Data publicării
01.09.1917
Volumul
38
Numărul
17
Turnul de veghe
The bond of perfection
Revistele originale Turnul de veghe în limba engleză
../literature/watchtower/1917/17/1917-17-2.html
(260-261) 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
BROOKLYN. 
N, 
y, 
fold 
are 
thy 
works! 
In 
wisdom 
hllost 
thou 
made 
them 
all! 
The 
earth 
is 
full 
of 
thy 
riehes! 
So 
is 
this 
great 
and 
wide 
sea, 
wherein 
are 
things 
creeping 
innumerable, 
both 
small 
and 
great 
beasts 
..... 
The 
glory 
of 
the 
Lord 
endureth 
forever; 
the 
Lord 
shall 
rejoiee 
in 
his 
worb, 
1 
will 
Rin"" 
unto 
the 
Lord 
as 
10nO" 
as 
I 
live; 
I 
will 
sing 
praises 
to 
my 
U';-d 
while 
I 
have 
my 
being. 
~fy 
meditation 
of 
him 
shn 
11 
be 
swed; 
r 
will 
be 
glad 
in 
the 
Lord."-Psalm 
104:24, 
25, 
;ll, 
::l;~, 
::14. 
Language 
is 
a 
poor 
vehicle 
to 
convey 
our 
conception 
of 
God; 
and 
yet 
our 
coneeption 
is 
as 
nothing 
comI>ared 
to 
what 
he 
really 
is. 
This 
is 
the 
Mighty 
One 
who 
takes 
cognizance 
of 
man. 
''\Tho, 
then, 
beholding 
his 
power 
and 
wisdom, 
would 
not 
reverence 
this 
great 
One? 
He 
who 
possesses 
a 
reverential 
mind 
is 
led 
indeed 
to 
adore 
and 
worship 
sueh 
a 
God. 
It 
was 
his 
beloved 
Son 
Jesus 
who 
said, 
"This 
is 
life 
eternal, 
that 
they 
might 
know 
thee, 
the 
only 
true 
God, 
and 
Jesus 
Ohrist, 
whom 
thou 
hast 
sent." 
(John 
17:3) 
If 
to 
know 
him 
and 
his 
be­ 
loved 
Son 
means 
life, 
and 
life 
in 
perfection, 
the 
greatest 
thing 
that 
we 
desire, 
then 
why 
should 
not 
all 
with 
eagerness 
seek 
a 
knowledge 
of 
.Jehovah 
and 
of 
his 
Son? 
Truly, 
if 
mankind 
knew 
the 
Lord, 
the 
earth 
would 
be 
filled 
with 
the 
ereatures 
who 
would 
love 
and 
adore 
him. 
But 
for 
six 
thousand 
years 
the 
adversary 
has 
blinded 
man 
to 
tlle 
goodness 
of 
God. 
As 
St. 
Paul 
deelares, 
"The 
god 
of 
this 
world 
[Satan] 
hath 
blinded 
the 
minds 
of 
them 
which 
be­ 
lieve 
not, 
lest 
the 
light 
of 
the 
glorious 
Gospel 
of 
Christ, 
who 
is 
the 
image 
of 
God, 
should 
shine 
unto 
them."-2 
Corinthians 
4:4. 
GOD'S 
GREAT 
PLAN 
OF 
REDEMPTION 
Let 
us 
review 
some 
of 
the 
reasons 
why 
we 
should 
have 
gratitude 
and 
why 
we 
should 
worship 
and 
adore 
Jehovah 
and 
obey 
his 
holy 
will. 
Created 
in 
the 
image 
of 
God, 
man 
lost 
this 
by 
disobedience. 
In 
sorrow 
he 
went 
forth 
to 
battle 
against 
his 
many 
foes, 
and 
to 
battle 
thus 
unto 
death. 
There 
was 
no 
way 
for 
him 
to 
regain 
life 
by 
his 
own 
efforts. 
But 
Jehovah 
in 
his 
own 
due 
time 
and 
in 
the 
exercise 
of 
his 
wisdom 
and 
loving· 
kindness 
sent 
his 
dearly 
beloved 
Son 
to 
redeem 
man 
from 
death. 
This 
he 
did 
at 
great 
eost 
to 
himself. 
He 
gave 
up 
the 
dearest 
thing 
to 
his 
heart-that 
great 
and 
unspeakable 
gift, 
his 
Only 
Begotten! 
St. 
John 
tells 
us, 
"In 
this 
was 
manifested 
the 
love 
of 
God 
toward 
us, 
because 
that 
God 
sent 
his 
Only 
Begotten 
Son 
into 
the 
world, 
that 
we 
might 
live 
through 
him. 
Herein 
is 
love, 
not 
that 
we 
loved 
God, 
but 
that 
he 
loved 
us, 
and 
sent 
his 
Son 
to 
be 
the 
propitiation 
for 
our 
sins." 
(1 
John 
4:9, 
10) 
All 
this 
Jehovah 
did 
for 
us 
without 
our 
know~dge, 
yea, 
even 
before 
our 
existence. 
Abstractly, 
then, 
we 
may 
define 
love 
as 
an 
unselfish 
desire 
to 
do 
good, 
and 
to 
do 
good 
without 
regard 
to 
whether 
the 
recipient 
knows 
or 
does 
not 
know 
of 
it. 
T}lis 
love 
may 
include 
the 
sentiment 
of 
appreeiation, 
or 
it 
may 
be 
only 
a 
sympatbetic 
desire 
to 
aid, 
its 
scope 
depending 
upon 
the 
object 
lOVed. 
HEAVENLY 
OALLING 
OF 
THE 
GOSPEL 
A.GE 
God 
foreordained 
before 
the 
foundation 
of 
the 
world 
that 
Christ 
Jesus 
should 
be 
thE' 
Redeemer 
and 
King 
of 
the 
world, 
and 
that 
he 
should 
have 
associated 
with 
him 
in 
this 
great 
work 
144,000, 
designated 
as 
members 
of 
his 
body 
and 
as 
his 
bride. 
He 
did 
not 
call 
the 
angels 
of 
heaven 
to 
this 
high 
and 
honored 
place, 
but 
his 
eall 
was 
issued 
to 
some 
from 
the 
children 
of 
men. 
This 
call 
was 
an 
invitation. 
Jesus, 
baving' 
ascended 
into 
heaven, 
opened 
the 
way 
to 
life 
and 
immortality! 
and 
then 
the 
invitation 
went 
out, 
calling 
some 
to 
become 
joint-sacrificers 
with 
him 
and 
to 
share 
his 
glory. 
In 
phrase 
more 
beautiful 
than 
human 
tongue 
eould 
form, 
Jehovah 
sent 
this 
call: 
"Hearken, 
o 
daughter, 
and 
eonsider, 
and 
incline 
thine 
ear; 
forget 
also 
thine 
own 
people 
and 
thy 
father's 
house; 
so 
shall 
the 
King 
greatly 
desire 
thy 
beauty; 
for 
he 
is 
thy 
Lord, 
and 
worship 
thou 
him." 
(Psalm 
45:10, 
11) 
Never 
was 
a, 
proposal 
of 
marriage 
couched 
in 
phrase 
so 
sweet! 
Thus 
he 
called 
us 
out 
of 
darkness 
into 
his 
marvelous 
light! 
He 
called 
us 
to 
a 
heavenly 
calling, 
to 
be 
kings 
and 
priests 
unto 
him 
and 
unto 
Christ, 
and 
to 
reign 
with 
Christ 
in 
glory; 
to 
be 
joint 
heirs 
with 
him 
in 
all 
blcBll­ 
ings 
to 
be 
received 
at 
the 
hands 
of 
Jehovah 
in 
the 
ages 
to 
come. 
Those 
who 
hear 
lIJId 
respond 
to 
this 
call 
by 
fully 
consecrat­ 
ing 
theml!elves 
t() 
do 
the 
will 
of 
Jehovah 
he 
begetll 
to 
the 
di­ 
vine 
nature. 
(James 
1:18; 
1 
Peter 
1:3, 
4) 
Such 
also 
he 
anoints 
at 
the 
same 
time 
to 
the 
high 
office 
of 
kings 
and 
priests: 
and 
this 
anointing 
enables 
such 
to 
grasp 
the 
deep 
things 
of 
God's 
Word. 
(1 
Corinthians 
2:9, 
10) 
"The 
anointing 
which 
ye 
have 
received 
of 
him 
abid~h 
in 
you, 
and 
ye 
need 
not 
that 
any 
man 
teach 
you; 
but 
as 
the 
same 
anointing 
teacheth 
you 
of 
all 
things, 
and 
is 
truth, 
and 
is 
no 
lie, 
and 
even 
as 
it 
hath 
taught 
you, 
ye 
shall 
abide 
in 
him."-1 
John 
2:27. 
Foreknowing 
the 
church, 
God 
aforetime 
made 
provision 
for 
their 
feeding 
and 
nourishing. 
He 
caused 
to 
be 
prepared 
for 
their 
benefit 
the 
expression 
of 
his 
will, 
wbich 
is 
set 
forth 
in 
the 
holy 
Seriptures: 
"For 
whatsoever 
things 
were 
written 
a,foretime 
were 
written 
for 
our 
learning, 
that 
)ve 
through 
pa­ 
hence 
and 
comfort 
of 
the 
Scripturos 
might 
have 
hope." 
(Ro­ 
mans 
15 
:4) 
All 
the 
types 
and 
shadows 
recorded 
in 
the 
Old 
Testament 
and 
all 
the 
exeepding 
g'reat 
and 
precions 
promise.; 
of 
the 
Kew 
Testament 
God 
provide<l 
for 
our 
bpnefit-"aceord­ 
ing 
as 
.his 
di\'ine 
p~wpr 
hath 
given 
unto 
U3 
things 
that 
pertain 
unto 
hfe 
and 
godlmess, 
through 
Ihe 
knowledge 
of 
him 
that 
hath 
c~lled 
us 
to 
glory 
a?d 
drtue;. 
whereby 
are 
given 
unto 
us 
exceedmg 
great 
and 
precIOus 
promlses, 
that 
by 
these 
ye 
might 
be 
partakers 
of 
the 
divine 
nature." 
COMFORTS, 
PROTECTS 
AND 
DELIVERS 
The 
Lord 
forpknew 
that 
the 
('h'Jl'l'h 
would 
ha'" 
JJlallY 
tl'i 
>l­ 
and 
sorrows, 
and 
that 
in 
thcse 
they 
woult.! 
need 
comforting 
assuranees; 
henee 
he 
provided 
in 
his 
'Nord 
for 
all 
sneh 
nepd 
.. 
, 
And 
it 
is 
his 
will 
that 
we 
in 
tl1Tn 
use 
this 
samc 
comfort 
which 
we 
receive 
to 
comfort 
and 
blpss 
others 
who 
journey 
with 
n 
.. 
in 
the 
narrow 
wa~·. 
81. 
Paul, 
having 
this 
in 
mind, 
exultantly 
pxclaimed, 
"Blessed 
be 
God, 
evpn 
the 
Father 
of 
our 
Lord 
Jesus 
Christ. 
the 
}'arher 
of 
mercies 
and 
the 
God 
of 
all 
comfort, 
who 
comforteth 
us 
in 
all 
our 
tribulation, 
that 
we 
may 
be 
able 
to 
comfort 
them 
which 
are 
in 
trouble, 
by 
the 
comfort 
wherewith 
\\e 
ourselves 
are 
eomforted 
of 
God."-2 
Oorinthians 
1 
:3, 
4. 
In 
addition 
to 
ltll 
this, 
our 
dear 
Father 
protects 
us 
from 
the 
evil 
one; 
He 
gives 
us 
the 
assurance 
that 
thus 
he 
will 
do, 
"The 
angel 
of 
the 
Lord 
encampeth 
round 
about 
them 
that 
reverence 
him, 
and 
delivereth 
them." 
(Psalm 
34: 
7) 
"There 
shall 
no 
evil 
befall 
thee, 
neither 
shall 
any 
plague 
come 
nigh 
thy 
dwelling." 
(1'salm 
91 
:10) 
King 
David 
was 
a 
type 
of 
the 
Christ, 
head 
and 
body. 
David 
means 
"beloved," 
and 
he 
prophetically 
expressed 
the 
sentiment 
of 
our 
hearts 
when 
he 
said, 
"I 
will 
love 
thee, 
0 
Jehovah, 
my 
strength; 
the 
Lord 
is 
my 
rock 
[solid 
foundationl 
and 
my 
fortress 
[invulnerable 
to 
any 
enemy's 
attack] 
and 
my 
deliverer; 
my 
God, 
my 
strength, 
in 
whom 
I 
will 
trust; 
my 
buckler 
and 
the 
}>Ower 
of 
my 
salva· 
tion, 
and 
my 
high 
tower. 
[In 
this 
tower 
the 
Christian 
ean 
see 
what 
others 
cannot 
see, 
because 
he 
is 
above 
them.] 
I 
will 
call 
upon 
Jehovah, 
who 
is 
worthy 
to 
be 
praised; 
so 
shall 
I 
be 
saved 
from 
mine 
enemies." 
(Psalm 
18:1-3) 
Again 
says 
King 
David, 
"Blessed 
be 
the 
Lord, 
who 
daily 
loadeth 
us 
with 
bene­ 
fits-the 
God 
of 
my 
salvation!" 
(Psalm 
68: 
19) 
"Bless 
the 
Lord, 
0 
my 
soul, 
and 
fc.rget 
not 
all 
his 
benefits."-Psalm 
103: 
2. 
WRY 
WE 
LOVE 
OtJR 
LOBO 
lESUS 
In 
all 
that 
God 
has 
done 
for 
us, 
Jesus 
has 
been 
his 
honored 
instrument. 
In 
every 
purpose 
and 
work 
the 
Father 
and 
the 
Son 
are 
one. 
All 
things 
are 
of 
the 
Father; 
all 
things 
are 
by 
the 
Son. 
(1 
Corinthians 
8:6) 
If 
a 
man 
of 
great 
wealth 
should 
give 
one 
of 
us 
a 
million 
dolla.rs 
that 
we 
might 
use 
it 
to 
the 
Lord's 
glory, 
we 
should 
feel 
very 
grateful 
to 
such 
an 
one. 
But 
if 
he 
would 
give 
us 
all 
of 
his 
millions, 
and 
in 
addition 
would 
devote 
his 
life, 
with 
us, 
in 
proclaiming 
the 
Message 
of 
Messiah's 
glorious 
kingdom, 
surely 
our 
hearts 
would 
res}>Ond 
with 
grati­ 
tude 
and 
love 
to 
him! 
But 
Jesus 
did 
far 
greater 
things 
f()r 
us 
than 
this. 
"For 
ye 
know 
th/! 
grace 
of 
our 
Lord 
Jesus 
Christ, 
that 
though 
he 
wag 
rieh, 
for 
your 
sakes 
lIe 
became 
poor, 
that 
ye 
through 
his 
poverty 
might 
be 
rieh." 
(2 
Corinthians 
8:9) 
He 
was 
rich 
in 
heavenly 
honor, 
glory 
and 
power. 
By 
him 
were 
all 
things 
made, 
and 
he 
enjoyed 
the 
glories 
and 
blessings 
of 
the 
heavenly 
realm. 
All 
this 
he 
left, 
and 
took 
upon 
himself 
the 
form 
and 
nature 
of 
man, 
and 
then 
surrendered 
his 
humanity 
to 
the 
most 
ignomini­ 
ous 
death 
known, 
in 
order 
that 
we 
might 
have 
life. 
It 
was 
Jesus 
himself 
who 
said: 
"Greater 
love 
hath 
no 
man 
than 
this, 
that 
a 
man 
lay 
down 
his'life 
for 
his 
friends; 
and 
ye 
are 
my 
friends 
if 
ye 
do 
whatsoever 
I 
command 
you." 
(John 
15: 
13, 
14) 
He 
shed 
his 
blood 
for 
us; 
and 
all 
who 
become 
his 
friends 
receive 
the 
benefit 
of 
the 
merit 
of 
that 
sacrifice, 
which 
leads 
to 
life 
everlasting 
in 
a 
state 
of 
supreme 
haI>piness. 
Man 
eomes 
into 
the 
world 
with 
burdens; 
and 
as 
he 
journeys 
along 
life's 
wa.y 
his 
burdens 
increase 
until 
he 
finds 
the 
Lord, 
who 
graeiously 
says: 
"Come 
unto 
me, 
all 
ye 
that 
labor 
and 
are 
heavy-laden, 
and 
I 
will 
give 
you 
rest." 
(Matthew 
11 
:28) 
His 
love 
prompts 
him 
thus 
to 
do. 
ms 
:BRIDE 
'AND 
JOINT-HEIR 
God 
instituted 
the 
relationship 
of 
bride 
and 
bridegroom. 
It 
is 
the 
sweetest 
relationship 
known 
to 
mankind. 
From 
the 
time 
of 
the 
betrothal 
contract 
between 
the 
bridegroom 
and 
bride, 
they 
both 
look 
forward 
with 
sweet 
anticipation 
to 
the 
full 
consummation 
of 
their 
agreement. 
The 
Prophet 
of 
the 
Lord 
foretold 
this 
beautiful 
relationship 
between 
Jesus 
and 
the 
church, 
and 
speaking 
to 
the 
prospective 
bride 
as 
the 
mouthpiece 
of 
the 
Bridegroom, 
said, 
"I 
will 
betroth 
thee 
unto 
me 
in 
righteousness 
[and 
since 
she 
lias 
no 
righteousness 
or 
wedding 
garment 
of 
her 
own, 
JegUB 
provides 
itl, 
and 
in 
jU8tice 
and 
in 
loving-kindness 
·and 
in 
mereies 
[suggestion 
of 
his 
own 
beautiful 
attributes 
of 
'character, 
whirh 
she 
must 
also 
work 
[6134] 
(260~261) fold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all! The earth is full of thy riches! So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts... . . The glory of the Lord endureth forever; the Lord shall rejoice in his works. T will sing unto the Lord as long aa T live; 1 will sing praises to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet; I will be glad in the Lord.”—Psalm 104:24, 25, 31, 33, 34. Language is a poor vehicle to convey our conception of God; and yet our conception is as nothing compared to what he really is. This is the Mighty One who takes cognizance of man. Who, then, beholding his power and wisdom, would not reverence this great One? He who possesses a reverential mind ig led indeed to adore and worship such a God. It was hig beloved Son Jesus who said, “This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3) If to know him and his beloved Son means life, and life in perfection, the greatest thing that we desire, then why should not all with eagerness seek a knowledge of Jehovah and of his Son? Truly, if mankind knew the Lord, the earth would be filled with the creatures who would love and adore him. But for six thousand years the adversary has blinded man to the goodness of God. As St. Paul declares, “The god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”—2 Corinthians 4:4, GOD'S GREAT PLAN OF REDEMPTION Let us review some of the reasons why we should have gratitude and why we should worship and adore Jehovah and obey his holy will. Created in the image of God, man lost this by disobedience. In sorrow he went forth to battle against his many foes, and to battle thus unto death. There was no way for him to regain life by his own efforts. But Jehovah in his own due time and in the exercise of his wisdom and lovingkindness sent his dearly beloved Son to redeem man from death. This he did at great cost to himself. He gave up the dearest thing to his heart—that great and unspeakable gift, his Only Begotten! St. John tells us, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his Only Begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent hig Son to be the propitiation for our sins.’ (1 John 4:9, 10) All this Jehovah did for us without our knowledge, yea, even before our existence. Abstractly, then, we may define love as an unselfish desire to do good, and to do good without regard to whether the recipient knows or does not know of it. This love may include the sentiment of appreciation, or it may be only a sympathetic desire to aid, its scope depending upon the object loved. HEAVENLY CALLING OF THE GOSPEL AGE God foreordained before the foundation of the world that Christ Jesus should be the Redeemer and King of the world, and that he should have associated with him in this great work 144,000, designated as members of his body and as his bride. He did not call the angels of heaven to this high and honored place, but his call was issued to some from the children of men. This cal! wags an invitation. Jesus, having ascended into heaven, opened the way to life and immortality! and then the invitation went out, calling some to become joint-sacrificers with him and to share his glory. In phrase more beautiful than human tongue could form, Jehovah sent this call; “Hearken, 0 daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people and thy father’s house; so shall the King greatly desire thy beauty; for he is thy Lord, and worship thou him.” (Psalm 45:10, 11) Never was a proposal of marriage couched in phrase so sweet! Thus he called us out of darkness into his marvelous light! He called us to a heavenly calling, to be kings and priests unto him and unto Christ, and to reign with Chriat in glory; to be joint heirs with him in all blessings to be received at the hands of Jehovah in the ages to come. Those who hear and respond to this call by fully consecrating themeelveg to do the will of Jehovah he begets to the divine nature. (James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:3, 4) Such also he anoints at the same time to the high office of kings and priests; and this anointing enables such to grasp the deep things of God’s Word. (1 Corinthians 2:9, 10) “The anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you; but as the same anointing teacheth you of al} things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”—1 John 2:27, Foreknowing the church, God aforetime made provision for their feeding and nourishing. He caused to be prepared for their benefit the expression of his will, which is set forth in the holy Scriptures: “For whatsoever things were written THE WATCH TOWER Broortyn, N. Y. aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4) All the types and shadows recorded in the Old Testament and all the exceeding great and precious promises of the New Testament God provided for our benefii—‘according as his divine power hath given unto us things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue; whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature.” COMFORTS, PROTECTS AND DELIVERS The Lord foreknew that the charch would have many tris and sorrows, and that in these they would need comforting assurances; hence he provided in his Word for all such needs. And it is his will that we in turn use this same comfort which we receive to comfort and bless others who journey with us in the narrow way. St. Paul, having this in mind, exultantly exclaimed, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”—2 Corinthians 1:3, 4. In addition to Bll this, our dear Father protects us from the evil one; He gives us the assurance that thus he will do. “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that reverence him, and delivereth them.” (Psalm 34:7) “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” (Ysalm 91:10) King David was a type of the Christ, head and body. David means “beloved,” and he prophetically expressed the sentiment of our hearts when he said, “I will love thee, OQ Jehovah, my strength; the Lord is my rock [solid foundation] and my fortress [invulnerable to any enemy’s attack] and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler and the power of my salvation, and my high tower. [In this tower the Christian can see what others cannot see, because he is above them.] JI will eall upon Jehovah, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from mine enemies.” (Psalm 18:1-3) Again says King David, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits—the God of my salvation!” (Psalm 68:19) “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”—-Psalm 103:2. WHY WE LOVE OUR LORD JESUS In all that God has done for us, Jesus has been his honored instrument. In every purpose and work the Father and the Son are one. Al] things are of the Father; all things are by the Son. (1 Corinthians 8:6) lf a man of great wealth should give one of us a million dollars that we might use it to the Lord’s glory, we should féel very grateful to such an one. But if he would give us all of his millions, and in addition would devote his life, with us, in proclaiming the Message of Messiah’s glorious kingdom, surely our hearts would respond with gratitude and love to him! But Jesus did far greater things for us than this. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9) He was rich in heavenly honor, glory and power. By him were all things made, and he enjoyed the glories and blessings of the heavenly realm. All this he left, and took upon himself the form and nature of man, and then surrendered his humanity to the most ignominious death known, in order that we might have life. It was Jesus himself who said: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends; and ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I] command you.” (John 15:13, 14) He shed his blood for us; and all who become his friends receive the benefit of the merit of that sacrifice, which Jeads to life everlasting in a state of supreme happiness. Man comes into the world with burdens; and as he journeys along life’s way his burdens increase until he finds the Lerd, who graciously says: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28} His love prompts him thus to do. HIS BRIDE-AND JOINT-HEIR God instituted the relationship of bride and bridegroom. Tt is the sweetest relationship known to mankind. From the time of the betrothal contract between the bridegroom and bride, they both look forward with sweet anticipation to the full consummation of their agreement. The Prophet of the Lord foretold this beautiful relationship between Jesus and the church, and speaking to the prospective bride aa the mouthpiece of the Bridegroom, said, “I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness [and since she has no righteousness or wedding garment of her own, Jesus provides it], and in justice and in loving-kindness and in mercies [suggestion of his own beautiful attributes of character, which she must also work (6134]

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