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TO OUR READERS

The present number of the WATCH TOWER ends the first volume, the first year of its existence. From the numerous letters containing kind and encouraging words, speaking of the light thrown on various scriptures through its teaching, we have reason to hope that our labor is not in vain in the Lord. While we labor not for human praise and thanks, but to receive, of the Master, “well done, good and faithful servant,” yet these kind words from our fellow pilgrims are not to be despised. Like a cup of cold water, they greatly cheer and refresh us.

We have felt called to a defense of the truth. During this harvest-time of shaking and sifting in which we are living, there is danger of throwing away with the rubbish some of the very foundation pillars of truth. Many of these fundamental truths are being attacked by the great enemy of truth, and the more of God’s children he can enlist with him the more successful is he. It was needful, therefore, that we should exhort you to take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand (stand against the evil attacks) in (this) the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Eph. 6:13.) Our lamp shining on the Tabernacle service and types of the law has had the effect of confirming these old truths and establishing our hearts in the faith. As we have seen Jesus’ death typified by the Paschal Lamb and the bullock of sin-offering, so we have learned that we (the church) have been filling, and must continue to fill, the type of the goat of sin-offering, thus being made “conformable unto his death” and “filling up the measure of the sufferings of Christ which are behind.”

Many tell us by letter, and some by word, that we are in their prayers, and we now request that

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during the coming year ZION’S WATCH TOWER may be the special subject of your prayers, and in the words of Paul, that you pray for us that God may open unto us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ. (Col. 4:3).

To those who wish the paper, but who cannot afford to pay, the terms for the next year are the same as for the past one—”Ask that ye may receive.” A postal card will do. If you send us the names of any you think would be interested and benefited thereby, we will send them sample copies free. You might, thus, to some extent, “do good and communicate.”

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— June, 1880 —