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Corner
Stone,
this
Bethel
will
be
the
gate
of
heaven,
through
which
will
come
to
mankind
all
the
glorious
things
which
God
has
promised-restitution,
perfection,
paradise-for
all
the
willing
and
obedient.
Jacob
took
the
stone
he
had
used
for
a
pillow,
set
it
up
as
a
monument
and
poured
oil
upon
it,
as
signifying
its
sacredness
to
God.
His
examjJle
since
has
been
imitated
by
the
Egyptians,
in
setting
up
great
eolumns
pointing
heaven
ward,
and
also
imitated
by
the
Babylonian
steeples,
and
by
Christians
in
the
cathedral
steeples
and
church
spires.
All
of
these,
however,
unwittingly
point
to
heaven,
and
prefigure
the
fact
that
there
is
by
and
by
to
be
a
ladder,
a.
communica
tion
between
heaven
and
earth.
That
ladder
will
be
the
Mes
sianic
kingdom.
Tradition
tells
us
that
subsequently
.J
acob
's
stone
was
taken
to
.J
erusalem,
and
there
used
in
conjunction
with
the
crowning
of
the
Jewish
kings.
'rradition
says
that
that
stone
was
taken
by
Jeremiah
when
the
Babylonians
overthrew
Jeru
salem.
Tradition
further
says
that
it
was
carried
to
Ireland
and
for
a
time
used
there
for
crowning
their
kings.
It
says
also
that
this
same
stone
is
now
in
Westminster
Abbey,
and
forms
the
seat
of
the
throne
on
which
the
British
sovereigns
are
crowned.
THE
WATCH
TOWER
of
the
holy
Spirit
we
understand
that
before
Abraham,
Isaac,
Jacob
and
the
holy
prophets
of
the
past
can
bless
the
world
as
the
honored
seed
of
Abraham
in
the
:flesh,
another
work
must
be
done.
That
other
work
will
be
done
by
our
Lord
.J
esus.
The
death
of
the
holy,
harmless,
undefiled
Lamb
of
God
constituted
the
entire
foundation
for
the
complete
out
working
of
the
plan
of
God's
mercy
for
our
race.
During
this
Gospel
age
a
secondary
feature
has
operated;
an
elect,
select'
company,
a
bride
class
of
joint-heirs
with
the
Master,
has
been
called
out
of
the
world
from
Jews
and
Gentiles,
to
constitute
the
spiritual
seed
of
Abraham.
If
this
ladder
of
intercourse
and
communion
came
down
to
Jacob,
still
more
does
it
come
down
to
and
center
in
The
Christ,
of
which
Jesus
Christ
is
the
Head
and
the
church
his
faithful
members.
When
Jacob
awakened,
he
felt
overwhelmed.
To
have
the
Almighty
thus
indicate
his
care
and
blessing
and
approval,
and
to
assure
him
of
his
protecting
care
in
the
future,
seemed
wonderful
to
the
frienclless
man.
He
said,
Surely
this
place
llIay
be
called
God's
house
and
the
gate
of
heaven!
And
so
ever
sinee,
the
church
has
delighted
to
be
known
as
the
house
of
God-Bethel.
By
and
by
as
the
great
temple
of
God,
eOllll,osed
of
living
stones,
Jesus
himself
being
the
Chief
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
BROOKLYN,
N.
Y.
THE
HARVEST
IS
GREAT
The
Master
said,
"The
Harvest
truly
is
great,
but
the
laborers
are
few;
pray
ye
therefore
the
Lord
of
the
Harvest
that
He
would
send
forth
laborers
into
His
Harvest."
(Luke
10
:2)
These
worus,
applicable
nearly
nineteen
centuries
ago,
seem
very
applicable
today
also.
We
have
more
opportunities
for
using
unencumbered
brethren
filled
with
the
Spirit
than
ever
before.
If
any
such
brethren
believe
themselves
reason
ably
well
developed
in
meekness,
gentleness,
long-suffering,
brotherly-kindness,
lo\'e;
alJ(l
if,
in
addition,
they
have
had
some
considerable
experience
with
Present
Truth
and
are
fully
consecrated
to
the
Lord,
we
should
like
to
he[\!'
from
them.
Such
desiring
to
co-labor
under
the
Society's
auspices
might
give
us
a
brief
history
of
their
life-work
thus
far,
and
send
their
photograph.
Let
them
tell
us
also
to
what
extent
they
have
had
and
used
opportunities
for
presenting
the
Truth
in
public,
and
to
what
extent
God
has
blessed
their
efforts
in
bringing
others
into
a
fullness
of
consecration
and
mental
enlightenment.
Or
if
their
talents
run
more
toward
stenography
than
to
\,.ard
public
speaking,
we
should
be
pleased
to
know
of
that.
But
do
not
mention
stenography
to
us
unless
you
are
thorough
going
in
it,
as
a
poor
stenographer
is
a
hindrance.
VOL.
XXXIV
BROOKLYX,
X.
Y.,
l\IARCH
15,
1913
No.6
"Let
us
.
THE
PRIVILEGE
AND
THE
NECESSITY
OF
PRAYER
come
boldly
unto
the
throne
of
grace,
that
we
may
obtain
mercy,
and
find
grace
to
help
in
time
of
need.'
,
Hebrews
4:16.
Prayer
is
a
general
term
for
all
manner
of
petitions
whether
a
request,
a
hymn,
or
an
expression
of
thanksgiving
and
praise.
The
word
supplication
seems
to
carry
with
it
the
thought
of
a
continllous
request,
a
repeated
prayer,
a
longing
desire,
a
waiting
for
the
Lord
to
grant
our
petitions.
Well
has
the
poet
said,
"Prayer
is
the
soul's
sincere
desire,
rtterec1
or
unexpressed."
The
first
intimation
of
approach
to
God
on
the
part
of
humanity
is
that
in
connection
with
the
sacrifices
offered
by
Cain
and
Abel.
They
did
not
come,
however,
with
a
peti
tion
to
a
Father,
but
\,.ith
sacrifices,
thus
acknowledging
sin.
The
one
who
brought
a
saerifice
symbolically
representing
a
sin-offering
God
accepted;
the
other,
he
declined
to
accept
in
any
sense
of
the
\\'ord.
Two
thousand
years
later,
God
made
choice
of
Abraham
as
the
person
through
,,-hom
the
vague
promise
made
to
Eve
should
be
fulfilled;
and
to
him
he
made
the
very
definite
promise
that
in
him
and
his
seed
all
the
families
of
the
earth
should
be
blessed.
With
AlJraham
God
made
a
covenant,
which
he
renewed
to
Abraham's
posterity-to
Isaac,
but
not
to
Ishmael;
to
Jacob,
but
not
to
Esau.
These
men
were
privi
leged
to
pray,
because
by
their
faith
they
were
jl'stified
to
fellowship
with
God.
Eventnally
these
blessings
of
divine
favor
and
grace
extended
to
Israel
as
a
natiol1;
and
th('y
(,l1tered
into
thesl'
privileges
in
the
full
sense
of
the
wOl'(l,
uJl(ln
tll('
Covenant
of
the
Law,
of
which
Moses
was
the
mediator.
From
that
time
on
they
had
the
same
opportunities
to
appeal
to
God
as
had
Abraham,
Isaac
and
Jacoh.
Illllped,
in
some
respects,
they
had
a
preferred
cOlll1ition.
They
haa
a
typical
atone
ment
day,
on
which
they
were
typically
deallseil;
ana
be
cause
of
this
typieal
cleansing,
they
were
permitted
to
come
to
God,
as
did
David,
Hezekiah
ana
others.
The
temple
at
.T
erusalem
was
called
the
house
of
God,
and
the
people
went
up
to
the
temple
to
pray.
Apparently
it
was
generally
understood
that
they
might
not
pray
any
where
and
everywhere.
This
is
inilicated
by
our
Lord's
con
versation
with
the
woman
of
Samaria.
Suppliants
were
heard
only
when
they
went
to
the
temple
to
pray.
The
Samaritans
claimed
that
the
proper
place
to
pray
was
on
Gerizim,
the
mountain
of
Samaria.
'Vhen
the
woman
asked
our
Lord
in
regard
~o
this
matter,
he
intimated
that
the
Jews
were
right
in
claiming
that
Jerusalem
was
the
place
where
men
ought
to
worship.-John
4:20-24.
The
Jewish
nation,
by
means
of
their
Law
Covenant
made
with
God,
were
in
covenant
relationship
to
him,
and
were,
therefore,
permitted
to
pray
to
him.
God
docs
not
regard
all
prayers,
but
only
those
offered
by
persons
in
a
particular
attitude
of
mind,
and
in
a
certain
covenant
relationship.
Those
outside-even
sincere,
honest
Gentiles-cUd
not
have
the
privilege
which
Israel
possessed.
ACCESS
TO
THRONE
OF
GRACE
A
SPECIAL
PRIVILEGE
During
the
Gospel
dispensation,
all
who
have
made
full
consecration
to
God
have
ber'ome
spiritual
sons
of
God
and
may
ask
of
him
as
their
Father,
may
come
boldly,
confidently,
to
the
throne
of
grace
in
prayer.
Those
who
have
not
made
a
consecration
to
God
have
no
Advocate
through
whom
to
approach
him.
Those
who
come
in
the
spirit
of
prayer
and
with
a
real
desire
for
those
blessings
which
God
has
promised
to
give,
will
see
that
prayer
is
a
privilege
restrietec1
to
a
certain
class.
Those
who
do
not
esteem
it
a
privilege
may
as
well
not
come;
for
God
has
not
as
yet
made
any
proposi
tion
to
the
world.
Prayer
is
the
privilege
of
God's
children.
Cornelius
was
a
man
who
sought
harmony
with
God.
Al
though
he
prayed
for
years
and
gave
much
alms,
yet
his
prayers
and
alms
did
not
come
up
before
God
until
an
ap
propriate
time-not
until
Jesus
had
died
and
ascended
up
on
high,
there
to
appear
in
the
presence
of
God
for
us.
(Acts
10:1,2,4;
Heb.
9:24)
Three
and
a
half
years
after
the
cross,
at
the
end
of
the
time
of
special
favor
to
the
Jews,
this
man's
prayers
and
alms
came
up
before
God
as
a
me
morial.
But
even
then
he
must
send
men
to
Joppa
to
invite
St.
Peter
to
come
to
his
home
and
instruct
him
how
to
receive
the
blessing
of
God
in
Christ.
When
Cornelius
accepteil
Christ,
our
Lord
became
his
Advocate,
and
the
holy
Spirit
came
upon
him.
Thereafter
he
had
the
privilege
of
access
to
the
Father
at
the
throne
of
grace.
So
is
it
with
humanity
today.
There
is
but
one
way
for
any
to
avail
himself
of
the
privilege
of
prayer.
Each
must
[5200]
(79-83) of the holy Spirit we understand that before Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the holy prophets of the past can bless the world as the honored seed of Abraham in the flesh, another work must be done. That other work will be done by our Lord Jesus. The death of the holy, harmicss, undefiled Lamb of God constituted the entire foundation for the complete outworking of the plan of God’s mercy for our race. During this Gospel age a secondary feature has operated; an elect, select company, a bride class of joint-heirs with the Master, has been called out of the world from Jews and Gentiles, to constitute the spiritual seed of Abraham. If this ladder of intercourse and communion came down to Jacob, still more does it come down to and center in The Christ, of which Jesus Christ is the Head and the church his faithful members. When Jacob awakened, he felt overwhelmed. To have the Almighty thus indicate his care and blessing and approval, and to assure him of his protecting care in the future, seemed wonderful to the friendless man. He said, Surely this place may be ealled God’s house and the gate of heaven! And so ever since, the church has delighted to be known as the house of God—Bethel. By and by as the great temple of God, composed of living stones, Jesus himself being the Chief THE WATCH TOWER Brooxityn, N. Y. Corner Stone, this Bethel will be the gate of heaven, through which will come to mankind all the glorious things which God has promised—vrestitution, perfection, paradise—for all the willing and obedient. Jacob took the stone he had used for a pillow, set it up as a monument and poured oil upon it, as signifying its sacredness to God. His example since has been imitated by the Egyptians, in setting up great columns pointing heavenward, and also imitated by the Babylonian steeples, and by Christians in the cathedral stceples and chureh spires, All of these, however, unwittingly point to heaven, and prefigure the fact that there is by and by to be a ladder, a, communication between heaven and earth. That ladder will be the Messianie kingdom. Tradition tells us that subsequently Jacob’s stone was taken to Jerusalem, and there used in conjunction with the crowning of the Jewish kings. Tradition says that that stone was taken by Jeremiah when the Babylonians overthrew Jerusalem. Tradition further says that it was carricd to Ireland and for a time used there for crowuing their kings. It says also that this same stone is now in Westminster Abbey, and forms the seat of the throne on which the British sovereigns are crowned. THE HARVEST IS GREAT The Master said, ‘‘The Harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the Harvest that He would send forth laborers into His Harvest.’’ (Luke 10:2) These words, applicable nearly nineteen centuries ago, seem very applicable today also. We have more opportunities for using unencumbered brethren filled with the Spirit thau ever before. If any such brethren believe themselves reasonably well developed in meekness, gentleness, long-suffering, brotherly-kindness, love; and if, in addition, they have had some considerable experience with Present Truth and are fully consecrated to the Lord, we should like to hear from them. Such desiring to co-labor under the Society ’s auspices might give us a brief history of their life-work thus far, and send their photograph. Let them tell us also to what extent they have had and used opportunities for presenting the Truth in public, and to what extent God has blessed their efforts in bringing others into a fullness of consecration and mental enlightenment. Or if their talents run more toward stenography than toward publie speaking, we should be pleased to know of that. But do not mention stenography to us unless you are thoroughgoing in it, as a poor stenographer is a hindrance. Vout. XXXIV BROOKLYN, N. Y., MARCH 15, 1913 No. 6 THE PRIVILEGE AND THE come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’’— “Let us... NECESSITY OF PRAYER Hebrews 4:16. Prayer is a general term for all manner of petitions— whether a request, a hymn, or an expression of thanksgiving and praise, The word supplication seems to carry with it the thought of a continuous request, a repeated prayer, a longing desire, a waiting for the Lord to grant our petitions. Well has the poet said, ‘*Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire, Uttered or unexpressed.’? The first intimation of approach to God on the part of humanity is that in connection with the sacrifices offered by Cain and Abel. They did not come, however, with a petition to a Father, but with sacrifices, thus acknowledging sin. The one who brought a sacrifice symbolically representing a sin-offering God accepted; the other, he declined to accept in any sense of the word. Two thousand years later, God made choice of Abraham as the person through whom the vague promise made to Eve should be fulfilled; and to him he made the very definite promise that in him and his seed all the families of the earth should be blessed. With Abraham God made a covenant, which he renewed to Abraham’s posterity—to Isaac, but not to Ishmael; to Jacob, but not to Esau. These men were privileged to pray, because by their faith they were justified to fellowship with God. Eventually these blessings of divine faver and _ grace extended. to Israel as a nation; and they entered into these privileges in the full sense of the word, under the Covenant of the Law, of which Moses was the mediator. From that time on they had the same opportunities to appeal to God as had Abraham, Tsaae and Jacob. Indeed, in some respects, they had a preferred condition. They had a typical atonement day, on which they were typically cleansed; and_hecause of this typical cleansing, they were permitted to come to God, as did David, Hezekiah and others. The temple at Jerusalem was called the house of God, and the people went up to the temple to pray. Apparently it was generally understood that they might not pray anywhere and everywhere. This is indicated by our Lord’s eonversation with the woman of Samaria. Suppliants were heard only when they went to the temple to pray. The Samaritans claimed that the proper place to pray was on Gerizim, the mountain of Samaria. When the woman asked our Lord in regard to this matter, he intimated that the Jews were right in claiming that Jerusalem was the place where men ought to worship—John 4:20-24, The Jewish nation, by means of their Law Covenant made with God, were in covenant relationship to him, and were, therefore, permitted to pray to him. God does not regard all prayers, but only those offered by persons in a particular attitude of mind, and in a certain covenant relationship. Those outside—-even sincere, honest Gentiles—did not have the privilege which Israel possessed. ACCESS TO THRONE OF GRACE A SPECIAL PRIVILEGE During the Gospel dispensation, all who have made full consecration to God have become spiritual sons of God and may ask of him as their Father, may come boldly, confidently, to the throne of grace in prayer. Those who have not made a consecration to God have no Advocate through whom to approach him. Those who come in the spirit of prayer and with a real desire for those blessings which God has promised to give, will see that prayer is a privilege restricted to a certain class. Those who do not esteem it a privilege may as well not come; for God has not as yet made any proposition to the world. Prayer is the privilege of God’s children. Cornelius was a man who sought harmony with God. Although he prayed for years and gave much alms, yet his prayers and alms did not come up before God until an appropriate time—not until Jesus had dicd and ascended up on high, there to appear in the presence of God for us. (Acts 10:1, 2, 4; Heb. 9:24) Three and a half years after the cross, at the end of the time of special favor to the Jews, this man’s prayers and alms came up before God as a memorial. But even then he must send men to Joppa to invite St. Peter to come to his home and instruct him how to receive the blessing of God in Christ. When Cornelius accepted Christ, our Lord became his Advoeate, and the holy Spirit came upon him, Thereafter he had the privilege of access to the Father at the throne of grace. So is it with humanity today. There is but one way for any to avail himself of the privilege of prayer. Each must [5200]
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