Publication date
5/15/07
Volume
28
Number
10
The WatchTower
Laying Up Heavenly Treasure
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1907/10/1907-10-1.html
 
 
 
MAY 
J, 
Jg07 
ZION'S 
WATCH 
TOWER 
people. 
Taking 
advantage 
of 
the 
common 
things, 
the 
Lord 
referred 
to 
the 
shepherd's 
staff 
which 
Moses 
carried 
and 
bade 
him 
throw 
it 
to 
the 
ground; 
it 
at 
once 
became 
a 
serpent. 
Moses' 
faith 
was 
again 
tested, 
and 
the 
Lord 
bade 
him 
take 
it 
up 
again, 
and 
it 
became 
a 
staff 
in 
his 
hand 
as 
at 
first. 
The 
assurance 
that 
he 
would 
be 
able 
to 
give 
the 
people 
this 
demonstration 
and 
other 
demonstrations 
that 
God 
had 
sent 
him 
to 
them 
strengthened 
Moses' 
confidence 
in 
God 
and 
made 
up 
for 
his 
lack 
of 
confidence 
in 
himself. 
And 
this 
should 
be 
the 
case 
with 
all 
of 
us; 
we 
are 
not 
to 
have 
confidence 
in 
our­ 
selves, 
but 
if 
we 
go 
forth 
strong 
in 
the 
Lord 
and 
in 
the 
power 
of 
his 
might, 
confident 
and 
rejoicing 
because 
he 
is 
with 
us, 
we 
are 
not 
only 
safe 
as 
respects 
ourselves 
but 
in 
the 
proper 
condition 
for 
the 
Lord 
to 
more 
and 
more 
use 
us 
in 
his 
service 
-" 
He 
that 
humbleth 
himself 
shall 
be 
exalted; 
he 
that 
exalteth 
himself 
shall 
be 
abased," 
is 
the 
divine 
method 
of 
procedure. 
Moses 
urged 
further 
that 
he 
could 
find 
some 
one 
much 
more 
capable 
of 
telling 
the 
good 
tidings 
than 
himself. 
He 
said, 
"I 
am 
slow 
of 
speech," 
I 
never 
was 
an 
orator 
that 
could 
answer, 
reason 
out, 
this 
matter 
with 
Pharaoh. 
I 
should 
feel 
so 
abashed 
upon 
coming 
into 
his 
presence, 
and 
so 
feel 
my 
insignificance, 
that 
even 
though 
I 
were 
your 
representa· 
tive 
I 
fear 
that 
I 
would 
not 
be 
able 
to 
present 
your 
message 
in 
a 
proper 
manner. 
Meeting 
this 
objection, 
the 
Lord 
told 
Moses 
that 
he 
would 
give 
him 
his 
brother 
Aaron 
as 
a 
mouth· 
piece. 
Thus 
strengthened 
and 
encouraged, 
the 
meekest 
man 
in 
all 
the 
earth 
set 
out 
upon 
his 
mission 
to 
meet 
the 
greatest 
king 
of 
earth 
at 
that 
time, 
Pharaoh 
Menephtah. 
Let 
each 
of 
us 
then, 
dear 
readers, 
impress 
upon 
our 
hearts 
the 
essence 
of 
this 
lesson, 
that 
if 
God 
be 
with 
us 
and 
for 
us, 
however 
humble 
and 
weak 
of 
ourselves, 
we 
may 
be 
mighty 
through 
him 
to 
the 
pulling 
down 
of 
the 
strongholds 
of 
error 
and 
for 
the 
building 
up 
of 
his 
people 
in 
the 
most 
holy 
faith, 
and 
for 
their 
deliverance 
from 
the 
bondage 
of 
error. 
Let 
us 
in 
the 
name 
of 
the 
Lord 
do 
with 
our 
might 
what 
our 
hands 
find 
to 
do, 
but 
always 
with 
the 
thought 
that 
we 
serve 
the 
Lord. 
Let 
his 
words, 
"Certainly 
I 
will 
be 
with 
thee," 
be 
the 
strength 
in 
our 
every 
endeavor 
in 
his 
name 
and 
cause. 
SOME 
INTERESTING 
LETTERS 
Dear 
Brother 
Russell:- 
The 
last 
three 
months 
of 
1906 
were 
quite 
trying 
to 
me. 
My 
occupation 
brought 
me 
too 
much 
in 
contact 
with 
the 
world, 
so 
much 
so 
that 
I 
am 
not 
at 
all 
satisfied 
with 
myself; 
but 
I 
am 
starting 
in 
the 
new 
year 
with 
much 
experience 
and 
a 
full 
resolve 
to 
profit 
thereby. 
I 
am 
going 
to 
seek 
the 
Lord 
more 
diligently 
through 
his 
Word, 
and 
through 
association 
with 
his 
people. 
I 
intend 
giving 
up 
my 
present 
employment 
to 
seek 
a 
position 
elsewhere, 
where 
I 
can 
have 
more 
time 
to 
give 
to 
active 
service 
for 
him 
who 
bought 
me 
with 
the 
great 
price. 
Here 
I 
am 
completely 
penned 
up. 
I 
do 
not 
have 
even 
nights 
or 
Sundays 
in 
which 
to 
meet 
with 
the 
Lord'8 
people, 
so 
I 
must 
get 
out 
where 
I 
can 
keep 
the 
rust 
from 
collecting 
on 
my 
armor. 
I 
shall 
put 
at 
lealilt 
one·half 
of 
my 
time 
in 
spreading 
the 
glad 
news 
of 
the 
great 
rest 
day 
just 
at 
hand 
for 
all 
who 
are 
weary 
and 
heavy 
laden. 
Remember 
me 
at 
the 
heavenly 
court, 
that 
I 
may 
have 
that 
grace 
that 
is 
all-sufficient. 
Trusting 
in 
him, 
I 
am 
Your 
brother 
and 
fellow-servant, 
J. 
W. 
B.,-Wash. 
Following 
is 
a 
letter 
written 
by 
a 
business 
customer 
to 
one 
of 
our 
friends:- 
"I 
want 
to 
thank 
you 
for 
the 
little 
pamphlet 
you 
sent 
me 
last 
year 
when 
you 
answered 
my 
letter 
saying 
you 
could 
not 
fill 
my 
order. 
It 
was 
one 
of 
those 
'Old 
Theology' 
tracts 
you 
sent. 
I 
do 
not 
know 
you 
or 
your 
faith, 
but 
that 
little 
paper 
has 
done 
more 
for 
me 
than 
money 
could 
buy. 
Who· 
ever 
you 
are 
I 
hope 
it 
has 
done 
even 
more 
for 
you. 
So 
I 
heartily 
thank 
you 
for 
sending 
it. 
It 
was 
bread 
cast 
upon 
the 
water 
and 
a 
hungry 
soul 
found 
it. 
I 
have 
now, 
from 
that 
pamphlet, 
the 
MILLENNIAL 
DAWN 
series 
and 
am 
reading 
the 
fourth 
volume, 
having 
read 
the 
first, 
second 
and 
third 
and 
liked 
them 
very 
much. 
I 
feel 
lowe 
it 
all 
to 
you, 
for 
I 
never 
knew 
of 
that 
kind 
of 
literature. 
I 
said 
all 
to 
you, 
but 
I 
will 
take 
that 
back; 
lowe 
it 
all 
to 
God, 
but 
believe 
that 
you 
or 
whoever 
sent 
it 
to 
be 
the 
instrument 
he 
used 
in 
answer 
to 
my 
prayers. 
I 
hope 
many 
other 
hungry 
souls 
may 
be 
fed 
by 
the 
same 
means. 
Our 
efforts 
in 
scattering 
the 
precious 
truths 
will 
be 
a 
blessing 
to 
us 
as 
well 
as 
to 
those 
they 
reach. 
I 
thought 
I 
was 
a 
Christian 
for 
a 
good 
many 
years, 
but 
I 
have 
only 
found 
out 
what 
a 
true 
Christian 
is, 
and 
know 
the 
mass 
of 
people 
will 
not 
accept 
that 
doctrine. 
But 
I 
hope 
there 
are 
still 
more 
truth-hungry 
souls 
who 
may 
find 
it, 
and 
that 
it 
will 
prove 
a 
blessing 
to 
them 
as 
it 
has 
to 
me. 
I 
might 
say 
more, 
but 
as 
I 
do 
not 
know 
the 
sender 
will 
only 
say 
in 
conclusion, 
may 
the 
Lord 
bless 
you 
and 
keep 
you 
faithful 
for 
that 
high 
calling 
he 
has 
in 
store 
for 
the 
faithful. 
Yours 
in 
the 
blessed 
hope, 
J. 
H. 
S.,-Neb. 
VOL. 
XXVIII 
ALLEGHENY, 
PA., 
MAY 
15,1907 
No. 
10 
LAYING 
UP 
HEAVENLY 
TREASURE 
The 
present 
is 
the 
time 
for 
laying 
up 
heavenly 
treasures 
charge 
concerning 
thee 
rthe 
Christ], 
and 
in 
their 
hands 
they 
which 
cannot 
be 
stolen 
from 
us 
and 
which 
cannot 
corrupt. 
shall 
bear 
thee 
up 
[the 
feet 
members] 
lest 
ye 
stumble 
against 
We 
fully 
agree 
that 
our 
Lord 
and 
the 
gracious 
things 
which 
stones 
and 
difficulties 
in 
this 
evil 
day.-Psa. 
91: 
11, 
12. 
he 
h9.s 
in 
reservation 
for 
them 
that 
love 
him-the 
elect-are 
SEALED 
IN 
HEART 
AND 
FOREHEAD 
our 
treasures 
and 
that 
the 
store 
of 
them 
becomes 
larger 
and 
The 
Scriptures 
refer 
to 
the 
sealing 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit 
as 
larger 
as 
we 
seek 
to 
set 
our 
affections 
on 
things 
above 
and 
necessarily 
essential 
to 
membership 
in 
the 
Lord's 
family 
at 
not 
on 
the 
things 
of 
earth. 
But 
just 
now 
we 
wish 
to 
think 
all. 
Whoever 
does 
not 
receive 
the 
seal, 
the 
impress 
of 
the 
of 
these 
heavenly 
things 
in 
respect 
to 
our 
earthly 
life, 
and 
holy 
Spirit, 
will 
not 
be 
a 
copy 
of 
God's 
dear 
Son 
in 
heart, 
to 
note 
the 
importance 
of 
laying 
up 
some 
heavenly 
treasure 
in 
character, 
and 
cannot 
be 
associated 
with 
him 
in 
the 
king· 
on 
earth. 
dom. 
The 
sealing 
process 
is 
a 
gradual 
one, 
the 
impression 
According 
to 
our 
understanding 
of 
the 
Scriptures 
the 
Lord 
becoming 
more 
permanent 
daily. 
We 
are 
not 
to 
understand 
is 
now 
permitting 
a 
very 
tranquil 
period, 
which 
probably 
will 
sealing 
in 
the 
forehead 
to 
be 
identical 
with 
this 
sealing 
in 
the 
not 
last 
long. 
In 
this 
time 
the 
winds 
are 
being 
held, 
the 
heart, 
although 
the 
two 
are 
closely 
related. 
Many 
of 
the 
storm 
is 
not 
allowed 
to 
break 
'Until 
the 
servants 
of 
God 
are 
Lord's 
dear 
people 
throughout 
the 
past 
have 
had 
the 
seal 
sealed 
in 
their 
foreheads. 
The 
thought 
is 
that 
just 
as 
soon 
of 
the 
Lord 
upon 
their 
hearts 
and 
characters 
but 
not 
upon 
as 
the 
sealing 
process 
has 
been 
accomplished 
the 
restraints 
their 
foreheads-they 
did 
not 
have 
that 
intellectual 
knowl­ 
will 
be 
released 
and 
the 
storm 
will 
sweep 
down 
upon 
us- 
edge 
of 
God 
and 
his 
glorious 
plan 
which 
he 
has 
provided 
for 
upon 
the 
whole 
world 
to 
some 
extent, 
but 
especially 
upon 
the 
all 
of 
his 
faithful 
of 
the 
present 
time, 
and 
which 
now 
becomes 
sealed 
ones, 
to 
try 
them, 
to 
prove 
them, 
and 
to 
test 
them. 
a 
test, 
a 
proof, 
an 
evidence 
to 
us 
that 
we 
are 
in 
the 
Lord's 
Not 
a 
pleasant 
prospect, 
some 
may 
say; 
but 
we 
answer 
that 
favor 
and 
that 
he 
is 
showing 
us 
his 
deep 
things. 
all 
of 
our 
heavenly 
Father's 
provisions 
for 
us 
are 
agreeable 
The 
question 
with 
each 
one 
of 
us 
should 
be, 
How 
am 
when 
we 
are 
rightly 
in 
harmony 
with 
him 
and 
his 
precious 
I 
prospering' 
How 
am 
I 
profiting 
by 
these 
provisions 
which 
Word. 
We 
are 
symbolically 
represented 
as 
being 
enabled 
the 
Lord 
has 
made 
for 
my 
preparation 
for 
the 
coming 
trials 
during 
that 
time 
of 
trouble 
to 
stand 
upon 
the 
sea 
of 
glass 
and 
tests' 
Am 
I 
living 
carelessly, 
thoughtlessly' 
Am 
I 
and 
to 
sing 
the 
song 
of 
Moses 
and 
the 
Lamb, 
the 
meanwhile 
improving 
or 
am 
I 
wasting 
the 
precious 
moments, 
the 
blessed 
harping 
upon 
our 
harps--'lIlaking 
melody 
from 
the 
Word 
of 
hours, 
the 
golden 
opportunities 
presented 
to 
me 
by 
God's 
God 
and 
greatly 
rejoicing 
therein. 
This 
time 
of 
trouble, 
when 
favor' 
Surely 
the 
Lord 
has 
been 
faithful 
in 
all 
of 
his 
en­ 
the 
winds 
of 
persecution 
shall 
be 
loosed, 
will 
be 
the 
time 
gagements; 
surely 
he 
is 
doing 
for 
us 
exceedingly 
more 
abund­ 
of 
fiery 
trial 
which 
shall 
try 
us; 
and 
since 
the 
Lord's 
people 
antI,.. 
than 
we 
could 
ask 
or 
think; 
surely 
if 
we 
fail 
to 
make 
are 
not 
to 
think 
strange 
of 
it, 
it 
is 
proper 
that 
it 
should 
be 
our 
calling 
and 
election 
sure 
the 
fault 
will 
not 
be 
his, 
for 
called 
to 
their 
attention 
repeatedly, 
and 
that 
they 
be 
helped 
he 
is 
faithful 
who 
has 
called 
us, 
he 
also 
will 
do 
it. 
If, 
there­ 
in 
their 
preparation 
for 
it. 
He 
shall 
give 
his 
messengers 
fore, 
he 
has 
done 
all 
that 
he 
has 
promised 
and 
all 
that 
is 
[3991] 
May 1, 1907 people. Taking advantage of the common things, the Lord referred to the shepherd’s staff which Moses carried and bade him throw it to the ground; it at once became a serpent. Moses’ faith was again tested, and the Lord bade him take it up again, and it became a staff in his hand as at first. The assurance that he would be able to give the people this demonstration and other demonstrations that God had sent him to them strengthened Moses’ confidence in God and made up for his lack of confidence in himself. And this should be the case with all of us; we are not to have confidence in ourselves, but if we go forth strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, confident and rejoicing because he is with us, we are not only safe as respects ourselves but in the proper condition for the Lord to more and more use us in his service —‘‘ He that humbleth himself shall be exalted; he that exalteth himself shall be abased,’’ is the divine method of procedure. Moses urged further that he could find some one much more capable of telling the good tidings than himself. He said, ‘‘I am slow of speech,’? I never was an orator that ZION’S WATCH TOWER (343-147) could answer, reason out, this matter with Pharaoh. I should feel so abashed upon coming into his presence, and so feel my insignificance, that even though I were your representative I fear that I would not be able to present your message in a proper manner. Meeting this objection, the Lord told Moses that he would give him his brother Aaron as a mouthpiece. Thus strengthened and encouraged, the meekest man in all the earth set out upon his mission to meet the greatest king of earth at that time, Pharaoh Menephtah. Let each of us then, dear readers, impress upon our hearts the essence of this lesson, that if God be with us and for us, however humble and weak of ourselves, we may be mighty through him to the pulling down of the strongholds of error and for the building up of his people in the most holy faith, and for their deliverance from the bondage of error. Let us in the name of the Lord do with our might what our hands find to do, but always with the thought that we serve the Lord. Let his words, ‘‘Certainly I will be with thee,’’ be the strength in our every endeavor in his name and cause, SOME INTERESTING LETTERS Dear Brother Russell :— The last three months of 1906 were quite trying to me. My occupation brought me too much in contact with the world, so much so that I am not at all satisfied with myself; but I am starting in the new year with much experience and a full resolve to profit thereby. I am going to seek the Lord more diligently through his Word, and through association with his people. I intend giving up my present employment to seek a position elsewhere, where I can have more time to give to active service for him who bought me with the great price. Here I am completely penned up. I do not have even nights or Sundays in which to meet with the Lord’s people, so I must get out where I can keep the rust from collecting on my armor. I shall put at least one-half of my time in spreading the glad news of the great rest day just at hand for all who are weary and heavy laden. Remember me at the heavenly court, that I may have that grace that is all-sufficient. Trusting in him, I am Your brother and fellow-servant, J. W. B.,—Wash. Following is a letter written by a business eustomer to one of our friends:— “*T want to thank you for the little pamphlet you sent me last year when you answered my letter saying you could Vou. XXVIII ALLEGHENY, PA., MAY 15, 1907 not fill my order. It was one of those ‘Old Theology’ tracts you sent. I do not know you or your faith, but that little paper has done more for me than money could buy. Whoever you are I hope it has done even more for you. So I heartily thank you for sending it. It was bread cast upon the water and a hungry soul found it. I have now, from that pamphlet, the MILLENNIAL DAWN series and am reading the fourth volume, having read the first, second and third and liked them very much. I feel I owe it all to you, for I never knew of that kind of literature. I said all to you, but I will take that back; I owe it all to God, but believe that you or whoever sent it to be the instrument he used in answer to my prayers. I hope many other hungry souls may be fed by the same means. Our efforts in scattering the precious truths will be a blessing to us as well as to those they reach. I thought I was a Christian for a good many years, but I have only found out what a true Christian is, and know the mass of people will not accept that doctrine. But I hope there are still more truth-hungry souls who may find it, and that it will prove a blessing to them as it has to me. I might say more, but as I do not know the sender will only say in conelusion, may the Lord bless you and keep you faithful for that high calling he has in store for the faithful. Yours in the blessed hope, J. H. 8.,— Neb. No. 10 LAYING UP HEAVENLY TREASURE The present is the time for laying up heavenly treasures which cannot be stolen from us and which cannot corrupt. We fully agree that our Lord and the gracious things which he hes in reservation for them that love him—the elect—are our treasures and that the store of them becomes larger and larger as we seek to set our affections on things above and not on the things of earth. But just now we wish to think of these heavenly things in respect to our earthly life, and to note the importance of laying up some heavenly treasure on earth. According to our understanding of the Scriptures the Lord is now permitting a very tranquil period, which probably will not last long. In this time the winds are being held, the storm is not allowed to break until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. The thought is that just as soon as the sealing process has been accomplished the restraints will be released and the storm will sweep down upon us— upon the whole world to some extent, but especially upon the sealed ones, to try them, to prove them, and to test them. Not a pleasant prospect, some may say; but we answer that all of our heavenly Father’s provisions for us are agreeable when we are rightly in harmony with him and his precious Word. We are symbolically represented as being enabled during that time of trouble to stand upon the sea of glass and to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, the meanwhile harping upon our harps—making melody from the Word of God and greatly rejoicing therein. This time of trouble, when the winds of persecution shall be loosed, will be the time of fiery trial which shall try us; and since the Lord’s people are not to think strange of it, it is proper that it should be called to their attention repeatedly, and that they be helped in their preparation for it. He shall give his messengers charge concerning thee [the Christ], and in their hands they shall bear thee up [the feet members] lest ye stumble against stones and difficulties in this evil day.—Psa. 91:11, 12. SEALED IN HEART AND FOREHEAD The Seriptures refer to the sealing of the holy Spirit as necessarily essential to membership in the Lord’s family at all. Whoever does not receive the seal, the impress of the holy Spirit, will not be a copy of God’s dear Son in heart, in character, and cannot be associated with him in the kingdom. The sealing process is a gradual one, the impression becoming more permanent daily. We are not to understand sealing in the forehead to be identical with this sealing in the heart, although the two are closely related. Many of the Lord’s dear people throughout the past have had the seal of the Lord upon their hearts and characters but not upon their foreheads—they did not have that intellectual knowledge of God and his glorious plan which he has provided for all of his faithful of the present time, and which now becomes a test, a proof, an evidence to us that we are in the Lord’s favor and that he is showing us his deep things. The question with each one of us should be, How am I prospering? How am I profiting by these provisions which the Lord has made for my preparation for the coming trials and tests? Am I living carelessly, thoughtlessly? Am I improving or am I wasting the precious moments, the blessed hours, the golden opportunities presented to me by God’s favor? Surely the Lord has been faithful in all of his engagements; surely he is doing for us exceedingly more abundantly than we could ask or think; surely if we fail to make our ealling and election sure the fault will not be his, for he is faithful who has called us, he also will do it. If, therefore, he has done all that he has promised and all that is [3991]

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