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DAWN CIRCLES FOR BIBLE STUDY
IN
our issue of Sept. 15, we commended these as profitable for the
upbuilding of the Church by establishing each one in the general
features of the complete plan of the ages, whereby alone all
Scripture can be rightly divided and appreciated. This method has
four specially commendable features. (1) It brings into use and study
the entire range of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, instead of
confining the attention to a few verses of one chapter. It is a
topical, instead of a verse and chapter, study of the Bible.
(2) It leads the mind and heart to refreshment in that which we all
have proved to be rich and nutritive food from the Master's
storehouse, and away from vain speculations which neither satisfy nor
strengthen the heart. (3) It accustoms each one to think for himself,
and to study to arrange his conceptions of the truth in harmony with
all the Scripture statements bearing thereon, and also to express to
others the truth which he sees. (4) These are the objects of all
teachings in the Church, as the Apostle states them--"For the
edifying of the saints "for the work of ministry."
We
notice, however, that a few, very few we are glad to say, have
totally mistaken the suggestions made respecting this kind of
meetings, and understood us to advise the abandonment of the Bible
and instead that the MILLENNIAL DAWN be read. Nothing could be
farther from our thought. As for the mere reading of the BIBLE
or the DAWN, that can be better done privately, each for himself.
On
the contrary, the suggestion is to make Bible studies general; and as
the light has come to us all by studying God's orderly plan as set
forth in DAWN, so it will continue to become more and more clear in
all its minutiae as we continue to study it from the same standpoint.
If the Plan of the Ages gives the only true outline of the
divine plan, and if we have learned that outline thoroughly,
let us use the same helping hand, observe the same divine plan and
order, in continuing the study of the minutiae of God's plan of the
ages.
It
is for this purpose that we advise "Dawn Circles for Bible
Study;" and as an illustration of the proposed method we offer
the following as a sample analysis of the first paragraph of DAWN,
VOL. I., viz.--
What constitutes the
divine revelation?--2
Pet. 1:21; 2
Tim. 3:16,17.
When
and how did sin come into the world?--Rom.
5:12;
etc.
Who is the "Sun of
Righteousness"?--Mal.
4:1,2; Matt.
13:43; Dan.
12:3.
When will this "Sun"
arise?--Acts
3:19-21; Col.
3:4.
What will its shining
effect?--Mal.
4:1,2; Isa.
60:18,19; 25:7-9; Acts
3:23.
What
will be its "healing," and how performed?-- Rom.
5:18,19.
Do
sin and death, directly or indirectly cause present "weeping"
and trouble? How?
Upon what sure ground can
we hope for the "morning" and its "joy"?--Rom.
5:6-8; 14:9; 1
Cor. 15:3,21; 2
Pet. 1:16,19; Prov.
4:18; Job
14:13-15; Psa.
49:14,15.
Will that "glorious
day" be followed by a night?-- Rev.
21:21-25; Isa.
60:20,21.
Other
Scriptures might be brought forward profitably, but all will see the
necessity for not permitting too much latitude, and the leader of the
class will exercise his best judgment in kindly reminding any who
might be disposed [R1900 : page 277] to digress considerably.
The class should contain several Bibles, and we recommend that all
meetings be opened and closed with praise and prayer. The plan of
some of having pencils and noting the references in the margins of
their DAWNS is also commended. It will be of great help to all when
endeavoring again to prove the truth to the skeptical.
A
Bible-study more interesting or more profitable than the foregoing
could scarcely be imagined. In this everyone can take part; all can
thus be assured of the firm foundation upon which the good tidings of
great joy rest; all can edify and build one another up in the
most holy faith; the "meat in due season," now provided by
the Lord for all who feast at his table, is thus with an open Bible
before the entire class, and each one may pass to the others
refreshing portions.
A
class of three would find abundant and rich Bible food for an hour,
suggested by this one paragraph; and a larger class of say a dozen
would scarcely get through with it at one meeting. We commend to all
the little companies of the Lord's flock these "Dawn Circle
Bible Studies" for one meeting in each week. They will tend to
make all proficient in the understanding of God's Word which is a prerequisite
to the required "work of ministry," serving it to others.
(Eph.
4:12).
It is a much safer plan than to meet to speculate and try to make
types out of every person and every thing mentioned in the Bible, a
plan that has led many (into pride of skill in making something out
of nothing and thence) into "outer darkness." And it will
generally be found much more profitable than to take any chance subject, or to be without some previously appointed subject. Each
lesson should be thought out by all and especially by the leader or
"elder." However, each class ought to be willing to
consider any Bible topic suggested by any attendant, and considered
by a majority of the class to be a profitable topic. For this purpose
the DAWN lessons could be temporarily discontinued or, preferably,
extra meetings could be appointed.
----------
[R1901
: page 277]
THE
PLAN OF THE AGES.
----------
A
beautiful vision of glory has caught my enraptured gaze;
It is
thrilling my heart with gladness, and filling my mouth with
praise.
My soul had so longed for this vision; I knew it must come
to view,
When Faith would behold God's goodness in the light which
makes all things new.
And so I have searched for the treasure,
believing I yet would find;
And that God in his infinite mercy
would open my eyes, so blind,
To see the Truth in its grandeur,
all fresh with the dews of grace,
And sparkling in the glory that
beams from the holy place;
To know his love, passing knowledge in
its length and depth and height,
With a breadth no man can
measure, and a strength sin cannot blight.
The Lord hath his
time appointed to fulfil our hearts' desires,
And there comes an
hour in his "due time" when the weary watch expires.
So,
standing upon my tower in the dawn of a better day,
And waiting
there for the vision he promised should not delay,
I saw God's
plan of the ages on tablets of truth made plain,
And the love
wherewith he loved us, and his plan man's love to regain.
Oh,
truly, the scene was blessed, transcending my noblest thought;
With
my cup of joy overflowing, I cried, "What hath God wrought!"
In
the past I had had some glimpses of what his great love might be;
But
the scene had so many shadows it seemed a vast mystery.
The creeds
of men, and false doctrines, had formed a veil o'er my eyes,
And
the truth of God looked sombre when hidden 'mid such disguise;
But
now it is joy and gladness, "glad tidings of great joy!"
And
e'en if I had a thousand tongues I could each one employ
To tell
it out to his people, and call to his saints beloved,
To come and
gaze on the vision with the shadows all removed;
To trace with
love's guiding finger, in the light of the holy oil,
God's plan
for the world's redemption from sin and all its turmoil.
For,
Oh, such a vision, surely, will quell all their doubts and fears;
And
such a bright dawn of promise will banish night's falling tears.
Then
come to the watch tower, pilgrims, come up to this height serene,
And
gaze on this rapturous vision, and take in the blessed scene,
'Til
the truth of God, so mighty, shall break every captive's chain,
And
the bliss that was lost in Eden is restored to mankind again.
F.
G. BURROUGHS.
====================