Publication date
5/15/17
Volume
38
Number
10
The WatchTower
The commission of a Christian
/../literature/watchtower/1917/10/1917-10-1.html
 
 
 
 
(1.16 
147) 
TilE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
BaOOKI.YIl. 
N. 
Y, 
be 
great 
among 
the 
nations; 
allll 
in 
every 
place 
incense 
ahall 
be 
human 
race. 
And 
what 
glorious 
?ortionl 
Close 
your 
offered 
unto 
my 
name, 
and 
pure 
offering; 
for 
my 
name 
shall 
eyes 
for 
moment 
to 
the 
scenes 
of 
mIsery 
and 
woe, 
degra- 
be 
Weat 
among 
the 
nations, 
saith 
the 
Lord 
of 
Hosts."-Malachi 
dation 
and 
sorrow 
that 
yet 
prevail 
on 
account 
of 
sin, 
and 
I: 
11. 
picture 
before 
your 
mental 
vision 
the 
glory 
of 
the 
perfect 
St. 
,Tohn 
the 
Revelator, 
depicting 
in 
vision 
the 
blessinO's 
earth. 
Not 
stain 
of 
sin 
mars 
the 
harmony 
and 
peace 
of 
that 
will 
come 
to 
mankind, 
says: 
'" 
perfect 
society; 
not 
bitter 
thought, 
not 
an 
unkind 
look 
"And 
saw 
new 
heaven 
and 
nE'W 
earth 
(new 
order 
or 
word; 
love, 
welling 
up 
from 
every 
heart, 
meets 
a. 
of 
things) 
for 
the 
first 
heaven 
and 
the 
first 
earth 
were 
passed 
kindred 
response 
in 
every 
other 
heart, 
and 
benevolence 
away, 
and 
there 
was 
no 
more 
sea 
(t.urbulent, 
anarchistic 
marks 
every 
act. 
There 
sickness 
shall 
be 
no 
more; 
not 
masses). 
And 
I, 
John, 
saw 
the 
holy 
city, 
the 
new 
Jerusalem 
an 
ache 
nor 
pain, 
nor 
any 
evidence 
of 
decay-not 
even 
(the 
church 
glorified), 
coming 
down 
from 
(',-00 
out 
of 
heaven, 
the 
fear 
of 
such 
things. 
Think 
of 
all 
the 
pictures 
of 
com· 
prepared 
as 
bride 
adorned 
for 
hl'r 
husband. 
And 
heard 
parative 
health 
and 
beauty 
of 
human 
form 
and 
feature 
great 
voice 
out 
of 
heaven, 
saying, 
Behold, 
the 
tabernaclE' 
of 
God 
that 
you 
have 
ever 
seen, 
and 
know 
that 
perfect 
humanity 
is 
with 
men, 
and 
he 
will 
dwell 
with 
them, 
and 
they 
shall 
hI' 
hi~ 
will 
be 
of 
still 
surpassing 
loveliness. 
The 
inward 
purity 
people, 
and 
God 
himself 
shall 
be 
with 
them 
and 
be 
their 
Goel. 
of 
IDpntal 
and 
moral 
perfeetion 
will 
stamp 
ancI 
glorify 
And 
God 
shall 
wipe 
away 
all 
tears 
from 
their 
eyes; 
and 
there 
every 
radiant 
countena.ce. 
Such 
will 
earth's 
socicty 
be; 
shall 
be 
no 
more 
death, 
neither 
sorrow 
nor 
crying; 
ncither 
shall 
and 
weeping 
bereaved 
ones 
will 
havc 
their 
tears 
all 
wiped 
there 
be 
any 
more 
pain; 
for 
the 
former 
things 
are 
passed 
away. 
away, 
when 
thus 
they 
realize 
the 
resurrection 
work 
com· 
And 
he 
that 
sat 
upon 
the 
throne 
said, 
Behold, 
make 
all 
plete.---.Revelation 
21 
:4." 
things 
new. 
And 
he 
said 
unto 
me, 
Write, 
for 
these 
words 
arc 
It 
must 
be 
evident 
to 
every 
fair·minded 
person 
that 
he 
true 
and 
faithful."-Revelation 
21: 
1·5. 
who 
could 
bring 
forth 
from 
the 
Scriptures 
such 
words 
of 
beauty 
HUMAN 
RACE 
TO 
BE 
RESTORED 
TO 
PERFECTION 
:wd 
sweetness 
as 
set 
forth 
in 
the 
foregoing 
paragrwph 
was 
controlled 
by 
the 
Spirit 
of 
the 
Lord, 
flghting 
for 
righteousness 
As 
sample 
of 
the 
Scriptural 
message 
of 
sweetness 
and 
under 
thc 
banner 
of 
Christ. 
Likewise 
it 
must 
be 
evident 
to 
comfort 
which 
Pastor 
Russell 
taught 
the 
people, 
we 
quote 
all 
fair· 
minded 
persons 
that 
he 
who 
opposes 
such 
message 
from 
Volume 
of 
his 
STUDIES 
IN 
THE 
SCRIPTUllES, 
pages 
191 
and 
the 
man 
who 
gave 
it 
is 
controlled 
by 
the 
spirit 
of 
the 
and 
192: 
adversary 
and 
fighting 
under 
the 
banner 
of 
the 
adversary. 
"The 
Apostle 
Peter, 
our 
Lord, 
and 
all 
the 
prophets 
To 
put 
it 
in 
few 
words, 
Pastor 
Russell 
was 
hated 
by 
the 
since 
the 
world 
began, 
declare 
that 
the 
human 
race 
is 
to 
clergy 
because 
he 
taught 
the 
people 
the 
TRUTH 
and 
disregarded 
bc 
restored 
to 
glorious 
perfection, 
and 
is 
again 
to 
have 
their 
creeds 
and 
human 
traditions. 
IIe 
was 
loved 
by 
the 
com· 
dominion 
over 
earth, 
as 
its 
representative, 
Adam, 
had. 
mon 
people 
because 
he 
brought 
to 
them 
the 
TRUTH, 
message 
"It 
is 
this 
portion 
that 
God 
has 
elected 
to 
give 
to 
the 
of 
hope 
which 
has 
filled 
the 
hearts 
of 
many 
with 
joy. 
JESUS 
THE 
TRUE 
VINE 
This 
article 
was 
reprint 
of 
that 
entitled" 
The 
True 
Vine 
and 
Its 
Fruit," 
published 
in 
issue 
of 
April 
15, 
1905, 
which 
please 
sce.] 
"Branches 
in 
Christ 
the 
Vine! 
() 
union 
blest! 
Nor 
tongue 
nor 
pen 
can 
gh'e 
All 
that 
this 
wondrous 
thought 
doth 
comprehend;­ 
How 
glorious 
in 
Jesus 
thus 
to 
live! 
"His 
fruit 
we 
bear; 
our 
Husbandman 
Doth 
prune 
his 
vine, 
that 
more 
and 
nwre 
our 
life 
May 
yield 
rich 
fruitage 
to 
our 
Father's 
p'raise; 
And 
so 
we 
bow 
submissive 
to 
his 
knife. 
"Our 
life, 
our 
strength, 
our 
joy, 
We 
find 
in 
Christ; 
He 
is 
our 
all 
in 
all; 
His 
pulsing 
life 
through 
all 
our 
bei~ 
flows; 
To 
him 
we're 
bound 
in 
Love's 
erma.stering 
thrall." 
THE 
IMPORTANCE 
OF 
SELF-CONTROL 
r'l'his 
article 
was 
reprint 
of 
that 
entitled 
"The 
Wione 
of 
False 
Doctrine," 
published 
in 
issue 
of 
March 
15, 
1907, 
which 
pleasc 
see.] 
IN 
RE 
MILITARY 
LAW 
Bill 
is 
now 
pending 
before 
Con~ess 
which, 
if 
passed, 
will 
regulate 
selective 
conscri,ption 
for 
Military 
service. 
Many 
nf 
the 
friends 
are 
inquiring 
abO'ut 
this. 
In 
due 
time 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
will 
contain 
statement 
MvisinO' 
the 
friends 
of 
the 
conditions 
upon 
which 
exemption 
may 
granted 
by 
the 
Government 
from 
Military 
service, 
and 
what 
steps 
will 
be 
necessary 
to 
obtain 
such 
exemption. 
Our 
statement 
in 
the 
April 
15th 
issue 
of 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
related 
only 
to 
state 
laws. 
If 
Federal 
la.w 
is 
ena.cted, 
application 
for 
exemption 
should 
be 
made 
according 
to 
its 
provisions. 
We 
have 
confidence 
tha.t 
Congress 
will 
give 
due 
consid· 
eration 
to 
conscientious 
objectors. 
In 
most 
of 
the 
States 
all 
will 
be 
required 
to 
register. 
There 
is 
no 
objection 
to 
this, 
and 
there 
is 
no 
reason 
why 
anyone 
should 
hesitate 
to 
register 
and 
answer 
the 
questions 
as 
required. 
:Let 
us 
be 
law 
abiding. 
VOL. 
XX~VIIT 
HROOKL\7J\, 
N. 
Y., 
MAY 
15, 
1917 
No. 
]() 
mE 
COMMISSION 
OF 
CHRISTIAN 
'''rhe 
Spirit 
of 
the 
Lord 
God 
is 
upon 
mc; 
because 
the 
Lod 
hath 
anointed 
me 
to 
preach 
good 
tidings 
unto 
the 
meek. 
he 
hath 
sent 
me 
to 
bind 
up 
the 
broken-hearted, 
to 
prodaim 
liberty 
to 
the 
captives, 
and 
the 
opening 
of 
the 
prison 
to 
them 
that 
are 
bound; 
to 
proclaim 
the 
acceptable 
year 
of 
the 
Lord, 
and 
the 
day 
of 
vengean('(' 
of 
our 
God; 
to 
comfort 
all 
that 
mourn; 
to 
appoint 
unto 
them 
that 
mourn 
in 
Zion, 
to 
give 
unto 
them 
beauty 
for 
ashes, 
the 
oil 
of 
joy 
for 
mourning, 
the 
garment 
of 
praise 
for 
the 
spirit 
of 
heaviness, 
that 
they 
might 
be 
called 
trees 
of 
righteousness, 
the 
planting 
of 
the 
Lord, 
that 
he 
might 
be 
glorified. 
"-Isa. 
61 
:1·3. 
Every 
man 
who 
is 
elecl:ed 
to 
a.n 
office 
of 
honor 
and 
trust 
in 
thority. 
All 
recognize 
the 
necessity 
thereof. 
The 
Government 
QQvernment 
receives 
commission. 
His 
CO'IIJmission 
is 
very 
jealously 
guards 
such 
officers 
in 
the 
performance 
of 
their 
formal, 
written 
warrant, 
or 
authority, 
granting 
certain 
powers 
respective 
duties, 
and 
by 
law 
provides 
that 
they 
shall 
be 
re­ 
or 
privileges 
and 
authorizin~ 
or 
commanding- 
the 
performance 
lieved 
from 
military 
duty 
in 
order 
that 
they 
may 
uninter­ 
of 
certain 
duties. 
The 
various 
officers, 
legishltive, 
executive 
ruptedly 
perform 
the 
duties 
of 
the 
office 
to 
which 
they 
are 
and 
judicial, 
of 
the 
United 
States 
and 
of 
the 
different 
States, 
elected 
ahd 
commissioned. 
before 
entering 
upon 
the 
duties 
[)f 
their 
respective 
offices, 
re- 
Christian 
is 
one 
who 
has 
received 
from 
.Jehovah 
very 
eeive 
such 
commission, 
or 
warrant 
of 
authority. 
If 
lawyer 
high 
commission. 
He 
hos 
surrendered 
his 
will 
to 
the 
will 
of 
be 
elected 
to 
judicioJ 
office, 
his 
commission, 
or 
warrant 
of 
aU· 
God; 
he 
has 
entered 
into 
covenant, 
or 
contract, 
wi,th 
Jehovah 
thority, 
directs 
that 
he 
shall 
perform 
the 
duties 
of 
thllit 
office. 
by 
sacrifice. 
He 
has 
agreed 
to'renounce 
all 
earthly 
hopes 
and 
Should 
he 
i",nore 
these 
duties 
or 
fnil 
to 
perform 
thf'm. 
and 
prospects 
to 
follow 
in 
the 
footsteps 
of 
Jesus, 
his 
Redeemer 
(I 
devote 
his 
time 
to 
something 
else, 
he 
would 
be 
regarded 
as 
Peter 
2: 
21), 
and 
faitllfully 
to 
perform 
his 
duties 
and 
obUgs.· 
an 
unfaithful 
officer. 
In 
many 
jurisdictions 
the 
people, 
by 
vote, 
tions 
as 
Christian~bligations 
which 
have 
been 
placed 
upon 
wonM 
recall 
him 
anol 
dpprivE' 
him 
of 
hill 
commission, 
or 
ou- 
him 
hy 
hi. 
eommh'llion, 
or 
warra.pt 
of 
authority, 
and 
the 
per· 
[fH)!l2] 
(136 147) be great among the nations; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering; for my name shalt be preat among the nations, saith the Lord of Hosts.”—-Malachi St. John the Revelator, depicting in vision the blessings that will come to mankind, says: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth (new order of things) ; for the firat heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea (turbulent, anarchistic masses). And I, John, saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem (the church glorified), coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as 2 bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall he his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying; neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write, for these words are true and faithful.”’—Revelation 21:1-5, HUMAN RACE TO BE RESTORED TO PERFECTION As a sample of the Scriptural message of sweetness and comfort which Pastor Russell taught the people, we quote from Volume I of his Stupres mv THE ScRIPTURES, pages 191 and 192: “The Apostle Peter, our Lord, and all the prophets since the world began, declare that the human race is to be restored to glorious perfection, and is again to have dominion over earth, as its representative, Adam, had. “It is this portion that God has elected to give to the THE WATCH TOWER Baooxityn, N. Y. human race. And what a glorious portion! Close your eyes for a moment to the scenes of misery and woe, degradation and sorrow that yet prevail on account of sin, and picture before your mental vision the glory of the perfect earth. Not a stain of sin mars the harmony and peace of a perfect society; not a bitter thought, not an unkind look or word; love, welling up from every heart, meets a kindred response in every other heart, and benevolence marks every act. There sickness shall be no more; not an ache nor pain, nor any evidence of decay—not even the fear of such things. Think of all the pictures of comparative health and beauty of human form and feature that you have ever seen, and know that perfect humanity will be of still surpassing loveliness. The inward purity of mental and moral perfection will stamp and glorify every radiant countenace. Such will earth’s socicty be; and wi ping bereaved ones will have their tears all wiped away, when thus they realize the resurrection work complete.—Revelation 21:4.” It must be evident to every fair-minded person that he who could bring forth from the Scriptures such words of beauty and sweetness as set forth in the foregoing paragraph was controlled by the Spirit of the Lord, fighting for righteousness under the banner of Christ. Likewise it must be evident to all fair-minded persons that he who opposes such a message and the man who gave it is controlled by the spirit of the adversary and fighting under the banner of the adversary. To put it in a few words, Pastor Russell was hated by the elergy because he taught the people the TRUTH and disregarded their creeds and human traditions. He was loved by the common people because he brought to them the TRUTH, a message of hope which has filled the hearts of many with joy. JESUS THE TRUE VINE This article was a reprint of that entitled ‘‘The True Vine and Its Fruit,’’ published in issue of April 15, 1905, which please see.] “Branches in Christ the Vine! © union blest! Nor tongue nor pen can give AW that this wondrous thought doth comprehend ;— How glorious in Jesus thus to live! “His fruit we bear; our Husbandman Doth prune his vine, that more and more our life May yield rich fruitage to our Father's praise ; And so we bow submissive to his knife. “Our life, our strength, our joy, We find in Christ; He is our all im all; His pulsing life through all our being flows ; Ko him we’re bound in Love’s o’ermastering thrall.” THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-CONTROL {This article was a reprint of that entitled ‘¢The Wine of False Doctrine,’’ published in issue of March 15, 1907, which please see. ] IN RE MILITARY LAW A Bill is now pending before Congress which, if passed, will regulate selective conscription for Military service. Many of the friends are inquiring about this. In due time THE Watch Towrr will contain a statement advising the friends of the conditions upon which exemption may be granted by the Government from Military service, and what steps will be necessary to obtain such exemption, Our statement in the April 15th issue of THE WatcH VoL. XXEVIIT BROOKLYN, N. Y., MAY 15, 1917 Tower related only to State laws. If a Federal law is enacted, application for exemption should be made according to its provisions. We have confidence that Congress will give due consid. eration to conscientious objectors. In most of the States all will be required to register, There is no objection to this, and there is no reason why any one should hesitate to register and answer the questions as required. Let us be law abiding. No. 16 THE COMMISSION OF A CHRISTIAN ‘*The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek. he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be giorified.’?’—Isa. 61:1-3. Every man who is elected to an office of honor and trust in a Government receives a commission. His commission is a formal, written warrant, or authority, granting certain powers or privileges and authorizing or commanding the performance of certain duties. The various officers, legislative, executive and judicial, of the United States and of the different States, before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, receive such a commission, or warrant of authority. If a lawyer be elected to a judicial office, his commission, or warrant of authority, directs that he shall perform the duties of that office. Should he ignore these duties or fail to perform them. and devote his time to something else, he would be regarded as an unfaithful officer. In many jurisdictions the people, by vote, wonld recall him and deprive him of his commission, or au thority. All recognize the necessity thereof. The Government very jealously guards such officers in the performance of their respective duties, and by law provides that they shall be relieved from military duty in order that they may uninterruptedly perform the duties of the office to which they are elected ahd commissioned. A Christian is one who has received from Jehovah a very high commission. He has surrendered his will to the will of God; he has entered into a covenant, or contract, with Jehovah by sacrifice. He has agreed to‘renounce all earthly hopes and prospects to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, his Redeemer (1 Peter 2:21), and faithfully to perform his duties and obligations as a Christian—obligations which have been placed upon him by his commission, or warrant of authority, and the per [6082]

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