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AS AGAIN we gather for an Annual Meeting, it is in the hope that
the review of the year's activities may inspire us to a great desire for faithfulness as
our plans are formed for the endeavors of a new year. Each year that brings us nearer to
the blessed realization of our hopes should 'bring with it a more solemn realization of the import of the things with which it
is our privilege to deal. While true that our salvation is nearer than when we first
believed, it is equally true that the time for our preparation and the time in which we have the inestimable privilege
of assisting others to be made ready for their entrance into the Bridegroom's presence
is shortening. It is not merely for a few moments, but for eternity that these whom we
mutually endeavor to encourage to the putting on of the graces of the Spirit, are to be
associated with their heavenly Lord. It is probable that all eternity will never again
witness so tremendous a work among God's creatures. That we should have to look upon the year that
is past and confess that there have been some opportunities not used to the best of our
ability or perhaps entirely wasted is a matter of profound regret. But "the night is
far spent, the day is at hand," let us not waste our time in too much lamentation
that we cannot bring to our Master's coffers all that we would like, but rather be urged
on by that realization to greater eagerness in the preparation of ourselves and our
companions for the rapidly approaching Day.
While the Directors who are making this
report are endeavoring to fully realize their responsibility, first to the Lord, who we
trust is its real Director, and then to the membership of the Institute, we would urge the
brethren at large to realize that each one of us stands in a position of responsibility as
his brother's keeper. Perhaps we are inclined to think of the final glorious results of
the Age as being largely credited to a few outstanding servants, but one of the greatest
of these assures us that "the fulness of Him which filleth all in all" will
reach its perfection because of "that which every joint supplieth." The
responsibility is with each individual Christian to be faithful in that which is least
of the privileges coming to his hand "for the perfecting of the saints, for the
work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ; till we all come in the
unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the
measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."
For the benefit of those who have more
or less recently become associated with us, we would explain what has been kept more or
less prominent from the commencement of our work, namely that this institution has never
been and is not a church organization, nor of a sectarian character. It represents
merely a voluntary association of Christian believers for mutual comfort and edification.
There is no written or understood creed or formula of belief, nor articles of
faith other than that of an acknowledgment of relationship with God and His dear Son by
faith in Christ's atoning sacrifice and consecration to do the divine will. It is recalled
that this was the good foundation upon which Christian believers were united and the
Church was formed in the beginning of the Age. Consequently from the commencement of
this ministry eighteen years ago, the importance of recognizing this broad basis of
Christian fellowship has been given much emphasis-that the brethren everywhere should seek
to put away the spirit of sectarianism and intolerance and to recognize the one foundation
upon which all should be united.
The Public Witness
While the importance of stressing
spiritual development as the chief purpose of our ministry has always been recognized,
it has not at any time been to the neglect of the witness to the public-three editions of
"The Divine Plan of the Ages" having been printed by our Institute, and the
supply of a variety of tracts being always on hand for those who have the opportunity and
the inclination to make use of them. There is also always on hand a special edition of the
"Herald". reprinting Brother Russell's treatment of the two subjects, "What
Say the Scriptures About Hell," and "What Say the Scriptures About Our Lord's
Return." A goodly number of each of these has been used by the friends in their
witnessing to the public, though we fear some have hesitated to make use of these
various forms of service because of their inability to financially assist with the work.
In the Lord's providence there are those who are able to pay for the printing of tracts
and who by the Lord's grace have been moved to do so. During the many years of the Harvest
work there has been a special fund provided for this purpose, and we believe it has been
in accordance with the Lord's will, so that none need be idle. For those who are not able
to purchase copies of the "First Volume" to place in the hands of those who have
shown some interest, there are always on hand in our office copies held for the purpose of
lending. The way is open so that none need say that there is no service for him in the
harvest field. Nor should any one become discouraged because the results are meager. This
should rather be accepted as a reason for lifting up our heads in rejoicing that the
grains are becoming fewer, since it is an evidence that the end of the harvest is near.
But there is no reason for any reaper to slacken his hand until the plowman has passed
over the field, leaving it ready for the new sowing.
Economy is still a necessity in
witnessing through the instrumentality of the tracts as well as in the other branches of
our service. Even this, however, has proved a blessing, in that it has developed a method
of tract distribution that gives the brethren personal contact with those whom they seek
to interest. This is done by having a brief conversation in each instance, and leaving
tracts only where there is evidence of interest. We trust that the coming year will find a
still greater number taking advantage of this privilege, and thus securing blessings for
themselves as well as for those to whom they witness.
We are pleased to report that many
helpful and sympathetic suggestions have come to us not only from those who are members of
our association but from those who are not. We assure you that all are appreciated, and we
take this occasion to remind you that while you have elected your directorate to a
position which they realize is one of responsibility, you have not thereby relieved
yourselves of any obligation to do with your might what your hands find to do, nor of
suggesting any change in our methods that would seem to you pleasing to the Lord.
There is also no thought among our
brethren that this Institute is a divine channel, having the custody of
the Church and the brethren, and that it has been appointed of God to decide for these
brethren what is truth. In this respect we would class ourselves as protestants. All such
claims made in the past are unscriptural, and to make such a boast in this day with all of
Church history lying before us, would seem folly. As was so often lovingly pointed out
by our beloved Brother Russell, it is always necessary that every teaching shall be
carefully scrutinized in the light of the divine Word, no matter how learned nor how
sanctified the source may be.
Ministry Through the "Herald"
The "Herald," we feel, though
imperfect, has filled a most important place in our service, especially endeavoring to
minister to the deeper spiritual needs of our brethren. While appreciative of the words
of commendation that have come to us. both for the contributed articles and for those from
our Editorial Committee, we are glad also for the criticisms. In previous reports we have
explained the giving over of a goodly portion of the pages of the "Herald" to
articles dealing particularly with the devotional, practical, and spiritual phase of our
faith," as being no indication of lack of interest in the more fundamental truths. It
is therefore not a' change of attitude that has brought more so-called doctrinal articles
into our columns in recent months. Some have regretted the change, as giving them less of
the type of articles they felt especially timely; others have expressed warm
appreciation of the review of the doctrines which we have undertaken. It has been our
desire, while keeping prominently before our minds the features of the Plan of God which
have to do with our salvation from sin and the redemption' and restoration of the human
race, to remember that the special work of the Bride at the present time is to "make
herself ready" to meet the Bridegroom. Whether or not the present policy shall be
continued, will no doubt be decided by the incoming directorate on the basis of the
statements received from the "Herald" readers.
While recognizing our responsibility to
furnish a paper that will
appeal to its readers, we
would remind you that there is for all, a privilege and responsibility in connection
with the seeking of additional readers. . To assist along this line, we have in the past
offered to send sample Heralds either to the address of our subscribers requesting them,
or to lists furnished us. We have also accepted free, three months' subscriptions for
those who might be interested by this method. Each subscriber has also been privileged
to have one or more extra copies coming regularly to his address for use thus in
interesting others. All these privileges are still open to you. There seems a special need
for brethren of tact to urge upon those who desire the "Herald" but are unable
to pay for it, the acceptance of it on the terms which have always been provided for
such. The fact that an endeavor has been made along these lines in the past does not
indicate that if the same individuals were again approached, they might not now accept it.
We have always been glad to send sample Heralds to addresses as repeatedly as the brethren
thought wise.
The Pilgrim Ministry
Though in large measure interrupted for
a season owing to an uncertainty of our plans, the Pilgrim service which we have
fostered has seemed to bring to the friends blessings almost if not fully equal to those of the
"Herald," though of necessity the visits have been much less frequent. The
interruption of this service has of itself served to demonstrate to us its great
value-the letters of inquiry clearly indicating a heartfelt appreciation of the visits
of the Pilgrim brethren. While we are now serving over 300 Classes, it is our suspicion
that there are still others who could have the fellowship and spiritual inspiration of
the Pilgrim brethren, but who are depriving themselves of this privilege for some
insufficient reason, such as unpretentious accommodations or the simple fare which the
depression necessitates. If the fellowship is like that on the way to Emmaus, the
plainness of physical fare will be forgotten in the abundance of spiritual communion,
and we trust none will hesitate to make request for these visits who has a desire for such
fellowship. The fact that we receive a request for Pilgrim visits is no assurance that we will be able to
accede to it, for some may prove inaccessiible; as for instance the requests from Alaska
and Trinidad. Much, however, might have been added to the pleasure and profit of this
service, if all the brethren had had the courage of those in these localities. Where there
are opportunities, we are serving the brethren in scattered territories. Perhaps if more
brethren in the sparsely settled districts had made request for Pilgrim visits, they
would not only have blessed themselves, but have granted more frequent service to the
others of the district.
Some have given as their reason for
making no request, that their Class was too small, not realizing that the Pilgrim brethren
have reported their visits with the ones and twos as among the most blessed of their
experiences. Then, too, these visits have at times resulted in awakening some others who
were losing interest, or in releasing from bondage some who previously had not been able
to get free, thus restoring to the isolated permanent fellowship.
Miles
traveled 83,362
Meetings
held 1,112
Attendance 20,683
While still considering as of the
greatest service among our publications, the "Herald," the tracts, and the
"Divine Plan of the Ages," we have been very much encouraged by reports of the
blessing received through the three volumes dealing with the prophecies of Daniel and the
Revelation. The increasing distress among the people and the perplexity of nations
should be arousing greater interest in these prophetic subjects. Letters we have
received indicate that an increase of faith has resulted from the reading of these
expositions, as the faithfulness of God is manifested in His dealings with and
providential care over His people, and in the fulfilment of His purposes throughout the
Age.
The Isolated Reached
Though some are inaccessible to our
Pilgrim service, the thoughtful assistance of our friends has enabled us to reach many isolated and
otherwise inaccessible brethren, and in many instances to great profit, through the
sending of sample Heralds and through our correspondence department. It has been a source
of great joy to the brethren employed in the office that they could frequently forward
a word of encouragement to the many who have no fellowship with others of "like
precious faith." But not less blessed has been the joy of receiving letters from
brethren in all conditions. Whether isolated or in Classes, the eagerness -for additional
fellowship has seemed to be much the same. Most of the friends have taken time in their
correspondence to add a word of encouragement, that we may have the joy of realizing that
others are knowing the Lord somewhat better because of our feeble efforts, thus evidencing
that our "unprofitable" service is being transmuted by the Lord into
profitable service. It has been encouraging to find how few of the brethren are failing to
be "patient in tribulation." Evidently the lesson is coming home "that whom
the Lord loveth He chasteneth." While the great bulk of the letters have been of
appreciation, some have accepted our invitation which stands on the first page of the
"Herald" to send suggestions and criticisms. These have been appreciated and we
have endeavored to profit by all of them. Where our consecrated judgment did not agree
with the suggestion, while realizing our imperfections, and trusting the Lord to
overrule, we 'have considered it our duty to take no action in the instance unless it would be to
endeavor to accomplish the same means by another method.
In another way our correspondence has
proved of benefit to us. It has brought the privilege of sharing in the inspiration which
others have enjoyed from their Bible study. Much real assistance has come to us by this
method, and we have been very appreciative of the brethren who have thus shared their
blessings with us. Perhaps it should not be a matter of surprise that there have been some few
who have been inclined to lose patience with us because our minds did not work as theirs
and that what seemed to them a great enlightenment should to us appear error. On the
other hand we trust that we have at times been used of the Lord to add to the blessings
enjoyed by these earnest searchers, in that it has been our lot to call to their attention
the fact that a measure of human reasoning had entered into their strivings to attain the
"mind of Christ." The letters coming to us, however, have increasingly indicated
a growing realization of the untrustworthiness of the human mind and a more patient
submission in the present trials. It has not always
been possible to answer our correspondents as fully as we would like, and in some
instances we have not been able to reply at all.
We trust all realize that a failure to reply was not from any lack of desire on our part,
but from human limitations.
Number
of letters received .... 4,797
Number
of letters sent out .... 5,404
While most of our foreign correspondence has been with Great Britain, all the continents and many of the
islands of the sea are represented on our list. Though so much territory has been
covered, it is not our thought that we have by any means served all the consecrated. It is our confidence, however,
that the Lord has other agencies of reaching all who are His, and serving them with just
the spiritual assistance needed at this time -- the time which we trust may prove that of
our final testing. The Lord has seen fit to permit more or less of limitations to be
placed upon the service of each of His brethren by his physical condition and
circumstances. Thus by using many brethren in this
great work of making the Bride ready, the many varieties of needs are evidently being met.
Our prayers are for all those engaged in serving the Lord, that they may be conscious of
His experienced and powerful hand, guiding to a successful issue all their consecrated
efforts.
His Grace not Exhausted
The results of any spiritual endeavor are not to be measured by
that which can be expressed in the words of a report. With the Apostle Paul, we would say
that "God is our record." Only He can compute and can know the growth in
grace, the development of the inner man that may be showing in His record as a result of
this last year's feeble endeavor. All must wait in patience until the time when we shall
have the privilege of seeing the accounts open before us. Nor should we accept the visible results
of any year, the one just passed or any other, as a standard for the year that lies just
ahead. Rather we should hope for a larger measure of His fathomless grace than ever before
known. If Satan's oppositions are to be successfully met (for we will find him undoubtedly
more wise and more energetic than ever before), we will all need to be the better
fortified against his attacks. Bible study with the assistance of the helps the Lord has
so lovingly provided for us will no doubt be the main feature of our armor, but as in the
past, those who are safe will be the ones who are additionally found doing "good unto
all men as they have opportunity," "preaching the Word, instant in season and
out of season," pleasing his neighbor unto his edification. A realization of our
needs and of the needs of our neighbors, we trust, will result in the distribution of a
larger number of tracts during the coming season, a sending out of more sample Heralds,
the placing of more First Volumes or entire sets of "Scripture -Studies," not
neglecting the personal witness, but above all the ascending of more fervent and more
frequent prayers for divine blessing upon all the Lord's servants whatever the field of
their endeavors may be.
Balance Sheet - April 30, 1936
Assets
Cash
and
Marketable Securities:
Cash on Hand
$ 9.82
Cash on Deposit
160.23
Home Owners Loan Corporation Bonds 4,000.00 $ 4,170.05
Books
Divine
Plan-Pocket Edition
(1682)
403.68
Revelation
Exposition, Vol. 1
(1250)
625.00
Revelation
Exposition, Vol. 2
(60)
45.00
Daniel Exposition ...
(1434)
717.00
Bibles,
Scripture Studies, Mannas, etc
109.88
1,900.56
Real
Estate
Land and Building at 177 Prospect Place,
Brooklyn, N. Y. as appraised by
Brooklyn Trust Company - October, 1935
12,000.00
Other
Assets
Miscellaneous Securities
1,503.57
Less: Reserve for loss on realization 803.57 700.00
Total
Assets
$18,770.61
Liabilities
and Net Worth
Liabilities
Mortgage Payable on
177 Prospect Place Property
7,000.00
Net
Worth
Balance,
May 1, 1935
14,059.59
Less:
Excess of Expenses over Income
for the Fiscal Year May 1, 1935 to
April 30, 1936 as analyzed below 2,288.98 11,770.61
Total Liabilities and Net Worth
$18,770.61
Statement
of Income and Expense May 1, 1935 to April 30, 1936
Income:
Contributions
$4,380.70
Other
Income:
Interest on Securities
$ 155.73
Gain on Securities Sold
6.99
Unused Reserve for Loss on Securities 618.87
Interest at 4 % on
Investment in
property at 177 Prospect Place
(Rent Expense, contra)
480.00
1,261.59
Total Income
$5,642.29
Expenses
Herald
and Correspondence Dept.:
Printing, Postage,
etc.
$1,360.76
Allowances,
Office Staff
2,292.00
Office
Expense
446.16
Office
and Staff Quarters:
Coal,
Gas,
Electricity
$277.27
Taxes
186.74
Insurance
12.50
Building
Maintenance
708.86
Rent
(Interest, Contra)
480.00
1,665.37
$5,764.29
Less:
Paid Herald Subscriptions
1,837.02
$3,927.27
Pilgrim
Allowances and Expense
$3,368.42
Free
Literature
Tracts,
Special Heralds, etc
160.63
General
Expense
Interest
on Mortgage Payable
350.00
Cost
of Renewing Mortgage
35.00
Administrative
Expense
73.70
458.70
Net
Loss on Sale of Books
(as
analyzed below)
16.25
Total
Expense
7,931.27
Excess
of Expense over Income
(as
per Balance Sheet)
$2,288.98
Net
Loss on Sale of Books - May 1, 1935 to April 30, 1936
Sales Costs Net Loss
Divine
Plan
$ 40.75 $ 41.19 $ .44
Revelation
Exposition ( 75)
44.93 56.36 11.43
Daniel
Exposition ... ( 49)
22.25 30.60 8.35
107.93 128.15 20.22
Bibles,
Scripture Studies, Mannas, etc 874.21 870.24 3.97
$982.14 $998.39 $16.25
STATEMENT OF AUDITORS
To the Board of Directors:
At your request we have made an audit of the Balance Sheet of the
Pastoral Bible Institute as at April 30, 1936. We have checked. the Bank account and find
it to be correct; one of our number has examined the securities held in your safe deposit
box and found them in the amounts stated in the ledger account; the papers representing
securities other than United States and Home Owners Loan Corporation bonds have also been
examined and the net amount at which these are carried appears to be a conservative
valuation.
Your committee has not had time to check the income and expense
accounts for the year ended April 30, 1936, except in a very general manner. We have found
no errors in the accounting and the books are neatly kept.
W. J. HOLLISTER
H. L. YOUNG
LOUIS NEWMAN
ON JUNE 6,
as previously announced, there was a convocation in the offices of the Institute, of the
members of the Pastoral Bible Institute, and other interested brethren, The occasion was
the 18th of the Annual Meetings provided by our charter. The devotional service with which
the Chairman of the Board opened the meeting was a foretaste of the spirit which
characterized the meeting. While the attendance was perhaps slightly larger than in
recent years, and some came greater distances than has been usual, which added measurably
to the joy of the occasion, the great depth of our gratitude was in that the evidences of
the Lord's presence with us were very manifest.
The
chairman and secretary for the meeting having been elected, the Minutes of the"
previous Annual Meeting were read and approved. Following this came the various
reports-that of the Chairman of the Board, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the
Auditing Committee-all of which were approved. It was an inspiration to all to find so
much of good that could be reported regarding the year just ended, and to find the list of
new members, which was read, indicating a growing interest in our activities: The
remaining item of business for which these Annual Meetings are called, the election of
directors, followed. A song service added to the blessings of the day, while waiting for
the report of the Tellers who at its close announced the election of the following
brethren : S. D. Bennett, M.D., J. J. Blackburn, B. Boulter, J. C. Jordan, P. L. Read, C.
E. Stiles, P. E. Thomson.
Some
questions and suggestions having been heard, and arrangements having been made as to the
disposal of the ballots just cast, the meeting closed with a short devotional service.
The new
Board, in the evening following the Annual Meeting, met to organize for the coming year.
The blessings -and guidance enjoyed during the past year, accepted as an assurance of the
faithfulness of the Lord in overruling to His glory and to the advancement of His work,
enable us to begin the new year with confidence. Our prayer is that He will continue so to
direct the ministry that the hearts of those saints whom it is our privilege to serve may
be led to a clearer vision of the Lord, and thus to more likeness to His glorious
character.
Because
of inquiries which have come to the Board respecting our attitude toward questions that
have arisen in the minds of the friends, the present Directors wish again to draw the
attention of all to the "Word of Explanation" in the May "Herald,"
wherein our position and intention is plainly stated. We desire all our brethren to feel
assured that there will be the same careful regard for and appreciation of the
presentations and expositions of Brother Russell which have been most helpful to so many
of the Lord's people in these last days. The assurance has been given in our "Word of
Explanation" that the requests for an increase of doctrinal matter in the
"Herald," will be remembered, and our work generally carried on as heretofore.
Thus the "Herald" will, we trust, continue
to hold its place in the confidence and hearts of all its readers.
The Board therefore confidently expects that as the year
progresses the friends will find the results of its ministry fully in harmony
with this declaration, and that those appointed to the Editorial Comttee and to the
Pilgrim Staff will wholeheartedly support them in it.
The following officers were elected by the Board:
S. D. Bennett, M.D., Chairman; C. E. Stiles,
Vicechairman; P. E. Thomson, Secretary; P. L. Read, Treasurer; H.. E. Hollister,
Assistant Treasurer.
The brethren appointed to the Editorial Committee are:
S. D. Bennett, M.D., H. A. Friese, H. E. Hollister, P. L. Read, P. E. Thomson.
The brethren chosen to serve on the Pilgrim Staff are J.
J. Blackburn, H. A. Friese, P. E. Thomson, and L. F. Zink.
"Blessed are your eyes, for they
see; and your ears, for they hear." - Matt. 13:16.
THROUGHOUT THE Bible we find special
emphasis put upon the thought that knowledge brings great responsibility. "If I had
not come and spoken unto them," said Jesus, "they had not had sin; but now they
have no cloak for their sin." "And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and
prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many
stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten
with few stripes." (John 15:22, Luke 12:47, 48.) Thus under all circumstances
enlightenment places all, especially God's people, under a distinct test and obligation.
But while this principle is of so general application, it is manifest
that it applies with even greater force to certain dispensational periods, when special
enlightenment has been within the reach of all who by profession claim to be children of
the light. Those who lived in the days of Jesus had a peculiar advantage over those who
had preceded them. Likewise we of today have enjoyed privileges of knowledge and
opportunity that excel many times those experienced by others who have lived before us.
Hence our greater responsibility; for of a truth, having received much of favor, much of
faithfulness will be required.
Special Mercies of God Undervalued
"Familiarity breeds contempt"
was the observation of a wise philosopher, as he studied human nature, and noted its
tendency to undervalue the reality and pursue the shadow. But how regrettable it is that'
this should be true in respect to the things that come from the hand of God. It seems
almost incredible that anything akin to such contempt could find a place in the mind of
one who had been specially favored by Him. Nevertheless, it is true. The manna from heaven, at first
received with delight, became in time loathsome, and rated below the leeks and onions of
Egypt. The multiplied mercies of God have ever been quickly forgotten by His people, and
those who have lived contemporaneous with the most striking fulfilments of His prophetic
Word, have been the least impressed, excepting of course the very few really
appreciative souls. Preceding generations have looked forward to the time when
prophecy would be fulfilled, coveting for themselves the privilege of living to enjoy the
exceptional pleasures of such momentous days. Succeeding generations have ever had
occasion to look back over the history of these great dispensational changes, and
note with surprise the absence of the fervent appreciation that it would seem should have
been shown by people so highly favored. 'Yes, this is the striking feature of all the past
history of God's people, and since history has a habit of repeating itself, and being
re-enacted by those who are loudest in their disapproval of past actors, we do well to
take these things to heart "lest we forget."
Count Your Many Blessings
Calling to remembrance the great
benefits we of today have enjoyed in the way of special light on God's Word, cannot but
increase our appreciation of the Master's words in our text. Our realization of the
blessedness of having seeing eyes and hearing ears grows as we count our 'blessings one
by one, and we marvel more and more at what the Lord has done for us. When we remember that at one time we
knew little about rightly dividing the Word of Truth, and therefore as little about the
real character and Plan of God, and that now we have learned to comprehend something of
the beauties of both, surely we are thankful ! As we recall our bondage to doctrines of
devils that filled us with a fear that was not of God, and now realize our freedom as a
result of knowing the truth, surely we are happy! When we remember that not so many years
ago, we laid our unconverted loved ones in the tomb in the belief that they were gone from
us forever, doomed to eternal torment or to oblivion, and now we sorrow not as those who
have no hope, but with a confidence that they are coming back in "the Morning," surely our
gratitude is real. When we turn back in mind now to days not so far distant when the
permission of evil was a problem that baffled our comprehension, and at times well nigh
shattered our faith, in contrast to our present understanding of the wisdom of it all, are we not humbled and amazed? As we
recall the time when false doctrine had substituted world burning for the restitution of
all things, and shrouded the Second Advent of our blessed Lord with doomsday blackness,
and now we know it to be a. jubilee event, full of untold blessings for all mankind, surely we can pray with the heart and with the understanding,
"Thy Kingdom come." And since we have learned that to us the great privilege of
jointheirship with Christ in that Kingdom is the special feature of the present Age of
grace, can we ever think to let go the things that we have learned? As we thus compute the
many truths and favors that have come to us in this dispensational transition period,
there must surely come a fixed determination that we will never forget them or grow
indifferent to them.
Highly Esteemed for Their Work's Sake
In the foregoing there is intended a brief review of some of the
blessings that have come into our lives in recent years, and that are associated in our
memories with the ministry of the one specially used as an index finger to point them out
in the Word of God. We recall that on more than one occasion this faithful servant of the
Church rebuked the efforts of some to draw special attention to himself, admonishing
that :we must study the Bible to find the Lord; nevertheless, he quite properly esteemed
very highly the love and confidence of the Lord's people, and-was more than
once strengthened and encouraged to, carry on because of the loyal cooperation of his
associates. And in giving him this confidence the brethren were following the Apostle's
admonition, "We beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are
over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their
work's sake." - 1 Thess. 5:12, 13.
Our belief that this Apostolic instruction is still in force, is
the explanation for this issue of the "Herald." The greatest honor that can be
paid by those who have been benefited by the ministry of the one who has been the
"index finger" that has guided us to a rightly dividing of the Word of Truth, is
to have so imbibed the truths he brought to our attention, as to exhibit them in our
lives. Valuable as his office in the Church may have been, and worthy as he may be of
special recognition, all of this is of secondary importance. As Jesus said, "If ye
love Me, keep My commandments," so in a similar manner we may understand that all our
honoring of any such servant will be commendable or proper only when -our consecration,
spirituality, love, patience, and heavenly aspirations, are in keeping with the
instructions given. We trust therefore that our present issue may be read and pondered
with more than ordinary profit.
ALL ARE familiar with the fact that we have in our Bibles
epistles, or letters, by various ones of the Apostles-St. Paul, St. Peter, St. John, St.
James, St. Jude. But not many, perhaps, have heard of the Epistle of Christ. St. Paul
tells us that it was written in his day. He describes the writing of it, how it was done,
and declares that he was one of the instruments used by the Lord in connection with the
writing of the Epistle. Here are his words: "Ye are manifestly declared to be the
Epistle of Christ, ministered [written] by us; written not with ink, but with the Spirit
of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in the fleshy tables of the heart."
- 2 Cor. 3:3.
How beautiful and poetical is the thought here expressed! It is a
compliment to both the Apostle as the Lord's faithful servant, and also to the Lord's
people at Corinth. It is in line with the Apostle's statement elsewhere, "We are
God's workmanship." (Eph. 2:10.) Wherever there is a true Christian -- not merely
spirit-begotten, 'but spirit-developed in the character-likeness of the Savior in
meekness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, brotherly-kindness and love-we have the
evidence of the power of God at work in him to will and to do His good pleasure, not
arbitrarily, but in cooperation with the will of the individual. And wherever there is a
Church, an Ecclesia, a class of Bible students who show these evidences of the Lord's Holy
Spirit working in them and developing them, we have the Epistle of Christ, declaring and
showing forth the praises of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light.
In the context, the Apostle gives the same thought in words a
little different, declaring the Lord's true people to be living epistles, "known and
read of all men." (2 Cor. 3:2.) Bibles are invaluable, indispensable. So are books
that are really helpful in Biblical interpretation; so are hymn books and tracts. All
these show forth the Lord's praises, and assist in pointing in the right direction
those of the world who are feeling after God if haply they might find Him. But the best
Epistle --even more valuable than the Bible, as respects reaching the hearts of men-is the
life of a true Christian, a New Creature in Christ Jesus, to whom "old things are
passed away, and all things are become new." - 2 Cor. 5:17.
And yet, in a previous letter from St. Paul this same Church at
Corinth was criticised sharply because of its carelessness as respects proper standards
of morality. The, Apostle assures us, however, that his words of reproof did much good,
working in the Church a repentance toward God, and proved to be of lasting benefit to
them. Thus in God's providence, He overruled for their good a mistake made by these
followers of the Master, by using a faithful and courageous Apostle, who gave the proper
rebuke in a proper, loving manner.
The Secret of St. Paul's Power
What is by inspiration thus declared of the Church at Corinth, we
see to be true also respecting the Lord's people today; and we may suppose that it has not
been without faithful witnesses, living epistles, throughout the Gospel Age. We are
especially interested, however, in conditions today. The Editor and all of the Pilgrims
and the Elder Brethren in the Church have in St. Paul a noble example of faithfulness and
loyalty. He did not preach himself; lie did not preach enticing words of men's wisdom and
science, falsely so called. (1 Cor. 2:1-5; 1 Tim. 6:20.) Giving himself up to the Lord's
service, and seeking not his own glory, but to do the Lord's will, the Apostle became more
and more an able and qualified minister, or servant, of the Lord. The Lord used him more
and more in the presentation of the glorious Message of God's Love, as revealed in the
great Divine Plan of the Ages.
St. Paul's faithfulness is manifest to us in the words,
"This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth
unto those things which are before [in the promises of God's Word], I press toward the
mark for the prize of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:13, 14.) That was
the secret of the Apostle's power. That is the reason why the Lord, by His Holy Spirit,
has used him so much and so efficiently in the blessing of the Church since that
time-through the streams of truth which have come down through His Epistles.
What a zeal the Apostle had! Hearken to his words, "Woe is
unto me, if I preach not the Gospel!" (1 Cor. 9:16.) This does not signify that the
Gospel was preached for fear of being tormented after he would die, but that he felt that
he could not be satisfied except when doing all in his power
to make known to all who have the "hearing ear" the
Message of God's grace centered in Christ Jesus. Thus it was when he was giving his time
exclusively to preaching. Thus it was when he was obliged for a time to be a tent-maker
to support himself -- while preaching evenings, holidays, and at his work. Thus it was
that he preached with special liberties while still a prisoner at Rome. Anyhow, anywhere,
under God's providence, St. Paul was ready and glad to preach the "good tidings"
to all who had hearing ears.
Why Elders Should be Carefully Chosen
This should be the spirit, not only of the Pilgrims, of the
Elders of the Church of Christ, but the spirit of every member of it; for in a large sense
each one of us is privileged to be a minister, or servant, in writing the Message of God's
grace in the hearts of others.
But let us not forget that we shall not know how to write in the
hearts of others what we have not already had written in our own hearts. Hence the
propriety of great caution in the choosing of Elders -to find those who already have the
writing of the Lord in their hearts, and who therefore will be competent assistants,
tinder the Holy Spirit's guidance, for the writing of the Lord's character-likeness in the
hearts of the younger brethren.
And what is the Message, what is the Epistle, that is written in
our hearts by the Holy Spirit through various agencies? Is it the knowledge of chronology?
Is it the unraveling of types and shadows ? Is it the cracking of hard theological nuts
in respect to differently understood passages of Scripture? Is it the knowledge of the
history of the Jews, the history of the world, the history of the Church? Is it the
understanding and appreciation of the different Covenants, past, present, and to come?
No, it is none of these.
All of these subjects have more or less of value, and are more or
less used of the Lord in connection 'with this writing that is to be done in the hearts of
His people. But writing the Epistle of Christ is different--the writing, the tracing of
the character likeness of the Master in the hearts of His people-His meekness, His
gentleness, His patience, His long-suffering, His brotherly-kindness, His love, His joy,
His peace.
We might have all knowledge respecting chronology and history,
might be able to quote every text in the Bible, and to cite it, too; and yet not have the
Epistle of Christ written in our hearts. It is the Epistle of which the Apostle Peter
says, "For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither
be barren [idle, inactive] nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ for
knowledge will have its place. And thus with these characteristics of the Master deeply
engraved upon our hearts, we shall be granted an abundant entrance "into the
everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." - 2 Pet. 1:8, 11.
Three Valuable Lessons
The three great lessons which will be required of those who will
be heirs of the Kingdom are: (1) A proper, thorough appreciation of justice, and a manifestation
of that appreciation of justice by an endeavor to comply with the requirements of the
Golden Rule-to love our neighbor as ourselves. (2) A further lesson is that of Love,
sympathy, compassion, mercy. However exacting we may be respecting ourselves, our own
thoughts, words, and deeds, we are not to exact from others, but be willing to take from
them whatever they are pleased to give-as ;did our Savior. This will mean (3), suffering
with Christ, having fellowship in His sufferings. It will mean the learning of
valuable lessons to fit and qualify us for the work of being kings, priests, and judges
with our Lord in His coming Kingdom.
St. Paul emphasized the importance of having the Christ-character
engraved on our hearts when he wrote that God's predestination is that all who will be of
the Church in glory must be copies of His dear Son-must have the Epistle of Christ written
in their hearts. (Rom. 8:28-30.) No matter how imperfect their bodies, how
imperfect their attainment of their ideals, those ideals must be according to
the Divine standard. And they must be so in sympathy with those ideals as to be glad
to suffer for their attainment. - The Watch Tower.
"Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be
perfect and entire, wanting nothing." - James 1:4.
THERE ARE two quite distinct words in the
Greek which, in our English Scriptures, are translated "patience." One of these
is a word that in a general way corresponds to the common thought of patience as we speak
of it in connection with the every-day affairs of life, meaning merely
forbearance, or long-suffering. Indeed the Greek word is generally translated
long-suffering. It is the other word with which we are more particularly interested in the
treatment of our text, and which is the one most frequently translated patience by the New
Testament writers.
This word has a much deeper and fuller significance than
attaches to our English word patience. It signifies rather, constancy, the thought being
an endurance of evil in a cheerful, hopeful, willing, patient manner. It represents,
therefore, an element of character, and not merely a temporary condition or restraint of
feeling or action. It signifies that development of heart and character which manifests
itself in an endurance of wrong or affliction with contentment, without rebellion of will,
with full acquiescence in the Divine Wisdom and Love, which, while permitting present
evils, has promised to overthrow them in God's due time.
This grace of patience smooths the way for every other Christian
grace, because all must be acquired under the process of patient and continuous self
discipline. Not a step of progress can be gained without this grace of patience; and not
one of the graces more beautifully adorns the Christian character, or wins the approval
of the world's conscience, or glorifies the God of all grace whose truth inspires it. It
is enduring meekness, striving to stem the tide of human weakness, and endeavoring with.
painstaking care to attain to the Divine likeness. It is slow to wrath and plenteous in
mercy; it is quick to perceive the paths of righteousness, and prompt to walk in them; it
is mindful of its own imperfections and sympathetic with the imperfections and
shortcomings of others.
The importance of endurance in the Christian's character is fully
borne out by the Apostle Paul's use of the word; for on more than one occasion he places
patience above and beyond love, which we have seen is the "mark" of character
for which we are to run-the "mark for the prize." For instance, in writing to
Titus (Titus 2:2), enumerating the characteristics of the advanced Christian, the Apostle
uses the following order: "Vigilant, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity
[love], in patience." Though we have all the other qualities, this final test of
patient, cheerful endurance must be passed before we can be accepted of the Lord as
members of the very elect.
Again, in writing to Timothy (2 Tim. 3:10) respecting himself,
the Apostle puts this quality of patient endurance in the place beyond love, saying,
"Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life,
purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, patient endurance."
"The Lord Your God doth Prove You"
One might ask, if "love is the fulfilling of the Law"
and "the mark for the prize of our high calling," How can patience rank higher
than love? The answer is that patient endurance does not come in merely at the close of
our race, but it is a requisite all the way along the race-course. We need this cheerful
endurance of the earliest trials in the Christian way; and as we speed along in our race for the "mark," the spirit of cheerful
endurance should be growing stronger and stronger at every step of the journey. Some might
be faithful for a few days or a few months or a few years, yet be unworthy of the great
Kingdom blessing of Christ.
In the parable of the sower, our Lord gave an illustration of
this fact, saying that some seed fell on stony ground and sprang up; it grew; but finally,
when the burning heat of persecution came, the tender plants withered away. In choosing
the members of the Kingdom class the Lord is looking for a depth of soil, a depth of
character, a depth of heart that will be patient to endure. Those who lack this one
quality will not be fit for the Kingdom. Patience is necessary as an element of
character on any plane of being; but with the Christian it is specially important to have
it developed from the beginning of the race. We need it with us at the first quarter mark,
and at the second quarter mark, and at the third quarter mark, and still with us at the
fourth quarter mark, the mark for the prize-perfect love.
And when we have reached this mark of the race where we love, not
only our friends, but our enemies, it is required of us that we stand up to the mark
faithfully, cheerfully, patiently enduring the tests which the Lord will even then see fit
to have come upon us. God subjects His people to testing, long testing, sometimes for
months and years. As it is said, "The Lord your God proveth you." -- Deut. 13:3.
Hence it is that the Apostle Paul exhorts us, "Having done
all, stand" -- endure. Having reached the "mark "let patient endurance have
her perfect work," or "perfect her work." Let patient endurance
demonstrate, not only that you have the character, the qualifications of love, demanded in
the race for the prize, but also that you have love as an element of character,
deep-rooted, immutable, so that you can endure opposition cheerfully.
St. Paul tells us that we have need of this patient endurance
that, after having done the will of God (after having brought our own will into complete
subjection to the Divine will), we might receive the promise. (Heb. 10:36.) The thought in
the Apostle's mind seems
to be that there is a certain work for us all to do in ourselves -- "Work out your
own salvation with fear and trembling." (Phil. 2:12, 13.) It is God who is working in
us to will and to do -- to cooperate in this work. Let us make sure that rebellion of any
kind in our heart be thoroughly killed, mortified; and that we bring the will into perfect
submission to the Divine will, so that we may have no other will than His. Even then,
after we have overcome to this extent, we have need of patience. The Lord will not accept
us merely because we are consecrated. He requires that the consecration shall be proven.
To begin with, He accepts the consecration; then He tests us to demonstrate to what extent we really
love Him.
Patience Necessary to Fruit-Bearing
Patient endurance is also mentioned in
the Scriptures as being the Lord's word, or teaching. Our Lord says, "Because thou
hast kept the word of My patience I will also keep thee." (Rev. 3:10.) Twice in the
Gospels also we note that our Lord brought to the notice of the disciples the importance
of the quality of patient endurance. Once was in the parable of the sower above referred
to. (Luke 8:11-15.) He said, "That [sown] on the good ground are they which in an
honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience
[with cheerful endurance, constancy]." The thought here is that in order to be of
the fruit-bearing class, which the Lord will approve and accept in His Kingdom,
it is necessary to do more than receive the Word of His testimony, even though we receive
it with joy; for that class in the parable is represented by the stony ground, which at
first gave evidence of great fruitfulness and vigor, but withered under the sun of
persecution, because of lack of depth of soil. That stony, shallow ground represents,
the Lord explained, a class of hearers who rejoice greatly in the Truth, but do not
endure; they are such as cannot withstand persecution or opposition, but wither under
it, become discouraged. Such cannot be of the Kingdom class, all of whom must be
overcomers.
In this parable our Lord shows us that
patient endurance, constancy, is the final test, following after the readiness of
preparation to receive the seed; following after the seed has been received and has
sprouted; following after love and hope and joy and faith have caused it to spring forth
and to give promise of fruitage. Patient endurance, then, is necessary in order that the
grain may be developed and thoroughly ripened and made fit for the garner. How important
patient endurance, cheerful endurance, seems to be, in the light of the Lord's Word! for
we cannot suppose that He who judges the thoughts and intents of the heart would be
pleased with His children, even if He saw them enduring much for His sake, if they
endured in an impatient or unhappy frame of mind. They would not in that event he copies
of God's dear Son, whose sentiment is expressed in the words, "I delight to do Thy
will, O God!"
Our Lord at another time was telling His
disciples that as the result of being His followers they
must expect opposition, trials, tribulations. Perhaps it may assist some to realize the
strength of the meaning of the word tribulation when they know its origin. It is derived
from the Latin word "triibulum," the name of a roller, or threshing-machine
used in olden times for cleaning wheat, removing from it the outer husk, or chaff. How
appropriate the term when applied to the Lord's consecrated people, who in the
Scriptures are symbolized by wheat! Our new natures are the kernel, the real
grain; yet this treasure, or valuable part, is covered with the husk of earthly
conditions. In order that the wheat may 'be made properly ready for the "garner"
and for usefulness, it is necessary that each grain shall pass through the tribulation
necessary to remove those qualities which, until separated, render us unfit for the future
service to which we are called of the Lord.
In proportion as we are able to realize
our own imperfections, and the perfect will of God concerning us, we shall be enabled to bear patiently,
and even with a certain kind of rejoicing, all the tribulations which the Master may see
best to let come upon us. Our Lord explained to His disciples that
so long as they lived in this present Age, when sin abounds, and when Satan is the prince
of this world, they must expect tribulation from various quarters; but He assured them
that they would, nevertheless, be fully and completely under Divine care and protection,
even though the persecutions would be permitted to reach and to affect them. Then follow
the words, "In your patience [patient endurance, cheerful, hopeful constancy] possess
ye your souls." - Luke 21:19.
"He that Overcometh shall Inherit all Things"
One object of the test of patient
endurance is that we may be "strong in the Lord," that we may have the
character-likeness of the Lord Jesus-not merely the firmness, but also the gentleness. All
this must be developed before we can receive the things promised, the things which God has
in reservation for those that love Him. (1 Cor. 2:9, 10.) These things are spiritual and
might be apprehended by our minds, but could not be comprehended. The promise that we
are to be like our Lord includes not only the spiritual and heavenly conditions, to which
we shall attain in the First Resurrection, but also the blessing of sharing in the uplifting of the world. "If ye
be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's Seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Gal.
3:29.) But to "be Christ's" means, not only that we shall accept Him, join Him
and His standards, but also that we shall be good soldiers. Those who would not be good
soldiers would not be worthy of being members of the Body of Christ, for such could not be
conquerors and "more than conquerors" through
Jesus Christ our Lord. - Rom. 8:37.
We already have the "promise," but it has not yet been
received in the sense of being fulfilled. The promise is a conditional one. "He that
doeth these things shall live by them." (Lev. 18:5; Rom. 10:5.) So in our Lord's
arrangement, the condition of the promise is that we shall abide in His love, His favor.
Whoever accepts of Christ's death and trusts in Him and seeks to follow the Divine
commandments, walking not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, will receive the
promise, for the promise is made to "overcomers." All the promises of the Gospel
Age are made to the "overcomers." Such shall sit upon the Throne. Such shall
become the Bride of Christ. Such shall be joint-heirs with the Redeemer and participate in
all His great work as the great Messiah, to bless Israel and through Israel the world of
mankind.
By faith the Church now begins to enjoy this conditional
promise, which depends upon their faithfulness to the end -- their patient endurance.
Such loyal ones have the earnest of the promise and shall be joint-heirs in the Kingdom.
All others will be cut off from that membership. "Every branch in Me that beareth not
fruit He taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth [cleanseth, pruneth]
it, that it may bring forth more fruit." (John 15:2.) We are on trial; and the trial
is to prove our loyalty. If this trial time, or probation, is satisfactory, the membership
is made permanent. Those who fail to live up to the conditions, are not counted worthy to be members of the Body of Christ and joint-heirs in the Kingdom.
Let Us Abide in His Love
Who can consider the importance of becoming copies of our blessed
Lord and Head without feeling that to attain to this character likeness will be a life
work ! It cannot be accomplished in a day or in a year; but the whole life must be devoted
to it; and day by day, if ;we are faithful, we should realize a measure of growth in grace
and of development in Christian character. It is not enough that we know the Truth, or
that we be content to hold it in unrighteousness. We must see to it that the Truth is
having its legitimate and designed effect upon the character. And if the Truth is thus
received into good and honest hearts, we shall have the assurance of the Apostle Peter
that "We shall never fall," but that in due time we shall be received into the
Kingdom.
Hence we see the necessity of ever
keeping the instructions and precepts of the Lord fresh in our minds, and of drinking deep
into their inspiring spirit, although we are already established in the faith. To be
established in the faith is one thing; to be established in Christian character and in all
the graces of the Spirit is quite another.
Beloved, "Let us run with patience [cheerful constancy,
patient endurance] the race set before us" in the Gospel. (Heb. 12:1.) As already
observed the race must be run with this constancy if we would reach the "mark";
and after reaching the mark we can maintain our position only by the grace of constancy,
patient endurance, that having done all, we may stand! -- The Watch Tower.
"Wait on the Lord, be of good
courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart." - Psalm 27:14.
THE EXPRESSION, "Wait on the Lord," does not
mean so much a rendering of service to the Lord, as a waiting for the Lord, a waiting
before Him, to see what is His will for us. We do not understand that it has the thought
of ministering to the Lord, as a servant would wait on his master, but of patient
watching until we learn what our Lord would have us do. Each child of God should wait to
be guided by Him, and not run on before Him unmindful of what is the Lord's purpose for
him. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own
understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths," is
the counsel of the Wise Man. (Prov. 3:5, 6.) Many of the children of God have made
mistakes along this line.
Having committed our ways to the Lord, we should go forward only
as He leads us. If we are not clear as to His will, let us not !be in too great a hurry,
nor try to guide ourselves, but present the matter to the Lord in earnest prayer, asking
that we may have no will or way of our own, but may be guided only as He wills. Then let
us wait and watch for the indication of His providence, and follow as He seems to lead,
leaving the results with Him. We are not to follow our own choice, without evidences
that it is God's will. The question may sometimes be asked of us, "Are you going to
do this way or that way? Are you going to this place or to that place?" Our attitude
and our reply, if we have not as yet clearly ascertained the Lord's will in the matter,
should be, "I am not yet fully, decided. I will consider the Word of the Lord, to see
how His instructions seem to apply in •
this case." Or, "I am watching to see what
the Lord's providences seem to indicate, and am praying over the matter, that I may be
guided aright." The poet expressed the right thought
"I am afraid to touch
Things that involve so much."
Those who wait on the Lord do not always seem to prosper best,
from outward appearances. But the Psalmist declares that we should be of good courage as
we thus wait on God. We are pursuing the right course, and shall have His blessing. We
make no mistake when we wait upon Him. Others may seem to be getting ahead of us at first,
but we are to "wait on the Lord."
Take no step unless you feel sure that the Lord is directing and
guiding. Watch for the meaning of His providences. Study His Word. Let not your faith
depart from its moorings. "Be of good courage!" "Good" courage is
courage of a good degree, not merely a little courage., Be of strong courage ; "and
He shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord." The word heart here may
be understood to mean the soul, the being-especially the- intelligent portion of us. The
Lord will support us, He will fortify us and make us strong to bear, strong to do His
will as it is made known to us. They that wait upon the Lord shall not want any good
thing.
Traits Necessary to Success
Courage, fortitude, persistency, in the service of the Lord are
very necessary to the child of God. Such traits are needful even to the world. Whoever
lacks these qualities of character is pretty sure to make poor success in life. Lack of courage, lack
of hope, is one of the chief causes of failure in the world. Our text, however, calls
attention, not to the world, but to those who belong to the Lord. The precious promises of
God's Word, which are only for His people, those who are wholly His, give these every
reason for hope; they have full authority to be strong and of a good courage. The children
of God will have trials and experiences similar to those of the world, besides experiences
and trials peculiar to them as followers of Christ. These come not to us in a haphazard
way, however, as, to the world, but are under the direct supervision of the Lord.
Those who are new in the service of the Master might think for a
time that matters should run smoothly for them, that they should not have the difficulties
common to the world; that now as they were God's children He would protect them from
afflictions and mistreatment. But as they study the Lord's Word, they soon see that this
is not true; they see that they are to walk by faith, and not by sight. They learn that
they are not to expect to have outward and tangible manifestations of His favor, but
that they are to suffer with Christ -- that hereunto they were called. (1 Pet. 2:20, 21;
Acts 14:22.) They learn that they must be obedient, and they come to see what obedience
means.
The Master learned obedience-learned what obedience meant --
"by the things which He suffered." The Narrow Way is not an easy path. His
followers learn that the Lord is now calling a class that have faith in Him, a class who
accept His Word fully. In time they come, too, to see that "If God be for them, who
can be against them?" If matters do not go as they had expected, if trials come, they
will say, "We know that all things work for good to them that love God."
So these learn, as they are guided by the Word of the Lord, that
they are to be of good courage as they pursue their onward way. There are many
difficulties to be surmounted, and it requires courage to surmount difficulties. But the
courage born of faith in God and in His "exceeding great and precious promises"
strengthens them when otherwise they might be overwhelmed. It gives them a strength to
which all others are strangers.
Trust where We cannot Trace
If a child of God becomes discouraged and loses his hope and
strength, it is because he has lost his hold upon the Lord's promises to help. To lose
courage is to lose faith. Loss of faith and courage makes a child of God powerless before
his foes. We must trust our Father even when the meaning of His providences is veiled from
our eyes and when our efforts to serve Him seem to be hedged up. We look back at the
Apostles and their experiences. The Apostle Paul was very desirous of tarrying the Message
of the Gospel to others. Several times he tried to go into Asia, but lie was not permitted
to go. He began to wonder why this was, why his efforts continued to prove failures. But
the Lord revealed to him that he was to go into Greece instead. In his first Epistle to
the Church at Thessalonica, he writes, "Wherefore we would have come to you, even I
Paul, once and again, but Satan hindered us." (1 Thess. 2:18.) But we are sure, that
the Lord would overrule the machinations of Satan and cause them to work out His own
glory, and the lesson of patience and submission would be a blessing to His children.
We see that in the Garden of Gethsemane our Lord had not lost
faith in God, but was fearful for a time. As He came to the closing hours of His
experiences on earth, He wondered whether or not He had faithfully conformed to all the
Father's requirements. He knew that the slightest infraction of God's law would mean His
death. Had He completed His sacrifice acceptably? Would He be ushered from death into
heavenly glory by a resurrection? Then He received from the Father the assurance that He had
been altogether faithful. All the trials and difficulties which the Master underwent in
the laying down of His life preceded Him as a sweet incense, a precious perfume; beyond
the veil, into the Most Holy as shown in the type. - Lev. 16:12, 13.
A Proper Fear
After the Jewish high priest had crumbled the sweet incense upon
the fire of the golden altar, after its fragrance had penetrated beyond the second veil
and had covered the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat, he then himself passed beneath
the veil. Every time the high priest raised the veil thus to pass under it he probably
feared; for in case he had failed in any particular to carry out his sacrificial
work acceptably he would have died as lie passed under the veil. So our Lord Jesus knew
that His work must be acceptable in the most absolute sense, else He would forever forfeit
His existence. He would become as though He had not been; He would lose all.
There was no earthly being to give our Lord encouragement along
this line. There was no one to say, You have done everything perfectly; you could not have
done better. So the Master went alone to the Father for this assurance
and for strength and courage. He prayed, ,"Not My will, but Thine be done"; and
the Father heard His prayer and gave Him the needed assurance and strength. He was heard
in respect to that which He feared; and during all that night and the following day, up to
the hour of His Crucifixion, He was calm and courageous.
So the Lord's people should have a proper fear. Proper fear is-
good for them. But it should riot proceed to the point of hindering their efforts and
dissipating their courage. They should have the fear enjoined by St. Paul when he said,
"Let us fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of us
should seem to come short of it." (Heb. 4:1.) This proper fear the Master had. He
never became discouraged, never held back from the work which the Father had given Him to
do. His fear was a filial one, which engendered a watchfulness and care, a
circumspection of walk and of life, that He might be wholly pleasing to the Father. This
all Christians should have. We should watch lest we neglect some privilege or duty.
This proper fear will lead us to careful inspection of ourselves.
We should ask ourselves, "What do I believe? Why do I believe it? We should go over
the ground again. We should again go over in our minds the proofs of the correctness of
our Faith. By so doing, the Lord will strengthen us in the Faith, He will strengthen our
heart. If any hope in themselves, and lean upon their own strength mainly, it will be to
their advantage that the Lord will allow them to come to the point of discouragement, that
they may become more timid may lose all self-assurance, may realize their utter
helplessness and weakness and their need of leaning wholly upon the Lord, of looking
constantly to Him for guidance and support. As the Lord's children thus learn to wait upon
Him, to them is fulfilled the promise, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew
their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint." - Isa. 40:31. -- The Watch Tower.
"Grant skill each sacred theme to trace,
With loving voice and glowing tongue,
As when upon Thy words of grace
The wondering crowds enraptured hung.
"Give strength, blest Savior, in Thy might;
Illuminate our hearts, and we,
Transformed into Thine image bright,
Shall teach and love and live, like Thee."
THE IMPRESSION very widely prevails that the battle for
Christian liberty has been fought and won. So far as regards precaution of the more
active kind, this is the case in the larger part of the civilized world. The right of the
minority to free speech and free action in the line of conscientious conviction, is, in
theory at least, conceded.
"But it is a mistake to assume that because harsh
laws have been softened, human nature has been radically changed. The grosser forms of
persecution have disappeared, but subtler forms remain. The intolerant spirit has
survived the death of many institutions by which intolerance was once manifested.
Christian liberty is still, in a considerable degree, conceded only in theory. Men still
endeavor to punish those who have the temerity to differ from them.
"There is no cause for astonishment at this
manifestation of inconsistency. It is one of the curious things in human history to see
how generally the persecuted have become in turn the persecutors the moment the power was
lodged in their hands. And why? Because the true principle of Christian liberty had not
been grasped, and is to this day apprehended by only a few. The right of any body of men
to differ from others has always been claimed by them; there is no novelty in that. From
the beginning, every Christian sect that has arisen has vehemently contended for its right
to differ from others. It has protested against persecution -- that into say, the
persecution of itself by others. But in few cases has any sect conceded the right of
others to differ from it, or forborne to persecute when it had the power. And in our own
day each man is prompt to claim and assert the right to think for himself, but how loath
most are to concede the equal right of all other men to think for themselves. Every one
resents any attempt to coerce him into the avowel of anything that he does not honestly
believe, but how few fail to attempt to coerce others.
"The true doctrine of Christian liberty is not our
right to think for ourselves, but the right of the other man to think for himself. There
is no danger now that our right will not be insisted upon and enforced; particularly if
our thinking happens to fall in with that of the majority. It is the other man's liberty
that is in danger, particularly if he is in the minority. It is his liberty that demands
defense at all hazards; for, if liberty is denied him, how long will it be conceded to us?
"To demand liberty for the other man, even when he
differs from us, is not to admit that truth and error are essentially one, or to deny that
it is of great consequence what the ,other man believes and teaches. It may be
our duty to oppose with all-our might what he teaches, to denounce it as a deadly error.
But this may be done without identifying the man with what he teaches, and without the
display of the spirit of intolerance and persecution. We need not try to make the man
odious because his opinion is odious to us. To be loyal to the truth, and yet faithfully
to recognize the equal rights of all men to free thought and free speech is not always an
easy task. The two may, however, be combined. And nothing can be more certain than the
preservation of Christian liberty for any if conditioned on the concession of that liberty
for. all."--The Watch Tower.
Dear Brethren in Christ:
Perhaps it would be of interest to the friends in
general to know of our efforts, in a humble way, in our community to bring the message
of Jesus and His love to the people.
Advantage was taken on the occasion of a Pilgrim visit
of inviting the friends to a meeting in our country school house. This was some five or
six months ago. The attendance was encouraging, about fifty being present.
It was arranged at this meeting to continue with the
meetings each Sunday as the weather would permit. To our surprise the interest and
attendance has continued very good, there being forty present this morning.
It has been a blessed experience to us, for "He
that watereth shall be watered also himself." We have sought too, to tell the
"Old, Old Story" in a simple way, bringing out the "Present Truth" and
dispensational features. We thank our Heavenly Father for this opportunity of witnessing
to the love of God for all mankind, and should be glad if there are others who will be
encouraged to make similar effort to show forth the praises of "Him who hath called
us out of darkness into His marvelous light."
Yours in His service,
A. J. N. - Ill.
Dear Brethren in Christ:
Being a shut-in and away from the main highway, with a
sick husband, and our mail box a half mile distant, with the road filled with snow
during the winter, I am wondering if I can dispose of the extra copy of the
"Herald" which you offer. But now is the time to work before the dark night
settles upon us, so I will accept of the kind offer and thank you. Some way, some how, the
Lord willing I will get them out to some one.
Yours in His name,
Mrs. H. C. J. -- Wis. |
