(350-355) that such an experience would not have been at all impossible in a nervous, strained, mental agony. But we note the beautiful simplicity of the statement with which his prayer concluded— “Nevertheless, my Father, not my will, but thy will, be done.” How childlike and beautiful the faith and trust, even amidst strenuous agitation! St. Paul says that he was heard in the thing which he feared. How? God’s answer came by angelic hands. An angel appeared and ministered to him—ministered to his necessity. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Heb. 1:14) ‘We are not informed in what words this heavenly ministry was expressed to the Master in his lowliness and sorrow, but we do know that it must have been with full assurance of the Heavenly Father’s favor and sympathy and love. He was heard in respect. to the things which he feared. He received the assurance that he was well-pleasing to the Father; that he had been faithful to his covenant, and that he would have the resurrection promised. From that moment onward the Master was the calmest of all who had any association with the great events of that night and the following day. Officers, servants, Sanhedrin, priests, Herod and his men of war, Pilate and his soldiers, and the shouting rabble—all were excited, all were distressed. Jesus only was calm, This was because he had the Father’s assurance that all was well hetween them. As this hlessed assurance gave the Master courage, so his followers since have found that, "Tf God he for us, who can be against us?” If we have the peace of God ruling in our hearts, it is beyond all human comprehension. JUDAS THE UNGRATEFUL APOSTATE The world is full of sadly disappointing characters. In many things we all fail. Selfishness, meanness, perversity, THE WATCH TOWER Brooxiyn, N. Y. pride, etc., mark the human family most woefully. But withal, can anyone find anything more reprehensible than the ingrate who would betray his best friend? The world is of one opinion respecting such characters as that of Judas. And although he is a noted example he is by no means an exception; there are many. Some of them live today. But whoever can see the meanness of such a disposition with a reasonably good focus will surely be saved from manifeasting such a character, however mean might be hig disposition. The man who could sell his Master for thirty pieces of silver is justly in contempt with all humanity. Nor was it merely the thirty pieces that influenced the ingrate. Rather it was pride. He had thought to be associated with the Master in an earthly throne. He had set his faith upon this expectation. Now that same Master explained more fully that the throne was not yet in sight; that it belongs to an age to follow this, and is to be given only to those who prove themselves loyal and faithful unto death. In the mind of Judas the matter took not the wisest and best way. Holding the Great Teacher in contempt, the deceived one probably intended that the delivery should be merely a temporary one—a lesson to the Master not to talk that way, not to carry matters too far—an incentive to him, compelling him to exert his power for the resistance of those who sought his life and thus, in exalting himself, make good to his disciples the share in the Kingdom which he had promised, or, failing of this, to wreck the entire project. Alas, the love of money, the love of power puff up and make delirious some who become intoxicated with ambition. How necessary that all the Lord’s followers remember the message, “He that humbleth himself shall be exalted, and he that exalteth himself shall be abased!” “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.”’—Matt. 23:12; 1 Pet, 5:6. NEARING THE GOAL With eyes aflame, with panting breath, they come— The runners—every nerve and muscle tense; Urged forward by a thousand deafening cries. On, on, they rush! When one, close to the goal, For but one moment glances back in pride To note how far he hath outrun the rest. Alas! tripped by a pebble on the course, He stumbles, falls, arises, but too late! Another sweeps ahead with blood-flecked lips And bursting heart! One final, awful strain, With superhuman effort, grand, supreme, He leaps into the air—and falls in death Across the line—a victor, but at what A fearful cost he gave his life, his all! I ponder o’er this tragedy of days When Greece was mistress of the world, and say, Hast not thou, also, entered on a race, My soul, in contest for “a Crown of Life”’— A prize thou canst not win except thine all Thou givest! Then, be wise, and watch and pray. Von, XxX XX I BROOKLYN, N. Y., NOVEMBER 15, 1910 THE PURIFICATION OF THE SONS OF LEVI “Who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? Turn not thine eyes one instant from “the mark,” For fear thou dash thy foot against some small, Well-rounded truth, which in thy pride thon hast O’erlooked, and thus thou stumble, fall; and though Thou shouldst arise, ’twould be too late to win! Ah, then, consider thy “forerunner,” Christ; Yea, call to mind the “cloud of witnesses” Around—those noble, faithful ones of old— And strip thyself, my soul, of every weight; Gird up thy loins; make straight paths for thy feet; Breathe deeply of the Spirit’s conquering power; And run with patient, meek, enduring zeal! Almost thou hast attained, my soul! My soul— Shall angels, principalities, or powers, Or height, or depth, or other creature, draw Thee from the goal so near? Ah, yes, so near, The glory-light streams through the parting “vail”! Have faith, press on! One effort, grand, supreme— And thou hast won in death Love’s blood-bought crown! G. W. SerBerr. No. 22 for he is like a refiner’s fire; and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.”—Malachi 3:2, 3. We understand this statement to apply to our Lord’s manifestation at the first advent and throughout the Gospel age. He has been appearing, in the sense of making himself known to those in the rieht condition of heart, that he might assist them in walking in his steps. But he is particularly manifesting himself to them now. The Jews, at his first advent, had been expecting the greater Mediator than Moses, who was the Mediator of the old Law Covenant. Moses said to them, “A Prophet [a great Messiah] shall the Lord your God raise up unto you from amongst your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that every soul which will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:22, 23) So they were expecting this great Messiah, the greater Mediator of the New Covenant. Jehovah had said, “I will send my Messenger, .... even the Messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in.” You are expecting a greater than Moses; but it will mean a severer trial and testing when the greater shall come. The text above does not signify that he will refine literal silver and literal gold, but that he will refine God’s people. These will be relieved of the dross, that they may offer unto the Lord an acceptable sacrifice. These sons of Levi, in the antitypical sense, are the household of faith. And thev have proposed that they will offer sacrifice to the Lord—will “present their bodies living sacrifices.” Such as do thus fully present themselves will be the Priests, and the great Messiah will be the High Priest. They will offer unto the Lord an acceptable sacrifice in righteousness. This work has been in progress throughout this age. And because we are now in the end of the age, tests more crucial are being applied, and will continue to be applied until the Lord shall have completed the development of this spiritual house of Levi, the antitypical Priests and the antitypical great company. The text having reference to the entire appearance of Messiah, beginning at Jordan, his appearance will culminate in his glorious revelation at his second advent. Messiah, the Head of this greater prophet than Moses, was raised up first. It requires the entire Gospel age to raise up the body of this greater Mediator and antitype of Moses. [4708]
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