1881 Watch Tower - A2Z.org
1881 Watch Tower - A2Z.org 1881 Watch Tower - A2Z.org
into all truth." How this corroborates Paul's statement: "Thenatural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God,""neither can he know them because they are spirituallydiscerned." 1 Cor. 2:14. Though justified men, they must bebegotten of the Spirit to comprehend things above the humanplane.After telling them of the future unfolding of truth and of hiswords he tells them why his revelations are for them, viz:because he will henceforth treat them as friends and reveal allthings to them.There are two important lessons conveyed in these words of theMaster, as applicable to us as to the eleven Apostles: first, therule by which He judges who are His friends--"ye are my friendsif ye do whatsoever I command you." If we submit our willscompletely to his will, thus becoming dead to the world andalive toward God--then he reckons us friends; second, the ruleby which we may judge whether he reckons us among this classof special "friends," viz: If he reveals his work and plans to us,even all things which he has heard of the Father.Now apply these rules to yourself. If you can say, "Not my willbut thine be done"--not my plan of saving the world, not myplan relative to the preaching of the Gospel--not my willregarding the nominal church--not my will regarding myself andwhat I shall do or be--but "Thy will be done" in all these things,then you are a "friend" in this special sense spoken of by Jesus.Now try the other rule, have you evidence that you are a specialfriend? Is the Spirit leading you daily into more and more of anunderstanding of his words and plan--revealing more and moreof the "mystery" kept hid in former ages, and showing you"things to come." Do you say yes? Very good, then yours is theblessed experience of heavenly wisdom, which at the same timeis a proof that you are a special "friend." Continue and ifpossible increase your consecration, and you shall continue toabide in his love and to have fresh evidences of his friendship bygrowth "in grace and in knowledge."If the Word and plan of God are not opening before you: [TheSpirit often uses human agencies for communicating truth.] Ifyou are not being led of the Spirit into all truth-- if he is notshowing you "things to come," (John 16:13.) then it looksindeed as though you were not of the special friends, and itshould be your first work to gain this divine friendship by selfsurrender--consecration.All who believe themselves acceptable servants of our Mastershould look for and not be satisfied without this witness of theSpirit that they are Christ's friends.====================R231 : page 3
THE CREDIBILITY OF THE SCRIPTURES.Extracts from an Address Delivered by Dr. J. H. Thomas beforethe "Liberal League" (an Infidel Society), of this City andpublished in the Restitution.[We have selected these from among other able arguments,thinking they might be of interest to our readers, thoughprobably most of them you are already familiar with.--ED.]If then we believe those things that are unaccountable by law,and contrary to our experiences which are the discoveries, andworks of men, why should we discredit those things that are thework of God, as evidenced by competent and creditablewitnesses? Again I ask in the words of Paul, "Why should it bethought a thing incredible that God should raise the dead?"We believe there was a time when man did not exist. We knowhe exists now. What has been, may be again; therefore, if manceases to exist, he may exist again, which would not even becontrary to our experiences. I contend, therefore, that the Atheistand Infidel, in accordance with their own reasoning are bound toaccept the testimony of the apostles that Jesus rose from thedead, whereby the divinity of the Scriptures is proved: for, ifGod raised Jesus from the dead he was divine; and as heacknowledged the authority of the old Scriptures, and theytestified of him, they are divine.Having noticed a few of the arguments that might be adducedunder this head, I call your attention to the New Testamentprediction of an apostasy and its fulfillment as another reasonwhy I believe the Bible to be the word of God.If the New Testament prediction be divine authority, thereshould be to-day not only an apostasy from the faith oncedelivered to the saints, but there should be a dominantChristianity (at least so-called) political, tyrannical and corrupt.As proof of this we call your attention to the predictions.Says Paul (Acts 20:28): Take heed to yourselves, and unto allthe flock over which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers;feed the flock of God, which he hath purchased with his ownblood; for I know this, that after my departure shall grievouswolves enter in among you not sparing the flock; also of yourown selves, shall men arise and speak perverse things.Again, writing to Timothy he says: The time will come whenthey will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lustsshall heap to themselves teachers having itching ears, and theyshall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned untofables.This is a plain prediction of a departure from the truth asproclaimed by Christ and his apostles; and before the apostleshad finished their work this departure from the truth, or apostasy
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THE CREDIBILITY OF THE SCRIPTURES.Extracts from an Address Delivered by Dr. J. H. Thomas beforethe "Liberal League" (an Infidel Society), of this City andpublished in the Restitution.[We have selected these from among other able arguments,thinking they might be of interest to our readers, thoughprobably most of them you are already familiar with.--ED.]If then we believe those things that are unaccountable by law,and contrary to our experiences which are the discoveries, andworks of men, why should we discredit those things that are thework of God, as evidenced by competent and creditablewitnesses? Again I ask in the words of Paul, "Why should it bethought a thing incredible that God should raise the dead?"We believe there was a time when man did not exist. We knowhe exists now. What has been, may be again; therefore, if manceases to exist, he may exist again, which would not even becontrary to our experiences. I contend, therefore, that the Atheistand Infidel, in accordance with their own reasoning are bound toaccept the testimony of the apostles that Jesus rose from thedead, whereby the divinity of the Scriptures is proved: for, ifGod raised Jesus from the dead he was divine; and as heacknowledged the authority of the old Scriptures, and theytestified of him, they are divine.Having noticed a few of the arguments that might be adducedunder this head, I call your attention to the New Testamentprediction of an apostasy and its fulfillment as another reasonwhy I believe the Bible to be the word of God.If the New Testament prediction be divine authority, thereshould be to-day not only an apostasy from the faith oncedelivered to the saints, but there should be a dominantChristianity (at least so-called) political, tyrannical and corrupt.As proof of this we call your attention to the predictions.Says Paul (Acts 20:28): Take heed to yourselves, and unto allthe flock over which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers;feed the flock of God, which he hath purchased with his ownblood; for I know this, that after my departure shall grievouswolves enter in among you not sparing the flock; also of yourown selves, shall men arise and speak perverse things.Again, writing to Timothy he says: The time will come whenthey will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lustsshall heap to themselves teachers having itching ears, and theyshall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned untofables.This is a plain prediction of a departure from the truth asproclaimed by Christ and his apostles; and before the apostleshad finished their work this departure from the truth, or apostasy
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