Publication date
9/1/17
Volume
38
Number
17
The WatchTower
The bond of perfection
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1917/17/1917-17-1.html
 
 
 
,\l'CUST 
15. 
1917 
THE 
H/ATCH 
TOWF.!? 
DOING 
WHAT 
SHE 
OAN 
DO 
TO 
SPREAD 
THE 
TRUTH 
~ly 
DEAR 
BR~:rHREN:- 
Greetings 
in 
our 
dear 
Redeemer's 
name! 
Ha.ving 
read 
the 
article 
in 
TIlE 
W 
ATOll 
Towt~ 
regarding 
the 
V. 
D. 
M. 
questions, 
I 
feel 
that 
it 
is 
meat 
in 
due 
sea.son 
for 
me. 
I 
re­ 
ceived 
great 
blessing 
from 
it, 
and 
now 
wish 
to 
have 
a 
blank 
mailed 
to 
me 
if 
you 
please, 
so 
that 
I 
may 
know 
just 
where 
I 
stand 
in 
the 
school 
of 
Christ, 
I 
am 
so 
thankful 
to 
the 
heavenly 
Father 
that 
you 
had 
that 
in 
THE 
WQTOH 
TOWER. 
I 
feel 
it 
was 
especially 
for 
me, 
I 
am 
one 
of 
the 
few 
who 
cannot 
go 
,out 
in 
the 
pastoral 
work, 
but 
I 
witness 
to 
my 
neighbors 
and 
friends 
as 
I 
have 
the 
opportunity, 
and 
hand 
out 
tracts 
in 
the 
('ar 
sometimes 
and 
to 
those 
who 
('orne 
to 
my 
door. 
Once 
in 
a 
while 
I 
get 
a 
hearing 
ear, 
auu 
it 
makes 
my 
heart 
rejoice. 
In 
sincere 
Christian 
love, 
Your 
sister 
in 
the 
Lord, 
by 
his 
grace, 
HARRIET 
H. 
MOORE.-]nd. 
ANGELOPHONE 
IMPROVED 
WITH 
USE 
DEAR 
BRFJI'IlREN:- 
\Ye 
reedvl'u 
the 
Angelophone 
on 
the 
8th 
inst. 
We 
aTe 
in­ 
deeu 
thankful 
t!Jat 
Pastor 
Russell's 
voice 
is 
audihle, 
\Ve 
know 
that 
it 
is 
he 
who 
is 
speaking. 
How 
great 
are 
God's 
wisdom 
and 
power! 
Our 
Pastor's 
memory 
will 
live 
through­ 
out 
the 
ages. 
Through 
his 
teachings 
God 
has 
drawn 
us 
closer 
to 
himself. 
\Ve 
would 
have 
written 
sooner, 
but 
were 
waiting 
to 
see 
if 
the 
Angelophone 
would 
improve 
with 
use. 
We 
find 
that 
it 
does. 
We 
hope 
that 
the 
dear 
friends 
who 
have 
been 
so 
badly 
uisappointed 
will 
find 
their 
Angelophones 
improving 
in 
like 
manner. 
We 
very 
much 
regret 
the 
impatience 
shown 
on 
our 
part, 
and 
will 
try 
to 
improve 
along 
that 
line, 
as 
well 
as 
along 
many 
othl'rs. 
Asking 
your 
pardon 
for 
being 
so 
impatient, 
we 
a 
re, 
dear 
friends, 
Yours 
in 
the 
one 
hope, 
---.-Fta. 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
THE 
HARVEST 
WORK 
IN 
JAMAICA 
For 
some 
time 
the 
work 
in 
Jamaica 
has 
been 
hindered 
in 
ings, 
are 
second 
to 
no 
time 
in 
the 
past; 
and 
we 
hope 
that 
all 
a 
measure. 
We 
are 
pleased 
to 
announce 
now 
that 
the 
SOCIETY 
who 
can 
will 
go 
forth 
in 
the 
harvest 
while 
it 
is 
called 
day. 
has 
opened 
a 
depot 
at 
No. 
5 
Duke 
St., 
Kingston; 
and 
from 
Please 
address 
all 
communications 
concerning 
the 
work 
that 
headquarters 
all 
the 
work 
of 
the 
SOCIEJlfY 
will 
be 
trans- 
in 
the 
West 
Indies 
to 
the 
INTERNATIONAL 
BIBLE 
:STUDENTS 
acted 
throughout 
Jamaica 
and 
Porto 
Rico. 
We 
hope 
the 
dear 
ASSN., 
No.5 
Duke 
St., 
Kingston. 
friends 
will 
co-operate 
with 
tIle 
brethren 
there 
in 
spreading 
A 
general 
convention 
is 
being 
arranged 
for 
the 
Island, 
to 
the 
glad 
tidings. 
The 
opportunities 
now 
for 
putting 
the 
be 
held 
at 
Kinsgton, 
October 
28 
to 
31, 
inclusive. 
All 
inquiries 
SCRIPTURE 
STUDIES 
in 
the 
hands 
of 
the 
people, 
and 
for 
doing 
concerning 
the 
('onvention 
and 
arrangements 
should 
be 
ad­ 
the 
volunteer 
work, 
and 
for 
the 
spreading 
of 
the 
glad 
tid- 
dressed 
to 
the 
depot 
above 
named. 
BROTHER 
RUSSELL'S 
A 
book 
containing 
many 
of 
Brother 
Russell's 
choice 
ser­ 
mons 
is 
being 
prepared. 
The 
number 
of 
orders 
from 
the 
SERMONS 
IN 
BOOK 
friends 
will 
determine 
t.he 
size 
of 
t.he 
edition. 
that 
we 
may 
know 
how 
many 
books 
to 
print. 
Order 
now 
Price 
later. 
VOL. 
XXXVIII 
BROOKLY~, 
N. 
Y., 
SEPT'EMBER 
1,1917 
No. 
17 
THE 
BOND 
OF 
PERFECTION 
"And 
besides 
all 
these 
things, 
put 
on 
love; 
it 
is 
the 
bond 
of 
completeness; 
and 
let 
the 
peace 
of 
the 
Anointed 
preside 
in 
your 
hearts, 
for 
which 
you 
were 
also 
called 
in 
one 
body; 
and 
be 
thankful."-Colossians 
3:14,15, 
Diaglott. 
The 
children 
of 
God. 
walking 
,by 
faith, 
rejoice 
in 
the 
hope 
of 
the 
glory 
of 
God, 
and 
all 
along 
their 
journey 
are 
striving 
to 
put 
on 
the 
bond 
of 
perfection, 
which 
is 
love. 
To 
aid 
us 
in 
t.he 
development 
of 
the 
likeness 
of 
our 
Lord 
and 
Master, 
God 
has 
given 
us 
in 
his 
Word 
many 
great 
and 
precious 
promises. 
Love 
is 
an 
inexhaustible 
silbject. 
Only 
when 
we 
have 
at­ 
tained 
to 
that 
perfect 
state 
which 
God 
has 
promised 
as 
a 
re­ 
ward 
to 
those 
who 
love 
him 
supremely 
sha.ll 
we 
be 
able 
to 
love 
as 
we 
ought 
and 
to 
manifest 
it 
as 
we 
desire. 
The 
Apostle 
Paul, 
a 
faithful 
servant 
of 
Jesus 
Christ, 
was 
wholly 
devoted 
to 
the 
Lord 
and 
his 
righteous 
cause; 
and 
jlO!l­ 
sessing 
a 
keen 
~esire 
to 
build 
up 
the 
brethren 
in 
the 
most 
holy 
faith, 
he 
wrote 
much 
to 
them 
concerning 
love. 
SineI' 
he 
tells 
us 
it 
is 
the 
bond 
of 
perfection, 
we 
can 
with 
profit 
meditate 
much 
upon 
the 
subject. 
What 
is 
10veY 
It 
is 
the 
greatest 
and 
grandest 
attribute 
of 
character 
possessed 
by 
any 
creature. 
The 
Scripture 
de­ 
clares, 
"God 
is 
Love." 
This 
does 
not 
mean 
that 
Love 
is 
God, 
but 
that 
in 
Jehovah 
is 
found 
the 
perfect 
expression 
of 
love. 
The 
Scriptures 
show 
that 
there 
is 
a 
distinction 
between 
our 
love 
for 
God 
and 
our 
love 
for 
the 
brethren. 
It 
is 
well 
that 
we 
get 
this 
distinction 
clearly 
in 
our 
minds, 
that 
we 
may 
analy?.c 
the 
subject 
and 
have 
a 
deeper 
appreciation 
thereof. 
J..ove 
for 
God 
may 
be 
defined 
as 
a 
worshipful 
adoration 
of 
Je­ 
hovall, 
a 
fellowship 
of 
spirit, 
and 
a 
joyful 
submission 
to 
his 
holy 
will 
be<Jause 
of 
our 
reverence 
for 
him 
and 
gratitude 
to 
him 
as 
the 
Almighty 
One, 
for 
what 
he 
has 
done 
for 
us. 
WHY 
DO 
WE 
LOVE 
GOD? 
We 
believe 
that 
our 
heavenly 
Father 
is 
pleased 
with 
an 
in­ 
telligent 
worship 
of 
him. 
The 
Apostle 
Peter 
tells 
us 
that 
we 
should 
be 
able 
to 
give 
a 
reason 
for 
the 
hope 
that 
is 
in 
us. 
(1 
Peter 
3: 
15) 
We 
should 
likewise 
be 
able 
to 
give 
the 
reason 
why 
we 
ll>ve 
Jehovah. 
The 
reason 
tha.t 
must 
appeal 
to 
our 
minds 
is 
the 
reason 
which 
we 
find 
in 
the 
Word 
of 
the 
Lord. 
Sweeter 
than 
all 
things 
else 
is 
love. 
The 
human 
race 
has 
had 
only 
a 
taste 
of 
that 
which 
pertains 
to 
life, 
and 
never 
the 
enjoyment 
of 
life 
with 
the 
right 
thereto, 
since 
Adam 
forfeited 
that 
right. 
Anyone 
who 
would 
give 
to 
us 
the 
thin&, 
that 
we 
('hiefly 
desire 
would 
merit 
our 
deepest 
gratitude. 
DeBlring 
life, 
death 
has 
ever 
been 
the 
certain 
portion 
of 
man. 
Desiring 
love, 
how 
few 
have 
found 
its 
satisfaction! 
Behold 
the 
unselfish 
desire 
of 
God 
to 
do 
good 
to 
man, 
to 
ll'ive 
him 
a. 
supreme 
ex­ 
pression 
of 
his 
love 
by 
makin&, 
provislOn 
whereby 
these 
deep 
longings 
may 
yet 
be 
fully 
gratified! 
"God 
so 
loved 
the 
world 
that 
he 
gave 
his 
Only 
Bpgotten 
Son 
that 
whosoever 
believeth 
on 
him 
should 
not 
perish, 
but 
have 
everlasting 
life." 
(John 
3: 
16) 
It 
would 
be 
Impossible 
for 
one 
to 
truly 
love 
God 
with­ 
out 
having 
a 
knowledge' 
of 
him; 
and 
as 
a 
man 
with 
a 
rev­ 
erential 
mind 
increases 
in 
knowledge 
of 
the 
gracious 
and 
lov­ 
ing 
character 
of' 
Jehovah, 
his 
love 
necessarily 
increases. 
WHO 
IS 
GOD? 
Who 
is 
the 
great 
and 
mighty 
One 
who 
has 
taken 
cognizance 
of 
us 
to 
provide 
a 
means 
whereby 
we 
may 
obtain 
lifeY-the 
Giver 
of 
this 
unspeakaBle 
gift 
provided 
for 
all 
his 
obedient 
creatures? 
Answer: 
He 
is 
the 
great 
First 
Cause, 
without 
be­ 
ginning 
and 
without 
ending, 
"from 
everlasting 
to 
everlasting." 
It 
is 
he 
who 
created 
all 
things 
for 
his 
pleasure 
and 
for 
the 
~y 
of 
those 
who 
will 
love 
and 
serve 
him 
faithfully. 
All 
creation 
bespeaks 
his 
justice, 
wisdom, 
love 
and 
power. 
Truly 
did 
David, 
the 
sweet 
musician 
and 
singer 
of 
hrael, 
say 
to 
him: 
"The 
heavens 
relate 
the 
glory 
of 
God, 
and 
the 
expanse 
telleth 
of 
the 
works 
of 
his 
hands; 
day 
unto 
day 
uttereth 
speech, 
and 
night 
unto 
night 
showeth 
knowledge. 
There 
is 
no 
speech; 
there 
are 
no 
words; 
their 
voice 
is 
not 
heard; 
but 
their 
melody 
extendeth 
through 
all 
the 
earth 
and 
to 
the. 
end 
of 
the 
world 
their 
words. 
For 
the 
sun 
hath 
he 
set 
a 
tabernacle 
among 
them."-Psalm 
19:1-5, 
Leeser. 
As 
a 
youthful 
shepherd 
Dayid 
reveled 
in 
the 
visible' 
crea­ 
tion 
of 
God. 
With 
the 
field 
for 
his 
bedchamber, 
with 
probably 
a 
sheepskin 
for 
his 
mattress 
and 
a 
stone 
for 
his 
pillow, 
he 
gazed 
into 
the 
expanse 
above 
him 
with 
the 
naked 
eye 
and 
beheld 
the 
myriads 
of 
sta.rs 
moving 
noiselessly 
through 
space, 
and 
his 
own 
heart 
was 
moved 
to 
adoration 
and 
praise, 
and 
with 
reverential 
mind 
he 
gave 
utterance 
to 
these 
words 
of 
worship 
and 
devo­ 
tion. 
What 
might 
one 
say 
if 
he 
could 
behold 
all 
the 
wonders 
of 
God's 
creation 
Y 
By 
the 
use 
of 
modern 
appliances, 
scientists 
tell 
us 
tha.t 
they 
are 
able 
to 
measure 
the 
dIstance 
to 
the 
SUll, 
and 
even 
to 
the 
Pleiades, 
supposed 
to 
be 
the 
throne 
of 
Jehova.h. 
They 
tell 
us 
that 
millions 
of 
planets-which 
are 
merelr. 
the 
satellites 
of 
~eat 
suns 
and 
which 
have 
their 
own 
satelhtes­ 
have 
been 
discovered 
bv 
the 
use 
of 
such' 
instruments; 
and 
doubtless 
if 
man 
could 
stand 
on 
the 
outer 
rim 
of 
the 
orbit 
of 
the 
farthest 
world 
that 
has 
been 
discovered, 
and 
gaze 
on 
into 
space 
with 
even 
stronger 
instruments, 
millions 
more 
of 
God's 
wonderful 
suns 
with 
their 
retinue 
of 
planets 
would 
appear. 
As 
we 
have 
in 
mind 
the 
visible 
creation 
of 
Jehovah 
and 
('on 
template 
its 
wonders, 
beyond 
all 
that 
man 
can 
comprehend, 
we 
beglll 
to 
have 
a 
deeper 
appreciation 
of 
the 
works 
of 
King 
David, 
when 
he 
said 
on 
another 
occasion, 
"0 
Lord, 
how 
mani- 
[6133] 
Avcust 15, 1917 THE ANGELOPHONE IMPROVED WITH USE Dear BRETHREN :— We received the Angelophone on the 8th inst. We are indeed thankful that Pastor Russell’s voice is audible. We know that it is he who is speaking. How great are CGod’s wisdom and power! Our Pastor’s memory will live throughout the ages. Through his teachings God has drawn us closer to himself. We would have written sconer, but were waiting to see if the Angelophone would improve with use. We find that it does. We hope that the dear friends who have been so badly disappointed will find their Angelophones improving in like manner. We very much regret the impatience shown on our part, and will try to improve along that line, as well as along many others. Asking your pardon for being so impatient, we are, dear friends, Yours in the one hope, ———.— Fla. WATCH TOWER (242-259) DOING WHAT SHE OAN DO TO SPREAD THE TRUTH My Dear BRETHREN :— Greetings in our dear Redeemer’s name: Having read the article in Tue Warcn Towrr regarding the V. D. M. questions, I feel that it is meat in due season for me, I received great blessing from it, and now wish to have a blank mailed to me if you please, so that I may know just where I stand in the school of Christ, I am so thankful to the heavenly Father that you had that in THs WaTon Towers. I feel it was especially for me, I am one of the few who cannot go out in the pastoral work, but I witness to my neighbors and friends as I have the opportunity, and hand out tracts in the car sometimes and to those who come to my door. Once in a while I get a hearing ear, and it makes my heart rejoice. In sincere Christian love, Your sister in the Lord, by his grace, Harggier H. Moore.—Ind. THE HARVEST WORK IN JAMAICA For some time the work in Jamaica has been hindered in a measure. We are pleased to announce now that the SocrETY has opened a depot at No. 5 Duke St., Kingston; and from that headquarters all the work of the Socipry will be transacted throughout Jamaica and Porto Rico. We hope the dear friends will co-operate with the brethren there in spreading the glad tidings. The opportunities now for putting the SckrpTureE STUDIES jin the hands of the people, and for doing the volunteer work, and for the spreading of the glad tid ings, are second to no time in the past; and we hope that all who can will go forth in the harvest while it is called day. Please address all communications concerning the work in the West Indies to the INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS Assn., No. 5 Duke St., Kingston, A general convention is being arranged for the Island, to be held at Kinsgton, October 28 to 31, inclusive. All inquiries concerning the convention and arrangements should be addressed to the depot above named. BROTHER RUSSELL’S A book containing many of Brother Russell’s choice sermons is being prepared. The number of orders from the SERMONS IN BOOK friends will determine the size of the edition. that we may know how many books to print. Order now Price later. Von. XXXVIIT BROOKLYN, N. Y., SEPTEMBER 1, 1917 No. 17 THE BOND OF PERFECTION “And besides all these things, put on love; it is the bond of completeness; and let the peace of the Anointed preside in your hearts, for which you were also called in one body; and be thankful.’ ’—Colossians 3:14, 15, Diaglott. The children of God, walking by faith, rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, and all along their journey are striving to put on the bond of perfection, which is love. To aid us in the development of the likeness of our Lord and Master, God has given us in his Word many great and precious promises, Love is an inexhaustible stbject. Only when we have attained to that perfect state which God has promised as a reward to those who love him supremely shall we be able to love as we ought and to manifest it as we desire. The Apostle Paul, a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, was wholly devoted to the Lord and his righteous cause; and possessing a keen desire to build up the brethren in the most holy faith, he wrote much to them concerning love. Since he tells us it is the bond of perfection, we can with profit meditate much upon the subject. What is love? It is the greatest and grandest attribute of character possessed by any creature. The Scripture declares, “God is Love.” This does not mean that Love is God, but that in Jehovah is found the perfect expression of love. The Scriptures show that there is a distinction between our love for God and our love for the brethren. It is well that we get this distinction clearly in our minds, that we may analyze the subject and have a deeper appreciation thereof. Love for God may be defined as a worshipful adoration of Jehovah, a fellowship of spirit, and a joyful submission to his holy will because of our reverence for him and gratitude to him as the Almighty One, for what he has done for us, WHY DO WE LOVE GOD? We believe that our heavenly Father is pleased with an intelligent worship of him. The Apostle Peter tells us that we should be able to give a reason for the hope that is in us. (1 Peter 3:15) We should likewise be able to give the reason why we love Jehovah. The reason that must appeal to our minds is the reason which we find in the Word of the Lord. Sweeter than all things else is love. The human race has had only a taste of that which pertains to life, and never the enjoyment of life with the right thereto, since Adam forfeited that right. Any one who would give to us the thing that we chiefly desire would merit our deepest gratitude. Desiring life, death has ever been the certain portion of man. Desiring love, how few have found ita satisfaction! Behold the unselfish desire of God to do good to man, to give him a supreme expression of his love by making provision whereby these deep jongings may yet be fully gratified! “God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16) It would be impossible for one to truly love God without having a knowledge’ of him; and as a man with a reverential mind increases in knowledge of the gracious and loving character of* Jehovah, his love necessarily increases. WHO I8 GoD? Who is the great and mighty One who has taken cognizance of us to provide a means whereby we may obtain life 1—the Giver of this unspeakable gift provided for all his obedient creatures? Answer: He is the great First Cause, without beginning and without ending, ‘from everlasting to everlasting.” It is he who created all things for his pleasure and for the joy of those who will love and serve him faithfully. All creation bespeaks his justice, wisdom, love and power. Truly did David, the sweet musician and singer of Israel, say to him: “The heavens relate the glory of God, and the expanse telleth of the works of his hands; day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard; but their melody extendeth through all the earth and to the end of the world their words. For the sun hath he set a tabernacle among them.”—Psalm 19:1-5, Leeser. As a youthful shepherd David reveled in the visible creation of God. With the field for his bedchamber, with probably a sheepskin for his mattress and a stone for his pillow, he gazed into the expanse above him with the naked eye and beheld the myriads of stars moving noiselessly through space, and his own heart was moved to adoration and praise, and with reverential mind he gave utterance to these words of worship and devotion. What might one say if he could behold all the wonders of God’s creation? By the use of modern appliances, scientists tell us that they are able to measure the distance to the sun, and even to the Pleiades, supposed to be the throne of Jehovah, They tell us that millions of planets—which are merely the satellites of great suns and which have their own satellites— have been discovered by the use of such ‘instruments; and doubtless if man could stand on the outer rim of the orbit of the farthest world that has been discovered, and gaze on into space with even stronger instruments, millions more of God’s wonderful suns with their retinue of planets would appear. As we have in mind the visible creation of Jehovah and contemplate its wonders, beyond all that man can comprehend, we begin to have a deeper appreciation of the works of King David, when he said on another occasion, “O Lord, how mani [6133]

This website uses cookies to improve the website and your experience. By continuing to browse this website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. If you require further information or do not wish to accept cookies when using this website, please visit our Privacy Policy    Terms of Use    .