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"THIS
ONE
THING"
THE
SOCIETY
DOES
Brethren
write
us
from
time
to
time
respecting
inventions,
patents,
mining
claims,
etc.,
desiring
that
THE
\V
ATCH
TOWER
BmLE
AND
TRACT
SOCIETY
should
join
with
them
in
the
de
velopment
of
these-kindly
offering
the
principal
portion
of
all
the
profits.
We
greatly
appreciate
these
kind
offers,
the
generous
hearts
behind
them,
and
the
love
for
the
truth
and
its
serv
ice
thus
manifested.
But
we
are
obliged
to
refuse
all
such
offers,
becallse
the
Society
engages
in
no
kind
of
business
for
profit.
It
confines
its
business
transactions
to
financiering
the
pilgrim
work,
publishing
the
SCRIPTURE
STUDIES,
etc.,
and
supplying
them
at
cost
or
below
cost;
publishing
THE
\V
ATCH
TOWER,
publishing
the
BIBLE
STUDENTS
l\IONTHLY,
etc
..
and
in
the
presentation,
and
formerly
in
the
showing,
of
the
PHOTO
DRAMA
OF
CRF..ATION.
The
Society
engages
in
no
kind
of
mining
or
patent
business
or
speculations.
The
money
under
its
control
comes
from
the
Lord's
consecrated
people,
and
often
represents
hard-earned
funds
and
self-sacrificing
economy;
it
is
used
strictly
and
only
for
the
forwarding
of
the
truth
according
to
the
best
judgment
of
the
executive
officers.
This
does
not
mean
any
unwillingness
to
pOllllsel
with
any
of
the
brethren
in
respect
to
their
earthly
affairs
and
inter
ests.
\Ve
are
glad
to
give
such
advice
as
we
may
be
able
to
give
on
every
matter,
temporal
or
spiritual,
involving
the
interests
of
the
Lord's
consecrated
saints.
VOL.
XXXVII
BROOKLYN,
N.
Y.,
SEPTEMBER
15,
HllG
No.
lS
DANGER
IN
SPIRITUAL
PRIDE
Pride
in
any
form
and
in
·anybody
is
a
dangerous
thing.
proud
and
self-saUsfied,
and
so
long
as
in
that
condition
are
In
a
worldly
way
the
proverb
is
well
attested,
"Pride
goeth
not
in
a
particle
of
danger
of
getting
hold
of
the
truth.
Nor
before
destruction
and
a
haughty
spirit
before
a
fall";
and
need
\\oe
suppose
that
the
great
adversary
would
e~pecially
surely
very,
very
few
people
have
anything
of
which
they
give
his
attention
to
them,
for
tlll'y
are
very
safely
under
hiS
might
justly
be
proud!
Some
who
hold
their
heads
high
with
influence.
Was
he
not
the
first
to
manifest
pride
and
to
say
the
pride
of
a
haughty
spirit,
a.s
though
they
were
especially
in
his
heart,
"I
will
a"eend
above
the
sons
of
God
[I
will
created
out
of
some
preferable
"dust
of
the
earth,"
have
really
take
a
higher
position
than
others];
I
will
be
as
the
~Iost.
nothing
to
boast
of
as
to
ancestry.
A
very
few
generations
High"?
Spiritual
pride
was
evidently
Satan's
great
mistake,
oaek
are
generally
sufIicient
for
any
boaster.
which
led
to
his
complete
down
fall.
The
world
is
learning
that
it
is
not
wise
to
boast
of
riches,
Some
who
make
no
pretense
of
belief
in
God
or
in
the
lest
thereby
some
one
ask
how
were
the
riches
aocurr.ulated
Lord
Jesus
Christ
or
in
the
Bible
have
what
might
be
termed
and
by
whom,
and
whether
they
were
hont'stly
obtainN.
Pride
a
sort
of
spiritual
pride.
They
pride
themselves
on
living
a
of
education
is
not
appropriate,
either;
for
education
in
gen-
moral
life,
on
being
aule
to
conduct
themseh'es
honorably
and
eral
~igllifies
the
learning
of
wha
t
other
people
have
found
decently
in
life-never
getting
drunk,
never
doiJJg
some
of
the
out
or
have
written
as
histo,ry.
And
in
our
day
those
who
seriously
immoral
and
perverse
things
that
many
others
do.
would
boast
of
great
education
have
need
of
humility
lest
it
In
pride
and
boastfulne~s
they
will
say:
"'I
feel
myself
just
he
found
that
the
very
thing
they
are
boasting
about
has
as
good
as
any
church
member,
and
I
never
go
to
church."
heen
disproven
by
later
researches.
Scientific
books
of
the
And
by
this
they
mean,
"I
feel
myself
to
be
better
than
any
year
WOO
will
not
pass
muster
today,
nor
their
theories
stand
church
member."
They
are
merely
mixing
modesty
of
state
in
the
light
of
present
knowledge.
So
if
it
were
right
to
ment
with
pride
of
thought
in
the
proportion
which
they
think
boa~t
of
knowledge,
the
boaster
would
need
to
be
very
careful
will
best
influence
the
hearer.
to
kpep
up
to
date.
Press
the
inquiry
a
little
further-as
to
what
good
works
Pride
of
one's
beauty
or
physical
perfection
is
scarcely
to
they
especially
rejoice
in-and
they
will
tell
how
3S
"Odd
be
excused;
for
the
beauty
of
form
and
feature
came
by
Fellows,"
"Masons,"
ete.,
they
sat
up
one
night
with
a
brother
heredity,
and
the
parent
rather
than
the
child
might
have
of
the
Order
who
was
not
very
siek,
who
did
not
need
very
some
rpa~on
for
pride.
Pride
as
respects
clothin",
adorn-
much
attention
and
who
had
a
trained
nurse
anyway
to
take
ment~
is
a
Iso
foolish.
The
maker
of
the
fabrics
or
'the
orna-
care
of
him;
but
they
felt
as
though
they
had
been
doing
a
ments
might
have
some
reason
for
pride
in
the
handiwork,
noble
work
of
charity.
In
general,
their
pride
is
that
they
but
surely
the
wear!'r
has
not!
He
h
merely
appropriating
have
not
violated
the
laws;
that
they
have
lived
decent,
re-
to
himself
the
skill
and
labor
of
others.
spectable
lives.
Is
there
really
anything
in
this
that
is
an
SPIRITUAL
PRIDE
WORST
OF
ALL
occa.sion
for
pride,
fur
special
self-congratulation?
What
man
But
our
theme
is
spiritual
pride!
\Ve
would
divide
it
or
woman
should
not
keep
the
law~
and
should
not
be
ashamed
into
two
class!'s:
first,
the
spiritual
pride
of
the
merely
if
he
failed
to
keep
the
laws-e~pecia\ly
when
we
would
re
nominal
or
professing
Christian;
and
second,
the
spiritual
m!'moor
that
those
laws
were
made-not
for
good
people,
but
.d
for
evil-doers?
pn
;1
atfec.ti!1g
true
Christians.
SPIRITUAL
PRIDE
IN
THE
TRUE
CHURCH
Ie
splntual
pride
of
the
nominal
church-goer
h
not
all
Now
we
eome
down
to
the
mo-;t
seriouR
thing
of
all!
'niP
hypocri~y.
He
sees
spiritual
forms
and
ceremonies,
hears
..
I
pride
which
is
merely
foolisl}
or
spmi-hypopritical
in
th!'
splntua
songs
and
sermons,
and
in
many
instances
is
not
world
and
in
the
nominal
Christian~
becom{'~
a
very
serious
aware
but
that
he
himself
is
a
true
Christian,
as
much
so
matter
indeed
if
it
invades
the
heart
and
the
life
of
the
child
as
any.
Does
he
not
go
regularly
to
meeting?
Is
he
not
a
I
of
God.
But
why
do
we
makl'
such
a
differenep?
\i\Thy
say
regu
ar
contributor,
not
only
to
the
expenses
of
the
house
of
that
spiritual
pride
would
he
so
very
dangerou~
in
one
of
the
worship,
but
in
general
to
the
forwarding
of
the
Lord's
Lord's
saints,
wherea~
it
would
he
little
more
than
foolishnes~
pause-charities,
etc.,
as
these
are
presented
to
him
from
time
in
the
world?
Ah!
the
differenpe
is
that
tlH'~e
are
God's
to
time?
special
representatives
in
the
world,
who
mu~t
her-orne
copies
However
they
ha.ve
lived
during
the
week,
however
they
of
God's
dear
Son
if
they
would
ever
attain
the
glory,
honor
have
dealt
with
the
butcher
and
the
baker,
most
churchgoers
and
immortality
to
which
they
have
been
invited
by
the
Lord.
take
a
pleasur·able
pride
in
joining
some
of
the
showy
groups
\Vhen
they
gave
themselves
entirely
to
tIll'
Lord
and
were
moving
toward
church
buildings.
The
spiritually
proud
justified
from
sin
through
the
imputation
of
the
RC'depmer'"
usually
prefer
the
showiest
and
most
aristocratic
and
high-
sacrifice,
and
wen'
thus
introduC'Cd
into
the
familv
of
Gael
and
toned
temples
of
worship.
At
the
conclusion
of
the
services
beg-otten
of
the
holy
Spirit,
it
meant
a
great
clutJlgp
for
thesp.
they
feel
a
self-satisfaction.
Have
they
not
worshiped
God
T
Old
things
passed
away;
all
things
}}('came
new.
These,
and
Ought
not
all
people
to
worship
him?
How
many
others
have
these
alone,
are
on
trial
during
this
Gospel
age
for
l'tl'rnal
not
done
so!
They
feel
a
spiritual
pride
or
superiority
when
life
or
eternal
death.
And
of
all
their
temptation~
and
beguile
oomparing
themselves
with
non-attendants.
ments,
the
sin
of
spiritual
pride
iR
probably
one
of
the
most
They
went
not
for
spiritual
instruction;
or
even
if
any
dangerous
of
all.
In
proportion
as
it
comes
in,
the
spirit
of
were
given
in
the
places
visited,
they
were
not
themselve.s
in
the
Lord
departs,
and
the
spirituality
of
the
individual
p('ases.
comlition
to
receive
such-not
being-
spirit-bt>gotiRn.
They
had
This
spiritual
sickness,
unlps~
curbed,
would
surely
lead
on
no
.real
hunger.
for
righteousness,
for
truth.
They
had
merely
to
the
seconel
death,
for
"the
Lord
resistpth
the
prOUd
and
satisfied
a
feeling
of
duty.
They
had
in
a
sell,>e
done
penance,
showEth
his
favor
to
the
humble."-.James
4:6.
and
hoped
that
somehow,
sometime
it
would
inure
to
their
The
Apostle
Peter
evidently
had
this
besetting
danger
of
advantage-perhaps
saving
them
from
some
of
the
worst
de-
spiritual
pride
in
mind
when
he
wrote
to
the
church:
"Humhle
grees
of
purgatorial
sufferings-perhaps
even
making
them
yourselves
therefore
under
the
mighty
hand
of
God,
that
he
aepeptable
for
heaven.
Why
should
not
God
feel
gratefUl
to
may
exalt
you
in
due
time."
(I
Peter
5:
6)
"\Vhosoevpr
ex.
them
for
having-
denied
themselves
and
wasted
a
few
of
their
alteth
himself,
shall
he
ahased;
and
he
that
sh~ll
humble
him-
precious
hours
to
go
worship
him?
self
shall
be
exalted,"
said
the
MasU'r.
Although
they
would
not
put
it
so,
they
feel
in
a
measure
ONE
SYMPTOM
OF
THIS
SOUL-SICKNESS
that
God
would
be
very
unjust
if
he
would
pass
by
such
a
How
may
we
know
spiritual
pride?
some
one
m:ty
inquire.
matter
and
not
reward
it
handsomely.
They
feel
spiritually
One
of
the
most
serious
things
in
this
connection
is
that
those
[
5
955]
(258-276)
“THIS ONE THING” THE SOCIETY DOES Brethren write us from time to time respecting inventions, patents, mining claims, etc., desiring that Tue Warcu Tower BIBLE AND Tract Socrery should join with them in the development of these—kindly offering the principal portion of all the profits. We greatly appreciate these kind offers, the generous hearts behind them, and the love for the truth and its service thus manifested. But we are obliged to refuse all such offers, because the Society engages in no kind of business for profit. It confines its business transactions to financiering the pilgrim work, publishing the Scrirrure SrupIes, etc., and supplying them at cost or below cost; publishing THe Watcu Tower, publishing the BrnLe STUDENTS MONTHLY, etc., and in the presentation, and formerly in the showing, of the PHoroDRAMA OF CREATION, The Society engages in no kind of mining or patent business or speculations. The money under its control comes from the Lord’s consecrated people, and often represents hard-earned funds and self-sacrificing economy; it is used strictly and only for the forwarding of the truth according to the best judgment of the executive officers. This does not mean any unwillingness to counsel with any of the brethren in respect to their earthly affairs and interests. We are glad to give such advice as we may be able to give on every matter, temporal or spiritual, involving the interests of the Lord’s consecrated saints. Vout. XXXVII BROOKLYN, N. Y., SEPTEMBER 15, 1916 No. 18 DANGER IN SPIRITUAL PRIDE Pride in any form and in anybody is a dangerous thing. In a worldly way the proverb is well attested, “Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall”; and surely very, very few people have anything of which they might justly be proud! Some who hold their heads high with the pride of a haughty spirit, as though they were especially created out of some preferable “dust of the earth,” have really nothing to boast of as to ancestry. A very few generations back are generally suflicient for any boaster. The world is learning that it is not wise to boast of riches, lest thereby some one ask how were the riches accumulated and by whom, and whether they were honestly obtained. Pride of education is not appropriate, either; for education in general signifies the learning of what other people have found out or have written as history. And in our day those who would boast of great education have need of humility lest it be found that the very thing they are boasting about has been disproven by later researches, Scientific books of the year 1900 will not pass muster today, nor their theories stand in the light of present knowledge. So if it were right to boast of knowledge, the boaster would need to be very careful to keep up to date. Pride of one’s beauty or physical perfection is scarcely to be excused; for the beauty of form and feature came by heredity, and the parent rather than the child might have some reason for pride. Pride as respects clothing, adornments is also foolish. The maker of the fabrics or the ornaments might have some reason for pride in the handiwork, but surely the wearer has not! He is merely appropriating to himself the skill and labor of others. SPIRITUAL PRIDE WORST OF ALL But our theme is spiritual pride! We would divide it into two classes: first, the spiritual pride of the merely nominal or professing Christian; and second, the spiritual pride atfecting true Christians, The spiritual pride of the nominal church-goer is not all hypocrisy. He sees spiritual forms and ceremonies, hears spiritual songs and sermons, and in many instances is not aware but that he himself is a true Christian, as much so as any. Does he not go regularly to meeting? Is he not a regular contributor, not only to the expenses of the house of worship, but in general to the forwarding of the Lord’s cause—charities, etc., as these are presented to him from time to time? However they have lived during the week, however they have dealt with the butcher and the baker, most churchgoers take a pleasurable pride in joining some of the showy groups moving toward church buildings. The spiritually proud usually prefer the showiest and most aristocratic and hightoned temples of worship. At the conclusion of the services they feel a self-satisfaction. Have they not worshiped God? Ought not all people to worship him? How many others have not done so! They feel a spiritual pride or superiority when comparing themselves with non-attendants. They went not for spiritual instruction; or even if any were given in the places visited, they were not themselves in condition to receive such—not being spirit-begotten. They had no real hunger for righteousness, for truth. They had merely satisfied a feeling of duty. They had in a sense done penance, and hoped that somehow, sometime it would inure to their advantage—perhaps saving them from some of the worst degrees of purgatorial sufferings—perhaps even making them acceptable for heaven. Why should not God feel grateful to them for having denied themselves and wasted a few of their precious hours to go worship him? Although they would not put it so, they feel in a measure that God would be very unjust if he would pass by such a matter and not reward it handsomely. They feel spiritually [5955] proud and self-satisfied, and so long as in that condition are not in a particle of danger of getting hold of the truth. Nor need we suppose that the great adversary would especially give his attention to them, for they are very safely under his influence. Was he not the first to manifest pride and to say in his heart, “I will ascend above the sons of God [I will take a higher position than others]; I will be as the Most High”? Spiritual pride was evidently Satan’s great mistake, which led to his complete downfall. Some who make no pretense of belief in God or in the Lord Jesus Christ or in the Bible have what might be termed a sort of spiritual pride. They pride themselves on living a moral life, on being able to conduct themselves honorably and decently in life—never getting drunk, never doing some of the seriously immoral and perverse things that many others do. In pride and boastfulness they will say: “I feel myself just as good as any church member, and I never go to church.” And by this they mean, “I feel myself to be better than any church member.” They are merely mixing modesty of statement with pride of thought in the proportion which they think will best influence the hearer. Press the inquiry a little further—as to what good works they especially rejoice in—and they wil] tell how as “Odd Fellows,” ‘“Masons,” etc., they sat up one night with a brother of the Order who was not very sick, who did not need very much attention and who had a trained nurse anyway to take care of him; but they felt as though they had been doing a noble work of charity. In general, their pride is that they have not violated the laws; that they have lived decent, respectable lives. Is there really anything in this that is an occasion for pride, for special self-congratulation? What man or woman should not keep the laws and should not be ashamed if he failed to keep the laws—especially when we would remember that those laws were made—not for good people, but for evil-doers? SPIRITUAL PRIDE IN THE TRUE CHURCH Now we come down to the most serious thing of all! ‘Fhe pride which is merely foolish or semi-hypocritical in the world and in the nominal Christians becomes a very serious matter indeed if it invades the heart and the life of the child of God. But why do we make such a difference?) Why say that spiritual pride would be so very dangerous in one of the Lord’s saints, whereas it would be little more than foolishness in the world? Ah! the difference is that these are God’s special representatives in the world, who must become copies of God’s dear Son if they would ever attain the glory, honor and immortality to which they have been invited by the Lord. When they gave themselves entirely to the Lord and were justified from sin through the imputation of the Redeemer’s sacrifice, and were thus introduced into the family of God and begotten of the holy Spirit, it meant a great change for these. Old things passed away; all things became new. These, and these alone, are on trial during this Gospel age for eternal life or eternal death. And of all their temptations and bezuilements, the sin of spiritual pride is probably one of the most dangerous of all. In proportion as it comes in, the spirit of the Lord departs, and the spirituality of the individual ceases. This spiritual sickness, unless curbed, would surely lead on to the second death, for “the Lord resisteth the proud and showeth his favor to the humble.”—James 4:6. The Apostle Peter evidently had this besetting danger of spiritual pride in mind when he wrote to the church: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6) “Whosoever exalteth himself, shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted,” said the Master. ONE SYMPTOM OF THIS SOUL-SICKNESS How may we know spiritual pride? some one may inquire. One of the most serious things in this connection is that those (258-276)
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