AUGUST 1, 1906 and don’t you talk to me of the love of God! If there is such a being—which I sometimes doubt entirely—he has shown anything but love for me! He took away my babies as soon as they had breathed a few times. He has robbed me of my hearing and thus taken away my greatest pleasure in life, my music, etc., and at the same time raised a barrier between me and the world which I can never overcome. He has isolated me from all the world while still leaving me in it, and he would have shown more love for me if he had taken me out of the world entirely; and all this he has done notwithstanding the fact that I have always been a worker in his church and cause, have always praised him with my voice, was ever ready and willing to serve him with hand and voice in any geod cause, and this is the way he shows his love for me! Oh, to me he seems a good God to be hated, but not one who is worthy of my love and confidence or reverence. ’’ My friend, with tears rolling down her face, clasped me in her arms and said, ‘‘Poor child! I am so sorry for you. It does seem hard, but still I can’t help feeling that the time will come when you will feel differently and see things in a better light.’’ Was ever anyone so wickedly rebellious as I? I continued to feel the same for years, during which time, on the rare oceasions that we met, my friend would drop some word, principally concerning events which were likely to soon take place in the world’s history, and about three years ago she sent me some tracts which I was tempted to at once throw into the waste basket; but it occurred to me that after she had taken the trouble to send them to me, the least I could do was to read them before destroying them. I did read them, and one of them at least I kept, thinking it might come handy to refer to. So I put it where I saw it daily, and naturally read it over frequently. After a while I began to wonder what those Dawn books really contained. My curiosity very gradually increased until I sent to my friend for the first two volumes and began to read them. But the ‘‘eyes and ears of my understanding’? still refused to open and I was nearly through the first volume before my interest was fully aroused. As I now recall it, it seemed like awaking from a night’s sleep: we begin to be conscious it is morning and soon will be time to get up; then we close our eyes for another nap, until we suddenly find it is broad daylight and we must be up and about our business. Then we get fully awake. So it was with my reading the Dawns. At times in reading Vol. 1, my interest would be aroused, but I soon relapsed into that dreamy, half-conscious state, until toward the last of the volume I found myself fully awake and was eager to begin the next volume. Before I was half through that I sent for the other four volumes to have them at hand as soon as needed. The little tract that awakened my interest was ‘‘Do You Know?’’ and I intend to seatter that seed wherever I think there is a chance of its doing good. I wish I could express Vou. XXVITI ALLEGHENY, PA., AUGUST 15, 1906 ZION’S WATCH TOWER (255-259) in words my thankfulness for the blessing received through reading the Dawns and the study of God’s Word in connection therewith, and also the Tower publications. Right here let me thank whoever is responsible for sending me recently a package of six of your discourses published in a Pittsburg journal. I am so grateful for them, for I need all this ‘‘meat.’? So far as I know there are but two other people in town who believe in MmnteNNIAL Dawn, and they, unlike myself, seem not to care to run for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus, and I have no one in full heart sympathy with me to talk with, so it is a real feast to me to get the Towers and all such reading upon the subject now so dear to my heart. As for me, I feel that I am indeed a ‘‘new creature.’’ I cannot recognize myself today as being the same person who once was so ready to ‘‘curse God and die,’’ and to think that, after all my sinful rebellion against him, he should permit me to see this wonderful revelation of his plan and receive the blessing far beyond anything I should ever have dared to hope for, teaches me a lesson in humility that I shall never forget. Now in days of trials and perplexities I can say, ‘‘Be still! It is the Lord. Let him do what seemeth to him good.’’ I can even thank him for bringing me through these devious paths of doubt and despair, sorrow and suffering—rejoicing in tribulation, since it has brought me to his feet, humbled and ashamed, but now ready and anxious to do his will wherever it may lead me. Last spring I withdrew my membership from the Universalist church, although less than a year before my only child united with the church, Then was a trial for me. I felt if I was to belong to the one true church of the living God I should ‘‘come out of Babylon,’’ yet I knew not what influence my doing so would have upon my child. But since I took that step in obedience to what I believed to be the Lord’s will, I felt that no harm to my child should result. My daughter has since come to see this ‘‘present truth,’’ and wishes now that she had not joined the Universalist chureh, yet does not quite want to withdraw from it, and I do not urge it. The seeds of truth are sown in her heart, and she says she ‘‘can’t believe anything else since she has seen this,’’ so I am content to trust the outcome to the Lord. She is really but a child yet, and, living the pleasures of youth, does not seem to want to sacrifice much for the truth’s sake. Later on she may, for she is a good girl, very bright and intelligent, and, with all her fondness for the good times usually enjoyed by young people, she has an undercurrent of sober, serious thought and a deep reverence for those things which so greatly interest me—and herself, too, only in less degree, Pardon this lengthy letter, which I hope has not proved uninteresting to you, and now may the Lord’s blessing be upon you and all co-workers in his cause. In deepest gratitude, I am, your sister in Christ, , N. aH. No. 16 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER JEWS FLOCKING INTO PALESTINE London, England.—The correspondent of the Daily Mail at Jerusalem remarks that the influx of Jews into Palestine during the last few months has been remarkable. Five thousand of them from Russia landed at Jaffa a few weeks ago. They will settle on the plain of Sharon. A few days ago some Jewish financiers made a trip east of the river Jordan. They were highly satisfied with the land there and are willing to establish colonies, but they are rather suspicious of the Bedouin tribes. It is believed, if the government will guarantee protection, the sale of large tracts of land will soon be completed. The correspondent states that the Jews are regaining possession of the land by degrees, and that should the present quick rate continue the whole country in a few years will belong to them. *e & The above is a confirmation of the item we published recently to the effect that the Turkish government had removed the restriction on Jewish settlement in Palestine which had been in force since 1892. Undoubtedly there will soon be a general rush of Russian Jews to the Holy Land—the land of Abraham. Thus is prophecy fulfilling before our eyes. The Zionist movement of recent years was caused largely by the refusal v—10 to allow Jews to go to the land. The Zionists planned to buy Palestine, but did not succeed. Now, ‘‘in due time,’’ God has opened the door to Palestine without their purchasing it. The next eight years will no doubt show wonders there as well elsewhere throughout the world—all in line with the ord, ‘“‘PRIESTS ARE KNAVES’’ A bricklayer named Loos was severely punished on February 15th at the Berlin Criminal Court for ‘‘dishonoring the institution of the Christian church.’’ In a speech delivered at a meeting of co-workers, Loos spoke of religion as being superfluous to workmen, and used the expression ‘‘ Priests are arrant knaves, who keep the people stupid.’’ The Public Prosecutor argued that this expression contained an insult to the priesthood, and the Court sentenced Loos to three months’ imprisonment. YOUR LETTERS APPRECIATED Since the issuance of the July 15th WatcH Tower the Editor’s mail has been greatly increased by letters expressive of sympathy and confidence. These are highly appreciated, dear friends Each one would have had a personal reply had that been possible. Since Convention work, ete., etc., rendered personal replies impossible, we request that all accept this general acknowledgment. [3837]
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