Publication date
6/1/16
Volume
37
Number
11
The WatchTower
Training Our Affections Heavenward
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1916/11/1916-11-1.html
 
 
 
 
MAY 
IS, 
1916 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
(159-146) 
to 
themselves, 
the 
church, 
the 
clergy 
and 
society. 
Asked 
why 
this 
was, 
he 
answered, 
"They 
would 
forsake 
the 
churches, 
leave 
the 
ministry 
unsupported, 
and 
commit 
all 
sorts 
of 
excesses, 
unrestrained 
by 
fear 
of 
torture." 
What 
a 
commentary 
on 
the 
moral 
effect!' 
of 
the 
ministry's 
work! 
He 
confided 
in 
me 
the 
statement 
that 
he 
was 
a 
Universalist 
as 
well 
as 
an 
Evolu­ 
tionist 
and 
Higher 
Critic; 
yet 
he 
rebuked 
me 
for 
preaching 
against 
eternal 
torment! 
. 
, 
The 
thiJ:d 
case 
was 
that 
of 
an 
EpIscopal 
BIshop, 
who 
at· 
tended 
a 
semi-public 
meeting 
that 
I 
addressed 
this 
week 
on 
The 
Overthrow 
of 
Satan's 
Empire. 
Before 
the 
service, 
in 
a 
conversation 
that 
he 
held 
with 
the 
elder 
of 
the 
class 
that 
gave 
the 
meeting, 
he 
very 
strongly 
defended 
the 
doctrine 
of 
Apostolic 
Succession 
and 
the 
divine 
right 
of 
the 
clergy. 
In 
this 
particular 
lecture 
the 
latter 
doctrine 
is 
attacked 
from 
many 
points 
of 
view. 
During 
the 
course 
of 
the 
lecture 
I 
did 
not 
deviate 
from 
my 
usual 
way 
of 
presenting 
the 
doctrine 
of 
the 
divine 
right 
of 
the 
clergy. 
My 
remarks 
on 
the 
subject, 
though 
delivered 
very 
kindly, 
seemed 
deeply 
to 
cut 
the 
bishop. 
His 
face 
became 
redder 
than 
the 
red 
in 
the 
Stars 
and 
Stripes 
that 
decorated 
the 
stage 
from 
which 
I 
spoke. 
The 
way 
he 
squirmed 
in 
his 
chair 
one 
would 
have 
thought 
that 
he 
was 
seated 
on 
pins. 
He 
remained 
throughout 
the 
entire 
lecture, 
but 
did 
not 
wait 
to 
meet 
me. 
I 
could 
not 
but 
think 
that 
we 
are 
now 
judging 
the 
kings 
and 
princes! 
By 
the 
way, 
there 
is 
another 
matter 
that 
I 
think 
might 
be 
well 
to 
bring 
to 
your 
attention, 
Le., 
the 
friends 
by 
letter 
ask­ 
ing 
the 
Pilgrims 
to 
answer 
questions. 
You 
will 
recall 
that 
some 
time 
ago, 
in 
view 
of 
the 
fact 
that 
they 
travel 
on 
one­ 
day 
appointments, 
which 
scarcely 
leaves 
them 
time 
properly 
to 
do 
the 
work 
at 
the 
places 
they 
visit, 
as 
well 
as 
in 
view 
of 
the 
fact 
that 
the 
dear 
Lord, 
mindful 
of 
the 
needs 
of 
his 
dear 
flock, 
has 
through 
the 
Correspondence 
Department 
at 
the 
Tabernacle 
arranged 
for 
the 
answer 
of 
just 
such 
questions, 
you 
wrote 
the 
pilgrims 
a 
letter, 
which 
you 
afterwards 
pUb­ 
lished 
in 
the 
TowER, 
asking 
them 
to 
refer 
the 
brethren 
who 
asked 
them 
questions 
by 
mail 
to 
the 
page 
in 
the 
STUDIES 
where 
the 
subject 
is 
treated, 
or 
better 
still, 
to 
write 
their 
questions 
to 
the 
Correspondence 
Department 
at 
the 
Tabernacle. 
Judging 
from 
the 
number 
of 
letter's 
that 
I 
receive 
asking 
ques­ 
tions, 
I 
have 
concluded 
that 
a 
large 
number 
of 
the 
friends 
have 
either 
overlooked 
or 
forgotten 
your 
letter 
on 
the 
subject. 
Feeling 
that 
it 
is 
for 
me 
to 
abide 
by 
your 
suggestion 
con­ 
tained 
in 
the 
above-mentioned 
letter, 
I 
do 
not 
answer 
these 
questions, 
but 
write 
to 
them 
telling 
them 
the 
condition. 
This, 
of 
course, 
consumes 
time 
for 
them 
and 
me, 
and 
is 
doubtless 
disappointing 
to 
them. 
Is 
there 
not 
some 
way 
in 
which 
this 
matter 
can 
be 
brought 
to 
their 
attention, 
whereby 
they 
can 
be 
spared 
disappointment, 
as 
well 
as 
save 
the 
pilgrims' 
time, 
and 
receive 
their 
answers 
all 
the 
sooner? 
-I 
am 
glad 
to 
note 
their 
zeal 
to 
learn 
the 
good 
Word 
of 
God, 
and 
would 
gladly 
answer 
their 
questions 
if 
this 
were 
in 
harmony 
with 
the 
Lord's 
will; 
but 
under 
the 
circumstances 
it 
is 
of 
profit 
to 
nobody 
for 
them 
to 
write 
to 
the 
pilgrims 
for 
their 
information. 
For 
this 
reason 
I 
thought 
it 
might 
be 
well 
to 
bring 
it 
to 
your 
attention, 
trusting 
that 
it 
may 
result 
in 
larger 
blessing 
to 
all 
concerned 
in 
the 
matter. 
The 
dear 
Lord 
has 
been 
blessing 
me 
richly 
in 
many 
way~ 
both 
by 
toward 
and 
untoward 
circumstances. 
Was 
very 
much 
pleased 
by 
the 
reports 
of 
the 
year's 
work 
of 
the 
Society. 
My 
prayer 
to 
the 
Lord 
is 
that 
he 
continue 
to 
bless 
his 
cause, 
people 
and 
servants, 
especially 
yourself 
among 
them. 
Rejoic­ 
ing 
that 
I 
am 
privileged 
to 
be 
associated 
in 
this 
the 
best 
of 
fellowsihip 
and 
service 
with 
you, 
and 
sending 
you 
much 
Chris­ 
tian 
love, 
with 
the 
assurance 
of 
my 
continued 
prayers 
for, 
and 
co-operation 
with 
you, 
I 
remain 
Your 
brother 
and 
fellow 
servant, 
PAUL 
S. 
L. 
JOHNSON. 
"ABRAHAM 
SAW 
llrIY 
DAY 
AND 
WAS 
GLAD" 
My 
DEAR 
BROTHER 
RUSSELL:- 
Greetings 
and 
love 
in 
the 
dear 
Lord! 
I 
take 
this 
oppor­ 
tunity 
of 
expressing 
my 
love 
for 
you, 
and 
for 
the 
service 
in 
wbJich 
you 
are 
engaged 
so 
faithfully. 
It 
was 
in 
the 
year 
1908 
that 
I 
began 
to 
read 
the 
STUDIES 
IN 
THE 
SCRIPTURES. 
From 
that 
time 
on 
I 
have 
not 
failed 
to 
find 
something 
to 
encourage, 
strengthen 
and 
uplift 
even 
though 
I 
have 
gone 
through 
many 
trials 
that 
have 
appeared 
more 
than 
I 
could 
bear, 
from 
outward 
observation. 
I 
am 
continually 
reading 
the 
STUDIES, 
and 
the 
"Old, 
Old 
Story," 
which 
their 
pages 
forth 
tell 
with 
no 
uncertain 
sound, 
always 
appears 
new. 
I 
find 
each 
time 
I 
go 
through 
them 
something 
I 
never 
saw 
before. 
Recently 
I 
have 
been 
going 
through 
TABERNACLE 
SHADOWS 
again, 
and 
have 
been 
par­ 
ticularly 
struck 
with 
the 
thought 
that 
Abraham 
was 
justified 
by 
faith 
in 
Christ. 
I 
should 
be 
glad, 
dear 
brother, 
if 
you 
will 
explain 
just 
how 
it 
was 
possible 
for 
this 
to 
be. 
The 
question 
has 
been 
raised 
several 
times 
here 
and 
I 
have 
not 
been 
satisfied 
with 
the 
answers 
given 
at 
any 
time. 
,some 
have 
suggested 
that 
"If 
Brother 
Russell 
were 
writ­ 
ing 
TABERNACLE 
SHADOWS 
now 
he 
would 
not 
put 
those 
words 
in. 
• 
• 
. 
. 
JJ 
Is 
thi~ 
correct." 
I 
have 
also 
heard 
on 
various 
occasions, 
when 
studying 
thE' 
Volumes, 
that 
Brother 
Russell 
has 
left 
various 
points 
without 
a 
full 
explanation 
in 
order 
that 
we 
might 
study 
for 
ourselves. 
I 
am, 
dear 
brother, 
Yours 
in 
the 
Anointed, 
EDITOR'S 
REPLY 
"Your 
Father 
Abraham 
rejoiced 
to 
see 
my 
day; 
he 
saw 
it 
a-nd 
was 
gUul."--John 
8:56. 
Abraham 
knew 
that 
God's 
promise 
to 
bless 
all 
the 
families 
of 
the 
earth 
was 
sure 
to 
be 
fulfilled. 
He 
saw 
the 
day 
of 
Ghrist-the 
Millennium-and 
its 
glorious 
work 
by 
the 
eye 
of 
faith. 
Similarly 
he 
saw 
the 
great 
Messiah 
thE' 
King 
by 
the 
eye 
of 
faith; 
yea, 
more, 
by 
the 
same 
eye 
Abrah.,r 
p 
QO 
••• 
Ll-,,.. 
millions 
of 
Adam's 
race 
blessed 
of 
God 
by 
the 
Messiah, 
his 
Seed, 
during 
the 
Millennium. 
the 
matter 
so, 
and 
will 
send 
the 
questions 
to 
any 
of 
our 
sub­ 
scribers, 
on 
request. 
We 
believe 
that 
the 
suggestion 
is 
es­ 
pecially 
good 
in 
respect 
to 
those 
who 
are 
occupying 
any 
posi­ 
tion 
of 
influence 
or 
serving 
amongst 
the 
brethren. 
It 
does 
us 
all 
good 
to 
think, 
and 
helps 
to 
establish 
us 
as 
respects 
what 
we 
know 
well 
and 
what 
we 
do 
not 
so 
clearly 
know, 
and 
thus 
leads 
on 
to 
a 
clearer 
knowledge 
of 
the 
truth 
and 
to 
the 
graces 
which, 
properly, 
should 
accompany 
every 
step 
of 
knowledge. 
INTERESTING 
QUESTIONS 
FOR 
The 
Society 
is 
sending 
out 
to 
all 
pilgrim 
brethren 
a 
series 
of 
questions 
respecting 
the 
teachings 
of 
the 
Bible. 
They 
are 
not 
difficult 
for 
those 
who 
are 
well 
informed 
respecting 
the 
divine 
plan 
of 
the 
ages. 
The 
Society 
wishes, 
however, 
to 
see 
how 
clearly 
and 
concisely 
its 
representatives 
can 
answer 
such 
queries. 
The 
suggestion 
has 
come 
to 
us 
that 
others 
would 
like 
to 
have 
copies 
of 
these 
questions 
and 
to 
have 
the 
opportunity 
of 
presenting 
their 
answers. 
We 
would 
be 
pleased 
to 
have 
MATURE 
BIBLE 
STUDENTS 
VOh 
XXXVII 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
JUNE 
1, 
1916 
TRAINING 
OUR 
AFFECTIONS 
HEAVENWARD 
No. 
11 
"Set 
your 
affectiofl, 
on 
things 
above, 
not 
In 
the 
natural 
make-up 
of 
humanity 
there 
is 
a 
certain 
ten­ 
dency 
which 
we 
all 
recognize 
as 
a 
sort 
of 
mental 
sacrilege, 
al­ 
though 
we 
are 
unable 
to 
philosophize 
upon 
it 
or 
to 
explain 
it. 
So 
surely 
as 
we 
are 
men 
and 
women 
we 
have 
certain 
impulses 
of 
affection, 
certain 
powers 
that 
go 
out 
toward 
other 
crea­ 
tures, 
other 
things; 
and 
it 
is 
very 
important 
that 
we 
see 
where 
they 
are 
tending; 
otherwise 
they 
will 
lead 
to 
idolatry. 
Just 
as 
the 
little 
tendrils 
of 
a 
vine 
will 
take 
hold 
of 
whatever 
is 
within 
reach, 
so 
our 
affections 
go 
out 
to 
various 
earthly 
objects; 
and 
they 
need 
to 
be 
pruned 
and 
trained, 
just 
as 
a 
vine 
needs 
to 
be. 
When 
you 
desire 
to 
have 
your 
vine 
grow 
a 
certain 
way, 
you 
turn 
it 
in 
the 
proper 
direction, 
tie 
it 
if 
need 
be, 
and 
see 
that 
its 
tendrils 
take 
hold 
of 
the 
proper 
supports. 
on 
things 
on 
the 
earth."-Colossians 
3 
:2. 
VARIOUS 
WORLDLY 
OBJECTS 
OF 
AFFECTION 
Thus 
it 
is 
with 
each 
of 
us. 
These 
affections 
are 
proper, 
they 
are 
good; 
but 
they 
need 
guiding, 
training. 
If 
we 
did 
not 
have 
these 
affections, 
we 
could 
not 
love 
God. 
We 
must 
have 
them 
in 
order 
to 
a 
proper 
balance 
of 
character. 
Without 
them 
we 
could 
not 
hold 
together. 
The 
need 
for 
their 
proper 
guidance 
is 
manifest 
when 
we 
see 
some 
lady 
setting 
her 
affec­ 
tions 
on 
a 
little 
dog, 
giving 
it 
much 
time, 
care, 
choice 
food, 
etc. 
Some 
of 
the 
wealthy 
set 
their 
affections 
on 
poodle 
dogs, 
bull 
dogs, 
bird 
dogs 
or 
Angora 
cats. 
Some 
make 
pets 
of 
Canary 
birds. 
rabbits. 
white 
mipe, 
ete. 
They 
spend 
upon 
thos" 
pets 
much 
valuable 
time, 
thought 
and 
care 
that 
might 
be 
much 
hetter 
spent 
in 
other 
ways-often 
treating 
them 
as 
if 
they 
[6906] 
May 15, 1916 to themselves, the church, the clergy and society. Asked why this was, he answered, “They would forsake the churches, leave the ministry unsupported, and commit all sorts of excesses, unrestrained by fear of torture.” What a commentary on the moral effects of the ministry’s work! He confided in me the statement that he was a Universalist as well as an Evolutionist and Higher Critic; yet he rebuked me for preaching against eterna] torment! The third case was that of an Episcopal Bishop, who attended a semi-public meeting that I addressed this week on The Overthrow of Satan’s Empire. Before the service, in a conversation that he held with the elder of the class that gave the meeting, he very strongly defended the doctrine of Apostolic Succession and the divine right of the clergy. In this particular lecture the latter doctrine is attacked from many points of view. During the course of the lecture I did not deviate from my usual way of presenting the doctrine of the divine right of the clergy. My remarks on the subject, though delivered very kindly, seemed deeply to cut the bishop. His face became redder than the red in the Stars and Stripes that decorated the stage from which I spoke. The way he squirmed in his chair one would have thought that he was seated on pins. He remained throughout the entire lecture, but did not wait to meet me, I could not but think that we are now judging the kings and princes! By the way, there is ancther matter that I think might be well to bring to your attention, ie., the friends by letter asking the Pilgrims to answer questions. You will recall that some time ago, in view of the fact that they travel on oneday appointments, which scarcely leaves them time properly to do the work at the places they visit, as well as in view of the fact that the dear Lord, mindful of the needs of his dear flock, has through the Correspondence Department at the Tabernacle arranged for the answer of just such questions, you wrote the pilgrims a letter, which you afterwards published in the Tower, asking them to refer the brethren who asked them questions by mail to the page in the SruDins where the subject is treated, or better still, to write their uestions to the Correspondence Department at the Tabernacle, Judging from the number of letters that I receive asking questions, I have concluded that a large number of the friends have either overlooked or forgotten your letter on the subject. Feeling that it is for me to abide by your suggestion contained in the above-mentioned letter, I do not answer these questions, but write to them telling them the condition. This, of course, consumes time for them and me, and is doubtless disappointing to them. Is there not some way in which this matter can be brought to their attention, whereby they can be spared disappointment, as well as save the pilgrims’ time, and receive their answers all the sooner? -I am glad to note their zeal to learn the good Word of God, and would gladly answer their questions if this were in harmony with the Lord’s will; but under the circumstances it is of profit to nobody for them to write to the pilgrims for their information. For this THE WATCH TOWER (159-146) reason I thought it might be well to bring it to your attention, trusting that it may result in larger blessing to all concerned in the matter, The dear Lord has been blessing me richly in many way; both by toward and untoward circumstances. Was very much pleased by the reports of the year’s work of the Society. My prayer to the Lord is that he continue to bless his cause, people and servants, especially yourself among them. Rejoicing that I am privileged to be associated in this the best of fellowship and service with you, and sending you much Christian love, with the assurance of my continued prayers for, and co-operation with you, I remain Your brother and fellow servant, Pau. S. L. JOHNSON. ‘ABRAHAM SAW MY DAY AND WAS GLAD’’ My Dear BrorHer RUSSELL:— Greetings and love in the dear Lord! I take this opportunity of expressing my love for you, and for the service in which you are engaged so faithfully. It was in the year 1908 that I began to read the STupDIES IN THE Scriptures. From that time on I have not failed to find something to encourage, strengthen and uplift even though I have gone through many trials that have appeared more than I could bear, from outward observation. I am continually reading the STupIEs, and the “Old, Old Story,” which their pages forthtell with no uncertain sound, always appears new. I find each time I go through them something I never saw before. Recently I have been going through TaseRNacte Swapows again, and have been particularly struck with the thought that Abraham was justified by faith in Christ. I should be glad, dear brother, if you will explain just how it was possible for this to be. The question has been raised several times here and I have not been satisfied with the answers given at any time. Some have suggested that “If Brother Russell were writing TABERNACLE SHADOWS now he would not put those words in.....” Is this correct.” I have also heard on various occasions, when studying the Volumes, that Brother Russell has left various points without a full explanation in order that we might study for ourselves. I am, dear brother, Yours in the Anointed, EDITOR’S REPLY “Your Father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.’—John 8:56. Abraham knew that God’s promise to bless all the families of the earth was sure to be fulfilled. He saw the day of Christ—the Millennium—and its glorious work by the eye of faith. Similarly he saw the great Messiah the King by the eye of faith; yea, more, by the same eye Abraham s«-~ ‘ho millions of Adam’s race blessed of God by the Messiah, his Seed, during the Millennium. INTERESTING QUESTIONS FOR MATURE BIBLE STUDENTS The Society is sending out to all pilgrim brethren a series of questions respecting the teachings of the Bible. They are not difficult for those who are well informed respecting the divine plan of the ages. The Society wishes, however, to see how clearly and concisely its representatives can answer such queries. The suggestion has come to us that others would like to have copies of these questions and to have the opportunity of presenting their answers. We would be pleased to have the matter so, and will send the questions to any of our subscribers, on request. We believe that the suggestion is especially good in respect to those who are occupying any position of influence or serving amongst the brethren. It does us all good to think, and helps to establish us as respects what we know well and what we do not so clearly know, and thus leads on to a clearer knowledge of the truth and to the graces which, properly, should accompany every step of knowledge. Vor, XXXVIT BROOKLYN, N. Y., JUNE 1, 1916 No. 11 TRAINING OUR AFFECTIONS HEAVENWARD “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.’—Colossians 3:2. In the natural make-up of humanity there is a certain tendency which we all recognize as a sort of mental sacrilege, although we are unable to philosophize upon it or to explain it. So surely as we are men and women we have certain impulses of affection, certain powers that go out toward other creatures, other things; and it is very important that we see where they are tending; otherwise they will lead to idolatry. Just as the little tendrils of a vine will take hold of whatever is within reach, so our affections go out to various earthly objects; and they need to be pruned and trained, just as a vine needs to be. When you desire to have your vine grow a certain way, you turn it in the proper direction, tie it if need be, and see that its tendrils take hold of the proper supports. VARIOUS WORLDLY OBJECTS OF AFFECTION Thus it is with each of us. These affections are proper, they are good; but they need guiding, training. If we did not have these affections, we could not love God. We must have them in order to a proper balance of character. Without them we could not hold together. The need for their proper guidance is manifest when we see some lady setting her affections on a little dog, giving it much time, care, choice food, etc. Some of the wealthy set their affections on poodle dogs, bull dogs, bird dogs or Angora cats. Some make pets of Canary birds, rabbits, white mice, ete. They spend upon those pets much valuable time, thought and care that might be much better spent in other ways—often treating them as if they [5905}

To enhance your experience on our website, we use cookies and similar technologies. Some cookies are essential for the core functionality of our site and cannot be declined. You can choose to accept or decline additional cookies. We want to assure you that none of this data will be sold or used for marketing purposes. You can adjust your preferences at any time by accessing the Privacy Settings from the footer of the page. For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy    Terms of Use    .

Accept Refuse Customize