Publication date
10/15/02
Volume
23
Number
20
The WatchTower
"Though Ye Be Established"
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1902/20/1902-20-1.html
 
 
OCTOB£R 
1. 
1902 
ZION'S 
WATCH 
TOvVER 
(303-307) 
obey 
God, 
rather 
than 
man. 
Ought 
I 
to 
obey 
my 
husband 
in 
this, 
seeing 
that 
Christ 
is 
my 
Head? 
I 
feel 
like 
a 
coward 
in 
this. 
OUR 
REPLY 
Dear 
Sister: 
y 
our 
favor 
of 
the 
22nd 
is 
before 
me. 
I 
am 
glad 
that 
you 
have 
expressed 
yourself 
freely, 
and 
am 
glad 
to 
note 
that 
you 
have 
the 
spirit 
of 
a 
sound 
mind 
on 
this 
important 
sub­ 
ject. 
Your 
husband, 
probably 
a 
strong-minded 
man, 
has 
not 
fully 
recognized 
to 
what 
extent 
his 
attitude 
toward 
you 
on 
this 
subject 
is 
unreasonable 
and 
tyranmcaJ. 
Weare 
fully 
in 
sympathy 
with 
the 
~criptural 
injunction 
that 
wIves 
should 
obey 
their 
husbands; 
but 
this 
does 
not, 
as 
you 
have 
per­ 
ceived, 
imply 
that 
the 
wife 
should 
obey 
her 
husband 
in 
mat­ 
ters 
contrary 
to 
the 
admonitions 
of 
the 
heavenly 
BrIdegroom. 
Ko 
reasonable 
earthly 
husband 
will 
make 
such 
requirements, 
and 
we 
will 
trust 
that 
vours 
will 
consider 
the 
matter 
differ­ 
ently 
ere 
long. 
He 
will 
be 
helped, 
however, 
in 
seeing 
the 
fight 
way 
by 
your 
kind 
and 
loving 
treatment 
of 
him, 
and 
,vOll! 
eaI 
nest 
endeavor 
to 
please 
lum 
In 
all 
legItimate 
and 
proper 
ways, 
but 
by 
your 
positiveness, 
your 
firm 
Uecision 
ami 
resolute 
conduct 
in 
the 
matters 
whIch 
appertain 
to 
your 
proper 
liberties 
of 
conscience. 
I 
would 
readily 
agree 
to 
keep 
my 
books 
and 
papers 
out 
of 
sight 
during 
my 
husband's 
pres­ 
ence 
in 
the 
home; 
but 
I 
would 
neither 
agrpe 
not 
to 
think 
nor 
to 
read, 
nor 
would 
I 
agree 
to 
abscnt 
myself 
from 
the 
meetings 
of 
those 
of 
like 
precious 
faith. 
I 
would 
tell 
my 
husband 
plainly 
that 
it 
is 
our 
duty 
to 
obey 
the 
heavenly 
Bridegroom 
tir~t, 
and 
that 
when 
he 
says 
"Forget 
not 
the 
assembling 
of 
yourselvcs 
together," 
I 
con­ 
sidered 
it 
duty 
to 
follow 
that 
admonition 
at 
any 
cost; 
that 
1 
hoped 
this 
would 
appeal 
to 
him 
as 
a 
reasonable 
and 
correct 
course; 
that 
I 
had 
no 
thought 
of 
neglecting 
legitimate, 
proper, 
home 
obligations 
and 
duties 
toward 
him, 
and 
the 
othpr 
members 
of 
my 
family, 
but 
would 
be 
as 
faithful 
or 
more 
faithful, 
than 
if 
under 
the 
influence 
of 
any 
other 
than 
1lI~' 
present 
convICtions. 
I 
would 
tell 
him 
that 
this 
much 
lihprty 
at 
least 
was 
thoroughly 
understood 
by 
me 
when 
enter­ 
ing 
the 
marriage 
relationship; 
that 
if 
in 
his 
marriage 
vows 
he 
did 
not 
intend 
to 
accord 
liberties 
of 
conscience 
he 
had 
mislpd 
and 
deceived 
mt', 
and 
that 
in 
any 
event 
I 
would 
not 
~ubmit 
to 
that 
kind 
of 
bondagp. 
alltl 
that 
the 
quicker 
th!.' 
lllattpr 
was 
decided 
the 
better; 
that 
under 
no 
circumstances 
Dr 
conditions 
would 
I 
move 
one 
iota 
from 
this 
pOSItion, 
so 
long 
as 
I 
considered 
that 
my 
position 
was 
according 
to 
the 
will 
of 
the 
Lord; 
that 
If 
this 
led 
to 
any 
breach 
between 
us 
the 
fault 
and 
the 
change 
were 
certamly 
on 
his 
side, 
as 
I 
had 
never 
given 
away 
my 
liberty 
of 
conscience 
and 
never 
mtended 
to 
do 
so, 
and 
would 
not 
ask 
him 
to 
violate 
his; 
that 
1 
be­ 
lieved 
that 
my 
view 
of 
this 
would 
not 
only 
stand 
the 
test 
of 
the 
Scriptures 
but 
also 
of 
all 
men 
and 
women 
possessed 
of 
sound 
common 
sense. 
In 
harmony 
with 
this 
I 
would 
assure 
my 
lllu,bal\(l 
that 
the 
truth, 
so 
far 
from 
making 
me 
less 
careful 
of 
his 
interest!:! 
and 
my 
obligation 
as 
a 
WIfe, 
should. 
make 
me 
more 
caretul; 
and 
that 
I 
believed 
that 
if 
he 
took 
a 
right 
view 
and 
stand 
upon 
the 
subject, 
as 
I 
was 
determined 
to 
do, 
it 
would 
mean 
an 
increase 
of 
blessing 
to 
us 
both 
and 
to 
the 
household. 
If 
after 
a 
reasonable 
season 
of 
patient, 
loving 
remon­ 
stranee 
against 
such 
attempts 
to 
fetter 
my 
conseience 
there 
was 
no 
change 
for 
the 
better, 
I 
would 
consider 
that 
I 
had 
been 
deserted 
by 
my 
husband 
;-that 
he 
had 
ceased 
to 
be 
a 
husband 
and 
become 
an 
oppressor 
and 
was 
not 
treating 
me 
as 
even 
a 
slave 
might 
hope 
to 
be 
treated 
in 
respect 
to 
hi!:! 
or 
her 
conscientious 
convictions. 
Taking 
the 
matter 
to 
the 
Lord 
I 
should 
look 
for 
relief-for 
the 
liberty 
wherewith 
Christ 
makes 
free. 
~ot 
lIberty 
to 
remany, 
however. 
Indeed 
<'\'eu 
aside 
from 
the 
divine 
law 
making 
marriage 
perpetual 
(ex­ 
<,ept 
upon 
one 
condition-Matt. 
1!:l: 
9) 
such 
an 
experience 
should 
be 
sufficient 
for 
anybody. 
I 
will 
remember 
you 
at 
the 
throne 
of 
grace, 
that 
the 
Lord 
will 
guide 
in 
your 
affairs. 
"THE 
GREAT 
COMPANY" 
Questwn.-\Vhen 
and 
how 
did 
the 
class 
that 
fails 
to 
keep 
its 
consecration 
get 
"before 
the 
throne"? 
I 
understand 
that 
this 
class 
is 
to 
pass 
through 
the 
tribulation 
and 
"wash 
its 
robes 
and 
make 
them 
white 
in 
the 
blood 
of 
the 
lamb." 
Answer.-This 
class 
seem" 
to 
be 
located 
most 
particu­ 
larly 
at 
the 
present 
time--altho 
there 
may 
have 
been 
some 
throughout 
tIllS 
age, 
who, 
becaul:le 
of 
failure 
\ 
oluntanly 
to 
suffer, 
have 
been 
forced 
to 
f'uffer 
either 
with 
ChrJ~t 
in 
tnh­ 
ulation 
experiences, 
or 
to 
deny 
him 
and 
thus 
be 
condemned 
to 
the 
second 
death. 
In 
the 
t.ribulation 
time 
which 
will 
fol­ 
low 
the 
church's 
glorificatIOn 
we 
antiCIpate 
crucial 
tests 
upon 
all 
the 
Lord's 
true 
people, 
and 
faithfulness 
then 
will 
mean 
"great 
tribulation" 
ending 
in 
death, 
which 
to 
these 
will 
sig­ 
nify 
change 
to 
spiritual 
conditions. 
On 
the 
other 
hand 
fail­ 
ure 
to 
meet 
the 
trials 
devotedly 
will 
mean 
full, 
intelligent 
reJection 
of 
Christ, 
and 
will 
brmg 
the 
full 
penalty 
of 
~ueh 
a 
course: 
viz., 
se<'ond 
death. 
YOLo 
XXIII 
ALLEGHENY, 
PA., 
OCTOBER 
15, 
lflO:~ 
THOUGH 
YE 
BE 
ESTABLISHED 
No. 
~O 
"I 
1cill 
not 
be 
negligent 
to 
put 
you 
always 
in 
remembrance 
of 
these 
things, 
though 
you 
1,now 
them, 
and 
be 
established 
in 
the 
present 
truth."-2 
Peter 
1: 
12. 
\Vhat 
things 
are 
here 
referred 
to? 
Af'f'uredly 
the 
necessity 
fight 
of 
faith," 
remembering, 
too, 
that 
"the 
weapons 
of 
our 
of 
giving 
all 
diligence 
to 
add 
to 
our 
bith 
virtue 
[fortitude]; 
warfare 
ale 
not 
carnal, 
but 
[God's 
truth 
is] 
mighty 
to 
the 
and 
to 
virtue, 
knowledge; 
and 
to 
knowledge, 
temperance 
[self- 
pulling 
down 
of 
the 
stronghold"" 
of 
error 
and 
supcrf'tibon 
control]; 
and 
to 
temperance, 
patience; 
and 
to 
patience, 
god- 
and 
of 
inbred 
sin; 
and 
remembering, 
also, 
that 
"we 
wrestle 
not 
linpss: 
and 
to 
godliness, 
brotherly 
kindness; 
and 
to 
br?therly 
with 
flesh 
and 
blood, 
but 
against 
principalities, 
against 
powers, 
kindness, 
charity 
[love]. 
. 
. 
.. 
For 
if 
ye 
do 
these 
tillngs 
ye 
against 
the 
rulers 
of 
the 
darkness 
of 
this 
world. 
againf't 
spir- 
shall 
never 
fall; 
for 
so 
an 
entrance 
shall 
be 
ministered 
unto 
you 
itual 
wickedness 
in 
high 
places."-2 
Cor. 
10: 
4; 
Eph. 
G: 
12. 
abundantly 
into 
the 
everlasting 
kingdom 
of 
our 
Lord 
and 
Savior 
It 
is 
in 
view 
of 
these 
facts-<>f 
the 
warfare 
before 
us, 
of 
Jesus 
Christ.-Verses 
5-11. 
the 
subtlety 
of 
our 
temptations 
and 
of 
the 
weakness 
of 
the 
To 
be 
establIshed 
in 
the 
truth 
signifies 
that 
we 
have 
care- 
Hesh-that 
the 
faithful 
Apostle 
Peter 
urges 
all 
diligence 
in 
fullv 
"tmli('d 
and 
thoroughl,\' 
proved 
it 
by 
"the 
law 
and 
the 
tes- 
the 
cultivation 
of 
the 
Christian 
gracps 
amI 
a 
contulllal 
calling" 
timony" 
(Isa. 
8 
:20), 
and 
that 
as 
a 
consequence 
we 
are 
con- 
to 
remembrance 
of 
the 
prpcious 
truthf' 
we 
have 
learned, 
that 
\ 
inced 
of 
itf' 
verity, 
so 
that 
our 
faith 
is 
steadfast 
and 
immova- 
we 
nJa~' 
be 
f'trpngthened 
thelpb,\, 
to 
makt' 
our 
callIng 
and 
clec'- 
ble 
we 
know 
whom 
\, 
e 
have 
believed; 
we 
have 
tasted 
and 
seen 
tion 
sure. 
Faith 
is 
a 
goorl 
thing': 
but 
faith 
\\ 
ithout 
virtuous 
i 
hn 
t 
the 
LOI 
,] 
is 
goorl: 
we 
h,t 
ve 
partaken 
of 
the 
sweets 
of 
fellow- 
\\'orks 
is 
dpad; 
and 
to 
hold 
the 
truth 
in 
unrighteousness 
is 
,Ilip 
"ith 
him. 
"e 
ha 
VI' 
partaken 
of 
his 
spirit. 
of 
me,:kness, 
fait~ 
worse 
than 
never 
to 
have 
rpceived. 
it. 
The 
truth 
is 
givrn 
to 
us 
.HIlI 
gorllJlH'~S 
tn 
such 
an 
extpnt 
a~ 
to 
be 
led 
IlltO 
a 
Joyful 
reah- 
for 
ii~ 
sanctifying 
pffect 
upon 
our 
IlPaIts 
allli 
lives. 
Therefore 
/.atton 
of 
tllr 
fulne~l:l 
of 
his 
f!l'acp 
as 
manifested 
in 
the 
wonderful 
1pt 
it 
haxe 
hee 
eour,e 
amI 
he 
glOIified. 
Let 
its 
precious 
fruit" 
dn'lllr 
plan 
of 
Utr 
ages; 
and 
we 
have 
been 
permitted 
to 
s~e, 
appear 
mOl 
e 
and 
more 
f!Om 
day 
to 
rlay. 
"'\rl,l 
to 
your 
fatth 
lIot 
on 
Iv 
tIl(' 
Y:llious 
features 
of 
that 
plan, 
but 
:d~o 
the 
necessIty 
Hriue--true 
excellence 
of 
character, 
such 
rxeellence 
of 
ehar­ 
:lll,] 
IP~sonableness 
of 
all 
its 
valious 
measures 
in 
order 
to 
the 
nctel 
as 
will 
m:llk 
~'ou 
as 
spparatB 
hom 
the 
woIld 
and 
its 
full 
appompli,hnlPnt 
of 
its 
glorious 
outcome 
in 
th!' 
fulnes" 
of 
SPIrit. 
In 
all 
such 
the 
world 
will 
sec 
tho~e 
moral 
qualities 
the 
appointerl 
times. 
TillS 
is 
what 
it 
if' 
to 
ht' 
"estn,blished 
in 
which 
they 
must 
approve, 
however 
they 
may 
oppose 
our 
faith. 
the 
present 
truth." 
It 
is 
inrler<! 
a 
most 
blessed 
eondlti?n, 
bri~g- 
Ar],l 
r-,terling 
hone~tv. 
truth 
and 
fair 
dealing- 
in 
all 
business 
ing 
with 
it 
such 
peace 
n,nd 
joy 
as 
the 
world 
can 
neIther 
gIve 
relations: 
1I10rnl 
integrity, 
in 
all 
sOPial 
rplations; 
manifestly 
nOI 
take 
n,way, 
('lean 
hands 
anrl 
a 
pure 
hp[ll 
t, 
and 
a 
bridled 
tongue 
that 
works 
TIut 
thoug-h 
we 
be 
thus 
e,tabJished 
in 
tllP 
presrnt 
truth, 
we 
no 
ill 
to 
a 
neIghbor. 
All 
of 
thest' 
the 
worlrl 
has 
a 
right 
to 
nre,l 
to 
bear 
in 
mind 
that 
OUI 
e]c~tioll 
to 
thr 
11Igh 
position 
to 
p"pert 
from 
tho,e 
who 
call 
themselves 
Chrif'tians: 
anrl 
all 
of 
whlrh 
"e 
are 
called 
is 
not 
vet 
madc 
sure. 
The 
race 
for 
the 
the's(' 
al 
e 
indi,prnsable 
tpatures 
of 
that 
virtuous 
character 
pIize 
of 
our 
high 
calling 
is 
'still 
before 
us, 
and 
we 
are 
yet 
in 
"hipll 
must 
be 
added 
to 
our 
faith. 
The 
clean 
hands 
will 
not 
the 
enemv's 
country, 
surrounded 
by 
many 
subUt' 
a1';'] 
powerful 
dabble 
in 
anything 
that 
is 
not 
virtuous: 
they 
will 
have 
nothing 
fors, 
so 
that 
if 
we 
would 
be 
successful 
we 
must 
"fight 
the 
good 
to 
uo 
with 
unrighteous 
schemes 
or 
projects 
in 
business. 
The 
[3089] 
Octoeer 1, 1902 obey God, rather than man. Ought I to obey my husband in this, seeing that Christ is my Head? I feel like a coward in this. OUR REPLY Dear Sister: Your favor of the 22nd is before me. I am glad that you have expressed yourself freely, and am glad to note that you have the spirit of a sound mind on this important subject. Your husband, probably a strong-minded man, has not fully recognized to what extent his attitude toward you on this subject is unreasonable and tyrannical. We are fully in sympathy with the Scriptural injunction that wives should obey their husbands; but this does not, as you have perceived, imply that the wife should obey her husband in matters contrary to the admonitions of the heavenly Bridegroom. No reasonable earthly husband will make such requirements, and we will trust that yours will consider the matter differently ere long. He will be helped, however, in seeing the right way by your kind and loving treatment of him, and your earnest endeavor to please him in all legitimate and proper ways, but by your positiveness, your firm decision and resolute conduct in the matters which appertain to your proper liberties of conscience. I would readily agree to keep my books and papers out of sight during my husband's presence in the home; but I would neither agree not to think nor to read, nor would I agree to absent myself from the meetings of those of like precious faith. I would tell my husband plainly that it is our duty to obey the heavenly Bridegroom first, and that when he says “Forget not the assembling of yourselves together,” I considered it duty to follow that admonition at any cost; that 1 hoped this would appeal to him as a reasonable and correct course; that I had no thought of neglecting legitimate, proper, home obligations and duties toward him, and the other members of my family, but would be as faithful or more faithful, than if under the influence of any other than my present convictions. I would tell him that this much liberty at least was thoroughly understood by me when entering the marriage relationship; that if in his marriage vows he did not intend to accord liberties of conscience he had misled and deceived me, and that in any event I would not submit to that kind of bondage. and that the quicker the matter was decided the better; that under no circumstances or conditions would I move one iota from this position, so long as I considered that my position was according to the ZION’S WATCH TOWER (303-307) will of the Lord; that if this led to any breach between us the fault and the change were certainly on his side, as I had never given away my liberty of conscience and never intended to do so, and would not ask him to violate his; that 1 believed that my view of this would not only stand the test of the Scriptures but also of all men and women possessed of sound common sense. In harmony with this I would assure my husband that the truth, so far from making me less careful of his interests and my obligation as a wife, should make me more caretul; and that I believed that if he took a right view and stand upon the subject, as I was determined to do, it would mean an increase of blessing to us both and to the household. If after a reasonable season of patient, loving remonstrance against such attempts to fetter my conscience there was no change for the better, I would consider that I had been deserted by my husband;—that he had ceased to be a husband and become an oppressor and was not treating me as even a slave might hope to be treated in respect to his or her conscientious convictions. Taking the matter to the Lord I should look for relief-—for the liberty wherewith Christ makes free. Not liberty to remarty, however, indeed even aside from the divine law making marriage perpetual (except upon one condition—Matt. 19:9) such an experience should be sufficient for anybody. I will remember you at the throne of grace, that the Lord will guide in your affairs. ‘“‘THE GREAT COMPANY’’ Question—When and how did the class that fails to keep its consecration get “before the throne’? I understand that this class is to pass through the tribulation and “wash its robes and make them white in the blood of the lamb.” Answer.—This class seems to be located most particularly at the present time—altho there may have been some throughout this age, who, because of failure .oluntarily to suffer, have been forced to suffer either with Christ in tribulation experiences, or to deny him and thus be condemned to the second death. In the tribulation time which will follow the churech’s glorification we anticipate crucial tests upon all the Lord’s true people, and faithfulness then will mean “great tribulation” ending in death, which to these will signify change to spiritual conditions. On the other hand failure to meet the trials devotedly will mean full, intelligent rejection of Christ, and will bring the full penalty of such a course: viz., second death. Vou. NXIIT ALLEGHENY, PA., OCTOBER 15, 1902 No. 20 THOUGH YE BE ESTABLISHED “I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them, and be established in the present truth.’—2 Peter 1:12. What things are here referred to? Assuredly the necessity of giving all diligence to add to our faith virtue [fortitude] ; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance [selfcontrol]; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godJiness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity [love]... .. For if ye do these things ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.—Verses 5-11. To be established in the truth signifies that we have carefully studied and thoroughly proved it by “the law and the testimony” (Isa. 8:20), and that as a consequence we are convinced of its verity, so that our faith is steadfast and immovable we know whom we have believed; we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good; we have partaken of the sweets of fellowship with him. we have partaken of his spirit of meckness, faith and godliness to such an extent as to be led into a joyful realization of the fulness of his grace as manifested in the wonderful divine plan of the ages; and we have been permitted to sce, not only the various features of that plan, but also the necessity and reasonableness of all its various measures in order to the full accomplishment of its glorious outcome in the fulness of the appointed times. This is what it is to be “established in the present truth.” It is indeed a most blessed condition, bringing with it such peace and joy as the world can neither give noi take away, But though we be thus established in the present truth, we need to bear in mind that oui elestion to the gh position to which we are called is not yet made sure. The race for the prize of our high calling is still before us, and we are yet in the enemv’s country, surrounded by many subtle and powerful foes, so that if we would be successful we must “figkt the good fight of faith,’ remembering, too, that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but [God’s truth is] mighty to the pulling down of the strongholds” of error and superstition and of inbred sin; and remembering, also, that “we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world. against spiritual wickedness in high places.”—-2 Cor. 10:4; Eph. 6:12. It is in view of these facts—of the warfare before us, of the subtlety of our temptations and of the weakness of the flesh—that the faithful Apostle Peter urges all diligence in the cultivation of the Christian graces and a continual calling to remembrance of the precious truths we have learned, that we may be strengthened thereby to make our calling and eleetion sure. Faith is a good thing: but faith without virtuous works is dead; and to hold the truth in unrighteousness is worse than never to have received it. The truth is given to us for ils sanetifying effect upon our hearts and lives. Therefore let it have fiee course and be glorified. Let its precious fruits appear moie and more fiom day to day. Add to your faith yirtue—true excellence of character, such excellence of characte: as will mark you as separate from the world and its spirit. In all such the world will see those moral qualities which they must approve, however they may oppose our faith. Add sterling honesty. truth and fair dealing in all business relations; moral integrity, in all social relations; manifestly clean hands and a pure heart, and a bridled tongue that works no ill to a newghbor. All of these the world has a right to expect from those who call themselves Christians; and all of these are indispensable teatures of that virtuous character which must be added to our faith. The clean hands will not dabble in anything that is not virtuous: they will have nothing to do with unrighteous schemes or projects in business. The [8089]

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