1889 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

plan is so broad and comprehensive, it is necessarily of slowerdevelopment than those would suppose who have narrow,contracted views. The world, and Christians who keep theworld's standpoint of observation, have no wider plans for theblessing of others than those bounded by the narrow limits of thepresent life, while God's plan stretches on into eternity and is forthe thorough reformation and eternal blessing of all. Itsfoundations are therefore laid broad and deep, so as to lasteternally, and every step of the plan is accomplished withunerring wisdom.As co-workers together with our Lord, we are permitted to assistin the gathering and developing of the various members of thebody of Christ, building one another up in the truth, and in thespirit of it. And in this very work of assisting one another, comeup all those principles of the divine law, by which the wholeworld is to be governed when the kingdom of God is establishedin the earth. As children of God, therefore, called to be of thatlittle flock which shall judge both angels and men, we should beconstant students of divine law. We should not only acquaintourselves with its surface meaning, but also with its greatunderlying principles and all their ramifications, as they apply tothe practical affairs of life; and our own course should be ruledaccordingly, however squarely in opposition to current opinionsit may run.While in the flesh we have to deal with the questions whichconfront the rest of mankind with regard to our duties in thevarious relations of life--our duties to God and to each other, asmembers of society, and as husbands, wives, parents andchildren. When the law of God and its underlying principles arecarefully studied, it will be found to touch every contingencywhich can arise, and to point out the narrow path of duty inevery emergency. No question of duty is too mixed andcomplicated for God's law to unravel and justly settle, ifappealed to with studious effort. And if we make a study of thatlaw, we will not only find the solution of all the perplexingquestions in our own experience, but we will have a fund ofinformation which may be of great service to others in times oftrouble and perplexity, whether of the church or of the world,when they come to us for sympathy and advice. Our own humanjudgment in many cases would be very imperfect, being biasedby our ignorance, or prejudices, or our natural dispositions; butif we are law students under the great Teacher we will be able tosay, Thus and so is the law of God on this subject, and as itapplies in this particular case. Neither our own affairs, nor theaffairs of others who seek our counsel, should be decided uponby the impulse of the moment, but always with a carefulconsideration of the law of God on the subject. Thus may ourspeech be always "with grace seasoned with salt." Salt is apreserving element keeping that which is good from decay andputrefaction. And just so, the influence of wise and well