VOL. II. PITTSBURGH, PA., OCTOBER, 1880. NO. 4.
PUBLISHED MONTHLY.
101 Fifth Ave., PITTSBURGH, PA.
—————
C. T. RUSSELL, Editor and Publisher.
J. H. PATON, . . . .
ALMONT, MICH.
W. I. MANN, . . . . SWISSVALE, PA.
B. W. KEITH, . . .
DANSVILLE, N.Y.
A. D. JONES, . . .
PITTSBURGH, PA.
L. A. ALLEN, . . . .
HONEOYE, N.Y.
In no case will the Editor be responsible for all sentiments expressed by correspondents, nor is he to be understood as indorsing every expression in articles selected from other periodicals.
All communications should be addressed to "ZION'S WATCH TOWER," as above, and drafts, money orders, etc., made payable to the Editor.
r142 THE NARROW WAY TO LIFE.r143 ANTI-CHRIST.
r144 MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD.
r144 Why did Christ Come in the Flesh?
r146 THE TWO NATURES.
r147 AND AFTER DEATH THE
r148 WHEN AND HOW WILL CHRIST
r149 A LETTER
r150 Questions of Correspondents.
r152 SEND A POSTAL CARD.
r152 NOT UNTIL NOVEMBER.
DEAR BRO. RUSSELL:—I was very much pleased with article in last number on "Baptism." It is in harmony with my thoughts on the subject. I have thought for two years or more, that those who thought, only of water baptism, when thinking of being baptized into Christ, were taking the shadow and leaving out the substance; just as they do, who ask to be provided with daily bread, and mean, mainly, natural bread.
The real baptism is of vital importance; and it seems to me that when one has reached that point, he will give expression to it, by water baptism in a proper way, just as surely as it is true that out of the "abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."
By some of the friends, our ideas of being dead with Christ, are considered a little extreme, and so they may think in regard to these on baptism, but the former lead to the latter.
r150 THE SCAPEGOAT.In the article above, Brother P. suggests some food for thought regarding the type of the sin-offering, scape-goat, etc. We fully agree with the general view expressed relative to tares, Babylon, etc., not representing the church in any sense, neither the "little flock" nor great company.
But we must yet hold to our views, as heretofore expressed, that the scapegoat represents the "great company," not Babylon, tares, etc., for several reasons. First: The scape-goat was brought to the door of the Tabernacle, and had been accepted of God. Surely this is not the case with hypocrites in the church. [R152 : page 8] If they present themselves, they may deceive men, but not God. Again: God intimates that as far as He is concerned, He has no choice (shown by casting lots) as to which shall be the sacrifice or sin-offering. This would not be true of a hypocrite. God would not accept of a tares sacrifice for sins; the offering must be pure, free from sin. Jesus was such in fact. We are so, because justified by Him, and we think that both goats standing thus before God must represent, not tares, but justified ones—Christians.
This class of true (though not faithful) Christians stand side by side with the faithful ones who do follow their Lord's example, and crucify the will of the flesh. These are overcome by the world, and though they would love the approval of their Lord, cannot bear the frown of men. Like the unfruitful branches, they do not bear the fruit of the vine, but merely leaves, and are, therefore, "castaways" from the high calling and honors of the overcomers. These are not accounted worthy to escape those things coming upon the world, and go through at least a part of the world's trouble, the object being the "delivering over to Satan, for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord Jesus." This is made necessary by their having failed to crucify the fleshly nature according to their covenant. And as we have already seen, it is necessary for all to lose the fleshly nature and form, either by "destruction" or "sacrifice," in order to the obtaining of the Divine form and nature. "I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God—your reasonable service."
The subject is large and will bear much examination, which we hope all will give it.