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PREFACE.

'N laying this fourth volume of the MILLENNIAL DAWN series before

and particularly before those interested in the preceding

volumes and in our regular serial, ZION'S WATCH TOWER (of which they constitute special issues), the author feels it incumbent upon him to explain that its subject was not chosen because of pessimistic inclinations: indeed his views are extremely optimistic when considered as a whole, and this is indicated by the serial title, MILLENNIAL DAWN.

The necessity for treating this subject lies in the fact that it is "Meat in due season" for the Lord's people.

(1) It is the Lord's will that his people should understand that the Millennial Day of world-wide blessings will not come as the majority have supposed, by peaceful evolution; but that the new order of things will be born out of the anguish and death of the present order.

(2) It is due time that God's people should see why the great time of trouble comes;-that it is part of the harvest work winding up the affairs of this age, and is in the nature of judgments for misused privileges and opportunities; because those who have been enlightened with the Light of Divine Love which blazed forth at Calvary have not rejoiced in the Light nor walked accordingly.

(3) It is proper that God's consecrated people should know as exactly as his Word has outlined it, just how the impending trouble may be expected to come, that they may order their affairs accordingly.

(4) It will be a blessing, we trust, to thousands who will not fully believe its testimony and conform their course of life thereto, so as to be "accounted worthy to escape" the severity of that trouble as members of the "elect" Church. When too late to make their calling and election sure in the Gospel Church, they will be helped, we trust, while passing through "the fire of God's anger," to profit thereby; so that they, being "saved so as by fire." may "come up out of the great tribulation" with robes washed in the blood of the Lamb, and praising God. (Rev. 7:9, 10.) And we may even hope that some who are not at all God's people, seeing the fulfilment of his Word along these lines may be led thereby to a greater reverence for the Bible and a study of its Divine Plan of the Ages; to

"Search and see, Wisdom's wondrous harmony."

Some of the thoughts herein presented will not be wholly new to many of our readers; for I have preached them from the platform in various quarters since 1876 and have published them in fragmentary form in our various WATCH TOWER publications. Nevertheless, we feel confident that these will be among the most interested readers of this volume, which sets forth the subject as a whole and connectedly. We had this volume mapped out twelve years ago and hoped to have issued it long since; but in the Divine providence it has been hindered until now. And we can see that some advantages have resulted from the delay. (1) The subject is more complete than at first outlined. (2) We have been enabled to quote the views of others on many parts of the subject: a thing which we could not have done until recently; because only of late are the events such as could be discerned even by the open eyes of the statesman and patriot. What we saw in advance was merely the prophetic foreview;-now we have the corroborative facts to present.

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The author sends forth this volume with prayers for Divine blessings upon and to attend it; that through it, if it please God, he may be permitted to minister (things new and old”) to such as may be hungering and thirsting for it. He desires incidentally also to invoke the assistance and coöperation of all fellow-servants in this ministry of love. (We denominate it a ministry of love because these publications are not issued for filthy lucre's sake," but at bare cost.) The author acknowledges with deep appreciation the zeal for God and for his truth which has characterized the efforts of fellow-servants in connection with the circulation of the three preceding volumes;-by which, notwithstanding the unpopularity of the "good tidings," the first volume of the series is now published in English, French, German, Swedish and Dano-Norwegian, and is in its 640,000 edition.

May he who has blessed our efforts as colaborers in his vineyard, and ambassadors for him and his truth, continue us in his service and make us unitedly mighty, through the power of his Word, in pulling down the strong holds of error, and in helping his true people "out of darkness into his marvelous light:" and may we all and ever keep very humble and very near to our Master, remembering always that not we, but his Word, the sword of the spirit, is conquering.

Your brother in Christ, our Redeemer and King,

Allegheny, Pa., U. S. A.

October, 1897.

CHARLES T. RUSSELL.

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