1917_The_Finished_Mystery_Text

they saw every high hill, and all the thicktrees, and they offered there their sacrifices,and there they presented the provocation oftheir offering: there also they made theirsweet savour, and poured out there theirdrink offerings.— The Christian's course wastyped by the experience of the Hebrews in theland of Canaan (Isa. 57:5), in the blessedness ofDivine favor andFM460in the abundance of God's gifts. When broughtinto this condition of favor, instead of beingthankful and giving their whole hearts to God indevoted consecration, the great mass ofprofessing Christians committed the sameabominations that the heathen were guilty of—union of church with worldly power, making thehigh ones the heads of the church, as the King ofEngland and the Czar of Russia: doing homageto all of earth's great ones (the thick trees);rendering service and obedience (sweet savor) totraditions of men; and preaching (pouring out)strong doctrines, intoxicating wine of theirmixed teachings (drink offerings).Ezekiel 20:29.Then I said unto them, What is the high placewhereunto ye go? And the name thereof iscalled Bamah unto this day.— In verse 29Ezekiel speaks with contempt of the Hebrewapostasy. He uses a play upon words, notapparent in the English translation. He asksthem, "Mah ba" (Where go?), and answers, "Bamah"(the high places) is the name to this day.Pastor Russell frequently spoke with contempt—deserved, from the Divine viewpoint— of the"high-place," nominal church, her clergy and herlaity, always going to the "high ones."Ezekiel 20:30.Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thussaith the Lord God; Are ye polluted after themanner of your fathers? and commit yewhoredom after their abominations?— Again,in the phase of captivity in "Babylon," the Lord'speople were guilty of doctrinal and moral