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THE
WATCH
TOWER
BROOKLYN,
N.
Y.
by
putting
them
in
prison
and
by
making
them
pay
so
much
money.
Can
this
stop
the
people
sinning?
No;
not
at
all!
If
these
were
the
great
Preacher's
'Yards
and
the
words
of
our
heavenly
Pat
her,
anl!
His
punishment
against
the
wicked,
they
would
surely
stop
the
people
from
sinning.
But
we
real!
in
the
Bible
that
the
Deliverer
shall
come,
and
the
kingdom
of
God
shall
corne,
and
all
nations
shall
know
the
way
of
our
God;
but
the
wickel!
will
he
destroy.
Also
we
learn
from
our
Master's
lips
the
saying,
"Learn
of
Me."
Pl'ople
may
remember
that
our
Lord
found
the
people
of
Israel
,loing
wrong
against
the
Word
of
God,
and
they
were
proul!.
But
we
never
see
a
single
line
in
the
Bible
saying
that
he
took
even
one
of
the
,Tews
to
the
Roman
Governor,
to
be
put
in
prison,
etc.
All
these
things
make
us
to
be
strong
in
faith
that
the
harvest
message
is
trill'.
"'Though
it
talTY,
it
will
come."
We
had
not
believed
it
for
a
certain
time,
bllt
when
we
be
lieH',1
we
conser-rated
ollrsdn's
unto
,]eath.
I
,'an
only
let
you
know
how
we
are
doing.
We
hold
meet
ings
twice
It
_
month.
beginning
on
Priday'
and
lasting
over
Rlln(]ay.
Friday,
Bible
sttHly;
Raturday,
discussion;
Sunday,
public
nlt'eting.
Anoth('r
week,
the
meeting
on
Friday
is
Ques
tion
meeting;
praise
ant]
testimony
meeting
on
Saturday,
and
T'ublie
mePling
on
Sunday.
The
number
in
attendance
on
~lInr]ay,
wlll'n
we
have
g-eneral
nweting,
is
1,040,
:\85,
],000,
PIc.;
private
meetings
:\6
to
40.
Bllt
when
we
call
all
churches
to
one
place,
hllndrp,]s
of
brethren
are
present!
We
thank
God
for
his
blpssings
which
he
has
bestowed
upon
us.
Furtlll'rmore,
we
thank
him
for
showing
us
his
"'cret
an(l
that
11('
gives
us
wisdom
to
IInderstand
his
Holy
S,·riptures.
How
glad
we
arp
to
see
these
things
being
flll
fille,l
before
0111'
eyes!
Tn
Nyassalanll
we
sec
many
things
\\hidl
have
been
preachell
in
our
churches,
anrl
what
we
are
lrarning
in.
the
Volllmes
nnd
WATCH
TOWER-all
these
things
are
now
bCIng
fulfille(].
How
glad
we
are
to
see
that
God
has
given
us
wisdom
in
preaching!
How
glad
,ve
are
to
see
that
our
Lonl
is
in
the
millst
of
liS,
leading
us
into
his
marvelous
light!
How
glad
we
are
that
we
"which
in
past
times
were
not
a
peoph',
are
now
the
people
of
God"!
And
how
glad
we
:,re
to
be
dead
to
fleshly
lusts,
but
to
be
alive
to
spiritual
things!
May
Go(l's
hlessing
rest
upon
you!
Your
younger
brother
in
the
sprvice,
H.
SDION
ACHIIlwA.-Africa.
THE
STRENGTHENING
CORD
nl'ar
Brother
Russell:-
Greetings
in
the
Lon]!
I
feE']
constrained
to
write
you
con
cerning
my
recent
experiences
in
the
colporteur
work,
which
are
unusual.
Several
days
ago
I
canvassed
a
lady
who
is
a
trance-medium.
She
did
not
order
the
books.
Presently
I
called
on
another,
who
bought
the
Spiritualism
book.
Still
another
I
called
upon
in
the
same
block,
not
knowing
in
either
case
that
they
were
Spiritualists.
This
one
began
by
telling
me
she
is
preparing
herself
to
be
a
writing
and
talking
medium,
and
how,
at
times,
"the
forces"
torment
her
day
and
night
until
she
uses
strong
will-power
to
disperse
them,
saying,
"Leave
me
now;
I
must
have
rest."
Asking
the
Lord's
assistance,
I
proceeded
to
point
out
from
Scripture
the
origin
of
these
evil
spirits-the
fallen
angels.
Strange
to
say,
she
accepted
it
all
very
readily
aJl(]
asked
ques
tions
re
the
same
so
eagerly!
At
this
juncture
peculiar
noises
werE'
heard
ahout
the
room;
rappings,
cracklings
aJl(]
faint
(·hucklings.
She
noticed
Illy
nervousness
and
said
in
an
assur
ing
tone.
"There
they
are
now!
It's
the
spirits,
because
you
are
talking
about
thelll."
No
doubt
they
were
much
displeased
l)('cause
of
fear
that
she
would
get
her
eyes
opened.
Another
medium
now
entered
the
room
and
I
left.
U
0\\'
thnnkful
to
the
Lord
I
am
that
he
through
you
has
l'rovidl'd
the
"strengthening
eOI'd'
'-the
vow!
As
the
con
summation
,haws
nearer
we
realize
how
necessary
was
this
provision.
Mudl
interpst
is
now
being
aroused
among
the
natural
I,;rnelitcs
in
this
e.ity
through
distribution
of
",Tewish
Hopes
a
Jl(]
Hpstora
tion
Prosper·ts."
Every
fam
ily
took
one.
They
sl'eak
often
of
having
read
of
Pastor
Russell,
of
Brooklyn,
in
their
.J
ewish
papers.
"He
tells
us
of
thE'
rl'storation.
Oh,
we
nre
so
glad
'twill
be
soon!"
A
(ll'ar
brother
bearing
your
name
(Russell),
although
but
tlll'et'
weeks
reading
the"
Helping
Hands,"
is
rejoieing
in
the
truth
thf'rein.
Hp
giYes
evidenee
of
having
macle
a
consepra
tion
and
is
already
showing
his
faith
by
his
works.
by
helping
the
Lon]
's
people.
III'
ex
peets
soon
to
see
the
Photo-Drama
of
Creation
in
Roston.
The
Photo-Drama
Sepnario
is
stimu
lating
interest
to
read
the
SCRJP'rURE
STUDIES.
This
brother
desirecl
me
to
tell
you
of
his
appreciation
of
the
truth.
Even
where
few
hooks
are
placed
it
gives
the
colportenrs
gn'at
joy
to
be
able
to
reach
even
one
who
is
hungering
for
the
Bread
of
Truth.
I
wish
to
testify
to
the
blessings
the
Lor,]
in
his
goor]ness
is
sending
me-espedally
through
THE
WATCH
TOWER
articles.
The
March
15th-"
Are
Ye
Ahle?
"-was
so
strengthening
for
the
,(
fE'et-mem
bel's'
'!
Praying
that
the
Lord's
riehest
hlE'ssings
rest
upon
yOll
to
the
very
end,
Yours
by
his
grace.
B.
IIA
YKES.
VOL.
XXXV
----_
•..
_----
-
-~--~---,------~_.
BnOOK]JY~,
N.
Y.,
SEPTEMBER
15,
1914
No.
lR
"THY
JUDGMENTS
ARE
A
MIGHTY
DEEP!"
"The
foolishnrss
of
God
is
wiser
than
men;
and
the
weakness
of
God
is
stronger
than
men.'
'-]
Corinthians
1:
2;).
The
plan
whieh
God
has
adopted
for
dealing
with
sin
and
with
sinners
seems
to
tIl('
worldly
minll,
to
\rorlclly
wisrlom,
to
be
a
vrry
foolish.
a
very
unwise
plan.
The
declarations
of
the
Hihle
along'
this
line
']0
not
appral
to
such
mim]s
as
reason
ahle.
First
of
all,
God
(Teated
man
perfer-t.
Then
he
p]aeed
Adam
under
conditions
wIH'J'('
he
,yas
tempted
aIHl
fell
into
sin.
God
then
pronounced
upon
him
a
sentenr-e
of
death,
as
He
had
forewnrned
him
would
he
thr
result
of
disohedience.
After
thus
sentencing-
mnn,
.Tehovah
himself
provir]ed
for
a
release
from
that
death
pen
a
lty
hy
furnishing
a
Redeemer
for
the
sinner
at
great
eost.
",Vhen
he
\yished
to
proclaim
to
the
wor1r1
his
provisions
for
their
salvation
from
the
eurse,
he
sent
forth
preal'llers
ehospn
from
the
race
of
sinners
to
tel1
the
good
tidi
ng's.
For
nearlv
two
t110usand
years
thpse
rrra,·IH·rs
havr
user]
their
1"'8t
efforts.
As
somr
of
them
woule]
die,
others
,,'onld
tn
ke
their
pl:1('es.
Ent
with
a
11
the
prear-hing'
that
has
been
,lone
only
a
Yr'rv
few
have
helie\-e,]
the
nH'ssa:re
or
_g'iven
an
aHI'Tltivr
(':Jr.
Often
hnve
thes('
iml1l'rfer-t
messeugers
grown
wrnrv
nIH]
faint.
They
have
gone
to
the
Lor(]
with
hurrlenpd
hearts,
telling'
him
of
the
meager
re8nlts
tllat
IIttemler]
thE'ir
b
hoI'S.
Hnt
the
Lon]
hn8
nnS\\'('J"Nl.
,(
ContinllP
to
give
forth
tlle
won]s
,vhi"h
I
ha"e
(leliv,'re<!
to
vou:
this
is
my
will;
it
is
jl1st
what
T
wisl1
yon
to
do."
So
tl;ey
have
toiled'
on,
leaving
the
results
with
God.
Hut
tlH'
"'0,.],1
hns
shaken
the
unbrlievine:
hoad.
To
them
th"
pror-lnimiJlg'
of
surh
a
mrssal!e
has
seemer]
foolish.
n
w:Jste
of
v:11nnhle
time.
an
e;-i,]enre
of
UnSO\llH]ness
of
miJl(1.
Fe\;
haw
1wlie\'ed
thnt
it
is
of
Goc1-e\'en
if
a
God
of
love
existed
nt
all,
Yd.
nB
the
Apostl!'
tells
us,
"It
pleased
OO(]
hy
the
foolishness
of
preaching
to
save
them
thnt
be]ieve."
(1
Cor'
inthinns
1
:21)
He
chose
this
metho(],
,,'hil'h
mpn
r1enominate
foolishness.
to
sr,lect
a
specinl
class
for
a
;-ery
sl)('cial
l)JuPOSP,
in
I'onnection
with
his
great
plan.
Althoug11
from
the
hnman
standpoint
this
appears
a
very
sma]]
nnd
weak
hpginning,
:'8
if
Go,]
's
work
is
almost
a
failure-if
he
pnrposes
to
s:Jve
am]
uplift
the
wor1r1-yet
when
the
plan
of
Go']
sh;,ll
havr
been
hrougllt
to
its
glorious
consnmmation,
it
will
he
seen
hy
all
to
ha
ve
been
most
wise,
po,yprfu]
and
effel'tive,
No
more
shnll
it
he
"The
unbeliever's
jest,
the
heathen's
sr-orn."
Gor]
is
not
now
ehoosing
the
great
ones
of
earth,
hilt
r-hiefly
the
mean
things,
the
humhle
and
ohsr-ure,
('that
no
flesh
shall
I!lorv
in
his
presenr-e.'
,
He
is
ehoosing
these
as
instruments
to
bless
the
remainrler
of
the
world.
LIFE
A
GREAT
BOON
EVEN
NOW
The
rjlwstion
has
heen
asked:
How
is
the
love
of
God
to
he
sel'n
from
the
standTlOint
of
a
deliberate
arrangement
he·
for!'hanr]
whieh,
in
its
outworking,
has
invoh'ec1
so
;-ast
an
amount
of
sin.
suffering
nnd
r]eath?
Tn
thinking
of
this
ques
tion.
one
,.}lOlllr]
first
of
nl1
rir]
himself
wholly
of
thr
erroneous
thmH!-ht
thnt
sin,
sllffering
am]
dying
nrc
OJ;ly
prel11(]e8
to
an
drrnitv
of
woe.
Then
we
are
to
remem11er
that
God
is
not
in
:lny
way
our
dehtor.
We
are
his
debtors,
even
for
our
exist
pnr-r:
he
owes
thp
race
nothing.
Suppose
thnt
we
r-ould
rlisabuse
all
minds
of
the
idea
of
eternnl
tortnre
or
of
a
purgatorv
of
suffering
after
r]enth,
and
sholll,]
thrn
say
to
them,
Consirler,
now:
Would
you
prefer
to
lin'
on
for
n
few
years
more.
or
would
yon
rather
die
at
[5534]
(271-275) by putting them in prison and by making them pay so much money. Can this stop the people sinning? No; not at all! If these were the great Preacher’s words and the words of our heavenly Father, and His punishment against the wicked, they would surely stop the people from sinning. But we read in the Bible that the Deliverer shall come, and the kingdom of God shall come, and all nations shall know the way of our God; but the wicked will he destroy. Also we learn from our Master’s lips the saying, ‘‘Learn of Me.’’ People may remember that our Lord found the people of Israel doing wrong against the Word of God, and they were proud. But we never see a single line in the Bible saying that he took even one of the Jews to the Roman Governor, to be put in prison, ete. All these things make us to be strong in faith that the harvest message is true. ‘‘Though it tarry, it will come.’’ We had not believed it for a certain time, but when we believed we consecrated ourselves unto death, I ean only let you know how we are doing. We hold meetings twice a month, beginning on Friday and lasting over Sunday. Friday, Bible study; Saturday, discussion; Sunday, publie meeting. Another week, the meeting on Friday is Question meeting; praise and testimony meeting on Saturday, and rublie meeting on Sunday. The number in attendance on Sunday, when we have general meeting, is 1,040, 385, 1,000, ete.; private meetings 36 to 40. But when we eall all churches to one place, hundreds of brethren are present! We thank God for his blessings which he has bestowed upon us. Furthermore, we thank him for showing us his seeret and that he gives us wisdom to understand his Holy Scriptures. How glad we are to see these things being fulfilled before our eyes! In Nyassaland we see many things which have been preached in our churches, and what we are learning in the Volumes and WatcH TowrEr—all these things are now heing fulfilled. How glad we are to see that God has given us wisdom in preaching! How glad we are to see that our Lord is in the midst of us, leading us into his marvelous light! How glad we are that we ‘‘which in past times were not a people, are now the people of God’?! And how glad we are to be dead to fleshly Insts, but to be alive to spiritual things! May God’s blessing rest upon you! Your younger brother in the service, H. Simon Acuirnwa.—Africa. THE STRENGTHENING CORD Dear Brother Russell:— Greetings in the Lord! I feel constrained to write you concerning my recent experiences in the colporteur work, which Vou. XXKV —_ THE WATCH TOWER BROOKLYN, N. Y., SEPTEMBER 15, 1914 No. 18 “THY JUDGMENTS ARE A MIGHTY DEEP?” Brooktyn, N. Y. are unusual. Several days ago I canvassed a lady who is a trance-medium. She did not order the books. Presently I called on another, who bought the Spiritualism book. Still another I called upon in the same block, not knowing in either case that they were Spiritualists. This one began by telling me she is preparing herself to be a writing and talking medium, and how, at times, ‘‘the forces’’ torment her day and night until she uses strong will-power to disperse them, saying, ‘‘ Leave me now; I must have rest.’’ Asking the Lord’s assistance, I proceeded to point out from Scripture the origin of these evil spirits—the fallen angels. Strange to say, she accepted it all very readily and asked questions re the same so eagerly! At this juncture peculiar noises were heard ahout the room; rappings, cracklings and faint chucklings. She noticed my nervousness and said in an assuring tone. ‘‘There they are now! It’s the spirits, because you are talking about them.’’ No doubt they were much displeased beeause of fear that she would get her eyes opened. Another medium now entered the room and I left. Wow thankful to the Lord I am that he through you has provided the ‘‘strengthening cord’’—the vow! As the consummation draws nearer we realize how unecessary was this provision. Much interest is now being aroused among the natural Israelites in this city through distribution of ‘‘ Jewish Hopes and Restoration Prospects.’’ Every family took one. They speak often of having read of Pastor Russell, of Brooklyn, in their Jewish papers. ‘‘He tells us of the restoration. Oh, we are so glad ’twill be soon!’’ A dear brother bearing your name (Russell), although but three weeks reading the ‘‘ Helping Hands,’’ is rejoicing in the truth therein. He gives evidence of having made a consecration and is already showing his faith by his works, by helping the Lord’s people. He expects soon to see the Photo-Drama of Creation in Boston. The Photo-Drama Seenario is stimulating interest to read the Scripture Srupies. This brother desired me to tell you of his appreciation of the truth. Even where few books are placed it gives the eolporteurs great joy to be able to reach even one who is hungering for the Bread of Truth. I wish to testify to the blessings the Lord in his goodness is sending me—especeially through THE Warctt Tower articles. The March 15th—‘‘ Are Ye Able?’’—was so strengthening for the ‘‘feet-members’’! Praying that the Lord’s richest blessings rest upon you to the very end, Yours by his grace, B. Haynes. ‘‘The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.’’—J Corinthians 1:25. The plan which God has adopted for dealing with sin and with sinners seems to the worldly mind, to worldly wisdom, to be a very foolish, a very unwise plan. The declarations of the Bible along this line do not appeal to such minds as reasonable. First of all, God ereated man perfect. Then he placed Adam under conditions where he was tempted and fell into sin. God then pronounced upon him a sentence of death, as He had forewarned him would he the result of disohedience. After thus sentencing man, Jehovah himself provided for a release from that death penalty by furnishing a Redeemer for the sinner at ereat cost. When he wished to proclaim to the world his provisions for their salvation from the curse, he sent forth preachers chosen from the race of sinners to tell the good tidings. For nearly two thousand years these preachers have used their best efforts. As some of them would die, others would take their places. But with all the preaching that has been done only a very few have believed the message or given an attentive ear. Often have these imperfect messengers grown wearv and faint. They have gone to the Lord with burdened hearts, telling him of the meager results that attended their Inhors. But the Lord has answered, ‘*Continue to give forth the words whieh T have delivered to vou; this is my will; it is just what T wish you to do.’’ So they have toiled on, leaving the resuits with Gad. But the world has shaken the unbelieving head. To them the proclaiming of such a message has seemed foolish. a waste of valuable time, an evidenee of unsoundness of mind. Few have believed that it is of God—even if a God of love existed at all. Yet, as the Apostle tells us, ‘‘Tt pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.’’ (1 Corinthians 1:21) He chose this method, which men denominate foolishness, to select a special class for a very special purpose, in connection with his great plan. Although from the human standpoint this appears a very small and weak heginning, as if God’s work is almost a failure—if he purposes to save and uplift the world—yet when the plan of God shall have been brought to its glorious consummation, it will be seen by all to have been most wise, powerful and effective. No more shall it be ‘‘The unbeliever’s jest, the heathen’s scorn.’’ God is not now choosing the great ones of earth, but chiefly the mean things, the humble and obscure, ‘‘that no flesh shall glory in his presence.’’ He is choosing these as instruments to bless the remainder of the world. LIFE A GREAT BOON EVEN NOW The question has been asked: How is the love of God to be seen from the standpoint of a deliberate arrangement beforchand which, in its outworking, has involved so vast an amount of sin. suffering and death? Tn thinking of this question, one should first of all rid himself wholly of the erroneous thought that sin, suffering and dving are only preludes to an eternity of woe. Then we are to remember that God is not in any way our debtor. We are his debtors, even for our existenec: he owes the race nothing. Suppose that we could disabuse all minds of the idea of eternal torture or of a purgatory of suffering after death, and shonld then say to them, Consider, now: Would you prefer to live on for a few years more, or would you rather die at [5534]
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