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THE Ocrtosper 1, 1912 In his own time, following the great time of trouble, God will humble the world. Meantime the elect saints will be glorified, and with Messiah, as his bride, constitute the longpromised kingdom of God for the blessing of humanity. Then Satan shall be bound and all the good influences of righteousness and truth and knowledge shall be let loose for the blessing of the world. ‘“‘HELL HATH ENLARGED HERSELF"’ The Lord tells us that because of these conditions his people are in captivity, not knowing how to help themselves, lacking knowledge, and their honorable men are famished, weak, perplexed, ignorant of the proper course; and the multitude who WATCH TOWER (315-319) rely upon them are also thirsty. This is the famine elsewhere mentioned, not for bread, nor for water, but for a hearing of the message of the Lord, the Gospel of Messiah’s kingdom, which is the very message that all need to hear. On account of the same condition, “Hell hath enlarged herself and opened her mouth without measure; and their glory and their multitude and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth shall descend into it.” Not the hell of eternal torment taught in our various creeds is here meant, but the Bible hell, the grave, the state of death. The time of trouble approaching will mean the loss of much life; as Jesus said. “Unless those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved.”— Matt. 24:22. THE WHITE STONE GIVEN THE OVERCOMERS “To him that overcometh will I give... a white stone, and im the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it.’—Rev. 2:17. In ancient times the Greeks and the Romans had a custom of noting and perpetuating friendship by means of a white stone. This stone was divided into halves, and each person inscribed his name on the flat surface, after which the parts of the stone were exchanged. The production of either half was sufficient to insure friendly aid, even from the descendants of those who first divided the stone. A similar custom was sometimes observed by a king, who would break a white stone into two parts, one of which he would retain and the other part give to a special ambassador. That part could be sent to the king at any time and would insure aid. Thus the divided stone became a mark of identification. Rev. 2:17 seems to refer to this ancient custom. The white stone signifies a precious token of the Lord’s love, and the new name written in the stone suggests the Bridegroom’s name. The statement indicates a special acquaintance with the great King of kings’ secret between himself and the individual. The overcomers are not to be recognized merely as a class—the bride class but each will have the personal faver of the Lord. Of this no one will know save himself and the King. There ig an individual and personal friendship between the Lord and the overcomers, who may be said to receive the mark of identification—the antitypical white stone—now, in this life. This mark is the sealing of the holy Spirit by which the Lord identifies the overcomers. While this is said to be a part of the final reward of the church, yet from the very beginning of our experience we have this personal acquaintance with the Lord. The full seal of the holy Spirit will he given in the resurrection, when we receive the new hody. Then we shall have the complete knowledge of the name by which we shal} be known to the Lord and he to ug forever. “THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH” I came and saw, and hoped to conquer, As the great Roman once had done; His was the one hour’s torrent shock of battle, My field was harder to be won. I came and saw, but did not conquer, The foes were fierce, their weapons strong; I came and saw, but yet I did not conquer, For me the fight was sore and long. They said the war was brief and easy, A word, a look, would crush the throng; To some it may have been a moment’s conflict, To me it has been sore and long. They said the threats were coward bluster, To brave men they could work no wrong; So some may boast of swift and easy battle, To me it has been sore and long. And yet I know that I shall conquer, Though sore and hard the fight may he; I know, I know I shall be more than victor Through Him who won the fight for me. I fight, not fearful of the issue, My victory is sure and near; Yet not the less with hand and eve all watchful, Grasp I my buckler and my spear. For T must fight, if I would conquer, Tis not by flight that fields are won; And I must conquer, if I would inherit The victor’s joy and crown and throne Horatn s Bonar Vou, XXXII BROOKLYN, N. Y., OCTOBER 15, 1912 No. 20 SELF-ESTEEM’S ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS Whoever will carefully study the matter we believe will agree that a moderate amount of self-esteem is a great aid to success in the present life. It gives a self-confidence in respect to all of life’s affairs, great and small. It impels its possessor to do and to dare to the full extent of his ability— 1f caution be lacking it may lead on to disastrous folly. But the lack of self-confidence, self-esteem, has held back thousands who otherwise might have been brilliant leaders in the path of progress. Having pointed out some of the advantages of reasonable self-confidence we should point out some of the disadvantages of over-confidence—too great self-esteem. Its arrogance, its pride, its snobbishness, are disgusting and continually interfere with the progress of the unfortunate possessor. He never learns except by hitter experiences, because he always thinks he knows, and exposes his ignorance. Some of the best people. the saintly, have small selfesteem, depreciate their own talents and exaggerate their own blemishes. Their humbleness of mind is a blessing when it leads them to God—to the throne of heavenly grace for forgiveness and for grace to help in everv time of need. AS between too much and ton little self-esteem, therefore, our choice should be the latter. “LET A MAN THINK SOBERLY’’ Whether born with too much or with too little self-esteem, those who come into God’s family are put into the schoo] of Christ to be taught. corrected—made right, in harmony with divine standards. Those naturalty self-conceited must learn meekness—by instructions if they will—otherwise by experiences. And they should learn to rejoice even in humilating experiences, They are evidences that God's providence 13 supervising their affairs and preparing them for the kingdom, for without meckness and humility none will he fit for it. As the self-conceited must learn humbly to trust God and not roly on themselves and thus secure balance, so the naturally self-depreciative must learn a lesson of confidence Not selfeonfidence, not self-reliance 1s the most desirable, but rather confidence in God and reliance upon His promised “erace to help in every time of need.” This maintains the desirable humility and meekness, yet gives the courage and force suggested by the Apostle’s words: “T can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.” (Phik 4:13) As St. Paul again declares, “Our sufficiency is of God!” Thus inspired hy faith in God and in his promises those “taught of God” hecome marvelously “strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” (Eph. 6:10) The righteous is strong as a lion, saying, “T will) not fear what man may do unto me.” (Psa, 118:6) IT will not heed what man may say of me or do io me, No long as I have the Almighty Creator for my Father and the Redeemer for my elder Brother I shall be content, relying on their “exceeding great and precious promises.” Thus, whether by nature self-conccited or humble, God’s Word and providences in Christ tend to bring all followers of Christ to oneness of heart and mind. The one is humbled, [6113]