JUNE 1, 1913 a missionary in China for many years, and am now on furlough, most of which will be spent in Travancore, India. May I ask an interest in your prayers for future guidance? With thanks in anticipation, believe me to remain, Yours very sincerely. .—Travancore, India. REJOICING IN TRIBULATION Dear BROTHER RUSSELL :-— Greeting in His name! ‘Your good and encouraging letter of 17th inst. received and very much appreciated. While we suffered much loss of goods, we did, and still do, and intend always to cling closely to Rom. 8:28. Yes, we BEREAN LESSONS AND We have requested the traveling pilgrims to do what they ean to assist the different classes with whom they meet to a proper appreciation of the great value of Berean study classes and testimony meeting. While we have advised these and described their suecessful operation and method in Scripture Srupizs, Vol. VI., some of the dear friends seem not to fully appreciate them. We believe this is because they have never seen them in proper operation, With good Berean study classes and testimony meetings rightly conducted, the I. B. 8. A. classes will surely be prosperous in spiritual things— whether they have any preaching or not. The Pilgrim Brethren are selected with care, and with the thought that they are well rounded out in Christian experience and along the lines of the Berean studies and in leading testimony meetings. It is our thought, therefore, that if a Pilgrim visits a place where such meetings are not held, he cannot do the friends a better service than to give them a sample of how such meetings should be conducted to be interesting and profitable—along the lines indicated in Vol. VI. In places where such meetings are already in vogue, and are successful and well attended by the interested, sample meetings by the pilgrims would not be so necessary. Nevertheless, we have suggested to them that where they serve a IN ‘In pastures green? Not always; sometimes he Who knoweth best in kindness leadeth me In weary ways, where heavy shadows be. Out of the sunshine, warm and soft and bright, Out of the sunshine into darkest night; I oft would faint with terror and with fright, Only for this—I know he holds my hand; So, whether in the green or desert land, I trust, although I may not understand. THE WATCH TOWER (175-180) were in perfect peace. The flood of water did not reach our second floor by 18 inches; and though our neighbors left their homes and went to the hills, we stayed where we were (upstairs) seven days and eight nights, having plenty to eat and drink (thanks to your advice as to food for time of trouble). We went to bed every night and slept soundly. While some of those of the world noted and commented On our peace, others said it was wicked to take things so calmly and serenely while they (the world) were so worried and so many were losing their goods. Your brother and sister by his grace, Mr. anp Mrs. J. L. Diuur.—Ohio. TESTIMONY MEETINGS class more than one evening, and one of those is the regular testimony meeting evening, it will be well for them to conduet the testimony meeting along the lines of Vol. VI., closing in an hour, and then taking an extra half-hour for a heartto-heart talk along the lines which the time, place and circumstances may suggest to them as most helpful to the elass. We have urged all the dear brethren who do public speaking to confine their discourse to sixty minutes—and surely not to exceed seventy minutes—and that if for any reason they speak longer than this, they will kindly explain to us the particular reasons therefor. This is not done to hamper the brethren, but because uniformly long discourses are too strenuous for the public, and therefore apt to hinder the cause we all wish to serve. Exceptions to this are made in the case of the two or three brethren who are generally used to open a series of mectings; for a special endeavor is then made to bring out an audience and a little extra time may be necessary, and in the case of especially interesting speakers, a long discourse may be wise. The average speaker, however, can accomplish more good in an hour than in two hours. In these and in all suggestions and regulations, dear friends, be assured that our aim, object, motive, is the Lord’s glory and the blessing of his people. PASTURES GREEN ‘‘And by still waters? No, not always so; Ofttimes the heavy tempests round me blow, And o’er my soul the waves and billows go. But when the storm beats loudest, and I ery Aloud for help, the Master standeth by, And whispers to my soul, ‘Lo, it is I!’ Above the tempest wild I hear him say, ‘Beyond this darkness lies the perfect day; In every path of thine I lead the way.’ ’’ Vou. XXXIV BROOKLYN, N. Y., JUNE 15, 1913 “YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH” No. 12 ‘*Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thydoors about thee; hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.’’—Isaiah 26:20, 21. [This article, excepting the paragraphs printed below, was a reprint of article entitled, ‘‘Come, My People,’’ published in issue March 15, 1895, which please see. ] Speaking of the trouble at the end of the Gospel age, our Lord said, ‘‘ Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.’’ (Luke 21:36) Again (vs. 28) He said, ‘‘ When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.’’ ‘‘My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors.’’ How much trouble there will be in our passing into the secret ‘‘chambers,’’ in passing unto the Lord, we do not know. Yet when this trouble comes, there will be such a blessing from the Lord that those who go through it will be able to rejoice in tribulation. Whatever their experiences will he, these will be joyful in that they will have the thought of being forever with the Lord. We can rejoice even as did St. Stephen. RETRIBUTION FOR WILFUL SIN Verse 21 seems to refer to the operation of the principle of justice in God’s judgments upon the world. The heavenly Father stands for justice, and he has appointed that all of his mercy shall be exercised through the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord will be specially identified with the trouble upon the nations, but it will not be so much his work as the Father’s. The day of trouble is called the day of Jehovah. We read that ‘(In that day his feet shall stand upon the Mount of Olives,’’? and that there shall be a great earthquake.—Zech. 14:4. While God has done nothing for mankind during the past six thonsand years, but has rested so far as any work of restitution is concerned, yet in some instances he has interfered to prevent the spread of evil, as in the case of the Amalekites and of the Sodomites. The Seriptures seem to indieate that in the end of this age he will intervene in the affairs of mankind, and execute justice in the time of trouble. In the Scriptures, justice is represented as ealling for retribution. The blood of the murderers’ victims is said to ery for vengeance. Whether the sin has heen literal murder, or has been some injustice which has led to crime or suicide, Justice will require of humanity this much of retribution on this score. Justice demands that the children of Adam shall suffer. The church of Christ is a separate class, taken out from the world and having their sins forgiven. They are upholders of truth and righteousness. But this time of trouble coming upon the world will be the time when justice will get its dues. eo to sneak. Justice will take its ‘‘pound of flesh.’’ Jt will requite for the more or [5255]
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