The Watchtower, February 1, 1914
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VOL. XXXV FEBRUARY 1 No. 3
A. D. 1914--A. M. 6042
CONTENTS
The Anointed--The Messiah--The Christ............. 35
The Mystery of Christ......................... 36
Gifts Vs. Fruits of the Spirit................ 36
Hindrances to Fulness of the Spirit........... 37
Anointing and Begetting....................... 37
Two Classes of First-Borns.................... 38
Godliness Attracts Persecution.................... 39
Specially Godly Are Specially Persecuted...... 39
Professed Christians Persecuted............... 40
The Solitary Way (Poem)........................... 40
1913--Reports from Foreign Branches--1913......... 41
"Where Your Treasure Is".......................... 44
Seek First the Kingdom........................ 45
The Faithful Are Watchful......................... 45
Re the Lord's Second Presence................. 45
Some Interesting Letters.......................... 47
Heard Him Lecture 70 Times.................... 47
Experience of Two Colporteurs................. 47
Sword of Truth Flashing Right and Left........ 47
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PILGRIM BROTHER HAYDEN SAMSON--DECEASED
Many of our readers knew and dearly loved Brother Hayden Samson, who has served the Lord and the Brethren under the auspices of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society for the past fourteen years. For several years past he has been in feeble health--yet persevered to lay down his life in the service of the Lord, the Truth and the Brethren. Returning home he experienced a severe attack of indigestion January Twenty-Fourth. He got relief, however, and went to bed as usual. The next morning, Sunday, his body was found in bed apparently asleep. He had passed beyond "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye," with evidently no struggle, no pain. We rejoice with the dear Brother, believing that he has gone before to the heavenly condition--where so many of us are hoping ere long to join the Savior and him and all the members of the Body of Christ.
BETHEL HYMNS FOR MARCH
After the close of the hymn the Bethel family listens to the reading of "My Vow Unto the Lord," then joins in prayer. At the breakfast table the MANNA text is considered. Hymns for March follow: (1) 266; (2) 47; (3) 12; (4) 325; (5) Vow; (6) 313; (7) 60; (8) 310; (9) 130; (10) 110; (11) 7; (12) 27; (13) 191; (14) 87; (15) 145; (16) 129; (17) 78; (18) 4; (19) 105; (20) 16; (21) 155; (22) 160; (23) 240; (24) 260; (25) 267; (26) 40; (27) 324; (28) 88; (29) 14; (30) 39; (31) 170.
THE ANOINTED--THE MESSIAH--THE CHRIST
THE teaching of the Law, in type and testimony, is to the effect that God purposed to raise up a great Priest, who would also be a King; and that this priestly King and kingly Priest should cancel the sins of the people, and be invested with power to rule, and with authority as a Mediator to help them back to God. To the surprise of the typical people, Israel, instead of assuming the office of Priest and King in conjunction, He merely died!--`Luke 24:20,21`.
Then came the time for the Holy Spirit to reveal to the Church what had previously been a mystery; for when God had through the Prophets spoken of Messiah as a King upon His Throne, He had declared that which would be mysterious to the people--would not be easily understood. God had purposely kept His Plan a secret until the due time for revealing it should come. The secret was--"Christ in you, the hope of glory."-- `Colossians 1:26,27`.
In other words, our Lord Jesus is, primarily, the Anointed One and, according to the Scripture testimony, is very highly exalted. But He was not the completion of the Divine arrangement regarding the Anointed. The Heavenly Father purposed not to have Jesus alone, but that He should be the Head of the Anointed, and the Church the Body. (`Eph. 1:22,23`; `5:29-32`; `Col. 1:24`.) This was the Mystery. The great Messiah was to bless the world as the antitypical Prophet, Priest, and King. God appointed Jesus as the Head, and elected certain saintly ones to be the members of His Body. Until this Body of Christ was complete, the blessing promised to Abraham could not come upon the world.--`Gal. 3:16,29`.
The terms upon which any may come into membership in Christ's Body--may be members of the anointed Priest and King--are that they walk in His steps. If we desire this privilege, we must present our bodies living sacrifices, as He presented His. Additionally, we must have Him as our Advocate, that we may be enabled to fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ. So, the Apostle says, we were called to suffer with Christ, that we might reign with Him.--`Col. 1:24`; `2 Tim. 2:12`.
Not until this work is completed can there be Restitution to the world. The blessing of the world cannot begin until this great Priest-King is complete and inducted into office. Then as the Mediator of the New Covenant, He will bring the promised blessings to mankind in general. The entire Scriptures seem to give this thought, and this alone. In no other way can we explain why, after God's promise to send a Redeemer, and after that Redeemer had come, and had died, "the Just for the unjust," the work of Restitution (`Acts 3:19-21`) should not have immediately proceeded. Throughout this Age there has been the work of selecting the Church. In the immediate future are the Times of Restitution, when the Lord, at His Second Coming, shall have received His members to Himself on the plane of glory.
The Scriptures declare that our Lord Jesus was holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners. Hence He would need no sin-offering on His own behalf. Yet the Scriptures say that He needed first to offer for Himself, and then for the people. (`Heb. 7:26,27`.) Here we see clearly shown the Church as a part of Himself--different from the world in general.
The entire work of the Church at the present time is the sacrifice of the human life. As Jesus will be the King of Glory, so we shall be the under-kings; as He will be the great Priest, so we shall be the under-priests. The parallel is found throughout the entire Scriptures. If our understanding of this were taken away, we should be practically in the same darkness as we were before we got the Truth. The Mystery is that we are to be associated in the sufferings of Christ now, and in His glory in the future. Whoever has not yet found this key has not yet found the Plan of God, in its simplicity and beauty.
God ordained that the kings of Israel should be anointed, and that the High Priest of Israel should be especially anointed. We are to remember that there is an antitypical King and an antitypical Priest--Christ, the great Prophet, Priest and King--who is to bring blessing to the human family as a whole. We perceive that in the type there was an under-priesthood, and the Apostle points out that there is an antitypical under-priesthood associated with Jesus and His work.
The word anointed is the English translation of the Hebrew word Messiah, and its equivalent in the Greek is Christos, Christ. So, then, our thoughts properly turn to Christ as the Anointed of God. He is to do the great work appointed by the Father. We look back and see when He received His anointing. It was not when He was in the Heavenly courts, nor when He became a human being. He was not yet the Anointed One, though He was in full harmony with the Holy Spirit of God.
But there came a certain experience to our Lord when He was thirty years of age. At that time He consecrated Himself to do the Father's will and work. Then
it was that He received the special anointing. This constituted Him in an incipient sense the anointed King and Priest of God. Still He was not ready to take His great power and reign; but if He proved faithful in carrying out His covenant, He would in due time become in the fullest sense the great Anointed of God, would reign over the earth for a thousand years, and subsequently would have further great honors and privileges. We can see all this very clearly portrayed in respect to our Redeemer.
THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST
To whom, then, does the Apostle in `1 John 2:27` refer in the words ye and you? The Heavenly Father purposed, as previously stated, that more than our Lord Jesus should constitute this Anointed One. He purposed that the Lord Jesus should be the Head of an anointed company, who should constitute His Body. And this is implied in the type in the under-priesthood, who received a measure of the anointing oil. They prefigured the real Priesthood to come: "Ye are a Royal Priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."--`1 Peter 2:9`.
And as we further study, we find that this is the Mystery mentioned in the Scriptures: to wit, that the great Messiah so long promised should be composed of many individuals; and that these many individuals, with the exception of the Head, should be gathered out from the children of wrath, from fallen mankind, and should be justified through the merit of their Head--the merit of His human sacrifice.
All, then, who have joined the Lord are counted as members of that one Body, "the Church of the Living God," "the Church of the first-born," whose names are "written in Heaven." (`1 Tim. 3:15`; `Heb. 12:23`.) Looking back to the institution of the Church, we see that it could not be instituted until Jesus had presented Himself as a sacrifice, that the merit of His sacrifice might be made applicable to all those who would become members of His Body--those who would make the same consecration unto death that He had made, and who would then walk in His footsteps.
At that very time there were some of this class waiting. They had been Jesus' disciples, hearkening to His words. They believed His testimony that if they would take up their cross and follow Him they should partake of His glory. Under the influence of this promise they became His followers. But they could not receive the anointing until He had made satisfaction for their sins. Therefore our Lord instructed them to wait at Jerusalem until this blessing came upon them. The Scriptures tell us that the anointing came upon them at Pentecost. It came from the Father through Christ, after His ascension. Indeed, St. Paul tells us that all blessings come from the Father, who is the Fountain of blessings; and all come through the Son, who is the Channel.-- `1 Corinthians 8:6`.
Just what the anointing is, is difficult for us to comprehend or to explain. Only in proportion as we comprehend it can we make it plain to others. The Lord has endeavored to make it as plain as possible to us by the use of various terms and figures. He calls it a begetting, in the sense that a new life is started. The spiritual nature begins in us at the moment we receive this begetting. And whoever receives it cannot retain it unless he grows and has the Lord's Spirit perfected in him.
VARIOUS QUALITIES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
This Spirit is spoken of in the Scriptures from various standpoints--apparently with a view to giving us a conception of it, and with the thought that it is a difficult matter to grasp. It is called the Spirit of Truth. No one can have the Holy Spirit and be in ignorance of God; and his growth in spiritual things will be in proportion to his growth in knowledge. If he does not grow in knowledge, he cannot grow in the Spirit; therefore this Spirit is called the Spirit of the Truth.
It is called also the spirit of a sound mind; for our judgments are all imperfect and human and naturally, therefore, contrary in some respects to the mind of the Lord. And the transforming influence which gives us a new view of matters and enables us to see things from God's standpoint is the influence of the Holy Spirit; therefore, it is called the spirit, or disposition, of a sound mind.
It is called the spirit of love; for only in proportion as we cultivate this Godlike quality can we receive this spirit. Whoever has not the spirit of love cannot have the Holy Spirit. Love is necessary before we can receive this Spirit. God is Love. And so all must be of this disposition who would be His--they must be in sympathy, in harmony with Him.
It is also called the spirit of obedience in the sense that those who possess this Spirit desire to do the will of God. It is an anointing in the sense that it is the qualification by which God recognizes us as His children and as those who are heirs of His promises and who are to consider themselves His ambassadors. He recognizes only those who are thus designated by the Holy Spirit. These are to fill the office of kings and priests.
These various definitions and descriptions of the power and influence of the Spirit enable us to better understand the matter. The term Holy Spirit stands in a broad sense for any holy influence or power or disposition emanating from God. The phrase covers the thought of the spirit of Truth and the spirit of righteousness, because all that is true and right is of Divine arrangement and order. This is the Holy Spirit, or holy influence, or holy power, then, that works in any way that God may choose. It may be through the Word of Truth given out through the printed page, or it may be made manifest through the influence of the life and example of some of God's people--but in whatever way it operates, it always operates for good.
GIFTS VS. FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT
Because the matter was so hard to understand, the Lord, in the first place, gave the early Church special signs, which were called gifts. Some received the gift of tongues, some the gift of performing miracles, and some the special gift of healing. Then there were other gifts that the Lord gave, such as Apostleship, etc. But these different gifts were merely manifestations of the Holy Spirit at that time. The gifts were not the Holy Spirit, but were manifestations of the Holy Spirit. After they had accomplished their work in the early Church, those gifts passed away. This does not mean that the Holy Spirit ceased to be the begetting power amongst the Lord's people; but unless there had been some such manifestation of the power of God in the beginning, we would not have been so well able to understand the facts. Jesus, before Pentecost, communicated His Spirit to His disciples and enabled them to work miracles.--`Luke 10:17-20`.
A measure of the Spirit is given to all the Lord's children to be profited by, to make use of. And so we see that when the gifts of the Holy Spirit passed away, the fruits of the Spirit remained, to be manifested and developed. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance"
(`Galatians 5:22,23`); and a person after receiving the Holy Spirit will begin to manifest this fruit of the Spirit. If one does not manifest this fruit, there is every reason to doubt if he has been begotten of the Spirit.
If a person has some of these qualities, we are to remember that some are naturally quite gentle, meek. We are not, therefore, to think it a proof of the possession of the Holy Spirit, if one has a little meekness and gentleness. He might have these qualities naturally. But we should expect that when a knowledge of the Truth comes, instead of being heady and puffed up, he would be all the more gentle and meek. Wherever we see a boastful, heady, haughty spirit, unloving, unkind, etc., we would have reason to think that the Holy Spirit had not been received, or was not making proper development in that heart.
This is a matter regarding which the Lord does not allow us to judge others; but He expects us to judge ourselves. Whoever has this Holy Spirit should develop it. Those who have been begotten of the Holy Spirit had previously come into the proper attitude of mind to receive it, and the Lord is pleased to begin there the work which is so difficult for us to understand. This Spirit of God brings rest, peace, joy, because we have submitted ourselves to God. And this peace and joy should increase more and more, as we are more and more filled with the Holy Spirit.
HINDRANCES TO FULNESS OF THE SPIRIT
The Bible tells us that the Lord Jesus had the Spirit without measure. But we, in our imperfect state, are not able to receive the Holy Spirit in the same measure. If our hearts are entirely emptied, then they may be made the fuller. But if there be errors of doctrine in our mind and heart, these will prevent us from receiving the fulness of the Holy Spirit. Gradually the New Creature will cast out the earthly mind, and will get rid of the errors of doctrine, etc., that have been hindrances. And as we get rid of these we shall be made partakers of the Holy Spirit in an abounding measure.
The Holy Spirit that we receive of Him is our assurance that we belong to the Lord. And as long as this Spirit abides in us, it is a witness and a guarantee that we are still the Lord's. Both classes, the Little Flock and the Great Company, receive the anointing of the Lord, the begetting of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle says that "we are all called in the one hope of our calling." (`Eph. 4:4`.) We all have received this Anointing of the Holy Spirit, or we could not belong to the Body of Christ at all. It is now a matter of development.
Those who continue to develop in the Spirit of the Lord will attain a place on the Throne with Jesus. But there will be some who will not be accounted worthy to reign with Him; yet they have received of the Lord this anointing, this begetting. These will not be of the Body of Christ, because they failed to progress on account of lack of zeal in carrying out their covenant.
In the type of the high priest the anointing oil ran down over the garments. In the antitype the anointing of our Lord Jesus has flowed down over all the Body since Pentecost, giving us this special relationship with the Heavenly Father. The anointing which comes upon the Lord's people must sooner or later affect their outward conduct by manifestations of greater meekness, patience, brotherly-kindness, affection and generosity of word and deed. All of this is illustrated in the anointing oil used upon the kings and priests of Israel, which typified the Spirit from which we have an anointing, or lubrication.
But this smoothing and softening of character must not be expected to take place suddenly, as was the case with the change in our minds; on the contrary, it will come gradually. Nevertheless, the renewed will is to take control of the earthly body and impart its spirit and disposition to it so far as possible, and should begin the work at once. If the spirit, or disposition, of love to God dwell in one richly, it will soon be manifest to some extent. Let us be constantly on the alert to grow in the spirit of love and obedience, and to let the Spirit of Christ dwell in us richly and abound.
CONSECRATION AND BEGETTING
No one can be a member of the New Creation before being anointed of the Holy Spirit, or begotten of the Holy Spirit. The purport of the Scriptures is that a double work is necessary, the one part applying to the flesh, the other to the New Creature. That which is sacrificed is not the New Creature, and that which is anointed is not the old creature. We repeat: It is the New Creature that is anointed, and it is the old creature that is sacrificed.
The anointing and the begetting of the Holy Spirit are practically the same thing and quickly follow justification. It is as justified men that we are baptized into death, and it is as members of the New Creation that we are constituted members of the Ecclesia, or Body of Christ. It is the Father's acceptance of us that is the basis of our begetting of the Holy Spirit, our anointing.
While the two terms, begetting and anointing, are used to represent what is to us practically the same thing, they are two different figures. The begetting thought is one that pertains to the state of the new life, the state of the new nature. The anointing thought pertains to the office. God is calling out a people to become joint-heirs with Christ in the Kingdom. The anointing is the Divine recognition of them as kings and priests. So far as we are concerned, the matter is represented by both expressions.
The word Christ signifies anointed. God has declared that He will have an anointed King and High Priest to be His Agent in the blessing of the world. He has declared that that great King is, primarily, the Lord Jesus Christ. He also declares that instead of the Lord Jesus being the sum-total of the Anointed One, it is His good pleasure that there shall be members added to Him. And the adding of these members has been the completing of this Anointed One.
Our coming into the Body is our coming under the anointing. One is a member of the Anointed the instant he is begotten. In thinking of the begetting and the anointing, we are merely viewing the matter from two different angles. We of today were not anointed eighteen hundred years ago, although the anointing came at that time upon the Church. The anointed office may be forfeited, without the spirit-begotten life being forfeited, as in the case of the Great Company.
But the instant we are individually inducted into that Body, that instant we come under the anointing. "The anointing you have received of Him abideth in you." Our share of it is just as much a personal matter as was the begetting. Let us repeat the statement: Our begetting is individual--our baptism, or anointing, is collective, but the one is as personal as the other.
SAME ANOINTING FOR BOTH JESUS AND THE CHURCH
The anointing that came upon the Church at Pentecost and that ran down upon all added Jewish members subsequently, was the same anointing that Jesus received at Jordan, the same anointing that was later poured out
upon the Gentiles, as manifested first in the case of Cornelius and his friends, when "the Holy Spirit fell upon all them which heard the Word" at the mouth of St. Peter. It is the same anointing that has come down throughout the Age upon all the members of the Body-- all the one anointing.
But while it is the same anointing, or baptism, yet Cornelius had no share in the anointing, or baptism, at Pentecost, nor had the disciples any share in the anointing at Jordan; for it did not become a personal matter to any member until he was individually begotten, and thus inducted into the Body. To our understanding the one thought appertains to both of these different features, as illustrating different parts of the process.
At the beginning, Jehovah God foreknew and foreordained that one hundred and forty-four thousand should constitute the Anointed One, of which Jesus is the Head. And He made the arrangement that all those begotten of the Spirit should thereby come into that Body, and be counted as its members. These have their names written as such in the Lamb's Book of Life. But He also made the arrangement with them that if any of them failed to keep the terms of their covenant, they would cease to be members of that Body class. And this class evidently will in glory consist of the one hundred and forty-four thousand, although many other thousands have been associated with them all through the Gospel Age; not all, however, have maintained their standing.
"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My Throne." (`Rev. 3:21`.) The grand outcome of the matter, the fixity of the matter, is in the future. All those who come to the Lord, come through consecration, and are for the time being counted in as members of this anointed class. And the anointing will abide with them so long as they continue in this condition of obedience.
DOUBLE RELATIONSHIP TO CHRIST
The expression, begetting of the Spirit, then, is used in the Scriptures to describe that personal experience by which God accepts the individual as a New Creature, and starts the new nature. This new nature subsequently prospers, develops, and if faithful will be born of the Spirit. The terms begetting and birth are used symbolically
to represent the beginning and the completion of the New Creature.
The baptism, or anointing, of the Spirit, of course, relates to the same Holy Spirit, and in some measure to the same experiences as the begetting, but from a different angle. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a thing that comes to us individually, but collectively. The baptism of the Holy Spirit came upon the Church at Pentecost and was not repeated day by day, nor ever, except in the case of Cornelius, the first Gentile convert, and "his kinsmen and near friends," whom he had called together in his house to hear the words from the lips of the Apostle Peter. At that time a similar baptism to that of Pentecost was granted--"the Holy Spirit fell upon all them which heard the Word" (`Acts 10:24,44`), indicating that the Gentiles also were to have an opportunity to become members of the Anointed.
The word baptism signifies immersion. St. Paul explains that we are all baptized, or immersed, or anointed, by the one Spirit into one Body. The anointing, or baptism, of the Spirit came first to our Lord Jesus, extended down to the Church at Pentecost, and has been with the Church as an anointing ever since. All of us who come to God, by Christ, confessing our sins and asking forgiveness through His merit, and who yield ourselves to be dead with Him, by baptism into His death, are immersed into membership in His Body, thus coming under the anointing.
The result of this action is two-fold; we become, first of all, members of Christ in the flesh, and He accepts us and treats us as such. We are first baptized, or immersed, into death--His death, His Baptism. Then the figure changes; and we are raised up out of this baptism into death, as New Creatures. Thereafter our flesh is counted as His flesh. So our relationship to Christ is two-fold: one appertaining to the flesh, the other to the spirit.
Very many have not noticed this double relationship to Christ--as New Creatures, and also in the flesh. The force of this is brought to us in the words of the glorified Christ to Saul of Tarsus: "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME?...I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." (`Acts 9:4,5`.) Thus our Lord declared that the persecution of the Church in the flesh was a persecution of Himself. What the Church suffers is a part of the sufferings of Christ. The sufferings of Christ will not be filled up until the last member of His Body shall have finished His course.
THE LORD'S DECISION STILL FUTURE
Our membership in the spiritual Body of Christ is also two-fold. First we have a tentative membership at the present time--though we are accepted of God as if it were complete. Thus the moment of the acceptance of our consecration is the moment when we receive the Holy Spirit. We are consecrated with Christ unto death --we are risen with Him as New Creatures, sharers with Him in His resurrection. And yet this number, begotten of the Holy Spirit and thus associated with Christ in membership in the spiritual Body, contains three classes: (1) The Little Flock, which will be the Body of Christ beyond the veil, the "more than conquerors"; (2) the Great Company, who will fail of being of that highest class, but who will be companions of the Bride class (`Psalm 45:14`); (3) some who will become reprobates and go into the Second Death.
It is not for us at the present time to pass judgment upon any one. It is not for us to say that this one or that one belongs to the Little Flock or to the Great Company. According to the Scriptural instructions, we know that the Lord will not make public His decision of this matter until the end of this Age. Then He will make a decision as to those who will receive the higher nature and those who will receive the subordinate nature.
We are all "called in the one hope of our calling" (`Eph. 4:4`), and it is for each of us to make our calling and election sure. Our trials, our difficulties, our weaknesses, are so different that only the Lord will know or can determine who are worthy. The Apostle declares that He would not even judge himself, let alone others. There is one that judgeth, even Christ.
TWO CLASSES OF FIRST-BORNS
The Church of the First-borns, that is to say, all who will attain to perfection of life, everlasting life, as the First-born company, are in comparison with the world a small number. The picture of humanity that our Lord gave in the Sermon on the Mount represented the world of mankind in general as going down the broad road to destruction. Then He depicted a narrow way leading to life, a way that He Himself opened up and made possible. He tells us that of those who find this narrow way only a few, comparatively, will enter it and walk in it.
In another Scripture we are told that all who go on the broad way will ultimately be brought to a knowledge
of the Truth, and by Messiah's Kingdom will be enlightened and blessed with an opportunity for coming into harmony with God; and that in that time there will be a Highway for their return to human perfection. Here, then, we find three ways. In the present Age, however, there is only one way leading to life.
Examining what the Scriptures say as to who will gain life everlasting as a result of the present life, we find that merely the Church of the First-borns get this blessing. The life that will come to the world will be attained gradually during the thousand years, when step by step they will rise up, up, UP to perfection. But the life that is offered now must be striven for under adverse conditions. We are to receive it by (1) begetting, and (2) resurrection to perfection. This resurrection we shall receive at the close of this Gospel Age.
The Scriptures show us that of the two classes who will attain this great blessing, one class will come off conquerors and get spiritual life, but not the highest. The other class will come off "more than conquerors," and reach resurrection on the highest plane. These will be of the Divine nature. In this class we are striving to have a place--to share with Christ in the Chief Resurrection. Those who lag behind and are careless of their consecration vows will nevertheless be finally put to the test. Matters will so narrow down with them that they will be obliged to determine whether they will prove their loyalty to God or not. Those among them who wilfully sin will go into the Second Death. Those who strive for everlasting life will be brought to perfection in a great time of trouble, even though they will lose the great prize of joint-heirship with Christ.
GODLINESS ATTRACTS PERSECUTION
"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."--`2 Tim. 3:12`.
GODLINESS represents in general the condition of righteousness, opposition to sin, as God is opposed to sin--a condition in harmony with justice, as He is just; generosity and kindness and love, as He is generous and kind and loving. There are kind, generous and noble characters in the world who are not Christians. These may have more or less of opposition from others who are evilly disposed--as darkness always opposes light; yet these noble people exercise moderation in their righteousness--they are not righteous overmuch. They do not go to an extreme in their religion, as it is sometimes expressed. These fine characters might occasionally get some persecution, politically or otherwise; but even the enemies of such would have respect for them.
But the Apostle in our text limits persecution to "those who live godly in Christ Jesus." What is the difference between living godly and living godly in Christ Jesus? We answer that because of their special relationship to Christ Jesus, God's people have a special enlightenment. They see more clearly the principles of God's Justice. They have a more exacting rule by which their lives are governed. Others do not see these deeper things of the Divine Plan and the special arrangement God has made with the Church.
Those who are "in Christ Jesus" have an intelligent knowledge that they have entered into a Covenant of Sacrifice. They realize that they are not to compromise their religion in any way; they are not to compromise with sin, nor with the world. They must uphold the principles of righteousness, even to the detriment of their own earthly interests.
The godly not in Christ Jesus--those who have a measure of Godlikeness--may indulge in a great many things that would not be wrong for the world--not sinful, not immoral, not unkind. With the Christian, however, all of his time, talent, influence, money, are consecrated to the one service, according to what he understands to be the Lord's Word and the spirit of that Word. The worldly man who is righteous might feel perfectly free to give of his money for various causes and purposes, that would be reasonable and proper in themselves; while the Christian would ask himself, What is the Lord's will, the Lord's way?
THE CHRISTIAN STEWARD RESTRICTED
The Christian is restricted in his use of money; for he always considers as to how the Lord would have him use it. The Christian uses his money for the preaching of the Gospel and the publishing of it in various ways; while other people might use their money for large benefactions and endowment of colleges. The Christian would reason: There are many opportunities for people to get education along earthly lines, and I believe the Lord would have me as His child to use His money to help people get spiritual education.
Likewise in the use of his time; the natural man might say, We will have a certain evening for attending a good opera. We will not go to any disreputable place, but we will spend a certain amount each season on the opera. Or, we will be patrons of art and music and literature. We must adopt a course that will win the approval of society. That will be the wise thing to do. But the Christian says, My time, my money are consecrated to the Lord. I am His steward, I can use these in a better way. A worldly man may be a patron of art and spend a thousand dollars--or ten thousand dollars--on a single painting, because he wants art to flourish. Or he might buy a fine piece of sculpture to adorn his home, but this is not the course for me. I must consider the Lord's will for me as His servant.
The Christian has limitations which the worldly do not have. But we are glad for all good men and good women, who can be good and noble even though not in Christ Jesus. We are glad to esteem them. There are noble people in the world. There are some godly ones outside the Church, godly to a certain degree; and they are likely to come to see something of the Truth, if they are really noble characters. The godly of this world will get a blessing in the Restitution time. Every godly thing that they have done, every act of generosity, will get its reward. And by cultivating their higher sentiments, they will have fewer steps to retrace.
SPECIALLY GODLY ARE SPECIALLY PERSECUTED
The persecutions which come to the godly in Christ Jesus are special persecutions. We are not to expect much of this from the Body of Christ. A man is not expected to use his fist to strike his own eye, nor is it to be expected that one hand will injure the other hand. It may be that the skin on one hand is rough, and will sometimes scratch the other one. But we cannot be members of the same Body and persecute each other. Persecution is something that is intended and pursued, or followed up. Persecution is not merely one act or one word--it is a succession of unkind words and acts with a view to punishing some one for adhering to an opinion or course of conduct.
So persecution comes from a certain class called by Jesus the world. But the class that Jesus called the world are those who had a form of godliness, but did not have the power thereof. Christianity has its counterfeits, as has money. So the Apostle speaks of a class who would take the name of the Lord upon them and misuse that name. And there are people in the world today who do not know the difference between the genuine and the counterfeit--between Truth and error--and who do not want to know, and who keep out of the way of being told. They somehow know that there would come a certain measure of condemnation to themselves if they recognized the real facts and did not act in accordance with them.
They are not all bad people by any means. There are very many good people among the tares; but there is no real wheat among the tares--no real nutriment. But these tares pose as the Church of Christ; the tare systems pose as Christianity. And from this class usually come the persecutions. They try to crowd out the wheat, or to choke it and make it unfruitful. It was so in our Lord's day. Those to whom the Lord referred as persecutors were not the Gentile world of His day, but the worldly ones of the Jews--those who were not fully consecrated to the Lord, but who thought they were.
Nicodemus was a fine character, and Gamaliel was a fine character--and so were a great many who did not become Christ's disciples at all. Evidently many were seeking after righteousness; as, for instance, the young man who came to the Lord and asked Him, "Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" The Lord answered, "Thou knowest the commandments." The young man said, "Master, all these have I observed from my youth up." He was a noble character, and Jesus looking on him loved him, even though he was not a disciple. And Jesus said to him. "One thing thou lackest; go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven; and come, take up thy cross, and follow Me." But he went away sorrowful. He did not want to become a member in Christ Jesus. He did not want to give everything to the Lord. He was very rich--"had great possessions," and he preferred to hold on to his wealth.-- `Mark 10:17-22`.
There were others who went through many of the forms and ceremonies, and who kept the various admonitions of the Law, and its feasts and fasts; but they were not the "Israelites indeed in whom was no guile." And later they became the persecutors of Christ and those who walk in His steps of sacrifice.
PROFESSED CHRISTIANS PERSECUTORS
And so those who live godly in Christ Jesus have their persecutions, not so much from the worldly class as from professing Christians. There is a class in Churchianity today that has a great deal of pride and self-satisfaction. They are upholding a large institution. If anything seems to be inimical to that institution, they are wrathful and wish to persecute. Some say respecting those who proclaim Present Truth and who live saintly lives as followers of Jesus Christ: If we let these people alone and let them teach these things, all that we have been upholding for centuries will crumble. Did not Luther hand down Truth to us? Did not Calvin give the Church Truth? Have we not the teachings of Wesley? No, no; we will not have these "new doctrines"!
But we see that these people are persecuting the Truth and its representatives because of misunderstanding. We should have a great deal of sympathy and not feel specially angry with them. This does not mean that we should be glad of persecution--no persecution "for the present seemeth joyous, but grievous." (`Heb. 12:11`.) But if we know that we are suffering for righteousness' sake, then we know the Spirit of God rests upon us. It is those who know that they suffer for Christ's sake, and who take it gladly because it is the will of God, that may rejoice, because the persecution is working out in them blessed effects. Let us then
"Be still beneath His tender care,
For He will make the tempest cease;
And bring from out the anguish here,
The afterward of peace."
"THE LORD YOUR GOD DOTH PROVE YOU"
Why does God permit His people to suffer? Why does He not shield those who are His from suffering, just as a loving parent would shield a child? The Scriptures reply that it is because God is working out a great Plan that will eventually bring blessings to all who will do righteously; for God wishes to show the evil effects of sin, its deteriorating effects. God's purpose is that after the Six Days of Sin and Death are ended, in the Seventh Day there shall be a blessing for the whole groaning creation. "Jehovah God will wipe away tears from off all faces."--`Isa. 25:8`.
And there is a particular reason why God should permit persecution to come upon His consecrated ones. "The Lord your God doth prove you," test you. Why? What is He proving? We profess to be His loyal children. We profess to be laying down all that we have. And now "the Lord your God doth prove you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul."--`Deut. 8:2`; `13:3`.
How much will you endure? How patiently will you endure? To what extent will you endure? Those who will endure most, and endure most patiently, will give evidence of the best character. And those who demonstrate the best character will have the highest positions in the Kingdom. Each will get a position according to his faithfulness. But as star differeth from star in glory, so it will be in the Kingdom. He who fights the greatest fight against his own nature and demonstrates most the love and zeal of his heart, such is the one who will have a high place.
"How goes the fight with thee?
The lifelong battle with all evil things?
Thine no low strife, and thine no selfish aim;
It is the war of giants and of kings.
Heed not the throng of foes!
To fight 'gainst foes is still the Church's lot.
Side thou with God, and thou must win the day;
Woe to the man whom Satan fighteth not!"
THE SOLITARY WAY
Alas! How few may know the grace it takes
To tread the solitary way. Alone!
Ah, yes, alone! No other human heart
Can understand the nameless sorrows there--
The nights in weeping spent, and yet, when dawns
The day, to greet the world with radiant smile,
And scatter sunshine while you whisper low
To your poor heart, "Canst bear a little more?"
Alone! Poor heart, and dost thou question, Why?
Dost think it strange that thou must walk this way?
Ah, no! Thou dost but follow in His steps
Who went before, and of the people there
Was none with Him! Alone? Yet not alone--
Hath not thy blessed Lord and Master said,
"My presence shall go with thee"? Ah, my soul,
No longer, then a solitary way!
December 24, 1913 G. W. SEIBERT.
1913--REPORTS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONS--1913
BRITISH BRANCH REPORT
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--
Enclosed is a summarized report of the work of the British Branch for the year ending October 31, 1913. We are very glad to be able to report continued increase in almost every branch of the work--in the output of SCRIPTURE STUDIES and in the Volunteer matter, but specially in the distribution of literature to advertise public meetings in connection with Class Extension and other special work. The total output of STUDIES from London is 138,717 volumes, the local (British) sales being 111,630 volumes, an increase for the year of 27,418 volumes. The Volunteer matter has been well distributed during the whole of the year, and the demand still continues.
Altogether during the year we have dispatched 11,627,000 copies of the BIBLE STUDENTS' MONTHLY and EVERYBODY'S PAPER, a circulation approaching a million copies per month. This shows an increase over last year's figures of 4,250,000 copies. The Colporteurs have on the whole done better, and all have done very well. With improved methods of canvassing better results are gained; indeed, some of the latest additions to the Colporteur force are doing best of all. Two young brothers recently sold in one of the towns in the north of Scotland 330 books in one week. Certainly the work is easier in some places than in others, and Scotland has always been easier than England; but the growing interest aroused by the sermons, by the special meetings and the general unrest of our times has created a demand which makes the work of colporteuring less difficult. Even the opposition lends a hand to some extent; it helps to advertise the work.
Book-loaning has made considerable increase during the year; good work is reported both from the larger and the smaller centres. The visits of the Pilgrim brethren are still greatly appreciated by the classes, and opportunity for public witness is usually taken advantage of. Class Extension work has greatly extended during the past year and the results are very encouraging indeed.
In this small country, so thickly populated comparatively, it has been found advantageous to link the classes within prescribed areas, for the furtherance of the Harvest Work. Results so far are satisfactory and prospects good. Considerable encouragement has attended Evangelical work in certain centres where the population is particularly dense. Nearly three hundred meetings have been held, and quite a few study classes have been formed. In the scattered parts of Wales the Truth has been witnessed to, sometimes in the open air, in accordance with the custom of the country. There is no difficulty in securing a good audience amongst the Welsh people, but it seems that there are but few of the "wheat" class amongst them.
The loyalty of the brethren has been demonstrated, and their strength greatly taxed by the distribution of no less than 6,000,000 tracts to advertise public meetings during the year. The difference of late in the attitude of the masses in this country towards the Truth was clearly shown at the successful meetings held lately by yourself and Brother Rutherford. Naturally our enemies feel disturbed and, being impotent, wreak their spleen upon the Lord's messengers, especially yourself. However, no weapon formed against us has been allowed to prosper, and we are encouraged by the many evidences of the appreciation of the Message. We are looking forward to a strenuous campaign until the work given into our hands is finished, when we hope to share with our Lord, yourself, and all the saints in the privileged work of healing the nations. With much love in the Lord,
We are your servants in Him, BRITISH BRANCH.
SUMMARY OF OUTPUT OF SCRIPTURE STUDIES--YEAR ENDING OCTOBER 31, 1913:
1913 1912
Increase STUDIES,
all kinds.......... 138,717 106,097 32,620
(To Australia, out of above 27,087 21,885)
Total British local sales 111,630 84,212 27,418
Total increase................................ 32,620
Local " ................................ 27,418
OUTPUT BIBLE STUDENTS' MONTHLY AND OTHER TRACTS:
B.S.M......... 5,661,020
E.P........... 5,618,900
Tracts........ 297,000
Hz............ 50,295
11,627,215, or tract pages...185,365,600
Books (Manual, Manna, Poems, etc.)............. 3,248
Booklets (h, s, t, p, etc.).................... 19,817
Letters--out................................... 18,601
Letters--in.................................... 19,508
SWEDISH BRANCH REPORT
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--
It is once more my highly appreciated privilege to send you the usual Annual Report of this Branch of the wonderful Harvest work, and I hope that you, as the Great Chief Reaper's special representative, will be pleased with the results it shows--the results of our humble efforts to uphold the banner of our Redeemer and King--the results of our efforts to proclaim that joyful Message, now "meat in due season" for the "household of faith," and to "lay down our lives for the brethren," even as He laid down His life for us. Our constant prayer has been, and continually is, that we, by the Lord's grace, may be enabled to please Him in all our doings, so that at the end of our race-course (which we now believe to be very near), we may hear His blessed "Well done."
Although we most heartily wish (in order to prove our love to the Lord and our appreciation of the Truth given us) that we were in a position to report ten times as much work accomplished, and that all of that work had been much more perfectly executed, yet we cannot but give praise to God for the rich blessings granted us in so many ways.
Since Present Truth (as a result of your faithfulness and zeal) reached our shores, between fifteen and twenty years ago, the true Spiritual Israelites in this country have not experienced a more interesting and successful year than the one just closed. This is surely due in great measure to the fact that the Lord's people here have been appreciating more than ever the "fat things" spread upon His table by receiving the Swedish WATCH TOWER twice every month, the two encouraging and helpful sermons published in different Swedish newspapers every week, and the regular Swedish PEOPLE'S PULPIT, to say nothing of the six volumes of the STUDIES, the different pamphlets, etc. Notwithstanding the fact that during this year we have experienced some severe testings and trials in the work, in that some of our co-laborers seem to have grown faint and weary, it has in many respects considerably exceeded other years, as the appended figures show.
The spiritual condition of the Swedish brethren in general, as far as we are able to judge, is better than ever. The development of the fruits of the Spirit amongst the brethren everywhere in this land is very gratifying. We have had the pleasure of seeing the Harvest Message accepted with great joy by many humble and truth-hungry souls, some of whom are already engaged in the various branches of the work.
Forty dear brethren and sisters are giving either all or part of their time to the Colporteur work, and the prospects are encouraging for an increase in numbers.
The number of books sold is about equal to that of the preceding year. The free distribution of Volunteer matter has also been comparatively good. Of the nearly 700,000 "Eko fran talarstolen" (PEOPLE'S PULPIT) the largest part have been used in connection with the advertising of public meetings held in practically all parts of the country.
The list of subscribers to the Swedish WATCH TOWER has grown from 1,881 to 2,174, who have paid kronor 5,244 (one kronor equals about 27c) in subscriptions against kronor 2,995 the foregoing year. Yearly subscriptions to the Swedish newspapers which publish your sermons have been received through this office to the number of 1,919, and half-yearly subscriptions to the number of over 1,500.
The regular Pilgrim service, in which five Swedish brethren have taken part during the year, has been extended greatly. The friends appreciate these visits very much, and write us frequently to this effect. Besides this, more than 100 extra public meetings were held all over the land, many in places where we had never held meetings before.
About 3,500 copies of STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES were sold at these meetings, which had a total attendance of nearly 50,000 very attentive listeners. We also had two good General Conventions (the first in Orebro and the second in Stockholm), and a large number of well-attended and spiritually profitable local Conventions in different parts of Sweden.
The voluntary donations to the Tract Fund have increased by several thousand kronor. Seeing that all of the many donors have little of earthly possessions, this
sum (kronor 32,887) represents a great deal of self-denial and sacrifice for the Truth's sake. As the different branches of the work have grown from year to year, the office-work has increased correspondingly. Twelve noble brethren and sisters in Christ have given very faithful and unselfish service in the office during the year (and several of these for many years). I am often tempted to feel proud of their record.
The prospects for the New Year are brighter than ever in different lines, and we are firmly resolved to use every opportunity as faithfully and wisely as possible, realizing that the great Storm of Trouble is near at hand. Louder and louder peals the thunder, and darker grow the clouds.
As the harvesters in the fields of the land often find it necessary to withdraw, as the clouds become threatening and the winds blow, so the reapers in the Lord's Harvest field may by and by be compelled to cease active service. But as every tiller of the soil knows that just before a storm is an excellent time to sow certain kinds of seed, so those engaged in the service of the Truth are determined, by the Lord's grace, to use every opportunity to sow the precious grains of Truth during the remaining months, realizing that the crop of the future will be of enormous proportions.
Please find enclosed herewith a list containing thirty-one new names of those who have taken the Vow. We daily remember you, our beloved Pastor and brother, and "all saints," in our petitions to the Heavenly Throne, and are glad to know that you continue to remember us.
With much Christian love from the Bible House family of Orebro, and, indeed, from all the Swedish brethren, I am
Your co-laborer in the Harvest, AUG. LUNDBORG.
SUMMARY OF THE WORK.
Copies of STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES circulated
at cost...................................... 25,357
Vol. I., Magazine edition, sold at cost....... 15,104
Total......................................... 40,461
Various other books and booklets--MANNA,
TABERNACLE SHADOWS, etc...................... 18,465
Total......................................... 58,926
Eko fran talarstolen (PEOPLE'S PULPIT),
issued free.................................. 696,895
Other free tracts and copies of the Swedish
WATCH TOWER.................................. 86,704
Total......................................... 783,599
Amounting in tract pages to................... 14,591,320
Number of subscribers to the Swedish
WATCH TOWER.................................. 2,174
Number of sermons in newspapers............... 312,500
Bibles sold................................... 124
Number of meetings held under the auspices
of the Society............................... 1,576
Number of miles traveled in preaching tours... 102,903
Letters and cards sent out.................... 6,470
Letters and cards received.................... 5,485
Total shipments by mail and by railroad....... 59,637
EXPENDITURES.
Pilgrims, Conventions and
other meetings.................... kr.20,965.37 = $5,666.32
Translations, printing, binding,
paper, etc........................ " 30,283.78 = 8,184.81
Freight and postage................ " 3,712.56 = 1,003.39
Special services................... " 6,094.86 = 1,647.26
Office expenses, rent, light,
heat, etc......................... " 6,839.69 = 1,848.56
Total.............................. kr.67,896.26 =$18,350.34
RECEIPTS.
Voluntary donations to the
Tract Fund, 1,928................. kr.32,887.01 = $8,888.38
Swedish TOWER subscriptions........ " 5,244.92 = 1,417.54
Receipts from publications......... " 28,383.43 = 7,671.20
Total.............................. kr.66,515.36 =$17,977.12
Deficit received from
Brooklyn.......................... " 1,380.90 = 373.22
kr.67,896.26 =$18,350.34
DANISH BRANCH REPORT
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--
I have the pleasure to submit to you a report of some of the work done in connection with our efforts to spread the Harvest Message in Denmark. Ours is a small country, the laborers are not many, and the prejudice is great, yet the testimony has somewhat influenced quite a number, and a few honest souls, more awake to the signs of the times than the majority, have been reached, and are being garnered. We believe that the friends are growing in grace and knowledge, and we find that the public is now more willing to attend the public meetings.
Public lectures have been delivered in 45 different places--in some of these places several lectures, in a few regular lectures every month. The cards sent in, and the books sold at the meetings, show that some, at least, became somewhat interested through the lectures. Some of the work in connection with the public lectures has been done by brethren sent out by the Copenhagen class. Class meetings have been held by brethren doing Pilgrim work in all the places where the friends meet to study Present Truth. Now we have several brethren with good qualifications for Pilgrim work, and we hope to accomplish more during the remainder of the time before the Night comes.
More free literature has been distributed than formerly. We count it a great privilege to know the precious
Message, and to be able to do our little part in proclaiming it.
Your brother and fellow-servant in Christ,
CARL LUTTICHAU.--Copenhagen.
SUMMARY OF THE WORK.
Output of STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES.......... 3,122
Output of various booklets................... 3,343
Total........................................ 6,465
Tracts free.................................. 365,000
Letters and cards received................... 1,250
Letters, cards and parcels sent out.......... 2,148
Copies of the Danish WATCH TOWER sent out
monthly..................................... 909
AUSTRALASIAN BRANCH REPORT
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--
It is with great thankfulness to the Lord of the Harvest that we present herewith the annual report of Harvest work done in these lands. The report is far beyond what we had dared to hope for. If you will compare the figures with those of last year, you will see that they speak of a great increase of zeal and willingness to sacrifice both self and substance in the interest of bringing others to the same joy and peace and consolation which have come to our hearts. The friends have co-operated splendidly in the work and those who could not engage in much activity have helped some, and thus made it easier for others to do so.
There are about twenty-one Colporteurs in the field, and others are doing a little as they are able. All the ground has been gone over. Indeed, it seems to be getting near the time when the "man with the ink-horn" can report, "It is done." Yet the volumes have gone out this year as never before in Australia, notwithstanding the virulent opposition. It has seemed that just as soon as a spark of interest was aroused, the great Adversary had his messengers here ready to oppose and slander. Nevertheless, the number of interested ones keeps increasing. We have about 980 WATCH TOWER subscribers and, comparing the population of Australia and New Zealand with that of America, it is possible that the proportion of subscribers is not much, if any, below that of the United States.
For the first time in the history of this Branch we have gone through the year without increasing our indebtedness to Brooklyn, and we are sure that in the amount contributed to the Tract Fund, etc., there is represented much noble sacrifice and methodical planning.
The friends in the various States have again undertaken to write wrappers for the posting of the PEOPLE'S PULPIT to each house in the country, and in N.S.W., W.A., S.A., Queensland and Tasmania they have also undertaken to pay the postage. This might have been added to the Tract Fund contribution if we had particulars.
We believe that the Classes are growing in numbers as well as in interest and grace. We are realizing more and more that the day of our deliverance is not far distant, and this inspires us the more earnestly to seek to be ready for the great consummation of our hopes.
No doubt a visit here by you would do us all a great deal of good. We hope it may be the Lord's will for you to come.
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