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SEPTEMBER
I,
1913
THE
WATCH
TOWER
of
us
to
misrepresent
the
punishment
of
sin
as
being
eternal
torture.
Thus
we
directly
contradicted
God's
arrangement,
dr0W
attention
away
from
the
present
punishment
and
wages
of
sin,
and
made
the
future
punishments
so
absurdly
unrea
sonable
that
nobody
believes
them,
or,
believing
them,
are
misled
into
the
supposition
that
a
dying
prayer
for
forgive
ness
will
permit
an
utter
escape
from
their
penalties.
We
cannot
improve
upon
the
divine
arrangement,
"Whatsoever
a
man
80weth
that
shall
he
also
reap'
'-either
in
the
present
life
or
in
that
which
is
to
come-but
in
no
case
a
devilish
and
eternal
tori
ure.
,
,
Upon
thy
Word
I
rest,
So
strong,
so
sweet,
so
Burl';
So
full
of
comfort
blest,
So
wonderful,
so
pure-
The
Word
that
changeth
not,
that
faileth
never
I
My
King,
I
rest
upon
thy
Word
forever!
"
VOL.
XXXIV
BROOKL
YN,
N.
Y.,
SEPTEMBER
15,
1913
No.
18
MERCY
AND
TRUTH
COMPONENT
ELEMENTS
OF
CHRISTIAN
CHARACTER
"Let
not
mercy
and
truth
forsake
thee;
bind
them
about
thy
neck;
write
them
upon
the
table
of
thine
heart."
doth
the
Lord
require
of
thee,
but
to
do
justly.
and
to
love
mercy,
and
to
walk
humbly
with
thy
Godf"-Prov.
3:3;
Micah
6:8.
"What
Mercy
anti
truth
are
great
principles
of
righteousness
'l'ruth
and
righteousness
are,
we
may
say,
synonymous.
That
which
is
right
is
true,
and
that
which
is
true-firm,
faithful,
steady,
genuine-is
usually
right.
The
record
does
not
say
that
we
shall
bind
justice
about
our
neck.
Justice
is
a
quality
which
we
are
not
permitted
to
exalt
too
highly,
except
in
our
hearts
and
minds,
as
a
principle
of
the
divine
standard.
We
are
to
remember
that
there
is
none
righteous,
no,
not
one
none
llerfect.
Henee
our
course
in
respect
to
justice
cannot
he
the
same
as
that
of
our
heavenly
Father.
He
recognizes
no
lower
standard
than
justice,
up
to
which
everything
must
tlll}n~llr().
heart,
as
originally
plaeed
there
by
God,
have
been
more
or
less
effaced-in
some
more
than
in
others.
PURPOSE
OF
GOD'S
PROVIDENCES
Under
the
terms
of
the
New
Covenant
and
through
the
min
istrations
of
Christ's
kingdom,
God
purposes
to
re-write
upon
the
heart
of
man
the
original
character
which
was
in
his
heart,
and
which
has
been
effaced
by
selfishness.
"Behold,
the
days
come,
saith
the
Lord,
that
I
will
make
a
new
eove
nant
with
the
house
of
Israel,
and
with
the
house
of
Judah.
...
I
will
put
my
law
in
their
inward
parts,
and
write
it
in
their
hearts."
(Jer.
31:
31-33)
"A
new
heart
also
will
I
give
yon,
and
a
new
spirit
will
I
put
within
you;
and
I
will
GIVE
MERCY
AND
TRUTH
PROMINENT
PLACE
take
away
the
stony
heart
out
of
your
flesh,
and
I
will
give
you
a
heart
of
flesh.
'
'-Ezekiel
36:
26.
If
we
are
aeeeptahle
to
the
Father,
it
can
be
only
by
God's
law
is
the
law
of
truth
and
mercy.
Truth
would
in-
righ~eousll(,ss.
And
if
we
have
not
righteousness,
it
must
be
elude
everything
righteous,
toward
God
and
toward
man.
ohtallled
from
Christ;
for
God
reeeives
nothing
short
of
per·
.
Mercy.
includes
all
the
graces
of
character.
The
Millennium
[eebon.
Though
imperfeet
in
ourselves,
we
are
to
come
up
to
will
be
the
time
for
the
re-writing
of
these
qualities
in
the
the
standard
of
justice
as
nearly
as
possible
in
our
own
charaeter.
And
this
work
of
re-writing
the
divine
character
rersonal
can
duet,
but
we
are
not
to
exact
full
justice
from
lllankind.
SineI'
they
have
no
one
to
make
good
for
them,
it
in
the
heart,
which
will
progress
in
the
world
by
and
hy,
for
is
our
duty
to
be
benevolent
toward
them,
and
thus
emulate
:het:eo~~~1~ilse~~th~~
~~:lJ~~n
~~~:r~s.in
i~:
~~I~I~~~'g
t~e
s~v~~~~
the
cklracter
of
God,
who
is
merdfu!.
While
he
keeps
the
.
of
Christ
is
voluntary,
not
compulsory.
In
the
next
age
man-
[WI)
qualiiles,
justice
and
mercy,
distinetly
separate
in
his
.
den
lings,
it
is
not
for
us
to
do
so.
kind
must
wnte
these
qualities
in
their
hearts,
through
the
assistanee
of
the
Mediator.
There
will
be
stripes
to
bring
For
one
to
keep
the
principles
of
truth
and
of
righteous-
mankind
to
righteousness.
And
if
they
arc
intentionally
un-
lIess
before
his
own
mind,
is
to
be
a
thoroughly
upright
man
willing
to
obey
the
l?ws
of
righteousness,
they
will
be
de.
or
woman,
one
in
whom
truth,
purity,
goodness,
will
be
in
con-
stroyed.
tl'o1.
But
a
person
who
has
merely
these
principles
in
con-
But
now
obedience
is
a
voluntary
matter.
We
declare
trol
should
cultivate
more
and
more
the
quality
of
mercy.
We
that
we
desire
to
have
these
lessons
written
in
our
hearts;
and
should
bind
these
about
our
neck.
The
thought
is
that
of
a
to
attain
this
end,
we
enter
the
school
and
submit
ourselves
lIecklaee,
or
ornamental
band.
As
a
man
puts
around
his
k
to
the
Great
Teacher.
Then,
by
the
various
providences
of
lie!'
a
cravat,
with
a
jewel
in
it
as
an
ornament,
placed
where
our
lives,
he
shows
us
where
we
have
not
yet
engraved
these
it
will
be
displayed,
so
these
qnalities
of
character
are
jewels.
qualities
within
our
hearts.
As
we
pray
for
patience,
he
gives
(live
them
a
prominent
place;
for
they
will
help
to
make
you
us
lessons
of
experience
that
will
engender
this
quality
in
our
i>dter,
help
to
make
you
more
acceptable
to
the
Lord.
hearts,
and
that
will
strengthen
it
more
and
more.
As
we
pray
The
preferable
place
for
the
display
of
a
jewel
is
the
neck.
for
love,
he
gives
us
tests
of
love.
As
we
pray
that
we
may
'l'here
a
jewel
is
espeeially
conspicuous
and
ornamental.
So
develop
mercy,
we
find
more
opposition,
which
will
devPlop
we
should
fasten
these
noble
qualities
of
character
where
.
.
thev
will
be
manifest
in
all
the
affairs
of
life.
Whether
we
mercy.
Thus
God
gives
us
opportunities
for
the
writlllg
of
hu.y
or
sell,
or
whatever
we
do,
we
should
wear
these
orna.
truth
and
mercy
in
our
hearts.
We
must
attain
to
that
condition
of
heart
where
we
shall
Illl'nts.
They
will
show
what
is
the
character
of
the
man
or
woman-right
on
the
outside,
in
the
very
front.
They
should
love
truth
and
righteousness,
and
where
we
shall
hate
iniquity
be
seen
as
we
meet
others.
There
should
be
nothing
mean,
and
unrighteousness.
As
the
people
of
God,
we
have
the
first
lIothing
contemptible,
nothing
niggardly
about
us.
opportunity
now
to
develop
these
traits.
And
the
Lord
tells
us
that
if
we
prove
faithful
in
learning
our
lessons,
it
is
his
RE-WRITING
MERCY
AND
TRUTH
UPON
THE
HEART
intention
to
use
us
during
the
Millennial
reign,
his
intention
:VIore
than
this,
we
are
to
write
mercy
and
truth
in
our
to
make
us
judges
of
the
\Vorld-its
rulers,
teachers.
Ill':ll
ts.
"Ve
are
to
remember
that
orginally
God
wrote
the
THE
JEWISH
LAW
HELPFUL
TO
CHRISTIANS
diyine
law
in
Adam's
heart.
We
know
that
in
the
divine
The
words
of
our
second
text
were
addressed
to
the
hl':ll't,
the
Divine
charaeter,
are
the
qualities
of
truth
and
Hebrew
people
and
not
to
Christians;
for
there
were
no
Chris-
Int'lTy.
God
is
mercifnl,
kind
and
loving.
And
as
God
has
tians
at
that
time,
of
course.
The
words
do
not
seem
to
be
tlJese
traits
of
character,
so
when
he
made
man
in
his
own
prophetic,
but
an
exhortation
to
the
people.
Apparently
the
imag'e,
his
own
likeness,
man
was
created
with
these
quali·
Jews
thought
that
the
Lord
was
asking
too
much
of
them;
tie'
in
his
eharaeter.
Man
was
not
created
an
unrighteous,
and
since
this
was
so,
they
felt
that
they
should
not
take
the
an
untruthful
being.
law
too
seriously.
The
Lord
seems
to
bring
the
matter
down
But
man
fell
from
his
original
perfection.
With
the
cen-
to
a
specific
statement:
What
is
required
of
thee
but
three
tlll'ies
of
falling
and
imperfedion
of
mind
and
body,
and
with
things;
namely,
to
deal
justly,
to
love
mercy,
and
to
walk
('\ery
interest
pressing
for
self-gratification
at
the
expense
of
humbly
with
thy
God
~
'1'his
wonld
seem
to
be
the
sum
total
others,
these
principles
of
mercy
and
truth
have
become
of
the
law.
largely
effaced
from
our
hearts,
just
as
the
constant
dropping
The
Lord
was
looking
to
see
Israel
live
as
nearly
up
to
of
water,
and
the
general
wear
and
tear
of
the
weather
would
the
requirements
of
the
law
as
possible.
And
he
purposed
to
tPlId
to
effaee
the
original
inscription
on
a
stone.
In
time
one
bring
them,
in
due
time,
the
promised
New
Covenant,
which
!'ouhl
scarcely
discern
the
characters.
So
we
see
in
mankind
would
take
away
the
stony
heart
out
of
their
flesh
and
give
that
some
have
apparently
lost
all
sense
of
justiee,
all
sense
them
a
heart
of
flesh,
thus
making
them
tender-heartecl.
IIi
me]'(~y,
nearly
all
scnse
of
patience,
gentleness,
brotherly
But
if
now
they
would
walk
as
nearly
as
possible
in
hal'-
ki
Ildness
and
love.
All
these
qualities
that
belong
to
the
mony
with
the
requirements
of
this
law,
doing
justly,
lovilig
VI-37
[5309]
SEPTEMBER I, 1913 of us to misrepresent the punishment of sin as being eternal torture. Thus we directly contradicted God’s arrangement, drew attention away from the present punishment and wages of sin, and made the future punishments so absurdly unreasonable that nobody believes them, or, believing them, are misled into the supposition that a dying prayer for forgiveness will permit an utter escape from their penalties. We cannot improve upon the divine arrangement, ‘‘ Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap’’——either in the present THE WATCH TOWER (275-276) life or in that which is to come—but in no ease a devilish and eternal toriure, ‘‘Upon thy Word I rest, So strong, so sweet, so sure; So full of comfort blest, So wonderful, so pure— The Word that changeth not, that faileth never! My King, I rest upon thy Word forever!’’ VoL, XXXIV BROOKLYN, N. Y., SEPTEMBER 15, 1913 No. 18 MERCY AND TRUTH COMPONENT ELEMENTS OF CHRISTIAN CHARACTER ‘‘Let not merey and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart.’’ ‘‘ What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly. and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?’?’—Prov, 3:3; Micah 6:8. Mercy and truth are great principles of righteousness Truth and righteousness are, we may say, synonymous. That which is right is true, and that which is true—firm, faithful, steady, genuine—is usually right. The record does not say that we shall bind justice about our neck. Justice is a quality which we are not permitted to exalt too highly, except in our hearts and minds, as a principle of the divine stanaard. We are to remember that there is none righteous, no, not one— none perfect. Hence our course in respect to justice cannot he the sume as that of our heavenly Father. He recognizes no lower standard than justice, up to which everything must Measure, GIVE MERCY AND TRUTH PROMINENT PLACE If we are acceptable to the Father, it can be only by righteousness. And if we have not righteousness, it must be obtained from Christ; for God receives nothing short of perfection. Though imperfect in ourselves, we are to come up to the standard of justice as nearly as possible in our own personal conduct, but we are not to exact full justice from mankind, Since they have no one to make good for them, it ix our duty to be benevolent toward them, and thus emulate the character of God, who is merciful. While he keeps the two qualities, justice and mercy, distinctly separate in his dealings, it is not for us to do so. For one to keep the principles of truth and of righteousness before his own mind, is to be a thoroughly upright man or woman, one in whom truth, purity, goodness, will be in control. But a person who has merely these principles in control should cultivate more and more the quality of mercy. We should bind these about our neck. The thought is that of a necklace, or ornamental band. As a man puts around his neck a eravat, with a jewel in it as an ornament, placed where it will be displayed, so these qualities of character are jewels. Give them a prominent place; for they will help to make you better, help to make you more acceptable to the Lord. Yhe preferable place for the display of a jewel is the neck. There a jewel is especially conspicuous and ornamental. So we should fasten these noble qualities of character where they will be manifest in all the affairs of life. Whether we ‘uy or sell, or whatever we do, we should wear these ornameuts, They will show what is the character of the man or woman—right on the outside, in the very front. They should be seen as we meet others. There should be nothing mean, nothing contemptible, nothing niggardly about us. RE-WRITING MERCY AND TRUTH UPON THE HEART More than this, we are to write mercy and truth in our hearts. We are to remember that orginally God wrote the divine law in Adam’s heart. We know that in the divine heart, the Divine character, are the qualities of truth and mercy. God is merciful, kind and loving. And as God has these traits of character, so when he made man in his own image, his own likeness, man was created with these qualities in his character. Man was not created an unrighteous, an untruthful being. But man fell from his original perfection. With the centuries of falling and imperfection of mind and body, and with every interest pressing for self-gratification at the expense of others, these principles of mercy and truth have become largely effaced from our hearts, just as the constant dropping of water, and the general wear and tear of the weather would tend to efface the original inscription on a stone. In time one could searcely diseern the characters. So we see in mankind that some have apparently lost all sense of justice, all sense of merey, nearly all sense of patience, gentleness, brotherly kindness and love. All these qualities that belong to the VI—37 heart, as originally placed there by God, have been more or less effaced—in some more than in others. PURPOSE OF GOD’S PROVIDENCES Under the terms of the New Covenant and through the ministrations of Christ’s kingdom, God purposes to re-write upon the heart of man the original character which was in his heart, and which has been effaced by selfishness. ‘‘ Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah. ... I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts.’’ (Jer. 31:31-33) ‘‘A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.’’—Ezekiel 36:26. God’s law is the law of truth and merey. Truth would include everything righteous, toward God and toward man. Mercys includes all the graces of character. The Millennium will be the time for the re-writing of these qualities in the character. And this work of re-writing the divine character in the heart, which will progress in the world by and by, for a thousand years, is already begun in the church. We write these qualities within our own hearts. The entering the school of Christ is voluntary, not compulsory. In the next age mankind must write these qualities in their hearts, through the assistance of the Mediator. There will be stripes to bring mankind to righteousness. And if they are intentionally unwilling to obey the laws of righteousness, they will be destroyed. But now obedience ig a voluntary matter. We declare that we desire to have these lessons written in our hearts; and to attain this end, we enter the school and submit ourselves to the Great Teacher. Then, by the various providences of our lives, he shows us where we have not yet engraved these qualities within our hearts. As we pray for patience, he gives us lessons of experience that will engender this quality in our hearts, and that will strengthen it more and more. As we pray for love, he gives us tests of love. As we pray that we may develop mercy, we find more opposition, which will develop merey. Thus God gives us opportunities for the writing of truth and mercy in our hearts. We must attain to that condition of heart where we shall love truth and righteousness, and where we shall hate iniquity and unrighteousness. As the people of God, we have the first opportunity now to develop these traits. And the Lord tells us that if we prove faithful in learning our lessons, it is his intention to use us during the Millennial reign, his intention to make us judges of the world—its rulers, teachers. THE JEWISH LAW HELPFUL TO CHRISTIANS The words of our second text were addressed to the Hebrew people and not to Christians; for there were no Christians at that time, of course. The words do not seem to be prophetic, but an exhortation to the people. Apparently the Jews thought that the Lord was asking too mueh of them; and since this was so, they felt that they should not take the law too seriously. The Lord seems to bring the matter down to a specific statement: What is required of thee but three things; namely, to deal justly, to love merey, and to walk humbly with thy God? This would seem to be the sum total of the law. The Lord was looking to see Israel live as nearly up to the requirements of the law as possible. And he purposed to bring them, in due time, the promised New Covenant, which would take away the stony heart out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, thus making them tender-hearted, But if now they would walk as nearly as possible in harmony with the requirements of this law, doing justly, loviug [5309]
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