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(47-51)
THE
WATCH
TOWER
BROOKI,YN.
N.
Y.
foregoing
"faith,"
you
must
admit
that
it
is
something
you
once
believed
and
once
vomited
forth,
and
like
the
Scriptural
dog,
you
have..
returned
to
your
vomit;
I
hope
you
like
it.
Probably
I
look
ridiculous
to
you
because
I
did
not
go
to
heaven,
October
1st,
1914,
but
you
don't
look
ridiculous
to
me
oh
nol
With
ten
of
the
greatest
nations
on
earth
writhing
in
their
death
agonies,
it
seems
to
me
a
particularly
inopportune
time
to
seek
to
ridicule
the
man,
and
the
only
man,
who
for
forty
years
has
taught
that
the
Times
of
the
Gentiles
would
end
in
1914.
If
you
believe
these
stupid
and
worse
than
childish
blunders
of
the
past
and
seek
to
revivify
them,
you
have
a
worse
job
on
your
hands
than
Christ
had
when
he
raised
Lazarus.
Pastor
Russell's
teal'hings
ha
\"(~
killed
them
so
completely
that
they
are
in
a
far
worse
eondition
than
Lazarus
was
when
he
had
been
dead
four
days.
I
presume
that
when
Zedekiah
struck
Micaiah
upon
the
ehcek
and
ridiculed
the
latter's
confidence
in
the
Lord's
message
he
thought
it
was
really
funny,
and
still
more
so
when
Micaiah
warned
him
that
he
would
soon
attempt
to
hide
himself
un
successfully
from
the
Syrians
in
his
inner
chamber.
I
doubt,
however,
whether
Zedekiah
considered
it
so
funny
shortly
after
ward
when
he
saw
the
armies
of
the
Syrians
in
front
of
his
house,
and
espcially
when
he
hcard
thcm
coming
up
stairs.
1
Kings
22.
]
f
this
ktter
shall
awaken
you
to
your
tl'UC
eondition,
I
Rhall
be
glad.
If
it
docs
not.
it
will
not
be
nceessary
for
you
to
write
to
me
again;
for
I
shall
consider
it
a
hopeless
task.
With
best
wishes,
I
remain,
C.
J.
WOODWORTH.
MANY
HEARTS
RECEIVING
COMFORT
\V.
T.
B.
&
T.
SOC'Y,
DEAR
FRIE"DS:-
I
think
you
should
know
of
the
blessing
of
the
Lord
on
the
service
last
week,
and
in
making
calls
on
those
who
handed
in
thcir
names
at
Brother
Rutherford's
meeting.
I
never
saw
such
interest!
The
sale
of
books
was
reasonably
good
450
(all
but
50
of
which
are
delivered)-sold
in
four
days.
The
fine
class
of
business
men
represented
was
quite
excep
tional,
although
every
week
there
are
some.
Three
young
ladies
from
the
Y.
W.
C.
A.
bought
the
books,
and
one
gives
good
evidence
of
coming
fully
into
the
truth
in
a
\"Cry
short
time.
A
piano
dealer
sai(l,
"This
is
no
denom
inational
work,
is
it?
T
have
no
use
for
denominations.
The
man's
theory
is
worth
investigation."
A
lawyer
said,
"That
man
is
a
wonder!
I
never
read
my
Bible,
but
I
am
going
to
begin
now.
Every
reasoning
person
ought
to
have
these
books-
I
am
going
to
read
every
word
in
them."
.
A
merchant
remarked,
"This
is
the
greatest
rpformatlOlI
movement
we
ever
had;
we
must
keep
it
going."
He
sent
to
me
twice
for
more
books
for
his
friends;
and
he
is
a
man
who
had
thrown
all
religion
aside.
A
doctor
I
called
on
said,
"I
was
interested
to
IlPar
Ill'
was
a
Baptist;
so
was
I,
and
I
had
the
same
experience
he
had
threw
the
whole
thing
over
in
disgust-and
I
was
a
preacher."
He
was
glad
to
examine
the
work.
The
cloth
books
were
not
fine
enough
for
him;
he
got
the
leatlH~r-bound.
A
very
fine
office
man
said,
"I
will
read
every
moment
I
can
get.
Of
course,
I
take
it
for
granted
that
these
books
are
along
the
lines
of
that
lecture."
He
ordered
a
set.
It
would
take
a
book
to
tell
the
rest!
But
it
is
such
a
joy
to
see
some
of
the
"refuge
of
lies"
being
swept
away,
confidence
in
Babylon
on
the
wane,
and
many
hearts
comforted.
\Vith
love
and
prayers
for
you
all,
and
asking
a
continued
interest
in
your
petitions,
I
am,
by
his
grace,
Your
Sister,
CHARLOTTE
\VRITE.
"A
PRAYER
OF
CONSECRATION"
Realizing
that
I
must
draw
nearer
to
God
to
be
kept
in
this
hour
of
trial
now
upon
the
whole
world,
Ilia
ye
prayed
more;
and
I
find
the
following
form
very
helpful;
I
therefore
call
it
"THE
PRAYER
OF
THE
COxsEcRAn:n":
"Dear
heavenly
Father,
reverently,
and
in
the
name
oJ
Jesus,
I
approach
thy
throne
of
grace
to
renew
my
consecration
vows
today.
Not
content
with
having
made
my
consecration
years
ago,
nor
even
yesterday,
I
renew
it
today,
and
present
to
thee
my
body
and
all
its
powers,
my
heart
and
all
its
affections.
I
give
to
thee,
willingly
and
gladly,
everything
I
possess,
to
be
wholly
thine-today.
I
would
not
withhold
from
thee
one
sin
gle
thing.
"Gracious
and
loving
Father
and
dear
Lord
.T
esus,
come
in
all
your
fulness
into
my
heart
and
life;
take
full
possession
and
reign
there
supreme,
without
a
rival
today.
Dear
Lord
Jesus,
my
glorious
High
Priest
and
Head
to
th~'
hody,
thl'
church,
continue
to
offer
me
today
upon
God's
holy
altar
of
sacrifice,
and
until
the
sacrifice
is
completed
in
death."
I
have
found
that
doing
this
daily
I
have
been
greatly
en
riched
and
blessed
spiritually.
Yours,
in
his
love
and
service,
W.
J.
THOlm.
Isa.
41:10;
Num.
6:24-26.
VorJ.
XXXVI
BROOKLYN,
N.
Y.,
FEBRUARY
15,1915
No.
:1
PRESENT
DUTY
AND
PRIVILEGE
OF
THE
SAINTS
"Cry
aloud
and
spare
not;
lift
up
thy
voice
like
a
trumpet,
and
show
my
people
their
tra?lsgt'ession,
and
the
House
of
Jacob
their
sins.
Yet
they
seek
me
daily
and
delight
to
know
my
ways,
as
a
nation
that
did
righteousness,
and
for-
sook
not
the
ordinances
of
their
God.
They
ask
of
me
the
ordinances
of
justice;
they
take
delight
in
approaching
to
God."-Isaiah
58:
1,
2.
\Ve
understand
that
the
Lord,
through
the
Prophet
Isaiah,
aside
from
the
Word
of
God
would
be
but
bungling
work;
is
here
(leseribing
the
condition
of
the
nominal
people
of
God.
whereas
"The
'Vord
of
God
is
quick
and
powerful,
and
sharper
These
words
prob;lbly
had
an
application
in
the
Prophet's
day,
than
any
two-edged
sword,
piercing
even
to
the
dividing
hut
we
think
they
have
a
special
application
in
our
day.
If
asunder
of
soul
and
spirit,
and
of
the
joints
and
ma,rrow."
we
should
view
the
words
as
a
general
statement,
applicable
\Ve
are
to
"cry
aloud,
and
spare
not,"
to
point
out
what
the
at
any
time,
it
would
seem
to
have
reference
to
some
who
are
Scriptures
have
to
say--on
proper
oecasions.
This
does
not
truly
the
Lont's
people
and
also
to
the
House
of
Jacob
in
mean
to
insult
people.
God's
ambassadors
have
no
commis
general.
The
prophet
speaks
of
certain
transgressions
of
God's
sion
to
insult
anyone.
But
with
gracious
words
we
may,
people,
errors,
and
of
sins
of
the
House
oJ
Jacob
(Natural
nevertheless,
point
to
the
conditions
of
today,
the
dangers
Israel)
-especi:dly
grievous
transgressions.
that
are
now
before
the
world,
and
the
proper
position
to
be
Applying
this
to
the
present
day,
we
would
understand
taken
by
those
who
would
wholly
follow
the
Lord.
that
the
Lord's
people
are
those
who
are
in
covenant
relation-
A
FORM
OF
GODLINESS
WITHOUT
ITS
POWER
ship
with
God,
his
real
people,
and
no
others.
Those
in
The
words
of
the
text
under
consider,ation
are
alonO"
the
eovenant
relationship
with
God
are
comparatively
a
small
same
line
as
the
words
of
the
Prophet
Isaiah
in
Ch7t
p
ter
nllmber:
The
great
mass
o.f
professed
p.~ple
o_f
God
have
29:
13,
quoted
by
our
Lord.
There
the
Prophet
declares:
"This
gotten
II1to
many.
tn~nsgresslOns
of
the
dlv.me
WIll
and
law,
people
draw
near
me
with
their
mouth,
and
with
their
lips
many
of
them
qUite
Ignorantly
followmg
bhnd
leaders
of
the
do
honor
me
but
have
removed
their
heart
far
from
me"·
hlind,
following
cr!'eds
of
the
darkest
pa.st.
The
term
"the
"but"
as
the'Master
rendered
the
following
words
(Matthe\~
House
of
Jacob,"
however,
is
a
distinguishing
term,
referring
15:
9')
"in
vain
do
they
worship
me
tea<:hing
<for
doctrine
the
pxclusivcly
to
the
.Jews.
God's
ancient
covenant
people.
eomm~ndments
of
men."
'
.
The
Lord's
pe~ple
of
th?
present
time.
~hose
who
have
the
The
tra.nslation
of
V.
2
of
our
text
is
not
quite
so
clear
hght
of
truth.
as
It
now
shm.es
out
.from
hIS
\V?rd
..
should,
as
as
perhaps
might
he.
The
thought
seems
to
be:
They
appal'
they
hav!'
sUlta~le
opportulllty,
pomt
out
to
Chnstendom
of
ently
seek
me
daily,
apparently
delight
to
know
my
ways.
t~day,
a~d
('speCIally
tD
those
who
are
the
professe~
people
of
They
build
churches
with
high
steeples
and
gorgeous
appoint
(~od;
theIr
error,
show.
them
wh~re
the~
have
devlate~l
from
ments,
at
great
cost.
Many
churches
have
imposing
images
hods
\Vord,
where
theIr
cours~
IS
not
mharmony
WIth
the
of
the
saints
or
great
paintings
which
make
a
fine
outward
Golden
Rule,
ek.
Morcover,
If
they
have
favorahle
oppor-
appearance.
~hey
ha.ve
rich,
melodious
bells
chiming
out
tunity,
they
might
point
out
to
the
.Jews
the
rea-sons
why
they
sweet
hymns;
such
as
"Nearer,
My
God,
to
Thee,"
"Rock
of
are
in
their
present
cast-off
condition.
But
it
would
not
be
Ages,"
etc.
They
have
well-trained
choirs
to
sing
anthems.
well
to
go
about
bC'rating
them,
or
berating
anybody.
They
have
highly
educated
ministers
who
are
gifted
orators
Very
little
good
is
done
by
such
a
course.
The
truth
and
deliver
eloquent
dissertations.
Outwardly,
they
have
a
itself
is
to
be
the
sworn.
It
is
a
sharp
two-edged
sword,
wonderful
zeal
for
righteousness;
it
would
seem
on
the
sur-
even
the
\Vord
of
God,
The
work
that
any
of
us
could
do
face
that
they
are
doing
well.
They
appoint
an
annual
[5630]
(47-51) foregoing “faith,” you must admit that it is something you once believed and once vomited forth, and like the Scriptural dog, you have returned to your vomit; I hope you like it. Probably I look ridiculous to you because I did not go to heaven, October 1st, 1914, but you don’t look ridiculous to me— oh no! With ten of the greatest nations on earth writhing in their death agonies, it seems to me a particularly inopportune time to seek to ridicule the man, and the only man, who for forty years has taught that the Times of the Gentiles would end in 1914. If you believe these stupid and worse than childish blunders of the past and seek to revivify them, you have a worse job on your hands than Christ had when he raised Lazarus. Pastor Russell’s teachings have killed them so completely that they are in a far worse condition than Lazarus was when he had been dead four days. I presume that when Zedekiah struck Micaiah upon the cheek and ridiculed the latter’s confidence in the Lord’s message he thought it was really funny, and still more so when Micaiah warned him that he would soon attempt to hide himself unsuccessfully from the Syrians in his inner chamber. I doubt, however, whether Zedekiah considered it so funny shortly afterward when he saw the armies of the Syrians in front of his house, and espcially when he heard them coming up stairs.— 1 Kings 22, If this letter shall awaken you to your true condition, I shall be glad. If it does not, it will not be necessary for you to write to me again; for I shall consider it a hopeless task, With best wishes, I remain, C. J. Woopworts. MANY HEARTS RECEIVING COMFORT W. T. B. & T. Soc’y, Dear Frienps :— I think you should know of the blessing of the Lord on the service last week, and in making calls on those who handed in their names at Brother Rutherford’s meeting. I never saw such interest! The sale of books was reasonably good— 450 (all but 50 of which are delivered)—sold in four days. The fine class of business men represented was quite exceptional, although every week there are some. Three young ladies from the Y. W. C. A. bought the books, and one gives good evidence of coming fully into the truth in a very short time. A piano dealer said, “This is no denominational work, is it? T have no use for denominations. The man’s theory is worth investigation.” A lawyer said, “That Vout. XXXVI THE WATCH TOWER BROOKLYN, N. Y., FEBRUARY 15, 1915 Brooxiyn, N. Y, man is a wonder! I never read my Bible, but I am going to begin now. Every reasoning person ought to have these books— I am going to read every word in them.” ; A merchant remarked, “This is the greatest reformation movement we ever had; we must keep it going.” He sent to me twice for more books for his friends; and he is a man who had thrown all religion aside. A doctor I called on said, “I was interested to hear he was a Baptist; so was I, and I had the same experience he had— threw the whole thing over in disgust—and I was a preacher.” He was glad to examine the work. The cloth books were not fine enough for him; he got the leather-bound. A very fine office man said, “I will read every moment I can get. Of course, I take it for granted that these books are along the lines of that lecture.” He ordered a set. It would take a book to tell the rest! But it is such a joy to see some of the “refuge of lies” being swept away, confidence in Babylon on the wane, and many hearts comforted. With love and prayers for you all, and asking a continued interest in your petitions, I am, by his grace, Your Sister, CHARLOTTE WHITE. “‘A PRAYER OF CONSECRATION’’ Realizing that I must draw nearer to God to be kept in this hour of trial now upon the whole world, I lave prayed more; and I find the following form very helpful; I therefore call it “THE PRAYER OF THE CONSECRATED”: “Dear heavenly Father, reverently, and in the name of Jesus, I approach thy throne of grace to renew my consecration vows today. Not content with having made my consecration years ago, nor even yesterday, J renew it today, and present to thee my body and all its powers, my heart and all its affections. I give to thee, willingly and gladly, everything I possess, to be wholly thine—today. I would not withhold from thee one single thing. “Gracious and loving Father and dear Lord Jesus, come in all your fulness into my heart and life; take full possession and reign there supreme, without a rival today. Dear Lord Jesus, my glorious High Priest and Head to thy body, the church, continue to offer me today upon God’s holy altar of sacrifice, and until the sacrifice is completed in death.” I have found that doing this daily I have been greatly enriched and blessed spiritually. Yours, in his love and service, Isa. 41:10; Num. 6:24-26. W. J. THorn. No. A PRESENT DUTY AND PRIVILEGE OF THE SAINTS “Cry aloud and spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the House of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinances of their God. They ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God,”—Isaiah 58:1, 2. We understand that the Lord, through the Prophet lsaiah, is here describing the condition of the nominal people of God. These words probably had an application in the Prophet’s day, but we think they have a special application in our day. If we should view the words as a general statement, applicable at any time, it would seem to have reference to some who are truly the Lord’s people and also to the House of Jacob in general, The prophet speaks of certain transgressions of God’s people, errors, and of sins of the House of Jacob (Natural Israel)—especially grievous transgressions. Applying this to the present day, we would understand that the Lord’s people are those who are in covenant relationship with God, his real people, and no others. Those in covenant relationship with God are comparatively a small number. ‘he great mass of professed people of God have gotten into many transgressions of the divine will and law, many of them quite ignorantly following blind leaders of the blind, following creeds of the darkest past. The term “the House of Jacob,” however, is a distinguishing term, referring exclusively to the Jews, God’s ancient covenant people. The Lord’s people of the present time, those who have the light of truth as it now shines out from his Word, should, as they have suitable opportunity, point out to Christendom of today, and especially to those who are the professed people of God, their error, show them where they have deviated from God’s Word, where their course is not in harmony with the Golden Rule, etc. Moreover, if they have favorable opportunity, they might point out to the Jews the reasons why they are in their present cast-off condition. But it would not be well to go about berating them, or berating anybody. Very little good is done by such a course. The truth itself is to be the sword. It is a sharp two-edged sword, even the Word of God, The work that any of us could do aside from the Word of God would be but bungling work; whereas “The Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow.” We are to “cry aloud, and spare not,” to point out what the Scriptures have to say—on proper occasions. This does not mean to insult people. God’s ambassadors have no commission to insult any one. But with gracious words we may, nevertheless, point to the conditions of today, the dangers that are now before the world, and the proper position to be taken by those who would wholly follow the Lord. A FORM OF GODLINESS WITHOUT ITS POWER The words of the text under consideration are along the same line as the words of the Prophet Isaiah in Chapter 29:13, quoted by our Lord. There the Prophet declares: “This people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me”; “but,” as the Master rendered the following words (Matthew 15:9), “in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men.” The translation of V. 2 of our text is not quite so clear as perhaps might be. The thought seems to be: They apparently seek me daily, apparently delight to know my ways. They build churches with high steeples and gorgeous appointments, at great cost. Many churches have imposing images of the saints or great paintings which make a fine outward appearance. They have rich, melodious bells chiming out sweet hymns; such as “Nearer, My God, to Thee,” “Rock of Ages,” etc. They have well-trained choirs to sing anthems. They have highly educated ministers who are gifted orators and deliver eloquent dissertations. Outwardly, they have a wonderful zeal for righteousness; it would seem on the surface that they are doing well. They appoint an annual [5630]
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