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Chosen no: R-2083 a, from: 1897 Year. |
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View From The Tower.
WE wish the WATCH TOWER readers, all and everywhere, a very happy New
Year--1897. And whether or not they get the fulfilment of our wish depends
almost exclusively upon themselves, individually, --in the cases of those who
belong fully to the Lord, by a full heart consecration, a full self-surrender
to his will, as expressed in his Word.
Circumstances may change, hopes or health may fail, trusted friends may
become cool or even become enemies, poverty and lack of life's necessities may
stare some in the face; yet none of these, nor all of them, should they fall to
our lot, need hinder the true Christian from having a happy year.
To the worldly this will be both impossible and incomprehensible; for
the world has no sources of comfort and peace and joy other than the
creature-comforts of the present life. When deprived of these they have nothing
but misery and despair; and these evils are only increased as knowledge and
refinement increase the appreciation of earthly good things. Hence the
remarkable increase of suicides in recent years, especially in the most
civilized lands, and wherever civilization extends;--for instance, in Japan,
where it is said that the average of suicides per year is over seven thousand.
Respecting suicides here and in Great Britain the Rev. P. S. Henson, D.D.
(Baptist) of Chicago said recently in a sermon:--
"There never was such unrest in the world as now. The old world is
threatened with an upheaval. What is the matter with New York and Chicago?
Humanity is not constituted to be satisfied. People are going mad faster than
you can build mad-houses to put them in. In London the suicides number ten a
day [3,600 a year], New York is not much better. There was never such unrest.
What the world wants, the rich want, all classes want, is Jesus Christ."
But the child of God has other than earthly friends and joys and hopes
and prospects. He is rich, whatever his outward condition may appear; rich in
the fact that his debt of sin has been paid for him; rich in the assurances of
God's Word that his present experiences are all under the supervision of divine
wisdom and love, and are all being overruled for his highest good (Rom. 8:28); rich in joy and hope through the present trials and
experiences faithfully and patiently endured. God is preparing him for future
honors, and so he is enabled to reckon those trials which once would have
utterly crushed him as "light afflictions which are but for a
moment," and which, faithfully accepted, "will work out a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Thus he looks, not at the
transitory things that are seen, but at the invisible and eternal things. Thus,
like Moses of old, he endures as seeing him who is invisible, a present help in
every time of trouble. Whatever he may possess of earthly luxury and comfort he
accepts with gratitude, realizing himself not more deserving than millions less
favored. Whatever he may lack, he reflects that the faithful of every age have
been required to "endure hardness as good soldiers," and that our
blessed Savior and his noble apostles, in choosing the course of faithfulness
to the truth, denied themselves and endured hungerings, thirstings, privations [R2083 : page 4] and loss of friends, and yet, though
poor, they made many rich (2 Cor. 6:10) with the true riches
of grace --"godliness with contentment," "great gain,"
which the world can neither give, nor take away. In every condition these may
hear the Word of God saying,-- "All things are yours,...for ye are Christ's,
and Christ is God's."
"Why should the children of the King
Go mourning all their days?"
The Christian's secret of a happy life lies in his knowing and trusting
the Heavenly Father and the Heavenly Bridegroom. Even worldly physicians,
sceptics, are coming to recognize the fact that the peace of God ruling in and
keeping the heart is not only an excellent medicine, but a great preservative
of health. How many, looking back, can see that not only their spiritual but
also their physical health has improved since they found the Lord "a very
present help" in time of trouble! If they had nervous troubles which
formerly caused them sleepless nights and haggard looks, and which almost
unfitted them for life's duties and responsibilities, they have doubtless found
some improvement since they have heard the voice saying,--
Cast all your care upon the Lord, for he careth for you.--1 Pet. 5:7.
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we
should be called the sons of God.--1 John 3:1.
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that
fear (reverence) him.--Psa. 103:13.
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart.--Psa.
31:24.
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want: His goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever. --Psa. 23:6.
True, the exceeding great and precious promises of God's Word may not
hinder us from feeling pain, but it will modify the severity of the pain and
its frequency. Physicians are of one opinion on this subject, that the mind,
the brain, the nervous center of our being, exercises a great influence over
all of our physical sensations, either an aggravating or a pacifying influence.
Truly did Solomon, the wise, say that the Lord's word is a valuable
"medicine."--Prov. 3:8.
But we have said that these blessings come through knowing and trusting
God: some fail to get the blessings because of a lack of knowledge; others
having the knowledge lack the trust, the faith; still others, and they are
probably in the majority among consecrated Christians, enjoy a small measure of
these blessings when they might have them in abundant measure by a more
thorough knowledge of God through his Word (accompanied, of course, with
obedience to the spirit of their knowledge) and by the exercise of greater
trust in the Faithful Promiser.
We exhort all the consecrated TOWER readers to join with us at the
beginning of the New Year, in a remembrance and renewal of our covenant with
the [R2084 : page 4] Lord,--to be obediently and
lovingly his, in thought, word and deed--and in harmony therewith, and to the
intent that we may enjoy his blessings to our fullest capacity and under all
conditions, let us put on the armor of truth and righteousness; fastening the
same upon us with the graces of the spirit. As an assistance we suggest as a
text to be remembered and practiced daily, the words of the Apostle Paul (2 Cor. 7:1)--
"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in
the fear of the Lord."
And
whoever would have success in carrying out the foregoing resolves should not
only make the engagement at the throne of the heavenly grace, but should at all
times and under all circumstances preserve the spirit of thankfulness and
prayer. As the Apostle expresses it, he should "pray without ceasing, and
in everything give thanks." For what son is he that the father chasteneth
not? If ye be without chastisements and lessons, then are ye not sons. The
Heavenly Father chastens for correction, every son whom he receives.
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[R2086 : page 4]
RENEWED DEVOTEDNESS.
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Come, let us anew our journey pursue,
Roll round with the year,
And never stand still till the Master appear.
His adorable will let us gladly fulfill,
And our talents improve,
By the patience of hope, and the labor of love.
Our life, as a dream, our time, as a stream
Glides swiftly away,
And the fugitive moments we would not delay.
Haste, haste ye along, dark moments be gone,
For the Jubilee year
Rushes on to our view, and its dawn is now here.
O at close of our day may each of us say,
"I have fought my way through;
I have finished the work thou didst give me to do!"
O that each from his Lord may receive the glad word,
"Well and faithfully done!
Enter into my joy, and sit down on my throne!"
--Charles Wesley.
W.T. R-2083 a : page 3 – 1897 r.