Octoeer 1, 1902 obey God, rather than man. Ought I to obey my husband in this, seeing that Christ is my Head? I feel like a coward in this. OUR REPLY Dear Sister: Your favor of the 22nd is before me. I am glad that you have expressed yourself freely, and am glad to note that you have the spirit of a sound mind on this important subject. Your husband, probably a strong-minded man, has not fully recognized to what extent his attitude toward you on this subject is unreasonable and tyrannical. We are fully in sympathy with the Scriptural injunction that wives should obey their husbands; but this does not, as you have perceived, imply that the wife should obey her husband in matters contrary to the admonitions of the heavenly Bridegroom. No reasonable earthly husband will make such requirements, and we will trust that yours will consider the matter differently ere long. He will be helped, however, in seeing the right way by your kind and loving treatment of him, and your earnest endeavor to please him in all legitimate and proper ways, but by your positiveness, your firm decision and resolute conduct in the matters which appertain to your proper liberties of conscience. I would readily agree to keep my books and papers out of sight during my husband's presence in the home; but I would neither agree not to think nor to read, nor would I agree to absent myself from the meetings of those of like precious faith. I would tell my husband plainly that it is our duty to obey the heavenly Bridegroom first, and that when he says “Forget not the assembling of yourselves together,” I considered it duty to follow that admonition at any cost; that 1 hoped this would appeal to him as a reasonable and correct course; that I had no thought of neglecting legitimate, proper, home obligations and duties toward him, and the other members of my family, but would be as faithful or more faithful, than if under the influence of any other than my present convictions. I would tell him that this much liberty at least was thoroughly understood by me when entering the marriage relationship; that if in his marriage vows he did not intend to accord liberties of conscience he had misled and deceived me, and that in any event I would not submit to that kind of bondage. and that the quicker the matter was decided the better; that under no circumstances or conditions would I move one iota from this position, so long as I considered that my position was according to the ZION’S WATCH TOWER (303-307) will of the Lord; that if this led to any breach between us the fault and the change were certainly on his side, as I had never given away my liberty of conscience and never intended to do so, and would not ask him to violate his; that 1 believed that my view of this would not only stand the test of the Scriptures but also of all men and women possessed of sound common sense. In harmony with this I would assure my husband that the truth, so far from making me less careful of his interests and my obligation as a wife, should make me more caretul; and that I believed that if he took a right view and stand upon the subject, as I was determined to do, it would mean an increase of blessing to us both and to the household. If after a reasonable season of patient, loving remonstrance against such attempts to fetter my conscience there was no change for the better, I would consider that I had been deserted by my husband;—that he had ceased to be a husband and become an oppressor and was not treating me as even a slave might hope to be treated in respect to his or her conscientious convictions. Taking the matter to the Lord I should look for relief-—for the liberty wherewith Christ makes free. Not liberty to remarty, however, indeed even aside from the divine law making marriage perpetual (except upon one condition—Matt. 19:9) such an experience should be sufficient for anybody. I will remember you at the throne of grace, that the Lord will guide in your affairs. ‘“‘THE GREAT COMPANY’’ Question—When and how did the class that fails to keep its consecration get “before the throne’? I understand that this class is to pass through the tribulation and “wash its robes and make them white in the blood of the lamb.” Answer.—This class seems to be located most particularly at the present time—altho there may have been some throughout this age, who, because of failure .oluntarily to suffer, have been forced to suffer either with Christ in tribulation experiences, or to deny him and thus be condemned to the second death. In the tribulation time which will follow the churech’s glorification we anticipate crucial tests upon all the Lord’s true people, and faithfulness then will mean “great tribulation” ending in death, which to these will signify change to spiritual conditions. On the other hand failure to meet the trials devotedly will mean full, intelligent rejection of Christ, and will bring the full penalty of such a course: viz., second death. Vou. NXIIT ALLEGHENY, PA., OCTOBER 15, 1902 No. 20 THOUGH YE BE ESTABLISHED “I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them, and be established in the present truth.’—2 Peter 1:12. What things are here referred to? Assuredly the necessity of giving all diligence to add to our faith virtue [fortitude] ; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance [selfcontrol]; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godJiness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity [love]... .. For if ye do these things ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.—Verses 5-11. To be established in the truth signifies that we have carefully studied and thoroughly proved it by “the law and the testimony” (Isa. 8:20), and that as a consequence we are convinced of its verity, so that our faith is steadfast and immovable we know whom we have believed; we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good; we have partaken of the sweets of fellowship with him. we have partaken of his spirit of meckness, faith and godliness to such an extent as to be led into a joyful realization of the fulness of his grace as manifested in the wonderful divine plan of the ages; and we have been permitted to sce, not only the various features of that plan, but also the necessity and reasonableness of all its various measures in order to the full accomplishment of its glorious outcome in the fulness of the appointed times. This is what it is to be “established in the present truth.” It is indeed a most blessed condition, bringing with it such peace and joy as the world can neither give noi take away, But though we be thus established in the present truth, we need to bear in mind that oui elestion to the gh position to which we are called is not yet made sure. The race for the prize of our high calling is still before us, and we are yet in the enemv’s country, surrounded by many subtle and powerful foes, so that if we would be successful we must “figkt the good fight of faith,’ remembering, too, that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but [God’s truth is] mighty to the pulling down of the strongholds” of error and superstition and of inbred sin; and remembering, also, that “we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world. against spiritual wickedness in high places.”—-2 Cor. 10:4; Eph. 6:12. It is in view of these facts—of the warfare before us, of the subtlety of our temptations and of the weakness of the flesh—that the faithful Apostle Peter urges all diligence in the cultivation of the Christian graces and a continual calling to remembrance of the precious truths we have learned, that we may be strengthened thereby to make our calling and eleetion sure. Faith is a good thing: but faith without virtuous works is dead; and to hold the truth in unrighteousness is worse than never to have received it. The truth is given to us for ils sanetifying effect upon our hearts and lives. Therefore let it have fiee course and be glorified. Let its precious fruits appear moie and more fiom day to day. Add to your faith yirtue—true excellence of character, such excellence of characte: as will mark you as separate from the world and its spirit. In all such the world will see those moral qualities which they must approve, however they may oppose our faith. Add sterling honesty. truth and fair dealing in all business relations; moral integrity, in all social relations; manifestly clean hands and a pure heart, and a bridled tongue that works no ill to a newghbor. All of these the world has a right to expect from those who call themselves Christians; and all of these are indispensable teatures of that virtuous character which must be added to our faith. The clean hands will not dabble in anything that is not virtuous: they will have nothing to do with unrighteous schemes or projects in business. The [8089]
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