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~[A'
1.1901
ZION'S
WATCH
TOWER
(160
lid)
the
little
company
who
were
present
on
that
memorable
oc
casion
centuries
ago,
when
our
Savior
as
a
man
celebrated
the
Passover
with
his
disciples.
We
trust
howevpr,
that
.Judas
was
not
represented.
Although
few
in
number,
each
one
seemed
animated
by
the
same
Spirit,
and
I
think
all
felt
like
saying
with
Paul,
-"God
forbid
that
I
should
glory,
save
in
the
cross
of
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ,
by
whom
the
world
is
crucified
unto
me
and
I
unto
the
world."
I
believe
each
one
present
was
strengthened
by
that
true
Bread
from
heavpn,
and
that
all
departed
with
a
stronger
determination,
if
possible,
to
"run
with
patience
the
race
which
is
set
before
us,"
and
to
"press
toward
the
mark
for
the
prize
of
the
high
calling."
The
church
here
unite
in
expressing
their
Christian
love
to
you.
We
all
pray
that
the
Father
may
strengthen
and
keep
you,
enabling
you
to
give
to
his
loved
ones
the
"meat
m
due
season."
With
best
wishes,
I
am
your
brother
in
Christ,
E.
F.
CRIST,-N
ew
Yark.
DEAR
BROTHER
:-Sbter
Black
and
I
partook
of
the
em
blems
with
Sister
Hasson,
at
her
home.
We
had
a
blessed
season,
entering
into
fellowship,
in
our
thoughts
and
prayers,
with
the
different
groups
and
single
celebrants
all
over
the
field.
As
a
result
we
hope
to
take
up
our
work
with
arlded
zeal
and
courage.
Your
brother
in
the
blessed
hope,
\V.
W.
BLAcK,-Ma.ssachusetts.
DEAR
BRaTTIER
RUSSELL:-Have
just
concluded
Memorial
service
this
evening.
Myself
and
wife
only.
We
have
had
a
profitable
hour
and
have
been
greatly
blessed,
as
I
hope
many
of
the
little
circles
of
the
household
have
heen
this
evening'
We
purposed
going
to
Clifton
to
meet
the
friends
there
for
this
occasion,
but
snow
storm
and
muddy
roads
rendered
it
out
of
the
question.
Please
accept
our
very
kind
regards
and
believe
us
to
be
yours
in
Christ.
F.
J.
&
E.
CHAPMAN,-Kansa.s
DEAR
BROTHER
:-The
church
at
Portsmouth
celebrated
the
Memorial
Supper
last
night.
There
were
present
eight
brethren
and
one
sister,
besides
another
lady
who
does
not
hold
with
us.
Great
solemnity
and
profound
joy
pervaded
every
heart.
All
agreed
in
saying
it
was
"good
to
be
there."
Yours
in
him,
\VM.
\V.
MURRAY,-Virgwla.
DEAR
BROTHER
RUSSELL:-I
write
also
to
tell
vou
of
the
great
blessing
which
all
received
in
the
celebration
of
the
Lord's
Memorial
Supper
last
night.
We
met
in
a
parlor
and
had
the
comfort
of
havin~
with
us
many
who
live
too
far
to
attend
our
regular
meetmgs.
There
were
probably
twenty
five
in
all
present.
All
seemed
fully
consecrated
to
the
Lord,
and
many
were
the
moistened
eyes,
as
all
whom
the
time
would
permit
gave
testimony
of
their
gratitude
to
the
Master
for
his
great
gift
of
himsplf
for
us.
Our
thoughts
were
es
pecially
prepared
for
the
Memoria
1
by
a
good-sized
meeting
Sunday
morning,
when
Brother
Wyndeltz,
in
a
marvelously
clear
manner.
brought
out
the
subject
·of
the
ransom,
the
Pass
over;
and
how
it
is
our
blessed
privilege
to
be
joint
partici
pators
in
that
one
loaf.
We
had
you
and
the
Allegheny
work
in
memory
to
the
Lord
in
prayer
that
he
may
graciously
guide
and
preserve
you,
and
C'oniinllP
thp
blessingR
you
have
here-
tofore
bestowed.
All
join
me
in
love
to
you
and
the
dear
brethren
at
Allp
J{hpny.
Yours
in
our
dpar
Rprlepmer,
S.
H.
fT118'l'ON,-Tel'u.'
VOL.
XXII
ALLEGHENY,
PA.,
MAY
15,
1901
No.
10
FRESH
ATTACKS
UPON
THE
BIBLE
..
\\'
ounlled
in
the
house
of
its
friend'S,"
is
certainly
true
of
the
Bible
today;
for
it
has
no
outside
foes
one-half
so
antagonistic,
so
injU!
ious.
But
it
is
not
the
Bible's
friends
who
thus
attack
it-but
enemies,
who
under
guise
of
being
its
friends
have
received
honored
positions
in
the
household
of
faith,-who,
from
the
vantage
point
of
its
pulpits
and
col·
legps
and
erlitorial
chairs,
insidiously
stab
the
Bible,
while
profpssing
to
10ye
and
rpverence
it.
Three
volumes
have
jU'3t
issuf'd
from
the
press,
each
one
ralculatpd
to
unrlermine,
shake
and
overthrow
the
faith
of
many
of
God's
people.
who
could
not
be
reached
or
shaken
by
thp
same
testimony
if
it
reached
them
from
disreputable
or
infirlel
sOllrce~.
The
first
of
thesp
is
volume
III.
of
the
series
beina
published
by
the
higher
critic,s.
The
second
is
by
Rev.
Lym~n
Abbott,
D.
D.,
succps~or
to
Henr~'
Ward
"Beecher
in
Plymouth
pulpit,
but
now
pJitor
of
the
Outlook.
The
third
iR
hv
.Judge
Charles
B.
Waite.
,
It
is
not
for
us
to
judge
that
tIl\'sl'
e8Rayi~t8
are
dishonest;
nor
that
they
are
seeking
re
W:lrrl~
of
fame
as
leaders
of
thought,
in
a
direction
toward
which
n
11
but
the
very
few
will
shortly
follow
them,
"as
sheep
having
no
shppherd."
Rather,
we
will
suppose
these
writers
to
be
thoroughly
honest-intent
upon
tplling
the
truth
as
it
appe:trs
to
them.
Indpl'd,
we
see
in
this
movement
a
fulfil
ment.
of
thp
TIiblf"S
prediC'tions
reslwcting
our
day,
the
ending
of
tlw
prpsent
age.
\Ve
may
pot
sbte
the
111.1tter
too
strongly
when
we
de
('lare
that
God
is
back
of
the
many
present-day
movements
which
are
ensnaring
many
Rnd
making
shipwreck
of
their
faith,
in
the
sense
that
he
designedly
does
not
hinder
such
prrOIll'OUS
preRPntations,
but,
on
the
contrary,
permits
circum
stances
to
foster
Rnd
prosper
them.
Thus
the
Lord
declares
through
the
Apostle,
"God
shall
send
thpm
strong
delusions
that
they
may
believe
a
lie:
that
they
all
might
be
damned
[condemned,
as
unworthy
a
place
in
the
Bride
of
Christ]
who
believed
not
the
truth,
but
had
pleasure
in
unrighteousness;
because
they
received
not
the
love
of
tIle
truth
that
thl'Y
might
be
saved."-2
Thes.
2:
10-12.
The
very
men
who
are
thus
becoming'
blind
leaders
of
the
blind
into
the
ditch
of
unbelief
are
men
who
have
had
first
class
opportunities
as
respects
education
and
opportunities
for
Bible
study;
men
who,
had
they
lovl'd
the
truth
and
sought
it,
wouIn.
have
founa
it
clear,
convincing,
precious;
but
who,
reo
jecting
the
Lord's
leading,
and
leaning'
to
their
own
under
standmgs,
have
become
vain
in
their
imaginations;
have
cut
loose
from
their
faith-anC'horage,
and
are
helplessly
drifting
thpy
know
not
whither.
'Does
some
one
say,-It
is
Rtrange
that
God
should
prosper
rather
than
oppose
these
strong
delusions!
Yes,
and
the
Lord
himself
calls
it
"his
strange
work,"
"his
strange
aet."
(Isa
28
:21)
Describing
this
"strange"
prospering
of
error
and
unbelief
the
Lord
says:-
"Wherefore
the
Lord
said,
Forasmuch
as
this
people
draw
near
me
with
their
mouth,
and
with
their
lip
do
honor
me,
but
have
rpmoved
their
heart
far
from
me,
and
their
fear
toward
me
is
taught
by
the
precept
of
men:
therefore
behold.
I
will
proceed
to
do
a
marvelous
work
among
this
people,
even
a
marvelous
work
and
a
wonder
[miraclp1:
for
the
wisdom
of
their
wise
men
shall
perish
and
the
understanding
of
their
prudent
men
shall
be
hid."-Isa.
29:
1::1,
14.
This
language
was
applicable
to
typical
Israpl
at
thp
first
advent,
and
consequently
is
applicable
to
nominal,
spiritual
Israf'1
in
the
present
"harH'st"
time
of
this
Gospel
agp.
Thp
above
is
merely
a
rehearRal
of
what
the
Prophet
explains
more
in
dpta
il
in
thf'
previous
chaptpr.
(l
"a
28)
In
Ver~l'A
!l
to
12
the
Lord
explains
the
preaching
of
his
D1essage
through
im
perfpct
human
lips,
and
that
this
message,
rightly
received.
should
have
brought
rest
and
refreshment
for
the
weary
and
heavy
laden:
yet
to
the
rna
jority
its
blessl'd
inftuenC'es
werl.'
lost,
so
that
as
a
whole
Ch.ristendom
or
C'hurchianity
is
about
to
go
backward
and
fall
and
be
broken
and
snared
and
taken
in
the
general
unbelief
that
i'\
even
now
sweeping
over
thl'
civilized
worM.-Verse
13.
The
secret
strength
of
this
delusion.
which
has
made
thl'
Word
of
God
of
no
effect
throu~h
human
tradition,
and
pre
pares
the
way
for
this
great
faIling
away,
is
mentionpa
in
verses
15
and
18.
It
is
the
covenant
made
by
the
great
tpach
ers
with
death,
and
their
agref'meflt
with
hpJI
(sheol--thp
grave,
the
state
of
death).
Under
this
agrpement
or
covenant,
which
all
the
creeds
of
Christpndom
endorse,
death,
which
God's
Word
styles
an
"enem'Ij,"
is
accepted
as
a
friend;
whilp
the
grave,
the
Bible
teaC'hps
us,
is
the
great
prison-houge
of
mankind,
from
which
in
due
time
the
glorifiea
Christ
will
de
liver
all
of
the
prisonprs
who
will
accept
his
rightpous
terms
by
restitution
proC'psRPR.-Lukp
4:
IR-21;
.John
!'i
:28,
29;
ActR
3:19-21.
''Hear
the
word
of
the
Lord.
yC'
~C'oruflll
men
[dIsdaining
teachers]
that
rule
this
people."
You
have
thought
it
wise
to
teach
the
people
that
death
and
the
tomb
are
not
enpmies
that
the
dead
are
more
alive
tllan
evpr
they
were,
either
in
a
plaC'e
of
bliss
or
of
tormpnt.
You
fearpa
to
tpll
the
people
the
truth.
that
the
dead
are
dead.
lpst
this
should
decrease
vour
superstItious
hold
over
the
minds
of
the
people.
\'
ou
s'aid'
The
people
will
prefer
to
think
of
thpir
friends
going
at
oncp
to
glory,
without
waiting
for
the
;l('C'ond
C'oming
of
ChriRt.
IV-S
[28131
Max I, 1901 the little company who were present on that memorable occasion centuries ago, when our Savior as a man celebrated the Passover with his disciples. We trust however, that Judas was not represented. Although few in number, each one seemed animated by the same Spirit, and I think all felt like saying with Paul, —"“God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world.” [I believe each one present was strengthened by that true Bread from heaven, and that all departed with a stronger determination, if possible, to “run with patience the race which is set before us,” and to “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling.” The church here unite in expressing their Christian love to you. We all pray that the Father may strengthen and keep you, enabling you to give to his loved ones the “meat im due season.” With best wishes, I am your brother in Christ, E. F. Crist,—New York. Dear BrotnErR:—Sister Black and I partook of the emblems with Sister Hasson, at her home. We had a blessed season, entering into fellowship, in our thoughts and prayers, with the different groups and single celebrants all over the field. As a result we hope to take up our work with added zeal and courage. Your brother in the blessed hope, W. W. Biack,—Massachusetts. Dear Brotner RussELL:—Have just concluded Memorial service this evening. Myself and wife only. We have had a profitable hour and have been greatly blessed, as I hope many of the little circles of the household have been this evening: ZION’S WATCH TOWER (160 163) We purposed going to Clifton to meet the friends there for this occasion, but snow storm and muddy roads rendered it out of the question. Please accept our very kind regards and believe us to be yours in Christ. F. J. & E, CuapMan,—-Kansas Drak BroTHER:—The church at Portsmouth celebrated the Memorial Supper last night. There were present eight brethren and one sister, besides another lady who does not hold with us. Great solemnity and profound joy pervaded every heart. All agreed in saying it was “good to be there.” Yours in him, Wa. W. Murray,—Virginia. DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:—J write also to tell you of the great blessing which all received in the celebration of the Lord’s Memorial Supper last night. We met in a parlor and had the comfort of having with us many who live too far to attend our regular meetings. There were probably twentyfive in all present. All seemed fully consecrated to the Lord, and many were the moistened eyes, as all whom the time would permit gave testimony of their gratitude to the Master for his great gift of himself for us. Our thoughts were especially prepared for the Memorial by a good-sized meeting Sunday morning, when Brother Wyndeltz, in a marvelously clear manner, brought out the subject*of the ransom, the Passover; and how it is our blessed privilege to be joint participators in that one loaf. We had you and the Allegheny work in memory to the Lord in prayer that he may graciously guide and preserve you, and continue the blessings you have heretofore bestowed. All join me in love to you and the dear brethren at Alle gheny. Yours in our dear Redeemer, S. H. Hustron,—Teras Vou. XXIT “ALLEGHENY, FRESH ATTACKS “Wounded in the house of its friends,” is certainly true of the Bible today; for it has no outside foes one-half so antagonistic, so injuious. But it is not the Bible’s friends who thus attack it—but enemies, who under guise of being its friends have received honored positions in the household of faith,__who, from the vantage point of its pulpits and colleges and editorial chairs, insidiously stab the Bible, while professing to love and reverence it. Three volumes have just issued from the press, each one calculated to undermine, shake and overthrow the faith of many of God’s people, who could not be reached or shaken by the same testimony if it reached them from disreputable or infidel sources. The first of these is volume Ir. of the series being published by the higher critics. The second is by Rev. Lyman Abbott, D. D., successor to Henry Ward Beecher in Plymouth pulpit, but now editor of the Outlook. The third is by Judge Charles B, Waite. . It is not for us to judge that these essayists are dishonest; nor that they are seeking rewards of fame ag leaders of thought, in a direction toward which all but the very few will shortly follow them, “as sheep having no shepherd.” Rather, we will suppose these writers to be thoroughly honest—intent upon telling the truth as it appears to them. Indeed, we see in this movement a fulfilment. of the Bible’s predictions respecting our day, the ending of the present age. We may not state the matter too strongly when we declare that God is back of the many present-day movements which are ensnaring many and making shipwreck of their faith, in the sense that he designedly does not hinder such erroneous presentations, but, on the contrary, permits circumstances to foster and prosper them. Thus the Lord declares through the Apostle, “God shall send them strong delusions that they may believe a lie: that they all might be damned {condemned, as unworthy a place in the Bride of Christ] who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness ;— because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved.”—2 Thes. 2:10-12. The very men who are thus becoming blind leaders of the blind into the ditch of unbelief are men who have had firstclass opportunities as respects education and opportunities for Bible study; men who, had they loved the truth and sought it, would have found it clear, convincing, precious; but who, rejecting the Lord’s leading, and leaning to their own understandings, have become vain in their imaginations; have cut loose from their faith-anchorage, and are helplessly drifting— they know not whither. Does some one say,—It is strange that God should prosper Iv—s rather than oppose these strong delusions! Yes, and the Lord himself calls it “his strange work,” “his strange act.” (Isa 28:21) Describing this “strange” prospering of error and unbelief the Lord says:— “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch ag this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lip do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: therefore behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder [miracle]: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.”—Isa, 29:18, 14. This language was applicable to typical Israel at the first advent, and consequently is applicable to nominal, spiritual] Israel in the present “harvest” time of this Gospel age. The above is merely a rehearsal of what the Prophet explains more in detail in the previous chapter. (Iya 28) In verses 9 to 12 the Lord explains the preaching of his message through im perfect human lips, and that this message, rightly received. should have brought rest and refreshment for the weary and heavy laden: yet to the majority its blessed influences were lost, so that as a whole Christendom or churchianity is about to go backward and fall and be broken and snared and taken in the general unbelief that is even now sweeping over the civilized world.—Verse 13. The secret strength of this delusion, which has made the Word of God of no effect through human tradition, and prepares the way for this great falling away, is mentioned in verses 15 and 18. It is the covenant made by the great teach ers with death, and their agreemeht with hell (shkeol—the grave, the state of death). Under this agreement or covenant, which all the creeds of Christendom endorse, death, which God’s Word styles an “enemy,” is accepted as a friend; while the grave, the Bible teaches us, is the great prison-house of mankind, from which in due time the glorified Christ will deliver all of the prisoners who will accept his righteous terms— by restitution proecesses.—Luke 4:18-21; John 8:28, 29; Acts 3:19-21, “Hear the word of the Lord. ye scornful men [disdaining teachers] that rule this people.” You have thought it wise to teach the people that death and the tomb are not enemies— that the dead are more alive than ever they were, either in a place of bliss or of torment. You feared to tell the people the truth, that the dead are dead, lest this should decrease your superstitious hold over the minds of the people. You saidThe people will prefer to think of their friends going at once to glory, without waiting for the second coming of Christ. [2813]
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