Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1910-09-10 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

PASTOR RUSSELL'S BIBLE STUDIES.  IT US lint, HIM  for their developmeat. This Vineyard the owner let out to husbandm.en whose duty it was to care for the vines and the fruitage, and to render to the owner the results, except a. portion which they might keep for themselves. These busbandmen were the prominent religionists, of whom Jesus said, "The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. All, therefore, whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do" (Matt. xxiii. 2,3). The owner properly required returns on his property, and sent servants to receive his share of the fruitage. But the husbandman, instead of giving them what was due their Master, abused them by beating, killing, and stooling them. These servants were the prophets of old, sent to Israel. They should have received the kindest treatment and an abundance of fruits of meekness, gentleness, patience, etc., but, instead, they were treated as intruders by the leaders of Israel. Some of thorn were stoned, some beaten, some murdered, some sawn asunder. Some wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, and dwelt in dens and caves of the earth, because not appreciated. They were net treated as representatives of the owner of the Vineyard. Finally, the owner seat his Son, saying, "They will reverence my Son." But these same husbandmen the religionists of our Lord's day, took counsel tq kill Him, and to seize His inheritance. The Great Teacher put the question to His hearers, and the answer promptly came that the owner would destroy those wicked men, and let out his Vineyarrd to others who would render him its fruitage.  This is what just happened. The Scribes and Pharisees and Doctors of the Law, Ivlao were using God's promises and blessings and their opportunities seilflahly and in disregard of the Aslmighty these were dispossessed. Their government was destroyed and Divine favour and privileges as God's mouthpieces, which they once enjoyed, were taken from them and given to others—to the Apostles and their associa,tes— during this Gospel Age. However, as fleshly Israel was a type or picture of nominal Spiritual Israel, we may net have to look far to find a very similar condition of things to-day. To-day also we see some high persons in official position as representatives of God and His Word, using their positions to en:then& themselves, to hold power over the people, to carry oat their own schemes. These are inclined to speak harshly, yea, to " murder " any who come amongst them meekly, humbly, in the name of the Lord, They do not literally kill them nor "shoot them full of arrows," but they do behead them in the sense of oat/Taoism. And they do shoot out at them the arrows of hitter words, slanders, etc.  What vvill the Husbandman do with such servants? The answer is again that the op portu nities which they have enjoyed will be taken away from thorn. Jesus, the rejected, "is become tlle chief cornerstone" of the  great Temple of God, which is the Mimili, and His faithful will be received to the bee:yearly place and power and greet glory.  : _ • 1. ..--••••-: ..../...''Atr: - 0 ''•;:4: e :4,.:,*, , _ ..d .... • •/1,.. -, f AV, • ''.4 • ' '`, eii• _ -"' , ~.--...... - •* * . • •/..- o,‘ ! ~. ... .. . ...•:- ,• -- .. .., _____.• --.„.: ~.*. .....,.;.; ~ _., _ • - I,_ .__,,,,11.1 f--. .i• ~. 151'.‘ ili .'": ;.6z.-•.:i , - 4* - ' ' - ''''' ' - . . , 1e,;.-N-'..--- , fr' • ...," - -N,,,,_,;,,-  .....A... frit 4klikk. faTi, o . _ ~..f..--ts ~Apilf-ic _ f. e , . 1,.. a\1,.,. - 40, 7, 1 •-•`l.-1. / 11/1. ' 1 ,4 . ,v. ~. ‘,..„ ~... 1, . ~-..../4 .. A,..„., , rf • 1 'IT ‘•-2 -, -, 1 1 1 --,41i, „ ..,1 rift 1 0 a tt,i 4-1141 c t 1.4:1-4Y ___:,.,- ..: :.,41,10,2•.,:l 011 • LK 1'