SEMI-MONTHLY
VOL. XXIX JULY 1 No. 13
A.D. 1908—A.M. 6036
Views from the "Watch Tower"......................195
See Things Coming.............................195
Methodists Want Creed Restated................195
Giving Life to the Image......................196
The Choice of a King..............................197
"Little in Thine Own Eyes"....................198
God's Choice of Saul Indicated................198
The Sin of Ingratitude............................200
God's Love for Them Not Quenched..............201
"Forbid That I Should Sin Against The Lord"...202
The Lord Hath Done Great Things for Us........203
The London (Eng.), Convention.....................204
"She Hath Done What She Could"—(Poem)............205
Some Interesting Letters..........................205
Letters Commending the "Vow"......................206
Berean Studies on the Atonement...................207
LETTERS FOR THE EDITOR SHOULD BE SENT TO ALLEGHENY, PA., U.S.A.
BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS AND REMITTANCES
—ADDRESS TO—
WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY,
"BIBLE HOUSE," 610, 612, 614 ARCH ST., ALLEGHENY, PA., U.S.A.
—OR TO—
BRITISH BRANCH—24 EVERSHOLT ST., LONDON, N.W.
GERMAN BRANCH—MIRKER STR., 45, ELBERFELD.
AUSTRALASIAN BRANCH—EQUITABLE BLDG., COLLINS ST., MELBOURNE
PRICE, $1.00 (4S.) A YEAR IN ADVANCE.
MONEY MAY BE SENT BY EXPRESS, BANK DRAFT, POSTAL ORDER, OR REGISTERED.
FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES BY FOREIGN MONEY ORDERS, ONLY.
TERMS TO THE LORD'S POOR AS FOLLOWS:—
All Bible Students who, by reason of old age, or other infirmity or adversity, are unable to pay for this Journal, will be supplied FREE if they send a Postal Card each June stating their case and requesting its continuance. We are not only willing, but anxious, that all such be on our list continually and in touch with the Studies, etc.
ENTERED AS SECOND CLASS MAIL MATTER AT ALLEGHENY, PA., POST OFFICE.
THIS JOURNAL IS PUBLISHED IN THE
FRENCH, GERMAN, SWEDISH, DANISH AND ITALIAN LANGUAGES.
SAMPLE COPIES FREE.
GENERAL CONVENTION—AUG. 29-SEPT. 6
Arrangements have been made for the Convention to be held in Put-in-Bay Island (Lake Erie), Ohio; headquarters at Hotel Victory, where exceptionally low rates for rooms and meals have been arranged. The prospects are that this will be the largest and best convention we have ever held.
Immersion service 10 a.m., at Bible House Chapel, N.S., 610 Arch St. Friends desiring to be immersed would confer a favor by signifying their intention. Afternoon session in Alvin Theatre, Sixth St., Pittsburgh: Subject, "Where are the Dead?" Evening session, Question Meeting, 7:30 o'clock, Bible House Chapel, N.S.
BROTHER RUSSELL'S SERMONS WEEKLY
Clubbing arrangements permit us to supply friends as follows:
In Canada with the Toronto World, daily, for $1.50 per year; except in Toronto and Hamilton. Send subscriptions to us.
In Great Britain and foreign countries we can supply the weekly sermons hereafter for $1.00 (4 shillings) per year.
In the United States the Cincinnati Enquirer, weekly, 50c; The Ft. Wayne News weekly, 75c; The Pittsburg Dispatch, daily, $3.00 is still advised—it is a $6.00 paper.
r4195 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWERr4197 THE CHOICE OF A KING
r4199 THE SIN OF INGRATITUDE
r4201 THE LONDON, ENG., CONVENTION
r4203 "SHE HATH DONE WHAT SHE COULD"
I had in mind for some time to unburden to you some of my experience with some of our friends in the Nominal Churches in dispensing Tracts, TOWERS and DAWNS to them; that we often meet with the remarks that they cannot observe any changes in the general conditions, everything going on as usual. We say to them, we agree with you in this; but how about the worship to God, and walking in his precepts; the faith in general of Jesus Christ, who said, "When the Son of Man cometh will he find faith on the earth?" and we call their attention back to about twenty years or more, when in the Christian home we would hear the singing of hymns or reading a Psalm, or expounding the Gospel or the apostles' letters; how the evening and the morning worship was regularly conducted, and how Saturday evening was the beginning of the rest day, to give thanks unto God for blessings received during the past week, and that this was a custom since Reformation times, to which books and periodicals attest. And further, a visit to the same homes now, and what do we observe in the majority of them? Is it not card playing, dancing, and beer drinking and other worldly affairs, of which the Christians in former years kept aloof?
To these existing conditions all older people agree with me, that a very great change has taken place, that the sowing time is past, and the harvest far advanced. The churches receive almost anyone for membership, with almost any kind of baggage. Recently a Baptist minister returned from a heathen land, where he had been doing missionary work for over twenty years, and, preaching one of his old-fashioned sermons to a flock of his believers, he was requested to remain with them and start a new church, to which he assented, with the remark, that he had observed since coming back that they were more in need of the Gospel than were the heathen.
Let us pray to the Lord to send more servants into the field, and give thanks for the Light we have received.
I will close my few remarks, as my letter may become too lengthy, although much more could be said in regard to these changes. Yours, W. H. GRUHL,—Wis.
I am sending herewith an order for WATCH TOWER and Diaglott for Mrs.__________, to whom I delivered a set of Studies in the Scriptures three weeks ago today. She has fairly devoured the first three volumes, and said to me last night on our way home from the meeting, "You cannot comprehend what those books have been to me, for I was utterly without faith of any kind, but now I have committed all to the Lord and am trusting him entirely and worry about nothing, for I possess nothing to worry about any more. All belongs to him." She had never professed Christianity but attended Christian Science meetings, and thought that belief more reasonable than anything she had ever heard, as her husband had been healed by it. She says she wonders now how she could ever have thought there was anything in Christian Science.
My heart overflows with gratitude to our heavenly Father for having used me as his humble messenger to bring such joy into the life of this dear sister and I pray that I may prove faithful even unto death, that he may use me in like manner in the coming age to assist in bringing joy to the whole "groaning creation."
Praying the Great Chief Reaper's richest blessing to continue to rest upon you, and asking your prayers that I may prove faithful, I am, your humble sister in our Redeemer, S. L. G. CHAPMAN,—Maine.
A CORRECTION:—Several earnest friends of the Truth, residing in or near Birmingham, Eng., have written us that they think we were misinformed respecting Bro. B. C. Hughes; that in their opinion he was a most exemplary Elder. We are glad to make note of their testimony in his favor. However, nothing in our report was intended unkindly; we have always thought of him as conscientious.—EDITOR.
r4202 LETTERS COMMENDING THE "VOW"BEREAN STUDIES ON THE ATONEMENT
THE TEXT-BOOK USED FOR THIS COURSE
IS SCRIPTURE STUDIES, SERIES V. (E)*
Questions on Study V.—The Author of the Atonement.
(78) Is it the Father or the Son that is styled the King of kings and Lord of lords? P.78.
(79) Does this refer to the Father or how otherwise shall we understand it? P.78, last par.
(80) Cite and explain other similar passages. I Cor. 15:27; Col. 2:10. P.79, par. 1.
(81) Would the passage "thought it not robbery to be equal with God" prove the trinity doctrine? If both were one how could one think of robbing himself? P.79, par. 2.
(82) What did our Lord Jesus testify respecting his equality with the Father? And did he not tell the truth? P.79, par. 2.
(83) What appears to be the Apostle's argument—what point is he proving in Phil. 2:6 ? P.79, last par.
(84) Is there any evidence that this verse is improperly translated? If so, what? P.80, par. 1.
(85) Give, in order, different translations of the verse: By Clarke, Wakefield, Stewart, Rotherham, Revised Version, American Revision Committee, Sharpe, Neeland, Dickenson, Turnbull, and the Emphatic Diaglott. Pp.80, 81.
(86) In view of all this array of scholarship, what must we conclude that the passage teaches? P.81, last par.
(87) What great spirit being took a very different course? Give proof-text. P.81, last par.
(88) What quality in Jesus shines out preeminently in contrast with what quality in Satan? P.81, last par.
(89) What reward was bestowed on the Son by the Father? and on what account? Cite the Scriptures. P.82, top.
(90) Can such rewarding be harmonized with the idea of oneness of person or with original equality between the Father and the Son? Page 82, par. 1.
(91) Are we enjoined nevertheless to honor the Son whom the Father exalted, even as we honor the Father who exalted him? P.82, par. 2.
(92) Quote a Scripture passage showing the distinct separateness of the Father and the Son as persons, and also the relationship of their work. P.82, par. 2.
(93) Does the Scripture, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," favor the thought that Father and Son are one in person? Note the entire passage. Ephesians 1:2-18. P.82, par. 3.
(1) Who is the Great One whom Jehovah has exalted to so high honor? What has he done to merit it? What is he yet to do in his high exaltation? P.83.
(2) Did our Lord Jesus have a preexistence? What was he before he was "made flesh"? P.84, par. 1.
(3) Was he then "a good" or mighty one? And if so, what was his name? P.84, par. 2.
(4) In that pre-human existence, was the Son in some sense "before" all creatures in time as well as in rank? P.84, par. 3.
(5) Why did the Son stoop to human conditions? Was it of compulsion? P.84, par. 4.
(6) Was his humiliation to human conditions intended to be eternal? Explain fully. P.84, par. 5.
(7) Did Jesus' resurrection restore him to the spirit plane? P.84, par. 6.
(8) Of what station is our Lord Jesus now? P.85, par. 1.
(9) Why was our Lord in his prehuman existence known as The Word or The Logos? P.85, par. 2.
(10) What does Dr. Alex Clarke say of this word Logos? P.85, par. 2.
(11) Show the fitness of the name to the Son, and give an illustration of a King's Logos? P.85, par. 3.
(12) Does the Greek text of John 1:1 show two persons and refer to both as God? P.86, par. 1.
(13) Is there anything in the Greek text to differentiate these two persons who are both styled God? What and how should the verse be translated to show its Greek value? P.86, par. 1,2.
(14) What beginning is here referred to? P.86, par. 3.
*Five years ago DAWN-STUDIES, VOL. V., was reset, and unfortunately the type was not exactly the same size as before; and hence page for page they differ. The references given in these Berean Studies apply to the present edition, a copy of which postpaid will cost you but 30c. But keep your old edition, for unfortunately the New Bible helps refer to its pages.
SEMI-MONTHLY
VOL. XXIX.
JULY 15 No. 14
A.D. 1908—A.M. 6036
Views from the "Watch Tower"......................211
Nominal Church Dying..........................211
The Religion of Socialism.....................212
Was Jesus a Socialist?........................213
"Obedience Better Than Sacrifice".................214
The Slaughter of the Amalekites...............215
Not to an Eternal Doom........................216
The Test of Perfect Love......................217
Brethren, What Shall We Do?...................218
What a Vow Signifies..............................218
God's Choice......................................220
"The Lord Looketh Upon the Heart".............221
"Anoint Him, for This Is He"..................221
"From That Day Forward".......................222
An Interesting Letter.............................223
Our Lord's Last Days..............................223
LETTERS FOR THE EDITOR SHOULD BE SENT TO ALLEGHENY, PA., U.S.A.
BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS AND REMITTANCES
—ADDRESS TO—
WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY,
"BIBLE HOUSE," 610, 612, 614 ARCH ST., ALLEGHENY, PA., U.S.A.
—OR TO—
BRITISH BRANCH—24 EVERSHOLT ST., LONDON, N.W.
GERMAN BRANCH—MIRKER STR., 45, ELBERFELD.
AUSTRALASIAN BRANCH—EQUITABLE BLDG., COLLINS ST., MELBOURNE
PRICE, $1.00 (4S.) A YEAR IN ADVANCE.
MONEY MAY BE SENT BY EXPRESS, BANK DRAFT, POSTAL ORDER, OR REGISTERED.
FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES BY FOREIGN MONEY ORDERS, ONLY.
TERMS TO THE LORD'S POOR AS FOLLOWS:—
All Bible Students who, by reason of old age, or other infirmity or adversity, are unable to pay for this Journal, will be supplied FREE if they send a Postal Card each June stating their case and requesting its continuance. We are not only willing, but anxious, that all such be on our list continually and in touch with the Studies, etc.
ENTERED AS SECOND CLASS MAIL MATTER AT ALLEGHENY, PA., POST OFFICE.
THIS JOURNAL IS PUBLISHED IN THE
FRENCH, GERMAN, SWEDISH, DANISH AND ITALIAN LANGUAGES.
SAMPLE COPIES FREE.
Please do not send money for the new edition of WATCH TOWER BIBLES until you see announcement that they are ready and the price stated. We have been disappointed considerably in getting the extra matter prepared, and cannot hope to announce the Bibles ready before October.
We supply these now in all six volumes, but volume five has run ahead of the others in sales and is exhausted. It will take several months to get the India paper for a new lot. Prices of Vols. I., II., III., 75 cents each; Vols. IV., V., VI., 85 cents each, postpaid.
It will be remembered that we had a special edition of Vol. I. DAWN-STUDIES, in India Paper, not quite up to the best standard, bound in imitation leather at low price. These were taken quickly. Now we have a new lot, Vol. I. only, with Tabernacle Shadows bound in, at 35 cents each, postpaid.
We have printed nearly five millions of this year's Volunteer Matter—four tracts in each one. Evidently some of the dear friends are awake to the privilege of harvest work along this line. Order all you can and will use faithfully; they are furnished without money or price. Freight prepaid.
r4203 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWERr4206 "OBEDIENCE BETTER THAN SACRIFICE"
r4211 WHAT A VOW SIGNIFIES
r4209 GOD'S CHOICE
r4211 AN INTERESTING LETTER
r4212 OUR LORD'S LAST DAYS