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THE
WATCH
TOWER
PLAN
OF
THE
AGES.
The
verse
on
the
front
page
caught
my
attention
at
once:
"To
make
all
see
what
is
the
fellowship
of
the
mystery,"
etc.
1
felt,
This
is
something
I
want.
I
started
to
read
and
never
rested
till
I
had
read
it
through;
looking
up
all
the
references,
with
growing
joy
and
wonder
over
every
chapter.
Oh,
how
precious
it
was
at
once!
I
said
to
my
neighbor,
I
would
not
give
away
the
knowledge
this
book
has
given
me
for
a
thous1J.nd
pounds.
In
six
weeks
I
had
all
the
STUDIES,
and
soon
I
had
all
of
your
literature
that
I
could
get.
THE
DIVINE
PI,AN
OF
THE
AGES
had
been
in
the
house
for
four
years
and
I
had
not
seen
it.
That
day
it
was
lying
where
I
h:1<1
put
the
Swedenborg
book;
I
do
not
know
how
it
got
there.
It
seems
it
had
been
sent
to
my
father
four
years
previous.
But
the
most
remarkable
thing
I
have
not
yet
told
you:
A
few
days
previous
to
finding
your
book
I
had
gone
to
my
room
and
on
my
knees
told
my
heavenly
Father
that
I
was
unsatisfied.
I
was
not
being
"persecuted
for
righteous
ness
sake";
most
people
appeared
to
love
me.
I
told
Him
I
wanted,
like
Paul,
a
share
in
Christ's
suffering:
I
was
ready
to
die,
if
only
I
might
attain.
I
wanted
nothing
less
than
the
best.
In
a
few
days
I
found
THE
DIVINE
PLAN
OF
THE
AGES.
as
I
have
told
you.
Then
I
was
short
of
time
to
read,
[wd
I
fell
and
sprained
my
ankle
very
severely,
and
so
had
plenty
of
time
to
read.
Oh,
how
thankful
I
am
for
my
heavenly
Father's
mercy
and
loving
kindness
and
condescension
in
allowing
me
to
have
a
vlaee
in
his
little
flock
t
My
heart
is
full
of
Christ,
and.
,
'longs
its
gloriOllS
matter
to
declare";
but
so
few
will
hear
-espeeially
hecause
I
have
come
out
of
the
Wesleyan
church
al\(1
all
tlw
offices
I
had
there.
MyoId
friends
fight
shy
of
me;
some
have
told
me
they
would
rather
not
hear
if
it
would
eonvince
them
they
mnst
come
onto
I
am
only
a
woman
keeping
house
for
my
dear
old
father,
and
now
that
I
have
no
offices
in
any
church,
I
feel
I
am
feed
ing
and
not
passing
the
food
on
to
others.
I
do
not
wish
to
be
like
the
servant
who
huried
his
talent.
I
speak
to
all
as
I;
have
opportunity,
and
some
listen
with
great
interest;
but
I
i10
not
know
that
I
have
succeeded
in
bringing
any
into
the
truth.
Two
persons
have
bought
full
sets
of
THE
STUDIES
IN
THE
SCRIPTURES,
but
arc
not
reading
them.
I
have
never
looked
back
and
feel
I
never
shall.
I
feel
consumed
day
by
day
to
know
my
God,
and
do
his
will.
Thongh
a
Wesleyan
I
was
baptised
(immersed)
eleven
years
ago
into
Christ's
death,
understandingly,
though
not
so
fully
as
I
understand
today.
Do
you
think
I
need
to
be
baptised
again?
Please
excuse
me
for
taking
your
valuable
time.
Yours
very
gratefully
and
lovingly
in
His
service,
GRACE
E.
ROWSE.-Eng.
A
WORD
TO
THE
WISE
Dear
Pastor
Russell:-
While
the
closing
hymn
was
being
sung
at
The
Temple
recently,
I
noticed
that
rather
more
than
a
few
of
the
ladies
were
apparently
more
interested
in
getting
together
their
loose
articles
of
attire
and
assuming
their
wraps
than
giving
their
respectful,
if
not
devout,
attention
to
the
solemn
and
beautiful
words
that
closed
the
day
of
praise
and
worship.
'l'he
same
people
were
in
no
particular
haste
to
leave
the
building,
as
evinced
by
the
greetings
and
adieux
to
their
friends.
Perhaps
you
might
consider
it
would
help
in
realizing
our
duties
as
the
Lord's
people,
to
wait
quietly
and
orderly
until
the
final
words
of
the
service
are
uttered,
followed
by
a
few
moments
of
quiet
thought
and
prayer
before
plunging
into
the
cares
of
our
daily
life.
A
few
words
from
you
in
THE
W
ATCll
TOWER,
and
occasionally
an
admonition,
might
remind
the
whole
church
of
the
great
privileges
which
we
enjoy,
and
for
which
we
should
be
grateful.
Yours
in
the
service
of
the
Lord,
ROBERT
E.
BRAY.
BE
PROMPTNESS
AT
MEETINGS
Dl'ar
Brother
Russell:-
It
seems
to
me
that
a
word
of
encouragement
to
some
of
the
dear
friends
in
respect
to
greater
promptness
at
meet·
ing
hours
would
be
helpful.
Apparently
some
do
not
realize
the
necessity
for
reverence
in
this
respect.
If
we
do
not
preserve
order
in
regard
to
our
meetings
we
are
not
observing
!leaven's
first
law.
We
must
lack
reverence
for
our
heavenly
Pather
and
for
our
Master,
if
we
are
less
prompt
in
the
Lord's
affairs
than
we
arc
in
our
own.
Some
of
the
dear
friends
come
to
the
meetings
as
much
as
from
thirty
to
forty-five
minutes
late.
The
same
dear
friends
are
very
prompt
in
observing
other
appointments.
How
can
we
expect
the
Lord
to
be
pleased
with
us
if
we
give
him
the
inferior
things
1
How
can
we
expect
to
receive
the
chief
promises
if
we
do
not
put
forth
as
much
effort
for
our
everlasting
welfare
as
we
do
for
the
temporal
~
If
we
set
a
certain
time
for
meeting
and
very
seldom
get
there
on
time,
we
are
not
to
be
depended
upon;
our
word
is
hroken.
How
can
we
expect
the
Lord's
approval
in
such
a
condition
as
that?
He
was
so
prompt
and
precise,
doing
the
Father's
will
to
the
dot.
These
same
dear
friends
are
very
noble
in
other
respects;
and
how
they
can
be
so
indifferent
about
coming
into
the
meetings
on
time
I
cannot
understan(I,
except
it
be
that
they
have
gotten
into
this
bad
habit
aIllI
do
not
know
how
to
get
out
of
it.
I
am
sure
I
,,-ould
like
to
lend
them
a
helping
hand
in
this
direction.
Yours
in
the
one
hope
of
all
saints,
FRED
OTTI.
YOT,.
XXXV
BROOKLYN,
N.
Y.,
JULY
1,
1914
No.
13
NECESSITY
OF
SELF-CONTROL
"He
that
hath
no
rule
over
his
own
spirit
is
like
a
city
that
is
broken
down
and
without
walls.
"-Proverbs
25:
28.
Tn
ohlen
times
dties
were
y>articularly
placl's
of
refuge,
wherl'
the
inhahitants
of
the
country
con~egated
for
protec
tion.
When
the
l'arth
was
less
populous
and
the
necessity
for
government
,ns
ll'~~
appreciated
than
now,
any
marauding
hand
n-as
likl'ly
to
takl'
possession
of
whatevl'r
was
open
to
their
attaek.
So
the
<'itil's
of
ancient
times
had
strong
walls.
This
was
true,
we
rem
em
her,
of
.Terusalem
and
.Tl'richo.
It
was
trne
of
ancil'nt
Troy,
and
also
true
of
cities
in
Europe.
In
Vienna,
the
o](]
wall
of
the
city
still
stands;
and
so
with
other
walll'd
citics.
nut
as
improvcll
forms
of
governml'nt
were
adoptC'd,
cities
no
longer
needed
protecting
walls.
The
police
nowadays
con
stitute
a
wall
of
protection.
Our
text
is
referring
to
a
wall
snch
as
was
formerly
used,
and
to
a
city
which
had
become
dilapidate(l
and
the
wall
broken
down.
King
Solomon
gives
this
as
a
picture
of
a
l1Uman
being
who
has
no
rule
over
his
own
spirit.
He
i~
unahle
to
protect
himself
against
evil
in
f]uencl'~
from
within
or
without,
as
a
result
of
having
suffered
his
will
to
be
hroken
down.
All
mankind
are
born
with
more
or
less
of
determination.
Some
have
this
in
a
very
marked
degree;
others
in
a
lesser
degree;
no
one,
we
believe,
is
whony
without
this
quality
of
will,
pllrpo~e.
But
we
find
that
whether
our
wills
are
strong
or
weak
they
need
direction.
Lessons
in
the
directing
of
our
wills
come
from
'arious
quarters;
for
instance,
we
have
the
la\Y~
of
the
city,
laws
of
the
state,
laws
of
the
country,
whi2h
direct
the
individual
as
to
what
he
may
do
anil
may
not
do
particularly
what
he
may
not
do.
As
one
looks
into
the
sour02e
and
history
of
these
laws,
he
finds
that
they
represent
the
uc-
Pllmlllateil
will
of
a
long
perioa.
Mankind
now
have
very
good
lnws.
We
have
often
thought
it
strange
that
fallen
men
have
produced
snch
just
laws
as
we
find
on
the
statute
books
today.
nut
a
Ithongh
very
good
laws
may
he
maile,
yet
people
may
ig'norl'
the
law.
A
jnry
may
set
aside
all
law.
A
jndge
may
pervl'rt
the
law.
Thus
things
t1lflt
arc
unlawful
may
he
come
a
practise
of
an
inclividual
or
a
town
or
a
c:ity.
To
clllti
vate
in
one's
self
a
lawless
rlisposition
is
to
cultivate
thl'
spirit
of
anarchy-a
spirit
of
indiffl'rence
to
the
rights
and
intl'rests
of
others.
There
are
some
who
manifest
reasonahle
respect
for
the
laws
of
man
hecall~e
nl'cessity
or
public:
opinion
makes
it
impossihle
or
inadvisahle
to
i10
otherwise,
who
may
at
l]('art
he
anarchists
a~
regards
the
law
of
God,
the
great
Law-giver
of
the
Universe.
SAD
PERVERSION
OF
SOUND
JUDGMENT
To
yield
onr~elvl's
to
paRsion,
to
allow
it
to
sweep
OVl'r
us
amI
mastl'T
us,
is
disastrous.
whether
we
are
weak-minded
or
strong-min<led.
The
weak-millded
have
their
limitations;
the
shong-minrkd
have
the
excess
of
power,
and
are
more
potent
for
evil.
We
hear
a
great
many
say,
when
they
have
lost
con
trol
of
their
tempC'r,
or
have
heen
petulant
or
morose
or
ill
naturNl
or
(liseourtC'ons,
Well,
that's
my
way;
I
do
not
mean
any
harm.
They
acknowledge
the
matter,
and
seck
to
justify
themselves
hy
saying
that
it
is
natural
to
them.
But
no
human
being
should
live
according
to
what
is
natural
to
his
or
her
fallen
nature.
A
heing
created
in
the
image
of
God,
and
still
retaining
some
traceR
of
his
original
Go(llikeness,
should
live
above
the
plane
of
th(~
10wI'r
animals,
which
follow
merely
their
natural
instincts
and
passions.
[5487]
JUNE 15, 1914 PLAN OF THE AGES. attention at once: the mystery,’’ ete. 1 felt, This is something I want. I started to read and never rested till I had read it through; looking up all the references, with growing joy and wonder over every chapter. Oh, how precious it was at onee! I said to my neighbor, I would not give away the knowledge this book has given me for a thousand pounds. In six weeks I had all the Srupisgs, and soon I had all of your literature that I could get. Tue Divine PLAN or THE AGES had been in the house for four years and I had not seen it. That day it was lying where I had put the Swedenborg book; I do not know how it got The verse on the front page caught my ‘¢To make all see what is the fellowship of there. It seems it had been sent to my father four years previous. But the most remarkable thing I have not yet told you: A few days previous to finding your book I had gone to my room and on my knees told my heavenly Father that I was unsatisfied. I was not being ‘‘ persecuted for righteousness sake’’; most people appeared to love me. I told Him I wanted, like Paul, a share in Christ’s suffering: I was ready to die, if only I might attain. I wanted nothing less than the best. In a few days I found THE DivINE PLAN OF THE AGEs, as I have told you. Then I was short of time to read, and I fell and sprained my ankle very severely, and so had plenty of time to read. Oh, how thankful I am for my heavenly Father’s mercy and loving kindness and condescension in allowing me to have a place in his little flock! My heart is full of Christ, and ‘longs its glorious matter to declare’’; but so few will hear especially because I have come ont of the Wesleyan church and all the offices I had there. My old friends fight shy of me; some have told me they would rather not hear if it would convince them they must come out. I am only a woman keeping house for my dear old father, and now that I have no offices in any church, I feel I am feeding and not passing the food on to others. I do not wish to be like the servant who buried his talent. I speak to all as I have opportunity, and some listen with great interest; but I do not know that I have succeeded in bringing any into the truth. Two persons have bought full sets of THz STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES, but are not reading them. I have never looked back and feel I never shall. I feel consumed day by day to know my God, and do his will. Though a Wesleyan I was baptised (immersed) eleven years ago into Christ’s death, understandingly, though not so fully as I understand today. Do you think I need to be baptised again? Please exeuse me for taking your valuable time. Yours very gratefully and lovingly in His service, Grace E. Rowsse.—Eng. XXXV Von. BROOKLYN, N. THE WATCH TOWER Y., JULY 1, 1914 (191-195) A WORD TO THE WISE Dear Pastor Russell :— While the closing hymn was being sung at The Temple recently, I noticed that rather more than a few of the ladies were apparently more interested in getting together their loose articles of attire and assuming their wraps than giving their respectful, if not devout, attention to the solemn and beautiful words that closed the day of praise and worship. The same people were in no particular haste to leave the building, as evinced by the greetings and adieux to their friends. Perhaps you might consider it would help in realizing our duties as the Lord’s people, to wait quietly and orderly until the final words of the service are uttered, followed by a few moments of quiet thought and prayer before plunging into the cares of our daily life. A few words from you in THE WATCH Tower, and occasionally an admonition, might remind the whole church of the great privileges which we enjoy, and for which we should be grateful. Yours in the service of the Lord, Ropert E. Bray. RE PROMPTNESS AT MEETINGS Dear Brother Russell :— It seems to me that a word of encouragement to some of the dear friends in respect to greater promptness at meeting hours would be helpful. Apparently some do not realize the necessity for reverence in this respect. If we do not preserve order in regard to our meetings we are not observing heaven’s first law. We must lack reverence for our heavenly Father and for our Master, if we are less prompt in the Lord’s affairs than we are in our own. Some of the dear friends come to the meetings as much as from thirty to forty-five minutes late. The same dear friends are very prompt in observing other appointments. How can we expect the Lord to be pleased with us if we give him the inferior things? How can we expect to receive the chief promises if we do not put forth as much effort for our everlasting welfare as we do for the temporal? If we set a certain time for meeting and very seldom get there on time, we are not to be depended upon; our word is broken. How ean we expect the Lord’s approval in such a condition as that? He was so prompt and precise, doing the Father’s will to the dot. These same dear friends are very noble in other respects; and how they can be so indifferent about coming into the meetings on time I cannot understand, except it be that they have gotten into this bad habit and do not know how to get out of it. I am sure I would like to lend them a helping hand in this direction. Yours in the one hope of all saints, Frep OTT1. No, 13 NECESSITY OF SELF-CONTROL ‘*He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls. ’’—Proverbs 25:28. Tn olden times cities were particularly places of refuge, where the inhabitants of the country congregated for protection. When the carth was less populous and the necessity for government was less appreciated than now, any marauding hand was likely to take possession of whatever was open to their attack. So the cities of ancient times had strong walls. This was true, we remember, of Jerusalem and Jericho. It was true of ancient Troy, and also true of cities in Europe. In Vienna, the old wall of the city still stands; cities. Rut as improved forms of government were adopted, cities no longer needed protecting walls. The police nowadays constitute a wall of protection. Our text is referring to a wall such as was formerly used, and to a city which had become dilapidated and the wall broken down. King Solomon gives this as a picture of a human being who has no rule over his own spirit. He is unable to protect himself against evil influences from within or without, as a result of having suffered his will to be broken down. All mankind are born with more or less of determination. Some have this in a very marked degree; others in a lesser degrec; no one, we believe, is wholly without this quality of will, purpose. But we find that whether our wills are strong or weak they need direction. Lessons in the directing of our wills come from various quarters; for instance, we have the laws of the city, laws of the state, laws of the country, which direct the individual as to what he may do and may not do— particularly what he may not do. As one looks into the source and history of these laws, he finds that they represent the «ae and so with other walled eumulated will of a long period. Mankind now have very good Jaws, We have often thought it strange that fallen men have produced such just laws as we find on the statute hooks today. But although very good laws may he made, yet people may ignore the law. <A jury may set aside all law. <A judge may pervert the law. Thns things that are unlawful may hecome a practise of an individual or a town or a city. To enltivate in one’s self a lawless disposition is to enltivate the spirit of anarchy—a. spirit of indifference to the rights and interests of others. There are some who manifest reasonable respect for the laws of man because neeessity or publie opinion makes it impossible or inadvisable to do otherwise, who may at heart he anarehists as regards the law of God, the great Law-giver of the Universe. SAD PERVERSION OF SOUND JUDGMENT To yield ourselves to passion, to allow it to sweep over ns and master us, is disastrous, whether we are weak-minded or strong-minded. The weak-minded have their limitations; the strong-minded have the excess of power, and are more potent for evil. We hear a great many say, when they have lost control of their temper, or have been petulant or morose or illnatured or discourteous, Well, that’s my way; I do not mean any harm. They acknowledge the matter, and seck to justify themselves by saying that it is natural to them. But no human being should live according to what is natural to his or her fallen nature. A being created in the image of God, and stil] retaining some traces of his original Godlikeness, should live above the plane of the lower animals, which follow merely their natural instincts and passions. [5487]
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