Publication date
1/1/06
Volume
27
Number
1
The WatchTower
Thoughts for the New Year
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1906/1/1906-1-1.html
 
 
VOL. 
XXVII 
ALLEGHE~Y, 
P 
A., 
JANUARY 
1, 
1906 
No.1 
THOUGHTS 
FOR 
THE 
NEW 
YEAR 
Lord 
that 
you 
consider 
yourselves 
entirely 
his, 
and 
that 
it 
is 
still 
your 
purpose 
to 
keep 
your 
all 
upon 
the 
altar 
of 
sacrifice 
durmg 
this 
new 
year 
and 
until 
it 
is 
wholly 
consumed 
in 
his 
service. 
Then 
let 
us 
proceed 
with 
studious 
rare 
from 
day 
to 
day 
to 
pay 
these, 
our 
vows 
of 
full 
consecration, 
unto 
the 
Most 
High. 
As 
we 
look 
back 
and 
with 
sorrow 
view 
the 
imperfections 
of 
even 
our 
best 
efforts, 
and 
then 
forward 
and 
see 
the 
lion-like 
difficulties 
that 
seem 
to 
obstruct 
our 
onward 
course, 
we 
will 
need 
greatly 
to 
reinforce 
Our 
waning 
courage 
with 
the 
spe­ 
cial 
promises 
of 
divine 
grace 
to 
help 
in 
every 
time 
of 
need. 
We 
have 
the 
blessed 
assurance 
that 
'I 
the 
Lord 
will 
give 
strength 
unto 
his 
people." 
"Call 
upon 
me 
in 
the 
day 
of 
trouble," 
he 
says, 
"and 
I 
will 
deliver 
thee, 
and 
thou 
shalt 
glorify 
me. 
J 
, 
As 
soldiers 
under 
our 
great 
Captain, 
we 
have 
enlisted 
in 
no 
uncertain 
struggle, 
except 
Our 
own 
faint-heartedness 
or 
un· 
faithfulness 
should 
make 
it 
so. 
We 
lire 
fully 
supplied 
with 
the 
whole 
armor 
of 
God, 
and 
will 
be 
amply 
protected 
against 
all 
the 
fiery 
darts 
of 
the 
adversary 
if 
we 
accept 
it 
and 
care­ 
fully 
buckle 
it 
on; 
we 
are 
forewarned 
of 
all 
the 
snares 
and 
dangers 
that 
beset 
our 
onward 
way, 
so 
that 
we 
may 
avoid 
an,] 
over.come 
them; 
we 
are 
fully 
informed 
as 
to 
the 
policy 
and 
course 
of 
the 
Captain 
under 
whose 
banner 
we 
have 
enlisted, 
and 
of 
the 
part 
we 
are 
to 
take 
under 
his 
ll'ading. 
We 
have 
his 
constant 
presence 
with 
us, 
even 
to 
the 
end 
of 
our 
course. 
His 
inspiring 
voice 
may 
always 
be 
heard 
above 
the 
clash 
and 
d:n 
of 
Lattle-Fear 
not, 
it 
is 
your 
Father's 
good 
pleasure 
to 
give 
you 
the 
kingdom 
I 
Be 
of 
good 
cheer; 
I 
'have 
overcome! 
Let 
not 
your 
heart 
be 
troubled, 
neither 
let 
it 
be 
afraid 
I 
Greater 
is 
he 
that 
is 
for 
you 
than 
all 
they 
that 
be 
against 
you. 
If 
we 
are 
weak 
and 
incline 
to 
faintheartedness 
we 
have 
only 
to 
remember 
the 
blessed 
promise, 
"The 
Lord 
will 
give 
strength 
unto 
his 
peoplc; 
" 
and 
by 
our 
faithfulness 
in 
tht' 
service 
we 
shall 
glorify 
God 
And 
he 
will 
deliver 
us 
gloriously 
from 
all 
our 
fol's, 
L'oth 
~ 
('011 
rmd 
unseen. 
HOW 
SHALL 
WE 
PAY 
OUR 
VOWS? 
This 
is 
an 
important 
question 
with 
all 
the 
trn1y 
ronsC'­ 
cratrd, 
and 
one 
surely 
of 
paramount 
importanre. 
L0t 
u" 
ron­ 
sider, 
then, 
that 
when 
we 
consecrated 
ourselves 
fully 
to 
the 
Lord, 
we 
tht'reby 
signified 
that 
we 
would 
hold 
nothing 
hark 
"THOU 
SPREADEST 
MY 
TABLE 
IN 
THE 
MIDST 
OF 
for 
self. 
That 
consecration 
included 
all 
our 
possession:;!, 
our 
ENEMIES" 
time, 
our 
physical 
energies 
and 
our 
mental 
attainments. 
Ani! 
Spiritually, 
we 
have 
feasted 
on 
the 
bounties 
of 
divine 
it 
implies 
the 
sacrifice 
of 
all 
our 
former 
earthly 
ambitions, 
favor; 
while 
in 
things 
temporal, 
under 
whatsoever 
circum- 
hopes 
and 
aims, 
so 
that 
we 
should 
no 
longer 
pursne 
them 
to 
any 
stances 
we 
have 
been 
placed, 
having 
the 
assurance 
that 
all 
t'xtent. 
This, 
and 
nothing 
less, 
is 
what 
our 
vow 
of 
full 
ron~e- 
things 
work 
together 
for 
good 
to 
them 
that 
love 
God, 
we 
havt' 
cration 
sig-nifies. 
But 
it 
signifit's, 
further, 
that 
these 
ros~('ss;ons 
realized 
that 
~odliness 
with 
contentment 
is 
great 
gain, 
having 
or 
personal 
qualifications, 
which 
the 
Lord 
terms 
talmts, 
nre 
promise 
of 
the 
life 
that 
now 
is 
[so 
long 
as 
God 
wills 
to 
have 
not 
only 
to 
he 
released 
from 
the 
sl'rvice 
of 
the 
worloly 
amhi· 
llS 
remain 
here 
1, 
and 
also 
of 
that 
which 
is 
to 
come. 
Where- 
tions. 
etc 
.• 
but 
that 
they 
lire 
to 
he 
so 
relt'aseil, 
not 
for 
aimles~ 
fore, 
we 
can 
and 
do 
most 
heartilv 
"offt'r 
unto 
God 
thanks- 
inactivity, 
hut 
for 
the 
purpose 
of 
beinl!; 
utilizen 
in 
an 
ol'Posite 
giving." 
And 
s'hall 
we 
not 
render 
unto 
him, 
not 
only 
the 
direction-in 
the 
service 
of 
Goel, 
of 
his 
plan 
and 
of 
his 
chilo 
praise 
of 
our 
lips, 
hilt 
also 
the 
incense 
of 
truly 
conserrated 
dren. 
lives. 
throughout 
the 
year 
upon 
which 
we 
are 
just 
enterinl!! 
In 
the 
parahll' 
of 
the 
talents 
(Matt. 
2;; 
:14-:10) 
the 
Lord 
Dearly 
beloved, 
consl'crate 
vourselves 
anew 
to 
the 
T-,ord 
today 
illustrated 
very 
clearly 
how 
we 
are 
expected 
to 
pay 
our 
vows 
-not 
in 
the 
sense 
of 
invalidating 
the 
consecratioD 
made 
onre 
of 
con~ecration 
to 
the 
Most 
HiQ'h. 
He 
says: 
"It 
is 
like 
a 
man 
for 
all, 
possibly 
many 
years 
ago, 
but 
rather 
in 
the 
sense 
of 
who, 
intending 
to 
travel, 
called 
his 
own 
servants 
and 
delivE'rl'd 
re-affirming 
and 
emphasizing 
that 
covenant. 
Tell 
the 
dear 
unto 
them 
his 
goods. 
And 
to 
one 
he 
gave 
five 
talents, 
to 
anothel 
[3695] 
(3-4) 
The 
dawn 
of 
another 
new 
year 
is 
properly 
a 
time 
for 
solemn 
reflections, 
both 
retrospective 
and 
prospective. 
In 
the 
retro­ 
spect 
how 
abundant 
is 
the 
cause 
for 
thanksgiving 
I 
We 
who 
have 
been 
blessed 
with 
the 
richest 
favors 
of 
divine 
grace 
in 
that 
knowledge 
of 
divine 
truth 
which 
reveals 
to 
us 
the 
high 
privilege 
of 
becoming 
sons 
and 
heirs 
of 
God 
and 
joint-heirs 
with 
Jesus 
Christ 
to 
an 
inheritance 
incorruptible, 
undefiled 
and 
that 
fadeth 
not 
away, 
reserved 
in 
heaven 
for 
the 
called 
and 
C'hosen 
and 
faithful 
aecording 
to 
his 
purpose, 
have 
a 
never­ 
failing 
cause 
for 
deepest 
gratitude. 
Great 
indeed 
was 
the 
favor 
which 
revealed 
to 
us 
the 
hope 
of 
everlasting 
life 
as 
justified, 
human 
sons 
of 
God-of 
full 
restitution 
to 
the 
divine 
favor 
and 
likeness, 
as 
was 
at 
first 
possessed 
by 
our 
father 
Adam. 
And 
great 
was 
our 
joy 
when 
first, 
by 
faith, 
we 
appropriated 
this 
precious 
promise 
and 
realized 
that 
legally, 
through 
merit 
of 
the 
precious 
blood 
of 
Christ 
shed 
for 
our 
redemption, 
we 
had 
passed 
from 
death 
unto 
life, 
and 
that 
in 
God's 
appointed 
time 
the 
everlasting 
treasure 
with 
all 
its 
attendant 
glory 
and 
bless­ 
ing 
would 
be 
ours. 
But 
beyond 
even 
this 
are 
the 
II 
exceedi'll,g 
great 
and 
precious 
promises" 
to 
those 
of 
this 
justified 
elass 
who 
have 
been 
called, 
aecording 
to 
God's 
purpose, 
to 
become 
the 
bride 
and 
joint-heir 
of 
his 
dear 
Son. 
Then, 
in 
addition 
to 
all 
these 
blessings 
of 
bope 
and 
promise, 
was 
the 
blessed 
realization 
during 
all 
the 
year, 
and 
with 
some 
of 
us 
for 
mahy 
years 
past, 
that 
though 
we 
walk 
through 
the 
valley 
of 
the 
shadow 
of 
death, 
as 
the 
Psalmist 
aptly 
represents 
the 
present 
life, 
our 
blessed 
Shepherd's 
rod 
and 
staff 
have 
been 
Our 
comfort 
and 
our 
safeguard. 
How 
often 
has 
the 
friendly 
crook 
of 
the 
Shepherd's 
staff 
stayed 
us 
from 
wander­ 
ing 
oft' 
into 
bypaths 
and 
kept 
us 
in 
the 
narrow 
way; 
how 
his 
chastening 
rod 
has 
from 
time 
to 
time 
aroused 
us 
from 
dreamy 
lethargy 
and 
urged 
us 
on 
our 
way. 
And 
at 
such 
times 
we 
ha"e 
recalled 
the 
comforting 
words: 
"My 
son, 
despise 
not 
thou 
the 
cllastening 
of 
the 
Lord, 
nor 
faint 
when 
thou 
art 
rebuked 
of 
him; 
for 
whom 
the 
Lord 
loveth 
he 
chasteneth, 
and 
scourgeth 
every 
son 
whom 
he 
receiveth. 
If 
ye 
endure 
rha~tening, 
God 
dealeth 
with 
you 
as 
with 
SODS; 
for 
what 
Bon 
is 
he 
whom 
the 
father 
chasteneth 
not! 
But 
if 
ve 
be 
without 
rhastisement, 
whereof 
all 
are 
partakers, 
then 
ar~ 
ye 
bastards 
and 
not 
sons.' 
'-Heb. 
12 
:5-8. 
Vou. XXVIT ALLEGHENY, PA., JANUARY 1, 1906 THOUGHTS FOR The dawn of another new year is properly a time for solemn reflections, both retrospective and prospective. In the retrospect how abundant is the cause for thanksgiving! We who have been blessed with the richest favors of divine grace in that knowledge of divine truth which reveals to us the high privilege of becoming sons and heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for the called and chosen and faithful according to his purpose, have a neverfailing cause for deepest gratitude. Great indeed was the favor which revealed to us the hope of everlasting life as justified, human sons of God—of full restitution to the divine favor and likeness, as was at first possessed by our father Adam. And great was our joy when first, by faith, we appropriated this precious promise and realized that legally, through merit of the precious blood of Christ shed for our redemption, we had passed from death unto life, and that in God’s appointed time the everlasting treasure with all its attendant glory and blessing would be ours. But beyond even this are the ‘‘ exceeding great and precious promises’’ to those of this justified class who have been called, according to God’s purpose, to become the bride and joint-heir of his dear Son. Then, in addition to all these blessings of hope and promise, was the blessed realization during all the year, and with some of us for mahy years past, that though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, as the Psalmist aptly represents the present life, our blessed Shepherd’s rod and staff have been our comfort and our safeguard. How often has the friendly crook of the Shepherd’s staff stayed us from wandering off into bypaths and kept us in the narrow way; how his chastening rod has from time to time aroused us from dreamy lethargy and urged us on our way. And at such times we have recalled the comforting words: ‘‘My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him; for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons.’’—Heb. 12:5-8. ‘‘THOU SPREADEST MY TABLE IN THE MIDST OF ENEMIES’’ Spiritually, we have feasted on the bounties of divine favor; while in things temporal, under whatsoever circumstances we have been placed, having the assurance that all things work together for good to them that love God, we have realized that godliness with contentment is great gain, having promise of the life that now is [so long as God wills to have us remain here], and also of that which is to come. Wherefore, we can and do most heartily ‘‘offer unto God thanksgiving.’’ And shall we not render unto him, not only the praise of our lips, but also the incense of truly consecrated lives, throughout the year upon which we are just entering? Dearly beloved, consecrate yourselves anew to the Lord today —not in the sense of invalidating the consecration made once for all, possibly many years ago, but rather in the sense of re-affirming and emphasizing that covenant. Tell the dear £3695] THE NEW YEAR Lord that you consider yourselves entirely his, and that it is still your purpose to keep your all upon the altar of sacrifice during this new year and until it is wholly consumed in his service. Then let us proceed with studious care from day to day to pay these, our vows of full consecration, unto the Most igh. As we look back and with sorrow view the imperfections of even our best efforts, aud then forward and see the lion-like difficulties that seem to obstruct our onward course, we will need greatly to reinforce our waning courage with the special promises of divine grace to help in every time of need. We have the blessed assurance that ‘‘the Lord will give strength unto his people.’’? ‘‘Call upon me in the day of trouble,’’ he says, ‘‘and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.’’ As soldiers under our great Captain, we have enlisted in no uncertain struggle, except our own faint-heartedness or unfaithfulness should make it so. We are fully supplied with the whole armor of God, and will be amply protected against all the fiery darts of the adversary if we accept it and carefully buckle it on; we are forewarned of all the snares and dangers that beset our onward way, so that we may avoid and overcome them; we are fully informed as to the policy and course of the Captain under whose banner we have enlisted, and of the part we are to take under his leading. We have his constant presence with us, even to the end of our course. His inspiring voice may always be heard above the clash and din of battle—Fear not, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom! Be of good cheer; I have overcome! Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid! Greater is he that is for you than all they that be against you. If we are weak and incline to faintheartedness we have only to remember the blessed promise, ‘‘The Lord will give strength unto his people;’’ and by our faithfulness in the service we shall glorify God and he will deliver us gloriously from all our foes, both :cen and unseen. HOW SHALL WE PAY OUE VOWS? This is an important question with al] the truly consecrated, and one surely of paramount importance. Tet us consider, then, that when we consecrated ourselves fully to the Lord, we thereby signified that we would hold nothing hack for self. That consecration ineluded all our possessions, our time, our physical energies and our mental attainments. And it implies the sacrifice of all our former carthly ambitions, hopes and aims, so that we should no longer pursue them to any extent. This, and nothing less, is what our vow of full consecration signifies. But it signifies, further, that these possessions or personal qualifications, which the Lord terms talents, are not only to he releaséd from the service of the worldly ambhitions, ete., but that they are to be so released, not for aimless inactivity, but for the purpose of being utilized in an opposite direction—in the service of God, of his plan and of his ehildren, In the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30) the Lord iflustrated very clearly how we are expected to pay our vows of consecration to the Most Hich. He says: ‘‘It is like 4 man who, intending to travel, called his own servants and delivered unto them his goods. And to one he gave five talents, to anothe (3-4)

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