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vol xli sr ll ontiily no.1 anno 1 1 undi 60 iii january 1 1920 con te i ts strpndhl nprl for victory rrllp chri:stlan fight the ylll th 1iiltl thp hparl ~ti t1g_gle against spif nlh1 len~l leasill .1 5 ahstl tlllonsth hc qul lte to yi.·tory a1 ltl1 the hpi l stn l1 lli and protection for the prfc t oui ~oll wutd l s lift the mee 7 .s ·.· !l 10 l nl r ami john in samaria rl~l1c .11 .11 osp01 a onlllanied by sign prlpr a i lylida anll joppa yalne of gootl works aihi ljnsflpeds j 13 l p1 and ol lh lills .tpnn .14 and tiirn cl llctfinl .jlltl ment of qnkk and deull 1 1 l tlpoil will talld tlpon illy watch and ill ret my toot the towcr alld rill rateh to 8ce zrhat lie ill a1t u·cr 8ay unto me and u 1wt i shall 1jl ake to them that opp086 me llabakkuk f 1 upon thp arth

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this journal and its sacred mission this journal is one of the prime factors or instruments in the system of bible instruction or seminary extension now belnl presented in all parts of the civilized world by the watch tower birlel tract society chartered a d 1884 for the promotion of christian knowledge lt not only serves as a class room where bible students may meet in the study of the divine word but also as a channel of communication through which they may be reached with announcements of the society s conventions and of the coming of its traveling representatives styled pilgrims and refreshed with reports of its conventions our berean lessons are topical rehearsals or reviews of our society s published studies most entertainingly arrant ed and vel helpful to all who would merit the only honorary degree which the soclety accords yiz verbi dei minister v d m which translatell into english is minister 01 god s word our treatment of the international sunday school lessons is specially for the older bible students and teachers by some this feature is considered indispensable this journal stands firmly for the defense of the only true foundation of the christian s hope now being so i enerally repudiated -redemption throut h the precious blood of the man christ jesus who gave himself a ransom [a correspondlnt price a substitute for all 1 l eter 1 1!j 1 tllllothy 2 j dlllh1ing np on this sure foundation the gold sliver and precious stones 1 corinthians 3 11ui 2 peter 1 5-11 of the vord of god its fmrther mission is to make all see what i the fellowshi[j of the mystery which has been hid in god ·.· to the intent that now might be made known by the church illp old 10m of od · hich in othcr ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it is now revealed epheslans 3 5-9 10 lt 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 s[jokcn-accordldg to the divine wisdom g:ranted unto us to understand his utterances its attitude is not dol matlc but confident for we imow whereof we affirm treading with hnpllcit faith upon the sure promises of god it is held as a trust to he used only in his sl l ylce hence our decisions relative to what may and what may not appear in its columns mtl,t be according to our judgment of his t ood pieasure tile teaching of his word for the uvbuildini of his people in grace and knowledg:e 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 pecullarly his workmanship tllat its construction has been in pro ress throughout the gospel alp ever since christ became the world s hedeemcr and the chief corner l:itone of his tem[jle throng:h whi h when tlllished go s blc n shall come to all peovle and they find access to him l corinthians 3 16 17 ephesians 2 20-22 genesis 28 14 galatians 3 29 that meantime the chiseling shapini and polishint of consecrated hellevers in christ s atonement for sin pro resses and when the last of these livln stones elect and precious shall have been made ready the g:reat master workman will hrlng all tog:ether in the first resurrection and the temple shall be filled with his glory and be the meeting place between god and men throughout the liilllennlum revelatlon 111 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 everjl man a ransom for all and will be the true ilt ht which ilghteth evcrjl man that cometh into the world in due time hehrews 2 9 john 1 9 1 timothy 2 5 fl that the hope of tile church is that she may be like her lord see him as he is be partakers of the divine nature and share his t lory as his joint-helr 1 john 3 2 john 17 24 romans 8 17 2 peter 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 kings and priest in the next age epheslans 4 12 liiatthew 24 14 rl velation 1 6 20 6 rhat tl1l hope for the world lies in the blesslng:s of knowledg:e and opportunity to he broug:ht to all by christ s 1i1illcnniai idng iom the restitution of all that was lost in adam to all the wlllin and ohedient at tile hands of their hedeemer and his g:loritied church when all the wilfully wicked wlll be destrolled acts 3 19-23 isaiah 35 c -pui3lishe.d jl yatch tower bible tract society 124 columbia hei~hts lj a brooklyn n,y u·sa nate forei offrces ial1hlon ,yo studies in the scriptuues these stll jf s are recommend11l 10 ~tupted as nlpmbers of till lolv of iirbt 7:w jlag ic ~ujlplied also in dano-nor eginll flllnbh prman and l ch h hemittances made payable to individuals in the office are a hindrance and not a help individuals may be out of the city but in any case all checks and money orders drawn on individuals must de separately endorsed and that means extra time and trouble make all remittances da able either to the vatcil tower bibliii l uac l society or to tile golden age as the case may require sundry information price of tile golden age is $1.50 per year five or more snbscriptions sent in at once secure rate of $1.00 per ear each old vatch towell reprint volumes are belnt mailed at the rate of 250 volumes a day foreign ellitiuus ill the puc et i c.

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01jv atch vol and herald of chrilsts january to ver presence no.1 xli 1 1920 strengthened for victory l hc lord is my strcllgth and 8ong l salm 118 l f [year text for 1920 w a l chers in zion who by the eye of faith brhold the day star rising and the great king of kings majestically advancing in the inauguration of his glorious kingdom occupy a peculiarly unique position on every side they see great excitement and disturbance yet they must be sober of mind and trustful of heart everywhere they see the spirit of war and strife yet they must be at peace with all and while specifically told to follow peace with all men and holiness yithout which no man shall see the lord at the same time they are urged to war a good warfare 1 timothy 1 18 and to fight the good fight 1 timothy 6 12 all this is a conundrum to the men of the world they do not understand and in the language of st paul such things are foolishness unto them neither can they know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 corinthians 2 14 only the spiritually minded can understand and appreciate the situation and such arc they who are watching in zion and who see eye to eye following the long established custom of having a special text of scripture designated for the year we have chosen the text for 1920 as above the lord is my strength and song a deep appreciation of this text and a confident reliance upon it we believe will be of great blrssing to the lord s little ones hence these obsel ations here the more we appreciate the severity of the battle in which we are engaged the more precious will be this year text to each one of the lord s saints the christian s fight fight against i hat we fight and how we may be certain of victory for whom do ,ye fight :many have made the mistake of believing that they are fighting for god and for christ and that jehovah and the lord jesus really need them to fight but not so the almighty god does not need anyone to fight for him he is abundantly able to do such figming as he needs done neither does the lord jesus need to have anyone to fight on his behalf because all power in heaven and earth is committed into his hands on the contrary it is god and jesus who are fighting for us it is the captain of our salvation the lord jesus who is leading our fight and who assists and encourages us to fight the good fight of faith our fight is for ourselves as new creatures against the enemies of the new creation our fight is for our liberty and complete deliverance from everything that would hinder a full realization of god s loving kindness and would give us perfect action in his service in all the ages to come whom do we fight the words of this text were not written for the world neither were the texts with reference to warring a good warfare and fighting a good fight they were all addressed to the army of the king s own-the consecrated church as prospective members of the bride of christ the lord knoweth them that are his and to them he gives instructions concerning the warfare they are to fight under the leadership of christ jesus the captain of tlwir sahation these soldiers of the cross are fighting under an unseen leader and against an unseen foe and only by the eye of faith do they recognize him who is their leader who will be the one to lead them to victory no matter how good one may be from the natural standpoint how much he may love righteousness and strive to do right he cannot enter the army of the lord and fight under his banner until first he makes a full consecration of himself is justified and accepted and begotten to the divine nature and thereby inducted into the army of the great king it is of vital importancr that we know under whom we fight for whom we against whom do we fight do we fight against our political foes we answer no because our citizenship is in heaven and the office-seekers of earth are not seeking the places we so much desire hence there is no conflict between us on that -line should not then our fight include a warfare in behalf of prohibition of the liquor traffic and things of that nature while we should be in sympathy with anything that is good and with anyone who is fighting evil yet to engage in the political combat against the liquor traffic is not the fight to which the apostle refers when he urges us to fight the good fight of faith and war a good warfare nor is thi the fight in which we need the strength of the lord besides this satan our adversary is the chiei of all politicians and he always seizes upon something apparently good and with it attempts to draw ohristians into his fight and away from the true fight for which they are called into the lord s army the babylonish systems have been making a fight against the liquor traffic and in favor of prohibition and we know that all christians especially now are admonished to keep themselves separate from babylon not to be engaged in anything in which satan himself is engaged through his emissaries our battle is along a different line and for a different purpose we have a special goal to attain unto and this we must keep always before our minds nor are we fighting against our fellow creatures because we are admonished to love our enemies and pray for those who despitefully use us indeed we can 3

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4 cdhlj tvatch tower brooklyn n y exercise a great pity love for our enemies seeing that they are blinded by the god of this world and are prejudiced against those who are striving to follow in the master s footsteps were we to fight against them we might do them injury the scriptures admonish us to do good unto all as we have opportunity and in meekness to instruct those who oppose themselves 2 timothy 2 25 instead of returning evil for evil our captain has commanded us to return gentleness for rudeness kindness for unkindness and discourtesy and in this way all can understand that there is a difference between the world and those who have the spirit of the faster more particularly is it necessary for us to take this course of training that we might be developed into the likeness of our lord and redeemer being by which we conceive thoughts reason and judge through which a conclusion or determination is reached the heart means the seat of affections or sensibilities of the creature from which springs the motive directing actions good or evil in proof of these distinctions we cite the apostle paul s words addressed to the new creature be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of god romans 12 2 the transforming process is a gradual one and comes by developing the mind by study and meditation upon god s word by and through which we ascertain what is the will of god and having agreed to do his will we reach conclusions based upon the information thus obtained ooncerning the heart jehovah says my son give the battle against sin me thine heart addressing himself to the one who primarily we are fighting against sin to which our father adam became the slave and thereby enslaved all dow being consecrated bts been begotten proverbs of his offspring sin has afflicted the race with sickness 23 26 the apostle paul having the same thought in pain sorrow and death under which the whole creation mind and addressing himself to the new creature says continues to groan our chief enemy is sin and the one set your affection on things above not on things on who put it into active operation is satan through whose the earth oolossians 3 2 it was jesus who said subtle wicked influence the human race became slaves where your treasure is there will your heart be to sin and for this reason the apostle says the whole also matthew 6 21 this being true our motives world lieth in wickedness i e under the control of the will spring from such heart condition which will direct wicked one 1 john 5 19 having the world under our actions accordingly but since no creature can exist his control from which none can escape except through without an organism the lord has provided that the ohrist the great adversary vigorously endeavors to body of fallen flesh shall constitute the temporary bring the new creation back under his dominion of sin organism of the new creature hence the apostle says and hold them there until destroyed while satan is we have this treasure in earthen vessels 2 oorin our arch enemy and leading the fight against us yet thians 4 7 our standing before jehovah is by virtue we must not make the mistake of thinking that we are of the merit of ohrist jesus whose righteousness covers fighting directly against him but rather we should our unrighteousness and we are therefore made acceptunderstand that his operations are through various able in the beloved one and recognized as new creatures agencies and through these he seeks to beguile deceive -composed of the new will the new mind the new and entrap he is the master of sin and wickedness heart with an organism covered by the robe of ohrist s the very personification of evil in our warfare against righteousness when the scriptures speak of the world as one of our his agencies we are not to make the mistake of becoming bitter and vindictive and mdulging in vile expressions enemies they mean all mankind who are out of harmony of passion against him for as it is written even with god and the spirit or disposition that controls michael the archangel when contending with the such therefore all who are controlled by the spirit of devil durst not bring against him a railing accus the world are of the world and this is enmity to the ation but said the lord rebuke thee jude 9 new creation the world has aim ambitions and hopes the agencies used chiefly by satan to war against the which are selfish without regard to the rights and new creation are the world the flesh and the demons privileges of fellow creatures at times the world is satan himself of course being the dominating one moved by the spirit of war and urges all to engage in amongst the devils he arrays all of these against the mortal combat the very atmosphere seems to be surfootstep followers of jesus and by subtle and wily charged with a spirit of war and with this the new methods seeks to destroy them creature must come in contact for says the apostle the new creature consists of the new will the new there hath no temptation taken you but sueh as is mind and the new heart through the exercise of which common to man 1 oorinthians 10 13 knowing the character is being developed like unto the lord that the same affiictions are accomplished in your at the time of consecration the ohristian surrenders brethren that are in the world 1 peter 5 9 there his will and immediately takes god s will desiring to is then a temptation under pressure and stress for the be governed by the perfect will of god such change of new creature to engage in mortal combat under certain will is an instantaneous matter whereas the develop circumstances hut following the plain admonition and ment of the mind condition of heart character etc instruction of the scriptures he must resist this spirit is progressive or disposition for though we walk in the fiesh we d the will the mind the heart not war after the flesh for the weapons of our warfare will may be defined as the faculty or power of the are not carnal but mighty through god to the pulling being by which we determine or decide to do or not to down of strongholds 2 oorinthians 10 3 4 howdo a certain thing mind is the faculty or power of our ever much the ohristian may be misunderstood and

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january i 1920 e:c vvatch to vver by the spirit going in the direction the lord would have us go there is no law against so doing and so the apostle admonishes walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh verse 16 carelessness bitterness irreverence persecuted by the world for not walking with it in this way he mu13t be obedient to the lord bearing the reproaches that arc incident to battling for his righteous cause struggle against self· and men·pleasing again the spirit of the world is that of insincerity and deceitfulness often appearing to be friendly while really unfriendly manifesting a sincerity yet with a desire to deceive against such a disposition the new creature must war because he must be sincere faithful and loyal in the world there is a disposition to be men pleasers for policy s sake rather than to please god for righteousness sake against such a disposition the new creation must war fhis does not mean that we are to tell everything that we know merely because it is the truth on the theory that if we do not tell it would be deceiving but to sec to it that what we do tell is the truth exercising the spirit of a sound mind and the wisdom that comes from on high to consetye the best interests of the new crenture while it is true that honesty is the best policy yet he who is honest merely for policy s sake is not honest in fact again the spirit of the world is that of ambition for fame among men for special distinction and power and for sclf-exaltation over others such a spirit is decidedly inimical to the interests of the new creature who must follow the contrary conrse and in honor prefer his brethren and by 10y sene others 1 he spirit of the vorld must be fought against and this fight is a daily one so long as we arc ill the world the new creature finds a constant conflict with his organism of flesh ever since the human race came under the conlrol of sin through the disobedience of adam the tendency has been toward mental moral ~nd phpical degradation born in sin and shapen in iniquity like all others we were going the broad way when we lcamcd thnt christ jesus had redeemed us with his own precious blood when we came to a lmowledge of this fact and consecrated our all giving up the old will for the will of god and determining to be governed by his will then our lord s merit was imputed to us and we were set free from the bondage of sin and became new creature s in christ ncceptable to the father throngh the merit of the bcloved redeemer but still ,ve fiml motions of sin in our body and a natural tende ncy toward sin while it is true that the new creatures arc now free and as such serve the law of christ and are through his merit acceptable in his army as soldiers of the cross to battle for righteousness and truth yet these new creatures are harassed by the perverted tastes and inclinations of the flesh st paul thus states the situation for the flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these arc contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would but if ye be led of the spirit ye arc not under the law galatians 5 17 18 to paraphrase tilp apostle s words 1 he old creature or more accurate the fi.esh of the old creature craves certain thingr hich things are opposed and antagonistic to the development of the new creature and because of this conflict the new creature cannot do do but if led everything exactlv as he would 1 any carelessness in thought word or action means to that extent a yielding to the mind of the flesh and means that the flesh is gaining the victory if there is a tendency toward evil surmising or evil speaking of another that is yielding in the battle to the mind of the flesh titus 3 2 james 4 11 12 it is not infrequent that troubles arise among the brethren in the classes and this leads to indulging in acrimonious speech one toward another all who indulge in bitter strife outbursts of passion hatred or the fomenting of trouble or who yield to looseness of conduct are yielding the battle to the enemy all who permit pride and ambition to find a residence in the hcart and mind and permit their actions to be controlled thereby are to that extent yielding in the fight against the fleshly tendencies 1 0 the extent that we show a lack of reverence for god and for his yard and for his service to that extent are we yielding the battle to the enemy fa the extent that we permit any bitterness of heart to control our actions and move us to do certain things to that extent are we permitting the enemy to have the upper hand indeed we find one of the greatest fights we have is that against our own flesh the mind of t]w l1 rh always warring against the mind of the spirit who of the lord s dear children have not experienced someth ing of such a battle with the mind of the flesh and do we not find that battle to be ,raged with even greater vigor as we come nearer to the end of the way it must be reasonably expccted that the fight will grow more severe as the battle nears a conclusion after having been a long time in the narrow way and after warring a good warfare against the evil tendencies by faith in the lord and his precious promises we still find the motions oe sin in our flesh warring against us as new creatures we often tend to be discouraged to the point of giving over of the battle but thanks be to god he does not count those motions of sin in our flesh as the will of the new creature provided we arc vigorously fighting against them he tecognizes such as our enemics and if we fight valiantly he will render the necessary aij guaranteeing our victory in one of his epistles st paul describes his own experiences in these matters as follows and his words may be properly understood to foreshadow the experiences of almost all in the narrow way while the will to do right is present with me the power to carry it out is not for what i do is not the good thing that i desire to do but the evil thing that i desire not to do is what i constantly do but if i do that which i desire not to do it can no longer be said that it is i who do it but the sin which has its home within me does it i find therefore the law of my nature to be that when i desire to do what is right evil is lying in ambush for me for in my inmost self all my sympathy is with the law of god but i discover within me a different law at war with the law of my understanding and leading me captive to the law which is everywhere at work in my

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6 5!ze vvatch to ver brooklyn n y body-the law of sin unhappy man that i am i who will rescne me from this death-burdened body thanks be to god through jesus christ our lord romans 7 19-25 weymouth in other words the apostle refers to himself as a new creature warring against his old fleshly tendencies and says that in his own self he would be unable to gain the victory but through christ jesus from whom comes his help and strength he is assured of triumph such is truly the condition of all who are warring a good warfare thus we realize the absolute need for the help of our lord and advocate in this great conflict the more fully we lean upon him and look to him for guidance and help the happier will we be satan and his minions working in conjuction with satan seeking to destroy the seed of promise the new creation is a host of demons since they came under the dominating influence of satan their every thought and action has been evil they debauched the human race before the flood and have ever since sought to debauch those who are striving for the higher plane of life they operate through the mind of the flesh and their warfare is against the new creature the apostle paul puts it thns for ours is not a conflict with mere flesh and blood but with the despotisms the empires the forces that control and govern this dark world-the spiritual hosts of evil arrayed against us in the heavenly warfare ephesians 6 12 weymouth satan the great master or general of sin and all the demons engaged in their manipulations and warfare through various agencies against us are more intelligent than are we and if the conflict were between us and them directly without the aid and intervention of our captain we would certainly fail these enemies attack us through the weaknesses of our flesh and seek to capture us and lead us back as slaves of sin truly then the new creature while abiding in the body of flesh is surrounded and beset on every hand by enemies seeking its destruction and reenslavement hence we must battle warring for ourselves battling for our own liberty and for victory over our own weaknesses we must battle against the spirit of the world against the delusions and snares of the adversary and against the wickcd machinations and influences of the demons in this conflict the christian daily rel lizes the need of strength to withstand the onslaught of the enemies he turns his eyes trustingly and confidently to the captain christ jesus our lord from whom cometh his strength and he can confidently say grcater is he that is on our part than all that can be against us abstemiousness requisite to vicrory how i run not being in any doubt as to my goal i am a boxer who does not inflict blows on the air but i hit hard and straight at my own body and lead it off into slavery lest possibly after i have been a herald to others i should myself be rejected l corinthians 9 25-27 weymouth since we see that we must engage in this conflict unto the end then it is our privilege and duty to avail ourselves of such armor and weapons as the lord has provided through his word we ascertain that he has a great armory and to this he has invited us to come and prepare ourselves for the conflict saying strengthen yourselves in the lord and in the power which his supreme might imparts put on the complete armor of god so as to be able to stand firm against all the stratagems of the devil ephesians 6 10 11 weymouth thankful we should be and are that the lord has graciously provided this armor that we might wear it in the conflict rherefore put on the complete armor of god so that you may be able to stand your ground on the day of battle and having fought to the end to remain victors on the field ephesians 6 13 weymouth then the apostle specifically describes the armor which it is the privilege of each one of the lord s own to have and to wear we do well to examine ourselves often to see if the armor is well on properly adjusted and ready for the deadly conflict the ancient armor was divided into seven separate and distinct parts here the apostle names six and we believe that the lord through his servant called the attention of the church to the seventh the apostle first says having your loins girt about with truth the girdle around the loins is indicative of a servant the meaning therefore attached to this is that each one should see to it that he is serving the truth not serving the world not serving error not serving the adversary rhis would mean for him to be active and vigilant not slothful he is next admonished to take the breastplate of righteousness the breastplate fitted over the vital organs particularly the heart the thought then here seems to be that he must see to it that he has a righteous condition of heart having his heart united together with his brethren dwelling in peace with au and following holiness preparedness which peace gives but we must remember that the lord expects us to fight with all the power and strength at our command seeing it is through our fallen flesh that these adversaries attack us we must be ever prepared for the battle and ever on the alert watching and praying st paul had this conflict and he describes himself thus every competitor in an athletic contest practises abstemiousness in all directions they indeed do this for th.e sake of securing a perishable wreath but we for the sake of securing one that will not perish that is and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace the feet that tread the rough way will be bruised and become sore and if one is not properly shod he will be giving more attention to the things that are bothering him than he is to the cause therefore he should have on the sandals of preparation of the gospel and development of character in harmony with god s will to the end that he might endure hard· ness in a cheerful manner and when the persecutions from the world come upon him he can walk joyfully through them above all taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked we might know the word of god but unless we confidently rely upon it it would be of little value to us the psalmist says his truth shall be ~hy shield and

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a~uary i 1920 fhe vvatch tovver 7 buckler then it is a knowledge of the precious promises of god and a confident reliance upon these promises looking always to jesus the author and fmisher of our faith that will hold ns in line and enable us to cause the fiery darts of the adversary to fall harmless at our feet and take the hrlmet of salvation since the helmet fitted ovrr the head which is the seat of intelligence it suggrsts the thought of a meutal equipment~that we have been studying the lord s word that we have been feeding upon the food the lord has placed upon his table and here we might remark that all who have faithfully read and absorlwd the studies in the scltil tuhes and been guidc u thereby have been equipped to stand in this conilict and this means the entire series of seven volumes of studies in the scmptdres just as surdy as the loru intendell the seven to be published he intpnded them for the benefit of the church anu he who rrjc et one and opposes it will find himself in opposition to the provision the lord has maue and thcrcfol ithout the proper equipment as regards intelligence to meet the adversaries and his condition of inallcqnab preparedness of mind would lay him more opcn to the successful attacks of the adn·rsaries if his heart has been the cause of his rejecting til lord s provision the enemy would surely triumph nd the sword of the spirit which is the word of jol being able always to give a scriptural reason for til hope that i in us and being anxious and willing to abide by what the lord teaches and not to be influf uerd improperly by any creature we arc ahle to avoid ilf ing controlled hy otl1 r inn ul nees than the word of god for to be so controlled is to be dominated by passion which is inimical to the interests of the new crc atlll e while if governed by the word of god we arc controlled by principle in harmony ith his purposes the sevf nth part of the armor seems to be fitly rppr0 ntpd in the vow the lord promirpd that when the a vf rsary should coillc ll1 like a flood the spirit of the lord wonld rai f up a standard against him haiah 59 19 liencf the necessity of kpeping in mind till h rms of our ow unto the lorl1 cvn looking to him for stn ngt.h to lwlp in timc of neel the apostl linggpsts thi same thought when hp admonislw 11s that aftl r having on till armor wc arc to pray always with all pra er awl supplication in the spirit and watch the ullto with all iht!i yerance and supplication for all saints war with the beast these shall make war with the lamb and the lamb shall overcome them for he is the lord of lords and king of kings and they that arc with him are called and chosen and faithful revelation 17 14 the lamb here means the lord jesus and those with him having reference to those of the new creation who arc loyally following in his footsteps these have been called to a high calling to bc joint-heirs with christ jesus they have heen chosen as members of the royal priesthood n ow the final conflict is come and those who stand with him triumphant in glorious victory will be the ones who arc faithful and loyal even unto death this seriptlll e suggests that the beastly ones would inflict upon the followers of the lamb much persecution in various forms and the more power the ecclesiastics arc able to exercise the greater will be the persecution those standing with the lord then in victory will be the ones ,rho are loyal to him which means loyalty to his cause a willingness at all times by his grace to make persistent proclamation of his truth and to do it moved by a heart filled with love for god and righteousness and pity love even for our enemies who arc persecuting but beloved as e advance in the conflict and the battle grows in severity instead of being discouraged e can always look to our captain and knowing that he is leauing the fight and that he is all-powerful and crrtain of victory it remains with us to drtermine what shall be the result so far as we arc concerneu and if we are called and chosen and now continue faithful and loyal in the fight under his banner to the end e shall rmerge from the conflict victors in his glorious army truly then as we engage in this battle during the year 1920 we can daily fmel comfort in our yearly motto tf xt the lord is my strength and song fight not ended all throngh th0 gosjc l age the christian has bern l!uirf l1 to jight t.he good fight of faith but it seems sel wd for thr ff d membf ts to have a special confl iet agaillst the comhined enemies the lord through the hevelator pirt ill ps comiug out of t11

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8 0he vatch to vver biwoklyn n y our lord has promised grace for help in every timc of need and through the apostle has invited us because of this high priest who has gone before in our behalf to come confidently to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help for all times of need hebrews 4 15 16 it has pleased our heavenly l ather to provide various agencies through which to render aid to those who love him even in old testament times when one was specially striving to serve the lord jehovah sent his angel a spirit being to minister unto such we haye an example in the experiences of daniel and other faithful servants of god the lord fighting for others jesus informs us in heaven their angels do always 1 he fight in which we are engaged is chiefly for behold the face of my father w·hich is in heaven ourselves in this we arc fighting to maintain our matthew 18 10 meaning that some of the angelic liberty from the baneful influence and bondage of sin host have been delegated as servants under the lord s and all the instruments used by the adversary to ensnare direction to give certain protecting care to the saints us under this taskmaster again but in addition thereto again .jehovah expressed for the benefit of the church we are fighting a common cause of righteousness for his protecting care through angels as agencies saying our brethren and we are admonished we ought also the angel of the lord encampeth ronnd ahout them to lay down our lives for the brethren fhis would that fear him and delivercth them psalm 24 7 inelude our making great sacrifices that ve might aid vc recall that when elisha was at dothan he prayed to our brethren in overcoming the enemy that is fighting god for the opening of the eyes of his s rvmlt who ngamst them that christ might dwell richly in their heheld a host of angels surrounding elisha to proket hearts that they might be builded up as new creatures him it is not unreasonable to conclude tlwt this is a and that they might experience the love of god mani picture for the hl nefit of the church in the closing days fested through christ 1 0 be sure our heavrnly father of its conflict which the lord has proviled to manifest and our king do not }1 ed our fighting in their behalf his power and strength in behalf of his people through but it is our privilege to dciend the honor and name and nnseen agencies necessarily the conficlellce of the majesty of am god und our lord and his righteous christian is increasrcl when he appreciates the fact that kingdom agaillst the assaults of those who wickedly the lord is thus guarding his welfare in the facc of all misrepresent them anu our fighting here is not with his enemies powerlcss he is to rcsist and overcome his carnal weapons as the apostle puts it hut it is with adversaries alone but claiming the promisrs that god the message of truth which through christ is mighty has given among which is our year text he can conto the pulling down of strongholds of error our per fidently say the lord is my strrngth and if he be for sistency ami fai.thfulness in representing the lord will me who can be against me strength and protection for the perfect be necessary in order that we may have his approval strength and protection arc not promised to any and furthermore our warfare will result if we are faithful in great benefit to the world in general even all but on the contrary such promises are to those who to those who persecute us and do all manner of evil rcyerence the lord who fear to displease him whose against us because of our faithfulness to the truth keen desire is to do his holy will who possess and maniwe must have in mind that the whole world is under fest therefore a perfect condition of heart toward the bondage of sin furthermore that the precious gael toward the master toward his brethren in fact blood of christ was given as a propitiation not for our toward all for the eyes of the lord run to and fro sins only but for the sins of the whole world and when throughout the whole earth to show himself strong in the valiant soldiers of the cross have finished their war the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him fare and are received into glory it will be their privilege 2 chl onicles 16 9 purity of heart which means together with their captain christ jesus to release perfect love is a condition precedent to the receiving of from bondage the whole world of mankind jehovah s the guaranteed strength in our behalf we ean keep our purpose concerning the overcomers who will compose hearts perfect even though we can do nothing else we may desert and have the liberty to do so but such would mean the loss of all that is set before us all who desire to go back to the service of sin have full opportunity at any time and in any place to return our captain wants those and only those who serve the truth with the spirit of the truth with a desire for the service and with a love for it he is seeking none other and none other is really engaged in the fight he informs us that the end of the fight will be the end of our warfare it must be a fight to the finish or the great prize for which we fight will not be gained although the new creature masters the mortal body by the lord s grace and strength repeatedly nevertheless until death there can be no cessation of the conflict hence be thou faithful unto death and i will give thee a crown of life happy are we then when we can hourly look to him and say the lord is my strength and again i will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help my help cometh from the lord which made heaven and earth he will not suffer thy foot to be moved he that keepeth thee will not slumber salm 121 1-3 fhe lord is my strength and my f;hlcld psalm 28 7 the lord will give strength unto his people psalm 29 11 the royal priesthood is indicated in his word thus saith the lord in an acceptable time have i heard thee and in a day of salvation have i helped thee and i will preserve [hebrew form thee and give thee for a covenant of the people to establish the earth to cause to inherit the desolate heritages that thou mayest say to the prisoners go forth to them that are in darkness show yourselves isaiah 49 8 9 the lord has therefore provided that those who gain the victory through christ will be used as benefactors for the whole human race grace for every need

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january 1 1920 g u vatch tower 9 perfectly graciously therefore the lord has promised all the needed strength for those who thus maintain the perfect condition of heart such then should cause a careful searching of the heart if we should find in the heart some bitterness against any of the lord s little ones we may know that the heart is not pure and steps should be taken at once to purify it if we should find that in our heart there is some pride or ambition we may be sure that the lord will not manifest his strength for us because he resists the proud and shows his favor to the humble-minded if we find a desire to pursue unrighteous things we may be sure that our heart is not perfect and at once we should set about to follow the right course if we find in our heart a fear for man or that which man-made institutions might do to us and because of this fear we are deterred from a faithful proclamation of the divine message as opportunity comes to us then we may be sure that we have not perfect love and therefore not a pure heart but if on examination we find that this is our sincere humble heart s desire to do our father s will at any cost and that wi arc delighting thus to do and striving to do it we may be certain to rceeive thf nceded strength our song be victors overcomers in the great conflict and will then be used by the lord as agencies for releasing mankind looking beyond this hour of sorrow and groaning he had a vision of the incoming kingdom with power and glory for we arc sure that he saw the coming millennial reign of christ he said it was not lawful for him to tell the things that he saw evidently because it was not god s due time for the other members of the church to know them then but since the presence of the lord jesus the due time in god s providence has come and now the feet members sec understand and appreciate god s provision both for the church and for the world yet a little while our year k t state that tlw lord is not only our but also our song in what scnse is he our song song suggests the thought of giving praise in harmonious cadences accompanied by the music of a stringed instrumf nt 0 er rhieh the fingers of the player deftly man in a special sense it seems that the feet members can say the lord is my song in psalm 12g the swl et singer of israel seems to picture the church at thf tin of the opening of the harvest period and aha tilt xi rienees of each one of the lord s chosen ones who tlw after comes to a knowlf dge of the divine plan up to the time of the opening of the harvest the church was in eapitivity to babylon and with the harvest of tlw lord bf gan rpleasing his people from that bondage and since then f ach one of the saints coming to a realization of the blessedne s of living at the time of the second pre ence of the lon .j esus finds his sentiments expressed by the psalmi,t wlwn first he saw the hope lor the church and for tht orid opening out like the nn[olding petals of a beautiful ilower in the language of the psalmist it camed him to sing when the lord tnrned again the captivity of zion we were like them that dream [it sounded too good to be true it r enlf d like a dream then was our mouth tilled with laughter [joy and our tongue with singing then said tllf y among the heathen the lord hath done great things for them [aye concerning the church the lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad psalm 126 1 2 st paul a good and valiant soldier of the cross who fought a winning fight with prophetic vision beheld the day in which we are now living a day filled with turmoil and strife among the nations of the earth he saw the whole race of mankind burdened from the effects of sin and seeing this he wrote the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now waiting not knowing for what but in fact waiting for the mllnifestation of the sons of god who will ~trcngth seeing the world borne down under the great taskmaster slaves of the wicked one and knowing the kingdom is at the door the saints can appreciate the apostle s words yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry it has been a long dark night of suttering and sorrow for mankind and not yet docs the world see that relief is near but they are hoping agaimt hope that something may come to relieve the situation but the saints of god occupying by his grace a position of favor see beyond the dark eleud the soft sweet healing beams of the sun of highteousness rhieh soon will dispel the gloom and shed its beneficent rays upon suffering humanity in this world of strife confusion and turmoil they mark those who arc near and dear to them by ties of flesh and whom they specially love and for whom they would have no hope excf pt for their knowledge of god s plan but now knowing of his gracious provision while they see the night is dark yet they sec that the day is dawning which ~oon will hring blessings not only to their loved ones but to all the groaning creation and their hearts cannot help but respond with songs of gladness the lost strings upon the harp of gm have since the lord s second presence bl rn found and restored to the church in the fiesh and now that harp perfrctly strung with the trings of truth from the old and new testament and swf pt by the fingf rs of the truly consecrated and df voted saints of god yields the most enchanting n11lsic that eyer fell on mortal ear and those who hear and appreciate it camlot keep back the song 1 hey call to mind the circumstances under which much of the lord s wol d has been providf d for them looking back they sre npon the islf of patmos the brloved john clad in a felon s garb there as a prisoner beating rock because he had been charged and unjustly convicted of the crime of sedition and they see that the lord chose this condition and chose st .john because of his loving devotion to righteonsness through which to reveal a part of his plan now due to be understood in his vigil there the beloved saint of god wrote and i saw as it were a sea 01 glas mingled with fire st john there represented the feet members of the church the last ones on earth engaged in the final great battle his vision here suggests that the feet members would hav a clear view and understanding of the terrible events with which the world would be affiicted in the close of the age the fire picturing the violent element of earth attempting to destroy the things of emih the transparent glass mentioned represents the fact that the feet

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10 t!iha vvatch tower january 1 1920 members will have a clear understanding and appreciation of these events above earth s lamentations song o:f praise beauti:fully has the poet expressed the sentiment of such my life flows on in endless song above earth s lamentation i catch the sweet not far-off hymn that hails a new creation through all the tumult and the strife i hear the music ringing it finds an echo in my soulhow can i keep from singing i lift mine eyes the cloud grows thin i see the blue above it and day by day this pathway smooths since first i learned to love it the peace of christ makes fresh my heart a fountain ever springing all things are mine since i am hishow can i keep from singing and these are they who have rid themselves by the grace of the j.jord of the wicked influences of the mother harlot and her harlot daughters fully separating themselves from the unrighteous babylonish systems these are pictured standing not in the midst of the trouble nor participating in it not engaging in the strife an.d turmoil but occupying a higher plane and from this vantage point they have a clear vision of the situation standing in that position of favor st john pictures them as having in their hand the harps of the lord god meaning that they have a harmonious understanding and an appreciation of the precious promises and teachings of the divine program and thus standing they indulge in happy song and what song are they singing st john answers they are singing the song of moses the servant of god and the song of the lamb rhe battle rages with ever-increasing fury and the distress upon the nations is so terrible that all quake with fear the groaning of oppressed humanity grows louder and louder and yet above all of this strife of tongues this turmoil disturbance groaning and sorrow the sweet clear notes of the saints of god can be heard sing~g to the praise of jehovah the kingdom of heaven is at hand to the jew and to the gentile they sing that the things done by the direction of the law that god gave to moses were but types and shadows of better things to come that the sacrifices of animals pictured the great sacrifice of the lord jesus as an offering for sin on behalf of mankind that the whole world might be released from the bondage of sm and death and that now shortly all will have an opportunity to receive the benefits thereof that the shaking of the mountain at the inauguration of the law covenant and the great smoke fire and disturbance which even made moses quake was a picture foreshadowing th g~eat shaking of the kingdoms of earth and the ~ccleslashcal svstems now in progress and :foreshadowmg the fact that this will be the last shaking just preceding the incoming o:f the glorious kingdom of messiah that the new covenant through which blessings will come to the worln is soon to be made that the lamb of god the king of glory is at the door bearing in his hand the prize of life liberty and happiness for all who will love righteousness and accept these blessings upon the terms offered watchers lift the voice the saints of god engaged in this great conflict this good warfare realize and apprecia that both the strength which enables them to stand m the battle and the song of joy that fills their hearts comes from the lord and seeing his gracious provision both for the church and :for the world they cannot keep back the lord help me to forget the things behind the many fond ambitions that would bind the human heart to earthly hopes and joys and fix its cravln~s on mere worthless toys in the uniolding of the divine plan in behalf of mankind the whole world has formed a stage of action and upon that stage all who have faithfully served the lord have served as actors and earthly beings and the heavenly hosts have constituted the audience st paul says we are made a show both for men and ~ngels some of the lord s faithful servants were permitted to have visions of this uniolding plan yet they did not understand them the angelic hosts have watched and :for a long time searched to understand but not until the beginning of the unfolding of the mystery were ~ny permitted thus to know the faithful prophet isaiah long before the development of the new creation beg~n had a vision of the time and of the events now transpuing in the earth he saw the king~oms and nati~ns and people in distress and sorrow needmg .h~lp needmg the blessings of the king of glory in vision he ~held but understood not-the :feet members of christ proclaiming the message of salvation unto them and with ecstasy he exclaimed how beautiful upon the :m?untains are the :feet of him that bringeth good tidmgs that publisheth peace that bringeth g~od tidings of good that publisheth salvation that sai~h unto zion thy qod reigneth thy watchmen [tho.se m the vant:age position described by st john shal lift up the voice with the voice together shall they smg for they shall see eye to eye when the lord shall bring again zion -isaiah 52 7 8 the blessedness of the position o:f favor occupied by the saints in this final great conflict that is now on cannot be overstated satan s empire is crumbling and soon will fall never to rise again seemingly appreciating the fierceness of the conflict ~hat great adv.ersary has marshaled all his forces and directs them with all the power at his command at the few remai~ing members of the saints of the most high god weak m themselves and wholly inadequ.ate to meet their enemies yet with confidence they can say the lord is my strength and song the lord will give us the victory through an abiding faith and confidence in him help me forget 0 lord how oft i stray the sad mistakes i make from day to day yet let me ne er forget the mercy seat where thou dost bless me with forglvenesll llweet lord give me grace sufficient for the way oh let me ne er forget to watch and pray and when thy precious jewels thou shalt set this little one dear lord do not for~et!

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peter and john in samaria february i acts 8 :4-8 14-25 persecution and its unforeseen but happy results-philip the home missionary filled with zeal for the gospel-peter and john visit the new mission field-simon the sorcerer associates himself with the disciples-he offers money for the miraculous power of the spirit ye shall be my witnesses both in jerusalem and in all judea and samaria carth acts 1 8 and unto the uttermost part of the p ersecu rion is never right on the part of the persecutors nor is it a joyous matter on the part of the persecuted nevertheless god can overrule this as well as all wrongs for the good of his people who can learn also the iessons of rejoicing in tribulation and of trusting divine providences through them-seeing by faith the desirable resuits the first persecution of the church began about the time of stephen s death this is variously estinwted as having been from three to seven years after the day of pentecost though we have no means of definite infol·mation saul of l arsus afterward called paul the apostle was evidently a leader in the heresy hunting and persecution which started with stephen and extended in a general way to all believers excepting the apostles who for some reason seemed to have been providentially protected the persecution began in jerusalem because this so far had been the center of the work as our lord had directed beginning at jerusalem not only was it the principal city of palestine but it was the resort of pious jews from all quarters of the world many of whom sought to make it their home in the close of life even if they had previously lived abroad the lord had graciously granted a season of development for those brought into the church at pentecost and subsequently and now that they had reached a fair degree of growth in grace and in knowledge he permitted the winds of persecution to blow against the church and to scatter the ripened seeds hither and thither in every direction take heed to the lord s directions might have led some of the most earnest and faithful of the church to resist the designs of providence obstihately so now let those who may be called upon to endure persecution remember the lord s direction and after giving a proper testimony if the door of opportunity opens let them remove to another locality where their faithfulness and increased knowled~e and wisdom in the handling of the sword of the spirit may give them opportunities for still greater usefulness this was the case with philip who removed to samaria and apparently lost no time in beginning the ministry of the truth preaching christ my witnesses in samaria it will be remembered that the city of samaria was the capital of a district called samuria whose people were known as samaritans being of mixed blood .jewish and gentile they were nccounted by the jews as though they were gentiles hence the jews had no dealings with the samaritans ve remember futher that it was respecting these people that our lord said to his disciples when sending them forth go not into the way of the gentiles and into any city of the samaritans enter ye not but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of israel matthew 10 5 6 15 24 our lord thus marked the samaritans as bein separate and distinct from the israelites e remember further that it was because our lord would not enter into a villa~e of samaria and heal its sick that the people of that city refused to sell the disciples food as they passed by it was in resenting this affront persecution s two effects that james and john two of the apostles said to our lord the same god who directed thus in the affairs of the vilt thou that we command fire from heaven to consume early church still loves and cherishes his own still directs their city jesus answered ye know not what manner and guidcs in respect to the interests of his own cause of spirit e are of for the son of man is not come to his zion now as then it is with him to permit or to destroy men s lives but to save them luke 9 52-56 hinder persecution according as in his wisdom would be it was a woman from a little city in this same section who for the best interests of his people aihl for the outworking hud previously met the lord at jacob s well anll who got of his glorious plans the persecution which then arose from him a little taste of the wuter of life then brou~ht had doubtless a two-fold effect 1 it served to test and many of her frier s and neighbors who also tasted and to sift those who had already named the name of christ were refreshed and many of them believed on him neverto prove their loyalty their willingness to endure hardness theless our lord s testimony was ye worship ye know as good soldiers their worthiness to be reckoned among not what we know what we worship for salvation is of the overcomers not only did it test them but it undoubtthe jews john 4 22 edly strengthened them for experience shows us that every the fact that philip now came into samaria under the trial and test endured with faithfulness brings an increase leading of divine providence ami preached the gospel there of victory and strength of character 2 it became the signifies that the time had come for the gospel to be lord s means of spreading the truth in every direction extended beyond judaism it implies therefore that this and thus of greatly broadening as well us deepening his incident occurred at least three and one-half years after work in the world having first placed those who by his our lord s death-after the close of the seventieth symbolic providential arrangements had been gathered to one center week and the full end of israel s special fa vol as respects he now scattered them as lights throughout palestine and the gospel invitation of this age evidently the apostles the udjacent country had less strenuous feelings of opposition a~ainst the samarthere was a philip among the twelve apostles but it is itans than against gentiles in general because they were not he that is referrel to in this lesson 1 his philip was of mixed jewish blood one of the seven deacons whose choice by the church is the gospel accompanied by signs related in acts 6 5 evidently he had used well the opporthe samaritans were ripe for the gospel and the fact tunities thus afforded him by attending not only to the distribution of the natural food to the needy but by the that the jews had disdained them as they did the gentiles no doubt made them all the more ready to receive the feeding of his own heart upon the spit·itual food also thus gospel messuge which ignored all caste and class distincpreparing himself as a servant and minister of the lord tions and accepted into its brotherhood all who confessed for futher service of a more spiritual kind philip was one of those whom the persecution drove out their sins accepted .jesus as the redeemer and made full consecration to him philip s preaching was backed by the of jerusalem let us stop here to notice that the early open manifestations of the spirit in healings etc as was church mi~ht have said persecution is getting severe ull the preaching of that time these manifestations of but we will stay where we are suffer imprisonment etc power were intendel to establish the faith and to counteresteemin that the lord is able to protect us here as well as elsewhere this would have been sound reasoning but act the wonder workings of satan through necromancers those possessed of the spirit of divination and others it would have indicated a neglect of the lord s directions of like brand to his church when he said vhen they persecute you the truth reached the samaritans just in time to rescull in this city flee ye into another matthew 10 23 the them from some of satan s wily arts as practised by onll persecution was intended to scatter them and failure to t 11

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1 · 0ie vvatch to vver brooklyn n y simon magus-the word magus signifying sorcerer the record ~s th~t his influence with the i pople had been great both with nch and poor they looked upon him as being possessed of the great power of god as the apostle declares the great deceiver assumes a garment of light ami presents himself as a minister of light for the deceptio.n of those who are seeking the truth today he has a variety of devices snares and traps for those who are waking out of the slumbers of gross superstition and ignorance brought down from the dark ages just at the present time satan is making great use of spiritism to dplude the people and create the impression in their minds that table tippings weird rappings more or less incoherent mutterings or whisperings flashes of light etc etc are in some manner manifestations of divine powel· in another garb he appears as a healer presenting to the suffering members of humanity certain physical reliefs and cures l hese are accomplished by the same vower which workcd through simon magus and are distributed to those who will yield themselves to deception :lnd who will deny the truth and persistently stick to the denial they shall have the reward of healing simon meets superior power nearness to the lord as are the fruits of the spirit which all of the lord s consecrated people of today should possess in some degree meekness gentleness patience long suffering brotherly kindness love the apostle paul tells us that if he had all of the gifts and yet lacked love it would profit him nothing eventually as respects the great favor to which the lord has called his church 1 corinthians ]3 1· 8 simon s heart not right those who accepted philip s message nnd made a consecmtion to the lord signified it by bnptism by immer· sion into water this 8 mbolized the immersion of their will8 into the will of god ns expressed in christ it signified that henceforth they would be dead to self and to the orld anll would rise to wulk in newness of life as members of the body of christ we read nothing about the recording of the names in a denolllinntional register 1 he early church recognized as we 10 that the important matter is that believers 8hould be joined to christ lllhi that their names on this account should be written in heaven simon who had previously been th religious lemler of the people their leader into dnrknes into the wiles of the uflversnry became one of philip s converts one of those immersed and a constant attendant upon philip s ministry beholding with nmmlement the power of god operating through him which power he recognir-ed a being superior to the power ot satan which hnd operatpt through himself news of god s fnvor to the samaritans and of their acceptance of the lord soon reached .terusnlem and representntives of the whole company of the apostles anll others at that place w nt down to samaria to obsene the work of the lord tl!hl no doullt ,to encourage the believf rs but they went specially because the gifts of the holy spirit mirnculous healings tongues etc cou1<1 be communicated only through the apostles however well philip might pl oclaim the gospel and immerse believe,rs he not being one of the chosen twelve had not the power of communicating thosf ifts it is mnnifest that 8ince those gifts were communicnted only by the apostles they must hnve ceasell shortly after the death of the last of the twelve apostles of the lamb peter was one of those sent and also john the very one who had inquired of our lord whether he desired them to call down tire upon the samaritan village how much change the gospel of christ had wrought even in this good young man he had learned of jesus and now had the same spirit which sought not to destroy men s lives but to snye them vhen the apostles arrived they prnyed with the disciples and then laid their hands upon them communicnting some of the gifts presumably the gifts were the same here as elsewhere power to speak with foreign tongues to interpret foreign languages to perform miracles etc as simon magus was one of the believers one of the baptized ones it is quite possible that he received some gift of the holy spirit yet he and quite probably others of the number was not in full hnrmony with the lord rnd his gracious plans the gifts of the spirit might be imparted instantaneously but the fruits of the spirit could be had only by growth those gifts therefore are not to be esteemed us being such good evidence of the divine favor and of simon magus while astonished at what he had seen and interested from that standpoint and convinced that the power was a holy one and while he had also cast in his lot with the believers and probably received a gift was still in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity as the apostle peter subsequently told him we might naturnlly incline to the thought that simon never was a heart believer and that his acceptance of the gospel was with some unholy motive but if this view be taken we are encountered with the statement that he believed and with the further fact that the apostle admonished ilim to pmy thnt the thought of his heart might be forgiven him in the new l estament the word believers indicates almost universally fully consecrated believers 1 h scriptures do not inform us more pnrticularly nnd we are obliged to leave the account there ve do not know what became of simon magus but we do know thnt his attempt to purchnse special gifts from god with money was a reprehensible nct nnd met with the rebuke it deserved from the apostle peter apparently we are nhle to discern in simon the conception of the anti·clll·ist idea the first manifestation of a desire on the part of believers to effect pecuniary aggmndizement through the power associnted with the gospel simon s interf st in the powers exemplified by the apostles led him to the point of asking peter to give him the apostolic power of communicating gifts promising him in return n gooll compensation in molwy lie thus showed that he was not deeply interested in the tmth and its service frolll the right stamlpoint that it was merely a curiosity interest and that se1/1shnf ss had not given place to love that he would lilw to have this apostolic power so that he could use it in a sf lfish way for his own aggrandizement either in monf y or prest ige at all events for his own advantage amongthe people the sin of simony rhere have been mnny of this snme disposition since simony does not necessarily appeal to the worst of men nor eyen to the less enllowed alllong believers it is safe to say that there are hundreds of tllousands ea millions of the magus class in the ilominnl churches of tollay there are men n111 women who hav never discerned the real spirit anll purpose of the gospel but who look at its various arrangements from the mercenary point of yiew consider· ing what shall he the gain or loss the rocial allvantage or isndvnntage of tlieir relationship thereto they maintain their relationship to christendom because of the honor or soeial po ition or worldly prosperity whieh it has brought them or is bringing them or which they hope yet to obtain through it fa all such the words of the apostle apply l hou hast neit pr part nor lot in this mntter the holy spirit god s power is given to those who truly desire it and who take tllc steps of consecration and devo· tion necessary to bring 1hem into intimate contact with jehovah and his blesse{l 80n even among those who hnve received present truth we have renson to fear that some have received it not in the love of it but merely in n spirit of curiosity or with a view to having sompthing which they can use as a means for bringing themselves into some place of prominence among the brethren such persons are dangerous characterr dnngerous to themselves and their own best interests and dangerous in their influence on the church such should be carefully avoided in the selection of leaders among the lord s people no mntter what their natuml gifts riches or tnlents may be.

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peter at lydda and joppa ii ebruary s acts 9 :32-43 the proghess of thli church-peter calls at lydda-peter restores .ieneas to heai,tli-many turk to tilb loltd-tabitila sickexs axlj dies-pe i er haises i abitha to life-a huli1hle wo:lian s fhiexds jesus christ maketh thee whole arise tcts 9 34 t iuj per n ution which ~cattered the disciples throughout all ju e~l nnll of which saul l ns one of the leaders nhsillni shortly after his conversion it was followell by n period of rest recuperation edification n mentioned in acts 31 paul s conversion may iulve had something to do with this re t but it wns also cont ibuted to by the arising of troubles between the jt ws ami !tome ht cnuse of an effort on the part of caligula cre ar to estnblish his statues as objects of worship in ,tudea and even in the 1 pmple itself rht account ay that there n l p aints which dwelt at lydlia evidently they were scattered ahout in various places and the apostle spent part of their tiillp in vi iting the little group of iw.lill ers with a view to t ncouraging them ami to st rengtlwning their hope in these travels peter ami to l 1l11a the chief city in the plain of sharon about midway ljptwepn ,leru alem anll joppa-tpn milt s from eaeh 1 he spt cial mi ion was to visit tht saints lw i iilled there hi i word saints is one of particular attraetih ness it signifips holy onps thos helipvc,rs who are being anctifiell in christ ,11 us aeneas the paralytic healed earthly life another thought iat coml s in this i onnpe!ion i t hat while our chief sprvice untlpr prp ent conditions h the ministry of the spiritual food spiritual tll ink anti spil itual clothing to the household of faith newrthl lp 1 al e to rememue r that to the extpnt of our nhilities :ml1 ollporunitip wi art to do g-ood unto a 11 illpn those who lack the opportunity or the wherewithal foj genpro ity in this world s gootls 0 that they ilnyp nothing wherewith to mini tpr in a tempol l way to the llt cp si!it s of the saints or other should not forg-et that tlipy have the st ill more preeiou more valuablp more helpful more chepring con o]at ion of thp spirit of the truth anti kintine ss to dispen e to uch a are in :illy nee l 011111 that all of the lord pt ople would culth ate the~p dorcas qualiti l i and thus upcolne mol anl1 mol ijpautiful am gracpful in thp eyps of their lord as pii as in thp p p of tlw unprejudil l ll of the world an affecting death chamber scene whilp at lyll l the apostll found a cprtain paralytic .enea by naml wliom he healel 1 are not told that ill a one of thl sllint the pr illlnplion thpl eforl is that ih was not hut that at mo t hi ya the friellli of ome of them anll that in tlii manne r the apostle s attention was drawn to him i lli fad that hi ilall ijl f1 h lfast hplples pight f al tl tinell that the hc aling as a miracle its f:ulll prp:lli ahl oall and rl ultpd we are tolll in thl drawing of many peopll unto thp lord anll to the l llur h i hus dill thl lorll p tabli h the l lurch ajhi attnlct to it tlmsp who el l in ih0 right httitude of heart u~ing lniruelt s th i1 as hp no u~t s other mean l hose mira e a alrenliy pointpd ont cannot hayt lasted much longer lljan thc apostlp thc m l1l p the g-ift of healing t k ht ing grantl d only through thp ia ing on of hlp apo~tll h:mds anll thl twi vt had no su ces~ors til heayl nl ,teru~alpm had t l lv fonndatinn and no mol i and in thmn were tittc n till li:illll s of llil twplye apo~tles ami 1i0 01 her value of good works and almsdeeds ne of till ill ivlc that is vrohably olw of tlll 1 saints or con l crall d bplipvprs ho rl idpli at ,toppa on tllp cai oas was apparently a woman of soml mean and l du alion :md if her naint n i p entel1 hpl apv arance she was yt ry hpaut ifu tahitha was her ryriac namp and doreas wa it re k tr:lilslitl ration it ignitil gracdnl,bpaulifn hut thi womall wa fanll d fol a hl auty and gr:1i l l ntirely pparate allli llist i nct from whatever she vo s sed of !11q ical charm i 11 1 wa the hp:ll1ty of a inl pk :uil qnil t ~ilirit full of loye and helpfulness dorca had hpen in thb iwlilt i the gret k text illllicatc of assi ling the [1001 with g-armpnt am in similaj sl yil es it i almo t cl rtain too that he a si ted thpm with words of pncollrageml nt ami 11el]jfulnp and mini tl rell to thl m hi trllth tilll r tlll sp circulll il1 ps it is not stnll1ge that iipr ilpath houlti have prolluced sol ow e ppcia1ly among tlh bt>npfil ial il of hpr 1 1iaritil s and among tile nunwrous friends whil h a hl autiful chri tlikp pirit of this kind is sure to j!lake kindness according to opportunity all of the lon s saints are to be mart their conspcration is to lay down thpir lin s ill the service of the lortl the brethren anll till truth ami as nt>arly a tht>y can untler~tanl in till way whirl he direct them throug-h his yorll ailli through hi providences our covenant is not one of self-pre ervation but one of self-sacrifice truci we are looking for anti hol1ing for life etprnal and glorious as spirit beings hut the terms anci eollllitions upon which we are scripturally hoping to attain that perfect anci new life are that wi shall acritlce what remains of this prest nt a[jp:u pntly lorl as fl ll sick and died h[dpnly at aboul ihe time that others of the saint at ,joppa hpanl of petpr hl iug at lydl]a anl of thp 1i e perf ornwd thpre l hy ell1 for him immediap]y probah[y havin no thought of his !1erforming such a miraclp as to i1rin non as uack to lif p hut mtlle r with the tllought that thpy had lost a highl e teempii illpmlwr of thpir little gl olljl anll that l f tpl could gill tlwill sollie consolation herp w:1 no tplpg-i aph 01 tlc lepholle or mail sl rvice thpn :ii 111 t o of tllp in l thrpil hc l amll the mini tprs to take till w rd 0 1 1 1 1 to rpljlll r ]iis prespnce ani that withollt df lay in tlle city of pl ll alplll a corp 1 1i111 t be huripli tlll allll day bllt in thl smaller citips anll yillage it might lie as nllll h a thl l l ilays uulmril l l etp s ill e pucp wa w:illii ii a 011 bt>forl dol cas would hi imrieli llllli hi wput at oucp an affpl ling ,scenl w:i llpfore l etpr as hi l ntc rpti thl iipath chamllpl 1 001 wi ack from tht porl:ji of dl ath likc til otllt>r minh l1 l pportl d in this 11 on it was pl l ulial to t]l:lt tilllp anll had thp ppcial purpo n of p tah1i liin lhe hul ch vl an not to su[1[1o e that all of lod s 11l oplp dul ing this go ppj l:gp should he tliu natcllpd hack frolll l!path no that tltl shoulll bp all r iii l d frolll ilpds of sicknl s 11m that thp sllould nil have power such as the apost herp ext>rci pd thprl is a mini try l ffpcted ijy evil calarnit il klll i!l ath whil h h:ls ofti ll l l n yaluaule indepd to till lol d peoplo inculcating various ]ps on and dl vt loping various fruits of the spirit after const>crating our lives to tlip lord let us see to it that we exercise faith in him on whom h llave helieved and that we be [jprsualled that ill is ahle to keep guard oyer all of our interest against the day of g]oritication ami final rt wal l divine wi dorn is much more lible to mett out to us those expplriencl s is much more able to bring us int.o contact with those intlnences which w[j work for our own development and growth a nt creatures than we ourselves could do even our lord ,te sus had this nttitude of mind when he said the cup which my father hath giwn me shall i not drink it john s 11 13

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peter and cornelius -february 1ij acts 10 30-48 corni%ius and ius vision-his prayers and his alms ascend to god in dl1e tii 1i j iie vision given to peter-tiu i irst preaching to tiii gentiles-the significance oi the conversion of cornei,ius l hc same lord is lord at all and is rich tlnto all that call upon him romu/ls 10:12 among those with whom he had to do yet something more was necessary ijefore he could be accepted with gou in the proper sense of that word l here is a lesson here for those who imagine that a reverence for god and morality are all that is necessary to divine acceptance as cornelius had these qualities in 1:1 rge measure for some time before his acceptance l he lord s dealing with him may well be a guide for all others who desire to approach him in covenant relationship althoug;h devout cornelius was not a jew ami he realized himself to be outside the pale of special divine favor still he pra e d to god we are not tol

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