(c) Copyright 2000 Research Applications International.

VOL. xx ALLEGHENY, PA., JANUARY 1, 1899 No. 1

GREETING AND EXHORTATION FOR THE NEW YEAR

-1899-
Dear Friends of the WATCH TOWEB family, accept, please, We want to outline this course of “study” and to ask all
our editorial greetings and good wishes, as we cross the the dear brethren and sisters of the WATCH TOWER family,
threshold of another year. We trust that each of us can who have not already started in this course, to take it up for
truthfully sing with the poet,- the year 1899. Blessed are sure to be the results. You will
find as you progress in it the peace of God, whirh passeth
“Looking back, we praise the way, all understanding, ruling in your hearts: this will transmute
God has led us, day by day.” the trials of faith and of patience into blessings, and the
And let us remember that the great Watchman of Spirit- sorrows and disappointments of earthly hopes into channels
ual Israel, the Lord, changes not; his exceeding great and of God’s grace, and the perplexities of life into full assurances
precious promises are all yea and amen to those who obey of faith. This graduating degree of faith, hope and love
him-to all who hy faith abide in him, trusting in the merit is attained by-
of his atonement-who, possessing his spirit of love, are seek- A PULL SUBMISSIOLQ OF OUB WILLS TO THE LOBD’S WILL
ing to walk circumspectly in his footsteps. To all such,
Do you answer,-Why, that is what I have been wanting to
if they continue thus and abound, we guarantee that the year, do ever since I consecrated myself to the Lord; but I have
1899, will be a happy year, basing our guarantee upon the not attained it;-What more can I do? Ah yes! so it has
Lord’s promises. been with all fully consecrated children of God; for a long
But how manv. who know this full well, are disposed to be
fearful, donbtfuc’ unbelieving: and thereby are paving the time we all made the same mistake of zoaphting to fully submit
way for troubles! How long it requires for some of the pupils our wills to God’s will, instead of doing so.
A good wish is an excellent thing, very important indeed,
in the school of Christ to find out wky they are in this school
and under the Teacher! Surely, the object should be to be but if the wish does not lead to performance it is valueless.
taught-to learn of him whom God has appointed to be the Some people never get beyond the wishing point m any of
Teacher of all his justified and consecrated sons, adopted into life’s affairs : they wish to rise at a certain hour in the
We do not come to this Teacher to obtain his morning, or to attend to certain recognized duties, or render
his family. some service, or speak some words of kindness or encourage-
certificate that we need none of his instruction: but that ment in the name of the Lord.-but they never fnlfil their
from his Word in conjunction with the daily experiences in
life (his “providence? to all his pupils) we may grow daily good wishes in deeds. The good wish should be followed by
in his likeness; -in grace and in knowledge. a good and determined will, which is sure to be favored hy a
If at first we, as pupils, get confused and mistake self- way in matters fully in accord with the divine will. Now,
will for God%-will, and our Teacher points this out to us without dropping a single good wish, let us begin immediately
by some failure of our projects, we are not (1) to he re- to make this a successful year, by throwing the entire
strength of our wills into doing.
bellious and resentful of the lesson; nor (2) to be discouraged But now take care-you are on treacherous grnrmd: a
and disheartened. On the contrary, we are to profit by every strong will is as dangerous as it is valuahle. If mis-directed,
experience.; seeking that the lessons of one day shall be put you have started a force, an energy, which may lead far
into practice and become our aids on following days. astray. And conscientious people are in danger along this
The most important lesson of this school-term is Faith: line especially: for when their wills get hold of a matter
the faith with which we become the Lord’s and entered his
which their consciences approve they may make as much of
school must grow. And our faith can only grow by knowl- a blunder as did Saul of Tarsus under similar cirrnmstances.
edge (We do not refer to worldly knowledge, world1 learn- There is but one safe course; and to prepare the Lnrd’s
ing), knowledge of the Lord-of his methoda, his psan, his
Hence we must study well our Teacher’s words people to know, to realize this, is the object of all the pre-
character. liminary courses in the School of Christ, tending np to this
and general conduct and as well his providence or private
instructions to 119 individually-interpreting these always graduating course. This final lesson to he lparned is that
by his words. Much of what we accepted at first by fnith the wills that are to be exercised in good deeds and good
(respecting the Lord’s goodness and wisdom) will grsduslly words are not our own wills. except as hy adoption we have
become knowledge: giving basis for still greater lengths and taken the T,ord’s will to he Ours. When we berame the
Lord’s pupils it was by and as a conaequrnre of the rur-
breadth8 of faith as well as for greater love and appreciation render of our own willa; and onr first lesson in thiq srhnol
of our Redeemer.
As in other schools. so in this, different degrees of learn- were in keeping our wills &nd. We can see as WC look hnrk-
ing are represented in the stndentn:-some are in the primary ward that hy the Great Tearher’s aid we won some victories
stage of development; _some in the intermediate, anti some in over self-will, and have come to the place where our real de-
the graduating clans. The graduating degree of discipleship in sires are, as expressed hy the poet,-
the school of Chrkt iR the one that all are to strive fnr: it “Lord, at length thy love hath conquered,
is ahaolntelv essential that we reach this degree. if we wonhi None of self, and all of thee.”
pass examihation-finish our eonrue with joy and he granted But even after we have adopted the Lord’s will (as in.
the Master’s “Well done !” and the prize of our high calling stead of our own natural preferences) and made it rmrs: and
at the end. after we have resolved to do the Lord’s will;-still we are in
124111 (3-4)
(4-S) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA.

danger and need to walk carefully, lest we misapprehend of your being-all will be appealed to either to fight the
the Lord’s will and adopt the will and plans of fellow men persecution or to abandon the course of godliness which
or of a church, instead of the Lord’s will. Consequently, led to it.
without despising human aid in the ascertainment of the Then you will be in the thick of the fight, and unless pre-
Lord’s will, while remembering that God still, as in times viously armed with the nanoplv sunnlied in the divine Word.
past, makes use of human agencies in instructing his people, you are almost sure to-lose* &ith,* become terrified and flee.
it must not be forgotten that Satan also uses human agents Bnd whoever does this is sure to be wounded, if not captured
to mislead and to deceive, and that God permits this, in by the enemy: for our armor is a front armor, not a back
order to teach us that he is the real Teacher, Hence he puts armor. It is invulnerable so long as we stand firm for the
his Word. the Bible. as the test bv which his neonle are to right, the truth, in our great Captain’s name and strength-
distinguish between true and false”teachers. saying: “If they It is a hindrance to those who draw back.
speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no But why should we flee terrified? Is not this the very
light in them.“-Isa. 8:20. test of our loyalty and devotion to the Lord and his Word,
Coming to the Scriptures to ascertain God’s will, we find for which all of our previous experiences and instructions
that the great u;ork which God asks of us is not work for oth- were but preparations? Is not this the vervI test the Lord de.
ers. but work in ourselves; subduing’, conquering. ruling self. clarcs indispensable to all who would be accounted victors
“This is the till of God rconcemimg gouj, even’your &ncti- and he made his joint-heirs in the kingdom? Is not this the
firation”’ (1 Thes. 4:3 1 Evervthine else. therefore.-our very opportunity for which we prayed, and are not the inci-
service of the household ‘of fait&, and our doing good unto dental persecutions exactly what our Lord forewarned us
all men, by home and foreign missions, etc., etc., is sub- would be part of the cost of faithful discipleship? And are
servient to this most important work within. For, as the not those the very persecutions whose absence earlier in our
Apostle by inspiration declares, Tho we should preach the Christian experience; made us wonder whether or not we were
gospel eloquently to others, and tho we should give all our acceptable sons of God?-Heb. 12:8.
goods to feed the poor, or become martyrs for a good cause, Surely, our answer to these questions must be, Yea, Lord’
mtlwut love, the spirit of Christ and the Father, developed even though because of weakness of the flesh the answer be
in us as the ruling principle of life, we would he ~zotiting, not joyous as it should be, but through unbidden tears. And
from the divine standpoint. with this answer on our Dart the Lord is uleased: and angels
On the contrary, ii we be sanctified to God by the truth- of his mercy-his prom&es exceeding great and precious-
if our wills be dead. and the Lord’s will be fullv acceuted minister unto us and strengthen us.
as ours, in thought, word and act, we have attain;d the ‘will That is the time to “fight the good fight”-and, triumph-
of God and will win the prize as “overcomers’‘-even if, ing over self-will comple&ly, to iccept-the buffetings and
opportunities being denied us, we never preached, never gave slanders and misreuresentations of good intentions and good
to the poor and never suffered as martvrs for the truth’s deeds with meeknesi and patience. That is the time whecthe
sake. Let us all note well this point,-“This is the will of Lord’s spirit of love, dwelling in us richly, will manifest itself
God lconcernine voul. even vour aanctificatiorr.” Let nothing in the control not only of our words and actions, but of our
becloud or obs&;e this truth;-neither other truths nor er’- inmost thoughts. If even so much as a bitter feeling against
rors. Let it dominate our course in life, and then, if God’s our traducers and maligners arises! it is to be fought, and
will is reallv our will, we have a clearlv marked Iuathwav AO complete a victory gained over it that every fiber of our
before us, which is very important. ” beings will be in sweet accord with our Great Teacher’s in-
But without doubt. God will onen before all such onnor- structions. “Love your enemies. Pray for them which despite-
tunities to serve the truth to othe;s,-to let their light ‘shine fully use you and persecute you. Bless and injure not.”
to the glory of the Father and the blessing of fellow creatures; Your earliest definition of “iniure not” will nrobablv have
for this is his command to us: and we may be sure he gives been that you should not kill or” wound your enemies”physi-
no commands impossible to be obeyed. If you have been rally: but as you look to the Teacher and heed his word
seeking opportunities of service and finding none, there must vou will hear him sav, “Learn of me,” and vou will note
be something wrong: you may have been seeking some apeciut with the Apostle, that “though he did no. sin, neiiher was guile
service of your own preference (your old will meddling with found in his mouth, yet, “When he was reviled he reviled not
your newly adopted will-the Lord’s). Possibly the great in return; when he suffered he threatened not: but committed
Teacher sees pride remaining-pride which vou would have his cause ‘to him that judgeth righteously.” (l Pet. 2:22, 23)
been prompt to crush, had you-recognized it: but which hid lf vou are a faithful nunil it will not be long until vou see
itself from vou under the cloak of “self-resuect.” Possiblv that the perfect law df liberty, the law of CYhrist, is’ a dis-
the great Teacher by his providence and his *Word is sayink cerner of the ver thoughts and intents of the heart, and that
to you. “Do with thy might what thy hand find&h to do.” while you must 1 ate all sin, you cannot hate any sinner and
l’osqihly he sees that YOU would be spoiled by giving you a vet have the love of God perfected in your heart. You see
more important servire for others, before you have learned ihdt this means that you -not only must not retaliate and
the lesson of humility-all important in the Lord’s sight. revile vour foes. hut must not even wish. to do so. The evil
-4ct ouicklv. therefore, the time is short. “Humble vourselves, wish must be conquered and the selfish conditions which gave
therefore. “under the mighty hand of God [to do’ whatever birth must be utterlv deatroved and renlaced with love-the
service his providence has made possible to you], that he may spirit of Christ.-Compare 1 “Car. 4:12 with 1 Cor. 6:lO.
exalt you in due time.“-1 Pet. 5:6. 9re you tempted to repine, to feel disappointed at vour
“THINK IT NOT STRANGE CONCEBNING THE FIERY TBIALS” lot in li?e or your experiences by the way? -That is the lime
Have you never suffered for righteousness’ sake-a martyr to remember that all repining, discontent and disappointmenta
to nrinciple? Strange, when the Master so nlainlv declared indicate that self-will in you is not so dead as you had
t11ai “Whosoever will. live godly shall suffer persecution.” hoped. For he who has buried his own will completely in
(‘an it be that the Lord erred? Is not the danger rather that the will of the Lord can know no disappointment; but in
you have not been living godly ? You say’> that is- your every affair of his life he sees by faith divine appointment or
highest ~%ah, to live godly: but do not forget the distinction supervision, and hears the Word of the Lord in all of life’s
already drawn hctween wishing and doing. Resign your own affairs assuring him : “All things work together for good to
will entirely, put it all away and begin to do the Lord’s, them that love God, to them who are th: called a&ording
item bg item, just as you are able to find and prove it in to his purpose.” (Rom. 8 :28) It is one of the evidences of
111sWord-using the be+ human help you can obtain, in this reaching the graduating condition of heart. when we are
seeking and proving. Soon the persecutions will come: and able to -fake the oppositions of the great Adversary and of the
from most unexpected quarters. world and of our own flesh vatientk. uncomnlaininnlv. un-
And whrn the persecutions come, be prepared for them- nuirmuringly, “joyfully’‘-as ‘a part “of the bisciplinar’ ex
forearmed by God’s Word: for they will be temptations to perience meted out to us by our all-wise and all-loving fiord:
your flesh: through them the Adversary will seek to embitter Such is the “good fight.” The first battle is the severest,
your soul and to stir up in vou the elements of the old nature and each subsequent victorv is easier: for with each victorv
reckoned dead-anger, malice, hatred, envy, strife. If this t)>c new will (the Lord’s “will in us) grows stronger, and
be the effect of prr\ccutions in you, the Adversary is gain- Hope’s sight of the things God has in reservation for the
ing the victory--you are not overcoming evil. but being over- fsithful grow keener, and Faith’s strength and endurance
cn’mr by it. -The old nature will even call upon i& best greater. And with the very first victory come blessings, which
qualities to fight aeninst nersrcution-it will call UDOU vour are added to sfter every victory: blessing of rest, peace, joy in
natural sense‘.of cJustice ‘to come, help and resist: it “will the holy Spirit and full assurance of faith, as our Teacher
call upon Conscientiousness to agree that the persecution is promised.-“RZessed are ye when men shall revile you and
unmerited ; it, will call upon Benevolence and Spirituality, persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely,
your love of family and friends. and every other good quality for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad f”
124121
JANUARY 1, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER

From this standpoint and no other, is it possible to accept meet. “And the very God of peace shall bruise Satan under
with fortitude and resignation whatever te8te of patience, your feet shortlv.“-Ram. 16 : 20.
perseverance, faith, hope and love the Lord may see fit to per- ” Let our prayers every morning ascend to God,-“Let the
mit to come upon you. In this condition all our experience8 words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be ac-
will result in blessings, however unpropitious they may appear ceptable in thy sight, 0 Lord, my Strength, and my Re-
on the surface. deemer.” (Psa. 19: 14) And every evening let us review the
It is from this standpoint (of victory over self-will-unto day, judging our hearts (wills) by the Lord’s law of perfect
cumctification of spirit through obedience to the truth) that love-praying his forgiveness of shortcomings, and thanking
all the blessings and promises of the divine Word are our8 in our Lord for the strength and grace which brought its
the fullest eense-“All things are yours, . . . . whether thing8 victories.
l 0 *
present, or things to come; . . . . [for] ye are Christ’s ; and
Christ is Gods.” This is the graduating degree of the School “Come, let us anew our journey pursue,
of Christ, dearly beloved, in which we all seek to be approved Roll round with the year,
during the year just begun. Let us unite our hearts and And never stand still till the Master appear.
prayeis, and abovk all o;r new wills, with each other’s and His adorable will let us gladly fulfil,
with our Maeter’e. to this end that we mav be whollv sancti- And our talents improve,
Red and for the Master’s use, present and prospect&e, made By the patience of hope, and the labor of love.”

THE CHURCH’S DIVINELY APPOINTED MISSION

“Seeing we have this ministry, a8 we have received mercy, we faint not.“-2 Cor. 4: 1.
What is the mission of the church?-What ministrv or Protestants, is what may be termed the worldly idea of the
service has the Lord appointed to his consecrated people? church’s mission ; viz., to engage in merciful, philanthropic,
This auestion is one that should be nrominent and clear be- educational, moral and benevolent works, in the interest of
fore ihe mind of every consecrated child of God. It is of the mankind. In other words, this view recognizes the church
utmost importance that the servant know what is expected as the moral influence which God has placed in the world
of him before proceeding far in rendering service; otherwise for the world’s uplift and regeneration.
he will be more than likelv to waste his energies in wrong We hold that this view is wrong, wholly unscriptural;
directions-leaving undone -those things which- ought to bs that it is a mistake to suppose that the church is Dlaced in
done. and givine attention to matters which would better the world as a reformatory;netitution. But if we aie asked,
be attended”to oTherwise according to the plan and arrange- Should Christians not take a deen interest in all reforms-
ment of the great Supervisor of the plan of salvation-the in temperance reform, for instance, in social purity, in po-
Lord. litical reform, in good citizenship, in anti-tobacco crusadee,
The answer8 to this question throughout Christendom in socialistic developments, in financial reforms, etc.? we
would probably divide themselves into three groups-two of answer, Yes, indeed; no one could be a true Christian and
them quite unscriptural, and the third, altho Scriptural, by yet be without sympathy a8 respects all these and every other
reason of other errors generally associated with it, is made possible efforts for the mental. moral and nhvsical unlift of
unreasonable, and held in its purity and consistently by but our race. And yet you say that this is nit “the mii8ion of
few. We will examine these as follows:- the church ? Yes, we answer; altho our sympathies are with
( 1) THE ROMAN CATHOLIC VIEW of the church’s mission every good work, we are at the same time to inquire of
i8 that she is the ruler of the world, appointed to be such the Lord respecting how, where, what, we may do in hi8
by the Almighty, and duly empowered and authorized to rule service, if we would be colaborers together with him: “Lord,
over kings and nations, to order all the affairs of earth, moral, what wouldst thou have me to do?” Our query should not be
political, financial, social and ecclesiastical,-the pope and his addressed to fellow-men, nor should* we accept the burdens
hierarchy constituting this spiritual kingdom. This spiritual and duties and obligations which their judgments and con-
kingdom, it claims, reigned gloriously in the past,-during the sciences would lay upon us. Rather we are to hearken to the
period which the remainder of mankind denominate “the voice of the Lord (the Scriptures), and are to follow his di-
dark ages.” They claim that now this kingdom is suffering a rections, regardless of our own and other people’s conjectures
reverse at the hands of infidelity, Protestantism, etc., and is as to what would be the most expedient.
deprived of its proper, God-given and God-intended rights, as Nowhere in the Scripture8 are God’s people directed to
the supreme government of the earth. It claims that very spend their time in efforts at morally reforming the world.
shortly there will be a grand change in earth’s affairs, which Our Lord did not engage in this work, neither did the
will put back again, into its possessions and under its con- apostles, nor did they offer any tluggestion to the effect that
trol absolutely, all peoples, nations, kindreds and tongues, so the work of the church should ever differ from the work
that again, as of yore, the pope shall be the recognized which they performed and directed us to continue. On the
head of the world, all other religions be overthrown and ef- contrary, they declare that we have the apostles for ensample8
fectually stamped out, and that thus the world shall be of how we ought to walk. Thev declare that our Lord’s course
blessed-bv a return to medieval conditions. was in full, perfect harmony “with the divine will and plan,
We dispute this theory, and hold that the Scripture8 teach and that the anostles faithfullv followed his examule: and we
to the contrary: that the reign of the church as the kingdom are exhorted tb simply becorn; coworkers together with God
of God to rule and bless the world is declared to be not in his work, already instituted,-not to alter or attempt
during this “present evil world” or age, hut in one to fol- to improve on them. There were moralist8 and moral re-
low this, to be inaugurated by our Lord Jesus with power formers in our Lord’s day; some along the line of total
from on high, as his second advent. The Scriptures point abstinence, some along the line of asceticism, inculcating
out, in harmony with sound reason, that the sufferings of the rigid self-denials in food, clothing, etc., as essential to a moral
church are not coincident with her reiur. but nrecede it. The uplift of the people. There were also political reformers, who
sufferings of this present time, they assure us,‘are not worthy sought the establishment of republican institutions, in hi8
to be compared with the glories which shall be (future) day; and social reformers, who sought to establish forms of
revealed in us. (Rom. 8: r8) These sufferings, tho they communism. There were also dress reformers at that time,
are to be unto death, are to be esteemed light affliction8 and who advocated certain peculiar styles of clothing, beneficial
to be rejoiced in, because of the divine assurance that they are to health, morals and religious sanctity. Do we find that
zoorking out for us (preparing us for) a far more exceeding our Lord or his apostles ever associated with any of these,
and an eternal weight of glory, as yet unseen.-2 Car. 4: 17. or that they ever in any word or act gave sanction or
(2) THE COMMON VIEW A~oNom PBOTESTANTS respect- encouragement to any of these theories or reforms? No,
ing the mission of the church resembles the foregoing con- not once.
eiderablv, except that the pope and his associates are re- It may, indeed, be claimed that a kind of Christian com-
jetted as respects their claims- to special divine authority to munism at the beginning went without rebuke, even if it were
rule the world. The claim of the Protestants. however. is not commended by the apostles. We answer that the short-
that religion should undertake to rule the world, and’ to lived communism of the early church was to some extent the
place its -representatives in power amongst the nations; and result of the new doctrines promulgated by Christ, the central
that higher and better forms of religious sentiment should feature of which was love to God and love to fellow-men, as
be cultivated, the religion of the world growing with it8 poli- opposed to the selfish sentiment8 of fallen man: so that
tics and its social conditions, and thus leading the world without divine instruction there was a dieposition on the
onward and lifting the degraded masses up to good citizenship. part of believers to have “all things in common.” But if the
In other words, this claim, growinglg prevalent amongst holy spirit sanctioned and permitted this, in the beginning,
[2413]
w-9) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, P.z.

it was evidently only as a lesson, as an experience to the arm of the Lord revealed?” (Isa. 53 : 1; John 12:38) As the
church. to show that union and communion of this kind is not Scriptures declare, so she finds it, that the vast majority of
nracticable under present conditions, while all are troubled mankind are blind, so that they cannot see the light: some
by imperfections 03 the flesh-their own and that of other are stone blind, so as to see nothing: while others are par-
men. At all events we do know that the Lord did not permrt tially blrnd and can get a little glimmer of it by which ihey
that communism to last long, but, as we are told, pernutted can discern some things indistinctlv. In hearlne. likewise.
instead a great persecution to arise against the church, which the world’s ears are dill of hearix&-“deaf,“’ say”the Scrip:
scattered the would-be communists everywhere to preach the tures. Some hear nothing, others hear very imperfectly, few
Go@. hear the message of divine love and mercy clearly and dis-
Nor did the apostles ever recommend such procedure, or tin&Iv. The church is to realize that her missron is not to
attempt such an arrangement amongst the Christians else- these; the blind and deaf, but to hrm “that bath an ear [to
where 1 If, then, the teaching and example of our Lord and hear.l--let ham hear/“-Rev. 2:7: 3:6. 13. 22.
his anostles are our criterion of the will of the Lord. the dur Lord remarked this condition’to ‘his followers, when
chur&‘s commission is not to morally reform the world. ’ But present with them in the world, saying, “Blessed are your
perhaps someone will say, Times are- changed from what they eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear,” and he de-
were. and the church’s work should change accordinalv. We clared that his parables and teachings were not uttered
answer, that the Apostle Paul declares inso many wdrds, “I with the intention of making the blind see and the deaf hear,
have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.,’ but purposely so that the deaf might not hear, and so that
(Acts 20:27) Whatsoever, therefore, is additional to that the blind might not see. When the disciples inquired re-
which was stated by the Apostle is not the counsel of God. specting the rnterpretation of a parable, he-said, “To you it
And any counsel from any other quarter is not to be received is given to know the mvsteries of the kingdom of God: but
bv Christians, and is sure to be misleading. Again, the to ;hem that are witho&, all these things are done in’ par-
Apostle says to Timothy, respecting the Word of God,. “All ables: that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hear-
Scripture is given bv inspiration of God. and is nrofitable ing thev mav hear. and not understand.” (Luke 8: 10) Thev
for -doctrine, -for reproof, * for correction, ‘for instriction in had indeed the natural sight, and the natural hearing, but
righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly thev lacked the mental sieht and hearing. And the message
furnished unto all good works.” (2 Tim. 3:16, 17) If, there- tha”t our dear Master preavched. and that-he commissioned h?s
fore, it was God’s design that the church’s mission should apostles and his church to preach throughout this age, is the
change at some future time we should be able to find in the same-not for the blind. not for the deaf. but for those
Scriptures some intimation of this kind, and some authority “blessed,,’ favored ones who have eyes and cab.
for the change. And if we find no authority for a change As our Lord did not expect many to respond to his preach-
in her mission, we should make no change. ing, and particularly implied that only a small number would
But some one inquires, Did not our Lord especial1 go be able to do so, saying, “No man can come unto me, except
after the nublicans and sinners. and sneciallv welcome t Eem: the Father which sent me draw him,,’ so his church through-
and was *not this an indication to * us that the church’s out this age is to realize that when she lifts up the light and
work is to be largely amongst the lower, depraved classes lifts up her voice no man will come in resnonse except as the
of mankind? We answer that the nublicans and harlots were Fathe; draws him. And as the Father drew only a compara-
not made the subjects of special *missionar efforts on the tivelv small remnant of the Jewish nation to our Lord. so
part of our Lord and his apostles: it was w E en these classes the church should not be surprised that he has drawn only
came to his mini&-v, to his preaching. manifested interest a comparatively small proportion of Gentiles throughout
therein and signs oflrepentance and re&mation, that he re- this age.
ceived them cordially; he did not refuse to recognize them, Following our text the Apostle points out why this is the
as did the Pharisees. The record is not that he went on case: why the majority of mankind are not in a condition of
slumming missions, after the publicans and harlots, but, he heart to see and appreciate the light, to hear and to rejoice in
“receiveth lnublicans and1 sinners,” and that manv of these the Gospel, not in the condition to be drawn bv the Father.
lower class& heard him gladly. (Luke 15 :2 ; Ma*rk 12 :37) He declares that it is because “the god of this world [Satan]
Furthermore, be it noticed, these publicans and sinners were hath blinded their minds” (vs. 4). and thus hindered the
members of the Jewish church-for that entire nation was light of divine truth from shining unto them. He points out
accepted of God as his people, and they were all included that all such are in a lost condition, without God and without
under the typical sacrifices for sin, on the Day of Atonement; hope in the world. Not, however, they that are any more
and they were all reckoned as under the Law Covenant- lost now than they have been all along for six thousand vears:
covenanters. These lower classes had slipped away from the for whoever is not in Christ, whoev& is out of relationship
outward observance of the Jewish law. but our Lord testified to God, is a member of that laree class. servants of sin. still
that many of them were in far better condition of heart under condemnation, still straniers from God. still lost in
to receive his message than were many of the outwardly the wilderness of sin. Thev have not vet been found bv the ereat
pious Pharisees. Shepherd who promises that in d& time ail the &ue lhee
shall be found ;-that all the Satan and prejudice-blinde
(3) THE CORRECT VIEW OF THE UHUBCIi’S MISSION eyes shall be opened to see the light of divine goodness and
The question then arises, If the church is not to rule the truth; and all the deaf ears shall be unstopped to hear the
world in this present age. and if she is not to be the world’s message of the grace of God.-Isa. 35:5.
instructor, uplifter, bv -moral reforms, what is her mission- (b) It is another part of the mission of the church to
what other mission c&r she have? And this brines us to the care for those who do see the light which she holds up, and
third view, which quite a number hold in a more-or less con- who are attracted by that light, and who come unto the Lord.
fused way-their commingled errors beclouding and vitiating She is to teach and instruct such, and to introduce them to
the truth. the full fellowship of the high calling by making clear to
(a) Her chief mission is toward herself. She is to lift them. as the Lord’s mouthniece. “what is the hone of our
UD the lieht in the world. the True Light-not with the calling,,’ present and futu&no’w to suffer with Christ for
eipectatio; of enlightening ‘the world, not” with the thought righteousness’ sake, to cultivate his spirit, his disposition, to
that her feeble lamp shall scatter earth’s night of sin and bear much fruit of the spirit in our own hearts and lives,
darkness of sunerstition: for that can be accomplished onlv and thus, under divine supervision, to be fitted, polished and
by the coming bf the morning, the Millennial morning, when prepared for a place in the glorious temple of the future for
the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healin in his a share in the elorious work of the incomine ape.-the bless-
beams. She holds up the light of the truth, the lig3 t of the ing of the world.-1 Cor. 1:26; Eph. 1: 18; “2 Thes. 1: Il.
Gospel, during this night, to attract some-“a peculiar peo- The church is supplied by her glorious Head, Christ Jesus,
pie”-not to attract and gather all. but “even as many as the with certain gifts of the spirit, amongst her members of the
Lord our God shall call.‘, (Acts 2:39) Her message earth; and these coworking together -in their various offices
respecting the love of God and the salvation which is in Cbrrst are to strengthen. establish. unbuild. develop, one another.
Jesus, as it rings out into the world, is not expected to awaken growing in grace’ and in the knowledge and’ spirit of the
the world and to lead the world to the Lord. No, she is merely Head, until the whole church shall eventually, by the close of
bearing “witness. “-a witness which will have to do also with this age, be brought to the stature of the fulness of ner-
a future knowledge and opportunity to be granted to the fection-as the body of Christ, under the Lord Jesus as-the
world during the Millennium. Head. (Enh. 4:13) But she is not to exnect that all. even
She is instructed bv the Word of the Lord not to expect of those who see her light, and who hear’ her nroclamation,
that any but a comparatively small number will apprec’ate and who draw near in harmony with her message, will
her linht or her meqsaee: as the Prophet foretold. so she has eventually come into full membership in this glorious body of
found”it, “Who hath bzlieved our report? and to whom is the Christ. On the contrary, she is assured of the Lord in ad-
[2414]
JANUARY 1, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (10-11)

Vance that, while only a few, comparatively, will hear her and that to the world’s blessing. He assures us that it is our
message, the call, a still smaller number will accept the call mission “to fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of
-for many are called proportionately, to the few who are Christ, for his body’s sake, which is the church.” (Col. 1~24)
chosen-who make their calling and election sure by faithful- He tells us, along the same line, that while we are to do good
ness to the conditions imposed.-2 Pet. 1:lO. unto all men as we have opportunity, our service is to be
(c) The conditions imposed upon the church are designed specially to the household of faith. Our efforts that will go
of the Lord to be crucial tests of her Zovaltu to him, and toward the world of mankind in general are to be only the
to the law of the New Covenant* under whiih she was received side-glances, as it were, the overfl;w of our efforts expended
by him. Trials, difficulties, persecutions, are useful in proving chiefly and directly upon the members of the body of Christ,
whether or not her covenant of consecration is from the heart: the consecrated church ,-expended in building one another up
those who have merely made a lip covenant will be sifted out, in the most holy faith.-Rom. 8: 17 ; 1 Cor. 4: 5 ; 6 :2 ; Gal.
manifested, separated from the true ones whom the Lord 6:lO.
de&mates his iewels. and his sins; and whom he purposes (d) Quite a goodly number of Protestant Christians
to make joint-heirs in the kingdom with his well-belo;ed-Son, theoreticallv take more or less of the position which we
our Lord Jesus. It is for this reason that this call and have herei; stated, especiallg our Presbyierian and Baptist
election or selection of the church takes place during this friends. But when we- come Vto consider God’s object in ‘thus
present age, while evil is still permitted to reign in the world, sneciallv dealine with the church we find that verv few indeed
and while the maioritv of mankind are under the blinding e’ven of” these have any comprehension of it. “The general
influences of the gr*eat Adversary, not yet bound.-Rev. 20 : l-8 thought is that God merely wishes to elect the church, and
As our Lord explained, the darkness of sin and error is in that he is thorouehlv indifferent as respects the poor world,
direct antagonism with the light of truth, and consequently that for six tho&.ahd years has lain- in a lo& condition
when his people lift up the light,-“let their light so shine under the blinding influence of Satan. and deaf to the Gospel
as to glorcfy ihe Father in heayen” who has called them “out call. Here we &at differ, for we’ find the Scriptures *to
of darkness into his marvelous light,“-the effect upon the teach a much more wonderful, much more benevolent, much
darkened world will be to awake; opposition, antagonism; more grand plan of God than that.
because the effect of the light is to make manifest the evils We find it to teach that this church, now being selected or
of darkness which would not otherwise appear; and thus to elected, is merely a first-fruit unto God of his creatures, and
disturb and make uncomfortable those in sympathy with that a areat work is to be done for the world of mankind,
darkness. Consequently those who love darkness, those who through-this church, after she shall have been glorified and
love evil. those who love sin. in its varied forms, hate the associated with her Lord in the heavenlv kinedom. The same
light, neither come to the light; but either publicly or secretly Scriptures which tell us that now the w&Id i’; blind and deaf,
oppose the children of the light, the enlrghtened ones, the and that Satan, “the rince of this world,” “the god of this
light-bearers. And even those who have gotten out of the age.” has dire&Iv an B indirectlv had much to do with this
extreme darkness of moral pollution into a kind of twilight blindness, tell us” also that the iime is to come when all the
of civilized reformation and moral reform cannot endure the blind eyes shall be opened, and all the deaf ears shall be un-
clear, searching light of the true Gospel; they much prefer stopped. and when Satan. the great deceiver. shall be bound,
a measure of darkness.-John 3 :20. resirained, permitted no *longed to deceive humanity. These
It is in consequence of this conflict between light and Scriptures assure us that the church now being selected and
darkness that our Lord suffered at the hands of those who proved, and thus made meet for the inheritance of the saints
professed to be children of the light, children of God, and in light, is to be God’s channel of blessing to mankind; and
who had at least a little light. Our Lord was not maltreated that Head and body, Jesus and his church, shall constitute
by the Roman governor and the Roman soldiers of their own in the full sense the promised “seed of Abraham,“’ or Spirit-
volition, for they were so totally blind as not to appreciate ual Israel, through which all mankind shall be blessed with a
anything of the light which he displayed. His persecutors knowledge of God’s true character, and with an opportunity
were those who had some light, but who hated the brilliancy of for gaining eternal life in the Millennial judgment day which
the great light which shone-upon them. Similarly all the way God has appointed.-Gal. 3: 16, 29.
down through this Gospel age those who have been burning One of the particular trials with many of the Lord’s peo-
and shining lights in the world have been hated and perse- ple is that thev are freauentlv unbraided bv less consecrated.
cuted, largely, we might say chiefly, almost exclusively, by worldly-wise p;ofessors, -with the suggestion” that they are se11
those who had some light, but whose light was darkness fish. and nenlectful of the true work of the church. because
in comparison to the great light of the holy spirit shining the+ do not?oin with others in the various political. social,
in and through the Lord’s fully consecrated ones. Thus was financial and” moral reforms of the world; ‘or in “revival”
fulfilled our Lord’s testimonv. “If thev have hated me, they efforts to drive and scare the worldlv. whom God has not
will also hate you.” “Whoioever wifi live godly in Christ “called” by the truth along Script&al lines. If we are
Jesus shall suffer persecution.” The Lord’s followers in the obliged to endure something on this score for Christ’s sake, it
nresent time are called upon to suffer persecution for right- is only a part of “the sufferings of Christ” in which we
&ursness’ sake, not because it is either *reasonable or proper, should rejoice; realizing that the Lord knows our faithfulness
but because the Lord, wishing to test, prove and olish his to him and to his Word. We may realize also, that in due
people, is willing to permit the evil, opposing in Buences to time others shall see the divine nlan actuallv fulfillina. as we
prosper, and persecute and oppose his “members,” and thus to are now permitted to see it by the eye of faith; and they will
serve his cause in the preparation of his elect for a future then see that the “wise vireins” were wise in that thev
work of service. Thus the persecutors of the “body,” like hearkened to and obeyed the-Lord’s Word, and made them-
the persecutors of the Head, are cosperating to fulfil the selves ready for the future work of service for the world.-
divine nlan in a manner thev little susnect.-John 15: 18; 1 Rev. 19:7; Eph. 4:12.
John 3:13; 2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Thea. 2:14, lb; 2 Thea. 3:4. We can sympathize with those who see nothing; we can
We mieht multinlv the Scrintural declarations that this sympathize also with those who see a little, and who strive
is the call”of the ch;&h in the present time-to let the light toward moral and other reforms, and in various ways for the
shine and thus to attract persecution, and to endure the per- sectarian prosperity rather than for the upbuilding of the
secution for righteousness’ sake, and to be rightly exercised saints, the church of the living God, whose names are writ-
by it in patience, brotherly-kindness, pity and love-toward ten in heaven. We should have natience. narticularlv with
the persecutors and toward-all men. - - those who give evidence that the; are la&ring in h&monv
As it was the mission of our Lord not to rule the world, with their ‘Convictions. If they are engaging in good work%
nor to judge the world, at his first advent, but to lay down of anv kind thev deserve our svmDathv. and &doubtedlv will
his life for the world. so it is the mission of the church. obtaii a blessing as a result. The’ trui’church is labor&g not
the body of Christ, not to rule the world, nor to judge the merely for o blessing, but for the blessing-“the prize of our
world now, but to “lay down our lives for the brethren.” high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:14) Let all.
(1 John 3: 16) Our Lord declares. “I came not to iudne the then, who ;3ke the prize, and who see the light of God’s glory
world.” (John’ 12 :47) The Son of ‘Man came to lay “down his shining in the face of Jesus Christ our Lord, be faithful to the
life for the world. (John 6:51; 10:15) “My kingdom is not Father’s terms, conditions, calling. service. Let all such give
of this world.” (John 18:36) And so the Apostle assures attention to this ministry (service) which we have receiuved,
us that we are not to reign now, but on the contrary to and faint not; be not discouraged, whether men hear or
suffer with Christ, if we would reign with him and by and whether thev forbear, whether thev think ill of us or whether
bv: that we are not to iudge the world now, but on the they speak ill of usi let us remember that our report at the
contrary to judge nothing” be>ore the time; but he assures end of the trial is to be rendered to the Lord himself, when
us that in God’s due time the saints shall judge the world, he is making up his jewels. Let us remember that the Arst
l See June 15, 1919, for critical examination of Covenants. condition of acceptance with him is loyal obedience to his
[2415]
(11-13) ZION’S WATCH TOWER .‘iLLEGRENY, PA.

Word, the evidence of love for him and faith in him. (2 Cor.
10:s. 6) Let UR remember. also. that the second aualification
----, -I
he will look for in us is iove ior the brethren, headiness to
be, to do and to suffer, to die on behalf of those who are
rea Iv. trulv consecrated children of God, seeking to walk
f’ ”
in nis ways.
All thus following in the ministry (the service) which
we have received of God, And themselves today walkiyg in the
footsteps of Jesus and the apostles, and find the various pre-
dictions made respectinn the entire church aDDlicable to its
living members a&o, as, for instance, followiri< our text, the
Apostle declares of this class who have this ministry:-
“We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord: and
ourselves your servants [the church’s servants, not the wbrld’s
servants] for Jesus’ sake. . . . . We are troubled on every
side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, yet not in despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus
[always representing Christ and his sacrifice as dying mem-
bers of his body] that the life also of Jesus might be made
manifest in our bodv. For we which live [as new creatures
in Christ Jesus] ar;! always delivered unto- death for Jesus’
sake [our consecration at the beginning was a consecra-
tion to death; it changes not; it will always so continue,
until we have finished our course and have actuallv died],
that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in ou;
mortal flesh.“-Verses 5-l 1.
In other words, the trulv consecrated church of Christ,
all “whose names- are written in heaven,” are his repre-
sentative members upon the earth, throughout this Gospel
age. The Head suffered eighteen hundred years a3o, the
members of the body have since been suffering with him, and
have been learnine the Same lessons of obedience to the divine
will, and trust an’s confidence in the divine wisdom, and love
for the brethren; and by and by the entire body of Christ will
have finished its course. and will have been received by the
Head into his glory, and then will begin God’s great woik for
the world, for which all his dealings with the church are but
the divine preparation. In the church the Lord will give to
the world kings, to rule in righteousness.-in love, instead
of in selfishness and pride; but the church will also be priests,
to bless with the knowledge of the truth, and with help out
of the mire of sin, back to full harmony with God, all who
desire to return to him. It will then be true, “Thou hast
made 11s unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign
on t,he earth.“-Rev. 5: 10.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED
WILL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH BE
RE-ESTABLISHED?
Question.- -If the saints and the Lord are not visible to the we are not informed, nor need it specially concern us, since
world during the Millennium, how will their loved friends, we know that our Father is abundantly wise, and abundantly
who did not have the same hope of union in Christ, have able, and abundantly loving, to do for his creatures all
fellowship with them? things needful to the comfort and happiness of those who
Answer.-In the present life the “saints” themselves do love and obey him.
the most of the loving: true. thev also are beloved to some ARE GREAT SACRIFICES AND SUFFERINQS NECESSARY TO
extent by some who &e not ‘now “the Lord’s people, and not JOINT-HEIRSHIP?
called to the hieh calline. but the lovine of the latter is Questiofl.--What about the majority of Christians who, be-
usually more of rhe selfish-brder of love, a;d less fervent. lieving in Christ, are not yet called upon to make any great
The saints will be as able to love their kindred and the sacrifices for his sake?
world in general as at present, and, we might say more able, Answer.-For a general answer, we refer to the article in
because of their perfected powers. Now, their chiefest love is our issue of May lit, 1895, entitled, “Perfect Through Suf-
for the Lord himself, their secondary love is for the house- ferinrz.” Evervone who seeks to walk carefullv and honestlv
hold of faith, and as they love not the world, neither the befor; the Lord, in the footsteps of Jesus, <‘ill surely finh
things of the world, their love for the worldly is more of that it will cause something of self-sacrifice-the sacrifice
a benevolent hope-a wish for the welfare of mankind in gen- of human aims or plans or preferences.
eral. and in particular of all to whom thev are attached bv But, this question may be viewed in another light. The
earthly ties. - The prophet, speaking for these, declares: “r questioner mav mean to lay stress upon the word “great,”
shall be satisfied when I awake in thv likeness:” with our ner- and may have”in mind the endurance of persecutions such as
fected powers received in resurrectioh change we will cogpre- came uDon our Lord. the aDostIes. and others of the faithful
hend the lengths and breadths, the heights and depths of the in the iast-imprisohments: “ cruel mockings and scourgings,”
divine provision for our friends and for all men;-secured and violent deaths. Our answer, from this standpoint, is
by God’s love and wisdom, through the great sacrifice of that it is not for us to supervise the trials and difficulties
atonement finished at Calvary. which may beset us. It is for us to make an unreserved con-
As for the worldly: they will have little difficulty gener- secration of ourselves to the Lord. and then leave to him the
ally in assuaging their sorrows. This is evident from the decision of how great shall be dur trials and besetments-
fact that, partings caused by death so soon lose their poig- how great our sacrifices in following his leadings. The Lord
nnnry. ‘I%(* chief (‘ause of much of the grief manifested at the may see that some need special trials, more than others,
present time is the fear and uncertainty with which the ma. and those things which to some would be great trials and
jority of people regard the future of the present life, and of imply great sacrifices, to others, because %f greater love
that wblc~b is to come. Tbe latter fear is born of misin- to the Lord and his cause. and ereater zeal for service, the
terpretationq of Scripture, inspired by false human traditions. sacrifice might seem to be,’ as th< Apostle expresses it of his
When tbev shall come to know that their erstwhile friends. own. “light afflictions, which are but for a moment, and
the saints: are forever with the Lord. thev will be as satin: wbic+ are working out a far more exceeding and eternal weight
tied as WC now are Ratisfied to think of o<r Lord Jesus, our of p1or.y.” If wi are doing our part faithfully-if we are
beet Friend, as heine hinblv exalted and on a different Diane
.I . .,
faitltfnl to the Lord and to his people, and to his truth, to
of bcili,c from ourselves. the best of our knowledge and ability, God will surely over-
As for the method of communication between the glorified see our affairs so that we shall have just the right experiences
Church and the world undereoincr the discinlinen of the resti- to (levelon us: iust the Droner onnortunities of sacrifice which
tution : WP need not supposed th\t much cbmmunication and his wistldm seei to be aipropriaie and needful to us. He will
personal attention and care for our loved ones of earth will Imv(* no t,rue son without chastisements, disciplines, neither
be necessary. What would be good for one person would will 11tsforsake us in our trials, but will stand with us, SO
generally he good for all, and our heavenlv Father’s Dlan that we shall not be tempted above that we are able, having
ii sn &untlant in itn provisions for the blccraing of all ihat, provided a way of escape.
untlprstandinr snmethirm of his character and nlan. we alreadv In this enlightened day physical scourging5 are not sanc-
realizta that ‘bc prop& to do for all mankind ‘exceeding]? tioned b;9 the world, nevertheless we may be called on to en-
abundantly mortl than all that we coulrl have thought or dure patiently and uncomplainingly “cruel mockings” of the
asked for those we lolc most. So when the world has that lonrl~r:-we may be imprisoned ‘in the sense of being OS-
whirl1 divine provision will make general during the Millen- tracieed for the truth’s sake;-as our Lord foretold, “They
nial age, there will be very little necessity, if any, for spe- shall cast you out of the synagogue and separate y&u from
cial interventinn3, nr special communications by the saints tn their compalzy: yea, whosoever shall kill you shall think that
tho\c for whom tllpy now feel sn soliritnus. he do&h God service.” Many today are thus imprisoned and
And yet we can readily suppose that God has made some kil!rd in iafluencc? for the trutb’q sake. Thur the ADostle also
arrangement by whic*h. eventuallv, there will be a cnmmuni- declared, “I die dailv.” And all who will constitutk the elect
ration hetwcen”the (restored) earthlv and the heavenly planed ovrrroming churrh, “mud die thus. In the symbolic language
of beina. as there WI\R in Eden befnie sin entered.-w’hen
I.
God of Revelation this is termed behen&&. and we are assured
either personally or thron*gh a representative talked with our that all who will share the first resurr&ion and the kingdom
first parents. Just bow this communication will be established will have been thus symbolically beh.mded.-Rev. 20:4.
124161
 NOW HIS WILL IS MINE-1899
“Once I sought a blessing: now I’ve found my Lord; “Once ‘twas painful trying: now ‘tis restful trust;
Once I sought for feeline: now I’ve found his Word: Once a half-salvation: now the uttermost;
Once his g:fts I wanted: now the Giver own; . Once ‘twds ceaseless holding: now he holds me fast;
Once I sought flesh-healing: now himself alone. Once ‘twas constant drifting: now my anchor’s cast.

“Once it was my working: his it hence shall be; “Once ‘twas busy planning: now ‘tie trustful prayer;
Once I tried to use him: now he uses me; Once ‘twas anxious caring: now he has the care:
Once the power 1 wanted: now the mighty One; Once ‘twas what I wanted: now what Jesus says;
Once for self I labored: now for Christ alone. Once ‘twas constant asking: now ‘tis ceaseless praise.

“Once I hoped in Jesus: now I know he’s mine;

Once my lamps were dying: now they brightly shine;
Once for death I waited: now his presence hail,
And my hopes are anchored safe within the vail.”

FOLLOW THE LAMB WHITHERSOEVER HE GOETH

JAN. %-JOHN 1: 35-46.
“Behold the Lamb of God!“-John 1:36.
John’s mission was to bear witness to Jesus. He knew him took the place of the Law Covenant, so that any Jew, al-
well from his infancy to manhood, and as cousins according to ready baptized into Moses, and already thus in covenant
the flesh they doubtless had discussed various features of the relationiship, would, by merely acceptin Christ as the Mes-
divine law, and they were of one heart as respects service to siah, the antitype of Moses, and the 2 ediator of the tNew
the Lord. Neither could begin a public service until thirty Covenant (and in harmony with his faith, repenting of sin),
years of age, since this was one feature of the law, but John be adopted, reckoned as a member in the body of Christ, in-
being six months the elder was thus privileged to begin his stead of as a member of the body of Moses. All others,
ministry six months in advance of our Lord. During that however, who were of the Gentiles, and not of the natural
brief period he had evidently made a considerable commotion seed of Abraham, are not to come first to Moses and the Law,
as a reformer, his messa e being, “Repent ye, for the kingdom and then through John’s baptism into Christ, but are to
of heaven is at hand.“- %I att. 3:2. ignore the Law Covenant entirely, and avail themselves of the
The Jews had been waiting for the kingdom for centuries; better covenant direct, and hence they are instructed to be
they realized that the kingdo given to Sail, David, Solomon, baptized into Christ, by being immersed into his death, and to
etc., had not fulfilled the promises, and that a kingdom in a testify to this consecration outwardly, to their fellows and
larger sense, and under a greater than David and a greater before God, by an immersion in water. l -Rem. 6:3, 4.
than Solomon, was to be expected. The Apostle assures US We have no record that John the Baptist was ever im-
that this thought was continuallv before their minds. (Acts mersed himself-nor would we need to have. since he evi-
26: 7 ) John’s &ssion to that na?ion, therefore, was thk an- dently was a godly man, living up, to the best: of his ability,
nouncement that the fulfilment of the divine promise was at to the standard of the Law Covenant. His baptism, as he
hand, and that in order to be ready to receive the divine favor himself explained, was only for sinners,-those who had
they should repent of sin and turn to the Lord. And as been living knowingly in violation of the principles of right-
our Lord declared subsequently, if that nation had believed eousness. Hence also John objected at first to the baptism of
John and acted unon that belief thev would have been ready Jesus. assuring him that he was not a sinner. and that if
to receive the L&d himself, and t’o have fulfilled to them Jesus’ needed t”o be baptized, much more appropiiate would it
all the gracious promises of the kingdom to which they were be that John himself should be immersed. “I have need
heirs, as the natural seed of Abraham. to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?” -Bit our
It was because they were not in a right condition of heart Lord, while admitting the force of John’s argument that a
that they were not fit to have the kingdom, the promise of baptism of repentance and remission of sins would not be
which, therefore, was taken from them, to be given to a new appropriate in his own case, requested him to proceed with
nation, a peculiar people, a royal priesthood-which God has t& matter anyway, intimating tl;at he had somebther reason
been selecting from amongst all neoules. kindreds and tongues, why it was right. The fact is that our Lord’s baptism was
during this Gospel age, and which &II now soon be competed; the beginning of the Christian baptism: it symbolized the
and be glorified, and begin the work of blessing all the families consecration which he had just made (at the first hour of
of the earth, as the spiritual seed of Abraham.-Gal. 3:29. manhood), his full consecration to do the Father’s will, even
John did not preach to the people that they should be- unto death. ,-the giving up of his human life, a sacrifice on
lieve on God. for he was addressine onlv the believing. cove- behalf of the world. It reouired all of the Lord’s three and
nanted peoplk, Israel. His message- was”respecting th%gs al- a half years’ ministrv to cohplete what w& there svmbo%zed.
ready known to them, and believed by them. He therefore and he- said just before his irucifixion, “I have a Baptism to
exhorted merelv renentance from their sins. and a return to be baptized with: and how am I straitened till it be accom
their proper ahd cbvenanted relationship with God. In all plish<d.” (Luke i2:50) And so with the baptism of conse-
this John’s ministry is very different from the ministr of cration, “death,” into which we are to be bapiized: as mem-
the apostles to the Gentiles, who not only had been wit4 out bers of his Bodv we are to become living sacrifices. dead to
knowledge respecting God’s purposes, kingdom, etc., but also the world, alive” toward God, as is parti&larly set’ forth in
without faith or any ground of hope. As the Apostle declares, Rom. 6 : 3-5.
they were “without God, and having no hope in the world.” It was in connection with our Redeemer’s symbolical bap-
Nor did any hope reach them, nor was the Gospel message tism in water, which promptly followed his consecration to
sent to them, until after Israel’s rejection in consequence of death at thirty years of age, ind was the public declaration
their rejection of Messiah. of that devotion unto death. that the heavenlv Father bore
“The baptism of John” was to the Jews only, and was witness to his adoption to thk divine nature. tie are not in-
whollv different from the bantism atmointed for those called formed that any but John witnessed the descent of the holy
from yamongst the Gentiles. !l’he Apd&le makes this fact very spirit upon him, but John bore witness that he saw the spirit
clear in Acts 19 :2-5. John’s baptism was not a baptism into thus deicend, and that the Lord, in sending him to preach,
any thing, or into any body, whereas our baptism is a baptism had previously testified that this was to be the sign by which
into Christ, as members of his body. John’s baptism merely he would surely know the Messiah (John 1: 32, 33) It was in
signified the putting away of sins,- and thus to- return to & harmony with this that he declared to his disciples subse-
condition of holiness and consecration alreadv enioved. Our quently, a3 Jesus passed by, “Behold the Lamb of God.”
baptism signifies something very different “fro& “this-not John doubtless knew and expected that some of his disciples
the putting away of the filth of the flesh. but the submis- would cease coSperation with him, to follow the Messiah. In
sion of our consriencea, our wills, fully and unreservedly to deed he declared to them, “He must increase. but I must
the will of Christ, that we should henceforth have no wiil of decrease.”
our own. but be guided entirely by the will of our Head, The two who heard John’s testimony promptly followed
as mcFbers of hiq botl: Thus becoming dead to self-will we Jesns with n view to getting as close to the fountain head of
are recokoned alive aq new creatures,” “members in particu- --
+ See June 15, 1919, issue for critical examination of Covenants.
lar” of the body of Christ.-1 Cor. 12:27. Our friends
l of the Disciple denomkation wholly misunderstand
The Jews as a nation had already been baptized into Moses this matter, and are practisinR John’s baptism of repentance and remis-
sion of sins, instead of the baptism of Christ. They should note the
( 1 Cor. 10 :2 ) , the mediator of their Law Covenant, and to .Ioostle’s words. and correct this matter. as be instructed others to do in
the <Jew. Christ took the place of Moses and his New Covenant his day-hy a fresh baptiwm-Act+ 19:2-S
[2417-J f12 14)
 ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY. Pa.

the truth as possible; and all must admit the propriety of worthy of special investigation, simply because it came from
their course. How this suggests to us our own proper course, America; for though they might expect many useful things
to follow the Lord as nearly as possible, and to seek as much to come from America, the product of “Yankee skill,” they had
as possible to come into feliowsliip and -communion with him. no expectation whatever that any new light upon the Scrip
And the noble. self-ignorine course of John appeals to all tures would come from America, where they seemed to imagine
who have the ‘right mind Upon the subject-that similarly every one given over to cheating and muck-raking for wealth,
all of the Lord’s servants should call attention to the Lord and that consequently it would be one of the last places in
and not to themselves. Let us each bend our energies to Christendom in which the Lord would cause the harvest light
pointing men to the Lamb of God, and not to self-&eking. to shine out for the blessing of his people. This undoubtedly
And let us remember that followine Jesus. in the best sense. has hindered many foreigners from investigating the truths
means that we walk in his paths, &rive to do as nearly as we which are now meat in due season for the household of faith.
are able what he would do today, taking our lessons from America is Nazareth with them, and they expect nothing of the
what he did and said personally, and from the instructions kind from this quarter.
which he has left for us, through the apostles, respecting the Similarly, others will inquire, What denomination backs
path of fellowship in his sufferings, the path to glory and up these religious teachings? and when told that no sect or
ioint-heirshin in his kingdom. The Lord is found of all those party has endorsed these things, and that not manv great, or
who diligently seek him-from right motives, and such are by rich; or wise, have in any sex& of the word become-interested,
and by to be granted full joint-heirship with him. “Ye are thev sav to themselves. if not to others. What could vou ex-
mv friends if ve do whatsoever I command you.“-John 15: 14. peck?-Can any good come out of Nazareth? Nevertheless, all
- The evangelist furnishes us the name of only one of the who are of the Nathaniel type of character, “Israelites indeed,
two who Arst heard John the Bantist sneak of Jesus. It is in whom is no guile,” will find sufficient reason for investi-
possible that the Apostle John himself was the other one, gating, and on investigation will find sufficient proofs to satisfy
and that through modesty he refrained from bringing himself them, “as nothing else would do.” Our answer to all such
into special prominence, in his own records, just as, in an- objections should be that of Philip, “Come and see;” test,
other place, he speaks of himself as “that disciple whom examine, prove for yourself.
Jesus loved, who leaned on his bosom.” Modesty is a gem Another lesson here that should prove of value is found
wherever found, one of the graces of the spirit, which all of in the words respecting Andrew, “He first findeth his own
the Lord’s consecrated ones should seek to have largely devel- brother Simon.” So all who find the Lord, and who are anx-
oped and well polished. ious to make him known to others, should similarly begin in
The narrative of how Andrew found Peter and how Philip their own households, with their own brothers and sisters.
found Nathaniel (supposed to be the disciple called Barthole- father or mother, or husband or wife. There is frequently a
mew) is interesting, and shows that true devotion to the Lord diffidence about mentioning the Lord and the truth to those
is unselfish-desires to confer upon others all blessings and who are of the family and home circle which is surely much
truths enjoyed. This is still the spirit of true discipleship: out of place. True love for our kin should lead us to make
having found the great Light of the world, and having seen an extra and special effort on their behalf.
thereby something of the lengths and breadths, heights and In conclusion, let us remember that those who follow the
depths of the divine character and plan, we are and should Lamb through evil as well as through good report-those who
be anxious to serve the same favor to others. And this desire follow his teachings and example-are they who ultimately
to serve the Lord, and truth and our fellows should be so shall be with him and share his glory as members of his elect
strong in us as to’ make it impossible for us to withhold the Zion.-Rev, 14:4.
l 0 l
good tidines from anv selfish consideration. Indeed. if we
have the spirit of the”Lord, which is the spirit of the truth, “Cmsar’s friends? or friends of Jesus?
the spirit of true discipleship, we will be so anxious to make Solemn question for today!
known the good tidings as to be willing to “lay down our livee Friends of Caesar ! Friends of Jesus!
for the brethren”-to help them “out of darkness into his Take your sides without delay.
marvelous light.” If ye pause for man’s forbidding,
It will be noticed that these who found the Lord were full Csesar’e friendship ye secure;
of faith respecting the Messiah, of whom Moses wrote in the If ye do the Father’s bidding,
first five books of the Old Testament. called the Law. and of Scorn, reproach, ye shall endure.
whom all the prophets also wrote-Jesus of Nazareth, the
reputed son of Joseph. They had not yet learned that Joseph “Free from Caesar, friends of Jesus !
was not the father of Jesus. Stand in phalanx! never fear!
Nathaniel’s answer, “Can any good thing come out of Naza- Love, severely tried, increases ;
reth?” reminds us of the prejudice which now exists respecting Courage yet! the Lord is near!
certain quarters from which good things may or may not be Onward still, his name confessing,
expected. For instance, some of our English friends tell us Weaving crowns to grace his brow;
that when the present truth was first brought to their atten- Lo! his hands are full of blessing,
tion they were inclined to disregard it, and consider it un- Lifted for your succor now.”

WATER TURNED INTO WINE

JAN. lB.-JOHN 2: l-11.
“And his disciples believed on him.“-John 2: 11.
The third day from the calling of Nathaniel to discipleship of a feast in progress and the supplies run short: and yet
found our Lord and his disciples invited guests at a wedding she could not have known of the Lord’s power to turn water
in Cana. Cana was near to Nazareth, for many years the into wine from any previous experiences during the thirty
home of Jesus, and quite probably those who invited him, his years of her acquaintance with him; for, contrary to all apoc-
mother and his disciples was either relatives or old acquaint- ryphal stories, the boy Jesus did no miracles, nor did the
ances. This is implied in the fact that Jesus’ mother knew young man Jesus do miracles, but, as here declared, the miracle
when the wine was exhausted.; a matter which rather implied at Cana was the beginning of his miracles. Nevertheless, his
scarcity of provision, and which would be carefully kept from mother had considerable confidence of some sort, else she would
the knowledge of outsiders who might be guests. It is also not have instructed the servants to give heed to anything
implied in the statement that Mary gave commands to the Jesus might command.
servants to do whatsoever Jesus should direct, a matter which Our Lord’s reply to his mother has rather the appearance
would have been quite improper in an ordinary guest. of rudeness, but we may be sure that this was not the case.
The fact that our Lord was willing to attend the wedding The sense of the Lord’s words would seem to be to call his
implies a sympathy with the marriage-institution. Indeed, we mother’s attention to the fact that while he had, in every
know that God himself instituted marriage as between our sense of the word, been a dutiful son for thirtv vears. he had
first parents, and we have the Apostle Paul% inspired explana- now reached the period of manhood, according to-the law, and
tion that this union between man and woman which God was now devoted. consecrated. to the Lord. No doubt he and
approved was designed to be an illustration of the union be- his mother had talked the matter over previously, and he was
tween Christ, the heavenly Bridegroom, and the church, his thus reminding her that his life being consecrated now, she
bride.-Eph. 5 :22-28. could not expect him to be under her direction to the same
Jesus’ mother seems to have had some intimation of his extent as formerly-the time had fullv come that he must now
power to help the friends out of the difficulty and ignominy be about his Father’s business.
[2418]
JANUARY 1, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (16-19)

The six water-pots mentioned as for purifying were prob- into harmony with it, under our Lord’s direction, shall then,
ablv intended for the use of the guests for washing their hands. by supernatural power, find the truth transformed in them
Wishing of hands had become a’; important part-of the Jewish into the wine of joy-a joy superior to any other joy, as the
observance, and “unless they washed oft they ate not.” (Mark wine in the miracle was superior to any other wine.
7 :3) We nowhere find these washings and water-pots referred It cannot be claimed for our Lord Jesus that he was a
to in the law. They were, therefgre, probably -part of the total abstainer from alcoholic liquors, and the claim made by
tradition of ,the elders, to which our Lord so frequently re- some that the word “wine” here mentioned signifies a non-
ferred as taking the place of the law of God. These water-pots intoxicating wine, is not true. It can, however, be said on
had handles, permitting them to be tipped over, so as to pour the other side of the question, that many of the wines of that
water upon the hands of those who washed, and the six held vicinity and time contained much less alcohol than do many
about one hundred and twenty gallons of water for the supply of the wines of today. It may also be noted that changes have
of the many guests. Our Lord made use of these water-pots taken place in humanity, so that the inhabitants, particularly
in the performance of his miracle for two reasons: ( 1) Such of the temperate zone, are more highly nervous than those of
vessels were probably rarely or never used for wine, so there any other time. Hence, with stronger wines and with weaker
could be no misunderstanding of his miracle. (2) He prob- nerves, there is a largely increased tendency to excess and to
ably intended a symbolical lesson in their use; for we are injury. It is our opinion, therefore, that if the Lord were
expressly told that this miracle was a manifestation of his living where we do, and now, he would be a total abstainer
glory beforehand (vs. 11)-a manifestation of his work in the from alcoholic liquors, not only on his own account, but also
kingdom. Water is a symbol of truth, both as respects its as an example for others.
cleansing properties and also as respects its refreshment, one This miracle was evidently not only designed to establish
of the necessities of life, from which thought we have the ex- faith in our Lord bv his disciples. and amongst the people in
pression, “water of life.” Thus during the Millennial age the the vicinity of his home, but also, as already suggeited, was
servants of the truth will fill up all of mankind who are narticularlv designed to manifest in advance the still future
suitable vessels, and all thus filled with the truth, and brought &ory of M>ssiahG great work.

VOL. xx ALLEGHENY, PA., JANUARY 15, 1899

VIEW FROM THE WATCH TOWER

BLINDNESS BEGINNINO TO RETURN FROM ISRAEL
A remarkable lecture was recentlv delivered before the to mention the name of Jesus the Christ in order not to trans-
“Council of Jewish Women,’ at Philadelphia by Rabbi K. gress the law, which says: ‘Ye shall not mention the name of
Kohler on “The New Testament in the Light of Judaism.” It &her gods, neither shail it be heard upon your mouth.’ Nor
illustrates the new attitude of Jewish thought toward Chris- need we wonder at that. It was little short of idolatry which
tianity, and indicates the first stage of fleshly Israel’s recovery a paganized church made herself guilty of in her worship of
from the gross blindness of the nast eighteen centuries.-Rom. Jesus and his mother. Christianity has advanced since toward
9:31-33; r1:7, 10-12, 20, 25-29. - ” the light of Jewish monotheism. It is Jesus as a man, as an
The following extracts were the Doctor’s most favorable ideal of humanity, that is now held up for adoration and
references to Jesus and Christianity, and might be misleading emulation by Christian theology, in spite of the Trinitarian
did we not explain that, while making these remarkable ad- dogma. Both art and literature portrays him no longer as a
missions and concessions to Christianity, he attempted to offset God, but as a wondrously gifted teacher and healer of men,
them and neutralize their effect by claiming that our Lord’s who appeals to our human sympathy. Nay, more. His Apollo
most forceful teachings were merely a fresh presentation of face gave way to the historically more correct type of the
the sentiments and sometimes the verv phraseologv of the Jews. He is recognized as one of Israel’s great sons, what-
Jewish teachers who preceded him. His‘ criticism; of the ever the restriction in the flesh may amount to. Should we
Epistles of Peter, James and John are in similar strain. These, then, as Jews, not also gladly and proudly own him as one
he claims, were all Jews and merely restated or rehashed of our noblest of men and accord to him the proper position
Jewish doctrines and precepts. All the seriously anti-Jewish in our own history? . . . Ought we, notwithstanding all diffi-
and anti-Law teachings are charged to the Apostle Paul. culties, not learn to appreciate the exquisite sayings and
The Doctor fails to see the point. Biblical Christianity teachings contained in the New Testament, if only from a lit-
makes no claim of being in antagonism to ancient Judaism. erary and humanitarian point of view?
Quite to the contrarv. it claims that “holv men of old rJews1 “There is but one answer: Find the right focus, and the
spoke and wrote as “they were moved bv ?he holy spirit.‘, It colors and shades of the object in view will lead you in the
claims, however, that the real force and the tru’e &eating of direction of the one light. We need no clear sky to see the
those insnired words were not appreciated. nor intended of God sun rise on the Eastern horizon. The clouds reveal rather
to be understood until, the antiiypical sin-offering having been than hide the dawn of light. So do the myths or legends that
presented by “the Lamb of God,,’ the holy spirit was granted gather round a popular hero disclose rather than obscure the
to all consecrated believers. For instance, we heartilv assent existence of a pe&&ality impressing the people with its charm
that the Golden Rule in “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as and Dower. It must not needs be exact historical
A
truth what
thvself”- was delivered to Israel as a Dart of the Law sixteen we are told concerning Jesus. Those beautiful and strange
centuries before our Lord repeated it &(Lev. 19: 18) ; and our tales about the things that happened around the Lake of Gali-
Lord quoted it, not as an original saying of his own, but as lee show that there was some spiritual davbreak in that dark
a teaching of the Law. (Matt. 19: 19) What we claim is corner of Judea of which official Judaism “had not taken suffi-
that those words were never understood, never comprehended, cient cognizance, that a movement was inaugurated then which
until our Lord Jesus, the great Teacher, sent of God and illu- did not receive its impulse or its sanction from the regular
minated with the holy spirit, expounded them by his example authorities or schools.- It matters not whether we accord to
and teachings. More than this, we claim that the Jews and Jesus the claim and title of Messiah or Christ or not. whether
the maioritv of nrofessed Christians do not understand these the people and authorities of Judea did or not, or’ whether
words now;” that- only such as have consecrated themselves to he himself assumed it at any moment of his life. . . .
the Lord and have received the holy spirit are able to “com- “It is one of the most interesting historical and psycho-
prehend the lengths and breadths and heights and depths” of logical studies of Judaism to follow this movement through
this and other “deep things” of God’s tea<hing. If any man all its phases from the moment the cry of the coming-“the
will do my Father’s will, he shall understand the teaching. kingdom of heaven”-was heard on the shore of the Jordan
-John 7:17; 1 Cor. 2:7-12. among the humble Baptists until the fishermen of Galilee
Respecting the writings of the Apostle Paul, not only the carried the good tidings or good spell (Gospel) as the watch-
Jews. but all others. in nronortion as thev come into close word of a new faith triumphantly out into the wide world.
accord with both the’lettei and the spirit of the divine Word, All the written and unwritten records point in unison to John
will find in them the keys of the mystery of God-supplied the Baptist as the starter of the movement, the prophet-like
to the church by the Lord that they ma be “all taught of preacher of righteousness whom, according to Josephus (Ant.
God”-“ that the man of God may be t I oroughly furnished 18:52), Herod the Tertrach feared for the mighty power he
unto every good work;” revealings of “the whole counsel of wielded upon the multitudes following him to the Jordan to
God;” capable of elaboration under the spirit’s guidance, but purify themselves of their sins. Of course Josephus, writing
quite “sufficient” for such elaboration.-John 6:45; 2 Tim. for the Romans, took heed not to allude to that Messianic mes-
3:17; Acts 20:27. sage of his-the cry: “Repent, for the kingdom of God is
The extracts referred to follow: near;” that is to say, The kingdom of Rome, the satanic power
“There was a time when you and I were taught not even of Edom, has reached its end. All New Testament reports
[24191
(20-21) ZION’S
agree that Jesus was among those who received the consecra-
tion of baptism from that popular saint of the time. Still,
between thk simple Messianic hope and promise of John the-
Baptist, with his fasts and ablutions and cravers. and the
bewlltlering faith of the Christians that the&Mlssiah has ap-
peared, ana, though crucified, has risen from the tomb, now io
nit at the right hand of God as his son-there vawns a wide
1~1lahm whi& no ordinary reasoning of either J6w or Gentile
should casilv bridge over. . . .
“Brneaih the zhick crust of the second century hatred which
endeavored to malign the Jew in order to court the favor of
RcJnlan rulers, we can still read the true story of Jesus’ tragic
end from his own lips as he, on the road io Jerusalem, an-
IiOUnCeb his fate to his discinles. saving that “He shall be
delivered to the high priests and’ the” scribes, and they shall
condemn him to death and deliver him to the heathen to mock
and to scourge and to crucify.” (Mark 10:33; Matt. 20: 18;
Luke 18:32) The priestly Sadducee8 and not the people and
thclr Pharisean leaders were interested in having Jesus brought
to trial for his open attack on the priestly misrule, and from
fear lest the Roman8 might hold them responsible, as Caiaphas,
thth high priest, actually says in the older record in John’s
go@.
’ -111 the anti-Jewish utterances are the work of the Pau-
II IIP sc11001.. . . Every word uttered by Jesus was the ring
01 #Jewish sentiment and betrays the originality of a religious
g6Lnius. . . .
“We cannot close our eves to the one great fact that this
man eJesus must have madk a wonderful i&pression upon his
hearers hy the thousand and one sweet and beautiful things
be said, no matter by whom they were uttered before or after,
or else he could not have been made the author of all these a
generation or two after he lived. . . .
“Suffice it to say that this greatness consisted in heloneine
to no school. He w’as a man of-the people. . . . ‘Christian%y:
says Leroy Bcaulieu, ‘produced saints, Judaism, sages.’ I say:
Christianity gave us Sisters of Mercy; Judaism, noble types
of wives and mothers.”
* l l
That Doctor Kohler is not merely giving expression to
views of his own far in advance of the general trend of Jewish
thought, is evidenced hy the following comments on his lecture
by the editor of The Jewish Exvonent:
“Dr. Berkowitz, in discussing the lecture, said that it could
not have been delivered in other times, because the lecturer’s
life would have been imperiled thereby. There was another
reason whv this was true; which is. that there would have
been no onk to listen to it.’ Christians, of course, would have
objected. and to the Jews the New Testament was forbidden
fruit. Our ancestors regarded the reading of the New Testa-
ment books as next do& to apostasy &elf. That Jewish
mothers should wish to be acuuainted with its contents would
have been unheard-of perversity.
“All this has largely changed. The Jews have gone out
into the world: thev meet Christians on eclual terms.
dread of the Ch;isti& religion has disappeared with the effort
to forcibly convert <Jews. They have gone out into the full
tide of Cbristianitv, and behold. thev have not been swept
away. On the cont&ry, the love bf their own faith has grow-n.
It is an evidence of strength that leads the Jew to wish to
ascertain the true character of that literature so intimately
connected with his own and yet so widely different; so world-
embracing in its intluence; so potent in its effects upon his
neighbors, so freighted with consequences for himself. When
before would rabbis have been found who would have invited
their people, and especially the women, under any circum-
*tames or conditions, to read the New Testament? Yet here
It was done. It need hardly be said, however, that such read-
111~must be conducted with care. and. if possible. under condi-
ti& wbicb, if not favorable to ‘Judaism: will & at least not
hostile thereto. . . .
“But, however the Bible iR read, with whatever preconcep-
tions, it is extremely diflicult to escape the pervasive influence
of its purity, its strength, its exaltation both of Deity and
humanitv. its powerful Dlea for righteousness. Its influence
in the &iSti& world is&incalculahie; not so much in making
Jews of Christians, as in reiining and purifying Christianity
of its dross and bringing it nearer to the pure stock whence
it sprung. In every Reformation of Christiahity the testament
of Israel bag been the startine noint and the great foundation
for the religious enfranch&n&t. The trend of enlightened
Christianity of today is towards a return to Israel’s simple
and pure religious conceptions. Not a little of the antagonism
felt towards the Jews and their scriptures is due to the fears
of Christian relctionaries. who would crush every attempt to
WATCH TOWER .kt.$CXtiNY. PA
elevate and purify the church under the opprobrious epithet,
‘It’s Jewish.’
“What, then, would be the effect of the study of the Chris-
tian Testament in the light of the Jewish scrintures as indi-
cated by Dr. K. Kohler 4- Certainly it will have an important
influence. It will not only disclose beauties of its own, hut
also open Jewish eyes to treasures in their own scriptures, to
which, with the indifference of inherited spiritual wealth, they
have been hitherto oblivious.”
(I * c
This means the opening of the New Testament to the Jews
-not willingly upon the part of the rabbis, but by force of
circumstances, the growth of intelligence and the fact that
the best people of the world have drawn their inspirations from
it. It was-this same force of circumstances chat compelled
the Roman Catholic Council of Baltimore some years ago to
grant Roman Catholics residing in the United f&tea 1i”berty
to own and to read the Bible.
Surely this removal of the Jewish ban from the New Tes-
tament will mean the reading of it hv the Durest and best of
that long blinded people. A<d the reading bf the New Testa-
ment will mean the gradual turning away of their blindness.
So far as our observation goes, nearlv all the Jews who have
ever gotten their eyes opened to see-Christ as Messiah have
been converted by reading the New Testament and not by tracts
or other treatises-although other writings are as necessary
to them as to others as helps in understanding the divine plan
of the ages, after they have accepted Jesus as Messiah.
Is not this the beginning of the fulfillment of our Lord’s
words, “He that rejecteth me, and receivetb not my words,
bath one that judgeth him [Compare John 5:45-471: the word
that I have spoken [directly and through the apostles] the
same shall judge him in the last day.” (John 12:48) Are
we not entering the Millennial period-“the last day?“-and
are not the blinded ones getting ready for the eye-salve? They
are still proud, and their words are still stout against Jesus
as the Messiah-it is merely their race-pride perhaps which
now leads them to acknowledge the great Teacher’s greatness,
because he was a Jew. But in the great time of trouble near
at band, which will include “Jacob’s trouble” as well as
“Babylon’s” fall, the honest and humble ones will look unto
him with the eye of faith and shall see him thus, and then will
be fulfilled Zechariah 12:lO.
ZIONISM MAEUNQ PROGBESS
Zionist Jews-those Jews who are identified with the recent
movement for a resettlement of Palestine bv the Jews-report
that the cause so near their hearts is not ianguishing. Their
leader, Doctor Herzl. has recentlv had interviews with the
Sultan and the Pope, and with fou; prominent corn
present at Jerusalem at the time Emperor
that city and were kindly received by him. Dr. Herzl is reti-
cent respecting the amount of encouragement given by these
potentates; hut as one result of his vist to the Sultan he hears
a badge of the Other of Meiidze. which would seem to implv
The that the man and his piea were not disdained. That the doo”r
of Palestine will open to the Jew, and that shortly, we have
no question ; although it has been effectually closed for now
nearly seven years-no Jew being permitted to enter it except
as a visitor, whose period of stay is expressly defined and lim-
ited.
Respecting Doctor Herzl’s efforts, etc., Rabbi S. Wise, Hon.
Secy. Amer. Fed. Zionists, writes:
“The exact tenor of the Kaiser’s courteous reply, spoken
in the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Von Biilow.
has no!, been disclosed. Enough is knobn. howe;er. to enabl;
us to predicate that the Kaiser is prepared to vo&hsafe his
benevolent sanction to the Zionist movement. calculated as it
is to foster the agricultural life of Palestine under the ac-
knowledged sovereignty of the Sultan. The members of the
deputation have since returned to Vienna and have nracticallv
made this declaration. although they have couched t’heir i&e;-
views, which appeared in the official organ of the movement,
in terms of becoming reserve. . . .
“We do not ask that the holv Dlaces be committed to our
exclusive keeping; let these remaih, as they are now, in the
hands of those aho guard and cherish them. Surelv the Chris-
tian world requires-no assurance on our part that* every spot
which Christians hold in reverence will be precious to us.
The Jew shall not cease to honor true devotion to an ideal-
least of all in the land which his past has hallowed for all
time.
“Not in vain do we place our reliance UDOn Kaiser and
Sultan. Help and deliverance have come to us’ before through
the grace of ‘stranger kings.’ Two historic instances recur to
us of Israel marvelously saved and prospered with the help
[2420]
JANUARY 15. 1899 ZION’S WATCH
of reigning kings. In the year 538 of the pre-Christian era
Cyrus took Babylon and graciously permitted the Babylonian
exiles to return to their fatherland.
“The momentous results which followed from the reBstab-
lishment of the Judean Commonwealth are part of-and the
largest part of-the world’s history. A t&e of two great
branches flourished in time on the soil which the former cap-
tives by the rivers of Babylon began to cultivate with all the
ardor and assiduity of their nature-two branches, the one
the relieion of Ezra and the latest prophets. of Hillel and the
rabbis, xhe other, the faith of Jesus, iater ‘become the Chris-
tianity of his countless followers. And all this came to pass,
as Dr. Max Nordau has aptly pointed out, owing to the hardi-
hood of a handful of the earliest Zionists, who, availing them-
selves of the rights accorded to them by Cyrus, the noble, chose
to give UP their peaceful and secure residence in Babylon in
ordir to five and-labor in Zion and rebuild its waste-places.
The second exile is soon to end. In the words of Josephine
Lazarus, ‘once planted again upon native soil, “taking- root
THE DATE FOR THE
111 the interest of readers in “the uttermost parts of the
earth” (Australia, South Africa, Russia, China, Japan, etc.,)
we give, thus early, notice that this year the date fixed by
Roman Catholics and Episcopalians agrees with the true date
for the anniversary of our Lord’s death, as reckoned by the old
Jewish method. Consequently, Thursday evening, March 30,
after 6 p. m. (the beginning of the 14th of Nisaa) , will be the
proper time for the celebration of the Memorial Supper. The
TEMPT NOT
A brother recently mailed us a letter containing a donation
to the Tract Fund in money. The letter was lost in transit-
a person of weak conscience in the postoffice (by practice pas-
sessed of a keen sense of touch) recognized the nature of the
contents and stole it. The brother wrote subsequently that,
as the money was for the Lord’s cause, he thought it proper
to trust it to his care. This was a mistake of the head, not
of the heart. We are to do all in our power before expecting
divine interpositions. We are not to tempt Providence thus.
See Scriptural illustration of this principle in Matt. 4:6, 7.
On the other hand, the command is that we shall love our
neighbor as ourselves, and lay no snare for his weaknesses.
“YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN”
JAN. 22.-JOEI?
Nicodemus displayed both a noble and an ignoble dispo-
sition in coming to the Master. (1) He had a nobility of mind
which was able to discern distinctly that Jesus was not an
impostor, but a Teacher from God; and it was his desire for
the truth which led him to seek it from the lips of one of no
reputation amongst the worldly wise. (2) But he displayed
the ignoble element of his disposition by coming privately,
secretly, at night, whereas he should have acted up to his
convictions fairly, and have come forward to inquire of the
Lord, if not in public, at least in daylight and openly. There
are a good many Christians of the Nicodemus type. They have
a standine in the nominal church. and a great respect for the
“honor of-one another,” so general in it. v * imbued with this hope of Israel-that
Some today, for instance, see something of the light of
present truth, and are convinced that the meat in due season
now spread before the household of faith is from God’s Word,
and not human speculations. They will confess this much to
themselves, and privately to some of the servants of present
truth, and privately, secretly, so far as their denominations
are concerned, they procure and read MILLENNIAL DAWN and
ZION’S WATCH Towxa-perhaps subscribing in the name of
some one else, “for fear of the Jews.,’ But although this is
an ignoble course, the Lord does not refuse them the oppor-
tunicy they seek and, like Nicodemus, they are made acquainted
with the truth. But. as we hear little more resnectinn Nico-
demus, so the Nicodemus class of today very rirely vdevelop
into true overcoming disciples, servants of the truth. Fear is
good, caution is good, when properly exercised; but when
these are allowed to have anv voice in dictating our course
after we have found the truth,” their influence can-only be evil,
enslaving. demeaning. Those who are thus bound bv love of
human approbation,-and fear of the consequences of “a public!
bold advocacy of the Lord and his truth, are not worthy or
him, as he declared: ‘He that is ashamed of me and my word,
of him will I also be ashamed.” We urge that all who find
III-33
TOWER (22-23)
downward,” as Isaiah has it, who can tell what “upward flower
and fruit” the immortal branch may bear-what new birth of
the spirit, the undying spirit of Israel may give to the world?’
“Another king there was, greater even than Cyrus, who,
like him, befriended the Jews. In the course of his victorious
marches Alexander visited Jerusalem in the year 332. Legends
in great number have been woven around this visit, picturing the
manner in which this youthful Prince, who had come to scoff,
remained to pray. Whether it be true, as rabbinic tale has it,
that Alexander was so deeply impressed by the visage of the
venerable high priest Jaddua and the priestly train that he
was moved to bow in humility and adoration before these,
whom he had set out to conquer, and that he even caused sac-
rifices to be offered up to the Most High in the Temple of
Jerusalem, we cannot tell. We do know, however, that this
Macedonian ruler, far from despoiling and violating the shrine,
as had been and continued to be the custom of earlier and
later invading princes, openly befriended the Jews and treated
them with the utmost consideration and generosity.”
MEMORIAL SUPPER
next day (“Good Friday”) will be the anniversary of our
Lord’s death, and the Jewish Passover week should begin that
evening-in exact accord with the record in the Gospels. But
for contrariness’ sake, to keep away from the Christian date,
or for some other reason unknown, the Jews this year depart
from their proper mode of reckoning and begin the Passover
week on March 26, which would really be the 9th of Nisan in-
stead of the 15th, if properly reckoned.
THY NEIGHBOR
Covetousness, we know, is a general weakness amongst men;
and we should so far as possible guard and shield them from
temptations of this and of every kind: besides, this is only
business prudence. Postoffice money orders or express and
bank drafts are safe, and we advise that these be used.
During the month of December we received 3,997 letters
and cards, and have reason to think that about one hundred
sent to us were stolen by some one tempted to dishonesty by
reason of the touch of a bank bill or the bulky appearance of
the letters.
By the way, last month’s mail was our largest-exceeding
any previous month in the history of this work.
3 : l-16.
in themselves the Nicodemus disposition seek immediately to
overcome it, and to get their hearts so filled with the love of
God and the love of his truth that it will make them free from
bondage to sectarianism, and to fear of man, which bringeth a
snare. “Perfect love casteth out fear.” Whom the Son makes
free is free indeed.- 1 John 4:lS; John 8:36.
Evidently but a small portion of this conference between
Jesus and Nicodemus is furnished us-merely the leading fea-
tures. Evidently the questions which Nicodemus asked related
to the kingdom of God, which John the Baptist had declared
was at hand, and which our Lord also declared to be at the
door. As a teacher amongst the Jews, Nicodemus was surely
in due time God would
send Messiah, who would establish the long-promised kingdom
of Israel-superior to all the kingdoms of the world, and over
them all-to bless all the families of the earth, according to
the promise made to Abraham. Not only might we infer that
his question pertained to the kingdom, but our Lord’s answer
plainly indicates this, for he began at once to talk about the
promised kingdom.
The great Teacher’s explanation respecting the kingdom-
class must have struck Nicodemus as totally new. He had
been accustomed to think of all the nation of Israel as being
the children of the kingdom, or, if not the entire nation, at
least their most intelligent classes, the scribes, the doctors of
the law, and their holiness class, the Pharisees. But here was
a new thought-none would be in this kingdom, sharers of its
glory and of its work of blessing all the families of the earth,
except they should be “born again.” Nay, more, the intima-
tion was that the kingdom would be an invisible kingdom, that
none could even see it, except he would be born again. Failing
to grass the thought of begetting and birth to a higher nature,
Nicodcmus was puzzled to think-how a person who had reached
maturitv could ever be born anain according to the flesh: and
of cou& he was right in co&idering thai an impossibility.
[2421]
(23-24) ZION’S WATCH
The new birth is not to be a birth according to the flesh: as
~nr Lord exolains. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh,
but that which is ‘born of the Spirit is spirit.” The Master’s
teaching was not that we should be born again of the flesh,
but quite to the contrary, that those who would constitute the
kingdom class must be begotten and born of the Spirit of God,
the spirit of holiness, the spirit of the truth.
There is a great lesson here for many pre-millennialists,
who vainly think, as h’icodemus, that the kingdom of God will
be a fleshly kingdom, that the kingdom-class will have what
they are pleased to call “glorified flesh.” Our Master’s plain
declarations thoroughly set aside all such expectations:
to us, as well as Nicodemus, he positively declares that none
shall enter into the kingdom except he be born again.
statement that “that wh<ch i$ born of the flesh is-flesh, and
that which is born of the Spirit is spirit,” is so unqualifiedly
plain, and proves so emphatically that the spirit-begotten
spirit-born class, the “little flock,” which will inherit the king-
dom. will not be flesh-beings in anv sense of the word, but
s&t-beings. that there is n”o room fbr controversy or for. mis-
understanding on the part of those who have no -will of their
own in the matter. but are seeking to be taught of the Lord.
all recognize tile meaning of dhe expressi&, “born of the
flesh,” that it does not mean merely begotten of the flesh, but
a birth into independent flesh-life as a result of the begetting
and gestation. &d precisely the same thought shouldattarg
to the exnression. “born of the Snirit.” It does not relate
merely to the begetting of the S$rit through the word of
truth, which occurs during the present life, and at the time
of our consecration to the Lord. but on the contrarv. it im-
plies and includes a subsequent girth to perfected spirit condi-
tions-the entrance of the spirit existence in the resurrection
--the result of the present begetting of the truth, and the
present period of gestation or development as “new creatures
in Christ Jesus.”
That this is the proper Scriptural thought to be attached
to this word, “born,” is manifest from other Scriptures which
declare that our Lord Jesus was, at his resurrection,
first-borti flom the dead,,’ and “the first-borqz amongst many
brethren.” (Rom. 5:29; Col. 1: II) Our Lord was begotten
of the Spirit‘at the time of his baptism, when the holy spirit
came unon him. The new nature there begun, in the flesh,
dcvelop6d during the three and a half years of his ministry in
proportion as the flesh, the human nature, died Thus, as the
-4llostle expresses it, hc was dving daily, as the man Christ
.J&us, but-was beink renewed aa, by diy in the inner man,
the new creature. the snirit bein?.- Cor. 4:16.
The complete death of the %esh, with our Lord, was the
1ictor.v of his new nature, which refused to draw back, refused
to sa\:e the flesh, which had already been devoted to sacrifice,
as our sin-offering. It was because of this faithfulness of our
Lord, a3 the ‘(new creature,,’ in offering up his flesh as a sin-
offering, that the heavenly Father was pleased lo resurrect the
“new creature”-not the flesh. which was man’s ransom price.
The resurrection of the “new’creature” in a spirit body: glo-
rious, powerful, immortal ( 1 Cor. 15 :42-44)) was our Lord’s
birth of tke spirit, as the first-born amongst many brethren.
As the.Head of thk kingdom was thus beg;tten of-the Spirit,
and in due time born of the Snirit, so likewise must it be with
those who will bc members of ihat’kingdom. “Flesh and blood
[human nature]” shall not inherit the kingdom of God-“can-
not inherit the kingdom of God.” ( 1 Cor. 15:50) Hence, we
who would be heirs of the kingdom must all be changed-made
like our spirit-born Head, ere we can either see the kingdom
or share its glorious work as members.
Not onlv did our Lord clearly state the matter thus, but
he gave an”illustration which is in absolute harmony with this
understanding of his words, but meaningless from any other
standpoint. He declared that as the wind comes and goes, but
is in<isible to men, so will all those be who will be members
of the kin_ndom. born azain.
- I
Our Lord illustrated this teach-
ing in his own person, after his resurrection. Although
was present forty days, he appeared only a few times to the
disciples, in all apparently not more than seven, and even on
these occasions he appeared in a form of flesh (as angels did
during previous dispensations) and communed with them for
a few moments, and then vanished out of their sight. As the
wind he came, as the wind he went, and they knew not whither.
Invisible as the wind, he was Dresent with them, taking note
of all their affairs, during ali that forty days; and merely
appearing at the proper times to give the needed counsel and
directions and assistance. So it will be with all of the king-
dom class, when they are born of the Spirit; they will be atiie
to eo and come and attend to all the \-arious functions of the
kinidom, without being visible to mankind. They will be as
the wind. It will be within their province to appear as men,
TOWER ALLECIIEKY. PA.
as the angels have done. if there be necessity for so appearing,
although we incline to think that there will be no such neces-
pity, a”s God has already provided an earthly class as the
representatives of the kingdom amongst men.-Heb. 11:39, 40.
We are in no sense denying or obiecting to the ordinary
thought, that a work of grace Takes piace in the heart of thi
Christian when he is adopted into the divine family as a son
and prospective heir of God, a “new creature in Christ Jesus.”
On tlie contrary, we are affirming this, as an absolute necessity
to a share in the kingdom. for whoever 1s not begotten of the
spirit surely can neve; hoie to be born of the Spirit. We are
and merely making the proper distinctions between the begetting
of the SDirit. which is merelv the beginning of the work of
The grace in;s, &d the birth of “the Spir& whgh is the comple-
tion of that work. when we shall be like the Lord and see him
as he is, and behold and share his glory.
and We cannot wonder that Nicodemus was astonished when
we remember that the holy Spirit was not yet given, and that
Nicodemus was not a member of the house of sons, but merely
of the house of servants. We wonder far more that some who
have been begotten of the Spirit do not readily comprehend
this suiritual teaching: for it is their Drivileee to understand
“the ieep things of 66d.” (1 Cor. 2: i0) & our Lord said
to Nicodemus, “Art thou a master in Israel, and knowest not
these things?” we may, with much greater point, say to Chris-
tians who cavil today, Are you begotten of the Spirit and
taught of God, and yet ignorant of these things?
Our Lord does not even class this teaching as being spe-
cially spiritual, but rather earthly, such as the natural man,
in proper harmony with God, should be able to understand and
atmreciate. He savs. “If I have told vou earthlv thinrrs. and
Glbelieve not, ho; shall ye believe if” I tell y-0; of heavenly
things?” Those whose minds are on so gross an earthly plane
that they cannot appreciate so simple a matter as this are not
in the condition to be inducted into the deeper things of God.
They are at most but “babes,” and have need to be fed with
milk instead of with strong meat. (Heb. 5 : 12 ) Nicodemus,
“the unable (or perhaps we should say, because of prejudice,
unwilliltg) to believe this message concerning the spiritual char-
acter of the kin,adom, was unprepared for anv further teaching
along that lin&he ‘was unwilling to receiiye the truth, thg
onlv message which Christ had to give. although he was al-
ready per&&led that our Lord was-a teacher s&t from God.
Hence our Lord says, “Ye receive not our witness.”
Our Lord’s statement, “Except a man be born of water and
of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God,” de-
serves further consideration. We have seen what he meant,
by the expression, “born of the Spirit,” cir., born from the dead
bv the Dower of God as a spirit being. but what is signified
b> the expression, “born of Gater?” It is claimed by a very
laree number indeed that this refers to water baptism. and
thavt those who are not born out of water will not- have’ part
in the Lord’s kingdom. We are willing to admit the trutii of
this onlv to a limited extent. We hold that the Lord refers
to the t&e baptism, which is merely symbolized by immersion
in water, and the rising out of it. We hold that the real
thought is the burial of the old nature, and the rising of the
new iature to newness of life, and that this is accor;iplished
throueh consecration of the will to the will of the Lord, a
l&riaror immersion of the human will to death, as the neces-
sary step to be taken in connection with the obtaining of the
holv Snirit. the holv mind. the mind of Christ. the spirit of
Ch&st,*whi&h is the’begin&g in our flesh of the new c;eature,
which must be developed and made ready if it would be born
of the spirit in the resurrection.
This same thought seems to be in the mind of the Apostle,
when he refers to the bath of a flew birth, the making new by
the holy spirit. (Tit. 3:5) Cornelius evidently had this bath
of the new birth, the making new by the holy Spirit, before
his bautism in water (which was a svmbol of it, and an out-
ward ionfession to others). And so’ it is, we ‘believe, with
he some Christian people today. They have had the bath of the
new birth. and the making new bv the holv Spirit, and are
thus genuinely new creatures in Christ Jesus, w‘ithout having
had the symbolical immersion in water-because, being mis-
taught as a result of the errors of the dark ages, they do not
disc&n the beauty of the symbolic baptism &watery-and the
Scriutural command thereto: and this ignorance and disobe-
die&e God evidently has passed over, 14th many of us, for
years. But when, in the abundance of his grace, a knowledge
of his will on this subiect ultimately reaches us. there should
not be one moment’s hesitation-there will not be.one moment’s
hesitation. if the will of the flesh is entirelv dead and the mind
Y
of Christ >ullv in control.
The oldest-Greek MSS. (the Sinaitic and the Vatican) omit
the last four words of verse 13, with evident propriety, for,
124221
JANUARY IS. 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (25-26)

although our Lord is now in heaven, he was not in heaven
at the time he addressed Nicodemua. The words in this verse
were intended to remind Nicodemua that he need not look to
fellow-human creatures for information respecting heavenly
things, as they could not know them, any more than himse!f;
but incidentally this verse teaches us something more, VCX.,
that no man has ever been in heaven except our Lord Jesus.
This not only agrees with the statement of Peter on the da.y
of Pentecost, “David is not ascended into the heavens,” but It
also agrees with the Apostle Paul’s statement, “Flesh and
blood [human nature1 cannot inherit the kingdom of God.“-
1 Cor. 15:50; Acts 2:34.
The only ground for hope that any of the fallen race of
Adam will ever know anything about the heavenly condition
is then stated by our Lord to depend upon his own justifying
work on man’s behalf. He must be lifted up as the great ain-
offering, the antitype of the brazen serpent which Moses lifted
up in the wilderness, the antidote for the bites of the fiery
serpents, which represented sin.
Our Lord’s reference to the results gives the thought of
the wideness of God’s mercy, and of his provision for our race.
Although now this mercy ia confined to the elect church, “even
as many as the Lord our God shall call,” it is in due time to
be world-wide, and a blessing to ‘whosoever believeth on him.”
Then the grand Gospel provision is briefly stated in few words
-God’s sympathetic love for the world, his provision of the
ransom in the person of his Son, and that provision made not
merely for an elect class, but for the world of mankind in
general-whosover believeth.
Another thought: God’s provision is not to rescue any
from the flames of hell, from an eternity of torment; but to
rescue them from death, from destruction, from perishing,
from nonentity, and to grant everlasting life to whosover is
willing to have it on the conditions of the New Covenant.

THE WATER OF LIFE

JAN. 29.-JOHN 4 : 5-15.
“Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.“-John 4:14.
Early in his ministry, in sending forth the apostles to ritans, as of different classes or castes, is clearly shown in the
preach the kingdom of God at hand, our Lord had instructed woman’s surprised reply to our Lord’s request. Not that the
them that they were not to go amongst Gentiles ror to Sa- Samaritans were avcrae to having fellowship with the Jews,
maritan cities to deliver their message. It was easy to avoid hut that the Jews, imbued with the thought that the promises
the Gentiles, because comnarativelv few of them resided in of God were to the seed of Abraham exclusively, would “have
Palestine: the governors of the lahd, Herod and Pilate, the no dealings with the Samaritans,” would ask no favor4 of
centurions, and the soldiers, were probably the only Gentiles them, and apparently would grant few favors to them. While
thcb,v were likely to meet, and these they were to seek to avoid, our Lord was bound to act in line with that truth. that the
as tlrr message of the kingdom was not for them. But it was seed of Abraham, and the promises made to it, we;e distinct
a difficult matter to avoid the Samaritans. for the district and separate from all others, yet he was not influenced by
called Samaria In-y between Judea proper ani Galilee, and was feelings of pride, caste, etc., and in this instance he pursued a
necessarily pasjed through repeatedly by our Lord and his policy in harmony with the Apostle’s admonition-that good
rhosen twelve. he done to all men as we have opportunity-preferably to the
The Samaritans, it will be remembered, were not Jews, household of faith. (Gal. 8 :lO) For the time our Lord was
although t!ley were worshipers of God, and had come largely not in a position to speak to Israelites, to do them good, and
under the influence of the teachings of the law. They were he was prompt to embrace the opportunity to do what good he
tle~crntlnnts of those mised peoples which were placed in pos- c~oultl to even a Samaritan woman. And therein is a lesson
scqsion of the land of Israel, as colonists, when the ten tribes for all of his followers today: WC should serve the household
were t.lken c,lptivr and colonized amongst the Gentiles. As of faith wherever nossible. but when this is imnosaihle. and
the Israelites in a foreign land took up with the religious an opportunity offeis, we aiould seek to do some g’ood to othela
customa of those lands to a large extent, so these Gentiles, -to speak words which may help them hy and by, if not in
transported to Palestine, took up with many of the religious the present time or age.
customs, etc., related thereto. But their helief in God, and the Not entering into a dispute with the woman, nor into expla-
fact that they worshiped the true God, did not constitute them nations of the distinction between the seed of Abraham and
proper subjects for the Gospel call, which was confined exclu- others, our Lord proceeds to talk of something much more im-
sivelr to the natural seed of Abraham up to the time of our portant to her, and in this also sets a good example to all
Lord’s rejection; then their house was left desolate, and the those who would speak his truth in his name, in his way,
middle wall of partition between them and other nations was wisely. He told the woman of a more important matter-that
broken down, and the Gospel of the kingdom was sent forth, he alone could give the water of life. While physically he was
without restraint, to whosoever would have the ears to hear it. weary, and needed the natural water, yet in a higher sense the
It was while our Lord and his disciples were passing woman was the wealy one, heavy-laden with sin. who needed
throueh this Samaritan territorv.
.-I
between Galilee and Judea. the invigorating water of life of which the Lord himself is
that. coming to one of the citi&’ of Samaria, he-was refused the fountain.
entertainment, and James and John inquired, Wilt thou that
we command fire from heaven to destroy them? and Jesus The thought in the expression, “living waters,” is that of
refused, saying that his mission was one of salvation and not a fresh spring in contrast with stagnant waters, which become
of destruction. The Samaritans did not refuse entertainment contaminated and foul. The water which our Lord proposed
because they were opposed to the Lord and his teachings, for, to give the woman was certainly not the holy Spirit, for this
quite to the contrary, they apparently would have been very is distinctly termed the gift of the Father, and is symbolized
willing to receive him, recognizing him as a teacher sent from by the anointing oil. The water of life is the tlrlth, which
God, who performed many wonderful works. Their refusal to both cleanses and refreshes. A portion of this our Lord could
entertain him was because he did not purpose to stop with properly give to the Samaritan woman, if she were hungering
them to teach them, perform miracles in their midst, heal their and thirsting after it, and he did give her a drink of it.
sick. etc., hut was merely passing through in his journey to The woman classed herself as a daughter of Jacob, and
perform his miracles upon and teach the Israelites. thus implied a hope on the part of Samaritans that notwith-
It was while our Lord and the apostles were similarly standing their rejection by the Jews from heritage in the
passing through Samaria again that, weary with his journey, Ahrahamic covenant, they nevertheless trusted in some bles-
and probably not wishing to appear unkind, nor to he similarly sing. And indeed there was a mixture of Israelitiah stock
repulsed again, Jesus waited beside Jacob’s well and rested, amongst the Samaritans, for certain poor Israelites had not
while the apostles went to the city of Spchar to replenish been deported to foreign countries, and these, ignoring the
their stock of provisions. And in the interim a woman of strictness of the Ahrahamic covenant, had inter-married with
Samaria met Jesus at the well, when she came to draw water. the Gentiles, and in general had abandoned circumcision and
It was evidently with less of a desire for the water for his the other conditions of Judaism, and hence could he no longer
own comfort, thin from a desire to teach the woman, that our recognized by the Lord as in any respect different from the
Lord asked her for a drink. While he could not invite her, other nations, Gentiles. So, too, it was with many of the
or any other Samaritan to a place in the kingdom, which was Israelites who were deported: they mixed and mingled with
the central thought of his Gospel, he could nevertheless appro- the Gentiles. abandoned the sign of circumcision in the flesh,
priatelv give her some food for thought, which later on might and in general all the provisio& of the Lord’s covenant: these,
ho her” gzod, and prepare her to h&e .a hearing ear agaiist in everv sense of the word. ceased to be Israelites, and had no
the time when the Gosuel call would be unrestricted-for who- further” hopes under that ‘covenant, being as ml&h strangers
soever hath an ear to hear. and foreigners to the promises of the covenant as any Gen-
The completeness of separation between the Jews and Sama- tiles.
[ 24231
 ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLS~~IENY, ra.

Thus, from our Lord’s treatment of the Samaritans we can and representative of this satisfying water of life, Whoever
readily see the baselessness of the expectation of some, who receives the Lord as his Redeemer and Leader and Teacher,
style themselves “Anglo-Israelites,” and claim to be the de- through whom all the gracious promises of God are to be ful-
cendants of these deported Israelites who abandoned circum- filled: whoever receives this water of life, receives a satisfy-
cision and all the features of the Law Covenant, given to ing portion, and will never be found looking for truth in other
Israel. Those who lean on such a prop lean upon. a broken directions. It will satisfy his longings as nothing else could
reed. The only Israelites who can hope for any mercy and do, and so abundantly as to leave no appetite for strange
blessing at the Lord’s hands. under the Law Covenant, and waters.
as the-natural seed of Abraham, are those who have a~suffi- The saints, the body of Christ, the prospective bride, are the
ciency of Abrahamic faith to at least maintain the outward only ones who receive this water of life in its fullest and com-
signs of the flesh, and an outward attempt at obedience to their pletest sense during this Gospel age; and of them it is true
Law Covenant. As for the others, who become part and parcel that this water is always fresh, springing up within them
of the Gentiles, they have neither part nor lot any longer with everlastingly. And when these many well-springs shall in
Israel: they may, however, through Christ, come under the God’s due time be brought together in the kingdom, then will be
still more beneficent terms of the New Covenant, sealed with fulfilled through them unitedly, as the body of Christ, the
his precious blood. But the blessings of the two covenants prediction, “Out of thy belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
cannot be mixed, and, as the Apostle-Paul distinctly declares, -John 7 :38.
whoever hopes for justification under the Law Covenant and This river of water of life does not flow at the present
under the New Covenant is making a great mistake. and is time: it cannot flow out to the “nations” until all the “little
falling between them both. Whowoeier he be, Christ profiteth flock” as well-springs shall be brought together in the king-
him nothing; he is yet in his sins, and not an heir, neither dom. And thus it is pictured in Revelation, that after the
as a member of the natural seed, nor yet as a member of the throne, the kingdom, is established, from under it shall flow
spiritual seed.-Gal. 5 :2, the river of water of life, clear as crystal. Trutit will then
The woman’s slowness of comprehension is striking, and flow as a mighty river, refreshing and blessing the whole earth.
vet so it is with all of us when first we came in contact with and causing the trees of promise to bring forth “leaves for
ipiritual truths. Our Lord’s patience as a teacher, with a the healing of the nations [the heathen].” And then shall be
congregation of only one, and-that one a woman of a low fulfilled a promise of the Scriptures which is misapplied by
caste. should be a lesson to all of his followers who seek to many to the present time: “The spirit and the bride say,
distribute to others a taste of the water of life. Come; and let him that heareth say, Come; and let him that
Our Lord’s explanation of the peculiarities of the water is athirst come; and whosoever will, let him take the water
of life of which he is the fountain for mankind is verv beau- of life freely.” (Rev. 22: 17) The bride cannot say, Come,
tiful, but its force can be appreciated only by those who have in this sense of the word, until she becomes the bride, when
received this blessine at his hands-o& bv those to whom he the marriage of the Lamb is come, and the new age has
has communicated his truth and who have* been -sanctified by fullv onened. Neither can she invite the whole world to come
that truth, set apart as his disciples-as fountains of truth for to ihe’ river of truth until she herself has been glorified,
others. and until that river of life flows. While looking forward to
Errors, falsities, may satisfy temporarily the craving of that glorious day, when grace shall be free to every creature,
those who have never yet tasted of the truth, the water of life; we nevertheless rejoice in the election of the present time,
but nothing can give permanent, lasting satisfaction except in which the Gospel call is intended not for every one, but
the truth: and our Lord himself, the Word, the Logos, the mes- for only those who have ears to hear, “even as many as the
sage of the Father, full of grace and truth, is the embodiment Lord our God shall call.“-Acts 2 :39.

FAITH REWARDED-‘&THY SON LIVETH”

FEB. 5.-BOHR 4 ~43-54.
“Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth : and himself believed, and his whole house.“-John 4:53.
Two days were spent preaching to the woman of Samaria with which we are intimately acquainted. “Distance lends eu-
and completing the journey into Galilee, etc., ere the noble- chantment to the view.” When one sees a mountain at a
man’s son was healed. Galilee was a part of the territor distance, its outlines stand out with boldness and symmetry,
which formerly belonged to the ten-tribe kingdom of Israe 9, but when he comes close to it the beauty and grandeur are
and the district called Samaria lay between Galilee and Judea. apt to be marred, in his estimation, because his eye rests
It will be noticed that, while our Lord journeyed hither and upon the smaller fragments and the silt and soil and tangle
thither, he never went outside the territory occupied by the of common weeds. Nevertheless, the view and thought from
twelve tribes. It will be remembered that Jesus was born in a greater distance are the truer ones, the proper ones. SO,
Bethlehem of Judea, not far from Jerusalem, and that his par- too. some of earth’s characters who are highlv esteemed todav
ents, shortly after his birth, 5ed into Egypt, under the Lord’s were much less esteemed by those who came’ most closely in
direction, before the slaughter of the babes of Bethlehem: and contact with them in their day: not that the present view is
on the return from Egypt, instead of returning to Bethlehem, the false one, but because those who were closest to them,
they located at Nazareth in Galilee,-“that he might be called and who were affected by the commonalities of daily life,
a Nazarene,” and that thus odium for eccentricity might at- failed to rightly appreciate them. This is often true 111the
tach to the Lord, as an offset to his wonderful nersonalitv households and family connections of the world’s notables.
and the “‘gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth”2 The little things of life are seen, and the character is measured
“such as never man spake” before or since;-to the intent by these, rather than by its larger features, which alone are
that only the Israelites indeed might hear in the true sense seen in the distance. For instance, Julius Caesar, who by all
of the word. and be healed and accepted as sons of God under the world is acknowledged to have been a great man,- was
the new covenant* of grace. liehtlv esteemed bv Cassius. his intimate friend and servant,
It will he remembered that our Lord’s disciples were who once saved his life from drowning, and who was with
known as “Gnlileans,” and himself as the “Galilean.” And him when sick, and who measured him by the weaknesses of
recognizing the truth expressed in the proverb, “A prophet these occasions and others, rather than by the largeness and
is not without honor, save in his own countrv.” our Lord greatness exhibited at other times. He, -for instance, called
did not begin his ministry in Galilee, but in Judea. It seems attention to the fact that “when Caeesar was sick he cried,
probable that after his first miracle at Cana he, with his ‘Give me some drink, Titinius,’ like a sick girl.” His close:
disciples, went to Judea, and was present there at the time ness hindered him from seeing the greatness which others, less
of the Feast of the Passover, and at that time performed man close, could readily discern; and thus he says:
notable miracles, on account of which his fame went abroa cf, “It doth amaze me,
not only throughout Judra, but also into his own country, A man of such a feeble temper should
Galilee:” for it was the custom for large numbers of the devoit So get the start of the majestic world,
Jews to go to Jerusalem to the Feast of the Passover everv And bear the palm alone.”
year, and these from Galilee had brought back word of th> So it was with Jesus: “Neither did his brethren believe on
works and fame of their countryman. Hence our Lord was him” (which expression in olden times signified kinsfolk, in-
now returning to his own country, a great prophet, because of cluding cousins as well as brothers). Thev knew Marv. his
the fame fit+ gained elsewhere. mothe;, they knew his brethren, they knew Joseph, the ‘hus-
Our Lord’s experience was no exception to the general band of Mary, and apparently they knew also that Jesus was
rule: it is a trait of human nature to lightly esteem things not the son of Joseph, but was conceived before Joseph had
l See June 1.5, 1919, for critical exanlination of Covenants taken Mary as his wife (Matt. 1: 18) ; for this was the evident
124241
JANUARY 15. 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (28-30)

purport of their sneer at him, when contending with him nor sickness, nor crying, for the former things shfAdh;;;
they said, “We be not born of fornication.” (John 8:41) They nassed awav. and all things will be made new.
knew him as the young man who probably had worked as a period of r&ewing of the zarth and of mankind, for whose
carpenter in their midst for years. They knew that his home use and blessing it was intended, is Scripturally termed, “the
city, Nazareth, had never been reputed-for its wealth or its times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by
learning-its sons were not bright ones of the Jewish firma- the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began.”
ment. “It was correspondingly d%licult for them to realize that And this restitution the Apostle Peter, speaking under the
this one whom they knew so well could be the great one of inspiration of the holy spirit on the day of Pentecost, tells US
whom Moses and the prophets did write. will begin at the second coming of our Lord Jesus.-Acts
Hence we 5nd that in his own city, altho they said, 3 : 19-23.
“Whence hath this man this wisdom, and this miraculous At his first advent our Lord’s mission was specifically to
power 1” they also said, “IS not this the carpenter’s son? give himself as the world’s ransom price, and secondarily to
Is not his mother called Mary, and do not his brothers James, furnish evidences which to a certain class would be a ground
and Joses, Simon and Judas, and all his sisters, live with US? for faith in him, in his teachings, and in his future work-
And they stumbled at him. . . . . And he did not per- to the intent that such “believers” of the present age might
‘form ’ many miracles there because of their unbelief.“-Matt. come to the Father, receive the adoption of sons, and the
13 : 54-58. promises ; and through faith and obedience unto self-sacrifice
But, returning to our lesson: the news that the great might become joint-heirs with Messiah in his great future
Galilean Prophet and healer of the sick had returned to his work of restitution-in the work of blessing all families of
home, soon reached Capernaum, which was only about twenty the earth.
miles distant from Cana; and a person of social and political Bringing the matter down to an individual one, we find
rank in that city was amongst the first to manifest his faith, that the nobleman received the blessing through faith, and
and to receive a” correspondrng blessing; for we are told that that his faith was attested by his conduct. And so must it
the healine of his son was the “second miracle” performed
A be with all who would be acceptable to God, and who would
by our Loyd after his return from Judea. win the great prize set before us in the Gospel. “This is the
It was doubtless by way of testing his faith that our victory that overcometh the world, even your faitlt :” but
Lord seemed at first to object to his petition, saying, in ef- “Faith without works is dead.” Faith cannot live without
fect, You do not have faith in me as the Messiah; it is my manifesting itself. All of our services to the Lord are valuable
signs and wonders that you are interested in. The troubled chiefly as proofs of our faith in his promises.-1 John 5:4;
and affectionate father showed by his answer that his interest Jas. 2:26; Heb. 11:6.
was not merely one of curiosity and desire to see a miracle per- A story is told of how a private soldier in Napoleon’s
formed: his was a true faith in Christ’s power, which, he army exercised faith in his word, and as a result of acting
did not question, was able to save his son from death-“Sir, thereon received promotion to a captaincy. Napoleon was
come down ere my son die.” His true faith had its reward, reviewing his army in the city of Paris, when the bridle
and yet he was required to exercise it still further, and to dropped from his hand and the horse started on a gallop. A
believe that his reouest was answered, notwithstanding he soldier leaped from the ranks, caught the horse and returned
could have no proof bf this for several hours. His faith again the bridle to Napoleon. The Emperor thanked him, saying,
stood the test, and he went his way, ascertaining later that “Much obliged, captain.” The soldier immediately responded,
the child had begun to mend at the very time our Lord had “Of what regiment, sir 1” And the Emperor, pleased with his
granted the request. And his faith brought him a still greater quickness and confidence, answered, “Of the Guards.” The
blessing than the physical recovery of his son’s health, for it soldier immediatelv took his place amongst the officers, altho
made him and his family “believers” in the Messiah, and thus his clothes were those of a ptivatc and nothwithstanding the
brought them within reach of the great privilege of sonship fact that thev ridiculed his faith.
”
He believed the Emneror’s
I
and ioint-heirshin mentioned in John 1:12. words, and acted on that belief, and was a captain. So our
Our Lord’s object in this and other healing miracles was Lord has given unto us “exceeding great and precious prom-
evidently not merely the recovery of the sick from pain and ises, that by these we might become partakers of the diuine
disease. Had this been his obiect, he might have commanded nature ;” and those who will attain the exceeding great and
the healing of all the sick in one breath: and more than precious things which God has in reservation for them who
this. he mieht have remedied the evil conditions which tended love him will be the ones who take him at his word. become
to nromotev sickness. For instance, the nobleman’s son had “children of the light,” and “walk in the light.” Such, ulti-
a fever, and quite probably there were many others in Caper- mately, shall be members of the great Sun of Righteousness,
naum similarlv afflicted. as the citv was built near low. which shall arise with healing in its beams, to refresh and
marshy ground, and is ‘noted in his”tory as a malarial 10: bless the world by scattering the darkness of sin, superstition,
cality, unhealthful. The Lord did not do this work of gen- evil.-Matt. 13 :43.
eral healing, but this is no evidence of a lack of sympathy, nor But let us guard ourselves against the error of some who
of a lack of appreciation of what would be necessary to make have great fait% in themselves, and consider this a proof that
that and other portions of the earth healthful, any more than thev are of the “elect.” Onlv the soldier who served as well
it could be considered a lack of interest in mankind on God’s as “believed Napoleon was &warded. Each should therefore
part which had permitted malarial and other evil conditions ask himself-AFe the exceeding great and precious promises to
and resultin-a sickness and disease throuehout the whole world me? Are there conditions attached to those nromises? and
for thousands of years. On the contra-v, God foreknew the if so, am I living up to the conditions so as to make sure of
sickness, and designed to permit the evil conditions, as accom- my calling and election ?
paniments of the sentence against man as a sinner-as ac- To answer his ouestion so as to have “full assurance of
cessories and concomitants to his death sentence. faith,” he should search the promises-their significance and
The time will come when he who redeemed mankind, and conditions. and then act accordindv. if he would win the
who redeemed also from the curse the earth, “the purchased prize : remembering our Lord’s wo;d’s, “Not every one that
possession” (Eph. 1: 14), will cleanse it from all evil, bane- saith, Lord! Lord! shall enter the kingdom. hut he that doeth
ful influences -and there shall be no more death, nor pain, the will of my Father in heaven.”

WHO IS JUDGING THE CHURCH?

DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:-A brother who gave a lesson until his thousand-year reign begins; and the krisis or the
here recently spoke on the judgment-and claimed that Christ k&is &y does not begin until the dead come out of their
had been judging the church during this age. A number of the graves, and Christ sits on his oum throne.-John 5:29; Rev.
friends took exception to this. For my own part, I have 14:7.
studied all the texts on this subject, and I cannot 5nd one text “God has appointed a day [the krisis day] in the which he
that favors the idea that Christ is the Judge of the church, will judge the zoorld by that man,” but where does it say that
unless it be Rom. 14:10;-but that is a wrong translation. that God has been judging the church by Christ ?-Acts 17 :31.
Tischendorf, Rotherham, Revised Version and all the best au- Peter says, “If ye call on the Father [not on the Son]
thorities render it “the judgment seat of God.” who without respect of persons judgeth,” etc.--l Pet. 1: 17.
In 2 Cor. 5: 10, the church is said to appear before tho Christ says, “I am the Vine, ye are the branches, and my
judgment seat of Christ-not to be j.udged, but to receive, etc. Fatker the husbandman.” “Whom the Lord [the Father]
All k&is (judgment) has been given into the hands of the loveth he disciplines, and scourges eve*rJ son whom he re-
Son, but the church does not come into the k&is.-John ceiveth.“-John 15:l; Heb. 12:6-10.
5~22, 24. When the judgment of the world is spoken of the Greek
The judgment seat of Christ does not come into existence word k&is is always used, hut never krima. On the other
[2425]
 ZION’S CV‘-fTCH TOWER

hand, in speaking r,t the judgment of the church the word body, succors it, shields it, supervises its affairs, so does
krha is used. but never kncns. The church does not come Christ with the church, which is his body.
into the kri.G+. hut it does come into the I;tima.-1 Yet. 4:17. Seemingly you have overlooked the Greek word, Izriaro,
Comnare with John *. 5.24 . which is also rendered judgment, and which occurs more times
Ii. is thin kli8i.9: in which the church does not come, that than k&is and krima both together, in the h’ew Testament.
God has nlac~t in the hands of Chriqt.-John 6:22. Stroong (in substance) defiles these words thus:-
I would like to hear from you on this matter. I hope Rrit&--Decision, for or again&. Justice.
this communic*ation will find you well in every way, and that K,~iwa---Decision. in respect to crime.
the Lord will continue to give you strength for every trial. Krino-“To distinguish, *decide, try,” etc.
You arc surely having abundant practice in suffering, and K&IO is used in referrine to the iudement (trial) of the
ought to bwome quite a proficient sufferer. Paul says, “I Millennial age when the ehu&h (Heai aid body) wiil be the
glory in tribulation, for tribulation works out the capacity judges.- See Matt. 19:28; Luke 22:30; John 12:48; -4ds
for enduring. And the capacity for enduring worka out ap- 17:31; 1 Cor. 4:s; 6:2, 3.
proval. and approval works out hope. and hope maketh not to The same word, Lrino is used in attributing that coming
be ashamed.” judgment to God.-See Acts 7 :7 ; Rom. 3:G; Heb. 3 : 10.
May our der.c heavenly Father continue to be with you al- These seemingly contradictory statements are made har-
wav-and that vou mar ‘continualtv realize his approval and monious by two other texts in which this same word LrGno
smile-is my prhyer. diwtcr I$IrPh~il and I often-tklk to our- is used-thus : “God shall judge [h-ho] the secrets of men
selves about your HPvcre trials. and wonder how you have by Jesus Christ” (Rom 2: 16) God “hat11 appointed a day
been able to bear them as you ha\ e. I often think of Paul’s in the which he will judge [kri~o] the world in righteousness
words, “\jV(x art* troubled on every side, yet not distressed; by that rnaqb &om hath ordailied;“-the Christ, Head and
perplexed. but not in despair: persecuted. but not forsaken; body “one new man.“-Acts 17 :31.
cast don n, but not di5troWd.” etc. (2 Cor. 4:8-11) God’s From this standpoint-of “God the judge of all,” we need
grace waq’alwavs ~ullicirnt’for him, and \!ill be for YOU. not be surnrised if we find not onlv that the world’s iudg-
Wishine roil a hnuv and successful new year, with Chris- ment (trill) by Jehovah is commi’tted to the well belove;
tian love “fr”om >Ira.* *Mcl’hail
” and myself “to you and all Son, but the Church’s judgment (testing, trial) also. Hence
with you, our Lord’s statement, “The Father judgeth [krijlo] no man,
Your brother in Christ, M. L. MCPHAIL. but hatb committed a22 judgemen [k&is] unto the Son.”
IN RWI.Y : nE.4R &tOTIIER:-I am glad to know that I (John 5 :22) This judgi;,g in the church is not only re-
have the C’hrirtian lore and sympathy of yourself and family. ferred to in the parables of the Pounds and Talents, etc., but
One thing in connection with my troubles gives mc great satis- the Apostle particularizes respcc*tinp it in 1 Thes. 2:8-12.
faction, namclv that, repeatedly and carefully searching my And here the stntcments respecting the VattIer’s part and the
heart, I find ‘in it no hatred toward those who have been Son’s part are so intertwined a- to prove tllilt they are
maligning WC--no desire to render evil for evil, but on the united in the one work of judgment---of the Father. by the
contrary a desire io do them all good, if possible. There is Son. In this test krino is rendered %igl~t he clamiced.”
a great satitifartion in this, as it affords me one evidence that Again, “ye that are spiritual” are to take part in the
the spirit of hJ\X! has possession of my heart. I trust that work of judging the church now. Especially each one ib to
it may never bc otherwise; but that more and more I may jua?ge kimself and help each other to look into the perfect
become a conv of God’s clear Son. our Lord,-“who when he law of liberty (lore) by which all are now being judged
was reviled.A ;.cvilcd not again ; when he suffered threatened (Jas. 2:12) under the New Covenant. “If me would judge
not. but commitled his cause to him who iudaeth riehteousls.” [&a-krino-“thoroughly judge”] ourselves, we should not be
(1 ‘Pet. 2:23 : 1 Cor. 4: 12) You mill b> glad to ‘i;now that judged [krino]. But when we are judged [Lri~o] of the Ilord
1 have on tb; girdle of love; that the peace of God rules in we are chastened. that we should not be condemned [I~rta-
mv heart; UKI that I hare a oonsrit>ncc void of offense toward kq.in(-J-“’ Judged down”] with the world.”
C&d and- toward men.-Col. 3:12-l>; acts 24:16; 1 Pet. It is in harmony with the above that the Apostle dc-
2:lQ; 3:lG. clares our Lord Jesus “the Lord. the righteous Jttdge,” wl-llo
Respecting the proposition that Christ has been judging will give him his crown of life (2’ Tim. 4:s) ; and in .harmony
Ihe church during this gospel age, would say: The church is with this thought that the church, the Lord’s body, is being
the body of Christ, and as such is collectively at the judgment judged now, under his supervision, and is not (directly) in
heat of the hcavcnlv Father. Our Lord Jesus is not presented the Father’s hands for judgment, is the Apostle’s expression
to us as our Judge, but rather as our Advocate bifore the in Hebrews 10 :31, “It iq a fearful thing to fall into the hands
*Tudrre, our Bridcrroom. our Friend. our Lover, our Redeemer, of the living God.” To be judged by Jehovah directly, none
our ugelivcrrr, o& IIe&l, our Governor, our Guide. As the of the imperfect race of Adam could stand-all would fall
Ilead he t;\kcs the supervision of the body, he commands, in- under his just sentence: but under the New Covenant,’ God
htructs, Cuitl(~+ in the affairs of his church. and takes it into is dealing with the church now as “the body of Christ”-so
fc~llowship pith himself in the building up of the body of long as we severally abide under the robe of Christ’s right-
Christ in the most holv faith. If me love him we will keep eousness, our wedding garment-not imputing our trespasses
his commandments, n<d IIC that loveth him will be loveh unto us, but unto our “Head” who died for us. Neverthe-
of the F.Itltcr. Thus his commandments nre to us a line of less, we (the church) are “accepted in the Beloved” in a
iudamelzl. rules of life. dailv: we are in him as members of manner different from the world: they will not be accepted at
his “body,’ who professc~ly hi& given him our wills,-accept- all, nor hare any intercourse with the Father until the close
ing his will or j2~dgl)lcnt’instcad -of our own. Nevertheless he of their trial at the close of the Millennium.-1 Cor. 15:24-28.
has given zifts unto men, unto the church-a measure of his Similiarly Jehovah is the Creator of all things.; yet he
spiri?, hia“v.ill, to every- man to profit withal; and for tlla does this by prosy through him who was “the beginning of
use of these gifts received from our Lord Jesus we are ac- the creation of God.” (John 1: 1) Likewise it is written.
countable to him. And our use or misuse of these will “They shall be all taught of God,” yet Jesus was the Teacher
constitute a judgment with which he will have to do, as repro- sent of God; and we are in the school of Christ, learning of
sented in the nnrnblcs of “The Pound+” and “The Talents.” him.
I presume th& wrre the thoughti \\hich the Brother h~tl in With much Clnirtian love, very truly your brother and
mind, when he spoke of our Lord .Tesu< a* iudping tllc c*tlurc*h serv;int in the Lord. --THE Enno~.
during iti Cocpcl age. As the head judges or critic>isc*s the

LETTERS FROM DISTANT COLABORERS

Cawd7. tradictory it grew: and the preachers never tried to explain
DESK BROTIILR RUSSEJJ.:-I hnve ili<t tonight received the it to me.
Christmas number of the TOWER. and h,~ve scanned it tlwougb -4t length God answered my prayers and gave me the
hurriedly. intending to study it tomorrow. In renewing my understanding of the glorious Gospel, and for his great good-
TOWER suh\cription, I wish to write to you more particularly. ness in sending me the truth I cannot love and serve him as
You know well my sentiments towards yourself, but on I would; I can only ask him to accept such services as I
this anniversary of the Sariour’s birth a grand and happy have and to rount them perfect through the Saviour’s blood.
time, I think it is fitting for me to express them once acrxlrl. It was through eon that this glad tidings came, and
For years and pears I hungered for truth, and longed to I;WW 1 know how you must have loved me, for the Lord to have
and understand the Bible, and nobody gave to me the spiritual 114 you. “He that denireth the office of a bishop desireth
food. I searchctl the Bible for myself, and the nloro con- a good thing :” and I knolr that yen desired it in the reH1
[2426]
JANUARY15, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (32-35)

Scriptural way: that is to say, you said in your heart, “The bring out the points of the truth, and that we must not think
Lord’s people are hungry and thirsty. Lord, I wish to ‘serve’ of it as an actual realitv. We contended, saying, All the
tllCln." And truly, you ha\fe done so. In all my intercourse facts of the case-the trail; journey, the Presbyterian minister,
I have never known you otherwise than as you sign your- the conversation, his conversion, his resolve to preach the
self,-a brother and a servant: and therefore I send my fuller Gosnel-were all an actual reality, tho written up in
heartfelt thanks. proper form, for a TOWER article. Could you kindly let US
My feet had well nigh slipped. after I had received the know which is the case, and if possible who is “B”?
truth, for I was growing cold and losing my first lore, and We are still trusting that the Lord will open up our way
again your loving words helped me and put new life into that me may yet get free to distribute the glorious
me, and just lately you have honored me by giving me an op- truth ere the dark night closes in. WC have started (a month
portunity to share with you the work of feeding the Lord’s ano) a “Dawn CirclecBible Class.”
sheep. Is is a grand and glorious privilege, and most heartily ” I am yours in our blessed Lord, C. N. HO~XTON.
do I thank God and the Lord for giving me this opportunity. REPLY : DEAR BROTHER:-I am alwavs glad to hear from
With regard to the “Good Hopes” I thoroughly endorse your you. I congratulate you that the past yea-, brought YOU so
words; no need is there to urge those to give who know this many opportunities for serving the truth-by holding meet-
truth, for it is so satisfying that we long to tell it to others ings, by writing articles in defense of the truth for the public
and, if we have monev. to use it in the snreadina of the “Good press, by using of your various little vacations from busi-
W&s.” God willing: ‘I purpose devoting to th& the interest ness in colporteuring tbc DAWN and circulating tracts: and I
accruing to me this coming year from the money loaned to the thank God on your behalf that you hare the fill to thus
Tract Society, and I have every reason to hope I shall be able serve both the Chief Shepherd and his sheep.
to do so. I am glad to know that the things pertaining to our
Your brother in the Lord, W. HOPE HAY. Lord’s cause are so first in your heart, and your business so
[The above is from the dear Brother whose donation of scrondary, that rou are seeking release from the latter in
FlO.000 to the Tract Fund was noted in our issue of Dec. 15, such a way as &ll permit more and more of your time and
‘!I& He has since then deposited with us as a loan, at low energy to go to the former. I am sure that our Lord is leased
interest, money which he is not certain if he can spare. He with vour elfart< to do what pour hand has folintl to a 0; and
is going out now as one of the “Pilgrims.” Mav the Lord I feel’ sure he will continue to open the door of opportunity
bless and “water” him while he thus PPI’WS the” “flock !“- before vou in pronortion as hc sees you 7rumblc and faifhful.
EI)lTOR.] I trust’ that the present year may bc a very blessed one to
vou and to all of the Lord’s faithful.
I thank vou most heartily for the proffered (E ) two
DEAR BROTIIER:-We wi>b you a very bright, happy and pounds sterling for personal use: but as my wants are at pres-
prosperous new year. Enclosed find order for four pounds, cnt well supplied, I am sure you will take no offense at my
thi ce shillings. WC think nossiblv vour own comforts are declining it as a personal matter and Joining with you in
not suflicient’iy attended to, am1 we thfnk you should take two making it a part of the heavenly treasure by converting it into
pounds of enclosed for your own special wants. It is a small the Tract Society’s funds. Your other contributions to this
thing for us, the recipients of so many spiritual blessings by fund are greatly appreciated also. dear brother. Your orders
(:otl s goodness through you, to repay you with carnal things. have had attention.
‘I%~ Lord himself mill abundantly reward you. May you never Respecting the discussion of The Bible V;F. Evolution in
fall or be discouraged, till all the will of the Lord has been nur Dec. 1, ‘08. issue: It is an idcal sketch. intcndetl as a
fully wrought out in you, and by you. We know a little of hint to brethren and sisters respecting good opportunities
tbc difficulties of the fight of faith, and of enduring hardness and methods for preaching the truth to others when on a
as good soldiers of Christ; therefore we send our hearty jnurney. Xercrthclcss. about nineteen-twentieths of that dia-
prretings, and deepest love and sympathy. logue (almost word for word) actually occurred on our home-
The TOWERS continuallv come. laden with blessino. We \vartl journey retnrning from the Council Bluffs Conventinn.
have by means of them, and especially in our busy work in “Betha” represents the Editor. All articles in the W.~WX
worldly affairs, a rich spiritual feast every time. The last TOWER are editorial. unless otherwise indicated.
one, Dec. 1, was particularly interesting and blessed. Some of Very truly .vour brother and servant in the Lord,
the readers here say that the facts recorded are merely to --Tire EMTOR.

VOL. xx AI,T,EGHENP, PA., li’l;‘lRRUART 1. 1808 No. 3

- - -~

“ARE CHRISTIANS DESERTING LOWER NEW YORK?”

DEAR BROT~IER RUSSELL:-I send you herewith a page In the old abode, the idea would not have been tolerated;
taken from the IYero YorB Hera& Jan. Mb, the principal hut conditions are now changed, and the new environme)lt is
part of which is devoted to- such, that what before seemed to bc sinful may now be re-
“A STUDY OF A REMARKABLE CHURCH SITUATION IN garded as an aid to the upholding, if not the upbuilding, of
LOWER NEW YORK.” the edifice.
The array of facts showing a steady and uniform sur- Pursuing this thought, it would be interesting if there
render of ground by the churches, notwithstanding the in- could be collected, for.’ purposes of comparison, the subject
crease of population, should indeed prove an astounding discussed, and texts nreachcd from. in these older edifices. in
revelation to the “Christians” appealed to. And the fact that days gone by, and those now made use of in the new fields.
these matters are promulgated by one of the eminent leaders I am convinced the relation would be as startling, almost. as
of the New York pulpit, and are verified and added to by the the facts here given.
I?lra,aId’s investigations, make the statements well nigh indis- When we reflect upon these things, can we wonder that
putable. nur friend, Mr. Moody, in his last evangelizing work in New
It seems to me that the “study” of the conditions here York city, told its ministers and people that if Jesus Christ
presented lies not so much in the apparent, surface truth should appear in person in one of their “churches,” he would
nresented. namelv, that south of 14th street the “church” be driven out, because they would not recognize him!
;\ould appear to “be doomed to practical extinction, as it does Since reading the statement of facts alluded to, my atten-
in an inquiry into the results which may be expected from tion has been called to another mhisterial occurrence, which
this moving and movable church in its later surroundings. has its bearing on this narticular lint of “studv.”
The mistake of abandoning this field can and may easily An emineiyt D. D. *of the metropolis, wi& a big church,
be remedied, if the conscience of the powers that control the fat living, well liked, and ostensibly doing a good work, is
situation be sufficiently deeply pricked. But the causes which offered a professorship in one of our seats of learning. Rumor
suggested, and eventually accomplished, such sweeping changes has it that he wants to accept it. Meeting a friend of the
are still at work in their new abode. and are accomnlishing I aforesaid D. D. I took occasion to allude to this call and
still other changes. its probable acceptance. “Yes,” said this friend, “you know
It is to be noted that the new fielcl of these old “churches” - is not patterned after the old style preacher; he is a
is todav the fashionable auarter of the city: and of course club man. somethinr of a snortsman. can take his little toddv,
it is to’be expected that t&se old “churches”‘are called upon and is %ail, fellow,~‘well nht’ gem&ly. He is very populai.;
to rater to the new requirements. Accordingly we are not sur- and is beloved by his congregation, which is fighting hard
prised to learn that one such requirement is EXCLUSIVENESS. against this call. But he has literary aspirations and con-
124271
(36-37) ZION’S WATCH TOWER .hJsEGHENY. PA

sequently favors it.” Thus we see at work the same under- “There are many who maintain that the churches are
lying evil which succeeded in driving the “church” out of the doing missionary work in the fields which they have left.
down-town vineyard. W7ith the exception of the efficient work of Trinity Parish,
The student of history, noting such potent and disturbing of the Protestant Episcopal church, and the work of the
events as here stated, discovered today in New York, sees Catholics, this field in the lower part of the city is prac-
them tomorrow reflected in London, events, tho peculiar to a tically left to the sower of tares. . . . . There is no escape
locality, having at the same time a universal sianificance: from statistics. The maioritv of those who dwell in the
he he&s the abrrm sounded, not by the pessimist, but by the lower part of the island a;e churchless. South of Fourteenth
brains and conservative judgment of the church as it is un- street there is one church to every 4,732 persons. In t,hat
derstood today, and cannot fail to see the inevitable trend section there are districts where there is one saloon to every
of events. 111 persons.
Can these conditions bc changed? Reason answers, About “In discussing the causes of the movement of the churches,
as easily as the heathen are today being changed or converted. Dr. Peters, the pastor of the Bloomington Reformed church,
It must be obvious that the powers which now obtain are as told me that the fashionable churches were becoming fashion-
impotent to work the desired change (if indeed it be even able clubs.
desired) in the one case as in the other. What a nrofoundlv “ ‘Let me give you two examples of what I mean,’ said he.
sad outlook must the array of facts, which give r&e to the& ‘A man who belonged to one of the uptown churches told me
and cognate thoughts, produce in this, the closing year of recently tha.t in his church there was only one poor man,
the centurv. and “he a Scotchman who could not be snubbed into leav-
Sad m;st they be to the student of events, unless indeed ing.” Another man, a member of a church of the exclusive
he be also a student of God’s Word, and can discern his times uptown kind, told me that in his church the pew rents were
and seasons, and their peculiar events. Then what a change! made so hieh that onlv a “certain class” could come.’ . . . .
As one season alternate: another with precise regularity, e&h “Statist&s show thit in comparison with the growth of
doing the work allotted to it, so he sees the conditiona now population here the Presbyterian church in this citv has lost
prevailing fulfilline their nuroose. onlv to eive wav to still eighty per cent in the last twenty-five years. The “Methodist
other conditions in” a later* development of God’s p&n. church, supposed to be the most aggressive force in Protes-
He looks ahead to that future great epoch in the history tantism. has in the last twentv vears increased onlv twentv-
of time, which is to take the place of the present, and b five per’ cent., whereas in nro;or”tion to the increask of pop-
faith he realizes some of the changes then to be establishe (9. ulation in the borough it- should have increased eighty:five
Among these changes, he is assu& that “an highway shall ner cent. The Dutch Reformed church has in the same uro-
be there, and a way, and it shall be called, The way of holi- portion lost ten per cent. The only Protestant church doing
ness;” and “the way-faring men, tho fools, shall not err anything like holding its own here is the Episcopal church.
therein.“-Isa. 35 *8
. . That is largely owing to the fact that much of the enormous
As one of those who are quite readv and willing to note wealth of Trinitv Cornoration is used in work among the
the signs of the times, tho more especially beca&e he is poor. The censui of 1890 gave the Catholic population gf the
assured by the Word of truth that “creeping may endure for then city of New York as 380,000. If the Catholic church
a night, but joy cometh in the morning;” and confident had held her own she should have had 900,000.
in the comforting assurance that in that day (Millennial * * Y
morning) pauper “churches” will be unknown and unneces- Some one failing to grasp the situation will perhaps say
sary, because the way of hoEiness shall be open to all, and or think-“Well, you criticize others, but what are YOU
all shall then know the Lord from the least unto the greatest doing in the line. o$ mission-work?”
(Jer. 31:34), I remain, in the common faith, We reolv that it is not the actions of these “churches”
Faithfully yours, JOHN W. ALEXANDER. that we find fault with, but the inconsistency of their actions
Extracts from the HeraM are as follows:- and professions. These denominations, one and all, profess in
“ABE CHRISTIANS DBSERTIN(3 LOWER NEW YORK?” their- published creeds that they exist for the very purpose
“Dr. Peters says so in a sermon, and the Herald here of convertina the world: and that all not converted bv them
shows that twenty-three churches have been abandoned or will suffer i horrible eternity: and straightway they leave
moved from below Forty-eighth street in the last ten years. the world to what they say is its fate, to meet for essays,
“‘The church, instead of adjusting herself practically to lectures, music and social pleasures-as “social clubs”-called
the changed conditions in civilization in New York, moves “churches.”
up town and puts on style. . . . . A church is located with Our views of the divine plan for human salvation are very
reference to clientele. So much money must be paid to sup- different from theirs: and hence the question is not, Are we
port it, and it must locate where the rich live, and, as a following their theories more consistently than they follow
result, those needing the saving influence of the church most them? but. Are we following our own conception of the divine
are neglected ; ‘-says the Rev. Dr. Madison C. Peters. plan consistently?-are we practicing what we preach and
“This is a startling arraignment of the church in New profess to believe, faithfully? We trust that every regular
York; yet the Rev. Dr. Peters quotes statistics which bear WATCH TOWER reader can answer promptly,-1 am doing with
out what he says. The church in the Borough of Manhattan my might what my hand finds to do,- in harmony with my
is moving up town, and the lower part of the island is every understandino of the divine will concerning me. And if any
vear becoming more churchless. An investigation made bv cannot so answer, promptly, we trust he “will begin at once
the Herald shows that within the last ten yvears seventeen such “reasonable service.”
houses of worship have moved up to the less thickly popu- We hold that ltone are in danger of eternal torment-
lated Darts of the citv. where the wealthv live. and six that the very thought of such an unjust punishment for
church& below Fourteenth street have gone &rt of’existence. sin is in antagonism to God’s revealed plan, rightly inter-
Tn the region from the Battery to Forty-eighth street twenty- preted, utterly repugnant to “the spirit of the truth,” “the
three churches have in ten years either moved up town or Spirit of Christ, ” “the holy Spirit.”
have become extinct, and little has been left in their place. We hold that ignorance neither justifies nor condemns-
“ ‘The Christian forces at work below Fourteenth street, either in New York or Africa or elsewhere; but that knowl-
to again quote the words of the Rev. Dr. Peters, ‘with a pop- edge alone brings blessings and corresponding responsibilities.
ulation of 700.000. are not as much as thev were twentv-five Nor do we understand that all knowledges bring grave re-
years ago. Altho ‘during that time over 206,000 persons”have sponsibilities and are savors of life unto life or of death unto
moved in below Fourteenth street, twenty churches have moved death; for but one knowledge, one science, is thus made a
out. One Jewish synagogue and two Catholic churches have test in the Scriptures-the knowledge of the way, the truth
been added, so that if we count the churches of every kind and the life; the knowledge of the true God, the God of jus-
there are seventeen fewer than twenty-five years ago.’ tice, wisdom, love and power.
“It will be seen bp consulting the table of churches which We hold that the masses in down town New York, not
have moved up town that all of them belong to Protestant possessing this knowledge, but being blinded in their minds
denominations. with the exccntion of one Catholic oreaniza- by the “god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4), are not on trial
tion. There have been from’ time to time utterances from nolr~. as ire we who have this knowledge. but will have their
various pulpits denouncing the lack of fervor shown by the trial by and by, during the Millennyal age, at the same
Protestant churches. It is not an optimistic view of the work time with the “heathen” millions of Asia and Africa;-after
of the church among the masses who live in the lower part Satnn has been “bound” and deceives the peoples no more
of the city which is drawn from an analysis of the uptown (Rev. 20:1-4), after the Lord and his elect church have begun
movement of the rhnrches. the reign of righteousness. And we hold the same to be true
l-24281
FEBRUARY 1, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER

of their polished and wealthy and better educated neighbors creeds of Christendom), nor are we excitedly and frantically
who have moved up-town; and who, “blinded,” mistakenly with drums and tambourines and “War Crys” striving to save
call themselves “churches.” from eternal torment fellow creatures-under a theory that
We hold that the Lord’s church. the onlv one ~._. to which
~... Gotrtyld horribly and unjustly misuse them, but for our
the name e&es&, body or church, is properly applicable, is .
so insignificant, so unostentatious, and comparatively so poor On the contrary, we are endeavoring to do as Jesus and
in this world’s riches, that it is not recognized nor recog- the apostles and the early church did, before the errors
nizable from the worldly standpoint. It is neither man- (“tares”) of false doctrine were planted by the great Adver-
made nor man-ruled; nor are its members enrolled on earth, . We are striving to find those who are not wholly
but in heaven. (Heb. 12:23) Its head and bishop is the Lord, %ded by the god of this world;-the “called,” those who
its law is his Word: it has but one Lord, one Faith, one have “ears to hear,” among the “masses” and among the
Baptism; and it is built upon the testimonies of the holy “classes ;” we are seeking to find, and to explain to them
apostles and prophets-Jesus Christ himself being its chief the way of the Lord more perfectly. And whether they hear
corner-stone. and obey, or whether they forbear, we doubt not for a mo-
We hold that, while neither the maSses of lower New York ment that all the gracious purposes of our all-wise God will
nor the classes of upper New York constitute this church, be accomplished,-that the foreordained number of the “copies
some in both may be eligible to its membership and bless- of his Son” will be comnleted, and that then these as the
ings-“even as many as the Lord our God shall caZZ,” and no body of Christ, “the seed of Abraham,” as God’s glorious
more. And we hold that in New York, as elsewhere, many kingdom, shall rule and relieve from blindness all mankind
more have been called than will be chosen;-because the call and bless and uplift all willing to obediently return to God’s
being to a very high post of service and honor, God has made favor through the great Redeemer.
the way to it marrou)-so narrow that few find it, and fewer
still care to walk therein after they have found it; a way of Above all we are seeking now, because it is the “harvest”
self-sacrifice, self-denial. time, the time of preparation for the marriage of the Lamb,
In harmony with this our faith and knowledge respecting to prepare ourselves, and each the other, for that great event
the divine plan, we are neither sitting in the seat of the which shall complete our joy and usher in the world’s bless-
scorners, drawing nigh to God with our lips, while our hearts ings; that we may be in heart (and as nearly as attainable
are far from him (rebelling against him as monstrously un- in the flesh also) “without spot or wrinkle or any such
Just and ~mlovingins blasphemously misrepresented in the thing. “-Eph. 5:23; Rev. 19:7.

THE DATE FOR THE MEMORIAL SUPPER

In our last issue we noted that the Hebrew Calendar the limitations foregoing; and it appears that they did not
seemed this year to disagree with the original methods of always wait until the Spring Equinox, and then after that
reckoning (and we have experienced similar difficulties in the wait for the following new moon, to begin counting Nisan.
past). Since then we have interviewed Rabbi Mayer on this (TO have done so this year would have been to begin Nisan
subject. His explanation is that the Jews had great difficulty as late as April 11th.) On the contrary, knowing when to
in securing uniformity of date for the Passover, because, after expect the equinox, they accepted the appearance of the new
the watchers had noted the new moon, the fact required to be moon whose full would he about the harvest timc, am1 atter
signalled by fires from hill tops, and by messengers sent to the equinox.
various communities, etc. Consequently, about fifteen hun- Following this rule, we find that the full moon after the
dred years ago, in the fourth century, Hillel’s Calendar was equinox this year will be on March 27th, which therefore
adopted, and it has been followed since. should be recognized as the 14th of Nisan, the anniversary
We -are to bear in mind two important matters relating of our Lord’s death: and according to Jewish reckoning the
to the date of the Passover. (1) It was to be after the Spring 14th would begin on Sunday, March 26th, at six o’clock P. M.,
Eauinox (vet not too long after), so that the 16th of Nisa< the anniversary of the Last Supper. From this it will be
thi date oT’ our Lord’s re&rrectidn, could be provided with a observed that the date given in our last issue was in error.
aheaf
-_...._ of.- t,he
- - first-fruits
~~ of the harvest-a tvne of “Christ, the Some will doubtless notice that almanacs give the date of
first-fruits” born from the dead. (2) The- lamb was to be the new moon as March llth, but if the fourteen days were
killed at the full of the moon, as representing the fulness of counted from that date it would not bring us to the full of
God’s favor under the Law Covenant, to the Jews, which the moon. We assume, therefore, that the Jews, instead of
culminated there, and which was followed by the rejection of accepting the dark moon for the new moon, waited until a
that nation and their waning in accordance with their prayer, sufficiency of the moon would be visible to the eye, and counted
“His blood be upon us and upon our children.” from that date. So counting now, the new moon would be
The decision regarding the month to be esteemed the first expected to be visible on the night of the 13th and morning
month was seemingly left to the Elders of Israel, subject to of the 14th of March, which would he Nisan 1st.

ENCOURAGEMENT TO FAITHFULNESS AND PROGRESS

Rouse up, 0 heart, brooding o’er earth’s broken friendships, “Fret not, 0 heart!-not because of evil-doers.
Mistakes and griefs. Retrospection truly brings They soon shall cease. When their cup of crime is full
Relief at times; but to scan too oft life’s pages To overflow, then the great and just Avenger,
Brings weariness, sapping strength thou need’st for progress. With girded loins, sword unsheathed and wrath enkindled.
The past forget! As a mighty vessel swings Will tread the press, and his blood-stained hand annul
To right her course, while the skies, serene and fogless, Their ill kept lease, and shall vanquish all the tinseled
And calming seas, tell no tale of tempests’ rages, Recruits of sin. But, 0 heart, heed thy great danger.
So thou, 0 heart, whilst her pennant Mercy flings, Besetting sins, and fair vanities which lull
Retrieve the past; and returning calm and sun To fancied safety the listless, thou must fear,
Shxll not condemn-only speed thine onward journey. Lest that dread sword thee mark also for its victim,
Forgiving and forgiv’n. A reprobate despised.
“Awake, 0 heart! Hurriedly from drowsy slumbers
Arise, arise! Night is sleeping time, not day.
Press nobly on, heeding not the faithless numbers !
The mid-day glare tempts to quietness and shadow;
Suave lethargy, friendly false, persuades the way
Is soon retraced from cooling brook and meadow;
But he who turns from the strife and glare, and cumherh
Himself with pleasure’s delights, will ne’er essay
The path again ; and yet thou, 0 pilgrim weary,
Foregoing rest, shalt be strengthened with all might:
Thy faith, sore tried, shall develop eagles’ sight,
And penetrate, past environment, to glory
Unspeakable, where in heaven’s effulgent light,
Thy glorious Leader dwells.” -~Jnknoum.
c24291
 JUDGMENT-KRINO, KRISIS, KRIMA
Son, there is only one text which even implies any exercise
refer to kr2’10 as having the significance of judgment. IlO YOU of krisis judgment (decision) by our Lord during this age:
refer to its sieniflcance in Greek? I do not find it rendered and that is the ADostle's statement. “Some men’s sins are
“judgment” ig our Common Version English Bible. open beforehand. going before to judgment [krzsis].” (1 Tim.
Ansuxr. (a) Certainly, krino is a Greek word, and its 5:24) This would seem to imply that, altho the Lord’s
significance in that language was what we sought to present. deciszon respecting the majority -of the church will not be
The word occur3 more times than krisis and krzma together: manifested until the “harvest” of this ape. vet there have
it is variously rendered in our English common version Bible, been exceptions to this rule; and the Ap&le”mentions such
-judge, conclude, condemn, decree, determine, damned, or- exceptional cases. (Heb. 6:4-6 ; 10:26-29) But the casting
dain, sentence. The thought in every instance is that of jzcdg- of many into outer darkness now, because of unfaithfulness
ment *or trial. This is the word used by our Lord when to the Word of the Lord or its snirit of love. is not thus
referring to the honor to he given to the apostles, “Ye shall exceptional; for the time of lcrisis has arrived;Lyea, and it
sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” It will mean a final sentence (krima) to some; for, as the
is the same word used bv the Apostle Paul when referring t0 Apostle declares, “The time is come that k&ma [sentence]
the future work of the-church,- saying, “Know ye not that must begin with the house of God.“-1 Pet. 4: 17.
the saints shall judge [krino] the world? and if the world But respecting the judgment, criticism or inspection rep-
shall be judged [krino] by you, . . . . know ye not that we resented by the word krino: it does not wait for the “har-
shall judge [krino] angels?“-Matt. 19 :28 ; Luke 22 :30 ; vest”’ but has been in progress throughout this entire age,
1 Cor. 6:2, 3. in the church. It is practically the only kind of judgment
Question. (b) Do vou consider the definitions of k&Is, that has thus been in operation. It was respecting this
kri&a and krin& given from Btrong’s Concordance, reliable? judgment that our Lord Jesus declared, “The Father judgefh
.lin.pwer. (b) Yes. You can convince vourself of this fact [krino] no man.” (John 5:22) Who, then, exercises this
by noting the ‘udes of these words in the NLw Testament. Any krino judgment? We answer that the krino or trial or proba-
definition at variance with those given could not be applied tionary judgment, as well as the lcrisis or decision, is com-
to every text in which these words occur. This is the best mitted of the Father to the Son. Yea, all power in heaven
way to test any definition, whoever gives it: test it by the and in earth, as it may relate to mankind, has been com-
Scriptural usage of the word. mitted to the Son-the Father rests the entire matter in his
We will give here Liddell and Scott’s Greek Lea&x-n defi- hands.-Heb. 4: 10; John 5:17.
nition of these words (our comments in brackets) :- The Lord gives us his Word, his teaching, as representing
Krima. “A decision, decree, judgment”-in New Testa- himself, saying, “Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and
ment usage. “Condemnation. sentence.” [This word seems my words, of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when
not to contain the thought ‘of trial, except in the past. It he shall come in his own glory.” (Luke 9:26) The teaching
relates to and signifies sentence.] of the great Teacher and of his chosen twelve apostles i+
Krisas. “ ( 1) A separating, putting asunder: hence a to be the kviterion or rule of judgment (krino) to his fol-
choosing. (2) A deciding, determining, judging, judgment.” lowers, who by their faithfulness or unfaithfulness to those
[This word includes the thought of traal culminating in a teachings may be said to judge (k&o) themselves. The
decision that is final, irrevocable.] Apostle thus uses the word krino to some whom he addressed.
lirino. “ ( 1) To separate, part, put asunder; hence also saying, “Seeing ye judge [krino] yourselves unworthy oi
to order, arrange. (2)- To inquire, search into, investigate.” eternal life.” (Acts 13 :46) Again, to the church the Apostle
[This word is full of the thought of trial. or testing, or says, “For if we would judge [d&k&o-thoroughly examine,
A-iticism; but it does not imply ufinaZity of decision.] -- criticise, judge3 ourselves, we should not be judged [k&o] ;
Indeed, lcrino is the root word from which krima and but being judged [k&o] by the Lord, we are chastened that
l,riszs are derived. ( 1) Krino relates to probationary trials we should not be condemned with [kata-k&no-on trial with]
and testings and corrections (now, and in the coming age). the world.” (1 Cor. 11:31, 32) Does the Apostle here refer
(2) K&is noints out a decision or a time of decision. The to the Heavenly Father under the name Lord, or to our Lord
Jewish “haivest” was such a time of decision or krisis to Jesus ? To the latter unquestionably; for his words must
fleshly Israel: the present “harvest” is a time of decision or be in accord with the words of our Lord Jesus. “The Father
krrsis to nominal spiritual Israel. And the entire Millennial judgeth [krinol NO MAN." This teaches us that in~addition
aee will be a time of decision or krisis for mankind in gen- to his Word our Lord gives a personal supervision or cor-
e&l, ending the k&no or probation of that age with a “bar- rection or discipling to those who are at heart seeking to walk
vest” time of decision or k&is. (3) K&ma relates to the in his footsteps.
final and irrevocable sentence upon evil doers. Compare Moreover,- the Apostle exercised this kind of judgment
these definitions with the New Testament usage of these words (krbno) in the church as an Ap&Ze. as a snecial renresenta-
and be fully convinced. tive of our Lord Jesus, and in his name. Wk read, “I verily,
Question.. (c) If “the Father judgeth [k&no] no man, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged [krinol
but hath committed all judgment [Icrisis] unto the Son, so already, RR tho I were present, concerning him that hath done
that all may honor the Son even as they honor the Father,” this deed.” ( 1 Cor. 5 :3-5) He reproves the church for not
would it not imply that there is no judgment of any kind in judgzng and reproving such persons of their number as were
progress by the Father directly during this Gospel age? known to be living in sin: and he most positively enjoins such
Anslcer. (c) Yes. judgment and that those thus found guilty be no longer
Question. (d) And if our Lord Jesus has nothing what- associated with as “brethren.” Then, answering a misunder-
ever to do with the judgment or correction of the church, but standing of his previous message-that thev were to withdraw
must wait and begin his judgment (krisis) with the world, from evil doers not professing Christ, he says (we paraphrase
and the Millennial age, would it not imply that the Gospel his words),-It is not mv business to iudae (k&o) those who
church is not on judgment (ttil) at all during this Gospel are outside the church -and name of” Christ. MvI comnlaint
I
age ? And would not such a conclusion be an unreasonable of you is that you neglect to judge (krino) those who are
one ? within the Dale of Christian brotherhood.
1
Those outside the
ilnswer. (d) Yes;-to both questions. The only solution church God will judge (krino-in his own time and manner
to the problem, the only way to harmonize these statements -Acts 17:31). Expel from your midst evil doers.-See 1
of Scripture, was, we believe, offered in our last issue. Cor. 5:9-13.
We there showed that ALL lcrisis or decision has been This thought that the church is in duty bound to look
committed to the Son, but the Son does not exercise that after the outward conduct of those it recognizes as “brethren.”
krisis authority until the harvest, the end of this age. He and to (krino, judge) settle points of misunderstanding
then exercises k&is power in respect to the church and the amongst themselves, is clearly set forth by the Apostle in his
world-rewarding his faithful and bringing a great time of discourse following the above reproof. (1 Cor. 6:1-6) He
trouble unon the unfaithful of the church and the world. points out that the Lord’s people should not think of going to
We are alieady in this kristi time-thousands are “falling”- law before the courts of the world to settle differences be-
“Who shall be able to stand ?” The humble, faithful few only, tween “brethren.” Here he uses the word krino (judge, ex-
“shall never fall. but an entrance shall be ministered unto amine) and asks if there is not in their midst a single per-
them abundantly’ into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord son in whose wisdom they could rely, and ironically suggests
and Sariour Jesus Christ.” Thus says the Apostle of this that if they have lost confidence in the leaders whom the
class, “Love has been perfected in us that toe may have bold- Lord has “set” in the church for such like purposes, they
ness in the day of judgment.“-krisis.-1 John 4: 17. should at least choose as iudges the Least esteemed in the
” .,

,41tho all judgment (decision, krisis) was committed to the church as preferable to a court of unbelievers. Thus would
(38 -39) [ 24301
tiFaavArY 1, 1893 ZION’S TV.4TCH TOlVEK (40 -11)

he ehame them and urge that if they had no confidence in want,” etc. But do not all realize that the Great Shepherd’s
each other, they at least do not manifest more confidence in great Son is our Shepherd also? It is the Shepherd-Son that
outsiders, but preferably suffer wrong and injustice, rather the Apostlo Peter declares to be “The shepherd and bishop
than dishonor the t+urt+ and her Head, the Lord. But all of our souls.” (1 Pet. 2:25; Heb. 13 :20) It is our Lord
this only proved that they had not been careful to judge himself that declares, “I am the Good Shepherd.” (John 10 :
(krino) and to dinfellowship the outwardly impure and un- 11) Not only so, but our word, “pastor,” signifies shepherd,
righteous. as does also the Greek word rendered “bishop” in our common
This judging by the church of its own faithful is by virtue version New Testament: and God, the Great Shepherd, %et”
of the spirit of the Lord in the church, as the Ap&tle de- these in the church, says the Apostle. Again he says that
clared ( 1 Cor. 5 :4) : the thought is that our Lord is in a the Good Shepherd, Jesus, gave these gifts to his church. Is
church of even two & three met-in his name, to direct such as there conflict between these statements ? By no means ; they
seek his guidance. Hence WC read, “And he gave some apos- are all true and all consistent when viewed from the right
tles, and some prophets. . . . . pastors and te&hers and e+an- standnoint: the Head of the under-shepherds is Christ, the
relists, . . . . for the edifvine of the bodv of Christ”-in these GoodzShepherd, and the Head of the Good Shepherd is the
chosen. members of his “hoduy,” the ch&ch, the qualities of Great Shepherd, and the flock is one. The key is in the
the “Head” were represented. Thus, representatively, as well oneness of purpose and of work between the Father and the
as by his Word, our Lord *Jesus has been judging, correcting, Son--“1 and my Father are one.” But this statement can
guiding his church throughout this Gospel age. Take his own only be apprehended by becoming o)le with the Father and
statement of thiq his work of judging his body, in his mes- the Son, in harmony with our Lord’s prayer.-John 17 :2l-23.
stages to thp M~YCII sfilgt,H of his church, recorded in Rev. 2 Question. (c)You point out the Spostle’s iujuuction that
a11tl 3. WC read,- wc should judge, I;v+~o; but does not our Lord use this same
OUR LORD THE SUPERVISOR OF THE CHURCH word in Matt. i:l, saying, “Judge [krino] not, that ye be
not judged [krij~o] ; for with what *judgment [l;?%a, sen-
“Krmembcr theretore from whence thou art fallen. and tence] ye judge [hino] ?/e shall be Judge11 [IiVillo] I” How
I fynt, . . . . else I zciL! come upon thee quickly and re- shall we harmonize these commands of the Lord and the
move thy candlestick” “Be thou faitbful unto death, and Apostle ?
I u?ill gire thee a crown of life.” I kave a few things against
thtfir; . . . . repent, or else Z ~91 coltte unto thee quickly Ansum-. (e) The two are in accord: the Apostle speaks
:\nd will fight nguinst thee with the sword of my mouth.i’ “Tb of the duty of the church as a C/MN& to judge its members
him that overcomcth will Z aim to eat of the hidden manna.” on common moralities. In the above expression the Lord
“I have a few things again& thee, because thou sufferest that, tlisrouxitcxiaiicc.4 criticisms and accusations and sentences of
woman Jezebel. . . . . I gare her space to repent. . . . . 1 we another as imZividrcaZ.9.
tat72 cast her . . . . into great tribulation, . . . . and I will Elsewhere the Apontlc also dikCotllltt~llilllt.~,‘l ~,idicidldal iudc-
ltrll her children with her death; and all the churches shall ing. acc*usationq, hack-bitings, etc., saying. “\Vhy dost “th&
knoa that Z am ke that search&h the reins and hearts: ccncl iudxc rl;ritro] thy brother? . . . T.rt us not th&efore “~~ iudeeu
1 toil1 gicc wto cuer?j one of ~0~6 according to your works. I.krinol o)(t’ unofl;w Hiiv more: but judge [kpino] this rather,
. . . He that overcometh and keepeth mv works unto the that no mau put tl 51limbling blwk or RII owasion to fall in
ciltl. to him will Z give power over the nati&.” “I hate not lirs brother’s way.“--ltom. 14: 10. 13.
)‘r~old tbv works perfect before God. . . . . l%e that over- INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST
;*omcth. .*. . . I ,lciil 91ot blot mt his name out of the book -4ntl our Lord not only approved of judging on the part
of life.” “These things saith he that hat11 the key of David, of the church, but gave explicit directions to all its incZivMuuZs
bra that oneneth. and no man shnttrth; and shutteth, and no respecting how to avoid judgijlg one another and how to submit
lllilll out&l.” “llel~old Z ,wiZZ mukc tlrem of the sinagoguc themselves to the judgment of the church aq the body of
nf Sat& . . . . to come and worbbip before thy feet, and to Christ.
knnv that I have loved thee. Ercau~e thou hast kept the
\hord of my patiencca, Z lcill also 7iCCl) tkee from the hour Of ( 1) They 11(arc to avoid judgin g a brother or bister guilty
teitiptation, which &all come upon all the world.” “Him of wilful wrong-doing ant1 were to attempt to reason the
that ovrrcometli will Z t~nkc a, pillar in the temple of my matter out privately, that the one or thtb other might see
C:Oll.” “Because thou ;Lrt luhcwarm. and neither cold nor his error.
hot, I rcilI spcrr lJ(ec: opt of my mouth.” “[ counsel thee to (2) If this provc’fl unavailing, thr one feeling himself
buy of IW poltl t,licld in the fire, that thou mayest be rich. aggrieved (yet still not judging his brother wilfull guilty)
. . . 1,~ t,ttttt!, (18 I low I rcbwl:~ nnd dtusfen: be zealous, ia to call in two or three brethren to hear both s12 es of the
t1,wl’ot c, tr,,rl r.tyw”t.” controversy. (As the Apostle suggests, those> called in should
li(bi c’ WC’ 11:ivc~our Lord’s own word for it, that ke is su- he “wise”--1 Cor. ti:B;--such as both the accuser and the ac-
pw i&g ant1 correcting his church now, and that as a cused would recognize, and whose judgment they would re-
t.ulnlinntiou of this trial (kri~a) time will come final de- >pect and follow.)
cb1*ion ( I;? isis) -rrwards I
and lmnishments. (3) If th(+C brcthrcn, called on to :rct as jutlges, and
Wr repeat that the proper thing to do is to harrno~rho his owl t4ioiw of “wise” brcthell, givtb their verdict against
these various statements-some of which refer to the heavenlv the accuser, that should settle the matter; thr accuser should
Vather as the “Judge of all” and corrector of the churcd, recognize his error. Xot to do so would imply that he was
\\hile others declare that the Father judgeth IIO WWI, but bath not seeking to asccrta& the truth, but that he had judged MS
c~ommitted all judgment unto the Son. Xor is it difficult to brother personally, the very thing that both the Lord and the
llill monize the&: the Scriptures themselves indicate how 60th -4postlc warn us against. Jf the accuser be not able to see
are true. uointinc out that t,he Sou is the rcnresentative and matters fully in the same light as his “brethren,” he should
honored ‘aient oi’ the Father in the judging ‘(lcri,lo) or pro- nevertheless accept their decision and trust and pray to the
Iti;ltiorlary trials of this ago and will be also his agent and TAord that he would be guidetl into clearer views. But should
representative in giving (Lrisis) decisions-rewards and tribu- the brcthrell. rallr~l in -to judge, agree with the accuser, the
Iatlons-in the clitl of this age. 9nd with his glorified church a~~‘uhtl(l of couryo &~uld yield,-esucciallv if he had acknowl-
1111will give similar judgment (I;,l’~o and /crisis) to the world ctlgetl thr jiitl~!c~i to bc “&se.” Tlio violitor of the judgment
in the ?tfillennial age-the world’4 tlny of judgment.--Acts of r;uch “wihe” brethren (if the matter were considered of
17 .X1. &licieut importance) was to he charged and the cause heard
$0 far from this being peculiar or exceptional. it is the before the church-whose decision was to be final; and disre-
~~irral rule of Scriuture in matters resuecting the Father gard of its decision implied excommunication.-Matt. 18: 15-35.
.ml t11r Son. In t6e matter of rreatior;, for ‘instance, tlie We llt~ve examined this question somewhat in detail, be-
lic~~\csnly Father is always named as the Creator, and yet cause fearful that something in our last issue might have
we are assured that the Only Begotten was both the beginning srt~mcti to sanction personal juclgillg. The Lord. however, does
:lnd the ending of the Father’s direct, personal creation; and recognize his church and does promise to act through it and
that “all things were made by hi71c [the Only Begotten] and to give lcis judgment thus to those who seek it, promising in
without him was not one thing made that was made.” (John this very connection that, Where two or three are gathered
1:3) The matter is explained by the Apostle, saying, All in his name, he is in tl~%r midst. The great difficulty with
things arc of the Father, and all things arc by the Son.- many is their lack of faith; they do not believe the ‘Lord’s
1 Car. 8:6; Cal, 1:15-17. Word, nor trust to his provide&es, but want to take mat-
Take another illustration. In the familiar xxiii. Psalm w*r ters into their own hands. And this is narticularlv i the - - case
-~-
rv.311 in the originrtl, “.Tehnvah iq my shcphcrd. I yhnll not with those who are in the mong. ’
r2431-J
 PRESENT TRUTH IN EUROPE
We have heretofore mentioned the fact that the Lord has thousand volumes were disposed of (900 DAWNS and 100
raised up efficient servants of present truth who are colaboring booklets) ; about 15,000 tracts circulated free; and many
in Germany, Switzerland, France, Austria, Sweden, Norway thousand sample copies of the German WATCH TOWER.
and Denmark. The success of the work in these fields for We feel confident that 1899 will be a favorite year in
1898 is more encouraging than in any previous year;-as we Europe, as several who have found the truth recently seem
should of course exoect. Particulars did not arrive in sea- to be persons of ability who are zealous to serve it to others.
son to be itemized ‘in our annual report in the Dec. 15th One is a Salvation Army captain in Sweden. another is a sister
TOWER: and even now that they are at hand, they are difficult in France who has been for some years a mission worker, an-
to harmonize and unify-matters which will be duly rectified other is a sister of influence in Austria, besides auite a num-
for 1899. ber in Switzerland and Germany-an editor, a min?lster, several
We have already mentioned the earnestness and devotion school-teachers and merchants.
of Brother Weber who has charge of the French work, Sister The Lord’s blessing be with these efforts, as well as upon
M. Giesecke, our representative in Germany, and Brother the still larger work going on in the English tongue! And,
Winter, colaborer in Denmark. These have been in the har- by the way, the work in Great Britain is a work in Europe
ness for now several years, and the Lord’s blessing upon their also, and larger up to the present time than any other there.
efforts has stirred up other colaborers in this “harvest ;” SO We pray that it also may be greatly blessed and prospered of
that during 1898 many hands served the truth in circulating the Lord, and that his noble servants there may have large
tracts and DAWNS personally and by mail. Nor were these measures of the spirit of the truth. We recognize no national
content merely to circulate the truth-they also shared the or tongue distinctions among those who have become new crea-
financial burden generously, contributing according to their tures in Christ: this “holy nation” is indeed a peculiar peo-
abilities ; and that without solicitation-prompted by their ple, gathered out of all nations so completely that henceforth
love of the truth and by its spirit. they know each other not by their mother tongue nor by the
The German and French works are closely identified be- place of natural birth, but solely and only by the tie of
cause Switzerland and Belgium are common fields where both Christian love which binds their hearts and hopes and aims
languages are spoken. The reports show that nearly one in one.

IS PRESENT TRUTH UNREASONABLE?

The pastor of a Baptist church writes us, saying in sub-
stance that he sees much in the teachings of the WATCE TOWER
to commend; and that in general its reasonings on the
Scriptures are logical, its applications of Scripture found to
harmonize well with the context. He would be convinced of
the entire position, but for one thing-the smallness of the
movement. He says that he knows of no other publications
than those from this office that present these views which we
denominate “present truth,” asks if he is mistaken in this,
and whether it is not uweasonable to believe that so import-
ant truths should be committed of the Lord to so narrow, so
comparatively insignificant, a channel. Admitting that the
Scriptures teach that at his second coming the Lord ~111
not find the faith general on the earth, but that on the con-
trary the Apostle declares that the close of this age will Wit-
ness an increase of headiness, pride, disobedience to parents,
unthankfulness, unholiness, etc., and declares that evil men
and seducers shall wax worse and worse, he Wants to know
how to harmonize these things with the progress of @an-
thropy, gentleness, etc., in the world today.
Answer. (a) We cannot deny the fact that ZION’S WATCH
Towm AND HEBALD OF CHRI.ST’S PBESENCE is the only pub-
lication in the world telling that we are now in the bar-
vest of this Gospel age, that the Master is present harvestmg
the wheat that it soon will be garnered, and shine forth
in the Millennial kingdom (Matt. 13:43), and that after the
Lord has thus set up and glorified his “jewels” in kingdom
power, the blessing of restitution will begin for the world of
mankind in general. This, however, is no argument against
the truthfulness of our position, which must be tested solely
by the Scriptures.
And we are here reminded of our Lord’s words at the first
advent “harvest’‘-the type of the present “harvest,‘‘-“Judge
not according to the appearance, but judge righteous jndg-
ment.” (John 7:24) The “doctors of divinity” of that time
not only ignored our Lord’s teachings, but opposed him and
said all manner of evil against him and his work, falsely, and
even accused him of being possessed of the prince of devils;
and they warned, cajoled and hoodwinked the common people
who heard him gladly, until they cried for his blood. But
none of those things hindered that “harvest” work to the
extent of preventing it. Likewise the present “harvest” work
will go right along to completion, regardless of who shall
attempt to hinder or make light of it.
It should not be forgotten that, as set forth in our Sep-
tember issue (reissued as an Extra on Nov 7th), the Lord’s
purpose at the present time is not to arouse and startle and
inform the world, but, on the contrary, to have the day of
his presence come as a thief in the night-stealthily, unob-
servedly-in the which he will test and gather his jewels,
preparatory to letting loose upon the world his corrective
chastisements, retributions, and vengeance upon evil deeds
and evil doers.
But you are mistaken, dear brother, in saying that ours
is the only voice raised on behalf of the “present truth.”
(41-42)
the contrary, all who hear the joyful news of heavenly grace
are privileged to join in the proclamation of these “good
tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.” And we
assure you that all who receive this “new song” into good
and honest hearts are prompt to give utterance to it; and
are singing it daily, as they find opportunity, to those who
have ears to hear. But, as the Scriptures point out, no man
is able to learn to sing that song clearly and harmoniously
except such as are “taught of God”-only such as have been
called to the high calling, and have accepted the call, and are
in the way of obedience. Whoever leaves the way of humble
faith and consecrated obedience, loses his power to sing “the
song of Moses and the Lamb” harmoniously, properly.-Rsv.
14:3.
You will be glad, we are sure, to know that with those
of “this way” all who hear the message are preachers of it.
We recognize no “clergy” and “laity” classes; for all who are
in the true Church of God are, as the Apostle expresses the
matter, “priests,” members of the royal priesthood, of which
our Lord is the Head or Chief Priest. Asked not long ago,
“How many ministers are of your way of thinking?” we re-
plied, to the astonishment of the questioner, that there are
about ten thousand, who are preaching every day to the best
of their ability. Then we explained that from our stand-
point, the Scriptural standpoint, every member of the body
of Christ is anointed of the spirit, and is fully commissioned
to make known the good tidings to everyone who has an ear
to hear. Some have talents for public speaking, others find
a field for usefulness as preachers in colporteuring the truth,
and still others for private conversation and private circula-
tion of the good tidings in printed form.
The effect of the combined effort of these ministers of the
truth is that the sound thereof is extending to the utmost parts
of the earth. Not all, however, are able to clearly discern the
sound now, and we believe that it is intended for only such
as have “ears to hear,” to whom alone it will be a special
blessing in the present time. We look forward with pleasure,
however, to the time promised in the Scriptures when all
“the deaf ears shall be unstopped” and all “the blind eyes
shall be opened,” and when, as a consequence, the true knowl-
edge of the Lord shall fill the whole earth, as the waters cover
the great deep-the sea.-Isa. 35 :5 ; 11:9.
Answer ( ZJ) : We are living today under a glare of light,
such as the world never before enjoyed. We are not, there-
fore, to expect the grossness of the past; but while there is
a polished veneer upon the world in general today, such as it
never had the opportunity of having before, this only gives a
corresponding amount of responsibility, from the divine stand-
point. Where much is given much will be required. The Scrip-
tures assure us that the only proper course for those who have
the enlightenment, which we enjoy, is a recognition of our
own imperfections, and of the Lord’s standard of righteous-
ness, and an acceptance of the salvation which he has pro-
vided in Christ. and a thorough change of heart, will, senti-
On merit,-from sin to righteousness.
[2432]
FEBRUARY 1, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (43-44)

True, the numbers in Christendom, who now outwardly ob- and we shall not attempt to do SO, but we believe that the
serve rules of propriety and decency are larger than ever be- Lord has arranged his truth so that it will do the judging.
fore; but we doubt if the proportion of the truly consecrated, Our Lord voiced this sentiment, saying, “My words shall judge
the “saints ” is greater. We have frequent evidences, too, you in the last day”-the Millennial day. This judgment of
that the v&eer of the present time is very thin, and that the last day is already upon us, and, as the Apostle Peter
the old nature, unconverted, is underneath. For instance, declared, so. we find it; “Judgment must begin a?, the house
this was shown a year or so ago, at the notable French of God,“-the Gosuel church. nominal and real. The fact
Charity Bazaar, when the fire occurred, and when so many that the Scribes and Pharixees’and Doctors of the law of today
who were esteemed to be thoroughly polished sociallv gave do not accept the message and evidences of the second pres-
evidence of fierceness and brutality worthy of the dark ages. ence of our-lord, so far-from being contrary to the teaihing
A similar evidence that mankind. as a whole. are nracticallv of the Lord’s Word. is in nerfect accord therewith. Has he
unchanged at heart, was furnished in the savagery’displayed not said to us that not m&y great, mighty or wise, accord-
at the time of the disaster to the steamer La Bourgogne. Nor ing t.o the course of this world, will be worthy of a place in
have we reason to question that in all civilized-lands the his kingdom? And do not all the great ones of today, to
snirit of discontent which nrevails would. under favorable whom you refer, claim to be great and wise, according to
conditions, show up as horribly as in the “Reign of Terror” the course and judgment of this world ?
of the French Revolution. Indeed, the latter is set before us Moreover, our Lord gave us a sample or foreshadowing
in the Scriptures as a picture or illustration of the conditions of the present harvest, and what we may expect here: it was
which will nrevail throughout the entire civilized world. and furnished in the Jewish nation and its harvest at his first
in the midst. of which thg torch of civilization will for a short advent. Present conditions exactly correspond to that proto-
time be utterly extinguished. For further evidences along type: there as here it was inquired Have any of the Pharisees
this line we refer you to MILLENNIAL DAWN, VOL. IV. and doctors of the Law believed on him? The answer was
As an illustration of modern cruelty of thought take the then, as now, No. Of course the mass of the people then fol-
following from the pen of a man of learning, a highly esteemed lowed their leaders. and so also it will be now. Of that time
French gentleman-M. Rochefort. Assailing his political op- our Lord said that-the leaders were blind leaders of the blind,
ponents, the judges in the Dreyfus case, he said:- and that all would fall into the ditch, and it was so: the
“To smear them over with pitch, and make live torches of Jewish nation as a whole was overthrown in the time of
them, as Nero did with the Christians, would be somewhat trouble with which their age ended, and their house was left
of an antiquated amusement. An idea has occurred to me of wholly desolate. So we expect it to be here: the masses of
a punishment which might give satisfaction even to the most “Christendom” will follow their blind teachers, blind guides,
exasperated. The members of the Court of Cassation having and have a confidence in them worthy of a better previous
been previously drawn up in single file, an executioner duly record, and will eventually be greatly surprised when the
trained to the work should cut off their eyelids, so as to “little flock,” the Lord’s Jewels, have been gathered, and
leave the eyeballs denuded. Then spiders of the most venom- the time of trouble breaks forth which will engulf all present
ous kind should be enclosed in nutshells, applied to the eye- institutions,-social, financial political, religious, and pre-
balls, and properly fastened behind the culprit’s heads. These pare the way for the fulfilment of our Redeemer’s prayer,
spiders in a famished condition could not be expected to be “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is done
very fastidious, and would slowly and gradually-feed on the in heaven.”
culprit’s eyeballs until nothing but a ghastly cavity re- Answer (d) : If you want to be guided aright. dear
mained. This done. these hideous blind men should be chained brother, you must not -look to human authorities, but to the
up to a pillory erected before that Palais de Justice where Chief Shenherd himself. who declared. “Mv sheen hear mv
their crime has been perpetrated, and on their chests a placard voice, and* they follow ‘(obey) me.” We io not ‘set oursel-f
should be affixed, bearing these words: ‘Thus does France as a leader of the Lord’s sheep, and we neither ask nor ex-
punish the traitors who attempt to sell her to the enemy.“’ pect any to follow us as their leader. We seek merely to be,
If the veneered and polished can think such thoughts and so far as the Shepherd may be pleased to use us, his mouth-
use such language, what may we not expect of the ignorant piece to call attention to the Shepherd, and to the way in
and uncouth when frenzied and in despair, in the coming which he is leading. None should ‘follow us, except as they
anarchy ! discern that we are followinn the Master. as saith the Anostle. 1
Anmer (c) : It is not for us to judge the hearts of others, -1 Pet. 5:3; Phil. 3:17. -

“GREATER WORKS THAN THESE”

FEB. l&-JOHN 5 : 17-27.
“This is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.“-John 4:42.
Jesus was again in Judea, probably attending the Feast to syphon out into the other at intervals; or possibly the
of the Passover as was his custom,-these annual gather- action was caused by gas. The healings experienced were
ings constituting the very best opportunity for reaching the quite probably what today would be termed mind cures, a
devout Jews from all parts of the Holy Land, and from sur- beneficial action of the mind and will upon the physical
rounding countries. organism.
Our Lord, in his quiet Sabbath walk about Jerusalem, We do not know that the Lord made any movement toward
came to the Pool of Bethesda, which had a wonderful reputa- the general healing of the multitude who were waiting for the
tion for its healing qualities, on account of which its porches movement of the pool, and hopin, u for relief; nor do we know
and sheds were crowded with sick people with divers ail- that he extended his beneficence to any, except the one whose
ments, waiting to take advantage of what was considered to healing is the subject of this lesson, who was more helpless
be a miraculous action in its waters. What is today known than the majority, and whose case was apparently hopeless,
as the “Pool of the Virgin” is supposed to be the one formerly in that it was chronic, or thirty-eight years standing. Nor
known as the Pool of Bethesda, and a peculiar movement in could the impotent one have had much ground for hope at
the waters of the Pool of the Virgin is well known. Travel- the pool, for, as he himself explained, others less feeble than
ers whose word is reliable declare that they have seen this himself availed themselves of the fountain before he could
spring rise twelve inches in five minutes, and then subside reach it. It was to this heart-sick and weary one, hopeless
about as quickly. There are other springs which have this and helpless that the Lord addressed: “Wilt thou be made
same intermitting peculiarity. One of these is at Kissingen, whole?” He readily answered that he was anxious to be made
Germany. Its flow is accompanied with an escape of gas, whole. Our Lord did not even wait for him to manifest a
and its water is reputed to be more valuable at the time of previous faith in his power, but allowed the man’s faith to
its movements, and probably because surcharged with gas. be testified by his obedience: and exercising the faith,
The intermittent movement of the water of the Bethesda astonished and bewildered, he obeyed, taking up his couch,
Pool is referred to in vs. 7 of this chapter, but the explana- not even knowing his benefactor.
tion about the angel troubling the waters, etc., contained in So it is with the greater miracles performed by our Lord
the last seven words of the third verse and all of the fourth throughout this Gospel age-some of the weakest and most
verse, is omitted from the oldest Greek MSS. (the Sinaitic hopelessly powerless for good are morally healed, strengthened,
and the Vatican). There was probably nothing whatever renewed, transformed, through the operation of frczth and
miraculous connected with the spring, but some peculiarity obedaence. Yet such cases are but few compared to the world
of the channel, which caused the water from one compartment of mankind, similarly or even less diseased with sin, who are
[ 24331
all eventually (during the Millennium) to be made acquainted and to the subsequent resurrection (under trial or judgment)
with the Great Physician. of the world during the Millennial age.
This miracle brought upon .Jrsui the opposition of the This thought is borne out by the statement of vs. 22, that
Pharisees, who, because of a wrong attitude of heart, mistook all judgment-has been transfer”red to the Son. The resurrec-
the real object and purpose of the Sabbath day and tacking tion life is to be the reward of those who will successfullv
on to the divine command traditions of the elders. had made pass the judgment. The first resurrection will be the rewarh
of it a mere outword form, robbing it of its true thought. We of those who are “overcomers” in the trial in progress during
are not to consider that our Lord performed so many of his this Gospel age under the conditions of thi liigh calling,
miracles on the Sabbath, apparently in preference to other and its narrow wav to elorv. honor and immortalitv. The
davs. as sicnifvinc
. , <> ” */
anv disresrjcrt to the dav. nor as signifv-
*
church is on judgm&, 0; t&l, under the terms of this high
ing a desire to provoke the Pharisees. Rather, we mav sub- calling, now, during this Gospel age. The Lord will also judge
pose that the performance of the notable miracles on tliis day the world of mankind redeemed by his own sacrifice,-during
was largely in order to thus point out the great seventh day the Millennial age : and in that iudpment of the world he
Sabbath, the Millennial day, the seventh thousand year period has promised to issociate with hi&eif’ the bride class, whose
of earth’s lristory, when the anti-typical and far greater judgment trial is now in progress. (1 Cor. G:2) Those of
miracles and hl&ings will come to &&kind. “These‘-things the world of mankind, awakened and brought to trial during
lmirnclcsl did Jesus. and manifested forth [beforehand1 his the Millennial age, who shall develop characters in harmony
icoming] -glory.“--Jdhn 2 : 11. with riphteousness, and fully acceptable to the Judge, shall
The conduct of the Jews, in wishing to kill one who, ac- attain & full resurrection, and enter life, complete and ever-
cording to their own testimony, had done nothing amiss, but lasting at the close of the Millennial age-at the close of their
hat1 done much good simply because he differently interpreted dav 07 trial, while the residue will be cut off in the second
the law, and dirrexartlcd the “traditions of the elders,” is a deith.
parallel to tiir opposition which is sometimes manifested by That this judgment of the world did not begin at our
nrcsent-d:tv Christinns-sectarians of the strictest sort. Thev Lord’s first advent, we have his own testimony: “I came not
kight not’ intlrcd seek literally to kill t,he one who would db to judge the world.” (John 12:47) And again, his declara-
riolcncac to thrir theories and traditions, but many of them tion, “My Word shall judge you in tllc last day”-the last
would hnvc very little hesitancy in assassinating his character, thousand-year day of tlie s&en, the Millennial day. It is in
if thereby they could defend the falsities of their systems. full harmonv with this that the Anostle declares. “God hath
”

Our Lord’s xcply respecting his authority angered them appointed a day [period-epoch] ii which he wiil judge the
the more : not because he declared himself to be Jehovah, world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained”-
the Father, as many seem to think, but because he declared the Christ, Head and body.-John 12:48; Acts 17:31 : 1 Cor.
himself to be the Son of Jehovah, who had been given a work 6:2.
to do by thr Father. Nor did the Jews misunderstand him In harmony with this, also, is the statement in vs. 17 and
in this;” their anger was because, in claiming to be the Son Heb. 4:4, 10. God rested from his work of creation when
of God he was claiminr an honor and nlace so much higher man became a transgressor, and instead of proceeding with
than themselves-a plac’e which implied* a closeness of Feela- the work, he abandongd it, placing a curse upon it -a penalty
tionship and of nature to Jehovah, a claim which they con- of death unon his chief handiwork. But altho he abandoned
sidered blasphemous. The successors of the Pharisees in our the matter: in one sense of the word, he did not- abandon it
day go far beyond our Lord’s claims, and claim for him what in his purpose, but intended and foretold that he would raise
he never claimed for himself; viz., that he is the Father, and up a seed- of the woman which should eventually crush the
that he always has been the Father as well as the Son, and Evil One, delivering the race from his Dower-imnlvine
1 I” ” in-
that the two arp one in person, and not merely two persons of cidentally the revocation of the death penalty, a resurrec-
one harmonious mind, purpose, sentiment, will. These take tion. Our Lord Jesus was in person the promised Seed of
great offence at any of- the Lord’s “brethren” of today who the woman, but, as we have already seen, the divine plan
claim to be sons of God. and who apply that term m its included also the church, “members of his body.” The suffer-
Scriptural force and significance. 9s is well known to many, ings of Christ, Head and body, are mentioned in the promise
a prominent Doctor of Divinity and Professor in a theological of Eden as the bruising of the heel by the serpent. This has
seminary in Ohio has published a scurrilous review of MIL- been in progress throughout the Gospel age; Jesus was cruci-
LENNIAL DAWN. the chief noint of which is the holdinp UD to fied by the forces of evil, yielding himself up a sin offering;
ridicule the hope of the &urch’s “high calling,” the&n- set and the members of his Body are suffering with him, “filling
forth, based upon and supported by the exceeding great and up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ.“-Col. 1:24.
precious promises given to ns in the Scriptures, the intention Soon the time will come when this great Seed, the Christ,
of which, the Apostle declares to be, “that we might become shall be fully glorified, all the members iharing in’the glory of
nartakers of the divine nntltre.“-2 Pet. 1:4. the Head: and then. as the Anostle declares. “The God of
‘l’hc~ declaration that “the Son can do nothing of him- peace shail bruise Satan unde; your feet &ortly.” (Rom.
self.” if it were not backed un as it is bv a score of other 16:20) And it is this great Deliverer, whose Head and
testimonies from the same interested and” inspired Teacher, Lord has redeemed the world with his own precious blood,
is a contradiction to the common thought of Trinitarians, that the Father has appointed to be the judge of the re-
that the Son is the Father: it is in direct conflict with the deemed race, when it shall be on trial durinp the Millennial
statement of the catechism, that they are “equal in power and age, while Satan is bound. The work of thYe Son will not
in glory.” Nevertheless the Father “loveth [jilio-has affec- be complete until all evil has been thoroughly subjugated,
tion for] the Son,” and as a consequenre of this affection has which will be at the close of the Millennial age. He will
shown. is showinc. and will show forth through him greater reclaim, by a knowledge of the truth and chastisements and
marvels, greater ‘\;;onders. And our Lord Jesu< has promised corrections in righteousness, so many as are willing, and
us that, & the Elder Brother (of the Gospel house of sons), the residue shall be destroyed from among the people. (Acts
whatsoever the Father shall make known to him he in turn 3:23) And when he shall thus have put down all opposing
will-make known to us. This is brought forcibly to our at- authority, rule and power, the Apostle assures us, he wi?i
tention in the Book of Revelation, w&h expreisly declares deliver UD the kinedom to God even the Father. Thus the
that it is-“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Father wirked preiiously to man’s fall, and has committed
unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass.” the work of reconciliation of man to the Son, and also the
(John 15: 15 ; Rev. 1: 1) Our Elder Brother, our Bridegroom, judgment of the race, and will receive it back again under
our Cnptain,~ has promised further that in due time we also divine iurisdiction. when, through the Son as his agent,
shall share with him in doin, rr hmrenter works than any which he shali have made all things new.-1 Cor. 15:24; Rev. gl:5:
he nerformed at his first advent.--.Jolm 14:12.
It is therefore a great mistake to say, as some do “Jesus
14mongst the greater works the Lord mentions the quicken- is our judge, Zike the Father” ; for our Lord’s own words as-
ing of the dead-claiming that, as the Father has the power sure us that the Father iudgeth no man, having “committed
to raise the dead, so also this power is granted to the Son. all judgment unto the So&“- The judgmpnt of l%e church, in
Sor should we suppose that. our Lord. in this statement,
progress during this Gospel age, is referr rd to in vs. 24: those
referred to the ancaicening of Lazarus, and the son of the
widow of Nain. and the daughter of Jairus. These at most who now hear and believe and obey to the extent of their
c.
ability have everlasting life guarantked to them, as a result
were awakenings, and not, in the full sense of the word. resur-
rections-these individuals were not lifted up completely out of thus favorably passing the present judgment or trial. These
are assured that they will not need to come into the general
of death into the perfection of life. Rather, we may suppose
judgment of the world during the Millennial age, because they
that our Lord was looking down into the future-to the pass from death unto life as the result of the judgment of
resurrection of the churrh in glory. honor and immortality,
I”CBRUARY 1, 1899 % I 0 A’ ’ S hi’,4 T C H T 0 IV E R

this age. The word “condemnation,” in this verse, signifies Lord said to one, “Let the dead bury their dead.“-Luke
judgment, and is so rendered in the Revised Version.--Gom- 9 :57-62.
pare 1 Cor. 11:32. Our Lord realized that his hearers could not appreciate the
In vs. 25 the general judgment of mankind during the possibility of his doing so great a work as a man, and hence
Millennial age is specially referred to, when all the dead shall he makes the esplanation that the Father, who has life in-
hear the voice of the Son of God, be brought to a knowledge herent (immortality), hath given (promised) the Son the
of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4), and when they that hear (obey same inherent life (immortality), as well as given command-
that knowledge) shall live: shall be rescued not only from the ment (authorization) that he, the Son of Man, to whom the
tomb but also from all the imnerfections mental. moral work was committed, as declared in the prophets should exe-
and physical, which have come up& the world through sin- cute iudarnentthe divine will. And it is in view of this
be raised up to perfection of life. The fact that this judgment high ho& conferred upon the Son by- the Father that we
work begins with a little flock during this Gospel age is sug- are told (vs. 23)) “that all may honor the Son even as they
gested by the expression that the hour for the dead to hear the honor the Father.” (Revised Version.) The explanation of
voice of the Son of Man has already commenced, “1u)w is.” this statement follows, and shows that the honor to the Son
The whole world, from the divine standpoint, is spoken of as is as the Father’s appointed representative and agent in the
dead, because it is already nine-tenths dead and under sentence great work, saying, “He that honoreth not the Son honoreth
of death to the full. It was from this standpoint that our not the Father &ick sent trim.”

FEEDING THE HUNGRY

FEB. I@.-JOIIN 0: l-l.
“I am the bread of life.“-John 0:33.
“After these things,” says John; and various connected and pouring in the oil and wine of truth, and satisfying their
incidents show that it was nearly a year after the miracle hungers and thirstinga of heart with the good promises of the
and discourse of our last lesson. It is well understood that kingdom, aud finally providing them natural food. And such
the Gospel of John does not claim to be a full record of our will be the spirit of all the Lord’s followers, in proportion as
Lord’s sayings and doings. It would appear to have been they have learned of him, and become partakers of the spirit
written after the other Gosnels. John evidentlv recollected of his holiness. Their delight will be, not in self-gratification,
matters which, in whole or in part, had been o;erlooked by but chiefly in “doing good unto all men as they have oppor-
the others, and his Gospel sets forth some very interesting tunity, especially to the household of faith.” “So shall all men
incidents and prayers and discourses, whose omission would know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another.“-Gal.
have been a serious loss to us. Thus we see how God operates G:lO; John 13:35.
in various ways to accomplish his purpose. He could have John’s narrative, in connection with those of the other
miraculously used any one of the Evangelists to give the full Evangelists, shows us that our Lord counseled with the
and detailed account, but he chose rather to allow each to apostles respecting what should be done with the multitude,
state himself in his own manner, and to supply the details in and that their general advice was that they be sent away,
four narratives, in preference to one. that they might find lodging and victuals in the nearest vil-
This very arrangement indeed, has led to a greater search lages. The people themselves seem to have been so en-
of the Scriptures, and has thus brought the various details tranced with the good tidings that they entirely forgot their
more pointedly to the attention of the Lord’s people. We own necessities. Our Lord specially addressed Philip respect-
are to remember, however, that, altho a liberty was allowed, ing the matter, because his home was in the neighboring city
the matter was nevertheless under divine care and supervision, of Bethsaida.
to the intent that the records should not err in their state-
ment. Our Lord’s promise we may rely upon, V&Z., that what- The general conclusion of all the apostles was that the feed-
soever the apostles bound or loosed on earth, is bound or loosed ing of such a multitude was beyond any reasonable hope of
in heaven, so completely were they under divine direction and theirs. And it must have been with bewilderment that ther
protection against deception and misstatement. obeyed the Lord’s direction to seat the people in orderly con;-
News had just reached our Lord and his disciples that panies, and proceeded to distribute their scanty supply. All
John the Baptist had been beheaded, and “whem Jesus heard had sufficient to satisfy their hunger, and the fragments that
of it he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart.” remained, gathered into the haversacks (mistranslated
(Mat& 14:13) Our Lord withdrew, probably in part to have baskets) in which the twelve apostles carried their provisions,
an opportunity for private meditatibn and” conference with were a good supply for their future necessities. Thus did our
his discinles. who undoubtedlv * would be-u ereatlv “U aeitated bv Lord additionally teach economy, frugality. The disciples
this new’s and ’ needed his calming influence and assurance and the multitude would be very likely to draw the inference
that Herod could have no power over him or them except such that, where there was such power to create and to multiply,
as might be permitted of the Father. The wilderness place there would be no necessity for frugality. The course pursued
to which they went was just outside the boundary of Herod’s by our Lord is a valuable lesson for our time also. It implies
dominion, near Bethsaida. And the fact that our Lord’s con- that those who receive of the Lord’s bounty should be none
ference with his disciples had a pacifying and strengthening the less appreciative of it, and careful in its use. According
effect is evidenced by their return that same night to Galilee, to the divine arrangement, it would seem to be the proper thing
Herod’s territorv. that wilful waste, sooner or later, brings corresponding woe-
It was while”they were thus quietly aside, on the mountain ful want.
slopes on the north-eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, that The Lord’s people should be careful to avoid wasting, in
they beheld “a great companv coming toward them.” The earthly food and temporal matters not because of selfishness,
largeness of the company i’s a&ounted-for by the fact that it and a desire to hold and accumulate, but, as the Apostle ex-
was near the time of the Feast of the Passover, and according plains, “that ye may have to give”-that thus we may have
to custom large numbers of the religiously inclined were on opportunity to be imitators of our heavenly Father, who is
their pilgrimage to Jerusalem. continually giving to the needy, some of his blessings being
From the other Gospels we learn that the day was spent bestowed alike upon the worthy and unworthy. (Eph. 4:28 )
iu healing the sick of the multitude, and preaching to them The same principle applies to some extent in spiritual matters.
the things pertaining to the kingdom of God, and that it was We may partake of our spiritual blessings to our full satis-
toward evening that they were miraculously fed on five barley faction., and with thankfulness; but we are not to waste spirit-
loaves and two small fishes,-and had twelve baskets of frae- ual privileges because they are God’s free gifts. Rather are
ments remaining. (Matt. 14: 15; Mark 6:34; Luke 3: 11) &, we to prize every spiritual morsel and to gather up in store
is remarkable that the Gospels do not parade our Lord’s gen- for future needs of ourselves and others. The memory is our
erosity and kindness, but content themselves with recording “basket,” our haversack, and divine provision is so bountiful
the simple facts: vet these facts eive amnle t,estimonv I to those that every disciple may gather his basket full.
who ha;e eyes to see, showing them in him “the glory of the The same generous heart who had compassion upon the
only begotten of the Father, full of grace aud truth.” Here, multitudes, declaring that they were as sheep having no
for instance, we note the fact that he specially sought rest shepherd, and following blind guides, and about to fall with
and privacy with his disciples yet when he saw the multitude them into the ditch of Israel’s great calamity, and who taught
he was “moved with compassion toward them:” he could not them, healed them and fed them is the same yesterday, today
refrain from giving them his vitality in curing their ailments, and forever. We may know, therefore, that he is today look-
[2435]
 ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLSGHENY. PA.

ing with sympathetic compassion upon the multitudes of SO- thing to eat-with spiritual food, with truths pertaining to
called “Christendom ” He sees that the great doctors of the kingdom, which will afford them some strength and some
finance, of sociology’ and of theology, tho thoroughly blind encouragement during the dark hour of that “time of trouble
and disputing with each other respecting the way, are never- such as never was since there was a nation.”
theless leading the people on to the great time of trouble that The Lord has already made provision sufficient in quantity
is nearing. He beholds the multitudes, dissatisfied with the and variety under his blessing; and he bids each of his
husks of human tradition and philosophy, hungering and specially consecrated ones to have faith, and to go forth in
thirsting after righteousness (truth), yet blinded from seeing the distributing of the food, trusting the result to him.
it, by prejudice and superstition, and led of error by priest- Brethren and sisters, let us be energetic in handing forth the
craft and human subserviency. He sees the dark night of bread of life, the “meat in due season,” to the multitude,-
trouble approaching, but before sending the people away he to whoever is hungry enough to desire to partake. Those
instructs all who are his disciples to supply them with some- who distribute will find in the end-their own vessels full.

ASPIRATIONS OF A NEW CONVERT

I wish I were as pure, as fair to view,
As yonder blossom, sparkling with the dew;
But then I could not wear my snowy dress,
The Saviour’s gift, his robe of righteousness.
I wish I were like mountains, towering high,
Strong and majestic, piercing cloud and sky;
But then I could not feel my weakness thrill
With strength to do my blessed Master’s will.
Lord, all my wishes. all my heart’s desires
Find consummation when the world retires
And thou before my raptured gaze dost stand.
In perfectness complete, a pattern grand.
Ah! would I were, my blessed Lord, like thee!
Then should my heart thy fragrant garden be !
Then should my prayers past mountain tops ascend,
My peace be fathomless, my joy attained.

I wish my life were placid as yon lake, For thee leapt high the sacrificial fire,
Unmoved by storms that o’er the ocean break; Let it of me my cleansed parts require !
But could I realize such rest and peace Into thy nostrils let the incense rise,
-4s when the Master bids my troubles cease ? A token of accepted sacrifice!
-R. B. HENNINQES.

VOL. xx ALLEGHENY, PA., FEBRUARY 15, 1899 No. 4

THE MEMORIAL SUPPER

How sacred the memories which gather around the anniver- prlbileges by faith, as redeemed), but more than this: we are
sary of our Lord’s death! It calls to mind the Father’s love invited to share with our Master in the sacrifice and in its
as exhibited in the entire plan of salvation, the center of glorious reward. He says to us, Whoever is in sympathy with
which was the gift of his son as our Redeemer. It calls my work and its results-whoever would share my kingdom
specially to our thoughts him who gave himself a ra%som-a and join in its work of blessing the world-let him also
corresponding price-for all. Then faith comes still nearer be broken with me, and let him join me in drinking the
to him who “suffered, the just for the unjust,” and with cup of self-denial, unto death. To all such he says, “Drink
grateful, overflowing hearts and with tear-dimmed eyes we ye all of it.” The Apostle confirms this thought, saying:
whisper, ilfy Saviour ! Yy Redeemer ! My Lord and Master! “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion
“Hc loved me, and gave himself for me.” Ah, yes!- [fellowship] in the blood [death] of Christ? The bread
[loaf] which m break is it not the communion Ccommon-
“Sweet the moments, rich in blessing, union] in the body of Christ? For we being many [members
Which &fore the cross I spend: of Christ’s body] are one loaf and one body; for we are all
Life and joy and peace possessing partakers of that one loaf.“-1 Cor. 10:16, 17.
From my best aud truest Friend.” Gladly, dear Lord, we eat (appropriate to our necessities)
the merit of thy pure human nature sacrificed for us-for
How blcsscd the thought that he cares to have us think our justification. Gladly, too, we will partake of the cup
of him and call him ours;-he so great-“far above angels” of suffering with thee, realizing it to be a blessed privilege
and every title that is named, next to the Father himself, to suffer with thee, that in due time we may also reign with
-and we SC insignificant, so imperfect, so unworthy of such thee;-to be dead with thee, that in the everlasting future
a friendship. And yet, to think that “he is not ashamed.to we may live with thee and be like thee and share thy love
call us brethren ; ” and that he is pleased to have us memorialrze and thy glory as thy bride. Oh! that we may be faithful,
his death; and that he gave us the bread to emblemize his not only in the performance of the symbol, but also of the
broken flesh, and the wine to emblemize his shed blood,-the reality. Blessed Lord, we hear thy word saying, “Ye shall
one to represent the human rights and privileges purchased indeed drink of my cup and be baptized with my baptism.”
for all, and of which all may partake, the other to represent Lord, we are not of ourselves able thus to sacrifice; but thy
the life he gave which secured everlasting life for all who grace is sufficient for us, for we are wholly thine, now and
will accept it! forever.
How delightful. too, to count, as he and the Jews did, the Oh! what a thought; that if faithful in the present
days and the hours, even until finally, “the hour being come,” privilege of drinking of his cup and being broken with our
he sat down with his disciples to celebrate the death of the Lord as his body, we with him will soon be that “church
typical Paschal lamb, and to consider the deliverance of of the first-born ones whose names are written in heaven,”
Israel’s first-born from the great destruction which came and as such shall constitute the royal priesthood, which,
upon Egypt, and the subsequent deliverance accomplished under our great High Priest, will lead out of the Egyptian
through those first-born ones for all the typical Israel of God. bondage and slavery all those slaves of sin whose groaninga
How precious to look beyond the type which was com- and prayers for deliverance have entered the ears of the
memorated, and to hear the Master, as he took n,ew emblems Lord of Sabaoth.
say, “This [celebrating of the Passover] do [henceforth] in These will be some of the thoughts which will constrain
remembrance of me!” Ah yes! in the crucifird One we can numbers of the Lord’s people all over the world to meet in
now see “The Lamb of God which taketh away; the sin of little groups (and sometimes quite alone with Jesus) on the
the world.” “Christ our passover [lamb] is sacrificed for us, evening of March 26th, next, after six o’clock, to celebrate
therefore let us keep the feast ;” for as oft as zoe do this we on its anniversary the most notable event in the history of
do show forth our Lord’s death until he come again-until, the universe of God. (We prefer to get the date of this
his kingdom having come, we shall be permitted to drink anniversary memorial as exact as possible; tho we do not
with him the new wine (the new life and joy) in the kingdom. understand that it would seriously matter if we had not
-Matt. 26:29; 1 Cor. 5:7, 8; 11:26 the exact day: it is the event and not the day that we cele-
But we are not only privileged to enjoy the favors of our brate. Nevertheless, a uniform annual date is desirable.)
Lord’s sacrifice (bv partaking of its merit and its conse- Eat and drink, 0 beloved, says the Bridegroom to his
quent advantages : &.. justificat,ion and restitution rights and spouse. (Sol. Song 5: 1) Let us eat and drink reverently,
~24 361
FEBRUARY 15, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (52-53)

devotedly, thoughtfully, prayerfully, tearfully perhaps, as we bread is not an appropriate symbol of our Lord, the “unde-
each think of our Redeemer’s love and sacrifice. and nledge filed and separate from sinners.”
ourselves afresh to be dead with him. Meet with any WOO The church at Allegheny will meet at “Bible House” chapel,
recognize him as their ransom, and who are pleased to do th& Arch street, at 7 P. M. of the day named. All who trust
in remembrance of him-or else do it alone. in the substitutionary sacrifice finished at Calvary, and who
Let your heart be so full of the reality that forms and are fully consecrated to the Redeemer’s service, and who can
ceremonies will generally be forgotten, except such as are make it convenient to meet with us, will be made very wel-
needed for decency and order. Prepare beforehand some sort come. Some who profess that their wills are fulls immersed
of “fruit of the vine.” Our preference is for stewed-raisin into the will of Christ, desire to symbolize their baptism;
juice or unfermented grape juice: and for bread either Jewish and an onnortunitv will be afforded after thr? 5 p. 11. services.
unleavened bread or plain water-crackers, which are about On the-subject ‘bf Baptism see your TOWER for June 15, ‘93.
the same in substance-flour, water and salt, without leaven. For further particulars concerning the Bfemorial Supper, see
Leaven being a symbol of sin or corruption, yeast-raised March lst, ‘98 TOWER.

AT THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES

FEB. ~~.-JoHN 7: 14, 28-37.
“If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.”
As a result of the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, and defamers and persecutors are to be looked for inside
noted in our last lesson, the multitude pronounced our Lord and not outside the pale of the nominal Christian church.
a great prophet, and proposed to take him by force to make (3) We may profit by our Lord’s example in not need-
him king. He, however, knew that such was not the Father’s lessly and unwisely placing ourselves in positions of jeopardy,
T that on the’contrary he was to fulfil a mission expecting the Lord to miraculously intervene for our preserva-
%‘%%diction of sinners. wh&h would end in death, and tion. Like our Lord, however, we are not under any con-
that the kingdom to which he was heir could only thus be sideration to deny the truth, nor to forsake a duty for the
attained-that the kingdom promised him was not of this preservation of our lives. We see that when the most wise
world. not of the Present order and arrangement, but of a and appropriate time came our Lord went to the Feast.
new dispensation. bur Lord therefore sent his disciples away and spoke -fearlessly and boldly. So our caution in the pro-
bv boat. while he himself withdrew to the mountain. subse- tection of life, etc., is not to be the result of fear and lack
qyiently ‘meeting his disciples, walking on the water. ’ of confidence in divine providence, nor lack of courage to do
Six months more of preaching and teaching in Galilee, our duty, but merely the caution and prudence which desires to
without any apparent effort to take advantage of the popular coiiperate as far as possible with the divine will.
interest in his miracles. to forward his cause as a king, Our Lord knew the disposition of the Pharisees to kill
began to tell upon his brethren-his kinsfolk-who began to him. He knew also that they would hesitate a great deal
lose confidence. for their interest all alone: had been rather of more to make any attempt against him on the occasion of
pride than of faith. Now the time to-go up to Jerusalem these Feasts, when Jerusalem was full of visitors, thousands
to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles having come, they of whom would be from Galilee and more or less his friends
noticed that Jesus was making no special preparations to and the friends of his disciples, who were also Galileans.
attend. They were anxious thai his power should be put to He may have known, too, of some arrangements among the
the test-Either do something, and make yourself great in the rulers to apprehend him at the beginning of the feast, during
eyes of the whole world, or give the whole matter up and the commotion incident to the arrival of pilgrims. At all
.kdmit that your claims to Messiahship are fraudulent-was events, acting upon his own superior knowledge of the situa-
their attitude. Hence they said, Why do you not go up to tion, he deferred his noinp until after the multitudes had
the feast? Any person who makes such claims as you put gone, and then went i< a-quiet manner, avoiding teaching.
forth should not make them in secret, but should seek the miracles, etc.
largest opportunities for publicity. You tell us that you In the midst of the feast-week he appeared in the Temole.
have eternal life, and that you are able to give it to others, teaching the people. His enemies had sought him previoukly;
but apparently you are afraid to risk your life: “For neither and were rather surmised that he had not come as usual.
did his brethren believe on him.” but now they beheld~him teaching publicly and boldly; but
Our Lord’s answer pointed out that it was very different they refrained from laying hands on him, because they feared
\\ith them than with him-thev mieht ao at anv time, but the people-they feared that too large a proportion would
he was under certain restrictions. They had uot drawn ‘upon have at least a sympathy for his teachings, recognizing that
them the ~nu~tlcrous animosity of the most influential and he “taught them as one having authority,” with positiveness,
nowerful chess of the nation. He had done this, bv faith- and not with uncertainty, as ihemsrlves. The fact that many
?ulnesq to the truth which he came to the world to serve. of the multitude were favorably impressed, and inquired
1lbile it i- true that “Jesus did not walk in Jewry [Judea] amongst themselves whether or not they could expect any
IPV~II~C tllr Jews souaht to kill him,” vet this evidently was greater miracles from Messiah at his comina than those which
not fcr anv fear of death. but because” he realized that “his Jesus had already performed, and the f&also that he was
hour was ‘not vet rome.” He felt it. therefore. to be his teaching nubliclv, and the rulers did not interfere with him.
dutv to coiiner:<te to the extent of his abilitp with what he led some &to inquire, “Ho the rulers lcnlly acknowlcdgc that
knew respecting the Father’s plan, and not- to ignore that this is the Messiah?”
nlan so as to reouire a snecial miracle for his deliverance, Thus the rulers saw that their timidity was really ad-
that the divine plan might not be frustrated. vancing the cause which they hated, and they sent officers to
There are lessons here for all who are seeking to walk take hrm: but apparently these felt that they must hear
in the Master’s footstens :- some rebellious, anarchistic or blasphemous utterances from
( 1) If we are finding no opposition in the world it is his lips or they would not be justified in the eyes of the
because we have not been faithful to our Father’s Word, and people in making the arrest, and so they waited, to watch
to our appointed mission in connection with it,-not been him. They were charmed with “the gracious words which
about the Father’s business: for our Master declared that proceeded out of his mouth,” and returned without him, saying,
it would be with us, his followers, as with himself-not “Never man snake like this man.” Then Nicodemus. in his
being of the world the world would hate us, would say all heart believing JVSUS to be a teacher, sent from God, tho
manner of evil against us falsely, and think that those who doubtful of his being the Messiah, raised his voice, being
persecuted us did God service. The positive declaration is, a member of the Sanhctlrin. and exnostulated. defenditm the
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer officers, and exclaiming, Voth our law judge any man before
nersecutinn.” (2 Tim. 3: 12) We are still in this time of it hear him and know what he doeth?” Even this plea for
&&&ion; the great Adversary is not yet bound, and if justice was met \\ith the snrrnstic retnark, “Art thou also
we are entirely free from such opposition it ie a sure indi- of Galilee ?” And the meeting disbanded, angry because they
cation that we are not living up to our privileges in godli- wrre foiled in thrir murderous attemnt.
ness-not following closely enough in the footsteps of Jesus Tt sboultl hc tiuc as far as no&ible with all of the
to incite the animosity of the Adversary and his blinded Lord’s true followers that their speech should be with grace,
servants. with moderation, the overflow of hcart,s full of loving sym-
(2) We are to remember that the special opponents of pathy for the truth and all who love and seek it. Their
our ‘Master were not the unbelieving world, but- were the words should always be well within the limits of reason and
unbelieving. _I
unfaithful1
nrofessors of holiness and of comnlete rightroucness. and strictly in conformity to the Word of the
drvotion to the divine law. So with us, our special opponents Lord .i\ntl their manner. their conduct, as living epistles,
III-34 124373
 ZION’S WATCH TOWER

should harmonlLe v lth thiy, no that even their enemies would [the hope ot the hecond coming of the Lord to make up his
t,tke knowledge of them that they had beeu with Jesus. Jewels, to receive his faithful ones to himself] purifieth him-
Having in mind the murderous designs of his enemies, helf even as he is pure.” There is no greater incentive to
and that thus it behooved the Son of Xan to suffer and faithfulness than thl?, the true Gospel hope.
to rise from the dead, and knowing that the end of his The last day of the Feast of Tabernacles was the eighth
pilgrimage was only about six months distant, our Lord said, day, for it lasted in all for that period. The seven days
1 will be with you but a little while, “and then I go unto of the feast were devoted to sacrificinp, seventy bullocks
him that sent me.” Then, taking into account the predicted being burned upon the altar, and underst%od to be sacrificed
troubles to come upon Israel, expounded to hi, apostles sub- on behalf of the whole world, but the eighth day was specially
sequently (Matt. 24) and that they would endure much a Jewish day, and was the most joyous day of this joyful
before he would off’er himself to them again as the RI(~ssiah thanksgiving feast. Describing it, Geikie says:-
at, the second advent, he added, “Ye shall seek me, and shall “The whole week was full of excitement. the crreat altar
not find me.” The Jews have been seeking the Messiah during smoking with whole burnt offerings of oxen, iambs, and rams,
the eighteen centuries of trouble experienced since that time, besides the solemnity of the morning and evening sacrifice,
for. as the Anostle declares, “the rest were blinded,” except the Sabbath sacrifice, and countless private voluntary sacrifices
the’ remnant ;vhich leceivcti the Lord at his first advent- and offerings of all kinds. Every available spot inside Jeru-
“the tlav of their visitation.”
---- d ~~
So our Lord declared to them salem, and in the hollows, and on the slopes around it (which,
subsequently, “Ye shall see me no more z&it that dozy when by legal fiction, were counted holy ground) was covered with
ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the huts or tabernacles of wattled or interplaited twigs, set off
Lord.” The prophet tells HIS that they shall thelt look upon by branches of trees, fronds of palms, and all kinds of
him whom thev have ljierced, and mourn for him as an only ornamental greenery.”
beloved son, and that &X the Lord will pour upon them the But the last dav of the feast, called the neat day, the da?
spirit of prayer and supplication, their blindness being fhelz of special rejoicing; had one peciliar featurg-its Whiter-offer:
turned away.-Rom. 11: 27-32. ing, and it was on this day, and probably in connection with
When our Lord declared that thev could not follow him the pouring out of this libation, that, taking it for a text,
to the place to which he was going: the people s culated our Lord lifted up his voice, saying, “If any man thirst let
whether or not he meant that as he had shown himse p”f willing him come unto me and drink.” He is here Dresentinz himself
to preach to the lowest classes of Israel (publicans and as the giver of the water of life, as in ?he more’ private
sinners), he might now purpose to leave Palestine entirely, discours; to the woman of Samaria. He is the founiain of
and go to the “dispersed amongst the Gentiles,” the scattered life, the fountain of truth, the fountain of refreshment, to
*Jews amongst the Greeks,-speaking the Greek language and all who accept him. In every human heart there are thirst-
not the Syrian, the language of the Jews in Palestine. Here ings, longing desires, and all who have sought to satisfy these
we see afresh the error of the so-called “Anglo-Israelites,” desires from earthly fountains of fame or pleasure or wealth
who have a theory about “lost” ( ?) tribes of Israel. The have found that they do not satisfy; but those who have re-
scattered Jews were not considered lost in our Lord’s time, ceived the water of life. the truth. the mace of God in Christ,
evidently, and this statement of the multitude is in full ac- have received the only’ satisfying portion. Lord, ever more
cord with the statement of the Apostle, when he speaks of give us of this water.
“the twelve tribes scattered abroad.” The only sense in An able writer, Edersheim, gives us a very interesting
which these tribes are lost is that they have become so account of the last dav of the Feast of Tabernacles. the
thoroughly combined and amalgamated that all tribal distinc- great day, as follows:-
tions are lost, and very few Jews in the world today have the “Let us suppose ourselves in the number of worshipers
slightest idea of which tribe their ancestors belonged to. who, on ‘the l-a&, the great day of the feast,’ are 1ea;ing
Our Lord’s remark, “Thither ye cannot come,” is worthy their ‘booths’ at davbreak to take Dart in the service. The
of consideration from another standpoint. He did not mean pilgrims are all in” festive array. A In his right hand each
that he was about to establish a kingdom, and that they carries a branch consisting of a myrtle or willow branch
could not get into the kingdom, hut he did mean that he was tied together with a Dalm branch (Lev. 23 :40). In his left
going to heaven, and that they could not come to heaven. hand h< carries a boigh of the s&called Paradise apple, a
This is evident from his further statement, “Ye are from snecies of citron. Thus armed. the festive multitude would
beneath, I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not divide into three bands. One oi these, to the sound ot music,
of this world. I have said. therefore, unto you that ye shall started in a procession from the temple. It followed a priest
ilie-in your sins.“--John 6:21-29. . - who bore a golden pitcher, capable of holding three log (rather
But the poor, disbelieving Jews are not the only ones who more than two pints). They proceeded to the fountain of
(*annot go to heaven. The Scriptures clearly indicate that Siloam, in the valley south of the temple. Here the priest
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all the holy prophets, have filled from this fountain the golden Ditcher. and brought it
not gone there. (See Acts 2:34; Heb. 11:39, 40) Moreover, back into the court of the teumple, amid the shouts Gf the
this same declaration was repeated by the Lord to his believyi multitude, and the sound of cymbals and trumpets. The re-
followers, saying ‘Yet a little while I am with you. joicing was so great that the rabbis used to bav that he who
&all seek me: and I said unto the Jews, Whither I go you had <ever bee< present at this ceremony, and at the other
cannot come ; so now I say to you.” (John 13:33) It is similar ceremonies bv which this feast was distineuished. did
l)ecilue the believers of the past as well as the believers of not know what rej&ing meant. The return wa”s so t’imed
the nresent see could not BO to our Lord, that all of them that they should &rive-just as they were laying the pieces
~110 were rig&,ly instructed from his \T’oid looked earnestly of the sacrifice on the great altar of burnt offering. toward
for his return, his second advent, his coming in glory and the close of the ordiniry morning sacrifice serv&e. The
kingdom power, according to his promise, “I will come again water from the golden pitcher was poured upon the altar.
,Ind receive you unto myself, that where I am ye may be Immediately the great ‘Hallel,’ consisting of Psa. 113-118.
.also.“-John . .
14 -3 was chantid antiphonally, or rather withu responses, to the
Many have lost sight of the hope set before us in the accomnaniment of the flute. At the close of this festive
Gosnel. and have ac.ceDted instead a hope that has no founda- morn&g service there was a pause in the services while the
tion: except like the eirors of fleshly Is’rael in “the traditions priests prepared to offer the special sacrifices for the day.
of the elders”-the hone that when thev die thev will not -4t this moment there arose, so loud as to be heard through-
be dead, but more alive’than ever. a hopd that is a; rontrar) out the temple, the voice of Jesus. He interrupted not the
to reason as to the Word of God, in which it finds not nne services, for they had for the moment ceased; he interpreted,
solitary word of support. ‘*But he that hath this hope in him and he fulfilled them.”

“YE SHALL BE FREE INDEED”

M~RCII %-JOHN 8: 12, 31-36.
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.“-John 8:36.
Our Lord’s discourses of this less011 are presumed to hare being 10th to relinquish the joys of the season. Another view
been delivered on the day following the eighth or great day of is that this was a part of the discourse of the eighth day.
the Feast of Tabernacles. referred to in our lost lesson: this It is said that during this festival there were two great
conclusion is based upon the statement of the first verse of lights near the porch of the Temple, where Jesus discoursed
this chapter and the last verse of the seventh chapter. It (the Court of the Women-the portion of the Temple struc-
appears that, altho the eighth wa< the lnit day of the Feast ture open to women as well as to men). These lights or
proper, another day was kept, to a ccl fain degree, the people mntlelabra, ornnmentecl and gilded, were about seventy-five
[ 24381
Fmuvwtr 15, 18’,9 %I ON’S WATCH TOWER (56 5i)

feet high, and threw a great light over the city, extraordinary became the author of eternal selvation unto all tlrcm that
for that neriod. It is aresumed that this mav have given obey him. “-Heb. 5 : 8.
*Jesus the-text for a discburse on the light of the world; but It was necessary that the “Only Begotten of the Father.
it is possible that our Lord took occasion to make this ob- full of grace and truth,” should be tried in all points like as
servation at the time of the performance of a certain cere- we are-that his obedience to the Father’s will at any cost
molly by the Jews, described by Buxdorf as follows: hould bo fully proved and demonstrated, as well as his love
The ninth day, or day after the expiration of the eighth, for his neighbor, humanity, whom by the Father’s arrangement
which belonged to the “Feast of Tabernacles,,, is a solemn hc came to redeem and to uplift. Xuch more, it is necessar?
day likewise, and is called, “The Feast of Joy for the Law;” that we who belong to this fallen but redeemed race, having
because on that day the last section of the Law was read, been called to joint-heirship with him, should receive instruc-
the rest having been read weekly during the course of the tion and disciplining in this school which the Father has
preceding Sabbaths. On this ninth day- the custom of the provided for those invited to bc his sons,- artakers of the
*Jews WBR to take all the books of the Law out of the chest. divine nature ,-to the inteut that we may Pully put on the
and to put a candle into it, in allusion to Prov. Q:23, and spirit of Christ, which received the Father’s unstinted ap-
more particularly to Psa. 119: 105.-Synag. Jud., c. xxii. proval. Indeed, we have the plain declaration to the effect
This act, symbolically considered, would imply, first, that that we are all called according to a predestination on God’s
the Law was a light, and secondly, that ultimately the Jewish part that we might become copies of his Son, and thus be
law would be superseded by the True Light-the Gospel of “meet for the inheritance of the saints in light,” as joint-
the grace of God in Jesus Christ our Lord. heirs in the Kingdom.
Rither this last, or the two great lamps, or both of them. From this we see that in joining the Lord, through faith
were auite a sufficient sumrestion and illustration of the les- and consecration, we are not proclaiming ourselves graduate%
son which our Lord desized to inculcate. The thought of and heirs, but arc proclaiming ourselves students, disciples,
the one is that the world is in darkness, and needs the Light who desire to be prepared to inherit “the things which God
of Life, and that he who walks in the light will not stumble. bath in reservation for them that love him.” If this thought
‘I’hc thought or suggestion of the other i’; equally comprehen- be kept in mind, as the divine teaching on this subject, it will
sible, implying that ultimately the vail of ignorance shall be help to prevent our discouragement with ourselves when we
removed, and the spirit of the truth shall be discerned, and find that unavoidably WC do those things which we ought not
thus Jesus, as the True Light, shall lighten every man that to have done, and leave undone those things which we ought
c.ometh into the world, respecting the divine character and to have done, and that in our flesh dwells no perfection.-1
law, and the conditions upon which eternal life may be Cor. 2:Q; Rom. 7:25.
eu joyed. Moreover, we arc to remember that it is not the flesh that
Another suggestion is that, as this Feast of Tabernacles has entered the school of Christ, and is under his instructions
represented the-period of Israel’s sojourn in the wilderness, en aud preparation for the kingdom,--for flesh and blood cannot
route to Canaan, the great light to be followed would probably inherit the kingdom of God. ( 1 Cor. 1.5:30) Our acceptance
refer to tho pillar of fire and cloud, which led Israel during of the divine call to spirit natnrc meant the renouncement of
the wilderness iournev as a great light. and which was to theii the earthly nature in every sense of the word, and meant oui
cnemirs who p&sued tIlernun clou’d of great darkness. This begetting as new creatures-“sons of God.” It is the “new
thought is in full accord with the others, for we realize that creature,,’ the new mind, the new will, that is in the school of
sniritual Israel is iournevina toward the heavcnlv Canaau, Christ, and that is to be perfected-to bc brought into full
through the wilderness of &, and that our Lord and his accord with the divine will-to become ii copy or likeness of
teachirma arc a light and a euide to his nconle-to the entire the Lord. WC will never succeed in getting our flesh into
liousehdid of fiiitll:‘but especiglly to those tvh& are vigilant alId absolute harmony with the divine law, bccauae of its imper-
:Itteiitirr to tlu: heavenly counsel. fcctions, inherited and otherwise. And hc who is looking for
That rrlationnhiu to Christ is not a matter which, being pcrfcction of his flesh, and who is resting his faith therein.
put on in the instar& of consecration, can never bc dissolved, is must of necessity have a poor hope of cvcr attaining to the
clearlv shown IJV the statement of vss. 31 and 32. Therein likeness of Christ-of ever becoming one oi the predestinated
our Lord sets forth that disoiplesl~lip is the thing that is class-“a copy of his Son.“-Born. S:?Q.
cntcred into by those who accept him as the Saviour and the It is uiineccssary that wc shoultl point out that the new
nrivileacs and blrssinuh obtainable onlv through him. And mind, in proportion as it develops in likeness to the mind of
;lisciplcsl~ip, as here &own. does not signify m&cry: on the Christ, will relax no efforts to keep the body under, with it>
caontrarv. it sianiflcti that the one who becomes a disciple iq, motions of s&--to keep the will of the llesh dead. Surely, no
until p&feet. z no\ ice. who becomes a disciple in order that spirit-begotten son of God couId allow sin to rc$‘f:rlw in his
under the Master’s instructions he may come, morally and mortal body: should sin to any drgrcc control him, it will not
iiitellectuallv. to the full stature of manhood in Christ. A be willingly, and hence could bc but momentarily-until the
great mist&o is made ou this point, not only by worldly new mind, the new creaturr, seeing the irl~i i&g of the fledl.
people, who expect perfection in all who have named the woulcl conquer it, obtaining the promised grace and help in
nilme of Christ, but also by Christians themselves, who vainly every time of need, from the heavenly store-house of grace,-
imaaino that a fulness of co~sccration to the Lord should nro- Christ.
duct in them instantaneous perfection: some vainly and ‘sin- This thought, rightly mtcrtained, will help true disciple-
fully claim that they are without sin, and thereby give the to appreciate their own position, and not to bc utterly cast
inference that thev have no need of a Sa;iour, a Mediator, and down if overtaken in a fault of the flesh, so Iong as the\-
his merit, to rover’ their blemishes of omission’and commission. realize that their Irearts are uot iu sympathy with the sin
The correct thought to get is the one which is clearly set and unrighteousness, but on the contrary in full sympathy
forth in our Lord’s Word; ?:i:., that sinners are not called with the principles and instructions of our Teacher, and
to discipleship. but are called to repentance and faith in the longing to be pleasing and acceptable in his sight. And thi<
Kedeemer for the forgiveness of their sins (justification) : but correct thought will also help all such to cscrcise fervency ot
this is all to the in&t that as justified persons they may, by love amongst thrmselvcs, toward the “brethren,” who similarly
a full consecration to the Lord. become his disciples,--pupils _ __ are disciples, pupils in this school,-new creaturei;, not accord-
iu the school of Christ. ing to the flesh, but according la the spirit of their minds. If
Why do we enter this school? What lessons are we to thcrcforc. each shall see blemishes iu the flesh of the “breth-
learn in it? And for what reasons do we seek to learn these ren,” disapproved and striven against, each should remembcl
lessons, and consecrate ourselves to their studv? that the evil which he sees is that of his brother’s enemy and
‘i?l~e incentive to enter the srhool of Christ *is the heavenly not the evils of the brother himself, tho “new crcaturc;“-if
Irather’s invitation to lustziied heZiez;ers who approach his so be that he gives us the assurance that his heart, his will, is
throne of grace by the new and living way-Christ: to such in harmong with the Lord and his law of love; and that he i+
he extends a “high calling,” inviting such to become “sons of dailv seeking to learn the lcssous taught in this school ot
God; and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs Christ; and seeking to fight a successful warfarc arainst the
with Jesus Christ our Lord, if so be that we suffer with him, weaknesses of the flesh.
that we may be also glorified together.,’ This is Scripturally tcrmcd walking in tbc light, and not
This school of Christ mav be considered a school of self- stumbling about in the darkness-lll~tler~tandi~~g and acting
denial, of self-sacrifire, prompted by love and maintained by upon and in harmony wit11 the cli\ irlc alr:\ngcnlr,ut-vie\inp
devotion. The great Teacher of this school, appointed by the matters as God views them, a11c1as hc l)r(a>ellts them in the,
Father to instruct those who shall be accepted as his “brethren,” Word of his grace. \1’c ncetl not, IIOWCVN, evpcct the worldly-
was himself educated in the same school. under the Father’s minded to bc willing or able to view the lord’4 cou\ccrated
inspection and direction-“He lrarncd ohedienre by the things people in this light-of love, of charity, uf patience, of long
which he suErred; and being made pcrfcct [acceptable to the suffering. of brothcrl?- I\i~~tlnc~*u. 011 tllo c.<+lltlill’s our Adver-
high station to which he was csllerl- -tl~c tlivinck nature1 he snry, “tllc px] c,f tlllL WlWl~l” points out to them the hypo-
r24391
 ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA

trite, who uses the name of Christ and the law of love as a pleasure in sin), because his seed remaineth in him,--the holy
cloak of maliciousness! selfishness, etc., and this Adversary 5eed of the truth. the spirit of the truth. with which he was
contmually seeks to misrepresent the terms and conditions of begotten, and ‘%&at wi6ked one toucheti him not.“-1 John
the school of Christ, not onlv to the world and to the 3:9; 5:18.
hypocritical professor& but, al& and especially to the true So long as the heart (the mind, the will) is holy, in har-
disciDles, whom he would fain discourape and turn back from mony with God and with righteousness,--that is to say, so
the Gighi way-persuading them, contr&r$ to the Word of the long as the seed of our begetting, the spirit of the truth, the
Lord, that they are being judged according to the flesh, and spirit of holiness, continues in us,-the new mind cannot
not according to the spirit, the new mind. approve of sin, l&t must and will be its opponent. Even
“Disciples indeed” are those who will finish their course in though many of the battles fought are with the members of
this schodl of Christ and graduate and become joint-heirs with our own fallen and weak huma; nature, their appetites and
their Lord, and ultimatelv be associates with him in teaching desires, we nevertheless, as “new creatures,” are separate and
and blessing all the families of the earth, But joining thu distinct from the flesh and the weaknesses and imperfections
school does not bring these results necessarily; as our Lord of the flesh are not, imputed to the new creature- in Christ
indicated, it is only by continuing in the school, continuing Jesus, but are reckoned as covered, hidden under the merits
under his direction;unaer the direction of his W&d of truth; of our Lord’s redemptive sacrifice.
faithfullv and nerseverinelv. that the erand obiect of this Thus, although our flesh, through weaknesses of the fall,
school shall be -attained. - ”Nevertheless,
’ “at each “step of the and through evil besetments, may never come up to the stand-
journey it may be our privilege to see that we are making ard of the divine law, notwithstanding all our efforts to bring
progress --that we are coming to know more and more of the it into subjection to the same, nevertheless we, as “new
truth, and that it, is more and more making us free. We are creatures,” have the Scriptural assurance that “the righteous-
not to expect an instantaneous knowledge nor an instantaneous ness of the law is fulfilled in us [“new creatures”] %ho are
freedom. walking not after the flesh [but resisting day by day its
The general effect, of the light of the truth, of which the seductive influences to the best of our ability, and seeking
Word of God is the !amp, is to break the shackles of supersti- divine aid] but, after the spirit [we are walking,-not up to
tion and to make people independent, but, these effects are of the snirit nrobablv. but followine dav bv dav. to the intent
questionable profit to those who are not. disciples in the school that &ent;ally we ‘shall, by the $aci aid h& of our great
of Christ. To others, freedom and light of knowledge are apt Teacher, arrive at the glorious condition of character as “new
to bring nearly as much bane as blessing, leading often to creatures” which even the heavenly Father can accept as
arrogance, self-conceit, unkindness, boastfulness, combative- copies of his dear Son].“-Rom. S:4.
ness, dissatisfaction and general unhappiness. These evil On the contrary, if any who had thus become “new
results come upon those who are made free in some respects creatures” should engage in sin willtngly, heartily, and live
only, and left bound in other respects: and this is the general according to the flesh, it is a sure sign that the seed of truth
and growing condition of the civilized world today, including wherewith he was begotten has perished: for so long as this
the majority in the nominal church. seed remaineth in him, he cannot sin willingly.-1 John 3:9.
But thk true disciples, heeding the Word of the great Those who are slaves of sin, who hare not. been made free
Teacher, and continuine in all things to be his nunils, are indeed and received into sonship, may sometimes be used for
not only set free from”superstitions”and ignorance, but’ also a time, under pre:ient conditions, as servants of the divine
from the service of Sin; and receive instead a correct appre- plan, in the accomplishment of the plan of the ages; as, for
ciation of their own natural weaknesses and blemishes, and instance, God sometimes overrules and uses the wrath of man
of the divine mind--the truth. In consequence, their frdedom and Satan’s opposition; but God has made no provision for
is one which blesses instead of injuring them; one which the everlasting continuance of sin and those who are its
brings humility instead of pride and boastfulness; one which slaves. Ultimately the only ones who shall be privileged to
brings patience instead of anger; one which brings generosity exist at all will be sons of God. Not to be misunderstood
and benevolence instead of spitefulness and selfishness: one here, let u9 remember that there are sons of two ages:-
which brings joy and peace instead of discontent and bitter- ( 1) The sons of this Gospel age, begotten of the Father
ness of snirit. Trulv. the Son alone can make us free indeed. to joint-heirship with Jesus Christ, our Lord, as his “breth-
And iet, be it rekembered, our freedom is not a freedom of ren,” otherwise called the Bride of the First-begotten. who
the flesh, but a freedom of the heart, the mind, the will, the has inherited all things. “Now are we [thus] xhe s&s of
new nature. And this freedom is necessarily incomplete so God.” This house of sons. begotten to the snirit nature. z will
lone: as we have this treasure in an earthen vessel-so lone: soon be complete, and never” have further ‘additions to its
as the new creature must use the imperfect body of the fle& members: but we are to remember that-
as its instrument and exnonent. These “brethren” of Christ. (2) ‘Another ho&e of sons is shortly to be started. For
“sons of the highest,” wiil be free in the absolute sense only the declaration is that our Lord Jesus shall become a Father,
when they attam their share in the first resurrection,-“1 a Life-giver, to the world-to whosoever will accept this gift
shall be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness.” of God under the terms of the New Covenant, during the Mil-
Our Lord points out, that tbosr who commit sin are the lennium. Those will be the sons of the after resurrection,
servants of Sin, and are not free. The Apostle declares, “He while the church are to be 2ons of the first resurrection, the
that commlttetb sin is of the devil.” and vet, declares that. “If first-born ones. The Apostle, referring to these sons of Christ
we say we have no sin we deceive’ oursel&, and the truth is who will be begotten during the Millennial age, and be born
not in’ us.” ( 1 John 3 :8; 1:s) How, then, shall we reconcile to full sonship at its close, declares that they also shall be
these oDDosinn statements and understand the Scripture which delivered “from the bondage of corruption [death] into the
declares: “Bei‘hg made free from sin, ye became the-servants of glorious liberty of the sons of God”-freedom from sin, death,
righteousness?“-Rom. 0 : 18. sighing, crying, pain, etc. They will inherit these, the com-
We answer that the Scriptures ascribe no sin to the new mon privileges of all the sons of God, and in addition the
mind, and rzo pm-fectton in righteousness to our fallen flesh: earthly heritage, the “purchased possession,” secured for
both ‘of these -f&a must be kept in mind in studying this mankind by the great sin-offering.-Rom. 8 :21-23.
subiect. The “new creature” begotten of God (whose flesh is The restitution class of earth will thus be sons of Christ,
reckoned dead) and whirl1 is rfpresented by the new mind, who bought their life and who will give afresh to them that
CANNOT SIN, because in its very essence as the “seed” or germ, which was lost in Adam and which he redeemed at the cost
implanted bv the truth, “the spirit of the truth,” it, is opposed of his own life. But this will not imply that such will not.
to ‘sin. (Janies 1: 18) This new creature is so -fully in &cord eventually own Jehovah as their Father also and be owned by
with rilrhteousness, so fullv imbued with the snirit of the him as his sons. On the contrary, the typical custom in Israel
Lord, tilk spirit oi holiness: that it delights in Holiness, and on this point makes this all plain. For instance, all Israelites
not in sin; and this must be the case so long as this begotten were known as children of Abraham, children of Israel and
or holy spirit condition continues. He that is begotten* of children of Jacob.
God elnneth not (willingly-does not approve of nor take But the central thought we would impress is that all who
shall be recognized by God as sons at any time must be freed
l Grnnno here signifies begotterz, and refers to the beginning and not
the completion of our “change” of nature.-See also Revised Version, from the incubus of sin by the Only Begotten Son of God, the
and the Emphatic Diaglott. Mediator,-and such only are free indeed.

“WHEREAS I WAS BLIND, NOW I SEE”

[Reprinted in article entitled “Who Did Sin, This Man of His Parents,” published in issue of July 15, 1900, which please see.]

[2440]
 THE GOOD SHEPHERD-THE CHRIST
MARC~I lS.-JoHN lO:l-16.
“I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.“-Jdrhn 10: 11.
The Evangelist first presented Christ to our attention as with him, and familiar with hi8 word, his voice-disciples
“the beginning of the creation of God.” “made flesh.” that he indeed. He is seeking no others than these for his present
might l% the ‘Light of the world: afterward, under his presen- flock. Nor has he at the present time two flocks, one of them
tation, we considered him as the Feeder of the hungry; then hearing and obeying his voice, and the other heedless of his
a3 the Giver of the water of life to the thirsty; next as the words. He declares, “My sheep hear my voice: I know them,
Healer of human woes, and the Supplier of human needs, and they follow me.‘, Those who are not following the Lord,
spiritual as well as temporal; next as the Opener of the eyes in obedience to his voice, expressed in word and example, are
of our understanding. In the lesson now before us he pre- not of his flock: thev are not being led to the Preen nastures
sents Christ’s mission from another standpoint-as the Good and still waters of present truth; iheir table isvnot fhrnished
Shepherd. in the presence of their foes, nor are they in the way marked
This parable probably followed closely the closing incident out by the divine goodness and mercy, to dwell in the house of
of our last lesson, in which we saw the reverend doctors of the Lord forever.-Psa. 23.
the law incensed at the man whose eyes bad been opened, so Jehovah God established a typical kingdom or sheepfold,
that they rast him out. of the svnagogue, because he confessed and accepted the nation of Israel as his sheep, but as a nation
Jesus as the channel of divine”favor,’ It was doubtless as a they were wayward sheep and knew him not. Nevertheless,
reproof to such false shepherding that our Lord spoke this with a Law Covenant he fenced them in. They desired a king,
parable. The very ones who should have been helping the a ruler, a caretaker, a governor, and God let them have their
poor scattered sheep of Israel to recognize the true Shepherd, wish; but none of these was the true shepherd, neither did
and to come unto him and become inheritors with them of the any bring the sheep into desirable conditions. And when these
long-promised kingdom, were seeking to prevent the Lord’s were finally done away, various others presented themselves as
sheen from recormizine the Shenherd-seeking to hinder men the Messiah, falsely claiming the right to lead Israel-false
from‘ entering thi kingdom which they themse’ires also refused Messiahs. These, as our Lord declares, were thieves and rob-
to enter.-Matt. 23 : 13. bers, who sought the control of the sheep, not from interest
The illustration of the Lord as a shepherd, and his people in the sheep, but from selfish motives, for self-aggrandizement
as sheep, is common to the Scriptures, ‘and very fitly repie- and exaltation. These attempted to lead out the Lord’s people,
sents their close confidential relationship, but it is a figure not by the door, but by climbing up other ways: by climbing
that is quite contrary to the spirit of the world. The “natural over the Law, or by digging under it, thev would reach the
man’, sees little in the figure to admire, and when he expresses sheep and become leade%; and altogether In various ways a
his sentiments he would rather represent himself to others and large proportion of Israel had been led astray out of the ‘fold,
have them regard him as a wolf, a lion, a tiger, or some some to idolatry, and some simply to wander ‘in the wilderness.
other ferocious creature, which they would best not stir up, At our Lord’s first advent this was the condition of things:
lest he devour them. We find this characteristic well borne God’s covenant with Israel was standing a8 a wall around that
out in the emblems of heraldry; the escutcheons of the great nation, but its door was barred by justice, as represented in
are emblazoned with figures representing beasts of prey, birds the Mosaic Law-Israel’s covenant. There could be no proper
of prey, and nondescripta, blending various nature&but all of ingress or egress; all were prisoners of the Law,-shut up
them ferocious, snarling, howling, screeching, or otherwise unto that hope which should afterward be revealed. namelv.
implying fierceness and intimidation of foes. But when God Christ the door or ‘way” of life. Meanwhile, though the do;r
would represent the emblems of his royal family, his only was guarded zealouslv bv the scribes and Pharisees. the fact
begotten Son is called the Lamb of God, and all his people was intirely neglected “that thieves and robbers: Satan’3
are styled his sheep,- symbols of meekness, gentleness, harm- servants, were at work plundering the sheepfold.-John lO:l,
lessness. “Jehovah is my shepherd” is properly represented a3 2, 7, 9; Gal. 3:24; John 14:6; Zech. 9:9-12.
their sentiment.-Psa. 23. Nor could our Lord Jesus rightfully open the fold and
Sheep-raising in Palestine, and more or less throughout take charge of the sheep, except at the cost of his own life.
that ricinitv, was carried on auite extensivelv. and vet verv This was ‘the purpose of the Father, the Great Shepherd, and
differently f&m present methods of Europe anh’Ameri*ca. Thk with this in view he shut up the sheep under the Law, to the
owner of the flock or his son usually did the shepherding, or intent that they would need to be redeemed by his Son (the
sometimes an employee who was given an interest in the appointed Shepherd), from under the dominion of the Law,
increase of the flock-as, for instance, Jacob, with his father- before they could be made free with the liberty wherewith
in-law Laban. Under the circumstances it is not surprising Christ makes free his people. And this was the first work
that the relationship between the sheep and their shepherds that the Good Shenherd did for the sheen: the lavina down
was very different from now-much more confidential. The of his life began it the beginning of his‘ ministr< when he
shepherd was acquamted with his sheep and loved them, not made a full consecration of himself even unto death, and sym-
merely as so much wealth and merchandise, but as friends, bolized this in baptism. It was in view of this sacrifice which
companions, with whom he conversed, and whose welfare he be had already devoted, and was even then offering, and which
defended. Travelers tell us that the peculiarities of this was finished subseauentlv at Calvnrv. that our Redeemer
parable are fully illustrated in eastern countries, even to this announced himself a’s the”Good Sheph&d who giveth his life
dav; that a shepherd will know every individual sheen in his for the sheep.
flock, and have a name for it, and that the sheep know their The Apostle declares that our Lord’s death redeemed Israel
shenherd. and discern readilv the sound of his voice. and can- from under the curse (sentence) of the Law-but it not only
not*be deceived. Some tell &I how they have experimented and satisfied the Law, “the porter,” so that he opened the sheep-
proved these peculiar statements of the parable: one asked fold. but it cave to the true Shenherd the ownershin and con-
the shepherd to call some particular sheep bv name, to see trol’of the sheep, that he might-lead them out to green pas-
whether* or not it would comk to him; the shepherd called one tures, and that they might go out and in with perfect freedom,
that was far off. and it immediatelv lifted its head. looked as his sheep, followine him. Our Lord testified, however. that
toward him, and when the call was repeated started, and wend- many trun-sheep had”gotten out of the fold, and were lost in
ing its way, in and out through the flock, came to his feet, the wilderness of sin. His ministrv was a call to these as
where he patted its head in reward for its obedience. Thinking well as to those who remained in the fold,-to the puhlicnns
this possibly a solitary instance, requests were made for rep; and sinners as well as to those who were endeavoring to live
titions of the test. with similar results. Another traveler imi- near to God.
tated the shepherd’s voice, and called the sheep, but they paid Thus the true Shepherd showed his interest in all his true
no attention. Thinking that it was because he had not on the sheep, including the lame, the weak, the starved. He called
shepherd’s garments, to test the matter, he and the shepherd sinners to repentance, and the true sheep, realizing their short-
changed raiment, but still the sheep would not heed the voice cominrrs under the Law, responded and came to him as the
of the stranger; but when the shepherd spoke to them, even Shepherd and Bishop of’ their souls. But inasmuch as many
though clothed in the garments of the stranger, they knew his of the flock had wandered far from the position of true sheep,
voice and at once responded. so that there were not enough who heard his voice, to com-
Our Lord used these facts, well known to his hearers, to plete the elect number of his flock, this Good Shrpherd has,
illustrate his relationship to the Lord’s neonle, as their Shen- durinn this Gosnel age, lifted UD his voice (sneakinrr through
herd, the Son of the Great Shepherd; and hk pointed out that the mimbers of ‘his body), and has called shbep from amon&
all who were trulv of his flock would hear his voice. would not the Gentiles; and a sufficient number to complete the original
be deceived by th< Adversary, though he should disguise him- predestination will eventually respond.
self in garments of light, to deceive, if it were possible, the The call of this present time is not a general one, but as
very elect. The important thing, then, is that we should this Scripture declares, “he call&h hi8 own sl~,r~, by name,“-
become true members of the Lord’s flock, intimately acquainted it is therefore a special call. “The Lord knoweth them that
[2441] (63-64)
 (64 67) ZION’S WATCH TOTVER

ilrL' his.” They manifest relationship to him as his flock by with the Lamb of God,-are all to be “Ii\-ing sacrifices, holy,
their obedience to his call-by following him. The flock which acceptable to God, and their reasonable service.” (Ram. 12: 1)
I* now being called, and which eventually will make its call- As the Spostle elsewhere declares, “Hereby we know love,
ing and election sure, the Scriptures inform 119will be only “a because he laid down his life on our behalf: and we ought
little flock,” and the fold provided for these is a special one; also to lay down our lives for the brethren,” for the fellow-
~‘i:., the kingdom.-Luke 12 :32. sheep.-1 John 3 : 16-Diaglott.
Throughout this Gospel age the Lord has been caring for From this standpoint it will be seen that, as our Lord was
this class ; he has specially led and fed and blessed them, the Father’s Lamb, and the sin-offering for the world, so we
notwithstanding that to the appearance of others they have who are of Jesus’ flock are to fill up that which is behind of
passed through severe trials, disciplines, sufferings. ?ea, as t,he afflictions of Christ, in the interest of his body, which is
our Shepherd himself declared, whosoever lives godly suffers the Church. (Eph. 1:22) And other Scriptures show us that
persccutlon. But we are to remember that this is a peculiar all of the flock thus faithful, in following the Shepherd even
trial time, for a peculiar and elect flock. M’e are to remem- “rrnto death,“, are counted as members of the body of the
ber, also, the Shepherd’s declaratlcn that he has other sheep Shepherd. Thus the entire Gospel age has been the period of
which are not of this fold-not provided for in the calling to suffering with Christ, of dying daily, of laying down our lives
tht> kingdom. These other sheep are still astray in the wilder- for the brethren; and not until this sacrifice is complete in the
ness of sin, but the Millt~nnial day is near at hand, in which close of this age will the New Covenant be thrown open in the
the Lord will gather all his scattered sheep, all who would largest sense of the word to the world of mankind in general,
+eek and love righteousness and harmony with God under and the great Shepherd be complete-Head and body. Then
favorable conditions,-that they may all be brought into the spirit and the bride will say, Come, and whosoever will
arcord with lllm and be his flock. The Good Shepherd gave may come,-whereas now, “hTo man can romc except the
his life n ransom for all his sheep-not merely for the “little Father draw him,” and in all a “little flock.”
Hock” of this age, the “hclrs of tile kingdom.“” Christ’s larger The spirit of the great Chief (or Head) Shepherd of the
Ilock will be ~athercd after the kingdom is set UD. flock is to be in all those now being called to association with
A part of&c key to t!lis parab&, as it is also the key to him in the kingdom. As the Good Shepherd lays down his
many other features of thcb divine plan, is found in the fact life for the flock SO all of these will lay down their lives in
that the sheer, of the “little flock,” now beine called and the service of the truth. As the Good Shepherd was not in-
seloctc~tl to joiit-heirship in the kinghom, are to ie sacrificed: different to the necessities of the sheep, caring simply for
as the SheDherd. the Km&s Son. himself was sacrificed as the himself, and how much he could get out of the sheep, so it
Lamb of God, and not o~;iy opelled the door to those who are will be with those who hare his spirit-their service of the
shut up under the Law, but by the same sacrifice also re- body of Christ will not be for filthy lucre’s sake, nor for
deemed the whole world of mankind, amonght which are the honor among men, nor for earthly g&n, in any sense of the
“other sheep” that he is yet to seek, so the sheep of the word: but for the love of God, the love of the iruth, the love
“little flock,” now being called, are all to suffer with Christ- of the flock.

NOTIFY US RESPECTING MEMORIAL CELEBRATION

will all the little groups appoint some one of their number in attend,uice V Only :I few \vords are nece<sarr. and posh1
to notify II, ~hr: rtcal &II/ respecting, (1) The interest man- cards will suflicr~. Mlc are interested in having such reports
if&ed : (2) If it blcssin;: wcrc enjoyed; (3) The number complete RP posaiblr, and thank you all, in advance, for them.
_- -- -~.-- ___-___-. .__-
-___- .-____ --
VOL. xx AT,LEGHENY, PA., MARCH 1 AND 15, 1899 Nos. 5 AND 6
--..-..
_.. .-_--- -._. ~_--- ~.~---____--____
TABERNACLE SHADOWS
MARCH 1st AND 15thISSUES OF THIS JOURNAL
Will Be a New Edition of “Tabernacle Shadows of Better Sacrifices”
(In Pamphlet Form for Convenience). Next Issue
in Usual Form Will be April 1st
--.-~~..--.-- --.____ ___--
ALLEGHENY, PA., APRIL 1, 1899 No. i

BLESSING GOD AND CURSING MEN

“ht the tongue can no man tame: it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father, and
therewith curse we men which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth
hlessing and cursing. hly brethren, these things ought not so to be.“-James 3:8-10.
Thc~e words of the inspired Apostle are addressed to the root of promise believers from amongst the Gentiles, who were
“brethren”-not to the world. Indeed. the entire Euistle is once without God and having no hope in the world, strangers
addressed to the church: the fact that in opening i’t James from the commonwealth of Israel, but are now brought nigh,
.Iddrcssex “the twelve tribes which arc scattered abroad,,, is united with Christ, and through him united with the Abra-
not to the contrary of this. We are to remember that to hamic root of promise, and inheritors of all its richness and
the twclre tribes of Israel. the natural seed of Abraham, Der- fatness.-Eph. 2:12, 13; Rom. 11.
:nined originally the great promise of God made to Abraham. Thus we see that these spiritual Israelites become the
Bv natural hereditv. then, God’s offer or nronosition to bless Israelites indeed, from the divine standpoint, the actual in-
tlic world belonged”t’o fleshly Israel, as the’d&ne instruments, heritors of the Abrahamic promise: altho we see also yet to
if t1lcb.ywould comply with the divine conditions. But one of be fulfilled certain gracious earthly promises to the natural
the divine conditions was that they should have the faith of seed of Abraham, they nevertheless have missed, have lost, as
ibrc~hmn, and should not be considered the promised seed of a nation, as a peoDle, the great Drize: as the ADostle de-
Abraham without that faith, since Abraham was to be the clares, “israel hith-ndt obtayned &at which he secketh for.
Father of the Faithful. Our Lord and the apostles, in the but the election bath obtained it. and the rest were blinded.”
New Teslament, set forth clearly how and why natural Israel, -Ram. 11:7.
as a nation. was broken off from inheritance under that cove- So then the “twelve tribes” of Israel had promises made
nant: the Apostle representing the promise as an olive root, to them which apply not merely to themselves, but also and
describes all Israelites as brancbcs, growing up out of that specially to spiritual Israel, whom they typified; while the
root, and tells us that many of the natural branches were original election or predestination of God, respecting the Abra-
broken off, the vast majority, and that only a remnant at the hamic seed, that it should be 144,000, or 12,000 from each
first advent were fouud possessed of the faith of Abraham, and tribe, still stands; and consequently that each one accepted
accepted by our Lord as members of the new house of sons.- from amongst the Gentiles, and engrafted into this root of
John 1: 12. Abrahamic promise, is counted as taking the place of one of
The Apostle further explains that the rejection of the these broken-off branches of the various tribes. By the time
unbelieving of natural Israel left the wav oDen t(; engraft in the the Gospel age shall have finished its work, a spiritual Israel
placae of the broken-ofF branches some ?rok among& the Gen- will have been found-“ a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
tiles, possessed of the faith of Abraham. And this, we see, has peculiar peoplr.“-- showing forth the praises of him who called
bct~n the work of this Gospel age-grafting into the original them out of darkness into his marvelous light-neither one
[ 24421
.~PRIL 1, 1899 ZIOiV'S WATCH TOWER (68-69)

more nor one less than the original, elect, predetermined uum- a curse for us”-having suffered for us the full condemnation
her,-a natural Israelite having been “broken off” for each one or blight which the Law imposed upon the transgressor. (Gal.
fro& the Gentiles “grafted in.” The church is thus referred to 3: 10-13) He illustrated the same thought in connection with
in Revelation 7 :3-S: and the sealinn of the church is aDOken the wo;d “curse ” when he declares thit garden land which
of as being so many from each of thu tribes, with the i&ma- had been overgiown with thorns and briars is “nigh unto
tion that all of thmc will have been “sealed in their fore- cursind ‘-not readv for nrofanitv, but for condemnation. as
heads” before the great time of trouble shall come upon the un5t f%r tillage, un”ti1 burLed over’ &nd its weeds exterminated.
world. -Matt. 5:44: Rom. 12:14: Mark 11:21: Heb. 6:8.
So, then, the Epistle of James is to be understood as ad- Having thus before our &inds the real k&d, and its signi5-
dressed to these true Israelites. engrafted into the root of cation as used by the Apostle, we see that while curse is a
promise, and taking the place of thenatural Israelites. And proper enough translation of the original, the whole difficulty
to this agree the words of the Apostle Paul, “They are not all is that present-day common usage and common education
Israel which arc of Israel.” (Rom. 9:6, 7 ) And again. “He have largely hidden from sight this signification of the word.
is not a Jew which is a jew outwardly, neithe; is- that (Similarly the word evil has lost its original breadth of mean-
circumcision which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew ing, and is almost invariably considereud to signify immoral-
which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart.” ity, badness, wickedness ; whereas in its breadth of meaning
(Rom. 2 :28, 29) Akd again, the words of our Lord in ad- it may be used to refer to anvthine: that is undesirable. not
dressinn his church: “I know the blasnhemv of them which good, -such as calamities, etc.)” -
say thgy are Jews, and are not, but ar’e of the synagogue of Looking at the Apostle’s statement from this stand-point,
Satan”-Rev 2.9. 3.9 we see clearly that his charge is applicable to Christian peo-
O;r Lord ‘rec&nized’ this same distinction between natural ple of today to an alarming extent. How many there are
and true Israelite;: when receiving Nathaniel he declared, “Be- who do injury with their tongues to their fellow-creatures,
hold, an Israelite indeed.” These two Israels, of the flesh who use the same tongue in offering praise to God. We know
and of the spirit. were tvnified in Isaac and Ishmael, and of no evil to which God’s consecra&d people are more exposed
again, as the -Apo&le decla%, in Jacob and Esau. (Ram: 9 : 6- than to this one. With manv it is as natural to eossin as
13. 22-33) In each case the inheritor of the Dromise was the to breathe: they do it uncon&iously. We have ev& kiown
yobnger brother; as illustrating that spiritial Israel would people who took cognizance of the Scriptural injunction
be developed after natural Israel, and take its place as heir against slander and evil-speaking, who were so utterly con-
of the chief blessings mentioned in the Abrahamic Covenant. fused on the subject, and so unaware of their own conduct,
However, we are tu remember that a blessing was granted that they would -declare their horror of speaking a slande;
also in each case to the elder brother, in the-types; and SO in the very same breath in which thev utter slanders. We
it is in the antitvnes.-while God has aDDointed Christ to mention tliis in proof that this evil is”so ingrained in fallen
be the heir of all” ‘things, and has called-ihe church as his human nature as to elude the notice of the new nature some-
bride, to be his joint-heir in all things, he has nevertheless times for years- and thus escapes the correction in righteous-
provided that blessing shall flow from these to the earthly ness which the Lord’s Word directs, and which all who are
seed, and in turn through the latter to all the families of the truly the Lord’s people desire.
earth.-Rom. 11: 26-33. Manv are the peculiar subterfuges which the fallen na-
Having thus definitely determined that the holy spirit, ture wiil use, in it‘s attempt to stifie the voice of conscience
through the Apostle, is addressing the church, let us con- and vet maintain the use of this channel of evil.-lone after
sider the astounding statement of our text, and seek to ascer- it ha> been driven from evil practices which are iess cgmmon,
tain in what sense it should be understood: resolvinrr that, less -popular,
_ more generally recognized as sinful.
should we find that in any sense or degree ‘it applies to US ( 1) It will sa$ “I mean no harm to anybody; but I must
individually, we will assuredly quickly respond to the have something to talk about. and nothing would be so in-
spirit’s teaching, and correct so evil a condition. teresting to f;ends and neighbors as sogething which has
BLESSINO QOD WITH THE TONClUE more or less of a gossipy 5avor (scandal) connected with it.”
We may readily see how the Apostle means that God’s But is evil-speaking, slander, any the more proper on this
people bless or raise his name with their tongues. They do account for the children of the light? By no means. Hence
so in prayer; t 1 ey do so in their hymns of praise; they do it is that the Scriptures instruct us, “Let your conversation
be such as becometh saints:” “Let vour speech be
so in declaring his truth, and in witnessing to his providences
on their behalf. In a word, we bless Goa with our tongues with grace, seasoned with salt,. that ye may know how ye
by showing forth his praises, who called us out of darkness ought to answer every man; ” “Let no corrupt communication
into his marvelous light. proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good, to the use
of edifying,-that it may minister grace unto the hearers.“-
CHRISTIANS WHO CURSE MEN WITH THEIR TONGUES Phil. 1:27; Col. 4:6; Eph. 4:29.
But in what sense does the Apostle mean that spiritual But the scandal-monger, however refined his methods and
Israelites eur8e men with their tongues?-and that so com- words, well knows that so far from the scandal ministering
monly, so generally prevalent as to require public reproof? grace. to the hearer, it ministers evil; that the hearer i’;
Surely no Christian curses his fellowman by oaths and pro- impelled by the forces of his fallen human nature to go quickly
fane swearing! But are there not other ways in which our and tell the scandal further. to others: true or false. he
tongues may be a ourse and an injjury to fellow-men? We are knows not and heeds not: it has kindled in his heart a hme
to remember that the meaning of our English word “curse” of carnal sentiment which issues from his lips to “set on fire
has somewhat altered in common usage within the last cen- the course of nature” in others. similarlv weak through the
tury, having very generally lost the sense of &jury and as- fall. The fallen nature feasts and revels-in just such Things.
sumed wholly the sense of swearing, profanity. In the Greek feeline the more libertv to do so because thevd delude them-
language different words are used when referring to a cursing selves” that thus they ire moralizing-preaching against sin,
oath (viz., anathema, and an&hem&so, used ten times in the and that in thus discussing and impliedly denouncing the said-
New Testament), and when referring & a spoken condemna- to-be transgressions of another, they are mentioning matters
tion as a blight or curse (viz.. katara and kataraontai. which abhorrent to their righteous souls. Alas! poor, weak, fallen
signify condumnation,-to‘ speak against, to speak evil of, humanity’s reasonings are seriously defective when the Lord’s
to injure). The latter is the word used by the Apostle counsels in righteousness are ignored.
*James: hence his language reallv is-With the same tongue As for the point that there would be little else to talk
wherewith we praise and-honor God, we do injur to fellow- about if scandals were thoroughly eliminated from Christian
men, by evil-speaking, slandering, etc. Thus our P,ord, using conversation, and were all to abide strictly by the Apostle’s
the same word, said, “Bless them that curse [speak evil of] injunction, “Speak evil of no man,” we answer: Is there not
you.” The Apostle ‘Paul, using the same word; admonishes a wide scope for conversation amongst Christian people, on
God’s people to “Bless and curse not”-speak favorably of the subject of the riches of God’s grace in Christ Jesus our
others, but do not speak injuriously of them. Again, we are Lord, expressed in the exceeding great and precious promises
told that our Lord cursed (the same Greek word) the figtree, of the divine Word? In these things we have indeed that
savine. “Let no fruit grow on thee henceforth”-he in- which not only ministers grace to the hearer. but which
ju;ed’it, he made a declaration unfavorable to its future de- adds also to the grace of the speaker. It showers
velopment. Thus also the Apostle declares that the Jews blessing on every han& so far as the ‘;new creature” is con-
under the Law were under a ourse-not that the Law was cerned. and assists in dcadenine the old nature with its evil
evil, but that, because of imperfections of the flesh, the desires, tastes, appetites. ”
Israelites came under the condemnation Icurse) of the Law. This is what the Apostle had in mind, evidently, when he
He declares also that “Christ bath redeemed ’ us [former1 said that the Lord’s people should “show forth the praises of
Jews] from the curse [condemnation] of the Law, being ma 2 e him who called us out of darkness into his mnrrelous light.”
[24431
(69-71) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLJ~GHEN Y, I’ I

And a heart filled with the spirit of love, the spirit of God, the clares that it is always right to speak the truth, and hence
spirit of the truth, and overflowing with the same at the God cannot have meant that sneaking the truth would be
mouth will be sure to overflow that which is within, for, “Out slander, but that in condemning evil speaking and slander, as
of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.,’ An evil works of the flesh and the devil, he must have meant the
mouth, therefore, a mouth which does injury to others, either speaking of that which is false, untrue.
to fellow-members of “the bodv of Christ’, or to those that This is a great mistake: a slander is equally a slander,
are without indicates an evil hGart,-implies that the heart is whether it is true or whether it is false, and is so regarded,
not pure. :‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see not only in the law of God, but also in the laws of civilized
God.“- 1 Pet. 2:9; Matt. 12:34; 5:8. men. True. in human law, if a suit were brought for
(2) Another excuse for gossip about other men’s mat- slander, if it were proven that the charges made -by the
ters is offered by others, who say: I can talk about religious slanderer had some basis of fact. that would nrobablv be con-
matters to those who are religiously inclined, but when I am sidered by the court and jury ‘an extenuat&g circ;mstance,
with worldly people, or with professors of religion who take and would probably very much reduce the amount of the
no interest in religious themes, I must be agreeable and ac- verdict for damages. A slander is anvthing which is uttered
commodating, and -must at least hear their gossip and news; with the intentio; of injury to another, wh&her true or false,
and if I do not share in such conversation I would be con- and the laws of men agree with the law of God, that such
sidered very peculiar, and my company would not be desired. injury to another is wrong.
Yes, we answer; but this is to be one of the peculiarities of In other words, divine and human laws agree that a first
the “saints : ” they are not only to be different from the world, wrong does not justify a second wrong. Human law says, If
but different also from the nominal professors of religion. a wrong has been committed, the courts are open to the in-
Their religion is not merely to be on the surface, and on one jured one to seek redress or the punishment of the evil doer;
dav of the week. and under a certain suit of clothes; but is to but the injured one shall not be permitted to take the remedy
be”of the heart, related to all the affairs of life, for every into his own hands, either by making an assault with phyai-
day and every moment. To follow strictly the divine in- cal force nor by the use of the more subtle weapon, the tongue,
junction will indeed separate you from some who are now your to assassinate his character with the poisoned stiletto of envy
friends and who love such evil things,-forbidden us who and malice. True, many slanderers are never prosecuted; true
have become sons of God and who have received of his spirit also, the newspapers of the United States have sometimes es-
of sonship, the spirit of love. caped heavy damages for libelous slander by the plea that
And that the Lord understood and meant this is evi- thev did not nublish the defamations as of malice. but simulv
dent from the fact that he foretold to us that the way of dis- as hews, whiih, they claimed, properly belonged to the publ&
cipleship would be a “narrow way.” If, therefore, your as in the cases of politicians who were seeking the franchises
failure to be an entertaining visitor, neighbor, friend, is be- of the people for positions of public trust. Then again, public
cause of your fidelity as a “new creature” to the law of Christ, men knowing that much of the false statements by the opposi-
love-which “worketh no ill to his neighbor,,’ either in word tion press will be properly credited as falsehoods, consider it
or deed, then indeed you have cause for rejoicing, because good policy to let any ordinary slanders go unchallenged in
you are suffering a little, experiencing a loss, for Christ’s the courts. The effect is a gradual growth of slander among
sake, for righteousness’ sake. The loss may at first seem the people-sure to work evil to themselves and to their in-
heavy, but if you endure it for Christ’s sake, in obedience stitutions ;-for government officers and courts and everybody
to his righteous law of love, you will soon be able to say with of influence coming under such slanders (generally, we believe.
the Apostle that such losses are “light atllictions,“’ not worthy untrue) lose their influence for good over the lower classes.
to be compared with the offsetting blessings.-Phil. 3:7, 8; who are thus being helped along to greater lawlessness day by
2 Cor. 4:17. day, and preparing for the period of anarchy which the Scrip-
Your cause for rejoicing is that you have the Lord’s tures tell us is near at hand.
promise that such suffering shall work out for your good. But the law of God, the law of Christ, goes much further
Companionship with those who are not seeking to walk accord- and deeper into such matters, naturally, than do the laws of
ing to the mind of the spirit, but according to the men; for it deals not with men, but with the “new creatures
common “course of this world,,’ is injurious to the in Christ Jesus” -transformed by the renewing of their minds.
saints, to those who are seeking to walk in harmony with the under special New Covenant* relationship, and bound by tbc
new mind. They are far better off without such worldly com- law of that New Covenantlove-which “worketh no ill to his
panions and friends, and in proportion as they are separated neighbor,” under any circumstances, under any provocation.
from these will they find closer fellowship with the Lord which on the contrary returns “good for evil”-“blessing for
himself and with his Word, and with all who are true mem- cursing.”
bers of his body, and under the direction of his spirit. It The law of the New Covenant, love, commands sile)zce
is in harmony with this that the Scriptures declare, in so to all who acknowledge that law and the Law-Giver. saving,
many words, that the friendship of this world signifies enmity “Speak evil of no m&.,, (Titus 3:2) It goes further “th&
against God. (Jas. 4:4) God has purposely placed the mat- this and declares against evil thoughts. evil susuicions. evil
ter in such a position that his people must take their choice, surmisings, against -neighbors. It vdeclares that ‘love filling
and lose either the divine friendship and fellowship, or the our hearts will not only hinder evil conduct and injurious
worldly friendship and fellowship; because those things which words, but will prevent evil thoughts. “Love thinketh no evil”
the Lord loves are distasteful to the worldlv, and those things -can only be convinced of evil by indisputable proofs. Indeed.
which the worldly love, evil deeds and evil thoughts, evil- to impress this subject and its importance in his sight, the
speaking, are an abomination in the sight of the Lord, and Great Teacher declares to the uunils in his school-With what
those who love and practice such things lose his fellowshipT judgment ye judge others, I will-judge you. (Matt. 7 : 1) And
they are not of his spirit. “If any man have not the spirit again he tells them to pray to the Father-“Forgive us our
of Christ, he is none of his.“-Ram. 8:9. tresnasses. as we forgive those who tresnass aeainst us.”
(3) Another way bv which some otherwise good Christian (Mitt. 6 :‘12) Again he declares, if at he&t ye Treasure up
people avoid this question, and justify themselves in this com- resentment against others, the heavenly Father will not for-
mon fault of humanity, is by confining themselves (as they give vou. (Matt. 18 :35) Ah ! indeed. a Christian after the
think) to the truth: tho how frequently their gossip-loving Lord% pattern, a graduate of the school’of Christ and prepared
natures pervert their iutlgmrntic and lead them to accept to teach others, is one who not only outwardly, but inwardly
as truth things respecting which tbcy have little or 110 also. is clean- separated. washed bv the water of divine in-
knowledge. they never know. Nor are such ansious to know struction, from the meanness, the filthiness of the flesh. He
more, after they hnvc vircuhtrd n plnncltr with their stamp of is no longer the slave of sin, controlled by the desires and
verity on it: to find it untrue would prove them “false wit- weaknesses of his fallen flesh and its spirit of the world, bear-
nesses” snd put them to trouble to correct the lie; the pride of ing fruits unto unrighteousness,-anger, malice, hatred, .&rife,
the naturnl mind objects nnd refuses to believe the truth slander. evil-sneaking. (Cal. 3:8: 1 Pet. 2: 1. 2) From his
under such circumstances. Thus one evil lends to another. high standpoint of appreciation of the divine law, the advanced
Such will say,-“Oh, I never tell anything for truth until Christian sees that in the Lord’s sight hatred is murder,
I nositivelv know it to be true-of my own observation, my slander is assassination, and the destruction of a neiahbor’s
o&i personal knowledge. Anything that I do not know of good name is robhevy &d rapine. And any of these-things
mvself to be true I am alwnvs careful to so state, and say, I done in the church. among the nrofessed neonle of God. is
bzve ~h&rd thus and so, or, ‘i am told thus and so; I do-not doubly evil-the assassina%on and robbery of a broth&.-
vouch for the truth of it myself. Thus I am sure that I al- Compare 1 John 3 : 15 and Matt. 5 :21, 22.
ways avoid speaking evil of anyone.” Perhaps there is no To utter a defamatory or injurious remark against an-
more common delusion on this subject than is thus expressed. other,
-~ and then to add, “I do not know whether it is true
The depraved taste hedges itself behind conscience, and de- l See June 15, 1919, issue for critical examination of Covenants
[2444]
APRIL 1, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (71-72)

or not,” is to show that the apeaker IS exercised by an evil who have itching ears for scandals and of those whose tongues
spirit and not by the Spirit of Christ, the spirit of love. He delight in scandal as a sweet morsel, and are anxious to Scat-
wishes to injure or curse his fellow-creature, is anxious to do ter an evil report of which they have no knowledge-only
so. He would feel restrained to some extent from telling what prejudiced hearsay? The most generous view possible of such
be knew to be absolutely untrue, but he delights to speak is that they have Zittle of the spirit of Christ; that they are
evil, and glad to know of evil that he may roll it as a sweet deficient in brotherly love and have never truly learned “the
morsel over his tongue, and hence speaks of even those scan- golden rule.” -
dals which he does not lcnow to be true, and attempts to ex- The Apostle inquires, “Doth a fountain send forth at the
cuse himself with such an apology as the above. Verily, it is same opening bitter water and sweet?” The form of his ques-
with force that the Scriuturea declare that the natural heart tion imnlies the answer, No: it is either good water only or
is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Those brackish water only. He evidently wishes-to suggest that we
who thus speak, and thus attempt to justify their misconduct, apply the same rule to our hearts and mouths: How is it pas-
have either never entered the school of Christ, or are as vet Bible if our hearts have been renewed that our mouths utter
only in the infant-class, and do not know that theirs is the loving SWeetneBSto God and bitter acrimony, envy, hatred,
spirit of murder, and not the spirit of brotherly-love. Oh! strife, towards or respecting our fellow-men?
that all true Christians might learn the scope of this law of There is but one way of understanding this, and accounting
Love, in its relationship not only to God, but also to fellow- for it Scrinturallv. It is expressed bv the Apostle Paul (2
men; what a bridling of tongues it would mean, what a care- Cor. 4:7) T “We” have this - treasure- [the n-ew heart-the
fulness of speech! As David said, “I will take heed to my new nature1 in an earthen vessel.” Not that Christians are
ways, that I sin not with my tongue.” And he who watches of two natures. for that thought is contrary to the science of
his toneue is nuitina a detective uuon his deceitful heart and the Bible. No-mixture of natures can be recognized, hence it
can thg better- know”it and master- it for “out of the abund- was that our human natures were first iustifled through faith
ance of the heart the mouth speaketh.“-Jer. 17 : 9; Psa. 39 : 1; and a renouncement of sin, and secondly were consecrated or
Matt. 12 : 34. sacrificed to death, that instead we might have spiritual natures
The only exception to this rule, “Speak evil of no man,,, and become “new creatures in Christ Jesus.‘, The new crea-
would come in where we might know of an absolute necessity ture, however, is as yet only in embryo, only the new mind
for making known an evil-where the relating of the evil which dwells in and proposes to regulate and govern the mortal
would be contrary to our heart’s wishes, and only mentioned bodies. which are reckoned dead so far as the will of the flesh
because of necessity-because of love for others who, if not in- is concerned.
formed, might be injured. For instance, the law of the land Hence, every Christian may properly use the language
demands, that, if we know of murder having been committed, of the Apostle, and speak of and think of himself and of
it shall not be considered slander, but on the contrarv be others Christians from two different standpoints-the new
considered duty, to make known to the proper officers 0; the mind (the new creature) reckoned alive and given control,
law the facts (not susnicions) which have come under our and the old mind (the old creature) reckoned dead, and de-
observation. Likewise, -if we ‘knew of some weakness in a Dosed from control. But as the new mind is onlp living a
brother or sister, and realized that they were about to be reckoned existence by faith, so the old mind is only dead in
placed in a dangerous position. because of some other brother a reckoned sense through faith. And as the Apostle declares,
or sister not knowing of that .weakness, it might become our these two-are contrarv”the one to the other. There cannot be
duty to make known, either to the individual or congregation spiritual progress if the reign is divided. Hence, the new mind
liable to be injured, so much of our knowledge of facts Inot which is to us the “treasure,,’ begotten of the spirit of the
suspicions) as-might be necessary to guard them against‘ in- Lord, through the word of truth, is to keep the old or natural
jury through the weakness mentioned. But this would not be mind, will, or disposition, tastes and appetites, dead; that
speaking evil, but, on the contrary, would be sneakinrr with a the new mind may thoroughly and completely control and
good motive, with the intention bf preserving-the o:e party exercise these mortal bodies, in works and words and thoughts
from extraordinarv temntation. and of nreservina the other in harmony with the new mind, in harmony with the new-law
party from injury. And before anything shouldUbe said on of love. in harmonv with the suirit of righteousness and truth.
the subject we should most positively satisfy our own con- When. therefore, our mouths are spiaking forth heart-felt
sciences that our motive in speaking is a good one, and not an praise to’ God, who hath blessed ua, lifted our feet from the
evil one, that we are about to use our tongue to bkBB, and not horrible pit, and the miry clay, and placed us upon the Rock,
to injure. And even then, prompted by the spirit of love and Christ Jesus. and has nut a new song into our mouth, our
kindness toward the weak brother, as well as toward the praise implies that the new mind is controlling at such a time,
others, we should avoid mentioning one solitary item that that the treasure in the new heart is overflowing in the mortal
would not be necessary to the object in view. body, and going forth through the lips to the praise and edi-
But some will object to limiting this liberty to cases of fication, the comfort and encouragement, of those who hear.
positive knowledge, and urge that absolute knowledge gen- Thus the fountain in our heart is sending forth sweet waters,
erally being small little could be said. We answer that this carrying with them life, blessing, refreshment. But when
is in line with the divine law,-“Love thy neighbor as thy our tongues speak evil of any, whether it be true or false, it
self.” You would not want your neighbor to use brain and implies that the new nature is, temporarily at least, overcome
tongue in evil surmises and slanders against you; and you by the old nature; it implies that another fountain is now
should not do so to him. The law of the land does not de- operating and using the tongue, the mouth, in issuing forth
mand that you should tell one word more than you know (of the words of malice or hatred or envy or strife or reproach
personal knowledge against your neighbor-it does not ask or evil speaking of any kind-cursing or injuring others in any
your suspicions and evil surmisings. And on the contrary, degree, great or small. This implies that the old nature, the
the law of the Lord commands that all under the New Cove- old will, the will of the flesh, is not being kept under, as the
nant shall not utter one solitarv susnicion aeainst a neieh- Apostle Paul expresses it-kept dead, kept buried, kept out of
bor: and that if suspicion beyoid knbwledge-is forced ugon sight: there is either a truce between the new mind and the
the mind by associated circumstances, the new mind shall old mind. bv which the two use the mortal body between them,
promptly, with its native benevolence. counterbalance the sus- sometimes for good and sometimes for evil, or a stupor and
picions by suggestions of the possibility of misinformation or lethargy has come over the new mind, which is taken advant-
misinterpretation and always give the apparently guilty the aee of bv the mind of the flesh. Such a condition therefore
benefit of the doubt. implies &ow spiritual development or retrogression-falling
Another will object, “Oh! I could never waste so much time away on the part of the “new creature.” All such should re-
in getting at facts. Life is too short! Why, I would have member, as the Apostle Paul declares, “The time past of our
no time at all left for mv own business. if I carefullv hunted lives sufficeth us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles,” and
up the facts SOas alway; to speak from knowledge &d never aeain he sava. “Yield not vour members as instruments of
from hearsay!” unrighteouanesa; but yield y-ourselves unto God, as those that
Just so ! and the lesson to you should be to follow the are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of
Scriptural rule-“Speak evil of no man.” righteousness unto God.“-1 Pet. 4:3; Rom. G: 13.
( 1) Because you have not the time to get at the facts, From this noint of view we mav console ourselves if in
and quite probably also lack the ability to judge impartially, looking backward, we perceive that ih our own cases from the
if you had nil the facts before vou. same mouth has nroceeded nraise to God and iniurv and defa-
-(2) Because, if you have the spirit of Christ, love, dwel- mation and slander and e&-speaking and malice “and hatred
ling in vou richlv, vou will nrefer to tell no one the facts. and strife, or any of these, toward our fellow-creatures. It
evkn if “you have -the chain of evidence complete: you will does not, therefore, prove that our hearts were not truly jus-
loathe the matter the more in proportion as the known facts tified, and sanctified by the holy spirit of adoption; it does
are unfavorable. What. then. must be the condition of those not prorc that we are not song of God and partakers of his
[2445]
(73-74) ZION’S lY14TCH TOWER

spirit. It does prove, however, that we are in a sadly improper applies to any profeesing to be Israelites indeed, hc nevertheless
condition-snirituallv sick and in need of taking a nureative. is sneciallv aiming his remarks at those who profess to be
ah the Apostle expr&es it, saying, “Purge out,“thepefore, the teachers in” the chuych, to have wisdom to a considerable degree.
old leaven [malice, etc.], that ye may be a new [unadulterated, Bnd his words remind us of the words of the -4nostle Paul,
pure] lump” or loaf-proper representatives of the body of when speaking of the various gifts distributed to-the rhurch;
Christ.-1 Cor. 5 : 7. he seemingly points out the dangers of those of large knowl-
We may know assuredly that, until the “new creature” edge, and as an illustration of this principle which James pre-
gains a thorough victorv over the will of the flesh. we will not sents, he says:
be winners of the great prize which is promised only “to him Though I could speak with the tongues of men and of
that overcometh.” The overcomina. however. will be not in the angels, and have not love, it would imply that I had become
perfecting of thp fiesk, but in thc’perfecttng of the heart-the ar a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal, making a noise in-
will, the intentions. As for the blemishes of the flc$ some deed. but having no feeling respecting the matter myself, I have
of them undouhtedly, despite every effort on our part to eradi- neither part nor lot with those who possess the spirit of Christ.
ratr them, will continue with us so long as we are in the flesh. Slthough I have the gift of prophery. and understand all mys-
The perfection which is to be hoped for, and aimed at and teries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, and have
expected and gained by the overcomers, is the perfection of the not love, I am nothing; and though I bestow all my goods to
will, heart, intentions. “Blessed are the pure in heart; they feed the poor, and give my body to be burned, and have not
~11~11see God.” Moreover, our physical weaknesses and defects love, it profiteth me nothing.-1 Cor. 13:1-8.
not only vary in kind but in intensity. Some are by nature
more inclined to gentleness, kindness, etc.; others, until ac- Thus the Apostle points out distinctly that knowledge and
rcptetl of Christ, may have very uncouth. coarse, rude, rough oratory are not the most vital tests, but that love permeating
earthen vessels: and while the influence of the treasure within, the heart and extending out through all the course of life, and
the “new mind ” will be sure in anv case to exercise a modify- actuating and operating our mortal bodies, is the real test-the
ing and transfbrming effect upon the earthen vessels, we can- real proof of our divine relationship. He point,s out that those
not expect as much of a change in some as in others. We who had received gifts of God before they had come into a
c*annot expect as complete a correction in righteousness in the proper relationship to God might berome sounding brass and
outward man where roarseness, rudeness, unkindness are, so tinkling cymbals, and thus become “nothing,” if they lose the
to speak, bred in the bone and fibre, as we might expect in one love, if they lose the spirit of Christ; for “if any man have not
born to fine sensibilities. the spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
While recognizing this difference of “earthen vcsscls,” we of It is well for the Lord’s people to take particular note of
(‘ourso must use our best endeavors each to correct his own. these divine instructions from two of the chiefest of the Apes-
1Ve are to remember that our relationship to one another in tles, and to remember that valuable though they be, neither
the bodv of Christ is not accordina to the flesh. but accordinr orutow nor knowledae are to be considered amongst the “breth-
to the “spirit; hence, as the Apoustle declares,’ we know on”e ren” a”s sure proofs‘bf their being in the right ‘way, nor that
another no longer according to the flesh, with its weaknesses, their influence might not be iniurious instead of helpful. The
imperfections and ungainlv and ungraceful natural tendencies. leading characteristic to be looked for in every one accepted as
\Vc know each other only according to the spirit, according to a servant of the rhurch, to minister in holy things, should be
the intentions, according to tlic> heart-as “new rreatures,” not first of all the spirit of love. 1Ve do not mean to say that
as old creatures. (2 Car. 5 : 16) This will lead us to be very knowledge and ability should be rntirelg ignored, but we do
pitiful of one another’s imperfections of the fle\li. so long as mean to say that these should be considered of secondary and
we have the assurance that the flesh does not rrpresent our not of primary importance, as is always the tendency. Look
brother’s real self, his mind, his will. We are, therefore. to be out from among yourselves holy men, full of the holy spirit,
gentle toward all, kindly affcctionrd one toward another, so that they may have the charge of the spiritual interests of the
that so far from tleeiring to wound one another, or to injure different companies of the Lord’s people. And for a divine
one another. or to devour one another with our tongues, we explanation of how thia holy spirit \vill manifest itself, of the
shall sympathize with eaca11other, do each other good, and by aualities therefore that are to be looked for in the servants
words of gr:rccl iriid comfort. or of admonition and reproof Gf the church. see 1 C’or. 13:4-8; also 1 Pet. 1 :22, 23; 2 Pet.
spoken in love. may build one another up in the most holy 1 :I-13. For their own good, as well as for the good of the
faith-in the 11ken~hs of our Lord and Master. church. all who. havine other oualifications, give evidence of
Proceeding with thin subject, the Apostle points out that being puffed up’and of-desirin g *to lord it eve; God’s heritage,
there are two kinds of wisdom, a heavenly and an earthly, and the church, or who manifest envy, strife., bitterness, evil-speak-
that all of the Lord’s people should discern these. and should ing-these should be passed by, as givrng evidence of having
see to it that theirs is the heavenly. The Apostle’s intimation the wrong spirit that cometh not from above, but is earthly,
is that there may he some with the church, who may have sensual. devilish. Thev are unsafe teachers, and are likely to
ceounted themselves in the church, who may have associated do more harm than g;od, with whatever knowledge they may
themselves \vitli the church from worldlywise motives-some possrss.
who have raught sight of the fact that there is a reasonable- Continuing, the Apostle leaves no doubt respecting his mean-
ness and a wisdom in the teachings of the Scriptures, which ine.s.., for he distinctlv ” outlines the course and fruitaae of heav-
they admire and which they ran turn perhaps to their own enly wisdom, saying: “The wisdom that is from ab&e is first
advantage. These, hr implies, will be inclined to be heady and pure”-- truthful, honest, sincere, not put on, not used as a
to make-a show of their-wisdom. and to be “puffed up” “by it, garment of light to deceive and to cover up selfishness, malice,
and while outwardlv acknowlednine the oronrietv of the Chris- hatred, strife; it makes no compromise with sin, impurity, in
tian graces, brothecly-kindness ,c’ge”ntlene&, -meekness, patience, any shape or form.) It is “peaceable.” (So far from being
love, they have in their hearts bitter envyings and strife- a quarrelsome, bickering disposition, the “new mind” desires
strife to have name and fame-envying those who may seem peace-it will contend earnestly for the faith once delivered
to them to have more of these. unto the saints, but it will not contend simply from a love
These, the Apostle intimatrs, will find it difficult, yea, im- of contention, a love of strife; on the contrary, the new mind
possible, to avoid cursing (speaking evil of, injuring) the is peaceably inclined, would prefer, so far as possible, to yield
brethren. It will be so natural to them to do so that they a non-essential point in a controversy; it loves its opponents
rannot avoid it, because they have not pure hearts-they have and sympathizes with their difficulties.) It is “gentle” (not
not regenerated hearts. If their hearts ever were regenerated, rude nor- coarse, not rough, in action or word 0; tone; and
they have returned like the sow to wallowing in the mire- if the earthen vessel through which it sneaks have these rude-
like the dog to his vomit. The Apostle’s advice to such as nesses by nature ingrained, the “new *nature” regrets them,
find that thev have in their hearts envious and bitter fcelinas, strives against them. and seeks to conquer them; and where
is that they”have no cause to glory or to boast, but. on the they do injury to others is ready, willing, glad to apologize,
contrarv should acknowledge that. havina these evil conditions and to remove the smart). It is “easy to be entreated” (easy
in the heart, they arc notvChri&ans at” all, and they should of approarh, not haughty, not disdainful, not hard or cruel;
cease to lie against the truth-cease to act fraudulently, hypo- yet it is firm on matters of principle-principles cannot be
critically-cease to continue to claim to have renewed hearts, bcnded or modified; they belong to God. But while affirming
sanctified in Christ Jesus. the principles, this spirit of wisdom points out its own will-
He tells such plainly that their wisdom, their knowledge, ingness to moderation, by acknowledging any good features in
is not of God, is not of the holy spirit-“This wisdom desrend- its opponent, and by pointing out the reason why no modifica-
eth not from above, but is earthly, sensual. devilish: for, where t ion is possible in relation to divine laws and principles). It
envy and strife are, there is confusion and every evil work [to is “full of mercy and good fruits.” (It delights in all things
be anticipated] .“---.Jas. 3 : 15. 16. prompted by love and kindness; it takes pleasure in doing for
It seems evident that. although the Apostle’s denunciation others ; it takes pleasure. not only in showing mercy to dumb
[ 24461
XmrI. 1, 1899 ZIOI\i’S WATCH TOWER (75 76)

animals under it3 care’, but it e,pecially delights in mercy in
dealing with brethren in respect to their faults. It is merciful
also in the family-not over-exacting, but generous, kind,
benevolent. It is generous also with opponents, and those who
are contentious-not wishing to push a victory, even for the
truth, to such a point as would be injnriou?, hurtful, unmer-
ciful to the antagonist.) It is “without partiality.” (It loves
the good, the true, where these are found; and opposes the
untrue, the impure and the unholy, whether found amongst
friends or enemies. Its justice is of the strictest kind, tem-
pered with mercy; it wifl not approve a fault in a brother,
because he is a brother. but would reprove the same with
gentleness and meekness; remembering the liability of all to
the assaults of the world, the flesh and the devil. It will not
fail to see a virtue in an enemy, nor hesitate to acknowledge
it. Truth is its standard, not prejudice, not partyism, not
sectarianism.) It is “without hypocrisy.” (It is thoroughly
candid: it needr not to feign love, because it i4 love; it needs
not to’ put on a kindly exterior -and to smother feelings of
wrath and envy and strife, for it is without envy, without
strife. Such works of the flesh and of the devil have, by the
grace of God, been seen to IJe earthly, sensual, devilish, and
have been repudiated, and the heart has been justified? cleansed,
sanctified to God. renewed in thought,. intention, w-111,and is
now full of the treasure of tbe holy spirit.)
With these thoughts before our minds, let us all, dear read-
ers. more earnestly than ever. guard against the old nature,
ani Its insidious ‘attempts to’ gain -’ control over our tongues.
Let us, more and more, serk to appreciate, in ourselves and
in others, this heavenly wibdom. whose operation is so force-
fully presented IK the Apostle. The more important our mem-
bers, the more 1ufluPntial. the more earnestly ought we to
strive to keep them in full subjection to the Lord, as his
servants. Our feet are useful members, consecrated to the
Lord ; v-e may u3e them in many errands of mercy, to the glory
of his name and to the profit of his people. Our hands are
likewise useful, if thoroughly consecrated to the Lord’s service.
Our ears are also useful in his service, to hear for him, to
refuse to hear the evil, and thus to approve evil, and to set
a good example to others. Our eyes arc a great blessing from
the Lord, and they also are to be kept from evil, from the
lust of the eye and the pride of life, and are to be instruments
or servants of riphteousneqs, in seeing the good, in appreciating
the good, and in assisting the good, and in helping us to know
the will of our God.
But of all our members the most influential is the tongue.
The tongue’s influence esceeds that of all our other members
combined: to control it, therefore, in the Lord’s service, is the
most important work of the Lord’s people in respect to their
mortal Godies and the service of these rendered to the Lord.
A few words of love, kindness, helpfulness-how often have
such changed the entire course of a human life!-nay, how
much they have had to do with moulding the destiny of na-
tions ! And how often have evil words, unkind words, slan-
derous words, done gross injustice, assassinated reputations,
etc. !-or. as the Anostle declares, “set on fire the pfiur~c -_-_,_ of
~~
nature”Lawakenini passions, strifes. enmities, at first un-
thought of. No wonder he declares such tongues “set on fire
of Gehenna”-the second death!
The public servants of the church are to some extent spe-
cially its “tongues.” and what an influence they wield for good
or for evil, in the blessing and upbuilding of the Lord’s people,
or for their injury-cursing! How necessary that all the
tongue-servants of the Lord’s body be such, and such only, as
are of his spirit! Their influence not only extends to those
who are in the church, but in considerable measure they are
mouthpieces heard outside. And the same principle applies to
every individual member of the church, in his use of his mem-
ber, his tongue. He may use it wisely or unwisely. with heav-
enly wisdom or with earthly wisdom. He may use it for strife,
and tearing down the faith and character of the brethreu, in
overthrowing love and confidence, or he may use it in building
up these graces of the spirit. How many have proved the
truth of the Apostle’s words, that the tongue has great possl-
bilities, either for defiling the whole body, the church. and set-
ting on fire the course of nature, by stirring up the evil poisons
and propensities of the fallen nature! How few amongst the
Lord’s people have conquered the tongue to the extent of bring-
ing it unto subjection to the will of God, that they may min-
ister good, and only good, to all with whom they come in con-
tact! Let us, dearly beloved, be fully resolved that by divine
grace (promised to assist us) the present year shall witnes-i
great progress in our control of this moqt important member
of our bodies, bringing the same into full subjection and obc-
dience and service to the King of kings and Lord of lords-to
him who bath called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.

THE MEMORIAL SUPPER AT ALLEGHENY

Our journal is just ready for press, but we hold it to say,- of many of the Lord’s “little flock” in every quat tcr of the
that the Memorial service here on March 26th was one of world. Fourteen witnessed to their consecrition by syn~bollc
the most refreshing ever celebrated by us. We felt that the baptism in the afternoon; and in the evening about two hun-
Lord poured out a< blessing upon our uplifted hearts, while drecl and fifty partook of the emblems of our Lord’s broken
they burned with fervent love for our dear Redeemer and for bo?y aud shed blood and pledged thcmsclves afresh to follow
all his “brethren” -who were remembered In our prayers faithfully in his footsteps and “lay down our lircbs for the
feelingly: we knew, too, that we had the lore and prayers brethren.”

“A BOTTLE OF SPIKENARD, VERY COSTLY’*

.&RIL 12:1-11.
9.--JOHN
“She bath done what she could.“-Mark 14:s.
The last week of our Lord’- D earthly ministry was a busy our minds the incidents of the dags following it, that we may
one. The sixth dav nrerious to the Passover was the Jewish be able to appreciate our Lord’s declaration that the anointing
Sabbath, which ended’at 6 o’clock in the evening. and it is pos- with the spikenard was preparatory to his burial. The next
sible th$t it was at that time that our Lord and his discihles morning (the first day of the week, now usually called Sun-
were entertained br Martha and Marv at “the house of Simon day), having sent after the ass, our Lord rode upon it to
the leper”-probably their father: *Lazarus, their brother, Jerusalem. The people, recognizing the wonderful miracle
whose recovery from death was noted in the previous lesson, wrought upon Lazarus, congregated and hailed him :I$ Mesqiah,
was also one of the table-guests. the Son of David, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah (9 :9 ) ,
Our Lord knew that the time of Jlis death was near at and strewed clothing and palm branches in the way; (hence
hand, and he had given intimations of this to his beloved dis- this is generally known as Palm Sunday). It was on this occa-
ciples, but they were so accustomed to having him say won- sion that our Lord wept over Jerusalrm and declared, “Your
derful things beppnd the power of their comprehension that house is left unto you desolate.“-Matt. 23:38.
they probably falled to realize their closeneiq to the great It is supposed that it was OJI the second day (Monday)
tragedy of Calvary. This need not surprise us when we remem- that our Lord scourged the money-changers out of the Temple,
ber the Scriptural declaration that our Lord spake in parables and taught the people there; and we gather from the narrative
and dark siyings-“and without a parable spike he not unto that it was in his journey on this day that he pronounced the
the people : ” for instance, his declaration. “De$troy this tem- curse upon “the barren fig tree,” supposed to represent the
ple, and in three davs I will raise it up.” And aGain, “I am Jewish nation-barren of fruit, and therefore rejected. It
the living bread wliich came down frotn heaven; If any man would appear that the third day (Tuesday) was again spent
shall eat of thi5 bread he shall live forever.” And again, teaching in the Temple, answering questions, etc., and that
“Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, evening, as they returned again to Bethany, he discoursed with
ye have no life in you.” (John 2:19; 6:51, 53) Having in his disciples respecting the great events near at hand. The
mind such unusual language, the apostles would be entirely fourth day (Wednesday) apparently was spent quietly at
excusable in doubting the proper meaning to be attached to Bethany, and on the fifth day (Thursday) the disciples made
our Lord’s declaration. “The Son of man muat be lifted UP,” ready the Passover r;iupper, which was eaten after 6 o’clock
and other similar expiessions foretelling his death. - that evenin.g-the beginning of the sixth day (Friday) accord-
Before coming to the consideration of the Bethany supper ing to Jewish reckoning-the 14th of Nisan. The Gethsemane
and the anointing on that Sahbath ereninp, let 115have before eyperienpes followed that night and the trial before Pilate the
[ 24471
(77-78) ZION’S WATCH
next morning, and the crucifixion and death a few hours later.
Now we-come back to witness the hospitalities extended
to our Lord six davs before the crucifixion. at the house of
Simon the leper, the home of Martha and Mary and Lazarus.
We are to remember that our Lord was a visitor in those
Parts, his home, to the extent that he ever had one. beinp in
Galilee, dnd the most of his time spent there. “He would”not
walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.” (John
7 : 1) But now the time for his sacrifice had come, and in har-
mony therewith he came amongst his enemies-although
was known that nrominent Jews sought to kill him. and also
sought the deathLof Lazarus, who w& a living witness to his
Messianic power.
We may suppose that this was no ordinary supper, but in
the nature of a feast or banquet in our Lord’s honor. Never-
theless, one incident connected with it so outshone all its
other features that the narrator mentions it alone-the anoint-
ing of our Lord with the “spikenard ointment, very costly.”
Our Lord himself declared. “Wheresoever this nosnel shall be
preached throughout the whole world, this ~al”o &which this
woman hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.”
(Mark 14:9) It is entirelv nroner. therefore. that we should
examine with some partiquiarity-the details of this service so
highly esteemed by the Master.
Professor Shaff says, “By the ‘ointment’ we are to under-
stand rather a liquid nerfume than what we commonly know
as ointment.” T&e alabaster box was rather in the shape of
a flask or vase, and the breaking of the box (Mark 14~3) sig-
nifies the opening of its tyings and seals by which the precious
odors were confined. Judas’ words of dissatisfaction furnish
us a clew respecting the costliness of this perfume, for he says
that it “might have been sold for three hundred denarii.”
denatius, translated “penny” in verse 5, is represented as being
the average dailv wages at that time-“a penny [denatius]
a day.” (Matt. 20:2)- If we compare these-values with pres-
ent money values, counting farm labor at fifty cents a day
(which is certainlv a moderate valuation), the three hundred
denarii would be the equivalent in wages. of one hundred and
fiftv dollars of our monev. Thus we see that the nerfume was
indeed “very costly.” There was nearly a pint-of the per-
fume, a Roman pound being twelve ounces. Nor need we ques-
tion the possibility of perfumes being so expensive, for even
today we have a counterpart in value in the attar of roses
made in the Far East. It is claimed that four hundred thou-
sand full-grown roses are used to produce one ounce of this
perfume, which, in its purity, sells as high as one hundred
dollars an ounce. or twelve hundred dollars for the auantitv
used bv Mary in ‘anointing our Lord. It is said that sero was
the first of the Emperors to indulge in the use of costly per-
fumes for his anointing; but one much more worthy of tribute,
homage and anointing with a sweet perfume was the “Prince
of the kinas of the earth.” whom Marv had the honor to anoint.
*Judas “was first to object to this “as-a waste-the difficulty
with him being that he ‘loved the Lord too little and money
too much. The amount that love is willing to expend for others
in, to some extent at least, a measure of the love. Another
Evangelist informs us that several of the disciples, under the
influence of Judas’ words, took the same view of the matter,
and spoke disapprovingly of Mary’s action. The Apostle John,
however, takes this opportunity to throw a little sidelight
upon the character of Judas-more than is apparent in the
common translation of verse 6. His declaration is, “Now he
said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he
wnq a thief, and had the box, and stole what things were de-
posited in it.“-Diaglott.
Our Lord’s words, “Let her alone !” are in the nature of a
severe reproof to those whose sentiments of love had no other
measure than that of monev. It was indeed true that there
were plenty of poor, and there would still be plenty of poor:
and plenty of opportunities to minister to them; but the op-
portunitv to sneciallv honor the Lord. and to pour upon him
the fragiant odors so” beautifully expressive of Mary’s iove and
devotion. would not be for long. and our Lord declares that
<I,
the circumstanres fully justified the costly expenditure.
shows himself out of sympathy with the sentiments which bal-
ance themselves too accurately with money values. Moreover,
we may esteem that in many instances like the one here re-
corded the persons who are so careful lest money should be
spent except for the poor are often like Judas, so avaricious
that whatever money gets into their possession very little of it
gets to the poor.
On the contrarv. it is the deen. loving, benevolent hearts,
like that of Mary: which delight in costly. sacrifices at times,
which also are hkcly to be deeply sympathetic and helpful to
the physically poor. And in our ministrations to others we
are not to forget that money is not the only thing of which
[ 24481
TOWER ALLEGHENY,
PA
people are sorely in need-some need love and sympathy, who
do not need money. Our Lord was one of those: his own heart,
full of love, found comparatively little companionshi in the
more or less sordid minds of even the noblest of the fa Plen race
represented amongst his apostles. In Mary he seemed to find
the depth of love and devotion which was to him an odor of
sweet incense, of refreshment, of reinvigoration, a tonic: and
Mary apparently appreciated, more than did others, the lengths
and breadths and heights and depths of the Master’s character;
it she not only delighted to sit at his feet to learn of him, but
now delighted, at a great cost, to give him some manifestation
of her devotion, her love.
She poured the perfume first upon our Lord’s head (Mark
14 :3). the usual custom, and then the remainder she noured
upon’his feet. But the Apostle John, in recording the matter,
seems to have forgotten entirely the anointing of our Lord’s
head. so deenlv was he impressed with the still more exnressive
devotion manifested in the anointing of the feet and be wip-
ina of them with the hairs of her head. It is indeed a nicture
of”love-a devotion well worthy of being told as a memorial.
Some one has said:
“She took ‘woman’s chief ornament’ and devoted it to wiping
the travel-stained feet of her Teacher; she devoted the best
she had to even the least honorable service for him. It was the
strongest possible expression of her love and devotion. She
gave her choicest treasures in the most self-devoted manner.
She was bashful and retiring, and could not speak her feel-
ings, and therefore she expressed them in this manner.”
We are not surprised to learn that the whole house was
filled with the odor; and we doubt not that the odor remained
for a long time: but far more precious than that was the
A sweet odor of Mary’s heart-affections, which the Lord accepted
and will never forget, and the sweet odor of her devotion which
has come down through the centuries to us, bringing blessing
to all true hearts who have honored her service and desired to
emulate her conduct.
It is not our privilege to come into personal contact with
our dear Redeemer, but we have, nevertheless, many opportu-
nities for doing that which to some extent will correspond to
Mary’s act-it is our privilege to anoint the Lord’s “brethren”
with the sweet perfume of love, sympathy, joy and peace, and
the more costly this may be as respects our self-denials, the
more nrecious it will be in the estimation of our Elder Brother.
who declared that in proportion as we do or do not unto his
brethren, we do or do not unto him. (Matt. 25 :40, 45) More-
over, he represents these “brethren” in a figure as “members
of his body;” and from this standpoint we see that, while it is
not our privilege to pour the perfume upon the Head of the
bodv, now highlv exalted far above angels, principalities and
powers, and eve;y name that is namedznext to the Father-
it is our privilege to pour the perfume upon the feet of Christ
-the last living members of his church of this Gospel age.
We know not to what extent the closing years of this Gospel
age may correspond to the closing days of our Lord’s mini&y
-we know not how similar may be the experiences of the “feet”
of the body of Christ to the -experiences of the Head of the
body; we do know, however, that in any event it is our blessed
privilege to comfort one another, to encourage one another,
to sustain one another, in the trials incident to our “filling up
that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ.” (Col. 1:24)
And to whatever extent we would improve these opportunities,
as did Mary, we must first appreciate them as she did.
Nothing in this suggestion is intended to imply any neg-
lect of the members of our natural families “accordino’ ---‘b to the
flesh;” attentions to these are proper always, and are generally
so understood, and should more and more be appreciated and
used in proportion as the Lord’s people receive freely and fully
of his spirit of love-kindness, gentleness, patience, long-suffer-
ing. But we emphasize that which the Scriptures emphasize,
namely, that our interest and efforts are not to be confined to
those of fleshly tie, but, on the contrary, are to be “especially
to the household of faith.” (Gal. 6:lO) There will be other
He and future opportunities of doing good to mankind in general,
but the opportunity for serving “the body of Christ” is limited
to the present age.
Apropos of this propriety of doing good to others-express-
ing our love by our conduct, as well as by our words to the
members of our families as well as to the members of the body
of Christ, we quote the words of another:
“The sweetest perfume that the home circle ever knows
arises from deeds of loving service which its members do for
each other. The sweetest perfumes of our homes do not arise
from elegant furniture, soft carpets! elegant pictures, or lux-
urious viandq. Many a home, hsvmg all these. is pervaded
APRIL 1, 1899 ZION’S WATCH
by an atmosphere as tasteless and odorless as bouquets of
waxen flowers.”
Another has said:
“If my friends have alabaster boxes full of fragrant per-
fume of sympathy and affection laid away, which they intend
to break over my body, I would rather they would bring them
“I HAVE GIVEN
APRIL 16.-JoEn
Our Lord’s ministry was about ended. He had met with his
twelve chosen disciples to celebrate the Passover supper, de-
claring, “I have greatly desired to eat this passover with you
before I suffer.” (Luke 22: 15) The passover lamb which
they were to eat typified our Lord himself, and the eating of
it by his disciples represented how believers of the Gospel age
were to feed upon Christ in their hearts, and by faith appro-
priate to themselves the blessings secured to them through his
death, “For even Christ our Passover [Lamb] is sacrificed for
us; therefore let us keep the feast.” ( 1 Cor. 5 :7, 8) But,
inasmuch as Jesus was the antitypical Lamb, it was appro-
priate that the type should be discontinued; and hence it was
that our Lord, following this typical supper, instituted the was not the custom of the East to pour the water into the
Memorial Supper of unleavened bread and fruit of the vine as
representing the antitype-his broken body and shed blood.
According to the Jewish custom the Passover supper was
celebrated by families, and the twelve apostles, specially chosen
by our Lord and giving their allegiance to him as their Head,
constituted the nucleus of the family of God-whose hearts and
hopes and aims were one-for “ye are all called in one hope
of your calling” (Eph. 4 :4) Judas was not excluded, although
our Lord evidently knew beforehand that it was he who would
betray him. This furnishes us the lesson that, as followers of
Christ, we should not judge one another’s hearts, nor surmise
evil. After the evil of the heart has manifested itself in words
or deeds is quite time enough to separate ourselves from others
who nrofess the Lord’s name and desire to fellowshiD with US.
True: the evil begins in the heart, before the outwaid act, but
we should always hope that the brethren may gain the victory
and should seek to do nothine to stumble any, but everything
to help them to overcome the” influence of the adversary, and
the weaknesses of their own flesh.
John does not give a particular account of the Passover
supper, but seems merely to bring in certain valuable features
and lessons connected therewith, omitted by the other Evan-
gelists. His declaration is that our Lord knew beforehand that
he had reached the end of his earthly career, and was specially
solicitous of improving the closing hours with his particular,
chosen friends and companions, by inculcating some good les-
sons. “He loved them to the end”-completely, fully: his own
sharp trials, present and approaching, hid not distract him,
nor absorb his attention. He was, as heretofore, still thinking
of and endeavoring to bless others. Nor need we suppose that
this love for the twelve applied to them exclusively; rather,
that he viewed the twelve as the representatives of “them also
which should believe on him through their word”-as he ex-
pressed the matter in his prayer to the Father. With this
view in mind we can realize that what our Lord said and did
to the apostles was intended to be applicable and instructive
to all who are his since then.-John 17:20.
From Luke’s account it would appear that on this occasion
there was a strife amongst the apostles, a contention, respect-
ing which of them should be esteemed greatest. (Luke 22:
24-31) This strife may not have been solely one of selfishness,
in the evil sense of the word, but partially prompted by love
for the Master--it may have been in respect to their several
positions at the table, the coveted position possibly being close-
ness to our Lord’s person. We remember how James and John
had made request that they might be on the right and on the
left of our Lord in the kingdom, and we remember that in
connection with this narrative it is declared that John was
next to our Lord, and leaned upon his bosom.
Quite possibly this dispute respecting greatness arose in
part from the fact that they were not in this instance treated
as guests, but merely had the upper room put at their disposal ;
having no host, no provision was thereby made for the usual
washing of the feet. and it waq neglected. The matter of feet-
washing in eastern ‘countries, whensandals were worn, was not
merely a compliment, but a necessity, the heat of the climate,
the openness of thr sandals and the dust of the roads making
it almost indispensable to comfort that the feet be bathed on
arriving at the house after a journey. Apparently this ques-
tion of who of the twelve was greatest, and of which should
perform the menial service of feet-washing for the others, had
c24491
TOWER (78-79)
out in my weary and troubled hours and open them, that I
might be refreshed and cheered with them while I need them.
I would rather have a plain coffin without a flower, a
’funeral
’ ’ without a eulogy, than a life without the sweetness of
love and sympathy. . . . Flowers on the coffin cast no fra-
grance backward on the weary road.”
YOU AN EXAMPLE”
13 : 1-17.
develoucd the fact that none of them were anxious to take the
servant’s position.
Anuarentlv our Lord nermitted them to thus disagree, with-
out ieitling iheir dispute, without appointing any of their
number to the menial service. He allowed them to think the
matter over-time to relent and reconsider, and they even pro-
ceeded to eat the supper, contrary to custom, with unwashed
feet.
Then it was that Jesus arose from the supper, laid aside
his outer garment, and attaching a towel to the girdle of his
under-garments, took a basin and a ewer for the water, and
began to pour the water and wash the feet of his disciples. It
basin and put the foot into the water, but to pour the water
upon the foot being washed; thus each had clean water, and
little was wasted-for water is much more scarce and precious
there than with us. We are to remember also that in the East
at that time tables and chairs such as we use were not in
vogue. On the contrary, the tables were low and shaped some-
what like a horseshoe, and those who sat really reclined, lying
upon the table, with the left elbow resting upon a pillow or
divan. their heads toward the inside of the horseshoe, where
there’was a space provided for the food, and also a space for
a servant to enter and nlace the food. Thus it will be seen
that the feet extended ‘backward, and could quite easily be
reached without disturbing those who were eating.
Our Lord very evidently had already washed the feet of
several of the disciples before he came in turn to Peter. Seem-
ingly none of them offered objection, although no doubt the
thought of their own contentions upon this subject, and un-
willingness to serve one another, brought t,hem blushes of
shame and confusion of face. But when it came to Peter’s
turn, he protested. It would never do, he thought, to permit
our Lord to nerform so menial a service. He asks, “Lord, dost
thou wash ,iy feet?” But our Lord did not stop to reprimand
Peter-to give him a thorough “setting down” and scolding, as
some of h& followers might-be inclined to do under such cir-
cumstances. He merely insisted on continuing, and treating
Peter the same as the others, saying that he would explain
the matter later, and that if he washed him not, he rould have
no part with him.
One cannot help admiring the noble traits in Peter’s con-
duct, even though with the same breath we be forced to ac-
knowledge some of his weaknesses, and herein all the Lord’s
followers find a lesson of encouragement, for though they find
weaknesses and imperfections, if they find also the heart-
loyalty to the Lord which was in Peter, they may continue to
have courage and hope to press on as he did, from victory to
victory, and at last to have the prize, the reward of faith-
fulness.
When Peter learned that there was more meaning to the
washing of the feet than merely its kindness and comfort, and
its reproof of the lack of the spirit of humility amongst the
disciples, he wanted, not only his feet, but also his hands and
his head washed. Noble, thorough-going, whole-hearted, fervent
Peter ! But our Lord explained that thi3 was not necessary,
“He who has been bathed has no need except to wash
g%%t but is wholly clean ” (Verse IO--Diaglott) Public
baths were in use at that time, but even nftcr having taken
a general bath, on return to the home it was customary to
comnlete the matter bv washing the feet: and this seems to be
the ‘inference of our “Lord’s remark. The apostles had been
with our Lord, and under the influence of his spirit of love,
meekness. gentleness. patience. humility, for three years, and
had been’gyeatly blessed by “the washing of water through the
word” spoken unto them.--.John 15 : 3 ; Eph. 5 : 2G.
There is an intimation in the Lord’s words, too, that this
spirit of pride which had manifested itself among them had
been insnired to some extent bv their treasurer. Judas-as
Y
evil
communications always are corrupting. (1 Co;.. 13:33) This
final lesqon from thrir great Teacher was a very impressive one
unon the eleven. whose hearts nrobablv were in the right con-
dition to receive thr reproof and the ‘lesson. but upon Judas,
although his frrt also were wssh~d. the effect evidently was
 ZIOX’S WATCH TOWER ALLECHFKY. PA.

not favorable. The spirit of evil which had entered into him washing, or need any other assistance of a menial character,
before the supper-the desire to obtain money. and the propo- their brethren should gladly and joyfully serve them; and
sition to obtain it by betrayin, n the Lord, evidently continued whoever possesses the spirit of the Lord will surely render
with him, and instead of being moved aright by our Lord’s such service; but to insist, as some do, that each of the Lord’s
humility and service, he was the more moved in the opposite people should first wash his own feet and have them clean,
direction-to think little of him. So it is with all who have and then that each should wash one another’s feet ceremo-
professed the Lord’s name in every time. Those instructions, niouslv. is contrary to his example which he instructs US to
examples and experiences. which are working out blessing and follow:’ The example was a seruice, and not an inconvenience
proving benefirial to some, are proving irijurious to oxhers. and ceremony.
The Gosuel. in its everv chase. is either “a savor of life unto Once a year, on the day before “Good Friday,” the pope
life, or of death unto death.” ’ As it ~~3 God’s goodness and washes the feet of twelve aged paupers, who are brought from
mercy that hardened Pharaoh’s heart. so it was %he love and the streets and duly prepared by a preliminary washing in
humi‘litv of .Jesus that hardened Judas’ heart. and these urin- private. The Dope’s ceremonious washing is done in the pres-
ciples are still at work, and may be witnessed in the haivest ence of many notables. A similar ceremony is performed an-
siftings today.-2 C’or. 2:16; Exod. 7:13. nuallv bv Emueror Joseuli of Austro-Hungary. Neither of
After accomplishing the work of washing the feet of all, these”ce&moni&, however: is, to our undersganding, according
our Lord resumed his outer garment and reclined again at the to our Lord’s example, but contrary to it-likewise the ceremon-
supper (this was the Passover Supper-the Memorial Supper ious washing performed by some denominations of Christians.
of bread and wine being instituted afterward). Our Lord now All who are truly the Lord’s followers should heed carefully
improved his opportunyty and explained to them the meaning and follow exactly ihe true example of the Master’s spirit of
of what he had done. He pointed out to them that this menial meekness. humilitv and service to the members of his body.
service did not signify that he was not the Lord and Master, The whole thoughi is contained in his words, “The servant is
but did signify that as Lord and Master be was not unwilling not greater than his Lord, neither he that is sent greater than
to serve the lesser members of ,Jehovah’s familv. and to min- he that sent him. If ye know these things [if you appreciate
ister to their romfort, even in the most menial service; and these principles applicable to all the affairs of life], happy are
that they should not have been unwilling, but glad, to have ye if ye do them [if vou live according to this rule, loving and
rendered such service one to another. serving one another]:“-Verses 16, 17.
The example which our Lord set was not so much in the Feelings of emulation, strife and vain-glory seem to spc’-
kind of service (feet-mashing) as in the fact of service. Noth- cially beset many of the Lord’s people who are possessed of any
ing in this example, as wec’imderatand it, w,ls in the nature degree of talent or abilitv or honorable situation in life. and
of -a ceremony to-be performed by the Lord’s people, annually, especially those who are in influential places in the church : and
weeklv. monthlv. or at anv other time: but the urinciule of while these. therefore, need to be speciallv on guard against
his service ro&ituted tlie eanmpls, and is to be observed this besetment of the ‘flesh, it should not be forgotten that. as
amongst his followers at all times-they are to love one another some one has said, “There is a pride that looks up with envy,
and to serve one another, and to consider no service too menial as well as a pride that looks dotc~r with scorn.” The Lord’s
to hc performed for each other’s comfort and good. followers are to remember that pride in any person, in any
Those \\IIo have interpreted thi;; to signify a ceremony station, respecting any matter, is highly reprehensible in God s
similar to the symbolical ceremony of the Memorial Supper sight and displeasing to him. “The Lord resisteth the proud.
and the sprnbo~cal ceremony of Baptism are. WC think. in but showeth his favor to the humble.” Hence all who would
error. Thrrr sperni to be nothing svmbolic*al in it. It is abide in the Lord’s love have need to be very careful along this
merely an illustration of t,lie principle of humllitv wbic11 is to line-to keep very humble, very lowly in conduct, and particu-
attach to every affair of li fc. Jf any of the T.ord’. people need larly in mind.--.Jns. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:.5.

“LO, I AM WITH THEE!”

Tile ‘.Lord of the hnrvrht” he near thee. May he lead thee to heights of ambition :
To romfort, and strengthen, and aid: To service for great and for small ;
His “presence” be with thee to cheer thee, The “fire” of the Christ-life within thee.
Jn sickness, and sorrow. and blladc! Consuming the sacrifice all.
-J. W. W.~TTS.
__--
--
VOL. xx AT,TXGHENT, PA., APRII; Id, IKXI No. s
_-__ -.--- _____- .__- __.-___--___
VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER
As pointed out in these columns as long ago as 1880, “Chris- bv the precious blood of Christ. to a theorv of Evolution and
tendom,” since 1878, is passing through the sifting and testing self-development. They perceive that a large proportion of
of the close or “harvest” time of the Gospel age, foretold by the “best educated” lavmen as well as themselves alreadv are
the auostles: a sifting which is to result in the fall of many Evolutionists and antiyransomists: they are anxious to be con-
in nominal Spiritual-Israel. “A thousand shall fall at thy sidered leaders in thought among their flocks, but not anxious
.idc. ten thousantl at thv riclit hand: but it shall not come to alarm and drive off any of the “sheep,” and especially are
nigh thee [the true sai’nts.’ the J~ody of Christ]. only with they thoughtful of those who have the long golden fleece.
tbrne eyes [enlightened by the spirit of the truth] shalt thou Cases like that of Prof. Charles A. Briggs of the Presby-
l~cl~olcl the reward of the unfaithful,“-1%~. !Jl :i. 6. terian church. who stated himself so plainly as to arouse the
The prophet, describes the testings of this evil day, or day laity to demand his trial for “hereiy,” are exceptional and
of falling. Its “pcstiZem9 of iufidelity he describes as operat- purely accidental-the results of miscalculation. Professor
rng secretly, hidden. as in the night darkness-spreading spir- Briggs, finding the Evolution and higher criticism ideas so
itual sickness and death among the millions who outwardly popular amongst the theological students, miscalculated the
caonfess, saying. Lord, Lord, while their liearts are far from general riueness and readiness of Presbyterianism on this line.
bim. Its “arrows” of “bitter words” (I’sa. 64:3), slanders ‘He supposed that he would be famous in a night-he knew
and misrepresentations of the faithful. he shows w’ill be open correctly the sentiments of his own presbytery and the “upper
as at “noonday;” yet these “ilrr0WS” will not harm the faith- classes” of Presbyterians with whom he came in contact: he
ful, for they “shall never fall” (2 Pet. 1:10-l 1) , but, glancing did not realize that the Presbvterians of the “back-woods” were
off them, all others than the pure in heart will be caused to so unprepared to welcome him as a new Moses. Others more
fall. The real enemy, as the prophet shows, is the great cautious, not only in Presbyterianism but in all denominations,
adversary, Satan. the “fowler.” the ensnarer-his human agents waited to note the effect. The public did not applaud Professor
being found amongst the deceived ones: and he prefers the Briggs, and hence he was deserted, and in the interest of peace
most talented and influential he can obtain. became a heretical “scape-goat,” and was allowed to wander off
He is finding thousands of these amongst the professed min- unhonored into the fold of the Episcopal church and into
isters of Christ who, seeking honor one of another and not silence.
solely divine approval, are anxious to pose as “advanced But the heresy which Professor Briggs expressed too soon
thinkers,” “higher critirs,” etc. These read, more correctly is growing, spreading everywhere, in all denominations: it is
than do the masses. the trend of sentiment, the revolution of being “wisely.” secretly, presented by ministers and Sunday-
religious thought from faith in the ru))eot)t for sinners paid School teachers everywhere. and if we understand the Scrip-
[ 24501
APRIL 15, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (P-1-85)

tures aright, it will not be long until all but the heart-conse- “It also goes without saying that the enunciation of this
crated children of God will be poisoned by it. nronosition will not tend to heal the differenoes between the
But when we say that nearly all will full--“a thousand ‘Rleihodist Church North and the Methodist Church South,
shall fall at thv side”-we do not mean that they will all fall which were rent apart by the civil war, for the Southern
into open imiorality, nor that they will abandon church church has reiected time and time again kindred innovation%
organizations, nor that the fallen ones will even know that “But Jlr. ‘Cadman insists that yvhatever the church may
thev have fallen. On the contrarv, the fallen ones as usual decide on the question in the future, it will not destroy the
wili think that they are rising higher and higher-getting rid belief in the chief and final source of Christian inspiration, a
of error, etc. They will be thoroughly blind to the fact that belief in Christ, the Son of God.
with the errors and superstitions they are getting rid also of “In taking up his subject the preacher stated the proposi-
the truths and the faith which alone constituted them Chris- tion which he would prove:
tians in God’s sight. This is the sense in which Babylon is “ ‘That the inerrancy and the infallibility of the Bible are
falling, since 1878, and hence God’s call, “Come out of her, no longer possible of belief among reasoning men.’
my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye ‘ ‘The Two Criticisms
receive not of her plagues.“-Rev. 18 :4. “The speaker referred to the great change which had taken
BIBLIUAL UBITIOISM AMONG METHODISTS place in the methods of Bible criticism within the last fifty
The public was surprised indeed to read among the press years. There should no longer be any confusion between lit-
dispatches of March 7th, published in the leading journals, erary criticism and the criticism of inspiration. It had been
under startling head lines- said in former times b authorities of weight that the two
“The Rev. S. P. Uadman Applauded, When He Reads a Paper Hold- criticisms conflicted. T 3.us was not true. They were not on
ing that the Good Book Cannot be the Bule of Faith. He Calle the same plane. Inspiration appealed to the spiritual ear.
Attention to its Diecre ancies and Says the Church Will Literary criticism was addressed to an ascertainment of facts
Have tc Make a Ppew Ruling on Inspiration” from a human standnoint. Mr. Cadman illustrated his mean-
It seems that the Methodist ministers of New York and ing by saying that i’t was one thing to examine, classify and
vicinity have of late been discussing at their Monday gather- discuss the mechanism of a great organ, and another to pass
ings some of the Bible’s “errors,” as viewed by agnostics and iudement unon the music which proceeded from it. No literarv
“higher critics,” &it&ism c&Id affect the divine* music breathed into the soli1
-That Joshua commanded the sun to stand still. of man by the life of Jesus Christ.
-That the Red Sea divided before the Israelites. “The Bible, he said, was compiled much as is any other
-That Jonah was in the belly of a fish three days. book. It was written from the records and witnesses of the
-That Aaron’s rod turned into a serpent. time. It had been impossible to determine the authorship
-That Moses tapped a rock and waters gushed out. of much of the Old Testament. Half of its pages, said Mr.
-That the earth swallowed up Achan and his companions. Cadman, were of unknown authorship. The gake’was in a
-That Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were in the furnace measure true of the New Testament. Matthew. JIark. Luke
unharmed. and John differed in quotin, cv words said to have be& pro-
-That God spake to Moses out of a burning bush. nounced by Christ upon a given occasion. Parallel passages
-That Daniel stayed unhurt in a den of lions, were not alike.
On Monday, March 6th, Rev. Cadman read a paper affirm- “Mr. Cadman referred to that much-discussed question of
ing. “That the inerrancw and the in.fallibility of the Bible are Christ’s reference to the miracle of *Jonah and &e whale.
no. longer possible oj belief among &asoning-me-n.” Those who hare taken the Old Testament in its entiretv. believ-
About four hundred ministers were nresent, and on the ing all and every part of it, have based their theologi’in part
rising of the speaker and the announcem’ent of ‘the topic the upon Christ’s reference to Jonah, when, in 1latthew 12:39, 40,
clerical audience expressed its sympathy with their brother he said:
in that he was willing to chamdion their views in so bold a “ ‘But he answered and said unto them: An evil and adul-
statement of it, by heirty applause. The gentleman had not terous generation seeketh after a sign, and there shall no sign
finished when the annointed time exaired and “his auditors be given to it but the sign of the Prophet ,Jonas.
were so deeply inter&ted in him thatA they readily voted that “ ‘For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the
he finish. When he sat down the preachers loudly applauded whale’s belly, so shall the Son of Man be three days and nights
the discourse,” says the press report. In the heart of the earth.‘*
We quote from the published reports of the discourse which “There had been, the preacher said, a great conflict upon
we have not seen denied in Methodist journals, although a this speech of Christ. It had been particularly a bone of con-
month has since elapsed: tention, because as a matter of fact Christ did not remain In
“This bold, portentous utterance-involving the most rad- the earth three days and three nights, but two nights and a
ical departure from accepted tenets of the Methodist church dav. Mr. Cadman said that he had settled the matter in his
since its verv foundation-was made before the most renre- o& mind by saying. that he was willing to suffer from the
sentative body of Methodist clergy in America. It incl<ded disease of s&pen”ded’judgment so long as-he knew that Christ
the vast majority of the preachers of Greater New York. It did arise. It would alwavs be imnossible to reconcile the facts
is the first announcement of an impending controversy, which of Christ’s burial with tlie facts Gf his alleged statement. and
may shake the Methodist church to-its ve;y foundation’stones. it would be forever useless to discuss whether he had ever said
“The acceptance of Dr. Cadman’s proposition, heard with what St. Matthew attributed to him. or whether he had lam
respect and applause bv the New York ministers, is comparable as St. Matthew quoted Christ as say& he would lie. But this
to %he adoptib;l of a iew constitution for the ‘United -States. should never deter Christian men from believing in the Christ
It nlaces the Bible on the basis of historical works on other and in his life.
tha’n divine subjects: it rejects the authenticity of all parts “When Luther separated his followers from Papacy he had
of Holy Scripture which are repugnant to human reason. turned from priests and priestly interpretations of the Blblc to
“Undermining the Basis of their Faith the Book itself. He had placed the Bible before mankind as
“As Mr. Cadman himself said vesterdav. the Bible was the source and authority for inspiration. Mr. Cadman said he
accepted as the true source of authYority a&l inspiration by rceretted that these earlv fathers of Protestantinm had not
Martin Luther when he established the Protestant church. g”;le further and urged ‘as the highest source of inspiration
Luther made the Scrinture the base of all faith. It is now Christ himself.
proposed to abandon the teachings of the early fathers of the “The speaker said that the trend of thought among the best
Protestant church. minds in the Methodist church duling the last fifty year4 had
“The sneaker referred to the Old Testament. half of whose been toward a better knowledge and a newer view of Christ
pages, he iaid, were of unknown authorship. The New Testa- himself rather than of the Bible. Hc said that there had been
ment likewise contained contradictions. The Bible, the church, a vast increase in the number of the ‘Lives of Christ’ in the
the ministry, he said, were agencies. The true source of inspi- last decade: that the energy and force of Christ as the incar-
ration was neither a book, nor a church, nor a ministry, but nation of God was becoming better understood every dav. He
the living Christ himself. regarded as inevitable a r&atemcnt and a rejudgn.ent-of the
“The weekly meetings of the Methodist ministers take place chwch upon the infallibiZity and ijlerrancy of the Bible.
in the Methodist Book Concern building. on Fifth avenue. “The Bible itself gave authority for a belief that God was
They are held in secret. The congregation8 have not known in the ocean, in the firmament, in the rocks. Science’s contri-
anything concerning the discussion of this vital change in doc- bution to the knowledge of mankind went hand in hand with a
t&e. !&is publicition will be the first intimation-they will belief in God. Bv this statement he did not mean to agree
have had that the faith in which thev have been reared is with those philosophers who had used the word God as a-peg
threatened with an organic change that-will make it no longer on which to hang their vagaries: but ncrcrthclcss he believed
the faith of Wesley. l See explanation in otlr issues of .41w1l1, ‘9i, and March 1, ‘“8.
[2451]
(86-87) ZION'S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA

in the demonstration oi God in the seas, in the mountains, in Exactly like Rev. Cadman, his mind centered upon Christ
the various forms of life on this ulanet. as the great revelation of God to men, and he would hold to
“There were means of salvatioi outside of and beyond and Christ, even though he felt that he must drop the Bible as a
before the Bible was written. That must be conceded bv everv standard.
one. The Bible was an agency, the church was an agerm;, But what should he believe respecting Christ? was the next
the ministry was an agency. question. How could he determine*whichof the apostolic state-
“The church had dabbled too much in the distant streams ments were true. and which were their “mistakes?” He soon
of theolo,T. It had examined the streams, but not the source, saw that, if he considered himself able, qualified to select the
which was alone pure. The streams had been polluted by con- wheat and reject the chaff of apostolic-testimony, he would
flict and dissension. be obliged to consider himself greater than the apostles-more
“The ministry had taken up too much time in unraveling inspired than they. Of humble mind, he could not do this
knots of theology to the neglect of God himself. which many today have no hesitancy in doing. He looked
“The leading authorities of the church had discussed the again at the slain. unvarnished tale of the New Testament
questions involved in the narables of Christ. It had been urged agd noted thai the’ apostles displayed no evidences of fanati-
that even if the events named in the illustrations the Lord uied cism, and that all their reasonings and deductions were emi-
were not of actual fact, that did not destroy their value as nently moderate and logical. He noted also their uuritv of life
moral lessons. So. also it had been urned that if the storv of and of teachings, thei; unselfishness and self-sagrificing zeal,
Jonah and the while had been an allegory like Bunyan’s rPil- and concluded that these matters must be given weight; and
grim’s Progress,’ it nevertheless had force and effect, for the that such cool, noble, zealous men should not be accused either
Prophet Jonah without doubt stood on a very high spiritual of knavery or fanaticism, when they claimed special endow-
ground. ment with power and wisdom for their particular work.
“But whatever position the church took-whether it held Coming to the consideration of our Lord Jesus, he con-
that the Bible must he accepted, as it stands, as the revealed cluded that he was dependent upon these witnesses for all that
truth, as the Word of God, iis compelling faith because it was he knew resuectinn him who “snake as never man snake.” and
the Word of God, or as a hirtorical clocument, valuable, in- that he could not Consistently accept a part of their- testimony
effably valuable, because of its real substance-the decision as truthful and reject another part, Further reflection pointed
would never affect the faith of Christian men in the Holv out that our Lord himself, according to these honorable wit-
Trinity-in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.” ” nesses, quoted from the Old Testament in a manner which
With more zeal than discretion the Rev. J. B. Gallawav of clearly test,ified his faith in the divine, plenary inspiration
the Third Presbyterian Church of Paterson, N. J., put i; an of the prophets and in the general correctness or truthfulness
appearance among the Methodist ministers the following Mon- of its merkly historical po&ions-Jonah and the great fish;
day, apparently to criticize Rev. Cadman’s position, but he was Noah and the flood: the destruction of Sodom and of “Lot’s
soon identified and his voicae drowned by applause for Rev. wife,” etc.
Cadmnn, and amid cries of “Put him out!” the gentleman was The question then was between rejecting all or accepting
gently hustled out “in a tlecidedlv ruffled condition.” all. Carefully and prayerfully he considered the matter and
When the press reports were published the New York M. E. reached the conclusion that he had never vet examined the
“divines” were astonished that their views should be consid- Scriptures purely on the merits of their own testimony. He
ered extreme-Rev. Cadman no less than the others. Thev had had followed the usual custom of judging the Bible in the light
been so united in their views that they were surprised” that of what the various creeds of Christendom sazI it teaches: and
the reporter should think them strange. It was another case yet he was aware that these various creeds in many particulars
of honesty among prearberr to an e>tent the public cannot directly antagonize each other. He resolved to thoroughly
yet appreciate. But the public of “Christendom” is followin investigate the Bible, to see what its theory might be, inter-
these leaders rapidlv: if onlv the leaders have vet Y lost fait P preted-by itself to a mind stripped of all reverence for human
in tho Bible an-cl i& doctrine of the ransom, the others are tradition. and willing. vea desirous to find in the Scriutures
rapidly lo&r/ this-the saving “faith once delivered to the a divine’revelation. “‘He felt his need of a standard <r test
saints.“--Jude 3. of truth; he felt that he dare not trust or lean to his own
Interviewed by a reporter, Bishop E. G. Andrews, who was understanding-nor vet to the understandine of others, on
present during the address, said, “I do not care to discuss the questions so iholly beyond human knowledge-and experience.
question.” Bishop Stephen M. Merrill, who was not present, He felt, moreover, that it is but reasonable that we should
said, “I don’t want to think of it. It will not amount to much, expect that God, having wise, just and loving plans and pur-
anyway. I have nothing to say either of Cadman or his non- poses respecting mankind, should make some revelation thereof,
sense.” Rev. Cadman himself said of the matter: that would be reasonable and understandable to those in har-
“I was surprised when I saw the article in the Journal. mony with him and desirous of knowing and doing his will,
I regard my paper as a consematim statement of the trend of however hidden and obscured from others.
modern M&l~Loriist theology. The questions I have discussed The results of these investigations are well known to WATCH
must be settled sooner or later. I have no objection, under the TOWER readers, and are set forth in the volumes of the MILLEN-
circumstances, to the publication of mv views.” NLIL DAWN series. We found that for centuries various sects
We are to understand, then, that, bold as these words may and parties had split up the Bible doctrines amongst them.
appear to some. they were not half the truth, but a “con,serva- blending them with more or less of human speculation and
tiwe” statement And they represent the “trend [or tendency] error; and that the misplacement of the truth frequently made
of mod&n Methodism.” This is just whnt we are emphasizing of it gross error. We found the important doctrine of justi-
-the movement is going on and on, in the same direction with fication by faith and not by works had been clearly enunciated
increasing momentum, not only among Methodists, but among by Luther and more recently by many Christians; that divine
all classes of Christians who do not now receive the sealing justice and power and wisdom were carefully guarded, though
in their foreheads.-Rev. 7 : 3. not clearly discerned by Presbyterians; that Methodists appre-
u * iI ciated and extolled the love and sympathy of God; that Adven-
When we remember how nearly our own feet came to slip- tists held the precious doctrine of the Lord’s return; that
ping in this same manner thirty-one years ago, it gives us Baptists amongst other points held the doctrine of baptism
great svmpathv for others. At that time. confused bv the svmbolicallv correctlv. even though thev had lost sight of the
contrary doctr& of Christendom and the’irreconcilabl”e an- rkal baptism ; that &me Univerialists “had long held vaguely
tagonism of many of its chief tearhings (in re hell, etc.) to the some thoughts respecting “restitution.” And so, nearly all
simplest kind of justice and reason and love, the writer con- denominations pave evidence that their founders had been feel-
cluded, murh against his will, that he must abandon the Bible ing after truth; but quite evidently the great adversary had
as an inspired standard: he would regard its writers not as foueht against them and had wroneiv divided the Word of God
knaves, but as well-intentioned though deceived men. He would whi& hgcould not wholly destrovr *
give most credence to the New Testament writers, yet could Our work since has been to b;ing together these long scat-
not regard them as inspired or reliable. brcause thev believed I tered fragments of truth and present them to the Lord’s people
the Old Testament, prophets to have b&n inspired and quoted -not as ?zeju, not as oar own, but as the Lord’s. So far from
their words as inspired. He reasoned, as others are doing desiring to malie something new, we are most careful to avoid
today. that if the Nrw Tcytament writers had been inspired, both in let,ter and spirit either taking from or adding to the
they could not have been deceived in re the Old Testament Word of the Lord; for we are fully convinced that “the Word
writings ; and that the inspiration of the apostles could not of God is sufficient, ” “that the man of God may be perfect,
have been plenarv or direct. but merelv an inspiration in a thoroughly furnished unto all good works.“-2 Tim. 3:17.
secondary s’cnse, as we sometimes use the word, ‘when we say What blessings, what riches of grace, have come to us and
that :nunic is insnirinn.
I c1 or that the truth is insuirine 1 c_ to all
to others of the household of faith through this bringing to-
who rrc*eive it into honest hearts. gether’ of the jewels of divine truth so long scattered amongst
[2452]
Arm. 1s. 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (87-88)

various denominations and misxet in tarnished human theories!
What harmony, what beauty, what refreshment we now have
In that which”hefore was insipid, incongruous and distracting!
How firm a foundation we now have for faith, hoDe and love!
Vv’hat a c+ontrast to our former vague hopes, &rn faith or
c*rcdulitp. and cold love-three-fourths fear!
But as we claim that what we present is not our ozon, not
nc11’, but. “The Old Theology”-so old that it had been lost
bight of tar centuries-we must disclaim any credit even for
the tindin!: and rehrranyement of the ieweis of truth. “It is
the Lord’Y doing, and it’is marvelous in our eyes.” The writer
whollv disclaims sunelior abilitv or aualification for the re-
orga&ation of the t&h in its piesent’solidarity. As the time
had come for the bringing together of the scattered thoughts
of past centuries in the marvelous inventions of our dav-so
the-time had come for the bringing together of the fragmehtary
hoDes and Dromises of God’s Word scattered through Chris-
tendom. Ti deny that the Lord has simply “poured:ut” this
harvest time blessing of “present truth” in his own due time
and in his own way, would be as wrong as to claim it as of
our own invention. “Poured out” exactly expresses the truth
on this point. ton, for he neither “burned the midnight oil,” nor
racked his brain, nor otherwise forged the rhain of truth with
heavy sledg(l blows of human reason on the anvil of knowl-
rdyc.. On the contrary. it came gradually, silently, as comes
the morning dawn: the only effort necessary was to keep awake
anti face in the right direction. And the greatest aid in so
doing was the effort put forth to awaken othkrs of the “house-
hold of faith” and Doint them to the light and in turn to urge
upon them the nec&sity for serving al”so, if they would ov&-
Come the marriage
in to the lethargic ofqn~;B”rfi;lie
“7 ’ * world” and be ready to go
To deny that the “marvelous light” of present truth is of
the Lord’s providence as truly as was the light of the Jewish
“harvest,” and the lesser light of the period of “The Great
Reformation” would be to deny that we are in the “harvest”
of this age, in which the Lord specially promised his people
just such refreshment-“meat in due season,” “things new and
old”--set forth afresh under his own supervision.
In view of the fact that we are in the testine time. when
(in the church) every man’s faith and works arcto be’tested
“so as by fire” (1 Cor. 3:16) ; in view of the fact that we are
now in ‘ the evil dav” when the question is not so much, Who
Shall f.1I11 InIt, “\<ho shall be able to stand?” (Rev. 6: 17 )
what shall we conc~lutie respecting the conditions on which one
may “lie\ er fall,” hut have an abundant entrance to the king-
dom now near at hand?-2 Pet. 1: 11.
Setera conditions are laid clown in the Scriptures.
(1 1 All of the “brethren” will be awakened in season to put
VII “the ukolr armor of God” as in contrast with the small
pieces of the armor worn by various denominations in the past
--“in the night.” Whoever shall be left asleep and in dark-
nerq and thus not prepared to “stand” in this evil day, will
thereby make it evident, whatever his Drofessions. that God
who r&deth the heart did not find hi& worthy ok the light
of nreient truth. “Light is sown for the righteous. gladness
for’thc upright in hea%.“-Psa. 97:ll. ” ’ ”
(2) -ill once awakened must be sufficiently appreciative of
ness, with whirh this age ends. Lastly they must prepare for
the rouph nathwav bv nuttine on the “sandals” of full conse-
rration 70 ihe Lo&l. e;eh untodeath.-Eph. 6: 11-17.
(3 ) All such soldiers of the cross will be fiercely assaulted
by the adversary, and, to be able to stand, must “contend
earnestly for the faith once tlelivered to the saints.”
(4) One of tbe final and most searching tests of these
“brethreu.” and the one under which probably the most of
those once awakened and armed will fall, will be-love for the
brethren. Seemingly many will fail at thih point and be
therefore accouuted unworthy of an abundant entrance to the
kinrrdom on this score. Whoever ha* the spirit of love accord-
ingcto the pattern (Rom. 8:29), i.3 expecteli to agree with the
ADOStIe John’s qtatrment-“Because he laid down his life for
ui, we ought also to lav down our lives for the brethren.“-
1 John 3:i’4, 16; 1 Pet..1:22; 3:8.
Thi<. like ail other tests. will be most pointed and Con-
spimlouk during this time of special privilege-and special trial
in tbc end of the age. (Rev. 3:lO) Let us consider how it
will rome that WC may be the better prepared to meet it SUC-
rcssfully. (n ) It will rerognize brotherhood neither along the
narrow channels of sectarianism, nor on the unlimited piaue of
worldlr disregard for the divine Word which declares for “the
brotheEhood bf man.” It will recognize children of the Evil
One and children of God: and ail of the latter will be esteemed
and loved and served as “brethren’‘-all trusting in the pre-
riouq blood of Christ for forgiveness, and fully consecrated to
the Lord’s service.
(h) If suczh are seen anywhere, in “Babylon” or out of he!,
asleep. fettered and blinded by false doctrines and superstl-
tions, bv a soldier of the cross who has gotten awake and put
on the krmor, it is his duty, as it should be his pleasure, to
speed to his relief in the wisest and best and quickest manner.
Self-eahe. self-repute nor any other self-ish spirit must hinder
him; the spirit of love must energize him to do all in his
power-even to the iaving down of his life-for the brethren.
All who hare this spirit must yearn to help those in danger
of losing their hold upon the Lord after the manner of those
now blindly leading them into unbelief.
(c) The same spirit of the “Captain” (Heb. 2: 10) will lead
him not only to so love the brethren that are still asleep, but
if posqihlr to be still more ready to lay down life for brrtllren
who. Iike himself. have gotten awake and are putting on the
armor. He will sympathize with their trials by the way ?nd
assist them to ut on the sandals and to adjust every piece
of the armor. &ouid any be specially weak and liable to stum-
ble he will not despise him, nor revile him, even as the eider
brother, ihe Captain, would not do so. On the contrary, he
will bc the more watchful anti helpful toward the weaker, even
though be most c>njoy himself in the company of the stronger.
Thiq iy not the time for the strong to gather hy themselves
for mutual admiration and enjoyment-that will come later on
to all such who SO love the brethren ax to lay down their
lives on their bellalf. These will hear the Master say. “Well
clone. good and faithful srrvant: enter into the joyn of thy
Lord.”
l 0 l

the “marvelous light,” to reioice nreativ therein. Thev must
also take heed, le% they become %ercharged and spicituaily
drow\p by “the cares of this life.” etr.; and must use energy
In putting on the whole armor of God-not only the “helmet”
to protect the inteliert from the “fiery darts” of Evolution and
agnoi;ticism, but also the “breast-plate” of righteousness
protect the heart, and the “shield” of faith for use on ail occa-
iions as necaessity demands ; and besides theqe they must have
the “sword” of the truth. the Word of the Lord--erasninF
by the handle and not i,v the blade, that they gay ‘defoend
thrmqrivex and others in this conflict with the powers of dark-
Only in the light of present truth is the Bible explainable
to reafnn. In its light we see that certain books are inspired
direcatly. nthcrq. Ilistoriral. needed not inspiration, but merely
supel\:iqinn of the Lord, that the truths appropriate for each
aqe might he HO stated as to be understood hy the rnnsccrated
to class, the “hrethren,” under the guidance of the spirit in due
time.
Onlv from the inside can the great plan of Gnd bc heen and
it appreciated, and only thr “l)rethren” arc ndmittcad to this inside
view. “If any man will do his [the F;~thrr’sl will. he rhnli
know of the doctrine.“--dohn 7: 17.

“I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE”

APRIL 23.-JOHN 14: 1-14.
Aft?) washing the disciples’ feet, and after the sop had reetling korrnwful” and spoke of betrayal. and of their disper-
been given to .Judas, and he had gone out; and after telling sion and of his own death?
the dlqriplea that they all would be offended that night because It wan in answer to these their troubled thoughts that our
of him. and answering Peter that he would deny him thrice J,ord spoke to them the beautiful words of romfort and con-
before tht* cork crew, we may well suppose that the hearts of polatinn re(*nrded in the 14th. 15th. 16th and 17th chapters of
the eleven were heavy, disturbed, troubled with fearful forebod- ,Johnfk (ZospcAl. beginning-“Let not your hearts be troubled:
ings. Had they indeed been deluded, or had they misunderstood me bclirve in (:nti, helieve alqo in me:”
the Naatrr when he told them that he was the Messiah, the Thr apostles were already romecrated to God as his serv-
heir of the kingdom, and that they should sit with him in his ants, before they came in contact with .JCVIR: they already
throne ‘! How would they interpret his language, seeing that believed in God, trusted in him, were Iqraeliten indeed without
only five days before be had rereived the hoqannas of the mui- guile. This is testified to further by our Lord’s prayer. in
titude as the Son of David. the King of Israel, when riding on which he says, “Thin? they were, and thou gavest them me.”
the ass? What would it. mr:ln that the Master was now “ex- The trouble ‘in their hearts was not in respect to the founda-
III-35 [2453]
(89-90) ZION’S
tions of their hopes, for these were all established. They not
only knew and trusted God, but knew and trusted also the
promises of God respecting the kingdom and the blessing that
should come to all the families of the earth through it, The
whole ouestion before their minds was resnectinn Jesus :--Was
he indeed the Messiah, or had thev burl< some-false expecta-
tions upon his wonderful words and deeds? How should they
understand it if now. after three and a half vears of ministrv
he should die at the hands of his enemies, &stead of estab-
lishing his kingdom and subduing all things.to himself, as they
had expected? He had said that he was aoina awav. and that
whither he went they could not come. How &rld ihey under-
stand these matters, and harmonize them?
They had not yet learned the meaning of the words which
carlv iu his mini&v our Lord had addressed to Nicodemus-
“I’:\;,cpt a mnn be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of
GotI*” “Kxccpt a man be born of water and of spirit, he cannot
rntr,i- into the kinrrdom of God.” (.John 3~3. 5) But these
W(YO spiritual truths, and could not’be Tppreciated until Pen-
tcco\t would brinrr them the anointina of the holv Snirit. and
permit them to “comprehend with aii saints the” lengths and
brcsdths and heights and depthi” of the clivlne plan. But they
did nrcd some comfort, and the Master nroceedcd to eive them
the best and the strongest spiritual food: instruction,Fhat
were a?)le to receive. He had many things to tell them, but
thcv could not bear them then, could not understand them,
unt-il the anointing of the holy Spirit would prepare their
hearts.
Our Lord hegan by reviving in them their faith in the
Father and in hi3 plan, saying, “Ye believe in God, believe also
in me,” recognize the fact that all of the Father’s plan will be
arro’nplihctl, and inasmuch as you have seen my loyalty to the
Father in word and in deed, and inasmuch as vou have seen
the Fathrr’s power unto good works mnnife&d in me, let
faith’s anchor hold: continue to trust me, continue to have
confidence, and vou ‘shall have a blessing; wait for the devel-
opment of the ciivine plan, and it will more than satisfy your
highest esprctstions. You are perplexed because I said that I
am going away-going to the Father, but let me explain to you
that my going iw in your interest: I go to prepare a place
for pou in my Father’s house of manv apartments: and as
surciy as I do thiq I will come again” and receive you unto
mvscslf, that we may henceforth be together forever.
Thus, in a few words, the Master declared the work of the
Co~r’c’l age, nointina to his second advent and the glorification
of the cliur~:l, at the end of the age. He did not. here stop to
LII~c them detailed esulanations of the trials of faith and of
naticnte through whica& tlrcy must pass: this he had done on
Gthrr ocacnsion;, warnin,: and cautioning them (Matt. 24) ; now
their h~~arts were troubled. and he would merelv console them
u it h the nsuurance that his going awav was nec&sary, that his
sc,c.ontl cominz would be certain. and that the eatherinn of all
to ercrlauting fellowship with him in the ma&ons p;epared
was nssurt,d.
The F.lther’s house is really the universe, and figuratively
speaking he,tvcn is his throne, the earth his footstool. Divine
p-1I)\ ~tlr;lcc has ma& abundant arrangement for the everlasting
blr~~c~tlnc+ of all the sons of God. In the divine arrangement
a provision had been made for man when in harmony with God,
hrlorc the fall, but bv reason of sin all of man’s rights to a
pl.icc in the everlasting abode of the just had been forfeited,
6~1 at the time of our dear Redeemer’s discourse he was in the
world for the vrlp purpose of redeeming man and all his for-
feited rixbts ant1 l:o-+essions. (Luke 1O:lO; Eph. 3:14)
purchase 11:1tl not yet been completed-our Lord intended to
iinish 11~ arr.tn=cmrntw thcrcfor within a few hours at Calvary.
But thik would c*ost the sacrifice of himself-the full surrender
of tllr m.rn Chri<t Jesus as a man, and he could be with them
no lorq:(r a* :I man. The hope was that by his obedience to
tI1$1t11v1nc11111IIC should not only redeem Adam and his race
l)v the s;~c~~lic~cof himself, the man Christ Jesus, but that he
A\ould bc 1’81+0tl from death to a new nature on a higher plane
-tlic divine mitiire. Thus it was necessary that he should
L’O ::w:~y from them as the man Christ Jesus, and that they
+houl.d &e him no more as the man, but that in due time, at
hrs s’~.ond coming, they nl<o should he “changed” from human
‘onclltionr to snlrit conditions. and “be like him and see him
25 hc is.“-1 J’ohn 3:2. ’ and works full”y and-completely
It waq nrcc~*urp nlqo that, after laying down his life, he
&n11d :r~~ntl to the Father and present his sacrifice as on
man’s bc~half, as man’s ransom, and this he did. The Pente-
co\tal blecsinn was the divine ntteytntion that the sacrifice for
sins wns xcrrlttctl of the Father on man’s behalf. and that hence
the rchultinz blcising came forth upon all who accepted Jesus
as their Redeemer.
The Interim between our Lord’s death and his second advent
WATCH TOWER ALLECRENY, PA.
is not long from any standpoint of faith. (1) It is not long
from God’s standnoint. for. as the Anostle Peter declares. “A
thousand years age as’one ‘day” with- the Lord. (2 Pet. 3 :8)
(2) It is not long from the standpoint of true believers, for to
none of them is the average of life and waiting above fiftv
years. We are not to take”the longest and mos<incongruo&
%iew of this period-not to feel as ‘though we had been-living
for eighteeen hundred years in waiting expectancy: “Sufficient
unto the day is the evil thereof,” and sufficient to each indi-
vidual is his own share in the trials, polishing and prepara-
tions for the coming of the Bridegroom to receive him unto
himself. While it &, an affair of -the church as a whole in
one sense of the word, it is an individual affair in the most
important sense of the word to each of the Lord’s followers.
‘“And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” For
three vears our Lord had been making himself known to his
discipl”es, and also making them acquainted with the Father’s
character; and hence, when he now informed them that he was
rroincr home to the Father. thev were to feel that thev knew the
Fat& better than ever, and Gould better than ever”appreclate
such a home of righteousness and true happiness as he would
provide and maintain. Moreover. their exnerience with the
Lord, and under his instructions and leading, had made them
they acauainted with the wav to God. even thoueh thev did not
recbgnize it as such. Hence our Lord’s decla&ion, ‘;I am the
Way, the Truth and the Life: No man cometh to the Father
but by me.”
Our Lord was the “Way” in that onlv through his sacrifice,
the “ransom ” imputing his merit to sinners vcould they be
made accentible to the Father or be received back again into
fellowship-with him. He was the “Truth” in the s&se that
only through his words, his instructions, his guidance, could
there be any hope of coming into harmony with the spirit
of God, the spirit of truth. He was the “Life” in that all the
race was dead, under divine sentence-had forfeited the rights
of life-and none could come again into life conditions except
through him-through the life which he gave for ours. Thus
he is our Ransom. or Wav: our Teacher or Instructor in riaht-
eousness, in the truth. and our Life-giver; “Neither iq their
salvation in any other.” “No man comet11 unto the Father but
by me”-no man need hope for anv place in anv of the man-
sions of the Father’s house by an? *other way,“by any other
truth. bv anv other life.-Acts 4: 12: John 14 :6.
And”so also Christ will be the Way, the Truth and the Life
to the world of mankind in the Millennial age. And as the
Lord, by his sacrifice and offering, opened -for the Gospel
church, his bride. an abode in the heavenlv division of God’s
mansion, or house, so by the same sacrifice he redeemed and
will restore and give to mankind (to as many as obey him-
Acts 3:23) a home in the earthly divisions of the Father’s
house, which will then again become a Paradise of God.
Much as the apostles esteemed the Master, it was difficult
for them to grasp the thought of his perfection-that he was
the very image of God in flesh. ( 1 Tim. 3 : 16) Thev had heard
him tell, and indeed knew also ‘from the Law that “God is a
snirit”-not flesh. and hence not visible. Thev had heard
h\m declare nrevibuslv, also, “No man hath see; God at any
time; the only begotten Son, . . . he hath revealed him.”
(John 1:lS) But they had never grasped the thought that
in seeing Jesus thev saw the most that was possible to be seen
of the dyvine character-its likeness, its perfect image in flesh.
It was therefore necessarv that the Master should call their
attention to this fact, saying, “He that hath seen me hath seen
The the Father.” He did not mean them to understand that he
was the Father, for this he had distinctly disclaimed repeat-
edly, telling them that the Father was greater, and that the
works which he did were done by the Father’s power. (John
14 :28, 10) Nor did he mean them to understand that in seeing
him they had seen an invisible being, as God is invisible. H<
did mean them to understand that in seeinn his character, his
motives, his love, they had seen a true ex‘pression that most
faithfully represented the Father in all these particulars.
He would have them understand the unity subsisting be-
tween the Father and himself. his will was buried into the
Father’s will, he would have no’other--“Not my will, but thine,
be done.” He would have them understand that the Father,
bv his power, bv his spirit, dwelt in him also, so that his words
represented the Father. He
declared to them that the works which thev had witnessed
during his ministry fully attested this powe; of the Highest
resting upon him and operating through him. And this seems
to hare satisfied the apostles, bringing rest to their hearts.
As a further explanation of the necessity for his going to
the Father, our Lord declares that as a result of his going
his followers should do greater works than he had done. It
may perhaps be proper to think that some of these “greater
[ 24541
APUL 15. 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (82-91)

works” will occur after the kingdom has been established-the quence of this that our Lord’s miracles were all physical, and
great work of awakening the world of mankind from the sleep his plain understandable teachings were all on a plane appre-
of death and restoring the willing and obedient to the full ciable by the natural man.
perfection of human 1iTe. That, truly, will be a greater work But when the holy Spirit was come, after Pentecost, the
than our Lord Jesus accomplished at his first advent. for then Lord’s people, in his name, and as his representatives, began
his greatest work was the a-wakening of the sleeping &es with- to do greater, more wonderful works than those which he him-
out bringing them to the full perfection of human nature. self had performed. Did the Lord open the eyes of the blind?
But in our opinion this is not the only sense in which the His followers were privileged to open the eyes of men’s under-
Lord’s followers are to understand that their works shall be standings. Did the Lord heal the physically sick? His dis-
greater than those of the Master. The Lord’s works were on a ciples were permitted to heal the spiritually diseased. Did the
fleshly plane as a matter of necessity. The holy Spirit had Lord cure physical leprosy? It was the privilege of his fol-
not yet come-could not come until after he had given the lowers to heal spiritual leprosy, sin. Did our Lord revive the
ransom price and had presented it to the Father, and it had dead? It was the privilege of his followers to preach a Gospel
been accepted. Consequently, those to whom he ministered bv which manv “passed from death unto life” in a much higher
(even his disciples, not being begotten of the Spirit) could not sense. And these privileges of these still greater works are yet
be instructed from that standpoint. Their ears were heavy as with the Lord’s people. Blessed are those who appreciate their
respected earthly things, but in regard to heavenly things they great privileges, and are about the Father’s business with
could understand nothing; for, “The natural man receiveth energy: with zeal. But those who, having received a talent of
not the things of the spi& of God, neither can he know them, the Lord. burv it in the earth-in business. in nleasure. in
because thev are soirituallv discerned.” It is since Pentecost society--canno% expect to be received of thk Mister at’his
that “God hath revealed them [spiritual things] unto us by second coming, nor to hear him say, “Well done, good and
his spirit,” which “searcheth all things, yea, the deep things faithful servant. enter thou into the iovs of thv Lord.”
of God.“--1 Cor. 2 : 10, 14; John 3: 12. As indicating how fully he would &ill coitinue to be the
In the midst of the house of servants, not yet begotten of active agent of the Father in all things relating to the church,
the Spirit-not yet granted the privilege of sonship (John our Lord assures us that such things as we ask of the Father
1: 12)’ our Lord could do and teach on no higher plane than he (Jesus) till db for us, that the Father may be glorified in
the earthly, except as he “spoke unto the people in parables the Son. The Father hath committed all things into the hands
and dark sayings,” which in due time the church would under- of the Son; nevertheless, in everything the Son acknowledges
stand, under the leading of the holy Spirit. It was in conse- the Father and gives glory to his name.

WILL MY NAME BE BLOTTED OUT?

If any name, written in the Lamb’s book of life, is blotted you, and if not humbled by his disciplines, you will be re-
out. whose fault will it be? Not the Lord’s, surelv: for he is iected. Remember the Apostle’s words, “God resisteth [is
not’ only willing but anxious for us to continue in’ his fellow- bpposed to] the proud, but ^giveth grace [favor] unto the hum-
ship. ble.” Let us. then. humble ourselves under the mightv hand
Similarly, if
your name be dropped from the lists of ZION’S of God, that ‘we may have his grace more abundanify. ”
WATCH TOWER, remember that it will not be of our intention Others will say, I am not so poor that I cannot afford to
or desire. Every provision has been made that all of the Lord’s pay the small price, but lust at present I cannot spare the
people who desire its helping hand along the narrow way to 7. Very well. send us a postal card, saying: Please con-
life may have it-for a dollar a year, if they are able to pay, ~~~?rny WATCH TOWER for 1899, and expect remittance later.
or free, on request, if unable to pay. This will be verv anreeable to us. And, if later vour pros-
Many of “the Lord’s poor” denv themselves the visits of pects should be&me “still less bright, and .you write “~9 to-that
the TO%ZR for various rlasons; &me, because they “do not effect, requesting that the debt be canceled, we will do so most
wish to eo into debt.” Thev overlook the fact that thev are cheerfully. Any way, so that we do not lose from our list any
already ii debt to the Lord, &d that the WATCH TOWER :s the who love the Lord and his present truth. In times of adver-
Lord’s, and is held as trust or stewardship for him-for his sity you specially need spiritual helps, that your experiences
people. may be profitable, and work out such blessings and graces aa
Others “have a little proper pride,” as they would say, and will prepare you for an inheritance with the saints in light.
do not desire “charity.” It seems to us that any pride which Thus we make the way as clear as possible for all to come
would lead us to starve ourselves spirituallv would hardlv to the Lord’s spiritual table. But we must insist that each
be a little nor a proper pride but a v&y improper pride which one apply for himself yearly-otherwise our list would be made
would be very offensive in the sight of our Lord. Possibly up largely of persons who cared littlc for the truth, and per-
this is your test: possibly the Lord has reduced you to humble sons removed to other localities, and of the dead.

“HE SHALL GIVE YOU ANOTHER COMFORTER”

APRIL ~&--JOHN 14: 15-27.
Continuing his discourse to his troubled disciples at the rather is, to strengthen, to sustain. The holy Spirit would not
time of his instituting the Memorial of his own death. our Lord be merely a consoler of woes, a soother of fears, in the sense
not only promised to” come again and receive them to himself of our word comfort, but it would quicken their understandiqgs,
in due time, but additionally he promised the Comforter, the strengthen their zeal, and energize them for doing and endurmg
holy Spirit, during the interim of his absence. Since he was such things as divine providence might permit to come upon
about to lay down the human nature he could no longer be with them for their correction in righteousness, and in or&r to make
them as the man Christ Jesus-in his resurrection he would them “meet for the inheritance of the saints in light.”
become again a spirt being like unto the Father, and could no The holv Spirit or holv influence that should come to the
more be seen by his disciples than the Father could be seen by church and” abide with it” through the age, to supervise and
them, until the time would come when the entire church, com- direct in the interest of the faithful, was to be a representative
plete, would be “changed,” made “like him” (and like the of both the Father and the Son. Indeed, the thought that the
pather) and see him, ind be with him, and share his glory. holy Spirit is the representative of the Lord Jesus with the
Hi? resurrection “change” made necessarv either the leaving of church is so strongly put that sometimes the Lord himself and
his disciples alone, wiihout anv help or iid during the Goipel his spirit or influence are Rpoken of interchan.geably ; as for
age, or else that help be granted them in some orher manner. instance, when he said to them: “Lo, I am with you alway,
The few occasions on which oilr Lord anDeared to his disciDles
.A I even unto the end of the age.” (Matt. 28 :20) And again,
after hi? resurrection, for a few moments each, were miracu- “I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you [through
lous manifestations, simply for the purpose of assuring them the holy Spirit].” And again, “In that day ye shall know
that he was no longer dead, and that having risen from the that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I [through the holy
dead he was no longer controlled by human conditions. Hence, Spirit] in you, . . . and I will manifest myself to him [through
as a part of the lesson, the flesh bodies in which he manifested the holy Spirit]. . . . And we [the Father and the Son1 will
himself appeared miraculously and disappeared likewise-he come unto him, and make cmr abode with him [through the
came and went as the wind.-John 3 :8; Luke 24:26, 31; holy Spirit.“-Verses 18, 20, 23.
Acts 1:3, 4. Thus it is that those who receive the holv Snirit. the snirit
The holy Spirit would be another Comforter, but the com- of the truth, the spirit of love, the spirit of the Father, the
fort would be of the same kind. Indeed, our word “comfort” spirit of Christ, are enabled to see Jesus, and have a new life
does not properly represent the thought of the text, which begun in them. (Verse 19) They see with the eyes of their
[2455]
 ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLzcHzAY.Pa.

understanding, and do not walk in darkness. They hear the Hence it is that if any one lose his relationship to Christ
voice of the Lord, saying, “This is the way; walk ye in it.” through the loss of his faith in the precious blood, or through
Thev taste the good Word of God, and realize that he is very the l&s of the holy Spirit, througk wilful sin, such an one
gracious. They feel the love of. God shed abroad in the& falls out of the protection, the care, the covering of Jesus, the
hearts. Droducing in them love for the brethren and all the Mediator of the New Covenant*-and falls into the hands of
good &its of thg spirit-meekness, gentleness, patience, long- the living God, which means a judgment according to facts and
suffering, brotherly kindness, love.-Isa. 30 :21; 1 Pet. 2 :3; works; and to all imperfect creatures this means death. (Heb.
Rom. 5 :5; Col. 3:12, 13. 10 : 31) Hence also the exhortation of the Scriptures, that we
These experiences, however, are promised conditionally- abide in him, that we remain under the blood of sprinkling,
they are noi promised to thosk who-have never heard of -the that we abide in his love.-John 15:4. 6. 10 : 1 John 2 :24-29.
grace of God. but to those who have heard. to “as manv as the Our Lord pointedly declares that’he whb does not seek to
Eord our Goh shall call,” who, hearing his’ commandments, are please him byconform”ing to his instructions, thereby manifest8
moved by responsive love to do them. Such have the Father’s that he does not love him. (Verses 23, 24) Surelv there can
love, such have the love of the Son. and such shall have the be no better test of love than devotion, and no better test of
fellowship both of the Father and the Son through the medium devotion than obedience. Our enlightened consciences render
or channel of the holv Soirit. This is declared in the 15th hearty assent to the Master’s words, and with the Apostle we
anal 16th verses, and &a;n in the 2is.t; 23rd and 24th. Not exclaim, “The love of Christ constraineth us, for we thus judge
only are faith and obedience of the heart necessary, before any that if one died for all, then all were dead, and that he died
(~111come into the spirit-begotten condition, but a continuance for all. that they who live [justified and begotten to newness
ant1 growth in faith and in obedience are necessary in order to of life] should thenceforth not live unto themselves, but unto
a continuance and growth in the spirit of holiness, or the holy him who died for us, and rose again.“-2 Cor. 5: 14, 15.
Spirit, the spirit of fellowship with the Father and with The Master pointed out to us distinctly that in keeping his
the Son. saymps we are not merely pleasing and obeying him, but that
1t IS one thing to have a begetting of the Spirit, and quite he is in all this matter the mouthpiece of Jehovah, the Father,
another matter to attain to that condition ureed bv the and consequently that in pleasing and obeying him we are
Apostle, saying, “Be ye filled with the Spirit.” @ph. ;:lS) pleasing and obeying the Father. This much he could tell them
The measure of our filling will correspond with the meas- while still with them. but he had manv thines that he desired
ule of our emptying of the spirit of self-will, and filling to make known to &em, and that werk nece&ary for them to
with the spirit of faith and obedience. And although the obe- know, but that, they could not receive as yet, because the holy
tlicnce cannot do otherwise than manifest itself in the daily Spirit had not yet come upon them, and could not until after
lift,. nerert,helrss it i4 the obedience of the intention, of the till, the ransom sacrifice had been made at Calvary and offered in
of thr hew-t, that the Lord regard5 in his consecrated people, the Ho1.y of Holies, after he ascended up on high, there to
:111(1not mrlcly the control of the earthen vessel. Hence, some appear In the presence of God for us.-John 7 : 39 ; Heb. 9 : 24.
whose hearts arc thoroughlv loval to thr Lord mav be pleasine Our Lord’s assurance is that this Comforter or strengthener,
to him, while not the ‘md$t ileasing to some 01 thdse wit& the holy Spirit of the Father, sent on account of and at the
whom thev come in contart: while others. “hirhlv esteemed inslame of JesucI our Redeemer, Mediator and Head. will be
amongst &en” because of outward moralities: ma; bk an “abom- our instructor-using various instrumentalities for bringing
ination” in t11(%sight of God. btlcnu;e of roldncs!! or dishonestv the instruction to us-the Worll of truth. the writings of the
of hpart. (Lnkr 16:15) Kevr~rthclrss. he th:lt, hath the ne& apohtle4, and the various helps and agencies which the Lord,
hope in him’, ant1 the nrw spirit, will hrrk to purify himself, not through the holy Spirit, has and shall from time to time, as
onlv in his thouchts. but also in his \vords and %dcedsand all needed. provide to hi- flock.
his’ affairs, inwaytl and outward.-1 John 3: 3. IIow lJeaUtifU1, how ronqoling to their troubled hearts, and
It should not be overlooked that, although the holy Spirit, ho\\ refreshing to ours, is the legacy of love and peace left to
like all 0111(~1favors, is of the Father. it, like all others of his us bv our dear Redeemer. as expressed in the 27th verse!
gifts. romps to us through the Son, and not by any direct rela- “Peace I leave with you, my peace-1 give unto you: not as the
tionsllip hctwecn the Father and uq. As we saw in our pre- world gireth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled,
viouq IC~V>II that ollr prayers addressed to the Father are to neither let it be afraid.” Thiq peace and joy which surpasseth
1)~ answered by the Son,-“Whatsoever yc shall a& in my name all human understanding, was not given to the world, nor is it
th;lt will 1 do, that the Father mav be glorified in the Son: given to the nominal Christian nrofessor. nor to the formalist
If vc shall a+k :lnything in my nnm”r I will do it;” so we see &d ritualist. however zealous they may kc. It is intended for
in ihis l~son that the gift of the holy Spirit comes to us, not and can he had only by those who receive riches of grace
brc~~ur;o of any dir& relationship between the Father and us, through the holy Spirit-those who by obedience to the truth
hut at thca inkt:rncnc of our Lord *Jesus. “I will pray the Father, and its spirit grow up into Christ their living Head in all
and hc <h,)ll rive vou another romforter”-at mv request and things. Such have pmce, deep and abiding, and ever increasing
on my account the Father will do this for you. (verse’ 16) The proportionntrlv as thcv come to comprehend with all saints
P:~~IP tllonpht iq again expressed in verse 26, “The holy Spirit ihrough faith” and obt’dience the rirh& of divine grace-the
whom the Father will send in my name.” leneths. breadths. heinhts and denths of the love of God.
‘l’h(a lc\son to 119hrre is, that our onlv standing before the -This is not worldl; peare, nod the peace of indifferenrc and
l’,:th(~ .:, ycnt l5 n reckouatl one-in Christ, as members of his rarelessness. not the bear, of sloth, not the peace of self-indul-
I)odv-our ‘T,ord Jesuh represents the Father to us and repre- genre, not the pence of fatalism; but it is the peare of Christ
sc~~i\ II~ to the P;~thcr. i’hr comfort and strength of the fioly -“my peace.” Looking hack we can see that the Master pre-
Spil it iltlparted to us is the Father’s, the spirit of truth, all served his peace with God under all conditions. It is a peace
of which emanates from the Father. It reaches 114 not di- which implicitly trusts to the divne wisdom, love, justice and
rectly. Imt only through our Lord and Hentl. Jesus. In a word, power, a peare which remembers the gracious promise made to
wc h:l\e no standin? whatever with the Father, and will not the Loxd’s faithfnl-that nothing shall by any means hurt his
IIXVV :Iny, until hy his grape. through our Lord Jesus, we shall faithful, and that all things shall work together for good to
hare hrcn “made meet for the inheritance of the saints in them that love God. This peace can accept by faith whatever
light.” ant1 by the “change” of the first resurrection shall be divine providence permits, and can look through its tears with
pcrfcrtetl ill llis likeness. which is the divine likeness: then joyful expectancy for the ultimate blessings which the Master
~,ntl th:~r(~;lftor, bring actually perfect. and not merely reck- has promised, and of which the present peace and joy are
oncdly pcrfcct, we may IIRVC an individual standing with the merely foretastes.
Fnthc~r, but not before. * See June 15, 1919, for critical examination of Covenants

VOLUNTEERS WANTED!
“We ought also to lay down our lives for the brethren.“-1 John 3:16.
VOI.UNTF:IUZRFOR HOME DUTY-male and female-are called danger: and love of the brethren and the Elder Brother’s ap-
for: those who can Five about two hours every Sunday, and proval are the incentives to enlistment. All whose eges of
who are willing to girt these in the Lord’s service and as part understanding are open realize in harmony with the view of
of their “living sacrifice” (R om. 12 : 1 )-together with the best this issue that the leaders in religious thought have already
they have of znfluence, and good personal appearance. The lost their anchorage-their faith in the precious blood of Christ
servlre is such as any person in health ran render: it is an as the rc(wsom price; and that those under their influence are
unusual but dignified and very successful preaching of the tending rapidly in that same direction under the doctrinal
truth, whirh we will explain hereinafter. winds of Evolution and higher criticism. They do not cry for
The ncc-essity for this servicbe is that “brethren” are in help. because they do not- realize their situation. We must
[2466]
APRIL 15. 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (94-95)

not wait our sacrificing until they request it; even as our Lord black-sheep and the “goats” may do some butting and bah-ing
did not wait for sinners to call him to sacrifice: he gave him- but return them nood for evil-kind looks for scowls. kind
self for us, and thus should we voluntarily “lay down our words for bitter ones.
lives for the brethren.” If there be any of the Lord’s true sheep among them, these
There are some faithful brethren enlisted in the foreign will take knowledge of vou that vour methods resemble those
service, who as colporteurs and pilgrims go from city to city. of Jesus, and if -your “manner &responds, the will know
The Lord is blessing these and sending more such laborers into that you have learned of him. And these are it e only ones
his vineyard; but through love of the brethren still in Babylon you really need expect to help, anyway. And the more genteel
he is stirring us up to arrange a plan of work in which man your appearance and graceful and loving your manner, the
more can engage of those who are anxious to serve as good SO9- more wiil your printed testimony count-with your auditors.
diers of the cross, but who cannot leave home and famil re- The minister inside the chanel has entertained the con-
suonsibilities. and whose week-dav employment leaves Fittle gregation for half an hour and re;eived from ten to fifty dollars
tfme for spedial service of the King of kings and the exercise for-his services, and his congregation will soon forget most
of their Ambassadorshin. (2 Cor. 5 :20) We will explain the of what he said. You on the outside deliver to each a printed
Plan nronosed-indeed ‘alreadv tried with excellent success in sermon an hour and a half long, which can be thought over
Allegheny and Pittsburgh. ” carefully and repeatedly, and which under divine blessing may
We propose publishing the booklet, “The Bible vs. EVO~U- do some more good than all the sermons they ever heard.
tion.” in large ouantities (indeed, have alreadv contracted for You might not be able to get the attention of even one
over 300,000-copies) for free circulation u&e; restricted con- congregation in your city, even if you had superior ability; but
ditions. as follows: These neat. taetefullv bound booklets by this ministry you can reach every congregation. Do you
which we sell at five cents each or twenty-fi;e cents per dozen know any better investment of two hours every Sunday in the
for general use, will be supplied free to those who will agree interest of the “brethren” yet in darkness? Do you know any
to distribute them to church-goers on Sunday mornings and work that would probably glorify the Lord more or bring YOU
evenings-one church at a time. The preferable plan of opera- more of his love and blessing? If you do, you should be ac-
tions is for the friends who will so engage in each city or tively using that better plan and should be wonderfully blessed
village to lay out a program which will insure that no congre- in the service.
gation be omitted and that none be served twice. All large All volunteers in each city should come together at once
congregations require at least two or three for proper rapid and lav out the work of their citv methodicallv.
.I
Then select
service as they come out. And generally the effect is better if one of your number as scribe on >his business”to write to us
the distributors locate half a block away from the church build- stating the number of volunteers, the number of churches in
ing in each direction in which the people go-or according to your city and your estimate of the adult attendance, and also
circumstances. the number of juniors. For the latter we would furnish tracts,
Unusual-for God’s servants to follow the example of the to save the more expensive booklet. Letters on this subject
Lord and the apostles and go after the lost sheep ? Yes, rather should be headed “Volunteers.” and be on a separate sheet of
unusual-few are ready to lay down anything for the brethren, letter paper from your business orders and from your letters
though many are willing to toil day and night for wealth or to the Editor-though all may be enclosed in same envelope.
fame or some other selfish consideration. The majority of Care over the volunteer work will be in the hands of an office
those who attempt to feed the flock even on unclean provender, assistant, though under the Editor’s supervision.
and to mislead them, require goodly clippings of their golden Even our smallest services are sure to be blessed and owned
fleece for SO doing. Hence, some may think of these volun- by our loving Lord who says: “He that reapeth, receiveth
teers as “fools” or “crazy” for giving books away free. The wages and gathereth fruit unto eternal life.“-John 4:36.

THE MEMORIAL WIDELY CELEBRATED

Reports already received indicate that the Memorial Sup- Indiana.-Oriole, 7; Indianapolis, 27; Boonville, 7; Fort
per was more generally celebrated than ever before-in modern Wayne, 15.
times-nrobablv one-third more than last year. We are glad Ill&o&.-Havana, 6 ; Hegewisch, 11; Belleville, 7 ; Decatur,
of this? it, ’ generally indicates good spiritual condition ; for 11; Kewanee, 6 ; Atlanta, 10 ; Chicago (North Side), 40; Rock-
those who intelligently and conscientiously memorialize the ford. 6; Martinsville. 7 ; Elgin. 19.
shed blood of the New Covenant and our Lord’s body broken dri&gan.-Saginaw: 12; Detroit, 8; Wheeler, 7 ; Kalama-
for us are not the ones to fall into the sin of denying that zoo, 10; Muskegon, 13; Adrian, 6; Ypsilanti, 11.
the Lord bouaht them. (2 Pet. 2: 1) And in turn, it is those W’isconsin.-Waukesha, 6 ; Milwaukee, 9.
who most heartily realize that theywere bought with the pre- Nilzlwsota.-Minneapolis, 15 ; Northfield, 7.
cious blood wllo are most constraaned by the love thus mani- Zowa.-Red Oak, 13; Tingley, 9; New Albany, 11; Council
fested to resist sin and additionally to consecrate themselves to Bluffs, 23; Atlanta, 7 ; Indianola, 8; Lawler, 12.
be “broken” also and to lay down their lives for the brethren. Nebraska.-Bartlett, 7.
We have received up to the present 339 reports of meetings, North Dakota.-De Lamere, 10. Bouth Dakota-Verdon, 4;
representing 2,501 participants (quite a few of these neglected Huron, 14.
mentioning the numbers participating). We will not attempt Kansas.-Witchita, 7; Williamsburgh, 6; Atwood, 6; &a-
a full tabulation of the various reports received-many of body, 7; Abilene, 10.
which were from solitary ones and little grou s of twos or Yissouri.-Kansas City, 8; St. Louis, 28.
threes. We will merely give numbers of some oP the principal Oh&homa.-Perkins, 7.
meetings thus far reported from various states, and a few Kentucky.-Grace, 12
extracts from the letters reporting same: Tennessee.-Knoxville, 10 ; Tullaboma, 5.
Massackusetts.-Boston,-71 ; Springfield, 11.
Rhode Island.-Woonsocket, 8-all French ; service in North Carol&a.-Hayne, 24.
French. Georgia.-Atlanta, 6.
Xew York.-Binghamton, 11 (and in vicinity, 8) ; Ballston FZonda.-Jacksonville, 6.
Spa. 5; Buffalo, 21; Newburgh, 13; Olean, 7; Schenectady, 8; Alubamn.-Randolph, 5.
Saugerties, 6; Cohoes, 15.; Mamaroneck, 7. Nwsissippi.-McCool, 6.
New Jersey.-Jersey City, 7. .4ykansns.-Darcy, 8.
Z’cnnsylvania.-Philadelphia, 24 ; Altoona, 30 ; Scranton, Teaas-Dallas, 12; Tyler, 10; Corsicana, 6; Shady Grove,
21; Butler, 13: Rockland, 9; Tyrone. 9; Washington, 12; 6, B;l*s !I; Vineyard, 8; Snow, 20; San Antonio, 20; Weath-
Easton, 7; TJaughlintown. 6; Oil City, 7; Wheeler, 9; Jefferson, rrford, 17.
7 ; Allentown and Bethlehem, 8; Allegheny, 250. (‘ali/wwiu -Norwalk and Downey, 7; Visalia, 12; Santa
DeZulL;are.--Wilmington, 7 ; Washifigton, D. C., 12. Barbara. 11: Alameda. 13 : Oakdale. 5: Sacramento. 10; Ven-
Varyland-Cumberland, 9 ; Baltimore, 17 ; Oakland, 14. tura, ‘3; Los’ Angeles, 61; Los Gates, 6’; Stockton, 5: -
Virginia.-Reedy. 12 ; Manchester, 11; Pleasant Grove, 10 ; Orfgon.--Phoenix, 10.
Lynchburg, 6 ; Portsmouth, 7. WasZ&~gton.--Montesano, 6 ; Seattle, 15 ; Earmer, 5.
West Vzrglntia.-Mount Lookout, 25; Wheeling, 14; MC- Cunuda.-Goderich, 4; Meaford, 5; Dorchester, 5; Brant-
Mechin, 10. ford. 22 ; Niagara Falls, 7 ; Hamilton, 10; Toronto, 21; Lon-
Ohio.-Felicity, 7 : Newark. 7 ; Cincinnati, 24; Toledo, 40; don, 7 ; ( Oxtarzo ) , Truro, N. S., 8 ; Regina, N. W. T., 7 ; Rapid
Cleveland, 25; Columbus, 30; Dayton, 14; Mansfield, 7; Tiffin, Citv. Man.. 10 ; Brandon, Afan., 8; Clive, Man., 4; Wharnock,
12; Youngstown, 28; Canton, 17; Oxford, 7; Barnhill, New B. 61, 5. ’
Philadelphia and Dennison (one meeting), 25. Jamaica.-20. b’witzerland.-‘l’hm, 14.
[24571
 ZION’S WATCH
Great Britailz.-Glasgow, 16; Stratford, 21; Sheffield, 4.
Denmark.-Copenhagen. 15 ; Odder. 12.
As a feature of n’ext year’s report we propose that the num-
bers witnessing to full consecration by symbolic immersion in
water, d&lag the year beginning March 2&h, be mentioned
in connection with the number participating at the Memorial
Supper.
All of the following reports will be read with keen interest
and warm love and sympathy by the friends; but we wish to
add to your zest in the reading of the Jamaica letter, by ex-
plaining that our dear Brother Clarke is a full-blood Jamaica
Negro: knd we doubt not that at least one-half of those who
celebrated with him are negroes. We reioice that our God is
“no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth
him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him.“-Acts
10:34, 35.
Brother Clarke was already a Christian when the harvest
message reached him: he was serving the Lord to the best of
his knowledge and ability and loved the Bible. The American
Bible Society made him its agent, and he went hither and
thither holding up the “Lamp.” God in due time considered
him worthy of the light of present truth and poured fresh oil
into his heart, as well as into his Lamp, through MILLENNIAL
PAWN. Brother Clarke rejoiced in the truth greatly, and en-
Ioyed his work more than ever, because now he could not only
take the people the Bible as God’s jewel casket, but he could
also take them the “keys,” also provided by God, by which they
could open God’s Word and understand and appreciate its won-
derful harmony and beauties as never before.
But the American Bible Society was not willing to have the
“keys” go with the jewel casket, and informed Brother Clarke
that he must either drop the DAWN or leave their employ. He
promptly decided that there were already more Bibles circu-
lated than people could understand and that the highest service
he could render to the great Giver of all good was to lay down
his life in serving the brethren with this “marvelous light,”
which God has now granted all his people who have eyes to see
it. God Mess Brother Clarke! His loyalty of heart proves
that he has the spirit of the truth.
INTERESTING REPORTS
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:-I make haste to send you the
report of our little Convention here: the manifestation
divine love, the rejnicing;-Oh! the blessing. I can scarcely
write the things which transpired here on the 26th of March.
Scoffers who came to scoff at us were speechless, and many
were compelled to join in praising our dear Lord.
We began at 5 A. M., with prayer and praise, and at 3
o’clock we marched to the pool prepared by the Bros. David-
son a few chains from their home, where three hundred peo-
ple looked on with amazement. A short address was given:
believers’ baptism was set forth to the best of our knowledge.
Three brethren symbolized their consecration “unto death”
with their Lord. At 11 o’clock we had public preaching, when
the benefit of the “ransom” was set forth to the best of our
ability. Eighty-five were present at this service. At 2 P. M.,
we had refreshments. Many scoffers were surprised at the mani-
festation of love among us,-so that they apologized for being
satisfied with both temporal and spiritual provisions. Invita-
tion was then given to all who are trusting in the merits of
the “ransom ” and fully consecrated, to partake with us in the
“Cup” of sukering. At 6 :30, twenty of us drew around the
Lord’s table, with solemnity,-following the suggestions given
US in the WATCH TOWER. The blessing-received at this service
can hardly be espressed by me, in writing. The brethren join
in sending their love.
Pours, in the service of the truth,
II. P. CL.~RKE,-JUWLC&~,, W. 1.
“A CUP OF COLD
The Lord of the harvest walked forth one day
Where the fields were white with the ripening wheat,
Where those he had sent in the early morn
Were reaping the grain in the noonday heat,
He had chosen a place for every one,
,4nd bidden them work till the day was done.
Apart from the others, with troubled voice,
Spoke one who had gathered no golden grain;
“The Master has given no work to me,
And my coming hither has been in vain.
The reapers with gladness and song will come,
But no sheaves will be mine in the harvest home.”
TOWER ALLEGHENY, Pa.
DEAR BROTHEB RUSSELL:-A number of us met together
here yesterday evening to commemorate our Lord’s death. We
began our service at 7 : 30 p. m. and had about twenty present,
including two or three Christian friends whc participated
with us.
Some few were hindered from coming out, and others did
not care to participate, on the ground that it was only to be
observed “till he come” not being able to see that the Apostle
Paul evidently includld in this expression the complete glorifi-
cation of every member of the kingdom, and that “we which
are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord” are to corn-
memorate his death, the very basis of our hope, just as the
saints did who preceded his coming, until we receive our change
from the human to the spiritual-to be with and like our Lord.
Blessed hope!
But in all this we bear and forbear one another in love,
hoping and praying that each may win the prize of joint-heir-
ship with Christ our Lord.
Those of us who did participate experienced that blessed-
ness expressed in the words-
“Sweet the moments, rich in blessing,
Which before the cross I spend.”
We meditated upon our Saviour’s great agony in the garden,
as he prayed to the Father, when his sweat, as it were great
drops of blood, fell down to the ground, and then we saw him
before Pilate. beinn falselv accused of the Chief Priests and
Elders, and he answered &thing, but “committed himself unto
him that judgeth righteously,” and then in our mind’s eye we
saw him as the soldiers took him into the Prstorium and ut a
nurnle robe upon him and a crown of thorns upon his R ead,
and- then bowkd their knees before him, saying in mockery,
“Hail, King of the Jews,” and he endured it all patiently,
“who, when he was reviled, reviled not again,” and “who, for
the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising
the shame.” We then read in 1 Pet. 4: 1. that. inasmuch as
Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, we are to ‘arm ourselves
“likewise with the same mind”-not that we might have to
experience the same amount of suffering, but the thought was
with “the same mind, ” “who, when he was reviled, reviled not
of again ; when he suffered he threatened not, neither was guile
found in his mouth.” and that thus nossessine the “same mind,”
the “mind of Christ,” to the end of our co&e, we would come
off more than victors through the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
We then saw him as he hung upon the cross, surrounded
by his enemies, wagging their heads and saying: “If thou be
the Son of God, come down from the cross and save thyself!”
And lastly, we beheld him as his sufferings reached the highest
point, when the Father’s fellowship of spirit was withdrawn
and he uttered those agonizing words, “My God, my God, why
hast thou forsaken me?” We could see that he was taking
the sinner’s place, that he was to die just as if he were the
sinner, and that the sinner’s place was a separation from God’s
fellowship and subsequently the surrendering up of life itself
in death, and there in his death we appreciated our ransom-
the equivalent for all who lost life through the disobedience
of father Adam. Oh, how my heart goes out to him, when I
think of what he has done for me ! -
“Nothing to settle? All has been paid.
Nothing to anger? Peace has been made.
Jesus alone is the sinner’s resource;
Peace he has made by the blood of his cross,”
With love from the brethren and myself, I am, Yours in
our Redeemer,
E. J. COWARD, Texas.
WATER”
He heard the complaint and he called her name:
“Dear child why standest thou idle here?
Go fill the cup from the hillside stream,
And bring it to those who arc toiling near;
I will bless thv labor and it shall be
Kept in remembrance as done for me.”
‘Twas a little service, but grateful hearts
Thanked God for the water so cold and clear;
And some who were fainting with thirst and heat
Went forth with new strength to the work so dear;
And many a weary soul looked up,
Revived and cheered by the little cup.
124581
VOL. xx ALLEGHENY, PA., MAY 1, 1899 No. 9

VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER

“IN THE LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES”
“This know, also, that in the last days perilous times shall come, for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous,
boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-break-
ers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady high-
minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but
denying the power thereof: from such turn away.“-2 Tim. 3: l-5.
Claiming, as we do, that we are now living in the closing characteristic of our day? almost every intelligent person could
days of the Gospel age, it is quite proper that we should look answer, Nelfis1bnes.s. And this is the very item which the
about us to see whether or not present conditions correspond Apostle puts first in his descriptive list- “hfen shall be
to the Apostle’s inspired descriptions of what must be ex- lovers of their own selves.” We do not mean to sag that
pected in the last days of this age. We are not to under- people are more miserly than heretofore: on the contrary,
stand this description to relate to the barbarous or half- there is probably less of this evil; the tendency is rather to
civilized peoples of the end of the age, but to be a description extravagance: but it is an extravagance born of “love of their
of the condition of “Christendom.” The Apostle explicitly own selves,” love of dress, love of show, love of honor and
states that he refers to those who have a form of godliness- position. All who come in contact with present-clay business,
professedly Christians,-for. since the Jewish age ended, the realize that more than ever before it is a battle: not so much
only godly form that the Scriptures could recognize is a battle for bread as a battle for wealth and luxuries. True,
Chrietianitv. We see, then, that the foregoing delineation business to-day is in some respects done along more honor-
represents ‘L’Christendom” in the close of this age. able lines and on a more honest basis than ever before, yet
The Apostle does not say that this description will apply these are not so much signs of a greater honesty on the part
to the saints in the end of this age: quite to the contrary, of merchants, for they are almost compulsory; because busi-
the implication is that the saints should “turn awav” or ness competition has- materially cut down profits, and the
separate themselves from all who thus have merely the” form enlarging of business much bevond the nersonal oversight of
of piety. (Vs. 5) Nor are we to expect that the world, the p;op%etors has almost compelled one-price arrangements.
possessed of this spirit, will recognize its own likeness in the But all persons associated with commercial business and man-
Apostle’s words. vpon this, as upon other subjects, we are ufacturing can attest that the growth of business intelligence,
rather to expect that, as the prophet declares, “None of the the formation of trusts and combinations, etc., have given
wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.” selfishness great power to injure and even to destroy finan-
(Dan. 12 : 10) The merelv formalistic Christian. whose hieh- cially whatever may resist it.
eat ideal of duty is to ab&ain from secular emnlovment on one Covetousness is-another of the charges. lt is a mistake
day of the week, and to go to church, is noi d be expected to think of this aualitv as annlicable onlv to the wealthv.
to recognize his own likeness, and to note its deformities and It is just as poskible “for the-man with “one dollar to be
inconsi&encies: to do these things would imply such a reforma- covetous as for the millionaire. Covetousness is an inordinate
tion of sentiment as would transfer him from the lists of desire, whether for wealth or luxuries or what-not. Else-
churchianity to the smaller list of true Christianity. where- the Apostle designates covetousness as idolatry, which
We should not be understood as saying, or even implying, eives us the thought of false worshin. (Cal. 3:5) It is not
that the world is growing worse in every respect day by day. Grong for us to &ok, in a reasonable, moderate way, for the
We recognize as a fact that the world in manv resnects is in necessities and the comforts of life for ourselves and those
better condition than it has ever been before.” Thi civilized depending upon us; nor would it be wrong to avail ourselves
nations to-day are better equipped with hospitals, orphanages, of the opportunities of securing wealth, if the same came to
asylums, etc., than ever before. All these are very directly us in a reasonable and honorable manner, not in conflict with
traceable to the influence of Christianity, and are neither to be our consecration to the Lord. But wherever the Eore of
despised nor ignored. We confess with great appreciation money or honor or luxuries becomes the ruling passion in
and admiration that the spirit of our Master has, during the those who are nrofessedlv God’s neonle it has usurped God’s
past eighteen hundred years, so lmpraassd itself upon the place,-such ark idolate&. In ‘other words, the- covetous
world of mankind that the barbarities of olden time would person is a mammon-worshiper, and as such should realize
no longer be endured, the sensibilities of civilized man having that he has abandoned the proper worship of God; and our
reached a degree of development which insists upon provision Lord declared, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.“-hlatt.
being made for the indigent and helpless; and we are very 6:24.
glad of all these things. Boasting is the third charge which the Apostle brings
At the same time, it should not be forgotten that mixed against nominal Christianity of “the last days.” Is it not
with all of these benevolences is a considerable measure of self- true? Was there ever a time when people were so boastful
ishness-they are not all monuments of pure disinterested as to-day? Boastfulness is the opposite of meekness and
benevolence. True, benevolence has had to do with the founding humility; boasting accompanies pride, which the Lord de-
of many of them; but as a rule those recently instituted, and clares he resists, showing his favors to the humble.-James
much of the sunnort for all of them. is drawn from the tax- 4:6.
payer through *political channels, and the party-spoils sys- PAde is the fourth charge, and, thinking of our fellow-
tem has much to do with their maintenance-all feeding at creatures as generously as p&&ble, .we cannot deny that the
such public cribs being expected to render more or less of party pride of our day is very great, and continually increasing.
service. However, whether or not these institutions supported In some it is the pride of wealth, in others a sectarian plde,
at public expense be considered as partially the outgrowth of in others a family pride, in still others a personal pride.
selfishness, the fact must be conceded that public sentiment Looking into the future. as revealed in the Lord’s Word. and
favors them, and hence it must be conceded that the principles seeing The time of trouble toward which Christendom is hast-
laid down by the great Teacher eighteen centuries ago have ening, we are reminded of the statement, “Pride goeth before
made a favorable impression upon civilized peoples. destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.“-l?rov. 16: 1%
But the question before us is not on this point-whether Blasphemy is the fifth charge: but this does not necessarily
or not Christianity has made any impression upon the world: imply that the professed Christians of the present day would
the question is, What is the real status of those nrofessina to be profane swearers more than others of times past. The
be Christians, now, in the end of this age? We &answer that, word “blasphemy” here we understand to be used in its broad
while benevolences inculcated in the eosnel of Christ have sense of slander, and the slandering or blasphemy may either
appealed to the better sentiments of mankind, and have re- be against God, or against fellow-creatures. As a matter of
sulted in a general uplift of social con&lions throughout fact, we find both abounding to-day amongst Christian peo-
so-called Christendom, yet this uplift of the world of mankind ple. God’s character is blasphemed by attributing to him
has reacted in some “respects against Christianity; for in evil deeds, evil motives and evil purposes toward the masses
making Christianity popular it has induced multitudes to of mankind. Never, more than at present, have nominal
nominally adopt Christianity and a form of godliness with- Christians been inclined to charge the Almighty with the
out appreciating the genuine article or experiencing a true authorship of the evils that are in the world and which cause
conversion of heart. Hence the necessity of separating the the groaning of creation. In times past they were willing
“wheat” from the “tares,” the suitabie fish from the unsuit- to acknowledge that these evils had come in the line of
able ones in the Gospel net, now that the Gospel age is clos- justice because of sin; now many self-complacently claim
ing.-Matt. 13 : 24-30, 36-43, 47-50. that God’s dealings are wholly unjust, and that the unfavor-
If we ask ourselves the question, What is the peculiar able conditions of the present time are all chargeable to him,
[2459] c99-100)
(101-102) ZION’S WA T ‘CH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA.

and are injustices toward man. Moreover, the theories which closely to the charge of blasphemy, but seems to signify a
prevail throughout Christendom respecting God’s provision still more extreme step-a willingness to accuse falsely,
for the future (that it will be an eternity of torment-in knowing that the charges or accusations are false. This
literal flames, or, say some, “torments of conscience ~Aici~ surelv indicates a verv evil condition of heart, and yet we
WI/~ be ulorse”) are blasphemies, slanders upon God’s char- are compelled to admit that it is a very prcvalrnt condition
acter and government. These are worse slanders than were to-day. Let a person of strong will, whose heart is not
held during the Dark Ages, when it was claimed, as RO- under control of grace, become your enemy, and following the
mnnists still claim, that the vast majority went for a time custom of our time he will probably not only misrepreseut
only to “Purgatorv,” from which discipline and suffering they you in the matters of whirl1 he has knowledge or hearsay, but
would ultimately ‘be rele.~hed. not infrequently he will deliberately concoct falsehoods. Suc.h
Ours is also a day of slander or blasphemy one against a course would not seem so strange on the part of the pro-
another, on the part of thokc whc have merely the form of fessedly worldly. It has always been so; the natural heart
I*otllirl9q. Many who outwardly claim to be governed by the has always heen full of evil, and ready to vilify when it
law of the ?Cev~ Covenant. love. seem to have a morbid considered itself provoked. The point of the Apostle’s argu-
craving to speak evil one of another. This the Apostle else- ment is that these conditions, so foreign to the spirit of
whci-c dcnomiuatcs the snirit of murder. (1 John 3:15) This Christ. the spirit of love, will prevail in the end of this age
niur~lcrcus, slandrro:is, or blasphemous ’ tendency is’ mani- amongst those who profess his name and have a form of
fest tvcrywhcre, in the home, in church-gatherings, and in godliness.
private; thoce who take no pleasure in speaking words of Incontinmcy is the twelfth charge. This signifies, with-
kindness, approval and love, hunger and thirst for oppor- out self-control, led of passion, rash, impulsive. The Apos-
tunities to speak evil. hTor are they satisfied merely to give tle’s exhortation to the Church, as its proper condition, is
out their own evil surmisings, based upon their own per- expressed in the words, “Let your moderatiou be known unto
verted view of their fellows; they love such slandering and all men”-your seif-control. (Phil. 4:s) Keep yourselves
blasphemy so murh that they are willing even to accept it at well in hand, suhiect and obedient to the will of God. as ty-
secondhand, and to retail it out repcatedlg. Dressed in his Word. But to-dav. and esncciallv with t!le
Disobedience to parents is the sixth charge. How very ;isinw generation, self-control is “little practiced.. Pomc of
marked is this trait to-day! Not merely in the younger this ?s chargeable to the spirit of the times in which we live,
members of the family, who have not come to years of dis- with its false conceptions of liberties and rights, and snme
cretion, hut also in those who have even made an outward of it is doubtless attrihutable to lax training under condi-
profession of religion. False views of “liberty” and “rights” tions of comparative worldly prosperity.
seem to disturb the minds even of children, and the divinely Fierceness is the thirteenth charge. This came fnrcib!q
arranged family order seems to be entirely lost sight of with to our attention a few days ago, as we noticed a headline ot
the vast majority. a dispatch from Manila, saying, “The Tenth Pennsylvania
Unthankflclncss is the seventh charge. Thankfulness would Regiment made a Pierre charge upon the Filipinos, uttering
seem to be one of the least costly of the graces: it implies the their terrihle yell. Thr enemy fled, terrified, in all directions.”
rccrntlon of favors. and is mcrclv a nrouer arknowlc&ment It usrd to be that the savages pounced upon the civilized,
of them. No one can be a true Christianand be unthankful. with fierre blood-curdling yells, but now it appears that the
With the Apostle he will soliloquize, “What hast thou that rising generation, representatives of Christendom from one
thou didst not rereire?” ( 1 Cor. 4 :7), and the first response of the most civilized states of the world can gore so ficrrr a
of his heart rnnqt he gratitude, thankfulness. It is this yell, and in every way manifest so much ferocity, as to strike
thankfulness which leads on to service, and to sacrifice in the t,error to the uncivilized. Undoubtedlv this fiercenrss ex-
Lortl’s cause as a manifestation of gratitude. But with the plains much of the success of civilize”d men over the un-
merely nominal Christian thankfulness to God seems scarcely civilized in recent wars. Civilization, the handmaid of re-
to be thought of. If he be prosperous, it is his ability or his ligion, has given intelligence and courage; but in those not
“lurk ;9’ if not prosperous, it is the fault of some one else having the power of godliness it inspires ferocity instead of
or his “bad luck.” D’ivine
v’ providence scarcely enters his love, kindness, gentleness.
mind in connection with his affairs. This same unthankful- Dmpiscrs of those that are good is the fourteenth charge.
ness extends manwarc!, and not infrequently it will be found We are to distinguish between goodness from the standpoint
that on& worst enemies, perhaps indeed his only enemies, of the Apostle and the Lord’s word in general, and goodness
are those whom he has endeavored to serve-those in whose from the world’s standpoint. The world wants a man good
interest he has made sacrifices. They do not feel thankful; enough to be honest, temperate, trustworthy, and faithful as
thrr (10 not \\ish to feel under anv obliration of anv kind: a servant or contractor; but the world despises the higher
the; fancv that tbr one who has done them a kindness will forms of goodness to which the Apostle refers. The nominal
consider them under sntne obligation, and gradually they Christian demises the “saint,” and tries to believe that his
come to ha1 e enmitous and bitter feelings, instead of gratitude, professions of full consecration to the Lord, and his desire
thankiulnrss. to nlease the Lord in thoueht and word and deed, are simnlv
I:~~l/oli~~ss is the eighth chnrgr. The ordinary Christian h;l~~~riSieC1.--hrcause his 0% heart is not in sylnpathy 14th
proirssnr will freely admit that he is unholy, not holy-not sub a condition of consecration, with such ideals of
fullv conserrated to tbc T,nrtl. RInnv will admit that their goodness, and he does not desire to be in the presence of SO
onlv r(’ 1.on for m::inl;r ininy rrm au outward semblance of high a standard. As our Lord described the matter, “Every-
Chri~tianitv is fear--fear of :In efrrnitv of torture: and one that doeth evil hateth the light.“-John 3:20.
some 5) sh far a3 lo admit tll.lt if it w&e not for fear of Treachery is the fifteenth charge. Because the mainspring
etcrual torment thry would indulge themselves in all manner of the world’s efforts in everv direction is selfishness, there-
of evil. fore treachery is its inevitable adjunct. Love desires to be
lV1lho1tf ~nt;rl-n2 n/ffcction is the ninth charge. It is not just; love may frequently approve of self-sacrifice in the in-
the urovinc e of true Chriqtianitv to destrov the natural terests of others; but selfishness disapproves of benevolences
niTrriic,n*, Illit r?thrr io drrpnl them and to “lift them to a except where some self-interest attaches. Hence, the one
hi!zhrr 1thr1c. 1t is tlurc~lolc to bc rrcntlv rcarctted that who might be willing to make a contract to-day, and who
t1:rw :‘rc tci-llav, apparcutly, rvidenrrs”of the l&s of family selfishly might be willing to keep that contract so long as he
a tl’rrt inn. Tn the tl,ry.: of fl;r ArUle it, u’as ran-i&red proper helieved that it would be to his own advantage to do so,
to ryrtoI t C’hri~tinu~ to “lnve tbc brrthren.” but to-dav this would often be willing to break that contract- so soon as
r\-hnrtZltion has romp:! rntivrlv littlr weight, because of the selfishness indicated that it would bc to his advantage to break
rrnerdl loss of n,ltllr,ll :ilTcc+ion. Vrrilv. Y “A man’s foe shall it. Persons controlled bv the selfish spirit here described
bc tbry of lli4 owu hoii~rit~~ltl.” can never be trusted. C&d we think of God as being con-
~r?rcc-7~~nk;i~?r is tllr tcllth chnrgr. The Greek word here trolled bv selfish motives we could not trust him, errept SO
usrtl *silmifica
?. nclt nicrrly a 1,rcnkrr‘of a truce or agreement, long as it would be to his interest to fulfill his promiqes. Onlv
but more cc-nr,+nllv au llnwi’lin::uess to rnak? a tl+ure or to live those controlled by the reverse spirit of love can be relied
in harmt,nv: aud to xbnatlon hostilities. Combativeness seems upon in times of extreme trial. This is set forth as one of
to be con;irlernbly on the ircren~r. and not only are people the special features of the great time of trouble just before US:
willin; to hive a frxrns for slieht cause, but controlled by srlfishnrsq and distrust will become general and the motto
thiv impl;icnhle clispo<itinn they are lets ready than of yore will be, “Every man for himself.” The prophetic declaration
to drop the matter--to forgive and he forrriren. Their hearts shons the loss of confidence, ,general treachery, saying: “There
not having the spirit of love, but the spirit of selfishness, are shall be no peace to him that goeth out nor to him that
not peace-loving but contrntion-loving. Hence, instead of he- corn&h in; for I have set every man’s hand against his
ing “easy to he entreated.” they are the reverse, implnr~nble. ncighbnr.“-Zrch. 8: 10.
False accusers is the eleventh charge, This corresponds Headiness is the sixteenth charge. How forceful this word,
[ 24601
MAY 1. 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (103-104)

as expressing self-will, impetuousness. Do we not see this The class described by the Apostle, the mass of Christen-
quality everywhere amongst those who have the form of dom. in the uresent time are not fullv consecrated to the
godliness, but who lack its power? And we believe that it, as Lord, but a& lovers of pleasure more”than lovers of God.
well as these other evils, is steadily on the increase. The In this sense of the word they are idolaters, rendering love
true Christian is not “heady;” on the contrary, his conse- and service to self above God,-covetous of the world’s plea-
cration to the Lord figuratively decapitated him; he lost his sures and honors and emoluments of various kinds. is it
head, renounced his own will and self-rule, and submitted difficult for us to see this very condition of things all about
himself, as a member of the body of Christ, to the absolute us, amongst those who have merely a form of godliness?
control of Jesus, the Head of the church. (Eph. 1:22, 23) No, it is not difficult: it is the confessed condition of the
Such, so long as they abide as members of the true body of vast majority. Love df God above love of self is proved by
Christ, cannot be heady, cannot be self-willed. It is this our wiliinnness to sacrifice self-loves in order to do those
verv self-will that first of all thev reckoned dead. in order things whi;h would meet the Lord’s approval.
tha’t they might have the mind & will of Christ. To re- Having a form of godliness, but d&&ing the pozoer thereof
vive the self-will would be to lose the mind of Christ. The is the nineteenth charge. ., It does not follow that this class. in
true Christian therefore. in everv affair of life,-in resuect so many words, denies that there is any power to godliness.
to its pleasures as well & in resp&t to its burdens and trials, Rather, we are to understand that their course in life denies
-appeals to his Head for direction, to know how and what or repudiates the power of God. Ontwardlv thev have a re-
to do or say-yea, to have even the very thoughts of his mind ligio& form; they know that churrhianity’ is p&ular ; they
in full ronformity to the will of God in Christ. wish to be known as identified with some denomination for
The ‘%eady” class are continually endeavoring to carry decency’s sake, and as an entree to good social and financial
ant thrir own wills, and do not submit themselves to the will standing for themselves and their families. But that is about
of God. Their headiness continuallv brings them into diffi- all the use they have for Christianity. Their life as a wholr
culties, and yet. sometimes, with pri’de and boasting and love denies the power of the gospel of Christ to control the heart
of their own selves and fierceness and false accusations, they and regulate, direct and euide the conduct.
cm-lraror to have their own heady way, and perhaps even “FGm such turn away.” True Christians are to reprove
rlqim, with form9 of godliness, that such a course is under the false Christians by turning away from them, and frnm
divine leading. How sadly such are deceived! “If any man their course or walk in life. Whoever has the sDirit of Christ.
hare not the spirit of Christ he is none of his.” Wherever the spirit of Love, and is seeking. to cultivate’its grace, and
hendiness prevails it is an evidence that such are “not holding to walk according to its rule, will more and more find hi9
thr head” (Christ). If they have not already fallen utterly, path turning away from the path of churchianity and general
their fall is certainly near unless they reform.-Col. 2:19; worldliness. As they are guided by different spi&ts or diqposi-
Rom. 8:9. tions so thev tend to different directions or effort. different
Righ-mindedness is the seventh charge. Self-conceit is loves, different sympathies, different experiences. ‘The true
nnturnllp a virtue in the eyes of the class which the Apostle sheep are to walk in the narrow way, led by the true Shephrrd,
dr9crihr4 : and how naturally this quality of a IarKe opinion who has gone before. and who calls us to follow him. This
of one’s Rclf nnd one’s own talents, or of one’s favor with means that in this ‘harvest-time in a most natural way a
God. or whnt not, is linked with pride, boastfulness and senaration will be made between the “wheat” class and ‘the
wlf-love. There is no more daneerous form of high-minded- ‘Y&e” class, iust as our Lord’s Darable illnStrated. Whoever
nrsq or selfconceit than that which attacks the Christian, and walks in the cord’s way will rec&ve the light that is due in thiq
wppks to make him think of himself more highly than he harvest-time, and he enlightened thereby and led in the foot-
on@ to think. Very many of the Lord’s people have been steps of Jesus. Whoever walks in the evil wav. described
ensnared along such lines, and stumbled into all the other by-the Apostle as the prevalent way in the end ‘of this age,
evils of this category by first of all getting the impression is followine Satan’s ayamnle. The senarat,ion of lhcse classes
that for some reason, or for no reason, the Lord had specially must eve&ally be thoro;& and cohplcte. Thna thr Lnrd
tal-en a fancy to them, and ~~39 giving them private lessons is by present trnth and its spirit or influenre cnllinrr to his
and information not vouchsafed to others of his consecrated people to separate themselves, to turn away from others who are
O~FP. How appropriate the Apostle’s caution along this line, not reallv his people, who have merely the form of rrorlliness
“I sav. to everv man that is among you, not to think of but not its power,- saving, “Come out “of her, mv people, that
himsrlf more hiphly than he cmght to think; but to think ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ve I receive not of her
soberlv. according as God hath dealt to every man the meas- plagnes.“LRev. 18 : 4.
ure nf fni+h.” fRom. 12.3) Kot only ix this quality of self- OUTSIDE CORROBORATIONS OF THE FOREGOING
ccncrit one of the most dangerous to Christians, but also it is It would be difficult to imagine a more striking corrohora-
one of the most dangerous to the world, for probably more than tion of these facts than is furnished by the recent pro&ma
on+half of the hopelessly insane have lost their reason along tion of a Fast day by the Governor of the State of New
this line of self-conceit. All true Christians should be specially Hamnshire. We auote the naner entire. as set forth in the
on their guard against this snare of the Adversary. col&ns of The&dolt Her&& without’ endorsing all of its
Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God is the eigh- provisions or recommendations, as follows :-
teenth rhnrpe. It is natural for every human being to prefer
to be pleased, to be happy, to have pleasure. It is not a sin GOVERNOB ROLLINS’ PROCLAMATION
to lnve things which minister to our pleasure in proper ways. Concord, N. H., April Bth, 1899.
To be a Christian does not mean to have no pleasure: but ‘? hereby appoint Thursday, the 13th day of April, as
the Christian puts God higher than himself, loves God more Fast day.
than he loves himself, consecrates himself to God, and conse- “This custom was inaugurated at a time when all the
qncntly desires to please God rather than to please himself. people of our state placed Their trust in the hands of a Su-
By such, any pleasure, no matter what, must be sacrificed preme Being, and believed firmly in the efficacy of prayer.
if it come in conflict with his still hipber pleasure and duty A goodly number of our people still hold this belief, I am
and covenant of service to the Lord. It is this that leads the hannv to sav. and will assemble. as their ancestors hare far
trve saints of God to sacrifice: the world being out of harmony &&iat$ng,~“tb invoke the Deity. ’ The decline of the Chriqtinn
with God and his will i9 out of harmony also with those religion, particularly in our rural communities, is a marked
who arc in harmony with God. Hence, as our Lord says, “If feature of the times, and steps should be taken to remedy it.
the world hate you, ye know that it hated mc? before it hated “No matter what our belief may be in religious mntt,ers,
ynn. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: every good citizen knows that when the restraining influences
but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of religion are withdrawn from a community, its drcav.
of the world, therefore the world hateth you.“-John 15: 18, 19. moral, mental and financial, is swift and sure. To me this
The contest, then, comes between serving God and doing is one of the strongest evidences of the fundamental truth of
those things which would bring his approval, and serving Christianity.
self after the manner of the world, and doing those things “I suggest that, as far as possible, on Fast day nnion
which would bring its approval. The true Christian must meeting7 be held, made up of all shades of belief, including
invariably decide for the Lord, and thus he often crosses the all who are interested in the welfare of our state, and that
will, the preferences, the prejudices or the superstitions of in your prayers and other devotions, and in your mutual
those with whom he comes in closest contact in the flesh, counsels, you remember and consider the problem of the con-
and it is in this that he is to be an “overcomer” of the world dition of religion in the rural communities.
and its spirit; and by so doing he is to gain ultimately the “There are towns where no church bell sends forth its
approval, ‘1T7ell done, good and faithful servant; enter into solemn call from January to January; there are village;
the joys of thy Lord.” -“To him that overcometh will I grant where children grow to manhood unchristened; there are
to sit with me in my throne.“‘-Matt. 25:21; Rev. 3:21. communities where the dead are laid away without the beui-
[2461]
 (104-105) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA.

eon of the name of Christ, and where marriages are solemnized of thinking people are now awakening to the truth respecting
only by justices of the peace, the great “Day of Vengeance” which for twenty Sears we have
“This- is a matter worthy of your thoughtful considera- been pointing out and seeking to bring to the- attention of
tion, citizens of New Hampshire. It does not aueur well the Lord’s people. The difficulty with many is, that, seeing
for the future. You can afford to devote one day in%he year these approaching troubles from the outside, they are losing
to.your fellow-men-to work and thought and prayer for your confidence in divine providence, and their hearts are failine
children and your children’s children.” them for fear, as th6y look forward to those things corni@
l * + upon the earth. (Matt. 24; Luke 21:26) On the contrary,
That the Governor of New Hampshire is not greatly all who learned of the coming troubles from the Lord’s
overstating the situation is evidenced by the following clipping Word, before there were outward evidences of them, are
from the Boston Traveler of March 8th:- strengthened in their faith by every fresh development-for
“As surely as two and two are four the Boston police are they by the same Word know the object of the troubles and
incompetent to cope with the rogues, footpads and other out- the grand results they are outworking.]
laws infesting this city, and citizens fear to walk the streets “‘No human wisdom can eav what mean the great and
after nightfall in consequence of the prevailing lawlessness. increasing aggregations of cap?tal. now sufficicn~ to buy
Crime has reached that stage that a citizen is not safe on the kingdoms. If these shall be arrayed against the empty hands
street or in his own home after the shadow of evening has of labor, then shall mass collide with mass, and who can
taken possession of mother earth.” predict the end thereof? I see no commanding spirit of
A very similar statement was recentlv made respecting law- compromise in these approaching and threatening avalanches,
lessness in St. Louis bv one of its lea&a newsnauers. which seem destined to involve the whole social system in
If we were in the “midst of financial”depres’si& and if universal ruin before the youn g men of this audience become
thousands of “out-of-works” were tramping the country as three-score and ten years of age. So that the church, as it
a few years ago, such statements would excite much less passes into the twentieth century, meets a perfect whirlwind
surprise and be much less significant of a moral decline such of world forces which overwhelm the statesman, the philos-
as the Apostle prophetically indicates must now be expected. opher and the historian, and drive them back into the cave
But on the contrary, we are in the very midst of “good of Sinai, while the storms pass the bounds of known law and
times”-far better than can be reasonably expected to con- rush on to a fate that makes the thoughtful tremble.
tinue long. And with the suirit of selfishness described bv the [As heretofore pointed out,* these giant tmcsts of our day
Apostle constantly increasing, we must expect that “each which threaten the liberties and the very existence of the
succeeding financial denression will manifest increasine law- individual laborer, correspond exactly to the giant men or
lessness &til the final catastrophe of anarchy shall &mble renown of Noah’s day, on whose account the flood came. And
as those never arose from their watery graves to again har-
prprcnt institutions and prepare the way for the reign of ass mankind, so the Lord promises that these giants of the
Immanuel.
present day, falling in the great time of trouble impending,
OTHERS SEE IT-JUDGE BURKE’S VIEW will never rise again.-Isa. 43: 17.1
The Governor is not the only person whose eyes are open
and who feels it his duty to “cry aloud and spare not.” The “DIFFICULTIES MUST COME
Rev. Dr. Buckley, editor of the New York CI~rastian Advocate, “‘Now, my friends, after much reflection, I do not be-
the leading Methodist paper of the world, recently felt called lieve it is the specific mission of the church to adjust men to
upon to point out the decadence of Methodism. And still the new conditions of life and action, or, in a temvoral sense,
more recently at the session of the Rock River Methodist to safety them against the Atlantic storms of capital and
board of examinations the same subject came up and was labor. These storms will be terrific. but thev must come.
discussed very boldly by Prof. Small and subsequently by They are brewed in the selfishness of the hum&n heart. and
Judge E. W. Burke, the published report of whose speech each succeeding one shall prove more destructive than its
follows :- predecessor, until the prince of darkness is chained. I believe
“SEES DARK SKIES the new conditions which shall whirl us into the twentieth
century, uncorrected by the gospel, shall forge unbreakable
“Judge Burke’s Pessimistic Talk Before Methodists-Social Distnr- chains for the spirits, minds and bodies of men. I know
bance Ahead-The Jurist Continues in the Strain Adopted
bv His Predecessors and Gains Conzratulatione there is a charm-in the power of union and in the exhibition
“The keynote of the midyear session of the Rock River of strength, but, unless it is a union of strength uncemented
Methodist board of examination, now in session at the Engle- with selfishness, it will crumble by whatsoever law it may
wood First Church, continues to be social and religious peisi- have been formed.
mism. Many of the papers read are directly on this subject, “‘It may be true that the task-master in these modern
and the discussion of the rest generally works around to the days attempts to compel men to make brick without straw,
same point. not to punish men, but to save straw. Formerlv it was
“Tuesday Prof. Small led off in this direction, and yester- oppression to gratify the passion for cruelty, while “now it is
day Judge E. W. Burke, in a paper on ‘The Church of the oppression to gratify the passion for gold. Formerly the
Twentieth Centurv, from a Layman’s Standpoint,’ went iust task-master was a human being with whip in hand, but now he
as far. These sentiments are rkceived by th6 large congrega- stands with the inexorable forces of nsture in his fist. against
tion of ministers and others who hear them, not only with- which no individual in his unaided strength seems’ able to
out protest, but with approval. Judge Burke could hardly stand. But this modern task-master is destined to fall, and
leave the platform for the handshaking and congratulations the David who shall slay this modern Goliath is the church
that beset him. of the twentieth century, not by matching force with force,
“Judge Burke dwelt on the tvrannv of capital. the terrible but by using the weapons with which Christ has armed his
impend&g conflict between concentrated ca*pital and labor, followers.
the decadence of the Methodist Church. as deuicted bv Rev. [How true this statement, and vet how untrue as the
Dr. Buckley in ‘the New York Christ&n d&cate, agd the Judge meant it! It will not’ be “Babylon,” “Christendom”’
rumor that- the wealthy laymen of the church were. threaten- that will smite these giants and all sin and selfishness and
ing to withhold their contributions unless they were granted deliver the world. No; the same Scriptures declare that
equal representation in the general conference. “Babylon,” mother and daughters, the entire family or sys-
“Judae Burke snake in Dart as follows:- tem of Churchianity will go down in the general collapse.
“ ‘The whole crkation ind all the manifestations of the Yet it will be the church, the true church, the church glori-
spiritual, intellectual and even the physical forces are now fied, that will smite, and deliver the groaning creation. Ah,
in a transitional period as never before. Even trade and how true! “There standeth one among you whom you know
methods of business that have been pursuing their customary not!” The King of kings has come! We are even now in
ways for centuries are paralyzing individual effort and puz- the parousia of the Son of Man ! Soon the last members of
zling the lawmakers of the earth. Storm centers of labor and his “elect” body, the church, will be gathered to him-glori-
capital are gathering over against each other, threatening the fied and invisible to men,-and then he will begin the rule
very integrity of the industrial firmament of man. The late of the iron rod which shall break the world’s vaunted institu-
appearances of the hitherto unsuspected intellectual and tions as potters’ vessels. (Rev. 2:2’7 ) He declares, I will
physical forces but add Titans of unknown strength to the “gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to
conflict toward which all the world is consciously or uncon- pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger : for
sciously rushing. He who observes and reflects on matters all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealously.
of Church and State feels this condition in the very pulsing And them will I turn unt,o the people a pure language, that
ether, the like of which history does not disclose. they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him
[We do not know that Judge Burke has read the WATCH with one consent.” (Zeph. 3 : 8, 9) This symbolic burning and
TOWEB publications bearing on this subject, but thousands l MILLENNIAL DAWN, VOL. xv, page 359.

[2462]
MAY 1, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (106407)

breaking will be the new missionary method, by which the if the world would be rescued from the calamity of having its
church glorified will, in the earlv part of the twentieth civilization blotted out. Nor are Methodists nronortionatelv
century,-under and with her glori&s-Head, “bring in ever- in poorer spiritual condition than other sects; s; far as w’e
lastine riehteousness.” ‘When the iudaments of the Lord are may be able to judge. It just happens that the witnesses
abroad in- the earth, the inhabitants auf the world will learn at hand are all of that persuasion. There are undoubtedly
righteousness.” (Isa. 26:9) Thus, “The glory [majesty] many true, noble, warm hearts in this quarter of Babyloh
of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together ” who feel Dressed in snirit to overcome their sectarian nride
-Isa. 40 :5.] and in the interest Gf vital godliness, to “Cry aloud* and
“ ‘I deplore every worldly success of the church, whether spare not.”
it be the raising of $20,000,000 with which to curse the This witness is The Epworth Herald, the leading journal
twentieth century church, or the building of many church among the Methodist “Young People;” it says:
edifices everv time the earth revolves, if this success shall in “A CRISIS”
the least lead men to forget the springs of true power in the
church. We seem to be on times when the church mav have “Methodism is in a crucial place. A crisis has been
money enough to convert the world: forbid that it be inough reached. We need to run up the danger sigual. There never
to convert the church to the world. The church should not has been a time in our eventful historv when there was so
want one dollar of money except it first be sanctified. great need for self-examination. ”
“Last year the whole denomination was startled by the
“MUST NOT BARGAIN WITH THE RICH smallness of our numerical increase. This vear llS9Sl
“ ‘Why, recently I have noticed the threat from high promises to show no better results. Revivals “are less fre-
sources that. unless the rich lavmen of the Methodist Church quent and less fruitful. The doctrines which emphasize the
are admitted in equal representation as delegates to the next exceeding sinfulness of sin, the certaintv of an eternal hell,
general conference, they will withhold the $20,000,000 which the nere&ty of repentance; the need of regeneration, and the
the ambition of the church seeks for the first vears of the far-reaching imnortance of a definite sniritual exnerience are
coming century. Now, much as I favor equal ripresentation not preach:d in many of our pulpits- as faithfully as our
in that august lawmaking body, may it never be realized, and fathers preached them. The demand for a less heroic gospel
pc~ish the monev of the rich, in the language of Peter, if it is widesuread. Sinners czn sit in our churches without
bc given, even i”mplicdly, as .the considerat& price of’ place feeling much discomfort. Formalism increases. The spirit
and Dower in the church. and not as the free-will offering of aggressiveness which so dominated our church for a hun-
of gcateful hearts purchased by the blood of Christ. Th: dred years begins to wane.
church, for many reasons, cannot pay court to mere wealth or “Multitudes of our people have lost the marks which once
pei tonal prestige. The poor do not understand the mission distinguished us. They have adopted the social customs of
of the church w&en they demand that it feed them and bitterly the world. Thev natronize the theater. Thcv have become
rail because it does not. But thcv are half right when the
II
familiar with the >ard-table. The sound of dancing echoes
churc*h recognizes men in the least degree because they possess through their homes. Wealth is worshipped. Social position is
wealth. The great masses of the people stand yonder alienated accounted the nrincinal thina. No wonder that the children
from our churches because the wedge of gold is hidden with of some of our -most fnfluentigl families are lost to Methodism.
LIS. It does the church no good: - it empties our pews; it With their thoughtless and back-slidden parents they are
frosts our air. drawn into the whirlpool of social pleasure, and either drift
“ ‘One of the closest observers of church life in our land, out into a line of infidelity or attach themselves to some church
and one who weighs his words, has written this month for his where worldliness is no bar.
witlcly read editorial column that the moral tone of the church “Moreover, beneficence does not keep pace with our in-
is uns‘ltisfactorv, and that many societies would be reduced crcasinsr wealth. The fact that it required two long years,
to a few pious women, aged per&s and unsophisticated youth filled with pitiful pleading, for our great church to-raise a
ii the dlsciuliile enforced in the nrimitive church, or in the naltrv missionarv debt of SlSG.000 is one of the saddest ex-
I A

cnrlier days of English and American Methodism, were ap- ,

periences of our &enomination.
plied; thni mauy olllcial members never participate activeiy
1x1 the aggressive spiritual work of the church; that this “This is not pessimism. It is fact. And the sooner we
religious and moral condition bode- no good; that in elghty- wake up to the peril of the situation the better for Methodism
&even cities in the United States Methodism is scarcelv hold- to-day and to-morrow. A CBISIS IS HERE. A crisis does not
ing its own, relrardless of the increase of population “and of necessarily mean disaster. It will not if we will only see the
the fact that so many accessions are recei;ed by letter from danger and escape.”
co:intrr churches. He further states that diverse suuerficial “AWAKE, 0 ZION,
esplan~~tions are offered for this humiliating conditfon, but cries the prophet. (Isa. 52: 1) He who sleeps now, not only
that whatever inhuence they may have, it is absolutely certain neglects his duty to the “brethren,,’ but puts himself in
that, if the laity and clergy were living according to the teach- jeopardy-marks himself as deficient in the very spirit of
incs of the New Testament, it could not be so. love which the Lord declares all-essential in his estimation.
-” ?Vhen such an alarm as this is sounded with the We remind our readers again of the Call for Volunteers in
hsmmer of facts. beware. not of the rocks or the sea. but of the our last issue. Many responses are already at hand, but our
dangers on board. But in this very alarm lies the hope of hope is that many more may share the privilege and blessing
safetv. It shows that thouehtful Christian men are lookina of this service.
deep& into the causes of th‘e present condition and that they INTROSPECTION NEXT IN OROER
will be removed. This alarm is all the Lord wants, and in
answer to prayer he will open the windows of heaven and Having satisfied ourselves respecting the fulfilment of the
pour unnumbered blessings on the church of the twentieth Apostle’s charges against “Christendom” and having found
century.’ ” his predictions fully corroborated by facts well witnessed to,
It would appear, then, that the Judge after all sees that the question arises, Can the Lord’s truly consecrated people
the church nominal of to-day is sadly unprepared for the learn any further valuable lessons and what are they?
ereat work he declares is absolutelv necessarv. He is nre- We have already noted that all such are to “turn away”
$ared even to admit that, so far as”Methodism is concerned, from those who have merelv the form of eodliness. And we
it is less prepared (so far as personal piety is concerned) have seen that it is both &r duty and pyivilege to aid any
than at the opening of the nineteenth centurv. The Judge true “brethren” yet in Babylon to attain the light and liberty
hopes great tl~ngs, If everybody can be awakened, and if ai1 wherewith Christ makes free his true followers. But let us
“tares” or nominal Christians (300.000.000) will but act as not forget personal introspection-to look &thin our own
tho they were “wheat” or real ‘Christians. ’ We rejoice with hearts carefully and frequently to make doubly sure that the
the Judge in his own sincerity as witnessed by his words world’s spirit of selfishness does not poison us as it poisonous-
(and for aught we know bv his acts also) and we commend ly manifests itself in others.
to him a f&her study of the Word of -God’s grace which We are to remember always that we have the treasure
is able to make him wise respecting the divine plan for of the new mind. the new snirit. in earthen vessels (2 Cor.
vanquishing all the foes of the groaning creation and deliver- 4 :7 ) , and that ‘these earthin vessels are continually sur-
ing them also from the bondage of corruption. But let him rounded by selfish tendencies and examples; and that conae-
lay off sectarian spectacles which magnify everything which quently they must be kept well filled with the Spirit of the
glorifies sectarianism and minimize the grace of our God and Lord, the spirit of love, that the evil spirit of selfishness does
the power of his might. not in anv of its manv forma eain access.
We will submit another testimony, from a high source, If in “our introsp&tions wi find traces of self-love, of
going to show that Methodism is far from prepared for the covetous ambition, of a disposition to boast even of good
twentieth century work the Judge points out is imperative,- things, or even a little pride-perhaps “spiritual pride,,, as
124631
(98~1ORl ZION’S WATCH TOWER

some erroneously describe it, or even a slight tendency to
slander (blaspheme ) , or the least tendency to disrespect
parents, or any measure of ingratitude toward God or men
(unthankfulness), or the slightest sympathy with false ac-
cusations, or any lack of moderation (incontinence), or any
sympathy with fierce speeches or manners, or anything else
than fervent love for all who are “good,” or the slightest
suggestion to betray a trust or a confidence, or the least
tendency to self-will and self-consciousness, or any disposi-
tion to weigh our own wills or pleasure against the Lord’s
will, or the least tendency to mere formalism in worship, or
the slightest evidence that the power of the truth is not in
full control of our hearts, and lives, it should arouse us to
energetically seek help from on high and to put away the
unclean thing which taints our sacrifice.
Nevertheless let no one feel discouraged even tho he
should find truces of all these evils in his flesh: for as the
Apostle declares, so we must all find, “In my flesh dwells uo
perfection.” (Rom. 7:18) We are however to expect no
trace of these evils in our hearts-no sympathy, no co-opera-
tion with any of these evils. As enemies of the Lord, and our
enemies because we are the Lord’s in spirit and in truth, these
evils are to be hunted and shunned to the best of our ability
from every nook and corner of our beings. “Be ye holy that
bear the vessels of the Lord’s house.” “As he who has called
you is holy, so be ye holy in all things.”

VOLUNTEERS IN ALL DIRECTIONS

We rejoice in the hearty responses to the article in our last whom they will serve with the bread of life--” resent truth.”
issue under the caption “Vohcnteem Wanted.” The friends in Meantime we are preparing to increase the eIf ition of “Bible
some of the cities have completed arrangements and began the vs. Evolution” to 500.000 copies.
work on April 30th. Others notify us that they are preparing In responding to this call please write on separate sheet of
and will send full report shortly. The evidences are that paper, heading it Volunteers. State number of volunteers and
“Volunteers” are likely to get as much blessing as those number of Protestant Churches, etc.

FORSAKEN-BUT NOT FOREVER

“For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from
thee for a moment: but with agelasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the
Lord thy Redeemer.“-Tea. 64:7, 8.
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken? My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken?
Hear our first parents despairingly cry: Questions my spirit in sorrow’s lone hour;
Had not the tempter their constancy shaken, Terrors and anguish my doubtings awaken,
Would they have wandered in exile to die? Doubts of our Father’s compassion and power.
Why, since life’s stream was defiled at its fountain. Louder the thunder-peals answer my wailing,
Was it not dried, ere the flood ran so deep? Darker the stormcloud casts o’er me its pall;
Why, lest iniquity grow to a mountain, Friends cannot comfort, and demons are railing,
Should the first infant be cradled to weep ? Heaven seems deaf to my piteous call.

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken?
Groaneth the slave as he curses his chain:
Stung by the lash, and his last loved one taken,
Doomed to a life of enslavement and pain.
Long has the despot his tyranny wielded,
Long robbed his fellow of freedom and home;
Long have the humble their hard earnings yielded,
Starving themselves to build turret or dome.
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken?
Echoes from Calvary scatter my gloom;
Veils have been rent, and death’s prison-house shaken,
Answer I And at the dismantled tomb.
Know thou, 0 friend, saith the angel that lingers,
Jesus hath risen a lost world to save;
Holdeth the issues of life in his fingers,
Beareth the keys of a powerless grave.

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken? God unto all men assurance has given,
Hear the fond mother in agony moan; Sworn by himself all his creatures to bless;
Babe on her bosom will presently waken, Soon will the bonds of corruption be riven,
Waken to And that dear guardian flown. Soon comes his Kingdom of righteousness.
Merciful God 1 Who will care for the mourner? After earth’s night dawns a morning of gladness,
Who’ll guard the orphan from hunger and cold? Rainbows of glory shall cover our tears;
Who’ll guide the feet of the youthful sojourner Truth will deliver from error and madness,
Past haunts of vice to the Savior’s pure fold? Blessings will crown earth’s Millennial years.
<‘For 88 all in Adam die, even so all in Christ shall be restored to life.” “Because creation itself also shall
be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the
children of God.’ -1 Car. i5:22; Ram. 8:21; Acts 3:23.
-G. M. BILLS.

“I AM THE VINE-YE ARE THE BRANCHES”

MAY f.-Jo~rr 15:1-11, 15.
The Apostle gives this as one of our Lord’s discourses “I am the true vine,” institutes a comparison, and suggests
following the Memorial Supper on the last night of his to the mind a counterfeit or false vine; and this reminds us
earthly life. It was probably suggested by the drinking of of the fact that our Lord, through this same writer, sub-
the “cup,” representing the blood of the New Covenant, and sequently explained that there would be two harvests-a
may have been uttered after Judas had gone out, and before gathering of the fruit of the true Vine, and subsequently a
the Lord and the eleven went to Gethsemane. Or it may have gathering of the clusters of the “vine of the earth.” (Rev.
been suggested by the vineyards which they passed on their 14: 18-20) If, as we shall see, the true Vine represents the
way to Gethsemane. Or possibly it may have been suggested true church, then the vine of the earth represents a false
by the great golden vine over the door of the golden gate of church, an untrue, ungenuine one.
the temple (the “Beautiful Gate”), which Josephua says was The heavenly Father is the husbandman who planted, who
very large and “had clusters as long as a man.” Another owns, who cares for the true Vine, and to him it yields its
writer says, “Leaves and buds were wrought of gleaming fruit. The word “husbandman” here does not signify merely
reddish gold, but its clusters of yellow gold, and its grape- caretaker, but rather the vineyard-owner. This is in accordance
stones of precious stones.” The moon being at its full would with all the presentations of Scriptures. God is therein set
display this vine to good effect. The statement of Chap. 18: 1, forth as the author of man’s hope, his Savior, through whom
“When Jesus had spoken these words he went forth with his alone comes the deliverance from sin and death. The fact that
disciplea,” seems to favor the first supposition. This view God accomplishes this through an honored agent and represen-
would imply a considerable tarrying in the upper room after tative, his beloved Son, and the further fact that he proposes
the supper was ended, probably to near midnight-after our to use an elect church as a royal priesthood, under his Son,
Lord said, “Arise, let us go hence.“-John 14:31. the appointed Chief Priest, does not alter the fact that he
[ 24641
MAY 1. 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (109-110)

himself is the fountain from which proceeds every good and three and a half years’ ministry, he could say, “Now ye are
every perfect gift.-1 Cor. 8 :6; Jas. 1: 17. clean throu$l the word [teaching] which I have spoken unto
“Every branch in me, should not be understood to signify you.” As he again said, in his prayer to the Father, “Those
every nominal Christian, everv professor. nor even those who that thou gavest me I have kept [as branches, disciples,
rencier a nominal assent to ‘tge facts ‘of Christianity, and members]. and none of them is lost save the son of perdi-
who are in svmpathv therewith. The "justified" believer is tion.” But henceforth. as the same prayer expressed the
just ready to”b&ome”a branch in the V&e, b;t his faith, and matter, the pruning and care of the branches would not be
justification by that faith, do not make him a branch. The done by our Lord Jesus in the same manner, but through
branches are those onlv who have first taken the sten of the operation of the holy Spiritthe Spirit of the Father
justification through faith, and who subsequently have-pre- and of the Son.
sented themselves to God as living sacrifices. and thus bv con- But it is not sufXc*ient that we be first justified: and then
secration have been “immersed &to Christi by being “im- sanctified through a consecration to the Lord: nor is it
mersed into his death.” sufficient that we get into the body of Christ and become
This procedure, by which we are inducted into memberstip branches of the Vine. It is good to be a little shoot, it is
in Christ (as branches of the Vine), is clearly expressed by good to have buds of promise, it is good to grow as a branch
the Apostle in Rom. 6:3-5. Be it noted that we. no more than and put forth tendrils, but however large or small the branch
the Apostle, are here making an immersion ‘in water the may be. however old or young, we must remember that the
condition of entry into the body of Christ (as our Baptist sap which produces the fruit can only be obtained by COA-
brethren mistakenly do) ; but we are insisting. as the Apostle tinued union with the Vine and its root of promise. If ever
insists, that none enter the body of Christ e&ept by t,Ge im- separated. al1 hopes must wither. Only as we are in Christ,
mersion of their wills into the will of Christ-their conse- and through him heirs of God, have we part or lot in this
cration to be dead with him-a self-surrender as justified matter : and only so can we bring forth the fruits wbirh the
human beings to death and to be henceforth new creatures +lrcnt Hvr\hnndman seeks. It would be folly for the branch
in Christ Jesus, under and controlled IJ~ him, as their Head fo ha!. 1 needed at first to be united with Christ the Vine,
or Guide in all things. 1,nt ,lO\V I can hf2lll~l ;i1011c Whoever stands alone, whoever
Amongst those who thus, according to divine arrangement, i 5 ~cp~tratrd from the Vine and from the other branches, will
now become branches of the true Vine, there are two classes- qpl~edily n-ithcr away; and whoever ahides in the Vine must
fruit-bearing branches and non-fruit-bearing branches known ,urely rontinue to have fidelity to the Vine, must be at one
as “suckers.” But both of these conditions are developments: with all the other true branches of the same Vine. And here
every branch begins as a very small shoot; every branch de- we see the importance of being in the true Vine and at-one
velops leaves ; every branch has the same opportunities for with the tme branches.
nourishment, sap from the main stem, Christ, and from the The wrong thought on this subject of the Vine and the
same root of divine purpose and promise. All the branches branches is frequently expressed hy our friends of various
of the Vine have a tendency to spend their strength upon denominations, who claim that the branches of the vine are
themselves-in branch-making rather than in fruit-producing, the various denominations of Christians. Thie inculcates a
and yet there is a difference. Vine-dressers tell us that thev serious error, namely, that it is the duty of every individual
can Gery early discern the fruit-buds on the proper branch&, Christian to get into membrrsbip in one of these brancbes-
and that the suckers lack these fruit-buds. as for instance, the Presbyterian branch, or the Methodist
Just so it is with the Lord’s consecrated people; he does branch, or fhe Lutheran branch, or the Roman Catholic
not expect of them much and fine fruit immediately, but he branch, or the Greek Catholic branch. The correct thought,
does look for the buds or evidences of effort in the direction on the contrary, is that each individual Christian in consc-
of fruit-bearing; and these fruit-buds will manifest them- crating himself to the Lord becomes an individual branch in
selves early in those who are proper branches of the true the true Vine: and his labors thenceforth should be not to
vine. And those who do not manifest a desire to bring forth bring forth denominational and sectarian fruits, but to bring
fruitage to the Lord’s glory, by serving him and his cause, forth the fruits or graces of the spirit of God in his own
but who on the contrary make use of the knowledge and character and life.
blessings derived through union with Christ simply to ad- One writer, in pursuing this wrong thought respecting
vance themselves before men, and make a fair show in the the hranchps, says, “God does not desire to have fruitless
flesh, are counted unworthy of retention, and are cut off, churches large and prosperous: he lets them wither away.
taken away-cease to be recognized in any sense of the word The churches that keep nearest to Christ will grow the
as branches. They may retain their freshness, green leaves, fastest.” It should not be difficult for any to discern the
etc., for quite a little time after being reiected of the Lord, fallacy of such reasoning. If this were the correct view it
but it is-only a question of time u&l they lose every evl: would imply that the church organizations which are the
dence of fidelltv-thev wither awav. Nor does the fact that largest in numbers and most prosperous in wealth and honor
they were brahches “avail anythi;g after they cease to be amongst men are those which have the most truth and which
branches, for the wood of the vine is of no practical value. most dirertly receive the sap of the holy Spirit from the
They are burned, destroyed. Lord. But let us see: amongst Christians this would consti-
But as even the best branches in the vine, which give evi- tute Roman Catholicism the holiest and best and nearest to
dence of fruit-bearing, require pruning, so even the most the Lord; Greek Catholicism would claim to he second :
honest and earnest of the Lord’s people require the Lord’s Methodism third, and so on. Intelligent people scarcely need
discipline and providential care-otherwise they might soon to have the fallacies of such an interpretation pointed out.
run to woodmaking also, and fail to bring forth much fruit. But what is incongruous when applied to denominations as
The husbandman’s sklll recognizes how much of the branch branches, is thoroughly logical and in harmony with the facts
and sprout and leaf are necessary to the bringing forth and when applied to the individual Christian and his spiritual
proper maturing of the fruit which he seeks, and so our life. Those who abide in Christ in faith and trust and ron-
heavenly Father knows perfectly the conditions, etc., most secration to his service-to the bringing forth of the fruits
favorable to us that we may bring forth much eood fruit. which are pleasing in the sight of the great Hushxndman-
He sees the sprouts of our “ambitions in various”directions, find themselves in a narrow way indeed, often hedged up hp
and knows, as we do not, whereunto these might lead usf providence. and their efforts in various dire&ions changed,
and by his providence nips in the bud many of our proposi- nr rather, their intentions thwarted; but they find, as a re-
tions, deeming it better that the strength and energy which sult of all this experienre, rightly received, that they are
we thus intend to put forth should be expended rather in growing in grace-in the knowledge and in the love of God,
other directions-in bringing to maturity our good fruits the fruits of the spirit.-Rom. 8:28.
already started and in progress. The close union hetween the Vine and the branrhes is
The true child of God whose will has been entirely lm- llroupht to our attention by our Lord’s words. “HP that
mersed into the will of the Lord is neither offended nor dis- nhideth in me and 1 in him :” the Vine and its branches
couraged by these prunings. He has learned something at have such a oneness that wherever we touch a branch we
least of his own unwisdom, and has confidence in the wisdom touch the Vine itself. It is one vine composed of branches,
of the great Husbandman; hence when divine providence and so is the body of Christ one body, composed of many
estops his efforts in some directions he takes the thwarting members. Wherever a mpmher or branch of the hody of
of his plans joyfully, assured that the Lord’s will and the Christ is fonnd, ~11 the various characteristics of Christ himself
Lord’s way are the best, and intended to work out a blessing. nrp found-in spirit, in intention, as “new creatures.” This
As the Father’s representative, Jesus had been keeping onen(‘sq in Christ is thr secret of the power and of the fruit-
the first branches of the Vine. He had purged or pruned by he:arin,n and of the acceptableness of the branches with the
his reproofs or counsels, so that now, at the close of his Father, the Husbandman.
[ 24651
(110-112) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY,
PA.

“Without me ye can do nothing,” is a statement well company of those who have professed loyalty, love and
worthy of being deeply engraved in the heart of every truly obedience. The Lord will bring testing to prove the sincerity
consecrated member of the body of Christ. But to abide of their professions, and only those who thus prove the
in Christ means to be subject to all the will of the great sincerity of their Drofessions will be accented as members of
Husbandman, and aladlv and meeklv submit to all the nrun- the ch&ch glorified, symbolized by the *golden vine of the
ings which his w&lom”sees best to* permit. Respecting’ this Beautiful Gate of the Temnle.
necessity for pruning and discipline, Trench, the celebrated Our Lord -would have*all the true branches realize his
theologian, has well said: love, his interest, his care for them. his desire that thev
“It fares exactly so with God and some of his elect serv- might make their ‘calling and their eleciion sure by compliant;
nntq. ;llrn seeing thrir graces, which so far exceed the graces with the conditions of membership in the Vine: hence he as-
of ecmmon mrn, wonder sometimes why they should suffer sures them of his love in the strongest possible language.
still. why they seem to be ever falling from one trial to He tells them that his love for them is of the same kind
another. J:nt he sr~~l in them-what no other eve can see- as the Father’s love for him. Even with all the various
tllp ~J:I(Y~ uhic~l~ iq capable of becoming more gqacious still; evidences of the truthfulness of this statement, corroborated by
. 1;(1 III 11~sf;\r-looi,incr lo\c for his own. who shall nraise him. the “exceeding great and precious promises” of the Lord’s
Pl’t. for :1 tl:1,v, Imt for an eternity, he &ill not suf6& them to Word, it is far too wonderful for us to fully comprehend.
stop cllort or tlte llcx\t nhcrc,of thrky are (Bnpable. They are We can readily see how and why our Lord Jesus was great-
frll‘lll(~:ll ,,,g :,r:~l!ch~s, and jn<t beTause they are such, he ly beloved of the Father, and called his well-beloved Son,
I” un( , tllcm t!l,:t thy may bring forth more fruit.” but it astound9 us to know that this same love is exercised
I;r,m~~ikiirY nrbon the f:lc t tll;rt somrtimcs a vine or tree by our Lord in turn toward us. “Behold what manner of
111.1~:I1:rxiilibt’ m&c8 fruit than it is rnpnble of bringing to love the Father bath bestowed upon us, that we should be
p(tric>c*tlor!, :,nd likrning this to Christian expcrirnce and called the sons of God;” for our Lord Jesus expressed and
(b!l‘orty, arlofllc~r wriier (II. L. IInitings) sugpsts:- fully manifested the Father’s lore.-1 John 3: 1; John 14 :7.
“The best w7v i:; to shfrl;~ Ihe t&e, xnd“frce it of extra But then comes a limitation, namelv. that this intense
fruit. I’runc, clip, cllt, pluck, and rerlncc the fruit, until lore is only for the “little flock.” Tr&,‘“God so loved the
it lJcxcornc+ mxn:lgo~~blc, and until tbc tire cxn support its world,” and our Lord Jesus loved the world also. in the
hnrd(~n. :: :~d thtan Ict cvcrv branch IJC loaded with fruit that sense .of sympathetic love, and a desire to do them gobd. But
(x~mo~ to p~~rtc~c~tion, bnt” not orrrlwded with fruit which the love which the Lord is here declaring is a different one. It
nev(‘r will rcx:l?h its fill1 dcvclopment.” is only for those who have made a full consecration to him-
Tbi\ is n vorv correc% thollrbt, 29 rclntcs to the fruitage of indeed, that consecration is the secret of his special love. The
c.;Tortq pnt fr)l th in the Lord’s service on behalf of others: Father loved the onlv beeotten Son because he was full of
fog m.11;~ va~tr their cll’orts because they do not concentrate faith and trust and ‘bbedknce-%nto death, even the death
tlicm sr&ic~ntly. of the cross.” And likewise this same love extends to those
Tbc: talcntcv~ Apostle Paul pivcs his testimony as to the justified ones who, filled with the Master’9 snirit, desire to
1%I.tlom of sll;lkin~ off some of our plans and arrangements ivalk in his footsteps, to take up their cross akd fbllow him.
and cflcrrtz for w111c*hwe hare little talent, and concentrating God’s love. of the same kind that went out toward our dear
our ell’orts upon t.ho\e wbic*b we can best bring to perfection, Redeemer, ‘goes out to all surh; and the Redeemer’s love goes
rlpcnr’s, sngmg, “This onr thing I do.” (Phil. 3: 13) The out to them; and the good message comes to them, “All things
~\p<~~tl(~‘sono businc~ss in life wrls to be, so far as he was able, are yours, for ye are Christ’s, and Christ is God%.” “Who
acc~cr)t.~ble to tbc Lord nrrsonxllv, and to do with his might shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God
what he c.oultl to asxlst o&erq intb’tbe same condition. But ihe that justified. . . . It is Christ that died.“-1 Cor. 3:22,
Ii~ilt-l~~~,~r~i~,qot woll,s for otbcils ue tlo not untlcrstand to IJ~ 23; Rom. 8:33, 34.
tbc: princIp,!l thougbt in this lesson. The first thought is But as this special love is in view of the consecration
that‘wc should h&e the fruits of the Lord’9 spirit 61 our and obedience of ihis class, so it depends upon the continua-
own hrarts. the crac(% of the spirit well developed. This, tion of that snirit of consecration and obedience. If their
however, Implies-activity and self-sacrifice in ihe Lord’s loving devotion- grow cold, and they become filled with self-
service, for only so by the Lord’s arrangement can our personal love and the spirit of the world, to that extent they grieve
fruits and pracrs be brought to maturity. the holy Spirit,-thev turn from them this suecial love of
Our Lord gives us an intimation that the growing of the Loid: ind hence’the injunction of our L&d, “Continue
much fruit iu not wholly dependent upon ourselves, and that Ye in mv love.” These words show that it is nossible for us
evc’n while we nbidc in him as fruit-bearing branches the to forfeit the Lord’s love and to become castiwavs-to fail
qu‘llity ant1 quantity of the fruit is to be &proved by our to make sure our calling and election to the exceiding great
havInE rn-omlr iclenlq before our minds, and earnestlv seeking things which God hath in reservation for them that love him
their Yr~ali~ation. Thus he says, “If ye abide in rng and my with this supreme love.-2 Pet. 1:4-l 1; 1 Cor. 9 :27.
words abltle in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be It is important that we keep in mind that true love on our
done unto you.” The intimation is that the desire and the part will manifest itself in obedience, and hence that dis-
asklrr;: of the Fatbcr at the throne of the heavenly grace is a obedience is an evidence of the loss of love as viewed from
meanq bv which we mav more and more receive of the saD of the Lord’s standpoint; and we must all agree that this is a
the Vi&, the holy Spirft, and be enabled to develop the f&its reasonable standpoint of judgment. Some may say, How
of t11c Spll-‘t. It will be noticed that nothing here implies would it be if we disobeyed through ignorance? We answer
tllcx sc,ei,ine or fhxlinar of eartblv good things. These are to be that the Lord has made provision against our ignorance:
left ~1~01~~ to the ‘Lord’s wi&lgm and Frovidence, and his first, he has given us the Word of truth, “that the man of
DWI)~C.tllc true branches of the Vine, are to desire and to God may be perfect [perfectly informed], thoroughly furnished
ice; fbr the holy spirit, which the l?ather is more willing unto every good work;” and secondly, he has promised to sup-
to gi\e to thcbm than earthly parents are to give good gifts ply such helps in the spirit of holiness, and the understand-
to tliclr children.-Luke 11: 13. ing of his Word as will enable us to do those things which
Incidcntilllv the Lord here Doints out the value of the are pleasing in his sight. (2 Tim. 3: 17 ; John 16: 13) Thus,
S(*ripturtsti to “his true branches* or disciples, when he says, carelessness respecting the Word of the Lord is one evidence
“If my wo~cls abide in you.” It is not only necessary and of the lack of love. Our Lord points out that his continuance
proper th,lt me seek divine grace, but it is equally proper that in the Father’s love, as the well-beloved Son. with all that this
we alai1 ourtelves of the divine revelation respecting what is implies, was because of his obedience to ‘the Father’s will,
the nootl and accentable and perfect will of God our Father, and that following the same line he must require that we
tb(> ifu.l,:~nrlmnn of the true-vine. Hence it will be found shall be obedient to him if we would abide in his love, share
that tlmie who bear much fruit and good fruit not only his throne and glory.
hnve been iustified through faith. and sanctified through con- “These things have I spoken unto you that my ioy might
~cvralic~n, >ntl thus accepted into membership in tKe true he in you, and that your joy might be full.” dur Lord’s
\‘ine. but tbilt ndditionallv thev are seeking to be fruit-bearers. instructions and commandments are not intended to terrify
-wckity to abide in the”Vine, and to haie all the character: us, nor to deprive us of happiness. On the contrary, as the
iutica< of tllc Vine, seeking grace to help in every time of need, most fruitful branches well know, obedience to the Lord’s
and availing themselves not onlv of the sap which flows words, and the privilege thus obtained of abiding in him and
thrrbiigb the roots, but also of thk light of tiuth and grace his love, is the greatest joy-a joy which wholly outweighs
mhic+ shinrq unon them through the Word of the Lord. And all the trifling pleasures which the world has to offer. It is
only by follol\:ing these conditions can we be fruit-bearers, the joy and peace that peswth all understanding, which
and only by being bearers of fruit can we be the Lord’s dis- rules in the heart, and which brings with it the promise, the
ciplc\--to the end; for we are to remember that the church assurance, not only of the life which now is, but also of that
of the present time is merely the probationary church, a which is to came.
124661
 No. 10
cVOL. xx ALLEGHENY, PA., MAY 15, 1899

THE LORD BETRAYED

MAY 14.-JOHN 18 : 1-14.
“He is despised and rejected of men.“-Isa. 53:3.
After the last supper, and after his discourse to the dis- to do so. (John 10:15) We are not to assume, therefore,
ciples respecting the Vine and the branches, came our Lord’s when our dear Redeemer praved, “Father, if it be possible
beautiful prayer recorded in John’s 17th chapter. Then, let this cup pass from me,” that he meant’if it were possible
probably about midnight, Jesus, with the eleven, passed out- he might escane dvine. He well knew. and had alreadv ex-
side the eate of Jerusalem. crossed the little brook called plained to the’ apo”stl&, that the drawing of the world gould
Cedron, and on the farther’ hill above it entered the olive not take place except he were lifted up as the sin-offering
orchard known as the Garden of Gethsemane: perhaps it was a -that it was absolutely necessary that he should die for our
public garden, or possibly the property of some one friendly sins and enter into his glory.-John 3: 14; 12:32.
to our Lord. What purports to be its site is now maintained The cup which he prayed might pass from him, if possible,
as a garden, and has been for centuries. It is in charge of we must therefore suppose to have been the shame and
monks who take pleasure in receiving visitors to view it. There ignominy of arrest as a law-breaker; a public trial and con-
are about six or eight very large and evidently very old olive viction, and subsequent crucifixion as a malefactor. It was
trees in this garden at the presentthey give evidence of one thing to die for our sins, as men generally die, without
being at least one thousand years old, but possibly are much special shame or contumely; it was another thing that he
older. should die with such extreme shame, dishonor and contempt.
While talking with his discinles and uravine for them our Quite probably in the Father’s wisdom this last feature was
Lord seemingly”was full of good courigel while exhorting kept more or less hidden from our dear Redeemer until
them that their hearts be not troubled evidently his own just about the time of its accomplishment. And apparently
heart was not cast down. But as the little company wended our Lord Jesus did not see any absolute necessitv for his
its way to Gethsemane we may well suppose that a great suffering more than the sinner suffered, in order to pay man’s
weight fell upon our dear Redeemer’s sensibilities. We can ransom price. Hence his prayer for a time was, “If it be
imagine him saying, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even possible, let this cup pass from me.” The Apostle also notes
unto death.” (Matt. 26 : 38) The present visit to Gethsemane, this distinction. saving. he “became obedient unto death.” and
therefore, was evidently very different from previous visits. then adds “even the death of the cross.‘-Phil. 2:8. ’
Some appreciation of the momentous occasion was no doubt The death of the cross, with its attendant dishonor, re-
inspired in the hearts of the apostles by the Master’s dejec- proach, etc., so far as we may be able to judge, was not
tion, and yet they probably but slightly comprehended what necessary as our ransom price, because the penalty did not
was about to come to pass. read, In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die
Arrived at the garden, we glean from other Evangelists with public reprobation and dishonor by crucifixion. Since
that our Lord left eight of the apostles near the gate, taking the penaltv was death (Gen. 2 : 171, we mav sunnose that our
Peter, James and John, his closest companions, a little farther Lord’s death by any means would have fully p:lid man’s ransom
with him. and cautionine them all to watch and nrav, be- nrice. However. the additional features were deemed neces-
cause it was an hour of lpecial trial. Going a littli f&her iary by the Father, and the “cup” did not pass. The Father
by himself, he communed with the Father in secret. His required this extreme of obedience as a test, a proof not only to
feelings were not and could not be shared even bv his be- himself but before all his intelligent creatures of the absolute
1oved”disciples; they could not appreciate the triai throu h loyalty of heart of his “well beloved Son,” upon whom he
which he was nassina: thev had not vet been begotten of t %e designed shortly thereafter to confer the great blessing and
spirit. Thus $ his”most %rving ho& Jesus wai alone-“Of high exaltation of his own divine nature and ioint-heirshin
the people there was none with me.“-Isa. 63:3. in”his Kingdom. And the loyalty of our dear Redeemer wa’a
It is- difficult for the majority, even of Christian people, fully attested, as the Apostle declares; he “depised the
to annreciate the true character of our dear Lord’s trial, shame,” that is to sav. the shame was as nothing in his sight
which in this instance so wrought upon his nervous system in comparison with the accomplishment of the Father’s I&-
as to produce a bloody sweat. Many compare our Lord’s noses. the nleasine of the Father. (Heb. 12:2) So lone
course with that of some of his martyr followers who have is he thought theye was a possibility’ of the e&nation oyf
gone forth into death with remarkable courage, and in con- the shame feature, he was nervously anxious to have it so, if
trasting matters they are inclined to wonder why our Lord, possible: but as soon as he realized that this was not the
who was perfect, should have endured so much more a pas- Father’s- will his heart instantly responded, “Not my will but
sion of suffering than his imperfect followers. To grasp the thine be done.” Decision respecting the Father’s will im-
true situation it is necessary that several things be borne mediately brought strength; he was now prepared for any
in mind:- experience, “strong in the Lord and in the power of his
( 1) For our Lord, who had a perfect right to life, to lay might.”
it down in death, was a very different matter from the Meanwhile Judas, who some days before had engaged
laying down of a forfeited and impaired life on the part of with the high-priest to betray Jesus, and who left the upper -.-
those-who could not hope to keep it long anyway. (21 Our room immediately after the Supper to carry out his nefarious
race, alreadv nine-tenths dead. has but a feeble annreciation plan, had received of the chief nriests and Pharisees a band
of the greai value of life-all of its experience h&ing been bf men, with a person in charge as an officer, whose mission
in connection with dying, it has come to regard death with it was to arrest Jesus in the night and to secure his execution
equanimity. But not so our Lord, the “prince of life,” who before the Passover. We must whollv disagree with the com-
had been with the Father from the beginning, and by whom mon thought that this “band” cons&ted of-an army of three
all things were made-he realized life as a very precious to six hundred Roman soldiers. They certainly acted very
boon, privilege, enjoyment. To him, therefore, death must differently from soldiers ordinarily under such circumstances.
have been much more terrible than to us who are alreadv Besides. the record bv all of the Evannelists is that this band
nine-tenths dead, and correspondingly blunted in all of ou> was sent, not by Pilite nor by Herod: the Roman representa-
sensibilities. True he had the Father’s assurance that if faith- tives, but by the chief priests and Pharisees, who we know
ful unto death he should have a resurrection, and unquestion- had no command whatever of the Roman aarrison. To our
ably he believed the Fa,ther’s promise-all of his course in understanding this band which apprehended Jesus was very
life gives abundant evidence of his imnlicit faith in the Father. similar to the one mentioned in John ‘7 : 32-46.
And”yet in his case this must ha& been a crucial trial to It would appear that the Jewish Sanhedrin exercised a
faith, much more so than with us. As we have only a shred certain amount of authoritv in respect to religious matters,
of a forfeited life to lay down, so we have on the other hand, and were permitted to make arrests, but not to execute
not only the Father’s promise of a future life through Christ, criminals without the consent of the Roman eovernor. We
but we have the example of the Father’s power in the resur- remember that the apostles were arrested on” several occa-
rection of our dear Redeemer: but our Lord Jesus had no sions by such olllcers of the Jews.-See Acts 5:17, 18, 22,
such evidence of the divine power; he himself, according to 25-40.
the divine promise. was to be the “first-born from the dead.” Both Matthew and Mark speak of this aggregation, under
a first-fruit unto ‘God of his creatures.-Cal. 1: 18; 1 Co;. officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, as a “multitude,”
15:20. and our Lord’s words indicate that they were armed with
But all this had already been counted, weighed and ac- sticks and swords such as were common to the people in
cepted from the very beginning of his ministry. He had general, and he does not mention spears, which would* prob-
already informed the disciples that it was necessary that he ably have been a part of the armament of a band of Roman
should lay down his life for the sheep, and that he was about soldiers. This thought is further emphasized by the fact that
[ 24671 (115-116)
(117-118) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEcHlrNY. I’*

it was the high priest’s servant who evidently made the first try may have consisted in informing him of the Father’s will
assault upon .Jesus, and received a blow from Peter’s sword. in respect to what things he should suffer, and how they were
If Romar; xoltlicrs had the matter in charge the high priest’s to be expected, and this knowledge that the matter was set-
servant no doubt would have heen less officious. tled, and the assurance that the Father would overrule it all,
It ir presumed, and apparently on good grounds, that strengthened his heart and gave him th? great calmueas
this company seeking .JCPIIS, under thr guidance of Judas, whirh we observe in all his subesequent course.
went first to the upper room which our Lord and the apostles The “band” sent to apprehend him evidently expected
had left probably -l&s than an hour before. Finding that that they might be obliged to seek for him in the shadows
*Jesus and the eleven were gone. Judas knew that he would be of the trees, etc.. and hence they were provided with torches
most likely to find them in the Garden of Grthsemane, for and lanterns. TJnquestionably they were greatly surprised
“Jesus ofttimes resort& thither with his disrinles.” John’s that our Lord, instead of fleeing from them, advanced to
acrount omits thch partirularx of the betraval ‘given bv the them, and inquired whom they xought. Qnitt? possibly some
other I’:vnngelistti: &sihly the lovlug disccple Felt so *much of those In the “band” had previous knowledge of the Lord-
ashamed of the fac:tq that he Ijreferred not to mention them. of his miracles, power eve; devils, etc., a& this may have
Certainly very few acts of treachery ever paralleled this one, been the reason for their manifestation of weakness in retreat
and all mankind, even in their perverted condition of mind, and falling to the ground. Or it is possible that our Lord
seem to realize that tile position of traitor is amongst the rxrrcised over them‘s superior mental-power whirh produced
most deflpicable on the calendar, and such treachery as that this effect. for the DurDose of showing that he had full Dower .
of .Judas, against such kindness and love and goodness as to resist them if hQ had chosen to u”se it.
that of his Master, we may be thankful is not so very com- The same lesson, we believe, is taught bv Peter’s use of
mon. And yet there are correspondencies in the expeiiences the sword upon the high prieat’s.servant, We”are to remember
of the Lord’s people, “in perils amongst false brethren.” It that one of the Evangelists records that our Lord instructed
hehooves us each to look to it that we permit nothing akin to the apostles to take iwords with them, and that when two
the spirit of Judas to rankle in our hearts. Our Lord puts were found he said. “It is enoueh.” (Luke 22 : 36. 381 Our
the “memherx of his hodv” in such matters on P Diane with Lord had no thought oi having-his disciples war’ a -carnal
himnelf, and askurt*n us- that whoctver shall illj;rr one of warfare oo his behalf. as he subsequently stated, “If my
the least of thr<c hiq brethren. it were better for him that a kiupdom \qere of this world then would my servants fight,
millstone were hnngetl ahout his neck and he were drowned that 1 nhould not be delivered to the *Tews.” (John 18:36)
in the depth of the sea.-hl:itt. 18:U. The two Fwordq were sufficient to show that our Lord’s ap-
Of (*ourse there will alwavs be a ntot&e. zood nr bad, prehension was not because there were no means of defense,
hat&k of every tIced dont* to the under-memb&s”of his body nor because of cowardice on the part of his disciples, but
as well as to the Head. To find &one motives is not to find merelv because of his submission-knowing that his hour was
1alit1 C~CIIRCSfor treacheries. So far-as our experience and aome,“and that thus it behooved him to suf?er for our sins and
judgment go, the lesson is that such treachery -from “false to enter into his glory.-Luke 24:46.
hrrtlircan” usuallv has its snrinrr in covetousness. lust for in- After this one manifeatation of power, as indicating his
fluence, power o; position, And ‘the desire to glorify such un- full abilitv to come with that multitude. and indeed his Dower
holy ambitions cannot fail to corrupt any heart u-hi& m- to have Gore th<n twelve legions of angels to defend hii, had
t.rrtains them. As one has said:- he so desired (Matt. 26 :53), we find our Lord fully submitting
“Sow :I thought, you reap an act: himself to capture, merely making condition that the dis-
Sow an act, you reap a habit; ciples might go their way: How &and the character which
Sow a hahit, you reap a character: at such a moment. under such trvine conditions. could so fullv
Sow a c*hara&r. you reap a destiny.” forget self and feel interested m&ely in the welfare of others’
.Judas had htlt*n doing wme of this sowing of evil thoughts How like what WC should exnect of him!
for a c*nnsidrrahle time hefore his thoughts took outward “That the saying might’be fulfilled which he spake, Of
hhapo in evil a&. He W;UI cov&ms of-wealth and of in- t.hem which the; Envest me I have lost none.” We under-
fiiwwe : he became the treasurer of the little group of dis- stand the writer io mean that here again in the Master’s
c*ipleq. and the intimation of the Scriptures is that he pur- course we find an exemplification of his care for his dis-
loined to hir own private IIRCR a port& of the contributibns. ciples, as enunciated in his Draver just bcforca leaving the
AR usual. his lnvr for moncv inc*rc*nqed the more he exercised it, upper room. While the thoighi of “his prayer was chiefly
until he was willing to h&rny his Master for thirty pieces in resnect to their sniritual interests. that none of them
of nilv~r-equivalent tn nbout twenty dollars of our money, should- be lost, we do -well to notice &is as a corroborative
tho revresenting in value of labor a much larger sum. It illustration of our Lord’s care of the physical interests of
would -sr~m, ton, that Judas was looking fo&ard to the all who become his disciples. Not a hair of their heads shall
nromised kingdom. and Drohablv anticiDated a hiehs. Dosition
. fall; nothing shall be permitted to injure them-every event
is royal trea&e; of that kinghorn. ’ and affair of life will be overruled for their highest u veood.-
It, is quite poqsihle, indeed probable, we think, that .Tudas Matt. 6~32, 33.
was seriouqly disappointed in respect to the result of his It was probably when Jesus began to be bound that Peter
h0trnval. Apparcntlv hr exnrctrd that our Lord would de- drew his sword in his defense; perhaps he remembered the
liver. himscli ‘by miraruloui power from the hands of his Lord’s words of a few hours previous, to the effect that hie
rncmics. Thin ‘is the most charitable view we would know followers would all forsake him, and his own promise, “Al-
how to take of his treacherous conduct- it relieves the blackness though all shall be offended, yet will not I.” (Mark 14:29)
of the act only a very little, however, for he who would be Noble, zealous Peter ! We love him for his noble expression
willine to despitefullv uqe his best friend. even temnorarilv. of sentiment, and for his heroic defense of the Master with
for a”money >onsid&ation, gives evidence of having pro&- the sword against superior numbers. It is the custom of
tutrd every Lrnotl and nnhhh sentiment of his being to-his love many to decry Peter’s action, as another of his rash errors.
of money. Indeed. the love of honor mav have had consider- We are to remember, however, that the apostles had not yet
able to do with the matter, for he mny ha-ve hoped by bringing received the holy Spirit and therefore could not clearly ap.
nhout this eriqis that our Ilord would be comDellcd to set UD preciate the fact that the kingdom to which thev were called
thr long-promised kinadnm. or elpe to own thit all his claimb IR a spiritual kingdom. Be&des, as we have ieen, he wah
nnd promises were fraudulent. merely followinp the Lord’s counsel in taking the sword with
dudan surely did R~I(YY(Y~in expeditinp matters and in him, “and evidently also carrying out the d>vine purpose in
bringing nhnut thcb installation of the embryo kingdom of irsin,n it. We see nothing to blame. everything to commend
God: hut not in thr ~mnnw lw rqwc4wl, nor in any degree It was a sign of larger import than Peter and the others
to his own honor nr adv:lntnze. Thus it must be with those there realized. - -
wlm receive the truth nncl w110 profess discipleship under it- But having permitted the matter to go thus for, our Lord
not in the love of thr truth. hut in the love of honors hoped restrained Peter, saying, “Suffer yet thus far. Put up thy
for, either pregent or future. Let UR all who have named sword into the sheath; the cup which my Father hath given
thr name of Christ take heed and watch and Dray lent there me, shall I not drink it?” And so saying he touched his
should be in any of us any of the element’s of this vile wounded enemy and healed him. The disciples were to see,
rharacter. And let UR remember that there are various understand, be fully assured, that our Lord, in delivering
xrcret WRVR, as well RR the more nutwnrd ones, in which we himself to his enemies, did it voluntarily, and hence the pro-
rnRy betrAy the Lord and the “brethren.” ceedings were so pantomimed as to enforce this lesson.
The &anrrcliot declares that Jesus knew in advance all How the grace of humility shines out in all the little
thinqq that would come upon him. We are elsewhere told affairs of our dear Redeemer’s ministry; even at this moment
that while he prayed, “There appeared an angel unto him of his surrender to his enemies he does not boast that his
from heaven. strenpthenina him.” (Luke 22:43\ ThiR minis- course is a voluntary one, nor seek praise as a martyr! He
[2468]
MAYIS, law ZION’S WATCH
declares the simple truth, that the Father required this of
him as an evidence of his nersonal lovaltv to him. He con-
fesses himself a servant of &God, a son’ who learned obedience
by the things which he suffered. “The cup which the Father
hath given me, shall I not drink it?” Indeed, this was the
strength of his victory-his will was fully submitted to the
Father’s will. and his faith arasned the fact that the Father
permitted no’ unnecessary evils &I come upon him, hut only
such as he could and would overrule for good.
There is a valuable lesson here for all who are seeking
to walk in the footsteps of the great High Priest,-for efi
the roval nriesthood. We also are to remember that so long
as we”abide in Christ, and seek to walk in his footsteps, afl
the trying experiences of life are carefully measured for ua
by the Lord-that he does not pour into our cup of sorrow
and trial any bitter experiences that are not needful to UN,
and that will not subsequently work out for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory. (2 Cor. 4: 17) With
these assurances, and with the evidences of the Father’s
faithfulness to our glorified Master and Forerunner, we in-
deed may have strong consolation who have fled for refuge
to the hope set before us in the Gospel.-Heb. 6: 18-20.
The healing of the smitten ear, our Lord’s last miracle,
was most beautifully illustrative of his character and teach-
ings. It exemplified his words, “Love vour enemies, do good
td’them that persecute you.” It showed that he was &Red
with the divine love which his teachines inculcated. and that
he had no bltterne*rc toward those whz despitefully used and
persecuted him.
THE GREAT HIGH
May 2l.-Jo~a
-‘He came unto his own, and his own received him not.“-John
Altho it is declared that all the disciples fled, John
points out that Peter and himself followed at a distance. Their
deep interest in the Master would not permit them to go to
their homes; thev must keen him in sight. and note how
things would go with him to the very last.- They were power-
lrss to assist him against such great odds. and in the face of
his own refusal to be assisted, but they were not powerless
to love still. *John, it seems, was somewhat acquainted at the
high priest’s palace, and readily gained entrance, not only
for himself but for Peter.
Rut these favors and privileges became teats to Peter, und
led to his denial of the Lord. And so it is with some of the
J,ord’s followers of to-dav. When they are by themselves, or
with others of like pre&ous faith, they are bold and cour-
aeeous to confess the Lord and to serve him, but if per-
chance they get into palaces or amongst the ‘servants &d
officers and high priests of nominal Christianity they are
ashamed of the Master and fear to confess him, lest they
should be cast out of the privileges enjoyed in the society of
thoue who have not yet recognirad the truth. Far better
would it have been for poor Peter had he openly declared,
“Yes. I am one of his discinles. and since I nresume that none
such’are wanted here I wifi go out.” How much EO honorable
and proper a course would have reflected to his credit in the
eyes of all just persons, and how much blessing it would have
brought to him !
Peter’s failure to take the proper course brought him
later to a still more trying situation, when a kinsman of the
man whose ear he had cut off asked him point-blank the
question, “Did not I see thee in the garden with him?”
Matters were getting pretty close for poor Peter. It was
more now than a question of leaving the fire and the privi-
leges and honor of the high priest’s court: it was now a hues-
tion of his identitv as the one who had defended Jesus with a
sword, and hence i question of his own arrest and trial at the
same tribunal with the Master. One false step leads naturally
to another: to have now declared for Jesus would have been a
public testimony that he was a liar, in addition to leading
to his aDnrehension. and so Peter concluded that in self-
defence hy must not. only repeat the lie, and again deny his
Master, but to make the matter more strong before his ac-
cusers he began to curse and to swear that he knew not Jesus.
Poor Peter! Truly, as our Lord told him, Satan had
desired to have him, to sift him. and surelv he was beine
severely sifted at this time. It seems almosi a miracle. tha?
he recovered his balance and repented and found forgiveness
for his sins. It would seem that our Lord’s praver on his
hehalf operated through his previous announce&e& to Peter
of this denial, for after he had thus denied. and after he had
noticed the cock crow, Peter remembered ‘the Lord’s words,
“The cock shall not crow till thou hast denied me thrice.”
III-36 194691
TOWER (119.-120)
The binding of our Lord seems to have been entirely un-
necessary, except as the “band” might desire to make an
exhibition of their prowess to those who had sent them. Our
Lord seems to have remonstrated in respect to this, as per
the account given in Mark 14:48, 49: “Are ye come out as
against a thief, with swords and with staves, to take me?
I was dailv with vou in the Temple. teaching. and ye took
me not. Rut the Scriptures must be .fulfilled.’ It was then
that the eleven forsook him and fled. *Judas continuing with
the band went to the house of ..4nnas the priest, who do;btless
had bargained with Judas, and no doubt it was at this time
that the thirty pieces of silver were paid over, Judas having
now shown a %&lment of the contra&.. Poor wretched man?
The Son of man indeed went to death. as it had been written
of him, but this made none the less’horrible the treachery,
the covetousness and murderous spirit that delivered him up
to his enemies. So with the members of the body of Christ:
it must needs be that offences come-it is a part of the divine
plan that the body of Christ should fill up that which is
behind of the af?lictions of the Head (Cal. 1:2-l)--but this
makes none the less sinful the conduct of those who have
to do with such betravnls-esneciallv if thev be “false breth-
ren” who have enjoyed some knowledge of thk truth. In every
instance. however. it will bc observed that altbo the trials
worked ‘out blessing for the Lord and will do so also for all
the faithful who suffer with him, the rewards of unrighteoux-
ness sought by those who take Judas’ course never yield
them the honors and blessings they coveted. and for which
they sold themselves to work evil.
PRIEST ARRAIGNED
16: 15-27.
1: 11.
With feelings better imagined than they can be described.
Peter hastily left the High Priest’s apartments now of his own
accord, going out into the shadows of early morning, that he
might weep bitterly and entreat the Lord’s forgiveness.
There is a lesson for us in the fact that Pcnter’s failure was
along the very line of his strength, He was naturally coura-
geous, had boasted of it, and yet failed for lackof courage.
“When I am weak then 1 am strong,” implies that he who
feels himself strone is really weak, as in Peter’s case. Let
us all learn tn sp&iallv guard our. supposedly strong points
of character. remember& thst we have a wiiv foe. We arc
to realize our weakness, our vulnerableness at any point, except
aa we keep watch at every point and rely upon the great
Captain of our salvation to assist us.
John does not tell the whole of the story; he omits refer-
ence to Peter’s cursing and swearing. His love for Brother
Peter evidently influenced him to omit that portion of the
narrative not absolutely necessary to confirm the Lord’s pre-
diction. The account of the cursing and swearing is given
by Mark, whose Gospel record is supposed to have been in-
dited by Peter himself. Mark being in a large measure Peter%
amanuensis.-Mark 14:66-72.
Jesus was examined of the high priest: that functionary.
however evil and murderously disposed at heart, felt bound
to at least preserve the forms of justice, altho from the rec.-
ords elsewhere we know that himself and his associates
amongst the priests and Pharisees had already determined that
Jesus must be put to death becauqe his influence amongst the
people was inimical to their own:- bf~~ause his teachin~~s
cast theirs into tbr shade and exposed their hcllowncss. big&
rv and hvpocrisv. Our Lord answered his (1111 &on~ nc*rord-
&gly ; refusing to make any specific explan:;tionb he merttlv
referred to his teachinrrn, annealing thus to his rinhtx as k
Jew. His answer was thr p’effcctly’proper and leg:;1 one; 1~
had been arrested without. iuxt cause, and the Judge was now
seeking to find a (‘ause. Our T,ord merely pointed out that
the cause for the arrrst mu& he shown to have hcen some
thing which preceded the arrest.
It is not necessary for us to suppose that the officer who
etruck Jesus with the palm of his band, and rcprovcd him for
improper language toward the rhicf priest, was intentionally
uniust in the matter. Rather we nlav suppose that, influenced
by”his desire to appear zealous in support’of the high priest’s
nosition and iudement. this accentuated his mental unbalance
as a fallen man‘: and’ led him to imagine evil where there
was none. This circumstance, however, gives us the opportu-
nity for discerning just what our Lord meant b.y his expres-
sion in the sermon on the mount, “Whosoever shall smite
thee on thy right cheek turn to him the other also.” (Matt.
5:39) Our Lord did not literally turn the other cheek to
the man and ask him to smite that also, nor did he even
(120-121) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, Pa.

receive the smiting in silence. He was not willing that his ing-the members of the Sanhedrin or Jewish Court having
good conduct and proper language should be evil spoken of been summoned by messengers as soon as Jesus was appre-
without at least a proper endeavor to correct the matter. hended. This hearing was preliminary in the sense that it
Hence he asked his smiter to point out wherein he had examined Jesus and formulated and decided upon the charges
spoken evil, and suggested to him that if he could not point on which it would convict at the formal meeting at dawn,
out the evil he should acknowledee his wrong in having im- about five o’clock. For the Jewish law forbade a trial by
properly smitten for an evil whichcould not & pointed o’ut. night.-Luke 22:66-71.
In the light of this illustration the Lord’s people are to (3) The formal trial before the Sanhedrin at dawn was
understand the command, to turn the other cheek, to mean merelv a ceremony-a farce. The determination to kill Jesus
simply that they are not to resist evil with evil; rather, they having been reached long before his arrest, the matter of his
are to receive more evil than return it in kind. On the con- condemnation was rushed through for two reasons. (a) The
trary, however, they are to resist evil with good; they are great Jews feared the common’ people would defend Jesus
to exnostulate with evil-doers. as the Master did. endeavor- against their trumped up charges, which were the only ones
ing w>th kindness and gentleness to have them see the right even they could formulate. (b) The Passover was at hand
and the wrong of the questions in dispute. and they wanted him killed before it. Ah! how little did
It would annear that our Lord’s trial bv the Jews was they realize that they were being permitted of God to exercise
held before Caiaphas, the acting high priesi, the son-in-law the evil desires of their hearts and thus to fulfil types and
of Annas. the nroner hieh Driest accordine to the Jewish law: prophecies to the very day.
and the four&&h verse ihentifies Caiathas as the one who A lesson in this for God’s people is, that it is not sufficient
had previously declared, “ ‘It is expedient for us that one that we go through a form or ceremony of justice; nor is it
man should die for the neople. and that the whole nation sufficient that we know in advance that we cannot circumvent
perish not.’ And this spake he not of himself, but being high the divine plan or hinder its fulfilment. Many will find in
Driest that vear he nronhesied that Jesus should die for that the day of reckoning and revealing, that they have served
hation; and”not for -th& nation only, but that also he should God’s purposes without honor or pro5t-in a manner Itth&
gather together in one the children of God that were scattered brought upon them condemnation instead of approval.
abroad-“-John 11:50-53. the great adversary Satan will ultimately find (but not in
Here is an illustration of how a great truth may be seen any degree to his credit or blessing) that all his opposition to
from two opposite standpoints. The prophecy of Caiaphas God, to Christ, and to “the brethren,” has been overruled by
was strictlv true, in strict accord with all the declarations divine wisdom and power for good, by him who “maketh the
of the Lord’s Word, and was sent through one of the channels wrath of man to praise him.”
which the Lord had been in the habit of using (the high It is all-important then, that we have more than forms
priest’s office) yet the person occupying that oflice, being out of iustice, of righteoueness;
”
we must have the spirit of right-
of heart-harmony with the Lord, was out of hsrmony also eousness, a Zor>i of righteousness-a sincere desire to know
with the various features of the divine plan, and became an and to do God’8 will, else like as the Jews condemned and
instigator and co-operator in an evil work, which nevertheless killed the Just One we might with forms of justice condemn
was working out in harmony with the divine foreknowledge and iniure his “brethren.” And to have the desirable condi-
and program. tion df”&e for God and for righteousness implies a full con-
There is a lesson in this also for all of the Lord’s people secration of heart to the Lord. Thus every examination of
in resnect to everv feature of divine truth. It is not suffi- the subject brings us back to the fact that full consecration
cient fhat we see certain facts; it is necessary also that we to the Lord, full self-surrender to his will as revealed in his
be in heart-harmony with the Lord, else we might, like Word, is the only proper and only safe course for any to pur-
Caiaphas, aid in fulfilling the Lord’s plan but nevertheless sue if they would hope to hear the Master’8 words, ‘Well
taking a wrong position may be bringing ourselves, with done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of
others, under a curse, while still co-operating in the fulfil- thy Lord.”
ment of the divine plan. Let all who are of the light, and It was during the interim between the 3 A. M. examina-
who have received the truth, seek more and more to walk in ____.and
tion ..-- the
.~~. 5- A. M. formal conviction of our Lord by hie
the light and in the Master’s footsteps, carefully avoiding the influential enemies, that he was subjected for two hours to
evils which we see illustrated in the cases of Judas, Peter the mockery and insults described by three of the Evangelists.
and Caiaphas. (Matt. 26:67, 66; Mark 14:65; Luke 22:63-651 These insults
were committed by the “servants” and well illustrate the fact
The trial before the Jews was of three parts:- that low minds delight in the misfortunes of those whom they
( 1) The examination before Annas the legal high priest, realize to be their superiors. These servant8 manifested the
which was wholly unofficial. He sent Jesus bound to Calaphas Sante spirit as their masters-the chief priest8 and Pharisees
the oficial high priest of Roman appointment, and as such -their method8 were ruder because they were more ignorant
the president of the Sanhedrin, whose court room was prob- and coarse. The spirit of Christ, the spirit of love, on the
ably in the same palace, across the corridor, where Peter stood contrary, whether in the educated or in the ignorant is a
warming himself. spirit of love, of gentleness, of sympathy, of kindness. By
(2) The preliminary trial before Caiaphas is supposed their fruits both spirits may be known. “If any man have
to have been held between two or three o’clock on Friday morn- not the spirit of Christ he is none of his.”

THE “GOOD CONFESSION” BEFORE PILATE

MAY 28.-JOHN 18:28-40 ; 1 TIM. 6: 13.
“I find no fault in him.“Aohn 19 : 4.
Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, had in his hands carrying out the very arrangement8 foreordained of God-
the power of life and death. The Jewish Sanhedrin was per- and doing so in the full exercise of their own evil volition.
mitted to govern the country in a religious way, according As already noted, the formal condemnation of our Lord
to Jewish li~w and custom, but had no power to order public before the Jewish Sanhedrin occurred at dawn, five to six
execution. Apparently they did have the power to stone to o’clock, and immediately they hurried him to Pilate’8 judg-
death for blasphemy (the charge on which they condemned ment hall. intent on eettina him into the hands of the Roman
Jesus) as in the case of Stephen (Acts 7:58) ; and hence we soldiers for executio<at the earliest possible moment, EO that
may sunnose that thev had such a power in respect to Jesus, the multitudes might realize his case as beyond the power
bui failed to exercis; it lest the -people should resent the of their intervention. Nor had the Jewish rulers any par-
in iustice. Moreover. ouitc nossiblv thev realized the wide ticular reason to suspect that Pilate would hesitate at all to
influence already attained by his “teach&rgs, and desired to order an executicn. Pilate seems to have had a reputation
make his execution as public and as disgraceful as possible- for cruelty. Philo speaks of “his corruption, his- acts of
to the intent that his followers might be chagrined and insolence. his habit of insultine the neonle. his crueltv. his
humiliated, as well as himself, because few would care to continual murder8 of people u&ied “and uncondemned”,‘and
confess themselves disciples of one who had been publicly his never-ending and most grievous inhumanity at all times-a
executed as a criminal,--condemned by both civil and man of most ferocious passions, very merciless as well as
ecclesiastical judges. Thus they hoped to nip in the bud very obstinate.” Apparently the rulers of the Jews had fre-
the new system of religious teaching, which, if it continued, quent cause to appeal to Pilate to be merciful, and generally
would evidently entirely subvert their own influence without effect; they seem to have taken for granted that
with the people. Thus unwittingly these evil-doers were if any prisoner were brought to him with a request
[ 24’701
MAY 15, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (122-123 T

for execution he would take pleasure in complying. whom they denounced as a disturber of the peace. Pilate’s
We are reminded of our Lord’s words to the Pharisees, Dosition was in manv respects a delicate one: he must Dlease
“Ye outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are ?,he government at “Rome, and he must avoid unnecessary
full of hypocrisy end iniquity,” when we read that these very disnutes with the local authorities. who in the nresent in-
persons who murderouslv were scheming for the destruction s&&e were evidentlv so determindd that they Gould have
of the Just One would iot enter into Pilate’s judgment hall, created a general d’isturbance rather than t&at their evil
“lest thev should be defiled.” and thus be hindered from cele- scheme should come to naught. The fact is that six years
brating “the Passover. cow wretchedly inconsistent and later these people did send to the Roman emperor such com-
hvnocritical thev were! Thev feared that Pilate’s iudement Dlaints against Pilate as secured his removal.
h’ail, being und& jurisdiction” of the Gentiles, mighi hcve in A Alone”with Jesus, Pilate’s question was, “Art thou King of
it some leaven (a symbol of sin), and realized not that the the Jews?” The Jews had not made such a charge against
real leaven of sin had permeated and thoroughly saturated Jesus ; indeed, they were far from wishing to a&nowledgc
their own hearts-anger, malice, hatred, envy, strife. the Galilean as Kiner of the Jews. or as beinn thus recognized
What a lesson the Lord’s DeoDle have here: for we are to by any number; th& had thus far merely cl;arged that-Jesus
remember that these heart-c&&pted conspirators were the was an evil-doer, an insurrectionist, whose death was neces-
professed holiness neonle of their dav and church. While sary to the peace of the nation. It would seem therefore that
it is not in the power-of any to-day t.6 eruzify the Lord and Pilkte had *previously heard from some quarter about the
put him to an open shame, it is within our power to put riding of Jesus on the ass, and as beiyg hailed by the people
to shame, to crucify, his “brethren’-the members of his body. as the Son of David a few days previously. That this was
And we .fear that-some to-day are doing this with as muh not Dart of the accusation of the Jews seems evident from
self-decention as was exercised bv these chief nriests and our ‘Lord’s reply to Pilate, “Sayest thou this thing of thy-
Pharisees who secured our Lorci’s crucifixion. * True, the self, or did others tell it thee of me?” Are you an interested
Pharisees knew not what they di?, as Peter says, “I wof that inquirer after the truth on this subject, or are.you merely
through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.” (Acts calling up a matter of which you have heard? I’llate’s reply,
3: 17) And so likewise to-day any who put to shame the mem- “Am I a *Jew?” was tantamount to savinr.
.I “What do I kno\t
bers of “the bodv of, Christ” nrobablv are ignorant of what about vour Jewish hopes and espectntions?“’ I am the Roman
thev do. Nevert*heless they &, then&elres &der the Lord’s govern&, and if you ire a king it is your own nation and its
sentence. “It were better t&at’ a mill-stone were hanged about chief renresentatives that hare delivered vou to me. What
his neck. and he cast into the sea.” (Luke 17:2) Let us hare yo; done, if you are their king, th;t makes your sub-
each theiefore beware, and keep the heart, out of ‘which are jects thus disloyal to you? Apparently there is no great
the issues of life. danger of your exercising any power against the Roman
Had the hen& of those Pharisees been in proper condi- empire; you are meek, gentle, lowly, unresisting yourself,
tion, full of love of righteousness and truth. and anpreciative and your people are crying out against you. King of the
of whatsoever things ire true, whatsoever things ate honest, Jews, explain this peculiar situation!”
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, Then Jesus explained that his kingdom is not of this
whatsocvcr things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good order of things, otherwise he would have servants to fight and
report, thev co<ld not ha&. made the mistake of rejecting to defend him. and would not be as at present, at the mercv
and crucif&ng the Lamb of God. Similarlv. those who have of his enemies’; and that his kingdom hid not jet commenced.
the spirit “of ‘iove for the brethren will be %ndered from be- Astonished, and perhaps with some degree of sympathy for
coming in any manner their persecutors. Only such can a great ruler under such humiliating conditions. Pilate asks.
properlv
* eat of the antitvpical Passover. %o pou then claim that you are a king?” Our Lord answers,
iIlic~ Roman governor; -knowing of the peculiar custom of “Thou save&” that is. “Your statement is correct: I am a
the Jews in resnect to their Passover time. accommodatedhim- kina.” -“‘To this end bras I born, and for this cause came I
self to their thebrv and had his chair of state brought outside in6 the world, that I might b&r witness unto the truth
the judgment hal”l to what was known as the P&e of the Evervone that is of the truth hear&h mv voice.”
Paremcnt. an elevated nlatform. Jesus was called UD on this Tiis was the good confession which ‘our T,ord witnessed
platform ‘for examination, while the Jews standing outside before Pontius Pilate, to which the Apostle refers.
of the unhallowed ground made known to Pilate their ac- (1 Tim. (r:13) He ro~ifcssrd hiq kinp+llip :l~rltl its clitinc
cusation. They evidently expected that the mere presentation authoritv. I\-e are not to wonder that Piln tc was incredulou:
of Jesus as a prisoner for crucifision would be sufficient. Ap- of our I:ord’s claims to kingship, and that hr probably thought
parently they had not even espected to be required to make him a fanntic. We are rather to remember that rcmarkahlg
an accusation; hence their answer, “If he were not a male- few of those who 1:ave heard of Jesus hnvc recognized the
factor [evil-doer] we would not hare delivered him up unto truth of this stat+ment that he is a king. How-few, even
thee.” Some have suggested, in harmony with the character of amonest nrofcsscsd Christians, rccoenizc the kingly office of
Pilate and his probable disrespect for the Pharisees, that his our J&d !‘ JIanp who realize’that ~Tesus was indedd the Man
question rather was, “1Vhat accusation do you bring against of Sorrows, aquainted with grief, and some who realize that
I&n!” as tho he would give the implication that Jesus rather he died for our sins, have never yet seen that he purchased noi
had ground for making accusatioi against the Pharisces- onlv man hut the empire origirially given to tlic first Adam.
which of course was the case. The hardened Roman no doubt Ma6v can realize our Lord in the attitude of Driest who fail
had become an expert reader of human character, and could to rgalize that he is also to be a king, and that throughout
readily see that there were no criminal features in our Lord’s the 1lillcnnial age he will be a priest upon his throne, “after
countenance, and many in those of his accusers. the order of Melchizedec,” his Church and Bride being as-
To the surmise of the priests and Pharisees, Pilate turned sociated with him and sharing in both his priestly and his
Jesus over ag%n to them; saying in substance, This is some kingly offices.
Dettv relieious auarrel with which I care to have nothing to The priestly ofice speaks mercy, forgiveness and grace to
20; ‘take rhe pri’soner and do with him according to your “own help: but the kingly ofice is no less essential to the world’s
laws and customs-imprisoning him, or causing him to be sal&tion-men m&i be deZi%ercd from the bondage of sin and
beaten, or whatever you may think proper, according to your death-and must be ruled with the iron rod in order to develop
law. But, thirsting for our Lord’s death, his persecutors re- them and fit them for life everlasting; and all of this work
vealed their real condition of heart, saying, “It is not lawful belonER to him who redeemed us as with his own nrecious blood..
for us to put any man to death.” It is “well that we remember, too, that a very la&e proportion
Hard. cruel, unmerciful tho he was, Pilate realized the of our Lord’s parables related to the kingdom i‘< i& various
true sitiationithat the guilty were pursuing the innocent to &apes-now embrvotic. bv and bv to be set UP with full
death. That he might have the better opportunity for think- po\Ger and authority & o;erthrow”evil and to biing in ever-
ing quietly, and also for hearing what Jesus would say in lasting righteousness.
self-defense, Pilate left the Jews and called Jesus unto him This kingdom is to bc a kingdom of truth, of righteous-
into the judgment hall, where they conversed. There must ness and of love, working well for its subjects, and our Lord’s
have been something very striking in our Lord’s personal mission at the first advent was to lay the foundation for that
appearance to have caused Pilate to consider for a moment the kinedom bv witnessing to the truth-the truth that God is
reiection of the demands of the Jewish Court or Sanhedrin, botg just “and loving: and is willing to receive back into
for altho he haa full power of life and death it was incumbent harmonv with himself all who love truth and riehteousness.
upon him, as his first-duty, to preserve the peace and tranquil- it waq< our Lord’s faithfulness to the truth &at brought
ity of his dominion; and this implied that in a general way at upon him the opposition of those who were blinded by the
least he must keep on the popular side, especially when the Adversary, hence his statement that he came to bear witness
popular side embraced the chief men of the province, and to the truth is a brief statement of his mission. It was his
particularly when those chief men desired the execution of one witnesq to the truth that cost him his life, and it was the
[2471]
(124-125) ZION’S Wd4TCH TO!YER

givmg of his life In defense of the truth that constituted the Acting in harmony with this thought, Pilate came again
redemption price. Similarly all of the Lord’s followers are before the Jews, and caused our Lord to be led forth, weak,
to bear wit&s to the tr&h-the truth in respect to God’s exhausted and miserable-looking, from the trying experiences
character and plan-the features of that Dlan accomDlished of the night, supplemented by the painful and weakening
at the first adGent in the redemption of the world, aid the influence of the scourging just received. With his crown
features of that plan yet to be arcomplished in the second of thorns and soiled puFple rbbe he must have been a pitiable
advent, in the deliverance of the world from the bondage of sight indeed, and yet the noble outlines of his Derfect manhood
sin and corruption. It in hl1c.h witness to the truth that-is to must still have INen striking, and no doubt suggested the
cost all the true followers of Jesus their lives in presenting words of Pilate which have echoed down the centuries since,
themsel\cP living sacrifires, holy and acceptable to God “Behold the man !” (John 19:5) Pilate evidently was im-
through C’hrist Jesus. Let each one who hooes to be a ioint-. presird with our Lord’s personality; never before had he seen
heir with the Prince of Life in the kingdo& witness 6 the so splendid a specimen of the human race. He was such an
truth-a good contession respecting the kingdom, its founda- one as any people might have been glad to honor as their
tion and ultimate suDcr~trnc:inrr in zlorv.. kin<? * He evirlcutly lmpc~l that some impression would be
A very short ~~IYIWIIIW on .IIC.~I ;I tcb\t wan quite. slllfic*lcnt made upon the clamoring throng which accused Jesus. But
for Pilate. He hatI no ~V~II (b to cntchr into a thcologlc*:31 d15- lip \\n+ mlqtnken; they rlamored 30 much the more, “Crucify
cus6on, which co11ltl on1.y rr~floct llnfavorahly lipon hi:. own him ’ (‘~~xrify him “* .ITrrntlme Pllatc’q wife had heard of
past record. He hroke olT th(a I’OII\ or~dtlon SII&IVIII~, h.ry~ny. rlw tlr.:l a11(1ha(l *(snt L’llntc word respecting her dream, and
“\l.hat is truth?“--as tho he ~oultl +:I\. \Vho iy truthful? <Id\ 1W' tllilt 11~1h:!\e no part in doing injury to this just
Where is absolute justice to be found, ab&utc truth, absolute person.-Matt. 27 : 19.
probity? And without waiting for an answer he left Jesus in
RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR LORD’S DEATH
ihe J&ment hall, went fort% to the Place of the Pavement,
and addressed the waiting Sanhedrin and their multitude of Pilate immediately said to the Jews, “Take him and
servants and hangers-on, ‘&ought with them to give evidence crucify him, if that is your law.” But altho thus assured that
of popular clamor. the Roman governor would not interfere in the matter, the
Pilate announced his decision, “I find in him no fault at Pharisees hesitated about accepting the proposition ; they
all.” Then the Jews, fearing that their prey was about to much preferred that the crucifixion should be in t,he hands of
escape, began to bethink themselves of charges to be the R;man governor and his soldiers, lest the friends of Jesus
formulated. They t11tl not mention the charge on which they and the multitudes who had been healed and taught by him
themselves had convicted .Jesus, falsely, namely, blasphemy; should come to his assistance and overDower them: hence
for this would have hcchn no crime whatever in the eyes of the they answered Pilate that according to the’ir law Jesus should
Roman governor. Instead, they made three charges, viz., (1) die, hecnuse he made himself the Son of God. They perverted
seditioll-aKit,ltion of the people against the existing order of thr truth in their endeavor to uphold their course, for the law
things; (2) tllat he iuterfcred with the collection of taxes, did not prescribe death as a penalty for the claim of being the
teaching the people that it was improper to pay tribute- Son of God. Had our Lord claimed to be the Father he would
moiic~y to it fol (~I~II power ; and (3 ) that he made claims of have come under the terms of the death Dennltv for blas-
beinlr a klnlr.-Luke 23 : 2. phemy, but there was no such penalty, nor &as it”blasphemy,
ITut now‘\caarnlng that Jesus’ home and principal ministry to call himself, as he did, the Son of God.
was in Galll(*c, PIlute thought to relieve himself by referring \Vhcn Pllal* heard of.this he was the more alarmed. The
the entire m:ltt(xr to IIerotl, who had charge of the province of features of Jesus were impressive of themselves, but if one
Galllee, and w110 \tas then at ,Jerusalem, at a palace not far possessing such features made the claim of relationship to
tllYtallt. Tl11~ was the Herod who had caused the death of God there certainly was some ground for fear. Pilate still
,John the BnDtist. Luke tells us (23 :8) that Herod was very with&ad the Jewish clamor, and sought to release our Lord.
glad to sc’c -Jesus, for having heard much respecting him h& Then the .Tews, as a last resort, threatened Pilate by implica-
hoDed al90 to see some miracle performed bv him. Herod tion, crying out, “If thou let this man go thou art not
qu&tioned our Lord with ma.ny ivords, but ieccived no re- Caesar’s frifmd : whosoever maketh himself a kine sDeaketh
sponse wlia tc\ c’r, while the chief priests and scribes grew the against Caesar.” They thus intimated that if I&d frus-
mores vchemcqlt in their nccuqations. seeing that Jesus denied tratcd their designs. and refused to crucifv Jesus as thev de-
nothIng that th~~y said, and that thus they were not called manded, they w&~ld report him to Caesar ks an enemy Gf his
up011 for proofs. empire, a succorer of seditious persons, a fosterer of rival
Ilcroct no doubt wah piqued as well as disappointed by kings in the empire. Pilate could not stand against this ar-
our Lord’s conduct, and unable to gain entertainment from gument, and washed his hands in the presence of the multi-
111m :tk r.\pccted, he and his guard took sport in mocking the tude, saying by this a&, as well as in w&ds, “I am innocent of
Redeemer’+ claims of dignity and kingship. the blood of this duct perqon; see ye to it.” And when the
lsut with a desire to return Pilate’s compliment, and per- *Jews cried out, “His blood be upon us and upon our children,”
hiID with home little tour11 of remorse of conscience in respect Pilate delivered him t.~ be crucified.---hIatt 27:24. 25.
to ‘the hcheatling of John the Baptist. Herod disposed of-his \\‘e are not of those who condemn Pilate; he was a servant
rc.Donsibilities in the vase hv rcturnine our Lord to Pilate. of the empire, charged with doing evervthinn reasonable to
It ‘was after our Lord’s re’turn to l%late’s judgment hall preserve peace in hi‘s dominions, and only a ‘rlearly enlight-
that the latter, apparently as a final catTort to appease the ened and fully consecrated saint could have been exnected to
.Jcw*, to prescrvc the paw of the country, and yet to let go do more than”Pilate did for the release of Jesus. On; Lord in
one whom he clearly discernrd to be Innocent, announced no sense intimated guilt on the part of Pilate. The responsi-
that in view of the clamor against Jesus he would cause him bility was assumed by the Jews, and surely its penalty has
to he srourgcd, nltho hc found no fault in him. He evidently r&cd heavily upon them and upon their children for the
hopc,tl that Iby the infliction of the scourging (whipping) and past eighteen centuries, and even yet their cup of anguish
Incideutal humiliation, that the spirit of malice on the part i* not filled to the full. “Jacob’s trouble” will be no unim-
of the tieruserS woul~l be snti&ed. nnd that they would pence- portant one in the great time of trouble that is just ap-
ably. n,nleeL. to his release. Apparently the scourging was done pronc+ing; but we thank God on their behalf that deliver-
in \ome intcbrior :~p:~rtmrnt~ ‘by th> Roman iol&ers; and :lnc*e is nigh for them, as well as for all others of the groan-
DiolNblv with the full (onqcnt of Pilate a rast-off roval robe In- rrcittion How blessed the thought that when they shall
~ntl :L &own of thorns w(tr(b put upon our Lord. l&idcntly loik upon h’im whom they pierced, and wail because of him.
tlii4 procerding would furiiirli i1m~ls~lTlcnt to the unsympa- it will not be with tears of hopeless sorrow; for the Lord
thetic soldiery, and so much *h:lmr and contempt cast upon “shall pour upon them the spirit of grace and of supplica-
our Lord might at least satisfy his prr‘sc(zutors, if it did not tion. and they’shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his
awaken sympathy. first-born.-Zech. 12 : 10.

A “PILGRIM” IN THE WEST

Friends in I<~n\:ls, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa who de- ns by letter immediately in order that we may make up the
*ire n visit from one of thr “Pibqims” will please report to I oute accordingly.

“LOOKING UNTO JESUS

1,001~ unto Christ, 0 rhurch of God, Look unto Christ, 0 gronning race,
Frar not, no, l)e distressrd; Thy bllrdcn to remove;
“T\vas 11r who qave his p~~c’ious hlood- .Tehnvah’q sll-sutficienl grace
In him yn~ now are blessed. The “King of kings” shall prove.
124’723 -J. Y. Blose.
 “HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS*’
JUNE ~-JOHN 19 : 17-30.
“The Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.“-Gal. 2:20.

Crucifixion was the horrible method of execution in olden
times for the vilest of criminals-its severity being intended
to intimidate and deter evil-doers, rather than as a gratifica-
tion of cruel sentiments. Farrar says of it:-
“Death by crucifixion seems to include all that pain and
death C(M~have of the horrible and ghastly dizziness, cramp,
thirst, starvation, sleeplessness, publicity of shame, long
continuance of torment, horror of anticipation, mortification
of untended wounds-all intensified just up to the point at
which they can be endured at all, but all stopping just short
of the ooint which would give to the sufferer the relief of uncon-
&o&n&s. Such was the vdeath to which Christ was doomed.”
As alreadv noted, the envious and murderous chief priests
I
and doctors of Judaism desired just such a public denuncia-
tion of the great Teacher who so fearlessly had exposed their
hypocrisies “and inconsistencies, and who was fast making an
impression upon the common people. For them to have stoned
him to death as a blasphemer they probably feared would
leave him a martyr in the eyes of many, while to have him
publicly executed as a criminal, sentenced by the Sanhedrm
and executed by the highest civil power in the world, would,
they hoped, brand Jesus, his teachings and his followers,
forever with infamy. We may imagine, therefore, how their
evil hearts exulted, when finally they had coerced Pilate into
signing the warrant for the execution of Jesus.
According to Mark’s account (15:25) the death-warrant
was signed bv Pilate about nine o’clock in the morning-the
trial of Jesus, and Pilate’s various attempts to secure his
release from his enemies, having occupied three hours.
once they started, the two robbers bearing their crosses, and
Jesus bearing his cross, taking the place of Barabbas, who
was to have been executed, but who was released. It was
the custom in olden times to compel the convicts to bear the
instruments of their own torture. Nor were the crosses SO Redeemer to secure his execution, it furnishes us fresh evidence
large and heavy as they are generally illustrated in modem
paintings. On the contrary, the evidence is that the feet of
the crucified were usually only twelve to eighteen inches
from the ground. Altho small, these crosses constituted
good burden for a reasonably strong man; but our Lord, after
passing through his G-ethsemane experiences and the night of
buffeting and scourging, and his further scourging by Pilate’s
orders, was sick, exhausted, weak, sore. Apparently even the
hardened soldiers took pity upon him, and meeting Simon the
Cvrenian on the way, they compelled him to relieve Jesus.
We know nothing respecting Simon, except that Mark
relates that he was the father of Alexander and Rufus, which
gives the suggestion that these, his two sons, may subsequently
have became the followers of Jesus and well known amongst
the disciples. In any event Simon himself enjoyed a great
privilege which thousands since have almost envied.
the apostles, Peter, James and John and others, must have
regretted the fearfulness of heart which kept them all at a
distance, and hindered them from proffering their aid to the
Master in his trying hour! John, we know, was not far off,
probably the others were near also; but what an opportunity
they missed!
And very similar opportunities are still with us all-
opportunities to serve the Christipportunities for serving
the members of the body of Christ. As everyone who follows
the Master’s footsteps -must needs have some Gethsemane
experiences, so also each must have a taste at least of all the
Master’s experiences. Let us not forget, then, to look about
us for opportunities for serving the “brethren,” the “little
ones,” the members of the body of Christ. Let each be careful
not to add to the reproaches that must fall upon all the fol-
lowers of the Lamb, but on the contrary to offer words of
sympathy, and to help bear each other’s crosses, difficulties
and trials by the way. Thus can we best show to our Lord
and Head how we would have appreciated the opportunity
of helping him bear his cross on the way to Calvary.
The place of crucifixion was called Golgotha, the Hebrew
word signifying a skull, the Latin name for a skull being
Calvary. This name was given to the locality probably be-
cause the general contour of the hill, which was just outside
of Jerusalem, closely resembles a skull when viewed at a
distance. It was on the way to this place, Golgotha, Calvary,
that some of the charitable women of Jerusalem, according
to their general custom, offered the condemned ones sour
wine mixed with bitter myrrh-a draught which had a tend-
ency to stupefy the nerves, thus rendering the execution the
less agonizing. The two robbers quite probably drank of the
potion, but Mark ( 15:23) declares that our Lord refused it--
having learned that his experiences were the Father’s will,
he would do nothing whatever to hinder himself from re-
ceiving them to the full.
Probably Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene,
Marv the mother of James the Less and of Joses, the mother
of James and John, and Salome, the wife of Cleophas (Matt.
27 :56 : Mark 15 :40) and others of the friends of Jesus, bv
this time gained courage and mingled with the women whb
offered the wine and myrrh, so that Luke says, “There fol-
lowed him a great company of people, and of women, which
also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto
them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep
for vourselves and for vour children.“-Luke 23:27. 28.
Thus, and with other words recorded, our Lord fore-
shadowed the great time of trouble coming upon the Jewish
nation. By the expression, “If they do these things in a
green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” he implies that,
altho the nation of Israel had been given up only five days
previously, when he exclaimed, “Your house is left unto you
desolate.” if their rulers could sanction such iniustice and
lawlessness while their greenness, freshness and religious
vitality remained, what might be expected in the future, ‘after
the religious vitality had dried out and the nation as a whole
had become ready for the great “burning” of their day of
trouble, which was designed to. and had been prophesied
should, utterly consume their polity. And how literally our
Lord’s prophecy was fulfilled: Josephus, without a thought
of corroboratine this testimonv. tells us with exnlicitness of
detail of the t&rible suffering;’ which came upon’ the women
At and rhildren during the great time of trouble which ended
with the destruction of Jerusalem, A. D. 70.
When we reflect upon the prophecy, “He was numbered with
the transgressors” (Isa. 53:12), and then consider the terri-
ble persi&nrp with which the leading Jews pursued the dear
of divine foreknowledge which, without interfering with the
free moral agency of any man, is nevertheless working all
things according to the counsel of God’s will. We see afresh
a how’God causesthe wrath of man to praise him, and to testify
to his wisdom and foreknowledge.
It was customarv to have four soldiers attend each pria-
oner to execution; foremost went one who bore a white board
on which was written the crime for which the prisoner was
to be executed, and which was fastened above his head on the
cross; then followed three soldiers with the hammer and nails,
etc., and these all were under the command of a captain or
centurion. The board placed above Jesus, on the cross, de-
clared him to be the King of the *Jews. and was written in
three languages- in Hebrew, the language of the country. in
Greek, because it was tbe language of the visitors and of the
How educated from all quarters. and in Latin, because it was the
language of the empire and of the soldiers, There is a slight
difference in the statements of the different Evangelists re-
specting the words used on this tablet, which may be‘accounted
for by supposing that the words differed slightly in the dif-
ferent languages, and that the Evangelists quoted from the
different originals.
Little did Pilate comnrehend the great truth which he set
before the world in the *words, L’cJesuY8of Nazareth, the King
of the Jews.” Few yet realize the truth of this statement
that Jesus is a King; comparatively few have yet rendered
him allegiance, bowing the knee of their hearts in sincerity
and truth: and yet so surely as the Lord has spoken it, the
time is coming when every knee shall bow and every tongue
shall confess him Lord, Master, King, to the glory of God the
Father. And to this end it shall come to pass that after
full knowledge of the matter has been given to all, he that
will not obey this Prophet shall be cut off from among the
people in the second death. (Acts 3:23) He was indeed re-
jected of the Jews, but nevertheless the full elect number for
the twelve tribes of Israelites indeed shall yet be found, who,
as the seed of Abraham, shall accept Messiah as King and,
faithfully serving him in the present life, and laying down
their lives in his service and for the brethren, shall be accepted
of him as joint-heirs in his kingdom. Since there were not
enough of the natural Israelites to complete these twelve
tribes of Jsraelites indeed. God is comoletine the number bv
adoptions from amongst the Gentiles d&ing;he past eighteeL
renturies. Ultimately the entire number shall be completed.-
Rev. 7 :4-8.
The Jewish doctors of divinity were willing enough to have
Jesus condemned as the king of the Jews, but were quite
unwilling to have this sentence publicly recorded, and thus
to imply that they had so feared his claim and influence as
[ 24733 (125-126)
(127-128) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY. PA.

to seek his death. Pilate’s refusal to amend the charge was a they know not what they do.” (Luke 23: 34) While these
just one; if there was no merit in the claim, why should they words undoubtedlv renresent trulv our Lord’s sentiments as
have feared him, and why should he have been crucified? If respected his enedies, &nevertheless”it is proper here to remark
there was enough merit in the claim to lead to his crucifixion, that the oldest Greek MSS. do not contain these words.
the matter should be plainly stated. The second word from the cross: Our Lord’s message to the
The division of the spoil was customary at every cruci- robber, “Verily I say to thee today, Thou shalt be with me in
fixion, and gave evidence of the indifference and hard-hearted- Paradise.“-Luke 23.43
. .
ness of the soldiers in the nresence of sufferine. The raiment The third word from the cross: “Woman, behold thy son !
divided consisted of headd&, outer robe, girdle and sandals; . . . . Behold thy mother !”
the garment here called a “coat” and “vesture” was an under- The fourth word from the cross: “Mv God! my God! Why
garment which reached from the neck to the feet. It was hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34)” Of this”expression &
&dently of fine quality and texture, as indicated by the fact noted theologian has said. “In the entire Bible there is no
that it was woven throughout, seamless. The casting of lots other senten:e so difficult’ to explain.” Yet the meaning of
for this robe marked the fulfilment of a prophecy to which this, and the reason for it, are v&y easily seen when once we
John calls attention. (Psa. 22:18) The seamless robe appears have the correct view of the ransom. From this standpoint we
to symbolize the righteousness of Christ, which can be appro- see that the Logos became a man, “was made flesh,” in order
priated only as a whole; it is of one piece, and may not be that he bv the ernce of God mieht taste death for everv man.
marred. 1vhoever mav ect it, nets a most valuable robe, and (Heb. 2:6) WG see also that <he death penalty upon”father
whorh\eer may fail to ,er it, fa& to obtain the righteoubness Adam was the one which Jesus must experience in order to
which ic, of God in Christ. But not by lot or accident or the satisfaction of Justice and the release of Adam and those
chance does this robe come to the Lord’s people. As the who came under condemnation in and through Adam. As the
scriptures clearly point out, it is obtained only-through the penalty against Adam was death in the fullest and most com-
exerrise of faith, and held only by the obedience of faith. We nlete sense, so Christ died for our sins, suffering the Just for
might perhaps consider it a symbol of the wedding-garment ihe unjust; that he might release us from the-death penalty
which falls to the lot of one class onlv. a little flock. who and make nossible a resurrection of the dead. As the nenaltv
through faith and- perseverance shall i&&it the Kingdom as against Adam included his isolation from the Fathe; as i
members of the body of Christ, covered by his seamless and c&demnerl rebel, so it was necessary that our Lord Jesus, in
bpotlcss robe of righteousness. takine adam’s nlace. should esncricnre (if onlv for a short
The Apostle John had grown bolder as the day advanced, time)- the full ieaning of a sin;er’s sepahation’from God.
and while our Lord was crucified he drew near and was within Very mercifully, the Father did not permit this feature of
speaking distance-quite possibly encouraged by seein “the Adam’s nennltv to rest upon our Redeemer throughout the
wife of Clt~ophns,” who is supposed to have been a re7 ative. entire p&iod df his sacri&ial ministry, but only at its very
It was a sorrowful gathering for these whose hearts went out close. It was the fact of his communion with the Father that
with svmnathv for the Master whom they loved but were pow- permitted Jesus to pass throu,rrh all the trying esperiences of
erlcss “ti >omfort or relieve. They were-weeping and sortow- that day and the preceding night with such great courage, hut
ing while others jeered and taunted, saying, “If thou be now, when the Father’s sustaining grace and fellowship and
Messiah, come down from the cross”-thinking doubtless that corn&union of spirit with him w&e-withdrawn, and our Re-
our Lord’s crucifixion bv his enemies was the best possible deemer. with all his fine sensibilities, was uttcrlv bereft of
proof that his claim to “Messiahship was a fraudulent one,- solace from his dearest friend, it led his breaking &art to cry
proving that he was an impostor. out these words of anguish. Evidently it had been hidden
With the members of the body of Christ it has been true from him up to this time that he must suffer this phase of the
at times also that the Father has permitted experiences to punishment of Adam’s transgression.
come to them in such manner as might imply that they did The fifth word from the cross: “I thirst,” we hare already
not have his favor, and were really impostors. But as the true considered.
disciples bad a heart-union with the Lord, which outward The sixth word from the cross: “It is finished.” suorecte
circumbtanccs and misfortunes could not break, a love which to us that our Lord’s earthlv mission had been accomnli&~d.
adversity could not chill, EO with all his “brethren,” those who He came -to die, to redeem t6e death condemned race oi Adam.
are in h>art-harmony, in oneness of spirit, will be found faith- to mlrchase it with his own urecious blood. his life. Re had
ful under the most trying circumstances and adversities, coniecrated himself to this wdrk in harmoni with the Father’s
bcc.au<c they have one sp’irit, a spirit of love for the brethren, plan, and with his dying breath, expiring, h”e could say that he
by whirh thcv arc enabled to identify one another as members had finished the work which the Father had eiven him to do.
oi the one bo&. How it rejoices us to know that our dear R<ieemer did com-
110~ it g&s us an insight into our Lord’s sympathetic plete the work, that he did not resent the taunts of those who
nature. to fi;ld him thinking in the interest of others at the said, “If thou be Messiah, come down from the cross:” “Save
verv time when hc himsclf”is orcrwhrlmcd in trouble? His thyself ! ” We rejoice to’think that since the great’ sacrifice
owli agony did not hinder him from thinking of his mother, has been finished land esneciallv in view of the fact that the
and making provision for her comfort, commending her to the heavenly ‘Father &bse&ntlv declared that it was finished
care of the loving disciple John. We thus see exemplified in acceptahlv), we may realize -that there is now, therefore, no
the Master the tenchinq of the Scriptures that each should condemna’tion to th<m that are in Christ Jesus.-Rom. 8:l.
seek to mnkc provision ior his own dependent ones and, as the But although the sin-offering was finished eighteen hundred
Apostle says, “If any provide not for his own, and especially years ago by the sacrifice of our Lord, the Lamb of God, there
for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith and is is another part that is not yet finished; but in harmony with
worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Tim. 5:8) “The faith” includes the divine plan our Lord is waiting for the Church, which is
thoughts of love, sympathy, interest and care for others, espe- his body, $o “fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of
ciallv for them of the household of faith. We note the choice Christ.” (Col. 1:24) And looking all about us, in the light
of J&n: it was doubtless because, first of all, of hia loving of the Lord’s Word, we may say that this work is almost
tender disnosition : secondlv. his zeal for the Lord and the finished too. Very soon the last member of the body of Christ
truth, and’ thirdli, his co&age in pressing near to be with will have suffered with the Head for righteousness’ sake: then
his dying Master in his closing hours, at the risk of his own the entire work of sacrifice apportioned for this Gospel age, or
life. Let us note these characteristics, as being those which Day of Atonement, will be ended, and the Millennial age of
the Lord approves, that noting them we may cultivate them glory and blessing, ruling and uplifting, will begin; ushering
in ourselves, and be granted special opportunities for service in for the world of mankind the ereat blessine. the Durchase-
by this same Master. price of tohick was @ished at Calvary. Let each dea; follower
It was about the close of cmr Lord’s agony that he said, “I in the Master’s footsteps keep patiently and perseveringly on
thirst,” and this gave opportunity for the fulfilment of the in the wav of self-denial until his course shall be finished-
prophecy which declared, “They gave me vinegar to drink.” until the Qaster shall say, It is enough; ‘Well done, good and
I Psa. 69 :21) This was not the ordinarv vinegar. but more faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few thinzs: I
yroperly so& wine, the common, cheap diink 07 the soldiers. will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou in6 the
The snonL*e filled with the sour wine. and reached UD to our joy of thy Lord.“‘-Matt. 25:21.
Lord’s m&h on a hyssop branch, served to moisten- his lips The seventh word from the cross: “Father, into thy
and tongue, and was evidently intended as an act of kindness, hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46) These our Lord%
mercy. last words were a quotation from the Scriptures. (Psa. 31:5)
The different accounts give altogether what are known as In other words, it had already been declared of him that thus
“The seven words on the cross.” he would commend himself to the Father’s erace and truth.
The first word from the cross: “Father, forgive them ; Our Lord was finishing laying down his hum& life a ransom
[ 24’741
MAY 15, 1899 ZIOl\i’S WATCH TOWER (128-l 32)

for many sinners, but the Father had promised him a new life
on a higher plane, as a reward for his faith, obedience and
sacrifice. This new life, or life as a “new creature” was
reckoned as begun at the time of our Lord’s baptism when he
received the holy Spirit; this new life was reckoned as con-
tinuing and growing during the years of his ministry while
he was daily dying according to the flesh; the outward man
was perishing, but the inward new creature was being renewed
day by day, Now the outward man was about to cease entirely
-fully surrendered, the sacrifice finished.
Our Lord’s interest in and hope for a future life looked
forward, in harmony with the Father’s promise, to the new or
resurrection life; the new mind or spirit reckoned as begun at
the moment of his baptism and consecration, having the divine
promise of being perfected in a resurrection, in a spirit-body
suitable for and in harmony with the new mind, the new will.
But this change could not take place instantly: the divine law
had arranged that not until the third day could he be quick-
ened as the new creature of spiritual body. He must take this
by faith; no one had ever passed this way before: yet with
full confidence our dear Redeemer looked up to the Father, and
full of faith declared that he committed all of life and all of
these blessed hopes for the future to the Father’s love and to
the Father’s power,-to be provided in harmony with the
Father’s plan and Word. And so must we, as followers in our
Master’s footsteps, look forward with faith, and in our dying
hour commit all our interests to the keeping of him who has
manifested his love for us, not only in the gift of his Son as
our Redeemer, but all our journey through,-in his providen-
tial care, as well as in the exceeding great and precious
promises which go before us and surround us and give us
strength, comfort and assurance.

VOL. xx ALLEGHENY, PA., JUNE 1, 1899 No. 11

VIEW FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Austria-Hungary is called “the dual kingdom,” but really “LOS VON ROM”-AWAY FROM ROME
it represents three distinct races:-Germans (Austrians), The fih%meMsche afercur savs:-
Czechs (Slavs, Bohemians) and Hungarians (Magyars). The “The ‘Los von Rom’ movement is increasing, especially
Germans occupy the northern Austrian provinces nearest to in German Bohemia, where it occasions no little worry to
Germany. The-Slavs are most numerous but have long been the authorities. The Government has nowadays no means
subservient to the Magyars or real Hungarians, who are in at hand to prevent this wholesale desertion, as the Protestant
the minority as compared with both the others. All are Roman churches, or rather the Evangelical church. has legallv the
Catholics, tho the Slavs have quite a sympathy for the Greek same status with the Church if Rome. In’ Eger ll’b0 UCath-
Catholics or Church of Russia, to which most of their race olics have ioined Protestantism. in Carlsbad 100. and another
residing in Russia give adherence. 1000 will become Protestants together. Within’a~ short time
The-progress of education during the last twenty-five years half of German Bohemia will be Protestant.”
has had a great influence upon the subject race-the Bohe- The Tageblatt of Vienna says:-
mians, giving them new ideas of their “rights,” “liberties,” “The Germans on the whole will not renounce their right
etc. This has caused no end of trouble to the government, to make use of their intellectual powers. This the church
precipitating bitter race-contentions in their Parliament, the will not and can not permit. The Slav-s, as the case of Russia
Germans and Hungarians being unwillina to concede the de- shows, are patterns of submissiveness, hence the church pre-
mands of the Czechs who are ic the majo&y. Seemingly only fers that Slavs should have all power. For a long time the
the loyalty of all to the Emperor has prevented a civil war; Slav clergy has preached the doctrine that German is synony-
and serious results are feared in the event of the death of the mous with Lutheran. ‘Very well,’ say now the Germans, ‘we
now aged ruler. He is nearly seventy. will become Lutheran to emphasize our nationality. Los
Once the Papacy had so firm a hold that to be a Protestant von Rom!’ How much the church is responsible for this
meant death-this being the land of John Huss, the martyr; the case of Bohemia shows. In the mixed districts only
but a change of sentiment came gradually with greater -en- 23 priests are German, 262 are Czech. In the purely Ger-
lightenment. The Czechs were first to discuss the wisdom of man districts 618 are German and 562 Czech.”
leiving the Church of Rome and affiliating themselves with The London Outlook says:-
the Greek Catholic Church. This led to Roman concessions “The Pan-Germanic movement is one of the disintegrat-
to the Czechs to placate them. This, however, has gradually ing forces at work upon Austro-Hungary. The events of
led to a coolness toward the Church of Rome on the Dart 1871, says one of its leaders, were but a step in the right
of the Germans, and it is this that speciallv interests us iow. direction-, and the movement will not be -complete, ihe
The German- Catholic element looks with-admiration toward Altdeutsche Verband will not have achieved its aims. until
the German Empire to the North and West, where German all the members of the Teutonic race on the continent of
influence is supremely dominant, and annexation to these their Europe have been welded into one state. Not until this
brethren is earnestly craved-leaving the balance of Austria is accomplished can Germany assert herself with success as
to the Hungarians and Bohemians. But Germany has already a world power.”
so manv Roman Catholics that thev trouble her in her Reich- The London Saturday Review, referring to Baron Schijnerer,
stag or” Parliament as an oppositi& -party, and more are not the head of the new movement, says:-
wanted: it was for this reason that Bismarck ignored and “His last theatrical stroke of organizing secessions, ten
declined these pro-Catholic provinces of Austria when form- thousand at a time, from the Church of Rome, while naturally
ing the Empire. exasneratmg to his opponents, emphasizes his strength beyond
The new move of the Germans of northern Austria is to previous belief.” --
renounce adhesion to the Church of Rome and become Prot- The Roman Catholic Bishop of Linz said, at a recent
estants, with a view to making themselves acceptable to so- church conference in Austria,-
styled “Protestant Germany-” The movement has been in “In open meetings and in the press our holy faith is at-
progress only a short time, but is spreading rapidly and tacked in the most violent manner; openly and secretly the
means some awakening at least amongst these people long people are solicited to desert our holy church.”
bounden under priestcraft and superstition; later it may Herr Wolff, a leader among German Austrians, with his
mean the disintegration of Austria, and points to growing entire family, was recently baptized a Protestant; and in
race prejudices the world over. consequence he is now denounced as “a servant of Satan,”
What influence this may have upon the impending “time by the Catholic press, which is extremely bitter on the entire
of trouble” and distress of nations is hard to say; but surely subject.
it marks decline to despotic Papacy-as in France, Italy, In a time of such shaking up there should be some with
Mexico and Spain’s colonies. The extent of this Austrian ears for the present truth, and any who have the opportunity
movement may be judged from the following extracts from should be prompt to use it in serving the King and his
foreign newspapers:- “brethren.”

A VISIT TO THE HEAVENLY COURT

INVITATION TO THE SAINTS
Come, dear saints, and let us visit at the court of heavenly He has spread a “feast of fat things” that will tempt our
grace, appetites.
For Jehovah deigns a welcome to prepare. 0 the daintiness and richness of his fare!
He has bid us leave our earth-cares for the pleasures of He will cheer our drooping spirits with the vintage that
his face, delights
And recruit in heav’n’s salubrious atmosphere. Every honored guest his benefits to share.
[24761
(132433) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLBCHENY, PA

Lrt us lay aside our burdens, and our sorrows leave behind, With his signet in our foreheads we may wander leisurely
While we hasten to that glory-lighted scene; Through the palace gardens, by the river peace;
Let us purge our hearts of evil, and put on the willing mind, We may scale the heights of happiness, and overlook the sea
Lest our eyes be holden by a veil between. Of content, whose grateful murmurs never cease.
Clad in spotless robes of righteousness, by faith received
and kept, We may saunter through the orchards where the Spirit’s fruits
\Ve may safely pass stern Justice’s sentry-post; are ripe,
While our Guide-book, studied carefully, will make us all Plucking hope and love and kindness as we go;
adept And their fine, delicious flavors from our memories shall wipe
In the customs and requirements of our Host. Every trace of bitterness and earthly woe.
Hy his grnre brought nigh, and joying in his countenance of
light, We may change our weariness to vigor and perennial youth,
We may greet the loving Father face to face; At the living fountains near the palace-door;
\VP may learn the hidden mysteries of wisdom, love and might, .4nd with newborn energy and zeal explore the mines of truth,
l’rnving the “exceeding riches” of his grace. Adding gem on gem of knowledge to our store.
And the feast of his providing ! Who can tell, without a taste,
What shall charm our palates at that episode?
Come, dear saints, and visit long and often! Come with seemly
haste !
For the King says “Welcome” to his high abode.
-R. B. H.
____-

“NOW IS CHRIST RISEN FROM THE DEAD”

JUNE ~~.---JoHN 20:11-20; 1 Cos. 15:20.
Under divine supervision most elaborate proofs are fur- in Adam when the sentence of death came upon him,-all
nished us of the death of Jesus--even tho the disciples and redeemed by the one sacrifice, offered once for all. Strange
friends saw no necessity for this particularity, and indeed to say, very many Christian people speak of our Lord’s death
would have regarded all such proofs of his death as so and of his resurrection, and yet really do not believe in either.
many contradictions of their hopes and so many proofs of To believe that our Lord arose from the dead on the third
their disappointment. But the death of Christ was an all- day is to believe that he wms dead from the time of his
important event, and hence it was necessary, from the divine crucifixion on Fridav afternoon until the time of
standpoint, that the proofs respecting it should be indubitable. his resuscitation or iesurrection, early on Sunday morn-
Let us note some of these proofs:- ing, the first day of the week. And if he “was
dead” (Rev. 2 :8) during that period (parts of three
(1) His side was pierced with a spear, and from the dnys ) and did not rise from the dead until the morn
wound flowed blood and water-a positive proof that death, ing of the third day, it means that our Lord Jesus was not
dissolution, had taken place.-Jno. 19:34, 35.
in any sme alive during that interim, a period of about
(2) The centurion who had charge of the execution un- thirty-eight hours. It seems strange that it should be necee-
doubtedly was a man of large experience in such matters, qary to emphasize a point so emphatically and repeatedly set
and the record is that he was convinced of our Lord’s death, forth in the Scriptures. The necessity is two-fold:-
and so reported to Pilate, the governor.-Mark 15:39, 44, 45.
(3) The cornse was buried in Josenh’s n.ew tomb. which ( 1) Because, through a false, unscriptural theory, many
1

coniainetl no other corpses, and hence tdere could be no ques-
t ion respecting the body of Christ and its burial.
(4) The chief priests, anxious to prevent any spread
of the doctrine of .Tesus, remembered his words respecting
his resurrection ; and, while they placed no confidence in the
Christian neonle hold that there is no such thine as death:-
that what’ abpears to be death is merely a transformation
to a larger degree of life;-that the real being cannot die.
and that- merely the body dies, and that so OUT Lord Jesus
dti not die for our sins, but merelv shed off an outer cover-
ing of flesh.
”

matter, judging Jesus’ disciples by themselves they surmised

that they would be tricky and attempt to steal away the (2) It is important to the true Christian’s faith that
c*orpqc and to claim the resurrection of their Master in har- the fact of our Lord’s death be not only fully established
IIIOIIV with his previous declarations. As a precaution against by the statements of the Scriptures, but that the Christian’s
this”they rt~qu&etl Pilate to seal the tomb and place a guard faith therein be fully and thoroughly grounded; because onlr
of Roman soldiers there: but Pilate refused to act officiallv those who realize that our Lord’s death was for the time ~lb
in the matter, neverthelesr giving them, aa was probably cus- extinction of his being can realize how his death was the
tomarg, the privilege of hiring some of the soldiers as watch- payment of father Adam’s penalty. Father Adam’s penalty
men--much the &me as an$&e today can employ and pay was death, extinction, and this penalty fell by inheritance
,L noliceman for extra service as a watchman: thus the Phari- upon all his posterity: “Christ died for our sins”-he suffered
se& appointed the watch and sealed the stoke, and had full the death penalty for father Adam (and incidentally for all
cognizance of Jesus’ resurrection.-Matt. 27 : 62-66. those who had come under the death sentence through Adam’s
transgression).
(5) The friends of Jesm were fully convinced of hir
death, and wrapped his bodv in linen clothes, with spices. Nor should it be understood that the penalty upon fathe
(John 19:40) Apparently his declaration that he would rise .1dam was an extinction of life for merelv thirtv-eight hours.
from the dead on the third day was not appreciated by his it was perpetual, the everlasting extinciion bi li;e -and ail
followers until after he had risen. Their minds were intent the privileges of life he had received from his Creator. Our
upon thr promise of the Kingdom: they were amazed at his Lord’s sacrifice-the death of the man Christ Jesus--waP
arrest, conviction and crucifixion, and, it would seem, forgot :ln everlasting death also, a death which fully offset the
for the time many ot his precious words. Indeed, we are penalty upon father Adam, and as Adam’s substitute the
to remember that our Lord’s teachings were almost wholly tnnn Jesus could never be released. The release of the maA
In parables and dark sayings, and they may have misin- Jesus from the death penalty would be as impossible as the
terpreted his reference to a resurrection. (Mark 4: 13) AftpI release of Adam himself without a substitute; for, as man’s
his’ resurrection they remembered his words, and particularly substitute, “the molt Christ Jesus” took upon himself the
after Pentecost-after thev had received the holv Snirit. which. entire penalty of Adam’s transgression, and must bear to the
according to promise, b&ght to their memories the thingd full the death-curse which rested upon Adam and indirectly
which he had spoken unto them while he was with them.- upon his rare. Hence, faith grasps fiimly the thought that ou-r
.John 14:26. Lord .Tesw did not take back man’s ransom-mice-did not
take back the sacrifice for sins, the human hature-in his
If it were well that the facts respecting our Lord% death
should he clearly wet forth as a part of the Gospel. it is resurrection.
well also that all of the Lord’s people should fully recognize In order that he might offer this, the only proper and
the fact of his death, and the necessity of it, and its value acceptable ransom for man, our Lord left the glory which
as the offset or rorrespondinp price for the redemption of he had with the Father, left the higher nature, and was “made
-4dam. and indirectly thca redemption of all those who were flesh,” “that he by the grace of God should taste death for
[2476]
hIN8 1. 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (134-135)

every man.” (John 1: 14; Heb. 2:9) If he could pay man’s right to a future life by a resurrection on that score-he had
penalty by remaining dead thirty-eight hours, then man could given his rights for Adam and his race.
have paid his own penalty by remaining dead thirty-eight But while the rights of our Lord were gone-paid to
hours, and there would have been no necessity for a sin- Justice as Adam’s ransom. nevertheless the heavenlv Father’s
offering, a ransom-price, to be paid. Indeed, Adam would power and right to re-create on a higher plane where in no
have overpaid his penalty thousands of times. But since the sense of the word abridged. Justice might properly object to
penalty was death in the absolute sense, unlimited by time; the re-creation of Jesus as a man, but would have no ground
and since this penalty would never permit a restoration of whatever for objecting to the creation of a new creature-
life to Adam, therefore it was necessary that a ransom should of a nature higher and superior to all others of God’s crea-
be paid for Adam;-that another life should be sub&i&ted tures-of the divine nature. And this is what the Apostle
for Adam’s life;-that another, a perfect man, should die tells us did occur: after describing our Lord’s humility and
and remain dead everlastingly, that Adam and the race con- obedience to the Father unto death, even the death of the
demned in him might be released from death bv a resurrection. cross, the Apostle declares, “God hath highly exalted him and
It was just this work, in harmony with “the divine plan, given him a name which is above every name, that at the
that was accomplished by the man Christ Jesus, and finished name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue con-
in his death; and according to divine promise that ransom- fess that Jesus Christ is Lord. to the elorv of God the
sacrifice will never be abrogated, will never be taken back: Father.“-Phil . 2-g-11
. . [See Z ‘16, p. 133, ?or iater view].
and consequently all who are trusting in the merit of the While it doth not yet appear what we shall be, when we
great sacrifice of atonement may have full confidence that are changed by a share in the first resurrection to the same
there will be a resurrection of the dead (of humanity), both divine nature, and while consequently it does not yet appear
of the just and the unjust; because Justice has been paid to us clearly what our Lord is in his very high exaltation,
the full price, and because God has promised through the we can nevertheless appreciate the fact that amongst all
Gospel of Christ an opportunity for return to everlasting life, who are honored with the title of sons of God upon the dif-
which shall eventually be offered to every member of Adam’s ferent planes or natures, there is a measure of identity. Thus
race.-1 Tim. 2 :f3. for instance, our Lord, in his prehuman condition as -AMichael,
In view of these facts, how and why do we speak of the the Logos. could be transferred to a lower condition. the
resurrection of Jesus as essential to man’s salvation? We human,-and yet could preserve a good recollection and aunre-
answer that neither we nor the Scriptures speak of the resur- ciation of his previous*experience& and did so, as the Scrip-
rection of Christ Jesus as a man. AS his coming to our low tures relate. (John 8:58, 17:5, 24) And similarly it was
estate of manhood was merely for the purpose of effecting possible for the perfect man Jesus, the image of God in flesh,
our ransom, and as the taking back of manhood by a resur- to be so duplicated as a still higher image of God in the
rection would undo the entire work of redemption, it is divine nature, “the express image of the Father’s person,”
preposterous to think of our Lord’s resurrection as a restora- that his identitv is absolutelv assured. The Scrintures clearlv
Y ”

tion to human nature. indicate that our Lord’s experiences as a man, I and the lee-
Quite to the contrary, all the evidences of the Scriptures, sons of patience and obedience and sympathy which he then
rightly and carefully arranged before our minds, show con- learned, are present with him now, as experiences, altho
clusively that our Lord was resurrected a spirit-being-not no longer flesh, but spirit of the highest order. Only from this
only higher than man, but higher also than angels, archangels, standpoint can we rightly appreciate the various facts set
principalities and powers, a partaker of the divine nature. forth in this lesson.
As such he was indeed a “new creature,” and not in anv Woman’s love and tenderness, speciallv endearing charms
sense of the word did this imply his taking back our ransom of the sex, are well illustrated in this lesson-in th> coming
price. The Scriptures declare that he was “put to death in of Jesus’ female friends “verv earlv in the morning.” “while
the flesh, but quickened in the spinit”-a spirit-being: and it was yet dark,” at the “da&r.” T’hey came with nod thought
the Apostle Pan1 declares our Lord’s resurrection to be the of the Lord’s resurrection, but to embalm his body more
pattern or sample of the resurrection of the church which elaborately than there had been time and opportunity for
is his bodv. (Rom. 6 :5) He declared that we with him doing on the evening of his burial. They had been hindered
will constctute ‘the first ‘(chief) resurrection; and then he from coming the previous day, because it was the Jewish
explains our resurrection, and that explanation, therefore, Sabbath (th% day now known -as Saturday), the seventh day
must be equally an explanation of our Lord’s resurrection, of the week. It does not annear that thev all came together.
for he is the Head, the first-born from the dead amongst many but rather that Mary Magdalene was the” first to arriv”e ; but
brethren: and the experience of the “brethren” in resurrection before her arrival there had been an earthquake, the keepers
will only be a duplication of the experiences of their Lord. were affrighted, and fled to the chief priests. (Matt. 28~2,
With this in mind. let us note the Anostle’s statement re- 11-15) Mary’s perplexity respecting the events connected with
specting the first resurrection and its operation upon the the crucifixion was evidentlp intensified bv the finding of
Church, assured that the same description, in general features the stone rolled away from-the sepulcher,“and full or the
at least, apply to our Lord’s resurrection. he says, ‘Thus thought that the Lord’s enemies were still nursuina him.
is the resurrection of the dead: It is sown in corruption, it and ‘bad even removed his body, she ran with haste to make
is raised in ineorruption; it is sown in dishonor. it is raised the matter known to Peter and John, saving. “Tbev have
in glory: it is sown in weakness, it is raised in ’ ower : it is taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, -and we know not
sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual bo x y.“-1 Cor. where thev have laid him.” Meantime the other women ar-
15:42-44; Phil. 3:10, 11. rived, and” saw the two angels, who explained to them that
From this standpoint, and from no other, can the facts Jesus had risen as he had foretold, and they also returned
related in the Scriptures respecting our Lord’s resurrection to the city to report to the apostles.-Luke 24:2-10.
be harmonized with-each other and-with the object for which Peter and John were immediately interested by Mary’s
he came into the world and suffered death. narrative, and hastened to the sepulcher; John, the younger
Our Lord’s resurrected being was a direct gift from the and more active one, arriving there first, looked in and saw
Father, and not something which our Redeemer held over from the place vacant, and the linen clothes lying; but Peter, the
a previous existence: it was a re-creation on a higher plane courageous, coming up, was the first to enter the sepulcher.
of existence. When he left the glory of the spiritual condi- Now they began to think of the words which our Lord had
tion and became the man Jesus, he had a right to life, under spoken respecting his resurrection on the third day, and John
the divine law, because he had always fulfilled the conditions tells us of himself that looking at these evidences “he be-
of life. In harmony with this the Scriptures assure us that lieved”-yet no doubt with much confusion of thought at first.
his degradation from a higher nature to the human nature The two disciples wrnt to their home, but Mary remained
was not as a punishment, but of his own volition; not in at the sepulcher, weeping, and looking in she saw what Peter
obedience to a command of the Father, but in obedience to and John had not seen-two angels. They were doubtless there
the will of the Father. As a man also he had a right to when Peter and John went into the senulcher. but as we have
life, because the divine law guaranteed life to all who obeved heretofore seen from the Scriptural testimony, angels are in-
it; ‘hence in no sense of the Gord was his human life forfeiied. visible to human sight, except as a miracle may be performed.
On the contrary, he gave it, he sacrificed it, he ofered it, Such a miracle was performed in this instance, and the two
in harmony with the Father’s plan, as man’s ransom-price. angels assumed human form and white raiment, and asked
But there he lost all right to life: that was the very thing Mary why she wept. While she told them that she was
which he surrendered or “offered” on man’s behalf. And weeping because some one had taken away the Lord’s corpse,
having surrendered on man’s behalf his rights to life he had she heard a footstep near her, and turning saw what she
uo snch rights remaining. and ronsequently could plead no took to be the gardener, the keeper of Joseph’s garden in
124771
(136-137) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY. PA.

which this tomb was. She did not recognize him as the Lord,
but asked him if he had removed the body to tell her where’
that she might take charge of it-her thought seeming to have
been that Joseph was unwilling to have his tomb cumbercd
longer, and had therefore ordered that our Lord’s body be
removed, and that probably the gardener had attended to
the matter.
It will be noticed in this case, and in the various in-
stances of our Lord’s appearances after his resurrection, that
his nearest and dearest friends did not recognize him.
appeared in various forms and under varying circumstances.
He spoke to them only briefly on each occasion, and during
the forty days of his presence from the time of his resurrec-
tion to ‘tltc -time of 6;s ascension was seen of his disciples
only a few times, and all of his conversations together prob-
ably ditl not occupy river an hour. These appearances, never-
thclr=s, \vrrc for the pn~posc of teaching them verv important
lesions. (1 ) ‘J’llcby wv-cre-to rc~cognizc tile fact that he was no
longer dead, but alive. (2) That he was no lonaer the man
Jesus, nnd slil’iC(t to h~lrl&t limitations as- hefoTem his--cruei-
fixion, but with the same loving disposition and characteristics
was now a “new crcaturc,” not subject to earthly conditions
and limitations-able, as the angrls, to appear and to dis-
appear, to go and come like the wind, as he himself bad ex-
plained that all “born of the spirit” in resurrection can do.-
John 3:s.
In this view of the matter we are not surprised that Mary
did not know her Lord until he revealed himself bv sneakina
her name in a familiar manner. Then how quickly h& faith
surmnnntetl every ohstncle. With a woman’s intuition
stopped not to injuire why there were no marks of the nails in
his hanc!s and in his feet but crying, “Master!” she clasped
him by the feet with a fervency that meant, “Now that I
have found you again I will not let go of you!” Her love,
her devotion, her persistence, gained for Mary the great
honor of boma the first to whom the Lord revealed himself
after his resurrection. She had been forgiven much, and
she loved much, and nur Lord manifested his appreciation
her dcvntion. Nevertheless, be must tell her that she was
neglerting a great privilege and a great duty, for under divine
providrnrc it had fallen to her to be the first to announce to
the disciples positively that the Lord was alive again.
stead of holding the Lord t,irhtlv bv the feet. and thinkinn
never to leave hym, she shouldyather gladly become the servan”t
both of the Lord and the apostles, and carry the good tidings.
And this in substance is what our Lord said to her. Our
common translation “Touch me not” is faulty: the passage
should rather be rendered, “Cling not to me, but go to my
brethren, and say to them that I have not yet ascended to
my Father, but that I am to ascend to my Father and your
Father, to my God and to your God. Announce to them the
fact of mv resurrection. and that I will be with them awhile
before I 60 to the Father: thus you will do a work of ure-
paring them for my subsequent manifestations.” And having
the true love which manifests itself in obedience, Mary im-
mediately undertook the mission assigned her. According to
Matthew’s account (28: 1, 9) “the other Mary” must have been
near by, and have come- forward by this time, and received
a commission with Marv Magdalene to tell the discinles.
We will not stop t; cal? special attention to the words
of our Lord, in which he declares that our heavenly Father
is his hcnvenly Father, and our God his God, for the ex-
prcFsinn is siml,Ic enough for all unprejudiced minds.
pa<s on to notice that the second appearance of our Lord
was in the aftrrnoon of the same day, toward evening, when
he overtook two of the disciples going-to Emmaus, a suburban
villare: one of these was Cleonas. and the other evidentls was
Simon ‘Peter.-Luke 24: 13-32: 34.
The third apprarance was -in the evening of the same day.
While Simon and Clcopns (who immediately returned
Jerusalem to tell the discinles) were relatimr their exac-
riences, Jesus himself anpearkd in their midst. -The disc&es
were nervous from the experiences of the preceding days, and
were fearful of what the rulers of the Jews would do against
them as the followers of Jesus, and were together in con-
ference, “the doors being shut,” barred and bolted, we may
reasonably suppose. What could be more astonishing to them
than that a stranger should annear in their midst? and altho
he said, “Peace be-unto you.” -n-o wonder they were affrighted.
They thought of this as the manifestation of an angel in
their midst, for who but a snirit being could annear while
the doors were shut? They had not yet Gamed thi i&son that
our Lord, in his resurrection, was a spirit being and no longer
a human being, and that like the angels he now
had power to appear and disappear-to assume a human
bodv with clothinrr etc.. and to die&ate the same at will.
Thi: lesson they gust learn, and mu& needs be taught it by
practical illustrations. Simon, who had been at Emmaus,
and who had noted how the Lord vanished out of their sight
as soon as they recognized him, would undoubtedly be pre-
pared, better than the others, for this miraculous appearance
while the doors were shut. He would know that the one who
could disappear and vanish out of their sight at Emmaus
He would similarly have power to appear in any place.
Our Lord’s interview was not a lengthy one; it was a
first lesson, and the disciples would get the more good of it
by reflection after he would leave them. He wished them,
however, to be at ease in his presence, and to know that they
were not see&g a spirit being, for, as he explained, “a spirit
hath not flesh and bones.” What they saw was not
spirit, but matter. This does not mean that our Lord was not
a spirit being at this time, as is clearly set forth by other
Scriptures (1 Pet. 3 :lS; 2 Cor. 3: 17; Phil 3:21) : it merely
means what it says, namely, that what they saw was not spirit,
and hence that they had no cause for affright.
In our Lord’s appearance to the Marys and on the way
to Emmaus there is no suggestion that he appeared in a
body scarred with the marks of the nails. Can we suppose
that Mary would have clasped him by the feet and not
have noticed the great wounds made by the nails? Can
we suppose that the two going to Emmaus, and looking curi-
oiislv at their comnanion. asking him if he were a stranger in
thosk parts, wouldA not have noticed if his hands and his feet
she had great wounds in them ? The evidence, therefore, seems
conclusive that in neither of these manifestations did our
Lord annear in bodies bearing wounds and thus resembling
his crucified form. But now,at this third showing, wishing
to emphasize the identity of his risen self with the crncified
one, he appeared to his followers in a form exactly like the
one that was crucified, and showed them the spearmarks in
his side and the nail-prints in his hands and feet. And while
of thev.I still wondered and feared that what thev saw was merely
an apparition, be asked them to give him food, and ate some
fish and honeycomb in their sight.-Luke 24:39-43.
Nothing in this implies of ncressity that the flesh which
In- they saw was the identical flesh which had hung on the cross.
On the contrary that flesh, like all other flesh, was subject
to the laws of nature and could not have been brought into
the room while the doors were shut, nor subsequently caused
to vanish out of it. The body of flesh which our Lord dis-
played to the disciples, was evidently created, and its clothing
as well, in their presence, and dissolved when he vanished
from their sight after the interview. Such powers are beyond
human comprehension, but quite within the range of divine
power.
What became of the body of flesh that was crucified, and
that laid in Josenh’s tomb. and that disaupeared therefrom,
we are not told, lxcept that the Apostle ai%l the Prophet de-
clare that, “His flesh saw no corruption.” (Acts 2:31; Psa.
16:lO) We incline to the opinion that the flesh, which was
man’s ransom-price, will never see corruption, but that it will
be preserved by divine power as an everlasting testimony of
the grace of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ in man’s re-
demption, and will thus be a witness and a testimony to the
divine love throughout eternity. Where God may have that
body in preservation we know not. He who could hide the
We body of Moses, who was only a type, surely could hide the
body of his Son-the antitypical redemption price.-Jude 9.
These various appearances of our Lord under peculiar cir-
cumstances were continued at long intervals during the fortv
dlLys. Apparently he appeared “in all some fo”ur or fiye
times after the appearances above noted, which were on the
day of his resurrection, and the Apostle Paul assures US that
to at the time he wrote his Epistle to the Corinthians over
two hundred and fifty witnesses of our Lord’s resurrection
were still living. and this enistle was written about twentv-
four years aft& the cruciixion. When we remember h<w
close a reasoner the Apostle Paul was, and how logical were
all his conclusions, we may rest assured that he did not re-
ceive this testimony respecting our Lord’s resurrection upon
any slight evidence, but had full confirmation of it. More-
over, he attests as a witness to the resurrection himself,
saying, “Last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born
before due time.“-1 Cor. 15 :6-S.
The Apostle Paul did not see Jesus under a vail of flesh,
as he appeared to the others before the spirit dispensation
began. To Paul he manifested himself in the glory of his
spirit being, “shining above the brightness of the sun at
[2478]
JUNE 1, 1899 ZIONJS WATCH TOWER (137-138)

noonday.” The effect, as is well known, was disastrous to
the eyes of the Apostle, because, altho he saw the Lord as
one born before the time, yet not having been thus born
himself by a resurrection change to the newness of nature,
the sight was a calamity to his flesh.
It surely is a great relief to us to understand correctly
respecting our dear Redeemer’s resurrection, for several rea-
sons:-
(1) It permits us to see how he arose without taking
back our ransom price.
(2) It shows us that, altho, in obedience to the Father’s
arrangement, he willingly and gladly left a higher condition in
order to be made flesh and to give a ransom, nevertheless he
has not been permitted to be a loser to all eternity by this
arrangement-he is nnt hampered by the lower or fleshly or-
ganism, but has, in his resurrection, attained to the highest
form of spirit nature, the divine nature.-Phil. 2 : 8-11; 3 :S, 9.
(3) It is a comfort to us to know that he does not bear
now, in glory, the scars of the thorns, the spear and the nails;
nor any of the evidences of the things which he suffered on
our behalf: but instead his is an “excellent glory”-“the ex-
mess image of the Father’s nerson.“-Heb. 1:3.
(4) It comforts us also to know that the church, the
body of Christ, will not to all eternity bear the marks of
imperfection, the blemishes of sin, nor the marks of the
wounds endured for riahteousness’ sake. No. the nromise to
the church is the sam”e as the promise to her Lord, that in
the resurrection the Father will give (not the body that
died. with wounds and imnerfections. but) “a bodv as it
hatd pleased him,” a gloriolus body, a likeness of the Lord.
“We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is”-not
as he 2ca9.- 1 Cor. 15:38; Phil. 3:21; 1 John 3:2.

THE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

JUNE 18.-COL. 3 : l-15.
“Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.”
Following our consideration of our Lord’s death and resur- the Lord’s people have fullr consecrated themselves to him
rection, it is appropriate that we apply to ourselves the two- as mejnbers of the bodv of Christ. thev should be in absolute
fold lesson therein taught :- subjcctinn to the -will “of God in Christ; aud so far as their
(1) The lesson of man’s depravity through the fall and own wills are concerned they should hare none, but in that
his consequent need of a redemption and restitution. As we respect should be “dpad.”
have already seen, the death of Christ was man’s ransom- This is the gpostle’s thought in this lesson; but he carries
price, and the resurrection of Christ was God’s attestation it further, saying that as our own wills, ambitions, aims and
of the acceptableness of the sin-offering, and preparing of hopes wrre consecrated and rerkoned dead, so we should
the way for the blessing of mankind by raising up to super- reckon ourselves as members of the Christ, risen from the
human life, divine glory and power, the Redeemer,-constitut- dead: new creatures, possessed and controlled by the new will,
ing him “Lord of all,” and thus fitting him for the great work the mind of Christ. It is this class that the Apostle addresses,
of blessing $dam and his family in due time-after the estab- and from this standpoint that he declares, “If ye then be risen
lishment of his Millennial kingdom. with Christ, seek those thinas which are above. where Christ is
(2) We should note God’s purpose to select from man- seated at the right hand oyf God.”
kind a “little flock” on whom to confer kingdom power in The thought is that all of this class have, as justified
due time, making them his representatives and agents in earthly beings, desiring and hoping to attain joint-heirship
the work of blessing the world of mankind with all the favors with Christ in his kingdom, been taught of God and inspired
secured by the ransom sacrifice. The Scriptures show us that by the exceeding great and precious- promises of his Word
this plan or purpose of God was foreknown, forearranged, by to come to this nosition of self-consecration. We are to note
him before the foundation of the world. They show us also hozu our Lord Jesus laid down his earthly life, and was by
that in the divine purpose our Lord Jesus was the Head, the Father exalted to a heavenly condition and the right hand
the First, the principal One, the Lord of this little flock; and of power,-as a criteriou for our course as followers in his
that God’s dealinga with him and the method by which he was footsteps. We are to remember continually that joint-heirship
prepared for his present high position were an illustration with the Lord in that spiritual condition and in his heavenly
of the method by which his church is to be nrenared for power and kingdom are the hopes set before the church of
joint-heirship with him in his Kingdom.-Eph. 113,-4; 4: 15; this age, and we are to “seal; thnse things”-“seek chiclly the
Col. 1: 18: 1 Peter 1:20. kingdom of God”-seek to make our calling and election sure
It i3 with this latter feature or lesson that we now have to participation with our Lord in the kmgdnm honors and
to do. In the Scripture under consideration the Apostle is alorips to which hc alreadv hns attained a9 a rc,ward for his
addressing, not mankind in general,-not even believers in ‘faithful sacrifice.-Verse 1 i Matt. G .33 ; Rom. 2:7, 2 Pet. 1: 10.
general,-but a specific class, namely, “the saints and faith- The Apostle wirhes us to understand how we are to “seek”
ful brethren in Christ.” (Col. 1:2) He is addressing, there- those things. Wc are not merrlv to serk them in prager,
fore, those who have taken the two steps of grace :-( 1) The altho prayer is an excellent aid in the sreking. We ‘are to
step of justification from Adamic sin and death to recon- seek thrm bv setting our affections on those thinns. and bv
ciliation with the Father through faith in the atonement lifting our affections from earthly thingS. ” ’ *
accomplished by his dear Son. (2) Having thus been justified Comparatively few realize to lvhat extent we have the
reckonedly, or by faith, lifted out of the condition of sin forming of our own character+-to what cstcnt our minds,
and condemnation, these, according to the Lord’s invitation, our aff&tions, are gardens, in whirl1 wc may plant either the
have consecrated themselves in the fullest sense and degree to thorns ant1 thistles of sin. nr nlnnt the mcrclv moral and nrac-
the Lord for obedience and service “even unto death.” - tical qualities correspondin .g fo tbc useful v&tables, or plant
This full consecration of every talent and power and op- those seeds which will lnoduce the fragrant and beautiful
portunity is Scripturally called death-because the will has flowers which more particulnrlv woulrl rcprPst,nt the hrnvcnly
died, self-will has gone, and the Lord’s will has been ac- and spiritual graces. That wl;ich a m1n sowetlr he shall also
cepted in its stead. Bnd since the will is the real ego, the real reap in kind, whethrr he sow to the flesh nr to the spirit.
person, the thought is that the old ego, will or person has Whoever, therefore, serks for the heavenly thingr, jnint:heir-
died, and that the new creature, having no will of his own, shin in the kinodnm, etc.. mu4 nlnnt or set out in ‘his mind.
but being wholly under suhjertion to the divine will as cx- in ‘his affection‘;, those qimlitieq’ and graces which the Lord
pressed in Christ, who is the Head of this body, has come marks nut as eisrntial to the dcrc~lopmrnt of rbnrnctrrs such
into control. Let us not lose the thought-picture here con- a9 will hc “meet for the inhclitancc of the saints in light.“-
veyed. We are not new individuals or persons, for it was Cal. 1 :l2.
individually and personally that we ceased to be when we Thus the Lnrtl throws upon all tllosc whom he calls to
gave ourselves over by full consecration to the Lord: our new this “hiah rallrng,” thiq “heavenly calling,” and who accept
condition is that of members or parts of the larger corpora- the call and cov&nnt thcteuntlcr,” the responsibility of their
tion or bodv of which our Lord Jesus is the Head. Who- success or failure in attainina it. Throurrh his Word he tells
ever has a “will of his own is properlv to be considered an them of their own natural w~akncsscs and imperfections, and
indiniclual; but whoever has dropped ilis own will, and ac- shows them how he has provided a full off-s& or counter-
cepted instead of it the will of another, has ceased or balance for these imperfections in the merit and sacrifice of
figuratively has died as an individual. And this is the nicture the Redeemer: he shows them also wllat are the fruits and
w?lich the Apostle presents in this and in variousA other graces of the spirit which they must possess, in heart at
nresentations
* . .
of this suhiect.
Y
For instance. in 1 Corinthians least, if they would be joint-heirs with Christ: he shows
xn. the same writer declares that the entire Christ is one them also in the Rctleemer’s life as well as in his teachings
body of many members; but that the will reside4 not in the copy which all must follow who would reach the same
the members but in the Head. To whatever extent, then, glorious station and be his joint-hclrs. M.e might look at
[24791
(139440) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLWXBNY, PA.

this matter merely from the standpoint of the responsibility clean. If a good many of the saints might feel that it WAS
which it throws upon us, and might well feel overawed thereby; useless to mention to them so gross an evil as fornication,
rather, however, we should view it from the standpoint they would be forced to admit that in their imperfect con-
of
divine grace, and consider what a blessed privilege has been dition they required guarding, counseling, on the score of
granted us, not only of being transformed hy the renewing of “uncleanness.” This reminds us of our Lord’s words to the
our minds, that we might come more and more to know and disciples on the night before his crucifixion. He said to Peter,
to strive for the good, acceptable and perfect will of God, but when proposing to wash his feet, “Ye are clean, but, not all.”
in addition to aii this Gdd has set before us the grandest So the saints ronsecrated to the Lord are clean of heart, pure
reward imaginable for the doing of that which is merelv our of heart; yet they are not all clean--the members which touch
duty and r;?asonable service--&e the earth, their sensibilities
doing of that which Gould and passions which come in con-
bring us thp largest measure of joy and peace, aside from a tact with the defiled human nature, need cleansing, need
future reward .-2 Pet. 1:3. 4. “washing with water through the Word.” All filth, all un-
There is a natural attr&ion cleanness, every “spot and wrinkle,”
to earthly things for all man- needs attention, and the
kind: evrn though tllo earthly things, during the reign of “precinus blood” is the antidote for every stain.-Eph.
evil, be blemished and in many respects distasteful 5 :25-27. to those
who have learned to love ri&eo6sncsu and hate iniquity,
“Tnordinate affection” is one of the things mentioned as
there is nevt~rtht~lr~s still ;L strong attraction to the marred
nredinp attpntinn and corredion by the saints: this signifies
ant1 blt~ml~ht~d earthly thing,rk. Like weeds, earthly affections rarthlv or animal passions. The saints are to mortify these.
ant1 desire9 spring spontaneouslv from seeds which come we
that ik. to deaden ihem-not only to seek not to cultivate. not
know lrot whither The Chrlstlan. therefore. who would keen to enliven. not to arouse, Hutah passions either in themselves or
his hcsart in th*a lo\r of (;otl must not only keep planting o&, in nther,. but on the contrarv thev are to spek to deaden these
or settinrr, hit: affcc*tions on hrxvcnlv thines. but, he must keen as ~7~11HS to eultivute the hi,&er and nobler joys and senti-
rootinK cent tlitb M.CV-tlhof cnrthly tlchirt~ and attraction. ment*. The deatlening or mortifying of these, and the self-
As t11cbApoktlv Intirnatcf-, our iiew life is not mnniftast to
~lt~ninl according to the flesh thus implied, is a part of the
all. nor upon 811 ot~c~asions; it i\ a llfr of new tles1rtlq. iic~ nntitypic,al fcrstlnq in whirh all of the Lord’s people should
aims, nrw :Isplr:ltiol,.r,-w1li(.ll thr world c.an ncsither >t~ nor
cetk t-o eng’jgc. t.arh awording to his zeal, opportuuitirs and
fully ilpprfciitte, tlioiiglk it hchtl some oiiluarcl pohsibilities.
it)ailite~tationx of
thp new life in our tlaily conduct. Even thr “brethren” may
“Evil c~t~ll~~il~~i~~~llct~” (or, in more modern language, tluniux
not be ahl~ to :tpprec*i,lto the progress of thr new life iu us;
/or fol-btdderz things) is a strp higher in the Apostle’s list of
and cvcbn niirstll\-es may at timc>s lx snmtwhat, perplexed
evil tendencies that should be rooted out and mortified.
rcspectirlg the lupitlity ;tnd sfrt*ngth of ith growth, and we
&a&fled. It is not sufficient that we acknowledge sin in its
m:ty rived to look h;lt*k over weeks or months, or perhaps years,
various forms to be evil, and that we resolve that wo will
in 01tlvr !n drtcrminc~ unqurstionahly that it is growing. Our
strive aPain& it because it is under the Lord’s ban: in addi-
new lift>. rqn-t)scnIu! 11y our pntl(~nlor~ to follow the new willtion to &is we- are to root out of our hearts every Zo?zging.
of C%ri<t. i- 71;tZrlvu thus in Christ ant1 in the Father. everv desire for every thing not thoroughly approved by the
It iq in 11;1rmtrny \\ith this tholleht th;lt the ;\pnStlr Paul Lord. Oh, what a cleansing this would mean in the heart.s and
tlr,.l:l r(+ in on1’ pl:i~t* lh3 t nt~itllpr ih~ world nor the brethren lives, aud especially in the‘thoughts. of many who have named
wrl v (‘9I):lhl~ of ,jll(lgin, cr llim-that onlv the TJor(l, who could
thr name of Christ! Alanv who fail to note this point, who
rent1 111~1)wrt :~ntl know ~11 the c’ontlitionq and testings and
fail to follow the Apostle% admonition, find themielvcs con-
~veahrnc~cs tct hcb -h-i\ en ;rF:linst. t*nltltl properly judge him.
tinually beset by temptations, because, while outward1.v
TIP cv~w dwlnwx, “ TPit. 1 ,judge not mine nwn self.” (Rom. 14: avoiding ~08s immoralities, thep secretly harbor sgmpn-
4: 1 Ctjr. 4:::: .Ta+ 4:1?) Tt is an c~xcrllent plan neither to
thies f& things condemned,-dcsi&ng that‘ they mighht have
c.ontlcmn otllcbrs who cal:linl to htx w,ilkinr t*onnrientionslv as
them. if onlv thev were not forbidden. Under such ron-
c~hilclrt~n of 111~ T,or~l. nor (bvt111to c*ond&nn ours&es under
ditions comp&atively little progress can be made in the higher
sinlililr t,i~(,lliiict.iiit~t,~. I\-c ~ho~rltl simplv press along daylife. The Apostle would set before us the proper rourse to be
hv day. (loin:! tllp Ilest mr t’il11 to cult’ivate the heavenly
oursued. if we would win the great prize.-namely, the high
st‘lndard of bringing the very ti;ough&, wishrs, dedircs. of our
hearts into full conformity to the perfect will of God: and
only those who do so are properly making progress. runninp
ihe race set before us in the Gospel.-2 Cor. 10:5.
tb\ il. prt+c~rlt or futlli~r. for 111thTJortl will bc with us and blesi The Anostle conrludes his list of things against whirh the
11~;I:I~ kt~c~1~ 11s from f:llliu F and ultimatrly present us hlsmr- ’ uew cre&ure” must war to the death $y n&ning “rowt.nl~s-
IPhk...- I’S& 23 :1 ; .111tlv 2-I : (‘01. I :22. nehs.” and declaring it a species of idolatry, In other words. if
‘l’hiq (*on(litioll of thirlcs ih to lazt thlouchout the entire the hearts of the Lord’s people are running after any parthly
thing (even if it be not an evil thing of itself), if they are
(aentering their affections upon even good things of an c,arthlv
their antl)itit~u* ittltl hopes for lift, hitldrn with Christ in God. kind. and are neglecting *to set their afTc&ions upntl th>
.\s tht* l’,ltltch1. ha\ clont~ for (IN TAord. so he will do for all heavenly things, they are failing to run the race surt*cssfully.
tliohc* ulio it~ta tr iilv iltlitwl to him : and the tinits for bririgina This is amongst the most seductive trials of the Lord’s people.
tht~sc blt+qingr to ’ iht~ churt+ is. the Apostle states, at‘ tl& Some will set their affections upon a wife or a husband, or
Lc~(*orltl t.onlirl2 of tllc* Lortl. Tht~n the Lord’s uetmle will no ul)on parents or children, or uPon a good name before the
lon~~~r 1~8~~~i~;;l~tl(~r~lootl I)v ~:1(*11other nnr hv tlie \;rorld; then p;lhlic: to such an extent that’ when“testinps come as to
tIltI faithflll will all ;11)1~‘>11 11itI1 tllr Mnsttbr in glory, ant1 then whether or not thev love these more than thev love the Lord.
15ill 18t,gi,l tbtb \\ork t&t lJ(+>itlcr all the families of the earth their conduct pro&s that, they have given to these eur+th&
1, itll .I’ l,rlc~wl~d~:c~of tlltb il.llf!l and with iIIl opportunity for good thinga a degree of love beyond that they accorded to the
full I c+tit1ttinn to all that was lost in Atlam. T,nrd.
H:I\ itlg thus hpt ftn th the proper t*ourse of the church in Frequently the Lord’s people do not at the time realize that
the liuv of :Iq)ir.ttionh. hnl)t~r. etc... 111~ Anostle turns to thtl this ir the case. Thev love the Lord, and they love their
families and friends, and a good name, which is to be pre-
frrrtd to great riches; and they do not realize that they love
the TJord less than they love these other things. The Lord,
howevrr. will test evervone whom he will receive to the high
caalling along just the& lines; he declares in advance thit
whoever loves father, mother, children or any other thing
more than him in not worthy of him-not worthy to be
counted as a member of the body of the Christ in glory,--the
tifginz or (l&,r/cn~~,g their :Il$rtites. tltssires, etc.., which are overtsnming church. The overcomers must all be proven to
roottd :III~ groundt~d in tlrcil fallen flesh or earthly nature. he such a; would sacrifice every other thing for {he Lord;
IIt. mc>ntinnr thcsc hr*ctnu~nts. t*ommc~ncing with the Moore gross suc~11US would sacrifice the love and fellowshin and anwoval.
and ending with the most subtle. if nccc~sary, of every other being, in order to’ retain i6e love
Fornicaatinn was very prevalent in the Apostle’s day, and and favor of the Lord. We believe that this test is coming
he would hale the J:lints recognize this gross, prominent evil, tlailv closer and closer to the Lord’s consecrated people, and
and then in caonnccatioll with it notice ntherh which they might it l;rhnnvps rveryone of us to remember that thii is one of
he much mnre likely to overlook. First of these in order is the elemrnts of-our trial, and to set our affections on the
“uncleanness.” What a searching thon,nht is in that word! heavenly things accordingly, and to mortify or deaden all
It means anything that is not. pure, not chnde. not holy. not such affections toward earthly brings and things as would
[ 24801
JUNE 1, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (141-142)

bring these into competition with our Lord in our affections, birth, and to have become alive as a citizen of the new nation
service, etc. to which he has been accepted. Thus it is with all those who
The Apostle sums up this list of evils to be deadened by are in Christ: they may have been Welshmen or Spaniards,
saying that it is in the seeking of these earthly things, because Britons or Gauls, blacks or whites, Indians or Malays, but as
of such things growing in their hearts, that the Lord’s wrath soon as they are accepted of the Lord as new creatures
is to come “on the children of disobedience.” Who are these throueh faith and consecration thev are to reckon themselves
children of disobedience? Are they the wicked, the worldly, dead “to all their former relationships and obligations, and
the unregenerate? No, none of these; for they are not “chil- as havine come into new conditions as citizens of the
dren” at all. The reference evidently is to those who have heavenly kingdom. and reckonedly heirs of God, joint-heirs
become children of God by his legitimate arrangement of ( 1) with Jesus Christ.
justification and (2) sanctification through faith in Christ. This does not mean, however, that the white man will
He is referring to those who are of the class “called to be become a black man. nor the black man a white man; it does
saints,” but who fail to make sure their calline and election not mean. ne(>essarily. a change of language either, nor a revo-
to joint-heirship with the Lord, as members oF the kingdom lution in all the tastes and peculiarities wherewith one was
“little flock.” He refers to those who do not properly set born; nor does it mean a full release, according to the flesh,
their affections on heavenlv things. but allow their affections from obligations t,o the land of our hirth. nor imply that we
to centre chiefly in earthly things. He refers to the “great should not be subject to the powers that be, except as their
company” who, because of lovine father or mother. houses or demands might conflict with the noxitive commands of our
lands, or something else, to su& an extent that they fail to King ; nor does it imply an ignoring of the differences of sex
keep their covenant of sacrifice, will be accounted unworthy and the nronrieties whirh belone to each sex, and which,
of a share in the kingdom, and instead will be subjected to according toZ the Scriptures, arc” to be continued and pre-
the great time of trouble-“the day of wrath.“-1 Cor. 3: 15; served during this age. It does imply. however, that in think-
Rev. 7:9-l% ina of each other as- nrw creatures b‘ Christ Jesus all arc to
This does not signify, however, that such persona have be“considered as on a common plane or level-none are to 1~1
become exceedingly corrupt in their lives, but merely that disesteemed as “brethren” because of color, speech or sex.
they are continuing in the course of life in which thev were With this thought before our minds,-of the oneness and
before making their covenant to the Lord. This is “clearly equality of those who have been accepted into the body of
expressed in the seventh verse of our lesson. Christ, the Apostle urges upon our attention the necessity,
Coming down to a particularization. of the change which not only of putting off the evil dispositions of our fallen
should take place in those who have consecrated themselves flesh, but the necessity also of putting on, cultivating, the
wholly to the-Lord, the Apostle enumerates certain alterations various graces of the Spirit exemplified in our Head, Christ
of disposition which should be attempted. and. so far as Jesus. He specifies these: ( 1) Bowels of mercies, or, in more
possibie, acromplished; namely, the puiting away of all the modern language, compassionate sentintents; a disposition
following-anger. wrath. malice. evil-sneakina. imnuritv of toward largeness and generosity of heart toward everybody
language, and” falsehood in its every fokm. & fir&, th&ght and everything-toward the saints, toward our neighbors and
surh correction of life might seem to be unnecessary to men- friends and relatives, toward our enemies, and toward the
tion as being too coarse and entirelv onnosed to everv true brute creation. Amplifying, he continues. showing that it
Christian p&iple; but as we scrut$iz;?~the matter we find would imply (2) kindness toward all: (3) humbleness of
that the Anostle has reallv taken into his list nearlv .I all the mind, the reverse of boastfulness, headiness, arrngsnce : (4)
weaknesses’of the flesh wUhich beset those who have become meekness, or gentleness of disposition; (5) long-suffering, 01
“new creatures in Christ.” What is more common with Chris- patient endurance with the faults and weaknesses of others.
tian people than to become angry? HOW many there are who It implies that we should bear with each other’s peculiaritic4
have named the name of Christ who have malicious or at of temperament and disposition, freely forgiving one another.
least unkind thoughts respecting others, and who harbor these, if there be cause of offence found in each other-learning the
and sometimes permit them to influence their conduct! How meanwhile to correct ourselves, as WC see our nwn blemishes
many there are who indulge in evil speaking, that is, slander more or less mirrored in others. And the standard for all
(here translated “blasphemy”) ! This is often done in such a this course of conduct is found in the Lord’s course towaid 114
manner as not only to deceive the hearer, but also to deceive for he surely has been generous. kind, forbearing and fol-
the speaker as respects his real intention in speaking of others giving.
disc) tditably, unkindly. The Apostle wishes us to notice that he is not attempting
What a wonderful world this would be if all the evil or a reformation of the world along these lines, but merely a
impure language were avoided 1 Every Christian should see tra.nsformation of those who have entered into a sptvi:ll
to it that henceforth every word which proceeds from his covenant with the Lord, namely, the church: “the elect of
mouth shall be such as will minister grace to the hearers- God, holy and beloved.” Nevertheless, all who are thus
such words as will do only good and be idifying. Finally, how covenanted to the Lord, and hope to make their railing and
much need there is, not only of having good intentions in the election sure to membership in the glorified church, will not
heart, but also of expressing those good intentions truthfully only seek to have these fruits of tbe spirit in their own lives.
one to another-without deception, without hypocrisy. But it but will seek also to cultivate the same as they 1na.y have
requires that a heart he very pure and very full of love if it opportunity in their friends and neighbors: above all ~111 such
would be very truthful, otherwise it would lead into trouble seek to exercise such a good influence upon their own families
continuallv If the unloving, unaenerous. unkind hearts. full -that as their children receive from them, as parents. the
of evil surmising, malice, hatred and strife, were to express natural life and the necessary instructions and start therein,
themselves frankly it would add immensely to the trouble of they may also if possible receive from them their start in the
the world. The Apostle therefore urges, first, the purifying of new life, and the necessary instructions and equipment for tlua
the heart, and then general candor. same.
These corrections of life are urged as the reasonable and But the Anostle. as the mouthniec~r of the holy Spirit, is A
proper outcome of our transformation from the Adamic and thorough instructor : not only does he tell us what &s-graces
fallen nature, reckoned dead. to the new nature of Christ. of to put off and what graces to put on, but viewing the Lord’s
whose “body” we have become reckonedly members, controlled bodv arrayed in these glorious qualities of heart,-compassion.
and renewed in knowledge through our new Head, Christ kindness, humility, meekness, patient enduranre. fnrhearanrc
Jesus. and foraiveness,-he adds. “And above all these put on love,
And the Apostle then shows that in this new condition, as which is the bond of perfectness.” Love is thus pictured as
members of the bodv of Christ. we are to remember that the “eirdle” which binds and holds in place the folds of the
previous differences “of man are ignored, for whoever is rnhe of Christ’s righteousness, with its various graces. In
accented of the Lord as a member of his bodv is a fellow- other words, the Apostle would have us see that forbearance.
member with every other member thus accep%ed,--whether, meekness, patience, etc., must not he matters of courtesy
according to the flesh, they were Greek or Jew, circumcised merely, or matters of policv merely, but however mmh they
or unclr&mcised, Barbarian or Scythian, bondman or free- might p.lrtake of thc7e qualitirh at the beginning. the wearers
man; because all who come into Christ are reckoned dead to will not he perfected in heart, not be fit for the Kingdom,
their previous condition, and alive to the new conditions until they have reached the place where these various graces
which are alike for all. Thus, a slave being set free is dead of their willh, or intentions, are bound to them by the cords of
to his former slavery, and may figuratively be said to have love-love for the Lord. love for righteousness, love for the
started on a new life. Thus also a citizen mav renounre his “brethren,” and sympathetic love for the whole groaning
allegiance to the land of his birth and may &ear allegiance creation. Love is indeed the bond of perfectness, the very
to another country, and become a citizen of it, and thus be spirit of the Lord.
reckoned as dead to the nation of which he was a citizen by How forceful in its plare is the last verse of this lesson.
[2481]
 ZION’S WATCH TOWER JiLLECRENY,PA,

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which under the bond of love, and producing more and more in them
also ye are called in one body [one corporation, one church- the spirit of gratitude and thankfulness to God, for mercies
the body of Christ], and be ye thankful.” Not until God’s and blessings enjoyed. And such gratitude will 6nd its
people have reached some measure of what the Apostle has natural and proper outlet in endeavors to serve the Lord:
here outlined can they know experimentally the blessedness of endeavors which the Lord will be sure to accept from such
having divine peace rule in their hearts and lives, controlling hearts, reckoned holy and acceptable through Ghriet Jesus, the
their relationship with every member of the body of Christ Head and Redeemer.

JUNE ~~TH-REVIEW
“This
is a faithful saying, and zc;orthy of all acceptation, that
Christ Jesus came in to the world to save sinners.”
1 Tim. 1:15.
The lessons of the past six months have related partic- expense. To even see the master of any department is helpful.
ulnrly to onr Lord .Jesus and his ministry, and in view of “Christ is the Master of the department of spiritual life.
this fact Bishop Warren has remarked :- We have had six months’ study with him and of him. Happiiy
we do not have to go to Judea. He says, ‘I will come to you
“I knew a man who went a thousand miles and back, and and make mp abode with you,’ and, ‘Lo, I am with you alway,
supported himself at great expense, to he with Apassiz a few even unto the end of the world,’ either as to time or space.
weeks at 111ssummer school at Pcnikese. An hour with the “It is not fish we experiment on, as did Agassiz, but souls,
g,eat naturalist would have amply repaid the trouble and -ourselves. So there can be no more interesting study.”

INTERESTING LETTERS
Ds.4n BROTITER IN THE Loan:-It is with pleasure that I to receive. Should be very grateful to you for some advice on
report an incrca& sign of interest in the truth by iomc more how to act in the matter. Could no doubt get a situation in
of the Lord’s people. Since the loss of our dear brother some worldly business, but, as I have said,-being consecrated
Niehol~on (who will doubtless he profitable for the truth to the Lord’s service, and believing that God has work for me
wherever he may settle in the States) we have unmistakably to do, I much prefer ‘to turn my talents into the service of our
entered a nrw era in our Christian history. At the point of King.
his leaving and for a few weeks later the lowest ehb of the I am twenty-five years of age, have no worldly possessions.
tide was r&ehetl; but at the darkest hour of future prospect, can only speak or read Swedish. If you so desire, I shall be
a revilnl of intrrr,t set in whirh has increased steac!ily. Our verv elad to eo into the colporteur work here in Sweden; but
work is altogether in the intermit of the “household of faith” if you think-1 could do more good in any other country, 1
--seekIng to be used of the Chief Renner in sunnlvinrr the have no objection to go anywhere you may suggest
present ‘ti 11th. The interest is marked in the $&ts”who, Yours, devoted and grateful,
realizing the great need of separation from what tend3 to AUGUST LUNDBORG,--SW&???.
c~omp:oruisc with Christendom and having a desire to be of DEAR BROTIIEB RussEsr.:-Please find draft for One Thou
the +untuary elnss, follow the Lord out+ide the camp. sand Dollars, a thank-offering to the Lord for his many blets-
Our Dawn Circle (ercrv Tucsdnv cvenincl is csccntionallv ings given to me. Please use it in the harvest work, and if
sllrccssful compared with” the pakt pear, ‘nnd the work oh you think best, I would be pleased to have you use it to assist
8SiincI:iy is at last bearing fruit. All the helpers are in our in defraying the expense of the “Volunteer” service, mentioned
midst, and all who speak the truth are known to be sound in in the Spril 15th TOWER.
the faith. Thus wc arc able to avoid the inevitable conse- Please do not uublish mv name in the TOWER in connection
cluem~es of the warning of Scripture, “Sow not the field with with this. I am ihankful chat I can help a little in this way.
minnletl seed.” As far as lies in pur power the truth Your brother in Christ, -, Wzsconsin.
(un~tlultcratrd) is proclaimed. [The zeal of the Lord’s dear people as “volunteers” in the
Some years ago I wrote you upon the seeming disrrepancy various departments of the King’s service is very encouraging.
of the 400 and 430 ye.Irs of the Tsraelites’ sojourning and Although we have appropriated the name “volunteers” spe-
nfpications, and since hnvc come acro,L: what is a very helpful cially to the public tract distribution now in progress, it is a
solution of the matter, and a further indication of the fact that all who serve this harvest message in any capacity
reliableness of the Bible dates. are really uolwnteers. The important financial part of the
CiI:NK5IS 1.5:13-l% work is all volunteered-never begged, never urged, but
This distinction hctwrcn allliction and the bondaee of the always, as in the above case, done freely “as unto the Lord.”
Israelites (t,hc former incliitlin, n the latter, hut not c&fined to The “colporteur” service is similarly done by volunteers: and
it 1 throws licrht *nnon the tliffic~nltv which is often exnerienced all these efforts are owned and blessed by the great Chief
rrcpe~tlng thb pc&l of 400 grnrs’hcre mentioned. The actual Reaper, we are sure.
l~nndnge in Egypt was of comparatively short duration (one- The friends will be glad to know that the call for “volun-
half of 430 vears) ; but the afllirtion of the seed of -4braham teers” for Sunday work amongst church-goers-circulating
c~ommenc~ed in his snn Isaac. The interval between Isaac’s gratuitously the pamphlet, The Bible vs. Evolwtion-met with
birtll ant1 t11e E\:oclns was 405 years: end if we place the pre- prompt and cordial responses from every direction. We send
dieted :Ilili(+ion of the seed to rommrnce in Isaac’s fifth vear, portions of each order in its turn and not all at once: and yet
when Itr would hrgin to feel the effects of Ishmael’s mockery, many orders are waiting for the pamphlets from the binderies.
wr then have the nfllictions enduring 400 vears, and including We have alreadv sent out over 100.000 copies and are pushing
in thr Iart pe1 iod of it the bontla~c. What is said (Exod. the matter along as fast as possible: meantime fresh -“volunT
l?.-i(l) altout thr sojourning of the people 430 years before teers” are constantly reporting and the proposed half-million
thr l<xl)dnq presrnts no dllfienltp in thr way of this solution, booklets mav not be near enough; but if Providence 30 indi-
llnt rather confirms it; hcvnuse it is evident from Gal. 3:17, cate, we are ready to issue more. The topic is apparently a
that this period of 430 venrs is to he reckoned from the giving very timely one, as many are in danger of “stumbling” on the
of tlm promise to Al&ham. which was first done 2Ficyeari subject of Krolution.-EDITOR.]
brfore thr birth of Tsaar. This eorresnonds exactlv. and was DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:-You will be nleased to have a
the wlit>lr prriocl of soiourn. including’the other two periods, brief account of our first two Sundays’ exp&ience in distrib-
which are more nrtuallp chnrarterized as, first, the period of uting the Bible z‘ersus Evolution pamphlet. Last Sunday we
afflirtion, and finally. the period of actual slavery. served six churches, and today we served five. Six of the
I remain, Yours in the Kingdom hope. brethren and four of the sisters in the truth are in the “volun-
J~-\rr;s HAY.-&obnd. teer” ranks at present. We have still over two hundred
Dl%\R hlR. RVSSELL:-TIIC undersigned, er-captain of the churches to be served. The average distribution to a congre-
Salvation Armv. has rcrenilv. on arcount of the linht God has gation thus far has been about 125 of the pamphlets; as we
sent him through your work, M. DAWN. left said organization. are now working chiefly on the outskirts of the city among
I hnrc relcl ~‘oLS. I and TI. twice, and harr just received the smallrr churches.
Var.. 111. Cod hs. tliroiicli furnishing me with this volume, The rommon neonle receive them aladlv and often with
pl;linlp shnr-n his will in ‘regard to me: I recopnizr his voice: hearty thanks. 6ne’ladv this evening=was” so favorably im-
(:lorv 1)~ to hi* nanirl Even brfore I rrrrived the truth I pressed hp a hasty scanning of its pages that she walked back
was fully ronserrated to the Lord’s service. and am detcr- and trndcred twentv-fire cents to the sister who handed it to
minrd, 1)~ Cod’s grnrions help. to spread further the grrat her. but the money was politely declined.
light he in his wonderful graciousness has counted me worthy Another, a gentleman, stepped to the light to examine
[2482]
 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (144-148;

what it was that had been handed to him. In a moment he I trust our effort will show for itself in the inquiries you
returned and said, “This is just what I have been seeking and will receive from here and requests for further reading matter
did not know where to send for it; I am so glad to have it. along these lines.
Had I known you were outside to hand out these, I should FVe exercise great care in handing out the pamphlets so as
have taken your supply inside and passed them out to our not to pass thrm to any except such as we deem worthy of
people.” Others declared that we are certainly accomplishing receiving them. We much appreciate our privilege of
a good work and wished us Godspeed. At one church, where co-operation in spreading the Gospel to others. The Lord
we served this morning, the minister’s sermon was on “Evolu- bless you and all the dear ones engaged in the harvest work!
tion,” and he preached against that theory; our pamphlets at Your brother “volunteer,”
the door capped the climax. J. A. BOHNET, Washington, D. C.

VOL. xx ALTJEGHENY, PA., JUNE 15, 11399 No. 1%

r
VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER
Spiritualism is steadily asserting itself. The Boston standing in the church, I value my liberty much more. I
Joz~nal of May 28th, reporting recent utterances of Rev. wished a large personal liberty.
M. J. Savage, says :- “My views are the result of years of study and investiga-
“TALK WITH WHITTIER tion. I became interested in the study of psychology through
“In a quite recent sermon Dr. Savage declared that he teaching it in class work at Alma College, and five or six
had talked-with the late poet Whittier-and knew that he, years ago I became convinced, not that the current theory
too. helieved in the essentials of Suiritualism. Longfellow. regarding Spiritualism was correct, but that underneath ali
too: he classified with him, and cited’his famous lines:- ‘There the deception and artifices practiced throughout the country
is no death: what seems $0 is transition.’ Most of the poets, under the name of Spiritualism there was a great deal of
he thinks, have shared the Spiritualist conception of the life natural phenomena. As Principal of Alma College I became
beyond this one. sneciallv interested in investieatinp mental sciences both
“‘The otbcr day.’ said Dr. Savage. ‘the papers rontained theoretically and experimentally.” v the works of scientists
I read
a long account of the belief of Dr. Lyman Sbbott and of like Sir William Crookes, Alfred Russell Wallace, Zollner and
Dr. Hillis. who is his sucressor. Both believe all the essen- others, who have been making long and patient researches
tials that Spiritualists believe, only. both were very careful into this subject, and I finally became convinced that telepathy
to guard themselves against believmg in such vulgar and and clairvoyance were positive facts, and that there were many
foolish things as rappings on a table. For the life of me phenomena that were not esplained even by them. The ques-
I cannot see what there is so foolish and degrading in rapping. tion of the origin of these phenomena then arose. One theory
If gnu are in one room of a hotel and I am in another, I held by a great many people in the church is that it is all
am not so imnolite as to go into your room without rapping deviltry; then there is Carpenter’s theory of mental cerebra-
to find out whether you want to see me. If some one from tion, and the other theory that the phenomena are caused
the other world is near me and wants to see me, is it so by the spirits of the dead, or so-called dead. Investigation
dreadful that he should call my attention bv rapping? I and study convinced me that the last was the only theory
have been asked as to the nature of commu&ations from to fit the case. I was led up gradually to a firm conviction
the other siflr. I’ve had what purported to be hundreds of in this truth.’ ”
them. ant1 I qny that they are pretty much on a level with As the Doctor declares, the fact that some good people
mv dailv mail. I ret some foolish and some malicious com- cry “deviltry,” while teaching doctrinally what supports rea-
mmrications nut1 again some noble and intelligent ones in my sonablv nearlv all the claims of Sniritualism. is not enourh-
mail ererv runruing. PO it is with those from the other side. should- not be enough for reasonable minds. ’ Only those\vho
If we can get rid of the old idea that the moment a man get the Bible teaching on death and on Spiritualism are pre-
dies he is either a devil or an nnael. we will we that this is pared to see conclusively that it is demonism.+
just ns it won111 be likely to be-the communications being DR. BRIGGS AN UNWELCOME EPISCOPALIAN
on a level with things as they are now. If I should die here
in thiq pulpit I should not expect to be in the next moment Dr. Charles Briggs, famous as a leader among “Higher
more fooli+ nr mnre wise than I am now.‘” Critics” and for his determined endeavor to remain a minister
The matter of the faith of Whittier. Longfellow, Abbott of the Presbyterian church after confessing himself out of
and Hillis is stated as tho it were exceptional among Chris- accord with it,, has been received into the episcopal church:
tians. on the contrary, it is the rule: the exception is to but suite a few Euiscoualians do not welcome him. Bishop
find those who deny these propositions among clergy or laity. Seymour declares himsrlf forcefully on the subject as foi-
All believe that the dead are not dead, but more alive than lows :-
ever before. All think and speak of them as being near to “I agreed cordially with the Rev. Dr. Rriggs in his rejec-
the liriug and interested in their welfare; hut only Roman tion of Calvinism. but I as cordially revoltctl from his trying
Catholics dircctlv invoke their aid in prayer, except Spiritual- to remain a Presbvterian minister after he hat1 mtbliclv re-
ists who go still further and claim to converse with the nounced the characteristic teaching of Presbyterianism. ‘This
living-dend or den&living. (Which would be the less absurd shocked my moral sense. . . . . This view of the Rev. Dr.
statement ?) Bri.ggs touc!ling Holy Scripture may be true. I do not stop
It should not surprise us, therefore, that Christian people, to Inquire, since the truth or falsehood of the Rev. Dr. Griggs’
long accustomed to this fallacy (that the dead are alive with- theory does not touch the issue. He b&eves it to be true,
out a resurrection), are stumbling into Spiritualism, utterly and avows his belief in oft-repented publicatrons. This is
blind to the fact that its manifestations are the work of quite enough. With such convictions, I cannot understand
demons who personate the dead to draw attention away from how any man who accounts himself an honorable and upright
the Scriptural teaching that the Christian’s hope is-the resur- man can enter the ministry of the church.
rection of the dead at the second coming (preqence) of the “The teit is much more than the declaration which the
Redeemer when he will exercise his offrce of Lifegiver. candidate signs and the vows and pledges which he mnkec
Y I * before the altar of his God. and in the most solemn and
Rev. B. E. Austin, D. D., of the Methodist Church of critical hour of his life it confronts him and will continue
Canada, was deposed for heresy on June 1st after a trial by to confront him whrle he lives, in every, or almost every,
Conference at London, Ont. Respecting the matter Dr. Austin public service in which he participates. The rubbish and
said to the reporter of the Toronto GZohe:- debris theory of the Bible places the Rev. Dr. Briggs in a
“If I had elected to leave the Conference in ignorance of most frightful position now that he has been ordained. The
just where I stood on the subject of Spiritualism, I would Bihle supplies two lessons for morning and evening prayer
have been in the church today, but, as I was charged with dally throughout the year, and it saturates with its language
teaching it, I thought it only fair to defend my own views and ideas the offices and services of our Book of Common
on it, and against the advice of my friends I addressed the Prayer. There is no branrh of the church which makes more
Conference. I did not wish to be in the church and hold coploln use of Holy Scripture than does that one in which
views which were contrary to its teachings, and I decided the Rev. Dr. Briggs has just been ordained a presbyter, at
that if the church was not broad enough or liberal enough l See Jl’lrot Say the Scriplures About Spintlcalts,tz?-IOc., or Ironed
to let me in, I wanted to be out of it. While I valued my fire, t111soKr
[2483]
(148-149) ZION’S WATCH TOWER

his own earnest request, and in spite of protest and warning pleasure Dick Wunderlick, ex-champion welterweight, and
for his own sake as well as that of others. Phil Kelly, the coming welterweight. They will box three
“This Holy Book, as we regard it, is, in the estimation of rounds, and in the last introduce their original ‘knockout,
the Rev. Dr. Briggs, a holy book hidden, unknown beneath which has been imitated by many, but succesqfully copied
an incrustation, an accumulation of myth, fables, legends, by none.’ Three strictly professional rounds followed, and in
stnriey, and to some extent worse material-in a word, dust, the last round, Kelly delivered the realistic ‘knockout’ blow.
dehrix and rubbish, and this dust, debris and rubbish he and “The wrestling match was between Mike Zimmer and
all the clergv ~>. must serve up to the people as the Word of George Burke, the instructor of the gymnasium attached to
God in the public offices of -the churc‘h. -How can any man the church.
with one spark of religion in him voluntarily place himself “The Rev. Mr. Paddock said that doubtless many people
hefore God and man in such a position? I confine myself would not approve of such amusements in such a place, but
to one point, and to one point alone, and I rest upon no he said the aim was to hold the young men’s interest and
qurstion taken from its context, but upon a fundamental posi- keep them off the street.”
tion deliberately taken and publicly avowed by the Rev. Dr. “I SUPPOSE THEY CALL THAT HERESY”
Bri<ggs. Rev. F. W. Gunsaulus, D. D., of Chicago, preaching it’-
“It is true that the Rev. Dr. Briggs professes love and cently, is reported to have said:-
reverenre for the Bible, but it is not our Bible, the Bible pub- “The fact that the spirit of holiness and truth enters
lished br our Bible Societv and read in our churches; it is into man with the power of a divine comfort is proved as
a hitlde~ Bible, an unknokn Bible. The kiss of Judas was much in the songs of the Wesleys as in the Psalms of David.
mar? ronspicuous than the betrayal. A general profession of “A man must believe that God has vacated his thrnue, am1
vrlner,ltion and love doe3 not condone repeated stab thrusts that the ascended Christ has ceased to guide humall events.
~hic’l arc clcaigned to destroy life. and that the hnlv snirit is d&ad. if he does not feel within
“It has heen said that any church is honored by the ad- his own inspired “na&re that the’ inspiration with which the
rnin~ion nf the Rev. Dr. Briggs into its fold. Alas, the Rev. soul of Lincoln trembled and was yet-steadied when he wrntcx
Dr. ISriggs may be, and probably ir, all that his admirers the Emancination Proclamation is greater and diviner than
renrescnt him to ]JP. but neither he nor anv other man, be he the inspirat’ion with which Joshua iommanded the IIIRSSI\~IC
saint, confessor or martyr, can honor the church of God. The of a prostrate foe.”
church can do without us. but WC rannot do without the Dr. Gunsaulus said, after the address: “I xuppnqe the!
church. call that heresy.”
“iigaiu, thrre are men who seem to be afraid if they do This may have been said in a bombastic spirit, with the
not profess sympathy and agreement with this higher criticism desire to create a little cheap sensation; or it m:ly have
that they will be regarded as ignoramuses or idiots. Let me been uttered in all sincerity. if the latter, it only qcrves to
tell all surh persons that there is a worse fate than that- show how blind are the “Doctors of Divinitv,” selected at
it is tn br accnunted a fool by God. good salaries by “orthodoxy” to confuse the <LOpIe and mis-
“In conclusion I wish to press the point that the ordina- lead them into the ditch of skepticism.
tion of the Rev. Dr. Hrirgrs is most of all a moral issue. The gentleman’s words, whether so intended 01 not. ~111
and bring+ into view Almi$lty God, with whom all who shared give to the average reader the thought: “Dr. Gunsnulus he-
in that srrvicb(l must, (11~1. if’ not now. ultimatelv at the last lieves that Wesley’s hymns were as much inspired :I* the
great day. God mai hr ‘far above ol;t of our sight,’ and we Psalms of David, and in the same manner and degree.” Dr. G
may say in our hearts: ‘Hush. God will not see.’ But this may privately deny any such sentiment, but the thou~nntls
is a sad, fqtal mistake. God will not be trifled with. He who read his statement, m print will be influenced to tliccredit
is patient. hut no man can he guiltless who takes his name the inspiration of the Scriptures in proportion as thG;y a~‘(’
in vain. ‘So, then, every one of u9 must give account Of babes in knowIedge of God’s Word and pin their fnlth to
himself to God.’ Must. not mav, give account of himself. those who are “highly esteemed among men.”
not of others, to God. who rannot bc deceived. not to mnn~, All true Christians partake of the spirit of the Lord-
who Can hc imposed upon and misled.” the spirit of truth, of gentleness, of patience, of kindnes%
SOWING TO THE FLESH-IN THE OHTJRORES of love: for “if anv man have not the spirit [disposition] o!
We regret to note the multiplying evidences that t,he Christ, he is none “of his.” The Wesley;, we doubt not, had
nominal chulcheq arc mnrP ant1 more losing sight of the much of this same spirit, and we may discern conniderahhb
Scriptural idea of the church of Christ-that it is a company of it in their writings, prose as well as verse, with somr
of ralletl-out, ones, separated from the world and united to admixture of what we consider error, which cannot havcb
each other nntl to thr Lord as “members in particular of the been, as it is not now, in agreement with the spirit of truth.
body of Christ,” whnse present duty it is to edify one an- But in the Psalms of David, written long before Penternst 1):
nthcr ant1 to build one another up in the most holy faith. The one who never received “the spirit of adoption,” we find a
false virw. that the* church is now to effect a social uplift totally different inspiration from that which fills and gyides
of the world, is largely responsible for this. The remedy the church as its members become emptied of “the splrlt of
for the mnl:~ly is t,he truth, that the election and education the world.”
of the rhurch is the duty of the present age except as the The Apostle Peter explains the differenre esactly, haying.
light shining nut from thrse s:lintly ones shall “reprove the “Holy men of old spake and wrote as they were moved by
wnrltl” : nnrl that the Lord’s time for the social unlift will the holy spirit”- mechanically-often, if not always, without
be the ~lillcnnium. ~bich 11~ will bring about in’ his due knowing why they wrote what they did, or what it signified.
time hv tlir c~xnltntion to glorv and p&er of the church, The Apostle declares this in so many words, saying, that
whose ;slertinn will then he rnm’nlete. In illustration of the they sought the significance of their own utterances, but
miqlending influence of a false’ theory note the following, were not granted an explanation, but were informed that
published in the Clrrrland {‘lain Dealer of May 30th:- “nnt unto themselves. but unto us, they did minister.”
“PRIZE FIGHTS IN A CHURCH ( 1 Pet. 1: 12) How eise could we account-for the prophetic
“New J’nlk, May 20. -The idea of special features to utterances of the Psalms, descriptive of our Lord’s death
attract young people to rhurch, which has gone as far as and resurrection and of his coming Kingdom and of the
dancing .cla&s in several places, has gone ‘& step further great time of trouble by which it will be introduced ? Can
in the Protestant Eniacoual nro-cathedral
L I 1
at No. 130 Stanton we go thus to the writings of the Weslege or others since the
street. of which the llcv. Dr. Charleg Briggs is to have charge. apostles? Surely not! Hence the blindness of those unable
“Boxing matches and a wrestling bout were introduced with to discriminate, or the criminal negligence of those who
the approval of the authorities of the pro-cathedral and under nose as oracles of God and yet would mislead the blind into
the cpe of the Rev. Mr. Paddock. the vicar, who seemed to the ditch.
enjoy them. The contests were held in the basehent for the Respecting the comparison between Joshua and Lincoln:
Young Men’s club, one of the many organizations of the pro- Here again evil is done; the blind are misled by the sug-
cathedral. There was a smoker, music and recitations. Then gestion that the Bible presents Joshua as an inspired man.
a ring was improvised. Nothing of the kind is true. Joshua was no more a prophet
“At the opening Kid Rowlinp: of Buffalo and Kid Floss than Lincoln, so far as the Scriptures inform us. Both were
of Avenue A ‘boxed three tame rbunds. and a draw was the good men so far as we know them: both, so far as knoy.
decision. The bovs carried out the custom of the ringside,
Y
were used of the Lord in accomplishing his purposes. Lincoln
and vociferous cheers, hisses and catcalls filled the large room. was led of divine providence and the exigencies of the war
“Then came the real event of the evening. ‘Fellows,’ said to proclaim the liberty of the slaven;-as a war measure, to
-4nnounrer Gambert. ‘I now introduce to you with great enlist the sympathies of the millions of slaves for the Northern
[2484]
JUNF.15, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (150-151)

cause and to proportionately discourage the Southern cause. and of the future operation of the divine plan of the ages.
God’s hand was behind Lincoln’s course. unauestionahlv. and They think of the slain Amorites as going to a hell of eternal
he did his part courageously and no doubt Gas brougdt into torment; instead of which they went to sheol; of which the
that place for that purpose and because he was such a man Scriptures declare, “There is no work, nor device, nor knowl-
as the Lord could use. -But it is very doubtful if the honored edge. nor wisdom, in the grave [sheol], whither thou goeet.”
President realized to what extent his F:mancination Proclama- (Rrcl. 9:lO) They think of Joshua as cutting short the
tion was forced hy divine providences. prohntion of the Amorites to all eternity, whereas their
\\‘ith .Joshua the vase was different: he was not guitled probation for everlasting life had not begun: nor did quch
!)y circzcr~rstn~wes and newsatties of the war he was condurt- a probation for life or death everlasting come to anyone
mg, bnt was definitely dilectrtl respecting what should and until after our Lord had redeoned all from the “cnr~e” of
what should not he done to the enemy. The matter was not ;\tlani’n transgression, try the sacrifice of himself.
Idt to his choice in any sense. Those against whom he fought R\ itlently the “key of knowledge” by .which the divine
had aI~eady been sentenced to destruction : because “the plan mav l~r understood is as thoroughly lost to the doctors
iniquity of” the Amorites” had come to the full.-Compare of divinity of our day, as it was to the doctors of the la\+
Gen. 15:16: Lev. 18:24: Deut. 9:4-6: 18:12. at the first advent. (LUkP 11:52) The people should know
The dificultp with Christian people, in re the destruction thiq and should seek the “keg of knowledge.” Seek. ;~nd VI’
of thp .\morites, lies in their misapprehension of the facts shall find 1 Knock. and it shall be opened unto you! ’

“WILL A MAN ROB GOD? YET YE HAVE ROBBED ME”

“I!1 l,l,Q ye aI the tithes into the store-house, and prove me no\\ here\\ ith. haith the I,ortl of ho&s. if I will not open to you
tht* \\intlnws of heaven and pour you nut a blessing that thelc shall not he run111 tsnorlgh to receive it.“-Mat. 3 :R-10.
‘I%* tithing system, so far a* Israel was concerned, had tnoie than otFset the tithes which they were withholding.
Its heginning when they entered the promised land, after 111 all this, ant1 ill every instance when thinking of Israel
their forty years’ journey in the wilderness. A tithe signifies and God’s dealings with ‘Tsrael, WC should rem&her that
a tenth; and under the divine arrangement made with Israel thev werta a nperial ant1 preuliar nation, differently dealt
this was thr portinn of all their illcrease required to he de- with from a11 the other nation? of the earth. (Amos. 3 -2 )
\otcbtl to holy purpoqcn. One-tenth of the increase of their God tl1t1 not rvart from other nations a tithe, a tenth, but
ROdih. tlteir herds, their seeds, grains, etc., was first to hc neither did he promise to other nations his special care and
*et apart to the Lord’s service, as sacred, to be used in the bounty ilntl hlesaing. Other nations were left largely subject
maintenance of the priestly tribe, the Levites, and for the to the rharrge;thlr conditions in nature, but Israel, as a result
relief of widows and orphans, and other unfortunates. The of the rovcxnant sealed between them and the TJnrd at Sinai.
one-tenth of the family increases was also required by the came nndcbr sperial ohli,rratinns to the Lord, including this tith-
Lord; hut this had already been provided for in the selection ing arrangement, and the Lord came under special abliga-
of the trihtl of Levi and its increase devoted to the Lord’s tions to thcbm, in that he promised that, if they would live
service exclusivelp, as instead of the firstborn of each family. up to their engngenlentn, ohqerve his laws and statutes, to do
Thr *rstem of taxation in vogue throughout Christendom then], he \vollld bless them in their fields and in their cities.
tnd:iJ &ltlwhat resembles the ‘tithing system, except that in their flocks. their herds. their rrnps and all.
it ic collected and not Ieft to voluntary contribution: and
It iy itq*es*ed on the valuation of property, etc., and not wholly Israel. tbcrefole, was to know that Got1 would not fail
011 t IIt& i,,comr. It (‘aver* the expenses of public schools. of his part of thfb covemint. and that if they Lurked any good
relicat of the poor. imprnvcments of streets, sewers and gen- thinc. an> temporal hlcs+ig, it mu*t be because sin lay
rral go\ (ainmrnt ciupensr. In the United States maintenance at the door: hecause they had. in some sense or degree.
of reti$nn rmt hein:: inclildrcl in taxation is left, properly. \iohitetl their ])art of the Law Covenant. Consequently the
to thca ;leal and discretion of the individual: it is safe, how- roming of catei pillars, army worms, palmer worms, locust*
ever. to assume that thr majoritv of people do not con- and grasshoppers zlpon them meant special chastisements from
tlihnte lwrgcly to religion and chal:ity.; while others strictly t,hr Lord, ant1 were special fbvitlences of divine disnpprnval
,tpprnpiiate oi;c-tcnl1/ of their entire mcome to these benev- tomartl thrnl. while +imilar tllingi coming upon the world of
olcnrci. iiIanl\in(l in general 1llt~ilIlt no sllc~ll thing.
The effect of this tithing qyqtem. had it been carried out ln onr 1’01tl’, day, at the first advent. he ealh>d attention
in the right spirit, would ll.ave- been, (1) to teach the people to the fart that the hnlineris class of that dav had gotten
of Jqr.lel generositr. and to inculcate in them a realization Into a fnrmalistir condition--that, they were WV exact about
of their obligation; to God, and that all that they enjoyed their tithes, being rareful to tithe the very smallest of seeds:
\tert’ hi, heytnwments. (2) It would have made abundant mint, anise and cummin. But he showed that their hearte
pro\ihinn for the maintenance of the priests and Levites, the were -itill ~lfiqh. and that these rnntributions were not ac-
\\ itlo\\ 9, orphans, and unfortunates, and thus would have rnrcling to the spirit of the law, but rather for an outward
hern a perpetual insurance fund of mutual benefit. It not. 40\\. tloirc vain-@orinusly . that so far from having the
only \\ould have provided for the temporal necessities of the spirit nf tithing. a denire to contribute to the Lord’s rause.
rmfortunatr, but also for the edurational arrangements, wlurh and to the maintenance of the poor, those so-called holiness
\\e~e in the care of the Levites. people (the “Pharisees”) were quite ready tn devour the
But the Israelites, like all the other branches of the widow’s house, taking advantage of her necessities, etc., and
hu~tlax~ family, were depraved through the fall, and had come that their long prayers were, in keeping with this wrong
under the control of the spirit of selfishness. the snirit I of rnnclition of heart, merely outward display.
evil.-to which may be traced every impure, ignoble, unholy Our tr\t calls attention to this neglect of tithes on the
word, thought and act. Hence the Israelites begrudged the nart of the Israelites. llnintinp them to the fart that if thev
giving of so large a proportion as one-tenth of all theil ilnd hern f.lithful to tilt Lnrdc their grannrien would ~JP fuil
earnings, and since the contribution was left to the conscience insteatl of emptv; their flocks and herds would have been
of the people, and no officers were entrusted with the enforced well-favnretl instead of lean ; and their general prosperity
collection of this tithe, by punishment of those who failetl would have heen much greater. This is alone the line of
to contribute it, very soon many ceased to contribute alto- the Srriptnral injunction, ” “There is that scatteieth, and yet
gether, while others gave stintedly and grudgingly. But how- increascth: and there is that withholdeth mnre than is meet.
ever the people felt that they mere thus at liberty to curtail but it tendeth to poverty.” (Prnv 11:24) In our text the
the amount bf their contribu”tions to holy purpos&, and how- T,ord calls unon Israel to realize the situation, and restore
ever much thev Dresumed that thev would ultimatelv be that which they had withholden, and thnt then he would
gainers, to the ‘kxt’ent that they would withhold their- t&hes, pour them out a great blessing, and would “rebuke the
we find that they erred; for cod himself not only wa9 t?ld devourer,” the pests whirh injured their crops.
ruler of that neculiar ueoule. their Kinp ( 1 Chron. 29:23 I. but
he was also {he chief ‘exe’cutive officer 20‘ administer the’ ,un: SOME APPLICATIONS OF THIS IN NOMINAL SPIRITUAL
ishments for the violation of his own laws. Consequently. ISRAEL
in proportion as they attempted to defraud the Lord of tithes, Many in spiritual Israel draw from this Scripture the
in that proportion or a greater proportion they were losing, lesson that sniritual Israelites should faithfullv v Ynive a tenth
for the T,ord sent upon them grasshopper plagues, caterpillar of nli their ~Garningn and profits to the Lord’s cause. This
plagues, and various insects, blights and diseases, which lesson is preached from pulpits of nearly all denominations
III-37 [2485]
(152 153)

and emphasized as obligatory upon their adherents. Such is God. And what shall we render unto the Lord1 If
the case with the Mormons, and as a result millions of dollars the Jew, who had much advantage every way over the Gentile.
ffow into their treasury, and are used in the propagation should in all justice devote one tenth of his income to holy
of that system of religion or irreligion, as each may be things, how much more should we devote who, by God’s
pleased to term it. We see the same method enforced by the grace, have still greater advantages every tray-not only
“Seventh Day Adventists,” with similarly marked results.- greater advantages than the Gentiles, the v,orld, but greater
hundreds of thousands of dollars pour- into their chu;ch advantages also than the Jew, the natural Israelite? What
treasury, and are used in the dissemination of literature. in shall we not render unto the Lord our God, for all his
the sending forth of rvangelists to all parts of the wb;ld, benefits toward us?
and in the general prophgation of their doctrines. We note The more we consider this matter, the more we might
also a similar tendency in the Methodist Episcopal Church. properly be perplexed to know where our giving should end,
Already it has engrafted this feature of “Moseq’ law” upon we who are the recipients of the manifold grace of God-
their young people of the “Epworth League,” those who agree not only of the present life, but also of the yromises of the
sign a pledge, ralled “God’s Tenth-the pledge of Jacob,” life to come-justification and its joy and peace, sanctification
whic+t rcadsl “Of all that thou shalt give mr 1 will surely and its reioicina in hope of a share in divine glorv and honor
give a tenth lmtn thw.” and immo&ality, and ill the good things whi‘ch hod hath in
The printed matter before US, descriptive of this tithing rrservation for them that love him. The more our hearts
systrm, hears the imprint of the Methodist Rook Concern- learn to appreciate the blessings of divine favor which havl,
New York and Cinrinnati offices. It proceeds to out,Iine sug been showered upon us, the more do we feel not only that n
gentions respecting the manner in which so large a sum tenth would be too little, but that a half would be too little.
should hr divided up. Tt takes ae a basis of calculation an and that our all would be too little for us to render unto
income of $1.00 a day, or $300.00 per year, the one-tenth of our God.
which, $30.00, it appropriates to pastor’s saIary nnd various Here the Apostle comes to our relief, nnd offers a sug-
other religious brnt~rolences, but says :- Restion, saying, “I beseech you, brethren, by the mercirs of
“Those who arc’ specially interested in some particular God ralreadv received1 that ve mesent vour hodies livinc
benevolence are pwmitfed to use a different ratio for these sacrifices, holy, acceptable unto” Go& zc;hich”is ?/our reasona?&
benevolcnces, provided one-tenth of the income is given. service.” (Rom. 12- : 1) Ah yes ! that comes- nearer to our
Tithi~lg should be figured from the net income, not the net reasonable service than anything else we can think of, and
surplus after living expenses have been deducted. Manv yet we realize that even such an offering is far too small.
examples are before &, wbrre the Lord has proven his promise: ind does not at all counterbalance divine grace and mercy
‘Brinz ye all the tithes into the storehouse [etc.. our textl’- bestowed upon us. Nevertheless, seeing that it is all that \\e
not &y rich spiritual blessings, but f&porcrE aa wkll.~~ can give unto the Lord, we are glad to have the Apostle’9
[Italics are ours.1 assurance that, presented in the name and merit of our dear
We have not learnccl what measure of SIICCCR-has attended Redeemer, God &ould esteem it holy, and would accept the
this effort, but infer that it is considerable; because the offering. And so, with rejoicing hearts, wc lay our little al1
denominational papers arc now calling attention to the fact upon the Lord’s altar in consecration.
that Bishop McCabe is starting a similar tithing scheme for However, let us not forget that the “new creatures” were
the older Methodiitx. Some objections are urged against it- accented in Christ and adonted to sonshin. because thev
that it is going hark to the Mosaic law: but the majority pre&nted themselves to God is living sac&& to be Holly
apparently do not recognize rlearly the dividing line between his and to do only his will in all things. And since he who
the Law Covenant and the New Covenant and are inclined thus gives himself gives his life and his (121, it follows that
to think the movrmcnt a proper one, in the direction of duty. all who made this covenant of full consecration thereby agreed
OUB APPLICATION OF THIS TO SPIRITUAL ISRAEL to give to the Lord ?nwe than tejt times as much ns the
Jew agreed to in his covenant. So then the obligation of
While we belicre that such a system may be a powerful the true Sniritual Israelite is the greater. not the lesser.
influence for good or for evil, as respects the amount of obligation if the two, as comparez with’ the Jew. Our
money collected and disbursed; and while we believe also that obligation not only absorbs all the income and profits on our
such systematic giving is n helpful discipline to many of those capital and labor, but additionally the capital. the life, the
who contribute. increesinF their interest in the cause to which principal.
they give, and dccrcasinz their selfishness and worldliness,-
nevertheless we are not prepared to advocate this system But now the question arises, How shall wr prelieut our-
amongst the Lord’s rnnsecrated people; because we find no selves? We have given our aEl in consecration to the Lord:
authority for the tithing system under the New Covenant; in what way would he have us render it unto him ? Hr
and we may prearh nor advocate neither more nor less than does not wish us to destroy our lives, and thus become dead
the laws our God has spoken unto us. sacrifices : and if we present ourselves Zidng sacrifices. how
To Christians, brgottcn of the spirit of adoption to be little there will be to render to the Lord! As living beings
SOUR of God, the Lord speaks not as he speaks to servants, we have certain necessities of our own and obligations toward
saying “Thou shalt” and “Thou shalt not” do thus and so. others (we must support our own lives and the lives and
On the contrary he speaks to us as a father unto his sons. happiness of those who are immediately under our care, in
He communicates to us R knowledge of his will and plan, our own families and households) : and if we attend to
without putting exact limitations upon our acts. He merely these, how little time will be left for special service of the
places us under the perfect law of liberty-Love; the law Lord. Surely it requires the largest portion of our time
which gives us perfect liberty to do all we please in harmony and energy to provide the “things needful” of the present
with love to God and man. He who loves much may give life; and thus, to our disappointment, we find that the ull
proportionately: he who loves little may give little accord- that we had laid upon the altar will mean comparatively
ingly. Our Lord desires that each should thus show forth little by the time that it is rendered to the Lord in special
hi< -own developments in love. But, shall we consider that services or contributions, or efforts on behalf of his cause
this librrtv. ., , which we eniov as “new creatures in Christ What shall we do?
Jesus,” releases us from all” obligations? Shall we consider Realizing our perplexity, and how unsatisfactory this con-
that because the Lord has not specified that we must give dition of things would be to those who are of a proper
one-tenth of our incomes. as he required of the Jew, under condition of heart. the Lord verv eraciouslv informs us of
his Law Covenant, therefore we are at liberty to give the how he accepts thk matter. He “teiis us th& he accepts UR
one-twentieth. or the one-fiftieth, or one-hundredth part, or as living sacrifices, and that this which we have fully and
nothing, to the Lord’s cause ? completely devoted or consecrated to him, and which he hm
Yes, we have just that liberty,-that is to say, God will accepted, he returns to our care and custody, making UP
not now withhold from us rain on this account, nor will he stewards of those things which we have devoted--our time,
send pests as punishments as he did with the .Jews under our influence, our means, our talents-all. We are to do
their covenant. Yet surely all who have been begotten of the best we can with these in our Lord’s service, and if we
the spirit of adoption, all tiue sons of God. would ra‘ther say: do the best we can with them, to glorify him, he accepts the
If it were proper that the Israelite according to the flesh matter as tho every act and every word and every deed were
should give one-tenth of all his income to benevolent purposes, rendered directly in his service, tho the majority of these acts
it is much more proper that we, the spiritual seed of Abraham, and words and deeds may necessarily be used by us in attend-
who have been still more highly favored than the natural ing to our own necessities, and the necessities of those de-
seed, should render some thank-offering unto the Lord our pending upon us. How gracious is this arrangement by which
124861
JL’NE 15, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (154-155)

we may not only render our all to the Lord, but give proper “These things,” which the Lord’s people are to do, because
attention also to all the obligations of an earthly kind, and they are begotten of his spirit, and because they are con-
that with greater blessing, realizing that, whether we eat or secrated to his service, are all of them the things of love-
drink, or whatsoever we do (as stewards of the Lord, with the patience of love, the meekness of love, the long-suffering
an eye single to his service, his glory, his pleasement), is
of love, the brotherly-kindness of love, the gentleness of love.
accepted of him as done umto brim,-as tho it were direct
service. These things can abound only in those who have been begotten
of the spirit of love, and who, on this account, are already
Let us remember also, during this Gospel age, the Lord
is seeking a peculiar people for a peculiar present and future reckonedly dead (and daily dying) to their former selves,
service. He seeketh such to worshin him as worshio him in and to the selfishness which once ruled them, through in-
spirit and in truth-from the heart, and not of compulsion. herited depravity by the fall.
Hence the Lord leaves the Spiritual Israelite free: he does Let each reader look, of course, to his own condition of
not shower temporal blessings upon those who live up to heart, and judge himself whether or not he is rich in the
their covenant, more than upon others, nor does he pour spirit of the Lord, whether or not his soul is fat, whether
out curses, blights and troubles upon those who violate their or not he is growing in grace and in love, as well as in
covenant more than upon others. He leaves all the “house knowledge. If any, on inspection, find such fatness of soul.
of sons” thus free, in order that each by his own conduct let him rejoice, yet nevertheless, as the Apostle says, “re-
may manifest the sincerity or the insincerity of the covenant
which he made. joice with fear,” lest the present condition of divine favor
Thus all of the sons of God practically pass judgment and blessing should give place and some earth-born cloud
upon themselves. arise to hide the heavenly Father from the eyes of faith.
This is illustrated in the parables of the Pounds and And should any, upon self-examination, find leanness of soul,
of the Talents; in these the Master shows talents and pounds spiritual poverty, lack of progress, or perhaps a retrogression
recognized aa his, entrusted to his servants during his absence. in spiritual matters, let such remember the Apostle’s words,-
The servant who had not sufficient love for the Master to use “Let us fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into
what he possessed in his sersice was reproved, and rejected [divine] rest, any of us should seem to come short of it.“--
from further stewardshio as unfaithful. unworthv. So all Heb. 4:l.
the sons of God under the New Covenant,* having presented
their at2 to the Lord, are now only stewards of what they EXHORTATIONS OF FAITHFULNESS
control-principal and increase. They are given a free hand Nevertheless, let not such be discouraged, but hearken
to do with it as thev choose: “Ye are not under law [as further to the word of the Lord to fleshly Israel, in which
servants], but under” grace [liberty-as stewards] .” But
at the reckoning day all unfaithful stewards who failed to he says to them, in the words of our text, “Bring ye all
use their Lord’s goods with energy in his service-time, the tithes into the storehouse . . . . and prove me now here-
talent, influence, as well as money-will be rejected, put out with, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open unto vou
of further stewardship. the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that
there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Let all who
CAUSES OF STUMBLING desire to find blessing in rich and overflowing measure take
While, therefore, the spiritual Israelite of this Gospel the Lord at his word, and present to him the offerings which
age has a greater liberty than had the natural Israelite of we have already consecrated, and which are not our own. (1)
the Jewish age, in so far as the express commands of the because they were bought with a price, even the precious
Lord are concerned, we find that, in proportion as he possessee blood of Christ, and (2) because recoanizinn S’ D this fact. we
the soirit of the Lord. he will realize a much greater obliga- solemnly consecrated ourselves to the Lord-presented our
tion ‘than his Jewish’brother, and where this obligation is bodies living sacrifices in his service. Let us resolve for the
realized and appreciated, it will lead to faithfulness, devo- future to bring to the full measure of our ability a rea-
tion. As with the Jew the Lord did not make the matter sonable service, the rendering of time and influence and
of tithing obligatory, in the sense of enforcing it, so with talent and means to the Lord and to his cause, to his service;-
the spiritual Israelite he does not attempt to enforce his that the words of our mouths and the meditations of our
covenant obligation of full consecration, but takes note of our hearts may be pleasing to him: and let us seek that all our
Courses in life. as indicative of the measure of our love and acts of life may be living epistles, read and known of all
men, showing forth the praises of him who called us out of
appreciation of his mercies and blessings. Yet as God watched
darkness into his marvelous light.
over the Israelites, to give earthly blessings, bountiful harvests,
etc., to those who were faithful in tithing themselves, SO And not only so, but let us, in proportion as we have
with sniritual
1
Israel. the Lord watches over us to give US, been lax or careless in the nast. and unfaithful to our vows.
not temnoral, but s&ritual bounties and fatness in propor- put forth renewed energy, 6-1 compensate, so far-as possible;
tion as we are faithful in presenting our bodies living sacrifices for past neglect, “redeeming the time,” remembering also
to him. Do we see some stumble and fall from the truth, that “the davs are evil”-that the times in which we live
after they have been once enlightened, and after they have are unfavorable, that the tendency of our day is- towards
tasted of the heavenlv gift and of the powers of the age to selfishness and worldliness more and more.
come, after they have had much advantage every way ? Do Those whose consecration will be thus revived will no
we see some feeble and delicate in spiritual health, and longer find themselves more interested in worldly riches, and
ready to be stumbled by the Adversary ?* If so, we see some the meat that perisheth, than in spiritual riches and the
who have been unfaithful in rendering unto the Lord their bread of eternal life, and contrariwise will seek and find
God that which they have covenanted: Or if they seem to opportunities, not only for serving the Lord in their ordinary
have been energetic in his service, and yet are stumbling, vocation, but also will seek and find snecial onoortunities
we may rest assured that it is because their energres and of service. This will include the rendering to the Lord of
efforts were to be seen of men, and were not of pure devotion thanks and worship. For in proportion as each becomes earn-
to the Lord. estly desirous of rendering service to the Lord, and of keep-
It is well, of course, that our criticisms should be chiefly ing his heart in the love of God. he will find it desirable.
turned inward, and that each should question himself, rather yea, necessary, to seek supplies at the throne of grsce and
than others, on so important a subiect as this. We mav not the family altar daily, as well as to lift up his heart fre-
always know who are’ the Lord’s, but we may always Uknow quentlv in private to the Lord, in thankfulness, or in prayer
that “the Lord knoweth them that are his”-the heart-faithful. for help in time of need. And likewise, at the close of every
And we may be sure that these shall not stumble. tho thev day, those who have been desirous of pleasing and serving the
be permitted to pass through trials and difficulties which Lord will desire to render their report at the close of the day,
would deceive and stumble; if it were possible, the very and to inspect themselves and the efforts which they have
elect. To these the Lord will, with every temptation, present made, that thus they may stimulate themselves in the heavenly
also a way of escape; he will succor them because thev are race, and renew their vows of consecration. Moreover, those
his. As the Apostle Peter says, “If ye do these things [fulfil who are thus wholly consecrated to the Lord, and seek first or
the royal law of love and devotion to God and the neighbor] chiefly his righteousness and a share in his Kingdom, will
ye 8hd1 never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered very generally And opportunities for meeting together with
unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our others of like precious faith, to encourage one another, and
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.“-2 Pet. 1 :lO, 11. to build one another up in the most holy faith, and so much
l See June 15, 1919, for critical examination of Covenants. the more as we see the day drawing on.
[2487]
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Question.- ( 1) To what extent should the Lord’s people Master’s will, that shall be approved and win the crown.
take literally the statement, “Take no thought for you; life, Every reasonable opportunity should be used by the Lord’s
what ve shall eat or what ve shall drink. nor vet for vour oeonle to obtain a knowledge of the divine plan-even to the
body, &hat ye shall put on. * Is not the liie m&g than &eat, extint of sacrificing; but the child of the Lord will be par-
and the body more than raiment?“-Matt. 6:25-34. ticular to see that it is his own conveniences and comforts
(2) How much time should the Lord’s people take from that he is sacrificing, and not chiefly the conveniences and
the duties of life for Bible study and in general the service comforts of others. The Bible study which is done merely
of the truth? at the expense of others is a sign of selfishness rather than
Anszcer .-( 1) The words of our Lord which you quote a sign of -a rich indwelling of tee Lord’s spirit of Jove.
must be interpreted in harmony with other declarations of To make our studies of the divine nlan as profitable as
the inspired \Vord. They must not hi interpreted so as to possible, we should spend as much timi daily in dispensing
conflict with other statements. Other Scriptures instruct the the truth to others as we spend in seeking to feed ourselves,
Lortl’q people to Jxhor with their hands, that they may have to and Christian experience proves the truth of the words of
give to those that have need (Eph. 4:28), and this implies Scripture, “He that watereth shall be watered also himself:”
forrtliouKht and provision in thr way of laying up of money so that gradually the servant of the Lord will become more
earnctl. Again. the Scriptures declare, “The children ought and more interested in handing forth the truth to others and
not to Jnv’ up for the pirents, but the parents for the chil- finding that his own growth in knowledge and in grace came
dren” (2 Car. 12 : 14) -implying some reasonable forethought either in preparing to dispense the truth to others or while
and ploviqion on the part of the parents for those whom dispensing it to them. A state of lethargy, indolence, etc.,
thev have hronglrt into hping. ARain, the Apostle implies respecti@ the duties of life, and respecting opportunities for
that the Christian who is fervent in spirit, ser;ing the Jlord, nresentinp the truth to others. is a sure indication of spiritual
will not hr +#~fuJ in anv business (Ram. 12:11), and de- bbvert$ OIt is well that all’ of the Lord’s people keep eve1
clarrs thnt “Tf anv provide not for hi4 own, and kspecially hefore their minds the inspired words, “Not slothful in busi-
for those of his o&n house, he bath tlrnierl the faith and is ness, fervent [warm, zealous] in spirit, serving the Lord.”
wnrs(’ thnn nn unbtJierer.“-1 Tim. 5 :8. As to the amoztnt of time each can devote, no rule can be
Jnterpleting our Lnrtl’y words in hnrmony with these other laid down except that of fervency of spirit. One fervent in
Scripturrs. their sensr would bp that the Christian is not snirit will be serving others temporallv and spiritually nearly
to take njltio~~ care respecting the future, in matters beyond :;I1 the time-with this might, as his-hand fiids to a~. -
hi4 rnntrnl. He is, however. to tnkr thought for every matter Question.---Who is the “snoiler” denounced in Isa. 33 :l-
that is subject to his control. HP is to seek to order his ‘<Wie ~untn thee that sp&e&, and thou wast not spoiled”?
life so that it shall be useful to himself and to others. He Do vou consider that this verse is in any sense applicable
iq tn Iememhcr tJle Scriptural injunction, “Go to the ant, to the present time of harvest?
thou sluggard , ; consider her ways ant1 be wise.” and is to Answer.-The connections seem to associate this with thr
follow the ant’s custom of laying up provision in advance coming great time of trouble. No doubt when the time of
of nrressitv. This lesson is tnurllt hv all of our Lord’s trouble is fully on nr nearly over it will be very easy to
providenrcs: for instance, the plow&g and the sowing are to be distinguish who is referred to bv this verse. It does not seem
done hountifullg and in faith. not doubtfully and fearfully. easy to distinguish with certaihty at the present time.
So also the cultivation is to be done with patience, waiting @e&on.-Pleare give a thorough definition of the words
for the harvest: and when the hnrvrst comes the lesson of aheol and hades.
ngtnre is that the reaper shall not merely reap what he rlnstoer.--We hope to furnish such a definition in tile
wishes to cat, and Jet ihe next day look out for- itself, but fifth volume of the DAWN series, now in nrenaration. 1 L

that he shall -nather into barns. maJ<inr nrovision for the Questio?z.-Do you consider the hirtory of ,Joseph, recordrtl
winter ant1 -for-the next seedtime. Our ‘L&d’s remark that in Genesis, as typical?
the fowls of tile air do not pather grain into barns, and pet d nstc-er.-Yes ; to our understanding .Joseph was a type-
are fed. nor do lilirq spin, yet arc clothed, was not intended various features in his history seem to be separate and di+
to tparh that hi< followers should adopt the method of the tinrt pictures of the experiences of Christ, Head and botly.
fnwlq rpspcrting iheir food, nor expect to hc clothed as the ((L) Joseph was hated of his brethren, beloved by his fathrr:
Jilirs. Tt w:jq intended to teach rnnfidrnrr in God as our so with -Christ. (a) Joseph was cast into thk pit bv his
rarctnkrr. and thus permit hiq faithflll children to plow and brethren. as Jesus went into the nit of death for his brethren.
sow in faith, to labor in faith, and to reap with faith, to Jay the Jewk. (c) .Joseph’s life wa’s sold into servitude to the
up in store with faith, and to use with faith; recognizing Egyptians, but became ultimately the means of the preserva-
every good gift as of the Lnrtl (througlk the sun and rain, tion of his entire familv. as well as of the Ewntians: so
by plowing and reaping), the same who provides for the Christ gave himself a &&om not only for his ‘I&hren Init
l,;rtJs, thn in a tliffrrent mannrr. The Christian is ever to also for all mankind: and during the Millennial age will
rcmrmhrr tllnt I~I~III shall not Jive hy bread alone: that he is furnish “bread of life” to all who famish for it. (d) Joseph
not whnllv tlrprntlrnt npnll his own energies; that his affairs waq sacrificed. qent to prison, because of his purity; so our
are in thr T,nrtl’r hands for snpcrvisinn. and that the promise Lord ,Jesus. “holy. harmless, undefiled,” was treated as a
is. “Trllqt in thr T,nrd and do good: so shalt thou dwell in transpressor. and went into the prisonhouse of death. (e)
thr Iantl. and rrlilv thou shalt be fed.” Putting ..’ this con- .Jnsrnh was delivrred in due time from the nrison. and made
fidrnrr ill Gntl’s mlprrvisinn of his affairs. while making the &ociat,e of the king upon the throne Gf EGpt; so our
a trur Chlistinn reqtflll in mind, will not make him slovenly, T,nrtJ Jesns WRS raised up from the prisonhouse of death by
careless or itllr in doing with his might what his hands find the glory of the Father, to be set at his right hand in the
to do. a4 nntn the T,ortl. plnrp of power, on the throne of earth; agent and representn-
(2) nilties may at. times seem to cnnRict, but they do not tive of the great King for the blessing of all the families
r~nllv 110 50 .I Christian’s first dutv is his heartv acknowl- of the earth, typified by the Egyptians.
edphrnt of Jlis Creator and Lord,’ in all his Gays. His Question .-Do you understand from the nrophecv of Ezekiel
srcond tlllty. if hr be n husband and father, is toward Jlis 40 :40-&l, that s&rifices of animals will- be- resumed after
wife and chiltlrrri ; or if shr JK* a wife and mother. it is the establishment of Christ’s kinpdom and when Israel is
tn\\ard btbr hll~l~:rntJ ant1 rhiltlrrn. Iii the divine arrangement ,ig;~in in Palestine?
the husband is made the rJl.o?-ider of the family, and is not rl?lsloer.-The “better sacrifices” of the Gospel age having
0bevinK thtx divinr JiLW if ile neglect this duty-no matter for taken place beforehand, we think it unlikely that typical
wh;t rra\nn. unless it be disabilitv through sickness. Like- sacrifices will be restored. We consider it more probable that
\visc. tb(A ~ift>‘s first duty is that bf cnrct&er; looking after antitypical sacrifices are referred to-the broken and con-
the colllfnrt and encouragement nf her husband and children trite hearts of the people, and their consecration to the
along the path of duty. The marriage contract, by divine Lord’s service being t’hus represented. However, we are to
arrangenl(bnt, rnmrs in as a first mortgage upon every hus- remember that God considered these tvnical sacrifices of bulls
l)and’x time ant1 upon every wife’s time-the demands of this and of gnats a good method of prese;ting important truths
mortgage must. be ~ctrsol~nhll/ met before anything can be to the attention of fleshly Israel. and we can see that if
properly done to or for outsiders. such sacrifices were restored now, they would have much more
Tt is a great privilege for Christians to study the Lord’s force and meaning to similar classes than they had before
Word, vet a great deal of studv is done to no purpose. Studv their antitypes had come. We may not, therefore, be sure that
which is not put into pmcticr: in daily life ii worse than a the Lord will not adopt some such plan as this of instructing
waste of timr. It is not he that merely knoweth the Master’s the ignorant masses of manlcind, as preparatory to Jligher
will. but 11r w110 patiently and perseveringly seeks to do the Icssnns -as illnstrations of spiritual things.
(155-156) [2488]
 “UNTO THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH”
MY DEAR SIB ARD BROTHER:-Will you allow me, in the the second presence (not coming) of Jesus, the Son of God.
spirit of love and humility, to call your attention to two or “If his interpretations are true, he is ‘that sertmnt’ now
three scientific errors which have crept into your papers? engaged in ‘giving meat in due season to the household of
Z. W. T., Mar. 1, ‘97, p. 74, column 1, says, “the healing faith.‘-Matt. 24 : 45, 46.
may be said to have been in a natural wav bv the removal “It is of course a very easy thing to see error in the
of the injured cornea.” If the cornea it&f &ere- removed, teaching of other churches than that to which we belong.
the anterior chamber of the eye would be open, and with The Episcopalian sees the Nonconformist as astrav from the
the consequent exposure of the iris, pupil and lens, the main track- of truth, the Baptist recognizes the &stakes of
eye would inevitably be destroyed. The removal of the in- Methodism, the Brethren condemn both these churches, while
jury to the cornea, in a natural way, would probably be the Presbyterians regard the last named as distinctly misled,
effected by the dried exudation from the inflamed structures and so it is more or less all round. The greatest ditllculty
(scab or scale) falling off. of all is to detect one’s own errors of Christian doctrine and
[The EDITOR acknowledges, freely, that he should have added practice. We are (generally speaking) all of us so sure that
the word portion and thus have said-‘by the removal of we have the Scripture interpretation correct, and are so
a portion of the injured cornea.” Thanks for the correction.] confident of our own position, that for one to call anything
Z. W. T., June 1, ‘98, p. 172, column 2, says:-“As it was in question is an offense. That branch of the Christian
the full of the moon, a solar eclipse could have lasted but church to which we belong is much more frequently deter-
a few minutes at most.” That is an unfortunate expression, mined by the accident of our natural birth, than by the cir-
for at the full of the moon a solar eclipse is an impossibility. cumstance of our regeneration.
-4 solar eclipse is only possible at the time of new moon, “Can it be within the bounds of possibility, that the
and owing to- the varying -rates at which the two bodies travel views commonly held as orthodox are mistaken ones, just
it is not possible under the most favorable circumstances for as was the case with Israel at Christ’s first appearance?
a total eclipse to last longer than seven minutes, and an Read ‘MILLENNIAL DAWN’ and see. We think the Jews were
average eclipse is two or three minutes only. The most terribly mistaken to reject Christ as they did. Are we quite
favorable circumstances are, (1) The sun at greatest distance sure u’e have got hold of the truth just as God means it?
from the earth, i. e., the earth at aphelion ; (2) the moon at Read ‘MILLENNIAL DAWN’ and see. Either the author of
least distance from the earth (at perigee) ; and (3) the DAWN is wrong or we are. Of course it is easy,-perhaps all
ohserver must be on the central line of totality. too natural,-to rashly conclude the author of DAWN must be
[We are at a loss to understand how this statement crept wrong. Still it would be safer to examine his testimony aud
iu and thought to have corrected it in our next issue: we the Scriptures, to see if these things are SO.
concludrd not to do so, thinking that few of our readers “How every age that has ever lived before us has failed
would notice the error, and that those who had noticed it to see the hand of God at work at the time; and as it was
would recoguize it as a “slip of the pen.” We should have in the days of Noah, so it shall he in the days of the com-
said-“As it was at the full of the moon, a solar eclipse ing (presence) of the Son of Man.
even for n few moments was an impossibility.“-EDITOR.] “God gives his evidence in strange ways, emphatically not
In Z. \V. T., Oct. 15. ‘95, p. 241, column 1, and in tract in the way commonlv expected.
No. 40. p. 3, line 4, it is stated:-“The heart whose vulues “I therefore beg” all -who are desirous of possessing the
in turn propelled them to every part of the body.” The func- oure cold of God’s truth. to examine what this servant of God
tion of the valves is not to propel, but to stop, the current has gritten. The most ‘important are four volumes of MIL-
of blood. It is the strong muscular heart wall itself LENNIAL DAWN, which show the character, circumstances, and
which. contracting, forces the blood out of its cavities into time, of the coming Kingdom of God. It may be that some
the vessels, and the blood pressure thus produced shuts down will feel inclined to liehtlv .>
toss this aside without much
the valves, closing certain orifices, to prevent the backward thought (as I did myself six years ago). I beg you do not
flow of the blood. In sending out this excellent tract I am so. If you hunger for God’s truth, the living bread, at least
taking the liberty of erasing the two words “whose valves” read carefully the first volume of ‘MILLENNIAL DAWN.“’
.~nd substituting “which” in their place. ISigned. J
[Thanks for this correction also: our thought was that I am also advertising DAWN iu local prints, and if I may
the heart is a pump with necessary valves. We will correct hut be used in bringing some others iuto the light and joy
our next edition of Tract No. 40 to read-“The heart as a of the truth I shall he satisfied.
pump in turn propelled them to every part of the body.“- I have sold several of the DAWNS to missionaries, and this
EDITOR.] week I received a very encouraging letter from one who had
I am sure your large heart will easily bear with me, as boueht the first volume a few weeks ago, and he now writes:-
I call your attention to these points, and my only reason for ‘?Plear;e forward me the other thrre’volumcs of MII.IXNNIAL
doing so is that some readers, I fear, may reject your more DAWN. I have been deenlv interested in reading the first
precious Bible expositions because they detect an error in volume. I am determined by the grace of God to go to the
your science. bottom of these questions, cost what, they will. If the DAWN
[Fortunately, dear Brother, the EDITOR has never laid teaching is according to God’s Word, it will need humility of
claim to infallibility on scientific or other matters. He is mind for us to confess how thoroughly WC have been mistaken
on the contrary pleased to have honest criticism from any and to retrace our steps.”
quarter-appreciating it specially when it comes from “breth- On the contrary many speak against it, and some with
reu” ;rntl in a brotherly, loving spirit. We strive to exercise hitternesn, hut it is (for the most part) those who only hear
great care that our every utterance may be as the Scriptures of it. or onlv read sunerficiallv. But whether few or many
direct--“as the oracles of Cod.” ( 1 Pet. 4: 11) The EDITOR receive the truth, our strong c&idcnc~e is in CorE’s ow% pr’r-
can scarcely hope that these three are the only errors and nose regarding his \Vnrd. which hc has rlenrlv stated in
“slips” of his pen, in the publications of the past. twenty Isaiah 505: 11. n
years, and requests that if you or other readers note other My wife and eldest daughter rejoicr with me in the light
errors worthy of correction you will kindly communicate of God’s truth now shining. We pray for you, and your
them.] colaborers, and for all who love the present truth, that God
You may like to see the circular letter, 5,000 of which I will graciously preserve us all until the manifcst:rLron. I am,
have had printed. and which I am sending out to all mis- Yours in the love and service of Christ,
HORACE A. RANI~IX,-~%~~(I.
siounriea in China, Japan, Corea aud Siam. I enclose a copy.
[Our readers are interested in all efforts to serve the Y. #.--Poor WONG CHIN Foo (DAWN, VOL. 4, n. 253) died
suddenly of heart failure at Wei ‘Hai Wci on Scp?.. 13th last.
Truth to others-we therefore print Brother Randle’s Circular A few weeks before he had visited Tene Chaufu where he first
Letter in full.-EDITOR.] heard of and learned Christinnitv. He then remarked to a
“There has arisen a witness for God and his Christ, an Baptist missionary that “he supposed the most wicked thing
expositor of Bible truth. such as may be safely said has not he ever did, was to write that letter. ‘Whv Am I a Heathen?’
hitherto appeared. but he never supposed that it would c&c FO great a sen-
“The question is, ‘Is this man’s testimony of God?’ I sation.” H. A. R.
believe it is. He claims little, but he teaches much. He “SEND OUT THY LIGHT AND TRUTH, 0 LORD!”
teaches that the conflicting creeds of Christendom are out From earliest childhood the Enrron has had a deep interest
of harmony with God; and that even some of the most cher- in the heathen, and naturallg a deep interest in missionaries.
ished doctrines regarded as orthodox are wrong. If what this At the early age of seven years he expressed to his mother hie
man writes is true, he is the veritable John the Bautist of intention to become a missionarv. and a little later with other
this age, or at least the voice of one crying in witness to Sunday School children rontributed his mite to the building
[24891 ~157-158)
C158--l 59) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLSEEN i, l’ I

of “The Morning Star” missionary boat-abstaining from period of this age.* We most firmly believe that this is the
certain table luxuries that he might have the value thereof to “harvest message” which as the Lord’s sickle is to gather the
contribute as his own donation, that had cost him something ripe “wheat” of the living church and that all associated with
and was not merelv his parents’ gift. t&e promulgation of this-message are reapers in this harvest,
This sympathet”iic lov;! for thg heathen has not abated in colaborers with the great Chief Reaper-our Lord and Head.
all these years; but under the leadings of the Divine Word He believes that this-message and these messengers are figura-
and providences it took a different turn than he had first tively referred to in Matt. 13 :39, 41, as doing a separating
intended. As the divine plan of salvation unfolded to him, he work in the church-gathering the jewels, making ready the
saw clearly that the Lord’s sympathetic love for the heathen bride, the Lamb’s wife, for the “marriage,‘‘-gathering the
so far from being less than his own was greater. He grad- elect from the four winds-from one end of the ecclesiastical
ually came to see that God’s plan of salvation as he has pur- heavens to the other.*-Matt. 24:31.
posed it in himself, from before the creation of the world, has If it be argued that the work is insignificant in compari-
made ablinilant provision for “every man that cometh into son to the great institutions of Christendom surnamed in the
the world”-that all should “come to an accurate knowledge Scriptures “Babylon,,’ we reply: It is God’s usual method to
of the ~rulh”-to a knowledge of him who is “the Icay, the choose the weak things, and the things that are despised; that
truth and the Zife” and by whom alone ~CCCSSto the Father it may be the more manifest that not the arm and spirit of
and restitution to his favor and blessings are possible. He man have accomplished the results, but the arm and spirit of
CanlP to WC, also, that God is operating his great plan Jehovah-our Lord Jesus and the “spirit of the truth.” It
methodically, and that, as there was a “fullness of time” in may be argued, also, that less than sixteen years of the “har-
which our Snviour should be born, so also there is a “due vest” period remain and that the Scriptural indications arc
time” in whiceh t,he knowledge and blessing flowing from his that all of the elect will have been found and “chan.ged”
redemptive sacrifice shall bc made effective to all who will probably four years before the harvest ends-before the climax
acrrjpt this favor under the terms of the New Covenant sealed of the great time of trouble. We answer, Yes; but each year
with the precious blood.-John 1:9; 1 Tim. 2 :4-6; Gal. 3: puts the present truth into more concrete form and increases
16, 29. opportunities (finanrlally and otherwise) for reaching all who
In harmony with this he soon learned from the Word that have “an ear to hear” (Matt. 13:43) ; and each year under
the churrh. the “little flock,” “the very elect,” who are to win divine providence brings the ears of the consecrated-the
the “prize of the high calling,” offcrrd during this Gospel age, watchers-into better condition to hrar the Lord’s mcssnge.
are to be but a “first f~~if.s unto God and the Lamb.” (Rev. Here, for instance! are the missionaries in far off China
14:4 ; Jas. 1: 18) And the rompletion of this specially elect and Japan having this “h:lrvest” message served to them !Q
thureh with tlrc close of the prcscnt age will therefore be but a dear brother in their midst. We have no idea that all mis
the beoinnino. and not the cndina. of the great Dlan of salva- sionaries have the true missionary spirit; but undoubtedly
tion &irh C&d has purposed.-&. 65:9-1%i. A some of them have: and all such having ears to hear will
In a word, he came to see that in God’s great plan the surely hecr, and be gathered by the truih out of sertarian
present Gospel age is merely for the selection and education bondage and the slavery of error and fear into the blessed
of those whom God purposes to USC as his ministcvs, his liberti of the spirit of the Lord, the spirit of the truth, the
missiowrirs to the world in gcneral, in the next age, the spirit of love; and into the closer oneness with our great
Millennium. There arc to he the “royal priesthood,,’ to whom Head which accompanies a knowledge of the truth to the faith-
(under Christ the King of kings and Priest of priests) shall ful. May the Lord richly bless dear Brother Randle’s efforts
be committed the full control of earth during the “times of to serve the truth to others-more than compensating him fol
rest.itution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth his consequent trials and self-sacrifices.
of all his 110:~ prophets since the world hegan.“-Luke 12:32; Nor have we been idle as respects foreign missionaries, for
19:12-15; 22:29; Jas. 2:s; 2 Pet. 1:ll; Dan. 2:44; 7:18, 22; during the past year we sent out large numbers of TOXVEKS
Matt. 13:43; Rev. 20:4; Acts 3:19-23. and tracts to English speaking missionaries in all parts of
From this standpoint it soon became evident to him that the world.
the duty of the hour is not the uplifting of heathendom,- And as it relates to “foreign missions,,’ but of another
for which work God has specially appointed a coming age and kind, we here mention that the past year has witnessed con
is specially preparing teachers, who will be granted plenary siderable progress of the truth in Great Britain, Germany,
powers for that work. Accordingly, instead of seeking foreign Switzerland, Sweden and Denmark, and an entrance has been
fields of servi:e: he sought a more and more intimate knowl- effected into France and Norway. We hone for additional
edge of the dlvlnc plan from the> divine Word-to the intent coworkers (colporteurs) in all these foieig fields as well as
that he might be a coworker with God in his work. And the here in the home field, which thus far seems to vield the
due time fb;r revealing to the church the divine plan respect- largest returns of “wheat’‘-under divine providence, pre-
ina its navtichatiow &:ith Christ in the blessing of all the viously gathered here from every nation under heaven. All of
f&&lies-of the earth-“the mystery hid from p&t ages and the Lord’s people filled with his spirit must be engaged in
dispensations,” having come. he has been privileged by God’s this work in some manner. (Jer. 20:9, 10) And “he that
grace to serve this “meat in due season” to many of the Lord’s reapeth [using his abilities and opportunities1 recciveth
people far and nrar.--Eph. 3 :3, 4, 9 ; 5: 32 ; Col. 1:26. 27 ; wages and gathereth fruit unto life eternal.” (John 4:36.)
Rev. 10: 7; Matt. 24:25. Therefore, let each one who has tasted of this grace of God
Further light upon the Word showed that this knowledge be forward to avail himself to his utmost in using his privi
is now granted bc~c~auhedue, bccausc we have reached the lege
period designntcd by our Tfircl as the “harvest” or closing --~ of being a colaborer with his Lord.
l See MILLENNIAL DAWN for Scriptural proofs

DIVINE MERCY IN HOSEA’S PROPHECY

JULY 2.-Hos. 14: l-9.
“Come, let us return unto the Lord.“-Has. 6: I.
For the next .qi.\ months the International Lessons are in favored by dissensions in Egypt and in Assyria, the greater
the Old Trstammt, and begin with the closing words of nations near. The Lord manifested his favor to Israel in
Hosea’s prophecy. token of the measurable reformation begun by Joash by giving
To n1)preriat.e the lesson it is necessary that we have at. bountiful harvests also, so that the land became very wealthy
lcb,tst R Fenera understandin g of the time and circumstances and prosperous from the large crops, as well as from the
under which the prophecy was given. Hosea was a resident spoils taken in war.
and prophet in the kingdom of Israel-the ten-tribe kingdom But these prosperities, which were in full accord with the
-during a part of the prriod in which Isaiah was prophesv- covenant God had made with Israel at Sinai (Drut. 28: l-14))
ing in the kingdom of Judah-the two-tribe kingdom. \+e in&ad of leading the people back to God and to full obedience
recall in our lessons of last year (Sept. 4) the death-bed of to their covenant, seem to have had before long a very dif-
Elisha, and his instructions to Joash, the king of the ten- ferent effect. Soon they forgot that the prosperities were the
tribe kingdom, to smite upon the ground, and 111sexplanation results of divine favor, and, in the language of Scripture, the
that the smiting of the ground three times with the arrows nation “went whoring after other gods.” Undoubtedly one
by Joash represented three victories which he would gain thing which especially made the false religions attractive was
over Syria, effecting the full deliverance of Israel from Syrian the fact that their worship and ceremonies gave loose reign
control. Those promisrd victories were gained, and for a time to licentiousness, and even gave a certain sanctity to it. Thus
Israel made great strides nationally, extending its borders to their great prosperity led Israel into idolatry and into gen-
very nearly the area of territory controlled by David and era1 licentiousness and corruption, worse., probably, than at
Solomon (Judah excepted). Thrs condition of things was any other period of their history, and this led to their utter
c24901
JUNE 15, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (160-163)

rejection by the Lord, delivering them to the Assyrians, who of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless find
took the entire nation cantive. mercy.”
Hosea’s prophesying was at the time of Israel’s depravity, This is the attitude of heart in which all “Israelites
just preceding their captivity. Through the Prophet the Lord indeed” throughout this Gospel age are returning to the
appeals to Israel, pointing out his loving tender care for Lord. ,-not th&e alone who are Israelites according to the
them from the very beginning of their history as a nation, flesh. but those also who are called to fill UD the elect number
nointine out their backslidine attitude. their falseness to him from every nation under heaven; to become members of the
‘-pictu~ing7them as a false -wife and ‘God himself as a most holy nation, the peculiar people, by becoming the Bride, the
merciful husband. Lamb’s wife. The Lord has indeed graciously received them,
It would aunear that the Lord permitted Hosea to have and has put away their iniquity-through the blood of the
certain very trying experiences in domestic troubles, with a cross.
view to impressing upon his mind the Lord’s view of Israel, The Lord’s answer is recorded in vss. 4-8, saying, “I will
his spouse. The Prophet, in the very opening of his book, heal their backsliding, I will love them freely [unmeritedlyl,
declares that the word of the Lord first came unto him in for my anger is turned away from him. [Spiritual Israel is
connection with his domestic trials. The Prophet had married, not received of Jehovah as a woman, but as a man, of which
seemingly by divine providence, an attractive girl, named Christ Jesus our Lord is Head and his church the members of
Gomer, whom he dearly loved, and who at the time of their his body, accepted in the Beloved.] I will be as the dew
marriage was quite probably true and worthy of his affection. [refreshment] unto Israel; he shall grow [thrive] as the lily
Or it is possible to understand from the account that the [whose growth in Palestine is remarkable], and cast forth his
Prophet, loving her, hoped to fully reclaim her, but, infected roots as Lebanon [the trees of Mt. Lebanon had very sturdy
with the general immorality of the time, she proved unfaith- roots]. His branches shall spread, aud his beauty shall be as
ful, so that only her first child was recognized by the Prophet. an olive [everlasting], and his fragrance as Lebanon.” Thus
The names given to the succeeding two show that the Prophet does the Lord picture the development and extabli+hmeut of
did not arknowledee them. Dr. George Adam Smith remarks: his true Israel, the Christ.
“Hosea does not 6laim the second child, and in the name of
this little lass, Lo-ruhamah, ‘She that nezler knew o father’s Then follows a picture of the blessings of the Millennial
reign of spiritual Israel as God’s kingdom; the revival and
love.’ orphan, not bv death, but bv her mother’s sin, we find
proof of-the Prophet’s awakening to the tragedy of his home. restitution of Israel and of all the nations is symbolically
Nor does he own the third child. named Lo-ammi. Wet mu pictured, saying :
people.’ That could also mean, ‘Xo kilt of mine.” Once at “They that dwell under his shadow shall return I have
least, but probably oftener, Hosea had forgiven the woman, restitution] ; they shall revive as the corn and flourish as a
and until the sixth year she stayed in his house. Then either vine, and the fragrance thereof shall be as the wine of Leb-
ho put her from him, or she went her own way. She sold anon. Ephraim [one of the names given to the ten-tribe
herself for money, and finally drifted, like all of her class, kingdom, and also symbolically used sometimes in referring
into slavery.” to nominal churchianity] shall say, What have I to do any
The Prophet’s sympathy went out to his wife to the extent more with idols? I have heard him [the great Prophet-
that he redeemed her from slavery, as recorded. (3: l-31 Acts 3:22] and observed [obeyed] him; I am like a green fir
These severe experiences through which the Prophet passed tree [an evergreen tree,-symbolically representative of the
seemed to be preparing him to voice the Lord’s sentiments of possession of everlasting life]. From [in] me is thy fruit
tender compassion to Israel, his espoused one, who so fre- found;“-the fruits of the spirit.
quently and persistently went after other gods. If the In conclusion, attention is called to the fact that not by
prophecy of Hosea be read from this standpoint its tender earthly wisdom and intelligence can these predictions be com-
c~ompahsionate appeals will be appreciated as from no other. prehended. They shall be understood only by those who are
Our lesson is the conclusion of the matter. First, the taught of the Lord with the true wisdom which comcth down
Prophet is represented as addressing the neonle: “0 Israel, from above: as the Prophet declares, “The [truly] wise shall
return unto the Lord thy God, for thou hist- fallen by thine understand, but none of the wicked shall understand.“-
iniauitv: take with vou words and turn to Jehovah”-words Dan. 12: 10.
of ~on~rition,~promisks of reformation. We give the translation of this last verse from Lccser, a~
Then Israel is represented as speaking in a repentant atti- follows : ‘Who is wise that he may understand these things ?
tude, saying: “Say unto him [the Lord], Take away all intelligent, that he may know them? For righteous are thr
iniquity and receive us graciously: so shall we render the ways of the Lord, and the just shall walk in them [under-
calves of our lips. Assher shall not save us; we will not stand them], but the transgressors will stumble through them
ride upon horses, neither will we say any more to the work [misapprehend them].”
____ -__--
___-- - -.-.--..
..-. ---_- - --.~---
~-
VOL. xx ALLEGHENY, PA., JULY 1, 1899 No. 13
- - ___- ---- ___
-- ~~~
~~.

“THE BISHOP OF LONDON ON ‘GETTING ON’”

“The Bishop of London possesses a mind of unusual in- beneficent discoveries are due to the persistence of this intenGc*
terest, and everything that he says is worth paying attention will in us. It is even further true that many noble qualities.
to, whether we agree with it or not. In addressing the pupils and no little of the social and the humnuizing elements in lift,
of the Philological School the other day, he took as the sub- are intimately connected with a powerful will. Many of the
ject of his remarks, ‘Success in Life.’ Considering his own great human scourges of the race have, unconsciously and un-
career, one might expect that he would justify, and possibly intentionally, done immense good for mankind through the
glorify, success, for few men of our generation have risen possession of this vast overflowing energy. ‘There shall be
more rapidly and achieved such brilliant success as he. But no Alps,’ said Napoleon in his selfish desire to conquer Italy,
the Bishop did not take that line of thought at all, and we and the result was the wonderful roads which connectc,d
are glad that he did not. Enough and too much has been Northern and Southern Europe. If ever there was an example
written for boys as to the way in which they may regard the on a colossal human scale of the ‘will to live,’ it was embodied
world as their oyster to open at their will. Strength, in- in Peter the Great, an awful and drunken barbarian; hut
stead of purity, of will has too often been represented as the see what he did for Russia. In this world, whose ultimate
most desirable of attainments. Now we do not doubt for one problems we do not pretend to solve, the ‘will to live,’ with
moment that this element of great will-power is an important all its potential consequences, is a great fact without which the
element in the building up of character. Without it nothing human race would gradually die out.
can be achieved that is worth achieving. But mere strenath “Now the successful man, in the ordinary sense of the
of will may, and often is, accompaniedby the worst traits-in word. is he who develous in himself in an abnormal degree
human character. We need not accent all the deductions of this ‘will to live.’ We ii the Western world scarcely recognize
Schopenhauer to agree with him that’ what he calls the ‘will that this ‘will to live’ carried to great lengths is not only not
to live’ is a root of all the crime, sensuality, and base un- universal among mankind, but is rather exceptional in its
satisfied longings which make up the carnal side of human operations. It & the brute inheritance, at lea& on one side,
nature. against which some of the great religions of the world have
“It is true that Nature itself implants this forceful ‘will to contended, and contended with success. The East as a whole
live’ in every one of us, and that without it the human race finds in the quiescence of the will, in its passive submission
would soon cease to exist when confronted with the terrific to a vast and supreme Power, the solution of the problem of life,
forces of the material universe. It is true that great and Even among Western peoples the average man lives with ron-
[ 24911
(164.165) ZION’S WATCH TOWER

tent amid the ‘petty murmur of his bourg’ rather than con- of the Eastern world has persuaded countless millions of
tends for the great material prizes of life, or what are supposed people that this kind of succeis is not worth while. Buddhism
to be such. It is well that this is so. for if everv one were fired and Brahminism have indoctrinated a lame Drouortion of the
by the ambition of a successful’ general, 0; politlcian, or human race with a positive contempt fo; (he -kind of exist-
merchant, the competition among men would be so terrible ence which alone see*ms worth having for a member of the
that, from another point of view, annihilation would be the New York Stock Exchange. Indeed, if we contemplate the
lot of humanity. Men would not be able to stand the strain, two varieties of mankind from a spiritual, instead of a
nor would Nature afford the mass of them the opportunity for physical, point of view, we might be led to doubt whether the
attaming, or even seriously striving for, the object of their human race had a common origin. There seems absolutely
ambition. Earth would become a hell, and this green globe nothing in common between the-two types.
would witness tragedies compared with which the most awful “On the one hand, we see the action dictated by the strong
in 1llbtor.y would dwindle into inslgnificance. Mo3t men are, will, by the ‘will to live’ endowed with keen intelligence and
happily for thcmsel~es and for their fellows, contented, like a rather low standard of asniration. On the other side, we
the Apostle, with food and raiment, and taking the world see a being who is striving-l-for what? For the cessation of
ad a whole, they live the lives of decent and faithful fathers, all will, for the attainment, not of material commodities, not
sons, husbands, and friends. Ambition is the mark of a com- even of mental good, but of entire peace and calm, and to
paratrve few, and what are called the prizes of life are him all the efforts of human life in our busv civilization
c*onttznded for by an insignificant minority. seem entirely purposeless and even absurd. Age we to take
“\\‘e say that this iti well, and the I&shop of London is thtil ta\trrtnr Oriental view. or must we a(arept the standard
rvitlently in agreement with our position, for he does not of the strong will as believed in and acted upon by the busy
l.hInl, that succecls In life usually develops the best qualities men of our busv world? If the latter is a true theorv of
among men. It is indeetl true, as Wordsworth said, that it is life, then we m&t acacept the successful man as our hero,
dangerous to look on tyranth with a dazzled eye, and one even tho WC cannot teacah our youth4 how to imitate his
might adtl that it is not quite safe for most men to take as clxamplc.
thtblr modcln those who are generally estimated to be suc’cess-
ful 111~‘11. There can be, as the &shop said, no absolute rule “We think there is a mean between these extremes. as
as to what one should do to gain succebs. One may spend there is hetween most extremes. We cannot annihilate ‘the
one’s life in tha most praiseworthy dibgence, and yet die will to live,’ because existence itself on our planet depends
poor, unknown, and be accounted by the world as a failure, upon its mysterious operation. Neither rnn we desire the
the happily the world’s coarse judgments do not conwtitute Znrger development of the ‘will to live,’ the will carried to an
the final court of appeal. One may master all science. one abnormal noint. a’1 in a verv great general or financier, among
may be a great thinker, and yet pass aMay from these noises average mtn. All that we k&t aGong average men, as HegGi
of cbarth unrrc~ognlzetl, ;11rt1even laughed at, by one’s fellow- said. is that thev should be eood &en in all the funda-
men. mental relations lf life. Tf thei happen to achieve that re-
“It has been reserved for few great men to attain lenown ward which, as Coleridge says, cio rarely comer to merit, well
in tlicii own lifetime. They have been hated and ridiculed, and good.
while the shallow charlatan has won the success of his age. “But it ik well that most men should not go out of their
Tlll~ 19, intlrccl, huch a truism that one does not need to way to seek rewards. So long as they are standing on the
dwclll on the fact. If we are to measure character, genius and ground of right, they are safe: but the moment they quit that
worth by the qtandard of huc(‘eys. we should have to bav that noint of moral vantage for the perilous peaks of human
the great men of the world ha& been among the least suc- kmbition, they are ustyally lost. ?hev mu& not, then, put
ceshful mm. What dock seem to ns to ensure success ik 3omr forth thts abnormal ‘will to live,’ hut Aeither must ther crush
O\VI plus of human energy with which a man is born, and that will without which human life would be emptj of all
whic*h cannot be created in him afterwards, and which is positive content. No, what is really needed among men
di,c*c+.ctl towards the attainment of objeetw that can be best is a nure will. a will cleansed of all that degrades life while
itpl)rrc*i;ltt*d bp the average man. There is a general demand nroloneing it and extending its relations. ‘l!his was the best
in the world at any given time for a kind of mech,tnical &reek -id&, it is also the Cvhriatian idea, which comes to men,
talent. rising at times to geniuk, but of a variety which can be not ati t;tkinc! awav the real content of life, but as giving life
ehtintated by common people. and which can apply itself to ob- more abundantly; hut life which can control those fiery courses
je( IX of gtsneral desire. He who pooserses this kind of over- of the haul instead of leaving them to their own ungoverned
plu. of hum:ln c~ut~rgr i8 the sutbcessful man. becauee he holds a sway. On the whole, therefore, we say with the Bishop that
b~ono~~oly of what, .a’11 desire and of what all can appreciate. success in life is a dubious object of desire, since it is con-
To him all thc~ world’s :I ht;tce. and a11 the men and women nected inextricably with so much that wars against the soul.
merely playrrrr, and he qoon %ntls out fhat he can play the But we must not, as the Germans say, throw away the baby
be+1 game of thtm all in home partic~ular line. along with the bath. We must accept the will, but we must
“ln a world such :tci ours, how far is it wise to encourage give tn it that direction and nohle purpose which render it
that kind of talent? Religion. a* WC bavr raid, over most truly free.” -London Spectator.
_-~---_I ___. -_
DANIEL IN BABYLON
JULY %-DANIEL 1: 8-21.
“Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.”
I)anit*l 1s set before ub III the Scriptures as one whom the the period of Antioehus Epiphanes (over three hundred years
Lord Iovrd. His standing with the Almighty is strikingly after 1)aniel’s death) and that it was written by some un-
pre+rnt.c~tl through the I’ropht~t Ezekiel. whttre the Lord. speak- kno1v-n writer who attached Daniel’s name as a disguise.
in:! ot the bur(Lnesq of his judgments about to come upon the ?vIt&rn science and the higher critirs are very much opposed
land of .Jl~da.h, said. “‘l’110 thr*stb three men. Noah. Daniel and to anvthing in the nature of positive pro&ecy-anghing
,Job. were in It, they should tlelirrr but their own souls hy calaiminv to be of direct divine insniration. and in anv sense
thrir rifilitrollsnrsn.” (Ezrk. 14:14) These words were of th(J &ord attempting to foretell- the future. The gook of
spohrrl by Ezokit~l shortly hetore the desolation of Jerusalem. 1)aniel is pre8minentlp marked with these characteristics, and
whilt* I):lnicl was in Uabylon. where he had risen to a position hcnc~~ it, more than any other hook of the Old Testament, has
of cV?ilt prominrncr ; and llis fame no dollht had reached his the reprobation of tfiese gentlemen. But the Lord ‘fore-
tW11W. warned us. through the Anostle and the ProDhet, of these
Daniel wax carried captive. with .Jehoiarhim, king of Judah. wise men, whose ‘wisdom Gould become a trai and a snare
and man.y of the nobility of the land of Tqrael, eighteen* yealh unto them, so that “the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
before tlie final csaptiviiy in the days of Zedekiah, whel; the and the understanding of their prudent. men shall he hid
land was left desolate without an inhabitant. and the seventv 1oh~curetll “--Isa. 20: 14; 1 Cor. 1:26-29.
fears of desolation begall. Daniel wa* fourteen years olb Our Lord also pointed out that these things are hidden
when carried captive to Babylon, and consequently lived to from the wise and prudent and revealed unto habes-made
the extreme age of over one hundred pears.-Dan. 1 :21. clear to those who make no boast of wisdom according to the
The Book ‘of Daniel is one of those against which the course of the world. (Matt. 11:25) How true to facts we
“higher critics” expend special energy, some being inclined fmd this to be! While many of the great and learned are
to rall it a fiction, while othcrn declare it to be a history of stumbling themselves into higher criticism and other forms
of infidelity, the Lord’s “little ones,” meek, humble, teach-
able from the Father’s Word, are being instructed, and are
[24921
JULY 1. 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (165-166)

growing in and in the knowledge of the truth. tention of their minds, their hearts, and have patience with
To those \%““have clearlv in mind the presentations and the weakness of the flesh, where there are evidences that the
interpretations of Daniel’s prophecies as presented in MIJ..- new mind is endeavoring to bring the flesh under its control.
.~ II

LENNIAI, DAWN, VOLS. I., II. and III., there is no need for Of these four Jewish companions, Daniel seems from the
elaborate arguments to prove that this wonderful Book of first to have been leader, and his leading seems to have been
Daniel is not a fiction, but more wonderful by far than any in thtx right direcation. In a new land, under new conditions,
firtion that c*ould hale been written. And to them it will a shallow character would be likelv to be thorouahlv snoiled.
be useless to declare it a history of events which transpired First., the fact of being chosen. ‘elen in the Grobationary
167 B. c. and falselv set forth as a Drophecv bv Daniel, for sense, to be of the king’d’counril was certainly a great honor’;
they see fulfilments,Upast, present and’ to-corn& f&r larger and and the tendencv to a shallow mind would have been toward
grander and more wonderful than anything which occurred vanity, bombast.*pride. haughtiness, etr., qualities which would
at the date named-they see in these fulfilments unmistakable have hindered real nro!zrcss in the school. and thus would
ovidenre of superhuman intelligrnce. and that, as Daniel de- hare madr him less’lil~c~lv to hr the kin& ultimate choire
clared. the most high God therein rcrcalcd the serretp of his as c+ounst~llor ; bnt still m&e Important, it would have sepa-
plan still future. rated hetween him and God, for God resisteth the Droud and
Our lesson proper find3 Daniel with others of the Jewish showeth his favor to the humble.-1 Pet. 5:s. a
raptives in Babylon. wherr according to custom, the king had Daniel might have said to himself. a?r some would have
made rhoire of a numher of the most promising of the cap- -aid,--T am now far from the land nf Israel: I am identified
tive youths to pass a three-years’ rourse of cduration in the with the Babylonish court, and 1 thereto& may profitably
science-. Babvlon being at this time the center of learning. forget and neelect the laws of God. and consider them as hav-
The 0hiec.t i; this was no doubt two-fold: the Babylonian ini-heen applicable to me only in my own country, and that
monarrh thus attempted to associate with his empire the here, far from the land of promise. 1 may do in all particulars
learning and skill of the world, and to promote a friendly as the better Babvlonians do. But. on the contrarv. Daniel
feeling as between Babylon and the various countries over very wisely reaol& in his heart that. since his nation had
which- it held sway, that”foreign nations might feel the greater been cut off from the land of nromiae because of disobedience
inttlrc+t in Bahvlon as the renter of the world-empire, and to God, he would he ever caieful to do those things whidh
he thr more co;tented with the laws and regulations which would be pleasing to the Almighty; and, as we shall see. he
proceeded therefrom. knowing that some of their own nation soon found a place for his new resolutions.
stootl heforca the king as his rounsellors or secretaries-ma- The portion of food provided for these college studeIltn
giriijlls. astrologers and wirie men, as they were then called. by the king’s command was good-far better. Drobablv. than
The rhoire of the four young Israelites was no doubt they had heen used to previ&lg;-nor was D’nniel’s “mental
:L huh,&t of divine providence, and from their names we may objec$ion to it instijiated bv self-dcninl. but whollv bv relieious
Infer tllcav were all children of religious parents. the rom- c1ut.v. The Jsraeliics, nn;ier their Law Covena’;&Y were” for-
pounds nf their names so +gnifyink, as -follows: Daniel, bidden to eat certain articles of fond in common use amongst
“Ootl is mv Jduc:” Hananiah. “God is arncious :” Wishael, other nations, for instanre, swine’s flesh, rahbit flesh, eels,
“‘fltis is n5 God’:” Azariah. “God’is a belier.” Thus did the oysters. etc., and indeed all flesh that was not killed hy being
Lord. o\crthrowinp a nation for its wickedness, make special allowed to bleed to death: for the Law specially forhade the
pro\ ision e\en in its captivity, for those of that nation who use of blood under any circumstances or conditions. The food
mrre faithflll to him. In choosing these four Jews for the of the king’s household was not prepared along these lines,
Rah.vloni;~n rollege cOur>e the prince of the eunuchs, acrord- and the young Hebrew perreived that he could not hope for
inc tn rn~tom. gave them new names, to break their identit;! any change in these respects, and he was too wise to even
with their natircl ho~nt+ and to establish an identity with find fault with them. He saw rightly enough that the divine
the kingdom of Babylon: hence he named them Belteshazzar. Law that was upon him as a Jew did not apply to Gentiles,
Shndrach. Meshach and Abed-nepo. and he made no efforts to interfere with the general arrnnge-
From the first Daniel seems to have been the sveciallv ments.
fn\orcbtl of thcbse favored four-he wah favored of the Lord ib Daniel’s request, therefore, was :I very simple one, ciz.,
that, while all four were specially blessed. his portion included that he be permitted to have a very pliin and inexpensive
visions and revelations: he WRY speciallv favored bv the diet, called “pulse.” which no donbt was prepared as a part
princ.c of the eunuchs who had these* vouth”s in charge, -as we of the general household meal. If the request could be
read. “Kow God had broutrht Daniel” into favor and tender granted, no one would be specially inconvenienced, and yet
lore ‘with tht> prinre of the’bunuchs.” (Vs. 9) We are not to Daniel would thus preserve himself from “defllement” unher
understand thnt this favor both with God and man was some- the terms of the Je&sh Law. It would appear that Daniel’s
thing wholly outside of Daniel himself; on the contrary, companions, influenced by his decision, joined with him in
it is proper for us to infer that by birth (heredity) and by this request. The prince of the cnnurhs. while desirous of
natural training of godly parents Daniel had a noble, ami- favoring Daniel. feared his own position if, as he surmised,
HlJh’. win&ome character, which not only prepared him the this simple diet would prove insufficient for the bovs. and
hetter to be the Lord’s mouthpiece, but which also made him lead to a-breakdown of thhir health during the period 01 study.
moderate. discreet and amiable toward all with whom he had But finally it was arranged with the mclzar (or butler) that
to do. the matter of diet shoul‘d be tested for ten diys. ’
What a lesson is here, not only for young people, but also Here Daniel’s faith in God showed itself. He was con-
for parents I How necessary it i4 that those who seek divine fident that, even tho such a diet might not be the most desir-
servic&e shall endeavor to attain to characteristics pleasing able in every respect, yet, inasmuch as it was the onlv course
to God’ And if any find themselves wholly without friends, open to th&n wherehi they could preserve themselqes from
how nroner it is that thev should suspect that some measure
I L 1
violation of the divine Law. therefore God would sneriallv I Y
of the fault lies in themselves; and how proper it would be supervene to the extent necessary, and in this. it seems, he
that all such should seek to cultivate amiability and suavity was not disanuointed. There is it lesson for all of the Lord’s
at the expense of everything except prmciple! Only Isbmael people here. ‘I’t is our dutv not onlv to study the Lord’s will,
wan to have the experience of every man’s hand against him, but also to consider well t,be circ.un;stances a’nd the conditions
and his hand anainst everv man. and those who have Ishmael’e which surround us, and to seek to adopt Rurh a moderate
experience have need to “fear that they have Ishmael’s dis- course in life as wanld first of all have divine approval, and
position, and should forthwith diligently seek grace at the secondly, cause as little trouble, inconvenience and displeasure
throne of mercy whereby to overcome ungainly qualities and to others as possible, and then to confidently rely upon the
idiosyncrasies. TAord’s supervising wisdom nnd providence.
It is onlv when we are hated because of our loyalty to When-we read, “As for these four youths, God gave them
the truth (directly or indirectly) that we are to take katisfac- knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel
tion therein. or to think that we are suffering for rirrhteous- had understanding in all visions and dreams,” we are not to
ness’ sake. As the Apostle points out, some’ suffer as evil- understand that this skill and learning was wholly miraculous,
doers and as busy-bodies in other men’s matters, or because of like the understandint* in visions and dreams. which was to
ungcntlenesfi, uncouthness, or lack of the wisdom of modera- Daniel o111y. Rather:’ we arc to judge that under what we
tion, which the Lord’s Word counsels. (1 Pet. 4: 15; Phil. might term natural lawk four hoyti who had enough character
4:5: Jas. 1: 5) F?‘e are not to forget, however, that rudeness, to undertake such a c*onr<e of self-denial for righteousness’
whirh is an element of selfishness; may be m&e quickly dis- 3ake would have also courage and strength of character in
nrlled from the heart than from the life. and all should take respect to all their affairs and studies. We are to surmise
&couragment -from the thought that God, and his people that their determination in this matter of their food, that
who view matters from his standpoint. judge the sons of God thev would rather denv themselves than violate God’s Law.
not according to the flesh. but according to the spirit or in- wo&d mean to them L mental and moral discipline whicd
[24931
(167-168) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, Pa

would be helpful to these young men in all the affairs of life. position occupied by all those who have been called of the
And there is a lesson in this for every Christian. Many Father to joint-heirship in the kingdom, with Jesus Christ
are inclined to think of the little things of life as being un- our Lord. Not all who are called, nor all who undertake the
important, but everyone who attains to any proficiency in any course of training, have the promise of acceptance: on the
department of life surely learns that his attainments were
in considerable degree the result of determined will-power, contrary, many are called, few will be chosen. But the char-
and that it is well-nigh impossible to be strong in will-Dower acter of those who will be chosen in many respects corres-
in respect to important things if lax and pliable in respect to ponds to that of Daniel and his companions. Not all are
things in general. even tho less imnortant. Habit is a won- leading spirits, as was Daniel, nor are all given to visions and
derful power, either for good or evil, and the bov or girl. the revelations and interpretations, as was he; but all will have
man or woman, who has-not learned self-control”in re’spe& to the same spirit of devotion to principles of righteousness,
little things. indeed all thines. cannot exnect to be able to which devotion will be tested under divine nrovidence. sten
exercise &if:cdrol upon the ‘greatest anj most important by step, through the narrow way, as they seec to walk in th>
affairs merely. footsteps of him who set us an example-our Daniel, our
In other words, applying this matter to Christians, we Leader, our Lord Jesus. Let all, then, who have named the
might say that he who wants to be an “overcomer” at all, name of Christ, depart from iniquity, let all such be faithful:
must make the attempt all along the line on every point, “Dare to be a Daniel.”
great or small, where conscience and principle call for it. Another thought is that clean spiritual provender is im-
It is he who is faithful in things that are least who may be portant to the Lord’s flock, and that those who have come
expected to be found faithful also in things that are greater: to a knowled?e of the truth should abstain from all food that
anh this evidently is the Lord’s view of ‘ihis matter, From is defiled. If this shall seem to restrict the bill of spiritual
the Lord’s standnoint. all of the affairs of this nresent life are fare, and the opportunities for mingling with the Babylonians
little in comparison ‘with the future things.’ Hence he is at their table, it will have its compensating advantages never-
calling for “overcorners” whose general faithfulness to prin- theless, for the Lord will bless to the spiritual good of his
ciple. even in small things, will give evidence of the disnosition. faithful ones even the plainest of spiritual blessings and op-
tl& character, to which may be entrusted the great iesponsi: portunities. Let a test be made, after the manner of Daniel
bilities of the kingdom glory. honor and immortalitv.-Luke ” and his companions, and see whether or not those who feed
16:lO; Matt. 26:25. - “’ upon the clean provender of the Lord’s Word, and who reject
At the end of the three years’ college course, when Daniel the more sumptuous arrangement and defiled food of
was neventetn, came the examination before the king, and as Babylon will not be fairer of countenance spiritually,
should have been expected, Daniel and his companions, faith- even after a short test. But let us not suppose that anything
ful to the Lord, seeking first his will, were found to be far in would be gained by simply abstaining from the Babylonian por-
advanre of their companions, and were accepted to the king’s tion and starving themselves spiritually. Whoever abstains
counril. We might draw a lesson here, without in any sense from the popular and defiled supply must seek and use the
of the Word intimating that it was typified, for we do not simnle and undefiled food which the Lord in his nrovidence
so think. We might say that there is a certain correspondence supplies, otherwise their last state of spiritual ‘starvation
as between the position of Daniel and his associates and the will be worse than the first.

IN THE FIERY FURNACE

JULY ~&--DAR. 3 : 14-28.
“Our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us.”
Probablv twentv years elapsed after Daniel and his com- known as the city of Babylon. As it is a level country, and
panions reiched ga6ylon in captivity before the scenes of as the structures were comparatively low, the image could
this lesson were enacted. Meantime Daniel had been raised probably be seen from every part of the great city.
to II very high-position in the empire, as king’s counsellor, The appointed time for the festival having come, leading
while his three companions had been made magistrates in the representatives, judges, treasurers, governors, sheriffs, etc.,
prorinres of Babylon. We know that their prosperity did not from all the divisions of the empire, clad in the gorgeous
tend to make them careless of their duties and responsibilities garments of the East, were present. A great band had been
toward God, for otherwise they would not have been able to prepared, composed of all the musical instruments popular
stand the severe test recounted in this lesson, and which at that period, and the command of the king had gone forth
proved a great blessing to them because of their fidelity to the that when the musicians should play upon their instruments
Lord. all the vast concourse of people, representatives of his whole
King Nebuchadnezzar just before this had won some great empire, facing the image which he had set up, should fall
victories over surrounding nations-Egypt, Syria, etc.-as he down and worship it, and thus indicate their loyalty, not
had previously done with Judah, and as the Lord had pre- only to King Nebuchadnezzar, but also to his gods who had
dirtpd in the dream which Daniel had interpreted for the given him the wonderful victories which they were celebrating.
Kine. which showed the Babylonian Empire as the golden As magistrates of the empire, Shadrach, Meshach and
hesd of earthly dominion. His great success no doubt had Abed-nego were necessarily in the great throng, tho it is quite
tended to feelings of pride and a desire for display. Yet probable that they, representing different departments, may
these were probably not the only motives which led to the have been at a distance from each other, each surrounded by
procram of the great festival in honor of his victories, and his secretaries, assistants, servants, etc. Undoubtedly the
the’ erection of the great imape which all were commanded object of the festival was clearly discerned by these intelligent
to worship. Nebucha?lnezzar’s Thought evidently was to unify me?, and the question arose before their minds resperting
his empire, and its a step in this direction he desired to unify their duty to God and the conflict of this with the probable
the religious views and worship of the various peoples under requirements of the king. It was a crucial test for them, for
his swnv. In this his example was frequently followed sub- they knew that the king’s powers were autocratic, and that
sequpntlv, for all rulers have seemed to grasp the thought to cross his will meant death in some form. Nevertheless.
th;lt man’s mental orpanizntion is such that obedience can they decided that they must be true to God, whatever the
be hrst and most lastingly secured through the acquiescence cost. It might be that their refusal to prostrate themselves
of the relieious organs of his mind. In other words, since before the image would pass entirely unnoticed by others, or
man is n feligious%nimal, no government of him can be se- it might be that, even if noticed, the’incident might never reach
cure and permanent which does not have, directly or in- the ears of the king, but such circumstances could make no
dirertly. the support of his veneration. Hence it was that change in the matter of their duty; whatever others might
Nebuc~hadneazar and others endeavored to associate the Creator do, they must not bow the knee to any but the true God.
and the king together in men’s minds. that venerating the Daniel is omitted from mention here, nossiblv berause. oc-
One they should respect and serve the other as his representa- cupying a different position as one of * the k’ing’s personal
tive. staff and household. his conduct would not come so directlv
Tt was no doubt with a view to thus unifying the religious in contrast with the general conduct.
sentiments of his empire that this great feast was arranged, Finally, the hour of trial came, when the great king of
of which the very center of attraction was the great image Babylon was recognized not only as civil but also as religious
which X&ucbad&zzar the king had set np. This-image, with ruler, and the image which he-hrtd set up was worchiphd by
its p&+al. was ninety feet high and nine feet wide. It was the various representatives of his empire--except Shadrarh,
of gold, probably either made hollow or on a base of clay Meshach and Abed-nego. Their neglect to bow was quickly
cement. It was lnrated in the Plain of Dura. about the brought to the attention of the kina. for no doubt these. like
center of the walled enclosure twenty-four miles square, all good men, had their enemies;. some enemies through
[ 24941
JULY 1. 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (169-170)

jealousy and rivalry for the king’s favor: other enemies brightest youths out of all the peoples taken captive; in his
because, perhaps, they had been interrupted or hindered in readiness to acknowledge the God of Daniel, when he had re-
dishonest practices and contracts with the government. The ceived the evidences of” his power; so now,‘realizing that he
matter seems to have astounded the king, and hence his in- had made a great mistake in attempting the destruction of
quiry, Is it true, can it be true ? Surely, no sane men would three of his most eminent magistrates, and that he was thus
be so foolhardy as to oppose my decree, and that in my defying the great God, Nebuchadnezzar was prompt to make
very presence, and upon such a fete-day as this 9 Not waiting acknowledgment, and annroached the furnace. calling out,
an answer as resnects matters of the nast, the king volun- “Ye serva&s of the m& high God, come forth and- come
tarily proposed fdr them a fresh test 03 loyalty and-submis- hither.” In the presence of the king’s courtiers they came
sion, nothing doubting but that, now that the matter had forth. and all beheld them that the fire had done them no
come to his attention. thev would be moved bv fear, not only injury, not even having singed their clothes or their hair.
in respect to their degradition from office, but by the danger This was indeed a stunendous miracle. and doubtless was
of death in the fiery furnace, to render prompt obedience. valuable in its inkuenck, not only upon the Gentiles, but
Perhans the kina’s mind shot a glance backward fifteen also upon the Hebrews residing throughout Babylon, who
years, to- the time -when the God ofl the Hebrews, through would thus hear of the power of Jehovah in delivering those
Daniel. had told and internreted his dream, a matter which faithful to him. Whether this had a bearing on the subject or
none of the other gods of his wise men could do; and as tho not. we know well that. while idolatrv had been one of the
he had this in mind, and wishing to impress the matter upon chief sins of the Israelites before thi*s captivity, there was
these three Hebrews who had dared to challenge his power, comparatively little of idolatry in its crude forms in that
he made the boast. “Who is that God that shall deliver you nation afterward.
out of mv hands?” In his arrogance of mind and under the Nebuchadnezzar’s acknowledgment of the God of the
flush of his mightv victories over the greatest nations and Hebrews, who sent his messenger and delivered his servants
mightiest kings; Nebuchadnezzar felt prepared to have a that trusted in him, is very simple and very beautiful. Hr
contest even with the unseen and to him unknown invisible rejoiced in the nohle character of these men, and at once
powers. He would not he backed down in his own capital made a decree “that everv neonle. nation and lanrruane which
citv: he would demonstrate his Dower to inflict a penalty, speak anything amiss ag&&t ihe God of Shadra;;h, ‘Meshach
regardless of what any of the gods might do in retaliatioh. and Abed-nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses chall
He would show that he, at all events, had the power in the be a dung-hill: because there is no other god that can deliver
present time, and in this respect at least was more powerful after thigsort:” And furthermore, he promoted these faithful
than any of the gods of whom he had knowledge. men to still higher positions, for they had still more of his
The answer of the three Hebrews was a wise one; seeing confidence respecting their integrity. Men who w~ulcl thus
from the king’s mood that the discussion of the subject would hazard their lives for conscience’ sake could be trusted in thr,
he useless, they did not attempt to retaliate by threatening most important positions.
him with divine vengeance .~ : neither did they attempt to It is not necessary that we determine this incident to have
convert the king to Judaism, .knowing well that the provisions been a tvne and look for corresnondcncics to its everv fca-
of the Jcwi\h covenant were not for Gentiles. Thcv simply ture. Wiihout so determining, the Lord’s people may readily
responded that they were not anxious to avail tbemselves~ of find in it manv valuable lessons and sueecstions. Not all of
the opportunity to argue the matter with the king. They God’s people ire in such prominent positions as were these
assured him of their full confidence that their God was able Hebrews : and not many have testings of exactly the same
to deliver them from the fiery furnace, and out of the hand kind as were theirs, with a literal flerv furnace before their
or Dower of even the greatest kine of the earth; but they eyes. Nevertheless,.there are trials before the Lord’s people
:kns;vered, While our GGd is thus all-powerful we are not by todav that are fullv as severe. Who will not aeree that
any mean3 certain that he will deliver us; nevertheless, “0 quesiions respecting “a public acknowledgment of an-idol and
king, he it known unto thee that we will not serve thy gods thus a public disavowal of the true God would be a point
nor worship the golden image whirh thou hast set up.” more quickly and more easily decided by nrnrly everyone
r\nprred that his great festal day xhonld he thus marred than some of the subtle temptations of our day? For in-
hy cvcn the slightest opposition to his will, the king did not stance, various idols are set up all over Christendom, each of
wait to give another opportunity wherein the Hebrews might which, it is claimed, represents the true God, and each of
lY1ent. He cam that it was useless, that they were men of which demands worship in honor and substance.
character and determination, and he resolved that he would Babylon the literal was in ruins long before the Apostle
make an example of them hefore all the people. The form John on the Isle of Patmos was shown in Dronhetic vision
of his visage or his countenance changed toward these men; the mystic or symbolic Babylon “which reign&h over the
whereas once he had admired them, as amongst his ablest kings of the earth” todav. The nrovinces of Babvlon todav arc
counacllors and magistrates, and an honor to his empire, now the’various civilized nations-reilly “kingdoms of this wo>ld ;”
he hated them, as onoonents whose course, if not interrunted,
might introduce disorder into his empire; and lead to more but deluded into calling themselves and thinking themselves
or less sedition. if conied bv others. In his rage he com- kingdoms of Christ-“Christendom.” And parallels to the king
manded that the furnace be heated seven times, o;-to its nt- and the image are also presented in Revelation-they arc
most capacity. The furnace, already heated for the occasion, religious systems symbolically described as “the beast and
may have been the one used in melting the gold for the image. his image.“-Rev. 13:15-18.
and must have been of immense size. Without at present examining the symbols in detail WC’
Probably as a mark of his great authority, and to show note the fact that worship of this symbolic beast and his
that even the verv greatest of his subiects were subordinate image are to be the gre%t test or -trial upon professing
to his supreme idhority, the king commanded that these Christians in every province of symbolic Babylon in the end
three recalcitrant officials be cast into the fiery furnace by of this age: indeed, the testing is even now in progress. And
nrominent officers of his armv-no doubt to teach a lesson we have the same inspired record as authority for the statc-
kespecting the power of the aimy, and the willingness of its nirnt that only those who refuse to render worship to those
ldhief representatives to serve the king, as against cvcry- powerfully influential religious systems (symbolized by the
hody else. beast and his image) will he counted by the Lord as “over-
The Hebrews, bound in their ollirial garb, were evidently comers” and he made his joint-heirs as members of his elect
cast into the furnace from the top, because it is stated that church.-Sco Rev. 20 : 4.
thev fell down hound, while the heat was so intense that it As already pointed out, the “beast” represents not Roman
cveh killed those who.cast them into the furnace, possibly by Catholics (the people) hut the Roman Catholic s!/stem, as an
the inhalation of the flames, which might kill them instantly. institution : and the image rcprosents not Protestants (the
The king seemed to be having matters his own way, as people) hut the consolidation of Protestant systems, as an
usual: even the miehtv God of the Hebrews had not delivered institution. WC have pointed OlJt* that the first step in the
these ‘men from hi; power. And yet the king was solicitous formation of this symbolic image of Papary was taken in
and eyed the furnace, and to his surprise beheld those who A. D. 1846 in the organization of the Evangelical Alliance, and
had been cast into the furnace bound, walking about free in that the second step must come shortly in an active living
the flames-seemingly uninjured. More than this, he saw co-operation of Protestants as one system; and that this in-
a fourth person there, of most remarkable appearance, which fusion of life will result from the Episcopal church or church
caused the king to think and speak of him as one of the gods. of England joining or affiliating with other Protestants under
No wonder he-was astonished-; he was evidently contending some general arrangement similar to the Evangelical Al-
with a God of whose Powers he had been ignorant. liance.
Nebuchadnezzar showed himself to be- a man of broad
mind-in his acceptance to the Babylonian college of the l Mrl.rrNNrnL nan N, \‘OL II, p 119
c24951
(171472) ZION’S WATCH TOWER h.I.EGHENY, PA.

While the severest testings will follow the giving of life oil, but escaped uninjured, while on other occasions dire dis-
to the consolidated image, in the near future, the testing aster came upon the Lord’s faithful ones, and that quickly,
has already commencrcl “with many, for “Churchianity” & as in the case of Stephen, who was stoned.
more and more demanding reverence and support, and those It is not, therefore, for us to oredetermine what shall be
who absolutely refuse to worship its images are alreadv ex- the divine providence in respect to- ourselves; we are to note
posed to fierv tria Is ;-social ostracism. -and financial - boy- the point of right and dutv and to follow it reeardless of
cotts. Prominent amongst thesr is the Roman Catholic idol: consequences, trusting impliritlv in the Lord. This lesson
that church sets itself as the representative of God, and de- is most beautifully set forth ih the language of the three
mands worship, obedience aud contribution to its funds. It Hebrews, who declared to King Nebuchadnezzar that their God
is one of the most popular as well as one of the most arbitrarv was entirely capable of delivgring them from his power, but
of idols. The Greek Catholic church is another idol: the that, whether he chose to do so or not, they would not violate
Anrrlican is another: and the Lutheran. Methodist. Presbv- their conscience. It is just such characters that the Lord is
terra&n, etc., etc., all similarly demand’ worship, ‘obedience seeking for, and it is in order to their development and testing
and revenue. They have “pooled their issues,” to a certain that multiform evil is now nermitted to have swav.
cxtcnt, so as not to war upon each other’s devotees, but they While such testings ha;e been in progress to” a consider-
uniti in warfare against roll who do not bolu the knee to some able extent throughout this entire Gospel age, the Scriptures
srcch idol (who reverence and worship onZ?/ the Almighty God, clearly indicate to us that in some special sense all of the Lord’s
and rcrognize his onlv begotten Son as the only Head and Lord people will be tested in the “harve&? or closino time of this
of the true church, whose names are onZ?l wri’ttcn in heaven- age. Our Lord speaks of it, likening our Ch&tian faith to
not on earthlv rolls of membersbin.\-See Heb. 12:23. a house, and represents the trials in the end of this age as a
All who &fuse to worship befoce any of these images are great storm which will beat upon evrry house. with ‘the re-
threatened with a fiery furnace of persecution, and the threat sult that all that are founded unon the rock will stand. and
is emerallv carried out as thorouehlv as circumstances will all founded upon the sand will collapse. The Apostle Peter
permit. In the “dark ages,” when Papacy had a monopoly speaks of this trial-time, saying, “Think it not strange con-
of the “church” business. it meant torture and the stake, as cerning the fiery trial which shall try you, as tho some strange
well as social ostracism: Today, under a higher enlighten- thing happened unto you.” ( 1 Pet. 4: 12) We are to expect a
ment, and especially because of- .competition for worshipers, testing in the end of this age, just as there was a testing of the
matters are not carried to the same extreme. thank God! Yet Jrwish nominal church in the end of its age. As in that
in many instances there are evidences that the same spirit testing in the end of this age, just as there was a testing of the
prevails, merelv restrained by changed circumstances and lack “whelt”< from the “chaff.” so here the separating will be com-
of Dower. Still. as mnnv are witnesses, there are methods plete between the “wheat” and the “tares.” as our Lord de-
of iorture which serve to” intimidate many who would scorn clares. (Matt. 13 :24-30) Throughout the age the “wheat”
to bow the knee to a literal visible idol. Thousands todav and the “tares,” bv divine arrancement. have been nermitted to
are worshinine at the various shrines of Christendom who in grow side by side’; but in the “harvest” the separation must
their hear& ibng to be free from the sectarian bondage of occur, that the “wheat” may be “garnered,” rereired to the
fear-who fain would serve the Lord God onlv. bad thev the kingdom
And there are some the world ov& who. with a The Apostle Paul, also, speaks of this time of ficrv trial,
%~~$~’ not less than that of Shndrach. Mesharh and Abed- and. likening the faith and works of a zealous Chris&an to
ncgo, declare publicly that the Lord God alone shall have the a house built of gold, silver and precious stones, he declares
worship and the service which they can render. None, per- that the fire of this day, in the end of this age, shall try
haps, know better than the writer the various fiery experi- every man’s work of what sort it is, and shall consume all
ences to which these faithful few are exposed-boycotted but the genuine faith and character structures. (1 Cor.
socially, boycotted in business, slandered in every conceivable 3: 11-15) But we are to remember that such loval characters
manner, and often by those of whom they had least expected grow not suddenly, in a few hours or daps-mushroom-like.-
it, who, according to the Lord’s declaration, say “all nt(MMzer but are progressive developments, fine-grained and strong like
of evil against them falsely.“-Matt. 5: 11, 12. the olive-tree.
Rut with these, as with the three Hebrews of our lesson, Looking back, we cannot doubt that the step of self-denial
the chief trial is ‘in connection with their faith; after they recorded in our previous lesson,-taken for conscience’ sake
have taken a firm stand for the Lord and his truth they may by the Hebrews,-had much to do with the develonment in
indeed be bound and have their liberties of speech and of them of the staunch characters illustrated in this lesson.
effort restrained, and they may indeed be cast into the fiery Likewise we who have become “new creatures,” rerkonedly,
furnace, but nothing more than these things can be done to in Christ, know that we are to be tested (if our testing has
them. As soon as thry have demonstrated their fidelity to not already commenced), and should realire that only as we
God to this extent. the’ir trials and troubles are turned into practice self-denials in the little things of life, and mortifv
blessings and joys.’ As the form of the Son of God was seen ideaden) the natural cravings of our flesh in respect to food,
with the Hrbrews in the fiery furnace, so unseen, the Lord rlothing, conduct, etc., will we become strong spiritually and
is present with those who trust him and who, because of be able to “overcome.”
faithfulness to him and to his Word, come into tribulation. Many deal slackly with themselves in respect to little vio-
How beautifully this is expressed in the familiar hymn, lations of their consecration vow, saving,-“What’s the use” of
“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, such carefulness and so different a iife from that of the world
My grace all sufficient shall be thy supply; in general ? Ah ! there is great use in it, for victories in
The flame shall not hurt thee, I only design little things prepare for greater victories and make them
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.” nossible: and on the contrarv. surrender to the will of the
kesh in the little things mea& sure defeat in the warfare as
And sometimes even the worldly can realize that the Lord’s a whole. Let us remember the maxim laid down by our Great
oeonle in the furnace of affliction are receiving a blessing, and Teacher-that he that is faithful in the things that are least
&&.imes thus our heavenly Father’s name is glorified in the will be faithful also in the things which are great. And
world, as in Nebuchadnezzar’s experience. Sometimes the this is the operation of a law, whose operations may be dis-
Lord’s people who are bound, restrained of liberty to pro- cerned in all the affairs of life.
claim the truth, find, as did those Hebrews, that the fire
burns the cords and sets them free, and really gives them Our Lord expresses the same thought, saying,-To him
laraer onnortunities to testify to the glory of our God than that hath (used) shall be given Imore). and from him that
they could have had by any other course. - hath not (used) shall be taken away that which he hath. If
The Lord’s nrovidcnces varv. and it is not for his people we start on a Christian life ever so weak in the flesh and
to decide when ‘shall come remgrkable deliverances, and- when weak in spirit, we will find that faithfulness in the little
they shall apparently be left entirely to the will of their things will bring increasing strength in the Lord and in the
enemies without anv manifestation of divine favor on their Dower of his might. But it is in vain that we nrav. “Lord,
behalf. Note, for ‘instance, the fact that, while the Lord Lord.” and hope for great victories and the “&own of re:
ioicincr.” if we fail to do our best to conouer in the little
interposed to deliver these three Hebrews from the fiery fur- &air;’ of daily life. In other words, our testing is in prog
nace, he did not interpose to prevent the beheading of John the ress from the moment of our consecration, and the little
Baptist, altho of the latter it is specifically declared, “There
hath not arisen a greater prophet than John the Baptist.” trials nre but preparations for greater ones which, when
We remember that, while Peter was delivered from prison by faithfully attained, we will be able to reckon with the Apostle
the angel of the Lord, James was not delivered, but was be- as light afflictions which are but for a moment, and which are
headed, We remember also that Paul’s life was miraculously working out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight
preserved on several occasions, and that the Apostle John. of glory.-2 Cor. 4:17.
according to tradition, was once cast into a cauldron of boiling The answer of the Hebrews to Nebuchadnezzar,-“Our
[ 24961
JULY 1. 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (172-173)

God whom we serve,” is worthy of note. They not only ac- ing some service to our King in the present time of multiplied
knowledged God and worshiped him, but they additionally opportunities has at very most the “lukewarm” love that is
served him, according as they had opportunity. And so it offensive to the Master.-Rev. 2:4; 3: 16.
will be found to-day: those who have the necessary strength Let us resolve, dear brethren, as did the three Hebrews of
of character to refuse to worship human institutions and this lesson, that we will worship and serve only the Lord our
thereby to “suffer the loss of all things,” counting them but
as loss and dross, that they may win Chri& and be found God-that ne will neither worship nor serve sectarianism,
finally complete in him, as members of his glorified body, and in any of its many forms, nor mammon, with its many entice-
joint-heirs in his kingdom, not only practice self-denials, but mcnts and re\\ards, nor fame, nor friends, nor self. God
gladly serve and confess the Lord in their daily life. Rightly “seek&h such to worship him as worship him in spirit and
appreciated, a profession of love for the Lord would always in truth.” is the declaration of our Lord and Head.-John
bc a profession of service to his cause. Whoever is not render- 4~23, 24.

WEIGHED IN THE BALANCES

JULY 23.-DAN. 5 : 17-31.
“God is the .Tudge.“-Psa. 75:7.
Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom, altho very prosperous, and Such wealth and prosperity were likely to beget luxurious
we:llthy by the gathering of the snails of renturles from the ease on the part of the Babylonians, as they also excited
great &rounding nations, was o’f short duration. Secular the cupidity and ambition of enemies. Accordingly, the Medes
history mentions the father of Nebuchadnezzar as the founder and Persians ha,d consolidated: and their armv under Cvrus
of new Babylonia, and quite a numher of Bible students have for several months had been besieging Babylon, whose “ciGt
thus been misled to reckon the “Times of the Gentiles” as zens, however, felt quite secure behind their immense walls,
beginning before Kebuchadnezzar’s time in the days of Nabo- and amply provisioned for a longer siege than it was sup-
pol.lsser.- But while it is doubtless true that that monarch posed any army could enforce. So great was the confidence
was prominently identified with the organization of Baby- of the king of Babylon in the strength of his capital that he
lonia. the “Times of the Gentiles” could not have begun in made a great feast to a thousand of his lords.
his day, because God still had his own typical kingdom in This feast would seem to have been in the nature of a
t,bc earth. as representrtl by the .Iews-down until Zedekiah’s boast in the greatness of Babylon; and as the to emphasize
captivity to Sel~~lch:~clnczz:~r, 606 n. C. We bhould remember his power and to remind his nobles’ and lords of how none of
that the “Times of the Gentiles” merelv means the times the gods of the surrounding nations had been able to deliver
or ve.lrq in which the world’s affairs Uare delivered over their peoples out of the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar
to Gcntrlc supremacy. between the time of the removal of had called for the vessels of gold and silver brought from
God’< trpical kingdom and the time of the establishment of the Jewish Temple. and these were profaned by drinking there-
the ~Iillcnnial kingdom, October, 1914.’ This Bible view of from to the honor of Bel, the god of Babylon.
the matter is further confirmed by the fact that the ruins In the midst of the revelry of the feast, the king, his
of Babvlon show the name of Nebuchadnezzar on the bricks of counsellors and lords were astonished to see a part of a hand
the p&nripal paIaccs, and thus give evidence that it was writing certain fiery letters upon the wall of the palace. The
rmth~r 111sadministration that the empire reached its zenith. revelry ceased, a hush of fear came over all; the flush of
or brcame. 111the language of the dream. the golden head of confidcnre upon the king’s face gave place to one of terror; he
the image, which represented Gentile dominion.-Dan. 2 : 38. trembled and called for the advice of the wise men to in-
Secular history seems to give the name of Nabonidus, as terpret the wonderful message, but t.hey were unable to es-
king of Babylon, at the time of its fall, but the Scriptures plain the matter satisfactorily. Even if they had deciphered
makcl no mention of this name, giving w instead Belshazznr. the letters and words, they had no internretation to offer. be-
cleuominating him the son of Nchurhadnezzar. Two explana- cause from their standpoint any other meaning than the ‘true
tions are possible: Belshaezar may have been the son of meaning would have been more reasonable; nothing would
Sabonidnr and thr grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, or Nabonidua have seemed further from the truth to Babylon’s wise men
may have been his original name. and Belshazzar a name than the message which these miraculously written words
adopted when he assumed the office of king; or reversely, conveyed. The king was greatly disappointed, but his
Relshaxnr mnv have been his original name, and the one hv mother rame to his assistance, informing him of Daniel, who
which Daniel and the people at home would speak of him, while had given to his father, Nebuchadnezzar, an interpretation
Xabonidus mav have been the name he assumed offiriallv as of a dream, when all the wise men of Babylon had failed, and
king. At all events the name that appears on the tablets is accaordinply Daniel was sent for.
Nahonidun. while the name which Daniel gives repeatedly is The aced Prophet, at this time about ninety years of age.
Belqb:>zzar. a name of the same qignification as that given as an officer of the kingdom doubtless resided in one of the
to Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar, both words signifying palace buildings near by. and in response to the king’s com-
“Favored of God.” We can safelv hold to the Scrintural ac- mand he stood hefore them. Tbe king. realizing the imoor-
rount, assured that time will justify our confidenck in this, tanre of the message, manifested his a&et, by %Tering, &st
as it has done in other matters. to the astrologers, and now to Daniel, a great reward for the
At the time of our lesson, Bahylon, the capital city of interpretation-to he robed in royal purple, with a roval
Babylonia, was the most wonderful city in the world. The golden chain as insignia of rank, and to be third in dign*itv
following observations respecting it are from the pens of and power in the empire. The first thing in the lesson which
others. “Nebuchadnezzar converted his capital, Babvlon. strikes us is the nobility of God’s servant, in renouncing all
into one of the most magnificent and beautiful- cities of antiq- claim to thrsr gift,s as a reward for the servire of interpreting
lllty.” “Herodotun, who visited it about n. c. 450 rnearlv God’s meshape. “Let thv rrifts be to thvself. and aive thv
a century after the date covered by our lesson], while its rewards to ‘another; yet’ I will read th;? writing &to the
walls and buildings were still perfert, desrribes it as forming king, and make known the interpretation.”
a square of nearly fourteen miles on each side.” “The walls We may stop berr long enough to take a valuable lesson.
surrounding the city. according to Herodotus, were three hun- to the eflrct that all who would bc the mouth-nieces of the
dred feet high and eightv feet broad. A hundred pates. with Lord, and qpeak forth his Word, should, like Daniel. do so
their great posts, lea&s”and sills of brass. and thzir bars of without stipiilation of compensation. Only from this stand-
iron, permitted entrance to the city.” “Such a pity was point van :IIIV hope to be cbntirelv free and untrammeled in
never seen hefore. and was the work of Neburhadnezzar. The speaking nor.ds of truth and soberness which may be very
bricks marked with his name, and the inscriptions which he distasteful to those who inquire the mind of the Lord. Had
wrote, being hidden in the ruins, have now come forth from Dan~l thanked the king for the promised gifts, and thus
their grave as witnesses to the truth of God’s \Yord.” “In arrepted them as a reward for his service, he would have
those days Babylon was the metropolis of the world, the center felt obligated to the king to such an extent that it mieht
of commcrre, art and wisdom.” “The great plain on which it hav(l warpr~l his iutlgment, or have weakened his expressTon
lay. a Paradise of fertility and c*ultivation. was interested of tbfb Lord’s mcs*a~~e And the king in turn would have felt
by countless canals, both small and great, serving alike for that, having paid f&‘tbr information, it should he a smooth.
irrigation and navigation.” “Babylon was a university city. favorable message. And just so it is with some of the Lord’s
The wealth of the world poured into the coffers of the Baby- truth servants in mystic Bahylon. They have the opportunity
lonian merchants.” presented to <peak the Lord’s Word; yet many of them are
~MILLENNIAL DAWN, VOL I, Chap. 13; VOL. 11, Chap 4 handic*appchtl 11y reasons of having received honors and robes,
[2497]
(174-175) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLmmvY, P,

and are more or less inclined to hide and cover the message It will be noticed, further, that, as literal Babylon sat
now due to Babylon in this its Laodicean epoch. They are upon the literal River Euphrates, so mystic Babylon is said
bound by the chain of gold around their necks.-Rev. 3:14-22. to sit upon the waters, peoples. It should be noticed, also,
The aged Prophet displayed gentleness as well as fear- that as the literal city was captured by the diversion of the
lessness in the deliverv of his messaee. It was stated as literal waters, so symbolic Babylon is to fall by reason of the
kindly as the truth Gould permit, bit the- truth was not diversion of the symbolic Euphrates, which in Rev. 16:12, it
withheld by reason of fear. He recounted to the king his is foretold, shall be “dried up-that the way of the kings of
father’s exaltation to power, and ascribed it not to the god the East might be prepared.,,
of Babylon, but to the God of Israel. He reminded him of The kings of the East, or kings from the sunrising, are,
how mide had been his father’s downfall. reeultine in his we understand, the kings of Christ’s kingdom, who are also
degradation to bestial conditions for seven times (se&n years priests-the body of Christ, the royal priesthood. “Thou hast
--corresponding to the seven times, i. e., 2520 years, of Gentile made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on
domination ) . He reminded Belshazzar of how in the end his the earth.” From this standpoint of view, Cyrus and his
father had acknowledged the God of heaven as the real ruler army, overthrowing literal Babylon, was a figure or illustra-
amongst men. and then he charged home to the king that in- tion of Messiah, King of kings and Lord of lords, who with his
stead-of profiting by this experyence, of which he w”el1 knew, faithful will shortly overthrow mystic Babylon, and take
he had lifted up his heart to pride, had ignored the only possession of the world in the name of Jehovah, to establish
true God, and had even brought what he knew were the the Kingdom for which he taught us to pray, “Our Father
sacred vessels of Jehovah’s service, to profane them in the . . . . thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it
worship and glorification of idols-“gods of silver, gold, is done in heaven.,’
brass, iron, wood and stone, which see not nor hear nor
know.” He pointed out to the king that he had thus dis- This likeness of Cyrus to Messiah is not merelv in the
particulars noted. It-should be remembered that t&e name.
honored and defied “the God in whose hand rnowerl thv Cyrus, signifies “the sun,‘, and that thus in his name hc r~-
breath is [the God of all life-Acts 17:28, 293, a& whose ark tiinds us-of the prophecy of Christ,-“The Sun of Righteoue-
all thy ways [who has full power to control your rourse].”
This true God he had not glorified, but dishonored. ness bhall arise with healing in his beams.” Moreover, there
were sundry very remarkable prophecies respecting Cyrus.
Bv thus kindlv but Dlainlv showing the kinr the truth, made long before he had come into prominence. Through the
the prophet prepa”red the way”for the exposition’of the fate: Prophet Isaiah (44:28) the Lord speaks of Cyrus as his
ful words-“Mene. Mene. Tekel. Unharsin.” *Ume was re- shepherd, who would lead back Israel. and again (45: l-14)
peated twice, probablv fir the iakel of emphasis-Numbered! he ralls him his anointed, saying, “Thus saith the Lord to
kumbered!-%e limii of the time of your dominion has ex- his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand T have holden to
pired. Tekedshort weight. lackinn. Peres signifies divided. subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings.
land its plural form, Up&&n, give: the thougl% of broken or to open before him the two-leaved gates, and the gates Rhall
crushed into pieces-destroyed. Nothing in the word peres not be shut; I will go before thee, and make the crooked
signifies Medes and Persians. but the Pronhet knew from the places straight; I will-break in pieces the gates of brass and
inierpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s vision ihat the Babylonian cut in sunder the bars of iron; and I will give thee the
dominion would be followed by the Medo-Persian kingdom, treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret nlnces. that
and he also knew that they were already besieging the city. thou mayest know that I, Jehovah. which call t’hee b$ thv
So far from being offended with the plain words of the name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob mv servant’s sake.
Prophet, Belshazzar seems to have felt their truth, and gave and Israel mine elect, I have even called ihee by name; i
command that rbe honors already promised should be be- have surnamed thee, tho thou has not known me.” In thic
stowed upon Daniel. But meantime other matters were prophecy Cyrus is evidently indicated, and yet just as evi-
transpiring in his capital, of which the king and his lords were dently a greater than he is indirectly referred to, nix.. the
unaware, so that the fulfllment of the doom written upon the Prince of the kings of the earth, who in Revelation is shown
palace wall was close at hand. as drying up the symbolic Euphrates and destroying symbolic
Babvlon, and delivering spiritual Israel. And the time for the
While the Babvlonians were feasting and reveling in fulfilment of the symbol is clearly indicated, by the drying
fancied security, CyIus, the general of tbe>nited forces o’i the up of the Euphrates under the sixth vial of the “day of
Medes and Persians. harine studied UD a nlan of attack. had wrath :” and the fall of Babylon under the serenth vial.
already caused a ,&eat d&h to be &g&above the city, to resulting in the liberty of ail of God’s people from the
divert the waters of the River Euphrates into a new channel. thraldom, through false doctrine, which has been upon them
This river flowed through the center of Babylon diagonally, for lo, these many years, is portrayed as resulting.
and was protected by enormous gates of brass, which were
supposed to bc equally as impregnable as the three-hundred, Babylon literal fell because, when tried in the balances
foot wall. Indeed, it would appear that the Babylonians had by the Lord, she was found wanting: mystic Babylon falls for
never a fear of attack from the river, and had left it a similar reason. Literal Babylon never was Israel, but the
comparatively unguarded; consequently, when Cvrus had di- Israelites were for a time swallowed up in Babylon: likewise.
verted the stream into the new channel he found little difficulty mystic Babylon never was spiritual Israel, tho for a long
in marching his troops under the brass gates into the city, time spiritual Israel has been in captivity to mystic Babylon.
so that at the very time the revelry was progressing in Bel- As the same Cyrus who overthrew literal Babylcn made the
shaezar’s palace the soldiers of Cyrus were taking possession of proclamation which nermitted Iiteral Israel to return from
the entire -city, aud very sbortli after Daniel,: &terpretation captivity, so it is the *King of kings who, upon taking his great
of the writing the troops reached the palace, Belshazzar was power as earth’s new king will set free all of the Lord’s
slain, and the new empire of Medo-Persia was inaugurated- people-and in advance he sends the message to those who
“without fighting,” as the tablets declare. Thus did great %avk ears to hear, saying, “Babylon the g&at is fallen, ic;
Babylon fall suddenly-“in one hour.” fallen, and is become the habitation of demons and the hold
of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful
The thoughtful Bible student must of necessity have al- bird. . Come out of her, my people, that ye be not
ways in view the many correspondencies which the Scriptures partakers’of’ tin sins, and that ye receive not of her plague@.”
institute between literal Babylon and mystic Babylon, and -Rev. 18:2-4.
when studying the account of the fall of literal Babvlon his
attention “is iaturally drawn also to the foretold” fall of The great feast which preceded the fall of Babylon would
mystic Bahylon in the end of this age. Indeed, he must be seem to correspond well with the great denominational union
comparatively blind who cannot see that the wonderful nroph- expected soon, and the season of rejoicing which will accom.
ecirs which -speak of the fall of Babylon (Isa. 14:22-; jer. pany it. The gold and silver vessels of the Lord’s house which
60 and 61) were not whollv fulfilled bv Cvrus the Persian. were profaned may Atly represent not only the precious
The fall oi literal Babylon: while it w& s;ldden, and while truths of divine revelation, but also the Lord’s consecrated
it made a great commotion amongst the nations, lacks much people-the golden vessels representing the “little flock,,’ and
of filling to the full the prophetic picture. Much of the the more numerous silver vessels representing the “great
prophrcy still waits for fulfilment in mystic or symbolic company.” What may be the character of the defilement and
Babylon today; and this fact is abundantly supported by the injury of these is of course problematical, but in any case
prophecies of the Book of Revelation. written centuries after we remember that those consecrated vessels were all hirhlr
ihe- fall of literal Babylon, whicsh unmistakably refer to honored, and restored to the Temple by Cyrus, and like%&
symbolic Babylon, and use language almost identical with we know that not onlv the truths of divine revelation will
that of Jeremiah.-See Rev. 16: 19-l&3:24. all be cared for by ou; Lord, but also that all that are hi!:
shall be glorified in the spiritual temple which he will rear
l See issue Jan. 1. 1919, p 15, letter, “A Remarkable Confirmation.” shortly.
[24981
 --. __ ---
VOL. xx ALLEGHENY, PA., JULY 15, 1899 No. 14

VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER

“The powers of the heavens shall be shaken,” said our word in our English vocabulary has come to have a cheaper
Lord; and all whose eyes are open can see the great shaking ur a more insignificant meaning. It has been tossed to and fro
now in progress in the symbolic ecclesiastical “heavens” of between theorists and cranks until its primary significance has
the present time. How its stars are falling!* been lost and it stands for anv wild or absurd conclusion that
Rev. Burt Estes Howard, formerly of the First Presby- the disordered mind of man is’ capable of conceiving.
terian Church of Cleveland, Ohio, but latterly of the First “Let it be understood that there is no obiection anvwhere
Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles, Cal., and now resigned to earnest and orderly investigations into the”history aid evo-
with the intention of becoming a professor at Stanford Univer- lution of the books of the Bible. So long as such investiga-
sity (the richest universit in the world), declares his present tions are set on foot b men well enough equipped for the pur-
position of disbelief as fol 9ows: pose and are not un J ertaken for the purpose of proving a
“Do I believe in the inspiration of the Bible, in the resur- theory already conceived, they are well enough. Let it be
rection of Jesus and in the virginity of Mary? No, I cannot understood, also, that there is no claim among Christians any-
say that I do. where that the translations of the Bible are free from error.
“My ideas have changed regarding nearly all of the gen- or that the letter-press is inerrant; these are the work of man,
erally accepted religious tenets. My beliefs have not changed and man’s work is necessarily defective at some point or other,
suddenly, but in the slow course of the last half dozen years. “The claim that is made, and the claim that The Con&i-
Simple faith in the Scriptures has given way to an irresrstible tution upholds, is that the books of the Bible, of the Old as
belief in what is called higher criticism in religious thought. well as the New Testament, are divineIy inspired; that to prove
“I believe that Christ was born of woman, like the rest one or a dozen to be myths or fables is to tear down the whole
of us. scheme of salvation; and that the promise and the fulfilment
“But I regard these matters as non-essential. The necessity are so intimately connected in the scheme of salvation that to
of believing them is not apparent to me. I know there are prove one false is to prove the other a fraud. This is shown
many honest preachers who think they believe these dogmas. by comparing the conclusions of Dr. Briggs with the declara-
“The OId Testament is largely an historical work. There tions of Dr. George H. Gilbert, the theological professor at
can be no auestion as to the Bible’s Dower for elevating and Chicago. Dr. Briggs says that the Bible is made up of myths,
uplifting himanity. But one does iot have necessarny to fables, fairy tales, poems and fictitious narratives. The Chi-
believe in the miracles to feel and profit by this power. cago man is sure that the world is to be saved, if saved at all,
“My whole aim in preaching has been to stimulate my b an Eastern philosopher who was not a Messiah, but a gifted
people to the truest practical life. The good life is not neces- i3 ealist. This is the logical conclusion of Briggrsm, and this
warily the religious life.” is why Robert Ingersoll regards Briggs as a modern hero.
“Dr. Briggs and those who are hurrying his doctrines to
SEOULAB JOUENALS TO THE EE%QUE their logical conclusions have nothing to offer in the place of
As there were Gentiles who exhibited great faith in our the Bible they are destroying; no hope to hold out to those
Lord at his first advent, while the scribes and Pharisees and whose faith they are t ing to undermine. In place of our
Doctors of the Jews disbelieved and scoffed, so now it is grati- Lord and Saviour of wT om the prophets tell. and to whom
fying to note the zeal of a few secular journals in the defense the apostles bear witness, the do-not even offer ua Mahomet,
of the Bible, while so manv of the nrofessed ministers of the nor Brahma, nor Confucius. Ii hat then? Why, so far as the
Gospel are repudiating it. 1 Discus&g the trend of the high higher criticism is concerned, we have no chorce but between
ones in the church nominal. toward infldelitv-called “higher Robert Ingersoll and the devil !”
criticism,” evolution, etc .,-The Atlanta Co&itut& says: WHAT LEABNED OOLLP&E PBOPBSSOBS ARE PBBPAItINO
“The manifestations of unbelief in the pulpit have become AS A SUBSTITUTE POE THE BIBLE
so frequent and so notorious that a well-conducted newspaper While Satan’s arts are beguiling some from faith in the
cannot fail to take note, if only as a part of the phenomena Bible, he realizes the need of a substitute, and is rapidly push-
of the time. Those of our readers who have access only to a ing forward his “seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.”
few of the newsnaoers of the dav would be astonished if we ( 1 Tim. 4 : 1) Theosophy, Christian Science (falsely so-called)
had room in these columns to present even one-half of the and Spiritism are being advanced and exploited in various
manifestations of unbelief that have become visible as the ways, through influential channels. Recently the New York
result of the encouragement and support which Dr. Briggs and and Boston journals of largest circulation have printed col-
hiq views have received. umns of matter, profusely illustrated, detailing the tests
“Already various pulpit imitators of Dr. Briggs are boldly a plied to Spiritism by Prof. Hodgson, representative of the
avowing the conclusions to which the higher criticism leads. l! nglish Society for Psychical research, Prof. James Hyslop
For in&ance, here is a professor in the-Chicago Theological of Columbia College, and Prof. James of Harvard College. We
Seminary declaring that it is not necessary for Christians to extract as follows:
believe in the miraculous birth of Christ; that such belief is “Noted Scie~tlst of aolambis 8~8 He Clonld Not Hsve Been De-
not necessarily a part of the Christian creed. This professor csivod-His Proof of Immortality
takes the ground that the statements of the apostles on this “‘I have had in all seventeen sittings with Mrs. Piper,’ said
matter are not revelations at all. Commenting on the Sa- Dr. Hyslop. ‘She had no nossible mrans of knowinu who I
viour’s words in the seventeenth chapter of John, this Chicago am. In not a single incident did she tell me facts &nected
professor of theology calmly remarks: ‘This is scarcely the only with my own memory. They wrre rommon as well wit11
utterance of one who was conscious of being the Messiah sent the memory of persons now dead.
from God, but the p&xistence which is involved is ideal.’ “‘Now that this was not fraud ia proved by this statement
“We need not say that The Constitution prints this shame- of Prof. James, of Harvard, in the Psvchologkal Review: “Dr.
ful, scandalous and blasphemous statement, not to horrify Hodgson considers that the hypothesis of fraud cannot be se-
decent men and women, but to show how accurate were its riouslv entertained.” J agree with him thoroughly and ahso-
predictions with respect to the purport and tendency of the lutely:’
higher criticism. Its whole aim is to tear down snd undo, to “Will Toll All in a Year
uproot and destroy, the faith that has served the purposes of “ ‘I shall be ready to lay my case completely before the
Christendom for nearly nineteen hundred years. Since we h:lvc world in just about a year. By that time I hope to organize
quoted the sacrilegious teachings of a professor in the Chicago a body of scientific men to examine my facts, and to get enough
Theological Seminary, we cannot do better than to quote the money to endow a fund to break down the frauds bound to
remarks of Dr. Adams, editor of Tihe Advance. ‘The Congre- sprini up.’
gationalists may put up with loose views on the atonement. “Prof. Hyslop is generally regarded by his associates in
but you may rest assured [he was talking to a reporter] that the faculty at Columbia as a sound-minded, painstaking and
thev will never endure a man who denies the miraculous birth an especially keen scientific man.
and the pre&xistence in heaven of Jesus Christ.’
“Apparently these are the words of an indignant man, and “Butler’8 Faith In Hyslop
yet how far is the journey from ‘loose view9 on the atonement’ “Prnf. Nicholas Murrnv Butler, Dean of the Facultv of
to a denial of the miraculous birth and the presxistenre of the l’hilosophy and an expert psychologist, yesterday expressed the
Saviour ? create& confidence in Prof. HVS~OD.
“ ‘The fact,’ said he. ‘that he h’as gone at the matter in the
“The pretentiousness of the higher criticism could not be most extreme spirit of skepticism, and is supported in his
more powerfully set forth than its claim to be ‘scientific.’ No research bv such men as Dr. James. of Harvard. and Dr. Hode-
*MILLENNIAL DAWN, VOL. xv, Chap. 12. son, of R&ton. leads me to believe that he would not mage
124991 (179-180)
(180-181) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLWIIE~Y. 1’4

any statement whlc*h is not well grounded on scirntifica fa&. fl11111::0111’ Lord’-. 1~1tdic*ticm--“\\ hen the Son of Man rometh.
“‘I’hr tirl~i he hak in\estigatetl Is one tllat Ci%IlllOt be lg- *hall ht. find the faltll on the earth?” ITe will evidently find
Ilorrtl. Thehe o~‘curren~s need explanation. and that IS what only H -‘*little floc*k” walking in the light of hlr Wonl.
1)r. Hy~lop ih doing for them.’ How opportune seems the booklet-IVhat say the Scrzptures
“Dr. Franq ,111 assi+tant 111the Dqartmcmt of Psychology. (Ibout Npzrttrcuhsm?* A11 friends of the truth should have
alho ahsrrted the tru+vorthincss of Prof. Hyslop’x opinions.” home of these on hand to loan-as helping hands to assist our
=\las ! poor I3a bylon, her lortls and her teacherh, in whom she “brethren” to escape this snare of the adversary.
haa tru-ttbtl, a~(> Iratlin:: on to tbta ditch of Infidelity, and ful- * Suppld at fifty cents ,,er doz.; 10 cents each.

PRESS TOWARD THE MARK!

“Co~gctt~np those thing5 \I hich are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.“-Phil. :3:1X
I’ho tll,;il)i,“iiit!nt,rith. hcbtanly felt, Nut I eady be to follow Christ,
Iin 4I’ t rac*c*tl (‘ai ta on thy brow : \\Iere\cr lir may lead ;
‘TllO IlO~W~ Ilit \ (’ i)l” I*llt’tl tllilt lid\ t’ I’clll~PCl TO voirr of stranger hearken not,
‘1’11y 11tui t ill yrict to bow ; But to hs voice give heed.
TIIO 11 lcwtl, h.t\t failcri t11w \rhom tlloll lO\C~l, ‘1’111ough evil or through good report
And foeh with wicked dart IJndaunted follow on;
Ilarcl tlril\%n the t*riie~ bow of hcorn Your feet will never find a path,
To plc~r~c~thy breaking heart: But, there your Lord has gone.
Ile \ifiiliLnt. be ktrong. IW true, .4nd what if men may look askance
.\IIC~ quit thee like a man; And sneer and laugh and scorn ?
l<r diligent God’s w11l to know- You’ll never feel a pang of pain,
Submis3ive to hii plan; But that your Lord has borne;
I Icod not thr counseling of men. The trials of this present life
15’(tn tho in iovr ‘tin given, Are not to be compared
~S11ort~i~litctl it i* apt to be, To glory we shall share with him,
And Itvld thee far from heaven.) Whose sufferings we have shared.
HATTIE HENDERSON.
--

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

tlio+ who II ivc’ not the 101c 11Iiicll Ioiids them to respond with
111y&r. hrlrf caxplanation y of the following Scriptures: hlatt. gIatitudr have not the condition of heart which the Lord
lO:lO. 1 (‘or !).7-IJ: 1 ‘I’hrh. 2:6: (ial. H:ti: ti Thes. 3:H-10. lo\eh, will not grow in grace and, because of the cultivation
of the spirit of selfi+hness, instead of the suirit of benevolence.
Matt. 10 : 1O.-Thi’a inctruc+tion was to the twelve apostles such ar; apt to grow coid, indifferent, ahd to fail to make
wtt fw th 10 ~I~IIIOIIIIC~~ th Lingdom It ~YBS not 21 general their callinn and election sure. “The liberal soul shall be
lnsti n&ion Ior iill time. hit p~~~ti~~ular to ttlr cushion. It i* made fat.“-&ov. 1 I :25.
not applic-.i1l1~ 10 I IIV pre\rnt time. The object in ~ntling them I Thes. 2 :&-This 1s in harmonv with the foregoing. III
torth in tlllg dependtbnt manner wac largely at least to teach ,lubtlrr the Apostle might have said to those to whom 1% had
t hv a],ostlt~~ tlw It~on of the T,ord’q full ahility to care fol bronrrht the clad tidinrr&: You owe to me. as the servant of
them untltlr all rire~tm~tancr~ ~1x1 conditions, and they learned (:od.‘more t&n vou wiii ever he ahle to pay’ in the present life.
thr Irhwl~ Sub*rquentlv t ht~ aI)o*tles acted very differmtly ; and it is aH little as you ran do to (‘arc for mv temporal
necrnsitie* to the extent of your ability. But the Gospel meF-
-age i* not given along the lines of justice. but along the lines
of lo\ r anti c*omp:ission. and henc*csthe Apostle was careful not
1 (:or. !I :7-IH.---\Ve undrrstantl the ApoRtIe here to teach to mtantlon thesr things when with the church (tho after he
that It is thr pri\il~~pr of thtl church to support thopt, who hatI gonc~ from them he thought it his duty to write as we have
are L’i\iriC thc*ii cbritirta time to the ministry of the Gospel. as vm~ to the rhnrc*h at C’orinth, dting forth the facts). When
\VRS’ tht> :ipo& Pi1111. and HP some arc do’inp now. But this with thr Lord’h prople be neither roveted their silver and gold,
does not stw~ to IIS to imply that all the elders in all the nor asked for It or their praise. hut was gentle and loving.
~~~~II~w~ were : Irpportcd witlmllt doing wy manual labor them- “CVWI a* .I nnrpe cheri-heth her children: being so affectionately
Wl\ 1%. so far :I< WC hn\t~ any knowledge of the matter, the desirous of you, we wcrp willing to have imparted unto you,
cblllt*rH pencrnlly, BH the Apo4r rhxpresses it, took the oversight not the> gospel of God only, hut also our own souls. because ye
of the 11~1 congregations, not for filthy Iurre’s sake, but of a wtlre drar unto us. for ye remrmber. brethren. our labor and
read> rnl~ltl-of a tlt~<irt~ to *ervr the floc*k.--1 Pet. 6:2. travail; for laboring night and day, berause we would not, be
The ~\p’“ila’~ ~.Hw. and that of &hors who did a l&c ser- I,hargeable to any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of
\ic.c>. w:~. Ililfrrc~iit. snd yet h did not demand support. and God.“-Verses 7-9.
if it, \\:I. not volnntariiy r~~ndrrcd. he made tents. or otherwise (:,I]. 6.6.-T& illjunrtmn. “Let him that is taught in the
I,rlIt~~wl M lth his 11:tntls. \lntlrrstanding that to be the will of \\;ord rommnnicate unto him that teacheth in all good
Gnd conc*erni ng 11th t*onrbe-tha t 11v l l~ould not make request things.” might properly be understood to mean that the taught,
for qupT)ort or any c*arnal things. This hr explains in the very were to support the teachers; and yet, just as reasonably we
YM hes under c*onrideration.-See verses 15-18. might understand it to mean that those receiving instruction
It would seem to be a feature of the divine law that who- &outd not fear to tsommuniratr to the better instructed teach-
,‘\ I’r II;IS rec*ei\ cltl :I spiritual blt~ssing must make some sacrifice ing-brother any thought that thev might have respecting the
ot .~n earthly hind. :lrltl tllllr show hiL: appreciation of the spir- T,ord’s word of grace. Nothing i’n the connection would seem
itu.ll favor re~~c~l\c~rlof thtl TAorll. if hr would grow in grace, to imulv of nerensitv that it meant to communicate in carnal
kIlO\\ hip :LlKl Irwv. Wlliltl thrrc~forc* \\e dcxpretante everything tbinrrn: ’ “the good thi”ngS with equal propriety might be consid-
akin t 0 riic~iic~~-llc~~~ili~. illIll r;lrc~fillly a\oitT it, in cnir c~olumns. clrrd pood spiritual things. However, even if it were clear
\\(b tlo IWIIW (8 mnoyt .in(.(krt*l\ that thohe Hho will receive the that this referred to temporal good things, we are to bear in
vrr ltcct I)lr+\iiip at t IIts T,ortl *h llandc. are thowe who are using mind that the Apostle clid not‘Jimpress ihis upon the church
tlitalr mean+ iii th(b *pr(3(1 of tlitx truth-to the extent of their on his OWII hehalf. for he was not with them at this time. Verv
,iliilitv. If that bc oniv t\\o mittIs. HS in the cast’ of the poor (11idently hr nt’ber spoke in ~.uc~ha strain when with the chur&
widow. ‘1’111~ c:~l\;rtio~l-purc~ll;l~r~l at thr high rost of our &al and W~PII biq word< might be understood to mean a personal
I~tvlt~emt~i ‘P lift i* nfferpcl fire. and the T,ord refusra to ucrmi’ :app~l for money. for cnharity, for support.
.iiiy to lb;iy for it, lmt 1~ tloe q not rcfnac tn prrniit us to testify 2 T11m. 3:8-10. “Seither did we eat any man’s bread for
,311r101c ,intl itppr(3ni,ltiorl of 111~grace bv little self-denials. On naught; bnt wrought with labor and travail night and day,
tlit‘ (,nntraTy. htb tippro(.i;itrk lli~~. and ‘WW~R his fare to shine that we might not hr cshargeable to any of vou; not because we
HIII~ 111~ l p~rltu:~l I11~.-1rlp to fall upon those who take delight h.rve not power [authority, as the appointed apostles of the
in I!P\ ntin:r tl~c~m~clvc~ and tbrir ~ub&~nccl to his service and 1,ortl. to demand suppnrtl. but to make ourselves an ensample
the \pr\ ice of his (‘illls~, tbr cervice of his ptnple. On the con- unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you this
trarr. those who have nrwr Iearned the blessedness of giving we rommanded you, that if any should not work, neither should
are ‘informed that “The T,ortl lorcth a rheerfrrl giver:” and he eat.”
[26001
JULY IS, 1899 ZION’S WATCH
It would appear from this that it was never the Apostle’s
thought, nor the meaning of any of the types or instructions
of the \Yord of God, that a clergy class should be created or
should create itself, and abstain from work and insist upon
being supported in comparative idleness. Any such interpreta-
tion would evidently be contrary to the example of the Apostle,
as above stated.
DANIEL IN THE
JULY 30.--DAN.
“The Lord is thy keeper.“-Psa.
Nothing aives us a higher opinion of the kings of ancient
times, their ‘willingness torecognize character and merit wher-
ever it miaht be found. than does the record furnished in the
Book of l?aniel. If we were surprised at Nebuchadnezzar’s
impartial treatment of his captives, in the selection of Daniel
and his companions, and their education and advancement in
the kingdom; if we werr surprised that the king so greatly
honored Daniel for the interpretation of a dream; if we were
surpri*ecl that, when convinced that Shadrach. Meshach and
Abed-nego were servants of the true God, Nebuchadnezzar gave
them still higher positions in the empire; and if we were sur-
prised that Belshazzar took no offense at Daniel’s interpre-
tation of the writing on the wall, but highly honoretl and
rewarclrcl him for his faithful, plain, outspoken words-we are
still more surprisecl to find that King Darius of the Medes
and Persians, so far from destroying all the rulers of Babylon,
including Daniel, apparently spared all except the king alive,
and gave Daniel a very high position in the empire. We may
reasonably assume that, altho God’s providence was in the
matter of Daniel’s preferment, nevertheless, there was some
creditable generosity in those heathen kings, as well as some
natural ability and good quality manifested by the Prophet
Daniel.
AR one of the three presidents of the empire? and having
charge over H hundred and twenty of its provinces, Daniel
stoocl in the any of many who sought office, and, as a man of
unimpeachable charaetrr. no douht he stood in the way of
manv scheme* for the plundering of the treasury: for such
rmhl& plirnclering and clishonestv, said to be very general
ihrnughout &is&n countries today, was probably so-then to a
large extent. For these selfish reasons. Daniel was sure to
have a host of secret enemies, who sought his downfall. From
the narrative we might suppose that lhese enemies, many of
whom would be nrnminent in offic*ial life. had watched in vain
to find any real ‘cause of complaint, and that they finally con-
c~ludcd that if fault would be found at all, it must be on arcount
of hi4 religion.
How this rmmindr us of the Apostle’s testimonv. “All that
will live godly in Christ #Jesus shall suffer perse&ion,” and
naain. onr Lord’s words. “If ve were of the world. the world
would love his own, but because ye are not of the’world, but
I have cahnsen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth
ynn ’ ” (2 Tim. 3.12; John 15:19) Even where there are no
selfish motives to impel the persecution, there is ever present
the distinction between “light” and “darkness:” and the fact
noticed by all is mentioned by our Lord-that all who are
themselves of the darkness hate the light and all who walk in
the light. (*John 3: l!J-21) Some one has truly said, “Whoso-
ever does well and is faithful and true, while others are dis-
honest and false. must expect to be opposed and hated. Every
effort will be made to injure his character, to drag him into
the mire, and to make it appear that he is no better than those
who assail him. Envy is sharper than a serpent’s tooth, and
deadlier than the poison of asps.”
Shakespeare has truly said:
**He thou as chaste as ice, as pure as know.
Thou shalt not escape calumny.”
“That thou art blamed shall not be thy defect;
For slander’s mark was ever yet the fair;
So thou be good, slander doth yet approve
Thy worth the greater.”
Sometimes we speak of the snares that are laid for the feet
of God’s servants as fixed bv Satan, their great adversary, and
this may be so. at least bi supervision, and yet apparently
there are some so fullv imbuecl with the snirit of their “father.
the devil,” that his n:farious schemes and plot,s seem to come
qnite naturally to them. And thus it was with Daniel’s ene-
mies who songht his ruin. Very skilfully they cnunsrlecl with
the king respecting the necessity that the people should rec.
ngnize him as a god. and urged this as essential to the enforce-
ment of obedience to the king’s c*ommands amongst his new
III-38 126011
TOWER (18% 1X3)
It mav be sometimes tliflicult to draw the line on quehtions
of this kind, which have two sides. The only safe way is to
seek the mind of the Lorcl. and on the one hand to cultivate
generosity and restrain selfishness, and on the other hand to
g~vr needed assistance to ministers of the truth, without doing
anything to encourage them in idleness, which is ;t foe both
to truth and to grace.
DEN OF LIONS
6:10-23.
121 .B.
subjects. The theory of the empire \vas that the king’s percon
was specially possessed by Ormuzd, the deity of the empire,
that his worcl was therefore reprrsentativelv the woid of that
god, and that therefore all of -hi. clecrees were infallible and
inviolable. even br himself. Taking advantage of this law of
the Medes and Persians, that no decree could be altered or abro-
gatecl. these plotters succeedecl in having the king set apart
thirtv davx in which it should be a crime to offer a petition or
worship co any other person or god save to Darius himself.
\Ve are not to suppose that the king had so fal+e an iclra of
his own persona1 c~onsequeme. nor that these his offirers enter-
tained the view that he was WII infallihle gncl: rather. it was a
matter which thev suggested as a piece of statecraft. a traud
npon the people.’ justified. in their perverted judgments. by
the greater peace and security from the prevalence of such a
nunerstitions reverence for the kina and his laws. The false
reasoning was of the .Jesuitieal sort, which says. ,211 evil or a
falsehood is justified if beneficial results are hoped tor: the
same false principle whic4r operates in the minds of many
intelligent prearhers who, while thoroughly disbelieving in the
doctrine of eternal torment themselves, countenance and encour-
age, or at least do not discourage, a belief in the falsehood on
the Dart of their hearers; hoping that the prevalent super-
stition on the subject mav prove a restraint upon the masses.
Having . . obtained the king’s sienature to the new law, the
conspirators exulted in the ‘thought that Daniel at last’ was
in their grasp, and already practically destroyed. They seem
to have known the man’s character so well as not to doubt
that he woulcl be faithfnl to his religious ronvictions, and thus
furnish them all the opportunity desired for his apprehension.
And it was so. After the matter was proclaimed as law, as
having had the king’s signet. Daniel worshiped as before.
kneeling three times a day before the Lord in prayer, thanks-
giving and supplication-with his windows open toward .Jeru-
salrm, his expectations bright with hope in the Lord’s prom-
ises. and especiallv with the thought that now the seventy
years of Jerusalem’s desolation were ahnut fulfilled, and that
very soon Cyrus. according to the prophecy, would beeomc
king. and send bark the covenanted people to the land of
promise.
We are not informed why Daniel had adopted a habit of
private worship in so puhlie a manner as to he generally known
to the people-a manner so different from that which the T,nrd
c*ommencled to the household of faith of this Gonpcl age, nay-
ing. “When thou prayest. enter into thy closet [seeret apart-
ment). and when thou haqt shut thy door. pray to the Fathci
which is in secret.” (Matt. O:ti l Quite prohably the custom
of Babvlon was nuc*h as to make Daniel’s more open (*nurse
the reasonable and proper one. Possibly all worship was more
or less nublic or visible. and for lkniel to have wnrshiuecl in
secret might hqve been misunderstood to mean that he AtI not
worship at all; while to worship as Ile tlicl, not hrfore iIll idol.
but with his face toward Jerusalem, the typical eitp of (iod.
the great King, and its Temple, the typical habitation of God
the great King, would be his standing confessinn of God heforcs
the various nationalities of Bahvlon. includinrr his own neonle.
the Jews, who would need just &h an illustration of faithfnl-
ness to the true God and separation from idolatry.
Daniel was not satisfied to merely close his eves in pravei I
after he had retired to rest, as do many people’ living under
the greater light of this Gospel age, and under greater privi-
leges and oppnitunitir, and grander promises. He had a great
God whn W’IS worthy of revereme and worship. and he wac
great enough as a man to appreciate that it was a pririlrge to
hare intercourse and fellowship with his Creator. He wa4 not
only not ashamed to how the’knee to the Almiphtv. hut was
nnwilline to assume a less hnmhle nosition before God than he
and others assumed toward earthly kings. Our judgment is
that it is impossible for any Christian to maintiin a proper
conristcnt walk in life, and to build up such a character and
faith strmture as are represented by the Apostle as composed
of “pnlcl. silver and precions stones.” without prayer: more
thsn this, without regu1arit.v in prayer-we would almost be
imlined to say. withont kn.ceJing in prayer: and we believe
(184-185) ZION’S WATCH
that the erpclirnces and testimonies of the truest and best of
the Lord’s people who have ever lived will corroborate this.
One of the points of the adversary’s attack, surest to have
a baneful influence, is along this line. When the Lord’s people
become overchaleed with the cares of this life. instead of reai-
izing their dan& and seeking the help of tde Lord to order
the affairs of life differently, the suggestion comes that they
are too weary to pray, or that another time will be more faror-
able: or perhaps they are so fully engrossed that reverence
and acknowledgment to the Lord. from whom cometh every
good and perfect gift, is entirely forgotten : or perhaps sin iieth
at the door, and they seek not to think of the Lord, and there-
fore avoid the throne of grace: or perhaps coldness has come
in from some other cause, and the Lord seems afar off, and
prayer becomes a mere formality and in by and by abandoned.
The child of God who is in a proper condition of heart-harmony
will desire to commune with his Creator-not only to hear his
Word, but also to offer thanksgiving and worship; as surely as
he will desire natural food and drink for the sustenance of his
natural bodv. Whoever has not this experience should heck it;
and, according to our Lord’s promise, he that seeketh findeth.
and to him that knocketh it shall be onened.
According to a preconcerted arraniement, the conspirators
assembled themselves at the proper time to be witnesses of
Daniel’s devotion to the true -Go& and then proceeded to the
king to announce that the first one to disobey his decree, and
therefore to come under its Dunishment, was the aged, hon-
ored and trusted President of-a hundred and twenty provinces
of the empire, Daniel. The king was sorely displeased with
himself: evidently he had not thought of Daniel, and of
the possibility of such results following his decree. He had
been advised to make it, it had seemed to flatter him, he had
yielded to the urgent representations of the supposedly weii-
intentioned and wise men; and now he discerned that he had
been deliberately led into a trap for tbe very purpose of destroy
ing his most valued counselor, of whom, evidently. he had not
thought to ask advice before signing the decree.
The King sought et’rry possible way to make void the decree
or to excuse Daniel from its peuaity ; but the conspirators
were close at hand with arguments to prove that such a course
would be contrary to the uqages of the-nation, would mean the
undermining of the authoritv of the kinrr and the loss of con-
fidcnce in l& decrees by thi people; an‘; he found no escape
from his dilemma: his counselors even seemed to threaten the
stability of his throne themselves, assuring him that “no decree
may be changed.” Finally the kin8 commanded that Daniel
be brought and cast into the den of 1101~s;expressing to Daniel,
however, the hope, “May thy God, whom thou serve& con-
tinually, deliver thee.” The cxcmpiary conduct of Daniel, pre-
viously and at this time, had its effect upon the king, as
expressed by the word, “continmdly.” He had confidence that
God was with Daniel. and that the God whom Daniel so sin-
cerelv worshiped and’ so intelligentlv trusted, must be more
pow&fui tha< all other gods. Sucl; should be the lesson of
everv Christian life. one whirh would testifv not onlv to his
own’cbaracter and ‘faithfulness to God, h& one al& which
would testify to the good character nnd faithfulness of the
God whom he worships.
The conspirators were bent on having matters thoroughly
accomplished, and hence the stone (which covered the den and
WRS probably fastened to its place with an iron bar) was
doubly sealed with wax, to prove that it was not tampered
with-one seal was the king’s, the other that of the lords of
the empire, who were amongst the conspirators, so that there
might be no subsequent alteration of the conditions or delivery
of Daniel during the night. If the lions were not very hungry
at the moment Daniel was first cast in, it was reckoned that
they would certainly become so before morning. How the
hearts of these evil men longed for the death of a good man,
who had done them no injury- except as his life may-have been
a living epistle, contradictory to theirs, or as he may have
thwarted some of their efforts to do evil!
It is very much to the king’s honor that we read that he
was so troubled in mind that lie could not sleep, but spent the
ninht fasting, and rerv eariv in the morning made haste to the
d& to see whether or’not ljaniei’s God had’delirered him. So
amon& the friends and neighbors of a true Christian are some
who know and appreciate God only as they know and appre-
ciate the Christian character.
The king’s words, as he approached the den, were a won-
derful tribute to Daniel’s faithfulness as a servant of God.
“Is thy God whom thou servest continually able to deliver
thee from the lions?” The king here associated, and that prop-
erly, Daniel’s faithful service to God with his hope respecting
God’s f:tithfuinesR to Daniel. And thi# reminds us of the words
[26021
TOWER .\LLECHE”r Y, PA
of the Apostle ( 1 John 3 :22 ) , “And whatsoever we ask we
receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do
those things that are pleasing in his sight.“-Compare John
8:29.
The heart of Darius was glad as be heard Daniel’s voice
saluting him, assuring him of his safet and he at once
caused him to be delivered from the den. 5; aniel expressed one
reason for the Lord’s deliverance, in the words, “Before him
innocency wa.s found in me-as also before thee, 0 king, have
I done no hurt.” We note the fact that haughtiness and
bravado are wholly lacking in the prophet’s announcement of
the great favor of God manifested on his behalf. There is a
less& here which many of the Lord’s people need to learn;
namely, that having done their part, they are not to boast of
it, nor to parade their sanctity, nor to speak exultingly of the
results, as though they were of their own achievement, but are
simply, like Daniel, to give the glory to God.
The expression, “God hath sent his angel, and hath shut
the lions’ mouths,” need not be understood literally to signify
that an angel was personally present and literally prevented
the lions from opening their mouths; for though such a course
would be entirely possible, we are to understand the term,
angel, in a general way to signify any power or agency which
God might employ, and the expression, “shutting of the lions
mouths,” would simply signify that they had been restrained
from doing violence to Daniel. Nor would we question that an
angel of tile Lord could have been with Daniel, and kept him
companv in the den. if such were the will of God: but the
pre&ce or absence df an angel was not essential to the divine
protection granted.
Not many of the Lord’s people are cast into dens of literal
lions, and yet at times quite a good many of them have had
experiences which strongly resemble this-as for instance, the
Apostle Paul, in recounting his experiences, mentions perils of
waters, perils of robbers! perils by his own countrymen, perils
by the heathen, perils m the city, perils in the wilderness,
perils in the sea, and caps the climax in the specification of
‘perils amongst false brethren.” (2 Cor. 11:20) It is possible
for human mouths to do us more harm than the mouths of
brute beasts; the Apostle James oints this out when he says:
“Behold, how small a fire enkin f lee a great forest! And the
tongue is a fire in the world of unrigh’teousness. The tongue
is established among our members as the one which defiles the
whole body and sets on fire the course of life, and it is enkin-
dled of Gehenna; for every species, both of wild beasts and of
birds and of reptiles and of sea-creatures. is tamable and has
been tamed by ihe human race; but the tdngue of men no man
is able to subdue. It is an irrestrainabie evil. full of deatb-
producing poison.“+ames 3 : 6-8.
As God’s providence was over Daniel, permitting him to
come under the power of natural wild beasts, and making this
a test of his fidelity to God and to principles of righteousness,
so the Lord’s providence sometimes permits his faithful ones
to be exposed to the venom and malice and hate and misrep-
resentation and slander of human tongues, far more vicious
and far more terrible every way than lbe ‘wild beasts of the
jungle, which can harm but for a moment. Nevertheless, as
the Lord was able to deliver Daniel, he is not less able to send
his angel (his providences) to shut the mouths of those who
would do injury to his people. They may gnash upon them
with their teeth, as the lions may have been permitted to do to
Daniel, to test his faith in the Lord: vet we are to remember
that ail things are subject to him w& whom we have to do.
and whose service we have entered through vows of conse-
rration.
In some instances it may please the Lord to grant a won-
derful deliverance, as in the case of Daniel, while in other
instances the providential dealings may result otherwise, as
for instance in Stephen’s case: his plain but kind statement of
the truth to his Jewish brethren “cut them to the heart,” and
“they gnashed on him mith their teeth, and cried out with a
loud-voice and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one
accord and cast him out of the citv. and stoned him. . . . And
he kneeled down and cried with”a loud voice, Lord, lay not
this sin to their charge.” But even in such a case the victory
was with the Lord’s servant, of whom we read, “But he, being
full of the holy Spirit, looked up st,eadfastiy into heaven and
saw the glory of God.” And the record further is that Stephen,
in the midst of such persecution, had the peace of God which
passeth ail understanding. to such an extent that his face was
“as the face of an angel”-serene, calm, unperturbed.-Acts
6:15; 7:54-60.
The Scriptural record is that after Daniel’s deliverance
King Darius c~n~erl ail the conspirators to be cast into the den
of lions, and that thus they were all destroyed. Josephus adds
JULY 15, 1899 ZION’S WATCH
something from tradition, to the effect that, when Daniel was
delivered the conspirators claimed that his preservation was
due to the fact that some one had fed the lions before he was
cast into the den, and that the king undertook to demonstrate
the matter by having the lions liberally fed, and then castin
into the den those conspirators, who were speedily devoure d .
This reminds us of how Haman was hanged upon the very
gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. The Psalmist seems to
speak of it as a principle associated with the divine govern-
THE NEW
AUG. 6.-EZEK.
“A new heart also
Ezekiel wrote the words of our lesson in Babylon. Thev are
not to be esteemed as merely the exhortations-of a preacher,
although they do partake of this quality: they are more than
this-a prophecy by the Lord respecting his future favors
toward Israel. The context preceding reviews Israel’s situa-
tion-the people in a foreign land, and their own Land of
Promise a desolate wilderness because of their sinful neglect of
their great King Jehovah, and of their covenant promises as
his adopted people. While the Prophet’s words declare a future
recovery, not only as possible, but as sure to be accomplished.
they nevertheless indicate certain changed conditions as neces-
sary to such a recovery: it would not only be necessary for
them to abandon idolatry, but they must obtain a new heart,
a new mind, a new disposition, favorable to God and righteous-
ness, ere such an abandonment of idolatry and sin would be
permanent.
The Prophet does not here declare the time at which this
new heart would be given to the people. He merely points out
to them the necessity for such a new heart and the blessings
of the Lord that wo;ld result from such a harmony with him;
and tells them, “I will yet for this be inquired of by the house
of Israel to do it for them.“-Verse 37.
As a matter of fact. this new condition of heart was not
attained by Israel on th&r release by Cyrus from the captivity
in Babylon. Although only a limited number, who had a re-
spect for God and who trusted in the promises made to the
fathers, had sufficient interest in the Holy Land to avail them-
selves of the proclamation made by Cyrus and to return to
Palestine, and although we might say that by means of this
captivity the Lord had sifted out of Israel the idolatrous and
unfaithful majority, we still cannot say that those who re-
tnrned with Ezra and Nehemiah enjoyed the new heart condi-
tion which the Lord stipulated through the Prophet was essen-
tial to a full reception of his favor.
While, so far as we know, gross forms of idolatry never
prevailed in Israel after the return from captivity in Babylon,
we nevertheless know that the more refined forms of idolatry
continually existed amongst them, as amongst other civilized
nations who do not bow to wood and stone, gold and silver-
an idolatry of wealth, an idolatry of self; an idolatry of
.Judaism, nrevailed amongst them. and thev never attained the
caondition Ispecified in this lesson: They did not get the new
heart and right spirit ; they did not get rid of the stony heart;
they did not walk in the Lord’s statutes and judgments, nor
do them; they did not dwell in the land, but were cast out
of it because of the stony character of their hearts, in the re-
jection and crucifixion of Messiah; and they who were called
God’s people were cast off, and are not called his people now;
and they have not been prospered, but have been in fiery trials
in the midst of their enemies, scattered amongst all nations
from then until the present time. Nor have they yet loathed
themselves, their iniquities and their abominations, nor been
ashamed and confounded; nor is the desolate land tilled, and
;;uiF garden of Eden. Quite the contrary of all this is the
What shall we say, then? Was Ezekiel a false prophet, or
has God failed of accomplishing his good purposes toward
Israel because of the weakness of their flesh and the hardness
of their hearts? God forbid ! On the contrary, we are to un-
derstand that the prophecy of this lesson belongs to a future
time-to the Millennial dav: and that whatever signs there
are at the present time of “the return of divine fav& toward
fleshly Israel and toward the land of promise are evidences
that the time for the fulfilment of this prophecy is near at
hand.
In corrobdration of this position we cite Romans 11:25-32.
Here the ADostIe Paul shows that Israel after the flesh. not
having zealously inquired for the new heart and the ;ight
spirit, not having sought it of the Lord, was unprepared in
heart to receive Messiah, and instead with wicked hands cru.
C2.5031
TOIVER (185-184)
ment, that those who dig pits for others are likely to fall
therein themselves. (Psa. 7:15, 16; 9: 15, 16) And who has
not observed that those who gnash upon others with the tongue
of scandal and falsehood, envy and malice, are likely in the
end to be injured by the very falsehood and bitter words where-
with they seek to injure others? There is a law of retribution
at work, in accordance with which a recompense of evil is
dealt out to all evil-doers, either in the present life or in the
life to come.
HEART
36 : 25-36.
will I give you.”
cifled him. The Apostle shows us that, as a result, only a
remnant was gathered out of Israel to be of the “bride” class,
and that the nation as a whole stumbled into blindness. dark-
ness, for a time determined of the Father-until the eleciion to
the “bride” class should be completed from among the Gentiles
Then, the Apostle assures us. Israel’s blindness shall be turned
away; they-shall all be savid from that blindness. “For this
is niy covehant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”
It is this covenant of the Lord to Israel to take awav their
sins and to give them new hearts and right dispositions “that is
referred to in our lesson, and we look for the fulfilment wit11
longing anticipation-realizing, as the Apostle points out, that
Israel’s recovery from blindness will mean nothing lens than
life from the dead; for if that nation, after crucifying Mes-
siah. and being blind to the fulfilment of the nrophecies made
to their father;, shall finally be awakened to &e <he Lord, and
look upon him whom they have pierced, and shall have the
spirit of prayer and of supplication poured upon them by the
Lord’s providential dealing, it will be a miracle similar to the
causing of a dead person to live. And if God’s mercy will thus
be extended toward those who sinned most egregiously, and
who crucified his Son, it will mean also the extending of divine
mercy to all the families of the earth, according to the stntc--
ment” of the various promises.
More than this, the fulfilment of God’s promise mentioned
by the Apostle, “So all Israel shall be saved [recovered from
blindness]” will not mean mere2?/ a figurative awakening of the
dead: it will mean also a lit&al iwakening of thg dead;
because many of “all Israel,” millions of them. have eone down
into actual death, and before they could be made the”~c&ients
of the favors of this promise, they must be awakened frobn the
sleep of death. And likewise also the nromises to the remain-
der-of mankind are similarly brought-before the eye of faith
by such faithfulness toward Israel; for instance, the promise
that all the families of the earth shall be blessed throuah the
Seed of Abraham must include not only those who will bc’iiving
at the time of Messiah’s second advent and the establishment
of his Millennial kingdom, but must include also all that are
in the graves “who shall hear the voice of the Son of Man and
come forth” to a trial for life, secured by the great ransom
sacrifice.
The sprinkling of clean water would seem to signif the
application of the truth: and this perhaps had some fulfi 9ment
in those who returned from the Babylonian captivity-it was
the truth, the influence of the promises made to the fathers,
that affected the hearts of those who were disposed to return
-in all only a remnant of fiftv-five thousand out of seven mil-
lions. The “influence of these iromises served to separate them
from their previous filthiness-of idolatry. Had they earnestlv
gone forward seeking to realize the lenrrths and breadths of th”e
&vine will, they m?ght have been re;dy in due time, at the
first advent of our Lord, to have received the new heart; but
they did not do so, hence that feature of the promise (not
failing on account of their failure) carries forward more than
eighteen hundred years, and becomes applicable at the second
advent. Meantime a new nation, a holv nation. a roval Driest-
hood, a peculiar people, is sought and found by thk Lord to
be the spiritual seed of Abraham and to obtain the ereatest
blessing&-the heavenly.-Rom. 9 : 30-33 ; 11:26X,
But we will look down into the future and see what the
fulfilment of this prophecy will mean to fleshly Israel, to
whom it was made, and to whom it still pertains, because, as
the Apostle declares, the gifts and callings of God are things
of which he does not repent.
We are not to understand that the removal of the stony
heart and the giving of the new heart of flesh will be an instan-
taneous work or a miraculous work. The Apostle ex lains the
method by which the Lord will do this great thing Por Israel,
sa;ying, “The Deliverer shall come out of Zion [the church of
this Gospel age1 and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
 (187 188) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY. PA

!o~ this is mv covenant with them [Jacob, fleshly Israel].”
God has appdinted a day for thus blessing Israel and ulti-
mately ble&ing all the fimllies of the earthrit is a thousand-
I
vear dav. the Mlllcnninl
I ,
dav. but in it Israel’s onnortunitv
come first. Israel IS probalbiy as much, and prG6ably no*more,
ailected with the stony heart condition than other nations.
hard or ntony heart represents a selfish condition of mind and
tientimrnt. This hardening process is a result of the fall, and
through heredity and pract1c.e affects all of Adam’s posterity.
The stony heart condltlon 1s one of self-will as opposed to
divine will ; of hdf-gr~ttificatlOn as opposed to righteousness;
a lovto of helf whic.11 hinders the love of God with all the heart,
mind, koul and strength, and a love of the neighbor as oneself.
The stonv heart condition means “me,” “my,” “mine,” “right
If I cari.“wrong if 1 must.”
The bresklne un of this stonv heart condition. other Scrip-
tures show u<, wllibe aceompli&ed to a considerable degree 6y
the trouble f nolitic*al. ecclcsia&cal.
II
finanriai and social) which
will c’omc unon the whok world in the “dav of wrath,” which
is just hefore us: and this is particulariy”emphaslzed in the
Scrlntures a< alqo beine “tile dav of Jacob’s trouble-but
shali be saved out of ii.” (Jrr. ‘ho:7 ) All men will come to
appreriate better than they now do or ever have done in the
nast that the law of helfishnc+ under which the whole world
has been operating for tlli+ long time is an unJust law. and
one which must ultimately work injury to all. Indeed, the
great time of trouble will itself be the grand display of the
ultimate tendencies of selfishness with all the brakes and re-
straints removed. It will speedily work the utter wreck of the
hieheqt dcvelonment of hllman civilization. Apparentlv,
u1%1 Israel wiil hc the fir& amongst the nation<who wi”li pass
through thiy e\pckmc.c to iestrn the lesson. and to begin to seek
after the new heart, renewed in righteousness and true sub-
mission to divine in+uc+ion.
The breaking of the stony hearts will come through the
afflictions of the “dav of wrath.” but the transformation
those hearts into hPa;tq of flesh &ill be more gradual. It will
be accomplished by instructions in righteousr6s.s; for the glo-
rified church. with Christ its Head. will be the great prophet
or teacher of mankind, and tleshl; Israel (the& pas?, eipe-
rienccs in many respects serving as a preparation) wiil speedily
become associates in the reformation work. Indeed, all man-
kind then coming into harmony with the kingdom will be
counted as Jsraelite+-children of the true Israel of God--
Christ. All surh will be counted as “children of Abraham,”
who as a type of God is the “father of the faithful” with one
seed (the henvcniv. Christ and the church) as the stars of
heaven, and ~notl&r (faithful fleshly Israelites from all peo-
ples. kindreds and tongues) as the sand by the seashore.--
Gen. 22:17.
The nromisc of “hearts of flesh” or restored human perfec-
tion sho*w~ out strongly in contrart with the Lord’s provision
for the church of this Gospel age, which is not to receive
human perfection. desirable as that will be, but instead are
to becoie ever whit new creatures in Chridt Jesus: begotten
of the snirit t Krough the Word of truth, they will be in the
resurrect’ion born of the spirit to perfect spiritual conditions.
The Lord’s provision for the world of mankind. desrribed as
“hearts of flesh,” ronrcys the thought of restitution. the image
and likeness of God, to tender, gentle, sympathetic human or
earthly conditions, vrq good, very acceptable to the Creator.
Adam’s disobedience re<ulted in the hardening of his heart in
sin and selfishness, during the centuries of his degradation,
outcast from divine favor a9 an alien. stranger, foreigner and
enemy of CM.
God’s proposition to give them “a heart of flesh” signifies.
thrreforc. the hrinninz of fleshiv Israel bark to the original
condition proprr to’pcifect mnnh*ood; and the method by \;hirh
this softenin-n and rrstitution of the heart sentiments shall
be arc*ompli&d will involve n new till. a new mind, IL new
dinpositich. called in thr text “a new spirit.” This mu& really
come first. before thr new heart condition can be attained. and
the new spirit. the new disposition, will br induced by the new
view of matters which will then be clearly set before Israel
and the world.
The difficulty at the present time is that Satan, the god
of this world, deceives mankind into viewing evil things as
desirable, and coed things as undesirable: he nuts linht fox
darkness; dark<ess for iight; and as the Scriptures declare,
the whole world is at present blinded and deceived by him.
(2 Cor. 4 : 4 ; Rev. 20 : 3 ) When in due time the Lord’s Anointed
shall take the kingdom authority, purchased with his own pre-
cious blood. it will br for the verv nurnose of scatterinp the
darkness with which “the prince” o$ darkness” has bl:nded
mankind. And not only is the new King designated the true
Light. but his kingdom also is styled the kingdom of sunshine
when it is declared, “The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
with healing in his beams.“-Ma1 4:2.
It should not be necessary to offer argument, either from
will facts or Scripture, to show that this Sun of Riehteousness did
not arise at the first advent, nor during “the duark ages,” and
A that even at the second coming of the King there will be a
night-time, and he will come “as a thief in the night” for his
bride. (1 Thes. 3:2) Nor should it be necessary to prove
that throughout the entire Gospel age the world has walked in
darkness, while the Lord’s people have only walked in the light
by reason of having his Word as a lamp to their feet, a lantern
to their foosteps. (Psa. 119 : 105 ) The nx omise held out before
the chu~cll, aid before fleshly Israel, a;d before the world, is
-“The morning cometh ;” and the additional assurance is given
to the church, Zion, that “The T,ord shall help her e&y in
the morning.” (Isa. 21: 12 ; Psa. 46:s) Her deliverance shall
Lome first, and then she “shall shine forth as the sun in the
kingdom of the Father.” (Matt. 13:43) Then will come the
blessing upon fleshly Israel and the message to her, “Arise,
shine. for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen
he upon thre!” nnrl ultimately this light of the New Jerusalem,
reflected from the earthly Jerusalem, shall enlighten all the
families of the earth, with the light of the knowledge of God,
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
The promise that the Lord would put his spirit wlthln them,
and V.~UYVthem to walk in his statutes and keep his decrees
and do them, is in full accord with the foregoing.
This does
not refer to spiritual Israel, altho spiritual Israel has a some-
wh:lt similar experience in advance, as we shall shortly show.
nat- This putting of the Lord’s spirit, the spirit of righteousness,
the spirit of truth. the spirit of love. upon fleshly Israel (and
similarly upon all the families of the earth), is abundantly
stated in the Scriptures to be distinctly separate from the pour-
ing out of the Pentecostal blessing upon the church, the “little
flock,” the bride of Christ. during this age, and before the Sun
of of Righteousness arises, of which Sun of Righteousness these
shall form a part.
For instance, note the prophecy by Joel (2:28, 29) that
this promise of the holy Spirit is of two parts. One outpouring
of God’s Spirit upon his servants and hand-maidens (“new
creatures in Christ”) has already had its fulfilment through-
out thi+ Gospel age: the other promise, that God would pour
out his Spirit upon all flesh, still awaits fulfilment, and will
be accomplished after the overcoming church has been glorified
and the blessing of all the families of the earth has begun.
The matter is covered slightly from the attention of the ordi-
nary reader by reason of the outpouring upon the church being
mentioned last.
This same outpouring of the holy Spirit upon fleshly Israel
is referred to by the Prophet Zechariah, and directly applied
to the end of this age. In connection with telling how the
Lord would at his second advent make himself known to Israel,
and that they should look upon him whom they pierced, and
mourn for him, the explicit statement is, “I will pour upon
the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the
spirit of grace and of supplication.“-Zech. 12:lO.
The spirit of the Lord, the holy Spirit, is the spirit of the
truth, and when the truth shall be made known to Israel and
mankind, with that truth will go its spirit, its influence, its
power to rorrect the heart and life, and to bring it into accord
with God. For then, in the light of the truth, many will see
God’s character and plan in Christ as “the desire of all na-
tions,” and the great King himself as the one “altogether
lovely.” And the positive declaration is that all who will not
hear (obey) that great Teacher-Prophet, Priest and King-
shall be cut off from amongst his people in the second death.
--Arts 3 : 23.
In connection with these transformations of heart and will,
will come the blessing which the Lord promised upon the earth.
It shall yield its increase; the wilderness shall blossom as the
rose, and the whole earth shall become a Paradise of God. The
beginning of these blessings will be with Israel, and thus all
the Gentiles shall have not only the lessons of the Scriptures
for thrir instrurtion in righteousness, but also the illustration
of divine providence operating on behalf of those who are in-
fluenced by the truth and its spirit. Thus will be fulfilled the
declaration, “This land that was desolate is become like the
garden of Eden.“-Ezek. 36: 35.
While the Scriptures keep distinctly separate the nation of
fleshly Israel and the new nation, Spiritual Israel, neverthe-
less. under divine providence, fleshly Israel was in many re-
spects made a lesson, a type, an illustration, for Spiritual
Israel; so that the Apostle could declare that many of the
things done for fleshly Israel were rhudow~ of better things
coming afterward for Spiritual Israel. Yet these are shadows
[2604]
JULY 15, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (189-190)

only to those who discern them, and are profitable only to renewed in them, and such have indeed received a newness of
those who avail themselves of them.-Heb. 8:5. spirit, a newness of heart. But the new heart is not with them
The Scriptures point out to us that the new heart condition a heart of flesh, for they are begotten unto the high calling,
is essential also to spiritual Israel; that all who would be in to be children and heirs of God, joined in heirship with Jesus
harmony with the Lord must first get free from idols, and be Christ their Lord-to partake of the divine nature, which
separated to the Lord God; and that then they must inquire of already is reckoned as being begun in them through the beget-
the Lord that he may do for them the good things of his ting by the spirit of adoption. It is for these to remember
promise-working in them both to will and to do of his good that in order to develop in the spirit they must walk in the
pleasure. As the death of Christ was the turning point of spirit, in the Lord’s foosteps, observing to the best of their
fleshly Israel (Dives), and led them into blindness and trouble, ability the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus-that thus
so also it was the turning point or beginning of favor to spir- they may be transformed by the renewing of their minds
itual Israel (Lazarus carried to Abraham’s bosom) -the poor, (wills) and be enabled to prove the good, the perfect, the ac-
the humble, acknowledging themselves to be sinners, were freely ceptable will of God; and thus faithfully doing, to be ulti-
cleansed through the merits of Christ’s sacrifice and made ac- mately received of him into all the exceeding glories promised
ceptable as the children of Abraham. This class, from the day to the new creatures in Christ, and to be joint-heirs with him
of Pentecost to the resent, have presented themselves in turn, in the great work of blessing Israel and the world through the
fully and unreserve x ly to the Lord; to have his will, his spirit, Millennial kingdom.-Rom. 12:2; 8:17.

THE VISION OF DRY BONES

AUG. 13.-EZEX. 37: 1-14.
“I will put mu spirit within gou.“-Ezek. 36:27.
The Scripture of this lesson is frequently more or-less of a in divine providence they were henceforth a reunited nation,
confusion to the Lord’s people, even after they have learned and the reunion is pictured in this same chapter (verses 15-22)
with considerable clearness what the Apostle Paul so positively by the miraculous uniting of two sticks into one in the hand
declares-that the body sown in corruption, planted in death, of the Prophet.
is not the bodv which shall be in the resurrection: that the And it was so: from the time Cyrus gave his decree that
bones, sinews &d flesh which go to corruption have nothing all the children of Israel should go free, and might return, if
whatever to do with the resurrection body, which the Lord will they chose, to their own land, the division into two nations
provide. In examining this subject heretofore we have seen was no longer recognized. The people that returned, though
that the Apostle’s statement is not only backed by his inspi- chiefly of the tribe of Judah, represented all of the various
ration, but also that it is reasonable, logical: that one atom of tribes who had faith in the Lord’s promises, and desired to
matter is no more valuable or necessary than another in the return to Palestine. The name Israel was applied to the re-
great work of restitution which shall be accomplished in the turned and restored people, not only for the more than five cen-
world’s resurrection. We have seen that the human body in turies preceding our Lord’s first advent. but also they were
corruption becomes food for plant life, producing apples, acorns, 40 recognized by our Lord in all of his ministry, and bv the
etc., which in turn become food for man and the lower animals, apostleh in all of their writings, which constitute the’ New
so that the atoms of matter composing a human body are Testament. There are no ten lost tribes which some well-
continually changing, and in centuries would pass through meaning but deluded people continually refer to. and seem to
many changes. iire have seen, too, that this process of change rest their hopes in, as instead of the hope set before us in the
nrogresses while we still live, so that science declares that a Gospel.
complete change in the human organism is effected every seven The Lord propounds the question, Is it possible that any
years. The atoms of matter which compose a man’s body at vitality could ever come into these dry bones? Is there hope
the moment of his death are no more precious, valuable or for the scattered people of Israel who not only in heart but in
necessary to the future body than were the atoms sloughed off voice said, We are scattered, and no longer a homogeneous
through the natural channels during previous years. The im- people, we arc mixed and blended with our captors, who are
portant thing, the thing which God has nromised shall have heathen, in business. serial and marriage relationships-there
i resurrection; is the b&g, the soul: that’ in the resurrection is no hope of a restored nation of Israel?
God will eive it a bodv as nleaseth him-to each kind of seed The Prophet, with quick confidence in the Almighty, refers
his own l&d of bodyLto ihe natural man a natural. human tbc q~l~stlol~ back to God. as suggesting that any hope there
body, through restitution; to the new creature in Christ a caould p~~~ildg be of n reorganization of Israel must come from
new spiritual body, according to divine promise. God-could be looked for from no other quarter.
The passage of Scripture under consideration was addressed The Lo~tl direrted Ezekiel to prophesy, that is, to declare
by the Lord through the Prophet to fleshly Israel, then in the divine message, and the divine message was a foretelling
captivity in Babylon. The dry bones represented the Israelites of the things which would, under divine providence, come to
themselves. As a people they had lost heart, lost hope, and pssq. The message to be declared was that God had the power
said. “Our strength is dried. and our hone is lost. we are cut
1
and would exercise it. by which these who were dead, and dried
off from our parts”-from all tribal and national union, If as rcqperted their national hopes, would be gradually revived,
they looked at their present condition, they were strangers would gr:rdunlly become one homogeneous people, a ‘nation in
in a strange land, foreigners, without opportunity for patriotic their own land. Jt would not be done suddenly, but gradually,
feelings ; if they looked backward, and remembered divine inter- :rnd that tbrongh attention to the divine message, which the
vention -on their behalf, their deliverance from Egypt, their Prophet was dclirrring. First the dried and hopeless ones
favor as a nation under David and Solomon. etc., thev could would come together. then they would hegin to unite one to
think of these only as bygones, lost blessings and opportu- the other. and gradually assume a nations1 euistenre, and
nities ; if they looked forward, they could see no possible hope finally would be infused with the spirit of the Lord. aq the
of therr ever again becoming a nation; and as for all the great brc~:tth or energy of national life, begotten of fititb in the prom-
expectations which thev had once entertained respecting their ISIX and would stand armin R nation.
natron, as God’s favored people, and the heir of ihe promises The people’s hopes, which-were thus dead, were represented
made to Abraham, that they should rule and bless all the by the Lord as buried in the various nrovlnces of Babvlonin..
families of the earth-these hopes were dead, they were gone, and hence this figure is combined with the fi&qrrc of the--dyy
they could have nothing of this kind in the future. The condi- bones. and the T,ord sends the message, “Behold, 0 my people,
tion of Israel, scattered throughout Babvlonia. was indeed well
CI I
1 will open pour graves. and cause you to come out of your
illurtrated by the dry bones of the vision. graves and bring you into the land of Israel, and ve shall know
The hand (power) of the Lord was upon Ezekiel, causing that I am the Lord.” As a further part of this”symbolic pic-
bun to see this vision-he was not literally transported to any ture the Prophet is in vision shown the DrOCCSS bv which the
literal valley of dry bones. In the vision he was &used to pas’s dry bones w&Id be gathered, reorganized and re&ified. He
amongst the drv bones, that he might get a full view of the saps there was “a noise and a shaking.” The Revised Version,
situation, as they lay strewn all over -the valley, very dry. apparrntlv with propriety, renders this, “thunder and an earth-
Then the Lord’s explanation comes, that these dry bones are, rp1ke ” Following this demonstration the hones came together.
or represent, the whole house of Israel. Thev did not renresent I~ndoubtdly one thing which contributed to Israel’s despair
merely the two tribes which went last into ciptivity, nor’merely waq the mightiness of the empire which had taken them captive.
the ten tribes which went earlier, but the whole house of Israel, Bahplonia at that time was the most eiaantic emnire ever
the twelve tribes. They were no longer to be considered as two known amongst men. Her overthrow seemed impos&ble, and
distinct nations, as they had considered themselves for the escape from her power not to be thought of. The thunder and
preceding four hundred years. They were to understand that great earthquake of the figure douhtless represented the com-
C26061
(191-192) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, P\

motions incident to the fall of Babylon and the transfer of the promises are to the “wheat.” For centuries the “Gospel of the
empire to the Medes and Persians. As a result of this the Kingdom,” which our Lord declared was the good seed which
hopes of Israel in the divine promises began to revive, and
shortly they were delivered. he sowed (Matt. 13: 37-42)) has been lost sight of, and kingdom
While recognizing this primary fulfilment of the prophecy, hopes have lost their vitality, and the many promises of the
we are not to forget the secondary fulfilment on a much larger Scriptures, relating to the kingdom of God, joint-heirship with
scale, which is in progress at the present time. The withered Christ and a future blessing of the world, have become dead
hopes of Israel, scattered throughout the provinces of Baby- hopes, dead promises; and so far as these promises are con-
lonia, cut off from their parts, from one another, from tribal cerned spiritual Israel has been cut off from its parts and
union and from national cohesion, was only a foreshadowing mixed with the Babylonians, and has become interested in the
of the more general scattering of that nation among all the hopes of Babylon rather than in the kingdom of God, in which
nations of the civilized world (mystic Babylon) during this all the original hopes and promises centered and flourished.
Gospel age. With the vast majority all hopes of the fulfllment But now, in the end of this age, the time has come for God
of the Bbrahamic promise had died, had withered away, and to call his people out of Babylon, and the voice of a greater
had no more vitality than a dry bone. But now, in the end than Cyrus-is heard by those who have ears to hear, saying.
of this Gospel age, the due time has come for these dry bones, “Babvlon is fallen. is fallen! . . . Come out of her. mv neonle.
5rnttrred all over mystic Babylon, to J)e gathered part to part, that ye be-not partakers of her sins, and that ye’re&&e not
iehahilitatcd and revivified with hope in the promises made to of her plagues.” (Rev. 18:2-4) In connection with this mes-
thr fathers. The great noise is the “seventh trumpet,” which sage there is a commotion amongst the dry bones, amongst
has hrgun to sound; the earthquake is the roming great revolu- those who are Israelites indeed, whose hopes in the kingdom
tion in whic*h mystic Babylon will fall before the great Prince had perished, and the kingdom hopes are revived and the prom-
whom Cyrus in a measure prefigured. Meantime. as we look ises of God as related thereto are becoming more distinct.
at the dry bOnPS of Israel, we perceive that they’already are Nevertheless, we are not to expect that the “tare” class, the
111movement, that they arc already drawingnear one to another Babylonians, are represented in the movement of the dry bones
:Ind organizing as “Zionists” with a view to national reorgani- but merely the truly consecrated Israelites indeed. The Baby-
zatlon and a return to the land of promise. Probably the hopes lonians would be interested on the other side of the question
of the lgraelitrs began to revive as soon as they learned that -interested in perpetuating the greatness of Bahylon, and in
tllc army of Cyrus had begun the conquest of Babylon, and so continuine the bondage of the true Israelites.
now the hopes of Israel are reviving as they witness the march Nor do” the kingd;m hopes relate merely to the living. Tha
of events, and realize that a great day of trouble is coming organization of the Lord’s faithful will not only include the
upon thr nations of Christendom. Their hones will more and gathering of the living.. ., but also the Katherine of all the mem-
more go out toward Palestine and national -reorganization, as bers of the body of Christ, for “the-dead in-Christ shall rise
tlie troubles of the dav of wrath draw near. first, and [then] we which are alive and remain shall be caught
.I Jesson might also be drawn from this Scripture for spir- awav together with them, to a meeting of the Lord in the air”
1lua1 Israelites. WC arc to remember that spiritual Israel also -in” spiritual power. So many as are able to do so should
was permitted to go clown into Babylon to be swallowed up of apply to themselves this feature of this lesson and exert them-
worldlinrss, RS represented in our Lord’s parable of the wheat- selves to be of those who shall now shortly be organized as
fielcl, choked by the “tares.” The field has really become a the “body of Christ,” “the Seed of Ahrahnm.” the kingdom nf
talc-field. allhongli nominally c*alJrrJ a wheat-field. herause the God, to bless the world.

INTERESTING LETTERS
I)~AR ~IwTlflSR Rutin~~;J.J.:--1 thank God earnestly and rever- drawn from our own experiences, backed by the instructions
‘,ntJy for the DAWKR and Tow~ns. and that my understanding and comfort of the fkriDtUres.-EDITOR.]
Jrah brrn oprnrd to rcreivc and see the truth. When the “key” DEAR BR@rnrm:-In reading Isaiah, 2nd chapter, whirl1
is aJ)pJird. how beautifully the Scriptures open and reveal God’s seems to refer especially to the present time, I notice that in
wonderful plan. In the June number of the TOWER vou sneak verse 16 we are informed of the iudgment of the Lord on thr
of dispensing truth to others, that in feeding we a’re fed. I ships of Tarshish, “And over all “the-ships of Tarshish.” If I
know that to be true. and have verified it on more than one am correctly informed, Tarshish refers to Spain and especially
ocrasion. Will you please srntl some. free tracts to he given to the citv of Cadiz and the southwest part of Spain. The
nut in a Dawn Circle for Bible Study that T am trying to get wonderful-events that have occurred du&g the la& year, re-
-tarted in a neighboring town? sulting in the utter destruction of so manv Spanish warshipi
T often wonder, Brother Russell, if vou can read thoughts. and 4th such slight injury to the Amer&an ships has sug-
Sr\cral timrs when I have lxcn studyi;la over pertain points gested the thought that possibly thesr events may be a ful-
and could not ouite determine what was r&ht. the next WATCH filment. Respectfully submitted,
Towrxr would have a full explanation of the very subject I had 0. C. KELLY.-Ohio.
hern studying. Is it the holy Spirit that impresses your mind [CVr present the foregoing, because the application made
with the truth that puzzles others? It seems RO. May the seems to fit remarkablv well to the general context. It will
Lord hless the recent effort made here and your labors wher- be noticed that the theme of the prophet concerns the last
evrr they may be! days, and the establishment of the Lord’s kingdom, etc. (See
Yours in the frllowahip of Christ. .J. M. S.-Ohio. verses 2. 3) Verses 19-22 seem to refer to the great time of
I Rm%v.--The EDrTOR does not ~OSWSS the gift of mind- trouble just before us, and frequently referred t” throughout
reacling, hut our prrwent Lord doea. and undoubtedly in this the Scriptures as the day of vengeance.-EDITOR.]
“harvest” time. specially, he is wntrhing over the interests of DEAR B~OTRER RUSS~L:-I owe you more, I fear, than I
all those who are truly his. He knows exactly what kind of will ever be able to repay for your many kind acts from time
provender his “sheep” need, and ac’rording to promise provides to time aside from a servant of the truth whom I love seem-
“mrnt in due season for thr housrhold of faith.” in& dearer than ever. But to sav that mv whole soul goes
Very many have made similar observations respecting the out “in thankful appreciation for ‘the brotherly interest -you
opJ)ortunrncss of certain rsponitionq which have nnneared in have manifested in mv sufferinas in overcomina the tobacco
thr \V.tTCII TOvJEIL Wr ‘+a;1 only acrount for such’ repeated habit, seems to me, diar brother, only mildly g express rn;
coimidrnrt’s hp acknowledging the Lord’s knowledge and prov- feelings on this point. When I requested Brother S -
Itlrntial cnir. and we rejoire in the thought that he does take lay my case before you for counsel and advice, which I knew
>upervision of onr humble efforts, to direct them and bless you so well able to give from the standpoint of the Lord’s word,
thrm in his hervice. Ncverthclcsa. we are far from claiming I felt determined to “resist the devil” in his operations through
;Inv direct or plenary inspiration. We believe, however, that the flesh in mv case, if I ronuuered onlv throurrh death. I am
tb&e are many ways in which the Lord can guide those who yet as fully determined, the Lord help& me. ”
are anxious to serve him. without directly inspiring or in anv The W~TCR Tow~ms of recent issue are appreciated as much
manner interfering with their free agency. A careful exami- as ever. How mv heart went out to those dear brethren in
nation of the subJert, leads us to the conclusion that the Lord New York when ‘jI read the article, “Think It Not Strange.”
providentially shapes our course so as to give us suc*h personal Surely, Satan is getting desperate in his oppositions. In the
cbxperiences in life as will bring us to his Word for comfort Methodist Recorder. published at Pittsburgh. in their last
and in&u&ion in righteousness; and thus he permits us to week’s issue, I have ‘behn told by a neighbor, &pears an article
sympathize with the experienres and qnestionings of his people, by Rev. Daniel B. Turney, A. M., attacking the truth contained
end then to present to them at appropriate times the lessons in the booklet, What Say the Scriptures About Hell? From
[2606]
 (192.-196)

what my f~icnd tells me it must be one of the boldest misrep- ings suggested some time ago. [See p, 2205, this WJlume].
resentations the representatives of the Lord and his truth have Greetinas to all the brethren.
”
Yours in love,
vet suffered from such “high nlaces.” I sent the above named J. M. G-1, Indiana.
“Mr. Turney one of the bookleis referred to some time ago as a [REPLY.-Respecting the decrease of the work: from our
reply to some of his unscriptural writings concerning the broader viewpoint it seems as though much. work is yet to be
“immortal essence of man,” and I suppose this is the reward accomplished; indeed, every month shows an increase for the
we and all who love the ‘Lord can jbjfully receive. (Matt. past three years, and during the last year specially. The people
5: 11, 12) I trust you will be furnished with a copy of the are netting awake and aronine about for truth, and now is the
above named publication. timgto leid a helping hand t”o keep them from stumbling into
I am glad to inform you that the interest here is growing, Infidelity, Spiritism, Christian Science, Evolution, etc. The
and we are having interesting times at our meetings every Sun- chief opponents of the truth are the “ministers,” the very ones
day evening. How it reioices our hearts to see the truth pros- who are undermining faith in Christ as a Saviour from sin and
pe;, even though the “increase” may be small comparatively. death bv teaching an Evolution salvation. Quite likelv tbeir
But, dear brother, it is very evident that our influence for the onnosit&n will become much more pronounced. and the> may,
truth’s prosperity is nearly over; it seems that the time has iii-some form or manv forms “cr;cifv” the ‘members -of the
almost come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but bodv of Christ: but th& will f&nish o&ortunities for attestinn
mav we be enabled to understand and reioice in the tvnical our’ lo\e for the Lord’s brethren. 1; -view of our Lord’s ex?
woids of John the Baptist, “I must decrease.” May w< -dear ample and the Apobtle’s words, me should gladly let our light
brother, be enabled to suffer joyfully and under all circum- shine and render every other assistance, even though it test
stances to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bonds of love our willingness to “lay down our lives for the brethren” (1
and peace. I am getting much benefit from the Sunday read- Jo1111 3 : 16 ) .--EDITOR.]
--2- -- -
VOL. XX ALLEGHENY, PA., AVGUST 1, 1899 No. 15
r--r ---z~-~--~ -
THE AT-ONE-MENT BETWEEN GOD AND MAN
MILLENNIAL DAWN. VOL. V
Wr ha\ P pleasure in announcing that Volume V. of MII.- to and including June. 1899-that you are in arrears. Dec.
LENNIAL Dawn series is now on the press, It will (n. v.) be 9 means that your subscription is settled for, up to the end
sent to all paid up subscribers to Z~m’s WATCH TOWER of the year and should be renewed in December.
(including those who have requested credit for the year, and This volume will, we believe, furnish an abundance of
those who are receiving it free as the Lord’s poor)-as Sep- spiritual food for the two months (September and October),
tember 1st and 15th, and October 1st and 15th issues of thib It should be thoroughly masticated, that it may be well
journal. There will be no other issues for the four dates digested and give strength to head and heart and hand. It is
named. If you do not receive a copy before Sept. 30th it will our prayer and hope that it may be a great blessing to the
not be our fault,. If your account differs from ours be sure readers of this journal; and that through them as fellow
to let II* kuow all particulars. Notice the tag on the wrap- servants of our one Lord and Master it may honor him and
p?l .lun. 9 means that your subscription is settled for only bless many.

THE RIVER OF SALVATION

Aua. 20.-EZEK. 47 : 1-12.
“W’hosoever will,let him take the water of life freely.“-Rev. 22:17.
Many of the particulars connected with this vision de- the nlain of Jordan. that it was well watered evervwhere.
scribed hv Ezekiel are so circumstantial to the land of Israel befork the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah,-&en as
as to ui\ra considerable ground for belief that it will have a the garden of the Lord.” (Gem 13: 10) And the restitution of
literal “fullllment in the future; and in connection with the this-country to a Paradisaic condition is what the Prophet
visiou iti s11owl a new division of the land of Canaan amongst Ezekiel describes, if his language be given a literal interpreta-
the twelve tribes. But whatever literal fulfilment the visiou tion at all-and this it seems to demand, as well as the
rnav havta. w(~ mav be noaitire that it is to have a grand ful- symbolic interpretation.
filment it> a symbol. f& the life-giving river here brought te There are many who seek to apply this prophetic vision
our atteutiou is undoubtedlv the same one described six hurl- as a svmbol to the present time, and claim that this river of
dred years later, by John ‘the Revelator, and referred to in salvation has been aowing through the world from the days
our Goldeu Test. of Ezekiel until now:-esneciallv during this Gospel age.
Referring to the description of the river starting from the These interpreters claim that the depth of the water up -to
Temple. Prof. Davidson says, “The natural fact up011 which the ankles would represent a date when Christians numbered
this conception rests is this, that there was a fountain COII- fifty millions; the depth of the water up to the knees a period
netted with the Temple hill, the waters of which fell into the when Christians numbered a hundred millions; a depth of
vulhy east of the city, and made their way toward the sea.” water up to the loins a date when Christians numbered two
So far as we may know, this fountain never was of any C’OII- hundred millions; and a river that could not be waded, repre-
siderable size, and never would be, without more or less of a senting the present time, when the population of Christendom
miracle, for at present the entire country is arid, except in is estimated at four hundred and fifteen millions. But can
the rainy season. From this fountain the Valley of Kedron we agree with this interpretation ? Ts it reasonable, is it
leads directly to the Dead Sea, which, as is well known, has Scriptural ?
no connection with the ocean waters, either on the surface or (1) We answer, No: it is not a reasonable interpretation,
subterraneously, and is 1308 feet below the sea level. for,‘if we may judge of the Christians so-called in- the past
However, there are evidences that at one time the Dead bv those so-called in the nresent. we must conclude that the
Sea WRY on a level with the ocean, and if by earthquake or river is far from pure, “clear as crystal:” indeed, all will
otnerwise the connection between it and the ocean waters were agree that if nine-tenths of those who name the name of
re-established it would rise to its old level, which would make Christ, but who denv him in their daily lives, were to with-
of it an inland sea 150 miles long, and five to ten miles wide. draw ‘from all profession, the Christian church would be
And such a filling up of its basin would have a marked effect, ereatlv blessed bv their withdrawal and the influence of the
not only upon the humidity of the atmosphere in its vicinity, Fhurcl; and the fight from it would be increased many-fold.
but also upon the water-springs of lower Palestine. The Bishop Foster, of the Methodist Episcopal church, sized up the
natural result would be, not only that the Dead Sea would be situation well when comparing the professed church to a
sweetened of its brackishness, and become like the ocean, but sheep-fold, he pronounced the- vast majority “black, ring-
also that the springs in the’ vicinity of Jerusalem would be streaked and sneckled.” We all are confident that only a
greatly enJarged so as to produce some such river as this de- comparatively little flock are of the class mentioned by-the
scribed in the prophecy, and these springs in that now parched Lord as being reckonedly washed whiter than snow, through
desert country would cause its vegetation to prosper. It is his grace and truth.
worthy of note that this valley now occupied by the Dead Sea (2) It is not a Scriptural view. The Scriptures declare
was once most fertile,-before the destruction of Sodom and that God’s grace at the present time is not comparable to a
Gomorrah. We read, “Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all river, but in our Lord’s words, “It shall be +n him [each
[ZSO71
(197-195) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA.

believer] a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” blessing of the world our Lord refers, saying, “He that
(John 4: 14 1 And those Christians in whom God’s grace is a believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly
iountain of ‘life and refreshment are comparatively few. They shall flow rivers of living water.” (Jno. 7 :38) In order to
are those who have been “begotten of the spirit of truth” he of this class in whom the great river of water of life will
through the Word of truth. Thev are the “sanctified in Christ take its start, it is necessary, Arst, that the believer shall now
Jesus;” they are the “little floe&” to the faithful of whom it come unto Jesus and drink of him! the great Fountain of
is the Father’s nood Dleasurc to eive the Kinrdom. life; and it will be as a result of thm partaking of the great
No Scripturg any&here suggrgts that the %ater of eternal Fountain that all of the elect church shall become minor well-
life is now free; nor that all are now called to drink of it. Our springs and fountains in due time.
Lord Jesus himself declared the contrary of this, saying, “SO Turning to the description of this same symbolic river,
man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me furnished us in the Book of Revelation (chapter 22)) we And
draw him.” (John 6:44) The drawing or calling of God abundant evidences that it does not refer to the present time,
through a knowledge of his grace is only unto those who but to the Millennial age. For instance, it is s mbolically
have ears to hear, amongst those to whom the call is addressed: pictured as having trees of life on either side. w I ose leaves
and the call haq been specially sent to and has specially are for the healing of the n&ion+not for the ‘healing of the
reached onlv comDarativelv few of the earth’s fifteen hundred aAurck, which at this time is the glorified ternDIe from which
millions,-&iefly 1 the inhibitants of Europe and Bmerica. this river proceeds-and this heal& of the x&ions signifies,
And of this romparatively small number to whom the Word as plainly as a symbolic picture couKd indicate it, restitution,
of the Lord has been sent, and of the still smaller number -the healing of the woes of the groaning creation, its sin and
who have hat1 “ears to hear” that call, only a still smaller sickness and imperfection.
number are chosen. as we rend, “Manv are called, but few We notice also that the proclamation which will then be
chosen.” (Matt. i0 : 16 ) Not many hre called in propor- made will not be restricted, as at the present time, to “even
tion to the whole, but many are called in proportion to the as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2 :39) It
number chosen, the few, the elect. will not be to an “elect” class; it will no longer be said, “No
Returning to the Prophet’s vision, we note that the maters man ran come unto me, except the Father draw him.” The
flowed out from the house of the Lord, from the Temple, and call at that time will he general-to every creature-“Who-
that wherever they went they brought vitality and -refresh- .yocucr will, let him take the water of life freelv.” We notice
ment, healing. restitution, life-even to the Dead Sea. This to further that that broad invitation is extended bjr God through
our understanding is a pic.ture of the grare of God during the the holy- spirit- and the glorified church. as it is written. “The
hlillennial age, &en from the church~ the house of Go& the spirit and the bride say~Come1” We notice further that this
temple, “the habitation of God through the Spirit” (Eph. 2 : expression, “the bride,” unquestionably places this call in the
22), the stream of the water of life, healing, restoring. rc- future, heeduse, although the elect church of this Gospel age
juvenating, shall flow to all the families of the earth. whose is cillled out from the world to become the bride of Christ,
condition is reprexentrd hy the wilderne3a eastward of Jerusa- she does not hecome Rurh, does not enter that esalted station.
lem. The resnlt will he the blessing and restitution of all until in the end of the agk she is perfected in glory and in the
the living families of the cart11 willing to receive the blessing. likeness of her T,ord. Then will come “the marriage of the
And it &ans more: for thts Dead Sea-fitly represents the rabt T,amb :” and not until after the marriage will there be a
multitude of mankind whic*h has gone ix& tile tomb, and the britlr; ant1 not until after the bride has thus been accepted as
water of life shall reach even these. and bring to them also siicli cfin “the spirit and the bride say, Come!” to the nations.
;twaknling from tlcath, opportnnitir\ of restituiion. Thin same glorious c*itp (kingdom), the glorified New
That the fnlfilmcnt of this vision c~~lld not be a thing of Jcrnseltm. thr rhurrh. and the river of the watrr of life gush-
t11ts nnst nor of thr nrr*clnt is evident when we remember that ing forth therefrom, are brought to our attent,ion in Psalm 46:
the house of God. tl;(, tt~mplr, thr chnrch, ik not vet completed “There is a river. the rivulets of which shall surine from the
-that the present is tht~ time in whi& the Lord-is fitting thr rity of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of ihe %Inst High.
“living stones” for the tcmplr.--iq chiseling, fitting and polish- God is in the midst of her: she shall not be moved. God shall
inp rich fnr the 111~1~~ tc; whic~h lit> is &lled. The present help her early in the morning.” The connections here also
(in-nrl aL’r w:~h tvnific*tl in lhr lniildinsr of Solomon’s Temulr. show that these rivnlets are not to be expected to flow out as
by ihe p&iod of preparation of thr rn~terials. after which’we a river. until the Millennial morning. and the context refers
ilre informtBt1 that, the whoIt* 11onhtbteame together quickly. each ptirticularly to the time of trouble with which the present age
rtone fitting to its place ant1 each timhcr to its position, :tnd shall end and the Millennial morninn shall be introduced.
that without the s&ml of n hammer or nnv tool-of iron: So Those whom the Lord our Gad-has called, and who, in
with the “livinn stones.” ;IS the Anostle Pet& calls thr churt+. ol)edirnc*r to that rail, have come to Jesus, the Fountain of
(I Pet. 2.6) Thcsr a& *‘ln~iltlrd’together for a habitation of life. and through him have tasted that the Lord is gracious,
Got1 through the Spirit.” ant1 the building will not hr coni- should let the Word and grace of God dwell in them richly
l)lrtc*d until the lant of thc~sr fittetl and polished *tom- ia and nhonnd. making them neither harren nor unfruitful in the
iaid in its position. Then thtb $ory of thr -Lord shall fill the knowledge nf the ilord and in his service. It is for these to
houscb.-thr rhnrt+~ ~‘111 be. $nrlfietl. Then will hare come the srck eniargement in the grare of God, that as well-springs
time represented in this \irmn, when the stream of the water they may he deeper and wider and more and more filled to
of life. truth and L’I’:I~V shall1 flow from the glorified temulc. o&lowing with that grape and truth which came by Jesus
As thrre is no ~nm~lctc~tl temple yet, so there is no r<ver (‘llrist. It is for these to see to it, each for himself, that he
yet; hut when the tcmpltb is c*ompleted, when the various mem- liar; not received the grace of God in vain. and that this well-
bcnr\ of the body of Christ arr brought together and united in spring does not become rhoked with the rubbish of this present
glory, hnnnr and immortality to the IIcad of the church, then rlvil world, its aims, its hopes, its ambitions, its pride, its
from this united and glorified company of God’s elect shall desires of the flesh;-that thus, under divine providence and
flow the symbolic river of watrr of life, clrar ax crystal. In supervision, we may be made meet for the inheritance of the
rar11 mrmbrr of this temple class. in each of these “living saints in light. and have fellowshiu with our plorious Lord
stonrs.” nlrrndy is a well-spring of truth and grace, and when ant-l Hr:+d ii1 the sending forth of t*he river of silvation unto
thc+r many will-springs shall have thus been united to the the ends of the earth in “dne time:“-the river of the water of
grrqt Head and Fountain, the rrnult naturally will be a life. +ar 21s rrpstnl, to whosoever will of all t%e families of
stream of good proportions,-a river. To this coming time of the earth.-2 Pet. 1:4-11; 2 Cor. 6:l; Col. 1:12; 1 John 1:3.

INDIANAPOLIS CONVENTION ECHOES

Our rrrent “Belirvt~r’n <‘on\-tntion” was certainly a success meetings, rnnducted the opening “rally” so successfully that
-30 vnttld by all who were in attendnnt*e, qn far as we have crery me felt at home forthwith and well acquainted; indeed,
heird. Tt was a spirltnal fr:lht of fat things, for which we there were quite a number of street and train recognitions
rcqvrler tllilnks to thr Giver of all good. Our present Lord without previous acquaintance or introductions-each seemed
ser>med to gird himself ant1 stbrve us with “meat in due season.” to wmmiz~ the spirit of love: as our Lord declared, “By this
and with the “wine” of his own spirit of love and devotion. shall all mtbn know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love
It was good to br thtbrr. Tlir nttrndance was about 250, of one for another.”
whom about 200 wer(’ visitor% from twenty states of the Brother Owen’s assurances that the Indianapolis Church
TYnion. including Riahs.+(*hu9etts on the East and Washington most cordially welcomed us all was abundantly attested by
on the IVest,. Texah on tbr Sollth and North Dakota and thr careful provisions and kind at+&ntions shown to all-the
Minnesota on the North. poorci 2s uell as the financially comfortable, and the blacks
‘rhp annnunczerl program \ri\* rarricd out with but slight as 1~~11a4 the whites: for there were four or five deeply and
mndifiratinns. Brother Owrn. the lender of the Indianapolis inlrlligentlv intrrested colored brethren in attendance.
[2508] ’
Aucusr 1, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (195-195)

According to our custom no collections were taken up. “The Life of Lincoln,” and an ex-Confederate General to
either publicly or privately : indeed, the only semblance of a discuss “The Closing Days of the Confederacy,” our conven-
dispute during the three days’ meetings was occasioned by tion, in almost continuous session from 8 A. M. to IO P. M.,
some of the visiting brethren insisting with the Reception had no time for social questions, and knew nothing but Jesus
Committee that they be permitted to share some of the gen- Christ, and him crucified, and the blessed hopes which center
eral expenses; while the latter insisted that they had every- in the great transaction of Calvarv.
thing provldcd for, and that the visitors had sufficient. iournev One-of the most impressive secvires was the baptism on
expenses. We mention this to illustrate the general shirit o*f Saturday afternoon in the Central ChristIan Church, kindly
tbfl convention-the spirit of love and benevolence-so much put at our disposal for two hours and a half. Forty-two sym-
in (,ontrast with expiriences we have all had in “Babylon.” bolized their immersion into Christ’s death. bv immersion into
One novelty of this convention which differentiated it, so water---twenty-two- brethren and twenty &s<ers (two of the
far as we recall, from all others, was the attendance of two former colored). The youngest seemed about twenty-five and
who had previously been spirit-mediums, but who now rejoice the oldest about seventy years old. It was a service long to
in the better knowledge of the truth. One of these declared bc remembered, and brought a blessing to those who witnessed
in the Testimony Meeting that he had been a medium for It as well as to the partiripants. Our prayer is that the con-
foul teen years, Eut thank;d God for deliverance through the vention as a whole may have buried us all more complete!p
reading of What Sav the Scriptures About S&ritism? and more deeply into death with Christ, and that walking In
It Was remarked by some -that while the- managers of the newness of life now we may all be prepared to shark with him
Epworth League Convention had :I Bishop present to discuss in “his resurrection”--“the first resurrection.”

RETURNING FROM CAPTIVITY

AUG. 27.-EZBA 1 : l-11.
“The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.“-Psa. 126:3.
‘l’he Books of Ezra and Nehemiah are noC prophetical, but tural predictions which marked him as the divine agent. even
histirical; they take up the historv of Israel where it was referring to him hy name.-Isa. 41:26, 28; 45: l-5; .Jer. 25:1-
laid down by the scribes who wrote- the Books of Chronicles. 12; 29:lO.
Ezra, the writer of the book bearing his name, was a scribe or It is quitr possible, also, that the Lord used other means
educated man, whose genealogy in traced back through the in stirring up the heart of Cvrus: possibly he reflrctrd that
priest hood to -4aron. (Ezra. l-6 ) Ezra was not amongst by such a course he would iirmly establish himself in the
those who went up first, to .Jerusslem under the proclamation good will of the Israelites, who numbered millions amongst
of Cyrus: indeed, he was rohably not horn until a consid- his new subjects, and comparatively few of whom he might
erable time after that notah se event. feel sure would avail themselves of his generous offer of
The record of the first six chapters of Ezra covers a libertv to return to their native land, It would aDPear that
period of twent years; and then an interval of about fifty this was the custom of Cyrus in respect. to the reli$ons of all
year< transpire K before the events recorded in the seventh the various peoples whom he conquered. Nebuchadnezzar had
chapter--Ezra’s commission under King Artaxerxes of Persia thought to unify the people by bringing to their minds one
to go up to Jerusalem and establish the worship of God. The god, and rompellipg worship to him. Cyrus seems to have
history of the return from captivity, and the experiences of followed an opposite rule, and sought to make himself pop-
the people and their difficulties in connection with the re- ular with his subjects of various religious inclinations by
building of the Temple, Ezra probably got from the records of doing something to the honor of every prominent god whose
the s(brlbes at Jerusalem. devotees he conquered. Thus he posed as a general deliverer
The Book of Second Chronicle* closes with the declaration of the people and as the servant of all the gods.
that the king of the Chaldeans, Nebuchadnezzar, carried away Moreover, he may have had in mind the fact that Egypt
the treasures of Jerusalem, broke down its walls, burned its was a countrv of great fertilitv, and that it would be of
palaces, and carried its people c+aptive to Babylon, and then great conveniehce to-have Jeruxal”em as a friendly way-station
dcrlares that this desolation of the land and the citv was 1x1 between his canital and EavDt. $0 that in case of war he would
fulfilment of prophecy. the word of the Lord by Jere&ah, that have friendly *representa&& ‘at, Jerusalem to spy upon the
the land should lie desolate and keen a Sabbath of rest enemies and to render assistance to his forces. Possibly some
qerenty years. It also declares that thisLseventy years’ desola- of these, or ponsiblv all of these, were the caonsiderations bv
tion was brought to an end by the decree of Cyrus in the whirh the Ldrd &&red up the spirit or will of Cyrus to mtLk>
first year of his reign. Thus has the Lord clearly marked the the nroclamation of lihertv to the captives of Israel.
beginning of the seventy years and their end; yet we find that It was not an exnulsiori of the l&elites from the Drovince
chronologists in general reject this plain statement of the of Babvlon, for evidinntly as a people they were highly &teemed
Scriptures, and begin to count the seventy years at a much hv their neiuhbors. The proclamation merely gave liberty
earlier date than the destruction of the city (for we are to & those wh: desired that thev might return to Palestine,
remember that there were three distinct captivities at about with the king’s approval: and that tsosr who remained might
that time) .* not feel that the kine would be offended if thev rdve of their
It seems to he no easy matter to determine the chrono- Yubstunce to help the enterprise, the proclamati&%ade special
logical order of Medo-Persia. Cyrus is called the Persian, and mention of the fact that such co-operation would he pleasing
Darius is called the Median, and whether they reigned jointly to the king.
for a time seems difficult to determine. It would appear that We mav readilv suppose that the maioritv of those who
Cyrus was in some respects the chief, yet that Darius was the thought ufon the Lord-and who trnsted in the”promiscs made
representative of authority in Babylon for a time, and that to the fathers. which centered in the Holv Land and the
upon his death Cyrus became sole emperor. Daniel most, posi- Holy City. were poor, for it seems that in e<ery case povertv
tively declares that Darius the Median succeeded to Belshaz- is more favorahlt to religious faithfulness and zeal thak
zar’s kingdom (Dan. 5 :31; 6:28), and this was before even wealth ; and yet, that there were some both wealthy and
Daniel had thought to search the prophecy of Jeremiah and zealous is abundantly testified to by the liberal contributions
to cbalculate the date when the seventy years’ desolation would made by the captives themselves for the rebuilding of the
end, and to pray for the preparation of Israel for the prom- Temple. The vast majority. however, were evidently well
ised deliverance when it, should come. (Dan. 9: 1-16) Chro- pleased with their foreib homca, in which some of them had
nologists in general fall into error here in attempting to fit. hren living for seventy years, some for seventy-eight years,
together the conflicting and disconnected seraph of secular end some for eighty-nine years (those carried away captive
history covering this period: they overlook the bridge over at the same time as Daniel), while many of them were born in
that period furnished by the Lord’s testimony that the Bahylonia. Many had intermarried with their neighbors,
“seventy years' desolation” began with the close of Zedekiah’s many were immersed in husinens projects, and many perhaps
reign and ended with the first. year of Cyrus,-a well entab- felt themselves too old for such an undertaking. Thus did
liehed date, B. c. 536. the Lord sift them, that he might g&her back-to the Land
We are not told by what agencies the Lord operated when of Promise such onlv as had a fervent zeal for the Lord and
he “stirred up” the heart of Cyrus to fulfil his will, in letting full trust in his prdmises.
go the captives, and hence we are at liberty to surmise on the The sifting of- Israel began in the separation of the two
subject. We presume it likely that, as Daniel was speedily tribes from the ten tribes, for the rapid spread of idolatry
made a high officer in the kingdom, he had access ~,XJKing in the ten tribes gradually drew those faithful to Jehovah
Cyrus, and quite probably called his attention to the Scrip- to the two-tribe kingdom, whose king was of the line which
the Lord had promised to bless. Subsequently, when the
* See MILLENNIAL DAWN, VOL. II, Chap. 2. two tribes also had grievously gone into idolatry. the Lord
c25091
(199-200) ZION’S WATCH TOWER AUZGH~Y. Pt.

carried them all captive to Babvlon, and now he stirred UP is; and I will give it him”-Messiah, at his second advent.
Cyrus to make a proclamation for volunteers to return to thi We have alreadv seen that natural Israel’s captivity in
Land of Promise. The Lord, we mav be sure. did not wish Babylon is Scripturilly represented as a figure of the captivity
the return of any except those who” had reverence for him of spiritual Israel in mystic Babylon; and that the deliverance
and faith in his promises. We may therefore conclude that by Cyrus was to some extent a representation of the dehver-
the companv which did return, numbering in all not ouite ante of Spiritual Israelites from mystic Babylon by Christ;
fifty thou&d, was composed ‘of the very choicest of all that the fall of Babylon before Cyrus was Agurative of the fall
Israel out of all the tribes. the tribes of Judah. Beniamin and of “Babylon the Great,” and that the message,+“Mene, Mene,
Levi being most prominentlv represented am&&t0 these re- Tekel, Upharsin,” applied not only to literal Babylon, but also
turning ones, as -most of the f&hful ones for-several cen- now applies to mystic Babylon. In view of these things it is
turies had been found in their tribes. It should be noticed. but proper that we should consider Israel’s return from Baby-
however, in reading Ezra’s account of the return from cap: lon as to some extent representing the deliverance of the
tivity, that the division of the nation of Israel was no longer zealous of spiritual Israel from mystic Babylon-a work now
recognized after the return-they are invariably spoken of as in progress. “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not
“all the people of Israel,” and the sacrifices offered were for partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”
“the twelve trihcs of Israel.” and these statements are re- But now. as then, comnarativelv few, even of the consc-
peak1 over and over again: The ten trihes were no more crated class,‘are willing to undertak;? the trials and difficulties
i‘lost” than were the great body of those carried raptive from incident to the leavinn of the settled affairs, comfortable quar-
.Tudah lost when thcv neelec*ted to rrturn under the nroclama- I ters, contracts, engagements, etc., entered’ into in Babyloll
tion of Cyrus. ” ” The only ones disposed to risk the hardships and to go forth
The chief men of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and into the desert. leaving the strong walls and protection of
Leviten took the lead in the matter of accepting the provisions sectarianism, are those”who have gyeat confidence in God and
of King Cyrus’ decree, and we read concerning the others great respect for the promises made to the Seed of Abraham.
that thev were “thosr whose snirit God bad raised to PO UD The call to return to the old paths, and to rebuild the Temple
to build” the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.” Ih of the Lord, and to replace therein the vessels of gold and
what way the Lord raised their spirit or disposition we are silver (the precious truths of the divine Word-setting them
not informed. We may suppose, however, that those whose in order as at first) is appreciated by the few only; yet these
hearts burned with faith in-the divine promises to Israel and are encouraged by the Lord’s providences, by the riches be-
with zeal to be and to do what would be acceptable in God’s stowed upon them from every quarter-not riches of an
sight, would be awakened, quickened, by the decree of Cyrus, earthly kind, but of a spiritual sort,-precious truths, valuable
which was of God’s instieation. Moreover. the Lord mav lessons and experiences, providential leadings, etc. These
have providentiallv directed other matters not here part&- encourage such as are of faithful heart to go forward and by
larized, in channels favorable to the return of those who obedience to become heirs of those glorious things that God
had confidence in him and faith in his nromises. The fact has promised to them that love him:
that many of these returning ones were of the poorer class is As all the bitter experiences through which Israel passed
implied by the statement that many of their neighbors were, under providential guidance, used to sift, separate, purge
“strengthened their hands” with presents of money, goods, and purify the proper class to be ultimately brought back
beasts“and other valuables. Such offers would be- a -great into the Land of Promise as the heirs of the kingdom, so the
encouraeement and would nrobablv be considered as the lead- experiences through which the Lord’s people have passed
ings of-divine providence .in the”direction of the return by during the “dark ages” in captivity to Babylon, no less than
such as were looking for providential leadings. Furthermore, through recent experiences, all tend to show us the necessity
the. generosity of Cyrus was manifested in his sending back the for separation from the world and its spirit, all lead us to
precious vessels of the Temple, which must have been of appreciate more than ever the divine arrangements by which
immense value. The larger vessels are enumerated, in all the Lord is making ready for himself and his service a peculinr
2499. These, with the smaller articles not specified, amounted people, zealous for the kingdom, zealous for the Lord’s W’ord,
in all to 5400, an stated in verse 11. and zealous for all good works.-Tit. 2: 14; 1 Pet. 2:9.
Sheshbazzar (otherwise called Zerubbabel, which means, It is not for thos; who rejoice in the Lord’s promises ant1
“Born in Babylon”), who was of the royal family of David leadings to be sad, and to leave Babylon with regrets (“Be-
and Solomon, was appointed the governor of the colony, which member Lot’s wife!“), but full of joy in the Lord and hope in
was nevertheless subject to the Persian empire and its suc- his good promises; saying in the language of our Golden
cessors,-the kingdom authority, removed from Zedekiah at Text.-“The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we
the beginning of the seventy years’ desolation, never being are glad.” Those not thus s&red in spirit may.as well stay
restored to the present time-as was foretold by the Lord in Babylon, as they would only prove snares and stumbling
through the Prophet, saying, “I will overturn, overturn! over- blocks to others.
turn it: and it shall he no more, until he come whose right it * See issue Jan. 1, 1919, p. 15. letter. “A Remarkable Confirrmtirn 1”

WHO MAY BE COWORKERS

SEPT. '&-EZRA 3 : 10 TO 4:s.
“The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.“-1 Cor. 3 : 17.
About four months must have been required for the return been the site of the altar. This place selected for the altar,
of the captives from Babylon to Palestine, for later Ezra, with under divine guidance, is believed to have been the same spot
a smaller company, required that length of time. (Ezra 7:9) upon which Abraham offered his son, Isaac, the type of Christ,
ilrriving at their destination about July or August, probably and received him again as from the dead in a flgure, the Lord
t,he first steps were to provide at least temporary homes amid providing as his representative, upon the same s ot, the ram
the ruins of Jerusalem and the small towns in that vicinity. caught in a neighboring thicket.-Gen. 22:3-13; rp eb. 11 :li’-19.
But as it was a religious motive which prompted their return It is supposed that this same spot was subsequently the
-faith in God and his promises-we fin?, as we might rea- threshing-floor of Araunah, where David offered the acceptable
sonably expect, that very speedily after their arrival the public sacrifice to the Lord which stayed the plague. (2 Sam. 24:
worship of Jehovah was begun-probably about the beginning 21-25) The Mosque of Omar now occupies the site of the
of their “new year,” October.-Verse 6. ancient Temple built by Solomon; and the Mohammedans, who
Evidently the Lord’s hand was with them, and it was of have great respect for the holy places, have left the site of the
his providential guidance that their first work, in connection ancient altar exposed to view, protecting it with a railing.
with the restoration of the Temple and its divinely appointed The visitor may there see today the very spot on which
services, was the building of the altar. This will at once thousands of typical sin-offerings were sacrl5ced, the base of
appeal to the intelligent Christian as an illustration of the the various altars which were erected from time to time. It is
truth so forcefully set forth in the Scriptures, that all ap- of solid rock, and has a rather distinct groove or trench about
preach to God, all reconciliation, all at-one-ment with him, it, which probably conducted the blood of the slain animals to
must be by and through the great sacrifice for sins which what seems to be a natural drain or sewer by which the blood
Israel’s altar typically represented. Vain are all the flowed in the direction of the Valley of Jehoshaphat-the
approaches to God which recognize not as their basis the sin- valley of graves.
offering which God himself provided-the “ransom for all.“- As we viewed this historic rock some years ago, and
1 Tim. 2:6. thought of the thousands of beasts slain there as types of
The site of the Temple was Mount Moriah, and one of the great ransom sacrifice, and noted the natural passageway
the most prominent spots on that mount is supposed to have by which the blood was carried off, our thoughts reverted to
[26103
.kUCVST 1, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (201-202)

the Lamb of God, the great sacrifice for sins, and how the all of which constitute the hymn of praise and thanksgiving
life which he laid down became a fountain or stream of life, continually ascending before God from his people.
not only for the dead of Israel, but all who died in Adam.
The flow of blood toward the valley of graves seems to speak “My life flows on in endless song,
symbolically of life for the dead, secured through our dear Above earth’s lamentation ;
Redeemer’s sacrifice. But we remember that not only the I catch the sweet not far-off hymn
bullock of the sin-offering was slain at this altar, but as well That hails a new creation.
the goat of the sin-offering was slain there: not only the Through all the tumult and the strite
blood of the tvnical bullock. but also the blood of the I hear the music ringing;
typical goat, thki, must have’ passed through that natural It finds an echo in my soul;
ehannel or drain; and this reminds us of how the church, How can I keep from singing!”
as members of the body of Christ, are during this age We read, “They sang one to another 11: praising and
filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ, giving thanks to the Lord, saying, For he is good, for his
sacrificing even unto death-for we know that, as the bullock mercy endureth forever toward Israel.” (Rec. Ver.) This is
represented the great High Priest, our Lord, so the goat repre- considered bv some to be an indication of the Lord’s will
sented the under-priests, the church which is his body.* (Col. respecting C&istian worship-that it should be done by choirs
1:24 : Rom. 8: 17 ) And. as WC have alreadv seen. all the instead of by the congregation, and that it should be in the
members of the body of Christ, the church, n&St f&ah their nature of solos and choruses. There can be no doubt what-
r#ourse and lay dowri their lives; before the great work of thie ever that selected and trained choirs can render better music
Stonement Dav, the Gospel ape. will be accomnlished. and than can the general average of Christians. Nor can we doubt
the healing and life-giving stream reaches the deai world with that this would be particularlv true of the time mentioned in
blessings and opportunities of eternal life. our lesson, when musical and” other education was very de-
The beginning of the offering of sacrifices in connection ficient, and when the most that the maioritv of neople could
with the Feast oj Tabernacles, at” the beginning of their “new do was to “make a joyful gzoise unto “the ‘Lord.” -But two
year” (in the seventh month of their civil year), was a time things in this connection should be kept in mind: -
of special rejoicing with the Israelites-it was alwavs the
most joyous skason;but on this occasion the return from” Baby- ( 1) That so far as the Christian church is concerned, the
lon and recent evidences of returning divine favor added to its Lord hab left her entirely without restrictions in such matters
joys. And immediately the work of repairing the Temple was ----to praise the Lord with beart and voice, according to her
decided upon. They had brought certain gifts from the love and zeal and iudement. It is not. therefore, for one to
Israelites still remaining in Babylonia, and these were added judge another reap&&g the use of his love, zeal and judg-
to from the means of those who had returned, and the sum thus ment in offering the Lord worshin in songs of nraise. whether
accumulated gives good evidence of the zeal of all concerned. with instrume&al accompanimeni or without :) it is’ for each
As nearly as WC may be able to judge, the total value of the individual and each church to exercise the liberty which the
gold and silver donated would amount to about $400,000. Lord has granted. However, we do urge that all remember
( Ezra 2 : 68, 69 ) It would appear that this sum was of three that it is not the excellence of our music that will make it
parts of about equal proportions, one-third contributed bv acceptable to our Lord. For we may well suppose that the
those who remained in Babylonia, one-third by the few wealth; harmonies of the heavenly choirs quite outmeasure the best
of the returned Israelites, and one-third contributed by thh efforts of earthly choirs, and hence could not hope that the
mass of the people, about $3 each.-Nehemiah 7:71. 72. Lord will receive our songs of praise because of their intrinsic
merit. Their acceptance & all *will be because they are expres-
We have- never considered it proper to solicit’ monev for sions of thn heart sentiments: and this beine true all who
the Lord’s cause, after the common custom: and vet wi are have heart sentiments of thankfulness and g;atitude should
thoroughly convinced that there is a great tilessing in giving. be encouraged to make “a joyful noise unto the Lord,” as
and that those who do not learn to eive denrive themselves of acceptable and pleasing to him through the merit of our
a great spiritual grace, and endaGger thkir spiritual pros- Redeemer.
perity, if not their spiritual life itself. But the giving, to be
acceptable in the Lord’s sight, must be voluntarv-free-will “Let all his children sing
offeiings--“not of constrail&” dccordingly, it is’ our judp- Glad songs of praise to God !
rncnt that money raised bv the various beggine devices in the The children of the heavenly King
name of our Lo”rd is offexisive. unacceptal& to” him, and doe* Should tell their joys abroad.”
not brine his blessing either unon the givers or the work
accompliihed. “The ibrd lorethL a cheerfzl [willing] giver.” (2) It should be remembered that fleshly Israel was
Hc seeketh such to worshin him as worshiu and serve in soirit tvoical. and that their priests and Levites, selected for the
and in truth.-2 Cor. 9 :7 i John 4:23, 24.K -- o&ring of sacrifice and for the offering of piaise, t pified the
Full of zeal for the Lord’s cause, the people celebrated the church. the “roval nriesthood.” and household of P-alth. We
corner-stone laying of the new Temple with great e&t. One are to’remembei, tdo, that their songs of praise typified the
of the special features of their worship was praise, and WC songs and melodies of our Itearts. From this standpoint we
think it safe to say that singing the Lord’s praise has been see that the settine anart of a special choir of Levi&s for
amongst the greatest blessings and Drivileges of worshin praise would not by ii any sense-of the word a sanction or
enjoyed by thelargest number ‘;f the Loid’s pe<ple througho& command for the selection of trained choirs, separate and
this Gospel ape also. The Dower to nraise God in song has distinct from the congregation of the Lord’s people: indeed, it
been con3erredu upon man ohly of all’ earthly creatures: &a would quite contradict -the common practice of hiring un-
how appropriate that he should use this power to praise the believers to do church singing. None can offer acceptable
King of kings! praise to God except thosc”wfio are of the priestly tiibe,-
“the household of faith.”
If those Israelites, the house of servants, returning from
their bondage, and remembering the covenant promises of Amongst those who were present at the laying of the
God to them, had cause for sinaine and shouting Jehovah’s foundation stone at tl:cb rebuilding of the Temple were borne
who probably as small children-could dimly- recollect the
praise, mu&more have we, who-beibng to the ho&e of sons, glorious Temnle of Solomon. and who now. returnine from
meat cause to tell abroad the ereat things which the Lord seventy years’ captivity, werd eighty or more’years old.‘-’ These
Kath done for us. We were all s&vants of Gin once, under the wept as they contrasted the glorious things of the past with
bondage of sin, ignorance, superstition and death, but God, the small beginnings before them. Doubtless there was a
through the great Cyrus, has permitted us to go free. Appro- great contra& and’ yet quite probably distance and child-
priately, therefore, our first step should be to recognize the hood’s eyes lent an enchanted glory to their recollection of
sacrifice of the altar, and then to offer praise to him who hath
called us out of darkness into his marvelous light, for “He the former things. But their cries were drowned with the
hath put a new song into our mouths, even the loving kindness reioicine: of hone. and this was well. So with Christians who
hive goutten fr>e’ from Babylon, and who are seeking by the
of our God.”
Lord’s grace to build their faith again on the old foundation
The Apostle assures us that, however appropriate, inspir- laid by Christ and the apostles at the beginning of this age-
ing and refreshing are the songs of our lips, still more appro- they are apt to think backward to the blessings and privileges
priate and still more appreciated of the Lord arc our heart- of the early church, and to weep and sigh for those by-gone
songs, the joy and rejoicing of the new nature-“singing and blessings. It is well that we should highly esteem the favors
making melody in our hearts unto the Lord.” (Eph. 5: 19) of God manifested in the nrimitive church. its simnlicitv of
And this joy and singing in the heart, this heart-thankfulness worship and purity of faiih and apostolic’privile&s, &the
to the giver of all good, necessarily finds expression, not only intent that these may stand before our minds as ideals in the
in Christian carols, but also in all the acts and words of life- work of reconstructing our faith and hope and love upon the
+ See Tabernacle Shadows of Better Sacrihes. old foundation; but it would be quite improper for us to give
126111
(203-204) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHSNY, PA.

way to weeping at such moments; rather should the necessi- ence predominate in the business affairs of the churches, in
ties and exigencies of our time lead us to energy and the the doctrines, etc., etc. The true Israelites in comparison are
thought of divine favor in our deliverance from Babylon, lead but as a little flock of sheep amongst many goats and some
113to rrloice and to sing the new song which the Lord has put wolves.
into our mouths, even his lovine: kindness. When “the people of the land” found that their money and
“The people of the land” weye of mixed nationality, placed services were not acceptable, and that they could have neither
as roloni,.tS in that portion of the country of Palestine pre- part nor lot in the* construction of tLe Lord’s house, it
vin11+ nc.cupicd by the ten tribes. This rolonizing of mixed offended them and made them enemies; and from that time
people< was in p11rsunnce of the general policy of the Assyrian onward they persistently opposed the work of the Israelites.
and C’l1xltlran pmpirrs, of removing cantives from their native So it will be with spiritual Israel; those who conscientiously
soil to nrw horn&., thus brrakini’thr’ ties of the fatherland, live separate from the world in spiritual matters, and recog-
tltstroy1ng patriot1rx feelingls, that 1,~ these means the sym- nize ab brethren in Christ only those who confess to circum-
pathicby and Interests of t7,e p~~oplc might be the more readily cision of the heart and adoption into God’s family, will And
attrnr,tc,d to ant1 unlt(tl with the one central government at themselves opposed by moralists, liberalists and higher critics,
Rahrlon. as wril as by the maqses, who hate the light, because it con-
Tl0c+e “pon7)lr of tlitl IantI” (s1il~~cqu~~ntiy known as Samari- demns their darkness-doctrinal and otherwise. Nevertheless.
tans) w(‘r(’ tlispoqcd to be friendlv to the returned Israelites. tl1iq is the only good and safe course to pursue. Better far ih
and proiT(trcd thclr aid in th(, l,nilain!: of thr Temple, but their it, that onlv &ue Israelites should be rccomized as brethren,
as\i.f:111(*(1 w:t~ rcaf11sed. the lqr:Ielites realizing that if these and thus tie whkat be separated from the tares.
“qtra11g~~~” \TPIY~T,crmittc(l to Share in the work nf ronstruct- Some one has well said:-“The Christian in the world is
ing t71c Temple ti&y could with propriety claim a share a7so I,h~~ a &hip in the orean. The ship is safe in the orcan so
in tbcx charac~tc~r of the wnr<ltin whirl1 would he established long HS ti1r ocean is not in the shin.” One of the great diffi-
tiiercin. anti thcav forp<aw thai it wo11ld ope11 the door to tq11&+ wit11 Christianity today is’that it has admitted the
iavlty in rc*ii:riouu m:1tters, and perhaps to the old idolatry, 011 +,trangers, the “ppople of the land,” and recaognized them ac:
acco11nt, of which the Lord had so severely chastisctd them. (‘hristians. It does iniurv, not oniv to the Christians, by
Their f~ol1rhe III this matter has been freely eriticised as low~~1ing their stantlardq (for the a&rage will be considcreh
“narrow” and ungenerous, by those who hare not rightly the standard). but it also injure* t.he “strangers,” hv rausing
appreciattbtl the situat1011. We are to remember that God’s manv of the& to believe themselves tho&phlp kafe. and
covenanth wcare c\-c,luq~vely to the seed of Abraham. and not lltwling 110 conversion, because tl1ey are nutwardlp respectable,
to other peoples. who were known as Gentiles. ,I ntl perliapq frequently attendants at public worship. Tt
A+ an iil11rtratinn of this exclusiveness, and a proof of its I~IMH. the standard of doctrine also. hecause the minister who
propriety, we note the fact that our Lord did not preach to IWIIIZ~S that at least three-fourths of his congregation wo11ld
others than the srrtl of Ahrnham. saving to his disciDles. “Go 11~~ repelled hy the presentation of strong meat of truth. with-
not into the way of the Gentiles, &d”into any ciiy of the holds the same, and permits those ~110 need the st,rong meat,
Samaritan* cnttlr ye not; b11t go rather to the lost sheep of wtl vo11id apprecsiate and 11s~ it to :1d\-,1ntRze. to grow weak.
the hoii~e of Israel.” Anti of himself he said. “I am not sent to qtarve. Furthermore. the wnrldiv spirit and the f11lier
I,11t, 11&c) the lost tih(q of tl1c house of Israel.“--Jlatt. IO:.‘,: tr~~a~urv 11ar~ attracted “&rangers” ‘into the professed min-
IT,:24 istry of the Gospel. manv nt ~~ilbrn laow not the Lord, neither
it would I)** well for fhosp of rpirit11al lsrael who are now bis D’nrd. and who ,~o&ecluentiv are thoroughly unprepared
rrturnin:: from raptivity in the various provinces of “Babylon to fwd the true sheep, werb thc$ ever so well d&pos<d. -
the (ireat” to remember this lesson. They find mixed peopleh ‘1’11~1rsFon in connection with the building of the temple.
reads to esprc’uq more or less of svmnathv with them. and to t Ite T,ord’p rhurc*h. “whirh ttmple yo are.” ih that worldly prr-
olftbr” nlc,rc* or ies* of c+n7)eration” in’ the” r+extahlixhment of sonb. worldly methods and nnrlclip aid ant1 wisdom are to be
th tJ 11,’ uorsiiil) of God in its nrimitivfb
1 simnlicilv.
I . TIII, r1~jec+ed. Sn all the living stones are to be polished, fitted
natural inc*iinati& would hr to accept suc+h proffered assis- nntl prepared under the eye aud direction of the gfeat master-
titn<*cv. and to (~a11every such :LSsistant a “brother,” and to Imiirlc~1~,the Lord, RO all the nertants. all the minlsterw of the
;rc,cqt and 11he 1lot only thr lahnr but the gold proffered, TP- tr11ti1. enrraeinp in this work. art* to be. so far as wp have to
r:rrdI(~~- of t7if fact tltaf it fwmfs not from true Tqraelites. do with &’ r&tter, such onlv ath manifest a circumcision of
1 nri(~c~ti. thca gckncrni t~~ntl~~n~vof our time is not nnlv to hrl heart. and thus show themsel& to be Tsraelites indeed. hlurh
willing to :lckrpt the money and other aid of worldli people and ierioun has been the injury donr to th(l Lnrd’s cause bp
in the. T,ortl’q srrvicsr. but to beg for it, and to scheme to get the srlertion of workmen whosr chief recommcndntinn has hren
it. by (‘1cary tlevic*c c*onc*ci1;rbic.---fairs. suppers, subscriptions. that thfzv had +ome abilitv NY rmbiic speakers. a good addrrsp
collrc$ionh. c,tr.. rtr. Tl1r tc11denr,v in every rasp must he tr, Rather let us remember that 11bne may engage in tl1is work as
l,ring in a foreign and uns:lwtified influwwe, and to do great tr11e lhlaeiites unless thev hr in full ac*csord with the Master-
injury to thv triics I~rilt~lltru. ‘l’hiq i11dred may be said to be h11iltler. a11d hy their abiiitv in rightlv dividing the \T’ord of
one of thca chief troubles with nominal Protestantism today. Truth +hc)w thrmaelves to ‘be workmkn that need not to he
Zion iq fill1 of “strnlipo ehiltlren.” and their voice and influ- ~?Jilil~~~~~tl-l Prt. 2:s. 9; 1 Cor 3:li: 2 Tim. 2:15

DESPISE NOT THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS

ZECli. 4:10.
31:rnJ. ah thcv notch tlich nilphty opposition to present truth, tiws. holy, ac,c*eptable to God” and doing “their rea.onable
dntl the c~ompar.itivrly few wiio have ears to hear it, and .c~rricc.“-how then would it shoa ‘/ Thus :-
h<sa1t- to olwy it. arp i11ciincd to di~c~nuragrment. They are At. nresent 2,000: in 1900 it would show 4,000; in 1901 it
111d:11tqLr of tlcspisinp their God-gi\-can opport11nitirs as a “day would ii1ow 8,060; in 1902 it would show 16.000: in 1903 it
of srmtll things,” and henct~ of l&till p *lip valuable opportuni- would show 32.c)OO: in i904 if would show 64,000: in 1905
tie< for *(jr\ ic*c to God and his neoplc. For such the, Lord It would show I%,bOO.
WII~\ N Itltl**iIg(‘. h:l?‘illF.-‘~StrellF~il~,;, ye the we,lk handb and But t7le average should hc more than this. Each of the
c~ontirnr [ n1;tk~~ firm1 the feeble kncc>h. Sav to the timid of consecrated, watching and praying and improving every oppor-
litart. I&, strong. fear not: Behnltl vour ‘God f Vengeanc>e tunity. and permitting no day to pass without some special
c.onic+h ’ tlic rccomr)fm5e of Gnd. ITe &ii come aud sd\e ~011. witncsa ior the Lord and his truth either bv word or pen.
‘l’h~n the cytlh of i71u blind shall br opened a11d the carob of bllo117d expect to reach more than one each yea;. If they leave
the deaf 11nstopprd.“--Isa. 35 :3-s. not averaged better than this in the naat. thev should seek
Think of tlie possihiiities. remembering that now as in and pray- for more opportunities and e$ecially for more
Eli iah’s day ther$ arc probably more than SP\~W thousand wisdom to see and to USP their opportunities. Let us all
l~raelitch indeed who havr not bowed the knee to Baal. But make s11re that the Master at last can sap of us as he said of
con-idcar the pnssibiiitirs within reach of the twenty thousand one of old.--“She hath done what she c&d.“-Mark 14:8.
reatlrrs of ZION'S WAWH TOWER as follows:- Never before were there so many possibilities of serving the
If cac~h one will interest another one this year. it will truth--God’s provision for his people.
mean 40,000 in 7900. (1) All the interested map have ZIOIY’S W;~TCH TOWEU
Tf a71 have similar zeal and success it would mean 80,000 regularly free if they cannot afford the moderate subscription
111 I907 ; and 760,000 in 1902; and 320,000 in 1903 ; and price. and will write us to that effect: or they may have it on
640,000 in 1904 ; and 1.280,OOO in 1905. crcdzf, if they prefer it so; and if they ran never pay and
But suppose that only one in ten of the readers are fully will write us to this effect. the debt wf71 be cancelled.
c*onqecrated-their al7 upon the Lord’s altar as “living sacri- (2) ,411 TOWER readers are supplied, free. all the tracts
[2512]
AUGUST 1, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (205-206)

they can use-for enclosing in their letters, for distribution steadfastness on even the first principles of the doctrines of
on railway trains, at conventions, etc. Millions of tracts are Christ is awakening the Lord’s ueonle and calline them to
thus circulated annually. come out of her; a”nd when they’ nekd- the helpini hands of
(3) For those who can devote their time to colporteur- true “brethren” to guide them into the light of truth now
ing the DAWNS and booklets every reasonable arrangement is shining. For we firmly believe that all in Babylon must
made; and about fifty brethren and sisters are giving their come out of her, if they would be of the Bride class; and that
time and strength in this way. none of the “brethren” who will be amongst the “overcomers”
(4) For others who cannot thus “minister”’ the Lord has will be left in “darkness.“- See 1 Thee. 5:2-6; Rev. 3: 18-22;
opened a new department of “Volunteers” tor Sunday service 13:14-16; 20:4.
in the free circulation of the “meat in due season” represented “Lord, increase our faith !” If we believe that we are in
in the booklet, The Bible vs. Evolution. Many have taken the “harvest” time of this age, and that the “harvest” work
hold of this opportunity, and at present we are unable to is in progress, and we participators in it, let us believe also
meet the demand as promptly as we would like. We know not that the great Chief Reaper is thoroughly able to use us as
what results the reaping will show, but are sure that the well as to bless us in his-service; and let”none look at clouds
“reapers” are being blest and strengthened bv their service. and discouragements, but let each do with iris might what
(5) Opportuniiy to secure the GAWNS, etc., at extremely his hands find to do, with the eye of faith “looking unto
low rates for loaning to neighbors and friends. Jesus.” our Cantain. and determined that. whether or not he
Evidences multiply that all those facilities for service are shall ‘be able td briig manv unto the kingborn, the Ring shall
at a most opportune time: when the fall of Babylon from at least have evidence of h& love and zeal and effort so to do.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Question.-Are not present conditions less favorable to the The Lord should at least see our effort to follow his instruc-
performance of the injunctions of Eph. 4:28, and 2 Cor. 12: tions, and we would surely have a blessing in such endeavors.
Ifi, than were the conditions at the time the Apostle wrote? We do not understand the Apostle to mean that aged
Is not the labor market more glutted now than then? parents should slave themselves to provide for grown and
Anmer.--No doubt circumstances and conditions varied healthy children. While the offspring are children their future
in the Apostle’s day as they do now, but we have no reason welfare should be provided for by reasonable education, etc.,
from history to suppose that the average working man of that and when such children are crown. thev should take nleasure
time was more favorably situated in wages, opportunities for in caring for their aged pare;ts. i\Iari was probably ‘at least
labor, etc., than at present. Indeed, it is very doubtful if fifty-five years of age when Jesus, having evidently cared for
labor was at any time in the past as well housed, as well her himself, committed her at his death to the care of John.
c*lothed, and generally comfortable. as at the present time. And the Apostle shows that his thoughts on the subject were
This does not mean that we consider the laboring class too in full harmony with this, for, when speaking of widows, he
well cared for at the present time-nor that we ‘ihink their says, “If any widow have children or nephews, let them learn
condition all that could be desired. Gladlv would we improve, first to show piety at home [by caring for their dependent
if we could, the general conditions of labbr. It is well; how- relatives], and to requite their parents: for this iq good and
(xvcr, that we should not cultivate in ourselves or in each acceptable before God.“-1 Tim. 6:4.
other a svirit of discontent, which can do no good, but is &estiolz.-Is there not in the Scriptures quoted a cold
likely to *work injury; and. to this end it is cell that we business tone, indicatine that man’s wisdom had more to do
should not, deceive ourselves or others into thinking our load with them thnn the spi& of the Lord, who so tenderly spoke
unendurable or harder than that of other days, when it is of the Father’s care and love, and who must have known to
really better by a very great deal. what straits many of his people would he brought in taking
Questzon.-In a family of seven, when all the incomes foot up his cross and following on, and the separation from worldly
up in average of $1 per”day for working days, how would it ways and means of ohtaining a living-clubs, labor unions,
he possible, after providing food, clothing, rent and fuel, to church unions, etc., in harmony with the injunction, “Come
put by anything or to give away anything? out from among them and be ye separate”?
Answer.--If vou mean that the total income of seven Answer.-No. dear brother : we are to consider that the
persons is only ‘$1 a day, $6 a week, WC admit that it is same help spirit’guided in all &e writings of the apostles, and
small. and that it would require extraordinary economy. to that God’s Word is not yea and nay. Surely no Scripture
“provide things decent.” But permit a kindly suggestion, writer more prominently or more fully set forth the Lord’s
dear hrother, that there should be no family of seven persons love and rare for his people, and the necessity for full separa-
nt the present time unable to earn more than $6 per week- tion from the world. than did the Auostle Paul who wrote
unless through some accident, some misfortune. A man who the Scriptures which’ you criticise. A
(*annot earn more than a dollar a day ought to consider very On the other hand. we are to realize that the cirrum-
earnestly the question whether or not he could afford to get stances in which we arc placed have not come to us bv acci-
married. and assume the responsibilities of a father, and any dent, hut, according to thk Scriptures, have come to us”under
woman asked to become a wife should give earnest thought to direct suvervision of God.-if we are his consecrated ueoule.
the financial side of the problem before accepting such an invi- Consequently, instead of repining, rebelling and bemoan&g,‘we
tation. Circumstances and prospects may have been more are to accept the Lord’s provision as heing the best for us, as
favorable at the time of marriage, but so soon as such cir- “new creatures,” according to his divine wisdom. We are to
rumstances became unfavorable ihe propagation of a family, seek to do as nearly as he has directed us as lies within our
for which only an unsatisfactorv nrovision could be made, power, and the remainder entirely beyond our power WC
Ehould not ha;e continued--con&e&e, self-denial, should be should take to the Lord in prayer, asking increase of wisdom,
practiced by Christians under such circumstances, and be con- increase of grace, increase of strength, to know and to do hiq
sidered not merely a “virtue”’ but. a “duty.” Nor should they will more and more perfectly for the future, and whatever
unduly bemoan their lot, but on the contrary remember what may have been our errors in the past. our loving Father ha<
the Scriptures so clearly set forth-that the heavenly Father made abundant provision in Christ for our forgireness and
knoweth what things his children have need of. By cheerfully aid. And doubtless God’s reason for permitting some of our
seeking to conform to the proper necessities of the case, and experiences is that we may learn just such lessons necessary
accepting such as divine providences in the case of the conse- to the shaping and mouldi.ns of our characters into most.
csrated, a great blessing may result, for, as the Apostle de- perfect barmony with the divine pattern, our Lord Jesus.
clares, “All things work together for good to them that love Questioa-In the Old Testament we read, “Trust in the
God-to the called ones according to hcis purpose.” Lord and do good, and verily thou shalt be fed.” I would
Question.-Under such circumstances, how is the father to like to know whether or not this and similar Old Testament
follow the Scriptural injunction to lay up for his children? expressions are applicable to the called-out ones of this Gos-
Did Marv make urovision for her son Jesus? Did not the son pel age, or were they merely applicable to the Jewish age,
make pravision ior the parent? when, according to the Law Covenant, God gave temporal
Anszaer.-“How just are God’s commands, rewards for obgdience?
How wise his precepts are!” Anazoev.-As heretofore pointed out, the promises to fleshly
Scriptural injunctions we may understand to be applicable Israel were temporal and, as you suggest, guaranteed tern-
onlv so far as it is nossible for us to follow them. If we find poral prosperity as a reward for ohcdirnce. But are the
it impossible to lay’ by anything, we may consider ourselves promises to the Lord’s faithful ones of this Gospel age smaller
evcuscd from this provision or advice. But our effort should or less precious. because they do not guarantee rirhes and
hc to follow the Scriptural injunction, if it should only be to friends and freedom from blight and drouth? May we not
lay aside one or two or five cents out of each day’s earnings. realize that the promises made to us are much more rompre-
c25131
(206-207) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY. Pk.

hensive, having the promise of the life which now is, and of this hv letter afterward, explaining to them that others
also of that which is to come? ( 1 Tim. 4:8) Is it not still had been -more careful to look after hi; necessities than they,
true, and most abundantly emphasized in the New Testament, and had a CorresDondinK blessina. The ADostle wrote of the
that “No good thing will he withhold from them that walk matter subsequenily, not”because he desired a gift, but because
uprightly”j If all-things work together for good to them he realized that whoever receives the truth into a good and
that love God, we may be sure that if riches or ease or luxury honest heart and is reallv benefited bv it must partake of its
are withheld from us, they are withheld for our blessing; and spirit of generosity, and do his share& forwarding the truth,
we may rejoice in such evidences of the divine care. Is it else he will KO backward and lose some of the blessing and
not in the New Testament that the ADostIe declares. “Godli- light already-received.
ness with contentment is great pain”i and must not there- (4) Luke 6:X3 :-This verse represents the general prin-
fore contentment be a Dossrble thine to those who will live ciple of divine dealing-“The Lord loveth a cheerful giver,”
godly in this present time, even though they suffer persecution, and causes his smile and blessing to rest upon such, whereas
and even though they be not so prosperous in temporal matters those who receive the Lord’s favor and fail to be exercised bv
as some others ? the spirit of benevolence, receive correspondingly less of
The lesson of f&h. dear brother, is an imDortant one for spiritual blessing.
all to learn and, if we are slow in learning it’, we will prob- (5) 2 Cor. 10: 11 :-This does not signify that if the
ably be kept under the necessary experiences that much the Apostle wrote them respecting benevolence ‘in money matters
longer-hccaune the Father loveth us and seek&h in us this he would also preach to them unon this subiert. His own
good quality. Faith will not look at any of the divine arrange- expressions cleaily indicate that he did not follow this course,
ments as unkind or cold, but will see in them all, and in all of and that his writing upon the subject of money-giving was
life’s experiences, the very blessing most needed, and can sing, from a standpoint wholly separate from anv solicitations on
“Content, whatever lot I see, his own account. The context shows that he was reproving
Sinre ‘tis my God that leadeth me.” some one in the church who had been walking accordina to
Question.--Please consider, briefly, the following Scriptures the flesh and not according to the spirit, and his declaration
additional to those recently sent you:-Phil. 4: 10, 15-17; 1 here is that he would sneak in the same denunciatorr I manner
Cor. 4:14; 2 Cor. 11:8, 9; Luke 9:RS; 2 Cor. 1O:ll. if he were present with-them.
Anszcler.--These Scriptures seem to be along the same lines The day-time T spent looking up the odd ones, and hard
as those considered in our last issue. to which we again refer work it was. London is such a big place, and some districts
all readers. We consider them in order. ten or more miles apart. I’ called upon our dear Brother Hart
(1 ) Phil. 4:lO. 1517:-This ScriDture indicates that the and spent some little tiPe with him. besides seeing him three
Apn&ie, who was giving his entire timi to the ministry of the times* at our meetings. Brother ‘Guard is another dear
GosDel. labored at tent-making or other secular business onlv brother. to all annearances sincerelv desirous of nleasine God.
when such a course was made necessary in providing thin& He is rather stein in countenance, “but very kindly in disposi-
honest in the sight of all men-and rather than be burden- tion, and I believe he does his best for the brethren. We had a
some to anv. or even to reoueat assistance. The ADostle here goad time together. Our meetings were attended bv fortv or
recognizes as the Lord’s judgment that any labore; is worthy more people,-all apparently deeply interested. I found <heir
of his kerD. unless he has missed his call&o. or is inraDaci- meetings had been. to mv mind. rather too onen. inasmuch as
tated. The’ Apostle did not mistake his calling, and if’ the they allow interruption “at any’ time; indeed; they had taken
churrh reropnized him as a servant called of the Lord and the form of conversation more than not. As Brother Guard
being used effectively in the mini&v of reconciliation, it then has some ability, I counseled him to develop the idea of
became their privileie to co-operatewith him in that ministry worship more than they had, and let questions be asked and
by supplying his temporal needs. And in the case of the answered afterwards if need be. Or, in many cases it would
church at Philippi it would appear from the Apostle’s testi- be altogether preferable that a newly interested one should
mony that they had apprecietrd and used their opportunities be Allowed nrivate onnortunitv rather thnn a whole comDanv
properly and repeatedly. Not all are talented for public shonld be kept wai&g whiist every old question is &gain
service of the truth, and whenever one is discovered by the threshed out.
brethren to have nDecia1 gifts and talents and zeal for the There is, as vou have often said, a tendency, when one is
ministry he should-be en&raged in thet direction, and the freed from ‘Babylon’s bondage, to s&g to the”other extreme
others less oualified in these renDerts should take Dlensure in not onlv in doctrine but ceremonies. and some forget the nrime
assisting suCh an one, and thui they would be r’eckoned as obiert of meeting together,-worship. I am thaukful t.o God
havine a shnre with him in the fruit of their combined labors. for &other Guard and the dear brethren with him.
In’.the Apostle’s case there wss no room to doubt that his There was much to encoursge one. One feels more than
ministry was owned and accepted of the Lord, and that he repaid by the hearty words “God bless you!” The brethren
was an apostle-one specially sent forth, and whose services generally seemed helped and encouraged by my visit. Perhaps
were specially guided by the Master; and that his entire time come of this was due to the form of worship we had. I judged
was given to the work and was needed for the work. the brethren were needing exhortation, and by the grace of
(2) 1 Cor. 4.14:-The context preceding shows that the God I was enahled to encourage them.
Apostle frlt considerably hurt that the church at Corinth, T was unable to get but a short time with Brother
whirh he himself had established through the Dreaching of the Sheward, but T was satisfied with even that. He was courteous.
gospel, hsd bren quickly turned aside’hy fals’e teach& who -one could expect that,-but he is developing a cynical trait
had denied Paul’s aDostleshiD. The church at Corinth had of character. I am sorrv to sav. “I suDnose vou have some
seemingly flourished’ financially and socially, and suffered difference with Rrother .R., Brother She&&d?“” ‘Well. yes! a
little persecution. They were correspondinzly unable to rightly little theoretically, but practice:nlZy nil.” This I found to be
sympsthize with the Apoqtle in his active ministrv of the quite in error, for the practical difference is as between light
truth. and the many hazardous incidents connected therewith. and darkness.. He could not define his position. On my say-
In the context he addresses them rather ironicallv. savinn. ing it was negative, he admitted that was so. He denies the
“We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Chris{; -Ge “high calling ;” does not know what to hope for; neither does
are weak, but ye are strong: ye are honorable, but we are he know his position as tourhing the world, thinkine there is
despised, . . . , and lsbor, work&e with our hands.” In the prnhsbly the same hope for it as for us now. I pointed out
14th verse the Apostle assures his readers that he is not so to him how that his philosophy left a vacuum; which he also
writing in order to cause them Dain and shame, but to awaken admitted. His chief claim is that n~lze have understood or
them to a proper appreciation’ of the true situation, to the been “begotten of the Spirit” since the apostles’ days, that
intent that thev might be to a laroer extent co-laborers with Rrother R. has made a brave attempt at the elucidation of the
him-sharers in the’sufferings of Christ, that in due time also mystery, but has failed. “Brother R. has done a great work
they might have share in the elory to follow. and is now exhausted; nothing more need be expected from
(3) 2 Cor. 11:8, 9:-These verses show us that the him.” Presumahlv we are to look to Brother Sheward fseeinn
Apostle was careful to avoid the money question in his preach- he is nnt exhausted 1 for any further developments of truth ( ?r
ing. He never so much as asked assistance from the Corin- I should nav that Brother Sheward’s theorv of a snirit-
thians while he was with them; not that he would hsve begotten rondiiion is “an ability to ring up -Peter. to> in-
refused to accept assistance if it had been tendered, nor that stance, and ask his statement as to an interpretation, etc.”
he considered that it would have hren any less thsn their So we are to come to Sniritism by a new route. What assured
duty and privilege to have as&ted him, but thet he hsd con- him rhiefly was that all the cnmpany meeting with him were
fidence that the Lord would supplv his necessities in the best agreed. As I asked for some Scrinture for this or that state-
WRJ. and was willing rather ‘to-present the Word of God ment. he admitted he rould not prove, hut claimed that T must
without charge, to the intent that his ministrv should be the disprove. There was not murh opportunity for that, he was
more impressive, as an exhihition of the fact Vthat he souaht so busy telling me of his beliefs. Well! I came away quite
not their money but their highest welfare. He assured them sad, but assured, nothing could be done while he was in the
[2614]
AUGUST 1, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (207-211)

same mind. To me it is another case of “the wisdom of this “good ground” (sincere hearts) creates an insatiable desire
age.” What a need for those who have responsibilities to for new things; and if &thing new be forthcoming, something
guard themselves well ! I did not seek opportunities of inter- must be invented.
viewing the members of his flock. He invited me to stay over I will write again shortly after I have given the brethren
Sunday and listen to them when they had a better opportunity in Liverpool a call. With kindest good wishes in the Lord, I
of telling me, but I declined. am, dear Brother,
It seems as if the truth received into any other than Yours in the Lord. JEZME Ha?dmY,--Enghd.

AN INTERESTING LETTER
DEAB BROTH&~ RussxnL:-At last I managed to get to and North. Brother Sheward, as far as I rould judge, is
London to see the brethren, being hindered from an earlier the main-stay of this meeting, which is now getting beyond
visit. Brother Guard very kindly provided for me whilst things we understand; and (3) a meeting in Stratford,
there. I found in London both that which cheered and that East London, which meets in Brother Guard’s home and is
which made me sad. It may be said that there are three in full sympathy with the Towrrns and DAWNS. It was with
classes ; ( 1) the scattered ones, whom I found generally these all my meetings were held. I went on the 8th of June
lacking in interest; (2) a company who meet regularly and held meetings the same day, Thursday. Friday and Sat-
in the north of London, and who reside chiefly in the West urrlny evenings. Sunday afternoon and evening. and Tursday.

VOL. xx ALLEGHENY, PA., AUGUST 15, 18% No. 16

VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER

THE PEAOE CONFERENOE FAILURE
Czar Nicholas Il. was no doubt greatly disappointed with students are in mutinv. Their real grievance is the brutality
the barren result of his recent Peace Conference. Called with which every expression of their feelings is suppressed
specially to induce a general disarmament on the part of bv the Cossack nolice. who strike them with their whips,
civilized nations and for the institution of national courts a*rrest, and otheiwise ’ maltreat them. The students have
of arbitration, the convention may be said to have failed combined to protest against this treatment, and between their
utterly, in that the question of disarmament was totally re- strikes and expulsions thirty thousand young men have left
jected by Germany and therefore of necessity by her neigh- the universities, whose doors are closed in St. Petersburg,
bors. The German emperor evidently realized that the dis- Moscow, Kieff, Kharkoff. Odessa, Kazan, Tomsk and Warsaw.
bandment of his great army would not only leave him with The female students will, it is stated, follow the example of
less power, but would throw another million able-bodied men the men, and are much more dangerous, as they at once be-
upon Germany’s labor market seeking employment, further come revolutionaries. Indeed, there would seem from some
depressing wages and precipitaing a panic and anarchy. He documents published to be small revolutionary parties em-
did the wisest thing for the present: but no human wisdom bedded in the movement. As each student has many families
can long avert the impending time of trouble when there interested in his success, the matter is a serious one for the
shall be no hire for man nor hire for beast, and no peace to oovernment. which once again finds itself in collision with the
him that goeth out nor to him that cometh in, because every &hole educated class. No‘thing will, or can, happen in Russia
man’s hand shall be against (in competition with) his neigh- until the military class is discontented, or the Empire finds
bor. (Zech. 8 : 10) The growth of intelligence is being fostered a reforming Czar, but no government likes to feel itself hated
by the schooling connected with these standing armies, and by the class, from which, after all, it must draw all its own
labor-saving machinery is fast bringing these to the place agents. There is, however, no remedy to be perceived, ex-
where their increased intelligence will make them the more cept through the Emperor, and Nicholas II., tbo he wishes
discontented and the less willing to step backward into serf- thoroughly well to his people, has no strength of initiative.”
dom at the command of giant Trusts.
PRBSBYTERIANISM IN SCOTLAND
Of the twenty-seven nations represented at the conference,
sixteen agreed to favor and to seek to promote arbitration The claim is often set forth that Presbvterianism is
III settlements of national disputes, and about as many agreed drifting from its ancient moorings: and we regard this as
to certain modifications of cruelties of war, which they having both a favorable and unfavorable aspect. It is favor-
evidently do not hope are ended. How evident it is that not able to the intelligence and heart of these people to find
humanity and not councils, but God who shall “speak peace increasingly large numbers of them unwilling to admit the
to the Gentiles [the nations].“-Zech. 9: 10. unreasonable side of the doctrine of election-that God pre-
And his voice commanding “Peace” will be in a very dif- destinated the torture of hundreds of millions of his creatures
ferent tone from what is generally expected.-In tones that before their creation and made provision for it by the cre-
will shake not only the earth [social structure] but also the ation of a vast torture-chamber called “hell” and the prepara-
heavens [the ecclesiastical structure], he shall, by that awful tion of vast quantities of fuel for their torture. It is un-
time of anarchy when all the selfish passions of mankind favorable when we find them drifting toward infidelity-the
shall be let loose, say-“Be still and know that I am God. rejection of Christ’s redemptive worklnd the gospel set forth
I will be exalted among the Gentiles, I will be exalted in in the Bible-under the influence of a higher criticism and
the earth.“-Psa . 46.8-10
. . evolution doctrine. And it appears that th’;s movement is not
“KNOWLEDGE SHALL BE INOREASED”-AND “THERE SHALL confined to this country. An evidently well informed writer
BE A TIME OF TROUBLE SUCH AS WAS NOT in the N. Y. Tribune says of this progress in Scotland.-
SINCE THERE WAS A NATION” “Professor Briggs would not have been molested in the
Another illustration of the fact that the impending trouble church founded by John Knox. On the contrary, he would
is being hastened and not hindered by education, comes to have found in it scholars and thinkers like-minded with him-
our knowledge. The security of the past was due, less to the self. Open-mindedness is the characteristic of the Scottish
fact that men were better in olden times than now, than to church. Implicitly, if not expliritly, truth is the first article
the fact that general intelligence being less men did not so of its creed, and all the other dogmatic articles of its creed
well know how to do evil. A general increase of knowledge are interpreted in the ligbt of the truth. It is true the Bib
not accompanied by a conversion to righteousness and sub- lical scholars and theologians of Scotland arr more con-
jugation to the law of love is dangerous at the present time. servative than those of Germany. But, for all that, some of
The time for such general enlightenment will come safely them would have as hard a time in the american Presbyterian
when the kingdom of the Lord has been established and when church as Professor Briggs had. Nor is that all. A ritual-
its iron rule will bold in check the evilly-disposed, and teach istic tendency has grown up in the Scottish church that has
them lessons of swift retribution. for its object the restoration of some liturgical and cere-
The illustration of this subject is again in Russia, where, monial features that were discarded at the Reformation.
as noted a short time ago, the privilege of high-school and This movement meets with a sympathetic response from the
college education were greatly restricted by government autbor- people in the larger towns, and bids fair to revolutionize the
ity. NOW we clip the following respecting the unrest of the church. Only in the remote country districts will one find
educated classes in Russia from the London Spectator:- the typical Presbyterians of the old days, and as they die
“The signs of unrest in Russia multiply. Apart from the there are none to take their places. Thus, in spite of its
local insurrections caused by the prevailing scarcity, which strong government and its uncompromising creed, Scottish
in some places, notably Kazan, are serious, there are the Presbyterianism finds itself moving along in the stream of
troubles which we noticed last week; and now the University tendency.
[IS161
(212-214) ZION’S WATCH TOWER A~LXGHENY. PA

“But most remarkable of all is the drift away from the Presbyterian church and few or none of this class now being
severe conception of life and religion that characterized the developed, and if this church is a fair sample of all churches,
Scottish reformers. During the last few years there has what can we expect? Just what the Master implied when
been a noteworthy change of sentiment in regard to the ob- speaking of the present time he said, “When the Son of Man
servancc of the Sabbath. Not long ago Principal Story, the cometh shall he find the faith on the earth?“-Luke 18:8.
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Scottish church,
preached a sermon on Sabbath observance in Edinburgh. In It is the FT~OTS in the creeds of all churches that are
this sermon he made a strong plea for a less rigid obser- causing the overthrow of the truths which they all hold,
Vance of the day, and especially for the opening of clubs, and which the errors discredit. Let all who have the true
public gardens, museums, art galleries and libraries.” light now shining be zealous to lend a helping hand to these
If all the “old fashioned” Christians are dying out of the dear brethren--especially to the “old fashioned” ones.

BELIEVERS’ CONVENTION S-BOSTON AND ST. LOUIS

Two more Believers’ Conventions are called under the an agreement attached, pledging the Ry. to sell a return ticket
auspices of the WATCH TOWER Brn1.r: AND TRACT SOCIETY, for me-third of full fare for return journey. Thus the round
as follow8 :- trin rates will be two-thirds of the usual. Get full particulars
At Boston. Mass.. commenc*ina Fritlav, Sent. 22d. at ten
.,I 1
of *your ticket agtnt.
o’clock A. XI., and lasting three days. The St. Louis Convention is timed to take advantage of
dt 8t. Louis. Ko., commencmg Friday, Oct. 6th, at ten the low rates granted to the “St. Louis Fair,” viz., one fart
o’clork A. X, and lasting three davs. for the round trip. ThePe ticket8 will be on sale Oct. 2d to 7th
At this writing we’ are unable tn give full particulars and will be eood for return until Oct. 10th. Remember that
rcspccatlng the prygram and <peakerr. except that the Editor our Convex&n date there is 6th to 8th.
of tllr:, ,journ:ll ~111 probably *peak each afternoon, and that ACC0116MODATIONS, ETC.
Pilgrim McPhail is expected to take part in the Boston
Convention, while Pilgrims Draper, \Villis and Ransom may Good, csomfortahle, clean accommodations will be arranged
be expectc>d at St. LOUIS. The hours for meetings will be the for at tile rate of one dollar per day-board and lodging,-
same for both conventions; Liz., two in a bed (fiftv cents extra where separate bed is insisted
Friday, 10 A. nf., opening “rally” led by representatives of on). WATCH ‘TOWER subscribers too poor to pay these mod-
the home churches whose guests we will be, and who promise erate charges will be provided for, if they will request en-
us a warm welcome. At 2 P. M., a Testimony Meeting. At tertainment as “the Lord’s poor.”
3 P. M., a discourse. At 7 P. 31., a Testimony Meeting. At 8 This will be the only notification of these conventions,
P. M., a discourse. DECIDE AT ONCE AND, IF COMING, NOTIFY US
aatwday, 9 A. M., a Testimony Meeting; at 10.30 A. M.. as there will be no other issue of this journal in this form
a discourse; at 2.30 P. M., a discourse on Baptism, its import until Nov. 1, the special issue (DAWN, VOL. V.) taking the
and its symbol,-with opportunities offered for its symboliza- place of the Sept. aid Oct. issues.
tion by any who may uo desire. At 7 P. Y., a Praise Meeting; Therefore, decide as quickly as possible whether or not
at 7.45 P. hf., a discourse illustrated by a large Chart of the you will attend either of thehe ronventions. If your decision
Ages. is to PO. write to the Watch Tower Office. headine vour letter
Sunday, at 9 A. M.. a Prayer and Testimony Meeting; at with the word convent&. Tell us how many theore” will be of
10.30 A. hf., a discourse illustrated by the Chart of the Ages; your party-males and females-and whether you desire us to
at 2 P. M., Praise Service; at 3 P. M., a discourse; at 7.30 secure $1 a day accommodations for you. or whether you
P. Y., several speakers, subject, Preserving the Unity of the desire provision as the Lord’s poor, as above. -41~0 state by
Spirit in the Bonds of Peacoe. what railway you will come and, if possible, the hour of your
All Christians who trust in the precious blood of Christ arrival. So far as possible there will be a Reception Com-
for justification are cordially invited to convene with us for mittee to take charge of all c‘omers at trains; and they may
the studv of our Father’s \Vord;--and especially such of be known by their displaying a copy of MILLENNUL DAWN or
these as”have made or desire to make full cons&ration of the WATCH TOWER. But more than this, your letter will be
their iustified selves to the service of the Father throueh. so answered as to give you full information how to And the
the m&it and mediation of our Redeemer-King. lodging and meeting plares.
RAILROAD RATES, ETC. l)c+lr Brrthrrn and Sisters, let all who attend these COIl-
The Boston Convention is timed so as to give us the ad- ventions go to them full of earnest desire to get good, and
vantage of the “Congregational Convention,” held at the same so far as noshible to do eood to others;-full of tbc spirit of
time. Special tickets should be inquired for at once, that the loving de&ion and praikr. All such .will surely. experience
Railroad agents may have them on hand at proper time. a great blrssing-;l feast of fat things. in fellowshlp with on1
These special tickets will cost full ftire qoirrg; and will have Lord and his brethren.

“UNTO THE PURE ALL THINGS ARE PURE”

“I’nto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unfaithful nothing is pure; but both their mind and
conscience are defiled: they profess to have known God, but by their works they renounce him, being
abominable and disobedient, and to every good work worthless.“-Tit. 1:15, 16.
Kot sinners, not the worldly, are thus spoken of by the that God was moved by pride to recover man from sin and
Anostle. but those who have enioyed the truth, and who have death, or by vanity, to show what he could do. They rlalm
en’joyed’ at least the first step”& heart-purification, namely, that our Lord Jesus was moved by selfish motives, of self-
iustificatinn : and whose hearts hare become defiled through gratification, honor, increase of power, in becoming our R:
‘L-failure tn’maintain in them the law of love as the ruling dremer. They think of the loyalty of the angels from a selfisll
principle. Instead of being filled with love, selfishness, with standpoint. as in hope of advancement, or in fear of punish-
its defilement, has been received back as the ruling principle ment. \Vho can bring a clean thought out of an unclean
of the heart. Such have the spirit of the world, and some- heart? Who ran expect benevolence, generous feelings, senti-
times exercises it with 8 murh greater degree of animosity ments or words, except hypocritically, from a heart in which
than the world exhibits. They are specially ready, as the selfishness has the control? Who would expect generous con-
Apostle intimates, to impugn the cond&t and motives of oth- siderations in a mind full of envy and self-seeking?
ers: beinp selfish themselves. thev attribute selfishness to The Apostle suggests of such that not only their mind8
everyone else; being impure ‘them”selves, they attribute im- bwnme corrunted. but also their consciences; so that they
L ,

purity to others; having lost the spirit of love which thinketh will do evil, speak evil, think evil, and yet their consciences
no evil, their hearts rapidly fill up with selfish, envious, un- do not reprovk them; because their consciences and minds
charitable, ungodly, unkind sentiments, toward those who are work in harmonv. 2nd. as the Scripture8 declare, they be-
true, sincere and noble. come hlindrd. seli-ileceiied. What a ierrible condition t&is is,
We have known such to go even to the extreme of im- and how careful all of the Lord’s people should be not only to
pugning the motives of the great Jehovah and our Lord Jesus have pure hearts, pure minds, but also to keep their con-
_..~
Christ. Unable to think of love and benevolence as motive8 sciences very tender, in close accord with the word of the
for conduct, and accustomed in their own hearts to think Lord. This condition can only be maintained by judging our-
merely of selfishness and personal aggrandizement as motives, selves, and that strictly and frequently, by the standard
they view the divine cnurse from this standpoint, and esteem which God has given us, his law of love.
[ 25161
AUGUST15. 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (214-216)

“I want the first approach to feel But true repentance means both contrition and reforma-
Of pride or fond desire; tion : and for help in the latter we must go to the Great
To catch the wandering of my will, Physician who alone can cure such moral sickness; and of
And quench the kindling fire.” whom it is written, “Who healeth all thy diseases.” All of
his sanctified ones, it is safe to say, were at one time more
9s the Apostle points out, those whose minds become im- or less diseased thus, and proportionately “zcorthkss” for his
pure, poisoned by ambition or pride or selfishness, the spirit of service. True, it is worse for those who were once cleansed,
evil, professing to have known God are apt to profess as if they “like the sow return to the wallowing In the mire”
loudly as ever, sometimes, indeed, becoming boastful of how of sin;--but still there is hope, if the Good Physician’s medi-
much they know of God, and of his Word, and of how wise cine be taken persistentlv the same as at first. The danoer
they are as respects its interpretation. Not by boasting of pro- is that the cokwience, becoming defiled, will so pervert ihe
fessions, therefore, can we always judge who are of pure judgment that bitterness is esteemed to be sweetness, and
minds and of good consciences, and” in full harmony with envy and malice to be justice and duty, and tile “mire” of sin
the Lord. Rather bv their fruits we shall know them, as the to be beauty of holiness. ‘l!ht~n only 1s the case practically a
Master said-by their works, as the Apostle here points out. hopeless one.
If anv profess to know God. and vet bv their works re-
noun& him, we are fully justified in” questioning whether or SOME OF THE GOOD PHYSICIAN’S ANTIDOTES FOR HEART
not they may not be self-deceived, whether or not their con- IMPURITY
sciences, as well as their minds. mav not have become defiled. The Good Phvsician has uomted out antidotes for soul-
To renounce the Lord in our works, does not necessarily poisoniilg,-lnedirl1t.s whlrh i’f properly taken according to
mean a resort to murder, robbery, licentiousness, etc. It directions will sweeten the bitter heart. Instead of envy it
means rather, in the beginning at least, that from the hitherto will produce love ; instead of malice and hatred and strife,
good fountain of a cleansed or renewed heart or will, from love and concord; iustead of evil-speaking and backbiting and
whi~*h issues purity, truth. sweetness. kindness. encourage- scandal monperina it ~111 uroducsr thr love whicah thiuketh no
ment and refreshment for all who drank of its waters, in the evil and which worketh no’ill to his neighbor; which suffereth
home and family and neighborhood and amongst the Lord’s long and is kind, whi& vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
people, would issue instead bitter waters. producing bitter whirl1 never fail&h and which is the spirit of the Lord and
feelings. watering and nourishing roots of bitterness, stirring the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Let us all take
up malice. envy, hatred, strife, etc. No wonder the Apostle these medicines, for thev are aood not onlv for the vinlentlv
says of such t”hat they’are abominable! All who ha;e the Hick, but. for the rnnvaiexring’ and the wctl. The following
9nirit of the Lord must abominate the snirit of evil. however are some of the presrriptions:-
surprised and grieved they may be to find it issuing’from one (1) “He that hath this hope in him purifieth himself
who previously gave forth sweetness, love, kindness, good even as he [the Lord] is pure.“21 John 3 :3:
works. The hone mentioned is that we have been adonted RR sons
As the Master declared. if the urofessedlv sweet fountain of God, with the promise that if faithful we shall be like
scndq forth bitter waters, we mav-know that there is some- him and see him as he is and share his glory. As our minds
thing wrong, somethine defiline. cn the fountain. and are not and hearts expand with this hone and wp begin to measure
to d&eive &rselvtbs r&pecting”its waters, and to partake of its lengths and breadths. its heights and depths, it surely
its bitterness. does set before us the heavenlv Father’s love and the Re-
Commenting along the same line the Apostle James de- deemer’s love in rainbow colors’ and we more and more love
(*larch. “lf any man among you secmeth to be religious and thr Father and the Son berause they first loved us. The
britllctb not 11;s tongue, that man’s religion is vain.“‘- Because divine form of love becomes more and more nur ideal; and
the tongue 1s thr index of the heart, because “out of the a+ we seek lo rcciprnrate it and tn ropv it, the (aleaning and
fullness of the heart the mouth speaketh,” therefore the un- uurifvine of olir liearts follows: for lonkinn into thr nerfect
bridled torlaue sneaking selflshlv. enviouslv. bitterlv. boast- jaw of libcrtv-love-we hecome more nnd”morr :Icll:~med of
”

fully, ~lnntl~~rourlf-. p&es that the heart from whose fullness

WI
all the mean’ness and selfishness which tile fnll brnurrht to
the-e o bcl how 13 unsanc*tilietl, unholy, grievously lacking of us. And. nnpp seen in their true liTlit as works of the flesh and
thr l pl~lt of 01 ist,--henc*e, whatever religion it may have of the devil. ~111anper rnsli(~e. wrath, (‘nvy. strife. evil-spepk-
<itta1llccl is tliu, far rain, as that heart is not saved nor in a ine. evil-surmisine.
*L. ,,
backbitina and standrr herome mnrc and
<al\ able c*ontlitroti. So wonder the -4postle comments in our more repulsive to iiq. And”iir~nllv when wc P(V that surh
text, that such are “disobrtlirnt,” only by drsobedlence to the as to .,n;v cl0*rrc7~ svmptthizc with tltrscs (‘\11 qiinl~tit~~ :,re
law of the Xew Covenant, love, could anyone reach such a unfit for tire kinedom an11 to ercly pond work wc~rtblcss. we
uondltlou of heart and conxclence defilement, after he had fire from these pvilr of the soul as from d~:tdlv cnntclrrinn.
btaen pulihcd through faith in the precious blood, and con- Oilr hrarts (wills. intentions) bcwmie purp at once :vnfl WP 8et
recrated to the Lord. a guard not only iipnn our lip P but also upon our ttianflits-
The final statemeut of our text is that such an one, that the wnrds of our months snd the mc*(litationr of our
bavmg loht the spirit of the truth, and having obtained instead hearts mav he aCcrpt;lblr to tbo Iorcl.
a spirit of bitterness, rancor, evil, having a poisoned or (2, “Who gnre himsrlf for us. that he miabt rrdpem
delilrd mind and conscience, is “to every good work worthless.” us from all iniquitv. and pwifl/ unto liimwrlf :I prciiliar
No matter what work such an one mieht undertake to do. DeODk resinus ot eond works.“-Titus 2: 14.
It would surely be spoiled, because the spirit of evil, the spirit * Wr minbt IhenCi~r muc*h ;~rd rcrp corrertty upon how and
of urlde. the snlrit of selfishness. the snirit of malice and when ard h.v whom wn were rcrlrcn~cd: hut lhis ~~11wnul,l nvail
envy, are so violently in opposition to e&y feature of right- lit,trrb 1t wp foract ~-hl/ wn w(ar(l rr~l0f~ic~l. T~v rc+rrption
eousness and goodness and truth and love, that there can be wss not, Innrnlv n rrdcrrptinii from tlic power of +lir* l!ravC;-
no peace, no co-operation between them. And this reminds it, W’)CI ch;nflv “from 011 inimrit?f ” And the T,nrd is not
us of our Lord’s words, to the effect that those who are his mcrelv sepkinn P pe’r~iili~r p~onle. but sprtainllv a people pe-
people and who have his spirit, are “the salt of the earth,“- ciiliarlv rlf,nns*cl. pririfi~~d Tliic mcdicinc> will siirolv snrve
preservative, so long as they have this spirit; but, as he to pnrnr 119 from inioiiily if wr are nn\inus to mnkr our
suggests, if the salt lose its saltness-if the Christian lose caalliny srd rlpctinn =1rr(‘.
those peculiar features of the spirit of Christ which constitute (?I “Pur=ii~~ ri+tcousneus. fidclitv. lnvcb. p(‘s,*e. with all
him different from the world, separate from the world, and a who rail unon the J,nrd with a purr heart.“--:! Tim. 2.22.
saltine or preservative aualitv in the world-if he should lose We not. nnlv need to st,nrt right. but also to parser n right
these,-wh;Ii?-he would* be worthless as bad salt, “to every ,oursP. W, mqv not fnllnw unriehtenusnrss rven for a
good work worthless.“-Tit. 1: 16. moment ; whstevrr it may cost, iustire and rirhteousness
What course should be pursued by those who find them- must be follnwd. Put hrrc :L tlif%ulty arises with some:
selves possessed of impure minds,-minds inclined to sur- they do not know hnw to iurlg(> riehte~us iud~~~nt. They
mise e;il rather than good, envious minds, selfish, resentful, are too ant to iiidce accordine to rumor or aubearancrs. or
hitter, unforaivine. minds. which love onlv those that love to srrent ‘tbo iu’dnmctnt of s&hes nnd Pharisebi RR did the
and flatter them?“‘Is there any hope for these? Would God mnltitucl~ which rrirtl. “Crnrify biml His blood he upon us
not utterly reject such ? and upnn crvr children.” Fllrl thcv followed rinhtrnusness
God is very pitiful, and it was while all were thus “in the thev wou!d h-v- QPPII the T,nrd’s rhararter in his gond works
very gait of bitterness and bonds of iniquity” that he provided RR wrll as ir his wnndcrful wnrds of life: thev would have
for our redempticn. There is hope for all such who see their seen that sn far from hpina a hlaxphemer he was “holy. harm-
defilement and who desire to be cleansed. less. separate from sinners ;” thcg would have teen that his
acrusers were moved hy rnvy and hatred.
“His blood can make the foulest clean; And ic is just as necessary as ever to follow the Lord’s
His blood avails for me.” injunction, “*Judge righteous judgment,” and whoever neglects
III-39 r.26173
(216-217) ZION’S WATCH TO?V&R ALLZGHENY. PA.

it brings down “blood” upon his own head and becomes a manner. but through obedience to the svzrit of truth-its real
sharer in the penalty due to false aceusers. For as the Lord import.’ All this bvrought you to the pbint where the love of
was treated so will hii “brethren” be treated. And the more the “brethren” of Christ was unfeigned, genuine. At first
pure our hearts the less will they be affected by slanders you treated all with courtesy. or at least without impolite-
"

and backbitings and evil-speakingp, and the more will we ness; but many of them you”&d not like, much less dih you
realize that those who have bitter hearts from which arise love them: they were poor, or shabby, or ignorant, or peculiar.
bitter words are impure fountains in which is the gall of But obeying the spirit of the truth you recognized that all
bitterness and not the sweetness of love. who trust in the precious blood and are consecrated to the
Next comes fidelity, that is, faithfulness. The Lord de- dear Redeemer and seeking to follow his leadings are “breth-
clares his own fidelity or faithfulness and declares himself a ren,” regardless of race 0; color or education or poverty or
friend that sticketh closer than a brother. And even the homeliness. You reached the Doint where your heart is SO
worldly recognilc fidelity as a grace: and by such it, is often free from envy and pride and *selfishness, aid so full of the
given first place; for many w&Id commit theft or perjury spirit of the Master, that you can honestly say, I love all
through fidehty to a friend. Rut notice that God’s Word the “brethren” with a love that is sincere and not at all
puts rlgbtrousnes? first. Fltlclity, love and peace can only be feigned.
exercised in harmony with rightenusneps; but. unrighteous- Now having gotten thus far along in the good way, the
ness not being proven against a brother, our fidelity and love Lord through the Apostle tells us what next-that we may
and pence tonnrtl him muit continue, and indeed must in- preserve our hearts pure-“See that ye love one another with
crease in proportlnn a~ envy and slander and all the fiery a pure heart fervently [intensely].” Ah, yes, the pure heart
darts of the \Vicked One assail him “without a cause.” must not be forgotten, else it might be but. a step from pure
This valunbl~ prcsrription will help to keep our hearts free love into a snare of the Adversary, carnal love. But the pure
from the poison aud bitterness of roots of bitterness which love is not to be cold and indifferent: it is to be so warm
the Adversary keeps busily planting. and so strong that. we would be willing to “lay down our
Justice is purzty of heart-freedom from injustice. lives for the brethren.“-1 John 3: 16.
Righteousness is puumty of heart-freedom from unright- With such a love as this burning as incense to God upon
eousnes6. the altar of our hearts there will be no room there for any
Love is ~ulitu of heart-freedom from selfishness. selfish, envious thoughts or words or deeds. Oh, how blesses
(4). “&eing”ye have purzfied your souls in obeying the would all the natherines of the “brethren” be, if such a spirit
truth through the spirit [the spirit of the truth] unto un- pervaded all- Gf them ? Can we doubt that,,’ if It held sway
feigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another in one-half or one-third or even one-fourth, it would speedily
with a pure heart, fervently.“-1 Pet,. 1:22. exercise a gracious influence upon all-for righteousness and
This medicine is for those who have used the other pre- fidelity and love and peace, and against envy, strife, malice,
scriptions and gotten clean. It points out, that the purity came slanders and backbitings?
not merely through heawzg the truth, nor through believing Let all the “brethren” more aud more take these medicines
the truth, but through obevino it. And not merely a formal which tend to sanctify and prepare us for the Master’s serv-
obedience’ in outwa;d ceremony and custom an& p&shed ice, here and hereafter.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

HOW CAN WE “GIVE TO EVERY MAN THAT ASERTH”?
G)uestion.- What is the meaning of our Lord’s words in by it, before the end of the Gospel age. Quite to the contrary,
Luke 6 :30, “Give to every man that asketh ?” it, expresslv states that the preaching is to be for “a &tlles~
Answer.-Our Lord’s discourse, of which this is a part, to the nations.” From the form of your question, it would
is given more fully, more completely, in Matt. 5:40-44. From appear that you consider Col. 1:ti to mean that the gospel
Matthew’s account it would appear that our Lord meant that had already been preached to all the world in the Apostle
when \\e are brought under compulsion, legally, we are to Paul’s day. If this be your thought, it is evidently quite
submit gracefully, and not to harbor resentment or grudgings. incorrect. because, if the gospel had already been preached
For instance, he says, “If any man sue thee at the Inw, and to every nation at that time, the end of the Gospel age should
take away thy coat [by legal process], do not, refuse him the have come at that time, as our Lord declared, and the hlil-
cloak also.” It does not follow that we are to allow him to lannial kingdom should have been set UD and Satan been bound
take coat and cloak, etc., without the process of law-suit and eighteen ceituries ago. Besides, as we’look over all the world
compulsion. But whether we think the legal decision a just to-day, we know that neither now nor at any time in the past
or an unjust one, we, as the Lord’s disciples, are to be so has the eosnel converted all the world: the most we can say
law-abiding that we will offer not the slightest resistence to to-day is”thit now, finally, the gospel has been preuchecl as b
the enforcement of the legal decision, tho it take from us zuitxess to ez-cry n&ion--the Bible, which is the gospel mes-
everything. sage, has been translated into all the national tongues of the
iVe chould interpret Matt. 5 :42, and Luke 6:30 in harmony world, and thus every nation (through some representatives)
with the foregoing, and assume that the asking means a has been made acauainted with the letter of God’s message,
demand, a compulsion. As for instance, if a highway robber at least; and this 5s in full agreement with our position ttiat
were to “ask” or demand your money (as was much more we are now in the “harvest” time or end of this gospel age,
customary in olden times than uow. uqder present police and in the dawning of the Millenium.
regulations), surrender it without a fight. That this is the In respect to Col. 1:23, we will suppose that you refer to
proper vicar is proven by the prrcctlin:: statement, “If any man the clause which says, “The gospel which ge have heard, and
sue t7we at the law, ant1 take nmnv thy coat,” etc. If the coat which was preac7led”td every &&ture whicil is under heaven.”
were to be givm freely for the a.&ng. the injunction, respect- To assume. as vou evident17 do, that this implies that the
ing the law-suet to obtain it would be meaningless. &z&&l was alreidy preached to kvery creature-under heaven
The sucreetling stntemrnt iq in harmony also, “From him in the Apostle’s day, and hence that there would be no need
that wonld borrow of thee turn not thou away.” Here the of a vresentation of Christ. to any in the future, because all
attitude of the borrower stands out in contrast, with the have 6ad a full and fair opportunity of knowing of the grace
attitude of the hiphw;l~ robber. who demands absolute posses- of God in the present life. is a most unreasonable interpre-
sion. The Lord’s followers are to be rencrouslv inclined tation of the $postle’s wdrds. We submit to you that-his
toward all mtn. anxmns to “do good and’ lend,” &d to use meaning is as follows:-
hospitality without selfishly hoping for return favors. If so God’s grace for over two thousand years was restricted
situated that an enemy rnuld demand of us our goods, we to Abraham and his seed,-the one nation of Israel; and was
are to submit; but if so situated that we can resist legally, not sent to anv other nation under heaven. (Amos 3:2) And
we are to resist anv uniust. clcmnnds. and compel a suit at even when thk gospel “began to be preached by our Lord,”
law. If the suit at’law &hall po against 113,we kre to submit it was restricted to the same “lost sheep of the house of
nracefullv and heartilr. Israel” (hIatt. 15:24) : it, was not until I&ael had stumbled
The teachines of this verse seem to through unbelief, and been rejected of God (hlatt. 23:37, 38))
ge that the Lord’s people arP to seeIT to be generous, peace-
able and law-abiding under all circumstances and conditions. and after our Lord Jesus had “tasted death for every man,”
“for the sins of the whole world,” and had risen from the
WAS THE GOSPEL PREACHEDI;yALL THE WORLD IN PAUL’S dead. “Lord of all,” that he authorized the preaching of the
gospel to others than the Jews--to the Gen‘tiles. His mes-
Questio??.---Please harmonize Matt. 24: 14 and Cal. 1:23, saee was. “Go ve and teach all nations.” etc. In harmony
with your tearhingq. wi% this the ipoqtle tells us in Col. 1:23 that the gospel
Answer.-The Ftatement of Matt. 24:14 does not imply which we hare heard is open to ever!/ human creature under
that, the whole world will receive the gospel and be converted heaven-there is no longer any restriction of it to the Jews.
[2518]
AUGUST 15, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (218-213)

The difficultv in the translation is in the word to: the proper is “to take out of them a people for his name”-to gather
thought wobld be better conveyed by the word for.- The out of the world an elect Church as a bride for his Son, to
Greek word is e-n. and altho its strict meaninn is in. vet it is bear the name of Christ, to be his Bride and joint-heir, “mem-
frequently used in the sense of for, being s; tran&ted six bers in particular of his body.”
times in the New Testament. Instances: “If ye be re- When the election of this Gospel age shall have accom-
proached for the name of Christ.” (1 Pet. 4: 14) “Well plished this purpose, and the church shall have been glorified,
reported of for good works.” ( 1 Tim. 5: 10) “Think they Bride and Bridegroom made one, then, will begin the time
shall be heard for their much speaking” (Matt. 6:7), etc. in which the Son will “draw all men,” the world of mankind,
“I, IF I BE LIFTED UP, WILL DRAW ALL MEN” as the Father has been drawing the church during this age.
In this work of drawing all men, the church will be associated
Question.-What is meant by “lifted up” in our Lord’s with the Lord as “members of his body,” of which he is “the
expression, “I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me?” head over all, God blessed forever.”
Anszoer .-The primary thought undoubtedly is our Lord’s It has required this entire Gospel age to lift up, first the
crucifixion-his lifting up on the cross, as the great sin- Head, and afterward the members of his body, joint-sacrificers
offering on behalf of “the sins of the whole world.,’ It is with him. When all the sufferings of Christ are ended, and
as a result or consequence of this sacrifice that all the bles- the last member of the body has finished his course in death,
sings which God has purposed and promised shall eventually then, through the power of the first resurrection (which be-
come to our race. Until the atonement for our sin had been gan with our Lord, and will finish with the chacge of the last
made, nothing permanent could be done for man’s release; member of his body) the entire church will be lifted up in
for the sentence upon him was a death sentence. Our Lord’s the secondary sense, of exaltation, and then will begin the
lifting up was as the antitype of the brazen serpent which work of drawing the world-pointing all to the great sin-
Moses lifted up in the wilderness, looking to which the offering finished at Calvary.
Israelites, bitten by the fiery serpents, were-healed-in type That our Lord meant by this expression, “lifted up,”
of how the world of mankind. bitten bv sin, poisoned and more than his own crucifixion is evident from his words,
dying, may have life through the exercise of f&h in the Re- “When ye have lifted up the Son of Man, then shall ye know
deemer, based upon his great sacrifice-his lifting up as our that I am he.” The Jews do not yet know Christ as the
redemption Drice. Messiah: and this is an additional proof that his words in-
A secondary thought connected with this passage would clude the lifting up. the crucifying, _ ._ of all the members of his
be that our Lord’s obedience in laying down his life as our bodv-the church. -
sin-offering led directly to his own exaltation to power and i‘he drawing does not mean, as some have erroneously
ereat alorv. as the ADOStk? has stated it. “Wherefore God supposed, a coGpulsory forcing of mankind. Some Universa-
&atb hyghli exalted hi& and given him a Ilame that’ is above lists hare used this passage as tho it supported their conten-
every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should tion; but rightly understood it is quite to the contrary. It
bOW. and that every tongue should confess that intimates that the Lord will erert, a drawing and helpful
Jesus ‘Chiis’t is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.“- influence upon all men, but neverthelces leave their own wills
Phil. 2:10, 11. free to act; for he seeketh surh to worship him as worship
It is by reason of our Lord’s lifting up, in both of these him in spirit and in truth. In proof that the word, “drawmg,“’
senses, that the blessing is come to the world. His lifting as used in the Scriptural sense, does not signify compul-
up a< the sin-offering was our purchase-price; his lifting up sion, note well the fact that tbc Father’s drawing during this
in ex,lltation RS our great Prophet, Priest and Kivg, is equally Gospel age has not been compulsory: it has consisted of en-
necessary to the drawing of the world of mankmd, and the lightenment and help and opportunities which may be either
resultant blessing upon all who yield to the drawing in- accepted or resisted by all who experience the drawing. Thus
fluence. we are distinctly told concerning this calling and drawing
While considering this passage, it is well to have a proper that “Many are called, but few chosen,” because few make
thought in mind respecting the drawing. That our Lord is their calling and election sure by obedience to the terms of
not drawing all men to himself at the present time is evident the call. So, too, it will be during the Millennial age; the
to every one: moreorcr, the Scriptures assure us that he is light, the opportunities, the general influence of that time,
not drawing men at the present-time: on the contrary, his will be so favorable, that “all skall come to a knowledge of
own words are that during the present age the Father does the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4; Isa. 11 :Y) and to opportunities of
all the drawing: “So man cometh unto me, except the Father harmonv with God. And it shall come to pass that the soul
which sent me ci?-nw him.” The drawing by the Son will not who will not hear (obey) that Prophet, Priest and King,
begIn until the drawing by the Father has accomplished its then in power, shall be cut off from amongst his people-in
intended purpose. That purpose, as Scripturally expressed, the second death.-Acts 3 :23.

THE ONLY BEGOTTEN

From far in the great aions of eternitv. And now reigns sllcnre. solemn, still, nq that which on
From space unlimyted, unmeasured bv tile steps Hi? natal day received him; for the aug:els watch,
Of worlds. from silence broken bv th;! voice With awe constrained, while he divests himself of all
Of him. the Self-Exi<lent One, \Ghose skilful word His wealth and glory, and becomes a babe; then loud
Created him,* came forth the glorious Son of God. Hosannas sing, “On ealth be peactr, good will to men!”
(0 sacred moment! which with shaded eyes we dare And lovingly they watch him as the perfect man’s
With holy boldness to approach: not with a vain Estate he magnifies with llkc obcdicncc,
Desire to see and know what God has hid, hut drawn Unflinching loyalty and firm humility ;
Thereto by that blest Spirit which in reverence Till, daunted not by Calv’ry’s Cross and shame, he gives
Delights to search the deep and precious things revealed.?) His life-a ransom for a helpless, dying lare.
0 glad Beginning of Creation’s early morn! That awful dav the darkened slln and quaking earth
0 glorious Finish of Creation’s noon and night! Creation’s an&sb voiced: but One yrt reigned supreme,
0 hlesqed Son, begotten of the Father’s speech, Who loved him with the power of infinity,
Thou Only Well-belor’d, in whom all fulness dwells’ And in His mapter-hand the mighty issups held-
Silence and space alone were found to worship thee! The matchless Son had won the title to a throne 1
But deep within the counsels of th’ Eternal One What throne? Could all the boundless universe produce
Lav rountless hosts whose nraise should celebrate the Son: A wnrthv coronet for his escutcheon which
An> to the Son was giv’n p;erogative$ to call Nor lion&. glory, shame nor death could mar? Behold,
Them to existence, in abodes of him prepared, The heav’nlv mvriatls wnrh111m wbilr the Fatllcr crowns
And crown with happiness each creature in its sphere. The risen &n-divine,* imm&tal,f Lord of all.-/
Rich in insignias of his high rank, he still 0 hail, Immanuel! Prince of life and glory, hail!
Delighted in the emblems of humility; Let earth with heaven unite in adoration, praise,
And wore upon his heart the gem obedience, Thanksgiving to thy God, whose attributes thou hast
And clothed his arm with zeal, his feet with haste, to do Exalted, and to thee, whose love and sacrifice
The holy will of Him who loved and cherished him. Constrain a race redeemed to endless gratitude !
-R. B. HENNING&
~-
l Rev. 3.14. t 1 or. 2:lO. $ John 1.3. l Web. 1:3-Diaglott. t John 5:26. $ Rom. 14:9.
c25191
 ENCOURAGING THE TEMPLE BUILDERS
SEPT. IO.-HAQ. 2 : 1-Q.
“Be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work, for I am with you.”
Haggai’s prophecy dates from a period fifteen years after governor, the chief priest, and the people in general, was an
the return of Israel from Babvlonian cantivitv. In our last exhortation to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his
lesson we saw the corner-stone”of the Tehple iaid with much might; and the basis of-the encouragement was in-the declara-
rejoicing and hope, but it would appear that the builders tion. “I am with vou. saith the Lord of hosts.”
soon became discouraged, and practically gave up the work. it is a mistak;! td suppose that God’s people always need
We are to remember that the work of reconstructing their a berating. It is well to remember the weaknesses and die-
homes, gardens, etc., would be considerable, and would keep couranements with which all contend, and to administer the
them very busy for years. Besides, a new ruler of the Medo- oil an?l wine of consolation and encouragement. We are to re-
Persian empire had succeeded Cyrus, viz., Cambyses, and he member that when the Lord’s neonle are weak in confidence in
with his hordes of soldierv had nassed through Palestine en themselves is the most hopeful time to cultivate in themselves
route for Egypt, which he con’quered, and -doubtless both and each other a spirit of reliance upon the Lord and con-
eoinn and returnine the laree number of noorlv discinlined fidence in him. Fain would we say to the Lord’s spiritual
fiold&s did ronsiderable loo‘ting, and thui di&ouraghd the children these words of the Prophet, “Be strong, saith the
hopes of those who so confidently looked for a return of na- Lord, and work; for I am with you.”
tional prosperity. It is when the Lord’s people begin to feel that the Lord
l%ut npp:lrpntly a considerahlr portion of the difficulty is afar off, and that they are depending on themselves or on
lay inea lukewxrmncss toward relipion. The people, it would each other, and when they realize their weaknesses, that dis-
seem. had provided themselves with comfortable houses, gar- rouragement is apt to creen in-especiallv upon those who.
dens. rtr., whilr the Temple, the Lord’s house, lay desolate. having returned jrom my& Bnhyion, are seeking to build
This is implied in the Prophet’s word’s. ( Haggai 1: 4-6 I <7
again the sniritual Temnle. the Churrh. the Temnle of the lir-
Haggai not only came as a reprover of the people’s neglect. ing God.. !l!here are m&y temptations to these to attend to
hut also as an encourager to a reformation in thiq matter. earthlv affairs, to build their own reputation and earthly
He pnintcd nut to them tbPt their props were Pmall. and nros&ritv. and to neglect the great work for which ostensibly
prosperity was larking, brranse they had neglected to honor they’ cam”e out of Babylon. ikt all such take courage from
the Lord with their substance. 1Ve rrmemher that this wah the‘ Word of the Lord. through Haecai, “T am with vou; br
the Lorrl’s covc,nant with Tsrael as a nation-that they should strong and work.” To’those &ho hi<e no interest in the world
have temporal prosperities as a reward for faithfulness to the the message respecting the Lord’s presence will he undesirable;
Lord. and temnnral rtdvrrsitics as a nunishment for neglect hut it encourages and strengthens the truly devoted who arc
of their religious obligations. Hem*; the Prophet’s &rds merely discourkged by the lightings without and within.
would be rerognized hy the people as in full accord with the The Lord. throueh the Prophet. called the attention of
T,ord’s prcbrlictiona thrnurh Moses. (Deut. 28:1-42) And the the Israelites to the-fact that &e had made a covenant with
appeal seems to have had the rlesired effect. The people began them after thev had come out of Egypt, assuring them of hit
to reali7& that in neglecting the Lord’s cause, and merely var- willineness to perform it; and that his spirit, his power, hi-
ing for their own temporalities. they hild not only dis- energ$; was in ‘their midst to puide, to overrule and to bless.
honored Cod. hut had also iustly hindered their own temporal and on this account thev should not fear nor be discouraged
prosperity. In consequence, a revival of religious interest And if that Law Covenant, given at the hands of Moses, hnd
followed, and the Temple reconstruction began again. ratified with the blood of bulls and of goats, was a cause
Many have failed to note the distinct difference between of encouragement to freshly Israel, much more should spiritual
God’s covenant with fleshly Tsrarl and his covenant with Israel remember the New Covenant, and its new Mediator. who
spiritual Tsrael, and therefore are inclined to apply the above ever liveth to make intercession for us, and to regard our
reasoning to Christian people of the present time. and to say welfare at the throne of the heavenly grnce; and the‘ prerious
that if nl!ynnc is not prosperous fmnncially and snrially it hlood hv which the New Covenant was ratified. Spiritual
is an indication of his lack of religion and of divine die- Tsrael Gay well say, I will not fear; for if God so lbved 11s
favor. But the very reverse of this’is frequently true now. while we were pet sinners, much more now that WC are a(*-
If wo RCCAn individual. or a company of individuals, very pros- raepted in the heloved are we the special objects of divine care
perous in temporal things, experienrc would lend us to ques- and grace.
tion whrthrr or nnt the prosperous ones were living RR near The messagr of VSR. 6-Q was doubtless considerable of H
to God as when thw ., were less nrosnerous. . . and w-lrrtber or riddle to the Ismelites who heard it. It sepmed an extravik-
not. their prnqperitv might imply e\-trn dannrr from “the gant statement; indeed, it was so. if applied to the house
cares nf thiq life and the dpceitfulnrss of riches.“-Mark 4: IQ. which they were seeking to reconstruct. But the holy spirit.
Trnc. rich& do not in every case indicatr worldliness. through the Apostle, shows us that this prophery did not
Annlrcntlv the T,ord nrcasionallv finds some cnrnrst and relate whollv nor even specially to the literal temple at Jerll-
fR’iihfn1 children to whom hr call entrust a stewardship of salem, but & the symhoiic te<plr. the temple of God. “whirb
richcq for the furtbcrnnce of his (‘ause. without iaiury; but temole are ve”-the church of the living God. whose names
nhacrvntinn shnws that surh instances are rare, and t-hnt a4 are’ writtend in heaven. This Gospel r&rch is the “latter
r7 rule not mnny great, nnt many rich. not many wise, not house” or temple, spiritual Israel, as the former house was
many IrPrllrd. hnth God chnsrn. hut. the poor of this world. natural Israel. represented in the natural Jerusalem and its
ric!l in f:llth. to l)e bril h of the kingdom.-1 Cnr. 1 :27: temple. Ours is ihe New ,Terusalem and our temple is being
.Tamc,r 2 : 5. built by the new Master-builder himself, as it is written, “Ye
16 i+ IV inqn;r’arl thrn Whrlrc in is the parallelism whitah are his workmanship.” (Eph. 2:lO) The Apostle show+
WP ~honlrl ouncrt to find between God’s deslineq with ileshlv us that Christ Jesus himself is the great Corner-Stone of
Irrn(al nnrl(lr ihr T,:Iw Covrnant :lnd his dralings with spirit- this house of sons. and that all of the faithful followers of
unl TLr*>pl llndcr thcl Nrw Covenant? we answer. The parnl- Christ are being shaped. fitted, polished, prepared, as “livinr
lelism is thrrc, but on a hiqher plane. The spiritual Israelite stone.” for nlaces in this antitvpical temple, whose builder
whn is fnitlrful to God will prow rirh spiritually in deed and and maker is God.-1 Pet. 2 :‘7 ;” ‘Heb. 11: 10.
in truth. but, if unfaithful to God he will crow Door spiritually It is only when we get a glimpse through the New Testh-
in deed and in truth. And those who are poor in -temporal ment of the glory. honor and immortality which shall attach
thins m:,v br rich in sniritunl thinrrs. hut in anv case will to the great &ritual temple now under construction. and
find thnt “‘pndlinrns wiih contintment is great &&“--true rcnlize bv f& the “glory ‘that shall be revealed in us,” in
ric*lir5.* God’s due time, that WC can realize even slightly the signifi-
The dntc of Haggni’s nrophecv is given $13the second vrar ranrr of the words of the Prophet, “The glory of this latter
of the reien of Dhrins { 1: i ), but this Darius was not‘ the hnnse shall be ereater than of the former, saith the Lord
one who sur,cceded nelshazzer, hut Hystaspes, who succeeded of hnsts: and in this nlnre will I give peace.”
Camhvses. The pcare and joy and blessing’ which the world needs and
HaPcai’s message, as presmterl’in the first chapter, had Craves cannot come, will not come, until this lntter house of
evidrnt,lv aroused an interest in religion, as intended: and so the Lord’s building shall be completed and filled with his
we find that the second rhaptrr. of \;rhich our lesson is a part, Plorv-until the elect church. whose Head is Christ Jesus.
is in thp nature of an exhortstinn and encouragement to “the zhail he given the kingdom, the dominion of earth-&hen a
people of the land.” And b;Y the way. this expression, which King shall reign in righteousness and princes shall execute
fiftcrn years before was rnnsldrrrd applicable to the foreipners iudrrment. the knowledge of the Lord shall fill the whole
residing in Palestine. is now applied to the returned exiles; ‘k&h, and none shall ‘heed to say to his neighbor, Know
they w&e henceforth’ the peoplh -of the land--God’s people in thou the Lord. and ereat shall be the neace of that Millennial
the’ Land of Promise. The encouragement. extended to the day. when the Prin& of Peace shall &gn.-Luke 12:32; Rrv.
l See June IS. 1919. for critical examination of Covenants .5:10; Isa. ll:Q; 32:l; 54:13.
(219-220) 126201
AUGUST 15, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (221-222)

This prophecy respecting the shaking of the heavens and the weakness of their judg.ment and the selfishness of their
the earth is quoted in Heb. 12:26, and we there have an in- hearts. But when the vail shall be taken away, and the
spired comment upon it, showing that it will be fulfilled in blind shall see out of their obscurity, and God’s kingdom shall
the end of this Gospel age, and that it is a symbolic shaking have came and established peace and good will amongst men,
and signifies the removal of everything that is unstable, and when the knowledge of the Lord shall have been caused
transitory, imperfect,- in the great time of trouble with to fill the earth. and when the evil-doers shall have been cut
which this age will end and the Millennial age be ushered off from life, in the second death, verily then the desire of
in. The Apostle assures us that the expression, “Yet once all nations will have come. and the desire of the Creator
more,” si,qifles a finality, that there will never more be re- will have dome too; for God’s will shall yet be done on earth
quirement for shaking; for revolution, for changes, because as it is done in heaven, as prophesied in our Lord’s prayer,-
with this ereat shakine. this ereat change. will be ushered Matt. 6 : 10.
in that perfection of t& new &der of t&gs which cannot Silver and gold, in the restoration of the temple, seem
be shaken-the kingdom of God conditions. to have been lacking; hence the Lord’s declaration that all
The shaking of all nations is here, as everywhere, as- the gold and all the silver are his. In the antitypical temple
sociated with the glory of the temple: in other words, the construction. it at times appears as tho the silver of divine
Scriptures show that the time of great trouble upon the world, truth were jacking. and t.&- gold of the divine character in-
in which all the kinedoms of this world and its various sufl?cient. but all who have confidence in the TJord may rely
institutions, reliyionq, -political, &&al, shall fall, will be the upon his assurance that he has all things needful for the
very time when God’s kingdom, God’s church, shall be “set up” accomplishment of his purposes. “The T,ord knoweth them
in power and great glory; to be his agency in blessing the that are his,” Therefore, in the lanyungc of the text, let us all
world. .411d not only here but elsewhere we are assured that be strong, and work, for God is with us; we are merely CO-
when this shall take place the Desire of all nations shall workers toget,her with him. He will surely arrompli?h the
come. great, work he ha? promised; the spiritual temple shall be
All peoples have been looking with more or less earnest- built: but our individual hlensing in connection with it will
ness and sincerity for a just and good government, however be in proportion as we have been strong in the Lord and full
blindly they may have sought it, because the prince of this of faith and full of zeal, co-workers together with him. “T
world has blinded the minds of them that believe not through am with you. . , . quo&f”

“MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE”

SEPT. 17.--TECH. 4 : l-14.
“Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”
Zechariah the Prophet was a priest as well, and was a the Tabernacle, and later of the Temple. The Prophet knew
young man at the tihe of his r&urn under the governor, that this lamp represented in some manner divine favor,
Zerltbbahel. from the Rahvlonian cantivitv. As a prophet enlightenment and blessing as connected with the promises made
he was the successor of Higgai, whd wae”now old, ind- his to Israel. But the lampstand of the vision had a peculiarity
rarcer as such began in the second year of Darius Hystaspea, all its own, for the Prophet beheld also two olive trees con-
and continued about two years. It was part of his mission nected with it by golden pipes. (Vs. 12) Thus the Lord in-
to encourage Zerubbabel and all who labored in the construc- dicated that the supply of oil for Israel’s candlestick and the
tion of the Temple, and who were beset by innumerable op- supply of Israel’s light was an inexhaustible one.
positions. dificulties. &.---Nell. 12:4-7; Zech. 1 :l ; Ezra. 5:l ; No doubt the Prophet himself. and those in that day who
6:14; 7:l. beard his prnphery, drew from this vision a considerable
There are two general views respecting this and all proph- amount of blrssing and encourngcment. To them it would
ecies ; one of them, the one favored bv the “higher critics,” speak of the T,ord’s continued favor with them, notwithstand-
is that the prophe& of the Old Te&ment Scfiptures we& ing the persecutions and diffic~nlties on every hand. Quite
men of high morn1 attainment and faith in God’s nromises. probahlr they interpreted these two olive trees to represent
who realiied in advance of others and more keenly-the true in some’ milnller the kingly ;III~ thfb priestly offires in Tsrael.
Rituation of things, and of their own volition, prompted by which offices were now rcprcsentcd hy Zcruhhabel, the gov-
their own faith and seal, exhorted the people, in parables ernor, and Joshua, the high priest, God’s sprcial representa-
that would be helpful, instructive, enco;ra$ng, et%. The tives in the work of restoring Jsrnfl. No doubt the Tdord
other view is that God had the faith in his own nromisee 1 and wished those to whom Zecharlah prophesied to get just such
arrangements, and that he miraculously operated upon cer- f~nrnii1 agemt,nt. and arranged th.lt these two leaders of t,he
tain chosen persons, so that “holy men of old spake as they people should he types of the Royal Priest--Christ, Jesus.
were moved b:v the holy spirit” -things which were not their Nevertheless, we believr th;lt thrrc, is a much higher tiig-
own thoughts: but whi>h kncouraged ‘themselves and inspired nificance to the vision than tlliq, for wc find, no2 only the
their own faith and zeal, as well as the faith and zeal of golden rnndlcstirk, but also the iwo olive trrrx, mentioned six
all about them. This view of the prophets and their proph- hundred years later, in our Lortl’.; rtbvclation given to the
ecies Cireq the ~lorv to God. and makes of the words of the Apostle *John on thr Isle of Patmos: and this is conrlu4ve
prophets messR&es from God: and hence authoritative and rc- uroof that the vision was mnrr than merclv a narablc bv
iiabie, while the fervent utterances of the verv best men !4echariah, and farther reacbhing thau mrrely” the ‘encourag<-
could not be considered reliable; but, as we ali know. are ment of the builders of thr tvnical tcmole. iVe will not here
frequently faulty, because of the fallibility of their authors. tantrr into the suhjert in det’ail, hut m&ly en11 attention to
The Apostle Peter asserts this last view of the matter, and the fart that the sevrn lamps or candlesticks shown in united
contraclictq the former one.-1 Pet. 1 :lO-12. form to the Prophet are shown a+ separate and distinct in
Any other view than the latter would make the prophecies the Book of Revelation, where eacdh of the seven churches, or
valueless as prophecies to the church of to-day. It is not the* seven epnclhs of the history of t,hc rhnrch, is represented
until we realize that the prophecies, altho having some force by :1 qarate randlesti~k, or lamp--Rev. l:lZ, 20; 2:5; 11:4.
and annlication to the times in which thev were written. TIIV message sent to Zeruhha’hcl, Chp governor, no doubt
have i ‘special force and application to us, ai the antitypiiii carried with it the intended hlc$sing and encouragement to
Israel, and to the building of the antitypical Temple, that thnf offic+cr. and w:lq in fnll accord with the candlestick vision.
we get the true force, value and beautv of these Drophecies-a Hc waq to learn, and all thr people\ with him, that the surress
fore< and meaning t&at is entirely lo& to those *wh6 take the of thAr work WAS not hy the nzight, influence and favor of the
higher criticism view. and reduce the DroDhets of olden times Persian monarch to whom they were subject, nor by the pou>nr
to”the level of street-corner preacher;, 6ho expressed truth snd nnmbrrs and ahility of thrrn%rlves. as laborers and de-
in crude forms and figures, blended with considerable of un- fendc>rs of thrir cause against their nlxnrby neighbors, the
truth and human misjudgment. Samaritans. They were to learn that the success of their
Altogether the Lord ‘gave the Prophet Zechariah seven efforts should be attributed to God, whose holy spirit, power,
different visions: and the fifth of the series is the subiect of influence, would guide and control the affairs of that nation,
this lesson. It ihowed a large golden candlestick, or, ‘as we and accomplish in his own time and way t.he gracious things
would say, lampstand, with a large central bowl, and seven whirh he had promised them.
branches therefrom, each of which terminated in a lamp. “Who art thou, 0 great mountain? Before Zerubbabel
The prophet, no doubt, was somewhat familar with such a thou shalt become a plain.”
lamp, since it in many particulars corresponded to the one This probably referred to the mountain of difllculty which
made by divine direction, and kept in the holy apartment of stood in the way of the Lord’s work. and which had for some
(223-2244) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA.

time prevented its completion, and at the present moment was of construction from the standpoint of numbers, influence, out-
a serious menace. The Lord’s assurance, through the Prophet, ward nolish, etc. Instead, we should be looking unto Jesus,
was that the Temple should be completed, shall be finished; the author of our faith, who laid the foundation-stone, and
and not onlv PO. but that Zerubbabel. who had laid the foun- who is to be the finisher of it, and is the cap, the climax, of
dation stank, should also have the’ honor and privilege of his great and wonderful work, the new creation in glory.
comnletine it with the head-stone or can-stone. and that when The “ereat
o;- mountain” of the nresent
II is the great kingdom
completedv there would be great rejoicing- and’a-ppreciation of of the Evil One, which has the appearance of-being immov-
the work, a:clamntions of “Grace, grace, unto it!” In har- able, but which now speedily, in the great time of trouble and
mony with this, Israel was exhorted, “Despise not the day of “shaking,” shall pass away, leaving a plain, a highway of
small things”-small beginnings, feeble efforts, discouraging holiness on which whosoever wills of the world of mankind
conditions. etc..--hut to consider Zerubbabel the master-builder. may return by restitution to full harmony with God under the
the plummet&er, and to recognize the Lord’s wisdom and great Prophet, Priest and King.
Dower with him. The antitypical temple will be complete when the power
a But the language used in this connection is entirely too of the most high, represented by the oil of the candlestick.
strong to be applied solely to the insignificant little temple the holy spirit, shall rear up the living temple in resurrection
built by Zerubbabcl and his associates. As we have seen that power (from the dead) in the likeness of our Lord, in glory,
the former part of this vision applied to fleshly Israel only honor and immortality. Then the glory of the Lord will fill
typically, PO we see that this part also applies to Israel, and the spiritual temple! Then will be the shoutings, “Grace,
to Zerubbabel and to .Joshua only typically. grace, unto it!” Then will begin the great work of blessing
Looking for the antitvne, we find it in sniritual Israel, the
” .
all the. families of the earth, and the blessings shall flow
spiritual temple which God is building. In Zerubbabel’ and from this spiritual Temple, a river of water of life, clear as
Joshua we find the kinvlv and nriestlv offices of our Lord crystal,-as’ seen in our lesson of August 20.
Jesus represented in two’ parts-the wo;d Joshua in the He- From this standpoint only, as applicnble to the antitypical
brew signifies Snwaou~, and in the Greek is Jesus, and the Zerubbabel. can we understand the reference to the “seven
name Zerubbahel, as we have alreadv seen, signifies Born in eyes” of the Lord which run to a,rJ fro through the whole
Bnhylon. The particular time typified would’be the present earth. We can see that the eves of the Lord (his perfect and
timcl. when God’s neoule are returnina from Babvlon. and when much diversified wisdom) are necessary to be exercised
the work of Temple-reconstruction ii in progress. ’ throughout the whole world in connection with the work of
Our Lord .Je\us himself laid the foundation of the spiritual preparing the living stone? and rearing up the antitypical
Temple, and he himself will complete it as its top-stone, and it temple in the hands of the antitypical Zerubhabel, but we
shall he acclaimed glorious, not only by men, but by angels, could not see how divine wisdom would be neressary in all
in God’s due time. The work is in his hand, and although parts of the earth to take supervision of the building of the
from outward appearances at the present time there may seem little typical temple by the typical Zerubbabel.
to be drsc*ouragements, and little progress may seem to have No one can rightly appreciate t,he hopra and ambitions
been made, yet his servants should be of good courage and aroused in the minds of the Jewish nation by the Lord through
should remember that their victory is to come, not through the holy prophets, except as he realizes the fart that spiritual
human might, popularity and influence, nor by their own Israel has taken the place in large measure of natural Israel,
power, but hy the Lord’s Spirit. The possession of his faith whose branches were broken off, that we who were of the
and his spirit will give us the victory over the world, the flesh Gentiles might be grafted in and become heirs of the chiefest,
and the Adversary, and make us more than conquerors through the heavenly, the spiritual features of those promises. Never-
him who loved us and bought us with his own precious blood. theless. we are to rememhpr that there are also earthly
Our struggles, our efforts, our building, are all on a dis- features of those promises, whirh the Apostle assures us are
couragingly small and insignificant scale. but we see not and still sure, and reserved for the natural seed of Abraham, and
build not the real Templr, the living stones. We see each through the latter to extend to all the families of the earth,
other according to the flesh, to some extent, despite our efforts that whosoever will may berome of the earthly seed of Abra-
to know no man after the flesh, and to recognize each other ham: for Abraham’s seed is to be of two parts-“ns the stars
onlv as new creatures in Christ. We look more or less, how- of heaven” and “as the sand of the seashore.“-Rom. 11: 26-33 ;
evef unintentionally, nt thr things that are seen, which are Gen. 22 : 17.
temporal and imperfect. We think more or less of the work SEPTEMBER 24-REVIEW

AN INTERESTING LETTER
DEAR BROTXER RUSSELI,:-I thought I wouid drop you a ing, Sir; you are the man that’s around with that book,
few lines as to mv evnerieuce in mv rerentlv begun work as M1r.r .I;NNUL DAWN ?” “Yes; and I will be only too glad to
a colportrur. In” con~pany with Brothers ‘Rirbardson and call your attention to the book for just a few moments.”
Barbour I rame to \Vashineton. Pa.. a nice town of about “Oh, no ! our minister was just here and told me not to read
26.000 population For th; most pirt its people are very the book, nor receive ycu into mv house, nor bid you God-
intelllpent and independent. I found DAX-xs and tracts in speed; for your book was full of -infidelity, and neither you
many of the houses. and a strong feeling of suspicion as well nor the book believed in God, heaven or hell.”
as of opposition against both. For this the ministers of the I reulied, “Sister, I am confident the minister never read
plare are evidently responsible; the most of them had never the book, does not know what it contains, and am sure he is
read what they blindly oppose. Thus they are guilty of entirely wrong; for the book treats on all these subjects; and,
expressing judgment in advance of knowledge’ besides, if you will read it, you will find as much hell taught
The WATCII TOWER readers have iuat distributed The as you could wish.” “Oh, well, if that is the kind of book
ZMle IX. thr Erolutiom Theory. In a majority of the houses it is you may bring it to me,” said she. I thanked her, and
at which I called I found that excrllent booklet, and upon in leaving the house was just in time to see the good minister
inquiry learned that nearly all who had it had read it with emerging from another house.
benefit’. and some were loud in their nraiqe of such “a good I made mv wav to this residence and was received with a
and timely tract.” On the strength 01 this tract many gave way-below-zero air, and at once told that ‘We do not want
me their orders for Dawns, saying that “the author of such the book. and would not give it house-room.” The minister,
a tract would certainlv nroduce a readable and profitable she said; had told her not to read the book. and that was
book.” One old “broth’er” snid he “knew somethinb heavier enough for her! I said, “Lady, do you do everyt,hing your
was comine.” He gave me his order for the boo!<: that he minister tells you to do?” She said, “No, not everything.” I
might lea&Y more of ‘the truth. said, “If he would tell you to put your head in the-fire, would
One of the ministers of the city was very industriously voii do that?” “No.” said she. Then with true womanly
engaged in misrepresenting the DAWN, going about from curioqity she inquired : “What’s in the book, anyway? It
house to house counsrling his flock not to read the book, but must be a funny book; everybody has so much to say about it.”
to exercise the same caution roncernine it as thev would This opened the way. and after rehearsing some of the leading
relative to a dose of poison. He told some of them that if points she said: “If it’s a book like that you may bring it,
they had any faith at all the book would eclipse it with the for I have often wondered what was to become of the heathen,
darkness of unbelief. That if they had the least hope, tl,li; anyway !” I recorded her order, and in leaving was just in
would be denrived of it should thev read the DAWN! . time to catch a glimpse of my adversary leaving another
“shepherd” and I came near forming acquaintance: he was house. I was soon in the presence of the “lady of the house,”
always one door ahead of me! The first house I saw him who at once advised me that I was wasting time at her house
come out of I went into. The “lady of the house” recognized with the book; that when she wanted to read Ingersoll she
me as if by instinct. “Good morning,” I said. “Good morn- would procure his works ! I said, “Now, lady, why don’t you
[ 26221
AUGUST IS, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (224-227)

a-ant my book? I am sure it contain9 heart-satisfying and the young of both sexes. The learned “Doctor” who presides
mind-catching explanations of the very things you wish to over the institution, told Brother Barbour, who was present-
know about, and concerning which you hare inquired of your ing the claims of DAWN, that when he was a young man the
minister and others many times, only to be left in the dark. question of the second coming of Christ troubled him very
You have, I am sure, been all your life querying respecting much. But as he grew in years and wisdom (?) the question
how the death of your Redeemer and the love and justice of did not bother him any more, and said: “I have absolutely no
God can and will affect the heathen. How and what will be interest in the question of the second coming of Christ, and do
the general judgment? When and how God’s kingdom will not wish anything to do with the question.” “No, young
come and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven? Why man. I don’t want your book.”
God has permitted evil so wide an influence? etc. You have Although I have been a minister of the Gospel for nearly
never found satisfactory answers to these questions, but can a quarter of a century and thought I knew something about
have them now in the MILLENKIAL DAWN. Besides, a lady of matters and things, yet I realize that much of that service,
pour intelligence should read for herself, as I am sure you though rendered in all good conscience, seems to have been
do.” “Well,” said she, “bring me the first volume; and if it worse than wasted, for evidently my conceptions of the rhar-
holds out, I will have the rest.” I thanked her, adding, “I am acter and work of God were to a considerable extent de-
confident you will have all the books. You do not look like a cidedly wrong. Now with more correct and enlightened views
woman who will abide having her reading matter selected for cf the lengths and breadths, and heights and depths of the
her. The book may cut the corners of your creed, but”-. “I justice, wisdom. love and power of our heavenly Father, I am
don’t care anything about the creed, I never read the creed! glad to avail myself of this new ministry which enables me to
I don’t know it. Bring me all the books! How much are leave from sixteen to fifty printed sermons with the truth-
they?” she interrupted. hungry with whom I meet.
It is strange how little mental and moral independence Praying the blessing of our heavenly Father upon YOU,
some people have! Yet, there are instances where some go to dear brother, and that you may be spared to us and to his
extremes with what they do possess. For instance, in this service unto the end, I am,
town of Washington is a beautiful college building filled with Yours in his service, C. W. COOPER.

VOL. xx ALLEGHENY, PA., SEPT. l-15, OCT. l-15, 1899 Nos. 17, 18, 10, 20

MILLENNIAL DAWN, VOL. V.--“AT-ONE-MENT”

Copies of DAWX V. (.iOO pages), have been sent to all on TOWER. Any \vho expected it and have not received it, and
the WATCH TOWER lists whose subscription is not in arrears- whose reckoiings would thus appear to be different from ours,
including all of the “Lord’s poor,” who applied as per above are requested ( 1) to ask their postmaster to look for it in
term*, during the present year. This represents our issues his office, and then if not found (2) t0 at once notify us,
for September and October, as mentioned in August 1st mentioning date of last remittance and 110~ forwaldcd.

VOL. 1s ALLEGHENY, PA., NOVEMBER 1, 1899 No. 21

<

THE VOLUNTEER WORK

In our issue of April 15 the offer was made that wherever promptly supplied: our British brethren can be supplied later
the friends of present truth would volunteer to serve the from those now on the press.
Lord and his brethren by distributing the booklet, The Bible L “volunteers”
The de?r who have already engaged in this
2s. the Evolution I’heory, to the Church people of their cities service report great blessings upon their own hearts in this
and towns the same (a 5 cent pamphlet) would be supplied little service for our King and his “brethren.” Some, having
free. finished the work in their own cities. are reaching out into
The motive behind this large expenditure is the hope of adjacent towns. Some have been led to study the truth
reaching some of the Israelites indeed, in Babylon; and we because of their appreciation of the faithfulness to principle
know of no better method of serving the truth to such that exhibited by these “volunteers.”
is open to the majority of those who have pledged themselves The volunteers of each town should act in unison, as much
living sacrifices to lay down their lives for the brethren.-1 as possible. Make out your list of Protestant churches in
John 3: 16. your place, and estimate the probable attendance (not mem-
Brothers and Sisters in all parts of our land and in Great berehip) : then appoint one of your number your scribe to
Britain promptly responded; and as a result we are only now report to us the number of churches and the number of book-
getting ahead of the home demand, and preparing a large lets you can judiciously use. 911 want some part in this
shipment for England. Now the Transvaal war excitement “harvest” work. The Master says, “He that reapeth receiveth
makes it advisable to postpone the distribution in England; wa,nrs [blessings. now] and gathereth fruit unto everlasting
and hence we inquire for more volunteers at home, who can be life.”

THE BOSTON AND ST. LOUIS CONVENTIONS

Blessed seasons of spiritual refreshing both of our con- with us on all points respecting that Word’s teachings.
ventions proved to be. \Ve have every reason to believe that The announccd programs were pretty generally carried out:
the Lord not only used them as channels of blebsmg to the at Boston addresses were delivered by Bros. Thorne and
“brethren” already interested, but also to others who came Graham of the Boston company, Bro. Alexander of the Yon-
with friends or through curiosity. Under the Lord’s provi- 6~7s. N. Y., company, Bro. Barton of the Philndelphi:t com-
dence the daily press of both cities gave us liberal notices pany, Bro. TVeber of hlargland, Bro. Lewis of Cohoes, N. Y.,
which reached some of the Lord’s hungry sheep. Pilgrim Rro. JfcPhail of the Chicago company (who also con-
The WATCH TOWER announcement styled these “Believers’ ducted the musical features) and by the Editor of this journal.
Conrentiolts,“-as signifying believers in God’s Word at this And in the testimony mectinps all had good opportunity of
time, when so many professed Christians are falling into dis- which very many availed themrelves. Visitors about 100:
belief through the influence of the Evolution theory, “higher attendance on Sunday about 250. Many strengthened ; all
criticism,” infidelity, etc. And the word “believers” is widely refreshed ; and so far as me know none disappointed and
known as signifying adherents to the doctrine of the second turnrd empty away.
coming of our Lord. We are “believers” and hope always to St. Louis had a larger territory to draw from, being more
be such, but let us beware of thinking of or using this as a crntral, and the number of visitors was about 200, and the
distinctive or sectarian name-to distinguish and separate us Sunday attendance about 400. Amongst the speakers were
from other Christian believers. We do not want to be Bro. Moffatt of Florida, Bro. Henninges of Allegheny, Bro.
separated from other believers, but to continue to love and Owen of Indianapolis, Bro. Weber of Maryland, Pilgrim Bros.
cherish and fully fellowship all who with us trust in the sure Willis and Draper, and a number of others. Your servant,
Word of God, even though they do not yet see eye to eye the Editor of this journal, was obliged in obedience to the
[ 25231
(228-233) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA.

wishes of the friend*, to occupy very much more than his vention they have an increase of about 30 in attendance, and
proportion of the time at both con\ entions;---especially at the that several more desire to ronfess Christ in symbolic bap-
last one. tism. The meetings have been forced to move to the more
In both conventions the spirit of love and fellowship pre- npac*ious quarters at Nineteenth and Morgan streets.
vailed; and if even one jar occurred or one discordant note As usual, the money question was kept out of notice. One
sounded, we did not learn of it. The local churches had
dear brother came to us, saying, “Brother Russell, I wanted to
given careful attention to every detail of arrangement for contribute something toward the expenses of this convention,
the visiting “brethren”-including the free entertainment of
those who needed such provision. Their reception committees but they will not accept it. I want to get even on the matter
somehow, so you must accept it for the Tract Fund. Another
in both instances were tireless in their loving endeavors to dear brother sent ten dollars by mail, saying that he could
make all cornfor table. May the Lord abund,intly reward them
each and all! not attend, but wanted a share in the good work and would
be gled to help meet the expenses of snme of the poor in
At Boston. s?/rnbolrv baptism was administered to twenty- attendance. Indeed, several have since sent “Convention
three, at the hands of Bra. Woodworth. At St. Louis. forty-
one (21 malcr and 20 females), at the hands of Bro. Hen- Thank Offerings” to the Tract Fund.
ninpeq. Bro. 1)ann informs us that as a result of the con- “Praise God from whom all blessing!s flow.”

WHICH IS THE TRUE GOSPEL?

I\\.ith the exception of the paragraph below, this article was reprinted in issue of March 15, 1900, which please ser.]
From the St. LOUIS Repubhc, Oct. 9, 1899.
Yernmon delivered beforcb the St. Louis Convention of Believers in the Second Advent, by Pastor C. T. Russell of Allegheny,
Pa.. at the “Tabernacle,” car. Nineteenth and Morgan streets, St. Louis, MO.
Sunday afternoon, October 8, 1899.
1’11~ speaker took for his text the words of the Apostle, ~honl~l first hear from the general mass of Christian people on
“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power this suhiect. “After eighteen centuries of theological study
of Got1 unto salvation tc, every one that believeth.“-Rom. and Christian development in thought, what does Christianity
1.16. present to the woild today as the Gospel of Christ?” The
The speaker tIeclaret hi< desire to present a true gospel speaker begged his hearers to remember that if any remarks
kerrnon. yet he reflected that this espresqion, “gospel sermon.” should hc dropped whic+h might he construed as not cotnpli-
had bcbromc sn perverted that many Christian people might mentary to any of the creeds of leading denominations, no un-
expcc t. to h(bar the very reverse in some respects of what he
would have to say on this subject. By cnmmon consent a complitnentnry remarkk would be made respecting fellow-
gOSrJtd sermon has comr to he understood to signify the Christians themselves, for he desired to respect every true
shaking of the congregation, and indeed of nearly all man- Christian and his conscientious convictions. But in demonstra-
kind. over an imaginary abyss of everlasting torture, with tion of the truth he found it necessary to hold up some of
t.he cbffort to intimidate them thereby to a thorough reforma- the published creeds of Christendom, and to show their incon-
tion nf life in 11ope of thertbv escaping an awful eternity. qistenrirs in the light of the Scriptures and in the light of the
‘I’rm. this gnsprl of damnation ‘is not so generally prcacahed a* intelligent consciences of those who subscribed t,o these creeds,
it. 01r(‘,’ wan, h(*c*:irisr the mnrp enlipl~tcncd minds of cultured some of whom douhtlesa had never realized fully to what they
l~(11jl~ rrpudiatc~ it ah a fetish nf the past. But it is still to had committed themselves whtan they affrrmetl thehe crreds to
1)~ li~rtl in (olintry placc~. occasionally in a city pulpit and he truthful representations of their Christian faiths. Everp-
at :L carnpmcetin~. and at the street meetings of the Salvation thing that the speaker would sa v would he said in the kindest
.4rrnv :~ntl at their barrac.ks. The speaker did not wish for of spirit and with the beht of ‘intention to lift up the light
s mcpmrnt tn criticsiqr the honrsty of intention of those who of truth and to draw the hearts of all the T,ord’s people to
thuc prrac~h. lie was not speaking in criticism of persons but him, and to put to shame only those elements of tlurkncss and
of tlnctrinrs, wbcn he drclared such prearhing to be as far falsity which are contrary to the Scriptures, contrary to
from tbr Gospel as the cast is from the west, as he hoped to sanctified common sense, contrary to all that is holy and just
.IIOV b(~for(~ fiili,lritlg his tli:~c*nursc~. and true. And he expected to make his remarks so moderate
Bpfnrr proc~eoding to present the true Gospel of the Scrip- that not a solitary intelligent Christian within the fiound of
!rir(as he ronsldcrc4 it only proper that he and his audience his voire could take the slightest, exception.

NEHEMIAH’S CONSECRATION AND PRAYER

Nov. 5.-NED. l:l-11.
“Prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day.”
.\lthough the book of Nehemiah is :I historical one-that of the spiritus work and ordering of the soul in godliness; in
Ih tcl s,iy, not a prnphc4ic41 or inspired nnct-we are neverthe- the eighth. the study of the Word; in the ninth, the Chris-
levy to rrgard its hi4nri(~al nreqrntations as hxvina been tian,s faith confessine its weakness: in the tenth. the covenant
*n1~1 v isrtl IW divine provitl(~nc7~ ant1 intended for the instruc- i rlntinnsliip enipliasizYed ; in the eleventh, the systemntizing of
tion ililt cdi’fication of God’s nennlc. In thesca rrsnc~cts it cor- the advnrwd soul in the godly life; in the twelfth, the thank-
r~s1)011d~to the Ilooks of .Ju<ig&. Satnuc>l. Kings.’ Chronicles, ful acknnnledgment of God in evervthinn: and in the thir-
Ezi il. li,~lh~~r, etc... and in thrso r(~hpCcts it fllffers from the teenth. thr -:ad cxhihition of the Ch;istiaG’a fall, and need of
prophc4cal books which present to ns tlirectlv the words of the rcnr’wed influemes of the snirit. When. on the close
di\ in,> inspiration. This book is sometimes r&ognizcd as the e\::lrnin tion of the book, we see ‘how exactly this outline is
Srrond hook ot Ezra. becbause its narrative is the seouel to filled up me can hardly believe that such a spiritual applica-
lhcb 11cmk of Ezr,i. 1Jntloubtcdly, however. Nehemiah was the tion ~61s not intended in the recorded history. It is probable
writ(Br of the major part of it. additions being made of other that Bunyan took his hfanso~~l from the study of this book.”
featiir,~~ by snmtb otlicr historian. Portions of the book are N~hrmiah informs us that he held the office of Cup-bearer
apparently rnpicd from the> State arrhivcs and written in the to the king of Persia, at his palace, Shushan-the principal
thir(l person, while Nehemiah cvitlentlv was the writer of the of the tlirrc Persian cnpitals. In ancient times the Cup-bearer
portion presented in thr first person. ” was a ronfidential favorite with the monarch, highly trusted;
lb-. Howard Crnshv calls attrntinn to the fret that althoueh he had a~es~ to the king’s presence continually, and not
rhc Rook of I\‘chtimia”h is strictly historical, it nevertheless Tn mcre1.v on state occasions, as the political officers. His office
:I very remarkable tnanner outlines nr shadows in various was in the nature of trusted friend nnd counsellor, through
parts a Christian’s rxprriencc. Tlr savs*- whom in4rmtion~ were sent, not only to the king’s household
“It is interest,ing t; see how admirably the Book of Ne- srrvnnts, hilt also to ministers of the realm. Such trusted
hemiah tells the stnrv of the* qnnl's renewal. In the first serv:lnts were expected to have a general oversight, especially
chapter is the conviction nnd confession of sin and unright- of the honsehnld, and to be able to euarantee the king against
eousnes9 ; in the second, the determination to rebuild with conspirrcirs upon his life; he was” e?cpkcted to taste of the
God’s grace; in the third, the actual rebuilding of the soul’s kinn’s food in his presence as an assurance or guarantee that
defenc*rs in qnnrtificmtion; in the fourth. the attacks upon the it had not been poisoned. In presenting wine to the king, it
soul from without; in the fifth, the assaults from within; in wns the cnstom for this officer to pour out a sample for him-
the sixth, the sly temptations of the Adversary, in the guise of self, and from this probably originated the title of Cup-bearer.
reasonableness : in the seventh the snccessful accomplishment Somewhat similarly, in Great Britain. various persons of high
[2524]
NOVEMBER 1, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (234-235)

rank are known as Chamberlain, Master of the Household, etc Such, however, will do wisely if they follow Nehemiah’s
It may he inferred from various statements of chapter five. course of earnest prayer and constant seeking for the oppor-
especially vss. 16-18, that Nehemiah had inherited great tunity which will permit them not only to make their sacri-
wealth, and we must think of him as a young man, gifted, fice, but to make it most effectively as respects the Lord’s
educated, and highly honored by the monarch ii the $sition cause.
which he held. That it was not imnossible for Hebrews to Our previous studies on this subject showed us that the
occupy confidential and high positions in the Persian empire wall of Jerusalem had been considerably repaired after the
is shown in the cases of Daniel, Esther and Mordecai. return from Babylon, but this repair work had been discon-
We saw in a previous lesson (Bugust 27) that those who tinued bv imnerial decree because of the representations made
returned to Jerusalem under the proclamation of Cyrus were by the ;uler$ of the Samaritans, who, w’e remember, were
for the most part the poorer of the captives who had not nrovoked bv the refusal of tbe Israelites to permit them to
prospered exceedingly in the provinces of Babylonia. Nehe- ioin in th: work and to consider them as liraelites; subs+
miah’s parents had possibly been too comfortably situated and quently this hatred was intensified by Israel’s course in
too nrosnerous to take a deen interest in the return. Nehe- instructing the people that those who had married Samaritan
mia$ hi&elf, as a young ma; in good position, had probably wives had violated the divine command. We cannot doubt
not niven preat thought to the fart that God’s chosen nation that the return of these wives would be taken as a gross
was “at, thys time fo; ihe most part a homeless people, and insult hy the Samaritans, who evidently felt that under all
that the holy city was in a de$orable condition.- .josephus the &cumstances they were at liberty to oppose these poor
informs us that while walking outside the citv wall Nehe- .Jews in every way in their power, cv~n resorting to open
miah noticed some travel-stainid strangers, was” attracted to attacks upon the people and the breaking down of the walls,
them bv their Hebrew laneuaee. and conversine with them the burning of the gates, etc. They felt secure in this law-
found &e of them to be a Fela”t&e of his. and t;at they had lessness, because the imperial government of Persia showed
recently returned from Jerusalem. which they desrrihed as tbc <Jews no favor.
being in a deplorable condition. However, we nee that God used this very matter of
The Lord evidently permitted this circumstance, which trouble unon the *Jews to raise un for them wealthv and
exercised a great influence upon the mind of Nehemiah, stirring friendly brethren yet in Babylon -to come to their ‘relief.
up the naturally good soil of his heart not only to sympathy .Just so it is sometimes with the spiritual Israelite-the trials
with his persecuted co-religionists at .Jerusalem, but also to and difficulties which seem most discouraging and disad-
consider the whole ouestion of Israel’s reiection from divine vantageous are often the very means which ‘Goa employs for
favor, and the foreharnings of this rejection given in the stirring up others of his people and bringing them needed
Law and the prophets, and the promises of a return of divine relief. This again emphasizes the lesson which is taught
favor with the return of Israel to a proper condition of heart. throughout this narrative of Nehemiah respecting trust in the
As he thought upon the question his hntire nature was stirred, divine supervision of his people’s interests, and the propriety
nlowed to its verv denths: and hc resolved that he would not of our not only trusting God but seeking to cowork with him
bnly pray the L&d ‘for &vine hlessing upon the true holy along the lines of his providence.
citv.u.’ but that he would ronsecratc himself and the wealth The condensed statement of Nehemiah’s prayers which he
which God had committed to his c&p, and his favored con- furnishes us is interesting and instructive. The opening sen-
fidential relationship with the king-811 these he would devote tence reminds us of the opening statement of that which we
to the answering of his own prayers. designate the Lord’s Prayer:. “Our Father which art in heaven,
He realized, however, that the work he was undertaking hallowed be thy name.” It is an acknowledgment of the
was of no small magnitude: he realized that to express to divine greatness and relatively of the petitioner’s littleness.
the king a sympathy for his own nation and its captive city It is a recognition also of God’s faithfulness: His name is
might readily be misunderstood to be a lack of loyalty, and honorable, I-& character is unassailable, his ways just and
that thus he might not only fail to have the king’s favor and true. Nehemiah, after acknowledging God’s faithfulness
assistance in connection with the project, but might, on the toward those who love and obey him, acknowledged
other hand. arouse his onnosition and cnmitv. not onlv aeainst that the entire difficulty which had led to all the trouble upon
himself, but also agains’t-his people. And kt that ttrne-for a Israel resulted from their sins-their neglect of God and his
chamberlain to arouse his monarrh’s ill-will might
c readilv
~~ promises, their failure to keep their part of the covenant.
mean, not merely his removal from office, hut the confiscntio& And properly he included himself in this matter, for
of his property, or even the taking of his life. heretofore he had been like the others, chieflv careful for the
With these facts before our minds, we not only gain 8n things of this life, and though doubtle&s hon&t and honorable
exalted opinion of Nehemiah’s consecration to the Lord and in his dealings, he had been neglectful of the great promises of
the service of his people, but we also perceive the reason- which he was an heir with the others of his nation. Although
ableness, nay, the necessity, for his continuing in an attitude he had not becm sharing personally in the severe afflictions, ie
of mourning, fasting and prflyinp, and waiting for the Lord now sh:lrcd them svmpathetirallv with the faithful ones who
to open a favorable opportumty for nearly four months hefore had returned to th; Lind of Promise, and he miaht therefore
that opportunity came.-Neh. 1: 12 ; 2 : 1. voice a nraver for all. He summarizes the divyne threaten-
The mourning probablv came first: then followed the fast- ings and’ p;omises exprcbssed by Moses’ lips (Deut. 28)) ex-
ing, self-denial, self-corre&ion, that be might know the better Dressing his thoroueh confidence in the Lord. that as the
the mind of the Lord on the subject; then discerning what he &isht%ents predictgd had been meted out tb Israel as a
concluded was the Lord’s will in respect to himself, the use people, so assuredly the promises of the regathering could be
of his time, talent. influence and means in the relief of his relied upon implicitly.-Rom. 11:29, 32.
brethren, and cons&rating his all fully to this service, his There are lessons here profitable to all Israelites indeed
mourning, fasting and praying continued until the day that who are in trouble becalls; of past unfaithfulness to their
the Lord opened to him the door of onportunitv, thus accent- covenant. All such should remember that the verv fact that
. . ” 1 their indifference and neglert of the Lord has sepa%ated them
ing his off&, his sacrifice.
We may pause here to note the fact that all Christians from him according to the derlaration of his Word, only proves
today should have much of the spirit, the disposition, of the fact that God who is the same vesterdav, todav and for-
Nehemiah. Being Israelites after the spirit and not after ever is ready and willing to rereive”them b&k into harmony
the flesh, their interest will chiefly bc in the prosperity of and favor if they but retrace their stens. To all such the
spiritual Israel. Numbers of these. like Nehemiah. are still Lord says, “Draw nigh unto me and I *will draw nigh unto
in Babylon, and a few of them, like him, possess Gealth and you.”
influence there. Such as take note of the dishonor and cnn- Nehemiah’s prayer reminds us also of the fact that Israel
tempt and abuse aroused against their faithful brethren will was not gathered at the first advent because as a nation they
be touched with love and sympathy for the brethren. Their did not come into the attitude of heart here exemplified by
hearts will thus be turned longingly to look for the promises Nehemiah. Had the whole nation been of Nehemiah’s attitude
of God respecting spiritual Zion and her ultimate deliverance, at our Lord’s first advent the gathering of the elect would
and they will feel an earnest desire to be with and of the have been accomplished there: the Bride class would have been
Lord’s faithful ones, and such true fellowship will make them selected from the twelve tribes, the Kingdom would have been
ready to sacrifice their temporal interests in the Lord’s cause established, and the work of blessing a.11 the families of the
as well as to fast and pray for it. Those with such a snirit earth would have begun there. But as we have already seen*
will be sure to have an increase of divine favor which -will the unreadiness of that nation resulted in their rere’iving a
permit them to sacrifice their all and to share the privations “double” of chastisement from the Lord-so that’ they have
and oppositions to which their brethren are subject, and being since received as long a period of punishment without favor
in a right condition of heart they will appreciate this as being as they previously received with favor. And now their
a great pm’&Zege, a great honol. l See MILLENNIAL DAWN, VOL. II, Chap. 7.
[2525]
(236437) ZION’S WATCH TOWER .tLLEGHENY, PA.

“double” being ended, the Lord’s message to them is, “Com- But although Nehemiah’s prayer was not fulfilled on the
fort ye, comfort ye mv neonle; sneak ye comfortablv unto large scale he had before his mind. because the Lord’s due
JeruQalem, and &y unto her ‘that he< appointed &me is tim”e had not ret come and because the people were not then
accomnlished.
1
that her iniauitv IV
is nardoned. for she hath
1
ready for such blessing, nevertheless his prayer was answered,
received at the Lord’s hands double for all her sins.” (Isa. for he was granted the desired onnortunitv to devote himself,
40: 1, 2) Now the recovery of Israel is due and is in progress, his influence, his wealth and h&- time t: the Lord’s cause:
and as soon as the sniritual Israel is complete and glorified And even though the results were far from what he expected,
the light will begin &I shine upon fleshly -Israel.-RGm. 11: we mav be sure that thev brought to his heart a rest and a
25-27. blessing: and we may be sure also that they brought him into
Thus we see that Nehemiah’s prayer has not yet been fully that condition of mind which was pleasing to the Lord, and
answered. The Lord has not vet gathered the natural seed we may reasonably expect that Nehemiah will be one of the
of abraham, who have faith in him,-from the uttermost parts class mentioned bv the Anostle in Heb. 11:3Y, 40. for whom is
of the earth: but we do see that he is ready to do this quickly reserved a share :n the e’arthly ministration of the Millennial
now, so soon as he shall have gathered the spiritual seed to age under the glorified church.
henvenlv conditions through the first resurrection, The eath- A lesson for the spiritual Israelite in this is that although
cring of natural Israel wiii not of course include all Jews: but his prayers may not be answered in the manner he had antici-
merely such of that blinded people as maintain their Abra- pated, nevertheless he may rest assured that all things are
hamic faith in the divine nromrses. And these doubtless will working together for good to him; and that the Lord’s way
be gathered through a great time of trouble through which eventually will work out a far more exceeding and an eternal
fleshlv Israel mav still exncct to nass. Their favor-time has weight of glory. Therefore let us, as spiritual Israelites, per-
comm’enccd, and hence the&“Zionisi movement,” but it will be form our consecration and pour out before the Lord our
requisite as a part of the favor, which shall bring them near prayers in harmony with his promise, and realize that in the
to the Lord and back to the Land of Promise, that they shall end, when we shall know as we are known, we will see clearly
endure great persecutions, from which the Lord shall deliver that the Lord was answering our prayers in the most effica-
them. cious manner.

NEHEMIAH’S FAITH AND WORKS

Nov. 12.-NEH. 4:7-18.
“Watch and pray.“-Matt. 26 :41.
Nehemiah’s earnest desire to spend himself and his service Arrived at Jerusalem, Nehemiah did not at first tell the
for thr Lord’s glory and for the blessing of his people inspired chiefs of the Jews of his purposes; but secretly, in company
his prayers, and such prayers always bring an answer of some with his personal attendants, he took a survev of the condl-
kind : smh praycxrs mean faith and co-operating works. tion of the city walls bv moonlight for threg nights. mean-
Charles Reade. the converted novelist. brieflv sums un the while maturing in his mind the plan he was about to suggest.
circumstances by which Nchemmh’s h&t-burden was brought There is a valuable lesson here for spiritual Israelites: how
to the favorable attention of the king, as follows:- necessary it is that if we desire to do a good work we first
“The answer came (1) through an arbitrary, self-willed thoroughly inform ourselves respecting the needs of the case,
and passionate king, who a few years before had issued an so that our course of conduct may be both reasonable and
edict against Jerusalem, and put a stop to the building of its efficient. This is none the less true and imnortant if the
walls. IEzra 4:8-24) (2) It came through Nehemiah him- walls which need repairing and building areX the walls of
self, and the feelings which prompted his prayer. The burden spiritual Zion, the church of the living God, the holy Jerusa-
of his spirit and the earnestness of his fasting and praying lem; nor less so if they are the walls of our characters, our
left their marks on his countenance. Usuallv he was able to own hearts, our own dispositions. We want to take a full
conceal his heart’s sorrow (2 : 1) ; or during these four months survey of the weaknesses and deficiencies in order to be able,
it was the turn of others to serve the king. When he came under the Lord’s direction and by his assistance, to build up
again before the king the change was apparent, and the king ourselves in the most holy faith, and to similarly build up
noticed it. ‘Why is your countenance sad?’ No reply. ‘You others of the true Zion. Inspection properly precedes intelli-
are not sick?’ Still no reply. ‘This is sorrow and nothing gent and profitable reformation of any kind.
else.’ Then Nehemiah was sore afraid, and I will tell ou Nehemiah did not begin his work by chiding his brethren
whv. His wife was in danger. Even a modern autocrat 3:Ike with unfaithfulness to God or lack of enterprise, etc.; such a
Louis XIV. expected everybody’s face to shine if he did but course would have further discouraged them, and would have
appear, and how much more an Artaxerxes. If he had ordered made them feel antagonistic, and perhaps to say, “You will
this melanrholy visage away to prison or death it would have see how it is yourself when you are here a few years,” and
been justified by precedent.” some would then have taken pleasure in his failure to do
God gave Nehemiah favor with the king so that he not more than they had accomplished. Neither did he begin by
onlv was permitted leave of absence to engage in the work boastfully saying, “I have come here to do such a work, and
whrch his heart yearned for, but in addition he was appointed within an incredibly short time you will see it accomplished;
Governor of Judca, with letters instructing other governors I will accomnlish in davs what vou have failed to accomnlish
L

en route to Jerusalem to grant him necessary aid, together in as many years.” Td have taken such a course would’have
with a safe military escort. Apparently the preparations for been to arouse the opposition of the very ones without whose
the journey occupied nearly a month, and the journey itself aid his mission, humanly speaking, would be sure to be a
about three months, bringing Nehemiah and his retinue of failure.
servants to Jerusalem about July. Many Christian people can learn a valuable lesson here:
It will be remembered that Ezra, in making this journey the lesson that whoever desires to be a co-worker with God
through a country infested with thieves and brigands, would should work in the Lord’s way and be guided bv the snirit of
not ask a military escort from the king lest it should seem love-for love does not think unkindly or uGgenero&y or
a reflection against the divine providential care, of which he slightingly of the efforts of others. nor is it boastful. On the
had spoken to the king: but Nehemiah, being offered the contrarf,;ts trust is in the Lord, and its boast therefore must
escort. did not permit any spirit of bravado to hinder his be in him. This lesson is valuable to us also in respect to
accentance of it. In both cases we see that the right course individual efforts in our own hearts-to build up good char-
was ‘pursued, though in some respects the conditions were acters acceptable in God’s sight through Christ Jesus. We
opposites. Spiritual Israelites need to learn both of these are to remember that nothing is gained, but much to be lost,
lessons-to trust fullv in the Lord’s provision, be it great or by thinking or feeling boastfully of what we hope to attain in
small, and in no cask to refuse reasonable safeguards, when self-control and character-likeness to the Lord: nor is much to
under the Lord’s nrovidence thev are furnished. We remem- be gained by mourning and weeping over misspent opportuni-
ber that one of o;r Lord’s temctations was along this line- ties of the past. The proper course is to begin work afresh
to perform a hazardous action for which there was no necessity with confidence, not in ourselves, but in him who called us
-to lean from the ninnacle of the Temple. Frequently the and who has given such exceeding.great and precious promises.
Lord’s ;cople are b&et by the great Adversary to attempt This is our way to success in individual development, and
foolish or imnossible or unnecessarv things. simnlv to show also in our labors upon the walls of Zion, as it was Nehemiah’s
their faith. Such should take a lesson from our -L&d’s reply successful method for the building of the natural, typical
in his temptation, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God:” Jerusalem.
-we are not to tempt divine providence, nor to expect mira- In answer to his prayer and earnest study, God gave
cles to be wrought on our behalf where the divine arrange- Nehemiah great wisdom and tact in his work, and calling
ment has not made them necessary. together the chief representatives of the people he laid before
[ 25261
NOVEMBER 1, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (237-238)

them his plans, in which they were all to be associates and views, and therefore were less in sympathy with the repair
partners in whatever blessing and honor might accrue from work at Jerusalem. These seemingly are referred to as Judah
this service. His nlan was to divide the work on the wall SO (vs. lo), and expressed their doubts respecting the prosperity
that each person of prominence and capability should have a of the work, saying that it was useless to attempt so great
certain share of the work and the responsibility, as well as of a work because of Ehe amount of rubbish requiring to be-han-
the subsequent honor of success. Moreover, hii .plan was that dled and disposed of, both to make readv for the work on the
each should undertake the building of the wall nearest to his foundations -and also to secure the s&able building stones.
own residence: he would not only be interested in having the These early proclaimed that the laborers would soon weary of
work done, but also in having it substantial, ( 1) because of their task, and the builders be forced to suspend the work.
the credit for the rapid and good workmanship, and (2) They were not enemies of the Jews, and are not here classed
because he would be anxious that the wall should be strong as their adversaries, but they were lacking in faith, and hence
in the vicinity of his own home. were hindrances to the work by reason of their discouraging
There is a lesson here for us: our Lord declares that he suggestions. Just so in the individual case, where reforms
gave “to every man [in the church] his work” (Mark 13:34), and character-building are commenced, he finds in himself
reoresented bv his talents. and each should seek to know his various disheartening- suggestions respecting the difficulties
talents and to use them, ‘and should not attempt the use of and imnossibilitv of the work he is undertaking. These must
talents not given him, and a work therefore not committed to be resi&ed. Similarly, in the work of Zion, in building up the
him. Again, each of us should begin “over against his house;” waste places, reassembling the stones of precious truth from
we, too, should begin our reform work at home. the rubbish-heaps of sectarianism: there are those who are in
In our exnerience in character-building. the same lesson sympathy with %.heapostolic teachings who nevertheless clearly
of turning eierything to good account &ay be profitably discourage the builders. and are thus, without intending - it, . to
applied; for instance, if by nature we are quick and impulsive, a considzrable extent adversaries of the work.
let us not onlv seek to restrain such impulsiveness from As for the open adversaries, their first attempt was to stop
speaking evil ahd wrong, but let us exercise* it in the speak- the work with ridicule (2: 19 ; 4: l-3)) “Even that which they
ing of that which is good and nrofitable for edifvine, nrad- build, if a fox go up he shall even break down their stone
ua%y accustoming ourselves to use this talent in i f&oyable walls.” Sarcasm is one of the most successful of our Sdver-
and not in an unfavorable manner. Have we large combative- sary’s weapons, and with it he slays many and hinders many
ness, let us, while seeking to restrain this qualitv of our from progress -in the work of building their own characters
being as respects evil do&g and injury to ofhers,” learn to and from the work of building unon the walls of the true
exercise it kindlv, lovinalv. in onnosine wrong. “in colttend- Zion: but the faithful are not “to be disconcerted by scorn or
img earnestly for”the fai&“bnce diiivered to the’saints.” And ridicule or irony; they build on and their Adversary becomes
so with all the so-called baser organs of our fallen, unbal- the more aggressive as he finds that he cannot stop them with
anced condition-they may all be turned to usefulness and ridicule. ‘% it was with these open adversaries of Nehemiah
helpfulness if but rightly directed by our wills and the spirit and his faithful co-workers. Thev nlanned a sudden assault
of a sound mind-“the mind of the Lord.” by which they would take the builders unawares, and by
The text of our lesson particularly relates to the diffi- killine off some of their leaders would StOD the work.
culties and emergencies which arose after Nehemiah had wisely Thue people of Judah who did not favir the building and
gained the assent and co-operation of the leaders of the who lived amongst the Samaritans, etc., learned of this con-
people, inspiring them with his enthusiasm-after the work spiracy, and having a brotherly interest in the builders, sent
of building the wall had been begun. Then it was that them word, apparently advising them to desist from the work
enemies and oppositions began to show themselves. The leaders lest it would brine against them the destruction contemnlated.
of the surrounding peoples had for centuries cultivated a But the builders GerG not to be thus intimidated, and instead
hatred of the Jews, (1) on account of their exclusiveness of stopping the work they armed themselves for defence,
when obedient to the Lord’s command; (2) because of their Nehemiah setting bodies of men upon the eminences behind
racial differences and animosities, including the differences of the lowest parts of the unfinished walls, the points where the
their religions; (3) they had all experiencgd the fact that the attack would most likelv be made. and where their enemies
Israelites, when under divine favor, were prosperous and would most surely see {hem ready for &fence. But finding
capable beyond themselves-the same reason which today them forewarned and forearmed, the projected attack was
causes such a hatred of the Jew throughout Europe: (4) like abandoned.
birds of prey, they had been fattening at the expense of the Just so it is with the individual: when he cannot be dis-
Jews, and this marauding would be interfered with by the suaded from his work of character-building by sneers and
rebuildine of the wall and the establishment of a more per- sarcasm, the attempt is made to vanquish him before he has
manent iovernment in Jerusalem. gone far in his reformatory work. He is attacked along the
Just so it is with individuals who, having learned the lines of his weaknesses by the great Adversary, and finds
weaknesses of their own characters, resolve by the grace of necessity for the armor of the Lord, the shield of faith, the
God to build themselves up along the lines of justice, meek- sword of the spirit, the helmet of salvation, etc., that he may
ness, patience, love. They immediately find themselves beset withstand the attacks from the fiery darts of the wicked one.
with enemies bent on hindering their work for selfish reasons; And just so it is with the Lord’s people as they unite together
the lust of the flesh and the eye, and the pride of life, like for the study of his Word, as he has counseled them--“for-
Philistines. Ammonites and Arabians, take council together getting not the assembling of themselves.” The Adversary
against the building up of a character with which they would will attack them as a little company, endeavor to frustrate the
not be in accord. and which would hinder the exercise of object of their assembling, endeavor to dishearten them before
their depraved instincts. Such a uniting of forces, such a they have made much progress in the knowledge and practice
conspiracy against the “new creature,” is not begun until he of the truth. But if they will only go to the armory they
begins the work of rectifying, building in his life the wall of will find that the Captain of our salvation has made abun-
righteousness. dant provision that we should not be helpless in the hands of
Similarly, this illustates the position of the Lord’s people our Adversary, for, as the Apostle declares, “we are not
as a church. So long as they live carelessly, drowsily, inat- ignorant of his devices.” And here it is well to remember
tentive to the doctrinal and the nractical bulwarks of Zion. what proved so helpful to Nehemiah and his faithful little
they are not subjected to specific attacks from the great band, of which he says, “We made a prayer unto God and
enemy and his deluded servants. But from the time that set a watch against them day and night.” This is our Cap-
thev realize that in the rubbish nile of human tradition and tain’s instruction to the Christian soldier, “Watch and pray.”
falsity are to be found gold, silver and precious stones for Let us not forget either of these important prerequisites to
the erection of the walls of Zion-from the moment that thev safety and victory.-Eph. 6: 10-17; Heb. 10:25; 2 Cor. 2:ll.
begin to use the same, and to build according to the original Not only did Nehemiah see to the arming and preparation
pattern, contending earnestly for the faith once delivered to of his band, but additionally he stimulated their faith, saying,
the saints-from that moment, we say, thev are subiected to “Be not afraid of them: remember the Lord, who is great and
the conspiracies of the great deceiver and his Philistine and terrible, and fight for your brethren,” etc. We are to remem-
Ishmael hosts-Babvlon-and then for the first time everv ber, as soldiers of the cross, that our Captain has instructed
faction and party ‘Is ready to conspire and unite again& us that to be full of faith, full of good courage in our reliance
them. wroth. anarv. not because iniurv has been done them. upon him, is a matter of primary importance in respect to our
but because the pr”oiress of the truih is of itself a rebuke to work and victory. His word is, “This is the victory that
all who are not of the truth. overcometh the world, even your faith.” In our battle a&net
Apparently the most zealous of the Israelites resided in sin and everything that would hinder the work to whigh the
Jeruialem, of near it, while others, less zealous, resided in Lord has called us, and to which we have consecrated our-
various favorable localities nearer to the Samaritans, etc., and selves, we fight for the new creature, not for the old; yea, we
were more or less influenced by their customs, methods and expect to lay down the old nature in death, and already we
[26271
 (239-243) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA.

reckon it dead, and put forth all of our efforts on behalf of people, seem to have maintained their armament, while they
the new creature. And similarly our brethren for whom we prosecuted their work, and so must the Christian church and
are fighting are contending earnestly for their deliverance Christian as an individual maintain their defensive armor
from the thraldom of sin and of error-these brethren are also and keep watch against the Adversary while seeking to build
new creatures, brethren of Christ, sons of God; and the up themselves and others in the most holy faith. Our faith
Apostle exhorts us, saying, “We ought also to lay down our and our works must co-operate to bring the desired success,
lives for the brethren.“-1 John 3: 16. and as success attended Nehemiah’s efforts and that of his
As is often the case, the preparation for the conflict was all coadjuters, so success is szcre to come to all of the Lord’s
that hindered it; and so with the Lord’s people, those who people who follow this prescribed course. “If ye do these
most carefully prepare themselves with the armor of God are things ye shall never fall, but so an entrance shall be minis-
much less frequently attacked than those who neglect it. tered unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of
Thenceforth, not only Nehemiah’s servants, but all the our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.“-2 Pet. 1:4-l 1.

INTERESTING LETTERS
DEAR SIR AND BuorrrEns:-I have iust completed the first While my most earnest studies during the past years
reading of VOL. V. and It is not necessary to commend it. It have been to be thoroughlv clear unon the foundation stone
commends itself to everv thinkine mind that will weigh its of the gospel-the R&o&, yet in- this work I have been
arguments. There is however one”position taken on page 352 permitted to see many new beauties of the height and depth
in reference to 1 Thes. 4: 14 that confuses me, and if your and length and breadth of God’s love through our dear Re-
position be the correct one and the sleepers referred to in deemer toward us as a class and the entire race as a whole.
verse 15 are the same sleepers referred to in verse 14 it would Many of the points brought out in the chanters devoted to
imply that the general resurrection of all the dead must take the operations of the Sprrit, as for example, “the spirit of
place before the glorification of those of the church who are fear.” as treated on naees 213 and 214. must of necessitv be
alive at that time. I state the matter as clearly as I can in exceedingly helpful, gs”I feel confident all true childrei of
the hope that you will point out wherein my difficulty lies. God have had similar tempting and discouragements.
Yours in the hope founded on the Ransom, The short chapter upon “the spirit of a sound mind” also
A. F. HENKELs.-Penmybznia. will be especially helpful to other dear ones who like myself
[REPLY.-Your favor of the 6th is at hand. I am glad to are found by the truth a little lower down the scale of Chris-
know that you have enjoyed thus far the study of DAWN tian character than the majority of professing followers of
VOL. v., and that it commends itself to your heart and head, our dear Master at least appear to be. All of the company
except on the one point mentioned. On that point I would here in Philadelphia are quite hearty in their praise of the
8ay : whole subject from first to last and acknowledge having re-
We must distinguish as between references to the church ceived great blessings from it for which we thank our heavenly
and references to the world. Both classes die. both classes Father sincereIT.
sleep, both classes need resurrection, yet they’ are different We conflulm to have excellent meetings at. which the
classes in every respect. In 1 Cor. 15 the apostle points out spirit of our dear Master IS displayed by all. The number
that “as by a man came death, by a man came also the resur- attending and interest shown is, I think, all we could look
rection of -the dead.” He furthe; points out that “As all in for, inasmuch as we are so scattered.
Adam die, even so all in Christ shall be made alive.” but Hoping this may find you well and enjoying all spiritual
“every man in his own order” or class. Some will be’ made and needful temporal blessings, with Christian love to your-
alive in Christ now at the end of the present age as his bride self and all your household, I remain,
and joint-heir, and will be of the first order or first resurrec- Yours in the love and service of our Redeemer and King.
tion- others will be made alive in Christ during the Millen- J. WYLIE MAcAT,r.ISTEn.-Pennsylvania.
nial age, comnleted at its close as his children. and will con- DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL :-I have received VOL. v.
etitutg the second order or subsequent resurrection. Both of DAWN and I am reading it very carefully. I think, as do
orders are referred to in the same connection. all with whom I have talked. that it is “meat in due season”
Now in reference to the text which troubles you, 1 Thea. and my prayer is that all may benefit by it and be able to
4:14, 15. Verse 14 refers to mankind in general, and verse 15 “give a reason for the hope that is in them.” There are some
to the church. All mankind “sleep in Jesus” as we show on who have not received theirs as yet. Will you let me know
page 352 of VOL. v., and all mankind are to be awakened, but when you can let me have 25 or 30 of them and the price,
not all in the first order or first resurrection. The apostle paper covers? There are a great many who have read the
passes from the consideration of the general fact to the con- four volumes that do not subscribe for the TOWER that are
sideration of the first order, the church, which is always anxious for it. I consider it good for those who have never
made most prominent throughout the New Testament as moat read any of the other volumes. The “atonement” is a erand
interesting to the Lord’s people. Thua in verse 15 he speaks theme for every Christian to fully understand. Pleas; find
of the last members of the church at the close of this age, checke and orders. And may that peace and fellowship of
indicating that the change of the remaining members will not Christ which prevailed at our Boston Convention remain with
precede that of the same class who have already fallen asleep. us forever, is the prayer of,
That this second class refers not to the world in general who Your Brother in Christ,
“sleep in Jesus,” but to the saints, is clearly indicated in the WM. J. Davxs.--afassachusetts.
16th verse, where they are spoken of as the “dead in Christ.” [We now have DAWN VOL v. in good supply. For prices
The whole world sleeps in Jesus in the sense that Jesus see second page- :’
of this iournal. Encouraee all who manifest
bought the whole world, and is to be the quickener or life- any interest rn present “truth to become WATCH Towen sub-
giver to the whole world: but only the saints are dead in scribers. Assure them that if too poor to pay they are thor-
Christ-members of Christ’s body, the anointed body. I trust oughly welcome to its visits free UDOn the terms stated on
this will make the subject more clear to YOU.-EDITOB.] page 2. Those who hope to be able t’o pay in the future may
MY DEAR BsorHea:-Inasmuch as it has been something say so and have it continued year by year indefinitely; so
more than a year since I have written you I feel at liberty long as they continue to ask for it. We desire that so far
to trespass upon your time for a little while now to thank as possible the WATCH TOWEB lists may represent all who are
you for Vor,. v. of MILLENNIAL DAWN. It is, in my judgment, interested in the Divine plan of salvation as presented in
with the nossible exception of VOL. 1, the most instructive of MILLENNIAL DAWN: nevertheless we are all aware that this
the D~wrj series yet pnblishrd. 1 feel assured that mrmbers would increase its issues three or four fold. And this is what
of the household of faith privileged to peruse its pages will we desire-not for our gain but for the assistance which we
with myself acknowledge having received from it a blessing believe would thus be rendered to many who need it.-
and spiritual uplift. EDITOB.]

VOL. xx ALLEGHENY, PA., NOVEMBER 15. 1899 No. 22

VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER

9XOMSM MAKING PaOGRESS and one of deep interest. Three hundred representative Jews
Zionism is not dying out, as some of its enemies predicted gathered frnm all parts of the world-some of them quite in-
it would. It progresses steadily-the last of its three annual fluential rabbis.
congresses at Basle (Aug., ‘99) being the best attended of all Three different sets of ideas prevail among Jews interested
[2628]
NOVEMBEn 15. 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (243-244)

III Zionism. Some of them view the matter as a political with it is the depravity of the o5cials, living on money ex-
measure, heliecing that the Jew would be more respected if torted from those under them.:’
he had a home of his own. Others favor it as a social move “And when the country is ready for the new colonization,
essential to the future welfare of Israelites all over Europe: will the Jews go there?”
thev see a growine Jew-hatred in Russia. Austria. France and “It will be a flood. They will go in millions: that is the
Ge;many, &id &I some signs of ill-wili in England and the great danger. The persecution of the race has spurred them
1rnited States. and thev areue trulv that the dav is not far on. They are enthusiastic now-then they will be wild. It
distant when a still more -open p&secution -wili compel ex- will be a rush that I tremble to think of. Whv. our shares.
tensive emigration of Jews to somewhere; and that Palestine now placed on sale, are being bought up bv pldple all over
has some attractions over and above anv other land. The the world. Thev are beina taken bv men”in the mines of
third class views the subject from the religious standpoint, Siberia, in South Afrira, iz Russia, In the west, the United
longing for a fulfilment of the promises of God through States. When a London Jew has put aside a pound he comes
the nronhets. recorded in the Bible. And with this view are and bups a share, and so it is all over the world. It is the
more o’r less intermingled Messianic hopes: some however poor Jews who are buying the shares, not the rich ones. The
hold that the nation of Israel restored is to be the Messiah for rich are not all with us. Our movement makes them remem-
the other nations. The religious standpoint of interest seems ber the past of their race, and they do not wish to remember
to be growing-even Dr. T. ‘Herzl at one time regarded as an it. The? have for years been trying to open the door of
agnostic-an infidel-is of late giving evidence of a deep society with a gold kev, and thev want societv to foreet their
interest in the movement as a proYphe& fulfilmcnt. history. They-argue against us”, and say that patriotism to
The religious view in Zionism is reinforced by practical their native land would interfere with their nationalism.
experience. Baron Hirsch, disregarding the religious or “We must find some way of checking this rush to Palestine
prophetic view, spent millions of dollars in planting Jewish when it comes. When the Jews realize that there is a land-
colonies in Argentina. South America and in New Jersey, and that their mother country-with Jews forming its govern-
11. S., etc., bu‘i these are all failures, tho not yet wholly ment and peopled by their race, Europe will be almost de-
ahandoned. On the other hand Baron Rothschild and others populated by them. And when we have gone, Europe will
planted colonies in Palestine which have flourished exceeding- look around her in bewilderment. The war between capital
is. If trials and discouragements
utterly dishearten, for the prophetically
arise there, they do not
inspired hope prevents
and labor is coming-it
is its natural scapegoat.
is now begun, and the Jew in Europe
When that scapegoat is gone the
this. It is said that a portion of the Baron Hirsch funds two powers will have to face each other.
will be hereafter used in Palestine. “And nothing except Palestine will satisfy us. At Basle,
when Mr. Trietsch, the American, asked for my support of
The subsrriptions to the Zionist Bank stock come in but his scheme to form a Jewish colony in Cvprus. I said: ‘That
slowly, however, and mostly from the poorer classes,-a little plan now has advantages over a hasty GoIonization of Pales-
over one-seventh of the ~2,000.600 ($9,750,000) being thus far tine, and I will aid you in it, but not under the flae of Zion-
taken. On this bank fund depends the present project, human- ism. Zionism mea& Palest&e, or it means nothing. And
ly speaking: for the scheme of the projectors seems to be to when he proposed his plans before the congress, the people
use this bank’s capital in assisting commercial enterprises in were enraged. No sooner was his purpose put into words
the Holy Land. It is not the intention, as we understand the than every delegate was on his feet, crying as one man, ‘Down
matter, to collect this money as a banking capital and then with him! ’ ”
to offer the sum to the Turkish government, as a purchase Many exaggerated statements are made respecting the
price for the freedom of Palestine: no. but to collect the sum numbers of Jews now in Jerusalem and Palestine: old re-
and then. showing the facts to the Sultan, to request of him ports are taken as a basis of a guess-work c%lculation-&
civil. commercial and religious libertv for the Jews in Pales- ignorance of or overlooking the fact that no Jews havp been
tine: guaranteeing him by this sum raised throughout the allowed to locate in Palestine for more than six years. The
world that the territorv would not be inundated bv nauner Hebrew Almanac, published at Jerusalem in 1897, gives that
.Jews from whom no rev&rue could be derived, but by ‘a thrifty, city’s population as 45,420-composed of 28,112 Jews, 8,500
intelligent people. whose yearly taxes would double the im- Mohammedans and 8,780 Christians. The population of the
perial revenues from that quarter. When the Lord’s time whole land is estimated at 650,000, and of these about one-
arrives, wealthy Jews will take a hand. and the door to twelfth are *Jews, t%z.. 55,000.
Palestine closed to the Jew since lE91 will be opened. Meantime persecutions against the Jews are breaking out
Rabbi Dr. Gaster of London, interviewed by a newspaper afresh in Austria. A cablegram of the Associated Press dated
reporter, is accredited with having made the following re- Vienna, Oct. 23d, says:- -’
marks on Zionism.-since the August congress :- “Anti-Semitic riots broke out at Halleschau, Moravia,
“A great step in the Zionist movement is the establish- yesterday evening. Jewish houses were stoned, stores were
ment of our bank. Of this Dr. Wolffson of Cologne is presi- pillaged: a house-was burned and the gendarmes charged the
dent, and there are seven directors, who founded the bank at a rioters, killing three nersons, and iniurine several others. The
cost of $40.000 and paid the sum out of their private nurses. military finally restored order.” - v
Since the shares of the bank have been placed on sale 300,000 Strange to say. the basis of these persecutions is the old
have been sold: $200.000 having been taken in Russia. $40.000 charge of using Christian blood for baking, for washing and
in Roumania and the rest by Jews all over the world; so that for religious ritual,-the same charees brought against these in-
now, when asking the Sultan to give Palestine to us, we have nocent people in the persecutions >f the long &o, without a
a cash guarantee with which to back our good faith. shadow of reason. If the word blood were used figuratively
“When Palestine is ours, every o5ce will be filled by the as when we speak of blood-money, there would perhaps be
elective vote of the neonle. It will be much the Biblical form something in it: but literal blood is meant and charged, of
of government; the’ head being a governor, supported by a course by ignorant people.
privy council and a legislature, The Jewish authorities will Rabbi Doctor Gudeman, Jewish leader in Vienna, who op-
levy taxes, and the people will reap the fruits of them. posed the Zionist movement, is now astounded and is holding
public meetings at which he makes oath that nothing in the
“Turkey will derive then a greater revenue from Palestine Jewish ritual sanctions blood, and noints out that the Jewish
than she does now. We have great faith in the Turks. No law in every sense is to the contrary-pointing out that all
one who has ever lived among them will fail to uphold me Christians have that same law in their Bibles and well know
when I say that there is no race more honorable nor whose that it sanctions nothing of the kind.
word is more sacred. Their laws, if rightly administered, are Speaking of the charge
the Rabbi characterized it as “low, shameless falsification of
even wiser and more liberal than those of the United States. the truth,” and has drawn against himself considerable hitter-
And I say, and have authority for the statement, that the ness. Perhaps thus the Lord is teaching him and others the
Turkish government never has molested, for religious reasons,
a race over which they had power. The Armenians brought necessity for Zionism. We expect much more persecution
their troubles on themselves. Jerusalem and Palestine now before the Jews get thoroughly awake to the fact that “the
time to favor Zion” is at hand.
are downtrodden by the Turkish officials, but unscruplous
officials are to be found in every land. TIME’S SECRETS REVEALINQ
“Jerusalem is, unfortunately, a kind of a festering sore. Scientists and “higher critics” have for vears been de-
It is there, first of all places,’ that ‘sanitation’ must take claring the Bible narrative incorrect, especially its cbronolog-y;
place. It is filled with beggers and with old men who have -that thr histories of China and of E,ypt proved this con-
gone to lay their bones there. When my people went to clusively, showing that the world is several thousand vears older
Palestine. I said to them. ‘Go north: for in the south are those than the Bible chronology would indicate (now 6,027 years A.
who have gone there to’die. You ‘go to live.’ In Jerusalem is.). Great stress has been laid on the testimonv of papyrus rec-
three religions meet, and that is a ticklish thing, and mixed ords found in ancient Egyptian cities, whose ruins are being ex-
125291
(245-246) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLLGIiENY, PA.

humed: these proved the XII. Dynasty of Egypt, according “ ‘Year vii., fourth winter month, xriith day. .
to 2LI. &foretta to have held sway in 3,064 B. c. or about six Gifts of the feast of the rising of Sothis: 200 various loaves.
hundred years before the Bible’s date for the flood-with no 60 jars of beer . . .’ ”
destruction of those ruins by the waters of the flood and no “The two documents therefore coincide perfectly, and it is
record of a blotting out of Egypt’s population. According as certain as evidence can make it that Sothis rose on the
to Prof. Lepsius the XII. Dynasty of Egypt flourished B. C. 16th day of the fourth winter month.
2,380 or about 88 years after the deluge date furnished by the ‘When this fact is established the chronoloeical reckon-
Bible’s chronology: and of course it would be impossible for ing is very simple. The Egyptian calendar ye& contained
eleven dynasties to have flourished in so short a period and 365 days, being one-fourth of one day shorter than the as-
for Egypt to be the great country it evidently was at that tronomical vear. The calendar vear therefore gained a auar-
time-with its pyramids already built. Hence “science” ter of a day each year on the astronomical year, or an entire
laughed the Bible to scorn and ridiculed the idea of divine day every four years. This can be made very simple in this
providence in its preparation. way : Suppose we have a clock which gains a quarter of an
But now, what? The ruins of Egypt are contradicting the hour every- day. In four days it will have gained an hour,
scientists and confirming in a general way the Bible chron- and in eight davs two hours, etc. You will see that bv com-
ology, by the showing of papyrus documents that were written paring th& clock with correct time and exactly measuri”ng the
during the reign of Usertesen III. of the XII. Dynasty of gain, you can instantly compute how long it took the clock
Egypt, and prove their date to be 1872 B. c. (possibly 1876)- to make that gain. It is just so here. The occurrence of the
six hundred years after the Bible’s date for the deluge* and rising of So&is, an astronomical event, is here given in
about fifteen years before Joseph was sold into Egypt. terms of the calendar year; we can thus check off this cal-
Below is the story of this valuable find narrated by Prof. endar and tell how far it has run ahead of real time, as we
T. Il. Rreastead. Secretarv of the Ewutoloeical section of the did with the fast running clock. Doineu so., we find it has run
International Congress of Orient&&s, upon adjournment ahead in all four months and nineteen days. The question
of the congress. now is, how long did it take the calendar to gain four months
TEMPLE ABOHIVES and nineteen days at the rate of a day every four years?
“The first ilxed date in human history has been discovered. IN 1872 OB 1876 B. 0.
It is disclosed in Egyptian papyri nearly 4,000 years old. ‘Without going into the reckoning further I will only
Announcement of its discovery has just been made at the say that the result brings us either to 1872 or 1876 B. c.,
twelfth international congress of orientalists, now being a margin of four years being unavoidable.
held in this city. “This is the oldest fired date in human historv. There
“Last winter Dr. Borchardt, scientific attache of the Ger- are dates which belong- at least 1,000 [ 11 years earlier in
man legation in Cairo, and Dr. Shaefer, assistant director of Eevntian
“I I
historv. but we are unable to fix 1 ! 1 them: theu
the Egyptian Museum. in Berlin, discovered a mass of papyri may be anywher~within a period of 500 or 600 years, sb wxdi
near the nvramid of Usertesen III. at Illahun. about fifty apart are the limits of possible variation.
miles abo&“Cairo and about 175 miles above the ‘mouth of the [This is according to “science,” which does not regard
Nile. anything as fixed by-the Bible’s testimony.-Emron.] -
“These papyri have proved of the greatest interest. They “The date of Sareon I. in Babvlonian historv claimed as
consist of a series of temple archives and records of temple fixed at 3,750 B. c. by many Assyriologists is iupported by
administration in the twelfth dvnastv, about 2,000 years only one document, written over $200 years later than the
before Christ. They have been deposited in the Royal Museum date which it is quoted to support, and as far removed in
at Berlin. and there Dr. Borchardt has spent the nast sum- time from the date of Sargon, as Queen Victoria is from
mer in giving them a preliminary examination and ilassifying Moses. It is properly looked upon with distrust by many
them. orientalists.
“The lists of temple offerings and temple officials are “But the date 1872 (or 1876) B. c. established by the new
chiefly of interest to the specialist, but there are many letters papyri rests upon contemporary evidence. There is no doubt
from one official to another particularly interesting as show- of its comectness; and with this remarkable discorerv we
ing how these functionaries did business in the days of Abra- enter upon a new epoch in the chronology of oriental history.
ham. “To Chicagoans this discovery is of especial interest, for
“It is of one particular letter in this collection, however, the new date belongs to the reign of the same king whose
that I wish to speak-the letter by means of which the date funeral ‘barge (or that of his family) is in the Field Museum.
referred to is established. There was no more important All will recollect the large Egyptian barge standing in the
religious feast among the Egyptians than the celebration of east hall of the museum. It was acquired by the enterprise of
the rising of the star Sirius, or, as the Greeks called this Mr. Ayer and the generosity of Mrs. McCormick. The king
star, Sothis. It is easy to understand, therefore, why the to whose funeral furniture this barge belongs was Usertesen
chief temple-official should write the accompanying letter. It III. of the twelfth dynasty.
is in hieratic, that is, the handwriting of the ancient Egyp- “The second document is dated in his seventh vear-that
tians, as distinguished from the elaborate hieroglyphic used in is, 1872 or 1876 B. c. From the middle of the nineteenth cen-
stone inscriptions. I translate the essential portions of a tury B. c. to the end of the nineteenth century A. D. the barge
letter sent to Pepy-hetep, the chief ritual priest, twenty days lay covered by the Sahara sands beside the king’s nvramid.
before the rising of Sothis, in order to give him ample time some thirty miles above Cairo. In 1894, after hs di’scovery
to make ready for the feast: bv De Morean. it was removed to Cairo and thence to Chi-
“ ‘Copy of the letter . . . which the prince, the over- &go. This”rcob certain date of the barge is several centuries
seer of the temple, Nub-Kau-Resent, saying to the chief ritual later thcMc that posted on the large gilded sign hanging over
priest, Pepy-hetep : “Take note that the rising of Sothis it ila the museum.
occurs in the fourth winter month, on the xvith day. Give “Of course the announcement of this new date created great
notice to the lay priests . . . and post this letter upon interest among the members of the congress. Unfortunately,
the hull&in board of the temple.“’ Dr. Borchardt was called away by official duties in Egypt
The feast was duly celebrated by the chief ritual priest before the date for reading his paper announcing his dis-
on the 16th, and on the 17th he made note of the various covery. The paper was read by Prof. Erman, in Borchardt’s
offerings consumed at the feast, as follows:- absence, and Professor Erman accepted for him the warm
* See MILLENNIAL DAWN, VOL. xx, Chap. 2. congratulations of the congress.-Rome, Oct. l&h, 1899.”

THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD

Nov. 19.--NEH. 8: 1-12.
“The ears of all the people were attentive
Rebuilding the city wall tended to unify the hearts of
Israel and to revive faith in the Lord, and in his gracious
promises to that nation. Nehemiah was wise in beginning
the reformation movement as he did, and his wisdom uu-
doubtedly was of the Lord and in harmony with his prayers
for wisdom and usefulness. So all who would engage in divine
service require not only zeal but also the wisdom which cometh
from above, and only those who seek it prayerfully will be in con-
dition to be used of the Lord and to be helpful as reformers
amongst their brethren.
unto the book of the Law.“-Nehemiah 8:3.
As illustrating different methods of serving the Lord, and
how some methods are wiser and more successful than others,
and as a means of adding to our own wisdom respecting
methods of serving the truth, let us here contrast the efforts of
Nehemiah with those of Ezra. For instance Ezra seemed
to find only faults in the chiefs of the people, and berated them
as tho they had nothing commendable in them. Nehemiah,
on the contrary, began his work by ignoring some of the evils
which he doubtless quickly discerned, and sought the co-opera-
tion of the nobles in the general cause. Subsequently at B
125301
NOVEMBER15. 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (246-248)

favorable opportunity, when the people cried out because of We are not to understand that the people stood for five hours:
usury and oppression, he very wisely yet very moderately they stood while the law was being read, and sat down, after
remonstrated against their course, pointing out in kindly the eastern custom, on their haunches, during the time ex-
words yet boldly their wrong, and he was successful in cor- planations were being given. The expression “all the people
recting the wrong without antagonizing the wrongdoers. (Neh. stood in their place” signifies that the teachers mentioned
5:7-13) Ezra, full of zeal and anxious for quick reform, con- moved about amongst the people, instructing them, answering
vened the people, in the rain, without shelter. (Ezra lO:Q-13) their questions, making plain the meaning of the features of
Nehemiah, on the contrary, not only chose the pleasant sea- the Law just read, while the people remained in their places.
aon, but also the accustomed occasion, for his -gathering of There is a lesson here for God’s people of today-all who
the people. Ezra attacked the one narticular sin of inter- are interested in the welfare of Zion and in the repair of her
ma&yin-g with the surrounding peoples, and thus held up walls of righteousness. As Nehemiah looked up the genea-
one particular class of the people to special shame and con- logies of the priests, it is appropriate for us to recognize the
fusion : Nehemiah seems to have taken a broader view and difference between the consecrated, whose names are mitten
to have assailed sin in general, showing that all were sinners i71 the Lamb’s boolc of life, and. the unconsecrated, whose
in some respects. and that all needed reformation. Ezra’s names assuredly are not so written, and who therefore can-
method was ihe more aggressive, accompanied by legal prosecu- not be recognized as religious teachers in any sense. So also
tions, penalties, etc. (Ezra IO:& 14) Nehemiah’s method today our Governor, the Lord Jesus, is searching amongst the
was to make general a knowledge of the divine law, and people and separating to himself those whose names are
through it to appeal to the awakened consciences of the people, written-the consecrate&-for his kings and priests-a “royal
that each might act for himself. heartilv as unto the Lord. priesthood-,’ Arrangements are already made for the great
Without find&g fault with Ezra’s interitions, all reformers antitypical “Feast of Trumpets,” and the beginning of a new
may profitably apply the lessons of this contrast to them- civil year or Millennial era for mankind-for all who desire
selves, and seek to use Nehemiah’s wise and gentle method to be the Lord’s people, to hear his Word and to obey it.
in dealing with those who are in error, either doctrinally or Raised above the people, on a higher plalze of being, will be
otherwise. Christ, the great Priest, and his associates, spiritual Israel,
With the completion of the wall and the security thus to declare the Word of Jehovah, the law of righteousness,
realized and the faith and hopes thus inspired, it was but the truth; and amongst the people, to teach them and to ex-
reasonable that the event would be celebrated with feasting pound the law to them, will be the ancient worthies, repre-
and rejoicing. But Nehemiah wisely waited this until he sentatives of Israel in the flesh, and the Levites, all who be-
had reorganized the people socially according to the heads of lieve, the entire household of faith aside from the elect and
their families, especiallv the priests and Levites, who were then glorified church.
the divinely appointed “minis&s and teachers of .the people. The blowing of the trumpets announcing the beginning
(See Chan. 7 :63-73) Meantime also. donations were received of the antitypical Jubilee year will soon be heard throughout
for the Temple and its service, and’ Nehemiah, himself very all the world, and the true-hearted will speedily respond.
wealthy, setting an example of liberality in his large gifts, Meantime our great and wise Governor is instructing the
was imitated by many. By this time the “Feast of Trumpets” royal priesthood, and thus preparing for the great wo>k of
on the first day of the seventh month drew near. It was a the future. The arrangements are all so perfect and so com-
time for the general gathering of the people, the beginning plete that when the declaration comes the people will all
of their civil year, announced by trumpet blowing. Here the hear the word of the Lord “distinctly,” and they will get
narrative of our lesson begins, with the spontaneous gather- the “sense” and “understanding” of it. It will no longer
ing of the people in an open place, a plaza, near the water be as in the past and at the p;esent time, a din, a Babyron
gate, called here a “street.” of confused noises, misrepresenting the divine message, and
In all probability this congregation of the people was confusing those who desire to know the will of the Lord.
instigated, first bv Nehemiah the Tirshatha (Persian for The first result of that nresentation will be weening and
prov&mial governor), and secondly, through the heads of the mourning for sin, but the* message of the great P&es; and
neonle and the nriests and Levites. Evidentlv preparations Governor will go forth to the people, to the effect that they
had been made for such a gathering, for a iarge platform, need not weep and mourn, because the ereat sacrifice for sine
called a “nulnit.” had been erected. When the neonle as- has already -been offered; “the Lamb %f God which taketh
sembled and &led for the reading of The Book of <he Law of awav the sin of the world.” and that in conseauence the Mil-
Jehovah, appropriate at this sea&n, all things were in read- lennial day in which they .will be living is not-to be a dav of
iness. and Ezra the Driest, accompanied bv thirteen men, mourning -but a day of rejoicing, a day of acceptance of- di-
evidently chiefs of the -people, representing the various tribes, vine favor, a dav of newness of life and of consecration to the
took their appointed places on the platform or “pulpit’, to Lord. -
give dignity and importance to the service. The message will then be similar to the one which Gov-
Apparently the convention was opened with prayer. “Ezra ernor Nehemiah promulgated, “Go your way, eat the fat and
blessed Jehovah the great God. And all the people answered, drink the sweet [enjoy the wonderful provisions of God’e
Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they- bowed their bounty with thankfuiness and pleasure]- and send portions
heads and worshined Jehovah with their faces to the ground.” unto them for whom nothing is prepared [cause the knowledge
They were abou< to begin a study of the divine Word, as of the Lord to fill the whole earth], for this day is holy unto
expressed in the law, and no one is in the proper attitude of the Lord: neither be ye sorry, for the pleasure of Jehovah
mind to be taught and blessed by the Lord’s Word unless he is your strength”-rejoice that you are restored to divine
be in the attitude of heart which- appreciates the greatness of favor. And all the people will rejoice, because they will un-
God and the unworthiness of himself. Such a condition of derstand the words of the divine law-because they will eee
heart is essential to true hearing and understanding. And and appreciate the divme arrangement, and find it to be
here we have the secret of much of the failure to understand indeed “good tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all
God’s Word-today as well as in times past. “He that seek- people.”
eth findeth; to him that knocketh it shall be opened,” and These blessings which will be to the world in the future
the “seeking” consists not merely in church attendance or Bible may already be appropriated in a measure by the Lord’s
;;-ading, but in a heart-hunger to know the truth and to obey consecrated people-the Gospel church, the royal priesthood.
By faith we are permitted to hear the words of the divine
The service began early in the morning, “From the morn- law in advance of their public proclamation, to the whole
ing [daybreak] until midday,,’ and during that time we are world, and therefore blessed are our ears which hear and our
told that “the ears of all the people were unto the book of eyes which see, for many have not seen and have not heard,-
the law,,, that is, they gave close attention to hear and to the god of this world at the present time blinding their minds
understand every word. It was not only necessary that they so that they cannot. To us, too, the first hearing of the
should desire to know and that they should be in the attitude divine law should perhaps bring remorse and tears as we realize
of heart to imnlore divine blessing and assistance. but it was our shortcomings, and that with our very best efforts we can-
also necessary-that they should bv attentive, giving ear. And not measure up to the perfect standard. But to us also comes
more than this. it was necessarv that there should be amonest the Lord’s message, through his servants our brethren, say-
them teachers capable of expormding the Law, explaining {he ing, ‘Weep not, but rejoice. Behold the goodness as well
meaning of words, and how the divine law was to be applied as the severity of God, behold his Love as well as his Justice,
to the daily life, and what it signifies. Thirteen teachers and that he has made through Christ a full propitiation, not
(Joshua and twelve others) sre indicated by name. These only for the sins that are past, but also for the inherited
probably were priests, and the statement is that associated weaknesses and blemishes of the present and future-that all
with him were “the Levites.” These “caused the people to of our blemishes have been covered with the great sin-offering
understand the law, and the people stood in their place.” finished at Calvary.’
[26311
(248-249) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY PA

It is our privilege, therefore, to dry our tears and to Christian people, altho they have Bibles by the million, know
reJol(‘e in the God of our salvation, and to eat of the fat things comparatively little. Indeed, as Bibles become more numer-
of his Word, the exceeding great and precious promises given ous the great Adversary seems to be permitted to have the
tr, us, and to drink of the sweets of his favor. and to send greater power to deceive and to mislead respecting its teach-
portions of this our blessing to others who have not yet seen ings ; so that today, with its greatest opportunities,
and have not yet heart1 and who have not yet tasted of the is wit-
ricahes of divine grace. And whoever receive& the grace of God oessing a general c&,&e of faith in the Scriptures-“a great
not in vain will be prompt and zealous, not only in his own falling away,” led by some of the principal luminaries in the
rejoicing. but also in hir enclparora to communicate his nommal systems-falling from their steadfastness of faith,
hlrssingh to others. falling into sceptirism and into the radically anti-Biblical
Another le>qon hrrr is that while God has all power he theory of evolution-under the lead of so-called “higher
nevertheless use* human ilrhtrllnlt~ntslitirs. He could have eriti&m” and scaholasticnism.
-J)oktBn frunl IIC~HVPII, inatwci of sc*ntliu;: Zu’ehrmlah; but he did
IId. II? ~~mld ha\e thur~tl~~rt~cl hih law without having it
rrnd by E’:/ra , trut he did not cbo(?se to do so. He could have in whlrh mani shall stumble and fall from the6 steadfastness
instruc%c,d thc~ J)~~uple without using the priests and Lcvites of faith. the more should thev eive earnest heed lest thev
or :IIIV hl~m:+n irlstrurr,l,,rtalit~ for exposition; but such was sh~n~ld let slip the prtacious thi”ngi of the divine Word, whicil
not Ilis method. And thr Lord’s dealings in the past are IS a lzmp to their pathway, and through which God supplies
our hc+t yllldeh rtakpec*ting his mind on such subjects and the nerded aid- for wnlkink the narrow way which leads to thr
respecting‘ what are ‘llkrly‘ ‘to be hih n~ethotls for tlce present kinednm.-Eph. 6 : 13 : Heb. 2 : 1; Psa. 119 : 105.
mtl the future. III full harmon\- with this thouuht is the
I <.
And Jet us beware also in this day of the “new lights”
;~I,c,cil)lic~ .tntenirnt thnt “(:o(l 11;~s set the various members and of many presenting themselves as special teachers. that
iI; tile h1)tl.v [the church 1 ah it hath plexspd him ” Are all we permit none to lead us away from the Lord’s Word. and
:1~l1141I(? ’ i,,(’ all t(~:icli(~r-” are all orators? l’:ritlt7ltl~ not 1 to confuse us in our understanding. “Let us hold fast the
.4;1n amon& t11ca l,orcl’~ JWOJ’J? the de-ire ‘&ould confidence of our rejoicing [in Chriet and his rcdemDtive work
be to know the &laster’s will. to hnow what talents hale been --and not in our riphte&sness] firm unto the end:” Let us
entrusted to him. and to use those* zealously, and to w:lit for earnestly contend for the faith onre delivered to the saints.
othel\ to IJ~ given, rathtbr than to neglect the talents pos- of which the ransom is the very center or hub into whicd
sessrtl or to reek to u-~ thosr not possessed. “110 with thy and from which every other truth must and does fit perfectly.
might. \\h*lt thy hand iintlt~th to do.” And let us remember that whatever assists us in this d!-
‘J’h(* \\:ortl of (tot1 ie qlilck and powerful.” (Hell. 4: 12) rection is a trashing that is from God, while whatever leads in
Thclrch i# muv11 nc~d that this l~swn be thnrouehlv learned another direction must evidently be not of God but of the aa-
bv thr Lord’s people. Nothing r:111take the place ;f ihe Lord’s versary. While proving the things which we receive, by tnelr
\i’ord: nnd all teac~hinex. whtbther oral or minted. should be harmony with the Scriptures and their ability to unlock them
rcbcognizrd ax secondaii to the inspirsaci <Vord, and should and make clear their meaning, we may well remember the
hrx rcc~c~ivt~ttonly ns rorroborat~d by the Srriptures. Or rather, Master’s words: “He that doeth truth cometh to the light.
they arp to be apprecbiatcd only its they unlock the treasures that Bib derds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in
of wiqdom hidden in the Rihle-riches of which the world God,“---and the reverse of this is evidently equally true.-
in gc~n,~r:ll iq ignorant, and of which even the majority of .John 3:20, 21; Heh. 3:6: Jude 3; 1 Then. 5:21.

“WINE IS A MOCKER”
Nov. 26.--PBOV. 23 : 29-35.
“Wine iR a mockt*r; strong drink is ragmg, and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.“-Prov. 2O:l.
Very rarely indeed do we discuss the subject of intemper- DAWN which produced -or helped to produce these results?
ance: not hecnusc2 we do not realize it to be a crying evil, one for, as I said before. I cannot remember anvthine Y v dire&Iv ”
of thr most dreadful elrmentR of and nccessories to the de- upon these subjects in this reading matter, and on the con.
Kradntion of our raccb. but hclc*ause so far as we know our trary, other honks which I have had and read which did deal
readrrs frw of them would 11:1w need of advice or reproof with- these subjects pointedly and explicitly, failed utterly
alonn thin line. A* for the world. it is not our attemnt to to make any impression upon me. Why is thisP How is this?
rcvoiutionizr and reform it along the lines of total abstiience What is it that has such influence over me?”
or tcmprranet, in rcxxpect, to the liquor evil, the profanity We answered, that undoubtedly the good influence exercised
evil, the backbiting evil, the war evil, the lying evil, or others. was the spirit of the truth, operating upon the good ground
And fhiq iti not heeauce WC have no sympathy with reforms of an honest and consecrated heart. We pointed out that the
in nll thcnr various directions, hut becnuse. according to our effort of our publications is to strike the-axe of truth at the
undcrstantling of the divine Word, it is God’s pi& that root of the evil tree, instead of attempting to 10~ off the
another and hinhrr ‘. work be attended to nou, bv the Lord’s various evil branches. A thorough conskcra%on to Athe Lord
;tmh:i\radors : VX.. the work of gathering out i people for is in opposition to every form of sin and in harmony with
his namp. spiritual Israel, the holy nation, the peculiar peo- everything that is good, noble, true, pure. The difficultv
Dtc,, the royal Driesthood, the church, the bodv of Christ- with a majority of those who are truly consecrated to thk
imder whose m&i&ration in glory, in a. coming aie, the world’s Lord is that they have been mistaunht. Thev have been
rrformntorv uulift is to bc accomnlished, under ronditions misled to believe “that Christianity is” merely &orality and
that will b-e ad’equatc and make success ceitain. eivilixation. instead of being taught by the divine Word that
An intcltigcnt ;~nd very earnest reader of the WATCH Christianity is a following of Jesus’ footsteps in full con-
TOWVH publlc*at!ons ~cmarked the fart that he had been struck secration to the heavenly Father’s will in all matters.
with the absencca of a11 ~plw:~la on the liquor question, the They have been taught that the chief work of the Christian
tol);l~c~o question, pamhlmg, etc., yet he said, “When I begau is to g&t saved and to-save others; and by saved is generally
rc:l(lin~, tllrq(x public*ations I was a moderate drinker, -an understood a breaking off of the gross immoralities, a con-
hahitufit smoker nnd chewer of tobacco, and nltho not H formity to civilized usages, and a membership in some earthly
~il!llll1t~~ 1 \\l:lh wrll vcrscd in c~ardplayinp as a social diver- rhurch. False views of the church’s mission evidentlv .I have ---- -
nion and time-killer. llut sine-r reading the WATCH TOWER much to do with this setting up of false standards in the
public~ations my II~I* 1~1s unclc~rgonc a complete change in name of Christianity. Thinking men have realized the im-
respect to at1 of these thing?r. 1 naked myself the question, po&hility of xeruring the conversion of the world along the
II:~ve I or h:t\ e 1 not consrcr:lt(ld my all to the Lord, cove- Srriptural lines of full consecration to the Lord. It was
Iunting with him to 11s~ life. vniul. strength. influence, and rrnlized long, long ago that such hopes are baseless from what
IIIC:LIIX to 111~ glory, to the best of my knowledge and ability? WC know of humanity in general, and having in mind the er-
I :ln%wcred, Yes. Thr qnestiou then came, Can you see ‘in roneous thoughts that God had committed the conversion of
wil:lt manner your drinkin p of wine or smoking or chewing the world to the church, the effort was made to bring about
tohxc~c~~or J)la@g a social game of cards will be to the Lord’s at least a partial reformation of the conduct of the world.
glory. to the Incr(‘ase of your influence for righteousness, or Thus the high standard for the Lord’s people as set forth in
a proJ)rr euprndlture of time and money, in harmony with his Word has been, to the majority of Christian people, a
your c.oven:tnt 9 I was obliped to answer myself, No; that dead letter, and to the majority of ministers an unknown or at
these thinpq would all be contrary to my covenant. and I least an untaught lesson, because in violent opposition to their
therefore abandoned them in the Lord’s name nnd strength. rherished but unscriptural theory respecting the conversion
But now what I want to know is, what was the nature of the world by human agencies.
of the influence upon mp mind by the reading of MILIXNNUL Thus we see what a great loss true Christianity and true
125321
Novevsn 1s. 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (ZSO-2Sl)

Christian teaching sustained through the introduction of a years to one hundred. This ferment from the changed atmoa-
false hope, a false theory, and through the abandonment of phere, affecting the grape, produces “must,” and thence the
the original hope set before us in the gospel-the faith, the alcoholic condition which produces drunkenness. According to
hope, that God- is now electing, selecting, polishing and- pre- the record, Noah’s drunkenness was the result of the first
marine a little flock of faithful covenanters, who in his own vintage of grapes after the flood, and it evidently was con-
‘sue tyme, as the body, the bride, the joint-heirs with Christ trary to all his experiences preceding the flood. As we have
glorified, will be given the power and- great glory necessary no record of his ever having become intoxicated after-
to the establishment of righteousness in the world!-the bind- ward we are iustified in supposing that this one instance was
ing of Satan and of Bin, the opening of the blind eyes of the result of” ignorance resiecting the changed character of
corrunted humanitv. and the unstonnine of the dull ears that the crane nroduct fermented. From this standnoint nothing
all m’ay hear, and “l&ow the truth ;-kBp&ting the divine char- will be seen in Noah’s conduct calculated to *encourage 0;
acter and gracious provision of our heavenly Father’s plan excuse drunkenness on the part of those who know very well
for the world’s salvation-and to an opportunity of sharing that “wine is a mocker.”
in that salvation everlastingly, if they-will. - Those who have received the holy Spirit and who have
While still adhering strictly to the same principles, viz.. found it to be the snirit of a Bound mind should seek to in-
the pointing out of the necessity for full consecration on the culcate some of their *new soundness of judgment on all matters
part of those who would be of the Lord’s flock, we neverthe- to others as they have opportunity<sp&ially to their chil-
less think it not amiss to occasionallv draw attention to the dren, who subsequently learning the source of that Bound
Scriptural presentation on the subjerc of intemperance in the judgment may be the more favorably influenced toward a full
use of intoxicating liquors. It is neither necessary nor proper consecration of themBelVeB to the Lord. thus saving them
that we should take the radiral and unscriptural ground from many disasters, moral and physical, &I which they-may be
seemingly taken by 80 many who advocate total abstinence, viz., exposed if left without the wise counsel of those to whom
that to even taste liquor is a Bin, a grievous sin. We can go thev should and do look naturallv for lessons of instruction
no further on any point than do the Scriptures, when they and for helps In the way to nobiliti of life and character.
declare, “Wine is i morker, strong dri& is iaging; anh We eive below a nortion of the lessou under consideration
whosoever is deceived therebv is not tise.” In harmonv with in the uform of a wine glass, and some remarks of an un-
the intimation of these ins$red words is the thoughi that known author in the form of a decanter, which may be in-
whoever trifles with this mocker is in danger of being de- teresting to the children and impressive to their memories.
reived hp it, of being ensnared, of being wrecked. TEE DB UIVKARD’S WOE-OUP
We can certainly without impropriety urge upon the ‘Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath
Lord’s people the language of the Apostle, “Be not drunk with contentions? who hath complaining? who
wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the spirit [the hath woundu without cause, who hath
new wine, the new exhilarant, the new antidote for care and redness of eyes? They that tarry
pain and trouble] .” (Eph. 5: 18) Realizing the nervouB pres- long at the wine; they that go
Bur‘c of our day we may certainly urge that each should con- to seek out mixed wine.
sider for himself whether or not the use of wine et all under Look not thou upon the
present conditions might not be improper, as being dangeroue. wine when it is red,
And it would appear that those who get most thoroughly when it giveth
filled with the spirit have in it the new wine, the new exhil- its color
arant of the new nature in which they can rejpice most, and in the
of which they cannot partake to excess and inJury. cup,
It is in place here for us to remind ourselves of our when it goeth
Lord’s words, through the Apostle, that no drunkards shall down
inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:lO; Gal. 5:21) We Bmooth-
are not to u&&stand these texts to teach. that no one who ly: at the
has et-n’ been drunk can enter into the kinedom of God, but last it hiteth
rather that whoever has come under the influence of the Gbepel like a serpent, and
call and been begotten of the holy Spirit must of necessity Btingeth like an adder.”
receive BO much of the spirit of a sound mind that he would THE OLD DEaNWEB
not be deceived by the mocking wine and the insane influence
of strong drink. (2 Tim. 1:7 ) On the contrarv. if anv had “There NBR an old decanter.
been unwisely addicted to the UBe of liquors to’.intoxiEation aztdeits mouth was gaping
he must. under the instructions of the Lord’s Word and the ; the rosy wme had
leadings’of his holy Spirit, become more thoroughly instructed ebbed away and left ite
in the way of righteousness, and sanctified to God, else he can crystal side ; and the
never be accepted as one of the overcomers, one of the “little wind went humming
flock,” who through the wisdom that cbmeth from above, humming, up and
and in lavina hold unon the power of God in Christ. are down ihe Bi‘des it
enabled to’ b;kak the ‘bonds of- Satan which have enslaved flew, and through
them. its reed-like, hollow
neck, the wildest notes
#OAH’S INTOXIOATION EXOUSABIJI it blew. I placed it in
For the Bake of some who may be inclined ta excuse a the window, where the
certain smount of dissipation in view of Noah’s drunkenness blast was blowine free. and
(Gen. 9:20, 21) , we should say a word in defence of the fancied that itu iale mouth
patriarcoh. The iecord is that fioah was a God-fearing man sang the queerest strains ta me.
whom God recoeniaed and eBDeciallv favored because of his ‘They tell me-puny conquerors!
righteousness; &d the fact -that he* became intoxicated after the Plague has slain his ten, and
having had six hundred years of experience has not only War hia hundred thousand of the very
stru& Christian people with astonishment, but has inclined best of men; hut I,“--‘twaB thus the bottle
some weaker characters to excuse their own unwisdom by his spake-“but I have conquered more than all
course. your famous conquerors RO feared and famed of
In Noah’s defence we call attention to the fact that his yore. Then come, ye youths and maidens all, come
intoxication WRS after the flood and was purely accidental. drink from out my cup, the beverage that dulls the
The flood itself was a part of a great change in the aerial brains and burns the sDirits UD: that outs to Bhame
conditions of our earth: to our understanding the flood was your conquerors that-slay tl& Bcor;?a below, for
pro4uced by the prpripitation to the earth of an immense this has deluged millions with the lava tide of
uuantitv of water which previously had surrounded the earth woe. Though in the path of battle dsrk-
at a diitance as a cloudy-canopy. - est waves of hlood rniy roll; yet while
The hreakine of this canopv or envelope of water not onlv I killed the body, I have damned
produced the flood, but alte&d the conditions of nature ~6 the very soul. The cholera,
that storms, rains, etc., resulted, things which had never the plague, the sword, such
been before. (Gen. 2:5, 6) Another result, we believe, was ruin never wrought aB I, in mirth or
the production‘ of an aciditous condition of the atmosphere malice, on the innocent have brought.
tending toward ferment, which directly affected human longe- And Btill I breathe upon them, and they
vity, so that according to the Scripture records the average of shrink before my breath; and year by year my
human life quickly decreased from eight and nine hundred thousands tread the dismal road of DEATH.”
III-40 [2633]
 NEHEMIAH’S CORRECTION OF SABBATH-BREAKING
DEC. 3.-NEK. 13 : 16-22.
“Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.“-Exod. 20:8.
Nehemiah remained with his people as its Persian governor seventh day of the week (Saturday). The foreign trades-
for twelve years, when he was recalled to the palace by men coming for business on the Sabbath were disappointed
Artaxerxes. (Neb. 13 :6) He returned to Jerusalem by the and obliged to camp outside the city; but in expectation that
king’s permission probably five years afterward. Meantime the reformation would be shortlived they came in like man-
the interests of the Israelites had nrospered in temporal ner the next Sabbath. Nehemiah then warned them that to
matters, but suffered from a moral aid religious standpoint. come again for Sabbath trade and to keep up a commotion
Malachi prophesied during this period, and from his book we around the gates of the city on the Sabbath day would sub-
get a clear insight into some of the degeneracy of that time. ject them to arrest as disturbers of the law and peace of the
The demoralization seems to have started with the desire to be city, and they were thus restrained. We must all commend
on friendly terms with the gentiles in that vicinity, contrary Nehemiah’s devotion to the divine law and must concede that
to divine command. he in no sense of the word exceeded its requirements.
This led to more mixed marriages, and correspondingly The spiritual Israelite, altho in no sense of the word under
to a growing lack of interest in the divine law and worship. the Law-of Sinai, which.was given exclusively to the fleshly
The high priest’s grandson, Manasseh, married the daughter Israelite. has nevertheless his Sabbath dav-his rest dav. It
of Sanhnllat, once a prominent enemy of the Jews, and a is a larger and a fuller day than was thi Jewish one, as his
man of influence; and one of the tithe-chambers of the Temple rest is a grander and more perfect rest than the physical
was desecrated by fitting it up as a dwelling place for Tobiah, one of the Jew. The spiritual Israelite rests in faith, rests in
the Ammonite, who hy marriage became related to the high Christ. Having taken upon him the yoke of his new Master
priest: and this policy, sanctioned by such high authority, he finds, as was promised, rest to his soul, and not merely
was greatly followed by others. (Neh. 13:4, 5, 28; Mal. rest to his flesh-mind-rest, not merely bodily rest. (Matt.
2:14-16) It is not surprising that such disregard of divine 11:29) This is the rest or Sabbath mentioned by the Apostle
law led naturallv and ouicklp to the neglect of tithes for (Heb. 4:3) saying, “We which have believed do enter into
the support of the miniftters of the Temple, leading also to rest.” Our rest in the Lord is as complete as is our belief in
further selfishness. which. if it hroueht a sacrifice to the Lord him. He who believes fully rests fully; he who believes only
at all was disposed to bring the poor, the lame and the blind partially rests but partially. The ideal condition of the spir-
of the flock, not the unblemished fatling. It is no wonder, ftual Israelite is the attainment of a perfect rest, a perfect
either, that there followed in the wake of these things sorcery, Sabbath-keeping, in his nresent experience. and a waiting and
adultcry, false swearing, oppression, defrauding of widows laboring for an&her and still more complete rest-the &tual
and fatherless, etc.-Mal. 1:7, 8; 3:5, 9. rest of the perfected condition- the rest that remains for the
But our lesson deals particularly with another evil of that people of God. “Let UB therefore labor to enter into that rest
time-Sabbath-hrcaking. The policy of those who succeeded [Sabbath], lest any man fall after the same example of unbe-
Nehemiah on his return to Persia was, as we have seen, to lief [of fleshly Israel.]“-Heb. 4 : Q-l 1.
conciliate foreigners, and this, no doubt, largely in the in- While the spiritual Israelite should never lose sight of
terest of commerce. With the coming of heathen wives and these, his real Sabbaths, the antitypes of fleshly Israel’; Sah-
the relaxing interest in the Lord and his commandments, and bath dove and Sabbath zlears. and while he should never foreet
the frequent intercommuniration with heathen who observed that heYis completely freed lrom the Law of Sinai respect&g
no Sabbath day, Sabbath day regulations were quickly broken any and all Sabbaths, holy days, new moons, etc. (Col. 2: 16),
down. nevertheless he does rejoice in and should avail himself of any
arrangements of nominal Christendom which may appear to
We may draw a lesson here for spiritual Israel; and apply be favorable to his spiritual resting, his continual Sabbath-
the Anostle’s words, “Evil communications corrupt good man- keeping.
ners,” and our Lord’s words, “Ye are not of this world, even
as I am not of this world.” The spiritual Israelite is com- It so happens that nominal Christendom has set apart one
manded to be separate from the world, and to seek his fel- dav in seven as a Sabbath of rest-not the seventh dav, which
lowships with his own people, the Lord’s people, and not to wa’s commanded to the Jews, but the first day of the week,
be unequallv poked with unbelievers. (2 Cor. 6 : 14) We may which was never commanded to anyone by divine authority.
apply this specially to marriage, but to some extent it might No matter by whatsoever misconception this first day of the
be reearded as anDlicable also to business partnership, etc. week, called Sun-day in commemoration of the ancient heathen
As the heathen @oples surrounding Israel exercised a con- worship of the sun, WaB originally set apart as sacred and is
tinual pressure upon them, so worldly influences surrounding still set apart by the laws of Christendom, it contains a great
the sniritunl Israelites continually press them with the blessing, not only to the people at large but especially to the
spirit ‘of worldliness, which needs to bk continually repelled; true Israelites.
for onre this snirit is admitted to the citadel of the heart (1) To the people at large it means a day of rest from
it wars against. the spirit of holiness, devotion to God, etc., toil, a day of recreation, refreshment, change; a day for
and to whatever extent the worldly spirit invades the family, different sights and sounds, a day different from other days
in that proportion the sanctifying of the spirit of truth is immersed in toil; a day of opportunity for mental develop-
antagonized and off-set. Let us. as Israelites indeed, be con- ment according to the best lines they may have knowledge of
tinuallv on guard against all alien and alienating influence8 and be willing to follow. For a time some laborers, mechanics
of the worldrthe flesh and the devil. and merchants regarded the compulsory cessation of toil as a
Nehemiah, on his return to the governorship, at once ad- hardship, injurious to their interests, but they very generally
dressed himself to the rectification of the disorders described, have come to see that there is an over-supply of labor any-
beginning with the cleansing of the Temple, the restoration way, and that as far as the whole people is concerned, the
of vita service. and the nroner sunnlies for its ministers. Then labor of the six days will be worth exactly as much as the
he came to the question of Sabbath desecration, with which labor of seven. Conseouentlv we find that now labor oreaniza-
our lesson particularly deals. He remonstrated with the tions are earnest for *the enforcement of Sunday law&, and
nohlrs against such a violation of the divine command-the that practically the only persons of contrary mind are those
fourth in Israel’s Decalogue. He pointed out to them the who own and operate machinery. In 1886 a thousand car-
fact that Sabbath desecration had much to do with their penters in Berlin petitioned the government for protection
Babylonish captivity. It will be remembered that in explain- against Sunday labor ; in the same vear a Socialistic con-
ing the seventy years’ desolation of the land of Israel the g?ess in Belgium propounded as one” of its chief demands
Lord declared that he would make it desolate seventy years Sunday rest. In Holland there is at present in progress an
until it should have fulfilled its Sabbaths-its Jubilee years. effort for emancipation from Sunday work; and recently in
(2 Chron. 36 :21) True, those were vear-Sabbaths, and not Wisconsin a Law and Order League was organized to enforce
day-Sabbaths, but we are to remember the Sabbath system Sunday laws, etc. Working men are finding that in losing
(the seventh day and the fiftieth day, the seventh year, and Sunday they gain nothing to compensate them.
the fiftieth year) was a connected whole: and doubtless had While the fourth commandment to fleshlv Israel was chieflv
Tsrarl nronrrlv observed their Sabbath davs thev would also in the nature of a type, foreshadowing {he rest coming t*o
have properly ‘observed their Sabbath years “and Jubilees.* spiritual Israelites, nevertheless. like everv divine law. it was
Nehrmiah, after thus discoursing with the nobles on the in no wise injurious, but on the contra6 very benehcial to
oronrietv of the matter and the danger to the nation of fleshly Israel to ohserve the seventh day, even as it is now
2huL violating the divine Law. began a reformation hy closing benefirial to all mankind to observe a seventh dav.-whether the
the rratan of Jerusalem at sundown of the sixth dav of the first day of the week, observed by Christendom; or the seventh
week (Friday), and keeping them closed until sundown of the dav of the week observed bv the Jews. Rxnerience Droves that
s&h a rest is necessary from the human ‘and phy&al stand-
l See MILLENNIAL DAWN, VOL. II, Chap. 6. point.
(2S2-253) [ 26341
NOVEMBER 15. 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (253-255)

(2) To the true spiritual Israelite Sunday is and for long be careful in their observance of the day for three reasons:
centuries has been a great boon, a great blessing-the only (1) Because thev would not wish to see the dav fall into
drawback has been that not infrequently he has been mis- disuse’ or disrespect i”n the esteem of the world in general, for
taught to believe that Sunday is the Jewish Sabbath or a humanity’s sake, as well as for their own sakes-physical and
di&ely appointed substitute for it, and in consequence has spiritual.
been brought under a bondage-the bondage of the Jewish (2 ) Because they would not wish to do anything which
Law, with which really the -spiritual Israelite has nothing would lead others to a violation of a less enlightened con-
whatever to do, he being under a new covenant with a new science, remembering that the conscience is the most valuable
law and a Izew Mediator.* (Heb. S:6) But the spiritual as well as the most tender and easily injured quality of the
Israelite, already resting in heart (Sabbath-keeping antitypi- human nature.
tally, by faith in the Redeemer’s finished work), rightly un- (3) Because thev do wish to maintain a nroner religious
derstanding the matter and appreciating the privileges which influence with their” neighbors, whose minds ‘are’ not clearly
a general Sunday observance brings, may use this day to won- and fullv enlightened on this subiect-to the intent that thev
derful nrofit and blessing. And the fact that he has an may exe&se fhe greater influence for good and for the truth
opportunity so to do me&s to him an obligation so to do; as time and opportunity shall offer.
because, though without stipulations of law to bind him, he For all these reasons we urge upon the readers of this
is under the general law of love, and by it is obligated to do journal a glad and careful observance of Sunday as a sacred,
with his might what his hands find to do-to glorify the a holy day, providentially set apart bv human law. Let it be
Lord, to bless the brethren, and to do good unto all men as he entirely separated from business, and”80 far as possible from
may have opportunity: and the day and customs are favor- all labor not actually necessary; let it be employed in the
able to his exercise in all these respects. upbuilding of themselves, and their families, and the house-
The spiritual Israelite is to esteem that whatever mistaken hold of faith, and as manv as the truth shall draw into their
notions humanity may have had which led them to set apart sphere of influence ,-in moral and spiritual directions.
the first day of the week, the matter has nevertheless been In the concluding verse of the leason Nehemiah asks the
evidently of divine providence to present special opportunities Lord’s blessing upon himself, in view of the work which he
for profit and progress to the spiritual Israelites now called had done in the name of the Lord. He was fiehtinn valiantlv
to be of the royal priesthood. And such are prompt to avail for God’s cause, and thereby making many enemies;-and her&
themselves of these privileges and opportunities; to assemble while not flinching from his duty it was not unreasonable,
themselves for the study of the divine Word, for praise, for but very proper that he should think of the Lord’s faithful-
prayer and for spiritual fellowship,-building one another up ness toward all faithful to him. Had Nehemiah lived in our
in the most holy faith. day, with its Gospel high calling and privileges, we doubt not
In view of the fact that the majority of the Lord’s conse- he would have been one of the “saints,” and then, assuredly, he
crated people are poor,-not many great, not many wise, not would have known definitely and clear1 of the exceeding great
many learned, not many rich-how necessary it has been that and precious promises given to the 8 ospel church. But he
the Lord should rovide such an opportunity as this day lived before the “high calling” began, before the exceeding
affords for release From earthly toil and spiritual refreshment; great and precious promises were made. He knew not what he
and how fortunate it is for such that the masses of Christen- would receive of the Lord for his faithfulness, but we may
dom esteem rest on this day to be compulsory from the divine know. because instructed of the holv Suirit throuah the ADOB-
standpoint. tle’s writings. We may be assured Thai if Nehemiih continued
Of all the people in the world, therefore, those who enjoy faithful to the end of his career he would be amongst the
the light of present truth and recognize this day as a God- worthies of the past mentioned by the Apostle in Hebrews 11
given privifegs, and not as compulsory, should be the very -those who wrought righteous&&, and-were valiant on the
last to either do or say anything which would bring discredit side of God and his law. We are assured that these were
on the day and its sacred observance as a day of rest. This, of acceptable with God and will ultimately be made perfect-in
course, does not mean that we should advocate its observance the future. after the church. the elect bodv of Christ has been
with the usual arguments; but it does mean that all such should completed,’ been made perfect, and gloriaed in the heavenly
l See June 15, 1919, issue for critical examinaton of Covenants. kingdom.-Heb. 11: 39, 40.

SOME NEGLECTED FACTS IN HUMAN BIOLOGICAL HISTORY

“Students of Human Physiology, Pathology and Dietetics existence than the lower animals, consequently he was endowed
have hitherto persistently ignored certain facts in man’s history with the privilege of continued life on earth, being BO consti-
which have a controlling influence on present conditions. TO tuted that as each cell of his structure became worn out and
ignore these historical biological facts is as irrational as it effete it was removed and a new cell ut in its place, thus
would be to attempt to study the present civil institutions of keeping his tissues always young and Pree from senile decay.
our country and ignore our past history. “The design of the Creator being that the human race
“In regard to man’s early biological hi&or we have should be ‘sons of God’ and not merely ‘works of his hand’
records of the highest credibility, These recor 1 s are cor- like the lower animals, the announcement was made to Adam
roborated by all the facts within the reach of present observa- that the law of limited existence and death which he saw con-
tion. That present theories and speculations are contrary to trolling the lower animals should not prevail against him or
them has no weight with a truly scientific mind, which cares his offspring, but that he would be permitted to live on ever-
for facts alone. lastingly in his perfect environment, provided he developed a
“These records do not inform us what was the method used character which would love and pursue righteousness and
in the creation of man. They thus leave the field open for eschew evil; otherwise the gift of l&ing life-would be taken
intereating speculation as to whether it was by an evolutionary from him and he would be brought under the law of limited
process or otherwise. We do learn that the first progenitors existence and death, everlasting‘life being a curse to an evil
of the human race were perfect human beings, a man and a being and not a blessing.
woman of the highest organization, both physical and mental, “As we have seen, man, being a perfect being, endowed with
lacking in nothing except character, something which could the power of rejuvenating his tissues so that he could always
only be developed by experience and the exercise of their fac- remain young, was placed in a perfect environment, called
ulties. We are also informed that the woman was developed Paradise. Here the climatic conditions were perfect, the sani-
from the man by the method of reproduction known as gem- tary conditions were perfect, and, last but not least, he was
mation or budding; this, however, being an exceptional case, supplied with a perfect diet.
all subsequent reproduction in the human race being by the “As a simple and suitable commencement of the disciplinary
sexual method. training necessary to develop his character and test his
“This perfect human pair were placed in a perfect environ- obedience, he was placed under a single prohibition. He was
ment, called the garden of Eden, or Paradise. This was a given the ‘herb bearing seed’ for food and allowed to eat of
small portion of the earth’s surface specially prepared for the the fruit of everv tree in Paradise with one exception. ‘Of the
abode of man, who was specially favored above the rest of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat;’ and
animal kingdom, having been endowed with an organization he was warned that if he disobeved this command he would
so much superior to that of any other animal that he pos- surely die. Perhaps if man had”not been influenced towards
sessed the powers of reason, conscience, imagination, gen- the wrong course he would have stood this simple first test
eralization and free will to a high degree, thus making him an successfully, but there was present a spirit being of a high
earthly image of spirit beings. order whom ambition and selfishness had led into rebellion.
“So exalted an animal was worthy of a more prolonged By a line of specious reasoning he succeeded in seducing Eve,
[ 25351
 ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY. PA

‘the weaker vessel,’ 1nt.e a violation of the prohibition. Adam
knew that the penalty for this was death; that his beloved
and onlv congenial companion must cease to exist. Feeling
that he ‘would rather die than live without her, he also took
of the forbidden fruit in order that he might share her pen-
alty, preferring the nothingness of death to life without her
who was his other self, ‘bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh.’
W’e are expressly informed that ‘Adam was not deceived.
What he did he did with his eyes open. In effect he com-
mitted suicide for love.
“The laws of God are unchangeable, and the penalty of
death once threatened for this disobedience must be executed.
Adam and Eve were put to death, within the limits of one of
God’s ‘thousand year days,’ as He had said, ‘In the day that
thou eatest thereof dying thou shalt die.’ God had made man
on a plan which permitted continued existence in a suitable
environment, and man would have continued to live on, even
in sin and rebellion. if he could have remained in Paradise.
Iu order to put the sentence of death into execution it was
nec~eseary to drive man out of Paradise into the ‘cursed’ or
unfinished part of the earth ‘lest he put forth his hand and
eat of the tree of life and live forever.’ In the unfinished
earth he was exposed to climatic virissitudes, to accidents and
c*ataStrolJheB, to the attacks of disease germs, to wearing and
unwholesome forms of labor. Above all, he was deprived of
his natural food.
“Sinre the day when Adam and Eve were driven from
Edrn. ‘the world being all before them where to choose,’ and
the chcrnbim, armed with the revolving sword of flame, took
their station at the gate, no human being, so far as we know.
has ever tasted a mouthful of man’s natural food. Thus
Adam and all his race have died, although originally adapted
to everlasting life on earth: Adam being put to death a6 the
penalty of his sin, and all his posterity because the germs of
the whole rare being in Adam’s body when he commenced to
die, by the natural law of heredity they could only receive what
Adam had to give them, which was death and not life.
“These, then, are the controlling facts of man’s biological
a sound mind’ and endeavor to see man’s condition in its true
light.
“I do not like to leave this subject without adding that
tbc fall of man was foreseen and provided for in the plan of
God. and he has not changed in the least his purposes to have
on earth a Paradise populated by perfect men. At the time
appointed that purpose will be accomplished. The race of
Adam will share in it, for although the death sentence has
been executed upon them and they have been consigned to the
grave, they have been ransomed from the grave and will live
again. All in Adam die, but all in Christ will be made alive
in the future.
“I ran speak with positiveness on these points, thanks to
the light thrown on these hitherto dark questions by that
wonderful book, The Plan of the Ages. It is a key to that
sublime treasury of facts, the Bible, enabling us to reduce it6
iWtB to a system, ‘having the completeness of a science, the
precision of algebra.’ The author’s discovery of The Plan of
the Byes has done for Bible phenomena what the discovery of
the heliocentric character of the solar system did for as-
tronomy. In another generation this will have displaced all
other theology and philosophy as completely as the Coper-
nican astronomy ha6 displaced the Ptolemaic.”
DAVIS P. JACIXON, M. D.
In Toledo Medical and Surgical Reporter.
DEAR BBOTHEB RussEm.:-Brother Weber was with US
Saturday and brought an account of the grand feast you all
had at St. Louis. I am in communication with the Trunk
Line &36OciRtion regarding a Philadelphia Convention.
We are getting - great bleBBing6 from VOL. V.. and reioicina
in the light thrown on so many Scriptures. ‘14ay the dear
Lord continue to use vou in di6penBing surh food to us all. is
my constant prayer. -When you said,- at the Boston Conven-
tion, that you thought in the next few years a great many
would come into the truth after seeine the nronounced un-
scriptural views of the nominal mini&r; I wa; somewhat sur-
urised at first, as I had thought the wheat was nrettv well 1 ”

history, a life hiqtory which is not paralleled by that of any Yifted from the denominations, but your reasons were very
other animal, namely: the possession of an organism built SO convincing, and since then I have had many opportunities to
as to be capable of running on forever if surrounded by a spe- note its harmony with the Word and the signs of the times.
cial environment and supplied with a special food, but sepa- Corroborative evidence is furnished, I think, in the splendid
rated from his spec+ial environment and deprived of his special newspaper accounts of some of the Boston and St. Louis
food by a judicial decree: and the medical profession will fail meetin&3. The account of your discourse in ntOnday'6 St.
to solve the problems of pathology and dietetics as long a6 Louis RePublican W8S without a flaw so far as I can recall.
tlrcv ienore these faCtB. With man every condition is path- and such’articles must certainly be intended by the Lord to
ological, every environment is unnatural,-every article of his cause some to search further for the light.
diet is abnormal. That the race did not become extinct The adversary is also active. The friends in Philadelphia
long a&ran onlv be explained hy the history given above. received postals, notifying us that E. C. Mott would speak
‘“The mental condition of man depends upon the physical. here. I am so thankful, however, that his erroneOU6 teaching
Therr can be no mind without a bodv. Therefore. man’s mind is SO well known to the brethren here that it seems most
is unsound as the inevitable result* of his physical derange- improbable that he could move them from their steadfastness
ment. This is why man, although endowed with reason, every- if they heard him. He has for some time been teaching that
where acts in an irrational manner. Some men are insane, but none are justified but those that are spiritually begotten*-
all men are of unsound mind. There have been only two basing it upon an erroneous interpretation of 1 John 5: 1, and
human beings who possessed perfectly sound minds. One was wresting all other Scriptures to suit his theory. It is a ter-
Adam, but his mental and physical health continued for only rible thing to be so influenced by a desire to bring out some-
a brief period, perhaps not more than one year. The other thing new that we reject the Old Theology in order to glorify
was ,Jesus, the Christ. Although not of Adam’s race, he was self. I pray for grace and humility that I may not be led
a nerfcct human being; perfect mentally as well as phySically. away by pride.
Tmperfect mm who attempt to conform their ideas‘ and their AS treasurer for the Philadelphia Church I have been
conduct to his oerfect standard are said bv Paul to have the instructed by the brethren to send to the WATCH TOWER BIBLE
‘spirit of a so&d mind.’ It is the highest attainment of de- AND TRACT ~~OCIFPY an order for $25, which is herein enclosed.
praved humanity to have the spitit or disposition of a sound With Christian love to yourself and the dear friends in the
mind. Puck was fully justified by the facts when he ex- TOWER office, I remain, -
claimed, ‘What fools these mortals- be!’ Our weakened and Yours in the service of the Truth,
unsound minds can make but little progress towards the truth BENJAMIN H. BABTON.
on medical subjects or any other until -we obtain ‘the spirit 01 l See issue March 1 1910, p. 93, question four. (Prov. 4:18.)-Ens.

VOL. xx ALLEGHENY, PA., DECEMBER 1, 1899 No. 23

VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER

COLD COMFORT FOR EVOLUTIORISTS AND HIGHER CRITICS
Prof. A. H. Sayce, one of the greatest living arebcological
explorers and professors of Assyriology in Oxford University,
England, after thirty years spent in deciphering the ancient
hieroglyphics of eastern lands, rerently declared:-
“Higher Criticism is wrong. The h&her critics of the Bible
are engaged in hair-splitting trivialities and are pursuing false
method.?. Our researches among the monuments of Babylon,
Assyria and Egypt have opened U~J a ncto world undreamed of
a few years ago. They show that the history of mankind goes
baclc to a very remote past; and that civilization was then quite
[2536]
as high as that of imperial Rome or the civilization of Europe
at the time of the Renaissance, if not higher in some respects.
“They have also shown how much there is still to be dis-
covered. After all, what we have found is only the beginning
of what we shall find. It is no longer possible to say, as in
the early days of oriental research, that snCh and such a thing
could not have been. The population of the early East was
highly cultured and highly literary. Both in Egypt and in
Babvlon a lnrge portion of the people seem to have occupied
their time in reading and writing.
“The monuments that have been found in Egypt and
DECEMBU 1. 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (259-260)

Babylonia have revealed this fact in part. These are literally her to be put forth by any person. The deputy Gebu shall act
covered with writing. Even the smallest articles of dailv use as guardian for my son.’
have been found covered with inscriptions. The revel&ions “The word used for guardian is curious, ‘child instructor.’
are also party due to the discoveries that the old cities of the To the deed are appended the names of several official wit-
East had very large libraries of books. And some discoveries nesses. Among the officials we find the name of ‘the scribe of
made a few years ago at Tel-el-Amarna, in Egypt-where a the hearing,’ in whom we may see the official shorthand writer
large number of letters on clay tablets were found-proved who wrote out the draft proceedings.
that in the fifteenth century before the Christian era the “Very curious are the- private letters, a number of which
whole educated population of-the East from the Euphrates to were found. These letters. nrobahlv the oldest in the world.
the Nile were eneaeed in writine letters to one another. This are in various handwriting;, in the hieratic character, and
correspondence Galgoing on ac&vely in a language and form resemble in style the Early English letters. The writing is
of writing which belonged only to the Babylonians. Those. across the longest width, the papyrus is then folded three
therefore, who wrote in thie language must have studied and times from the side. and sealed or tied, and the address writ-
learned it as we do French. Hence there must have hcen ten on the outside, for example: ‘The master to whom be
schools in which the language and script of Babylonia were Life. Health Sakanu to whom be L. P. H., from Arisu. Year
studied all over western Asia. 2, 4th Month of Harvest, 12th day. Brought by Henat.” Like
“Not long since a discovery was made in the extreme south all Oriental letters. these ancient enistles are redolent with
of Egypt showing that papyrus books were written in the very platitudes and flowery language, the-pious phrase, ‘Life, Pros-
early days of Egyptian history. As regards the Babylonian perity and Health, being constantly repeated. The less the
libraries, they were equally ancient and very numerous. Every importance of the letter the more flowery the language. Most
great library had its clay books. Some time ago at a place of the letters are from officials, and relate to the public works
called Tello, in South Chaldea, a French excavator discovered being carried on. The following is a good example:
a library which was formed three or four centuries before the “‘The servant of the wakf Arisu saith to the sunerinten-
birth of Abraham, and which he concludes had contained 33,000 dent of the interior, Sa-ka-anu, to whom be life, health, and
separate clay tablets or books on all kinds of subjects. He prosperity. This is a communication to the Master L. P. H.,
found them arranged in shelves, piled one upon another. They saying that I arrived in the city of Het-Gehes on the 4th
had probably been overwhelmed by the fall of the building Month of Harvest (July) on the early morning of the 5th
in which they were placed. Many of these clay tablets are dav. I found that the Master had eone South. The foreman
now in Constantinonle. About 10,000 were stolen bv the Ampy told me, and I gave him three laborers. Thereupon I
Arabs. The tablets ‘are mostly written in Accadian, a Inn- sent to the foreman Henai. in a shin that I found at Het-
gunge which is still imperfectly known.” Gahes. I caused him to bring thee a ‘freight.”
l . l l “The freight con&ted nf barlev and durra. etc. Near
the end of the letter is an intere&na nsssane showine how
Amongst the papyri found recently in Egypt and men- the Egyptian officials worked together’: ’ I’
tioned in our View for Nov. 15th were others quite interesting. “ ‘Behold I have sent. narticulars of thv business to the
One was-An Ode of Welcome to Usertesen III., written prob- I

Steward Hetu, for thou must be with him as one man

ably on the occasion of a royal visit. It has .six stanzas of ( friends 1.
ten lines each and is pronounced by scientists “the oldest “There is also a letter from a lady which relates chiefly
known poem in the world.” They forget the Bible again, for to the weaving carried on in the temple.
the Book of Job is of about the same age and conceded to be “The letters are not always so polite. and a fine specimen
a masterly poetic production. of strong language is afforded by the following:-
Veterinary surgery is treated in a good sized volume, and “ ‘May thy speech be in all ‘ill favor by Sebek (crocodile
we are told “the cures are very practical and similar to those god), and whoever will send thee to perdition-favored be his
used in the present day.” But- legal documents and private Ka (spirit). Thus hath the dean of the temple. He-Kat-Pepa.
papers are amongst the most interesting, evidencing surely done for thee, continually for ever and ever, eternally. 111 be
that if (as evolutionists claim) the first man was but one thv hoaring and a plague (on thee).’
remove from a monkey, he got civilized very quickly, and that “The reports and account tablets are wearisome in bulk.
so far as the Egyptians are concerned, very little evoluting but nbound-in details of the greatest value to the historian and
has been done for the past 3700 years. We quote a few ;rrchsologist. The whole system of the corvee is set forth in
extracts from these interesting documents from the London detail. The men were called from certain villages and towns,
Daily News of Sept. 29th, ‘OO,-supplied to it by Mr. F. L. hence the gangs contain several members of the same family.
Griffith,-as follows :- to work for two months. The canes numbered usuallv ten.
“The wills and conveyances are certainly the earliest and each had a master, a gangerl a<d a timekeeper or gcribe.
examples of legal documents known, and afford ample proof They were lodged in sections in the town and fed from a com-
of the antiauitv of the laws of ancient Egvnt. The first is a mon store. Some idea ot the number of men and the work of
curious tra’nsf& of the apparently here&&y office of “reg- the commissariat is afforded by the return for one day’s
ulator of priestly orders” from father to son. baking of eighteen hundred and ninety loaves. An interesting
“‘I am giving up my regulatorship of priestly orders to account is that of the dancers employed in the temple in the
my son Antef, called Jusenb, an old man’s staff (assistant) ; great festivals. Many of them were Syrians and Nubians.
even as I grow old let him be promoted at once. As to the The list of festivals is verv curious, and amone them are
title to propertv I made for his mother it is annulled.’ several which exist to the present day. Thus, the ‘Festival
‘<Like ail Egyptian documents, it concludes with ‘name of the Night of Receivino the River.’ is the well-known festival
list of those in whose nresence this title to uronertv was of the cutting of the dam, celebrated to this day in Cairo on
made,’ and the date is the 19th day of Khoiak: in’ the 39th the second or third week in August.
year of Amen-em-hat III., or about B. c. 2588.’ The next papy- “As we turn these ancient fragments over-these accounts
rus is even of greater interest. It measures twentv-two inches and revenue returns-it is hard to believe that thev are the
by twelve and a half and has been folded up and sealed with a records of some forty-five centuries ago,* they mighi be those
scarab seal. and is ‘inscribed with two wills. The first is a of the Egypt of today. The return of the native reiyses and
deed of gift by a man named Ankh-ren, servant of the superin- katibs (scribes) for the daily and monthly work on the bar-
tendent of works, to his brother, of all his property in ‘town rage at Assouan, hardly differ in a single detail from those
and marsh land. his servants.’ etc. It is stated a list of the made for the reclimbing works in the Fayoum in Bezboim.
property is deposited in the’ office of the ‘second registrar.’ The publication of these papyri only affords another proof of
The second will is that of the brother. named Uah. who how real is the resurrection of the buried nast and how vivid
bequeaths all to his wife, Teta. Considering its great age, it is and full of life is the picture we can reconsiruct.”
really a very remarkable document. The writer says: A MINISTER’S PRBSENTIMENTS AND BEASONS
“‘I am making a title to the pronertv to mv wife-of all Rev. H. R. Perseval, Episcopalian, of Pennsylvania. over
things given to me by my brother; the devoted servant of the his own signature has recentlv expressed his views of the
sunerintcndent of works. Ankh-ren. as to each article. She present sit&ion and the future outlook of the Christian reli-
shkll give it to any she’ desires of’the children that she has eion in civilized lands. He sees a tendencv toward the denial
borne me. I am grving her the four Eastern (Syrian) slaves of all positive faith and a substitution “of unbelief coupled
that mv hrother cave me. She shall eive them to whomsoever with forms and liturgies: in other words, he foresees- an
she will of her children. As to my tomb, let me be buried in agnostic ceremonialism : and so far as we understand him, he
it with my wife. Moreover as to the apartments my brother iT)’in full sympathy with such a faithless “church.” We agree
built for me, my wife shall dwell therein without allowing
l More properly 3776 years ago, in harmony with the Bible Chron-
l Over 600 years in error (too 10ng)~ as shown by the later findings 010 and in harmony with the po/vri dates discovered by Dr. Borchardt,
and calculations referred to in our last rssue. set 9 orth in our last issue, page 245.
[ 25371
(261-262) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA.

that the tendency is as he outlines it; but we are not in at the same time that he was his own Son on earth.* This
sympathy with the tendency and deny that it will be the being the reverend gentleman’s position the logic of his argu-
church of Christ or in any sense justified in the use of the ment is that Jehovah has been disappointed and hence did not
name Christian. We hold that it will be merely the binding know the end from the beginning-as he supposed and said
of the “tares” in bundles ready for the ‘fire” (trouble) of he did. (Isa. 46 : 10) And if Jehovah is thus “all at sea” and
this day of vengeance;-that the true church, the “wheat,” greatly ‘disappointe’d at results, is it not time that we his
will first all be separated from the “tares,” as now com- creatures should become excited and abandon our rest in
manded by the Lord.-Rev. 18:4; Isa. 48:20-22; 52: 11; Jer. Christ and our hopes and our faith, and begin to try our own
51:6-10, 45; 2 Cor. 6:16-l% skill instead of trusting all to the Lord?
The reverend gentleman gives some cogent reasons for his (5 ) To cap the climax of this argument we should only
views, from which we make brief extracts as follows:- need to be assured that the reverend gentleman is a Calvinist
“Even old-fashioned orthodox Protestantism is in America (a Presbyterian, or a Congregationalist, or a Baptist) and
on the wane. and while the law of William Penn’s own Penn- that he is a firm believer in “the divine decrees.” in divine
svlvania still by statute fines those who speak against or predestination,-that God foreordailzs whatsoeve; comes to
insult the Holy Scriptures of God, many Protestant ministers pass. In other words, that God foreordained matters as we
in the hundr& of pulpits of Philadelphia find no more see them but did not know, or forgot that he had so fore-
interesting and exciting theme for their Sunday preachments ordained, and was disappointed in consequence.
than the showing the Word of God to be the erring and often What a wretchedly nauseating nabulum is this. that is
immoral and ridiculous word of man! being served to young” and old Ch%tians instead of ‘the “sin-
“Jt is no cxagperstion to say that Protestantism is rapidly cere milk of the word” and its “stronn meat” so abundantlv
disintcgratlng, and is losing its hold as a teaching power. supplied in the Scriptures. Is it any ‘wonder that the rising
“An American bishop, whose diocese is in the wilds of New generation in Christian lands is full of scepticism? They see
England and contains but twenty-seven clergymen all told, the reasoning people leaving the Bible under the lead of
has recently written a letter to a church newspaper in which higher criticism, and from the friends of the Bible they get
he makes the highly interesting assertion that the clergy are such arrant nonsense as the above. The wonder is that all
not bound crcn to believe the statements they make in the who do not see the truth do not quickly become skeptics.
prayers of the church service, which they offer out of the They are saved apparently by their stupor in things spiritual.
prayer-book to the God of truth! The bishop would seem to The Other Side of the Proposition
be a fair match, in this respect at least (although not in What is the reverend gentleman’s difficulty? The closing
others), to the rationalistic German professor, Adolf Harnack, sentence quoted above shows that despite his gross darkness
who made a similar statement with regard to the Lutheran he has some light,-some light that -many of-his associates
ministrrs of the statp church. who were obliged to accept the do not have. That last sentence gives us good hope for the
Apostles’ Creed which they did not believe! man, for we see just where he floundered and why. He floun-
“It is not too much to say, then, that Protestantism as a dered in his logic bv reason of his attemnt to hold and har-
system of positive religious belief is dying out, and that its monize a prom&ent” teaching of churchianity with the Scrip-
professors are for the most part able to continue in its min- ture’s teachings. He must sift and separate the teachings of
istry only through some device of casuistry [equivocation, the Scriptures from all others. and then he will find the
lying], which in any other matter would be considered by logical harmony and consistency which he does not now find.
themselves as it is in their case by almost every one except Had he followed alone Scriutural lines the loeical reason-
themselves, dishonest and dishonorable. It is manifest that ing of his last sentence q;oted above that the outward organi-
this state of things can not go on, and that the only final zation. 2s not the real church, he would have seen that it was
result of ‘progress’ in this direction, so far as faith is con- not for the union of the outward oreanizatiom that our Lord
cerned, must be unbelief, and, so far as organization is con- prayed. He would have seen then that Christ is not dmap-
cerned, decay and dissolution.” A
vointed that the outward oraanizations are not united. If the
AN ASTOUNDING PROPOSITION real Church is composed of believers and not of unbelievers,
“The Disappointment of Jesus Christ” “higher critics” or otherwise: and if, as the Scriptures de-
clare, it is composed of only such believers as are consecrated
At a meeting of the “Canadian Society for Christian -the holy, “the saints” [Heb. 12 :23; 2 Thes. 2 : 13 ; Rev.
Union” held in Toronto, Canada, Oct. 3d, was a speaker, whose 20:6), was not the aentleman lookina in a wrone auarter to
subject should have evoked astonishment, but evidently did find those who are a”t orte with the Father and Thee’Son and
not. The nominal Christian is in a sort of hypnotic stupor with each other? We think so.
which accepts unquestioningly and unreasoningly whatever is And no doubt he was misled into all this error bv that
presented to him by those duly authorized by any popular other doctrine of churchianity that is in conflict with the
sect to bear the title of Reverend. The uress reports say:- teachines of the Bible.-the doctrine of eternal torment of all
“Rev. A. Crapsey, of New York, had- prepared a len-gthy except :he church. Every man of generous heart, believing
paper on the subject, ‘The Disappointment of Jesus Christ-’ this false doctrine, will be disposed to “count into the church”
As it was too exhaustive for such a meeting, he gave the as manv as possible. not wishing to count them into eternal
audience the essence of his idea extempore. -There-was, he torture.” Mahy are’ thus blindgd and misled and uninten-
held, one p-rat petition in the Saviour’s prayer just before tionallv arraved aeainst God and his Word.
he suffrr~d death that was not answered yet. He prayed that Wh”at theie welcmeaning but deluded people need is, to see
his pcnple might br one, as he was one with the Father. He the Scriptural doctrine of Election stript of the unscriptural
(‘ame to I)c~ a great unifier, and his plan was the most suc- doctrine of honeless reurobation of the non-elect to eternal
ressfnl of anv in the history of the world, yet his own people torture. They- need to* learn that God foreknew and fore-
bad tliSilppOi;1t~‘d him. They were continually at war with ordained an elect church which he has been calling and select-
one another over trivial matters. The speaker held that one ing from among mankind during this age for a purpose (Acts
of the great causes of disunion was an improper theory of 15: 14 ; Rom. 8:28)-the glorious purpose of making them his
officialism, whereby the outward organization was considered agents for the blessing of all mankind. They need to see that
the church.” this elect church is the seed of Abraham (Gal. 3:8, 16, 29),
We would be deeply interested in reading the original and that it will shortlv inherit the nromises made to Abra-
exhaustive treatment of this subject that we might know,- ham : “In thy seed shall all the f&dies of the earth be
( 1) How it came that the Lord who had the holy Spirit blest-”
without measure (stint) at the time he offered the prayer Thev need to see, too, what God has predestinated: and
referred to (John 1’7)) did not know what to expect as the then thky will eee the- absurdity of “counting in” the millions of
outcome of his work and hence met with the declared disap- nominal churchianitv: and all the more thev will see the need
pointment. for their own neighbors and friends and families, of the prom-
(2) If disappointed in one particular may he not be dis- ised blessed Millennial reign of Christ and his elect church,
appointed in all? Hence, may not his prophecy of Matthew his bride. God’s predestinatiolt is stated by insniration bv the
24th chapter and all others of his precious promises be sim- Apostle, thus : “Those whom he foreknew, he- also prehsti-
ilarly mzstakes-disappointments? nated to be covies of his Xon.“-Rom. 8:29. Diaalott.
I3 1 If our Lord and his words are thus “errant”
>-I -~ ~~~
would “He shall see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied”-
not the argument of the “higher critics” be correct when they not disappointed.-Isa. 53 : 11.
claim that the Book is an unreliable guide and that instead
of it we should take the wisdom of earth’s wise men (the PAPACY’S DFiB¶ANDS IN SPAIN
higher critics) as far better? Well do the Scriptures symbolically represent Papacy as a
(4) It is not unreasonable to suppose from his “orthodox” leopard beast (or mottled government-Rev. 13:2). In one
associations that the Rev. Crapsey is a tritituriurt; and if so place it is liberal, almost white in its professions or appear-
a believer that our Lord Jesus was his own Father in heaven * See The At-one-ment Between God and Man, Chap. 5.
126381
DECEMBER 1, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (263-264)

ances ; in another quarter it is black, corrupt, degrading, error of Liberalism is that it substitutes individual discern-
brutal: and in still other ulaces it has various neutral and ment for the authority of the church.’ The church, therefore,
tawny’shades of correspond&e to the natural depravity of the makes the following cardinal demands : Complete independence
people it rules with its rod of eternal torment and its staff of ecclesiastical jurisdiction,
of purgatory. which means that none of its
members, under any consideration whatever, shall be judged
In Spain, which has been for centuries one of its dark
spots-as dark as the general civilization of the people will by secular courts; re-establishment of all clerical privileges;
permit,-the “leopard” has been accustomed to have its way, abolition of the legality of marriages not sanctioned by the
and is now incensed that freedom of worship, or even of church ; non-interference of the secular authorities with any
thought, should be dreamed of. And now hints are thrown out legacies or grants obtained by the church; prohibition of re-
that an insurrection would be supported against the present ligious association to non-Catholics. Thus the church makes
government, if the “Liberals,’ are granted any privileges. Of demands which are altogether incompatible with modern life.
course, all the blame is attached to the ‘Ziberals” (which The spirit of these demands is all the more easy to discern
there means any and all who demand the right to think and when we read that ‘the increasing impudence and audacity of
act for themselves in religious matters), and it is claimed Protestantism, which raises its temples and opens its schools
that they should let thingsvalo~e-not create a disturbance by in the presence of Catholic sanctuaries and schools, in the
demanding and seeking their rights. A Paris newspaper capital as well as in other places of Spain, is a direct violation
IJournal des Debuts) analyses Papacy’s demands thus:- of the constitution.’ ”
“According to the views expressed at Burgos, the Spanish In a word, the pope and his coadjutors seem to be seeking
church. to auote the words of a French king, simply says: to put pressure on all the nations of Europe to compel an
‘L’etat’ c’est ;noi!, The grave crisis of Spain,-we are-told; is interference on his behalf to secure for him some restoration
due to her ‘excessive Liberals,’ and, further, that ‘the chief of temporal power at the opening of the new century.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

BORROWINQ AND LENDING that appointed Day shall come, the ignorance now enslaving
Qzlestion.--I have neighhors who bother me continually by mankind will be dissipated before the Sun of Righteousness,
wishing to borrow of me. I wish to be neighborly hut do not the unfavorable surroundings will he largely corrected by the
like to he pestered by people with whom I have scarcely any- great Prince of “the world [age] to come,” our Lord Jesus;
thing in common. If they were “brethren in Christ.” I would and such blemishes as may he connected with the imperfection
think nothing of it, but he glad to oblige them. What is my of the flesh of those on judgment will he offset according to
duty under the circumstances? the gracious provision of the New Covenant, under which their
Answer.-Our advice is that you bear with them in this trial will take place.
matter-for the truth’s sake, for the Lord’s sake, not directly, With the church, whose trial or judgment takes place
hut indirectly. In this way seek to make friends with earthly during this Gospel age, the case is somewhat similar. These
things. You will find little enough that you and your neigh- are specially justified by faith under the *New Covenant; their
hors can exchange along spiritual lines, and in order that what unintentional blemishes and weaknesses all being offset with
you have to offer of spiritual things may he the more accepta- the great sin-offering, and their knowledge being granted by
ble to them, improve every opportunity to be kind, generous, special illumination of the holy spirit through the Scriptures.
in respect to the lending of earthly goods-not, of course, Only such as are thus made free by the Son are free indeed,-
carrying matters to an extreme, so as to injure your own “free moral agents” in this sense and use of the expression.
interests. Thus the Lord’s people may be lenders, hut not CONUERNING METEORIC SHOWERS
borrowers, as the typical fleshly Israelites were instructed also.
(Luke 6:35; Deut. 15:6-15) By pursuing a kind and gen- Question.-What about the falling of stars predicated in the
erous course, you will to that extent favorably newspapers by astronomers for Nov. l&17?
impress your It is said that
worldly neighbors, and that at a trifling these meteoric showers occur every thirty-three
cost. If subse- years. How
quently they misunderstand does this fit with the exposition
your religious views, they will at set forth in MILLENNLAL
least concede you to be a kind and generous neighbor. DAWN, VOL. IV., where the Meteoric shower of 1833 is referred
It would seem that many of the Lord’s dear people fail to as a sign?
to see that with our clearer light we should become more Answer.-It fits well! The fact that astronomers have
kind in word and in action and in thought, and much more located the floating star dust which produced the phenomena
generous every way, than our neighbors-peace-able of 1833, and the fact that they know now that it approaches
and peace-
makers. The majority of people seem naturally close to the earth every thirty-three
to be mischief years prove nothing. The
makers, and do not quick1.y see that this is contrary to the original fact remains that in 1833 there was a starry shower
. . such as was never heard of before and such as has never
spirit of the Lord-the spirit of love. The possession of the
quarrelsome, selfish spirit gives evidence that the possessor has been seen since, though twice predicted.
not been taught of God, or has not properly learned of him Astronomers announced in 1866 that the shower of 1833
who is meek and lowly, kind and gentle of heart. would be repeated and that such showers had probably
occurred often, but had never before attracted attention and
MAN’S FREE AGENCY
record. But Nov. 14th, 1866, saw only comparatively few
Question.-Has man been a free moral agent since the fall? shooting stars- a few more than can be seen at other times.
Answer.-There are two ways of looking at this subject,
Now that the second prediction, Nov. 15-17, ‘99, has passed
and the answers accordingly would be opposites. without any remarkable display, it rather strengthens our
( 1) If by “free moral agent” is meant freedom of will
in respect to moral questions, we would answer, Yes. Un- position and corroborates the thought that the meteoric shower
doubtedly man is free to zdll as he may please on moral ques- of NOV. 13th, 1833, was a special one intended as a sign and
tions, although he may not be able to carry out this will in all understood at the time as such and that the like never occurred
the affairs of life by reason of the weaknesses of his flesh or by before as it has not occurred since.
reason of circumstances and conditions of others with whom he The last failure was particularly disappointing to astron-
is in contact. Thus the Apostle Paul says, “To will is present omers for they had predicted wonders and had made extensive
with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” preparations. The Paris observatory had a balloon by which
-Ram. 7 : 18. an ascent was made high above the city’s lights and mists so
(2) If by “free moral agent” is meant one who is not as to obtain good results; but it could report only “about
influenced or restricted by his environment, the answer should one hundred” meteors. At the Allegheny, Pa., Observatory
unquestionably be, No; because we are all born in a certain elaborate preparations were made for months in advance and
measure of slavery to ignorance, superstition and weakness, the largest photographic camera ever constructed in the world
the resu?ts of the fall. Whoever is thus bounden. may indeed was in place to secure repeated photographic negatives of
seem to have full liberty to do right as easily as to do wrong, the heavens during the entire night. How different was the
but in reality he has no such liberty, by reason of his own original shower intended for, and by many understood, as a
depravity and that of others, especially “the Prince of this sign.
world.” who blinds the minds of them that believe not. Read the testimony of MILLENNIAL DAWN, VOL. IV., pages
If all men had absolute freedom from the curse and from 588-600.
the weaknesses which it entails, the present would be the time IS THE STUDY OF PSYCHIC PHENOMENA NECESSARY?
of the world’s trial; but because such conditions do not prevail, Question.-I have recently seen a book on psychic phenom-
therefore God has appointed a “day” (the coming Millennial ena, styled -. Do you not think it would be well to
age) in the which he will judge the world by that “man” obtain these for TOWER readers at wholesale rates?
whom he hath afore ordained-the Christ. (Acts li : 31) When * See June 15, 1919, issue for critical examination of Covenants.
[25391
(265-266) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA

Answer.-We do not so think. We may put before our A%.swer.-The critic has erred respecting the meaning of
brethren of the Lord’s flock only “clean provender.” We can the word prehuman. Pre means before, hence pre-human sig-
only recommend to them reading along the lines advised by nifies before human. The thought is-that condition in which
the Apostle, saying : Whatsoever things are true, just, lovely our Lord was before he became a man. At that time he was
and of good report-think on these things and stir up each a spirit being. The critic has taken exactly the opposite to
other’s minds with these.-Phil. 4 : 8 ; 2 Pet. 3 : 1. the true meaning of the word prehuman.
We have every confidenre that the devil has plenty of OONOERNINO PREDESTINATION
power to produce any variety of psychic phenomena if the Question.-Is not individual, personal election to salvation
Lord nermit him: and WC have the Scrintural assurance that taught in Rer. 13:s and 17:8?
the L&d will permit him to exercise the&z powers in a special Answer.-We think not. The first of these texts is much
manner at the present time. to deceive, if it were possible, the the simpler and, it will be noticed, does not say when the
very elect, and to brine strone delusions unon manv in the names would be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. It does,
no&nal church, that t&ev sho;ld believe a *lie, becabse they however, mention that in the divine plan the Lamb of God
do not have nleasurca in & truth. (2 Thes. 2: 10-12) Plrase was slain from the foundation of the world. and that this
see booklet, T’Vhat &‘a?~ the Rcmptu& About Rpiritzr&m? Book of Life record is one of the con&quencds of our Lord’s
We do not think. dear Brother, that the children of light death.
need sperial instruction? along the lines of psychic phenomena, The second text is more obscure and reads as though it
and a thousand other hooks which have been and will be pub- had been intended to be a repetition of the former statement,
lished, calculated to confu\e many. The strongest protection but inadvertently a portion had been omitted, viz., the words,
God’s p~opl11 can have is the one which he has provided them “of the Lamb slain.” We do not surely know that these
-the armor of his Word, his plan. Whoever sees the “plan words were omitted, but merely that if they were there, this
of the apes.” as laid down in the WATCH TOWER publicationh. passage would be in harmony with the preceding one and in
rlearly, dist~inc*tl~, will he safepuartled, not only against one, harmony with all of the testimony of Scripture, without allow-
but against all the devices of the great Adversary in this evil ances or inferences.
day: but it will requirr that they give careful attention and Taking this latter verse as it stands, and supposing it to
prayer in order that the study may be satisfactory in its be complete, we should be obliged to understand it to mean
results-in order that it may sink ‘into csonvirtion in their that the book or scroll covenanting life to an elect number
hearts, and rstahlish them HO strongly in confidence in the was prepared from the foundation of the world, and that the
Bible and its inspired statements that all conkadictory names in it have been written as the individuals have made
thenrics and so-called s(*ientifir proofs to the contrary will he consecration of themselves, coming under the terms of the
unable to move them. divine call. In this view of the matter the book or scroll
would represent the original divine purpose-God’s intention
PREHUMAN--MEANS WHAT? to hare a church, of which our Lord Jesus would be the Head.
---In the fifth volume of I)ARN
(;)urstion and also in various Such interpretation would be in perfect harmony with the
issues of the WATCH TOWER you mention the prehuman ex- various figures of speech which represent the writing of the
istcnre of Christ. Some have taken exception to this state- names of ‘the belie&r8 in the La&b’s Book of Lifer and in
ment,, holding that you mean that our Lord was human hefore harmonv also with the other records which sneak
” 1 of blottine
his existcnee upon the earth. Please give us a word on this out the names of such as prove unfaithful to their consecra-
subject at your convenience. tion.-Rev. 3 : 5.

“COD LOVETH A CHEERFUL GIVER’*-2 COR. 9:7

DJEC. lO.-MAL. 1:6-11; 3:8-12.
Malachi uttered the words of his prophecay during the and spirituality in a row in the center of the top of the head.
period of Nehemiah’% ahs(xn(*c from .Jerusalem at the court of They are thus given places of prominence and nearness to
Persia, and the return of Nehemiah may at the time have God above all others: and it is certainly true that those who
seemed like a fulfilment of Malachi’s uroDhecv.-“The Lord have these organs most largely developed are permitted, under
whom ye seek shall suddenly c*ome to his’ ten$le,” etc. No the grace of the New Covenant, to come nearest to God in
douht the testimonv of the Lord eiven throueh Malachi nre- their- hearts, in their sentiment& in all their experiences in
pared the people “for their quick response- to Nehemiih’s life. But our dav is not the most favorable for the develon-
rnergetic appeals and commands already noticed. ment of these organs. Ours is a money-making and mane;.
The International Sunday Rt*hool Committee has very loving day, and the tendency is to concentrate thought and
appropriately chosen Malachi’s testimonv as a hasis for les- effort along the baser lines of acquisitiveness, combadveneas,
s& on the -grac*e of giving. While on ihe one hand we art‘ and in general the selfish propensities.
whollv out of svmuathv with the usuallv everlastine “dun- Moreover, the great increase of knowledge which the Lord
ning”- carried 01; iI; rrl;cious rirclcs-the’passing of The rol- has permitted in connection with the present day of prepara-
lec%on box on every posslhlr occasion, in season and out of tion for his Millennial kingdom tends to egotism rather than
*(‘ason, and appeals for money for every conceivable ohject-- to favor veneration. Children have opportunities for education
nrvrrthch~sh, on the othtbr hand we fully realize that the grace today which their parents did not enjoy. and are inclined to a
of giving is indissolubly attached to all the other graces of feeling of self-confidence and self-satisfaction, and feelings of
(+od’c: bpirit. Hence it 1s impossible for the Lord’s people to disrespect toward their parents instead of reverence. And this
grow in the other gra(‘t~~ incaulrated in his Word without grow- dwarfing of the organ of reverence, in its relationship to
iyg also in the grace of henevolcnce. Indeed, while thoroughly human creatures, implies also its dwarfing in respect to God:
disapproving the begging spirit a.s abominable, we are ready to and henre we see today. as never before, disrespect of parents
concede that in all prohahility it has wrought some good- and diuobedience to parents, and proportionately disrespect to
whc>rc, tloc+rinal instrnc*tionh 111righteousness and truth were God, irreverence in holy things. Realizing the sources of these
lac*kinr! ant1 thp ill-fed souls of the Lord’s people were likely evils we zre hound to sympathize with the rising generation in
to dir of spiritual starvation. the appeals for money have no its difficulties in these respects.
doubt oftrn awakencbd, in the* hearts of many, such responsive As Christians taught of God through his Word and by its
sfantimentti as compenxatcd to pomp extent for their ignorance spirit. we are to realize for ourselves, our families, and the
of God ant1 his \\‘nrd. no matter how selfish the mo&en, no entire household of faith, the necessity for striving against
matter how ignoble thcl method adopted, if it touched the these tendencies of our times-the necessity for curtailing our
heart of the girclr with a desirr to offer something in loving selfish. avaricious tendencies and egotism, and the necessity.
annrtc~iation and worahin to his Creator. the effect was surelv.’ on the contrary. of cultivating the higher and nobler graces of
n’6lessinrr to the giver--‘thc sncrifcer. benevolence. veneration and spirituality. This the Apostle
Vs. 6 lays down as a fixed principle that a proper son will designates transformation, saying, “Be ye transformed by the
honor hia father. and a proper servant honor his master. and renewing of your minds, that ye may prove what is that. good
then thrse princaiples are applied as between God and Israel. and acceptahjr and perfect wiil of Gbd.“-Rom. 12:2. v
If they cln~med G&l as thr,iE‘Father thcv should render to him The prophet presupposed that those whom he addressed
the lovcb of children; if thrv claimed tb be his servants thev did not ;eal&e th;! tru6 situation, and so in speaking to others
should render to him servants’ reverence--and such love a&l to-day we should likewise presuppose that the majority do
reverence should 1~~ thp greater toward God in proportion as not realize how completely the spirit of selfishness dominates
God is great ahove all others. their hearts. “Ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?”
Phrenologists Inrate the organs of benevolence, reverence The answer is, not that they publicly and directly used pro-
[25401
DECEMBER 1. 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (266268)

fane and disrespectful language, but that they had failed to connected with the word “God” is that of mighty one, powerful
properly konor God by failing to manifest a proper reverence one, adorable one, and to the enlightened mind of the Christian
and devotion toward him and his holy things. They had be- additionally, the gracious, bene&ent one. We realize a re-
come careless respecting the things offered unto the Lord- sponsibility to God, obligation to bring him gifts and sacri-
these were not the best- they had-but, if not the worst, were fices and services, but who would refuse all this and on the
at least inferior. Thus the Lord’s table had lost its proper contrary would rob God? Who would be so profane, so ir-
dignity, had become “contemptible,” common. reverent? Surely none would do so intelligently and wilfully;
Apparently they had grown irreverent to the extent that, and so the natural Israelite is represented as doubting the
instead of bringing unblemished sacrifices to the Lord, they matter and saving, “Wherein have we robbed God?” It is an
brought the sick, the lame, the blind: they continued to have important matter-‘to see ourselves in a true light-to get a
“a form of godliness,” of worship, of reverence, but they had proper view of our conduct as precedent to any reform.
lost the spirit or power of it. So it is with some in spiritual Israel was bemoaning its impoverished condition, its lack
Israel; they have consecrated themselves to the Lord, and in of divine favor and blessing, and the Lord’s testimony through
a formal manner at least desire to comnlv therewith: but as the Prophet was designed to R~OW them that their leanness
they have lost the spirit of devotion, ih;! whole matter has and poverty were the result of losing God’s favor, and that
become offensive in the divine sight. The sniritual Israelite they had lost divine favor by reason of their irreverence and
offers unto the Lord the fruit of his lips in p’rayer and praise, failure to show hearty appreciation and to render true wor-
but if these are offered in a merely perfunctory manner as a, ship. Applying the same lesson to spiritual Israelites who
“duty” and not from the heart, they are blind, sick and lame find themselves lean of soul and starving spiritually, we find
offerings, which the Lord despises. He offers unto the Lord that the difficulty has been either (1) that they have been
service or money, but if these be given grudgingly, not heartily worshiping in a wrong direction, or (2)) if worshiping in the
and with a loving appreciation which wishes they might be right direction, they have failed to present unto the Lord their
increased a thousandfold, then the offering is blind and lame very best.
and sick, and not pleasing in the Lord’s sight. Under the first of these errors many are worshiping and
The Prophet inquires whether, if they were going to an sacrificing to human institutions and not to God-thcv are
earthly governor and, after the custom of that time, would offering their devotions and sacrifices perhaps to buil”d up
entreat his favor with a gift, thev would exnect the favor “churchianitv” Y
in some of its forms-Presbvterianism. Meth-
if they took a mean gift, the sick, “the lame, the blind of the odism, Lutheranism, Adventism, etc. This iR’ worshiping idols
flock as a present? Surely not. Then, turning the illustra- and sacrificing to idols and not to God. How can spiritual
tion, he suggests, And now I pray you that, in beseeching blessings be expected from God, when the reverence and serv-
God for his mercies. you consider what kind of a present you ice are rendered to men and to human institutions?
have brought to him, and whether or not you have any right Under t,he second error, others who are not thus deluded
to expert his favor. by human institutions, but who recognize the true God, and
The tenth verse in our Common Version would give the who know of their responsibilities toward him, are lean of
thought that all had become so selfish that they would refuse soul because they have not sufficient love and reverence for
to do anything in connection with the Lord’s service unless the Lord whom they do know. They serve him much more
it yielded pay-of some kind: but Leeser’s translation and the meanly and sacrifice to him in a much more niggardly manner
Revised Version give a different thought here, a&z.: “Oh! that than do the devotees at the shrines of human isms. Knowing
there were someone among you that would lock up the door the true God, they have the larger responsibilities and should
of the sanctuary, that you might not light up my altar for be the more careful to present to him the hest offerings pos-
nought’ I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, sihle of their time, influence. means, talents. If thev give
neither will I accept in favor an offering from your hand.” to the Lord but the fag ends of time, but the offals”of in-
The thought is. that from the Lord’s standnoint it were iust fluence, but a drihble of their talents. such sacrifices cannot
as well to abandon all such formalistic worshin devoidf be arreptxble in his sight, nor could’ any reasonahlc person
Ipvcrenre and love and heart-worship and this is-true to-dav exnect them to be so.
in respect to us spiritual Israelites and our “better sacrifices.”I ’ “Ye are cursed with a curse ; for ye have robbed me, even
devotions and offerings. this whole nation.” Being one neonle. manv of their interests
Vs. 11 in the Common Version declares that the Lord’s were common, and their genera.1 poverty aid leanness of soul
name shall be great throughout the earth, but it will be noticed WRS but a recompense for their course. And so it is and has
that the words “shall he” are italicised, which signifies that all along heen with the Lord’s spiritual neonle. the one church.
they are not in the original text. Some verb must be supplied the holy nation, the peculiar people. the &nctifipd in Christ
to make sense, and the Revised Version supplies “is” instead ,Tesus. But now that we have reached the “harvest” time
of “shall be.” This makes it read that God’s name is great we find that a separating work is in procress-not merely
amongst the heathen-was great at the time of the writing of a separating of “wheat” from “tares” and of suitable fish
this prophecy. from unsuitable fish, as represented in the parables (Matt.
Altbo Israel was the only naBon in the whole world with 13 :24-30, 36-43, 47-49)) but also another separation amongst
which God had up to that time made a covenant or agree- the Lord’s true people, amongst the ronsecrated ones, as
ment as respected an offer of eternal life; and altho Israel represented in the parable of the wise and the foolish virgins-
alone had been favored of God with any revelation respecting all virgins, yet not all worthy to go in to the marriage and
his character, his plan; and altho Israel alone had received to constitute the bride, Christ’s joint heir.-Matt. 2.5: I-13.
the law of the Lord; and altho Israel had in these respects The present separation from amongst the conserrsted will
“much advantage every way” over all the other nations of not only “gather out of the Kinadorn those that do iniouitv.”
the world;-nevertheless, we have evidences that the other and that have neither part nor lot in the matter, the ‘%are”s:”
nations. even those in idolatory, had a reverence for Jehovah, but it will also gather out “those that offend”-those who fail
“the God of Israel.” We have frequent instances of this in to come up to the requirements of their covenant in fullness
Scripture narratives. For instance, the Philistines revered of consecration to the Lord, those who must therefore pass
Jehovah, the God of Israel, when they returned the through the great tribulstion and be brought through severe
ark of Jehovah to Israel, after having taken’ it in battle. (1 tests by trials and disciplines.
Sam. 4: 7, 8 and chapter 6) Nebuchadnezzar reverenced Je- Verses lo-12 give the gist of the entire lesson. When
hovah, the God of Israel, as the great revealer of secrets the Lord reproves, it is not for the purpose of discouraging
through Daniel, and that there was no other god like unto his people, but for their reformation. When he chides, it is
him. Darius, who honored Daniel, and who was entrapped not to dishearten but to stimulate and to revive: and as here
by his courtiers into the making of a law which cast Daniel with natural Israel he exhorted to reformation and to thus
into the den of lions, declared, nevertheless, his reverence prove his love and his bounty and his willingness to bless them,
for Jehovah the God of Daniel. (Dan. 4 : 37 ; 6 :26, 27 ) The so we may apply a similar exhortation to a similar class in
fame of Israel’s God had reached the Medes and Persians spiritual Israel. “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse
also ; and Cyrus, in reverence to God, had given liberty to . . . and prove me now herewith, . . . if I will not
the captives of Israel to return from Babylonian captivity. open to you the windows of heaven and pour you out a bless-
And there are not wanting evidences that the surrounding ing that there shall not be room enough to receive it”-an
nations realized even more clearly than did Israel that many overflow blessing.
of the judgments which befell Israel were divine chastisements We exhort all spiritual Israelites to thus prove the Lord,
for their unfaithfulness to Jehovah.-See Ezra 1:2; Num. 24. to awaken to a fresh realization of his goodness and bounty
Our lesson skips over certain other exhortations by the and of their own obligation to spend and be spent in his
prophet, and comes to chapter 3 :8, where he makes the in- service, according to their covenant of self-sacrifice,-walking
quiry, “Will a man rob God?” The matter is put in a startling in the footsteps of Jesus. To such it will mean a revival of
form. Who would think of robbing his God? The thought spiritual health, energy, vigor, joy. Looking unto Jesus,
[ 26411
(269-270) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY,
Pa.

their eyes will see him the more clearly. and see also the querors, victors, through obedience to the Word of the Lord
heavenly crown in reservation for them, and all the exceeding and the spirit of their consecration to follow in his footsteps.
great and precious things which God hath in reservation for A few. but not very many, may need caution lest they
them that lore him. and whose love is manifested to be of the should carry the matter of consecration to an extreme. An
genuine kind, which loves to sacrifice to him and to his cause occasional one out of a thousand might perhaps act too
the very best of all that they possess. literally upon the instruction that whosoever would be the
With the Jews there were two tithes obligatory. (A Lord’s disciple must forsake all to follow him.-might under-
tithe signifies a tenth.) One tithe or one tenth of all their -tantl thi- &ho literallv to mean an abandonment :f houses
increase of flocks, herds, grain, etc., went for taxes, for the lands, families. etc. There can be no doubt. however. resnectl
support of their government, and was rendered to the governor. ing the real import of the Scripture teaihings along ihesc
The other tithe or tenth of their increase was a tax for re- lines: the Lord’s followers are to forsake houses, lands, par-
ligious purposes ; it wa\ rentlcrrtl to the priests. Under the ents, children, etc., in the sense of not permitting any of
preyent (+oqpel ale “hlyh rail” God has left spiritual Israel these things to henceforth take his chief affection or to absorb
without any specific instruc+ions of this kind. The govern- his interest, his love, his devotion in the supreme sense. This
ments of &is lvoritl renerallr take good cart to look out for supreme devotion by right and bv covenant belongs to the
the tax part, while t‘he ohl@at!‘on fbr religious and spiritual Lord, and must be preservecl inviolate. Family, home, the
things renrcSent(bd IIY the holv tithe of the Jews is now left beauties of nature, should all be appreciated, but in a secon-
at the op’tion of tl~c’~piritnal’I~rarlitr without even so much dary sense as compared to the Lord. What would please the
as n. c*omnlalltl rc~*p(~ctinp it or a \tlpulation a~ to the amount. Lord must be supreme.
The tithe obligation was commanded to flesblv Israel.
Mows and thr hou’~ of iervanth. of which he was the head,: It we were dealing with an unreasonable and irascible
Israel after the flesh; but in dealing with the house of sons, Master, such a covenant and such an ohligation might mean
of which Christ .Je.ns is the Head, a Son “over his own unreasonable reouirements of us. and might inflict iniustice
houqe’)’ of son‘: (IIrb. 3 :.?, 6). the Lord has placrd no restric- upon other<. bu< we are dealing with one-whose rrquirrment
tion. FVhy? &cause in this household of so1z.phc recognizes is R “reasonable service.” Altho we have covenanted our all
only thoicl who hn\e hc~n beqottrz?; ngain by his holy spirit: to him-time, -money, influence, name, earthly hopes and
the thought is that whoever has berome a partaker of the pleasures. family and friends, “even unto death,” we find that
spirit of the Lord, whocvrr has the mind of Christ, has a mind the Lord, after ncceDtine our full consecration, makes us
not mc>rcly to give a tenth of all his possessions and income personally %tewards” of -these things which we. sacrifice to
to the Lord. but to ronrtBc*rate it all-without the reservation him and his cause. And as his stewards he permits and
of a sinple item-mind and body, influence and talents, time commissions us to use our consecrated 022 reasonably and
and means. moderately and according to Our best judgment of what “would
But while the foregoing proposition of mfire consecration honor his name and forward his cause. He permits us to use
will not he questinnctl by any who belonq to the house of sonae of cmr consecrated means for cnlr own sustenance and
sonc. ncvr~rthc~lcss. the fact that they have the t,reasure of the the sustenance and care of our families, merely enjoining
new niltllrc~ in cL:lrtllcxn ve+rlL: frequfntlv raus~s snme to act moderation in all things. He permits us to use, therefore,
verv inc,nnsibtc,ntlv-v(~r~ much oui of h’armonr with the real a portzon. of our time. enerm and talent in providing for these
spitit of thcair Voiibecr:itinn. The new mind is’ beset and con- necessities and. if nronerlv and reasonablv used. he does not
tinually fought hv thr mind of the fleqh; as the Apostle de- reckon this a selfish use. but merely a neCessar$ expenditure.
clares. there is a ‘warfare hrre continually, for the two minds Indeed, he leaves matters entirely in our hands, saying to
are contrary. The new mind says, us, so to sneak: You have consecrated your nil to me, and I
hare now Returned it oil to vou to use in mv name and to my
“-411 for .Tesuq! -411 for Jesus! elorv and to the forwardin; of mv will in” the earth as vou
.411 my brine’s rnncomcd powers; Sail understand my will fyom rni Word. Go, occupy, use ’ ;
All mg tllourrhts and words and doings; I will inspect pour work later and will judge of pour lore and
All my days and all my hours.” vour drrotion br the carefulness with which you shall seek
Rut the mind nf thr flcqh comhats this apd fights against io use your ho&s. Tour moments. vour dollars. your dimes,
such a full cnn~ccrntinn. urging that it would be an extreme, etc. If’vou have m&h love and de&ion to me. it will mani-
that it is contrary to ?he general course of the world and its fest itseif. or if you have little that also will bc manif&ed,
wisest men and wnmcu-urring that we mu\t not thus make and my reward shall be accordingly. Only those who low me
of niir+clveq “prcnli:lr pooplc.” but rnnQt in reneral do as the supremely and who rejoice to follow mg Word nnd example
worltl does. ii?inc nil 01 time and tnlrnt, infiuenre and means, shall he ‘joint-heirs in mv kingdom-for only tbev will have
selfishly-if not pcr~nmllly. then at least for our families. the rercbrential and benei-olent and sniritunl dicbositione of
HcJrc>is tllc xrrat l~nttlrficld on which sn manv 5nrrender heart essential to the great work of t’hp kinec!nn< which will
heforc the c!ril influenc~c+, thr fnrcaes of the world, the flesh be instilnted as soon as the elect little flock has been com-
and the devil-the place where so many fail to come off ron- pleted nnd glorified.

RIGHT AND WRONG CONDITIONS AND THEIR RESULTS

DEC. lT.--?rl~~. 3 : 13 TO 4:G.
“Whatsoerrr a man snmeth that shall he also reap.“-Gal. G:7.
How forccfnlly divine truths wcrc cxprcs-ed by the Prophet Nominal Christendom is represented (13-15) ns restive,
1\T?l:icbi ’ \Tliil~~ no tloullt h*. wnldq wcxre mnre or lrss ap- out of harmony with the divine or~anrement* the inquiry is,
plic:ihlc at tlw tini(l ant1 tr, tlic people nddrr~sotl. it is very What is the use? How will it profit us? ?Vhat advantage
eritlrnt that hi< likcb tbc otllc~r piophcacirs, was Pperinlly in- will we have’ This view is from the purely selfish atand-
tendc,d for tlrc Go.ncl c~hurc~ll--n~or(~ Illan for thn .e ~110 heard point. which hears the divine reouirements as so much of
penal servitude-not having the h’eart interest in the Lord,
11-e apply this l+wil lhcn to fkklily lsrnrl in the time of hia truth and his service. In the past it has walked mourn-
the Proph~~t. and nntc* it- c~omplctc fnlfilmcnt in resprct to the fully, that is to say. with an outward show of reverence, con-
“whcnt” 2nd “vl~z~ff” of tllilt are in its hnrrrqt time-the trition, observing Lenten seasons, etc., et?.. it brought lame. sick
whrat gnthc red to the g;\rncr of the Gnsprl rhulrh ns spiritual nnd b!ind gifts and sRcrificeq to the Lord’s altar, as duty,
Israel. and the chaff clcmrnt burned in the fiery tlestTii~‘tion hut not being prompted by the spirit of love, the sacrifices
which nv(‘i threw tlicir n:~tion;il polity. Rut, mow psrticulnrly were rneggw ancl Inferior to those offered to themselves and to
w-f’ :q’plJ It to tllc> Gn\p(‘l church and to the harvest time their families. The lesson represents that this condition,
nt the e'l(i of this Gnhpcl ngr. wllcw the "whit" will be glori- having continued for quite a while. toward the end of the
fied in the h~\-c~nly kinztlnm :ind the “tares” will be d&rnyed age, is fmallv measurablv dronDed-and this we see about us
in th0 firrv trlalu of tile (lily of vcngcance. the great time of t&lily. 3Inni who once made ymore or less hypocritical ron-
trouble with n1lil.h thic ace will 1~2 wound un. nrenarntorv fe&sion of sins and penitence and of an outwardly careful walk
to the inauguration of thp ?Viillcnnial kinpdom’s’tri:ulr*i,h. * are inclinrtl to say, V’hat is the use? What is the profit?
The Iersrm tllv~des itGf>lf into four portions. vss. 13-15 ey- \T’P might inst ns well have a eood time. As the Anostle
DrpskmL* the attitude nnd sentiments of nominal Christendom:
1
f&clold: on: of the Sims of our Grnes is that men are iovers
vs. 16 tellinK of the nttitude nf fhe true snints; vss. li--I:$ of pleasure more than-lovers of God, while still having a form
thr Lord’s dccalarntion resnecting the two rlasres (the nominal of crodliness thev denv its Dower.--:! Tim. 3.4-5.
Chrictians. or tnrrs. ani the ‘true saints. the &heat), and ‘As the Jews werk inclined to look about them and note
vss. 4-6 hemg coun=elq for the iatprim for whoever has ears the prosperity of the other nations not favored with divine
to hear. promises, as they were. so many professors of today incline
125421
DECEMBER
1, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (270-271)

to look at the general world conditions, and to say to them- tear and every sacrifice, for righteousness’ sake and for love
selves, Are not the proud the happiest? Are not the workers of the Lord, his cause and his brethren, shall be fully re-
of iniquity the most firmlv established in the world? Do not warded in a manner that is beyond our present comprehension.
even some outwardly profane opposers of the truth get along they serve not for selfish reasons, but from devotion, from
well? As a result we see a decrease of reverence for God and fidelity, and consequently from love, and hence they shall
and for holy things, and an increase of doubt and skepticism find that the light afflictions of the present, which are but for
as respects there being any advantage to be gained by a godly a moment, will work out for them a far more exceeding and
life-doubts respecting any future rewards, or at least any an eternal weight of glory-looking not at the things now
that would compensate self-denials for the present time. seen, but at the things now unseen, the eternal things.-2 Cor.
Then (vs. 17) the Prophet points us to the few, the “little 4:17, 18.
flock,” exceptions to the nominal whole. who are taking the Without attempting to detail what are the riches of grace
proper view of matters. The general attitude of the noGina in reservation for them that love God, two figures are used,
system in rejecting the way of holiness and consecration will which are quite expressive to the eye and ear of faith-God’s
only tend to draw nearer to the Lord and to each other these jewels, God’s faithful sons. These two thoughts suggest a
who at heart reverence and love the Lord. So long as the full explanation of present experiences: the proper father will
nominal mass professedly walked in the same way of outward instruct, correct and discipline his son, tho he may pass by
observance of divine ordinances and with an outward mani- the greater faults and blemishes of others who are not his
festation of reverence, contrition and devotion, these having children. Then, as respects jewels, we all know the necessity
the spirit of the Lord that thinketh no evil, felt a fellow- for cutting, trimming and polishing them to the intent that
ship and companionship in the nominal church; but in the their real qualities may be developed. Thus we see ourselves
harvest time under divine nrovidence circumstances tend to in the Father’s school of discipline and preparation to be
make manifest the true f& the false, and to separate them. his heirs-joint-heirs with Christ in his kingdom-we SPB the
Those who have not the matter at heart as th& more and necessity of the trials and perplexities and persecutions of
more neglect the outward forms will naturally hate the others this present time that we may be polished and prepared for
who, having the matter at heart, are as faithful as ever- the glory-time to come.*
because their faithfulness is a standine rebuke and evidence We may apply this gathering of jewels in one sense to the
of the unfaithfulness of the other. &d the faithful few, Jewish nation, fleshly Israel, and say that the Lord gathered
coming to realize that all were not Israel who were of Israel, the faithful ones from that nation in the harvest time of their
will be drawn nearer to each other as thev realize that after age, beginning A. D. 29. But the figure would not be com-
all the number of the faithful is extremely”smal1. plete there ; its completeness is shown in connection with
This leads them to speak often one to another. Each finds spiritual Israel and the polishing of these diamonds during
his own need of help, counsel and encouragement, and realizes this Gospel age. From this standpoint the time for making
that the others need the same: and this draws them together. up the jewels is the present “harvest” time. The faithful
The further the nominal church gets away from the Lord and from the Lord’s day until now will have part in the first
the truth and even from outward signs of reverence. the ereatcr resurrection, and all of the jewel class now living, when
blessing it proves to he to this clash, because it sedarat& them polished and found worthy, will be “changed in a moment,
from fellowshins which all alone have been unfavorable. in the twinkling of an eye,” to be like and with the Lord-
hindrances to their spiritual develgpment. Manv of these to: the moment of their death being the moment of their change-
day are meeting wits us in little &oups in various parts of they having no need to sleep in unconsriousness, for behold, the
the world for the study of the divine plan of the ages, and “harvest,” the gathering time, has come. They will be gath-
very manv solitary ones meet with UY (through the same ered into the kingdom, as represented in our Lord’s parable.
medium-ZION’s WATCH TOWER nublications) to break the (Matt. 13:30-43) They will be “spared” from passing through
heavenly bread and to commune cbncerning tde Lord and his the great time of trouble such as was not since there was an
great p”urposes respecting us-our discip&e as members of nation, as our Lord has said, “Watch ye, that ye may be ac-
the body of Christ and our preparation to be his joint heirs counted worthy to escape” all those thing8 coming upon the
in the promised kingdom which shall bless all the families world.
of the earth. Then there shall be a turning point (return), a change in
“14nd the Lord hearkened and heard it.” Thus he would the divine administration, tho not a change in the divine plan;
represent to us his interest in our efforts to understand his for the plan of God formed from the heginning did not con-
plan. and to offer him in loving sacrifices the very best of template the perpetuation of the present condition of things,
evervthing that bv his erace we nossess. Oh, that as we meet in which whosoever doeth righteousness suffers and in which
(pe&onaiiy or tl&oughv the priited page) ‘we could always the unrighteous prosper. It contemplated and arranged for
realize our heavenly Father’s interest in us and his willing- the great re-turn. of the rule of righteousness now about to
ness to blecs our efforts in the studv of his word and in take place, which will transfer the dominion of earth from
the development of character! 1 Such a realization Satan, its present supervisof, and from the kingdoms of this
would orobablv make all such meetines increasinelv Drofitable. world, its present dominating powers, to the dominion of
Those who do” not recognize the Lor‘;l’s presencg in &the gath- Christ and his church in glory and in power.--the Millennial
ering of his people are apt to esercise an injurious rather kingdom, in which he that doeth rigbteouqness shall he hleqsed,
than belDfu1 influence upon others, and are less likely to get and he that doeth iniquity shall be punished. and if the cor-
any proht for themselve’s. Let us more and more rememider rection be not heeded, shall eventuallp he cut off from amongst
as we meet in the name of our Lord his nromise. “Where two the people in the second death.--4cts 3.22. 2.1.
or three are met in my name, there ai I in ‘the midst of fhe’ day that brings the glorification to the faithful
them.” IMatt. 18:19. 20) Those who realize the Lord’s “iewel” or “wheat” class brings a different cxpfrienre to the
presence imongst his ‘people when they meet will be very “tare” class. To them it will be a hot time--n time nf fiery
careful of the words of their mouths, their actions and the trouble that will completely consume thclr hypocarisies and
verv thoughts of their hearts: pride, vainglory, slander, and all pretended devotions to the Lord, which were merrly in form
evil things (“works of the flesh and of the devil”) will be without the heart and without power, and unaPrelpt:jblc to
carefully shunned, if his presence is clearly realized by the him. In that trouble-time their pride. their amllltion, their
eye of faith. world-lore and their spirit of stxlfishne3s, will meet a rctribu-
The Lord presents to us great truths under figures which tion that will be terrible in the eutrrme-surh a time of
thp least lramed can comprehend; for inAtance.-1 instead of trouble as the world has never vat witnesccd. ‘l’bc Tlord’s
tellm,nn us that he has knowlednc of and will never forget those fierce anger will burn against thbir hypocrisies and shams;
who are his, and their diligent efforts to know and‘to serve and will utterly consume the same-hut not, we understand,
him, he pictures the lesson. telling us that he has a ‘%ook of consume the individuals. They will cease to be “tares.” but
life” and “a book of remembrance.” Throl1R.h these figure? not cease to be human beings: they will ceasp to make pro-
we get the thought that the Lord would have us get, viz., that fcqsiona of conserration, as the Lord’s true rhurch, when at
he takes full knowledge of his true people. 9nd he tells us heart they have neither part nor lot in the matter and are
that this class not only reverence him, but also “think upon not in sympathy either with the Lord or his spirit, his right-
his name”--his charactkr. his goodness, his infinity, his pian, eousnes6.
his love-thinking unon these things they come to know him This burning day is referred to hy Zcphaniah also (3 : 8. 9) :
more and more Intimately and to- realize his grand perfec- and through him the Lord dcc>Iares, “I will pour upon them
tion, and thus more in his company and well acquainted with mine indignation, even all my fierce anger, for all the earth [the
his character they become more and more like him. present sorinl order] &all be devour& wzth the fire oi nty
The Lord encourages these with the assurance that their jea kn18y.” That this does not mean the literal earth nor the
love and devotion shall have its reward in the future-that a people of it, is clearly evident from the next statement of the
--u
grand change is coming, and that then every sigh and every l See Old Theology Tract, No. 44.
[ 26431
(272-273) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLLGRENY, PA.

prophet, viz., “Then will I turn unto the people a pure lan- Elijah whose mission it would be to turn the hearts of the
guage, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to fathers to the children and the children to the fathers. Should
serve him with one consent.” he succeed in doing this the great burning day would not be
While the “fire” of this day will burn the “stubble” and necessary ; but bhould he fail, then the burning day, the time
“tares” quickly, nevertheless the same fire of the Lord’s anger of trouble, would come, and the Lord would smite the earth
against hypocrisy and pride and every evil thing will con-
tinue to burn throughout the entire Millennial age, wherever with a foretold awful trouble.
such things shall bemanifested-even down to thi end of the The turning of the hearts of parents to children and chil.
Millennial age, when some in the final testing will be found dren to parents would seem to mean the establishment in the
unworthy of‘~life eternal. (R ev. 20:9) Thus”wil1 evil event- earth of -a spirit of reciprocal love. And it would further
ually be destroyed, root and branch. mean. the turning of the minds of the aeed so that thev would
Following the fiery time or day of trouble will come the become as little”children, humble, teachable; and hid they
new era, in which the Sun of Righteousness shall shine forth, become thus childlike they would have been ready to turn
dispelling the darkness of the present time-healing the wounds their hearts to the teachings and example of the early fathers,
of sin and drath and bringing in jov, peace, love and blessing. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the holy prophets and they
Then the righteous shall rejoice i”n their liberty and shall would have been made ready for divine favor and
realize that thr restraints of this present time have been bless- blessing and to be spared from the foretold curse or trouble.
ings in disguise, for thereby they have been made spiritually John the Baptist fulfilled this prediction so far as Fleshly
fat-“stall-fed” during the winter of thta prrvalrnce of sin, they Israel was concerned, endeavoring to turn their hearts so that
shall go forth to liherty in the springtime of the new age. thev would be readv to receive Jesus in the flesh: hut John
Vs. 3 intliratrs tllc complctencss of the victory of righteous- the Baptist failed y to turn them to repentance,’ and they
ness over sin, of the Lord’s faithful over the workers of in- crucified the Lord, and hence the curse or time of trouble came
iquity : a strong figure of speech is in the words, “Ye shall upon the nation, destroying it A. D. 69-70.
tread down the wi&ed”--as ashes. Rut as the prophecy relates still more particularly to
Then (vs. 4) the Prophet addresses the people of his day, sniritual Israel than to natural Israel, so it relates still more
“Remember vr the law of Moses.” hut the exnression 1 is Panallv
-1 ----s particularly to the antitypical Elijah sent to spiritual Israel
applicable to the Spiritual Israelite who recognizes Christ as than to the antit,vne sent to natural Israel. For the evidences
the antitypc of ~loscs and the New Covenant as the antitype that the little flc& throughout this age has been and still is
of the IJaw Covrnant, and the new Law of Love as the antitype the Elijah to the nominal system, exhorting it and seeking
of the Decalogue. to bring it int,o harmony with God. and that it has failed so to
The faithful in fleshly Israel were not to expect the gath- do. as foretold in the Scriptures. and that hence the great
ering of the jewel class immediately, but would know that time of trouble impends, we must refer nur readers to MIL-
before that timr thcb Lord would send a great antitypical I.EHNIAL DAWN, Vol. 2, Chap. 8.

RESISTING WORLDLY INFLUENCES

T)F:AR TSno~rrm Rvsse~.r.:-I wish to arknowledge receipt, to mind the Apostle’s encouragement. “Think it not atran.ge
of Vor,. v., M. T~AWN. I appreciate very much the favor of concerning the-fiery trial that is to try you.” I have no
receiving the roliime so rarly. It rcjoirps my heart to see how di6lcultv in resistine the influenre. but I find it hard to do it
murh brotbrrly kindness is manifested among some of the gently, “without giving offence. T guess it must be my old
T,ord’s peoplr here. Bro. S., after rrading only the table of nature which is very nervous and quick. I am sure I ha.ve
contrnts. lonnpd his conv . ., of Var.. v. to Bro. N. and Sr. M. who not the faintest sympathy at heart with worldly things, but
do not have so many privileges and opportunities in many T do not wish to be too severe against those who mean kindly
WRVS as Brn. S. has. T lrarncd from Sr. M. vesterdav that she tho they try to draw me from t,he “narrow way.”
had intrnJ(d letting me read it first, shouldU her volume come What do you think about the saints using opiates for
before mine. I was ignornnt for threr days of the fact that pain, esperiallv in a last illness? T have thought of it in con-
onlv Bro. S. and I had rcbrciverl the volumes: and when I nertion with our Redeemer’s refusal of the vinegar and myrrh.
len;nrd tbi*, 1 hurrirtlly read mine and sent ‘it to another With much Christian love and prayers for. your steadfastness,
brother anxious to see it. Yours, in the love of our Mediator snd King,
Altho 1 did not givcx thr book a very careful reading, I am MRR. R. 8. S .-, Co lifornia .
able to snv that I frrl the Lord has wonderfullv used vou in
thea work ‘of crtting hrforc% the household of f’aith so” clear, [REPLY.-We are glad, dear Sister, to note that your
lopic~al and S~rinturallv sntisfartorv a nresmtation of the worldly surroundings do not ensnare your heart, but that, on
glorions rornn-qiont> of our faith. ‘Row -vastly superior the the contrary you fully maintain your love for the Lord and
Riblr rxpl*lnation of 111:111's fall and God’s plan of redemption his way, the “narrow way.” WC sympathize with your desires
through onr Savianr. .Tesns Christ, is to all the trarhines of to resist worldly influences in a gentle spirit, and trust that
scirn& falsrlv si)-(‘:llIcd ! It seems that we alone of all earth’s you may have much blessing in this endeavor, and may be
millions srr ‘able to sinrr the Sone of Moses and the Lamb: enabled through it to cultivate the various graces of the spirit.
“Just and trnr are all thv w~vs’~’ Sometimes I am almost You will be strengthened bv the Lord’s declaration-that in his
ovrrpowrrc>d hp tbr desire to litrmlly lravr all and “spread sight a meek and quiet spirit is an ornament of great value.-
the trntb from polr to pole.” It is so hard to be patient and 1 Pet. 3:4.
wait: but T think of him who has waited more than six thou- Resnertinr our final illness and opiates: I had not thought
sand yr:trs and is waiting still in infinite patience; and who of onr ‘dear Master’s example in refusing opiates. Person+
am T-to faint’ I would incline to leave the matter in the hands of friends
T wikh vnur praprrs t+prcial,ly. drar Brother, that I may and trust to thk Lord’s providence respecting what they would
he ahlr to resist gently all the influences of my worldlv sur- do and prescribe at such a time,-praying that the TJord’s will
roundings, so antagonistir to the “new nature:” I will call might be fully done even unto death. -EDITOR.~

WALKING IN THE NARROW WAY

“Dear Lord, the way seems very dark, “Dear Master, I am growing foe&,
I cannot see.” I scarce can stand.”
“Yes, child, T know, hut I will be thy light; “0 foolish child, trust not in thine own strength,
Come, follow me!” Come, take my hand;
“Dear Lord. so lonely is this way, “For T have trod this way before,
Where are my friends?” So dark to thee;
“My child, dost thou forget how far from me I know each step, its weariness and pain;
Theiv pathway tends?” Wilt trust in ME ?”

“Yea. Lord, though friendless, lonely, dark,

This way may be,
I will be strong! Beloved Guide, lead on,
I follow thee.” G. w. hXBERT.
[ 25441
VOL. xx ALLEGHENY, PA., DECEMBER 15, 1899 No. 24

HIGHER CRITICISM ENTHRONED-THE BIBLE DEBASED

So pronounced is the acceptance of evolution and higher will be 10th to give it much notice. The truth, let us remember,
criticism in the Episcopal Church that the Rev. Benj. F. De never has been popular with the world, and the “tare” in-
Costa, D. D., has felt that he can best serve God and the cause fluence, direct and indirect, is generally sufficient to either
of truth by separating himself from the denomination. As exclude such like matter or to ridicule it as “superstitious and
heretofore set forth in this journal, it is only a question of cranky.,’ The extracts follow :-
time until all men and women of character and true Christian “New York, Oct. 7th’ 1899.
principle will be forced to take similar steps out of all denom-
inations,--from the pews as well as from the pulpits. We The Rt. Rev. HENRY CODMAN POTTER, D. D., LL. D.,
are in the ‘%arvest” time of this age, and divine providence is Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church, Diocese of New
permitting conditions which will demonstrate who are “wheat” York :-
and who are “tares” Such a separation must take place be- “DEAB SIB:-I hereby respectfully resign the office of
fore the great symbblic burning day for “tares” can come, and Presbyter.
before the “wheat” can be glorified as God’s Kingdom in power. “It is proper for me to give some reason for this course,
“Babylon is fallen, is fallen; come out of her, my people, which, at the end of long years of service, is adopted deliber-
that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of ately and in the fear of God. I must now, however, confine
her plagues.” (Rev. 18 :2-4) But there is a wide difference myself to a few points. In what I have to say at this time I
between leaving “Babylon” and leaving the Lord’s church or desire to speak with entire plainness, as well as with kindness
kingdom. All along it has been true that “the Lord knoweth and respect; while, to avoid any possible misapprehension, I
them thot are his:” he knew every consecrated one even tho would add that I do not resign on account of any personal
surrounded by the unconsecrated ten or twenty times more grievance.
numerous. Now the Lord will demonstrate what he already “I cannot reconcile my convictions with the present con-
knows by separating the wheat from the tares. However, from dition of the Episcopal Church, which, contrary to its own
the divine standpoint none have ever been recognized as the principles, has been drawn into the adoption of a policy of
kingdom class except the faithful little flock-the fully con- toleration toward a school of theology and Biblical criticism
secrated “wheat.” And this is shown by our Lord’s word when which in my judgment is hostile to revealed truth.
again, referring to the separation work of this harvest period, “Further permit me to say respectfully that I do not find
he declares that “he will gather out of hi8 lcingdonz all things that you have been ‘ready with all faithful diligence to banish
that offend and them which do iniquity.“-Matt. 13:41. and drive away from the church all erroneous and strange
Evidently, then, it is one thing to gather out of Babvlon doctrines contrary to God’s Word;’ while much less have you
his people, and quite another thing to gather out of his Ging- seemed inclined ‘both privately and openly to call upon and
dom the offenders: yet both expressions cover the same events. encourage others to do the same.’
The “wheat” have always been the heirs of the kingdom- “On the contrary, I think the testimony proves that you
the “tares” have never been such, tho both have grown side by have discouraged and baffled men inclined to take such ac-
side throughout this Gospel age. In the pa& the “tares” have tion. I do not, however, undertake to impugn your motives
at least nominally professed to be “wheat’‘-professed faith or charge upon you the ‘lamentable ignorance’ and deliberate
in our Lord’s Word and in his redemptiz’e work. But ldow, ‘malice’ which some time since in the public press you attrib-
under divine providence, they are being led of their error to uted to men by no means your inferiors either in learning or
repudiate the “wheat” altogether-as “non-critical, old fogies.” charity. I desire, nevertheless, to indicate that, as I view
They have abandoned both the Book and the Blood-not in the subject, whatever may have been your own views, you have
word. but actually, looically. It is to all a test of standing, acted with and defended those who have struck at the Scrip-
of holding to the anchorage of faith or of being blown by the tures of the Old and New Testament as the plenarily inspired
winds of worldly wisdom, called “higher criticism,” far, far and infallible Word of God.
awav from our Saviour and his inspired Word.
Really, then, the “tares” leave the “wheat,,, by utterly Doubt Spreading Rapidly
nhnndening the faith once delivered to the saints. Thus God “The progress of doubt during the last few years is most
gathtlrs them out of or aw+y from his kingdom class. But, notable. If Newman had lived in our day, he would hardly
since the latter are a minority, they must leave the meeting- have been able to write that beautiful eulogy of the Bible in
houses to the majority, who thus carry them with them “out which he says of the Englishman that ‘It is the representative
of his kingdom.” to be places of musical and literary enter- of his best moments,’ and that ‘all that there has been about
tainment instead of places for worship and for hearing the him of soft, and gentle, and pure, and penitent, and good.
Word of the Lord and for renewal of vows. speaks to him forever out of his English Bible. It is his
The minority must leave the organizations of Babylon sacred thing which doubt has never seen and controversy never
also-in order to br faithful to their Lord and his Word and soiled.’ Even in Episcopal seminaries the inerrancy of Holy
to “show forth the praises of him who hath called us out of Scripture is boldly and systematically denied.
darkness into his marvelous light.” This at first seems a “You, right reverend sir, have entered the field at a crucial
trial-until we learn the difference between human organiza- hour, plainly declaring that the system of denial or negation
tions and the divine oreanization, and that the former never embodied in the ‘higher criticism’ forms an allowable method
were instituted nor authorized by our Lord or his apostles; of interpretation, and that the acceptanre of the methods and
and that none of them ever were connected with any such its conclusions does not disqualify candidates for the ministry.
human organizations ; and that to leave the human organiza- You have therefore deliberately received into the denomina-
tionn i3 merely to leave a “tare” institution of the long ago tion, and you have approved as proper teachers for the peo-
and has no bearing whatever on the real orgamixation of which ple, men who declnre that the Scriptures are errant and do
we still remain members, with our names written in heaven- not form an infallible guide, but abound in myths, fables.
in the L;lmb’s Book of Life.-Heb. 12:23; Rev. 13:s. scientific and historical errors.
DOOTOB DE OOSTA’S LETTEB TO BISHOP POTTER “The long catalogue of errors credited by so-called ‘higher
Do&or De Costa, in withdrawing from a church where he criticism’ to Holy Scripture may or may not in your estima-
found the friends of the Saviour and the Bible in a hopeless tion appear as trlfles. That, however, has not,hing to do with
minority, wrote a letter to the Bishop of his diocese, setting the present issue, but the system that you vouch for as within
forth some of his reasons: and very properly he made public the liberty of clermmen leaves, in my judgment, no sufficient
the contents of the letter;-otherwise his reason for his action authority for the Christian religion. We are plainly told that
might have been misunderstood by some of his friends and ‘The prevalent dogmatic theories of the inspiration and infalli-
misrepresented by some not his friends. And a similar privi- bilitv of the Bible have been undermined in the entire range
lege and duty presents itself to all who withdraw from any of Biblical study, and it is a question in many minds whether
division of Babylon.* they can ever be so reconstructed as to give satisfaction to
We give liberal extracts from Dr. De Costa’s letter, believ- Christian scholars.’
ing that it will be of general interest to God’s people, and well “The worst in that the churrh approves your course. Fu-
knowing that not only the religious, but also the secular press ture candidates may openly deride the story of Pentecost ap
the world has understood it from the time of the apostles.
l We have pre ared what we term Wirhdrawal Letters for the use
of our friends. I! hey are printed in typewriter type, and in kind but quired quantity. These “Withdrawal Letters” should be sent out as
clear and forceful language explain some of the reasons moving to the soo? as possible after you decide on regaining the liberty wherewith
withdrawal. You merely need to sign, date and mail these to the pastor Christ hath made free his people. Eve7 day or month or year that
and all members of the sect you have been bound to, and at once you passes before sending them IS a distinct Isadvantage to you and to the
are free. We supply these free, accompanied b missionary envelopes fruth: both are snre to be misrepresented by an informal withdrawal.
and tracts- enough to supply every member o r the congregation one. You ‘oined not the minister, but the congregation,-not secretly, but
Order a sample one first and see if it will suit you-then send for re- pnbbc-1 y; and your withdrawal should be after the same manner.
[2545] (275-276)
(277-278) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA.

“The former belief in the Bible is no longer required. Can- assumed ifidignation, deny that they refuse the Bible as the
didates of the school to which I refer will indeed continue Word of God, but discerning persons know the value of phrases
to sign papers, agreeing to accept the Scriptures as the Word out of which the erstwhile faith, robustness and honesty have
of God, but such subscriptions practically will prove little departed.
better than perjury. A Remarkable Discovery
“The phrase ‘Word of God’ is now a phrase only; its mean- “You charge that ‘a modern fetichism which has dishonored
ing has been juggled away. the Bible bv claiming to be its elect guardian has shut it up
“ ‘Higher Criticism’ has struck every diocese in the land, these many”years wirhin the iron walls of a dreary literalism,
and from all the States in the Union there is coming a wild, robbing it thus alike of interest and of power.’ You have
ungovernable flood of opinion and sentiment that renders your furnished a remarkable discovery. All along the people have
position still mnrc significant. You do not stand alone. You regarded the Bible as a free book. It has stood, the pride and
are upborne by the power of unconsecrated wealth. Your Con- glory of the nations, accredited with the uplifting of society
vention. which has lust closed its session, is with YOU. having and the advance of civilization and modern thought. NO
ovcrwhhlminplv vlndiratetl vour Zazsses fazre Standing Cam- lannuane <. has been found too sunerb in describing its work of
mlttee by &d&sing its dark act. Your examiners give un- emancization and purification. A
qualified support. Thus far the case is diocesan; but vener- “Now, however,you assure us that we have been mistaken,
able and saintly men like the Bishop of Minnesota, men of that all the while the Bible has been shut up within iron
suoerior iudement
AL
and influence. annlaud the ‘wisdom and walls, robbed of interest and nower. Do you, right reverend
good sens’e’ displayed in this phasd bf your administration, sir, suppose that the people of the land, who have organized
while the criminal silence of other bishops speaks louder than Bible societies and carried them on at a large cost for many
words. years, are sufficiently ignorant of the histo?y and influence
“The mess, heing., creedless, is, for the most Dart, with of the Bible to accept tamely this charge? Your language is
you and - hails vou as the exponent of incoming ‘liberal astonishing! I deeply deplore the necessity which exists
thoueht.’ A leadine editorial. in a nrominent dailv. clescrib- for saying. this, yet you are winning laurels among infidels
ing ‘present society’ as one that ‘his outlived the ‘faith of far and wide.
dogma,’ claims th.it your position is ‘invincible.’ Humanly “The narticular kind of usefulness that your criticism may
speaking, it is indeed secure. The masses of Episcopalians are aspire to’ is indicated by the language of one of your own
with you. friends. the Bishon of Washington. who declares that, ‘under
“I can understand why the Bishop of Western Texas is the in&me of ihe “higher rriti&sm” thousands have lost
obliged to admit:-‘Wc know that the young men are not in their faith in the Old Testament as the inspired Word of
the churches and the lahorinn classes are entirelv alienated.’ God;’ while ‘the faith of multitudes is so shaken that even
The president of your Standing Committee has just reported Sunday school children speak of the Scriptures with an ir-
to Convention that the youth of the denomination ‘deny any reverent freedom that would have amazed the preceding gen-
obligation to go to rhurch. They go if they please, but if not, eration.’
it makes no diffrrence.’ “One may, therefore, safely dismiss your statement where
“Indeed, what have they to go for? To listen to the read- you speak of what ‘a higher scholarship has done for us in
ing of what prearhers pronnunce myths and fables. Sub- our generation for the a,dvancement of godliness and good
stantially, the hattle for the Bible has heen fought. The case Zeolrzing throughout the Christian world.’ It is, on the con-
is lnst, and now you ran prcsfnt no inducements for either trary, driving people away from the religion of Christ.
ynuth or agr to go to cliiirch. By a town meeting process the “Furthermore, it might be remembered with profit that
Bihlp has brcn dcrlarrd ‘literature.’ Christianity was’never designed to entertain any comparative
“This new relation of vour denomination to the Bible religions, and the system you applaud can only degrade the
rhangc~s the relation of the denomination to other religious Episcopal denomination to a plan where the maintenance of
hndi(Bs. and never again can Enisronalians annroach the Pres- the simplest elements of Christianity will prove impossible.
byterians calling tn’nnion on the basis of a cdmmon Bible. As for your own diocese, the central and most important, when
“Unhelief is in the air. Indeed, I must here call attention its actual state is known, it will be seen that it is rapidly
to thr fact, as yet little noticed, that the worst of the prevail- approaching the condition of the bloodless heart. Spiritually
ing scrpticinm does not appear in print, nor even in public your strongest corporation is failing. The appearance of pros-
addresh(ls. ln private not a few of hnth clergy and laity openly perity. as the statistics prove, is unreal. As things are tend-
repudiate the authority of Bible and creed, using no conceal- ing, far sighted friends say that if the Cathedral is ever
ment. finished it will prove the sarcophagus of Episcopalianism. the
coffin of its creed. It is to be devoutly hoped that the policy
“One vrrg prominent rector, who stands high in the ranks with which you are identified may yet be paralyzed.
of vnur supporters, speaks of the Kirw Testament as a bundle
of ‘I+ 01 ir- dorumrn’ts. Another has derlared that the first “For mvself, I cannot bow to the guidance of the ‘distin-
thi (*(I c.li:intcrq of St. Rlatthcw form sinmlv a beautiful lenend: guished c&cs” whom you have set -forth as teachers and
wl1111xannthcr ridicules even the Apostle;’ Creed. Important cxamnles for the faculties in Enisronal seminaries, masters
positions arc’ held b.v men of this class. who remain in the in Isiael-who now, side by side \vith-the professional infidel,
pulpit to win pxrarnt brratl or ac*czomplish ulterior ends. stand forth to lecture on the ‘Mistakes of Moses.’ NV sense
of right would not support me in any such course. I retire
The Only Way from the field, convinced that I am no longer called to struggle
“l’vils b.~vc l~rn poinletl nut privatelv to the hishops, and with an overwhelminn and ranidlv increasing force. I cannot
the prhhimihtic reply of one. ‘Things will never be any better accept the revolutio: or drift with the tide. Your school
in vour tlar or mint.’ mar 1161arccptetl as the expression of is indeed benevolent, and quite willing to tolerate catholic
nenrlv all. ’ T,rttcrx In my pnssrssion from some of your as- faith, hestowing unon it from time to time nothing more
qocinirs in 0flic.c fol m instril,ti\r reading. For mvsrlf, recog- severe than ignbbleLterms. But for myself I ask no favors. I
* v
nizing the qituntlnn a4 I do. thrre is but one course; and, will not remain where douht commands a premium, and the
thcrcbtorc>. 1%11x1(,\(‘1’ nthc>r mt’r, xliom pfr~nn~1lly I cstrem, may belief in an infallible Bible enioys simpiv the immunity
do. and howe\cr they may rrgard their obligations. mine seem granted to a fallible Koran.” -From The sew York Herald.
char. DR. DE COSTA’S PARADOXICAL POSITION
“1Vhilc no action On ynur part could Icad mc to pn out, I At first it would appear paradoxical, if not absurd, that
rrcognizc a xuitlitinn 11i:lt no nn~~ man. or ally pnssiljle rom- thcb gentleman who poses as a defender of the Bible in the
I~iniItioIi of mm. ml1 now Fllc c*w-fllllv meet. Tile I~uIwo~i,nlian language quoted foregoing, should conclude that the same
=r,h(lme, l~~scd on pri\ iltc, iutl:mc~n’t. is not onlv’ far’ over- honrqty which led llnn to protest against the Protestant
sl~atlowctl bv tloubt th:lt will rharnctcrize the incoming twenti- Episropal communion as deserters of the Bible, led him into
eth crnturvl hut it i* popery& br the unl)rlirving spit it. The the Roman C:ctholic church as the communion of the Bible’s
.toi 111 1. alrclatly 11(~rc:Imt thr l’rote-tant Epi-cc&i body 1~1s friends with whom alone he could find fellowship. Yet this is
no anrlloi s The future is cslc,ir. J--our people are lnistcning the Dnrtnr’s position: and in llarmony with it he was received
to ac~complisli their CI olictron. P(7v will 1)~ misled by the into the Roman Catholic church on Sunday, Der. 4. He has
pompous diction of that bi4iop who in hi+ last, charge fore- since puhlishrd his reasons for the step, from which we ex-
trlli crrat rirtorics. Fe\vcr still. allow mc to 9iiv wltli all tract as follows:-
kindnix+, will lw persuaded h,v your own phrasrnlogy, where “I do not, however. propose to offer any apology for enter-
p
vou sne:ik of ‘the lhk’
I
as ‘in~30nluaral~lt and nrrrioll%’ since ing the Cathlic churrh. Standing in the midst of modern re-
It is rommonly l)cliWed that many churclimt~n 8.01110 not now ligious systems. toppling to their fall like columns in the
di-dain sii(*li lnnguagc if applied to the works of Y!l,llie*pcare temple of Karnak, no defense need be offered for accepting a
and Homer. firm and unshaken Catholic faith. . . . The Church of
“One cm very well anticipate the rep!y of men who, with Rome stands before the English speaking people and Protest-
[ 25461
DECEMBER 15, 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (278-279)

ants everywhere as the unique and solitary defender of the the Scriptural teaching that the church of Christ is not an
Bible in its integrity and entirety.” earthly organization with names upon sectarian rolls of mem-
Dr. De Costa denies that the authorities of the Catholic bership, but instead is a heavenly union and communion
church are unfavorable to the circulation, and use of the “whose names are written in heaven”-“in the Lamb’s Book of
Bible. saying that it is the dutv and privilege of Catholic Life.” (Heb. 12:23; Rev. 13:8) But alas! the Doctor is as
scholars to study the Bible thoroughly in-the orTgina1 tongues. much mistaken in this as in his other proposition, for Prot-
The gentleman must consider the Latin the oviaind tonaue. estants as well as Romanists have earthly organizations and
for surely it is it that is chieflv, almost exclusive&‘. studied bv honor these as the true church, and do not see that they are
Romanist priests,-or rather compiled and arranged extract\ “Babylonish’‘-confused mixtures in which “wheat” and
from the Latin New Testament and not the book itself. “tares” commingle-the “tares” predominating and conse-
The Doctor concludes thus:- quently ruling.
“On the Protestant theory there is no visible church, the Erring on both these points, Dr. De Costa has gone from
only body being a mystical body in the air. On this theory bad to worse-from one bad “tare” bundle to another contain-
Christianity has failed; the empire that triumphed over the ing still less “wheat.” Oh, how many of God’s people are
Roman empire, has perished. This is simply pessimism re- confused, bewildered, and ensnared thus and otherwise ! Only
sumed. Reformation, religionism, therefore offers no moral the meek, the humble, will go earnestly to God and be taught
or intellectual outlook for coming generations, and leaves the of him and be led out of all human entanglements and
world forced at last to choose between rationalism and the bondages into the liberty wherewith the Son of God makes
Catholic church. I believe in the Holy Catholic Church and free his sheep.
the life everlasting.” EVOLUTION AMONG THE BAPTISTS
Poor Doctor, he must have our sympathy, if we give him In evidence that the latest and worst form of Infidelity is
credit for candor and love for God’s Word: and we believe permeating all denominations, all colleges and seminaries, note
there are many in his position. He sees inconsistencies on both the following just clipped from the Rochester, N. Y., Post-
sides of the question and has jumped from one horn of his Express : -
dilemma to the other, instead of escaping from both. Thus:- “President A. H. Strong delivered last evening at the
(1) Dr. De Costa has forced himself to forget that for Rochester Theological Seminary an address on ‘The Growth of
centuries Papacy has been the implacable foe of the Bible.; Theological Thoubht During the Last Fifty Years.’ Dr. Strong
that she has officially through her popes (claimed to be infallr- took advanced ground, accepting fully the theory of Evolution
ble) cursed the Bible Societies and denounced their work as and annrovina the methods and general results of the higher
of the devil; that she has caused Bibles circulated among the criticism.” ”
people to be gathered and publicly burned-‘&to da. fe.” The Rochester Baptist Seminary is the principal one of
He cannot be ignorant of the fact-and hence he must that denomination in the United States and furnishes its most
merely close his eyk’s to it, and try to forget-that Papacy’s prominent ministers.
advocacy of the Bible and permission of the people to have it THE METHODISTS ALSO DISTRACTED
and to read it is but a recent move (within the last ten years), The Boston Morning Journal of Dec. 8th announced as the
and that only in the United States, and hedped about with leading news of its first page-
certain restrictions governed by the. priests and from trans- “Nine Students Quit Boston University”
lations containing Roman Catholic comments as footnotes. The It then ouotes the statement of one of the students, Schenk
Doctor utterly ignores the fact that Papacy has not really by name, z1s’ follows :-
changed-boasts that she never changes,-and hence is no more “Comin IPD from the West to Boston Universitv School _of
._
the friend of the Bible than she was during the “dark apes.” Theology a year ago, I was shocked to find the”most rabid
but merely appears to advocate the Bib& so as to d&arm rationalism being taught as Old Testament exegesis, under
suspicion and to pain the Food will of the most enliehtened cover of a leadine Methodist school. Coming to Messianic
nation in the world. He foyces himself to forget that the por- prophecy, only half a truth was taught. Further on Jesus
tions of “Christendom” where the Bible is free and in the Christ was no authoritv on Old Testament Scripture. The
vernacular of the people are the most enlightened and the miraculous conception was set aside and the atoning blood
most Protestant-The United States, Great Britain, Norway, made non-essential.”
Sweden, Germany, Switzerland: and that the dark places of The worst of the matter is yet to be told, namely, that
superstrtion and cruelty are the places where Papacy has Prof. Mitchell is heartily endorsed by the other professors of
persistently hindered the circulation of the Bible-Spain, the institution and by nearly all the students of the seminary
Portugal, -Italy. Southern Ireland, and as far as po&ible -the soon-to-be preachers of Methodism; for the President of
France and Austro-Hunrrarv, Mexico and the South American the institution savs that the dissenters are onlv “eight or
countries. Well does Papacy know that the Bible-“the sword nine out of an aggregate of 1’78 students.”
of the spirit,” the Word of God, is her greatest foe: and she It seems, too, that the seceders appealed to the Board of
will never be its supporter and defender, except as a pretense, Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal church, but got no redress
-even as Satan would pose as an angel of light instead of a but on the contrary, as a result the students who protested
prince of darkness to accomnlish his nurnoses.
I 1 1 ~- against the decimation of the Book and the reiection of the
(2) Having blinded himself on the above point the Doctor pyecious blood were notified that they must be’ quiet on the
seeks to account for the Reformation movement as not being subject. Thereupon they nohly withdrew.
to secure a free Bible as the true light upon the church’s path- * * * x
way. On the other hand he declares it was a mistaken effort So the leaven of error is rapidly permeating every branch
to repudiate the visible clkurch and to recognize it only as a of the nominal church, and the tests are coming to each
spiritual body. individual Christian to prove him either “whest” or “tare:”
Would to God the Doctor told the truth in this statement! The “wheat,” today as of old, will be counted “fools for Christ’s
Would to God all Protestants (and Romanists, too) recognized sake” by the worldly-wise.-1 Cor. 4: 10.

THE YEAR 1900 A PAPAL JUBILEE

Pope Leo XIII. has issued a decree, or “bull,” designating their sins and partake of communion, and who will visit the
the last year of the century a Jubilee year, a holv vear, in basilicas of St. Peter’s, St. Paul’s, St. John’s, or th:lt of Sta.
which all his faithful are called upon to confess their sins, Maria Mngpiore. in Rome, at least once a dav during twenty
make many pilgrimages and prayers, and thus obtain forgive- days. if having domicile in Rome, or, for pilgrims. during ten
ness and indulgences-release from purgatorial sufferings days. All ought to pray for the exaltation of the church. for
justly merited and now in store for them. The bull has been the extzrpatzon of heresies, for the concord of Catholic princes,
translated into English and published broadcast, and we quote and for the salvation of Christian peoples.
a portion of it, as follows:- “Those who through sickness or other legitimate causes
“In opening the treasures of indulgences, whereof it is the cannot visit the Roman basilicas, if they confess and com-
dispenser, the church invites the whole of Christendom to the municate, may also benefit in the indulgence.
hope of pardon. . . . “To Rome we invite you, with love, sons of the church
“Raising our eyes to God, with his help and with the throughout the world.”
approbation of the cardinals, we order a universal Jubilee, to * l . l

commence in this sacred city of Rome with the first, vespers of This pronunciamento of papal power in heaven and hell, on
Christ,mas, l&99, and to cease on the same day in 1900. earth and in purgatory, is extremely mild and unassuming
“During the Jubilee Year we concede full indulgence and when compared to those of Leo’s predecessors.* The statement
pardon of sins to all Christians truly repentant, who confess l See hfxLLENNraL DAWN, VOL. II, Chap. 9.
[ 25471
(280481) ZION’S WATCH TOWER

is milder to suit the changed conditions of papal influence and nor works], we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
general enlightenment; but the same thou&t. the same ewor Christ [not through other mediators1 .“-Rom. 5 : 1.
&derlies--t‘hat the power to forgive sins -hai been lodged by -Mbreover, by the authority of ihe same Great Potentate
the Almighty in the hands of the pope and his conferees. we declare unto you the efficacy of his Calvary-sacrifice not
If it were true, what an awful responsibility it would place only thus to cleanse from sins that are past, but also to keep
upon these men 1 What if they had forgotten or neglected to yol; reckonedly cleansed and pure in God’s .sight, so long ai
appoint this Jubilee? And then, again,-if such confessions, vou abide bv faith in Christ. For his blood cleanseth us from
prayers, pilgrimages, etc., can effect such blessings and releases all sin -con”tinually covering our unwilful imperfections; as it
from sufferings, why are not Jubilee years more frequent- is written,--“ My strength is made perfect in weakness,” and
every year? Think for a moment of the loss. the terrible loss, “my grace is sufficient for thee.”
aust&ed by the pope’s faithful who have died, and will die; * 4’ * 4’
before the time he and the rartlinals have set! Verily, the god of this world (Satan) has not only blinded
[Ve notice with pleasure that, while “the extirpation of the heathen (2 Cor. 4:4), but he is quite considerably blind-
heresies” is mentioned, the injunction is to pray for this, and ing two thirds of Christendom represented in the Roman and
not as in olden times to labor for it bv edrmztina heretzcs as Greek Catholic communions, as evidenced by such proclama-
rwmtn. Let us rontinually thank Go2 for the breaking up of tions as that of the pope and by the continual practice of
the solidaritv of Antichrist bv the Great Reformation of the their priests.
sixtetsnth c~en”tury. The more it breaks up, and the smaller the Nor do we find the Protestart element of Christendom fully
fragments, the better for the truth and the true children of enlightened and clear on this point of there being no necessity
God,---t,hn true church “whose names are writ& in heaven.” for the intervention or mediation of men or prayers between
(Heh. 12 :23) Not the true “wheat,” but the imitation, the the sinner and his Saviour. The great majority of Protestants
“tares.” ncetl to he bound in bundles, bv sectarian creeds and consider prayers and intercessions essential-as evidenred by
oblirr:ltiona of human tlevice and imposition. And although it the various “revival” methods-mourners’ benches, kneeling at
is c~l~~:lrly pointed nut in the Script&es that a federative &ion the altar, rising for prayers, inquiry rooms, etc.-all so con-
of the> various sects of Christendom will soon occur; and trary to the simplicity of the Scriptural arrangement, which
though WC know that this will mean a great increase of oppo- is--Preach the message of God’s grace in Christ, and who-
sition. hatred and nersecution of all who will not “ioin” nor be &ever believingly accepts it is theyeby justified a&d, at peace
“bound” in the b;tndlen. but who stwnd fast in “the liberty with Bad: and his nravers that should follow such belief and
wherewith Christ has made them free, still we may sing,- acceptance would bi thanksgivings for divine favors received
“T will fear no evil: for thou art with me; and pledges of his own future faithfulness to the Light. the
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me!” Truth, the Way.
“I am the Light of the world: he that followeth me [.Jesusl
-km~wing that ere long all the “wheat” will be garnered and shall not walk in darkness hut shall have the light of life.“-
shin,, forth RR the sun in the kingdom of the Father with their John 8 : 12.
T,ord ;-to bless all the families of the earth.-Matt. 13:30, 43.
Now, not to disparage the pope’s efforts (which we will Very evidently the reason for so much darkness is that.
prchriume to br Rinrerc and honestly intended to be a means under Satan’s misleading, those who see the true light to some
of gracae to his people). but hy way of showing forth the error extent get to following’ popes. councils, presbvteiies, confer
underlying the whole theory on which the pope’s efforts are ences and confessions of men, instead of follo&ing the Lord,
hased. we will make a pronouncement: one which every true who is the True Light. We should esteem \ery hi~llly for
rhild of (44 as an “ambassrldor” and member of the “royal their work’s sake all who have been or may be usrtl of the
priesthood” is privileged to make daily, or so often as oppor- Lord as finFer posts to point us to the Light, the \Yay. the
tunity ofrers, namely,- Truth. but no more-we are not to follow t,hem, except as WC
discern clearly from the \\‘ord that thcp arrb c*loqely following
IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE GREAT Christ. He is to be our Pattern and our only T,ipht.
SHEPHERD (BISHOP) OF THE SHEEP, PONTIFEX MAXIMUS,
VICAROF GODANDPRINCE OFTHEKINGSOPTHEEARTH
--I declare that whosoever cometh unto the Father by him is Meantime in an endeavor to “make a fair show in the
acceptable; because by him whosoever believeth in him as his flesh” it is the proposition of the pops and his condjutors to
Saviour and Shcpber”d 15 jusfified freely from all things,- open during that Juhilee vear one of the greatest cathedrals in
from wbica11 the Law pnuld npvt’r iustifv or deliver him: the world in the greatest metropolis of th; world-\Vestminster
-1 tlrcreforch drclarc unto ~111wh; thus renounce sin and lay Cathedral, London. It is said to hnve alreadv cost over ten
hold elf the l)clivcrctr with t.hr arms of their faith, that without millions of dollars: and that millions more arb being collected
\\iLifing for Clrristm9s day, 1800, or any other date, and without in vnriou, parts of the world where “heretics,” whom they
pilgrirn:~~c~s to Rome nr Allllpheny or elsewhere, and without condemn to hell torments unceasing, are bv taxes, etc.. feedintr
vihiting c*atltcdrnln or other holy places, or having the prayers the Romanist poor in the almshouses of Christendom. Thank‘s
OI popes, caxrdinals, bishops. underpriests or laymen, and even be to God for the light and better dav coming for the noor.
withnut prayers of thrir own, thfp may have this grace- deceived, “groaning &eation” and for the blessed opportunities
‘brcn :14 it is written, “Rtling justlfietl hy faith [not prayers of eternal life which that Millennial day will bring to them.

WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY

REPORT FOR THE YEAR. DEO. lst, ‘98, to DEC. late, ‘99
\-rry properly all who are truly the Lord’s people feel a (1) To begin with, we always reckon the t,rurst progress
deep interest, not only in the Truth itself but also in all per- of the cause to be indicated by the \~ATCH TOW~II’S subscrip-
taining to it and its propagation :-not only in their own tion list: for however interest mav be awakened. bv tracts,
vi(*inltirs but also in its world-wide field nnd mission. And booklets .and DAWNS, it is rarely” fixed and rivete’d except
what iq thus gt‘nernlly true seems to be intensified in all such through the regular visits of our semi-monthly pastoral. You
<lftczr t1ic.v ?I:I~C hrmn& acquainted with the “harvest” message will be pleased then to know that the WATCH TOWER list grew
-the light of the last davs of this age,-the light of the considerably during last year : and that the evidences point to
paroltsiu;--the bright shining of the present one-the a still larger increase during the year now beginning. And as
eln’plkLanin-parozcsia. each reader is interested in and praying for such results, each
wt- are consriouq therefore that many eyes will look for will proportionately lend a hand to the answering of his own
and cnrefully scan this report of the work accomplished in the prayers, by doing what he can to increase the circulation.
year iust ended,-esneciallv all who have had a share in it, hrc there”not fr‘iends to whom you have loaned and given
ireat “or small, “‘eveiy ma; according to his several ability” tracts and books and whose interest is partially awakened?
(Matt. 25: 15). whether as a contributor to the funds which Why not go to such with a sample copy of the TOWEE and
propel the work or an assistant in the labor of circulating the ask them to look it over and consider the advisabilitv of
truth, or both. All such we know will be rejoiced in heart, having its visits regularly?
refreshed for fresh endeavors for the new pear as they read We offer no “premiums” to those who thus labor for this
what we have to present. Rejoice, for it ‘is your work, our iournal. Oh no: our friends need no such inducements, for
work, the Lord’s work. And as we realize how comparatively they render this service with gladness and willingness of heart
few there are whose eyes of understanding are opened that -“as unto the Lord” and on behalf of his brethren. But we
they can see the light, and when we remember too, that (111)our will gladly furnish you sample copies free. And furthermore
Lord foretold) among them there are not many great or wise to assist you we w’ill arrange a “special offer” thus: Any-
or rich in this world’s riches and wisdom, we must say that one who is already a WATCH TOWER reader may send in new
the showing is “marvelous in our sight.” subscriptions for the year (one dollar each) and to each we
[2648]
DECEYBPR 15. 1899 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (282-283)

will send one volume of the Dawn series free-whichever (6) THE CORRESPONDENCE feature of the harvest has
volume may be designated in your order; but all such orders grown gradually to vast proportions; and we believe it is used
should be deeignated “gpecial offer” that we may understand of the Lord to the blessing of his flock. During the vear iust
that they are in compliance herewith. ended we received 31,956 letters and postal car& andvsent”out
Furthermore : some of the brethren have intimated that 23,676. or a total in and out of over a thousand ner week
they would like to send the WATCH Towrrr for a while to their during the year,-some brief, others lengthy. IQha?, a won-
friends, with a view to awaking their interest in its teachings derful privilege to be thus in close touch with the household of
and have asked whether or not we will receive six months sub- faith, the “brethren” and other truth-seekers! We esteem it a
scriptions under such circumstances. Assuredly we will and great privilege to lend a helping hand to all in this way and
we will do more than that: we will share with you in the welcome all vour letters. But rememberinn the numbers.
service bv sending fozcr six months trial subscriptions for ONE please conden&. your queries and separate t&m from orders
noLUa, eight for TWO noLL.ms, tv2ent.y for FIW DOLLARS, forty in your letters. And do not be offended, if we refer you briefly
for TJG? DOLLARS. But we will accept only new subscriptions to some back Towzn or to some page of the DAIVN series for
and none for longer than six months on these terms. Not that reply.
we are unwilling to treat old friends as well as new ones, but (7 ) THF, FINANCIAL end of the work,-has prospered
that our regular terms (page 2) are amply reasonable-those amazingly, too,-for us “not manv rich.” The Treasurer’s
who cannot afford to nav one dollar a vear for the WATCH report shows nearly fifteen thousand dollars handed in bv the
TOWER cannot afford tdp;y anything, and such are as welcome Lord’s people for use in his service-without one pennv’of it
to it as to the air they breathe, if they will apply for it on being begged or even asbed. The most we ever do is to ‘inform
terms stated. the friends of the cause that there is a Fund to which such as
(2) THE COLPORTEUR WORK has prospered during the past desire may contribute little or much as their holy spirits
year as will he noticed by the Secretary’s report following. nromnt them and their circumstances will nermit. We do not
The number of DAWNS nut into the hands of the DeODle ex- ‘even -blow a trumpet for them nor herald their names-the
ceeded the number circ&ted the previous year by fifty per matter is left between each soul and its Lord and each is en-
cent; and the number of booklets over one hundred per cent.. couraged to use his owm best judgment in serving the Lord’s
cause and to look to him for the rewards of faithfulness and
This increase is due in great measure to the financial pros- self-denial.
perity which permits people to purchase books, and thus has True, fifteen thousand dollars is not much money-it is
perm>tted colportcurs who had been driven from the service less than the salary of some ministers of the gospel in the
hv the “hard times” to re-enter this fruitful ouarter of the nominal church, not to mention many in worldly positions who
“iiarvest” field: besides the Lord has raised up new laborers receive salaries or have incomes of as much or more. It is as
willing, pea anxious, to spend and be spent in serving to nothing compared to the vast sums donated by the various
others the meat in due season which has so blessed and denominations, bv gift and beauest. to home and foreign mis-
strengthened their own hearts. It doubtless is true that sionary work, to “thuir Bible So>ieties and Tract Societi&. Yet
though money is more plentiful by reason of the “good times,” this l&tle under the Lord’s blessing is nccomnlishine much in
the time to read the literature is curtailed thereby: neverthe- the keeping up of meetings through?‘%lgrims a;d in zrculating
less, the truth-hungry will find time for it; and if it costs nearly sixty-five millions of pages of literature throughout the
some self-denial the blessing will be the greater. Others will length and breadth of the civilized world. It reminds us of the
find plenty of time in the not distant future when another widow’s cruse of oil and remnant of meal.-1 Kings 17:9-16.
financial ~olla~sr will carrv labor to the lowest nlane it has (8) THE FOREIGN W70ns is constantly growing. Brother
occupied for *fifty years. * Remember rontinuaily in your Weber is still the representative of the French work, laboring
prayers the clear brethren and sisters of the Colporteur service. in Switzerland. Brother Winter looks out for the interests
(3) THE Pn.cnr~ SERVICE. During the year this branch of the Truth in Denmark, while Brothers Lundborg and Nelson
of the service has been increased and its field widened-hun- do the same in Sweden. Sister Giesecke is the Societv’s rep-
dreds of meetings being held from Canada to Georgia and resentative in Germany. The latter has just sent in‘ report
Texas and from Massachusetts to California and Oregon. Many which shows 246 letters received and 263 letters sent out. and
letters testify to good accomplished through this department a free circulation of reading matter representin 258,664 tract
of the work. W’e are planning for its still more effective pages. The work in Great Britain we do not ret 1 on as foreign,
operation during the coming y&r, as the Lord seems to be because of close connection and one tongue, but it is prosper-
onenina IID wavs and means. To him let our praise and thanks ing, too, and our stock of books and tracts in Brother Hart’s
a’scendY let ui remember in our prayers the dear brethren care is larger than ever, made necessary by increased demands.
serving as “Pilgrims.” All of these “brethren” need our love and sympathy and
(4) THE TI~ACT T)ISTRIRITTION. This department has prayers. Let us remember all the interests of Z&ion when we
shared in the general lnosperity, as you will see bv the report approach the throne of the heavenly grace. And finally, dear
of the Secretary following. It ‘is the largest showing we have brethren, pray for us of the home office, who occupy not only
ever been able to nrescnt.
I
It sneaks volumes for the loving a place of interest in your hearts, but a place of prominence
zeal of the Lord’s people in the distribution of these tracts as for the great Adversary’s attacks. Pray that we may have
well as in the nroviding of the funds for their nublication. more and more of the Master’s blessed spirit-the spirit of
We publish nd nkmes: it’ is not necessary, for we are unitedly wisdom and of mieht. the snirit of natience and of meekness.
laboring for the Lord’s approval and final “Well done!” the spirit of zeal &id of a iound mind, the spirit of love and
(5)- THE ~OIAL7XTEE:R~%lWT~E. A year ago we called for devotion to the Lord, his truth and his “brethren.” And as
volunteers to undertake the distribution of the booklet. The you thus pray, you will be drawn nearer to us and to the Lord
Bible vs. the Erolrction Theoq, to church attendants in every and to the same spirit which worketh all in all. Very truly,
rity and town on Sundays at respectful distance from church Your hrotbcr and servant in the Anointed,
edifices. Responses were nromptmany true soldiers of the C. T. RUSSELL, President.
cross accepted the offer is the God-given npportunity. for
which they had often prayed--opportunities to do and to TREASURER’S ACCOUNT, DEC. lst, ‘98, TO DEC. 1st. ‘99
serz’e, and opportunities, if need be, to suffer joyfully for the Receipts :
truth’s sake. These, it is needless to say, besides the blessing Cash, “Good Hopes”. . . . . $11.303.32
thev carried to others, received a great blessing in theil own Cash from other sources. . :: . . 3,467.20
hearts. and are the stronger, and-the closer to the Lord in
consequence. Let us not judge some who discontinued as soon Smount . . .. $11,776.52
as they found some of the cross and its reproarhes attached to Expenditures:
this warfare for the truth-this endeavor to preach the gospel Pilgrim Accnunt . .. .. . . . $2 61.3.01
to those dear brethren who are shut off from other means of Publishing tracts and postage, etc.. on same ll;ZR6.9?
hearing the good tidings of great joy: let us even think very
charitably of those who not only did not go out to the battle Amount . . . . . . . . . . . . $13.S98.98
themselves, but who sought to discourage others from eulist- Cash balance for 1900 . . ... . . ’ ’ 871.54
ment. Let us remember the noble Apostle Peter who sought
to hinder our Lord from his sacrifice and thus became his .$14,770..52
“adversary.” but who subsequently became one of his most SECBETABY’S ACCOUNT, DEC. lst, ‘98. TO DEC. lst, ‘99
faithful and zealous soldiers; and let us hope and pray that Copies of MILLENNIAL DA~VN circulated during the
each true soldier of the cross may become bold to serve the year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ...... ..... 95.354
truth according to the convictions of ltis ozvlt conscience, and Copies of various booklets circ*ulated during the
brave and willing in some manner to endure the cross, that in year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... .. 43.361
due time we all may rejoice together as crown wearers in our Copies of ZION% WATCH TOWER supplied gratis to
Captain’s kingdom. thr Lord’s poor and sent as snmples.. 156,536
III- 41 [26491
(183-284) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, P.L

Copies of tracts and booklets sent out during the This, represented as usual when referring to tracts,
year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,566,073 aggregated tract pages.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64,650,204
E. C. HENNINGES, Sec’y 6 Treats.

“THE TRUE LIGHT WHICH LICHTETH EVERY MAN”

-DEC. 24.-ISA. 9 :2-7.-

“Unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.“-Luke 2:ll.
Christmas-tidr nlwngs hrinp some lesson associated with king over all the earth, and his name great to the ends of
our S.lvior >lntl thr &at pnlvation. the rift of God, nrovided the earth.
thronfh bim. Tll19 >e,\r the chosen les:on is most lxcellent It is the joy of this great people that is described: it will
and t:r~:lntifiil. ApprbprintcLlp, the first verse of the chapter is not merely be a quiet joy of satisfaction, but an hilarious joy,
omitted: in JJecscr’s Translation. it constitutes the last verse as of men who are in the midst of plenty, in a harvest season;
of (h,lptrr R. and as men rejoicing when dividing the fruits of victory. But
Onr lrqson had no local and immediate application at the what will be the cause of the rejoicing? The answer is given.
time of its dcllverp: it is strictly prophetical, as are indeed Because from off their shoulder the great burden has been
thr prlwdlnn fiitcxcan VCI’C~S. 1Ve c.lnnot even apply the lesson removed: the burden of sin and its curse will have been re-
tn fhP 1~1~1l’lcar.cl timp of the first advent: its scope is far moved, and the rod of the oppressor, Satan, will be brnkrn,
l~~o1~~1‘tljc; .Troi.h na:ion, nnrl ran only be applies to the and he himself then will be a captive, no longer permitted to
wol !tlwi~lc t,lrL-incus mhi!,h follow the serond cominr of Christ oppress and deceive and blind mankind.-Rev. 20:2.
and tbs =tnlrli~b&nt of -Ibis rrlorions kingdom in ‘power and An illustration of the process of the deliverance is given:
FrPat ~loi-p. Nevcrth~lc~Fs. the& is jnst .X hnre conn&tion with “As in the days of Midian.” The suggestion obvious?y is
the r,:j-t !n tbt> e-xprc+krnn, “T’nto us a child is born”-thus that as Israel was delivered in the day of Midian by Gideon
indicatin:! thn hilVlllc bqinnin c( and earliest manifestation of and his little band, armed with trumpets and pitchers with
the cvrwt llrrlkt. tb~~ Snn of R.iLrhteonqncss. which has not vet lights in them,-by the blowing of the trumpets, the breaking
ariccln. hut. wl& dnv-star is now shining in the hearts of the of the pitchers and the shining out of the lights-discomfiting
faithful.--2 Pot. 1 .1 h. the Midianites, so that they slew one another with a great
The two diviGons of the first verse of the lesson in poetic slaurhtcr. so likewise will be the dcliveranre bv which the
form mrrely rcbpcnc fhe same tbou~ght with variations.* The Lord’ wili bring in the new dispensation. (.?ud&s 7 :lO-2.5)
1~ 1 that walk in dnrkneqs who are to see the great light
neonlo Our JAortl Jesus is the antitypical Gideon, and his ‘“little flork.”
are prnct:rnlly ;I11 mankind, for “yross darkness “covers ‘the the church of this Gospel age, the “elect,” are the antitype of
people”-the csucarption, the rrry small minority, the church, Gideon’s little army. And it will be through the interven-
as our Lord decl:trcd. is “nd of the world.” (John 17:16) tion of these (on the other side of the vail) that the hnsts of
Thiq broad tbnuzht ii empbaai~ecl by the next statement. for sin and the present enginerp of evil will be utterly discom-
the whole world surclv is “tllc lnnd of the phndow of death:” fited and work its self-destruction through anarchy, etc., in the
“The wlinie c*rontion fr;onncth and trarnilcth in pain together” great time of trouble rapidly drawing near.
undrr thch spntrnc.e of curw of death which, with its arpom- This great time of trouble is briefly yet graphically de-
nanimcnts of p,jin and sa:rrow, casts a deep shadow in every scribed in the fifth verse as being more severe. more intense,
Leeart :lnd in <very houqrhold. than all preceding troubles, for it is derlared that all such
Surclg. th,l whnie world needs this great light-the light victories ire expected to he with tumult and bloody gar-
of the IuIow.~~~~P of the glory of God. as it shines in the face ments. but this shall be with a more furious destruction. best
nf .Tesns Chriit our Lcrd-the vcrv lirht which the Apostle likened to a consuming of fuel in the fire. And it will be
ihclnrcs tht, world cannot now dikrern, because the eyes of noticed that the fury of the final conflict of this age, which
their undrrstnnding are dnrkrnrd by the misrepresentations shall transfer the rule to our Prince Immanuel, is everywhere
and rlccontions ncrnetratcd hv the cod of this world, the prince likened to a fire-throughout the prophecies and in our Lord’s
of d:lrknbss.-2’ C&. 4 : 4 : kev. 20‘: 3. parables-evidently because of the intensity of the trouble
The fart that tbiq is evnreqsrd in the nast tense does not and its destructiveness.
r,irmifr tbnt tlliq light has hlrcndv shinid: even as the state- Then comes (vss. 6 and 7) the explanation from the Lord’s
mrnt.’ “Vntn 11s a rhild is bnrn.” ‘did not signify the birth of side of how all these things are of his provision and super-
Christ at a time nrior to Isaiah’s nronherv. It is merelv & vision-beginning with the birth of our Lord as the babe
nsu:11 form of pr;pbctic statrmcnt:- the &andpoint is taken born in Bethlehem; next presenting him as God’s Son, give92 on
away otf in the future. and from that future standpoint the our behalf,-his sacrifice beginning at Jordan and rulminating
thinc to be accomnliqhrd is stated as though already done. at Calvary. “Whereforez” as the Apostle says, because of his
ilrrp, then. WC -h:jve a prophetic assurance of the great obedience unto death, “him hath God highly exalted and given
light of the knowledge of God coming to all mankind: and him a name above every [other] name,“-honor, dominion
this, hc it nntcd. is 111 fuilcqt nFrecment with the testimony and power above all others, next to his own.
of .John 1 :Q, that Cbriut “is the true light which lighteth The change of dispensation will be ushered in because the
everv man that, vclmc+ll into the world.” The fact that everv Father’s “times of restitution of all things” (Acts. 3: IQ-21 )
man’ hnrn i:lto the world 11~~not yet brcn enlinhtened by th& will have come, -the time for Christ to receive the honor, glory
great light, $0 f:lr from disparaeing the statement, pires us and dominion promised him, with which he sha’ll fulfil all the
assnran(~(~ that tbc time is coming when to him every knee gracious things predicted by God through the prophets: hence
shall how n11r1 c\-t’rp tonpue confesS, and all shall1 know the the declaration is that then “the government shall be upon
Lord. From thr lc,lst to the rrcntrst. and knowing him have his shoulder”-the mantle of authority shall rest upon him.
full rc*ponsibility or trial for ever&sting life or-everlasting And when he shall thus assume the control of earth’s affairs,
death. his character of love and justice, his wisdom, and the all-
1-rrscs 3-5 intimate tbc process by which the great change power in heaven and in earth given unto him, insure all the
sll:lll c’ornc’. ant1 tllcb world 11e prrparrd for the shining of the faithful that his reign will be a time of blessing, of peace and
pwt li!:llt----!llcx Sun nt Rlzbtcnu~nc~ss with healing in his of joy to all who love righteousness and truth; and equally a
1,c:11n4. P,~llol:ll s :ire dil itl(d in their opinions resnectine a time of burning destructlon against all who shall sin wilfully
proptar tr:~n~latlon of thca first srntrnrr of the third v&se. ‘The after having been brought to a knowledge of the truth.-Heb.
nl:!~fwitr ~~bn1 to f,lror the trnnslntinn given by the Revised 12:26.
S’rrs7fril “TI:OU h:lst iucr(~:lsccl tile n:\tion. thou hast increased His names, his titles, representing the gracious things of
brr iov:” I~c~~sc~~‘s Y’m~rslnfcon rc,ntlers it. “Thou hast multi- which he is the representative, are brought to our attention:
plicld ~IIC lIntion, m:ltlc =rcxat brr iov.” In harmony with the to all the world of mankind he will then be (and the church,
&iteut use inlis;t intcrprrt. this nation to be the u~o&d of man- his body, with him) “WonderfiJI’‘-Great-beyond the power
X-i& nndcr the new admlnis:rntion nf the ~Iillenninl Rinzdom: of human comprehension, as he is indeed the express image of
for thr kingdoms of this world will thm become the kinidoms the Father’s person. He will be the “Counselor,” whose in-
of our Jdord, God’s Anointed. and many nations shall go and structions in righteousness will be satisfactory and respected
WV, “Come w. and let 119 ~0 up t,o thr monntnin of the Lord. by all the world of mankind seeking a return to divine favor
to‘ the llnn~c of thr Gnd of’ .Tacob: and he will teach 115of his and full restitution. And it shall come to pass that whoso-
wa,vq, and we will walk in his paths.“-Rev. 11 :15: Isa. 2:3. ever will not hear that Teacher. that Counselor, shall be cut
Thus. instead of the Lord’4 cmpirr hrinz 7 typical one over off from among the people. (Arts 3 :23) He shall be called
n littir nation of I~raelitcs, 214 in ihe day of Jsalab’S prnphccy, “Mighty God,” or Mighty Mighty One, for indeed in him shall
it will be the antitypical one in which Immanuel shall be rest all the power and authority of the All-mighty One, Je-
lh--dbf~E~ 15, 1899 ZIOiV’S WATCH TOWER (285-287)

hovah. He shall be called the “Father Everlasting,” because ness from henceforth and unto eternity: the zeal of the Lord
in truth he shall be a Father unto the race. a Life-Giver to ali of hosts will do this.”
who will accept life under the terms of the kew Covenant, In this last verse of the lesson the Millennial kingdom is
sealed with his own precious blood. Adam, the original fathe; associated with the typical kingdom of David. We are ta
of humanity, through his sin and under its sentence, failed to remember, however, the statement that David sat upon the
give lasting life to his race, and death destroyed all his off- throne of the kingdom of the Lord-he and his kingdom were
spring; but the restitution life which our Lord will give, to as typical. The na&e, David, signifies “beloved,” and-our Lord
many as will receive it upon his terms, will be an everlasting Jesus himself was nroclaimed as the real David-“This is ells
life, and hence he, as the giver of this life to all, will be an Beloved Son, in wh;m I am well pleased.” God hath appoint&l
Everlasting Father. He shall be called the “Prince of Peace,” him heir of all things, and he is David’s Lord, as David himself
for, although his empire will be established by a smiting of testified.-Heb. 1:2: Matt. 22:41-45.
the nations with a rod of iron, and breaking them in pieces We fear that there are many Christians who have lost
as a Dotter’s vessel. in the areatest time of trouble the world faith, not only in the prophetic promises, but in our Lord%
has emberknown, neberthelesz, every blow will be struck in the and the apostles’ exposition of them, and that such frequently
interest of peace, and so his entire reign will further the ends pray merely with a lip service, “Thy kingdom come, thy will
of righteousness and peace, even though to the very end be done on earth as it is done in heaven.” But so much the
thereof there shall from time to time be destructions of the more as we discern such blindness on every hand, such lack
wicked.-Isa. 65:20; Rev. 20:9, 14, 15. of faith, let us, the eyes of whose understandings have been
Leeser’s Translation reads thus:-“The Prince of Peace for opened bv the Lord’s mercy, be the more faithful, the more
promoting the increase of the government and for peace with- &cumsp&t, and the mar;!’ confident, remembering, in the
out end upon the throne of David and upon his kin,pdom, to words of this lesson. that an abundant fulfilment is assured.
establish it and to support it through justice and rlghteous- for “The zeal of Jedorah of hosts will perform all this.” -

REVIEW OF 1899-DEC. 31
(:or.r)~s TEST.--“Bless the Lord. 0 ,ny soul, alrd forpt not all benefits.“-Psa.
his 103:2.
The end of one vear and the beginning of another is a entire being. And so WC find it with ourselves and others
most favorable occasion for circumspection and retrospection. todnv: whoever is trulv thankful to the Lord and offers him
1\‘e trust that as each reader reviews the year just closing praise, remembering hi”s benefits. will seek to render substan-
he will be able to repeat our Golden Text appreciatively,-with tial thanks also in deeds that will be acceptable and pleasing
the spirit and with the understanding also. One of the least to the Lord.
expensive offerings we can present to the Lord our God, and While prayers, adorations and praises are the most direct
yet one which he will appreciate very highly, is thanksgiving offerings of “incense” to the Lord, nevertheless he has so
-for mcrcics past and present. The ungrateful are disdained arranged matters that we cannot offer these sincerelv and
among men, and we may well suppose are far from pleasing in accep&bly except as we have his spirit: and if we haie his
the s:ght of the Almighty. While every creature throughout spirit, we will at the same time that we offer this incense on
the world might find some cause for thankfulness and grati- the Golden Altar be offering also upon the brazen altar in the
tude and praise, how much more should we who have received “Court” good works-“doilyg good-unto all men as we have
so nhnndantly of thr richeq of divine grace in the knowledge onnortunitv. esneciallv to the household of faith.“-Gal. 6: 10.
of his truth-the plan of the ages. We may well apply to IAThe cl&df the “year is an escellent time also for the
ourselves on this occasion the words of our dear Redeemer, making of new resolutions for the ye:‘r to come, and on the
“Blessed are vour eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they present occasion there is an added force from the fact that the
hear; for ve&lv I snv unto yen. that many prophets and year before us will be the last one of the century. Let us,
manv rlel,teous’nerson; haye desired to see the things which beloved brethren, make plenty of good resolves respecting what
ve hbe a&l have ‘not seen them, and to hear the thin& which we shall be willing to be, to do, to suffer, in fellowship with
$e hear, and have not heard them.” our Lord; that we may by his grace make of it the best year
We said that thanksgivings were cheap offerings; but who- thus far of our lives--the year of largest hopes, of largest
ever nresrnts to the Lord real thanksniving with lins of nraise endeavors, and by the Lord’s grace of largest successes in self-
will hollow his lip service with somethink more $uhstaLtial; sacrifire, in overcommg the world and its spirit. in vanquish-
and this is intimated in our Golden Text by the words, “0 ing self and the desires of the flesh. in resicting t,he Bdversary,
mr. soul !“--the appeal IS not merely to the lips, but to the and in glorifying our Lord and blessing his people.

THE TIME IS SHORT

up. up. my soul. the long-spent time rrdeemlnu, : The time is short. Then 1)~ thy beart a brothrr’s
Sou thou the seeds of better deed and thought: To every heart that necdb thy help in aught.
Light other lamp<. while yet the light i- be~~niing: How much they riced the sympathy of others!
The time, the time is short. The time, the time ih short.

KIND WORDS FOR MILLENNIAL DAWN, VOL. V

“Among the most notable of t,he recent works on religious
“Charles T. Russell, editor of ZION'S ~VATCH TOWER, and subjects is a publication from the press of the \\-atch Tower
author of several volumes of theological writings.< , fire of which Bible and Tract Society of Allegheny, Pa., The At-one-ment
are included in his MILLENNIAL DAWN series. has issued a new
Between God and Man. The book is one that treats of theo-
volume of Bible study, The At-otw~zent Between God and logical subIects in an entirely new and decaidedly attractive
&fan. Mr. Russell clings close to the Bible, as he interprets it, manner. It advances no new dogmas nor seeks t; combat old
and endeavors to offset the theory of the evolutionists that, as ones in any but a spirit of truth seeking. It makes plain in a
no fall nccurxed, no redemption and atonement are necessary, partlcnlarly clear and helpful light many things that have
by teaching the cross of Christ.” heretofore puzzled students of the Bible and Biblical lore. It
The Jacksonville (Fla.) Times UniorMZtixen says: teaches the universal fatherhood of God and teems with the
expression of his loving kindness for the creatures he has
“In this neat volume of five hundred pages we have a most made. At the same time it is a text book of theological
reverent treatment of profound subjects, respecting which science and dissects its truths and principles m a logical
many Christians have wondered and prayed, in a clear and and reasonable. vet reverent manner.
lucid style which even a child mav understand. The author’s “Ko single cb>pter of any recent-book is more notable than
loyalty “to the Bible is pronouncea and inspiring, and we do the section of this work which deals with the ever-confusing
not wonder that some have denominated his books Bable Keus. mystery of the divine trinity. It must be said that a more
In the volume under review the author examines his &bje& convincing explanation of tlus axiomatic doctrine of theology
from both the human and the divine standpoints-the neces- has never vet presented itself. vet it is strictlv along the lines
sity for atonement on man’s part, and why it is demanded on of orthodds tIiought. The Federal effect of ?he bo\k on the
God’s part, and then what are its grand possihil!ties far all the average reader who seeks for light on the subjects that to him
race of adam-Whosoerer will.’ The writer’s scope embraces have dark meaning, is mo<t gratifgmp. It quickens faith and
the doctrine of the divine trinity.” makes strong hopes that are clear to every serious and thinking
[2561]
(x37--i--‘OO) ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY. Pa.

mind. The tone of the book is reverent and nholcsomr. and it the interest of the Blblc. wh1c11 the author accepts as his only
seems destined to bring happiness to many a doubt-laden creed. in the intereet also of lore and iustice and
heart .” Christian common sense-all important considc!rations as
The Grand Rapids (Rich.) Herald says:- against nonsense of the ‘dark ages,’ often mislabled ‘orthodoq.’
“After reading this book and comparing its numerous Bible
“Pastor Russell’s new book, TAe At-one-nwll Uetwcen God citations, intelligent Christians will often say to themselves:
and Man, is of the sort that awakens Christians to do some Where have I been? What have I been thinking of 1 What
thinking along theological lines. It is one of those epoch- poor use have I made of my Bible and my reason for years
making books’ destined to influence thought not merely for that I did not see the beauty, harmony and reasonableness of
the hour of their perusal, but for life-and for rcnturies. The the divine Word 1 But the author lays no claim to superior
book will make its author foes as well as friends, for there ability or inspiration, merely claiming that God has a ‘due
are people ready to fight for their dogmas, however unscrip- t.ime for everything, and that now is God’s due time for shed-
tural and unrensonablc. However, uialty thinking Christiaii ding light upon his Word in the interest of all his faithful
peoplr. who hold to the Riblc as the inspirod \Vord of God people, and his aspiration is to be a humble servant of the
and who have all their lives been troul~lrd in tllclr endeavors Lord’s flork. dispensing to them the ‘mcnt in due season.’ ”
to harmonize it with their conscicnc*cs nut1 with facts, will
surely welcome this vol7nuc as ‘0 heZ,oi)ry 7mnf7,’ and prainc l’lre Xt. Louis C7wistiaw ddcocate su7js:-
God for the !ight it sheds on many subjects hitherto dark to “Concerning thir volume, a recent reviewer has said: ‘Pas-
all except theologians, and possibly to many of thorn also. One tor Russell’s llew book. The Itt-oxc-ment Betwee?%- God and
thing is certain, and that is that every lover of the Bible Man, is remarkable in fact, if not in its title. It is sure to
must admire the author’s loyaltv lo the Scriptures and his make a stir among the dry houes of fossilized orthodoxy. as
reverential style of dealing with churrh dogmas, which he well as amongst the higher rritics. Sot that it is agnostic-
rejects ni bring cnntrary to tllc tli\ inc Woiil, character and for it is decidedly Biblical; nor that it is bitter and drastic
plan.” ;wl cutting toward those theories of the dark ages
which have baruacletl the good ship Zion-for it handles
them gently, courteouhly, tllou~l~ tl~oroiighlg. Its strength lie;
“The rerrrential spirit of the work, its caruestuehti, its 111the gentle peroictcucc with wllich t11c writer uses his 13111
clearness of statement, impress the reader. It is a strong. lical dynamics,’ ”
forcrble and lo,$cnl settiug fort.h of the doctrine of atonement Tile New T’ork .?I ( l-f~7fclfl ts’ RCI It l(’ s~l,ils :-
for sin through Christ, the Mediator, and of the orthodox “-4 KOTABIX WORK.---A hrll of fire and brimatouc has no
Christian 1Jclic.f in gcncral regarding the great foundation of place in the belief of sonic intclligcut Christians, man’s folly
the Christian faith and scope of salvation. It is a work that and wickedness providing hell CIIOI@ on earth, according to
appeals to all on a subject of such paramount importnucc.” their views of the matter, but Pastor Charles T. Russell, in
Tho Pzttsbzrrg Times says:- T7le At-owe-ment Bctwetw God and iVan, of the MIIS~ENNIAI~
“The title explains the object of the hook. The author, as I)A~N series, prehcutq runny arglimcnts to show that 11~11,shco?
is usual with him, fortifies his opinions and assertions by :a or Ilades, has no euistcnce at it11 AL- a place of punishment, the
close adlrrrencc to the Scriptures. ITc writes with great CII- word in its different forms meaning simply the slerp which
thusiasm and with an apparent scnsc of strong couviction. the human race 1~~‘s into. to 1)~ awakenrd from at (‘1trlJt’s
and the book will bc of conQidrral)lc aid to thong who fiutl second coming.
occasion to study the points treated.” “His argumcnt~ are based uuou copious texts from Serlp-
ture, as al% ih hi, attempt to -pro\-c ‘that the orthodox vi&w-
The S~~rr~cnxc (N. I’.) Herald srrys :- of the holy trinity has uo foundation in the Rihle. The Scrip-
“Mr. Russell is an able as well as an exceedingly volumi- tures, am1 nothmg but the Scriptures. are the guide of the
nous writer on religious questions. The prcscut bulky volume is author in his scar& for the truth iu the various prohlrms
the fifth of a series of books uutlcr thr gcncral title of MILT,EN- examined bv him in his intrrrstilln < book. and naturally ho
h’ur, DAWN. It discusses the fall of m,lu, the penalty or curse opposes ‘Evolution.’ ”
upon him. his redemption and the terns* of his ‘,4t-one-ment.’ ‘7’7te Et. -llbans (13.) Daily Uessorgfr soys:-
It undertakes t,o explain the pcrplcaing doctrine of the trinity
and to render it simple am1 rearonablt~. The author is loyal to “This voliime, 11kc all others from this writer, differs irom
the Scriptures, but not always to church dogmas, whirh he other theological writings in scvcral particulars. (1) It is
deals with according to their agrcrment with the dirinr Word simple in srylc. easily understood by auy Christian-rn~~hiug
All Rible-students will fiud matter for thought in XIr. Rus- abstruse suhject3 plain to even the wayfaring man if he 1~ of
fiell’s writings.” the class addressed by the author-the ~ustificd in Christ. (:! )
It entirelv innores all creeds and theorms of men and nppc~al~
The IPldian.apol,iis (Ind.) Scutiwl says:- holrly to ‘tlle~Scripturrs aud treats their testimony as insp~rc(l.
“This book is sublimelv romnrchrnsivc. ant1 imcrurstioll;il)lr authoritative. dccisirc-citing as well as auot,ine them frcrly.
its treatment will be prOn0un;‘c.d a nlahtcrly one bv many (3) It is logical as well a: Scriptural. ‘ami Ghoevrr rt*:lds
Bible students. ‘The fear of the Lord is the ouly “fear iu without prejudice is sure to be conviuccd. t-i) Those who i<~ail
evidence in this volumr; but although ‘traditions of men’ are xud accept the prc3cntations of this volume will not only 7;1to~
treated fearlessly, thry &c kindly l~~~~ullcd, and cvcn partisan what they belicvc, but why they belicvc it; and will ‘be 1catly
sticklers for rsr~lodctl errors munt coucctlc the author’s Clhris- to give a reason for the hope that is in them’-which rannot
tian spirit and bourtrsv, while all mnst admit his hoiiestv. and be said even of clergymen respecting the dogmas of thr rcv\*r;\l
his fidelity to tile Rcriptiircs. If human creeds suffer, it is in denominations.”

OUR ELIMS-TO MY BELOVED PASTOR

Our way niiids 71pwiud ou the rocky steep,
-4nd uarrow is the path our feet must tread;
We still press on through shade or noontidc hcnt-
Pilgrims to Canaan through a dcscrt led,
The wav 1s rough. and weary grow our feet.
Yet faint we not-the goal *is fair and sweet.
And as we take again our ouwartl way.
We pluck fair blossoms, delicate and rare,
We breathe their perfume sweet throughout the day,
The rugged path has grown most strangely fair.
And thus our Father in Bis tender love.
1)oth blrss us and His loving-kindness prove.

Ytbt. ah we onward urge our weary way.
Sonictimes a sigh escapes, a tear will fall;
Our load grows heavy, and the glaring day
-\lltl 1lVilt illIt \v.lysicle dllSt 0711’ hcbwrts ~Lp]).lll.
Yrt our T,radrr loves us well and notes our sigh.
IIis llell) iq sure. ITis prescucc evrr Iiigli.
Aud thus, dear fricud, as you go ou your way,
Walking t,his path our loviug Master trod,
With patient, trusting heart from day to day,
Keeping the rond that lrads to “Home” and God,
Map these blest “J1:lims” often cheer your heart,
That you map ever choose the “better part !”

We lift oilr tycs. aud lo’ a shelving rock Map blossoms, too. along your path be found,
And sparklmg spring aud waving palms nre near: Blossoms of love, and true and kindly deed,
With glad and quickeued f& and eager joy. 1lnst fair and sweet-fragrant with tender thoughts.
Wr haste to this fair Wli>,t-nyoI.e of cheer. .%nd loving gratitude-your earthly mced.
We loose our sandals by the lrrooklrt swrrt .\utl may I hope. dear frieutl, nz~7sift may be
,4nd in its waters hnthe our weary feet. Out of thc-,r way+idr blns*oms swrct to thee?
-\r.rm G. .J.~~~~,---llltn~i~.

C26621