
His present aspirations are, to he lnunble and faIthful until
death, :In<l then to be a sharer. a joint-heir with the Lord. in
his MiIlenl'lUl kingdom, which shall Lless the world.
In addition to meekness and 10Ye, manifested in look. in
word ancl in act, we advise the dear voluntl'<;rs to ke( p a
reasonable distance away fr0m e1111rch edific'C''l who,!' <ongre-
gations they seek to serve. A reasona hIe distan<'c will, of
course, dep('nd somewhat upon l'ircumstallees. A quarter or
a half block woul<l not be 100 distant, If thert'by till' people
could be served. Of CalIrSf'. no one should take ufTf'lhe at
a gratuitous di"trihution of ;,piritual foo.l directly at the
chul'eh door; yet experience "how:" that sOllle llo take otfense
at this, amI fed ao did the PlI.lri ... ('l'S of old rl',pecting the
Lord's message, wl]('n they a ... ked, "Are we blllld also 'I" It
is wen to avoil] arou.,ing prl'judicf>. Our ammunition is
not intended to wound, to hurt, to kill, but to do good, to
comfort, to inspire with new Christian life and hOlJe.

"From victory unto victory

His arl!lv shall he lead,
Till every "foe IS vanqui8hed,
And Christ is Lord indeed."
*
* *
WRAPPERS ADDRESSED FOR SAMPLE TOWERS
\YP Mr l"IJ('lting great from the volunteer servi"e
thi" year, and those who engage in it to any degree will, we
belie, p. louk bdl'k with great pleasurl' to their share in it.
But r\'gardles'l of how mUlh blessing may come to others by
thi,; ice. we are convine'ed that great blessing'l are coming
to the Lord'q people, through the self-denial and crossbear
ing \\l1I\'h tlJi" \olunteer servil'e implies. The bringing of our
hearts into Sill'll a condition of devotion to the Master means
a "plntllal bll'."ing allLl a dlaradN-!lHelopment which surely
Wtl! be aids in the attainment of the kingdom. However,
to own mastl'r each Sl'rvant stands or falls, and we are to
remember not to judge or offend one another, but rather to
ass;-t each otlwr.
In harmony with this we are quite willing to co-operatp
with all the Lord's deal' people in whichever of the various
method>; of serving the truth tlll'y may de\'i<1e to be the most
appropriate and best Ruited to their circumstances, conditions,
zl'al, ett' \Ve will therefore not rl'striet this "ammunition" to
th{' volunteer "ork at till' churclil's. hut will supply it freely
to othen, for use amongst thpir frien<ls, or in any manner
that Owy mav he ahle to us{' it. For in'ltance, some have al
lcady ""nt liS in nUIllt'rous ad<lresse<; of persons whom they have
rea on to hl'lipve might be amenahle to the influence of the
truth. Hn,1 ather'l ha\'l' gotten extras for loaning amongst their
friellds and neighbors. While these may not be strictly
<'OII11t<'<l in anlOng,t the volunteers, we may consider them a
killd of ,lwrpshooter" and
"ho 11" to mail samplps to their friends direct
from our Om"l' oholll<1 write the addrl'sses on wrappers of about
the -amp -IZ<' \\t' 1l.P ill mailing the ""Vatch Tower (12 by 8
incheo-thl.' addre,,, to Ill' written lengthwise of the sheet,
and abollt one and a h,llf inches from the top), and these
addr{'ssl'<! wrapper" he maill'd to us, a postal eard ac-
them in explanation. The harvest is great. the
[2619]
Th\' \ oluntt'pr s('rvice is open to all of the Lord's dear peo
pIe. hrt>thrcn and Rister", white and colored, who have a de
,Ire t/lll" to Sl'rV{> the great Captain of our salvation. and to
help d,'ln cr their "brethren" from the bondage of Babylon
into Ill" II bl'ftv "hen'wlth Christ hath marIe us free from
sl'l'tariani_m. R;lper"tition and every yoke of bondage. Nor
do W,' d,o"irl' to plp-l'e this service as a yoke or burden upon
all,'., but thc word indicates, it is only for "volunteers."
\\'1.' hl.'!Ip,p that the Lord WOllIn not have any conscriptions or
draft- <'onnpcterl with service. .As to whethl'r or not this
i" a way in wlIil'h yOll can serve the Lord's cause is not for
hut for you to del'ide. We merely give you our opinion,
that thi'l jR onl' of the best means of serving the truth-
preaf'lJing the Gospel of the kingdom-breaking the chains of
error that are upon the "brethren"-honoring the name and
,hara<'tl'r of our heavenly Father, and extolling the great reo
demption by Jesus our Saviour It is a "harvest"
work, In that it is gathermg to the Lord his true people,-
gatlwring them out of thl' variou'! sects-not into another
F.ept. but into heart-union with the Lord and with all who are
at one with him throllgh oneneSR of spirit, engendered by
]ovc of the trllth.
them bound untIl, in the MIllennial age, when shackles
shall all be rt'moved, they will be under the strong hand of a
strong gon'lnor, who will recompense every iniquity as well
as eYf'ry ('trort toward righteousness.
Similarly, the exclusion of Roman Catholic churches wall
not intcnd\'l] :\'l any "lIght upon the people connected WIth
them, for whom we have only the greatest good will and best
"ishee. X(lJ' did it indicate that We thought none of the
Roman Catholics amenable to the truth, for, on the contrary,
there are quite a number of very zealous friends of the truth
who were reared in Catholicism; indeed, only last Sunday
(April 1st) at our meeting in the Bible Hou..,e Chapel, four
Roman Catholic" made public profession of faith in the
Redeemer amI of full conRecration to him, and symbolized it in
watl:'r immersion. \Ve excluded Roman Catholic churches from
the Volunteer service because the vast majority of their at-
tl'IHlant" are either too ignorant or too bigoted to read and
think for themselves. True, much of this would apply also
to Prote,tants; but the percentage of hopefuls amongst the
latter i- so nnJ<'!I greater as to justify, we think, the enormous
l'xpl'n-c Involved in this circulation of free reading matter at
tIll' chmthes throughout this country.
A KIND MASTER, A GOOD SERVANT
LUKE 7: l-lO.-ApRIL 22.
"J.Jlke as n [ather pitieth his child-ren, so the Lord them that feM him."-Psalm 103: 13.
Masters and servants in the olden times occupied a much 5uch power as the Lord Jesus manifested had agencies at his
. to ca(,h other than thcy do to?ay-a rela- commalid which would not require him to personally see and
tlOllRhlP wl1l('h took on more of paternal sentIment. The touch the servant in order to heal him, even as the centurion
('ltange has hpen brought ahoyt gradually, and is not the }'psult himself was accustomed to perform various matters through
of grt'at men of tod,tJ ha\'lng less heart than great men of the mstrumentality of his servants.
the oldpn. tlml", n.or of being faithful than em- This was a wonderful illustration both of meekness and
p!0,veeq ot oltlpn It I,., the of .changed eon- of faith, and it was a reciated b' our Lord accordin I .
of grf'ater IIldlYHluahty and mdependence, There is a lesson in it of the :r:ord's eo Ie t th
Wlll,dl thf' to prder to sell his time amI that the more ",e exercise faith in the
O!I a Idly (,.,lIlln"r. I'll ha;ls rath('r on a baSIS. lines, in harmony with the teachings of his vVo!d the more
l\"\CrtllCl(,,. thp gtllpl'al llIflll('nce IS 1tnfavorall1p 1Jl ma?y he will be pleased with us. This same thing was in
. III ,t, l)(,l wcn of gn'at mental power and Ill- the case of Thomas, who, bein absent at the time of OUI
,\) c to ,,(,IIII' e,tcnt lIIH]er put off Lord's first appearance to the declared that nothin
t rllm felIo\\ "Ii IfJ and . hy With thf'lr employees, and would satisfy him respecting the resurrection exce
althoug-h the l la"" are not )e
s
, IlIalked n.ull i.n tl:e the putting of his fingers into the nail-prints of his hands.
nc,r 1'\ l'll a - 1Il 11('h ,0. yet Ilndl,\ ,md allllllthlty Ib Our Lord. while granting him the demonstration which he
po"rlilv "r"atc'r tlldll l'\"r k d .. d .
' r as'e , IlltJmate that he would have had a greater blesslll/Z
; . I hf' ('I. llnd"l J'J'l',ellt 1OIHllboll". !Pl'1S 1':"1'011."1' if he could have exercised a greater faith, sayin , "(Morl')
f0r the plTIl'lo,\ "l'. hab mal!",ll harg,un are they that have not seen, and yet have
lor much mOIl!'Y lll'r lLty. Without adrlItIOnal rCRl'0n,llI111t!PR, LE't 11 f h' ..
ane! 1hp l'lllployl'p !P,'I, th,d, having olJtaincd the wage bar. d bt' a h
O
i remember thIS, and mRtead of
::rIiill'<! i,.r. and hal ing lhpe! It ac('oldiJw tn IIi" own \\'111. he . t e . s :W
Il
mgness to what he has prom
h:h 110 ill, tlll l' e'laifll 11)1)11 hi' cmployer ill ('rIb" of or Ise, an rE'qulrmg Rlg-ns and further eVIdences and .asRuranceb
"tl"'r neh'I"if\', !JO\\l'\(']' U,C It'lS it, rr'''H] feature., us reRt content that he who has qO graCIOusly donI'
.1- \\pJI :h had ('Ill'" f(;1' It c'ulonltl' ill<!"!,f'll'clell c'e. . oreus m t e. past more than we .could have asked or thought
'1'Il'.rpll:1I1"f' alld pruc!"nl'f" ne\'f'rthelcss all disl'prJ1 that this IS today, and WIll fulfin to U'l all the good
d:1I'll''I lod\\"l'lI tIll' of maRtp;" lind "lands of hIS Word. The more heartily shall.accept hi."
,)ll,ph' 1('lat"l! 10 lhe "1(;lt tillle of trou111c wlli"h 1I0W im- plomlseR, the more fully we shall truqt to hIs gracI01H provl'
,"'Illl'" - . dences, the more peace of heart we shall have and
. 1'hp Ip""o:l of the Iw,ll;ng of the ,enturion'" Sl'I \ant at the more the Lord will delight himself in us as his sE'rvant,
('appl'.n,lllm riking]y illu,tratps the affel'tiOlute iutl're,t that and the more he will be pleased to fayor us anti
prt'\'aJ!pc] hl'!\\"l'n HlItlp gooe] ma"tprs and their goo'] spnanb .
In tllp I)a "t TIlIP, WP do not h'l Vf' any rl'pord that thi, bcrvaut remark: "I not found so great faith,
\\ l'; a ;!ood 0111'. 1IIl' ilifpj'{'l1c(, i" he[e, hppuu,e til>! pentUI'IOIl not Ill. Israel, .wll;s a gr3:
nd
of approval for the GentIle
lIimsplf p', 1l1pn11y an (lJ'(j,oYly man. and sueh mC'n usually ccnturlOn,. It dlstmctl,r mdlcates that the fapt that thc Lord's
fOI' aIHI ohtain orderly Furthermore, in his favor whICh for over elghtef'n hundred years been confined
\\ith our Lorel hI' del,larps that hc \Va'! aecus- to Israel was not merely because the Israchtt'R were alone
tomPN to lun ing Iii" ,pl'\:mts do ",hat he bade thcm.-Verse 8. worthy, nor because in them alone was found sueh faith a.
The eenturioll himself wa., of courst'. a Roman-not a Jew, that on .account of which fa.tller. Abraham wag blessed, and
He W,I". tJ.prpforp, dl'harn',! in a gf'neral way from the Lord's the blesslllg- pron.oun?ed on IJls But altho the l .. ord
wh i( h hl' (lee!arpd on another oecasion were for the found greater faIth III the centurIOn than amongst others III
c,hJldrpn of tlIP ki ng.lom (IsT:H-lites) only, and not for stlang- nevertheless he eoul.d n?t .and did not i?vite !lle cen-
PI'''. No clonllt !lp('llllqe hi' IPalizpd himsf'lf a'l out"ldc Judaism tun.on to become one of hIS dIsciples, becau"e the gifts and
-an a lipn lWlI a ,tI an"l'r aIHI forl'lrrner from the covenants calhngs of God are not things to be repented of," and thp
and hlpsRings of Go,l upon l;raPl. (Eph. 2: 12) that divine favor to Israelites must and did continue down to thp
hi' ohtail1Pll tltp eoiipl'ration of tlti' leading ,Tews of the' city, full.end of thp "seventy weeks" .of favor promised through
that thpv wOI:l,[ favor hi" with the Lora, ana intercede Damel, the prophet-altho the natIOnal favor pcased three and
that hi'- petitIOn might he grantpcl. a half years sooner, ,in the. of the week,
"'f' notil'e 1hI' !!ood del'ds of thi. centurion. He evidently before ou; Lord s crUCIfiXIOn, when he saId of that natron,
the rpligion of thc Jcws, lind had 1I,,('d his wealth in Your IS left unto you desolate; ye Rhall see me no
1Ilf' llllileling of a "ynagogue, the ruin" of whiPlI al e supposed more untll day."-Matt. 2:l 38; Dan. 9 :24.
to II'1\<e bcpn fonnd r(,pcntly. Of tlleSi' ruins EcJ.ershcim says, It is certamly within the range of possibility that till"
"'fh,' rf'mains now. after eightepn (('ntnric. in their ri('hneqs centurion, whose good works and alms were so highly com,
of Plaborate ('alnng,., of eorniee" anrl tu.hlptR, of capitals and mended by the Jews, and whose faith was so highly spoken of
niphp". show with what libpral hand he had dealt his \'otin by our Lord, might have been removed by Roman authority
oITf'fings." It i" presumE'll that thi" miracle pre('pded the from Capernaum to Cresarea, another fortress, and that hl'
awak('n ing' of .Ta iJ n'" daughter, and it is not nnrl'a,onable to may have been the cE'nturion named Cornelius, tlle first Gentile
bUppO"C that ,hirn" himqelf was one of the elders of the .Jews aecepted to t,he privileges and favors of the Gospel church, at
wIlt) pamp to ,Tp"lh in the intl'rest of the eenturion: and this the expiration of the "seventy weeks" of faVor confined to thp
to Romp c,tpnt hl'lp" to lleeount for llib grt'at faith in our Israelites.-Acts 10: 1-35.
Lonl'" powpr to I l'\ivp daughter, c\<Cn tllOugh d('acl One lesson connected with this subject which Rhoulc1 f1pe-
Our Lorel to havc readily grantpd the ('t'nturioll's cially commend itself to any of the Lord's people who arc
rl'C!upst: :t n(l t hp fa(ot t.1la t it was not presl'nted ppri'onally i" masteri'l or employers is the le"son of kindness for i'lervants
prp"nmpcl Tlot to signify any lapk of rcspect, but tllP very reo If a Gentile would be so pareful for the interests of his servant.
nrsc. a rf'ali7atioll on hi" part that .Tpw;; \\,pr<, avrrse to hay- and thus bestir and trouble himself much to secure his release
ing any \\ ith (;putiles. pxp('pt along 'itrir>tly businf's'i from pain. much more should every true Christian not only
IllIpq. His furtl1('r and wpre maniff'st in the feC'1 a kinrlliness for those who are of the household of faith
fn(,t that hl'forc ha;l reaehprl hp sent friC'nds but al.o bE' disposed to do good unto all men as they may havp
Inot sprvants) to hin<lf'r .Tpstg from rlefiling hims!'lf by com- opportunity. We may be sure that all such evidences' of in
ing into a Gpntilc'" For :1Itho hp was a man of influence tC'rest in fellow-creatures. all suph evidences of the spirit of
ami p0wpr. Ilf' rpalizNl th!' harripr hetwC'C'n and the love and kindness, are pleasing in the Lord's sight; and not
ap('orclin!! 10 \\ hiph thp \\'oulll have ('onsilll'rprl only so, but that every time we exprcise ourselves along such
that they df'fiIpd themselvp" hy entpring his housp. He accord- linps we deepen them and strengthen, confirm and establisll
ingly suggestpd that our Lonl would Jllf'rely sppak thp w(lrrl. l'haraeter along the linrs of love and mercy. ThiR is one of
and that hI' had full pst ronfi,ll'!H'e that. thf' wonl pould IJe thp ways in whiph we arl' to de\'elop ourselves more and more
"p'Jkrn :1" '\'PH oubil]!' It" insidl' the hOllsl'-that oue posSPRsing a,., l'opiPS of Gocl's dpar Ron.-Rom, 8:29.
THE DISAPPOINTED PROPHET'S WISE COURSE
LUKe 7: 18-28.-ApRIL 29.
"lIe hath clone all things well."-Mark 7 :37.
While was performing man) miracles, making nu- .John the BaptiseI'. Yet this was only in aecordance WIth
merOl1. disciples, and meeting with pomparatively little oppo- what John himself had prophesied, saying, "He must increase,
"ition, things were going very differently with his cousin, but I must decrease." John was in prison. about 120 miles
(1;>4-125)
[2620]
.\\'RIC IS. 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER
(125-12/)
from where Jesus was laboring so successfully. To be shut up
III a dark dungeon of the kind usual at that time, and to have
our Lord proceeding with his work, and raising no voice of
protest on his behalf, and exercismg none of his mighty power
for his deliverance, probably seemed very strange to John-
especially in view of his expectations respecting the work of
the Messiah-that he would be a great earthly general and
king, in harmony with the general Jewish expectations.
We sce ROW readily John might have permitted doubts and
fears to enter his mind. He might have said, This whole
matter is a fraud, and Jesus and I have been deceiving OUt'
selves. He might have lost all faith in God's providential
dealings in the past, and all heart and hope for the present
and for the future; but notwithstanding the great disappoint.
ment he felt, his faith continued its firm hold on the Lord.
This is indicated in his sending of his disciples to Jesus, to
make lIlqlliry, and also in the character of the inquiry. He
docs not say, Is this whole matter a farce, and are we deluded?
but on the contrary hi'! question was a sound one, and ex
presse'! the conviction that thus far the Lord has been leading,
,LIld that the only doubt in the prophet's mind was whether
or not, as he was the forerunner of Jesus, Jesus in turn,
greatH than he, might be the forerunner of some one else still
greatl'r pnd yet to come. And strictly speaking, this was
l'xadly the ('ase; for Jesus in the flesh was indeed the fore
rUl1ner and prepareI' of the way before the still greater glo-
llfiell ChI ist of the second advent, who will accompli'!h the
great and wonderful thing'! foretold by all the holy prophets
the world began.-Ads 3 :21-23.
Our Lord, it will be noticed, did not answer John's question
diredly-he did not say that there was not another coming
and greater work than that which he was performing,
but he did give John to understand distinctly that the work
he was thcn doing wa'> the very work which had been foretold
III the prophets, and the proper thing to be done at that time.
'\Thill' .fohn's messengers were with Jesus a number of miracles
were performed in their sight, and Je'>us sent them back to
,Tohn with instructions that thcy bear witness to him of the
work of the Lord progressing in his hands, and to say to John
that while the opportunities to stumble at Jesus, ris work and
his were many, and while many would stumble at these,
as prophrt had declared (Isa. 8:14) yet a special blessing
woulll upon all who would not stumble, but whose faith
In thl' Lord would continue. dcspite various
lIf expectation respecting his work and their fnlfilments-
throug-h misapprehension of the lengths and breadths and
height'! and depths of the divine plan, which, as the heavens
are higher than the earth, were higher than human conception
('ould have foresepn. For instance, what Jew could have
thought for a moment of the still higher than Jewi'Jh expec-
t.1 lion<; of the kingdom-of the spiritual kingdom-class to be
first hefore the establishment of the earthly kingdom,
and to be with Messiah in his glory, honor and immor-
talitv?
.-ill of the Lord's faithful servants need to remember the
lessons which were thus forcefully impressed upon John:
thcy ncefl to remember that when sometimes matters turn out
\'ery differently with themselves than what tlwy had expected,
when they receive injuries, reproaches and oppression, as the
rewarils of faithfulness to duty and to truth, it does not mean
that Gori has forgotten them, nor that they were misled III
their previous service to the Lord; nor does it mean that the
Lord has changed his plan; nor that he is carcless or indif-
ferpnt respcrting their ronrlItion. True, their fir"t thought
1)(' whether or not present unfavorable conditions are
in the nature of chaRti'lements or the results of any misdoings
on their part, or failures to serve the Lord in his own way,
but if thev finri their course to be harmonious with the divine
will and \Vord they should at once rest their faith upon the
Lord. anfl conclude that God knows better than they how to
manage his own work. Then while thankful to be used in that
work for a time they should nevertheless be pleased, if it were
the Lord's will. to he set asirle for a time-perhaps for the
good of others, or perhaps for their own training in the school
of expprienee and in the learning of lessons of patienre and
of faith.
But Ruch a resting in the Lord, such a centering of life in
him. can be enjoyed only by thoRe who have made considerable
progreRR, who have run a considerable distance in the way of
the Lord, and who have already been exercised under the
Lord's providences, and have learned many lessons in his
Rchool. This, however, is the condition which all of the Lord's
true followers are to strive to as the only one thor
oughly pleasing to the Lord. The proper course of an God's
"ervant" when perplexed is the one followed by John. namely,
to go to the Lord with the perplexity-not doubtingly, but
mquiringly-and be set at rest by his Word. We may not be
able to hear the Lord's words WIth our own ears, but we can
receive it second hand as did John-through the testimonie6
of the apostles and prophets, by whose writings God has pro-
\'ided in advance replie., to all proper queries.
The question arises, \Vas John imprisoned. on account of
officiousness-on account of trymg to mind Herod' ..; businesl>!
Or was he imprisoned beeause of his faithfulness in the db-
eharge of that duty? Was it right or was It wrong for him
to reprove the king, and to say to him that it was not lawful
for him to take as his wife his brother Philip's wife? There
is no question that Hu-o(! W,IS in the wrong, and that John'"
expres"'lOn on the subject was a correct one, and that
was living in adultery, but the question is, Was this any of
.Tohns bn"iness? Diri he need to meddle with the king's affairs,
and thus get himself into trouble? And if it wa" .John's duty
to reprove Herod on this subJcct, was it not the duty of OUI
Lord Jesus to havc done the same, and III addition to hltve
uttered a protest against the imprisonment of John, and in
general to have raised a great hubbub over the injustice
done by the wicked ruler? And if .Tohn right in this mat-
ter was our Lord Jesus wrong in not folIo\\ ing the samp
course? Or if Jesus was right in not following John's
in reproving Herod, does it proye that .John ('ned m giving
the reproof?
\Ve answer that our Lord's condud is fertaillly to be con-
sidered as above reproach, "in him was no sin, neither
was guile found in his mouth;" but this doe'> not prove guile
and sin on John's part in following a diffl'l ent rourse. 'Ve are
to remember that in many lespe('t'! John and his ministry
differed widely from our Lord and his ministry. For instancl',
the uncouth 'lkin-girdle whieh John wore was very different
from the seamless robe which the Lord wore; and the S,'rip'
tures call <1ttention to the fad th'lL ,fohn H\e<1 a very
ious life, "neither eating nor (Irinking" ordinary food. but
practicing a C'ontinual fasting or self-denial as
romforts, while our Lord Jpsu" ramI' "both eating and drink
ing," attendcd wedding feasts and banquets made in hi'! honor.
The lesson i'! that these grand charaetprs eal'h fulfilled his own
mission, according to the divine arrangeml'nt. but that they
had differcnt missions. John's mis'Jion wa" pre-eminl'ntly that
of a reprover and reformer, and we arl' to that as
a prophet he was supernaturally guillf'd in respeet to the
various features of the course whi('h he took Our Lon!'>!
mission, on the contrary, was a difl'erpnt onr; he was gath
ering to himself those whom .John's ministry served to arou"l'
to righteousness and to zeal to know and do 'the Lord's wilL
\Ve who are called to be the "body" of and to follow
him, may learn a les'Jon in this a'! rpspl'ets Our proppr ('ourse:
we are not sent forth as .John was. to ,lwrll in the wild('rnpss.
living and dressing uncouthly, an,l to ('ritirise an(l denoun('e
l'wrything and everybody. f;ome of the Lord's dear people
fail to notice that suC'h commissions are speeial and "ery rarp,
and sometime'! in following the wrong eopy. undesigneilly
bring reproarh upon the Lord's eausl'. 'Vc are to hE' C'opies
of God's dear SOil, our Lon
1
. and not to he ropie" of .Tohn the
BaptiseI'. We are nf,t to stir up strife hy trying to min(l otlll'r
people's husiness, nor to seek to gOVf'rn all the affairs of this
world, rpproving emperors, kings, governors, ete. but to the
contrary of thi'! are exhorted hy the Apostlp to n'Il1plllber that
what God sees fit to permit we spr fit to endure.
Even tho we find many things whirh "'I' cannot commend
or we Il1fly equally find our,PlYr" alii" to a"oid any
'perial denunriation of them-espc('ially of thing-q whi,'h have
no bearing whatever upon 11w proprr anri ful-
filling of the Lor,!'s \Yord, TIH' point<.; out our pn'ppf
position. saying, "As mlJ('h as li"th III ,vou live pra('pahlv with
all men." And our Lonl 11lP 'lamp thou,!!ht. saving.
"BlesserJ. an' thp pC'acemakers: they bp raIled the ('hillln'n
of God."
Some of the holiest of the proplp err on tIllS suhiert
in their own families, and arouse pr"jIHlil'f' and.
opposition. and makr their hOIl1"" unhappy, hy ('ontilll1'llly
finding fault with things whkh tho not up to the
of and eross-hearing. are not immoral
or wirkf'd even in tendenry. Parents and guardians are surel,i
to guard rrgainst all tendencies towarri immorality, etr.. but
to find fault with thosr they lovl' mrrrly heC'ause th'ey are only
nominal Christiflns and have the spirit of worldliness, is rer-
tainly unwise. Their genpral life of ppare and joy in the holy
Rpirit is the very best reproof of worldlir;psR thrv ean give
and thp hr'lt rprommendation of the gloriou'l gospel they pro-
fess. This iR the epistle that will be read, the light that will
reprove drrrknesR. In other words, we not -expcet from
nor try to forre upon the ullronserrated the dl'tails of our own
self-denialR, We wait 11I1til they shall see fun conse
[2621]
(127-131) ZION'S WATCH TOWER
aation to he their "reasonable service" and present their
bodies living to God. Pastors .1nd teachers, however,
should seek to keep continually before the Lord's consecrated
flock the high Scripture standard, realizing that many in-
fluences are continually at work to lower the standard of holi-
ness and devotion.
JOHN MORE THAN A PROPHET
The multitude who stood about must have heard the mes-
sage which John's disciples brought to JesU'5, and no doubt
queried witllin themselves, if not audibly, Is John losing faith
in Jesus as thc Messiah? If John is a prophet himself, should
he not be informed by God on this subject, without sending
to inquire of J e"us? Does not this, in connection with the
fact that Jolm did no miracles, prove that John was not a
prophet. but merely some sort of a reformer, possibly self-
appointed? Our Lord seem" to have detected such a ques-
t IOning-, lwd hrnce after John's di8clpline wel'l' gone, so that
his WOI ds could not he l'onstrued as a sop of flattery to hold
John's confidence, he delivered quite a eulogy upon his faithful
forerunner, which we paraphrase thm: What did you expect
in John-a weak, pliahle character, easily swayed by every
wind of doctrine and fancy, as a reed is easily swayed by the
wind? Those ,,,ho get sudl an impression respecting his char
acter are deceiving- themselves. On the contrary, he is a
prophet, yea, more than a prophet-he is a special ambassador
and messenger of God at this present time, to do an intro-
ductory work related to the kingdom which I am now preach-
ing. He is referred to by Malachi the prophet (3: 1). Indeed,
I declare to you that there has never arisen a greater prophet
than John, and yet I say to you that the least one in the king
dom-cla"" IS greater than he; for he does not belong to the
kingdom-class at all, hut to the previou'l dispensation-"the
hou"e of servants." "The law and the prophets were until
John" (and he is the last of the prophets), and since then
the kingdom of heaven preached, that now whosoever will
of thia d.J.vinely fa"ored nation may press his way and gain
an entrance into it and become a son of God.-John 12: L
in the te"Xt the ut our Lord',! woru, re"pect-
ing the distinction between the new institution which he' was
foundlllg anrl the old institution founded by .:\-loses, and which
was then coming to au end, givmg place to the new. The
shows that the call of us Gentiles during this Gospel
age to a joint-heirship in the kingdom as members of the king-
dom-class is because those of the Jews ready to receive the
kingdom favor upon the Lord's terms were fewer than the pre
determined number. Our call is to fill the places of those
"natural branches" of the Abrahamic stock, by being grafted
into and made partakers of the original root of divine favor
-the Abrahamic promise-to be members of the seed of Abra-
ham, in which as a kingdom-class all the families of earth
shall be bles'lcd with certain favors of knowledge and oppor-
tunity.-Compare Rom. ll: 1-33; Gal. 3: 16, 29.
How highly we who belong to the new dispensation should
value its privileges and opportunities, and seek to "make our
calling and our election sure," (2 Pet, 1:4-11) If those who
were called with an earthly calling to be a "house of servants '
rendered but a reasonable service when they engaged III the
Lord's work zealously, as did John the Baptist, and have been
faithful, how much more zeal and energy ought we to put
forth who have been favored so much more highly! "What
manner of persons ought we to be. in all holy conversation and
godline'ls!" Let us remember that this "high-calling," this
"heavenly calling," to joint-heirship with our Lord in the
kingdom, is a very special and a very limited call, that it
will !'oon end, and that so far as the diYine revelation shows,
it will never be repeated. In view of these things let us lay
aside every weight, and run with patience the race set before
us in the gospel, looking unto Jesus. the author, until he shall
have become the finisher. of our faith.-Heb. 12: 1.
YOLo XXI ALLEGHENY, PA., MAY 1, 1900
THE MEMORIAL SUPPER
No. 9
Each year seems to add to the interest of the Lord's peo- self, as the antit,vpe. lYe noted also the appropria of
pIe in the celebration of the great event which lies at the the emblems which Jesus ehoose to represent his fle'lh and his
foundation of all our Christian hopes-the celebration of the blood; we saw that unleavened bread most beautifullv ill us-
death of "Christ, our Passover." Each year the matter seems trated the purity, the sinlessness, of our dear Redeemer, and
to be more clearly grasped by a larger number, and cor that the cup, the fruit of the vine, represented his sufferinlts-
respondingly the solemnity and holy joy proper to the occa- not sufferings that were grievous, but joyous, endured willing
sion secm,; to be the more intense, and the overflowing bles- Ir, gladly, on our bQhalf, ann we rejoiced in these
sing- to be more pronounced. \Ve considered how we were to feed upon the Lord in our
Many of the little companies of the Lord's people who hearts while using the bread emblematically-that we could
celcbratell on the evening of April 12th have responded to feed upon his flesh in the sense of calling to mind the fact
our rcquc"t for information re"pecting the numbers partici- that only through his sacrifice could we have life, only by his
pating. and the measure of the Lord's Spirit and blessing becoming our substitute in death could we, as a race, be set
prevailing. From thesc reports we judge that the number free from the condemnation that was upon U'l through father
participatIng this year wall con'5iderably more than last year. Adam's transgression. 'We considered the fruit of the vine,
Though wp have not heard from nearly so many, the totals are the symbol of our Lord's blood, as the sealing of the Kew
larger. lYe hdievp, too, from the letters that the meaning Covenant under which God, through Christ, could be merciful
of the institution was very deeply appreciated, not only as toward our accepting our intentions, e"cn though
marking the great sacrifice of our Lord Jesus, but al'lo as the weaknesses of the flesh might sometimes hinder us from
marking the consecration of his people to be one with him attaining all the desired results.
in hi'l sacrifice. Then we viewed the matter from the other standpoint-
The Allegheny church a most hIes'led season,.about 290 the secondary one mentioned by the Apostle in 1 Cor. 10:16,
partil'ipating'. \Ye filst rcne\\ed the general of the 17, viz" that the entire church is one loaf, and that it is the
Passovcr as it was instituted with the ,Jews, traclllg the re- duty and the privilege of all who have become members of
lationship between the typical Passover Lamb and Christ the the one loaf, the one body of Christ, to be broken in the
of God, our and saw in the first-born of service of the Head and in the service of each other, that thus
Isracl passell over in that a type of tI.le church of the we might have fellowship with Christ in his sufferings and
tiro.t-born. "hich GOll i" passlI1g' over durIng tlus Gospel ultimately be sharers in his glory. We saw that the cup of
night. \Ye saw that sub'lequently these first-born ones became blessing with which we bless is indeed our communion or
thp of Isracl as a whole, and their deliverers from fellowship in the blood [sufferings] of Christ, our mingling of
El!yptJan honnag-p, and we, saw tlu,;t the anti-type of that our lives with his life, our joining with him in "filling up
deliverance wIll be the ultImate delIverance of all who love that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ." We sought
God and who desire to serve him, from the bondage of the to enter into the very deep meaning of the beautiful symbol,
world and of sin and of Satan, the antitype of Pharaoh, and and to have it in our hearts a power of God, leading us to
that this ultimate deliverance would be during the Millennial keener appreciation of our dear Saviour, and to a keener de-
aCfp. whcn 'the church of the first-born" ones will be as- votion as his disciples, to walk in his footsteps.
with Christ in the Millennial kingdom. Then, after a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the living
Next we saw how that the Jews had celebrated the type for Bread that came down from heaven-for Jesus, who was not
over sixteen centuries, with no knowledge of the antitype, and a condemned member of the human family, but a specially
yet that in God's due time Christ, the antitypical Lamb, provided one, suitable to be our Saviour, our Bread, our Life
slain on the very same day of the month that the typIcal giver, and for all the blessing which we have through his
Lamb was slain; and that on the very same day in which great sacrifice, we partook of the bread. After this we gave
he and his disciples met as Jews to celebrate the typical Lamb thanks for the cup, acknowledging that we have no righteous-
and the typical passing over, our Lord instituted a new ness of our own, even though all the past were forgiven, and
memorial, which would not look back to the type, but to him- that we could not hope to stand before God acceptably or
[2622]
MAY 1, 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER (132-134)
to bave any dealings witb bim except under tbe gracious pro-
visions of the *New Covenant, sealed with the precious blood
of ChriRt. We gave thanks also that by God's grace we have
been called to fellowship with Jesus, and told the Lord of our
hopes tlmt by his grace we might run our course with faithful-
ness and eventually be received to joint-heirship with our
Master in his glory when we are partakers with him of the
joys of the kingdom.
The fl1rnple hut impressive memorial being ended, it was
requested that in order that the solemnity of the hour might
abide with us, to our mutual comfort and joy, we should
part on that evening without entering into any conversation
likely to attract our minds from the precious things which
filled them, but rather might, for the hours following, remem-
ber the fll'VerC t1 ials of the disciples, and the dear Master's
trials, and seek to enter into close sympathy with his faith-
fulness, and to be all the more on guard against the wiles
of the adversary, which seems to be so potent at this season
of the year. Then singing the first hymn we were dismissed.
An incident wbich added to our blessing in connection
with this service was the fact that our dear Brother Horace
A. Randle, who for about twenty years has been a missionary
in China, was with us, and took part in the service with evi-
dent pleasure to himself and profit to us all. Bro. Randle
wrote us in January last that he was about to start on his
long journey of 16,000 miles, with the desire and intention
to reach Allegheny in time for this Memorial service. He
arrive,] the eay before, and was very warmly welcomed
by us all. He addressed us on Easter Sunday, amongst other
good things telling us of his great joy in the harvest truth,
and of hi, intense desire to make known the grace of God
to all the Lord's dear people, and of some efforts he had
already put forth, and some of the fruitage which the Lord
had permitted him to see amongst thQ missionaries of his
acquaintance. Yet with regret he told us of how few of the
missionaries seem to have any interest in these matters, and
See June 15, 1919, Issue, for critical exanunatton of Co\'enants.
how the majority of the responses he received were in the
nature of scoffings. We hope that our dear brother will put
his address into writing that we may lay it before the larger
church some time in the near future.
We have received reports, all of them excellent, from
280 celebrations-from every State of the Union and from
Canada. A few of these were from solitary individuals, who
had no opportunity of meeting with others, but to whom
the Lord granted much blessing, compensating them for their
loneliness otherwise. It may be interesting that we give the
numbers partitipatmg at some of the gatherings reported, as
follows:-
Baltimore, Md., 20; Brantford, Ont., 29; New York, 18;
Poughkeepsie, X. Y.. 16; 'Vashington City, 23; Scranton. Pa.,
28; Bvston, Mass., 97; Philadelphia, Pa., 55; Toronto, Ont.,
3i; Tiflin, 0., 22; fi1]JPO, 0., I!l; Youngstown, 0., 25; Cleve-
land, 0., 38; ColumbUS, 0., 27; Canton, 0., 22; Toledo, 0.,
28; '''heeling. W. Va., 16; Dayton, 0., 16; Indianapolis, Ind.,
34; Chicago, Ill., iO; Saginaw, Mich., 18; St. Paul and Min-
neapolis, Minn., 23; 'Weatherford, Tex., 24; St. Louis, Mo.,
55; Omaha, Neb.. 19; Council Bluffs, Ia., 16; Vanetia, Tex.,
16; Los Angeles, CaL, 61; Allegheny. 290.
Weare not foolish enough to think that these figures
give any occasion for boa.sting; for the total amounts to only
a few over 2,600, and we have every reason to suppose that
we have heard from two-thirds of those who celebrated: for-
eign reports will come later. However, we have every reason
to believe tha t thrse nnmbers represcnt people who not only
profess Christ, but who also are seeking daily to live the
Christ-life. Moreover, they are full of the Jubilee music,
and having heard the joyful sound they are all repeating it far
and near. Consequently we expect a much larger showing
ne.'Ct year, as others of the Lord's truth-hungry, famished
household are found and fed with things new and old now
supplied us by our Lord.
Boston reports the largest numbers of immersions pre-
ceding the Memorial, viz., 23.
KNOWLEDGE INCREASES RESPONSIBILITIES
MATT. II :20-30.-MAY 6.
"Come ullfo me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will gi1:e you rest."
Our Lord would seem to have been somewhat disappointed an immoral city? Are these people decent or indecent? The
at the result of his ministry, especially in Capernaum, where question which the Lord would examine rather would be,
he had resided a considerable time, and our lesson opens with What is the heart attitude of this people or that people, this
a warning to the people of Capernaum, Chorazin and Beth- individual or that in<hvidual \\'hat i'l he aiming, striving
saida, that having been favored with many mighty works and for would he be effected thereby if granted clearer
many eVIdences of Jesus' Messiaship, and that the kingdom light respecting the divine wilI? Hence, if we look at our-
was being offered to them, etc., they would be held corre- selves, and find that we are not immoral, not coarse, sensual,
spondingly responsible. As Capernaum had been greatly blessed brutish, but more refined than many others, this is well; it
highly exalted, or, figuratively, "exalted up to heaven" in its is what we should be in view of our favors, privileges and
privileges and opportunities, the result to it would be greater mercies: but we are to remember that we might still be very
degradation. and eventually it would be brought low into the far short of what would be pleasing to the Lord, and that
dust--destroyed, "brought down to hell," in the text, signi- if God should favor us with certain privileges and blessings
fying brought down to hades, the death state. And surely and opportunitie'l, and we were to reiect them, our attitude
this was fulfilled in the trouble which came upon the Jews, and in his sight might be worse than that of the immoral.
which destroyed their nationality, as a result of their having Turning to Capernaum, most favored of all, our Lord
failed to accept the Messiah, and the kingdom which he offered contrasts her with Sodom, whose wickedness was very great,
to establish. so that it brought upon her a fierce destruction from the
But though our Lord was disappointed that be was so Lord. Capernaum is cleurIy told that from the Lord's stand-
generally rejected, he cannot have expected that he would be point of view her people were more wicked, less worthy of
widely welcomed by the people. He must have known, as he divine favor, more worthy of punishment, than the people
elsewhere describes to his disciples, quoting from the pro- of Sodom. This was a severe arraignment, and yet, we can
phecies, that he would be rejected by Israel, and that the see, a just one, for the poor Sodomites, walking in the way
kingdom offer would pass by them. As a matter of fact his of sin, ignorance of God, etc., gradually went down and down,
rejection on their part incidentally permitted the sending of according to the course of fallen nature, while the people of
the gracious call to the kingdom honors to believers among Capernaum had much advantage every way as Jews, whom
the Gentiles, and thus we are favored at the present time. the Lord had blessed with a knowledge of himself, and to
The contrast which the Master draws between Bethsaida whom now, finally, he had sent Messiah, and whose miracles
and Chorazin and Tyre and Sidon i'l a strong one. The they had seen repeatedly, and with whose beautiful character
latter two were flourishing Gentile cities, yet, as was com- and teaching they had been brought much in contact through
mon in such, very full of wickedness and immorality, so that his considerable residence in their midst.
evidently their names were synonymous for that which was In view of these privileges and mercies, their rejection of
unholy, licentious, unclean. So then, for our Lord to say Messiah and failure to grasp their opportunities branded
that if his mighty works had been done in those unholy cities them, so to speak, as being inferior to the Sodomites, in ap-
they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes, preciation of righteousne'l'l and truth; for our Lord declares
that is, with deep contrition, was to that the people of that the Sodomites would not have met the end they did
Bethsaida and Chorazin were in very much worse condition had they had similar privileges and mercies bestowed upon
of heart than those Gentiles: futher from such a condition them.
as God could bless. The question naturally arises, Why did not our Lord grant
From this we may gather that God takes a different the So(lomite'l as good an opportunity as 111' granted the peo-
standpoint of viewing such matters from that taken by the pIe of Capernaum, and why did he not grant the people of
majority of people. He does not merely say, Is this a mOlal or Tyre and Sidon, who were still living, as favorable an op-
[2623]
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ZION'S WATCH TOWER AI.U:GHENY. PA
portunity a" he granted to the people of Chorazin and Beth-
r,aida? \Ve answer, that none of these people were granted
a 1,1 hI for eternal life. The Sodomites did not have such a
trial; the people of Tyre and Sidon had no trial of any kind;
nor rli,l the ppople of Palestine have a trial for life eternal.
The trial which the.\' did have was a trial respecting their
love for the Lord and for righteommess, and of their readine"s
to be his pcople and supporters of his kingdom. The result
of the trial "-howcd that they were not sufficiently in love
with to appreciate the Lord's kingdom, nor to
becolllC' its fnenrls and servants; and in consequence of this
their city all,l their land, and they as a people were rejected
by the Lord from being his agencie" in connection with thc
of hi" kingdom.
That no individual trial for eternal life had yet come to
:,n,\' (If tlw"r' ppoplc is evirlpnt. from several facts: (1) that
thp whol .. \\orJd was under condpmnation through Adam's
(2) that no one could be relieved from that
"onrlplllnatlOn, so as to have a fre"h individual trial for life,
lIntil the ran"om price wnR paid, and it was not yet fini"hed;
Un \ is furthC'r implied by our Lord'" statpment (verse
that. there woulrl be a day of judgment future-a day
elf tp<;tinu. :t rlav of trial, a rbv to sec who woul,1 be worthy
oj ph'rnal lifp' nn,l wllO (AC'ts 17 ::31) In tha't
ll1rl!!lJ1f'nt ,lin. thp l\lil1<'nnial auI': all arp to have a C'ham'e
for Ijfp; for til(' granting of very chance to
alJ of Albm',,- rnpc was thl' very object of our Redepmer's
Ih'alh 1\1l'antip1C', the peoplp nf Bpth"airla. Chorazin and
l'a prlll:1 11 Ill. having- rejprtrd tlw Lonl anrl having been 11'-
i!',td h, hilli. 1,(, Ill'\crthi.'lcs,< found then' nnd hns ])('en
othPr'l f'inep, of a "-pf'cial whirh hp is calling
to with in thnt Millennia] king-dom,
lInr!pr \\ ho"c l)('nrf!rC'nt rpiun of a full and im-
parthl )lH1L'TJlcnt or trial for life he glantPfI to nIl. He
wou1,1 ha\'p Iii,; ht'nreh UlJ,lC'ht:1l111. howcY!'r, tllnt in th.lt
futnr!' tria I time thl' pt'opll' of Tyrp amI Rirhm and Sodom
w01l1(1 hp trpatpd with morl' anrl allowanl'e thrm
\\ ho havinu mnnv mor(' privilpUPR, hall harrlpnPlI their
hpllrt<; lI[!ain"t what HIPv dirl "ec anrl know. "It f'ha11 be more
tolprn I,]l' for t hp Ianrl of Rodom in the day of judgment than
for thpp." C'arwrnalllll.
HOI\ \I'n" thC' rrhul;p of wordf'. that the
reoplt' of :-;o(lolll. for their wickerlnef's, licentious-
ptr', shon],1 fin,1 morro fayor. more tolpranee. at the
Lord'" hand. \\ hpn h(' heg-in the work of judging man-
kind. than thptll"plvrR. who had ]wen God's fayored
hut \\ ho had not appreelnte(1 hif' favors, and had done dpRpite
lIlIto hili 1!00rlnC's'l! Hut if any infer from this th'1.t the
ppoplp of C"1TlPrnaUIl1, wlwn shall he on trial for life dur-
in/! the l\lilll'nnial lIgp. will bp unkindly treaterl. it would
bl' 1I .. relit mi'ltake: herllu'll' thl' dl'l'laration of the Lord's
Wor,1 is that the world shllll he "jud/!ed in right-
in wlath, maliep, not with a deRire to do
tlWlll injnn', hut with a to do them ('very good pos-
it \\ ill hI' "tolC'rahlf''' for thl' people of Cnper-
nnum in that tlay-vl'ry tolerahle-it will be a grand and
hlpssl'r] for them to come to a full, clpar knowl-
of thl' Lonl: hut it will be more tolerable for the
of Rodom amI GOlllorrah. sins, al.though
grpntpr in ;,onl(> wer(' leRg hemous m, the slg.ht of
Gorl-thC'y wpre agamst t'llUracter, more sms of Ignor-
anep.
We may thC'reforC', tllat during the l\IilIenninl ag-e
(li'<cipl111p< ""eh lwoplp as of Tvrl' and Sidon and
of So,lom. who hall III'\,pr known God to anv degrpe, who hnd
nl'\"pr knllwll hw", will hp in a C'ondition of hpart mlll'h
mOl", Ti,,,.jilv nll1l'lll1hlp to the inflllPncpg anll
of th:11 tilllP than will he ROllle pl'oplp of ChoTl17.Ill,
.f\pf iJa nnIl r:J.p"ln::lllm. who hnving- known morp
no,j h,l'J thp opportllnitiC's of the lifp-who
hr,,1,p down I hr'lr eh,rrap!prs of Imilrling them.
.\nd tllI"P IJI'P llll'l"l,Y for we know that nll
th""" th"t all' in tIl(> shrill hpnr the voip!' of the Ron
of 1\:1111. ,In<l rnmp fOI th-"t!wv that hay!' rlone goo1 [the saint8,
tll" IlIIto thl' of lifp, allrl they that
don" I \'il (,Ill Ill:1llkind llllt"i<lp of the saintsl unto the
roption of jll,l!!tIlPllt "-.Tohn i)2R. 2fl.
\V" ",Ill rp,"lil\' ""I'. 111 hnllllonv with our Lord's rleplnra-
tinn i-n 11',<"on. Ihnt mam' \1 ho in the prespnt lifC' have
no kn"lded!!e all,1 110 0ppOItllllity Illn)' hp nothing
vanta\!(',j in thnt ju,lg-J111'nl tilllP, hllt on thp l'ontrary
rna\' I;'. 1I10re tn the goorl influpnces of tllP kingdom
and than f'Ollle olhl'r'l will be who have bad cont:H't
with the light to some extent in the present life, but who
have refused it. What a blessed promise is this one, of a
future judgment or trial! How much it means to the whole
groaning creation, that God, who let the sentence of Adam
fall on all without giving them an individual trial, has prQ-
vided a redemption for all from that first sentence, and has
provided that each member of the race shall individually have
a trial, a judgment, in due time, at the hands of him who
died for all. And then, how favorable the conditions are to
be, under which that trial will be granted! Satan is to be
bound, and the earth is to be filled with the knowledge of the
Lord and his goodness and his gracious arrangements on behalf
of his fallpn creatures, whom he desires shall not perish, but,
if they will, have eternal life through Christ.
Howevpr, as our Lord distinctly intimates (v. 5), these
things respecting the coming judgment and the blessed op-
which shall be accorded to every member of Adam's
race, are hidden from the majority-especially do they seem
to be hidden from the worldly-wise and prudent, who in-
stead of accepting so gracious a plan, are rather inclined to
teach the people that the poor Sodomites went to eternal tor-
ment without ever having had a chance, and with no prospect
of ever havinO' a chance in the future, although ollr Lord de-
clarps that if they had had as good an opportunity as the
}lC'ople of Capernallm they would have repented with a deep
t'ontritioll. The wiRe and prudent are inclined to tell Ug also
that the people of Tyre and Ridon, although not favored with
our Lonl's bler,sing, are also to be considered doomed to
eternal torment, though they would have repented had they
had a" !!ood lin opportunity as the people of Palestine: and
finally they tell us that theRe ppople of Palestine, having re-
jected ollr Lord, must neceg"arily be sufferers of eterna 1 tor-
ment, and not merely losers of the kingdom. They fnil to
see: thev are blind to the truth-blinded by the traditions of
their religious teachers-as thl' Jews were.
Then. to add to their confusion, they begin to attempt
to apply the Lord's words respecting a day of judgment, and
of course intprpret it to mpan a day of damnatioll,
of a rlav of trial. They fail to note that their claim is that
the Sodomites wcre ah eadY in hell, suffering tormpnts of
the form for nearh; two thousand years, at the time
our Lord uttered ther,e wordf'. Do thev thin'k that thl' ROllom-
ite'l could suffer any more after the' day of judgment than
theY describe them ;s suffering 1I0W? "'hat ;10 thl'v under'
hy the words "day of judgment," anyway? E\'irlpntly
they have no proper conception of the meaning ?f the words.
They see thnt our Lord Iderred it to a future time, and they
are 'hopelessly confused and thoroughly unable to give lIny
rensonnhle explanation of the matter, either in harmony with
God's chnrnl'ter or in harmony with their own wretched and
God-dishonoring Dawn, Vol I, page 1:37.
How comforting are our Lord's words, that things
are revealed, neverthelpss, to some-to babes, to who
are not grel1t, not wise, according to the course of this world;
to tho'll' who are of humble mind, ready to be taught of the
Lord, inRtpad of wishing to teach the Lord. This great bles-
sing, dearly beloved, is ours, lind let us be very careful that
we maintain the attitude of childlikeness and simplicity, that
we may continue to be taught of God, and to "know the things
that are frpely given unto us of God." Let us rejoit'e in
them antI lise them, and let the light shine out to others.
The explanntion of the fact that the divine plan is
hiddpn from the great majority of the learned, the doctors of
divinity, ptC' .. is that sO it has pleaRed the Father to let "the
wise takpn in their own craftiness," and to rcvpal his pur-
pORes to thof'e of an humble mind. "Even so, Fathpr, for so
it f'epmNI good in thy sight." (l Cor. 3:19) The Father
drew to the Son at the first advent, not the doctor" of the
law. the sprihps and the notables, but certain "Israplitps in-
dped," in whom was no guile, though they were bJ.lt an humble
few. Anrl the same class has received the blessmg all down
the age.
The MnRter realized that his special instrurtions must
he towanl whom the Father hnd given unto him, rather
than toward thp unready and unwilling ones who woult! not
rl'C'eive his tpstimony been use not in a proper con<1ition of
hpart to appreciate. To his faithful rli"ciples, therefore, nnd
to nll of the same c1nRs since, he dpclared tha tall things
he he had receivPd of the Father; he c1aimprl noth-
ing of and further, hI' as>,prted thnt no one knew
him trulv, fully, intimately. but the Father, and thAt no man
knew the FatilPr exl'ept himself, the Son, and he to whom
the Ron revpaled him. The avprage rel1der gets vpry little
mpaning out of this passage at first. The Chrif'tinn who bas
been making progress for years, growing in grace and in the
[2624]
:.fAY 1, 1901)
ZION'S WATCH TOWER 037-138)
knowledge of the Lord, can appreciate it much better. He
realizes that while he had some knowledge about Jesus and
about the Father at first, from the very inception of his
Christian experience, yet it was a different matter to come
to know the Father and to know the Son in the intimate sense,
in the sense of becoming well acquainted with them, know-
ing their mind as one knows the mind, the heart, of an in-
timate friend. It is a privilege to receive such an acquaint-
ance. It it> not to be had by everybody; it requires seE'king
for and knocking for, and such seeking and knocking implies
an earnest desire to have an intimate fellowship and com-
munion. Such a growth in grace should be earnestly sought
by all of the Lord's true followers who seek to be his joint-
heirs in the kingdom; for without it they cannot make pro-
In proportion as we know the Father and know the
Son we will love them and seek more and more to do those
things which are pleasing in their sight.
COME I WEARY AND HEAVY-LADEN
Still addressing the same class, and implying that there
were some present of the right disposition who had not yet
becomE' his disciples, our Lord appealed to his hearers indi-
Yidually, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest." The difficulty with most
of the people would seem to have been that they were neither
weary nor heavy laden, but on the contrary pretty well self-
contE'ntE'd. We cannot suppose that physical weariness and
physi<'al burdens was the thought before our Lord's mind,
hut rather the heart-burden and sin-weariness, which all true
TsraE'lit<'i! must have felt, if they were honest with them-
"elves.
We are to remember that they were under the Law Cove-
nant. that ih requirements were very exacting, and that it
mane no allowancE' for weaknesses, imperfections, errors, etc.;
,ons<'fjuE'ntly. all of thOse Jews should have felt themsE'lves
(ontinnally <'ondE'mned in striving to carry the burden of the
Law of Rinai. Not that the law was an unjust one or im-
to he kept by a perfect man, but because all being
Imperfe<,t and fallen they were unable to keep the Law Cove-
nant. Ro we may suppose that amongst the Jews at that
time, whilE' the majority were professing- to be holy, law-
keE'pers. who did no sin, there were some who honestly ad-
mitted to themselves and to others that they did not, could
not. kE'E'p the law perfectly, and who therefore felt burdened
,md \Vfaried with thE'ir fruitless endeavors. Such felt their
neen of a burden-bearer. su<'h felt their soul-sickness and need
,)f thp good Physician, and to such Jesus addressed himself,
Inviting them to come to him and receive rest, relief.
This coming to Christ for rest is the first step toward a
Christian life; it is justification, the acceptance of him as the
qatisfnption for our sins; and from thp time we thus accept
him. as the Apostle declares, we have joy and peace through
believing. (Rom. 5: 1; 15: 13) But having been thus re-
,'eivE'd and blessed, there is something more for us to do, viz.,
to lenrn that there is another burden and another yoke which
we should take upon us voluntarily.
A yoke is a symbol of servitude, and so our Lord implies
that those who are set free (either from the yoke of the Law
Covenant, as were the believing Jews, or from the yoke of
Satan, as were the believing Gentiles) should become his
-ervants, should take his yoke, should learn to do his will.
}, yoke generally is arranged for two, and our Lord speaks of
it as his yoke, by which we are to understand that he also
IS a servant; having come to do the Father's will, and having
put on the yoke of servitude, he invites us to become true
yoke-fellows with himself in the doing of the Father's will,
co-laborers together with Christ in the great work of the
world's deliverance from sin and death.
The secret of the ability to wear this yoke, and to have
pompanionship with Christ in his service, and to have as a
result a great blessing in our own hearts, a rest unto our
souls, lies, he explains, in our learning to be meek and lowly
of heart as he was. It will be impossible for those who are
proud, haughty, self-willed, ambitious, worldly-wise, etc., to
labor in the same yoke with Jesus, or to find the true rest
of soul which we properly seek. But if we are meek, teachable,
humble-minded, ready to know and to do the Lord's will at
any cost, then indeed we shall find rest to our soul's satis-
faction-the pea.ce of God which passeth all understanding
will rule in our hearts.
We notice a difference between the two rests of vs. 28 and
29. Of the first it is said that the Lord will give it to him
who comes to him in faith; of the second, it is said that he
finds this rest to his soul through becoming a yoke-fellow with
Jesus. And so it is: there are two blessings; the first bles-
sing is that of iustification-the joy of having our sins for
given, realizing ourselves no longer strangers and forE'igners
from our heavenly Father, but brought nigh by the hlood of
Chrillt; the second is the joy which comes more gradually, a
fruitage, a grace, a development in the hE'art, thE' growing
and abiding peace and joy of the holy spirit. t''Peond
blessin/!, however, is attained by very few; the rna jority of
nominal Christians know nothing of it; and yet it is tlH' very
object of the calling of this Gospel age, and those who fail
to come to the Lord and to take his yokp, and to learn of him,
to beeome thus "copies of God'A dear Son." will fail uttE'rly
of the special purpose and call of this Gospel age, ann will
have nE'ither part nor lot in the kingdom. The blE's!'\ing of
jw;tification by taith is merely to fit and prepare us to take
the yoke and to become a co-Iaborcr with the Lord in the
service.
This yoke which Jesus invites us to come under with
him is a very formidable affair from the standpoint of the
world; to them it SE'ems to be a most unreasonahlE' yoke, a
most terrible burden-to consecrate lifE', time. menn.. , cvery-
thing to the service of God; but from the standpoint of those
who have come unto ,JE'SUS, and to whom he has spoken peace
nnd re'lt through justification, thp mnttE'r is very different.
To such it must seem a "reasonable service," that since the
Lord has graciously redepmed our lives and our all, we should
use what remains of that life to his praise and glory; lind
aftE'r we have fastened the yoke upon our<;elves We find that
it is an easy onE'. and that with it any burden, anv (luty,
any trial, any difficulty, any vexation of spirit, any burelen of
any kind that could come to us. would be light indeed, because
of this yoke.
Why? Because those who wear this yoke have the as-
surances of the divine Word, that all things are working to-
gether for good to them; that the heavier the burc!E'n that
may be attached the greater will be the blessing and the
reward bv and by: thl' more seVE'rc thp experience'l the
present time, the hrighter shall be the glory, and th(' brighter
shall be their character and the more sure shall they be of
being fitted and polished for the hE'avenly kingdom. From
this standpoint E'very burden is light, heeause our yoke is
appreciated, and is so easy, so rea'lonablp; and allflitionally
it is so light because the Lord is with us in thi" yoke. He
is the great Burnen-bearer. and will not suffer us to he tempted
nor to be pre"sed with more of the burdpns of life than we
should probably be able to endure. HE' i" watching out for
the interests of all those wbo take his yoke upon tll('m. 'nleir
burdens are his burdens, their tria Is are his tria I", their
interests arE' his interests: yen, all things shall work for good
to th('m bpcause thev love him.
Lpt u" rememhe;, however, thnt thc Lord takes no "hvE's
in this way; he does not fnstpn thc yoke upon II(' ml'rply
invites us to come, and then to fastpn his yoke upon olln;plves,
to make a full consecration of to him and to hi!"
sE'rvice.
TWO TYPES OF SINNERS
LUKE 7 : 36-50.-MAY 13.
"Thy faith hath saved thee:'
Simon was a very <'ammon name among'lt the .Tews, and
henpe it is not so remarknhle that there wpre two SImons at
whose homes ,Jesus was entertained. It is a little peculiar,
however, that there are so manv features of similaritv con-
nepted with the two at both of them
our Lord's feet were anointed, etc. (Compare Matt.
It is supposed that about a year ann a half elapsed between
the two eVE'nts, that recorded by Matthew being just prior
to our Lord'" death, "anointing for my burial."
In this le"son we see Simon, a PhariSI'll, cvidpntlv pon-
sidl'rnhly impresspcl with our Lorel'" eh:.traptl'r nn(1 tl'HPhings,
nnd morE' favornhly inelinpd tow:lnl him than the 111<1.11 ity.
HI' thought it would be plpnsant to Invitp .Tcsu'l to dInl1pr,
thus to honor him. and pO'l"ihly hn\!' II little notoJidy 11l11l'3elf
in ponneetion \\ ith the I1ll tE'd Na7arpnp. '
\\ hpn our Lonl aepppte(l the invltntion amI attpl1dpd the
dinner Simon trE'ated him kindly anll polItely, but did not go
to l''{hemp of politeness in his entertainment; perhaps
[2625]
(l38-139)
ZION'S WATCH TOrVER
Ar.LIlGHENY, PA
thinking of him as not being used to special attentions, but feet, and of the self-satisfied Pharisee who entertained him,
rather as being a companion of fishermen and common people was planning a way by which he might do good to both of
generally. Simon therefore did not salute him with a kiss them-a way by WhICh he might set before all present a great
on his arrival, as was usual with honored guests, for that truth: he put a parable to Simon, saying that a
would have seemed like bestowing too much honor upon an certam credItor had two debtors, the one owing a large
ordinary person whom he, as a Pharisee, was not yet prepared amount, the other a small amount, and when they were total-
to fully endorse; nor did he send the servant to take off the ly unable to pay he cheerfully and promptly forgave them
Master's sandals and to wash his feet, according to the custom both. Then our Lord pointed his lesson on this little parable,
of the best entertainers of that time. He may have said to by enquiring which of the two forgiven ones would be most
himself; This man and his disciples are not u'3ed to being appreciative of the creditor's leniency? Simon, who had not
entertained in such style, and my servants would recognize as yet caught the import of the parable, promptly answered
themselves as being on a par at least with any of these men that the one who had the largest debt forgiven would un-
except the Teacher himself. Without, therefore, going to the doubtedly be the one who would be most appreciative, and
extremes of polite entertaining, the Pharisee had nevertheless our Lord approved this answer. Then directing attention to
cordially welcomed the Lord to his table, feeling no doubt that the woman, he reminded Simon that although he had been
in doing this he was honoring the Lord, and not sufficiently kind in inviting him to dinner, and although he appreciated
realizing that he was the one who was being honored, in the his attentions. nevertheles'i the still greater attentions of the
privilege of entertaining so noble a guest. How will Simon woman, and the still greater marks of respect which she had
regard the matter when, in the resurrection time (during the sho"ed, were evidences that while they both loved, the WOIllan
::\lI1lennillm), he that gucst was "the Only Be- loved the more: and the intimation clearly is that the greater
gotten of the Father, full of grace and truth?" love was denloped by a greater realizatIOn of sin and a
The Apostle urges upon Us all, "Be not forgetful to enter- greater desire to be relieved from it.
tain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels [God's Of course, in one sense of the word, all are sinners, all
messengers] unawares." The Lord wishes his people to be have come short of the glory of God, and are hopeless without
generous with such things as they have (but not to be vain- forgiveness; yet the occupied a different pO'3ition from
gloriously extravagant), hence it is written again, "There is the woman, because under the Jewish Law Covenant he was
that scattereth and yet incH'aseth: and there i'3 that with- already occupying a standpoint of typical justification, and
holdeth more than is meet [proper] and it tendeth to pov- was seeking to maintain that standing hy living a life of
erty." It is a part of our present lesson to learn of oUr own strict regard for the divine Law. On the other hand, the
mean selfishness, which all have inherited through the fall, woman, although under the same covenant, by living an aban-
and gradually, under the instruction of the Lord's Word, to doned life in open violation of the law, had lost her intere'3t
get the victory over this and become more generous-more in the national typical justification, and was therefore in a
like our Father in Heaven. much larger sense of the word a sinner. Simon knew very
Lf't u" be specially generou" and hospitable toward the well that while he was trying to keep the law he was not
"brethren," who really represent the Lord himself; not only keeping it perfectly, but infracted it in various ways from
as "ambassadors for God," but also as "members of the body time to time, and yet he was not wilfully an infractor of the
of Christ." Law, as was the woman; hence in this sense of the word
The "woman of the citv" mentioned. wa" evidentlv a com. there was the wide difference between great sin and less sin;
mon character, widely knoWn to the people of the city, though yet both needed the Saviour, and if the Pharisee had realized
she might not be known to Jesus and the disciples, who were the truth of the matter he needed the Saviour just as much as
not residents. \Vhatever the woman's previous life may have did the woman; for the Law Covenant could not give him
been, she had experienced deep contrition of heart, and a everlasting life-to attain that he must admit his sin and
desire to live a better life. She had heard about Jesus, the accept forgiveness and salvation from sin and its penalty,
great Teacher, and that unlike the Pharisess he did not dis- death, as a gift from the Saviour who honored him by con-
dain to speak with and to encourage fallen ones and to help senting to be his guest.
them up again. She felt that she would like to go to the Then Jesus turned to the woman and said to her, "Thy
Lord in prayer for forgiveness, and would like to make a fresh sins are forgiven." \Vhat words those must have been io her!
in life, to seek thereafter to live more consistently. She Her prayer was answered-a pra;yer, which had arisen in her
knew not how to approach the matter; she kne,v not what heart, and which had cxpres'3ed itself through teari'! and oint-
to Bay respecting herself; she would merely take a little offer- ment, had been heard and she was forgiven and all the past
ing in her hand, and while he was reclining at dinner, after treated as forever blotted out. How thankful she must have
the custom of that time, and while his feet would be easily felt! Poor Simon, however, so far as we know, did not come
to her, she would venture to anoint them with the to the point of saying, Lord, I also am a sinner, and even
fine ointnwnt which had biought with hf>r. Saying not a though I have loved less than this woman I also need to be
word, her heart too full for utterance, she reached the Master's forgiven, and I pray for the forgiveness of my sins, tbat I
feet. and there her tears trickled over them. By her tears he may be counted one of your followers. No; the very fact that
thould know, more eloquently than she could voice her senti. he bad a religious standing in the nominal church, and had
ments in words, what were the true longings of her heart for made a profession of holiness, seems to have stood in his way,
forgivenes" and for reconciliation. and to have hindered him from accepting the grace of God
and the forgiveness of sins. And so it is right along. How
lIow nwrciful and considerate of our needs, is the Lord's frequently do we see that people who have been liYing moral
provision that ,\hen we come penitently to his feet for for- lives, evidently seeking to walk in paths of righteousness, are
gh enes" we are not required to approach him through another, much less prepared to accept forgiveness through the Lord
nor to formulate our petition in some exact form of language Jesus Christ than are some others who have been living more
-he ean read our hearts and accepts our tears and even our carelessly and who awaken to a realization of their undone
l'fl'orts to make amends and to serve the "members condition, and go to the Lord more contritely and more
of his hotly." And even though he may delay the message earnestly, and exercise a greater faith, and feel for him
of forgiycncs" it is but to let the roots of penitence and faith consequently a greater love!
deeper in our hearts. There is no intimation, however, that because of his fail-
.lesus for a time seemed to heed her not, and she may have ure to ask forgiveness and to become a follower of Jesus,
questioned "hether or not he was misunderstanding her mo- Simon was condemned to "hell," etc.; quite to the contrary,
tivcs and her prayer, but the fullness of her heart found he simply followed the course of his nation (blinded by preju-
vent in still more tears, and tenderly she wiped his feet and dice and false traditions of men). Their rejection of Jesus
IInointed them with the ointment. The Pharisee, meantime, lost to them the privileges of jointheirship in Christ's king.
was saying within himself: Now it is most fortunate that I dom, and led to their national rejection from God's favor until
invited Jesus to dinner to-day, and it is fortunate that this the opening of the Millennial age. Then, as the Apostle
woman came in; it affords a proof, a test, respecting the clearly shows, their blindness shall be removed and they shall
ability of Jesus to read the hearts of those about him. If he be blest with a much clearer knowledge of the truth. Then
were a prophet, if he were specially empowered and enlight- the Lord will "pour upon them the spirit of prayer and sup-
ened of God, he would have known the character of this plication, and they shall look upon him whom they pierced,
woman; but he evidently docs not know ller character, and and shall mourn because of him." Then when they weep as
therefore is permitting her to anoint his feet, and this seems did the woman with the ointment, God, through the glorified
to be a proof that he is not a prophet. Christ, will have mercy on them and forgive their sins. Then
But Jesus, fully conscious of all that was going on, and their trial for everlasting life will begin.-See Rom. 11 :25-32;
with a clear knowledge of the heart of the poor woman at his Zech. 12: 10.
[2626]
Z [ 0 N 5' W,'1 T CH TOW E R (139-140)
The other guests at the table were particularly struck witll
(.UT Lord's declaration that the woman's sins were forgiven
her. Xot recognizing the speaker to be the Messiah, the Son
of God, they questioned the propriety of such words, but thi"
was one reason whv our Lord uttered the words; it was one
of his unostentatious methods of calling attention to the fact
that he was the Messiah, and that as such, and in view of the
work which he was yet to do all power to forgive sim was in
his hands.
Then he said to the woman, "Thy faith hath ilaved thee:
go in peace." He wished her to know that it was not her
tears that had brought the forgiveness; that it was not the
value of the ointment that had moved him to forgive her, but
that the thing which was pleasing in his sight, and on account
of which her sins were forgiven, was her faith. She not only
realized her own sillful condition, but she had realized that
this great Teacher had power to forgive her and to restore
her, and she had trusted, and acted upon this, and our Lord
'wished IJer to realize that the reward she had received was
oecause of exercise of this faith. And so we may realize in
respect to all of the Lord's favors in the case of each one of
his people. When we come unto the Lord, with tears of peni-
tence, we are to knew ttlut they do not prevail; and if we
predent gifts we are to know that they do not prevail, and
that the tears and the offerings could avail U8 nothing except
as we present to the Lord our faith, accepting him as the one
\dw has power to forgl\-e sins and to us from all
unrighteouRness. And not only is this necessary at the begin-
ning of th' Christian way, but similarly faith is all
the journey through. If we do not continue in faith we can-
not progress. "According to thy faith be it unto thee," would
seem to be the Lord's method of dealing with all who are his
disciples, from first to last of their Christian walk and expe-
rience.
The center of the lesson, then, is abiding faith in the Lord:
faith when he seems not to notice us; faith when thing8
seem to be going prosperously with us in our spiritual affairs
and in our temporal affairs and faith equally strong when the
currents and forces seem all to be against us. The victory
that overcometh the world is the faith that in all condition:l
is able to look up to the Lord with absolute confidence in his
goodness and faithfulness, and to realize that according to his
promise eventually all things will work together for good to
us because we are his people.-I ,Tohn 5:5; Rom. S:29.
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
MATT. 13: I-S, IS-23.-MAY 20.
"The seed is the tCord of God."-Luke s: II.
Jesus and his disciples had just returned to Capernaum, Millennial age will be a time, we believe. in which the Lord
his horne, from a tour of Galilee, and the multitudes. many wiII run the plowshare of truth in every direction throughout
of \\ hom had heard him before and witnessed his miraclp.s, the world, as it is written, "The plowman shall follow close
gathered about him as he sat on the beach of Lake Galilee, after the reaper." (Amos. 9: 13) And, "When the judgments
assuredly expecting that they would hear some gracious words of the Lord are abroad in the earth the inhabitants of the
from hi'! lips. And the Master never seemed weary of pre- world wiII learn righteousness" (Isa. 26:9), and thus be pre-
sentmg his message, although frequently, as in this case, the pared for the new sowing time of the new age, under circum-
mass of his hearers understood but dimly his parables. There stances more favorable in some respects than the present,
wa., a fishing-boat lying near, quite possibly owned by some of though less favorable in other respects.
his friends or relatives, and evidently with the owner's can- Another class upon which the same good truth fall'! at the
3ent .Jesus used the boat as his pulpit, speaking to the multi- present time is one that has a good appearance upon the sur-
tude which lined rhe beach, which at this point is said to rise face-fine soil, etc., but underneath, and but a few inches
rapidly, and which therefore would give the general effect of from the surface, is rock. The soil on the surface is but a
an amphitheatre. A traveler once made an experiment, to see veneer to hide the rock; it has the appearance of depth of
how \\ ell the yoice would coury under such circumstances, at character, sympathy and love, but this is merely a deception.
thi'! and saJ's, "It was remarkable how distinctly every Civilized customs have popUlarized at least an outward imita-
word was heard, though our voices were not raised, even at tion of the graces of the holy spirit, and appearances of good
three hundred yards off; and it was very easy to comprehend heartedness, but down below in the real heart and intt'ntion is
how, in this clear air, a preacher sitting in a boat could selfishness, that would merely follow the ways of righteousness
addres.:; a vast multitude sitting upon the shore." because of popularity or because of some hoped-for gain. but
The had no difficulty III finding a topic. Quite pos- thoroughly unable to appreciate self-sacrifice for anything or
sibly Ins eye rested on a seed-sower, and as a result we have anybody. This class of shallow characters sometimes receives
this parable, designed to 'Show that there are different classes the truth with avidity, with joy, and seems to contain some
of hearers, and that it is not merely the eloquence or force or of the truth's most enthusiastic followers; but this is merely
truthfulness of the message that determines the result, but for a little while, because of novelty or pride to show off, and
chiefly the attitude of the heart that hears; hence the impor- not from love of the truth. The selfishness which is the sub-
tance' of the injunction, "Take heed how :re hear"-see that stratum of their character will not permit them to endure
your heart is in a right condition to receive the truth. if you hardness for the truth's sake. Consequently, as soon as they
would expect a benefit from it; do not expect that the mere find that with the truth always goes something of persecu-
hearing of the truth wiII profit you, irrespective of your own tion and tribulation they are surprised, thoroughly di"heart
character conditions. ened, and all their interest speedily dies out. This clas.:; has
The good seed of the parable is the Word of God, the truth, no hope for the kingdom either. They are not of the kin,l that
even as false teaching, human philosophies and doctrines of the sower expects wiII yield a crop to maturity in the 11l'e'Sent
devil.:;, are not wheat-seed but tareseed; our Lord is not show- harvest.
in<Y in this parable what will be the result of sowing good or The third class of hearers favored by the truth in tId'!
bad seed, but merely that the good aced can accomplish its present time is referred to by our Lord as "thorny ground,"
work only in certain classes of hearts. This does not mean poor ground, for the thorns are to be
The class of heart that is like the "wayside," solid and found in the very best of ground, especially the thorns of
compact with selfishness, not open and generous, is very un- Palestine, to which our Lord undoubtedly had reference. Of
favorable ground for the truth; nothing need be expected from these Prof. Thomson says, "These thorn,> are not blia r htbhes
such ground. The sower wiII let as little as possible fall on or brambles, but are an after-growth of a variety of thistles,
such, but whatever does fall upon it the Adversary will soon which come up quickly in every wheat-field of PalestllJe." We
take away. "Wayside" hearers are not necessarily bad people, may say, then, that every Christian who receives the wheat
in the sense of grossly wicked, but they arll bad in the sense or word of God into a good and honest heart during this Gos-
of being unsuited to the Lord's present work and calL They pel age is in danger of having it choked with the thorns, and
wiII need to have the furrow run through them again and of thus becoming one of the class referred to in the parable, a
again, that troubles of various kinds may make them more class that was favored, that had every advantage, but which
generous, more open, more ready for the message. But in brought forth no crop worth gathering, because the thorns
many instances the Lord will not run the plowshare of truth took possession of it to such an extent as to choke out the
through such soil in this present age; rather, he wiII leave it wheat-seed.
for the Millennial age, when he wiII be dealing, not only with We have heard Christian people describe the thorns which
these hearts that were partially prepared and which have threaten the good seed in the hearts of God's people to be
become unsuitable, but when also he wiII have a work to do theaters, card-playing, carousals, etc., etc., but this is a great
with the great masses of mankind, which, like the virgin mistake; the hearts that are beset with such things are prob-
forests and prairies of earth, are yet uncleared, unplowed 3Jld ably not good ground in any Bense of the word, and probably
unbroken. The great time of trouble at the beginning of the have never received the good seed, But how reasonable is thtl
[2627]
, 141-142) ZION}S WATCH TOWER
mterpretdtlOn which our Lord himself gives-the thorns are
the ea rcs of thIs life an,1 the tleceitfulness of riches-just
exactly \\ hat every Christian realizes. The cares of this life
are not gross immoralitit.. i". but the home duties, family eUles,
carl'S, dr' Tht' dct eJtlnlne..,'> of I iehes is not mPrely
the h,llJ"ful infllleIICf' \\ hll'h p,el UpO'l who pO'l'>ess
riches, hut especially it the SnaIl'S, the difficulties,
the !Til ;Ieatlings of eITO! ts tf) become rich.
H(l\\ IIIIlll.Y CIII people cun te'iUfy that their spirituality,
thllr h'I' for tIJe LIlI d ,llld for the truth and for the kingdom
hll\'" tH'l'li chol-I'd 111 "It'at hv wealth-covetin" and
wl'.lItll "",l,illg' 1ft)\', I'all th:\t the care'> ;f this
1If(' h,l\" \10\\ d"d Il\lt tllt Ir \\ Ith the Lord, and the
pm'I'r ,f ""I <! 111 tht'l r ht"lrts, and how as a result theIr
,'I.' 1',lrl!'lI. unflllltflli "f auytll1ng" in the way of ellaJne-
ler <I"\,I"!'nll'l1!. -('I,H',' of f;o,1 anll ior thc "bJ(;thnu" ,md
"tht" ..,
\'. it d ,nB 'Il,JI It.:ol!t/I' tllat tholu,> ale growing in their
hcart .1'.11 ').,,].llIg th., "Old of thp LOlli 110 to get rid of
till Ill' 110,\" all th' y '" t'j f'OIllP thi;. tldllcultv of 1)l'1 mitting
the o[ t!li., lif!' tll al'-'lIh their tim". tlwir talents, their
11111111 Ii<"" 1I" .... "011 tiJ('\ 11,1 of thl' falsf' alhlrpments anti
II lJ 01. t lull, of I:' 'I !!ml ',Ill thl'Y bf'f'Oll1e fruitful toward
t;o,l III !.."IOII \Iork- jll 11<'11,,_ (If g;',lee ill their Iwart'! an,!
chal.ld', -, m TIl of til, kflIJ\\ ledge of thp fhvine \\'on! and
p!aJ1 '
11 ;- ,\ dilliutlt 'Il.lt!,-r to ;cet lid oi thaI liS, if thpy
IIIl :Ind \1<'11 IImlt'r \\ay ,titl'!" \\f' have recPived the
whprlt 111<1 it WIll lli'o!mhly bp a ",Iow awl tCllious business to
lOOt t 1... 11' ('ut nd "n,' ill w bi(h \V(' ('ould not hope at all for
I,.v ()111 IlIlald!',!. _\11 'lu(,h must go to the Lord
hinJt,l'lf [(lr tLe ,11,1 \\ illdl h. alonl' can gIVP, anti the method
anti prf)(',-;'l by wllll'iJ the Lortl WIll thsist them will be in
the tl'1l1..;folmiu" 'If tlll'ir mlJld'! so that thf'v will mind not
things "llIt hp:l\enly things, affections on
ahovp, not on things beneath, bet their affections upon
1rup rid]t>,,! of tll(> divillp n.1tme and high calling, instead of
on e:l! thly wlliph arp but trau':oitory and unl:'atisfaetory,
I'Ten if II ttain!',!.--:\lntt. (j: 1!l-21.
And tIll' \\,lY 1n 1'11,,('t tll is tI an..,forming of the mind, this
upro(lt lIlg- of thl' io; to draw time and attention away
from tlrp ('arllll\' tllln!!;! in It compuh'ory manner, limiting the
Hull' tJut \\ c gi\ I' to earthly thing'!, am! devoting more
alld mort' lIme t () sJliritllnl intprpst'! in our own hearts and in
tllP l1I'a of ollr lamll ip"! antI fricnds. 'nlis will mean more
tim" for th, :,tll,l,\' and practicl' of the truth; and as the
truth f'III'IC;! ill It wil1 hp foulld to be the sanctifying power of
1;0<1 "hi"h alonl' (all uproot the cares of this life, the deceit-
fuhH''''' of r;plle.... lIud kl"'p our hearts in the right attitude to
I,PJII 1ll1ld. fruit 10 onr praise.
'1'1:.. """",1 "round" !lp.trers arl' tho'll' whose hearts are in
"uool "'''I,Ii1I1Jn: I,',I,]V for tIll' wor,! of the Lord, plowed and
fnfl<ll\l.i hy fref' from is
to lHill" f ,rth .ltI nloundant han-est, and vet even of thIS
"il IIlIlV Hot" lI'i,1 tlw alllount uf fl to our
\1.I"'l,'r "'Il\\ f,:r hI' l"I'prp..,ents that 'lome will bring forth
thirt\,. ,.I)HI .m,] H'me an hUlldref! fold. Hp does not
'J! tl:o-f' \1 ltiph forth Lut the thirty
[<II,!. )1':1\(... ,l to tb to ,!iseeI n that iho"e who brll1g' forth
t!ll' !lund:,',1 fol,l ar(' thp mo"t. plmsing in his sight. We have
much to do with this matter of the amount of fruitage which
we yield to the Lord; it will be measured by the degree of our
zeal, our love for him; cOIl'lequently the class bringing- forth
the hundred fold represents those Christians who love the
Lord the most fervently, whose hearts are warmest for him, his
truth and his people. The Apostle Paul was undoubtetlly one
of thi,> hundred-fold class, ihe Apostle Peter was another, and
no doubt there have been many in humble positions unknown
to fame, "hose love for the Lord, and zeal for his cause have
bpen connted to them as hundred fold return for e\'PI'Y sped of
truth thev received. Let us pach with more and more care
to b;ing forth much fruit, and as one mean'! to this end
to kpl'p down the thorns and l'Yerythlllg that woul<l <'hoke 01
hinder the influence of the truth in our hearts, in our daily
anti in ou)' \\ OIds. Let us cultiv,lte the seell anll not
the thorns.
THE MESSAGE OF THE KINGDOM
Luke says. "The ..,eed is the Word of God"; Matthew sa) F.
'The word of the kingdom." Our Lord no doubt used botll
I'xpl'essions-the good "el'd is God's word or message of tIlt'
Indeed, the message of the kingdom may he saifl to
be the only God has yet !:;'ivcn to mankind as a ..
sage of hope. He intimated the king-dom to Abraham whpil
he promised him that in his sepd all the of the pal tl1
-5hould be ble'lsed; the intimation was that Abraham's
should be blessefl by being granted king-dam powt'rs which
should prove a blessing to the world at large. Israel, nt tlI,
time of this parable, "a" hoping to att,lin thi'! Yel." ploml<;I'
All tht' promises through the prophets penain to tll"
kingdom, the time when it shall be the
which shall flow from it to the uttermost palts of the ('arth
when all shall know tIle Lord, from the least to the grl'fl tl'st
when righteousness shall flourish throughont the world. and
when sin and sinners and Satan him'lelf will be suh ject(',! to
the powers of righteousnpss, in the hands of the h. At
the time of the utterancp of this parable the seed, word ",
me'!sage of the kingdom had taken on a special form, viz., ato
invitation to some to become joint-heirs with Messiah, th,>
heir of the kingdom.
Whoewr has never heard anything ahout the kingdom lra-
neyer heard anything about the Gospel, for it i'l the "Gospel
of the kingdom," as our Lord declared. Hence we scp that
much of the preaching' of etprnal tormcnt and othf'r thmg'l
falsely called the Gospel of the kingdom, are delusions whicl:
arc not of God, not his word, not the good seed that would
hring forth the good fruit. The false messages have hrought
forth "tares" in abundance. This good seed of the kingdoll:
it is that rightly receiwd into a good heart cannot be p:lsil)'
"hoked with earthly hopes or ambitions-for the kingdon,
hope is aboye all. grand, pre-pminent, Th,'
kingdom hope is ag an anchor to the sou!, and does not ppl-
mit the cares of this life to seem large and to crn"h it ont
On the contrary, to hearts which Itavp received thr
good se('d of the kingdom the care" of this life are merel.'
incidental trial'! which are to be overcome, that theleby ehal
aeter may he formed, much fruit bronght forth, to the Lord'..,
praise, and a share in the kingdom atained. "Hp that hat)
this hope in him purifieth himself," and bringeth forth much
fruit.
NEWS FRO1\.1 THE "BRITISH BRANCH"
)'fTU lVrli :,11 I." :..1. .. \ tn ]1':'111 "f thl' ,.,ate anival of
I;".tl" r 011101 "ift' at tllPir dp_tination. A "pilgrim"
'lIp t, t
l
]<' pllllt'il'"l "'111"1"; of IIltt'le",t \\af! ma,lp whilp word
\\,( 4 -""t tn tIlt> )"'iliP oil" P \l''''l"'dinl! the BrItish po'lt.al laws,
d(', I, .111'1!! "11 11,, I' 01 k pI 01'0"'\'11 to he dOllp tlwrl'. :\Iuch
1lI1"!"1 found :1t and tlw fripnds of thp
IIUII', "" II ,a.'" ,\,,11 h"p.,. \\1'11' ('llificII Hn,]
",. \ "J " "'\111" i-t,<! ,,1101 1athl'r disappomtl'd to find that
1.1\14 ,11" JJ1l1l'h fa\orabll' than our own.
Ho" I' ..r tit, 1.", d 1"lllltt'tI out to us (we helieyp) a manner
ot ,1,1 "t,"!! 'Illl \\olk to t1l1' 1.1WS H'l tllPy whi"h we
<10\11' "',,1 \IIIl a glP:lt \\ork there this year. At
,lit "\l III WI' h:1\ ,. 11''01,1\ 1,1 to b v it for the remainder of
thi" ... ,r ,It I,.I-t (I) '-,) allil an ollicp \\iIl be
"ppnpo\ 11 mJ('\, ,llltl -thl11 ,I ... pos'lihle the will appear
III t J", \\ \'1('1\ TOWEll. "'I' haye prpparp,l OVt'r four tons of
1('lldll"- 11'1ltjl'1' fOI ... llipmPllt, palt of which h.1s probably
,1!Jl'a,I\' 1'I',l,-hp,1 LOIHlon. all,1 th(' r('maindpr is now on the
IH:elln
Thl' follm\ ing' flom Lonl1on will be interesting'-
DV\H BROTliEH TIn;sET.L:-You did not over('stimate the
matter which in your last you termed a "pleasant surprise"
for British brethren. Bro. Henninges' visit to us is indeed a
joyful privilege and to hear him set forth things "new anI!
old" is a pleasure that words cannot describe. We certainh"
feel that there is scope for much work on the lines that OU'I
brother has come over to adopt, if the way be made plain to
him hv the Lord.
Or' cour'le it is not for us to urge or push this matter
undnlv. hO\l P\'er mnch we feel It would gratify us, but this wp
can offer, that if the Lord makes plain the way to vou and
him our sympathies can then take practical form. These art'
my personal fpeling'>, but I know I am only voicing those of
many of our dear brethren hele. It would have done your
hpart good to have seen the little gatherings of glad facel:' at
the last four or five meetings; to feel the warm, sympathetie
hand-grasps and the cheery, honest words of encoura:;rement
and the God-speeds given to our dear Bro. Henninges
and his rlpar wife. Not but that we always have joy in
mpeting togt'ther and great joy indeed, but this joy seems a
supt'r-added om>-a joy abounding.
We give thanks to our Lord that he has made you such a
[2628]
MAY 1, 1900 ZIONJS WATCH TOWER (142-143 i
channel of blessing to us, and "e pmy that our eyes and
hearts may be anointed and that we may be given that
discerning spirit which discriminates between that which
harmonizes with and that which militates against our Fa-
ther's revealed plan. So with the and assurance born
of sad experience we can confidently approach our Father's
throne with requests according to his will.
If there are any suggestions from you to us as to how we
may aid in this present scheme for additionally helping our
English brethren we shall be glad 10 hear from you. In the
meantime we are one with you in this Gospel of the kingdom.
in unity of spirit, in the bond of love and in righteoullnebs of
life. Yours in our present Lord,
BRO. AND SISTER GUARD.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WHO IS BORN OF GOD?
Question.-In 2 John 5: 1 we read, "'Yhoso<)\('1' believpth
that Jesus is til(' Christ is bol'll of God." Does this signify
that we are begotten of the spilit at the same moment that
we are justified through faith?
Ansu:er.-:No; the Apostle, in the WOld" quoted, is not
attempting to give the complete philosophy of salvat:on, that
being given in other part!'! of his own and that of
the other apo"tles. He is diseu,",,,ing the condition of a be
liever who has not only been justified through faith, but who
continuing to be a believer. is acting upon that faith ,lIId the
Lord's call which corMs to the justified, and who, in harmony
with that justification and call, ha., presented himself a liv-
ing sacrifice to the Lord, and ha" been begotten of the holy
Spirit. He is still a. believer, must alwuys continue to he a
believer, must always continue to maintain his hith, which iq
the foundation of his reckoned new nature in Chribt.
The word here rendered "born" "hould be rendered "begot-
ten;" it is the same word in the Grcek as the word rendered
"begotten" following it in the same verse.
Numerous Scriptures show us that our condition as sin-
ners is such that we cannot be begotten of God through his
holy spirit until after we have been ju"tifipd through faj th
As sinners we were "children of wrath even as others," and
were "called to repentance" (but not called to the "high
calling"): as repentant sinners we are point('d to the Lord
Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Lif.>, by whom alone we
can return to harmony with the Father. 'Vhen we accept
Christ as our Saviour and his sacrifice as our ran"om price
we are justified by faith-reckonedly perfected-and have
peace with God, and realize that we are no longer children
of wrath, alien", strangers and foreigners, being brought nigh
by the blood of Christ. Our justification, however, is not our
begetting to new nature, but, as the Word itself signifips, a
making right of our old natures-a compensating on our
Lord's part for the weaknesses and imperfections of the fle-.h
which are ours through the fall, so that we are reckon('d as
tho we were perfect men-like father Adam before he !linned
It i" to such justified or reckonedly perfect men and
women that the Lord sends the "high calling" of this Gospel
age-a call to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, a call to snffer
with him for righteousness' sake in this present time. with a
promi"e of sharing with him glory, honor and immortality in
the future, of being joint-heirs with him in the kingdom which
is to restitution blessings to all mankind.
The call of this Go'spel age is to find the "royal prie-.t-
hoo(l," of which our Lord Jesus is the Head or Chief Priest,
and all his faithfnl one" the under priesti'!. The work of thiB
priesthood is especially future-during the Millennial age the
instIuction, guidance and teachin,g of the world of mankind.
The call to this prie"thood includes two things: (1) A call
in the pre"ent time to faithfulness even unto sacrifict'. and
none can b(' in this priesthood except he offer'l up him"elf a
willing !lacrifice in the divine service. (2) It inclnd('s the
glorification that 'lhall follow the exaltation of the "acrificer".
The thing which each is to sacrifice is him"clf, hi" will,
his life, his all (Reb. 8::3: Rom. 12: 1); but God cannot
accept to hi" holy altar any blpmishcll sacrifice, ,1l1d hence he
has not invited sinners to sacrifice themselves-for theY are
all blemished. None but our Lord Jesu!l, therefore, coul(l be
actually acceptable as a !lin-offprin,g on Jehovah's altar: hence
the provision is that hi" church, called to present their bOllies
"acrifices. and to thus have fellowship in Chri"t'"
suffering", and by and by in hi" glory, must first be "jU'lti-
fied freplv from all things" by the merit of Christ's sacrifice,
before th('y pould be acceptpd as sacrificers "holy an11 accept-
able to God" or in any degree come within the limitations of
the high ca !ling.
Altho thf' Apo"tle, in the verse you quote, does not partic-
ulari7e the three steps of (l) knowledge, (2) faith and (:3)
consecration, he nevertheless implies them, as will be noticed
from the pontext: vss. 3 and 4 tell us that the class the
Apostle referi'! to are overcomers of the world, and that they
[2629]
1II-46
ABOUT MAGNETIC-HYPNOTIC CURES, ETC.
Question.-The world is full of aches and pains, diseases,
and naturally we look about us for relief. You have already
expressed your judgment that the cures effected by
Scienti-.ts and Spiritualists are probably produced by im-
proper spiritual mfluences, although exercised to some extent
at least in harmony with natural laws. I desire now to
inquire respecting cures by hypnotism, and still other cures
by so-callcd magnetic What shall we think of these,
and will it be proper for the Lord's consecrated people to
avail themselves of such means for attaining health?
Ansuer.-We feel suspicious of magnetic and mmbl heal-
ing. In our judgment they in many instance" are allied with
or relatl'd to hypnotism; yet it is particularly difficult to
draw the line here, beca uoe we all know that there is such a
thing as a. legitimate mental influence which we all exel cise
upon one another, favorably or unfavorably. ""e know, for
instance, that hope and faith, love ilnd joy, are healing and
helpful influences, and that doubt and despair, anger and
malice, are injuriou" influences whether exercised by our own
minds upon our own bodies, or upon others. In this proper
sense of the "ord every child of God possessing the spirit of
love, the spirit of a sound mind, is a mental healer, and a
heart healer, a wound healer; wherever he or she may be, the
lllfluence will be uplifting, comforting, strengthening to good
impulses. If therefore the Lord's consecrated ones visit the
sick, their presence shouM be a refreshment, comforting,
cheering and helpful, and so much the more if they carry in
their hearts and communicate with their lips the
great and precious promises of our Father's Word. With this
much of mental healing we are most thoroughly in accord.
But Chri<;tian Seience, Mind Healing and Magnetic Heal-
mg, running upon this same line, seem to us to carry it to
an extreme-in the case of Christian Science to the extreme
of lying to oneself and believing the lie, and thus gradually
becoming a. liar, self-deceived and deceiving others in respect
to all 01 life's affairs. We ('annot believe that any course 80
opposed to that which the ScIiptures mark out can be of God,
nor can we believe that the cures it at times effects are either
natural or of God; we can only suppose, therefore, that the
Adversary favors this lying and deceiving plOcess to the intent
that he may beguile the mind through further lies and decep-
Jions far from God and the truth.
Magnetic Healing is more on the order of hypnotic heal-
IIlg; that is to say, the magnetic healer gains a control over
the mind of his subject which is somewhat akin to the con,
trol gained by mesmerists and hypnotists, and akin to the
spirit control of spiritualism over its mediums. 'We can have
no sympathy with anything of kind, for even if we were
satisfied that the power of control was merely a human
power and not a Satamc one (and we are not satisfied of
this), "e cannot feel that it is right for one human being to
subject his mind, his win, to another, when the evidences
prove that every such subjection decreases his will power and
places the subject more and more in the position of a slave
or machine, subject to the influence or control of others-
breaking down his personality.
The Lord's people are admoni"hed to make such a sub-
mission of their minds to the Lord, and no one else; and we
are confident that the Lord will take no advantage of us
under such conditions, to rob us of any good quality. On
the whole. then, we urge all of the Lord's people to be on
guard against mind healers, healers. etc., especially
where, as in the case of Christian Science the mind is to be
given up to believe a lie, or in the case of hypnotism, it is to
be given up or subjected entirely to another. Our minds are
our greatest possession, and are to be given only to the Lord
and to each other as directed by the Word of the Lord; and
if we cannot have health without violating these principles,
we can afford to be without the health for the few more days
that remain under the present conditions, knowing that by
and by, if faithful to the Lord, we shall have the perfect
re!'!urrection bodies promised.
,144-147)
Z [0 N' S WA T C H TO TV E R ALLEGHXY, Ph
to keep God's and do 30 willingly. not
feel!ll!! thpm "gnevouo," ',Ii'(' see that he sp<:>aking- onlJl
:Jt the consecrated and since we know that there were
nOllf' I ighteous,-no, not one,-of all of Adam's race, and
we know that the unrighteous could not be accepted
with Christ, we know assuredly that the
Ar".,tle John had in mind a class of consecrated and spirit-
IH'!i'ltten ones, who previously had been prepared by a knowl-
of Christ and by a faith in him unto justification.
That "new creature" represented by the new mind which
i" now begotten of the holy spirit when the justified believer
reaches that point where he sacrifices the human will and
pre-ent" himself unreservedly to the Lord, is merely "be-
gotten." The present hfe is the formative period during
',\ hich there is no independent life, but merely the reckoned one
0f ollr '!1IotllPl'." the Abrahamic Covenant. (Gal. 4,2:3-31)
Our birth will bc in the first resurrection, when we shall be
"horn from the dead." Then we shall have life and our
mothcr covenant will be dcad, having borne the sced
':hat bless all nations. Compare Col. 1: IS; Rev. 1 :5.
HOW WILL THE DEAD HEAR?
Questloll.-'Vhat is implied by the cxpression, "The dead
hear the voice of the Son of Man and they that hear
5hall live?"-John 5:25. .
Answer.-The Greek text sepms to be in full harmony with
the English, and neither can be understood logically and in
harmony with other Scriptures, except by understanding this
to mean that the dead of mankind shall be awakened to such
a condition as will permit them to hear, comprehend, under-
stand. tho they will still be dead from the divine standpoint
-dpad in b and sins-dead in the sell'3e of
being still under divine sentence of death. Then after hear-
ing, comprehending, if they respond to the hearing, if they
obey the voice, the command, the instruction, of that day
of .i udgment, they shall eventually attain to perfection of lifc
-being raised to thc living-point gradually by the of
restitution or resurrection, by (through) judgments, during
the
The fact is simply this, that a fall took place, a fall from
a. certain standing or condition of perfection and life and a
redemption was provided at Calvary, on account of which
there may be extended to all who fell an opportunity to rise
The rising. be it never so insignificant in its begin-
ning, must go on to completion-WltIl the subject shall have
been raised out of death into hfe. This raising up is neces-
sarily up to the point or conditiOn from whIch the fall oc-
curred, and anything short of that would not be in the proper
of the word a raising out of death and to perfection of
life.
\Yhen considenng the word anastasis it is proper that we
should interpret it along this hne, which is its only true and
logical meanmg, and if it were m any place used in a less
comprehensIve sense, It would evidently be the exceptiOnal use
of it, and should not militate against its full meaning.
But let us look for a moment at the resurrectIon cf the
just ones and the resurrection of unjust ones. There will be
no question as to the resurrection of just ones, that to them
anastaS1s mean" a perfect raising up to perfect condition8 in
the first resurrection. Likewise, we claim, is its meamng in
respect to unjust ones. It does not say that all of the unjust
ones will be raised up, and other Scriptures show that this
will not be the case, but that only such of the unjust ones ail
WIll conform themselves to the laws of the kingdom, will thus
be raI"el! up and that others will fall back when but putly
raised up and suffer second death ;-those who refuse to hear
(obey) theIr Lord in that day. Compare Acts 3 :23.
JOINING TRADE UNIONS
QuestlOll.-Can I consistently join a Union? I
prefer to be free, but am threatened with loss of employment
unless I join one.
Ansu:er.-The Lord's injunctions are specifically along the
lines of religion, and hence our separateness from unions
should be specially along this line. A trade union has noth-
ing of a religious worship connected with it, as have the
churches and some of the secret orders. Of course. as those
who are free indeed in Christ, we would prefer not to incur
any obligation except to the Lord, but if obliged to join a
Trade Union to obtain employment, I think you would do
right to join one. I would, however, tltate to them that I
preferred not to join them (not for the sake of the dues,
being quite willing to pay my share of maintaining the proper
price of labor), but from a desire to be free, lest at some
time the Union might wish to dictate to conscience what
would not agree with it. I would therefore give them notice
at once that I would be obedient to the demands of the Cnion
so far as my conscience agreed, and that only.
ONLY A FEW MORE YEARS
--FBANCES C.
Only a few more years to learn our part.
Just a few more miles the race to run;
So gather courage fresh, 0 fainting heart!
o wcary "feet," thy journey soon is done.
Only a few marc months, but full of toil,
FOor m the "field" are hungry souls to feed,
Tht'n struggle on, 0 weary, burdened one
For thou shalt find a strength in time of need.
SROBE.--
Only a few more days to fill with love-
Love for all God's creatures, friend and foe,
Love which shall cover every human fault,
And bring a balm for every earthly woe.
Only a few more hours. we know, for some,
Who in this lifc have fought a goodly fight,
Henceforth for them remains a glorious crown,
A rest within the radius of God's light.
Only a few more days of willing sacrifice,
Of patient standing when our work is done;
Soon in radiant presence we'll rejoice.
And praise him in our everlasting home.
ALLEGHENY, PA., MAY 15, 1900 1\0.10
VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER
A ZIONIST LEADER'S VIEW OF JESUS
Dr. }\lax a ,videly known Hebrew leader, not long in the Talmud. His pra:rcr, the most beautiful that a believer
since in reply to a question concerning his view of Jesus, wrote ever formulated, is the quintessence of Jewish ideas concern-
the following:- ing the relations between man and his Creator. The Sermon
"The picture of Jesus as we have it given by the synoptic on the Mount is the substance of rabbinical ethics; its figures
gospels is a vague outline and is a typical and ideal Jewish and comparisons are common am0ng the rabbis.
character. Hc obsprved thc law; he taught the morality of "Jesus is soul of our soul, as he is flesh of our flesh, and
Hillel-love thy neighbor as thyself-he constantly occupied who, then, could think of excluding him from the people of
himself with matters of eternity; he felt himself in spiritual Israel? St. Peter will continue to be the only Jew who will
communion with God; he despised that which was mortal in say of this descendant of David: I know not the man! If
being and all the accidental things of this life on earth. the Jews have not to the present time paid that tribute of
All these are characteristic peculiarities of the best Jews of public honor to the exalted moral beauty of the character
the time of the Roman supremacy, especially of the Essenee. of Jesus, the ground for this is to be sought in the fact that
And as to his origin and ethical physiognomy, there. too, the those who tormented them did so in his name. The Jews
language of Jesus was throughout Jewish. For all of his concluded what the Master was from the doings of the dis-
parables, parallels can be found in greater or less abundance ciplcs. This was a wrong, but it was pardonable on the part
[2630]
MAY 15. 1900 ZIONJS WATCH TOWER
A memorial has been drafted for presentation to this Gen-
eral M. E. Conference requesting that the strictures of the
:Methodist discipline against dancing, theatre-going, etc., be
explmged.
The Methodist "tares" know that they have just as much
right to such things as the Presbyterian "tares" and the
Baptist "tares;" and though they have been enjoying the
interdicted amusements for years and intend to continue so
to do whether the conference cancels the prohibition or not,
yet somehow they would feel just a little more free if the
words were not there. Not that their consciences are verv
tender on the subject, but that it gives some of the "wheat;'
class an opportunity to upbraid them and seems a curtail-
ment of their "tare" privileges and pleasures.
And why should not the General Conference grant the
request and expunge the article so obnoxious to the "tare"
element? The Methodist "wheat" need no such restrictions
even as the Presbyterian and Baptist and other "wheat" need
them not. After all, the "tares" are not "the children of the
kingdom" and why should such restrictions give some of
them more of a deceptive appearance of "wheat?" Let
them do what they will-the wider the difference betwem
"wheat" and "tares" the better, and the more speedy the
separation, now that the harvest time of separation come.
PRESBYTERIANISM STANDS "BEFORE GOD AND MAN WITH
A LIE IN ITS RIGHT HAND"
Says One of its Ordalned Mmisters
"Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee," saith the
Lord. And they gnawed their tongues [chewed their words1
in pain, but continued to blaspheme [slander, misrepresent]
the God of heaven.
The commotion amongst Presbyterians continues-some
standing firm for their church creed, others repudiating it and
begging to be released from it, but not noble-minded enough
to step out into liberty in Christ (as they might so readily
do) because of the cost of that liberty in name. salary. etc.
Many thus indirectly confess that they despise the chain
wherewith they are bound, and have despised it for years,
and have realized it to be a lie and a hlasphemy against God,
and after confessing to this acting and confessing a lie for
years they beg to be released without cost or loss either of
human or divine favor, and especially without loss of bread
and butter.
Note the expression of Rev. Samuel T. Carter in a Pres-
byterian journal-The Evangelist. He says:-
"It must be admitted that if a church is hone'5t. that
which stands in its Confession is its faith. It must be ac-
knowledged that what is contained in its Confession is the
faith of any honest church. The Westminisier Confession of
Faith is still the unquestioned Confession of the Presbyterian
church. Is the Presbyterian church honest in its zeal for
purity first and peace afterward?
"Be it known, then, to all the world that the Presbyterian
church by its Confession declares that all the heathen perish,
that many men are hopelessly lost from all eternity by the
decree of God, and that there are infants in bell. In
reality the church doe'5 not believe these dreadful doctrines.
Then'it stands before God and man with a lie in its right
hand."
The Independent, a high-class religious journal of \Yest-
minster proclivities, makes some very sensible remarks on the
situation as follows:-
"The time for removal of error is always; and now revision
of some sort begins to be exigent. The Presbyterian church
is suffering for it. The arguments for it are those of truth
and charity; the argument against it is that it will delay
union with the Southern Presbyterian church, which is not
yet ready for revision. But we doubt very much if
is the best course to be pursued. Let the old Confession
remain as a historical document. It expressed the views of
the Westminster Assembly. It answered its purpose theIl.
It was a noble but faulty document. It gave forth all the
light its makers had. Put it where it belongs, as an expres-
sion, not of what we must believe, but of what its makers
believed. They did grandly their own faith, but
they had no right to enslave our faith, any more than God
has a right to enslave our will. There is no nobler intel-
lectual work that a man can do than to formulate what
he believes about God. Theology is the noblest of the sci
-a man of intelligence ought never to tIre of making creeds
for himself. He ought to revise his creed every year. A man's
conduct, and so his religion, depends on what he believes
about the relation between God and man. More evidenct',
more discovery, more study, more enlightenment from the
Holy Spirit, will change his belief, his creed. and so affect his
religious duty. We would leave the formulation of a creed
to each man's own study."
Weare surprised and gratified to have so able a journal
as The Independent come forward thus boldly in advocacy of a
[2631]
of those who were eternally the objects of the never-ending
hatred of so-called Christians. But every time that a Jew
went back to the original sources concerning Jesus and learned
to study Christ without regard to his followers, he was com-
pelled to exclaim in amazement: Without accepting his
Messianic claims, this man is of us! He honors our race and
we claim him as our own, as we also claim the synoptic gos-
pels as examples of genuine Jewish literature.
"And the revision of this trial? This had been done long
since. The most learned specialists in the department of
Jewish legal procedure have proved beyond the shadow of a
doubt that the trial of Jesus, as tradition reports it, could
never have taken place before a Jewish court of law. If
Jesus was condemned to death, it was done by the Roman
judge, and no Jew, faithful to his law, had the least thing
to do with it.
"Jesus would never have been condemned to death on the
cross before a Jewish court, as this method of punishing
criminals was not allowed by the Jewish law; and it never
could have taken place on a Friday, the evening before the
Passover, as the law stringently forbade any execution on that
day. If the Jews had condemned Jesus after the manner re-
ported by tradition, then they would have committed a series
of crimes. each of which would have been severely punished
by the Jewish law. It is accordingly certain that the whole
story of the trial of Jesus can be nothing but an act of
vengeance intended to punish the Jews for not having recog-
nized the divine mission of Christ."
is interesting as showing the change that has come
over the people who cried, "His blood be upon us and upon our
('hildren!" The Doctor's expression is falling into line with
the Prophet's declaration of what must soon be the attitude
of the Jews as a people, viz., "They shall look on him whom
they have pierced, and shall mourn for him as one mourneth
for an ex('eptional son."
"Cnrloubtedly the best reading matter for the Jew is the
Xcw whose simple Gospel narrative and whose
masterful Pauline arguments refer him freely to the Old
Te'5taml'nt and show prophecy and fulfilment. type and anti-
type. However, we are not to expect Israel's blindness to
dcpart before the divinely appointed time ;-when the
ele('t GO'5pel ('hurch shall have been completed and glorified.
are we then to expect their blessing and enlightenment
except through the great trouble in which they will share
"ith all others, and out of which they !'>hall be saved and
blest by the glorified spiritual Israel.--':'Rom. 11 25-27, 31.
METHODISM MORE DEMOCRATIC
Thl' of the Methodist Episcopal church is hierarchi-
('al. ex(']u<;ive, all power and authority being vested in the
of the "clergy." But for some years public sentiment
has \wcn IIrowmg in favor of a more democratic arrangement.
culminating in a demand that the "laity" be granted equal
and voice with the ministers and bishops in
the regulation of the M. E. church''5 affairs.
The ministers were loth to part with any measure of their
"authority" and power, but finding the "laity" persistent
they have with as good grace as possible finally yielded the
point, as the following dispatch from the General Conference
at Chicago shows:-
"CHICAGO, May 2.-The pulpit and the pew will hereafter
share equally in the highest governmental body of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church. Without a dissenting vote the Gen-
eral Conferen('e, which opened at the Auditorium to-day.
ratified the action of the annual conferences in extending
equal representation to the laity. The 157 provisional dele-
gates were admitted without a contest.
"The step taken makes the Methodist church a democratic
body. and the rule of the preacher passes with the century.
As the roll was made up to-day there are 356 preachers and
230 laymen on the regular list. At least 50 reserve laymen
will close some of the breaches in the delegation."
Radical as this step is, it has little meaning and will
have little effect in the affairs of Methodism, and it is because
the preachers realize this that they yield the point without
special contest. They well know that the name and form of
liberty and power are all that their "laity" care for or know
how to appreciate. So long as the preachers can keep "their
people" in ignorance on the subject of hell, etc., they can
manipulate them just as well in conference as elsewhere.
* * *
'149- lSI),
ZION'S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY. PA
view we have been seeking to promulgate for years; namely,
that each individual Christian should have his own creed, his
own faith or belief respecting the things which God has re-
vealed to his people by his spirit through his Word ;-and
that each Christian should keep adding to his knowledge and
his faith daily from the inspired record, the Bible, using all
the hl'lps obtainable to thi'l end. This is the thought of the
ApostlE' when he speakR of grolvth in grace and knowledge
and approach to the stature of manhood in Christ. He sug-
gests that the beginner in the Christian way is but a "babe"
who ne('ds "the sincere milk of the \Vord that he may grow
ther('by," and that whcn further advanced he will need the
'strong. meat" of truth which is for the more matured.
\\'ith such an arrang('ment there is no room for the meth-
ods in vogue among Christian'l of all denominations which just
now i'l ('ausing Preshyteriani'lm so much trouble-namely,
the fixing hy the Doetor'l of Divinity of each denomination of
iI. pr('pd (<'Iaimed to contnin all the "milk" as well as all the
"strong mf'at" of God's \Vord) whiel] each "babe" a'l it is
rf'('pivprl is refjuired to swallow. and which it i'l instructed
will all the spiritlla I nutriment proper for it to re-
<'eivp to thp end of life. Ru('h dO'les or pills are administered
by ('verv 'l('('t-..,ome 'llIga r-coa tpd to conceal the real contents
thE' "habe." and ..,ome like the Presbyterian creed. plain.
honp'lt and terribly bitt('r.
A gentl('mf'n in AlI('ghcny related to U'l his conversation
a l'rp"\byterian pa..,tor beforf' his withdrawal from that
chlllf'h. The gentl('man said. "Pastor, J find many things
iI. ollr Confeilsion of Faith which upon now more mature con-
si(!l'ratlOn r cannot ('nrlorse nor continue to be identified with,
IInl('ss you can hf'lp me to reason them out." The pa'ltor re-
plierl, "My dear brothpr, you are gf'tting at thi'l matter from
1hp wrong ;;tandpoint; our Confession must be swallowed
whole or not at all. It i'l Iikf' a Brandreth pill; if you at-
tHnpt to chew it [reason it outl you can never swallow it."
How strange that the simple and rational way of feeding
"milk" and then "meat," which affords both pleasure and
nourishment, should have been discarded for the wickedly
injurious practice of imposing upon the "babes" doctrinal
pills which not only afford no nourishment but which hinder
all growth, and as a result has filled Churchianity with
"babes" who as respects spiritual things have never had their
senses exercised to discern the true from the false and are
utterly unable to follow the Apostle's counsel to "rightly di-
vide the word of truth" and to "try the spirits" (doctrines)
whether they be of God or are human fabrications.
A SIMPLE CONFESSION NECESSARY
However, a simple public confession is necessary to demon-
strate who are "babes" in Christ-to distinguish such from
"children of this world." But this confession should be very
simple-so that the merest "babe" in Christ could compre-
hend and fully endorse it as his own. (1) It should declare
faith in Christ as a personal Saviour; that he was sent of the
Father and gave his life a rrmsom for all mankind. (2) A
personal acceptance of him as a personal Saviour and a de-
termination to forsake sin. (3) A full consecration to be a
follower of .Jesus in every respect and to lay down life it'lelf
in his service. Whoever could not confess these should, not
be estE'emed a "babe" in Christ at all-nor be feo. as such.
nor expected to grow up into Christ in all things.
May we expect the church nominal to follow this program
--or that the voice of the Independent will be more potent
than our own in bringing to pass such cono.itions? By no
mE'ans. Churehianity contains too many "tares" find not
enough "wheat" for such suggestions to be impressive. She
will soon go down in the great time of trouble; and not until
the kingdom has been set up neE'd we expect a better general
arrangement. Then it will apply not to the elect church,
which will then be completed and glorified, but to the restitu-
tion class, then being developed.-Aets 3: 19-21.
THE VOLUNTEER SERVICE
'This WOlk is now nobly started and just in time, we trust.
to it WI'Il apeomplishcli before .July, when so many church
attpTHlant'i are apt to absent them'lelvcs for thc summer. The
hrpthrpTl alHl 'li'ltcrs engaging in thi'l sl'rvice Sf'ems to be profit
ing by it spiritually thl'mselves and it is difficult to conceive
of aTlY ot hl'r form of IJI'paching present truth that could be
morp pfTpeUve. The fact that this matter is handed out by
(;hristian gPlltlenwn amI lallies adds to the weight and force
of the matter circulated. The results cannot be even ap'
proximated this side the vail.
Order more "ammunition" as you find you will need it
We have a good supply now. But be careful, please. not to
order more than you will faithfully and promptly us('-for it
is expensive. Letters on thIS subje<,t Rhould have the word
"Volunteer" at the head, and "Order No.2" or "Order No
3" as the case may be. Initial orders should invariably be
made out along the line mentioned iI. March 1st Tower.
CONGRATULATIONS TO BRITISH FRIENDS
\Ve ba vp plelUmre in announcing to the friE'nds in England,
Trpland. f'f'otl:md and Wa Ips that our London branch office is
Qpen fit tht' ginn ahove. It is or will shortly be well
stockpd with DAWNS. hooklets, tracts and WATCH TOWERS.
'fhi'l will greatly conyenicn{'p you all, we are sure, not only
"aving tilllf' but fll"o postflgP. and pl'rmitting you to use
,lonws1 ie in..,tlad of fOJ'('lgn I\fOllPy Orders.
Volllnfl'er OJ dpl S \I ill he filll'd from there also and we hope
to hpar of many fresh enlistments in this branch of the service
Any who feel disposed to enter the Colporteur work in
Great Britain are invited to write there for full instructions
how to work, where to work, terms, etc., etc.
Friends there desirous of visits from "Pilgrims" to hold
public and parlor meetings in Great Britain are also invited
to write. Address all such letters to
WATCII TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY,
131 Gipsy Lane, Forest Gate, London E., England.
PROGRESS OF THE TRUTH IN CHINA
011r 11(':1 r Rroth('r TIall<llc. formprly a Raptist mis'lionary
111 Chlll,l. ha'l hel'n with 11'; nt Alll'gheny for abollt a month,
'11,1 IV" I.. HIH ,I to love him dparlv aR one of the Lon!'R
'llI .. i 111 po." Jlp ha-< \\ rittl'n for thp 'TOWER a littlp' 'lkl'tch
.,f hi'l ]('I'('11t p, ppriclI('('s in rpeeidnO' the truth and of his
"l:"'!Y til II'! it f-llillP f"rth in turn 10 otIH'rs. "p know it
.n11 hi 1ppl p('iatt'd. TI,e III oU1I'r's dppth of intpre'lt i" well
.IHIytP" by hi.., long jr.lImp,\" of Hi.OOO milps to Alh'gllPny.
11. l'!oJ)nYl''; 8PP1H!IlIg thp It'm:lind('r of hi" (':trtldy life in
,"01111111'..' till' .Jlllnkp Tll11l1ppt-tIH' (io"pp! of th(' kill!:(llom.
f1P \I 111 plohahly r.re:lt Britain. hi'l form('r IlOnw, aR
flit orp lipId for work-preaching, and colporteur-
Pi! th, I)\W""'.
g,f.. \(, I"anng poulltry he haR con'lpntprl to do Rome
\\Olk. lip 1'; vi..,itlllg a numlwr of little
;.rathel ill Ohio allrl \\ P'ltprn Ivani'l. and latpr Oil will
mpI't \\ II h til(' phllr('hp,; at \\'a"'hington. R11timor('. Richmond,
Philall('lphia, Npw York City, etc., including some 011 the
Hudson River. \\'e <,onfi,lentl,v aR'lUre him a mORt hpnrty wel-
COlliI' froll1 all \YATCII TOWER readers he may be permitted to
mept. His article follows:-
PRESENT TRUTH IN THE FAR EAST
Thpre has been in Chma for years one solitary witness
for thc preRent truth, Miss Downing, of Chefoo. This lady
was formerly a mis'lionary of the Presbyterian Board and she
chanced to mept with a stray \VATCH TOWER, about the year
IRR:1. in whi<'h she rend an artielp on restitution. and at once
dpcirll'd to Ruhscribe for the pnper. She was the mennR of
Ipnding Mr. Fuller ("ho'le lettpr is publiRhed at the end of
VOL. I n.) to 'ltudv the DAWNfl which proved so grpat abies
sing to him. He died in IR!l4.
'Amongst thl' mi'lsionnries of f'hantung I am afrnid RiRter
Downing wa" ron..,idpred a fjuper old lady having snnl(' odd
noti\m'l. I"hp prl'Yniled on me, ho\\ever. to sub'lcrihe 1Tl 1892
for thE' WATCH TOWER and to gpt the Dwglott. The latter I
lIlurh w:Jnted [r(';\d a litt]p l1('re and there in the TOWER,
hut too 1'<.I"hl" conr'luded that it wa'l the organ of some kind
of univp! qa li"lll. which I did not want to corrupt my ortho-
"0 thrpw them aside.
I \\'as too much afraid of the word "Universalism." Now
J know that some things are universal. God's sunshine is
universal; it shinps from pole to pole, upon both the just and
[2632]
:YIn 15. 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER (150-1511
the unjust. So is his love. (John 3: 16) Light and truth
are yet to be universal (John 1: 9; Isaiah 11: 9), and so is
the teRtimony of the ransom. (l Tim. 2: G: John 12: 32) Be-
eaURe of my prejudice then I continued four years longer in
darkness.
Toward the end of that time I saw MILLENNIAL DAWN
adverti'led in the London Ttntes, and having been interested for
years in the Lord's return, I had a growing desire to read
that book. In the summer of 1896 Miss Downing lent me VOL.
I., but a day or two later I received another copy from Eng-
land, Rent to me (without my request) by my dear mother.
I returned Miss Downing her copy, and starting for my mis-
sion station, four days journey from Chefoo, I first read the
PLAN OF THE AOES in a mule-litter. It wonderfully opened
my eyes, and I became more and more astonished at the
beantiful Bible exegesis it revealed. Later on I received
VOLS II. and III., and continued to read with admiration.
In Novpmber of the same year I wrote my first lettpr to
Alleghpny, asking for the TOWER, and more information of any
kind nlong the same linlls. After reading the three volume':!
my<;elf, I read them again with my wife, and aftprwards with
my children, and God hns been graciously pleaspd to IpaJ
both my wife and my eldest daughter into a joyou,; reception
of thp prpsent truth.
Tn lR!l7 I began to speak with my mis'lionary eullelglle8
abont the character of the Judgment Day, for I was rpjoicing
in th(' strong consolation it gave me to see that God'!'! pur-
po<;P'l r('gnrding the heathen-to give them a grl1<'iouq ,md full
opportnnity to enter into life-were infinitely more grnnd and
hcn('fipl'nt thnn I had ever dreampcl.
"hpn the questIon of the TI inity loomed up it gave me
It tel11 porary Rhock. but I SOOI1 saw that I ,;houlll npitlH'r
honor tl1(' Father nor the Son by making the Lord .lesus
mon- tll1n thp Bible clenrlv teaches, when examine,1 witllOut
prpjudi('p' nnd I not only that an men flhoultl
"honor till: Son cven a'l they honor the Father," but also that
it wns thp supleme will of the Father to have it so.
In lR!l8, being persuaded that this te'ltimony is from God,
and ]s in conflict with nominal ChrIstianity, I did not eon-
it IH'cPRsary tu confer with flesh [' nd blood, but rt'signet!
my pOI111Pction with both the Baptist church, and the !\lisRion
13m1l'll with which I wa'l connected. now free from the
and traditions of men mv first desire was to tell to
oth('r" the truth that had given such comfort and joy.
I was able to hold about a dozen amon:! mis-
sionalil''' in Reveral stations, but my principal cffort 10 reach
the mi'lsionaries of the far East had to be done bv corre-
spond('nce, for they are Rcattered thouRanrls of ;11ill's of
in some 500 different statiolB. Fu!' thi,; purposp I
had a pircular letter printed (a copy of whiph appearl'd in the
TOWERTune Hi, IR!)!l, page 157). To eae!) of these
we addl'd something further in alld I'lwlo'ling one or
mon' tracts, sent them all out uy lptter which we con-
'lideJ("! to be much more Iikpl,v to command a leading than
if thl' whole thing had been printed and sent out aR rrintpd
mattpr. In all we dl'spatched the to lIli':!-
SiOlllll ics in China; 385 to misRionaril's in .Tapan; to JTjj,,;,
sional ics in Corea; 20 to missionarif's in Siam, ptc.; mnking
a total of 2324. The number o)f trac'ts sent out \Va'l abu'lt
5,000.
The vast majority ignored our appeal. This we fully ex
pected, for we know that many are much too full of work
for the Lord to hear him speaking to them. Still many replies
were received, varying much in tone and Rpirit. No II'S8 than
four accused me of blasphemy. 0111' Doctor of DivinitJ
thought I had lost my head; one predicted that I had bl'gun
to drift toward infidelity. Some deplored my departure from
the faith, while yet others, more kindly in intention, I'egged
me to return to the simplicity of thp Gospel; but none of
them knew the pearl of great price I had found.
One wrote to me thus :-"1 am very qrievecl that you
should have been so led away by the wicked one, and would
solemnly urge you not to become one uf Satan's agents, and !I
'seducing spirit.' We are living in times,
and I would warn you to beware of him who not only goeth
about as a roaring lion, but also as an angel of light." An,
other wrote:-"It is just as Paul told Timothy, pvil men
will wax worse and worse, deceivmg and deceiverl. I
am so sorry to think that you, Dr. Handle, are onp who is
being dpceived by these evil men." The'll' are both personal
and estpemed friends, from whom, afl from many more, I am
counted alienated. May the Lord deal vpry graciously
WIth them.
Others wrote thankfully, and showf'd their fOI
the harvest message. A well-educat\"l Chinp"c woman wrote
-"I have bl'en reading the t.racts you RO kindly Ipft niP. first
with interl'st, then with delight, a nIl I feel so much ha ppier
than I have been for a long time; the mol'\' [ rl'ad the mon'
I want to read and the morp light I gct, but there il-o still
much I want to know. I woulll like to have M II. u; "l I\'IAJ.
DAWN and the pamphlet on Hell. If )OU teJl me how to senrl
the money I will be ever so much obliged."
In an we Rold !l0 DAWNS and :l8 pamphlets on Hell, Tab-
ernacle 8hadotl's, etc. One miRRiona (V, a r"an who
bought the four volumes, and has lenrnl'll to apprcchtp Hnd
love the precious truths therein pxpounded, came out from
BrethrpniRm, and is now standing alone in North China, bcar-
ing his testimony for the preRent trmh. Four othl'r mi%ion-
aries are rpading and studying the D.o\\v:"s with ioy and pronto
but have not yet come out of Bnbylon. which is to them no
easy thing. I was also able to leave 25 volumes in Shanghai
for furthpr saIp, and wiJI be able to 'll'nd more out if rp'lllired,
so that I tru'lt the harvest work in the far East may continue
to develop, until all shall have received at least sume testi-
mony to the light of present truth.
How true it is that the vast majority of the homC'hol<! ot
faith have no ear to hear the harvest message! A'l it was
in ChriRt's first presence, so it is now. ImmersNI in their
own work, many are prf'aching in his name, and doing won
derful works for him (Matt. 7 :22), and yet they are aq blind
and deaf as the Phariseps of old, neither knowing nor doing
the will of their Father in heaven. It i'3 a strait gate inlll'pu.
and a narrow way, and verily fpw arp finding thp lifl' tl1PY
lend to. Ma:v we never cease to humbly and diligently in'lllirp
what is the Father's will concerning us, and abiding in Christ.
that we may receive his spirit, may we be enabled not only
to do that will, but also to see the loving-kindness that is
in it!
HORACE A. RANDLE,
PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM
"MATT. 13:24-33.-MAY 27.
"The field is the 1corld; the goud seed are the children of the Kmgdorn."
Pm'ables uf the kingdom are really word-picturl''l of the
kingdom. No one of these parables rpprp'lpnts the complete
vip\, of the 'lubjPct, hut TIlprpl,v one phnse of it. Thp attpntive
Bihlp 'ltlllient will noticl' that the tllPme of thl' GO'lppl from
to L\st iR the kingdom. The mcs'lngc fir"t given to F.\ther
Ahrnhnm was that hi'l posterity would hle'l'l thl' worl,l-
thnt i" to 'In V, be a kinl,,!om pxerciRing control ovpr thl' world,
and for its 'benpfit an,! uplifting. This hopl' \\'n'l hefore the
Jp"'i'lh mind for over 'lhteen hundred years, thpir expeptation
bping that they wou1<1 be exalted by God to that kingllom
anrl ble'lR all thp familip" of th" partlI, rpPonpiling
thpm to 001!. Our Lord'R proclamation nnd that of hi'l apo'l-
tlp'l, nt thp fil'st advent wn'l. "The kingdom of Ood i'\ at hnnll"
-(io,1 i'l now rendy to pstahlish his kingdom if Ilw p('op!e nre
ready to rpcpivp it. "But his 0\\ n l"('cpived him not." and the
kinlrdolJl was taken from thl'm as a nation. to hp to the
holy nation, the peculiar ppople, the royal prip'ltllOoll, whom
the Lord would select,-ehoosing first from fleshly Israel so
many as werl' rcndv, and the remainder from amon;;'lt thp
GpntilpR durin)! this' GORppl age
Nnturally cnough. the .Te\\'<; did not gra'lp the situation.
hut wpre looking for our 1.01'11 to a flp'lhly klllgrJom
in thpir millst; and it wa'l to pOllntpract thi" PI ronpous
thonght that .1p'lu'l uttpred the'lP pnrnb!ps of the kingllOlIl-
ahout nine of thpm-three hl'ing embraced in thi'l 'fIll'
sprip'l hpgan with till' pnrablp of thc 'lowcr, e... aminpol in our
last i'lRUP. whiph showed thnt there wn'l hut one true ,,(('d or
me'lRngc of the kingdom. and thnt thc fruitfuln(''l'l of that ,\ppd
would dpJlPnd upon the chnractpr of IlPart into which it would
fall. Next WI' have in order the parable of
THE WHEAT AND THE TARES
Hprp the gooll RPpd or the llleR'lnge of the kingdom which
our Lord plnnt<--d i'l rppresentPrI as "pringing up in Iwlievprs,
and con'ltituting them childn'n or heir'l of the kingdom. It
is very proper here to note that there is no other method at
[2633]
ZION)S WATCH TOWER ALL)(GH)(NY,
present of becoming n child of God, an heir of the kingdum,
('xcept through the acceptance of the kingdom message, with
all that it implies of consecration to the Lord, even unto
death-"if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also
glOl ified together' in hi" kIngdom.-Rom. 8: Ii.
Tlw object of the"e parable'l, then, was not to depict to
anI' minds what the kingdom would be like after it has been
in the world, but rather to picture before our
something respecting the proces'les of development by
whir'h the kingdom-class would be selected from amongst
mankind and made ready for the kin!l"dom which is to be
up at the second coming of Chri"t in power and great glory,
-when he pstablish that MIllennial kingdom for the velY
lJurpose of granting a judgment or tl ial to all the families
of t hr' eartll-pel ad w'ntlll e ullrlf'r the fa, outblp oppor tmJlties
of kno\\'le<1ge, etr>, tlwn grunted unto them. many llIay choose
lIfe 11
1
longh o],ptlipnr'e to Gud and attain It.
As in the prpce,ling "arable the Lorll wa'l
the of the !food H'l'd, "0 in thi" patable' It ,Je'lus
who wa 'l tIle I'ept1-; of truth, the plomiscs. etc., which,
lip in the llearts of hi'l diselple". tran'lformed them
to newnps'l of life, making of thpm nr'\\' crpaturc'l. and operat
In/.! through them a"i hi;; r'.lnied similar blessings
where\'er the mes'lage, the Gospel of the kingdom. has gone.
"While men slept" the enemy of the so\yer of the good
sped, viz., Datan, came and sowed tare" amongst the wheat.
The Lord hiImelf nut olIly made posbible the kingdom by
I edl'l'ming- mankmd, but announced his willingness to receive
some as Joint-heirs of it, and then departed for the far coun-
try_ even ht'uven it'lelf, not to re1tnn untIl the time for hiS
king,lom to be e;;tabliHhed in glory and power. (Mark 13: 34)
lliH cho"en apostles Llithfully guarded tho field so long as
thcy lIved, but when thl'Y fpll asleep in death, as the Lord has
fOl eHl'en and here predicted, the adv.. found good op-
portunIty to bring in fal'le dodnnps, to sow error, and through
the error to pro,ln('p the whent a crop of
tlallH'l. Tarl's h,\vP th(' pel uliarit.\' that while growing they
\ cry tlecitlellly "lll'.lt, so that It i'3 almost
to tpll them a":lJ t a eel tam d"grcf' of n1.lturit,\'
leathprl: then 11)(' diJl'u('lIce I" clearlv l!iscernible to 'll! of
ec- l'l'riplI(p. .
\\-e I'l'e thl' fllll11mellt of thIS feature of the p:uable in
to-day; the wlwat waH 'lown blOad,'ast over a
pel tain part of the field, the world of mankind. e'lpeeially
throughout Eu 1"(,1'(' and America, and the tare-seed, the error
awl Ilot tJ ille. ,,'PInS to have hel'n still mure liber-
ally; antl louking haek we date that bowing as commencing
a;; as the a were "fallpn asleep." In consequenee
we 1intl to-rlay ChristianH, trne genuine Christian".
J,l'!!oU('n of th(' \Yor d of Cod'" pi omlses. and fully in accord
\\ Ith it, :mel to bring- fO! th good fruit in their lives;
an,l \1(' SCI' an ml1llllH;rable tare-r]ass of imitation
hpg-otten 1I0t of th.. truth nOl of the word of the
kingtlum, ntt,'lly Igno! ,1lIt of it indeed; bl'gotten of excitement.
brgoUpn of f('ar of hpll, ],"gdUen of hopl's of worldlY ad:
by loming a nominal church, begottpn of and
a deHire to hp in good 'oddy, hegottf'H (If amI iinandal
amhitllll1. (t(.
It vt("ll \/'1 I (lilli'llH to l'le.nl\' 1)('twe<'11
\'. ]l<,at aud t:ll ,. IIO!' It ])r"11 to do
010\\ II til! .nlgh tll(' pcnturip-; of this age, fur thc
dpd.IIl'11 that thpy \\CIl' to he pprmitted to grow to-
ulltil thp hal \'C'lt-tillH'. whel1 the lipening' of both under
tIll' / ]1':111'1' hfdlt of the would manifest each
and d istinctl.\', aIlII t 11('11 a would take
pl:!. " WHIpI'
To <lU!' \\ l' :ll C now in the "han'est" or eu,l
of 1hi" and the lil!ht of ]H'l'Sent truth, as it shines for
thp LOld'" lwople in the path of the just. which
lIlurc :lIld mOl e lllltO tIl(' perfect day, as well as the
IJj l,re""'l1t truth as it, is shining; upon the world and its
i.ll :11 III t111anl'ial and scientific questions, is tending io
rIJlt'n "oth tIll' \I heat and the tllle",. The tare class no longer
1" hitlp It'l(H, but ratlter SCI' mil to claim that it the
t-,",'111II]]" artidp, the el:1>:5s, evolutionists, llig-her
] iti,,". .llld in gl'nelal the worldly-wise. The wheat eJac'l is
be(,01lIin:! mOll' and more di'leernible, as it ripens in tIll'
faith ar,rl hope and joy of the Gospl'l of the kingdom.
Till' .,'parating work mentioue,! in the parable is not only at
Jl>lll'i, but in a cleavage and separation behveen
11011l1ual Chri",ti.lnfl (1.1res) and true Christians (whpat). as
!It'lllly ('vpry one \\ ho aWllke disperns: and this separation
'\ ilJ 1,1' morp flnd IlJnl'C diseerllible veal' hv year as the har\'(',..t
wn!'v p;o!lrpsoes, until its elocc. .
To have attempted to root out all the tares, and to have
thus cleansed the wheatfield, at any time in the past, would
have meant, as the parable shows, a complete shaking through-
out the entire field, a commotion which would not have ser led
the best of the wheat; hence the Lord has permitted
for all these centuries that the two classes should live Side
by side and co-operate in church work, and unitedly profess
to be his people, intending the separation to be manifest in the
end of the age. And surely" hen the separation does occur
it will cause a wonderful commotion in nominal ZIOll-
"Babylon."
The rca pel'S are first to gather the tares and bind t hpm
in uundles to burn them. They do not burn them at once. but
proreed to gather the wheat into the garner; and not ulltil
after the wheat is garneri'd does the fire consume the tares.
We are to rl'!lll'muer that this is a parable, and that the tire
is as murh a symbol as the tari's, tIle wheat and the garner;
hence we are not to expect a Hteral burning of the maSbes of
Chrhti'ndom in a literal fire, after the little flock, the faith
ful wheat class, the children of the kingdom, have been
gathpred into the barn. the garner, the hcavenly condition.
The fir e which will then come upon the wheatfield, from
whic-h the wheat has been gathered, and in which the tares
are hun,lled, will be what the Seripture'l elsewhere denominate
"a time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation"
-social trouble, financial trouble, leligious trouble, llccom-
panied by famine and pestilence. and the end of it will be the
disruption of all law, order and religion and the prevalenee
of anarchy. In that trouble all the tare;; will b(' destroyed,
in the sense that none of them thereafter will claim to be
what they are not-none of them will claim to be God's con-
secrated people. The various inducementH by which they were
brought to claim themselves to be Christ's follower'3, wll('n
they were not, will then be at an end. No longer will such a
claim gain for them soeial or financial or other standing or
advantage, and no longer will they make the false claim.
E'Xplaining the pIll nble privately to hi'l disciple'l, our Lord
them that the gathering of the into the garnlr
meant tIl(' completion of the work of this Gospel a!.(e-the
l'ompletiun of the kingdom class that shall blesS! the wOlld,
and he says, "Thcn shall the righteous shine forth the
sun in the klllgdom of tlwir Father." Thus the Sun of Right-
eousnes'l that is to arise in the Millennial morning, and which
is to bless the whole world with the light of the
of the goodnes'> of God in Christ, is to be composl'd, not only
of our Lord Jesus himself, the great light, but of tho,*
chosen to be his joint-heirs in the kingdom, hi;;
in the shining forth of the light of truth.
This was a different I'onceptioll of t)le king-dClll'
from what had comp to tllp ll1ind.., of the .1ewioh ppople; anrl
altho an l'xplunati\lll of tItI' ]l.lrable \\,1" givel1 tn the
and thpy aIhwerc,l th,lt tlip\ it. \\(' mav well doubt
if thev' tllP .\l\'jl'('j (-ump;'chPlh-lwly until aft('r thf
of \\ 1\1'11. m'l J.OId j;It'
hronght l11p01 ('I!1J!-.dltenll1l'l1t of
THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED
'[ he tll!rJ IJ:uab}"-pieturc of tIw kingrlom in prE'sent
('ml,1 \ otl<' ,"n,lition of tIC'\ "Io,PIII,'IIL lIltl'nlled to ;;how that
flom a \ r'ry "mall tIl\' lJOll1inal rlmreh of this
lipl agl' "onlrl attain to f[uit P ('onHiderable proportions.
:-tal t ]lk,'llpd to th,' "llla1J wllleh attains to the
largP"! sil'(' of of her hs. Yet this large development
doe" not nelesf'uril.v slg-nify a or anything specially
,l.. hIe. hut on the l'ontr:) ry it a disadvantage, in
that the fowh of tIl(' nir cOllie and lorlge in branches, and
de/ill' it The "fowls of thl' air" in the preceding parable of
the l'l'prel'ented :-<il.tan all/I his agents, and we are, we
thilJk, in making a l->imilar application here, aUlI
mterpreting thi'l to mean that the church planted by the
Lord flourished rapidly and exceedingly, and that be
('<11'"'' of it" etc., Satan through hi;:
ag('nt". etWlC an,l lodgerl in HIP variou'l branches of the church.
IHlve !lcpn lodging in the braneheR of this Gospel church
for "I1ot'SP many llnd are still to be founr! in her.
a dPfilinl! e1cn;('nt. Thev come in, not for the benefit of the
tn'c or shrub but for their own convenience
:1lld hf'n0lit. It is in h:tr11l(,nv with this that in the present
time t hI' 1.on] "pl'a of hylon, nominal as
hol,l of ('wJ'y ft'lI] ;:pint, and a cage of every unclean
aTld hatl'fnl bir,l:'-Pc\'. 1S:2.
This contan'in:ltioJll of til,' original good planting, by the
a.lVl'rs:l!T and Ids ;I;.::ent
s
, i" as prominent in thhl pllrable
:I" in ihf' lJilruhlp of th, tareE!, merely showing it from a
di1T"l'(,'1t s"'l'drnint
[2634}
MAY 15. 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER (154-155)
THE PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN
Here again we have a word-picture of the Lord's church
during thIs Gospel age of her development and preparation
for the kingdom glory to follow.
In this parable We have brought to our attention the
Lord's provision for the neces'3ities of his people during this
Gospel age-he did not leave them without a proper supply
of food. three measures of meal, equivalent to one
ephah. con'3tituted a good. liberal household supply. Like
all of the Lord's provisions, it was good and pure, but as in
thE' other parables the adver'3ary introduced impurity, falsity,
etc.. so in this one leaven is introduced into the meal. Leaven
repre.ent'3 corruption throughout the Scriptures: in every
other instance of its Scriptural lBf' it i'3 represented as an evil,
an impurity, something that is defiling. For instance, the ISl ael-
ites were to put away all leaven, all impurity, at the time of the
Passover, that they might COllle the nearer to the Lord in holi-
n".s. et". Again, our Lord Je'3u'3 refers to leaven as a corruption,
bidding his disciples "Beware of the leaven of the scribes
and Pharisees"-beware of the false doctrines, the corrupt
influence. proceeding from the scribes and Pharisees. Again,
the Apo'3tle Paul represents the leaven as an evil thing, say-
ing-. "Purge out the old leaven."-Exod. 13: 7; Luke 12: I;
1 Cor. 5:7.
It would not seE'm reasonable that our Lord should use the
word leaven here as Christian people generally SUppose, in a
goorl sense, a'3 implying some grace of the hoI," spirit. On
the contrary, we recognize consistency in all of his teachings,
and we lllay be as sure that he would not use leaven as a
symbol of righteousnes'3 as that he would not leprosy a8
a symbol of holiness.
How then shall we apply this parable? We answer, that
the grace of God given to his people in the beginning of thIS
age, (I) the faith once delivered to the saints, (2) the hope
set before us in the Gospel, (3) love, the bond of perfectness,
summed up the three measures of the Lord's provision for
his people,-in partaking of which they were to become
8trong in the Lord and in the power of his might. But
gradually a woman arose, a false woman, represented in
Revelation as a harlot, and as "that woman Jezebel." Thifl
Roman Catholic system obtained great power over the three
measures of meal provided for God's household, and pro-
ceeded to mix therewith the leaven of her own impurity. The
result was that all the family food, all the holy doctrines
were contaminated with her false doctrines-nothing was
left pure and clean, as handed to us originally by the apostles.
The faith once delivered to the saints was distorted out of
all semblance to its original simplicity; the hope set before
us in the Gospel was changed to another hope entirely, unlike
the original; the spirit of the Lord, love, was perverted to a
selfish love of creeds of men and human institutions. Alas!
no wonder all Chri"tendom is spiritually sick, because of
this adulteration in its food supply.
From this standpoint we readily see the force and mean-
ing of the Master's declaration, that at his return he would
gird himself, and come forth and serve his people, and that
he would send forth at the hands of his servant" things both
new and old from the storehouse of his grace, '"meat in due
season."
THE HARVEST PLENTEOUS-THE LABORERS FEW
MATT. 9:35-10:8.-JuxE 3.
"It is not ye that speak, but the spirit of your
It is a great tribute to the spirit of liberty which pre-
vailed amongst the Jews, that our Lord could and did preach
the Go,pel of the kingdom from city to city in their syna-
gogue'3 without mole"tation. In contrast, we may feel sure
that "ere he to attempt to teach in of the churches of
of any denomination, he would be refused the privil4:'ge
-no matter how faithfully he should adhere to the Scriptural
declaIation, and the more explicit his teachings the more
unsatisfactory would they be to thoRe now in charge, who
have a theory of their own respecting the kingdom, which will
not stand investigation. and who'3e weakne"s they would
not wi.h to have expo'3ed. And thi'3 loss of liberty' amongst
Christian'3, as compared with the Jews, in religious matters,
IS to their injury-making it that much the more difficult
for them to hear the joyful sound of the present harvest mes-
sage.
Xotlmithstanding all the healing of disease which our
Lord accomp!lsh4:'d, there were still multitudes of sick who
flocked hom various directions to him, in hope of relief, and
wh4:'n we read that he was moved with compassion for thl'
distressed sheep of Israel, it give'3 us a deeper appreciation
of his kindness, his love, hi" mercy, and we do not feel that
it was strange that he who had left the glory of the Father
and the holy angels, and had humbled hims4:']f to man's
estate. should now feel compas'3ion for the weak and sinful,
the degraded, depraved and pained. Rather, \ye say, It was
just like him! "'ithout such a spirit of compassion how
would he hav", become our Red4:'emer, how would he have left
the hennnly glory on our behalf! And when we think of him
as being still the same it gives us fresh confidence, thnt not-
withstanding our weaknesses and imperfections. and the im-
perfections and \waknesses of the whole world, "the groan-
ing creation," this same Jesus has compa'3sion, not only
upon his people, but in a large scnse in due time will have
compassion upon all the families of the earth, and grant
to all a full opportunity of recovery from the blights of sin,
mental, moral and physical. Surely he only waits for the
du4:' time-the time appointed of the Father; then with his
faithful, his kingdom-class, as the Seed of Abraham, he shall
indeed, in times of restitution, bless all the families of the
with a full opportunity of reconciliation to God, and
thus of the attainment of life eternal.
At the time of our lesson his work had not vet taken
this broad sweep; nor has it yet, altho it has advanced be-
yond the confines of that time. Then his message of recon-
ciliation and his help were extended only to the lost sheep
of the household of natural Israel-not to the Samaritans
nor to the Gentiles. Since then the blessing of reconciliation
Father that speakcth in you."-Matt. 10 :20.
has been extended so that whosoever has an ear to hear,
amongst the Gentiles or amongst the Samaritans, has the
privilegoe of reconcihation during this Gospel age; but the
great time of opening deaf ears and causing all to know the
Lord, from the least to the greatest, will be in the Millennial
age to follow this one.
Compassion, however, \yill be an element of the Lord's
character so long as there are who need hplp, and desire
it; and this will be until the close of the Millennial agoe
when all willing to receive the help will have receiYedit,
and the onlY ones not bles'3ed therebv will be those who shall
have delibel:ately rejected his help. Then, and not until then,
will his compassion cease to be exercised, for then there will
be no need of compassion, that which is perfect having COIllI'
through the grace of God in Christ.
Our Lord's compassion for the multitude suggested the
sending forth of representatives, clothed with the power to
heal the sick, etc., and in order to bring his disciples into
line with hi" thought he told them that the hanest was
plenteous, but the laborers were few. and that '3hould
offer prayer on this subject. The substance of their prayer
would necessarily be,-Lord of the harvest, send forth me
as a reaper in the harvest. Je'lus himsclf was the Lord of
the harvest; the whole matter was in his hands, and evident
ly the twelve apostles quickly caught his thought and spirit
resp4:'cting the increase of thc harvest work, and III conse-
quence he sent them forth two and two; yet he restricted
th4:'ir going, even as he hltd restricted his own ministry. to
fleshly Israel. because all of God's covenants and plomi,,4:'s
were still confined to that nation, and would not he open to
others until a due time which the Father had fixed, and
specified through the Prophet Daniel-viz., the end of Israel's
seventy weeks of favor-three and a half years beyond our
Lord's crucifixion.
"And he gaYe them power [authority] over unclean spirits,
to cast them out, and to heal all manner of disease and sick-
ness." This power was holy Spirit power, the same and yet
different from that which they received later on at Pentecost
from the Father. It was the same, in that the holy spirit or
power of God is always the same power even tho it have dif-
ferences of manifestation. It was holy, in that it was the
spirit of our Lord Jesus, the holy Spirit or power which was
granted without measure unto him,-which he at this time
communicated to these apostles, that they might, as his
repre'3entatives, do a work in his name.
Indeed, we may 8urmise that as the curing of diseasc
caused vitality to go out of our Lord Jesus, to effect the
cure, and that thus every cure meant the robbing of himself
[2635]
(I i5 -:57)
ZION'S WATCH TOWER ALL(GHNY. I',
of his own life-powers, his own vitality, so in this case we
should understand that thc power for the healing of the sick
was .le'iUs' power, that the discIples did not use theIr own
vitalit\" but merely his, which he communicated to them,
and authorized them to u,e, sayIng, "Freely ye have re-
f'.eived. freely gin." 'fhey \\ere glVll1g what cost them noth-
ing, but \\'Iuch was co,;tmg ./e;,u'3 much daily and hourly. It
is whcll \\ e get thi'3 tllOught of our Lord's yieldlllg up his
life dnily In doing good to others that we can best
how hl'l perfect lif(' \\'a'l '30 thoroughly used up in the short
spap(' of three and a half year".
'I'll(' hen ling of til(' "Iek and tI.P ensting out of devils wpre
but part., and incident'> of thpir miSSIOn. In connection \nth
It tlll',v \\Ple to ple:\f:h thl' (;(hlwl of tIJr king,lom-the !;ood
nl'W- l1,at thc I:ingdorn of Cod \\a'l Illg-h at h,Ill'); aud the
infllll'IH'" of the uurnel('., pro[H'rly ath act attentIOn
to tllf mr""n,<.:e, and makf' tilt' ppople n'u,ly, yea, anxiou", for
the kin,!!doTll. Bllt So fnr :1- tile 1('('01'(1 show". the people
werp :lID.IOIIo; for th,' nllrarI(''l. the heallllg, but H'ry iTlllif-
f('n'nt rt,,,p('('t ing kingdom. Tlwy \\olil,1 tak(' tlIP cure;,
from .Tl'''"'l and hi- dh"lplp". hilt ;f they want('d information
re'>pf'('tll:g how :lIld \\ lll'n till' king,lom of God would come
they \\0111,1 folIo\\' th('ir hliud gllldp,; a" u'lual.
:!\"H'I tlll,If''>- \\e mn:- prr,>lIme 1hat the influence of thi"
miSSion work throughout W:lS not entirely 10'3t, and
that nftpr our Lonl'o; 1'1 urJfixion. and aftpr thp holy f-'pirit
had ('oIllP upon thr' at and tllf'Y preached
thE' of th(' klllgdolll from a dIfferpnt stan,lpoint. in-
vitlllg all tru(' to unite with Chri'3t, and thus 1)('-
('onl(' jOlllt-h('lrs uf tlH' kingdom \\ ilh him-then it \\as that
many. no dOllbt. of t hp-e \\ ho had heard previously and wit-
nessl'd tilt miraclp'4. \\f'rp that much better plepared tu enter
thf' PII1I.I,\ pt IC klllgdoll1, till' chill ch through consecration of
to thl' Lord. And the conversion of .,everal thOll-
'land'3 \\ ithin a ff'w days ailer Pentecost corroborate, this.
Thl' han pst ill tll\' en,1 of tloe .If'wish age foreshadowed
',1' t,vpifi,'<! thp halvl''lt 01 :lgoe. And now, as then,
.If,11" i., the Lord of the h:ll'n,t. and his his me,,-
ar(' his agents in the gathering wol1(, Now, as then,
he seems to speak to these, saying that the harvest is great
and that the laborers are few, and that if we have his spirit
in the matter, and entreat him to send us forth in his service.
he will be pleased to do so. And many are thus praying from
day to day, and seekIng to see \\ hat more their hands can
find to do in the harvest work. And the Lord is graciously
with such to guide their servI"c and to bless the results to
their own good as well as to the good of others. As all of
the disriples then prayed this prayer, and got opportunity to
engage in some part of the harvest work, so now all trup
disLiples should be praying thi'3 prayer, and Rhould be expect
ing an<1 utili.dng ol'portuniheoo; for service.
TIle mpthods of the work then and now may bf
dill'erent, and yet they arc eon'3iderably alike. Thb
il'l not the fleshly Israel, and the bleRsing'l sent at the handf
of the harvest reapers are not temporal blessings-not till
he:, IIng'3 of physical di'3ease; but they are better than these-
the opening of eyes of underRmnding, a far greater
than the opening of natural eyes, the removal of deafnes:,
vs rPRpects the Lord's great plan. a far more pr('piou'l bool.
thvn the of natural heanng, etc. Likewi"e, thl'
offering of the kingdom now i'3 much more tangible and can
be demonRtarted much more cleally than was pos'3ible then.
for it is nigh. even at t)ll' doors. and even the world can see
tIll' shakings of the pre:,;ent preparatory to their
remoyal, that those things of truth and grace whirh cannot
be shaken may remain, may be e"tabli"hed, under the Lord',
reign of righteousness.
As thc harvest laborers going forth now seek the ripe
whpat of thi'3 Gospel age, (ach shoul,1 remember the words
addres'3eu to the laborer'3 ill the Jewish harve"t, "It is not
;ve thnt speak, hut the spirit of your Father that RllPaketh
in you." Not th:1t we are to e'pect to Imve
power'3 of sp('ech grnnted u:';. hut that we fire to be fill",1 with
the truth and its spirit, and then indeed it will be tJ ue that
it will not be our own wisdom that \\'1' shall speak, nor our
own plan that we shall deplare, but the wi'3dom that COIllen
from above, and the plan of the Lord our God
A WICKED WOMAN AND A WEAK MAN
MARK 6: 14-29.-JUNE 10.
t lOLIJE:Ii Tc},.'f.---"Uc not drunk with wille, 1chn"ein is excess; but be ye filled with the spirit."-Eph. 5 '18.
Ih'lodiol'l, :1 young woman. relate') to the reigning Others of tIle world have such ambitions as had Herorlias
ramily of the HprodR, wa'l ambitious to berome a queen; her they are ambitions for wealth, or for social po'3ition and dis-
llne]e Philip. lll'ing tlH' ellle,t ,on of Herod the Great, was or for title and honor amongst men. The,;e are all ,>elfish
prpRumptl\'p!y IllS -hplr, and :j(,'oHlingly fohe her suit. ambitious. yet they are the powers that are moving pohties
and wllh _lIch _11('1'(''''' that she W,\S ap('('ptell a" Philip',; wife. and bU'liness and society every day-and we are sorry to
Bllj nt thl' ,h':lth of lI<>rod tIl<' (in'at it waR found that hp had the'll' llre the amhitions ",hid1 are moving many in the pulpit-
111'1 "011. 1'11I1ip. and that HeJod AntJpas waR and many in Yllrious \\'01'1,1'. arp all \\rong
made ,;11<,,'p'l-or to thp klTlgd"I11. amhitions, and tho they may lIot all result as evilly as did
It. \\',1'1 IH'ee-'-.11." that 1Ip10(1 "hOllld go to R'lllll' that of ITerodifls they :lI'P all selfish, and all tcnd at least
to hp \\ith l'lg,lI :lllthOlltV, and \\IJile there he was in the samc general'direction toward evil. and many are
th,' golH -I of hi, 1'I"tll1'l 1'lli]l!, and of lIerollias. hi'3 \\ifc and Redurpd by their i3elfifoh ambition'3 into doing things
his nill'p. \\ ho of ('OIl! ,e \Va'l r hagl'llll'd that ;,he had Llilell of whiph their eonscienrps do not approvp, and many Rueh be-
I,er :1II,I,itJOIl. l!,,\\('\, J '01" It:n,'" know P' hound'3, pcper-Ially comp Reducers of others into evil deeds and
1, "II"", .In" '11- .J! <,n,'(' to h'lve foPt hpr'lt'lf to schemps.
':1!)jj, "" 1'''1' \,)WI!!"!' 1IIIlll \"IIP:h Hpr C'ullnin!! to T]lP Christian 113" before him the only proper, legitimau
Ill"'" ," ,,1I1,nUI "<111111,0 of .11l\' "illll, I,ll'! ]"lIl:1rkal,j" sue anr! \\'orth:-' ambition pO"'3ible at the pre'3ent time; nor
('I''l"f"l :--11\' l.!'on ]11'1,,,1 Antip:'" that dis- tllP ayrrage or nominal Chri'3tian have these correct amllitions
Il1l--(,1 \\1 f." th<' cl:,ngld.'1' oj th(, k'll!! of _\rall1,l. :111') tlll'1l hut ratlH'r only RUl'l1 Chl'l"tian'3 as are taught of Go<!. "uch
Hl'rll,l,' - ',dh I, I' 'l'Yf} (hilt!. a !!1I1 of jlrnhalllv fourlpl'n. ll'ft ns hp,Jr and IlPed the 'Vonl of the Lord. Erfore these are
!wl' 11"-",11,,1 1'11111]" to !"'('OJlI<" thp \\ifl' of ileroll Antip.H. s"t thl' mo"t nohle. lofty amhitions; they are invited into the
an,l t 11'1'1 tel arl,II" il,., of qU[',11. which had frielHl'3hip and' fellow'3hip of tl;e King of king'l and
('mdld " Loid of 101l1s. 'fhpy are lIIvitPll to hepome his eompnnions,
'flu' -horll'Olning'l ani) failme of oUlPr..; should beeomp to hrf'thren. co-work('rs together with him in the great work he
Y:lluai,11' les,on'l. In t]1(' P,I"" of ITpro()iao; IIPIorp uo; we j'3 now apromplishing-. aml also to be joint-heirs with him
"f' ilhl'lhat.'d thp po\\pr of amhition. and how importnnt it i'3 in the great work of the Millennial kingdom which he is
that ollr amhition'3 Ill' nohlp a11d true and pure. all 'lhortly to inaugurate. Could thl're be a higher ambition
Oll'1'(' JS of good in the \Vorlll is 'lomehow or tlmn thi" "pt before mortal man? Surely not. Mort-over.
ntlwr f'onul'ptpd with <Tood amhitions. am) likewi'le nearlv all it i" an ambition \\'hiph tl'nd'l to develop all the higllPr 'lllaH-
Ihe p\il in t]lP world" i'l sOlllPhow or other as"opiaterl 'with tie" of minll and character, for tIl(> terms and comlition'i of
wrong .Imbltion'3. lIow Importnnt that wp should It'arn to fpllo\\ ,hip an' b'l"pd upon purity of hPRrt, rlevotion to
guard our amhitionfo. Ollr d"'lir",;. our hopps. our aimR: we tIl(' Lord. pte. so that he that hath theRe amhitions and hopes
f'flnnot al'pompli"h an:-thing without hopes am) aim'i an<l in him pllrifipth himself even as he if! pure with whom hp has
ambij ions: h('npe tl1(' for good onps. And bpPolllP Let llR have the'3l' true before
hen' lpt 11'l not(' the f:lf't thnt the majonty of mankin,l have UR. that they may crowd out and trnmple down the inferior
little or no ambition, and thprpforp ar<' pa'3Ring through life ambition" of eaIth and sensuality, that lead to sin, groveling
In a kil1ll of mnze, pompnl':ltively little for and df'vili'3hness.
themsplveq or othpr". Thi'3 if; a wronO' condition; every man, Hel'odias. having gainpd her point thus far. anrl finding
woman anrl child should havp a ambition. and should herRelf in the covf'tpd position of queen, undoubtedly felt
labor constantly for the attainment of that ambition. greatly elated, flushed with her success; but in the midst of
[2636]
!\!AY 15, 1900 ZIONJS WATCH TOWEH (157-158)
EVIL RESULTS OF A WRONG STANDARD
the half of his kingdom; and then boastfully he would make
oath to his liberality. The girl, no doubt, was instructed of
her mother what to expect, and yet the crafty woman had
kept the design wholly within her own grasp. Her daughter
should not know in advance, lest she should make some error;
she would merely first have the king's word that shl' would
have her desire; then she was to come to her mother and
receive instructions. Childlike, Rhe seems not to havl' had
great ambitions and wishes of her own, and hence she at
onre adopted her mother's wiRh, and asked for the head of
John the Baptist on a platter.
How horrible it seems, that anyone should haw such a
desiI e, such a murderous condition of heart! How Rtrange
it seems that a refined, educated woman shou1d have such
sentiments as would prompt such a request! Yet it was but
the natural operation of the evil in the fallen heart. As the
Apostle James says, the beginning of tpmptation is to bp drawn
away of deRire. of ambition-enticed therehy. Then. when
desire (ambition) has conceived. it bringeth forth sin; and sill
when it is finished bringcth forth f!eath.-James 1: 14, 15.
Even the we'lk and despicable Hl'rotl wag shocked hy thp
request. He had been trapped, and he saw it; h(' realized
at 01lCl' that this waR a scheme on tll(' part of hi" wife. and
that now, as on former occasion", Rhe hall proven 1I10re than
a match for him. \Vhnt woulll he do? Would he H'sent such
infamous conduct, and df'nOllTIpe his wife and h('r daug-htpr
as murderer'l, plottel.' innoc('nt hlooil of a rightl'ous
man? \Vould he take his i:>tand for ju,;ticc amI for truth.
and resolve that now, seeing the dl'pth of wiekcdne'lS into
which he had been emmarpd. hc would strive to turn about
in his coun'e. and follow the addce of this prophet of the
Lord, and reform?
THE KING OUTWITTER BY HIS WIFE
No; he had not sufficient character for that; and from
his wrong standpoint (If view dutv appeared to lif' Oil ttll'
other side: First, had he not given his word, and Rhould
not the word of a king, given on his and at a feast.
and in the presence of his chief gf'npra]s and supportpr,;. be
inviolable? Moreover, in his maudlin eOlhlition he had rivpted
Ii l'I "dta;, had "ufficient influence ovcr her husband to secur" the matter with an oath, and now from his wrong stallllpoint
1he al'fp,t and imprisonment of John: but apparently she was pride asserted itself, and would not pel mit him to tn\.;(' thl'
,hagrinpd that she could not accomplish her desires to the right course. Here again we see in an exaggeratefl form a
illll ill ;;,epuring hi" death. This was not so much because principle which applies daily to worldly people in all of their
Ilcrofl had a mind of his own, but rather, as the narrative affairs. They have a wrong standard bpforf' their It
d.'elan',;. bpcause of his fpar. He knew John to be a righteous ig a standard of pride and self-esteem and lov<, of approba-
111.111 am! holy, and, as the Revised Version expresses it, "kept tion of other", and not a love for rightcousness. for
him ,;afl"'-possibly fcaring that if ,John were set at liberty truth, and of defercnce for the Lord; and hence many have
would find agents for his destruction. Apparently found themselves like Herod, led step by step, by what seems
.John W,IS granted unusual liberties in prison, for his disciples to them to be fate, and as they would say. beyond thpir con-
Iiad opportunit,\' to come to him and to bear messages to and trol: but such matters are beyond the C'ontrol of men hpcause
110m him; and the intimation is that Herod was perplexed they are not under the proper control, because they are not the
,,'speeting how he should deal with him, and occasionally Lord's people; because they havl' not given thpir he:1I t8 to
for him and heard him with interest. him. Therefore the affairs of life, instead of working for
Herodias concluded that this was a dangerous condition good to them and bringing- them valuable lessons. hplpful
of things, and again her tact and shrewdness came to her and elevating. are bringing them experiences which lead down-
assistance. Herod's birthday was approaching, and knowing ward continually. The lesson hcre for the Lord's people is to
that it was generally celebrated she proposed to make a special make a proper start, to recognize the Lord, his will, his
p{rort on that occasion to secure her ends. These birthday feast" word. as the standard of justice and of truth, and to walk
\\'erp occasions of carousal; the king would be surrounded accordingly. A further lesRon is, that wherever we may be.
hy the notable men of his realm; all would be considerably wherever the truth may find U'l. in a downward eoursf'. thp
lIndpr the influence of wine, and then would be Herodias' op- only proper method is to at once recog-nize thc voice of the
portunity for securing her wishes. She was crafty, however, TAlrd, the voice of right as paramount. and to obC'\' that
and realized that John had an influence upon the king that to voice, rcgardless of how matters may RPcm or apppur to Ldlen
;;,ome extent at leaRt off-set her own. She realized then that fellow men.
the kin/{ knew well her heart, and that he would hesitatp to That the king was sorry is indeed an indication that
make a broad and liberal offcr to her, and so she prepared heart was not utterly corrupt, hut that hc should yield to
her young daughter, educated in Rome, beautiful. attractive. what hp knew to be wrong, throu/{h pride. IS an cvidpnce of
that she should take the place before the king of the ordinary utter lack of charactpr. History shows that a certain amount
daneing girls who usually served on such occasions of revelry. of retribution came upon these guilty people forthwith: thp
Thi'l was supposedly a rare treat, a high honor to the king, oending back of his first wife lpd to a war between Hprod and
that his niece, a young lady of refinement, should take the his father-in-law, the king of Abrabia, in which Herod's forces
position ordinarily occupied by one of a low class. The ruse were worsted seriously. -Later on Herodias prompted Herod
was successful; the king and the court were charmed with the to apply to Rome for an enlargement of his dignity and
girl's beauty, and Herod's mind, inflamed with the wine, was power, but his application was rejected, and instead he was
generous and unselfish to the extreme. It was customary to dethroned, lost all his title, power and influence, and the only
remunerate the dancing girls liberally on such occasions, in redeeming quality noted in the case of Herodias i'l thllt she
proportion to the dignity of the entertainer and now how shared Herod's loss and banishment. Poor woman! Pcrhap'l
liberally should he treat this one, who had so bewitchingly fimlly she learned that earthly amhitions arc much likp the
please<l himself and the company, and who was his own niece appleR of Sodom; perhaps Rhe learned the folly of the course
and otep-daughter? He would ask her what she would like "he pursued, that it brought no true joy, no true
10 have, and in her natural hesitancy he would press the but only excitement and one disappointment after another.
matter upon her, to mention whatever it might be, even to Perhaps, too, King Herod learned some lessons. \Ve read that
[2637]
this elation came the news respecting John the Baptist. and
how he had had an interview with Herod the king, and in the
presence of courtiers and others had declared that it was not
lawful for him to have Herodias for his wife. This wa" a
",hock to Herodias. Who would have thought that any m,m
would have been bold enough to have spoken to king on
such a subject; and who would have thought that the king
would have heard him patiently, and even have seemed in-
1erested in_him, and have considered him a prophet of the
Lord God?
What wonder Herodias was angry with .John the Hapth.;t,
anrl sought to wreck upon him her vengeanee! Had she
plottcd and planned for years to reach her present position,
and was she to he thwarted now, and to bl' cast out at thp.
word of such a man as this? Moreover, if she wpre now C,lst
out, it would mean a worse condition than ever. for of cour"e
,-he could not with decency go hack to her husband Philip,
and expect to be kindly received of him. Hlo'nce. if Herod
"houl,! give car to John the Baptist, and should permit hig
message to influence him, it might mean that Herodias would
1,eeome an outcast. Can we wonder, then, that the evil am-
hition \\ hich had thu" far ruled the woman's heart should
1I01Y move her against the great prophet? 'Ve pould (mly say
111nt it would he the legitimate fruitage of such evil ambi-
as she had for years been cultivating at the cxpenge of
pJinciple. It had not hesitated thus far at anything,
.j nd why ",hould it hesitate even at murder, now in its greatLdt
,<, tremity?
r"o it is with aII evil, selfish ambition-the tendency ig
a1ways downward, going from evil to evil, from sin to' "in,
1l om prime to crime. On the ('ontr.{,y, the ambition" which
are 1I1spirpd of the Lord tpnd ulway" upward and upwanl,
]
li
a'hpr alHl higher-what"oever things are just, whatsoever
1 fill' true, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
1. hings arp holy, whatsoever things in har!1lonv with 00d
--thi < j", the tendency and impulse of the R1l1hitbn whiC'h
Cod ill'lpires, the wisdom which conwth down fr'llll abovl',
whi ..h is first pure, then peaceable and easy of entreatment.
fllll of merry and good fruits.
(159-160)
ZION'S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA
he heartl cf .Je>-us antl his wontlerful works, and that super-
stiously hI' eoncluded that thl>- be .John risen from the
deat! Altho not a .Jew, but of the family of Esau, he never-
theles<; hall ,;ome knowlpdge of Got! and of the hopes set be-
the I and pos>-ibly his evil experiences brought
111m some valuable lessons.
So witll many of the world in the present time: their
experienceR af(' Lad and yet they impress upon them-
selves, and upon which nltimately may be of service,
of val\1" A- "" ]r>ok at their let us learn to profit
by avoiding them in our lives. Let us remember, too, that
all ambitions and temptations are not on the large and ter-
rible scale of this picture before us, yet that the same princi-
ples are involved. Let us learn to recognize principles,
whether operating in little things or in great ones, and that
he who is faithful to right prInciples in small things will
be faithful in greater trials. Let us first of all learn that the
proper course for us is to consecrate ourselves to the Lord,
and then seek to have thE' lawful and laudable ambition.
which he will inculcate through the Word,
FAITHFUL CO-LABORERS HEARD FROM
]\IR (' T. Hl<;"'ELi.
IlL\1l hkp t!I" to write to you, in
JlI,lJld,o,iailOll of m.,' ... ir]('prp amI ]JP.lItfClt approval of your
Illnglllli, "lit \\OIk,-. now III lilY hnnll. Your volumE''' of }hL
LP;,JAL llo\W' I rnu,-t hol,1' and confe-s to be a veritable
Hib]( K,,v. .1u ... tl.\ dp"prving the app"llation tlll'y Lear-Helps
for ilIlJl, :--tll<lpnt- I bn,'p in my volume" one to
[t\P. lJl ,1<]cllilOn to 11'1ult .....'(/1/ the '''''CII1'tllles Abollt Rell? and
-"1111 d,SIII. f'ir, IlPforE' afTer ing any opinion or remarks, per
nllt Ill(' to ... .,v fir-.t. th'lt with rE'gaTil to yonI' little work on
1l'/i,,1 '<:';/11/ Ilic 8Cllpllll'es o,lIJUllt lIdl? T ,10 a lIttle GrE'ek
Tl'alllJ1g r know nothing of Hehrew, hut I must confess that
it pU7/1",1 IllP nwa-ur" to fin,l out \\here our early
int"1 pI ,tl'l" of tllP f-;pripi fonncl the or founda-
tion of that horrible dOl'tJ inp. Anil gaining much, very much
kll()\\ ll'elg-c au tIl(' t rpaillJlg that little work, I have
to a"'1.; thc qm'"tion. "\\'I.at \\a:- their motive for establishing
thi,- hi'll tOJnwnt doetJinl"I" The only answer I can find is
that It \\'a- flom ,-OUIp '-l'lfi;;:h I'Hil tn frightl'n men into Chris-
tUJllty. a plan thl' Almighty nevl'r intE'nlll'd, having made man
a f!'l'p agl'llt to l'!Ioo,-p for him"plfo But thpse "devil clocb ines"
\\lll -OOH ha\(' to g-I\ I' way to thE' hght of clay truth.
My profl'<;... ioll hping that of Chri,-tian \\'ork-a catechist and
f,ehoolrna"tpr-in the latter I "omE'timcs, find it dim-
pult indl''''l. aftpr (hoo,ing a tpxt, to know" herc to begin or
,\ h"lc' to PIH\. not h"calhP ,,0111_ fail JIll' hnt from tllP fal't
th,lt i!Il' dol'triHl's I hayp IlPen brought up in wer!' so twisted
and eli,-tort,,l that I did not know wlwrc was solid ground.
I alll not n;;:haml"! to that many passages appE'ared
so ,1Iflieult that I prpfE'rrpil to leave them to themselves. But
thank<; to invaluahll' help", many such confounding pas-
arl' now n" clear to ml' as daylight. Sir, I hold that
Almighty (;oel himsplf rai<;E'il you up to be the purveyor
of 11(',1' "HI." f'Hill fOl hi ... fnJlIIshing chil,lreH; "0 that I necd
lJOt anything JII01 I' tlwn \\ i"hing you a fair share of his
diyinl' hl,-... iI1g. 1 am "till J('arling and -tudying my volumes.
At til-t tlllI, \\1'1(' _mlll' thiHg" tlut ;;:(pmeil to conflict with my
vi""" and Ol'illlOlI". anil \\'hpI" ,li-iJ,f!rpement crept in, but
thnt. I 110111. ",I' hp('l1hE' 1 ilid Hot g"o._p tIl(' fllll pnrpm t of
the ,-nhitI't. Jor np "ooner than gra"ppil, di"agreement dis-
al'pl'ale,l. Ipaying thp apl'royal to TI'JIIain. I nevpr Ijnil'k1y
agT<'1' to a "']>1'1' Ia 1 -uhjret or POlJ1t, LeforI' I thOJoughly "ift
nnel "Jr,tin ,l]lI! mto it to fiJJ(! it" foundation aIHl har-
mony. I ,'alll(' tn thi" I'Olllltl,V in XovplIlhl'r, 18!l8, undE'r the
nppointJIIpllt of thp Hi-hop of .lnmail'a. Hefolc I left m.\'
1 OIlI'P IJ:Hl t!I1' OppOl pf seeing thp JlI st volumc
of Do\ \\ ". "bi,'h a fl ipn,l hut partly dcstroyed-
11111 \.; PIll] !lhlel( lpilvp- "erp gonl'. I detcrmincd to find out
thp author-hip alHl \\',1'- gratiflpd in having my wi"ll <,upplied.
-:\Ir..\. :\1. l:lO\\Ilfipl,1 i" thp man from "hom I obtaiIH'd all.
H, i, Ill' ,on-tant vi-itor ,..inl'e. Thl'rc i" another brother
,\ 110 lin - \\ Ilt!"n IlIP hom ('olon. a ftPI lp,Hning I Wlls a rE'ader
of Do\w"\, lila. Sir, I am your di<;ciplc, I
(an a""'JIl P ou: [\)1(! I 110]11' one <lay to fin,l whcre you
arp. Tbi,... I hop<', but thl' fir"t of the lIJany letters I cx-
pe(t to \\Iitc. Yams in
H. E. ""Y"XTER,-]stllmIl8 of Panama,
DE\H l:I{OTlIEH th,llIk" for thc ki]J(llv
worc!" anil tukcn of your lctter of Dcc. 25th. The graceful-
of Your al'tion manife"ts an imitation of llim who was
the I'JlJb(;ilinJl'nt of graC'l'. (Psalm 45:2) Oh, to get nearer to
him in thought. word and dE'E'd! The Christ-like spirit is so
very rarc, hut thc gcnuine articlc so very precious. I trust
you will ])('ar in mind how very much we treasure up
your many labors of lovl', and how our unceasing desire and
prayer is, that ,TE'hovah's richest blessing may eonstantly
rest upon and the great work committed to your care.
In our work llerE' we are striving to do what we can.
\Ve arl' not rl'alizing all we desire, for our hearts are so
hUllJan, that. battlc as one will, the prE'vailing spilit of in-
,lifference brings at times a keen sl'nse of disappointment.
The truth is so glorious that one is saddenE'd at the rE'cejJtion
it meet" from the va"t majority. But then, of cour",'. God's
"duc time" is tl1l' grand rpfup-e and sweetener; the "lamps"
of the "tpn virgins" are not intended to take thE' pbee of the
sun, but to light their individual pathway. Each mu"t have
his own lamp and oil in it. The great bulwark of error is
lpaning upon othl'rs; true faith must be individual, cndur-
anl'e likewise. A mob of ru"hing after a lpnder of their
own nature ifl the general position; the Good Rhephcrcl lE'ads
his sheep and calls them cach by name. The body of Christ
is to bc onc. a" a 1'0llectivE' number (.Tohn 14: 21-2:3), but thil:'
oncness is contrihuted to by eal'!r indl\'idunl.
How the truth isolates! It demands a strong irlllivi<luality
in each. Surely thp life of Christ shows this mo"t I'lpurly.
He was a reflcx of the Fathl'r, he was the Father's grl'at ,lnd
perfect representativc. "I seek not minI' own will. Il!lt his
that sent me." And yet what a wondrous pel'so}wl,tl/! His
was not a passive service, hc was not a machinl' (ho]y Rpirit
does not de"troy personality) hut an active, ,dlling. J'l'-pon-
<;ive being, God's "vessel unto honor." Chri,t', moral n'lture
responded to the touch of God like a bud to the I of the
sun or a grand organ to tlle fingers of a JlJui:3ician. but hI' was
alone, in the most complete sense, so far as this world was
concernE'd. His motives, ideals and practices wpre "0 ']lfT"Tcnt.
"He dwelt amongst ns." Fellowship with God wa- hi ... only
source of companionship. "God was with him." \Yhy" "Be-
pause I do always those things whil'h please him." Rnrely
this is our pattern: individual fellow"hip and spnil''' i" the
one means for individual strength. "Study to sho\\' thy<;elf
apPToved unto God." The bride of the Lamb whcn gathered
into onE' is plural, but its building up is in thl' singular.
'Vhat a graml prospect thE' "truth" prl'sent" >1<; the gonl of
this individual discipline! A perfect nature, "sati<;fie,l when
I awake in likeness;" the goal of human I'rE'ed" i" pnltry,
absur<l,-a future statE' of locality merely-going to hcaven,
missing "hell!"
Thcre is beautiful sl'enerv on earth, hut it docs not give
rest or peace or happines,,: Our rl'<;t!E'ss natu! e is likc a
troubled spa, nothing outside can calm it; the trouble is in
man; that is where it started, amI that is ,\'herE' the r"form
must be made. Thl' chiE'f value of heaven is uecause of God's
presrnce and naturp, "it is Ids throne;" so with the earth:
far greater planets roll in space, but Christ places this planet
as next in importance to God's throne, not becau"e of its
intrin"ic value, but because of God'R promises, purpose and
preSE'nce. "TIle E'arth is my foot"tool," hrnce ,T""us says,
"Rwear not by it." "Forever with the Lord," in his nature,
throne and work is the perfect goal.
But surcly this perfect goal embraces even more; it is
not mE'rely for the individual bE'liever and overcomer. "\\"hat
shall do. that are baptised for the dead 1" etc. The joy
set before ChI ist embraced more than his own perfect bliss.
His glorifiE'd body is not only perfect, but it is a conquering
one, "acording to the working whereby he is able to subdue all
things to himself." PrE'eminently this feature separate" the
"truth" from all human conception". to do,
something to realizE', "to show forth the praises of him who
hath called us," etc. "The glory that shall be revealed in us."
ServicE' is the gralldest law of God's nniverse. "My Father
'lI'orketh hitherto, and I work." Hi" angels are ministering
spirits; perfect happiness and rest will only be realiZRd by a.
perfect nature perfOl"rning perfect bervice. May it he ours
more and more to enter fiOW into the true glory of service
to see its lofty standard, its eternal basi", mId hy and by to
see his face and enter into his joy.
Your brother in the one blessp,! hopI',
.\LFREO PF;ARi'lO:" - ,"Pic SOllth Wales.
[2638]
VOL. XXI
ALLEGHENY, PA., JUNE 1, 1900 No. 11
VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER
WHY REV. LYMAN ABBOTT IS NOT A UNIVERSALIST all men righteous; otherwise he would not be .a
At a General Convention of Universalists one session was God. But I start from the o.ther pole. I. begm . my
set a art as "Interdenominational Evening," and amongst OW? absolute I rec?gmze as fact, m my hfe, .m my
th
p k Dr Lyman Abbott a representative Con- philosophy and III my preachmg, that, III the last analysIs, the
0, er spea ers was . , . d t' f . . h' h ds Father may per
re ationalist, who ave his reasons for not believi?g unI- es my 0 every man IS own an . . .-
salvation. sgeaking as a liberal CongregatiOnahst he suade, mother ma.y entice, may. enVIron, hImself
declared that modern Congregationalism does not accept the may all possIble but m the last
doctrine of eternal punishment as preached by the celebrated analysIs destmJ:' of. every man IS m hIS own hands. And
J th Ed ds of the last century. what he wIll do WIth It I do not know. ..
ana an war . ,. as fol- "Why, if God be good, has he made a world III which
We make quotatiOns from Dr. Abbott s discourse there is sin? Why has he not made a world sinless? Could
lows:- "11b he not? Certainly' he not only could, he has. The birds
"I do not ?elieve that one ?f God s creatures WI are sinicss. But could not make a world in which are
by God I.n eternal eXIstence simply. t.hat he n;a
y
go. 0 free moral agents able to choose the good without giving them
In sm an.d. mIsery The proposit.iOn has ong at the same time power to choose the evil. Power to cho?se
become spIrItually unthmkable to me. I mIght the one is powpr to choose the other; and a world in WhICh
that a soul could suffer eternally;. but I can J.lot t a there are some men who choose shame, dishonor, sin and
any being that God ever made wIll be kept m eXIstence by death is a better world I dare to say than a world made of
God that he may go on in eternally.. machines that could choose neither the good nor the evil."
"What was the old doctrme of The We fully concur with the foregoing, reminding our readers
Savoy Confessi?n, up to the middle of this. nevertheless of the necessity for remembering the two opposi.te
was the of orthodox views of free agency which may be taken from dif-
Not that it was bmdmg on orthodox but ferent standpoints as shown in our issue of Dec. 1, 1899,
it was the only historic creed they Except. m the page 264. '
matter of polity, and ?r two matters; it was But two queries naturally arise:
identical with the ConfeSSiOn of Faith; and (l) How does Dr. Abbott harmonize his two pr?positions,
this was the substance of. itS It that our (a) that the decision respecting his harmony or disharmony
first parents fell by the frmt! that, they with God lies with man himself, individually; (b) that God
being the root of all mankmd, theIr gUilt was Imputed has made no provision for the eternal torture of any? The
their sinful and corrupted nature, was co?ve.yed to theIr logical mind will surely inquire, What then will become of
postenty; that as a result we are utterly mdlsposed, disabled, the wicked who are unwilling to be saved on divine terms and
and made opposite to all good;' that from the race thus lost hence unfit for the rewards of eternal bliss, if the time is to
and ruined in the Fall, 'by the decree of God, for the come when "every creature that is in heaven and on earth
ifestation of His glory, some men and ange.ls are predestIJ.led and under the earth and such as are in the sea shall give
unto everlasting life, and others are foreordamed to everlastmg praise and glory to the God of their salvation"?
death;' that those. not effe?tually called, was pleased, Is it possible that so fine a logician. as Dr. Abbott has
'for the glory of hiS sovereign power over HiS creatures, overlooked the 10O'ic of his own expresSiOns? Oh no! \Ve
pass by, and to. ordain to. wrath for theIr answer, The link in the Doctor's is clear t:o
sin, to the praise of hiS gloriOUS Justice; . that those his own mind, but he does not care to make it very public
'not elected, altho they may be called by milllstry of .t?e because it is not very popular yet-the same is true of many
'Word, and may have some common operations of the Spint, others of the ablest ministers in all denominations. The
yet they never truly come to Christ, and therefore cannot be connecting link of his logic will be at once .when . is
saved.' stated -he believes in the utter destructwn of the lllcorngibly
"Specifically, and clame by clause, I disown that state- wicked as we do and as we teach publicly.
ment..... This doctriJ.le is inconsistent with character But public who keep silence on this subject and
of a righteous God. I might fear such a God; I might tremble put their light under a bushel, do so at a great cost-the
before such a God; I might, because I was a coward, cost of further guidance of the Lord into the "all truth"
Buch a God; but I not reverence a God. I.t IS promised. Oh, how many ministel s in seeking to avoid the
inconsistent with. the faith tha.t Jesus Chnst IS God mamfest senseless charge, "Annihilationist," have suffered God's char-
in the flesh, for !t was not HIS nature P?SS an.y by or. to acter to be blasphemed and his people to be deluded by
ordain any to dishonor and wrath. It is mconsistent doctrine of an eternal torment of the unsaintly;-preferrmg
the Scr!ptu.re; with the parable. of tl:e numbers and popularity and honor among men and the financial
Bon, which is Chnet s epitome of the Gospel; lllconsistent With emoluments of these rather than the truth! Alas! they seek
the declaration of Paul that 'every knee should bow and every to be wise and prudent according to this world's standards,
tongue confess Jesns Christ to be the Lord, to the glory of entirely overlookinO' the fact that the Lord declares he will not
God the Father'; inconsistent with the vpry chapters of reveal his secrets to such. Our Lord pointed this out, saying,
on \\ hich it is supposed to be founded, for .they close With "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. because
the declaration that 'God hath, all unbeltef, thou hast hidden these things fr01n the wise and prudent and
he might haL'e mercy upon aUj mCOll9istent With the splendid hast revealed them unto babes"-who will utter the truth
picture John paints, of the time when every creature that is regardless of conseqnences.-Matt. 11: 25.
!n heaven and on under the earth, and such as a:e (2) Some one will say then, If Dr. Abbott thus
III the sea, shall give praise and glory to the God of theu in the final reign of riO'hteousness and the de"tructiOn of the
salvation." incorrigibly wicked, is lie not very close to the truth and a
These noble words and logical arguments surely appeal very hopeful subject?
to all God-loving and God-honoring hearts and heads; and We answer, No. At one time, so far as we might judge
we are glad so to think: it is a sign of heart enlargement of any man's heart by his writings, Dr. Abbott was very
which should be admired, even tho the speaker (like other close to the truth-a believer not only as above but also
great men of our times) has swerved far from the Bible in the Atonement and in the spcond coming of him who made
under the influence of Evolution and Higher Criticism, and is the atonement with hi'S own precious blood. But the Doctor
no IonO'er trusting in the great sacrifice for sins "finished" at seems to have permitted himself to become one of the "wise
for salvation. But Dr. Abbott said some more good and prudent" who prefer honor one of another rather than
things'in that discourse. In telling his Universalist audience that which cometh from God only. (John 5:44) At any rate,
why he does not believe in universal salyation, he .displayed instead of coming out more and more boldly for the
excellent logic. In reasoning that "the ultimate fact m human on these unpopular subjects, he seems to have put tlle lIght
life is the freedom of the human will," he said:- he had under a bushel until it has gone out. For according
"I know that I can choose the good, and therefore I can to Dr. Abbott's present he is now. an
choose the evil. What I find true in myself I believe to be Evolutionist with all that implIes of rejection. of the Bible
true in every other man; he can choose the good, and doctrine of a fall by our parents. (and. we m t.hem) from
he can choose the evil. And while I wistfully deSire-yea, perfection and harmony God-mto sm and itS
and sometimes devoutly hope-that when the great drama moral and physical degeneratiOn and death. And
of life here and hereafter is ended, all God's creatures will of this implies a rejection of the Atonement; for If man did
have chosen the good-I do not know. If I were a Calvinist, not fall he needed no redemption fr0!U the fall-:-no
I should be a Universalist. If I believed that God could And if the "ransom for all" (I Tim. 2: 6) IS demed, then
make all men righteous, I should be sure that he would make logically "times of restitution" to a former estate (Acts
[2639] 063-164)
( 165-166)
Z ION'S WATe H TO TV E R 1\ LI TGH'EII.JY, P.t"
* *
Te:\a-, III,untamed a'l the rebult of experiments on the
and lower species, that the reactions of these creatures agamst
injury do not indicate pain sensatIOns at all.
"Certain motions are said to express pain, because tne.\
always accompany injury. Sinee they do accompany mjury
they arc said to indlCate that the injury causl's the anima,
to suffer. the professor says, is a mele argument ill
a cirele. He regards movements as the immediate e'1ll8e-
quence of physical stimulation. To prove hi" position he
JII"de a ponsiderable number of e'l:periments.
"The most striking and of thl'se experiments wel'l'
made on the common earth worm. If such a low animal
he divided at its middle transver:;ely, only the pORterior hal f
shows those squirming amI jerking movements which. authro-
pomorphieally viewed, seem to inrlieate pain; tlw antrrior
(containing the bram) crawls, as ordinarily, away. Now, It
each of the'le halves be halvl'd again, tlJ(' postl'rior segment
of each squirms while the anterior halves clawl away. Thi,;
Rame may be continucd \\ ith Jll l'lisely like
until the pieces ale no longer large I'nongh to erawl ll1'Jp-
pendl'ntly.
"This "hiking phenomenon is explainel[ in part by tile
two spt8 of muscular HLers m the worm_ one longitwlimI,
cnusing the squirming and jerking, anrl the othl'r clll'ulal.
which produce the cra\\!mg, \Yhy in the posterior RPgme'!tf,
the former set should he initially stimulatctl ,1II,1 in thc antenor
the lattpr set, Profps'lor XOl'lnan ,,:lys he does not know.
"The abdomcn of a hcrmit era1
) IIlay be ('ut in t\\ 0 withont
any 'but a very slight H''lpUn"e' from any remaining 1Il0vabip
organ. 'Limulus' btOp" a few ;:,cconds whcn four 01' fhe ah-
dominal spgments are ('lit a\\a,\', then qlli l kly Lrr'atlt-
ing as l'efore.
"'Oeophilm' cut in 1\\ 0 in the lIli(I<1lc continllHl It" ('1':1\>\ 1-
in!l", the front half going forwa 1<1 illlll the rcn I haIt har'\.; "'Iud
::\lillipedes diviued while walking do not h.l'lten nor stop uor
jerk. Dragon flics lose part ot their ahdolllcns wlthont allY
apprcpiable change in pOSItion Eels l'lmtilllle to cat \\
their abdo!llPus are cut a way dllring the prOeCf,R.
"La'ltly, sharks and floundel s, provirlcrl a currpnt of \\ at('r
I'irculatps through their gills, \\ ill allow the ItlO"t tedloll" and
dpep-going operations on their heads \\ithollt t hi'
appIPciable movement indicatin of pain:'
:Many fripnds of the truth ha \'c qUpl )('(1 \\ hdltpr 0] not
God's plan H'veals nny provision lor the 10\\ f'l Thr'\
query whether or not thrl'l' "ill he death.; ,unong rll,> 10w,'1
animal..; dlll'ing the MiIll'nniul1l and if so, If thnt, wonI.l not
call;,e paiu to then' human frielHls, etp.
Sf'riptul'e promisps arc a(ldres;;pd only to llIall .1nd 1pfer to
the lower animals only as they stand l'plated to mans wel-
farc. For the promise that the lion shall eat
11k!' the 0'1: and lie down peaceahly with thc lamb, i:'l for
f'omfol t an,1 amI by 110 meaJ1S implirR <'verlasting
lifl' to the lamb. Altho all animals h:1\"e "utl'pfI'd bv the
fall of man, it is mdireetly. in that their ruler, thrir' king-.
lost his bulane!', his full and hel1pe has been unablr to
I'f'gulate and govern propcrly his subjectR. Hpstitution time"
therpfore will bring its blpssings chietly to lllan, who because
of his much and finl'r organism JU1'l sulrpred by his
,leO"radation and death sentenee immeasnr.lbly more than tllP

'Ve nl.lY expect death among the I?wer :.lllimals <lllrlllg tll('
lIIi llennimll a'l they "hall lIve out their perlOcls of usefulness;
and bv rrason of the c'1ntrast the everlasting life JllOvided
for lJI;n (mude in God's image) will be the Illore appl'ceintpd .
SUlllmpr and winter are to continue (Gen. 8:22) we may
know that the flowprs and all vpgetation will like\\ ise die
and revive perpnnially, reminding re'ltored and perfeetptI man
of the blessed change that came to him by ,livine p-rar'e
through Jesus, his ]{edcemer and lord.
Thcse conditions prevailing' in the animal and vegetaLle
worlds \\ ill bring no pain, neither sorrow nor prying (Re\'.
21 :4) bpcause all of the formrr things will have passed away.
.\mongst thrse will be present mIsconceptions by which \\c
are inplincd to attJibutc to the lower animals human fl'elin!-(s
:1 llll sl'ntiments-some even carrying these mistaken notions
to t1owers-loving and talking to their flowers as others do
to a. pet dog-imagining reciprocal feelings and sentiment,;,.
Hestitution will not only bring to men greater knowledgp
but also bounder minds. in harmony with the divine mind,-
so that their loves and hopes, like the divine promises, will
measurably pass by the lower creatures and think and plan
for and be absorbed in uplifting man-"thc groaning creation."
And alreadv those who rpceive a kno\\ ledge of the diyillp
of plan and w'ith it the spirit of the Lon], find thrmsP!ves no
[2640]
:1: 19-21; Kzek. 16 :55, 61) must be denied also. And accord-
ingly there would be no object in establishing the Millennial
kingdom-for Evolutionists argue the world is progres'ling
Hplendidly under EvolutIOn and needs Christ's kingdom no more
than it needed a sin-offering when it had committed no sin
.Ind was under no condemnation.
Thus nearly all the great and wise prudent apcollling
to the course of this world, professing themselves to be wise,
Ilave by lraving the truth of God's revelation, the teaching;;
IIf the Bible, become foolish, and their foolish llearts haw
hpeomp darkened. Indepd we bplieve this to be the secret of
the grpater blindness and more rapid falling away of ministers
than othcr Christian8 from the very hub of revealed truth.
the ram,om, antI ll('nce from all truth. \yith greater advan-
tagps for learmng the truth than others they have not IfJvrd
truth as to 8earch for It, especially when they perceiyed
that tlleir searf'h would not only cost time and energy; but
tlJ() h uth bd!lg now as eYer unpopular would cost thpTlI
fJoIJlIlr:nty with all cla'lsP'l \\crlderl to pnols.
In ponseqllPIICI) m'lny mini.,tPls lnne so tnflpl! \\ith truth
,llld \\ ith thpll' 0\\ n f'OnSClenCP9 that they Ilot only have lost
lovp and rph"h for truth as tmth, hut havc pven 10i"t much
IIf thn t kl'pn !Jl'f('l'pbon for b 11t h whiph always accolllpall ips
,I h'IH]pl' :tJll! hamp,l f'on,Plenr I'. Thi'l is \\ ell attestplI Lv th,'
fl'equpllt ('onfr','lo!lS or plomi!lI'llt ministers appearing iatply
111 till' public 1'1 P8'; Tilpy to systematic dl'eel'ti')ll
"nil tH'pd fol' )P:\I;, rp,;per tillg tll('lr hrlid,; \pr"us their 1'011-
IPfWOns. .\nd the fact that t hi., elonc "ithout c\'C'n an
"pology or any (If "h:llne fol' igllolllC' a
'om,e that tlIP<-e gentlemen ('ltl1e1' never hall
1l1lH'h ('oll'l'ipl]('p to tl\llt, or. :I'; we plpfpl' to think, that
thpy havl' so long' and so per"htl'ntly tro,lllen it in the mill'
of splf-inteJ'( ht allll "pI udl'l1('p" that it ha" lo<-t its lifr, it,;
powpr It is for thi" 1'('.';.\011 tl\<.t l he ministers of all .le-
1I0lllinntiom; lin' Illneh amel'.1hle to the truth tkll1 i1Il'
,ellsr('rat( l! ",tIl'I'P" ot thcir l1rwk" :-ju,t ns it was in tIll'
,'nel of Uw ngl'. ";0. bnt thpy are the gleatp,;,j
Hf tllP huth-,lIl1l no,\ a'; cighteen eentu\jp,;
many nf thpm do not IH'Ht.lte to "ay a 11 n'annel of e\ if
fal8"'V, oppnly nlHI h,Y in<-inn:dion, to stir up the evil
of thp)r dplnell'd fol1m\l'rR to rp.1(>('t and to crucify tlie tn/lit'
\\"oc is sllrl'1y ('OIl1ing" npou :t11 "Heh hypocritical ;,crihc-;
t!lcl Ph:lIi"pp,;, \' ho \\ill n"lthcr cnter the kingrlom them-
"l'IVl'R nor p('l'Illit thoo,p \\ ho wonle1 he so inelinerl to entpr--
('ompale Matt. 23: l:l.
LOWER ANIMALS SUFFER LESS THAN MAN
Infield,ty'" hyppr-p] itipism ha9 chdrgp,1 lIIP Dible anti th,'
Blhlp's Gnd \\ith ulI"ylllpathetic hrlltalit,v in ('ommanding I'llael
to S:I('Iit1PI' "hPPp, 0:\1'11. goatR .1IIt! dmps by the tpn,; of
t hon':ll1d'l-('all"lllg" ihl'f,p illllOI'Cllt CI ('Ill III C'i intC'nse pain
Illerpl,Y to t,llPl!l! f,ulIIl'thing lut11ll'. ::\ToIpo\ er, it i" daimp,l
1hat thp I!lptholl pomlll:1l1dl'll hy law for the killing of
:mim'lls for food---lIanlf'h by hlecding to llcath-is barbal'ou".
,.U1SIl1!:(' 1'loloJ1gatiou of the ,l.IIimal's ..,nlrpring-,,: [1n,1
the lIindu'"l of Illdia all' poilltt',1 to ,1-; l',amplcs tal' Chri."
tian
e
, hpP:lllsC th(')' will not ta"te allimal foorl ewn if ,btl \ inn
whpJ'('aR the fouIHl!,1' of Christianity, whilc giving hi..; followcr.,
thp law of lovl'. not only npglpe!p,! to Inpntion tllP 10\\'l']'
,1 nima h bnt ate tlH'reof hims<'1 f.
Onr :lnl'lwe'l' 11:18 ],"1'11 that It i..; :t mcrc suppP"'ltion 'lIlIt"
nnprnvpn, that thp 1'l\\('1 animal-; f,lIfrpr pain in thing likp
thp d<'grpl' I-nO\\ 11 tu man :-p,-;pPPially clH'h as 11n<1('r tliP
,fp\\ i,h law \\Pl'(' 1'Ip,,;('rihpt! as food for man. In OUI' opillion
the .'utting of th" throat, \\hile it el(){'s not e'\haust life in-
..;talltlv, dO('R !plJ(lPl tho"p aTlllllals ullPunseimls so that t1),'\-
"uIT,'r' no pain \\ hatpvpl. 'flip h<lr"p anI! the lIng. not ppl'lllitlp;1
till' ,11'\\':'1 as food. !..:I\'l' many illRt.lIlC'C' nf lip] VP-,,( 11"1-
tiwlll'qs than do tl;e 0', de,. all<l m'm I' than of hp]
.lllim,lIq. tho \1'1 v mudl IPSR t1lall 111:111. thp
tivpn('"s of these'two i,; to make them 11I01'1' tl'.ll tahlp
to lI'an's eontrol awl tlll'ldnrl' morc 1I8efnl and eomp:ulInll,]1llc
to him.
"'I' cJip from the l'dt8uUlIl j'/,(,,, an article pO\'l'obol.d 1\ l'
of th,' abovp that m,ly he hoth intelestillg :11111 protit:1hl<,
rearlin!:(', as follows:-
Animals Which Have no Pain-Recent Experiments SJIOW That
Lower Orders are not Sensibve
"The old writers, according to scienee, assumed that :1n
JUSl'f't has sen'lations and feclings rcsemblmg our own-th:1t
it sppq what wc see and suffers as we would suffer if tJ catp.!
m the same way. Recently the pendulllm has Rwung in tIll'
nther direction, and high nuthorities practically deny that
the lowest organisms feel anything that can properly he c.dl",1
pain
"ThuB the late Prof. W. W. Norman, of the
JUNJ> 1, 1900 ZION)S WATCH TOWER
I J6(,-J68)
longer disposed to waste valuable time and affection upon dogs,
flowers, etc., while the Lord's "brethren" need sympathy and
aid and counsel in the narrow way, and while mankind in
general are m so deplorable a condition as at present-
mental, moral and physical. And such a change of sentiment
is an evidence of their attaining more of "the spirit of a sound
mind."-See 2 Tim. 1:7.
THE WAR SPIRIT GROWING
For yea.rs Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Russia
have had military fever, as is well known; and now the
same has spread in virulent form to Great Britain and her
colonies and to the United States. Just what bearing this
may have on the great time of trouble impending is somewhat
diffiC'ult to prognosticate, but it forcefully reminds us of the
Prophet's pronouncement respecting our day: "Proclaim ye this
among the Gentiles: Prepare war, wake up the mighty men.
let all the men of war draw near; let them come up [to
battle]: beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning
hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong." The
context following clearly descnbes the great day of trouble in
whirh the symbolic sun and moon shall be darkened and the
voice of the Lord shall be heard in rebuke of evil and the
present heavens and earth shall be shaken.-Joel
. !J-1 G; Heb. 2:3: 26-2!l.
In the light of the Bopr war and the rcsistance shown
to be possible for a weak nation when well armed with modern
weapons, we need not wonder if "orne of the small, weak
nations now feel themselves comparatively strong, and if they
will be proportionately independent-cven to l1noganee. Bel-
gium for IDstance and arc amongst the weak
nation" now feeling themsclve'l strong: awl it is !'laid that the
latter is now spendin:-: on its military force'! and armaments
(pro rata to its population) more than any other nation of
Europe.
Of this war spirit may quiet do" n: but while it
la..ts-while every boy's heart is throbbing with military en-
thusiasm and every schoolyard is a driJl-ground-when even
the F'unday School scholar., are organized into "Boys' Brigades"
-when professed Christians are so infected with the fever
as to be hlinded to justice and love amI pity,-things are
not favorable to ppace. It looks very much as tho the Inter-
national Peace Congress cried Peace! Peace! when there is
no ppare-because the spirit of avarice controls the world
and not the spirit of the Lord, the spirit of love and benevo-
lenrc. However, we who look from the '''atch Tower can
note thpse things with efJuanimity. In the world but not of
It. \\e can sympathize with all the contestants, realizing- that
paeh nation is more 01' less Llinrled and misled by the spirit of
pride which forgets or has never learncd that only "right-
c:\alteth It nation; but sin is a reproach to
peoplp."-Proy. 14::34.
E\ cry evil course amongst men spcms to be the
of till' misdirection or perversion of a good quality; and so
It is in thi'l war spint: it is the mis(lirection of combatlrc-
fl('SS and destrllctwcncss,-t\IO qualitif'il absolutely
to T!rogrpsR. But very few even of Christians have learnc(l
of thp Lord's 'Vord and Rpll'it how to use these faculties
propprly-in fighting the gooll fight, in overpoming and 'le-
Rtroving the forces of sin in themselves and in opposing error
\\ ith trnth, the darkness with the light-"Speaking the truth
inIon""
"-p pray that as the spirit of \Val fare rises in other'l it
may be fully awakened also in the Lord's consecrated soldier6
of the cross, that they may become valiant for righteousness,
courageous for the truth as "good soldiers of the Lord ,Jesus
Christ," and be zealous to the extent of enduring hardness-
shame, contempt, evil speaking and general opposition from
the world, the flesh, the devil and the nominal church which,
blinded by false doctrines, Satan is so grievously mislearling.
This thought respecting the Lord's soldiers, and the true
nobility of character, and deadness to the world, and alive-
ness to God necessary to victory over self and the world.
much impressed us recently on the occasion of our vlKit to the
Washington City church. We found that, out of a total of
twenty-seven professmg full consecration to the Lor,l, three-
fourths were "volunteers," and the other fourth deKirou" of
bemg such and only hindered by circumstances they l'ould not
so far control. The Editor had the pleasure of Joining thes,'
soldiers of the Lord in their campaign against error a:nu for
the liberation of "brethren" still bound in Babylon :-a cam
paig-n, a warfare for a purpose, a noble purposp, a 10lmg
purpose; a warfare for God and truth and liberty, \\ l\ich Ill-
jures none and can offend none excppt the great adversary 01
those whom he has blinded. The Editor hag to jnill
in thi., service in Allegheny, but thus f.lr has bp'>1l
by the fear that harm rather than gOO(! nught re'lu!t IWC:IUS" of
his being known to be closely identitlel[ >\ Ith the pulJIJeatioJ!
It "ould bc credited to a desile to "blow hi", 01111 hon\" r:1thtl-
than as the blowing of the ,Jubilee Trumpet, proclaiming' the
times of restitution of all things spoken by the mpnth of
all the holy prophets.-Lev. 25:!l, 10; Acts :1:10-21.
\Ye are thankful that we can record that this war fever
iR ::>preading as well as the evil life-destroying OIlp. The
Koldicrs of the cross arc becoming more and morl'
and coming more and more to realizc that, if "we ought a Iso
to lay dou n our ln'es for the brethren," this woul<! imply our
willingness to lay down any and every lesser thing-- t lIn".
influence, etc. The Boston church (numbeIing about seventy I
we understand has enlisted in this "vohlllteel" work ,t1mosL
without an exception. We have 'lent thplll I:J,800 of thl'
"volunteer" TOWERS which they are ha;;,tening to uistl'ibutt'
before the warm weather thins the congregations they would
serve.
\Vhat a privilege is here for such as ha\<> IH.lyed (;"I! for
opportunity to serve him and Iii" cause! Counting that pacll
of doulJle TOWERS four sermon", awl that
each should reach and be read by at least three ('<111
anyone point out any other method for rt'adling' "Hm"
Ilesirablp ela"s of "brethren" at thc low ('o"t '! II w,'
know of no othcr method of le(lphing' thi" (It Urill llf'icc.
and if \Vel know of no othCl' way Ily whl('h \I!' ,'oul,] l'fl"lt'h t"
them the true why not all ol Ih,' ('on
sccratt'!] people who cn joy tlw Iight of IW""'lIt t lilt h :1 v:tli
thelll"plvps oj the privilcge? Thp f,lt't that Jj h a IU'/I' Iiwth,H!
of pre,ldling is nothing. It i', Kurpl.v a 'II' ('I'%lnl IIll'thnrJ
not oply as respects the "hrethren" we WOlll,! :l i(l. but :llsll
as respects thoRe who have covenanted t "y
livillg' sacrifices to the Lord anrl IllS .\\1 who .'lIpl'!" ill
this ;,crvic{' ::I" ,om"thing done for am! llllto j h,' 1,01 d :11"
to hl' corrcspollllingly blcsse(!. Let all \1110 ,'111/ .l yhaH'
in this hlp;;,sing'. the itpll1 in our 01 .\pI'I1 I:>th, dis
pusRing the work, method, etc., Hearken to tIll' jn,vful ot
the ,Jubilpe Trmnpet :lnll becom.. \11th fll .. Jt oj
thi" holv waria n',
convention hall arc very eentrallv lo,'ate,l, nl'al to dl'!" <- .11 oJ
littlp car fare he exp,:nt!pd.
Tlte ('onvention will oppn SatnrrLl,\' ,fp,l(' lli
Thl' forenoon witl he dpvotpd to arr1\'lllg fri"lId ;;d-
ting arfJuaintp(l, l'te. On that morning of th.
Pltila(lelphia ehnreh will he at thp 1:lJ1\\':lY d,'!,o!,
to ml'et :11 riving who will h(' p''lwdt't] j <) idplIt I fy t h"1lI
Fl'h hy dioplaying tht' flont p,l;:" of ,I \\, ,\Tell
Towl H Rltoulfl anv faIl to hl' ;dpllt IIiI'd t lll'\' wi Il Ii I,t' no
diffil'ulty in flnding: Ht. Georgp's Hall a" allole anrl tl11'f{' a
ref'eption committee (rt'cognizahle by a "ilk hadgt') wi II look
out for their welfare,
(4) Any nf the friends who ean attplHI. hut \1'ho rannot
afTorrl more than one ,lollar a day l':\ppn
o
" dming their sia).
will he by others morc ahle, out of a fllTHl already
provIded: and any who pan not afTord the of on.'
dollnr rpr day, if they l'an arrangl' thpir fall'. will h,-
provided for qratls. Comp, all who l'an, who have the Lord'"
spirit and who seek more of it. Thp aRsembling- of ourselve"
togetllf'r for the considpration of our Father's 'Vonl will surelv
bring a as he ha"
PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION, JUNE
fihort notice IR not alway" a disadvantage, and we t ru"t
will not be in this instanre. Arrangement" for the Phila-
delphia convention h:lI] not heen complpted when our la'-t
ISSU" went to press, Thp above date us the advantagp
of the low rates grantpil hy all railroads to the Republi('an
party convention-namely one fare for the round trip frmn
aP dirpl'tions. Thl' of the year is very favorable an<l
we antieipflte a large attendance.
The convention will be held undpr the auspir'es of til('
lVatrh Tower B1ble and Tract SOClPty. The church at Phila-
delphia, our hostg or enterbliners for the occasion, have marie
bountifnl arrangements as follows:-
(1) St. George's Hall, corner of 13th and Arch streets, ha"
been secured for the use of the convention. It i'l one of the
finest in Philadelphia.
(2) The Lincoln Hotel, No. 1222 Locust street, ha" been
engaged upon moderate for the class of accommorlation,
naIPelv, one dollar a day each person for lodgings. Meals can
be had at various in that vicinity at fifteen cent'3
and upward. It will be safe for those of limited m!'ans to
reckon expenses at two dallan; per day, for the hotel anll
16-18
[26411
069-170) Z IONJ S TVATeH TOWE R AI.LIlGHENY, PA.
(5) When purchasing your ticket, ask for-"Excursion
ticket to Republican Convention at Philadelphia." The rail-
i'oad people assure us that such tickets will be satisfactory
to them.
(6) Decide about your going as speedily as possible, and
If you decide to attend, at once address: "Receptwn Commit-
tee," P. O. Box No. 3084, Philadelphia, Pa., stating by what
road you will travel, and if possible the hour of your
arrival on Saturday morning or afternoon. The convention
program will be announced at its first session and posted up
for reference. \Ve cannot now announce the speakers, but
among them, D. V., will be Brother Randle (formerly a mis-
sionary in China) and the Editor of this journal.
(7) An opportunity will be afforded (Monday afternoon,
June 18th) for any confessing baptism into Christ's death to
symbolize this In water haptism. Robes and towels will be
provided, and the serVIce will be preceded by a discourse defin-
ing and explaining Baptigm and its import.
(8) No collections will be taken up, nor other 13olicitations
for money made. Our assemblings are for spiritual refresh-
ment and for the acquirement of heavenly riches for all.
(9) Only Christians, who trust in Christ as the "ransom
for all," are invited to this convention. It is hoped and earn
estly requ$ted that all such who come will seek preparation
of heart for a blessing-hunger and thirst after righteousness,
truth, purity, holiness; and all who come humbly in this con-
dition will surely not only get a blessing, but also bestow
blessings upon others. To these desirable ends let us each
make the convention and our own association therein a sub-
ject of prayer. We bespeak for it also the prayers of all of
the Lord's consecrated people who cannot attend: and thue
they will no doubt participate in the blessings.
Other conventions for this season will be as follows: At
Chicago, about September 1; at Dallas, Texas, September 29,
30 and October 1. Particulars respe('ting the last two will
appear later.
FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH
PSALM 23:6.
"Surely goodness and mercy shall foUow me all the days of
Saint Paul spcaks of the full assurance of hope and of fun
:l"urance of faith as being the proper conditions for the Lord's
people. (Heb. 6: 11; 10: 22) And this is the thought ex-
pre'sed by the Prophet, in our text--full confidence that he
"hI) has begun a good work in Ufl is both able and willing to
complete it. (Phil. 1:6) But how few Christians, compara-
tl\'ely, have this full assurance of faith; how few can say,
Surely, undoubtedly, goodness and mercy shall follow me
henceforth through life, and by God's grace I ultimately shall
<.laIn the hl'avenly kingdom and the glorious things which
Gocl 1m'! to thl'm that love him! The few who can
enter fully mto sympathy with the Apostle and Prophet in
have therein a great joy, a great blessing, a
QTeat \"('st of heart which otherg do not possess. Let us there-
fore inquire why it h that thl' numlJer who thus enter into
the re.,t of faith is small. "'hat are the hindrances to the
oth"r." and how can those hindrances be removed, that a
larger nllmher of the people may enjoy their patri-
monv?
'i'he hindrances are of two kinds: (1) Many who are on
the LOJ(l's side, and who have heen greatly blessed of him, and
who ha\e mllcle considerahle progress in the knowll'dge of the
truth. and who are tru.,ting in the merit of the Lord Jesus'
as the only hopp of a future life, and who are thus
jlhtIfi'cl. haVI' nen'l failed to take the second step
nh to th'ir full induetiol1 into sonship in God's family
amI into With ('hri.,t to all the exceeding great
and pr'(IOU., promisl's which l'xtl'nd only to those who become
h 'ons. This to hepoming sons and joint-heirs,
i .. the purpo.,e of full pon.,,pration-the fnll surrender of our
O\\n will" inc'lmling all the aims and objects and purposes of
hff'. ancl lIH'lucling also all that wc have in the way of time,
influpnc'p, mpan". IPputation, etc. Not having taken this step,
not lia\ ing takpn lip thp to follow the I,amh whither'
<;()(,\l'r h' gol'th, large elass very properly feel'! that it is
1!lIe.. tiona!lle to what extent till' Lord's promises, either for
11 ff' that now is or for the life that is to come, belong to them.
Anil in thi, thpy are right; for none of the promises, present
cr futurp. hl'long to tllPm, nor to any, until they have come
uncll'r the t('rm'! of a full .,elf-surrender, consecration, present.
in!! their hodlP'! living saprifices to God, holy, acceptable,
through ,Tpslls Christ our Lord.
Our advice to the'e, then, is that realizing the situation,
they do not longer delay, hut hasten at once to avail them-
'leh.-, of the grpatpst priYileg-e that ('auld possibly be offered,
('I'en the Almighty. If thev stand still they are, in the lan-
glla!!e of the Apostle, re('eiving thl' grace of God in vain-
iailin".!' to use it. (2 Cor. 6:1) God's grace, as freely be-
l'tow('cl upon tho'e who have come to a knowledge of the re-
demption which i.. in Christ .Tesus, is the grace of the forgive.
np., of sin'!, of justification through faith; and the very object
of tll1s grace is to pprmlt or qualif'l/ us to become living sac
acceptable to God's altar through the great sacrifice
of our Rl'deemer.
Whoever, ther('forp. shall advanee thus far and know of his
prinlegp, and yet refuse to present his little all, has failed
to he pon,trainl'd by the love of Christ, has failed to appre-
datI' the diYine favor IJPstowed upon him, and manifests this
failure by his neglect to t!';e his opportunities, by hi'! negleet
to sa('rifice the imperfept fragment of thi" present life, that
hl' might obtain in exehange thl' !!'reat pri7e of glory, honor
un,l immortality, ancl joint-h,'irsll1p with Jesu., in the king-
my ltfe, and I shall dwell in the houst! of the lJord forerer."
dam: such repeive God's grace in vain, profiting nothing by
it over and above the world, which as yet lies in darkness and
blindness.
What should sueh do? They should at once resolve that
to render all they have to the Lord's servipe is not only a rea-
sonable thing, but an offering far too small-far less than
what they would like to render to him who has manifested
such compassion and grace toward us. And we should feel
thus, even if there were no rewards attached to such a con-
secration of ourseh'es. But inasmuch as God has attaehed
great rewards and blessings, we should fpel not only that a
refusal to accept would bp an indication of non-appreeiation
of didne merey, but an indication also of a of mind,
of judgment, which is unable to balance the tnfling and tran-
sitory pleasures of self-will for a few shol t with an
eternity of joy and ble<;sing and glory, in harmony with the
Lord.
And more than this, the are the onlv onl's who
really fully and truly en joy this present lifl', for they indeed
have a peace of heart which the \\orId ('an neltlwr give nor
take away-a condition which all the woild i'! cm-eting' and
after, but finding not because they it not III the
Lord's way of full self-surrender to him. 'Ye urge, then, upon
the class now addressed that they promptly make their cove-
nant with the Lord, and thm become lwirs of hi, good prom-
Ises pertaining to the life that now i" and also of that which
i'! to come, and that thug they lay the fO/lndatlOn for entering
into "full assurance of the faith" and full assurance of the
hope that God's mercy and goodness shall follow thl'm all the
days of the present life, and that they shall dwell in the
heavenly home forever.
(2) But amongst those who are real Christians, and who
have made a full covenant of sacrifice unto the Lord, we find
many who say, and more who think it without saying-"O
that I could feel sure that God's goodness and mercv would
continue with me all the days of my life, and that I should
attain unto his kingdom! 0 that I might have a full assur-
ance of faith, a full assurance that I am accepted of the Lord,
and that by his grace I shall ultimately be an overcomer!"
\Vhat is the difficulty wit.h this class Why is it that these
do not possess this full assurance of faith? \Ve answer, that
their difficulty is a lack of faith in God, and such a lack of
faith is not pleasing to God, for "without faith it is impos-
sible to please God." Such lack of faith, moreover, i'! a
constant hindrance to their overcoming, as it is written, "Thie
is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."
The Christian who has not the shield of faith, and a large one,
is continually at disadvantage before the adversary.-Heb.
11:6; 1 John 5:4.
What must be done to overcome this lack of faith, and to
have an increase of faith? \Ve answer, that like the apostles
of old he should pray, "Lord, increa'e our faith." And then,
acting in harmony with this /prayer, each should oulti'Vate
faith in his Own heart: (a) By refreshing- his memory con-
tinually with the divine promises, becoming very familiar with
these in the Father's Word. (b) He should seek more and
more to remember that having made his covenant with the
Lord thl'se promises are and in his heart and with his
lips he should claim them as his before the Lord in prayer
with thanksgiving. He should claim them as his in his own
thOlllZhts, and in hi, conferpncfs on holy things with the
brethren.
[2642]
JUNE 1. 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER
(170-171)
vVhen trials or difficulties or perplexities arise, he should
think of these promises, remembering that they belong to him
-because God has promised them to such as love him-who
have made a covenant by self-sacrifice. (Psa. 50: 5; Mal.
3 : 17 ) He should resolve henceforth to trust the word of the
heavenly Father implicitly. Thus, if some seeming aCCIdent
befall him, let him call to his mind the promise that "All
things work together for good to them that love God, to them
that are ca lied according to his purpose," and assure himself
that the seeming accident would not have occurred had God
not seen a way to make it the channel of a needed lesson or
blessing. Let hIm refresh his mind with the thought that he
come'l under the provisions of this promise he loves
the Lord, amI so loved him as to make a full consecration of
himself to him; thus he is assured that this promise was
intended for him.
Let Ruch also remember the language of the Apostle, that
if God loved us while we were yet sinners, so that he provided
for us the great salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord, much
more does be love us now, since we have been justified through
faith in the great atonement, and have made a full consecra-
tIOn of ourselves to him, and thus come under the terms of
adoption Into his family. Let him remember, too, that he who
has begun the good work changes never, and that if our hearts
are still in harmony with him, if our faith is still clear and
firm 111 the great atonrment, if our consecration is still full
and complete, so that we seek not our own wills but his will
to be done in our atfairs, then we may indeed have the full
of faith, because knowing that God is unchangeable,
and knuwing that we are still in line with his promises and
arrangement", we know that all of his gracious
are being exercised on our behalf. ThIS is full assur-
anLl' of faIth-full confidence in the Lord.
(:3 I It b po'isihle. however, for the true Christian who has
bkpn the step of jU'itification and the step of conRecration
and adoption into God's family, and who has had the blessing
of full assurance of faith-it is possible for such to lose thi",
if he become overcharged with thE' carE'S of this life, cold 8JId
indifferent as respects the Lord, his kingdom, his brethren,
lJis caw;,E', etc. Such, of coursE'. should not have a full assur-
ance of faith: God does not intend it for them, but rather
intends that if we lE'ave the proper consecrated attitude we
should also lose the joys and consolations which belong to it.
And this is not merely as a retribution or punishment, but
designed speCIally to awaken us to a realization of what we
are losing, to the intent that such as have "lost their first
love" may be revived, may renew their consecration vows, and
thus return to the Lord, who will abundantly pardon and
restore unto them the joys of his salvation.
So then, rE'viewing our text, we say that this assurance of
faith that God's goodness and mercy will follow us all the
days of our lives, and that we shall ultimately hy his grace
attain to the kingdom, is for the mentioned in this
Psalm, viz., the Lord's who are following him,
and who are having the experiences outlined in this
One of these experience'l is that following thl' Rhl'phenI they
are not left to hunger and thirst. hut are bountifully supplied
in the grE'en pastures and by the still waters of the truth.
Moreonr, it applies to who experience the Shepherd's
care, his rod and staff. correcting, reproving or gni(hng them.
Such slleep as learn to loye and IJave confidenl'e in the Shep-
herd and in his guidance. and to take comfort and
out of all the afflictions and trials of life which may be per-
mitted to come upon them, realizing that they are prodLlen-
tial, and for their continue to follow the Shep-
herd, continue to have the experiences of and may re-
joice with full assurance of faith that he who began the gOfd
work of slwpherding them and leading them out from the by-
ways of sin and of into the full of the
heavenly Father, will ('ontinue this work and complete It, if
they abide in him.-.John 15:4,6.
"GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD"
MATT. 6: II; JOHN
Je'lU'l and the apostles, entering a boat, sailed across the
northerlv end of Lake Galilee. The boat was in full view of
thE' for probably all of this distance, and the multitudes,
not onlv of those who had heard Jesus, but other multitudes
on their way to Jerusalem to attend the Feast of the Passover,
going by slow journey afoot, saw the boat and judged of its
objective point, and many, desirous of seeing the great Prophet
Jesus. of whom they had heard many things, deviated their
course toward the pomt of the boat's landing. And so it was
that after .Jesus and the disciples had reached their destina-
tion (and he llad been for some time instructing them in
things pertaining to the kingdom) looking up tlwy beheld a
vast concoU! se of people approaching the spot.
.Je-u'l of course knew that with the vast majority at least
the object in coming was merely curiosity, not faith nor desire
for in'itruetion. Neverthcless, as always, his generou'l heart
was full of sympathy. He beheld them as sheep having no
shepherd, as following Moses and the Doctors of the Law in a
blind, irrational manner, and having comparatively
lIttle capacIty or hearIng for the g'ood tidings which he had
to give. Neyertheless. notwithstanding the fact that they were
not in a con(htion to receive spiritual truths such he coulcl
give to his di'lciples, he proposed to give them a g('neIaI object
lesson which might do them good physically at the time, and
which might be a channel for blessing in the future, as they
would look back and remember the event. He proposed to feed
the multitude with natural food. and to do it in such a manner
as would impress them favorably, and besides, teach a great
of faith and trust to his apostles, who would need in
future times the faith and confidence inspired by the miracle
which he intendE'd to work.
Philip, one of the apostles, resided in a city not far from
where they were; hence it was with special appropriateness
that our Lord addressed to him the question of supplies-
where sufficiency of bread could be obtained, etc.; not, as the
Apostle explain!'!, that .Jesus was in any question on 'lIb-
jed, but that he wished to stimulate the thought of Philip and
the other apostles, and thus to proyc or test them and dcyelop
their faith in him. Philip, however, took the qlwstion in a
purely practical form, and replied that it would require two
hundred pennyworth ($34) of bread to satisfy eyen partIally
so large a company. But Andrew, apparE'ntly thinking of our
Lord's power, but scarcely able to realize so great a miracle,
suggested that there was a beginning of the supply at
6:5-14.-JUNE 17.
in the fivE' barley loaves and two IJy one
of the company.
Combining the of the diJferent E,'angeli,ts we
might suppose the dialogue between J psus and the disclples
to have been about as follows:
Jeslls.-"'Vhence shall we buv bread, that th('"e may eat e,"
. Plulip.-"Two hundred of hread is not sum-
clent for them. that everyone may take a little"
All the apostles.-"Send the multitude away thflt thry mav
go into the towns and country round about, aiid lu(Ige and get
victuals." (Luke.)
Jesus,-"Give ye them to eat," ([,uke.)
All the apostles.--"Shall we and buy two hundred pen-
nyworth of bread and give them to eat?" (lIfark,)
Jesus.-"How many loaves havE' ye? Go and see," (Jlark,)
Andrew.-"There is a lad here whh-h lw.th til p harlev
loaves and twC' small fishes; hut wllat are thpv among s'o
many?" .
Thus did our Lord prepare tIl' min(ls of to
appreciate the miracle he was ahout to perf01 m, and then
instructed them to seat the prople for the meal.
This was a comparatively easy ta-k. it a grassy
country. WP are told, and the people wpre ,U'l'u"tonw(! to a err-
tain method of arranging themselves in groups of and
hundreds for general feasts.
The fact that our Lord Jesus gave thanks for the hread
and fish should be an important to all who ,,('ek in any
degree to be his followers. If it wa s appropriate that he
render thanks to the heavenly Father for "omc plain
barley bread (the poorest and dwapp'it SOl t), and for
dried fish, how approprIate it that WI' who bv nature are
sinners and under and only permitted to call
God our Father through the re('oneiliation that is in Christ
.Jesus-how that we should lift our hearts and
voices in thankfulness to the heayenlv Father as the author
of every good blessing and gift wlJh'h '\\ I' Plljoy!
vVe cannot understand how any dare neglect to
render thanks for his daily food, and we tllOl"oughly behel'e
that those who do neglect thi" propriety are great losers
thereby. God, of course, lose" nothing. for giving does not
impoverish him. neither would withhol(lillg make him rich;
but the Christian who has leanl'(l in evprything to give
thanks, and to make acknowledgment to tIll' heavenely Father,
has IE'arned to appreciate and to enJoy hi'i hlr'i"ing more than
[2643]

ZION'S WATCH TOWER AU.%HENY, FA
others. To "ul'h thankful hearts the plainest of food will be
more appleelatcd. IlIorc happifying, more satisfying than to
Anll It undoubtedly a fact that a peacelul, thank
1111, happy mllltl IS not only a blessing of It"elf, but addi-
tIOnally an a \(1 to and to the olJtallllllg of good
I,ellenb from the fooll whleh wc eat. How many dyspeptics
.... now that It b to eat without satbtylllg, and to have
['lenty, and et I;l' unable to denve therefrom comfort and
jllllper nOUlI IIWIlt! And perha t bere i,; no better antidote
to dy-pCp-l,t than a thankful, grateful hcart, wlueh acknowl-
dhillc alld beck'! to HI>P them. not only with
hilt with ((JIltelltmt'nt, and has grpat gain.
'Il'll<'. not faIlurp" to ;lcknowledgp 111m in
dl OUI hilt, to causc the to I>hllle upon
th,' "1 J! nd lJPOIl t h.. !lood, anll to "end the ram ahke upon
h,' ! alill III" II Il.l II-t , and to pprmlt many of the blessings
.[ tillS llf.. to l'lllltlllUI' with wh,) make no proper
I. knUll lcd"JllI'IIi of tlt"lll. Nf'l S\ll h l'annot hope to
'",1.,1 III dl\ IIII' lalor. thl'." rlllght If III all th"lr ways they
" knOll led;,:,'d (;oll anll "',ught to sep in all th.. affair" pf life
'liM 10101 idl'lltl'd I ,HI'
'1'll''',1' ) "IlHllk-. hOIII'I,r. apply not to th.. worlrllll g-enf'l'::t1,
"<'I' to 1lI1 I, /lollJinal h.. lJel'et-. hnt onlv i" 1 who have
;)Pl'JJI,' 1!Jl' I.old, pl'opl, hy Plltcnng into a (',Hl'n,lllt WIth him
throol;..:!J ('ill hi for 111 .. I\orld In gellPral. Ilho are not seek
to !J" tIl(' LOld'" p",)!.le an,l to walk ill thp foobteps of
',"n'.. It I\OIlI,1 "P"HI that tllPlr nllt'rill!! of thank<." or prayers
,.1' any kind. IllIuld II(' Inappropl'lat ... <I- 1\'(' rl'ad: "Ent unto
1]1t' \I<ll kl'd (;I,d "'lulh, \\ Imt. tholl to do to e!pl'larl' my
III that. t hon ,.!JOltld(8t, takp In,' eoyenant in thy
'1J()lJth" i"'I,i" .. th,lt t linn hatest ip"tlneb;1II anll east"8t mv
'lord, I,pllind 50' Hi, Ii) III a word, then, ther'f'
'''0 j 11,,1 onp J t way to to 1)( th.. Lord's follower8, and
tho"e 1\ ho do lint w""h to h('gill according to the Lord's direc-
'lOll, III , o-,lh(cratiolJ. ha VI' 1.0 I ight to suppose tlmt outward
,,1'1., (,f fOll1lalJ -tic pit'l.Y arp aecl'ptaule or pleasing to God.
V;, Inlht I)('coml' thp Lord'l> before we can hope that any
'0 p or Ice from ns will he accpptable tn him throngh
r(I\
Tltl' failh of till' l'l Ilell demonstrated in the faet
I h,lt tlll'y III ,'('pe!pll to ... pat tIle TH'ople. aecorr!ing to the Lord'"
lTl"fnl:,tion". Hne! tlJ('n plol'c"e!cd to (lilIJle to them the. at
lir;,t, \'l ry lllllitpd qlHlIltlty of food. Without faith in the
[,ord tllI'y 1\01l11! lllJdonhtedly have rpfllsee! to take any part
III Ihp fp,lIing that it would hring reproach and
ri,licnll' npoll The whil'h t hey learned in
thiR COllJ1l'I'1 ion no douht went II ith them through subsequent
,\'<,ar<.,. tcal'hillg- thp!n that thl'y ('oulll do all things by the
powpr of if nnder his command. And the
-aIIIp fon'dully to HOI all. Reither our nor
'lUI' an' wholly hy onr own abJiitie8. A
propel' faIth in till' LOllI pl'rmit;, uo; to l"J'alizp omnipotput
powpr. and that If Itp hI' with fOI in<.,LlJIce in til('
but ion of food to the hungry, the little of mC'ans and
"biltty and opportunity at our may he so bles"ee! aH to
''''I'ol1lpli'''h llIal IdJllh TudeI'll. ha\c w.. not thi" very
experience today in connection with the spread of the harvest
mes"age? Out of the little of means and talent, opportunity
and ability, what God hath wrought! How many have been
fed and are heing fed!
The miracle was all the Lord's, and yet a great blessing
came to the apostles, in that they were privileged to be co-
workers with the Lord. And similarly here, in the dissemI-
nation of the harvest message, we recognize that it i,; all of
our Lord, the present Bndegroom, King, Reaper, and yet that
he is pleased to use as disseminators of the truth all those
who have faith in him and who gladly accept his service. As
our Lord couid have perf01 med the miracle of feeding the five
thousand without the instrumentality of his disciples, so now
he could feed the hungry Israelites lIIdeed-who are famished,
not for bread and not tor water, but for the heanng of tht'
\Vord of the Lord (Amos 8: II )-without 0111' aill. Let UH
gratrful!y thank him for the privilege of being ('o-workers ITl
any capacity, and let us the more zealously do \\ith our might
whatsoHer our hands find to do.
Another grrat le<;son taught by miraeJe waR that of
economy; for the apostles who distnhutpd the fooll were rr-
qui red to gather up for their owu future uqe the sUitahlp frag-
which remained, and ear'h one al'l'onlingly fillNI his
ket 01' haversack, which they Ivrre accustP111ed to carry III theIr
jonrneys. The miracl" would have hall only half Its weight
without thi" closing lesson of el'onomy. The and the
multitude might have learned to think of God's powers in an
implOper light, and to hal-e expreted sUl'h prmi ... ioll n" woulll
compensate for their carelessne'\s and prodigality. But till'
gathering of the fragments showrd. tir-t of all. the imlllpnslt.1
of the mll'aele, and. sccondly. it taught thp tll.lt WI' all'
to lhe the \\hiph God has put into our an,l not
to e:\pect unnecessary
How many of the Lord's dear people llP,'d to learn
lesson of ecollomy? How many are wasteful of tlle ,laily foo,1
which the Lord prcYides? How many would lie the more
blrs"ed by learning to pl'adice careful economy, not only that
thry might have in the fntur". but also that thcy mi!!ht 1JI
emergenl'Y supply to spiritual or natural fooll OppUI
tunity alforded? Let all who are to be
ane! wa<.,teful well con'\ider from thp great Tl'al'hl'r.
nothing is to he wastcd. that we hitvc a
in re"pect to alT that God has IHovidrd for us, eithcr dil
or indireetly, and that after asking divine blessing upon 0111'
affairs, and thu,; signifying our appreciation of thrm. we :0 I'
to seek to wisely U8e them, we think would be plpa'\ing ;n
his sight, and frugalTy, economically.
The Harne lesson might be applied also to our spiritual foud.
The fact that the Lord givl'n us bountifully n('\\
and old" does not mean that we are to treat hlessl'l!
carelessly, when wp have paten thereof and founll sat-
isfaction to our souls; rather, we are to be careful of all thl'
fragments, and are to gather and preserve them for furthel
and future use, esteeming them none the less the LorJ1's pro-
vision than when we received them from hi'\ hanll".
REVIEW OF THE QUARTER'S STUDIES
"l'hYI_kin.!Jdom COIIIC>' thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven."
thp "t1Hlil''' of til(' qlIaltl'r we fine! thnt nearly (5) "v'e saw how the faith of John the Baptist was tested
:111 of thplIl ,Ill' related to our Golden Text. by reason of the fact that the kingdom work did not come in his
(I) We hall the jJl'atitwlc'\-the conditions of heart and day just as he had expeetell it would, and we saw how care-
.'haradl'r es... cntial to our participation in kingdom class fulTy our Lord explained to him wherein his expectations had
that God ha.; dp('larerl he ... elpl'ting from the world, and been partly erroneous, and indicated how events as they were
whilh hy and hy he Will glorify with the Kmg Emmanurl in in progress were in fnll accord with the testimony of the
hili killgdom. prophet'\. And so we have learned in respect to the estab-
(2) \Ve had ('('rta in precl'pts. pr omises and warningH 1'1" lishing of the spiritual kingdom now, to trust not to our own
,ped ing how thi" kingdolll eJas,", make development. not imaginations, but to go rather to the vVord of the Lord, and
;n sitting ill .ludgnJ('nt upon others 1I0W, but rather by judg. to '\ee what therein is written, and so doing we are able to
ll1g nothll1g hefore the tJlnp, whcn thry shalT be granted the note today what we would not otherwi'\e be able to discern
of in Rnl'h glorious measure :1'\ will permit how that our Lord's great plan is grandly progressing in har-
jlldg-ing to be a hll'ssillg to the world, and that mony with what was written aforetime.
this kingdom daR8 mu"t seek the narrow way to glory, honor (6) We saw, in our Lord's denunciation of Capernaum,
,lIld immortality. Chorazin and Bethsaida, how possible it is for some in our
(:l) We ha(i the miracle of the awakening of the daughter day to have great privileges, as those cities had great knowl
of ,TRims, an of the great work of the kingdom pdge, great opportunities of coming into accord with the Lord's
when it shall bl' set up, and whpn all mankillJl shall b(> 1'1'- kingdom, and yet through lack of faith to fail utterly-to fail
lea8l'd from the prison-house of dcath. more miserably as respects pleasing God than did such heathen
(4) \Ve had the healing of the centurion's servant, an cities as Sodom and Tyre and Sidon. We saw, nevertheless,
oth"r picture of restitution blessings which are to be genpral that the fulT number of the elect church or kingdom class
at the time that our Lord's prayer, in our Golden Text. is real would be found in God's due time, and that then will commence
il':cd, ann God's kingnom flhall come and his will he done on the great Judgment Day of the world, in which it will be
f'arth It'\ it is in heaven, tolerable for all, under the righteous judgment of the great
[2644]
JUNIl I, \900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER
(174-175)
King, but more tolerable for Ruch as Sodom and Gomorrah
than for those who have had the greater privileges and knowl
edge and misused them.
( 7) \Ve found, in the case of Simon and the woman that
was a sinner, that some who occupy important positions in
the nommal church may be much further from the kingdom
of God a" re-<pectR their hearts than are some others who have
outwardly been livmg a less correct life, and that some of
the latter, reforming, may become more zealous toward the
Lord and more acceptable with him, and hence more eligible
to the kingdom.
(8) The parable of the sower showed us the importance of
having our hearts in a correct attitude toward God, not full
of worldly ambitions and cares, which as "thorns" would
choke the very best Reed, but freed from these that we should
be ready to receive "the good seed of the kingdom" into our
heartR, and to be exercised thereby into seeking first the king.
dom of God.
(91 We saw various parables of the kingdom, illustrating
to us the church's present experiences, while waiting for the
completion of the elel't number and the full inauguration then
of the kingdom glory and power to bless the world. We saw
the true Chri,tianR repreRented by the "wheat," the outgrowth
of pure doetrine, the good seed of the kingdom. 'Ve saw false
Christians represented by the "tares," and the false doctrines
which produce Ruch, which were sown by the adversary. \Ve
saw the growth of the nominal church represented as being
Yery great, but as resulting in inviting into it the fowl-
"every undean and hateful bird." \Ve saw that the Rpiritual
food provided for the Lon!'s houRehold had been corrupted by
the "woman" everywhere predominant throughout the Scrip-
tures, the wine-cup of whose abominations have made drunk
all nations.-Rev. 18 :2, 3.
( 10) We have Reen that the sending forth of the twelve
apostles was with the same message, the same GORpel of the
kingdom, that the Master declared, and that similarly who-
ever is sent out of the Lord today as a servant of the truth
has the Rame meRsage, the Gospel of the kingdom, under which,
when it is established, God's will shall be done on earth as it
IS done in heaven.
(II) The lesson of Herodias and her wicked ambition and
sinful course, in which Herod shared, taught UR that earthly
ambitions lead downward and sinward, away from God and
into degradation, but that the ambition set before the church,
viz., to be God'!'1 kingdom, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with
Jesus Christ our Lord, if so be that we suffer with him, is the
lawful ambition which leads upward and is elevatmg in its
every influence and purifying as reRpectR our heart.s and lIves.
(12) Finally, in the feeding of the multitude, we see illus
trated our Lord's compassion for the people, whICh compassion
during the Millennial kingdom will have fulleRt sway, when
the bread of life shall be broken to all of the hungry, and
when all shall be privileged to share in the blessingR which
the Lord's kingdom will bring, and that then those who have
followed him in the present time shall be associated with him
in the work of blessing the multitude under the gloriouR king-
dom conditions.
'Ve may wpll pray from the heart. in the language of our
Golden Text, Lord, "Thy kinwlom corne; th,\' will be done on
earth as it i" done in heaven."
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WHEN PERSECUTED, FLEE as being much more modest than the frequest use of "I said,"
Question.-How should we understand and apply Matt. "I think," "I expect," "I believe," I find, etc. And this custom
10: 23-"When they persecute you in this city, flee ye to an- i-< followed in the ablest newspapers and journals of our lan<:l.
other; for verily I say unto you, ye shall not have gone over Of course, incidentally, we voice the sentiments of many
the cites of IRrael till the Son of Man be come?" of our readers when voicing our own; because they and we
Answl'r.-These instructions were given primarily to the recognize the Bible as a divine revelation, the only standard
twel\ e Apostles, and doubtless were understood by them to of truth, and endeavor to keep close to its letter and spirit,
mean that their mission was not to stay long in a place, but But "we" will neither bind others to "our" convictions nox
that as persecution arose, and the people were unwilling to permit any to bind "us" to theirs. The only fixed creed we
hear thelT message, they were to go to other cities and vil- recognize is the simple and fundamental one-that God sent
lagef', full of the conviction that the time for their special his Son, who died for our sins; and that through faith in this.
tc,timony of the kingdom at hand was limited, and that they and obedience to him, to the extent of our abilIty, we shall be
woul.! not more than have accomplished their proclamation saved. All who 80 confE'SS are "Christians" and are to be
in all the dtit's of hracl hefore the Son of Man would be pre- trea,ted as "brethren." They should be aSRisted to grow in
sented as and the testing of the nation reach its climax. knowledge and grace, but shoulrl be accorded fullest libcrty-
dimax was reached when, at the end of his three and a "The liberty wherewith Christ hath made Us free." Neither
half years' our Lord rode to them on the ass, as directly nor indirectly has anyone a right to make a crced for
their King, an,! to be received (in harmony with the them nor to otherwise speak for them and thcn imply their
prophe<'v) declared their house henceforth left desolate.- "disloyalty" and "heresy" if they attempt to rcsent misrep-
Luke 13. resentations.
But while this was the primary signification of the Lord's \VATCH TowFjt readers are supposed to be, and urged to be.
words, we believe that like most of his teachings to Israel after the Lord's freemen, and at the same time the Lord's bond-
the fleRh it had a stilI larger meaning than was then due to servants; and to call no man master; becauRe one alone
be understood-an applIcation to the parallel of this their Master and Lord-Jesus. This liberty, however, does not
Gospel age. As there was a "harvest" in the end of the Jewish hlllder them from appreciating one another as "brethren"-
:lge, in which natural Israel was tested, so in the end of this "'Vhose kind designs to serve and please
age there is a "harvest" in which spiritual Israel will be Through all their actions run."
tested. And as there was a proclamation of Jesus III the flesh, Each is free to love and esteem eaph other for thpir
as KIng, 80 there must be correspondingly a proclamation of sake, and to seek to note how the Master iR plea Red to use one
Jesu-<. the new ereature, as King of Glory. And a" in that and another in sNving "the body of Christ." Eaph tree one,
"harvcst" some were sent forth wiih the harvcst message, and loyal to the Lord, is pleased to recognize as special servant,,;
it was to reach all the Israelites within the borders of the of "the body" those whom the Lords specIally u"es. Those
promised land, so now we understand that in the pre"ent har- who are not free with the liberty wherpwith Christ makps free.
vcst the message is going forth, "Behold the bridegroom," and are enslaved to clecisionR of men and to and thcorim"
the further announcement to Zion, "Thy God reigneth." and are not at liberty to follow thE' leadings of divine provi-
(Matt. 25:0; Isa. 52:7) This harvest message is also to be dence and the testimonieR of the divine Word.
und('rstood as limited in time, and the bearers of it are not WHEN WILL SATAN BE BOUND?
to dally, but to exercise diligence, realizing that the time is
h }} 1 d t Question -In the DAWNS you have intimated that th..
8 ort. and that t ICy S la I have time an no more 0 go over binding of Satan in the end or'this age wiI] be accomplished
all the pities of spIritual Israel, before the grand consumma-
tion shall be reached, and the Son of Man shall have com- hy the increase of general int.Plligence-light, pte. lR this the
pleted the first part of his work, the collection of his saints, only senRe in which you consider that he WIll be found?
the "jewels," the "little flock." and thu" the kingdom be set Anslcer.-By no means. Thp binding of Satan with the
up in power. great chain, and the putting of him into the ahy"s mentioned
in Rev. 20 '1-3, all figurative; but the figures are all mean-
OF WHOM AND FOR WHOM DO WE SPEAK? ingful. To UR they signify a complete restraint of Satan and
Question.-\Yhen in the \V ATCH TOWER and DAWNS and all his powers of evil. The great chain represents restraint.
Old Th'3ology Tracts we read "we believe," "our VIews," etc., The word abvsR, in our common version rpndered "bottomlese
are '\\e to under-<tand that a church or sopietv or crped so pit," represe;;t" oblivion. The seal upon it represents divine
teaches? If not, how Rhall we understand pxpressions? ('are that nonp shall interfere with God's arrangement, but
Ansuoer.-No; we speak for no party or sect or creed or that it Rhall all be carried out Rtrictlv in accordan('e with the
confeRsion, but merely for ourself-the Editor. Long ago we divine prearrangement. Our sugges'tion reRpecting the in-
adoptpd the plural pronoun in referring to our personal views fluence of the increased light of the present time is that a pre
III-47 [2645]
(175-; 79) ZION}S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA.
limmary restramt of evil results from turning on the light
of present truth, which makes the evil the more manifest and
the less able to deceive. But this is not all, by any means.
The thought is that the great King, who is now about to take
full control of the world, has full power to bind, to restrain
Satan and every evil power and influence, that nothing may
hurt or injure that whICh is good throughout the Millennial
age, as has been the case during the present age, when the
kingdom of heaven (the church in its incipient state) suffereth
violence, and the violent take it by force, misusing the mem-
bers of the body of Christ, even as they misused also the Head
of the body-<Jur Lord.
'Vhether Satan and hIS associates, the fallen angels, will
remain aAsociated with this earth we do not know, but it is
quite sufficient for us to have thc Lord's assurance that they
will no longer be prince and powers of the air, able to mis-
Tepresent and deceive mankmd, a<, at Some haH
that Satan and his angels would be deported during
the :MIIlpnnial ppriod, hut while "there is no Scripture that we
are aware of which would settle this point, our view is to the
contrary of thIS. We believe that they will not be deporUld
but remain, powerles'< to deceive. Our reason for so supposing
is two-fold:
( 1) This earth has been the scene of their original trans
gressions and subsequent misdeeds, and it would seem proper
that they should W1tness the marvelous transformation which
will ensue after the Prince of Light, the Prince of Peace,
EmmanueL shall assume the reins of power, and bring bles-
sings to all the families of the earth.
(2) The Scriptures assure us that the work of the glorified
church will not only be to give trial to or "judge the world"
of mankind during the MIllennial age, but that it will include
also the judgment or trial of these fallen angels: and if both
mankind and the angels are to be judged, during the
period, it would seem entirely reasonable that both should be
associated with the earth and its atmosphere.-l Cor. 6:3;
2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6.
"I THAT SPEAK AM HE"
JOHN 4:26; 9:37.
f'h(> came, thc tlllnty on(>, to 11\1 lIt'l pit,,!Ior.
And found a stranger sitting un t!Ip bl ink:
AmI whilc puurE'd for him th(> well's rcfrebllllJent.
He gave the precious cup of hfe tu dnnk.
And when "he wondered at her hfe's rp\"ealmg:.
And if deeper depths could see,
He graciously her ri"ing faith en('ouragcd.-
"1 that bpeak to thee am Ht,
And so whcn we, blest Master, come, all empty.
To fountains, we but drink, and drink in vain;
He thou with satisfying waters waiting,
That we lllay drink, and nen'r t1llrst again.
Our wayward hearts' true ir,wardness disclosing,
Constram our timid faith to hope in thee,
And let us hear again the gracious meosage--
"I that to 1hee am He'"
They turned him from the synagogue accursed,
Whose gift of sight the Savior had bestowed;
And, burnmg under grief and indIgnation,
He sought again the well-rememhered road.
And while he mused upon his kindly patron,
And if he could indeed Messiah be,
Lo. One with beaming countenance him
"I that spcak to thec am Ife'"
And so, dear Lord, when our dim eyes are opencd.
And onetime friends thy healing power desspise.
Be thou anear with of eheer and pornfort.
To grant our saddest hour a glad surprise.
And when life's subtle mysteries }Jprplex Uo,
Unlock to us with faith's unfailing
That we may hear from out the oppn pOl
"1 that speak to thee am He!"
The proud and haughty still a sign requiring,
In vain the zenith and horizon scan,
,,'hile walks among them One with vesture girded,
To wield the purging and discerning fan.
But he who humbly treads the path of duty,
\Vith eyes unsealed shall his Deliv'rer see;
IIis trial hour shall brighten with this 1oken-
"I that speak to thee am He!"
R. B. HI':NNINGES.
VOL. XXI ALLEGHENY, PA., JUNE 15, 1900
============
VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER
No. 12
THOUGHTFUL WORDS OF AN ABLE :MAN
An exchange quotes epigrammatic statements from various
addresses delivered before the "Erumenical Mission Confer-
ence," held recmtly in New York City, and among them all
none impressed us so much as the following by Mr. Benjamin
Harrison, ex-President of the United Rtates:
"The natural man lives to be ministered unto-he lavs his
imposts upon others. He buys slaves that they may fan him
to sleep, brlllg 111m the jeweled cup, dance before him, and die
in the arena for his sport. Into such a world there came a
Kin!!', 'not to he minister unto, but to minister.' The rough
winds fanned his sleep; he drank of the mountain brook and
made not the water wine for himself; would not use his power
to stay his own hunger, bnt had compassion on the multitude.
He pallcd them IlC had bought with a great price no more
servants but friends. He entered the hloody arena alone. and,
dyin!!, broke all chains and brought life and immortality to
light."
by many other notable reverend gentlemen and Doctors of
Divinity, also "orthodox," must be considered equally as
"orthodox" a conference as the one which met in New York
City. Yet note the wide difference in these applications of the
term "orthodox;" for the Boston Convention accepted and
11Card all religions-Christian, anti-Christian, Buddhist and
Brahmin, Confucian on a common level.
As a matter of fact this word orthodox, which signifies
"correct or sound doptrine," is claimed by everybody; for no
one could conscientiously hold to anything he considered un-
Bound or incorrect. But in applying the term to others is the
difficulty: how for instance can a Methodist agree that Pres-
byterian doctrine of foreordination and predestination is cor
reet or "orthodox" and still refuse to accept it? Or how can
a Presbyterian agree that Methodist doctrine is "orthodox"
when it differs so radically from his own? And how can "Dis-
ciples" and "Baptists" recognize as "orthodox" or correct and
other doctrines whiC'h ignore water immer"ion, which
THE ANOMALIES OF "ORTHODOXY" Baptists and Disdples strenuously claim is absolutely essen
The "Ecumenical Conference" on missions recently in ses- tial to a membership in the church of Christ, and to the sal-
sion in New York CIty, considering ways and means for vation which they claim is provided only for the church'
preaphing the gospel to Brahmins, Buddhists, Confucians, The fact is that the various sects were muC'h more ron
Greek Catholics and Roman Catholirs-in its very name ignor. Bistent when they each denied that the other was "orthodox"
ing Romanism as anti-Chri;tian, since its missions were not and earh claimed that itself alone was the "orthodox," the
recognized or included under the comprehensive term Eoo- ('orrert and doctrinally sound church.
memcal--was of course "orthodox." At the same time there What brought about this change? We answer. Two things
was in session in the city of Boston another and quite different compired to produce the present inconsistent condition.
convention or Religious Congress, which being under the lead (I) Religious doctrinal convictions have softened, though
of the famous "orthodox" preacher, Heber Newton, supported the professions continue as hard 11Ild as ever. Instead of
[2646]
JUl\ 15, 1900 ZIONJS WATCH TOWER
(1SO-181)
CotlvtCtion hall come uncel taint>", uoubt, skepticism and the Boston Theological Deminary. The students resigned, intend-
general feeling that "nobody knows-we may be right, you ing to go to other M. E. colleges presumed to be sound on the
may be right or all may be wrong." Scriptures; but to their surprise they found a solid denomi-
(2) Not knowing who is right we will simply stick to our national front against them, which conspired so successfully
ou;n church [not to Christ's one. true church, "whose names that they were refused admittance to any. This means that
are written in heaven"] as being as good as any other man- infidelity to the Bible, under the name of "higher criticism,"
made ehurch. and merely recognize all others claiming the is being impressed upon every M. E. minister now issuing from
name of Christ and having influence, wealth and numbers as these seminaries. And it means that the greatest power of
being also "orthodox," correct also-for all we know to the Methodism, its ministry, scattered all over the land, is to be
contrary. But in preventing any advanced thought being- exerted to the gradual undermining of the faith of Meth-
known as "orthodox" all are agreed-they have already sufli- odists. And, "like priest like people," it means that Meth-
cient confusion unavoidably covered by that term-unavoid- odism will soon be fighting God's Word stealthily, covertly,
ably, because to deny the term "orthodox" to any popular from the inside-inside the house of its professed friends.
system would be to invite it to denounce yours as "unorth- However, this will only awaken some of the Lord's true saints
odox," and thus to raise a doctrinal discussion which neither in that house and show them that it is high time for them
cares to risk before the people, lest the weaknesses and falla- to come out from Babylon-and from its confwdon of false
cies of all be disclosed to those now "at ease in Zion," dozing, doctrines.
if not sound asleep, on all such subjects. Zion's Herald publishes the results of an investigation re-
This is the meaning of the general opposition of all denomi- specting the number of "oonversions" made by two hundred
nations to what we are presenting from the Scriptures as pres- M. E. ministers, educated in the Boston Seminary since Higher
ent truth: they see that it is a positive doctrine and that Criticism and Evolution began to be taught there fifteen years
those who receive it have conviotions: they see, too, that these ago. The results are reported with great satisfaction as giv-
appeal to the Bible and apply its statements in a manner that ing evidence that Methodism is prospering exceedingly under
brings order out of the hitherto confusion and babel of the the diet which repudiates the doctrine of the ransom and
sects: they perceive. too, that it is reasonable (which they makes void the Word of God. These two hundred ministers
know none of the others are) and they each individually and report 6,023 "conversions" during the six months preceding
all eollectively fear that if heard upon its merits it would March I, 1900. The argument drawn from this is that M. E.
sweep all theories before it into oblivion. It is therefore "Self- prosperity lies in that direction, and that the sooner the old
preservation, the first law of nature." which incites the so- fogy believers in the Bible and the Cross wake up and abandon
called "orthodox" against the glad tidings of great joy which these the more rapidly will Methodism pro'lper. Hence it was
shall be unto all people. For just the same reasons the various taken as beyond question that the General Conference would
sects and parties of the .Tews, however diverse, united ag-ainst certainly not raise its voice to interrupt successful procedure.
the true light as God revealed it in the close of the Jewish But to what were these 6,023 per'lOnfl "eonvel Lect ?" To
age. Methodism' Pos'lihly a verv few of them mav have been con-
We of eourse claim that the WATCH TOWER presentations verted to the I..ord. Yet when one remembers that nearlv all
are orthodox, correct, sound doctrinally-otherwise we would such so-called converts are children of from eig-ht to fifteen
not. them. And we go farther and deny that the years, it seems amusing to credit their "conversion" to either
lllconslstent, unreasonable and un'!criptural doctrines truth or error or to call them "conversions" at all.
of Babylon are orthodox. 'Ye claim that although almost all Principle seems to be disappearing in respect to religious
the c:eells of Christendom contain some grains of truth, they matters. Churchianity of all denominations seem" to be get-
contam much more error, which quite beclouds and nullifies ting to be a bu-siness governed by "rules of trade" and "Iawc
their elements of truth. of. supply and demand." What do the people want? What
Nevertheless, we claim that our standard of "orthodoxy" WI 1.1 draw the crowd. add to the church list and trea'!ury?
is not narrow when applief] to Chri'ltian people, though it is EVIdently these are the queries which cause preachers most of
so exclu'live as respects all the creeds of Christendom. It if! their anxious thoughtfl rather than-What messaae does thp
just as broad as the Bible will permit; and who that acknowl- Lord's Word give me for his people? What is the
O
Truth and
edges its authority has a right to ask for more or to accept how can I hest make it plain to the Lord's sheep?
les'l? But then again. how could we expect these wise "higher
Our standard of orthodoxy as applied not to sects but to critics" to lay much emphasis on the word'l of our Lord and
Chll"tiall'l, personally, recognizes as correct and sound in doc- the apostles and prophets when they have concluded them-
trine all who acknowledge the following points: (1) That he selves to be wiser than they-claiming- that our Lord and the
is hy nature a member of the fallen. condemned race and hence apostles made numerous and grievous mistake'! in quoting
a child of wrath even as others, and justly under the divine from Moses, Da:vid. Isaiah and other prophets, words which
sentence of condemnation. (2) That Christ died for the un- these modern wIse men declare were never uttered by these
godly. for Adam and all his condemned race; and hence God prophets. The conclusion is that if the Lord and the apostlec
can now be just in jU'ltifying him and all who believe in in these matters they were not infallibly inspired respect-
Jesu'l. (3) That his justification is the basis of his call to full lllg others: and if they, the "higher critics," could correct
consecration in self-sacrifice, and that he has thus devoted his them on these points they could give them general instruction,
all to the Lord, in exchange for the share in the Millennial and are surely more competent authoritiefl themselves.
kingdom which the Lord ha'! promised to all such "over- Alas for the poor sheep' How many may be ('xpected to
comers."-Rev. 2:26; 3:lg, 21. follow the pernicious ways of these faise shepherds! Nonl.'
All the above describe(] class are properly recognized as too extravagant is the prophetic declaration, "A thousand shall
"orthodox" and "brethren." however they may differ on minor fall at thy side"-only the sanctified in Christ Jesus, copieE
details in the correct knowledge of which thev may be ex- of God's dear Son, will be able to stand complete in him.
peeted to grow under the Lord's guidance; building one an- These will be "very elect." and it will not be possible for
other up in [the details of] their most holy faith, as revealed them to be deceIved and ensnared; for God will give his mes-
in the 'Vord of the Lord, which. as thev come more and more sengers a charge [a messag-e] for them rpresent truthl and
to understand it, will make them wiser and wiser respecting thus the'le "feet" of the body of Christ shall be upheld that
th!' good and acceptable and perfect will of God-unto salva- they stumble not.-Psa. 91: I, 7, 11, 12.
tion-until "alvation actual, the "crown of life," With o-Iorv. EDUOATED WHITE SAVAGES
hOllor and immortality, shall be the grand outcome of the
fini'lhed race. That education is valuable no one will dispute, nor is it
Who know'! any fault to find with this Bible standard of to be denied that it frequently puts a refined polish upon the
" h d " actions and words of men and women who are therefore known
ort 0 oxy ? No one! But this i'l the chief ground of objec-
tion to it in the eyes of churchianity: it antagonizes and as gentle-men and gentle-women. It is a mistake. however, to
would speedily destroy not only one but all sects: hence all confound this kind of surface polishing with the "begetting of
oppose it-the far-seeing preachers leading their ever-confiding the spirit," "a new heart." The one is a gilding of the surface
flocks into the battle against the Lord and his truth. in whif'h manners, the other a transformation of the entire being affect-
h I
lllg the sentiment as well as the conduct.
t roug I temporary success they eventually are the sad losers.
As a painful lesson on this subject, proving that fine educa-
METHODISM AND HIGHER CRITICISM tion may leave men still savage at heart and only needing
It was expected that the General M. E. Conference would opportunity to develop it, we quote below an article from the
be asked to take some stand for or ag-ainst "higher crIticism;" LIterary DIgest. It relates specially to college bred men of
but so far we have seen no mention of it. The expectation two nations, both of which combine religious and secular edn-
.vas based upon the prott-st made bv a few students against cation-Protestant Germany and Roman Catholic Belgium:
''Higher Crtieism," Evolution. etc.. being taught at the M. E. the representatiycs of the formPr probably were three-fourths
[2647]
ZIONJS WATCH TOWER ALLE<:HENY. PA.
Prot.est.ants and one-fourth Catholics and of the latter all
CatholIcs, corresponding t.o the populations of those rountries.
Both to h(' kingdoms of God, and
their coins rleclnre that th('ir rulers reign "by the grace of
God." We are glad that we hope for a very much better king-
dom for whIch all the more we pray, "Thy kmgdom come, thy
will be done on wrth eren as it is done 1n heaven." The ar'
ticle follows:
"The White Man's Savagery in Afnca"
"\Vhile it is customary to speak of the African natives as
'savages,' awl tu deplore the cru('lty of the Sultan of Turkey,
who the trade to between his dominions
and the e,ht of Afrj('a, late revelatIOns prove t.hat men
of more CIVIlIzed nationalities r'an be quite as cruel. Th('
Brus,els Petit Blelle relates the followmg
. "'The ri,e of the BlInrl,HL trihes against the Kongo authori-
tIes W,lS call,pd by BelgIan t.yranny. Hundreds of men died
with Lothaire and othEr Kongo agent.s in defense of the cruel
pradic(>s thprp. The agpnt. ::\Toray says: 'The rehellion of the
Mongall.L I cgion dlle to the crueltv with which the
natIves are treatpl!. Rubher 'IS the booty of 'the white invader
now. If, 111 a village of 100 male inhabitants able to work,
oBly fifty apppar WIth the reqUIred amount of ruhber, soldiers
are sent to kIll tl,e otltpr fifty. The 'loyal' natives are used
to fight again,t the '<!I,loval,' anrl as all are man-eaters it is
easy to ft'ward the loyahsts hy promises of feasts o'n the
corpses of the '-lain.'
"The following statement which appears in the contmental
papers speaks for itself:
"CONGO STATE, DISTRICT BENGALA :-Before me, Agent of
the Ant.werp Trading Society, appeared at Mandika, the ser-
.,reants Massamboko and :'\Iulanda, and the privates Mutuana
and Ponga, all of the Station of Mandika, who swore as fol-
lows:
"'\Vhite Man! \Ve haye returned from the war. We
mar('hed thirty hours' distance with the white man 1mela
(Van Eykep). He ordered us to enter the VIllages, to see if
the inhabitants had gathered enough rubber. If they had not,
we were to kill them. In one VIllage we told him we had ful-
filled his orders. He told us we had not done enough. He told
us to cut up the men, placing the pIeces on poles; the bodies
of the women and children we were to put in a big scaffold in
the <;hape of a cross. Returning through N'Dobe we found
all the natives treated like that. We swear that this i<; true.
Follow marks and agent's name: :1\1ora:\,.'
"Ac('ording to other reports hundrpds of natives have had
their hanrls chopped off because they dId not furnish the re-
qUIred quantity of rubber. SImilar cruelties are reported
from the French Sudan. Several high offi('ials formprly III the
German employ have aho bpen punished as offenders of this
kind. The Dutch papers remark that the French, English and
Spaniards have a great advantage in the patriotic discipline
of their newspapers, for while the Dutch and German papers
will report an outrage of their countrymen immediately,
Frenchmen and Englishmpn will exercise patriotic prudence."
\Ve l'annot keep in this love unless we have got-
ten into It. ",\nd that all men do not possess it, or are not
in this ('ondition of heart, is not only manifested t.o our senses
through the exppril'm'es of life, but testified to by our Lord
Jesus, who sairl to Rome of the holiness people of his day, "I
know that ve have not. the love of God in you."-John 5:42.
"VI' are'to distinguish then hptween n'atural love and the
love of (i0l1. All mankind ha .. some share at least of natural
love--qlf-love, love for famIly, love of friends. Our Lord,
:9peakmg of tIllS kind of love. implies that it is not the love
of God, saying, "If ye love them that love you, what thank
have ye? For sinners also do even t.he same." (Luke 6: 32)
The love of God, therefore, is a different kind of love to that
which is common to the natural man, and we need to be di-
rected into it, amI to grow or develop in it, as the Apostle
testifies, "The Lord direct your hearts into the love
of God." (2 3:5) We are directed into this love
through the divinp \Vord which brings to our attention the
peculiarIty of God's love as distinguished from t.hat of the
natural fallpn man. \Vhile love in natural man is more
or selfish, even in our vpry hest exerci<;e of it, on behalf
of God commendeth his love toward us as being of a
Imperial' kinrl, in that wllile we were yet sinners, aliens,
strangers, through wickprl works, under his gra<'ious,
loving plan rlied for This kind of unmerited, sac-
rifiring- loY<' wholly (hffcrpnt from anything that is known
to fallpn humanity. As our Lord said, the greatest love
amongst mm would be that a man should lay down his life for
his friends, hut to lay down Ilis Ii fe for his enemies i<; certainly
a mu('h highPr type of gracious, heavenly-
John l:i:l:l; Rom. 5:7.
The first that comes to us, as the eyes of our un-
derstanlling 01wl1 and we pome to somp knowledge of the
divine l'harader amI love. that we percpive or or
camp to IPali7e highl'r typP of low-the love of Gorl.
As the "Hereby perreil'e we the love of God, be-
hr [ChrI'-tl laid down lIfe for us." "Herein was
manlfcsfrd the lovp of God toward us, God sent his
only IJPgott(>n :'1on into the world that we might live through
him."-l John 3'16; 4!l.
It after we haV(' thllR per('eind the love of (iod that it
begins to opprate upon us, if we are in a favorahle condition
-if our hparts are gOOl} ground, prepared under divine provi-
dence for thls knowlpdge. Of such the Apostle says, "The love
of Christ us"-draws us, awakens a reciprocating
love in our that in turn we love God. Not that we
first 10\'ed God. but that his love attraded and developed
ours. (I John 4: I!)) The effert of this love upon the good-
ground heart is that very shortly it derides that it could do
nothing less than love similarly in return, and thus be willing
to lav rlown life in God's service. It that this
would be hut a reasonable service, a reasonable recompense for
divine favors.
"KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD"
JUDE 21.
The Apostle Paul sums up this transformation from sel-
fishness to the love of God in a few words, saying, "\Vp our-
selves also were at one time foolish, disobedient, deceived,
serving div('rs desires and pleasures, living in malice and
envy, hateful and hating one another; but when the goodness
and love of God our Saviour toward man appearPd he saved us
[delIvered us from this evil condition of heart], not on account
of works of righteousness whIch we had don(', but according to
his own mercy, he sand us by the washing of regeneration
and renewing of the holy SpirIt, whIch he shed on UR abun-
dantly through Jesus Christ, our Saviour."--Titus 3::l6.-
See Diaglott.
Thi'l newness of spirit, this new mind, thi'l mind in accord
with the love of God, the Apostle assures us is not received
except by those who receive the holy Spirit. Those who merely
take the step of justification may to some extent experience l\
reformation of life, so that of lIving an openly evil
course they will seek to live at least moral lins. But nonE'
can expect to receive the begetting of the holy Spirit of love,
and thus to become possesR('d of "the love of God." a self
sacrificing love, unless he takeR the step of consecration to the
Lord, which brings him into the conrlition in whi('h 11P may
indeed have the holy Spirit, the spirit of divine love. shed
abroad in his heart. Let none then hope to obtain the love
of God in any other way than the way which Go,l has pro-
vided. Undoubtedly in the Millennial age it will be made
possihle for the natural man to come into "the love of God"
through a process of re<;titution; as he shall more and more
attain to the perfection of human nature in that time he may
to that extent more and more b('come possessed of the love of
God until, when finally perfected. he may this lov> of
God in full measure-because humanity, in its pprfpct condi-
tion, is a fleshly image of the invisihle God. But now. while
we still have these mortal bodieB that are imperfect, and while
restitution has not commenced, there is only the one way of
attaining the love of God-by oberlienee to the call of this age,
to present our bodies living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to
God. through Jesus our Lord.
The new creature is to grow and to be more and more
filled with the holy Spirit-more and more filled with the love
of God; hence we may expect that there will be differences of
attainment in this matter, and we should know what to look
for as evidences of our growth in grace and of our atbinment
of this love of Gorl The Apostle Tohn declares, "This is
[proof of our possession of] the love of God, that we keep his
commandments, and do ?lot find them grievous." (I John
5: a) He who keeps the Lord's commandments, but who finds
them grievous. has thus an evidence that he is not in heart-
harmony with th>m, that he haR not made a full consecration
of himself to the Lord-the obedience of such an one would be
no proof whatever of the posseRsion of "the love of God." But
whoever of the Lord's people is so in harmony with him that
they delight to do his will, have in this an evidence that the
[2648]
JL'NB 15, l?OO ZiON'S WATCH TOWER
love of God is dwelling in them richly and aLounding. This is
the same thought which the Apostle agJ.lll expresses, saying,
"Whoooever keepeth his word [loves the word of God, and
takes pleasure not in turning, twisting and endeavoring to
avoid the force of that Word, but who keepeth or cherisheth
it, loveth it, and seeketh to conform thereto] in him verily is
the love of God perterted."-1 John 2:5.
This remin(ls us of our dear Redeemer, in whom verily the
love of the Father was pf'rfected, and who is represented by
the Prophet as oaying, "1 dehght to do thy will, 0 God; yea,
thy law is Within my heart." (Psalm 40:8) And our Lord
marked out the same spirit, as being essential to those who
would be his disciples, oaying, "If ye keep my commandments,
ye shall abide in my lo\'e, even as I have kept my Father's
commandments, and abide in his love." (John 15:10) There
IS no in any of these or in other Scriptures that
mere outwarel formalistic obedience and piety count anything
with the Lord. The Lorel "seeketh such to worship him as
worship him in spirit and in truth"-such as have the spirIt
of love for righteousness. love for truth. love
for all thp qualitie'! of the divine character, and a desire to
conform thereto in thought, word and deed.
Nor are we to make the mistake that some have made, of
suppooing tllat the commandments referred to by our Lord are
the T('n Commandments upon which hung the covenant which
God made with the Jews. \Ye are not Jews, and henpe have
nothing whatever to do with their covenant, given through
Moses, its mediator. at Sinai, nor with the Law upon which
it was based. \Ye are Christiam, and have to do with a better
covpnant. seal I'd with the precioU'3 blood of Christ our *Me-
diator, and based upon a stilI higher law than the Decalogue
-a law which instead of saying, "Thou shalt not" do
"Thou shalt not" do that, is positive, and declares what we
shall do, saying, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God", ith all
heart, with all thy mind, with all thy being. with all thy
strength; and thou shalt love thy neighbor as tI-,yself." This
is a higher law, of which our Law-giver, Jesus, said, "A new
commandment I give unto you, that ye love," and of which
the said. "Love is the fulfilling of the law." The
Apostle .Tohn says. "He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God;
he that lonth not knoweth not God, for God is love."-l John
4: 8. Hi.
Altho the first evidence of the possession of "thE' love of
God" is a Ion for God, nevertheless the Scriptures distinctlv
point out to u'! that an additional requirement is specified,
Yiz., love for the brethren-for those who have the spirit of
God, espepially, but in a genE'ral way at least a, sympathetic
love for all mankind. Thus the Apostle says, "If we love one
another. [it is an evidence that] God dwelleth in us, and
[that] his love is perfected in us." (1 John 4'12) The same
Apostles emphasizes this point, saying, ''\Vhosoever hath
this world's goods [interests, affairs], and seeth his brother
have need. and shuttcth up his howels of compassion from him,
how dwelleth the love of God in him?" (1 John 3: 17) The
intimation is that surh a lack of love and sympathy. and such
a restraint of assistance from a brother in need, would imply
that the love of God either did not at all dwell in such an
one. or that it was but slightly developed-far from being
perfected.
Nor does this love merely exercise itself toward thp breth-
rf'n in m;ltters of temporal necessities; rather, it affepts all
--'--S-ee-lSsue July 15, 1916, "Mediator and Advocate Contrasted"
the affairs of hfe, leading the one who enjoys it to "walk in
love," "forbe'1.ring OIle another III love." (Eph. 5: 2; 4: 2)
And even were it necessary to speak an unpalatable truth, thl'
spuit of the Lord, "the love of God," will dictate the speak-
mg of the truth in love, which the Apostle assures us IS es-
sential to our growth in Christ.-Eph. 4: 15.
Knowledge is valuable, but only incidentally; of itself the
Apostle assures us knowledge would be inclined to puff us up,
make us vain and boastful, and thus quite out of harmony
With the spirit of God, the spirit of love, meekne'3s, gentle-
ness. Knowledge might make us merely tinkling cymbals, giv-
ing out a sound, but possessing no real merit in the Lord's
sight. But knowledge, when It serves its proper purpo'3e,
brmgs us to the appreciation of "the love [that is] of God"
and to a realizatIOn of the wisdom of copying his character,
that we should seck so far as possible to be like oUr Father
which IS in heaven, copies of his drar Son, our Lord. The
Apostle brings this position ch'arl) to our attention when he
says, "That ye being rooted and groundl'd in love may be able
to comprehend with all saints what is the bre'l.dth and length
and depth and height and to know [appreciate] tIl<' love of
Chnst ... and be filled with all the fulness of God."-Eph.
3: 17-19.
Undoubtedly love is the principal thing to be studied. to
be appreciated, to be copied and practiced in our lives. \Ve
trust that a large proportion of the \VATCII TOWf:R readers
have already become partakers of this "love of God." and that
all such are seekmg to have it perfected in them, and to be
rooted and grounded in it. \Ve have the Apostle's ,tssurance
that only those who take this standpomt can make penna-
nent and thorough progress in grape and knowledge. Those
who have entered the school of Christ, and who refu,e to
progress in it toward perfection, may assuredly I'xpept that
sooner or later their knowledge of the divine plan will slip
from them; while those who do make progress in this proper
direction may expect that the lengths and brea(lths of the
divine plan will continue opening before them, and that their
growth in knowledge will keep pace with their growth in love.
Finally, III harmony with our text, let us remember that
this i'3 not a matter that God attends to, but a matter which
requires our own attention. God has made all the provisions
whereby we may know of his love, and may be constrained by
it, and may be accepted into it. but it devolves upon us to
keep ourselves in the love of God: and we can only thus keep
ourselt;es in his lore by seeking to practice in the daily affairs
of life the principles of his love: permitting the love of God
to constrain us daily to saprifice ourselves in the Lord's serv-
ice, for his honor and for the spread of hi'! truth; permitting
the love of the brethren to so fill our heart'3 that. as the
Apostle expresses it, we may be glad to "lay down our lives
for the brethren" (1 John 3: 16); permitting a sympathetic
love for mankind in general. the "groaning preation." in all of
its trials and difficulties, to exercise our hl'arts so that we shall
more and more feel kindly and genrrously toward all with
whom we have contact and to make U'3 h('lpful to them a'3 we
have opportunity; permitting this love even to extend to the
brute creation under our care, so that we will not be negligl'nt
of their interests; all this seems eSfoential to our keeping our-
selves in this love of God. Let us more and more practice,
and thus become more and more perfectf'd in this love, which
is the spirit of our Father, the spirit of our Lord. and the
spirit af all who are truly members of the body of Chrifot.
JESUS WALKING ON THE SEA
MATT. 14:22-33.-JuLY 1.
"Of a truth thou art the Son of God."
Our last lesson, respE:cting the feeding of above five thou-
sand persons with five barley loaves and two small fish, and
the twelve haversacks of fragments gathered, and the illustra-
tion this afforded of divine ability to care for the Lord's peo-
ple, and at the same time the propriety of frugality on their
part. was followed that same night by another miracle and
another lesson. After the multitudes had been fed, toward the
close of the day, they evidently were loth to leave the com-
pany of one so able and willing to care for their necessities,
and probably it was to expedite their that our Lord
urged the apostles to start in their boat for Capernaum.
Our Lord, after dispersing the multitndes. sought the soli-
tude of the mountain in prayer. Though he sometimes prayed
with his disciples in their hearing, so that they recorded the
words of his prayer, it is evident that he was not content
with merely these opportunities, but frequently sought the
Father alone, as he has counseled his disciples to do, saying.
"Enter into thy closet [private apartment] and pray to thy
Father in secret." (Matt. 6: 6) All Chri'3tians of experience
have realized the value of such secret personal communion
with thl' heavenly Father, nor are we surprised that our Lord
J csm felt the necd of a similar communion. Ilis knowledge
of the Father, and his fi?llowship with him before the world
was made, so far from satisfying him and rendering prayer
unnecessary, rather stimulated hi'3 for furth!'r lellow-
ship and communion, especially as he was alone in the world
-even his belov('d disciples, not having yet been begotten of
the Spirit (John 7: 39). could not enter into fellowslnp with
him in respect to spiritual things. nor appreciate the trials
which came to him as a perfect man, in a way in whi{'h they
do not come to fallen humanity. He npeded surh fellowship
with the heavenly Father for the refreshment of hia own zeal,
for the keeping warm of his own love and devotion. which
was the basis of his consecration anll hi'3 daily sacrificing of
himself as a man, even unto death.
There is no intimation given that our Lord spent much
[2649]
(185-186) Z I () 1.V .S WA T C H TOW E R
time at prayer, morning and evening, yet we may reasonably
suppose that he never neglected to seek the Father's face j but
these brief seasons of worship and prayer daily were evidently
supplemented by occasions like the one mentioned in thi<;
lesson. in which our Lord spent, apparently, considerable of
the mght in prayer and communion with the Father. There
is a lesson in this for the Lord's people. The duties of life,
pressing upon uq daily. are not to be neglected; each to feel,
as our Lord expressed it, "I must be about my Father's busi-
ness," and this would imply. ordinarily, short prayers, which
our Lord commended. I'aying, ""'hen ye pray, use not vain
I epetitions. as the heathen do; for they think they shall be
heard for their much speaking. Be ye not therefore like unto
them; for your !,'ather knoweth what thmgs ye have need of
before ye ask him." (Matt. 6: 7, 8) And the example of a
prayer, given his disciples, is brief. Nevertheless, in propor-
tion a'< we feel the importance of the great work in which, by
the Lord's favor, we are privileged to be co-laborers with him,
0111' hearts should be and will be drawn to seasons of spiritual
communion: not nepessarily a prayer in the sense of making
"('quests of the Father, for much of such seasons will doubt
be devote<1 to thanksgiving for the mercies and favors
already experienced, and for the gracious promises upon whil'h
WI' ha ..e our faith for the future. and communion with the
Lor d. in the sense of pondering his will respecting lB, and
how we may most acceptably serve and please him.
While our Lord was thus holding communion with the
Father, the apostles rowing the boat were having difficulty to
make headway, a strong head-wind having arisen, which made
1]11' lake very rough. boisterous, billowy. John, who was one
"f 1h,),p in the boat, tells us that they had only gotten about
!\\llltyfive or thirty furlongs (two and a half to three miles)
II "Ill the shorr, in the several hours they had been rowing.
Thi,., was what is termed the fourth watch of the night, viz.,
between three and six o'clock in the morning. 'Yhlle thus
rowing- hard, worn and sleepy, they saw the figure of a man
nl'ar them. walking- on the water, and apparently intending to
PflSS their boat. (Mark 6: 4850) Some of them cried out in
fear, thinking that they had seen a supernatural bl:'ing. and
that it forehoded some calamity, but it was Jesus who spoke
to them, ana set at rest their fears,
The boldness of Peter's faith was then most strikingly
hy his requeflt that the should hid him walk
on the water; anrl having re('eived the permission, his faith
wa'l so fltrong- that he did walk for a few steps, until seem
ingly appalled by his own temerity and the boisterousne'ls of
thp watl:'r, 11e hegan to flink, and cried to the Lord for help,
whi('h ma.v impede and weary Ufl are amenable to his control.
miracle of the loaves attestl:'d the superhuman authority of
our Lord. so likewise did this manifestation of his power
attl:'st the same; and if the former illufltrated his power to
protect IllS people from want and to supply all their necessi-
til''1. this last manifested that divine power is unlimited and
ahlp to preserYe hIS people in all the storms and difficulties
and trials of life.
This is a good les'<on for us to apply individually, realiz
ing. a'l WI' all must, that our Lord has supernaturally fed U'l
with I'piritual food, and that during the darkness of the night-
time whidl precl:'dl:''l thc Millennial dawn and sunlight there
will hp storms and diffi('ultil:'fl arising which would overwhelm
U'l without thp Lord's aid. 'Ye are to rl:'memher that not only
the natura I wind" and wav('s obey hll' power and command,
but that all the storms and billows of trouhle and persecution
which impede and weary us are amenable to his control.
The mor(' we are ahl<" to reahze t11is, the more of joy and
peacp we will experienee. b('caufle the stronger will be our faith
in him who is ahl(' to succor u" and who has promised event-
ually to do 1'0, and that m('antime all things shall be over-
ruled for our high('st welfare, if we abide in him.
But the hoat and the twelve toiling rowers, and the storm
and darkncs'l of the night, all picture more perfectly the
experienccs of the Lord's people as a whole-not thl' experiences
of a I'edarian chur('h, but the I:'xppriencl:'s of the one true
('hurch. of "lllch the Lord is the Hea(l. the "chur('h of the first-
'Illy ship i" toss'll by wind and wave.
But there I" tllle who'le power can save:
thp "P}] he hastes to bring:
Both re,.,t and pea(,I:'.-the Lord is' King.
born, whose names are written ill hea.ren." (Heb. 12: 23) Thi;\
true church has indeed had a stormJ' time since parting with her
Lord who ascended to the Father. The darkness came down
upon them-darkness of error and superstition j and the great
adversary, through the antiChrist and many less anti-Christs,
has aroused all through this Gospel age a great storm against
the Lord's faithful few, The difficulties of their position have
caused them to bend every effort to make progress against such
fearful opposition, of which one of the apostles declares, "We
wrestle not against flesh and blood [merely], but against prin-
CIpalities, and against powers, against the rulers of the dark-
ness of this world, and against wicked in high posi-
tions." (Eph. 6: 12) This battlp against adn'r"e influences
has continued throughout the night-time of this Gospel age,
and yet the church has not reached the harbor nor has the
storm abated,
As our Lord came to the disciplcb in the midst of the
storm, in the fourth watch of the night (that is, in the early
morning), so his second coming in the Millennial dawn is to
the church and to "help her," rescue her from her toil and
weariness and peril, as the Prophet says, "The Lord shall
help her early in the morning." (Psa. 46: 5) And as the
manner of our Lord's coming to his disciples was different
from that they had expected, so the manner of his second
advent differs from what has been expected, and Peter would
seem to represent a class living now, in the end of the age,
who being fully eonvinced of the Lord's presence are privi-
leged to walk to him by faith. But as Peter's faith was un-
equal to the occasion, except as the Lord came to his rescue,
so all of the faithful now will need the Master's hand stretched
to their relief, otherwise they would sink in discouragement.
because of the lack of faith,
Is there not a good lesson here for all who have been faith-
fully laboring in selfcontrol, and in the Lord's Ren'ice, to
bring all their thoughts and words and doings into full accord
with the will of God in Chril't, and who experien('e from thl:'
'World and the flesh and the adversary serious opposition as
the Lord's people? The lesson here, in harmony with its pres-
entations elsewhere in the Scriptures, is that little progress
can be made by the Lord's people until the Mastl:'r himself
shall join them; and that then their blessedness and pri\jleges
will be proportioned to the meabure of their faith. How
strongly this speaks to us, then, of continued faithfulness and
of growth in faith, not in ourselves but in the Lord. and of hIs
ultimate deliveran('e of all who put their trust in him.
In John's account we learn that as soon as thl:' Lord and
Peter got into the boat, immediately the wind and storm
ceased and the ship was at the harbor. So it will be with
the Lord's people, the "little flock:" so soon as their faith has
been fully tested at thl' Lord's second he will join
their number, and immediatl:'ly the trials and storms, diffi
culties and oppositions will be at an end. and the desired
haven of heavenly condition will have been reached, the king-
dom will have come. Courage. then, dear brother mariners.
on the sea of experience, seeking to make your calling and
election sure! Let us note carefully the Master's words to
Peter as especially applicable to ourselves, viz.. that all that
will hinder us from walking out to meet the Lord is lack of
faith. "0 thou of little faith j wherefore didst thou doubt?"
Let us learn to trust the Lord, not only in the matters
which pertain to his church and all of its interests and affairs,
but also in all of the matters and interests of ourselves and
families. The lessons will be profitable to us, and prepare
II'l for larger measures of divine favor. and for the joys
of the kingdom. And all this faith is based upon a clear
realization of our Golden Text, viz., that Our Lord Jesus is
truly the Son of God. If the Son of God, he is true, and if
he is true then all the exceeding great and precious promises
which he left for us may be relied upon, built upon, anchored
into; and such reliance in them will give us the faith requiRite
for the overcoming of all the difficulties and obstades of life,
that we may come off more than conquerors through him who
loved U'l and who bought us with his own precious blood.
Yes, Jesus walks upon the sea.
And in the storm he pomes to tlwc;
Then trust in him. rejoice and sing:
HI:' ('alms the W:lws.-the King.
He I'tretehes out his hand to thee.
And from thy fears he sets thee free j
Beneath the 'shadow of his wing
He thee safl:'.-the Lord is King.
[2650]
"I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE"
JOHN 6:22-40.-J"L'LY 8.
Some of the multitude who dined on the five loaves and
two fish were evidently very deeply impressed with the
miracle, and inspired with great respect for Jesus. Anum
bel' of them (we cannot suppose very many) concluded that
they would follow this great Teacher, possessed of such
wonderful powers, feeling assured that becommg his disciples
would at least safeguard them from want; and this, to a peo-
ple of their kind and under those conditions, was evidently
quite an inilucement. However, when they found the Lord on
the other side of the lake, at Capernaum, and expressed to him
their interest, and how it had led them to follow him, he told
them plainly that theirs was a selfish or mercenary interest,
and not the kind that he desired to cultivate, namely, an
interest in the truth.
Taking advantage of the situation, our Lord gave, not
only to these but also to his disciples and to u,;; through them.
a most valuable lesson on the proper things to be sought after;
pointing out that the chief aim and desire and object of life
not be the meat that perisheth, earthly food, earthly
comforts, earthly pleasures, which at very most can be but
transitOJ y, but that on the contrary the chief aim of all should
be to attain life eternal. beyond the present dying condition.
He pomts out that God's provision for his creatures is not
merely earthly for the sustenance of our natural bodies for a
little time, but much more important. a spiritual nouri,;;hment,
of which, if we partake, we shall attain eternal life.
He would have them sce that the miracle which he had
perfurmed. and whose blessing they had shared, was merely an
illu-tJation of a greater gift, of a more valuable bread of
life, that he, the Son of God, was alone able to give them-
and the same is true of us and of all. By way of assuring
them that he was able to provide the bread of eternal life
a,;; he had shown himself able to provide the natural food, he
dedared himself to be the Son of GOd; and that the heavenly
Father had sealed him, marked him, granted him the evidences
and proofs of sonship in the powers conferred upon him. The
E'eal wa,;; the holy spirit, the holy power of God, which acting
upon our Lord Jesus enabled him to turn the water into
wine and to increase the broken barlev loaycs and two little
fish so as to feed the multitude. These powers were the
evidences or outward manfestations to men that God's holy
spirit was with him, the mark or seal of his relationship to
God as an honored representative, a Son. On the strength
of these eYidenpeR, the witnesses having the right condition of
heal t should have been prepared to heed our Lord's testi-
mony, a,;; a message from the Father.
The dl,;;course was not without its effect: the hearers felt
the force of the that the important food to be
sought after was that which would give the life eternal, and as
,Tews they had hefore their minds the further thought that
Go(l had marIe a covenant of works with their nation, with
promises of eternal life attached thereto-the MosaiC Law
COYenant. Hence their inquiry, 'Vhat works shall we do that
would be pleasing to God, and that thereby we might have
dClnal life
9
Give us wh,lten'r me,;;sage you have that will
help us in thi'3 matter.
Our Lord'" an,;;wer may at first seem to us a peculiar one,
in that he declares that to believe on him would be a "work"
-the wOlk most acceptable before God-the only work that
could possibly make them acceptable to God. What is meant
by this we will consider further along. His hearers evidently
understood exactly what he meant, viz., that the thing most
pleasing in God's sight would be that they should acknowledge
him aR the I:lon of God, the Messiah, coming into the world
appording to divine promise, to establish the kingdom of God,
and to begin the blessing of all the families of the earth. But
now they asked a sign of his MesRiahship, instead of realizing
that they had already seen the sign or signet or Real of God
upon the Lord Jesus, as manifested not only in his spirit of
love, kindness, generosity, goodness, purity and truth, as well
as in his doctrines, but additionally that they had seen out-
wald manifestations and evidences of the divine power upon
him, as shown, for instance, in the miracle of the day before.
This was because they were hard-hearted, as the Scriptures
elsewhere express the matter (Mark 3: 5 ; John 12: 40), that if!
to say, they were in a faithless attitude, not readily impression-
able but rather inclined to be skeptical: hence these signs or
evidences of the seal of God upon Jesus were not sufficient for
them.
We can readily see. however, that if sign upon sign had
been given, the same "evil heart of unbelief" could reject ten
signR aR well as it could reiect one. Just so it was in the
case of Pharoah: he was really more impressed with the first
sign given by Moses than by the succeeding ones, each of which
being recpin'd in an improper spirit tended to make hi'3
heart the harder, until the labt. JUbt so, it is with some today
m re;;peet to the Lord's promises. They incline to ask, Did
the Apostle say this, that is contrary to my prejudices? And
if convinced of the fact they would want to know whether
any other Apostle had said it, and thirdly, whether the Lord
himself had said it, and fourthly, whether any of the prophets
had said it,-seeking not so much to believe as for an excuse
for disbelieving. Such persons usually, if they had all of
these evidences, would be no more convinced by the multiplicity
of testimony. On the contrary, he who really believes the
Bible to be God',;; \Vord believes its every authentic testimony,
whether by the Lord or an apostle or prophet.. and whether
stated once or many times reiterated.
The working of skepticism in the minds of 01\1' Lord's
auditors is evidenced by their statement. In substance they
said, "'Ve cannot acknowledge that your miracle was so great
or so wonderful as necesRarily to Hnply that you are the
Son of God, for we remember that Moses e'\:l'rcised a power
something of this kind; in fact, he provided bread enough
for our forefathers, the whole natIOn of Israel, for qUite a long
time in the wilderness, and that without any loans and fish to
begin with,-we refer to the manna."
Our Lord's response is that the manna wa'3 not produced
by Moses, that he had nothing whatever to do with sending it;
that it came directly as a provision of the heavenly Father,
Moses not being even an agent in the matter. And then our
Lord pointed out that the manna ginn in the wilderness was
typical of the true Manna, the true Lrl'ad of eternal life-him-
self and the truth he plOclaimed-which he now deSIred them
to receive at his hands.
They (lid not yet get the thought that he referred to him-
self, but rather were getting a crude anll natural thought, that
as God had given manna from heaven that sustained their
fa thers in the wilderness, so now this great Teachpr, J was
telling them of a still higher class of manna, the partaking
of which would yield eternal life, and hence they exclaimed,
"Lord, evermore give us this bread'" Our Lord then ex-
plained the figure or parable, decl.ning, in the language of our
Golden Text, "I am the bread of li fe; he that cometh to me
shall never hunger, and he that belienth on me shall never
thirst."
It iR evident that in the words "cometh to me" our Lord
did not mean to approach him as his hearers had donI', coming
acro's the lakl'. The expression "cometh to me" he under-
stood, therefore, as coming to the Lord with hunger and thirst
for righteousness, with a desire for the life eternal, and hence
for the bread of life by whil'h it might he attained. All who
would thus come. to JesuR, in thi,;; proper attitude of heart,
would find him to be indeed a satisfying portion. LikeWise
the expession, "He that believeth on me shall never thirst,"
must be understood to mean more than merely believing that
such a person lived, for it is written that "devils also believe
and tremble:" to ''believe,'' therefore, must be UIHlerstood
to sigmfy accepting the Lord, not merely mtellectually, but
with the heart, as it is written, "\Vith the heart man believeth
unto righteousness" [to a change of hl'art which to
righteousness.] He who thus Lelieves in the Lord hom the
heart, recognizing him as the Son of God, through whom
are to be fulfilled all the exceeding great and precious promises
of the divme \Vord, receives snch a refreshment, such a slack-
ing of thirst, such a satisfflction, aR will never end so long
as he maintains this faith. (Rom. 10: 10) Such fin<l the divine
provision in ChriRt so abundant that they could not for
more, and exclaim,-"It satisfil's my longings, a5 nothing else
could do."
And now we see the mpaning of our Lord'R words of verse
29, "This is the v)ork of God [the work which God would be
pleased with], that we beltcre on him whom he hath sent."
There is a v:ork connected with believing ;-not a work with
our hands, but a work with OUI' heads and our hearts: and
no work that we could do with our hands would he as accept-
able in the Lord's sight as this. Indeed, when we realize
that in our fallen and imperfect condition it is impo%ible for
us to do anything perfectly, when we remember also that God
is perfect, that all his work is perfect, and that he cannot
therefore be in sympathy with imperfection, or any degree of
sin, we can readily see that the very best works we could
offer him aside from faith would be unacceptable.
But God has proposed to do a great work for us-he
has done that great work in that he has provided the Redeemer,
through whom the ransom-price ha.s been paid for our race:
and now God can be just and yet be the justifier of him that
believeth in Jesus. Hence, while no work that we can do
could be accepted of the Lord so long as we are under con-
11emnation, yC't he can, by his own accept our faith
[2651]
(186-187)
088-1SY)
ZION'S WATCH TOWER
ALLEGHENY. PA.
in Chn,t, and us through that faith: this, our first
work possible, is therefore what God calls for. He will ac-
<-ept no other work, except it is preceded by this one and
upon this one. 0 that all could realize the importance
of faith III the Lord's sight! "Without faith it is impossible
to please God," and the more faith we exercise the more do we
please lum: not credulity, not a belief of something which God
hail not said; not a belief in our own imaginings or those
of other men; but a belief in what God has said, and a firm,
confident trmt therein: this is acceptable with God, and be-
comes to all who exerciRe it the ground or base of justification,
that "being justified by faith we might have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ."-Rom. 5: 1.
The Lord did not here di"cuss the further step to the high
calling of this Gospel age; hence we will not discus" it now.
He dealing merely with our firRt necessary step in ap-
proaching Goel,-JustIfication. The thing necessary, in order to
justlficatlOn. the acceptance of Chri"t as the Bread of Life
-wlllch be preceded by the realization that we have no
life III ourselvc", death having passed upon all of our race
through father Adam's transgression; and that the Lord
Jesu" was made flc,h in order that he might meet the penalty
that \\a" upon father Aclam, and thus upon the race; and that
ntnr, therefore, whoever accepts this free grace of God in
Chrht, whoever appropriate" to himself the merit of Christ's
sacn npe is tlwreby eating, partaking of the great benefits and
bles"'lIlgs provided by God in the Anointed one, who gave his
life for the life of the world, a ramom prIce. Whoever mentally
accept, thi" fact. and feeds upon it in his heart, is represented
as feedmg upon thl' fle"h of the Son of Man-partaking of the
human rights, privileges and blessings of restitution [or in this
age iu"tification] provided in him.
Our Lord pointed out to his hearers the fact that their
slow/H''''' to re('eive him, and the of the people of
Israel m general. was not an <,vidence that he was not the
but rather was an evidence that they were not in
a condition to receive the Messiah. And further, that it was
not God's purpose that he should attract the whole Jewidl
people. but merply that he should draw to himself, by the
gracious woreis whieh should proceed out of his mouth, and
by tlIP mirade" nr f'vicll'npf''' of power of the Lord in him, such
as tlIP Fathpr had "given" him-such as were pleasing to the
Father, su('h as were ready to receive a furtller blessing
through this channel whi('h the Father had provided. And he
R"sured them that while not expecting all to be thus drawn to
lum. nevertheless all wllO would be drawn thus of the Father
he would mORt gladly welcome. because he was not in the world
on a mi%ion of his own merply. hut to fufil the Father's pur-
which he was in fnll harmony.
TWO CLASSES OF SAVED ONES
In the h\o yerses following, our Lord seems to disting-uish
hetwpen the two ('laRsPs of saved ones, verse 39 referring to
the elpet ,>Iass of tlJi" age. and verse 40 to the general
upon mankind to follow this age, during the Mil-
lennium-anll to tllP opportunity that will then be afforded
to e\ PlY f'reatllrl' to b<' hlpssed with this great gift of eternal
life. pllr('ha"ed hy onr Lorel at such high cost as his own life.
The eled are frefjui'ntly. as here. spoken of as specially
[JI rf'tI to J while the whole of mankind are referred to
a' h"e'an,p IJOuqht with his own precious blood. The
Fatht'r to th!' f:lon eluring tbl" a!!'e a sp!,pial class, and
g i\ a ('b to him to be companions. joint-heirs in his
::\IIIlipnnial kingdom-these are Rometlmes called his
"hri'thrpn." \\ hpn it is Raill that .Tesus was "the first-born
among man:\' hrdhren" (Rom. R-2!l); and again. they are
ted Ius bJide and joint-heir. in coutradistimtion to the
of the world of mankind. who will be reco!!nized as the
('hilelren of and of whom he will bp the "Everlai:lting
Father."-Rev. 21:9; 22:17; Rom. 8:17; Isa. 9:6.
Our Lore! derlari's it to he the Father's will that all whom
he ",dvcn" him shall he saved, shall he rai"ed up-not
one of thi" da"s shall be lost. \"ho. then, are these thus
sure of Ralvation 9 "Vi' answer that the Apostle Paul adds a
word of p,<planation along this line. informing us of the class
whom tilt Fathpr has eleded and prede"tinatpd: tlley are
Rueh a" re('('lve the Lord Jesus now by faith, and who hearing
tIl(' invitation of thi" Go"pel age, the "high ('alhng," are so
Impressed with it that they lay aside every weight and run
with patipncp thp race Sl't hefore them in the gospel ;-and so
doing. llndpr divine providence and direction they are molded
and fashioned as respepts their charadl'rs "0 that they become
"copie" of God's dear Son."-Rom. 8 :29.-Dwglott.
The heavpnlv FathpI fi'<pd thl' mark" and conditions of his
of this cla"s, not so much in respect to all who
shall hear the good tidings (altho he has to do with sending
the mec;sage); not so much in respect to who all shall be
drawn by the message of his grace in Christ (tho he has
to do with the drawing, and in the present time is drawing
only a particular class); not so much with reference to the
call that goes forth to all who accept Jesus, inviting them to
run the race of self-sacrifice in his footsteps (tho he is in-
terested in this call, and supervises the affairs of those who
accept this call, causing that all things shall work together
for their good); but especially he has predestinated in
respect to the number who shall constitute the bride of Christ,
and to the character of all who shall be in that company: that
it shall be composed of such and such only as shall during this
Gospel age, while in the school of Christ, learn thoroughly the
lessons of faith and obedience, developing characters of like
pattern to that so gloriously manifested in Jesus, whom the
Father sent forth to be not only our Redeemer, but also our
Pattern.
It is the Father's will that every one who thus obeys the
leadings of divine providence, and attains to the likeness of
the Lord Jesus in his heart, his will, his intention (not per-
fection of the flesh), shall everyone of them be saved in this
great salvation, and be sharers with Jesus in the "first resur-
rection," and in the glory, honor and immortality to which it
leads. Not one of these shall be lost; everyone of them shall
be raised up to that glorious station at the appointed time--
"the last day," the seventh of the great week of
days,-the Millennial day. And as the Prophet declares, it WIll
be early in that day for "God shall help her [Zion] and that
right early [in the morning]."
MILLENNIAL AGE DRAWING TO YIELD LARGE RESULTS
The 40th verse does not refer to those whom the Father
specially gives to the Son to be companions. and in
the kingdom, and whom he draws through hIS provldences dur-
ing this age: it refers to the remainder of mankind whose
ransom price our Lord Jesus has paid, and who. according
to the Father's program, our Lord Jesus himself is to draw
unto himself, during the Millennial age: as it is written, "I.
if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me." But even as
the Father's drawing is not a compulsory drawing. so l.ikewise
the drawing of the Son wlll not be compulsory. But smce we
may assume that the majority of those who now reRist the
Father's drawing do so because of blindness, ignorance, etc..
because the prince of this world is now reigning and
deceiving, we may reasonably suppose that when our dear
Redeemer's Millennial kingdom shall have been eRtabliRhed. and
when Satan, the prince of this world, has been "bound" (Rev.
20: 2), and when the knowledge of the Lord shall fill the wh.ole
earth,-then the drawing influence upon the world of mankmd
exerted by the Redeemer himself and by the church, his
associated with him in glory, will be a drawing whieh will yIeld
much larger results, so that many wlll yield to it and
to the Lord truly and heartily, and receive of the
which God has provided in him;-all excf'pt those who wll-
fully love sin and refuse the terms of the kingdom, faith and
obedience.
Of this class our Lord declares (verse 40), that it i" his
Father's will that all such shall see the Son (their blinded
eyes being opened in that Millennial day, as the Lord has
promised through the prophets.-Zech. 12: 10) ThE'ir eyE's of
understanding being then opened. they will be ahle to ap-
preciate, as they cannot now appreciate. the Lord and
covenant of eternal life which he offers to all who obey hIm.
They will not thus see him, however. until the god of this
wor'ld, who now blinds the eyes of their understaniI?-g, shall
be bound for the thousand years, and his baneful mfluence
offset with the light of the knowledge of God which will then
Rhine out to the world from the great Sun of Righteousness-
the Lord and the glorified church, his body.
It is God's will that all who shall accept Christ then shall
have everlasting life too; and that they shall be raised up by
the Lord Jesus to perfection also.-tho theirs be an
E'arthly. and not like the others a heavenly, perfectIOn; and
their raising up will alRo be "at the last day," but not at its
beginning as with the "elect" of the "first The
overcomers of this Gospel age, the body of Chnst. wlll be
perfected in his likeness in a moment, in the twinkling of an
pye, and then subsequently, throughout that age, the of
raising up the world of mankind out of sin and depraVIty and
cJecrradation will go gradually and grandly forward until by
close of the Millennial age all the willing and ohedient shall
have eaten to their fill of the bread from heaven and shall he
fully raised up, out of sin and death, to life
image and likeneRs of God aR was Adam before Rill, but WIth
pharacters perfected and tested in righteousness by their Mil-
Ipnnial experiences.
[2652]
ATTENTION, WATCH TOWER READERS!
\Ve have learned recently of some readers of this journal
who have not read the DAWN volumes entln'. ThiS
a great mistake. None can rightly understand or appreciate
the precious truths pre5ented herein unless he firgt have a
clearly outlined view of the great divine plan of the ages:
and hence we urge upon all that they begin this study at once.
All on our list are supplied the DAWNS at wholesale rates
(to agsist in their wide circulation through loaning, ete.) and
any too poor to pay even this small sum will be supplied gratis
for their own readmg if they will let us know, requesting
under thb offer.
In view of the fact that our "earthen vessels" are so leaky
we all need to replenish our stock of graee and truth ron
tinually; and hence we advise repeated readingg of the D.\WNS.
When reading them you are really reading the Bible; for they
are merely an arranged and systematized Blblc. It is for this
reason that like the Bible they do not glow old to the truth
hungry.
"LORD, HELP ME!"-MATT. 15:25
MARK 7: 24-30.-JULY 15.
After onr Lord's on the bread from heaven (we
know not how long after) he and his diseiples went west-
wald to tllP horelpr of Plllellicia. Theil', entcring into a
With the evident of secluding lumself from general
TIotiee, and pO'Nlbly to gam qUIet and rebt, the Lord was
quickly dlscoH'led by a Syro-Phamiclan mother, whose daughter
wa.., of a dpmon, ancl who availed herself of this
opportunity to 1mpOI tune the Lord for her daughter's deliver
am'e. Thp fame of Je..,ns and hi.., miracles, in healing of the
&ick. dr., had e, idelltly extendpd till oughout that region, yet it
Illlht ha\'e lwen known that .Tesus was a Jew, and that
Ill.., anll fa,ors were eonfined to his own race.
\Yc ean IeadIly spe that there were ohstaeles to
tIl(' faith, and the strength of faith which 5urmounted
them l'om/ll'b allmlration.
(I) was a fOleigner, a heathen, for whom Go(l had
no Ll\OrS, '\nthout God and haVIng no hope in the
,\ olld." (Eph. :2' l:2 I Hl'nee. coming to Jesus she not only had
to O\'pn'()IlJe the pre 1u<!Jpe.., of her own heathen ideas and in-
st! uctwn flolll infanpy hut hall al..,o to overcome evelything
ah.1Il to III Hie and the fpar of being despised and rejected as
one of the favor she sought.
(2) A.., a poor aJl<1 uneducated woman she would naturally
Inn l' g] cat (Idlidp]ll'p 111 approachmg a lparned man. especially
Olll' "'0 1I0t.lhlp as gleat Plophet of Israel, of whom no
douht .. ha d lward IllUl'h.
Xoh, lihstallllmg her love for hpr (Lmghter,
and her ,'onfidence ill Wl're so great that shp sought
him out; and after the manner of that time ann p!aee. in a
loud 'OH'e a]](l probahly WIth ,wpping, "rried" to the Lord
for and in her trouhle, saying, "Have
merey UpOIl mp, 0 Lord. thou son of Davill: my daughter i'l
gne, ou,lv \'exrd WIth a denL" She met WIth a rebuff at the
nry start, for according to aeC'ount (15:23) our
Lord ignored her not awnvering hE'r a word. To many
thi" woul(1 have bern sufficient to have discouraged faith, and
sent thrm away weeping; bul: not so With this woman; she
kept up hpr c] alld importulllties. f-lhe confident that
the Lord had tli(' powpr to as..,ist hH, and had not yet refused
to do and henee her faith continued to cling.
The dlsC'iples seem to have been annoyed with her cries,
whi('h probably kE'pt up for some time. and Jesus and the dis-
CIple" harl left the in whlrh they werE' lodging
and procpeded on theIr journey, the woman still following and
out for The came and besought
him, saYIllg, "Send her away, for she eneth after us. But he
answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the
house of IsraeL"
Our Lord's to the disC'iple" would seem to indicate
that the mpaning of the words that he should
grant her request and her away; and his answer
whv he delaved so doing. The bles..,ings he had to give were
for' God'" eovenanted people, the typiC'al seed of Abraham,
and woman was not of that nation to which God had
granted mueh fa VOl'S every way; shE' was of a heathE'n nation,
with whom God had not entered into any covenant relatronship
whatevE'r. and for whom as yet he h'ld done nothing. Our
Lord explained this to the disC'iples. and in the hearing of the
woman. not merE'ly for their benefit and hers, but also, we
may prE'sumr, for admonition.
Altho our Lord would seem to have been the
woman and unwilling to grant her favor. we consider it not
unreasonahle to suppose that he thoroughly understood the
from the beginning. and that he adopted the method he
dill to draw out her faith, preparatory to the giving of the
blessing desirrd.
And herein we have a IE'sson respecting in
entreating the Lord for relief from the power of the dE'vil, how-
ever exerC'ised, whethE'r in our or in ourselves. As the
woman knpw that the case was a hopeless one a" respected
relief from any other quartpr. so we know to hope for relief
from the advenary only through the Lord's interpogition. Like
this woman, therefore, our faith should he equal to the emer-
gency, awl should hold on to the LOId for the
blessing "hich. with a greater knowlNlge than she, we may
be he will hp plpa..,ed to grant in IllS o\vn due tnne and
way. "Shall not the Lord aYl'lIge his own PIpet. wl!H'h cry
day and IlIght unto 11lm. tho he 1J('ar long With thpm -," (Luke
lR.7) If in our case the Lonl shall lIot sep h.. ,t to grant a
prompt to our praver. ".\baudon u" not in tempta
tion, but dell\"er from the evil one" {::IIatt. 6: l:ll, we may
be sUIe that it not from lack of mtpre..,t III our wdfare, for
he not mall1fested his interest redppmlllg' u"', an(1 by
calling us to joint-heirship 11l the heavenly kingdom I 1f then
the Iesponse ..,ball not come ill thr wav or at the tnne we
inclmed to hope, let faith still hoi,!' hpr anphoragp in the
divIlle goodness and power, and III thp p\:ecPlllng' grea t and
precious pronllses. and let remembpr tbat to the'le
the time, at Hry farthe..,t. will not be long. until thp ;,Illlennial
klllgdom. when the grpat ad\ ..,ludl be bound, ani] dPliver
ance full and complete from powpr lJl' granted. not
only to our,clves and ImmE'(liately dqH'IHlent. but a to
all of thp "groaning (leatlOlI" 1I0W un<]rr IllS haneful influellce.
The hearing of the rea whv she h<id hpPIl igllOl ('(!. so
far from dlslouraging the poor '\'oman spemmgly conYlnced
h,'r the more that J psus had the powpr to Ilelp hrr, anl!. qlllte
prolJahly 11l front of him. hehc!f at hi.., feet,
after the cuetom of the East. so e:-.pres..,i\r of humility. de-
lwndpnce alld with the plea,
"Lord, help me!" (Matt. ]',):23-2:i) \"hpll fillallv om Lord
the poor "oman at hi.., f,pt, illlpOl tUlllIlg
hi.., \\ollls W(']l' a r<'1111ir. C'.deuLd,'d to ,It..,-
hearten olle of little faith, hut to slrengtlwn a
great faith His answpr to lIPr not OIl(' of and
eontempt. nor of indiff"r(,Ilf'l' to her woe; for mo.eed we ,\ ell
know that our dear Lonl had 110 toward any. It
implied interl'st and but explainpd to hl'r a
why she was not a proper suhjeet, that as the f'hildren
?f a would he prm'ille<! for fir..,t. l)('fol'e the dogs, so
It was propE'r that thl' Lon]'s ('onllant lwoplp, the .Tews,
should he ministered unto. healell, taught amI fir"t,-
hefore these hlessing" should in anv manner or dpO'ree be
l',tended to thE' GentllE''''. who in eomparison wert' tIl(' dogf>
of the hou"l'hold. And. hv the way, \\r ..,houl'l notil'e hl'n- that
altho amongst the :Tew.., weI:p spokl'n of frpquently with
grpat as for in R{'v. 2!l: I fl, "\\'Ithout are
dogs," pte. refprring to the wild dogs whi('h roamed the coun-
try and were ppsts. yet the J were in thp halJi t of having
house whieh were esteemed and pE'tted hv the family,
and the word that is here used by our Lord and al..,o hy the
woman, signifies these house dogs or little pet dogos. and
not the objectionahle kind.
The woman triumphed OVE'r the obstacle of the Lord'" argu-
nwnt, and with wonderful and humdity shr acknowl
('dged that she was not one of the children wlio hall a right
to tIlE' hut was merely one of the dogs
11no.pr the table. a C'rumb of divine f1<\or. Then
our Lord, apprel'iating sueh great faith and earnrstness, said,
"For this saying go thy way; the devil is gonl' out of thy
(LlUghter." and that the woman's faith was of the proppr
kind was demonstrated by the fart that she believed thp Lord's
word. her importunings, and went to her home, to find
the matter even as .Jpsus had said.
How different is our cas{' in many respects from that of
lhis poor woman I So far from resisting us the Lord has
g-raciously called us to a kllowledge of himself and of hi'!
gracious plan, and we who were once aliens and strangers and
foreigners have not only been redpemed with the precious blood,
hut upon making a covenant with the Lord have been adopted
into hi'l family, have heen privileged to surround his table,
and he has set hefore U'l as "meat in due season" in great
abundance, all thE' exceeding great and precious promises of
hi.., \Vord \V<, nee(! not to importune for the'!e; they are
our" for the takmg. \Ye simply need by faith to accept them
and to u'-p them. And if the poor woman of this narrative
f'()uld e,E'T<iop ouch falth in the Lord, and could get so great
(2653]
(190-191)
(194 195) Z 1 () LV'S TIVA T C H TO TV Ii R
a it c\ idell(e,.; to {JUl' whitt i, auundantly"tate,l
cbewhere 111 Scnpturc, that nothing that we have or could offel
to the Lord would bc more acceptable in his sight than faith-
faith in him, m his power, in his love and in his promises,
'VllOcver wIll not faith in things cannot grow in
kuowledge of the Lord, cannot make development, cannot be
overeomen, gaining the desired victory, for, "This is the
victory that overcometh the world, even 0111' faith," and
faith it is to please God,"-l John 5:4;
Heb. 11 :6,
Thele is little that any of us possess that we could reason-
ably hope would be acceptable to God outside those mercies
which 11e has upon us through Christ-faith, trust
In God, IS one of tho"e heart-qualities which we can bring to
the Lord, that he will not despibe; honesty of heart is another,
humility, realizing our utter dependence upon him, and con
fessing it, is another, These various sentiments were expressed
by the woman in the narrative, by her actions and by her
words, and as these brought to her divine favor. even before
it was due to come to the Gentiles, much more should our
humility, faith and candor prevail and make us endeavor
to do that which IS pleasing to God, who has already accepted
us in the Beloved, and with whom he is well-pleased in pr'"l-
portion to the measure of our accepting through the Lord
all the exceeding riches of his grace, which he has promised
to them that love, reverence, trust and obey him.
YOLo XXI ALLEGHENY, PA., JULY 1. 1000
"THE SERVANT OF THE LORD MUST NOT STRIVE, BUT BE
GENTLE UNTO ALL"
2 TIMOTHY 2: 24-26.
13
We commend this text and its context to the careful con-
of do the "Volunteers" need to re-
member it in connection with the service they are seeking to
render to the Lord's true sheep still in Babylon. All thus en-
gaged are "minbters" and "teachers" and hence amenable to
the same instructions as Timothy.
Some have exposed themselves to rebuke and criticism
justly, by intruding into church property uninvited. It is
usually best to keep off the pavement fronting a church where
there is any reason to think the scrvice would give offence;-
and to apologize if to move off it. If it is df'-
sirable to keep at such a distance from the buildinO' as to
avoid seeming to want to serve its attendants more tha"'n other
passers-by.
Especially make sure that your lleart is so full of the love
of the Lord and his brethren that it will shine out in your
face ;-then it will not be necessary to urge your gift, but
merely to say-Accept a free paper! Lay upon the
word free, because some refuse thinking that eitlH'r a price
or donation will be expected in return.
"LOVE AS BRETHREN; BE SYMPATHETIC; BE COURTEOUS"
"1' ea, all of yOtt be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility .. fcr God resisteth the proud, and showet h fa t or to the
hIImble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, t/wt he rna!J exalt Y01t 1n due tIme."
1 PETER 3: 8; 5: 5, 6.
The been addressing the elders of the church.
eAhorting them to give attention to the feeding of God's flock,
and pointing out what should be the
to such a service. That they may feel lus sympathy wIth
them he points out that he also is an elder, and then warns
them against a tendency, natural to all fallen humanity in
any place of influence, to position, and to
think of as 100ds of God s herItage rather than
as sel vants of the flock.
In our day, the natural tendency in this direction is greatly
accentuated bv the lona established custom of all denomina-
tions of Chris'tians to the ministers or servants of the
church as of a different class from the others of the flock,-a
vested WIth authority from God, and not amenable
to the same regulations which govern all the members
of the body. But how great a mistake this is! The Apostle
distinctly points out that a servant is not a ruler, that a
vant has no authority. lnoeed, so far as the true church IS
<,oncerned, the only authority in it is the Lord, the Head of
th!' church, and his 'VOl'll, and the words of those whom he
specially chose to be his mouth-piece, the apostles.
Where these speak. all of the body of Christ are to give
attention to hear. 'Yhere these are silent, no one has author-
ity to speak.And while an elrler should be chosen t? the posi-
tion of servinn anrl feedinO" the flock becallse of spef'I:11
to teach (to point out the instructions of our Lord and the
apostles upon any subject), and while such an eloer shOUld;
therefore, in this ,my be specially helpful to the body 01
Christ in drawing the attention of all to the inspired author-
ity of the 'YOI'd, any member ?f. the body. of
Christ has the same pnvilege-not of exercIsmg authonty,
but of callinO' the attention of his ft'llows to the Word of au
thOI itv. Apostle exhorts the elders that sO far from in
any nianner or degree exercising a lordly or authoritative po-
"ition in the church, they shoulrl rnther be "ellsamples to the
flock." They 8ho11](1 be e,amples in the matter of meekness,
in the mattt'r of patience, in the matter of brotherly kindness,
in the matter of courtesy, so that the more any of the
brethren would copy these elders the more would the spirit
of the Lord prevail in the flock. and the fruits and graces ?f
the ilpirit be manifested. On the contrary, we know that If
the elder or leader of a little company of the Lord's people
be self-assertive, dogmatic, imperious in manner, tone or look,
the effect upon the company under his influence is to produce
bickerings, rIvah ies, ambitions, strifes as to who b greatest,
etc.
Manifestly, whoever occupies the position of an elder
amongst the Lord's people, however small the group may be.
occupies a position fraught with responsibilities to the Lonl
and to the flock, as well as with to himst'lf. Great
care should therefore be by every company of the
Lord's people, to so far as select for the position of
leaders or elders in the church such persons as would not be
likely to be injured by the privilege of serviee-sueh as oc-
cupying this post would indeed be ensamples of the flock in
humility and in all of the graces of the Lord's spirit. It
would seem to be with refer('nC'e to the special trial of such
as occupy this position of service in the church that the Apos-
tle speaks, saying, "Be not of you teachers. brethren,
knowing that we roC'eupying sneh a position] receive,
the severer testing."-.Tame'l 3: 1.
It mav not be amiss that here we notice thf' fact that al-
tho the \von! "Elder" ha'l the significance of "older," yet
amongst the Lord's brethren it is not merely years of natural
lIfe that is to be taken into consideration; in the Lord's fRm-
ily we sometimes "babes" with gray hairs. Nor can we
even count eldership according to the numher of years that
have elapsed since the of the spirit, for some grow
rapidly and mature quickly; others who receive the truth per-
mit the "thorns" of cares of this life and the deceitfulness of
riches to choke the word, and hence never get beyond the
position of "babes,"-never bring forth the ripe fruits of the
spirit.
Nor can we reckon this matter of relationship merely
aC'('()rrlin!r to the degl'ec of knowlpdge of the divine plan at-
tained; for, as the Ap0'Jtle us, it is possible for some
to have much knowledge and yet be but "tinkling cymbals"
according to the Lord's standpoint of estimation. While
therpforc an elder, in order to be "apt to teach," must have
attained to some eon'liderable degree of knowledge of the di-
vine plan, nevertheless the real evidence of llis fitness for the
service of an elder must not be determined by his knowledge
merely, hut additionally mllst bp measured by his growth in
grace. So then such of the brethren in any place as possei:ls
clear knowledge of the divine plan and are "apt to teach,"
and who additionally give unmistakable evidence that they
have grown in grace and are bearing in daily life the fruits of
the spirit of the Lord, in considerable measure of maturity,
[2654]
ILL> J. I 'JOO ZION'S WATCH TOWER (196-197)
may be consiuered qualified to hI' elderf> ;-and such may prop-
erly be chosen to the I'ldership by thl'ir brethren, regardless of
t heir age according to the flesh.
According to the flesh Peter and several others of the apos-
tJes of our Lord were his elders, but according to the spirit
our Lord is the Elder Brother of all accepted to the family
of God. According to the flesh both Timothy and Titus were
young men-young in years-so that the Apostle needed to
write to one of them, "Let no man despise thy youth." ( 1
Tim. 4: 12) And yet these young men the Apostle recognized
as elders in the church, who, because of their spiritual devel-
opment and knowledge of the divine plan, and aptness to
teach, were well qualified to feed the flock of God and to be
overseers in it--but not lords, not rulers, not masters, and
1I0t vested with any authority-merely privileged to call to
the attention of the flock the voice of the great Shepherd and
his twelve chosen assistants, and to lead them to the green
pastures and still waters of divine truth.
It was after !"pecially enjoining modesty and humility
upon the ones most advanced and most capable of the flock
that the Apostle. in the language of our text, urges that each
one of the Lord's sheep, so far from seeking to be a leader in
t he sense of a ruler or lord or master, should seek to be sub
ject one to another-to hear gladly from the humblest of the
Hoek, and to be willing to yield his own preference. so far as
his judg-mf'llt and conscience would permit. A church operat-
ing under this spirit would not be likely to be rent with con-
tl'ntion, for l'ach would be so anxious for the interests of the
"ause and so willing to condescend to the wishes of others.
that even thl' will of the majority would not be considered
..,atisfactorv, but rather all would seek, if possible, to reach
... uch a llIo<lifi{'(} conclusion as would meet with nearly or quit(
unanimous approval.
The Apostle most dbtinctly points out that the quality
",,:,l'ntial to such proper conduct on tbe part of elders and on
the part of all, is humility. How beautiful is his exhorta-
tion, "Be clothed with humility." The thought would seem
to be that outside of every other adornment of character, and
(OVl'rillg all others, should be this robe of humble-mindedness,
tlH' opposite disposition to pride.
By way of clinching his argument, the Apostle reminds
us of the principle upon which our Lord deals with his flock
:md with all ;-that he disapproves of pride, and that all
who are actuated by pride may be sure that the Lord, so far
from receiving them, fellowshiping them, leading them, bles-
them, will resist them, push them from him. The natural
mference is that thus resisted of the Lord, the tendency of
-ueh as come under the influence of a spirit of pride and am-
bition \\ ill be not toward the truth nor toward any of the
fruits and graces of the spirit, but further and further from
these. "The Lord. resisteth the proud, but supplies his favor
to the humble." Come then, dear brethren, says the Apostle,
let us cultivate this humility which the Lord so loves and
:tppreciates and promises to reward. Let us humble our-
selves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt us
ill due time.
The Lord's mighty hand has not yet been stretched out to
take hold of mankind in general and its affairs, to bring
order out of confusion; but it is stretched out over his church,
his flock. He has called us to be his 1'sheep," and we have
responded and have put ourselves under his care, under his
powerful hand for guidance, for direction, ete., that he may
ultimately make us "meet for the inheritance of the saints
In light," "joint-heirs with Jesus Christ our Lord. if so be
that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified to-
gether."
Seeing that we are under this mighty hand of God, and
thnt too by our own volition, how shan we act? Shan we
yield ourselves to his will, and permit him to "work in us
both to will and to do his good pleasure" and our ultimate
exaltation, or shall we resist the Lord's power, resist his
Word of instruction, resist the example set us in the meek
and lowly Lamb of God, and seek to exalt and to
be somebodies, either in the world or in the church? Nay,
let us remember that it would be fony to attempt to work
the divine arrangement; we indeed to some
c'tent seemingly succeed, and bring upon ourselves, and
pf'rhaps upon others also, more or less of separation from God
tIl rough snch resisting, on account of a wrong spirit; but
in the end we should utterly fail of God's favors, both as
rf'qnl'rts the ff'lIowship of the spirit now and the ff'llowship of
glory by and by. for he aSRUrf'fl will be bestowed only
npon the humble. Every proper incentive and inducement
"'peaks t? us, saying,-Humble yourself: beeome more like a
little child, fOl'getful of self, devoid of selfish ambition: be
actuated merely by a desire to serve the Lord to serve his
flock, and to serve his cause, the truth; forget self entirely.
Perhaps, as a result, the Lord may increase our oppor-
tunities and responsibilities in service in the present life, and
perhaps he not; but no matter for this. It is not for
present lIfe th:;t we and striving, bnt for the
"lory, honor and Immortahty whIch t.he TArd has promised
to them that love hin. ;-that love him so much that they
hearken to h.is Word and seek to develop those elements of
character whIch are pleasing in his sight, seeking to become
more and more copies of God's dear Son.
The. Apostle adds, "Casting all your care upon him." All
true samts of God are care-full. They have an interest in
the Lord's they have a care in respect to it. They
cannot be mdlfferent to tIle interests of Zion. Altho their
hearts and affections and cares have been lifted from a sec-
tarian channel, it. only .that they should be placed upon
true people of spIrItual ZIOn, whose names are written in
heaven. Of course, therefore, every elder in the church must
feel such a care, especially for the flock in connection with
which he has been appointed to service 'to feed the flock of
Ch
' " ,
nst: -not to shear them, not to frighten them, not to
club them, not to exercise authority and lordship over them,
but to feed them.
This care, a!feeting the chosen elderl:! (and all the elders or
ones m the church), altho it is a right sentiment in
Itself, mi.ght .be so perverted as to be 'dangerous. The
elders. eIther mdlvldually or collectively. might become so
nervo.usly. careful of as to deRtroy their own peace
and JOy .m holy spmt; and it might also lead them to
take varIOus Improper steps, as in their OVf'r-zl'alous judg-
ment necessary for the welfare of the flork. Many in times
past been led, under the influence of such a care, to
m varIOus ways take away the liberties of the flock in this or
that or another matter: fearful that thcse liberties would
be injurious to the cause. "Ve see such a spirit of careful-
ness over-solicitude marked prominently in the past by
the vallOUS creeds and regulations and restraints put upon
the Lor.d's contrary to Scriptures and to thc liberty
wherewith Chnst makes free hIs people. The motive undoubt-
edly was in some respects a good one; the difficulty was that
some ElderR, some advanced sheep, caring for the interests
of the flock, forgot that they were only its servants, and that
they were not authori7-ed to make any lawR or restraints
whatsoever for the flork. 'l'hey forgot' that the Lord him-
Relf is the Good Shepherd of his flock stilI, that he hflR not
over his of it. no: his authority to anyone, to per-
mIt such to exerCIse lordshIp or to make IawA of any kind
for it, he having made all the laws nnd regulations npces-
sary, and desiring that his sheep shall be free, with the
liberty wherewith he made tllem free. in the fullest senSe of
the word.
The remedy for all such ullauthorizel1 over-carefulness for
the interests of Zion is pointed out by the Apostle saving-
"Casting all your care upon him [the Shepherd of 'the' flock].
for he careth for you [alll." Each shcep is to remember that
the Shepherd's mighty hand (mighty power) is still in the
midst of his people, and that because of his care we do not
need to overburden oursl'Ives with care, nor to feel that Wl'
must make changes in his plans and arrangements to meet
what we might fancy to be new exigencies in the case. All
such over-carefulness leads to fear, and fear indicates a lack
of faith, a lack of confidence in the Shepherd; and is gen-
erally used by the great adverAary as one of his most power-
ful levers to lead the Lord's people into a wrong courRe.
Let us all, then (all of the advanced or elder cl:.ss), have
a care for the flock; yea. a deep solicitude; but let UA cast
tIle weight of this care upon thp Lord. and let our faith trust
him that he who has bf'en workinrr out so grand and glorious
a plan as his Word revf'als to UA "the plan of the ageR,"
has made full provision for every feature, every circum-
stnnre, every condition; and let UA thus be rpady to eo-operate
with him in harmony with his Word. but not to run where
we are not sent, nor ill any mannpr to take our Lorn's ph('e,
nor !Ittempt to do his work. Bnt only the IJllTnhle-minded
are likply to recl'ive any laRting blesAing. preAPnt or future,
at thl' hands of our Lord; for he rpl'iRtf'th tIle proud ancl
Ghoweth favor to the humble.
[2655]
PHILADELPHIA CO NVENTION ECHOES
All will rejoice to know that the Philadelphia Convention,
June 16-18, was a blessed success; so far as we have heard all
who attended got a ble""ing, as We had hoped. Indeed, quite
a few thf'mselves as so much refreshed and profited
that, the Lord permitting, they would also attend the next
ConvPntion, at Chicago.
Th" attendanee wa'\ about two hundred, except on Sunday,
when it ran up to about four hundred. The three cities
which have been leading in the "Volunteer" work were best
represcnted at the Convention :-Boston 19, Washington City
13, Scranton 13. Thu'\ it is always thosc mo'\t awake to note
and use opportunities for Rerving the truth are the most blest
of the Lord every in their love and service,
nre le'l" f',(po''1e,I the bpsptmf'nt'\ of the adver'lary: lay-
ina down their liw'" in the Lord's service in fulfilment of
('onnant they are in the way which leads not only to
felIow'Ihip In the sufl'erings of Christ but also in the glories
to follow.
Xindel'n states were Connecticut,
Nl'w York, Penn"ylvania, New Jersey, Dela-
warl', Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Ohio,
InrlIana, Illinoiq, \ViRconRin, Npvada, California and
District of Columhla :-and Grcat Britain was repre'\ented
IJY B)()tlll'r !tanllle. who, aftl'f dOIng a litt]p furtlwr Ptlgrim"
,,:ork here, will for a time make England hi" home and labor-
fiel,l.
At the haptiRm service thirty-nine adult", after making
a good public ponfe""ion, '\ymbolized their consecration to the
Lonl, even unto death, by immersion in water. It was an
impressive service to u'\ all, and the entire congregation gave
hearty thanks to God for the privilege of witnessing and par-
ticipating. The janitor of the Baptist church remarked that
not only had there never been such baptism service in that
old church, but that never before had it contained a congre-
gation all of whose faces were so happy looking. 'VI' were
glad that the inner light of truth and its spirit of love was
manifest to others. 'Ve trust that they took knowledge of us
that we had been with Jesus and been "illuminated" by his
holy spirit.
We cannot present the subjects discus'\ed. but in a word
would say,-It was the old, old story of God's love exhibited
in Jesus, and the coming glory of the church and blessing of
the world: the storv that is as fresh aR ever to all in heart-
harmony with the Lord, and which daily becomes more prec-
ious in the light of present truth ;-things new and old.
None, wp believe, "ere mOl p blpssed than the Philadl'lphia
brethren \\ ho "0 and efficiently and genPrously enter-
taine(1 us. TIH'y provided a splendin hall for the
paid for the of the baptistry, looked after thp arriving
friends an,1 saw to their comfort, and provided fl'pe enter-
tainment for those of the visitors too poor to their 0\\ n
way. May rich blessings of spiritual kind he thpir reward
for all their servicp,; to the Lord's hody. By an ovcrsight
We neglected to call for a united vote of thank" from the
convention; and as this wa" owing chiefly to the faet that the
last meeting was a Question :\feeting, we think to remedy
the matter by having the dosing service of future conven-
tions a "Love Feast."
A USEFUL STONE VERSUS A STUMBLING STONE
MATT. 16: 13-26.-JULY 22.
"If (my man come after me, let h1m deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."
Peter, the apoRtlp, wa" a gran,l character, as this Ip"son
wdl vpt. 11k" all charactl'l's. hp han pro-
portionate opport;mitieq an,l liabilIties to hi" strength
for eVil. Thi" les'\on, rl'1ating con"iderably to him, pomts
a moral reRpeeting the npces'lty for meekness, humility. and
wise direction of thofoe who possess strength of character.
The incidpnts of this lesson tran'lpirerl toward the clo"e
of our Lord'" ministry, probably about six months before his
(r1H'lfixlOn. For ahout till ee vpars thp LOI ,I hall, \nth hiS dls-
l)\'pn procbimillg' the kingdom n"ar at haml and work-
ing iIIilar'lpR \\ hlph that 1](' wa" .TpllOvah'" .\nomtpd
One. Meantime, his fame harl of <'ourse spread in every direc-
tion. Hproll, \\ ho ha,1 hphpade,l .Tohn thp Baptist. '3eems to havp
start<'d the suggpstion that Jesus was John risen from the
nead-probahly having little information respecting
while he had knowledge of John. Others WIshmg
to propprly cre,lit our Lorn's wonderful \vorks and mighty
acts. plaimerl that he wa" the Elijah prophesied to precede
Messiah'R coming. Others thought of him as Jeremiah or
some of the great prophet'\ ri'\en from the dead; but very few
!'eemed to have thought of him as the :\feqslah,-expeeting
Messiah. when he would come, to be very kingly, great,
ann of vpry high Rtanding with thp nation and the ruling
class. Thp,\' no douht thought they greatly honored Jesus In
<,rediting him with heing' the forerunner of the Messiah. And
appa rpntly our Lonl hall not particularly exprefoscd the
mattpr of his J\[ps'liahship during these year", leaving it rather
to be rp('ognize,l those who should obtain the opening of
the pyeR of thpir IID(leI'Rtanding. He spoke of himself a'\ the
kon of no,l; he Rpoke of his relatiomhip to the Father, and
that his mighty work" were done in the Father's
name an,l power, but he said little, if anything, respecting
his hping' tlle until now.
Now thp plOper time llad pomp that the discipleq Rhould
reeogni7P hiS office. and his que'ltion regarding what
people in gpneral Raid of him was to introduce the
mattl'r to the and give the opportunity to ask thE-m,
""'hom "av ve that T am?" Thpn it was that Peter
playPll not the strength of his faith in the Lord, but also
his 0\\ n strength of charactpr and his zeaL answering prompt-
Iv. "Thou art the [H"brew, the Messiah], the Son of
GOd- the Living." And altho we may safely assume that
Peter Rpokp for all of th" apostles, in harmony with our Lord's
queRtion, nf'verthe!<'ss, the fact that he was the spokesman
would imply that hp was the most thoroughly with
the sentiment that he expreRRpd. His statement is quite
comprehensive, too: not only did he recognize Jesus as the
Messiah. but he recognized his divine authority and paternity,
and while it is possible that Peter meant to say "the Son of
the living God"- the Son of the God who is the author of
all it is probable that he nlPant mol''' than this. It
probable that he meant, Thou art thp h, the Son of
God, the Living One.-th" one who has a right to lifp ac-
porelIng to the law, while all otheh, Iwing ill1perfpct, an' ullilpr
condpmnation of the law awl unupr Rpntence of death
Evidentlv it was a refreshment of heart to our Lonl to
have this ftill and frank Rtatf'ment from Pf'ter. One, at l"ast,
of his disciples had profitpd by the Ipssons of the prece'lIng
three and had come to the point of full aSRurance of
faith In him: and the otherf', while less expre'osivp, were
making progress neverthelpss, and woulll b" greatly
helped and strengthened and built up by this good confession.
PETER A USEFUL STONE IN GOD'S HOUSE
Our Lord's response, "Bles'\ed art thou. Simon, son of
Jona," does not so much signify, I wish or will grant a bles-
sing upon you because of this confession, but rather, You
have heen blessed of God greatly in that you have been en-
abled to discern this great truth, hidden from so many. Flesh
and blood (mankind in general) do not so b"lievp, ann could
not have so taught you nor convinced you: you have been
drawn of my Father in heavf'n, and through responding to
the leadings of his providence the eyes of your understanding
have bpen opened that you are thus able to Spe anrI appreciate
thi" gT('at truth.
Then followen a blE-ssing, a prophecy of coming useful-
ness, partly, at least, the result of this good eonfesRion, a'\
it was the result of a proper eondition of heart ;-"Thou art
Peter [petros, a stone, a rock] and upon this rock rpetra-
this great stone or rocky ma"R-the great truth which you
have confessed, namely, my l\Iessiahship] \vilI I builll my
church."
The Lord did not propose to build his church upon Peter,
but upon the great truth which the Father han laid as a
foundation for his plan and had revealed to Pf'ter and which
Peter had so nobly expressed. But Peter, indeed, might be
one of thf' living stone.. of the spiritual temple erecte(l upon
thi" great foundation-fact. Peter himself gives us this in-
terpretation of the matter in his Epistle (1 Pet. 2: 4-7), as-
suring us that the whole church as a building of God is
growing more and more complete through the addition of
each member, who, as a living stone, iR built up into and
under the headship of Christ, the great chief corner-stone and
capstone of the whole-the figure being that of a pyramid.-
See DAWN, VOL. 1.. Chap. v.; VOL. III., Chap. x.
The samp thought is given in the description of the N('w
Jerusalpm, in which Peter iR represented by one of the Twelve
Foundation Stones, the other apostles bping equally founda-
tion stones. and all the faithful in Christ being built upon
the founnation of the divine plan. and upon the testimony of
these twelve apostles. Rev. 21, see verse 12.
098-199)
[2656]
JULY 1, 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER
(199-200)
This was probably the first intimation the Lord had given
of intention to butld a church, or that any period of time
would elapse between the work he was then doing and the
establishment of the kingdom. This was a gradual way of
bringing great matters to the attention of the apostles,-
matters which necessarily would conflict with many of the
ideas and hopes that already had taken possession of their
hearts.
It be claimed that our Lord referred to any of the
Christian sects when thus speaking of his church: all are
forced to admit that these earthly systems are entirely
ignored, not only in this statement, but in every other state-
ment which our Lord ever made respecting his church. He
never recognized more than one, nor did the apostles; and
both and the apostles reckoned that every true sheep,
every true grain, every wise virgin, and every faithful servant
of this Gospel age would belong to the one church of Christ,
of which the Apostle says that "their names are written in
heaven." (Heb. 12:23) They need no earthly record, and
such of them as are rightly informed will want no sectarian
name, but will be thoroughly satisfied with the name of their
Lord; and they will want no earthly creed-fences to separate
them from each other, but will desire more and more to be
one in fact and in theory.
The church of Rome, as being the oldest of all human
church systems, claims the name of Christ, and holds that
Peter ,\as it'l found!'r. hut it can produce no evidence to this
effect, for tllPre was no Roman Catholic church in existence
until centurie'! after Peter's day. The primitive church,
authorized by our Lord and built upon the testimony of the
apo'!tles and through their mimstry, after the day of Penteeost,
was a very different institution from any of the present-day
man-made, creed-bound and clergy-lorded systems. \Ve under-
stand that the Lord is now calling his true people out of this
Babylon or mixed condition of present-day "churchianity"
into the light, the liberty, the fellowship, with him and with
all who are his, whieh properly belong'! to the one flock, which
nas but "one Lord, one faith, one baptism."
Our Lord's declaration that "the gate'! of hell [hades, the
death state] shall not prevail against" his church. i'! worthy
of careful notice, especially in view of his words following this
declaration, to the effect that all who would be his disciples
must follow him in sacrifice into death. This must have been
an astounding thong-ht to the apostles, as they had, so far
from expecting death, expected some kind of transformation
to glory, honor and immortality. Our Lord's declaration.
th!'refore, that the gates of hell, the gates of the grave, shall
not prevail against his church, signified not that his followers
should not enter those portals of death, but that eventually
those prison-door'! of death would open,-would not be per-
mittel} forever to prevail against the faithful. A'l a matter
of fact, the gate'! of hades did close over our dear Redeemer
himself for portions of three days, but they did not prevail.
On the contrary, God's power prevailed and he arose from
the dead, he left the prison-house, he came forth a victor.
And so lIkewise throughout this Gospel age, the gates of death
closed behind the apostles one after another. and after all
the faithful of the Lord's people, as well as others. and our
Lord's assurance then is still comforting to his followers,
that the prisonhouse of death, with its strong bars and gates,
the grave, shall not prevail, shall not in the end conquer, but
that he who was raised from the dead by the power of the
Father will raise us up also, making us also victors over death
and over the grave, so that eventually we can say, "0 death,
where is thy sting? 0 grave, where is thy victory?" But
we cannot say this so long as we are subject to death, nor so
long as we are under death's power; but only when the de-
liverance shall come in the resurrection.
Altho our Lord doe'! not here speak of others than the
church prevailing against the gates and bars of the tomb,
he dOl'S elsewhere give us the assurance that through his pre-
vailing and our subsequent prevailing through his name and
assistance, ultimately the whole world of mankind, or so
many of them, at least, as will accept of the favor, will be
delivered from the power of death into perfection of life:
and then shall be brought to pass, in the fullest, most absolute
sense of the word, the prophecy just referred to. (Isa.
61: 1-3) Adamic death and its victory over the human family
will thcn he completely annulled, through the atonement ac-
complished by our Lord. and the restitution which he, with
his church, will accomplish as a result. And any who shall
fail of eternal life shall not fail because of the present pre-
valence of so-called Adamic death, but will be the victims
of their own wilful sin, and will experience its penalty, the
second death, whose bars and gates will never open, and
against which they can never prevail, for Christ dieth no more
and will release none from the second death.-Rom. 6: 9 ;
2 Thess. 1: 9; Acts 3: 23.
THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
The apostles, of course, could not understand our Lord's
words at the time, as they did afterward, and as We now
understand them. (John 7 :39) Nevertheless, these various
declarations respecting the future immediately followed, our
Lord declaring, "I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of
heaven." What a riddle this must have seemed to poor Peter
and his associates! They would doubtless conclude that it
meant that in view of Peter's confession he would make him
grand treasurer of the kingdom, or something of that kind;
and only in the light of their fulfilment in subsequent events
can wp jurlge accurately the meaning of these But
looking through the experiences of Peter and the church, we
find that there were two doors which required to be opened,
and that Peter was used of the Lord in opening both of them,
and hence that it was properly stated of him that he had
the keys, the power, the opportunity, the authority to do the
work in both instances, and he did it.
Our Lord himself did not open the door into the kingdom,
in the full sense of the word. He merely called out faithful
laborers, who should afterward in hi", name open wide the
doors. Indeed, the doors into the kingdom could not be
opened to any until first of all the great transaction of Cal-
vary had been accomplished. Our Lord came to give him-
self a ransom for mankind, because a ransom was
hefore mankind could be released from the Adamic condemna-
tion, or have any part either in the kingdom proper or in the
hope!l for bl!'s.,ing promi"ed through tl1l' kingdom to all the
families of the earth. Hence the apostles (whom the Father
had specially given to Jesus, and of whom none were lost saVf>
the son of perdition, whose place was subsequently filled,
through the Lord's appointment, by the Apostle Paul-John
17: 12; Rom. 1: 1 ), did not and could not receive recognition
from the Father until after our Lord Jesus had finished his
sacrifice and had arisen from the dead and had ascended up
on high to appear in the presence of God on their behalf,-
and on behalf of all men for whom he died. So soon as the
sacrifice for man's sin was presentcd to the Father, the evi-
dence of its acceptance was indicated to mankind by God's
acceptance of the faithful apostles and of all who then were
in the proper condition of heart, to the plane of sonship and
their hegptting of thc holy spirit to a new nature,-and this
was marked or indicated by the outpouring of the holy spirit
at accompanied by "gifts" of the spirit.
It was then that Christ's kingdom was established in those
who had received him; and then began the work of declaring
th!' good tidings of great joy, which must eventually be to
pll p"opl,' hut wInch at rt,,,trietell for thrpc and n
half years to fleshly Israel, in fulfilment of God's covenant
with them. that favor should continue to the full end of
seventy mentioned by the prophet.-Dan. 9: 24. See
MILLEN"'IAL DAWN, VOL. II., Chap. III.
In this work of opening the door of the kingdom to Israel
we find, according to the record, that Peter took the first,
most prominent and initiatory part, as we read: "Peter,
standing up with [the others of] the elevcn, lifted up his
voice and said." (Acts 2: 14) Peter was the spokesman,
P!'ter used the "key," Peter opened the door, the other apos-
tles co-operating and assisting.
The other of the two "keys" was not u'led for three and a
half years afterward, because not until thpn could the door
of favor he opened to the But when the time came
for opening the door, we find that it Pcter who was
specially designated of the Lord to do it. being sent from
.Toppa to Cornelius, to tell him words which should be to
the saving of his house-the opening to him of the privilege
of membership in the kingdom of Christ. he being the fir"t
G!'ntile converted. the first one to whom the Lord l1uthorized
the preaching of the high calling of joint-heirship with Christ
in his kingdom. And the Apostle Peter referred to this matter
suhsflquentIy, saYIng, "Ye know how that a good while ago
God made choice amongst us that the Gentiles by my mouth
should hear the word of the Gospel."-Acts 10; 15:7.
BINDING AND LOOSING IN HEAVEN AND EARTH
Our Lord further said to Peter, "Whatsoever thou shalt
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou
shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." This state-
ment has given rise to the claim amongst Romanists that
Peter was the first pope, and that he had an authority super-
ior to the other apostles; but we find that very nearly the
[2657]
ZION'S WATCH TOWER
aaDle WOIo.!:> were used to all thl' apostleR a., recoro.l'd by the thelefor of a plan III Oil' aglel'ahle to the f}l'ah.
Ilame .Evangelist. (Matt. 18: 18) Again, a very similar The text says that "Peter took him," and this we ma)'
declaration was made to them all, as recorded by John, say- uuderstand to signify that Peter took him apart from the
ing, "Whosoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto others-it was a private interview and e'Chortation, and no
them, and whosoever sins ye retain they are retained." doubt Peter intended to bring in vanous supporting argu-
(John 20 :23) We understand these declarations not to be ments; for instance, that the disciples would he discouraged
general and applicable to all of the church, but chiefly to the with such talk, etc. Howewr, he only "bt'gltn," .Iud did not
apostles, on the strength of our Lord's words. (John 6: 70; get to finish his argument, the Master being so full of the
15:16; Rev. 21:14) We deny that the popes of Rome, or spirit of loyalty to the Father and his plan that he could
other persons, ever have been apostles, or ever have not even endure a suggestion to the contrary. and must npedS
apostolic authority. In a word, we deny the central claIm hasten to repudiate such a disloyal suggestion. His answer
of and Episcopacy, viz., "Apostolic Succession." was a severe rebuke to Peter, yet was a blessing to
"'e llnderbtand thiR investment of Pctpr and the other him so long as he lived, and probably helped him afterward
with '-peclal ltuthOlity to hin'} a.1H} .to to rpm!t to be much more modest in the matter of opposing his plan to
and to hold, to that God would specIally control theIr that of the Lord.
so that their decisions and writings might prop- When our Lord said, "Get tlH'c behind me, Satan.:' he
('rly hI' considerpd authoritative. Not that God bound himself did not mean that he considered Peter possessed by the ad-
to ',10 and to decide according to the imperfect judgments of versary: rather, the word Sa.tan in the original is "adversary."
t.he but that. he has us he and was properly used in respect tu any person taking a
flO "\lidp and providentIally overrule III the affans and m the position adverse or in opposition to another. The adversary
langua/lp of thesp and faithful ones that his people is called Satan, that word being used for him as a proper
might n.l,v upon it tha.t SUCh. things !he fixed name. Our Lord turned from Peter at this time, and ad-
had ihp ,liYinp approval. For mstance, It IS at then <Iressed his words so that all the apostles might hear him,
Olat WI? ll?arn that WI? art:> justified from all sin through that the matter might be the more impressive and all the
in the rpdpmption; they did not make it so, but under dIVllle more a valuable lesson to them: that they might all know
dire<.tion tlwy 'were {,,'1lided in the stating of so; and we that their Master never compromised his Father's will in any
may implicitly rcly upon WhICh, sense or degree. "Get behind me, adversary; thou savorest
We find to be in full accord WIth the prmclples of nghteous- rpartakestl not the things that be of God, but the things
npss an<1 the declarations of the divine ord. that be of men"-you are viewing matters not from God'&
They inform lUl also that certain can be remitted or but from the standpoint of fallible, fallen men.
forgiven- sins of weaknpss and of. Ignorance, to So it is to-day, and ever has been with the church, the
our fallPl1 nature, which we have recclved by heredIty, and tl1l' hody of Christ; if they are intent upon following the foot-
penaltv for which our Lord has already borne. They inform "teps of the Lord they must expect adversari('s to arise who
us :J 15'0 that other sins, viz., wilful sins, are not forgivablp, will seek to turn them away from the path of sacrifice and
and mav be indepd sins unto death, unto the second death. <luty: to make it seem too difficult, or to attract their atten-
And \\ f: see herein reasonableness also; for we perceive t,hat Uon to other plans or methods less eostly-more in harmony
did not dip for any pxcept the Adamic transgressIOn, with the fleshly mind. We should remember the Master;s
and tho,-p which directly or indirectly may be traceable <'ourse and take a similar one. and point out to these, if
to it: ano. that \\ ilful, transgressions cannot the!e- they be friends, and in the truth (and such they frequently
fore hp forgiven, but must bp expiated-if WIth are, as was Peter), that their influence is being exercised
considprable "light. but not full light, the eXplatmg penalty in a wrong direction, against the truth, against our best
may be ""tripe"s," but if committed with wilfulness and interests, against the divine plan and hence that they are not
again&t full light the penalty could be Ilothmg short of death only adversaries to us, but also adversaries to the Lord. We
-the second death.-1 John 5:16; Luke 12:47. 48; Heb. !-\hould thus seek to reclaim them and to help them to walk
64-6; 1O2fi 27. in the same way with uS,-instead of leaving the narrow
CAST NOT PEARLS EEFORE SWINE way to follow their kindly meant but pernicious influence.
FollO\\ mg this conyprsation with the ou: Lord The word here rendered "offence" would more properly
l'harged them particularly not to make Ius Messlahshlp gen- be translated, as in the Revised Version, "a stumbling block,"
prally known to the prople. rorroborates thought or a stone of stumbling. Thus we see that it was the same
that ndther the nor our Lord had been Peter whose noble confession had so refreshed the Lord and
.. nnnciatino- his )lessiahsllip, but rather prrachmg that the blessed the disciples and himself, and who on this account
kingdom <rl heaycn was at hand, near a.t the door. without was designated a stone, indicatiYe of strong character, that
,aying prpcisely who was to be the King". The command not was now, by reason of the same strength of character, strong-
lo make the matter known wa" evidently because the result mindednesB, strong will, in danger of becoming, not a stone
of ,",uch a program would have been to ha.ye aroused at least in the Lord's temple but a stumbling stone. And should
a l,a.rty spirit amonl!st the people, SOllle of :YhOlll some of the Lord's people, strong in character, become stumb-
his mirad's, et'" and ,,-0111d hayp hlR cause, whIle lIng stones to us, we have here our Lord's illustration of our
"tllPr". \\ ith the would have opposed, and thus an proper course-to turn from them, refusing to be stumbled,
in'-UTI('('!ion would natnmllv havp followpd it woul<l to be lead away from the consecration which WE
11I11'! ff'l'(',l ponsj'[l'rahh with thp whic'h 0111 have made. .
Lord '-aw marked out for him in the divine WOld.-his death Onr 1"ord took this occasion to lav pointedly before his
.18 thp sil1-ntfpring-. HI' dill 110t nel'd tn llloplaim his Messiah- disciples the fact that if they loved present iife, with itB
,hip. for h.. a Irl'ally klll'\\'. hI' hall ,LIt('<!, that <'1' ao.vantages, ete., more than the future one, with its present
Ihp Father would draw would come. and that those not drawn disadva.ntages, they had no lmsiness amongst his disciples:
of tll' Father, and not to become dil'\ciples. should t.hat anyone who would be his disciple should reckon self-
not IN.' __ pf'C'ially dmwn hy the proclamation of hIS J\leF'Siflh, denial, self-negation, absolutely necessary to discipleship;
,hip and the prospef'ts of the kingdom. ano. should be prepared, with no uneertainty of mind or pur-
PETER A STUMBLING-STONE, AN ADVERSARY pose. to follow after Jesus with 11 cross,-not a literal cross,
Haying prepared the minds of thf' disriples. hy the fore- hnt the ,'rosl'\illg of human with the divine will.
,'oing declaration, tha.t hades, death, would not hI' permitted 'Then come the terms of discipleship very clearly stated.
to triumph oyer his church, etc., our Lord from thllt time All who become disciples, and who hope for life in the kino--
fon\ ard hf'gan gradually to break to thp.m information rc- dom, must expect to sacrifice thc present life, and
,pedin:! hi, own .. a.nd his re"UlTf'pt!OIl from the dead <loes not sacrifice the present life shall not find that glorious
It "as th(,11 that UI(' sanll' noblC' Peter fnrgot himseH. liS we eternal life which God has in reservation only for the over-
wouH sa,.. awl undC'rtook to correct thp Lord lind to outline comers. But, our Lord reasons, whnt would a man be ad-
for llim ;Jtltpr things. He wa.s moved to this, not merely by vantflged were he to gain all of world, all of its ad-
motive'! of preiudice and hopes of sharing in the vantages and riches (which none could hope to do) if there-
king<lom. illld avoiding the ignominy, but doubtlc'ls also by his by. he should lose his own being. his own soul, his life, hiG
Jov(' for the Lon] and hii' dpsirp to I'\re him honored and ex- eXIstence: 01' what would a man 1I0t be willing" to give in
illtcd, mthpr than to be set at nought and killed. But, as exchange for the perpetuation of his life eternally. (The
on another occasion this noble Apostle said things "not know- word soul, in this verse, is psuche, the same Greek word ren-
ing what ht:> said," so now he e,;id;mt.Jy did not thp dcred life in the preceding veri'e.) Surely anyone possessed
import of his language. and how, If It were followed, It would of a sound mind and able, therefore, to rightly weigh the ad-
mean to 0111' I_ord t\1e rl'iection of tbl' Fathpr's plan and the vantages nnd disadvantages of tbl' prpscnt life, as compared
[2658]
I, 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER (2u3-304)
with the eternal life in God's kingdom of righteousness, must
confess that it would be a bad bargain to gain the whole
world in every sense and to lose his own being.
It is in view of the logic of this argument that OUF Lord
and the apostles urge all true followers of Christ to present
their bodies living sacrifices, holy, acceptable to God, and
their reasonable service ;-to lay down their lives for the
brethren, that by these means they may attest their devotion
to the Lord and attain to his kingdom and life everlasting.-
Rom. 12:1; 1 John 3:16; 2 Cor. 5:14, 15; Phil. 3:10, 11.
A VISION OF COMING GLORY
LUKE 9:28-36.-JULY 29.
"This is my beloved son-hear htm."
Continuing his lessons to the apostles, showing them that
his glory and kingdom could not come until after his suffering
and death, our Lord declared, "There be some standing here
who will not taste of death until they see the Son of Man
coming in his royal majesty." (Matt. 16 :28; 17: 1) Then,
six days later (or eight days, counting the one in which this
was uttered and the one in whlch it was fulfilled) our Lord
took Peter, James and John, the three apostles most ad-
vanced in faith and zeal, into a high mountain, and while
praying with them the transfiguration scene of our lesson
ensued.
It was a further lesson of instruction in harmony with
what he had already explained, viz., that the Son of Man
must be set at naught by the chief priests and the elders,
and must be crucified, and must rise from the dead, ere he
could enter into his glory;-the kingdom in which he had
promised them a share. The transfiguration scene was there-
fore a picture or "vision" of the Lord's glory in his kingdom,
and was intended to assure the apostles respecting the cer
tainty of the kingdom, notwithstanding the apparent failure
of all kingdom-hopes in our Lord's crucifixion. And this
vision was doubtless essential as an assistant to the apostles'
faith in Jesus as the promised Messiah, since the course of
events which would follow in the next few months would be
so different from everything that they had expected.
Peter, one of those present on this occasion, fully sub-
stantiates this view-that the transfiguration was a vision
of Christ's dignity and glory in the kingdom-for writing re-
specting it he says: "We have not followed cunningly devised
fables in making known to you the presence and power of
our Lord Jesus, but were eye-witnesses of that majesty, for
he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there
came such a voice to him from the excellent glory-'This is
my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' And this voice
which came from heavcn we heard when we were with him
in the holy mount."-2 Pet. 1: 16-18.
The several accounts show that our Lord entered into the
mountain to pray, and that the apostles fell asleep during
the prayer, but subsequently awakened and beheld the vision,
the Master's face shining like the sun, and his garments
glitteringly white, and in his company two persons who, for
some reason, they recognized as Moses and Elijah, altho of
course they had never seen either of these men, and would
not have known them without assistance. These they over-
heard talking with the Lord, the SUbject of the conversation
no doubt being intended for the ears of the disciples-to con-
vince them that the matters which would occur before long
in Jerusalem and on Mount Calvary would all be features ot
the divine plan, harmoniously working out the blessed results
promised and longed for, through the kingdom. "They spoke
of his decease whieh he should accomplish at Jerusalem."
W11at is the interpretation of the picture? is a proper
question. We reply, that it represented, first of all, that
altho our Lord Jesus must suffer death, even the death of
the cross, in harmony with the divine plan, "being made a
curse for us" (Gal 3: 13), nevertheless, he was still the Son
of God, whose glorious majesty and kingly power would later
on be fully shown forth. And Moses and Elijah, represent-
ing the Law and the Prophets, illustrate how the death of
Christ was fully atteRted beforehand. Moses spoke of the
sufferings of Ch'rist in all the arrangements of the Law, its
sacrifices, etc., and the prophets declared not only the coming
glories, but also the sufferings which must prerede them. a;-,
our Lord subsequently pointed out to the two disciples on
the way to Emmaus, saying, "0 and slow of heart to
believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Messiah
to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?"-
Luke 24: 25-27.
Again, this picture may be understood to represent the
kingdom during this Gospel age-the kingdom as recognized
by the Lord's people, but not recognized by the world. In this
view of the vision, our Lord's race shining as the sun, and
his garments glistening white, would represent him in his
present condition, as no longer the man Christ Jesus, but tl- c
risen, glorified Son of the Highest, a spirit being. In
view of the matter, Moses might be understood to represent
the faithful of the past ages, and Elijah the faithful of this
Gospel age, the body of Christ in the flesh,* who are to be
associated with him in the glory of the kingdom, and who
meantime behold his glory with the eye of faith, and recognize
the great transaction of Calvary as the basis for all kingdom
hopes and blessings.
In harmony with this view is the fact that at the same
time that this vision was taking place the other disciples
of the twelve at the foot of the mountain were contending
with the adversary, seeking to cast out the devil from the
young man. Thus the Lord's people of the present time are
still in the valley of conflict, still contending with the will
of the flesh and the devil; yet their eyes of faith behold at
the top of the mountain the glorious Lord, with all power
in heaven and in earth, their Friend, their Teacher, and soon
to be their deliverer, who will cause them to share in the
glories of his kingdom into which he has already entered.
We have called this scene on the mountain a vision, and so
indeed our Lord calls it, in the account given by Matthew
(17 :!l) : "As they came down from the mountain Jesus
charged them saying, Tell the vision to no man until the Son
of Man be risen from the dead." And indeed a vision was
just as useful to the purpose aB a reality could have been.
Thus it was that the Lord showed many things later on to
one of these three witnessing disciples on the Isle of Patmos.
He showed him in vision, angels and thrones and crowns and
multitudes and dragons, etc., in a manner which served the
purpose equally as well as tho all those beasts, dragons, etc.,
had been actually created for the purpose. So in this vision:
Our Lord's transfiguration was merely an appem'ancc-actually
he had undergone no change. He appeared like as spiritual
beings are described, bright, shining like the sun, etc., yet
he was not yet a spirit being, and did not become such until
his resurrection from the dead; he was still "the man Christ
Jesus." But in the "vision" his countenance and his garments
were caused to appear to be bright, glistening, etc., and the
appearance served every purpose. Likewise, Moses and Elijah
appeared to be present, but they were not actually present, be-
cause it was merely a "vision." The Apostle distinetly in-
forms us that Moses and Elijah and the others of the ancient
worthies are not yet made perfect-and that they cannot be
made perfect until after the church, the body of Christ, is
complete and glorified with the Head, "God having provided
some better thing for ttS, that they without us should not be
made perfect."-Heb. 11 :40; John 3: 13; Acts 2: 34.
As a part of the "vision" came a misty cloud of light,
which enveloped the group, including the disciples, who were
fearful as they entered the cloud. This cloud as a part of
the vision, might properly be understood as saying to thc
apostles and to us, Altho the glory and majesty of the Lord
Jesus are unquestionably his, as testified to by the Law and
the Prophets, and as a result of his faithfulness unto death,
nevertheless that glory will in a considerable measure be
hidden, covered, obscured for a time, so that you will see your
glorious Lord and King only with the eye of faith, which,
altho more or less cloudy, will nevertheless be bright to those
who look unto him. And the voice of God speaking in that
cloud and testifying to Jesus as the Son of God, and instruct-
ing that we should hear and obey his word, would seem to
represent how that all through this Gospel age, while the
misty cloud surrounds the glory of the Lord, we will have
gn'at nced to continually hearken to the Word of the Lord,
and to repose faith in its declaration the Son of
God, our Redeemer.
After the vision the Lord and the apostles descended from
the mount to engage in the duties of life-to complete the
lessons of faith and obedience, battling against the world,
the flesh and the devil; and yet, as the quotation from the
Apostle Peter's letter clearly shows, the influence of this vision
-. See MILLF.NNIAL DAWN, VOl.. II, Chap. 8, "Elias Shall First Come,'"
[2659]
(205-206)
ZIONJS WATCH TOWER
AI.LIlGHNY, FA.
continued with the apostles through coming days, as it still
encourag-es us today. And may we not leal n a lesson to the
effect that as this vision was g-ranted when Jesus and the
dbciples were at prayer, so all those who seek God in prayer
may, to a larg-e extent, with the eye of faith realize this
same blessed vision of the kingdom-the glories to come-
and may, to some extent, with the hearing of faith recognize
the voice of God saying, "This is my beloved Son"-to some
extent be enabled to realize that as members of the body of
Christ their sacrifice also be accomplished in actual
death before tlwy can pnter into his glory, since it is written
that "if we suffer with him we shall also reign with him."
\Ve cannot build tabernacles on the mountain heights
of faith and hopc, and expect to dwell there in enraptured
vision always. \Ve must remember that the duties and triab
of pre5ent experiences in conflicts with sin and with self and
with the adversary are essential to our development amI part
of our covenant. but like the Master we should frcquently
seek the heavenly Father's blessing in prayer; and in pro-
portion as we use this privilege will our hearts and our faces
shine; and proportionately we will be enabled to "show forth
the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his
marvelous light," and who has shined by his grace into our
hearts, "to give the light of the knowledge of God as it shmes
in the face of Jesus Christ our Lord.
LEAST AND GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM
MATT. 18:1-14.-AUGUST 5.
GOLDEN TEXT.-"Suf!er the little chtldren to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of s-uch [hkeJis the Kingdom of God."
'I h.. <:ol<1,'n '1'",1 hn thi,; I'; lIIapplopnate child, and seating it in the midst, he made the astounding
and ruibleading. It was spoken respecting children, and as in declaration that only such as would bccome childlike could
dicating our Lord's sympathy and love for them. Indeed, we enter the kingdom at all. As natural men, and most of
cannot think of any truly great man or woman who would them rather unlearned, the disciples had no doubt been aim-
1I0t lank upon chihlhoo'l \\ ith lOVIng sympathy and interest; ing as far as possible from childlike simplicity, and striving
and vH>wing the blank pages of the life represented in them rather to assume the dignity of mind and of bearing which
be u\\ akpne,l to tCIlller feelIng,; I the tnah; and dillIcnl- would suggest itself to the natural man as being appropriate
and ,,,h1('h lie before them in the to those who hoped soon to share regal honors in the kingdom
path of life, and with hopes and good wishes respecting their of God. \Yhat astonishment it must have caused them to
possible victories and attainments of desirable characters, learn that the Lord was looking rather for simplIcity, meek-
as a J of f'xpel'J('nc{'s amI confiict8. That Jesus ness, teachableness, child-likeness, than for astuteness, wisdom,
lovell children, yea, loved everything guileless and pure, dignity, etc.!
not to ])(> and our ({ol'!('n Text tIllS Yet our Lord's words were not merely a condemnation
conviction. of the spirit which they had been cultivating, but a lesson of
The kingdom of God will not be composed either wholly instruction regarding a change in this respect, his word..
or in part of infants who died without either knowledge, intimating not merely the possibility, but the necessity of a
experience or character attainments. Had such been God's change of course on the part of those who desired a share in
purpose it waulI] not have required nl'nrly nineteen centuries his kingdom. If, instead of reading our Lord's words as in
to complete the "lIttle flock" of "one hundred and forty-four the Common Version, "Except ye be converted," we read them
1l0l \\ould It havp IH'CIl sa III that a good figlIt as in the Revised Version, "Except ye turn," more will get the
must he fought and victory achieved and graces of the spirit true thouglIt our Lord wished his followers to leal n, tlIp word
attallwd h,l' "patipnt pHseverance in well doing," and that all "convert" having lost its primary meaning to many by rea-
in all it must be through much tribulation to the flesh, vol un- son of misuse. They must turn their ideas on the subject, and
tarily and joyfully accepted, that any can enter into the study and practice lessons in the opposite direction-ll'ssons
killWlolll. Infants can have no share under thi8 Gospel call; of meekness, of humility, of child-likl'ness: and our Lord's
but they will surely share the great worId-blessing that will declaration that those who attain to the greatest development
flpeedily follow the completion of the Church and its glorifica- in meekness and simplicity of heart will be greatest in the
bon as God's kingdom, kingdom, implies that those who strive after simplicity and
This text is misleading, in connection with this lesson, be- meekness will be a share in th.e kingdom, but that
cause in the latter the expression "little ones" is used in a who are self-seekmg and boastful wIll have part or lot In
figurative sense, not literally;-the Lord referring to his this matter.
humble an,l trustful 'lisclples as God's little one8, God's Having thus define(l the 1l11mblc-mllHled and nn(htplltatlOll'l
chilrlren, whom he pities and cherishes as do earthly parents among8t his followers as those upon whom he would be8tow
their little onf's. Nor is this an exceptional case, for .we the highest honors and dignities of the kingdom, Jesus pro-
finrl that ]"('peatcrlly in th\' Ncripture8 the young ChristIan ceederl to give a general respecting such "little one8"
and the le8s developed are likened to babes, to children. Thus of his followers, saying that all who receive such humble
the Apostle Paul exhorts: "Brethren, be not children in diSCIples III his name will be reckoned as having received
understanding; howbeit, in malice be ye children, but in un- him, and whoever stumbles or injures one of these humble
.Ierstawling be ye men." And the Apostle Peter exhorts the or "little ones" will thereby commit a crime so serious that
brl'thren. ".\8 new horn babes. desire the sincere milk of the it would be better for him to have lost his life-better that a
Word, that ye may grow thereby."-1 Cor. 14:20; 1 Peter 2:2, mill-stone were fastened to his neck and he be cast into the
It was apparently after the journey back from the Mount sea, and thus all hope of saving his life effectually destroyed
of Tran8figuratlOn to Gapernaum that the discourse of thi'l -better that this great calamity should come upon one than
Op('lllled. COlllparing the acpounts as given by Ma:K that he should do an injury to one of the Lord's "little ones"
and Luke, we gather that the apostles on the way had a diS- -one of the humblest of the disciples, childlike, meek,
cussion respecting who of their number were the and following in the way of the Lord.
who would be the greatest or most honored in the kmgdom As we thus see how great a value the Lord places upon
which the Lord had promised and in which they hoped to humility it should encourage all true disciples to cultivate
share. This discussion quite probably was instigated by the this quality daily, that thus they might grow more and more
fact that only three of their number had been specially guileless, honest, truly humble, and in the sight of the great
hy being with the Lord in the mount. The diSCUSSIOn be- King become more and more great, more and more fit for the
tween them, altho carried on probably in subdued tones, not high exaltations of the kingdom to come. Seeing that with-
intended for the ears of Jesus, had become animated as the out this meekness none can enter into this kingdom, we need
various sides and claims were advocated. It was a later not wonder that the Scriptures everywhere exhort the Lord's
that our Lord inquired of them what had been the people to humility-HHumble yourselves under the mighty
their earnest and animated converse as they hIm m hand of God [now] that he may exalt you in due time" in
the wa,v. Apcording to Luke's aCPOIlllt th<,y were retIcent, not the kingdom. Yet notwithstanding all these exhortations of
liking to answer his question to tell of dispute, no the Scriptures the perversity of human nature seems to be
doubt feeling rather ashamed of It. But, reahzmg that they such that those who become the Lord's people and who engage
could not hide the matter from the Lord, and some of to run in hi8 way seem to find more trouble, more to contend
evidrntly anxious to have his decisive word on the subject, against, in this matter than in any other. And some who
they asked him to settle the question for them. feel themselves to be tittle enough seem very anxiou8 that
Our Lord desired just such an opportunity for presenting others of the brethren shall esteem them very highly. Would
to hi'! faithful ones a needed lesson along this line; and ac- to God that all of the Lord's dear people. and especially all
cording to his usual custom he illustrated it. Calling a little who seem to be leaders, and who have some natural qualifica-
[2660J
JULY I, 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER (206-207)
tions for leading, and helpfulness in the church, would study
well this lesson, and learn from it how to advance themselves
in the Lord's favor, and how to be truly great according to
his standard, which alone shall prevail.
The word rendered "offend" in verse 6 and onward would
be better rendered "stumbled," the thought being that of plac-
ing a stumbling-block in the path. The Lord intimates most
distinctly that there will be plenty of such stumbling-blocks
in the way of those who are truly his, and that, too, in pro-
portion as they are "little"-humble. He declares it neces-
that these difficulties, these trials, these "offences." shall
come. It is necessary, because it is the divine will that all
the elect church shall be thoroughly tested and developed in
character, that thus they may become strong characters,
copies of God's dear Son, willing to suffer for the truth's
sake, and that gladly, joyfully, the loss of earthly things,
that thereby they might please the Father which is in heaven,
-thus developing humility and obedience, that by and by
they may be ready for the exaltation which he has promised
to those only who faithfully follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Yet however necessary that the stumbling-blocks shall
be in the way, and that the church, the body of Christ, shall
be tested thereby, this does not lighten the responsibility of
those who, as the agents of the adversary, lend themselves
to his influence in placing those stumbling-blocks before the
feet of the saints; and our Lord's words, without indicating
exactly the nature of their punishment, assure us positively
that such evil-doers will have a reward from him who says,
"Vengeance is mine; I will repay."
In all probability many today are putting stumbling-
hlocks before the Lord's little ones, his faithful little flock,
who do not realize what they are doing,-just as Peter un-
consciously became a stumbling stone, a rock of offence, to
the Master, when he attempted to dissuade him from the per-
formance of his consecration vow. Those who place stumb-
ling-blocks before the Lord's "little ones" now similarly seek
to lead them from the narrow path of iull consecration and
self-sacrifice-seeking to persuade them that another and an
easier way, a way less humbling to the natural man, a way
more politIc, more crafty, more wise, according to the course
of this world than the narrow way, is just as good as or a
great deal better than the narrow way. Such testings are
necessary, and it is also necessary that all who do not walk
closely in the footprints of the Savior shall be sifted out, for
the Lord secketh only a little flock,-all of them copies of
his dear Son. But there is a great responsibility upon those
who aid in turning aside any of the flock-who to any extent
are stumbling-blocks. caUbes of stumbling or "offence" in the
pathway of the Lord's people.
Following this line of thought, that offences or trials and
testings must come to all, our Lord urges that tho these
tests mean the sacrifice of pleasure or hopes or aims or cus-
toms or privileges, precious to us as a right eye or a right
hand, or useful to us as our foot, they must nevertheless be
overcome, if we would enter into the kingdom. This is an-
other way of saying what he at another time expressed in
the "Through much tnbulation shall ye enter the
kingllom." ""1J.oever has gotten the thought that the kingdom
is to he granted merely on condition of bel1Avimg in
Jpsus has gotten a wrong thought that is not imparted by
the Scriptures. Faith is necessary to our justification, be-
fore we can do anything in the nature of self-sacrifice that
God could accept; but whoever stops with the faith WIthout
the works, without the self-sacrifice, loses every hope and
privilege in connection with the kingdom. To attain it we
must "strive," must "fight the good fight," must "endure
hardness as good soldiers," must be willing to cut off, not
only einful pleasures, but all things that would interfere
with our full devotion to the Lord's service and our fulfill-
ment of our covenant to be dead with him; must "work out
our salvation with fear and trembling,"-assisted by divine
grace sufficient for every time of need, and by the exceeding
great and precious promises of Goll's \Vord working in U5
both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
We are not to understand that any may be lacking a
foot or a hand or an eye in the kingdom; but rather we
should understand that as the offending eye represents be-
setments which appeal to our natural tastes as beautiful and
likely to charm and attract us to earthly things, and as the
offending hand would represent the doing of thing'I that
would be contrary to our highest spiritual interests, and aE!
the offending foot would represent the going into forbidden
paths of sin or self-gratification, the lopping off of the'le
would properly signify that it would be better that we should
enter the life eternal and into the share in the kingdom with-
out having enjoyed certain earthly privileges and gratifica-
tions, than that having enjoyell all the earthly gratifications.
we should thereby have missed our calling anll failed to make
our election sure.
The "everlasting fire" and the "hell-fire" mentioned arc
equally symbolical with the other parts of the figure, and un-
doubtedly refer to the destruction which is the wages of sin
to be visited upon wilful sinners-"everlasting destruction
from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of
power." That fire is used here and elsewhere in the Scrip-
tures to represent not torture, but destruction, is clearly set
fO! th in a pamphlet entitled, "What say the Abont
Hell."*
Branching out further along the same lines. our Lord
gives the general caution to us all: "Take heed that ye de-
nut une of these little lll1lllhle one'l tlut
belong to the Lord. They may 'Ieem humble and insigmfi-
cant when viewed from the worldly standpoint, but they are
God's friends; yea, they are God's children, for whom he
cares; and hence whoever does injury to them is insulting
and antagonizing their Father which is in heaven. More-
over, our Lord assures us that each of his little ones, his
faithful, humble little flock, have a constant representation
in the Father's presence. There is a guardian angel for each
of the Lord's people. and we are to get the thought that ther0
is no delay in the bringing of any and everything which per-
tains to their welfare and interest before the attention of
the great King. What a thought is here for those who are
inclined to be heady and to or in any manner over-
ride or mistreat the humble ones of the body of Christ! And
what a lesson is here also for the humble ones-that they
are the special objects of divine care and providence, for
whom, therefore, all things must work well, because they be-
long to the Lord!
The remaining four verses seem not to be properly a part
of this lesson, and inasmuch as they will come up in another
lesson later on and in their proper connection, we omit the
of them here.
supply these free to apphcants who so request
BATTLING FOR THE TRUTH
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL :-At a recent meeting of the
church here the 28th chapter of Isaiah was brought up, and
it seemed plain to us that this is an exact description of the
condition of the nominal church of the present time, from the
prophets and seers, who err in vision, down to the tables which
are full of vomit, the bed which has become too short and
the covering which is too narrow.-See MILLENNIAL DAWN
Index references.
Now in regard to that part of the chapter which refers to
those who drive back the battle to the gate, the thought was
expressed that possibly this might refer to the present "vol-
unteer" work, and that the volunteers are pressing back the
battle to the gate, and that the word "gate" might possibly
be a symbol of dominion, representing Satan's stronghold,
and that this stronghold is the doctrine of eternal torture,
against which doctrine the present ammunition of the volun-
tpers seems to be dirpctE'd. Then again it wa"
thought that this gate (or doctrine) might repre'lent the reo
straint which the enemy has exercised over the race of man-
kind during all these centuries, lest the glorious light of the
gospel should shine into their hearts.
Do you think the interpretation correct? And if so, do
you not think that if the attention of the brethren were called
to this chapter at the present time it would serve to
strengthen those who are already in the volunteer service and
encourage others to enlist, inasmuch as the same chapter
promises strength to those who drive the battle back? With
best wishes,
Yours in the service of the King,
CONRAD KUEHN --OhIO.
[In reply: We certainly do understand this chapter to
portray events of our day; and while all true soldiers of the
cross are now battling for the truth against en or we concede
that none [Ire doing more valiant servicp thar, lire thp "\"i'].
unteers." )l"or do we know 'If any other service or method
so likely to yield the desired results.
A'I to turning the battle at the gate' it might be viewed
IIT-48 [2661]
ZiON'S WATCH TOWER ALLeGHENY. PA.
aggressIvely, as you "ugge",t, or Really we are
I.n the stronghold Zion i" attacked bv enemie"
trom without and withm. The Bible is attacked by so-called.
HIgher Critics, and the cro<;s, the doctrine of the ransom, i"
attacked by Evolutionist" and hosts of others. and the long
entrenched errors of doctrine are now stumbling many who
want to be on the Lord's side of this battle-the side of
truth. The enemy of truth, Satan, and his deluded follow-
er" must be shown up and driven pompletely Zion'"
walls that now at last "wheat" may be distinguished from
\\'e know of no better alll in this conflict than the
"Volunteer TOWER." It is an inspiring scene to see the Al-
legheny church volunteers going forth every Sunday morn-
ing, and it must be still more so to witness the larger com-
pany of the Boston church-about 80 per cent of the entire
church, we und.erstand, are "volunteers." The influence of
such preachers and their message is bound to tell on the right
elas<;.-EIHTOR.]
BIBLE READING INDISPENSABLE
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:-I can hardly appreciate the
adVIce given by you in the last 'WATCH TOWER, under caption
of "Attention, \Vatch Tower Readers!" inasmuch as I am al-
ways benefited by a re-reading of the DAWNS, but permit me
to say that I !Jplieve there are some who may misconstrue thc
last two sentcnces of the above al hell' and think into them a
meaning it is not intended they should contain, viz., that
you afl' advocating the reading of the DAWNS exclusive of
God's Word. I havc learned from observation that those
who merely read the DAWNS without examining the context
of Scripturcs quoted do not become well established in thc
truth, so that when the fire that tries every man's faith be-
come" mure thl'Y are unablc to endure the ordeal.
It has furthpr bel'n lily e'pericnee that those who state that
"they" have the Bible to read, and that it is sufficient for
them without reading the DAWNS, never come to a clear
kno\\ ledge of the truth, because they thereby ignore the in-
strumentality that God has been pleased to honor in setting
forth his truth in these last days. And in ignoring the in-
strumentality they ignore not man, but God, "who worketh
all things after the counsel of his own will;" and hence, as
long as they maintain such an attitUde, they cannot hope to
he led into all truth. But happy are those who keep their
minds in a reccptive condition for truth, willing to receive
it through whatcver agency the Lord may be pleased to send
it to them. l\Iay the Lord enable each onc of us so to be.
Beforc closing I must tell you that I was grcatly encour-
agPl1 by the article, "Kl'pp VOllI in the love of God."
How it has refreshed me III spIrit! I appreciate more full.y
now the fact that it is onc thillg to possess the "love of God"
and another thing to maintain it to the end of our course.
How much effort on our part is implied in the word "keep!"
-continuous effort, yet ever mindful of the fact that the
Lord is the "author" as well as the "finisher of our faith."
It is to "pray without ceasing," to "quenCh not the spirit,"
to "despise not prophesying," to "prove all things and hold
fast that which is good."
Some three years ago, when I began to appreciate the
beauty of "present truth," I realized I had lost much presi-
ous time, and desiring to make the best of the little I had
left, I thought over several plans and finally de('ided on
onc, "Every day I will try to become a little more like Jesus,
and then he will make plain to me those thinO's I do not now
underi-talHl." And I find that my knowledge of the ""deep
thing? of God:' has ever been commensurate with my prog-
ress III becomIllg more and more like God's dear Son, but
herem I became aware of the greatest struggle of mv hfe,
a struggle to the death of the old nature, and oh, what a
struggle it is, only those who have tried to stem the current
of a fallen and depraved natmI' know. I found arraye<!
against me the world, the flesh and the devil, but
be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ!" How appropriate are the words,-
"Keep I'triving: the winnerR are thosp who haVI' striven
And fought for the prize that no idler has won;
To the hand of the stedfast alone it is given,
And before it is gained there is work to be done."
Enclosed find order for DAWNS. With much ChI istian
low, ! am,
Yours in our Redeemer,
E. J. COW_\RD.-Texas.
VOL. XXI PA., JULY 15, 1900
VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER
No. 14
IS THE CHINA TROUBLE PROPHETICALLY SIGNIFICANT?
Apparcntly a serious crisis in the world's affairs is being
reaelll,1 III China. For thc past sixty years Europeans have
been intI IHling upon the Chinese, ostensibly for
the hcnp\'olent of blessing the Chinese with
civiliz:thon, bllt really for commercial purposes,-supplymg
thcir for a monev consideration. Subsequently, about
torty pal", 11l111pr' rpgulationR forccd upon
thc Chinei-p, (,lll ishan missionaries were pelmitted to enter
the 1<lowcl y Empne to contradict its religious and moral
i<leas pllPri"h('d fm c('ntlll'ip<;. Thc new religion brought fam-
ily hpPHlIO.C it taught the people that their
s (\1 hom t hp worship demi-gods), not bp-
inO' ]'('IH'vp1 in thp onlv n,unc WhCll'Ill s,l1nttion, were lo-t
to tormcnt".
and all 'foreign merchants who lodged
\\ ith thpm, \\,prp "ppcially protected by treaty laws and reg-
n!lll \I'pre pxemptpd from Chinpse laws and be-
camp a fnvore<l people, of gl eater and
libel'tiei- thnn thp natives. er, the missionaries (es-
(lpcially tl](> TIol11anists, from all accounts) attempted to ex-
tpIH] ;hp<,:, inl rig1lts to such Chinese as professed
pI''' hp('ame thc attorneY'l of their peoplt',
:tr'! h' :1r::(lIn]('nt" aIHl threatR, etc., generaily got their faith-
fnl 11 ;'1' 110m clurgI'", brought against tll('m.
mch by the white man forcibly intruded upon
t11e vdlow until t1,p war between China and Japan.
"hirh displayed to the ciVIlized world the or
China, the second grcatest. nation of th!' world numerIcally
(400,000,000). Since then the white man's arrogance has in-
CTr'lsed, and the newspapers of the world have told the Chi-
nes" that it is only a question of time until their nation WIll
nl' IonO'er exist, being divided among the nations of Europe,
who h7tve grasped ports and whole districts, compelling a
nominal acquie!;cenc!' on the part of the Chinese.
The Chine"e are a thrifty people and peaceably disposed
and not specially patriotic,-else they would not have sub-
mitted to the,;e intrusions so long as they havc. Indeed,
they are quite tolerant toward foreigners who will adopt
their civilization, submit to their laws and mInd their own
business. enderstanding the pircumstances, WI' cannot so
much wonder at the recent upIising againRt fOI pigners under
the of an athletic society called the "" Bo,\ers." It
is worthy of note that the prespnt outbreak, while it has ex-
tended to all missionaries and all foreigners, nevertheles,>
beglln with Roman Catholics exclusively. .Much as we musi
deprccate the killing of many missionaries and many native
converts, we must admit that such an uprising would have
opcurred long ago among white men of any nationality.
Lack of patriotic sentiment amongst the ChInese, and in
ferior arm[lment. etc., accounts for the delay of this outbreak:
the l,pople have been kept so busy providing for life's necessi
tiPR that love of money has ('rowded out love of country.
Europe is astounded at the late uprIsing, for two reasons.
( I) It offers a suggestion that a patriotic feeling may yet
take hold of thE' Chinese, which with their overwhelming
numbt'ls \I<mld make them a mena('e to Europe, for they
could Inu,;ter an almy twice as as cOllld all Europe
combinpd-an al my accustomed to obedience, and very eco-
nomical. (2) Even should the whites succeed in coercing the
Chinese, and hold the kingdom as a vassal empire, or divide
It amongst the "mort' civilized," the danger is that interna-
tional jealousies over shares in the spoils, "spheres of influ-
en('e," etc., would ultimately lead to great wars. far-reaching
in their influence, and quite possibly involving all Europe.
It IS from this standpoint that affairs in China are of
special interest to those who know that we are living in the
harvest time of the Gospel age, and who are instructed from
the Word of God to expect this age to close with a great
time of trouble-beginning with international complications,
[2662]
JlILY IS, 1900 ZIONJS WATCH TOWER 121!-JIJ,
-.
Lord Salisbury, the Briti.,h Prime addressing
The SocIety for the PropagatlOlI of the Gosppl ill F'or(';c/II
/'al'ts, recently said:-
"Just look at thiA Chilwse IIllitter. lOU ve all the
people who a.re slaughtered. Do:- on imaginc that they are
SImply because thp Chin<'se dislike their religion?
There is no nation in the world so indifferent on the subject
of religion as the Chinese! It is because thl'Y and other na-
tions have got the idea that missionary work i'l a merl' in-
of the secular goverllment to achieve thp objects it
lu!:s VIew. In the East thP:-- haVI' the provprb, 'Fil I"t thE:
:\hssIOnary, then the ConAul, thpn tIll' (>pnPI"I!.'"
of th(' world to Christ is near at hanu: that thus the Millen-
llIal kingdom will be introduced. They will find that they
have ?een uttering a false cry, saying, Peace, Peace, when
IS no peace, and can be no peace satisfactory or lasting
u!1tIl .thl' Pnnce of Peace, Immanuel, shall establish it through
Ius kmgdom, by breaking in pieces the nations as a potter'"
and establishing his kingdom on a different basis in
thpll' stead-on their ruins. l'\ote now how the same pro-
phccy refers to this of th" paston;. etc.. of nomina I
l'hrititendolll, at the spoliation of their pashlrp lipIds. as tol-
lows:-
yl' al\(l C'ly: allll your-
selves III the ashes, ye prmclpal of the flock: for the dan of
slaughter and of your displ'rsion are come: and ye 'shall
fall [and be ruined] like a delicate wsspI. And tl;e shep-
herds shall have no way to flef', nor the principal of the flock
to escape. -;\ voice of cTJ'i.ng. from the Ahepherds [pastors]
and an howlmg from the pl'll1('lpal of the 1I0c];: shall h<' heard_
for the Lord hath spoiled thpir pa'ltnre.'-Rec Jer. 25:34-37.
General Lord Wolsley, of the Briti!'\h War Department,
takes a very pessimistic vipw of thf' outlook in China. which
is corroborated by the a(,(,lImnlnting- C'vid('ncps that sinee thp
China-,Tapan war Chinn quietly drilling her
and arming them with mo(lern maphine gml8, <'II'.
H(' '1aiel recently:-
"China every reqlliFitc for oVf'rrunning the worl,l.
She has a population of 400,000.000, all speaking the saml:
language, or dialect, rf'adily undcrstood from onp end of the
empire to the other. She has monnously dcvelopcd wealth,
and still cnormous natural wealth awaiting rlevdopment. HCI
mf'n, if properly drillcd and led, are admirablp Aoldiers, They
are plucky, and able to live on next to nothing. Moreover,
they arc absolutely fear]eR" of dl'ath. Rpgiu with thl' founda-
tion of millions upon millions of sueh "oldiers as thOse mf'n
a.re capable of being madf', anti. tell mc. if you can, where the
end will be."
A Chinco:;e gentleman of education pxplains that the present
trouble is oc-ea'lioned by the Chinese la('k of that
*
*
*
*
*
*
'1'1Ie London S]JPctatoj', cOlIlIllPntin(f 011 tlll' "eneral (1I811ke
of Europeans by Asiati<'s, now l)('ing p'\('mpliflpr! in China,

is in China no ra('e hatred, or color hatred, or,
we belIeve, hatrf'd of creeti. for Chin(''lC Christians. Thev
('ould he toll'rated quite well as l11ere idiots, but that thos'e
who dislike their ideas fear them also, and believe that unlesE
those who propagate them are extirpated the ideas will win.
The Europeans, they say, are already convincing many; thcy
have persuaded our Empf'ror: year by year their view>;,
are advancmg arr.lOng the ppoplf',-if they and their disciples
are Auffered to In'l'. our religion, our civilization, our social
all are lo.. t together. for our Iitpr.lti. th('v will
be ruined first, for they are onr officials. Peeple wonder that
harmless missionaries should be thc objects of such a pas-
that they should h<' instcad of merf']Y
heheadpd: hut think of thp trpatlllPld of tllt' Cllli .. tiau., hy
0](' Homan .Jnllges a11I1 w( h(nIH to lll\(lersta Il<l t h,
Chincse movement. Add but a littlc fear to the fpelings n1-
ready generated, and who would answer for the livcs of Jew-
in Francc, or Germany, or Rus'lia. or for those of Anarehhb-
in any part of Europe? in all ages have bclieved thp
amalgam of beliefs and social ways whIch constitutes their
civilization, to be divine and unimprovabl(', and reO'ard thoo:;"
wno despise it, and preach agaimt it, and shake it,bas the iu
trusive Europeans certainly do, ,\ ith a horror which of itsPli
pxtinguishes the feelblg of a common humanity. They haY('
no more sense that such wi('kerl, than th,
Parisians llad when ma
s
sae'r7',1 th. l1ngupuot", or thrill
English SP0l'tslllf'n have '\'hp1\ tll,\ o. ,I haHu( of
birds." . .
and ending with anarchy. From this standpoint we
the Scriptures and note the following as seemingly pertinent,
indicating that every nation of earth will be involved in the
trouble, but that "Christendom," "Babylon," "Sheshach," "ill
be the Uzst to drink the cup of wrath. 'We quote from .Tere-
miah 25: 1533, as follows:-
"Thus saith the Lord God of Israel unto me: Take the
wine-cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nation<;
to whom I seHd thee, to drink it. And thcy shall drink, ami
be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send
among them. .. . All the kings of the north, far and
near, one with another. and all the kingdoms of the world
which are upon the face of the earth: and thc king of Shes-
hach shall drink after thpn1.
"Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord
of hosts, the God of Israel: Drink ye and be drunken, and
"puc and fall, and rise no morp, because of the sword ,vhich
I will send among you.
"And it shall be if they refme to take thC' cup at thine
hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith tIl('
LO! (I of hosts: YI' shall certainly drink. . . . . for 1
will eall for a sword upon all the inhabitant" of thc earth,
.,aith thc Lord of hosts. . The Lord hath n eon-
with thc nations: he will plead with all flpsh: hI'
will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith thc
Lord. .
"nf'hold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a
glp,d, hirlwind shall be raised up from the ('oast" [boun.la-
ri('s I of til(' ('arth. And thc "lain of thp Lord shall be at that
day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the
NlTth' they shnII not be lamented, ncither gathered, nor
Imricd."
It not fO! Ih to prophcey, hut to to interpret aml
Hl'ply prophecy: and even th('n we arc to learn from the past
that it is not the divinp purpo'le that matterA prophetically
r('walC'd shall hI' undcrstood in detail until during or after
fllJfilnH'nt .-and then hy thosc tanght of God. We thereforp
mprf'ly sllggf''lt that) in harmony with the foregoing Scrip-
tmcs it will not Aurprbc n-; if thc Chinese are entering now
their share of the great day of wrath upon all nations;-
about to drink their share of the cup of divine wrath, which
is to bring all nation'l low, as an expE'rience preparatory to
thf' gnut ble'lsing- of all the world und('r the Millennial king-
,10m. And if it was appropriate that Isra('l, the natural seed
of Abraham, upon rejection of Messiah should be punished
and nationally, eighteen ('entUlips ago, will it hI'
strange if other nations also be compelled to drink of the
"allle eup of wrath ?-See verse 29.
India has already been severely scourged with famine and
;yet thesc lIlay be onl
J
' tin' Ll'gil1111ng ot In'r shaH'
in thc cup of wrath, which we undcrbtalld will be to every
nation, as it drinks thereof, a time of trouble without prece-
tlent. Probably the trouble will extend from nation to nation
during the next few years, until finally, despite every effort
to a,ert it (verse 28), great Babylon's turn will come-prob
ably within ten years from now, when she must drink the very
dregs of the cup, suffering more severely than the heathen
nations, even as "he hab enjoyed greater privileges and sinned
against great('1 light. "Babylon - Sheshach - shall drink
t h('1II "-V"I 2li.
AI- thc "Go'lpel of the kingdom" was circulated through-
out Palestine hefO! c ito:; trouble and overthrow, so we believe
thl' "allle Go"pl'l of the kmgdom ,\Ill IJe prc:l(']wu for a jC!tnesb
to cach nation hefore its trouble comes. China probably con
tains but few fully consecrated Christians, and these chiefly
.tmong til(' miSSIOnaries, and hrnce the "harvest" message
might quickly 1 each them all. In this connection it will be
interesting to note, (1) that under divine providence our dear
Brotlll'r H. A. Randle ;;ent u special pprsonal appeal to ('ach
Christian missionary in China, and later many tracts and
DAWNS, about a year before this trouble broke out; (2) the
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society sent tracts and book-
lets extensively to the samc missionaIies last True, we
cannot say that many have reccived the truth, but we had no
reason to e'\lJl'et th,lt l11a'w would receive it. Yet thc witnc'ls
\Vas given to all before thcir great time of trouble came. And
who knows but what this interruption of mission work, backed
by the truth, may set othcrs to thinking in another direction
-to looking and praying for God's kingdom to come, as the
only hope of the world.
THE SHEPHERDS DISAPPOINTED AND CHAGRINED
ReVerfl.eil in the mission fields of the world, one after an
othcr, will bE' very discouraging to ministNg who have becn
preaching to thf'mselves and others that a pl'aceful conversion
[2663]
(210 214) ZION'S WATCH TOWER ALLIiGHENY. PA.
well-meaning missionaries are duped by many of those pro-
fessing conversion. He >lays for instance,-
A Chinaman, an executor of a relative's will, may decide
to cheat the orphans under his care. He arranges the matter
readIly with the Mandarin ruler by promising him one-half
the booty. Later he concludes to give him but one-eighth,
and to pave the way attends mission meetings, etc. Then he
reprE'sents himself as terribly persecuted because of his new
religion, and through the missionary secures consular protec-
tion which hinders him from being tried in a Chinese court.
This step is taken months in advance of his refusal to give
the Mandarin the promised one-half of his booty.
The missionary, unused to such duplicity, labors, as he
for justice for the oppressed, but the result of his
efforts may be summed up thus,-
"Net result: A mi'lled missionary confirmed in his wrong-
hE'a(lldnr,-;"; a would-hI' man(larm haified and mfurJ-
ated; two orphans robbed of their inheritance; food for nine
days' gossip, and stirring up of hatred of 'foreign devils'; the
whole a piece of rank injustice.
"Let me deliberately state that I am quite certain there
is not one town in the whole length and breatlth of China
that has been visited by missionaries, in which you could not
at this moment find indisputable evidence of a case similar
in all essentials to the example I have given you."
\Ve wonder how long it will require our dear friends in-
terested in missions to learn that God is seeking as his
"elect" not the lowest, but the highest types of man i-that
now is not the Lord's time for judging the heathen-that as
the Apostle declares, "God hath appointed a day [the Mil-
lennial day-2 Pet. 3 :8] in the which he will judge the world
in righteousness." (Acts 17:31) When they learn this they
will see the un-wisdom of attempting to forestall Jehovah's
plan, and will cooperate rather in his great and gracious ar-
rangement of first calling and preparing an "elect" church,
which by and by shall, as Goo's "royal priesthood," with their
glorious Lord, Jesus, as fully competent missionaries, bless
the heathen with the gracIOus opportnnity of Ralvation prom-
ised. Perhaps a signal failure of present missions, and spoil.
ing of pastures, may be God's method for awakening his true
servants now deluded and blinded by false doctrines contrary
to the Word.
PROGRESS OF THE CAUSE IN GREAT BRITAIN
'The Lord's blessing attpn<ls the British branch. Four col-
portrnrs are at work there with good Brother Hen-
writes of their work thus,-"The results of their labors
for '"'the last two months f;how that anyone of average intelli-
gencE' and activity can, with the Lord's blessing, sustain him-
self in the work. Give a clarion call from the WATCH TOWER
for more lahorers for thi'l great field, advising would-be la-
borer" to write to the British branch for terms, territory,
etc."
Rl'sppcting the service H.
Volunteer work is well; partIcularly m thIS CIty
(LonIJon), where we have so -far put out 14,000 copies. The
work is going on in four sections of the city. Yesterday was
the first day on "double turn" (A. M. and P. M.) and thc total
number of copies of the Volunteer TOWER distributed was
4,000. At this rate we shall soon be obliged to call On you
for funds for another 100,000 edition."
Our Society has just rented a very desirable meeting place
where Sunday meetings will be regularly held. It is a public
hall opposite the Great Eastern Ry. station, and near Wan-
sted Park station of Midland Ry. The entrance is No. 79
Woodgrange Road, Forest Gate, London E. All who in
the precious blood of Christ will be cordially welcomed. Seats
free. No collections.
THE COLPORTEUR WORK ATHOME
We have had many additions to this service lately, but
still thpre room fo; consecrated laborers. The harvest is
great. the laborers few, comparatively, and the time is short
-"the eleventh hour." \Vrite us for particulars if you have
the desire and the opportulllt.r to thus "preach the \Yord"
by printed page.
THE MINISTRY OF COMFORT
"The Lord hath anOinted me ... to comfort all that mourn; to appoint [promise] unto them that mourn in Zion, to gite unto
them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they mtght be
called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."
Isaiah 61: 1-3.
uur text is surely good tidings in a very broad and a very
dep sense. Its message is one of "comfort," not only to Zion,
the consecrated church, but to all who mourn; and as men
tally we cast our eyes over the world we are deeply impressed
with the thought that the vast of mankind are. in
mourning: as the Apostle expresses It, The whole creatIOn
groanetlt nnll travmleth in pain together." There are un-
doubtedly a fcw who are full, satisfied, and ,,:h? mourn for
nothing, and who, therefore, under these are ex
cluded from any share in this promised blessmg; but
pxpeptions to the rule. Some of them are wealthy In thIS
goods, and feel that they have. need of nothing, and
are kept husy with their efforts to enJoy themselves. There
are others of the same full class who, tho not wealthy, have
a vpry self-satisfied feeling as respects their moral
they do not realize themselves as sinners; they do not realIze
tll(';r ,Jailv Imperfpctions nor tllPil' nE'ed of a and
are not mourninO' for anything, and not therefore In the way
to be comforted"with any of the comforting assurances and
promises and provision which the Lord has made for those
who mourn.
80 fnr the world is concerned, our Lord's mini'ltry
of comfort to them is chiefly a future work. We rejoice, how-
ever, that the time is sure to come when all that mourn, all
the "groaning creation," shall be brought undcr the blessed
influcnce'l and provisions of the Millennial kingdom, and shall
there come to know the consolations which God has provided
in Christ.-the balm for every trouble, every wound; the cure
for evcry blight, every sin and every imperfection; and
privilp<7e of profiting by these to the fullest measure by gIv-
ing unreservedly into the care of the Good Physi-
cian. But the poor world, blinded and deceived by the god of
world as respects the character and plan of Jehovah,
can neither see, hear, nor appreciate now the wonderful pro-
visions made for them, and hence they cannot receive the
blessing, the consolation, the "comfort" now, but must wait
for it until the establishment of the Lord's kingdom, the bind-
ing of Satan, and the opening of their understanding WIth the
eye-salve of the truth.
But as respects Zion, the consecrated church, this comfort
is now her privilege, and all children of Zion need to be com-
forted. First of all, they need the comforting knowledl1e that
their sins are forgiven, and that they are no longer
and aliens and foreigners, but children of God, joint-heirs
with Jesus Christ their Lord, if so be that they suffer with
him. They need to be comforted, too, with the assurances
of the Lord's Word that our God is very sympathetic, "very
pitiful," and that if anyone be overtaken in a fault he may
be restored, and "not be utterly cast down." If the children
of Zion had no such consolations as these they surely would
be utterly discouraged, disheartened, and faint by the way;
hence the Lord has provided these comforting assurances,
pointing out to them that having begun a good work in them
he is desirous of completing it, if they will permit him to do
so, and that to this end they must abide in Christ by faith,
coupled with obedience to the extent of their ability. What
Christian is there who has not shared these consolations,
these comforts, and what Christian has not needed them, and
realizE'd that without them he would long since havp been
undone?
The Scriptures point out to us that our comfort comes
through fellowship with the heavenly Father and with our
Lord Jesus: we are comforted, not by believing that they
are ignorant of our weaknesses and shortcomings, nor that
they have a low standard of righteousness and a sinful basis
of fellowship, but quite to the contrary of ull this, they com-
fort us with the assurance that altho our every imperfection
is known to the Lord he is yet very sympathetic, very merci-
[2664]
JULY 15, 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER (215 2161
ful; and that havmg prodde(l, in the great at Cal-
vary, a full propitiation (satisfaction) for all sins, the Lord
is \'l'ry pleased to apply, on behalf of each of his adopted
children, III full measure, the nches of grace necessary to the
covel ing and offsettmg of every unintentional, unapproved
error and failure. What comfort is here! What consola
bon! What pnnleges of fellowship WIth the Father and with
the I->on!
And this comfort, the Scriptures assure us, comes to us
throngh the holy spirit-it is the channel, and, hence indeed,
callel[ the Comforter, (John 14:26) Those who have the
holy spirit may have the comfort; those who do not have the
holy SpIrIt may not have tillS comfort, this It
is only as we receive of the spirit of the Lord, the mind of
the Lord, his disposition, that we are able to understand and
apprrclate the lengths and breadths, the heights and depths
of hIS love and compassion and provision for us, and to be
comforted thereby.
?\cvcrtheless. 'this comfort of the holy spirit (the channel
of lhvme favor), us through the for the
Scriptures are the medium, or sub-channel through which the
kno\\ Icd,!!e of ({od's grace and the comfort of all knowledge
reaph us; in the Apostle's language. "\Vhatsoever things were
writtcn aforetime were written for our learning, that we
through patienpe and comfort of the Scnptures might have
hope."-Rom. 15: 4.
Yet while this comfort is of the Father, through the Son,
by the holy it, communicated through the SCrIptures, we
are informed that in great measure it is communicated by the
memhers of the body of Christ one to another, as the Apostle,
for after relating certain features of the divine plan
respecting the deliverance of the church, says, "\Vherefore,
cOIII/ort one another with these words." (1 Thess. 4: 18)
SllIIilarly, the Apostle declares that he sent TImothy to the
chill ('h at Ephesus, and again to the church at Colosse, that
he 1l1lght comfOTt their hearts. This, of course, signifies that
llC \\ as to draw their attention to the exceeding great and
prcclOus promisc"! of the Lord's lToTd, and that thus they
might drink in the holy spiTit of all the promises, and that
tllll" they might be comforted, not only with respect to the
things promised, but with respect to the loving compassion
and of him who promises them.
"'nting to the the Apostle says that he
sent Timothy-"to pstablish you and to comfort you concern
in
er
vour faith, that no man should be moved bv these affiic-
for yourselves know that we are thereunto:
for verily, when we were with you we told you we should
"lIlrer tnhulation, ('vpn as It came to awl know. For
tIll" pan'<'. \\ hen r could no longer forbear, I sent to know
onr faith, le"t bv sOllie mean"! the tempter had tempted you."
(1 Here again it is evident that the comfort
ing "Ignifips an(l establishment in the faith once de
livered to the saints, that all the terms and conditions of our
eo\'enant should be clearly held in mmd, and that the prom-
Ises of reward at the end of the might serve to com-
fort, strengthen and e"tablish the clnldren of Zion in their
endurance of the tJibulations a"! good soldiers. This comfort,
again. was of the Lord, tlllough the holy SPIrit, through the
agency of Paul and Timothy. Again, the same Apostle, "!peak.
ing in the same stram, says: "\Yherefore, comfort yourselves
together and edIfy one another, even as also ye do."-1 Thess.
5: 11.
All of the Lord's people need to remember that in pro-
portion as they are ambassadors of the Lord, and his repre-
sentatives, it will be their privilege not only by and by in
the kingdom to "comfort all that mourn," and to be the trees
of righteousness, whose leaves will be for the healing of the
nation"! (Rev. 22: 2), but thev should rcmember that in the
present life they have a of comfort to perform also,
towalll all who mourn in Zwn-toward all of th" Lord's peo-
ple \\ho are in any tribulation, physical or mcntal disquiet,
dis-ease; and they should remember, too, that just in propor
tion as they are filled with this spirit now, it is their pnvI'
lege to bind up the broken-hearted, and comfort the mourning
ones. No one can have this spirit of helpfulne"!s, this dispo-
sition to comfort and to strengthen, and to edify, and to up'
build the household of faith, {'"cppt he have in con-;illerahle
measure the spirit of the truth, the spirit of the Lord, the
spirit of love: and in proportIon as each seeks to cultivate
this privilpge of brotherly helpfulness, in comforting and up-
building and strengthening, in that same proportion he will
find the spirit of love developing and aboundiner in his own
heart, and that his likenpss to the Lord Jesus,"'the Hea(l of
the body, is becoming more pronounced from day to day and
from year to year.
Finally, in view of what we have seen respecting the
Lord's goodness toward his people, and the methods by which
he comforts them through the holy spinto the and
the brethren, let us note one of the Apo-;tlp's l'xpressions re-
specting the great comfort and consolation which God has
provided for his consecrated, faithful people, saying:-
"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord .Tesus Christ,
the Father of mercies, the God of all comfort, who comforteth
us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them
which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we our-
selves are comforted of God."-2 Cor. 1: 3, 4.
So then, all of our lessons and experience"! in life in con-
nection with trials and difficulties and tribulations, if we are
rightly exercised by them, should bring us larger experiences
in the Lord's comfort, through the gracious promises of his
\Vord and the spirit of the same; and should make the
more capable and efficient agents and of the
Lord, his 'Word and his spirit, in commnnicating comfort to
othprs about us in their trials and difficulties.
"FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS"
:MATT. 18:21-35.-AUGUST 12.
'\l'palPntly this les-;on grl'W out of the preceding one on who trespassl'd against them to that extent-seven times.
the nc('p-;,ity for guarding against stumbling the lea-;t of thp \\'hat llln-;t have hpcn his awl that of all th!'
Lord'''! littlp ones. It 'would appear that Peter had immp apostles, to hear the Lord say that forgiwness hI' ac-
dlately attempted to put into practice thl' of the ('ordcII, practically, times without nl1l11ber-,eventy tllne"
previous le,,-;on, antI it was his inquiry as to how often it seven.
"ollill l)f' his duty to forgiveness toward a repentant The thought would seem to he that tho"e who become the
brother, that gavp our Lord the opportunity to inculcate a Lonl's people, partakers of his Rpirit, til(' spirit of love. will.
upon the "ubiect of forgivpness. ill pr0l'Olt!on a-; thpv are filIp,l \\ lth th,d "pillt and !pd J)\
The teaching of the Jewish rabbis on the subject of for that Spirit, be g-cnerous, magnanimous, so loving-, thn:t
glvenes" \\a", that if the wrong-dopr repented of his evil words \\ould not only he wllling but glad to forglve a relwnt-
or aetions and came to the aggrieved per-;on, acknowledging' ant brother ;-glad to be first to pxtend thp olive branch and
his wrong and asking forgiveness, he should be g-ranted for- to make his way hnpk to leco!1ctliatlOn and h,llIllO!lY a,
giveness often as three times. based their teaching as From lll'arts full of pride, ('nv,\', malice and otlll'r
on this subject on the statements of .Tob :2!l-margin, and elements of the spirit of selfishness and sin, and nlPrel y
4. Our Lord's teaching on the suhJect was, in many topped off with a coat of bcnevohnce an,l genl'!'o-;itv, it \\ Iii
re"pect". the rE'verse of this, and required the offended one to be impossible to dip out very much of the spIrit of fOl give-
go to thl' offendpr to make inquiry respecting the matter, and ness, without dipping- out with it Some of the bittrrness and
to show lllm hi" fault. This would require great humility hatred; and even with this mixture forgiveness could not be
on thp pmt of the one who felt him"e]f aggripvecl. for it i" granted very freely by an unregenerated heart. But with a
much casier to resent and avoid the injurer, than to go to heart emptied of malice, and hatred and envy, and filled with
him according to the rule which our Lord has laid down. brotherly patiplw('. g('ntJ<o!lI"'. fOi 1)(',11-
Peter seems to have gotten the impression that the Lord's ance, love, wc may dip a cup of on evpry
rule, being different from that of the rabbis in this respect, and as oft as it be applied for, and it will be without
would also probably be more generous and require that for- a ml'Xture of evil, bitterness, sarcasm, etc., but pure and un.
giveness be granted a larger number of times; hence Peter a(lulteratecl, generous, loving forgiv('ne,s.
adds together the three and the four times mentioned by "'p are to relllPmhpl, ho\\Pver. that thi" hoI,\' Rpirit wl]]l'h
Amos, making seVE'n in all, and whether the Lord we have in our earthen ves"!el"! did not abound there at first,
would hay/, hi"! followers be g'f'nerous amI forgiying to those but with all was merely a surface coating, as it were, to be.
[2665]
i21G 2li) 7. f ();V 'S WA T C H TO IV E R
with. Uradually, as the holy it increased In our
hearts and abounded. it dlspl;H'pd the wrong spirit; hence
thoBe who are able from thli1 IlPurts to dip the cup of for-
giveness repeatedly and without a mixturl' of evil thereby
give evidence that they have bl'en with ,Jesus and have
learned of him, and that they have drunk del'ply of his spirit,
,md that they have heen purging out the old leaven of malice,
.11111 ale being banetified by the truth, being made meet for
th., inhelltanef' of the buints In light, "'1' are to remember
that, tlih glo"th in glace. \Ihile it Iia., a positive time of be
ginning. III our consecration vow, is nevertheless a gradual
work. requiring patient perseverance in welldoing, requiring
:,lso that the oM nature, with its evil disposition, be mortified
-,0 that 0111' minds may be be renewed
nnd('r the tUlll,forllJillg llI!iuelll'e of the sphit of the truth, in
\\ hll'h Ill' ale to !!IOI"
The t 11111', ,('\1'11." mentIOned by our I.ord, we
wOllld not llnuel,Lmd to sIgnify II litnited number of times,
hut rilthpr i111 lllllllllite'(1 numbel-that Il'hoever has the Lord's
spirit II III hI' gl.ut ,It "flV UIlIt' to \1 a rt'lll'flt,Ilj('I' ojf
'-Ill-doers and to ae'lolll tlll'lll Thi,., dol'>' not im-
ply. however. that tliPll' m3:V hp 110 VPIl,tltll" iltblPlwd with
the a'. for in,Llllll'P. 1!I tIl(' Ilealing of a parent
\1 itIt a child. the lIloral oblIquity of the 1Illscon.lud m,ly be
forp;il rn, and tllr parent';:; i!HiIgn'ltion ag,linst the lli,obedi-
ot 1111,lwha\ 101 I'a" a WH.I 11I11I11,tliately. awl) et it lUll)'
he proppI' at t 1111[''' to ill1l'(l'(' HJ1IIe I'pllalt,\' on the trcspas<,ing
l'hild. In 1'1 ('I') "ueh I ,hI'. hOIl e\ ('1', it "houid hc clearly un-
h,\ ill(' hill! that thh i" lIOt because of the parent's
dl,favOl. \\ lin,., (pn'I,.1 JI1 til(' fOlgiwJ1('''';;'. but thnt hi ..
p("'uliar lJal('ut:1l llut,l J'(''llliIP,., that n ]PHson "hall be taught
\\'1Ii ph "ill be Ilelpflll to the ehild in thf' fOlIJwtion of char-
a,tl'l. In 'liCit It Col:'.C tIl<' lo\"(' of 11u:' IJollent will of necessity
be gt'lIPl ,.,.\ mpathcti('. a1111 ea reful that th., punishment
,1mB be 0111,1' '\1('h a<; be of brnefit to the child
-eorreetioll III I 110t in \Irath. However. "ueh
porrectioll" a" thi,., belong olll,\' to p:llenh and guardians. and
uo not Ploperl.l ('xt!'lHl to hldhn'lI III th" Lord's family. who
a.re not c0ll111d",ioll('(1 to juclg., ,mtl 10 puni.. Jt one another,
but to assist onp another.-thl' lIords to such being
most positive and emphatic, ".fudge nothing beforr the time."
"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselve;:;, but rather give place
unto wrath." "Remember him who hath >':11(1. Ypngl'3npC is
minI'. 1 will repay, saith the Lord."
"11,,11' of thp saml' InherlLIIII".
(,hilll of the self-',llIJp Gotl.
HI' hath hut stumhll',1 in the path
\\1' have in trod."
III thl' 1,111111,1' of thp ;;,aml'. Ill'goitl'n ot tlil' hol,l ,.,puit,
.II" rll! to hp rN'e'gnizl'tl ilS brethrf'lI. and to he dpalt with il(,'
"'ltllllC:!'" It J' th,' 111'\1' ,)p:lllllt. "lld Iltll HI<' oJ11 'H',lllllt'.
that h' t he hrother in Cll! ist; hene'e wc moll' love the new
..reatm P, and in soml' rebpeets havp very little love for the
0111, IU<,t afo all hflvr disrr'\pppt. for "ertain hlemishe., in their
II\I'n mortal flesh, a thry 1 (>n lize its weaknl?ss antI imperfec
t ion.-,md tile l1Wrl' in proportion as they gro\\' in the
,lh;lI1(' 1Ikp!",,, JJ('II (I'pntllr('<;. If. therefore. a hrother
,,1101l1d oIgaill,t It he 0111' firbt thought that
thi, \\ 1<Ji!!: dllllt' 1I0t h\ lIl .. brothpr. the new creature in
('hll,t. In'lt hI' hi, 11101 ta I \11Ii<1t for the moment ha.s
goU"1I tltl' 11';[11'1' 1t,III,l II lth Itun 01' t I> ,.,Olll" pxtent blinded
him. ill;,tea<l I>f f"..lillg 'lIIgry with thl' hrother.
\1.' ,1Ioul.l 1'.,l'1 IIlpnthdil', ,lilt! oUI' lj('arb shouhl go out to
111111. ,/lid nlll I/p-in' I", SilOllg to do lJim good and tn hl'lp
hillt t'j lIl'prl'I>i!\(' 1h., \I,'nklll'''h('" of IIi" 1',11 then
It h ill lill(' \I it It 1hi,., tllollght that our Lord suggests
tltat tltp proper ('om,.,e I,., for thl' .1;Igrll,\,p,1 one to go quietly.
wJtlJOlIt 'llYill!! fI IIOld to ,IIlI'OIl(' "I,... allfl llave a kindly con-
f('n'l]((' witll 'till' 011(> who i, dOlIl;.! lJlIll wlOllg. ;;.epking to
pOlllt old tit., 1I11'! II, ,llld 1/""]('llt;:; ot thl' '11l",.,tion at
,ll1d If I,o",hl" to gnill tilt, hl'otl"'1 hal K to fel10w,.,llip. II!.'ht,
"1>1I-1" 1',111111111\ \\ Itll tIlt, I,old If thi,., ,1<.111 h,' llW1\ liitllg.
I,h" H( .. !' ",hall he "Lill n ,<epret onr-the taking of two
l)J' 1 In I'thrpn of suppo:,edl.l- good heart and large experi
"n,c. amI tha t Illthout ath mpt.illl! to pre.lutlicr their minds,
:rnd to the"e to hpar Ow cause and to give counsel as to
II iii, I. 0111' h ill 1'1101. \\'hie/IP\I'1' of tl\(' is ill ellll)'
'hould \'P convllleed by his fellow-pilgrim;:;. whose arguments
\\'Ith llim Hhollld he babed upon the Scriptures and the spirit
"f hut. if tiitJ'erellccH st.i II exist hetween them, and can
'Iof h(' n:J1 H!ouizrd tllI'U, ,h a l,lUl't ot last resort. the matt,'I'
!'hon1d 1", takl'n hpf"rp tIll' ('hu1'pl]-thp ponsl'cratl'd-nnd after
heing heard by the church. decision he considered
linal, and be accepted by all. If either of the brethren still
have doubts as to his receiving justice in the matter he may
..onsole himself with the thought tllat he "ill sureIv obtain
a blessing by giving full and hearty assent to the Lord's ar-
rangements, even if he have so large a measure of self-con
ceit that he still believes his side of the question to be right,
notwithstanding the judgmpnt of nil the brpthren to the con-
trary.
Whol'Ver will thus humble himself ln obedience to the
VOlce of the church will have a blessing. and as we under-
stand the Lord, it will be reasonable for him to expect that
the voice of the church in such a mattN will be supernatur-
.Illy guided, that it uth amI nght.OlhlH'" ilia)' trllllllph Bllt
amongst the JArd's peoplp, let Ub not forget that this thc
highest tribunal, and that brother should not go to law with
brother in the worlulv courb, however much he may feel
himself aggneved: if I;e have the forgiving spirit he certalllly
will rest the matter whp1'e the Lord directs, and that too
without any unkind or ungenerous
This will be the crrtalll dfp('t of the im!\wl!ing of the ,pirit
of holiness, the spint of love.
In I'pspect to dealing" \I ith thoHe who ,ue without, in the
mattl'r of forgiveness, believmg husbands uealing with unbe-
lieVIng \lives or believing wives dealing with unbelieving hus
h:IIH1, 01 Ill'liel ing pel SOlh in I111Si!WSS relationship with unbe
lievers: the saUlI' ;"pirit of IO\-e anu generosity and forgiV('-
ness will apply in every cnse but not exactly the same way.
The believer bhould be toward the unbeliever - he
should expect in himself a larger measure of generosity than
he would expect from the unbeliever because he has had les-
SOlIS and experiences in tIle school of Christ which the unbe-
liever never had; he has received the new mind, which the
unbeliever knows not of. He should not onl
J
', therefore, be
iust in his dealings. but additionally, in proportion aH he may
1)(' able, he "hould he generous. forgiving, not too exacting.
HOllen'r. It :Ill llllhelll'dng paltner attplllp(pll <l fraud.
the believing' while exercising a spirit of generosity
toward 111m. if the matter appears to have been wilful, should
deliver thl' offender to the world's courts, which Ill' acknowl
pIIgp,. uot plll'I'I'nliug ill :l ,pillt of ang-CI 01 111:1 li('l' 01' hk
tipd. llut a, dUll'!!' t"walel ;:;ocidy for the ,\Uppl,",.,IOn
of pvil-do!')'s ill proportlOll as thl' law" anu al'l'angemellts of
the world are rea;:;onahle fI om a Christian standpoint. And
('ven if he should full:,' fOl'!!hl'. concluding that there were
I'xtl'uuatin!!, .. ircumfota1Jl"', \\ hidl woulu not requirl' that he
,hou1<l tlelivp)' til(' g'ui1t) one to the judges of earthly (;(Jurts.
he might p)(lpelly l'nollgh e,.,teeUl it to bp his duty to have no
further dealillg<; \I it1l "\1'11 :l pl'rson. \\'hom lw could not trust.
This would not illlph ,111:" l.lek of but n.
I'l'asonaule and. commenuable prndl'ncl'.
Indeed. the con:,er-rntrd ppople of God are hy
the Apostle 1I0t to be ullequal])' yokptl "ith unbl'1iel-er;:;. aIHI
this might not he applie'l, not only to marriage.
hut nl,o to :lIlll "lIlIil,lJ'h
th(' Apostle informs 11', if the unbelieving husband or
wifp choose to depart from the beliewr, the latter may con-
rlude that it is providentia1 and for his deliverance from an
IInpqunl yoke, as the Apostle "Let the unbeliever de
part"-permit him to cancd the marriage contract if h(' will.
THE PARABLE OF THE TWO DEBTORS
As was his custom, our Lord illustrated his teaching on
t his subject with a parable: the king, in the parabll'. first
forgIves one of his servants a very large indpbtl'llnes,-th'1.t
IS, he permits him to go free, as tho he 11ael no such indebt
pdness against him, that he might do \\ hat he could toward
the payment of the debt. This servilnt ill turn, finds a fellow-
,ervant who owes him a trifling sum. awl who likewisp prom-
isp" itf! pa;l"ment: bnt the unmerciful sl'rvant, not having the
spirit of the king'. lS uJ)gen.. amI exacting, find rrful!ing'
forgivf'ness attempt" to exact it through fOTee. Thr matter
Ipaehing thp of tl1(' king, he is jlli,tly at sllch
'lI!Hll1,t ou tlw part of OIH' who has hin'lsrlf hl'"n so gr-nrl-
lilli'll:," treated. 3nu, in consequpnC<', he puts in operation tIll'
machilwry of .iustire whiph will the unmerciful spr-
\',lllt 11:,' now reqursting of him the payment of his full debt;
aud our Lord follm"ell the parabll' with the statement, "So
like\\ ise shJ111 the heavenly Fathpr do to you if ye from your
fo)'g;\'(' Hot eVl'ryone 111R brother their tre;:;passes."
only did our Lord address these words to the disci pIeR
:111<1 1I0t to the multitude. hut additionally he declared that
tIl<' illustration wa;:; :l1Ip!ipable to those reckoned members of
kingdom. !'Hving, "lhp kingdom of heaven iA likened unto"
tlli, parahlt,. Th.- prlrablr. t]>('rdorp. is not an i1lnRtration
[2666]
J "r,Y 15, 1900 7- I 0 .V ' S WATe H TOWE R (218219)
of the Lord's dealings with the world of mankind, but rather
an illustration of his dealings with those who have become
separated from the world through the forgiveness of their
sins, and who additionally have become heirs of the kingdom
through consecration of themselves to the Lord Jesus, to suf-
fer with him, if so be that they may also reign with him.
The parable, therefore, is to the church, and suggests to us
that our original sin was not blotted out, not forgiven in
the absolute sense of the word forgiven, but in the language
of the Scriptures, "covered." "Blessed is the man whose sin
is covered, to whom the Lord doth not impute iniquity."-
Psalm 32: 1, 2; Acts 3: 19.
Our sins were covered from the Lord's sight, and we were
treated as tho we owed him nothing, by his grace, exercised
toward us through Christ Jesus and his atoning sacrifice;
and this reckoned forgiveness will be made actual by and by,
and the debt entirely canceled, if, according- to the *New Cov-
enant we have made with the Lord, we shall prove faithful in
cultivating his spirit of love and in becoming copies of his dear
Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,-forgiving others as we would
be forgiven by the Lord, loving, sympathizing with and help-
ing others as we have been treated by the Lord, etc.
The parable is but an illustration of the Golden Text of
our lesson, taken from the Lord's prayer: it is only so long
as we are willing to forgive our debtors that we may pray
with confidence to our heavenly Father and hope for his for-
giveness of our trespasses. if we forgive not our fellow-
creatures, and that not merely in word, but in deed and from
the heart, neither will our heavenly Father forgive our tres-
pa'!seS' and although he has generously covered them from his
sight, and treated us as justified by faith, he would imme-
diately remember our trespasses against us, and thus our
justification would lapse or be abrogated, by a failure on
our part to exercise the holy spirit toward the brethren and
toward all men as we have opportunity.
From this standpoint the question of forgiveness of the
brethren and forgiveness of all others is a very serious one
to the Lord's people. It means that if they do not in a rea-
sonable time develop this spirit of forgiveness, the spirit of
love, the Spirit of God, the holy Spirit, they cannot continue
to be recognized as Christ's disciples, they cannot continue
to be recognized as children of God, they cannot be recog-
nized as having their sins covered, but, on the contrary, will
be treated as even more responsible than the world of man-
kind in general, and have executed upon them severer pun-
ishments than will be exacted from others who knew not the
Master's will, and who have never tasted of his grace, and
who therefore would be less culpable in the exercise of a
selfish, uncharitable, ungenerous, unforgiving spirit.
We cannot suppose, however, that the Lord would expect
perfection in this matter at once, from those who are still
but "babes" in Christ. But his e'l:pectations are reasonable.
that we should grow in grace as we grow in knowledge of
him. and as expressed in the lesson of the Vine and the
Branches; every branch which in due time, after due oppor-
tunity, does not bring forth the fruitage of the vine, the
of love (including forgiveness), will be cut off by the
great Husbandman,-no longer recognized as a branch. So in
this parable, the one who had experienced such great bless-
ing from the king, and who had been reckoned for the time
an honored member of his kingdom-class, ceased to be so re-
garded and so treated, and, on the contrary, was treated by
the king without favor.
The statement that the unmerciful servant would be de-
--'-See- feme 15, 1919, issue for crttical examInatIOn of Covenants
hvered to the tormentors, until he should pay the uttermost
farthing of his debt, might be understood in either of two
ways. First, we might understand it to represent the orig-
inal debt resting against every member of the human family
-the penalty of death-a penalty from which our Lord
.Jesus redeemed all, and from which he proposes to set free
all who will obey him. In this view of the matter the un-
merciful servant's penalty would signify a delivery to the
second death. Or if the debt be understood as representing,
in whole or in part, the obligations of his covenant as a new
creature, then the penalty upon him for failure to develop
and manifest the characteristics of the new creature during
the trial-time might be understood to signify that such an
one. tho an accepted servant of the Lord, would be required
to comply with the full details of his consecration vow, by
going into the great time of trouble, and there meeting to
the full the demands of his covenant, and effectually
the lesson of love and sympathy, and to appreciate the grace
of God in the forgiveness of sins, as he never before appre
ciated it. However, we are inclined to think of this matter
from the first of these standpoints, that the exaction of the
uttermost farthing would signify a hopeless case, in any of
the Lord's people who, after experiencing divine favor in for-
giveness of their own sins, should fail within a reasonable
time to learn to exercise mercy and forgiveness toward the
brethren,-that such would, as a result, suffer the second
death.
The Lord's people very generally find themselves in con
siderable trouble along the line of justice. We all recognize
justice as the very foundation of all order and righteousness,
and when we feel that justice is on our side, it is proportion-
ately the more difficult to freely forgive the person whom we
believe to have been acting from the standpoint of injustice.
There is a general tendency to require others to measure up
to our standard of justice, by some sort of penance, before
we forgive them. It is against this very spirit that our Lord
was teaching, and to counteract which he gave this parable.
We are to remember that the Lord will require us to live
up to the standards we set for others. If our standa rd in
dealing with others be one of exact justice, we may expect
no mercy at the Lord's hands. (See James 2:13) And what
would this mean as respects the sins that are past through
the forbearance of God, and what would it mean as respects
the obligations upon us every day and every hour, to whose
full requirements we are unable to measure? As we cannot
come to the Lord ourselves on the score of justice, so we are
not to deal with others upon that standard. As we must
ask of the Lord mercy, grace, forgiveness, so we must be will
ing to extend to others mercy, grace, forgiveness, when they
trespass us; and as heartily, quickly and freely as
we ourselves hope for.
The Lord has not laid down this rule in an arbitrary
fashion, as simply saying, If you do not forgive others I will
not fOI give YOII. There is a deeper rNl for it than
He wishes to develop in us his own spirit, his own character,
a likeness or copy of which was exhibited to us in the person
and life of his dear Son, our Lord Jesus. It is absolutely
therefore, that we shall have the charaeter he de-
sires, or else we can never attain to the joint-heirship in the
kingdom whirh he is pleased to extend. Hence" e are to un-
derstand that requirement or command of forg-iveness,
etc., is with a view to develop us as copies of his dear Son,
in order that he may bestow upon us, in due time, all the
riches of his grace, contained in the exceeding great and prec-
ious promises of his Word.
"WHO DID SIN, THIS MAN OR HIS PARENTS?"
AUGUST 19.-JOHN 9:1-17.
Every traveler in eastern countries is sure to be impressed in western lands can scarcely realize. There is probably no
by the fact that blindness is much more common there than country in the world, except Egypt, where this alHiction is so
in Europe and America. Tabulated information on this sub- prevalent. At Gaza, for instance, it is said that one-third
ject, in Encyclopedia Americana, shows that in 1870 the pro- of the population have lost one or both eyes; and from my
portion of blind in America was one in 1900 population; in own observation in that city I should unhesitatingly say that
Europe the proportion wa'! larger, viz., one in 1094; while in the stah'ment is not exaggerated. But amongst these cases
China the average was one in 400 population. According to it is difficult to find any born blind."
no less an authority than Dr. Geikie, Egypt has one blind This blindness is in great measure the result of the scarc-
person to every 100 of population. Palestine lying near to ity of water and the neglect of children, whose eyes are in
Egypt, and having conditions very similar, especially amongst consequence attacked by the flies. The miracle brought to our
the lower classes, may be supposed to have had at least half attention in this lesson differs from the five other
as many, viz., the terribly large proportion of one in every of the healing of the blind by our Lord, mentioned in the
200 of population. Scriptures, in that this man was born blind. In our Lord's
Canon Tristan, writing on the subject, says:- time the science of surgery had not advanced so far as at
"Blindness is common in Palestine to a degree which we present, and consequently, as herein stated by the one healed,
[2667}
ZION}S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA.
the eure was a marvel, the like of which had never been
heard of. Even yet we believe that there are only five cases
on record of successful operations upon those born blind. Our
Lord's cure of Buch blindness, with the simple prescription
used, would therefore be a remarkable miracle today, and
much more so was it in that day.
ORIENTALISM, MORMONISM, THEOSOPHY
The of the uiselples. whether it was this man's
sin or the "In of lllS parents that caused him to be born
blind, implies either an extreme simplicity on their part, not
to see that the man could not have sinned before his birth,
or qUIte possibly it implied that some of the absurd notions
of the far East-of India-had reached the Jews: one of these
was and still is that each child born into the worlu had a
prevIOus existence, in "hich it had done either good or evil,
the rewards or punishments of which were represented in the
con<htlOns of the present life. This absurdity is beIng re-
vived, even in Chri"tian lanus, by so-called Theosophists, and
b:v two bodH's of p!'ople known as "Mormons," in the United
States. It is scarcely to point out that such a
theory finlIs no l:iupport whatever in any statement of the
:Scriptures. Qllltp to the pontrary, it is most emphatically
contradi('ted by the S('riptures, which declare man's creatIOn
to J,:n(' Ill'l'lI a dlll'd <']('niion from God--not a IPm('arnation
of "omp b!'ing "hi('h hau previously existed. This thought
is consist('ntly maintain!'(l throughout the Bible, in that we
arc llistIn('tlv tolu that thl' chilll receIves its life from its
fath!'r, aml 'inherits g00<l or evil according to his course of
life, and not a('eording to any course of hfe of its own in a
previous con(Ution or in another world. Thus the Lord de-
clares that he visits the imquities of the fathers upon the
chIldren to the third and fourth generation, and shows mercy
unto thousands of them that love him and keep his command-
ments.-Exod. 20:5; Deut. 5 :9, 10.
This heredity, we see, comes in the natural order of things.
Th!' tend!'ncy sin is not only to break down the moral
character, but also to vitiate and impair the physical system,
while godliness, altho it cannot repair and make good the im-
pairnll'nts of sin, can check these, and hold them measurably
in [l'straint. The Scriptures again contradict this thought,
in the <I!'l'1araUon, "By one man's disobeulence, sin entered into
the world, and death as a result of sin, and thus death passed
upon all men because [thus] all mcn became sinners"-by
heredity. And if by heredity then not as Theosophy, Mor-
moni'm and declarc i-not in consequence of some
previous <'xistence and sin on ihe part of the child.
The wholc mattcr is squared by the doctrine of the ransom,
as all may readily see: for if our present blemishes, with
which we an' born into this world, were the results of sins
committed in Dome previous condition of existence, the death
of our Lord .Tesus could not cancel them, and the doctrine of
a ransom would be disproved. The doctrine of the ransom
is unchangcahly linked to the doctrine that Adam was a
perfect human being in his creation, and that it was his sin
and condemnation that pass<'d to all of his posterity, through
the channel of natural birth. The ransom ("corresponding
p7"!ce") given by our Lonl .Tpsus ( was a man's life for a man's
life: that, "as by 11 mUll (,:llllP dpath, lIy a man should
come thp rpsUl rection of the dead." Our Lord's ransom 8[H'-
ritil'f', the complete and corresponding price and offset
to fatlwr Adam's sin, was constituted thereby an offset to all
the r!'sults of his sin as they appear in his posterity-and
thu'l we all wen' redeemed by the one sacrifice of Christ, the
just for the unjust.
IS ALL SICKNESS OF THE DEVIL?
An iucreasingly large number of Christian people-includ-
ing those who refuse medicines-are reaching the conclusion
that all sickness is the direct result of sin and the work of
the devil; and therefore that godly living will prevent sick-
and that in the event of sickness, if it be punishment
for sin, medicines should not be used, but, on the contrary.
prayer should be made to God for the forgiveness of sin for
which sickness is a punishment, and that the cure of the dis-
easE' should be expected as a reward of repentance and faith
E'xercised.
We wonder how these Christian friends view this lesson.
Like the disciples, they evidently would conclude that a man
born blind must have been so born on account of sin-if not
his own sin, the sins of his parents-for they account for all
disease from this standpoint. Unfortunately they feel so sat-
with their conclusions on the subject that they do not
inQuire of the Lord, as did the apostles. And they do not
hpar his answer here given-that it was neither sin on the
part of the man, nor on the part of his parents, which oc-
casioned his blindness.
1 they were students of the 'Vord they would note also
the numerous statements of Scripture which clearly point
out that calamities are not always punishments for sin'!: for
instance, our Lord's declaration respecting the Galileans whose
blood was mingled with the sacrifices, and those upon whom
the tower of Siloam fell and slew them. (Luke 13: 1-5) Our
Lord distinctly declares that these calamities did not indicate
that the sufferers were sinners above other men. Likewise,
in the case of the sickness and death of Lazarus. Our Lord
declares, not that it was because of sin on the part of Laz-
arus, but that it was permitted in order to be for the glory
of God. So in this lesson he declares that the fact that the
man was born blind was not on account of sin, but on the
contrarv, "that the works of God should be made manifest
in him:"
We are not denying that sin fr<'quently bring'! sickness;
on the contrary, we affirm this, and confirm this view with
our Lord's words to some of those whom he h!'aled, "Go '1ll1 no
more, lest a worse thing come upon thee." There is a great
<I Ifferell(,!', howp\"('r. het" !'en claimmg that all "lckne% IS of
sin and the devil, and admitting that much of it is produced
or intensified by sin. We go even further than this, and ad-
mit that in a general way all the blemishes of the present
time may be indirectly traced to our great adversary, Satan.
For had it not been for his fall, and for the temptations
which he presented to our first parents, we may suppose that
there would have been no sin in the world; consequently no
imperfection, no sighing, no crying, no dying'. But it is thor-
oughly wrong to credit to Satan's power all the diffirulties
wnich we experience. We are glad indeed that he is limited
and restrained; because under the weaknesses with which we
are born we find quite sufficient of evil disposition and weak-
ness received by heredity, and operating, not only between
parent and child, but between neighbor and neighbor. We
may be glad indeed that Satan's power to deceive is not per-
mitted to vitiate our minds contrary to our wills, and not
permitted to break down our wills, except as we give them
over to sympathy and contact with eVIl things. We may be
glad also that sickness and death working in man are not
wholly subject to the prince of darkness, for altho thl' Scnp-
tures declare that Satan's power is deathward, they also show
us that he does not have this power unlimItedly, hut C.ln l'X-
ercise it only under restraints and restrictions. This i-; most
clearly indicated to us in the case of Job and his family.
Rather, the Scriptures teach that Satan's power or influence
is the result of the Adamic death operating in mankind and
rendering all amenable to Satan's devices and deceptions.-
Heb. 2:14.
And, by the way, Job's case is another illustration of sick-
ness and calamities of various kinds which were not the pun-
ishments of sin; for have we not Job's own testimony of
his love for God, his confidence in him, and his faithful re-
liance upon him? "Tho he slay me, yet will I trust in him!"
And more. we have the Lord's testimony to the same effect,
in favor of his servant. Job, and in reproof of his friends who
wrongly represented that his sickness and calamities were
punishments for sin.
\\'e conclude, then, upon Scriptural grounds, that not all
sickness i" in the nature of sin penalties, but that some sick-
nesses are as penalties. Hence, when the Christian shall find
lnmself oVNtak"n WIth sirkness or other disasters, hI' should
first of all inquire of himself, before the Lord, whether or not
his difficulties are the result of-
(1) A direct violation of the laws of his reason, as for
indiscretion in eating, gratification of the appetite
in respel't to food which he knows is not suited to his physi-
l'al conditions: or violation of recognized principles of ron-
duct, as, for instance, the endorsing of a note, contrary to
the instrurtlOn of the Lord's \\'ord (PIOV. 6:1,2), ,dlirh
brought disaster to many. If he does not find his troubles
to be the result of personal indiscretion he should look-
(2) To see whether or not sin lies at his door; whether
or not he has been living inconsistently, and might properly
rppognize his sickness or trouble as a punishment for his sin,
his inconsistenev. If he finds It to be so, he should of rour"e
immediately rec'tify the wrong to the extent of his ability and
seek forgiveness, mercy, at the throne of the heavenly grace,
and expect that after suffering some chastisements he will
be released.
(3) Should he fail to find a cause for his difficulties in
either of the foregoing, he should consider that quite pos-
Ribly his difficultv, whatever itR naturp. was one of the ordi-
nar}' rasualtJes o'f life frOID which God does not wholly fore-
[2668]
JULY 15. 1900 ZION}S WATCH TOWER (222-223)
his children-desiring them to walk by faith and not by
sIght: such casualtIes are necessary, that we may be very
sympathetic with the world's troubles.
(4) In some instances, as in Job's case and the case be-
fore us in this lesson, troubles may ultImately be found to
have been perm1tted by the Lord, to be channels of mercy
and blessing, if rightly received, as in these cases.
(;)) In all troubles, whether for discipline or for instruc-
tion in righteousness and the development of character, the
children of God (and we are not considering others now)
should forthwith begin to seek the blessing which they may
be sure God has in store for them when he permits adversi-
ties. And this should not hinder their use of any means for
relief upon which they can conscientiously ask the divine
blessing: on the same principle that we labor for and eat the
daily bread for which we pray, and which is none the less of
divine provision.
The work of God made manifest in thi8 blind man wa8
not merely in the miracle performed upon his natural eyes.
It extended beyond this, and testified to the beholders the
power of God, operating in Messiah. And it extended still
further, in the case of the man who was healed: leading to
the opening- of the of his understanding, it inducted him
into discipleship to Christ. Had he not been born blind, had
he not passed through just the experiences through which
he did pass, how can we judge that he would have been in a
bettpI condition of heart to receive the than the edu-
cated Pharisees, who, with good natural sight, were thoroughly
blinded respecting Messiah, his teachings and his work, so
that they crucified him?
And so it is in many instances with many who become
tlw Lon!'s people. Lookmg back they can clearly see that
things which at the time seemed to be adversities, disap-
pointments, troubles, disadvantages, hardships, were really
great hlessings, in that they led t') the opening of the eyes of
their understanding-,-were really providences and blessings in
disguise. Those who do so realize the divine care, looking
back can praise the way God has led them day by day,
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MISBELIEFS
the variom false doctrines of today none appears
more inconsistent from the standpoint of science and Chris-
than the system which brazenly and defiantly, and in
of truth and conscience unites these two words as
its na me. It woulU be amusing, we may be sure, to hear
onc of the devotees of this theory explain this Scripture. For,
notWIthstanding the fact that their entire system i8 in oppo-
sition to the ScIiptnreg, they make a cloak, a pretense, of be-
lie\ mg the f'criptnres, and of using them in support of their
theOly-chietly with novices. \Ye may be sure that they would
attempt to twist and juggle it in some manner, and get it so
far away from the truth and the subject as at least to eon-
fu-e nwny people, who have very little knowledge of the Bible
un,l shallow powers of reasoning, especially those "who have
not their senses bv reason of use," in connection
\\ ith f'criptnral sUbjects.-Heb. 5: 14.
'1'1]('11' theory is that there no such thing as blindness,
that It is simply a mistaken thought, a misbelief: the
parents of the blind man could not have misbelieved that their
chi I,] wouM be born blind, the child itself, we prcsume they
WOt:!l] say, got this mislmpression before its birth. And then
we have the inconsistency increased, for everyone of intelli-
gencp knows that the infant at birth has no thought, eorreet
or incon ect, on any subject. The fallacy of this theory i'l
likp\\ I'P provcn. in the case of those born deaf and dumh.
But argument and rpason have no more force with "Chris-
tian f'cientists" than have th(o Scriptures. Their infatuation
with tht'ir delusion is so great that they al e fully prepared
to wrest facts, reason, and Seriptures-and then, in perver-
sion of all truth and consistency, they call this "CllI istian
Sciencp."
We are not pontending with them respecting their use of
the word "Science," for the most stupid should be able to see
that there is nothing scientific in connection with their
theory: but we do contend respecting their of the word
because many do not recognize that they have
not the slightest right to the use of this term. Our conten-
tion that a Christian Scientist of full development, can-
not b(' a Christian in any Scriptural sense of the word.
(1) A Christian is one who believe'! in God the Father,
and in our Lord Jesus Christ, whom he hath to be a
propitiation for our sins, our Redeempr, and ultimately the
Deliverer of all these who obev him. But Christian Spience
denies the very existence of claiming to believe merely
in a princtple of Good. To whatevel extent a man has a
good principle, the God-quality is in him, say they; and to
whatever extent a horse or a dog may have the good prin-
ciples, to that extent these are Gods, and to be loved, etc.,
accordingly. Denying the Father, they of course deny also
the Son whom he sent: and altho thpy acknowledge Jesus,
it is not with a Christian acknowledgement. On the con-
trary, they hold that he was merely a member of the Adamic
family, and that his preeminence above othel s was III 1 espect
to his character and teachings. And they claim that while,
in these respects, he stood higher than other men of his day,
yet he but feebly grasped at certain principles or truths which
are today brought to the world by her di'ltinguished highness,
"Mrs Dr. Eddy," who thus poses as being greater than .Jesus,
as an elephant is greater than a mouse; tho there be certain
resemblances.
(2) A Christian is one who believes in Christ as a Sav-
iour from sin as well as from its consequences ;-death and it!!
concomitants of pain, etc. But Christian Scientists deny that
there is any sin, and deny that there are any conse-
quences of sin; hencc, logically, they deny the ransom, for
how coulll there he a ransom for sinners, if none are
sinners? Thus do they deny and ignore the very foundation
of Christian faith, without which no one is a Christian-
Scripturally.
The absurdities of Christian Science commend themselves
onlv to those who are either ignorant, or men-
tally weak; and their chief attractions are therefore-
( 1) The fact that they put on, as a garment of light.
gentleness and kindness of word and manner. That these do
not grow out of hearts thoroughly convertell to the Lord, and
begotten of his spirit of love. i'l for altho kindness
and patience and gentleness are manifested, the true essence
of these is lacking, namely, love. Instead of manifesting love
to be the mainspring of their meekness, patience, gentleness.
they manifest ambition and money-love as their inspiring
motives-so far as we are able to judge the tree by its fruits.
So far as we are able to learn, their efforts to promulgate
their views are confined to those who are able and willing to
pay for the instruction good round prices; and so far as we
are able to discern, their care of the sick shows a love of
money, and love of fame; and henee very few of the poor of
this world have been injured by the doctrines of Christian
Science, or cured of disease by its treatment.
(2) The cure of disease without medicine, and sometimes
almost miraculously, is in the nature of things calculated
to attract and interest the "groaning creation"-just as the
of patent medicines attract them. \Ye un-
hesitatingly our conviction, that this powpr, manifestpd
through Christian Scientists, is not of God, but of the ad-
versary, directly, or indirectly. He no doubt directs hi'!
servantI' into the use of channels and means of which humanity
in general, and even many learned physicians, are compara-
tively ignorant-channels of human nature, which, possibly,
in the future may be used by the Lord during the times of
restitution of all things. Our justification in ascribing their
purl'S to an evil source, instead of to a good sourcc, lie'! in
the fact that they utterly repudiate the principles of
tianity, and we may be sure Go,l woul,l not c01i]>l'ratp to
a'lsist with his power those who opny his very and
who make void the gospel of the redemption through the
blood of The mil acle-wOl king pm\ er in them WI' be-
lieve to be the same as the miracle-working power in Rpirit-
ism and in Orientalism, and in the charms of other
-namely, Satanic powcr.
If it be asked, How could Satan be interestcd in doing a
good work? we answer: He does no such work amongst
those who are thoroughly and stupidly ignorant: he is doing
these works merely in the most civilized lands, and especially
amongst the most enlightened of the people in the various
denominations of Christendom. The adversary thus assumeH
the garment of an angel of light aIllI merpy, not to lead to
the Light of the \\ orId-not to lead to the cross of Christ-
not to lead to the Bible-but to lead away from these, to an-
other hope of salvation, and to another teacher: to deceive,
if it were possible, the very elect. And be it remembered that
our Lord's words indicate that when matters come to this
condition, where Satan will cast out Satan and heal disease,
it is a marked evidence that his throne is tottering to its
fall-that, so to speak, this is the last extremity of the ad-
versary's efforts to deceive.
* * *
The !,()rd's method of giving sight to the blind man, we
may reasonably suppose, wa'! parabolic-that is to say, it
contains a lesson under a figure. Since our Lord did not
[2669]
{224 227)
ZION}S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA.
explain the significance of his action in making a clay oint
ment out of dust with his spittle, and anointing the man's
eyes with this, and Rending him to wash them and receive
Right at the Pool of Siloam, we may exercise our mental pow-
ers in thinking of what thpRe different things would signify.
But we al e limited in our speculatIons, nevertheless, and may
not run wild, but mu"t restrain within the limits
of plain statements of thc \Vord of God respecting his plan
of salvation.
In wi!h these plain statements we may interpret
our Lord s "ymbol!c'al act thus: The blind man would fitly
represent the world of mankind in general, who during the
present lifc are mentally hliml-who cannot now see the
gooclne<;<;, and love of God a" thf>"c may be recognized
hy other" who arc now ahlc to see th('m. His being born
blind would harmonize with thi'l thought, for the blindncss
that is upon thc \\orld i<;, to a large extent at least, a matter
of h"redity. His hlindn!''l'l docs not f{'present a blindness on
tIll' part of tllO<'C \\ho have once "een God's gracr, represented
in his "'onl and plan, and \\ ho have then becpme blind there-
to, nml \\ 110 would rrprcsent the clas'l mentioned by the Apos-
tle once been cnhghtenccl, and who sub'lequently
lObI' that enlIghtenment. (Hpb. G:4-G) If then the blind man
rl'plP,,-pnh thl' hlincl \\ol'lc] (\lho do not ser, in the sense that
tllp c']llllch of \\h0111 the' Lord "aiel, "Blessed are your
pyes fOJ tlll'V the time of the healing of such blindness
is in the .:\IiIll'nninl nge, as Scripturally pointed out, when
"All thp blind eyes "hall he opened, and the deaf ears un
stopped." (Isa. 3;,:!i) And this agrees with the conditions
of our LOllI's 1I1I1apl('. ],c'('alh!' We' arp mformed that thiS
miracle took plape 011 the Sabbath, or seventh day, which
corresponds to, and typifies the Millennial day, the seventh
thou5and year perioll.
Our Lord's nevertheless, Reem to indicate that some
part of symbolical picture relate'l to the present age, for
he Raid, "I must work the works of him that sent me while
it i'! day: the night cometh wherein no man can work." In
thi" statempnt the word "day" would seem to belong to the
pI time', alld to be illustrated in the makinO' of clay with
our Lonl's slllttle, and the anointing- of the bliI';'d man's eyes.
The \\ of his l'yes and the curp would seem to belong
to thl' next age, the l\Hllennial age. The Lord's spittle, the
of his mouth, might Iepre"ent the truth as fitly
as would the words of his mouth-it is another figure, but
spemingly of the same force nnd meaning. He uttered the
truth, hrought it in contact WIth the of the earth-not
in contact ,\ Ith all thp du-t of tIle earth, but with a limited
portion, an elt'ct or scll'pt portlOn,-and of this llC made the
anointing clay, The SpripturPR do inform U'l, in harmony
with that the 'VOId of Cod's grape, delivered through
and by our Lord Jesus, is designed in the present age to act
upon a small fragment of humanity, and to consecrate them
and make them meet for the Master's use in the blessing of
the world, in the anointing of the eyes of the blind. From
thIS standpoint of view, the making of the clay would repre-
Rent the formation of the elect church for the blessing of the
poor, blind world. And, quite possibly, not only in this work
of making the clay now in progress, but perhaps some portion
of the anointing work is now being done, &S is intimated by
the Scripture which declares that the Gospel must first be
p?'eached faT a 1citness in all the world, before the end of
this age. The world must be witnessed to during this age,
hut the world will not have the eyes of its understanding
opened during this age: it must wait until the great washing
time of the MillenniaI age, of which the Scriptures declare,
"In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of
David for sin and for uncleanness." (Zech. 13: 1) In full
ngrepmpnt with thi'l is the significnnpe of the worel Silonm,
It signifies "The sending forth," or "The fountain."
The Pharisee objected to the Lord's goodne'l", ],l'cnuse,
forsooth, it infructed some of their hyperclltical dogma" nnd
tradition'!. This is interesting, as showing to what extent
religious forms and ceremonies may bind and blilld intellIgent
and reverential people. And this should be a lesson to all the
intelligent and reverent, leading them to grcat care in j !lclglng
righteous judgment, according to the standard of thc diYine
\\'ord, and not according to their prejudices and revf'red
crl'eds, and the traditions of the fathers.
Still another lesson mav be founcl in the fact that thp man
who confessed our Lord Jesus, and who stood up in hold cle-
fence of righteousness, was greatly blessed, in that aftpr he
had thus demonstrated his loyalt.v to pi incipll', amI hacl
suffered as a result excommunication from the church-then
the Lord found him. Thus his faithfulnes'l under trinl'l and
difficulties, and his willingness to suffcr the loss of earthly
and honor amongst men, Il'd directly to a still
grpater blessing, even direct fellowship and communion with
the Lord himself. How many are there \\ hose Ilwntn 1 eyes
have been opened to the truth, who have bpen loynl to the
Lord and so appreciative of his goodness a'l to be f.\ithf,l1 in
declaring the facts? How many of these have fouml that
such faithfulness means separation from the synagogue, from
the church nominal? How many of these han' feared to lose
prestige and influence, through confessing the light of pre"ent
truth? But all who have followed the noble course of thank-
fulness, loyalty, and obedience to Gocl, have found that fluch
obeclience, while it led to a of fellowship in the nominal
church, led also to a greater fellowship and communion. nnd
a more intimate acquaintance with the Lord
VOL. :XX I J\ LLEGHE}\Y, PA., AUGUST 1, 1900
No. 15
---=-- __-_- __-_-_=_-_-_-_=-=-_-_- __- -=--_-cc===-cc:=cc=-===
"LET US DRAW NEAR"
"Let us draw nco,?' WIth a /rlle heart, in f!tTl as&!trance of faIth, having our hearts sprinkled fl'om a consciousness of edl, and
uur /)!JIlI('l; lnt h rJUre tcater."-Heb. 10 :22.
Xot to "inners this ill\it'dion The invitation The next step beyond the "Holy" was the "Mo"t Huly,"
to them a very (hfferent olle. ..-]{l'pent., and believe on representing hpa\ en Itself; but this could be entpl ed only
the LOllI and tIm" obtain the of your from the "Holy" and 1y under the Second Vail, wludl
flins. aIHl thpn :von will be III thl' attit nde to receive the invita- represented t.he actnal death of the prif'st, eVen as the :Flrst
tion. Dnl\\' near to God. The iq addressing those who \'ail represf'nted the reekonec] death or consecratioll. The
haH' all ehdy bpliend lmto Tf'Cf'ivIDg to them- Apo'!tll' has this sallle thought in mind \vhpn e1'lewherl' lIP men
selves the henefit" of the Lord's promise, "Their sins and tIOIlS the consecrated RoyafPriesthood as "seated together with
iniqniticQ Will I remrmhpr no more." (Yerse 17) The Apostle is Christ in heavenly places"'--in the heavenly condition, the pon-
thp 1Jrdhn'lI, and not Rinner<" and urges them, clition represcnted by the first apartment or "Holy" of the
flHymg. "Having tllPrl'fol'p, brcthren, boldnes" [courage, eon- TalJl'rnacle and of the Temple.
fic!en(l'. pllnll'ge] to Plitn illto the holip,,-t hv the blood of
lJV a new and 11\ ing way..... let us' draw near." PRIVILEGES OF THE PRIESTHOOD
., It is in reference to this propOSItIOn to advance from the
The Apo<,tll"s word" carrv onr nttenhon to IRrael's Taber- "Court" condition of justification into the "Holy" or heavenly
nflcle in thr ,\ nI1c1 the ,,;piritnal things which it or spirit-begotten l'ondition, reached through consecration
Thp Court, I'ntpJ"('d throtwh thr :.r.d,l'. the (and the closest possible approach to God) that the Apostle
fltate or pOIHlition of the ,1u"tifiecl, \\:10 pass the Altar urges, "Let us draw near." His language implies that there
representing Christ'fl "aerifil'e for Rinq; secondly, approach lIlay properly be a diffidence nn our part in respect to this
the LaYer of water for eleansing from defilement,,; and then privilege. \Ve might properly hesitate to expect to have
be ready to pass under the first Vfli] into the apartment of the eommunion, fellowship, close approach to the great Creator,
Tahernacle called "The Holy." Thi'l "Holy" apartment upre- realizing that by nature we are imperfect, "children of wrath,
RPnted the state or condition of God's consecrated people evpn as others," and that in whatever degree we differ from
(typi fipd by JRrae1's whIle :vet in the flesh, und had others and are accounted worthy of Ru(h a privilege of drawing
itA Goldpn Camllp<,tipk for their enlightenment, it'l table of near to God, it is not on account of personal worth on our
She", hrpall. l'epreRcnting thpir privilege of fellowship with part, bnt on account of God's grace bestowed upon us through
God,-drawlIlg" near to lllm III prayer, prai"e and ponllnunion. .TeRufl 0111' Lord, The Apostle therefore flpeaks to helieyer'! in
[2670]
AT'Gt'Sl' 1, 1900 ZION'S WdTCH TOWER
(Eph. 5:26) in a Similar manner a" bein
u
a part of the
duty and privilege of all of the Lord's people throughout the
remainder of their earthly lives. And we can "1'1' how beauti,
ful is the illustration here used, that the Word of God. like
water, is purifying, cleansing; as the Apostle declares, speak-
ing. of the Christian's good hopes in the precious promises once
to the saints, "He that hath this hope in him purifieth
Illmself, even as he [who called himJ il;< pure."-l John 3::l.
As it is necessary to a thorough of our natural
bodies that we should wash with "pure water." much the
nrore is it necessary to this cleansing of which the Apostle
speaks, the cleansing of our moral charat'ters. that we should
ha.ve the pure water of divine truth. and not. tll{' muddy and
polluted teachings of the adwrsary, or of thobe whom he has
blinded. And as we look about llS upon the many streams of
Babylon-the various sectarian theologies which profess to be
the truth-we find that altho there is something of truth in
them all, yet it is sadly befouled and wholly incapable of
cleansing their votaries from filthiness of the flesh and of
the spirit,-wholl,\' incapable of perfecting them in holiness of
the kind which the Lord requires. For instance, false ideas
of God and of his character and his plan are to
those who so helieve to COP)' thest> misrepresentation'i and
perversions of justice and low. and are well calculated to de-
velop in the devotees of ",uch a theory a low standard of
character, because the low standard which they set for them-
sclyes and other fellow-mortals is really higher than that which
they ascribe to the Creator. .
How important, then, is the truth, and how much meaninO'
we find in our dear RedE'emer's prayer to the Father on
behalf,-"Sanctify them through thy truth; thy Word is truth."
Lpt liS not attempt to sandif" throuuh an, other
washing than this; let us be satisfied
short of the "pure water," the pure 'Yord of God, the pure
truth.
WASHED WITH PURE WATER
HAVING OUR HEARTS SPRINKLED
"YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM"-Col, 2:10
,Now the class descri?ed by the Apostle: they are
hehevers III the Lord Jesus ChrIst, and thus accepted with the
Father through the Deloved One. More than thb, tu thcllI haH
opened up the narrow way to life, consecrated, made pos-
Sible, through the sacrifice offered by our great Hioh Priest
They are invited to become under-priests, sharers of the
sufferings, and also later on, if faithful, sharers of the glories
of Jesus, the Chief Priest of this order. As a means of at-
taining the glorious end of their calling they are to cleanse
themselves from defilement, and for their use in this respect
the vVord of God has been provided: it is at once a mirror to
show them their blemishes, and water wherewith to cleanse
themselves-the stimulus for the correction of life being the
exceeding great and precious set before them in the
Scriptures. Their hearts, justified by faith, and honest before
God, are fully consecrated to him aIHI to his service, and are
to be so kept continually-by obedience to the best of their
knowledge and opportunities, and by the blood of sprinkling
which covers unintentional errors and failures. This is the
class that is called to bp associated With th(' Loul hi hi"
kingdom; they are styled his brethren, the royal priesthood,
the bl ide, the Lamb's wife, and various other names repre-
senting their ncar and dear relationship to the heavenly
Father: and all of these who are faithful to th(' PlHl of the
race-course are to be made partakers of the divine nature,
with its glory, honor and immortality.
But let us not deceive ourselves in this matter of having
hearts that do not condemn us; let u!:! lcmember that our
covenant was unto sa<.'rifice and not unto !:!elf-preservation;
that It was a covenant to lay our all upon the altar-time,
influence, means of ev('ry kind; and that we agn'ed with our
Lord that we would reckon this our reasonahle senice. Do
our hearts condemn us in this matter, or do they justify us?
Do we feel that we are doing all in ollr power to serve the
Lord and his truth and our brethren? I f so, Ipt us rejoice,
The expression, "Having our bodies washed with pure and let us continue in the same way, patiently hoping for the
water," figurativel) represents the continued process of "cleans- glorious results promised to the faithful. But if our hearts
ing ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit, condemn us, let us not be discouraged; but on the contrary
perfecting holiness in the reven'nce of the Lord," elsewhere en- remember that this is a part of the cleansing of the flesh and
joined by the Apostle. (2 Cor. 7: 1) Bv nature we are all im- of the spirit necessary to our preparation for the kingdom, and
perfect, sullied, more or less depraved; and our devotIon to let us afresh bind our sacrifices to the altar (Psa. 118: 27) ,
the Lord is manfested. first, by our full and full and be more and more zealous in expending our little all in
assurance of faith in the merits of Christ's sacrifice; and the service of him who loved us and who bought us with hi'!
secondly, hy' our earne'!t efforts to put away from our flesh, own precioU"l blood. Thus doing, it will be our privilege day
as we have already put away from our hearts. all things by day to draw nearer and nearer to the "Most Holy," and
defiling and displeasing in the Lord's sight: that thus we may finishing our COUlse with joy we shall have share in the
more and more become copies of his dear Son, our Lord. first resurrection, awakening- in our Loru's likeness,-2 Cor.
"w1l9hing of water through the "'onl" is elsewhen' repre-5:14,1:i; Rom. 0::3; 1 .John Psa.17:15.
How very much is implied in this expression, "HaYing our
hearts sprinkled from a consciousness of evil!" It not only
mean'! that we are to avoid sin, and to take heed that the
\VOl',I" of our mouth an<I th' meditations of our h''lrt'l f1rp
acceptahle to the Lord, but it means additionally that our
hearts. having covenanted self-sacrifice, shall be able to look
up to the Lord confidently and realize his ble'!sing and ap-
proval, because of the honest, earnest efforts on Our part
to comply with the terms of our consecration. But since we
cannot fully ('omply with ttle terms oursE'lves, it is requisite
that we shall apply to ourselves by faith the merit of the
precious hlood of Christ, the hlood of sprinkling, the hlood of
conse('ration. and that we shall realize that our accepblllce is
only in the Beloved One.
an encouraging \011'1': "Ll't Ib dldW near;" let us have
courage to draw near; let us have faith in God, who hal;< malIc
us such gracious arrangements and promises.
The Apostle intimates that a close approach to God can-
not be efl'ected, except we have first a "full as"iurance of faith."
Ollly those who trust the Lord implicitly, "as a little child"
(Luke 18: 17) would trust its earthly parent, can expect to
progress and to have the courage, the confidence, necessary to
approach God in this very intimate lIlanner; and the desire to
draw nearer and nearer to God must be in the justified be-
liever's heart, else he will never go on anu attain to this his
privilege. And this desire to draw near to God is a mani-
festation of our hunger and thirst after righteousness. which
the Lord expects to see before he fulfils to such his engagement
that they shall be filled, satisfied.-Matt. 5: 6.
Satisfaction will not be attained fully in the present liiP.
tho the believer who progresses and draws nearer and nearer
to God will have lIlore lind more of this satisfaction to the
end of his journey in the present life, receiving the full
measure of satisfaction in righteousness and perfection on the
other side the vail. Similarly, in our drawing near to Gon.
we may continue to draw nearer and nearer to him, as we
obtain deeper experience in his grace, growing also in knowl-
edge and love in the present life; but the full attainment of
our privilege of drawing near to God will not be reached until
we shall have passed the Recond Vail-passed through deatll,
and been changed from human to spirit beingl;<, and haH'
entered into heaven itself, the perfect hE'avenly condition.
There and then we shall he full v at one with the heawnh'
Father and with our Lord .Jel;<u';, having drawn near to th'e
full extent of the invitation and to the full of the op-
portunities granted us in th' new and living way, the narrow
way to life, consecrated for Ui'o. through the vail, hv our
Lord's death as our ransom pri('e. '
There are, however, certain ('oudition'i speeified as neces-
sary to progress along these lines. As no one can draw
near to God except by attaining a "full assurance of faith."
neither ('an he have a full as'!urance of faith unless he have
his "heart sprinkled from a of evil," for, as the
Apostle elsewhere declare'!, "If our heart condemn Ul;<, God is
greater than our heart." (1 .John 3:20) We may be sure that
if our course as new creatures is condemned by our own
consciences it would also he condemned by God. Whoever,
therefore, would make progr'ss in drawing near to God must
seek continuallv to have a "cons('icn('e void of offense toward
God and man'" (ACt9 24: 16) :-a conscience that is clear, that
can sa:\,. I am 'itriYing to do that which woulrl be pleal;<ing
to God. in harmonv with mv covenant of self-sa('rifice. and
I am striving to do that which would be approved also by
righteous men. Nothing of this is at all permissible in
those who have consecrated to be royal priests.
to offer themselves living sacrifices in the Lord's service, and
to draw near to him in the name and under the merit of the
great High Priest of our profession, Christ JesU'i.
[2671]
THE PILGRIM HARVEST SERVICE
1)0 you hope for public well as for
onh tor tho,e alread v intefl',tpd'
f
Could ami would t'he friend, --eeure the usc of a
We will be glad to have at once postal card requests for
PllgTlm Ylblts from all of the UlIlted and Canada.
(Bntlbh fnend" pleabe cards to our British brandl
otfi,p. London) \Ye are re-arranglIlg our "Pl1gnm" routes
and want the followlllg IIIfollnatlOn III fpw wordb on postal
('ard:; (not I for eabV referpnpe. Rpmember that the"e
"PIIgnm" IIIvohe no for the Pilgrim or IllS tray-
pllIlg of whIch a re horne the f'oclety. \Ye
nH'Il'I.\ Il"jlu--t ('ntl'rtallllllent for thp tlunng hIS two
or threp da.' s' stay. er the 'lll('stlOn" hy numhl'r as fol-
10\\ --:-
( I )
prl\ atl'
I
bellOol or ehureh LUlldlllg or a puuhe hall if publIC meetings
are de"lred?
Would a buitable room in a private house be providE'd
for the pnvate meetings?
(4 I How many friends of pre"E'nt truth reside in your
VlCI III ty 9 (;)) How many of these have been consulted aTIlI
concur in the you are sendlllg us? (6) How many
of these al e \YATCH TOWER readers? (7) Do you now meet
regularly for wor"hlp and study of the \Vord, as per Hebrews
10.2.'i?
}Iost of these questions can be answered by either or
Xo or by figures. KumbE'r your answers, and add whatever
may seem E'xpE'dient, but do not crowd the card and make it
dIfficult to read and understand.
THE GREAT SHEPHERD AND HIS SON, THE GOOD SHEPHERD
JOIl;'; 10: 1-16.-AUGUST 26.
"The Oood Shepherd gireth his lzfe for the sheep."
Danll, the P--almi,t. \\IOtE' ".Tehovah is my
bht'phprd, 1 bhall not want" (P"a. 23); for III David's day
tIl" arrangl'llll'nb for the Shcpherd and thE' floek of this les-
bon had not bet'n eompleted. True, the heaH'nly Father had
pm Ill, entire plan a, n'''peet-.; humalJlty's redemption
al1(1 I dnrn to Ill-- earp a-- lll- lIock, hut h" harl not \(t
hl-- only I)('gotten the Good Shephefll, to gIve hI'" hfe for
the to call the flot k, to open the door and to lead them
out and Illto and to in the Lord's
proVld"IH'e th" natIOn of hrael had alr"ady b"en gathered, as
those who would be preparetl to be the flock of the Good
Shppherd \\ hen he (ome. wpre ""hut up under
the law" (Gal. 3:23), waiting for the eoming of the Good
Shppherd to open the door anrl to eall them by name as
own sheep. Other", indepl!, pamp hefore thp affecting
to 1,1' the tnlp bheplwrrl, ]eallers bent of God but they were mere
who Rought their own good and glory, and not that
of thp "hE'pp They wpre and rohlJers, who sought to
gain of the for their own selfish ends.
The "port"r" the law) would not recognize
any of thp,p nor approve them, nor open to them
aceps;.; to t he But when the true Shepherd came he
t!tp law (the porter \ , and bought the sheep from
justice, giVIng own life as their redemption price. Thus he
gainpli tlH' fnll right to open the door. the full sanction of
thE' porter, tlIP full authOrIty to Ipad forth the sheep to the
grpen pa"turE'R and btill waters of divinE' truth which then be-
eame due to them.
At the time of thE' giving of this parahle our Lord was
laying down lifE'. and at thE' same time uttering his
,"oiep, that the trup might learn to know him. And
not only will all thp tnlP learn to know the Shepherd,
but. thought I thp f'hephE'rd knoweth his own sheep
indiVldllall.v. that hE' r'alleth pa('h by name as he leads them
out to us the inti mary of the relationship be-
twpen ChrIst and paeh mpmher of flo('k.
Thp trpatmpnt of shE'ep in this part of the world is very
rlIffprpnt from that in the parahll'. which is still
maintainpd in Oripntal ('OIl1ltrips. Hl're shl'ep are driven, and
have httlp or no aequaintance with the henlsmE'n. But in
I'alestinp, for en'ry has a acquaintance
with <,hpphpnl and he with It, and it is said that this ac-
quaintancp parti"lIlar that the have a separate
name for paeh --hppp. and know eaeh individually by its
nallle: alJ(l that flu' o\\n name and will re-
spom] to lL eall from own shE'pherd at any time. How
hpautifully the relationship between
and flopk. thp ('hufl'h' He giVE'S to eaeh one of us
a npw name. and wp arl' ea('h personally known to him-our
of {'!tararter. tpmperament, etc., our strong points
and our knoweth them all. He loves us, cares
for U'-. IJ(']p, 0\'('1' our and diffi('ultip'l, and shields us
from tIll' t('mptntJon'- whieh woulrl be too strong for liS.
"He \\ III not us to ],p trmpte(1 above that WE' are able.
but wdl II ith the tpmptation provide also a way of escape,"
and that "all things work together for good to them
t ha t low COt!, the ca llpd on{'s to hi..;
"little flock" of thIS GObpel ag-p.
We note thl' care of the Shepherd over the sheep,
for he "He putteth forth 0\\ n :ul<l gotth bl'-
fore them." The words "putteth forth" llavE' the significance
of looking after them, that they all get started in the way
to the grepn pastlilPs anrI still waters for soul
He is not ca relE'ss. re,-pE'cting thl'm. whether thcy go
or rIo not go; having startE'(1 them in the way he
will not drl\ e thpm: he gOE'th hefore thpm to lead. that they
may follow. Our Good Shepherd has indeed set u..; a noble
example, so that we may walk in his steps; and whoen'r 11'111,
to the extent of his ability, trustfully do this, will find his
wants abundantly supplied, for good thing WIll lw [the
Shephertl] withhold from those who [thus] walk uprightly."
"He will guide them with his coun"el, and afterward receive
them to glory."-Psa. 84: II; 73: 24.
Our Lord's parable not tell us about the disciplines
which the sheep are sure to receive, but these are set before
us in the prophetic psalm on the subject, m the words, "Thy
rod and thy btaff, they comfort me." The thought is that the
Shepherd, while going before and not driving' the "heep, never
theless such an interest and carE' that he wIll not suffer
one of thE' sheE'p to wander away WIthout administering cer-
tam chastisement designed for its good, and to correct It and
to bnng it back into fellowship in the flock. This is lL comfort,
and yet it should certainly be the desire of all true sheep
to follow the Shepherd so closely that the rod not
often be necessary.
The link betwl'en the Shepherd and the shpep. as here in-
dicatE'd. is love. The Shepherd loves the sheep, and has demon-
strated this III having laid down his life for them; and the
sheE'p speedily learn to love the Shepherd, as their care-taker;
they recognize him through 1m voice-the Word of God. This
voice appeals to the hearts of all the true sheep, who qUiekly
respond, man spake as this man."
The voice of the good shephpfl} is a hlending of various
sounds in a manner in which thev are blE'nded by no other
voice. His voicE' sounds forth the chord of Justice commin-
gled with the chord of love, allll the whole intoned WIth
wisdom and with power. Other theoriefl, plans and schemes
of me'll and have no such harmony of ;1-. has
the message which thl' great ShE'pherd sent lIS through
his Son. His voice speaks to us of a iust penalty for sins-
death; it speaks of love, in our redemption and thE' forgiveness
of our sins, and the opening to us of the way of life, through
This "word of grace" all the true
sheep as no other message or voice could do. Moreover. when
the true sheep hear the voice of tIlt' Good Rhepherd, it satisfies
their longings as nothing else ('ould do. They will no longer
he in danger of being attracted by other sounds or VOIces,
theories or but will reply to all.
"Jesus has satisfied; Jesus is mine."
There are many false voices in the world todav, seek-
ing to lead the Lord's sheep astray, and are sometimes
sounded in qeceptive tones, to imItate the Shepherd's call. to
draw away sheep after those who would be shepherd'!, but
whom the great f;hepherd has not appomted' shephpflls who
not only have not purchased the sheep, but who seek to ignore
the great sacrifice by which the Good Shepherd did purchase
tlH'm. 'Ye mIght mention many such false voices, or false
would-be shpphE'rds,-Christian Science, Thposopy, Spiritism,
Evolution, HighE'r Criticism, etc" but we have the Good ShE'p-
herd's word for it, that his true sheep will not be deceived by
any of thE'se. 'Yell do they know his Yoice, and its combina-
tion of love, and mercy cannot be duplicated by others,
-its message of redemption by the precious blood, justification
by faith, the high calling, the begetting of the holy spirit,
the by-and-by deliverance of the sons of God, and eventually of
a II who will obey him of the entire groaning creation, through
restitution.
This voice, once heard, can never be mistaken for another;
and tJlOse who know this Shepherd and his voice neE'd never
be misled by others. The Lord's true sheep, whom he knows
hy namc allll who follow him, will not heed the voice of
shepherds, but will f1E'e from them. They know when
(226- 230)
[2672]
ZION'S WATCH TOWER

they hear a fahe voice, that it means that the adversary IS
seeking to them; and buch wIll flee from the voice
of error that they may come the closer to the true Shepherd,
who gave his life. for the sheep. If, therefore, we
whom we had supposed were of the Lord's flock heeding an-
other voice and following after strange shepherds, and heedless
of the voice that speaketh from heaven, we need not be fearful;
for if they are true sheep of the Lord's flock they cannot long
be deceivec, if at all. \Ye may indeed sound out the vOIce
of the Good Shepherd, callIng theIr attention afresh to the
harmonies and beautIes of the "voice from heaven," but if
still they do not hear and heed, we may know that they do
not belong to the flock which our Shepherd is now collect-
ing and shepherding.
Amongst those who heard this parable from our Lord's
lips, not many comprehended, not many had the hearing ear for
t.he true Shepherd's voice: only a bmall proportion of the
Jewish people followed him and beeame his true sheep. Sim-
ilarly now, many are professing to be the true sheep of the
Lord's flock, but in this day of the Shepherd's presence his
VUlee, the tI uth, thE' All of the true bheep will
hear ancl he attracted by the voiee of truth now uttered, and
wIll obey it. Those ,,:ho are not of the Good Shepherd'f>
floek, ancl who have not his spirit, he desires shall now be
separated; to this end they will hear the voice of other shep-
herds, and be deceived thereby: because they are not trUly of
the Lord's floek.
Dr. Porter tells of a scene he witnessed, in which several
flocks of were for a time commingled. and how, when
the rlue time was come, the separation took place. He says:-
"As we sat and looked, almost spell-bound, the silent
hillsides around were in a moment filled with life and sound.
Thousands of sheep and goats were there, grouped in confused
The shepherds stood together until all came out, and
thpn separated, each shepherd taking a different path,
and uttering, as he advanced. a shrill, peculiar call. The
heard them: at first the mass swayed and moved as if
shaken hy some internal convulsion: then pomts struck out in
the rlirectlOns taken by the shepherds. These became longer
and longer, until the confused masses were resolved in long,
livmg streams flowing after their leaders."
1:'50 at the present time there are many sheep in the nominal
Church, but they are not all the Lord's sheep. Some belong
to human leaders of various sects, and some are God's. The
or end of thi'S Gospel age, the time for separatll1g
tIlt' \I hpa t h om the bref>. is the tIme for separating the dIf-
ferent flocks of sheep. In harmony with this, we now hear
various voices calling the sheep in various directions, as never
hefore. This IS, in the Lord's providence, for the purpose of
separating all others from his own "little flock." His sheep
will hear' hIS voice and follow him--other sheep, consecrated
to human leaders, human mstltutions, human theories, human
efforts, will follow their own bents, and thus be separated
from the "little flock," and this is now the Lord's good
pleasure Thus he will "gather out of his kingdom all things
that offend and them that do iniquity," before the glorifying of
his chureh and the great time of trouble that will follow.
CHRIST THE DOOR OF GOD'S SHEEP-FOLD
As a further explanation of the matter, our Lord refers
to hlm<;elf as the Door of the sheep-fold, the lawful, proper
entrance-gate, by which God's people might enter into rest.
All who had ever come previously, clmmlllg to bp mes'4iahs,
had attempted to climb up by some other way than that of
keeping the divine law and purchasing the sheep. They were
thien''4 and robbers, attemptmg to take what they had not
seeured a nght to, and that for selfish gain. But none of
the true sheep would hped them nor follow them. Now, how-
enr, the Good Shepherd had eome, and had purchased the
sheep. opening a legal door of entranc'e to them and liberty
for thpm, and it was appropriate that all of the true sheep
shouln know it. Now it had become pusslble for the sheep
to haV(' in Christ the hberty so lon!..( desired, and to he ler!
out and into pasturage and refreshment and to fest and
security. Henceforth Jehovah's flock i'>hould never lack for
pasturage; because, having bought them through his Son, they
shall be cared for. They may now say, "Surely goodness and
merey shall follow me all thp days of my life, and I shall
dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
Others who had approached the sheep, seeking to he their
I ('ome to thee with all mv tears,
:My pain and sorrow, griefs and
Thou precious Lamb who dIed for me,
1 come to thee, I come to thee.
leaders, had done so selfishly; had been willing to sacnfice
the sheep in their own interest; but the Good I:'5hepherd,
solicitous for the best interests of the sheep, demonstrated
this by the sacrifice of his own life on their behalf, that they
might have life mure abundant, better than they had ever
known hitherto,-eternal life. Hireling i'>hepherds labor for
the hire, and not from personal interest in the sheep, and
consequently, instead of being ready to lay down their lives
for the sheep in times of extremity and persecutIOn for right-
eousness' sake, they are ready rather to flee the trouble and
avoid persecution. They think ehiefly of their own ease and
comfort, honor and dignity, and of how much of the golden
fleece they can get from the sheep. They are not very deeply
eoncemed respecting the spiritual progress of the sheep, theIr
growth in grace, and in all the fatnpss of lovp and spintual
welfare: but specially in numbers and
Perhapb never more than at truth elearly
illustrated amongst those who are repl e'l'nLltn 1':>
of the Good Hhepherd-under-"hepherds in flock. :Many of
them give evidel1l'e of wanting to be on the pupular of
every questIon-of unwIllIngness to suffer anytlullg' fur the
f>ake of the truth, of carelessness respecting the leal ItU,I!
condition uf Ule Hoek: of interest wther in the human lllstItu-
tions through \\hieh they ohtam theIr SUppOlt, and with whose
welfare their honor, dignity and titles lU e Of such
shepherds ::\lilton, the poet, wlOte, styling them-
., .... blind mouths.
The hungry sheep look up and all' not fed.
But. swollen with wind and the rank mii'>t they draw,
Rot inwardly, and foul contagion spread."
The ChristIan philosupher, John Ruskin, commenting
upon thig, says: "These two monosyllable'4, 'blind mouths,' ex-
press the aeeurate eontraries of the right charaeter 1'1
the two great offices of the church,-tho'4e of and
pastor. A bIshop means a person who sees; a pastor means
one who feeds. The most unbishoply chal acter a man
can have i'4, therefore, to be blind. The most unpastoral is,
instead of feedmg, to want to bo fed,-to be a mouth."
Nevertheless, the Good I:'5hephenl WIll always be lepresenterl
amongst the sheep by those who have his own eharactenstlcs,
anc! who are seekmg to walk in his footsteps; ami through
these he will utter Ius "vOlce," and leac! his own slll'ep to
pasture and to rest. These will not only have the same voice,
the same \Yard, the same good tidings, but they will have the
same devotion to the interests of the f>heep-to feed the sheep,
to lead them into the green pasture;, and by the still waterg of
truth, and to preserve their liberties in the LOi d, and
not to pen them up as their own, nul' to make mcrehandise
of them.
The Father, the great over-Shepherd, Jehovah. is referred
to by the Good Shepherd, Jesus, in verse 16. "The Father
knoweth me" [has confidence in me-has entrusted the earl' of
the sheep to mel and even so I know the Father [havmg full
confidenee in him, and recogmzing hIm as my I:'5hl'pherd.
director. ll'a<\('rl, and [it IS in harmony with hi;; arrange-
ment for me and fur the ;,heep that] I lay down my life for
the shepp."
The sheep that I am now calling and leading to pasture
and cann6 for and calling by their own names, and who know
me, are a \elY special lot of sheep; in all only a "little Hoek,"
for whom .TdlOvah. he Great Hhephprd, has made ar-
rangements and provisions in hi'4 kingdum of glory. However,
these are not all of his bhPpp, tho thpy are all yet ealled ami
led forth. "Other sheep I have that are not of thi8 fuld." I
hought tht' \\ hole world with thp one "acrifi"e for amI all
who' have the true sheep disposltiun, all who to he in
harmuny WIth truth, amI the author of I
recognize a" my sheep, ancl "ear('h them out far and
near, until l'very one of them bp found. But not yet:
thIS will he Ily 'llUd by, aftt'r the "Iittle flot'k" ;hall
be glonfi('(1 WIth mf'. Then they, WIth me, shall be the shep-
hf'nls who wIll gather III all of thf' true 8hpep, delivering
them all from the jlowpr of the enemy, aIllI bnnging so many
ag will ohl'y mv voiPe ultimatl'lv intu that condi-
tion of OneneS'4, 'harmony WIth the hl'a\"('nly Fatht'r and with
in which ('ondition, as my sheep, tliey will he l'ntitled
to evprla"ting Ii fl'. "Thpn there shall he one fold and am
,hl'phl'rd," as it is writtf'n. "Of whom the \\'holp family both
in IlPaven and in earth IS nampd "-Eph. 3: 1ii
o love' what joy is mlllP,
To feel that I am trulv thllle.
Thou Lamb ,,:110 dif'd for mt',
r c'omp to thpe, I come to thee.
[2673]
"THE LORD APPOINTED SEVENTY OTHERS ALSO
LUKE 10:1-11, 17-20.-SEPT. 2.
"The han'est truly is great, but the laborers are few."
Our Lord had pre, Ww,]J' forth the twelve apostles,
a", heralds of himself and the kingdom. (Luke 9: 1-6) The
-lending forth of seventy was evidently some little time after-
ward, probably in the last year of his ministry. Their com-
mission reads almost in the same words as that given to the
twelve, tho thpy are not recogni7:pd anywhpre as apostles on an
equality with the twelYe. 'fhp fact that seventy men would
voluntarily go forth as ministers of the Lord, without hope
I)f earthl, rpward or salary, is evide'1ce that a strong
influence"had already IJPen' exerted by ,Tesus' teaching. In this
connpction we remember the Apostle's statC'ment that above
five hundred brethren were suffieiently advanccd in knowledge
and zeal to bc a('counted of meeting the Lord after
hi ... resurrection. which implies a keen on the part
of seH'ral timps that number. \Ve may reasonably suppose
that these "pventy were of a much larger
,'ompany of deepl,__ interested onp,;. Thcy were sent into the
various cities and VIllages. whither the Lord himself would
They were to prepare hi .. way by announcing the kingdom
Ht hand, and by pt'rforming the miracles intended to demon-
-trate the authentieity of thpir message.
An e!l.planation of \\ hy they were sent forth is given
(verSt' :!) : it becau"e the harvc:"t was great and the labor-
,'rs too few to properly pon,>ummate the work in the time
.\ppoilltpd of the FatllPl'. All intprpsted wcrc expected to
:"hare in this appreciation of the greatness of the work, and
the necessity for more laborers being sent forth; and it is
hut reasonable to suppose that the seventy sent were chosen
from amongst those appreciating the situation and anxious to
be commissionell.
There are several lessons for us in this matter: we too are
in a harvest time--in the harvest time of the Gospel age, as
thev were in the harw"t of the Jewish age. Now, as then,
the' harvest work i'l great, and the laborers are comparatively
few. and now, aR then, we cannot hope that any would suc
ceed in doing harvest work unleRS specially commissioned or
",ent forth by the Chief Reaper. Hence, all who appreciate the
work now in pIOgress, should pray to the Lord to send them
[OJ th in his servi('e, or if already cngagpd in it. that he would
graciously open to them doors of opportunity for greater use-
fulness in hiR service. In the beginning of this harvest com-
paratively few were used of the Lord in connection with the
harvest work; but aR we progress we find that the Lord is
graciously pleased to send forth and use more and more those
who are zealously anxious to lay down their lives for the
truth.
The expresRion, "The harvest is great," does not necessarily
mean that the amount of ripe "wheat" to be garnered is great.
It meam ratller that the difficulties and oppositions, and
multitudeR of "tares," make it difficult to reach all of the
"wheat" class. The work is great here, as it was great in the
end of the Jewish age; yet only a "little flock" will be gath-
Ned now. as only a remnant was gathered from Israel, as the
_\postle Paul pointed out. (Rom. 9:27) The mass of Israel
profesRed to be the Lord's people, hut their piety was little
more than profession. They drew nigh to the Lord in attend
an('e at thc synagogues, and in celebrating' the feasts, felt full
and self-satisfied, aJHI looked with pity upon the Gentile na-
tions, and had a grpat spirit of missionary aggressiveness, and
sea and land to make a proselyte" to Judaism.
Npvl'rtheless, the Lord, who read the heart, recognized that
theirs was only a formal lip service, and that their hearts
wpre far from him; and we "ee ('onditions tonay very similar
to this, in nominal spiritual Israel.
None were fit to be sent out as hera1<ls of the kingdom
except such who thoroughly believed in the kingdom-such as
had accepted J e"us as the Messiah; such as believed in his
presence-sueh, therefore, as eould speak forth with earnest-
ness and power the message they were sent to bear. And so it
,eE'ms to be in this harvest time. The Lord is sending forth
more laborers continually; yet only such as recognize the
kingdom as nigh, even at the door; only such as recognizt'
the parousia of the King; only such as have a zeal to tell
the joyful tidings to others, are being used and blessed of
the Lord in the gathering togetlwr of his elect,-the ripe
"v. heat." his "jewels."-Psa. 50: 5; Mal. 3: 16, 17; Matt.
13:3fl, 41.
It is not supposahle that our Lord meant that any should
appeal to him to send forth morc laborers into the harvest,
who at the "amc time would not be willing and anxious, to
the extent of their ability, to enter this harvest service them
selves. There may be some. but we trust very few, who would
be prepared to pray: "0 Lord bless, I pray thee, thy work.
and send forth more laborers; but do not send me. Permit
others to sacrifice time and strength and zeal, that I may rest,
and have neither part nor lot in the matter, sacrificing little
or nothing." Only those are properly qualified to petition
the Lord on such a subject, whose hearts are burning with a
desire to do with their might what their hands may find to do,
according to their opportunities. Such, in praying, would be
anxious, first of all, to themselves be used &13 servants of the
great Chief Reaper, for it is "he that reapeth that receiveth
wages and that gathereth fruit unto eternal life" now, as it
was also in the Jewish harvest. Those who are most zealous to
Rerve the Lord, and most willing to sacrifice on behalf of hiB
eause, are the ones who will receive the greatest present bless-
ing of spiritual fellowship with the Lord, and who will be the
best prepared to share the glories soon to be reaveled.
The Lord adopted with the seventy the same method that
he started with the twelve; viz., of sending them two and two;
and similarly we, at the present time, encourage the colporteur
laborers in this harvest to go two and two, for mutual encour-
agement and helpfulness, etc. As the poet has said,
"So when two together work, eaeh for each
Is quick to plan and can the other teach;
But when alone one seeks the best to know,
His skill is weaker and his thoughts are slow."
It is questionable just why the Lord chose seventy for this
work. However, we remember that Moses chose seventy of the
elders of Israel for his assistants, and that this number, sev-
enty, was from that time onward preserved in Israel, and
known as the "Sanhednn," or eommittee of seventy chief men
and judges. In the light of this fact, it would appear that
if the nation of Israel had been in proper condition of heart
to receive the Lord, the chiefs of that nation would already
have embraced his cause, and the seventy members of the
Sanhedrin would by that time have been procla.iming the
siah through the length and breath of Palpstme. But smce
they had not received the King, and had not prayed him to
commission them to announce him, our Lord commissioned
others, and the work went on, the honor and privilege passing
by those of influence and education who might have enjoyed
it had they been worthy. Doubtless the seventy sent forth
were, like the apostles, chosen from amongst the honest-
hearted of the common people. and not many, if any of them,
were rich, wise or learned.
Likewise, in this harve"t time, there are many ministers,
professedly servants of the truth. and possessed of education,
influence, etc., who by now should realize that we are in the
harvest of the Gospel age, and should be seeking of the Lord
an opportunity to engage in the harvest work; but instead,
they are described as "dumb dogs, lying down, refusing to
bark"-refusing to awaken the household under their care to
let them know that the kingdom of God is at hand, and that
all not received into the kingdom are about to be plunged into
a great time of trouble. All of the spiritual ho?se ,?f
must either receive a more than Pentecostal blessmg, III bemg
"chanO'ed" and made sharers of the kingdom, or else, being
from the kingdom, receive a baptism of fiery trouble
-havmg their portion with the world, not being accounted
worthy to escape those things coming upon the world.-Luke
21 :36.
That the Lord did not expect the seventy to convert and
gathfr in all Israel is very distinctly shown in his statement,
"Behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves." The
Master knew that the majority of the professedly consecrated
Israel of God were consecrated to self and selfishness, to sect
and party, and not to the truth. The majority were repre-
sented as voracious wolves, not sheep. Nevertheless, there
were lambs and sheep amongst the goats and the wolves, and
these all must hear the message, and thus be prepared to
receive the Messiah, when he should present himself to them.
Special instructions were given to these specially sent-
forth ones. They had a peculiar work to do con,
ditions accorded. They were not, therefore, a crIterIOn for
subsequent workers under different circumstances. They were
to carry neither purse, nor valise, nor extra shoes, and were
to salute no man by the way. They would thus be dependent
on the generosity of those to whom they ministered the truth.
And the effect of this would be beneficial in several ways. ( 1)
It would test the faith of those who went forth, and keep
thpm continually depending on the Lord's supervising care,
and trusting that he who had sent them knew how to make
provision for their necessities while they complied with his
commanns. (2) It would furnish an opportunity for hospi-
tality to those to whom they preached, and who, by reason
of the necessities of the case, would be constrained to reach
a decision promptly as to whether or not they were in sym-
233)
[2674]
ACGUST 1, 1900
2 ION} S rVA T C H T 0 TV E R
(234-236"
with the message. and henc'E with the messengers, and
willIng to entertain them. The lesson of dependence on
the Lord was implied in the provi"ion for no change of
raiment. Besides, it was to be but a short tour.
The injunction not to salute anyone by the way may be
understood to refer to the cmtom in Oriental lands of trav-
elers stopping frequently to chat with each other respecting
the news. The disciples had but one the good tid-
mgs, and they were to give all diligence to Its promulgation.
and not to be general On arriving at a house
they were to take careful note respecting their reception, and
were to anticipate this with a prayer that peace, blessing,
favor, might be upon that house and its inmates. If a son of
peace. a child of God. resided there, they might expect that
under the Lord's providence they would have a kind reception.
and were to accept it as of the Lord's arrangement. If they
were not so received, they were to consider it as an evidence
that that was not the home of God's people, living in cove-
nant relationslup with him, and were to take their departme,
seekmg' another and another place. Peradventure they found
no l'ntertainer in the village. were, nevertheless, to give
thl'ir AmI it f>hould be ginn in a striking man-
neI'. 1 i:::' .. the of the dust from their which,
to the Oril'ntal mind. would <,ignifv a Yerv solemn and final
testimony; and then they were to "Notwithstanding. be
sur(' of this. that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto vou."
.\11 "ho ar(' engageel in the harvest work' may
learn some very profitable lessons here, applicable. indeed, to
the Lord's pl'ople at any time while engaged in hiR "ervic{',
'"{' hayc no time for the ordinary converse. The time is
shOl t; the harnst work is great; 'the laborers are few; our
tlml' is cOllsecrated: we must lahor while it is called dav,
knowing that a night cometh wherein no man can work. ,,'re
ha\ {' cons{'('rat{'d 0111' ev{'n unto death; we are commis
of th{' great Lord of the harvest to seek for the true
"wheat." aIH! to gather it into the barn. '''hat time have we
for frivolities or worldlinl'ss or thl' manv Rorial amenities?
Rather, we must content ourselves with giving very little at-
tl'ntion to these things. am! mURt press along the line, engag-
ing in thl' work givl'n us to do, if we would have the
apprm'al of our -;\Iaster, hiR "\Yell dOlle, good and faithful

Altho it is not cURtomarv today, as it was in Palestine
nineteen renturil'R ago. to sa'lute a and say, "Pearl' he
to this llOusl'!" Ilevertheless all of the Lord's people should
be peacemakers. peace-promoters. peare-loverR, and a blessing
of pearl' and rrstfuJness should go with them wherever they
go. Alas' how many of them are Rlow to lparn that God has
not railed us to rontentions, birkerings. anger, etc..
hut to love. joy, peace. etr. How few, comparatively. haYe
li'arned how to speak the truth in lore; and always to give
a soft answer whif'h turneth away wrath; and always to avoid
thp grieYous words which stir up anger. Like the seventy of
our lrsson. in our dailv avocations and efforts to minister to
otherR, let the peare of God go with us, shining in our faf'e
s
,
govprning our actions and intoning our language. so that,
as the Apostle expresses it, our Rpeech Rhall he always sea
soned with grare.
Condition.s in cidlized lands today are very different from
what they were and still are in Oriental Janfls, RO that hele
and now it would be unusual to he {'xpected to entertam
strangers; nev{'rthelesR, all who are of the Lonl's true people
Rhoulel he on the lookout to ('ntel tain hospitably any servants
of the L{)nl. ,vho thpv are sure cal his message, thi' Gospel
of the kingdom. And, as the Apostle indicates, thi'Y should he
just as careful not to entertain. not to assist, anel not to hid
God-Rpeed to any who are bearing a false ::rospel, and denying
that the Lord bought us.-2 John IO.
REJOICE IN THINGS UNSEEN
'Vhen the seventy returned from this mission they were
full of joy; saying, "Lord, even the devils are Rubjeet unto
UR, in thy name." Our Lord assured them that this was what
he expected, and intended, when he Rent thi'm forth, and
explained respecting his own knowledge of Satan in his pre-
human condition, that there and then he had been a witness
to Satan's fall from lngh glory and priVIlege and position
to his present attItude of chief adverr,ary of God. "I beheld
Satan as lightning [as a bright one] fall from heaven." It
IS for those who deny the personality of Satan and who deny
there are fallen angels, to explain these plain state-
ments of Scripture. The true ehildren of God, the true r,heep
who hear the voice of the Shepherd, wJlI not be deceived upon
thIS point any more than upon others. 'Vhat matters it to
us that we did not see Satan fall from his glonous condition?
Our -;\Iaster did, and he has borne testimony, not only re-
specting Satan'R personality. but resped1l1g hIS fall from
and honor. "'hat is it to us that others deny that
there al I' fallen angels, demons, "ho sef'k to Impel sonate the
dead. through i'opirituahRlll, etc.? 'Vc lune the J\Iaster's
words. and the of the to the contrary, and
ar, true shcep we both hear and hl'ed tllP Shepherd's voice and
follow him. 'Ye hepd not the voiet' of Ratan. uttered tIll ougn
those whom he telling Iha t there is no devil, that
there i'5 no second death, etc.
Our Lonl proreeded to tpll tht' 1'lIt) that it 111' "ho
had given them the power th{'y ha(l enjoyed, and that it in
l IudI'd immunity from the bit{'s of serprnts aIH! 8cOll'ions. anti
from all the power of the enemies. hut bpecially
the pnrmy. Satan: the onr mpntion{'d also in the prayer
whif'h our Lord taught. saying, "Drlivrr lh from the evil
one," It may not hI' to note here till' .1<:t tha t
powers aIHI allthoritit's over S,ltan. poisons. de. "erE
(onfined to the tw{'ln' anc! to the suhsrquent seventy. and wpre
IJ('1'er given to the chun'h in grnf'raJ. Thl' onlv ScripturE'
which even seems to RO imply is Mark 10:[1 to thp end, and
1'l'rSf'8 are not fOllnd in tIll' (:It'rk .. and are
f'ddentlv interpolations. added probahly about the fifth cpn
tury: thpy are omitted from thi' Rf'dspd Yprsion anr! others.
Bnt while no Sl1f'lt Immunity from and bites and
stings are grantrd to the Gospel e'hun'h in gt'neraJ. we have
what serns every purpose in this resped; 1 ie. the Lord's
promise that nothing Rhall allY 1///1 t 1IS as new
(features-that thp Lon! will permit nothing to happen to
his cons('rrated ones that he is not hoth ahle and wIlhng to
oYerrule for their good. their highr:-t w{']fare.
'''hill' rejoil'ing with 1hI' in tht'ir inereab(',l faiH,
and joy. resulting from their aetivitil's in his "en'jce, and
in the exercise of the gifts which he had besto\\ed upon them,
our Lord cautioned them against thinking too hir;hly of such
miraculous and assures them that their chiefest cause
for joy lay in another direC'tiou-in thr fact that they h,ld
Iwen aeeepted as sons into GO(!'s family (.John I: 12) ; in the
f1\(,t that their Wl'rp "ritten in hC'aYe>n. as prospective
joint-Ileirs with in his killgdom-proRpl'dl\ P membC'rE>
of thf' ho(l.v of Christ. to RufTt'r wIth him, all(l thus attrst
th{'ir fidelity. [[nd hy ant! hy to ht' glorifit'(l "ith him to all
l'ternity. This is in harmony" ith tht' .\pn:-tle Panl's state-
mt'nt in I Cor. J. whele hI' u" that tIle miruculou5
gifts ('onfern'cJ upon the early ('hun'h hv thp lay1l1g on of the
Apostle's hands. surh flS "ith unknown tongues,
interpretations of rtl'. all' not proofs of Slllrit-
begotten ronditions; that [[ greatpr proof is the possession of
the of the Lord. thl' Rpirit of love that nl'\'rr faileth.
The mOl e of the spirit of love" e thr I!r('atcr is onr
likeness to God's dear Son, our Rlt!epmrr. an(! the morl' will
we be fitted and prppart'd fOJ a With him in his heav-
glorirs. If. therefore, thr LOld pl'lmits to do some
littlt' servir(' in the preRt'nt harvp:-t. or to bear Rome
III the IlPat of the clay. or if he grants l1S the priYIIege of SllC-
(e.,sfully eontt'nding against the great adYersary and his
sen-ants. awl hinders 1IS from 1I('/lIg stun,rl or "hurt" IJy thpir
words or or dl'eds, and if he grants us opportunitirs for
helping' others out of hy the g00d
medicine of the pn'st'nt trnth, let us I ejoicr in thesr privilrgrs
and oppO! tunities; but lrt us rf'joiet' "till more that under
the Lorel's providence we arr Ids (hildrl'n, begotten of his
ollr nanws havl' bt'pn rerorel('d as members of his
family, ancl that and hy we expect to he jointheirs
with our Elder Brother. Yea, in theRf' good hopes we wil;
r('.1 oice.
IS THE RESTITUTION CALL NOW OPEN?
A dear brother in the truth seems to think that the teach taneously with the closing work of this Gospel age. This
ing's of DAWN, Vol. V.. differ from those of DAWN, Vol. III., elrarer statpment of the subject in DAWN V. is the result of
on the question heading this article. He sees clearly that III our having It'arned that some had gotten the wrong impre,,-
DAWN, Vol. V., the view we present is that the restitution SlOn frol11 Yol. III. In proof of his point, the brother refers UB
call cannot begin until the last member of the Gospel church to Vol. 111., page 218, where it is stated that "the stopping
has been changed, glorified, but he thinks that the third vol- of the favor or call here, in 1881, is followed, or rather lapped
ume teaehes that the restitution call will be in progress simul- upon, hy the general call of the whol(' world to the Millennial
[2675]
(236-237) ZION'S WATCH TOWER
ALLEGHENY, PA,
and favor-; on condItion of faith and obedience."
pages and 36i: "Further, where the special favor of
the genclal UObpel call October, 1881, the blessings
upon the world would "eem to be due to h,lve a begmning."
It (1 HHl) was the date of the closing of the Ingh callIng, and
hen('c the date for the beginning of the restItutIOn call for
mankmd in general."
On of mueh intricacy it is sometimes difficult
to language sufficiently exact; especially if at the time of
II rItmg ohJeetIons or criticibms are not fully anticipated.
'''ere we to cxpress the above points again we would try still
llarder, ab in D.\WN V., to guard our "tatements, and thus to
jJI,,"ent any Our thought is, that the close
"f the high ('aIling in the year ISHI was a marked date, and
that from that timp onward we should expect manifestations
along thp line of that restitution bless-
Wl'le in of development. 'Ye had no intention
elf eOm'l'.Vlng thl' thought that restitution, physical, mental
,lIl<1 moral, bllOl1!<1 he pxpeeted in 1881, and onward. As a
mattpr of fad, wc bee no such process of general physical
m operatIOn. nor ought we to expect it untIl the
Day of Atonl'ment saerifiecs (of this Gospel age-Christ and
thl' <'hun'h, IllS hody) are eomplcte.
Wp h:\\e already pointcd thIS out in the pamphlet, "Tab-
,'rna"lp of Better Racrificcs," in 1881. We
th('1 c that the high priest does not put on the glorious
garments. repre"pnting thp dignity and authority of rulership
and until thc "Lord's goat" has been killed. its body
lJl1rnl'd without thp eamp, It" fat hurned upon the altar, and
hloo(l carripd into the Holy" and sprinkled upon
the (We there bhow also that this goat typified
the ehu\"{'h. all of whose experiences there typified cannot be
a<'('omplIslll'd until the member of the body of Christ has
hi" saellfiee eompletply.) Then it was that the high
wcnt to the altar, lifted up his hands, and hegan to
thc peoplc, who mcantime lay prostrate in the dust
a waiting t ha t very hlpssing, which typically represents resti-
tutIOn.
In the ahove statement that "the stopping of the favor
t,r eall hpre. in 18SI. i" followed, or rather lappe(1 upon, by
the gpnpral ('all of tIl(' whole world to the l\1JlIennial blesRings
and fa\'OrK." wp hopp(1 that the reader would have in minel
,'lIT furth('r btutement; that altho the eall, in its open or full
in IRSI, it would be prolonged in a special or
privatI' for a timp, ju"t as I"fael's national favor ceased
th-p l)pfol e our Lord'R crucifixion. when he said. "Your
lK lcft unto you desolate," yet in an individual Rense of
HI' word. God's favor continued with Israel exclu"ively for
t h]'pe and a half ypars following that date; only that iri;;tead
,)f being a national favor, it was a private. an in<lividual
fan)r. On lJagP 21!l we endeavor to explain this pontinuation
of the eall, in another form, using the following lan-
:
"But tho thp general 'eflll' hfl" rea"ed. thp 'door' not
,pt The en<l of tll(' call and the shutting of the door are
an(l separate. The 'door' stands open for Rome to
"pt(']' the ra('C for thp great prize of ioint-hpirRhip in the
kingdom aft"r thp CJ('n('ral '('all' ha" Go<1 has prede-
tprminp(l a fi,p(l numher to eonstitute tIl(' ehurch. 'the hodv of
('hribt' and there pan he neither onp mpmbpr superfluous' nor
one laeklllg thi" typically taught in Lp,. 21 :li-23) It
follows that he ('on1(1 not eall or invite to that honor marl'
than "ould ('omplptp thp nnm]]('r that he had determinpd. and
(;0(1'" \\'or(l thflt numl)('r 11ad ])('en RecurI'd [ealledl
in O!'to])pr. ISHI Hnt somp of thORP who responded
I1nrIpr the gpnplal pall. amI ma']e the pOYl'nant with him, will
fad to kppp that l'oYl'nant, fail to so rnn to ohtain thp
prize. thp 'rIoor' "taml" open a ftpr the gpneral 'call' has eeaRpd,
to permit thp pntranee to the ra
pp
, to selfsaerifil'e in the
,.('n'}('e of the trnth. of [umler thp private or individual
",1111 to tal,(' Ihr plarrs of "ueh as may. dnring the inspection.
,':\ "t a the wprIding garment of C'hri"t's righteou"ne"s; and
of "l]('h other" as, havinQ: made the c'ovpnant of self-
-ilc'riflep in the loY(' the prpsent evil world, become
,,"erl'har<:!'PlI with if., pares or p]easnreR. anll fail to perform
the rpljlllrl'ments of thpir l'ovenant."
Our thought i" that thi" seerpt extension of the privileges
of the eall. aftpr it ha" l'paRed aR a gpneral offer. mu"t of
nel'es"ity prepede the beginning of the rpRtitution privilege",
amI henee thnt only preparatorv work in respeet to the resti-
tutIOn ancl the PIO(1.11llation of it, "ill hI' ill ol<ler 11l1til thp
harvest of thi" Gospel agp has heen fnl1v gatherpo. The knowl-
edge of re"titution i" granted to the pearle
now, to the intent that they Rhould not he in darkne"s With
the world in rpspeet to the divine plan. and e"peeially in view
of the approaehing great time of trouble. and also in view of
the falling of the systems of error, false doctrines, etc. It is
necessary that the restItution should be recognized by God's
people, in order to keep them from falling in this day of
trouble. But the message or call to restitution is not due to
the world, to our understanding, in any sense of the word;
hence it is that the efforts being made in connection with the
dissemination of present truth are confined, so far as seems
reasonable and pOssIble, to the church-to those, at lcast,
who professedly claim to be the Lord's people, and not to the
world.
Our brother's letter suggests several questions, whi('h we
here propound and answer, hoping that the answers may be
helpful, not only to him but to others.
(1) Questwn.-:May it not be, that both the high calling
flnd the restitution call are now open? Or, if only one of
them, would it not seem the more probable that the restitu-
tion call alone is open now? I fail to see the force of your
claim that the "door" stands open after the "call" ceases.
Answer.-'Ve believe that we have shown, foregoing that
the restitution call eould not begin untIl the saerifice of the
church is completely finished, and until the High Priest, with
every member of his body, is fully clothed with the honors
and dignities of his office, represented in the garments of glory
and beauty. \Ve doubt if we can make the matter of the open
door aftpr the general call has ceaRed, any plainer than above
Ret forth. We think it beyond question that the Lord could
not call at any time a greater number than the elect 1IAlmber,
even tho his foreknowledge aSRured him that many of the
called ones would not make their calling and election sure,
and therefnre would not be amongRt the chosen. We hold,
therefore, that at such time as the full numbpr of the elect
had been called, the general call mUqt of nel'essity have
ceased; and yet, since the Lord l'learly foretold that a
ant of some during the inspection of the guest" would follow
(Matt. 22:10-14), and since the elect number must be com-
plete, it follows that there mu"t he of hllJ1gll1g in
others to take thp plaees of those who woul<1 hl' enRt out.
after the general eall ceased and the work of hegan.
To our understanding this work of in"ppetlOn of tIl(' guestR
has been for some time-Rinep the {'all eca"ed
AR some were found unworthy of their prh'ilegp" and
into outer darkne""," similar to that in wh]('h th(' whole
world iR. others were admitted to thp fayors of the eallpd. and
the attendant testings. And thiR work mURt eontinue until
the full quota of elect ones "hall haye passed diyine approval.
'Ye can think of no other that would pcrmit Go<1 to be
iust and reasonable in his dealings, SIllCp he WIll not apcept
than the foreordained number. and sinpe he will not call
to that number any who, in anv spnse of tIle word. might be
open to diRappointment. "JUbt' and true arc thv thou
King of saints!" As pointed out (DAw,,", Vol III.. page 222)
these additions are illmtratpd III the parahle hy tllOse admit-
ted to labor in thl' vineyard at the eleventh hour, after the
regular calls had ceased..
(2) Question.-Did not the rpstitution call prepede the
call? 'Vere not Enoeh. Abraham, I"aae, .Tacob and
all Israel called to restitution? If this hc b ue. then the
Gospel call was merely a RupplenlPntary one, for the time
]ll'ing, and in that event its clo"ing or ce"Ration would at once
put in force again the original call which it had temporarily

- Answer.-No: none of the patriarehR were called to
tution, nor was it possible that either they or otll('rR could
attain restitution blessings until after the ransom had been
pa id; until after all the -Atonement Day saerifices had been
offered. If restitution had been possible without the ransom,
then Christ died in vain, so far as the world of mankind is
('oncerned. But no; all that anyone enjoyed of reRtitution
LlYors in the paRt, was what we now enjoy; viz., a knowledge
of them. A slight knowledge or hint at restitutIOn was given
to father Adam and mother E,'e. Sllb"equently a clearer
of the same was made to Abraham, and eonfirmed
to Isaac and Jaeob. There is a vast difference between the
promise of a thing and the thing itself. Had the restitution
<',Ill gone forth in the true Rense. anyone responding properly
w(mld haye been restored to perfeetion and everlasting life.
TIlIP, thprp was a kind of offer of rp"titution marle to Israel
under the Law Covenant-an offer that they would be re-
btored to perfection and life if tl,PY would keep their Law
('01'enant inviolate. But, as we have seen, the keeping of that
law was impoRslblp; and hpnpp the attainment of restItutIOn
un<1er it was equallv impoRRible.
The special merit of the patriarch" eonRisted in the fact
th"t. living bpfore any call to overlasting life was made, and
With merely a hint of God's gracious purposes, they exercised
"0 great faith respecting the same-enduring much in their
[2676]
\ \ , '''T I, 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER
(238-239)
lndeavors to please God, and because of their confidence in evidences of our own weaknesses in our minds and bodle".
his promises. From the Apostle Paul's account, some of them The Sill'! are not blotted out; they are merely reckonedly cav-
endUled, faithfully, experiences which. had they lived during ered. In the case of the church's sins: they will not be
this age, would have constituted them overcomers in blotted out until death shall destroy these mortal bodies, and
the highpst of the word, and joint-heirs with Christ in until the Lord, in the first resurrection. shall grant us glo,
the kingdom. TIut living before this high calling or any other rious, spirItual, perfect bodies, In them thert: wIll be no trace
call had been issued, and suffering and enduring valiantly and of sin or weakness or imperfection; :Ill our sins will then be
faithfully, they are promised a better resurrection, a more actually blotted out. But now we are required to beliCl'e in
favorable resurrection than that of the world, tho it will not the covering of our sins; to faith in Go,l's declara-
be so wonderful a resurrection as that of the church. A'! the tion. Our next step of faith IS in connection with thp
Apo'ltlc remarks, God has promised some better thing for us call1llg to sacrifice earthly and tempor:d for the
(than for them), "that they without us should not be made gaining of the heavenly glofy, honor and immortalIty. nut
perfect."-Heb. II :40. the heavenly crown and !JIl'ssing are only with the eye
Their resurrection will be better than that of the remain- of faith; and whoewr run.., III the race now set !H'f,)re us In
,Ier of mankind, except the con'!ecrated Gospel church, in that the not only look with the eyc of faith unto
it will be an instantaneous rai"ing to perfcction, while the Je'!us, as the author and of our faith. but \\ Ith th,'
world's re'lurrection wiII be a gradual one, accompanied by same eye of faith must see the crown of which
Qlseip1ines and teHtings, and called by our Lord "the resur- the Lord, the righteous Judge. has laid up for tho,p who arl'
rection by judgment"-a gradual raising up of the obedient faithful. Thus our'! is preeminently an age of faith. of rp('k-
aIII I willlllg throughout the Millennial age, step by step, to oned r'onditions, and of trust in the promises: :lnd It I',hall
,lll that wa" forfeited anrl lost in Eden. have its great and prpcious rew:lrd.
(3) () IlestIOn -Will not the re"titution call be a call to Not so will he the ('onditions of tlI<' Millennial ('gp. wlilon
faIth and to oheJirnce, without sacrifice? If we cannot im- usherrd in. Knowledge will hp tlI<'re. as wp have and
agll1e sudl a pall as being now in process, let me ask, ""hy ea('h dav's will pithpr in ml'nta!. moral :,nd
not? \Va" not thi., pall the one that was open to Cornelius physieal de\'elopment. or in for faillllPs to m'lkp
to evervhudy el,p, hoth before and since hi'! time, as men- progres", Such experipncl's wilJ give ampll' of
tionpd by the A'postle Peter, "I perceive that in every nation what may be I'xpl'eted a'! the ultimate as
11(' that feareth God and worketh righteousnes" is al'ceptable the reward of obedience, or the second dl'ath as thr punishment
to lum t' of lli'!obedipnce.
A nS!Ccl.-Pl'ter (lId not mpan to be undprstood that he The matter clearly "pt before in the fkriptlll whIch
thnt fean'd God :lIHl worked to the best of his plE'arly tl'aph that during this age thE, rule of (li,-ipe dpalIl1g
lbility had alna/ls been acceptable to God. Peter had just l'l, "Al'cording to thy faith be it unto thl'l'," whilp the rille
lrilrned th,lt a new had been in, and that of the jurlgment of tl1(' world in the Millennial agp l'l dearly
,inpe ChrIst hall rr(]eemE'd. not the .JI'W only, but the whole laid down in Rey. 20: 12: "I saw the dead. small and great.
world of mankind, therefore nOll1 repentance and remi"Sion of stand before G0d; :lnd books were oppnpd: and another
.;in" were proper to be prpached in Christ's name to ever.v book of life wa" opened [the book of lifp r'a]]p,l the
,reature. Grnbh'" aH well .tS Jews; and that whoeyer sought Lam]"s Book of Life, rontaining the namE'>; of tilt' plt'd chllrrh.
to ,10 the Lonl'H will to the best of his ability would be ac- his bride :-this otller !Jook of life will he thl' 1,nok or 1('('01 d
"l'pbhlr In t11p Lon!'" sight. of those who sllall pass tIle trial or 1l1dumpnt
The TI',tltution pall will be a very different one from any satisfactorilyl, and tl1l' dearl werp ]IHIgwl out of thlllgs
that has e\ pr gonp fO! th a" yet. It will not be a call to faith which WE're written in thp [the Drriptures-.J01III
,\11<1 to reekOlIld tOlgi\,(,)H'SH of but a call to oberlicnec 12 :48] according to their works."
,lllri to the a('tual hlotting out of "ins. During the Millennial It would he a mif'take to f'uppo"e that God will call man-
,lge the worlrl of mankinll will be dealt with according to the kind to sonship during the Milll'nnial age. and 1I0t n''llllre
cowlition of each, and obl'dience to the extent of ability will them to make full of to llim, an<l to
bl' requlre,l of eaeh individual. Every obedience will receive that of whiph lie is the person,11 rpprp<;;t:ntative.
Its rl'ward, in tlIe \\ay of mental. moral ard physical recu- None pan pvpr have eternal hfe upon any othpr ('ondition thaT)
peration, anrl every disobedience will receive a obedience, alld harmony with
IU.;t "hastl,pnll'nt, :1)](1 thu' throughout that age all who will the very f'pirit of the divine law. the law of ri!!"htl'on"npss.
,hall han the opportunity of dpvplopment. mentally, phys, the law of love. And all who will be in harmony with thp
Ical1\', morallv. untiL nt itH if he has been obedient Lord to such an extent as this. would of sarrifi!'e.
fa HII' great Tpaelll'r. Christ, he will again be in the image if there were opposition to the Lord or to which
.lUll of God. aH was Father Adam, but with addi- would make necessary a sacrifice of any kitHl, rathl'r than
tiollal experienee gainpd-not only during the fall. but deny the Lord and the principles of his
,iall.y the eAperienpes gained under the administration of The reason why thpre will be no saprifi('es rl''luired of thl'
government, during the Millennial period, while world during the MJllennial age i'l that sin anrl f3abn will
rlsing again; while being restituted out of sin and death con- no longer be in control-Hthis p"il world"
,btJOns, into conditions of righteou"ness and life. "ation) will have pas,... d away. an,l in it" will h'n'p heen
'Yhat is now known to thp Plmrch of thls Gospl'l age as ushered in "the world to come, wherein dWl'lIeth righteous-
"Justi fication hy faith" (in like manner also the ancient ness"-wherpin will bl' the rule. \\ hrrtin th('
worthlCs Wl're justified) will not be in opl'ration during the King ami all in favor with him anrl every fpature of govern-
age, nor be bepause the conditions then ment will be one of truth :lncl lo"p.
will be so different from present pondition". It is because "we To the rp"titution eall already pomll1f'nePII woul(l
walk by faith and not by sig-ht"-because faith is now so be to that God hfld in some mannf'r autho1'l7('rl
,iiffieult, flnll thl'refore so rale, that it is so highly appre- one to annOllllf'p that hpnceforth no one wonl,l 'ufT... r for right
,iated and rl'wanled of God. But when the Millennial age doing. but only for wrong doing; and that hencpforth whof'\'E'r
will have bpen ushered in, the a,ge of faith will have passed sought to do right to the bp<;t of ahility, would find hlm-
-that will be the age of knowledge-the age of evidence'! so self thl'rein. and that pverv ('fTort would
"Ipar, so unmistakable, that even "the wayfaring man, tho promptly bring mental, moral awl ph,ysipal 'ltrpn?th anll b'-
Ignorant, not err therein. for the kno1cledqe of the Lord cuppTl1tion, "'hiph, going on awl on. \\ould hy alit! 1,\ 1('1"/1
shall fill the wholl' earth. as the pover the faee of the absolute perfection. Fllrthermore. it woul,l hI' to prom,'e
great dl'pp." 'Vith knowledge thus abund:lnt, so that thl're that any who apppptpd this call WOll]ll n('\'rr die
shall he no neer! to say to one's neighbor, "Know the Lord," the Aclamic drath; hut on the contrary. acpppting this call
became all shall know him, it follows that "peclal faith Will heartily, would find that day by day. year bv yf'ar. the power
be and hence the rewards of special faith will no of Ile1th in him was being vanqui'!hed and the process of
langl'r be offpred. titution progressing.
We do not mean to say that mankind during the Millen- Whpn that call shall go forth. anrl those restitution privl-
Ilium will not believe; on the contrary, none can do otherwise leges shall he offered to TPankinr:l. it will hI' a" thE' Prophl't hat!
than believe: we do mean to say, however, that thl're is a declared, that no man shall thenceforth die for A,lam's sin,
difference hetwel'n believinq and exercising faith. \Ve now nor for the "in of fathers. hut onlv for own "in. (Jer.
believl' vanous things by faith. which the world in the next 31 :29,30) We under"tanrl that thi" 'time will not he rpaphed
age will believe, not by faith but on evidence, by knowledge until a iter the time of trouhle-not until A. D. I lll!). To our
-it will be impossible for thl'm to doubt thl'm, seeing that under"tanr:ling, from that d:ltl' onward. the kine-rlom hring
the evidenpes will be so indisputable. For instance. now God fully estahlishl'd. the pall of the world to restitution prid-
to repkon all of our pa"t sins forgiven, and ourselves lege'l will be opened, amI whoever sha II then die will die for
fully in his sight. Ncvertheless, we continually see llis own sin [second death1 and not for father Adam's; and
1II-49 [2677]
(240-224)
ZIONJS WATCH TOWER
ALLEGHENY, PA.
whoever will then be obedient to the Lord will experience the
blessings of his grace in restitution-actual, perceptIble re-
covery begmning at once, as the reward to the faithful under
the restitutlOn call,
The in which Millennial ble%ings and favors are
already lapping upon the Gospel age, to our understanding,
is this: (I) Kno\, ledge, etc.. are bringing to the
world of mankind never hitherto enjoyed, and which
really intpnded for the Millennial age, and are merely
bemg gotten ready or prepared in "day of prepara-
tion." (2) Restitution are lapping also, in the
sense that these inventions, et('., lire gradually leading on to
the grpat time of trouble. in which present instItutions, social,
finaneHtI, politIeal, religious, WIll all be overthrown-that in
their God may bring in the better proviSIOns and ar-
rangement!' of the kingrlom. (2) Restitution bless-
ings arc coming to thf' church now. in the sense that she is
permitted t? coming upon the world,
and to rPjOlpe pX('fp,llllgl,v. lIml to lift up her heart in thank-
fulness and to hIm who loveth us amI who bouaht us
with his own blood. lind to realizp how it "the
propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for
the sins of the whole worl,l."
. (4) Qu.estlOn.-Suppose some one should say. "I wish to
gIVf' up thl, prpsent world and all its honors and
to <,Jhey folio,,: Christ, no difference what trials and perse
cutlOns It may brmg; but I have no expectation of salvation
on thE' rlivine planp, and I am not running for that prize.
Salvation on the human plane is better than I deserve no
how mUf'h it may cost me to follow Christ now. in'the
openmg' ypars o.f Ius reign. before Satan ifl bound. I am glad
of an opportumty to my loyalty under adverse circum
stancefl. which wiII pro\'e that I am sincere." Who may say
that suph an one might not come in under the restitution call?
Answer.-The on one occasion, said. "The times
of this ignorance God winked at"-took 1I0 account of. So all
the way .Iown through this Gospel age, while this "high call-
ing" has been presented there doubtless have been some of the
Lord's followers who have not clearly grasped his promises
in all their length and strength and beauty-many who did
not clearly that the overcomers of this age are to
be heIrs of God, joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, and partakers
of glory, honor and immortality. Their ignorance, however,
did not alter the call nor the Lord's engagement. The heav-
enly Father is, so to speak, dealing with Christ rather than
with us, and thus it is written that we are "accepted in the
Beloved." \Vhoever. therefore, during this Gospel age, has
fully consecrated himself to the Lord as his Master. fully
trusting in him also as his Redeemer, and seeking to walk
in his footsteps. the same is an heir of God and a jOlllt-heir
with Jesus Christ, his Lord, whether he knew it or not; just
as it would be 1Il respect to an earthly lIlheritance.
It might seem strange that a son should not have some
knowledge of his father's wealth and of hifl father's intention
to gIve him a portion, but the son's ignorance would not alter
in any degree the father's will, nor hinder him from partici-
pating in Its provisions. So we should say respecting those
of the Lord's faithful ones during this age, who have not been
aware of how great things "God hath in reservatlOn for them
that love him." And this applIes also to such an one as you
mention in this question: his ignorance will not alter the
divine arrangement; and if he faithfully follow the Lord now
we have every reason to believe that in the regeneration he
shall sit in his throne, whether he expects so great a favor or
not. Nevertheless, we should expect that now the Lord would
graciously reveal to such a faithful sacrificer his goodly heri-
tage. There surely is no Restitution Call at the present time
-no offer yet of an opportunity to grow out of imperfection
and death, into perfection in God's likeness and into life ever-
lasting.
"OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT"
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:-About one year ago your book,
called THE PLAN OF THE AGES, fell into my hands. It came
like the day-star arising in my soul, flooding my mind with
new thoughts and conpeptions as to the great plan of redeeming
this old, lost world. Since 1897 I have been out evangelizing.
preaching "Christ and Him crucified," to men throughout the
States, but my "advanced" views soon gave dissatisfaction
the orthodox preachers, especially among the set to
whom I belonged, the Methodist Episcopal church society.
It was then that I began to read in earnest every thing I
could find along the line of prophetic truth. I have read and
re-read with great pleasure and profit the first five volumes of
MILLENNIAL DAWN, and am only awaiting now further issue
of Volume VI. I can not express to you my indebtedness to
you for thp light I have received from the perusal of tIle
WATCH TOWER publications.
May God continue to bless you with light, that you may
be the means in his hands of leading many more pilgrims
into the glorious light of the liberty of the gospel of Christ.
Since seeing the fulness of God's truth, I have withdrawn
from the M. E. church and ministry. Pray for me that I
may continue "to walk in the light as he is in the light."
Yours in the Light, R. K. RICHARDsoN,-Alabama.
[To the Lord be all the praise for the light now "in due
time" shining upon his Word and revealing to us his gracious
character. I am glad to hope that withdrawal from human
institutions and their service means a fuller appreciation and
closer membership in "the church of the first-born, whose
names are written in heaven" and a more zealous and more
wise participation in its ministry of the truth.-EDITOR.]
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:-Some time ago Brother Wood-
worth witnessed my method of handing out the Volunteer
TOWERS and was so well pleased with it that he made me
promise to write to you about it. I don't consider it any-
thing out of the ordinary, but for the sake of my promise I
will give it to you.
With a bow and a smile I say, "Sample-\VATCH TOWER";
or "Free sample WATOH TOWER." If any questions are
asked, I say, "An unsectarian religious magazine." My rea-
sons for this method are. I seek to interest them thus, or
rather to arouse their curiosity in knowing what the paper is;
rather giYina them the impression that I am seeking sub-
scribers. In
b
this way they will read with an
mind-it does not arouse their antagonism by giving them
the impression that you have something to refute the argu-
ments they have just been listening to. If any know of the
WATOH TOWER and do not care for it, they can refuse to
take it. and thus one is saved for some one else. I
I am justified in giving the imprsession that I am seekmg
subscribers; if anyone becomes interested. he will become a.
subscriber, and it 'is for such that we specially labor. With
much love, I am,
Yours in the best of bonds,
Jos. L. HOAGLAND,-Pennsylvania.
UNTO HIM BELONGETH ALL
"Just why I suffer loss
I can not know;
I onlv know mv Father
Wi'lls it so.
He learls in path" I cannot understand;
But all the way I know is wisely planned.
"My life is only mine
That I may use
The gifts he iendeth me
As he may choose;
And if in love some boon he doth recall,
I know that unto him belongeth all.
"I am.his child, and I
Can safely trust;
He loves me, and I know
That he is just;
Within his love I can securely rest,
Assured that what he does for me is best."
[2678]
VOL. XXI ALLEGHENY, PA., AUGUST 15, 1900 No. 16
VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER
* * *
no martyrdom. The claim of the innocence of Dreyfus
was simply a specimen of Protestant treachery in order to
make it possible for England to occupy Fashoda, and William
II. to make his journey to Jerusalem. All the defenders of
Dreyfus are open or secret Protestants."
"The Protestant Conquest" is the title of another of these
blasts of ignorance and falsity, designed to prejudice the
populace so that they will give Protestants and the Bible no
hearing. It suggests the wisdom and propriety of murdering
leading opponents. both political and religious, as follows:-
"The Catholics are too scrupulous. Nobody can bake an
omelet without breaking some eggs. No revolution can be
achieved without advancing over dead bodies. Do vou think
it would be a crime to condemn and put to death 'such men
as Zadok Kahn, Reinach, Scheurer-Kestner Picquart Zola
Brisson, Yves Guyot. Jaures, Clemenceau, Monod, and' Ranc:
because they have organized the Dreyfus conspiracy? I con-
fess openly that I would have no hesitancy to vote for the
death of this Reinach, etc., and such pastors as Monod, etc."
French Protestants are justly indignant at such unscru-
puloufl methods of opposition. and are crvinCl' out for freedom
and fair and h,onest and to offset it are publishing
pamphlets entItled, Away from Rome," and scattering them
widely.
But now note the difference between the sentiments of
Protestants in France, and Protestants here. \Vhere they are
in. the minority they want liberty and God's Word to pre-
vaIl. and reason the Bible as in offflet to ig-
norance, superstItIOn and But how is it here in
"the land of the free" where Protestantism controls the great
rna]ority? Ah! here we see thE' weakness of fallen human na-
ture displayed; for here Protestants, like the Catholics of
Frapce. are most opposed to any advanced light-es-
peclal1y any further lIght from the Bihle ;-not onlv denying
what they Scripturally, but bf'co'ming the
more angry m proportIOn U'l they find present truth un-
answerablE'. .
True, they have not published volumes in opposition to our
presentations, but this is no doubt due to two facts: (1) There
is no opportunity to confound the gospel we preach with any
class of P?liticians or political aspirations; and (2) they
know .nothll1g to say against our position and fear to call
attentIOn to it lest their closely guarded and tightly penned
"sheep" should get a taste of "the good word of God," and
break away from sectarianism to the "green pastures and still
waters" of divine truth. But most of their fears are ground-
for the majority of their flocks are not "sheep" anyway'
a.nd the "goats," true to a nature, would prefe;
till cans, paper, filthy or anything of a scnsational
character-Evolution, Higher Criticism. human philosophy
and "science falsely so called"-rather than the truth. '
United States Protcstant methods differ from Frencb
Roman Cathol!c ;nethods, but both have the same object;
namely, to preJudIce the minds of the people under their con-
trol. who are trusti.ng to them as then guides and spiritual
advIsers; thus to hmder them from investigating truth on its
merits and in the light of the dIvine '" onI.
Havmg mentioned the Roman CatholIc method. it i" but
that we cite instances the Protestant method.
For in'ltance. some years ago the pa-,tor of the North Ave. M.
R chureh of thh city made a furious attack upon tbe
Erlitor of this journal. whom he ha<l never met, and whose
writings he probably hac! Il{'wr rl'ad-as would spem to be
implied by the false statements of our position made by him
in a c!iseour'le over an hour long. 'Vhat was the ground for
the attack Simply that fh-e members of his congregation
had been baptized by m the week previous, and that he
knew. in some way or otllPr, that we believed in the im-
minence of the kingdom of God. He railed at the fact that
this teacher did not belong to any of the sects, and was not
reeognized by any of them, informcd hts people that hc had
been specially educated so as to be able to guide them in all
spiritual matters: and that they should seek no other counsel
respecting God's Word.
He then demonstrated hi'! an<l ability a" "a scribe
instructed respecting the kingdom" by declaring that the
second coming of Christ must be many thousands of years fu-
ture. because in his judgment, this was clearly taught, not by
the Bible writers, but by the coal fie1cls and ore deposits of
earth, which he thought would last that long.
A Catholic will die for If the learned gentleman had only thought of it he migbt
but a Protestant know" have prophecied a still longer interim-millions on millions of
[2679] (243-244)
P.EV. R. HEBER NEWTON'S OPINION
Doctor Newton writes to the Christian Citizenship League
as follows:
"The teachings of the church, for the most part, are far
from following the teachings of Jesus. Nay, they are far
from recognizing what those teachings are. The organization
of the church is planned and patterned upon a policy which
is the very antithesis of ll. true society of Jesus.
"Commercialism dominates the organization, and conven-
tionality tyrflnnizes the pulpit. The law of the market, rather
than the law of the mount, is accepted by the church at large.
"Our Prote"tant churches are composed, for the most part,
of a drawn from the well-to-do classes, and they
see nothmg essentially unsound or unethical in the economic
system of the day. The pulpit, therefore, is rarely free to
delIwr its if it has one, upon the burning questions of
our generatIon.
"Blind leaders of the blind, both seem hastening to fall
in.to . the ditch. lies be.fore our civilization. And yet
wltIlln the ChrIstIan church IS the very ideal that the world
hungers for the very power to solve these problems. Infin
pathetic is the situation."
This is a very severe arraignment of orthodoxy in any
case; but coming from one of its leading lights it is terrible!
PROTESTANTISM IN FRANCE AND IN AMERICA
Withm the past few Protestantism has been making
progress in Catholic France; but it is to he re-
memlwrl'<l that then' the term Protestant includes all systems
of rtliglOn anrl irrl'ligion opposed to Roman Catholicism.
mi;rht hp cxpeded, this in turn arouses the ire of
the clergy, who, long accustomed to full
control of the and to having their mandates pass
without or criticism, are now furious in their at-
tempts to hinder their people from slipping the bonds of gross
relig-ious ignorance and superstition, and escaping from their
control. Deprived of the civil power of the past--Iost a cen-
ago-and unahle to torture or destroy those who protest
against their system, they nevertheless clearly show that the
spil it of the still dominates them, and that onlv oppor-
tunity is lacking, and thi" by reason of a higher civilization
and a more generally enlightened public conscience-not be-
of a highl'r and holier religious standing.
\Yords are the weapons now permitted. and these
are used "ith energy and venom and regardless of the truth.
For instance, the Bonne Presse, the organ of the Assump-
tionists (a Roman Catholic order), and many Croix, or Cath-
oliC' church papers, are seeking to arouse prejudice and public
sentiment agamst everything not Catholic. by confounding
Freethinkers and Free Masons with Protestant Chris-
tians-charging all with treachery to France, etc.,-and the
general name of "Huguenots" has been revived as applicable
to all to whom is opposed. The inference is
deducible from some of the writings. that their authors woulrl
like to see these modern "Huguenots" massacred as were the
the glory of God and the peace of the Roman
CatholIc church.-See MILLENNIAL DAWN, Vol. II., pages
332-353.
The names of some of the tracts and books published in
the interest of against Protestantiflm would.
alone, give a clew to the character of the attack; but we will
give a few extracts;-
"The Protestant Peril," of 569 pages. declares:-
"The Huguenots go hand-in-hand with the traitors of the
fatherland and with the foreign foes of France, just a'l their
religious fellows did in the year 1870..... The Protestants
force their way into the houses of the French people. ostensibly
to sell Bihles. but in truth to spy out where the honest
peasant has hidden his savings. They are picking out quarters
for the armv of the invasion. Therefore. we must keep a
watch over these imbeciles and force them to leave our towns.
. . . Thpse pioufl messE'ngers do not much tn
make converts to Protestantism, as to demoralize our good
people and to lay plans for facilitating the proposed invasion
of our country. We appeal to the peasants to become neW
crusaders in the interests of the good cause."
"The Protestant Conspiracy" charges that the queen of
England annually contributes five million doll an to propagate
Protestantism in France, and thus to make the latter a va"sal
state to Great Britain. AnothE'r work i'l entitled, "The
Treachery of Protestantism." "Treason's FormCttlOn" i'l an-
other of these. It savs :-
"The Huguenot aborn traitor.
his faith)' a Jew to save his money)'
(245-246)
ZION'S WATCH TOWER .\LLEGHENY, l' \
years-basing his calculations on the supply of limestone for
macadam and whitewash, and on the supply of granite for
tomb-stones. This encouraging (?) sermon on "The Second
Coming of Christ" ended with an attempt to arouse the
murder spirit amongst the "goats" of his flock and to in
timidate the "sheep" with words, understood by alI to refer
to the Editor of this journal, who was (by request of the
recently baptized ones) present in the audience thirty feet
from the revprend and learned speaker, who in loud and angry
tones shoutrd. "Do you know what they would have done to
such a man pighteen centuries ago? They would have led him
outsidc their city and would have stoned him to death!"
Hprf' thl' "amp murdl'rous spirit manifested by the
French Catholics, and in hath Il1cited hy a bitter hatred of the
truth-'ll' Iathpr lIy a fear of the tl'ulh, ancl a debire to pre-
by any and every mean", the l!1lman organization they
ha\c hl'pn taught to rl'g:lld a" d11'lIle. "By any means" ifl
nonp too ctj'(lIlg; for \Ie kIlO\\' of instanres in which
profp"'f'd of truth haH' outrageously
falflifipli for the good of the the .Jesuits would say.
For it the (who seem to
prf'c!ornin:lh') \ cry nngrv \\ IlPn memllpr" of thrir flock reppiw'
prespnt truth anll that their names be stricken off the
sectarian roll hrcause thf'Y consider it quite enough and mueh
marl' in appord With thf' Lord's will and 'VOl'll to have it writ
ten only in "the LamVs hook of life,"-and quite sufficient to
be mplllhpr" of "thr dlUrrh of the which are written
in hl'a vrn," a nd thus in \\ ith all true "sheep," wher-
ever found. In sOTllr instanef's reported to the pastor k{'pt
the lett!'r to and long afterward charged the one who
had withdra\\ n with harkslidin!!, npgl{'ct of covenant in not
attendinl! and henc'e unworthy of respect or fellowship.
In one a dear who harl been a Bible class
teal'h"r of promineTll'e aTlll influenre was :-'0 ft'.:tred by her
hIll' pa"tor that Ill' delihprately, and with much hypocnti-
pal ot pirphIlat"d the report that she had "gone
insan('''-''a n'ry pitiahlp cas('." erafty method
Hlill 11<'1' I'hlll'l'h and npighbors "let her
alone," fol' tear t1]('v would "(,'I:('ite hrr" and "make it neces-
sary to spnd lll'r til all to say,
the of mlllh '-ollTldl'r mind than ever before;-of
mwh mind than any who l'llIl hrlievp the unscriptural
anll dOltrine of d!'rnal tormt'Tlt, taught by
the jarring' '" h['11'(1 "Ortho(lo'C."
It \l'a" in ,il'\\' of sllPh ('O\\ardl,v nl1fl c}i,..rl'l'llbh!" 1Ildhod'l
coming to 0111' notip(' that we prp)lal'rd \\ hat arp known as
"Withdrawn I forth the truth in kinrlly hn
luph II e :-,nppl,\ frl'ely to a1I who desire them, so that
each well/iiI r of the uJ/iffrefJat1on recciving one rna.\' he truth-
infO! lllf'll ,1', tn onl" for I'l'nouneing ml'llllwrship in
sertarian and tim"" too, thp tpmptation to mi'lrepre-
tak"n from tltl' fa hI' \\ 101 t' for the
'lhN'p rlndly for tIll' ,..akl' of th.'ir "gnldpn fll'Pf'e." Rllt tho'll'
kindlv-\\ortlf'd l"tt('I" arc fearl'd and haterl a'l much as the
DAw':"s.
Rpucp 11" i 0 nll'ntion instances of pl'rfidy
.wd mi-I'l')ll'p'-l'ntati(ln h,l' our publications
1\1 IT I r1'l"\ 1 \L 1l\\\-N l"lhlil'lv an,l privat<'1,v they
walll tIll'ir plopl!' It.. :Jnrl thfl'le who ha\e it 1I0t
10 I',"d II. 1,lI t tn ", dUl",dp \\ Ith oil amI ],urn it," rddently
u' opJlIH'd io t'tt'l'l:ll iorml'nt, that \\r would us'
some J...!IId of fin'pl'l,ol pllJ\( I' tl11
1
1 \\'ollld 111','11 oIl to I1Ilk,' it
hurn. Otlll'r, 1<',11 nill;:' 1],,1 t, l'l'lpor1l'ul" 1"\(1 1"!',wht',1 their
(ity awl h:lll ,old n \\\,,-.: to thl'il' have
ahout hom IWllcl' to wlll'nin;:r. thl'patcnl11g aIHl pn-
trpiltl11l! tn th( infPiligt'npp anll fin'1n('lal rlignity
f}f thl' pr'r,oflt 11'I,t tIll'? \ iolatp thpir pngagpmpnt,.. aIHI re-
to tal e 11.1' I_'aul: flnd if flIP',' ah",l(ly IHlvr tl1!"'m to
hI' to 11111'11 tll1'111
\I'hv It/I \\'al rt". Lovr fnr th!' Oh
no. indl'I'(I' hilt Ion tor 1'hpv well know that
whNpvl'r thp trllr light of thl' 'Yol',l of Gorl their "praft
in dan!!rl." (Npp Hi 16-24) Oft!'1J thpv hp,l1' of their
"shppp" into of hut who ('\,rr hpard of
thl'ir \\ orkill'! t lwlllsr!vrq into a frenzy of on that ac-
('au111 'i then 11re thry '10 rwitNl the moment MILT.ENNIAL
DAW:'1 is mentioned, or seen in the 11OUSe'l of their sheep?
Thl'lr fear i'l (1) tbat if the people read the DAWNS
they will know far morr about the Rible. and will begin to
11ud to ask questions whidl they eannot answer. (2) It
will them that thry havf' bpl'l1 hiring shppherd'l to lead
them to thc green pasturrs of truth who. instead. have been
prnning thcm up in spctarian foM'l and forcing them to
on thc God-rlishonoring doetrines of the dark
(3) It will lead thr trIl!' "sherp" to g'et out from among the
"goatFl" aIHI in clothing," hy them
that the "harvest" time of separation has come and that
a great Chief Shepherd is calling forth his own sheep to
himself and to fellowship with all other sheep--free from
human creed-pens. (4) No wonder these worldly-wise shep-
herds resent a teaching which would gather the few grains
of "wheat" from a parishful of "tares." It would look bad
to call his a wheat-field if there were no wheat in it. Then,
too, it would count in numbers (tho far less than they sup-
pose-for the "tares" take little or no interest in present
truth), and their prestige and salary depend so much on
numbers; how could they regard DAWN otherwise than as their
enemy likely to bring all kinds of trouble to their slumbering
flocks by awaking them to thought and Bible study?
This seems to make no allowance for honest preachers.
Jovprs of the truth who should be glad to find it in DAW1"
or anywhere, and glad to proclaim it at any cost,-ilome one
complams. No, we do not deny that therl' are honest, God-
fearing ilnd truth-loving men 1II thp ministry, scat-
tered probably among all denominations; but evidently, as at
the first advl'nt. thl' Dodors of Divinity a a clll88 art', b\
their training and selfish interest, of the true light,
wisdom from ahove, and fril'nds and patrons of earthly WIF-
dam. The maJority are hlind and cannot Fee the trill' light
and of the remainder a large proportion seems to love thl'
woIld, and to be willing to sell the truth for iti"
"mess of pottage." Nl'vertheless, here and there some "for-
sake all" for the sake of the truth,-to suffer with Christ.
if so be that they may also reign with him by and by.
Nor does it stop with threatening words: theFe III
small towns are often followed bv social ostracism and busl-
nrss boycott too often successfu't For instance, a brother
wrote us a short timp ago, changing his address,
that he had been obliged to move onto a farm hlo
cotton-gin, saw-mill and grist mill in town had been hoy-
catted until he eould not longer earn a of his
attempt to explain the truths of the Bible to his neighbors.
The again'lt him was that he "had too manV different
of the Bible" and "had many marked in hi;;
Bible whieh neither the preacher nor lli'l neighbors could find
in their'l; ,,_not bf'ing so well acquainted with tlll'ir Billlrq a;;
with their almanacs, daily papers, dominoes, canIs and ("hes;;
Ala'l, poor world! It is still true that "mp!l love dnrknc;;o
rather than light." and that this is their eondemnation, lead-
ing surely to the grt'at tiulP of trouble with whidl thiQ age
prf'dieted to end, as the same love of darkness led natural
Israel to its great trouble and overthrow, in the end of the
,Jewish age.
Yet none of thcse things move the Lord's people, for thr
same light upon the Word shows not only that the Lord';;
true people will be hated and maligned even to the end of thi;;
age, and that whosover will live godly must sufrrr perse<'ll
tion; but it shows also the object of sueh and trials
and sacrifi('es-to fit and prepare a little flo('k to he faithful
and mer('iful kings and priests of God during the coming age
when with their Lord, Jesus, whom they follow through evil
as well as goon report, they sha II, as God's tive;;
"judge the world"-giving to aJI the opporttmity tC'
I'ome back to fuJI harmony witll God and rightl'OUSllpSS.
PREPARED TO FALL INTO SPIRITISM
It is our expectation that Spiriti'lm, as one of the latter
day delusiom. is to play an important part III the next few
years in connection with the great falIing away already be-
in whi("h "a thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten
thousand at thy right hane!." Romanism taught, and still
a Purgatory to which thf'ir dead go at death for
purifiration for heaven; and that while there the and
paid of their friends on earth avail for them to a sooner
rf'1p35p--to hpflveniy lJlis'-. Protestanti"m at It" start,
1,ut]wr and it, exponents, denounced this aR a Pnpal
deception to fill its coffers with the money of its deluded
propIe; and failing to grasp the truth that a dead person
is not alive anywhere, but await'l the resurrection of the dead
his only hope of a future life, took its iI-
logieal position stlJI ht'ld-that dpilth enoA all hopp. and
that all not fit for heaven go to a hell of everlasting torment.
And, in harmony with this, prayers to and for the dead wert'
rrprobatcd-the righteous needing none, and the wicked being
hopelpsR.
It has often surprised us that with the thought that
their dead are not dead, but more than ever alive and "hover
mg" among the friends at the funeral, as some ministers ex-
plain (?), there has not been a greater disposition to fol
low the lead of and seek pommlIllion with thORP
supposed to be alive and near, and able to The ex-
planation seemR to be that Romanifltf! are under the <:'ontrol
of thr priests iustJ'1lCtPII who are the who may hc>
[2680]
AUGUST 15. 1900
ZION'S WATCH TOWER (247-248)
prayed to, and instructed that those who need to be prayed
for can only be reached or assisted through the priests,-
who alone must do the mass-saying and praying. And Prot
estants have been restrained by the original declaration of the
leaders that prayers to and for the dead were both Romish
superstitions, unsanctioned by the Word of God-to which we
heartily agree.
A OHANGE ALREADY IN PROGRESS
But the Boer-British war has started a fresh discussion
of the question of prayers for the dead. As Roman Catholics,
after news of a battle, repaired to their cathedral., to pray
for the Catholic dead, and to offer mass on their behalf in
Purgatory, Protestants have been perplexed and felt their
need of something to offset the hard error of their creed that if
the soldier were a saint he went at once to glory, but if not It
saint at once to an endless and hopeless torment in hell.
Loving fathers and doting mothers were unable to hide from
themselves that their sons, and the army in general, were far
from being saints or "meet for the inheritance of the saints
in light;" and yet they felt sure that they were far too good
and noble and patriotic to be turned over to the care of
devils to be roasted eternally: and this coming now, at a time
whcn people are thinking more than ever before. and when
human sympathy is greatly expanded, i., awakening senom
thought in Britain.
As usual, however, the adversary manages to turn thought
into a wrong direction; and so they fail to see that all the dead
must wait for the second coming of the Lord and for the res
urreetion awakening then due. and that then (during the Mil-
lennial age) the whole world will be a grand and good Purga-
tory;-when Satan w.iIl be bound, and when so many 11,8
wIll, pan have the assIstance of the royal prIesthood in get-
ting rill of their errors and weaknesses, and coming back to
pl'rfeetioll by a process of restitution. No, 011 the contrary,
the suggestion is that the early Reformers must have erred
III rejecting that feature of Rome's teachings which permits
IU1(1 encourages prayer" for the dead. Note the sentiments
promulgated hy the influential Cln'istwn lVol'ld of London. It
'--
. "Here is theology in the roughest: its chiefest problem
thrust on you in a fashion whieh brookR no shirking. 'Vhat
has really happened? Where or what is he who, a moment
ago so near, is now at a remove to which our space com-
putations offer no clew? 'Ve are all on-lookers today at
of this sort, and the questions behind them press us
WIth relentless force. Do our dead still think or love? Have
we any sort of relation with them? Can we do aught for
them or they for us? ....
"\Vhat on thi., subject [communion with the dead] is the
Jlosition of Protestant Christians today? Signs are abundant
that the standpoint from whil'h it is llpproached by non-con-
formists, not less than by conformists, is a soml'what different
one from that held by the Reformers and the Puritans.
"Thoughtful minds are now asking whether the sixteenth-
eentury onslaught on Purgatory and priest-craft did not, in
the rush, carry away with it some precious things that it
IS time now to restore.....
"And why should we not pray for the dead? What is
prayer, in the best conception of it, but the following of those
we love, with aspiration and affection, with desire for their
highest good, with the whole best emotion of our soul? What
barbarous infidelity has taught U'3 that death interposes a
limit to this out-going? The notion that those who now rest
in God are, because of that, beyond the reach Or need of
prayer is heathen, and not Christian. It is disloyal at once
to God, to the departed themselves, and to our own best
instincts. There is no position, not that of heaven's central
J1)oint; there is no condition, not that of supremest blessed-
ness, that is outside the range of love.....
"We have neglected our dead, and in so doing have
weakened one of the most intimate of our links with the un-
seen. We have put up in our minds barriers that do not cor-
respond with the reality, and so have obstructed the flow of
some of the grandest of the human inspirations. The mind
revolts against these limitations. Its prophetic instinct recog-
nizes them as a mistake. The vagaries of Spiritualism are a
rough protest a/{aiTlst the poliry of cutting the cable between
here and the beyond. And that other side protests also.
Near to us, on the other side of a very thin veil, lies a great
realm of life which has the closest connection with our own.
What that connection is we at present only dimly discern.
Our organs of percl'ption seem only in the most rudimentary
condition. It may be that our later indifference on this side
h1'3 hindered their development. But develop they must, for
they are among humanity's most prireless possessions. A
stage will yet be reached when they will be part of the soul's
general apparatus, and when, not to a stray prophet here and
there [mediums?], but to the common man WIll it be given to
stand with Bunyan's pilgrim on the Delectable Mountains and
behold what was visible there."
Light (Spintualistic, London, April 10) thinks this is a
real, tho belated, recognition of the essential truth of the
Spiritualistic position. It says:-
"Spiritualists have been severely criticized and Ildiculed
for affirming that the departed are frequently benefited by the
advice, sympathy, and prayers of earth-dwellers. vVe have been
denounced for teaching that progress after death, following
upon repentance and effort, is possible for the ignorant and
sinful dwellers on the threshold....
"Thmk of it! Spiritualism is a 'protest agaH!st the powcy
of cutting the cable between here and the Beyond!' Aye,
and evidently the protest has not failed, it has not been in
vain. 'Vhile the writer laments that 'our organs of perception
[physical, mediumistic perception, or "spIritual gifts"l seem
only in the most ruuimentary condition,' he suggests that in-
difference has 'hindered their development,' and he fully justI-
fies us allil our long struggle for recognition against, not
indifference, but prejudice, intolerance and active by
affirming 'develop they mllst, for they are amOllg lwmallti!J'S
most pnceless possesswns /'
"After this we shall assuredly have The Uhnstwn World
founding a 'School of the Prophet's for the development and
exercise of mediumship and psychical powers generally."
PRAYING AND FIGHTING-AN EMPEROR'S SERMON
The German Emperor preached a sermon on hoa I'd Ius
yacht Sunday, July 29, from the text, Exodus 17 :9-11. His
argument was that as Moses prayed awl got a for
Israel, so all Germans at home f,IIOUld pray that theIr
brethren gone to war in China might successfully
the heathen Chinese, who should be like the Amalekitl'R. Thc
press report of the discourse follows:-
"The soldiers shall be the arm wluch plllllshes ,,-
sassins. They shall be
chaotic mass. They shall defend, sword in haml, our ho!Ip-t
possessions. True prayers can still cast the hanner of the
Dragon into the dust and plant the banner of thp ('10':'1 UpI'll
the walls.
"Again is heard God's command, 'CllOose us out mpn :1I1d
go out to fight with Amalek.' A hot and ,,;anguinary
has begun. Already a number of our brethrt'll are 0\ er
there under fire. Many morl' arc traveling alon!.!
coasts. You have seen them, the thousands who. to tl1(' ("all of
volunteers to the front who will guard the emplrt" have a...-
sembled themselves to battle WIth vietorioll<' b:\IlIH'l'-. \\"c
who remain at home are bound by other salTed llutip-. ''1,'0('
unto us if we remain sloth ful and sluggi'lh whIle they arc
engaged in their diJliPult an,l bloody work, aIIII if from our
place of security we only cUI iou:-Iy look on while they wrestle
in battle.
"Not only should we mohilizp battalions of but v.e
should also, and shall, set ill motion an army of trained
people to beg and entreat rGolll for our brethren that they
may strike into the wild chaos with sword in hand. May
they Rtrike for our mORt sacred possessions. 'Ye would pray
that God the Lord may make heroes of our men and lead
those heroes to victory, and that then, with laurels 011 their
helmets and orders on their breasts, he may lead them home
to the land of their fathers.
"Our fight will not be finished in one day; but let not our
hands grow weary or sink until victory is securel!. Let our
prayers be as a wall of fire around the camp of our brethren.
Eternity will reveal the fulfilment of an old promisc-'Call
upon me in trouble, and I will deliver thee.' Therefore pray
continuously."
The Emperor and many other militant faIl
to see that Israel was used of God as a typical people and
that the duly allthorized Rlaughter of the Amalekites was
because their iniquity was "come to the full" (Gen. 11): 16) .
and God would use them as types of evil and evil-doers to
be overthrown by the antitypical Moses, the antitypieuI
Mediator, Pharoah and his hosts previously typI-
fied the same thing. Similarly the "Land of Promise," Canaan,
wa" typical of the heavenly Canaan.
The Spiritual Israelite is to watch and fight and pray,
but against a different kind of enemies and with different
weapons-mighty through God to the pulling down of error,
and the gaining of victories over sin and self and Satan.
"The weapons of our warfare are not carnal," says the inspired
Apostle-not swords, machine-guns and battle-ships.-2 Cor.
10:4.
As for the "Christian soldierFl" going to "heathen China"
from "Christian Europe" we fear they have not a true
[2681]
(248-249) ZION'S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, r.,
"solrlIer of the cro,.,s" among them, anrl hut few who have any
knowledge whate\er of the of the \Vord of
God. They ar e probably no better than the thousands of
therr already there and of whose conduct,
after the Cll rtme of Tren TSIIl, the telegraphic dispatches pub-
lishecl sav, -
day heen devoted entirely to 100tlIlg the na
th'e city LTlCn Tsin]. The Chine'le killed many of their
women to keep them from falling mto the hands of the allIed
troops. It i, Impos;llble to ('able a description of the scenes
that WE're enaded..... American and Japanese troops
were the only who made any attempt to restrain the
ciVilian or soldier looter"."
THE GERMAN KAISER'S HUMANE (7) EXPRESSIONS
The Empl'ror i'l practically the pope of the German Na-
tional Church sy,.,tem; \\e pre,.,ume he has received the col-
legiate dcgl ee of "j). D.," a" dul Bi,marck. He is evidently
another "man of blood aTHI Iron." lIe has surely placed him-
self, by rec'l'nt at the head of the revived ancient
order of Chri,tian soldiers of the period of the The
"Boy,,' Brigades" "hould all be pointcd to this fact ;-and be
adVl,cd to I e'lgn and turn III the opposite direction from the
general Christian ("/) (ll 1ft of our day. The following from
the I','rsIJljlrnan Banner is to the point. It
,. '\'p have hl'ard that it hath heen slud. Thou shalt love
thy nelghhor, an,1 hatl' thine pnemy; but I say unto you, Love
your enPIIlIl'S. bll"" them that ('urse you, do good to them that
hatn you, and pray for them that dl',pitefully use you and
pl'r,f'('utl' you' T, thl'i passage in the German NE'w Testa-
1JH'llt ? thE' Em]!"lor "'il1LIlIl PH'I I eacl It 9 If he
he mllst h:1\'l' forgottl'n it. or lo,t its spint, for last week, in
di'patdllng n"rman troop, to China, he is reported to have
saHI to them. l'lvilization not founrled on ChristianIty
i'i "url' to lIP hrollght to naught. I send you out. If you clo'l'e
wIth the PIH'my, remember this: spare nobody, make no pris-
onel u,p your weapons 80 that for a thousand years henl'e
no Chinaman will dare look a,kance at any German.' The
whole adc!l e,s breathes the spirit of de'ltruction to
thc Chml''li'. The great 'war lord' doubled up his 'mailed
fi,t' amI thl'f'atl'IH',1 to pound China to piece'l. The vain
emppror, swollen with a senSe of his own importance, seemed
to he suhlimely un('on,.,eious of the violent inconsi'ltency of
hi'l fierce with hi'l profes'led Christianity. He would
outdo l\Iohammpd in sprcadmg religion with the sword. There
are diffipult ies, howeH'r. in the way of this plan. Christ him-
sl'1f told Pl'ti'r. who wa'i eager to use it for defending the
king-dam. to put up his sword, and there is no evidenpe that
he has handed this weapon to \VilIiam II. for this purpose.
And further, there are the Chmese themselves; there are
400.000,000 of them, and they may prove a conSIderable ob-
structIOn III the way of Wilham's policy. In fact, the German
emperor's plan IS ahout the worst possible one that could be
announced in the pre"ent emergency. It would consolIdate
the and turn them mto a horde of fanatI('s that might
easIly turn out to be a genuine 'yellow terror.' It is believed
that the emperor's rash words will render the cooperation of
the powers difficult, if not Impos'Jlble. England and America
WIll not set out on any such bloodthir'lty mission. When
Chrbtiamty seizes the sword, it may per'lkh by the "wor,!.
Poor old Chma. m its paralySIS, needs pIty. Somethmg must
be done m the way of ch.lst!,.,ement and reorganIzation. but let
not seize the sword and sweep It with a besom of
de,truetion. .JustIce be done, but let It he tempered
WIth merey. and let the ChristIan nations act in a Chri::,tian
and not a pagan spirit."
"NOT SO PAUL WON MACEDONIA"
Rev Dr. Halderman lifts his pen agamst the modern and
erroneOUs methods of propagating the gospel of "peace on
earth, good will toward men." He says:-
"I am ah'lolutely sure that in the future RUSSia will gain
the'lupremapy. It l'i also true that, taught by "'estern genIUs,
the Eastern hordE''l will VE't break m awful avalaIwhe, on the
\\' e,t. The greed. the ra'p,u'lty, the godIe,s selfi,h-
ne.,s of European natIOns will get its reward. All the
hanity that ha'l hE'('I1 \\'Iought in CIllna will bp small, count-
ing in the terrible final balance that shall he made against so-
called ChriktIan nation'l. who have poi,oned China With 0plllm
and made them look upon Chn"tians as only another dlnsion
of rapa('ious foreign denl,.,.
"Considered morally, there are two side'l to thp questIOn.
The"e Chmese are fighting for their homes, then land. their
institutions. They know the Chri'itIan nations a rp 1 each' to
rob and eheat them; and when they fincl the mlS'liOmlfles
backed up by guns and sword'i and hloodthlrsty by
rude and godless 'loldiery, ready to kIll ami "Iay. they are
only the more infuriated and dE'termined in the opimon that
any \\ hite man is a de\ il and nel'ds to be slaIn.
. "It wa'l not so that Paul won l\Iaepdonia and Rome. \Vhen
he went to Rome he did not say, 'Down with Down
with the power'l that he!' On' the ('ontrary. Ill' eOllll'leled
Chri"tians to repognize that here Nero's government. lm,1 a'l it
wa'l, was pl'rmitted hy God and that Chdstian'l should suhmit.
"It was by the blood of martvr" our phurph won at first:
not by the blood of their foes, b{lt their own blood; not 'lhed
with 'arms in their lrand'l. hut shed at the stake or nl('k or
block with prayer on their lips and love in their hl'art'l."
GOD'S PROVIDENTIAL CARE
Bpeau,.,e two of thp Lord'" dear sheep of the Alleghf'ny
congl pgation recently their lIves in an accident. while
returning home fro'm lllPetlIl!{ and di';(,u'lsing the sermon,
many of the III ethrl'n have hpelJ surpriked. The inquiry arose,
Do wp not hplii'ye that eon'iecrated people are specially
the ohjl'ds of his care? AlIII if so, how was such an accident

These same qUl'stion'l arp liahle to arise in manv minds,
and henee we the matter llPre for the henefit' of all.
\Ve ad\'I'lP that pac'h \\'ATCH Towlm reader shall peruse
afresh the trapt entitled. "Calamitieq: \\'hy God Permits
ThE'm." In it Wl' this topic at con'liderable length-
from the standpoint of apeidents to the world, and accidents
to the phureh. Now we will eonfine our remarks to the
latter phase of thp suhjeet, suggesting:-
(1) It is the Spriptnre tl'a('hing that every member of the
churph mU'lt die somehow. This wa'i the purport of our conse-
cration-"E'Yen unto death." Each mf'mber of the "royal
priesthood" he('ame a member by consE'crating,-presenting 'his
body a living saprifipe as did our High Prie'lt, Christ .Tesu".
And just as it was nepeSsary for him to finish his course of
dying in aptual death, so will it be with each of us.
(2) As the Master's death was not on a "flowery bed of
ease," neither, prohahly. will bE' the death of any of his foot-
step-followers. And, if it be a phoi('e between a bed of tedious
sickne'is and a sudden death by "accident," many would choose
the latter as the les'l painful-the quiekE'r "ehange."
(::I) Rut it i" not for UR to rh008e on thi'l more than upon
other subjects. It is ours to apcept with patience and full
resignation wh'ltf'ver divine provirleneE' mav permit; and this
may vary. Under some circumstances it may be better that
death r'ome through a lingering illne"s in whi('h God will be
glorifierl, anll the power of his truth to sustain shall be demon-
strated in the patient, loving "pirit of the dying sufferer. Or,
at another time, the Lord may see best to permit t!pa th to
come upon his dear one suddenly-as a shock, as a ealamity:
to the faith of some. and to awaken others from Il'tll'\q!y
to vigIlance,-from drowsiness to a fresh energy in running
the rape toward the mark for the grpat prize. The sudden-
ness of the death of the two dear shepp of this Allegheny fold
certainly has had a good effect upon many of the dear one'l
most intimatp wth thE'm, and who knew them both as most
saintly pharacters-ripe in the Christian graees, and fully
ready and waiting for their "change." Undouhtedly many not
so prepared have been awakened to fresh vigilance, and a re-
newal of consecration VOW'l. and zeal in self-sa('rifil'E', by this
incirlent and the thought-Would I have been ready had the
call thus suddenly come to me?
(4) If to some the question arises,-But what about the
little children needing parental eare? The answer is, that
these parents had already placed their children, as well as
themselves, under divine care; and that care is still over
the children: as able to care for them now, as for hoth parent'i
and phildren before. This is a place for trust-for faith.
\Vhoever cannot trust his children to divine care does not as
yet properly know his Heavenly Father, and needs to give re-
newed diligence to this important study. Such an one has
not vet attained the faith that would be acceptable to God,
and 'without which it would be impossible to please God,-
the faith of an "overcomer."
(5) The shock connected with our dear Redeemer's death
was no doubt a severe test of faith to some of the early dis-
ciples-it seemed as tho it proved that our Lord was in dis-
favor with the Father-"We did esteem him smitten of God,
and affiicted." Yet to those who stumbled not in unbelief the
shock of our Lord's cruel death became afterward a great
lever of sympathy for good as they fully grasped the thought,
"He was bruised for our iniquities, the chasti'lement for sin
[2682]
AVGL'ST 15. 1900 Z IONJ S WATeH T 0 TV E R
(250-251)
whiCh brIngs peace to us was upon him, and by nis stripes
we are healed." The apostles also suffered violent deaths and
learned to regard such calamities not as marks of divIne dis-
favor, but the reverse.
(6) There can be no happen to the Lord's
consecrated ones, viewed from the divine i>tandpoint. Not a
hair of theIr heads can be injured asIde from the Father's
penmSSlOn, and what God purposely permits cannot be prop-
erly consIdered an accident from his standpoint, nor from
the standpoInt of tho"c who tully trust hIS provIdence and
gl ace. \\ e might even ilUpp0i>e a calamity in \\ Inch nmety-
IIlne children of thIS world and one of the Lord's consecrated
met death together. It might be purely accidental so far as
all hut the Lord's one was concerned: but, to that one nothing
could occur unforeseen of God-nothing that God could not
have fully controlled. and which permitted must mean a
blessing to IllS child who rightly and In faIth accepts it,-"For
we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God."' Ro it was In our casp. As he testIfied, the
Jews could not touch his life before because his "hour was
not yet come." And when his hour did come, our Lord testi
fied to Pilate,-"Thou couldest have no power at all against
me, except it were given thee from above." The same if,
true of every member of the body of Christ, the royal priest-
hood. But this divine supervision does not watch for the
of the world-except as they may be children
of the !mints, or others who"e affairs and interests are inter-
linked with theirs.
(7) Expecting as we do that the living members of this
royal prie"t or "jewel" clns" will alJ hI' gathered to glory
sometime before A. D, H1l5 (and so far as we are now able to
surmise by 1910), we are bound to suppose that a considerable
number of these will, in some manner, die sudden or violent
deaths. And happy for us will it be if this thought that our
"change" may come at any moment, shall be so impressed as to
assist us to be always ready to answer the summons with joy.
Let m each permit this thought to arrange our busi-
ness affairs, our family affairs, our relationship to the
"brethren"-our relationship to the world in general-all
our words, and thoughts. and doing,,; and thus it will bring
us great blessing and assist in makIng us "meet for the in-
heritance of the saints in light."
The Editor will not be surprised if his death should come
suddenly; nor if by divine permIssion it should come in some
unpleasant form that might, for the moment, seem to "jolt"
and interrupt the "harvest work." Let all of the con'lecrated
be on guard against such a wavering of doubt respecting the
divine power to care for and carryon the work. If such a trial
does come, it will no doubt in part, at least, be intended of the
Lord to show that the work is his and not ours; and that he
is perfectly able to carryon his work, USIng one or another
of his children as his servants to set the food of his providing
before the household of faith.
All of our affairs in daily life are shaped to these ends:
to the development and bringing forward of others ready to
the Lord's hand, should he at any moment call for the trans-
fer of our stewardship and bid us "Come up higher." And
the same applies to the financial means and interests whirh
the Lord has entrusted to our care. Let none be surprised,
then, at anything which may happen to us, but, on the con-
trary, glorify God on our behalf, and press along the "narrow
way" with redoubled energy.
DOING, TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE
LUKE 10:25-37.-SEPT. 9.
GOLDEN TExT:-"Thou shalt love thy neIghbor as thyself."-Lev. 19:18.
Probably while our Lord was preaching, and his audIence with the conditions) all have died, none having attained
seated about him, either upon the hillside or in a synagogue, eternal life. Tell me now, what shall I do that I may not
a lawyer stood up, and thus politely intimated his desire to share the same fate of death-that I may live everlastingly!
say a word in connection with the subject under discussion. Our Lord answered the question with great directness, at
The term "lawyer," amongst the Jews at. time, signified same time signifying his faith in the prom-
one versed in the Law of Moses, one claImIng to be able to Ises of God, that whatever God had promIsed he would surely
expound that Law, and to tearh others its true meaning. Such fulfil-implying, therefore that if he failed to obtain eternal
persons today we term theologians. These were also termed life it would be his own fault, and not the fault of GOI!. Our
scrihes or learned men-irrespective of their religious con Lord practically said, I stand by the Scriptural record: you
victions, some of them adhering to one view and some to an are versed in the law; quote, as you understand it, the teach
other; some being Pharisees, others Sadducees, ings of the law on this subject.
E'ndeavoring to interpret the Law in harmony with the teach- The answer shows that this Doctor of the Law was well
ings of the sect to which he adhered. versed, for he quoted correctly the most direct statement
Luke does not give us the connections, but quite possibly on the subject to be found in the law. Our Lord's reply was
this lawyer raised his question in connection with some equally to the point: "Thou hast answered right; this do and
di"comse in which om Lord held forth that he himself was thou shalt live"-I confirm the Law; I uphold it; I vouch for
the Bread of Life, of which, if a man eat, he may live for- its truthfulness; none who keep that Law can possibly die.
ever-or in which he hadl beE'n representing himself as the The difficulty with all Jews who have died has been, that they
Good Shepherd. who would 'give his life for the sheep; or as did not fulfil that law requirement toward God and man.
the Redeemer who had come, that God's people might have DISPLAY OF HEAVENLY WISDOM
life, and that more life. This lawyer The Doctor of the Law was trapped. He had hoped to
(or. as some today would say, this D. D.) was probably of the entangle Jesus in a discussion, and had himself become en
Saddurees, who denied a resurrection and any future or eternal tangled; for the great Teacher had pointed out that the
life. interpreting the law. whi('h promises life upon certain fault was not in God-that God was not unfaithful to his
condition". a" merely a deroy, intended to promote holiness agreement under the law; that the fault lay with the people.
amon!!'!t the Lord's people. but neverthele"s a deception, since And this included the lawyer as well a" the remainder of the
the holipst and most faithful of the ral'E' had not inherited race; and that he so understood it is implied in the statement,
eternal life, but had gone down into death. even as others. "He, desiring to justify himself. said, And who is my neigh
In this view of the matter this Jewish D. D. propounded to bor?" It was very shrewd of the lawyer to avoid discussing
our Lord a question. hoping that the answer would give room tllP first commandment. the lovp for God WIth all
for a discussion. in which he would be able to show himself the heart, mImi, soul an,1 strength: !lPpauf\p no onp pan
the greater of the two teachers, and to prove to his pupils, thoroughly judge another in respect to this feature of the law;
at least (who were probably present with him). that his only God and ea('h individual heart knows absolutely whether
theories wpre correct-that no matter how faithfully the law God is loved with every talent, every power of heart of
might be kept no reward of eternal life would be given, and and of body. But others ('an judge to some extent respectIng
that faith in Christ would be equally futile in this respect. obedience to the second commandmpnt: "Thou shalt love thy
The Evangelist says he asked the question, "tempting" the neighbor as thyself." The lawyer felt that be could safely leave
Lord, that is, to prove him, to draw him out, to expose the the first proposition and claim that none could judge his
weakness of hi" argument: saying, "Master, what shall I do to heart, provided he could "illF.tify himsf'lf" in. respect to the
inherit eternal life?" You recognize me as a scribe, a doctor second proposition, hi" dealing with hi'! neighbor. Hence
of the law, a teacher; as one, therefore, who is living a it is that he brought up this point, saying, "But who is my
godlV and upright life, so far, at least, as his neighbors and neighbor?"
pupils may be able to discern. Looking back I see that the There was a difference of opinion amongst the most leaTned
holiest and best of our nation (the holiest nation in the Jews on this subject of who is the nf'ighbor meant in the law,
world. and the only one recognized of God) have not inherited -some claiming that it meant all Jews, and Jews onlv.
eternal life. I see tbat, on the contrary, they haxe IHed as Others claimed that the word "neighbor" would mean only
other men; I see that for some cause (whether it be the those Jews who lived 1101y lives. Thus the lawyer practicall{.
Lord's failure to fulfill his promise, or man's failure to comply I shall be obliged to yield my contention and ack"ow.
[2683]
253) Z ION'S IF.4 T C Ii T 0 H R t\I.1IC,}Il .... 1 p\
edge you "upellUl to lll'y&eli a:l a teacher, unless \\ e ean get
into a contention on tIllS "uLJect of who is the neighbor. In
that event I "hall at least be able to bring a ;,trong argu-
ment that will appeal to all the hearers. But when the
great Teacher had, in parable form, explained the true mean-
mg of the word neighbor, the lawyer found himself without an
argument.
'NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO NOT ONE"
Some hn I'e "uppo"ed that our Lord meant that Doctor
of the Law ami others who heard him should understand
that the Samaritall of the parable, by doing a kind and neigh-
borly act, won for Illmself the inherita nee of eternal lIfe, and
that our Lord meant further to teach that the luwvt'r and
all of hi8 heart'f;, might inherit eternal life if they would
I!O IJhwi",e-do as the Samaritan did-do good, help
thplr neighbors. Till'" view is a serious error. Jn the first
place, we rio I;ot know tha t any Samaritan ever did just
an act of It was merely a parable, a sugges-
tlOn: Suppose that :-,ul'll conditions and suppose that
a Samaritan had done such ltn act, would he not be a good
"nelghbOl"": 'Ih{ l\'\\ald (,f Piellwi IiII' not offen',1 ou
condition of !J( mg a good neighbor merely. This was one of
ponditions (thp one the lawyer que"tlOnpd). but it was
'l1Jlte to the maill propo<;ition-Tholl love the
Lord with e\"l'ry power and talent of mind an,l body. The les-
qOn whi<-h the law.p>r and every other Jew needed t;l learn was
that no imperfec't man couM possibly fulfil that require-
ment. All so learning that "There is none righteous, no, not
on(''' (Hom. :;:]0) \\'ou1<1 he pn'pare,l to look for the
Mes<;iah a", first of all, their sin-bearer to justify them and
to diqripline them anI] make them perfect and ahle to
ohey the law.
Our Lord in the parable represents a priest. a Levit(', and
a Samari.tan. in order to give force to the matter. The priest
was "pecJally consecrated to God, the Levite also was conse-
prated (and mo"t of the Doctors of the Law were Levites),
while the Samaritans were outca:-,ts, without God, and having
110 hope in the world, aliens and strangers from the common-
wealth of Israpt The Samaritans, altho they lived in a part
of the land of I srael, shared none of Israel's promises; but,
:l8 om Lord tpstified, "Ye worship ye know not what: we
[Jews] know what we wOff,hip; for salvation is of the Jew.q."
The Samaritan, thrreforc. was introduced into the parable to
make a strong contrast before the minds of the hearers, and
tc? say, A neighbor is one who does a neighborly act, however
high or however low he may be in the scale of intelligence or
flignity or divine favor.
\Vhat our Lord wished to prove to the lawyer and to all
llrarerq was. that the Law was just and holy and good, and
that any ,Jew complying with its conditions would inherit
its promi"r-eternal lif(. He wi",hed all of his hearers to
rralize, therefore, that the fact that neither they nor their
fathers inherited eternal life proved, not that the law was
imperfect, but that they were imperfect, "old under ;,in, and
unable. therefore. to comply with the just demands of the
law. It was difficult for the Jew to learn this great lesson;
1Ji::., that he coul{1 not keep the perfe('t law of God, and hence
tlwt he I1r('dr(l a a Redeem('r. who would keep the law
for him, and thus justify him before God, and who would
then grant llim eternal life as a /!ift, as a favor-not of thl'
la w, but of grace.
In harmonr with tId". tIle Apostle as"ures us who trust in
the sacrifire for "in" whieh Jesus gave, and who have entered
JIlto \'{'W Connant" relat iOll",hip with God through hnn. that
"I hI' riQhtpou"'ll('''''' of thr law iq fulfillell in us"-thp true sense,
meaning, purport of thp Law being in our hearts, God accepts
this as instpa{l of absolute fulfilment of the Jetter of the law.
Thp "arrifipe of our Lor<l ,Jesus compensating for all our im-
for all differences hetwel'n the actual demands of
the law and our f'ffort, to conform our lives thereunto, we,
walking- not after the flp"h hut after the "pirit. arf' ref'konNI
;1", no longrr fleshly heing, but new creature'!
THE GOOD SAMARITAN
Altho parable of the good Samaritan was not given
tt' illuqtratr hy what good works the lawyer, or any other
man, .Jew nr Gpntile, might attain etrrnal life, but, on the
rontrary, "a", given merely to head off the argument of the
lawyer, am] to ]f>aYf> him without ('XCURe, it nevertheless con-
tainR a ri, h le","'on. which has hrought a ble"sing- to many. Not
S"e June 1" 1919, Issue for cnltcal e,atnll1allOn of eO\ <'tlanto
only has it made it clear to many of the Lord's dear children
the course of conduct pleasing III the Father's sight, t,iz., that
of generosity, love, benevolence, etc., but it has also brought
blessmg to. who not the Lord's ?hildren, in that they
became reCipIents of merCIes, favors and kllldnesses in adversity
which, otherwise, they might never have known.
The road leading from Jerusalem to Jericho has a steep
downward grade through a rocky country, which abounds in
caverns, the hiding places of highway robbers. It has always
been a dangerous road, and on it the traveler is not entirely
saf.e to this day, unless under some kind of a protective guard
ThIS feature of the parable was, therefore, in strict accordance
With the conditions of the time; so was the fact of the priest
and the Levite passing, for Jericho was one of the appointed
Cities of the priests and Levites, and it is estimated that
twelve thousand of them resided there then. These, with other
priests and Levites from other parts, took their turns in th..
service at the Temple in Jerusalem, and, consequently, were
frequently on this road.
Our Lord's parable seems to imply that the religion of
the Jews, instead of bringing them nearer and nearer to thp
of the Law, was really, by reason of the formalities and
ceremonies and pride connected with it, tending to separate
them further and further from the condition of heart which
would be acceptable to God. The priest, most fullv conse
crated to the service of God in the Temple, is represented as
having least in the brother in distress. He passed by
(In the other SIde (of the ravine), not counting the circum
of attention; reflecting, no doubt, with a self,
rIghteous feehng respecting the honor of his own position as R
qervant of God. and unwilling to run the risk of ritual can
tamination. The Levite, al"o consecrated to God and hiS
service, but n?t so high in office and privilege, was more dis-
posed to conSIder the poor brother, and to render a helping
hand. He went so far as to stand and look at the sufferer.
and to think over how much trouble would be involved in as
sisting him, and how mucll risk he himself mig-ht run in ;;(1
doing (altho we are inclined to believe that the priests and
Levites were, on account of their office, generally exempted
from molestation by the robbers.)
EFFECTS OF TRUTH ON HONEST HEARTS
Then our Lord chose, as hero of his parable, Q despised
Samaritan, unrecognized by God and disowned by his favored
people. This heightens the force of the picture, by suggesting
the thought that one who had never learned at all respecting
the true God and his will, one who had never been offered
eternal life on terms of obedience to that law, might
nevertheless exerCIse so much of brothely kindness and sym-
pathy as to lend a helping hand to a neighbor in distress.
And it is still true that many who, by reason of their
better knowledge of God, through his Word and plan, should
be possessed of a larger measure of his love and grace, are
instead more deficient in these qualities than some who have
been less highly favored. It might indeed be that some who
are strangers to the covenants and promises of God as yet,
possess, by reason of being well born, a large measure of
natural benevolence, kindness, sympathy, and might
?e good Samantans by nature, rather than by grace; and
It may also be true that some who have been begotten again
to the new life and to the new hopes may naturally have les8
of this good Samaritan element of kindness and generosity,
because low born according to the flesh-born with a pre-
dominance of selfish proclivities. However, such an one, com-
ing under "the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus,"
will soon be taught in Christ's school, that love is the ful-
filling of the law; and if he be an obedient pupil he will
gradually attain to a better appreciation of the heavenly
Father, and in heart, in spirit, will learn to love him with
all his mind, with all his being, with all his strength. And
so surely as this condition obtains, and in proportion as the
love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, it will enlarge them
also toward our fellow-creatures, so that every "new creature"
must at heart come into such a degree of fullnes, of Jove toward
God and toward his fellows as would make him not only an
obedient and self-sacrificing son of God, but alRo a good
Samaritan, a kind friend, a loving father and husband a
neighbor to all with whom he stands related. He
be a liying exemplification of the Apostle's injunction,-doing
good unto all men as he has opportunity, especially to the
housphol,l of faith.-Gal. 6: 10.
Beautiful hands are tllPV that do
TllP work of the noble.' good and trw'.
Busy for them the long day through;
Beautiflll fapf's are they t hat wear
- ----- --- ----
[2684]
The light of a pINsing spirit thcre.
It matters little if dark or fair;
And truly beautiful in God's Right,
Are the precious souls who loye the right
"BEWARE OF COVETOUSNESS"
LUKE 12: 13-23.-SEPT. 16.
This principle, put into practice by Christi:lIl missionaries
in China, would, we believe, have led to very different condi-
tionR than those which now obtain there. But our Lord's ex-
ample and variou'l injunctions along thi'l line have been very
generally ignored, and, to the contrary, it has been the custom
of miR"ionaries, who have gone to China and other land'l, to
ignore the laws of those lands and "the power" that be" there,
which God's ordinance has permitted. They have attempte'l
to setth" all kinds of disputes; interfering in a manner which
the ]\'Ia"ter, in this lesson, disapproved of. Not only so, but
they have sought and invoked, publicly and privately, the
interference of various so-called Christian governments of the
world on their behalf, and in violation of the laws of "the
"What shall it pi ofit a man if he shall gain the
While Jesus was preaching on spiritual themes he was
mterrupted by one of the audience, whose heart was filled with
anxiety respecting temporal matters, esteeming that he was
being wrongly dealt with by his brother in the division of the
parental estate; and perhaps finding that through some tech-
nicality he could not obtain what he considcred to be his just
rights under Jewish laws, he appealed to the great Teacher
to use his influence on his behalf-to speak to his brother-to
tell his brother that he ought to deal generously, and perhaps
to threaten him if he failed so to do.
How many there are who see just this much and no more
in the teachings of Christ-a channel through which to serve
their own interests; a means of securing justice to them-
selves. How many are ready to quote our Lord's precepts
when it suits their convenience so to do, but who otherWIse
and at other times manifest little interest in them, and in
the principles of righteousness which they inculcate! Per-
ROIlS in this attitude of heart are rarely able to grasp or en-
JOy the spiritual truthR which our Lord enunciated, JURt as the
young lIlan in the lesson was failing utterly to profit by our
Lor d's "pi ritual tcaching, because his entire thought was
preoccupied with his own personal, selfish plans and schemcs
and views-however just they might have been.
Our Lord flatly refused to interfere in the manner sug-
gested, saying, "Who made me a judge or an arbiter over
you '/" Thus hc illustrated the general teaching of the Scrip-
tures. "Render to CU'sar the things that are CU'sar's, and to
God the things that are God's" and again, "If any man sue
thee at the law, and take away thy coat, refuse not even if he
take similarlJ: thy cloak also"-do not ask or expect anything
beyond what IS granted by the civil laws of the land in which
you live. "Be subJeet to the powers that be; for the powers
that be are ordained [permitted] of God." Our Lord'" king-
dom, long promisNI, and which eventually shall be "the desire
of all nation"," had not then corne, and still has not been set
up. We pray, kingdom come; thy will be done on
earth .as It. IS done 1Il heaven." The Lord's people are to
recogIlJze thiS fact, and not to expect absolute righteousness
and ju"tiee until present eonditions cease with the clo"e of
th!s dlspensation,-of which the Scriptures 'tell us Satan is the
pnnee or ruler. InRtead of expecting justice in full mea,mrc
?ow, the Lord's people Rhould rather be fmrprised that there
IS so large a measure of justice obtainable ill manv parts of
the world.
As our Lord was not willing to impose himself as a judge
or an arbitrator in his day, so his followers now should not
"eek to interfere m secular affairs. The case would have been
bad the two brothers come together to our Lord, ancl,
mdH'atIng that thl'Y wished to do riO'ht had requested his
Judgment of \\ hat ould be the right In that event
undoubtedly our Lor,l ,vould have favored them "ith his view
of the que"tion and thl' reasons for it.
lt would be an exeellent thlllg for all of the Lord's footstep-
follower s to ll'arn \\ ell this le"son of non-interference in secular
matters-the lesson, that those who speak a'l the oracles of
God should speak re"pecting spiritual matters, to the spiritual
class and not to the worldly-to them that have ears to hear,
and not to the blind and deaf. Thi", of woulel not mean
that the Lord's pl'ople should not give any advice, but merely
that they should not give advice nor otherwise interfere out-
sid!' the laws, customs and usages of the country in which they
reside. The young- man in the narrative undoubtedly had ap-
peah-d to his brothf'r and to the Jewbh authorities for the
relief which he thought he ought to have; and similarlv it is
proper for a Christian to appeal to the person immediately
mten'sted for what he considerR to be just rights in the matter
in dispute. He may appeal also to the laws of the land in
which he reside,,; but if he fails in thi'l he should content him-
self with his condition and wait patiently for the Lord's king-
dom and its righteous-retribution.
THE RICH CHURL
In this parable it is not stated that the neh man had
obtained hi" wealth by any unlawful mean'S. He is not charged
with having defrauded his brother or neighbor. The record
merely is that he had temporal blessings in abundance, and
that by natural increase he was wealthy; and the point of
the le"son turns upon his question to himself, \Vhat shall I
do with these pos"es"ions 1
The right attihlde of mind, "the spirit of a sound mind,"
would have answered this question somewhat after this man-
ner: These bounties of divine providence are a trust, and I
am a steward, a trustee; my position will permit me to be a.
But while to interfel(' \\ith the maUel, the Lord
made use of the intru"ion to point a on the of
covetou"np'os-a which \\ uu!,1 1)(' of henefit to both of the
hrothers, if they were pre'lent, :t!\(1 a indel',l, which
pould not farl to be of profit to all of hearer s. The exhor-
tation to take hl'ed of contouslless w01l1d apply tn thl' anI'
who had sought our Lord's interfereuce he had bl'Pl1
n"king something outside of ltis I i!-('ht,; an(l of his
father's will and intent-coveting what his fathpr had rmlly
intended should go to his brothPl'. Or, if hI' wCle a"king onl;)-
what wa" reasonablv his ,lue, our wordH would be a
eonsolation to him, as showing that whethl'l or not hc got all
of his III the present hfe would be a comparatively un-
important matter-unimportant as eOTilpared to hi" having
experiences as would be fa\-nrabll' to 1118 etl'rnal life, and
rightly using those experienpps. Our Lord's wortls would also
be a les"on to the other brother, If lIP were sepking to defraud
and to take uniu"tly what belonged to brother-or e\'Pll if
he were covetously ungenerou" III construing his brother's
rights. Indeed, everyone who will carefully consider the
meaning of our Lord's parable in illustration of this subject
of covetousness will draw from it a valuable, a profitable

* * *
whole world and lose his own sunlf"-Mark 8 :36.
powers that be" in those countries. It is as a result of this
wrong line of conduct that the good of Christianity, its moral
and civilizing influences, are specially hated and feared,-as
political interferences, aimed at the destruction of the laws
and institutions which to those people appear to be wise and
good; and which undoubtedly are adapted to the present intel-
lectual and moral conditions of the masses of thcir people.
\Ve cannot too strongly condemn, as contrary to the Mai>'
ter's teachings, modern methods of missionary eft'ort-backed
by cannon, war'Ships and soldiers. It seems to U'l wholly con
trary to the method employed by our Lord and the apostles,
and advocated by thpm It is much more in hannom' with the
methods adopteJ dm ing the dark agcs by Papacy and by Mo-
hamnwdanism. Early Protestant mls"ions seem to us to have
been along much more I easonable and pro!H'r ]ines. The mis-
sionary, in gh'ir1g himself to that work, un,ler"tood and agreed
that, figuratively speaking. he took hi" life in his hands; he
had already sacrificed his life before starting. Neither he nor
those who sent him forth thought of appealing to the govern-
nlf'nt to avenge his death, either with mallv lives for the one
life, or with large sums of money, nor with large eoncessior'f>
of land, or with large privileges of eOIIlmere!'. HI' \lent a'l 11
representative of the meek and 10\\ ly Jesus, as a "living saL"
rifice," as the apostles in early times went forth, without bae\.;:-
ing, ecclesiastical or eivil. Like the apostles, thpy were privi.
leged to appeal to all the law'S and moral instincts of the
people in \I hose midst they wue living, and for who"e good
they were laying down their Ii \'e8; but more than this
did. not do, and were not authorized to do by anything in the
Scnptures,
It is the present wrong system of compassing sea and land
to make proselytes, with battleships, cannon and sol'liers, that
i'l re'lpomible for the loss of thousands of lin's and awful
misery. "'ere the missionary question today left upon tIl('
same footing that it occupied in the day" of the apostles, and
again at the beginning of this century, it woul,1 prob.lbly be
less pretentious in appearance, but in reality pr obably would
have found just as many of the "elect" as the pre'lent method:
and would have left undisturbed questions tllat aln-ady have
caused much trouble, and \I hich in the near future will caust
more. It would have left millions of the poor Ileathen in a
much more contented frame of mind than at prespnt-would
have left them much more susceptible to tIll' influences of the
true Gospel, when, by and by, the great missiollarv work whiph
God has planned will begin in earnest, un,ler the administra-
tion of the kingdom of heaven, with Chri'lt amI hiR elect church,
the kings and priests, to rule and \I ith mfinite power
and wisdom and love,
* * *
[2685]
(254-255)
(255-259)
ZION'S WATCH TOWER
ALLEGHENY, PA,
source of great blessing to others of my fellow-creatures not
so bountifully supplied; in fact, I have III my hand the power
to make many fellow-creatures comfortable and happy; and in
discharging this stewardship in this proper manner I shall
have much greater pleasure than if I endeavored selfishly
to use all these bounties upon myself, or to store them up for
my own use in the future.
Such an unselfish, generous course would not only have
had divine approval, and thus have constituted "true riches"
"laid up in heaven," but, additionally, it would have been the
most direct road to happiness for the already favored indi-
vidual himself. It is a true proverb, "There is that scattereth
and yet increaseth, and there is that withholdeth more than
is meet, and it tendeth to poverty." So, many have found
that hoarding of earthly wealth leads to poverty of heart, to
a meanneRS of disposition, which is not enjoyed by the individ
ual himself, and which is strongly reprobated by him with
whom rests our eternal interests, our everlasting blessing and
riches. On the eontrary, he who uses, in harmony with his
best judgment, the earthly wealth committed to his care,
thereby purcha"es to himself a rich reward of approbation on
the part of all with whom he has to do; and, through the
Lord's gracious arrangement in Christ, this cultivation of the
spirit of love becomes a most important factor in respect to his
attainment of everlasting joy and blessing.
As illustrating the uncertainty of sueh selfish calculations,
our Lord might have made the parable to close by showing
the rieh man as losing all of his possessions and being reduced
to beggary through some misfortune, such as war or fire; or
he might have shown him the victim of a loathsome disease,
in whirh even hi" rirhes could not purchase attendance, so
that thu" he might suffer want in the midst of plenty. But he
chose to close the parable by merely representing the rich
man as dying suddenly-ceasing to have and to hold and
greedily enJoy his selfish hoardings. "Soul, take thine ease,"
etc., i" merely another way of saying-Self, take thine ease,
eat drink, etc.
Our Lord, to enforce the lesson, then raises the question,
Whose. then, shall the"e things be? They could no longer be
enjoyed by the accumulator, whoever might get them; he
would be poor indeed, whoever might enjoy them; for these
were all that he had; he had given up thought and effort and
every talent to money-making and to attempted selfish enjoy-
ments, and had not been rich toward God,-han not been
rich in goon works-had not laid up treasure in heaven. His
life had been a failure; lie would enter the next life a pauper,
as respeets mental and moral development in good qualities.
He would enter it with a load of selfishness, with which to
some extent he had been born, but to which he had added
greatly by a life of selfishness. And his load of selfishness
will, in that future life, for a time handicap his efforts toward
true nobility, should he then make efforts toward perfection
under the gracious terms of the Millennial kingdom.
Tho our Lord in the parable represents the covetous per-
son as succeeding in accumulating riches, yet, as a matter of
fact, the majority of covetous people never so succeed; and
their selfishness is not less reprehensible from the fact that
it fails of success. The thought rather is that if a covetous
person who succeeds makes a miserable failure of life, how
much worse would be the failure of the covetous person who
gains nothing, either in the present life or in that which is
to rome!
Our Lord, turning to his disciples at this juncture, gave
a special lesson applicable to them only, and not to the
multitude. Literally translated this message is: Be not
ananous as respects your earthly life, its food and its cloth-
ing. Think rather of the hfe which IS to come; remember
that this present condition is, from the divine standpoint, a
death condition. Consider that in you who believe, the new,
the eternal life, has already begun, and that if you will faith-
fully continue under present conditions in living for this new
life, and not after the flesh, it will be perfeeted in the First
Resurrertion. Think more of your bonie" than of the rai-
ment whieh covers them; think 'more of your life than of the
natural food by which it is at present sustained. God is able
and wIlling to give perfect life and perfeet bodirR and perfect
conditions to those who believe in me, who walk in my foot-
steps and meet my approval. The reason why you need not
take anxious thought for these temporal things, for which
the world takeR anxious thought (and neceRRarilv RO), is this:
you have come into harmony with God, and have been adopted
into hiR family; believing in me, you have been granted "lib-
erty to become sons of God." (John 1: 12) AR sons of God, with
the new life begun in you, you are to realize that everything
of the present life is qUite unworthy to be comprlfed with
the future and eternal interests. You are to remember that,
having consecrated yourselves to the Father's will in beeoming
my diRciples, you have given up every interest and matter to
his superior wisdom. Be content, therefore; be without
anxiety, knowing that so long as you abide in me, and so
long as you are walking in my footsteps, your Heavenly
Father knoweth what things you have need of, even before
you ask him, and is both able and willing to give what is best.
Therefore, if in divine providence you receive poverty as
your unavoidable portion, accept it as be"t for you, accord-
ing to divine wisdom; remembering that it is Our Redeemer
who is guarding our future and eternal interest, and permit-
ting such experiences in this present life as will be most
lJeneficial to us, and as will lead most directly to eternal riches
and favors, and that in greatest measure.
ALLEGHENY, PA., SEPTEMBER 1, 1900
VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER
1\0.17
THE CHICAGO LOVE FEAST
A love fcast from beginning to end! This was the public
of J1HUlY. anel npparentlv thp ;,pntinJPnt of nJI in
attendanee. Our Lord surely poured us out a grand spiritual
blessing and refreRhment. Surely if any went away empty
it was in part or in whole his own fault. None of our con-
ventions ever e':hibiteel more love for the Lord and his truth
and his brethren. Indeed each succeeding one seems just a
little bptter than it" pre(lece"sors, however grand they were.
And may we not expeet this, as we approach nearer and
nearer in our journey toward "The general assembly and
church of the firRt-borns?" It would be but reasonable that
the ripening of the hearts of a larger number should be more
and more manifest in the exhibited fruits of the spirit.
The Chicago Convention wa" nnnouneed as a-
CONVENTION OF BELIEVERS IN THE ATONEMENT
Through "the PreciOUS Blood of Christ"-"A Ransom for All," and
In His Mlllennial Kingdom
It lasted for three days, continuously-except for inter-
missions for food and rest-and was followed by a colporteurs'
session in the interest of those already in that service, or
about to enter it.
The attendanee was the best we have ever had ;-three im-
portant items contributing: (l) Chicago's large population
and the goodly number already interested in the truth there.
(2) The city's central location. (3) The unusually low
rates of railroad fare granted from every direction and over
all roads. The number in attendance was estimated at be
tween 500 and 600, and of these about 300 were from outside
Cbicago.
"-e had a grand time! The Lord be praised! Mav the
bleRsing so abundantly poured out not only be lasting in its
effert upon those who received it, but may it overflow from
them upon the brethren at their various homes, and thus be-
come wide-spread. We know well that we had the loving
thoughts and earne'3t prayers of many thousands not privi-
leged to meet with us. Eighty-two symbolized their conse-
cration to death by water baptism (46 brothers, 36 sister,,)
It was a grand sight, such as is seldom witnessed on earth.
We may be sure that our Lord, the great Chief Reaper, and
the saints who have already joined him "beyond the vail,"
and also our guardian angels who continually minister unto
those who shall be heirs of salvation, looked upon that scene
with deep interest, as did some three hundred brethren in the
flesh who were witnesses.
SOUTHERN PRESBYTERIANS TROUBLED
The split between Northern and Southern Presbyterians
during the Civil war made of them practically two distinct
bodies or denomination'!. The troubles and suggestions re-
Rpeeting the Confession of Faith have all been amongst the
Northern brethren, until lately. However, at the last "Gen-
eral Assembly of the Presbyterian church (South)" a petition
was received from the Presbytery of Brazos, Texas, requesting
that the Assembly "modify the statements of the COllfr,;sion
regarding the eternal damnation of non-elect inhnts."
The resolution was strangled in committee which reported
adversely to any discussion of the Confession fearing no doubt
that the question once opened never would close. The repre
sentatives of the Brazos Presbytery asked an amendment to
[2686]
StrTEMB"R 1, 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER (260-272)
the Confesgion reading thus :-"All dylllg in infancy are elect
infants, and are regenerated," etc., Chapter 10, paragraph 3.
::\ute now the shrewd but dlshone.,t tl eatment of that petI-
tion (formulated by the committee and adopted oy the Ag-
semuly) in these worus,-"'\\ e recommcnll that the prayer of
the overture be declined, inasmuch as the plesent language of
the Confession cannot, by any fair intel pretation, be con
"trued as teaeliwg that allY uf who LlIe In lIlfant'y .tre
lost."
Let us read over this paragraph 3, Chapter 10, of the Con
fe5sion and see whether or not the Bra70s bl ethren and hu-
mamty III general have mis-read it. Here it is: "Elect in-
fant.." oying in infancy, are regenerated, ano saved by ChTist
through the Spirit, who worketh when, and where, and how
he pleaseth. tio also al e all other elect per50ns who are in-
capable of being outwardly called by the millistry of the
'\\'ord."
If the General Assemhly were sincere in averring that in
their judgment these wonls do not teach that there are non
elect infilnts \I ho dying in infancy are lost, then it follows
that the"e hrethrcn have totally repudiated the doctJine of
election taught in ot]1(' I' paragraphs of their Confe'lsion of
Faith. For if all infant'> are elect, or If the pleetion docs not
bkp plac(' until nfter the peJiod of mfancy, then they mu"t
demo all that ('ah'illi,;m stan<h> fO! in the way of Predestmu
tim; and j.'orenrrlmfrflUll. Utherwise they would be forced to
thl' po"ition that oHly e["cl persons die in infancy and hence
l1ln"t th,lt (;ocl sppcwlly int... rvene'l to prevent the non-
e]L,et fllllll d.llng in infun<'Y, supervising the rleaths
of th(' millllln" of infant:; Jy1ng annually from infanticide.
lack of ca Il' ('tc.
13nt to think of the (1('nClal taking any of tIl{'
abol'c \I'oul,l lw nltogpthpi unren"onaiJle. a;\(l hencc
\1(' an' lI11\1ll1lngl.l f01CP,1 to tllink of then resolution as
ill lacking in whiph no
ooubt on the Jesuitical plea that-It is right to do
wrong if thereby you can serYe God and the church. How-
eYer, the church is not served by this false statement, even if
a sect is thereiJy held together a little longer. The true
church "whose name'> are written in heaven," and which will
eventually lllclude all the truly "elect" "little flock," is never
benefite(1 or served by error or falsehood; but, as our Lord
declared, only br the truth-"Sanctify them through thy
truth, thy \YOI'd is truth." Nor is God served or honored by
such false representations of his \Vonl and plan.
Furthermore, the specifications of "elect infants" implies
that the flamers of thi., Confession h"cl in mind nonelect In
fants who die in infancy, whose fate they left to be implied
by the intelligent reader, who, if he accepted this Westmin
"tel' Confe""ion a who]p, wonl(1 1)(,lieYP in elect and nonelect
adults. and coupling this with the sppcifications of the same
('olltPH;.ion on prede8tlnatioll W(\lIl(1 l'ont'iude that non-
decf arlllif lllllHt at. onp tin1P h:lY<, h('('n a ?!I11"('/I'cl ill/alit,
who dying in infancy would have (!it'd non-elcct and unregen-
prated and unsaved by Christ through the spi! it who worked
not upon them at any time nor anYI\'here nor anyhol\', be-
cause he pleased not so to do, they bcing non-elect.
One would suppo'>c that our dear ian fJ iends,
finding them<;ehes 1JI such inc,tricahIe pon 011 t hi doc-
trine of ejection. and yet fin(lillg lllllf!I 011 the subjpet III the
RiiJle, would be reatly. anxionsly "nd hungrily waiting for
the rcasonable Bible"olution of the buhject presented in Mil-
1(')/11 wi Daw1l. Yct cOlllparatill'I.\ f('\1 oj thp11I ;;('e11l to be so.
The only reasonable explanation tllnt till' are not
sufficientlY honest with themsplYh aml \1 ith each other. and
with GoJ anti his \Yord. 11H'\' (10 not sufficientlv 100'e the
truth-error is preferred. Thej clo not hunger ncl thirst
after right. Hence also the comparatiw'ly f., II' \1 ho alc
tified through the tluth"-the larg'e nlllllbt'r failing tn make
their calling and election sure,
of theIr fal"e cloct! illeK.
---_._-----------------------------------------
THE "BIBLE HOUSE," ALLEGHENY
Friends of the cause naturally feci a deep Illterest in
('IPlythlllg COIlIl((ted 111 allY 11I:11111('1 \Iith the
\I'(l! k. \Ve hayc frequcntly open urged to publish the EditOl''l
picture either in the DAWNS or ill thp;;e columns; but have as
persistently refused. It is the truth rather than its servant
that should be honored and proclaimecl. Therc is too much
to credit truth to the preacher. forgetful that all
truth is of God, who usps one or another servant in its proc-
lamation ,\-; It may plt'a5e hllll.
ROln'H'r. when requpsted to a photo of our work-
the "l\ible lIoll'-e:' we could thmk of no reasonable ob
l"f'tion. alill h"Tlc'(' It I', hl'ill,!! I"!,rol!tll'('(1 in thh
'1'1", thll d 11(101' i., the phappl ill \\hich ami otlIer servo
al(' held ()Jl tll(, tllP 1I""r. (1'1I1J(. till'
hh ""\wl being lI('ar the \yinllow at the head of the "'pllal
fi I (' ('1.,('(\1)('.
[2687]
GATHER ALL THY CHILDREN HOME
Hea....enly Father, Holy One!
May thy will in me be done;
Make my heart submissive, meek,
Let me ne'er mine own way seek!
Loving Savior, I would be
Ever more and more like thee,
Free from pride and self-desire,
Fervent with a holy fire.
Blessed Lord, thy saints defend,
Watching o'er them to the end;
Day by day their faith increase
Keep them in thy perfect peace,
Comfort, strengthen, guide and bless,
Lead them through the wilderness;
And when thy due time shall come,
Gather all thy children home! -G. W. 8-.
"DO YE EVEN SO TO THEM"
""tll things 1rlw,fsocver ye would that men should do to you" do ye even so to them."-Matt. 7: 12.
Whatever the tests wc apply, and his teachings are to thy neighbor as he shall wish thee to do to him"-not no
to tower abovc all others. For instance, we are fre- ticing that this would be a very different rule and one which
quentlJ: told that the ?olden Rule is found in the writings?f might operate very unfavorably in every way.' While few are
ConfucIUS as )"ell as. III the New TeRtament, that this. IS of making a mistake in this direction, many are
a proof that ConfucIUS was a tcacher cqual In rank With Inclined to reason on the matter from this standpoint, and to
and sent of ?od. And no doubt many those say,: We eoul.d not possibly carry out this Golden Rule in the
who give report do '30 In all honesty; for the fact IS that ordInary affans of life, because, for instance, if I were to do
many ChristIans have never seen the depth and scope of the to my neighbor as I should wish him to do to me I should
Golden Rule by .Jesus. misu.nderstand it to be t?e sell him five-dollar pair of shoes for one dollar; or' a twenty-
the !naxn? ?y whICh It. dollar SUIt of clothes for five dollars; or what he might want
'lhere IS a Wide dIstinctIOn, however, and III comparIson the of wheat or oats at half the usual priee. And if I adopted
wor<!s Confucius might be termed a brazen rule. His Ruch a rule with one, I should properly adopt it with all, and
maxIm IS. "Do not do to others what you would not wish this would soon mean bankruptcy in my business; so, evi-
them to (10 to you." '"e repeat that this is as much as the dently, the Golden Rule cannot be used in human affairs at
majority of haye eyer seen in the Golden Rule the present time,
given by our Lord. But we answer that this is a mi'!taken view of the Golden
"'I' would be glad to see the maxim of Confucius received Rule. and whoever examines it should see that the difficulty
and acted upon throughout the whole world by every creature, probably lies in the selfishness of his own heart. He thinks
and undoubtedly the result would be a great blessing to man- hi'3 neighbor might expect goods at less than cost, because he
kind-a great improvement over present conditions, in which thinks that he himElelf would be willtng to receive goods at
almost everybody except the saints who seek to walk in the less than CORt from his neighbor. The applicatIOn of the Gold-
foot'!te;; of tllP Lord are continually doing every day the very en Rule should show him his difficulty: should teach him
thing" \\ hirh they would not wi'!h their neighbors to do to the lesson that when he goes to his neighbor to buy shoe'! he
them. But even tho so great a reformation could be brought must do to his neighbor as he would that his neilYhbor should
about, it would still leave much to he desired; it would still do to him: he must pay hi'3 neighbor a reasonable"'prirp for
leave the world far from the condition suggested by our shoes; a reasonable, living profit. And likewise in every other
Lord's prayer) "Thy will be done on earth, as it is done in transaction: the Golden Rule teaches us that we should he
heaven." For mell might, through policy or for other rea- willing to pay the farmer for his produce, and the manufu('-
'lons. dl'al jU'ltly with each other, refraining from the doing turer for his, as we would think just if we were the malHl-
of such things aR they would not wish done to them, and with facturer and making the sale. Likewise, if we were making
flll that their hearts might be very full of selfishness, mean- the sale, we should not think of charging our customers a
nes". COwtollsness, etc., and very far from the condition of larger profit than we would think reasonable if they were the
love. sellers and we the customers. Whoever of the Lord's people.
Rut ,\ hen we note the comprehensiveness of our Lord's therefore, gets thoroughly into the way of using this Golden
Golden Rule, we find it is absolutely a love-rule; and that it Rule in all of life's affairs will certainly find that it will cle-
leave, nothing to be desired: nothing could possibly be added vate their conceptions of justice, righteousness, equity; and
to it: it complete. It is not merely a negative law: "Thou these godlike qualities will become more and more developed
shalt not" 110 an injury; it is a po'!itive law: "Thou shalt" in them, as parts of their characters, until they will Obey
do good. Thou shalt 'do thy neighbor all the good, all the them not merely because of their harmony with the Master's
kindne'!s. all the service, that thou wouldst have him do to Golden Rule, but because they will recognize their true beauty
thee. Thi'! law, whieh the ApoRtle calls "the law of liberty," and grandeur, and because their hearts will be in harmony
the perfect law, th!s Golden Rule for life, ,has no parallel a,ny- with them: , . ...
where, in any writmgs, and could not poSSIbly have a supenor, But thIS rule, whIle thus InculcatIng Justice, goes beyond
-a Rentiment could not possibly be expres"ed. But this and inculcates benevolence ;-such benevolence llnd so
how few there are who ricrhtly appreciate and love this rule, much of it as we, with properly balanced minds would be dis-
and use it daily in the of their own conduct! posed to ask of others if we were the ones in need, in straits.
Ac; already noted, the majority, even of the best people in the 0 how grandly rounded out in spiritual character would all
world. th;. Yast ma ot" Chri"tians. fail to discern its of the Lord's true saints become, under the influence of this
lenO'ths lind its brelldths, 'lInd consiller it merely an injunction Golden Rule! It would not only affect the actions of life,
not" to do injury to oth'rs. How few, then, joyfully and ap- making them first just toward all with whom they had deal-
preriatively its sentiments, and seek the heart to then, benevolently disposed toward all needing their ,as-
conform their lives thereto-none but the samts, none but the slstance to whatever degree they were able to render asslst-
"el'rt." we may be Rure, are thus in heart-harmony with the ance without doing injury to others,-and, a?ditionally, the
e,'!enre and spirit of th'ir Heavenly Father's law of love. same law in force would extend also to their every word.
There might he danger of Rome of the Lord's people using Under the regulations of this golden measurement how few
thi!! rIlle ami'!s and to their injury, by overgenerous to- bitter or angry or slanderous words would be used-for how
ward others and not suffiriently careful of them'!elves; but few would like, to have use. such to or of them - to
surh in'!tflnrec; are very rare, berause in our entire race the speak to them m linger and WIth bItterness and rancor, Or to
ryenpra1 re<;ult of the f.111 has been to crowd out love and slander them. No wonder the Apostle tells us that those who
henevolpnre. and to fill us with selfishneRs. So much is this have put on Christ must put off all these-anger, malice,
thl) that it hfl'! I)('rome a worl(lly proverb that "Self-pre- hatred, strife, envy, slanders, etc. Additionally, this Golden
'!ervfltion is the first rule of life;" that self is always to be Rule would lead to kind words, gentle actions, considerate
numh!'r one and to he cared for well and thorouO'hlv before demeanor; for who would not wish such from his neighbor T
other" are to he eyen conRiderel!. <> As the Apostle again declares, we are to put on as Christian
Evpn after we have been bpgotten of the holy spirit, as graces,-gentleness, meekness, patience, longsuffering, broth-
new creatures, lifter the trtln"forming- of our minds ha'l be- erly kindness, love.-Col. 3:8, 12-15.
g-lln, we all know from experipllce that the selfi'!lmess of the This Golden Rule, beginning with the actions,
old nature i" '10 dl'ep-grained that it is likely to hold its own and progressing to our words, would very qUIckly extend to
"ith II'! to the very end of life. "Ve have, however, known our thoughts; and as we would not wish to have othcrs think
of <;Ollle who. in their desire to conform them'!elves fully to ungenerouRly or meanly of us, nor put a bad construction on
the Lorn's will, have taken an extreme view of this Golden our every act of life, but would rather that they would view
Rule, and have understood it as tho it said, "Thou shalt do our words and deeds generously and lovingly, so we in turn
(261) [2688]
:,J;P"TJ;MBER I, 1900
ZION'S WATCH TOWER
(262-263)
woulcl tind, that under the influence of this Golden Rule, our
thoughts of others would become more generous, more noble,
less suspicious, etc.
This GOlden Rule is assuredly the divine law which our
dear Redeemer expressed in other words at another time, say-
ing, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." We may
safely consider, therefore, that the one rule interprets the
other, and that to love our neighbor as ourselves signifies that
we should love him and do for him as we ourselves would wish
him to love us and to do for us. And we could not under-
stand it to mean more than this. God expects of us that we
will make reasonable provision for ourselves and for those for
whom, by legal or natural ties, we are responsible-our fam-
ilies, our relatives, as the Apostle says: "He that provideth
not for his own, and especially they of his own house, hath
denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."-1 Tim. 5-8.
Evidently, therefore, our own households are our first
charge and responsibility, and must have reasonable attention
before we could hope to do for our neighbors. This would
indeed be putting a difference between our neighbor and our-
selveB, and between our neighbor's family and our own family,
but the matter is well adjusted by the Golden Rule, rightly
interpreted, which requires of us that we shall do for our
neighbor, in his want and extremity, as we would have him
do for us, were we in his circumstances and he in ours. And
our minds being leveled up to a plane of jmtice, we should
expect that if we were in distress our neighbor would first
make reasonable provision for his own family. and not give
to us to the injury or deprivation of those more immediately
:md more closely dependent upon him.
IS THE GOLDEN RULE INCUMBENT?
Hut some one may inquire: Is it for us as
Christians to attempt to carry out this Golden Rule in our
daily lives? When we see that very few even of Christian
people appreciate the rule, or to an)' extent seek to carry it
out, may we not consider that it is a very good rule, but that
its observance is not made incumbent upon us, and that our
attainment of eternal life and heavenly glory are not linked
with the observance of this Golden Rule? May we not con-
sider it rather as a good standard to have in mind as the
perfect law, but consider that we are not to live up to that
standard in any sense of the word?
We answer that this Golden Rule was the one by which
our dear Redeemer's every action was measured, the one ac-
cording to which he lived. and under which he laid down his
hfe on our behalf, and it is essential to and incumbent upon
all those who would be his disciples, his followers. All who
hope to become his joint-heirs in the kingdom are required to
walk in his footsteps as he set us an example (1 Pet. 2 :21),
or, as another Apostle declares, God has fore-ordained to have
an elect church to be joint-heirs in the kingdom with Christ,
but he has equally fore-ordained that none shall ultimately be
acceptable as members of that glorified church except such as
shall, in the present life, become copies of God's dear Son, our
Lord Jesus: and to copy him means to copy the Golden Rule,
which was exemplified in him and in his course. It follows,
that whoever expects to share the kingdom must
give diligence to the formation of character, and that this
Golrlen Rule is necessary in such formation of character-to
develop in us not the principles of equity, or justice only, but
also the spirit of love, of unselfishly doing good to others.-
Rom. 8:29.
DIVINE STRENGTH PERFECTED IN HUMAN WEAKNESS
But here again comes in the question, How can those who
by nature are fallen and imperfect, and full of inherited sel-
fishness and meanness, ever hope to keep this Golden Rule,
which is the full mea'lure of a perfect man's obedience, and
which, with all his well-doing and sacrificing. was not more
than fulfil1E'd by our Lord Jesus himself? How could we hope
to be npprovE'd as keepers of this Golden Rule, in the sight of
him who can read, not only the outward conduct, but also the
thoughts and intents of our hearts?
We answer that here comes to our relief the gracious ar-
rangE'mE'nt which God hitS provided for this Gospel age, viz.,
justification by faith. Our justification not only covers "the
sins that are past" (Rom. 3 :25), and makes us t.o
God in Christ, so that we can offer ourselves n'l hvmg saCrI-
fices upon his altar, but, more than this, it stands with us all
thE' way down the journey of life, and according to God's
graCE' in Christ it compensates for, or makes up for us all of
our unintE'ntional deficiencies, so that, as the Apo'ltle says,
"The righteousness of the Law [expressed in the Golden Rule]
is fulflllerl in us who walk not after the flesh but after the
spirit."-Rom. 8: 4.
Since we are not all alike fallen, not all alike selfish, it
follows that some walk much nearer to the spirit of the di-
vine Law, attain much closer to the measurement required by
the Golden Rule, than can others; yet no fallen creature can
walk fully up to the requirements of the Golden Rule, so long
as handicapped by the various weaknesses of the flesh; and
here the grace of God in Christ makes up our deficiencies;
those who are able to follow the pattern most closely are still
far from following it absolutely, and consequently need to have
the merit of the precious blood of Christ imputed to them to
make up for their shortcomings; and those who are still more
fallen, and who, with their very best efforts, are still further
from measuring up to the grand standard of the Golden Rule,
need that much more of God's grace to compensate for their
deficiencies. Hence the Apostle declares that where sin and
imperfection abound the most, there God's grace correspond-
ingly abounds the more; so that thOse who are in Christ
and seek to walk in his footsteps, who are in their hearts
measuring themselves with the Golden Rule, and seeking to
the best of their ability to live up to its requirements, may be
succeeding variously in their endeavors, from the worldly
standpoint; but from the divine standpoint all such are
reckoned as having their blemishes fully covered with the
merit of our dear Redeemer's sacrifice. and that therefore the
righteousness of the Law, its true meaning, its spirit. and the
true measure of the Golden Rule, is reckoned as fulfilled in
them to divine acceptance,-perfectly.
But it is not merely to have this GOlden Rule thus reck-
onedly fulfilled in us for a day or for a week or for a month
that counts us "overcomers," but that we shall faithfully con-
tinue to walk as closely in the Lord's footsteps as we may be
able, faithfully continuing to use his Golden Rule to the best
of our ability; and that we shall do this day by day and year
by year with continued and increasing zeal, until our Master,
watching the process of development of character, shall say,
n is enough; the character is fi"Xed; the love for rightt'ous-
ness is permanent and thoroughly developed; the spirit of
love is indelibly marked, and altho there still remain in the
flesh traces of selfishness, yet they nre dim and faint in com-
parison with the original mark, and give good evidence of vic-
tory gained, not in the flesh, but in the heart, in the will.
"They shall be mine, saith the I...ord of hosts, in that day
when I make up my jewels."-Mal. 3:17.
ANOTHER SERIOUS ERROR :MADE BY SOME IN APPLYING
THE GOLDEN RULE TO LIFE
Undoubtedly the Golden Rule has, to a considerable ex-
tent. exercised an influence over even worldly people (nominal
Christians), where such have come more in contact with the
true saints who endeavor with more or less zeal to recognize
and to use the Golden Rule in the measurement of their daily
conduct, without their being keepers of it i'l a rule, or even
professing so to do. And even amongst Christians who have
given themselves to the Lord, and who fully desire that his
will in every particular shall be done in them, and who recog-
nize this Golden Rule as a grand expression of the divine will.
we believe there are serious misapprehensions respecting the
proper manner of its use. For instance, among the noblest
of the Lord's people are some who say, \Ve will turn our
backs on society and worldly enjoyments, and devote what
time we have at our disposal to the improvement of the fallen
-to moral reforms, social reforms, financial reforms, the re-
forming of drunkards, etc. And still others, imbued with the
same spirit, and with the samll desire to fulfil this Golden
Rule, say, We will leave home and friends, and go into
far-off lands as missionaries, to preach Christ to the heathen.
We are bound to appreciate such noble sentiments.
whether we can agree with the conclusions as to methods of
work, etc., or not. We love the noble principle which, if not
in every instance, at least in many cases, lie'l at the founda-
tion of such sacrifices of time, influence, convenience. etc.: it
is an outworking of the Golrlen Rule in these dear friends,
saying to themselves and to others, If we were in the slums
or in heathen degradation, we should wish that Rome of God's
children would come to us, to lift us up and enlighten UR, and
hence we should do so to others, even as we WOUld, if our
conditions were altered, that they should do to us.
This is sound reasoning and a proper application of the
Golden Rule, and yet also. we believe, a mistaken or wrong
one. One of the first lessons that the Christian is called
upon to learn in the School of Christ is, that his judgment
is defective; that not only our physical powers hav\" rlegen-
erated through the fall, but that likewise our mental
have suffered; so that the whole world today is not only un
sound of body, but also unsound of mind, unsound of judg'
[2689]
(264-265)
ZION'S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, l'A.
ment. The primary of God's children in the School
of Christ are to the effect that we all lack and that
for this very reason he has provided his Book, the Bible,-
"that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished."-2 Tim.
3:16, 17.
We are taught in the Book that the work of salvation is
one too great for humanity itself, and that therefore God has
undertaken the work; we are taught that he has not left
the matter to operate itself at random, neither has he left it
to our imperfept and puny efforts: we are taught
that the great Savior of the world planned his work "from
the foundation of the world," and yet that it was four thou-
sand years and more before he took the first great step for
namely, the giving of his Son to be the
redemption price of Adam and 11is race (I Pet. 1:20); we
are taught that having begun work of salvation God has
not abandoned it, amI does not intend to abandon it, but that
eventually "he Rhall bring forth judgment [trial] unto vic-
tory:"-and that eventually our Lord Jesus shall see the
fruit of the travail of his soul on man's behalf, and shall be
satisfied :-that eventually the knowledge of the Lord shall
fill the whole earth, and all shall know him from the least to
the greatest; that eventually he shall bring in everlasting
righteouqnesq. so that the time shall ultimately come when
all the families of the earth shall be blessed with the knowl-
edge of God's goodneqs and grace, and with an opportunity
to benefit thereby; that eventually whosoever will not obey
the great Prophet-King shall be cut off from amongst the peo-
ple in the second death; that, eventually there shall be no
more dvmg:. no more Rig:hing:, 110 more crying. no more pain
there, because the former things of Adamic sin and its pen-
alty and blight shall have been done away.-Isa. 14:24, 27;
55: 11; :Matt. 12 :20; Isa. 53: 11; 11:9; Jer. 31 :34; Acts
3: HI-23: Rev. 21 :3, 4
But many of God's dear people overlook these gracious
provisions and promises of his Word, and partaking to a con-
siderable extent of the spirit of love they forget that God's
love is still greater than their own, even as God's wisdom is
greater than tlleirs; hence they lose sight of the fact that
the entire plan of salvation is of God, and that he has not
abandoned it to others, but will carry it out himself in his
own due time. It is because they forget this that they be-
come burdened with the weight of responsibility, and feel
tho the salvation of the world reqted upon themselves-and,
impresqed with this feeling of selfimportance and forgetful-
nesq of God's 'Vord, they go into the mission work, slum
work, and to the heathen. Thpy forget, and are greatly dis-
bv so doing, that God has already declared, "As
the heavens a're higher than the earth, so are my plans higher
than your plans, and my ways higher than your ways."-Isa.
-55:8, 9.
AR a consequence of this oversight and misdirection of ef-
fort, dpar friends are doing works now which God in-
tends sha II be done in a future age, and which can and will
be done thcn to very much better advantage every way. God
has appointed the Millennial age for this work of lifting up
the ,,eak. opening the blind eyes of the barbarians, and un-
stopping their dull ears to hear the message of divine grace.
God haq appointed that when his time for thiR great work, in
which he is more interested than any of his creatures possibly
could be. will come, the conditions will be favorable to the
sucpe<;Q of his plan, which he guarantees us will succeed, and
will bring ble<;sing-s to all the families of the earth, and will
enlighten eyery man born into the world.--Gal. 3: 16, 29;
John 1:9; Acts 3:19-21.
God'<; "'ord informs those who seek his counsel, that at
that time Ratan shall be bound so that he may deceive the
nations no more, as he is now doing (Rev. 20: 1-3): that dur-
ing that period of Satan's restraint those whom he now
blinds (2 Cor. 4: 4 ) with various doctrines, sophistries,
superstitions, etc., will be freed from these, and have the eyes
Rnd ears of their understanding opened. It informs us also,
that at that time he will establish as the King over all the
earth hi<; honored agent, who gave his life as a ransom for
mankind; and that our Lord Jesus will establish the kingdom
of God amongst men, a kingdom not merely ill name, but also
in power and in fact j one which shall rule the world, forcibly
putting down sin, oppression, ignorance, superstition, dark-
ness; and rai<;ing up righteousness, truth, and every good
principle and influence for the and uplifting of those
whom Ill' purchased with his blood. It informs us
that under his beneficent reign all evil shall be subdued, that
eYen dpath shall be conquered: and that all mankind, freed
from the Adamic sentence of death, may, if they will, then
attain unto eternal life and full human perfection, and that
only the wilful sinners against light and opportunity will be
utterly destroyed in the second death.-l Cor. 15 :24-28; 2
Thess. I: 8, 9; Acts 3: 23.
The same Word instructs us that the Lord's plan for the
present age does not purpOse the conversion of the world;
nor its salvation in any sense of the word; nor its uplifting;
but that his plan, on the contrary, is simply the development
of the church, the foreordained and predestinated number, a
"little flock," who must all be selected from amongst men,
and everyone of them be copies of God's dear Son. (Rom.
8: 29) It also informs us that this work of God in this age
is the work in which we are invited to be co-workers together
with God. It points out to us that this is the work of the
bride-to make herself ready for the marriage (Rev. 19: 7) ;
that the special work in this present time consists not only in
the "calli<ng" of the church, but also in the building up of one
another, among the called ones, in the most holy faith ;-help-
ing one another to perfect holiness in the reverence of the
Lord,-showing us that a large part of our work is in our
own hearts, cleansing ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh
and of the spirit, helping one another to make our calling
and our election sure, by perfecting in our hearts the Golden
Rule.-2 Cor. 7: I; Jude 20.
But overlooking the particular service marked out for
those who would be co-workers with God in this age, our dear
friends, now criticised, misuse their Golden Rule, by apply-
ing it outside of the class for which the Lord intended it in
this age. It will be applicable to all the heathen world and
the sub-stratum of society in the Millennial age, but now it
is applicable chiefly to the household of faith. True, if we
could accomplish all that the Lord would have us accomplish
for the household of faith, it would then be very proper for
us to extend our efforts to the heathen and lower strata of
society, rather than to sit down in idleness; but so far from
finding that we have not enough to engage our time in the
household of faith, we find that we are in the harvest-time
of the age, and that the harvest is great and the laborers are
few, and that there is much more than enough to engage all
our time and energies among the "brethren" whom the Lord
our God has called. Hence the Golden Rule calls us to be
exercised chiefly amongst these, and not amongst those whom
the Lord our God has not yet called, but who are left, in the
divine plan, for a calling and blessing of another kind in the
next age-the Millennial age.
Looking back we see that our dear Master, who gave the
Golden Rule, observed it in the manner We are now advocat-
ing. Living in the end of the Jewish age, and knowing that
the divine favors and blessings at that time were confined to
fleshly Israel, our wrd, with a full appreciation of the Golden
Rule, nevertheless used it in strict harmony with the Father's
plan; and accordingly instructed his hvelve apostles also,
saying, "Go ye not into the way of the Gentiles. and into any
city of the Samaritans enter ye not; for I am not sent save
to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matt, 10 :56; 15:
24, 26) Likewise the apostles understood that while, at the
death of Christ, the middle wall of partition, which had here-
tofore separated divine favor from other nations, was now
broken down, so that, so far as God was concerned, the Gospel
message was open to every creature,-nevertheless, that every
creature had not open ears for the Gospel, and that accord-
ing to the Lord's plan he would not open their ears until his
due time, the Millennial age, and hence it was that the apos-
tles sought for the class to whom the present message, the
high calling for the church, was intended,-"He that hath an
ear, let him hear."
Pursuing this policy of searching for those who had ears
to hear, the Apostle Paul, sent by the Lord to be the great
messenger of grace to the Gentiles, did not say within him-
self (as some of our dear missionary friends seem to say
within themselves), I will seek out the most illiterate and
degraded people in the world, that I may lift them up. Had
this been the Apostle's sentiment he doubtless would have
hastened, with his coadjutors, southward from Jerusalem into
darkest Africa, or eastward from Jerusalem into India, with
its hundreds of millions, and still further eastward into
China, with its hundreds of millions, in utter ignorance of
God and steeped in superstition. But the Apostle had made
a better study of the divine plan, and knew that the times of
restitution, the Millennial age, was set apart by God for this
general uplift of mankind; and that it would be a waste of
effort to undertake to do that work in advance of God's co-
operation; in advance of his time and in advance of his ar-
[2690]
SEPTEMBER I, 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER
(266-267)
rangements, which his wisdom foresaw would be necessary
to the accomplishment of that work.
The Apostle reasoned, on the contrary, "God hath ap-
pointed a day in the which he will judge the world in right-
eousness" (Acts 17: 31), and that appointed day is a future
day, the Millennial day; and if God has appointed that day
to be the time for the world's judgment, it would be folly
on my part to attempt to bring in a judgment of the world
sooner tharr God intends it, even if I were able to do so. He
reasoned, further, that if God has appointed a future day for
jurlging the world in general, then the world in general is
not on trial or under judgment in the present Gospel day, and
hence might just as well be left in their heathen darkness a
little longer, as God already had left them in heathen dark-
ness for more than four thousand years,-and he reasoned
wisely, logically. He was instructed of the Lord, and hence
he had the spirit of a sound mind, and did not attempt to do
an utterly impossible and hence a foolish thing. He did not
attempt to be either wiser or more loving than the Heavenly
Father, but trusting to the Heavenly Father's wisdom and
love he sought to know the will of God now, in this present
age, that he might thus be an ambassador for God and a co-
worker together with him.
was he left in darkness. He was instructed of the
Lord, and he in turn instructs us, that the work of the pres-
ent age is the work of preparing the judges of the world, who,
when the great day of the world's judgment or trial shall
have dawned, will be prepared to execute judgment and jus-
tice in the world, and to bless with a righteous rule all the
families of the earth. He informs us that the saints now
being tried (judged), tested and developed in character are
undergoing this severe process, and are required to walk in
the "narrow way," to the intent that they may be fit to be
instruments of God for judging the world in righteousness
when the due time for that judgment shall have come. (1
Cor. 0:2, 3) Consequently, we find that the Apostle's ener-
gies, so far from being directed to the substratum of society,
the heathen and the barbarians, were directed to the very op-
posite plass. He sought the best people in the world; the
most mornl people and the most intelligent; the people most
advanced in every sense of the word-believing, and rightly,
that the reasonable and gracious plan of God would com-
mend itself better to such than to the sodden and benighted
and stupefied and degraded minds of the barbarian heathen.
the Apostle first sought the intelligent classes
of Minor, and after having gone through various cities
(not attempting nor expecting to convert the people en
massI', but merely hoping, in harmony with the divine pro-
gram, to find a few, a little flock, and to establish these in
principles of righteousness and in the School of Christ, to
learn of him and to develop character, and to be prepared for
the future work of judgship and joint-heirship with Christ
in the kingdom) -the Apostle pressed on to find still others
who had "ears to hear."
The declaration of the Scriptures is that he and his com-
pany purposed to go into Asia, but that under divine provi-
dence he seemed to be hindered from going there, and that
then God specially directed him in a dream, and sent him into
Europe with the message-sending him, not to barbarians, but
to the most enlightened and most cultured people of the then
civilized world, the people of Greece. (Acts 16:7-10) And
we remember that later on the Lord sent the Apostle to Rome,
telling him in advance that this was his purpose, and seem-
ingly in order to keep the Apostle in Rome he was sent there
a prisoner, yet for three years was permitted to have full lib-
erty to preach Christ to as many as had ears to hear. And
let us not forget a circumstance which occurred in ca.anection
with the journey to Rome, when the Apostle was ship-
wrecked on the Island of J\lelIta. (Acts 28:1-10) He found
there a people who, so far as we are able to jUdge, were on
the average better prepared for the truth than the Chinese,
Malays, etc., and of these the record says, "The barbarians
showed us no little kindness." We might suppose that bar-
barians who were disposed to be kind and generous to people
who were ship-wrecked on their coast, would be a rather
more favorable class to approach with the gospel of Christ
than cannibals, to whom missionaries of today frequently go.
And yet what do we find as the result of the Apostle's
stay in the midst of that people all that winter! Do we
read that he left several fiourishing little missions! Do we
read that he preached day and night unto the barbarians!
Not a word of it ;no mention is made of the slightest effort
to reach them. The Apostle seemingly knew that they were
too degraded to have any ear to hear the Christian message,
or to be called with the high calling which God during this
age is sending forth, to gather the bride for his Son. We
have every reason to believe that the Apostle made no effort
whatever to make known the Gospel of Christ to those
heathen people. Quite possibly while he was there forcibly
detained in their midst, and unable to reach those who would
have an ear to hear the good tidings, he may have attempted
to suggest to them certain moral reforms, or how to live more
comfortably, or something else that would come within the
range of their measure of intelligence. But apparently he
had no thought whatever that the Gospel "High Calling" was
for such, and hence the Golden Rule, operating in his life and
governing his conduct, was limited accordingly-limited to act
in harmony with the divine revelation and the divine plan.
Vi'hy is it that the example of Jesus and his inspired apos-
tles is overlooked by so many of our dear Christian friends
today? Why is it that they use their Golden Rule without
respect to the divine plan and divine promise! We answer,
It is because some of them are leaning to their own under-
standing, instead of seeking the divine word, and to be taught
of God; they think they know what ought to be done without
inquiring of God's Word, and they are going about to do what
they think should be done, rather than seeking to follow
heaven's directions and Apostolic example. Many of them, in-
deed, are not self-conceited to the extent of being careless re-
spectiug advice; indeed, many of them are quite lacking in
thought on their own part, and only too willing and too anx-
ious to take advice of others; but they are not sufficiently
careful where they get the advice.
They say to themselves, We belong to the Presbyterian
body: look at its millions; look at its education; look at its
influence. Or, We belong to the Methodist body: look at its
numbers, influence, etc., etc. The same is true of the others.
And then they ask, Is it possible that all these wise and
learned men should be mistaken! Do they not all advocate
that we should thus go out to preach the gospel amongst the
heathen? Yes, we answer; this is a part of the delusion:
many of the great and worldly-wise have adopted a theory,
and are attempting to operate the Golden Rule wholly outside
of and in utter neglect of the divine plan. Their theory is
that God's kingdom has come, and they point to the civilized
nations of Europe and America as evidences and proofs that
God's kingdom has come, and they say, What all zealous
Christians should now do is to convert the Chinese nation, the
Japanese nation, India, and all the tribes of the earth, that
these also may become Christian nations like those of Europe
and America, and thus the whole world will become God's
kingdom.
But we answer, This is false, utterly false; the nations of
Europe and America are not God's kingdom, notwithstanding
the fact that they claim to be Christian nations, and that
they put upon their coins that their monarchs reign by the
grace of God. They are all, at best and at most, "kingdoms
of this world," under the control of Satan, "the prince of this
world." (John 14:30) These are the kingdoms which at the
advent of Christ's kingdom he declares shall be broken in
pieces as a potter's vessel, as being utterly unfit for his serv-
ice, an4 utterly out of harmony with the principles of right-
eousness which will be established in his kingdom.-Rev. 2 :26,
27; Dan. 2 :45.
Alas! if these kingdoms of so-called Christendom be the
fulfillment of our dear Redeemer's prayer which he taught us
as his disciples, "Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on
earth as it is done in heaven"-if we must accept these as
God's kingdom, if we must think of their rule as being God's
will done on earth as it is done in heaven-then some of us
are greatly disappointed, for we find that God's will is very
little done on earth, and consequently heaven, if no better
than this, must be a pandenomium in comparison to what we
had hoped for.
But we are not mistaken j the Lord's Word everywhere
teaches that the present Gospel age is for the selection of
the kingdom class, the saints, who by and by, in God's due
time, shall be joint-heirs with Christ in his kingdom, and in-
heritors with him of the great promises made to Father Abra-
ham, that this seed, Christ (head and body-GaI. 3:16,29),
shall bless all the families of the earth, as God's kingdom
bringing in everlasting righteousness. Would to God that we
could assist to some extent in opening the blinded eyes of
Christendom on this subject: and yet we could not hope to
render any assistance to the general mass of churchianity,-
for it is the divine plan that not the "tares," but only the
"Wheat," shall now understand.-Dan. 12: 10; 1 Thes. 5 :3-5.
All we can hope for is that those who are the Lord's true
[2691]
(208-26Q\
ZION'S W.ATCI-l TOWER
saints are !lot, and nevPf have been, fully sati'lfied with the
position in which they nrp. and the work' which they are do-
ing; but rell h7e a heart-hunger for somethillg better, more
satisfllctory. and more in harmony with the divine ehaucter
and PO\\ er-th,lt these" Iw have ears, and who have already
heanl to extpnt the trup Gosppl, might now hear the true
nng of the vOice. :llld tim., bl' called away from
Babyl(lI1 and its confusion of error. Its jargon of contradlc-
tiun an,l m"mCPJ lty, to the green pasture'" ancl "till waters of
dlvinc trnth--prc's'"nt tJ nth-thnt thuR "epa rated (delivpred
from Babylon's bondage) they might be more fully united
with the Shepherd himself, and become co-worker'l together
with God in his work, learning to the Golden Rule
in their own hearts, in their own lives, and to help others of
the household of faith and the bride of Christ to do the SRme
Nor are we to overlook the fact that while the present
Go'lpel me'lSllge i'l for the highest types of men, it appeals spe-
cially to the middle class of these-the hUlllble but intelli-
gent rather than the rich or great. "Even so, Father: for so
it seemed good in thy 11 :25. 26.
WATCHING AND ITS REWARD
LL;JU: 12: 35-46.-SEPT. 23.
\'IlLIJI'X T,.;x'l :---"lVatch and pray, that yc enter /lot into temptatlOn."-Matt. . .j.1
,'r b gc,od. it, IS ab"olutely to Chris- rewllnl-hc would honor them by treating them a'l his friend-
tian lIfe [t lllrans. not onl.v ,1 livlJIg faith, bnt a :!rowing and bring forth to them of the good thing''' from his pantry
faith. l>.pl'rH'IH'p \\ ill prove that neglert of eithpr privnte He would indeed gird himself as a servant and sent' tl,esl'
,'r D!.ll t (j: (j) or pra}pr in the congregation of the fllithful ones: and for the ma'lter of the hou,,(' to do thi,
Lord', T""'llc' IAc,ts 12:12; 1'14; 16:1:1; 1 Cor. 11:4,5; would imply the bringing forth of the very hl,q that he po-
14:1:; it, i" "llJe to Iracl to Icannes., of soul and lukewarm- But in 01 de,' to fulfil thc conchtIOn" ."1.1 he t ll11'-
nes', In r"-!,('ct to spiTltna I things-unfaithfulne.,s, coldness, llcrpptable to thpir mnster thpy must he rpacly in \\ hatf'\ PI'
death (In the- contr.ll'Y, rOIIIIllunion "ith the Lord in prayer hour of the night he might come.
bring'! ('(,Tifidence in the Lord's supervh;ion of our The parable. without question, refers to the' 8econcl eOlll-
mr'IPn-ed L1Hh in all tll(' e'(cepdinl{ gre.Jt and ing uf our Lord Jesu
Q
. and point" out to all of his hithful
pro!l1I'-cs Ilf hi, \\ ore!; inerea'led realization of his servants the propel' attitude of watchfulness 'lITc! plpparati'm
past lnd pn',-c ;It; Inc'I"a-l"! l(w!' fc,r all the of Chri"t, to receive him at whatever time his s('c(JllIl a,!Yent shon]o!
amI ilH'1 (a'-.eo! "olieituel. for their welfare aTHl 'lpiritual prog- occur. It also indicates that it was thp Lord's gr,ocl pl(',lSllre
H'_S_ I'la\C'1 thlh ,,]osl'h awl aetively ic!entitied with prog- not to reveal definitely and po'litively to his peol,l" when t
le-'.; in "flililll,11 prO;!r('''R in thp fruits of the flpirit. expect his :urival, but rather that all th(' "n:-. do\\n tl110llg11
to" ar.1 Cod, til(' hrptln pn. aTHI nII men. this night-time which wp deQignate tIll' Go"ppl anti which
0111' (;"l,l('n T.,t s, howpver. that more than praying must necessarily precpde thp morning of the Ilpnni.ll .la:-.,
ill npc'e-snr\'. Pnlying that docs Tlot fully represent the spnti- they t;,hou1d be continually awake, alert. waitlll,", for him
of tlw npolft is apt Hry quick!.,' to degeneratl' into a ready to receive him at any moment. Thp)' shoul'l have tIll
merp ff,nn of \\ords-drawinr nigh to till' 1,ord with thp lips luins of their minds girt up and !lP acti\(, III thuught. III
while tllp llPillt. far from him,-pprl:Hp_- enwrapped in busi- word and in deed. in eYery matter peltaining to the ;\Ia"trr',
ne"'l or or sin. \\'hoever. th('rpfore, wfluld Tl1'lke- serVice, that they might be approved of hill! ;-tlt(, lamp of
in tlte sl,ilitual way must not unly pray with thl' the divine \Vord, so necessary to their enlightpnlllput, "houle!
'lpirit nll'! witll the u!lcleIRtanding-. hut he must al'lo watch- be with them, and well o.;upplied ",ith tllP oil of the
al!aillQt thp tpn(lencie., of hi., own flesh-self-gratifica spirit-and" ell trimmed. in the sens,' of lightly ,Iividlllg till
tion, al"o ng-ain"t the allllfl'mellts of the world word of truth, and speking to uucler"tall<! through It thell
to\\nre
1
"o-p:111c<! \\'01'1<11.\' plpallfl's, worldly amhitions, honor proper attitude of heart anrl conclud, to hI' pleasing to thpir
anwng'lt ll1pn. tit" love of m,-,IIPY, pte.; alb!) agllinst the wiles Master.
"f tllP :\111 ('1-,1 n', dp('citfnl usually come upon The parable is a very simple one, and conlcl scarCl'ly b"
t1.p Lon!'" 1'(''1ple llR ":m :lngcl of light"--to dp"eivp them into misapprehended by the class for whom all p,uahlps are in-
iorm'l nne! eC'l'pm'1l1i(',; of Cl'turcltianity, buh'ltituting before the tended-the consecrated church. These rcalize at once thaI
minel fOwl nfl'I" ti0n., nll,l cOTl'!('crnt...l intentionQ, human senti- tho rentral thonght with thplll, as the Lord's vanb.
1I](,llt- "nd m<'th",l., ,'nd WOI k'! and ohiectiv('Q, as in'ltead of be such readincss of heart and minrl and charactpr as will !)('
"t hp honp -"I llf'l,)] " u_ III thp (lo"pel" (Col. 1. ancl its pleasing to the Mastpr when he shall come to gather hl-
\,Ilion- I 11 ,lIl1] plp"ion" plomis<'". hI' who_,' lB- "jewels,"-his watching, faithful This thought of
,'Pllti\-.> th,' L'II'<1 h"" ('nll"d u" to walk and to )'UB, by faith the return of the Lord, and of the blessings whl('h he ha;.
.In<1 Ill'\. h\ ',,:,:itt, f,>11Ilwillg in thl' footst('P'l of our Reae!'mer. promised to his faithful once at that time, 1"; the great ineen-
Oil' l"",,'m t1 dp:l I" pnrticularly with the watching; tive set before the called onee of this GO'lpel age. It is fOJ
h,d ITI l:,lrfllony \\ ilh tile Goldcn Text we know that all true the Master's favor and the couspqueni pxalt Itilln with hllf'
.. he and that all fervent to a share in his kingdom, then to be esta1Jli'lhed, and a shaT<'
,Ii 11 :1'", b., \\'nt 1'1' rpprespr.ts the faith; wateh- in the great work of blessing the world of mankind, then t(l
111;': Tlpl'<'-"Tll'\ rill' work, whi('ll 1I1ust accompany it. so long be accomplished, tllllt all of the saints alP 'lepking, watching
,\-. It i" :1 lidllg' f-Jith; for, as the Ap0'ltle Faith praying, striving.
'\'j+ll()ut "0] i" dcad-it Ql'(,Pllil.v lOR"" it,-, nIne \\'1'11 ha'l the Apost1(, ,-aid. "He t.hat hnth this hope in him
e,i-ir'n,c'. 'fj tl I' If 1 [th
' pun (' 111m"!' !'ven as ll' e looked-f..r Master] is pure,"
0111' 1.01 <l g'IH' a pa 1.1.1>1" ,1b "h hi" ('u"tOIl1 III teaelling It i'l tlds hope that l('ads the faithful 'lei vants continuallv
1" jlJu-h ,1'.\' fbi'! leb"Jll of till' Tll'('(-,,,;ij V f(l)' ""!ehfulnc",,. to the lamp of the divine 'Vord, to trim it and to thereb;'
_\ \\",111111' I"lll-..Jw!ckr rpI)!'e"cntp;l as aho;pnt for a COTl- ,
keep them'lelves thoroughly awake, quick of ear and quick
'I.]np ble 1'01': illn of t he night .1t a wedcling-feast, and expect- of eve in respect to any and ever.v thiTlg relatin"rY to the will
Ill" on IIi., Idn1'll tllo1t thp servants of thp hOll'lpho1cl would b"
- of the expeetpd J\fa'ltrr, and such conditions of
,I \\'a Ll' HI ,1 ,']C'I t 10 rpc,,'ivp him amI any eomr
an
:-.' h,' and robe'l of righteou'lncss as would be and accept-
I" \\ J1h ltim It. \Va'l p'\pectpcl of such "PHant'l thnt th!'y nhle in hi'! 8ight at his arrivJ.l.
I "1lJ.] lIot ,mlv not retire to hpcl. hnt that tl\('" would not
.. \,'11 ;Ic'! To g-ivp thpir IILI-ter a pl'oper receptioTl Let. all watchers fully appreciate this pnrable, and be UlJ
11",\' -1r0ul<l bl' tlwron;..(hl.\ :1\\,lkl'. 'luiek to hpnr aIHl, to 1'1'- guarrl ag-ninst ('very l'nswnement of the advpr"J.ry, and
-polld to knrw].;:. anc! to "ol'l'n unto l
l
im immrdlately," ag-ainst thp stupcfying influPTlce of the world and it;; spirit.
i i,'Il"I'. in Ul(' pnrnhle. such sc'rvants are n'l hav- and against the selfishnes'l llnd weakne'l'les of his O\\,n flesh:
Ill!! thpir loins gil t about and their lamp'! burning hrightly. anrl let ench put on the graces of the spirit. and as'list his fel-
'1'11 .'n"tnm of Ori,ontalR at that time wa., to wear long, loose. 10w-servllTlts in thef-e prepnrabons. that thus an entrancp
110\\ i rohps. Thp'lp. whpn thl'y wpre T('sting, wen' 100'leTled may be to him into the evprla.,ting kingdom of our
,II, tllp roildlp hut when to thpy were drawn Lord and Savior, ,Tesus Christ.-2 Pet. 1 :4-12.
Ligllth at the \\'.1 i-t With a gin1l(' 01" belt, them 'Vhat great blindness and spiritual stupor respecting so
from intprlC'rin).! with proper service. Lamps, which "c'le the simple a !lllrahlp i'l maTlifeste(l by m'lll:-" who lln' regarrlpd ll;.
1ll0rle of illumination. wpre al'lo TIPeeSsary in the and tellehers in nominal Zion, in respect to this leRson! Note the
"houlcl not he pprmitted to grow dim. 'but be trimmed as int!'rpr!'tation of it offered by one of thp leading "Helps to
rpfJuirpcl. Runrlay School teachers." The writer evirlently is not so
0111' Lord point'l out that such faithful servants would be blind to fail to see that the parahle relates in some man-
l1ppreeiated by tlleir mastl'r, and that h(' would give them a ner to the second ('oming of OUl' Lord; but he is so blind!'d
[2692]
SEPTEMBER 1. 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER (269-2701
by misconceptions, false doctrines, etc., as to give the follow
ing as an explanation:-
"The comings of the Lord are ever unexpected to us,-his
coming at death, his coming to judge the world, his coming
in his kingdom, his coming in the harvest-times of men, his
coming in the crises of our lives, his coming with opportuni-
ties and open doors, his coming with the power of the holy
Spirit."
This blind teacher thus believes in seven coming'! of Christ,
additional to his first coming eightecn centuries ago. More
than this, the words we quote signify that the writer belicves
that a coming of Christ occurs every time a death occurs (or
possibly he limited this to the death of his saints; but other
teachers of the same school of darkness, when preaching
funeral <;ermons, are accustomed to announce the Lord's com-
ing in the dpath, not only of saints, but of pretty nearly ev-
erybody). This writer further claims a coming of Christ in
all the crises as well as in all the opportunities of human
life. Hp evidently believe'! (may we not say, dreams?-
he surely is not awake, and surely his lamp is not
trimmeo and burning, nor the loins of his mind girt about)
that there are millions of comings of Christ. Moreover,
speaking' (in his dream,,) as a mouthpiece of the great ad-
versary. he speaks of the harvest-time of men-evidently to
oireet attf'Rtion away from the Master's explanation that the
harve"t-tim(' will be "the end of this age." in the which he
hiJmelf will be the great Chief Reaper, and will associate
with him his faithful servants in the work of gathering the
"heat (hi<; faithful) into his barn (the spiritual conditIon).
--r.htt.
Kote another method of wresting the Scriptures, and of
atb aeting the minds of the Lord's people away from the great
truth evprywhere set forth in the Scriptures, and particularly
enuneiated in this parable, viz., the second coming of our Lord
afl King'. ann the duty of all his faithful ones to be ready,
expecting and joyously waiting for that event. This perver
sion ano wresting of the Scriptures is in the interest of tem-
peranee. and represent"! the watching as implying temperance
work, thu<;: "Not only those who are laboring and praying
for tcmperance reform, but the young people especially,
should he wide awake ann watchful in regard to temperance.
l-ohoulo watch the effect of strong drink upon others.
should 1ratch its effect upon the community. They
<;houlel he on their guard against the smallest beginnings of
the hnhit of ming into,;:jeating liquors. They should watch
for opportunities of helping on the cause of temperance by
woro and hy example, in public and in private."
Is it anv wonder we hear the Master prophesy respecting
the unfaithfulness amongst his profes'!ed people at this time,
saying, "\\nen the Son of Man cometh, shall he find the faith
on the ea I't h ?" The form of the question implies the answer.
No: h(' will not find the faith flouri"!hing in the earth,-not
prPflOminnting. Other Scripturefl, however, assure us that
at the time of his coming he will find a little flock of faith-
ful wntchers-not mnny great, wiS<' or learned, but chiefly
"the poor of this world, rich in faith, heirs of the kingdom."
As for Babylon in general, she is saying, with louder yoice
than evpr, Have we not done! done! done! Are we not rich
and incren"en in goods! Are we not compassing sea and land
to make proselytes!
But the Ma<;ter will say, Thou art poor and blind and mis-
erahle ann nnked. and knowest it not! (Rev. 3:17) Thy
colleges, of which thou dost boast, are they not the very hot-
beds of infinelity, denying my Word-denying that my work
was perfel't in the beginning, and that present conditions of
Rin linn negradation and death are the penalties of violfltion
of my righteous law; denying also the value of my sacrifice
for sins, given that the heavenly Father might be just and
vet the justifipr of him that believeth in me; denvinO' that
holy men of old spake and wrote as they were by the
holy spirit, and claiming a Imperior wi"!dom as "higher crit-
ICS," by which they determine that myself ann my chosen
and lllspil'ecl apostles werc ignorant and incompetent ann
e!ecpivpd whpn we quoted the words of the prophets and ap-
plien them; nenying also my second coming, to gather my lit-
tle flock thc churell, to assoeinte thpm with me in the kingdom
promisPd through the prophets, which shortly shall bles"! all
the families of the carth; claiming, on the contrary, that all
things continue as they were from the beginning.-that a
proceRs of evolution is in progress, and that no Redeemer, no
renPlllption and no restitution are necessary-some of them
going so fnr as to claim that no personal deity is necessary
hnt that what they call the laws of evolution are the creator,
prpserver and savior of the race.
Is it any wonder that under such false teachings in high
places, and the same teachings repeated with more or less of
ability throughout the length and breadth of Babylon-is it
any wonder that my people are "perishing for lack of knowl-
edge"? (Hos. 4: 6 ) They have "hidden the key of knowl-
edge," and not only fail to enter into the privileges and op'
portunities of this Gospel age and its eall but them that
would enter in they hinder by their false and mis'
representations, putting darkness for light, and light for dark
ness.-Luke 11; 52; 2 Pet. 2: 1; 3: 3, 4; Amos. 8: 11; Matt.
23:13; Isa. 5:20.
Alas! that any whose eyes of understanding have been
opened in any degree should be deluded into supposing that
he can do God service by co-operating with Babylon in an)
measure, sense or degree. Surely they are under the blinding
and stupefying influence of the adversary when they do not
hear sharply and distinctly the Lord's meRsage to all of his
true people at this time, tg come out of Babylon and be not
partakers of her sins, her errors, her false teachings, and the
crime implied in these, and on account of which severe scour"'
ings are coming upon Babylon, and will fall with
severity upon tnose who had known better, and who for an\'
reason have refused to obey the voice of him that speaketh
from heaven-our present Lord, King, Bridegroom.-Heb
12 :25-27; Rev. 18 :4.
Our Lord applied the parable in few words, saying, "Be
ye, therefore, reany also, for the Son of Man cometh at an
honr thnt ve think not." Thnt i"! to saY, watchfulne<;s for the
great event of the King's return wouid be absolutelv
pensahle, and would constitute a mark or indication those
worthy to be called true servants or "brethren." We are not
!o make the mistake of supposing our Lord to mean, Watch
mcessantly, for you will not know when I do come.
would he nn nbsurdity. The central thought of the parable is
that the faitbful servants, awake and watching at the proper
time, will hear the knock, will recognize the Lord's presence.
will open to him, in the sense of believing and accepting hi&
presence, and will be rewarded by him in the time of his
by supplied knowledge respecting heavenly
thmgs whleh would be 'meat in due season" to their comfort
and joy. All who are faithfully watching shall know when
the event occurs, 80 surely as those who do not watch shall
not know.
The Apostle Paul speaks of this same great event and of
the same elnss of watchers, designating them brethren; and
after e"plnining that the seconn coming of our Lord would be
upon the world as a thief and a snare, and that the world
will not escnpe certain trouble and ovelthrow of their
tems nnd politics, he explains that, on the contrary, "Ye
brethren, lire not in darkness, that that day should overtake
you as a thief"-you have your lamps trim'med and burning
As he further explains. the brethren worthy to know and to
escape the troubles incinental to that time do not sleep, as do
others; they are watchful; they are alert, and because tlllls
alert they know of the Bridegroom's arrival, of which the
world knows not; and in the time of his presence these bl'etlJ'
ren fire fen with special spiritual food, whieh the world knows
not of. The Master himself is sending forth, fit the hands of
his servants. the needen meat in due season. thing<; new ancl
old for the strengthening of his hou<;ehold for this prespnt
time of trial and for the perfecting of the saints for the work
of mini<;try, to which he ha"! called them.-l Thess. !): IG.
TO WHOM DOES THE PARABLE SPECIALLY APPLY?
This was Peter's question. He wondeTen whetlwr or not
the Lord meant that the specially ehosen twelve apostle,; were
these servant<; who must wnteh and wait for him at his sccond
coming, 01' whether the parabh' wa<; of general applicntion.
and mennt that everyhody shoulel wnteh. Our Lorn nin not
answer this question directly, for to have done so \\onlel haVe
been contrary to tbe divine plan; to have an<;werpd nireetl,\-.
to have shown that onr Lord was not comin'" in the earl\'
watches of the Gospel night, would have been in contni
diction of the very tt>aching of the parable, that he must b('
wate-hpn for n11 through the Go<;p('l night.
Evading this fenture of Peter'''! que<;tion our Lord em
braees the opportunity to give some further in<;truetion, and
explains to Peter and to us all thnt at that time, "then," i. e.,
at the time of his return, his seeond advent, he woul(l look
out ane! appoIllt a <;tewarn for the dispensing of spiritual
foon to the household of faith: nnd that a <;pe('inl hlp<;sing
wouln he with that stewarn in the event of hiR fnithfulnes:>,
and that he wouln be removed from the stewardship in the
event of unfaithfulness. Faithfulne<;s on the part of this
steward would imply larger and continued service in dispen,,
Ill-SO
[2693]
(271-2i5)
ZION'S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY. PA.
ing the meat to the household of faith at that time. But un-
faithfulness on his part, and a disposition to tyrannize the
household, would be sure to result in his being cut off from
further opportunities for serving the household, and lead to
his having a severe experience with the unbelievers in the time
of trouble then to come upon the world. And altho it is not
,t-lted, it fairly infelable that such an one belllg deposed
irom stewardship, another would take his place, subject to
similar terms and conditions as to faithfulness.
In certain senses of the word, and in cerLain respects,
every child of God is a steward-a steward of his own tal-
ents, opportunities, privileges, abilities in the Lord's service;
and each one is to recognize that his responsibilities as a
steward in respects is toward the Master who gave him
the talents, and who will require at his hands an account
thereof-an increase by rellson of proper use. We are not,
therefore, to understalld our Lord's answer to Peter to imply
that none of the household but the one are in any sense of the
word regarded as stewards. Such an interpretation would
be in conflict with numerous Scriptures. \Ve are to notice
that the stewardship mentioned is not a stewardship of talents
and opportunities, but a stewardship of spiritual food merely.
Neither does it imply that in the end of this age, and at
the time of our Lord's presence and the sending forth of meat
in due that the special steward alone will have to do
with the dispensing of the food for the household, for, as
shown in Matthew's account of this parable (Matt. 24: 45-51) ,
there are "fellow-servants" whose duty and privilege it will
be to co-operate with this steward in the dispenSIng of the
nands, the feedlllg" of the household of faith. The thought
would seem to be that in the interest of the household and for
its comfort and joy and blessing the Master at an appropriate
time would furnish to some one of his servants a key to the
precious things of his Word, thus providing bountifully
'things new and old" for the sustenance and joy of the house-
hold, and minister these through numerous fellow-servants,
as well as through the one to whom the key of this steward-
ship would be specially entrusted.
In this connection we are to remember that every stew-
ardship brings with it weighty responsibilities, and while such
responsibilities are not to be shirked, neither are any of them
to be undertaken lightly, without appreciating the fact that
everyone who becomes a servant of the household of faith
has thereby a larger degree of responsibility, not only toward
the household, but toward the Master of the house, from
whom comes every commission. And every servant is to re-
member that unfaithfulness would surely lead to his removal,
even as every manifestation of humble faithfulness on his
part will endear him to the Master and to every faithful
member of the household, and imply his continuance in the
until the "hall "ay, "\Yell done. good and faith-
ful servant; enter into the joys of thy Lord."
REVIEW OF THIRD QUARTER
REPTEMBER 30.
"lIe ye doers of the wOf'd, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."-James 1:22.
R('vie'ws are h equently profitable, and especially so when
eOn(llleted in the light of this Golden Text; with a view to
notll1rt to "hat e'l:tent we have hpard the voice of the Son of
:Man, "'antI to "hat extent we have been obedient to his mes-
sage's. To L1ncy as making spiritual progress mere-
ly by gaining information respecting the Lord, miracles,
his etc., is to get the nut and crack It and drop
the kerm'!, thl' thing of rf'al value
It iR in harmony with this thought that our Lord de-
clared, "The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of Man, and
the'Y that hcar Rhall live." The dead arc the entire human
fami!". all of whom must hear the voice, the teaching of this
great' Prophet, whom the Father has sent, not only to redeem,
but aIso so many of the human family as will accept
his favors upon his terms. All must hear eventuallv but
comparatively few have the hearing ears at the prescnt' time.
The prince of this world blinds the mind, closes and stupefies
the ear, or makes what may be heard of no effect through
traditions of men, or through hardness and selfishness of the
hearer's own heart. Blessed are our eyes if, seeing and hear-
ing of the Lord's grace and goodness toward us and toward
all of his creatures, we at once fall into obedience to the
spirit of the great Teacher's instructions. In so doing we
will have passed from death unto life-gradually, until, under
the ministry of the great Prophet, as sharers in the first
resurrection, we shall be perfected and possess life in perfec-
tIon, yea, life more abundantly-immortality-the ,1Ivine
nature.
VOl,. XXI
ALLEGHENY, P A., SEPTEMBER 15, 1900
VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER
No. 18
THE SPREAD OF MOHAMJIIEDANISM
If reports are to be believed Mohammedanism is spreading
in Asia and Africa much more rapidly than is Christianity,
This is credited to three reasonA. (I) Its simplicity of doc-
trine, which makes it commendable to persons of low intel-
lectual capacity-Believe in Mohammed and obey his simple
law and have an eternity of sensuous bliss. (2) Its permis-
sion of polygamy, common throughout those countries. (3)
[The following, author unknown, came from India, from a Christian Missionary. It is excellent.]
WHAT IS THE END OF LIFE'l of God. It may be to work or tc walt; to stand fast or to lay
The end of life is not to do good, although so many of us still. 'Tis he, our blessed Lord, who will keep us in his will,
think so. It is not to win souls-although I once thought so. if our eyes are fixed on him.
The end of lIfe is-to do the will of God. That may be the How can you build up a life on that principle? Let me
line of doing good or winning souls or it may not. For the give you an outline of a little Bible reading:-
individual. the answer to the question, "What is the end of The definition of an ideal life:
my life?" is "To do the will of God, whatever that may be." Acts 13:22-"A man after mine own heart, which 3hall
Spurgeon to an invitation to to an excep- fulfil all ,,;y will.".
tionally largc audlene'e, "I have no ambition to preach to The obJect of hfe:
10,000 people, but to do the will of God"-and he declined. Heb. 10:7-"1 come to do thy will, 0 God."
If we could ha l'e no ambittOn past the will of God, our The first thing you need after life, is food:
liJ;cS 1w1Lld be successful. If we could say, "I have no ambi- John 4: 34-"My meat i8 to do the will of him that
tion to go to the l!C'athen; I have no ambition to win souls; sent me."
mv ambition is to do the will of God, whatever that may be," The next thing you need after food is society:
that W011ld make all lives equally great or equally small, Mark 3:35-"Wh080ever sooll do the will of my Father
becausc the only great thing in a life is what of God's 'Yill in heaven, the same my brother, QhI(j sister, and mother."
there is in it. The maximum achievement of any man's hfe, You want educatIon:
after it is ull over, 1S to have done the will of God. Psa. 143:10-"Teach me to do thy will, 0 my God."
Xo man or woman can have done any more with a life- You want pleasure:
no Luther, no Spurgeon, no Wesley, no Melanchthon can have Psa. 40:8-"I; delight to do thy will, 0 my God." A whole
done any more with their lives; and a dairymaid or a scav- life can be built up on that vertebral column, and then, when
enger can do as much. all is over,
Therefore, the supreme principle upon which we have to I John 2:17-"He that doeth the will of God abidet'"
run our lives is to adhere, through good report and ill, through forever."
temptation and prosperity and adversity, to the will of God,
wherever i hat may lead us. It may take you to China, or
you who are going to Africa may have to stay where you are;
you who are going to be an evangelist may have to go into
business; and you who are going into business may have to
become an evangelist. But there is no happiness or success
in any life till that principle is taken possession of. And the
highest service is first, moment by moment, to be in the will
SEPTEMBER 15. 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER (276-277)
Its uniform requirement of total abstinence from intoxicants.
Recognizing the fact that Chri<;tianity makes few proselytes
from Mohammedanism. and that the latter is growing rapidly
in numbers and influence. the Britioh Government has of late
years been attempting to gain the confidence and support of
her Mohammedan subjeC'ts. whose numbl'r is estimated at one
hundred and fifty millions-fifty mIllIOns more than all
denommatlOns of Protestant Christians in the whole world.
Doubtll'sS this change of attitudl' toward the very religion
which all the Crusades of medieval times were waged,
though due to polItical policy. is haeked by the changed re-
ligious sentiment of our day;-which undcr the lead of the
higher critics has declared,-
"The hope of the race lies in a deeper study of the great,
inspired writers of the past, such as Shakespeare. Homer.
Dante and a fpw others, whose works have charmed the minds
of people of t'ulture. The Bible. also, though a little out-of-
date. has been recognized, in the past, as a work of inspira-
tIon. and you may find it helpful to include it in your course
of reading."
General sentiment, therefore, resolves itself into this,-
SInce our wisl' men tell us that the Bible is unreliable, and
that thp dl'ath of Christ Jesus no more redeemed the world
than did the death of other reformers; and since they tell us
that future happiness depends upon the cultivation of our
mental and moral qualities, and that Shakespeare's and other
writings are quite as good or better than the Bible for such
(ultnrl'. how do we know but that the Mohammedan's Bible--
thc Koran-is as good or better than our own, and they as
right as we or more so? Therefore let us not any longer say
wIth tIl(' Bible that there is no other name than that of Jesus
givl'n undpr heaven or among men whereby we must be saved;
but ld us say. Get morality and education in the name of
Mohammed or Jesus or Confucius or whomsoever you please.
Nurh would be the logical outcome of such teachings; and
thereby we are reminded of our Lord's words respecting these
times-"When the Son of Man cometh shall he find the faith
on the earth ?"-Luke 18:8.
WHAT GREAT BRITAIN IS DOING FOR MOHAMMEDANISM
f'hortly atter the capture of Khartoum by General Lord
Kitchener. and at his instance, a Mohammedan college was
founded. known as Gordon College, and more recently another
Mohammedan school was founded at Sierra Leone, on the west
of Africa Thi<; lattl'r institution was opened with con-
siderablc ceremony under the auspices of the acting-governor,
Malor Nathan. and of it the New York Sun says editorially:-
"The ceremony began with a prayer in Arabic offered up
by the Imaum of the mosque, Alfa Omaru, who afterward
gave a short arcount of the efforts to promote education made
by the Sierra Leone "Moslems. He referred to the years 1839
and 1841, when the Mohammedan religion was considered as a
danger to the colony. when Moslems wpre persecuted and their
mosqul's pulled down by excited mobs. Thanks, however, to
an enlightened policy, matters were set right, and for more
than fifty years the Moslems have enjoyed full toleration and
the protection of the British Government. In 1872 the festi-
val of the Lesser Bairam had been attended by the governor,
Sir John Pope Hennessy, with a military escort, and in 1879
another governor, Sir Samuel Rowe, had entertained seven
hundred Moslems at Government Honse on the occasion of the
Bairam Festival of that year. In 18!H Governor Hay handed
mer a fine property with commodious buildings to the Moslem
community for educational purposes, accompanied by a grant
for the payment of the teachers. These successive events were
importartt epochs in the history of Islamism in West Africa,
and the Imaum looked forward to the day when the present
elementary school would become the stepping-stone to a col-
lege."
In his reply Major Nathan cited examples of Moham-
medans occupying official positions in Indian and in Egypt,
and added that,-
"He wished them to perfect themselves in Arabic in order
that they might know what real Mohammedanism is. When
they understood the Koran, he said, they would see that their
religion was one telling them how to live, and not a religion
of charms and gewgaws. Knowing English, they would have
the literature and wisdom of the white man open to them:
and with Arabic, they would be able to read not only the
Koran, but the 'Makamat' of EI Hariri, known already to
some of them, and the 'Alif Lailat wa Lailah,' the translation
of which English people read with pleasure. In concluding,
Major Nathan urged them not to rest content until they had
in Sierra Leone a Moslem college whence wisdom and knowl-
edge might go forth over the whole of West Africa."
The Sun belipves that the importance of the incident can
hardly be overestimated. It .,ays:-
"The news of the official encouragement given to the Mo-
hammedan religion and the culture of its sacred language,
bIC. will in a very short time spread from the Atlantic to
the Red Sea, and the wisdom of the polIcy that dictated it
will be justified by the resulting spread of British influence
among the Moslem populations of North Africa. In all prob-
11 bility it will lead to a corresponding rivalry on the part of
the French, whose hold on the Arabs of Algeria is none tOG
strong, owing to mistakes in policy and the want of character
of many of those appointed to office.
"The next century no doubt has many surprises in store;
but whatever they may be, not the least strange will be the
spectacle of the two \Vestern nations that led in the crusades
promoting, for political and territorial reasons, the creed they
then tried to crush."
However peculiar all this may appear from the standpoint
of nominal "Christendom," it is perfectly clear to all of the
"royal priesthood." We see the fallacy of the claim that
European kingdoms are kingdoms-that the Word of
God never did recognize them as anything but "kingdoms of
this world" ruled by "the prince of this world." \Ve see that
the nominal churches are not the one true Church of "saints,"
whose names are written in heaven. We see that the Crusades,
Inquisitions, and all similar attacks upon human bemgs and
their moral and religious liberties were never authorized by
the Lord; but were wholly contrary to his Word and spirit.
We see that it is perfectly proper and consIstent for worldly
people and governments (English, French, German or what
not) to favor any system or all systems of education and
religion that will in any degree counteract vice and im-
morality, and preserve peace.
'frue, we who have had the eyes of our understanding
opened to see matters clearly from the Bible standpoint could
do nothing against the truth and in favor of error-nothing to
foster and encourage the error or even to apparently bid it
Godspeed. But we are not in official positions where such
questions could come to us: because we are "not of this world"
even as our Redeemer was not (John 17: 16 ), therefore the
world disrespects us (John 17: 14), and offer'! us no places of
public influence. Fidelity to our Lord's principles thus saves
his faithful from perplexities: they have died to worldly poli-
tics and its aims and duties and methods, and have been
"translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son," and are thus
members of the ''holy nation" which has not yet come into
power and ruling authority-waiting for their King to exalt
or set them up in power and great glory at the time when his
kingdom shall be revealed to the world as the supplanter of all
kingdoms of this world.
METHODISM AND HIGHER CRITICISM
"The 'heresy' case of Professor Mitchell (see The Literary
Digest, January 27), has been effectively disposed of for, at
least, some years to come. By the recent General Conference
of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Chicago it was referred
to the bishops, who, apparently finding it as embarrassing a
SUU1Pi't to handle as did the Conference, referred the matter
of Dr. Mitchell's retention to the trustees of Boston Univer-
sity. by making him eligible to re-election for five years-
until, conveniently, after the next meeting of the General Con-
ference. The fact that the trustees of one of the leading
:\fethodist theological seminaries have now unanimousl,\' re-
elected Dr. Mitchell, who is one of the most prominent Ameri-
can exponents of the higher criticism, and has been accused
of deviating widely from the traditional view as to the author-
ship of certain Old Testament books, is regarded as an event
of significance. The largest Protestant denomination in, Amer-
ica thus tacitly votes to retain an upholder of the lvigher
criticism as official instructor of her young clcrics."-Ltterary
Digest.
PRESBYTERIANS BEING SIFTED
The General Assemhly of the Preshyterian Church recently
in session in St. Louis, in reply to overtures for a revision of
its Westminster Confession of Faith, rl'ferred the matter to a
committee, whose business it shall be to learn the opinion of
the local Presbyters and to report to the Assembly of 1901.
The Presbyterian weekly journals give the best clue to the
results, for they are generally under the care of the leaders
amongst the ministry, who generally "try to be on the winning
side."
From the trend of comments by these journals (The In-
terior and The Herald and Presbytl:T alone seem to urge re-
vision) we opine that the Confession will probably not be
revised but reaffirmed. The result of this course would be to
sift out thE. honest but deluded souls in pulpit and pew who
for years have burdened tlleir consciences (and in many in-
stances hardened them) with slander against the divine char.
acter and deceit toward all mankind in professing the West-
[2695]
\278-279) ZIONJS WATCH TOWER A.III'GH!lNV, p"
minster Confession. have for years consoled themselves
with the thought that (1) the Confession is a dead letter any-
way, whiph today nobody believes, and (2) that it would soon
be chang-ed. "perhaps next year,-and my conscience can stand
the strain that much longer." If now that Confession is
reaffirmed by the denomination these will be thereby forced
out to maintain even a vestige of peace with God and a good
conspience toward God and man. The pity Is that their con
scienpeR are not more tender and their hearts more loval to
God and hiR truth that they Rhould act more promptly..
"The phildren of this world [thc "tares"l are wiser in their
g-eneration than the children of light [the "wheat"]," said our
Lon!. And so in this ca'le undoubtedly the reaffirming of the
Westminster Confession is the wisest course so far as the
preRervation of the "tare" organization is concerned. For
though. as above suggested. thiR will drive out some of the
mORt con"cientious, it will be found thflt they all told are but
few. On the other hand were the ConfesRion revised or repudi-
ated it would mean to the rank and file of Presbyterianism,
"We have lost our gods! We have admitted that we were all
wronl! in r{'<;pect to our faith-hlind men who for centuries
have attempted to lead thc confessedly blind world into truth.
and now ('onfe"s ourRelvcs hewildered, yea totally blind as
respcf't<; the diYine plfln'" Every Presbyterian 'would feel
Rlm."hpd fit Ruph a ponfesRion, and henpe it is that such a
revi"ion of crecd is improbable: and if it were seen to b{'
inevitahl{' many would transfer their "good names" and titles
to other rlpnominations b{'for{' the funeral.
"THE PRESBYTERIAN" ARGUES AGAINST REVISION THUS,-
"Too mn('h lla" bern Raid r{'ppntly to weaken the force of
our dodrinal Rtat{'ment". Many whe: n{'ver thought of calling
thpm in f1nrRtion are wonderinl! what they rpallv teach."
Thp ppople would hflve little rliffipn1tv in deciding the mean
lUg of thl1t vHy e"Xplicit :Jnd carefully worded "'Vestminster
('onfp"'lion." were it not thl1t the theologianR having told
thpm, "Thpse be thy god", 0 Presbytprians!" are feflrful that
thp pews (more honest than the pnlpits) Rhall di<;pover how
tfrrihly homelv, yea, devilish, are these galls whic'h they havp
so long worRhipped and served.
C'ontinning. The Prcsbyterian says, "Other" who regard thp
fals{' pon"trnptions put on thpm aR thc work of adverf'aries.
now fincl that even PreRbyterian ministers are declaring them
legitiml1te inf{'renceR. Dl1mage iR being done by the outgivingR
of rarlipfll rpviRionists. The phurph iR snffering, and will con-
tinue to suffer in name and in accomplishment, with years
of reviqion agitation. Her interests be far ad-
t"llnced. in our judgment, by standing by the old standards of
faith and by thei, reaffi1-mation hy our Presbyteries and
Genpral Asspmbly."
Whl1t cloes this language mean in plain English? Is not
the following conqtrnption a reasonable one?
For a long time now our ministers and religious editors
have prpsE'nted a solirl front to the world, and -by claiming
that blflPk in the cn'ed i<; white they havE' succeeded in con-
\'inping Pre"byterians, at !f'ast, that the black parts are at
very most not rlarker than grey or miRt and fog color. But
now tlJi" cliqpus"ion is in danger of disillusionizing the people.
Alrefldv it is giving u<; gr{'at trouble and is likelv to cause
morp (liqfurlmnce anrl not only with our Diana,
hut alqo toward us. the well-paid and honored shrine-makers
and 'VI' arp not thinking about the truth and its
"enirE'. nor ahout tllp int{'rests of the true church. whose
namp" aII' wJitten in heayen; we are merely considering the
IntE'rp"ts of our RPrt, thE' PreRhyt{'rian <,hurch, and how these
mattE'rs will afTp!'t her intl'rests anrl worMly prosperity. \Ve
feel prO\okPd that PI'P'lhyterian ministers who have "tiftI'd
thE'ir l'on"ril'lH'{,b for yearR should be so weak, so pusillanimous,
'lR now to "how tlle whitE' f{'ath{'r flnrl confess that they and
WI' 11 ha \'1' for y{'arR he{'n hoodwinking and deceiving the
Lorcl's who gave us lihpra lly of th{'ir golden fleece to
h'ad thf-m mto paRturpq of truth. As for us, we are commit-
tpd to 111p pro"pprity of Pr{'sll,vterianism-all of our name and
tJtlp :lTlcl rflrthly hop{'<; arp attarllpd to it, and hence, false
though the Confes'lion hE' to en'ry instinct of justice and love
we mu"t f'tick to it-sink or swim, live or die survive 0;
I '
the fongoing spem to be an uncharitable paraphrase
of thE' Prpsh1Jterian's position? L{'t those who so think read
par{'fully thp following extrapt from the Confession and de-
t hpn wh('th{'r anything bptt{'r or nohlE'r than poli<,y leads
It to rlf'fpnrl and call for a reaffirmation of those sentiml'nts
of a rlfl rkpr period. 'VI' have too mm'h ref'pect for the Pres-
hr'1 ins to 5UppORP that it clOE'R not comprE'hend the
!angllll '!p a nd too muc,h r{'spe"t for its heart to suppose that
It at hf'art endorses the presentation as true and just: hence
we can only conclude that it" advocacy is insincere and for
The policy, as already suggested, is worldly-
wise and WIll serve to keep together a little longer one of the
most respected of the human organizations falsely styled
churches; but the end of all such is not far distant as clearly
shown in God's Word and pointed out in DAWN.
VOL. III., Chaps. 1 to 7, and VOL. IV., Chaps. 11 to 13.
The folIo ,ving is the referred to-
EXTRACT FROM THE WESTMINSTER OONFESSION OF FAITH
"By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory,
some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting lifE'
and others foreordained to everlasting death. These angels
and men, thus predesti?ated and foreordained, are particularly
and unchangeahly desIgned; and their number is so certain
and definite that it can not be eitller inereased or diminished
"Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life. God.
before the foundation ot the world was laid according to his
eternal and immutable purpose and the counsel and
good pleaRure of His will, hath chosen in Christ unto evcI-
lasting glory, out of His mere free grace and love witholtt
any foresight of faith or good works or pet'severanee'in eithe1
of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditio1ts or
causes moving Him thereto; and all to the praise of Hi'l
glorious grace.
"As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so hath He.
hy the eternal and free purpo<;e of His will, foreordainpd all
the means theleunto. 'Vherefore they who arE' deet{'d, beinl!
fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called
faith in Christ by his Spirit working in due Reason; are
JustIfied, adopted, sanctified, and k<'pt by HiR power through
unto salvation. Neit.her. are any other redeemed by
ChrIst, effectually caUed, Jltsttfied, adopted, sanctified and
Ra1'()d, but THE ELECT ONLY.
"The reRt of mankinrl God waR pleafled, according to thl'
llllsea.rphable <'ounsel of His own will. whereby He extendeth
or mercy .as he pleaReth, for the glory of hiR
sovereIgn power over hIS creatures, to pass by and to ordain
them to dishonor and wrath for their sin, to the praise of hiR
glorious justice."
DEFECTIVE EDUOATION OF MINISTERS
Rev. D. S. Gregory. D. D., says:-
"In a ministerial body of say seven thou'land there are
perhaps several thousands of UR that nobody will hear preach:
many more that are heard by good people under stress of duty;
and comparatively few that are heard gladly...
"The psychology of the average edllf'ator is fundamentally
defectiye, and hen.ce his pedagogics must be fatally false. H'e
the .exIRtence of a cognitH'e faculty, the power of
aCflUlrmg SImple or raw materials, so to speak, of
knowledge. m perceptIOn external and internal' of a conserva-
tive faculty, or memory, the power of keeping knowledge so
acqUIred for future ,!se; of a comparative faculty, the power
of for up the knowledge acquired and con-
served !nto ('onrE'ptlOns, judgments, arid reasonings. But just
hIS psyphology of the intellect strikes a defld wall which
It seems powerless to pass. He fails to recognize the existence
of the supreme intellectual faculty, to which- all the others are
sUbordinates.8:nd for wllich alone they exist-the CO'/l'
8tructtve or systemtzmg faculty. He does not find it in hi!'
text-books; it has been practically ignored in educational
and methods.. ."
too highflown language for the majority of readers;
we gIve It!! sl'nse in few words thus,-The average minister
learns at college to collect certain fa('ts and theories and to
memorize them; but he never learns how to systemize 'what h('
has learnI'd.
We reply that this is true; nevertheless, it is the bulwark
of Chur{'hianity; for had honeqt ministers or laymen at-
tempted to sY'ltemizc their theology (the errors so largely prl'-
they. have found long ago that all their
theone!! are as nratlOnal as they are unscriptural. No
theology but the old theology of the Bible--the divine plan of
the ages-('an hl' Rvstemired; and it iR sYf'tpm and plan ftllll
order ancl bE'auty throughout, and thus bears the impressions
of its divinE' Author.Jehovah.
EPISCOPAL HIGH OHUROH PERFORMANCES
'1'he Christiam Commonwealth (London) deRc'ribes a marL
recently performed in St. Church, London, as fol
lows:-
"The mass 'for the repose of the soul' of the deceased wa
celebrat{'d, ancl at the funeral service in the church all the
acceRRories of Vatican mummery wer{' obRen-ed. Each of the
congregation of ten received a little candle, which was lighted
before the Gospel waR read, anrl blown out after the reading.
The people's candles were rekindll'd at the Sanctus after
incense-burning. After mass the celebrant left the chair, and
[2696]
"lUTI!M1H..1l 15, 1900
ZION}S WATCH TOWER (279-280)
at the sedilia changed his chasuble for a black cope with yel-
10\\ orphreys and then headed a prvcession with a crucifix.
The catafalque was sprinkled with holy water, and censed,
while petitions were mumbled for the soul of the deceased.
After the clergy were gone the people were invited to asperse
the catafalque with the holy water."
CALAMITIES-WHY PERllIIITTED
The inundation uf the city of Gah'eston, Texas, accom-
panied by great loss of life and property, has shocked the
world. And no wonder; it was surely a great calamity that
five thousand human beings should so suddenly be swept into
death-the grave. Yet the real horror, affecting many minds
III connection with this matter, is never even hinted at in the
great headlines of the daily press announcements. a
it would give if these papers were edited in so-called
'lrthodox style. thus:-
JESUS CAME TO 5,000 GALVESTON PEOPLE.
OF THE NUMRF.R 1m FOUND ONLY ABOUT 100 SAINTS FIT FOR
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
THE REMAINDER, 4,900,
liE TO ETERNAL HOPELess AGONY IN TORMENT,
PR"PARED FOR THFM,
ACCORDING TO HIS }, OREKNOWLEDGE AND
I,OVING DESIl1N.
THF FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.
If our dt>ar friends who profess to believe such blas-
phemous things respecting our Heavenly Father's plan would
come out honestly and state their views thus plainly we
should be glad of it. It would be a great service to the truth.
It would act upon many as an emetic, and help them to get
rid of the unhealthy mass of error which now sickens them
and hinders their appetite for the true heavenly manna of the
divine Word, which then would be to all the Lord's true
people "sweeter than honey."
Tract No.2, of the 'Old Theology" series, treats this sub-
ject of "Calamities and Why God Permits Them." We recom-
mend its liberal circulation at times like this when great
calamities awaken thoughts respecting divine providences, etc.
And we might here remark that we will not be surprised if
the next fifteen years shall witness an increasingly large num-
ber of calamities. To our understanding there are physical
changes necessary to the full introduction of Millennial condi-
tions: these will probably come about gradually, and inci-
dentally cause great trouble and losses. These we understand
are so timed as to form a part of the great time of trouhle
with which our age is to end, which, however, thp Lord de"igns
shall prepare man as well as the earth for further. future
blessings. "\Vhen the judgments of the Lord are ahroad in
the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteous-
ness."
"ZION'S GLAD SONGS"
Our dear Brother McPhail, who has quite a talent for
music, has col1E'eted a number of new and beautiful hymns,-
t,hp mll"ic to the rna jority being own composition. Thpse.
fifty-four in number, are wpll printed, and appropriately
bound in p'1per covers,-price 10 cents each. or $1 per dozen,
postnqe frrp.
This little bQok, entitled "Zion's Glad Song"," has another
featurp which we are surp will he appreciated by many, viz.,
the addition of the music for twpnty-eight old tunes, long.
short, common, and peculiar meters. These are inserted in
tlle interef't of our regular hymn book, "Po('ms and Hymns of
Dawn," the tunes of the remainder being
It is not at all the thougllt that tIl!' new hook will sup-
plant the old one: for many of thp grand old hymns cannot
be eqllaled by any npw onps. either in word" or tllnes. The
thought is to make it sl1pplpmentary. As such we re('Ommend
it to yOll a11. Our first eoition of 6,000 is now ready and
orders will b(' filled as received.
THE VOLUNTEER WORK
This bram'h of the service ha" laggpd a little during the
hot weather, bpcause of small attendance at church
Now that cooler weath('r hag come We expect that it will
revive. Some who have finishl'd their own cities are branch-
ing ollt-enrleavoring to serve nearby towns. This is com-
mendahle. Every faithful solrlier of the eros" is Sl1re to re-
ceive bll'ssings both now and hpreafter from "the Captain of
our salvation." Let us be faithful.
THE DALLAS, TEXAS, CONVENTION
--SEPT. 29, 30 & OCT. 1.--
We do not expect many from outside the State of Texas
at tlli" Convention; for the spepia I excursion ratps are re-
strietpd to near-hy territory. Oklahoma, Indian Territory,
Arkan"as and LOllisiana we believe particip'lte. in whole or
in part. As Texas is a very large state we endeavored to
arrange for two Conventions, but could not obtain the excur-
sion ratl's exc('pt for Dallas.
Our Convention WIll take advantaJ;!e of the cheap rates of
fare grll nted on account of the "Dallas Fair," and slIch
ticket" should be callpd for. If you desire to attend, inquire
of vour ticket ag('nt at once for ratps. train time, etc., and as
dOO'll as pOSSIble let us know on which road and train you
expect to arrive; anit how many will be of your party. males
l.nd f('males; if colored, mention it. Rtate if you desire room
and board at one dollar per day. Those who cannot afford
even this moderate expense will please say so, and some com-
fortable arrangpment will be made for tll('m also.
"'VOODMEN'S HALT." has bpen secured for the u"e of the
Convention. It is centrallv located at No. 34ll Main Street.
It is an easy walk from ail rlepot". but tho"e who desire can
use elpptric ear rlirpet from the rlepot" to thl' hall.
A RFCF.PTION COMMITTEE will so far as possible m('et all
who arrive on the morning of f;ppt. 2llth; hut any failing to
bl' reeoJ;!nized near the Ladies' \Vaiting Room door can r('adily
find Woodmen's Hall as above and should proceed there at
once.
'Ve hope for a goorl attemlanee anrl warrant a warm wel
come and a rich ble"sing to a II true soldiers of thl' ('ros"; and
to those sl'pking to find and put on the whole armor of God
Come, intent npon doin!! "oorl lInto all-pspeeially to the
housel101d of faith. as wl'll as praying a blessing upon your
,;elf, and you surelv will not go away empt\'.
AlTangpml'nts for wfltpr baptif'm will he pomplpt,e.
towels, etc. Yes, "Bro. Russell" will attend
THE CHRISTIAN'S COURSE DELINEATED
David, the Prophet. in the first Psalm, ha,; significantly etc., can he mpant hv tIl(> wit k('(L for sueh. gl'IlPfally at least.
marked out thp proper ChristIan eoursc and its blessings and are dpludpfl and "himlpit by thp god of thi" worl(]" "0 that
outpo!lle. In the fire;t vpre;p he dp"i(!n'ltee; thrpl' p!ae;"ps from they have nl'VPf sppn the tnll' (iocpl'l light; amI not it
whom the Lord's people should stand aloof-three classes with they hn\-e not had suph rpsllonsihditip" in pOIlPedion wilh it
whom if they have fpllowship, it will hp to tllPir a<; \vonl<1 bran,l OH'm :IS wipkPlI from the dl\-ine
(l) The lmgodly. or more properly. the wifked (marglll. standpoint. The "wif'ked" :1re to h" lookl'd for in tlIP P1111rph.
Lel'ser, Yonng). (2) Sinners. (3) Thp "pornfnI. "Hlpse;ed is and in harmony with tillS thonqht is onr Lord's na ra hIe
the man who walkpth not in thl' conn"pl of the wi('kl'd, nor which, rpfprrinl! to the ehur('l. and the talpnte; hcctowrd n)1on
stanopth in the wav of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the itf; mpmllPr'l, dpplares respelting the onl' who rl'('('1\e(\ the
ccornfll1 "-Psa. I: I. talf'nt of the Lord hut fr>i
1
efl to l1SP it-"Thon wi, kpd and
Applving thi" P"alm prophetipally. it i" proper that we slothfnl qprvani." Tht' "wi('kf'fl" of this aqe wonld spprn to he
<lholl1<1 rlf'termine elaf;"ps of persons arl' meant hy the tho"e WI10 have l'nioyl'd thl' lio-ht of divinl' fa \-01'. who han
wicked, the sinner<: and the s('ornful. Vi'e snggp"t that lInrler ('orne to a knowled!!e of the trnth. !Jf'en made p'ntaker" of the
the termfl of the present Gospl'l age. not murderers and thieves, holy spirit, etc., and \\ho then, despite all these favors and
[2697]
(281-282)
ZIONJS WATCH TOWER ALLIlCHI!"lY, PA.
blessings, and despite their covenant with the Lord to be his
seHanb and to lay down their lives in his serHce, neglect the
same
The Apostle also points out a certain class in the church
as wI(ked, saying of them that if they fall away "it IS impos-
sible to renew them again unto repentance" (Heb. 6:6), "for
it had bepn better lor them that they had never known the
way of than that havmg known it they should
turn from the holy commandment." (2 Pet. 2: 21) The same
is agam descnbed as those who sin wilfully after reo
ceiYing a knowledge of the truth, and for whom, consequently,
no further m the bacnfice for bins remains; and conse-
quently no hope for tlwm in the coming age. (Heb. 10:26) In
a word, theil, the wicked plass of the present age would seem,
from the standpoint, to be those in the church nominal
who have received clear lIght and knowledge respecting the
dinne plan, and who have eIther bmned wilfully by turning
from a life of to a life of intentional sin,
or tho"'c who I cpudlatc the precIOus blood of Christ and the
atonement made for them by the same, counting the blood of
the covenant wherewith they were sanctified a common or
ordinary tlllng.
If then we have found a clasB denominated "the wicked,"
1d ll- cOIl'Hlpr \I hat can be meant by the injunction that the
of thl:' Lord shou1f1 not walk in the couusel of these
"I(,hed ... hoJlld Jlot follow their gllldance, their sugges-
tIon-, their m"tructions, their leadmg.
E, ('I" lllan and everv woman has more or less of an influ-
enee wh'lch attracts to \\alk in his way. And all who
rl:'pudiate the ransom, all who deny original sin and its sen-
tpncc of (leath, and the for our redemption from sin
and death,-all who thus deny the foundation of the Gospel,
the "wicked" above dc,cribed, seem to make it theIr special
bU;"ll1ess to endeavor to seduce the minds of others-to lead
othl'rs astray by thl:'ir evil eounsel. If they pannot Recure
prompt attl:'ntion, thpy invariably suggest.-Walk with us
awhIle, keep our company, and see whether you will not
gradually come to brl,ere as we do, that we 1e1'e not bought
1Clth a, price, ev{'n th{' pn'C'iou'l hlood of Christ-that man
needed not to be bought; that hp did not fall from perfection;
that he was not sold under sin by our first parents; and,
hem'e, that h{' ]]{'pde(] not II redemption in any sl'nse of the
word, and therefore the Scripturl:'s are false and misleading in
mhking this the centre and pith of the Gospel.
Their flllpe suggl'stlOn is that our only need was a good
and holy example. TIll'y are hlind to the fact that all through
the past thl're were many noble l'xamples, and that there are
nwny todllY. far the of the average natural
man to follow. amI that we needed something deCIdedly more
Iwlpful and than an cxamplc. They seem blind to
till- fact that an {'"ample would nl'wr justify to life one who
justly condl:'mnl:'d to death. They do not seem to realize
that God was in pronouncing the penalty our
ra('p. and that lIP eould by no ml'ans ell'ar the guilty through
an," process of injustice; and that. therefore, it waB neces-
sary that a ran"am, a corresponding price, should be paid
befol e th{' resurr{'ction and reponcilIation were pos"ibilities.
(Rom. :3:26) But say, \Yalk with us in our counsels and
Sl:'(-: and, aR the Apo"tle many follow their pernicious
"ay.... tIll:' Lord having bought them.-2 Ppt. 2 '1, 2.
Tho... l' "ho "ould lw of the pronounced "blessed" of
tlJe Lord. III our te'd, nmet not follow the counsel of these
"\\,le],;('(1." lmt. on the contra1','" should stand firmly by the
Go"'p,,1 of thl' rl:'(lemptlOn aTil] ;"l'pk no other. Let all who
riP-II'" to 1)(' at thp Lord mark well this counsel and
folio'" it. awl have no whatever with the "wicked,"
nor III any d{'grl:'e walk llft{'r their counsels.
"Sinncr,," Jre ml'ntiow-d as anothl:'r class, separl'te and
di"'tin(t from thl' "w!(,kpd" ahove referred to, and they are
{'\ i(lpntly a class are much less heinous
in till' sight of till:' Lon]' tl1PSl' sinners we must look for in
the (,JllInh aI-a not in the world. Since the world is not yet
on trial ther!'! i9 nothing to (h'monstrate the standing of any
of it" ppople. The "sinners" of our text we would under-
staml to hp those who, without repudiating the covenant, with-
out the Lord that bought them, and thus falling
uttl:'rly from di"ine favor. are nevertheless failing to live
according to the terms of their covenant, their consecration.
Thpse woul(1 to he against the covenant they have
made-thoce who fail to carry out the covenant of self.
"aenfipe, This class possibly includes some who are described
by the Lord "overphargl'd with the cares of this life and
the deceitfulness of riches," and who for these reasons are
!linners against thcir covenant. violators of it. The Lord's
people who would be of the "blesRed" of the Lord, and receive
his ultimate '''VI'll done," are not to stand with these covenant
violators even. To stand with them might imply to treat
them as companions, to enter into theIr plans and schemes;
and surely all who would thus do would be lIkely to become
partakers of their spirit, and to become careless of their
consecration vows, and overcharged with earthly cares and
ambitIOns.
The "scorners" are designated as a still different class,
and might possibly represent some not of the church, but pos-
sessing more or less knowledge of holy things and r{'Jecting
them, speaking of them ligntly and scornfully. The Lord's
people are not to be intimately associated WIth such, nor
make them their companions and friends. They cannot have
fellowship with such receiving inJury, hence. so far
as possible the Christian is to avoid this class, in bmmess
partnerships. in society, and especially in marriage. one
who could speak lIghtly or scornfully of our Heavenly Father
or of our Lord Jesus or of the exceeding great and precIOus
things set before the Lord's people in hIS promises, could be
other than a hindrance to those who are seekll1g to gam the
prize of our high calling. He therefore who would be blessed
of the Lord, and who would attain that for wlllch he was
"callcd," should take heed to the instructions and avoid the
scornful.
This does not signify, however, as the ApoRtle points out,
that we are to have no dealings in the world WIth any but
saints, for, as he tells UB, in that event we would needs go out
of the world (1 Cor. 5: 10); but it does imply a recogllltlOn
of the principle that evil is contagious, and that the Lord's
people cannot be too careful to avoid every contact WIth evil.
They should separate themselves to the Lord, to holIness, and
seek to place themselves under influences in harmony with
their holy and true and pure aspirations, begotten by the
holy Spirit.
The Prophet implies that those who have fellowship with
the scornful and with covenant-bleakers and WIth the wicked
who deny the precIOus blood of the covenant, cannot be blessed
of the Lord, because they are in a wrong attitude of heart;
for, as his words imply, those who are in the light attitude
of heart to be blessed of the Lord can readily find something
much better, much more interesting, much more profitable,
than fellowship with any of these c1asbes; "'TheIr delight is
in the Law of the Lord, and they meditate in his Law by day
and by night."
This does not imply a reading over of the Ten C01l1inand-
ments, nor of the Mosaic ritual, but to the Chribtian it implies
a delight in the law of righteousness, which law i& briefly
comprehended in the word "love." The right-mindcd Christian
who is in the line of heavenly blessing now, and of heannly
glory by and by, has found and will continually find in the
great law of love something well worthy of his tIme and his
study. He finds this law applicable to every rl:'lationship
between the heavenly Father and himself; he sees that all of
his conduct, his every service toward God as a son, adopted
into his family, must be the result of love. He sees also that
love is the law which must govern all of his conduct toward
the brethren in Christ and toward all men; and he finds in
this abundant and satisfactory food for reflection in his leisure
hours, so that he is intl:'rested neither in the speculations and
quibblings of the "scoffers," nor in the worldly matters which
overcharge the "sinners," nor in the false Gospel which
engages the attention of the "wicked," who deny the ransom.
He finds that this Law of God contains, or is related to,
every feature of the divine plan; and hence his meditations
and studies of its various ramifications lead his thoughts
hither and thither, in contact with all the exceeding great and
precious promises which God has bestowed upon them that
love him, both aR respects the life that now is and also that
which is to come. And the more this is his attitude the more
is he blessed of the Lord; and the more blessed he is of the
Lord the more surely will this be his attitude and experience.
Such an ,me, the Lord declares through the Prophet, will
be like a tree planted near rivulets of water, which WIll always
be abundantly refreshed and never fail in his yield of the
fruits of the spirit, which under sueh circumstances must
grow and flourish exceedingly. And as his fruit will be
abundant, so his leaf (his hopes) will be ever green; he can
and will have faith in him who promised the coming blessings,
and whose riches of grace he comes to appreciate more and
more daily.
"All that he doeth shall prosper." This is literally true,
though not, perhaps, in the way in which the world might
view the subject. But what is it that such a child of God
doeth? What is his aim! What is his object in life? Wealth,
fame, worldly honors! No, none of these. His aim, that
which he doeth, that which he seeketh, is to glorify his
Heavenly Father and eventually to attain to the glory, honor
[2698]
SEPTSMBER 15. 1900 Z ION'S TVATeH TOWE R (280-283)
and immortality which God has promised to them that love
him. (Rom. 2:7) If then the Christian but attain these his
objects, surely all his expenences will have been prosperous,
and that abundantly. What matters It to him if under divine
providence he was permitted to err in judgment respecting
some business venture, so that instead of earthly prosperity it
brought financial loss, if it worked out spiritual gain? To
this blessed man the loss was proRperity, and he proved the
truth of the divine promise, that all things shall work
together for his good. Under such a promise, under such
guidancl' of divine wisdom in his affairs, guaranteeing him
just such experiences, trials, difficulties, earthly disappoint-
ments and disadvantages as will, under the Lord's providence,
bring him richest blessing in the attainment of the great prize
of the future which he seeks, and for which every other thing,
interest, hope and aim has been sacrificed, how could any be
considered otherwise than prospered? (Rom. 8: 28) Surely
indeed, all that he doeth shall prosper-not because of hi"
own wisdom, not because of infallibility in the management
of his affairs, but because his infallible Lord is supervising
his interests, and outworking them for good to him.
It is this same class of blessed ones that our Lord ad-
dres$es, saylllg', "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and
persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely
for my sake"-thlllgs may seem to be going contrary to your
welfare, and hence to be working out incalculable harm; but
have faith-"Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your
reward in heaven:" and it is this heavenly reward for which
you have been called, and for which you have entered the race,
and the attainment of which will be excfedingly abundant
above all that you could ask or think.-Matt. 5: II, 12; Eph.
3:20.
TIMES OF REFRESHING
The gathering at Saratoga Springs. N. Y., was not expected
to be a large one; becausl' thl' railroad excursIOn ratl'S ex-
tended over only a very limitl'd area. It was therefore a local
rathl'r than a general mel'ting: but as such it served its pur-
pose grandly, and brought to many clearer views of the divine
plan, and fresh energy in its sl'rvice, because of renewed con-
secration to the great Giver of all good.
About one hundred were in attendance, and these were
nearly all visitors from abroad, as only ahout three \VATCH
TOWER suhRcriber" reside there. and few outsiders attended.
The Lord was with the Convention and blessed the two days
of its session greatly; and we believe that the grace there
e:>.perienced will not only be a lasting blessing tQ those in
attf'ndance, but that its overflow upon others not privileged to
attl?nd, wIiI be a lasting joy and beni/fit.
En rontl? we sppnt Sunday at Toronto. Canada. where an-
other local Convention of ahont, one hundred had gathered.
This also was a ff'ast to our souls. 'VI' thanked God for the
tie that binds our hearts in Christian love-and realized afresh
that-
"The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above."
The home route permitted a meeting between trains with
some of the dear friends at 'Yashington, D. C., where about
thirty were hastily convened. to whom we spoke on "Pressing
toward the mark for the ptize of our high calling." Depart-
ing, we thanked God for the fulfilment of Mark 10:30; and
felt that if faithfulneRs to the truth had gained U'l many bitter
enemies, it had also brought 1!lS such devoted friends as very
few in this world could boast of.
"VI' arrived home. at Allegheny, in good season for Sun-
day services (Sept. 9). where our joy further abounded in
addressing about two hundred of the home congregatIOn, and
in receiving their hearty welcome back after an absence of
two Sundays. We can only wish and hope that each of the
one thousand dear brethren and Risters "scattered abroad,"
with whom We communed and shook hands during the paRt
two weeks (beginning with the Chicago Convention and end-
ing at Allegheny), experienced one-half the blessing that has
come to your pastor. He most heartily thanks you all for
your many kindnesses and expressions of Christian love ex-
tended to him and the associated "Pilgrims;" and he thanks
God for the privileges enjoyed in serving his flock, in Jesus'
name.
"A table God has furnished me
In presence of my foes;
My head he doth with oil anoint,
And my cup overflows."
SABBATH DINNERS AND HOW TO UTILIZE THEM
LeKE 14:1-14.-0cT. 7.
(iOLllI:N TEXT :-"Whosoerer exalteth himself shall be abasedj and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
So far aH we know, our Lord Jesus never refused an invi-
tation to feastR. banquets, etc.. to which he was aRked, with
his disciples. The present tellR HI" of such a banquet,
probably Rpl'cially arranged in Jesus' honor, by a Pharisee
high in social position a ruler in the Rynagogue. The feast
was appOInted for the Sahbath day, as was frequently the
case, many of the Sabbath feasts being quite sumptuous; but
the viands were alwayR served cold. it being a part of the
Jewish code that fires should not be kindled nor vituals cooked
on the Sabbath day. And although we. as Christians, are
entirely free from the Jewish law. including the fourth com-
mandment ag well as all the other commandments of the Deca-
logue, but are under a new commandment, the perfect law of
love, to God and to man; nevertheless, we concede that con-
siderable blesslllg might be experienced, and addItional oppor-
tunities for spiritual development enioyed, if Christian people
were to cook a double portion on Saturday, and thus leave
themselves freer from domestic responsibilities on the day
which, accorrhng to the la"'s of the land (tho not according
to any law of the Scriptures) we appropriately observe by
abstinence from the ordmary business of life, utilizing the
leisure for worship, study and spiritual communion.
Evidently before entering the dinmg room, probably in the
court-yard. our Lord, while surrounded by many notahles of
the scribes and Pharisees, noticed a man afflicted with dropsy;
and it would appear that our dear Redeemer was so full of
love and sympathy that he had a desire to bless and to heal
every such person with whom he came directly in contact.
The loving character thus manifested gives liS assurance that
when the kingdom comes and our Lord shall take unto him-
self his great power and reign, he will assuredly bless and
uplift so many as will accept his favors in a proper manner-
so many as really desire to be blessed by him. Thus our
Lord's general character fully substantiates and corroborates
all the prophetic statements made respecting him and the
character of his Millennial work of blessing all the families
of the earth.
Our Lord well knew the extreme of fanaticism to which
the Jews had gone, especially the outwardly pious and formal
ones, representatives of whom were now gathered about him.
He knew that they would regard the healing of the dropsical
person as a violation of the Sabbath. Indeed, as illustrating
the sanctity of the Sabb'\th, the Jewish Talmud tells of an
instance in which a house took fire, and three young girls were
burned to death, simply because their friends and neighbors
interpreted the law against making a fire aR implying also
that it would be wrong to quench a fire on the Sabbath day,
and when expostulated with respepting- the mattl'r. the answer
was that it was "a sacrifice acceptable to God, who would
reward them for having allowed their dear ones to perish
rather than break hi" commandment!"
Jesus wished not only to correct such a false interpretation
of the law, but in harmony with his custQm, to do a large
proportion of his miracles on the Sabbath day; bpcause that
day typified the coming Millennial day, the great seventh
thomandth-year day in which, hiR Millennial kingdom being
established, he will scatter ble;;sings of healing, mpntal, moral
and physical, amongst all the people. By way of instructing
his disci pIps and the Pharisees respecting the improper view
of the Sabbath generally entertained then by religious teach-
ers, our Lord enquired of the Pharisees what they had to say
on the subject: Is it or is it not lawful to heal on the Sab-
bath day? They made no reply; no doubt feeling themselves
somewhat incompetent to discuss any question with one whom
they had all learned to recognize as a great Teacher, however
much they reiected his l\fes>:iahship.
Then Jesus, as showing his own understanding of the mat-
ter, that it would be right, that it would be in full harmony
\\ith the spirit of the Law to heal a man on the S"abbath day,
touched the dropsical man and healed him. Then. by way of
pointing out to his auditors the inconsistency of their line of
thought on t,his subject, he reminded them that it was a recog-
nized privilege and duty of every Jew to deliver his ox or his
ass, fallen into some pit or difficulty, and to consider this a.
[2699]
ZION'S WATCH TOT1/ER ALLEGHENY, I' \
work of and mercy, not forbidden by the fourth
commandment of the Jewish law. He allowed hIS auditors to
dnnv the inference from this illustration. that as it could not
he wrong to assist a dumb animal out of difficulty on the Sab
hath. mUl'h eould it be wrong to relieve the of a
human IIPilig made m the image of God. Thus he would show
that God's 1<1'1'1 s are not m bitraly, but that it is always proper
to do good.
THE PROPER KIND OF TABLE TALKS
family utili;tc the eXl'ellent oppor
tUlIltlh aflonll'd for at meal-times. Kot only
dol'S ph'a and prolitahI!' ('01'\ tion digestIOn, and
pron' ph,wically hplpflll, hllt, iHldltionally, these reg-ular
family g,ltJlPrings should be rPl'ogni/C'd nil opportunitieR for
nh-ntal profit an,l for ;rrowth in knowlNlgC' r('specting hoth
1.>ml'0ral and spiritual thillgR. PartiC'll18rl.v for the last four-
tPCIl Olis Leen tile custom of the Biblp family
at AlIe!:heTly,-and a vpry profitahle onc. Our topies are
llSU;llly propounded in the form, the privilege of
being open to all at the table. Answers to the
(jlwstioTls are Rought from ea( h one present, thuR Rtimulating
tholl!!ht and a propt'r expresQion of it, wry helpful to all,
SUlbC'(jUC'I1tlV they may Ill' C'allC'd upon to answer such a (jues-
tion "eforp otlll'rs in pllhliC' or in private. \Ve eommpnd the
phw to ill! of ollr rPililclS, suggesting that in such a gathering
the one to he most conversant with such matters
rrspn'p his rC'ply for the
\\'hpi c the family is eompoq,d whollr of "new creatures"
the (jupstion would properlv diffpr somewh'tt in genel'lll phar-
aC'tcr from ,\hat thpy would hp if it werr a mixed company:
nrvl'I'thplpss, approprinte shoulel not be from
nn:yonp aR. for instanee, (jllpstions respepting table
eti(juptte. goon breedmg, proprr language, the events of the
day that do not partake of thp nature of gossip, etc. It is a
shame tll:lt people, even in tIle humblest walks of
life. and wlwn perlJapQ RurrOllllded by pOVl'rty, hav(' no thought
of whnt valllalJle opportunitips are affordpd at such times of
hreaking of brend-to huak to their families mental or
food also, strpn/-Tthpning alH! elevating.
In proportion as Chri"tian ppople realize their privileges
ann duties in such mattl'r" they wdl fino that coarseness and
at the tahlp will disapppar, refinement and intel-
lectuality gradually displneing thpm. And one of the features
most eonduPive to trllt' table eti(juette. and the drawing to-
getlwr of hearts and mind" in trlle fellowship and intelleetual
C'n,l0vmpnt at the times of physiC'al repast. will be found to
be tlw giving of thanh to God-the recognition that every
good aml every perfe('t gIft ('ometh down from our Father.
The family which at tabl" neglf-cts to return acknowledgement
to the Giver of evpry good, will scarpely succeed in properly
rpl'ognizing pach other and having intellectual fellowship one
with the othpr.
That our Lord was prompt to avail himself of all such
tablp-talk opportunitiPR, is very On eaph occasion
of attendanC'e at u han(jul't WP find him utili:dng the op-
portnnity for the inpllkation of some truth-natural or spir-
itual. In the prespnt he evidently did not consioer
his lll'arcrs to be in a favorL!.hlc condition for high spiritual
t"af'hings, and hpnce llis table-talk was on a lower plane,
atLlptl'cl to the natnral m,tn. ypt neverthpleRs inculcating les-
whit II, if Ip:lrned, wou1<l prrpare the learners for the
hf':I\pnly And thi" be the thought in every
famllv ('lrc!p,-that the' (endeney of all conversation should
lie PllIlohling a"l well as IIlstruetive--lcading upward as well as
outward.
Till' had bt-pn invited to the table, and our Lord
notir'prl how they wer" eaC'h sef'king the seats of chief honor,
'-hrl\\'ing tIlP pnde and amhition of their hearts. \Ve
may ab'-ume that our Lnnl and his disciples took the
Ill<,tingllishNI in lJarmony with the Scriptural
IIIJunt t iOIl. "I n hOIlOl prpfl'rriIlg olle Hnotlwr,"
A f 1\ ora"Ie opportunity offering, our Lord indirectly called
Ion to thp wrong cour"e,-not by saying
anytlling against the [(etion in this partipular ease, but by
a propripty of ponrl1\(-t in a general way; he based
hi" upon a marriage feast, at whiC'h, more than
any otlwr, diQtinetion,; as to title, honor and pORition, received
mu('h ('tm,-itlpration. As was his custom, he taught by a para-
hIe. pprmltting his hparprs to draw the inference and make
thp applit'ation in some measure to the banquet to whiph they
wer{' Own gathprpd; and he wound it up by making this a
gnat on a gem'ral principle; viz., that "\Vhosoever
{'x:dtpth himself shall he ahaspd, and he that humbleth him-
,;pH Rhall he exaltpd "-a of vital importance to all
who would be ready for and {'Ilter the kingdom.
This is a great lesson applicable, not only to the natural
man, seeking progress back to fellowship and harmony with
God, but there is in it also a lesson to the "new creature" all
through life's ,lourney,-that if divine favor is desired and to
be expected it must be sought; not in pride, not in self-
sufficiency, but in humility. The Lord resisteth the proud, the
self-sufficient, the boastful, and showeth his favors unto the
humble. The Apostle Jame8 likpwise calls attention to the
importance of this grace of humility, assuring us that no true
progress can bp made in the way to God, except by the humble.
(Jumes 4: 10) And the Apostle Peter. after exhorting to
humility, saying, "Yea. all of you, be subject one to another,
and be clothed with humility," adds, "Humble yourselves,
therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt
you in due time."-l Pet. 5: 5, 6.
If the hearers had received the message and been eorrected
by it, it might indeed have worked diffcrenpc in
thpir standing amongst their brethren, the Pharisees, but It
would also have worked a considerable difference in theiI
favor with God. By receiving Ruph a Rpirit of humility thp)'
would be coming into that relationship with God and the truth
which would have divine approval, and be thus the steppinfl"
stone to further favor, by preparing thcir heartR to rppei;e
the good things which God has to give, but which cannot be
received by any pxpept the humble-heartpd. Indeed. WP kncJ\\
of nothing today that is so great a stumbling-block to thp
maiority in nominal Christendom as the prevalent spirit of
self-seeking. It is a great barner before the minds of many.
in and out of the pulpit, contmually hindering them from
seeing, hearing and obeying present truth-they love the
approval of men rather than that of God.
The tablptalk later turned in another direetion. prohabl.\'
eonsiderablp being said in the interim that is not recordpu, not
pertinent j but before the fpast was endpd an appropriate op
pOi tunity came for the Lord to present some wonlR of
to his host, and this was done in so kind and so wise a manner
that it surely ('ould give 110 offence. but, on the contrary. must
have led the thoughts of all the hearers to higher and heavenh
things. He advised that thp banquets of the well-to-do in thl"
world's goods be extended to thpir poorer, les" fortunate
neighbors and friends; assuring his hearerR that suell a l'O'Ir81'
would bring the greatest blesQing, as pvery good depd bring'-
its blessings, forthwith-in the eonspiousness of having dom
good j and in the reactionary effect upon one's own heart of
every good deeo. every benevolence. And, in aodition to thesp
blessings, our Lord pointed out that for "ueh an onc tlH'f['
would be a blessing in the future alRo-a reward that would
fully compensate every such benefaction.
Our Lord's words were in part a commendation of the
course pursued by his host in inviting himself and hi"
to dinner, for they were poor. Indireetly his remarks meant
that if that very feast were given with a proper !'entimpnt of
heart. as we have every reason to presume was the caRe. his
host might expect a reward for his conduct in the
besides the blessing that had alrpady eomt' to his house througll
our Lord's presence and words of instruction. -
Sunday School le8son comments will be found to misin-
terpret the blessing which our Lord deC'lared would comp to
thOse who received the poor. One of these commentaries says
on this point, that "Our Lord refers to the first resurrection,
mentioned in Rev. 20 :4, 5, assuring him that he would be
raisPd in that resurrection as one of that glorious He
would have the rewards that God gives, and can give only to
those who are righteous." ,
This is a. grievous mistake, a mi,mpprehension of Ol1r Lord',..
meaning. The first resurrection is not to be attained merely
by the doing of kind acts to either the worthy or the llIi
worthy poor. As explained in the connection (Rev. 20:4) none
will have part in the first resurrectIOn except those who h.l\'('
bel'n "beheaded for the witneRs of Jesus and for the word of
God." And, although this beheading is figurative and not
literal, it neverthpless has a deep significance, implying much
more than making a feast to the poor. It signifies, not only
death to but also to be e11t off from all other hpads,
governments and law-givers, and to recognize no "head" but
whom God hath appointed to bl' the Hpad 0] the church
which is his hody-the head of every memher of it.
lt means, not only to be cut off from institutional hearIs
and authorities, but also to eeasp to have hends and wills of
our own, and to accept, instead. the hl'iHlship. tbe will, of our
Lord Jesus. It is the same thought that is dl awn to 0111
attention by the Apostle in 6: 3, where he dp(']ares
that we are baptizpd into the horly of Christ, as members of
that body, under the one Head, Christ, hy being baptizt'd iuto
his death,-a full conseeration of our wills, and ultimately a
full laying down of our lives, faithfully unto death. The at
tainment of this first resurrection and its ioint-heirship with
[2700]
I' 191111
ZION'S WATCH TOWER (1HI,
('hrist in thp MIllemlldl klllgdolll wal:! clearly understood hy
the Apostle Paul, and was hIs aIm: and respecting it he sUld.
. I count all tlllngs hut for the excellency of the knowledgp
of Christ J mv Lord: for whom I huve suffered the loss of
all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win
Christ. . .. That I may know him, and the power of hIS
/esurrectw11." (Phil. 3:8, 10) Had St. Paul understood OUI
Lord's words as the above quoted Sunday School lesson ('om-
mentator did, he would have chosen the eas.\' and
plan of feastlllg the poor, rather than the yearl:! of privatiOII
and self-sacrifice in the narrow way which he pursUE'd. And
to thill, St. Paul's words on another occasion agree. "ThrougII
much tribulation shall ye enter the kingdom."
\Vhat, then, did our Lord intend to promise as a rewal<l
for a good deed-done without hope of reward ll\ the
lifl'? \Ve anSWl'r, that he meant to thl' thing
that he promised to anybody who would gh'e even so much
't cup of cold water tQ one of his dISCiple;,. He wishl'd to
,tssure them that all such would by no their re
ward. (Matt. 10:42) Not a reward of glory, honor, Immo,-
tality and joint-heirship in the kingdom of Uod, but a good
reward, morp than comppnsating for the kindness they per-
formed. This rewardlllg of everyone who has done good, either
to the poor of this world or especially to the Lord and hi"
faithful brethren walking in his foostE'pS, will come to them,
not in the fir"t resurrection, hut at that tillle ;-after the
resurrection shall have glorified tIlt' dlllreh and inunguratpd
the kingdom, then l\IJ11ennial blesi:\ing..; and the reign of right-
eousness beginning will bring rewards to who
(lone kindnesses. helping them forward and ahundantly reward-
ing them; while all who have donI' E'n I lu" (' ROlli.,
measure of "stripes" in compE'nsatIOn and retribution
Jesus contlllued hi,; table-talk of our last lesson at thE'
Pharisee's dinner. Our Lord had led the attention of his
a'-sociaU>s, not only to the proprieties of life, but to future
things, by the suggestion that feasts should be given in the
mterest of the poor, whose inability to return the favor would
Insure a divine blessing more than compensating in the future
-ill the kingdom. This lE'd one of the company to a remark
\I hieh we loo,;ely paraphrase, thus,-Ah, yes' that kingdom,
for whi('h WI' hope, will be a blel',;ed time. How blessed it will
he to the bounties whieh God has promil'ed in the great
fE'llSt which he shall spread! The speaker probably was well
,tequnint('ll with Isaiah's prophecy respE'cting the kingdom
(Isa. 2:;:11) in whieh God's mercies and blesRings to the world
.ll e r('presented as a feast, in the words, "In this
lIlountnin [kingdom] shall the Lord of hosts make unto all
the p('ople a of fat thing", a feast of wines on the lees, of
iat thing" full of mnrrow."
Thu" gradually the minds of the company present had
hl'l'n l('d from E'arthly things and from commonplace matters
,tIlll "o('ial chitehat, whieh might have occupied their atten-
tIOn, to th(' consideration of the gracious promiRes of God.
.\nd undoubtedly this was our Lord's vE'ry obieet in aceept-
Ing' thE' Phnrisel"s invitation, and in leading the conversation
in this direction. Now he had an opportunity to
h'ach Romething ree,pecting this kingdom and its blessings and
tIll' ('a 11 to "hare it; alld he improved it. His hearers. if they
had in mind Isniah's prophecy and God's promise to Abraham,
mnl111 undl'rstand that the kingdom or mountain of the Lord
\\ould be til(> house of 1sraE'1, in some gloriou,; and
"ondition under Messiah, and that it was in and through his
kingdom that the feast of divine blessings, for all nations,
was to be "pread. Our Lord now, by a parable, drew atten'
t IOn to the Gospel call of great blessings and privileges. a'nd
would have his hearers 110te the fact that while in a genE'ral
\\ ay they would all assent to the statement that the kingdom
\\ ould be a blessed one, and the feast there something to be
greatly desired, nevertheless when the offer of that kingdom
would he made them temporal things closE'f tQ their heart;;
would make it of no effeet to the majority.
The parable represent'! a great feast, with a largE.' number
of friends of the host invited in advance, that they might be
ready at sueh a time as the feast would be ready and an-
nounced. God himself is the host in this parable, and the
.TewiRh nation were his fripnds to whom, as a people, he had
given mu('h advantage every way, chiefly in that to them WE'rc
('ommitted the of God,-much knowledge of the diviJll'
plan for human salvation and the promises that if they, al' the
"eed of Abraham, were faithful, they Rhould have the invita-
tion and privilege and opportunities of this great feast. 1'hl'
Lord addresses them throngh the Prophet. Raying, "You only
have I known rr('cognized] of all the families of the earth."
(Amos 3:2) hrae! only was invited to this feast; but the
feast was not ready until our Lord's day, and hence the invita-
tion to partake of it did not go forth until then. Finally,
however, the time had come; Christ, as represented in the bul
lock of the sin-offering, had already given himself,-the sacri-
fice being counted as accompliflhed from the time of its offer-
mg, whpn our Lord pre'lented himself to John at Jordan,
making a full consecration oi his entire being, even unto
death. In view of thifl Racrifice for sins, God could begin at
once to call the already promised I-,ruests to the great feast of
blessing and manifestation of divine favor toward those to
whom he had. promised it so long before, through their father
Abraham.
A ROYAL BANQUET DECLINED
14: 15-24.-0cT. 14.
"Come, for all things are now ready."
And thus it waR that whpn ,Tp"UH eame and ('alled hIS
disciples and sent them forth. the meRsage was. "The king-
dom of heaven is at hand;" the great fcast of fat things fO!
this nation, that God has RO long is rE'ady; and
whosoever wills may come and he l'I'e('iwd and partidpate in
it. The message of .TeSUR and th(' twehe. and later th<,
seventy, throughout all .Judea, the invitation of that
favored people to come and enjo.v the grl'at feast for which
they had impatiently waited. and. hoped and prayed for over
sixteen centuries,-the great pnYil('ges and opportunities ot
the kingdom.
But as the parable showl'. when the offE'r of the kingdom
was really made, when the invitation to partake of the bless-
ings of the great feast was really put before them, it proved
that they loved the kingdom and the future things far les,.,
than they and others might have supposed. On the ('ontrar)'.
the unanimity with which the invitation to the kingdom waf,
rejected made it appear almost afl though the rl'iectors had
acted in concert in the matter. ThE'ir eXCURes for flO little
interest in the things which God had promised and whif'h
they claimed to be eagerly longing for. were the appnrent
pressure of other duties whieh they must attend to, and which
left no time for responding to the divine invitation to the
kingdom. With one the pressure came in the dirpction of
seeing to his farm, and thus bE'ing llOt slothful in business;
another felt that it might do very well for people who had
nothing else to do to give attention to a spiritual fl'ast, but
as for him, his time was fully occupipd with his property, his
oxen, Rheep, store-business, and what not. Another felt that
his duties, social ties, wife, children. etc., demandl'd all of his
attention, and that therefore he could not accept the kingdom
privileges.
And this, which was the sentiment of flpshlv Israel, Is
largely that of spiritual hrael, also, now that tile spiritnal
kingdom is announeed. Many seem to feel that what they
would eall the real and practical things of life need all of
their attention. They want to "get along" in thifl world'f,
affairs, and to be somehodief\ in it, and. they find sueh intE're"t
in social and material matters a great hindran('e to any re-
sponse to the divine invitation to a Rllllre in thl' glorious Mil
Ipnnial kin/!,dom, as joint-hpirs with grpat feast.
the high calling which has comE' to us. \"l'11, in one Sl'ns(' ot
the word thiR ifl all right. for it merdy kepps out of thl' king-
dom a clas'! which the Lord dol'S not dl'sire "houJd he in It .
and which if it did come in would npe(l to he f,ift('d out, lat"r
Although God hll.s bidden many, he if! f,l'eking for thh;
only such as will highly appreciate it a hoy(' all other priv l-
Ieges-those who would be willing to sacrifiee all," and
other thing in order to share it.
The first invitation to the feaRt, recount('d in the parablP.
represents the first years of our Lord's ministry, whi('h wer.'
Rpecially directed toward interesting the f!Cribe" and
and Doctors of the Law, who, as the leading men of that
nation, and as our Lord said, occupying Moses' f\l'at, really
represented that nation as a whole; and the rejef'tion of the
invitation by these meant the rejection of it bv that nation
as a whole. Thus our Lord was eareful to bring hf'forp tlH'
priestly class of that time the evidences of his MessiahBhip, 80
that when, for instancp, he healed the tE'n Ippers, he ..h ll'g('d
them to tell no man, but go and show themflelves to the priests.
Thus the prieRtly class was informed respectinl! the miraI"
ulous work of our Lord, perhaps more part.icularly than
others. They therefore had the invitation to the feast more
particularly than others. HoweVl'r. the faf't that the chief
[2701]
(288<?91)
ZION'S WAlCH TOWER ALLEGHENY. PA.
of Israel \H're for the invitation was
not permiitpd to hinder. l,nrl our Lord. through his disciples,
suhsequelltly p,tl'nd('d tIle 111\ l'tatlOll to another
The tnal of the natIOn :'" a whole. representpd by its lead
('ndN! at Calvary. or ratl1Pr 1he days before Calvarv. when
our Lord rodp on th'P a,-, and Wl'pt the city of Jer'usalem,
E'aYlIlg. "0 .J pru"a Ipnl. .JPIlhfl Ipn!. thou that killest tIl(' prophets
and thpm that al p sent unto th('e' how oft would I
ha\'(' g.lthp]('(l tll:, chil<lrl'lI. as a hcn g-athereth her chickens
undcr l]('r alHl \'(' \\o111r1 not' Bphol,l, vour is
ll'ft llnto Y"il </p,-(\]"t("" .\'- a l',ltlOfI. as [l. ppoplp. you havp
rpll'dpd tli, (In II1P invltfltion tf' tIl(' I!rpat and as ana
tion Vall (',(l1l1ot ta'-tp of It, a('pording to (hvine
intclltwlI ,Ill (1 proml'p thl' prophets. God extpnneel
nlPf(', to lIldlYidllal, of that natIOn. aftpr tIl(' natioll
a,- fl' \\ holt, hflll prm'pll it'-elf unworthv of thp kll1gdoll1 PIIVI'
Je''.!(, TIi" a]"".. 11,, \\Crp '('Ilt to i" tllpr IHlt tIll' natioll. hut
sllC'h inelt\](l\l,']'- ;1'- \\pre' of lIlllllLle min\i. to '-hare in UH'
f!'a ,-t, and ('a of lJllll' ](]lla 1,-. of thp nation of
1'-l'fll'! \\;h 1,''-pond,'] to \',< 111'-1\ ply l,y tho<;p wh'l rpah7!'(1
th('lr 0\\ n llll\\ orl Jl1n(''-'.-tlll hlllip. thp llRlt tIl(' lllind, who
l'onf(',-,-('d tl',lt 1]1('\' \\ ('rp Ilot Pl'] t('('t. 1I11t who ne,in'el ppr
fpdioll ;lllcl \\ho rejoll,11 ill thp (';111 to polrtakp of thl'
110m pri\ and !!1,,111v !(ll'.ook all plsf' for it. Amongst
tlH'm W(' arp H"nrpd thprp arc }lot mflny WI"P not RlRI1V
g-f{'at. not 1lI""\' 1("" ned ll11t ehipfl.\' tl1(' poor fl'r Rlthoug-il
thp pOOl' an' not hl1ml,](' I,y an;' me'lIl". ypt Rmong<;t
th('m proportIllnntpl.\ morp \\prp founel \\hl' were of Rcceptablp
f'hRI al'tpr: th, n, h and the g-rput humility would
apppar tn havp 1)('('n at all times cOlT!'spondingl'y scarce.
"f'pond lJlYltation to the poor. the hRlt and the blind.
in thp strppts and lane<; of tIl(' RR R ph,ture would be
\ ery diflkult to apprpciatp in Ollr da;' of hORpitals and Rlms-
lte' .. proYid('11 b;' Wn{'ra 1 ta ,ation: Imt in the' (la:vs of
our LaTil it would hp verv pa'-v inl1pecl to hRve collected a
larl!e l'row(l of indil!pnt l1lfirm in short ordpr.
It will hp oh"eT\'l'(1 thnt hoth of calls belong to
the' l'it;,-that i<;. lqap1. th(' nomlllal kingdom of God. Rut
the two palls faJ1('(l to find th{' suffil'ient numbpr whil'h God
hall ;,llOulel con"titutp the' kingdom He
rould ind{'ed h?\'p indUl'ed oth!'rs to l'ome in. but. on the ron-
hary. he pllrposl'1y put the im'itation to thp feRst in suph a
form as would rppcl who were not of the right attitude
of hpRrt-in Rurh a form would attrart Israelites indeed.
who felt and acknowledged thl'ir own unworthiness, and who
w01l1d he glad. on entering the fpaRt. to have on the robe pro-
vidpd for th(' of Christ's rig-hteouRneRs), to
f'o\'er the filthy raj!s of tllPir own imperfertion, But now,
hepausp a Ruffiripnt numhrr waR not found in IRrael to com,
plpte thp elect numhpr. the mpssagp must be spnt outside thl'
city. of .TudRism.-to the Gentile's; and tllllR the third
message "Go ;'e into the highwR,Ys Rnd who<;o('vpr you
m('('t. ('omppl thpm to rome in." The word "pompeI." howevpr.
a wrong thought lwre: it properly be rendered,
urg-e.
Allll thus it ha hren thRt througllOut the Gospel age, since
thp bringing in to tIll' favor of as many as were
read.\' for it, thl' llRS hppn tUrJl('d to the Gentiles. "to
takp alit of tllPm a pN'ple for (iod'<; name." to partake of th('
g-rpat fp;l;,t \\ith the T!'mnallt of l'-1"np1. the Apostle Paul
FRi(1 to somp of thp .IfW'- in hi<; prparhing: "It was neces
sa 1'.\' thnt thp wonl of (ioll "hollld first have hpcn spoken to
you; but sfeing ye put it from you. and Judge yourselves
unworthy of everlaf-ting life, 10, we turn to the Gentiles; for
;,0 the Lord hath commanded us." (Acts 13'46, 47) They
"howed themselves unworthy of thi.;; great blessing or gift, in
that they were interested more in the things that perish than
III the glorious promises of the everlasting future.
The Paul calls attention to this fact in Rom. 9: 27:
"Though thp number of tIll' chil(lrpn of Israel be flS the
of the seR, a remnant [only] shall he saved." The Apostle
fnrtlwr that the call of the Gentiles to be Rharers III the
kml!(lom is mcrely the continuatilJn of the original call. and
thRt we arc called in to take the placeR of those who neglected
'-0 grC'at "alvRtion aJl(1 privilege. He illnstrates this hy the
olive tree, saying that the natural branC'hes were brokpn off
that we. who by nRture were wild, mlght he gmft('d III and
hecome partakers of the root and fatness of the olive,-Rom.
11 : 17.
third ('all tc> the great feaRt of the kingdom hlessings
and priYilpl!ps haR progresspd throughont this Gos]1pl age. and
to our is now nearly complete-neHrlr all the
plRcps at the tablp haye l/pen proyided with olll'v a few
are vet vacant: and so soon as thpsp plapes Hl (' fillpd. the
great fpast Will hpg'lIl, Rnd we shRll indpee1 PIlter IIlto tIl!' joys
of our Lord, and not only be privileged to feast onrRP1VC's. but
to carry of its bountips and blessings to all thp famil of the
earth.
The same matters wlliC'h hindered thC' Jews. nnder the first
call. from accepting thi<; invitation. hRYp hindprC'd to a large
extpnt also many of the Gentiles who ha V(' heanl the third
call. It is impoRsible tf; he thoroughgoing hnsinesR men,
weRlthy. influential, etc.. Rnd Rt the same timp follow in the
footsteps of Jesus. giving all of our hearts. talpnt<; find ener-
gies to the Lord in Rcceptance of his inYitation to this fpRst.
The al'reptanl'e of the invitation to this fea"t mpans a dC'ep
interest in it, be;'ond eyerything eIRe. so thflt all other mat-
ters, whether 110nses or father or mothrr. wlfr or phil-
dren, be spl'ondary to the interpst<; of thp kingdolll. and
to our responRihilitips to the terms ann of thC' invi-
tation. Consequently. what was true resp('dll1g IsrRPl has
been true as the Gentiles. YIZ" thRt thp ('RIl to tIlE'
kingdom has been generally. rejpded h;' who had a pon-
Riderable mpasure of this world's blpssingR and advantages-
thoRe who are rich. either in honor of men or ROC'Ja I position
or talents or reputation or money, have found it difficult to
leave these all to follow Jesus in the narrow wav: Rnd, conse-
quently. the Scriptural aRsurance IS. not only that those
elected in the end of the Jewish agp wpre l'hi('fly the poor and
lowly. but that the same has been true amongRt th(' Gentiles,
and 'is true today: "Not many mpn a ftpr the flpsh. not
many mighty, not many noble;" but chIefly the poor of this
world, rich in faith.-l Cor. I :26; James 2:3,
This does not debar those who have riches of anv kind. but
really gives them all the greater privilege and opportunity;
for they have that much greater talent which. if th('v will,
they may sacrifiee, and thus the more fully demonstrate their
appreciation of the invitation and of thp feast, and hp C'orre-
spondingly appreciated by the HORt. Let m all. like the
Apostle Paul, lay aside every weight, every hindranC'e. every
besetment. everything prerious to us of an earthly kind, that
we may run with patience the race set before us. in response
to this invitation to the great feast of joint-heirship with our
Lord in the kingdom.-Heb. 12: 1, 2; Rom. 8' Hj-18; 12: 1. 2.
VO!.. xxr ALLEGHENY, PA., OCTOBER 1, 1900
VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER
No, 19
THE BIBLE TRIUMPHANT
"E\"idpnC'ps porroborativ(' of the Bible's truthfulness ac-
cumlllate Gl'llf'si<; notes Kimrod as the founder of the Chaldee
or BabylonJRn empilp before Abraham's day. (Gen. 10:8-12)
Thp'e anti oth('r fpat of the narrative have been doubted
and C'on'-J(IC'rpd mvthiC'al; hnt explorations in Babylonia seem
to C'onfirm the Bihl(' )C'l'ord Rt every point.
\\'e have alrpady mentIOned the exploration of the ruins of
ancient Xlppnr, onC'p the royal papitfll. "ommenced some
years ago hy thp rppresentatiYes of the LTniverRity of Pennsyl-
vania. e. S, A. The pR"t vear. It has bepn a very fruit-
ful one. the ruins yipl\ling' to thC' searrhers vaRt literary
treasUTps,-the onl'e NRtional Lihrarv of Chaldea. The Bibll'a
the following of the find:-
"The most featnre of the discovery is that the
perRonR who collef'ted the tablets and placed them originally in
the pot was an old priest, who lived previous to and during the
time of Belshazzar, and who was evidently a scientist of no
mean discrimination. Tile pot was, indeed, his archaeological
museum. not portentious in size, but the first museum known
to man, and therefore more important for the bearing it had
on thp history of civilization than any of the great museums
in existenep today. Among the articles found in it were the
following tablets:
"1. One of Sargon, which gives his titles. This particular
pieC'e of baked clay may give information concerning the
doings of centuries. It was the custom in those days for each
king to inscribe a mpmorial tablpt not only with an account
of his victories, but with his pedigree, Rhowing- whC're he was
born. who were his anc stor<;, tIl(' gon he worshiped, and in faC't,
anything else thRt might serve to impress posterity with his
personal glory. These tablehi. therefore, reveal the names and
origin of many of the writer's contemporaries, predecessors,
and, as the accounts of the suceessive king'l dovetail into one
another, they will all in the end constitute an unbroken his-
tory of this early civilization. There are, howevpr, compara-
[2702]
OCTOBER I, 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWEl<. (291-293)
tively few of these tablets yet found which date so far back indeed, in all studies judged worthy of attention, it is evident.
as 3800 B. c., hence the vast Importance of this tablet. that no examination of the contents can be too careful. It
"2. A tablet written in the reign of Dr Gur. This king is, in fact, h'udly too much to say that if the unexplored
is famous for building and remodeling the old temple of parts should prove as rich in results as that already found,
Ekur, dedicated to the god Bel. This stone tablet states there will be no example in the world's history, not even in
specifically that he rebuilt the temple wall, which had origin. Egypt, of so complete a recovery of the records of an ancient
ally been erected by Narim Sin. He also erected many other civilization.....
buildings in Nippur. "In the course of the present excavations a palace belong'
"3. A tablet, excellently preserved, stating the great hall ing to the pre-Sargonic period was uncovered beneath an ac-
of the temple was called Emakh. It also stated, to Professor cumulation of seventy feet of rubbish on the southwestern
Hilprecht's great amazement, that there were forty different side of the Shatt-en-Nil, dividing Nippur in two parts. Pro-
shrines in Nippur, each of which was dedicated to a distinct fessor Hilprecht himself, having never been doubtful as to the
god. This important fact will amaze Babylonian scholars, actual site of the temple library at Nippur since his first visit
because it has hitherto been supposed that there was but one to Babylonia in 1889, considers the discovery of this large
god, l. c., Bel, worshiped in Nippur. building, with 600 feet frontage, which will probably turn
"4. A text inscribed by Ashur-etil-ilane, a king who ruled out to be the palace of the early priest-kings of Nlppur, as
a short time over Assyria. the most important result of this year's campaign. Already
"5. An important text of Assyria's last king, Sin-shar- the few rooms excavated have given valuable results in the
ishkun. shape of pre-Sargonic tablets, of seal of the earliest
"Near the spot where Professor Hilprecht found this type, and clay figurines of early date and great interest. The
wonderful little museum there was picked up a peculiarly palace was very extensive, and at least two stories high.....
shaped barrel cylinder recording King Samsu-iluna's restora- "Beyond doubt the greatest success of the year is that ac-
tion of part of the Temple of Bel. This was about 2000 B. c. complished by the American expedition. The importance of
Kear by lay a curious truncated barrel cylinder marked with the discovery of the pre-Sargonic palace and of thc library
the name of a king whose name is well known of so famous a temple as that of Nippur was at once
to the explorers. In addition to these, two hundred Hebrew recognized. The systematic and thorough examination which
excellently presened and some of them quite large, it is hoped will be made next year promises to give a full and
were unearthed in another part of the mounds. But these detailed picture of life in what the author of the Book of
werc qUite modern, having been left by the Jews who lived Genesis regarded as one of the oldest cities in the world, and
on the of Nippur as late as 700 A. D. one whose origin, even in his time, was attributed to the
"No one can read an account of the work of Professor famous hunter whose name has become mythical. The results
Hilprecht Without being struck by the fact that the people of of the explorations will probably show that Nippur was as
7.000 years ago lived very much as we do today. There was important in the fifth millennium before Christ as it was In
the same appreciatIOn of literature and art, as shown in the the third; that it anticipated the civilization and the period
cuneiform scripts and in their sculpture. Wealthy people when Babylon took the lead by at least two thousand years,
lived in the cities and employed attorneys to manage their and that at this early period the human race in Babylonia
tenantry who lived in the country on farms. When they had acquired arts and knowledge which hitherto have only
bought jewelry a written guaranty went with it. In the been attributed to a much later period.
archive room of J\IUI Sons, of ancient Xippur. * * *
there was found a tablet guaranteeing that an emerald set How does this agree with the claim of Evolutionists that
in a ring woul(1 not fall out for twenty years. Houses were Adam was but one remove from the highest type of monkey,
built on an extensive, not to say modern, plan, and were fur- and too ignorant at first to wear clothing? On the con-
nished morc or less magnificently. as evidenced in the palace trary, how these evidences of intelligence amongst the ancients
aboH mentioned above. Fortifications were built, wars were corroborate the old Bible. at which "higher falsely
carried on, conquests were made, and heroes were glorified. so called sneers! The Bible's declaration is that the first man
People. when the.v died. were not thrown hastily into the earth, was up, high up in intelligence, in the very image of God, and
but were laid away carefully in clay coffins, which are found that he fell from that high estate because of sin. The fact is
today still covered with the beautiful hlue /llaze with which that during the 1656 years to the flood. the fall, the depravity
were decorated by the ancient undertaker. And for the of mankind, was very great; and that in Abraham's day. about
benefit of posterity, science was studied and museums were 400 years later, the race was still further enervated. through
planned that they might he found in the dawn of the twen- climatic and other influences. as shown by the fact that
tieth centnry, and the history of the race read as a sermon Arphaxad, born two years after the flood, lived 438 years,
in while his children, during those four gradually
Commenting on discoveries, the London Daily News declined in vitality and years, so that Terah, Abraham's father,
savs'- died at two-hundred-fh'e: and it to presnme tl1:.1t
"'The fin-I bpen much more important than eould the mental vigor suffered equally with the phySical. And yet
have bppn anticipated. In the course of three months no less the Scriptures show us Abraham, every way a noble specimen
tha n 17 200 covered with cuneiform writings, have of humanity: and now ancient Nippnr's IIbrarieq. then in
been recovered. are not of the character mentioned in process of formation, show us that a high degree of intelligence
my former notice of the discovery of tablets, namely, the was then prevalent among the sons of Ham, as well as in
recovery of private business contracts. letters, and the family of Shem.
the like, but bear more resemblance to the contents of an But we caution all to beware of the dates aqcribed to these
ordinary library. The tablets are historical, philological, and ancient tablets, cities, etc.; for they are only scientific guesses:
literary. They treat of mytholo/ly, of grammar and lexieo- and since they are contradictory to Bihle chronolog-y, we know
graphy, of science, and of mathematics. There is reaSOn to that they are unreliable The worldly-wise, depressing the
believe that they wiII for the first time enable the world to Bible as unscientific, and relying on their own "finding'l."
form an adequate idea of life in Babylonia as could endeavor to reconcile such archaeological testimonies with
be po%ible only hy the discovery of a national lihrary, record- their previous errors instead of with the Bible. Ann scientists,
ing the national progress in literature, scienC'e. and thought misled into reckoning on "evolution" lines, have given to hu-
generally. No document is found in this collection of a later man history an age much beyond that declared in God's \Vord,
date than 2280 B. c. As this date mark" the invasion of the which we accept a'l the only anthority;-some of them going
Elamites. the fact adds confirmatory evidence that the library to more absurd extremes than other'l,
was destroyed during this invasion. Blessed is the man who putteth his trust in the Lord and in
"The unexplored remains of the library are even more ex his Word.
tensive than those already examined. The tablets are gener- MANNA FOR THE FAMISHING OF INDIA
ally arranged with regularity on clav shelves around the "The stran"e appearance of manna on the stems of the
rooms of the library, and Professor Hilprecht estimates that bamboo, was last March by the dlviqlOnal forest
at their present rate of working five more years will be neces- officer, Chanda, Central Provinces, and notices of this phe-
Bary to excavate and examine the contents. He thinks it nomenon have been in the local papers. The bamboo
probable, judging from the contents already found in the forests of Chanda consist of Dendrocalamus strictus, the male
rooms excavated, and from various other reasons. that the un- bamboo, a bushy plant from twenty to thirty feet in height,
explored part will yield 150.000 tablets to be added to those and affecting the cooler northerlv and westerly slopes of Cen-
already discovered. As the library was one of great renown, tral and Southern India. This is said to be the first time in
the chief glory of the temple in early Babylonia, the chief the history of these forests that a sweet and gummy substance
college for instruction in law and religion, which, as in has been known to exude from the trees. The gum has been
all early systems, were inextricably bound together, and, exuding ill some abundance, and it has been found very
[2703]
(293-294) ZION'S WATCH TOWER
palatable to the natives in the neighborhood, who have been force, or to a fixed law called Temmei. What
consuming it as a food. The occurrence of the manna at this there of building a system of morality on belief in the
is all the more remarkable, since the greatest famine existence of such an entity as this? .... If we ask what
India has known is this year visiting the country, and the amount of real faith in Christianity there exists in this coun-
districts where the scarcity is most felt are in the Central try, the answer must be discouraging. Christians dispute
Provinces."-Nature. about opinions and discuss this doctrine and that, but beneath
WHAT WILL BECOME OF PROTESTANTISM IN JAPAN it all, it seems to me, there is little real belief. Christianity,
in coming to us, has had the advantage of being associated
"The Japan AdvertIser has it upon the best of authority with a system of civilization whose merits are acknowledged.
that one of the American mission boards is next month to It has been represented as part and parcel of that civilization,
WIthdraw from Japan Its only remainmg representative. and and hence has in the past received a certain amount of prestige
IS to leave its work, hcnceforth, entirely in the hands of the that it is no longer likely to retain. The feeling of the nation
.rapanese, who have become interested in It. 'The latter (says in reference to the various elements composing what is called
our contemporary) are to have the use of the buildings and vVestern civilization has changed, and hence Christianity is
property (of no inconsiderable value), ana some pecuniary aId no longer likely to be regarded as an inseparable part of that
will continue to be granted them, but the work itself will be eivilization. If things proceed thus, in thirty yearE! Christian-
practically free from foreign guidance.''' lty in .Japan will be effaced."
A lIterary man, residing in ,Tapan, Mr. Penman, makes 'VI' cannot vouch for the correctness of these pessimistif'
('omment on the above as follows:- views of the Protestant situation in Japan: doubtless honest
"This extra('t Hhow., clearly the fallure of Protestant people view these things through various RpcctacleR. 'VI' do
ChrbtIanity in this country; for it is failure. and not large know, however. that Mr. Penman's picture well
hearted trust in the Japanese Protestant, that has caused with what we see right here at home-that the and
this retreat. There are at present independent Protestant theological seminaries of this so-called Christian land are hot
('hurches in .Tapan; but. in the first place, their beds of infidelity called "advanced thought." "higher criti-
hab become so ,aguC' that it ean hardly be called ChriRtianity cism," "EvolutlOn," etc. We cannot wonder. then. that th.,
at all; and, in the second place, they are not making head- same spirit has reached Japanese institutions; nor can WI'
way. A Japanese journalist, who relates his experielH'eS in wonder that the Japanese. less bound to tIl(' Bible by tradi-
the columns of the Ktr;t;uto Tokyo Shlmbun, says that he tions of the past, should be more free to speak ana aC't out of
examined the roll of oTle of these churche<; some time ago, and their unbelief-especially when popularity, th(' rna-OCR of th"
found out of a total membership of 323 no less than 86 persons pcople, etC'., would all favor sl1('h a courRe.
wcrc marke(l ahsent. He was informed. that out of the reo Surely shaking and sifting will be thorough (HI'''
mainder. 123 persons were Christian only in name, so that 12 :26) ; for it is the Lord that is back of it. to thor-
the work of the C'}lUrch had to be' carried on by a little over oughly separate the little handful of wheat from 1.h" vaRt
100 C'onverts; and even out of thes" the average attE'ndance quantity of tares constituting nominal "Baby-
at churC'h did not E'xceed 77. And the last re- Ion." We may be sure, however, that not one gram of the
port of the Kllmiai (Independent Japanese ehurches-Prot- true wheat will be neglected by the great Reaper-Matt. 24:2-l
estant, of coursc.) shows that the numb"r of self-supporting
has fallpn from 40 to 34, and, if the truth must be SEEKING TARES FOR
told there arc not more than 24 or 25 of these that are self- ThE' public press has the following announcemcnt
supporting in reality.
"Not only an' the 'Independent' churches thus going back- 'Methodists Seeking 2,000,000 Converts--The TwentIeth Century
Movement has Opened Offices in Chicago-----200 000 Work-
ward in point of numbers, they arc, as I have just hinted, ers Enlisted-Greatest Harvest of the Year'&
going wocfully bal'kward in rcgard to doctrine as well. I Revival Expected lD the Large Cltles
shall give a C'oncrE'te example of what I mean. The Doshisha "CHICAGO, Sept. 8.-The twentieth cE'ntury movement of thp
is a fine cducational institution established by a Japanese Methodist Episcopal church to save 2,000,000 is well
Protestant who I believe, a sincerE' and able Christian. It under way.
was run for a number of years as a rE'ligious establishment in "Bishop James M. Thoburn proposed the plan at the Gell-
conneC'tion WIth the American Mission Board, and of C'ourse eral Conference of the church in May. It has becn the phlpf
the trustpes WE're all Christians of good standing, and gener- topic at the ministers' meetings. The order has gone to the
ally clergymen. For some timc they were Christians, but Bishops and will be handed down to eaC'h member of the
awl otherwise-occur rapidly in .Japan. and church. Briefly, the scheme is to have 200.000 members each
only laRt year tlwy had so far toward At,YJlosticism pledge themselves to bring ten converts into the church before
that a breach with the American Mission Board occurred. I Dec. 31, 1901. The Methodist church is so thoroughly organ-
visited personally Rome of thE' leaders of the movement, and ized that the movement will be carried out without a hitC'h
they told me that thcy C'ertuinly did not believe in the divinity throughout the country.
of in faet. 1 fuilpd to disco"er anyone point of Chris- "'V. W. Cooper, secretary of the movement. has opened .1 Il
tian belief that they did believe in..... Ten yeurs ago office in the Methodist Church block in Chicago.
had a very good outlook in .Japan, and many "'A large part of the work ought to be' donI' III the bl!!
highly educated embraced it. Rut it took the 'ad- cities,' says Mr. Cooper. 'This is the beginning of a rcvival
vanC'C'd thmkers' among the converts only a year or two to that will extend through the first half of the coming century
out-Spencer Spenc('r. and today the vernaC'ular Protestantism Every organization connected with the church will be utilized
of .Tapan getting on be'st it can without My burning or to further this grand plan. There is much dead timbl'r in the
shining light The burning and shining lights- church, which, it is hoped, will respond to this invitation to
III other the leading native eC'clesiastics-hel'ame all extend the influence of Christ.
of them and, whilc still professing to he ChriR- " 'It is quite true that church membership is not increasing
tiatls. attempted to ('all in German and other materialism to in ratio to the census, so the Methodist church has iJccidcd to
their aid. The EngliRh and American missionarv to start a great agitation.'''
whiC'l) they belongell, naturally objected. The American Epis- Last year witnessed a decrease in Methodist numhers, and
('opa I ('hufC'h of Japan fell foul of Dr. Sagiura. a Japanese this ann othcr offsets are proposed. No doubt results will
r (\\ ho ha" had, by the way, the advantage of an follow. It is as much a part of this harvest work to gather
pxc('llpnt Am.. ri('an cducation), WIIO denied the miraculous the tares into "bundles" and "bind" them. liS it iR to gathl'l"
hirth of Many of the leading Japanese clergymen reo the "wheat" into the light and liberty wherewith makes
Rwner!. and. in another dircC'tion, the organ of the Lutheran free and safe in his "garner." Should any ripe "wheat" be
Chllf('h in ,Tapan, a magar.inc which maintained that the gathered into these "bundles," we may surely expect them to
Hih]p a revelation. was discontinued because 'no suitable be gathered out again, speedily; for "The Lord knoweth them
"rlitor cOllld be found who was prepared to defend such a that are his," and is calling in a voice which all his true ones
theory.' " will hear and recognize and obey, "Come out of her, my people.
Mr. P('nman quotes a Japanese writer in a Tokyo magazine that ye be not partakers of her sins and receive not of her
aq follows' plagues!"-2 Cor. 6:17; Rev. 18:4.
"Can it he said that our ChriRtian philosophy has been No doubt this "Twentieth Century Movement" will spread
morp than our preaching of morality? I trow not. among all denominations, and favor the "Union" movement.
Aftpr attempting to call in German materialism to the aid of No doubt also it will lead to an increased bitterness against
with poor our philosophers fell baC'k on present truth and all who are loyal to it as the true gospel.
the ultra-idealism of Brahmanism and Buddhism, with the It would not surprise us if this led to persecution, for no doubt
outeomp that they have gradually explained away the person- many now, like Saul of Tarsus, will verily think that in
:J hty of the Christian God, reducing him to a mere controlling secuting the truth and its servants they are doing God serVIce.
[2704]
OctOBU I, 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER (295 -296)
REV. B. A. TOBBEY'S ABBAIGNMENT
At the convention of Christian workers, Chicago, Sept. 19,
Hev. Torrey, as reported by the Chicago Evening Post, said:
"Unbelief is rampant. Many regard it as a mark of intel-
lectual l!luperiority to reject the Bible, and even faith in God
and immortality. It is about the only mark of superiority
many possess, and perhaps that is the reason they cling to it
lIO tenaciously. Many of us who are professedly orthodox
ministers ace infidels. Worldliness is rampant among church
members. Many ('hurch members are just as eager as any in
the rush to get rich. They use the methods of the world in the
accumulation of wealth, and they hold just as fast to it as
;my. when they have it. Many do not believe in the whole
Bible. The book of Genesis is a myth; Jonah is an allegory;
Rnd even the miracles of the Son of God are questioned. The
doctrine of prayer is old-fashioned, and the doctrine of the
1J.0ly Spirit is sneered at. Conversion is unnecessary, and hell
il' no longer believed in. Then look at the fads and errors
that have sprung up out of this loss of faith... , Prayless-
ness abounds among church members on every hand. Many
Chri8tians spend twice as much time every day wallowing in
the mire of the daily papers as they do bathing in the cleans-
Ing waves of God''! holy Word."
ZIONISM PROSPERING SLOWLY
While the la8t Zionist Congress (London, August) was a
success as respects numbers and enthusiasm, it revealed no
progress on the part of its leader8 in the accomplishment of its
aim8. or steps thereto. The London Spectator says of it:
"The main arguments of the speaker'! are the horrible
position of the Jew" in countrie8 where, as in Roumania, they
are a('tively ppr8ecuted, and the benefit they may be to Europe,
as the vanguard of an army of intelligence for penetrating
Asia. Both are sound arguments, but some hotter impulse
than either would seem to be required before the majority of
.Jew" will q.nit countries to which they are accustomed, for a
pOlwtry wludl has for age8 been represented to them as deso-
late beyond expprience. The English .Jews in particular are
too f'omforta hlp to move; the Jpws in profe88ions on the Con-
tinent fear to be dp('Iared foreigners; and the poor majority
have no means of influencing the Turkish government, which
IS no1; favorable to the movement. Some day or other, when
thp Rpraglio is in acute want of money, a great experiment
will he tried; but meanwhile Zionism is rather the highly in-
tere8ting a8piration of a great race, than a practical design
for the restoration of the Jews to their own land."
Addres"ing the Congres8 and speaking on the "General
of the Jew," Dr. Max Nordau is reported to have
5aHl:
" 'Rin('e they hegan to review the position of the Jew among
the during the sitting8 of the Conwess, the drama had
devploppd. hefore thpir eyes. and every act was progres8ively
IlellTtrpndmg-. Thp hook of .Tob must be taken to be the picture
of thl' .Tpwiqh pOl'ition. Anti-Rpmiti'lm WfiS Ilrowing more Yirll-
lent. The press of Europl' bore testimony to Jews being cast
in priqon for a crime to none so revolting as to the Jew. In
Prus8ia the'll' ridiculous cllarge'! had received their quietus
and thp l'nprgetic action of the government deserved the best
thanks of .Jewry.
" "Vhy are we thu8 treatl'd 1 Are we not as human as our
neirrhhor,,1 Are WI' not as innocent1 Is our dpsire to support
our wive8 and l'hiJdren le"s laudable in us than in them 1
TIl!'rp have been other religions persecutions, but none so

"One hi8torical parallel ocrurred to his mind. In 1729-31
all the Protestants in Sal8burg, Austria, were expelled from
thPir homes on a('count of rpligions intolerance. They took aII
nerps"ary comfort8 with them. Church dignitaries offered
them valedii'tory hleq8ings. and evpn accomp:mipd them 80mI'
distanre toward'! their new land. King Frederick William 1.
of Pru""ia offered them a horne. and their new neighbors vied
with paph other in the heartiness of their greeting. But the
poor 270000 Jpw,! exiled from Rounutnia carry nought bnt the
rags on their bal'ks; for their sick there was no medical con-
Rolation; and their future was as unrertain as their pa"t wa'!
dark. They are accompanied on their rough road with sus-
picion and hatred; are met with and rebuffs, and with
the cry. ever growing 8terner, 'Go further, further.' "
ARE THE HEATHENS SAVED OR LOST?
Inconsistency seems to be stamped on every doctrine and
pradire of "orthodox" Churchianity. For instance, point out
to thpm that only one-fifth of the world's population make the
slightp8t claim to be Chri8tians, in the m08t formal sense, and
that therefore the four-fifths who are professedly heathen can
in no sense be saved in Christ, and that unle8s there be hope
for them in the future, by an awakening from death to "a
rpsurrection by judgmpnt." there can be no other hope; and
they will at once reply, Oh, no! we believe and teach that the
heathen can be saved and go to heaven if they believe in
Mohammed or Buddha or Confucius or some other divinity.
if they do the best they know how.
You ask them, Will not heaven then be a place of common
rather than choice spirits, with such a preponderance of
heathen? and, What advantage then have Christians? and they
are sorely perplexed, but generally not sufficiently perplexed
to start a fresh investigation of the divine Word to see where
the difficulty lies. When we further ask, Why the expenditure
of millions of dollars annually, and the sacrifice of many lives
of missionaries, if the heathen are saved anyway? they are
confused at their own inconsistency. And if we then inquire,
Do you not claim that the hearing of the Gospel, with the
natural ear, brings condemnation to eternal torment if it be
rejected? And do you not admit that the vast maJority of
those who thus hear do reject the Gospel? And putting this
part of your faith with the other, do you not admit that one
or the other must be wrong, or else that missionary etIort is
keeping millions of heathen people O!tt of heat'enl'-Then thev
are confused and want (not to search for the truth but) to
change the subject and stop thinking lest they lose their
"faith." Poor things, they hold fast to their nonsensical de-
lusions, calling them fatth!
But now. in line with the above, we have another question
to propound to so-called Orthodoxy, based on the followin!?
clipping from the daily press:
'POPULATION ANNIHILATED
':Five Thonsa.nd Chinese Driven into the Amur River, Where ThO)'
Perished Mi"erllbly-Shot if They .Attempted to Land
"LO:-lDON, Sept. 21.-'Authentic accounts have been rerl'ived
hete.' says the Moscow correspondent of the Standard 'of a.
horr!ble massacre at Blagovestchensk, which was
carned out under direct orders from the Russian authoritie!<,
and whirh then let loose the tide of slaughter through Amnr.
" 'The entire Chinese population of 5,000 souls wa!:! escorted
out of town to a spot five miles up the Amur, and then, being
led in batches of a few hundred to the river bank, were ordered
to cross over to the Chinese side. No boats were providrd and
the river is a mile wide. The Chinese were flung alive into
stream and were stabbed or shot at the least resistance. while
Russian volunteers, who lined the bank, clubbed or shot any
who attempted to land. Not one escaped alive. TIIP river
bank for miles was strewn with corpses.'''
. is the claim of certain religious journals, and of mallY
ml11lsters of the gospel, that the present war in China for the
protection of ministers and missions is a holy war in the in-
terest of Christianity and its civilization, as against heathen
ism and its civilization. Now our question is whether
war is arlding to the population of heaven or of hell, according
to "orthodoxy 7" It is surely a very important and proper
question from their standpoint. Let us see; the succoring of
the ministers and missionaries (everyone of whom no duubt
would have been passported to heaven by his own denomina
tion) has cost the lives of probably 50.000 persons thus far.
about 5,000 of the number being soldiers representing Chris-
tendom (as the Russians of the above clipping). Now did th('
entire 50.000 go to heaven 1-the heathen because they did not
know of Christ and the soldiers of "Christendom" be('ause thev
were "soldier8 of the ('ro"s 7" If "0, then the war already
saved 50,000 and should be pro'!ecuted vigorously.
If onr question be answerpd npg''ltivdy-that the heathen
45.000 went to torment, and the "Chri8tian" 5,000. being no
more "8aints" than the hpathen, went to the same awful f[tte,
then another question WOllld be in order, nam'ly: 'Vollld it not
have been more Chri8t-like for the few res'ued and
missionarie8 to have taken death as martyrs. in thf'ir faith of
an immerliate entTl111Ce to hpavpn; and to h'lve allowed thr
50,000 thus far slain in the war. to eqcape thp t01-fure for l\
few years more at least? How in('onsi"t'nt "orthodoxy" ib In
ibl every proposition re8pp'ting the V'Ty subjp('t it profes""
to know all about; '[,'lz., the divin!' pbn of salvation!
But how ('onsistent the Bibl' tNlPhing on the"e qllblp('to.
-(1) That only conse'rated belipver8 in the atonpmpnt arC'
(2) That the va'!t majority of those
killed on both sidp8 were merely "rhildr'n of thio world." and
not to be rp('koned among- the '''('hildrl'n of God." whose tnal
for "glory. honor and immortality" i8 now in progress. (3 \
That the hour is coming- in the which not only thpse, but
"all that a,re in their g1"aVeS shall hear the voice of the Son
of Mon :'Ind l'omc forth," the maS8es "1tntO f i. e.. to have an
opportunity for] a re'\urrection f rai8ing' fu lllj out of deatb,
in pprfe('t and everlasting conditions1 by judgments," di8-
- - "The -word in this text (Tohn 5 :29) rendered "dl1.....atio,," is v,'rv
improperly translated It shoul<! "iudgm"nt." as in the R""I<cd V,,;-
SIO... and in verses 22, 27 and 30 of this same chapter and many othtr
places in the Scripturd where this word k,.islS occurs.
f27051
(296-298)
ZION'S WATCH TOWER Ar.r.llGHllNY. PA.
t:lplllles. corrections in righteousness, which will prevail toward
all men dUring the l\lillcnmum.
CAN RESTITUTION CHANGE THE ETHIOPIAN'S SKIN?
The followmg, from the New York World, IS the third we
have seen reported. suggest and illustrate the process of
soon due. The Item reads:
'From Black to WhIte He Slowly Turned"
"PARKERSllURG, W. Va., t-3ept. B.-It has fallen to the lot
IA the Rev. \\ ilham H. Draper, pastor of the Logan Memorial
chun:h, of \\'abhmgton Conlerence, A. M. E. church, of this
to\\ n, to give a livlIIg affirmative answer to the famous BIblical
"Can the EthIOpian change his skin or the leopard
lIh spots?" Thoug!. once as black as charcoal, the Rev. Mr.
IJ!.tper IS now white. HIS people say that hIS color wa",
ch,\llged in answer to prayer. Many years ago Draper was
empluyed by a falf-bkillned man, and he was often heard to
remark that If he could only be white like his employer, he
would he happy. \Vhlle in the white man's service Draper
'c:-- perienced' religion.
"From that day forward he prayed constantly and fer
vently that he might become whIte. Thirty years ago hI::
prayer began to be answered. He first experienced a pnckling
;,ensation on his face, and upon close investigation found J.
number of small white spots scarcely larger than the pomt of
a pm. He became alarmed, thinkmg he had some pecuhar
disease but he did not suffer. and aside from the prickling
sensatIOn felt nothing unusual. Gradually the white spots bfo-
came larger and extended themselves, until now, after the
change has been in progress for over thirty years, Draper hag
not a single dark spot on his body.
"Many years ago, before this strange metamorphosis toole:
place, Mr. Draper was in charge of the same church he hat
now. He was popular with his flock and his departure was a
source of great regret. \Vhen he recently returned to Parkers-
burg there was great rejoicing among the churchmen because
their favorite pastor was coming back. When, however, Draper
appeared in the pulpit the first Sunday, not one of the congre-
gation recogmzed hIm. In fact, it was all he could do to con-
vince them that he, a white man, was the same old black
preacher they had years before."
DIVINE CARE FOR THE LOST
LUKE 15: 1-10.-0cT. 21.
"There JOY the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."
Lost. as used in connection with mankind, has quite a dif- that only a small minority-one in ten thousand, or one in a.
fen'nt !llt',llllllg III the Bible from that commonly given It in hundred thousand of earth's sixteen hundred millions, is even
modern theology. The latter uses the term "lost" in connec- in a condition of reckoned and relative harmony WIth Jehovah,
tum \\ Itll replobate"l, for whom there is no hope; it implies, the Great Shepherd.
a.', 01 thllg to "orthodoll.y," endless, eternal torment. VIewing the one sheep as representing the whole of hu-
But troIll the t-3crIptural standpolllt the word "lost" is used in manity, fallen in Adam and straying far from paths of right-
all opposite sense, as WIll be noted in the lesson be- eousness, and viewing Jesus as the Good Shepherd, the repre-
fo!'l'u,. ,entahve of the Father, the Cleat I:-'lwphenl (l',a. we
Our Lonl, holy in word and in conduct, naturally would see that the work of going after the lost sheep began at our
(II a w to the holiness people of his day, and Lord's first advent. \Ve see the cost to our Saviour incidental
WI'I e the l'hari,ees, amongst whom, however, were many to his start for the recovery of the sheep, but we do not yet
11 ho,.. hollll\'f" II.lS of a Ilypocntical character-delighting in see the sheep recovered; for in no of the word is man-
uuhlard ,IIOW rather than in purity and holiness of heart. kind back into harmony with God. We do, however,
]{en'lIt le-.,ol1s ,howed Us ollr Lord the guest and companion see that during this Gospel age God is Relecting from hu-
of pi OIlllllcnt PharIsees, and how he improved the opportunity manity an elect church, to be the body of Christ-members of
to prl'al'h the go'pel to them as well as to others. But the the Good Shepherd, under Jesus as the Head; and we see that
l'hal apcustllmed to thinklIlg' of themselves as the holier it is costing every member of the body something to prepare
of th" Jpws. had gradually separated themselves from to join in this work of seeking the lost sheep-humanity in
the lower p!l'mellts of that people, so that in our Lord's time general-during the Millennial age.
tIJ.. hlo c:l.lb'(" IIl1I1gletl very little; the Pharisees refusing to Already the sheep is found, in the sense of being located;
a"'.. nowledge the as brethren and fellow-heirs of the indeed, in that sense of the word it was not lost. But as it
di\ ine proml,es. Consequently, when they perceived that the was lost, in the sense of having wandered from God into sin
IOIIl'1 da"ps of the Jews were interested in Jesus' teachings, and degradation, in the same sense of the word it must be
.1I:d tha t (htl not hol<! himself aloof from them, but min- recovered or brought back, by processes of restitution (Acts
\nth alltl taught thpTIl Just the same as others, they won- 3: 19-21) out of degradation, out of the mire of sin. and the
dered, and this inl'1ined them to repudiate Jesus, whom they horrible pit of iniquity and death. It will requirt' the entire
would ha\e oe"n glad to have hatl as one of their number if Millennial age to bring back the sheep in the full, perfect sense
he had bppn Willing to be known as a Pharisee and to conform of the parable; but meanwhile onr Lord assures us that every
to tlwir clhtomR. It was to porrect the wrong ideas of these Rtep in this great plan for human salvation is viewed with
Pharisees that Jesus five parables, which we are about lIltereRt by the heavenly host. the sheep who straved not from
to "onsHlpr-two of thpm in the Father's fold: and the figure changing a little in our
The parable of thE' true shepherd who, loving his sheep and Lord's explanation, and no longer represented by one sheep,
('aring for thpm, left the ninety and nine well cared for by but by many (even as the human family, tho originally one,
in the wilds (not in a desert) and went after is now many), he declares that there is joy in the presence
the one lost shepp until he found it, us an illustration of the of God over one sinner that repenteth-that re-
(,f the divine carp. Possibly our Lord meant no further lesson turns to the fold. to harmony with God.
than tllls to bE' takm from his words; but if we shall suppose Those now returning to harmony with God are aecepted in
that the para hIe was intenr!et! to he applipd in its varied par- the Beloved, and justified freely from all things bv the grace
tlculars, and to illustrate features of the divine plan of salva- that was in him, and are, in the language of the Apostle,
tlOn, we would be obliged to suppose that the one sheep that "returning to the Shepherd and Caretaker of their souls"
1\ as lo,t rt'presented Adam an,l the human family. and that (1 Pet. 2: 25); and called to be co-laborers with the Good
the nJllety awl mnp nevpr lost. but rpmaining under the shep- Shepherd, as members of his "body."
herd's care. were the angels and other spirit beings, who never In the case of Father Adam, the one original straying sheep,
wandere.! into sin and away from God; and who always have as in the case of many of his posterity, the lost condition is
IJPI'll unrlpr hI'> supervision and care. In view the shep- not the desirable one--far rather would he and many others
11f'T11 going after thp straying shepp would our Lord have gone back again to the fold from which he strayed; but
leavmg the glory which he hnd with the Father before in the degradation and mire of sin, they became S0 degraded
the worlr! and coming into human conditions in the in- and helpless that it was impossible for them to retwm in their
terest of mankind. own strength by the way in which they went. They needed a
To take any other detailed view of the parahie than this Savior--one able to save them unto the uttermost-able to
would seem inconsistent; as, for instance, to suppose that the recover them fully from all condemnation of sin, and to bring
lo,t sheep represented the degraded element of humanity, and them back completely into the fold of God; and just such an
ninety-mne sheep a class. wou!d be in one the heavenly Father has provided in our Lord Jesus: "He
two (1) "There is none righteous, no, not one," is the is able to save unto the uttermost all who come unto the
Scriptural declaration; an,} again, the prophet declared, Father through him."
"we all likE' sheep have gone astray." (Rom. 3: 10; Isa. 53: 6) True, there will be a cla'ls, as the Scriptures clearly
(2) Even if it should be claimed that the ninety-nine repre- who, after having received at the Lord's hands all the blessmgs
sf'nted some who are relative!v whole. tho not actually so. the Rnd opportunitie'l which his love has provided for their re-
illu,tration would be inapt; because it will not be questioned covery, will still persist in wilfulness-self-will, and thuli
[2706]
OCTOBER 1. 1900 ZIONJS WATCH TOWER (299-300;
spurn the Good Shepherd's proffered assistance. These, in the
SCrIptures, are saId to "sin wilfully after they have come to
a knowledge of the truth;" for such, the Apostle declares, there
remains no longer an interest in the great sacrific(:, and "it is
impossible to renew" or recover them. Respecting the course
of such it is written, "There is a sin unto death; I do not say
that ye should pray for it." Whoever thus sins wilfully and
persistently puts himself beyond the reach of the Good Shep-
herd, and dies the second death, and thus ceases to have any
part or lot in the divine plan. (Heb. 6:4-6; 1 John 5:16)
It was not for the "goat" class that the Good Shepherd gave
his life, and seeks in the desert; nor for the "wolves;" but
merely for those who retain something at least of the "sheep"
nature, despite their degradation in sin. Adam was a "sheep,"
or, as the Scriptures declare, a "son of God" (Luke 3: 38) ;
and while his transgressIOn was a wilful one, in some respects,
we have no reason to suppose that it was more than a wan-
dC1"!ng of the "sheep" from the fold, into ways of self-v,ill:
it did not mean a change of nature from a sheep disposition
to that of a goat or a wolf. It did not mean that Adam pre-
ferred to be a of the devil."
Had Adam at heart become intelligently and wilfully a,l
enemy of God and of righteousness we cannot suppose that the
all-wi'le Shepherd would have sent his Son after him as a
"sheep." True, many of the children of Adam today have
attained marked characterj,.,hcs of goat nature, and, as the
Apostle declares, are "enemies of God through wicked works."
(Col. 1:21) Neverthelcs". the Apostle also explains that many
of these are in this condition, not wilfully, but because they
have been deceived by Satan into putting light for darkness
and darknes'l for light-the eyes of their understanding have
been deceived. He explained that the "god of this world
[Satan1 hath blinded the minds of them that believe not" lest
they shoulrl see the gloriom light of truth. (2 Cor. 4:4)
Many of these. then. who through association with the adver-
sary have become goat-like in many respects, still have some-
thing of the sheep nature, which, under proper enlightenment.
would a"sert itself and be glad to have the Good Shepherd
restore thpm fully to divine favor and the fold.
From this standpoint, which we believe is the true one, and
the only one in harmony with the various features of the
parable. we perceive that God takes no aC{'ount of
tho"e who will go into the serowl death; thp." WIll have no
eXlstenC'e whatever, so far as God and his plan are concerned,
from the moment they lose the f'heep nature. . An? the. one
sheep whiC'h our LOld will recovpr during re"tItutlOn tImes,
and by the close of the Millennium bring fully back into the
fold of God. wIll be the human family as God has recognized
it from the first; riz.. those created in God's image and like-
ness. and who nevpr fully lo"e that image likeness, and
in whom his image anel likeness will be reVIved and restored
durinO' the Millennium. The lost sheep, which originally was
in one (Adam and Eve) in its recovery will be
represented by hundreds of millions of the redeemed and
restored of mankind.
THE LOST PIECE OF SILVER
The parable of the woman who, having a bracelct on which
were hung ten pieces of silver-a marrial!e token-on losing
one of these set diligently to work until she found it, is an-
other rcprE'sentation of the S:lme thought exprE''l'led foregoing.
The woman's energy in seeking for the lost piece of silver is
given by our Lord as an illustration of dntne energy on behalf
of lost humanity. And here again we see that the Scriptures
use the word "lost" in reference to the original los'l, and not
at all in re'lpect to those who will be destroyed in the second
death--the latter are not said to be lost; they cease to exist;
they are not reckoned in the divine calculations at all, and not
worthy to be mentioned. They are not at all lIke the original
that was lost. which God recognized and proposes to recover.
The ten pieces of silver WE're not only of value, but each
had stamped upon it. as is the custom with coin. a certain
image or likeness. And so with all the sons of God, angels,
archangels, and we know not how many other orders of spuit
beings. were made in the image and likeness of God. It was
onc of these that was lost--the human one, man. And it was
that which was lost that was sought, and ultimately found.
The homes of olden times, lighted mainly through the door-
way, with the floors of earth (clay or E>and or stones) more
or less littered and defiled, well represented the condItion of
;-,lll and degradation in which mankll1d was lost, as represented
in father Adam, who bore the image and lIkeness of God. as
I epresented III the 10bt coin of the parable. The parable does
not represent the processes of restitution, but merely the origi-
nal loss and the ultiIWlte recovery of the same thing that 1CllS
lost, and the energy put forth to this end. The lighting of the
ca ndle and the sweeping diligently represent the work of G()(}
through the Christ. which wiII be acC'omplished by the end
of the J\Iill enIIIa I age, when that which was lost and sougllt
for, wIll have been fully recovered.
The restored race. when returned to the hcan:'nlv Father at
the close of the age will, each and all, as perfcet
in his image and lIkeness as was Adam in his creation, WIth
the added benefits of larger knowledge anel fuller appreciation
of the dn'me One, whose likeness they will bear. No account
IS taken in this parable, either, of the incre'lse in the numbers
of the human family, nor of those membE'rs of Allam's posterity
who, by reason of wilful sin (the love of sin more than right-
eousness) will be "destroyed from amongst the people." (Act"
3: 23) They have no standing in the Father's sight; indeed,
the Father takes no cognizance of any except that which was
lost, and that which will ultimately be restored to him by hiE>
faithful representative, Christ, who seeks and finds.
The great time of rejoidng, both in heaven and in earth,
will corne at the close of the MIllennIaI age, when all thingq
in heaYen and in earth will be heard prai'ling Him that sitteth
upon the throne, and the Lamb; but now, in advance of the
complete rejoicing, our Lord assures us that all the heavenly
host rjoices in every evidence of the accomplishment of the
great work; rejoices over one sinner that repenteth-who fully
turns from sin to harmony with God. And if the angels in
heavE'n rejoice, so, in proportion as they are in harmony with
God and the heavenly beings, will all who profess to be God's
people on earth have rejoicing in the recovery of fellow-crea-
tures out of the snare and blindness of sin and Satan.
This was the particular lesson which our Lord sought to
impress upon the Pharisees--that instead of holding them-
selves aloof from, and feeling offended at, thosE' who were
hearing Jesus gladly. they should, if they were in harmony
with God and the heavenly holy ones, have rejoiced to see any
evidence of repentance and reformation; and should have been
glad to assist back into harmony with God those who. as the
Apostle expresses it, were "feeling after God, if haply they
might find him."-Acts 17 :27.
And this must be the attitude of all the Lord's people to-
day: if they have not this sentiment of heart it is an evidence
that they have not the spirit of the Lord. And to have such
a feeling of loving interest in the recovery of others out of sin,
and a di:;,position to assist them back to harmony with God,
not only is an evidence of a condition of heart which is In
harmony with God, but wiII be found to be an aid to such
themsel,-e'l, an assistanC'e in making straight paths for their
feet, that they themsclves, under the Shcpherd's care, may
ultimately rearh the fold in safety.
So then. let all of the Lord's dear people who have already
been found by the Good Shepherd, and who have accepted hi'l
loving care and assistance back to God, cultivate more and
more the spirit of sympathy for others. and of
and coiiperation in the work in which the Good Shepherd IS
engaged--not yet in seeking for humanity as a wholc. but now
specially in rendering aSf'istance to those whom thE' Lord is,
in the present age, seeking out as the "first-fruits" of his
work and victory-edifying one another, building one another
up in the most holy faith, encouraging one anothcr: helping
one anothE'r to put on the wedding garment, and to be meet
for the inheritance of the saints in light, as joint-hf'irq in the
kingdom.--l Thess. 5:11; Jude 20; Col. 1:12; Rom. 8.17
THE PRODIGAL"S RETURN
LUKE 15: 11-24.-0cT. 28.
"I will arise and go to my fatker."
Having given in the foregoing parables of The Lost Sheep matter close home to his hearers--both Pharisees lc1nd publi-
and The Lost Coin, an outline of God's general dealing with cans-amI show to all the real situation and the proper line of
the human family, our Lord now gave a third parable as illus- conduct for each to take.
trating God's special dealings with the people of Israel. He It wiII be noticed in this connection that while our Lon!
wished not only that his hearers should have the general illus- was known to be friendly toward sinnE'r", he was nevel known
tration of God's goodness and care for the recovery of the lost, to condone sin. The friendship ot the publicans was not galllE'O
hut now he would give a special lesson that would bring the througb our Lord's falsifying matters to them and claiming
[2707]
7-fU.v'S WATCH TUWHR
To hitch thlb parable on to the general theme presented in
the two preceding, we might view the prodigal son as repre-
senting, III a secondary sense, all the remainder of mankind
outside of those few in I srael who were seeking to do the
Father's will; and from this standpoint we can see that the
feast of fat things provided for the sinners in Isracl 1'01'1'1'-
",ponds to the feast to be opened ultimately to the whole world
of mankind under the kingdom (Isa. 25:6), that all rna)'
return to the Father's house and that all who thus return
Will be recel\'ed of God through Christ, not as slave-bcrvants,
but as sons.
The two preceding parables make no reference to the human
will in the matter of the recovery of the lost; but this parable
makes the human will very promment. It was the wtll of the
elder son wllJeh for a time kept him in the Father's house; it
was the wtll of the prodigal son that led 111m forth, his wilful
going into the depths of degradation not being hindered by
the Father. Likewise, it was his own will that Icd him to
retrace his steps to the Father's house; and it was only the
wtll of the elder son that hindered him from entering into all
the joys of the festal occasion with wInch the parable closes.
This parable also ignores the second death, and the class
that will ultimately be cut off therein. The son that was lost,
and subspquently was found, was lost III IliR going away into
sin, and not lost in eternal torment. He was found in his re-
turn to God. He was dead, so far as the Father was con
cerned, when he was away; but he was alive again when he
willingly returned.
The lesson to the Pharisees. in this parable, lIke the others,
was in respect to their proper duties toward their brethren,
who in receiving Jesus were showing evidences of a return to
God. Indeed. so far as we know, lew. if any, of our Lord'"
disciples were of the religious class of that time. who claimed
to sit in Moses' seat. and to be in cvery bensc of t.hc word tIll'
favorites of the Father in that covenanted nation. Thnt thc
PhaJisees did not profit greatly by the pal able seems evident;
few from that class were willing to ,tbandon theIr position of
vaunted superiority, and to acknowledge that in everything
they were wholly dependent upon the Father's gra"e. and of
themselves could do nothing.
Some parallel to those conditions wldeh o!Jtainrd in tIll'
end of the Jewish age might be found now ill the end of the
Gospel age, even as we have found that in every particular th"
Jewish people and their harvest time were a pattern or fignre
or illustration of the Gospel age and splfitual Israel. Amongst
spiritual Israelites today, in our Lord's second presence, a
message is going forth to the groaning creation, a mCRsage re,
specting the Father's love, and its lengths and breadths and
heights and depths; a message respecting the ran'iom given
by our Lord Jesus, that it was "a ransom for all," and that
his death was "not only a propitiation for our Rins [the
dmrch's but also for the SillS of the whole world/' ames,
sage that the whole world, thus redeemed by the precious
blood of Christ, is to have full opportunity of returning to
divine favor during the Millennial age. "the times of resti
tution of all things, spoken by the mouth of all the holy
prophets since the world began."
Now, how is this message received by nominal Christen
dom, as to some extent corresponding to the elder brother of
the parable? Does it not appear that the message of restitu,
tion for a "groaning ereation" (Rom. 8:22) is received in much
the same manner that evidences of God's grace toward the
Jewish prodigal were received? Does it not appear that
many of our dear friends, whom we would have expected to
rejoice to find the heavenly Father willing- to receive back the
repentant world, and that he has made ftill provision for their
return to fellowship with himself through Jesns. and full
preparation to let them all know of his grace in Christ,-doeE'
it not seem that this gracious message of "good will toward
men." "good tidings of great joy to all people," should be to
all ChriRtians a gladsome message?
It surely should be such to all who have the Father's Spirit;
to all who love their neighbor as themselves. But we know
how bitterly the message is rejected by some who. to out-
ward appearances, have long been favored of the Heavenly
Father, and who are well in his law, and who have
been seeking to keep close at home, in the sense of outward
obedience to the laws of righteousness. What would their
eourse of conduct in respect to his message of present truth
Imply? Would it not imply that outwardly they had been
sons of God. in obedience to the laws of righteouRness, but
that they had at heart been far from him, even when with
their lips they drew nigh unto him, and when they bent
their knee in prayer to him?
Would it not seem that if they had the Father's spirit
love and kindness and generosity and justice and truth
that they wele not bmuers; but on the contrary, by IllS declar-
1Ilg' Ull'm to be sinner", by showing his sympathy and love, and
1kl t t hpir so far from lleing a hopeless onc, as the con-
,IIll,t uf thc would imply, was hopcful, if they would
but repcnt .lnd turn to God. The "father" in the parable lep-
rcsents .rphovah God, and th(' "two sons" represcnt two dasbes
in Israel. thc eld('r son represcntmg .:\loses and the prophcts,
and all who "sat in 1\[OSI'S' "eat." aR representative" of the
la\\", with. all "hn sought to conform thclr lives to It" lequire-
Im'nt..,. l'han-lp,. !'t('. The younger sun represent" the 1'1'-
rnallldl'r of th.lt p('ople Israel-the e1.1"s which W,h IlldlJ1ell to
and ns lesp(,ltb the divIIH' law.
Th""e two I Lh"PS, all 18ra"l, wcre mheritors together of
'.'rt:lin wonllt'rful blp""lJIgs and promiscs-thc being
',[willy dn Ide'l hl't\\'I'1'1I tlwm, hut the promhPs IPmall1lllg for
tilthl' \,'ho "wild I,, faithful to the will of th" FatlJC'1 Tlh!
,Idpr ,un thp ('lass which, having rcspect to tIll'
pi omisps. I'n lOyI'd thp at home with the Father. that
i-. III fpllo\\,hlp with Cod a" his pcople. The younger son
rq)f("pntpd th" 1,lass \1 hie-It Ignored the promi"es, took Its
-hare of prr'sent hlt'ssings. and dcparting from Gud wandered
.dar froIII hllll. III and dhlegard of the law.
Th" latt"r 11:1"'" hall alltH'lpated mueh pleasure in the way-
\\,trd ('OUhe: hut as a. Ina1t('r of fact fountl. as all trans-
do. that "the \lay of thp transgressor 1" hard." And
In tId" rp-pC'C't the of Israel was no different from
,wy other dass of sinners at other time living in violation
"f thp known law, it IS an attitude of want, of hunger, of dis-
-.ltj,fadiolJ, <lhC'ontent. It IS a [;onditioll of to sin and
'If rp('pI\ lTIg of wage,,; m the pre"ent life. wages of un-
Inl'lanl'1ll>lin. lll':ut-a('hps as wpll as bUlly-aphI's. The
parabl,> this as thoroughly disgusted with his
('unllition, resoh'ing to rptur11 to his father's house-not ex-
pel'bng to }Jl' an inheritor of the great promises, the rights to
whllh wpn' alhlJittl'dly forfeltpd, but merely hoping to have
till' prJ\ ilpg" of hping allmittell to the house as a servant, not
ito!' 1llL; to he n'cen I'd as a son.
Ollr Lord thus illuqtrateR the conrlition of some of the pub,
!I('an" aIllI sinners ho\ering about him and listening to his
teal'hing
q
, rpspepting whose rel'eption and instruction the
['harisl'es were finlling fault. Our Lord would have them see
thl' :lttlturle of thc heavl'nly Father toward these rpturnin1-{
one". aTill III the pal able pict.urcd him as seeing the repentant
prodigal a long way off. and as having compassion for him,
anll glNlt willlllgness to reppive him. How this must have
touched the hearts of the publicans who heard-to think that
God was willing to receive them bae-k again, not to spurn them
,IR the did! Our Lord proceeds with the picture
further, to "how that the Father not only received the prodigal,
hut. }Ieyond hi" pxppctations, received him as a son, not as a
-ervant-pro\ iding for him a new robe of righteousness, and
making for him a. great feast of welcome.
Then. as the attitude of the complaining Phari-
sees, the plIler brother iR pictured in the parable as disap-
pointpd at the return of thp prodigal brother. Thus our Lord
{evealpll to them how different was their attitude of heart
from that of the heannl.v Father; and thus he gently reproved
them. The parable showR tIle attitude of the Pharisees in
'leclining to pall the prolligal "brother." saying-"This thy
Ion." whiJp the view of the heavl'nly Father to the contrary
Iq expressed in the words, "This thy brother was dead and is
.tli\'e again."
The Pharisces and othl'rs of the Jewish nation who sought
to kE'Cp the law-to be faithful t.o God'R requirements, were,
-0 fa l' as that was ('oncerned, in the right attitude; and up
tfl that time allll point were heirs of all that God had prom-
ised. and had to give; and had tlH'y been not only outwardly
rrlhdouq ll1lt relIgious in heart also, they would have been
iu]]y prepared to havc receivrd at our Lord's hands the great
of t hI' kin!:!llom pri I'i whieh heing in a wroll!:!
,lttit1ll1e of hrart. they deRpi'lcd and rejected and lost. This
thpir loss is reprrspnted in the parable by their refusal to go
In to thl' fpa'lt m:1l1p hv thr Father, to whirh thpv werp a"
welcome aR the returned prodigal. and in which feast, had
they \)ppn in a proper attitude of heart, they would have had
il, prominent plaee with the Father in the welcome
vn thp retllrnNl onp. But as thev were not in the right atti-
tude of heart to rccpive thrir repentant brethren, neither would
thry have bepn in the right attitude of heart to be the Lord'8
inRtrumentR of general blessing in his kingdom. He selects
for joint-heirf! with himself in the kingdom, not the self
righteoU'l. who de'lpise othprR. but such as are of an humble
heart. and who, receiving- divine mercies and favors as a grace,
are fillerl with thankfulnesR, and having the spirit of humility
and of harmony with the Father, rejoice to co-operate with
111m in all of his benevolent plans for the recovery of the lost. of
[2708]
OCTOBn I, 1900
ZION'S WATCH TOWER
(297-303)
they would be glad, yett, rejOICe exceedingly to know that
after the selection of the church of this present age to be the
bride and joint-heir with Christ in the kingdom, the Heavenly
Father had a great and wonderful plan of restttutton for the
world of mankind in general? If they had the Father's
Spirit, if they had the spirit of him who left the Father's
glory and humbled himself to our conditIOns, even unto
death, to be a co-worker together with the Father in the great
work shortly to be accomplished for the recovery of the lost,
It certamly fill the Lord's "brcf]uf'Il" with JGY to
know that it will be a part of their privilege as members of
the body of Christ to Jom with him in tillS great Nork of
bringing back the lost sheep, of sweeping diligently and find-
mg the lost coin, and, in every sense of the word, of welcom-
mg back to the Father's house the lost brother.
It is not for us to judge the hearts of men; that is beyond
our power; but the LOHI to be lli'\ trUlh m
such a way that it shall become the discerner of the thoughts
and intents of the hearts, and that, sharper than any two-
edged sword, it shall separate, Iilhall discover, shall manifest,
who have the spirit of the Lord, and who have not his spirit.
"If any Illan have not tlH' of Christ lw is none of his."-
lIeb. 4: 12.
AN INTERESTING QUESTION
THE SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MADE PERFECT
should we understand the statement of
Reb. 12: 23, "the spirits of just men made perfect?"
Anstvcr.-To appreciate this we must take the statement
III its connections: The Apostle is contrasting the introduc-
tion of the Law Covenant with the introduction of the New
Covenant; and let us remember that altho the church is jus-
titie,1 by the blood of Christ, which seals the New Covenant,
Ilpvertheless, the New Covenant itself is not considered as
havmg gone into effect during thi<> GospC'l age; it is a covenant
ior the wOlld of mankin,l, and the putting of it into effect
brings the bmes of restitution of all things at the second
.ldvent. The church, altho jmtified by the sacrifices whICh
,walcd the Kcw Covenant, i'S really accepted under the Abra-
hamic cOVl'nant--accepted as the of Abraham-members
of the body of which Seed all the families of
thc ealth are to be hles"ed under thp Co,ent.nt, sealed at
Calvary, during the l\hllennium.
Thp Law C'ovpnant, of which Moses was the Mediator, and
whieh W,IS gi \'en at Rinai amid the thunderings and
lIghtning', anu ,oic'cs, etc., was typical of the New Covenant
of wlllch (Read and body) is the Mediator, and which
IS to be introduc'cd to the world of mankind after the whole
bo,ly of has it'S blood and been cumpleted and
glorified.-Aet9 :l :22; Col. 1:24.
The Apostle dl'll ws a par,dlel between the marching of
Israd from Egypt and the Red Sea, up to Mount Sinai, where,
1mder the leadership of the priesthood, they came under the
Law Covenant, Il1l,1 all wli" hope to I)f'come p"ojJj".
marelllng unr!pr the lead of Christ and the "royal prie'Sthood"
towar<l mountain-to Mount Zion, the kingdom of
1-:0'1. thl' '\1I!11'1ll1l:1l kIngdom. Fol].)"'IlI[! under tIle h lIPI"r of
the llntitypical Mediator, will come all of God's I,.;rael, all who
Ire willing to Ill' dplivered from the power of the anti typical
Pharaoh, t'tZ., Satfln.
When we consider how the lRraelites approached Mount
Sinai a'! a host, and that they did not all get there at the
moment nor the same hour, nor even in the same day,
we find the of thi'! in the fact that the Lord's people
throughout this age have been gradually approaehing thi'\ king-
dom-not all at onC'e, but one after another throughout the
ag!'. The last members of the roval prie'Sthood are only get-
ting close to the kingnom, Mount Zion. now; and are to be
followed in turn by all the hosts who will bpcome true
ltes during the MiiJennial age, when light and knowledge shall
be freely granted.
'With this ph'hlre before the milld. and reading the Apos-
tle's words as tramlated in the Dioqlott, we see a beauty in
the expression: We have not approaC'hed the natural mountflin
with the terrors of the law. the smoke and the clouds and
thick darkness and lightnings and voices of worns that spoke
('ondemnation and death to any who erred; but we are ap-
HEB.12:23.
proaching, and all of the church throughout the age have been
approaehmg, the glorious Mount Zion, the kingdom of God,
the kingdom of blessmg.
Ard what shall we find in this kingdom when we ha ve fully
reached it? We shall find the heavenly city, God's kmgdom
of power and great glory. We shall find ourselves introuuced
to a new company of brethren-the heavenly host; and we
shall find our loved ones who have traveled with us in the
narrow way, in that first general assembling of tlw ('hurch of
the first-borns, whose names are written in heaven There we
shall find our heavenly Father, the great Judge of all; there
we till,l tlJ(' tIll' new nalll]'(',\ ot thp 1\11 I Ji.'rl
fully perfpcted in the likeness of their Lord and Head-"We
shall be like him, for we shall see him as he IS." There we
shall find in due time perfected human beings fully restored
to the divine likeness in which fathpr Adam was C'reated; and
there we shall find ,Jesus, who mediated the New Covenant;
and there we shall ever appreciate the blood of Fprinkling
which cleansed us and presented U;l faultless before the Father
in love.
But altho we are approaching these gran,! and glorious
thingc;, we are not to expeet that thl'y will all Ill' in
in a peaceful manner; on the contrary, as the points
out (verses 20, 27), there will be a corrpspon(lenee between
the great time of trouble, with whi('h the Millennial age and
its New Covenant lor mankind will he in, and the
way in which the Law Covenant to the ,Jpws was ushered in
-only that the New Covpnant will hl' u',hprcli in on a mueh
grander and antitypiC'al plane. There WIll be a here,
as thpre was a there; but instead of its Iwing the
phy'Sical earth that will shake, it will be the symbolical earth
-society. And not alone the social strueture, hut also the
heavens, or ece1e'Sia'Stical structure, is to he hl're. As
the Apostle's words clearly intimate, the shaking will be a
much more wonderful onl' than was it'S type, even a'l every
antitype is much than its type. He explains that the
shaking here is to be so thorough that it will shake l'verything
that ic; c;hakeable. and that only the fixed, permanent, right-
eou'l things shall ultimately remain. AmI thosl' things that
shall be permitted to remain, he declare'S (verse 28) pertain to
the kingdom of God, which is immoveable, unshaken ble.
It is this kingdom toward which all of the Lord''l people
marph throughout Gospel age, that will thrn he fully at-
tainecl amidst all th'lt !!reat Kh,kin!.:' and of the
great day of trouhle which i'! iust before us. And a'l
went up into the quaking mountain, an,l was lost to the sight
of the people below, so at, and in conjunction with these
miO"hty manifestation,> of the timp of trouhll' the entirp church
will be "caught up," gatherpd to the Lord. ('hangen to hi'! like-
ness-passing through the portal'l of death, though they shall
not sleep, but be changed in a moment. in thp twinkling of
an eye.
ENCOURAGING WORDS FKOM FAITHFUL WORKERS
way they will read with an unprl'judiced mind-it doe., not
arOUSfl their antagoni'Sm my giving them the impression that
vou something to refute the argnmentc; tlll'V have just hpen
listrning to. If any know of the WATCH TOWER ann do not
care for it, they can refuse to takp it, an,l thus one ic; saved
for some onfl else. I think I am in giving the impres-
sion I am sl'eking if anvone bflcoll\l's inter-
l'ste,l. he tpill bel'omfl a 'Subsl'riber. and it is for such that we
c;pecially labor. With much love, 1 am.
Yours in the best of bonds,
JOSEPH L.
J)r.;AR RROTImR RFSSET,L:-Rome time ago Brother Wood-
worth witnl'sseu my methon of hanning out the Volunteer
TOWERS and was so well pleased with it that he made me
promisfl to write to you about it. I don't consicll'r it anything
out of the ordinary, but for the sake of my promise I will
it to you.
a bow and a smile I say, "Sample--\VATCH TOWER;"
.)1' "Free sample \VATCR TOWER." If any (]11l'stions fire asked, 1
"An unspetarian religious magazine." My rpasons for this
method are. I seek to interest them thus, or rather to arouse
their in knowing what the paper ic;: rather giving
thpm the impression that T am subscriber'S. In this
III-51 [2709]
(304-307) ZIONJS WATCH TOWER ALLEGHNY. PA.
DEAR BROTllER RUSSELL :-The TOWER for Aug. 15 is at
hand and read, and I cannot resi5t writing to you on the sub-
ject, but by no meam for the purpose of getting an answer as
I well klll'w the ,",due of your tune. \Yhen iir"t, III the gll'ut
joy of ha\ ll1g rccelYl'd the truth, I hastened to tell my dear
and In Holland, I met with terrible rebuffs.
My very dcar sbter sent me a tract, in which a
parson, CJehar51-111relIng (whose the sheep are not) warned
his flock (pen) the "soul'damning doctnnes of MIL
LEN:\L\L DAwx." "It addcd," said he, "and lopped off Scrip,
ture," and to prove that he never did such a thing he went on
to say that "tlw wages of death and eternal torment."
Ever since '94 I have quietly but persistently spoken of
my Lord I know hIm now. Lately Illy notiee has
been drawn to the faet that I was con('erned about her "soul's
conditIOn." and I pointed out to her how she, knowing that I
had imlllbcd do('trillPs." had never taken a
step to prc"Cllt my poing Into the torturps of hell ihe. while
.,he \\oul,1 gl\'2 I}er tunc to, and get conccrned about the wei
fare of some man 111 who had merely tran;;gres;;ed the
"tradltJolh <:t nl('n" Idt"l \\a, hugdy pJ(llllpteel hy OIl('
from a sc('olHI who has youth, beauty, \"eaIth, talent and
society in her fa ,'or, but who gives all to the Rick.
She has workc,l her way to be dIrectress of the Upformed hos-
pital in our natn'e city. Hers is a life of actual
service, aJ1(!, tho still in ortllOdoxy, she confessed that she
was toUf'lH'tl JJy the eV!e!eut love and interest I in
Christ's traching, and that I had the "gift to analyze thought."
Dh, how gla,] I will be if I may have stepped out so far past
myself to them my only Head and :MaRter! Souls full of
loye and peJU'-epration. hut yet of the heart "slow to under-
stand." thmk of liv('s like those clearly seeing, 1"0 that
they too may receive the "gift to analyze (order) thought."
Dh, how dearly I hope I mav have sufficient light in me
that it may shine clearly enough for others to see! I fully
appreciate what you say about suddpn deaths. The fact that
we haye an undpl'standing of the plan of the ages is not a
guarantpe that the mine! of Chri"t is in us. If, in one sense,
it is a 5ign of exceeellllg loye and benefaction, it brmgs with
it no less a Kot all those who understanJ these
truths are destined for one office and one purpose. I do not
care for the reward, I do not ask for one; all I aRk and all
I care for is to rencler efficipnt service to at least some sin-
laden, faltering one for His Name's sake. The 15th Psalm has
been my choice one from chilelhood: and from it I learned, amid
the luxurious surroundings of a banker's home, to ask why
I had received so much when others had so little, others whom
I loved and honored, an,l who were more worthy than 1. Good
as my father was, both as man and Christian, I saw that he
did not earn his wealth, and that the world was but little
better for his bemg in it. I made up my mind (I can easily
rememb('r) at the age of 12, that I would right the wrong
if I could, and today I am stilI laboring towards that end.
I feel that I swore then-and whether to my hurt or not I do
not know-and I have not chang-ed Rince. I do know that.
accordlllg' to the I haye heen !Jlessecl far bevon,l mv
des('rts, for "Mine Pyps have seen thy salvation;" yea, I be-
hold ('anaan's g11ttprJng- shon''-. It 1R thereforp <iUIle im-
material to me, r('H'rently sppaking, what occurs. The king-
dom pometh not 11\' (1)',('1 \ .Ition. that tJI('V Lo 11(':'('.
or 10 there, and :i \\ onl,! pluck my right eye (that' wherein I
thought I Raw aright) rather than lose the kingdom.
\Vith prayerR, hrothcr. that the spirit of meekness, loye
and humility may he increasingly yours, that so you may prove
faithful to th(' laRt. I am
Yours in the sen'icp of the truth,
D.\XIEL F. BOISSEVAIN,-Canada.
DF..\R TIllOTHF.R RGSSFf L '-1 takp the firRt opportunity to
personally thank you for attendance at the Saratoga Con-
vention. I realize that to be present costs you some sacrifiCE'
and inconvenience, perhaps, but if you could have heard the
expressIOns of satisfaction at its clobe, and the expressions of
regret that it was so soon over, I know that you would havE'
felt well repaid. But, dear Brother Russell, your reward is in
the hands of him who is the "rewarder of all those that dili-
gently seek him," and our thanks are feeble indeed when
compared with the satisfaction which he gives in this life,
and the hope which he sets before us to be given us in He
life to come. All the brethren expressed themselves in thesE'
words, " 'A feast of fat things' if ever there was such a feast,"
and I found it in my own heart to echo the same words. I
was y('ry Rorry to miss the sessions during the day on
Tuesday. but it could not be a voided. However, it seemed
that my cup of satIsfaction was full.
It as one brother expresRed it, that every Convention
is a little better than the preceding one, and that this must
j'e tru(' indIcated l,y the f,lpt tlr It \\ ear" IU tlip elld of
the days, and the end draws on apace. How good our
Master is to so freely discl05e to us tlungs which are intended
for our and hope and purification.
As we comprehend more and more of the plan of the
ages and of the love of God, which he manifested in his Son,
we exclaim. "\Yho is a God like unto thee; great and mar-
velous are thy works'" And as we come to comprehend also
that the plan and the love, both, include even us, we feel con-
strained to adore such a God, and to spend our lives in his
Rcnice. Rememher me, as I remember all saints, before
the throne of grace.
Yours in his service,
R. H. BARBER.-New York.
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:-Just a wonl to tell you that
all our plans are turned over,-no douht with the Lord's
permission. I cannot go to Giengen: just today I re('eived a
letter from Sister Flllkh. in whIch she informs me that the
fact of renting a dwelling- for me has arousell such an
excitement and hostility church people there that the
people who rented me the rooms are RO afraid as to annul it.
Two ministers came three or four times to the woman, and
finallv told her that she woul,l bring a curse upon herself,
if she would take me in her hOllSP. they would write to the
chunh authorities, and went to the police, etc. Sr. Finkh
was attacked in the street by a woman, who cried aloud after
her ugly words, and the ministers themselves used such ex'
pressions in speaking of me as would be punished here, if
spoken publicly. Sr. Finkh and the other three seem to bE'
most earnest, and will follow the Lamb whitherRocver he goeth,
even unto death. There is already such hatred as to kill the
Lord's true people, if they were permitted at all.
I do not know, at this moment where to go, but trust the
Lord will show me soon, as I wish with all my heart to follow
his leading only. Pray for me, dear brother, and for the
dear sistprs in Gil'ngen.
Yours in our glorious hope,
1\1. E. GIESEKE.-Germany.
[It is remarkable what an antagonism the truth awakens
among the preachers and church officials of Babylon. ':Ne
hear much of Christian union and liberality and fratermza-
tlOn of CatholicR and but '-u"h apply to and
among those who preach "bad tidings." and is not considered
applicable to us who proclaim the "good tidings of great joy
which shall be to all people." Strange, is it not? And yet
how it reminds us of the bitterness of the hatred of the
church officials of Jewrv at the first advent. As our Lord
declared, they "hated the light," and the greater the light
the more was their hatred, until they attempted to extinguish
the Light by killing him. The hatred above described indi.cates
the spirit of murder (1 John 3: 15) : will it ever lead to hteral
murder ?-How soon ?-EDITOR.]
VOL. XXI ALLEGHENY, PA., OCTOBER 15, 1900
VIEWS FROM THE TOWER
No. 20
WORLD MOVEMENT TOWARD DENOMINATIONAL UNION
A contemporary thus sums up the recent tendencies toward
union on the part of Churchianity.-in full harmony with
what our pagps for the past twenty years have shown will
be the procedure of "Babylon" ju<,t prior to her fall "as a
great millstone into the sea." \Ve quote as follows:-
"The queRtion of denominational union is fast becoming
one of the important questions of the daJ in all Prot-
estant lands. In Germany, as we have lately pointed out, a
strong movement exists for the federation of the sts te
churches. amounting to nearly fifty in number; and federa-
tion iR one step on the road to organic union. In Scotland,
the Congregationalists and the churches of the Evangelical
l'nion-sometimes called Morrisanians-amalgamated their
forces a short time ago; and the Free and the United Presby-
terian churches are to become organically one next October,
as already mentioned in these pages. In South Australia thp
three leading Methodist denominations, and in Oanada all
the various Methodist bodies have for some years been one.
This is an encouraging record.
[2710]
OCTOUR 15. 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER
(307-308j
"Besides this measure of union already attained, there
are promising movements under way in England. All the
great Protestant churches outside the Establishment have for
some years had a strong federal organization, as we have
several times pointed out. During several years past an
attempt has been made to unite organically two of the Meth
odist bodies-the Princeton Methodists and the Bible Chris
tians. Both are offshoots of the original Wesleyan parent
stock, but separated from it on questions of church govern
ment."
CHRISTIAN THEORY AND PRACTIOE CONTRARY
The following is from The Orioot, a Japanese journal:
"Japan enjoys the unique distinction of being the only
non-Christian power that has been admitted into what is
called the comity of nations on a footing of perfect equality,
and, to judge from the utterances of the European and Amer-
ican press she is by no means the least respected power. Un
fortunately the cause of this respect is not such as to satisfy
all Japanese. Japan has made great progress in the arts of
peace; but that is not really why she is respected. That re-
spect was earned in a short nine months by the achievements
of the Japanese army and navy. Now that sort of thing is
pleasing enough to a nation's amour propre, but on calmly
thinking the matter over some Japanese would wish that the
respect of Western nations had been earned by something else
than by mere proficiency in the art of slaughter conducted
on modern scientific principles. Russia, too, is respected and
feared. Yet she is the only non-constitutional country in the
comity of nations. The liberty of the individual and of the
press is under the tyranny of mere administrative orders in
Russia, and official peculation is nearly as rife as in China.
And this gives rise to strange misgivings. Are the socalled
Christian nations really followers of the religious cult they
so ostentatiously and proudly profess? .
. "Withot,It going so far with Count Tolstoi as to say that
hIS rendermg of the real meaning of Christianity is the
correct one, we do go so far as to say that the precepts of the
Sermon on the Mount are the most important in the so-called
Christian code of morality. And these precepts, unquestion-
ably, are against war, and all against according honor to any
nation or any man on the mere grounds of success in the
exercise of brute force, much less of success in slaughtering
enemies. And yet it is precisely on these grounds that non-
Christian Japan has been accorded the respect of so-called
Christian Europe and America!
"We can very well understand the old Hebrews respecting
us for success in war, for the old Hebrew God was a God
of battles. But We have always understood that the Christian
Father in heaven was no mere tribal war-gOd, but a God of
love. The present situation is not a little puzzling to us
poor benighted heathens of Japan, who have earned the respect
of those who profess to follow t h ~ precepts of Christ on
the Mount, by success in slaughtering our enemies, and by
that alone. Will real Christians kindly explain what it aU
means?"
* * *
In our "View" of last issue we made a typographical
error, in stating that Terah, Abraham's father, died at
seventy. It should have read-two hundred and five years.
THE CHRISTIAN'S GOAL
THOUGHTS SUGGESTED BY THE
Perfect love-the mark for the prize;
How shall I reach it, 0 Lord?
The way thou hast walked is a narrow way,
So we read in thy precious Word.
We eagerly start in the way with joy,
Thinking our love is pure;
But the Father, seeking our perfectness,
Purgeth us more and more.
Till, by dint of strokes and of tears
Made to look back o'er bitter years
Our hearts in anguish deep exclaim
"Woe is me!" "Wretched man that I am!"
We know that in us dwelleth no good thing,
But in the Beloved do we stand;
o glory and honor and praises to him
Who holdeth us in his hand!
CHICAGO OONVENTION
Perfect love! 0 Lord can it be
Thou in infinite mercy canst see
In one so unworthy, so helpless as I,
A heart that unto thee would draw nigh t
Perfect love! Lord, can it really be
Thou hast so loved and cared for me,
That when in me did sin so abound
Thy grace more abundant was found?
Perfect love-the mark for the prize
Thou hast placed beyond the skies!
o yes, our dear Lord, we will patiently run,
With our eyes on thee alone;
Not looking back on the way we have come,
Battles fought, and victories won;
But forgetting those things which are behind
Press along our reward to find.
Perfect love-we do see it in him,
Who gave his life, our poor lives to redeem;
That we might as sons to our Father draw near,
For in Jesus we've nothing to fear,
As in the light of his glorious face
We press to the end of the race;
Standing complete in his Righteousness,
He alone our perfect dress.
-:MR. C. A. OWEN.
SEASONS OF REFRESHING
As the time for the Dallas, Texas, Convention drew near,
it became evident that it would serve only a small proportion
of the Texas friends who would desire to attend, and so ar
rangements were made for two other gatherings in that large
State-about 300 miles apart ;-namely at Houston and at
San Antonio. And another local convention of nearby friends
was held at Columbus, Ohio, on the Editor's return trip. All
were seasons of refreshment in spiritual things, profitable, we
trust, to all who attended.
At Dallas the attendance was about 300; from all parts
of Texas, from Oklahoma, Indian Territory, Arkansas, Mis
'3issippi, Alabama and California. The three days were prac-
tically one continuous meeting with necessary intermissions
for food and rest. Fifteen brethren and seven sisters sym-
bolized their real baptism into Christ's death, by immersion in
water.
At Houston we had only a one-day meeting, but it was
a good one; full of love, joy, fellowship of kindred minds;
its influence will abide, with some at least, through life, yea
throughout eternity, no doubt. The attendance was about
one hundred and twenty-five, chiefly local.
At San Antonio we had great refreshment during two
days' meeting with about one hundred and fifty of God's dear
people, mostly from local points. Two informed us that they
had driven over one hundred miles in a wagon, there being
no good railroad connections, and, anyway, the expense being
a consideration. The Lord's blessing was with us aJl in
bountiful measure as we considered together the grandeur
of our high calling, and the "mark" to which all must attain
if they would win it.
At Columbus we had but one day, but it was one full of
refreshment, as we met about one hundred dear brethren and
sisters from local points, and communed together concerning
the exceedinj.; great and pr('cious proml"es and arranj.;ements
of God for the elect, and through them for all the families
of the earth, in God's due time.
The arrangements at every point were most complete, and
with the cordial reception accorded ourself and all visiting
brethren, bespoke-amongst all-a
"Love divine all love excelling."
We shall cherish fondly to the end of our pilgrimage the
remembrance of the hearty greetings and many kind atten-
[2711]
(309-310)
ZION'S WATCH TOWER
tions, great and small, lavished upon us by loved ones whom
we had never met before, but who, for all that, were far from
strangers. \Ye accepted these attentions as done "unto the
Lord" and to us a representative of him and his truth; and
not as penlOnal trihutes. If, as our Master promised, even
a cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple shall be
rewardctI bv him, SUI ely these many kindnesses to us as his
servant will bring showers of spiritual blessings to many;
antI in tlli'\ we rejoice.
Much as "'I' enjoy these conventions and realize that they
are spiritually profitable to many, we feel nevertheless that
they must not be indulged so freely next year, nor until the
concluding two volumes of the DAWN series are pnpared.
The conventions of this year have retarded VOL. VI. a full
year. We have not as yet gotten started on it, and yet our
daily increasing mail clearly shows its need. We have in
mind for 1001 a convention at Ruff'alo, N. Y., to which point
the Pan-American Exposition will nndoubtedly secure low
excursion rates.
"THY SAINTS SHALL GLORIFY THEE"
"They shall speak of the glory of thy Kingdom, and talk of thy power j to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and
the glorlUus majesty of his Kingdom."-Psa. 145 :5-12.
Va rio\l" ,11 I' the view-points from "hich mankind regards
ItS CI cator. The "'011,1 of mankind in general notes merely
IllS IllIgllty \\ lthout appreciating hi'3 glorious character.
bv the Prophet, savinO', "I will speak of
[IlIl'dltate the g'IOIlOlh honor of tily ';'najesty, and of thy
\\ ondl Olh amI mpn "hall speak of thy terrible acts:
but I \1 ill ,\Pelare thy gn'atnl'ss." 5, (j) The world
<;pl',lkl'th of Ih (mn, and apl'oriling to its intelligence re"pec-
lIlg t]'p but the LllId's ppoplp, specially in'3tructed
hy hll1l alld taught of till' holy spirit, know of the Lord and
gl 1Il a sen"e that the remainder of mankind know
thpllI not
A<; the Apo,tle deetH!'';. "The natural man receiveth not
the of the d (;0,1, neither can he know them, be-
calhP thl'V are spilitually ,Ii ",cern1',1. . . . But God hath
rp\'""I(,,1 thcm unto u'" by hi", Splllt." (ICor. 2:14, 10) As
our LOI ,I aga in (lec1.11 (,f\, "To you it is gIven to know the
m) '" of t hI' kingdom." "Ble"'serl are your eyes, for they
src: and your ear"" f,)r they hrar." (Mark 4:11; Matt.
1:1 1(i) "'l' are not, thcn, to be at the wide differ-
pn('(' (If of e,)r\ and of his mightines'3 and of
hi'l ('halaf'tl'r, a'l vip\\erl by the <;aints and by the world;
ra tlH'1 \I l' a I P to e,peet Sl1l'h a differrnce of view. The Apos-
tle the rea",on, tl'lling u'> that the god of this world
h'lth hlindl'd thr mind", of them that believe not, so that the
glmiou" light of Co,I's goodnpss, shining in the face of Jesus
CIII i,,t ,'ur LOl d. rlop<; not shine into their hearts, to give the
light of the kIlO\\ lerlgl' of the divine character and plan. \ 2
C"r. 4 "1) Anti he e."plains again that we who were at one
tiuH' 1I1 tin I knp,,<;, arc now enlightened by the Lord, having
been tI a ted out of the dominion of the prince of rlark-
mto the rlominioll of Go,I''3 deal' Son. (Col. 1:13) And
It i" pllli"htplled class that the Apostle urges should
nl.ll,p pi n in th(' knowledge of thl' Lord, growing in
gr:1 (,f', Ifl 0\\ in!! in knowJ.'tlge, anrl tbu'3 growing in the love of
Cod au,1 In the appreciatIOn of hi'> eharaeter. He urge'> this,
8:1\ ing t1l:1t it j<; npeeS":HV, to the intent that we may compre-
hell,1 \\1 t h a11 "a illh. the Ipngth'l anti hre'1dths, and the heights
alld tit pt],<;, :111l1 tn knc,l\' the Invp (If Christ, whieh pa'3seth all
[hlllnanl 3'17-10.
t1lp gfl':d of ChriRtian people, ",hill' they
havp p,e:IJ'(,fl fro]]] mucl, of the blilHlnes'> of the Advl'rwLry,
all' <1111\('(t to hi" rOl1fl1"jng ('rrors and mi'lrepre&''ltation'3
nf 1],(, tll1th and art' thus blinded "till in great measure to
tlH' tli\ illP pl:lIl; looking at thing'> morc from the human
si:!Jlflp"int than from the divine standpoint, amI framing
the)r rlel'fl, an,l con aceorrlingly. Ah, they forget
ho\\' til" LOJ(l 1m" dec1"rl'll, "My plnns are noi your plans,
nrit],pr a1 e your wav,> my ways, saith the Lord, for as the
hr"l\,pn" arp tllgher th:ln tl;e pnr'th, RO arc my ways higher than
flnrl pLlll'> than your plans." (I"'a. 1ji):S, 9)
lk('au"'r of tlli'l TlH'a"llIe of hlin,lnrs'l that rpsts upon the mass
of til, nominal ehureh-pven among<;t Prote'itants-it follows
th"t. not "ppinl:: thp diyine eharapier anrl plan in their true
light and I""lilty. tllP vast ma jority of ChriRtian people can-
not tab' t11e "tanflpoint of the saints in this prophetic testi
mon)' lidO! e U", hilt thpy take rathrr the Rtnndpoint of the
natllrnl mnn' when thpy think of the Almighty they think
rathpr of wOn<lerful and terrible acts than of hi" own
grr'atllr''''", hpcauRe thry know comparatively little of the
g-Ioriou" howlr of hi'> rna jpsty, and do not see how his wonder-
ful drclnre hi'> grratnes".
From tIll' standpomt of the average Christian, God is
anything hut gloriously honorahle in hi" rna jpsty; indeed,
thinklIl!! of thr Almighty from the Rtandpoint of their creeds,
the rna jOrIty of nohle-minrled Christian people feel aRhamed
of God and of hi" plan. One class declarps that his glorious
honor ,LIld majesty is manifested in his rlection of thr church
to and eternal life, afold in the passing by of the great
majorIty of others, condemnmg' them to an eternity of torture
-and that since "known unto the Lord are all his works"
God foreknew and foreordained whatsoever comes to pa;s,
and thus purposed the eternal tormpnt of the vast majority
of his hundrrds of millions of human creatureR bpforr creating
them. Cnn these dear Cllristian declarr the honor nnd
majp<;ty, the greatness and goodne<;s, of their Crrator? No I
Hin(!ered hy such a false view of God's plan and of his mighty
works, they cannot discern in such a cour'3e either justice.
or love, or any other great or honorable quality, that thry
should honor or reverence it. I-Ipnce, like the \Vorl,!, they
merely take note of the mighty powpr of .Tehovah. and fear
him, but are unahle to take the po'iition of the saints and to
glorify hi" name and dl'clnre his Iighteou'inp<;<;.
Another large body of Christian people rqlllrliate the fore
goin!! faloe yiew, a'3serting anothrr ef]Iwlly untrue, and almoqt
equally rlishonoring-tho their thought is to glorify God.
anrl to relieve his charactrr of the stain of inju<;tice. inrquity
and 10vPles"'neR'l with which the forl'g'oing yiew would br
smirch it. The'>e, thprrfore, claim thnt God loves evrry lIIPlll
bpr of the rare, anfl is doing and has bern doing Rincp the fall
everything within hiR powpr to rescue Arlam's fn lien racr from
their ,Iiffieulties. Rut with such a view how could thpy e"tol
the grentnl's'i and the honorahle majesty of the
If for six thou<;and years he has been unahle to aecompli",h
nnything, where i" the power, where is the honor and majest;v
to hl' seen?
Rurply all woula confe<;s that an;\' bright, honornhl(' man
if g-rantpd the one-hundreth p'ut of the omnipotpnt poweT
of the Creator could accomplish more in one hundred
than all that hns been accompliRhrd in six thousand
toward thp rescue of the race from ignorance, Ruppr<;tition
anrl sin! How, then, could thesc deal' Chri'3tian friend'i who,
with good pllrpo.;e of he:ll't .Ill' IH'\('rthrlp"s hlm,]"l hv h
fa thpprY-how could theY tpll forth the glorious hOnOT
of thp dh ine majesty, and show this and hi", greable'ls from
hi", wondrous deeds? Sun.ly thl';\' woul<1 he dumh in any flucll
effort.
THE SONG OF MOSES AND THE LAMB
Only those who Sl'P thp flivinp plan of the age'l, and tilt'
lelationship lwhnplI 11)(' I,a,t tht' pr,'-clIt. all'] till' futmr'.
are in any drgree able to make known thp gn'atnl'!<s of our God.
g-Ioriou'> power, and hifl honOlablc maie",ty. Thi'i cIa",,,
referrer! to b;\' the Revelator as Ringing the song of "Moses.
the servant of God, and the sonl! of the Lamb-they sing in
the Ren<;e of rleclaring in hnrmonioufl and bpautiful
the rplationship of the types and figures of the Law and the
Prophets of the Mosaic dispensation with the anti types of
these of the Gospel dispensation; showing that all things
written in the Law and in the Prophets are finding glorious
fulfilmentR in the Lamb of God and in the great plan which
the hewenly Father is working out through him.-Rcv.
15:3, 4.
The Revelator tells us the subfltance of this song: name
Iy, "Great anrl marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty!
Just anrl true are thy ways, thou King of saints!" But what
great and marvel OUR work has God performed, and how shall
we see that he is both just and true in all his ways and deal
ingR? From the standpoint of those who can sing this song
everything mu<;t be clear as noonday!
First amongst the great and marvelous works of the AI
mighty was the sentpnce of death upon father Arlam and his
pORteritv bl'cause of disobedience-not a sentence of eternal tor-
ment, which would be as unjust, and unreasonable, as it is un
true and contrary to the Word of God-not the false presen-
tation respecting this divine act that is held forth in all the
creeds of Christendom,-but thl' grpat and marvelous act
[2712]
OCTOBER 15, 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER
(310-312,
which God declarE's he accomplished when he let fall upon
our race the sentence of death, which has brought in its train
all the various disasters and difficulties mental and physical,
to which our fallen fle"h is heir, all of which are tending to,
and resulting in death, the penalty. As we look at this
marvelous work, we must concede that it was just (in that it
was meritpd), that it is true (in the sense of not being an
unrellsona ble penalty), true in the sense that it was exactly
what God forwarned father Adllm the penalty of disobedience
would be. "Just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints."
But Jehovah's first great and marvelous work of con-
llpmnation was. after four thousand years, followed by an-
other great and marvelou'! work; viz., the work of redemp-
tion. How stupendous thi" work of the ransoming of all
Adam's rflCe of hundreds of millions by the sacrifice of one
man' How great and wonderful indeed thi'! act, and how
just nnd true. and how fully in harmony with every feature
of divine justi('e and love! Even the philosophv of the ran-
som is explained to the Lord''! people,-how that all man-
kind wpre imluded in one mnn's ,!pntence, to the intent that
in du(' time the penalty of sin could be paid on behnlf of all
manl'ind bv the onp sacrifice for sins, "the man Chri"t Je'lus,
who himself a rnmom for all." (1 Tim. 2 'Il, 6; Rom.
i) ,12. HI. l!l) "Tn s not tlJi'l a ;,re'lt and mflrvelous work?
Who th'lt rpnli7P'I thp Ipngth'l flnd brendth", and hpights and
of thi'l manife'ltntion of divine jU'ltiee anrl rlivin(' lovp,
pan 110 fllH!ht df'e than sin!! this 'Ion!! of nnd the L'lmh.
dechrin!! to all who hflve ears to hear it. "Gn'at and marvl'l
011'1. 111'1t nnrl trul' flIP thy W'1V'l. Lord Gnd Ahni"htv"
fpw it clearly; an'] hen"c fe;'v can 'ling this wonderful story
to othprs.
Rnt th"re i'l Rtill another fenturp to this Rong, and it is
glorioll'l nlRo tho it pertnin'! not to thp thing" thflt are mIst,
but to thp thin!!R vet to pome. Tt flecbre". "\'Vho sh'lll not
reverpnep thpe. 0 Lord. anrl glorify thy namp?" It look'! for-
war,l to thp timp when thi" f!TP'1t rerlemption. !1('('omplished
hv th(' hln",l of the Lflmh. '1h r,] I bp m'ldp flvail'lhlp to every
mpml,pr of thp humfln familv. Tt looks fOf\vnrrl to thp !!Iorious
TiIlenni',1 a(!'e. to thp time whpn. umlpr divine provirlenee.
tlip knowlp<l"p of the Lord. p"'Ipnti'll to faith. flnrl to flnv ae
pep1flnpp of hi'l fav"r nnd mpr('v throu!!ll Chri'lt. sh'lll he ex:-
tpnd,,<! fq {'vprv rr{,'1turc -who inrlppd will not reverence the
LOllI ;InrI ['lorifv his namp? Rurelv. a" thr Rcripture'! llHve
rleplarrd. Ht thflt time. "Everv knee' Rhnll how nnrl cvery
tonlYllP ponfp'l"," :lnd whilr thi" howin!! and ('onfp'lsing- m')Y
flt prot h{' pOll1pul'lorv. nnrl not with flll thp volition of the
hpnrt. ypt tIll' Rpriphlrpo !J"'1l1re us thnt ultimntrlv all who
will not ('omp into heart hnrmonv with He Lorrl "nrl with
all hi'l !!f[(piou'l arrflngrTPrnts flnrl provi'lions, II be cut
off from amon!!'1t the prnnle,-in the secnnd dpath. (Art'l
Ro th'lt ultimatplv. inste1d of the universe beinlY
fi lI('rI with hundred'l of million'! who to all ptrrnitv will wail
and !!n"",h thpir tppth and bhl"pheme Gorl''I holy nflm!' in
llgonv-in'!t{'nd of thi'l thp time shHll conw when every tonlYuP
III IlPavpn "nrl in enrth '1h'lll hp hpflrrl pmi'ling Gorl. giving
honor to him th'1t sitteth on the thronp anrl to the L'1mh.
forpvpr; for hv that time fill evildoers. fill lovf'r" of unriD'ht-
POUSnf'S '1h'1ll be cut off from nmongst the peonle.
Rllt thio 'long eontinu('s. :md h'l'l Yf't anothpr str"in. It
deplarrs. "Thou onlv art holy"-all holiness. HII perfection.
wherevpr it i'! found. must rroreed from God. the great
founhin of holiness. How stram!"!'. then, that anv of God's
dpllr pp"ple (and we oursplve'! were once amonQ''It" this num-
ber) shf1ulrl so misunderRbnrl the divine chaml'ter anrl plan
as to misrenrp'Ient thf' 'lame as bein!! the very e'l"ence of un-
holipf's'!. injustice. unkinrlnes'!. inequity, lovele"snf'''s. toward
the g-rrat m'1'1S of God''I rreflture'l! It will inrlepd be n glad
day when fill shall revprence Gorl's name, !Jnrl when all shall
reco!!ni7e thflt he i'l indperl the fountain of holineos.
Bllt thprp i'l still nnothpr strflin in th;o "OI]IY flnrl 1t j'l a
grfln,l onp al'lo, like fill the others.-reaching down into the
Millpnnifll age. It deplnre'l, 'All nations shall romp an'] wor-
ship hefore thee; for thy are marle m'lnifest." "All
nation'I" will inplude. not onIv all the nation'l then livinD'.
but all the nations of the dead. just as does the
whiph Oorl made to Abrflh!Jm, saying. "In thy sperl rthe
Christ, Hend and body] shall all the families of the ellrth
he hlf'socd"-all nations.
How few. how extremely few, are able to learn this song!
How extremely few learn it so well as to be able to sing this
song to the glory of God! How many who sunposedlv were
trained to sing "the good tidings of great joy" for all peo-
ple, are in the pulpits today singing totally different songs;
some of them songs of "Evolution," declaring that there was
no fall, consequently no redemption from a fall, and conse
quently that there is to be no recovery from a fall; but that
man is grandly climbing up, up, up, and proving to he his
O\\'n RHvior, anrl hoping to attain they know not what,-
theY know not when.
'Othprs are singing the song of Calvinism, predestination,
foreordination and eleetion. Others are singing the song ot
Arminianiom, and hoping that God will be able to ac('ompli'lh
muph in the future through thei'J' assistance,-whieh they hold
he has unouccessfully been trying to do for six thousand
yeHrs. Other'l are singing the song, "In union there is
strength," nnd seeking to eomhine for what they term a
"soeinl uplift," or "the salvntion of Roriety," Others are
singing the 'long of works and univeroal salvation. Rut how
few are able to sing thi'l song of Mose'! and the Lamh, or
to see how God's great nnd marvelou'l work'l of the past
refleet gloriously upon his rharaeter. both for iU'ltire nnd
love, and give us the best of nil as",uranre" for the working
out in the future of the glorious plan which he has alreatlv
outlinrd and begun!
And we are told the reasor. why so few can sing this song
-that it is only for those to sing who have "/!,ottl'n the vic
tory over the beast and his image and hi'l mark an,l thp
numher of his name." These symhol'!, repreRenting earthly
inRtitutions \\ hich now hinelrr nnd hinrl and enol'wc the Lord's
penple to crep,ls, must be overrome bv ewrv ... oul that would
hope to he able to apprrcinte this 'long', and to Ring it in hi'!
dailv life to othprs aceor,ling to his opportunitiPR. Those
who' try to smg thi'l song while yet in Babylon find their
mistake.
PROCLAIM LOUDLY THE MEMORIAL
Coming- bnek to the Prophet's tp.,timony re,pprtlllg tll(
meRSfl/!'e. "howing- forth tl\(' Lord's honor ancl ma \\'P linel
in the 7th vprse a wonrlrrful te"timony to the erntml featun
and manife'ltation of tIlP ,li\;ine ('hnmetpr nnfl plan.
The P'Ia 'Iavo (Leeser''I trn n'llation), "1111' memoria I of
thy ahundant "h'1l1 tllev lowllv proclaim, and they
shall 'ling- joyfully of thy ,,,lult memorwl
hHR God given us of ahundant g'f>odnp'l"? 'Vhiph of all hi;;
great nUl] wonderful work" rould hp tl111'1 termp,l a mrn!0I1fll
of divine fHvor? 'Ye answer tlint this mrmorinl. thi'l /!,rcat
act. wa'! none other than the gift 'If Ooel''! deal' f'on. to be
our rerlemption priep, ns the Aro'ltle rlrclarc'!. "Tn thi" wa"
mnnife'lten the love of Goel toward U'l hernuse that Ood Rent
hi'l onlv begotten Son into the "orId. thnt wr mi!!ht live
throu!!h him." (1 John 4fl) Rut as very few rrnlize the
grf'at Hpt of plstiee n('('ompli'lhpr! in the senteneing of fnther
Adflm nnd hi'l rare to de'lth. 00 frw ran appreriate. a'! a
spepinl manifpRtlltion of 0011''! ahunrl:lllt goodnes'!, the death
at Chri'lt a'! the full offset for Aflam''! oin, the full ransom,
thf' full payment of his penalty nnd tllnt of hi", rHPP.
The re'l'lon for thi" is that they e'lteem that tllp r:lPROm
was pnirl only for the ('hurch, a lIttle floC'k. From thi", 'Itand
point it was not a manifestation of the ahundant and
!!:oorlne'ls of God. but of a very limib',l graee and fnvor for a
very limitf'd number. a hnnrlful. a" it wpre. out of th(' gn'at
of hum'lnity. But whpn \\'l' eomr to ser thHt our Lord
Jesus' sacrifice "a propitiation for onr sin'I [the chureh's
sin'll and not for our'! only, hut 0180 for fh(' of flip 1rlIOIe
vorld." nnrl th'lt thi'! ''rfln801/1 fm' oll" "to 11r tr'ltifird in
due time" to all and m'lde availnhlr to all, that ultimntel,Y all
may benf'fit therf'h:v if thf'Y will. flnll rpturn to hnrmony with
God and to rternal life,-from stan,lpoint only pnn we
see the grpatnes'l of thnt tranoadioll. fini"hed nt Calvary,
anrl how it i'! a "memorial" of Oml's nhnnrlnnt !!ooflne'lo. And
only sueh as 'lee thi" Cfln hpartily and loudly rroclflim it.
and sing joyfully of the rightpou'IneRs of Oorl. whiC'h not onl:>,
was manifested in thp righteous ppnaltv aguin<;t sin. but
whiC'h again itself in the righteous puymrnt of
that pennlty on behalf of even' ereaturp.
The PsnImist rontinurs. "Thr Lord is graciou'! ann full
of compnssion; slow to an!!er anrl of great mercy. The Lord
is good to all, and his tenrler mereieq ar<' ovrr all hio work'l"
(vs. R). 1'1 not this iust what wr shoulll e'(TJ('d ill 0\11'
Crefltor, II we re('ogni7e him to be the full emhodiment of
justiPf' flnd of lovf' anrl of wi'ldom nnd of pO\\'<'r? Anrl :\'et
how different is thi'! description of the divine charHcter from
the general view, as hpld by the masses of Christian people,
blinrled bv the adVer'lalV and misled by their crred'l' In-
Rtead of thinking of the Lord a'l do the\' not
think of him a<; awfullv lm/!'raeiOU'l. and hnve they not pic-
turpd him, not only in their erreds hut nl"o in their h,vmns of
praise, as being awfullv bitter and malignant againRt his
('reatures, ungraciou'l, pitiless, full of anger and of no mercy
[2713]
(312-313)
ZIONJS WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA.
Have they not, on the contrary, represented that Jesus our
dear H.edeemer must plead with the Father, and show his
wounds and appeal for us, ere any compassion could be ex
hibited, and then only in the most limited degree!
But not thus false was the Prophet's view of Jehovah, given
by inspiration. Jehovah is gracious and full of compassion;
he knows that the motions of sin are in our flesh, tending
downward, and in his great mercy and compassion he has
provided in Jesus for our every difficulty, our every trial,
fo.r the covering of our every weakness and imperfections, and
WIth those who become his people, and who even haltingly
seek to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, he is slow to anger
and of great mercy. False ideas of the divine character and
the Jivine rlealings with the world of mankind have not only
perverted the hopes of God's people as respects the world, but
have also inculcated in their hearts misconceptions of God's
sentiments toward his church, so that the majority of his
people do not appreciate the kindness, the mercy, the love,
the of our Father in heaven, and failing to ap-
precIate these they have more or less of the fear of which
the Apostle speaks, saying, "Fear hath torment," and corre
spondingly they lack "the peace of God which passeth all
understanding" to rule in their hearts. It is only when by
the grace of God the eyes of our understanding are opened
to see how ollr heavenly Father is not against us, but tor us,
and how under his providential arrangement all things are
working together for good to those who love, and who are
seeking to attain to the gracious things which he has offered
them in his Word,-only then are we enabled to know him,
appreciate him, and to offer him, in the best and fullest sense
of the word, the tribute of our hearts and the praise of our
lips.
Now we come to the climax, as it were, of our text, and
note that while the Lord's saints see his greatness and hon-
orable majesty connected with every feature of the divine
plan, and \\ hile they are telling these good tidings to others,
and of mightv doing'R in the past, their message
would not be complete without a testimony respecting his
glorious kingdom. "They shall speak of the glory of thy
kingdom"-the MillenniaI kingdom. They cannot tell of the
majesty of the divine plan and not tell about the kinO'dom.
To tell of the fall, and to tell of the righteous sentence"'upon
the fallen race, and to tell of the redemption accomplished
through the precious blood of Christ, and that it was paid
on behalf of every member of the Adamic race, would not
finish the good tidings of great joy. It is necessary, there-
fore, to speak of the glory of God's kingdom, and to talk of
his power as it will be manifested in that kingdom. As the
and the execution of. the sentence manifest the jus-
tice of God; and the redemptIOn through Jesus manifests the
love of God, so the kingdom of the Lord will manifest his
power to save to the uttermost all those who come unto the
Father through the Son.
The glory of the Lord's kingdom will not consist, as some
11an' of some saints with the Savior on a
bright cloud and looking over the h:tttlements of heaven to
see the remainder, the numberless millions of mankind, writh
ing in agony. 0 no! If this were all that we could say of
the kingdom of our God we should rather prefer to say noth-
ing. There would be no glory in such a kingdom; it would
be an everlasting reproach to the King that he had conceived
a which had resulted so horribly, so indescribably bad,
that It should mean the eternal torment of hundreds of mil-
lions of his creatures. Nor will the glory of the kingdom
con::.ist, as some others of God's dear people suppose, in a
manifestation of a handful of saints, the glorified church,
with the Lord, and with the remainder of the raCe blotted
out of existence without ever having had knowledge and a
full opportunity under favorable ('onditions to avail them-
selves of the great memonal of God's love, the redemption.
0. no! There would be no glory, but a discredit to such a
kmgdom and to so meagre an outcome to the great " me-
morial."
Kor \\ ill the kingdom he, a'l some others of God's dear
people have conceived it to be, one in which Christ and his
church during the Millennial age, bless merely the liv-
ing natIOns of the world, and brina to them the blessings
which God has promisf'd, but leave the remainder of the
raCe \\ho have died for six thousand years. from Adam down
to the present time, in darkness, in ignorance, in death, with-
out any opportunity under that kingdom. 0 no! A human
plan might thus favor the millions living at the time of the
establishment of the kingdom. but forget or ignore or pass by
the hundreds and thousands of millions who have gone down
into the great prison-house of death; but God's ways are not
as man's ways nor his plans as man's plans. The glory of
the kingdom of which we are authorized to speak, is a king-
dom which is to bless all nations, the dead who have gone
down into the tomb, as well as those who have not yet gone
into death. It is a kingdom in which God's power will be
most marvelously manifested.
Let us "talk" together now of his power as the Prophet
has suggested. It will be a mighty power which will over-
throw the reign of sin, which will bind the power of Satan
that he shall deceive the nation no more, and which will es-
tablish the Lord Jesus and his glorious church in power and
great glory, with dominion over all the earth, with authority
to execute judgment,-to punish sin and to reward every
effort toward righteousness. But the power of God as it will
be manifested, will be still greater than all this; it will be a
power which will lift up out of the miry pit of sin; out of the
weaknesses of the flesh, out of his imperfections, mental,
moral and physical, every member of the human family who
desires to make progress and to return to the grand perfec-
tion of human nature represented originally iu father Adam,
and from which he and all in him fell, through disobedience.
In this sense of the word it is a resurrection power, raising
up, up, up, from the low conditiom of sin and death to the
high conditions of perfection and righteousness. It not only
will thus take hold of the people who will not at that time
have fallen asleep in death, but this mighty power of the
kingdom will take hold also of those who have gone down
into the tomb, and who are in the great prison-house of df'ath;
even as our Lord declared, that lle will open the prison-doors
and say to the prisoners, "Show yourselves; come forth."
"And all that are in their graves shall hear his voice and
come forth" (John 5:39), and the coming forth shall be unto
a resurrection by judgment-that so many as will. may avaIl
themselves of the blessed privileges and opportunities of that
great judgment day (the Millennial age), and profit by the
stripes and corrections in righteousness which will then be
administered, and grow in grace, grow in knowledge, grow
in love and grow in perfection of being, until by the close of
the Millennial age, if they will. they shall have arrived back
again into full harmony with God, and received fully all the
perfections of human nature lost through the fall, and re-
deemed by the great "memorial" of divine favor.
No wonder, then, that the saints, when they glorify God,
speak of the glory of his kingdom and talk of the mighty
power of God which shall then be manifested, and how then
shall be made known to the sons of men God's mighty acts;
how they shall then see clearly the meaning of the original
sentence as they do not now see it; how they shall then see
clearly the meaning of the great redemption, as they do not
now see it, and how they shall then see clearly the provision
of divine power in the kingdom for their blessing ;-that
seeing these mighty acts of God in their true light, they
also may glorify the Father which is in heaven, and they may
appreciate the majesty of his kingdom.
"THY SAINTS SHALL BLESS THEE"
The Prophet intimates that all the saints shall have the
privilege of thus declaring the kingdom, and of thus honor-
ing the name of our God; and this seems to be literally ful
filled today, for the Lord seems to be bringing to the atten-
tion of all of his saints (his consecrated people everywhere)
the present truth; to the intent that they may have its light
upon their pathway, making manifest unto them the glorious
character of our God, through a knowledge of his great plan
of the ages. Moreover, the Lord seems to be putting it
within the power of everyone of his saints to thus glorify
his name and to speak fortn the truth to others. To some
he ha'l granted the talent of oratory and opportunity to use
it and to speak forth his praises in this way; to others he
has granted a talent for private conversation, that they may
thus tell of his kingdom and speak of his glorious majesty
and make known his plans to such as have hearing ears. To
others still he has given the privilege of declaring his mes-
sage through the circulation of the printed and to
some he seems to have given opportunities for using all of
these various methods of einging the song of Moses and the
Lamb. And we may rest assured that none can be of the
company of the Lord's saints in this time, and know of his
goodness and his wonderful hall or and majesty, and not have
a desire to tell the good tidings of great joy to all who have
an ear to hear; and those who are most earnest, most zeal-
ous in proclaiming the message, are sure to have the most
blessing in their own hearts, and in their own experiences,
and to grow the most in grace, in knowledge and in love.
[2714]
OCTOBllR IS, 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER (314-315)
"I will speak of the glorious honor of thy majesty, and
of thy wondrous deeds. Thy saints shall glorify thee; they
shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy
power, to make known unto the son'! of men thy mighty acts,
and the glorious majpsty of thy kingdoID."
FOLLOWING THE VOICE OF CONSCIENCE
A brother writes us interestingly as follows:
'Ye omit names for obvious reasons.
I want to thank you for your last letter. The Lord has
poured out upon my distracted mind a great blessing since I
fully and unreservedly gave up all. So far as I understand
my present attItude toward the dear Master, I am now "be-
headed," having bowed reverently and joyfully to his will.
It seems that the mere unconditional resolve to separate
wholly from Babylon brought me a blessing. But I have not
yet sent in my contempla ted letter to the Presbytery. The
saIDe meet'l in regular session the 9th of Oct. I shall en-
deavor to have it ready to go before that meeting for action.
The pa'ltor of the local church (Presbyterian) here has prom-
ised to help the matter and to defend my case, should
a defcncc be called out. This promisc he made after I had
explained to him, one day this week, my reasons for the step.
At first he tried. hy arguments and persuasIOn, to induce me
to change my mind.
""'nit a while," he said, "until see the outcome of
the revision movement. The Confession of Faith will, and
must be changed. I am out of harmony with several of its
doctrinal statements mvself, and the brethren of the Pres-
bvtprv lenow It too, and some of them hate me for it like
Let us stand by our guns and fight the thing out,
blOther."
I said, "I cannot follow your advice, brother, tho
I know it is well meant. :My mind is so fully made up that
I cannot be induced to take a backward step."
"Well then, if that is the case, where do vou wish to be
dismis'lcd to-what church, or as'!ociation 1 We cannot dis-
miss you at large or at random, you know. Our book makes
no provision for such a case. In fact, I have never heard
of such a ca'le before."
request is, and must be, for unconditional dismis-
sal" I nnswered. "I wish to be absolutcly free from eccles-
ia'ltical bondage. I recognize no hnman organization as the
cburch of Christ. All of them exist without the authority
or rccognition of the Lord Jcsm Christ; hence none of them
are his. His church has no name on earth. But I can can-
scientiom,ly say this of the Presbyterian church as I know
it: In practice it is the best of the denominations and sects,
but in doctrinal teachings it is nearly as bad as the Roman
Catholic system."
Not one word of commcnt in reply! Instead he gave me
this item of confidential information:
"Brother I will tell you something by which you can see
how most of our brother ministers stand on the Westminster
Confession: At our last meeting a young man from the
German Theological Seminary in Iowa came to us for exami-
nation and ordination. Dr. --, our Stated Clerk of Pres-
bytery, was chairman of the examining committee, and I was
also on the same. After Dr. -- got through with him and
expressed hm1splf afl satisfied, I took the bool:, alHl turning
to the statements on election and reprobation I rcan the whole
chapter to hm1. alHl then a"kpd IlIm solpl1mly. 'Do YOU be-
lieve this l' He looked at me a minute, and then said: 'If
will let me explain it, I will show in what sense I be-
lieve it.' 'No, no,' I said, 'you cannot and you must not try
to explain it; you mUflt believe it or you are not entitled to
ordination according to our form of government. Now let
me ask you once more, Do you accept this doctrine as it
stands?' Brother, that young- man answered very emphati-
callv. 'Xo" Dr. -- said. neIther do I" And 1 al'3o
said. 'Xelther do I!'"
"Did the Presbytery ordain him on such a confession as
that 1" I asked.
"Xot one dis'!enting vote in the committee."
"Such inconsistency is inexcu'3uhle, and wrong before
God," I said. "It is only another strong argument in favnr
of my decision to get out and be frce." Then we parten, he
cordially offering me his assistance if needed, as above stated.
Your counsel with refercnce to the spirit of my letter of
request for dismissal, is appreciated and fully approved. I
believe the Lord will suggest to my mind the words he would
have me say. I win selld you a copy of the letter when I
write again. I think of you daily, and my love goes out to
you as a brother high above a brother by birth.
THE UNJUST STEWARD
LUKE 16: 1-13.-Nov. 4.
"l'e cannot serre God and Mammon."
\Yhile the predous parables of this dinner-table talk were
addresscd specially to the "Pharisees, this parable, and the one
following- it, concerning a rich man and a poor man (Dives
and Lazarus), were addres..,cd not so exclusively to the Phari-
see". hut. as thc first verse of our lesson declares, to the dis-
dples also, as wpll as to the Pharisees at the same table.
Thp why the thrpe parablps wcre addressed to the
Pharisecs only, and not to the disciples, is evident-the dis-
ciplcs needed no such instruction, having no prejudice against
the poor('r classes, recognizing themselves as among"t
the "lost" who were glad to be founel by the Good Shepherd.
The stcward of this parable corresponds to the elder son
of th(' pleceding p"rable, [lnd to the rich man of the succeeel-
ing parable; it applies specially to the scribes and Phariflees,
who. as our Lord declared, on another occasion, "sat in :l\Ioses'
seat"-representen Moses, and the Law Covenant of which
Moses was the :Jlp(!Jator. and the obtamed through
that covenant, of which Moses was the original steward, and
th1'y now the steward, as his representatives. In what did
this stewardship consist 1 The Apostle Paul asks this ques-
tion, and answers it, saying, "\Vhat advantage then hath a
Jew? Much every way: chiefly because to them were com-
mitted the oracles of God," the knowledge of God, with
typical justification and at-one-ment with him, and an interest
in the promises made to the fathers.
The Jews, as represented in Moses and his successors,
failed of their stewardship-failed to use in a manner satis-
factory to God the favors committed to their care. Nor, in-
de1'd, were they wholly to blame for this, as the Apostle Paul
points out; they were weak through the fall, incompetent to
be administrators of so great a truflt; and God knew this
when he gave them the stewardship-he knew that they would
fail to keep the Law perfectly. He had fully intended that
in due time he would depose them from the stewardship and
give it to the one whom he had foreknown-to Me"sIah.
Now the time had come when this change of administra-
tion was about to be effected, and God was calling upon the
representatives of Israel to give an account of their stew-
ardship, and informing them that a new dispensation was
a.bout to be ushered in. Our Lord JeflU'l in this parable
wished to point out to them what would be the wisest course
for them to pursue under the circumstances. He shows them
what an earthly steward would do under such circumstances,
and tells them there is wisdom in such a course, saying, "The
children of this world are wiser in their generation than the
children of light:" you, as God's people, more favored than
any others with light on the divine character and plan, are
not acting as wisely as you would do if you were earthly
stewards.
Here We are met with the difficulty that the majority of
people do not clearly comprehend-the scope of a steward's
privileges in olden times. We have no fluch office today
amongst civilized people. A steward's office was a confi-
dential one; he had the liberty and full authority to do any-
thing and everything that the owner himself could do with
his goods. He could make prc"cnts. or ('an('pl dcbts, or use in
any manner he chose the goods under his ('are, and could
not be held respomible as a culprit before the law, because
the nature of his office as a steward was such that he fully
represented and acted for his employer. The latter could
discharge him from the stewardship as a penalty for unfaith-
fulness, but this would be bis only punishment, because in
making him steward he fully authorized him to use his
judgment.
In the parable the unjust steward-unjust in his previous
use of his master's affairs, that is, unrighteous, unsatisfac-
[2715]
(316-317)
ZION'S WATCH TOWER
AU.IlGHIlNY, l'A
tory, imperfect-as soon as he realized the situation, made enough to confess inability to keep the perfact law, these
no attempt to defend himself, nor to claim that he had done scribes and Pharisees, on the contrary, bound upon the peopl!'
perfectly; but before rendering up his accounts he dealt leni- heavy burdens which they would not assist to lift with their
I'ntly with some of his lord's creditor's, remitting parts of little finger.-Matt. 23: 1-4.
theIr (This may haye been a wise course, as, Thu" doing they became more and more hypocritical and
for instance, today bankruptcy laws similarly release debtors case-hardened, until, in his later descriptions of them, our
from oblIgations which they could not pay; and similarly Lord declared them to be whited sepulchres, outwanlly fall'
t'l edlto!;, 11 eqw'nt 1,1'. In 1JlPU own 1I1tl're"t, ngll'[' to ,[('('I'pt and beautiful, lllwardly full of corruption, dishonesty, hypo-
sixty per cent, fifty per cent, forty per cent, or some other cri"y; knowing themselves to be infractors of the law the,\'
proportion of the original sum as for the whole of a debt, were outwardly claiming and boasting perfection. This not
"l'l'llIg til,lt till' (lel)tUI h unable to 1'.1,\- tltl' a( eonnt in tull. being said to the Pharisees alone, but to the di'lciples "also,"
and Illth n Ilel\' to Ill" eneoulagemellt to do till' 1..,,,t lIP I',ln. implies that they were to notice how the parable fitted and
The Jel\ ish ,Jubilee year of full release from all debts was how unwisely this steward class was acting. Even at thp
along the same line of leniency and wise business policy rep' table the Phari"ees, perceiving to some extent at least tlH'
rl'sented in the "Bankruptcy Law" of today.) It IS not be- trend of the parable, "derided"-being covetous. But OUI
cn(!he of this I;I,t conduct of the steward that he is called un- Lord pressed the les'lon horne to them saying, "Ye are they
ju,t (unnghteous) in thc parable, but because of his previous which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth youl
stl'wardsillp, not haling corne up to the full, perfect demands hearts." lOU are the unjust steward and soon all will Wit
of hi" master. I d h h r f h' I
ness your rejection. "The aw an t e prop {'ts 0 w II'I
Now, applying the paruble to all of the Jewish nation, you are the 'representativ{'sl was [recognized of Godl until
esppcIally to tht."c "ho S'1t in Moses' seat and had the con- John rthe Baptist]; since that time the kingdom of God is
trol of mattprs, anrl \I ho decided what lIas and what was not prparhpd rthe new, the Gospel di'lpenMtion], and evpry 0111'
the propcr lIltl'rpretatlOn of the law, our Lord intimated that ['lhould] press toward it." 14-16) You, Ipaders of
If thcy WPI e as lli,e as (artltly stewards they would make use the peoplp. however, not only will not enter your'lplves, hut
(Of their opportul11til''' in a somewhat similar manner. Now those desirinO' to enter you hinder. (Matt. 2:3: 13) You
hO\l could they h,lI e done tlUS-SllppOSlllg that they recog- should spe tl1l1t vour is bound to Mos(>s and the la\l
nllc,l the fact that thry had not fulfilled the requiremenb as a wife to her' hu"band-"o long as it Jivpth. It is neprlful
of God undt'r the Law, and supposing also that they realized therefore, that the law which you represent shoul,1 die, that
th.lt the tmlC had comc for a change of dispensation. and Israel may be liberated and thus be prpparerl to be united
that God \las dcmanding an account of them and informing (marrird) to Messiah by a new coYcnant.-Verses 17,
them that a Ilell steward would take possessIOn of matters- Rom. 7: 1-4.
llllla'r bll( It Clf('lllllst:lne( S huw should these in beat \Ve are not informed that this parable llarl spcrial applic,1
h,llt' aetl'IP \\ t' .11I"lltI, th,lt III harmony WIth tlu' It''''OIi uj tion in the end of this Gospel age. but sincp we know from
thp parable, tlley should haI'e said to themselves: \Ve realize other Scripture" that natural I"rael and it'I ha timl'
that wc olln'l,llc,; have nut kept the law of God perfectly; were a pattNn or illustration of spiritual I"racl t.hi'l
illdl'l'd, t h,lt It ), not II ithlll our power to do so. \Ve realize and the vresent timp, therefore we .lll<ltdipd III
that a phangc of is impending, and that we arp looking- for some parallel as between the of uJ.!
('ailed upon to makr an aecountlllg. and that we can only .Just steward in our Lord's dav and a SImIlar m tlll'"
adllut bdore GOll that III' made a failure as rcspects the rl f I
pre"ent time. And looking- about u" to ay or a c ass ('01'-
out uf thc demands of his Law and the gaining of responding to those who sat in Moses' seat, we find a cl.1s__
ctl'rnal life undcr it,-and as respects the u"e of the man,\- t.odav sitting in Christ'!;< "pat. resppds tIll' GO"]'I"I "llIIreb
advantages cvery \la.) which Ood has given us. We have used This' class is comp0'led of elder", Sunday Rrhool teacher'l and
our advantage>; in :;umc re"peets well, but we failed on the superintendent", mini"ters, bishops. archhishops,. etc. 'l}!;se
whole to accomplish anything in the world, or to gain eternal as a whole are representing a great steward<:hlp of rllVllle
life, either for ourselve'l or for any,-and we cannot dispute, favor as respects the Lorn's veople today. Thev. verceive
therefO! e, that . By the deeds of the law no flesh should be that a ('h'1n!!e of disnensation is upon that thpll' crperls
ju.,tJfied in God's :;ight." and traditions from the pa'lt are being called in and
Rince, therefore, it must soon be evidenced to all that our that they are being required to render up an acc,ount. They
l:ltewaldsll1p has resulted in failure and that we are dispos- perceive that the account will not hI' a verv fhth'rH17 onp, and
seseI'd, thc II ise thing for us to do is to turn about at once, that if the whole truth were known to the peoplp as it is
and deal kindly and generously with these sinners (the prodi- known to Gon, they would be found derelict. unfaithful to
gal son class) and, instead of denouncing them as sinners thpir stpwardship in many resvects. They fear the cri'lis:
morc than our"ell es, wc should say to them frankly, \Vc they put off the day of reckoning a'l far as they
cannot keep this perfect law of God, and we know also that hush the murmurs of the ppople and the re"peet-
you cannot do so, but now, instead of being hopelessly dis- ing cn.eds and as the Lord slJirl of the 8teward of hi'l d1v, so
couraged and cast down, do the best you can; we will remit it will true of these: "That which i" pstpemed
part of the pwrtion of the law, adnJitting that you arc un- amongst men is an abomination in the sight of God."-Versp
able to kecp it pprfe('tly, and will merely require of you that 15.
you keep it to the bcst of your ability-fifty per cent., or The'll' rppre"entAtivps of the nominal church, who hold a
f'lghty per ('pnt.. accO! dmg to your circumstances and condi- position of stewarnship as respects the, masses ?f the Lord's
tion'i-aeconling al:! you are able, keep the law. people, are di8posed, as were the Phaflsees, theIr vrototypes,
TTad the scribe'i and Pharisees taken this position they to put a bold faN' upon matters, to brave it out rather than
\\0ltld have hcall'd the hreach as between themselves and thc to confpss thp truth. As for instance, in the matter of creeds
people, and their honcsty in admitting that they themselves that arc heing called in question: Many, even of those who
could not kN'p tne law would have been a distinct advantage were at fir<lt disposed to demand the revi'lion of West-
to them, in conncction with the new dispensa- minstpr Confpssion of Faith, have concluiled that thIS would
tion. AIlli this very conduct of candid admission and of be showing the white feather, and admitting that they had
sympathy for others. and assistance in lifting their burdens been in error in the past, and imperfect in thpir interpreta-
\\ ould have brought them into such a condition of heart that tion of the ilivine Word, and hence calculated to discredit
thl'Y would have been rcaily for the and the lower them with the people; and now the .tide is turning
from which they had hitherto held aloof as sinners, ann the same onps who were demandmg a reVISIOn are now
Ilould havc had a kindly fceling toward them, and as a re- Yoting to the contrary, that the crepd is good, thoroughly sat-
they \loulll hall' retained a me'l:;urc of their sympathy, isfactory to them, that they would not change it for any-
at lca;,t. in the time of trouble which came upon them when thing. "They are so anxious to be highly esteemed of men
their polIty was ol'erthrown. that they seem to forget altogether the one from whom they
Dut did the scribe" and Pharisees follow any such course? received their stewardship, and who is about to take it from
By no mpanf'. On the other hand they put on a brassy front, them.
madc bro'ld their phylacteries, made still louder chims re- What would be the proper course for this steward class
specting thpir Oil n perfection of hcart and lifE', deceiving their of the Gospel age? We answer, that the proper course would
own selve'l probably as much as or more than they deceived be to do what our Lord recommended to the ,Jewish stewards;
other'l. They that they should ever continue to be viz., they shoulil candidly confess to the people the errol's of
steward'l of the manifold grace of God; and, as our Lord de- the cTrrds and their own imperfection in attemptrd exposi-
dares, so far from lifting' the burdens and condemnations of tion of the divine Word, ann their own failures in the past in
the law from the shoulders of the people, who were honest respect to a proper use of the oracles of God and a proper
[2716]
OCTOBn 15. 190C
ZIONJS WATCH TOWER (317-318)
application of the exceeding great and precious And
while acknowledging their own errors and they
should modify the demands made of the people and brmg them
into conformity with their ability. For instance, they should
say to the people, How much did we say that. you owed to
God, and what penalty did we say would be Imposed upon
you? If we said that you were to receive a penalty o! eternal
torment, count that now as being an error, and wnte down
instead, "A just recompense of reward:" If we you
that your obligations to God are accordmg to the JeWIsh law,
and as represented in the Ten Commandments, and that un-
less these were kept perfectly in letter and in spirit you would
have no hope of eternal life, alter and amend that feature of
your faith, and write instead tllat under thp *New C'oven:wt
God will accept the most imperfect works of those who have
consecrated themselves to him, providing those imperfect
works are the best that they are able to offer; and providing
they are offen'd in the name and merit of him who loved us
and who bought us with his own precious blood.
If the present stewards would follow such a course they
would undoubterlly be rpspected through the future. but fol-
lowing" thpir pre'lent course, the time is surely coming
thev will be de..pised as hypocrites and blind guides, who mIS-
Il'ad thl'ir confiding flocks into the ditch of skepticism and
the great time of trouble.
This parable may be comdrlerl'd as ending with the
verse, the instructions which follow heing separate and dIS-
tin<,t, anrl alonet a somewhat different line, and addres..ed spe-
C'ially to those accepted the Lord's teaching, his disciples.
"YE CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON"
This after-lE'sson is on the Aubject of the impossibility of
having masters, God and Mammon. Mammon represents
c:lrthly rirlles, not only financial wealth, but honor among"st
men, etc.-the thing which was particularly hindering the
PhariseE'S from taking the proper cour'le and acknowledging
thl'ir error and "E'eking for and ohtaining mercy. Mammon
is a grE'at hindrance to all who desire to be the Lord's
,liscipl<,s. \Vhoever worships Mammon-and it may be self
or w<'fllth or fame or position anel honor among..t men, one or
all of these-whoever )Iammon cannot at the ball1e
time be a truE' worc:;hiper of Goo. a trill' foHowpr of Christ.
bE'cause God anrl Mammon are rivals before our hearts. If
we attE'mpt to divioe our love and attention, and to give part
of it to Gorl and to his 'lervice, anrl part of it to Mammon. the
rE'sults "'ilI he un..ati ..faetory to God, unsatisfartory to Mam-
mon an,l llnsflti ..f'lrtory to our"l'lv!'s.
We must, therefore; decirle either to live for self and
parthIv thin!!'l or to renounpe anrl sacrifipE' these in the in-
t!'1 pst' of GOll and of heavenly things. The wor..l1ipers of
Mammon may have certain advantag"E'S as respE'cts the present
lifp, in the way of E'arthly pr05peritv. bnt Mammon cannot
give eternal life. It is the gift of God, and tho..l' who would
have God'.. must bE' God's friE'nds, God's ellildren; and
he dpmands of sueh that they shall manifE'st their love and
,Ipvotion to him by rE'nouncing'Mammon, by joyfully sacrificing
<; ..e JI1IW 15 \'1\'1, i"tle for critical examination of Co\'en"l1t5
earthly name and fame and favor and interest, thus showing
their higher appreciation of hIS love and favor, the riches of
his grace, and the exceeding great and precious things which
he has promised to give them in the life to come.
These are to "make to themselves friends;" in other words,
to lay up treasures in heaven, by the sacrifice of the Mam-
mon of unrigHteousness ;-that is to say, the sacrifice of the
various interests of this present time of unrighteousness, "this
present evil world."
Some may have very little of Mammon at their disposal
to sacrifice; but the Lord encourages us all by saying that
he that is faithful in that which is least, thereby gives evi-
dence of how faithful he would be if he had much; and the
Lord accepts the little sacrifices which we are able to make
as tho they were greater ones. "She hath done what she
could" is the best of testimony as respects the use of present
opportunities in the Lord's service, whether it refer to a
mite or a million, a little influence or a great one. It is not
the amount that God is seeking, but the character, the dis-
position of heart; and whoever has the right disposition of
heart and is careful in the small affairs of life, to serve the
Lord with all that he possesses and to the pxtent of his
ability, such an one will hllV" committpd to him the true
riches-the heavenly riches. 'Nut merely may he expect
enter into the glories of the heavenly kingdom, ?ut even In
the prpsent life he will begin to get a fir5t-frmts ?f .those
riehl''! in his own heart, in his own experiences; for It IS
questionably a fact that the heirs of glory, those who nre
the right relationship with GO(] and f:lIthfnlly 111
the race, not only will gE't the prize at the of th.e race,
but already gE't ble'lsing which the world can neIther glYe
take awav;-the joys of thl' Lord, tlhe peace of God Wl11Ch
passeth all understanding in thE'ir hE'art... ; that they
can for joy, even in the house of their
in the present unsati..factory tahernacle condItIon, In whIch
we groan also, being burdE'npd with itA weaknessE's.
Bnt if we are not faithful in the little things which can
fe....E"11y are not onr own, and merE'ly given to us as a stew
ardship-the things, the opportunitiE's. the ta Il'ut.., which are
merely pnt within onr /Irflsp as Rtewards of the Lord.-if we
are not faithful in using these with an eye single to the
glory, how can we expert that he will ever give U'l true riches
of grace, to be our own forever, pither in the future or in
the nresent li fl'.
The Sl1m of this le..son to tIle disciples, thE'n. is that as no
man is able to sprvE' two ma'lters and Ratisfy both, and do
justice to both, their interests eonflirting, no mflre can WE'
serve Goo anrl rightpousnpss, and at the same time be pleas-
ing and aereptablE' to the advpr'lary and tho..e who are in hal'-
monv with him WllO now rnles in thi .. pre"ent di .. pens:ltion,
the "prinre of thi'l world." An of the Lord's consecratpd PE'O-
pie, tho"e who would lay up trea.. ures in heaven and bE' rich
toward God, must be willing to become of no reputation
amongst those who are not conspcratl'rl, and who, wh'ltever
their p(h.. .., are really serving Mammon, s..lfi .. hness, thp
prcsE'nt lifc, an'] not s'1l'rilil'ing .. ill to 1h., :Itt,] i '1
ment of the hea\'pnly king<lom.
THE RICH MAN (DIVES) AND THE POOR MAN (LAZARUS)
LUKE 16: 19-3I.-Nov. 11.
This parahle is a continuation of the series, a part of the ,md Lazarus, the fifth of the series brings the in'ltruction to 1\
table-talk at the banquet at the Pharisee's house. It is the climax by picturing the favored class a<, tl](' rich man, who
I'ulmination, so to speak, of the entire series of parables. enjoye<l, but oirl not rightly appreciate the bl!'ssings ..howerI'd
The first represents mankind in general. as the lost sheep, upon him,-selfishly shutting up hi" hE'art the poor
and the Lord's interest therein, and its final recovery to tbe "innpr at hi'! g-ate; not ackno\\ Ipdzing that he himsdf aIso
fold; the second respepting the lost coin, repre..ents the same was imperfect and camp short of thp glory of God and thE'
thought, with thE' a<lditional feature of the diligent sweeping perfpet keeping of his law.
and bringing in of the light in order to the recovery or resti- Thi .. parable shows what tile woultl he as rE'.. perts
tution of the lost rac!'. The third applies this same principle both cbsses-the final outrome. We will not Ileal with it
to the .Jewish nation, and reproves the Ph:trispe class, the elder here, sinre we have alrearly tre'ltE'rl it with con'!irlprahle elab-
brother, for not having the I>onl's spirit of love and mercy oration in our issue of Mltrch 15 and April I, 1noo. But in-
in respect to the sinner cless, thE' prodigal. The fourth repre- asmuch as some mav have loaned or given away tha t eopy, and
sents the unwisdom of this class in hypocritically sinre we have a /Iood supply of thE'm on hand, we ronrlllrle to
pretending to others that they kppt the Law and were ac- send an E'xtra ropy of th'lt one with this is.. ue to supplemE'nt
ceptahle stewanl.. , whereas they themselves were well awarE' this lE'Rson. Those who find themsE'lvP'l po.. ses"E'd of two rop-
that they came short of the glory of God. came short of ful- iI'S will no rlouht h'lve good opportunitv for uc:;ing thE' extra
filling their stewardship, and must therefore he ejected from one to the Lord's prai .. e and to the blessing of Aome who in
it; and points out to them a propE'r course, which they did more or less darkne!'s are "fE'pling aftl'r Go<l [hi'! planl. if
not, however, takp. And now. finally. this parable of Dives haply they may finrl him."
[2717 ]
VOL. XXI ALLEGHENY, PA., NOVEMBER 1, 1900 No. 21
VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER
STILL DEBATING INFANT DAMNATION
In debates on creed revision among Presbyterians no
feature has called forth such heated discussion as that re-
latmg to "elect infants dying in infancy." This clause of the
'Vestminster Confession, with those clause which have pop-
ularly been taken as interpreting it, follow:-
III. 3. "By the decree of God, for the manifestation of
his glory, some men and angels are predestmed unto ever-
lasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death.
III. 4. "These angels and men thus predestmed and fore-
ordained are particularly and unchangeably designed, and
their number is so certain and definite that It can not either
be increased or diminished.
"The Lutheran church did not rid itself altogether of
Roman sacramentalism. Its Augsburg Confession teaches that
'Baptism is necessary to salvation.' It condemns all 'who
affirm that children are saved without baptism.'
"Archbishop Cranmer, the first primate of the English
church, said in his 'Catechism': 'If we should have heathen
parents and die without baptism, we would be damned ever-
lastingly.'
".... The founder of the Methodist Episcopal church,
John Wesley, in his 'Treatise on Baptism,' 1756, says:-
"'If infants are guilty of original sin, then they are the
proper subjects of baptism, seeing in the ordinary way they
can not be saved unless this be washed away by baptism. It
has already been proved lhat this original stain cleaves to
every child of man, and that they thereby are children of
wrath and liable to eternal damnation.'''
'l'he Independent (August 30) says:-
"It is a mere eyasion to assert that 'elect infants' can
mean all infants. It would be as easy to say 'all infants', as
'elept infants' if that 'Yare intended. and if it were not contu
dicted by the doctrine clearly expressed in the Confession.
that original sin i'5 worthy of eternal death. That the plain
meaning of the Confession and its implications throu)!hout in-
cludes infants among those who are lost, is sufficiently proYed
from the of Dr. Twiss, prolol'utor of the "-estminster
AssC'mbly, who says distinctly in IllS 'VrxDIc:r:' I. -lR -
"'Many infants depart from this life in original sin, and
consequently are condemned to eternal death on account of
original sin alone. Therefore. from the sole transgression of
Adam condemnation to eternal death has followed upon many
infants.'
"What Dr. Twiss said was the belief of the rest amI the
teaching of the Confession."
The Rev. Henry Frank quotes John Calvin himself,
saying:-
"John Calvin savs with his accustomed clearness: 'The
children of the [i Coo the non-elect] whom the cune
of God follows, are to the sa.me sentencC" (Oppra II.)
Again: 'You deny that it is lawful for God, expept for mis-
deeds, to condemn any human being. . .. Put forth your
evidence against God. who precipitates into eterllal dCflth
harmless, new-born children torn from their mother's bosom.'
('De Occulta Dei ProVidentia'). 'As the eggs of the asp are
de'5ervedly crushed, and serpents iust horn are deservedly
killed, though they have not yet poisoned anyone with their
bite, so infants are justly obnoxious to penalties' (Molineaux
of France) ....
"Once again hear John Calyin: 'Very infant'5 themselves
bring in their own damnation with them from their mother's
womb; who. although th"!y have not yet brought forth the
fruits of their iniquity, yet have the seed thereof enclosed
within them; yea, their whole nature is a certain seed of sin;
and therefore it can not be otherwise than hateful and abom
inable to God.'
"Now let us learn what the framers of the Confession
themselves said concerning this damnable doctrine. William
Twiss: 'If many thousands, even all the infants of Turks
and Saracens, dying in original sin are tormented by him in
hell-fire, is he to be accounted the father of cruelties for this?'
For a vivid picture of the disposition of these eternally
damned infants by this mild and maudlin PreSbyterian God,
read Samuel Rutherford, one of the Scotch commis'5ioners who
assisted in framing the creed. 'Suppose we saw with our eyes
a great furnace of fire, .... and all the damned as lumps at
red fire, and they boiling and louping for pain in a dungeon
of everlasting brimstone, and the black and terrible devils,
with long and sharp-toothed whips of scorpions lashing out
scourges on them; and if we saw our own neighbors, brethren,
sisters; yea, our dear children, wives, fathers, mothers, swim
ming and sinking in that black lake, and heard the yelling,
shouting, crying of our young ones and fathers... .'''
* * *
It will now be quite in order for some very conscientious
Presbyterian brother to tell us that Jolm Calvin knew nothing
about Oalvinism anyway; or to assure us that though there
were damned non-eleet infants in times past, there are none
today, though God and his Word have not changed in the
interim.
If, instead of saying elect and non-elect infants, Brother
Calvin had said the children of the non-elect are damned when
they are born, he would have come much nearer stating the
matter truthfully, however erroneous his conception of the
facts. For the word dalMled in plain English simply signifies
[2718] (323-324)
X. 3. "Elect infantA, dying in infancy, are regenerated
and saved through the Spirit, who worketh when, where, and
how he plcaseth; so also are all other elect persons who are
incapable of being called by the ministry of the Word.
X. 4. "Others, not elected. although they may be called
by the 'Vord and may have some common operatIOns of the
Spirit, yet thcy never truly come to Christ and, therefore, can
not be sa.vceL Much lcss can men not professing the Christian
religion be sawd in any other way whatsoever, be they never
so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of
naturc, and the law of that religion they do profess; and to
asscrt and maintain that they may, is vcry pernicious and to
be detested."
From a remote period these statements have been pop-
ularly supposed to teach, by implication, that non-elect infants
dying in infancy are damned. However, the recent General
Assembly of the Presbyterian church (South) claimed that no
such interpretation could rightly be put upon the clause, and
refusC'd to cOIlfnder a propositIon to alter it. For instance,
Dr. 'Varficld. of Princeton, says, "I think we may characterize
the interpretation of Chapter X., section 3 [of the Westmin-
ster Confcssion], which finds a body of non-elect infants dying
in infancy implied in its statements, as one of the most
astonishing pieces of misrepresentation in literary history."
Rev. Dr. Eugene Danicl also asserts that it is unjust to say
that t
1
1c Confession imphcitly teachcs thc damnation of non
elect infants. He points out that it teaches posiNrely the
sa lvation of elect infants, but makes no attempt whatever to
solve the Creator's intentions with regard to non-elect infants.
It seems peculiar indeed that anyone claiming to believe in
Calvinistic predestination of adults could dispute that the
same conditions prevailed in infancy. But hearken to other
interpreters of the 'Vestminster Confession, as follows:-
Rev. Dr. Horace L. Singleton (The Homiletic Review, Sep-
tpmbpr). states that prior to the 'VestminRter Confession all of
Chri'.tendom had believed that infants dying without baptism
are rlllmucd, but that Confession took a step forward in
aSRPrting that elect infants, even if unbaptized, are saved. He
sayR:-
"The sacramentarian doctrine of the papal and other prel-
atical churches, and the logical conclusion of Arminianism,
left no other provision for infant salvation than baptism. To
dIe without it waR to he lost forever. This detestable doctrine
the Confession of Faith was designed to destroy. It does de-
stroy it. The Christian church and the world are debtors to it
for removing the gloom which surrounds the death of babes.
The ASRembly rHvmes were all Calvinists, in entire accord
with the second Scotch Confession, which on this subject
'abhors and detests among the doctrine'5 of the Roman Anti-
christ his cruel judgment against infants dying without the
sacrament.' The Calvinists of the Westminster Assembly who
indorsed or approved that Confession, would surely not frame
an article on infant salvation which would imply that any
dying in infancy were without the pale of God's grace and
redemption. So they made provision for all by referring all
to the sovereign will of him 'who worketh when and where
and how he will.' Only Calvinistic theology and a Calvinistic
Confession can say that. The phrase contains the essence of
Calvinism. What is that? Why, the grace of God is sovereign
both in its source and application.
"As to the device of the doctrine of infant damnation, not
one of the other denominations can point at the PreSbyterian
church and say: 'Thou didst it.'
"The Roman Catholic church in the Council of Trent
decreed, and the decree still stands:-
" 'If any denies that new-born children must be baptized, or
says that they do not derive from Adam anything of original
sin which makes the washing of regeneration necessary to
cleanse them for an entrance into everlasting life, let him be
accursed.'
NovtMB!tR I, 1900
ZION'S WATCH TOWER (32S-326)
condemned, and the same is true of the Greek word translated
in these two ways in the Bible.
No one can dispute that the Scriptures plainly teach that
condemnation (damnation) passed upon all men because of
father Adam's transgression (Rom. 5: 12), and hence the dec-
laration that mankind are "born in sin." (Psa. 51: 5 ) The
only exceptions to this rule of being born condemned (damned)
being in the case of children one or both of whose parents are
believers.-l Cor. 7: 14.
But then, the great difficulty of "Orthodoxy" lies in the
fact that it has aecepted theories respecting this original con-
demnatwn (damna tion or curse of God) framed in "the dark
ages," that it means condemned (damned) to everlasting tor-
ture, either in fire and brimstone or something worse: a
thought as opposed to the Scriptural teachings as to sound
reason and common sense. If, however, the Scriptural thought
be attached to the c01'ldemnation (damnation) and it be seeD
that all of Adam's race are born aliens and strangers from
God, his enemies and under condemnatwn (damnation) to
death is imperfect beings unworthy of God's favors, including
everlasting life,-then all is plain, all is reasonable.
It will then be seen that as Adam's sin and its penalty were
entailed upon his children, so the harmony with God of a
believing parent would properly and consistently attach to
his children until they shall have reached years of discretion
and ability to accept or reject divine favor for themselves.
However, the children of unbelievers have the opportunity
of aecepting God's grace when they come to years of discre-
tion, provided they have the necessary "ears to hear"-ears of
the heart. And even such as, under Satan's influence, are deaf
to the voice of God now speaking to us through his Son-and
who therefore continue through the prespnt life under con-
demnation (damnation), we have the assurance will in the
Millennial age have the ears of their understanding opened and
then have opportunity to obey and be blessed with the gift of
God-eternal life.
N. B. We will send FREE, as a sample, on receipt of a
Postal Card request, a ten cent pamphlet, "What Say the
Scriptures About Hell?" It discu<;sell every occurrence of the
word hell and every passage generally supposed to teach
eternal torment.
DEAD BODIES AND QUICKENED BODIES
"0 wretched man that I am: 1cho shall deliver me from this dead body? I thank God [for delircrancel through Jesus Christ our
Lora. So then wtth my mtnd I serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin."
Rom. 7 :24, 25.
Much perplexity has been caused to many Christian minds had no more claim upon it than had the Gentiles, who had
hy the of the seventh chapter of Paul's Epistle to less knowledge as well as less outward pIety. He asks: "Are
the Romans. Some have concluded that he here teaches that we [Jews] better than they [Gentiles, living according to the
he lInd a life of sin, accordIng to the flesh, but a life of light that they possessed]? No, in no wise; for we have
riahtcousness according to his mind; and yet they are ready before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that tlll'Y are all under
toOl'oneE'de that .this is rather a perplexing, unrea'lonable and sin; as it is written, There is none righte011s, no, not one."
view of the matter. Others reach the conclu- The Apostle's argument i'l that nonl' being righteolls, none
l'iOll that the Apostle must here be describing his condition of could be acquittcd or approwQ before God, whether they had
hE'art and mind before conversion, while he was still a sinner; the law or did not have it. Thus he proved that the Jews as
yet these also find diffil'ulties, and confess that many features well as the Gentiles, up to the time of Christ, were all under
of "uch a view are quite inconsistent with the Apostle's lan- sin, all under condemnation, and that none of them had any
guage. 'Ve submit the following interpretatIon of the chap- claim upon eternal life, according to divine arrangeml'nts thus
ter, as proving itself correct by its harmonizing with all the far made. For "By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh
Apoc,tle's statements in this chapter and elsewhere. be justified in his sight."-Chap. 2:13.17; 3:9,10,19, iO.
Thl' Apostle is addressing beIievE'rs at Rome, "beloved of . the Apostle proceeds to show that. whoever wOllld be
God, called saints" (1: 7). Somp of tlwse were probably converts JustIfied before God, whether he had preVIOusly bel'n a J {'w,
from amongst the Gentiles, whilE' unrloubtedly a considerable favored with the knowledge and advanbgE's of the Law, or a
proportion were converts from Judnism. This is implied by Gentile, in blindness and ignorance doing to thE' bc<;t of his
the fact that the Apostle in this EpIstle so particularly ex- knowledge, God has now provided for both, one way to be
plains the Law, not as to having no knowledge of saved and to come into harmony with him-nall1t'lv, till 011<!h
the Law, but as to Jews having full knowledge of it, The Christ. He shows that the law, so far from justifying the
Epistle is a very comprehensive statement of the entire plan Jews, showed thE'm to be in a conrlition of sin, by their in-
of God. The Apostle bpgins in the first chapter by showing ability to keep it perfectly. But this law whit'h had con-
that God was not responsIhle for the prevalent degradation, demned the Jews, because of thl'ir failure and inahihty to
Ignorance, sin, ett'., throughout the world, and concludes with keep its conditions perfel'tly, sen'ed the more abundantly to
the nushing of Satan umier the feet of the saints during the attest God's justice; it became a witnt'ss to God's rightl'ollS-
MillE'nnial reign of the Christ. He explains that at one time ness-that he had been right in his del'laration that Tsrael
God gave to mankind in general certain knowledge and bless- had not kept the law, and that all mankind, bl'ing in a fallen
ings, but that "when they knew God they glorified him not as condition, were unfit to receive his favors; and it
God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imagi- more than this: it witnessed to thp Justicp of God in provid-
nations, and tlWlf foolish heart wa'l darkE'nl'd. Professing ing the ransom for sinners, in the person of his Ron our Lord
themselvl's to be wise thl'Y became fools." He explains that -"even the of God whil1J is by faith of ,Tl'SUS
graaually men came down to idolatry and bestiality, dis- Christ unto all and upon all thrm that bl'lieve [whl'thl'r ,J,'ws
honoring and degrading themselves, and "perverting the truth or Gentilel,]: for thl're is [now1 110 clilference, for all have
of God into a lie;" "for which cause God gave them up to vile sinned [and consl'quently all are unwortlly of divinl' fa Yllr upon
afipctions and to a reprobate mind. to do those things which any basis of works of their own, anrl thrrl'fore nl'rds be
are not proper;" and they became filled with all unrighteous- redE'emed with the preciolHl blood, l11lrl their pcnalty ITll't for
ness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, them, ere they could be received back iIlto harmony wah Gorl];
envy, murder, dispute, deceit, malignity, etc., etc. Thus he being justified freely by his graee, through til(' r,'d"mption
accounts for the various degrees of degradation, ignorance and that is in Christ J l'SUS, whom God h:1 th Bl't fortII to he a
superstition prevalent throughout the world.-Chap. 1:21, 22, propitiation [satisfaction] through faith in his blood."-
25, 26, 28, 29. Chap. 3: 19-26.
Pro('eeding, he. shows that while received God:s Appealing to those who llad form!'rly been Jl'ws. and who
law, under a speCIal covenant, and WIth speCIal favors at hIS had been inclined to boast of os God's favored
hands, they had not been sared by the law, any more than the people, and inclined to think that in some Sl'nse of tlIl' W'll d
GE'ntilcs had been saved without the law; and that therefore they were still more favored of God than thos!' formerly
both Je,,:s and needed just such a Savior as God Gentiles, the Apostle says, in view of the prrcE'cling
had prOVIded. Answermg the "upposed argument of the JE'WS, "Where is [the room for] boasting and he anSWl'r", "It
he dedares, "Not the hearers of the law are just before God, is excludpd." ThE're is no room for boa'lting; the Jl'W and the
but the doers of the law," and he argues that the Jew who GentilE' having come into Christ are on a ('ommon level-both
rested in the law, and made his boast of being of God's favored have been justified by faith in Christ; nE'ithl'r was benefited or
people, and by reason of these. favors knew the will of injured by his previous experiE'ncE', whether under the Inw or
God partIcularly than the 'yould not, by reason without the law, if now by God's grace thl'Y lInd received
of thIS knowledge and, advantage, be under the law, adoption into his family through Christ. Boasting on thE' part
but eould <:nly Ill' acqUItted. by a perfect keeplllg of that law; of those who previously had been Jews would certainly be
and that the Jews dId not the law perfectly they excluded, for they had not been able to perform the works
could not claIm the rl'ward by the law, namely, which their Law Covenant had demand,>d and now beinO'
eternal life, Hence, so far as eternal life was concerned, they exempted of God, under the law of faith, it ,;ould hinder
[2719]
(3.'!>- 32.
ZION'S WATCH TOWER ALLI!GHIlNV. PA
tram any lJO,lstlllg a". tIlt' Lnv of works. "111('refore
\\e l'oneludp that a mau is ,lustItird by faith, without lnecessity
i"r] thp dl'pds of [works demandpd by] the law."
Thr procrrds to show that the Lord's operation of
favor ou account of faith dol's not make VOId tlIP law. with
\\ h'ch I"f ('ent\1rirs he had dpalt With 1 law of
On the contrary, the fact that it was neces-
S'I;',\' to ,lustIfy thr ,/e\\-. by faith. and the fact that they
,0ul<1 not he ,luslll1cd undpr the law of works, proves. not that
thc law (,f was hall, hut that it g00d, and that thp
,1,,\\ \\a,- 11Il1H'rf"rt through thr LI11, so that he was unable to
nh,} tIll' JH'I f,"t law gl\ en. 'l'lms Cod's (lpalings through tIl('
,"'w 1.1\\ of I.llth really uphold,- amI magnitips IllS old law of
It.1 tllP LItter had to he fultillpd bv Jl'SUS on behalf of
l,h I,,uple. in 0rdn that hp might be tile Redel'mer of the
\\,,; Id III gem'l al. and ",pt fJ ep from the law of \YOI ks those'
,,1,<) h.1(1 h,'en untl"r it. tliat thrv abo, with the rcmaindel of
tli
t
, \' 01]'1. nllght lJ" accepted of God undcr thC' law of faith.--
I [Lip.
nutlr,"in!: hi .. argumrnt. tl1(' Apostlr SllOWS that Abraham
!Jol lu,-Idit',l hy the 1.lw of thC' Law COH'nant, but
l,,' f:l!lh. an(l h"II1'e the dalln ad\'aneed bv that the
11,' In w \\ .1'- Ill"'h-al v. \\ Ith faIth for iu,htit atlon. an
"r!Oll,'ollS (1IIe: !>e,aus,' 3.hl.l1l:11n wa
o
l'alletl the ftiend of God,
:ulll h.ld t:llth ('()ullte,l to h1ln tor nghteou.. n,'''''''' not only
1'111;": h f'>I" thp I.IW \\.IS glll'll at l\lount t'lIl:u, but evpll before
thp OIlt\\ al d -Ign of cil I umci .. ioll \\ as glH'1l to himself--thl'
l.,tt"f !JPlIlg gl',('H Hot as a Il'quirl'mpnt to hi"
hut :h :L -I'll or Il1alk of lustif1"atJOn and hnrmonv WIth UO(l.
to \\11I,h h" had alll'Htly :;ttaill('(l.-l'blp. 4:1-13.
.\hraham ju,-lltlp(1 hy faith, and receivNl illto favor
with Cod 1" ('all'-" of cxprci"l' of Luth. so. ,:ays the Apo'!tlr,
It I" \\ ith 'lltill).: llhtlf1ed faith we have peal'e with
(;,,,1 t:'rol1c'h our LUld .Jp",us Clui,-t" And how and why
through our LOld? ;;'1,\'" the "He was de-
11\ ('f,,<1 fOf 0111' on ('ncrs rhe'l nng the cond('mnation whil'h those
"iTpJ!c'C',- imp1J( d and 111\ oil cd-th, vcry olfpnl'p5 or weakne",ser,
of thp flp-h \\ hllh hillll"f",l ,TC'\Yo from kpepmg thE perfect law
at :-;,nal. allll hpl\1g lll"titicd under It by works of obedience to
itl "-Chap. 4:2;) 5:1.
'II,i- 11I-tlti,:,tlon. \\]l1ch we rpcei\C' through faith in
Chnst. l"'t'ome,- to us the basis of onl' new hopes in him.-of
he. omlllg and, if faithful. ultimately
II ilh him 1'1 Ihl' klllC!doll: Thh tlIp .\)10,t1( (':-.pn'-'p" in thr
WOld" "Bv \\'holll also [nd(litional to justificatIOn and it"
pP,l"" I \\'(,' ha\ p at f::uth into thIS grace rthe
"f ;,<loption IIIto (iod'" famTly I we stand. ami
iu thl' hope of tJ](, glory of God [m the hope of sh:ll'lIlg 111
"lory ami knwdonl with our Lord and Head]." The
Apootl; pr'ot'epdR to prole. not only that the dpath of Christ
\\'a" n(c.' .... lrv a'! till.' to .\llams and the
pavment of pl'n,llty, hut Ill' dpIllnnstrates that this penalty
fully p'ud. and that God has accC'pted it on behalf of the
\\0r1<l III gC'npral, and not of the .Jews only, and has trans-
fl'I1 cd a11 to Chnst; tor as 'the judgment was by one to con-
(it'mnlltlOlI, the free gift is of mem)' offences unto justification.
As OIl(' otfplH't' re,-u1ted in a pronouncement which affected all
to rondllnTlIltion. even so by one righteous act a pronouncement
wa" IIIa(l p I hy the foame ,lustice] which affects all men lper,
mitting their attainmentl unto JUfltification ot life."
Alld. add" the Apo"tJe. the Law Covenant was introduced,
!lot for the doing away of sin. but that sin might be more dis-
tlllPtll sppn to he flin. an<l in it" true colors; not, however,
with 'u \ iew to the in,lury of the Jews, with whom that Law
Co\('nant \\'a" madC', for if "in abounded amongst them the
more by rea'!on of their greater knowledge through the law,
then God's grace ahounded proportionately the more; for as
h,lth reigned unto death, even so there is to be a reign of
gra('e IInto eternal life undl'r righteous provisions through
.Te'II' Chn"t our Lord.-Rom. 5:12,17-21.
Th' I1l'xt point i", If God's grace will be caused to abound
in proportion to the sentence, ':0 that he who has many and
der!> ('an he as fullv anll completely forgiven and released
.. s h' who has fewer and smaller sins, shall we then argue
that WP mav \\,pll deh'e dC'eply into sin, assured that God's
grape will 1;e that much the more abundantly ,Provided ,;,-s?
Ko the those who have come mto the pOSIlJOn
to '8('(' and ('omprehend this much of divine mercy and favor
must fi r..,t ha \'1' made a consl'era tion of themselves to God,
otherwl..,p their eyes of unrlerRtanding '.vould not be opened
widely enough to grasp the subject clearne.ss and defin!te
neflS, and if one had made a eonsecratlOn of himself. and IID-
mersed hi'! will into the will of God in Christ, and thus reck-
oned himflelf dpad to the world and to sin, how could such
perfoons live Jives of sin or take pleasure therein? So surely
as they have received the holy Spirit, the new mind, that
surely. that new. mind be out of harmony with Bin,
cravmg, hungermg and thlrstmg after righteousness, truth, etc.
We arc therefore to reckon ourselves dead to sin but alive
to God through Christ; and we are not to let sin in us,
berau.,:e we, as new ercatures, are begotten of a dIfferent spirit,
that IS at warfare with sin. as Hin iR at warfare against right
eousness. Inst('ad, therefore, of continuing to be Aervants of
sin, and yieldmg' our bodies to that service, we all' to
recognize ourselves as "lIelO lTeatures in Christ." s('rvanu.
of God, hi" ambassadors and and arc to
seek to usc our members, our bodleR and their talents.
in the new service of nghteousness,-remembering our past
pxpenenpe in Sill, that its wages arc degradation and ultimate
dpath, and that this privTlege which we have now C'ntered
as new ereaturps, redeemC'd hy the precious blood, is
God s covenant through Jesus Christ our Lord, and means to
us eternal life, if wp maintain it.-Chap. 6.
Having reached this ehmal\. of tJlP argument, and having
dpIllonstrated the process of our justification and our subse-
quent adoption into the divine family; and having shown the
neees,:ity for maintaining our standing as new creature'!, and
gainillg victory over the weaknesses of the flesh; and that all
prh ileges. nevprthpless, are not of the Law hnt of grace
and of faith-the Apostle next turns his attention to another
phase of the subject in Chapter 7. He has in mind. and iR
spe('ially addresslllg the Chrifotian brethrell at Rome who wen'
formerly Jews, as he saYR, "I write unto you who know the
la\\'." He wishes to dpmonRtrate to them logically that
although the Jews previously, through the Law COtenant, had
"mueh advantage every way," yet now since the introduetion
ot the New Covenant they werC' to SfHlle e"t('nt at a fliRad,
\'antage-hindered or bomid bv the old dead eo\ ena nt, un Ipss
they recogTIlzl'd it as dead, and cut from it. Thpy were
tightly bound by the Law givpn at Sinai; bpeause as a nation
they entered into a positive covenant with Cod, through
]\10;;eR, the mediator of their covenant. St. Paul
tId;; as a marriagl' contract betwecn that people and the Law
Covenant. pil'tming the Je\\s as the wife, and thp Law
Covenant as the husband. He shows an inrompatihihty !>p
twepn them, hut that nevertheless the Jews would be IH'und by
their covenant. as a woman would bp vonnd by her marriagC'
(olltract. so long thp hu"bantl would live.
Hence the J e\Vs, as a people, were less at hberty to entpr
into a New Covenant with Christ than w.'re the GentilPR,
hp('uuse the,\' were alrcad,\'- bound to the Law Covenant througll
'lose.,. The Apostle proeeeds to prove three things:
(1) That tl1<' Law Covenant. or husband of 1srad, had
not been abrogated, had not been expruted, as a bad law. but
had dipd a natural death. through the fulfilment of the pur,
pose of its creation; and that hence,
(2) Every Jew might properly consider himself as re
lea"ed from all ohligation to the (dead) Law Covenant and
might properly be united or marripd to another. Christ.
accepting the terms of the New Covenant, with its graeC'.
mercy and peace through believing, now offered to them.*
(3) It was proper that they all should see how much
better was the New Covenant, into which they would enter by
heeoming united with Christ, than was the old eovC'nant, which.
hp deelared. had died a natural death.
Howeyer, he would not have them think evil of the first
husband. the Law Covenant. On the contrary, he assures them
that It was a good husband to them-"The lllW is holy and
Just and good," all must speak well of the Jews' first hus-
h<tnd. Nevertheless, argues the Apostle, we all realize that we
did not receive from the Law Covenant the blessings we so
earnestJy coveted; we did not receive an actual cancellation
of our sins, but merely a temporary covering of them, which
required to be renewed and made mention of year by year con-
tinually (Heb. 10:1), nor did we obtllin thp longed-for evel'
lasting life. As Jews, we cannot blame the Law Covenant; we
must only blame ourselves i-nor can we blame OlIrselvps (for
1 may consider mysplf a representative, in thought and con-
duct. of all true Jews, and may speak for them, says the
Apostle); and I can truly say that while living under thiA
Law Covenant 1 approved it with my mind, with my heart,
and 1 endeavored to serve it aceordingly, but when 1 came to
perform its requirements 1 found 11ll0thC'r law, a law of Bin
working in my members, which hindered me from rendering
the obedience I deSIred to render to that Law Covenant.
Not that it hindered me entirely, for I certainly succeeded
in some degrpe in conforming life and condtlet to its require,
ments; but since 1 could not render perfect obedience to its
every requirement I necessarily failed, because in that Law
Covenant no provision was made for my weaknesses and im-
perfe('tions which 1 had inheritpd. and which were my share
* Seoe June 15, 1919, ISSUt' for critical examinatIon of Covenants.
[2720]
,,"OVlll.lBn 1. 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER (328-329)
of the fall of our race. I found, on the contrary, that even "new creature," holy and acceptable to God, and our mortal
though I had been able to perform the requirements of the bodies, which he calls "this dead body"-originally dead, under
Law in nine points out of ten, and bad failed in the tenth divine sentence, because of sin, but rcdeemed by the preciouB
point, and even though that failure were properly attributable blood of Christ, and justified, and then included in our sacri-
to inherited weaknesses, and was entirely contrary to my de- fice. when we gave our little all in consecration to the Lord,
sires of heart, nevertheless it was failure, and my efforts as a as living sacrifices-to be dead with Christ, to suffer with him
whole wcre branded failure, and the great prize of eternal life even unto death. He declares that it is to those who are
was drnied mr under that covenant. walking after the spirit, seeking to scrve the Lord in spirit
Thu'l I found myself in a terrible predicament; my heart and in truth, from the heart. that are freed from the con-
crying out for God and fur righteousness, and earnestly desir- demnation; and that this includes the thought that they do
ing to h:lfil the requirements of my covenant and to gain life not now walk after the flesh, desiring to fulfil its desires. And
everlasting, but I found myself wholly unable to fully obey its hcre we are to clm,ely distinguish between the walking up to
requirements; I found them entirely beyond my reach. Not the spirit, and walking after the spirit. We should of course
that they wcre beyond the reach of my mind, for with my follow as closely to the spirit of truth and righteousness as
mind T gra"ped them and enjoyed them and appreciated them; and yet we cannot hope, so long as we are in the
nor that they would have been beyond the reach of obedience imperfect flesh, that we could ever walk up to the ;,pirit of
of my body, had my body been perfect; but, 0 wretched man! the divine requirements, though we are to strive in this direc
I find that my borIy is a dead body, that sin has gained such tion continually. One thing is positive, however,-wr must
a power over it and so chained it down to things that are evil, not walk after the flesh. To do so would imply that we had
in fact and in intrntion, that I cannot do the things that I lm,t tIle new mind. the new disposition, the new'wilL-that we
would.-that when I would do good and keep the perfect law, had become dead to those hopes and covenants which had
sin is present with me, and hinders,-being an integral part led to our consecration.
of my hody; so that the good that I would do, the perfect life Any who gct into this condition of walking after the
that T would live, I am unable to perform, and the evil things flcsh,--srcking to serve the flesh, thprein have the evidpncc
that I would not do, whIch my mind, my will, rejects. and that their minds had become "carnal," that thpy had lo"t
which I "trive against. those things to some extent I find my- much. if not all, of the new mind, the new disposition. All
self unable to resist; and here was my helpless condition as such should know most unequivocally that the carnal mind is
bound to the Law Covenant. I realized that I never could at enmity flgainst God. and hrnce that God could not fpllow
gain. through its assistance and offers, tIle glorious perfec- ship it or favor It in any sense or degrf'e The ApMtlp
that I desired. and the eternal life which could accom- then, that all remember that they who arf' in the fll'sh. who
pany only thp"e perfections. ... live in harmony with their fallen propensities. srrving th... ir
"'hat f'hall I do? How can I escape thIS condItIon of fallen f1eBhly natures. are not pleasing God find that su,'h an
thingB? I thank God that a way of escape has been provided; inclination or course leads toward, and, if persisted in, would
T th 11lk (io,l that in his rlue time he has sent Je"us, as a end in death.
grf'at Reoeempr. and that through his death the world of man- He procreds to reason that if the Spirit [mimI,
kino bpen rpdpeme,l from the original sentenee, and addi- tion] of God [the spirit of holinf'ss] dwell in u" Wf' cannot
tionallv that all we who were ,Jews and under the Law be in sympathetic accord with the fallf'n fleBhlv natnrp fln<l
Covenant are sct at It/Jerty from that covenant-that the its appetites and ambitions. \Ve may know. on' the contrary
dratl, of .lesn" on our behalf means the death of our Covenant, that if any man have not the spirit of Chri"t lw is not of the
which. thongh in Borne rf'spects an advantage, was very un- body of Christ at all, and not to be considf'rrd aB idpTltifird
favorable to us because of our inheritrd weakne"ses. I thank with the elect church,-and Chri"t's spirit iB not a spirit of
Go(l that now I am at liberty to become united to Christ, at harmony with sin, but of opposition to sin. for dill hl' not IllY
liberty to consider my union Moses and the Law Covenant down his life to vanquish sin, and to deliver us from
as fit fill end. at librrty to takE' on me the vows and povenants powf'r and dominion? \Vhoever. thrrefore, <'1aims to have tIle
requirprl of all ('all['(1 to be the bride of Christ. Thanks be spirit of Christ, but loves and wilftllly practicps "in, and with
unto God for tllis deliverance from the bondagf' of the law of his mind serves sin, !luch an one deceivps him!lelf ,for he ha!'
worh into the librrty of the law of faith in Chri"t Jesus! neither part nor lot in Christ.
Thr advllntage of this new position in Christ over the old The ApoBtle proceeds further along the same line. argnin!!'
position in Moscs is tl1at now God my new mind, my that our adoption into God's family. our hf'getting to new-
hpart cIpsirf's. accompanied by my best. endeavors; and under ness of heart ann mind, ancI our acceptance thns P.R mf'mbCTS
this Kew Covenant. throngh the merits of the ransom, he of the body of Christ, while it mean". first of all. that tIl('
jn"tlv ignorf's and hides from his sight the imperfections of body is ignorcd and reckoned aB dead. bf'cansc of Bin, pnd only
the fir"h, which are contrary to my wish, and against which I our spirits or minds are rf'ckoned riglltpOllS and alh P, thp
am striving. It may be Baid of me, then, and of all such, that beginning of our eternal exiBtence, nf'Vf'rthf'les'l thi" IIood ('on-
it iR with our mincIs, with our hparts, that wr are serving dition is not to be con"iderrd thp limit of onr l1mlJition and
God--evrn if to some extent, ('ontrary to our wish and en- attainment in ChriBt-likenf'!ls. On the contrary. we flrp to
deavor. our fleBh should, either throngh weakness or ignorance, remember that the Bpirit of God iB powerfnl: th;t in the ('ll se
serve the law of sin at times.-Romans 7. of our Lord Jesus it was pow<,rful enough to raiBe him from
THE NEW CREATURE ALIVE, THE OLD DEAD-Rom. 8:111 the dearl; and as we becomf' more and more imbnpd with :md
Under the covenant through which we are united to Christ, controlled by the holy spirit of God in our heartB. in our
onr mortal bodies are reckoned as dead, as sacrificed. as no mind'l, divine power will come gradually to ns thron!!h this
Iongpr us, and onr minds are rf'ckoned as the npw creature channel of the holy Spirit, which will permit a figurativ('
adopted into the family of God, and seeking to serve God and raising of Ollr mortal bodies from thf'ir death-statp into Hctivi
to grow into his likeness, by being conformed to the image of ties of spiritual life, in thp service of the Lord. "If thl' spirit
hiB dl'ar Son. It is therdore according to the standpoint from of him that raised up .Jf'''US from the dead dwell in you [in
which we view the mattpr that we could say of these new sufficient measure. aboundin/!Iy], he that raised up Chri"t from
creatures that they are holy, and that the righteousness of the the dead shall alBo quickE'n [energizp] your mortnl /lOdlf'q rnot
Law is fulfilled in thpm, and that the wicked one toucheth your immortal resurrection bodies] by his spirit that dwellf'th
them not.-l ,Tohn 5: 18. in you."
In such e"pressions we are referring exc1uBively to the It is our hope that in due time the Lord by hiB spirit will
reckoned "new" creatures. and are ignoring entirely, as dead, /!ive us nl'W bodies in the resurrection; and that thosp nrw
thrir mortal bodies. But if we should speak from another bodies will be immortal, perfect in pvery resppct; and that
standpoint, and attempt to say that we are actually perfect then not onlv our minds. but our bodies alBO will be fully in
in the flesh, it would be untrue. and not only so but would be harmony with God and his every law and work of right<,ou'l-
an ignoring of the merit ot Christ's sacrifice, and our con- n{'ss. That will bf' gloriou'l-it is already a glorious prospect;
tinued need (while in the fallen fleBh) of a share in the justifi- but the ApuBtle hoMb before us the thought that e\'en our
cation which it provides. Those who would thus speak of present mortal bodies, sentenced, thrn justified, thpn rrckoned
their flesh as perfect, should hear the Apostle speaking to the dead because of sin, cons{'crated, may be so quickf'ned or
revprBe, saying, "In my flesh dwelleth no good thing,"-no energized now, that instead of heing any longpr servants of
perfection; and all imperfection is un-right, and all unright- "in, or f'Ven mer!'ly dmd to it. they may, undpr th<, en rdul
eousn<''1s is sin. Hence, says the Apostle John, "If we say watphfulness of the npw mind. be uBed as servantB of right
[speaking of vur flesh, and ignoring the justification provided eousnpss. of truth. This means, of course. a high Christian
in Christ to cover it" blemiBhes] that we have no sin, we development, a largp att'linment of "the mraBure of the "tature
deceive ourselves. and the truth is not in us."-l John 1:8. of the fulness of Christ." It is the measure or attainment,
St. Paul proceeds to clearly mark the distinction between nevertheless, which everyone of the Lord's p<'ople must con
the new mind, which consecrat<'d in Christ is accepted as the tinually strive after. and their succrss will be proportioned to
[2721]
(330-331)
ZION'S WATCH TOWER Al,LltGHllNY, PA.
their attainment of the mind [disposition] of Christ, holy
conformity to the Father's will in all things. And how com
forting, in this connection, is the promise of our Lord, that
our heavenly Father is more willing to give the holy Spirit
[spirit of holiness] to them that ask him, than are earthly
parents to give good gifts unto theIr children !-Luke 11: 13.
"UNTHANKFUL. UNHOLY"
LUKE 17: 11-19.-Nov. 18.
"Be ye thankful."-Col. 3: 15.
Leprosy is a very prevalent disease in eastern lands, and ceased its ravages, and that they might expect to be pro-
a.mongst the Jews lepers were specially proscribed-separated nounced free from contagion and permitted to return to their
from others-not allowed to have intercourse with their own homes and families, even though the maiming and marring
families nor to come near anybody, but obliged to keep at a occasioned by the ravages of the disease would still be with
distance, and on the approach of a stranger to cry out, "Un them. Thankful for such a release from their sufferings, the
clean! unclean!" From the standpoint of the Law it is entire ten obediently hastened to comply with the injunction,
evident that leprosy was meant to represent sin and its loath- but in the way they discovered that the blessing they had
some, contagious and consuming character. received from the Lord was not merely a staying of the disease,
A traveler in the Orient writes: "As our traveling party but a restoration to normal conditions. Their faith had
passed out the western of Nablus, the site of ancient brought them far more than they had expected.
Seehem. a. group of lepers greeted us ,,:ith ea;lls for One of them turned back and prostrating before
help. They varIOUS forms of that terrIble dIsease: the Lord rendered homage and thanks to his delIverer. The
the nose or the bps or a hand or a foot eaten away; the other nine passed on to comply with our Lord's words, and to
limbs distorted, and one case at least was a leper 'white as show themselves to the priests, not having a sufficiency of
snow.' When we were fairly in our tents beyond the city love. appreciation and thankfulness to return in their cleansed
westward, those lepers came, fifteen in all, and seated them- condition to, first of all acknowledge the giver of the blessing
selves afar off, in a semi-circle, facing our tents, with one of they had received. Our' Lord remarked this, and called atten
their number a little in advance of the others, holding out a tion also to the fact that the one who did return was a Sa
dish for alms, and, as with one voice, they cried aloud to us maritan, and not one of the Jewish household of faith; saying,
to have pity on them and give them aid." Another writer "Were there none found that returned to give glory to God
describes leprous conditions thus: "The hair falls from the save this stranger?" And he said unto him, "Arise, and go
head and eyebrows; the nails loosen, decay and drop off; thy wav; thy faith hath made thee whole."
joint after joint of the fingers and toes shrink up slowly Nothing is said in tlle record respecting any spiritual
fall away; the gums are absorbed and the teeth dIsappear; blessing or favor which ca,me to the Samaritan whose
the nose, the eyes, the tongue and the palate are slowly con fulness of heart led him to Jesus' feet in acknowledgement.
sumed." We are not told that Jesus invited him to become one of his
The horrors and loathsomeness of leprosy and its con followers, nor that he received any spiritual blessing; indeed,
taminating qualities, both by heredity and infection, well we know that it was not possible that he could receive any
illu.strate the of sin: which has taken .hold of the spiritual blessing, because, being a like all
entIre human famIly, and whIch separates and ahenates from tiles he was debarred from any share m dlvme favor untIl
God and all that are pure and in harmony with him. The the full measure of favor was granted to the Israelites-Corne
isolation of lepers was distinctly enjoined in the Law, but no lius, three and a half years after our Lord's crucifixion, being
cure or remedy was prescribed. The disease was treated from the first Gentile to be received into favor, and that time being
a. religious standpoint, and in every case made amenable to the earliest at which the favor might go to the Gentiles-the
the judgment of the priests: they decided whether or not a end of the "seventy weeks" of favor promised to Israel.-See
case of leprosy had developed, they banished the leper, and MILLENNIAL DAWN, VOL. II., pp. 69-71.
in the event of anything occurring to cure him, the priests Neither are we told that the nine who received the favor
must pass upon his cleansing before he would be readmitted of God without being moved at heart to return and render
to society. So, in the great malady of sin, God commits to thanks were, because of their unthankfulness, in any degree
the hands of the antitypical priesthood-Christ and the faith deprived of the blessing already received. We can readily
ful under-priests now being selected from the world-the work imagine, however, that their condition of heart would not be
of pronouncing and making manifest what is sin, as distinct favorable to them in connection with a hearty acceptance of
and separate from what is righteousness, and thus to separate the Lord and the kingdom privileges he was offering. We may
between the clean and the unclean, between those who are in reasonably suppose that if they were unmoved by so great a
harmony with God, and those who are out of harmony with manifestation of divine love toward them, experienced in their
him. And in the coming age, when the royal priesthood shall own persons, they would be equally unmoved by any preaching
be glorified and in official power to bless the world with the of the Gospel which they might hear at any future time, either
knowledge of God and the knowledge of how to become free from the lips of Jesus or the apostles. We may even surmise
from sin and, through the merit of the precious blood, to that those nine never came into the church of Christ. On the
attain to full restitution,-to purity and perfection of mind contrary, we would have good reason to hope for the Samari.
and heart and body,-it will be this royal priesthood that will tan, whose gratitude manifested itself;-that his condition of
have the deciding of when the purification has been complete- heart was nearer to the kingdom requirement, and that when
when sin has ceased to exist in the condemned, and they have subsequently the gospel of Christ was preached to Gentiles
been brought back into full harmony with God and righteous- and Samaritans, this one would be a ready hearer and have a.
ness. ready heart to receive the good message and to be healed from
Travelers tell us that in the locality mentioned in our the moral leprosy of sin, and to come into harmony with
lesson-the borders of Samaria and Galilee--Ieprosy still God by presenting himself before the great High Priest of our
abounds rather more than elsewhere; and that groups some profession, who died for our sins and who accepts as clean
what like the one described in our lesson, are frequently to be all who come unto the Father through him. Though we have
seen. This group stood afar off, as they were compelled by no record of it, we believe that the Samaritan was of the kind
law to do; yet recognizing Jesus as the great Teacher, of the Lord is noW drawing and calling to sacrifice with Christ,
whose miracles they had heard something, they conceived the and that receiving that message of the kingdom he would be
hope that he might have compassion upon them and heal ready to lay down his life and become dead with Christ-
them of their loathsome disease. Therefore, they lifted up presenting his body a living sacrifice unto God.-l John 3: 16;
their voices together, crying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on Rom. 5: I, 2.
us." There is no doubt as to the meaning of their cry; Viewed from this standpoint, thankfulness of heart is a.
although they usually begged for money, they evidently now very sure sign of the character God is seeking,-especially in
were seeking for healing from the great Physician. matters pertaining to our great salvation. And we find paral-
Hearing their voices, Jesus turned compassionately toward leIs to this illustration all about us. We find those who have
them, and we can better imagine than describe the sympathy suffered from the leprosy of sin, and who have appealed to
which he felt for them in their pitiable condition, and no Jesus for mercy and help, and who have been justified by
doubt also his mind at the same time took in the thought of faith-cleansed from their iniquities, covered with the right.
the great malady of sin, from which the whole world was eousness of Christ; and yet amongst all these who have expe
Buffering, and whose sufferings he had come to relieve, whose rienced such blessings and favors at our Lord's hands how
bonds he had come to break, by giving his own life a ransom few, comparatively, there are who return to him and prostrate
T)rice for theirs. Our Lord merely said to them, "Go show themselves before him, to offer thanks for release from the
yv 'rselves to the priests." This implied that the leprosy had bondage of sin and condemnation, and lay themselves at hie
[2722]
NOVl!:llBI!ll 1. 1900 Z ION'S U-' ATeH TOW E R
(332-333)
feet, living sacrifices-making a full consecration of them-
selves to the Lord, their reasonable service. (Rom. 12: I) Only
the truly thankful are constrained thus to do,-only the truly
appreciative. As the Apostle declares of himself and all such,
it is true that "The love of Christ constraineth [draweth, im-
peIleth] us; for we thus judge that if one died for all then
were all dead [yea, worse than dead in trespasses and sins
and condemnation], and that we who live [justified to life
throuO'h faith in his blood] should not henceforth live unto
ourselves but unto him who died for us."-2 Cor. 5: 14.
Unthankfulness is unholiness, lack of that proper appreci-
ation which would lead to a full consecration of life and
every interest and affair to the Lord-regardless of what
reward he may bestow. The "exceeding great and precious
promises" of God's Word are not given to inspire thankful-
ness and consecration, for they are given only to the thankful
and consecrated who already have presented themselves living
sacrifices to God. "To you it is given to know the mysterie6
of the kingdom," "God hath revealed them unto us by his
Spirit," which is granted only to the consecrated. These
promises are to strengthen and nerve us and to enable us to
"overcome," in fulfilment of our covenant of consecration.-2.
Pet. 1:4; Matt. 13:11; 1 Cor. 2:9,10.
Let us each and all seek and cultivate more and more the
spirit of thankfulness, the "reasonable" spirit or disposition.
Thankfulness will make every trial and sacrifice on our part
seem small, and proportionately easy to be offered, and it will
make all of God's mercies and favors toward us propor-
tionately grand and great and inspiring.
PROPER CHRISTIAN DAILY LIVING
TITUS 2:1-15.-Nov. 25.
"We should live soberly, righteously, godly, in this present world."
The Apostle Paul penned the words of our lesson,.
ing Titus, an overseer (bishop) of the
to the believers in the island of Crete. The mstructlOns are
not intended for, nor applicable to others than consecrated
believers, and refer specifically to six classes in the church at
Crete. (I) The l'lderly men-not merely the aged, but rather
the advanced, the matured, who doubtless oftenest would be
also advanped in years. (2) The aged women-advanced,
matured. (3) The younger women. ( 4) The younger men.
(5) Those who, though freemen in we!e bondmen
accordinO' to the flesh,-servants. (6) To TItus hImself. (7)
The ends with an exhortation applicable to all classes
in the church.
Titus, as a preacher, should have before his mind a certain
standard or ideal in respect to each class in the church, and
should as a wise workman labor to the attainment of that
ideal, which the Apostle here brings to his
intimatinCf that instructions along the lInes here laId down are
in fullest'"accord with "sound doctrine." It has been claimed
bv soml' that the people of Crete were specially degraded and
hl.ckinCf of good character and that this thought is necessary
to thebApostle in giving an exhortation to who had
left the world and joined themselves to the Lord as hIS
'VI' shall see, however, that every word of the exhortatlOn IS
quite applicable to the people .t?day, even though they
live under the most enlightened condltlOns.
The Elderly 1!lcn, the advanced, to be sober,
temperate (moderate) -not light, fnvolous and. eXCItable.
Not only their years of natural life, also theIr of
experience in Christian life, should bnng to condibons
of maturity and sobriety. These thrct; would
to a larCfe extent to their mortal bodIes, exerCIsed and mflu-
enced b;' their new minds; but in addition to these there
should 'be three other graces, of their ne.w
natures; viz., soundness in the faith, and m love, and, m
patience. It is of intention that the Apostle emphaSIzed
(in the Greek) the faith, the love and for .there
are various faiths, various loves and vanous kmds of pabence,
and he meant to be understood as inculcating the faith, the
love and the patience which are of G?d, and 'Y
hich
he is instructmg his people through hIS Word, as It IS wntten,
"They shall be all taught of God." ,,'
It was not by accident that the Apostle placed sound In
the faith" before "sound in love," for since love is one of the
fruits or graces of the spirit of truth, and since one
receive much more of the spirit of the truth than be receIves
of the truth itself, therefore the importance of the truth, in
the having of the sound faith.
Often we are told it matters not what a man believes, but
matters all how he does j but to this we answer that a sound
faith is all-important, not only in shaping conduct, but also
in inspiring it. It is only in proportion as we have the
truth that we have the sanctifying power: in proportion as
we hold errors which vitiate or nullify the truths which we
hold, in that same proportion we will be lacking and deficient
in the sanctifying power; and hence deficient also in the sanc-
tification itself. We should ever remember and cooperate with
our dear Redeemer's prayer to the Father on our behalf,
"Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth."
Neither was it by accident that the Apostle placed love
before patience; because, although patience may be cultivated
from a natural standpoint, as, for instance, in the interest of
worldly aims and desires, nevertheless, such patience does not
affect the heart, but is merely a forcing or curbing of the out-
side life, and when the force is removed there is a rebound as
of a spring, to the original condition of impatience. The
patience which will last and become an integral part of char-
acter must result from a change of heart: the mainspring of
love must first replace the mainspring of selfishness.
How grand the characters thus portrayed! We could not
wish for more amongst the Lord's people of any place today
than that the matured brethren should be sober-minded, digni-
fied and moderate, with their new minds well stored with the
sound faith of God's Word, and their hearts full of love,
manifesting forth all of the various good qualities represented
by this word,-kindness, meekness, gentleness, all of which
might briefly be summed up in the word patience. We exhort
all of the advanced brethren in the truth everywhere to note
well this likeness of a matured man of God, well grown up
into Christ, the living Head, and well conformed to his
image; and we exhort that we all keep this image well before
our minds, and make it our ideal in our Christian course.
The Aged Women, matured, developed, have also a model
set before them by the Apostle. They should be "reverent in
demeanor" (Revised Version). They are supposed to have
professed holiness, full consecration to the Lord. full desire to
know and to do his will, and such consecration is to show out
in their lives. The Apostle pro('t>erls to mention a few of the
ways in which it would be manifest. They will not be "slan-
derers" (Revised Version)-neither false accusers nor accusers
in any slanderous sense of the word. On the contrary, as the
Apostle shows further on, they will be examples in the matter
of minding their own business. They will not be enslaved to
much wine, but be teachers of that which is good, by precept
as well as by example, to all with whom they have an influ-
ence. Naturally their influence will be greatest over the
younger women, and it should be exercised as becometh
women professing godliness, professing to be guided by the
Word of the Lord, the spirit of the truth.
The Younger Women should find ensamples in their elder
saintly sisters, the influence of whom will not be in the direc-
tion of insubordination and a battle between the husband and
wife in the home; and their advice will very rarely be, "Stand
up for your rights;" "Give him a piece of your mind," etc.
On the contrary, they will be peacemakers, and assist thE"
younger women with such advice as will help to make home
happy by obedience to the directIons of the divine Word. In-
stead of helping to cultivate in the younger women the spirit
of selfishness, which inheres naturally in every human being,
through the fall, they will assist them, by both word and
example, to cultivate the opposite spirit, the spirit of love--
"to love their husbands and to love their children."
If love were thus inculcated as the first law of every home,
the chief of the Christian graces to be developed and prac-
ticed, it would indeed make a wide distinction between Chris-
tian homes and others; and thus, perhaps, better than in
almost any otht>r manner, the Christian mother can preach
the glorious gospel of salvation, and illustrate in her own life
and home its power to deliver from the bondage of sin and
selfishness, even in this mortal state.
They will learn from them also to be discreet, or sober-
minded-not too emotional ;-to do some sober thinking along
sober lines, and thus to cultivate both heart and head, and to
ffncrease their own joys in the Lord as well as to prepare
themselves the better for their family duties and privileges.
Chastity, modesty, purity, should also be learned-an instruc-
tion deep and powerful in its influence for good; not only to
the younger women themselves, but also in their families.
They should learn to be "keepers at home," or "workers at
home," as the Revised Version renders it, appreciating the
[2723]
(333-334) ZION'S WATCH TOWER AI,LIlGKI!NY. PA
fact that the duties of a wife and mother are chiefly home
duties; that the home is her workbhop and her pulpit, where
her influence should be greatest and most valuable.
They Bhould also learn to be "obedient to their own hus-
bands." or, as the Diaglott renders this, "submissive"-not
to usurp the place of the husband in the home,
not keeping up a continual l'trife and battle about life's'
affairs, so tl,nt the hu"band will have one hattle of life to win
their daily bread and another battle while they eat it. By
"obedienf'e" and "'lubmission" we do not understand the Apos-
tle to mean blind obNlienl'e or dumb submission, nor in any
sense of the word that the wife shall not enjoy fully all
proper liherties and privilege,,; but that while enjoying these
she shall use thpm WIth propriety, so as to make life a bless-
ing an,l not a burden to ber husband. with whom lie chiefly
the re"ponsibilities of the home, accoming to both divine and
human law,
A" a C'hri"tian wife she should have a iudgment respecting
the Lord's will. as prescnted in the, Lord's 'Nord, reBpecting
tIle affa Irs of the home. llnd all the mtprests of the family,
and tlH"' ... views sl,c should express. in love and moderation,
and kindly. however emphatif'ally; hut having expressed her
judl!ment respecting thc Lord's will in the matter and the
rpa"ons Ihl'rpfor, she shoul'! be "'luhmi""ive" to the decision of
tIle hU'lhand (in all matters not involving her eonseience);
bePllu"l', }1('pording to divine arrangpment, the husband is the
head of the wi fl' a'l Chrio;t is the Head of the church-the
final nrhitpr ref-pf-ding family affairs.
8houlll thl' Chri"tian wife at times find that the pursuance
of till ... "Ollrse hnd hrought her disadvantages or
wpre ahollt to WCl k ill to tllP general interests of the family,
let hl'r Plotl''lt klJHlly. and point 011t to her hu<;band, without
"harpIllg," what she forrsef''l to be the results, and urge a
changl'; pointJJlg out (l'''pl'piully if the husband be not a
Chri ... tl.lll) tl>at tile of tIle transaction lie
whollv in Iii" lIlIlHl": and let her then ponsole IH'rself with
thp tl;ought thnt ...1H'. at lea ... t, is following the divine direction,
and that thl' ultllnatl' Tl'''ult "ure to he a spiritual blpssing,
in harmony With thr Lnlfl's promisp that all things shall work
togl'tlll'r for gOOlI to tlwm that love him-and who dpmon-
stra tp t lwir lo\"(' hy olll'd if'nl'e. LIt her take the matter to
till' Lord jp pr,l)'er and "bear a "ong away." As the Apostle
poinh mit. fIJi8 COlll"C is the one lea"i ltk,'ly to bring re-
prolll'lH'" npoll tl,l' 1'<1II"e we love and to which we have eonse-
cratl'd e\en Ilf" It'leif.
To ("f l'olll:g Mrn of the church the Apm.tle sends an
e'\hort:1tJon tll,1 I t hpy he 'lobl'r-minc!etl-not ra"h. thoughtless,
con,'('it"d-tlwt tll"V p:\f'f('IHI' <.,elf control. And then. in view
of tIll' fal t that Tltl1q himsclf wa" a young man, he exhorts
that hI' -hail I", a pltt"rn to :111 the young men of the
('lllIl,'iI. alld thlh irll'i,h'ntally hp exhort8 all of the young men
of I h,> "I III fl h to 1I0te ('a rl'fullv a nd to be pxprclsed bv the
qualllllq ,t nl! l'oll ... lflpratlOnq the'n UJ gNI upon Titn".
P'.I)11 'i ,t'IS th" '\po"ll!' urgf'S that he shall be a model
m:t n, " 1Mft ,. rn of I!o"d work" a 1111 lioundnl'ss of dOl'trine; not
p"rmlttnlg Ill- tca,'llIng" (dol'lrine) to Ill' corrupted either
\\llh \11111 irll'lginations of hlfl own or thocp of other people.
HI' lIr!:' ... IIp''H hlln, aIH! thns in<'idental1y upon all young
mPH al ... " !Ir'I\'tt,\', till' opposite of fri\olity, levity: as Chri'l-
tian8 w,' IJ 1\" I,ing to OI'I'Hpy Ol1r minds that tll(' world
ha<., Hot; an'! lh, I!f(-,ttne"" anll granc!l'ur of their hopI'S and
Ilmb;tioll., IIPO" Ihe great and prpPiolls prom-
)<"(,C ()f !I,,, tll\lHl' \\,)rtl. 8hOll1d p-ivr to their lives and general
condlll t a \wight "hl<'1l. IIkl' u good cargo in :l \C8SI'1. would
kl'''I' th"HI lrom IWlIlg t0pllf;l\Y am! prepflre thcm to outridp
til" and ,lIl1il'ulties of lIfe through which they must
11"''0 to ft-,], II till' dp<"Jred haven.
;-)nllTlrl h, "ith wlllph no fault could be fOllDd, is an-
"lIllT IIf tli,. '1u"litil,q th'lt Tlhls and all of the Lord's people.
'''-1'1 the' mpn. are to stnve for. Not merply flOllDd
"'pl'(',h in thp of al','uratl' and grammatipal expression.
1I1It "'pf'l'l h ... pecially. in the of having their con-
\('1 <.,atlon and tlip infllll'nre whith one p'(erts throll"h conversa-
tion, of a truly hl'lpful. strengtlH'ning kmd-t; mind and
fll'art lind ,h,lrlll'tlr. Alas, llOw mlll'h of the eonversation of
!'\I'n ('hfl ... tlan young mcn anything hut sound anything
but 11l'1pflJf to thl'lJl'lplvl's and their companions. Young men
in ('Im,t :In- to 1,1' copips of God's dear Son, so that by their
common (,,)Jlv"rslltirm as well as lly their general dempanor
they bh'1l1 cont lJlua lIy preaph Christ and properly rpprl'sent
hefon' t.hl' ""rid IllS noble charapteristics.-truth. righteous-
nesq. pllrity, gl'ntlene"'l, goodnp'ls. Sound speed! pannot
he pondpmned by anybody, fnend or foe, heathen or Christian,
saint or sinner; and, as the Apostle slIg-gests. such a course
will he a constant reproof to tho'll' enemies who must always
be expl'clc,l; in the face of such nohle living thl'y of tlIp eon
trary part must surely be put to shame eventually.-Jas. 3: 13
To Ser'l:ants the Apostle sends a message also; and it
a very different message from what some of God's dear chilo
dren, less wise than the Apostle in their understanding of
the divine plan, would have given. Many of God's people of
today, instead of being peacemakers are peace-disturbers,
because of a failure to see properly the principles which un
derlie the Gospel, and their proper application in the present
time. They exhort servants to "strike," to "stand up for
their rights," to Bee that they are not "tramped upon," W
"demand justice," and see that they get it. The Apostle, on
the contrary, understanding God's plan, knew not to expect
full justice, not to expect human rights or any others to hav.-
great consideration in the present time, because we are still
in what he designates "this present evil world [dispensation];'
because "the prince of this world [dispensation J" is Satan
and because his kingdom of the present time is based upon
neither lovp nor righteousness, hut upon selfishness.-Gal. 1: 4,
John 14:30.
The Apostle knew not to expeet the wrongs to be righted
and jmtice to be dispensed under Satan's administration, and
hence in all of hIS teaehings he points the believers to the
coming time \\'hen the Lord, the righteous King, shall take
possession of earth's governments, and fulfil that petition of
our prayer, "Thy kmgdom come; thy will be done on earth
as it is done in heaven." Then justice may be expected,
because justIce i!' done in heaven; then all rights will be reo
spected, as all rights are respected in heaven; but before tha t
glorious condition shall ohtain Immanucl's kingdom lllust 1H'
established and Satan. the prince of this world, must he bound,
that he "hould deceive the nations no more, and that hIS IU1<'
of and selfishness shall be set aside, sup
planted by the laws of him who shall lay justice to the lim
and righteousness to the plummet.-Rev. 20: 1-3; Dan.
Isa. 28: 17.
The Apostle's exhortation to servant!! is in harmony witb
this, that thpy be obedient to their masters, and 'Seek to please
them well. They were not to be shiftles8, careless. indltTerent
as to the prosperity of t.heir masters' intl'rests and the can
of their masters' goods. They wpre to take as 1II111'h interest
in thosp things as though tlll'y ""ere their own ;-as the Apo,;;
tle elsewhere expresses it, they were to do their work as
though they were doing it to the Lor'! himself, faithfully, wplJ
(1 Cor. 10:31) Sueh service rendpred to an partllly ma"ter
"as unto the Lord." and hepl\use of a desire to please thp Lord.
and bepau"e of the indwelling of his truth. anll its spirit. will
undoubtedly be accppted of the Lord as though it wen' SOUIP
senice done directly in the interest of his eau"t', th,
conditions of the servant hinder him from doing any worh
more particularly in the Lord's service and the servIce of till-
truth.
Not only were servants to endeavor to please thpir master"
and to plea'll' them well, but t.his In nil things-in the litt1(,
things as well as in the great affairs; and thus Chnstian
servants would be recognized. wherever they might bp, as clif
ferent, distinpt from others, too many of whom llre "eye
servflnts." ff1ithful merely under the eye of their employer,
Such Christian servants will come to bp repognizt'd as iew{'lf-
ewn hy tho"e wllo have no sympathy with their religiou'l con
vietions, and pos"ibly would cunstitute the mo"t weighty ser
mons these could deliver. They might obey thl'ir masters and
yet continually protest and compLJin; hence the Apostle adds
a word on this point. saying. "Not answering again"-not
t,:uins:1ying nor quarreling with the ma'lter over his mpthod,
and ways and work; not complaining of sharing the rommon
lot of otller servants, whatever that might be; preferably,
indeed. letting others complain, and holding their peace, rather
than stirring up strife,-and rather than havc the cause
love and spek to serve ill thought of.
Not purloin;ng--secretly appropriating to themselve'3 the
master'B goods, etc., contrary to his known wishes. And it
might be not in:1ppropriate here for us to remember that if
the maRtpr l'Ihould desire the servant to engage in some work
that would be dishonest, morally wrong. thi'l would be a
proper ground upon which the servant should objept and pro-
test. His conscience must be preserved in every mattl'r that
properly belongs to his conscience; but he may not busybody
himself with the master's affairs in m:1ttcrs which belong to
the master's conscience, and with which the servant haE
nothing to do. By his own strict integrity even in the smallest
things he shall do his preaching and exercise his influence
upon his master, "showing all fidelity," faithfulness to hi8
master's interests.
The effept of all knowledge is to render the intelligent
restive under restraints, and as Christian knowledge is the
highest form of knowledge, it more than any other tends to
[2724]
"'OVltMB1\ I, 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER (335-,,36)
[2726]
restlessness. It inculcates the thought that however widely
different the conditions between the king and the peasant as
respects men and earthly things, they really are on a par as
respects morals,-on the same level from the standpoint of
divine justice. Thi!\ thought once received into the humblest
mind destroys very much of the veneration which otherwise
might be felt toward those in earthly authority. It is an up-
lifting thought to the poor, that before the great King of all
the earth they stand on the same footing with the richest,
the most learned and the most powerful of earth i-that
whether rich or poor "A man is a man for all that." It
causes them to realize that a man has a man's rights, and
that these are more than animal rights, that they include lib-
('rty of mind and consci"nce and certain liberties of conduct.
It is this very enlightenment which Christianity has
brought to the world which is about to cause it the great con-
vulsion and revolution which shall overthrow all present insti-
tutions in anarchy. The Christian servant is to be more than
merely an enlightened man: he is a man consecrated to God
as well; on" who has surrender"d his "rights" to the will of
God, and who, having placed himself in the Lord's hands to
be taught of God, and to be fitted and prepared for the
heavenlv kingdom, is full of faith that the Lord is both able
and wilhng to keep the trust, to safeguard his intere.,ts, and
to permit nothing to come upon him that shall not be over-
rul"d for his spiritual dcvelopment and welfare.
The true Christian servant (and all Christians must be
servanh if like th"ir Master-Phil. 2:7) thus consecrated,
rea lizrs that under divine provid"nce he is not to expect his
rights in the preflent time, nor to strive for them; but that,
on thf' C'ontrnry, he saC'rifices them to the will of God-to the
doing ("If thf' Lord's will so far as he may have opportunity,
and to the having of the Lord's will don" in him according to
the Lord's wisdom and providence. If oppreflsed and dealt
with he will look to the Lord for deliverance, and
whatever wav it shall come wi!l accept it as of divine arrange-
ment; llnd whatever God dol'S not provide in the way of de-
liveram'C' :lIong' reasollahle and juqt lines he will acc"pt as the
rulin!!'1 of Ids provi,lpnec, and rpnder to tIle Lord thanks for
his WltPl,care and sefk to learn the lessons of patience and
experience and long'f>uffering, which the.qe trials mny incu!-
('atp: rp('ognizing in such a case that thefle triaIs, from
whom-oevpr they wml', ore permitted of the Lord if not
ordl'r('rl hy him, and intended for his welfare and spiritual
dpvl']opJnl'nt.
Ru('h Chriotifln sl'rvant'l, and flu('h Christians in any walk
of lift>, an' tIl(' onlv ones who know what ('ontf'ntment reallv iq.
Oth('r8 nIl' f'trhin'g' for the attainment of rights and for' the
correction of wrong'l, and are only cultivating more and more
the f>pirit of in their own he'1l't'l, and g'l'llerally
thpm'lcln's the more trouble and discontent. OnIv the
Christian can say,
"Content. whatl'ver lot J see,
Sin('e 'tis God's hand that leadeth me,"
ami hr' ('un only take this position by the exercise of a living
fdith, and ('un onlv eXl'rrise f'uph a faith in life\, affairs
after hC' has made a eonsepration of himqf'lf to the Lord, and
can only make 8uph a consecration of himself after he has
('oml' to i"ome knowledge of the divinp ('haracter and phn.
Sm'h servant8, the us, adorn thl' doctrinl' of
(:od our Savior. Thev show that it i'l not a doctrine of
hut of pl'acl' and of gooJ-will toward m"n, not a doctrine
mere]y of personal rights and of selfish 'ltrife for their attain-
nlf'nt, hut a doctrine of love, joy and peace in the holy Spirit.
WHY THE CHRISTIAN SHOULD LIVE SEPARATE FROM THE
WORLD
After recounting to us as above the proper course for the
various classes in the Church, thl' Apoqtle procepds to give the
logical reason for the abO\'e advice, saying: "For [because1
the gra('e of God hath appeared, bringing salvation tQ all
men."-ReviRed Version.
ll'hen did God's grace appeal' th1ts? We anqwer, Not until
the GaRpel began to be preached after our Redeemer's death
and resurrection. For four thousand years the grace of God
did not appea,r, was not manifest in any sense of the word.
The Lnw Covenant was to the Jew OlJly, and it was not of
grace but the reverse-of law and of justice. At very most
this "grace of God" was prophf'Ried of, that it would appear
later, and that blessings would follow upon all the families of
the earth. It has not yet appeared to all men, but more
properly this would be rendered "for all men," since God's
grace is intended tQ apply to every man-as widely as did the
curse apply.
In the present time the majority of mankind do not see
th" grace of God,-it doe'l not appeal' to them. More than
III-52
four-tifths of the human family are totally blind to this grace,
in heathen darkness, today, and of the one-fifth who bave seen
something of this grace divine, the vast majority have seen it
so obscurely, so dimly, as not to be able to discern its beauties
or appreciate its value. Blessed are our eyes if they have
seen. In the Apostle's day, and stIll in our day, this grace of
God has appeared "to all men," in the sense that it is no
longer in any sense of the word confined to the Jew, but is
now open to Jew and to Gentile alike, the middle wall of parti.
tion having been broken down, as the Apostle explains.
In what does this grace of God cOllsistr We answer with
Apostle, It is God's favor that has been announced and mani-
fested as the basis of reconeiliation--not man's righteousness.
God tells us through his Word thai he himself has provided
the great sacrifice for sins, demanded by his own law, that
Jesus has met the penalty in full on our behalf; and that as
a result we may be reconciled to God now, and he can justly
and without violence to his laws receive us whom he had
previously condemned W death. And this receiving of us
signifies a restoration of his favor; and the restoration of his
favor, if riglltly received by us. will, under his providence,
bring UA to such conditions as will l'ffect our salvation, our
full delivery from sin and death, and imperfection, into th"
full life and perfection and liberty of the i"ons of God.
This IIpplil's to the church being e]('ded from thl' world
during thiA Gospel age, and the same will apply to the world
of mankind in general as they shall be blesscd of God through
the l'lect church in the Millennial age. God'" gra('C' in thr
present time is manifested in connection with the "high ca ll-
ing" to the divine nature and the life immortal connected
then'with. His grace in the MilIpnnia I age will be manife'lted
in ('onn"ction with the "reqtitution" blPRRing" whidl will be
offered to all mankind, and the earthly life-evpIlai"ting which
will h" granted to all wIlD'll.' who thcn come into harmon)'
with the tprms of that grace.
What has the grace of God to do with us? Alld why i"hould
it lear! to queh a revolution in our conduct find eharactl'r as the
Apostle has iust intimated? neeame. f<ays the Apostll', thiE
grace of God, hy which we are ('aIled to salvation. tr(whc8
us sometldng: it teaches us that the WilY of rC'conciliation
back w God's favur is a way of selfdenial,-denying every
thing that is everything that is contrary to om
higill'st con('cption of the divine character and will; tht'
denying also of f'vl'ry worldly loyl' or desire 01' pmhition-am
bition for worldly influl'nce, for the riclleA of thi'l world;
and th'lt instead of aiming and i"triving for these thing'S, we
who desire the salvation whi('h Gor! are to livl' to
the eoptrary of these. "Roberly. ['ollly [Codlikl'l,
in this plesC'lli world"-not f>xpe('tmg \\olldlv honors and
advantagp'l under the reig'n of "thl' prinpe of this world" who
not only hrd 110 interest in our 1\fnRter, hnt likewise no friend-
ly intere't in any who follow in hiq
nut if we ar(' thus to Ih l' Poclf denyingly in this world
(age) that we may atLtin to thl' gra('l' of God in til(' n('xt
world (age)-"tIJe world to eomc"-what are WI' to ha\"e be
fore our minds in the nature of a proRpC'et or hopl' toward
whieh we lire to look with longing allli intcrest and "omfort of
11('art? Ah! thl' Apostle tC'll" Ui" wh'lt. He holds IIp bpfore
us the !!rand I'onqidl'ration toward \\hieh all of our amhitions
nre to 'turn, in which all of Olll' hopcs al'l' to c{'nlre. and in
which our hearts are to finn their trl'f1 "Ill p. ontw('ighing and
onJvaluing every earthly cOI1-id''I'aiion. lJ .. thl''' dp""l'Iho,
this hope,-
LOOKING FOR THAT BLESSED HOPE AND THE APPEARING
OF THE GLORY OF OUR GREAT GOD AND SAVIOR
This i., to he the cenLre of 0111' exppdntiol1R, \\\. are not
to hope for blebf>ing this side of thp of Gor!'"
kingdoJl1. \Ve arp to 1I0tl' that thi" kingdom com(' be
fore God's will can be done au earth us it is dOIlC' in hcpvell.
\Ve arp to know thai tlds kingdom mUflt bind Siltlln and o\''r
throw his institutions, upon selfislmesq, befol'c it l'an
Fmpplant these with new im.titutions of ju"tiep and truth
basrd upon the grand prinl'iplC' of love. \Vhoe\'l'r, therl'fore.
has been blpssed with thf' gral'e of GOll, and has had the pyl'S
of his un,ll'rstanding opened hy thc \Vord of truth, and it.q
spirit, findfl it!'> tpachings to be tint tllPse of salva
tion are to be "bronghi unto us at the revelatIOn of our Lord
amI Savior .Jeqnq Christ" (1 Pl't. 1: 13), amI that our chief
object in the prespnt life is to fight a good fight against self
and against f>in, and in defenre of and in thl'
assistance of the housl'hold of faith: and not to fight for
earthly rightA nor to strivl' for earthly honors and riches,-
the warfarl' and strife in which the wholl' world, exeept our
selves, is almos!' excluAively engaged. If the Lord's saint!>
possl'ss talents or influl'nce or wealth, thl'se are not their
treasurl's, hut merely their Hl'l'\'unts, and tlwy are nnt thl'
(336-339)
ZION'S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA,
possessors of these, but merely the stewards, whose privilege
it is to use them as best they may know how, in the Master's
service. and to the forwarding of the interests of righteousness
in the preparation of themselves and others for his appearing
and kingdom.
The Apostle speaks of our Lord Jesus as "our great God
and Savior." and this is in full accord with the general
teachIng'l of the Scriptures. Our Lord Jesus is a mighty one,
a great one amongst the mighty ones, and as our Lord him-
seIf r!ecl:t r(''l. all should "honor the Son even as they honor
the Father."-John I: I; 5 :22.
TIlf' presents in another consideration why we
should be exercised by this blessed hope of the Lord's second
COlIIlTll-( and our gathering togl'ther to him as hi., elect church.
It. not mcrply that w{' should think of life everlasting and
glory In whJ('h \v{' might share; but that we should think also
that this One commg in glory, and to whom we hope to be
joined evprlastingly, as mcmber'l of the bride, to the Bnde-
groo!ll.-is no othpr than he who gave hinlself for us, who
sacrificed his own life in our redemption. \Ve are to remem-
bpI', too. that }:p not only redpcmed us from the penalty of
sin. (1<'<lth. hut that the redemption which he purpooes and
pro\ Id("3 is more than a redemption from iniquity, from sin.
\YC' ale to rrmem!Jpr al'lo that this purging away of sin and
the and cleansing which the \\'ord of truth is to
do for us, as the Apostle has foregoing set forth, is to the
intent that by these means the Lord may "purify unto him-
self a peculiar people"-a people different from others, pos-
sessed of a special love for that which is just, that which is
pure, that which is noble, that which is !lood; and who, despite
the imperfections of their mortal bodies, are striving to
cultivate these graces more and more in their hearts, and to
keep their bodies in subjection. Moreover, says the Apostle,
these peculiar people will be "zealous of good works," earnest-
ly desirous and striving to do good unto all men as thpy have
opportunity. physically. mentally, morally,-and especially to
do good to the household of faith.
The Apostle's exhortation, in conclusion, is that Titus shall
speak and exhort the church along these linl's which he has
laid down, reproving them, whenever necessary (in love and
/!entleness, and yet with full authority, not doubting as to
the meaning of the divine instruction). lIe was to let no man
despise him, in the sense that he was to declare these princi-
ples of righteousness governing the Lord's people in a plain,
positive and authoritative manner. He was to Bpeak with
authority and not as with uncertainty and questioning. And
so lrt us speak, each and all, to our"elve., and to others, Brtting
forth the prinCIples of this salvation whir-h has appeared to
us. with no uncertain sound, that thus we may mini'lter grare
to the hearerfl and glorify our Father in heaven and our Re-
deemer and Deliverer.
VOL. XXI ALLEGHENY, PA., NOVEMBER 15, 1900
VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER
1'0.22
IS NATURE CRUEL? societies of monkeys to be found in the lower latitudeq of Asia
This question haq already been answered by some eminent and Africa; the numberless herds of rC'indeer in the far
in tile affinnatlvr, and the belief that Bueh an North, the herds of mmk-oxen and the innumerable bands of
PI' the correct one is widespread. Sir Samuel Baker polar foxes still farther north; th(' flocks of seals and morses
dec].lI'es that n,lture a. sY'ltem of terrori'lm from the be- and sociable eehceans which inhabit the ocean; the hen];; of
ginnmg to the end," and John Stuart l\iill assert'l that if wild horses, donkeys, camels and sheep which range the step-
there are mfl of design in creation, "one of the things most pes of Central Asia. He sayfl:
evi,lpntly is that a large proportion of all animals "'How trifling, in with them, are the num-
f'houl,1 pa tlwir e'd'ltC'nce in tormenting and dC'vouring other brrs of carnivora; And how falflC', thrrefore, is the view of
anima18." If "e assume nature to be the work of a Being those who speak of the animal world as if nothing were to
of infil11te power, he conclude., that "the atrocious be seen in it but lions and hyenas plunging their bleeding
enOllllitips of the worst men will be more than justified by the teeth into the flesh of the victims! On might as well im-
Hpp,llt'llt 111(( ntlOu of l'lO\i(!ellee that throughout all animated agine that the whole of human life is nothing but a succes-
lwture the strong should prey on the weak." These radical sion of Tel-el Kebir and Geok Tepe maS'lfieres.'
:, t Imh arp (-outI o\l'rtpd hy .T. C. Hirst, of LIverpool, Eng- "Unless, then, death is an inexcusable incident in animal
land. in a. book "'hose title is the same as the head of this life, it would seem that the terror of death to be inflicted by
a I tll,le (Londeu, 1!lOa). After examining the experiences of the is really a figment of the imagination: and one
!IUUt,'1 of ganw, he concludes in the first place that Sir might rrasonably adopt the language of lVfr. Wallace, that 'the
f'a III III ,I (lidmn is unb ue. 'Ye quote from a review supposed torments and miseries ot animn I" have little real
in (Jill' ,till/III/ted Frlel/dS (October) the following absbact of existenre, but are the reflection of the imagined sensations of
Ill" II!..lldl"lIt- cultivated men and women in similar circumstaneefl, and that
,.\\ h('1 {' t1H'l'e tCTTorisrn there must be terror, and terror the amount of actual suffering cllused Inl the struggle for ex-
is Oil" of th.. 1ll0'lt horrIble of sufferingB. Is it true, then, istenec among animals is altogether insig,nificant.'''
tkll tla' 11I0,t to the attacks of the carni- :Mr. Hirst does not, of course, deny that there is a good
vor:t <11if('1' gn ltly from terror? \Ye believe that it is al- deal of e'!tm/! and being caten in the alllmal kmgdom. Thl'l
l1'o-t (,,,tll,'1.\ 1lI1tlllC. Terror in human beings is largely due however, he says, is not cruelty, and he devotes much space
to thc illl:lglilation.... Have we any reason to believe to showinQ' that in their attacks wild creatures cause their
tll,t tllr 1,"\pl 11:1\'l' a tellor of imagin,1tlOn'! victims little pain, altho he does not go so far as to say that
'\'1' 11.1\'p re,hon to believe the contrary. Mr. J. D. the mancrled ones enjoy it, as Wallace maintained of the flee-
1m "1 :1' ih' j,1I, tl:l' folln\\ illg ind(lent. A poor donkey was ing- antelope. The familiar case of Dr. Livingstone, on whom
'tl(-,j,,,1It': tklt is. as a bait for a lion. The lion approached, n lion's iaw crunching through his shoulder a'cted as an anes-
1'111, tllp h1lnt
p
r. lonk!nc:: throllgh his peephole, saw the donkey thetic. is of ('ourse cited, lmd supported by much eviopnce
'iI.li:'! llnlJ'\'!I1rd, v.],ilr tIle lion wput 0n growling. It WRS along the same line. The reviewer reganl'l the case as hav-
nit., J. 11,] ,h,ro\'plf,,1 1,1 1,11, the lion hnd artuallv tried to throw ing been made out, and concludes as follows:
t1: .. d >'1
1
(q' 0\'('1' with hi,; paw ann han altho it had "So then, afl the result of this mO'lt interesting investiga-
<l'1 ," h,.l j hI' d(ll1ke\' on thl' innl'r sirll' of the leO'. 'But tion, we may reasonably come to the conclusion that nature
'j" ,'1'1'1 :1 f.",' lIIi'lllt'('S of t1lp donkey beinO' attaekrd."'it was is by no means the system of terrorism that Sir Samuel Baker
('IlIl,l.- (1t;n(! ,rhi('h sho\\'C'11 its ncn;ps wc;e not affccted.' makes it out to be; that it does not justify t11e pessimistic
'''''I. \\ :d!a('(' maillbins that 'the constant effort to escape and almost atheiRtic conclusions of Mr. J. S. Mill, and that
pll(iIIi,,'l. tIle p,:C'r-n'curring strugrle again',t the forces of it is not the horrible commingling of devourers and devourrn
n:ltl1l".' :'1p 'the wrv 1l1C'ans by whi('h much of the be'luty and that a suprrexcited imagination is preoisposed to paint it. On
h'll'lllr.nv awl enjoyment of naturp arc pro(luced.' To what the contrary, we may believe that the various carnivorous
d,p it that the of the hor'le and of the many enemies of the ,l!'rntler races of animals are much more serv-
of d('pr aIHI antplopes is dur? To what else, indeed, ieeable in training them to thr finrst exrrciBe of skill and
hut the pl'rpdunl stimulus to rxert tl;pir utmost 'lppcn, which fleetness than they are destructive of their numbrrs or op-
i'l h.,' thp fp:lr of enemips? But is not this fear the pressivcly noxious to t11E'ir happiness of animal Iifp, and that
vprv ter/'o/, "lmh Sir Baker afTirms? By np means. in a world in which death is necessarv. bv the of
Frnnci'l Galton nd only agrees with Mr. Wallace, but carnivorous enemies is no more but is. in f",<,t,
l1l:lintllln'l that the pedl in which they live is a source of mu<'h le'l'l painful, than manv othrr methods by which life
. . . . mav he pxtinguished."-Literary Digest.
"Prin<'p Kronotkin point., out the enormous l'xaggrration The aboVl' is in full accord with our prp'lpntation on the
of thp 'tooth and <,law' view of nature. Thp Prince rrfers to in our issue of June 1, page 165; which please note
the families of elephants, rhinoceroses, and the numberless again.
[2726]
NovtKUR 15. 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER (340-346)
BOMAN CATHOLIOISM: IN POLITIOS
"At the annual meeting of the Catholic Young Men's Na-
tional Union in Brooklyn, September 26, a resolution was
adopted to form a great federation of all the societies of the
Roman Catholic church in the United States for political
purposes. Last spring Bishop McFaul of Trenton, N. J., told
the Ancient Order of Hibernians that the Roman Catholics
of America were fools not to organize into one solid mass
and make their power felt in the politics of this country;
there were 2,000,000 Roman Catholic voters, and if they were
united for political action they could make this country a
Roman Catholic nation.
"This federation has now been formed by the following
societies: The Knights of Columbus, the Knights of St.
John, the Catholic Benevolent Legion, the Ancient Order of
Hibernians, the Irish Catholic Benevolent Union, the Irish-
American Societies, the German-American Societies, the Cath-
olic Knights of America, the Catholic Total Abstinence Union
of America j and, as the Brooklyn Eagle of Sept. 26, 1900
(from which we quote), says: 'Besides these organizations
there are scores of others of less prominence.'
"The federation is formed, says the Eagle, 'for the avowed
purpose of influencing legislation and securing what the Cath-
olics claim are their rights.'
"The convention, which met in the Park Theater, Brooklyn,
was the largest gathering in the history of the Young Men's
National Union, and it was addressed by leading priests and
laymen from all parts of the country. Father Lavelle, rector
of St. Patrick's Cathedral in this city, Monsignor Doane of
Newark, N. J., Sheriff Buttling of Brooklyn, Congressman
Fitzgerald, of Boston, and Father Wall of Holy Rosary
church, this city, made stirring addresses. The latter was
elected president of the union.
" 'The convention,' continues the Eagle, which is one of the
foremost metropolitan daily journals, 'unanimously approved
the plan of federation and appointed committees to carry it
into effect. By this means tens of thousands of men of the
Catholic faith will be brought under one national head, and
this stalwart body of men will have a strong influence on
national legislation.' The New York Herald and other pa-
pers had similar reports. This is the most important step
ever taken by the Roman Catholics in the United States. They
now have New York City in their possession, and many of
the other large cities of our republic are under their control:
all, like Tammany Hall, 'worked for all their worth,' in the
interests of the Roman Catholic church, and incidentally for
the benefit of the workers. 'In politics I work for my own
pocket all the time,' said Richard Croker, the 'Boss' of Tam-
many. He might have added that a large share of the mu-
nicipal plunder goes to Roman Catholic institutions.
"Having possession of the cities, the Romanists now reacb
out to gain control in national affairs. 'We must make
America Catholic,' said Archbishop Ireland at the hundredtb
anniversary of the establishment of the Roman Catholic hier-
archy in the United States, which was held in Baltimore, Nov.
10, 1889. 'We must make America Catholic. As we love
our church, it suffices to mention the work and our cry shall
be, God wills it. and our hearts shall leap towards it with
Crusader enthusiasm.' He was wildly applauded by the
eighty bishops, one thousand priests and five thousand lay-
men present.
"'Why should we fear or hesitate?' he continued, with
glowing fervor and proud boasting. 'We number ten mil-
lions-a powerful army if the forces be well marshaled and
their latent strength be brought into action. Catholics in
America are loyal to their church and devoted to her leaders.
Their labors and their victories in the first century of their
history show what they are capable of in the coming century,
when they are conscious of their power and are under com-
plete hierarchical organization.'
"And so, even before the century has begun, theoy are pre-
paring by a complete organization to conquer this country
and turn it over to the pope! What have the Protestants of
America to say to this? says The Oonverted Oatholic of New
York."
SOOIALISM GROWING IN GERMANY
The election of a member of the Reichstag for Branden-
burg has caused considerable political excitement throughout
Germany, as it has resulted in a signal victory for the Social-
ist candidate, Herr Peus, by a majority of 648 votes. This
constituency has had a varied history, having returned within
the past twenty years Conservatives, Radicals and National
Liberals j but throughout all its fluctuations one fact was
prominent, namely, the growth of Socialism there.
The number of Socialist members now in the Reichstag is
fifty-eight; in 1885 there were only twenty-three; in 1890 the
number rose to thirty-five. At the general election of 1893
there were forty-four Socialists returned. At the last general
election in 1898 the number was fifty-six. Subsequent by-
elections have added two members.
If we turn to the number of recorded votes we find that
in 1885 over half a million Socialist votes were given; in
1887 three-quarters of a million; in 1890 nearly one million
and a half; in 1893 one million and three-quarters; and at
the last general elections two and a quarter millions. The
calculation which places the strength of the Socialist party
at the next election at three million votes, and 100 seats in
the Reichstag out of a total of 397 seats, would not appear
excessive.-London Daily Ohronicle, Oct. 29.
MAKE SURE OF WINNING IN GOD'S ELECTION
[Reprinted in issue of July 1, 1905, which please see.]
"SORROWFUL. FOR HE HAD GREAT POSSESSIONS"
MATT. 19: 16-26.-DEc. 2.
"Ohildren, how hard it is for them that trust in riches to enter into the Kingdom of God!"-Mark 10.24.
Our lesson relates to what for centuries has been called appreciate it the more. Our Lord's words migllt be para-
'The Great RefusaL" The rich young ruler, whose name is phrased thus: Are you addressing me as Good Master from
not given, altho possessed of an abundance of the things of the heart, or only as a complimentary salutation? If you
this life longed fer an assurance of everlasting life. As a Jew really believe me to be good, you must believe in me as a
he knew the Law; he understood that God had made with teacher sent of God-the All-Good. More than this, you must
this nation, and with no other, through Moses the mediator, believe my testimony, that I proceeded forth and came from
a covenant, under which everlasting life might be attained. God, that I am the Son of God. If my testimony is untrue
He perceived, however, that even the best men of his nation in any particular I am not good at all, but a falsifier, a hypo-
had failed to gain eternal life under this covenant-that all crite, a blasphemer. If, then, you call me Good Master from
had died. He had heard of Jesus, and that "never man spake the heart, and believe that I am the "sent of God," the Mes-
like this man," and he knew that in many respects his teach- siah, you will be the better prepared to receive my reply as
ings were of a very positive character, and that his manner the divine answer to that question.
and instruction were not like those of the scribes and Phari- Without waiting to require that the young man should
sees, uncertain and equivocal ;-that he taught as one having commit himself definitely on the point involved; but con-
authority, and knowing what he taught to be true. He hesi- tent with merely raising the issue in his mind, our Lord pro-
tated to go to this Teacher, but finally seeing him leaving a ceeded to answer the question.
house in his own neighborhood, he ran out hastily and point- We are not to understand our Lord's answer to this young
blank put the question: "Good master, what good thing Jew, at a time when the Law Covenant was 'still in force,
shall I do that I may have eternal [everlasting] life?" to be the same that he would give, or that we should give
Instead of answering his question directly our Lord in- in his name, today, in reply to a similar inquiry. The young
quired why he thus addressed him as "good." Jesus' words man was living under a covenant of works, of which the Apos-
do not imply as some have surmised, a denial of being good. tIe declares, quoting from the Law itself, "He that doeth
Rather, he ~ o u l d impress upon the young ruler the import these things shall live by them." (Lev. 18:5; Rom. 10:5)
of his own language, that when he got his answer he might The New Covenant had not yet been sealed with our Lord's
[2727]
f 346-348)
ZION'S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY. FA
precious blood, and hence it was not operative toward this
young ruler or anybody else at this time. Our Lord could
not properly direct the young man's attention to any other
proct'durE' than the kEoeping ot the conditions of the Law Cov
enant which was still in force. Anyway, this was what the
man inquired: "What good thing must I do that I
ma;\' have everlasting life?" It was for this reagon that our
Lord did not say, as we should say today in answer to such
a question' Bplieve on the Lord Jesus Christ-believe that
he died for ;\'our sins, and arose for your iu'\tification, and
aC'cepting him a'\ )'our Raviour, as the Meniator of the New
prespnt :\,our life in full consecration of all its tal-
pnts, powprs and opportunities to the Lord's servipe.
Our T.ord difl point ont to the voung man the only way to
lifp l'Yf'rh"ting thpn ojwn-thp kerping of the Law. He well
knpw tInt thp youna man ('flul(J not kerp thi'\ Law perfectly,
and hpn('(' ,'ould not obtn in pVl'r!nstina lifE' through it; but
hC' "'''1111) hring thp ll1'lttE'r hE'fort' hig attpntion in the most
f,J\'or2
1
,lp form to 1)(' pomprf'l1Pn,lrd-without prraC'hing the
1\'C'l\' or nnv otllf'r fenture of the divine plan not vet
,)IlP to hp annOl1nf'r'l. Hl'nC'P thp form of hi'\ rpnlv. '
Th
p
hw Wflq fllviflpll into tWfl part" or the first
rplntin'.! to .Tpllll\':1b allll thp ,,!'ponfl to the neighbor. Our
Lonl io-norPfl tbp fir"t of rpali7ing that thE' voung man,
,n fn from flp"iril1,! to m I1--P or worqhip ifl01'\ or anotller g-od,
tVa ',('ple ing to knOll filII! to do the will of the trne God.
Our Lord woulfl bring 1L :1n,\\wr flown to thp simplp'\t pO'l'
"illll' propo,\ition, and hp,l('p rpfprr('(l mprplv to thp commann
mp'lt" rf",pnding ,lllt\' towaro hi'l fpllow:prl'f1f11rps, nnd got
thp r ... ..,pono... tlint on n" the young mflT1 h1n rli",pernE'n the
TnaUpr hI' hnfl kppt th" b"; hut althn llP kppt itq outwarn
form hi' th'1t "oml wa" "till lapkin'!. Hp h'ln no
I"il!f'nr', thflt 11" h:1'] If'l'f,i,,,,,l any '\TJp(,ial hlf''1'\ing of etprnal
life, find \\ iQlll'l] 10 k',O\\' of tIl<' Ma'\tpr wh'lt hindprprl, wh'lt
hI' 1'1,,1, 1',1 of hping n TJprfpf't man, kE'E'pinu- thp law and merit-
in'! thl' r"wflrrl of thnt law. lift' eyer]a"tin'!. No wonncr
.r",Qllq, !(>nkin,!! upon lIim. lm'cn him: evpryhody who loves
ti!!htpOlI"I1('q,\ 10\,pQ tho"p who arp rightp01lq, or who are '1triv-
to thp hpqt of thpir ability to come up to the mark of

THE GRACE OF ALL GRACES
Tl,pf! .!I''''lIS tolf! him rhin]y. "Onl' thing thou laekest."
Y011 lHH'p hf' ... n to kl'pp GOfl'S 1a,,:, ann have done
wPlI, PO fllr a" (JJ(' olltwarn i'l eOllcprned; but th' '\pirit of the
law you not apprehenrlNl at all-thc spirit of the law is
ION'. "Tbl' whol .. bw io, eomprphpnded hl'ielly in one word."
"Loyp iii thf' of the law." (Rom. l'l:!), 10) You
ha1'f' hppn till' out..,iflp, or shell of the divinc command.
hilt h1\'P pntirplv 0\'( r]ook"n the thing in it. thp
kl'rnp1. thp p,-;,,-pnp('.-lovp to God RU1)fpmply. and love toward
YOllr f.'llowma'l as tow:1rd )'ourself. Let me prove this to
1'011. by qll!!'g""ting th:1t YOU flemon'\tratp vour 10\'1' for
your npi!!!tho!"'l hy (li"1'o'ling of your propertY'for the
an('f' of po 11'1'1' onpq. 'flipn pom\pcrntp your life in loving- de-
votinf! ttl (ioll H qprvif'P. '11111 pomp with TIlp as my disciple,
tnking lip th
p
pro"'", of self-denial thus involvpd.
'fhf' wa'l a eruf'hlonE', and manifpqtpd eleuly the
oistinpf1on hl'twP('n th
p
lpttpr nnn thp spirit of the law.' The
1'1'0"-"1 was too he'1v)' for tlie ridl voung ruler. Hp han
thp an'l" 1'1' to his QUP,\tion. hut oh! it was so differpnt from
\\ hnt he h1d anti(ip:1tE'I1. He ll'ln felt comparatively well
Qfltisfipil \\ ith himqplf. nltllO realizing that sompthing must
"till he laC'king Hp had rather pxpepted Messhh's commen-
d:1tinn. an,! perhaps 'lome furthpr anvil'', but nothing so radi-
ea1. H \Va'l too mllph for him; he went away exceedingly
Gllrr<n' flll, Havs Lllk,,: lli'l countcnancf' fpll, says 1\fnrk; it was
a Qorp fliHappointn1Pot. For tIle time being he could not think
nf lI"""pllflg tIll' l\1'l',t('r'" pr!'Rcl'iption. tl1P do'\!' too hittcr,
an,l hI' mU'lt At leaqt think the mattpr over well.
"'hAtp\'pr pourRC this yOllng ru!pr mny have subsequently
tnkf'n \yp arc not informpd; hut of onp thing we may be sure;
hI' har! Irarnl'o a grpat lc'lson re'\peeting thp scopp and sig-nifi-
('anpp of thf' law. Hp hafl Aspprtainen the impossibility of his
atta inin!! ptprna1 life IInr!pr the Law CovE'nant,
It will he Rcpn that WP totally disagree with those who
p1rlifll tll:lt tllP f'onflitioll of this )'OImg man and our Lord's
worn'l to him applv to All young mpn or to tho'll' possE'ssing
Wp:11th--tho thp spirit of thp mattE'r is Aoplil'able to all, un-
01'1' tI,l' f!itferpnt ('onrlition'l of the New Covennnt. ThE' New
('ovf'nant qay" to 11'<. riph :1nd poor, "Chri'lt niprl for us. ac-
('orlling to thp Rl'riptllrpq." He not only met the rplluire-
mpnt" of thp In\\', and fnlfillpo that Covenant ann annulled it.
bnt >luI!ilion:dly hp 'lpalpr! and ratifico thp *Npw Covenant
.. Se; June 15, 1919, issue for critical examination of Covenants
under which he, its Mediator, can apply to all who come under
,ts provisions through faith whatever share of his merit ill
necessary to make good the weaknesses and imperfections of
0111' flesh to which our hearts, our minds, do not assent. Ac-
cordingly, even if when some come to Jesus to inquire the
way of eternal life, they should be unable to say, as did this
young rulcr, "All thesf' things have I done from my youth up."
-if it should be even necessary for such to confess witb
"All these commandments have I violated," neverthe
less, the provisions of the New Covenant are such that even
the vilpst sinner who has turned from sin and who at heart
dpsires henceforth to walk in the way of righteousness, and
who. repenting of the sins of the past, gladly makeg such
f<'stitution as is within his power-all such are accepted in
the Beloved One, and reckoned as justifien freely from an
things, from which the Law could not justify them.
Then such ale invited, as was the yonng rulpr to come.
take up their cross, and follow Jesll'l-eome, prove, nemon
strate, thpir love for righteou'lness, thpir dpvotion to God and
every feature of his will; come, crucify splf and selfishne'ls,
and repeive into their hearts in'ltead the Spirit of God, the
spirit of holiness. the spirit of lovp. Not mprely to love their
neighbor'l in word, but in deed am! in trllth, so thnt so far
from wishing to stE'al from them, or to kill thpm, or bpar false
witnpss againqt them, or to 00 anv other pvil tuwarrl thcm,
thpir hearts' de'lire would be the of the'll', to do thpm
good, to blr'l" them. God is love; th
p
qpirit of his In\\' is love,
and the spirit of his faithful Son, Je,\llq, i", lovp. Love is thp
holy Spirit. of whil'h thp Apostle npclares, "If any man havp
not the spirit of Christ [love, in some measurp1 hp i", none of
his." Pnder tIlE' New Covpnant. if the hpart be fill! of lovp,
it is acpeptable with God evpn tho the hpart m'IY not lw ahle
at all times to control thp tlf'sh in re'lpf'ct to ('\'I-ry I
and worn and nct, ano to show forth thrOIl!!ll it this hol\
spirit of love which rulE'S paramount in thp hearl. .
The Npw Covpnant is God'", agreement, undpr whiph 111'
accepts, throngh Christ, thp intentiong of 0111' hcart", nq tho
the same wprp actually ano full,v demonstratpl! in our lives;
and our hearts' desires will find exprpssion thrnug-h
the flesh in large measure. tho not always pprfp('tly. 'fbm
our hpartq mav to some extent bp re:1n hv our fpllowmpn. th(\
not ;\'hile to our heaypnly Father thpy are an open
book. MoreoYl'r, the love which pntprs ann fin'l onr llParts
expands them and crowds out more unn more of thp natural
an,l splfish propensitips, crossing this natura!, or purthly will
with the hpavenly one, the new mino. Thuo, granna ny m'1k-
ing progress in the new way, the Lord'R saint'l are growing
in knowledge and in gracp. and more ann more arE' havin,l?
the love of God shed abroad in their hearts.
"TRUST NOT IN UNCERTAIN RICHES"
Our Lord took advantage of this ppisode to impart a leqson
to his disciples, showing thpm the of richps-any kind
of riches, honor of men, political influpncp, many and large
talents or abilities, social standing, fine edupation H11Il mao
iRrial wealth-for one may bp rich in any of thps
p
senses.
"It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of
heaven." (Revised Version.) Our Lord dops not !t('rp undE'r
take to exphin whv there wouln be greatpr niffif'u!tie", for
those posspssing riehl'S to enter into hiS bnt from
other we learn the reasons. ann why it is that thE'
heirs of the kingdom will he chipfly found amongst thp poorer
classes. "Ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many
wiqe men aftpr the not many mighty, not many noh!e are
called; but God hath chogen the foolish things of tlle world to
confounn the mighty." (I Cor. I :26, 27; JaR. 2:; Thc rif'h
are "ca IIp(l,'' in one sense of the word, but not in anothpr; the,
arE' equally invited but thE'Y are much le'l'\ likE'ly (than others
who are poorer) to accept the Lord's invitation and to present
themselves ac('ording- to thE' terms of the king-nom call. In
this sense of the word "called" only those who accept the call
are meant; and thev then divide themsplves into two classes
-tho'le who make their calling and election surp, ann obtain
the kingnom, obtnin a part in the firgt resurrp('tion to I;"lory.
honor and immortality, obtain a place with Messiah in his
throne, to share with him in his Millennial kingnom; and
others who do not make their ca nnd ele('tion sure, pither
by becoming reprobates. and suhip('ts of the seconn death, or
by a failure to manifest a sufficipnpy of zeal in the raCe for
the prize. and on this account being remanned to the class
known as the "great company," who must come through great
tribulation. washing thpjr robpq in the blood of thp I.'3mb
It is well that we note carefully what are the hinnrancep
of these "rich." preventing them from having so favorahle an
opportunity as their (in earthly respects) less favored breth
[2728J
NOVEMBER 15. 1900
ZION'S WATCH TOWER (348-349)
reno ( 1) The possession of earthly good things, "riches," is
less favorable to the development of faith, without which it
is impossible to be pleasing to God. (2) These earthly ad-
vantages are more likely to develop pride, a serious barrier to
;lvery grace and an impossible barrier as respects the king-
dom, which can be attained only through humility. (3)
Riches of any kind bring with them friends and associates
of the earth, whose hearts being generally out of sympathy
with the Lord and the kingdom will constitute them adver-
:;aries to the new mind, from whose influence it will be the
more diffieult to break completely away. (4) And summing
up all of the foregoing, those possessed of such earthly riches
have proportionately more to sacrifice than those who are
poorer in th('se amI t11(- the t1lin,"l' "ael ifieed
the greater the difficulty in performing the sacrifice.
However, on the othpr hand, it may be said that when-
ever one who is rich in this world's goods (talents, etc.) does
pre'\Ppt a lidna; ,\:wrififP to til(' Lort!
it witnps'\es to a dpeper heart-loyalty than if he were poorer.
It implies a greater sacrifiee, and it implies also the exercise
of gre'1ter opportunities in the Lord's service. The servant
who has five talent'! and who uses them faithfully, and dou-
bles them, accomplishes a greater work than the servant who,
having- OnP talpnt. use'\ it faithfully and doubles it, and our
Lonl'A unrlerstanding of thi'! matter i'! shown in the fact that
acconling- to the parable the one will have granted to him
authority owr ten citip,!, and the other authority over two,
altho both will be commended-"Well done, good, faithful
!'eryant."-1\Tatt. 2fi:
If we woul(1 look for illustration showing when-in the rich
(in taleTJt'l, etc.) have been faithful. we would find at the
head of the list am Lord him'!elf, "who wa'! rich. but for our
'lakes b('camp poor." As he was richer than all others in
eypry spn'lp of the worrl. so proportionatply his sacrifice was
greatpr than that of all other'! in every spnse of the word,
and hi'l honor. glory and power arc greater. "He is Lord of
:lll." "Him hath God highly p'(alted and given a name that
is abovp evrry name." Similarly the Apostle Paul was rich-
if not ill :11](1 propl'rtv. Iw W'l'l at Ipast rirh in rrlll('n-
tion. in sorial udvantag('s and privileges, and in life's oppor-
tllnitH"i: anrl \1'1' may say that since the ApostlE' so faithfully
:lll earthly richps for the sah of the privilege
of thp Gospel of Christ, hiA must have been a much
larg('r than that of the majority of men: and pro-
portioniltrly WE' anticipate that hi" reward in the kingdom
will be great because he counted these earthly "riche!>" but
"los8 and drosll that he might win Christ and be found in
him [a member of the Anointed One]."Phil. 3:8, 9.
So then while we call attention to the fact that few will
be in the kingdom who have had great opportunities, priv-
ileges, property or other "riches" of this world, we neverthe
less encourage those who possess this world's goods of any
kind, to consider that they thus hold within their graBp grand
OppOl tunities which rightly used will yield riches of grace, not
only in the life that now is but also in the life that is to
come; working out for them a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory, proportionate to their sacrifices and faith-
fulness in their stewardship.
'VI' cannot wonder that the disciples were astonished to
learn that few of the rich would enter the kingdom, for did
they not see on every hand that the rich had the more im-
portant places in the synagogues and in the offices of the
Jewish system? Did they not see that comparatively few of
the poor in this world's goodR wele rated the s'lints?
No wonder they inquired, where would the kingdom ebBS be
found, if tIlE' rich were excluded? How, then, could the sa Iva
tion which God had promlsea should come thlOUgh his king"'
dom ever be attained?
The time for explaining the"e features of the divine plan
havlllg lIot yet come, 0111' LIlI.1 l'OlltClltl'(! WIth 111<'1 "Iy
assuring the disciples that they must leave such a que"tion
to the Father; that the truth of his statement did not imply
that no kingdom could be formpd, but that with God the mat-
ter was and that his original promise to Abraham
would bp fulfilled, a kingdom class be selected, and the \'1r'!-
sing of salvation be communicated through it. To h'1ve told
tlll'm of the rejretion of the ,Jewish natioll, all exrept the
"remnant" of believE'rs, mainly the poor, and to have ex
plained to them that the eleet chureh, the plE'et 'lped of Abra
ham, would be completed from nmongRt the Gl'ntiles, of a
similarly poor class as re'lpE'cts tld'l world'B atlvantagf''l. would
have been going bpyond what was then due to be explainpd,-
beyond what the disciple" would llave bppn able to rornprdlend
at that time; and hencc our Lord, using the true wisdom
from above, refrained from s:lving more thfln would be to
their advantage to know-leaving such information, as he
1" phined to thE'm subAequpntIy, for unfoldment to them
the Comforter-the holy spirit which woulrl romp upon them
at Pentecost.-John 14: 26.
ENTREATY ANSWERED.-BLIND EYES OPENED
MARK 10 :46-52.-DI<;c. 9.
"Lord, that I might
While passing along a road in the vicinity of Jericho,
pos"ibly going from the old CIty to the newer one of the Bame
name. a great multiturle following him, our Lord pas'led by
two blind men, sittll1!! begging by the waYBide. (Mark men-
tion" only one, the chief subject of the lesson, but Matthew
mentions a pompanion.) Bartimpu'l, one of 1\vo. Ill'
hE'ard the multitude pa'l"ing and learned from some of them
that thpy acrompanied .Jp'lUA, the reputed l\fe'lsifl h, of whom
he hfld no doubt heard bpfore. was struck with the fact that
his opportunitv for a ble'lsing was ne'lr at hand and rapidly
paB'ling from him. Hp began to cry out, hi'! voice riRing above
the rlin of the multitude, saying, ".Jesus, thou Son of David,
have mprev on me!"
Om paid no hE'ed at first, but passed on. The multi-
tuile rebuked the blind mfln, so to speak. saying, "You, poor
begga r. should not thu'l ery out and annoy and seek to take
thE' attpntion of AO great a one as thi'!, whom we verilv be-
lieve to he thp MpA'liah, and who'll' mi'l'lion is thE' e'ltabli'lh
ment of God's kingdom; kE'ep quif't!" But so lllurh the more
did hE' ery out for mprcy. He 10ngE'd for sight, and had faith
to bplipvc that the grE'at Me"Aia h might be prevfl ill-d upon to
resrllE' him from d:lrknp'ls. Jesll'l stopped and gave the word
to the multitude to bring the blind man to him. He mi<rht
havp gone to the blind man, or he mi<rht have lifted up his
voiPP finn Apokpn to the hlind man, hirjding him to eome; but
in'ltpad he chose to UBe instrumE'nblitipA-to rrive thmle abuut
him an opportunity of Bharing in the work of blE''l'ling. So the
worrl Wfl'l p:l'l'lpd from one to anothf'r find the blind man WllS
hE'lpNI forward and thu'l grefltE'r attention wa" brought to the
whole mir:tcle and to the divine power whi<'h it msnife'\ted.
Tho'!p who harl but a moment before upbraided thp blind m'ln
for his tpmerity in pxpecting a blessing from the Mes'liah,
now gladly hore the message of hope to him, saying, "Be of
reccire my sight."
good cheer! arise; he <,alleth thee." And he sprang up, cast-
ing away hi" outrr robe that he might go the more quickly
to .JeAu" for the blessing.
Everything connected with the casp sho\\ '\ that B'uti-
meus a largp amount of faith. and tll:lt he waR
vpry earnp'\tly de'\irous of the blf's'ling whieh lIe rereived.
'Whpn he came to ,Jesus, altho the latter knpw well his desire,
he inquirerl resppeting it. Hp would have the blind m:ln ex
pres" himself re'lpeeting his hope" aUlI dp,\ire'l. He anAwcred,
"Rabboni, that I may rerpive my 'light!" The word "lord"
here is "mbboni," the most reverential t('rm of four titles
uANI amonp-'lt the ,Jpws lit that time (I ah. rabbi. rabktll.
ra bboni). Then ,JpSUA touphed his eyps (Matt. 20: M), say-
ing, "Go thv way; thy faith hath madp thee whole." Right
eame immediately, and Bartimeus became one of the follow-
ers of ,JE'SUS.
Thp Ir'\son itself is a verv be'lutiful one in df'mon"tmtion
of the Lonl's tendpr and nivine power; and from
it" inci(jf'nt'l \\1' might draw other le'l'lons, par:lllpl'l, as it
were. For in'ltanep, Rin brollght alienation from God, and
moral blindn(w,. whirh prpvflil,\ today in every Iflnd nnn on
pvpry hanrl. The Apo'\tle thus pictures somE' of the heathen,
dpsirous of having the lig-ht of truth, as blind ml'n groping
after thing-s dc"irrd. He spenks of Ruch as crying out to
the Lord in pmver. and "feeling after God, if haply they
might find him;" ju'\t a" Hartimpus had eripd out to the
Lord and then went to him. And as Bflrtimpus east away
his outpr robe that hr might go to the Lord the morp Rpped-
ily, ;:;0 the sinner should east away pVE'rvthing found to be a
hindrancl'-hp should mnke arknowledgment nnd rppenbnce
of "in'l. and he should mnkE' restitution alBo as far as possible.
and thus approach thp Lord.
And such, when their eyes are opened to see the blessings
[2729]
(350-351) ZION'S WATCH TOWER
Al,L!tGHINY, PA,
of God bestowed upon them, should look, as Bartimeus looked,
first into the face of the Saviour with gratitude and ap-
preciation, and look unto the Father through him. Indeed,
their eyes being opened by the word of truth, they will grad-
ually come to see everything in a neW light, and be able to
say, "Old things [of darkness and sin] are passed away; all
thmgs are become new"-lighted by the knowledge of God;
for we have been "translated out of darkness into marvelous
light." It is unnecessary to add that sueh transformed sin-
ners should thenceforth follow Jesus as his disciples, seeking
to walk in his steps.
Another lesson might profitably be drawn from this nar-
rative. Bartimeu'l was not a sinner, in the sense of being
an alien, stranger, foreigner and outcast from the divine
favor. He was a member of the household of faith, an
Israelite, to whom belonged the promises and the covenants,
etc. (Rom. 9: 4) ; yet he was blind. And so there are today
in spiritual Israel many who are not sinners, strangers,
aliens from God, but members of the household of faith and
heirs of the promises, who are mentally, spiritually, blind.
Thev are blind to the goodness of God as it shines in the face
of Jesus Christ our Lord: they do not appreciate the love of
God, having been blinded thereto by false theories and tra-
ditions of men. Because of their blindness they are unable
to "comprehend with all saints the lengths and breadths and
heights and depths and to know the love of Christ," as they
should do. Perhaps some of them are accountable to some
extent for their own blindness, and quite possibly others are
in no measure responsIble.
We notice that in the ease of Bartimeus Jesus did not
inquire respecting his responsibility for his condition. It was
sufficient that he realized that he was blind, and that he
earnestly desired from the heart to receive his sight, and
that he demonstrated this by his prayers and his efforts to
obtain sight. So today, to those spiritual Israelites who are
blind to the beauties and harmonies of the divine character
and plan, if they are willing to admit their blindness, and so
anxious for the light that they will cry aloud and not be dis-
suaded from their good desires, they will undoubtedly get the
blessing they crave, the opening of their eyes of understanding,
that they may be able to understand "the deep things of God."
We see many blind people of this latter sort today. Nearly
.tIl of the nominal churches are full of them. But alas! the
vast majority are unlike Barhmeus-they do not realize their
condition nor hunger and thirst for the light, nor come to
the Master in the humble attitude necessary to receive it.
Their pitiable condition is described by the Lord himself (Rev.
3: 17 ) under the name Laodicea. He tells why they do not
receive their sightr-why they cannot comprehend the lengths
and breadths and depths of divine love: "Because thou
sayest, I am rich and increased in goods, and have need of
nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miser-
able and poor and blind and naked."
As it was not within the power of the multitude to give
Bartimeus his sight, neither is it within our power to give
sight to the spiritually blind. All we can do is to let the
blind ones know that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by-that
the great Physician is able and willing to grant them thE>
opening of the eyes of their understanding. Those who long
for sight, who love the truth, who hate darkness and error,
and none others, will be attracted by the information, and
lift up their voices in supplication for assistance. But, alas!
when they do cry aloud for help there are sure to be some,
even amongst the Lord's friends, to rebuke them for their
earnestness, instead of encouraging it. However, such op-
positions only serve to demonstrate the amount of faith and
the measure of love for the light, and the Lord evidently in-
tends that only those who seek for truth "as men search for
silver" shall find the knowledge of God.-Prov. 2 :4.
When the faith and earnestness of the seeker for light
have been sufficiently demonstrated the Master will grant
him the opportunities he desires. Nevertheless he will require
that even in their blindness all shall manifest and exercise
faith, and come to him through evil report as well as through
good report, to receive the enlightenment sought. And when
they obey thus they surely receive a good reward in their
appreciation of the Lord's character and plan. From this
new standpoint they can sing with the spirit and with the
understanding also,-
How happy and blessed the hours,
Since Jesus I always can see;
Sweet prospects, sweet birds and sweet flowers
Have all gained new sweetness for me."
They will surely acknowledge that whatever thE'ir joys in the
Lord previously they are multiplied by the opening of the
eyes of their understandings. And iq it surprising that such
,;m follow the Lord 1 Nay, verily! How could we do other-
wise than "show forth the praises of him who hath called
us out of darkness into his marvelous light 1"-1 Pet. 2: 9.
ILL-COTTEN WEALTH RESTORED
LUKE 19: l-lO.-DEC. 16.
"The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Zacchaeus was a Jew and a chief publican, which signifies Zacchaeus soon resolved what to do, for he was are
that he was in the employ of the Roman government as a sourceful man; he would run ahead and climb into a tree, and
tax-gatherer, a very lucrative office, but one greatly despised thus get a good view of the Master. We cannot help ad-
amongst the Jew'l, because (I) their views of patriotism led miring the courage of this little rich man, ordinarily prob-
them to resent the service of their conquerors; (2) their ably digmfied enough in his bearing, but now his heart
tax-gatherers polleeted for a percentage of the tax, and were swelling with feelings of interest in righteousness and a de
at the same time assessors of the amount of the tax, and sire for reconciliation with God, and ran along like a boy
charged (probably generally with good reason), with gross and climbed the tree. When Jesus and the multitude came
violations of justice-taking advantage of their position and to the place the Lord addressed Zacchreus by name, possibly
of the necessities of their neighbors to reap large usury by by that power of knowledge which is beyond our comprehen-
advancing them money for the tax and requiring super- sion; or possibly by reason of hearing the crowd jeer and
abundant security for both tax and usury. Publicans, then, it laugh at the little rich publican in his lugubrious position.
will be seen, were a disreputable class amongst their own How astonished he must have been when the Master said,
people, esteemed as financially immoral, and unworthy the "Zacchaeus, come down, for I must lodge at thy house!"
confidence and honor of faithful Jews. Zacchaeus as a "chief" So great an honor as this Zacchaeus had not dreamed of, and
probably employed under-collectors to assist him in his con- the multitude of Jews were likewise surprised. The latter
tract, a'ld for this reason was designated chief publican. murmured against Jesus because he, as a holy man, should
He had heard of Jesus evidently, and curiosity and pos- have nothing whatever to do with this publican. Perhaps it
sibly other nobler sentiments operated in his heart and led him was in part to give the Pharisees a lesson, as well as to
to desire to see the great Teacher. Possibly indeed he had provide for his own entertainment or to put himself in the
qualms of conscience respecting his business and business way of Zacchaeus, that our Lord proposed this visit to the
methods, and a longing for peace with God, which his riches publican's house. In any event, nothing could have pleased t h ~
could not take the place of. These nobler and better thoughts serious thinking little man more. He came down from the tree
and aspirations were quickened as he found himself in the immediately, and joyfully took Jesus (and the desciples also
presence of the celebrated Nazarene. of whose holiness and we may presume) to his home for entertainment. Thus does
exalted teachings he had heard. Quite probably, too, he had the Lord look for and care for and assist those who are of a
heard that, unlike the Pharisees, this great Teacher did not contrite heartr-those who are feeling after God, and longing,
spurn publicans and sinners, but on the contrary, treated them as prodigals, to return to the Father's house. Had Zacchreus
kindly. Zacchreus sought a glimpse of the Master's face, but been of other condition of heart we may reasonably presumo
there being a throng in the way, and he being of small stature, that our Lord would have paid no attention to him whatever.
could not discern him. There was a throng anyway at this What a surging of sentiment took place in the heart of
season, going up to the Passover, and 80 notable a person little Zacchreus! His name in the Hebrew comes from a root
8S Jesus would always be an attraction. signifying pure, and the inference is not unreasonable that
[2730]
NOVI\)lBJ!R IS, 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER
(352-338)
his ancestors haa been noble and holy people, and that back
of his love for money and dishonest practices lay good princi-
ples, which now, under favorable conditions, were asserting
themselves and clamoring for a change of life,-worrying his
conscience and embittering all his pleasures and causing him
to long for righteousness in his own heart and life. In no
other way can we account for his sudden determination to
reform. Nor was he content merely to determine upon re-
form in his heart; he would seal the matter by a public
confession. As we read, he stood forth in the presence
of his own family, in the presence of Jesus and his disciples,
and probably numerous friends and neighbors who had gone
along, and publicly acknowledged that he had gained part
of his wealth by unjust exactions, and pledged himself to re-
store all such wrongfully obtained money, to the extent of
his ability, fourfold. More than this, realizing that there
were probably many cases of small injustices which it would
be impossible for him to ever correct in detail, he publicly
pledged one-half of all his possessions to the poor in off-set
of these.
Noble Zacchaeus! Well did his conduct shO\v that the
Master knew what he was doing when he went to lodge with
this little man, so much despised by some of the Pharisees.
Jesus knew that notwithstanding his wrong course of life
he was much nearer to the right attitude of heart than some
of the self-righteous who denounced him-altho outwardly
they were living b, cleaner life and a more moral one-making
clean the outside of the cup while inwardly it was full of vile
affections and selfishness, abominations in God's sight.
Our Lord's reply is striking: "This day is salvation
come to this house; forasmuch as he also is a son of Abra-
ham." While it is true that "salvation is to be brought unto
us at the revelation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ"-
at his second advent-it is nevertheless true also that this
salvation begins in the present life to all who are of the
spiritual house of Israel, who, repenting of their sins, come
into harmony with the Lord, and seek to walk according to his
ways. It is a salvation of the heart, reclaiming it from sin
and "elfishness and meanness-filthiness of the flesh and of
thl' -2 Cor. 7: 1.
This salvation means reformation and transformation;
and while the Lord can read the heart and see there more
than men can see respecting the change, yet, as Brother D. L.
Moody suggests, the change, the conversion, the transforma-
tion of life, must have been appreciable even by the most
unsympathetic of Zacchreus' neighbors when, the next morning
after this event, Zacchrem' servant presented himself to the
neighbor with a purse of money, and when asked what it was
for replied, "My master says that he extorted from you a sum
of money years ago, and now returns it fourfold." The conver-
sion that includes recompense-and that not merely in a
skimped manner but abundantly-four-fold-undoubtedly signi-
fies a true conversion, one that is not likely soon to be for-
gotten or ignored.
We might find parallels to this incident, which belonged
to the end of the Jewish age and to fleshly Israel, in the end
of this age and to spiritual Israel. We find today some back-
sliders from the Lord's Covenant of Grace, as Zacchrens was a
backslider from the Lord's Covenant of the Law. We may
perhaps find them living in a measure of sin, in business which
they admit is unjust and in violation of their consciences.
We are not, therefore, to pass by them with the Gospel mes-
sage, the good tidings of great joy; but if any such manifest
an interest in the present truth we are to seek to assist them
as our Lord and Head assisted Zacchaeus. And there is an
encouragement to this class in Zacchaeus' case, for tho they
may feel themselves sadly short of the stature of a man in
Christ, if they have in their hearts a longing desire for right-
eousness and to behold the Lord's face, they will find oppor-
tunity to do so, if they will but humble themselves to take the
necessary steps. And sincere reformation today must be like
that of Zacchreus; it must make some outward manifestation
expressive of contrition and of a to make reparation to
the extent of ability. Some one has said, and quite truly, we
think:-
"No religious profession amounts to anything if it does
not include a readiness to put one's property at the service
of the Lord. It has been well said that 'a personal consecra-
tion' should be spelled 'a purse-and-all consecration.' And the
full restitution of all that had been taken wrongfully must
be made by a Christian disciple-even to the stripping of
himself of all his earthly goods."
"PILGRIM" ARRANGEMENTS STILL MISUNDERSTOOD
We find that quite a number of our readers did not re-
spond to our queries respecting "Pilgrim" visits because they
thought themselves too far from Allegheny to ask or expect
a visit. Others ,,-ho did respond have wondered that a "Pil-
grim" was not started to them at once. For these reasons we
explain again, as follows:-
The Society sends forth a number of these Pilgrims-ac-
cording as the Society's funds will permit and the interests of
the flock seem to demand. These are sent out on long tours
-three to twelve months, according to circumstances ;-and
sometimes reach very out-of-the-way places where we know
that the interest and arrangements will justify the expense
and time. We rarely give more than two days to any place
unless more is specially requested and good reasons given.
We will be making up new routes for 1901 and therefore
requested replies to our questions from all who desire to be
remembered and visited. See TOWER Aug. 1, l!:lOO.
CHRISTIAN HOME EMBELLISHMENTS
Total , .1.22
Postage and packing free.
We will put these up in four different
--A, B, 0, D,--
assortments, so that persons ordering more than one pack-
age need not get duplicates except the fifth item. If you
order more than one package and want variety. say so.
Importing these ourselves and flaving jobbers' profits and
[2731]
We have a choice assortment of Scripture and Motto Text
Cards of our own importation from London. Some are of dark
red and dark green color, assorted shapes and sizes, embossed
with silver lettering and with hanging cords; others on light
tinted cards with flowers or other illumination, etc. The mot-
toes are too numerous to specify but all good. The prices
range from five cents to twenty cents each and these prices are
considerably less than the usual.
Another drawback has been the difficulty in preparing
small quantities for mail, so as to prevent their getting dam-
aged. We believe we can best surmount all these difficulties
by putting them up in $1.00 packages as follows:-
2 mC'ttoes dark, 5c each 10
2 " light, 5c " 10
2 " dark, IOc " .20
3" "20c" , .60
2 "To Us the Scriptures Teach". . . . . . . . . . .. .10
2 Text Easels, 2c each.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .04
4 Text Cards .08
savina time, etc., by packing them in this way, we can afford
to supply these bundles for the price named, one dollar. We
would not offer them were we not sure that our readers will
appreciate them and thank us for bringing them to at-
tention. The card marked above, "To Us the Scnptures
Clearly Teach," is our own get up, of rose pink color printed
in maroon ink, size llxl4: inches, with silk cord hanger. On
one side is the statement which appears at top of page 2 of
each WATCH TOWER in good sized type. It is a statement. of
Bible faith which none need feel ashamed of; and whlch
should be seen in the homes of all WATCH TOWER readers.
We have gotten out a large quantity and can therefore sup-
ply them very cheaply,-at five cents each (plus five cents
for tube and postage). In lots of 20 for $1.00 postage free.
I wlil tell the wonelron,; storr
How. mv to save,
In his lo\"e alHI mercy,
He the ran';om freely gave.
I will praise mr dear Redeemer,
HIS triumphant power to save,
How the victory he g-i\"eth
Over sin and'death and grave.
I will sing of my Redeemer,
And my call to glory too;
He from death to life hath brought me,
Heavenly glory brought tQ view.
VOl.. XXI
ALLEGHENY, PA., DECEMBER J, 1900 No. 23
WHAT HOPE FOR THE INNUMERABLE
WHAT SAY THE SCRIPTURES RESPECTING THE NON-ELECT'?
In the Scriptures the non-elect arc of two classes: First
Those who in the present life were (l)enlightened, (2) justi-
fied through faith, (3) called, and accepting the call werp
sanctified and begotten of the holy spirit, and started on thl'
course with a view to making their calling and election BUrl'
-but who have not made it sure, but on the contrary haw
failed, by not coming fully up to the requirements.
This class in turn is Scripturally divided into two par-
tie,,:-
(a) Those who sin wilfully after that they have received
a of the truth, and been made partakers of the holy
splnt, etc. For those there remaineth no more a sharp in thl'
of Christ-no fnrther mercy, opportunity or hopp
To thpm the i, the second dpath---nol\(ntit\'. Hl'l)
1;:4-6; 10'26,27. .
(b) The other class consists of those who, while at hCltrt
preferring 1 ighteousness and truth, and loving the I,ord, havp
not become copies of God's dcar in that they fail to at-
hdn tt) his Spirit of full devotion of heart to the 'dohl" of tIlt'
Father's will-rather thl'j' permit themselves to over-
"!I:Jrged with thp C:1res of this life and the deceitfulness of
and thus fail to complete that saprificl> aeponling t.(,
their t'O\enant. lPll! hpn,p t'lil to lm,kp IJH'lr (',illill" .\Ill! \1)("1'
,Iection sure. For these the Lord haq a
as suggested in TIe\'. 7: Tht'y will not he utterly COli
f"uJ]cled, bpcause they have trustpd in him \ PS:l :llId
he will surely calTY them through. Yet the int('rvt'!!
tion on their behalf must he strit't1y fllong th" lines of hi-
('ovpnant and general plan-he cannot interferp with their fref'
moral agency; he will not coerpe thdr wills, but he can and
will brin!! them to 8uph a placp of (''i:peripI)('c \\ ill tpsl
them and compel them either t.o rpnOUI1CP tlH'ir 10\':111y to
!Jim or to seal thnt 10yfllty with their rt'
1I0unce tile Lord will, of course, in so doin?: bring upon them
the penalty of the s('cond c1enth. U(O"C ',-!lo, under
'oueh compltlsory circumstances, arp faithful. (,:1ll1lOt be counte,1
as of the same likeness with God'A den Son. who, wit.hout
('ompulsion, voluntarily gave up his life in thc Folthl'r's serv-
ice. The little flock of the elect church will contnill all of
this class, and to them WIll bp granted thc kingdom, and W
with Christ in his throne, and to he the temple of God
and to have the crowns, (Rev. 3 '21; I Pet. !}:4) But thp
other'!, who will "come up out of great tribulation," h'win;::
washed their robes and maLIc thl'm white in the blood of th"
Lamb, altho tlleY will have suffered eClll:l11y as much a" th"
elect (more indeed, if th(' mental conditions are bkpn into
ronsideration) will not. get a crown of vi dOl v. hnt :l palm of
victory; will not g('t a seat in the throne with thpir Lord,
his brid(', but nevert.heless an honorable place before the throne
as servant'!, They will not beeoJ1](' pillars ani! stones in tht'
living temple of Uod, but they will have the honorahle privi-
lege of serving God in his temple, the church.
This class is 1101.. prominently referred to in the Scriptures.
1I0r in the types and symbol" even; because none were called
to this position, but, as tl\C Apostle dee1areR, "Yr were all
pa1!ed in one hope of your calling"-to the highest place of
ioint hl'irship. (Eph. 4:4) ThE' position attained by thesc
is an unpromised one, of t.he Lord's abundant mercy.
Second: The second (,lass of nonelect from the Scriptural
viewpoint is the world of mankind. including three classes:-
(a) It includes those who have never had any knowledge
of God's provision of grace in Christ, and who consequently
cnuhl not have gone on further to bp of the called elect
of this age.
(b) It inpludes those who have heard of the grace of God.
but in that indistinct, indefinite manner which does not bring
conviction-those who have seen in Jesus something wonder
ful and great and admirable, but who have never seen him
from the Lord's standpoint of Redeemer and Saviour-their
eyes being blinded to the manifold enl llIf1uenppR of "th" vol!
of this world," business or pleasure or love of money or dis-
tracting dogmas. These, not having seen and not
having accepted 0hrist as the Redeemer, could f{0 no furthl'r
Sure of Winning in QQd's Election."]
respecting the eternal torment, but also re"pecting the eternal
bliss: and additionally it casts serious doubt upon the Book
of divine revelation which is the only foundation for heaven-
ly hopes, because they believe it to be n the authority for
their "hellish fears."
13SS-3SIi)
THE GF.NI:ROSITY COMMENDABLE BUT THE THEORY WRONG
\\'" pallllOt hllt "}lI1j>:lthi/',' \lith t.he gn'at('f gcnpro-.ity of
',Ill' ,lay whi('h 1'3 :r:llh.dly tn di'3own such a theory,
aIll! WI mU'lt 'ylllp:ltl,i/l' with that sentiment whiph ha"
Rought to I esc'ue frol1l '111ch an 11\1111 future the lovpd ones
of tI,c pre'-\l'llt !ifp, 1I0\\'('\-C1 e\'il and injurioll" they may have
upen. But. while thi- int'rea"e of benevolenpe is commend
ablc it is bringing lellleJy from the wrong quarter. It is
bringmlt a rcmedy "hidl, \\ln1c it is to some cxtent eonsol
ing to "'the heart mompntanly. Iit'Yerthele'!s leaves a terrible
fear, !est peradventure the high "bndnrdR of the Scripture
may be rpquircd, and lh:lt. all not cOlllinl-'( up to thpm will
""ffer excrutiating-Iy 1n othprs it IpadR to not only
[2732]
[Continued from our last issue, ''Make
In our last issUl' we found abundant Scripture evidence
that God is selecting a little flock from amongst mankind to
be joint heirs with our Lord Jesus in the Millennial king-
dom. That fact bcing proven, it cannot be questioned that
all the remainder of munklJlcl are non-elect. The question now
iq, What provi'lion ha" the Creator made for this
-numbering at least fifty thousands of millions of all the
families of the earth? Is this condition hopeles'l or not?
According to orthodoxy it is hopeless-the theory being
that all the non-elcct of mankind were predestinated by Go(1 to
be sufferers of eternal torment; but we find no Scripture what-
ever in support of such a theory. So surely as God did elect
or predestinate an elect he must equally have predesti-
nahd and foreordained that there would be a non-elpct class.
And to suppose that he foreordained that this non-elect class
8hou1<1 suffpr eternal t.orment "ould he to supposc God a
,!pvoi<l of c\ PI.V ot not to It,pIl-
tion love. And if Go(1 <lid not foreordain the non-elect to
pt.ernal torment. ndtlwr cou1<1 h,> have authorized any to usp
(tf'rnal tonTient a.., a threat against. the non-elect-neither to
mtirnjclatp thelJl nor fCll any other purposp. Indeed, what ob-
JC'pt could there hp on (:od's part in endeavoring to scare the
w:J"ld of m:mkmcl into striving to be of the elect little .flock,
"h"n Ill' had all ca(ly prt'(lpstimltpc that only a small number
"olllpa rati\'el)' coulc! be of this elect flock? The whole matter.
\ i( ,\ ecl frolJl any 'ouch st.11H1point, i'3 unreasonable.
Lpt us notict', on the cOlltl ary, that this eternal torment
th,'ory lIlay properly be charge(l with nearly every deflection
flora til<' dodll(\c' 01 thc' tor hO!IlH''', of lifp Oil tI,l'
i,.ll t. of Co,!' ... !,('oplp. EI ('I'.' one '" 110 h.1S read with care
I-'CI ipl 111 aln'ady cit",l "hich I'('f('r to t hI' cleet class mllst
[('ah?(, thrtl til(' which Uo,l has spt "for thl' verv
,1",,1" i" a vcry Id:.dl ... t.1J1'lald nIHI that. comparatively few-':'
qlllt, olily-pvel flU.lin t'l t.hat higll stamlanl. All \\ ill fle
I,ll ,\II. dc;p that ,,('r,v fl'w 01 t1lcir fl'lcnd" and ndghbon"
Ill,} c:tildnp, lir"tlll]S an,! hn>,h:lIlJs and wives, who
1::11., (Ii( oJ, !'(nIlcl hflVP :tI,." h'lpe of heing- in the "elect
,j('('oJfllllg to thr' high for that cbss set in tl,e Scrip
t'n :1II" y('t th" :1\1 of the theory they hold respeet-
t 1", llnll ('!I.pt, dri\t'll ttli'm ie, so modify the standard
,t Chri"tI:ll1 li\ill!.: tlJ.l1 \\olll.l ],.. aC"eptable to God ai to ill'
(III':" <1".<1 11 I'h1l, dav hI' d,l\', awl ('elltllr\, 11\
((:otllly, rtf! (,','lIr in ('\ery f.lJ1]ily connection, the'ten-
,11':1('.1, l1I,cler 1Ill' inl1l1l'l1"" of tl.e IhlpuJar error of et.t'rnal 1..01'-
m"!'l i-; t.o Ic>\\('r in t1:p tllilHl'3 of nIl Christian people tllP
.... r-l'1l1
1
1'1 (If 1t ttl' 11l1111lt ...... } - "\lVil:n lP,IItIlPl of per-....on:-, Ollf1ltt \\(.
jt) !<l'" Til" flllll'ral in ne.uly every case help ior
w:lnl I\ork (If the Cllristian standard, and
drf'l'pif1[!" It to :l wOI'I,I1.\' l.'\!'! of 1I1Olulity-and scarcely even
1.(P:11H(' ('\pn \\ ho ltre lIotorionsly immoral, un
n",!. \'\101 tionists, d,. :1I1o! II ho h.we verv little indeed tCl
;'UIIIII1"III! theil!, 111'(' f,'1t t,) !ll' not SUfficiently bad to be
"'(Illall., torn'(IJt"d: .Iwl lIItdt'r the theory that they must go
,iEwl' :1 h('.l\(n "I !'tl'rnnl hli"" or to a hell of etern:ll tor-
IIipnt IlI"Y Ill'!. 111 th"i .. 11\ minds, admitted gener-
,,,:,11 1,1 llip [01111''1' 1.I1_her than consigned to the latter.
V\ h,lt ihcakll!.lh!(, 11.1]111 h'H 11l'Pll introduced into the faith
",.r: j,op", pf ('hri-tl'llo!oll1 thl'ough this God dishonoring doc-
!t]l, of ,h'!TJ:l1 j"l'l,I.-nL \I I,ip!l ill11Jlicatps the great .]pllOvnh
(- rl." ,I.i.'l,'" t'ollllutor of planner, t.hC'
of 1:1- :"" Ildll,d the one without whose co-
":",',,f ,.,1' ""do! no! b:l\l' dont' all t.hat he, a'l ordinarily
I'.,.j ", ",j h" - .10'" ,'n,] i, (l..!lIg,-dol1linating !l host of fin',
101, "I :tlld f"'l1l i'I""f pitchforks in h'l.nd, tormenting'
".,i:I,,,1'o 01 IllJlll,lnJ1:-'. d('li,pn'o! into tllPir power by thl' AI
Illi;Ihl.\, and 10., "om.. ill-('r1ltahl<' l'o,,"PI' rendered fire-T\flJof hut
l1"t p.t HI-proof
J1>:CJ>MBJ>R I, 1900
ZION'S WATCH TOWER (357-358)
and by no possibility could they have been amongst those
('aIled to the election of this Gospel age.
(0) It includes those who have heard of Christ as the
Redeemer, and have appreciated him as such, and have ac-
cepted him as their Saviour; but who like the nine of the ten
lepers cleansed by our Lord at his first advent, thought not
to return to give glory to God-thought not to present their
bodies living sacrifices in his service. These having reached
the point of justification were, undoubtedly, amongst the ones
called; but they failed to make their calling and election sure,
not caring to respond to the call. Of this class, apparently,
are the thousands, the masses of church members of the vari-
ous sects. They are glad for what they see, but not anxious
to see any more, as, intuitively, they realize that further
knowledge would bring greater responsibilities, which they de-
sire to avoid and not even to think much about.
These last mentioned "receive the grace of God [the privi-
lege of justification 1 in vain." (2 Cor. 6: 1) The intention of
thi'l reckoned or faith justification of the present time is to
enable the justified ones to present their "bodies living sacri-
fices, holy, and acceptable to God," their reasonable service;
because they could not be acceptable to God as sacrifices, nor
in any sense of the word come to his altar, while still they
were sinners. Since to permit this sanctification and sacri-
fice is the only objl'ct of the giving of this grace in the present
time, they have received it in vain, in that they have not used
It as God designed it to be used by those who are appreciative.
Amongst this second class of non-elect, we may say that
t he vilest arc too good to be turned over to devils for an
eternity of torment, either mental or physical, and God their
Creator was too wi'le to have ever made them in such a con-
dition as to necessitate such an abominable result, so inhar-
monious with his character and with every sell'll' of right and
justice, ancl necessitating the everlasting perpetuation of evil,
upheld, and therefore sanctioned, by divine power. And God's
Word rightlv understood, tl'aches no such thing. It is only
wher: the false thpory has corrupted and perverted the judg-
ment that it is able and willing to construe such a theory
irom the p:nable'l, symbols and "dark saying'l" of our Saviour,
mstead of understanding and construing them much more
I!'asrnahlv and in full accord with the divine character of
lustice, ":isdom and love.*
NO CONDEMNATION POSSIBLE UNTIL AFTER TRIAL
If the worst class of non-elect do not deserve eternal tor-
ment, the less degraded certainly would not deserve it; and
mdeed we are to remember that none of them can deserve any
punishment until first of all thl'Y have had their trial. True,
the whole race had a trial in father Adam, in Eden, and when
he lost in that trial the whole race lost life and came under
the sentence of death. But in harmony with the divine plan,
our Lord .Tesus redeemed Adam and all his race by giving
himself as the ransom-price for Adam and thus incidentally
for all. 'Ve are to remember that .Tesus was not only the
Rede!'mer of the ehUl eh, but also the Redeemer of the world,
as it is written: "He is a propitiation for our sins, and not
ior OI1I'S [the church's] only. but aho for thl' 8il/8 of the' 1r!to/l'
!vorld."-l John 2:2.
* See What Say the Scriptures About Relit-Sample sent free nil
-,Iostal card request
If then all these non-elect hJ.ve been redeemed from the
first trial and its seniPnce with the same precious blood which
redeemed the elect church; and if the church, by the grace of
God, has had her trial in advance of the world in general,
and if the church's trial was the result of the redemption,
and without that redemption she could have no further trial
for eternal life, is it not manifest that the same redemption
has provided a trial for the whole world of mankind, as well
as for the church of this Gospel age? And what matter'l it that
the trial of the world dId not take place at the same time
as the trial of the church? Has not the great God, our
Saviour, the full right to arrange this matt!'r of salvation ac-
cording to his own wisdom? Who amongst fallen men is com-
petent to direct him?
And yet this is what Christian people have been doing;
they have been attempting to aran,ge the divine plan, instead
of hearkening to God's own revelation respecting thc same.
They have said, but he has not said, that the prl''lent life is
the onlv opportunity for trial, and that this trial-time will
end with the end of the Gospel age. He, on the contrary, has
foreseen their misrl'presentation'l of hi'l plan, ani! ha'l ('au'led
it to be written aforetime through the prophet: "Mv thoughts
[plans] are not your thought'l [plam], nf'ither are yonr my
ways, saith the Lord; for as the heavens are highcr than the
earth, so are my wavs lligher than your ways and my thoughts
[plans] than your thoughts [plans] ."-Isa. 55 :8, 9.
The Scriptures tell us 'lpecificallv re'lpccting the l ..ord's
plan for these non-elect. \Ve will give it fiffit in our own
phraseology, and then we will give the Scriptural language.
They tell us that the church is Ill'ing selpcted from the world
in advancl', in ori!er that thi'l little flock, thoroughly trained
in the school of e'Xperience, thoroughly polished and in full con-
formity to the Head, Chri'lt Je'lllS, i'l, with their Heai! and
Lord, to con'ltitute the Royal Prie'lthood, whose work will
only begin after its election has hepn rompleted and it has
been receivl'd into glory; ani! that it'l work will be the judging
of the world of mankind, not in the sense of pronouncing con-
demnation upon them, but in the 'lense of granting to each
member of tIle non-elect a trial (judgment) for eternnl life.
That trial of the non-elect is guarnntpei!, based upon the grcat
ransom-'lacrifice wherewith all mankind \\-ere purrhased from
the denth-'lentence that came upon all throu!!h Adam And that
thi'l trhl-time, or day of the world's judgment, will be the
Milll'nnial day (a thousand years long), in the whil'h full
opportunity shall come to all, full knowledge of the Lori! shall
fill the whole earth, as the waters covpr the great deep, aTIlI a
full hlps'ling of eternal life mnv he attained by whoever wills
and obeys, of those then on triaI; and thnt the remainder (the
unwilling and disobedient) will be destroyed in the second
death.
Among the many Scriptures supporting this presl'ntation
we cite two which are very pointed and should be fully satis-
factory if there were no other'l, "God hath appointed a day
in the which he will judge the world [future] in rightl'ous-
ness, by that man whom he hath ordained"-the Christ, Head
and body.-Acts 17: 31.
"Know ye not that the saints shall judge the world?"
-I Cor, 6:2.
THE ULTIMATE END OF THE COMMANDMENT IS LOVE FROM A PURE
HEART AND A GOOD CONSCIENCE
"Now the end [ultimate objeat] of the commandment is low; from a pure heart and a good conscience, and an UndlSSf'mbled faith
--which some, having tailed [to discern] turned aside to foolish talking."-l Tim. I :5.
Not only in the Apostle's day did many fail to get the true
Idea of religion-the Lord's commandments to his people, etc.
-but many, probably an increasing number, have since simi-
larly failed. We may suppose that the method of the great
is to confu'le the minds of those who are fpelmg
aftpr God and righteousness. It is thus, as the Scriptures
declnre, that he deceives the whole world-putting forms, cer-
pmonips, theories and confessions in'ltead of heart religion.
Those who teach the monstrous false doctrine that the pres-
ent life decides the fate of every human being, either for eter-
nal misery or for eternal jov, consider this doctrine the very
bulwark of pure Christianity and of holiness, consequently
many who really do not believe it tacitly give it their con-
and approval, believing that in so doing they are for-
warding the rause of holinp'l'l. But this i'l a great misbke:
this is one of the great adversary's delusions, by 'Vhich he
would make the piety of God's people serve his ':lause, (1) be-
t'aUlle this doctrine dims the divine glory a'l re'lpects love and
justire, and (2) because the doctrine, instead of cultivating
or promoting holiness cultivates and promotes the reverse of
this, as we shall show.
The theory that the present life i'l merely to decide who
are worthy of etRrnal joy. anll who :ll e worth v of ptprnal 1m-
ml'nts, resolves itself finally III the general thought as signi-
fying that all fiendish charactl'fs may perhaps be worthy of
some kind of ill-treatment to all eternity, provided they shall
not breathe a prayer of penitence at some time before they
expire; but that all half" a V de('cut pt'ople arf' too resppeta ble
or too good to justly mprit an eternity of torture, and hf'nce
must bl' of the kind who will receive an eternity of hliss.
Thu'l this hell-fire doctrine, instead of promoting holiness,
purity of heart, promotes the as rpspectB
anything except out and out. murder anll. gcneral devilishness.
On the contrary, the Scriptural i!oetrine makE'S no threat
of etprnal torment, and promlRes '1 full opportunity for every
human cre9ture to come to a knowledge of the truth, either in
[2733]
( 359-360) ZION'S WATCH TOWER ALLIlCHllNY. PAw
the present life or in the next life, and thus, under the terms of righteousness, then he is justi{ied,-justified freely from all
of the New Covenant, to avail themselves of the opportunity things, from which the law could not justify him-"justified
for eternal life through the great atonement sacrifice finished by faith through the blood of Christ"-hrought nigh to God,
at Calvary. This Scriptural doctrine is replete with the into relationship with him, and caused to know the joy and
highest incentives to holiness, purity of heart and of life; be- peace of hi'3 forgiving love.
came, instead of holdmg forth a general penalty of torture, When this is accomplished, when justification by faith has
it holds forth "a just recompense of reward," a reward of been established, when the sinner is reckoned and treated as
blessing or of stripes which will be proportionate to the indi- no longer a sinner, but as reconciled to the Father, then his
vidual effort'3 of each to come into harmonv with God and heart may be said to be pure, cleansed from "the sins that are
his holinrss. past, through the forbearance of God." But now arises a new
First we haYe the call of the Gospel church to become heirs question with the reformed one: while past sins are graciously
of God and jOint-heirs with Je'3us Christ, in the Millennial covered, weaknesses of the flesh are present, and temptations
kingdom, upon the condition of holiness of heart, and subse- of the adversary are on every hand. He starts to walk for
quently will corne the offer of restitution and everlasting life ward, but finds himself beset by the world, the flesh and the
in human perfection, to those of the world who similarly reo devil; what shall he do? A heart searching probably begins
turn to heart-harmony with the Lord. The Scriptures hold there: finding himself incapable of guiding himself, or of keep-
out no suggestion that eternal life will ever be given ing himself, his proper COurse is to anothl'r offer. of
to any creature on any plane of existence, except upon this con divine grace, namel:v, the sl'cond step lD our great
dition of full. romplete heart-harmonY with the Lord. Any' He hears the voice of the Lord, through the Apostle, saymg,
thing contrarv to, or even short of, this perfect harmony with "I beseech you. therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God
the Lord, \\ ill. from the Scriptural standpoint mean the second rmanifl''3tprl'in the covering of vour sins], that ye present your
death. Rere then in the divine offer we have the highest in- bodies living sacrifices, holy, acceptable to God, which is your
ducement to strive for our closest po'3sible attainment to per- reasonable service."
fection; and we are that such striving will ultimately, The reformed one, if rightly instructed. realizes his in-
according to divine favor, be rewarded with perfect conditions ability to stand in his own strength, realizes that his only
(in which absolute perfection will be possible) -in the resur hope of maintaining justification granwd to him lies in get
rection. ting the Lord to take charge of him. At first he may think
Manv thl're arl' who have vprY of what is to go into partnership with the Lord, and to say, "Some of
self and some of thee," some of m" own will and some of
signified by the expression 'pure in heart;" one class considers the Lord's will; but rightly instrurted hf' finds that. this will
this impossible of attainment in the present life; another not be satisfactory to thE' Lord; that thE' Lord WIll accept
class, no les'3 mi'3takenly, considers this to mean absolute per- him, and be('orne responsible for him, and guar.antee him
fection in every thought, word and deed: and in believing that ,!!Iorious victory and eternal reward, only upon thIS 0Il;e con-
they fulfil these conditions, and in teaching others similarly, dition, namely, a full self-surrender, a full consecratIOn of
they are making a graYe mistakf'. heart.
Answermg the last error first, we rE'mark that it is pos- It is after the sinner has comf' through all this process and
sible for one to deceive hlmsf'1f respecting his own heart and has made a full consecration of his heart to the Lord. that
his own condition, a'3 for apparently, the Pharisees he is of the class described in our text, one of the pure in
of our Lord's claiming that they were perfect, and that heart under the law of love. the law of the New Covenant.
they kept the whole law, they were merely deceiving them- But the purity of his heart, his motives, his
sebes, but not the Lord; by their self-deception, a form of intentions. his will, to fulfil the Lord's great commandment,
hypocrisy, which blinding them to their own need of the robe which is briefly comprehended in one word, love,-he will find
of Christ's left them in the filthy rags of their that he has a battle to wage, that the law of his members,
own righteousness, unfit for the kingdom. And so with some depraved through heredity in sin, is a strong law of selfish
today, who claim perfection of thought, word and deed. They ness, in opposition to the new law, to which he has pledged
have blinded themselves to their own weaknesses, imperfec- himself, the law of his pure heart or new heart or will,-the
tions and errors, and are in a far worse condition than he law of love.
who, tho outwardly le'3s moral, is at hpart better in the Lord's Hence, as the Apostle suggests in our text, we must learn
sight, because honest in confessing his unworthiness, because that the ultimate end or object of the divine commandment
for such the Lord has provided forgiveness of sins,--covering or law, means LOVE,-even tho we do not find ourselves thor-
with the robe of Christ's righteousness. oughly able to live up to every minute particular and require-
Nevertheles'3, those who think that purity of heart is an ment of that law. Yet our inability to live up to the require-
impossibility in the present life are likewise mistaken. Their ments of that law must be through no lack of the will, or in
mistake arises from not seeing a wide distinction between a tentions of the loyal and pure heart toward the law, and to-
purity of heart and a perfection or righteousness of all the ward the Lord whose law it is: whatever failure we make,
worels and deeds of life. The heart, a'3 used in this text, refers however short we may come of the grand ultimate object before
to the minel, the will, the actuating intentions or motives of the us, it must be solely because of weaknesses of the flesh,
man. With this thought beforf' the mind, it i'3 easy to see that besetments of the adversary which our pure hearts, or WIlls
one might he pure of heart. that is of pure intentions, and yet failed to resist.
confE'ss himself unahIe to do and to be all that hi'3 good in- And here the Lord's promises are helpful, assuring us that
tentions desire and endeavor. He heart is pure toward he knows our weaknesses and frailties, and the wiles of our
the Lord in is thl' same one whose eve is single, the great adversary, the devil, and the influence of the spirit of
tlame onp who i'3 not double-minded but single-minded, whose the world, which is contrary to the spirit of love: he tells UB
mind. \\ ill, hE'art. first, last and always the will of God. that we may go freely to the throne of the heavenly grace,
Renre e,hortation of the Apostle, "Purify your hearts, ye and obtain mercy in r"spect to our failures to live up to the
double-mmded."---.Jas. 4: 8. grand standards '\\ hich our hearts acknowledge. and seek to
conform to; and that we may also find grace to help us in
But how can this condition of purity of heart be attained? every time of need. And, availing ourselves of these mercies
Js this to be our to sinners-"purify your hearts"! and privileges provided through our great High Priest, we are
No the Gospel does not call sinners to purify their hearts: l'nabled to fight a good fight against sin. to repulse its at-
on the rontrar\' it it to hp an thing for the tacks upon our hearts and to drive it off if it shall sueceed in
sinner to purify his hf'art; a fuller's soap, which the sinnl'r invading our flesh. Thus, and thus only, may the Christian
doE''3 not is nf'pded to cleanse the heart and bring it keep himself pure in heart, preserving his stand as one of the
into that attih!de of relationship with God and his will which fighters of the good fight, one of the overcomers of the world
,,:ill bc pure and arreptnblf' in his sight. On the contrary, and its spirit.
smnf'r'3 :1 re called to rl'pentance-called upon to confess that There will be a tendeney on the part of the flesh, and the
not only their outward lives are imperfect, short of the glory mind of the flesh, to deceive us in respect to this command
of God, bnt that thf'ir hl'arts also are rebellious, impure and ment of love. The mind of the flesh will seek to go into part.
in sympathy with impurity. After the sinner is repentant for nership with the new mind, and will be very ready to recog
sin, desirmg to corne into harmony with the Lord and his nize love as the rule and law of life, under certain conditioons.
righteousness, he is pointl'd to the great atonement for sin, and The mind of the flesh would recognize love in words, in pro
is drawn to the great Redeemer. through a desire to be made fe<;sion, in manners-a form of godliness, without its power.
free from sin and to come into harmony with God. When this Gentle manners, such as love would demand, may be exercised
step has been taken-when thl' sinner having repented of his by a selfish heart deceiving itself, and seeking'to deceive oth-
<;ins, and having made restitution so far as possible, accepts ers; on the lip may be the smile, the word of praise, of kind
Christ and the pardon he offers, and seeks to walk in the way ness, of gentleness, while in the heart may be feelings of selfish-
[2734]
DItCEMBER 1. 1900
ZION'S WATCH TOWER
(360-361)
ness, of grudge, of bitterness, of animosity, ,,!hich, under fa-
vorable conditions, may manifest themselves III more or less
carefully worded slander, or backbiting, or reproaches. Or
these, continuing in the heart and rankling, may, fa-
vorable conditions, bring forth anger, hatred, malice, strIfe and
other wicked works of the flesh and of the devil, wholly con-
trary to the proper course of a pure heart, and an utter vari-
a.nce with the commandment of the law of the New Covenant
-love.
We are, therefore, to have clearly before our minds thl'
fact that the ultimate object of all the divine dealings fl?r .us
and with us, and the ultimate significance of all the dIvme
promises made to us, is the development love, which is
likeness for God is love. And to have thIS love developed 1D
us, in the sense and to the degree intended by the Lord, it is
necessary that it shall come from a pure heart, in full
with the Lord, and his law of love, and wholly antagomstlc
to the adversary and his law of selfishness. To have this kind
of love in its proper development requires also a con-
science: for be it remembered that there are bad conSCIences,
-our consciences require regulating, as do all the other fea-
tures of our fallen nature. If our consciences are to be reg-
ulated we must have some standard by which to set and regu-
late them. The conscience is like a watch whose dial is prop-
erly marked with the hours, but whose correctness as a time-
keeper depends upon the proper regulating of its lnainspring,
so that it may point out the hours truthfully: so our con-
sciences are ready to indicate right and wrong to us, but they
can only be relied upon to tell us truly what is right and
what is after being regulated in connection with the new
mainspring, the new heart, the pure will, brought into full
harmony with the law of love, as presented to us in the Word
of God.
Our text also points out tlle necessity for an undissembled
faith. And here, we believe, is one of the important difficul-
besetting many who are in the nominal churches: they
are not honest; they are not conscientious in respect to their
faith. If they believe differently from the denomination they
have been connected with, they are willing to dissemble their
faith, to misrepresent it, because they fear a disturbance in
the church; they fear to be thought they iear to lose
the esteem of fellow-Christians (' wheat") who might un-
derstand them. and of fellow-associates ("tares") who would
be sure to misunderstand them, and speak evil of them. The:}-'
lovf' the praise of men more than they love the praise of God,
else they would not risk the disfavor of God through a vio-
lation of conscience, and a dissembling of their faith, in order
to maintain the friendship of the world and of the nominal
church.
We urge that all our readers consider carefully, studiously,
the words of our text, remembering it is those who miss this
true thought who are not only missing the opportunity of
the present time to be overcomers of the world. and the op-
portunity of the future, to be "joint-heirs with Christ" in his
kingdom, but who, additionally, are lending influence now in
the wrong direction, and are likely to be turned aside to fool-
ish talking, preaching and teaching and discussing matters
which are illogical, irrational, nonsensical; because their
hearts have become darkened through neglect of the principles
which the Lord has set forth for the government of those who
are new creatures in Christ Jesus. And sometimes the mat-
ter goes beyond foolish talking, and the heart becomes em-
bittered and corrupted: love is cast out of the heart. and
selfishness takes its place, and from it flows words of bitter-
ness, anger and evil, instead of words of love, kin(lness, gen-
tleness, mercy and goodness.
"Keep thr, heart with all diligence, for out of it are the
issues of life '-life or death. "Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God."
CLAIMING, RECEIVING AND ADMINISTERING A KINGDOM
LUKE 19:11-27.-DEC. 23.
"Everyone of us shall give account of himself to God."-Rom. 14: 12.
Naturally enough the fact that Jesus was on his way to sition. Thus we see that those who heard this parable were
Jerusalem, the city of the great King, and that he had defl- much more likely to be appreciative of its significance than
nitely acknowledged himself as the Messiah, and that he was the majority of the people of today would be, because cus-
exercising a great influence amongst the people, and that toms of the present time are so different
under this influence the rich Zacchreus had been soundly con- It was understood by those who heard the parable that the
verted, led the disciples to believe that when they reached Lord referred to himself as the nobleman, that heaven was
Jesmalem, then only fifteen or twenty miles distant, they the far country, that Jehovah himself was the great King,
would immediately see tangible evidences of the establish- whose commission was essential to the establishment of the
ment of God's kindgom-that they would see Jesus assume Messianic kingdom, and that Jesus' disciples were the serv-
regal robes, power and authority, and that they themselves ants to be entrusted with the "Pounds," and that those who
would be associated with him in the throne of power, and would not have him rule over them were more or less in love
that speedily Israel would arise from the dust to be the dom- and in league with the darkness of sin. Everyone who op-
inant nation of the world. and through its laws, at the mouth poses righteousneRs, or who loveo; and selYes unrighteousness,
of Messiah, supported by his divine powers, would bring is thereby declaring his oppOSItion to the reign of righteous-
blessing to every nation, people, kindred and tongue. ness, which the Lord proposes to establish in the earth in due
It was in view of this erroneous expectation that our time,-when his kingdom shall come and his wiII shaB be
Lord gave the parable of this legson-to point out to the done on earth as it is done in heaven.
disciples, and vaguely to others, that kingdom glories were There is in this lesson a severe rehuke (which ala'll is
yet a considerable distance in the future, and that before not often recognized) to those who claim that the kingdom
they could be expected he must leave them and go to the of God was set up at Pentecost. They must see, unless they
central seat of government and deceive his commission from with more or less wilfulness close the eye" of their under-
Jehovah. the Father, and return; and that meantime he standing, that this parable is against their theory, and teaches
would give to some of his servants a work to do in his name that the kingdom is not to be expected to be set up until
which would prove their loyalty, their love, by their faith- the return of Messiah at his second advent. It is also are-
fulness. buke to those who claim that in some manner, incomprehen-
The figure used as the hasis of the parable was one with sible to themselves or anybody else, the second advent took
which the people of Jericho were quite familiar. They had place 1800 years ago, at the time of hrael's overthrow, about
in their city the palace of Herod, and knew that when his A. D. 70. They must see, unless with a certain amount of
father, Herod the Great, died, Herod Archelaus, then king, wilfulness they close their eyes of understanding against it,
set out on a mission to Rome, to the court of the Cresars, that nothing at aB corresponding to a second advent of Christ
the rulers of the world ;-the object of the mission being to took place at that time--nothing corresponding to the setting
obtain Cresar's authority an investiture of government as up of his kingdom occurred there; nothing corresponding to
the king of Judea instead of his deceased father. They knew the calling of those of his servants and reckoning with them
that Herod returned, fuBy equipped with authority, and was and rewarding them with places in the kingdom took place
in consequence the ruler. They knew also that when he there; nothing corresponding to the calling of his enemies
went to Rome a deputation of citizens of Judea was sent who would not have him rule over them, and the punishment
after him to make complaint against him, and to urge that of them, took place there--in A. D. 70.
he be not appointed ;-and to inform Cresar that the gov- Indeed, the parable is opposed to every theory respecting
ernment of the Herods was no longer desired by the people the kingdom except for right theory. and it is in full accord
of Judea. Josephus says that this deputation of opponents with it; because the right theory is not a human wish or
who went to Rome numbered 500. The people probably also whim or conjecture to help substantiate some human pro-
remembered that when Herod Archelaus returned with kingly gram of events, but is the sum and substance of all the teach-
power he first of all rewarded his faithful retainers with ings of the divine Word brought into harmonious unison and
various offices throughout the kingdom, and subsequently interpreted thus. Scripture throwing light upon Scripture.
dealt harshly with those who had lnanifested their oppo- by the holy spirit.
[2735]
(36: 363) ZION'S WATCH TOWER
Those who heard the parable might have conjectured that
it required months, or possibly years for its fulfilment; but
probably none of them expected that it would require more
than eighteen centuries-because, as natural men, they would
lx' dIsposed to look at matters from the natural standpoint,
from the standpoint of seventy to a hundred years as being
thc limit of human life. Xor difl the pvpn know how
to vipw from the divine standpoint until after they
had rcpeived till' holy spirit. Under its enlightenment, how-
"WI'. thp tpllq m plainly that "A day with the Lord
tq as a Pet. 3; 8
As the I{P\ ise,1 Version points out, the ten servants to
whf'm thp pound", wpre ginn were only a part of all the no-
th('y would spem to represent the eon8C-
('rated l'1:u<, who Innc full dp\otion to the Lord, and
to pal h of \\hom gl\!'n a sppCIaI gift or blessing, not given
tD of thp of tIl!' of faith. This
I gift or to he rdcrred to by the
\\ hpll he qys, ".\ III 1'<1 of the is given to every
m,lll 111l thp tllIl'. l'llI-I',r.lI<'<! pllllrphl to profit withal." (I
Cor 12 i) It 1- tilt' gIft to all, the spirIt amongst
,til, \\Orklll!! in a1l of and the duty of each one is
to gift of the Lonl for itq innea"e; and thp more
Ill'" rlp\otlon and thc mUle hIS faithfulness the larger may
IJl' the rl"IlIt-.
\\ (' ,)Ip to Il'dlll' a (Iilrprp]lf'p between this paralJle of the
"P"'lllc!-" a Ill] a h'lt 'ImiJar one of the Th,!
[.11tI'r rppn'-l'lll,',j til( naitnal abihtipq of the indiviulIal-
"to p\pry JlLll1 H('('(Irdln,:! to h: ... ::;p\pral
II' (' t or 0l'portllnitip"" But this par-
ahl,' Pi (hI' 1")<111 thp indl\'idllal 01 the
and tl"'1ll l':l<'h re(;plvlng the same thin;..:
,Ind fill' thr plll l'Ih-lbh- tIll' rlifferenl'es of OppOl"-
.11l' to b( aq implipd, bee,lUst> the Lonl
IlpaJ1y :II'PI(\\">11 of till' (,I',' \\ho g-aim'n fOUl
a' JI{' dl,l tI,, I'llp \\ ho !!allH"! nine, Both dill well,
hoth Wf'r(' g<HHl lJOth \\l'rp I:utl.fnl. Thp one with g-reater
ill mdlT (0 1,,' "IllI,t1h i.titllfnl with the onp of few!'r
"lltw
l
" (/7'/,; Ii- and <.,honlrl "how largpr
and th(' rpw:lll'- I:)\('n \\ 11111<1 ",p,'m to imply the same thing-
thut !!rpat"1 in Ihe ples,'nt timp "work out a far
lIlor". ,11,,1 "t,'rll,tI wl'ight of glory." And this em-
till' of a prp\'iolls Ip'"11. ",howing th'lt
tlIO-(' who aI(' 1/1" 1/1 LIlt-nt" 0J!p"JtllIllti(-S all,l pri\ill'g'p,<. It
f'1)lhflll :ll,hip\(' a Jan.!pr \i,trll.V and a still grandpr rpward
than who aI',' poon'r ami who theretorp sacrifice leRs,
th,) tllp ':)(,l'Iti(in).: 1", donI' III Iloth with the same spirit,
wlJiph in !loth tlIOTOll!.!hh- ac('('ptable to God, pronounced
wpll 11011('. allll th" f;('1 vant faitllful and !!oo,!.
TIll' \\hn I,ill talpnt awl returnpfl it, and
of ,til ppp"rtllnitv to in tile kingur,m shown,
\\,nllll! <"l'pnl to p'I,n,,,pJlt a not nlE'It,ly jll"tified bnt
t<d fully to tll" Lora, al1d madp the recipient"
1,[ /111' holy ('\<'1' 1111' othpr ml'lTI!Jpr<; of the body. He
I''; ":lll('d n '"1I'1,1,-,',!" ant; nqt, !Jeean"e he had committed
mllnlpr or lohl,,'ry pf :,lIy kiIHl. 11111. hp('au<,e. having- a""umed
,In ol,]!!!ntiou h\ \\ IIll'h hp PJltJ u<.,t('(1 With ('prtain of the
']lot :.!;\('II to otllt'rs, III' faile(l of covenant
,lIId ohii'!atilln. ,I -pf\'ant ('0111.1 not IJe trustr-rl, and
pro!,,'; I\' r",,-idprt.1 unfit f(lr any "Ilare in the kingdom;
a]lc! tIll' "Iii, 11 hall hp('n enh to him were
!!i\'('n to till' 0111' ',\ Lo h'HI aJrpad\, hnt faithfuI-
h HI 1,1,pJl 0 'll,und:l1,th att..,,/pd II,\' ;/paJ. So t'l every-
'lll" \dlll !'](''''lIt nn,1 opportJmitie" wPlI, zra!-
fnrfllt'l lil,''-llIg-. pl'h :lIHI opp"rtunitlps "hnl!
!J(' '!J,lltlr,l. "lid :r,.rtl tho,\) ".. hn ,10 not so u.;e them tIll'\'
will ]" t I""JI :11\,',\'
'I" 0111 nnd,'r-tawII'I!! \\1' ,11'(' II"\\' lidng ill th(' very time
(('1')"'(>1111'<1 Lv iill' fp:tlm,' of th.. time whE'n
UHr "'Id. 1'l\(>,!r'.1 \'iti, 11:" allthn]jty of the FathE'r, is about
to t,d,,, /0 ](IJlh,,11 11," g'1'l'.I1 1,0\\'('1' and rl'i!!n; llhd whpn, pre-
p:llatory tll that. !<'I:!T!, III' I't"'kunlllg with his "prV::lIlts now
11\ Ill". \"" I, a \ l' '\ /0 th"lr al'pllintlIll'nt to p!3.ceq in the
kll1,!,l olJI hI' 1- "!Jout to in',u!!llrat". It from this stand-
pOInt 1lI,It \\1' IJI{Plprl'f 111<, alHI "ifting" JlOW in
amoll!!-t tl." "OJI"'lrutpd (I11(''l in and out of all the
of (hn,t('I"l<orll. "Th, L(Ird your God proveth you,
wl,,'I]"'r yr' do l,,\r' thp Lord \0111' God or 110." l'1'l'seld tJUPl
aJld a,,, anrl showing to what e,,-
t.'nt the,._p who h'l\l' I ,,,.(,j\ p,l tIle 1,f/l'(1', f-lvor arp f:,ithful
TIll" not imply that of thiR cJaRq who have died
tTl the pa,t of agl' an' ignorl'd; on the pOllb ;lrv thr
tun'q that they woul<1 be dealt with first, and that
thr>"" a(,('ollnt,,<! worthy IH\VP a sharp in the first resUl'l'P..tion
preceding those who are alIve and remain at the present time.
But the living ones pass through an experience of testing
(the ending of their trial) before they die j they must give
an account; judgment mU'lt pass respeetin,!{ them; they must
either be gathered, as "wheat" into the barn or be left in
the field where the "tares" are shortly to be burned. For-
tunately for us, the reckoning is not one of an instant., but
time is grantpd to to make up our ape01l1lt
blessed is he who, finding that he has not been faithful
he might have been in the past, is now putting forth 1'1'-
dou!lled energies-"redeeming' the time" (grasping opportun-
5: Hi), in order to make as favorable an account
as while our King i'l waiting to receive them and
willing to show us all the favor that could be desircr1.
Tpn servants were chosen as a general number to repre-
all of thp eonqeerated. but only three of t.hese arp men
tioned as illustrations of anrI unfaithfulnesF-
the Lord even intil11ating how many of the who1<
number of will prove fa ithful to t.heir conqecra-
tion and enter into the JOYs of the Lord-into thp kingdom
and to share with him in the throne; and how many of them
will fail to bp acrountPfI worth v of theqe 11Onor8 and hlesR-
ings; and how many of the latter may bp counter! w!'rthy of
thp ueath; and how many of thpill will comp, through
in tribulation, to 'be hOllorpr! in tIll
kinl!dom.-Rpv. 7;!)- 15,
The enemil's of the King are all to bp aftpr Ill' tak",
to lJimsplf IIi" p-rl'at powpr and herrins reign; "Thp last
encmy t hat shall bp dl'stroypd is dpa th." would
geqt that thif; will hp with thl' of the it.
an,l iIrplv a univl'rsal salYation; hut to Our
an interpretation would he utterl." at variance with thl
Fpirit of the parabll'. and IlL'nce sophi"ticaJ, anll unworthy ot
any onp ,'himing pither honpsty or ahilitv as a te,Il11pl' in
I.;ral'J. Thpre om:-ht to hp a ]lPtwPP]l
tIll' figure of the parnhll' and the rpalitv, a' it Will be ful-
fiJl(d. To our tllr of tIl(' pnpmil'-
rpprpsents f'!E'arly anr! the pUlli,hmcnt which the
Lord for the p!lpmie'l of ri!!ht.'OlhIH'''', 11:. thl
second death. However, this bv no mpall", that ali
the people (rtF-ide from the sp'ecialIy an
It not "0 in the parabll', whilh rathrr
four classes: (1) The king's f;pl'eiaJly
granted tlle pounds for me in servi('e; (:3) tlIP ('itizl'n'>
(4) the of the latter opposed to the king, his laws, l'te
After the kingdom has been estahliqlll'd under thp King
and his tllen exalted servants, we may be sure th'lt aJl ill
harmony with him will hwe cau"e to rejoi('e in his favor and
the of the kingdom; and if somp of the eitizl'nf; had
misunderstood thp King'f; chara"ter. having hl'an! IIIIlI tJ a
du,'er! and they will f;oon perceive, under thf'
h1essed conditionq of the l\II1lennial day, how groqsIy the
"Prince of this """orld" had the character 01
tIl(' Prince of Peace, telling' them that he (thl' lattpr) had
a place of eternal torment preparpd for them, into whirh hE'
would surely cast nine-tenths of thpir numher, etc.. etc. \VheTl
these begin to have the pyeq of their 0p2ned
so that "the lIght of the knowlpnge of the of God:
"hining in the fape of tl1P new King, will hring them enlight
enment and joyful hitherto uIlllreamed of, many of
thrrn. instE'ad of lon'!er hdng and
ha ting the King and hating hiq rule, will hecome stuund
frienrh and and will rejoice greatly that thp)'
arl' frel'<! from tl1P yoke of thp former prin('p, Rltan_ and
will rejoice in his binding, whidl possihle their libera-
tion from the bondage of ignorance, superstition, fear and
calumny.
It will rel]uirE' all of the years to demonstrate
who are thp friends of truth and and who their
rncmies. The "enemies" of are enpmies of
God and of Christ, and of all who are in harmony with
I and this separation from the King's
f;"riptnral1y representt'd as the spparating of the "goats"
from thp "sht'ep," which will progress throughout that Mil
knnial period, and eventuatE' in the gathering of all the
""hepp" to the right-hand of the King's favor, and the gath-
erin!" of all thp "goats," of contrary di"positions. to the left-
Iwnn of his disfavor,-where, be('lluse of their wilful ann in-
telligent rejertion of tlle principles of righteouf;ness (thE'
hws of hiq kingdom), they will be ('ounted not hiR
or mpSSE'ngprR, but the servantR or of Satan, and
a f;lIph tIlPY will mE'et their in the symbolical
Iak(' of fire, "which the se('ond death."-Rev. 20:14; Matt
:11--111. *
-. Seeo"ur issue of March 15 and April I, 1900, page 101.
[2736]
"THOU CROWNEST THE YEAR WITH THY GOODNESS"
PSALM 65: H.-DEC. 30.
What more appropriate lesson could have been chosen for
the close of the year! It is fitting that the Lorel's people
should continually keep trace of the mercies and blessings
they enjoy-othprwise the pressure of the cares of this life
and the deceitfulness of riches would so crowd in upon our
minels and hearts to f'ovpr from our and ulti-
mately choke up completely the springs of divine grace,
wlw'h, kppt 0Tlf'n, ministf'r f'ontinually to our JOY and re-
freshment in the holy Spirit.
To end it is appropriate that we have a dally review
of the bll'sRings we enjoy-that every evening we call to
miwl the enjoyed, the providenf'es which have
guiderl our way, and the blessings, both temporal and spirit-
ual, whi(,h have ('amI' to us; some of them in common with
the world in general and others of a Rpecial kind, known to
and appreciated by tllORe only who know the Sl,ephprd and
arl' known of him;- who hear hiR voil'e and to whom the
rod amI staff, f'hastenings and guidance, are continually
,I comfort and a joy.
H appropriate, too, that we take weekly reviews, look
JIlg nt thi' .,amc ml'rf'ies anrl from a still broader
of reminding of the rest into which
we haw' I'ntered through faith in the precious blood. and
of thp rest that for the ppople of Gud, whereof
(jorl hl!'. gi\en in th'"lt on the firRt day of the
week he up Jesus from the dead.-Heb. 4: 3, 9.
it with special that at the close
of thp still largl'r cvclp at a "e'1r WP "houl<l t'tke a hroar1f'r
/In,l morp of our experienf'es, looking cir-
at the way we h'lve traveled and considering well
whi('h h In' been the stl'PS which hindered progres'l, and whi('h
ha\!' I)('cn proper in the footprints of Je'lUR,
nl'lfl'r to the goal-the "mark" whif'h we mURt surely at-
ta in i: \,,1' wodd he accounted worthy of a share in the prom-
ised kin!!,lom.
A Vl'ar may ;.,cl'm a lon!!er or a shorter period. according
to thl' 'I)'(um"tnn('e'l. To the minel of chilrlhooel it iR a "pry
Ion!! p"rio<! while to morl' <!p\'eloppd min(ls. filled with the
of life. it mll"h all too rap-
idl.v to pprmit thl' of all thp things deRired
to hI' l1l'hiend, Then again, the year will fleem proportion-
at('ly lon'[ aR it ha" contained draughtR of bitter experience
or mental or I ;-proportionately short, as
it h'1" f'ontninNl JOYS and pleasureR whidl seem to slip away
all too efllil'klv. To a certnin extpnt 1'uf'h are
('ommon to all mankind: yet tlH' ChriRtian. pspeC'ially if he
ha \'f' h"('n for time in the of Christ and is Rome-
what (11'\ plopl'l! hoth in knowledge anel in grace, IHs fl larger
C'aVI"itv th'lII othC'rs for amI appreehting life: be-
('nll"p no matter how natural mind may have
hepn hp now ,tlJ(' mind of C'hriRt," "the spirit of a sounel
mimI." whi,'h far hptter able th'ln the natural mind to es
timatp :1t their trup worth.
fill< h nn ndvanped Christian back through the year
and lifp'R well as its Rtmohine, itg sorrows
as wPll its joys, is tears as well a'3 its smiles, and sorrows
not a" otllcr1' \\ho have no hope (but who. instl'ad. h'1"e more
or of \'ague fl'ar and dre>ld of the future, both of prespnt
life Hnd th1t whif'h to f'ome). His trollhll'fl have heen di-
of thpir hobgohlin and minimized hy the
of it !"01J11,1 n.in<!, anel the of God's \\'orrl, whif'h
,I all 1'uph tlJat the diffif'ultieq anel advprqitips of
lifp l'I!!htlv af'pepted aR are in disgnisp,-
whi,,], will work out "a far more expep(ling and an eternal
wpi!!ht of glory" in the life to pome.-2 Cor. 4:16, 17.
Hp will perpeive too. that joys ha\'f' been of a purer
ilJJ(1 H more kind than anv hI' ever knew hpfore he was
be!!otU'n of thp holy Spirit. Thcy have not had f'ommingled
WIth them the Illttl'rness of envy, malice amI hatred hut have
bepn unallove,l; hef'ause thpv' have not heen in
iniquity. hnt reioif'in[!s in thp truth, Moreover, they h:1ve
been muC'h more numerous than ever bl'fore: 1lf'cauRP hr not
only is nble to joy in the Lord, ioy in his Worel, joy ill th..
holv spirit. iov in fpllo\\'Rhip with hrdhrrn of likp pr"""l1h
faith, but by the grace of God he haR bren en'1hll'd addItion
ally to joy in tribulation also ;-not because he loved trihu-
lation, hut he loved the patirnee, the experience, the
charapter, whif'h God aSRures tN are a fruitage which all trib
ulat,ons ml1
0
t yield liS undpr his providence. if we are rightl"
exerC'ised thrreby.-James 1:3, 4; Rom. 5 :3.
Of whom are all thingR true Not of every man,
surely for a we know many who have no sUf'h experi-
ence-the world that lieth in darkness knows not Goel. Nor
are experiences trlle of all people of intelligencp -nom-
inally Christians, Surely but f'omparatively few of those
who protess the name of Christ enjoy these preciou'l experi-
ences, or will be able to look back upon the year with satis-
faction of this kind, realizing that God has crowned the year
with his goodness! Many who cannot rejoice in the good-
ness which we have enumerated foregoing, will nevertheless
return thanks for temporal good things and mercies, and
strive to peer into the darkness with whi('h an in"uffieient
knowlrdge and nn insufficient faith enshrouds the trial" and
of life, which to them are and
sourees of no joy, and generally of little advantage; because
they have not taken the necessary "tep of full consecration to
the Lord. to bring them under his protel-ting care and under
the enlightening infiuenee of his WOld through IllS spirit: or,
hadng taken the step of consel'ration, thpy have not heen per
forming their VOWS, but seeking to serve hoth (jod and Mam
mon, without either, and without receivmg satisfac-
tory blesHing from either.
The claRs which can and does look baek through the year
from the standpoint that we havr dN;erilwl:-the which
looking baek ('an see that ha" crowncd every
featurr of life throughout the year. i" the "Iittll' fto('k." the
true Church, whose names lire written in heaven,-the body
of Chri;.,t the hnde Thcy are dp"lf'1 il1l'rl IJv thp Prophet
in preceding verses of this Psalm. Thev arc the true Zion,
which sh'111 "hortlv be up, fillcrl with di\-ine glOly. the joy
I)f the whole earth, and the divine chnnnPl of hle""ling to all
the famJlips of mankind; "For out of Zion shall go the Law,
and the word of the Lord from ,1eru"aJem."-TT,'ar the
Prophet:-
waiteth for thee, () God, in ZIOn:
And nnto thee .,11 a 11 the vow hI' performrd.
o tllOlI that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh
C'ome!
Iniqui ties prevail me: aR for my tran"grl's-
thon purgl' thf'm away.
Blessed the man whom thou chooseRt, and causcflt to
approach unto thee.
That lIe may dwrll in thy POlll'tS.
'We shall he with tIl(' goodnes,> of thy l101IS(',
The holy place of thy temple."
Here we IJ'lYe a description of thE' rlrpt plmrdl, of which
Christ the Head, and all thp faithfnl royal who,
now fnlfillin'! thpir of Rnerifif'P. lIrf' in the
sufferingR of as hv an,l hv thl'Y Rhall be hi" compan
ion" aloo in the glory that Rhnll be revpalpd. (Rom. il:17.
lil) Thpy are choiel'. or hl"l "pIpet." for, th(' Apos-
tle informs God h'1R predcRtinated that whom he
will f'llOO
O
P all be of (Rom. il'2f1) They
sh'111 dwl'11 in will hn of thf' !!reat
templp whiph the Lord God i"l hnildin![ of Rtones,
in and thrOlJO'h wIJieh he will thl' world with a knowl
erlgl' of himself and grap('.-l Pl't 2 48.
Is it any Ivone!er that th('se pan reioi('1' in spirit. Raving,
thl' Lord, 0 my soul. and forgrt not all
"He hath put a nrw song into m,'- mouth. I'VPII the Jm ing-
of onr GO(I." it any wondl'r thr"e looking
bapk f'an in the year that is thnt whi('h h""
and rpjoif'ed them in pvery of thc wor,l h,l" hppn of di
vinl' /!oorllll'''lR, anel that Go.l h'1R Plownpd the wholl' veal'
with hvor towflrel thrm? Thl';p r',11I S'1y with faithful
"1'01, one thing hflth faill'rl of all thp good thillgR
whi,.h thl' Lord your God 1'pakr '-.To;lnl'l
TheRr arc bv thpir Lord thnt in the
llOu-e mnnv many
to the 1T':Inv kinds of intl'lligl'nt
erthrlpRR thrrr was 110 for tlwm thf'v were
to he a npw n'1tnre, of tIl/' dh-inl' natnrl'." and
hell('e it woulrl ill' nl'pl'RSary for him to [!o aW8V an,; "pre-
prrrl' 0 plorp for thrm"-a hpavpnlv pondition Thf'-".
tklt thl'V hI' prepared for thp pla,.f'. :IR wl'll a., tl1l' plaf'('
hf' prf'j,nrcd for thl'm. arr I'!lilhll'd to rl'joil'l' 1111,11'1' r"l'lv hlow
of tIJr' h''Yl"'lIwr of diRf'iplinr. hef';.n"r tlII'Y l"/'a117(, th'lt it a
pnrt of tlll' ::Vfa-tl'r'R work ill tlwir p1'l'pamtion to fill the
phl'p tn ,,'hidl thry havl' hrf'n "nIlI'd in thr F:11hl'r'''l 11OUR('--
whipll "'ill he the phpe of Goil'" templr, in whiph they arl'
to llf' livin[! stoneR.-Eph. 2: 10.
Anel if thp and ol'ntimpnt" of "little flock"
:Irp hevond the ken of thp ll:Itl1rnl man, hiR nrighbors and
is it any womlel'? and rf'il'ded of men
thpv are GOd'R rOV'11 "as
amI vpt tr11e; as unknown and vet wl'll known: dying,
anel hehold they live"-a life more abundant. In nll the'3e
thing'S thry have callRe to rejoiC'e, realizing that tlte path
r2737]
(365-366)
ZION'S WATCH TOWER ALLIlGHIlNY, PA.
in which they tread has in it the footprints of him who re-
deemed them and became the leader and forerunner of this
priesthood. The world knows us not, even as it knew him
not.
As we thus review the leadings of divine providence dur-
ing the year that is past, let God's goodness and mercy stim-
ulate our faith and confidence in him as respects the New
Year coming in. A proper retrospect on the part of a proper
child of God will enable him not only to render thanks for
the past, but to look up an lift up his head, realizing that
our deliverance is nearer than when we first believed; and
that he that began a good work in us is both able and willing
to complete it, if we will but continue to submit our wills, our
lives, our all, to his wisdom and loving care.-Rom. 13: 11 ;
Phil. 1:6; 1 Pet. 5:5, 6.
"NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST THEE SHALL PROSPER"
ISAIAH 54: 17.
A. S. WORRELL.
ATLANTA, GA., Aug. 14, 1899.
Our publications have many able enemies, yet one and
.111 they are powerless in their opposition. As in the harvest
of the Jewish age the SCrIbes, Pharisees and Doctors of the
Law, when they could not resist the truths then due,
"gnashed upon him with their teeth," but "could not answer
him," so it is now in the harvest of the Gospel age. Their
rage is impotent except as it resorts to misrepresentation and
sophistical trickery which the Lord assures us cannot "de
celve the very elect."
About ten years ago a certain Professor Morehead (him-
self tabooed by many as a "heretic" because of his advocacy
of pre-millennarian views) wrote an article for the United
Presbyterian in which he did his worst to defame MILLEN
!'IAL DAWN. The article was reprinted as a tract in various
quarters by persons laboring under similar misconceptions of
divine and human justice. These are published by some
three or four parties-none of whom, probably, ever read
the books he seeks to defame.
We did not consider Prof. Morehead's tirade worthy an
amwer, believing as we still do, that honest people (of whom
alone we need expect to find the "saints" whom we seek)
would be qUIte able to discern the professor's sophistry. The
below correspondence will be interesting to our readers as
showing the correctness of our supposition that honest chil-
dren of God are not misled by the Adversary and his agents.
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN TWO MINISTERS RE :MILLEN-
NIAL DAWN AND THE MOREHEAD "SMOKE"
(Brother Seddon, as we understand it, was at the time Re-
Secretary of the Southern Chautauqua Assembly of
Atlanta, Ga., and Bro. Worrell a visiting speaker at its
Evangelical Alliance prayer service. The matter has been
held over for some time now in order to permit Bro. Worrell
to find time for a reply justifying his position, but all in
vain.)
ATLANTA, GA., Aug. 11, 1899.
DEAR BROTTIER RUSSELL:-You will probably be interested
in the enclo'3ed, whIch will explain itself. Kindly return to
me the lctter to Bro. Worrell re the Morehead tract. Keep
the latter, however, if you can use it in any way. [The
letters follow in their order.] Yours fraternally,
A. E. SEDDON.
ATLANTA, GA., Aug. 2, 1899.
REV. A. S. WORRF.LL,
DEAn EROTImR:-1 was in the Alliance prayer-meeting
this when, in the close of your address, you de
nounced a" unscriptural the teachings of C. T. Russell of
Allegheny City, Pa. I regret that the necessity of your hav
ing Immediately to catch a train deprived me of an oppor
tUlllty I greatly desired to ask you in what particulars in
your opinIOn the teachings of the MILLENNIAL DAWN series
of hooks are unscripturaI. I have read four volumes of that
sene-, and other writings of Bro. Russell's, and am not only
intcrcste<l but also impressed by his presentation of God's
\,"Ol'\. If there are some points in which he is at variance
with Gorl's ".on!. I should esteem it a great kindness and
an act of ("dreme hrotht'rly sen-ice to have them pointd out.
HoplDg you will kinrlly reply, I am,
Yours fraternall}, A. E. SEDDON.
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Aug. 12, 1899.
::\TR. .\. Eo Rr:noox,
DE.\R SIH:-10Ur'3 of the 2nd inst. has been received and
noted. in reply to ",JUP!I I enclose a tract touching on some of
the evils of the :r-JILLE.N:'\IAL DAWN. Much more could be
'laid, but my time is up in other work that falls to my
lot m my regular husmess.
It amazes me that anyone who really knows the Christ
of the Bible should have ever been ensnared by the writings
of Mr. RU'3sell. The Christ of Mr. Russell is altogether a
different character from the Christ of the Bible. See Isa.
g'G: .John 1'1,2, etc., etc.
I trust that his writings do not truly represent him.
May you, my dear sir, not be ruined by the errors of Mr.
Russell. Respectfully,
REV. A. S. WORRELL,
DEAR Sm:-On receiving today yours of the 12th inst.,
in reply to my request of an earlier date, that you should
specify charges that you make against the writings of Bro.
Chas. T. Russell (in justification of your denunciation of
those writings at the Evangelical Alliance prayer meeting),
I regret I cannot accept it as a satisfactory reply.
I cannot resist the impression either that you ranked my
intelligence very low in supposing I could accept such a re-
ply as having any weight at all, or that, giving me credit
for average intelligence, you trifled with my sincere and even
anxious inquiries by sending an answer which would not
have satisfied you, had our positions been reversed.
The only charge you made against the MILLENNIAL DAWN
doctrines in your address was that you had known cases
where Christian character had 'wilted' under their influence.
But you surely cannot use that as a proof that the doetrmef>
are unscriptural, since such 'wilting' is possible and frequent
ly happened under Apostolic teaching. See Heb. 6: 46 ;
10 :28-31; 1 John 5: 16. I wrote you in all sincerity asking
for a specification of charges. I understood from your own
statement that you were wholly given up to the Lord's work.
It was as a sincerely inquiring disciple who supposed it pos-
sible that you could clearly see some aspect of truth that had
escaped my notice that I felt such an inquiry was rightly
made of the Lord's servant, and that in the Lord's name I
had a right to expect a candid statement of specific charges.
What do you send me? A statement that your time is
taken up in other work that falls to your lot In the course
of your regular business; but you find time to express amaze-
ment that anyone who really knows the Christ of the Bible
should ever rave been ensnared by the writings of Mr. Rus-
sell. You make the assertion, "The Christ of Mr. Russell is
altogether a different character from the Christ of the Bible;"
but you do not specify one single item of the alleged differ
cnce. You express a hope that his writings do not truly rep-
resent him and that I may not be ruined by his errors, but
you do not pen one sentence calculated to avert that ruin,
nor do you suggest any explanation of your extraordinary
hope that Mr. Russell may thmk one way and write another.
Is that something to be hoped for? If a man teach errors,
it surely were better for him that he believe that he is teach-
ing the truth, than that, knowing the truth, he nevertheless
teachEl'3 error with seeming sincerity in wnting'\ that do not
truly represent him. It seems to me that could your "hope"
for Bro. Russell be realized, it would place him in a very low
plane of moral obliquity.
In addition to this you enclose two tracts, one an excel-
lent homily on Luke 2: 10, 11, in which, after carefully read
ing it twice, I cannot discern the remotest connection with
my inquiries. Personally I would say "Amen" to every sen-
tence of that tract-and I believe that Brother Russell would
do the same. You also enclose a tract which is a direct at
tack upon the MILLENNIAL DAWN books. To this I will now
refer.
You express a hope that Bro. Russell's writings do not
truly represent him. I think it will be the kindest thing I
can say to you that I trmt this attack on the MILLENNIAL
DAWN books by Prof W. G. Morehead does not truly npre-
sent what you as a Christian brother, would say about those
books if your "regular business" allowed you mfficient leisure
to read them-and you certainly ought to read them before
you attack them again. Your first attack may be excused
on the ground of misinformation, but that excuse should never
avail you again.
Can you as a fair minded man approve an attack which
cites the price of a book as an argument against it, that cites
the missionary zeal displayed in advocating its teachings as
[2738]
DECEMBER I, 1900 ZIONJS WATCH TOWER (367-368)
argument against it; that calls names-"nocturnal halluci-
nations," "hydrophobic," "packed full of fundamental error,"
"product of insanity," compared with "the infidel Renan"?
This is not honest Christian controversy! I think too well
of you to suppose that you really endorse this kind of attack;
yet by charitable estimate of you is sorely tried when I re-
flect that you evidently thought this kind of argument good
enough for me.
As regards the teachings of the MILLENNIAL DAWN books
on the human and divine in the nature of Christ, can you
state a presentation of Scripture teaching on that important
subject that more satisfactorily answers to aU the Scrip-
tural statements than Bro. Russell's? If you can, then for
Christ's sake I earnestly and reverently ask you to do it;
and I am convinced that Bro. Russell will receive it no less
gratefully than 1.
I was recommended to write to you as a scholar. I would
now ask you candidly as a Greek scholar and a Scriptural
exegete: Can you find fault with Bro. Russell's exegesis of
kelusma ["shout"]? If you can, what is the error? If you
cannot, why do yon make use of the Morehead attack? If
Prof. Morehead himself could assail the MILLENNIAL DAWN
teachings on the two points above referred to, why did he
not do it? If he cannot assail them, is he not guilty of
shameful insincerity in making believe that he can?
With regard to Bro. Rmsell's opinions respecting the
dates 1874 and 1!l14, time, of course, will alone prove how
far he is right. But surely you do not endorse Prof. More-
head in sugge"ting these opinions are in the nature of deadly
heresy. I have read a vast quantity of Millennial literature,
"pre" and "post," have listened to a great deal of platform
and pulpit talk on the same subject, and am utterly unable
to conjecture what, out of all the bewildering mass, has a
right to the name of "orthodox premillenarianism" by the
side of which all other opinion" are to be denounced as "noc-
turnal hallucination." Your own recent exposition of 2 Tim.
3 led me to infer that you regard these as the closing days
of this present dispensation. Has your study of prophecy
led you to detect deadly heresy in Brother Russell's conclu-
sions? If so, what is it?
I understand the Morehead attack to assert that Bro.
Russell teaches that the resurrection will be simultaneous
for all the dead. My simple answer is that in MILLENNIAL
DAWN, VOL. IV., pp. 640, 641, Prof. Morehead can find con-
clmive proof that he is incorrect. If the bracketed words
("simultaneous for all the dead") are not intended to indio
cate the writer's understanding of Brother Russell's teach.
ing-s, but his own conception of Scripture teaching, he had
better consult his New Testament before he attacks a Chris.
tian brother again. The emphasis placed on a "first resur.
rection" of necessity implies subsequent resurrection. "All
that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of
Man and shall come forth"; but not all of these will have
part in the first resurrection.
Prof. Morehead, in section 7 of his attack, ignores, pos-
sibly does not know enough Greek to distinguish between,
the par01l8la and the epiphania. I was referred to you as a
Greek scholar. As such I cannot imagine that you can en-
dorse the Morehead attack or apparent attack. Are you, as
a student of the Greek New Testament, prepared to deny and
disprove from Scripture that the Lord's will
at first be discerned by only a comparatIvely few faIthful
watchers? Do you regard the word "coming" in our Eng-
lish version as 'adequate to embrace the ideas embodied by
both parousla and epiphanta?
I have detained you so long in criticism of the Morehead
attack because I am inclined to believe that you made use of
it hastily. I want you to read it carefully, to discern. its
dishonesty, its innuendo, its crafty appeal to the. odwm
theoligicum, its essential weakness, its unchristian ntupera-
tion. Lav it aside Bro. \Vorrel!. Don't fight for the Lord
with the 'de'vil's If Bro. Russell errs there is Scrip-
ture to show it. If Scripture i" on hiQ side then I am c?n-
vinced that after you have shaken off the theologIcal prepl-
dice with which you are apparently posse<;sed, you will have
grace enough to admit that Bro. Russell has a rig-ht to speak
and to be judged by the Word; and that denunciation about
"ensnaring souls," "ruin," expressions of amazement, etc.,
have really more of bluff about them than of the spirit of
Christ.
Your statement about "wilting" of character under the in-
fluence of Bro. Russell's teaching proves that your oppor-
tunities of observation have not been wide enough to qualify
you to form an accurate estimate; certainly not wide enough
to justify you in assuming the office of censor as you
did on the 2nd inst. The humble and perSIstent zeal of the
"Pilgrim
Q
," engaged in teaching the views advocated by 13.1'0.
Russell. comes nearer to apostolic zeal and self-abnegatlOn
than most Christian work now-a-days. I have known many
who, like you, seem to be afraid of Bro. Russell's teachings,
yet who pay well deserved tribute of admiration to the devo-
tion and consecration of those who accept it.
As for Bro. Russell himself, I do not know llim personally,
have never met him, never seen his portrait even; yet I can-
not help admiring the absence of the "ego" in his ministry.
I have several times written to him concerning- difficulties
I have encountered in reading his works. He always replies
personally; he presents reasons lucidly and never indulges
in denunciation or exclamations of amazement. He never uses
the trickery practiced by Prof. Morehead, nor resorts to in-
nuendo. I am, dear Brother 'Worrell,
Yours in the love and pursuit of the truth aR it is in
Christ Jesus, ALFRED E. SEDDON.
AND ANSWERS
at its close. The indefiniteness of the end of the period would
appear to be an important feature of their testing.
ly they will think the period of Christ's media.tonal. reIgn
ended befol e the Lord's time; and Rome of them, Impatient of
delay, WIll make a demonstration, and dl'mand of the earthly
representatives of the kingdom that full dominion be at once
restored to perfect man, according to their understanding of
the divine plan and its times and ReasonR.
In so doing these will be demonstrating their own un-
worthiness to enter the age of perfection which WIll follow
the Millennium and will be destroyed in the secontl death.
For, while such an attitude of mind may be forgivahle in im-
perfect men of today. those perfect ?eings shall had
a full restitution and large expenl'nce w1l1 be reqUlred to
exerciRe a full faith, an unwavering confidl'lH'e in the wisdom,
love and promises of the Creator. And their failure to
implicit faith and obedience to the divine program after all theIr
experience will be proof sufficient that they are ullworthy of
the eternal Rtate. If permitted to go beyond the
liberties of sons of God they would always be hable to Sill
and its consequences; and God's promise is that shall be
no more sighing, no more dying, no more crymg, no more
pain thel'e, the equivalent of a promise that there shall be no
more sin. Hence all who Rhall not have developed characters
in full accord with, and fully submitted to t,he divine .. will
be esteemed as having enjoyed all the and pnvlleges
divine mercy ha<; to offer. The fire, the Judgment from heaven,
will destroy such from among the people, in the second death,
as unworthy of life-eternal.
The Scripture declaration respecting the saints, the "over-
comers" is, "They lived and reigned a thousand years." The
QUESTIONS
THE :BEGINNING AND ENDING OF THE MILLENNIUM
Question.-I understand from Rev. 20: 4-6, that Christ will
reign one thousand yean" and from verses 2 and 7 that Satan
will be bound during that period. If Christ began to reiQ11
in 1878, and Satan will not be bound until 1!l15, the t';o
periods do not Reem to synchronize; and furthermore, both
beyond seventh-thousand year period which, ac-
cordmg to our BIble chronology, began in the Autumn of 1872.
How is this? Can vou assist me?
1nswer.-The has evidently arranged for the gradual
of the Gospel age and opening of the Millennial age,
In such a manner that the one laps upon the other, with
some particular purpose in view; but just what his purposes
are he has not been pleased to inform us; and since this ex.
tends into the future We may reasonably suppoRe that it is
not now "meat in due ReaRon for the household of faith." 'Vhen
the entl has been reaphed and accompli,hed. we have no doubt
whatever that it will be manifested to all of the Lord's people
that his Word has been accurately fulfilled. Until then a
certain amount of faith is required and expected from those
who have so many evidences of the Lord's wisdom and exact-
np<;s in the features of his plan already accomplished
''We can trust him where we cannot trace him." Apparently
this matter of when the thousand-year period Rhould be reck.
oned as fully beginning and fully ending will be an open
until the close of the Millennial age. It is our expec-
tatlOn, from Rev. 20: 8, 9, that the obscurity of this question
will have something to do with the final test of loyalty and
obedience to God, which will come upon the whole world of
mankind who will have enjoyed the blessings of restitution
throughout the Millennial age, and have attained perfection
[2739]
ZION'S WATCH TOWER
reigll of tilt' III t-. ('annot be properly said to begin before all
the Iw I e ]J{'en gathere<1, nor before "the of the
l'nd. III llJl4. Kor is It salll that thl'lr fl'lgn II III
he no longl'r than a years. After tIll' thousalHl
IPlgll "ltall It.. 100flPd and thl' allOYI' tllal "It til
but till' Ipign of Clln"t and the ehurch will eYldent
l'ontlnUI' long pnough a ftPr thl' thousand ypar" to Ill'stroy all
fOUIHI 111 that tinal tp"t and to ('olllplete tlIP
worh. for whi('h tid" ]'('Ign I" iJhtituh'd ;-for, a,., e"prp"H'11 hv
thp Apo.t1p. "11.. 11'1!!n Illlll(> hatlt put 01/ ('I/I'II/I('S unlllr
fll'!.. .\I,rl 1\lI('n ,Ill thmg" ,.,Iwl] Ill' "ultllupr! UlltO
hllll [KOl!l1' lty alld hy thIn "hall
ll11' ,I," 1lllIht'!t 1,1' '1,I'I",'t 11111" JIlIIi I tit" 1',11111'11"
WHO CONSTITUTE "THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH""
(,JIll ,tlUl/ ,-, ()1I1 LOl d 'OIlIIlI,llld" 11" to do gllOll.
10 tll(' IIUlhl'llI>ld (,f I.llth .. \\ ho ('Oll.tltllte till. Iwu"eho!,!-onl\
Thl' (''')1''''''l,ll,'d ",lllll.' (l! d(>p. it llldude al"o th,' ju,.,tihe;1
,Ia- . "f I,hol!l Ilall' not :."1 1",1l'11I'd the POF\ltlO1l of
anl'lifie,ltIlln "] ('Ill ii" r"II."1 1,ltlOIl ,
,1nswer.-\Ve understand that the churuh of Christ, aK
Viewed from the divine standpoint, and as addressed 1ll the
Seriptnres. includes only "the sanctified in Christ Jesus;"--
those who have tllken the step of justification through faith
and. additIOnally, the second step of consecration to the Lord,
But "the household of faith" takes III a. much larger num,
her.-all who have faith in the Lord as their Redeeml'r from
"ill and its pellalty,-all who are trusting in the preciou"
blood of Chn"t, and seeking in any degree to Le in harmony
\\ Ith the Lord and his rules of righteousness. The 10\ Illg
anrl care of all the "saints" (the consl'l'rated) is to
be not only toward cadi other, but also espeCially
toward these members of the hou..;ehold of faith who are sup
po"ed to he under "instruction in l'ighteousne"s." helping them
forwaI d to tnke the position of full eonsecratlOn and beeome
l'l'eh.onedly (lead to the world. and J\('W creaturf's in Chn"t
n;1'1I with him. to walk in nlwnes" of htl' and to bl'
('oml' hi" joint-heirs 1II the promised kingdom.
=0.=== '_--_-==".==-=.c, , c- ---- -
.\LU:(:IIE\,). 1'.\., DEGKMBER 15, HIOO No. :2--1
Total 40,370
It should be remembered that altho we endeaYor to keep
this branch of the work on a self-supporting basi". it nev
erthrlesfl comes short of this, by reason of the fact th"t our
wholesale prices are very low: in the case of the fO! eign
considerably less than cost.
We frel sllre that this showing will greatly enl'ourage
the dear brethrl'n and sisters who are giving their lives in
this department of the Harvest work; and we trust that it will
39,047
1,323


6,712
!)43
100.64:3 Total
BOOKLf:TS:

Foreign languagp.
\VATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY'S YEARLY REPORT
DECEMBER I, 189<), TO DECEMBER 1. 1900
.\I.II,'y III tl", 1."1']" "("(1 I""pl., dHpl.\ l1Itl'I'l"tpd III can only hope that all IImler-eUlr('llt of intlm'lIec I"; 11l0111lg, ot
P],'('nl tlllt!!. <til' '1'11l" I-"iottl'd, and lIa,,' littl., wllleh we hale little outward mallifestatlOn; and that III the
"I'!'"11Illllt.1 It'l 01 tb., I-."!tl'r.l! I"ogll'''- of till' C:IU"C. Lon]'" own time and w,ly during tIll"; "haTl(st" all of the tnil'
,',,,,/,t a" tiJ,\' 101,1.1 Illt'r It 1."111 ''''I',I''[loI'al !"l'm,uk" III thesp wllPat' will Le real'lII'(1 and npl'l!C'd and g<1lnprNI.
.."I IIlIllJ , 'I'll,"" all.1 '"' tllH all ot Illl' \\'.\'1'( H TOWI:R rl'ad, THE COLPORTEUR BRANCH OF THE SERVICE
"I". ;\lil II\' I""klllg \\ diJ '"1'''1'\.1'1''' f"" till" 10pl,r1, th'lt \Vc "i\'(' thi..; department of the work th,' iir,.,t pIa..., III
thn IWI\ 11111. Ital" 1"'ld,ttl' information l'l'..;pelbng th(> thl' eonsllleIing tllat those who all' l'lI,:rage,1 ill it an'
1I1I;:' IliI;, it '111"\",1, 11- \",)](, ,h,11I ::111'1,,1' in thp I\P1'ld he- IloJl1g the wurk of el"angeli,.,ts, and rernl'mlH'IIIl!! th:lt, the
_"II" tIl" "\llik 1'1 'lit" 11 ",11 11 ,:""'1 (lll1g til hi" lUll'. zeal and Lord Ins "pr.('i,tlly thi..; f'I'TI'icc 111 tilt' I('al'lllng ot
'1)0'11.1. ill-. "lllll,",!!!"l I'ltill'\ lill"Il('I,tll., Ill' tllro'lgh th,' many who are no\\' rejoicing in the light now npon tl1l'
,>1, II!. 1;(J!l '.I 1'(II,ltlll". (II' oth"llljq. \Vord. \\ e can think of no branch of the IIOlk in tlJi"
\\" oil" t" thlll!. "f ,1'111
1
a- lopklll;;' lor all,i intl'!l'-I"d that more ne,lrly eorreKponds tu the style "f .,'n-ice
III 1
1
,1. 1"f"'lt, and 11,all:" lIur Lord th,lt by gnu'l' by our Lord in the Jewi"h than the ('0]porl"1I1
i_:\"rahl,' a "LOlllllg (',Ill I", mallf'. illt!ced, the grand total" wOlk. The (1llportcuI's go in rouples. a" thp tllel\('
fill' th.. \l'ar a"j"nlh lOr altho \\,1' have b<>en aware that and aftprw'lnl the :-;el"enty. \\pnt. furth,-from tU\\'1I
gTl,IL,.<r ;'11011-; tll:1I1 "1('1 ""1',' 1'1It furth. we Wl'rp not aW<llP, to town and city to dty. Llkp thl'lI1, also, they go frum
IIlItll till' ,\("-P I<,(,tp,l lip, to \Ihat p,tent tIll' ,1'1',11 to house, and their i,.,. "The kingdolll
Iltd 11.l1l,'('IIl!I'd "11'1.\ p'ar of thi" harH,;t of heuvpn is rrt hand! TIll' timp i" fllliilll'd; repl'nt, and Itl'
tilllP 1,1 "11" IU,I!II,d ""!I'i,'" 01 lilt' trut.iJ alHl in th!' ('videneC''.; of lieve the good tidings!" Goin;! in this manner into all the
rl'"ult" attalll('d, \\'1' arl' "ure th,lt 0111' fricnds will home" of the civiliz!'rl world. tl\(>,e rolpurtpur hrdhrl'n and
be astonished, rearl tlte report., we have to offer: as- have opportunities for finding the truth-hungly as well
loni"hl''', til ,..;1 (,f all, tllat a eompany of th,) people pl'lhaps hettel', than if the of the land were open to
"0 !HIll! in lid" II a'i th0ge II ho pmbrart) pref<'- tllem. and they all are competent to give able upon
ent trllth g"II(>la1l,l' aiC', shnul,l contrihute to thl' ('xtent divine plan. Because in sUl'h n they 11'0111,1 he abll'
uur H"T)(lrt ,.,h"\\',,. alld Ulat withollt hl'i!l!! "dlllllwll." urgl'(!. either to prearh hut few discourse". or else to rcaeh eom
'lr "I"n f1"I",,-t,',l to gll(':-llll'r('lv UpOIl the IllformatlOn p:tratively few hearers: whereas I'arh rolporteur pan real'h
that an lll'l"0) illilit \' ttlr tllll" l'll"<1;!lIJ" ill th" Lon!"" ,.,,'n 1"1' lIIore than an average dmrch audienl'(, el'ery w('ek; 3011(1 with
IS 0l,,'n ttl "1I1'h :;, ,II''' ahf<> '\:;'d II III n,' in tlli;. those whom he ('an interest he reading mattpr rl'prl'
m'Ul111'r. Tit" :t"tllni.llllll'lIt II III IJ(' doubled when it i" S"l'lI sl'nting many discourse'i, upon whieh the reader lllay fe"d for
how great a 11'01 k. 1111(1(,1' th" Lon!"s ble".in!.:. Iw" bl'en accom- months. \Vhere C'nough interest may not bC' awakl'nC'rl to
plishcrl \\IUI this r'llllll'alati\l'ly "TII,llI SUlli or lllon'T. which. to a. purchase of the books, a tract is left, which some
among"t th" lH>lIllT1al \\'oul,l hI' ('ono;idl'f('d only sum- tin](',; bear,:; good fruitage; lllld rven tho "ome who purl'has('
I)jpnt to pay thl' SnlaIH'S of a fl'w omp('r., alltl pl'a,tiea1ly fI(" may neglect and fail to read at the time, experience shows
cOll1plIsh not h ing J1I the wrry of !,rop,lgaJHln. lB that the book'l thus spattered are often bles"erl of the
And 0111' as we reflect that the Lord to the rearhing of others, and sometimes year" after,
l'irl'ulation ot amount of ht.'I,lwre, accompanied by this under more favorable conditions, the purchasl'r may also br
,lmOllllt of "l'I1gl im" prl'aehillg, ptc., slIpporting the most blC'ssed through condition'l, the purchaser may aho be blessed
C(lol'loll'l tllUt eould be her:dded to mankind, through them.
show'i ;'0 th,lt so few havr ear'i to hear and You will be pleased to learn that the sale of the DAWN!"
eye" to ;,ee things whic'h cnrapture our hl'arts. Let liS, and booklets during the (ehiefty through the colporteurs I
hOWI'I('!. r"f!e,t that our LOI'lI inform'l u' that IllS "eleet" will was as f01l0ws:-
he but a "!ittll' flopk"-and in it not many grerrt, mighty or In the English language
wi,.,e; bllt 1'!IlPlly the poor uf this world, rich in faith. The In the German language . .
<'ompa rat IYely small results of our efforts to reach the ripe In the Scandinavian tongue"
"whpa1" III Babylon convinl'e II". all the morl'. th'lt til(' In the French language (estllna it,d)
"wlll'fI 1" l'i v(>ry scarce in comparison with the "tares;" that
we are li\'lng III the time of which the Apo"tle declares that
the ellllfl'h nominal will have it(hing ears. and be turned away
from the truth. turned to Llhle., anr! re"'pel'ting which our
Lord ,.,aid, "\\'h('11 the Son of Man cometh shall he find the
faith on the earth 9" implyillg' that it would be rlifficult to
filld -2 Tim. Luke lR:8.
'['nIP, t he may be more than we can at pre'5ent
for pan e.tImatc the widenin!! inftuenre" of the
truth f'llldl.v !Iv the glowth of the \VATeR TOWER subscription
,,11l'w ('oll"llll'rahlC' growth for the ,Ypar.-!lut not
ll('arly "0 mu(h a" we had hoppd for: and our offer of credit.
and of sper'ial to thl' poor, should to our lists
the of all who have "tasted that the Lonl is gracious"
.lTld arC' hungl'ring and thirsting for his righteousness. We
[2740]
DECEMBER 15, 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER (372-373)
[2741]
act as an mcentne to others who have been contemplatmg
engaging in this work-to lead such of them as are of good
address and without family and financial encumbrances, to
give themselves freely to this evangelistic work. It is a de-
partment which the Lord has greatly owned and blessed;
lt is a preaching of the Word in a most practical manner"
likely to leave a lasting Impress j one which will undoubtedly,
we believe, bring forth much fruitage during the great time
of trouble, as well as serving to find and to perfect those
of the Lord's saints who shall be accounted worthy to escape
those things coming upon the world. We will be glad to hear
from, and to co-operate with all who desire to enter this
branch of the service. Write to us freely of your wishes,
hopes, difficulties, etc., in respect to this, and we will do what
we can to open the way before you. There is still plenty of
room for the work in this land as well as in Great Britain.
The fields are white for the harvest, and the laborers are few j
and if we are praying for laborers let us see that we are do-
ing what we can to fulfil our own petitions.
Some who cannot give their entire time to colporteuring
are doing valiantly in their spare moments and hours; for in-
stance, one dear brother, an architect, not slothful in his
business, is nevertheless so fervent in spirit and in serving the
Lord that during the past six months he has disposed of 650
copies of the DAWN to mechanics and tradesmen with whom his
brings him in eontact. Others haye Ie",..,
but the same zeal, and are doing what they canj-some by
gn'lllg, some by loaning, some by selling the literature. We
rejOice that in any and all of these ways there is an oppor-
tUnity tor aU of the Lord's dear flock to show their love for
the truth, and their zeal in laying down their lives for th"
brethren still in Babylon and darkness.
THE "VOLUNTEER" WORK
All who labor for the truth do so of their free will and
without compensation, and hence might properly be termed
volunteers: under this head we might include in a general way
all the efforts that been put forth during the year in the
way of free circulation of WATCH TOWER literature, bearing OIl
the harvest themes-but the special use of the word with us
has been confined to a particular feature of this free dis-
tribution j viz., that done systematically at or near churches
at the timc of their dismission on Sundays.
This Sunday church-distribution by those who volunteered
for the service was begun in 1899, and reached good pro-
portions and accomplished good results that )'ear, and was
(OntlllUed dunng the past year with excellent efTc t. \Yhen we
speak of results we have chiefly in mind that which is within
our power, and not the ultimate results, of which no man can
now know, and which time alone will show. The results, sO
far as the distribution of the Volunteer WATCH TOWER was
concerned, were a success, large numbers being circulated in
all parts of this country and in Great Britain. In handing
literature to church attendants we had no thought whatever
that they were all going into the hands of saints; but we do
hope that some of them reached the hands of the Lord's con-
secrated people; and we still belieye that it would be difficult
to find a more effective way of reaching this class than by
reaching the church-goers. In proportion to the circulation we
cannot say that we have had large returns; on the contrary,
they have been small, so far as letters. WATCH TOWER sub-
scriptions, etc., are concerned. But in various ways we
learn that they are making an impression upon the minds and
hearts of many of those who have received them and who,
while not ready to accept and endorse, nevertheless have been
lIlfluenced by what they have read, and to some extent brought
nearer to the truth and are better prepared for further in-
in the right way, when the Lord in due time may
again send it to them.
We incline to think that the greatest blessing of all in
connection with this part of the work has come to those
who engaged in it as "volunteers," and who, all over the
country, numbered hundrcds. These han repeatedly testi-
fied that no part of their Christian experience had ever been
more helpfUl to them in the development of true character,
in committing them fully to the Lord and to his truth and to
his service; making them strong in him,-"not ashamed to
own his name, nor to defend his cause." Those who have
had the opportunity to engage in this work, and who have
allowed the "fear of man which bringeth a snare" to hinder
from engaging in it, and thus being min.isters of
Gospel, and co-workers with the great Chlef Reaper In thlS
harvest-time, have missed a great deal-how much they may
never know in the present life, unless some further opportunity
for the Volunteer work should occur and they should then
engage in it and ascertain how great the blessing and char-
acter-development they have already missed.
III-53
The fnends m varlOUS quarter", who have engaged III thI"
work during the past two years, are writmg us hoplllg that
the Lord may open the opportumty for further vQlunteer serv-
ice during the coming year, begmmng early III the spnng.
The evidence IS that where the entIre company of the Lord's
people at any point have entered into the work a great spirit-
ual blessing has resulted. We will bear then requests in
mind, and see what can be done as respects a future service
for the soldiers of the Cross.
The total number of Volunteer issue of the WATCH TOWER
circulated during the year was 948,459.
ORAL PREACHING-' 'PILGRIM" DEPARTMENT
It is not long since this department was inaugurated, and
yet, as this Report shows, it has already reached considerable
proportions. While we are in direct contact with the Lord's
people through correspondence by mail, it became evident to
us about four years ago that If eompetent brethren could
visit amongst the little groups of those who have come mto
present truth through the ministry of the printed page, they
could be of great service and encouragement to them; and at
the same time might through public meetings be able to reach
and further interest many who were already partially in-
terested through the printed page and through private con-
versation, etc. These traveling oral preachers we designate
"pllgrims," because they are nearly always on the go, their
,.;tops with the various little groups or churches being very
brief (two or three days, as may seem to be warranted by
conditions.) We make out the routes for these, and send
notification ahead of them, so that no time need be lost
An evening meeting is always in order for the day of their
arrival, and afternoon and evening meetings for the "uc-
ceeding days.
We endeavor, as far as possible, to select for this service
brethren who give evidence, first, of character, and of faith
in the Lord, in his 'Word and in his plan; second, such a::.
seem to give evidence of ability in presenting the truth to
the minds of others-as the Apostle expresses it, "apt to
teach"-and, so far as possible, those who are "mighty in the
Scriptures" (1 Tim. 3:2; Acts 18'24); and of ability in
"rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2; 15) These,
so far as worldly judgment would be concerned, would all be
classed as plain men; and we trust also would be cla",spd as
true Christian men, humble-minded and modest, both III
language and deportment--men who do not have the fa h"
idea that they are great ones, or lords of God's hPfitage, of
superior caste or order above the household of faith. but who
simply and humbly acknowledge that they are "brethren."
"servants" of the Lord and of the household of faith,-mell
who are very thankful for the privllege granted tllPm of
being engaged in such a serYice, and who look for their
reward, not in luxuries of the presrnt life, but in the
house, beyond the veil-in the kingdom. These "pilgrims"
are not paid salaries; and tho ample provision is made fOI
their comfortable maintenance. everything connected with
this is expected to be done on the reasonable and economical
lines which we believe the Lord and apostles followed, and
respecting which we regard them as No eol-
lections are taken up by these "pilgrim"." nor do 1!lt'V III any
manner, directly or indirpetly, request aid prj';ately_ Nor ne('d
we request their E'ntE'rtainment, knowing full WI II that any
we thus send to you in the Master's name wiII bc welcomed
by you and granted a share of such a" you hay!' ,--
R('('ording to the Scriptural injunction.-Heb. l::l: 2.
In following the plan here indkated we have been enabled
to reach some of the Lord's scattered ones in various parts
of this broad land, who neYl'r expeeted to hear preaching
along these lines; for it wiII be readily seen that the eA'
pense connected with this traveling ministry is proportionately
mueh less than it would be by any other method which would
reach the same number of the Lord's people.
method assists, rather than discourages, the development (If
talent among-st the brethren of the various little groups. It
is our thought that, generally the Lord is please(1 to
U'3e some in each little company for the instruction and
sistanee of the others in the same; indeed, we encourage tht'
tboug-ht advised by the Apostle, that eaeh member of the
Lord's consecrated church should strivl' to "build one rlll-
othe1' up in the most holy faith."
We believe that an immense amount of good has bel'I1
done through this pilgrim service during this past year, and
that quite a number of the Lord's dear people. as they reatl
this part of the report, will offer prayer on behalf of thb
feature of the Lord's service asking for us wisdom and gran'
in respect to the matter for the coming year. The
1,;4-375)
ZION'."; WATCH TOWER AI.LI!GHI!NY, PA
1,247,960
1,468,!HHl
$18,681.89
...... $21,707.80 Total
Tract Fund Receipts
Balance on hand Dec. 1, 1899 $ 871.54
From "Good Hopes" Donations 13,33i.72
From Other Sources. .. 4,472.63
as well as those nearby lllay have the privilege of complying
with the Apostle's words, to forget not the "assembling" of our-
selves together, and 80 much the more as we see the day
drawing on. (Heb. 10:25) Many letters assure us of the
blessings which the wonderful mail service of our day has
brought to them; and on our part we can testify that great
blessmgs and encouragement have come to us through this
same channel. While some of the letters received are cold
and business-like, and others bitterly antagonistic, others, and
the majority, are laden with rich perfume of Christian love,
sympathy and deep appreciation of present truth. Through
these we are kept in touch with the spirit of the Lord's dear
flock in all parts of the world; and we can assure you that
the touch is profitable to us, as we trust that our responses
are profitable to you, and comforting and helpful.
As the work in general has grown, so this feature of it
has expanded, so that the figures 1)elow are far in advance of
those in any previous year in our history:
Letters and postal cards received during the year. .. ..37,357
Letters and postal cards sent out.. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. 38,609
CONDENSED STATEMENT
Copies of MILLENNIAL DAWN circulated at cost. . 100,643
Copies of booklets circulated at cost 40,370
Circulated at Expense to Tract Fund
Copies of ZION'S WATCH TOWER .
CopIes of Old '1'heology '1'1'(/l't8
These amounts expressed in the usual form rep-
resent in tract pages . . 131,891,340.
Whenever figures get into the millions they are quite be
yond the average mind to comprehend. 'Ve have therefore
estimated the matter in pounds,-206,710 'pounds, or over
one hundred and three and a half tons, weIght.
THE FINANCIAL SIDE-TREASURER'S REPORT
Fund Expenditure
Cost of the above 103% tons matter, including
freight, postage, gas, help, etc...... . $18,350.21
Pilgrim Expenses, etc... 3,357.59
14
III thl8 lIne also, we belIeve, wl1J many of our readers,
They are as follows:
Number of persons who gave more or less of theIr
1 tIme to the Pilgrims work during the year .....
Xumhcr of IIllll"; traveled in connection with the
serne\' . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 48,845
\'ISHS to . . . . 649
PublIc mcetll1gs held. . 1,287
Private or parlor meetings held... . .. 875
Co"t III tills branch of the work. . . . . . . . . :P,357.59
One point alone in this report seems unsatisfactory to us,
.llld that IS the number of prIvate or parlor meetings. These,
\\l' tlllnk should have been much more numerous in proportion
to the publIc meetings. It IS our thought that the chief good
III these pilgrIm is for the household of faith: while,
therefor!', we urge the holding of some public services to
wlut'h all classes of Christian and earnest people may be in,
\ Ited by advertisement and otherwise, we urge that during the
year beginning the parlor meetings be given the chief atten,
tIOn. At these, subjects can be discussed which would not be
so fully appreciated by the public, nor by any except those
who had been studymg along the lines of the WATCH TOWER
literature. We take this opportunity, then, to afTer this sug-
ge5tion to the dear frIends,-that when notified that a Pilgrim
will be with them they may make proportionately larger ar-
rangements for their parlor meetings and proportionately less
arrangements for public diseour5es in halls, churches, etc.
CONVENTIONS OF THE YEAR
The Conventions are a part of the "Pilgrim" work, but
deserve a word of special notice. Three general conventions
were held during the year-at Philadelphia, Chicago and Dal
las; these were interesting and profitable, but were reported
on at the time. BesIdes these the President of the Society
(the Editor) attended several local, oneday conventions, at
dIffNent polIlts-Toronto, Canada; Saratoga, N. Y.; Houston,
Tex., San Antonio, Tex.; Columbus, 0.; Cleveland, 0.; Phila-
delplua, Pa.; Washington, D. C.; New York City; Wilmington,
N. C.; Roseboro, N. C.; Hayne, N. C.; and the Florida Chau-
tauqua Assembly.
We have good reasons for beJievinl! that these gatherings
were all profitable to the Lord's flock, seasons of refreshing and
Joyom fellow5hip in spiritual things; nevertheless we feel
that in the coming year we must be more economical of our
time. May the Lord direct; we will be glad to follow his
leadings in the matter. Shortage . $ 3,025.91
THE GENERAL TRAOT DISTRIBUTION THE BLESSED PRIVILEGE OF THIS SERVICE
The drculation of dUJ ing the year has been highly The Editor (who is President of the Society), in closing
to They have not been sown in a broadcast this last report of the century, congratulates all the dear
manner, but rather handed out with a measure of discretion, friends of the cause upon the above showing, and trust that
-0 far we are able to judge; and this is the plan which we it will more than meet the expectations of all who contributed
eomml'nd. Of course, ill a majority of instances we merely to the funds thus scattered as leaves of healing all
know that tracts have been ordered and have been sent; but over the civilized worlrl, Especially do we trust that the
many givc us an intimation of how they use what they re- God of all grace, the Father of mercies, may accept and ap-
t'eive: some visit hotels, where they hand them to the patrons; prove our stewardship-the merit of our Redeemer making
OppOl tunity for handing tracts to intelligent look- good whatever unintentional errors the all-geeing eye may
ing people at railway stations; others mail the tracts with discern.
theIr letters, perhaps with a little comment, and a request Do we urge the dear co-laborers to make still greater sac-
that some report be given after the reading; others keep a rifices for the work in the year just beginning'! Not at all.
vallety on hand, and make a selection for those with whom We ha\'e never solicited in the past, and we do not expect to
they come in contact. Thus there are various methods in vogue do so in the future. Even of th(' Lord we make no request.3
III this department, the colporteurs using a considerable num- for money. His will, not ours, be done in this and in all
bel', leaving one at every house where they fail to take an matters. If he through his people or otherwise sees fit to
(ll der.-thp tract sometimes having an influence where the entrust to us financial means, we will endeavor to use the
\vOl ds of the colporteur failed. same to his praise, and seek for this the wisdom which
The total number of sent out during the year was cometh from above. 'Ve esteem it a privilege to have any
1,468,990. share in any department of this "harvest" work, and its ac
Of these a large number went direct from the WATCH companying blowing of the Jubilee Trumpets proclaiming
TOWI:R office through the mails, to lists of addresses which we restitution times at hand. And this joy in the Lord's serv-
procured in variou5 ways-many of them those of persons ice is fully appreciated also by the twelve dear "brethren"
kno\\ n to be religiously inclined, holy people, lovers of rigllt who, as office assistants, have so ably and so patiently lent
and some of the best of these lists are sent to us, their best endeavors to make the work a success; and their
wntten upon wrappers, by WATCH TOWER readers. efforts under God have contributed largely to the securing of
You are all welcome to avail yourselves of this opportUl\ity the above results. The Lord will reward them as we can not.
for sen-ice. Besides the tracts, we sent out as tracts large "Brethren, pray for us," as your representatives and the
numbers of WATCH TOWERS to gor,d addresses. We request Lord's, in this "defense of the truth."
that no addressed wrappers be us for either tracts or Below we give some interesting figures from two of the
WATCH TOWERS except such as are known to you in some Society's foreign branchee, (the reports from the other two
way to represent intelligent and religiously inclined people. are not yet at hand.) Both of these reports are included in
It is only a waste of money and labor to cast the pearls of the totals given above.
truth before those who are swinish; whose god is their belly REPORT OF MANAGER OF BRITISH BRANOH
or their apparel or their pocket book. From May 7 to Nov. 15, 1900
THE CORRESPONDENCE DEPARTMENT LONDON, Nov. 16, 1900.
What blessed opportunities God has provided for his people DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL :-1 have the honor to submit the
at the present time! What an opportunity it affords for all following report of the Tract Fund receipts and expenditures
of his dear children to have fellowship and communion! In for the British Branch of the Rociety, May 7-November 15,
this manner, as well as through the printed page, those afar 1900:-
[2742]
DECIIMBIIR 15. 1900 ZION'S WATCH TOWER
(376- 377)
this city, where one tract under a door has thu" far reached
four persolls, on the principle of John 1'41, 45, and is still
working.
The colporteur work has not fared so well, not having
had so many workers as have been able to participate in
the work in other ways; but til(' few who have had this
privilege have been industrious, and have also been permitted
to see some fruit of their labors which has caused their and
our hearts to rejoice. We are praYlllg and hoping for more
laborers in every branch of service, but particularly in the
colportpur department, which expenence has demon;:,trated to
be by far the most efficient means of rpuching "hearing ear,;"
with the truth, as it is also thp most practical, being self-
sustaining. The experience of those who have engaged in the
service of the truth by the colporteur method in Great Britain
in the last six months shows that the worker can sustain
himself in this service. It is a most attractive opportunity
for those who have time to spend in the harvest work, and we
shall be glad to hear from many on the suhied.
The financial aspect of the work herl' i" pre;:,ented. in the
figures foregoing, which plainly tell their own story. It would
have been impossible for thp British Bldnch to do as it has
done. except for the financial cooperati'JIl of the head office
to the large amount of $2,000.
\Ve pray daily for ourselves, and for all of God's saints.
that we may be plentifully supplipd with heavenly wisdom,
with .,trength and grace, for the of each day's
in a manner as will redound to the glory of God and
the upbuilding of his people. "BI ethren, pray for us." Re-
submitted. Yours faithfully in Christ,
E. C. HE 'I; !\'I:\'(; I "
REPORT OF OUR GERMAN WORK
Sister Giesecke reports 448 letters received and 494 letter,;
Gent out; 2,899 copies of the German \VATCU TOWER circulated
as samples, and 10,108 tracts distributed, reprpRpnting
pages.
4
d
10
3
4
9
2
10
3,224
667
77,83;;
171,850
1
8
14
2
10
5
13
11
.. 425
.. .465
40
.... , . .. .. .. .. . . 249,685
. . . . . . .. .. . .. 19,189,684
Total sent free.. ., . . .. ..
These represent in tract pages
Letters and cards received . 1,184
and cards sent out... 9,294
The volunteer work has been quite zealously pursued here
this year; how much so you may judge by comparison of the
amounts distributed in America and here, and reckoning that
there are about twenty times as many TOWER readers in
America as we have in Great Britain. Volunteer work has
been done in 39 cities and towns in Great Britain, and with
encouraging results. More than 50,000 copies were
distributed in London.
Tract distribution has also llad considerable attention from
the friends here, and with surh results as to warrant its
continuance. To be sure, we must often put tracts in many
houses before reaching one which contains persons ready for
t he truth; but sometimes tIle one tract in the right place
has a very far-reaching influence, as has been indicated in
Total .
Receipts from Great Britain.. .
Deficit. supplied from Home Office
Report of Literature Circulated
Copies of MILLENNIAL DAWN circulated .
Copies of booklets .
Tracts sent out fn .. . .
Sample WATCH TOWERS sent out free .
----
EXPENDITURES:
Paper and printing.. . . . .. " . , . ,340
Carriage ,.'.' 55
Share of expense for labor, etc 24
Expenses in Pilgrim work 4!l
------
A PERFUME OF SWEET ODOR
MATT. 26:6-16.-JAN. 6.
"She hath done what she could."
Preeedlllg lessons showed us incidents in OUr Lord'8 jour- choice perfume. She had either purchased the vase, and manu
!lcy toward Jerusalem, via Jericho-the healing of the blind factured the perfume herself, at great expense of time, etc.,
men by the wayside, the conversion of Zacclueus, and the or had spent for its purchase a considerable sum of money.
parablp of the young nobleman, given becauee they were nigh She had anticipated our Lord's coming, and had fully aI'-
unto Jerusalem, and because the <hsciples ami Illany of tIl(' ranged matters so that at this feast she might treat him in
multitude expected that the kingdom of God would im- It manner in which very few except the worldly great were
mediately be manifested,-set up in earthly grandeur, etc. The ever treated i-kings, emperors, etc., were thus anointed with
distance from Jericho to Jerusalem was only about twenty perfume, but very rarely indeed could others afford such a
miles, and Bethany, the home-city of Lazarui:' (whom our Lord luxury, for the facilitieR for manufacturing perfume then
raised from the dead) and his two sisters, Martha and Mary. wpre quite inferior to what they are now, and even if the per-
was quite near to Jerusalem, and. with them Jesus decided to fume were of home manufacture and of fine quality the cost in
"pend his last SaLbath-day in the flesh. \Ve may presume that time, etc., would be great, and the perfume would be so val-
the day was happily spent according to the observance of the uable that it was usual to sell it to the very wealthy.
Sabbath required by the Jewish law; but the narrative, The feast had begun, and Jesus, with the' disciples and
passing over the events of the day unnoticpd, draws special other guests, were at the table, which. according to eastern
attention to the feast or supper made for our Lord in the custom, was long and narrow, the gUl'sts not l'ntting upon
('vening, after sundown, when the Sabbath was considered ('hairs, but reclining' full length upon cOlH'hes or divans, with
ended, and the first day of the week beginning. the head extending over til(' ta hie, and thr fpet extrndinl!
This feast was at the house of Simon the leper, yet back to the rear, the wpight of the shoulders poiRrd upon the
Simon is not mentioned in connection with the narrative, and left elbow. while the right hand was uRerl in partaking of
it is quite probable that he was then dead. It is conjectured the food.
that Simon was either the father of Lazarus, Martha and \Vhilr Martha and her associatps werr "erving. Mary came
2\lary. or else that Martha was the widow of Simon, and that forward and, breaking' the seal upon hl'r vaRe. shp
Lazarus and Marv wl're voun!!cr tllan shp. These items, how- began to pour the preciouR perfume upon our Lord's head.
ever, are rnerrly traditiOl;, nothing in the Scriptures throwing and subsequently, as John's record of the matters informs us.
any light upon the matter. 'We remember that on the oe- going to our Lord's fept she poured some of it upon them,
rasion of a previous visit to this home, our Lord was enter- and wi perl them with the hair of her hl'a<1 affp('tion
tained; and Mary became so absorbed in listening to the for our Lord was RO deep and so strong that it could not
gracious that proceeded out of his mouth that for the he with any of the ordinary of expl ession.
time she neglected the ordinary affairs of life, until her If the kings of earth were perfumed anll anointpd, muph
more practical, but Rpiritwtlly-inclined. more did l'steem it fitting that hl'r friend. hl'r Lord, thp
comml'nted upon the fact, which brought forth our Lord's dec- :\fpssiah. should be anointed with the he'lt that she could pro-
laration to the effect that while service is quite acceptable eure for him. Her love was so intensp that it knrw no pconomv
and appreciated, veneration and fellowship are still more ap- -nothing could be too good for her Beloved. Shp would giv'e
preciated-''Mary hath chosen the better part." expression to the rich sentiml'ntR of her heart by giving him
The two sisters had the enviable privilege of serving the the finest and most costly of swpet natural orlorf>. Our Lord
Lorcl and ministering to his comfort in the feast of our les appreciated the matter fully-tIle swept orlor of the heart which
Ron, just before the agonies which plosed his earthly life prompted the aet, morp th'lll thp ... d odor" whieh fillN]
As before, so now. the service of the two sistprs took some the entire house.
what different form, but probRbly this time by mutual agrel'- But the dis('iples, more :Ln,l able to appreciatl'
ment and prearrangement; Martha herself served the table Mary's true sentiments. and the proprietv of their expression
with others assisting, and Mary was left free to render her in this form, found fault with her, and thp rpcords show that
peculiar service. of which this lesson j" a memorial. From their leader and mouthpiece. who indted thp fault-findinlZ
some source she had procured a valuable alabaster vase of ,>pirit amongst the "therE.. was ,Tudas. thl' treasurer of the
[2743]
(3iR 379) ZION'S WATCH TOWER ALLI!GHI!NV. PA
little ('llmpany, whose dISappOIntment was great that the
value ot thIS omtment did not find its way into his money-
bag and thus a part of it, at least, to his own private use:!;
for 'we are told, . He was a thIef, and carried the bag." His
objectIOn seems to favor the thought that Mary may have pre-
pared the perfume herself, for he does not object to its hav-
mg been purchased for a large sum, but that it might have been
sold for three hundred pence. (Mark 14: 5) Estimatmg the
value at 300 Roman pence, or denani, worth about 16 cents
each, the value of the ointment would be about forty-eight dol-
lars, but much more than this amount would be represented
in today's values; for we are to remember that a denarius
represented a workman's wages for a day, and hence that
300 denara would practically represent a workman's wages for
a year. It was indeed an extravagant action, but it represented
an extravagant love, and was expended upon one whom God
and the angels delIghted to honor, and whom Mary seems to
have apprecIated much more nearly at IllS true '-alu!' than did
other of the honr.
Beloved Mary! V\'e can, perhaps, Imagllle to extent
the emotions which filled her heart she prepared this costly
expressIOn of her devotIOn, the of which she hoped
others would appreciate. But now, on the contrary, she be-
the "indignation" of her friends and guests, the Master's
nearest companions; and her heart sinks within her as she
fears that the Lord will view the matter in a similar
light, and rPJect and dIsapprove her libation. What a load
IS lifted from her heart, whE'n she hears our Lord pronounc-
ing her work a noble deed, and reproving his disciples for
lack of sympathy m her sentiment, telling them that this
perfuming of his body was in preparation for his burial. It
was probably in the midst of thIs discussion of the matter
between Jesus and the apostles that Mary, having anointed
his head with the perfume, went to his feet, and began
anointing them also, wiping them with her hair, as an evi-
dence that the most thing of her personal adorn-
ment was gladly at the service of hE'r Lord.
Probably Maly had no thought of perfuming our Lord's
body for burial, and words to this effect would be as
astonishing to her as to the others who heard them. It was
\\ Ith the to spend cOllf"derable care allll
money upon the persons of their dead in preparing them for
hurial; sw('et and perfumes, etc., were lavishly bestowed,
just as today it is the custom to provide handsome caskets
and many and expensive flowers and fine monuments, as
l'xpn'ssive of the love and appreciation in which the dead are
held by tlll'ir friends. In Mary's conduct in the pouring of
the perfume upon the Saviour while he was yet living,
we havE' ;1 exe!'llent suggestion in respect to the proper
courH' to he pursued toward those we love. It is far far
better that we "llOuld unstop our alabaster vases of perfume.
and pour them upon the heads and upon the weary feet of
our whill- :,till tllPY live, than that we should wait
untIl t h('." ha\'e p'(pired, and then give our attention to the
colrl. IlI,lllimatp aJl(l unappreciative corpse. Our alabaster
all' 0111 h('.llh, \\hich should be full of the richest and
oj gooc! wi..,hes. and love toward
all. hut toward the Christ-toward the Head of
ChI our Lord .J and toward all tlw members of his
body. the chunh; and eo.,pecially on 0111 part toward the feet
members who arp lIOW with us, and on whom we now have the
pI inlege of pOllllllg out the sweet odors of love and devotion
III t.he name of the Lord, nnd llf'cau'!e WP are his. The poet
writes:
"How oft we, wait till life's swcet actinties are past.
\110 break our hox of ointment' at the very last!
0, let us hped the Ih ing fripllfl, who walks with us life's com-
mon ways,
\\"atchin;.r ollr pyes for looks of Im'e. and hungering for a
wore! of
The heart of each truly c'onsecI atpd phild of God is lIke th"
alabaster rp('{'ptacle for the holy Spirit, the spirit of
love, the choiC'cst pel fume and prccious to the Lord and
to men. It is expen;,ive. because it cnnnot he gathered rapidly.
but requirps patient perseveranl'c in well-doing to be "filled
with all th' of God" Again. it is like Mary's vase
in that it give'! forth it'! odor not before. but aftl'r the seal
is broken and the contents pourpo forth. It differs from hers,
however, in the fact that i t hI' continually poured out
and vet its all the while increase.
Our hE'arts ancl their holy love are like Mary's, ase again.
in that they should be poureo upon the Lord himself-upon
the Head first, but upon the members of his
body. even the humblpst. the lowlil'st. the fpet. And this
should be our service. ewn tllO it be unappreciated by others.
who in'ltead would think that we "hould pour our lovl' and
devotIon upon sinners, or upon the poor heathen world. l'hel
realize not what abundant opportunities there will be for
blessing the heathen world in the future, in the Millennial age,
which God has set apart for their blessing, and in which his
disciples will have abundant opportunity for co-working WIth
him m the general uplifting of the world of mankind. Those
who upbraid us for pouring out our heart-treasures upon the
memlwrs of Christ, the church, do so through ignorance, and if
at tImes it has caused some discouragement to us, let us
hearken to the words of the Master, declaring that such is a
noblP course that has his approvaL and that it is proper as
J, prelude to the burial of the entire church, the body ,-that
it WIll he appropriate that this shall be done to the church
rathpr than for the poor world. up to the time when the
church shall have finished the earthly pilgrimage;-up to the
time when the sufferings of Christ haVIng been fulfilled there
shall be no longer opportunity to bless and refresh and com-
fort the booy of Christ. rp"!)('('(llIg whom our Lord deelare''''
that what is (lone to them is dOIlE' to him.-Matt. 25 :40.
So t.hen. let tIl<' ::\Iartha" the Lord in nne way.
and the .\farys POlll out their must preclOub "pikellard per-
fume. assured that neither serVIce will be forgotten; for
both are told and have been told for eighteen centuries. as
memorials to their praise, testimonies of their love. whil'h
the Lord apprE'ciated ana accepted, however they wpre VIewed
hy othprs.
OPPOSITION FROM SELFISH HEARTS
In connection it is well to notice sharply that thp
one who made the greatest ado on hehalf of the poor. and who
objected most to Mary's of her devotIOn. was the
thief and murderer, Judas. And the principle, to a consider-
able extpnt, seems to hold goorl all down throughout this
Gospel age' that those who make the greatest outcry on be-
half of mission work and in opposition to the expenditure of
costly time in tll(' anointing and blessing of the conse-
crated membcrs of the of Christ, are not always those
who have the interests of the lll'ath'n 'xclu;,;ively at heart, but
are frequently those who have an "axe to grind," a Relfish
interest in some way to serve. And not infrequently these
hypocrites mislead others of the Lord's dear people. who are
thoroughly conscientious. even aR Judas. by his sophistry.
for a time mislead the other apostles into indignation against
:Mary for the doing of the very thing which was pleasing to
the Lord, and on account of which Ill' dE'creed that wherever
this Gospel should be prea'hed her conduct should be men-
tioned as a memorial.
And so it is today: this Gospel is preached III more than
:330 languages-to every important nation in the world. But
we presume that it was not merely Mary that Ollr Lord wished
to memoralize, but especially her deed: he wished that all
who should know the good tidings should know also of his ap-
preciation of such devotion to him, to his body, and that the
more it costs us the more he appreciates it. In view of this,
let each one wh0 would be pleasing in the Lord's sight
seek continually to pour the perfume from his heart and life
upon other members of the body of Christ, and let him realizp
that in so doing he will not only he pleasing to the Lord.
hut will be receiving also a himself: for as no
alabaster vase could pour forth perfume upon othprs without
Itself being thoroughly involved in the perfume, so our hearts,
as they pour forth upon nthers of the members of the body
the sweet perfume of love and devotion to the Lord and his
,'ause. will be sure to bring a blessing to ourseh es, eyen
111 the present life--our Lord's approval and benediction now
,llld everlastingly.
Some of the methods employed in connection with present
pndeavor to anoint the members of the Lord's "body" for
burial,-with the perfume of his truth and grace-call down
the condemnation of fellow-disciples. As for instance, the
expenditure of time. energy, and large sums of money this
present year in the "volunteer" work has been. and will be
misunderstood by many of the Lord's dear children.-and be
bitterly reproved by those who are of the Judas stripe. Yet
realizing the Lord's approval we Imve quit' sufficient to mak('
our {'up of joy overflow. Fellow-disciples tcll us that we
should not be handing the meat in due season to the house-
hold of faIth. but to sinners; that we should not be seeking
to anoint the saints with the sweet perfume of present truth.
but should. on the contrary, be going to the outcasts of society.
engaging in slum-work or in foreign-mission work. The
real difficulty with the Judas class, however, is that they fear
that the circulation of the truth amongst the Lord's people
would cut off the revenue whil'h otherwise might flow into
their ('offers: they fear the loss of numbers and influenl'e in
sectarianism But their fears are largely imaginary; for the
[ 2744]
DeceMBeR 15. 1900 ZIUN'S WATCH TOWHR (';79-380)
perfume of the truth is only designed to falL upon "the mem-
bers of the body of Christ," and our expectations are that the
Lord ",ill guide it to these, and that to others it will be of
no effect. And Slllce the members of the body of Christ, the
consecrated ones, are so few, their anointing and their
separation from Babylon, and their burial, will be compara-
tively unnoticed so far as numbers are concerned,-tho their
taking away as the "salt" and the "light" of those systems,
will llldeed be a serious loss, conspiring to their downfall in
the great time of trouble approaching.-Matt. 5: 13, 14.
Let us not forget to note clearly and distinctly the wide
difference between love and selfishness, as exemplified in the
opposite courses of Mary and Judas. Mary, full of burning
devotion, was willing to sacrifice much to honor, comfort and
please her Lord. Judas not only was unwilling to sacrifice
on his behalf, but on the contrary was willing to sell him to
his enemics for thirty shekels-the price of a slave. Not
only so, but the devotion of the one seemed not to impress
other favorably, but rather the reverse; the devotion of Mary.
and our Lord's approval of it, seem to have aroused the op-
posite spirit in Judas, for hI' went straightway to negotiatl'
with the chief priests for our Lord's betrayal into their hamk
It would appear from the Greek text, and the rendenng
of the same in the Revised Version, that Judas received the
money for his work in advance: "They weighed unto him
thirty pieces of silver." He completed the contract; hI'
himself to work evil, and that against his benefactor.
his Lord, of whose power he was fully conversant, and (,t
which, indeed, he had received so abundantly that he himself
had been enabled to heal the sick and cast out devils. How
that any could be RO perverRe! No doubt he had a wa:\'
of the matter to himself which made his crime
appear to him less heinous than it does to us. No doubt,
aIRo. others who today are willing less directly to sell the
Lord for earthly advantages or llliluence or money find wayt;
of excusing their perfidy; but in proportion as our hearts
are loyal and devoted, as was Mary's, in that same proportlOn
will the Judas course appear helllous and impossible to us.
Yet these climaxes of character are not reached
Mary's love had been growing from the first; it was greatly
strengthened by her course in sitting at the Master's feet and
reeciving from him spiritual nourishment, which our Lord de-
clared to be a still better part or course than that pursued
by her sister, tho the latter was not disapproved. Mary's
faith and love had been still further increased as she witnessed
the Lord's power in various ways, and eRpecially at her broth-
er's awakening from the tomb. She IHd cultivated this love
and appreciation for the Lord until it filled her entire heart,
and found its expression in the costly libation which she had
just poured upon his head and his feet. Judas, on the other
hand, had long been permitting the spirit of selfishness to
more and more intrude upon his heart; he had permitted him-
to think of what money would do, and had given his
thought largely toward its accumulation. It had fettered his
,oul, so that he was unable to appreciate the Lord's character.
!'ven tho he knew him intimately from dailv
that he was unable to anything' except from a
monetary standpoint. And these bands of selfishness gradu-
ally grew so hard and tight about his heart that they
Rqueezed out everything of character, of love, devotion and
friendship, and thus gradually he came to be the representa-
tive of, and his name the synonym for, the grossest of in-
gratitude and meanness, selfishness and treachery. One lesson
for us here is, to cultivate love and the appreciation of what-
soever things are just, good, lovely and pure; and to fight
down and eradicate so far as po-,sible (especially from our
own hearts and lives) everything selfish, mean. ignoble, di'l-
honorable.
HOSANNA! BLESSED IS HE THAT COMETH!
MATT. 21:1-17,-JAN. 13.
"Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the ljord."
After the feast of our last lesson, the next morning, the
lirst day of the week (our Sunday), our Lord early began
his preparations for his triumphal entry into Jerusalem as a
King. Altho he well knew that "his own" people would not
receive him, but, as he had already testified to his disciples,
that he would be put to death by the rulers, and intimated the
night before that Mary's anointing was for his burial, it was
nevertheless necessary as a part of the divine plan that he
should formally offer himself as King to the Jews, and thus
fulfill to that people God's promise that his favor should be
"to the Jew first."
Our Lord had previously resisted the disposition of some
of the people to take him by force and make him King, with-
drawing from their midst, etc. (John 6: 15); but now the
time. the due time, having come, and that to the very hour,
he deliberately planned his triumphal procession, instead of,
;j -, previously. hindering it. He sent some of his disciples for
the ass and colt, manifesting his superhuman power by desig-
nating where and how the animals would be found. An ass
\\as med rather than a horse, and tradition tells Us that so
all the of Israel were accustomed to ride to their coro-
nation.
When the animal arrived the disciples and the whole mul-
titude seemed to ent!'r into the spirit of the arrangement;
for it would appear that quite a number of those who came
lip from Jericho, and who had witnessed our Lord's power and
teachings en route to the Holy City and the Passover, lodged
at Bethany over the Sabbath, as he did. These, with the dis-
ciples, constituted quite a little band, who began to hail Jesus
as the King, and to do him homage, as was customary with
notables at that time, by spreading their outer garments in
the way for his beast to tread upon; and by plucking grass
and flowers. and branches of palm trees and strewing these
also in the way.
Jesus, in the honored position, riding at the head, was fol-
lowed by this multitude on the road toward Jerusalem. Then
another multitude from the city, having heard that the great
Prophet and Teacher was at Bethany, came forth to see both
him and Lazarus, and these, meeting the Lord and the shout-
ing company behind him, turned about and became a van-
guard, like the rest, "Hosanna to the Son of David,"
which meant the King, one of the royal line. They probably
were deterred from using the word ''king'' lest they Rhould
bring upon themselves charges of treason against King Herod,
and against the Roman empire, which sustained him in power.
It was a grand or a ludicrous triumphal entry into the
city of the Great King, according to the standpoint from which
it was viewed. From the standpoint of the disciples and the
multitude, full of Messianic enthusiasm and hopes that the
longed-for blessings upon Israel were about to be realized, and
full of faith that this great Prophet, who had the power to
raise the dead and heal the sick, could in his own time and
way make himself and them invincible against all enemies,
and amply fulfill all the glorious things foretold by the proph-
ets-for these it was a grand occasion, a I cal triumph. For,
notwithstanding the fact that Jesus had previouRly told them
repeatedly of his death, and had even reproved Peter for speak-
ing to the contrary. llevertheless his disciples and others
to have been unable to receive his words in their true mean-
ing, and to have interpreted them merely a pal t of hI,
"dark sayings" which would undoubtedly later become lumi-
nous in some grand significance. This is attested by their
language, even after his death and resurrection-"\Ve trusted
that it had been he which should have redeemed IsraeI."-
Luke 24 :21.
From the standpoint of Herod, Pilate, the ('hief prie-,ts ann
scribes, this triumphal procession was merely the parade of a
fanatical leader and his ignorant and fanatical dupes. They
saw in it evidently no more than this. King Herod and Pilate
evidentlv had no fear that this despised Nazarene and his
company would ever be able to organize and equip an army
which would be of any force as against the order of things
of which they were the heads. The religious leaders feared
merely that the fanaticism spread in some manner, and
bring down upon them the wrath and further oppression of the
secular powers. who might make them an excuse for furthel
interference with the liberties of the Jews. Quite evidently
none of these chief rulers believed in Jesm as the Messiah sent
of God for the fulfilment of the gracious promises of their
Scriptures. To this the apostles testify, saying, "I wot that
through ignorance ye did it. aR did also your rulerR;" "If ther,
had known they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
-Acts 3:17; 1 Cor. 2:8.
That procession was viewed from still another standpoint
our Lord himself and by the invisible multitude of
ministering spiritR. sent forth to minister for those who shall
be heirs of salvation. These joined in the enthusiasm of the
multitude, but from a totally different standpoint-realizing
this triumph as merely a part of the divine plan. and merely
.t prelude to a greater triumph on our Lord's part through
the completion of the Ra('rifire of himself anll the attainment
thus of "all power in heaven and in E'arth;" and as R fore-
r2745]
1381-382)
xrON'S WATCH TOWER An.Fr.HENV, 1',
bhadowing, too, of Ius commg glory and his triumphal entry
upon the kingdom on his return from the far country (heaven)
armed with a plenitude of power and authority, tl' put down
bin and to bnng all things into subjection to God; and to lift
up out of the horrible pit of sin and disease and death all
desirous of coming back into full harmony with the Father
and the laws of Ius empire. This, the most glorious stand-
point of view of that triumphal march, it is our privilege, by
the grace of God, to enjoy; and we may well say in our Lord's
words, are our eyes, for they see; and our ears, for
they hear."
RESPONSIBILITY OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS
Luke's account of this matter informs us that certam of
the Pharisees who were with the multitude at the beginning,
altho they could not object to anything which our Lord said
or did, complained that he should permit his disciples and
othprs of the multitude to haIl him as a King, shouting Ho-
(Sah'ation, Blessing, Praise!) Then it was that
knowing of the prophepy bearing upon this subj'et
(Zeeh. 9' 9), lIot only refused to rebuke the dIsciples and
hinder their aeelaims, but informed the Pharisees that since
nod through the Prophet. had said, "Shout, 0 daugh-
ter of Jerusalem," therefore there must be some shoutings;
and that if the people had not arisen to that amount of en-
to gIve suph the verv would hay'
('ried out. so that the "hould not be unfulfilled.
Tho the is quite short to from Beth-
phage, wherp the Lord mounted the ass. nevertheless the city
was hidden from vipw hy the Mount of Olives, and it was when
the Lord ha,1 f('aehed the to]> of OIh-et. and thp city of ,Jprll-
salem came surldpnly into vipw. that he halted the procession
and wept ovel' thp pity. "If thou hadst known, even
thou. at in this, thy da)'. the things which bplong unto
thy peace! Rut now they are hid from thine eyes. , , be-
('ause thou knewe-:t not thc timp of thy visitation." (Luke
1!l:41-44) From this language it evident that our Lord did
not consider tllP multitudes who were with him, aR in any
smse of the word. r!'presenting the city and nation; for altho
thpse who were with him were shoutinl! the very words,
"Blessed is he that pomdh in the name of Jehovah!" our Lord's
lan/{llage indicati's that a timc is yet to come when the heads
of Israp1. the ehief represent'ing the people, shall gladly
acknowledge him King' of kings and Lord of at his
spcond advent; hut in tllP meantime their failure to recognize
the time of thpir meant to them a great loss of
privilege; meant to them that their home must be left deso-
late, abandoned of the Lord during this Gospel age, during
which he would gath('r from amongst the a sufficient
numhpr to complete the elect numher. in coniunction with the
faithful of the remnant who had or would receive
him-See Matt. 23:39.
The objective point of tim triumphal march was the Holy
City. the capital citv, the Citv of the Great King. But our
Lord did not go to Herod's pallle(', to demand possession of it;
nor to Pilate'R palace. to dpm3.nd recognition of llim; but as
the repre<\entati\'C of Jehovah. as the M('ssiah. sent of God to
he the Saviour of hrapl and the world. he went appropriately
to the Father's house or palace-to the Tpmple.
JESUS EXERCISING KINGLY AUTHORITY
The scene in the TempII' must have been a peeuliar one.
H was undoubtedly cro\\,(l('(l with pilgrims from all parts of
t he civilized world, who at tld"l season of the year came, i;{l
the number of hundreds of thou"lands. to worship the Lord
allll to ob<\pr\'e the Passover. It('cording to the Law, Probably
many of them lInd llPard som('thing ahout JeRus of Nazareth.
"miQ'htv in word nnd d('('(I." Manv of them had been healed
IIV him: or hnd friemls who wpr!' tllilR blesspd; and we can well
Imagine thl' commotion ('1""nt"d hy thp multitudps coming with
.Tpsm and ('rying. "Rosanna in the highest." etc. The Phari-
srrihp<\ amI chief who WPI'(, used to dominate the
ppoplp in religiou"l matters. and espeeially in the Temple, altho
filled with angpr against rppogniz('(l themselves power
Ir,,, to do him injury lmdpr thp rirpumstances. for he was doing
nothing contrnr" in an" scn<\p of til{' word to the Law, and this
would be manifest to 'all On the contrary, as tllO fo <\llOw
that he only (loing what was in his power, our Lord began
to exerciRe it a<\ would bp bpfitting a Rpiritual King-by re-
proving who wpre violating the holv Temple and its pre
cinC'fs. driving out of it thosp who sold doyes for offerings.
and the money chang-prs. who "pre reaping a profitable har-
ve"lt from the neepssitieR of the from a distanee,
wllo<\p mom'v. not bring could not be accepted at the
Temple, allll whiC'h thpy must therefore have exchanged at a
loss-the profit of the money chltngers. We ace not to under-
stand that our Lord was interfering with the proper laws of
the land nor of the Temple-he was in every sense law-abiding.
On the contrary, he was thoroughly authorized, as was any
Jew, under the directIOns of the law, to use 80 much force as
was necessary in the maintenance of thp sanctity of the
Temple.
DIVINE FAVOR DEPARTED FROM ISRAEL
Blind and lame people came to our Lord in the Temple
and were relieved of their infirmities. and then he taught th':
people-continuing the healing and the teaching for several
days, returning at nights to Bethany and coming the next
morning to the Temple, but without any further demonstration,
as a King, for that one demonstration had served the purposp
intended. It had given to the officials of the city and nation
the opportunity to formally accept him as king, but their
contrary spirit is shown by their coming to him while the
children in the Temple court>. were crying "Hosanna !" request-
ing that he should put a stop to the matter; but our Lord
answered them, quoting from the Scriptures that this was in
harmony with the divine plan: "Out of the mouth of babes
and sucklings thou hast perfected praise." The
did not appreciate this, and were blinded by self-interest; but
little children, and especially tllOse who in simplicity of heart
and meekness became like little children, should he the instru-
ments the Lord would use in shouting his praises.
Many of our Lord's parables and special teachings werp
uttered during those days in the Temple, between his triumphal
entry and presentation on the tenth day of the month Nisan
and his crucifixion on the fourteenth, as the Passover Lamb.
(See Exod. 12: 3, 6) These parables, etc., are recorded in
Matthew, chaptn" 23-25; in :Mark, chapters 11-13, and in
John, chapters 12-16. Among other things he declared that
the favor of God was, there and then. taken from fleshly Israel,
saying:
"0 Jerusalem, Jermalem, that killest the prophets and
stonest them which arp sent unto thpe! How often would I
have gatherpd thy children together, even as a hen gathereth
her ehickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold.
house is left unto you desolate!"-Matt. 23:37-::19.
TYPICAL NATURE OF OUR LORD'S ACTS
In considering the best lessons we at the present time can
draw from these inddents. we suggest that their typical fea-
turp be not forgottpn-that all shall rememhcr that the events
in the of our Lord's ministry, and everything pertaining
to tllC rejeC'tion and dissolution of the fleshlv house of Israel.
is typical and illustrative of the things which are to be ex-
pected to transpire in the present time. in the end of the
Gospel age-in the rejection and dissolution of nominal Israel
of today, "Babylon." As already Rhown in MrLLENNIAL DAWN,
Vol. II., page 235. the time which to the Lord'R
formal offering of himself to fle"lhly brael and his reiection
was the year 187B. There nominal spiritual Israel was re-
jected, as previouslJ the first or fleshly house had been reo
jected; yet in both cases all indeed receive him and
receive corresponding blessings at his hand.
It is since this date (1878) we understand that our Lord
been in his spiritual temple, the true church, teaching in
an especial manne,' all who have an ear to hear, opening
the blinden eyps and helping those who are spiritually lame
to walk in his ways. It is since that time that all who belong
to the temple class of true worshipers are permitted to Ileal'
and sec wonderful things out of the divine Word; and it is
during time also that the Lord is casting out of his
temple all those who make merchandise of the truth, and who
are not true worshipers-the money-changers and dove-sellers,
eb'.; and it is dllTing this timE> that out of the mouth of babes
and sucklings the truth is being proclaimed so oftfon to the
offense of the scribeR ann Pharisees of today.
Shortly, the last mpmbers of the body of Christ, the feet.
already being anointed for burial with the sweet odors of the
truth. will complete their sacrifice; Rhortly. the first resurrec-
tion will be complete and all the members of the bodv of Christ
be glorified together with him: and then, the sufferings of
Christ being ended, the glory will speedily follow. But mean-
time, before the glory is revealed, there will come a great
time of trouble. symbolically a time of fire (trouble) Itnd
Rmoke (confusion) upon the world, and especially upon rpjected
"Babylon." ann all who do not escape from her before the
great tribulation comes. even as Rimilar fiery vengeance came
upon Israel after the flesh. and all who had not escaped from
her.-Luke 3:16, 17; Matt. 13:38-43.
[2746]
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
DUTY TO THE HEAVENLY AND TO THE EARTHLY HUSBAND
Questwn.-l am the wife of a minister in one of the de-
nominations. I have been studying the truth for now several
years, and feel convinced that the WATCH TOWER publications
represent the true Gospel. I desire to be faithful to my Lord,
no matter what the consequences; but I am in a measure of
perplexity to know just what my duty is. As the minister's
wife I am, of course, a member of the church; I am the or-
ganist for the congregation, and a teacher in the Sunday
School. My question is, Should I, or should I not, come out
of Babylon-withdraw from worship and cooperation in that
which I believe is in many important respects a misrepresenta
tion of the Gospel-of God's truth and character?
I do not wish to weigh earthly interests so far as I am
myself concerned, being quite willing to suffer whatever the
Lord's providence may permit. My hesitation is more on ac-
count of others who would necessarily suffer with me. My
husband, who would undoubtedly lose his position and its
small salary, is not in sympathy with the truth; my best
efforts to awaken his interest in it having proved unavailing.
He would suffer, and our two children would suffer, as well as
myself; and my query is-To what extent is it right for me
to involve others? And what would be the proper course for
me to take that would be pleasing to our Lord?
Answer.-Yours is a peculiar case, dear sister. We will
suggest what we would consider to be the Lord's will in the
matter, and give the reasons, and then leave it for your own
conscience to decide upon. It is your duty to do what you
understand to be the Lord's will, according to the best light
which you possess or can obtain.
First then, we advise that you explain the whole situation
fully and frankly to your husband, and tender to him, as the
minister and representative of the congregation, a letter 1'1"
questing that your name be stricken from the list, etc.,-one
of the printed letters which we supply free would answer this
purpose. Your husband, as the representative of the congre-
gation, can, if he choose, erase your name from the roll. You
may request him to make the matter public, but he will not
be bound to follow your request, and under your peculiar
circumstances we advise (differently from usual) that you do
not send the Withdrawal Letters to all the members of the
congregation unless your husband is willing. Leave the re-
sponsibility with him.
As for the teaching of a class in the Sunday School, we
advise that you continue it, especially if it be a cIa"" of adult
scholars-teaching, however, not any sectarian theory, but the
true theology of the Bible. Let your husband, as the pastor
of thl.' church, know that it is the only condition upon which
it would be possible for you to retain your class. As for the
playing of the organ, we recommend that you continue it also,
explaining, however, to your husband your objection to certain
false hymn-book theology, that 'you believe to be contrary to
the Scriptures, and that if he desire you to con-
tinue to be the organist he will give you some little liberty
and consideration in the matter of the selection of the hymns.
But we advise that you be not too particular, not hypercritical,
in this matter. We reason that God's people are justified in
praising God with any words from which it would be possible
to take a proper thought-even tho others might from the
words take an improper thought.
Our reaso'ns for advising in this case differently from what
we would ordinarily are two-fold: (I) Your husband is nomi-
nally, and perhaps really, a Christian, and hence it would
be proper for you to render some deference to his judgment
in any matter not compromising your own conscience-as, for
instance, along the lines above suggested.
(2) There is a little difference between the position of a
husband and of a wife in such a matter: the wife may throw
some responsibility upon the husband, but the husband could
throw no responsibility upon the wife. We are not under the
law, but nevertheless the law in a shadowy way gives to us
some conception of the Lord's view of matters; as for instance,
see Leviticus 30. Your husband was aware of your vow unto
the Lord whereby you consecrated your all to him, and made
no dissent thereto. It would appear, therefore, that he could
not in any way interfere with the proper liberty of your con-
science without domg violence to his own.
"WHO ONLY HATH IMMORTALITY"-WH07
Question.-How should we understand I Tim. 6: 14-16? Is
it the Father or the Son who is referred to as the "King of
kings and Lord of lords, who only hath immortality, dwelling
in the light which no man can approach unto," etc.?
AlIswer.-\Ve understand that the Apostle here reters to
our Lord Jesus. Our reasons for so concluding are as fol-
lows:
(1) While immortality belongs exclusively to the divine
nature, we are to remember that the Apostle Paul declares
that the entire church is called to "glory, honor and immor-
tality," and the Apostle Peter says that God has given us
exceeding great and precious promises, that by these "we might
become partakers of the divine nature." This implies, there-
fore, that the church of God is to possess this divine attribute
of immortality or deathlessness. But only our Lord Jesus had
yet been made partaker of this quality at the time of the
Apostle's writing. The church, his body, would not be
honored and glorified until their due time, in the first resur-
rection, when they shall be like him, sharing his divine nature,
glory, honor and immortality, etc.
(2) That our Lord Jesus already possessed this divine
nature, and therefore possessed immortality at the time of the
Apostle's writing, is fully attested by the Scriptures, which
assure us that "as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he
given to the Son to have life in himself." This describes im-
mortality, for no other conditon of life is inherent life; all
other conditions are derived or imparted life. The statement
here that our Lord will give this same inherent life to his
followers, is in agreement with the Apostle's assurance that
all who have part in the first resurrection are raised in incor-
ruption, in immortalitv (1 Cor. 15:52,53) ; and remember that
our Lord's resurrection was the beginning of this first resur
rection, and that it could have meant no less to him, the Head,
than it is by and by to signify to the members of his body.
We are to remember the same Apostle's declaration that our
Lord Jesus' resurrection was as a "first-fruits;" that thus he
became the "first-born among many brethren." We are to re-
member also that the Apostle, in harmony with the above,
expressed the desire that he might have a share in "his resur-
rection," "the resurrection," "the first resurrection," in which
all the overcomers are to share.-Phil. 3: 10, II; 1 Cor. 15 :20,
James 1:18.
(3) If, therefore, sharing in "his resurrection" is to bring
his faithful members to immortality, our Lord's own resur-
rection can have been to no inferior condition. Hence, to
apply the text in question to the heavenly Father would not be
cOIlsistent with the testimony of Scripture, that the heavenly
Son possessed immortality at the time R'l weil llS the heavenly
Father.
(4) That the passage in question relates to our Lord Jesus
and designates him the only Potentate. King and Lord. does
not imply any disregard or disrespect of the heavenly Father
and his attributes, kingship, etc., as the same writer (St.
Paul) elsewhere points out. When speaking in similar strain
about Christ's kingdom and the subjugation of all things under
him, he says, "It is manifest that he is excepted who did put
all things under him." In other words. comparisons which
show dignity and honor pertaining to Christ, Head or body,
are never understood to be comparisons with Jehovah, who 1
beyond all comparison.-See I Cor. 15:27,28.
(5) The correctness of this application is further attested
by our Lord's own application to himself of the same title!\.
-See Rev. 17:14 and 19:16.
(6) The Apostle's entire discourse is along the line of
showing the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus, his humility and
high exaltation, and how servants and all of us should be like-
...vise humble and lowly and faithful to the truth a'l
of God, and in due time be exalted-manifested to the world
-in glory, honor and immortality in the kingdom.
HOME EMBELLISHMENTS
The mention, in our Nov. 15 issue, of the motto and text as quickly as possible. We are glad to think that these good
cards for home decoration brought us a flood of orders, for wOl'ds, meeting the eyes of your families, will continually
which we were only partially prepared. More mottoes are on exercise a silent yet potent inflllellpe for good. All orders will
their way to us from London, and all orders will be filled be filled soon as possible.
[2747] (382-383)
Pastor Russell's Sermons
Are Now Obtainable
IN BOOK F"'ORM
A choice collection of his most important
discourses of the past 40 years, cover-
ing every phase of Christian
doctrine and practice.
ALL DIFFERENT
MANY NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED
Just What You Have Long Wanted
For forty-two years Pastor Russell preached the "Glad Tidings of Great Joy"
-a message which must yet be heard by all mankind. Thousands whose hearts were
gladdened by his preaching passed the good news on to others. A public demand
was thus created for his sermons, until eventually over 2,000 newspapers were led
to publish his discourses weekly.
Since the venerable Pastor's demise multitudes have hungered for more of that
mental and spiritual food which his discourses supplied. To meet the demand this
selection of his sermons is issued in book form.
816 pages. clear t:ype. Splendidlj} Indexed.
HANDSOMELY CLOTH BOUND-SOc POSTPAID
ADDRESS ORDERS TO
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
Brooklyn, N. Y.
[2748]