                                         i          earer
                              -

A   R E F O R M E D   SEMI-MCiNTHLY  M A G A Z I N E



IN THIS ISSUE


        Editorial:                 "_
         "Preaching and Historical-Critical Research"
                                   .I
        All . . Around Us:
                                              ci
             Who In The World

        The Pilgrim and Marri.age
             (see: In His Fear)

        News From The United Kingdom

                                                                                               -  .





                                                      Volume XL VI f Number 16 /May 15,1672


362                                                      THE STANDARD BEARER



                            CONTENTS:                                                               THE STANDARD BEARER
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Meditation

                           The Child and lord of the Church
                                                              Rev. M. Schipper

              `%lnd she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her
             child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. "
                                                                                                                 Revelation 12:5.

   And she brought forth a man child!                                      travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
   She was the woman, according to the preceding                              The other great sign the apostle was given to see in ~
context, which the seer of Patmos beheld in ecstatic heaven was relative to a great red dragon. In
vision as constituting the first of two great wonders or appearance the dragon was revealed to him as having ~
signs.                                                                     seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns were ,
   He beheld a woman clothed with the sun, and the upon his heads. And concerning him the apostle  ~
moon was under her feet, and upon her head a crown observed two things: that with his tail he drew the
of twelve stars: and she being with child cried, third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to


                                               THE STANDARD BEARER                                                 363



the `earth: and the dragon stood before the woman           Pharaoh of Egypt sought to extinguish the seed in the
which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her          slaughter of the Israelitish infant males; and in the time
child as soon as it was born.                               of Esther, when  Haman the son of Hammedatha, the
   Moreover, the seer observes that after the child was     Agagite, sought to destroy all the Jews in the kingdom
born, who was to rule the nations with a rod of iron,       of Ahasuerus. This onslaught culminates in the edict
God took Him to heaven and to His throne; while the of  Herod the `Great to slay all the male children of
woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place      Bethlehem, in the hope of snuffing out the life of the
prepared of God, that they should feed her a thousand       Christ-child. "In  Rama was there a voice heard,
two hundred and threescore days.                            lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel
   What can all this symbolism mean? For that we have       weeping for her children, and would not be comforted,
to deal here with symbolism is very plain!                  because they are not," as Jeremiah the prophet had
  Briefly, the woman is the church of the old               predicted. But the man child, who was to rule all
dispensation, extending from the dawn of history and        nations with a rod of iron, is kept safely; and the
reaching over into the new dispensation until the end       dragon prevailed not to exterminate Him.
of history.                                                   Her child was caught up unto God!
  Indeed, she appeared gloriously!                            After He had accomplished all God's good pleasure
  Clothed with the righteousness of God!                    in the redemption of His people!
  Crowned with sovereign election!                            Oh, surely, for a small moment it appeared that the
  For such is the implication and significance of the       devil had succeeded when, through wicked hands he
descriptive appearance as the apostle beholds her in his    had inspired men to nail Him to the accursed tree!
vision.                                                     When on the cross He bowed His head and gave up the
  That the woman was great with child, was due to           ghost, it seemed that the dragon had triumphed. But
the fact that she had conceived in the mother promise,      the man child escaped out of his hands when He
expressed to Satan in the presence of our first parents,    commended His spirit unto God Who gave it; and God
immediately after the fall in Paradise. All through the     raised Him up from the dead, and He ascended unto
old dispensation the church was pregnant due to this        the right hand of the Most High. On that cross, in His
conception. Consequently, every believing mother in         death and resurrection, He sealed the destruction of
the line of the covenant hopefully brought forth her        the dragon and his cohorts. Consequently, not the
children in anticipation of the promise and its             dragon but the man child holds the sceptre with which
fulfillment; even Eve, who with the birth of her            He rules over all the nations with the rod of iron.
first-born declared: "I have gotten a man from the            And the woman, the church of Christ, is prepared a
Lord." We know, however, that none af the faithful          place in the world, where God feeds her through His
could produce Him, for the promised child was not to be     Word and Spirit, and where she must remain to the end
born by the will of man, but through a wonder of            of this present dispensation.
grace. The pregnant woman, culminates in a virgin,            That is the meaning and significance of the vision of
whose conception was of the Holy Ghost, and the man the seer!
child she brought forth was the Son of God.                   Out of all this it must be noted that the text speaks
  Great was also the appearance of the great red            of the child of the church!
dragon!                                                       The church is mother!
  With his seven heads and seven crowns he appears as         Not Eve, nor the Virgin Mary, as some would
the head of the antichristian world power. This is interpret! A tie to Eve, or to Mary does not save us;
indicated in the number seven, a number he borrows even though it is true that the man child was borne by
from the church; and the number ten with the horns, them.
- symbol of the fumess of power. While he opposes             And the child the church brought forth is at the
the woman and her seed, he nevertheless appears as the same time the Saviour of the Church!
church, for to deceive. Important it is, however, to          Wonder of wonders! While the church bears the
observe that he appears as the dragon. Back of the threats of the dragon, the man child bears away her sin
antichristian  power is the devil and Satan, who, when and guilt!
he fell from his original high estate in the angelic          Notice, too, that not only is He the church's child,
world, dragged with him other angels in his rebellion, but also the church's Lord!
which with him stand together in their evil purpose to        Caught up is He into the highest heavens!
destroy, if possible, the church and her holy seed.           Unto God and to His throne!
  All through the old dispensation the dragon stood           From God He came, and unto God He returns!
before the woman which was to be delivered, for to            Not, however, before He had first made restitution
devour her child as soon as it was born. This we see in for all our sins; brought an atoning sacrifice that did
the case of Cain and Abel; and before the flood, in the satisfy God's justice, and merit for us a righteousness
world versus Noah. Later we see this again when wherewith we can now appear before God as those


364                                             THE STANDARD BEARER



who have no sin and guilt. Nor before He had first            Flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone is He Who
overcome Satan and his hosts, destroyed the power of resides in glory, and is become the' pledge also of our
death and the grave.                                       glory.
   Only then did God raise Him up from the dead, and         From thence also He sends forth His Spirit as an
exalt Him to His right hand.                               earnest into our hearts, applying unto His church all the
   Glorious ascension!                                     graces of salvation He has merited for us.
  Clothed with power, dominion, and majesty!                 As glorious Head of His church, and Governor over
  Into His hand is placed the rod of iron wherewith all, He makes all things to be subservient unto our final
He rules over all the nations. Whereas the kings of the and glorious salvation.
earth had set themselves, and the rulers had taken           By His power and majesty He defends and preserves
counsel together, against the Lord, and against His His church over against all her enemies.
anointed, saying: Let us break their bands asunder, and      Safe she is therefore, though she is yet in the
cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the wilderness of this world. Here she is fed and nourished
heavens laughed at them, and the Lord held them in by His Word, His Spirit, and His grace. Nothing can
derision. He it is Who hath set His King, and given all separate her from His love.
the heathen for His inheritance, and the uttermost           And while the church is yet in the world, He is busy
parts of the earth for His possession. Though they may preparing for her a place. For God has willed to
rage, they imagine only a vain thing when they cry: tabernacle with His people forever. Of this the Lord
Let us break their bands asunder; for He must reign reminded us when He said: In my Father's house are
over them, yea, with a rod of iron shall he bring them many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you. And if
into obeisance.                                            I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and
  So, also, the child of the church becomes Lord over receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye
His church!                                                may be also. And forget it not, - that place shall not
  Oh, yes, He is indeed Lord over all things, but as be prepared for you, until you also are prepared for
Lord of His church!                                        that place.
  God hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him       Consequently, that glorified man child, that Lord of
to be the head over all things to the church, which is the church as the right hand of the throne of God, as
His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.      an anchor of hope draws us unto Himself. All our
  Under His lordship the church receives blessed expectation is vested in Him.
advantages!                                                  Consequently, too, the prayer constantly whelms up
  At God's right hand He ever liveth and maketh in the heart and over the lips of  .the believing and
intercession for us. He is our advocate with the Father, hoping church:
and constantly pleads our case for us.                       Come, Lord Jesus, yea come quickly!



Editorial
          "Preaching and Historical-Critical Research"
                                                  Prog  H. C Hoeksema

  The above is the title of the inaugural oration of he expressed his views about Scripture, and
Prof. Dr. Klaas Runia at the time of his installation as particularly about Genesis 1-3, at the time when he
professor of practical theology at the Theological was professor at Geelong Theological College in
School in Kampen, The Netherlands. This oration Australia. At that time, you will recall, we were critical
received more than passing notice in some of the of the views of Dr. Runia; and now his inaugural
church papers; and it has now been published as one of oration is on a subject very intimately connected with
the series of publications from Kampen known as the his view of Scripture, so that we should be able to test
Kamper Cahiers. This editorial comment will serve at our former criticism.. In the second place, we are
the same time as a review of this booklet which was interested because of the fact that this subject is also
sent to us by the publisher, J. H. Kok, of Kampen.         connected with much of the controversy  - if such it
  We are interested in this publication for several can be called  - that is presently going on in the
reasons. In the first place, we are interested because we Gereformeerde  Kerken  concerning the authority and
became acquainted with the views of Dr. Runia in infallibility of Scripture. It was claimed by some, when
connection with the controversy in Australasia when Dr. Runia received and accepted an appointment to


                                                 THE STANDARD BEARER                                                       365



Kampen, that this was the appointment of a for a man who forthrightly adopts the position of
conservative and that Dr. Runia would strengthen the higher criticism than for one who claims to reject it,
so-called conservative cause in The Netherlands. This but nevertheless finds a place for its methods.
address should give some indication whether this                   But let us take a look at Runia's position.
expectation was correct or not. In the third place, we             Dr. Runia begins by calling attention correctly to
are interested because of the fact that also in this the emphasis of the reformers upon preaching, and
country the whole question of Scripture, and that, too, preaching. of the Word of God, according to
particularly of historical-critical research, is at issue in the Scriptures. He next calls attention to the fact that
more than one denomination. This is, in fact, from a today on every hand this traditional reformation vision
technical hermeneutical point of view the issue in all of the preaching is no longer shared, and that it is
the debate going on about the authority and maintained by the critics that it is no longer possible.
infallibility of Holy Scripture. This is true, for Moreover, thus he explains, the critics maintain that it
example, in the Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod), as is no longer possible because the reformers' principle
is plain from the many reports in  Christian News of Scripture can no longer be maintained. He refers in
concerning Concordia Seminary. This is at bottom the this connection especially to  Wolfhart Pannenberg,
issue, I believe, in the current debate in the Christian who teaches that there is a two-fold gap for modern
Reformed Church about Report 36, on the Nature and theologians, which distinguishes them from the
Extent of the Authority -of Scripture. Hence, it is Reformers: in. the first place, a gap between the New
worth our while - let alone the fact that this subject is Testament documents and the actual history of which
of considerable interest and value in itself - to give our they testify; and, in the second place, between the
attention to this published address of Dr. Runia.               documents and our present situation. Runia points
  In the main, we would characterize Dr. Runia's out, further, that if you ask the critics what had
o r a t i o n   a s   a n   a t t e m p t   t o   f i n d   a   p l a c e   f o r happened since the reformation that makes the
historical-critical research of the Bible in a Reformed modern theological situation so totally different, their
and orthodox view of Scripture. To us, this is a answer is: the rise of a new historical mode of thinking
hopeless attempt. It is an attempt to reconcile what and, consequently, the rise of historical-critical
is fundamentally irreconcilable.            Scripture and research of the Bible.
historical-critical research mix like fire and water. But          After tracing the rise and development of historical'
this is also a very dangerous and deceptive attempt. In criticism, Runia makes the point that the Reformed
the main, this is what has been going on in the theologian also has something to do with all this. He
Gereformeevde Kerken for some time; theologians have points out that for a long time in Reformed circles
assumed a critical stance over against Scripture, and there was sharp opposition against historical-critical
have principally adopted the methods and the views of research and that this opposition was also quite
so-called higher criticism, meanwhile  claiming that understandable because especially in the nineteenth
these are consistent with a Reformed view of the century and in the beginning of the twentieth century
inspiration, authority, and infallibility of the Word of this research was characterized by a purely rationalistic
God. This has been the problem with regard to Holy approach to Scripture. Nevertheless, appealing to
Scripture in the case of such men as Kuitert, Baarda, Berkouwer, he points out that even Bavinck and
and Koole. And, of course, the more one leaves the Grosheide found a possibility of true criticism which
impression of a Reformed and orthodox view of Holy respects the nature of Holy Scripture. But he goes on
Scripture, emphasizing apparently strongly that to state that it cannot be denied that in recent years
Scripture is the Word of God, the more inconsistent, (he is speaking about Reformed circles) there has been
but also the more deceptive and dangerous is the a much greater openness for critical questions than the
attempt nevertheless to find a place for the previous generation thought possible (page 9). This is
historical-critical method.. This, we believe, is undoubtedly connected with the fact that in recent
characteristic of Dr. Runia's inaugural address. To us, years we have come more deeply under the impression
the attempt of Dr. Runia is not only altogether of what Berkouwer calls the "humanness of Scripture."
inconsistent, as we hope to show; but it is also the "We have learned better to see that God indeed speaks
more dangerous because he attempts to leave the t o   u s   i n   h u m a n   w o r d s   a n d   t h a t   t h e r e f o r e
impression that he stands in the tradition of the historical-critical research is `legitimate and
Reformers and wants to maintain Scripture as the necessary.' " Thus Runia, quoting Berkouwer. Nor,
Word of God, though he  finds a place for the according to Runia is this a typically Reformed matter;
historical-critical method. Instead, therefore, of one finds the same development, for example, also
standing without compromise in the line of Luther and among the `Evangehcals' in the English speaking world
Calvin, he leaves the impression of doing so while he and also in Roman Catholic theology.
nevertheless departs in a very subtle manner, but in a             This is a rather critical juncture in Runia's address.
fundamental respect. Personally, we have more respect In a way, it is the turning point of the entire address,


366                                                     THE STANDARD BEARER



both from the point. of view of the fact that here organic conception of inspiration - although I am well
Runia introduces the element of the so-called aware  that organic inspiration has frequently been
"humanness" of Holy Scripture, without which it. is incorrectly reduced to this two-factor, two-element
absolutely impossible to speak of historical-critical (divine and human) characterization of Scripture.
research, and also from the viewpoint of the fact that                In the second place, we should note that for all the
in a footnote he attempts to make plain what he means attempt to distinguish this allegedly legitimate idea of
by "criticism" in a good sense. The footnote reads (I the term "criticism" from illegitimate criticism, the
translate the Dutch portion):                                       effort fails. It is a simple fact that according to the
          The word `criticism' itself is, of course, heavily        very term, first of all, the idea is that of  judgment.
       loaded historically and for many includes the idea of        This implies the idea of a judge, one who sits above the
       standing critically  above  Scripture and critically         Scriptures and passes judgment upon them. This
       sifting within the Scriptures, whereby the researcher        becomes very plain from the last sentence of the
       determines what is and what is not God's Word. In            quotation from Ladd: "Criticism means making
       this sense the word functions in the well-known
       combination of Scripture and criticism in the term           intelligent judgments . . . in the light of all the available
       `Scripture-criticism.' When Grosheide speaks of `true        evidence, when one recognizes that the Word of God
       criticism,' he uses the word in its original meaning of      has come to men through the words of men in given
       judgment, evaluation. George E. Ladd means the               historical situations." Over against all this, I insist that
       same when he writes: " `Criticism,' as we would              there is only one "judge," or "critic," of Scripture,
       define the term, does not mean sitting in judgment on        namely,  Scripture itselJ As soon as you depart, in any
       the Bible as the Word of God. Criticism means                sense, from the principle which the Reformers always
       making intelligent judgments about historical,               strongly insisted upon, that Scripture is its own
       literary, textual, and philological questions which one      interpreter, be it ever so mildly, you have principally
       must face in dealing with the Bible, in the light of all    joined the camp of the higher critics and set yourself
       the available evidence, when one recognizes that the
       Word of God has come to men through the words of             up as a judge over Scripture. As soon as "all the
       men in given historical situations."  The  New               available evidence" includes outside evidence, evidence
       Testament and Criticism,  1967,37.                           other than Scripture itself, you have acknowledged the
          This is also the manner in which we ourselves             existence of a critical standard to which Scripture
       understand the word `criticism' when we speak in this        does, or does not, conform.
       oration of the legitimacy of historical-critical               And if, in that case, you attempt, as Runia does in a
       research. Cf. also Berkouwer, who emphatically               measure, to cling to the truth of Scripture as the Word
       rejects the prokrima, op. cit. 427.                          of God and to allow for criticism, you have a
     This is a crucial point in Runia's position.                   contradictory position. The result can only be a
     In the first place, we should note that the entire continual erosion of Holy Scripture until you finally
position hinges on the recognition of an alleged have nothing left, but have been forced to concede
"humanness" of Scripture. This can only mean that everything to the critics!
there is indeed an element, an aspect, a side of                      This becomes clearer in the remainder of Runia's
Scripture, which can be subjected to criticism. This is a address, which we will discuss in the next issue, the
dualistic view of Scripture, not in harmony with the Lord willing.
-

All Around  Us
                                       Who  In The World
                                                             ProJ: H. Hanko

     The title of this article is the title of  ,a book evangelistic thrust during the year 1973.
published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, Company.                     That our readers may have some ideabf what "Key
It is a book which is edited by Clifford Ch&tians, Earl `73" is all about, we quote from The Sower.
J. Schipper and Wesley Smedes, but is the result of the                    How did it start?
work of a large number of contributors who wrote                           Key `73 is a direct result of an editorial in
                                                                         "Christianity Today," written by Dr. C. F. Henry
papers on the subjects covered in the book. It is                       calling evangelical Christians to unite in evangelism.
available in paperback for $1.95.                                       As a result of that editorial, several prominent
     The occasion for the book is "Key `73," a                          Christians began to meet together to lay plans for a
cooperative effort on the part of 125 denominations                     historic cooperative evangelistic effort. Key `73 was
and Christian agencies to join together in a massive                    born in those meetings.                              A


                                                     THE STANDARD. BEARER                                                          367



          The theme of Key `73?                                           very basic questions - Who are we as God's redeemed
          Key `73. has adopted this theme: Calling our                    people in today's world? Where do we believe God
     continent to Christ. The theme text is: Jesus Christ is              wants us to be (what goals)? How, with our resources
     the same yesterday and today and for ever (Hebrews                   and gifts, can we achieve these goals? And in review,
     13:s).                                                               what can we learn from our successes and failures to
          who belongs to Key `73?                                         help us be more effective witnesses?
          Membership is open to all denominations and                        Now put those together and you have the Thrust
    agencies desiring to participate. At present there are              - strategy.
    approximately 90 denominations and 30 agencies                           - Phase 1 is a three-month self-study.
    which have joined the movement. Many more are                            - Phase 2 is a month for setting goals (December).
    expected  .to join during the latter part of 1972.                       - Phase 3 is a six-month period to work for
    Membership is subject to the approval of the                          evangelism goals (January-June).
    Executive Committee.                                                     - Phase 4 is a review and .evaluation (May or
          The purpose of Key `73?                                         June).
          The purpose of Key `73 shall be to provide a                  The question will inevitably arise: Is the Protestant
    means whereby Christians of all denominations and           Reformed denomination participating in this program
    groups may cooperate in a simultaneous task of
     communicating the message and the meaning of the           in any way? And if not, why not? This article is
    Gospel of Jesus Christ  throughout the United States        intended to be an answer to that question although it
    and Canada, with particular emphasis during the year        must be understood that the matter has never been
     1973 using the slogan and symbol "Key `73 ."               officially before our synod; and that, therefore, the
          How is Key `73 organized?                             views expressed here are mine.
          The Key `73 organizational structure is minimal.              This article is really a book review because the book
    The Central Committee, consisting of one                    Who In The World  was sent to our' magazine for
    representative from each participating denomination         review. But an adequate review must, of necessity, say                    .
    or group, is the decision-making body. The                  something about the whole program.
     15member  Executive Committee elected by the                       I know that there are some difficulties in objecting
    Central Committee is charged with interim action. . . .     to a program of this nature. The difficulties are not so
  I t   i s   a p p a r e n t   t h a t   t h e   l a r g e   n u m b e r   o f much in discovering what is wrong with such a
denominations participating means that widely program:  the, objections seem to me to lie  on  the
divergent church groups are banded together in this surface and to be clear to anyone who wants to be
effort. Salvation Army is one such organization. Reformed. Rather the trouble is that in today's  .'
Campus Crusade for-Christ is another. Pentecostals and ecclesiastical world, anyone who is opposed to such a
Mennonites are also participating. In fact, at this point program seems to be putting himself into a category of
three Roman Catholic dioceses in this country have people who are opposed to motherhood and apple pie. :
officially decided to take part in the program.                 To raise objections is automatically to invite criticism.
  The Christian Reformed Church is also a part of the How can anyone be opposed to such a noble endeavor
program. Hence, this book.                                      as evangelism? Is not the evangelizing of the North                                 .
  As an explanation for such diverse participation, the American continent an eminently desirable goal? Can
following is given as stated in  Christian News.                you in good conscience set your opinions over against
          Participants may function ecumenically or             the collective wisdom of over 100 denominations?
    separately; local areas and individual congregations           It would, however, be a dereliction of duty to be
    will determine their activities to a large degree.
          "No denomination is called to affirm the theology     silent. The program is a travesty of all that Scripture
    or methodology of any other participant," according         calls the Church to do in her missionary efforts. For
    to Dr. Thomas F. Zimmerman, chairman of the "Key            the sake of the truth of God it must be done.
    `73" executive committee and head of the Assemblies            While a great deal of my criticism of the program
    of God.                                                     must be made in connection with the book  Who In
          "The participating denominations and groups are       The World, nevertheless, there are a couple of remarks
    involved at a variety of levels. While some are             about the program itself which ought to be said first of                  -
    encouraging cooperative activities, others are saying       all.
    they will participate in only certain segments of the
    program calendar and only by themselves."                      In the first place, and most glaringly, it is evident-  -                   I
  As far as this "program calendar" is concerned, we that the program is based on an entirely anti-Scriptural
quote the following from The Banner.                            ecumenism. It seems to me a thing incredible that
          Evangelism Thrust (the name given to the program      almost all denominations in the United States and
    insofar as the Christian Reformed Church intends to         Canada which in any way call themselves "Christian"
    participate. H.H.) guides a church through four             can participate together and cooperate with each other.
    phases: 1) self-study, 2) setting goals, 3) working for     in this program. This is ecumenicity at its worst.
    goals, and 4) review and evaluation. Now these four            The objection may be raised that each denomination
    steps are simply ways to help a church answer the
     *                                                          is permitted to participate in the program to the extent


368                                             THE STANbARD  BEARER



that it desires; and that no one denomination need the material available for distribution as to what,
subscribe either to the views or to the methodology of precisely, Scripture means by evangelism. There is no
any other denomination; but the fact remains that effort made to define carefully and clearly the
there is cooperation. And -cooperation implies, of Scriptural teachings on this subject. Not even the book
necessity, approval,                                        Who In The World does this, as we shall see. Some of
   This ought to be plain. If I can cooperate with the these questions which need answering we ought to
United Methodist Church or with the Salvation Army mention. And they are not peripheral questions which
in such mass evangelism, then it seems clear that the have little to do with the program. They are basic
very least I am saying is this: these groups are able to questions which involve the heart of the matter.
perform evangelism in the true Scriptural sense. They          What are these questions?
are able to bring the gospel and the truth of the gospel       Well, first of all: Does the Scripture call us to do the
to the unbeliever. And I, in cooperating with them, kind of evangelism which this program envisions? Does
approve of the gospel which they bring and the the Bible tell us that it is the calling of the Church to
content of that gospel which they proclaim.                 go again and again to those generations which have
  Perhaps an example will make this point. I may apostatized to bring the gospel to them again and again
desire to raise a large amount of money for the Cancer and again? I know that this question involves other
Fund. To do this, I enlist the aid of the Mafia. I questions which have to do with the "individualism"
cooperate with them in this venture and say before all of Arminianism overagainst the organic approach
the world: I and the Mafia are raising money for the which the Scriptures take. And these questions are not
Cancer Fund. I explicitly disavow the philosophy of always so easy to answer. But if the answer to these
the Mafia and I disassociate myself from their questions is Yes, then one wonders whether there ever
"methodology." But I ask no questions. If they choose comes an end to the work of evangelism. Does- not
to raise such money by means of extortion, murder, Christ Himself ever finish His work? Does not Christ
robbery, that is their business and I shall not inquire ever put a roof on His temple? After all, there are
into their methods. It is sufficient that we are unbelieving people in so-called "Christian" countries
cooperating together. Any one would immediately until the Lord returns. Is there always a calling to
have serious and legitimate questions about my moral evangelize these people? Is there always a number of
`standards. Cooperation necessarily implies some souls which has to be saved from them? If so, then it
measure of approval. And especially in the case of seems that the work is not even finished when Christ
evangelism, cooperation with the Roman Catholic comes back; and we may then well bemoan the fact
Church means that I am saying that this Church is that Christ returns when He does, for there are people
capable of doing evangelism.                                who perish because Christ returned too soon.
  And if the objection is raised that it will hardly do        And, in keeping with this! What does the truth of
to compare the "methodology" of the Mafia with the election and reprobation have to do with the work of
"preaching" of apostatizing churches, then they need evangelism? No one mentions these Scriptural and
to be reminded of what Paul writes in Galatians 1 :8,9:     creedal doctrines. And no one seems to consider the
"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any importance of these truths is the work of evangelism.
other gospel unto you than that which we have                  And again what is the relation between evangelism
preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said and the coming of Christ's kingdom. I ask this question
before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other because some of the reading in this field leaves one
gospel unts you than that ye have received, let him be with the inescapable question: Must we lsok for the
accursed."      I                                           kingdom of Christ to be realized on this earth? Must
  That is onebjection.                                      we look for a mass conversion of North America (and
  And the results are obviously  going to be disastrous. the world)? Does Scripture hold out any hope of this?
  When a denomination which is openly modern and Much of the material put out seems to accept this
liberal, which denies -the blood of atonement and pQS§S.lity.
xxx-m the divinity of Christ performs "`evangelism"             ne wodd expect to find the answers to these and
and %wes some lost souls," I am obligated to similar questions in  Who  1~.  The  World.  One  wouba!
recognize these efforts and acknowledge that they are expect to find some extensive treatment  of9 for
the work of salvation even though these people might example, the beautiful statement of the Heidelberg
learn to their anger that they have been given a Catechism: `"The Son of God from the beginning to
corrupted version of the truth of Scripture.                the end of the world, gathers, defends, and preserves to
  But another objection ought to be raised. That himself by his Spirit and word, out of the whole
objection has to do with the whole matter of human race, a church chosen to everlasting life,
evangelism itself. I am nst saying that evangelism is mot a      kg in true faith. . . .9g
the calling of the Church sf Christ. But this is not the        ne wsdd expect this because me knows that this
question. There is a startling lack of definition in all book is written by members of one of the most


                                              THE STANDARD BEARER                                              369



Reformed bodies participating in this program. Here            And this brings me to an actual review of the book
adequate justification will surely be found. Here the itself.
answers to these questions will appear because this is a       But this must wait, the Lord willing, for our next
look at the program from Reformed perspective.              issue.



Question Box

                                      As  To,. Acts  `I$..3

  From a Grand Rapids reader I received two granting "signs and wonders" to be done by them. The
questions, one of which I will answer in this issue: "A signs and wonders, just because they were wrought by.
question has arisen in our Men's Society as to the the same apostles who spoke in the name of the Lord,
interpretation of Acts  14:3, `Long time therefore confirmed the fact that their speech was indeed true. I
abode they speaking boldly in the name of the Lord, think it is especially significant that the text here
which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and speaks of signs and wonders. The idea is not-merely
granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.' that these miracles confirmed the apostles' speech by
This is our  questicm: to whom does the pronoun the fact that they were marvellous works, obviously of
`which' refer, to the apostles or to the Lord? And, in divine origin and power. But they were marvellous
either case, what must we understand by `gave works, wonders, which were at the same time signs.
testimony'?"                                                Now a sign is a visible manifestation of the in itself
Reply                                                       invisible wonder of grace. In other words, these
   According to good English grammar, the pronoun miracles were the breaking through of the wonder of
"which" can refer only to the Lord. And if there were grace in the darkness of our misery and death, and as"
any doubt in the English, the Greek leaves no doubt such they pointed to  the  wonder of grace, by which
whatsoever. If you want the technical explanation, in God in Christ saves His people from sin and death and           .
the Greek there is no pronoun, but only a participle raises them unto everlasting life and glory. As such,
plainly m.odifies "the Lord."                               these "signs and wonders" tangibly bore testimony -
  The second part of this question is more significant. not only by their obviously divine character but also
The expression- is the term which often occurs in by their signijkance  - to the apostles' preaching of the
Scripture for "bearing witness." It refers to the fact gospel.
that the Lord confirmed the apostles' speech by


News Feature

                        News From The United Kingdom

                                               Rev. Stanley R. Baxter

  One of the main ways in which the Lord has been South Carolina, a Southern Presbyterian; and Rev.
pleased to promote interest in the Reformed faith is Donald MacLeod, M.A., of the Free Church
through Ministerial Conferences. There have been a of Scotland. The Rev. W. J. Grier, of the Evangelical
number of these held in recent weeks, and others, both Presbyterian Church of Northern Ireland was the
large and small, are, D.V., being held in the future.       Chairman for most sessions. Prof. John Murray was
  The most famous conference is arranged every year unable to be present at the conference and was greatly
at College Hall, University of Leicester, by the Banner missed. The subjects covered were as follows:
of Truth Trust. This year's conference had a good "Preaching the Reformed Faith," by Dr. de Witt;
American flavor, with a touch of Scot added to it. Our "The Minister as Father and Husband," by Rev. A.
main speakers were the Rev. Albert Martin, of New Martin;
Jersey, a Reformed Baptist; Rev. Dr. J. R. de Witt, of "Sanctification," by Rev. Donald MacLeod.


 370                                         THE STANDARD BEARER



 For good measure, the Rev. Iain Murray, B.A., read a Union of Great Britain and Ireland over the heretical
 paper on "Robert L. Dabney." There were stimulating, views of one of their College Principals, the Rev.
 times of discussion held, and rich fellowship in  the, Michael Taylor. Dr. Taylor denied the essential Deity
 Gospel. There were over 160 ministers, missionaries, of our Lord at last year's Union Assembly. One of the
 and students in residence, as well as a number of day results of this has been that at a meeting held in the
visitors. Do continue to pray for the work of the famous Metropolitan Tabernacle over 100 delegates
 Banner of Truth Trust, as it will be moving its main gathered together to plan the formation of an
 base from London to Scotland. Although, of course         Association of Evangelical Churches. This meeting
 the Trust have very good reasons for their move, it will decided upon a doctrinal basis, and passed a resolution
 be a great loss to the Reformed cause in England, convening a special assembly at which the new
 where the Trust has provided a center of interest for Association would be formed. Another resolution
 the Reformed Faith. The Trust is also purchasing the declaring the following aims was passed:
 assets and taking direct oversight of the Carlisle,          1) That the formation of this Association be for the
 Pennsylvania office of Puritan Publications, thus purpose of affording its members one means of
 extending its international work.                         becoming better acquainted with each other so as to
   In addition to the main conference at Leicester, the encourage one another in the faith and to stimulate
 English Reformed Fellowship has held a number of brotherly love, practical -aid, and zealous cooperation
 evening meetings; the latest one was held in April, and in the cause of Christ both in Britain and overseas;
the subject was a discussion on "Church Membership            2) That this Society disclaims all manner of
 and Baptism," led by the Chairman (Rev. Murdo superiority and superintendence over the Churches; or
 MacLeod, M.A.) and the secretary (Rev. Stanley R. any authority of power, to impose anything upon their
 Baxter) of the Fellowship. The next evening meeting faith and practice; their sole intention is to be helpers
 will be held in June, and the Rev. Donald MacLeod of together one of another in promoting the common
 the Free Church of Scotland will speak on "The cause of Evangelical Christianity and the interests of
 Doctrine of the Church." At the Annual Conference, the member churches; and that in the light of this we
to be held at the Welsh Church, Chiltern Street, agree that the "organization" of this Association be as
 London on the 7th of October this year, the subject loose and simple as possible. We further recognize that,
 will be on "Mission" and two papers will be read by whatever its formal constitution may be, only the
 Rev. Paul D. L. Avis, "The Reformers and Mission" continuing work of the Holy Spirit can enable it to
and the Rev. Stanley R. Baxter, "The Reformed Faith remain faithful in practice to the doctrines and
and Mission."                                              principles.
   In January of next year the Carey Conference  wil         While many will be praying for these brethren, it is
be held. This is a conference of Reformed Baptists in to be regretted that they do not seem willing to have
England; and they will, D.V., be meeting in Liverpool. adopted a Confessional basis, and that in practice this
Among other things they will be discussing the will be a mixture of Calvinistic and Arminian
 relationship of the Westminster Confession to the Evangelical Baptists. This being so, there would appear
Baptist Confession of 1689. These Baptist brethren to be already present the germ that can in the future
hold to a very strong Confessional position. Full details bring about the same position as is at present within
of this conference and the work of Reformed Baptists the Baptist Union.
can be obtained from Pastor Errol Hulse.                     We value the prayers of all our friends as we
   There has been much heart searching among continue to seek to commend the Reformed Faith to
Evangelical brethren in membership of the Baptist others.


Contribution..
                                      In Appreciation
Dear Editor:                                               in the last moment of time; for the editor's warning
  In the role of a faithful reader of the  Standard        against the dangers of academic freedom which lead to
Bearer I beg of you a little space to thank the writers    heresies; for Rev. Harbach's inimitable phraseology,
of the various rubrics and feature articles in your        "like a titanic, wrap-around, three-dimensional
priceless magazine. In the April 15 issue, which I have    television screen with the volume turned up full,
at hand, I found reasons for appreciation: in Rev.         clearly reveal the invisible things of God .by the things
Schipper leading us in the meditation of our "change" that are made," as he directs our attention to the


                                                 THE STANDARD BEARER                                                 371



     powerful witness found in Psalm  19:1, 2; for Rev. clothing sent from the States; for the pictorial news
     Veldman's contemplation of the doctrines of the item of an officebearers' conference held in Pella; and
     church which declare that God requires of us a general last, but not least, for the page of church news which
     preaching of a particular promise; for Rev. Hanko's we all read first.
     provocative special feature concerning Christian             And to think. that every year you turn out twenty
     stewardship in the matter of school tuition; for the other issues full of like treasures! We thank you,
     faculty letter of informationconcerning our Seminary; editors, one and all!
     for Rev. Engelsma's concern for reformation in               I wanted to sign myself Anonymous, that I might
     Luther's time in Christian education; for the welcome truly represent  each one of us; but 1 know that the
     news from our  Jamaican  Missionary and their editor does not permit anonymous contributions.
     dispensing of the mercies of Christ represented in the                            - J. M. F., Grand Rapids, Mich.



     Friendship With God..
I
                             God's Covenant Counsel
                                                   Rev. B. Woudenbevg

       God is "The God of truth," Isaiah 65: 16. The word recognizing this distinction. As image-bearers of God,
     "truth" here is interesting; it is the Hebrew word it is important that we should know and reflect the
     "Amen" and indicates certainty. That is what truth is, values of God as the guiding principles of our lives. In
     it is that certainty which comes forth from the mind of fact, this is the beginning of wisdom. Paul explains this
     the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, united in in I Corinthians 3: 19-23, "For the wisdom of the
     thought and will together.                                 world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He
       In the Bible the mind of God is called His counsel. taketh the wise in their craftiness, and again, The Lord
     Isaiah  46:9, 10 describes it most beautifully, knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
     "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are
     and there is none else, I am God, and there is none like yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the
     me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to
     ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is
     My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." God%."
     Here we have the source of all created reality. Only         In this text, one thing is established first: that is,
     that which comes from God's counsel is true and real. that the world in itself does not form an object of
       Nevertheless, among those realities preknown and divine delight. At its best it is "vain." What God does
     predetermined by the counsel of God not all have the see in it is only a means for the service of His people,
     same value, as is reflected in Psalm 147: 10, 11. "He the "ye" of the text, and through them "Christ" and
     delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh "God" Himself.
     no pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD taketh            Moreover, this latter series in itself becomes
     pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in important.
     his mercy." There are some things that are good and          "All are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is
     give pleasure to God for what they are in themselves, God's." The people of God are first mentioned as
     as in Jeremiah 9:24, "I am the LORD which exercise those so favored by God as to receive the service of all
     lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the things in the world; but they in turn become the means
     earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD." for the service of Christ. And so it is with Him. Christ
     And then -there are some things that are willed by God is first such an object of divine delight that He receives
     only because they serve a desired end, like the sin of the service of all of God's people and all of history
     Jacob's brothers, Genesis  50:20, "But as for you, ye through them; but He in turn becomes the means for
     thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, the service and glorification of God. Only there does
     to bring to pass as it is this day, to save much people the series end, for God and His glory is the end of all
     alive." Such things God has no delight in for what they things. But through it we gain an important insight
     are; they only serve in His mind as a means of bringing    into the values of the counsel of God.
     about a desired end.                                         Last in purpose and therefore first in importance is
       For us there is an immediate, practical purpose in "God" Himself. The ultimate purpose of all things is


               372                                                                                                                 THE STANDARD BEARER



               He and the glory of His name, as Romans 11:36 says, means by which God gives glory to His name, the chief
               "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all means by which the Triune Godhead gives expression
               things; to whom be glory for ever. Amen."                                                                                                                to the glory ofthe life which they live together. But at
                    Sadly, we in the frailty of our human minds are so the same time Christ bears special mention, because He
               ready at this point to object, God would not be so is within Himself an object of divine joy and delight.
               selfish! But really, could it be any other way?                                                                                                                    The fact that Christ is the chief means by which
                    God is the eternal one, as Psalm 90:2 says, "Before God expresses His glory is clearly set forth in
               the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst Scripture. This is why Christ is called "The Word" in
               formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting John 1: 1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the
               to everlasting, thou art God." It means that before this Word was with God, and the Word was God." A word
               world ever was or any creature existed God dwelt is simply the means by which thoughts are
               alone with Himself in eternity. There was no one else communicated between persons, and Christ is the
               for whom that which He was to do could be done. means by which G.od communicates His glory to His
               That which God in eternity determined to do in the creatures. Thus, farther on in verse `18 John the Baptist
               bringing forth of this creation was simply an is quoted as saying, "No man hath seen God at any
               expression of His own good-pleasure, a determination time; the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of
               within Himself to set forth an expression of His own the Father, he hath declared him." Jesus says much the
               greatness and glory.                                                                                                                                     same thing in Matthew 11: 27, "All things are delivered
                    Moreover, it is a Triune God who did this. Father, unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son
               Son, and Holy Spirit live together in eternity in the but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father,
               perfect communion of a divine love [John  17:5] in save the Son, and he is to whosoever the Son will reveal
               which they are perfectly dedicated to each other and him."
               to the life which they share in common. It was out of                                                                                                              The importance which this gives to Christ in the
               this joy of their common life together that the economy of time is beyond estimation.
               determination to broaden the expression of this joy                                                                                                                Creation itself, of course, is an expression of the
               through the creation of this world and its inhabitants divine glory, Psalm 19: 1, 2, "The heavens declare the
               arose. Here then is the first origin of this creation, the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his
               joy which Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have within handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night
               themselves. Could anything be more glorious? more unto night  show&h knowledge." [See Romans  1:20.]
               wonderful?                                                                                                                                              Thus it is that the creation could only come into
                    Nor are the Scriptures in any sense apologetic about existence through Christ, and so it did, John 1:3, "All
               this truth. In fact, repeatedly when it comes to the things were made by him; and without him was not
               fore, they rise up in doxologies of praise and any thing made that was made." [See also Colossians
               exultation. So we have the beautiful closing refrains of 1: 16; Hebrews 1:  2.1 And it follows, of course, that
               Romans  11:33-36, "0 the depth of the riches both of only those who know Christ and are in rapport with
               the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable Him are ever able to receive the message of glory of
               are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For which creation is the expression.
               who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath                                                                                                                   But Christ's expression goes far beyond this. As
               been his  counsellor?  Or who hath first given to him, John 1: 14 puts it, "And the Word was made flesh, and
               and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of dwelt among us, (and we beheld this glory, the glory as
               him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and
               whom be glory for ever. Amen." And so again in truth." And what glory! Not a glory of physical
               exulted refrain Paul writes in I Timothy 1: 17, "Now expression, but spiritual, as in I John 4:9, 10, "In t&is
               unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only was manifested the love of God toward us, because that
               wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we
               Amen." Meanwhile, in Revelation 4: 11 we are allowed might live through him. Herein is love, not that we
               to hear the song of the elders in glory, "Thou art loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be
               worthy, 0 Lord, to receive glory and honor and power                                                                                                     the propitiation for our sins." Who but God could
               for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure conceive of such an expression of ultimate glory? and
               they are and were created." This is a wonderful truth who but a sinner can understand how great it really is?
               and true Christianity must have at its beginning the                                                                                                               And thus it is that in Himself Christ stands in
               unreserved humility which is ever ready and willing to history as an object of divine joy and pleasure.. So
               acknowledge the supremacy of the divine glory and to much is this so that once and again the heavens
               join in joy in the expression of it.                                                                                                                     themselves would not be silent, but broke forth saying,
                    Rut there is more. Next in order of divine Matthew  3:17 and  17:5, "This is my beloved Son, in
               importance is "Christ." who according to I Corinthians whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." Paul grasps this
               $23 "is God's." This means. that Christ is the chief. beauty of Christ in a wonderful.way when he exclaims
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                                                       THE STANDARD BEARER                                                                                                     373



      in Colossians 1: 15-l 9, "Who is the image of the according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise
      invisible God, the firstborn of every creature . . . And      of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us
      he is before all things, and by him all things consist:       accepted in the beloved." The beauty and joy which
      And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the        man has for God is only that which is in belonging to
      beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things    Jesus. Our glory is only in Him.
      he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the                    But it has an amazing result, as I Corinthians 3:21
      Father that in him should all fulness dwell."                 puts it, "For all things are yours." Or II Corinthians
        And then there are those called "ye" in I Corinthians       4: 15 puts it more completely, "For all things are for
      3 : 23. Particularly they were the members of the church your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the
      at Corinth to whom the epistle was written, but they          thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God." It
      stand as representative of the church of all  .ages.          is simply the same thought as in Romans 8 :28, "And
        These, too, are set forth in Scripture as so many we know that all things work together for good to
1 means to the expression of God's glory. The Lord says them that love God, to them who are the called
      so much in Isaiah 43:20, "This people have I formed according to his purpose."
      for myself; they shall show forth my praise." This after             It is certainly an amazing wonder. Here we are in
,     all is the proper function of man, he is the imagebearer our smallness, members of the church of God saved by
      of God (Genesis  1:26) whose place is to reflect the grace alone; and God tells us that all things that
      spiritual virtue of his Maker. Thus God's word to His happen, even the great and mighty things of this world,
      people Israel was, Leviticus  20:26, "And ye shall be are for our sakes. This is precisely the emphasis of Paul
      holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have in I Corinthians 3, as he enlarges upon it in verse 22,
      severed you from other people, that ye should be "Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or
      mine."                                                        life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all
        The wonder is that these people should stand in the are yours."
      counsel of God as objects of pleasure and delight much               And all Scripture bears this out. It includes: the
      in the way. Christ does. This is not true of all men, for courses of nature, Isaiah  43:2, "When thou passest
      we are told in Psalm 11: 5, "The wicked and him that through the waters, I will be with thee; and through
      loveth violence his  spul hateth." And, in fact, the the rivers, they shall not overflow thee"; the nations of
      people of God are no better than these as they appear this world, Isaiah 43:3, "I gave Egypt for thy ransom,
      in time, Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious
      short of the glory of God." Nevertheless, the same in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have
      Scriptures say, Psalm  149:4, "For the LORD taketh loved' thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and
      pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with people for thy life."; even the great and mighty rulers
      salvation." In fact, when Balaam and  Balck stood of this world,` Isaiah 45: l-4, "Thus saith the LORD to
      looking down upon the oft carnal and rebellious Israel, his anointed, to Cyrus . . . For Jacob, my servant's
      pleading for a curse to be placed upon them, this sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by
      answer was placed in Balaam's mouth, Numbers thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not
     23: 19-21, "God is not a man, that he should lie; known me." Even though this world itself has become
      neither the son of man, that he should repent . . . He repulsive to God in its sin and is reserved unto final
      hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen judgment (II Peter  3:7), God endures it with
      perverseness in Israel."                                      longsuffering because He would not have one of His
        Behind this there is but one explanation, divine elect to go lost (II Peter 3:9).
      election. God already in eternity chose a people and                 And included here also is the vast world of
      gave them to Christ to be His peculiar possession and persistent unbelievers, the world of reprobation. In
      to share in His glory forever. Thus Christ explained.His themselves they are no worse than what the elect are
      own mission in John 6: 38,39, "For I came down from by nature; all are totally depraved, Romans 3:23, "For
      heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
      that'sent me. And this is the Father's will which hat11 But there is a difference. The elect are those who are
      sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should drawn by grace into .a living union with God in Christ
      lose. nothing, but should raise it up again at the last (Psalm  65:4; John  6:44) while the reprobate remain
      day." Paul explains it all most beautifully in Ephesians adamantly attached to the ways of rebellion and sin.
      1:3-6, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord The former, therefore, are covered by the atoning
      Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual righteousness of Christ, but the reprobate remain
      blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he responsible for their wickedness unto the end. And
      hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the why does God endure them? All we can say is what
      world, that we should be holy and without blame Paul says in Romans 9:22,23, "What if God, willing to
      before him in love: having predestinated us unto the show his wrath, and to make his power known,
      adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath

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374                                           THE STANDARD BEARER



fitted to destruction: and that he might make known          chosen.
the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he      It is an awesome truth before which one can only
had afore prepared unto glory." Once again it is for His     stand in humble fear, and worship.
own glory in Christ and for the sake of His people, His


The Day of Shadows..

                      The War To  ,End All War
                                                  Rev. John A. Heys

   In this twentieth century the world has seen two made known as being offered to Him at the many
so-called world wars. Men fought in these wars, it was banquets. Our coins may still declare, "In God we
claimed, "to make the world safe for democracy."             trust," but that did not come out for one minute in
   They failed!                                              China, or from anything we have read or heard of the
   Today, as a result of this failure, we have an whole mission. Were this the case, that our trust as a
armament race that has produced some exceedingly nation is in God, would this whole journey have been
devastating weapons, for a war that in its awful reality found necessary? Would there not also have been a
will be a world war, with battles on every continent, witness given in that godless nation of our God and His
and with bombs falling in every quarter of the earth. Son, Whom He sent as the Prince of Peace?
And the enemies of democracy are today more                    Of course, they did not go there as missionaries. But
numerous, but also militarily more powerful, than they are missionaries the only ones who pray to God? Are
were before either of the two so-called world wars. they the only ones who declare faith in God? Are they
Men, therefore, have turned to diplomacy, to treatie         the only ones who can and do say with the psalmist:
and alliances, and to negotiations, and to try to realize a "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I
lasting peace.                                               fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall
   They will fail!                                           I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and
   The reason why they will fail is that the world in its my foes, come upon me to eat up my flesh, they
attempt to create lasting peace is not simply ignoring stumbled and fell. Though an host (of communists,
but fighting the Prince of Peace. Did Jesus not declare? too) should encamp against me, my heart shall not
"He that is not with me is against me; and he that fear; though war should rise against me, in this (war)
gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." Matthew will I be confident." Psalm 27: l-3
12:30                                                          Man has found that there will be no peace through
   We wish not only to warn our readers, but also to the shedding of man's blood. Swords and guns, bombs
point out to them the right direction in regard to true and hand grenades do not create peace. Words of men
and lasting peace, by presenting what the Word of God in conference, whether in private or in open session,
says already in the early days of the shadows.               may produce a deceptive, yea, will produce the
   In February of this year a sleek jet plane landed in deceptive, temporary peace of the reign of the
China, bringing a group of men who undoubtedly were Antichrist over all the nations of the earth. This will,
serious in their desires for peace in our generation. And however, only serve to realize that dreadful Battle of
who would not be serious about it in the world Armageddon, when Gog and Magog shall come up
situation in which we find ourselves today? Now the against the camp of the saints. Revelation 20:7-9 and
name of that sleek jet was "The Spirit of `76." Revelation 16: 13-l 6.
Tragically enough, the Spirit of Christ, the Prince of         But the very day that man declared war on God in
Peace did not travel to China for those meetings. From paradise, God spelled out clearly the only hope of
all we have heard or seen of the whole visit, the Prince peace and reconciliation. By the shedding of the blood
of Peace was not asked to go along on that diplomatic of His Son on the Cross, and by His Spirit, peace will
mission. A prayer may have been uttered in the White come to man. Not by "The Spirit of `76," but by the
House before departure. It was not made known. Nor Spirit of Christ in the heart, as He fills it with the love
was the Prince of Peace ever mentioned as the one Who of God, will reconciliation between God and man be
alone could make the mission a success. No de- realized, and between man and his neighbour.
pendency upon Him was ever mentioned. In no                    On the day that man declared war on God, the
communique was His name used. No prayers were Almighty spoke of a war that would end all war. In


                                             THE STANDARD BEARER                                                   375



what has come to be known as "the mother promise" towards their neighbows:
of Genesis 3: 15 God spoke of and predicted a spiritual       To realize this peace God declares war on Satan and
war that would end all war. "I will," He declared, "put his whole kingdom here in Genesis 3: 15. God speaks of
enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy the war that will end all war, because exactly here in
seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou this beautiful text God speaks of the coming of His
shalt bruise his heel." Here, in unmistakable language, Son, Whose heel Satan will crush at the Cross, but Who
God announces not only spiritual warfare on this by that very Cross will crush Satan's head. And that is
earth, but also a victory that will bring lasting peace to a fatal wound! Yes, Christ The Seed of the woman
the seed of the woman.                                      (and note the singular in Genesis 3: 15, ". . . thou shalt
  The individual to whom these words were addressed bruise his heel") also dies. He does this by laying down
was Satan, who was still inside the serpent. We do not His life when the servants of Satan "crushed" His heel
have here a mere prediction of aversion on man's part by nailing Him to the tree. Satan did not in actuality
to snakes, with the desire to crush their heads. (The kill him. The Jews did not in fact take His life. In their
Hebrew word means crush rather than bruise) That is hearts they did. But he declares Himself in John
not in every instance true. Some men collect and            10: 17, 18, "Therefore doth my Father love me,
protect them. Some run from them, instead of at them because I lay down my life, that I may take it up again.
to crush their heads. Some in cold climes have never No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.
seen a serpent and can have no enmity against them. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take
Besides, God is speaking of what He will do, not of it up again. This commandment have I received of my
what has already happened. When Eve gave her bold Father." And by laying down His life on that cross,
reply to God, "The serpent beguiled me,  and'1 did He, according, to Paul in Colossians 2: 15, spoiled
eat," she expressed an enmity against the serpent that principalities and powers, made a shew of them and
was already in her soul.                                    triumphed over them.
  This does not take away God's sovereign right to            There are, then, two elements here. The Seed of the
humiliate and change the serpent, that Satan used, to woman will fight for our justification; and He will
become lower than any other beast of the field (for the realize it when the seed of the serpent nails Him to the
serpent was a beast of the field). Hath not the divine tree of the Cross, thus crushing His heel. But this Seed
Potter the right to do with His clay as He pleases? Nor of the woman will also thereby merit the right to send
is the serpent the only creature to suffer because of His Spirit into our hearts, to put into them the love of
man's sin. Paul tells us in Romans 8: 19-22 that the God and enmity against Satan and his kingdom. This
whole creation groaneth and travaileth, waiting for the Seed of the woman triumphed over the Serpent on His
day of the deliverance of the sons of God. The cross exactly because there He earned the right to
sovereign God may do that with His creation.                deliver His people from Satan's slavery of sin by giving
  But to return to the subject, man declared war on them a new birth and by instilling that love of God by
God, and that which is behind that declaration of war His Spirit.
against God is made plain in the text. Man had enmity         And in this way peace is brought back to the human
in his heart against God. This is confirmed by Romans race. The seed of the serpent shall be crushed and cast
8:7 where Paul declares that the minds which men off this earth into the lake of tire. They will no longer
receive as descendants of fallen Adam are full of fight us physically, or spiritually. And we will be filled
enmity against God. Satan succeeded by his lie to with the love of God in body and soul when Christ
cause man to hate God. And God's word here in returns to raise us up from the dead. A new creation
Genesis 3: 15 is that He is going to put His love back appears in which all men on earth love God from the
into the hearts of some, so that they will have enmity bottom of their hearts; and loving Him love each other,
against Satan and his whole kingdom to wage spiritual so that all war is forever at an end. That is why in
warfare against him and his seed.                           Revelation 4:6 before the throne of God there is a sea
  Now hatred against God means hatred against the of glass like unto crystal. No ripple of discontent is
neighbour. Jesus taught that clearly in Matthew there to mar that peace and beauty. The sea is as calm
22:37-40. The principle of the law is love to God; and as though it were of glass that does not form waves
when one loves God, that one loves His creatures and when the wind blows upon it. In fact there will be no
bows before God's will in regard to them. John writes wind in all that creation. The love of God shall issue
in I John  4:20 as well, "If any man say, I love God,       forth from the throne, and not the wind of His wrath.
and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth      With all this the world does not reckon and does not
not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love want to reckon. With hearts that have only enmity
God Whom he hath not seen?" Thus when the promise against God as seed of the serpent, they cannot even
of Genesis 3: 15 is, from a positive point of view, that see this kingdom, cannot imagine such a peace. They;
God will put love towards Himself into the hearts of leave God out of the picture. They leave the Seed of'
some, then He will thereby also put in them love the woman out of the picture. They speak of love,.


 376                                          THE STANdARD  BEARER



 love, love but only of a carnal love for man, without wars and men's words add to the flame; and riots are in
 thought of God. They continue to declare war on God, our streets and cities even while and because while we
 and think that in that way they can still achieve peace fly halfway around the world to seek peace with a
 among men. It is all so foolish.                          distant power. We do not see the enmity of God in the
   And many in the church of today speak so glibly and     heart of our neighbour, nor even in our own hearts;
 flippantly of peace by a social gospel, which is no and then we seek a peace that cannot be and will not
 gospel. Let the church go back to fundamentals. Let be.
 the church reckon with sin and the enmity of the             Listen to the God of all peace, as Paul calls Him in
 natural mind against God. Let the church then direct, Romans  16:20, Who there promises shortly to bruise
 men to this peace that God realizes through the cross Satan under our feet, when He says,  "I will put
 and Spirit of Christ in the way of a rebirth, confession' enmity." Here is the declaration of a spiritual war
 of sin and hatred towards it.                             against the devil and his host that will end all war for
    Sin separates!                                         God's Church and bring her to perfect, everlasting
   The cross and the Spirit of Christ reconcile men to     peace.
 God, and thus reconcile men with each other. Men's



 In  His Fear
                        The  Pilgrim  and  Marriage
                                                 Rev. D. H. Kuiper

    The outstanding quality of marriage is that it is an passages previously mentioned.
  absolutely unbreakable union or bond. That is not a         The words are very similar, yet there is one
  popular truth, but it belongs to a faithful witness and a additional phrase: "And I say unto you, Whosoever
  faithful pilgrim life to state and to live that shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication,
  uncompromisingly and boldly. Marriage is a bond of and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and
  intimacy between one man and one woman which is whosoever marrieth her which is put away doth
 fov life, and which has for its purpose the revelation of commit adultery." The added phrase  -is:  except it be
  the salvation of the Church in Christ, and the bringing for fornication. But do you really think that phrase is
  forth of covenant seed. That marriage is not capable of going to overturn what a dozen other passages clearly
  termination as long as both mates are living is clearly the teach? Does one book of the Bible violate another? Is
  teaching of Scripture. I say Scripture teaches this it not rather the truth that there is an explanation of
  clearly: we must disagree completely with those who this phrase that will allow all the other passages to
 say "no substantial and conclusive evidence can be stand intact, in all their power? The words "except it
  produced" to the contrary. The Scriptural data is be for fornication" do not modify the following phrase
  overwhelming. If you read your Bible honestly and in "and shall marry another," as if the fornication of a
  submission to it, without looking for something you wife allows the man (the innocent party) to marry
  are trying to  tind, you will have to agree. The first again; but they go with and modify the beginning part
  three verses of Romans seven teach that death of one of verse nine which speaks of putting away a wife!
  of the mates is the only way in which marriage can be Thus the intent of Jesus is that a wife may not be put
 terminated. Jesus states in Matthew nineteen and Mark away for every reason, but only for the ground of
  ten, "What therefore God hath joined together, let not unfaithfulness or fornication. So the sum of the matter
  man put asunder. " Man is not able to undo a work of is: put away, or live in separation from your marriage
  God,  nor~may he try. In a passage that is echoed in mate only rarely and then only for the cause of
Mark ten, Luke sixteen, verse eighteen, states:            fornication. But in no cause may either the husband or
  "Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth the wife, the innocent or the guilty party, remarry.
  another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth That would constitute adultery; and adultery is also
  her that is put away from her husband committeth committed if a third party comes along and marries
  adultery." I save reference to Matthew nineteen, verse either of them. No man and no church can change
  nine, until last for several reasons: this passage has that!
  puzzled some, this passage is appealed to most by        Eunuchs for the Kingdom's Sake
  those who advocate remarriage of divorced persons,          The disciples did not miss the importance of Jesus'
  and finally it must be understood in the light of those words. They considered it a hard saying. They said, "If


                                               THE STANDARD BEARER                                                   377



the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good mean to tell me," one deserted wife wailed to me,
to marry!" Or, if a man can never rid himself of a wife,       "that God wants me to live the rest of my life without
even if she be a poor cook and housekeeper, a nagger           a husband and my children without a father, just
and a bickerer, a poor mother and a boring companion because I picked a bummer?" When I assured her that
. . . then it is better not to marry, and thus run the risk    was the will of God for her according to the Scriptures,
of spending a lifetime with such a person. And of her response was that she knew what the Bible said but
course, in the disciples thinking a woman would be             she did not believe it! Well, it was not given her to
running an equal risk. At this point Jesus introduces          receive, but the answer is still Yes. And God will take
the subject of eunuchs;. some are eunuchs by birth,            care of the deserted wives and the fatherless children in
some by the hands of men, and some have made                   His tender mercies. The answer is Yes also because God
themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake.           has something far better in mind for His people than
The context makes clear that Jesus is saying that a man        earthly marriage, He will give them a place at the
or a woman who has been put away by his mate, or               everlasting wedding feast!
who has put his mate away, must become a eunuch for Practical Implications
the kingdom's sake; that is, this person does not                 In conclusion, a few practical remarks ought to be
remarry, but learns to live without a mate in the              made so that the pilgrim may be encouraged in
kitchen, living room, and bedroom.                             marriage faithfulness. To hold fast to this doctrine,
   Now the Church of Christ, and the pilgrim husbands both in our walk and conversation, will cause a certain
and wives within her, must be faithful to these words if       amount of suffering. Generally, the child of God who
she is going to reveal that she is the Bride of Christ.        holds unwaveringly to the Word of God encounters
For the reason that marriage is an unbreakable bond is reviling and mocking. It is no different when He
to be found in the fact that the Church can never be           maintains the Biblical view of marriage. As you testify
separated from her Savior! Christ will never leave those to this truth in your wedded life but also from time to
for Whom He died. He loved them unto death! And                time verbally, you will experience rage and scorn. Do
Christ will not even allow His people to forsake Him,          not be surprised and do not fear. Also, a very few
even though they sin and commit adultery; rather He pilgrims may find it necessary to live as eunuchs for
brings them to confession of their vile sins, forgives         God's sake. That will entail loneliness, grief, and
them, and leads them in a new way! To allow the                temptation of the highest magnitude. But God will not
remarriage of separated, or what the world calls               forsake you. He will supply all your needs in Christ
divorced persons, is a practical error that finds its way, Jesus!
cancerously, into the very doctrine of the church. For           Secondly, since no one is capable in himself of
first of all, the fellowship of pilgrims called church fulfilling the demands of the wedded state so that in
denies, when it allows such remarriage, that her his marriage the perfect union of Christ and Church is
salvation is an everlasting certainty in Christ, and that revealed, and' since no one is even beyond the
the bond between Christ and the Bride is of such a committing of the sin of adultery, the calling is urgent
permanent nature that the gates of hell cannot destroy         that husband and wife really  live together  and  pray
it. Man might not like that, but he cannot have it both        together.  Husbands, t e the lead in discussing your
ways: the picture and the reality must correspond. If marriage with your wife. Study the Scriptures together
one is enduring and firm, so is the other; if the picture      on the topics of marriage, home, and children. Admit
is breakable and flimsy, so is the reality.                    your failings one to another. Confess your sins, and
  In the second place, if adultery in the physical sense forgive one another even as God has forgiven your sins
is allowed in the church and-at the communion table, in  Christ Here is the reason that a husband or a wife
then be sure that all kinds of other iniquitous practices must put away his mate so seldomly. They have
will soon follow. This is observable in the churches           learned to forgive again and again!
today. Those who have left the Scriptural truth                  Thirdly, there is much room for the giving of
concerning marriage are those who also fall away in instruction concerning marriage to older children and
other areas of doctrine.       octrine and life become teenagers in the home. Since marriage is a sacred
corrupt simultaneously because the truth is one. I fear institution of God, since no man may put asunder
that the reasons for this carnal inroad into the life of what God has joined together, then marriage is not  1
the church are basically two. The church has become a          something that just happens, or into which two young
man-pleaser rather than a God-pleaser. She does not people simply fall. Let it be understood that dating is
want to seem old fashioned, too traditional or                 courting. Look for a suitable mate when you date,
unchanging, nor has she any taste for discipline. There        ~the~w~se  there is no need to date. And when you look
must be room for a little bending and a lot of for a mate, know what you are looking for!  Look
tolerance. Secondly, there is an improper stress placed        carefully for a fellow pilgrim, look for a Reformed
on the importance of the  here  arzd  rzow,  as if the         pilgrim, and look for sl-ach a mate, ideally, in your own
present time and circumstance is aEE &here is! `"Do ysu        church if you value and esteem marriage. Here, too, it


378                                                   THE STANDARD BEARER



will not do to yoke one's self together with an together there is opportunity to speak of spiritual
unbeliever because it will be a heavy yoke if you do,             things, to warn in love, to give of self, to encourage on
and it will be a yoke that is with you until death! We            the long journey. And on that journey towards heaven,
could wish that parents would show a little more the pilgrim may carry with him in his marriage, and
interest in, and know a little more about, the nocturnal thus in his very bosom, the assurance that he shall
habits of their children.                                         reach his destination. Just as surely as a Christian
   The faithful pilgrim receives a great benefit when his husband and wife can clasp each other in their arms, so
marriage is a true reflection of Christ's. As saints, surely can they know that they shall one day see
husband and wife have the closest possible com-                   Christ! For marriage speaks of the love and faithfulness
munion of the saints. They know one another more of Christ, Who gave Himself unto death, and Who will
intimately than any other person alive. They are never, never forsake His Bride! All the way to heaven
acquainted with each other's fears-and doubts, hopes is heaven, because Christ is the Way. And all those on
and aspirations, weaknesses and strengths. Dwelling that way shall never be separated from Him!


Contending  for the Faith

        The Doctrine of Atonement (Reformation Period)
                                                         Rev. H. Veldman


   We will now call attention to Article VIII of Head II             of the world, died for all `men and for every man, so
of our Canons, undoubtedly the heart and core of this                that He has obtained for them all, by His death on
section of the Canons. This eighth article reads as                  the cross, redemption and the forgiveness of sins; yet
follows:                                                             that no one actually enjoys this forgiveness of sins
         For                                                         except the believer, according to the word of the
                 this was the sovereign counsel, and most            Gospel of John 3: 16: "God so loved the world that
       gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the         He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever
       quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious           believeth in Him should not perish, but have
       death of His Son should extend to all the elect, for
       bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying              everlasting life." And in the First Epistle of John 2:2:
       faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation:         "And He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for
       that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the           ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
                                                                    It has been observed that if one should elide this key
       blood of the cross, whereby He confirmed the new
       covenant, should effectually redeem out of every           article from Head II of our Canons, the Arminian, too,
       people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and        would be able to subscribe to the remaining articles of
       those only, who were from eternity chosen to               this second head. How true! Remove this eighth
       salvation, and given to Him by the Father; that He         article, and any Arminian would surely be able to
       should confer upon them faith, which together with         subscribe, for example, to Article 3, where we read of
       all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, He          the death of the Son of God that it is of infinite worth
       purchased for them by His death; should purge them         and value, abundantly sufficient to expiate the sins of
       from all sin, both original and actual, whether            the whole world. This also applies to Article 5 where
       committed before or after believing; and having            we read of the promise of the gospel that whosoever
       faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at       believeth in Christ crucified shall not perish, but have
       last bring them free from every spot and blemish to
       the enjoyment of glory in His own presence forever.        everlasting life,and that this promise, together with the
                                                                  command to repent and believe, ought to be declared
   According to Prof. H. C. Hoeksema, this translation and published to all nations, and to all persons
is a good translation of the original Latin in which promiscuously and without distinction. And this is also
these Canons were written.                                        applicable to Articles 6 and 7.
   It is in this article that the fathers of Dordt set              Article VIII is a clear and beautiful example of the
forth, positively, the Scriptural truth  of the Atone-            necessity and importance of distinctive preaching.
ment of the cross. This article undoubtedly expresses Indeed, it is relatively simple to preach in such a way
the heart and core of Head II of the Canons. This                 that the Reformed man must agree and the Arminian is
article is our fathers' answer to the second point of the only too glad to agree. How simple it is, in answer to the
Remonstrants, which reads  as follows:                            question as to who are saved, to reply: "Those who
         That, agreeably. thereto, Jesus Christ, the Saviour      believe in' Jesus." On the one hand, this answer is


                                                  THE STANDARD BEARER                                                     379



     surely thoroughly Scriptural. And, on the other hand,        teaches that the will of the natural, unregenerated
     it appears to have everything in its favour, provided        sinner can will to choose the good. According to him,
     that we understand faith as it is generally understood       sin is only in the deed, the act. I do not sin because I
     today, or confine it merely to a conscious embracing         am corrupt, but I become corrupt through my sin. A
     of Christ and all His benefits. Then the Reformed man        man is righteous only according as he does
     must agree with you, and this for the simple reason righteousness; and he is unrighteous only in the
     that the answer is very Scriptural. And the Arminian,        measure that he commits sin. Man does not will as he
     of course, will accompany you gladly. Practically,           is, but he is what he wills to be. The sinner is never
1 therefore, an answer of this nature will not encounter essentially and inherently corrupt; he can always
     any opposition. However, the answer cannot                   choose the good as well as the bad; he can always will
I    completely satisfy, and this for the simple reason that      to accept the gospel; this is the conception of
     everybody does not believe. Why is it that everybody         Pelagianism and of all Arminianism. When, therefore,
     does not believe? Perhaps one may ask the question:          upon the question as to who are saved the answer is
     "But whence is this faith?" This question is surely          given: to whom God gives faith, the Arminian and
     inevitable. Fact is, everybody does not believe. And all     Reformed must come to the parting of the ways. ,The
' men are corrupt. So, the question is surely inevitable:         Arminian knows that the sinner is saved by grace (as
     "Why, whence is this faith?" Shall we answer this            taught literally in the Word of God), but he will insist
     question by replying that faith is of God? Also then         on the teaching that it is up to man $%&her the Lord
     the Arminian will accompany you. He, too, will answer will give him this grace, and it is the &%%r who decides
     that faith is of the Lord. Are we not saved ,by "grace       and can determine whether he will receive it.
     through faith, and that is a gift  of-God? And if one          Article VIII is clear and concise$%id~his ought to
     does not add anything specific to this answer, we have       teach us something. This cer@inly teaches us that we,
     not as yet arrived at a distinctive conclusion. Again the    too, ought to be clear,ar$J concise. We must never be
     Reformed man must agree, because also this answer is         ambiguous. Mind yolt, these heads of doctrine in our
     according to the Word of God, and the Arminian               Canons have  two sections: a positive part and also a.
     agrees gladly because he is only too happy to have the       section  called-*&e rejection of errors. And this eighth
     opportunity to settle himself in the church of God.          article we arediscussing now is certainly a beautiful and
       How important it is that the truth be proclaimed           striking example of what it means to set forth the-truth
     sharply and distinctively! How important it is that the in a manner that there cannot possibly be any
     lines be sharply drawn, that there cannot possibly be        doubt: May our churches never'become weary in this
any disagreement! We must part company with that                  fulfillment of their calling: to divide rightly the word of
     Arminian. He is only too glad to establish himself in        truth and the preaching of the Word in a clear and
the church of God, as termites settle  w.ithin a house.           concise manner, a distinctly reformed setting forth of
     To the question, therefore, as to who are saved, we          the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
     muKgive an answer with which he cannot possibly                Notice, in this eighth article, the fathers of Dordt
     agree. To say that faith is a gift. of God is not a speak of God's' sovereign counsel, of the most gracious
     conclusive answer. Of course, in a real sense of the         will and purpose of God the Father. This article,
1 word, the Arminian denies every phase of the truth.             setting forth the Scriptural truth of the atonement,
     But, in a certain sense, he will accept the answer that begins with this counsel of the Lord. Our Lord Jesus
faith is a gift of God, inasmuch as the Word, of God Christ Himself teaches us this truth. In John  6:37-39
     clearly teaches that faith is a gift of the Lord, and he     we read: "All that the Father giveth Me shall come to
~ cannot therefore very well deny it. Hence, but one Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast
question remains and this question will force the Re-             out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine
     formed man and the Arminian to go their separate ways,       own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. And this is
n a m e l y : "To whom does God give faith?" To this              the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of all which
     question the Remonstrant answers: who will to receive He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should
1 it. And the Reformed man says: to whom it pleases raise it up again at the last day." And in John 10: 25-29
     God to give it. The Arminian knows that the elect will       we read: "Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye
~ be saved, but the elect, to him, are those concerning believed not: the works that I do in My Father's name,
     whom the Lord foresaw that they would will to                they bear witness of Me. But ye believe not, because ye
     believe. The Arminian knows that we are saved by are not of My sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear
~ faith, that that faith is a gift of God, that only the          My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And
     Lord can save us by His grace. But, according to the I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never
1 Arminian, I must open the door of my heart; I must per&b, neither shall any man pluck them out of My
     will to be saved; the first impulse or desire must hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than
     proceed from me; I must allow God's grace to operate all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My
     in my heart. The Arminians and Pelagian heresy Father's hand." And in a dream to Joseph the angel of


     380                                          THE STANDARD BEARER



     the Lord informs the betrothed husband of the mother they speak of "limited atonement." We prefer the
     of the Lord that the name of the Child shall be called      expression: "particular atonement," although it must
     Jesus, because He shall save His people from their sins. be borne in mind that when mention is made of
     The fathers, here, setting forth the doctrine of the "limited atonement," the expression means that the
     atonement of the cross, therefore anchor this fact of atonement of Christ is limited to the elect. Fact is,
     our redemption in the eternal and unchangeable however, in a certain and real sense the atonement of
     counsel and will of God. Notice how the fathers give the cross is unlimited inasmuch as the blood of Christ
     expression to this truth. We read: "For this was the is of infinite, unlimited value, covering all the sins of all
     sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose the elect throughout all the ages, and meriting  foi
     of God the Father, that the quickening and saving them everlasting life and glory. Be this as it may, it is
     efficacy of the most precious death of His Son should plain from this article what the fathers mean when
     extend to all the elect . . . : that is, it was the will of they speak of limited or particular atonement. Also the
     God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby He Remonstrant  WasL'compelled to believe in a limited
     confirmed the new covenant, should effectually atonement. He believed that Christ died for all men
     redeem out of every people, etc, all those, who were and for every man, but yet he, too, was forced to
     from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to Him by acknowledge that the death of Christ was limited. To
     the Father."                                                this difference, and also to the rest of this article, we
        This also indicates what the fathers mean when will call attention in our following article.



     The Strength  of  Youth

^                                Bringing Up Children
                                                     Rev. J. Korteving

       Quite a task!                                             Some pruning is required, and soon the small acorn
       It's one thing to bear children; it's something else to becomes a giant oak tree. So it is with bringing up
     bring them up.                                              children. The first tender sense impressions are made
       This difficulty is accentuated in Eph.  6:4, "Bring upon the child's mind. More and more is added along
     them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. " with warning and guidance to cause the child to grow
     That conjunction, but, emphasizes this. "Ye fathers, in the right direction, Soon the child becomes an adult,
     provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up making his own decisions and living his own life.
     in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." We must           God has made us in a fearful and wonderful way. He
     not provoke them to wrath, but on the contrary, bring       has given to us the basic tools whereby we are able to
     them up properly.                                           learn things. Take the brain itself. What a marvel! It is
       Nurture and admonition are inseparably connected. estimated that in a lifetime, an average person collects
     Admonition emphasizes the formal instruction, the one million billion pieces of information in the brain.
     putting of things in the mind of a child. Nurture           That's a one with fifteen zeros. All this is impressed
     emphasizes the element of discipline, correction. We        upon ten billion nerve cells contained in a brain that
     cannot have instruction without discipline and that         weighs about three pounds. If man were to try to
     too, in the Lord or according to the instruction we         duplicate the brain, even with solid state circuitry, it
     receive from Christ.                                        would be a computer as large as the Empire State
     INSTRUCTING CHILDREN                                        Building.
       Anyone who takes seriously the task of bringing up          If we ask the question, how do the different senses
     children, readily admits that something almost              make impressions upon the brain, we soon realize there
     miraculous takes place. In making use of the verb to        is a great deal of uncertainty as to just how this does
     bring up, Paul pictures before our mind the growth of take place. There is an element of electrical impulse
     a tree. It is a wonder to see an acorn germinate and the    connecting the nervous system with the brain. But is
     first tender shoots break out of the ground. The tender     the brain just a storehouse of electrical impulses?
     tree needs fertilizer; it must be fed, in order that the    Others say no, there is more than an electrical impulse,
     shoots can become stronger and the roots sink deeper..      there is a chemical relationship between the cells of the
     As it grows larger, restraints have to be placed on the     body and the brain. Just as electrical shock can
     branches so that they grow in the proper  ,direction.       disorientate the brain, so also insulin shock or other


                                             THE STANDARD BEARER                                                    381



drugs can influence it. Lately, the study of the            parents know all too well that we still sin. Rather, it
molecule itself has opened up another area of interest.     tells us that the principle direction of their life is also
By analyzing DNA and RNA it is suggested that each          heavenward.
cell in the brain contains all the pieces of information      This truth determines for us the content of
registered through memory. Just as the sex cell             instruction. We must bring them up in the instruction
contains millions of bits of information called             of  the Lord.  `We must tell them that their life is
heredity, so each brain cell might contain a million        God-centered. They are called into this world to serve
billion pieces of information.                              Jesus Christ who is our Lord. All truth is centered in
   That amazing organ called the brain is not our mind;     God and therefore the Bible must be the key to all
it is the tool of the mind. Each person has the ability     interpretation. The motivation for our daily work, the
to think, and these thoughts are formulated through         purpose we have in living, the way we do things, and
the use of the brain. If one has a diseased or injured      the, things we do, are all determined by God through
brain, the thoughts cannot be properly formulated. So Jesus Christ, according to the Scripture. We must have
a healthy child looks about him and contacts the God's approval upon all we do, or we fail. We must
outside world through his five senses. They impress believe we live according to the will of God or life is
him and he perceives them; he sorts them out and is useless. The only thing that gives real purpose to the
able to identify them. All this is stored in the brain and children of God is that we may serve God's cause and
becomes part of his memory which can be recalled kingdom and therefore live to His glory.
later. With this vast storehouse of information he has        A covenant child is most susceptible to this
the knowledge with which he can reason, understand, instruction.
and form judgments.                                           There are two reasons for this. First, the ability to
   If this were all we could say about our children, we     learn and receive knowledge is greatest during the days
still would not have reason to rejoice in "bringing them    of youth. No one can go back to those days when the
up." What we have said so far applies equally to mind was keen and the brain like a sponge that could
covenant children and to those born outside the sphere absorb almost anything. So quickly those times are
of the covenant. Our entire bodies, including our brains gone forever. How careful we parents have to be in
have been affected by the physical power of death.          that we don't judge our children's ability to learn and
Each man still has the faculty of memory `and reason, study by our own ability. Of course, they can do more
but he uses it in the service of sin. The natural man as    than we can: for this reason the Scripture emphasizes,
he is born into this world is not born in the image of "Train up a child in the way he should go." Secondly,
God. Consequently, his natural abilities are brought a child has the gift of implicit faith. He will believe
into subjection of sin and rebellion against God. His       anything you say because he trusts you. He doesn't
nature is depraved; he is an enemy of God and His           have a great deal of why's and wherefore's. That comes
commandments. Our children are no different in later, as he grows up. As a very small child he simply
themselves.                                                 accepts anything you say. That's ihe time we must fill
   God, however, assures us that He has performed His up that mind with the knowledge of God's Word.
work in our children. He establishes His covenant with        This requires dedication on the part of the parents
believers and their seed, Gen. 17:7, Acts 2:39. In the from the day the child is born. All too often we
way of regeneration, John 3: 3, our children are imagine we can wait and do a better job of bringing
distinguished from those of the world. Did not Jesus them up later on. We like to reason we are so busy
say, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and now, but probably sometime in the future it will be
forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of more convenient. Sometimes we think that little
heaven," Mark 10: 14. Paul" describes this work of children don't understand anything anyway, so when
salvation in Eph.  4:23, 24, "And be renewed in the they get older we will concentrate on their spiritual
spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, instruction. What heartache has come from such
which after God is created in righteousness and true reasoning, for either we bring up our children from
holiness." When God gives faith to our children, he infancy on, or we will see them depart from the right
changes them spiritually. Out of a regenerated heart way. There is no re-doing when it comes to instruction.
there flows forth the power to influence the mind and         It should be apparent that this also requires of
will and direct the faculties of life toward God and His parents that they do their utmost. The admonition
will.                                                       comes .to fathers not at the exclusion of mothers, but
   Because of this great work within our children, as the responsible head of the home. As parents we
bringing them up is a wonderful task. We have reason make this promise at the baptism of our children. So
to believe that our children will receive good              often we think in terms of schooling when we stand
instruction because God has prepared them for it. This before such an injunction of Scripture. This is
does not mean that our children are not influenced by important, and parents must do their utmost to have
sin. Their nature is derived from parents, and we the home and the school brought into harmony with


382                                             THE STANDARD BEARER



the instruction received in the church. God's Word is angry, but we will not sin in our anger, Eph.  4:26.
one and must be brought in that way to our children. Sometimes we will reprimand and correct by
Yet, the home must receive the emphasis. No one can, admonition. Other times we will use the rod of
take the place of the parent in the calling to instruct.      correction. We will understand that discipline is not
Assistance may be sought, but not replacement.                seeking revenge on our children that have sinned
DISCIPLINE                                                    against us, rather we will recognize  that all the
   Part of the learning process includes discipline. In methods we use in discipline must be directed to the
fact, the instruction and discipline go together. We, end of correcting and making our children more
cannot have instruction without discipline, nor can spiritual in their struggle to overcome sin. The other
discipline be effective without instruction.                  effect will be that our children will receive that
  As we mentioned, the reason for this is the fact that discipline for their own good. If we tell our children
our children are conceived and born in sin. The work that they should obey us because we do so many
of regeneration does not change their nature entirely; things for them and they should treat us nicely, we
it infuses new qualities into it. The struggle of Paul miss the point in discipline. If we scare our children
recorded in Rom. 7 depicts the conflict of a Christian, into obedience because we are so much stronger than
a struggle that begins already in infancy.                    they are, we make fearful slaves out of them. We may
  We must tell our children what is right and what is even try a little psychology and tell them that life is so
wrong. In fulfilling their calling as children, they much more enjoyable if everybody does his part in the
sometimes fail. They sin against God in the things they home, all of which is true, but misses the point of
do wrong. By discipline, we must show them in every discipline. If we truly tell our children that  God  is
deed that sin is serious business. They must learn to         terribly displeased with all our sins, we impress upon
reject evil and seek that which is good. By instruction them a sense of repentance and godly sorrow, The end
and discipline, we must act on God's behalf to impress of discipline must be repentance and forgiveness by
upon them that God is terribly displeased with our G o d .
original as well as actual sins. Note carefully, we must        Under His divine blessing, instruction and discipline
not take God's place: we must act on God's beh`alf. All will bear fruit, in that our children will know the right
discipline must be "in the Lord." We must tell our way and walk in it. Yes, they will stumble along the way
children that correction is required, because they have but we will patiently deal with them. Our children
done wrong before God.                                        must not only see God's wrath against evil, but God's
  This will have a two-fold effect. It will help us as forgiving love and mercy as well.
parents to discipline correctly. The discipline we place        Such instruction and discipline is heavenly, for it is
upon our children will be God-like. Yes, we will be in the Lord.


Book Reviews
WISDOM THE PRINCIPAL THING,  by Kenneth  L. NEW TESTAMENT ESSA YS, by Vincent Taylor; Wm.
Jensen; Pacific Meridian Publishing Company, 1972; B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1972; 146 pp.,
167 pp., $2.95 (paper). [Reviewed by Prof. H. Hank01          $2.95 (paper), [Reviewed by Prof. H. Hanko]
  The subtitle of this book is "Studies in the Book of          The author of this book (1887-1968) was a
Proverbs." It includes some helpful material on the Methodist minister who spent his life in New Testa-
structure of Proverbs and on the form of the proverbs ment studies. In this book are several essays which deal
which are contained in it. It attempts to treat the book      with subjects which were his specialty. While Taylor
under several general headings and enters into a              was not as radical as some of his contemporaries, he
detailed explanation of various key passages. While           accepted form criticism as a legitimate tool in New
there is a great deal of help to be found in the book in      Testament studies. The result of this was that he
an understanding of this difficult part of the Old            opposed the doctrine of inspiration as verbal and
Testament Scriptures, its main weakness is probably           infallible, rejected various elements in the gospel narra-
that it fails to see Proverbs as part of the revelation of    tives as being unhistorical, spoke of proto-gospels as
God in Christ; the result is that oftentimes the book is      sources for the gospel writers, and admitted a certain
reduced to a series of moral homilies which lead to the       validity to  Gemeindetheologie.  The book contains a
good life, along with large sprinklings of psychology.        brief review of his life and a discussion of his major
We recommend the book if read with a great deal of works, especially those on the atonement. It is of some
discretion and if the reader will apply himself to the value to those who are interested in the views of a
study of Proverbs itself from the viewpoint that Christ more conservative form critic; but it is an interesting
is the Wisdom of God.                                         insight into the vagaries and speculative thinking of


                                             THE STANDARD BEARER                                               383



those who reject Scripture's inspiration.                   THE LORD'S DAY, A Theological Guide to the
                                                            Chris,tian  Day of Worship, by*Paul K. Jewett; William
A COMMENTARY ON THE  REVlj'LATION  OF B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1972; 174 pp.,
JOHN, by George  Eldon Ladd, Wm. B. Eerdmans $2.95 (paper). [Reviewed by Prof. H. Hanko]
Publishing Co., 1972; 308 pp., $6.95 [reviewed by             Although we cannot agree with all the conclusions
Prof H. Hankol                                              and with some of the exegesis in this book, it is an
  This volume can be a welcome addition to any extremely worthwhile contribution to the study of the
library. It is a sober and thoughtful explanation of the Christian Sabbath. It treats a number of important and
book of Revelation which blends the preterist and worthwhile subjects: The Jewish Sabbath; the transi-
futurist viewpoint. The book rejects the fanciful and tion from the Seventh to the First Day; the develop-
arbitrary interpretations of Revelation as well as the ment of the idea of the Christian Sabbath in the early
pre-millennialist interpretation. It is, on the whole, a Church; the theological arguments involved in the
trustworthy exposition.                                     whole question along with some thorough and helpful
  We do not agree with all the interpretation. E.g., the exegesis of the key points in Jesus' teachings concern-
author claims that the six seals lead up to the end; ing the Sabbath; the observance of the Sabbath from a
then, with the seventh seal, the scroll itself is opened historical viewpoint and from a theological perspective.
and the events of the end are described in the We heartily recommend this book to all our readers
remainder of the book. He also speaks of a national and assure those who study it that it will give them
restoration of Israel as one of the events of the end, valuable and helpful information on this question.
appealing in support of this view to Rom. 11:26.            Since especially among some branches of Presbyterian-
  Nor is the book a detailed commentary. While its ism the Sabbath question is once again a live issue, we
brevity has many advantages in giving to one a concise recommend this book as helpful in these controversies.
explanation of Revelation, it has the disadvantage of
leaving some key passages inadequately explained. This                               NOTICE!!!
is very strikingly evident, e.g., in the author's             All correspondence with the Consistory of the
treatment of the wound of the beast mentioned in South Holland Protestant Reformed Church must be
Rev. 13.                                                   addressed to:
  If used in connection with other writings on                   DANIEL POORTINGA, (CLERK)
Revelation and if carefully weighed, we recommend                183 13 HICKORY ST.
this book as a vaulable help in the study of the last            LANSING, ILL. 60438
book of the Bible.                                               PHONE - 312 - 474-1219.




                           The latest  Ft. F. P. A. Publication!
                                        Fresh from the presses!
                                       "WHOSOEVER WILL"
                                    b y   R e v .   H e r m a n   H o e k s e m a

                               This is a paperback reprint of a book originally
                             published in 1945, but still much in demand. Get your
                             copy of this worthwhile book which treats many of
                            the texts so often wrongly used by Arminians. The
                            price is only  $1.95! Get your copy from the local
                             agent in your congregation, or by writing to the
                             R.F.P.A. Publications Committee, P.O. Box 2006,
                             Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501.


                                 _---  .___~   __~

                   .-
                 ..,

THE ~~@kj BEARER
       P.O. Box 6064
Grand Rapids,`Michigan  49506

                                                                                                                ,.
                                 ----_-.--_.                  (
384                                              THE STANDARD  BEARER


                                  News Fro-m Our Churches
   At a congregational meeting held at Hope Church May 1 is a reflection, already, of the current teacher
(Grand Rapids), on April 26, the decision was made to                     supply.  .But we can add to that, that there were
extend a call to Rev: Engelsma. He was elected from a                     actually more applicants, this spring, than there were
trio which included also the Reverends J. Heys and G.                     openings for next school year. That must be a first in
Lanting.                                                                  the history of our schools. Education Committees, we
   Rev. B. Woudenberg  .has asked. for, and been suspect, are beginning to breathe more easily.
granted, an'extension  for his consideration of the call                    In dipping. into "the box," I discovered another
to serve as home missionary. We can now expect his school news item which, though recent by no stretch
response three weeks after the conclusion of this year's of the imagination, is, nevertheless, not old as far as
gathering of Synod.                                                       interest is concerned.
   Rev. D. Engelsma, Stated Clerk of  Classis West,                         Joint chapel exercises, attended by the students of
notes that an. error has appeared in the Classis Report                   our Doon and Edgerton schools (fifty-five miles apart,
in the April 1 issue of the Standard Bearer. The name if the Editor-in-chief's odometer is more accurate than
of. Rev. D. Kuiper, as a secundus minister delegate to the news editor's meter stick), is not the only instance
Synod, was omitted.                                                       of fellowship experienced by our western schools.
   On March 29 the final lecture in a series. on "The Teachers of those two schools met in Colorado;  -in
Christian's Witness" was held in our church in Hull. convention, last November, with the teachers of our
Rev. Kortering spoke on the subject, "Thk.Ac@ity of Loveland school; -We can appreciate the,fact that, since
Witnessing," in which he offered an evaluation of the the schools are quite small,. the teachers really enjoy
lay witness movement, Campus Crusade, and the Jesus the opportunity to meet together. Evidence' of that
movement; The series. consisted of three -lectures, gratitude we find in the Ledger. Miss Beverly Hoekstra,
planned by the Reformed Witness Committee of Doon, principal at Loveland,,wrote, "We are thankful to God
Edgerton, and Hull. Prior-to the presentation in Pella, for giving us some time together to be instructed and
the series had been delivered, also, in Doon. The first to share one another's problems and opinions in
lecture, by Rev. Lanting, was entitled, "The Calling to                   discussions."
Witness.`.' -The., second, "The Power to Witness," was                      Interestingly, the eastern schools were not entirely
delivered'by Rev. Moore. According to PelIa's bulletin,                   `fleft out" of that convention. Part of the program
special invitation cards were prepared and placed in the consisted of a "taped speech by Prof. Hanko, given at
bulletin rack, and the members of the congregation the Teachers' Convention in Grand Rapids."
were encouraged to "distribute them to interested                           The highlight of the convention seems to have been
people either personally or by sending them through the speech by the principal of our  Edgerton school.
the mail." "May God's blessing," the announcement According to Mr. John Kalsbeek, in the Polaris, from
concluded, "rest upon this effort to witness to our Doon, "not only the teachers but also the Loveland
community concerning the truth of our calling to                          congregation, met together and listened to an excellent
witness."                                                                 speech :by ,Mr. Tom `De Vries. on `Discipline in -the
  Of more than passing interest is an announcement, Christian Home and School;'  " That speech has,
also from a Hull bulletin, that an'informal meeting of subsequently, appeared, as you know, in the Standard
the members of that congregation was going to be held Bearer, and, -subsequent to that, has been used as the
to discuss the possibility of the erection of their own b.asis for discussion in one `of the monthly Sunday
school. According to the bulletin, it was the concern of evening discussion group meetings, attended by various
various members, expressed during family visitation, members of First Church.
which prompted the consistory to call the meeting.                          The convention, apparently, was a very worthwhile
The paragraph concluded with the remark, "Let's all thing. Miss Hoekstra expressed the confidence that
be there. to- discuss the possibility of providing "God uses this as a means `for the upbuilding of the
Protestant. Reformed education for all our children." teachers to further instruct in the fear of His  Holy,
We'll certainly be interested in learning of Name." And,  :according to Mr. Kalsbeek,  "we-. were
developments.                                                             again brought face to face with our" overwhelming
  In connection with that last item, perhaps, we could responsibilities of instructing  and': correcting His
mention that each of our Protestant Reformed Schools children. He directed us to acknowledge*. our total
has contracted its entire staff for the 1972-l 973 school inability of fulfilling this difficult task in our own
year. The fact that Boards had completed that task by  *. strength,"                                                      D . D .
                                                                   ..-
                                                      ,..          i


