Publication date
2/15/15
Volume
36
Number
4
The WatchTower
Present Duty and Privilege of the Saints
../literature/watchtower/1915/4/1915-4-1.html
 
 
 
 
 
(47-51) 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
BROOKI,YN. 
N. 
Y. 
foregoing 
"faith," 
you 
must 
admit 
that 
it 
is 
something 
you 
once 
believed 
and 
once 
vomited 
forth, 
and 
like 
the 
Scriptural 
dog, 
you 
have.. 
returned 
to 
your 
vomit; 
hope 
you 
like 
it. 
Probably 
look 
ridiculous 
to 
you 
because 
did 
not 
go 
to 
heaven, 
October 
1st, 
1914, 
but 
you 
don't 
look 
ridiculous 
to 
me­ 
oh 
nol 
With 
ten 
of 
the 
greatest 
nations 
on 
earth 
writhing 
in 
their 
death 
agonies, 
it 
seems 
to 
me 
particularly 
inopportune 
time 
to 
seek 
to 
ridicule 
the 
man, 
and 
the 
only 
man, 
who 
for 
forty 
years 
has 
taught 
that 
the 
Times 
of 
the 
Gentiles 
would 
end 
in 
1914. 
If 
you 
believe 
these 
stupid 
and 
worse 
than 
childish 
blunders 
of 
the 
past 
and 
seek 
to 
revivify 
them, 
you 
have 
worse 
job 
on 
your 
hands 
than 
Christ 
had 
when 
he 
raised 
Lazarus. 
Pastor 
Russell's 
teal'hings 
ha 
\"(~ 
killed 
them 
so 
completely 
that 
they 
are 
in 
far 
worse 
eondition 
than 
Lazarus 
was 
when 
he 
had 
been 
dead 
four 
days. 
presume 
that 
when 
Zedekiah 
struck 
Micaiah 
upon 
the 
ehcek 
and 
ridiculed 
the 
latter's 
confidence 
in 
the 
Lord's 
message 
he 
thought 
it 
was 
really 
funny, 
and 
still 
more 
so 
when 
Micaiah 
warned 
him 
that 
he 
would 
soon 
attempt 
to 
hide 
himself 
un­ 
successfully 
from 
the 
Syrians 
in 
his 
inner 
chamber. 
doubt, 
however, 
whether 
Zedekiah 
considered 
it 
so 
funny 
shortly 
after­ 
ward 
when 
he 
saw 
the 
armies 
of 
the 
Syrians 
in 
front 
of 
his 
house, 
and 
espcially 
when 
he 
hcard 
thcm 
coming 
up 
stairs.­ 
Kings 
22. 
this 
ktter 
shall 
awaken 
you 
to 
your 
tl'UC 
eondition, 
Rhall 
be 
glad. 
If 
it 
docs 
not. 
it 
will 
not 
be 
nceessary 
for 
you 
to 
write 
to 
me 
again; 
for 
shall 
consider 
it 
hopeless 
task. 
With 
best 
wishes, 
remain, 
C. 
J. 
WOODWORTH. 
MANY 
HEARTS 
RECEIVING 
COMFORT 
\V. 
T. 
B. 
T. 
SOC'Y, 
DEAR 
FRIE"DS:- 
think 
you 
should 
know 
of 
the 
blessing 
of 
the 
Lord 
on 
the 
service 
last 
week, 
and 
in 
making 
calls 
on 
those 
who 
handed 
in 
thcir 
names 
at 
Brother 
Rutherford's 
meeting. 
never 
saw 
such 
interest! 
The 
sale 
of 
books 
was 
reasonably 
good­ 
450 
(all 
but 
50 
of 
which 
are 
delivered)-sold 
in 
four 
days. 
The 
fine 
class 
of 
business 
men 
represented 
was 
quite 
excep­ 
tional, 
although 
every 
week 
there 
are 
some. 
Three 
young 
ladies 
from 
the 
Y. 
W. 
C. 
A. 
bought 
the 
books, 
and 
one 
gives 
good 
evidence 
of 
coming 
fully 
into 
the 
truth 
in 
\"Cry 
short 
time. 
piano 
dealer 
sai(l, 
"This 
is 
no 
denom­ 
inational 
work, 
is 
it? 
have 
no 
use 
for 
denominations. 
The 
man's 
theory 
is 
worth 
investigation." 
lawyer 
said, 
"That 
man 
is 
wonder! 
never 
read 
my 
Bible, 
but 
am 
going 
to 
begin 
now. 
Every 
reasoning 
person 
ought 
to 
have 
these 
books- 
am 
going 
to 
read 
every 
word 
in 
them." 
merchant 
remarked, 
"This 
is 
the 
greatest 
rpformatlOlI 
movement 
we 
ever 
had; 
we 
must 
keep 
it 
going." 
He 
sent 
to 
me 
twice 
for 
more 
books 
for 
his 
friends; 
and 
he 
is 
man 
who 
had 
thrown 
all 
religion 
aside. 
doctor 
called 
on 
said, 
"I 
was 
interested 
to 
IlPar 
Ill' 
was 
Baptist; 
so 
was 
I, 
and 
had 
the 
same 
experience 
he 
had­ 
threw 
the 
whole 
thing 
over 
in 
disgust-and 
was 
preacher." 
He 
was 
glad 
to 
examine 
the 
work. 
The 
cloth 
books 
were 
not 
fine 
enough 
for 
him; 
he 
got 
the 
leatlH~r-bound. 
very 
fine 
office 
man 
said, 
"I 
will 
read 
every 
moment 
can 
get. 
Of 
course, 
take 
it 
for 
granted 
that 
these 
books 
are 
along 
the 
lines 
of 
that 
lecture." 
He 
ordered 
set. 
It 
would 
take 
book 
to 
tell 
the 
rest! 
But 
it 
is 
such 
joy 
to 
see 
some 
of 
the 
"refuge 
of 
lies" 
being 
swept 
away, 
confidence 
in 
Babylon 
on 
the 
wane, 
and 
many 
hearts 
comforted. 
\Vith 
love 
and 
prayers 
for 
you 
all, 
and 
asking 
continued 
interest 
in 
your 
petitions, 
am, 
by 
his 
grace, 
Your 
Sister, 
CHARLOTTE 
\VRITE. 
"A 
PRAYER 
OF 
CONSECRATION" 
Realizing 
that 
must 
draw 
nearer 
to 
God 
to 
be 
kept 
in 
this 
hour 
of 
trial 
now 
upon 
the 
whole 
world, 
Ilia 
ye 
prayed 
more; 
and 
find 
the 
following 
form 
very 
helpful; 
therefore 
call 
it 
"THE 
PRAYER 
OF 
THE 
COxsEcRAn:n": 
"Dear 
heavenly 
Father, 
reverently, 
and 
in 
the 
name 
oJ 
Jesus, 
approach 
thy 
throne 
of 
grace 
to 
renew 
my 
consecration 
vows 
today. 
Not 
content 
with 
having 
made 
my 
consecration 
years 
ago, 
nor 
even 
yesterday, 
renew 
it 
today, 
and 
present 
to 
thee 
my 
body 
and 
all 
its 
powers, 
my 
heart 
and 
all 
its 
affections. 
give 
to 
thee, 
willingly 
and 
gladly, 
everything 
possess, 
to 
be 
wholly 
thine-today. 
would 
not 
withhold 
from 
thee 
one 
sin­ 
gle 
thing. 
"Gracious 
and 
loving 
Father 
and 
dear 
Lord 
.T 
esus, 
come 
in 
all 
your 
fulness 
into 
my 
heart 
and 
life; 
take 
full 
possession 
and 
reign 
there 
supreme, 
without 
rival 
today. 
Dear 
Lord 
Jesus, 
my 
glorious 
High 
Priest 
and 
Head 
to 
th~' 
hody, 
thl' 
church, 
continue 
to 
offer 
me 
today 
upon 
God's 
holy 
altar 
of 
sacrifice, 
and 
until 
the 
sacrifice 
is 
completed 
in 
death." 
have 
found 
that 
doing 
this 
daily 
have 
been 
greatly 
en­ 
riched 
and 
blessed 
spiritually. 
Yours, 
in 
his 
love 
and 
service, 
W. 
J. 
THOlm. 
Isa. 
41:10; 
Num. 
6:24-26. 
VorJ. 
XXXVI 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
FEBRUARY 
15,1915 
No. 
:1 
PRESENT 
DUTY 
AND 
PRIVILEGE 
OF 
THE 
SAINTS 
"Cry 
aloud 
and 
spare 
not; 
lift 
up 
thy 
voice 
like 
trumpet, 
and 
show 
my 
people 
their 
tra?lsgt'ession, 
and 
the 
House 
of 
Jacob 
their 
sins. 
Yet 
they 
seek 
me 
daily 
and 
delight 
to 
know 
my 
ways, 
as 
nation 
that 
did 
righteousness, 
and 
for- 
sook 
not 
the 
ordinances 
of 
their 
God. 
They 
ask 
of 
me 
the 
ordinances 
of 
justice; 
they 
take 
delight 
in 
approaching 
to 
God."-Isaiah 
58: 
1, 
2. 
\Ve 
understand 
that 
the 
Lord, 
through 
the 
Prophet 
Isaiah, 
aside 
from 
the 
Word 
of 
God 
would 
be 
but 
bungling 
work; 
is 
here 
(leseribing 
the 
condition 
of 
the 
nominal 
people 
of 
God. 
whereas 
"The 
'Vord 
of 
God 
is 
quick 
and 
powerful, 
and 
sharper 
These 
words 
prob;lbly 
had 
an 
application 
in 
the 
Prophet's 
day, 
than 
any 
two-edged 
sword, 
piercing 
even 
to 
the 
dividing 
hut 
we 
think 
they 
have 
special 
application 
in 
our 
day. 
If 
asunder 
of 
soul 
and 
spirit, 
and 
of 
the 
joints 
and 
ma,rrow." 
we 
should 
view 
the 
words 
as 
general 
statement, 
applicable 
\Ve 
are 
to 
"cry 
aloud, 
and 
spare 
not," 
to 
point 
out 
what 
the 
at 
any 
time, 
it 
would 
seem 
to 
have 
reference 
to 
some 
who 
are 
Scriptures 
have 
to 
say--on 
proper 
oecasions. 
This 
does 
not 
truly 
the 
Lont's 
people 
and 
also 
to 
the 
House 
of 
Jacob 
in 
mean 
to 
insult 
people. 
God's 
ambassadors 
have 
no 
commis­ 
general. 
The 
prophet 
speaks 
of 
certain 
transgressions 
of 
God's 
sion 
to 
insult 
anyone. 
But 
with 
gracious 
words 
we 
may, 
people, 
errors, 
and 
of 
sins 
of 
the 
House 
oJ 
Jacob 
(Natural 
nevertheless, 
point 
to 
the 
conditions 
of 
today, 
the 
dangers 
Israel) 
-especi:dly 
grievous 
transgressions. 
that 
are 
now 
before 
the 
world, 
and 
the 
proper 
position 
to 
be 
Applying 
this 
to 
the 
present 
day, 
we 
would 
understand 
taken 
by 
those 
who 
would 
wholly 
follow 
the 
Lord. 
that 
the 
Lord's 
people 
are 
those 
who 
are 
in 
covenant 
relation- 
FORM 
OF 
GODLINESS 
WITHOUT 
ITS 
POWER 
ship 
with 
God, 
his 
real 
people, 
and 
no 
others. 
Those 
in 
The 
words 
of 
the 
text 
under 
consider,ation 
are 
alonO" 
the 
eovenant 
relationship 
with 
God 
are 
comparatively 
small 
same 
line 
as 
the 
words 
of 
the 
Prophet 
Isaiah 
in 
Ch7t 
ter 
nllmber: 
The 
great 
mass 
o.f 
professed 
p.~ple 
o_f 
God 
have 
29: 
13, 
quoted 
by 
our 
Lord. 
There 
the 
Prophet 
declares: 
"This 
gotten 
II1to 
many. 
tn~nsgresslOns 
of 
the 
dlv.me 
WIll 
and 
law, 
people 
draw 
near 
me 
with 
their 
mouth, 
and 
with 
their 
lips 
many 
of 
them 
qUite 
Ignorantly 
followmg 
bhnd 
leaders 
of 
the 
do 
honor 
me 
but 
have 
removed 
their 
heart 
far 
from 
me"· 
hlind, 
following 
cr!'eds 
of 
the 
darkest 
pa.st. 
The 
term 
"the 
"but" 
as 
the'Master 
rendered 
the 
following 
words 
(Matthe\~ 
House 
of 
Jacob," 
however, 
is 
distinguishing 
term, 
referring 
15: 
9') 
"in 
vain 
do 
they 
worship 
me 
tea<:hing 
<for 
doctrine 
the 
pxclusivcly 
to 
the 
.Jews. 
God's 
ancient 
covenant 
people. 
eomm~ndments 
of 
men." 
The 
Lord's 
pe~ple 
of 
th? 
present 
time. 
~hose 
who 
have 
the 
The 
tra.nslation 
of 
V. 
of 
our 
text 
is 
not 
quite 
so 
clear 
hght 
of 
truth. 
as 
It 
now 
shm.es 
out 
.from 
hIS 
\V?rd 
.. 
should, 
as 
as 
perhaps 
might 
he. 
The 
thought 
seems 
to 
be: 
They 
appal'­ 
they 
hav!' 
sUlta~le 
opportulllty, 
pomt 
out 
to 
Chnstendom 
of 
ently 
seek 
me 
daily, 
apparently 
delight 
to 
know 
my 
ways. 
t~day, 
a~d 
('speCIally 
tD 
those 
who 
are 
the 
professe~ 
people 
of 
They 
build 
churches 
with 
high 
steeples 
and 
gorgeous 
appoint­ 
(~od; 
theIr 
error, 
show. 
them 
wh~re 
the~ 
have 
devlate~l 
from 
ments, 
at 
great 
cost. 
Many 
churches 
have 
imposing 
images 
hods 
\Vord, 
where 
theIr 
cours~ 
IS 
not 
mharmony 
WIth 
the 
of 
the 
saints 
or 
great 
paintings 
which 
make 
fine 
outward 
Golden 
Rule, 
ek. 
Morcover, 
If 
they 
have 
favorahle 
oppor- 
appearance. 
~hey 
ha.ve 
rich, 
melodious 
bells 
chiming 
out 
tunity, 
they 
might 
point 
out 
to 
the 
.Jews 
the 
rea-sons 
why 
they 
sweet 
hymns; 
such 
as 
"Nearer, 
My 
God, 
to 
Thee," 
"Rock 
of 
are 
in 
their 
present 
cast-off 
condition. 
But 
it 
would 
not 
be 
Ages," 
etc. 
They 
have 
well-trained 
choirs 
to 
sing 
anthems. 
well 
to 
go 
about 
bC'rating 
them, 
or 
berating 
anybody. 
They 
have 
highly 
educated 
ministers 
who 
are 
gifted 
orators 
Very 
little 
good 
is 
done 
by 
such 
course. 
The 
truth 
and 
deliver 
eloquent 
dissertations. 
Outwardly, 
they 
have 
itself 
is 
to 
be 
the 
sworn. 
It 
is 
sharp 
two-edged 
sword, 
wonderful 
zeal 
for 
righteousness; 
it 
would 
seem 
on 
the 
sur- 
even 
the 
\Vord 
of 
God, 
The 
work 
that 
any 
of 
us 
could 
do 
face 
that 
they 
are 
doing 
well. 
They 
appoint 
an 
annual 
[5630] 
(47-51) foregoing “faith,” you must admit that it is something you once believed and once vomited forth, and like the Scriptural dog, you have returned to your vomit; I hope you like it. Probably I look ridiculous to you because I did not go to heaven, October 1st, 1914, but you don’t look ridiculous to me— oh no! With ten of the greatest nations on earth writhing in their death agonies, it seems to me a particularly inopportune time to seek to ridicule the man, and the only man, who for forty years has taught that the Times of the Gentiles would end in 1914. If you believe these stupid and worse than childish blunders of the past and seek to revivify them, you have a worse job on your hands than Christ had when he raised Lazarus. Pastor Russell’s teachings have killed them so completely that they are in a far worse condition than Lazarus was when he had been dead four days. I presume that when Zedekiah struck Micaiah upon the cheek and ridiculed the latter’s confidence in the Lord’s message he thought it was really funny, and still more so when Micaiah warned him that he would soon attempt to hide himself unsuccessfully from the Syrians in his inner chamber. I doubt, however, whether Zedekiah considered it so funny shortly afterward when he saw the armies of the Syrians in front of his house, and espcially when he heard them coming up stairs.— 1 Kings 22, If this letter shall awaken you to your true condition, I shall be glad. If it does not, it will not be necessary for you to write to me again; for I shall consider it a hopeless task, With best wishes, I remain, C. J. Woopworts. MANY HEARTS RECEIVING COMFORT W. T. B. & T. Soc’y, Dear Frienps :— I think you should know of the blessing of the Lord on the service last week, and in making calls on those who handed in their names at Brother Rutherford’s meeting. I never saw such interest! The sale of books was reasonably good— 450 (all but 50 of which are delivered)—sold in four days. The fine class of business men represented was quite exceptional, although every week there are some. Three young ladies from the Y. W. C. A. bought the books, and one gives good evidence of coming fully into the truth in a very short time. A piano dealer said, “This is no denominational work, is it? T have no use for denominations. The man’s theory is worth investigation.” A lawyer said, “That Vout. XXXVI THE WATCH TOWER BROOKLYN, N. Y., FEBRUARY 15, 1915 Brooxiyn, N. Y, man is a wonder! I never read my Bible, but I am going to begin now. Every reasoning person ought to have these books— I am going to read every word in them.” ; A merchant remarked, “This is the greatest reformation movement we ever had; we must keep it going.” He sent to me twice for more books for his friends; and he is a man who had thrown all religion aside. A doctor I called on said, “I was interested to hear he was a Baptist; so was I, and I had the same experience he had— threw the whole thing over in disgust—and I was a preacher.” He was glad to examine the work. The cloth books were not fine enough for him; he got the leather-bound. A very fine office man said, “I will read every moment I can get. Of course, I take it for granted that these books are along the lines of that lecture.” He ordered a set. It would take a book to tell the rest! But it is such a joy to see some of the “refuge of lies” being swept away, confidence in Babylon on the wane, and many hearts comforted. With love and prayers for you all, and asking a continued interest in your petitions, I am, by his grace, Your Sister, CHARLOTTE WHITE. “‘A PRAYER OF CONSECRATION’’ Realizing that I must draw nearer to God to be kept in this hour of trial now upon the whole world, I lave prayed more; and I find the following form very helpful; I therefore call it “THE PRAYER OF THE CONSECRATED”: “Dear heavenly Father, reverently, and in the name of Jesus, I approach thy throne of grace to renew my consecration vows today. Not content with having made my consecration years ago, nor even yesterday, J renew it today, and present to thee my body and all its powers, my heart and all its affections. I give to thee, willingly and gladly, everything I possess, to be wholly thine—today. I would not withhold from thee one single thing. “Gracious and loving Father and dear Lord Jesus, come in all your fulness into my heart and life; take full possession and reign there supreme, without a rival today. Dear Lord Jesus, my glorious High Priest and Head to thy body, the church, continue to offer me today upon God’s holy altar of sacrifice, and until the sacrifice is completed in death.” I have found that doing this daily I have been greatly enriched and blessed spiritually. Yours, in his love and service, Isa. 41:10; Num. 6:24-26. W. J. THorn. No. A PRESENT DUTY AND PRIVILEGE OF THE SAINTS “Cry aloud and spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the House of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinances of their God. They ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God,”—Isaiah 58:1, 2. We understand that the Lord, through the Prophet lsaiah, is here describing the condition of the nominal people of God. These words probably had an application in the Prophet’s day, but we think they have a special application in our day. If we should view the words as a general statement, applicable at any time, it would seem to have reference to some who are truly the Lord’s people and also to the House of Jacob in general, The prophet speaks of certain transgressions of God’s people, errors, and of sins of the House of Jacob (Natural Israel)—especially grievous transgressions. Applying this to the present day, we would understand that the Lord’s people are those who are in covenant relationship with God, his real people, and no others. Those in covenant relationship with God are comparatively a small number. ‘he great mass of professed people of God have gotten into many transgressions of the divine will and law, many of them quite ignorantly following blind leaders of the blind, following creeds of the darkest past. The term “the House of Jacob,” however, is a distinguishing term, referring exclusively to the Jews, God’s ancient covenant people. The Lord’s people of the present time, those who have the light of truth as it now shines out from his Word, should, as they have suitable opportunity, point out to Christendom of today, and especially to those who are the professed people of God, their error, show them where they have deviated from God’s Word, where their course is not in harmony with the Golden Rule, etc. Moreover, if they have favorable opportunity, they might point out to the Jews the reasons why they are in their present cast-off condition. But it would not be well to go about berating them, or berating anybody. Very little good is done by such a course. The truth itself is to be the sword. It is a sharp two-edged sword, even the Word of God, The work that any of us could do aside from the Word of God would be but bungling work; whereas “The Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow.” We are to “cry aloud, and spare not,” to point out what the Scriptures have to say—on proper occasions. This does not mean to insult people. God’s ambassadors have no commission to insult any one. But with gracious words we may, nevertheless, point to the conditions of today, the dangers that are now before the world, and the proper position to be taken by those who would wholly follow the Lord. A FORM OF GODLINESS WITHOUT ITS POWER The words of the text under consideration are along the same line as the words of the Prophet Isaiah in Chapter 29:13, quoted by our Lord. There the Prophet declares: “This people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me”; “but,” as the Master rendered the following words (Matthew 15:9), “in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men.” The translation of V. 2 of our text is not quite so clear as perhaps might be. The thought seems to be: They apparently seek me daily, apparently delight to know my ways. They build churches with high steeples and gorgeous appointments, at great cost. Many churches have imposing images of the saints or great paintings which make a fine outward appearance. They have rich, melodious bells chiming out sweet hymns; such as “Nearer, My God, to Thee,” “Rock of Ages,” etc. They have well-trained choirs to sing anthems. They have highly educated ministers who are gifted orators and deliver eloquent dissertations. Outwardly, they have a wonderful zeal for righteousness; it would seem on the surface that they are doing well. They appoint an annual [5630]

This website uses cookies to improve the website and your experience. By continuing to browse this website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. If you require further information or do not wish to accept cookies when using this website, please visit our Privacy Policy    Terms of Use    .