Publication date
10/1/04
Volume
25
Number
19
The WatchTower
Sons and Daughters of Consolation--Comfort
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1904/19/1904-19-1.html
 
 
VOL. 
XXV 
ALLEGHENY, 
PA., 
OCTOBER 
1, 
1904 
No. 
19 
SONS 
AND 
DAUGHTERS 
OF 
CONSOLATION-COMFORT 
''Joses, 
by 
the 
Apostles, 
was 
surnamed 
Barnabas, 
which 
M, 
being 
interpreted, 
the 
son 
of 
consolation 
[comfort)"-Acts 
4:36. 
Comfort: 
Consolation! 
What 
rest 
and 
refreshment 
and 
hold 
that 
the 
character 
and 
words 
of 
Jesus 
have 
today 
upon 
peace 
and 
joy 
these 
words 
imply! 
That 
the 
name 
"son 
of 
con- 
our 
hearts, 
and 
also 
upon 
the 
hearts 
of 
many 
who 
are 
not 
hltl 
solation," 
or 
comfort, 
should 
be 
given 
to 
any 
o~e 
of 
mature 
people 
in 
the 
full 
consecrated 
sense. 
It 
was 
not 
by 
continually 
years 
tells 
a 
whole 
volume 
in 
itself 
respecting 
the 
general 
char- 
chiding 
the 
apostles, 
and 
accusing 
them, 
but 
because, 
instead, 
acter 
of 
the 
person. 
We 
know 
little 
about 
Barnabas 
but 
if 
our 
Lord 
sympathized 
with 
them, 
assisted 
them, 
and 
inter­ 
this 
one 
sentence 
of 
holy 
writ 
comprised 
the 
sum 
of 
ou; 
knowl- 
preted 
their 
heart-intentions 
liberally, 
generously, 
that 
they 
euge 
we 
could 
not 
fail 
to 
love 
and 
appreciate 
him. 
became 
more 
and 
more 
his 
faithful 
followers, 
even 
unto 
death. 
In 
one 
sense 
of 
the 
word 
the 
church 
is 
spoken 
of 
as 
a 
mother, 
Note 
the 
case 
of 
the 
woman 
taken 
in 
sin, 
and 
our 
Lord's 
failure 
Zion, 
and 
all 
the 
true 
people 
of 
God 
are 
thus 
represented 
as 
to 
make 
any 
pharisaical 
tirade 
against 
her. 
Mark 
his 
reproof 
her 
children-sons 
and 
daughters. 
Some 
of 
these 
are 
sons 
of 
to 
those 
who 
stood 
by: 
"He 
that 
is 
without 
sin, 
let 
him 
cast 
~omfort 
and 
daughters 
of 
comfort, 
while 
others 
are 
sons 
and 
the 
first 
stone." 
Mark 
how, 
when 
they 
were 
all 
thus 
convicted 
daughters 
of 
pain, 
continually 
causing 
more 
or 
less 
of 
distress 
of 
imperfection 
in 
some 
particular 
themselves, 
our 
Lord 
said 
to 
and 
discomfort 
to 
others 
and 
to 
themselves. 
We 
want 
to 
see 
this 
the 
woman, 
"Neither 
do 
I 
condemn 
thee; 
go, 
and 
sin 
no 
more." 
sub.iect 
in 
its 
true 
light, 
in 
order 
that 
we 
may 
each 
act 
accord- 
(John 
8: 
3-11) 
Notice 
his 
dealing 
with 
the 
Apostle 
Peter, 
after 
illgly;-thrrt 
a 
larger 
and 
an 
increasing 
number 
of 
the 
children 
he 
had 
denied 
him, 
cursing 
and 
swearing. 
Many 
of 
the 
Lord's 
of 
Zion 
shall 
be 
sons 
and 
daughters 
of 
comfort 
to 
all 
with 
whom 
followers, 
if 
in 
his 
stead, 
would 
have 
felt 
it 
their 
bounden 
duty 
they 
come 
in 
contact, 
and 
thus 
in 
a 
gcneral 
way 
comforters 
to 
to 
rebuke 
Peter 
publicly 
before 
all 
the 
apostles, 
and 
to 
have 
the 
church 
as 
a 
whole. 
Some 
may 
be 
inclined 
to 
query, 
Does 
required 
public 
confession 
and 
some 
sori 
of 
penance; 
and 
on 
the 
true 
church 
need 
comfort? 
Are 
not 
the 
majority 
too 
com- 
every 
possible 
occasion 
afterward 
to 
have 
thrown 
in 
his 
face 
fortabie 
already? 
Do 
they 
not 
rather 
need 
to 
be 
stirred 
up, 
to 
his 
weakness 
and 
disloyalty,. 
Such 
have 
not 
rightly 
interpreted 
be 
reminded 
of 
their 
sins, 
tv 
be 
chided 
and 
made 
generally 
as 
and 
copied 
the 
Lord's 
spint, 
and 
hence 
are 
not 
sons 
and 
daugh­ 
uncomfortable 
as 
possible, 
to 
the 
intent 
that 
they 
may 
thus 
be 
ters 
of 
consolation 
in 
the 
church. 
They 
are, 
in 
the 
contrary, 
helped 
onward 
and 
upward? 
strife-breeders, 
vexatious 
hinderers 
of 
the 
work 
they 
desne 
to 
We 
would 
not 
ignore 
the 
fact 
that 
there 
are 
occasions 
when 
forward. 
They 
should 
hear 
the 
Master's 
voice, 
"Takc 
my 
yoke 
reproofs 
and 
corrections 
in 
righteousness 
are 
proper, 
as 
the 
upon 
you 
and 
learn 
of 
me." 
In 
proportion 
as 
we 
learn 
of 
the 
Apostle 
advised. 
But 
we 
have 
no 
sympathy 
at 
all 
with 
the 
Lord 
we 
become, 
not 
mouthpieces 
for 
the 
law 
merely, 
but 
mouth­ 
thought 
so 
common 
with 
some 
good 
people; 
viz., 
that 
they 
pieces 
specially 
for 
mercy 
and 
love 
and 
helpfulness 
and 
com­ 
should 
always 
be 
feeling 
miRerable 
with 
themselves 
and 
mak- 
fort. 
ing 
other 
people 
miserable, 
by 
continually 
nagging 
and 
fault- 
So 
far 
as 
the 
record 
shows, 
our 
Lord 
did 
not 
once 
mention 
finding, 
upbraiding 
and 
terrorizing. 
We 
believe 
that 
such 
well 
to 
Peter 
either 
his 
profanity 
or 
his 
disloyalty. 
Peter 
knew 
meant 
but 
mistaken 
efforts 
have 
done 
much 
harm, 
have 
driven 
about 
these 
without 
being 
told; 
he 
had 
already 
wept 
over 
them 
j 
away 
from 
the 
family 
circle 
of 
Zion 
many 
who 
could 
not, 
with- 
a 
mere 
word 
from 
the 
Lord 
in 
chiding, 
reproof, 
might 
have 
dis­ 
out 
hypocrisy, 
claim 
that 
they 
were 
the 
vilest 
of 
sinners, 
nor 
couraged 
him,-perhaps 
hopelessly. 
The 
nearest 
thing 
to 
a 
properly 
appreciate 
prayers 
in 
which 
they 
were 
represented 
as 
reproof 
in 
our 
Lord's 
conduct 
and 
language 
was 
the 
inqUIry, 
saying, 
"Lord, 
be 
merciful 
unto 
us, 
miserable 
sinners 
I" 
when 
"Lovest 
thou 
me?" 
Let 
all 
who 
would 
be 
true 
sons 
and 
daugh­ 
they 
realized 
divine 
favor 
and 
forgiveness-justification 
from 
ters 
of 
consolation 
in 
Zion 
learn 
this 
lesson 
from 
the 
great 
an 
things. 
Teacher-not 
to 
strive 
to 
punish 
and 
correct 
and 
rl'prove 
and 
Those 
nl'eding 
reproof, 
rebuke, 
etc., 
are 
such 
as 
are 
walking 
rebuke; 
but 
to 
avoid 
these 
so 
far 
as 
possible, 
and 
to 
inquire, 
after 
the 
flesh 
and 
not 
after 
the 
Spirit-in 
violation 
of 
their 
not 
so 
much 
about 
the 
past 
as 
about 
the 
present-What 
is 
the 
covenant. 
Those 
who 
should 
be 
warned 
to 
flee 
from 
the 
wrath 
offender's 
present 
attitude 
toward 
the 
Lord 
and 
toward 
his 
to 
come 
are 
such 
as 
have 
never 
yet 
fled 
for 
refuge 
to 
the 
hope 
flock? 
set 
bpfore 
them 
in 
the 
Gm,pel,-such 
as 
are 
without 
God, 
and 
OOMFORT 
AND 
COMFORTING 
NEEDF'OL 
have 
no 
hope 
in 
the 
world-no 
relationship 
to 
Christ, 
through 
faith 
and 
obedience. 
But 
the 
true 
"wheat," 
the 
true 
members 
It 
was 
with 
the 
full 
appreciation 
of 
the 
fact 
that 
the 
church 
of 
the 
body 
of 
Christ, 
the 
consecrated, 
are, 
however 
imperfectly, 
would 
need 
comfort 
rather 
than 
chiding 
and 
reproof 
that 
our 
continually 
sl'eking 
to 
walk 
after 
the 
Spirit; 
though 
they 
are 
Lord 
said, 
"If 
I 
go 
not 
away 
the 
Comforter 
[the 
holy 
Spirit] 
well 
aware 
that 
because 
of 
imperfections 
of 
the 
flesh 
they 
do 
cannot 
come." 
The 
ransom 
must 
be 
paid, 
must 
be 
presented 
not 
and 
cannot 
walk 
up 
to 
the 
spirit. 
These, 
instead 
of 
needing 
in 
the 
"Most 
Holy," 
to 
the 
heavenly 
Father, 
before 
his 
blessing 
rpproofs 
and 
rt'bukes 
and 
smitings 
and 
upbraidings 
for 
their 
could 
be 
bestowed. 
That 
blessing 
would 
yield 
the 
comfort 
of 
shortcomings, 
which 
they 
admit 
and 
deplore 
and 
strive 
against, 
the 
begetting 
of 
the 
spirit 
and 
comfort 
of 
the 
exceeding 
great 
need 
sympathy, 
aSsIstance, 
comfort. 
and 
precious 
promises 
to 
those 
who 
had 
accepted 
Jesus,-and 
to 
those 
who 
would 
believe 
on 
him 
through 
their 
word. 
True, 
our 
Few 
probably 
have 
noticed 
to 
what 
extent 
the 
Scriptures 
Lord 
spoke 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit 
as 
reproving-but 
not 
as 
reprov­ 
administer 
this 
very 
"balm 
of 
Gilead" 
to 
the 
true 
children 
of 
ing 
the 
church; 
he 
said, 
"He 
shall 
reprove 
the 
world 
of 
sin, 
of 
Zion 
j 
hut 
the 
Scriptures 
are 
full 
of 
comfort, 
and 
there 
is 
great 
righteousness, 
and 
of 
a 
coming 
judgment." 
The 
nearest 
sugges­ 
need 
that 
all 
who 
are 
truly 
the 
Lord's 
people 
should 
see 
to 
it 
tion 
to 
reproof 
in 
respect 
to 
the 
holy 
Spirit's 
dealing 
with 
the 
that 
they 
are 
m;Jre 
and 
more 
sons 
and 
daughters 
of 
comfort 
in 
church 
is 
that 
given 
by 
the 
Apostle, 
when 
he 
says, 
"Grieve 
not 
the 
church, 
administering 
to 
one 
another 
the 
helpfUlness 
and 
the 
holy 
Spirit 
of 
God, 
whereby 
ye 
are 
sealed 
unto 
the 
day 
of 
encouragement 
and 
refre;:hment 
which 
the 
Lord 
intended. 
Our 
redemption." 
And 
again 
he 
says, 
"Quench 
not 
the 
Spirit."- 
Lord 
spoke 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit 
as 
the 
Comforter, 
and 
he 
mentions 
h 
31Th 
5 
19 
h 
· 
If 
1 
f 
t 
' 
"I 
'11 
th 
F 
th 
Ep 
. 
4: 
0; 
ess.:. 
Im;:e 
a 
so 
as 
a 
com 
or 
er, 
saymg, 
WI 
pray 
e 
a 
er, 
and 
he 
shall 
give 
you 
another 
comforter." 
(John 
14:16) 
To 
The 
grand 
provision 
made 
for 
the 
comfort 
of 
the 
Lord's 
what 
extent 
our 
Lord 
Jesus 
was 
a 
comforter 
we 
may 
judge 
as 
people 
clearly 
mdicates 
a 
necessity 
for 
such 
comfort; 
nor 
is 
we 
look 
back 
to 
the 
three 
and 
a 
half 
years 
of 
his 
ministry, 
and 
at 
this 
necessity 
difficult 
to 
find. 
The 
Lord's 
people 
are 
beset 
on 
its 
riMe 
hear 
him 
Ray 
to 
his 
faithful 
ones, 
"I 
will 
not 
leave 
you 
every 
hand 
with 
adverse 
conditions-the 
world, 
the 
flesh, 
the 
comfortless"-orphans, 
bereaved 
of 
a 
caretaker. 
And 
as 
re- 
adversary-seeking 
to 
intimidate 
or 
discourage 
or 
entrap 
the 
sPPetR 
his 
care 
over 
the 
apostles 
while 
with 
them, 
we 
have 
a 
new 
creature, 
so 
as 
to 
hinder 
its 
development 
in 
grace, 
knowl­ 
~l1ggestion 
from 
his 
prayer 
to 
the 
Father, 
"Of 
those 
whom 
thou 
edge 
and 
love, 
and 
ultimately 
to 
hinder 
it 
from 
the 
attainment 
Ilfl>l 
given 
me 
I 
have 
10>lt 
none 
save 
the 
son 
of 
perdition," 
as 
the 
of 
the 
perfection 
and 
glory 
to 
follow, 
which 
God 
has 
promised 
8criptures 
foretold.-John 
17: 
12. 
to 
the 
faithful 
only. 
What 
we 
need, 
in 
order 
to 
make 
us 
sons 
and 
daughters 
of 
consolation 
in 
the 
church, 
is 
a 
lar~er 
measure 
It 
had 
been 
foretold 
of 
our 
Lord 
in 
auvance 
through 
the 
of 
love 
and 
sympathy 
in 
our 
hearts. 
In 
proportion 
as 
sym­ 
nrophcts, 
that 
he 
would 
be 
a 
comforter, 
as 
we 
read, 
"The 
Spirit 
pathy 
and 
love 
come 
in, 
they 
will 
crowd 
out 
the 
spirit 
of 
strife 
~f 
the 
Lord 
God 
is 
upon 
me; 
beeau>le 
Jehovah 
hath 
anointed 
and 
contention 
and 
judging 
and 
fault-finding; 
even 
as 
they 
me 
to 
preach 
good 
tidings 
unto 
the 
meek; 
he 
hath 
sent 
me 
to 
crowded 
out 
at 
first 
the 
spirit 
of 
the 
flesh-anger, 
malice, 
bind 
up 
the 
broken-hearted; 
... 
, 
to 
comfnrt 
all 
that 
mourn; 
hatred, 
strife, 
vain-glory. 
to 
appoint 
unto 
them 
that 
mourn 
in 
Zion, 
to 
give 
them 
beauty 
As 
a 
rule 
(there 
probably 
are 
exceptions 
to 
all 
rules) 
those 
for 
ashes, 
the 
oil 
of 
joy 
for 
mourning, 
the 
garment 
of 
praise 
who 
have 
the 
spirit 
of 
helpfulness, 
of 
comfort, 
of 
consolation, 
for 
the 
spirit 
of 
heaviness."-Isa. 
61: 
1-3. 
and 
who 
are 
able 
to 
pour 
this 
balm 
into 
the 
wounded 
hearts 
of 
All 
this 
means 
that 
our 
Lord 
Jesus 
was 
a 
comforter 
in 
Zion 
others 
most 
liberally, 
are 
those 
who 
themselves 
have 
passed 
above 
and 
beyond 
all 
other 
comforters. 
He 
entered 
into 
sym- 
through 
severe 
trials. 
difficulties, 
disciplines, 
and 
who 
have 
pathy 
with 
the 
meek 
and 
lowly 
and 
right-intentioned 
in 
all 
of 
thu!l 
been 
touched 
with 
a 
feeling 
of 
the 
mfirmities 
of 
our 
race, 
their 
weaknesses 
and 
trials 
and 
difficulties; 
and 
this 
is 
th~ 
and, 
more 
than 
this. 
have 
been 
touched 
with 
a 
feeling 
of 
sym- 
(291-292) 
[3434 
J 
ae ce er Vou. XXV ALLEGHENY, PA., OCTOBER 1, 1904 No. 19 SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF CONSOLATION—COMFORT “Joses, by the Apostles, was surnamed Barnabas, which is, being interpreted, the son of consolation [comfort]”—Acts 4:36 Comfort: Consolation! What rest and refreshment and peace and joy these words imply! That the name, “son of consolation,” or comfort, should be given to any one of mature years tells a whole volume in itself respecting the general character of the person. We know little about Barnabas, but if this one sentence of holy writ comprised the sum of our knowledge we could not fail to love and appreciate him. _ In one sense of the word the church is spoken of as a mother, Zion, and all the true people of God are thus represented as her children—sons and daughters. Some of these are sons of veomfort and daughters of comfort, while others are sons and daughters of pain, continually causing more or less of distress and discomfort to others and to themselves. We want to see this subject in its true light, in order that we may each act accordiigly ;—that a larger and an increasing number of the children of Zion shall be sons and daughters of comfort to all with whom they come in contact, and thus in a general way comforters to the church as a whole. Some may be inclined to query, Does the true church need comfort? Are not the majority too comfortable already? Do they not rather need to be stirred up, to be reminded of their sins, to be chided and made generally as uncomfortable as possible, to the intent that they may thus be helped onward and upward? We would not ignore the fact that there are occasions when reproofs and corrections in righteousness are proper, as the Apostle advised. But we have no sympathy at all with the thought so common with some good people; viz., that they should always be feeling miserable with themselves and making other people miserable, by continually nagging and faultfinding, upbraiding and terrorizing, We believe that such well meant but mistaken efforts have done much harm, have driven away from the family circle of Zion many who could not, without hypocrisy, claim that they were the vilest of sinners, nor properly appreciate prayers in which they were represented as saying, “Lord, be merciful unto us, miserable sinners!” when they realized divine favor and forgiveness—justification from all things. Those needing reproof, rebuke, etc., are such as are walking after the flesh and not after the Spirit—in violation of their covenant. Those who should be warned to flee from the wrath to come are such as have never yet fled for refuge to the hope set before them in the Gospel,—such as are without God, and have no hope in the world—no relationship to Christ, through faith and obedience. But the true “wheat,” the true members of the body of Christ, the consecrated, are, however imperfectly, continually seeking to walk after the Spirit; though they are well aware that because of imperfections of the flesh they do not and cannot walk up to the spirit. These, instead of needing reproofs and rebukes and smitings and upbraidings for their shortcomings, which they admit and deplore and strive against, need sympathy, assistance, comfort. Few probably have noticed to what extent the Scriptures administer this very “balm of Gilead” to the true children of Zion; but the Scriptures are full of comfort, and there is great need that all who are truly the Lord’s people should see to it that they are more and more sons and daughters of comfort in the church, administering to one another the helpfulness and encouragement and refreshment which the Lord intended. Our Lord spoke of the holy Spirit as the Comforter, and he mentions himself also as a comforter, saying, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter.” (John 14:16) To what extent our Lord Jesus was a comforter we may judge as we look back to the three and a half years of his ministry, and at its close hear him say to his faithful ones, “I will not leave you comfortless”—orphans, bereaved of a caretaker. And as respects his care over the apostles while with them, we have a suggestion from his prayer to the Father, “Of those whom thou has given me I have lost none save the son of perdition,” as the Seriptures foretold——John 17:12. Tt had been foretold of our Lord in advance through the prophets, that he would be a comforter, as we read, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted; .... to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”—Isa. 61:1-3. All this means that our Lord Jesus was a comforter in Zion above and beyond all other comforters. He entered into sympathy with the meek and lowly and right-intentioned in all of their weaknesses and trials and difficulties; and this is the (291-292) hold that the character and words of Jesus have today upon our hearts, and also upon the hearts of many who are not his people in the full consecrated sense. It was not by continually chiding the apostles, and accusing them, but because, instead, our Lord sympathized with them, assisted them, and interpreted their heart-intentions liberally, generously, that they became more and more his faithful followers, even unto death. Note the case of the woman taken in sin, and our Lord’s failure to make any pharisaical tirade against her. Mark his reproof to those who stood by: “He that is without sin, let him cast the first stone.” Mark how, when they were all thus convicted of imperfection in some particular themselves, our Lord said to the woman, “Neither do J condemn thee; go, and sin no more.” {John 8:3-11) Notice his dealing with the Apostle Peter, after he had denied him, cursing and swearing. Many of the Lord’s followers, if in his stead, would have felt it their bounden duty to rebuke Peter publicly before all the apostles, and to have required public confession and some sort of penance; and on every possible occasion afterward to have thrown in his face his weakness and disloyalty. Such have not rightly interpreted and copied the Lord’s spirit, and hence are not sons and daughters of consolation in the church. They are, in the contrary, strife-breeders, vexatious hinderers of the work they desire to forward, They should hear the Master’s voice, “Take my yoke upon you and learn of me.” In proportion as we learn of the Lord we become, not mouthpieces for the law merely, but mouthpieces specially for mercy and love and helpfulness and comort. So far as the record shows, our Lord did not once mention to Peter either his profanity or his disloyalty. Peter knew about these without being told; he had already wept over them; a mere word from the Lord in chiding, reproof, might have discouraged him,—perhaps hopelessly. The nearest thing to a reproof in our Lord’s conduct and language was the inquiry, “Lovest thou me?” Let all who would be true sons and daughters of consolation in Zion learn this lesson from the great Teacher—not to strive to punish and correct and reprove and rebuke; but to avoid these so far as possible, and to inquire, not so much about the past as about the present—What is the offender's present attitude toward the Lord and toward his ock? COMFORT AND COMFORTING NEEDFUL It was with the full appreciation of the fact that the church would need comfort rather than chiding and reproof that our Lord said, “If I go not away the Comforter [the holy Spirit] cannot come.” The ransom must be paid, must be presented in the “Most Holy,” to the heavenly Father, before his blessing could be bestowed. That blessing would yield the comfort of the begetting of the spirit and comfort of the exceeding great and precious promises to those who had accepted Jesus,—and to those who would believe on him through their word. True, our Lord spoke of the holy Spirit as reproving—but not as reproving the church; he said, “He shall reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of a coming judgment.” The nearest suggestion to reproof in respect to the holy Spirit’s dealing with the church is that given by the Apostle, when he says, “Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” And again he says, “Quench not the Spirit.”— Eph. 4:30; 1 Thess, 5:19. The grand provision made for the comfort of the Lord’s people clearly indicates a necessity for such comfort; nor is this necessity difficult to find. The Lord’s people are beset on every hand with adverse conditions—the world, the flesh, the adversary——seeking to intimidate or discourage or entrap the new creature, so as to hinder its development in grace, know]edge and love, and ultimately to hinder it from the attainment of the perfection and gory to follow, which God has promised to the faithful only. hat we need, in order to make us sons and daughters of consolation in the church, is a larger measure of love and sympathy in our hearts. In proportion as sympathy and love come in, they will crowd out the spirit of strife and contention and judging and fault-finding; even as they crowded out at first the spirit of the flesh~—anger, malice, hatred, strife, vain-glory. As a rule (there probably are exceptions to all rules) those who have the spirit of helpfulness, of comfort, of consolation, and who are able to pour this balm into the wounded hearts of others most liberally, are those who themselves have passed through severe trials, difficulties, disciplines, and who have thus been touched with a feeling of the infirmities of our race, and, more than this, have been touched with a feeling of sym [34384]

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