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MAY
15.
1908
ZION'S
WATCH
TOWER
house
to
which
our
Lord
referred,
quoting
Isaiah's
prophecy
and
assuring
us
that
ultimately
he
will
open
the
prison-doors
and
bring
forth
the
prisoners.
Again
he
assures
us
that
he
has
the
key
to
this
prison,
the
"key
of
death
and
of
kailes"
the
tomb.
But
men
are
never
referred
to
as
spirits
j
angels
are
so
referred
to;
they
are
spirit
beings;
man
is
not,
he
is
a
human
or
earthly
being.
True,
we
sometimes
speak
of
the
spirit
of
life,
the
power
of
life
in
man,
but
we
do
not
speak
of
it
as
a
thing
that
could
be
preached
to
j
it
merely
refers
to
his
vitality.
Every
spirit
that
can
be
preached
to
must
be
a
spirit
being
and
must
be
alive
and
not
dead,
in
order
to
be
able
to
receive
the
preaching.
With
these
points
in
mind
it
is
very
easy
to
see
that
the
Apostle
was
referring
to
our
Lord's
preaching
in
a
figurative
sense
in
much
the
same
way
that
we
are
in
the
habit
of
saying,
,
'Actions
speak
louder
than
words."
Our
Lord's
sermons
to
the
fallen
angels,
the
spirits
in
prison,
restrained
from
liberty
in
the
days
of
Noah,
were
along
this
line
of
action,
not
of
words.
When
cast
out
by
our
Lord,
some
of
these
spirits
who
had
obsessed
humanity
cried
out,
"We
know
thee
who
thou
art!"
They
knew
Jesus
was
the
Logos,
the
Father's
representative
who
had
created
them;
they
knew
that
he
had
left
the
glory
of
the
Father
and
humbled
himself
to
take
the
earthly
nature
instead;
they
knew
that
he
had
consecrated
his
human
life
to
death
as
a
sin-offering
for
mankind.
In
all
this
they
beheld
a
wonderful
lesson,
yet
we
cannot
suppose
that
they
any
more
than
the
apostles
understood
that
our
Lord
would
be
raised
from
the
dead.
When,
however,
he
was
raised
up
by
the
Father's
power
on
the
third
day
and
they
beheld
him
again
a
spirit
being
of
the
highest
order,
it
must
have
been
a
matter
of
astonishment
and
wonderment
to
them.
It
preached
a
lesson,
namely,
that
obedience
to
God
is
profit
able.
It
must
have
preached
another
lesson
also,
that
God
who
punishes
evil
doers
is
sure
to
bless
and
reward
all
those
who
seek
to
do
his
will.
It
was
a
sermon
along
still
another
line,
namely:
it
taught
the
love
of
God,
his
compassion
toward
sinners,
and
it
gave
the
fallen
angels
room
to
reflect
that
if
God
had
such
com
passion
upon
the
poor,
fallen
human
race,
he
might
ultimately
have
as
much
compassion
upon
them
and
grant
them
some
opportunity
for
escaping
from
the
punishment
which
had
come
upon
them
for
their
sins.
Theirs,
indeed,
was
a
different
penalty
from
that
upon
man,
but
why
might
they
not
hope
that
the
Rame
God
who
was
rich
in
mercy
upon
Adam
and
his
race
would
have
compassion
also
upon
any
of
those
who
would
havr
the
hrart
desire
to
come
back
into
harmony
with
him.
It
is
our
thought
that
this
was
a
powerful
sermon,
and
we
shall
not
he
surprised
to
find
by
and
by
that
as
a
result
of
this
sermon
some
of
those
fallen
angels
repented
and
did
there-
after
strive
to
live
in
harmony
with
the
Father,
hoping
that
some
time
divine
mercy
might
be
extended
to
thbm
for
their
release
and
their
restoration
to
fellowship
with
the
holy
angels.
And
this
very
hope
is
held
out
by
the
Apostle
when
he
tells
us
that
the
church
shall
judge
not
only
the
world
of
mankind
but
shall
also
judge
angels.
This
means
a
judgment
or
trial
time
for
the
fallen
angels,
the
holy
angels
needing
no
judging
or
trial.
IT
IS
SOWN-IT
IS
RAISE
0
Before
leaving
this
subject
we
call
attention
to
the
words
of
the
Apostle
descriptive
of
the
resurrection
change
of
the
church.
(1
Cor.
15:42,
43.)
He
says,
"It
is
sown
in
weak
ness,
it
is
raised
in
power;
it
is
sown
in
dishonor,
it
is
raised
in
glory;
it
is
sown
an
animal
body,
it
is
raised
a
spiritual
body."
And
since
the
church's
resurrection
is
really
a
share
or
part
of
Christ's
resurrection,
the
first
resurrection,
these
words
must
also
describe
our
Lord's
resurrection.
The
ques
tion
we
raise
is,
What
is
it
that
was
sown
and
that
was
raised'
We
answer
that
it
was
our
Lord's
soul
or
being.
When
he
was
thirty
years
of
age
he
was
simply
the
perfect
one,
a
man
separate
from
sinners.
But
when
he
consecrated
himself
at
baptism
and
was
begotten
of
the
holy
Spirit
he
was
then
a
new
creature
in
embryo.
It
was
our
Lord
the
new
creature
who
was
the
heir
of
all
things,
the
High
Priest
whose
privilege
it
was
to
sacrifice.
He
sacrificed
his
flesh,
his
earthly
nature,
which
he
covenanted
to
the
Lord
at
his
baptism.
He
finished
the
work
of
sacrificing
at
Calvary;
for
parts
of
three
days
he
was
dead,
but
when
the
resurrection
moment
came
and
the
Father
raised
him
up
by
his
own
power,
he
raised
up
not
the
sacrificed
flesh
but
the
new
creature,
the
"it"
to
which
the
Apostle
refers,
the
"it"
which
was
sown,
buried
in
the
flesh,
in
dishonor,
with
the
wicked
and
the
rich.
It
was
raised
the
third
day
to
glory,
honor
and
immortality,
the
divine
nature.
In
other
words
the
new
creature
was
perfected
by
being
given
a
new
body.
Thus
seen
all
of
the
Lord's
people,
as
was
their
Lord,
are
dual
beings.
They
as
new
creatures
have
a
reckoned
existence
while
their
mortal
bodies
are
reckoned
dead.
By
and
by
when
the
mortal
flesh
is
actu
ally
dead
the
new
creature
will
be
perfected
by
being
granted
a
new
body,
a
resurrection
body.
Let
us
remember
the
Apostle's
words
and
apply
them
to
ourselves,
I
do
count
all
things
but
loss
and
dross
that
I
may
win
Christ
.
.
.
that
I
may
know
him
and
the
power
of
his
resurrection
[sharing
it],
being
made
conformable
to
his
death.-Phil.
3:8-10.
BRITISH
PILGRIMAGE
OF
BRO.
F.
W.
WILLIAMSON
Oxford,
Eng.,
June
11,
12;
Bristol,
Eng.,
June
13,
14;
Birmingham,
Eng.,
June
15,
16;
Leicester,
Eng.,
17,
18;
East
Kirkby,
Eng.,
June
19.
VOL.
XXIX
ALLEGHENY,
PA.,
JUNE
1,
1908
No.
11
THE
EDITOR'S
BRITISH
TOUR
(Conti'lllUed)
shakes
to
the
best
of
our
ability-inwardly
commenting
on
the
effect
of
the
truth
and
its
spirit-so
unlike
anything
else
in
tne
world.
Brother
Edgar,
M.
D.,
claimed
us
as
his
guest,
and
arriving
at
his
home
we
were
warmly
welcomed
by
Sister
Edgar
and
others
awaiting
our
arrival.
At
3
p.
m.
of
April
17th
THE
GLASGOW
CONVENTION
OPENED
IN
VICTORIA
CHAMBERS
We
cannot
undertake
a
report
of
it
in
the
proper
sense
of
that
word,
but
can
tell
you
briefly
little
more
than
your
own
experiences
at
other
conventions
would
tell
you,
viz.,
that
it
was
a
season
of
refreshing
long
to
be
remembered.
We
had
nothing
to
do
with
the
program
and
hence
had
nothing
to
do
with
the
apparent
monopolizing
of
the
convention's
time.
We
merely
submitted
to
the
wishes
of
the
dear
friends
and
served
their
desires
to
the
extent
of
our
ability.
The
convention
was
opened
by
a
brief
address
of
welcome
by
Brothers
Edgar,
Hemery
and
ourself,
expressing
the
greet
ings
of
the
Gla~gow
churrh
and
of
th<>
Society
to
all
in
at
tendance,
with
hopes
for
the
Lord's
blessing
upon
the
con
vention.
This
was
followed
by
an
address
by
Brother
Johnson
on
"The
Joy
of
the
Lord."
Next
came
a
precious
testimony
meeting,
after
which
we
had
tea,
and
following
this
at
7.30
we
spoke
on
"The
Resurrection,"
noting
the
fact
that
the
day
was
the
true
anniversary
of
that
great
event.
The
dis
course
was
published
as
our
Sunday
topic,
with
Bome
varia
tions.
We
were
most
hospitably
entertained
by
Brother
John
To
THE
DEAR
BIBLE
HOUSE
FAMILY,
ALLEGHENY,
PA.
About
noon
(April
16th)
we
reached
Leicester
and
were
warmly
welcomed
by
about
eighteen
dear
brothers
and
sisters,
whose
greetings
were
most
hearty
and
were
expressed
by
the
radiant
faces
and
grasp
of
the
hand.
Brother
and
Sister
All
sop
most
cordially
entertained
us.
The
afternoon
discourse
to
the
interested
was
held
in
their
usual
hall,
about
100
being
present,
including
about
50
visiting
brethren.
Three
years
ago
there
were
no
meetings
here
and
only
about
three
in
terested
in
present
truth.
The
evening
meeting
was
held
in
Temperance
Hall
and,
considering
it
was
the
night
before
a
holiday,
was
well
attended,
about
600
being
present.
The
audience
was
a
remarkably
intelligent
one
and
gave
close
attention
to
the
"Overthrow
of
Satan's
Empire."
Despite
our
protests
and
the
fact
that
our
train
for
Glasgow
left
at
2
a.
m.,
about
a
dozen
of
the
friends
stayed
with
us
and
accompanied
us
to
the
station.
We
thanked
God
for
them
as
we
beheld
their
love
and
zeal,
and
prayed
for
them
heavenly
compensations
of
spiritual
rest
and
refreshment.
Glasgow,
Scotland,
was
reached
by
10
the
next
morning.
As
we
alighted
we
were
surrounded
by
about
forty
dear
brothers
and
sisters--some
of
whom
had
been
waiting
there
for
us
for
three
hours-and,
as
they
said,
for
three
years;
for
when
leaving
them
in
1903,
we
had
purposed
returning
in
1905.
Some
in
greeting
us
remarked
that
the
day
was
the
anniversary
of
the
day
of
our
Lord's
return
from
the
dead.
We
returned
their
hearty
greetings
and
smiles
and
hand-
[4177]
May 15, 1908 house to which our Lord referred, quoting Isaiah’s prophecy and assuring us that ultimately he will open the prison-doors and bring forth the prisoners. Again he assures us that he has the key to this prison, the ‘‘key of death and of hades’’— the tomb. But men are never referred to as spirits; angels are so referred to; they are spirit beings; man is not, he is a human or earthly being. True, we sometimes speak of the spirit of life, the power of life in man, but we do not speak of it as a thing that could be preached to; it merely refers to his vitality. Every spirit that can be preached to must be a spirit being and must be alive and not dead, in order te be able to receive the preaching. With these points in mind it is very easy to see that the Apostle was referring to our Lord’s preaching in a figurative sense in much the same way that we are in the habit of saying, ‘*Actions speak louder than words.’’ Our Lord’s sermons to the fallen angels, the spirits in prison, restrained from liberty in the days of Noah, were along this line of action, not of words. When cast out by our Lord, some of these spirits who had obsessed humanity cried out, ‘‘We know thee who thou art!’’ They knew Jesus was the Logos, the Father’s representative who had created them; they knew that he had left the glory of the Father and humbled himself to take the earthly nature instead; they knew that he had consecrated his human life to death as a sin-offering for mankind. In all this they beheld a wonderful lesson, yet we cannot suppose that they any more than the apostles understood that our Lord would be raised from the dead. When, however, he was raised up by the Father’s power on the third day and they beheld him again a spirit being of the highest order, it must have been a matter of astonishment and wonderment to them. It preached a lesson, namely, that obedience to God is profitable. It must have preached another lesson also, that God who punishes evil doers is sure to bless and reward all those who seek to do his will. It was a sermon along still another line, namely: it taught the love of God, his compassion toward sinners, and it gave the fallen angels room to reflect that if God had such compassion upon the poor, fallen human race, he might ultimately have as much compassion upon them and grant them some opportunity for eseaping from the punishment which had come upon them for their sins. Theirs, indeed, was a different penalty from that upon man, but why might they not hope that the same God who was rich in merey upon Adam and his race wculd have compassion also upon any of those who would have the heart desire to come back into harmony with him. It is our thought that this was a powerful sermon, and we shall not be surprised to find by and by that as a result of this sermon some of those fallen angels repented and did there ZION’S WATCH TOWER (159-163) after strive to live in harmony with the Father, hoping that some time divine mercy might be extended to them for their release and their restoration to fellowship with the holy angels. And this very hope is held out by the Apostle when he tells us that the church shall judge not only the world of mankind but shall also judge angels. This means a judgment or trial time for the fallen angels, the holy angels needing no judging or trial. IT IS SOWN—i1T IS RAISED Before leaving this subject we call attention to the words of the Apostle descriptive of the resurrection change of the church. (1 Cor. 15:42, 43.) He says, ‘‘It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown an animal body, it is raised a spiritual body.’? And since the church’s resurrection is really a share or part of Christ’s resurrection, the first resurrection, these words must also describe our Lord’s resurrection. The question we raise is, What is it that was sown and that was raised? We answer that it was our Lord’s soul or being. When he was thirty years of age he was simply the perfect one, a man separate from sinners. But when he consecrated himself at baptism and was begotten of the holy Spirit he was then a new creature in embryo. It was our Lord the new creature who was the heir of all things, the High Priest whose privilege it was to sacrifice. He sacrificed his flesh, his earthly nature, which he covenanted to the Lord at his baptism. He finished the work of sacrificing at Calvary; for parts of three days he was dead, but when the resurrection moment came and the Father raised him up by his own power, he raised up not the sacrificed flesh but the new creature, the ‘‘it’’ to which the Apostle refers, the ‘‘it’’ which was sown, buried in the flesh, in dishonor, with the wicked and the rich. It was raised the third day to glory, honor and immortality, the divine nature. In other words the new creature was perfected by being given a new body. Thus seen all of the Lord’s people, as was their Lord, are dual beings. They as new creatures have a reckoned existence while their mortal bodies are reckoned dead. By and by when the mortal flesh is actually dead the new creature will be perfected by being granted a new body, a resurrection body. Let us remember the Apostle’s words and apply them to ourselves, I do count all things but loss and dross that I may win Christ... that I may know him and the power of his resurrection [sharing it], being made conformable to his death.—Phil. 3:8-10. BRITISH PILGRIMAGE OF BRO. F. W. WILLIAMSON Oxford, Eng., June 11, 12; Bristol, Eng., June 13, 14; Birmingham, Eng., June 15, 16; Leicester, Eng., 17, 18; East Kirkby, Eng., June 19. Vou. XXIX ALLEGHENY, PA., JUNE 1, 1908 No. 11 THE EDITOR’S BRITISH TOUR (Continued) To tHe DrsaR BIBLE House FAMILY, ALLEGHENY, PA, About noon (April 16th) we reached Leicester and were warmly weleomed by about eighteen dear brothers and sisters, whose greetings were most hearty and were expressed by the radiant faces and grasp of the hand. Brother and Sister Allsop most cordially entertained us. The afternoon discourse to the interested was held in their usual hall, about 100 being present, including about 50 visiting brethren. Three years ago there were no meetings here and only about three interested in present truth. The evening meeting was held in Temperance Hall and, considering it was the night before a holiday, was well attended, about 600 being present. The audience was a remarkably intelligent one and gave close attention to the ‘‘Overthrow of Satan’s Empire.’’ Despite our protests and the fact that our train for Glasgow left at 2 a. m., about a dozen of the friends stayed with us and accompanied us to the station. We thanked God for them as we beheld their love and zeal, and prayed for them heavenly compensations of spiritual] rest and refreshment. Glasgow, Scotland, was reached by 10 the next morning. As we alighted we were surrounded by about forty dear brothers and sisters—some of whom had been waiting there for us for three hours—and, as they said, for three years; for when leaving them in 1903, we had purposed returning in 1905. Some in greeting us remarked that the day was the anniversary of the day of our Lord’s return from the dead. We returned their hearty greetings and smiles and hand shakes to the best of our ability—inwardly commenting on the effect of the truth and its spirit—so unlike anything else in the world. Brother Edgar, M. D., claimed us as his guest, and arriving at his home we were warmly welcomed by Sister Edgar and others awaiting our arrival. At 3 p. m. of April 17th THE GLASGOW CONVENTION OPENED IN VICTORIA CHAMBERS We cannot undertake a report of it in the proper sense of that word, but can tell you briefly little more than your own experiences at other conventions would tell you, viz., that it was a season of refreshing long to be remembered. We had nothing to do with the program and hence had nothing to do with the apparent monopolizing of the convention’s time. We merely submitted to the wishes of the dear friends and served their desires to the extent of our ability. The convention was opened by a brief address of welcome by Brothers Edgar, Hemery and ourself, expressing the greetings of the Glasgow church and of the Society to all in attendance, with hopes for the Lord’s blessing upon the convention. This was followed by an address by Brother Johnson on ‘‘The Joy of the Lord.’’ Next came a precious testimony meeting, after which we had tea, and following this at 7.30 we spoke on ‘‘The Resurrection,’’ noting the fact that the day was the true anniversary of that great event. The dis course was published as our Sunday topic, with some variations. We were most hospitably entertained by Brother John {4177}
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