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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
OF
THE
LORD'S
FAVOR
The
SoCIETY'S
fiscal
year
closes
with
October
31st.
We
take
pleasure
in
acknowledging
the
Lord's
great
blessing
upon
the
harvest
work
for
the
year,
evidenced
by
an
increase
in
every
branch
of
the
service.
Our
trial
balance
shows
that
1917
ex-
ceeds
every
other
year
of
the
harvest
work
except
the
phe
nominal
years
of
1913
and
1914.
We
feel
sure
the
friends
will
rejoice
over
this
furthcr
evidence
of
the
Lord's
guidance
and
favor
and
that
he
is
still
at
the
helm.
VOL.
XXXVIII
BROOKLYN,
N.
Y.,
DECEMBER
1,
1917
No.
23
THE
UGHT
OF
THE
WORLD
"The
night
is
far
spent,
the
day
is
at
hand.;
let
us
thcreforu
east
off
the
works
of
darkness,
IJnd
let
u.~
put
on
the
arIlJor
of
light.
"
"Ye
are
thc
light
of
the
world.
"-R()mans
13:
12;
Matthew
5:
14.
There
is
a
depth
of
meaning
in
these
words
that
the
human
a
few
saw
it;
for
it
shone
in
a
dark
place;
and
to
those
who
mind
cannot
comprehend.
This
was
especially
true
with
refer.
did
see
it
the
Master
declared,
"Blessed
are
your
eyes,
for
enee
to
the
statement
of
the
Master
when
the
disciples
heard
they
see."-Matthew
13:
16.
him
say.
"Ye
are
the
light
of
the
world."
They
could
not
grasp
In
proof
that
light
is
a
symbol
of
Hfe
we
quote
the
words
the
meaning
of
his
words;
for
the
holy
Spirit
was
not
then
of
the
Master:
"Then
spake
Jesus
unto
them,
saying,
I
am
the
given.
Only
the
new
creature
in
G'hrist
can
have
an
apprecia-
Light
of
the
world;
he
that
followeth
me
shall
not
walk
in
tion
of
the
meaning
thereof,
and
the
extent
of
appreciation
is
darkness,
but
shall
have
the
light
of
life."
(John
8:12)
It
in
proportion
to
his
spiritual
development.
follows
then
that
all
who
have
the
right
to
life
must
have
the
In
all
the
languages
of
the
earth,
light
is
a
symhol
of
truth
light.
Those
who
have
no
light
have
no
right
to
life.
All
and
life.
The
sun
is
the
great
light
of
the
earth,
and
sustains
those
who
will
ever
have
the
right
to
life
must
have
the
light;
a.
relationship
to
the
earth
and
its
products
designedly
and
since
it
is
God's
purpose
t11at
every
man
shall
have
a
analogous
to
that
of
C'rl>d
to
the
universe.
As
all
light
of
the
chance
to
allcept
life
thc
time
must
come
that
every
man
will
earth
emanatea
from
the
SUll,
so
all
truth
and
life
proceed
from
~ee
the
Jj.,.ht.
Hence
we
read,
"It
is
the
will
of
God
that
all
God.
As
light
is
·adapted
to
the
eye,
so
truth
is
adapted
to
the
men
shalt
be
saved
and
brought
to
an
accurate
knowledge
of
mind;
and
in
proportion
as
we
perceive
and
receive
the
truth.
the
truth."-l
Timothy
2:
3,
4.
the
light
increases
ill
our
lives.
Beginning
with
the
sun
and
HOW
WE
GET
THE
LIGHT
tracing
out
the
analogy
we
find
that
all
nature
is
really
If
Jesus
was
the
Light
of
the
world,
why
did
he
say
to
symbolic.
This
does
not
come
by
accident.
but
designedly
so.
his
disciples,
"Yeare
the
light
of
the
world"?
It
is
not
an
accident
that
the
sun
and
moon
are
symbols;
for
In
answering
this
question
we
recall
the
words
of
the
Mas·
we
read,
"God
said
.
.
.
Let
them
be
for
signs."--Gen.
1:14.
ter
(John
9:5):
"As
long
as
I
am
in
the
world
I
am
the
The
antithesis
of
light
is
darkness.
It
symbolizes
evil,
Light
of
the
world."
When
Jesus
said,
"Ye
are
the
light
of
the
wickedness,
error,
sin,
death
and
everything
that
is
unde-
world,"
he
spoke
prophetieally;
for
it
was
not
then
true,
ex
sirable.
Light,
therefore,
is
a
symbol
of
righteousness,
truth,
cept
in
the
sense
that
they
reflected
his
Spirit.
In
the
fuller
life,
and
the
blessings
incident
thereto.
sense
it
was
true
after
his
crucifixion
and
resurrection,
and
~IO;HT
TO
LIVE,LWI'l'ED.
after
the
giving
of
the
holy
Spirit
to
the
consecrated
at
Pente-
One
of
~he
prmclples.
of
(i{)d.s
arrangem.ent
18
that
.all
cost.
He
spake,
however,
of
things
that
were
to
be
as
though
rlgh.teous
belUgs
have
the.nght
to
hve.
Truth
IS
the
expresSIOn
they
were.
In
one
sense
the
disciples,
as
his
representatives
of
rIghteousness.
Henee
It
follow~
that
all
ml;'st
have
.the
truth
acting
under
his
authority,
were
then
the
light
of
the
world;
befo~e
they
can
~now
th~
wa~
to
ll.fe.
As
an
IllustratIon:.
The
for
they
reflected
the
light.
But
the
time
was
to
come,
and
did
sun
IS
a
gr,eat
llght
whIch
gIves
hgh~
to
th~
~arth
and
hfe
to
come,
when
they
constituted
the
light
of
the
world
because
they
the
vegetatIOn
of
the
earth
..
The
sun
IS
r.equlSlte
to
the
growth
were
in
him
as
members
of
his
body.
This
has
been
true
with
!U1d.development
of
pl~nt
~Ife.
Plant~
WIll
n~t
~o~
and
flour-
reference
to
every
Christian
who
has
abode
in
Christ
and
has
Ish
In
.darkness,
but
wIll
SIcken.
and
dIe.
So
It
IS
wI~h
all
who
had
the
words
of
Christ
abiding
in
him.
have
lIfe--they
must
have
the
hght
from
the
Grea.t
LIght.
The
The
ransom-price
provided
by
the
death
and
resurrection
of
Scriptu~es
des?,t'ibe
Jehovah
as
a
"sun"
(Psaln:,
~4:
11),
as
"a
Jesus
was,
at
the
time
of
his
ascension
into
heaven,
made
avail
~nsumlDg
fire
(Hebr,~ws
12:29),
and
a
great
.1lght,
In.
,!hom
able
for
the
use
of
those
who
throughout
the
Gospel
age
should
I~
no
darkn~s
at
all.
(1
Jo~n.
1:5)
.God.ls
the
orIgIn
of
offer
themselves
to
God
in
full
consecration.
The
disciples
lIg;ht,
and
IS
therefore
the
.0ngIn
of
life.
Where
the
sun
were
consecrated
prior
to
Pentecost,
but
not
justified.
Hence
shmes,
dark1?'ess
flees
before
Its
rays.
Where
the
.countenance
their
spirit-begetting
could
not
take
place
until
Pentecost.
of
Jehovah
IS
m~de
to
appear,
darkness
and
unng~teous.nel!s
Those
of
the
church
receive
the
light
only
at
the
time
of
conse
flee
away
.•
To
tillS
the
Apostle
referred
when
he
8&ld,
"Tlme~
cration
and
of
the
receipt
of
the
merit
of
the
Master's
sacrifice;
of
refreshmg
shall
come
from
the
presence
[face)
of
the
Lord.
llnd
when
they
have
been
accepted
by
the
lI'ather
and
begotten
-Acts
3:
19.
of
the
holy
Spirit,
the
illumination
follows.
These
who
are
in
In
the
Genesis
a~~nf~A~r::t?~T
we
read
that
''God
Christ
are
members
of
his
body.
It
is
proper
then
to
sa)'
that
made
two
great
lights;
the
greater
light
to
rule
the
day
from
the
Jordan
till
now,
The
Christ
is
the
light
of
the
wor
I
I.
and
the
lesser
light
to
rule
the
night:
he
made
the
stars
for
the
reason
that
The
Christ
includes
all
those
who
have
the
also."
(Gen.
1:
16)
The
stars
here
symbolize
that
class
~pirit
of
Jesus
and
who
are
walking
in
accord
with
the
term,
l
I
b
of
their
eovenant.
to
which
Abraham
be
onged.
Abraham
had
litt
e
light,
ut
This
is
very
beautifUlly
pictured
by
the
golden
candle,tick
great
faitb.
The
moon
symbolizes
the
Mosaw
law
given
the
Jews,
to
the
ex;clusion
of
all
others.
Since
the
time
of
Adam,
in
the
Holy
of
the
Tabernacle.
The
candle-stick
was
all
of
one
disobedience
and
darkness
prevail
over
the
ea.rtb,
and
gross
piece,
composed
of
gold,
and
represents
toose
begotten
to
the
darkness
over
the
people.
To
the
Jews
God
gave
some
light
divine
nature,
the
centre-burner
representing
Jesus
and
the
h
h
La
Co
t
h'
h
.
bor
d
other
burners
representing
the
body
members.
The
oil
therein
through
t
e
terms
of
t
e
w
venan,
w
IC
IS
sym
lze
pictures
the
holy
Spirit,
and.
the
light
coming
from
the
burn-
by
the
moon.
As
we
know,
the
moon
does
not
give
forth
her
d
b
\
I
·
h
ell
t
h
.
h
.
ed
h
ing
of
the
oil
represents
the
illumination
pos8eSse
y
t
JOB£'
own
Ig
t,
but
r
ec
s
t
e
hg
t
reeelv
from
t
e
sun.
And
so
who
are
in
Christ,
possessing
his
Spirit.
This
illumination
it
is
with
the
Law
Covenant.
It
could
not
be
appreciated
by
constitutes
such
the
light
of
the
world.
those
living
prior
to
the
openi~
of
the
Gosre
l
age.
The
law
WHAT
WE
SHALL
DO
reflects
the
light
from
the
Gospe
of
Messiah
s
kingdom,
which
Behold
what
a
favored
n<>Aition
the
body
members
occupy!
Gospel
was
first
preached
to
Abraham.
(Galatians
3:
8)
Only
1:'--
those
who
have
received
and
accepted
the
light
of
the
message
God
is
the
great
Li~ht
from
whom
cometh
all
light
and
lik
of
Messiah's
kingdom
can
now
appreciate
the
light
eoming
from
Jesus
is
the
expTess
Image
of
the
Father;
and
through
him
the
the
Law
Oovenant,
which
foreshadows
better
things
to
come.-
fully
consecrated
are
privileged
to
be
a
reflection
of
Jehovah's
Hebrews
10:1.
light
in
the
earth.
When
we
realize
this
fact
we
can.better
GBEA'l'EB
LIGHT
understa.nd
why
the
Apostle
refers
to
the
Christian
as
an
am-
At
the
close
of
the
Jewish
age
there
came
into
the
world
bassador
of
Christ's
kingdom,
and
can
better
appreciate
the
Jeaus,
the
Son
of
God.
Although
born
under
the
Law
Covenant,
responsibilities
that
rest
upon
us
because
of
this
light
and
he
was
greater
than
the
law.
Being
a
perfect
man,
he
could
privilege.
comply
with
the
terms
of
the
law.
This
he
did,
and
went
be-
Seeing
the
favored
position
which
the
members
of
the
body
yond
its
requirements
in
the
fulfilment
of
God's
great
plan.
this
side
the
veil
occupy
with
relation
to
Jehovah
and
to
the
From
Adam
to
Jesus
there
had
been
no
true
light
in
the
world
great
:M:.aster,
St.
Paul
was
evidently
desirous
of
impressing
this
whatsoever.
When
Jesus
came
he
declared,
"I
am
the
Light
of
thought
upon
all
Christians
when
he
wrote:
"The
night
is
filT
the
world."
Again
the
Scriptures
record
of
him:
"He
was
spent,
the
day
is
at
hand;
let
us
therefore
cast
off
the
works
of
.
.
.
the
true
Light
which
lighteth
evety
man
that
cometh
·darkness,
and
let
Ult
put
on
the
armor
of
light."-Romans
into
the
world."
(,John
I:
9)
The
Light
then
was
local;
only
13
:
12.
(355-356)
[6174]
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE LORD’S FAVOR The Soctety’s fiscal year closes with October 8lst. We take pleasure in acknowledging the Lord’s great blessing upon the arvest work for the year, evidenced by an increase in every branch of the service. Our trial balance showa that 1917 ex ceeds every other year of the harvest work except the phenominal years of 1913 and 1914. We feel sure the friends will rejoice over this further evidence of the Lord’s guidance and favor and that he is still at the helm. Vou. XXXVIII BROOKLYN, N. Y., DECEMBER 1, 1917 No. 23 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD ‘‘The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.'’ ““¥e are the light of the world.’’-Rémans 13:12; Matthew 5:14. _ There is a depth of meaning in these words that the human mind cannot comprehend. This was especially true with reference to the statement of the Master when the disciples heard him say, “Ye are the light of the world.” They could not grasp the meaning of his words; for the holy Spirit was not then given. Only the new creature in Christ can have an appreciation of the meaning thereof, and the extent of appreciation is in proportion to his spiritual development. In all the languages of the earth, light is a symbol of truth and life. The sun is the great light of the earth, and sustains a relationship to the earth and its products designedly analogous to that of God to the universe. As all light of the earth emanates from the sun, so all truth and life proceed from God, As light is adapted to the eye, so truth is adapted to the maind; and in proportion as we perceive and receive the truth, the light increases in our lives. Beginning with the sun and tracing out the analogy we find that all nature is really symbolic. This does not come by accident, but designedly so. It is not an accident that the sun and moon are symbols; for we read, “God said . . Let them be for signs.”——Gen. 1:14. The antithesia of light is darkness. It symbolizes evil, wickedness, errer, sin, death and everything that is undesirable. Light, therefore, is a symbol of righteousness, truth, life, and the blessings incident thereto. RIGHT TO LIVE LIMITED One of the principles of God’s arrangement is that all righteous beings have the right to live. Truth is the expression of righteousness. Hence it follows that all must have the truth before they can know the way to life. As an illustration: The sun is a great light which gives light to the earth and life to the vegetation of the earth. The sun is requisite to the growth and development of plant life. Plants will not grow and flourish in darkness, but will sicken and die. So it is with all who have life—they must have the light from the Great Light. The Scriptures describe Jehovah as a “sun” (Psalm 84:11), as “a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29), and a great “light, in whom is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5) God is the origin of light, and is therefore the origin of life. Where the sun shines, darkness flees before its rays. Where the countenance of Jehovah is made to appear, darkness and unrighteousness flee away. To this the Apostle referred when he said, “Times of refreshing shall come from the presence [face} of the Lord.” — Acta 3:19. THE GREAT LIGHT In the Genesis account of creation we read that “God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.” (Gen. 1:16) The stars here symbolize that class to which Abraham belonged. Abraham had little light, but great faith. The moon symbolizes the Mosaic law given the Jewa, to the exclusion of ali others. Since the time of Adam, disobedience and darkness prevail over the earth, and grossa darkness over the people. To the Jews God gave some light through the terms of the Law Covenant, which is symbolized by the moon. As we know, the moon does not give forth her own light, but reflects the light received from the sun. And so it is with the Law Covenant. It could not be appreciated by those living prior to the opening of the Gospel age. The law reflects the light from the Gospel of Messiah's kingdom, which Gospel was first preached to Abraham. (Galatians 3:8) Only those who have received and accepted the light of the message of Messiah’s kingdom can now appreciate the light coming from the Law Covenant, which foreshadows better things to come.— Hebrews 10:1. GREATER LIGHT At the close of the Jewish age there came into the world Jesus, the Son of God. Although born under the Law Covenant, he wag greater than the law. Being a perfect man, he could comply with the terms of the law. This he did, and went beyond its requirements in the fulfilment of God’s great plan. From Adam to Jesus there had been no true light in the world whatsoever. When Jesus came he declared, “I am the Light of the world.” Again the Scriptures record of him: “He was . . . the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:9) The Light then was local; only (355-356) a few saw it; for it shone in a dark place; and to those who did see it the Master declared, “Blessed are your eyes, for they see.”—Matthew 13:16. In proof that light is a symbol of Hife we quote the words of the Master: “Then spake Jesus unto them, saying, I am the Light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’ (John 8:12) It follows then that all who have the right to life must have the light. Those who have no light have no right to life. All those who will ever have the right to life must have the light; and since it is God’s purpose that every man shall have a chance to accept life the time must come that every man will see the light. Hence we read, “It is the will of God that all men shall be saved and brought to an accurate knowledge of the truth.”—1 Timothy 2:3, 4. HOW WE GET THE LIGHT If Jesus was the Light of the world, why did he say to his disciples, “Ye are the light of the world’? In answering this question we recall the words of the Master (John 9:5): “As long as I am in the world I am the Light of the world.” When Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world,” he spoke prophetically; for it was not then true, except in the sense that they reflected his Spirit. In the fuller sense it was true after his crucifixion and resurrection, and after the giving of the holy Spirit to the consecrated at Pentecost. He spake, however, of things that were to be as though they were. In one sense the disciples, as his representatives acting under his authority, were then the light of the world; for they refleeted the light. But the time was to come, and did come, when they constituted the light of the world because they were in him as members of his body. This has been true wit reference to every Christian who has abode in Christ and has had the words of Christ abiding in him. The ransom-price provided by the death and resurrection of Jesus was, at the time of his ascension into heaven, made available for the use of those who throughout the Gospel age should offer themselves to God in full consecration. The disciples were consecrated prior ta Pentecost, but not justified. Hence their spirit-begetting could not take place until Pentecost. Those of the church receive the light only at the time of consecration and of the receipt of the merit of the Master’s sacrifice ; and when they have been accepted by the Father and begotten of the holy Spirit, the illumination follows. These who are in Christ are members of his body. It is proper then to say that from the Jordan till now, The Christ is the light of the worll. for the reason that The Christ includes all those who have the Spirit of Jesus and who are walking in accord with the terms of their covenant. This is very beautifully pictured by the golden candlestick in the Holy of the Tabernacle. The candle-stick was all of one piece, composed of gold, and represents those begotten to the divine nature, the centre-burner representing Jesus and the other burners representing the body members. The oi] therein pictures the holy Spirit, andthe light coming from the burning of the oil represents the illumination possessed by those who are in Christ, possessing his Spirit. This illumination constitutes such the light of the world. WHAT WE SHALL DO Behold what a favored position the body members occupy! God is the great Light from whom cometh all light and lie. Jegus is the expreas image of the Father; and through him the fully consecrated are privileged to be a reflection of Jehovah’s light in the earth. When we realize this fact we can better understand why the Apostle refers to the Christian as an ambassador of Christ’s kingdom, and can better appreciate the responsibilities that rest upon us because of this light and privilege. Seeing the favored position which the members of the body this side the veil occupy with relation to Jehovah and to the great Master, St. Paul was evidently desirous of impressing this thought upon all Christians when he wrote: “The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.”’—Romans 13:12, [6174]
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