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APRIL
I,
1913
THE
WATCH
TOWER
(lID-lIS)
Joseph's
experiences
of
adversity.
On
the
contrary,
we
may
feel
sure
that
the
lessons
of
his
adversity
were
merely
prepara
tions
for
his
subsequent
experiences
as
Pharaoh's
logos,
or
mouthpiece,
throughout
the
kingdom.
We
are
reminded
again
of
the
lesson
of
a
week
ago--<that
Joseph's
experiences
were
typical
of
those
of
Jesus
and
the
church,
his
followers.
The
Bible
assures
us
that
the
graces
of
humility
and
patience
are
both
closely
related
to
love
and
loyalty.
St'.
Paul
reminds
us
of
this
when
he
declares,
••
If
ye
be
without
chastisement,
...
then
are
ye
...
not
sons.
For
what
son
is
he
whom
the
father
chasteneth
not~"
He
reminds
us
that
••
Whom
the
Lord
loveth
he
chasteneth,
and
scourgeth
every
son
whom
he
receiveth.'
'-Hebrews
12
:6-8.
It
was
so
with
Jesus,
and
with
all
the
faithful
apostles,
and
has
been
so
with
all
the
followers
of
Jesus
during
this
Gospel
age.
It
will
undoubtedly
continue
to
be
true
in
the
case
of
all
the
consecrated
church.
It
is
because
the
Lord
Jesus
10vA"
these
noble
characters
that
he
counts
them
worthy
of
trials
and
testings,
disciplines,
etc.
These
are
necessary
to
qualify
them
for
the
positions
of
honor,
glory,
immortality
and
great
responsibility,
to
which
the
Father
has
called
Jesus
and
his
brethren,
the
church.
THE
VALUE
OF
ADVERSITY
.Tacob's
special
love
for
his
son
Joseph
manifested
itself
in
favoritism-the
princely
coat,
or
robe,
etc.
Quite
possibly
he
would
have
dpoiled
his
son.
had
not
divine
providence
inter
fered
and
taken
him
entirely
out
of
this
father's
control.
Many
fathers,
especially
the
rich,
have
made
similar
mistakes.
Hence
the
sons
of
the
rich
are
not
always
a
credit
to
their
fathers.
The
great
heavenly
Father,
however,
makes
no
such
mistakes.
His
people
are
assured
that
trials
and
difficulties
are
marks
rather
of
their
relationship
to
God
and
of
his
loving
care
over
them.
True,
this
providential
care
is
restricted:
"The
Lord
knoweth
them
that
are
his."
His
special
dealings
are
with
his
consecrated
people-those
who
have
entered
into
a
covenant
with
him,
who
have
become
his
servants
and
his
children.
To
these
alone
belongs
the
promise
that"
all
things
shall
work
to
gether
for
good
to
them
that
love
God,
to
those
who
are
the
called
according
to
his
purpose.'
'-Romans
8
:28.
While
this
special
call
applies
peculiarly
to
the
church
of
this
Gospel
age,
there
is
a
sense
in
which
it
was
applicable
to
the
Hebrews,
since
the
time
of
Abraham.
Joseph
belonged
to
this
line
which
was
in
covenant
relationship
with
God.
This
accounts
for
God's
dealing
with
him
rather
than
with
young
men
of
other
families
than
Abraham's.
Incidentally,
it
is
worthy
of
notice
that
the
Israelites
passed
through
many
try
ing
experiences
because
of
being
God's
people.
Many
of
those
experiences
they
might
have
escaped,
had
they
not
come
into
covenant
relationship
with
God.
But
had
they
escaped
the
trials
and
difficulties,
they
would
have
escaped
certain
privileges
and
blessings
also.
And
the
blessings
which
God
gives
always
outweigh
the
adversities
which
prepare
for
them.
JEWISH
AJ)lD
CHRISTIAN
ELECTIONS
This
reminds
us
that
the
Bible
declares
that
the
Jewish
people,
and
subsequently
the
Christians,
are
God's
elect-God's
chosen
people-the
seed
of
Abraham,
natural
and
spiritual.
Both
have
offers
of
God's
blessings
not
accorded
to
other
peoples;
and
in
both
cases
the
trying
experiences
are
to
fit
the
elect
ones
for
the
future
glories
to
which
they
have
been
invited.
Nevertheless,
God
has
also
a
great
blessing
in
store
for
the
non-elect.
During
the
thousand
years
of
Messiah's
reign,
the
elect
church,
the
saintly
only,
will
be
Messiah's
joint-heirs
in
the
great
kingdom
of
God,
which
will
then
take
control
of
the
earth.
Then
also
the
elect
from
the
Hebrews
will
be
used,
in
another
part
of
the
work,
in
conjunction
with
the
Christian
church,
the
one
on
the
heavenly
plane,
the
other
on
the
earthly.
Through
these
two
Israels,
God's
blessings
are
to
be
poured
out
on
all
nations,
kindreds,
peoples
and
tongues.
Although
God
has
not
specially
supervised
the
affairs
of
any
except
these
two
elect
classes,
nevertheless
we
see
that
he
has
permitted,
in
a
general
way.
great
lessons
of
adversity
to
come
to
the
whole
human
family.
As
the
special
trials
and
difficulties
of
the
elect
classes
are
intended
to
work
for
them
special
blessing
and
qualifications
for
their
work
as
God's
agencies,
so
the
general
tribulations
of
the
world
will
give
general
lessons
that
will
be
helpful
to
all
people
by
giving
all
experiences
with
sin
and
death-by
teaching
all
thus
the
ex
ceeding
sinfulness
of
sin.
By
the
by,
when
Messiah's
kingdom
shall
be
established,
when
Satan
shall
be
bound,
when
the
reign
of
righteousness
shall
begin,
when
the
curse
shall
be
lifted,
when
the
blessings
shall
flow
instead-then
the
lessons
of
sorrow
and
tears
and
crying
and
dying
will
all
prove
valuable.
Humanity
will
ap·
preciate
the
great
blessings
of
God
in
the
future
very
largely
by
contrast
with
the
evils
and
sorrows
of
the
present
time.
When,
by
and
by,
they
shall
learn
fully
and
conclusively
that
all
these
sorrows
and
tears
are
the
results
of
violation
of
God's
laws
and
disregard
of
his
injunctions,
the
lesson
undoubtedly
will
be
one
that
will
never
be
forgotten.
Wherever
the
plowshare
of
trouble
has
gone,
it
has
served
to
break
up
the
fallow
ground
and
to
make
ready
for
the
seed
of
divine
truth
and
grace.
The
next
age,
under
Messiah's
beneficient
rule,
will
be
the
time
of
sowing
the
seeds
of
knowl
edge
of
God
and
appreciation
of
his
glorious
character
and
plan.
The
results
will
undoubtedly
be
glorious,
as
the
Scrip
tures
declare.
Eventually
all
will
participate
in
these
bless
ings
everlastingly,
except
such
as
intelligently
refuse
them,
choosing
sin
rather
than
righteousness,
in
that
day
when
the
knowledge
of
the
truth
will
be
given
to
all
and
when
assistance
to
righteousness
will
be
apparrnt.
AN
INTERESTING
LETTER
THE
SECHETARY,
THE
1.
B.
S.
A.,
DEAR
SIR:
Can
you
let
me
have
a
copy
of
.,
The
Divine
Plan
of
the
Ages,"
Helping
Hand
series~
I
saw
a
copy
in
a
cell
of
the
Kandy
Gaol
today.
The
prisoner
said
it
had
been
a
great
help
and
blessing
to
him.
He
had
spent
a
fortnight
of
great
darkness
and
doubt,
but
this
book
hall
cheered
him
up.
Yours
sincerely,
(Signed)
ROBERT
A.
CLAI{KE,
Captain
Salvation
Army,
Kandy,
Ceylon.
The
above
is
the
result
of
a
book
placed
in
a
prison
library
1Il
India.
VOL.
XXXIV
BROOKI1YN,
N.
Y.,
APRUl
15,
1913
No.
R
GOD'S
SYMPATHY
FOR
HIS
PEOPLE
"Thus
saith
the
high
and
lofty
One
that
inhabiteth
eternity,
whose
name
is
Holy;
I
dwell
in
the
high
and
holy
place,
with
him
that
is
of
a
contrite
and
humble
spirit,
to
revive
the
spirit
of
the
humble,
and
to
revive
the
heart
of
the
contrite
ones.
"-Isaiah
57:15.
.Jehovah
is
the
high
and
lofty
One
who
inhabits
eternity.
Before
the
mountains
were
brought
forth,
or
the
hills,
before
the
First-born
was
created,
he
is
God.
To
Moses
at
the
burn
ing
bush,
he
said,
"I
AM
THAT
I
AM."
(Exodus
3:
14)
Our
God
is
very
great,
very
wise,
very
high.
Nevertheless,
the
Scriptures
show
us
that
he
is
also
very
sympathetic.
He
is
a
God
of
mercy
and
of
love.
The
passage
from
which
our
text
is
taken
informs
us
that
if
God
were
to
contend
with
humanity,
the
end
of
the
strife
would
be
that
mankind
would
be
blotted
out
of
existence.
But
he
remembers
that
we
are
dust,
and
has
compassion
upon
us.
In
this
respect
he
is
different
from
the
gods
of
the
heathen,
who
are
domineering,
apparently
bent
on
wreaking
vengeance
uJlon
those
in
their
power.
Besides
being
very
great
and
lofty,
our
God
is
particularly
sympathetic
towards
those
who
are
of
a
broken
and
contrite
hrart,
whose
spirit
is
humble,
who
realize
that
they
arc
im
perfed,
who
desire
to
be
in
a('cord
with
him,
and
to
dwell
in
holiness.
To
such
he
is
ev('r
near-to
revive
the
spirit
of
the
hum
li1e,
to
give
them
strength.
lIe
will
not
trample
them
into
the
dust,
as
many
an
earthly
potentate
has
done
to
his
sub
jects,
but
will
assist
them
in
the
right
way,
and
revive
the
heart
of
the
contrite.
These
are
to
know
that
our
God
is
a
God
of
sympathy,
compassion
and
love,
who
takes
pleasure
in
reviving
their
hearts
and
in
bringing
them
back
into
harmony
with
him,
if
they
are
willing
to
be
led.
DISCOURAGEMENT
WITH
SELF
A
FAVORABLE
CONDITION
'rh('re
is
a
difference
between
a
broken
and
a
contrite
heart.
A
heart
is
broken
when
it
is
bowed
down
with
grief
and
sor
row;
a
heart
is
contrite
when
it
has
a
quiet,
deep,
continual
sorrow
for
acts
not
in
harmony
with
righteousness.
A
broken
will
is
not
necessarily
the
same;
for
there
are
those
whose
[5217]
APRIL I, 1913 Joseph’s experiences of adversity. On the contrary, we may feel sure that the lessons of his adversity were merely preparations for his subsequent experiences as Pharaoh’s logos, or mouthpiece, throughout the kingdom. We are reminded again of the lesson of a week ago—that Joseph’s experiences were typical of those of Jesus and the church, his followers. The Bible assures us that the graces of humility and patience are both closely related to love and loyalty. St. Paul reminds us of this when he declares, ‘‘If ye be without chastisement, ... then are ye... not sons, For what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?’’ He reminds us that ‘‘Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.’’—Hebrews 12:6-8. It was so with Jesus, and with all the faithful apostles, and has been so with all the followers of Jesus during this Gospel age. It will undoubtedly continue to be true in the case of all the consecrated church. It is because the Lord Jesus loves these noble characters that he counts them worthy of trials and testings, disciplines, ete. These are necessary to qualify them for the positions of honor, glory, immortality and great responsibility, to which the Father has called Jesus and his brethren, the church. THE VALUE OF ADVERSITY Jacob’s special love for his son Joseph manifested itself in favoritism—the princely coat, or robe, etc. Quite possibly he would have spoiled his son, had not divine providence interfered and taken him entirely out of this father’s control. Many fathers, especially the rich, have made similar mistakes. Hence the sons of the rich are not always a credit to their fathers. The great heavenly Father, however, makes no such mistakes. His people are assured that trials and difficulties are marks rather of their relationship to God and of his loving care over them. True, this providential care is restricted: ‘‘The Lord knoweth them that are his.’’ His special dealings are with his consecrated people—those who have entered into a covenant with him, who have become his servants and his children. To these alone belongs the promise that ‘‘all things shall work together for good to them that love God, to those who are the ealled according to his purpose.’’—Romans 8:28. While this special call applies peculiarly to the church of this Gospel age, there is a sense in which it was applicable to the Hebrews, since the time of Abraham. Joseph belonged to this line which was in covenant relationship with God. This accounts for God’s dealing with him rather than with young men of other families than Abraham’s. Incidentally, it is worthy of notice that the Israelites passed through many trying experiences because of being God’s people. Many of those experiences they might have escaped, had they not come into covenant relationship with God. But had they escaped the AN THE SEcrETARY, THe J. B.S. A., Dear Sir: Can you let me have a copy of ‘‘The Divine Plan of the Ages,’’ Helping Hand series? I saw a copy in a cell of the Kandy Gaol today. The prisoner said it had been a great help and blessing to him. He had spent a fortnight of great THE WATCH TOWER (110-115) trials and difficulties, they would have escaped certain privileges and blessings also. And the blessings which God gives always outweigh the adversities which prepare for them. JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN ELECTIONS This reminds us that the Bible declares that the Jewish people, and subsequently the Christians, are God’s elect—God’s chosen people—the seed of Abraham, natural and spiritual. Both have offers of God’s blessings not accorded to other peoples; and in both cases the trying experiences are to fit the elect ones for the future glories to which they have been invited. Nevertheless, God has also a great blessing in store for the non-elect. During the thousand years of Messiah’s reign, the elect church, the saintly only, will be Messiah’s joint-heirs in the great kingdom of God, which will then take control of the earth. Then also the elect from the Hebrews will be used, in another part of the work, in conjunction with the Christian church, the one on the heavenly plane, the other on the earthly. Through these two Israels, God’s blessings are to be poured out on all nations, kindreds, peoples and tongues. Although God has not specially supervised the affairs of any except these two elect classes, nevertheless we see that he has permitted, in a general way, great lessons of adversity to come to the whole human family. As the special trials and difficulties of the elect classes are intended to work for them special blessing and qualifications for their work as God’s agencies, so the general tribulations of the world will give general lessons that will be helpful to all people by giving all experiences with sin and death—by teaching all thus the exceeding sinfulness of sin. By the by, when Messiah’s kingdom shall be established, when Satan shall be bound, when the reign of righteousness shall begin, when the curse shall be lifted, when the blessings shall flow instead—then the lessons of sorrow and tears and crying and dying will all prove valuable. Humanity will appreciate the great blessings of God in the future very largely by contrast with the evils and sorrows of the present time. When, by and by, they shall learn fully and conclusively that all these sorrows and tears are the results of violation of God’s laws and disregard of his injunctions, the lesson undoubtedly will be one that will never be forgotten. Wherever the plowshare of trouble has gone, it has served to break up the fallow ground and to make ready for the seed of divine truth and grace. The next age, under Messiah’s beneficient rule, will be the time of sowing the seeds of knowledge of God and appreciation of his glorious character and plan. The results will undoubtedly be glorious, as the Scriptures declare. Eventually all will participate in these blessings everlastingly, except such as intelligently refuse them, choosing sin rather than righteousness, in that day when the knowledge of the truth will be given to all and when assistance to righteousness will be apparent. INTERESTING LETTER darkness and doubt, but this book had cheered him up. Yours sincerely, (Signed) Ropert A. CLARKE, Captain Salvation Army, Kandy, Ceylon. The above is the result of a book placed in a prison library in India. Vou. XXXIV BROOKLYN, N. Y., APRIL 15, 1913 GOD’S SYMPATHY FOR HIS PEOPLE ‘‘Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. ’’—Isaiah 57:15. Jehovah is the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity. Before the mountains were brought forth, or the hills, before the First-born was created, he is God. To Moses at the burning bush, he said, ‘‘I AM THAT I AM.’’ (Exodus 3:14) Our God is very great, very wise, very high. Nevertheless, the Scriptures show us that he is also very sympathetic. He is a God of mercy and of love. The passage from whieh our text is taken informs us that if God were to contend with humanity, the end of the strife would be that mankind would be blotted out of existence. But he remembers that we are dust, and has compassion upon us. In this respect he is different from the gods of the heathen, who are domineering, apparently bent on wreaking vengeance upon those in their power. Besides being very great and lofty, our God is particularly sympathetic towards those who are of a broken and contrite heart, whose spirit is humble, who realize that they are imperfect, who desire to be in accord with him, and to dwell in holiness. To such he is ever near—to revive the spirit of the humble, to give them strength. He will not trample them into the dust, as many an earthly potentate has done to his subjects, but will assist them in the right way, and revive the heart of the contrite. These are to know that our God is a God of sympathy, compassion and love, who takes pleasure in reviving their hearts and in bringing them back into harmony with him, if they are willing to be led. DISCOURAGEMENT WITH SELF A FAVORABLE CONDITION There is a difference between a broken and a contrite heart. A heart is broken when it is bowed down with grief and sorrow; a heart is contrite when it has a quiet, deep, continual sorrow for acts not in harmony with righteousness. A broken will is not necessarily the same; for there are those whose (5217]
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