Publication date
6/15/17
Volume
38
Number
12
The WatchTower
Faith and its reward
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1917/12/1917-12-1.html
 
 
 
(163-119) 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
nlt<.>OIU.YI'l. 
N. 
V 
joice 
to 
see 
that 
he 
was 
faithful 
unto 
death, 
instantaneously 
therefore 
entering 
into 
his 
great 
reward 
as 
promised. 
(Rev. 
14: 
13) 
Let 
us 
continue 
to 
do 
the 
Lordo's 
will 
80 
that 
we 
also 
may 
finish 
our 
course 
with 
joy. 
Yours 
in 
him, 
CAMBEBWELL 
CLA8s.--.Tamaica. 
:MEMORIAL 
TOWER 
PROVED 
GREA'l' 
BLESSDTG 
DEARLY 
BF.LOVED 
BB"'TH&bN:- 
\Ve 
wish 
to 
extend 
to 
you 
our 
love 
and 
best 
wishes, 
and 
to 
assure 
you 
that 
you 
may 
rely 
upon 
our 
coliperation 
in 
the 
Lord's 
work 
in 
this 
city, 
and 
in 
any 
other 
way 
in 
which 
we 
are 
privileged 
to 
serve. 
We 
have 
received 
a 
great 
blessing, 
from 
the 
reading 
of 
the 
Memorial 
TOWER; 
and 
our 
earnest 
desire 
is 
to 
emulate 
our 
dearly 
beloved 
Pastor, 
as 
he 
so 
faithfully 
followed 
in 
the 
footsteps 
of 
our 
dear 
Master. 
We 
resolve 
to 
remember 
you 
daily 
at 
the 
throne 
of 
heavenly 
grace. 
Your 
Brethren 
in 
the 
dear 
Redeemer, 
LOWELL 
ASSOCIATED 
BIBLE 
STUDENTB.-Mass. 
A 
WORD 
OF 
WARNING! 
Sheep 
that 
browse 
in 
every 
pasture. 
mea!>urably 
regardless 
of 
the 
"green 
pastures 
and 
still 
waters" 
of 
truth 
of 
the 
Lord's 
provision, 
are 
in 
constant 
danger 
of 
enemies 
lurking 
about. 
The 
increasing 
namber 
of 
inquiries 
coming 
from 
frightened 
sheep 
of 
this 
charaeter 
prompts 
UB 
to 
sound 
a 
note 
of 
warn­ 
ing 
at 
this 
time. 
Truly, 
"The 
hour 
of 
temptation" 
is 
upon 
us, 
and 
the 
"strong 
delusions" 
abroad 
will 
be 
sure 
to 
sift 
out 
all 
except 
those 
which 
stray 
not 
from 
the 
fold 
of 
the 
Lord. 
VOL. 
XXXVIII 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
JUNE 
15, 
1917 
No. 
12 
FAITH 
AND 
ITS 
REWARD 
"Be 
thou 
faithful 
unto 
death, 
and 
I 
w:ill 
give 
thee 
the 
crown 
of 
life. 
"-Revelationq 
2: 
10. 
At 
this 
momentous 
hour 
the 
truly 
consecrated 
this 
side 
the 
Hil 
await 
the 
completion 
of 
the 
church, 
looking 
eagerly 
for 
evidence 
as 
to 
the 
consu=ation 
of 
their 
hopes. 
All 
these 
faithful 
ones 
fUlly 
realize 
that 
the 
church 
is 
now 
in 
a 
time 
of 
crucial 
trial 
and 
testing. 
And 
many 
such 
are 
asking, 
"How 
long 
will 
it 
be 
until 
the 
trials 
are 
ended, 
and 
we 
may 
see 
our 
Lord 
face 
to 
face 
1" 
Some 
having 
a 
greater 
degree 
of 
imagina­ 
tion 
than 
others 
state 
with 
positiveness 
that 
the 
completion 
of 
the 
church 
in 
glory 
will 
be 
at 
a 
certain 
date, 
which 
they 
proceed 
to 
set 
forth; 
and 
their 
opinion 
thus 
expressed 
is 
~c­ 
cepted 
by 
some 
as 
absolute 
truth. 
Others, 
however, 
reqUIre 
a 
greater 
degree 
of 
evidence, 
and 
confidently 
wait 
upon 
the 
Lord 
to 
give 
the 
desired 
information 
in 
his 
own 
"due 
time." 
What 
is 
the 
cause 
of 
this 
difference 
in 
the 
attitude 
of 
Chris­ 
tian 
brethren 
seeing 
that 
all 
sueh 
are 
consecrated 
unto 
the 
Lord 
1 
We 
answer 
that 
some 
of 
the 
dear 
friends 
have 
a. 
g'reater 
degree 
of 
faith 
or 
.something 
like 
unto 
it 
than 
other-s, 
a.nd 
that 
we 
are 
now 
in 
a 
time 
of 
special 
trial 
of 
faith. 
In 
this 
connection 
we 
are 
reminded 
of 
two 
texts; 
viz., 
"That 
the 
trial 
of 
your 
faith, 
being 
much 
more 
precious 
than 
of 
gold 
that 
perisheth, 
though 
it 
be 
tried 
by 
fire, 
might 
be 
found 
unto 
praise 
and 
honor 
and 
glory 
at 
the 
revelation 
of 
Jesus 
Christ"; 
and 
"according 
to 
your 
faith 
be 
it 
unto 
you."-1 
Peter 
1:7; 
Matthew 
9:29. 
These 
texts 
suggest 
a 
testing 
of 
the 
faith 
of 
all 
Christians, 
and 
imply 
that 
according 
to 
faith 
exercised 
will 
be 
the 
de· 
grees 
of 
reward. 
In 
order 
to 
appreciate 
the 
importance 
of 
this 
test 
upon 
the 
church, 
it 
is 
necessary 
to 
mark 
the 
distinction 
between 
credulity 
and 
faith. 
Some 
Christians 
have 
much 
credulity 
and 
little 
faith, 
while 
others 
have 
little 
credulity 
and 
much 
faith. 
From 
the 
foregoing 
texts 
and 
ma.ny 
others 
it 
is 
evident 
that 
the 
faith 
of 
all 
must 
be 
tried, 
and 
that 
the 
trial 
will 
be 
severe. 
'l'BE 
CHUBOH 
:NEABDTG 
TBE 
BAVD 
01' 
RES2 
'Vhen 
a 
mariner 
is 
nearing 
what 
he 
believes 
to 
be 
the 
en­ 
trance 
of 
a 
llaven 
and 
finds 
the 
fog 
so 
thick 
that 
he 
is 
unable 
to 
tell 
definitely 
his 
location, 
he 
applies 
the 
mariner'll 
test. 
Carefully 
referring 
to 
his 
log, 
charts 
and 
compa-ss, 
he 
deter­ 
mines 
approximately 
his 
IDeation, 
and 
then 
moves 
cautiously 
on, 
keeping 
cool 
and 
sober, 
and 
watching 
with 
great 
care­ 
fulness. 
The 
evidence 
is 
strong 
and 
clear 
that 
the 
church 
is 
now 
nearing 
the 
entrance 
to 
the 
haven 
of 
her 
eternal 
rest; 
but 
having 
no 
positive 
knowledge 
as 
to 
the 
exact 
date, 
we 
might 
properly 
say 
that 
the 
fog 
obscures 
our 
getting 
a 
clear 
view. 
It 
is, 
therefore, 
a 
time 
for 
solemn 
and 
sober 
consideration. 
While 
it· 
does 
not 
please 
the 
Lord 
to 
show 
us 
the 
exact 
day 
of 
the 
church's 
complete 
glorification, 
we 
can 
confidently 
wait 
upon 
him 
and 
joyfully 
sing: 
"I 
know 
not 
what 
awaits 
me; 
God 
kindly 
veils 
mine 
eyes 
j 
And 
o'er 
each 
step 
of 
mine 
onward 
way 
He 
makes 
new 
scenes 
to 
rise. 
"One 
step 
I 
see 
before 
me-­ 
'Tis 
all 
I 
need 
to 
see; 
The 
light 
of 
heaven 
more 
brightly 
shines 
When 
earth's 
illusions 
fiee; 
And 
sweetly 
through 
the 
silence 
comes 
His 
loving 
'Follow 
me.''' 
Having 
referred 
to 
the 
divine 
Word 
and 
helps 
which 
the 
Lord 
has 
provided 
and 
which 
constitute 
our 
log, 
chart 
and 
compass, 
and 
having 
determined 
that 
we 
are 
on 
the 
right 
course, 
then 
we 
are 
encouraged 
to 
move 
on 
with 
reasonable 
speed. 
Relying 
upon 
the 
exceeding 
great 
and 
precious 
prom­ 
ises 
of 
God's 
Word, 
the 
burden 
of 
the 
Christian 
beco~es 
lighter, 
his 
journey 
easier, 
and 
joy 
fills 
his 
heart. 
CREDpLITY 
AND 
FArrB: 
DISTDTGl1ISBED 
As 
we 
have 
said, 
some 
have 
mistaken 
credulity 
for 
faith. 
What 
is 
the 
difference? 
Credulity 
is 
a 
disposition 
to 
believe 
something 
upon 
slight 
or 
no 
legal 
evidence. 
It 
is 
a 
conclusion 
reached 
by 
relying 
upon 
opinion-evidence, 
upon 
supposed 
proof, 
which 
does 
not 
come 
from 
an 
absolutely 
reliable 
source. 
Faith 
is 
a 
positive 
or 
definite 
conclusion 
reached 
by 
rely· 
ing 
upon 
competent 
evidence, 
which 
comes 
from 
a 
reliable 
and 
truthful 
source. 
A 
small 
amount 
of 
information 
suffices 
for 
credulity; 
but 
accurate 
knowledge 
is 
essential 
to 
faith. 
Credulity 
is 
usually 
based 
upon 
the 
mere 
opinion 
of 
a 
finite 
mind. 
Faith 
re­ 
sults 
from 
relianee 
upon 
the 
testimony 
of 
the 
infinite 
God. 
Credulity 
has 
a 
poor 
foundation; 
faith 
has 
a 
sure 
founda­ 
tion. 
The 
stronger 
our 
faith, 
the 
greater 
is 
our 
ability 
to 
withstand 
the 
storms 
which 
beat 
upon 
us 
and 
the 
fiery 
tria18 
through 
which 
we 
must 
pass. 
PROGRESSIVE 
STEPS 
OF 
FAITH 
A 
strong 
faith 
is 
not 
acquired 
instantaneously, 
but 
ill 
a 
matter 
of 
gradual 
growth. 
As 
a 
man 
of 
intelligence 
looks 
about 
him, 
beholding 
the 
wonders 
of 
creation, 
he 
marks 
the 
myriads 
of 
stars, 
the 
moon, 
the 
sun, 
all 
moving 
noiselessly 
in 
their 
orbits 
without 
jar 
or 
disturbance. 
_ 
Then 
he 
reasons, 
"Surely 
there 
is 
a 
great 
First 
Cause, 
who 
created 
these 
count­ 
less 
worlds 
and 
holds 
them 
in 
their 
places!" 
He 
beholds 
the 
wonders 
of 
the 
ea.rthly 
creation, 
Ilfld 
observes 
man, 
the 
high­ 
est 
of 
earth's 
creatures, 
"fearfUlly 
and 
wonderfully 
made." 
The 
reverential 
mind, 
meditatmg 
upon 
the 
beauty 
and 
or­ 
der 
of 
nature, 
says: 
"If 
there 
is 
a 
great 
Creator 
should 
not 
we 
expect 
to 
find 
that 
he 
has 
given 
us 
some 
revelation 
con­ 
cerning 
his 
purposes 
toward 
man 
1" 
He 
finds 
that 
the 
Bible 
claims 
to 
be 
just 
such 
a 
revelation. 
A 
careful 
examination 
reveals 
the 
faet 
that 
''holy 
men 
of 
old 
spake 
as 
they 
were 
moved 
by 
the 
holy 
Spirit" 
of 
God-that 
the 
Bible 
came 
from 
a 
reliable 
source, 
from 
Jehovah, 
through 
his 
spokesman­ 
and 
sets 
forth 
a 
plan 
so 
wonderful 
and 
so 
.beautiful 
that 
nothing 
short 
of 
the 
divine 
mind 
could 
have 
arranged 
it. 
Believing 
it 
to 
be 
GOO's 
Word, 
given 
to 
man 
for 
his 
instruc­ 
tion 
in 
righteousness, 
the 
reasoning 
mind 
who 
examines 
its 
contents 
begins 
to 
have 
faith. 
As 
his 
knowledge 
of 
the 
Word 
and 
his 
appreciation 
thereof 
increase, 
he 
finds 
that 
he 
has 
a 
sure 
foundation 
upon 
which 
to 
build. 
Defining 
faith 
tlle 
Apostle 
says: 
"Faith 
is 
the 
substance 
of 
things 
hoped 
for, 
the 
evidence 
of 
things 
not 
seen." 
(He­ 
·brews 
11: 
I) 
The 
word 
"substance" 
may 
be 
properly 
rendered, 
sta.nding 
under-understanding. 
The 
word 
'evidence" 
means 
proof. 
Then, 
analyzing 
the 
Apostle's 
words, 
we 
would 
say, 
"Faith 
is 
the· 
understanding 
of 
things 
for 
which 
we 
hope, 
and 
the 
proof 
of 
things 
which 
our 
natural 
eyes 
do 
not 
see." 
What 
is 
the 
desire 
of 
all 
sane 
men 
t 
\Ve 
answer, 
To 
live 
everlastiJlgly 
in 
a 
state 
of 
happiness 
and 
peace. 
But 
do 
mankind 
generally 
have 
a 
hope 
of 
such 
a 
life 
and 
such 
con­ 
ditionsf 
They 
do 
not, 
for 
the 
reason 
that 
they 
have 
nothing 
upon 
which 
to 
base 
that 
hope. 
What 
is 
the 
desire 
and 
hope 
of 
the 
Christian 
t 
We 
anSwer, 
To 
have 
life 
everlasting 
on 
the 
divine 
plane, 
associated 
forever 
with 
the 
King 
of 
kings, 
and 
[6098] 
(163-179) joice to see that he was faithful unte death, instantaneously therefore entering into his great reward as promised. (Rev. 14:13) Let us continue to do the Lord's will so that we also may finish our course with joy. Yours in him, CAMBERWELL CrLass.——Jamaica. MEMORIAL TOWER PEOVED GREAT BLESSING Deragty BELOVED BRETHREN :— We wish to extend to you our love and best wishes, and to assure you that you may rely upon our codperation in THE WATCH TOWER Brooxnyn, N. ¥ the Lord’s work in this city, and in any other way in which we are privileged to serve. We have received a great blessing, from the reading of the Memorial ToweR; and our earnest desire is to emulate our dearly beloved Pastor, as he so faithfully followed in the footsteps of our dear Master, We resolve to remember you daily at the throne of heavenly grace, Your Brethren in the dear Redeemer, LoweLL ASSOCIATED BIBLE STUDENTS.—Maas. A WORD OF WARNING! Sheep that browse in every pasture. measurably regardless of the “green pastures and still waters” of truth of the Lord’s provision, are in constant danger of enemies lurking about. The increasing number of inquiries coming from frightened sheep of this character prompts us to sound a note of warning at this time. Truly, “The hour of temptation” is upon us, and the “strong delusions” abroad will be sure to sift out all except those which stray not from the fold of the Lord. Vou. XXXVIII BROOKLYN, N. Y., JUNE 15, 1917 No. 12 FAITH AND ITS REWARD ‘(Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.’’—Revelations 2:10. At this momentous hour the truly consecrated this side the veil await the completion of the church, looking eagerly for evidence as to the consummation of their hopes, All these faithful ones fully realize that the church is now in a time of crucial trial and testing. And many such are asking, “How long will it be until the trials are ended, and we may see our Lord face to face?” Some having a greater degree of imagination than others state with positiveness that the completion of the church in glory will be at a certain date, which they proceed to set forth; and their opinion thus expressed is accepted by some as absolute truth. Others, however, require a greater degree of evidence, and confidently wait upon the Lord to give the desired information in his own “due time.” What is the cause of this difference in the attitude of Christian brethren seeing that all such are consecrated unto the Tord? We answer that some of the dear friends have a greater degree of faith or something like unto it than others, and that we are now in a time of special trial of faith, In this connection we are reminded of two texts; viz., “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried by fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ”; and “according to your faith be it unto you.”—1l Peter 1:7; Matthew 9:29. These texts suggest a testing of the faith of all Christians, and imply that according to faith exercised will be the degrees of reward. In order to appreciate the importance of this test upon the church, it is necessary to mark the distinction between credulity and faith. Some Christians have much credulity and little faith, while others have little credulity and much faith, From the foregoing texts and many others it is evident that the faith of all must be tried, and that the trial will be severe. THE CHURCH NEARING THE HAVEK OF REST When a mariner is nearing what he believes ta be the entrance of a haven and finds the fog so thick that he is unable to tell definitely his location, he applies the mariner’s test. Carefully referring to his log, charts and compass, he determines approximately his location, and then moves cautiously on, keeping cool and sober, and watching with great carefulness. The evidence is strong and clear that the church is now nearing the entrance to the haven of her eterna} rest; but having no positive knowledge as to the exact date, we might properly say that the fog obscures our getting a clear view. It is, therefore, a time for solemn and sober consideration. While it’ does not please the Lord to show us the exact day of the church’s complete glorification, we can confidently wait upon him and joyfully sing: “T know not what awaits me; God kindly veils mine eyes; And o’er each step of mine onward way He makes new scenes to rise. “One step I see before me— ’Tis all I need to see; The light of heaven more brightly shines When earth’s illusions flee; And sweetly through the silence comes His loving ‘Follow me.’ ” Having referred to the divine Word and helps which the Lord has provided and which constitute our log, chart and compass, and having determined that we are on the right course, then we are encouraged to move on with reasonable speed. Relying upon the exceeding great and precious promises of God’s Word, the burden of the Christian becomes lighter, his journey éasier, and joy fills his heart. CREDDLITY AND FAITH DISTINGUISHED As we have said, some have mistaken credulity for faith. What is the difference? Credulity is a disposition to believe something upon slight or no lega) evidence. It is a conclusion reached Ay relying upon opinion-evidence, upon supposed proof, which does not come from an absolutely reliable source. Faith is a positive or definite conclusion reached by relying upon competent evidence, which comes from a reliable and truthful source. A small amount of information suffices for credulity; but accurate knowledge is essential to faith. Credulity is usually based upon the mere opinion of a finite mind, Faith results from reliance upon the testimony of the infinite God. Credulity has a poor foundation; faith has a sure foundation. The stronger our faith, the greater is our ability to withstand the storms which beat upon us and the fiery trials through which we must pass. PROGRESSIVE STEPS OF FAITH A strong faith is not acquired instantaneously, but is a matter of pradual growth. As a man of intelligence looks about him, beholding the wonders of creation, he marks the myriads of stars, the moon, the sun, all moving noiselessly in their orbits without jar or disturbance, Then he reasons, “Surely there is a great First Cause, who created these countless worlds and holds them in their places!” He beholds the wonders of the earthly creation, and observes man, the highest of earth’s creatures, “fearfully and wonderfully made.” The reverential mind, meditating upon the beauty and order of nature, says: “If there is a great Creator should not we expect to find that he has given us some revelation concerning his purposes toward man?” He finds that the Bible claims to be just such a revelation. A careful examination reveals the fact that “holy men of old spake as they were moved by the holy Spirit” of God—that the Bible came from a reliable source, from Jehovah, through his spokesman— and sets forth a plan so wonderful and so beautiful that nothing short of the divine mind could have arranged it. Believing it to be God’s Word, given to man for his inatruction in righteousness, the reasoning mind who examines its contents begins to have faith. As his knowledge of the Word and his appreciation thereof increase, he finds that he has a sure foundation upon which to build. Defining faith the Apostle says: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) The word “substance” may be properly rendered, standing under—understanding. The word ‘evidence” means proof. Then, analyzing the Apostle’s words, we would say, “Paith is the understanding of things for which we hope, and the proof of things which our natural eyes do not see.” What is the desire of al] sane men? We answer, To live everlastingly in a state of happiness and peace. But do mankind generally have a hope of such a life and such conditions? They do not, for the reason that they have nothing upon which to base that hope. What is the desire and hope of the Christian? We answer, To have life everlasting on the divine plane, associated forever with the King of kings, and [6098]

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