Kiadás dátuma
1907. 09. 01.
Kötet
28
Szám
17
Az Őrtorony
Views from the Watch Tower
Az eredeti angol nyelvű Őrtorony folyóiratok
../literature/watchtower/1907/17/1907-17-2.html
 
 
ZION'S 
WATCH 
TOWER 
the 
last 
ten 
years, 
it 
will 
claim 
as 
many 
victims 
as 
tuber­ 
culosis. 
On 
every 
side 
there 
is 
abundant 
evidence 
of 
the 
rapid 
increase 
in 
the 
numbers 
of 
deformed, 
defective 
and 
degen­ 
erate 
human 
beings. 
Nervous 
diseases 
and 
stomach 
troubles 
number 
their 
vic- 
tims 
by 
millions, 
and 
very 
nearly 
three·fourths 
of 
the 
popu­ 
lation 
are 
affiicted 
with 
one 
or 
other 
of 
these 
disorder.s. 
It 
is 
an 
acknowledged 
fact 
that 
vice 
and 
crime 
are 
tre­ 
mendously 
on 
the 
increase. 
The 
rapidly 
increasing 
army 
of 
dentists 
testifies 
to 
the 
fact 
that, 
as 
a 
race, 
we 
are 
tending 
toward 
toothlessness.-Exchange. 
THE 
RACE, 
THE 
PRIZE, 
THE 
COURSE 
Undoubtedly 
the 
Apostle 
does 
in 
two 
of 
hi.s 
epililtles 
more 
whether 
the 
Apostle 
had 
in 
his 
mind 
a 
race 
illustration 
or 
or 
less 
clearly 
represent 
the 
Christian 
as 
running 
a 
race 
to 
not. 
win 
a 
prize. 
But 
as 
is 
usual 
with 
all 
figures 
and 
parables 
When 
the 
Apostle 
exhorts, 
"Having 
done 
all, 
standI" 
there 
seems 
to 
be 
raom 
for 
slightly 
divergent 
views 
of 
his 
it 
implies 
that 
the 
race 
has 
been 
run, 
the 
acceptable 
mark 
meaning, 
or 
rather 
of 
how 
to 
apply 
hi.s 
figure 
of 
speech 
of 
character 
attained 
before 
death. 
And 
is 
it 
not 
thus 
with 
to 
the 
recognized 
facts. 
Let 
us 
be 
glad 
that 
the 
facts 
are 
all 
the 
"overcamers'" 
Did 
we 
not 
begin 
our 
Christian 
ex­ 
generally 
very 
clearly 
seen. 
This 
is 
the 
important 
matter 
perience 
with 
a 
mere 
duty-love 
toward 
God 
and 
the 
breth­ 
anyway. 
ren' 
Did 
we 
not 
"go 
on 
unto 
perfection' 
'-progressing 
to- 
Shortly 
before 
St. 
Paul 
was 
executed 
he 
wrote, 
"I 
have 
ward 
perfect 
love' 
True, 
the 
Apostle 
say.'l, 
"Not 
as 
thou~h 
fought 
a 
good 
fight, 
I 
have 
finished 
my 
course, 
I 
have 
kept 
I 
were 
already 
perfect"-and 
we 
with 
him 
may 
well 
dIS­ 
the 
faith: 
henceforth 
there 
is 
laid 
up 
for 
me 
a 
crown 
O'f 
claim 
actual 
perfection. 
But 
from 
the 
time 
he 
in 
heart 
righteousness." 
(2 
Tim. 
4:7, 
8.) 
If 
this 
was 
written 
six 
reached 
the 
mark 
of 
perfect 
love, 
the 
righteousness 
or 
per­ 
months 
before 
he 
died 
or 
even 
one 
month 
or 
only 
.'lix 
dayl:l, 
fection 
of 
the 
Law 
was 
reckoned 
or 
accounted 
to 
him. 
Hence 
should 
we 
understand 
it 
to 
mean 
that 
the 
day 
before 
he 
he 
adds, 
"Let 
as 
many 
[of 
you] 
as 
be 
perfect 
be 
thus 
wrote 
or 
the 
year 
before 
it 
would 
not 
have 
been 
true' 
We 
minded." 
think 
nat. 
We 
must 
believe 
also, 
that 
when, 
some 
time 
be· 
But 
what 
1 
if 
anything, 
is 
expected 
of 
those 
who 
reach 
fore, 
the 
same 
Apostle 
wrote, 
"I 
am 
in 
a 
strait 
betwixt 
this 
mark 
or 
perfect 
love' 
Ahl 
very 
much 
I 
Only 
after 
two" 
as 
to 
choice 
between 
living 
and 
dying, 
he 
must 
have 
they 
reach 
it 
do 
they 
begin 
to 
tread 
in 
the 
footsteps 
0'£ 
felt 
equally 
sure 
that 
he 
was 
at 
the 
mark 
which 
would 
win 
Jesu.s 
around 
and 
around 
that 
mark 
on 
its 
every 
side. 
Being 
for 
him 
the 
great 
prize. 
actually 
perfect, 
our 
Lord 
needed 
not 
to 
run 
to 
get 
to 
the 
But 
we 
cannot 
assume 
that 
the 
Apostle 
was 
always 
at 
mark, 
for 
he 
was 
actually 
there, 
even 
as 
the 
perfect 
man. 
It 
that 
mark 
which 
would 
win 
for 
him 
the 
prize. 
Surely 
he, 
was 
for 
him 
to 
"stand" 
firmly 
and 
uncompromisingly 
at 
this 
like 
all 
of 
us, 
was 
first 
begotten 
of 
the 
spirit 
and 
subse- 
, 
'mark" 
as 
it 
is 
exhorted 
of 
us 
that 
"after 
having 
done 
quently 
quickened 
of 
the 
spirit. 
Surely 
during 
the 
period 
all" 
we 
should 
stand 
complete 
in 
him. 
This 
standing 
at 
the 
between 
the 
begetting 
and 
the 
quickening 
neither 
he 
nor 
we 
mark 
is 
the 
real 
trial, 
the 
real 
test. 
To 
stand 
i.s 
to 
be 
an 
could 
be 
at 
the" 
mark" 
for 
the 
prize. 
" 
overcomer" 
of 
the 
world, 
the 
:flesh 
and 
the 
devil. 
The 
There 
must, 
therefore, 
be 
recognized 
a 
mark 
or 
stand- 
attainment 
of 
the 
mark 
is 
often 
tedious 
and 
slow, 
but 
it 
ard 
of 
character 
necessary 
to 
the 
overcoml:lrs 
which 
is 
not 
should 
not 
be. 
Since 
it 
is 
merely 
a 
state 
of 
the 
mind, 
it 
pO.'lsessed 
at 
the 
beginning 
of 
the 
course 
nor 
usually 
for 
a 
surely 
might 
be 
attained 
speedily, 
whereas 
from 
lack 
of 
considerable 
time 
thereafter-and 
a 
mark 
or 
character 
de· 
zeal 
many 
are 
long 
years 
about 
it 
llnd 
some 
never 
gain 
it,- 
velopment 
which 
may 
be 
possessed 
a 
considerable 
time 
be· 
are 
never 
quickened, 
and 
will 
never, 
therefore, 
be 
born 
of 
fore 
death. 
Since" 
love 
is 
the 
fulfilling 
of 
the 
law 
of 
God," 
the 
spirit. 
is 
it 
not 
proper 
that 
we 
consider 
it 
to 
be 
the 
mark 
or 
stand· 
It 
1s 
after 
we 
have 
reached 
the 
mark 
of 
perfect 
love 
ara, 
We 
have, 
therefore, 
assumed 
that 
purfect 
love 
is 
the 
that 
we, 
like 
our 
Lord, 
mu.st 
endure 
hardness 
and 
fight 
the 
standard 
of 
our 
acceptance 
with 
God 
to 
life 
eternal: 
and 
good 
fight. 
The 
encouragement 
held 
out 
is 
the 
"far 
more 
that 
to 
die 
before 
attaining 
it 
would 
insure 
our 
losing 
the 
exceeding 
and 
eternal 
weight 
of 
glory" 
promised 
to 
those 
prize, 
as 
death 
at 
any 
time 
after 
reaching 
thi,s 
mark 
would 
who 
display 
special 
valdr'in 
the 
King's 
service. 
insure 
us 
the 
crown 
of 
life. 
When 
the 
Apostle 
says, 
~'A 
man 
is 
not 
crowned 
except 
Perfect 
lave 
includes 
love 
for 
God, 
for 
the 
brethren, 
for 
he 
strive 
lawfully," 
he, 
in 
other 
words, 
is 
saying 
that 
a 
man 
our 
own, 
for 
our 
neighbors 
and 
for 
our 
enemies; 
and 
much 
must 
be 
at 
the 
mark 
of 
perfect 
love 
(the 
fulfilling 
of 
the 
of 
the 
teaching 
of 
the 
Scriptures 
is 
devoted 
to 
the 
outlining 
law) 
ere 
his 
strivings 
would 
be 
meritorious 
or 
acceptable 
in 
of 
this 
perfect 
love 
and 
to 
encouraging 
God's 
people 
to 
God's 
sight. 
. 
. 
'. 
. 
, 
strive 
for 
it; 
for 
it 
represents 
the 
fruits 
of 
the 
spirit 
which 
Another 
pOSSIble 
vle:-v 
of 
the 
race 
IS 
to 
suppase 
a 
hne 
must 
be 
grown 
or 
developed 
as 
the 
fruit;:; 
of 
the 
vine. 
The 
marked 
o~t 
and 
that 
hne 
to 
represent 
perfect 
.love, 
each 
pruning 
of 
the 
branehes 
is 
to 
bring 
this 
fruitage 
to 
perfec. 
r~nner 
bemg 
expect.ed 
to 
keep 
.as 
~lose 
to 
that 
Ime 
as 
pos- 
t' 
f 
'th 
t 
't 
th 
b 
h 
'n 
b 
t 
If 
£ 
0 
th 
'ne 
SIble 
to 
the 
end 
of 
hfe. 
But 
thIS 
VIew 
does 
not 
allow 
for 
or 
lOn, 
or 
WI 
ou 
~ 
e 
ra~c 
WI 
e 
cu 
0 
r 
m 
.e 
VI. 
explain 
St. 
Paul's 
having 
finished 
his 
course 
weeks 
or 
months 
True, 
some 
thmgs 
are 
tmputed 
to 
us 
from 
the 
tIme 
we 
before 
he 
died 
nor 
his 
"strait 
betwixt 
two" 
years 
before 
become 
members 
of 
Christ; 
purity 
is 
imputed, 
but 
not 
the 
t 
h 
a 
t 
. 
' 
, 
fruit 
of 
the 
vine-lave. 
That 
must 
be 
developed. 
Hence 
So 
then 
whatever 
view 
illustrates 
the 
facts 
best 
to 
our 
it 
behooves 
every 
Christian 
to 
run, 
to 
strive, 
to 
attain 
this 
minds, 
let 
us 
enjoy 
it, 
and 
meantime 
rejoice 
that 
the 
facts 
acceptable 
standard 
or 
mark. 
All 
of 
thi'l 
is 
surely 
true, 
are 
so 
clear 
and 
plain 
as 
to 
be 
beyond 
dispute. 
THE 
DYING 
MESSAGE 
OF 
A 
GREAT 
MAN 
Deut. 
6:1-15.-SEPTEMBEB 
15. 
Golden 
Text 
:-" 
Beware 
lest 
thou 
forget 
the 
Lord." 
Deuteronomy 
is 
the 
title 
of 
one 
of 
the 
most 
important 
to 
be 
to 
that 
people 
the 
voice 
of 
Moses 
and 
the 
voice 
of 
books 
of 
the 
Bible. 
From 
it 
evidently 
David 
and 
the 
other 
the 
Lord 
through 
Mo.ses, 
encouraging 
and 
admonishing 
them 
prophet;:; 
of 
the 
Old 
Testament 
drew 
considerable 
of 
their 
and, 
through 
them, 
future 
generations. 
inspiration, 
and 
from 
it 
our 
Lord 
and 
the 
apO'Btles 
freely 
Note 
carefully 
the 
loyalty 
of 
Moses 
to 
the 
Lord. 
He 
quoted. 
It 
may 
be 
said 
to 
be 
a 
grand 
summary 
of 
the 
whole 
boasten 
not 
of 
Israel 
as 
"his 
people," 
as 
we 
frequently 
Law 
of 
God. 
It 
presents 
to 
us 
a 
number 
of 
the 
orations 
hear 
modern 
preachers 
do 
respecting 
their 
congregations- 
of 
that 
great 
man 
of 
God 
and 
leader 
of 
Israel-the 
mediator 
although 
Moses 
indeed 
might 
have 
been 
excusable 
had 
he 
of 
the 
Law 
Covenant, 
Its 
preparation 
may 
have 
been 
a 
used 
such 
language, 
because 
he 
WM 
personally 
the 
mediator, 
gradual 
work 
on 
the 
part 
of 
Moses, 
but 
its 
delivery 
to 
the 
the 
representative 
of 
the 
whole 
nation 
according 
to 
their 
people 
of 
Israel 
wa,s 
apparently 
reserved 
until 
shortly 
be- 
covenant 
with 
the 
Lord 
at 
Sinai. 
Note 
well 
that 
his 
great 
fore 
his 
death, 
and 
about 
the 
time 
the 
Israelites 
were 
ready 
work 
as 
a 
leader 
passes 
comparatively 
unnoticed, 
and 
that 
to 
pMS 
over 
Jordan 
under 
the 
leadership 
of 
Joshua 
to 
take 
his 
exhortations 
to 
Israel 
are 
all 
along 
the 
highest 
con- 
possession 
of 
the 
promised 
land, 
The 
grandeur 
of 
its 
lan- 
ceivable 
lines 
of 
duty 
to'Wards 
God 
ann 
responsibility 
to 
guage 
and 
figures 
of 
speech 
is 
freely 
conceded 
by 
all, 
and 
him 
for 
all 
the 
comfort;:; 
and 
blessings 
of 
the 
past. 
as 
well 
Ilome 
have 
ranked 
its 
orations 
quite 
as 
highly 
as 
those 
of 
as 
for 
all 
the 
hopes 
they 
cherished 
for 
the 
future. 
The 
prepa- 
Demosthenes 
of 
ancient 
times 
and 
of 
Burke, 
the 
more 
mod- 
ration 
and 
delivery 
of 
this 
oration 
to 
Israel 
reminds 
us 
of 
ern. 
The 
evident 
abject 
of 
the 
book 
was 
to 
impress 
upon 
the 
words 
of 
the 
Apostle 
Peter 
in 
connection 
with 
his 
epistle 
the 
Israelites 
the 
glorious 
lessons 
of 
their 
past, 
and 
to 
in- 
when 
he 
say.s, 
"Wherefore 
I 
will 
not 
be 
negligent 
to 
put 
you 
spire 
them 
with 
reverence 
for 
.Tehovah 
their 
God, 
and 
thus 
always 
in 
remembrance 
of 
these 
things, 
though 
you 
know 
[4060] 
(260-261) the last ten years, it will claim as many victims as tuberculosis. On every side there is abundant evidence of the rapid increase in the numbers of deformed, defective and degenerate human beings. Nervous diseases and stomach troubles number their vic ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, Pa, tims by millions, and very nearly three-fourths of the population are afflicted with one or other of these disorders. It is an acknowledged fact that vice and crime are tremendously on the increase. The rapidly increasing army of dentists testifies to the fact that, as a race, we are tending toward toothlessness.—Hachange. THE RACE, THE PRIZE, THE COURSE Undoubtedly the Apostle does in two of his epistles more or less clearly represent the Christian as running a race to win a prize. But as is usual with all figures and parables there seems to be room for slightly divergent views of his meaning, or rather of how to apply his figure of speech to the recognized facts. Let us be glad that the facts are generally very clearly seen. This is the important matter anyway. Shortly before St. Paul was executed he wrote, ‘‘I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.’? (2 Tim. 4:7, 8.) If this was written six months before he died or even one month or only six days, should we understand it to mean that the day before he wrote or the year before it would not have been true? We think not. We must believe also, that when, some time before, the same Apostle wrote, ‘‘I am in a strait betwixt two’’ as to choice between living and dying, he must have felt equally sure that he was at the mark which would win for him the great prize, But we cannot assume that the Apostle was always at that mark which would win for him the prize. Surely he, like all of us, was first begotten of the spirit and subsequently guickened of the spirit. Surely during the period between the begetting and the quickening neither he nor we could be at the ‘‘mark’’ for the prize. There must, therefore, be recognized a mark or standard of character necessary to the overcomeérs which is not possessed at the beginning of the course nor usually for a considerable time thereafter—and a mark or character development which may be possessed a considerable time before death. Since ‘‘love is the fulfilling of the law of God,’’ is it not proper that we consider it to be the mark or standard? We have, therefore, assumed that perfect love is the standard of our acceptance with God to life eternal: and that to die before attaining it would insure our losing the prize, as death at any time after reaching this mark would insure us the crown of life. Perfect love includes love for God, for the brethren, for our own, for our neighbors and for our enemies; and much of the teaching of the Scriptures is devoted to the outlining of this perfect love and to encouraging God’s people to strive for it; for it represents the fruits of the spirit which must be grown or developed as the fruits of the vine. The pruning of the branehes is to bring this fruitage to perfection, for without it the branch will be cut off from the vine. True, some things are imputed to us from the time we become members of Christ; purity is imputed, but not the fruit of the vine—love. That must be developed. Hence it behooves every Christian to run, to strive, to attain this acceptable standard or mark. All of this is surely true, whether the Apostle had in his mind a race illustration or not. When the Apostle exhorts, ‘‘Having done all, stand!’’ it implies that the race has been run, the acceptable mark of character attained before death. And is it not thus with ali the ‘‘overcomers’’? Did we not begin our Christian experience with a mere duty-love toward God and the brethren? Did we not ‘‘go on unto perfection’’—progressing toward perfect love? True, the Apostle says, ‘‘Not as though I were already perfect’’—and we with him may well disclaim actual perfection. But from the time he in heart reached the mark of perfect love, the righteousness or perfection of the Law was reckoned or accounted to him. Hence he adds, ‘‘Let as many [of you] as be perfect be thus minded.’ But what, if anything, is expected of those who reach this mark of perfect love? Ah! very much! Only after they reach it do they begin to tread in the footsteps of Jesus around and around that mark on its every side. Being actually perfect, our Lord needed not to run to get to the mark, for he was actually there, even as the perfect man. It was for him to ‘‘stand’’ firmly and uncompromisingly at this ‘¢mark’? as it is exhorted of us that ‘‘after having done all’? we should stand complete in him. This standing at the mark is the real trial, the real test. To stand is to be an ‘¢overcomer’’ of the world, the flesh and the devil. The attainment of the mark is often tedious and slow, but it should not be. Since it is merely a state of the mind, it surely might be attained speedily, whereas from lack of zeal many are long years about it and some never gain it,— are never quickened, and will never, therefore, be born of the spirit. It is after we have reached the mark of perfect love that we, like our Lord, must endure hardness and fight the good fight. The encouragement held out is the ‘‘far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory’’ promised to those who display special valor in the King’s service. When the Apostle says, ‘‘A man is not crowned except he strive lawfully,’’ he, in other words, is saying that a man must be at the mark of perfect love (the fulfilling of the law) ere his strivings would be meritorious or acceptable in God’s sight. . Another possible view of the race is to suppose a line marked out and that line to represent perfect love, each Tunner being expected to keep as close to that line as possible to the end of life. But this view does not allow for or explain St. Paul’s having finished his course weeks or months before he died, nor his ‘‘strait betwixt two,’’ years before that. So then whatever view illustrates the facts best to our minds, let us enjoy it, and meantime rejoice that the facts are so clear and plain as to be beyond dispute. THE DYING MESSAGE OF A GREAT MAN Deut. 6:1-15.—sEPTeMprr 15, Golden Text :—‘‘ Beware lest thou forget the Lord.’?’ Deuteronomy is the title of one of the most important books of the Bible. From it evidently David and the other prophets of the Old Testament drew considerable of their inspiration, and from it our Lord and the apostles freely quoted. It may be said to be a grand summary of the whole Law of God. It presents to us a number of the orations of that great man of God and leader of Israel—the mediator of the Law Covenant. Its preparation may have been a gradual work on the part of Moses, but its delivery to the people of Israel was apparently reserved until shortly before his death, and about the time the Israelites were ready to pass over Jordan under the leadership of Joshua to take possession of the promised land. The grandeur of its language and figures of speech is freely conceded by all, and some have ranked its orations quite as highly as those of Demosthenes of ancient times and of Burke, the more modern. The evident object of the book was to impress upon the Israelites the glorious lessons of their past, and to inspire them with reverence for Jehovah their God, and thus to be to that people the voice of Moses and the voice of the Lord through Moses, encouraging and admonishing them and, through them, future generations. Note carefully the loyalty of Moses to the Lord. He boasted not of Israel as ‘‘his people,’’ as we frequently hear modern preachers do respecting their congregations— although Moses indeed might have been excusable had he used such language, because he was personally the mediator, the representative of the whole nation according to their covenant with the Lord at Sinai. Note well that his great work as a leader passes comparatively unnoticed, and that his exhortations to Israel are all along the highest conceivable lines of duty towards God and responsibility to him for all the comforts and blessings of the past, as well as for all the hopes they cherished for the future. The preparation and delivery of this oration to Israel reminds us of the words of the Apostle Peter in connection with his epistle when he says, ‘‘ Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know [4050]

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