VOL. XVI. JANUARY 1, 1895. No. 1.
Our New Dress.....................................
2
Accepting God's Gifts Gratefully..................
2
A German Quarterly................................
2
Views from the Tower..............................
3
"This is the Way."................................
6
Poem: Pray Without Ceasing........................
7
On Trial for Life.................................
7
Bible Study: John the Baptist Beheaded............
9
Bible Study: Feeding the Five Thousand............
9
Bible Study: Christ the Bread of Life............. 10
Selections for the Family Circle.................. 11
"Out of Darkness"—Interesting Letters............ 11
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.
CHARLES T. RUSSELL, Editor; MRS. C. T. RUSSELL, Associate.
SUBSCRIPTIONS AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS
—ADDRESS TO—
TOWER PUBLISHING CO., BIBLE HOUSE, 58 & 60 ARCH ST.,
ALLEGHENY (NORTH PITTSBURG), PA., U.S.A.
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, $1.00 A YEAR, IN ADVANCE,
INCLUDES A SUBSCRIPTION TO "THE OLD THEOLOGY TRACTS"—QUARTERLY.
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 will send a Postal Card each December, stating their case and requesting the paper.
We trust that the new arrangement of the TOWER will meet the approval of its readers. It contains fewer pages, but more reading matter than formerly.
ACCEPTING GOD'S GIFTS GRATEFULLY.
There are many who cannot pay for their TOWER, during the year 1895, but who would be greatly disadvantaged if deprived of it. Such should notice our Terms to the Lord's Poor, above. It is a part of God's provision for your spiritual sustenance, and should be accepted, like all of his blessings, with thanksgiving. But people who are not too poor to buy tobacco and similar gratifications of the flesh, which war against the spirit, are not of the class for whom the offer is meant by the Lord and by us his stewards.
Shall be pleased to hear, from those of the friends interested in circulating the truth amongst German Christians, their opinion respecting the advisability of a German periodical, Quarterly: How many subscriptions can be guaranteed to commence with, at the rate of say 10 cents per year, or twelve copies quarterly for $1.00, or seventy-five copies quarterly for $5.00, sent post free to any address you may send.
This volume contains a very choice selection of 150 Poems and 333 Hymns, purged, we trust, from much of the too common, erroneous, hymn-book theology: 494 pages, good print, cloth binding only. It is the Gospel of the Kingdom in verse, by the pens of many of God's dear saints of all centuries. It is a companion to MILLENNIAL DAWN, and sells at the same price as the cloth-bound volumes. It is designed to lead the mind aright in meditation and worship.
Our meetings are held in Bible House Chapel, Arch st., Allegheny, Pa. Friends will be warmly welcomed. Preaching every Sunday at 3:30 P.M.
r1751 VIEWS FROM THE TOWER.r1753 "THIS IS THE WAY."
r1748 ON TRIAL FOR LIFE.
r1754 JOHN THE BAPTIST BEHEADED.
r1754 FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND.
r1755 CHRIST THE BREAD OF LIFE.
r1756 SELECTIONS FOR THE FAMILY CIRCLE.
r1755 "OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT."
VOL. XVI. JANUARY 15, 1895. No. 2.
Items—Tracts, Binders, Towers.................... 14
Views from the Tower—............................ 15
The Religious View............................ 15
The Bible Dangerous to Autocracy.............. 15
Encouraging a Military Spirit................. 16
The Social View............................... 18
Poem: All This Be Thy Portion..................... 19
The Ministry of Evil.............................. 20
Bible Study: The Good Confession.................. 21
Bible Study: The Transfiguration.................. 22
Encouraging Letters............................... 23
SUBSCRIPTIONS AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS
—ADDRESS TO—
TOWER PUBLISHING CO., BIBLE HOUSE, 58 & 60 ARCH ST.,
ALLEGHENY (NORTH PITTSBURG), PA., U.S.A.
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, $1.00 A YEAR, IN ADVANCE,
INCLUDES A SUBSCRIPTION TO "THE OLD THEOLOGY TRACTS"—QUARTERLY.
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 will send a Postal Card each December, stating their case and requesting the paper.
TRACTS Nos. 1, 3, 4, 12 and 22 are out at present. Nos. 1, 12 and 22 will be ready in about six weeks.
TRACT No. 25, "THE ONLY NAME,—A criticism of Bp. Foster's New Gospel"—we have now in good supply. Our present edition is 130,000 copies. Order sample copies for all the honest-hearted of your Christian friends, free.
WE have arranged to supply to our readers Emerson's Patent Cloth Binders of the proper size for the TOWER, large enough to contain say 50 copies, representing at present full two years' issues. The usual price for them is 80 cents, but by special arrangement for quantities we can include postage and supply these at 60 cents each.
THE address label on your TOWER wrapper is a receipt for subscription and shows the date to which you have paid. For instance, your payment for the present year, if there were no past dues would change your "tag" to read Dec. '95. But owing to the rush of letters at this season of the year, we are usually behind in the work of correcting the "tags." We hope to have all changes made by Feb. 15.
For the benefit of our new readers we mention that we still have copies of several of our back issues dealing with subjects of special interest, as follows—
The Scripture Teaching respecting the subject of God;—the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. June '92.
What Saith the Scripture About Hell? An examination of every text of the Bible containing the word "hell," and many others supposed to imply the thought of eternal torment. Feb. '93.
The True Church;—which it is, where to find it and how to join it. Sept. '93.
The Law of God—the Sabbath, etc.—a most important subject, upon which all Christians should have a clear understanding. We know of nothing in print so well adapted as this to meet and answer the peculiar points of doctrine on this subject set forth by Seventh-day keepers. Nov. '94.
The above are all double numbers—ten cents each (free to Lord's interested poor). For circulation we will supply them at rate of six for twenty-five cents, or twenty-five for one dollar.
r1756 VIEWS FROM THE TOWER.r1759 THE MINISTRY OF EVIL.
r1760 THE GOOD CONFESSION.
r1761 THE TRANSFIGURATION.
r1761 ENCOURAGING WORDS FROM FAITHFUL WORKERS.