The Watchtower, February 1, 1920

Download: PDF — The Watchtower, February 1, 1920

No. 3

ruy foot He will to them

TTnon th© earth distress of nations with perplexity: the sea and the waves (th< restless, discontented) roaring; men'aheart* tailing them tor fear and for looking to theUl^2gl coS upoiFthe ea?th (society):?©!-the powers of the heavens (ecrles.asticmni) shall be shaken

then knowthat the Kingdom of God 1* at hand. Look up. lift up your heads. rejoice for jour redemption draweth nigh,—Matthew 24.33, Mark 13.29, Luke 21.2* 31

■max?

v.\i (JJ y so

&mtb,and a}3igtyt al»®lw- laaiaty

You XLI

Semi-Monthly

Anno Mundi 6048—February 1, 1920

CONTENTS

ROCKrOFAGEO®

Other foundation can*

a’ RANSOM,FORfAL 6

Views from the Watch Tower

I liberty Again in Canada.........

Christians to be Tried Again. . . World-Wide Interest in Zionism

Peter Writes about Christian Living

Growth Dependent upon Pure Fbod

John Writes about Christian lane An Index of God’s Will ..

No Dread in Love...........

John on the Isle of Patmos.

To the Seven Churches...........

Keproofs and Encouragements .

Voice of Many Waters.......

The Memorial Celebration

Report of British Branch

Letters from Bar anti Near

........36

........36

.......37

.......38

. ...38

. ...39

........40

.......41

...42

.........43

......44

. . 45

.45

4G

“I will stand upon my watch, and will .set upon the Tower, and will watch to see what say unto me, and u hat answer i shall make that oppose me."—Habakkuk 1 2

0WTB 5TS

THIS JOURNAL AND ITS SACRED MISSION

THIS journal is one of the prime factors or instruments in the system of Bible instruction, or “Seminary Extension”, now being presented in all parts of the civilized world by the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, chartered A. D. 1884, “For the Promotion of Christian Knowledge”. It not only serves as a class room where Bible students may meet in the study of the dhine Word but also as a channel of communication through which they may be reached with announcements of the Society's conventions and of the coming of its traveling representatives, styled “Pilgrims”, and refreshed with reports of its conventions.

Our “Berean Lessons” are topical rehearsals or reviews of our Society’s published Studies most entertainingly arranged, and very helpful to all who would merit the only honorary degree which the Society accords, viz., Verbi Dei Minister (V. D. M.), which translated into English is Minister of God's Word. Our treatment of the International Sunday School Lessons is specially for the older Bible students and teachers. By some this feature is considered indispensable.

This journal stands firmly for the defense of the only true foundation of the Christian's hope now being so generally repudiated - redemption through the precious blood of “the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a tansprn [a corresponding price, a substitute] for all”, fl Peter J : 19: 1 Timothy 2:6) Building up on this sure foundation the gold, silver and precious stones (1 Corinthians 3: 1115, 2 Peter 1 :5-ll) of the Word of God, its further mission is to “make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery which. . .has hei n hid in God. ... to the intent that now might be made known by the church the manifold wisdom of God”—“which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it is now revealed”.—Ephesians 3:5-9,10.

It stands free from all parties, sects and creeds of men. while it seeks more and more to bring its every utterance into fullest subjection to the will of God in Christ, as expressed in the holy Scriptures. It is thus free to declare boldly whatsoever the Lord hath spoken—according to the divine wisdom granted unto us to understand his utterances. Its attitude is not dogmatic, but confident; for we know whereof we affirm, treading with implicit faith upon the sure promises of God. It is held as a trust, to be used only in his service, hence our decisions relative to what may and what may not appear in its columns must be according to our judgment of his good pleasure, the teaching of his Word, for the upbuilding of his people in grace and knowledge. Ami wo not only invite but urge our readers to prove all its utterances by the infallible Word to which reference is constantly made t<> facilitate1 such testing.

TO US THE SCRIPTURES CLEARLY TEACH

'That the church is “tin* temple of the living God”, peculiarly “his workmanship”; that its construction has been in progress throughout the gospel age--ever since Christ became the world's Redeemer ami the Chief Corner Stone ot his temple, through which, when finished, Gods blesMiig shall come “to all people”, and they find access to him.- 1 Corinthians 3 ; 16, 17; Ephesians 2:29-22: Genesis 2*: 14, Galatians 3.29.

That meantime the chiseling, shaping, and polishing of consecrated believers in Christ’s atonement for sin, progresses; and when the last of these ’living stones”, "elect and precious,” shall have been made ready, the great Master Workman will bring all together in the first resurrection . and the temple shall ho filled with his glory, and bo the mooting place between God and men throughout the Millennium.- Revelation 15.5-8.

That the basis of hope, for the church and the world, Ires in the fact that “Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man,” “a ransom for all,” ami will ho “the true light which lighteth erer.y man that cometh into the world”, “in due time”.— Hebrews 2:9; John 1:9. 1 Timothy 2 : 5, 6.

That the hope of the church is that she may be like her Lord, “see him as he is,” be “partakers of the divine nature’,’ and share his

glory as hts joint heir.- -1 John 3:2; John 17:24; Romans 8:17; 2 Peter 1:4.

That the present mi.-sion of the church is the perfecting of the saints for the future work of service: to develop in herself every

grace : to be God's witness to Hip world ; and to prepare to be kings and priests in the next age.—Ephesians 4:12: Matthew 24 :

14 ; Revelation 1 : H; 20.6.

That the hope for the world lies in the blessings of knowledge and opportunity to be brought to all by Christ's Millennial kingdom, the restitution of all that was lost in Adam, to all the willing and obedient, at the hands of their Redeemer and his glorified church, when all the wilfully wicked will be destroyed.—Acts 3:19-23; Isaiah 35.

WATCH TOWER. BIBLE 5-TRACT SOCIETY

124 COLUMBIA HEIGHTS a O BROOKLYN. NY, U S A

Foreign Offices : British Branch : 34 Craven Terrace, Lancaster Gate, London W. 2 ; Australasian Branch ; 495 Collins St., Melbourne, Australia; South African Branch: 123 Plein St., Cape Town, South Africa.

Please Address the Society tn Every Case

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $1.00 IN ADVANCE CANADIAN AND FOREIGN SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $1.50 SEND MONEY BY EXPRESS OR POSTAL ORDER, OH BY BANK DRAFT nOM FOREIGN COUNTRIES BY INTERNATIONAL POSTAL ORDERS ONLY

Editorial Committee: This journal is published under the supervision of an editorial committee, at least three of whom have read and approved a's truth each and every article appearing in these columns. The names of the editorial committee are: J. F. .Rutherford, W. E. Van Amburgh, F. II. Robison, G. H. Fisher; W. E. Page.

Terms to the Lord*e Poor: All Bible students who. by. reason of old age or other In. flrmity or adversity, are unable to pay for this journal, will be supplied free If they Bend a postal card each May stating their case and requesting Buch provision. We are not only willing, but anxious. that all Buch be on our list continually and in touch with the Berean studies.

Mn*iro tn tZutwrihera • Wo do not, as a rule, send a card of acknowledgment for a renewal or aojee ru ouutenoers. for a neW 8UbBcriptj'on. Receipt and entry of renewal ara Indicated within a month by change In expiration date, as shown on wrapper label,

Stored as Second Clan Matter at Brooklyn, N. Y . Poetofflee under tho Act of March 9rd, 1979.

PRESSMEN NOTICE

Any brother in the truth who is an expert operator of either a magazine rotary or fiat-bed press, and who would be in position to work In Brooklyn, N. Y., will bestow’ a favor by communicating with us Immediately This will be an opportunity for service.

FOREIGN SUBSCRIPTIONS

Due to the increased cost of production and difTciom-e in the exchange, we find it necessary to raise the subscription price for the Watch Tower to foreign subscribers. Henceforth the regular subscription price will be:

For the I'nitecl States per 'car . . ......... $1.00

Tor Canada ami fmeign <<»ii:itries. per \ear ............. 1.50

COAST CONVENTIONS

A two day convention k planned tor in Los Angeles, for January 31 and February 1. For pat titulars address F. P. Sherman, 211| N. Sichel St., Los Angelos California.

A three-day convention has been arranged for San Francisco, California, February 13 15. All communications should be addressed to G. F. Forsyth, Convention Secretary, 00 Carl St., San Francisco, California.

(A otters continued on page |7).

STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES

These Studies are recommended to students as veritable Bible keys, discussing topically every vita) doctrine of the Bible. More than eleven million copies are in circulation, in nineteen languages. Prices are net, postpaid, and barely cover cost of production and handling. Two sizes are issued (in English only) ; the regular maroon cloth, gold stamped edition on dull finish paper (size 5"x 7

Series I, “The Divine Plan of the Ages,” giving outline of the divine plan revealed in the Bible, relating to man’s redemption and restitution : 350 pages, plus indexes and appendixes. 75c. Magazine edition 15c. Also procurable in Arabic, Armenian, Dano-Norwegian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hollandish, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Roumanian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, and Ukrainian; regular cloth style, price uniform with English.

Series II, “The Time is at Hand,” treats of the manner and time of the Lord’s second coming, considering the Bible testimony on this subject: 366 pages, 75c. Obtainable in Dano-Norwegian, Finnish, German, Polish, and Swedish.

Series III, “Thy Kingdom Come,” considers prophecies which mark events connected with “the time of the end”, the glorification of the church and the establishment of the Millennial kingdom ; it also contains a chapter on the Great Pyramid of Egypt, showing its corroboration of certain Bible teachings : 380 pages, 75c. Furnished also in Dano-Norwegian, Finnish, German, Polish, and Swedish.

Series IV, “The Battle of Armageddon,” shows that the dissolution of the present order of things is in progress and that all of the human panaceas offered are valueless to avert the end predicted by the Bible. It contains a special and extended treatise on our Lord’s great prophecy of Matthew 24 and also that of Zechariah 14:1-9: 656 pages, s5c. Also in Dano-Norwegian, Finnish, Greek, German, and Swedish.

Series V, "The Atonement Bctireen God and Man,” treats an all important subject, the center around which all features of divine grace revolve. This topic deserves the most careful consideration on the part of all true Christians : 61s pages, 85c. Procurable likewise in Dano-Norwegian, Finnish, German, Greek, and Swedish.

Series VI, “The New Ci ration.” deaL with the creative week (Genesis 1,2), and with the church. God's now creation. It examines the personnel, organization, rites, ceremonies, obligations, and hopes appertaining to those called and accepted as members of the body of Christ: 730 pages, 85c. Supplied also in Dano-Nor-vvegian, Finnish, German, and Swedish.

Vo foreign editions in the pocket size.

AND HERALD OF CH ROTS PRESENCE

XI.I

Fhbkiary 1. 1920

No. 3

VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER

AI.ij the channel* of publicity, the newspaper, the magazine, the book, the cinema, are pouring forth each its own stream about spiritism. The great demand for message- I roni departed and supposedly alive friends which has been made <>n the Psychical Research Society has emboldened I hem to ask the public for two million dollars to carry on then work. The New York American, of December ?:>. publishes the following item : “Mothers. wives and *w eel hen 11 s ol American soldiers who ■died in France are besieging the oilices of the American Society of Psychical Research seeking messages from Ilie dead. Olheers of the soeiely last night announced they are soliciting an endowment of S2.0119,(MIO to handle the requests. Since the signing of the armistice women from all parts of the country have written or visited the society's offices. It has found itself swamped Part of the proceeds of the endowment would be used for the advancement of psychical research generally, and to ‘establish more clearly the workings of the laws connecting the visible with the invisible world’.

“Professor Walter !•’. Prince, acting secretary and investigating officer of the society, said last night :

“ ‘The relatives want proof—positive proof—that their loved ones are dead. We recommend them to any of the twelve mediums operating under the Psychical Research Society. Rich and poor, high and low, afoot or in limousine, these bereaved women seek us out. They want more than the cold, printed governmental formula telling of the deaths of America’s heroes. They want some last word—some final sign from the departed. Sometimes it’s the young, wistful sweetheart of a doughboy or an officer. More often it is the old mother, unable to sleep, wanting one more message from her boy.' ”

SIR OLIVER IMPOSED UPON

Sir Oliver Lodge, the distinguished British scientist, who of late years has given some considerable attention to spiritistic phenomena, is scheduled to make a tour of America, with a view to advancing the interests of psychic research. Miss Eva Balfour, English actress, as quoted in the New York Tribune, December 22, .believes that Sir Oliver is chasing spiritistic rainbows. Although having had considerable experience in spiritism herself she says the following :

"‘Sir Oliver Lodge is being imposed upon.’ declared Mis* Balfour yesterday, in describing the spiritualist craze in England. ‘Or else lie is deceiving himself', she added, ‘as hundreds of people have since Ilie war. People are liter,-ill.v going mad in London owi spirits. At the present rate our lunatic asylums will soon be tilled, and the whole race will be affected, I disagree frankly with Sir Oliver, with no desire to be impolite boi.iuse I have not only been what people call psychic since I was eight years old, but also because T have thoroughly- mv es't mated spiritualism since the craze struck England If you had spent as much time as I have in darkened rooms trying Io cutch the toy balloons on the end of a stick which are used to' tap you on the head in th? dark, you would agree with me.'"

OUIJAS ATTRACT DEMONS

(ouija boards do not stand in very high favor with professional spiritists, according to a statement published hi Hit' Na*hville American of December 14:

"Although oiiiia boards attrnct only evil spirits, according to ('buries 11. I'igure*, president of the First Spiritualist I'lntreh. these board* are in great demand a* Christmas toy*. At a special church meeting called by President Figure* all except one of the ouija boards owned by the members were smashed One woman member refused to give up her board. One local dealer said be was unable to obtain a supply *ulliciei11 to meet the demand He declared his tirm sold UMMI of the board* in two month*"

It would be expected that professional mediums would look with disfavor upon the ouija board; for the ouija board dispenses with the necessity for a professional medium, and their revenue is thus largely cut off.

FASCINATION OF THE UNKNOWN

Perhaps one of the sanest editorials which has been published by any secular paper is that issued by the San Francisco Call and Post, which reads as follows:

"One of the results of the war has been the revival of spiritualism. There are so many young men, dead because of the war. and voiceless. And mankind is eager to believe that they are now thronging about their living friends— moving pale, silent lips in efforts to tell what they have learned. In England the spirit messages began to come early in the war. and believers in these phenomena have amassed a great amount of what they choose to call evidence. In Germany this spiritual curiosity has taken the form of an intense interest in hypnotism. Only France, of the European countries, is still skeptical. Even in America the fascination of the unknown has taken hold. More than a year ago O. Henry wrote a book from the grave; and now Mark Twain is writing humor through some friend of Professor Hyslop, the English investigator. And, latest of all, comes the story in a leading woman's magazine of a dying son who tapped out a message to his mother on a wireless instrument lie had left at home.

“These are curious things. But. though unconvincing, they are not laughable. They witness a tender and longing quality in the human heart, seeking comfort and consolation from their friends vv Iio are dead. And yet it is a search that seems doomed to emptiness in the end. These spirit messages are usually commonpitice and gossiping, or impossible to understand. They tell no groat secrets, reveal no divinity of mystery, give no really satisfying comfort to saddened hearts. The spirit correspondents are strangely dispassionate: they do not thank the world for having set them free from their bodies: nor do they curse that world whose only gift .to them was death. And, most important of all. they are felling no secrets and revealing no wisdom, these dead men who should know everv tiling now. Psychic research (as tliev call it) seems one more futile attempt of the human race to fathom mvsteiy. And those who are not so sensitive are beginning to lose faith in its value."

No one who has any real love for and sympathy with humanity can be disinterested in the desires which rest in the human heart for some gleam of information about the future, life beyond the grave. Humanity is in a truly pitiable plight; and while some of the immediate problems have been due to selfishness and inconsiderateness of the present generation, the general situation is traceable to inborn imperfection, due to the sentence of death working in mankind because of disobedience early in the history of the human race.

While it is written that Jehovah will laugh to scorn and hold in derision the hypocritical efforts of some of those who name his name to bless the world by their own schemes and devices (Psalm 2:4), yet, on the other hand, it must also be remembered that he looked down and beheld the groaning of the prisoners’. His heart was moved to compassion for our undone condition; and for this reason he sent forth his Son into the world.— Psalm 102:20; John 3:16.

A CURE FOR LEPROSY

Leprosy has long been used as a symbol of sin; it seems that ways and means are being discovered for its cure, according to newspaper dispatches recently published:

"For the first time in history, the complete cure of lepers is announced. Twenty patients have been discharged from the Kahili Hospital, and after several months of observation no recurrence of symptoms is noted. Dr. A. L. Dean, president of the University of Hawaii, and a distinguished chemist, has succeeded in isolating the active principle in chaulmoogra oil, made from the seeds of a plant, which for sometime has been recognized as beneficial in the treatment of leprosy. The medicine is enclosed in capsules and injected Into the muscles. Scars of the disease remain, but its ravages are at once checked.”

LIBERTY AGAIN IN CANADA

Canada returned to peace conditions, in most matters, with the beginning of this year. This means that the press censorship, which has been quite rigidly enforced there for many months, is lifted. We quote the following from the Regina Morning Leader of December 22:

“With the coming of the new year, Canada returns practically to a basis of peace. War-time restrictions imposed by order-in-council under the War Measures Act will, with some exceptions, be removed. And, in the case of the exceptions, the orders-in-council terminate at the end of the next session of parliament. The war-time restrictions will cease to be operative on January I.”

CHRISTIANS TO BE TRIED AGAIN

The Baltimore Sun of January 7, as also many other papers in the land, published the following information regarding the re-trial of eight of our brethren:

“Eight officials and employes of the International Bible Students Association, who were convicted under the Espionage law in .Tune. 1918, and later freed . . . will be tried again, Leroy W. Ross, United States Attorney, announced today. April 7 has been set as the date for the new trial. The defendants were charged with distributing literature tending to obstruct the operation of the Selective Service Act. The Circuit Court in its decision said that Judge H. B. Howe, of Vermont, who presided at the first trial, made remarks calculated to prejudice the jury.”

SHOULD LOOK BEFORE BURNING

Every now and then some zealous evangelist recommends the burning of some of our volumes: an example of the act itself is contained in the book of Acts and apparently had the approval of the Apostle Paul. The people who own the books have a perfect right to burn them if they choose; but they are not strictly following the early church example unless they are familiar with the contents of the books. An editorial in the Alexandria (Va.) Gazette of recent date discusses some of the phases of an incident of this kind:

“Two hundred residents of Blakely, Pa., yesterday took Pastor Russell’s books from their library shelves, carried them to a street corner in the center of the town ami, pouring kerosene on the pile, burned the books. As the Hames from the late Pastor’s literature mounted skyward, those who destroyed the books marched around the fire singing hymns. It was at the hint of an evangelist conducting revival meetings at the Primitive Methodist Church in Blakely that the Russellite books were burned. A pious Mohammedan never steps upon a scrap of paper lest it should be found to contain words from the Koran. While many persons may take exceptions to certain deductions in literature which is sent out under the auspices of the International Bible Students Association, the fact remains that such productions abound in quotations from Holy Writ.

“It would be safe to say that most of the two hundred religionists who danced around the bonfire referred to above never read the late Pastor Russell’s books, and if they did were unable to pick the good from them. Years ago when the late Bible Student was in the flesh, we read six of ills bound volumes. We encountered many suggestions in them which seem plausible, while there is much which is doubtful. We likened ourselves, however, to a man who would not throw away a fine apple because he found a few specks upon it. There are specks in Russel) which can be obliterated, but to consign to the flames works which he was a lifetime preparing because we encounter certain statements not in our creeds is not the work of wisdom.

“During the late war the United States did much to advertise the late Pastor’s works by placing the last publication —‘The Finished Mystery’—In the index expurgatorlus. One of the first copies of this book, fresh from the press, came Into our possession. The only criticism we have to make upon the book It that it is the most noninteresting of all the publications of the International Bible Students Association. Several persons who took part in bringing it to the birth, it will be remembered, were sent to the penitentiary.

“Pnstor Russell’s books have given an impetus to Bible study. This fact alone should save them from the bonfire.”

A “JAZZ” CHURCH

Here and there over the country is a pastor who, tiring of the power of the gospel to attract men’s hearts, brings in jazz music and associated means of excitement to swell his audience. The Denver Post, of December 20, reports one such. We quote a part of the announcement, not because it is directly edifying, but because it is informative:

“Religion will be given an injection of jazz Sunday by the Rev. G. S. Lackland, Pastor of Grace M. E. Church. A negro jazz orchestra will try its hand at ‘jazzing 'em to heaven’ in Dr. Lackland’s church at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon. It will give a program of syncopated music—tunes with st swing and a punch—for the Open Forum service. Ordinarily this service is attended by about eight hundred people. Dr. Lackland expects that the jazzing up of the music will fill the auditorium to overflowing. Acting on the theory that the music usually served up to the congregation in the average church is more conducive to sleep than to religion, Dr. Lackland is going to shoot a bunch of jazz into his church Sunday by using a real jazz orchestra. If the experiment proves a success at the Open Forum service, which is attended principally by members of labor unions and Capitol Hill residents who are not regdiar atiendants nt any church. Dr. Lackland will consider Ilie feasibility of using it n( nil of hi- eliiirch services."

CLERGY MAKE GOOD “COPS”

The ministers seem to be the ones leaving the United I’ree Church of Scotland, if the following item, taken from the Kokomo (Ind.) Dispatch is to be relied upon:

“It was stated at a meethm of the United Eree Presbytery hero that in Western Scollnnil ministers were leaving the church and joining the police force on account of the smallness of the stipends.*'

The general spiritual condition of the ecclesiastical world was described in no uncertain terms by Bishop Lloyd of Illinois in a letter which he contributed to the Chicago Daily News:

"The church that appropriates the name of Chri-I is Hie most uii-t'hristlike institution in the world. It is narrow, -.elfish. proud, intolerant, jealous of its own place in the world, while all the tune thousands who would gladly welcome the simple message of self-sacrificing ministers are not al,Ie Io come near to tlial aid and inspiration which heroes of the spirit of St Paul or of St. Francis would afford. Destruction mi|s| precede construction if the Sailor's appeal is ever Io get through Ilie system of lliat ii sidulioti which h,is apptopriniod ins mime and forgotten tn. message. '

JEWS FLOCKING HOME

A happier phase of earth's activities is found tn the field of Zionism. The New York American, of January 2. prints the following:

"Nine thousand Jewish war prisoners in Siberian con-4-cid r.ii ion camps ha\o ■ lei 111 j I p!\ t urned their bucks on their tormer home ('ountiies. Gernmny. Austria, and Galicia, and deieiTiiined io 20 to [*a lesi me when they would be free, 'fins informalion is uoinained in a report to the Zionist Organization of America from Krasnojarak, known as our of tin* < oldest spot s on ea rt h “

A lew weeks back, there seemed to be the possibility of some disturbance raised by the Kingdom of the Hedjaz; but the following item as published on December 30 by the New York American would seem to indicate that fi icndlier relations now exist:

"Prince Feisal. of the Arab Kingdom of the Hed.jaz. Ims pledged full cooperation with Zionists in establishing a National Jewish Homeland m Palestine, and creating an ‘entente’ between that country. Arabia, and the liberated Armenia. The Zionist Organization of America has just teceived a message to this effect from the Emir, which lie sent to Herbert Samuel, former British Postmaster General, a leading Zionist of England."

ROOM FOR 20,000,000

The Appleton (Mo.) Crescent reports the following bit of news from London :

"There is room for 20.000.lXMl inhabitants in tile new Jewish slate that is lieing created in Palestine, according Io Max Nordau. famous author, who is keenly interested in arousing the interest of Jew - in tins project throughout the world. ‘This is the hour be lore the dawn for the Je.ws. thanks to the English-speaking nations', declared Hr. Nor-• 1,111 today. ‘For a thousand 'ears the Jews have looked for ibe . Oining of Messiah and I feel lliat his coming is about ne.ir I pope il will not be .1 false Messiah. The Jews uh' ,11'1 beginning io realize what this Zionist movement 10,illy 1- Zionism Im 1 |,o Jons is their real salvation The Jews of ibe woild have assimilated the habits mid rin-lonis of all nations, but they realize that Palestine is I Heil ical home The masses <>| Jews hail this movement awl 11 111O1 e should lie run deception 11 would be iragic T'hose not wanting to go to Palestine may easily remain where they are. and God bless them. Il is expected that a method will la* devised of giving citizenship in the new-state of Palestine to Jews who do not wish to go there right away. A system of taxation has been proposed, also, by which Jews would contribute to the support of the Palestine government whether they live there or not, if they secuie citizenship papers. Thete is going to be competition for space in Palestine. The boundaries of the new state probably will be defined after the lines of the Bible. We do not anticipate a return of the whole Jewish people I rom the outside world, hut it is already known that the territory which the new state will possess liefvveen the .Mediterranean and the Euphrates river will hold 20.000.-0< Ml souls.' "

Many ol' the newspapers of tins country have recently published plates of Palestine showing the scheme of a Norwegian engineer to water the same arid parts of Palestine and also io furnish a great amount of electric power by running an underground aqueduct from the Mediterranean Sea to the Dead Sea. It will be remembered that the Dead Sea is some fourteen hundred feet below sea level; and this great drop supplies the finest kind of opportunity for the development of electric power through, water.

WORLD-WIDE INTEREST IN ZIONISM

The London Daily Mail gives us the following information. which apparently is designed as an offset for Ilie statements of other British politicians winch are 1 eceiv mg w ide publicity :

"Two years ago Ilie gov erii nielli issued a declaration of policy m favor of the establishment ol a Jewish national homo in Palestine. and to celebrate the anniversary a meeting Ims been held at Ilie London Opera House. Lord Rothschild, who presided, rend a letter from Lord Curzon giving an assurance tlmf there had been no change in the policy of the government. Lord Rothschild said that they weie much nearer their goal limn before, and he felt sure they would yet see the establishment of their desired home in Palestine. Mr. Herbert Samuel said Ilie new Palestine must be in some small measure an example to the world.”

This announcement by the British government was received with gratitude by prominent British Jews, among them Mr. Herbert Samuel, who was reported by the .Aberdeen (Scot.) Daily Journal as remarking:

"They had waited 2000 years, and could afford to wait perhaps two years more. Often delay was a prelude to disappointment. but he felt sure it would not be so with them now."

As showing the world-wide interest in the matter we take the following paragraphs from an item published by the Sydney (N. S. W.) Evening News:

“At the international headquarters of the Zionist Organization. in Great Russell Street. London, plans are rapidly going forward for the settlement of thousands of Jewish people in Palestine. There is a pleasant bustle in the rooms where Ilie plans are being perfected, and men and women go about with faces alight and voices full of eagerness because of the return home."

"The initial step will lie the establishment of a university in Jerusalem. The nucleus of a 11111 versiIy is already to hand in Ilie different medical comers in Palestine Jewish scholars are doing rosea rail work’ in Jerusalem or Jewish liislory. A e.msiilerablc orgaiii/af ion :il>o exmls ii Rii'sia which lias for its special work the translation of tin classics of a'l longues into Hebrew Tins organization will i'o transferred < 11 bloc to the new university, which at flit ■■lll-i'l will 1' - , 1 IJ j-| ;i , JcW I'll I ef'ItV P|‘Om."

PETER WRITES ABOUT CHRISTIAN LIVING

--February 29 — 1 Peter 2: 1-5, 11, 12, 19-25--

A PECULIAR PEOPLE FOR A PECULIAR PURPOSE — A NEW GENERATION, WITH A CHANGE OF NATURE FROM HUMAN TO SPIRIT — HOW THIS CHANGE IS BROUGHT ABOUT — THEIR NATIONAL POLICY — THEIR STANDING ARMY — THEIR FOOD SUPPLY — SOME OF THEIR PECULIARITIES — A HOLY TEMPLE OF GOD.

“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked.” — i John 2:6

DURING the gospel age, whose work is now drawing to a close, the Lord has been making ready a peculiar people for a very peculiar and very glorious purpose.

The purpose Is nothing less than that of a joint-reign with Christ for a thousand years, by means of which not only shall the families of the earth be blest, but angels also shall be brought to a righteous judgment and reward, and all things in heaven and in earth shall be brought into perfect harmony with the divine will and into conformity thereto. Thenceforth universal peace and joy and praise shall abound to the glory of God.

This peculiar people is a new and chosen generation. They were first chosen out from among men, “through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth.” Or, in other words, having believed the message of salvation through Christ the Redeemer, and having gratefully accepted the same and being earnestly desirous of perfect personal conformity to the divine will, and having therefore humbly submlttd themselves entirely to God, they were chosen by Jehovah to be his peculiar people.

That which renders his people peculiar as compared with all others is a very radical change—a change of nature from the human to the spiritual. (2 Peter 1:4) This change of nature has been brought about by the power of the truth, which leads those who are rightly exercised by it to a full consecration of heart and life to the will and service of God. even unto death. This change of nature, however, is only begun in the present life, and consists as yet only of a change of mind and a consequent change of character and of action in harmony with the new hopes, aims and aspirations generated by the “exceeding great and precious promises” of the Word of God. No wonder is it that a people actuated by such hopes and aims should be a peculiar people, a people separate from the world, in the world but not of it.

A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD

They are indeed a new generation, that is, a new race, of a new and noble nature, distinct and separate from the human race, although as new creatures they are as yet only begotten and developing in the embryo state, the full development or birth being due at the resurrection. Wonderful indeed is this truth. “Ye (brethren] are a chosen generation”—a new order of beings, chosen of God as the heirs of his special favor. And not only so, says the Apostle, but “ye are a royal priesthood”, a people to be clothed with authority and with power to stand between God and fallen humanity to lift mankind up from degradation and to restore . them to the divine likeness and favor. This people is indeed a royal priesthood, whose power and glory will appear in due time, to the glory of God and to the blessing of all the families of the earth.

But, further, says the Apostle, they are “a holy nation”. In what sense can this people be called a nation? A nation is a body of people united under one government and having common interests and bound by mutual obligations and mutual consent, either expressed or implied, to conserve those interests. Truly such a people, such a nation, are the Lord's people under Christ Jesus their King; and their interests are one. They are the interests of the truth concerning the establishment of Christ’s kingdom In all the earth. But its object, unlike that of all other ambitious powers, is not the glorification of selfishness, but the exaltation of meekness and righteousness and the establishment of universal peace and happiness. Every loyal citizen of this nation is deeply interested In its politics, and is ready to take up the sword in its defense at any moment. We remember, however. that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but that they are mighty, through God, to the pulling down of strongholds. Our sword is “the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God,” and an every-day exercise and drill in its use makes us able soldiers.

I<et all the members of this “chosen generation”, and “royal priesthood”, this “holy nation”, this "peculiar people”. seek more and more—by vigilance, by faithfulness and by holiness—to separate themselves from the spirit of the world, to submit themselves to the transforming influences of the spirit of God, and to discipline and drill themselves in the use of the sword of the spirit, so that they may “show forth the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvelous light”.

“BABES IN CHRIST”

This peculiar people the Apostle likens, in the beginning of their life of faith, to babes. Though they may be men of mature years, they are but babes beginning a new life. And the Apostle counsels them, as new-born babes, to desire earnestly and seek for the sincere milk of the Word of God —the simple truths, the foundation doctrines. These are the plain, clear statements of the Scriptures, (1) of the original perfection and glory of humanity, created in the image of God; (2) of the fall of Adam and the race represented in lihn in trial; (3) of the death penalty ; (4) of the redemption of Adam, and, therefore, also of the race represented in him, by the payment of an equivalent price—the sacrifice of “the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all”; (5) of the actual deliverance of the redeemed race in God’s due time and order.—Genesis 1:27,31; 3:1-6,17-19: Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22; 1 Timothy 2:5,6; Acts 3: 19-21.

Those who in simple faith accept these truths and who. laying aside all malice, all guile, hypocrisies, envies, and evil speaking, endeavor to live worthy of this salvation, esteeming it as only a reasonable service to devote themselves thenceforth to the service of God, are accepted of him as sons and heirs, as spiritual sons. Precious indeed in Jehovah’s sight are these little ones. It was with reference to such that our Lord said to Peter: “Feed my lambs”; and again that he gave warning to false teachers, saying, “Whosoever shall ensnare one of the least of these who believe in me, it would be better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were sunk in the depth of the sea”. (John 21: 15; Matthew 18: 6, Diaglott) Again, under the figure of a tender shepherd caring for a weak and straying lamb, he shows his solicitude for these babes of the family, saying. “It is not the will of your Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish".—Matthew 18: 14.

GROWTH DEPENDENT UPON PURE FOOD

Bui while the babes in Christ, because of their very feeble ness and inexperience, have much special care bestowed upon them, and because they are dearly beloved of the Lord, and while their meek and teachable spirit is commended to all, it is not the will of God that they should always remain babes. The very object of his commending to them the milk of the Word is that they maj grow thereby out of this infantile state up to the maturity of spiritual life, “that we be no more children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine". (Ephesians 4:14) In the experience of every healthy, growing child of God there should come a time when he should be able to leave the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, the foundation principles, having them firmly established and settled in his mind, and. therefore, not needing to dig them up and lay them again, but going on to perfection in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.—Hebrews 6: 1-3.

The Apostle Paul reproved some in Ids day because they did not thus grow, saying, “For when for the time [spent] ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat; for every one that useth milk [only] is unskillful to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe”. (Hebrews 5:1214) We are not to live continually on the milk diet, “but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”. (Matthew 4: 4) Some of these words are the simple truths noted above, the milk. Other* are deeper truths, the strong meat for those who, nourished by the pure milk, have grown and developed considerable firmness and strength of Christian character. This “solid food,” says the Apostle, is for adults, those possessing faculties habitually exercised in the discrimination of both good and evil. Ue also warns them of the dreadful result to them if they should fall away.—Hebrews 6: 4-6.

If the babes in Christ are fed on adulterated milk, a con fused mixture of truth and .error concerning the above mentioned foundation doctrines, the result will be that they will sicken and die, unless the unwholesome diet is speedily removed and the sincere, pure milk is sought after and used. As a general thing there is not sufficient care on the part of the babes in Christ about seeking the pure milk of the Word of God; and many of the adults are too careless about setting the pure milk before them. Let those who are truly the Lord’s little ones bear in mind the Apostle’s counsel to desire and to seek after only the pure milk of the Word, and resolutely to discard all else. Any theological views which will not rest squarely upon the above named foundation doctrines, so plainly enunciated in the Scriptures, but which attempt to pervert and to shift and to make them void, do not constitute the pure diet for the Lord's children.

A HOLY TEMPLE OF GOD

The Apostle then shows (1 Peter 2: 4-9) that such consecrated and faithful children of God have the privilege of becoming members of a grand spiritual house of which Christ Jesus is the head. The shape of the building to which reference is made is evidently that of a pyramid, and was probably suggested to his mind by the words of the Prophet Isaiah (2S: 1G) a part, of which he quotes, saying, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner-stone, elect, precious . . . the same is become the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, even to those which stumble at the Word, beittg disobedient, w hereunto also they were appointed".

The great work of preparing these living stones for their places in this building of God is still in progress, although it is almost completed. This is the painful part of the work to every one of the stones. The blows of the hammer and the chisel, the hard discipline of experience, are not desirable except for the effects, the peaceable fruits of righteousness. And if we would hate the results we must patiently submit to the painful processes, and see to it that no cross-grained willfulness on our part shall interfere with the work: for such interference would sooner or later be the occasion for the Builder to abandon us and to substitute another stone more pliable and easily worked; for the time is short, and what is to be done must be done quickly.

God lays great stress upon loyal and loving obedience on the part of his children. It was only a little matter of disobedience that cost Adam and his posterity so dearly, and that will bring similar results to all those who, having once escaped the condemnation of death through faith in Christ the Itedeemer, thereafter refuse to stand before God In the robe of Christ’s righteousness, but prefer to appear in their own. All such were appointed to stumble. But blessed are the meek; for they shall stand. “The Lord knoweth them that are his.”

JOHN WRITES ABOUT CHRISTIAN LOVE

- - March 7 — John 4:7-21 — —

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOVE AND ITS AUTHOR—HOW GOD'S I,OVE IS MANIFEST TO US- IMITATION OF JEHOVAH URGED—ABIDING IN HIM AND HE IN US—SUCCESS POSSIBLE ONLY BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

"Beloved, if Qod so lined us, we ought also to love one another i John 4 1 i

LOVE, the greatest attribute in the world, stands related . to all the other things in the universe. Some of it* relationships are briefly referred to in this chapter by the Apostle John. In a perfect character love does not operate independently of the other attributes: but it is cooperated with by wisdom and justice. It is not possible to be entirely just without having some love, for justice demands that «e love our neighbors as ourselves. Likewise wisdom without love is a very sorry pill. Such is the wisdom of the world, which is foolishness with God.

“Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God: and every one that lovetli is begotten of God. and knoweth God." The great object of our Christian schooling is that we may be made like God. (Matthew 5: 48; 1 Peter 1 : 16) But we are not suddenly transformed from imperfectly balanced characters to beings reflecting all the beauty of Jehovah’s righteousness. The transformation is gradual, so that every step of the change can lie appreciated and cooperated in by the individual believer.

GOD THE AUTHOR OF. LOVE

The first step is the development of the disposition of Jehovah and of his Son. Jesus Christ. It is an elementary appreciation of this disposition, or spirit, that draws us to the Lord and that prompts us to give our all to him in consecration. This disposition which actuates or moves Jehovah to deal with imperfect and sin-cursed beings is what the Scriptures refer to by the word love.

All the love there is in the universe came from God. All the fragmentary love in mankind came from him in the sense that he planted it in his perfect human child, Adam, and Adam gave some of it to his posterity. Some fragments of this love, or benevolent attitude toward every creature, was in us when we came to the Lord. Through his precepts and through the example of his own redemptive plan, and through the course of his specially beloved Son Jesus we are encouraged to develop This kindly motive and generous disposition toward all

Through the operation of the Lord’s Word in us and through Hie lessons learned by expensive experience we may develop a little wisdom and a keener sense of justice; but because of imperfections of the flesh our growth in these directions is not likely Io be so great as to make us distinguished. But when it comes to love: we cannot have less than good wishes for our brethren in the same narrow way. tor 1 he world in general, and even for our enemies. Love put into practise mo.in* more than good wishes, however ; it means doing good to all men as we have opportunity (Galatians 0:10). but the motive must be there first; that i* always a possibility.

There is therefore every reason why we should love one another. If God in whose eyes all things are made manifest (Hebrews 4: 13) can see some reason for loving each one of the faithful followers of Christ there is surely much more reason why we who are so very imperfect should love those whom God has set Ids favor upon through Christ Jesus.

LOVE LIKE SUNSHINE

There is not only this reason, but there is the additional one that love rewards and benefits the lover. It is like sunshine in the heart. It warms, expands, and causes to grow all the tender buds of the holy spirit's fruits. Love is of God; therefore we should love and practise this Godlike trait. In fact, no one loves in this particular manner except those who have been begotten of God.

This love is not the grasping, acquisitive kind common in the world, nor is it even the nobler reciprocal give-and-take kind which is also found in the world. It is a love which radiates kindness and blessings and seeks only for opportunities to bestow its bounties. To the extent that we love we know God: for we feel to that extent Just as he feels. We enter into an appreciation of his motives, so that, if we had his lM’"er, position, and authority, we would do just us he does. “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” The latter clause of this verse Is one of the most frequently quoted texts in the Bible; and yet it is often cited to sustain erroneous theories. Christian Scientists make free use of it in an effort to prove that there is no personal God, that God is simply a principle. They carry this reasoning further and say that since God is only a principle it is folly to pray to it. If one has a difficult problem in mathematics one does not pray to some mathematical principle but goes and gets competent help. So Scientists do not pray to God but go and get help from a “competent" healer—at so much per helping

LOVE A DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTIC

But to the honest reader the meaning in very apparent. Love is the outstanding attribute of the Father's character in his dealings with the church in this gospel age and in the provisions which he has made for man's blessing. He is a living expression of love; and uniquely so. because he is tl’.e self-existent One. In due time when man is restored to the image of God, he too will be a living expression of love, though with a much more limited sphere of activity titan that of the heavenly Father.

“Herein is manifested the love of God toward us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might have life through him."

The Father loved us and (ids loxe moved linn to do something for us, even though it caused him the sacrifice of the dearest treasure of his heart. The thing that we needed to have done most of all. the thing necessary to be done before any other blessings could be bestowed upon us was to redeem us or relieve us from the sentence of death under which we were born. As long as that sentence was over us nothing of :iuy extent could be done for us ; for, though love is much, love is not all. Love prompts, hut justice directs and steadies in all Jehovah’s perfect doings.

How simply and briefly the story of redemption is here told | The motive for, the act of and the benefits of the plan of salvation are narrated in just a few precious words. Let the wise ones of the world laugh to scorn the plan devised for their own blessing and happiness. “He that loveth not knoweth not God." There being no responsive note in their beings, they cannot understnd how God feels toward them and toward us. In due time they shall be confused and ashamed of their present views.

THE SAVIOR NEEDED

Without a vicarious savior our prospects for life or blessing on any plane would have been hopeless. So when there was no other eye to pity and no other arm to save God’s own n rm brought salvation. The Lord, the perfect Expression of Jehovah’s will and purpose, left the ivory palaces of glory where he was rich in power, position, and opportunities. He came to earth and was made into a human being by the process of begetting, conception, development, and birth. He grew in wisdom and stature until he attained the age of thirty years. There, being sinless and perfect, he gave himself a ransom, a corresponding, a substitutionary price for all of Adam’s race. (1 Timothy 2:5,6) They had been -condemned in one man ; they could therefore all be redeemed by one man.—1 Corinthians 15: 22.

Jesus gave his perfect human life to be an offset price for the sin of Adam; and since we received our condemnation through that sin (Romans 5: IS) we can receive freedom from that condemnation through the perfect obedience of Jesus. (Romans 5:19) The condemnation brought death (Romans 6:23) ; freedom from that condemnation brings life. This life has been available during the gospel age to those who have had the faith to commit themselves to the Lord’s arrangements. For the rest of men it will be available under the Messianic reign ; for, it must be remembered, “He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world’1.—1 John 2:2.

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

The Apostle would have us understand that our love is nothing except as it is a copy ot God’s love; and If It is a copy then it is unworthy of being pointed to as a standard. The loftiest manifestation of unselfish love is seen in the arrangement of God wherein his love prompted his wisdom to devise a plan wherein his justice could remain inviolate and his power at the same time perform the redemption of a race sold under sin. Nothing but pure benevolence could have prompted such a course; for it would surely have lieen less trouble for the Almighty to start a new race.

AN INDEX OF GOD’S WILL

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

The conclusion is irresistible. The child of God who, out of choice and preference, lias agreed to take Jehovah’s will as his own is anxious to discern all the leadings of divine grace which will point him to a clearer comprehension of that will, if we see in God’s Word that he hates evil, then we hate evil, too; for we are sure that his judgment is accu-late and his taste dependable. On the other hand, if we see that his love is set upon a certain class of people, mean and despised though they be in the sight of the world, our love goes out to that class because we have faith that the henYeidy Father would not love that which is totally unwort h> ol his love. Any other attitude than tills would be dangerous for the new creature; for it would be placing our on n Judgment ahead of the Lord’:.:. It wotdd be essen-tiall.Y sajing that we thought the Lord was too gullible: that he had allowed himself to be taken in by those poor social outcasts; but that ire have no intention of being duped in :nij such manner as that. We’v<> had too much experience for that, etc., etc.

"No man hath beheld God at any time: if we love one another God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us: hereby we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he hall, given us of his spirit.”

Eiei. in his perfect state man is not so constructed that lie can behold the glory of God and live. He can learn about him through messages, through his works, and through his dealings with other individual creatures. There are even imperfect manifeslntions of God’s character in man,'who was once made in the image and likeness of God. With new creatures in Christ much more marked manifestations of Jehovah's character should be discoverable; but in the life and character of our Lord Jesus the most complete delineation of Jehovah which is possible for us to grasp while yet in fleshly organisms is made.—John 14:7.

“GOD DWELLETH IN YOU”

If we love one another and to the extent that we love one another we are actuated by the same motive that is so noticeable in the Father; thus and to this extent God dwelleth in us. This does not mean that God as a person dwells inside of us, that we are obsessed, so to speak, but that the divine principles which make him the God that he is are also operating in us. God Jehovah is most certainly a person, but that person is not scattered about in some hazy, willy-nilly manner through all the universe, as Pantheism would have us believe.

The Revised Version says that "his love is perfected in us” if we love one another. Literally the Greek text says: “His love, having been perfected, is in us”. Both thoughts are good and edifying. His love having been manifested In a perfect degree in the sending forth of his Son to die as man’s Redeemer, is in us if we have the mind in us which was in Christ Jesus, if we have the disposition to lay down our lives for his brethren and for the benefit of the world. If we love the Lord’s brethren for the same reasons that he loved them, because Jehovah loves loves them and because they are in need of his services, rather than because of any fancy frills or furbelows of dress, endowment, or conduct, then the same kind of love which he showed in perfect form is in us. though with us it is in a meager degree.

We are given an assurance of the unity of purpose which exists between us and our heavenly Father in the fact that he lias given us of his spirit. The anointing which we have received of him abides tn u» and his spirit bears witness with our spirits that we stand to Idin in the relationship of sons. We know his spirit, or holy power, is operating in us because since we are Ids «i> are able to do things in the shape of subjugating our Indies to the accomplishment of ■commendable purposes str li as we were not able to do in ■our own strength. God's Holy spirit operates in us also to the displacement of ideals and objects of attachment which once governed us. Human power alone would not have been able to do this.

BEHOLDING AND BEARING WITNESS

“And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father hath sent the Son to Im' the Savior of the world. Whosoever shall confess that .Jesus is the Son of God. God abideth in turn and lie in God."

The Apostle had beheld and borne witness in a very person.d way. as did all of the apostles: but those of us who have not seen Jesus in the flesh behold his position in the du me plan and the importance of his work in the carrying out i>f that plan. Though we have not seen the living Word in person, we have the printed Word, concerning which we boar testimony to all who Iiaie ears to hear.

He who really believes that Jesus is the Son of God will have no trouble in confessing his belief, though that confession bo mot with scorn from the worldly wise. The way he confesses his faith is not by mere words, which might be repeated parrot-like, but by openly espousing the facts of Jesus’ divine sonship Whoever does this gives himself to Hie divine nrrnngenu’tiIs anil, during the acceptable time, i- taken into the divine family, having approached God through faith in Ilie meritorious work of Jesus. Jehovah accepts him as a joint sacrilicer vv itli Christ, and starts in him a new lite intended Io oieuluatc in a new and glormus existence of a very high order. The relationship of father and son is thus established The divine energizing power is working and keeps working in him: and 7ic abides m God's arrangements for ins blessing and for the accomplishment of all Jehovah's purposes in and through him

LOVE PROVED AND BPI IEVED IN

’ "And we know and have believed the love which God hath towaid us. God is love; and lie that abideth in love abideth in God. and God abideth in him.”

If spell words eame from an inexperienced person they would carry but little weight : but all of the Apostle's momentous life stands back of these simple words. A mere lad when he walked the shores of Galilee with his Master and Friend, or when ho threaded the throngs of the city of David, he evidently had that rare combination of love and loyalty which made him an object of special attraction to the Lord. Now the Apostle was an old ntan; he was the last of the twelve, and many had been the vicissitudes through which lie had come to the bleak Isle of Patmos. The way from Pentecost to Patmos had been strewn with many thorns and rocky barriers, when viewed from the standpoint of human comfort. But bls love and loyalty had grown with the passing years, until there was none of the twelve more steady, none more tender.

Had he not known that God loved him, had he not believed it in the fullest sense he could never have gone through all that he had experienced for the testimony of Jesus and for the Word of God. And how did he know that God loved him’' His Muster had said as much : “The Father hi-mself loveth you".—John 16:27.

God is love, though love Is not properly God. Adam’s mistake was In making love his god, and in thus displacing Jehovah from the position which he alone should occupy. He that abides in the sunshine of divine love abides in God. abides within the scope of his plan ; and if he persists in exercising the same kind of love which God has for his people, then God's character. God's spirit, abides in him

…