The Watchtower, June 1, 1918

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Vol. XXXIX

BROOKLYN, N. Y., JUNE 1, 1918

No. 11

OUR PERFECT PATTERN

"Consider him that endured suoh contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin." — Hebrews 12:3,4.

Ye have

With increasing fury the storm is raging against the dear

flock of God. Wild and wilder grows the gale; high and

higher the waves are rising, beating against the walls of Zion.

If God's children, weak, timid and inoffensive as they are,

should look always at the storm, they would become faint in

mind. Hence we do well, in this strenuous hour, to call to

mind tluit Jesus is with his church in the storm. "Lo, I am

with you, . . . even unto the end of the «age." "Fear not,

little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you

the kingdom." God in his perfect wisdom foreknew the experiences

that would be the portion of those following Christ

Jesus, and out of the abundance of his riches he made provision

for their comfort and sustenance. Lest, then, we

should become wearied in our minds from suffering superinduced

by the storm or by the fiery chariot, let us come aside

for a while and consider" him who led the way through which

Christians must follow, Christians who will ultimately attain

to the place of glory, honor and immortality.

Because man violated God's fixed law, it was required of

him that he should suffer the penalty. "The wages of sin is

death." Man was perfect when he sinned. It was after the

judgment upon him and after his imperfection began that his

children were brought forth. Hence all his offspring were

"born in sin and shapen in iniquity." — Psalm 51:5; Genesis

3:20.

Satan was the moving cause of man's fall. Therefore we

should expect Satan and the forces of darkness under his

control to cause man to continue to suffer. It is also to be

expected that every effort to relieve man from sin, sorrow,

suffering and death would be opposed by this great archenemy

. When man was driven from Eden, God announced

that there would be enmity between Satan and his seed and

the seed of the woman. A subsequent part of God's Word

discloses that the seed of the woman is to he the channel

through which blessings will flow out to all mankind. The

preparation of this seed according to the promise has been

the great objective of God's plan for the past six thousand

years. The importance of this seed, the position to be occupied

and the work to be done, can be in pome measure approximated

in our minds when we remember that Jehovah,

the great Economist, has devoted so much time and treasure

to the development of the seed of promise.

WHO IS HE?

That we might properly appreciate the one who suffered

such a great contradiction of sinners, we call to mind that

the first and only direct creation of Jehovah, was the Logos.

By him all things were created that were thereafter made.

It was to him that God offered the great honor of redeeming

mankind, becoming the head of the creation*, and occupying

the position of greatest honor in the universe, next to Jehovah.

He was rich in heavenly glory and power, honor and dignity;

but he left the courts of heaven and became a man and met

all the requirements of the law and its penalty upon the

sinner, in order that he might redeem man from death and

ultimately bless him.

Concerning the Logos the Apostle writes: "Though he

was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through

his poverty might be rich/' (2 Corinthians 8:9) He took

upon him the form and nature of man, being born of a woman,

yet begotten by the power of Jehovah. He was made holy,

harmless, without flaw or blemish. When he reached the age

of thirty years, he was perfect as a man — perfect under the

law, perfect in organism and mind. He came to this estate in

order that he might carry out God's great plan for the redemption

and blessing of humankind. Of him the Apostle

says: "We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the

angels, for the suffering oi death, crowned with glory and

hlonor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for

every man. For it became him, for whom are all things and by

whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to

make the captain of their salvation perfect through Bufferings

." — Hebrews 2:9, 10.

CONSECRATION BEINGS SUFFERING

When Jesus reached the age of thirty years as a man, we

find him at the Jordan consecrating himself to do his Father's

will. Here he said: "Lo, I come (in the volume of the book

it is written of me) to do thy will, God." (Hebrews 10:7)

God's will was expressed in his law. It was the will of God

that mankind should be redeemed by a perfect human life

given as a ransom for the perfect human life of Adam, forfeited

by disobedience. The ransomer must take the place

of the sinner. He must suffer and die as a sinner.

Satan had caused the suffering and death by his wrongful

course. Immediately after the consecration of Jesus he went

into. the wilderness, and there we find Satan tempting him.

Jesus had come to do a good work, the best work for mankind;

and Satan was there to resist him in that work. The sufferings

of Jesus began at that time, and continued until upon

the cross at Calvary he cried: "It is finished!"

During the three and one-half years of his earthly ministry

Jesu3 taught concerning his coming kingdom which would

bring blessings to all that would accept it. Jesus did injury

to no one. He did only good. He gave the most wonderful

demonstration of love ever manifested before men or angels.

The Jewish nation was under a covenant with God, who

had provided amongst them a priestly class. Satan had

overreached this class. They had become selfish and had

formed themselves into a company separate and distinct from

the common people. They were the clergy of that day. Satan

used them to persecute our Lord. Instead of being used as

instruments in God's hand to carry out his purposes, they

became instruments of persecution, causing the sufferings of

the Master. Jesus was born a Jew under the law. He came

to his own people and they received him not. "He was despised

and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted

with grief.'* The leaders of the people, the Pharisaical elemenfr

—the clergy of tliat time — in substance said: "We do

not want this man; we w T ill have nothing to do with him.

His pious attitude is a stench in our nostrils."

Jesus did not seek honor, at the hands of men; but, on

the contrary, as it is written of him, "He made himself of no

reputation." At the expense of his vitality he went about

healing the sick, opening the eyes of the blind, teaching those

who were teachable and doing good unto all as he had op-

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portunity. Instead of being received and well-treated by the

leaders of the people, he was denounced as a vile person, as

a sinner, as a blasphemer of God's holy name. He was haled

before the civil authorities and charged with sedition. False

witnesses were produced against him, and he was unjustly

convi-oted as a traitor. He died the most cruel and ignominious

death, being hanged on a tree. From man's standpoint

he was accursed Doth of God and of men. He died as a

Slimen T77HY FEBSEOTTTED

Why should leading men of the Jewish nation seek the

life of Jesus? Why should they induce the rulers to put him

to death, since he was guilty of no wrong? The Apostle Peter,

after his mind was illuminated, answers: "I know, brethren,

that it was in ignorance you did it, as was the case with your

rulers also." (Acts 3:17) Jesus was teaching the people

that life and blessings can come to mankind only through

his kingdom. He had taught them, saying, "When ye pray,

say, Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is

done in heaven." The people did not understand him. They

could not understand him. They regarded him as an enemy

of the government and as a blasphemer of God's name. Hence

they caused him to die.

But why would God permit this? The Scriptures answer

in substance that it was necessary for our Lord to suffer and

die in order to become the Redeemer of mankind. It was

necessary for him to pass through trying eircumistajices, fiery

trials and sufferings, that he mignt be perfected as a new

creature on the divine plane. He must have certain experiences

in order to sympathize with the weaknesses of humankind

. "Wherefore, in all things it behooved him to be made

like unto hi3 brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful

high priest in things pertaining to God, to make satisfaction

for the sins of the people j for in that he himself hath

suffered, being tempted, he is able to succor them that are

tempted," — Hebrews 2:17, 18.

From the time of Jesus* fasting in the wilderness immediately

following his consecration, he knew that he must

suffer and die. But the suffering and death did not deter

him at all in his course; for he was carrying out his father's

plan. He had the Father's promise that, if faithful to his consecration

vow, he should ultimately possess the divine nature

and be the head of the new creation; that he would be the

Redeemer of mankind; that he would have with him his bride

in due time; and that he would have the full satisfaction of

carrying out the Father's will. All this was joy to him.

Hence the Apostle said: "For the joy that was set before

him, [he] endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set

down at the right hand of, the throne of God." (Hebrews

12:2) By willingly passing through the fiery trials aad

sufferings, he showed a complete humility, a faith .sublime,

and perfect love. As a reward for this, Jehovah has granted

him the highest position in the universe, God excepted.

HIS BODY MEMBERS

Before the foundation of the world it was a part of Jehovah

's plan that the Lord Jesus should have associated

with him 144,000 glorious creatures, and that these should

be selected from amongst men, participating in the first resurrection

and and sitting with Christ Jesus upon his throne,

It follows, then, that the ones composing the members of his

body should participate in his suffering. Concerning this,

the Apostle says: "For even hereunto were ye called: because

Christ also suffered for ug, leaving us an example, that

ye should follow his steps." (1 Peter 2:21) Thus in him

we have a perfect pattern, and it becomes our privilege to

follow this pattern.

At Pentecost the selection of the body members began ^

and it has progressed, according to the "perfect wisdom of

Jehovah, through a period of more than eighteen centuries.

In the Scriptures this elect class is designated under many

titles, namely, the body of Christ, the bride, the royal priesthood

, the seed according to the promise, etc. As Satan resisted

and persecuted Jesus, so he has resisted and persecuted,

through his various instrumentalities, the members of the

body of Christ. Often he has U9ed as his instruments misguided

men who had good intentions, who thought they were

doing God service. Amongst these was Saul of Tarsus, who

stood by at the stoning of St. Stephen and approved his death.

Here again we find the' various sects stirring up the people

and bringing the charge of sedition and blasphemy against

Stephen. They produced witnesses who were hired to swear

against him, who testified that he spoke blasphemous words

against the holy place and the law, saying, "This Jesus of

Nazareth shall destroy this place, and. shall change the customs

which Moses delivered to us." (Acts 6:9-14) St.

Stephen was the first martyr to follow Jesus.

SUFFERINGS OF ST. PAUL

Subsequently Saul of Tarsus came to a knowledge of the

truth and made a full consecration to do God's will. He saw

that he had wrongfully persecuted other Christians. Before

St. Paul was permitted to enter upon his ministry as a servant

of the Lord, God -sent Ananias to minister unto him, and

spoke concerning Paul, saying, "He is a chosen vessel unto

me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the

children of Israel \ for I will show him how great things he

must suffer for my name's sake." — Acts 9:15, 16.

Thus we see that the Lord has made it absolutely essential

that all who are privileged to be with Christ Jesus

in his kingdom of glory must suffer with him. The subsequent

experiences of St, Paul show how fully helmet these requirements

. Speaking of his own sufferings, the Apostle

says: "Oi the Jews five times received I forty stripes save

one ; thrice was I beaten with rods ; once was I stoned ;

thrice I suffered shipwreck; a night and a day 1 have been in

the deep; in joumeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils

of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the

heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in

perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness

and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in

fastings often, in cold and nakedness/"'— 2 Cor. 11:24-27.

Following the U3uai course, the Apostle, because of his

faithfulness in declaring the message of Messiah's kingdom,

the resurrection of the dead and the blessings that will flow

eo mankind during the reign of Christ, was called in question.

Like the Lord and Master, his purpose was misunderstood.

He was charged with sedition and with stirring up the people

; and the clergy element of the Jews sought to kill him

and incited others to do likewise. But the Lord preserved

him and made him a great witness to God's cause, and his

testimony has lighted the world for centuries and has been

a beacon light to guide Christians on to the full consummation

of their hopes.

Doubtless St. Paul often considered how Jesus, the perfect

one, had patiently endured such contradiction of sinners

against himself; and doubtless, considering, it had brought

him great strength of faith and confidence, which sustained

him in the hours of suffering. As a new creature, he appreciated

that his treasure was in an earthen vessel, which

mu&t perish before he could receive the glorious body. In that

earthen vessel he suffered; yet he rejoiced in his suffering.

We hear him say; '*We are troubled on every side, yet not

distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted,

but not forsaken ; cast down, but not destroyed ; always

bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that

the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus'

sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in

our mortal flesh/* — 2 Corinthians 4:8-11.

CHBISTIAK'S COURSE OEBTAIN

The true Christian is one who follows in the footsteps

of his Master. Every one, then, who has made a full consecration

and appreciates it, realizes that his course in the present

life is not one of ease and comfort to the flesh. It is not

one that brings honors and plaudits of men. On the contrary,

he is certain to receive the disapproval of men, particularly

those in the ecclesiastical class who worship God in name only,

and who possess the spirit of the world. Throughout the

entire Gospel age there have been many who have claimed

to follow Christ, yet who have been wolves in sheep's clothing,

and who have preyed upon the members of the flock.

The unalterable course of the Christian is marked out by

Jehovah; and this course is not one of ease. All who enter

the narrow way must understand that they leave behind their

earthly hopes and prospects. Concerning this, Jehovah said*:

"Hearken, daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear;

forget also thine own people, and thy father's h«~use; so shall

the King greatly desire thy beauty ." (Psalm 45:10, 11) Thus

clearly is shown that one cannot serve the Lord in faithfulness

and declare the message of hi3 kingdom and at the same

time receive the approval or plaudits of mankind. Jesus

made this plain: "The disciple is not above his master, nor

the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that

he be as his master, and the servant as hi3 lord. If they have

called the master of the house Beelzebub, how mueh more

shall they call them of his household? Behold, I send you

forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise

as serpents, and harmless as doves." — Matthew 10:10, 24, 25.

THE "FEB¥» XEXBXSRS OP CHUBT

It becomes the duty of every footstep follower of Jesus to

declare the message of his kingdom. (Isaiah 61:1-3) A

failure or refusal to make known this message of the kingdom

would prove disloyalty to the Lord and unworthiness to be

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called his disciples. The world in general cannot understand

such a course of the Christian; for the* message of glad tidings

concerning the kingdom is hid from them. The reason

for it is -given by the Apostle, who says: "The god of this

world [Satan] hath blinded the miinds of them which believe

not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is

the image of God, should shine unto them." (2 0orinthian3

4:4) Again he says: "The natural man receiveth not the

things of the spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him;

neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned

." — 1 Corinthians 2:14.

Thus we see that the great adversary blinds the minds

of men who understand not Che purposes of God, and leads

them to believe that Christians are their enemies; and that

any one who faithfully proclaims the message of Messiah's

kingdom is a dangerous person. It has ever been thus; and

Jehovah has availed himself of this condition to permit the

followers of Jesus to suffer fiery experiences in order to develop

the beautiful character which alone will be pleasing

to him in his kingdom. All these fiery trials are trials of

the faith of the Christian. The Apostle Peter likens this

trial unto gold being refined by fire. Clay is not put in the

crucible for the purpose of making jewels; but the heat of

the crucible is used to refine the gold. Hence, "the trial of

your faith, being much more precious than that of gold which

perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto

praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

—1 Peter 1:7.

The Christian whose faith is made strong by a knowledge

of the precious promises of God's .Word and by a confident

reliance upon them, can understand why he is misunderstood

and persecuted by the world; and so understanding it he

maintains a feeling of compassion and pity for his persecutors

. As Jesus says: "If the world hate you, ye know

that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the

world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the

world hateth you." — .John 15:18, 19.

Jehovah made it clear that the seed of Satan would bruise

the "heel" of the seed of promise. (Genesis 3:15) The Scriptures

point out that the last members of the body of Christ

on earth would be the feet members. Having in mind the

figure of a human body entering the kingdom, we perceive

that the heel would be the very last member passing over.

Then we should have reason to expect some special persecution

of Christians in the end of the age and some sufferings peculiar

to that time. It would not be at all strange to find

many of these accused of sedition, of stirring up the people

and being against the government. If the adversary used

this means to blind the people concerning Jesus and concerning

St. Stephen and St. Paul, it is entirely reasonable to conclude

that similar methods would be used against the last

members of the body.

CHRISTIANS MISUNDERSTOOD

The Harvest period of the Gospel age began particularly

in 1878. Since then, the Lord's people have been gathered

out from every denomination in the land and from the world

and, fully consecrating themselves to follow in the Master's

footsteps, have been striving thus to do. Calmly, yet boldly

and fearlessly, they have declared the message of Messiah's

kingdom. They have sincerely prayed the prayer that Jesus

taught them: "Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on

earth as it is done in heaven," Tt is manifest that with the

coming of Messiah's kingdom the present order of thing3

must pass away. Therefore those who declare this message

;iro misunderstood. The Scriptures indicate that they would

be considered as being against war, because of their faithfulness

to the Lord. — Jeremiah 38:4.

If the Lord was misunderstood, if . the apostles were misunderstood

, why should we not expect the last members on

earth to he misunderstood? At a time when there is "distress

of nations, men's hearts failing them for fear and for looking

lifter the things coming upon the world," it would be expected

that Christians would be misunderstood. And thus it is.

Jesus was asked" what would be an evidence of the end of the

world and of his presence and of the establishment of his

kingdom. Amongst other answers, he said, "Nation shall rise

in arms against nation, kingdom against kingdom; and there

shall be famines and pestilences and earthquakes [literal and

symbolic] in various places. At that time they will deliver

you up to punishment and will put some of you to death;

and you will be objects of hatred of all the nations because

you are called by my name. Then will many stumble and

fall; and they will betray one another and hate one another.

Many false preachers will rise np and lead multitudes astray;

and because of the prevalent disregard of God's law, the love

of the greaL majority will grow cold. But those who stand

firm to the end shall be saved. And this good news of the

kingdom [kingdom news] shall be proclaimed throughout the

whole world to set an evidence before the Gentiles [the peoples

of earth, all of which are represents in America] ; and then

the end will come."

There is no nation, no sect, no ecclesiastical organization

on the earth today, that loves the faithful follower of Jesus.

Hence we have a clear fulfillment of the Lord's prophecy.

Satan's kingdom is falling. The demons are loose, and the

forces of evil are arrayed in the final conflict against the last

members of the Christ on earth. Jesus plainly stated that

Babylon would become the habitation of demons and that

from these agencies the persecution would come.

"The kingdom of heaven is at hand." Never were these

words so true before. Those who enter the kingdom henceforth

must enter shortly. Shall we expect tribulation now?

"We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of

God." {Acts 14:22) Are you among those who have been

experiencing special trials and tribulations in recent days?

Have you witnessed the fulfillment of the prophetic statement

of God* 3 Word relating to the closing of the age? What,

then, should be our attitude? Jesus answered: "When these

things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your

heads; for your redemption [deliverance] draweth nigh."

(Luke 21:28) Shall we fear what man can do unto us?

Jesus answers: "Fear not them which kill the body, but are

not able to kill the soul [the new creature]. . . . Are not

two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not

fall on the ground without your Father, But the very hairs

of your heads are all numbered. Fear ye not tnerefore; ye

are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore

shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before

my Father which is in heaven." — Matthew 10:26-33.

The Psalmist in beautiful poetic phrase refers to the time

of stress upon the Christians in the close of their earthly

career. He describes them as praying unto God when they

are about to be overflowed by the great floods of the peoples,

and that by faith they can hear, wafted back from the angels

of heaven, the sweet songs of deliverance. "For this shall

every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou

mayest be found; surely in the floods of great waters they

shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my hiding place;

thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me

about with songs of deliverance." — Psalm 32:6, 7.

THE CHRISTIAN'S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE WORLD

What, then, should be the attitude of the Christian toward

those who engage in persecuting him? Shall the Christian

bo resentful? It is written concerning Jesus, "When he was

reviled, he reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened

not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously."

(1 Peter 2:23) The servant must be like unto his Master.

(Romans 8:29) The world is blind to God's purposes. The

dark night is settling down. There is stress amongst the

peoples. But, thanks be to God! ere long the Sun of Righteousness

will arise with healing in its beams, dispelling this

darkness; and then, gradually, the peoples will understand.

Let us remember that the end of all things hath approached

, 'ihcrefore let us be of sober mind and watch and

pray, looking to the time of our full deliverance into the

glorious light of the kingdom of our God. If we are subjected

to fiery trials and sufferings, what, then, should be

our attitude? The Apostle answers: "Our light affliction,

which is but a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding

and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things

which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for

the things w T hich are seen are temporal, but the things w T hich

jire not seen are eternal." — 2 Corinthians 4:17, 18.

GLORIES ETERNAL

The glories that await the faithful cannot be described by

human tongue or pen. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,

neither hath entered into the heart of man the things which

God hath prepared for them that love him." ( 1 Corinthians

2:9) "It doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know

that when he shall appear we shall be like him; for we shall

see him as he is." (1 John 3:2) "God hath appointed him

heir of all things." (Hebrews 1:2), and hath provided that

the members of his body be heirs of God and joint-heirs with

Christ Jesus, "if so be that we* suffer with him, that we may

be also glorified together. 'VKomans 8:17.

By the eye of faith, then, we contemplate the glories of

the kingdom; and this we can do in a measure only by comparison

. We ascend into the mountain top at the dawn of

morning and gaze upon the broad expanse below. We mark

the broad meadows, the green trees, the placid waters of the

rivers, flowing on through their winding course to the great

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ocean. We mark the blooming flowers, sprinkled with dewdrops

which lighted by the morning sun, sparkle like diamond*

in the crown of a queen. We listen to the sweet song-birds,

and all' nature seems to join in to praise the great Creator,

And we exclaim, How glorious! How beautiful! And yet

this does not begin to approximate the glory and beauty of

the kingdom.

Silently we meditate upon God's Word as we stand upon

the brink of the mighty ocean. We see its waves tossing the

ship like a cockleshell; and we marvel at the power thus

manifested. And yet this does not begin to approximate the

power of the Lord in his wonderful kingdom shortly to be

established.

At night we gaze into the starlit heaven above. We behold

the innumerable planets moving silently through space;

ami we exclaim, in the language of the Psalmist, "The heavens

declare the glory of God, and the firmament sboweth his

handiwork \ i} We mark the diversified wisdom of Jehovah;

and then we remember that his wisdom is here expressed in

a small degree compared to what it will be when made manifest

to member a of the kingdom. We have in mind that those

thus glorified with the King shall dwell eternally in the

house of the Lord to behold the beauty of Jehovah and to

inquire in his temple.

EXHORTATION TO HOLD FAST

We remember some of the promises of God concerning the

beauty of those who shall compose the kingdom class. We

are told that these shall shine forth a3 the brightness of the

sun in the firmament. For the encouragement of God's people

while they are passing through the valley of the shadow

of death, Jehovah holds before them the exceeding great and

precious promises. Among these is recorded: "All nations

shall see thy righteousness and all the kings thy glory; and

men shall call thee by a new name which the mouth of the

Lord shall pronounce. And thou shalt be a crown of ornament

in the hand of the Lord and a royal diadem in the hand

of thy God." (Isaiah G2:2, 3. — Leeser ) Now misunderstood,

debpi^ed of all nations and looked upon with scorn; but when

the kingdom of Messiah is established, all the peoples and

nations of the earth will know that this one and that one

was born in Zion. Thus has God promised when the record

shall be written up. (Psalm 87:5) Now they are known

by a name that is a by-word; then to be called by a new

name which the mouth of God shall pronounce.

The Christ, head and body members, when complete, will

be the crowning feature of God's creation thus far made manifest

. The prophet describes them as a crown and a diadem

in the hand of God. The crown represents authority; the

diadem, to which the crown is fastened, pictures regal or

kingly authority. Thus it is represented symbolically that

the faithful ones shall be kings and priests unto God and

unto Christ and reign with him; and that God will exhibit to

all creatures in the ages to come this monument of his grace.

Having in mind the glories and beauties of the kingdom,

we can with the Apostle exclaim, "I rejoice to fill up that

which is behind of the sufferings of Christ for his body's

sake, which is the church." (Colossians 1:24) Be of good

courage, then, dear brethren. Be not dismayed. May we not

now truly say with the Apostle, "I have fought the good fight,

I have kept the faith" ? And if so, if our work here is finished

and. we have proven faithful, we may know that in a little

while we shall see God face to face, behold his glory and

beauty and rejoice with exultant joy,

"Come all ye saints to Pisgah J s mountains,

Come view our home beyond the tide;

Millennial Canaan is before us,

Soon we'll sing on the other side,

Oh, there see the white throne of glory,

And crowns which the saints then shall gain!

And all who shall love Christ's appearing,

Shall be bless'd by his glorious reign."

RENDERING GOOD WITHOUT OFFENSE

''Ye may he the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good; and

sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." — Matthew 5:45.

It is one of the blessed privileges of the real children of

God to be always free to do good. The children of the divine

Father are led by the spirit of divine love. (Romans 8:14)

They enjoy that liberty of the sons of God at present denied

to a world lying in the evil one, but into which in due time —

shortly we believe the whole world will be. inducted. As aa-ya

the Word: "The earnest expectation [the good things earnestly

desired] of creation [of all created beings] waiteth for

the manifestation [in glory and in power to bless] of the sons

of God [the divinely begotten children of the God of love] .

Because creation itself also [as well as the children] shall be

delivered from the bondage of corruption [of death and of

evil conditions, ideas, thoughts and feelings] into the glorious

liberty of the children of God." — Romans 8:19, 21.

LIBERTY WHEREWITH C HEIST MAKES FREE

Laws are for the restraint oi beings in bondage to hatred,

en\y y covetousness, wrath, lasciviousness, selfish ambition and

other fruitage of fallen flesh. (Galatians 5:19-21) . But if

any 'be led by the spirit, they are not under the law,' and

their character-fruitage will be "love, joy, peace long-suffering,

gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control.'* Against

the children of God, animated by such a spirit there is and

can be no law. (Galatians 5:22, 23) "For he that in these

things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of

men." (Romans 14:18) If good men do not approve of Jehovah

's children it is because they do not understand them,

or because they regard over- much the inevitable errors which

may be sequels to the best of intentions — tr For that [evil]

which I do I allow not; but what I hate, that do I. It i3 no

more I that do it, but sin [imperfection — the fallen conditio*]

that dwelleth in me. For in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth

no good thing; for to will [to do perfectly] is present

with me; but bow to perform that which is good, I find not.

I delight in the law of God [the royal law of love] after the

inner man [the new mind] ; but I see another law in my

[imperfect fleshly] members, warring against the law of my

[new] mind, and bringing me [who purpose and try to do the

very best] into captivity to the law of sin which is in my

members." (Romans 7:15-23) So when God's children, among

whom was the great Apostle Paul, try their very best, they

necessarily do and say many things in ways unpleasing to

even the best of men, and not approved by them.

Not only is the flesh fallen, but the brain and mind are

imperfect. How poor are our memories! How faultily we

[6267]

grasp and understand things said and done! How deficient

all are in so acting and speaking as fully to measure up to

even customary conditions. Then when conditions change,

how slow are our minds in seeing the change and in understanding

its significance. But with conditions changing from

day to day how important that all should know about the

changes, so as to be prepared to think and act appropriately.

As a rule, when good-minded people come to understand

the real good intention and effort back of imperfect actions,

they make the proper allowance, and approve those who are

trying to do good. The new creature in Christ Jesus, being

absolutely well-intentioned in everything, is subject to none

of the laws directed at the ill-intentioned. Being full of the

divine spirit of love he has a true Christian love for everyone

and tries to lay down even his life for his fellow sons of God,

and as, he can, for all men. "A3 we have opportunity, let us

do good unto all, especially unto them who are of the household

of faith." — Galatians 6:10.

The true Christian has liberty to do anything that can be

done in the spirit of Christian love. His compass ever points

to the star of divine love. The loving Master said to his

disciples: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye

love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one

another." (John 13:34) So the "faithful Christian always

tries to avoid doing evil, and to do only that which is good.

However much his course may seem to alter in direction,

divine love is and remains his lode-star. He may, under

varying natural conditions, in matters not of principle, do

one thing today and the direct opposite tomorrow. He may

appear inconsistent in Ms acts, but to God his heart is always

consistent. As to principle a Christian is faithful,

but in the application of a principle to given cases, the resultant

action may vary as widely as the conditions and circumstances

of the cases,

ESSENTIALS, UNITY—NON-ESSENTIALS, CHARITY

There are certain principles, such as the "ransom for all/'

which are forever vital, but certain subordinate principles

may from time to time, with changed conditions, new information

, or a new viewpoint be clearly seen to be not necessarily

vital. It was vital for a Hebrew to keep himself Levitically

undefiled, but after Pentecost this was no longer a vital

principle; it was vital that no one but a priest eat the "shewbread

" ; but "David when he was an hungered, entered into

the house of the Lord and did eat the shewbread, which was

(168-169)

THE WATCH TOWER

Brooklyn, N. Y.

not lawful for him to eat, but only for the priests." (Matthew

12:3, 4} It is vital, according to Paul, for brothers in Christ

to "avoid contentions" (Titus 3:0); but "Paul thought not

good to take him [John Mark] with them, who departed from

them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

And the contention was so sharp between them, that they

[Barnabas and Paul, who had 'lived in all good conscience

before God' — Acts 23:1] departed asunder one from the other."

—Acts 15:38, 39.

In apostolic times some Christians made it a matter of

principle to "observe the days, months, times and years"

(Galatians 4:10) of the Hebrew ritual; others did not. "One

-believed that he might eat all things; another who was weak

[in the faith] eateth herbs." (Romans 14:2) "And," says

Paul, "he that doubteth is damned [judged] if he eat, because

he eateth not of faith [with confidence that it is

proper] ; for whatsoever is not of faith, is sin." (Romans

14:23) In modern times one Christian can eat pork, another

can not; one can observe Sunday, another Saturday, and

still another can keep all days holy to God; one can engage

in temperance work, another cannot; one can own an automobile

, another cannot. At one time a Christian feels unable

to do certain things; later, with additional knowledge or

thought, he can do them with a good conscience.

A Christian might not have been able conscientiously to

engage in the military activities of a country offering only

combatant service; later, when the opportunity is enlarged.

bo that he may choose some good work such as the hospital

or amouiance service, he may with a free conscience take

such service. A Christian to whom may have been presented

the perverted viewpoint that the Red Gross work is only the

aiding of that killing which is against his conscience, cannot

help the Red Cross; then he gains the broader viewpoint that

the Red Cross is the embodiment of helping the helpless, and

he finds himself able and willing to help the Red Gross according

to ability and opportunity. A Christian, unwiumg

to kill, may have been conscientiously unable to buy government

bonds ; later he considers what great blessings he has received

under his government, and realizes tnat the nation is

in trouble and facing dangers to its liberty, and he feels himself

conscientiously able to lend some money to the country,

just as he would lend to a friend in distress.

The Christian with the broadest mind is the one who is

best informed Scripturally. That Christian who is able to

see from but one viewpoint is in danger of being what St.

Paul calls "weak," in the sense that his inability to see all

around a question limits his sphere of action. Narrowmindedness

invites troubles and persecutions for causes not

even indirectly connected with true Christianity. Such trouble

may usually well be avoided, and should be avoided m order

that such trials or persecutions which are our portion may

come upon the clear-cut issue of faithfulness in the consecrated

life and not for other causes. The true footstep follower

of Christ will have enough to suffer as a Christian.

He will do his best to study all sides of every question and

remove from himself causes for offense, other than his truly

Christian and religious beliefs and principles which are vital,

"If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are

ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you; on

their part he [Christ in you] is evil spoken of, but on your

part [in you as a new creature] he is glorified; but let none

of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil doer,

or as a busybody in other men's affairs. Yet if any man suffer

as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify

God on this behalf."— 1 Peter 4:14-16.

FAITH

[This poem was a reprint of that which appeared in issue of June 15, 1917, which please see.]

PRAYING TO GOD

[Paragraphs 1, 2 and 23 of this article, as it originally appeared in issue of June 1, 1918, were reprinted from article entitled

, "Lord Teach Us to Pray," published in issue of July 1, 1906, which please sec]

July 21.— Luke 11:1-13; Psa. 145:18, 19.

who are privileged to pray how we may "pray without ceasing" — a model prayer, — its ascriptions of praise— expressions

of confidence in god's promised kingdom — acknowledgment of oub dependence upon 3iim — confidence in

his power to protect us and finally to deliver us — pbopkb attitude toward the expediences of liff — purpose

of prayer — request for the holy spirit the essence of our petitions.

"Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may

find grace to help in time of need." — Hebrews 4:16.

The advanced Christian should be so fully in accord with tions respecting times, seasons, dress, etc., to be observed by

the Father, the Son and the divine program that his entire

life will be a prayer and a song of praise. He will have in

his mind primarily the thought, 'What is God's will in this

matter?' The heart that is thus ever looking for divine direction

in all of life's affairs is thus continuously in an attitude

of prayer; and no other condition is proper to the

Christian.— Prov. 3:6; Psalm 37:4.

WHO IS PRIVILEGED TO SAY, "OUB FATHER'''

Only those who have become children of God by forsaking

sin and laying hold upon Christ as their Savior are accorded

the privilege of approaching the throne of grace to obtain

mercy and to find grace sufficient for their time of need. Only

those who are accepted in the Beloved are privileged to call

Jehovah God by the endearing name, "Our Father who art in

heaven." The attempt thus to approach God implies (1)

faith in him; (2) realization of dependence upon him; (3)

faith that a way of reconciliation with him has been effected

through our Redeemer; (4) realization that God no longer

condemns the suppliant, but accepts him as a son. Moreover,

it implies that the suppliant recognizes the fact that there

are other sons of God who, like himself, have fled from sin

and been adopted into God's family; for tne petition begins,

"our Father," not "my Father."

Therefore whoever thus addresses God must have concern

for all the interests of the family of God. Whatever selfishness

he might formerly have had he must divest himself of

when he comes to the" Father, and must realize himself as

merely one of the favored class of sons thus privileged. It

is in harmony with this thought that all of the Lord's consecrated

people have special pleasure when permitted to approach

the throne of grace together, whether but two or three

or in larger numbers.

The more clearly we recognize that tiK privilege of prayer

is an exclusive one, the more we shall be inclined to use it

in a most reverent manner. The kings of earth make regulathose

who wish to enter their presence; and all who have a

proper appreciation of the majesty of the King Eternal, the

only true God, will approach in a worshipful, reverent spirit,

implied in the expression: <f Hallowed be thy name." Our

holy God is to be revered. His sacred name stands for everything

that i3 just, wise and loving.

THE KINGDOM FOK WHICH WE PEAT

In the older manuscripts the words, "Thy will be done, as

in heaven so in earth," are not found in Luke's Gospel, but in

Matthew's. They are therefore properly to be considered a

part of the petition. Be it noted, however, that while this

petition as it stands is appropriate enough as a prayer, it

evidently was not our Lord's intention that "these words should

continually be used as the only petition at the throne of grace,

but rather he gave it as a sample. The various items of this

prayer should therefore be to the Lord's people a suggestion

of the general character of their petitions, and not understood

as binding their terms, their expressions, their words.

The thoughts of true disciples are directed to the fact

that the present condition of sin and death is not to be everlasting

; that God has provided for a glorious kingdom through

his Son and the church, his bride, under which all evil will be

conquered and brought under complete subjugation to righteousness

. Those in proper heart relationship to the Lord

must recognize thi3 fact, and be so separated from the spirit

of this world that they will long for the installation of the

reign of righteousness, even though they know T that this will

imply the overthrow of the present order. Their hearts are

so in accord with the Lord that they are out of accord with

every form, institution and vine not of the Father's righthand

planting. (Isaiah 60:21) Longing for the Kingdom

that will bless the world, they also long for the promised

privilege of being joint-heirs with their Redeemer as members

of that kingdom class which shall bless the world and

uplift mankind out of sin and death.

[6268]

Juws 1, 1918

THE \VA TCH TO WER

U70-17H

PROVISION FOE ALL OUR NECESSITIES

The next petition is for our needful bread. There is no

attempt here to supplicate delicacies, but merely an expression

of trust in the Lord and of confidence that he will provide

, in harmony with his promise that our bread and our

water shall be sure. (Isaiah 33:1(5) Indeed, when we remember

our Master's words, that the heathen have in mind

what they shall eat, drink and wear, but that the heavenly

Father knows what things we have need of (Matthew 6:31-

33), we perceive that to the spirit-begotten and developed

Christian these words respecting daily bread imply more

particularly the spiritual food than the earthly food. Provision

for all our necessities, both temporal and spiritual, according

to divine wisdom, is briefly summed up in this petition

To suppose that the Master is merely referring to the natural

food w T ould imply that the petitioners were merely natural

men; whereas we have seen that the prayer was taught

only to those who were about to become new creatures in

Christ by a covenant to walk in his steps in the narrow way.

Therefore it must be understood that it is the new creature

who is offering the .petition; ar.d this w T ill imply that it is the

nourishment of the new creature winch is here chiefly under

consideration, with whatever provision for temporal necessities

the heavenly Father may see best. This is distinctly

brought to our attention in Luke 11:13, wherein the heavenly

Father is represented as dispensing the holy Spirit, the spiritual

blessings and experiences which develop in his children

his own spirit, the spirit of the truth, the spirit of the Lord.

GOD'S MEEOT PROPORTIONATE TO OURS

"Forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone that is

indebted to us." The sins here referred to, or a-s in Matthew

"debts," are in no way related to original sin, which we are

not to pray to havo forgiven, but which the heavenly Father

has already made provision to forgive unconditionally to

those who accept Christ. Original sin is not forgivable, as

that word is generally used. But God in his mercy provided

w Redeemer; and so we read: "Christ died for our sins according

to the Scriptures/' (1 Corinthians 15:3) He is the

propitiation for our sins, the Just for the unjust, to bring us

to God. This prayer relates not, therefore, to that sin the

forgiveness of which permits us to approach God and by covenant

through Jesus to call him our Father. The sins mentioned

in this prayer, the "debts," are those which are. ours

after we have become new creatures in Christ, children of the

Highest. Because of the imperfections of our flesh we cannot

do the things which we would, the things which we know

to be the perfect will of our Father in heaven.

In a certain sense these aTe our debts or obligations to

the Father from the time when we start to walk in newness

of life, not after the flesh but after the Spirit. Walking after

the Spirit, we find that we cannot come up to it; hence the

debts. It is for the forgiveness of these that we are privileged

to petition — matters of omission and of commission not wilfully

done, not intentionally omitted. — Romans 7:19-23.

According to the divine arrangement the merit of Christ

not only covered the sins that are past, but made provision

for our weaknesses and blemishes en route for the kingdom.

God could indeed apply the merit of Christ to these debts, excuse

us from them and not require us to mention them at all;

but for our advantage he has arranged otherwise, that we must

make application for the covering of these debts, for exoneration

in the* name of Jesus our Lord and Redeemer,

WISDOM IN THE DIVINE ARRANGEMENT

In making daily application for forgiveness of our unintentional

shortcomings we learn, three important lessons: (1)

to keep track of our blemishes ; (2) to keep in mind that we

are always dependent upon the merit of our Savior, the merit

of his precious blood; (3) to be merciful, compassionate and

generous toward those who may be our debtors in matters

great and small. Thus we are better assisted in warring a

good warfare against the world, the flesh and the devil.

How just and how wise is the divine arrangement which

requires that in applying for mercy we pledge ourselves to

the Lord to see to it that we are also merciful, forgiving, to

others, that we do not attempt to exact justice from those

with whom we have contact and who are 'under some obligation

to us! This is a wise provision in that it will assist us

in the right direction, will assist us in the development of

character which the Lord will approve, and which will be

meat for those who would be inheritors of the kingdom. It

will assist us in our endeavors to be copies of God's dear Son,

and like unto our Father in heaven in the sentiments of our

hearts at least. It is just; for God has not arranged simply

to show us favors above the remainder of mankind, except as

we shall receive his mercies with proper appreciation and

with a desire to attain the condition which would be pleasing

to him and which he would be pleased to reward with the

life everlasting and the kingdom glories.

THE ARCH ENEMY OF THE CHURCH

These words, "Deliver us from evil " are not in the original

of St. Luke's account of this prayer; but they are found in

St. Matthew's account, and hence" are properly a part of the

petition. The Revised Version reads: "Bring us not into

temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." {Matthew

6:13) This statement is a little confusing; for elsewhere we

have the assurance that "God tempteth no man." (James

1:13) The thought then seems to be that there is an evil

one ever ready to attack the Lord's people to the extent that

God will grant the opportunity, as in the case of Job.

We remember, too, that trials, testing3 and temptations

are necessary for our development as new creatures; and

since these are necessary and of divine arrangement or permission

, it would not be appropriate for us to pray that the

Lord would spare us from all trials and temptations. (Hebrews

12:8) Therefore we must paraphrase this petition in

our thoughts and suppose it to mean: 'Bring us not into

temptation that would be too severe for us/ or 'Abandon us

not in temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'

This thought is in full accord with the entire testimony

of the Word of God. The promise is: "He will not suffer

us to be tempted above that we are able, but will with the

temptation provide a way of escape." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The evil one would indeed utterly destroy the Lord's consecrated

people, but he will not be permitted to do so. Thus

far may he go, but no further. If God be for us, who or what

power can prevail against us? Nothing shall by any means

separate us from the love of God in Christ. — Romans 8:31-39.

THE PURPOSE OF PRATER

Although our Lord did not teach his disciples to pray until

they had requested instruction, yet this was evidently not

because he was unwilling to assist them, but because he wished

them to desire further teaching. Some may argue that no

one needs instruction as to how to pray, but this thought is

not borne out by this lesson. Evidently there are proper and

improper prayers. We might as well say that no one needs

instruction in singing or in playing music. While singers

and players are born with the talent, nevertheless the most

talented musicians reach their proficiency through instruction

So it is with prayer. We have already seen that great mistakes

have been made as to who may pray and what may be

prayed for; and we have already considered the Lord's outline

respecting a proper form of prayer, beginning with ascriptions

of praise and proceeding to expressions of confidence

in God and in the promises of his kingdom, continuing with

acknowledgments of our dependence upon his provisions day

by day, and ending with expressions of confidence in his power

and goodness to protect us and ultimately to deliver us. This

is the general form which our Lord commends to us as proper.

On the other hand, it is interesting to note that the Lord

does not wait until we have become proficient in the iise of

language and in the form of expressing our petitions to him,

but that so broad and ao gracious are his arrangements that

we may come in imperfection and with stammering tongues

to tell him of our devotion, our appreciation, our confidence,

etc., in any manner we please. The suggestion is, however,

that in proportion as we appreciate the privilege of prayer,

we shall desire to use the privilege in the manner most acceptable

to the great One whom we thus approach.

Why should the Lord wish us to ask before he gives his

blessing? For a wise purpose we may be sure! He would

have us feel our need; he would have us appreciate the privilege

; he would have us look for the response; and in all

these experiences he would develop us as his sons of the new

creation. Therefore we are to ask, seek and knock if we

would find the riches of God's grace, and have opened to us

more and more the wonderful privileges, mercies and blessings

which he is so willing to give us^as we develop in character

and in preparation for his mercies.

The clear intimation of the remainder of the lesson is that

the essence of our petitions to our heavenly Father should

be a request for more of his holy Spirit; and that we should

look to the experiences of life, its trials, disappointments,

discouragements, oppositions, as being not really injurious

to lis, not as stones, scorpions and serpents, but as blessings

in disguise, if we but receive them in the proper spirit. Our

God i3 able to make all things abound in the interest of his

children, the new creatures in Christ Jesus. These know

from experience that some of their severest trials and dis-

\ J I— 39

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(171-173)

THE WATCH TOWER

"Brooklyn, N. Y.

appointments of an earthly kind have worked out for them

development of character, elements of the holy Spirit, -which

fhey probably could not have so well received in any other

manner.

Hence, when we" pray to the Lord for Ma blessings, we are

with patience to wait for them, and to seek and find them in

the various circumstances of life which his providences will

permit. Remembering that the holy Spirit is the spirit of

meekness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, brotherly kindness

, love, we may well ask ourselves how else could the Lord

work out for us these elements of character which we desire

did lie not permit to come upon us the trials necessary for

our development.

PROMINENT BRETHREN ARRESTED

On the 7th day of May warrants were issued by the Federal

Court of the Eastern District of New York for the arrest of

brethren connected with the management of the Society or

with the Editorial Committee of The Watch Tower, or identified

with the preparation or circulation of "The Finished Mystery

." The brethren for whom warrants were issued were:

Joseph F. Rutherford, William E. Van Amburgh, A. H. Macmillan

, Robert J. Martin, Clayton J. Woodworth, George H.

Fisher, Robert H. Hirsh, Giovanni De Cecca, Fred H. Robison.

On The 8th of May most of these warrants were served by

United States Marshal Power. The charge given in the

warrants was that these brethren were united in a conspiracy

to obstruct or impede the war work of the United States.

Shortly after their arrest the brethren were arraigned in

the Federal Court, Judge Garvin presiding, and all eight were

m*t with an indictment previously returned by the Grand

Jury, charging

{1, 3) The offense of unlawfully, feloniously and wilfully

causing and attempting to cause insubordination, disloyalty

and refusal of duty in the military and naval forces of the

United States of America, in, through and by personal solicitations

, letters, public speeches, distribution and public circulation

throughout the United States of America of a certain

book called "Volume Seven — Scripture Studies— The Finished

Mystery"; and distributing and publicly circulating

throughout the United States certain articles presented in

pamphlets called, "Bible Students Monthly," "The Watch

Tower," "Kingdom News" and other pamphlets not named,

et cetera;

(2, 4) The offense of unlawfully, feloniously, and wilfully

obstructing the recruiting and enlistment service of the United

States when the United States was at war.

The first four brethren named faced a second indictment

of trading with the enemy. Urns was based upon a claim

that the Society's officers sent $500 to the manager of the

Swiss branch at Zurich, Switzerland.

Each of the brethren arraigned was held over on bail of

$2,500 for each of the indictments for appearance in court on

May 15th— the group, bond aggregating $30,000. Some inconvenience

and difficulty was experienced in getting bail,

because most of the bonding companies had agreed not to

give bail for us, but after the second day it was arranged.

The eight brethren appeared in court on May 15th and

were held over until June 3rd, at which time the trial may

occur, though that point is not certain. The space in the

court room is very limited and we suggest that it would be

more advisable for the friends generally not to try to attend.

Your prayers and interest, however, as already expressed in

many communications, arc deeply appreciated. Needless to

say,* the brethren pleaded "not guilty" to both indictments,

as they consider themselves innocent of the charges made.

They all affirm their motive in connection with the Seventh

Volume, or associated matters, to be merely the desire to advance

the interests of the Kingdom of Christ by announcing

its near establishment. If anything has been said or written

that is in any measure unwise or indiscreet it certainly was

not with a view to interfering with the prosecution of the

war, which war "was foretold in the columns of this journal

as early as 1885. It was there pointed out that Jehovah saw

the world war to be a necessity. It it not within our

province to interfere with the Lord's affairs, and no true

Christian could intentionally do so. Our business is to announce

Christ's Kingdom and the blessings it will bring.

In connection with such announcement it is necessary to

point to the false position which Churchianity holds in relation

to earth's affairs. But that is very different from interfering

with the military operations of the United States.

Many of the brethren in different parts of the country

have been arrested on a like charge. We are certain that

their arrest has followed as a result of their zeal for Christ

and not as a result of any desire to interfere in any measure

with the civil authorities. We counsel sobriety of mind

under all circumstances and an attitude of prayerful, watchful

waiting upon the Lord. His kingdom is "at hand; his

will be done. The "Overman Bill" has now become a law

and it makes wisdom and discretion in speech very appropriate

. The bill was not designed to interfere with the preaching

of the Gospel, but many things can be misconstrued by

enemies. "All who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer

persecution," but let none suffer needlessly.

OBEYING GOD

[The first six and the eighth paragraphs of this article, as it originally appeared in the June 1, 1918, Tower were reprinted

from article entitled, "The Beginning of Jesus' Ministry," published in issue of January 1, 1898, which please see.]

JULY 28.— Matt. 4:18-22; JoHtf 14:22-24; Jas, 1:22-27.

THE THEME OF OUR LOBD'S PREACHING WHAT THE JEWS TJNDEBSTOOD THE KINGDOM TO 11 KAN— WHY THEY FAILED TO BECOME THE

PROMISED SEED OF ABRAHAM— WHAT IT IS TO BE A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST— THE THREE COMMANDMENTS ENJOINED UPON THE

PEOPLE OF GOD ONE OF THE SUREST SIGNS OF SPIRIT-BE GETTING THE CRUCIAL TEST UPON THE CHURCH— VARIOUS INJUNCTIONS

FOR KEEPING OURSELVES UNSPOTTED FROM THE WORLD.

"If ye love me, ye will keep my commemdments." — John 14 : 1 5.

-THE GOOD NEWS 01 THE KINGDOM" thy God with all thy heart, mind, being and strength." The

Andrew and Peter, James and John, fishermen, were in- second is: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Every

vited by the Master to be his followers, his associates in the

great work of calling the "elect" and, if faithful, subsequently

to sit with him in his throne as part of the glorified church.

They left all to follow him. His terms were these: "If any

man will be my disciple, let him deny himself and take up

his cross and follow mc." The Lord does not open the door

of opportunity to all of his disciples throughout this Gospel

age to become prominent ministers of the truth after this

manner. Yet he accepts none as his disciples except those who

forsake all to follow him. In their hearts they must give up

all else. They have the spirit of discipleship and self-sacrifice,

…