VOL. XIX. JANUARY 1, 1898. No. 1.
Zion's Watch Tower for 1898.......................
2
Will It Be a Year of Blessing?....................
3
Joseph L. Russell, Deceased.......................
4
"Thou Shalt Guide Me With
Thy Counsel"................................
5
"Tempted in All Points Like as
We Are".....................................
9
The Beginning of Jesus' Ministry.................. 14
Interesting Letters............................... 16
THIS journal is set for the defence of the only true foundation of the Christian's hope now being so generally repudiated,—Redemption through the precious blood of "the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom [a corresponding price, a substitute] for all." (1 Pet. 1:19; 1 Tim. 2:6.) Building up on this sure foundation the gold, silver and precious stones (1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Pet. 1:5-11) of the Word of God, its further mission is to—"Make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery which...has been hid in God,...to the intent that now might be made known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God"—"which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed."—Eph. 3:5-9,10.
It stands free from all parties, sects and creeds of men, while it seeks more and more to bring its every utterance into fullest subjection to the will of God in Christ, as expressed in the Holy Scriptures. It is thus free to declare boldly whatsoever the Lord hath spoken;—according to the divine wisdom granted unto us, to understand. Its attitude is not dogmatical, but confident; for we know whereof we affirm, treading with implicit faith upon the sure promises of God. It is held as a trust, to be used only in his service; hence our decisions relative to what may and what may not appear in its columns must be according to our judgment of his good pleasure, the teaching of his Word, for the upbuilding of his people in grace and knowledge. And we not only invite but urge our readers to prove all its utterances by the infallible Word to which reference is constantly made, to facilitate such testing.
TO US THE SCRIPTURES CLEARLY TEACH
That the Church is "the Temple of the Living God"—peculiarly "His workmanship;" that its construction has been in progress throughout the Gospel age—ever since Christ became the world's Redeemer and the chief corner stone of this Temple, through which, when finished, God's blessings shall come "to all people," and they find access to him.—1 Cor. 3:16,17; Eph. 2:20-22; Gen. 28:14; Gal. 3:29.
That meantime the chiseling, shaping and polishing, of consecrated believers in Christ's atonement for sin, progresses; and when the last of these "living stones," "elect and precious," shall have been made ready, the great Master Workman will bring all together in the First Resurrection; and the Temple shall be filled with his glory, and be the meeting place between God and men throughout the Millennium.—Rev. 15:5-8.
That the Basis of Hope, for the Church and the World, lies in the fact that "Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man," "a ransom for all," and will be "the true light which lighteth every man thatcometh into the world," "in due time."—Heb. 2:9; John 1:9; 1 Tim. 2:5,6.
That the Hope of the Church is that she may be like her Lord, "see him as he is," be "partaker of the divine nature," and share his glory as his joint-heir.—1 John 3:2; John 17:24; Rom. 8:17; 2 Pet. 1:4.
That the present mission of the Church is the perfecting of the saints for the future work of service; to develop in herself every grace; to be God's witness to the world; and to prepare to be the kings and priests of the next age.—Eph. 4:12; Matt. 24:14; Rev. 1:6; 20:6.
That the hope for the World lies in the blessings of knowledge and opportunity to be brought to all by Christ's Millennial Kingdom—the restitution of all that was lost in Adam, to all the willing and obedient, at the hands of their Redeemer and his glorified Church.—Acts 3:19-21; Isa. 35.
SUBSCRIPTIONS AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS
—ADDRESS TO—
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SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, $1.00 A YEAR IN ADVANCE.
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SPECIAL
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Those of the interested who, by reason of old age or accident, or other adversity, are unable to pay for the TOWER will be supplied FREE, if they send a Postal Card each December, stating their cases and requesting the paper.
WHAT SAY THE SCRIPTURES ABOUT SPIRITISM?
ALSO
WHO ARE THE SPIRITS IN PRISON? AND WHY ARE THEY THERE?
This booklet is now ready and will be supplied at 10 cents each: wholesale rates 50 cents per dozen are open to all TOWER readers who may desire to circulate these among their friends. In leatherette binding 25 cents. Prices include postage.
PATENT BINDERS FOR ZION'S WATCH TOWER.
These hold two years' issues which can be added just as received and kept clean. All interested readers should preserve one copy of each issue for future reference. These binders will henceforth be supplied at 50 cents each, including postage.
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Please notice the address tag on your paper. It indicates the date to which your subscription is paid. If it does not agree with your record, please drop a card at once, explaining.
If you desire the TOWER, but cannot pay just now, drop a card so stating, so that your name be not dropped.
If you are unable to pay at all, you will see above that the Lord has made full provision for you as one of "THE LORD'S POOR." All such are requested to apply each December. Like all of God's gifts, a desire and a request are necessary to obtain them. A Postal Card request will do.
If we do not thus hear from you, your name will be dropped at once, as we cannot know that you desire its visits further. Then, if you should write later, it would cause us extra trouble to reset your name for the list.
r2239 WILL IT BE A YEAR OF BLESSING?r2239 JOSEPH L. RUSSELL, DECEASED.
r2240 THOU SHALT GUIDE ME WITH THY COUNSEL
r2243 "TEMPTED IN ALL POINTS LIKE AS WE ARE."
r2245 THE BEGINNING OF JESUS' MINISTRY.
DEAR SIR:—I received your valuable paper ZION'S WATCH TOWER this afternoon and I thank you very much. It made my heart glad. I love the glad tidings, though it is sometimes hard to apprehend it. In my 21 years of Christian experience I never heard of anything like it, until I saw the MILLENNIAL DAWN in our Sunday School library catalogue. Being hungry to learn about my Lord's return I got it to read, and I have read it over and over again. It has greatly strengthened my faith in the Lord. I want to know more, so enclose one dollar for which please send me the three volumes of your book, and ZION'S WATCH TOWER for the next three months.
Respectfully yours, MRS. J. BENGSTON.
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL: I have just returned from a little missionary tour. The Lord blessed me wonderfully, and I succeeded in making the truth plain to some very hungry individuals. Please send me some tracts—as many "Do You Know?" as you can spare, for it is the most wonderful tract that ever was printed. I distributed them everywhere I went.
You will see throughout eternity the good you have done by having the TOWER readers read Matt. 5:1-16, and 1 Cor. 13. They have borne me out in many difficulties, and pictured to full view so many of my shortcomings. Sister Neely wishes to be remembered to you and says she has been greatly helped by the Sunday morning reading, and has been able to overcome many things that overcame her in the past.
Your sister in Christ, CAROLINA A. WAYMAN.
DEAR SIRS:—I desire to express my thanks for the fourth volume of the DAWN series. I believe these books contain a wonderful unfolding of God's great plan of the ages. The last issue is a most remarkable volume, and in its gathering together of the views held by some of the most eminent men of our day, in all the walks of life, touching the great crisis ahead, is a most valuable addition to the library of the student of latter day truth. May we meet the obligations which so much light entails upon us, and be ready to hail with joy the ushering in of the Millennial day, when the mystical body of Christ will be made complete and share with him his throne. Again let me thank you for your kindness in sending me the book.
Yours in the Master, R. E. STREETER.
DEAR FRIEND:—Your fourth volume of MILLENNIAL DAWN came duly to hand. I have just read it through the second time. Many books are not worth reading at all; others will bear reading but once; and some can be read with profit two or three times. There are others again that are indispensable as text books. Of the latter class is volume four of M. DAWN. It is indeed a rich storehouse of information that I believe can be found nowhere else in modern literature. It gives us a birdseye view of the present condition of the nations of the world—moral, political and financial—and also spreads out before our eyes the hopeless condition of modern nominal Christendom.
Many do admit that there will be great changes in the near future, but they are all to be of a pacific character. Babylon is fully equipped with men and money to convert the world. Her missionaries will soon be in all lands; the present nations of the world will soon be Christianized; all that is needed for this purpose is men and money. Your neighbor the Rev. I. W. Sproull, D.D., writes: Money, money, money! Give me the money and I will evangelize the world in three years. Mr. Sproull forgets that he is at the head of a foreign mission in Syria which has been in existence since the year 1850 at an expense to his church of about $15,000 per annum. And what is the result to-day? Not a single native teacher; but expensive mission buildings with high stone walls built around them for protection. These buildings are simply boarding houses for native children whom their parents allow the mission to feed and clothe until they get able to work; that is all. And the missionaries themselves admit that they could not stay in Syria a single day were it not for the protection of American war ships cruising in the Mediterranean sea. Here then we have an expenditure of about $600,000 on one little spot in Asia Minor with no result as yet. How much money would Mr. Sproull need to evangelize the heathen world in three years? We will not wait to count. Such a computation would be utterly beyond our reach. Does our reverend doctor really believe that the establishment of Christ's Kingdom on this earth is a matter of dollars and cents, or that it is dependent on the contributions wrung out of a deluded people? So he writes—"Hundreds and thousands of the heathen are descending into everlasting torment every day—and their blood will be required of all those who refuse or neglect to support foreign missions."
Yours respectfully, JAS. N. DOWNEY.
[Many of the Lord's people have been blessed in giving to missions, whatever the good to the heathen. An increase of light should not deprive us of the blessing of giving, but should guide us to the choice of the best ways and means, and redouble our zeal.—EDITOR.]
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:—Seven years ago I was on the eve of infidelity, and had given up all hope, when I by chance came in possession of the first volume of DAWN. Since then I have read and re-read each volume as it has come out, and the last one I have just completed. Some of them I have gone through three times.
Do you want to know what the truth has done for me? At the time I was led into this marvelous light [R2247 : page 16] I was one of the worst cases of bedridden paralytics in town. I had become addicted to the morphine habit, and used sixty grains of the drug in one week; but by the grace of almighty God I have overcome the habit and have not touched it for over four years. I have been able to walk without crutches now for over two years. I have vowed to God to labor in the vineyard to the best of my ability.
Yours in Christian love, C. M. CARPENTER.
VOL. XIX. JANUARY 15, 1898. No. 2.
Views from the Watch Tower........................ 19
"Agnostics in Heaven"......................... 19
"Admits He Lived a Lie"....................... 20
"An Invisible Hand is Shaking"................ 20
Poem: What the Prince of Peace
Might Say................................... 21
Secret Faults and Presumptuous Sins............... 22
The Blessed Ones Portrayed........................ 24
"After this Manner Pray Ye"....................... 27
Interesting Letters............................... 31
SUBSCRIPTIONS AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS
—ADDRESS TO—
TOWER PUBLISHING CO., BIBLE HOUSE, 58 ARCH ST.,
ALLEGHENY, PA., U.S.A.
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, $1.00 A YEAR IN ADVANCE.
MONEY MAY BE SENT BY EXPRESS, N.Y. DRAFT, MONEY ORDER, OR REGISTERED.
FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES BY FOREIGN MONEY ORDERS, ONLY.
SPECIAL
TERMS TO THE LORD'S POOR, AS FOLLOWS:
Those of the interested who, by reason of old age or accident, or other adversity, are unable to pay for the TOWER will be supplied FREE, if they send a Postal Card each December, stating their cases and requesting the paper.
r2247 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER.r2248 SECRET FAULTS AND PRESUMPTUOUS SINS.
r2249 THE BLESSED ONES PORTRAYED.
r2251 "AFTER THIS MANNER PRAY YE."
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:—It seems to me there should be a million of the booklet on Spiritism circulated this year. The error of Spiritism is increasing in a wonderfully rapid manner, and the regions here about seem pervaded with it. The "angel of light" phase seems to be wonderfully successful. How blessed the thought that the Lord will take care of his own. "I pray for them which thou hast given me out of the world." What joy to know that the Father hears the prayer of his dear Son. What a privilege to know that we may "abide under the shadow of the Almighty."
I enclose you a little booklet which I think should be titled "The Methodist Tenth," instead of "God's Tenth." I sometimes think if the Lord wanted to get money as badly as the preachers do he would get it. I hope it is not wicked to think such thoughts. Certainly my ideal of the Most High is very different from that. When the great work is completed, we will all see that He has done it all, and to Him belongs all the glory. Blessed be his holy name!
Yours for the truth, W. H. HOUGHTELIN.
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:—I have to report a splendid meeting at __________; a regular camp meeting, where my audiences varied all the way from 50 to 200 people, many of whom were deeply interested in the truth, as never before. Three Universalists threw away their arms of rebellion, came forward, two of them for the 1st volume of DAWN, and the third one subscribed for the TOWER, overjoyed at the wonderful plan of redemption when brought forward from a true and reasonable standpoint. Many others were deeply affected by such a grand harmony of the Word of God. Certainly it was a feast of fat things.
With Christian greetings to yourself and Sister Russell and all the dear brethren and sisters,
Yours in the bonds of love and service,
DEAR FRIENDS:—Please find enclosed M.O. for $1.00 to pay for my TOWER of '98. "To pay for" are not the words, however, to express my sentiments, as there is not money enough in the world "to pay for" the grand things it has been my great privilege to have, through the TOWER. May it please the Lord to continue the TOWER a true Herald of Christ's Presence and a firm defender of the Ransom, so as to keep it a true helper to us at all times.
Yours very truly, J. G. KUEHN.
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:—The TOWER arrived this morning, announcing the death of your father. I was deeply touched by your article, and you have my earnest sympathy in your loss. What you said of his burdens and disabilities made me think of some verses in the poem, "Mortally Wounded,"—
"I lay me down to sleep, with little thought or care
Whether the waking find me here—or there;
A bowing, burdened head, only too glad to rest,
Unquestioning, upon a loving breast;
Not eager, bold nor strong—all that is past,
Willing not to do, at last, at last!
My long day's work is done, and this is all my part;
I give a patient God my patient heart."
[R2254 : page 31] What a great blessing this dear old father must have been to you! In his own quiet way, loyal to the truth and to you. I can understand well how his noble efforts to "hold up your hands" must have comforted [R2254 : page 32] and strengthened you through dark times when Satan assaulted the work. His was indeed—
"Among the Master's callings of high honor,
One oftentimes we miss,
Because our hearts in their impatient yearning
Fail to perceive its bliss;
Fail to perceive the grandeur of its service,
The deep, sweet joy it brings,
And deem some other easier, or nobler,
With richer harvestings.
"And so we may not choose, but Christ appoints us
The work of sitting still,
And saith, My child, in quietness and patience
This service now fulfil.
We learn that we are given this sweet service,
Because the Master sees
That thus his delegates must oft be fitted
For higher embassies.
Until at last we hear his dear voice saying,
Child, I have need of thee
To fill this vacant place of trust and honor,
To do this work for me.
"And then, as fellow-workers with the Master,
We shall arise and go
Forth to the harvest fields of earth, it may be,
The reaper's joy to know;
Or to some perfect, wondrous service yonder,
Within some Holy Place,
Where, veilless, in its full transfigured glory,
His servants see his face."
Your father's humility and child-like faith in our blessed Lord were beautiful: and you could not have paid a higher tribute to him than this brief, loving article in the TOWER. While your present separation from him is sad, yet we sorrow not as those who have no hope, and we have probably only a few more years in the flesh. Then we, too, shall enter that better, more blessed life, and understand fully what now we know only in part. With much Christian love to you and to Sister Russell, I am
[The EDITOR desires to express deep appreciation of all the many loving and sympathetic letters received from every quarter;—Love's testimonies and benedictions. What better evidences have we of the Lord's spirit than "brotherly love" and sympathy? Verily, "If one member suffers, all the members suffer with him." Please, dear Brethren and Sisters, accept this as an acknowledgement of all your kind and highly esteemed expressions of sympathy; and excuse me from a personal reply by letter, for we are extremely busy with the "harvest" work—as you will be glad to know.—EDITOR.]
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:—I cannot tell you how deeply thankful I feel for being enabled to come to a knowledge of present truth as set forth in MILLENNIAL DAWN and ZION'S WATCH TOWER. It has strengthened and deepened my love for God and my desire to be of some use in the work of the present "harvest." There is a good field here for work, and I earnestly desire to engage in it. I do firmly believe that the Lord is calling me to it.
I have fully counted the cost, and I am prepared to devote my time, my talents, my all, in the Lord's work, and I wish to colporteur and devote the most of my time to spreading the truth. I have no one depending on me, so that I am entirely free to devote myself to the work. I enclose five dollars for renewal of TOWER and tracts, also some 1st volumes of DAWN.
Yours in the Lord, ANDREW ANDERSON.
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:—MILLENNIAL DAWN,
VOL. IV. and your welcome letter of the 12th inst. came safely to hand. Many thanks! I am reading the book with much interest and profit. It opens up many truths to me, so important for God's people to know; it is "meat in due season" for me. Oh, how I wish those books could have a wide circulation among the people, and enable many to see this wonderful light!
On the 17th of October there happened an event here that should not be left entirely unnoticed. The Salvation Army was then officially legitimized in Denmark. General Booth was then visiting here and opened up several new homes for destitute. And at one of his meetings he had some very big(?) people on the platform. Judge of Supreme Court F. Larsen, privy Counselor of State Goos, Lieutenant-General Bahnson, Secretary of State Tierry, Chief of Police Madsen, and several others, solemnly pronounced the Salvation Army legitimized as a useful institution for the present order of society, and promised it their best support.
But, for all that was said there, we know that it is not the promotion of Christianity these men are expecting by the efforts of the Salvation Army. It is not for the sake of Christianity, but for their own sakes, for the sake of Capitalism, that they have now legalized the "Army." And because the "Army" supports Capitalism, the great men bless its doings and step forth on the platform to thank the "Army" for all the good it has accomplished.
Please give my Christian love and regards to the office helpers and receive a large share to yourself and Sister Russell, from
Your loving brother in Christ, J. S. WINTER.
MY DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:—I am writing to thank you for the generous supply of tracts you sent me and to tell you I arrived here after a very smooth and pleasant voyage. The people are very much scattered over the island, and in no place is there any very dense population, and as horse, steam or electric cars are entirely unknown here it entails considerable walking to make a thorough canvass of the entire colony; but (D.V.) I hope after about a week to start in and distribute the tracts and at the same time solicit orders for DAWNS, and as this is a virgin field, I trust my labor will not be in vain.
I hope, dear Brother, that you will remember me at the throne of grace that He may use me in this solemn harvest time in making me His humble instrument in this colony for separating the wheat from the tares, and that whatsoever I may do, it may be entirely for His honor and glory who has called us to be fellow-heirs with Jesus. "Emptied, that so he might fill me, as forth to his service I go; Broken, that so unhindered his love through me might flow."
Yours in the love of Jesus, WALTER YARDLEY.
[This dear brother has already had 100 copies of VOL. I., and about all sold now.—EDITOR.]