Publication date
3/1/16
Volume
37
Number
5
The WatchTower
"Ye are Bought With a Price"
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1916/5/1916-5-1.html
 
 
 
(69-70) 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y. 
things 
appearing 
in 
THE 
TOWER 
can 
be 
reread 
and 
studied 
with 
mu~h 
profit. 
\Ve 
are 
Slue, 
beloved 
Brother, 
that 
none 
could 
minister 
such 
things 
except 
he 
had 
the 
experience 
of 
such 
a 
ministry. 
Thanking 
you 
for 
your 
ministry 
of 
love, 
and 
praying 
the 
Father's 
continued 
blessing 
upon 
you 
in 
such 
a 
ministry, 
I 
rrmain 
with 
much 
lov(>, 
Your 
Brother 
hy 
His 
grace, 
W. 
M. 
BATTERSON. 
VOL. 
XXXVII 
BROOKLYN, 
No 
Y., 
.MARCH 
1, 
1016 
Ko.5 
TREASURES 
LAID 
UP 
IN 
HEAVEN 
"Lay 
not 
up 
for 
yourselves 
treasures 
upon 
earth, 
where 
moth 
and 
rust 
doth 
corrupt, 
and 
whcre 
tlvieves 
break 
through 
and 
steal; 
but 
lCl;1J 
up 
for 
yourselves 
treasures 
in 
he<wen, 
where 
neither 
moth 
nor 
rust 
doth 
corrupt, 
(Lnd 
where 
thieves 
do 
not 
break 
through 
nor 
8 
tea 
I; 
for 
where 
your 
treasure 
is 
there 
unll 
your 
hea'1't 
be 
also."-Matthew 
6: 
19-21. 
THE 
TREASURES 
WE 
LAY 
UP 
IN 
HEAVEN 
The 
all-important 
question 
for 
those 
who 
seck 
this 
great 
treasure 
then 
is, 
How 
can 
we 
lay 
up 
treasure 
in 
heaven, 
and 
what 
kind 
of 
treasures 
are 
those 
which 
are 
to 
be 
stored 
up 
in 
the 
heavenly 
depository' 
We 
have 
the 
assurance 
of 
the 
divine 
Word 
that 
everything 
that 
is 
purr, 
holy 
ami 
good 
is 
acceptable 
therr. 
The 
very 
chiefest 
of 
all 
treasures 
is 
the 
personal 
love 
and 
friendship 
of 
God 
and 
of 
Christ. 
Jesus 
breomes 
to 
us 
"the 
fairrst 
among 
ten 
thousand, 
the 
One 
:J,ltogether 
lovely." 
He 
is 
an 
unfailing 
Refuge 
in 
every 
time 
of 
need, 
our 
daily 
joy 
and 
solace 
and 
comfort. 
When 
we 
have 
gained 
this 
treasure, 
we 
have 
gained 
the 
One 
that 
never 
changes, 
One 
whose 
love 
never 
grows 
cold, 
One 
from 
whom 
nothing 
can 
srparate 
us-"neither 
drath," 
which 
to 
his 
loved 
ones 
will 
now 
mean 
our 
blessed 
"change"; 
"nor 
life," 
which 
means 
further 
opportunities 
for 
suffering 
with 
him 
that 
we 
may 
also 
share 
his 
glory, 
and 
which 
permits 
further 
works 
of 
loving 
service 
for 
him 
whom 
we 
love; 
"nor 
angels, 
nor 
principalities, 
nor 
powers," 
for 
these 
cannot 
harm 
us 
who 
are 
sheltered 
in 
Christ; 
"nor 
things 
present, 
nor 
things 
to 
come"; 
for 
"all 
things 
shall 
work 
together 
for 
our 
good," 
and 
in 
every 
ftial 
he 
will 
direct 
the 
issue 
that 
we 
may 
be 
able 
to 
bear 
it; 
"nor 
height" 
of 
temporary 
exaltation; 
"nor 
depth" 
of 
trouble 
or 
sorrow, 
for 
our 
Refuge 
and 
Strength 
is 
ever 
near; 
"nor 
any 
other 
thing" 
in 
creation, 
for 
he 
has 
promised 
to 
"keep 
the 
feet 
of 
his 
saints," 
and 
that 
nothing 
shall 
touch 
them 
as 
new 
creatures 
in 
Christ, 
and 
that 
his 
presence 
shall 
go 
with 
them 
wherever 
they 
may 
be.-Romans 
8 
:35-39; 
1 
Samuel 
2:9; 
Luke 
10:19; 
Exodus 
33:14. 
Nor 
will 
any 
other 
creatures 
either 
in 
heaven 
or 
in 
earth 
receive 
such 
marks 
of 
special 
favor 
as 
are 
and 
ever 
will 
be 
the 
portion 
of 
the 
beloved 
bride 
of 
Christ. 
Although 
the 
whole 
family 
in 
heaven 
and 
in 
earth 
will 
be 
blessed 
through 
him, 
his 
wife, 
co-operating 
with 
him 
in 
his 
work, 
will 
alone 
be 
his 
companion, 
his 
confidante, 
his 
treasure. 
Hear 
the 
Lord's 
ex­ 
hortation 
to 
the 
bride 
class: 
"HearkPn, 
0 
daughter, 
and 
con­ 
sider, 
and 
incline 
thine 
ear. 
Forgpt 
also 
thine 
own 
people 
and 
thy 
father's 
house 
[the 
ambitio"~, 
"~T'rs 
ana 
aims 
of 
the 
chil­ 
dren 
of 
Adam]; 
so 
shall 
the 
King 
[Jehovah's 
Anointed] 
greatly 
desire 
thy 
beanty 
[beauty 
of 
charactc", 
of 
heart-loyalty]; 
for 
he 
is 
thy 
Lord, 
and 
worship 
thou 
him." 
(Psalm 
45: 
10, 
11; 
Canticles 
4) 
How 
unworthy 
we 
feel 
of 
so 
great 
honor 
and 
love 
from 
our 
beloved 
Bridegroom! 
And 
no 
wonder 
I 
When 
we 
look 
at 
all 
our 
imperfections, 
it 
seems 
that 
there 
is 
little 
in 
us 
to 
call 
forth 
such 
love 
and 
admiration. 
To 
think 
that 
the 
angels 
with 
all 
their 
purity 
and 
faithfulness 
should 
have 
been 
passed 
by; 
and 
that 
we 
poor, 
blemished 
mortals, 
should 
be 
chosen 
instead 
I 
Is 
there 
not 
some 
mistake' 
Ah, 
no! 
We 
have 
the 
infal­ 
lible 
words 
of 
inspiration 
to 
assure 
us 
that 
it 
is 
even 
so. 
This 
bride 
of 
Jehovah's 
Son 
is 
to 
reign 
with 
him 
in 
the 
future 
over 
a 
fallen 
race; 
and 
who 
could 
so 
well 
sympathize 
with 
them 
in 
all 
their 
weaknesses 
and 
frailties 
as 
those 
who 
have 
them­ 
selves 
partaken 
of 
the 
same' 
And 
who 
could 
bear 
the 
infi­ 
nite 
heights 
of 
glory 
to 
which 
the 
Lamb's 
wife 
will 
be 
raised, 
with 
such 
humility 
as 
those 
who 
realize 
that 
it 
was 
not 
through 
any 
worthiness 
of 
their 
own 
that 
they 
were 
chosen 
to 
so 
high 
an 
exaltation, 
but 
that 
it 
was 
all 
of 
divine 
grace' 
Clad 
in 
the 
glorious 
robe 
of 
our 
Bridegroom's 
furnishing, 
we 
can 
stand 
all 
complete, 
even 
now, 
in 
the 
eyes 
of 
Jehovah. 
And 
possess­ 
ing 
the 
ornament 
of 
a 
meek 
and 
quiet 
spirit, 
the 
faith 
that 
trusts 
under 
every 
condition, 
the 
love 
that 
delights 
to 
do 
the 
Father's 
will, 
we 
are 
lovely 
in 
the 
eyes 
of 
our 
Beloved, 
our 
Bridegroom 
and 
our 
King. 
Having 
this 
confidence, 
we 
can 
with 
unspeakable 
joy 
and 
gratitude 
lay 
hold 
of 
the 
exceeding 
great 
and 
precious 
prom­ 
ises 
which 
are 
ours 
through 
Christ, 
and 
without 
presumption 
press 
along 
the 
line 
toward 
the 
prize 
of 
our 
high 
calling, 
humbly 
trusting 
that 
he 
who 
has 
begun 
the 
good 
work 
in 
us 
will 
complete 
it 
unto 
the 
day 
of 
our 
glorification 
with 
our 
Bridegroom 
in 
the 
heavenly 
kingdom, 
when 
we 
shall 
be 
pre- 
[5862] 
Pleasure, 
delight, 
joy, 
comfort, 
all 
these 
sentiments 
are 
suggested 
to 
us 
by 
the 
word 
treasure. 
Our 
thoughts, 
our 
hopes, 
our 
plans, 
center 
there. 
Our 
treasure 
is 
the 
inspiration 
of 
our 
lives, 
the 
incentive 
to 
energy, 
perseverance 
and 
endur­ 
ance, 
for 
the 
hope 
which 
it 
enkindles. 
Most 
people 
have 
treas­ 
ures, 
but 
they 
are 
generally 
such 
as 
yield 
slight 
satisfaction, 
because 
they 
are 
transitory 
and 
disappointing. 
How 
many 
have 
built 
their 
hopes 
upon 
earthly 
things 
only 
to 
find 
them 
but 
illusive 
bubble'i 
mocking 
delusions, 
leaving 
the 
heart 
at 
last 
broken, 
crushed 
and 
barren! 
The 
treasures 
of 
wealth, 
fame, 
social 
distinction, 
of 
houses 
and 
lands, 
of 
friends 
and 
home 
and 
family, 
of 
power 
and 
influence, 
are 
subject 
to 
change 
and 
decay! 
And 
if 
the 
heart 
be 
centered 
in 
them, 
they 
are 
liable 
in 
a 
moment 
to 
be 
swept 
away, 
leaving 
the 
life 
desolate 
and 
despairing, 
all 
the 
more 
so 
because 
of 
the 
high 
hopes 
which 
they 
had 
inspired. 
The 
wealth, 
laboriously 
gathered 
and 
husbanded 
with 
great 
care, 
may 
vanish 
in 
a 
night. 
The 
fame 
so 
dearly 
won 
may 
change 
to 
censure 
and 
reproach 
at 
the 
caprice 
of 
fickle 
public 
sentiment. 
The 
social 
prestige 
which 
bade 
you 
to 
the 
upper­ 
most 
seats 
may 
a 
little 
later 
relegate 
you 
to 
the 
lowest 
seat, 
and 
your 
name 
may 
be 
cast 
out 
as 
evil 
and 
you 
be 
ostracized. 
Houses 
and 
lands 
and 
carefully 
hoarded 
belongings 
may 
dis­ 
appear 
under 
the 
sheriff's 
hammer. 
Friends 
long 
trusted 
may 
suddenly 
grow 
cold 
and 
turn 
their 
backs 
upon 
you, 
and 
even 
become 
your 
enemies. 
The 
home 
you 
love 
must 
some 
time 
break 
up, 
the 
family 
be 
scattered 
or 
invaded 
by 
death. 
The 
love 
that 
glows 
upon 
the 
home 
altar 
may 
flicker 
and 
become 
dim 
or 
extinct. 
How 
many 
have 
found 
the 
high 
hopes 
of 
youth 
and 
early 
life 
turn 
to 
ashes 
in 
a 
few 
short 
years 
or 
months! 
THE 
BALM 
OF 
GILEAD 
FOR 
BROKEN 
HEARTS 
To 
all 
of 
these 
the 
Wiard 
of 
the 
Lord 
should 
appeal 
with 
special 
force, 
when 
calling 
them 
to 
come 
to 
him 
with 
their 
burdens 
and 
their 
broken 
hearts. 
"The 
Lord 
is 
nigh 
unto 
them 
that 
are 
of 
a 
broken 
heart, 
and 
saveth 
such 
as 
be 
of 
a 
contrite 
spirit." 
(Psalm 
34: 
18) 
His 
love 
and 
his 
precious 
promises 
come 
like 
the 
sweet 
balm 
of 
Gilead 
to 
those 
who, 
sad 
and 
disappointed 
in 
the 
struggle 
of 
life, 
come 
to 
Christ 
for 
rest 
and 
comfort, 
for 
life 
and 
healing. 
Many 
storm-tossed 
mariners 
upon 
life's 
ocean, 
discouraged 
and 
despairing, 
bereft 
of 
all 
hope, 
have 
found 
that 
these 
very 
experiences 
were 
the 
means 
of 
leading 
them 
to 
the 
haven 
of 
eternal 
refuge. 
There 
alone 
true 
blessing 
and 
safety 
can 
be 
found; 
there 
alone 
is 
the 
real 
treasure, 
far 
exceeding 
the 
choicest 
treasures 
of 
earth. 
We 
think 
of 
the 
expfrience 
of 
a 
dear 
brother 
who 
recently 
found 
the 
Lord, 
when 
his 
earthly 
treasures 
had 
been 
swept 
away 
from 
him, 
all 
the 
savings 
of 
years, 
through 
conditions 
brought 
about 
because 
of 
the 
European 
war. 
He 
had 
lost 
all 
hope 
and 
was 
about 
to 
end 
his 
life 
by 
his 
own 
hand, 
when 
present 
truth 
was 
brought 
to 
his 
attention. 
He 
listened, 
then 
embraced 
it 
with 
joy, 
securing 
the 
SCRIPTURE 
STUDIES. 
After­ 
ward 
he 
stated 
that 
he 
now 
knew 
why 
the 
Lord 
had 
permitted 
him 
to 
meet 
with 
such 
reverses-it 
was 
to 
lead 
him 
to 
himself. 
How 
this 
dear 
one 
can 
now 
rejoice 
in 
his 
sorrowful 
experi­ 
ences 
and 
realize 
that 
he 
has 
gained 
in 
exchange 
the 
"Pearl 
of 
great 
price," 
beside 
which 
all 
other 
treasures 
pale 
into 
in· 
significance! 
Truly, 
in 
this 
our 
day, 
as 
never 
before 
perhaps, 
would 
all 
~ho 
have 
the 
spirit 
of 
.a 
sou!!d 
mind 
to 
any 
degree 
to 
be 
long­ 
mg 
for 
a 
treasure 
wluch 
WIll 
be 
secure, 
a 
rock 
upon 
which 
they 
may 
plant 
their 
feet, 
one 
which 
will 
securely 
hold 
in 
these 
?ays. 
of. 
stress 
and 
uncertaint~, 
when 
men 
feel 
that 
everything 
IS 
shppmg 
from 
beneath 
theIr 
feet, 
when 
nothing 
earthly 
is 
sure, 
when 
fear 
with 
distress 
is 
on 
every 
hand. 
At 
such 
a 
time 
as 
this, 
how 
blest 
are 
we 
who 
are 
safe-sheltered 
in 
the 
cleft 
of 
the 
Rock 
of 
Ages, 
which 
cannot 
be 
shaken 
by 
the 
mightiest 
earthquake 
shock! 
How 
unspeakably 
precious 
is 
the 
treasure 
which 
we 
have 
laid 
up 
in 
heaven; 
for 
we 
know 
our 
treasure 
is 
safe, 
where 
no 
storms 
nor 
billows 
can 
touch 
it. 
(69-70) things appearing in THe Tower can be reread and studied with much profit. We are sure, beloved Brother, that none could minister such things except he had the experience of such a ministry. THE WATCH TOWER Brooxiyn, N. Y. Thanking you for your ministry of love, and praying the Father’s continued blessing upon you in such a ministry, I remain with much love, Your Brother by His grace, W. M. Batrerson. Vou. XXXVII BROOKLYN, N. ¥., MARCH 1, 1916 No. 5 TREASURES LAID UP IN HEAVEN “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasurés in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor 8teal; for where your treasure is there will your heart be also.’—Matthew 6:19-21. Pleasure, delight, joy, comfort, all these sentiments are suggested to us by the word treasure. Our thoughts, our hopes, our plans, center there. Our treasure is the inspiration of our lives, the incentive to energy, perseverance and endurance, for the hope which it enkindles. Most people have treasures, but they are generally such as yield slight satisfaction, because they are transitory and disappointing. How many have built their hopes upon earthly things only to find them but illusive bubbles mocking delusions, leaving the heart at last broken, crushed and barren! The treasures of wealth, fame, social distinction, of houses and lands, of friends and home and family, of power and influence, are subject to change and decay! And if the heart be centered in them, they are liable in a moment to be swept away, leaving the life desolate and despairing, all the more so because of the high hopes which they had inspired. The wealth, laboriously gathered and husbanded with great care, may vanish in a night. The fame so dearly won may change to censure and reproach at the caprice of fickle public sentiment. The social prestige which bade you to the uppermost seats may a little later relegate you to the lowest seat, and your name may be cast out as evil and you be ostracized. Houses and lands and carefully hoarded belongings may disappear under the sheriff’s hammer. Friends long trusted may suddenly grow cold and turn their backs upon you, and even become your enemies. The home you love must some time break up, the family be scattered or invaded by death. The love that glows upon the home altar may flicker and become dim or extinct. How many have found the high hopes of youth and early life turn to ashes in a few short years or months! THE BALM OF GILEAD FOR BROKEN HEARTS To all of these the Word of the Lord should appeal with special force, when calling them to come to him with their burdens and their broken hearts. “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” (Psalm 34:18) His love and his precious promises come like the sweet balm of Gilead to those who, sad and disappointed in the struggle of life, come to Christ for rest and comfort, for life and healing. Many storm-tossed mariners upon life’s ocean, discouraged and despairing, bereft of ali hope, have found that these very experiences were the means of leading them to the haven of eternal refuge. There alone true blessing and safety can be found; there alone is the real treasure, far exceeding the choicest treasures of earth. We think of the experience of a dear brother who recently found the Lord, when his earthly treasures had been swept away from him, all the savings of years, through conditions brought about because of the European war. He had lost all hope and was about to end his life by his own hand, when present truth was brought to his attention. He listened, then embraced it with joy, securing the Scriprure Strupirs. Afterward he stated that he now knew why the Lord had permitted him to meet with such reverses—it was to lead him to himself. How this dear one can now rejoice in his sorrowful experiences and realize that he has gained in exchange the “Pearl of great price,” beside which all other treasures pale into insignificance! Truly, in this our day, as never before perhaps, would all who have the spirit of a sound mind to any degree to be longing for a treasure which will be secure, 2 rock upon which they may plant their feet, one which will securely hold in these days of stress and uncertainty, when men feel that everything is slipping from beneath their feet, when nothing earthly is sure, when fear with distress is on every hand. At such a time as this, how blest are we who are safe-sheltered in the cleft of the Rock of Ages, which cannot be shaken by the mightiest earthquake shock! How unspeakably precious is the treasure which we have laid up in heaven; for we know our treasure is safe, where no storms nor billows can touch it. THE TREASURES WE LAY UP IN HEAVEN The all-important question for those who seck this great treasure then is, How can we Jay up treasure in heaven, and what kind of treasures are those which are to be stored up in the heavenly depository? We have the assurance of the divine Word that everything that is pure, holy and good is acceptable there. The very chiefest of all treasures is the personal] love and friendship of God and of Christ. Jesus becomes to us “the fairest among ten thousand, the One altogether lovely.” He is an unfailing Refuge in every time of need, our daily joy and solace and comfort. When we have gained this treasure, we have gained the One that never changes, One whose Jove never grows cold, One from whom nothing can separate us—‘‘neither death,’ which to his loved ones will now mean our blessed “change”; “nor life,’ which means further opportunities for suffering with him that we may also share his glory, and which permits further works of loving service for him whom we love; “nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,” for these cannot harm us who are sheltered in Christ; “nor things present, nor things to come”; for “all things shall work together for our good,” and in every frial he will direct the issue that we may be able to bear it; “nor height” of temporary exaltation; ‘‘nor depth” of trouble or sorrow, for our Refuge and Strength is ever near; “nor any other thing” in creation, for he has promised to “keep the feet of his saints,” and that nothing shall touch them as new creatures in Christ, and that his presence shall go with them wherever they may be.—Romans 8:35-39; 1 Samuel 2:9; Luke 10:19; Exodus 33:14. Nor will any other creatures either in heaven or in earth receive such marks of special favor as are and ever will be the portion of the beloved bride of Christ. Although the whole family in heaven and in earth will be blessed through him, his wife, co-operating with him in his work, will alone be his companion, his confidante, his treasure. Hear the Lord’s exhortation to the bride class: “Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear. Forget also thine own people and thy father’s house [the ambitiors, :2pes and aims of the children of Adam]; so shall the King [jehovah’s Anointed} greatly desire thy beanty [beauty of character, of heart-loyalty]; for he is thy Lord, and worship thou him.” (Psalm 45:10, 11; Canticles 4) How unworthy we feel of so great honor and love from our beloved Bridegroom! And no wonder! When we look at all our imperfections, it seems that there is little in us to call forth such Jove and admiration. To think that the angels with all their purity and faithfulness should have been passed by; and that we poor, blemished mortals, should be chosen instead! Is there not some mistake? Ah, no! We have the infallible words of inspiration to assure us that it is even so. This bride of Jehovah’s Son is to reign with him in the future over a fallen race; and who could so well sympathize with them in all their weaknesses and frailties as those who have themselves partaken of the same? And who could bear the infinite heights of glory to which the Lamb’s wife will be raised, with such humility as those who realize that it was not through any worthiness of their own that they were chosen to so high an exaltation, but that it was all of divine grace? Clad in the glorious robe of our Bridegroom’s furnishing, we can stand all complete, even now, in the eyes of Jehovah. And possessing the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, the faith that trusts under every condition, the love that delights to do the Father’s will, we are lovely in the eyes of our Beloved, our Bridegroom and our King. Having this confidence, we can with unspeakable joy and gratitude lay hold of the exceeding great and precious promises which are ours through Christ, and without presumption press along the line toward the prize of our high calling, humbly trusting that he who has begun the good work in us will complete it unto the day of our glorification with our Bridegroom in the heavenly kingdom, when we shall be pre [5862]

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