Publication date
1/15/03
Volume
24
Number
2
The WatchTower
Views from the Watch Tower
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1903/2/1903-2-1.html
 
 
JANUARY 
1, 
1903 
ZION'S 
WATCH 
TOWER 
(16 
-20) 
to 
be 
made 
fit, 
to 
be 
made 
meet 
for 
the 
inheritance 
of 
the 
saints 
in 
light-the 
dIvine 
nature. 
These 
chastisements 
or 
corrections 
are 
in 
the 
nature 
of 
instructions 
and 
tests 
neces­ 
sary 
for 
our 
development 
for 
the 
higher 
plane 
of 
life 
to 
which 
we 
have 
been 
called. 
Our 
Lord 
Jesus, 
for 
instance, 
was 
a 
son 
of 
God, 
and, 
if 
a 
son, 
then, 
as 
the 
Apostle 
says, 
he 
was 
chastened, 
"for 
what 
son 
is 
he 
that 
the 
Father 
chasteneth 
not? 
If 
ye 
be 
without 
chastisement, 
... 
then 
are 
ye 
bastards 
and 
not 
sons." 
(Heb. 
12: 
7, 
8) 
Our 
Lord 
Jesus 
was 
a 
true 
son, 
and 
hence 
had 
his 
share 
of 
chastisements. 
"The 
chastisement 
of 
our 
peace 
was 
upon 
him, 
and 
by 
his 
stripes 
we 
are 
healed." 
(lsa. 
53: 
5) 
While 
these 
chastisements 
and 
stripes 
were 
nec­ 
essary 
for 
our 
redemption, 
they 
were 
necessary 
also 
to 
our 
Lord's 
prepal,ltion 
for 
the 
high 
station 
of 
glory, 
honor 
and 
im­ 
mortality 
to 
which 
he 
was 
called. 
Thus 
we 
read 
that 
"he 
learned 
obedIence 
by 
the 
things 
which 
he 
suffered." 
(Reb. 
5: 
8) 
The 
sufferings 
or 
chastisements 
or 
corrections 
were 
nec­ 
essary 
to 
his 
glorification. 
And 
so 
it 
is 
with 
us 
his 
breth­ 
ren: 
our 
sins 
are 
graciously 
covered 
through 
the 
~erit 
of 
his 
sacrifice; 
by 
faith 
we 
are 
aU'epted 
as 
every 
whit 
whole, 
and 
by 
faith 
our 
sacrifices 
are 
accepted, 
"holy, 
acceptable 
unto 
God." 
(Rom. 
12: 
1) 
Our 
chastisements, 
therefore, 
are 
not 
in 
the 
nature 
of 
penalties 
for 
the 
weaknesses 
and 
imperfec­ 
tions 
of 
the 
flesh, 
which 
Jesus 
has 
graciously 
covered 
for 
us; 
but 
our 
standing 
as 
new 
creatures 
is 
on 
the 
perfect 
plane, 
and 
the 
majority, 
at 
least, 
of 
our 
chastisements, 
like 
those 
of 
the 
Master, 
our 
elder 
Brother, 
are 
disciplinary, 
and 
to 
the 
intent 
that 
we 
may 
be 
ultimately 
complete 
in 
him, 
meet 
for 
the 
"in­ 
heritance 
of 
the 
saints 
in 
light." 
YOLo 
XXIV 
ALLEGHENY, 
PA., 
JANUARY 
15, 
1903 
VIEWS 
FROM 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
No.2 
INFANT 
DAMNATION 
STILL 
BELIEVED 
the 
false 
premise 
and 
go 
by 
Scripture 
alone, 
and 
they 
would 
The 
movement 
for 
Presbyterian 
Creed 
revision, 
it 
shoulU 
have 
no 
difficulty 
in 
reaching 
a 
reasonable 
and 
Scriptural 
view 
be 
remembered, 
is 
amongst 
those 
of 
the 
Northern 
Synods 
only. 
of 
the 
subject. 
They 
should 
note 
that 
no 
infants 
are 
born 
im­ 
The 
Southern 
Presbyterians 
constitute 
a 
totally 
separate 
body 
mortal, 
but 
that 
the 
truth 
is 
as 
the 
Scriptures 
declare, 
God 
of 
Presbyterians. 
(There 
is 
only 
one 
body 
of 
Christ.) 
In 
this 
"only 
hath 
immortality." 
Then 
they 
will 
be 
prepared 
to 
see 
connection 
note 
the 
following 
comment 
from 
the 
columns 
of 
that 
death 
does 
not 
mean 
life; 
and 
that 
destroy 
does 
not 
mean 
the 
Southuestern 
Presbytertan 
in 
criticism 
of 
a 
published 
com. 
preserve: 
that 
when 
God 
declared, 
"All 
the 
wicked 
will 
he 
de· 
munication. 
The 
editorial 
note 
follows:- 
stroy," 
he 
meant 
it. 
\Vhen 
he 
declared, 
"The 
soul 
that 
sinneth 
"Note 
by 
the 
Editor 
in 
Charge.-The 
statement 
in 
the 
above 
it 
shall 
die," 
he 
meant 
it. 
The 
penalty 
upon 
father 
Adam 
and 
communication, 
that 
'our 
church 
as 
a 
whole 
doth 
verily 
be- 
through 
him 
upon 
all 
his 
race 
is 
a 
death 
penalty; 
and 
children 
lieve' 
that 
it 
'is 
taught 
in 
God's 
Holy 
\Vord 
that 
all 
infants 
and 
all 
die 
because 
of 
Adam's 
sin 
(Rom. 
5:12); 
and 
the 
worst, 
dying 
in 
infancy 
were 
given 
by 
the 
Father 
to 
the 
Son 
in 
the 
therefore, 
that 
could 
befall 
the 
children 
of 
the 
wicked 
would 
be 
councils 
of 
the 
Deity 
before 
the 
foundation 
of 
the 
world, 
as 
a 
--death. 
part 
of 
the 
reward 
of 
his 
atoning 
sacrifice,' 
is 
wholly 
unwar. 
Now, 
then, 
what 
is 
the 
Scriptural 
hope 
for 
the 
children 
of 
ranted. 
The 
church's 
belief 
is 
found, 
not 
in 
the 
deliverance 
of 
the 
wicked? 
We 
answer 
that 
it 
is 
exactly 
the 
same 
as 
for 
the 
one 
Assembly, 
but 
in 
its 
Standards 
alone, 
and 
not 
until 
these 
children 
of 
the 
saints, 
viz., 
that 
Christ 
Jesus 
our 
Lord 
tasted 
are 
changed 
is 
anyone 
warranted 
in 
saying 
that 
the 
church 
be- 
death 
for 
every 
man 
when 
he 
tasted 
death 
for 
Adam; 
be­ 
lieves 
in 
the 
salvation 
of 
all 
infants 
dying 
in 
infancy. 
As 
the 
cause 
all 
were 
under 
Adam's 
sentence 
of 
condemnation 
to 
death. 
Standards 
are 
now, 
they 
are 
absolutely 
silent 
on 
that 
question, 
It 
was 
one 
man's 
sin 
of 
disobedience 
that 
brought 
the 
penalty 
because 
the 
Scriptures 
are 
silent 
on 
it. 
We 
may 
hope 
that 
it 
upon 
all; 
and, 
consequently, 
the 
ransom 
of 
the 
one 
was 
the 
is 
so, 
but 
the 
Scriptures 
do 
not 
declare 
it. 
When 
the 
Psalmist 
ransom 
of 
all; 
as 
it 
is 
written: 
"He 
is 
the 
propitiation 
[sat­ 
says: 
"The 
wicked 
are 
estranged 
from 
the 
womb; 
they 
go 
isfaction] 
for 
our 
sins 
[the 
church's 
sins], 
and 
not 
for 
ours 
astray 
as 
soon 
as 
they 
be 
born, 
speaking 
lies' 
(Psalm 
58: 
3), 
only, 
but 
also 
for 
the 
sins 
of 
the 
whole 
world." 
The 
children 
it 
does 
seem 
to 
imply 
the 
possibility 
that 
the 
children 
of 
the 
of 
the 
wicked 
were, 
therefore, 
redeemed 
in 
the 
most 
absolute 
\\ 
icked 
perish 
with 
their 
parents. 
sense 
i-from 
the 
entire 
condemnation 
of 
death. 
Indeed, 
none 
"But 
our 
Standards 
do 
neither 
affirm 
or 
deny 
it. 
They 
only 
but 
sinners 
were 
redeemed, 
for 
"Christ 
died 
for 
the 
ungodly;" 
affirm, 
as 
the 
Jackson 
Assembly 
declares, 
that 
the 
elect 
who 
die 
-all 
are 
ungodly, 
all 
sinners; 
hence, 
all 
die, 
and 
all 
need 
to 
in 
infancy, 
'are 
saved 
in 
a 
different 
manner 
from 
adult 
per- 
be 
redeemed, 
else 
they 
would 
have 
no 
hope 
of 
a 
resurrection. 
;;ons 
who 
are 
capable 
of 
being 
outward 
Iv 
called 
bv 
the 
mimstrv 
In 
the 
Millennium 
(the 
resurrection 
age) 
infants 
of 
be· 
of 
the 
'~~ord,' 
leaving 
it 
an 
open 
question 
whethe~ 
the 
children 
lievers 
would 
have 
a 
little 
the 
start 
of 
infants 
of 
unbelievers, 
of 
the 
WIcked 
are 
saved 
or 
not, 
inasmuch 
as 
this 
is 
one 
of 
the 
in 
that 
they 
will 
have 
less 
depraved 
organisms 
when 
awakened; 
thing'! 
of 
which 
Moses 
says: 
'The 
secret 
things 
belong- 
unto 
but 
under 
the 
grand 
raising·up 
processes 
then 
at 
work, 
such 
till.' 
Lord 
our 
God; 
but 
those 
things 
which 
are 
revealed 
belong 
disadvantages 
would 
soon 
be 
overcome, 
and 
all 
will 
be 
unto 
us 
and 
to 
our 
children, 
that 
we 
may 
do 
all 
the 
words 
brought 
to 
a 
full 
knowledge 
of 
the 
truth 
and 
to 
full 
opportuni· 
of 
this 
law.'-Deut. 
29:30." 
ties 
for 
complete 
restitution 
(Acts 
3:19-23) 
back 
to 
all 
that 
Closely 
in 
line 
with 
the 
above 
is 
the 
following 
from 
the 
was 
lost 
by 
father 
Adam 
for 
himself 
and 
all 
his 
posterity. 
In 
editorial 
columns 
of 
the 
Central 
Presbyterian, 
(Richmond, 
that 
day 
it 
shall 
no 
more 
be 
a 
proverb 
that 
the 
fatherlt 
ate 
a 
Va.) 
: 
- 
flour 
grape 
[sin] 
and 
all 
the 
children's 
teeth 
are 
set 
on 
edge; 
. 
:'Pr~sbyterians 
are 
becoming- 
united 
on 
the 
old 
subject 
of 
for 
then 
"every 
man 
[who 
shall 
die] 
shall 
die 
for 
his 
own 
lImItatIOn 
of 
the 
atonement. 
In 
relation 
to 
the 
merciful 
in- 
iniquity"-"the 
soul 
[person] 
that 
sinneth 
it 
shall 
die."­ 
clination 
of 
God, 
it 
was 
unquestionably 
co-extensive 
with 
our 
Ezek. 
18 
:2, 
4; 
Jer. 
31 
:29, 
30. 
race. 
In 
relation 
to 
his 
justice, 
it 
was 
designed 
for 
believers 
How 
reasonable 
are 
God's 
ways! 
and 
how 
plainly 
they 
are 
exclusively. 
The 
whole 
trouble 
has 
always 
been 
due 
to 
our 
stated 
in 
the 
Word,-for 
those 
who 
have 
the 
eye 
and 
ear 
of 
incapacity 
to 
reconcile 
the 
sentiments 
and 
purposes 
of 
an 
infi- 
faith 
i-to 
those 
who 
are 
hearkening 
to 
the 
divine 
Word 
nite 
being, 
The 
Bible 
does 
not 
confound 
them. 
It 
assures 
us 
rather 
than 
to 
the 
creeds 
of 
the 
dark 
ages. 
tha.t 
'God 
does 
not 
willingly 
afflict' 
his 
people, 
and 
yet 
he 
does 
In 
respect 
to 
the 
second 
quotation: 
It 
shows 
how 
con­ 
aft:hct 
them. 
Of 
course, 
he 
may 
unwillingly 
destroy 
his 
ene- 
fusing 
and 
unsatisfactory 
error 
is 
to 
its 
warmest 
votaries. 
mles. 
But 
we 
cannot 
comprehend 
such 
facts, 
any 
more 
than 
Honest, 
minds 
and 
good 
hearts 
strive 
in 
vain 
to 
reconcile 
the 
modes 
of 
divine 
justice." 
the 
idea 
of 
justice 
and 
good 
sentiments 
and 
purposes 
with 
the 
These 
editors, 
be 
it 
remembered, 
are 
advanced 
thinkers 
too 
creating 
of 
millions 
of 
creatures, 
with 
the 
foreknowledge 
that 
as 
compared 
with 
the 
masses 
of 
their 
readers. 
How 
sadly'they 
for 
any 
cause 
their 
existence 
would 
be 
everlasting 
misery,­ 
lack 
the 
"key 
of 
knowledge!" 
(Luke 
11: 
52) 
Referring 
to 
the 
torture. 
The 
manel 
is 
that 
intelligent 
men 
will 
stick 
to 
such 
Scripture 
quotations 
of 
the 
first 
(Psa. 
58:3) 
; 
how 
evident 
it 
inconsistencies-Bimply 
because 
they 
are 
old 
and 
hoary. 
Why 
is 
that 
!t 
is 
true-th~t 
heredi~y 
marks 
e~erybody, 
more 
or 
less, 
is 
it 
that 
they 
cannot 
go 
back 
to 
the 
still 
older 
theory 
of 
the 
from 
buth! 
The 
dIfficulty 
IS 
a 
certam 
theological 
theory, 
Bible,-beautiful, 
simple, 
reasonable, 
grand? 
It 
is 
because 
~hich 
~as. 
no 
Scripture 
foundation-which 
claims 
tha~ 
every 
~atan 
is 
blinding 
them 
with 
f~r 
;-fear 
t~at 
good, 
reasonable, 
mfant 
IS 
~mmortal 
and 
that 
the 
present 
life, 
long 
or 
short 
Just 
thoughts 
toward 
God 
and 
mterpretatIons 
of 
his 
Word 
are 
fa~orable 
or 
unfav~rable, 
constitutes 
the 
only 
chance 
ever 
to 
b~ 
delusions 
of 
the 
adversary? 
Ah, 
yes; 
the 
Lord 
foresaw 
it 
all, 
enJoy.ed 
for 
reformmg- 
character 
and 
becoming 
fit 
for 
a 
happy 
and 
declares, 
"Their 
fear 
toward 
me 
[is 
not 
of 
me; 
I 
have 
etermty, 
and 
hence 
that 
children 
of 
the 
wicked, 
conceived 
and 
neither 
done 
nor 
said 
anything 
to 
merit 
such 
sentiments, 
but] 
born 
in 
sin 
and 
depravity 
(as 
are 
all 
mankind, 
more 
or 
less), 
is 
taught 
by 
the 
precept 
of 
men."-Isa. 
29: 
13. 
are 
unprep.ared 
for 
an 
eternity 
of 
bliss, 
and, 
hence, 
must 
spend 
THE 
BIBLE 
DEFENDED 
BY 
PROF. 
G. 
F. 
WRIGHT, 
LL.D. 
that 
etermty 
WIthout 
bliss-in 
pain 
and 
horrors. 
Grant 
the 
"Since 
the 
Bible 
is 
a 
revelation 
through 
the 
medium 
of 
f~lse 
premise 
and 
it 
does 
not 
take 
long' 
to 
reach 
this 
conclu· 
human 
language 
it 
must 
be 
interpreted 
in 
accordance 
with 
ac­ 
swn. 
But 
let 
these 
same 
reasonable 
men 
rid 
their 
minds 
of 
('ppted 
literary 
standards. 
It 
is 
addressed 
to 
persOlls 
who 
are 
n--25 
[3133] 
January 1, 1903 to be made fit, to be made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light—the divine nature. These chastisements or corrections are in the nature of instructions and tests necessary for our development for the higher plane of life to which we have been called. Our Lord Jesus, for instance, was a son of God, and, if a son, then, as the Apostle says, he was chastened, “for what son is he that the Father chasteneth not? If ye be without chastisement, ... then are ye bastards and not sons.” (Heb. 12:7, 8) Our Lord Jesus was a true son, and hence had his share of chastisements. “The chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed.” (Isa. 53:5) While these chastisements and stripes were necessary for our redemption, they were necessary also to our Lord’s preparation for the high station of glory, honor and immortality to which he was called. Thus we read that “he Vou. XXIV ZION’S WATCH TOWER (16 -20) learned obedience by the things which he suffered.” (Heb. 5:8) The sufferings or chastisements or corrections were necessary to his glorification. And so it is with us, his brethren: our sins are graciously covered through the merit of his sacrifice; by faith we are accepted as every whit whole, and by faith our sacrifices are accepted, “holy, acceptable unto God.” (Rom. 12:1) Our chastisements, therefore, are not in the nature of penalties for the weaknesses and imperfections of the flesh, which Jesus has graciously covered for us; but our standing as new creatures is on the perfect plane, and the majority, at least, of our chastisements, like those of the Master, our elder Brother, are disciplinary, and to the intent that we may be ultimately complete in him, meet for the “inheritance of the saints in light.” ALLEGHENY, PA., JANUARY 15, 1903 No. 2 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER INFANT DAMNATION STILL BELIEVED The movement for Presbyterian Creed revision, it should be remembered, is amongst those of the Northern Synods only. The Southern Presbyterians constitute a totally separate body of Presbyterians. (There is only one body of Christ.) In this connection note the following comment from the columns of the Southuestern Presbyterian in criticism of a published communication. The editorial note follows:— “Note by the Editor in Charge.—The statement in the above communication, that ‘our church as a whole doth verily believe’ that it ‘is taught in God’s Holy Word that all infants dying in infaney were given by the Father to the Son in the councils of the Deity before the foundation of the world, as a part of the reward of his atoning sacrifice,’ is wholly unwarranted. The church’s belief is found, not in the deliverance of one Assembly, but in its Standards alone, and not until these are changed is any one warranted in saying that the church believes in the salvation of all infants dying in infancy. As the Standards are now, they are absolutely silent on that question, because the Scriptures are silent on it. We may hope that it is so, but the Scriptures do not declare it. When the Psalmist says: “The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies’ (Psalm 58:3), it does seem to imply the possibility that the children of the wicked perish with their parents, “But our Standards do neither affirm or deny it. They only affirm, as the Jackson Assembly declares, that the elect who die in infancy, ‘are saved in a different manner from adult persons who are capable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word,’ leaving it an open question whether the children of the wicked are saved or not, inasmuch as this is one of the things of which Moses says: ‘The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children, that we may do all the words of this law.’—Deut. 29:30.” Closely in line with the above is the following from the yaterial columns of the Central Presbyterian, (Richmond, a.}i— ‘Presbyterians are becoming united on the old subject of limitation of the atonement. In relation to the merciful inclination of God, it was unquestionably co-extensive with our race. In relation to his justice, it was designed for believers exclusively. The whole trouble has always been due to our incapacity to reconcile the sentiments and purposes of an infinite being. The Bible does not confound them. It assures us that ‘God does not willingly afflict’ his people, and yet he does afflict them. Of course, he may unwillingly destroy his enemies. But we cannot comprehend such facts, any more than the modes of divine justice.” These editors, be it remembered, are advanced thinkers, too, as compared with the masses of their readers. How sadly they lack the “key of knowledge!” (Luke 11:52) Referring to the Scripture quotations of the first (Psa. 58:3); how evident it is that it is true—that heredity marks everybody, more or less, from birth! The difficulty is a certain theological theory, which has no Scripture foundation—which claims that every infant is immortal and that the present life, long or short, favorable or unfavorable, constitutes the only chance ever to be enjoyed for reforming character and becoming fit for a happy eternity, and hence that children of the wicked, conceived and born in sin and depravity (as are all mankind, more or less), are unprepared for an eternity of bliss, and, hence, must spend that eternity without bliss—in pain and horrors. Grant the false premise and it does not take long to reach this conclusion. But let these same reasonable men rid their minds of TV—25 the false premise and go by Scripture alone, and they would have no difficulty in reaching a reasonable and Scriptural view of the subject. They should note that no infants are born immortal, but that the truth is as the Scriptures declare, God “only hath immortality.” Then they will be prepared to see that death does not mean life; and that destroy does not mean preserve: that when God declared, “All the wicked will he destroy,’ he meant it. When he declared, “The soul that sinneth it shall die,” he meant it. The penalty upon father Adam and through him upon all his race is a death penalty; and children and all die because of Adam’s sin (Rom. 5:12) ; and the worst, therefore, that could befall the children of the wicked would be —death. Now, then, what is the Scriptural hope for the children of the wicked? We answer that it is exactly the same as for the children of the saints, viz., that Christ Jesus our Lord tasted death for every man when he tasted death for Adam; _because all were under Adam’s sentence of condemnation to death. It wag one man’s sin of disobedience that brought the penalty upon all; and, consequently, the ransom of the one was the ransom of all; as it is written: ‘He is the propitiation [satisfaction] for our sins [the church’s sins], and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” The children of the wicked were, therefore, redeemed in the most absolute sense;—from the entire condemnation of death. Indeed, none but sinners were redeemed, for “Christ died for the ungodly ;” —all are ungodly, all sinners; hence, all die, and all need to be redeemed, else they would have no hope of a resurrection. In the Millennium (the resurrection age) infants of believers would have a little the start of infants of unbelievers, in that they will have less depraved organisms when awakened ; but under the grand raising-up processes then at work, such disadvantages would soon be overcome, and all will be brought to a full knowledge of the truth and to full opportunities for complete restitution (Acts 3:19-23) back to all that was lost by father Adam for himself and all his posterity. In that day it shall no more be a proverb that the fathers ate a sour grape [sin] and all the children’s teeth are set on edge; for then “every man [who shall die] shall die for his own iniquity’—‘“the soul [person] that sinneth it shall die.”— Ezek. 18:2, 4; Jer. 31:29, 30. How reasonable are God’s ways! and how plainly they are stated in the Word,—for those who have the eye and ear of faith;—to those who are hearkening to the divine Word rather than to the creeds of the dark ages. In respect to the second quotation: It shows how confusing and unsatisfactory error is to its warmest votaries. Honest minds and good hearts strive in vain to reconcile the idea of justice and good sentiments and purposes with the creating of millions of creatures, with the foreknowledge that for any cause their existence would be everlasting misery,— torture. The marvel is that intelligent men will stick to such inconsistencies—simply because they are old and hoary. Why is it that they cannot go back to the still older theory of the Bible,—beautiful, simple, reasonable, grand? It is because Satan is blinding them with fear ;—fear that good, reasonable, just thoughts toward God and interpretations of his Word are delusions of the adversary? Ah, yes; the Lord foresaw it all, and declares, “Their fear toward me [is not of me; I have neither done nor said anything to merit such sentiments, but] is taught by the precept of men.”—Isa, 29:13. THE BIBLE DEFENDED BY PROF. G. F. WRIGHT, LL.D. “Since the Bible is a revelation through the medium of human language it must be interpreted in accordance with accepted literary standards. It is addressed to persons who are [3133]

This website uses cookies to improve the website and your experience. By continuing to browse this website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. If you require further information or do not wish to accept cookies when using this website, please visit our Global Policy on Use of Cookies and Similar Technologies .