Publication date
8/1/05
Volume
26
Number
15
The WatchTower
Views from the Watch Tower
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1905/15/1905-15-1.html
 
 
 
JULY 
15. 
1905 
ZION'S 
WATCH 
TOWER 
(221-227) 
THB 
DIVINB 
STANDPOINT 
Question.-Please 
explain 
Rom. 
4: 
17 
-"God 
who... 
calleth 
those 
things 
which 
be 
not 
as 
though 
they 
were." 
Answer.-The 
Apostle 
is 
discussing 
Abraham 
and 
God's 
promises 
to 
him, 
one 
of 
which 
is, 
"I 
have 
made 
thee 
a 
father 
of 
many 
nations." 
The 
Apostle 
calls 
attention 
to 
the 
fact 
that 
Abraham, 
in 
this 
matter, 
was 
a 
type 
of 
God, 
and 
that 
these 
words, 
therefore, 
imply 
that 
many 
nations 
would 
be­ 
come 
children 
of 
God. 
'l'he 
thought 
is 
somewhat 
beclouded 
by 
the 
translation, 
"before 
him 
whom 
he 
believed." 
If 
this 
were 
rendered, 
"foreshadowing 
him 
whom 
he 
believed," 
or 
"typifying 
him 
whom 
he 
believed," 
the 
thought 
would 
be 
clearer 
to 
many. 
The 
words 
concerning 
WhICh 
you 
particularly 
enquire 
signify 
that 
God 
here 
as 
frequently 
in 
other 
places, 
speaks 
of 
things 
not 
yet 
accomplished 
as 
though 
they 
were 
accom­ 
plished. 
Abraham 
was 
not 
a 
father 
of 
many 
nations 
at 
the 
time, 
and 
God 
did 
not 
even 
refer 
to 
his 
natural 
seed, 
through 
Ishmael 
and 
Isaac, 
and 
the 
sons 
of 
Keturah, 
but 
referred 
to 
the 
seed, 
the 
antitypical 
son 
of 
Abraham, 
which 
is 
Christ, 
the 
antitypical 
Isaac, 
and 
the 
church, 
the 
anti 
typical 
Rebecca, 
through 
whom 
during 
the 
Millennial 
age 
all 
the 
families 
of 
the 
earth 
will 
l'e 
blessed, 
and 
be 
granted 
opportunity 
for 
regeneration, 
as 
children 
of 
God. 
HOW 
ARB 
WE 
UNDBR 
GOD'S 
PBOTBCTION'l 
Question.-How 
are 
we 
under 
divine 
care? 
How 
does 
the 
Lord's 
protection 
come 
to 
us, 
his 
followers? 
Answer.-It 
is 
as 
new 
creatures 
and 
not 
as 
old 
creatures, 
according 
to 
the 
flesh, 
that 
we 
are 
reckoned 
members 
of 
the 
body 
of 
ChrIst, 
and 
under 
control 
and 
supervision 
of 
our 
Head. 
It 
follows, 
then, 
that 
the 
interests 
of 
the 
new 
creature 
are 
those 
which 
will 
have 
the 
Lord's 
special 
care 
and 
protec­ 
tion-even 
though 
this 
be 
at 
the 
expense 
of 
his 
earthly, 
tem­ 
poral, 
physical 
interests. 
The 
flesh 
is 
consecrated 
to 
death 
anyway, 
and 
our 
desire 
and 
the 
Lord's 
promise 
is 
that 
the 
faithful 
consummation 
of 
that 
earthly 
sacrifice 
shall 
work 
out 
the 
far 
more 
exceeding 
and 
abundant 
honor 
and 
blessing 
to 
the 
new 
creature. 
In 
a 
word, 
then, 
the 
Lord's 
special 
care 
toward 
us 
is 
in 
respect 
to 
our 
spiritual 
interests, 
as 
members 
of 
the 
royal 
priesthood. 
THE 
TEMPLE 
GOD 
IS 
BUILDING 
"And 
when 
all 
were 
brought 
together, 
The 
stones 
of 
every 
size, 
The 
columns, 
so 
strong 
and 
graceful, 
Each 
in 
its 
place 
to 
rise- 
They 
formed 
so 
grand 
a 
temple 
As 
never 
before 
was 
seen; 
So 
true 
in 
its 
great 
proportions, 
So 
bright 
in 
its 
glittermg 
sheen. 
"Yet 
there 
is 
a 
greater 
temple, 
And 
God 
is 
he 
who 
plans; 
Now 
gath'ring 
his 
stones 
together 
For 
his 
'house 
not 
made 
with 
hands,' 
And 
each 
'living 
stone' 
will 
be 
there, 
Which 
evermore, 
day 
by 
day, 
He's 
fitting 
for 
this 
great 
temple, 
Which 
will 
last 
for 
ever 
and 
aye. 
"Our 
pains. 
temptations 
and 
perils, 
Our 
sufferings, 
sighs 
and 
tears, 
Are 
God's 
chisels, 
tools 
and 
hammers, 
Until 
the 
Master 
appears. 
Let 
no 
one 
shrink 
from 
the 
process, 
Let 
none 
of 
the 
Lord's 
complain; 
But 
wait 
with 
meek 
submission, 
'Twill 
not 
be 
long 
nor 
in 
vain." 
"Of 
all 
the 
beautiful 
lessons 
With 
which 
God's 
book 
is 
filled, 
This 
one, 
of 
wonderful 
sweetness, 
Hath 
most 
my 
being 
thrilled. 
Oh, 
wonderful 
care 
of 
the 
Father! 
Oh, 
wonderful 
love 
so 
free! 
To 
know 
that 
the 
Maker 
of 
all 
things 
Careth 
so 
much 
for 
me! 
.. 
'Tis 
said 
that 
the 
temple, 
so 
stately, 
That 
crowned 
Moriah's 
hill, 
Was 
built 
without 
sound 
of 
hammer, 
The 
toilers 
working 
so 
still. 
Far 
off 
from 
the 
grand 
foundation 
Was 
all 
the 
noise 
and 
strain 
Of 
fitting 
one 
stone 
to 
another, 
From 
base 
to 
turret's 
fane. 
VOL. 
XXVI 
ALLEGHENY, 
PA., 
AUGUST 
1, 
1905 
No. 
15 
VIEWS 
FROM 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
UNION 
OF 
CHURCHBS 
have 
the 
chief 
executive 
of 
the 
nation 
preside 
at 
the 
meetin~ 
A 
move 
toward 
the 
formation 
of 
a 
federation 
of 
the 
Protes- 
for 
proposed 
federation 
is 
significant 
of 
the 
close 
political 
alIi­ 
tant 
churches 
of 
Cleveland, 
0., 
was 
taken 
yesterday 
morning 
at 
ance 
which 
will 
result. 
the 
Ministers' 
union 
meeting. 
SBVBNTBBN 
MILLION 
CHURCH 
MEMBBRS 
TO 
FBDBRATB 
A 
paper 
was 
read 
by 
Dr. 
Paul 
F. 
Sutphen 
of 
the 
Second 
We 
clip 
the 
following 
from 
the 
North 
American:- 
Presbyterian 
church, 
in 
which 
he 
presented 
an 
argument 
in 
be- 
Long 
strides 
have 
been 
taken 
towards 
the 
practical 
federa- 
half 
of 
unity 
among 
the 
churches 
on 
the 
basis 
of 
a 
federation 
tion 
of 
the 
Protestant 
churches 
of 
the 
United 
States. 
Fourteen 
similar 
to 
the 
relationship 
between 
the 
United 
States 
govern- 
denominations 
have 
already 
agreed 
to 
participate 
in 
the 
great 
ment 
and 
the 
States, 
the 
denominations 
to 
retain 
their 
names, 
conference 
to 
be 
held 
in 
New 
York 
City 
during 
November 
of 
but 
be 
members 
of 
a 
federation. 
Dr. 
Sutphen 
said 
that 
he 
this 
year. 
It 
is 
understood 
that 
the 
synods 
of 
the 
Lutheran 
thought 
the 
time 
was 
now 
ripe 
for 
the 
organization 
of 
such 
church 
will 
vote 
to 
participate, 
and 
the 
Protestant 
Episcopal 
a 
federation. 
church, 
through 
its 
Committee 
on 
Unity, 
will 
do 
likewise. 
The 
paper 
was 
followed 
by 
a 
discussion. 
The 
views 
ex- 
If 
these 
two 
denominations 
assent, 
seventeen 
millions 
of 
pressed 
by 
Dr. 
Sutphen 
met 
with 
approval 
and 
the 
ministers 
communicants 
will 
be 
represented. 
It 
will 
be 
the 
first 
time 
in 
selected 
a 
committee 
of 
five, 
of 
which 
Dr. 
Sutphen 
is 
chairman, 
the 
history 
of 
Christianity 
since 
the 
Reformation 
that 
such 
a 
to 
look 
over 
the 
situation 
in 
Cleveland 
and 
ascertain 
whether 
unity 
has 
been 
realized. 
or 
not 
an 
organization 
can 
be 
formed. 
There 
will 
be 
no 
union 
along 
the 
lines 
of 
rules 
of 
faith 
or 
The 
movement 
in 
Cleveland 
is 
similar 
to 
the 
movement 
which 
church 
organization, 
but 
there 
will 
be 
consolidation 
of 
effort 
has 
been 
started 
to 
form 
an 
organization 
including 
all 
the 
in 
all 
the 
matters 
pertaining 
to 
the 
broad 
moral 
and 
national 
Protestant 
denominations 
in 
the 
United 
States. 
At 
a 
meeting 
questions 
upon 
which 
all 
sects 
can 
meet 
on 
a 
common 
basis. 
in 
New 
York 
next 
November 
delegates 
will 
meet 
to 
discuss 
It 
will 
be 
a 
great 
church 
"trust," 
in 
fact, 
if 
not 
in 
name. 
the 
situation. 
It 
is 
expected 
that 
there 
will 
be 
600 
or 
700 
dele- 
The 
leaders 
of 
the 
movement 
prefer 
to 
say 
they 
are 
adopting 
gates 
at 
the 
meeting, 
over 
which 
President 
Roosevelt 
has 
been 
the 
national 
spirit; 
forming 
a 
union 
of 
denominations 
similar 
invited 
to 
preside.-Glelleland 
Plaindealer. 
to 
the 
union 
of 
the 
States. 
But 
the 
spirit 
of 
consolidation 
of 
* 
* 
* 
energy 
is 
predominant. 
This 
is 
precisely 
what 
we 
suggested 
as 
the 
probable 
outcome 
One 
of 
them 
said 
yesterday: 
of 
the 
"Union" 
movement,-a 
federation 
on 
the 
plan 
of 
the 
"In 
many 
of 
the 
general 
charities, 
and 
in 
scores 
of 
other 
union 
of 
the 
several 
States 
in 
the 
United 
States 
of 
America. 
ways, 
we 
are 
dividing 
our 
energies; 
we 
are 
accomplishing 
a 
Denominations 
of 
kindred 
creeds 
and 
spirit 
may 
indeed 
unite 
minimum 
of 
good 
with 
a 
maximum 
of 
energy. 
It 
is 
clear 
that 
absolutelv, 
but 
fedpration 
alone 
will 
brim~ 
oppoRing- 
creeds 
lllto 
by 
such 
a 
federation 
as 
is 
proposed 
we 
can 
reverse 
the 
propo­ 
accord. 
This 
is 
really 
a 
revival 
of 
"The 
Evangelical 
Alliance," 
sition." 
but 
it 
will 
include 
the 
Episcopal 
church 
and 
thus 
get 
the 
"life" 
An 
eminent 
clergyman, 
who 
has 
done 
more, 
perhaps, 
than 
mentioned 
by 
the 
Revelator. 
(Rev. 
13: 
15) 
The 
proposal 
to 
any 
other 
person 
to 
bring 
this 
church 
unity, 
for 
which 
all 
sects 
[3601] 
Jury 15, 1905 THE DIVINE STANDPOINT Question—Please explain Rom. 4:17-—“God who... calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Answer.—The Apostle is discussing Abraham and God’s promises to him, one of which is, “I have made thee a father of many nations.” ‘The Apostle calls attention to the fact that Abraham, in this matter, was a type of God, and that these words, therefore, imply that many nations would hecome children of God. The thought is somewhat beclouded by the translation, “before him whom he believed.” If this were rendered, “foreshadowing him whom he believed,” or “typifying him whom he believed,” the thought would be clearer to many. The words concerning which you particularly enquire signify that God here as frequently in other places, speaks of things not yet accomplished as though they were accomplished. Abraham was not a father of many nations at the time, and God did not even refer to his natural seed, through Ishmael and Isaac, and the sons of Keturah, but referred to the seed, the antitypical son of Abraham, which ig Christ, ZION’S WATCH TOWER (221-227) the antitypical Isaac, and the church, the antitypical Rebecca, through whom during the Millennial age all the families of the earth will Fe blessed, and be granted opportunity for regeneration, as children of God. HOW ARE WE UNDER GOD’S PROTECTION? Question—How are we under divine care? How does the Lord’s protection come to us, his followers? Answer.—lIt is as new creatures and not as old creatures, according to the flesh, that we are reckoned members of the body of Christ, and under control and supervision of our Head. It follows, then, that the interests of the new creature are those which will have the Lord’s special care and protection—even though this be at the expense of his earthly, temporal, physical interests. The flesh is consecrated to death anyway, and our desire and the Lord’s promise is that the faithful consummation of that earthly sacrifice shall work out the far more exceeding and abundant honor and blessing to the new creature. In a word, then, the Lord’s special care toward us is in respect to our spiritual] interests, as members of the royal priesthood. THE TEMPLE GOD IS BUILDING “Of all the beautiful lessons With which God’s book is filled, This one, of wonderful sweetness, Hath most my being thrilled. Oh, wonderful care of the Father! Oh, wonderful love so free! To know that the Maker of all things Careth so much for me! “Tis said that the temple, so stately, That crowned Moriah’s hill, Was built without sound of hammer, The toilers working so still. Far off from the grand foundation Was all the noise and strain Of fitting one stone to another, From base to turret’s fane. “And when all were brought together, The stones of every size, The columns, so strong and graceful, Each in its place to rise— They formed so grand a temple As never before was seen; So true in its great proportions, So bright in its glittering sheen. “Yet there is a greater temple, And God is he who plans; Now gath’ring his stones together For his ‘house not made with hands,’ And each ‘living stone’ will be there, Which evermore, day by day, He’s fitting for this great temple, Which will last for ever and aye. “Our pains. temptations and perils, Our sufferings, sighs and tears, Are God’s chisels, tools and hammers, Until the Master appears. Let no one shrink from the process, Let none of the Lord’s complain; But wait with meek submission, "Twill not be long nor in vain.” Vout. XXVI ALLEGHENY, PA., AUGUST 1, 1905 No. 15 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER UNION OF CHURCHES A move toward the formation of a federation of the Protestant churches of Cleveland, O., was taken yesterday morning at the Ministers’ union meeting, A paper was read by Dr, Paul F. Sutphen of the Second Presbyterian church, in which he presented an argument in behalf of unity among the churches on the basis of a federation similar to the relationship between the United States government and the States, the denominations to retain their names, but be members of a federation. Dr. Sutphen said that he thought the time was now ripe for the organization of such a federation. The paper was followed by a discussion. The views expressed by Dr. Sutphen met with approval and the ministers selected a committee of five, of which Dr. Sutphen is chairman, to look over the situation in Cleveland and ascertain whether or not an organization can be formed. The movement in Cleveland is similar to the movement which has been started to form an organization including all the Protestant denominations in the United States. At a meeting in New York next November delegates will meet to discuss the situation. It is expected that there will be 600 or 700 delegates at the meeting, over which President Roosevelt has been invited to preside.—Cleveland Plaindealer. * * * This is precisely what we suggested as the probable outcome of the “Union” movement,—a federation on the plan of the union of the several States in the United States of America. Denominations of kindred creeds and spirit may indeed unite absolutely, but federation alone will bring opposing creeds into accord. This is really a revival of “The Evangelical Alliance,” but it will include the Episcopal church and thus get the “life” mentioned by the Revelator. (Rev. 13:15) The proposal to have the chief executive of the nation preside at the meeting for proposed federation is significant of the close political alliance which will result. SEVENTEEN MILLION CHURCH MEMBERS TO FEDERATE We clip the following from the North American:— Long strides have been taken towards the practical federation of the Protestant churches of the United States. Fourteen denominations have already agreed to participate in the great conference to be held in New York City during November of this year. It is understood that the synods of the Lutheran church will vote to participate, and the Protestant Episcopal church, through its Committee on Unity, will do likewise. If these two denominations assent, seventeen millions of communicants will be represented. It will be the first time in the history of Christianity since the Reformation that such a unity has been realized. There will be no union along the lines of rules of faith or church organization, but there will be consolidation of effort in all the matters pertaining to the broad moral and national questions wpon which all sects can meet on a common basis. It will be a great church “trust,” in fact, if not in name. The leaders of the movement prefer to say they are adopting the national spirit; forming a union of denominations similar to the union of the States. But the spirit of consolidation of energy is predominant. One of them said yesterday: “In many of the general charities, and in scores of other ways, we are dividing our energies; we are accomplishing a minimum of good with a maximum of energy. It is clear that by such a federation as is proposed we can reverse the proposition.” An eminent clergyman, who has done more, perhaps, than any other person to bring this church unity, for which all sects [3601]

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