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JUNE
1,
1902
ZION'S
WATCH
TOWER
(175-179)
such
as,
it
would
appear,
was
not
unusual
where.
the
numbers
"ere
insufficient
to
erect
a
synagogue.
It
is
pOSSible,
too,
that
this
city,
being
du
ectly
under
the
Roman
government,
pro
hibited
synagogues
within
its
walls.
We
note
the
course
of
the
apostles
here,
in
the
presenta
tion
of
the
gospel.
They
did
not
go
to
the
chief
magistrates
of
the
city
and
say,
Please
direct
us
to
y.our
~os~
degraded
population,
the
wickedest
people
you
have
m
thiS
City,
for
we
\\'18h
to
prell.ch
the
gospel
to
t~em.
a!ld
reform.
them.
On
the
contrary,
they
evidently
made
mqmnes
respect~ng
pe~ple
who
already
knew
God
and
reverenced
and
worshiped
hun;
and
however
small
th~lr
number
and
unimposing
their
meeting
place
thither
the
Apostle
and
his
companions
went.
He
knew,
as
~ny
at
the
present
time
s?em
not
to
kn~w,
that
,?od's
\\ork
now
is
not
that
of
reformmg
the
world,
IS
not
a
slu:m
"'01
k,"
but
a
seeking
and
gath~ring
of
th~
"j?wels;
"-a
.mls
sion
for
those
who
Itre
hungenng
and
thustmg
after
nght
eommess
'-a
hunt
for
those
whose
hearts
all.'
tender
and
broken
~nd
the
I
efol
e
ready
for
the
balm
of
Gilead,
the
gospel
message
of
redemption
and
delIverance
from
sin
and
i~s
pen
alty.
Whatever
others
may
do,
let
us
f.ollow
th.e
S~nptural
precedents-let
us
be
laborers
togethu
With
God
m
hiS
work;
the
results
will
justify
this
course,
when
this
age
shall
have
fully
ended,
and
the
things
now
hidden
to
so
many
shall
~e
revealed,
and
they
shall
learn
that
God's
ways.
were
not.
their
ways,
nor
his
plans
their
plans,
but.
that
hiS
were
higher,
broader,
grander,
as
the
heavens
are
higher
tha!!
the
earth
that
his
time
for
the
reformation
of
the
world
IS
future,
and
that
the
present
is
his
tir;le
for
sele~ting
the
kingdom
class,
which
shall
bring
about
tIns
reformatIon.
The
text
of
the
Apostle's
discourse
is
not
given.
We
know,
!level
thcless,
quite
distmctly
what
his
message
was.
He
had
only
the
one
message;
viz.,
that
God's
promises
I;Uade
to
Abra·
ham
were
begmning
to
be.
fulfilled;
that
Mes~lah.
had
c?me
and
had
paid
the
ransom-pnce
for.
t.he
.world,
as
Its
sm-offen.n~,
and
that
now
forgiveness,
recor.clhatwn
to
God,
and
a
pnvI
lege
of
joint-heirship
in
the
kingdom,
was
being
offered,
"to
thl'
Jew
first
an(l
also
to
the
Gentile
;"-and
that
whosoever
accepted
the
'call
in
honesty
of
heart,
and
was
faithf~l
to.
i!,
would
have
not
only
the
joy
and
peace
of
the
Lord
s
spmt
alll!
bles~mg
m
the
present
tIme,
but
also
a
share
in
the
glory
to
follow
by
and
by.
In
the
auuience
was
a
woman
from
Thyatira,
of
the
very
district
(Asia
:Minor)
into
which
the
Apostle
was
not
per
mitted
to
enter
and
preach.
She
was
in
Philippi,
probably
telllporanly,
engaged
in
merchandising-a
seller
of
purple
perhaps
of
purple
dyes,
or
possibly
of
purple-dyed
cloth.
Dye
mg
and
dyes
had
not
reached
present
development,
and
the
processes
were
generally
secret,
and
profitable
to
those
who
un(lerstood
them.
It
is
presumed,
therefore,
that
Lydia
was
well
to
do
in
this
world's
goods,
as
well
as
rich
toward
God
in
faith.
Like
the
Apostle,
she
had
sought
out
the
place
of
prayer,
and
now
the
Lord
had
rewarded
her
and
answered
her
pI
ayers
by
sending
her
the
truth
for
which
she
had
been
.hun
gerincr
and
thirsting.
She
and
some
of
her
household
belIeved
and
~vere
promptly
baptized
in
confession
of
their
faith;
possibly
on
this
very
Sabbath
day
in
which
she
first
heard.
Where
the
heart
is
in
a
condition
of
readiness,
obelience
does
not
need
to
be
delayed,
nor
does
it
require
long
to
de-
cide
to
be
on
the
Lord's
side,
and
to
be
obedient
to
the
voice
of
the
good
message
which
he
sends
us.
This
attitude
of
Lydia's
heart
is
noted
in
the
lesson,
in
the
words,
"whose
heart
the
Lord
had
opened."
We
are
not
to
suppose
a
miracle
wrought
1Jl
her
case,
to
open
Iter
Iteart
to
the
truth;
we
afl'
rather
to
suppose
that
it
was
in
her
case
as
it
is
in
the
case
of
all
the
Lord's
people;
that
none
are
ready
for
the
truth
unless
the
Lord
has
prepared
their
hearts.
And
0,
how
much
this
preparation
of
heart
means!-often
tnals,
disappolllt
ments,
difficulties,
etc.--ihe
processes
by
which
the
Lord
breaks
up
and
mellows
and
makes
the
SOlI
of
our
hearts
fit
for
the
receivmg
of
his
truth
and
grace.
No
doubt
LydIa,
after
receiving
the
truth,
looked
back
at
past
experiences,
se
vel
e
ordeals,
etc.,
aml
could
praise
God
for
the
leadings
of
his
providence
by
which
her
heart
had
bef'n
"broken"
allli
humbled
and
made
readv
for
the
seed
of
truth-I
cady
to
appreciate,
not
only
the
good
things
which
God
h~tlt
in
resl'rvation
for
them
that
love
him,
but
ready
al"o
to
appreelute
his
prollli~ed
watch-care
in
their
affairs
1Il
the
present
time,
guaranteeu
to
\\ork
out
blessings
to
those
W]IO
abide
in
his
loye.
Having
receiveu
the
truth,
anu
some
of
its
joy,
Lydia
not
only
confessed
the
Lord,
but
sought
means
to
SCI
Ye
him.
She
could
not
join
the
Apostle's
company
as
an
evangeli8t
of
the
good
tidings,
but
she
could
entntain
and
SCI
ve
Paul
and
his
associates,
and
did
so.
No
doubt
she
receive(l
more
than
com
pensation
for
tIte
expense
and
trouble,
in
spiritual
ril'he8
and
refreshment
;-but
nothing
in
the
narrative
implies
that
cven
this
laudable
selfishness
aetuate<l
her.
Apparently
her
sole
desire
was
to
serve
the
Lord,
and
she
saw
the
opportunity
for
this
in
rendering
service
to
his
representatives.
She
esteeme(l
it
it
privilege,
and
so
expressed
herself,
saying,
"If
ye
have
judged
me
to
be
faithful
to
the
Lord,
cOllle
into
my
house
and
abide."
"-hen
we
remember
the
l\faster's
own
words.
"He
that
re
ceiveth
you,
receiveth
me;
and
he
that
receiveth
me
receiveth
him
that
sent
me,"
we
can
see
that
Lydia
took
no
f'xtreme
view
of
her
privilege
and
opportunity
in
connection
with
this
service.
Her
whole
question
was
whether
the
Apostle
and
his
companions
would
honor
her
dwelling
with
their
presence.
The
same
principle
is
truc
and
applicable
today,
and
conduct
similar
to
that
of
Lydia
is
always
to
be
considered
a
fayorable
Bign
indicating
deep
love
for
the
Lord
and
for
the
good
tidings.
The
messengers
of
the
good
tidings
must
necessanly
always
be
associated
in
our
minds
with
the
message
which
they
bear,
aTIlI
the
great
King
whom
they
represent.
Our
Golden
Tl'xt
calls
for
just
a
won1
of
cOIllJllent.
It
represents
the
Lord's
message
to
Paul.
It
can
be
umll'1
stood
only
when
we
remember
that
up
to
that
time
God's
message
was
not
sent
to
all
men,
nor
to
all
nations,
but
merely
to
the
men
of
one
nation,
the
Jews.
Henceforth
it
was
open
to
all;
-to
be
delivered
to
all,
as
they
might
have
ears
to
hen
r
it.
This
explanation
will
be
found
a
key
also
for
various
other
Scriptures,
referring
to
all
people,
all
nations,
and
thc
preach
ing
of
the
Gospel
to
them
during
the
present
age.
It
is
to
and
for
as
many
as
"have
an
ear
to
hear"-we
are
to
let
such
hear.
Tho
these
will
in
all
be
but
a
"little
flock,"
yet
it
is
the
Father's
good
pleasure
to
give
to
this
littlc
flock
the
kingdom
under
which
all
the
families
of
the
earth
shall
be
blessed
and
brought
to
an
accurate
knowledge
of
the
truth.
Luke
12:
32;
I
Tim.
2:
4,
Diaglott.
VOL.
XXIII
ALLEGHENY,
P
A.,
JUNE
15,
1902
VIEWS
FROM
THE
WATCH
TOWER
"\'0.
1:2
THE
UNREST
IN
RUSSIA
Under
this
heading
the
London
"Spectator"
(a
very
con
sf'rvative
journal)
gives
further
details
of
recent
occurrences
and
grounds
for
expectation
that
some
sort
of
a
revolution
in
Russia
is
rather
to
be
expected
soon.
It
represents
the
Czar
as
the
helpless
and
unwilling
tool
of
the
Russian
no
bility,
and
points
out
that
the
latter
may
feel
forced
to
go
to
war
in
order
to
awaken
"patriotism,"
and
keep
its
hold
on
the
government.
Evidently
Russia
will
hold
together
as
a
great
nation
for
some
time,
for
it
seems
indicated
as
one
of
the
leading
actors,
up
to
the
close
in
the
great
time
of
trou
ble
impending.
'Ve
give
some
extracts
from
the
"Spectator,"
(May
3)
which
go
to
show
that
the
least
enlightened
of
the
civilized
peoples
of
the
world
is
awakening
and
getting
ready
for
the
great
affray,-as
follows:-
"Accounts
of
the
unrest
in
Russia
grow
more
serious.
It
is
statpd
that
the
sufferings
of
the
peasantry
in
the
South,
the
most
populous
and
richest
division
of
the
Empire,
involve
actual
hunger,
and
that
in
the
provinces
of
Pultawa
and
Khar·
koff
the
peasants
have
proclaimed
'war
to
the
castle.'
Eighty
reRidencps
of
landlords
have
been
sacked,
and
the
local
offi-
cials
are
so
terrified
that
the
Ministry
of
the
Intel
ior,
]\1.
Plehve,
has
gone
himself
to
the
disturbed
dIstricts
to
brace
up
the
bureaucracy.
The
artisans
everywhere
are
clamoring
against
their
employers,
who,
poor
people,
find
01
dcrs
so
short
that
they
recently
appealed
for
Government
help,
an(l
circu
lar'!
have
been
discovered
directed
against
the
'foreign
devils'
who
as
foremen
and
overseers
try
to
exccute
the
owners'
commands.
The
students
have,
it
is
said,
circulated
a
forged
ukase
bestowing
the
land
on
the
peasantry,
and
the
leaders
of
the
artisans
have
formulated
their
demands,
which
are
the
ordinary
demands
of
English
workmen,
with
the
significant
('xception
that
they
ask
for
a
day
of
ten
and
a
half
hours.
It
is
reported,
moreover,
that
the
'moral
tone'
of
the
non
commissioned
officers
can
only
be
tru'!ted
when
they
are
peas
ants,
and
that
pea'!ants
of
sufficient
cultivation
are
not
al
ways
in
the
ranks.
Altogether,
there
is
an
ominous
stirring
among
the
dry
bones,
society
in
St.
Petersburg
and
Moscow
is
divided,
and
there
are
furious
dissensions
among
the
group
around
the
Czar.
"The
unrest
is
more
serious
even
than
we
thought
.
.
.
.
.
As
far
as
we
can
ascertain,
the
case
stands
thus:
There
has
[3023]
June 1, 1902 such as, it would appear, was not unusual where the numbers were insufficient to erect a synagogue. It is possible, too, that this city, being duectly under the Roman government, prohibited synagogues within its walls, We note the course of the apostles here, in the presentation of the gospel. They did not go to the chief magistrates of the city and say, Please direct us to your most degraded population, the wickedest people you have in this city, for we wish to preach the gospel to them and reform them. On the contrary, they evidently made inquiries respecting people who already knew God, and reverenced and worshiped him; and however small their number and unimposing their meeting place, thither the Apostle and his companions went. He knew, as many at the present time seem not to know, that God 8 work now is not that of reforming the world, is not a “slum work,” but a seeking and gathering of the “jewels;”—a mission for those who are hungering and thirsting after righteousness;—a hunt for those whose hearts are tender and broken, and therefore ready for the balm of Gilead, the gospel message of redemption and deliverance from sin and its penalty. Whatever others may do, let us follow the Scriptural precedents—let us be laborers together with God in his work; the results will justify this course, when this age shall have fully ended, and the things now hidden to so many shall be revealed, and they shall learn that God’s ways were not their ways, nor his plans their plans, but that his were higher, broader, grander, as the heavens are higher than the earth— that his time for the reformation of the world is future, and that the present is his time for selecting the kingdom class, which shall bring about this reformation. The text of the Apostle’s discourse is not given. We know, neveitheless, quite distinctly what his message was. He had only the one message; viz., that God’s promises made to Abraham were beginning to be fulfilled; that Messiah had come and had paid the ransom-price for the world, as its sin-offering, and that now forgiveness, reconciliation to God, and a privilege of joint-heirship in the kingdom, was being offered, “to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile;”—and that whosoever accepted the call in honesty of heart, and was faithful to it, would have not only the joy and peace of the Lord’s spirit and blessing mm the present time, but also a share in the glory to follow by and by. In the audience was a woman from Thyatira, of the very district (Asia Minor) into which the Apostle wag not permitted to enter and preach. She was in Philippi, probably temporarily, engaged in merchandising—a seller of purple— perhaps of purple dyes, or possibly of purple-dyed cloth. Dyeing and dyes had not reached present development, and the processes were generally secret, and profitable to those who understood them. It is presumed, therefore, that Lydia was well to do in this world’s goods, as well as rich toward God in faith. Like the Apostle, she had sought out the place of prayer, and now the Lord had rewarded her and answered her piayers by sending her the truth for which she had been hungering and thirsting. She and some of her household believed and were promptly baptized in confession of their faith ;— possibly on this very Sabbath day in which she first heard. Where the heart is in a condition of readiness, obelience does not need to be delayed, nor does it require long to de Vou. XXIIT ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA., JUNE 15, 1902 (175-179) cide to be on the Lord’s side, and to be obedient to the voice of the good message which he sends us. This attitude of Lydia’s heart is noted in the lesson, in the words, “whose heart the Lord had opened.” We are not to suppose a miracle wrought in her case, to open her heart to the truth; we are rather to suppose that it was in her case as it is in the case of ali the Lord’s people; that none are ready for the truth unless the Lord has prepared their hearts. And O, how much this preparation of heart means!—often trials, disappointments, difficulties, etc—the processes by which the Lord breaks up and mellows and makes the soil of our hearts fit for the receiving of his truth and grace. No doubt Lydia, after receiving the truth, looked back at past experiences, severe ordeals, ete., and could praise God for the leadings of his providence by which her heart had been “broken” and humbled and made ready for the seed of truth—ieady to appreciate, not only the good things which God hath in reservation for them that love him, but ready also to appreciate his promised watch-care in their affairs in the present time, guaranteed to work out blessings to those who abide in his love. Having received the truth, and some of its jov, Lydia not only confessed the Lord, but sought means to serve him. She could not join the Apostle’s company as an evangelist of the good tidings, but she could entertain and serve Paul and his associates, and did so. No doubt she received more than com pensation for the expense and trouble, in spiritual riches aud refreshment ;—but nothing in the narrative implies that even this laudable selfishness actuated her. Apparently her sole desire was to serve the Lord, and she saw the opportunity for this in rendering service to his representatives. She esteemed it a privilege, and so expressed herself, saying, “If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide.” When we remember the Master’s own words, “Te that receiveth you, receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me,” we can see that Lydia took no extreme view of her privilege and opportunity in connection with this service. Her whole question was whether the Apostle and his companions would honor her dwelling with their presence. The same principle is true and applicable today, and conduct similar to that of Lydia is always to be considered a favorable sign indicating deep love for the Lord and for the good tidings. The messengers of the good tidings must necessarily always be associated in our minds with the message which they bear, and the great King whom they represent. Our Golden Text calls for just a word of comment. It represents the Lord’s message to Paul. It can be understood only when we remember that up to that time God’s message was not sent to all men, nor to all nations, but merely to the men of one nation, the Jews. Henceforth it was open to all; —to be delivered to all, ag they might have ears to hear it. This explanation will be found a key also for various other Scriptures, referring to all people, all nations, and the preaching of the Gospel to them during the present age. It is to and for as many as “have an ear to hear’—we are to let such hear. Tho these will in all be but a “little flock,” yet it is the Father’s good pleasure to give to this little flock the kingdom under which all the families of the earth shall be blessed and brought to an accurate knowledge of the truth.— Luke 12:32; 1 Tim. 2:4, Diaglott. No. 12 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER THE UNREST IN RUSSIA Under this heading the London “Spectator” (a very conservative journal) gives further details of recent occurrences and grounds for expectation that some sort of a revolution in Russia is rather to be expected soon. It represents the Czar as the helpless and unwilling tool of the Russian nobility, and points out that the latter may feel forced to go to war in order to awaken “patriotism,” and keep its hold on the government. Evidently Russia will hold together as a great nation for some time, for it seems indicated as one of the leading actors, up to the close in the great time of trouble impending. We give some extracts from the “Spectator,” (May 3) which go to show that the least enlightened of the civilized peoples of the world is awakening and getting ready for the great affray,—as follows:— “Accounts of the unrest in Russia grow more serious. It is stated that the sufferings of the peasantry in the South, the most populous and richest division of the Empire, involve actual hunger, and that in the provinces of Pultawa and Khar. koff the peasants have proclaimed ‘war to the castle.’ Eighty residences of landlords have been sacked, and the local offi cials are so terrified that the Ministry of the Interior, M. Plehve, has gone himself to the disturbed districts to brace up the bureaucracy. The artisans everywhere are clamoring against their employers, who, poor people, find o1ders so short that they recently appealed for Government help, and cireulars have been discovered directed against the ‘foreign devils’ who as foremen and overseers try to exccute the owners’ commands. The students have, it is said, circulated a forged ukase bestowing the land on the peasantry, and the leaders of the artisans have formulated their demands, which are the ordinary demands of English workmen, with the significant exception that they ask for a day of ten and a half hours. It is reported, moreover, that the ‘moral tone’ of the noncommissioned officers can only be trusted when they are peasants, and that peasants of sufficient cultivation are not always in the ranks. Altogether, there is an ominous stirring among the dry bones, society in St. Petersburg and Moscow is divided, and there are furious dissensions among the group around the Czar. “The unrest is more serious even than we thought..... As far as we can ascertain, the case stands thus: There has [3023]
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