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THE
WATCH
TOWER
BROOKLYN,
N.
Y.
larger
stones.
This
might,
in
some
respects,
represent
our
being
a
larger
or
a
smaller
stone
in
the
temple-representing
the
privilegrs
ar
honor
which
we
may
have
beyond
the
veil.
St.
Paul
also
says
that
he
was
trying
to
do
much
more,
that
he
was
trying
to
have
a
largrr
share
in
the
trials
and
self-c1l'nials,
in
order
that
he
might
have
a
larger
share
in
the
work
bryolld.
This
did
not
mean
that
he
desired
self-aggran
dizement,
or
that
he
was
either
proud
or
self-seeking.
And
\\e
shall
not
be
so
if
we
would
attain
that
to
which
God
would
have
us
attain-the
glorious
character-likeness
of
our
Master.
"JERUSALEM
...
MOTHER
OF
US
ALL"
Question.-In
the
text,
"Jerusalem
which
is
above
is
free,
which
is
the
mother
of
us
all"
(Galatians
4:26),
who
are
meant
by
"us,"
and
how
is
the
spiritual
Jerusalem
the
"mother
of
us
all"1
Answer.-The
Apostle
here
uses
a
figure
of
speech
which
is
COIllmon
in
the
Scriptures,
and
in
which
a
city
is
referred
to
as
the
mother
of
its
inhabitants;
for
instance,
"daughters
of
J
el'usalem,"
"c1allghters
of
Zion,"
"Sodom
and
her
daugh
ters,
"etc.
The'
'us"
class
mean
the
saints
of
God.
The
citizenship
of
the
saints
is
in
heaven-in
the
heavenly
Jeru
salem,
which
will
not
be
built
until
the
first
resurrection.
By
faith
we
look
forward
and
speak
of
that
promised
condition
and
of
our
citizenship
therein.
The
church
is
developed
under
the
same
covenant-mother
as
was
Christ;
for
we
are
his
members.
His
was
a
covenant
of
sacrifice.
"Gather
my
saints
together
unto
me;
those
that
have
made
a
covenant
with
me
by
sacrifice."
(Psa.
50:
5)
The
man
Christ
Jesus
entered
into
a
covenant
with
the
Father,
which
meant
the
sacrifice
of
his
flesh,
his
earthly
nature.
As
a
reward
for
this
sacrifice,
the
Father
made
him
a
new
creature
of
the
divine
nature-"
far
above
angels,'
I
constitut
ing
him
the
great
Messiah
who
shall
bless
the
world.
Carrying
out
the
Father's
plan,
our
Lord
imputes
his
merit
to
such
as
now
follow
his
example,
and
walk
in
his
footsteps,
performing
the
same
covenant
of
sacrifice.
If
these
are
faithful,
they
will
share
in
the
great
work
of
Messiah
in
blessing
the
world,
and
will
constitute
the
New
Jerusalem,
the
Millennial
kingdom.
By
faith
we
are
its
children.
Even
now,
our
citizenship
is
in
heaven.
BROAD
UNSECTARIAN
QUESTIONS
The
following
are
the
questions
usually
put
by
Brother
Russell
when
receiving
candidates
for
water
immersion.
It
will
be
noticed
that
they
are
on
broad
lines-questions
which
any
Christian,
whatever
his
confession,
should
be
able
to
allswer
in
the
affirmative
without
hesitation
if
he
is
suitable
to
be
acknowledged
as
a
membe!
of
the
church
of
Christ:
(1)
Have
you
repented
of
sin
with
such
restitution
as
you
are
able,
and
are
you
trusting
in
the
merit
of
Christ
'8
sacrifice
for
the
forgiveness
of
your
sins
and
the
basis
of
your
justification'
(2)
Have
you
made
a
full
consecration
of
yourself
with
all
the
powers
that
you
possess-talent,
monry,
time,
influence
-all
to
the
Lord,
to
be
used
faithfully
in
his
service,
even
unto
death~
(3)
On
the
basis
of
these
confessions,
we
acknowledge
you
as
a
member
of
the
household
of
faith,
and
give
to
you
as
such
the
right
hand
of
fellowship,
not
in
the
name
of
any
sect
or
party
or
creed,
but
in
the
name
of
the
Redeemer,
our
glori
fied
Lord,
and
his
faithful
followers.
VOL.
XXXIV
BROOKLYN,
N.
Y.,
JUNE
1,
1913
No.
11
THE
TRANSFORMING
INFLUENCE
OF
THOUGHT
"
As
he
thinketh
in
his
heart,
so
is
he."
(Proverbs
23:
7.)
"Keep
thy
heart
with
all
diligence;
for
out
of
it
are
the
issues
of
life.
"-Proverbs
4
:23
The
heart
is
one
of
the
most
important
organs
of
our
body.
If
it
censes
to
work,
death
is
sure
to
follow.
The
blood
that
floTI's
through
the
heart
constitutes
the
life,
the
energy
of
the
borly.
If
the
blood
current
is
interrupted
for
a
little
while,
a
elot
is
formed.
This
is
so
much
of
a
prep
'Hntion
for
dcnth.
There
must
be
a
continual
stream
of
Illood
circulating
through
onr
bodies
to
keep
life
there.
In
viow
of
this
important
function
of
our
natural
hearts,
the
Bible
Yrry
properly
nses
the
heart,
the
center
of
life,
as
a
sym
bol
of
the
cen
tel'
of
our
affections,
including
the
will.
Our
will
Jws
to
do
with
everything
we
do.
Whoever
of
the
Lord's
people
wills
to
seek
more
and
more
to
purify
himself
heeomes
moro
and
more
alive.
If
we
are
pure
in
heart,
we
r('solve
to
live
rigohteously
r1nd
sohrrly
in
the
present
life.
Who·
('WI'
nppreriatl's
tlw
JlIoinciple
that
right
is
right,
and
wrong
is
TITong
TI'i1I
desin'
to
live
right-whether
Jew
or
Gentile
or
the
eJlllreh
of
GO(l.
'rhe
cllllrch,
having
necepted
God's
tl'rms,
have
made
a
con
seeration
of
thrir
lives
to
him.
They
have
engaged
to
fight
a
goO(]
liogollt
agoainst
the
\\odd,
the
flesh
and
the
devil.
They
are
Un(]l'r
sl,ecir11
ohlig:ltions
r1S
new
ereatures.
Their
hopes
:lJld
aml,itious
are
sepr1r:ltc
from
those
of
the
world.
They
nrc
therC'fon'
donhly
rC'sponsihle
in
respect
to
their
hearts,
which
rc'J,reseut
their
inmost
sentiments.
Aeeor(]illg
to
a
nwn's
inllermost
sentiment,
so
is
he.
As
a
mr1n
thinkdh
in
his
heart,
so
is
his
real
character.
What
is
yom
real
will?
\Vhat
are
yonI'
real
sentiments~
Not,
What
\nll',ls
']0
you
uSP?
llOt,
\Vhat
r1re
your
r1ctions,
but,
What
is
tIl('
Illotive
nndC'rlying'
all
thes('~
'rhe
new
ereatul'e
is
to
he
(lorl-like,
spiritual,
eventually
of
the
spirit
nature
in
glory-perfeet.
But
before
it
attains
that
perfrdion,
the
heart
of
the
new
creature
is
required
to
pro\'e
its
loyalty.
Some
will
he
overcomers
in
a
higher
sense
tlwn
others,
hnt
none
will
bc
overcomers
except
those
who
are
true,
luyal,
pure.
If,
therefore,
we
have
made
a
consecra
tion
to
Gorl,
it
shonld
be
our
endeavor
that
our
hearts,
our
desires,
om
motives
be
perfl'ct.
'l'he
only
proper
attitude
is
to
confess
Our
imperfl'rtiolls,
if
we
are
wrong.
God
expects
us
to
he
10yr11
of
Iwart.
Am]
that
loyalty
of
heart
should
I'raeh
out
and
control
the
whole
life.
If
our
thoughts
are
not
according
to
our
ideals,
we
should
endeavor
to
make
them
so.
We
shonld
put
away
anger,
malice,
hntred,
strife,
n11(]
all
such
works
of
the
flesh
and
the
devil.
With
some
people,
in
some
conditions,
these
thoughts
go
very
deep.
It
is
not
the
transitory
thoughts
of
the
mind-the
pass-
ing
thoughts-that
are
meant
in
our
text.
Even
people
of
very
bad
character
may
at
times
have
deep
emotions.
The
eyes
of
some
persons
will
be
suffused
with
tears
over
some
trivial
matter.
This
makes
them
appear
to
be
very
tender·
hearted,
and
yet
their
lives
may
show
that
they
would
as
easily
be
moved
to
some
vicious
deed
as
to
sympathy.
'We
see
this
fact
illustrated
in
the
conduct
of
mobs.
The
people
who
hailed
Jesus
as
king
were
five
days
later
crying,
,
'Crucify
him!"
Those
who
shortly
before
had
seemed
to
be
so
appreciative
of
him
appeared
to
lose
that
appreciation.
IMPORTANCE
OF
RIGHT
TWNKING
In
reality
a
man
is
not
always
what
on
the
surface
he
seems
to
be.
His
real
character
is
deep
down
below-the
purpose
of
his
life.
These
are
not
the
mere
transitory
thoughts.
but
the
deep
fissures
of
thought,
if
we
may
so
designate
those
which
involve
the
whol~
life.
The
Scriptures
bring
to
our
attention
the
fact
that
we
are
to
be
transformed
by
the
re
newing
of
our
minds-by
having
them
made
over.-Rom.
12
:2,
The
Apostle,
speaking
of
some
very
vicious
traits
of
char·
acter,
says,
"And
such
were
some
of
you,
but
ye
are
washed,
but
ye
are
sanctified,
but
ye
are
justified,
in
the
name
of
the
Lord
Jesus,
and
by
the
Spirit
of
our
God."
(1
Cor.
6:
11
)
This
cleansing,
this
sanctifying,
comes
not
merely
through
the
reading
of
the
truth,
or
the
mental
application
of
the
truth,
but
through
the
heart-thinking
on
the
truth.
This
heart·
thinking,
these
deep
resolutions,
are
ours
as
Christians,
and
are
to
be
guided
by
certain
principles.
These
have
to
do
with
the
real
man
whom
God
is
considering-not
the
old
creature,
more
Or
less
blemished,
according
to
the
degree
of
depravity.
God
looks
at
the
new
creatnre.
These
deep
heart
convictions
and
purposes
constitute
a
transformation
of
character.
This
is
the
man's
real
condi
tion,
and
so
i~
he.
If
he
have
some
transitory
emotion
of
anger
01'
of
malice,
it
would
not
be
his
real
thought,
his
real
intention.
Therefore
it
would
not
be
he,
but
his
old
nature,
temporarily
asserting
itself.
As
a
new
creature,
he
is
to
watch
his
words,
his
thoughts,
his
actions,
If
a
transitory,
wrong
thought
should
pass
through
his
mind,
it
would
not
be
the
thought
of
his
heart.
And
he
as
a
new
creature,
should
stop
it,
put
it
away,
so
that
it
may
not
take
root
in
his
heart,
and
choke
out
better
sentiments.
This
right
thinking
of
the
heart
has
very
much
to
do
with
the
whole
life.
The
Apostle
says
that
we
are
transformed
by
the
renewing
of
our
minds,
to
know
what
is
the
perfect
will
of
God.
This
is
the
Christian's
standpoint.
How
glad
[5246]
(159-163) larger stones. This might, in some respects, represent our being a larger or a smaller stone in the temple—representing the privileges er honor which we may have beyond the veil. St. Paul also says that he was trying to do much more, that he was trying to have a larger share in the trials and self-denials, in order that he might have a larger share in the work beyond. This did not mean that he desired self-aggrandizement, or that he was cither proud or self-seeking. And we shall not be so if we would attain that to which God would have us attain—the glorious character-likeness of our Master. ‘JERUSALEM ... MOTHER OF US ALL’ Question.—In the text, ‘‘Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all’? (Galatians 4:26), who are meant by ‘‘us,’’ and how is the spiritual Jerusalem the ““mother of us all’??? Answer.—The Apostle here uses a figure of speech which is common in the Scriptures, and in which a city is referred to as the mother of its inhabitants; for instance, ‘‘daughters of Jerusalem,’’ ‘‘daughters of Zion,’’ ‘‘Sodom and her daughters,’’ etc. The ‘‘us’’ class mean the saints of God. The citizenship of the saints is in heaven—in the heavenly Jerusalem, which will not be built until the first resurrection. By faith we look forward and speak of that promised condition and of our citizenship therein. The church is developed under the same covenant-mother as was Christ; for we are his members. His was a covenant of sacrifice. ‘‘Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.’’ (Psa. 50:5) The man Christ Jesus entered into a covenant with the Father, which meant the sacrifice of his flesh, his earthly nature. THE WATCH TOWER Brooxiyn, N. Y. As a reward for this sacrifice, the Father made him a new creature of the divine nature—‘‘far above angels,’’ constituting him the great Messiah who shall bless the world. Carrying out the Father’s plan, our Lord imputes his merit to such as now follow his example, and walk in his footsteps, performing the same covenant of sacrifice. If these are faithful, they will share in the great work of Messiah in blessing the world, and will constitute the New Jerusalem, the Millennial kingdom. By faith we are its children. Even now, our citizenship is in heaven, BROAD UNSECTARIAN QUESTIONS The following are the questions usually put by Brother Russell when receiving candidates for water immersion. It will be noticed that they are on broad lines—questions which any Christian, whatever his confession, should be able to answer in the affirmative without hesitation if he is suitable to be acknowledged as a member of the church of Christ: (1) Have you repented of sin with such restitution as you are able, and are you trusting in the merit of Christ’s sacrifice for the forgiveness of your sins and the basis of your justification? (2) Have you made a full consecration of yourself with all the powers that you possess—talent, money, time, influence ~—ali to the Lord, to be used faithfully in his service, even unto death? (3) On the basis of these confessions, we acknowledge you as a member of the household of faith, and give to you as such the right hand of fellowship, not in the name of any sect or party or creed, but in the name of the Redeemer, our glorified Lord, and his faithful followers. Vou. XXXIV BROOKLYN, N. Y., JUNE 1, 1913 No. 11 THE TRANSFORMING INFLUENCE OF THOUGHT ‘* As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.’’ (Proverbs 23:7.) “*Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.’’—Proverbs 4:23 The heart is one of the most important organs of our hody. If it ceases to work, death is sure to follow. The blood that flows through the heart constitutes the life, the energy of the body. If the blood eurrent is interrupted for a little while, a clot is formed. This is so much of a preparation for death. There must be a continual stream of hlood circulating through our bodies to keep life there. In view of this important function of our natural hearts, the Bible very properly uses the heart, the center of life, as a symbol of the center of our affections, including the will. Our will has to do with everything we do. Whoever of the Lord’s people wills to seek more and more to purify himself becomes more and more alive. If we are pure in heart, we resolve to live righteously and soberly in the present life. Whoever appreciates the principle that right is right, and wrong is wrong will desire to live right-—-whether Jew or Gentile or the church of God. The church, having accepted God’s terms, have made a consecration of their lives to him. They have engaged to fight a good fight against the world, the flesh and the devil. They are under special obligations as new creatures. Their hopes and ambitions are separate from those of the world. They are therefore doubly responsible in respect to their hearts, which represent their inmost sentiments. According to a man’s innermost sentiment, so is he. man thinketh in his heart, so is his real character. What is your real will? What are your real sentiments? Not, What words do you use? not, What are your actions, but, What is the motive underlying all these? The new ereature is to be God-like, spiritual, eventually of the spirit nature in glory—perfect. But before it attains that perfection, the heart of the new creature is required to prove its loyalty. Some will be overcomers in a higher sense than others, but none will be overeomers except those who are true, fuyal, pure. If, therefore, we have made a consecration to God, it should be our endeavor that our hearts, our desires, our motives be perfect. The only proper attitude is to confess our imperfections, if we are wrong. God expects us to he loyal of heart. And that loyalty of heart should reach out and control the whole life. Tf our thoughts are not according to our ideals, we should endeavor to make them so. We should put away anger, malice, hatred, strife, and all such works of the flesh and the devil. With some people, in some conditions, these thoughts go very deep. It is not the transitory thoughts of the mind—the pass As a ing thoughts—that are meant in our text. Even people of very bad character may at times have deep emotions. The eyes of some persons will be suffused with tears over some trivial matter. This makes them appear to be very tenderhearted, and yet their lives may show that they would as easily be moved to some vicious deed as to sympathy. We see this fact illustrated in the conduct of mobs. The people who hailed Jesus as king were five days later crying, **Crucify him!’’ Those who shortly before had seemed to be so appreciative of him appeared to lose that appreciation. IMPORTANCE OF RIGHT THINKING In reality a man is not always what on the surface he seems to be. His real character is deep down below—the purpose of his life. These are not the mere transitory thoughts, but the deep fissures of thought, if we may so designate those which involve the wholt life. The Scriptures bring to our attention the fact that we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds—by having them made over.—Rom. 12:2. The Apostle, speaking of some very vicious traits of character, says, ‘‘And such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.’’ (1 Cor. 6:11) This cleansing, this sanctifying, comes not merely through the reading of the truth, or the mental application of the truth, but through the heart-thinking on the truth. This heartthinking, these deep resolutions, are ours as Christians, and are to be guided by certain principles. These have to do with the real man whom God is considering—not the old creature, more or less blemished, according to the degree of depravity. God looks at the new creature. These deep heart convictions and purposes constitute a transformation of character. This is the man’s real condition, and so is he. If he have some transitory emotion of anger or of malice, it would not be his real thought, his real intention. Therefore it would not be he, but his old nature, temporarily asserting itself. As a new creature, he is to watch his words, his thoughts, his actions. If a transitory, wrong thought should pass through his mind, it would not be the thought of his heart. And he as a new creature, should stop it, put it away, so that it may not take root in his heart, and choke out better sentiments. This right thinking of the heart has very much to do with the whole life. The Apostle says that we are transformed by the renewing of our minds, to know what is the perfect will of God. This is the Christian’s standpoint. How glad [5246]
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