10

1

10

download/literature/watchtower/1914-18.pdf

/../literature/watchtower/1914/18/1914-18-1.html

(271-275) by putting them in prison and by making them pay so much money. Can this stop the people sinning? No; not at all! If these were the great Preacher’s words and the words of our heavenly Father, and His punishment against the wicked, they would surely stop the people from sinning. But we read in the Bible that the Deliverer shall come, and the kingdom of God shall come, and all nations shall know the way of our God; but the wicked will he destroy. Also we learn from our Master’s lips the saying, ‘‘Learn of Me.’’ People may remember that our Lord found the people of Israel doing wrong against the Word of God, and they were proud. But we never see a single line in the Bible saying that he took even one of the Jews to the Roman Governor, to be put in prison, ete. All these things make us to be strong in faith that the harvest message is true. ‘‘Though it tarry, it will come.’’ We had not believed it for a certain time, but when we believed we consecrated ourselves unto death, I ean only let you know how we are doing. We hold meetings twice a month, beginning on Friday and lasting over Sunday. Friday, Bible study; Saturday, discussion; Sunday, publie meeting. Another week, the meeting on Friday is Question meeting; praise and testimony meeting on Saturday, and rublie meeting on Sunday. The number in attendance on Sunday, when we have general meeting, is 1,040, 385, 1,000, ete.; private meetings 36 to 40. But when we eall all churches to one place, hundreds of brethren are present! We thank God for his blessings which he has bestowed upon us. Furthermore, we thank him for showing us his seeret and that he gives us wisdom to understand his Holy Scriptures. How glad we are to see these things being fulfilled before our eyes! In Nyassaland we see many things which have been preached in our churches, and what we are learning in the Volumes and WatcH TowrEr—all these things are now heing fulfilled. How glad we are to see that God has given us wisdom in preaching! How glad we are to see that our Lord is in the midst of us, leading us into his marvelous light! How glad we are that we ‘‘which in past times were not a people, are now the people of God’?! And how glad we are to be dead to fleshly Insts, but to be alive to spiritual things! May God’s blessing rest upon you! Your younger brother in the service, H. Simon Acuirnwa.—Africa. THE STRENGTHENING CORD Dear Brother Russell:— Greetings in the Lord! I feel constrained to write you concerning my recent experiences in the colporteur work, which Vou. XXKV —_ THE WATCH TOWER BROOKLYN, N. Y., SEPTEMBER 15, 1914 No. 18 “THY JUDGMENTS ARE A MIGHTY DEEP?” Brooktyn, N. Y. are unusual. Several days ago I canvassed a lady who is a trance-medium. She did not order the books. Presently I called on another, who bought the Spiritualism book. Still another I called upon in the same block, not knowing in either case that they were Spiritualists. This one began by telling me she is preparing herself to be a writing and talking medium, and how, at times, ‘‘the forces’’ torment her day and night until she uses strong will-power to disperse them, saying, ‘‘ Leave me now; I must have rest.’’ Asking the Lord’s assistance, I proceeded to point out from Scripture the origin of these evil spirits—the fallen angels. Strange to say, she accepted it all very readily and asked questions re the same so eagerly! At this juncture peculiar noises were heard ahout the room; rappings, cracklings and faint chucklings. She noticed my nervousness and said in an assuring tone. ‘‘There they are now! It’s the spirits, because you are talking about them.’’ No doubt they were much displeased beeause of fear that she would get her eyes opened. Another medium now entered the room and I left. Wow thankful to the Lord I am that he through you has provided the ‘‘strengthening cord’’—the vow! As the consummation draws nearer we realize how unecessary was this provision. Much interest is now being aroused among the natural Israelites in this city through distribution of ‘‘ Jewish Hopes and Restoration Prospects.’’ Every family took one. They speak often of having read of Pastor Russell, of Brooklyn, in their Jewish papers. ‘‘He tells us of the restoration. Oh, we are so glad ’twill be soon!’’ A dear brother bearing your name (Russell), although but three weeks reading the ‘‘ Helping Hands,’’ is rejoicing in the truth therein. He gives evidence of having made a consecration and is already showing his faith by his works, by helping the Lord’s people. He expects soon to see the Photo-Drama of Creation in Boston. The Photo-Drama Seenario is stimulating interest to read the Scripture Srupies. This brother desired me to tell you of his appreciation of the truth. Even where few books are placed it gives the eolporteurs great joy to be able to reach even one who is hungering for the Bread of Truth. I wish to testify to the blessings the Lord in his goodness is sending me—especeially through THE Warctt Tower articles. The March 15th—‘‘ Are Ye Able?’’—was so strengthening for the ‘‘feet-members’’! Praying that the Lord’s richest blessings rest upon you to the very end, Yours by his grace, B. Haynes. ‘‘The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.’’—J Corinthians 1:25. The plan which God has adopted for dealing with sin and with sinners seems to the worldly mind, to worldly wisdom, to be a very foolish, a very unwise plan. The declarations of the Bible along this line do not appeal to such minds as reasonable. First of all, God ereated man perfect. Then he placed Adam under conditions where he was tempted and fell into sin. God then pronounced upon him a sentence of death, as He had forewarned him would he the result of disohedience. After thus sentencing man, Jehovah himself provided for a release from that death penalty by furnishing a Redeemer for the sinner at ereat cost. When he wished to proclaim to the world his provisions for their salvation from the curse, he sent forth preachers chosen from the race of sinners to tell the good tidings. For nearly two thousand years these preachers have used their best efforts. As some of them would die, others would take their places. But with all the preaching that has been done only a very few have believed the message or given an attentive ear. Often have these imperfect messengers grown wearv and faint. They have gone to the Lord with burdened hearts, telling him of the meager results that attended their Inhors. But the Lord has answered, ‘*Continue to give forth the words whieh T have delivered to vou; this is my will; it is just what T wish you to do.’’ So they have toiled on, leaving the resuits with Gad. But the world has shaken the unbelieving head. To them the proclaiming of such a message has seemed foolish. a waste of valuable time, an evidenee of unsoundness of mind. Few have believed that it is of God—even if a God of love existed at all. Yet, as the Apostle tells us, ‘‘Tt pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.’’ (1 Corinthians 1:21) He chose this method, which men denominate foolishness, to select a special class for a very special purpose, in connection with his great plan. Although from the human standpoint this appears a very small and weak heginning, as if God’s work is almost a failure—if he purposes to save and uplift the world—yet when the plan of God shall have been brought to its glorious consummation, it will be seen by all to have been most wise, powerful and effective. No more shall it be ‘‘The unbeliever’s jest, the heathen’s scorn.’’ God is not now choosing the great ones of earth, but chiefly the mean things, the humble and obscure, ‘‘that no flesh shall glory in his presence.’’ He is choosing these as instruments to bless the remainder of the world. LIFE A GREAT BOON EVEN NOW The question has been asked: How is the love of God to be seen from the standpoint of a deliberate arrangement beforchand which, in its outworking, has involved so vast an amount of sin. suffering and death? Tn thinking of this question, one should first of all rid himself wholly of the erroneous thought that sin, suffering and dving are only preludes to an eternity of woe. Then we are to remember that God is not in any way our debtor. We are his debtors, even for our existenec: he owes the race nothing. Suppose that we could disabuse all minds of the idea of eternal torture or of a purgatory of suffering after death, and shonld then say to them, Consider, now: Would you prefer to live on for a few years more, or would you rather die at [5534]