by the true kingdom of Christ, when he shall take his great
power and reign.
How pointed, too, are the thrusts of this heathen man: He sprees with Paul who says, "While one saith, I am Paul. I of Apollos, I of Peter, etc., are ye not carnal?" So the Chinaman wants to know whether the various sectarian claims—I am of Wesley, I of Luther, I of the Pope, I of Calvin, Knox, etc., etc., does not imply gross carnality among Christians today.
And how well merited are this heathen's stricture upon what has come to be the fundamental doctrine of "Christendom?"—that all but a small handful of humanity are on their way through a world of sorrow, pain, disappointment and tears, to a place of untold and everlasting agony, prepared for them by a God of love, whose unerring wisdom saw this to be their fate and portion before they were born.
Oh! what blasphemy upon the wisdom, love, justice and power of our Creator. What a terrible misrepresentation of his gracious plans. It is creditable indeed to the fairness and justice of the heathen world, that they spurn such—bad tiding of great misery, to all people. It is a shame, a disgrace to the intelligence of the civilized world today; that such an unreasonable, cruel misrepresentation of God and his plan finds credence among them, and has their millions for its support and spread. Even if the real plan of God were not seen by them, the civilized mind like that of its heathen brother, should be able to recognize such a hideous distortion, and should regard the teachers of such things, as would the heathen—"as insane, if not liars."
But the fact is that the majority of the intelligent people of "Christendom" do not believe in this doctrine, that God's chief work is to create men by the billion for eternal torment. The trouble is that they are not honest, not righteous, not upright. They are willing to sail under false colors, from selfish motives. They are lovers of self more than lovers of God, and hence are willing to join in this blasphemy of his character and plan. They, like Balsam, love the reward of unrighteousness, and hence practice deceit to get that reward. Verily, they have their reward!
Oh! for more noble men and women whom Satan cannot rule by either fear or favor. Honesty is a pre-requisite to growth in grace and knowledge; for "Light [truth] is sown for the righteous and gladness [such as comes from confidence, inspired by the true plan of God] for the upright in Since the truth is only for the upright, the honest, heart." Since the truth is only for the upright, the honest, is it any wonder that so many morally dishonest people of intelligence fail to find the truth? How can they believe who seek honor one from another and seek not (exclusively) that honor which cometh from God only?
THE FIFTIETH THOUSAND
Still they go, you will be glad to learn. Millennial Dawn Vol. I. is now in its fiftieth thousand. Forty thousand have already gone out, and ten thousand more are now being printed and bound.
This was our first proposition—the hope first expressed—that before 1888 fifty thousand copies of Dawn would be in the hands of the people. Three months yet remain of this year and we want to suggest what is possible through still further faithfulness of the harvesters. It is possible to have twenty-five or fifty thousand more out by Jan'y 1st, 1888. How?—By the Colporteurs who are selling Dawn continuing at their present averages, or increasing them as the cool weather will permit; by more of the brethren and sisters entering this branch of the "harvest" work; and by all others of the readers of the Tower doing what they can.
What can the others do? They can each sell from four to twenty copies, or can use that number for loaning, though to sell is better. because people are almost sure to use what they pay even a small price for. So then, God knows and we know the possibilities; and as the New Years' Tower comes to you, all will see how faithful the servants have been as a whole. Some we are sure can do no more than they are now doing, though some others we fear are "slothful servants." But the "View" in the September Tower has seemed to awaken and quicken many previously asleep, or overcharged with the affairs of this world, for which we thank God.
EXTRACT FROM AN INTERESTING LETTER
A CHINA MISSIONARY WRITES
My Dear Mrs. Russell:—Many thanks for your kind letter, and for the copies of Millennial Dawn and the Watch Towers. It is such a comfort to know that Jesus calls us his "friends" and is making known to us "all things that he heard from his Father." (John 15:15.) In the far away days of my youth, and the not so far away days of my orthodoxy I thought I knew it all, but now I see how blindly I read my Bible. And how I thank God for having compassion on me, and touching my eyes, and giving me sight. May I follow Him as did those of old whose eyes were opened.
I am giving away and lending my copies of Millennial Dawn and my papers, and any time you can send me extra copies of the Watch Tower I can use them to advantage. I expect to see a good many missionaries from other parts of the country during the summer, as this is a health resort, and I shall scatter my Towers, and lend Millennial Dawns. The last bound copy I gave away before taking the wrapper off.
Wishing you abundant success in your efforts to spread "the everlasting gospel," the "good tidings which shall be to all the people." I remain Yours in Christ, C. B. D.———.
PROGRESS IN KNOWLEDGE
This is the law of the church’s progress and growth. When a Christian, or a church, becomes convinced that it has nothing more to learn, there follows stagnation and decay. And yet what else than this is the prevalent assumption that all Bible truth is locked up in our Confession of Faith, and that it is a heresy and crime to think beyond it? No greater mistake was ever made by Reformed churches than this quenching of the Spirit in the body of Christ, by the denial to its members of the liberty of progressing beyond the limits of their creeds. Confessions are good for purposes of instruction, but not to bind the conscience. Enforced creeds should content themselves with stating only the great facts and primary beliefs of Christianity, as they are given in the language of Scripture, such as "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." "I believe that He died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, and rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures." Human formulas, founded upon these facts, and explanatory of them, should always be held open to amendment, as God may bestow increasing light until we all come to the unity of the faith and of the perfect knowledge of the Son of God.—Words of Reconciliation.
MY SHEPHERD
"He leadeth me!"
And so I need not seek my own wild way
Across the desert wide;
He knoweth where the soft, green pastures lie,
Where the still waters glide,
And how to reach the coolness of their rest,
Beneath the calm hillside.
He leadeth me!"
And though it be by rugged, weary ways,
Where thorns spring sharp and sore
No pathway can seem strange or desolate
When Jesus "goes before."
His gentle shepherding my solace is
And gladness yet in store.
"He leadeth me!"
I shall not take one needless step through all,
In wind, or heat, or cold;
And all day long he sees the peaceful end,
Through trials manifold.
Up the far hillside, like some sweet surprise,
Waitheth the quiet fold.
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