100                                   T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

           THE ORIGIN OF THE OFFERINGS                       ible that this section of the apostle's treatise is a record
                                                             of the process of the moral and spiritual degeneration
       The first sacrifice the sacred historian recorded was of the fallen race. The apostle, however, tabulates
that of Cain and Abel. That Adam and Eve had pre- only the outstanding features of this process. Man,
viously been seeking God through this channel of com- once fallen, continues or rather is made $0 sink ever
munion is certain if for no other reason than that the lower. Each drop is related to the succeeding one as
sacrifice is mentioned as a matter of fact in the history sin and punishment and thus the entire process pre-
of the lives of their offspring. However, Cain's and sented as a display of divine wrath.
Abel's sacrifices are the first we read of. The silence         How the natural man from `Adam down to the
of Scripture respecting the rite until these brothers present wills to think of God may be further inferred
attained to the season of manhood, in conjunction with from the criticism Christ brought to bear upon His
the fact that we nowhere read that these sacrifices prayer : "But when ye pray use not vain repetitions
were brought in response to an express command of as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be
God, have led some to conclude that the sacrifice was heard of their much speaking" (Matt. 6  :7-8). This
of human invention instead. of divine origin. We pur- vain repetition of words on the part of the petitioner
pose to show in the sequence that this view is weighed represents an attempt to induce the deity to give ear
down by serious objections ; that it places its exponents to his cries, and to grant him his wish. This attempt
before certain phenomena not to be explained on the in turn, signifies that, according to this petitioner, the
basis of their theory ; that, cons&uently,  the only ten- seat of the moving and determining principle of God
able view and one in agreement with Scripture and in action is man ; that the standard of divine conduct
with God's methods in general is that, in approaching is not an eternal counsel expressive of the supremely
:God through the blood of a  sIain victim, the ante- wise mind of God, but the notions of a shortsighted
diluvian saints were acting upon a divine suggestion ; and sinful creature. What .God will do is determined
that, therefore, the spectacle of these saints entering by the influence which man may be able to exert upon
the sanctuary of God by this blood can only be satis- Him., Further God, so it is thought, is ignorant of
factorily explained on the basis of some form of reve- the state of affairs of His creatures. He must be in-
lation.                                                      formed, therefore the heathen prays.
       Let us set out by tracing the path of reasoning          According to Scripture, on the other hand, there
leading, so it is supposed, to the conclusion constituting is none like God. He declares the end from the begin-
the view we challenge. The advocates of this view ning, and from ancient times the things that are not
take as their point of procedure primitive man's yet. done, does all His pleasures, brings to pass what
conception of God. It is said and in truth that the He spake, and does the thing He purposed (Isa. 46 :
ancient worshipper thought of God as one whose wrath 9-11). Hath mercy on whom He will, and hardeneth
had to be appeased, whose favor had to be won and whom He will.
whose friendship had to be solicited. What was sup-             Scripture teaches us further that the fallen human
posed to render this friendly intercourse possible was thinks of God as a being to be feared, dreaded and
that the deity, so it was thought, differed but relatively hated.- But would the heathen call upon and solicit,
from His worshippers. He is a God of the same stock as Christ presents them as doing, the friendship of
as man, one with dispositions, passions and appetites God whom they hate? To this we reply, that man
identical to the creature. Hence, He needs, so it was either characterizes God as the unknowable one and
held by these semi-barbarian devotees, food ; is pleased forthwith dismissed Him, or draws the exalted One
as any earthly chief would be, with a gift; is kindly down to his own level by changing His glory into an
disposed to those who made them and grants His favor image like unto corruptible man.                 Before this God
to the donor. Such are at least in part the  findings of he bends his knee. The former conduct shows up the
a rather recent science (comparative religion) respect- sinner as one who, being at odds with the Almighty,
ing primitive man's conception of God. These observa- insists that there is no God. The latter conduct is that
tions are correct. However, he interested in knowing of one yielding to an innate desire to worship. The
what the natural man does with God and what he sinner than has his unknowable God whom he dreads,
thinks of Him should consult Scripture. This Book and his Baals to whose defense he will arise and to
furnishes us with all data needed. What is more this whose honor he will throw a dance. He avoids God
data is absolutely reliable in that it is constituted of and courts the friendship of devils. So, indeed, does
a record of the observation of Him who understandeth Scripture characterize the worship of the heathen.
man's thoughts afar off. According to the testimony Nevertheless to play safe he erects an altar to the un-
of Paul, man became vain in his imaginations and known God. Scripture avers that the natural man, and
changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an in particular the heathen, avoid God as he would some
image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, loathsome plague. Fact is, however, that this same
and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Rom.  123. pagan may be seen seated at the table of God on the
Tracing the thought of the chapter it is clearly discern-    occasion of the sacrificial meal. There is no conflict


                                        T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                  101

here if one but remembers that the God shunned and character of Abel's offering. However, the fact that
sought is in each case a different deity. The refusal Israel's sacrificial worship was an institution of the
to consistently admit that the God which the natural same God who had placed His seal of approval upon
man seeks and serves is a distortion, the product of a the offering brought by Abel neccessitates  the convic-
sin-darkened heart, explains why in most Reformed tion that there could be no essential disagreement.
circles of our day, natural  manls religion is being Both must have signified essentially the same realities,
lauded as a credit to his devotees.                         satisfied the same needs and serves as the vehicle  .of
   So, then, did primitive man will to think in his essentially the same divine instructions. Hence, the
fallen state of God. What he thought constitutes the character of the sacrificial worship of the primitive
first link in the chain of reasoning yielding the view church may be known from the testimony of Scripture
that sacrificial worship was a human invention. What respecting the meaning and significance of the ritual-
may be the second one? And the answer is ready: the ism peculiar to the worship engaged in by the cove-
dispositions and physical states corresponding to this nant people.        Attending to this testimony the dis-
man's conception of God. Primitive man is known covery is made that the sacrifices brought by the primi-
to have been filled with fear and dread for the super- tive church (Abel and his spiritual kin) is an alto-
natural powers. Then again tradition shows him up gether unique phenomenon, an affair which, as to the
as one entertaining the most friendly feelings for his idea incorporated in it as well as to the religious feel-
deity, even holding him in high esteem and disposed ings and dispositions from which it arose, differed
to do him homage and to honor him. These dispositions, radically from its distortions which one happens upon
states and attitudes, so it is averred, set him to think- when entering the company of the Canaanites. The
ing how he might appease his god whose power he divinely-approved sacrifice was, as to its outward
feared, or solicit the favor of his deity to whom he visible form, a bloody transaction. Respecting the
felt himself attached, or express his esteem for the specific act in which the sacrifice involved the wor-
god he honored. His `mind hit upon the sacrifice. shipper before the flood, Scripture says next to noth-
And so it happened that when he desired the divine ing. Was there from the very beginning an altar upon
protection and favor, he would dedicate the first fruits which the blood of the animal devoted was sprinkled
of agriculture or a portion of what was to be sown.         and its flesh arranged and subsequently burned? Abel
If the motive was to render himself commendable to in distinction from Cain who appeared before the face
the deity, he would appear with a chosen animal slain of the Lord with the fruits of the ground, is merely
at the altar.                                               said to have brought of the firstlings of the flock.
    Such are the cogitations of some who addicted the Noah, so we are told, builded, upon leaving the Ark,
(human invention) theory of the origin of the sacri- an altar unto the Lord, and took of every clean beast
fice. Our comment is that the above described sacri- and of every clean fowl and offered burnt offerings
fices were indeed human inventions; There is, however, upon the altar. Did the transaction at first, however,
no material correspondence between them and the rite merely consist in the victim being made to pour his
of sacrifice as- instituted by God. The feelings from -.blood before the` face of the Lord? The silence of
which they arose are degrading to the believer and an Scripture respecting the building of altars till after
abomination in  .God's sight. The view we challenge the flood, can certainly not be held to warrant the con-
applies only to the type of sacrifice brought by the clusions that the altar was unknown to the church be-
Cains, by them of whom it was said that their hands fore the flood. However this may be, the element gain-
were full of blood. It applies, the view.in  question, to ing for the bloody sacrifice divine exceptance was a
the worship of the heathens.           Cain's sacrifice was shedding of blood before the face of the Lord by a
prompted by motives, arising from feelings and was broken hearted sinner together with the recognition
the expression of conceptions that rendered his wor- on his part that the shed blood constituted the only
ship essentially heathen. He refused to recognize the channel of communion, the avenue of approach, to God,
fact of sin and consequently the necessity of being This element was not lacking in Abel's sacrifice. Cain's
covered by the blood of God's lamb. With the fruits of sacrifice, on the other hand, failed to measure up to
agriculture he would appease God, buy his friendship these requirements. Onto it, therefore, the Lord could
and render himself agreeable in God's sight. This have no respect. The former was ready to receive
type of worship is, to be sure, a human invention.          from God a gift by whose blood he knew he had to be
    In fine, the above-mentioned science fails to account covered, if he would stand in the judgment and enter
for the kind of sacrifice approved by the Lord God in the sanctuary of God. The latter felt no need of a gift
His Word. The tist duty devolving upon him setting of this kind. Thinking himself rich, he would enrich
himself to this our task is to inform himself as to the God by the fruit from His own fields.
kind of sacrifice God sanctioned. This information is           Of greater importance is the question of the theo-
ours for the seeking as the divinely approved sacrifice logical conception constituting the groundwork of the
constitutes one of the outstanding themes of Scripture. rite in question. Here again Scripture is our only
True,  Holy Writ says next to nothing respecting the source of information. &cording to Holy Writ, the


102                                 T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R
                                                                                                                    .
mode of thought entering into the make-up of this shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise its heel."
basis, defined God as a being of perfect rectitude who What we have here is a revelation of the course of
without fail causes sin to return to the transgressor in events unto the end of time. There shall be two seeds
the form of guilt and punishment, as a being of that involved in perpetual a strife. The seed of the woman
profound wisdom capable of devising ways and means is assured the victory. It shall gain the  ascendency
of throwing about the condemnable yet chosen sinner over the malice of the, devil. Here then is the promise
His everlasting arms of mercy as a being finally, cap- of a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people
able of a love able to pardon and cleanse the guilty cul- setting forth the praises of Him who called it out of
prit and to prepare for him a place in His house. That darkness into His marvelous light. The nation being
God at the very dawn of history was already engaged holy, will of necessity be opposed to that which is op-
in declaring unto His church these glories of His is posed to God. It is plain that immediately upon the
evident from the various notices of Scripture. In the fall God began to train His people to contemplate Him
very moment man swore off his allegiance to God, the as their gracious Redeemer. To what extent was the
revelation of wrath from heaven commenced.          Its church of this period made to see the implications of
operations were being experienced and observed. these divine instructions? When Cain was born, Eve
Having eaten from the forbidden tree, man fears God. jubilantly exclaimed : "I have gotten a man with the
The voice of God walking in the garden in the cool of Lord." It goes to show that the speech of Jehovah to-
the day, fills his soul with dread, and he flees and gether with the other mediums of divine instruction
hides himself from the presence of his Maker amongst had instilled in her understanding heart right thoughts
the trees of the garden. Another exhibition of the of God, and had centered her mind upon a man - a
punitive righteousness of God was man's confusion of man with Jehovah - destined to triumph over the
mind occasioned by the consciousness of his nakedness. seducer. She erred, however, in regarding Cain as the
He fears that his body will expose to the eye of God promised seed. The sacrifice, too, was a valuable source
the corruption of his soul, and therefore attempts to of information relative the gracious intentions of God,
cover his person with leaves. Then there was the It clearly demonstrated that the sinning soul shall die,
spectacle of the cherubim with the flaming sword keep- that without the shedding of blood there can `be no
ing the way of the tree of life of the sanctuary of forgiveness of sin, that finally man though depraved
Paradise. It taught man that the tree was accessible walks in the light of Jehovah's countenance if he
to the righteous only and that he with unclean hands recognizes as the channel of communion the innocent
may not enter the holy place. The sword with its blood of a slain victim., Of Abel it is said that, `offer-
revolving movements and flaming brightness served ing by faith, he obtained witness that he was righteous.
as an emblem of God's avenging justice. The purpose This faith had a content, constituted it must have been,
of its suspension was to exclude man from the regions of the promise thus far given. The witness respecting
of life and to suggest to him the necessity of redemp- his righteousness was at once a testimony of God's
tion.                                                     great love for his unworthy yet chosen vessel.
    The cherubim, further, were emblems of~the  re-          It-appears then that even at this early date there
deemed kosmos returning to its Maker through re- was plenty of evidence of God% gracious designs -
deemed humanity. For these creatures were consti- evidence laid hold on and understood by the called of
tuted of `forms representing the higher types of crea-    that day. It was these loving designs that consti-
tural life - man, the ox, the eagle and the lion, and tuted at once the reason and the inseparable basis of
thus gifted with human intelligence, the latter con- the sacrifice. To move this rite from these basis is to
trolling the animal forms engrafted upon the human render it an absolutely meaningless transaction.
body. The cherubim serve God, dwell about His holy           Let us now ask what might have been the meaning
throne, and are exceedingly active in the interests of incorporated in the sacrifice? The  questian has already
their Maker. They extol His virtues and set them- been answered. We may repeat our answer. The
selves against adversaries. There were still other sinner worthy of death may approach God through the
manifestations of the above-cited glories of God in the innocent blood of a slain victim and feel assured that
period under consideration. Man had heard God curse he finds favor in God's sight. The sacrifice, then, pro-
on the day of his fall. He had been given a tangible claimed a God of superlative righteousness and bound-
demonstration of its operations  - in his ejection from less love seeking his lost ones through the blood of the
the garden, in the shame he experienced upon the dis- Lamb.
covery of his nakedness, in the thorn and the thistle        What finally may have been the feeling prompting
that grew, and in the wanton ungodliness of the seed of the sacrifice? A deep sense of guilt; the feeling: I
the serpent. Man had also been made to listen to am unclean; a craving for divine pardon; a thirsting
a proclamation of a promise of redemption. We refer for righteousness ; a longing for God, coupled with the
now to the announcement of the mutual animosity of recognition that the depraved sinner's only way of ap-
the two seeds. "And I will put enmity between thee proach is through a blood that cleanses from all sin,
and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: it and with the conviction that he entering the sanctuary


                                            T H E   S T A N D A R D   UEARER                                        103

       by this way will be fed with mercy and satisfied with in. He covers himself with leaves to get relief to his
       God's blessed image.                                      uneasy feelings. The discovery was made, however,
3         Such, then, were the feelings from which the  God- that a covering of this kind failed to silence the ac-
      approved sacrifice arose. These feelings together with cusing voice of evil conscience and to. hide the shame
      their mode of expression-the outward rite as such-- of the filthy soul, so that when God called, man fled.
       plus the incorporated idea, together with the theo- God himself comes to the rescue. "In His admirable
       logical basis upon which this right was made to rest, wisdom and ,goodness,"  to use the words of the Con-
       constituted the divinely approved sacrifice. Move the fession, "seeing that man had thus thrown himself
       sacrifice from this basis, empty it from the above-cited into temporal and eternal death, and made himself
     incorporated ideas, maintain that he who offered was wholly miserable, He was pleased to seek and to com-
       devoid of the above-cited dispositions, and all that re- fort him, when man trembling fled from His presence,
      mains is the empty shell, a meaningless transaction no promising that He would give His son, who should be
      longer deserving to be called a sacrifice at all.          made of a woman, to bruise the head of a serpent, and
          It must not be supposed that the God-estranged would make him happy." Of this promise God imme-
      science shows regard only to the outward form of the diately gave to man a sign and placed upon it His
       rite in question when defining it. Fact is that these divine seal when He made coats of skin to clothe them
       descriptions as well as ours are extended beyond the with. Clothing so obtained had ne'cessitated  the giving
       mere form of the rite to what is held to be the em-       up of life on the part of an inferior part innocent
       bodied idea. Whereas the heathen sacrifice is the in- living creature. Its death then was needed to allay
      corporation of a lie, the embodied ideas are of a kind     man's fears. This act of covering man's bodily shame
       concerning which it must be said that its birth-place must be regarded as a declaration on the part of God
       was the perverted mind of some human. Science shows to the effect that he cancels and removes the sin that
       an unwillingness to admit that the God-approved sacri- was causing the uneasiness, so that in the covering
       fice of Scripture was a unique phenomenon. It is placed of his flesh, man receives a sign of the gift of God's
       in a class with those brought by the heathen and traced gracious pardon. That this speech of God as incor-
       back to a common origin.                                  porated in this act of his was laid hold on and under-
          The sacrifice of the primitive church, however, stood by the church of that day is evident from the
       must be placed in a class by itself as being of divine notice of Scripture to the effect that by faith Abel
       origin. The incorporated idea as well as the theology offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, who being
       constituting its basis were, as we have seen, matters a child of nature was unwilling to discern the meaning
       of divine revelation, the very wisdom of God; truth of of the acts and symbols of God done and caused to
       which the apostle said, "Eyes have not seen, nor ears appear for the comfort and instruction of His people.
     . heard, neither have entered into the heart of any the In fme, the act of God consisting in covering man's
       thing that God hath prepared for them that love Him." shame we regard as constituting the basis upon which
       An examination of the entire literary output of the the sacrificial worship of subsequent periods was
       pagan world will bear out this statement. Where be- erected.                                               - _-.
       side in Holy Writ,&  we happen upon a God seeking            What is more, this God-approved sacrifice was the
       the condemnable yet  choosen  sinner through the cross first one made in history. It was brought for the first
       and taking him to His heart? Of this Gospel the sacri- time by the Lord himself on the day of man's fall. It
       fice of the Old Testament dispensation was a shadow. precedes therefore the human inventions of the  Cain-
       Whereas the form of the rite in question must have ites and the heathen in general. These inventions must
       been of God as well as its essence, - the two cannot be regarded as distortions of the original sacrifice as
       be separated - it follows that the sacrifice in its en- instituted by God. The science referred to above re-
       tirety was of origin divine.                              verses the order and maintains that this rite as
          Fact is, however, that nowhere in Scripture do we executed by the Old Testament church was a modifica-
       read of the exact institution of this right, nor are we tion of the same rite as practiced by the heathen. The
       told that the primitive church in sacrificing did so in relation of the latter notion, so it is averred, is based
       response to a divine command. There is a recorded upon the broad religions of humanity. Such voices
       fact, however, which has to do with our subject, and may even be heard in so-called Reformed circles. So
       which may be perceived as instilling in man's mind we may read in a certain production as follows: "Of
       right thoughts respecting the manner of approach to course, I agree whole-heartedly with all those believing
       God. The fact to which we refer took place at the scholars who content that the religion of Israel was
       close of God's interview with our first parents after essentially different, positively unique, in a class all
       the fall: "And unto Adam also, and to his wife, did by itself. The essence of Israel's religion lay in the
       the Lord God make coats of skin and clothed them." covenant of grace which God established with no other
       As was before said man's consciousness of his nudeness people on the face of the earth . . . .
       disquieted his mind. He feared lest his uncovered body       "I  am afraid, however, that some well-meaning
       should give evidence of the evil thought housing with- Christian teachers and students, in their debate with


104                                        T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

critics, have been overshooting the mark. That is, of
course, poor policy.                                                              DE  KANS-LEER
       "I mean this: in their anxiety to prove the unique-         In verband met het artikel, dat ik schreef, over de.
ness of Israel's religion, they have been too ready to verklaring, die de Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken
deny obvious resemblances between it and other relig- zelf gegeven hebben van het eerste punt, schrijft een
ions. In other words - and now we hitch up with our oude broeder, wiens naam ik niet zal noemen, omdat'ik
subject - they have to largely ignored the plain fact niet zeker ben, dat hij zijn schrijven voor publicatie
that God, in the establishment of the special covenant bedoelde, mij, dat ik de opvatting der Christelijke
of grace, took his starting point in common grace. Gereformeerde Kerken van dat eerste punt zuiver heb
Israel's religion was based upon the broad basis of weergegeven, maar dat naar zijn overtuiging de in-
the original religions of humanity in the family of houd van dat Punt  tech de zuivere waarheid is en dat
Adam and Noah, in the races of Seth and Shem. There- ik terug moest keeren tot die Kerken.                 '
fore these attributes of God which were revealed in               Hij meent, dat God "in genade Zijn  Evangehe laat
nature are more prominent on the pages of the Old verkondigen  aan allen  die het hooren."
Testament than on the New. That also e@lains it that            Hij schrijft: "En dat wil natuurlijk zeggen, dat
God adopted for thyreligion of His chosen race some Hij ieder, die het  Evangelic  hoort, liefheeft; en dat Hij
forms already in existence." Thus Bavinck reasons in de zaligheid van ieder bedoelt. Dit is de bedoeling
his lectures on the subject.                                   ook van de &node. Zij  zuhen  u geenszins tegenspre-
   To be sure, God does reveal Himself unto all men. ken en u behoeft dunkt  mij niet te vragen : wat genade
The heavens declare the glory of God unto all human- bedoelt de Synode anders? Zij bedoelt deze genade,
ity.. The visibIe things of God are clearly seen from die ook tot de verworpenen komt, even zoo goed  als tot
the creation of the world. That which may be known de verkorenen. De Synode geIooft  vast, dat iemand
of God is manifested unto all men. Fact is, however, door de uitwendige verkondiging des Evangelies kan
that the. natural man holds this and all truth in un- zalig worden.  Dat geloof ik ook vast en zeker. En waar
righteousness. His God, his sacrifice, his worship, in u verder vraagt, dat desynode  of predikant of professor
a word his entire religion is seen as a hidious distor- dan maar eens duidelijk moet  maken, welk eene genade
tion of the revealed truth of God and, for this reason een verworpene bij het hooren van het Evangelie  ont-
an abomination in His sight. This so-called originaJ           vangt, wil ik dit doen.  Om dit m. i. duidelijk te ma-
religion of humanity therefore could hardly serve as ken, moeten we naar de uitwendige roeping alsivil van
a basis for Israel's religion. It is nothing short of Gods bevel. Met Gods  wil des  besmits of verborgen
blasphemy to say that the holy and righteous God took wil heb ik in dezen niets noodig. Als ik eenigszins mag
His starting point in these religions.                         inzien en moet inzien,  we&e deugden Gods ons  tegen-
   Let us listen to the testimony of one who recently stralen in de uitwendige roeping,  dan zeg ik, God biedt .
made a study of these religions:                               al, wat zondaar is, het eeuwige leven welmeenend  aan
   "There need only one thing said in criticism of in Jezus Christus Zijnen Zoon. God kan niet anders,
these primitive religions and that is that they were met eerbied gesproken. Met het oog. op de uitwendige
consistently  monistic.  As far back as authentic  bis- roeping hebben alle zondaren, tot welke de blijde bood-
tory sheds any light upon it, it appears as a distorted schap des heils komt een kans om zalig te worden. Of
form, sometimes as a mockery of the worship of the is de blijde boodschap des heils voor allen  tot wie zij
one God. It was a government monopoly. The com- komt, dan niet van die strekking, dat gezegd mag wor-
mon man could have no fellowship with God."                    den: 0, wat  heerlijk.!  God geeft hun een kans om
                                                   G. M. 0.    zalig te worden  ! Ja, mogen en moeten dezulken, tot
                                                               wie het Evangelie komt, zich niet grootelijks bevoor-
                                                               recht achten boven de volkeren, die niet door het licht
                        `-                                     des Evangelies bestraald worden,  en  alzoo ook geen
                                                               kans hebben om zalig te worden?"
                          GELOOF                                  Ik ben blij met het schrijven van den broeder. Het
                                                               is een eerste poging om ons een antwoord te geven op
            ,4rm te wezen  en tech rijk,                       de vraag : welke genade ontvangt de verworpene van
            Geen woning, tech een Koninkrijk.                  God door de prediking des Evangelies?
            Zwak en  tech gesterkt,                               Zulk een duidelijk antwoord als de bejaarde broe-
            Vergeten  en tech opgemerkt.                       der, dien wij waarlijk niet hard zullen vahen, ons geeft,
            Alleen  en tech niet eenzaam gaan.                 hebben wij nog van niemand ontvangen.
            Geen uitweg, tech een baan.                           Ik wist wel, dat als iemand, wie ook, een poging
            Bedroefd en nochtans blijde gaan.                  waagde, om op onze vraag een antwoord te geven, dit
            Onzeker en  tech vast te staan.                    antwoord ongeveer zoo zou moeten  luiden, als de broe-
            Niets te bezitten en  alles gemeen,                der het geeft.
            Dat geeft `t geloof alleen.                           Daarom spijt het mij ook, dat het komt van een


                                        T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                   1l.l

                                                           tered into a federative union, for the purpose of real-
    A CATECHISM ON THE HISTORY OF THE                      izing and manifesting as much as possible the essential
       PROTESTANT REFORMED CHURCHES                        unity of believers as members of the Body of Christ.
                                                           It consists of six delegates from each classis.
             IV. How  THE  SYNOD  WORKED                        10. May a synod be called the highest judicatory
                                                           of the church?
   1. Did not  Classis Grand Rapids West consider               By no means; the different churches thus volun-
the Danhof-Hoeksema case previous to the meeting of tarily entering into a federative union acknowledge no
Synod in 1924?                                             other judicatory power than that which is lodged in
   Yes; there was a meeting of that  Classis shortly their respective consistories. The power of a Synod
after the meeting of Classis Grand Rapids East, de- is always derivative and advisory.
scribed in the  p,receding  chapter.                       ,    11. But has not the synod power to depose min-
   2. How was the case brought to the attention of isters?
Classis West?                                                   Not at all; this power rests with the consistories,
   By means of a protest of the Rev. Jan Karel Van who in such matters are Supposed to ask the advice
Baalen,  identical to the one the same gentleman had of Classis and Synod.
filed with  Classis Grand Rapids East.                          12. What, then, is Synod empowered to do, in case
   3. What did  Classis West decide in the matter? they judge that one or more ministers are worthy of
   After a good deal of wrangling it decided: a. That deposition from o&e ?
a colloquy or personal conference should be arranged            Synod can advise the consistory or consistories in-
between the brethren Danhof and Van Baalen for the volved to discipline and ultimately depose their min-
purpose of discussing the matter of the latter's pro- ister or ministers.
test against the teachings of the former. b. That after         13. But what, if a certain consistory should refuse
this colloquy was held between the two brethren, the to heed such advice?
Rev. Van  Baalen should, if he so desired, bring the            Even then Synod has no power to' depose such con-
matter of his protest to the attention of the Consistory sistory but may declare that henceforth it stands
of Kalamazoo I, the Church served by Rev. Danhof. separated from that particular union of churches of
c. That, in case the Rev.-Van Baalen were not satisfied which such synod is the broadest gathering.
after this meeting of the Consistory, he should have            14. What do you understand by the phrase  `&a
the privilege of calling a special meeting of  Classis packed synod" ?
West on June 10, 1924.                                          The nature of the decisions to be taken by a synod
   4. What was the outcome of that colloquy?               naturally depends on the attitude of the various dele-
   That the Rev. Van  Baalen  was not satisfied ; he gates that constitute a synod. A packed. synod is a
claimed that there was a discrepancy between the synod that is consciously and purposely constituted of
views of the Rev. Ii. Danhof as the latter expressed delegates that are known to be of determined con-
them at the conference and the views set forth in his victions for or against certain important matters that
public writings. Hence, he  stilI'7emanded  that his are to be decided by Synod; A packed- syond;  there--
protest should be treated by the consistory of Kala- fore, is not unbiassed but prejudiced.
mazoo I.                                                        15. Would you call the Synod of 1924 a "packed
   5. What did the Consistory decide?                      synod", unfavorably prejudiced in the  Danhof-Hoekse-
   They asked that the conference between Danhof ma case?
and Van  Baalen  should be repeated in their presence,          No ; this cannot be said ; the long and often bitter
that they might be able to judge of the alleged dis- wrangling that ensued on the floor of the Synod about
crepancy.                                                  the Common-grace question, proves the very opposite.
~ 6. Did Van  Baalen  agree to this?                       De delegates were not of one mind. There were some
   .No; instead he called for the special meeting of who were determined defenders of the common-grace
Classis on June 10.                                        theory, friends of Dr. Janssen and enemies of the
   7. What was decided at this meeting of  Classis Revs. Danhof and Hoeksema, others, who had always
W e s t ?                                                  simulated friendship toward the accused brethren, but
   That the Rev. Van Baalen should address his pro- proved to be hostile to them; still others there were,
test directly to Synod, seeing it concerned a public that made a strong attempt to defend and save the
matter of general import to the Churches.                  two brethren, but were too weak and finally suc-
   8. When did Synod convene?                              cumbed ; and, finally, as always, there were those dele-
   On June 18, 1924, in the auditorium of the First gates that acted as mere voters without understanding
Christian Reformed Church of Kalamazoo,  Mich.             the question, ready to go along with the majority as
   9. What is a Synod?                                     easily as straws with the wind. No, a packed synod it
   It is the broadest representative gathering of was not. But certainly it was a weak synod, ill pre-
churches of the same faith, that have voluntarily en- pared to deal with questions of important points of


112                                    T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

doctrine. And one may justly be amazed at the audacity fect self-sufficiency. For several days the committee
and foolhardiness of Synod, when in the midst of much met. They were busily discussing the views of the
wrangling and discord it recklessly made three doc- Revs. H. Danhof and H. Hoeksema, but they never
trinal declarations of fundamental importance.             asked either of the brethren to meet with them or ap-
       16. What method of procedure did Synod follow pear before them to inquire about their views or dis-
in the Danhof-Hoeksema case?                               cuss the matter with them. They were evidently wholly
       As in all other cases it appointed a Committee of self-sufficient in their estimation. They formed a judg-
Pre-advice to consider the matter and serve Synod ment about the two brethren without ever summoning
with advice after due deliberation. This committee them to appear before them as witnesses in their own
consisted of the following delegates: Dr. Y. P. De case !
Jong, Dr. C. Bouma, Rev. E. F. J. Van Halsema, Rev.           20. Why should this self-sufficiency of the com-
A. Bliek, Rev. T. Vander Ark ; and the elders S. Dek:      mittee's method be emphasized?
ker, J. Verbrugge, J. T. Brandsma. Prof. L. Berkhof           Because the Synod followed the same method with
was added to this committee as advisory member. These respect to the Rev. H. Hoeksema. The Rev. H. Danhof
gentlemen may be called the "fathers of the Three was himself a delegate and he could not well be denied
Points," though some labored more  strenuousIy  for the right to defend his case. But with regard to the
their conception than others.                              Rev. Hoeksema it was quite a different matter. He
       17. What is your opinion of this committee?         was no delegate to Synod. Nor did Synod ever serve
       It may be considered abnormal that Prof. L.  Berk- a summons on him. He was not given the right to
hof was added to this committee as advisory member defend himself, though they sat as a court of judgment
and not Prof. F. M. Ten  Hoor,  for the latter was at over him. Never was he asked to give any account of
the time incumbent of the chair of Dogmatics at the himself. When Synod finally had reached a decision
Theological School of the Christian Reformed they never informed the Rev. Hoeksema of it, still less
Churches, and the question to be considered was  pre- admonished him or demanded any promise or declara-
eminentIy.of  a dogmatic nature. The reason probabIy       tion of him. They treated him as if he had nothing to
was that Prof. Ten Hoor was justly considered to be do with his own case !
hesitating on the theory of Common-grace. For the              21. But was the Rev. H. Hoeksema never allowed
rest, the committee might well be expected to deliver to speak on the floor of the Synod?
better work than they actually did.                            When Synod apparently purposed to ignore him,
 18. What  materia1  was offered to the considera- though they were deliberating upon his case, the Rev.
tion of the committee?                                     Hoeksema was forced to break the rules of order and
       There were, first of all, the overture from Classis though he had no right to this, seeing he was no dele-
Grand Rapids East, distilled by way of a substitute gate but merely one of the audience, he arose and asked
motion from the pretended overture of the Consistory for the floor three times. He first did so, when Synod
of Kellogsville ; and the protests that had been referred was deliberating upon his protest against- the legality
back to the Consistory of Eastern Ave. by the  Classis. of the overture from Classis  East, virtually the pre:...
The latter were before Synod by way of appeal. This `tended overture from Kellogsville. Synod was about
also included the protest of the Rev. Jan Karel Van to accept the advice of its committee to declare the
Baalen,  who at the same time personally offered the overture legal and the protest against it as without
same protest to Synod on the advice of `Classis West. grounds, when the Rev. Hoeksema asked for the privi-
Further there were the following protests: a. From lege of the floor in the matter of his own protest. He
Kalamazoo II against the decision of Classis West in was given to understand, however, that he had noth-
re Van BaaIen's  protest. b. From Kalamazoo III against ing to do with the matter under discussion! The sec-
the calling of a special meeting of  Classis West on ond time he broke the rules once more and asked to
June 10, 1924.        c.  Idem from the  Con&tory  of speak on his own views in connection with the Three
Lamont, Mich.  d. Idem from the Consistory of IaIa- Points which were then in discussion. He requested
mazoo I. e. Protest from Kalamazoo I against the that the evening-session be granted him and that his
decision of  Classis West in re Van  Baalen's  protest. time should not be limited. And to enforce his request
f. Protest by the Rev. H. Hoeksema against the over- he promised that he wouId  not demand again to speak !:
ture from  Classis Grand Rapids East, the overture, in his own case ! This request was granted, and for ,a c*
namely, that was elicited from the pretended overture full hour and a half he enjoyed the defense,of  his views
of Kellogsville. Lastly, there were some overtures re- before the Synod and `a packed auditorium. When
garding the question of Common-grace, from the fol- Synod later was hopelessly confused about the First
lowing classes : Hackensack, Hudson, Sioux Center and Point of doctrine (the contents of which we hope to
Muskegon.                                                  discuss in a later chapter), he could not refrain him-
       19. How would you characterize the method of self and asked once more for the liberty to speak.
work by the committee?                                     Synod refused, giving as the reason that the Rev.
   It was characterized by strictest secrecy and per- Hoeksema had promised not to ask for the fioor again.


                                   T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                         113
             --_-

The latter then left the meeting and never appeared           25. Is the report of the committee printed in  fuil
again.                                                     in the Acta of the Synod of 1924?
   22. Do you maintain, then, that Synod treated              No, an important part is eliminated from the  Acta.
the Rev. Hoeksema unjustly?                                It pretends to be complete, for in the Acta it is intro-
   I most emphatically do.  -4 defendant certainly duced by the following sentence: "The report of the
must have the full opportunity to defend himself, Committee of Pre-advice concerning the Common-
either personally or by counsel, before the court that grace case is read by the reporter, Dr. C. Bouma ; it
tries him. And such opportunity Synod had always follows here in its entirety" (Acta.  p. 113). But this
offered to'others that were accused before and tried by is  not true. The following part, which ought to be
that body. In 1918 the Rev. Bultema, whose Chiliastic inserted in the Report on p. 134 of the Acts, was left
errors were then tried and condemned, was asked to out :
meet with the committee of pre-advice in his case and         "If Synod adopts the above mentioned points, the
given full liberty to defend himself on the floor of the question arises, whether Synod ought to make it a
Synod. The same is true of the case of Dr. Janssen in case of discipline immediately and bring the objec-
1922, who was repeatedly begged by Synod to speak tions against the pastors Danhof and Hoeksema to the
in his own behalf. The same Synod that tried the attention of the consistories involved. Your commit-
Rev. Hoeksema and refused him to speak allowed the tee is of the opinion that this would not be the more
Rev. Q. Breen freely to defend his protest in favor of desirable method of procedure. First, because the
Dr. Janssen. Yet, the Rev. Hoeksema was never asked brethren, according to their own repeated declarations
one question, was never summoned to appear in defense do not intend or purpose anything else than to teach
of himself, was never asked to speak in his own behalf, the Reformed doctrine as contained in Holy Scripture
and was permitted to speak just once because of ms and the Confessions, and we will gladly assume that
importunity. And, therefore, I claim that no worldly they erred in good faith. Secondly, because it cannot
court would ever treat any defendant as the court of be denied that they are Reformed in respect to the
the Christian Reformed Churches treated the Rev. H. fundamental truths, even though it'be with an inclina-
Hoeksema.                                                  tion to onesidedness.
   23. When. was the committee ready to report to             "However, your committee advises that Synod
Synod?                                                     through its president :
   On Tuesday, July 1; almost two weeks after Synod           " (1)    Seriously admonish the brethren with re-
first convened.                                            spect to their departures and demand of them the
   24. Can you briefly describe the contents of the promise that in the future they will abide by the three
report?                                                    points declared by Synod.
   It consists of three main parts. The first part            " (2) Urge the brethren Danhof and Hoeksema
enumerated the various overtures and ,protests  that that they refrain from making propaganda for their
were before the Synod with reference to the Common- dissenting views, regarding the three points, in the
grace question. The second part judges of the legality churches.                 ~-~-
of ~these  various documents. The third part contains        7c (3)    Point out to the brethren, that  if- it should
the advice of the committee regarding the contents of appear, either now or in the future, that they will not
these documents and the case itself. This last part is abide by the decisions of Synod, the latter to its pro-
again subdivided. The fast subdivision mentions the found regret will have to make the case pending with
various points of doctrine involved in the case and the consistories."
referred to in the overtures and protests. The second         26. What did Synod do with this part of the re-
subdivision discards various points of doctrine that are port?
more or less irrelevant and singles out three doctrinal       It was rejected. At a  Iater session a substitute
matters that are of essential importance according to motion was offered to and adopted by Synod. From
the opinion of the committee, viz., the general grace tkis substitute motion the above part was eliminated.
of God, the restraint of sin, the ability of. the natural It is evident, that by adopting the substitute motion
man to do good. The third subdivision contains the Synod rejected the eliminated parts.
advice of the committee concerning these three points         27. Why is it important to call attention to this
of doctrine as well as their advice regarding the ques- part of the work of the Synod?
tion of disciplining the brethren Danhof and  Hoek-           Because it proves decidedly, that Synod did not
sema. The fourth subdivision deals with the question have any idea of disciplining the brethren Danhof and
of Common-grace in genera1 and advises Synod not to Hoeksema. The committee plainly advised Synod to
formulate any declaration concerning that theory, but admonish the two brethren, to ask of them the prom-
to urge all the leaders of the Christian Reformed ise to abide by the Three Points, to urge them to cease
Churches to apply themselves to the study of that ques- from all propaganda against these Three Points, and
tion. The whole is concluded by a testimony to the to warn them that they would become subject of dis-
Churches in general.                                       cipline in case they would not abide by these points of


114                                   T H E   STANDAR'D   B E A R E R

doctrine as declared by Synod. Yet, Synod rejected
this part of the committee's advice. This is the more                    WERELDSCHE  VEREENIGINGEN
important, because the substitute motion was adopted                                      II
after the brethren had plainly expressed their inten-
tion not to abide by the Three Points, neither to sub-           Aan het slot toegekomen van ons eerste  artikel
mit to the decisions of Synod. Nor was the decision onder bovenstaand kopstuk, luidde ons besluit als volgt :
altered when the Rev. H. Danhof delivered a written "En dan wenschen wij hierin en hiermede voorloopig
protest to Synod, in which he expressed elaborately van u afscheid te nemen met de woorden cmzes Hei-
his objections against the declarations and decisions of lands, die van veel beteekenis zijn in  verband  met het
Synod regarding the Three Points, and plainly stated bovenstaande" ; en dan volgde een aanhaling uit Gods
that he would employ every means at his command to Woord, namelijk, II Cor. 6:14-18.
oppose them. From all this it is clearly proven, that            We gevoelden toen, dat we nog niet gehee1  uitge-
Synod did not want discipline, even though the breth- sproken waren. Dat kon trouwens ook niet ; en dat we1
ren did not agree with the Three Points. There may om drie redenen.
have been, and there no doubt were, delegates that               In de allereerste plaats,  omdat het onderwerp waar-
would gladly have resorted to discipline of some form over wij schreven zeer breed is en diep in ons leven in-
immediately, on the floor of the Synod. The commit- grijpt. Het laat bijna geen enkele openbaring van ons
tee of pre-advice, at least, revealed their sentiments in leven buiten gesprek. Zoo langzamerhand, maar o zoo
this `respect. But they could  find no favor with a zeker, heeft de octopus der wereldsche vereenigingen
majority of the Synod.                                        haar zuigarmen uitgestrekt  ; en de tijd is zeker niet
       27. How does this reflect upon the subsequent verre, wanneer het volle  leven  der menschenkinderen
action of Classis Grand Rapids East and  Classis Grand in zijn totaliteit  onder het regiment  zal liggen van die
Rapids West?                                                  weeke poliep. Daar wijst  alIes  heen.  Zulk een zaak nu,
       It proves that they had the sad courage to do, what van 266 groote afmetingen last zich niet behandelen in
Synod had refused'to do. They violated the decisions &n  artikel van eenige bladzijden druks.
of Synod in this case.                                           In de tweede plaats, leidde de aanleiding  tot ons
       28. But how could this part of the report be           schrijven er toe, om  directelijk het geheele veld te  be-
omitted from the  Acta?                                       strijken, wilden  we eenigszins doe1 treffen. De open-
       This appears to be a mystery. No one seems to lijke verdediging der wereldsche vereenigingen was
know the solution of it. Dr. Beets testified in the Cir- oorzaak, dat we aanstonds het dusgenaamde probleem
cuit Court of Grand Rapids, that it had been  "blue-          der wereldsche vereenigingen over de geheele  linie  aan-
pencilled".                                                   tastten en met Gods Woord bestreden. GevoIg was, dat
                                                H. H.         ter eener zijde, de principieele zijde van deze  diep  in-
                                                              grijpende  zaak slechts terloops even aangeroerd werd,
                                                              terwijl zij, in een aparte verhandeling, z.eker voorop
                                                              behoorde te gaan ; en ter anderer zijde, dat de overige
                          JUDAS                               elementen der bespreking niet ten volle tot haar recht
                                                              kwamen.
Hij droeg der broedren beurs ; hij rekende uitstekend;           En, in de derde plaats, verliep ons betoog in de be-
De Meester  kreeg `n kans, als `t tegen Rome ging,            spreking van concrete gevallen, werd daardoor  belem-
Die sprak met macht, was voor een Koningstaak be- merd en begrensd, zoodat slechts eenige phasen der
        rekend,                                               wereldsche vereenigingen besproken werden.  '
Won door Zijn wqndren `t volk, in aldoor  wijder kring!          Dit alles hebben we eenigszins gevoeld, toen wij
                                                              toekwamen  aan het slot van ons eerste artikel. En
En  achter  Jezus om bewerkte hij de scharen;                 daarom zetten, wij  OILS   nu om in een kleine reeks van
Het nieuwe Koninkrij k zou komen onverwacht  ;           *    artikelen, naar den  Wo-orde Gods, onze overtuiging
En een demon&h jaeh&n kwam in hem gevaren,                    aangaande de Wereldsche Vereenigingen den lezers
En Jezus weend'  om hem,  wist hem in Satans macht; van onze Standard Bearer  aan te bieden.
                                                                 Wij  hopen dit te doen  naar een vast plan. Mocht
Weerstond hem, zoodat hij den Meester  fel ging haten, het daarom zijn, dat, in het verloop van ons schrijven,
Die hem doorzag,  diep in zijn donker bloed;                  een of meerdere der broeders ernstige critiek  hadden
En toen hij zich 0ntgaa.n  za.g zijn gedroomde baten,         tegen onze voorstelling, dan verzoeken wij hen om  ge-
Kreeg hij tot het verraad den godvergeten moed!               duldig te wachten tot wij uitgesproken zijn, waarna
                                                              wij gaarne zullen luisteren naar de opvatting van an-
Doch `t allerdiepst  zou deee daad hem zelve deren,           deren. Ons ijveren komt op uit een zucht om den goe-
Want  toen de  Meester   zich ten kruisdood overgaf,          den weg te bewandelen in dezen. Weet gij een beteren,
Sloeg hem verbijstering, waaruit hij niet kon keeren, lezer, dan verzoeken wij u ons den weg te wijzen die
Verhing hij zich uit angst voor Gods gerechte  straf.         uitnemender is.


t 116                                      T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

  doodssnik en `t verhongerde, uitgeteerde lichaam keert want het onderwerpt  zich der wet Gods  niet, want het
  tot stof. Denk  aan China! Regen,  hagel, vorst,  ver-         kan ook niet.
  zengende zonnestralen - zij zijn allen Gode. Zij hoo-m            Nu hopen wij, D. V., `in het volgende nummer voort
  ren Zijn gebod en zij doen al wat Hem behaagt.                 te spinnen aan denzelfden draad en zien hoe wij dan
         Op aarde zeiden de  natien: Wij zullen den beker der tech de aarde ontvingen ; en hoe dat ontvangen  van
  zwijmeling des toorns God niet drinken. Maar, o wee! die aarde in verband staat met het reeht.
  De Heere grijpt hen in den nek en verplettert hen tegen           Want : "Aangaande den  hemel,  de  hemel is des
  elkaar, zoodat het bloed in stroomen vloeit "en de  ver- Heeren  ; maar de aarde  heeft Hij den menschenkinde-
  slagenen des Heeren zullen te dien dage liggen van het ren gegeven" (Ps. 115 :16).
  e&e einde der aarde tot het andere einde der aarde ;              De Heere riep ons in het woord, dat  aan dit stukje
  zij zullen niet beklaagd,  noch opgenomen,  noch  begra-       ten grondslag ligt, als met donderende stem toe : "Alles
  ven  worden  ; tot mest op den aardbodem zullen  zij           is Mijn." Nu  hopen  wij, in de tweede plaats, het  ant-
  zijn." (Lees Ezech. 25 en het bloedige historieblad.)          woord-des  menschen  aan God u te schetsen.
  Waar is uw  recht,  o mensch? !                                   En dat wil dan het tweede beginsel zijn.
         God alleen  heeft recht. Hij is recht.                     Tot ziens ! Deo Volente !
         Lees nu Job 41 :lb, 2 nog eens. "Wie is dan hij die                                                    G. V.
  zich voor  Mijlt anngexicht  stellm  zoude?  Wie is Mij
  voorgekomen,  dat ik hem ,-au&  vergelden?"  Dat kan
  tech niet? Niemand kan tech opklimmen tot vlak voor
  Gods oogen en zeggen: Zie hier ben ik!  Ik stel mij                                   I S A A C
  voor Uw aangezicht met  recht  van spreken  ? Ik kom
  met den eisch van vergelding !                                    Through the span of years aloted to  * Abraham
         De stakkerd! Zijn voetjes waarop hij staat zijn stretched itself out some thirty-five years beyond the
  van God. Zijn stem, zijn adem,  zijn brein, zijn bloed, point of  Isaac%  marriage, the record of Abraham's
  zijn alles is in het absolute bezit van den Eeuwige.           sending forth the `servant in quest of a wife for his
  Wie zijt ge, o mensch, dat ge tegen God antwoordt! son, closes his written career. The sacred narrator
  Hij antwoordt niet van alle Zijne daden. Niemand kan now directs his attention exclusively to Isaac and his
  Zijne hand afslaan en zeggen: Wat doet Gij?                    household.
         Genoeg.                                                    With his marriage, Isaac passed from under the
         Als het maar duidelijk geworden is, dat niemand tutelage of his father and came to the fore as a dis-
  yecht  heeft naar de eigenlijke beteekenis van het tinct social unit in Canaan. How safe it was for him
  woord.                                                         to `be thrown on his own resources, we shall have oc-
         Dus onze eerste stelling, of wilt ge, grondb'eginsel    casion to mark in the sequence. Suffice it to say that
  mag we1 zijn: alle recht zetelt absoluut in God.               he was a man of a somewhat different callibre than
         Die stelling moest beslist uitgesproken; en moet Abraham. The one great event of his life - his self-
  voorts in onze verdere bespreking steeds voor oogen  ge- sacrifice on Mount Moriah - was behind him when
  houden. Daar hangt alles aan.                                  he took Rebekah to wife. As he grew older he began
         Ook is het gevaar niet denkbeeldig, dat we een ge- to yield more and more to the impulses of his carnal
  bouw'zouden optrekken zonder dit ontzaglijke  funda- nature.            His favorite son was the profane Esau in
  ment. Dat gebeurt, helaas, elken  dag en hoe langer whose tent he was much seen, eating of his venison and
  zoo meer. En dan moet m-en ons niet zoo opvatten, resolving as he would eat to bestow upon this son the
  als zouden wij  bet oog hebben op de wereld die in het patriarchal blessing.
  booze ligt. Die wereld is verdorven en verderft haar              Yet as to the heart of his dispositions he was a be-
  weg bij den voortduur. Ook mag ik mij over haar in liever, yea a man of outstanding piety as well as Abra-
  dit verband  niet bekommeren. Hare mate van onge-              ham.
  rechtigheid moet vol. Die vuil is, dat hij nog vuil               True enough, in the evening of his life, Isaac did
  worde. Neen, ik heb het oog op de belijders van den display some grave imperfections. His free and easy
  Naam des Heeren en dan sluit ik mij zelf er bij in. intercourse with the profane Esau is to be denounced.
  Bij ons is er groot gevaar om keer op keer dit funda- His failure to be impressed by the plainness of Jacob
  ment thuis te laten. En dan praten we de wereld na, indicates that his powers of discernment had lost their
  door te spreken van allerlei rechten die wij gemeen keen edge. It shows that after allIsaac was but a type.
  zouden hebben met die wereld.                                     In making our meaning clear we set out with
         En om nu de kracht van dit grondbeginsel eens te the assertion that Isaac's significance must be sought
  toetsen, moet men het den goddelooze voorleggen en in the first instance in his being the seed, promised
  verzoeken om daarop tezamen verder te bouwen. Dan time and again before appearing. His late birth placed
  zult gij zijn woede of spot of beide eens zien. Want Abraham in a position to live by a promise, and thus
  hij walgt van dien Almachtigen Bezitter. Daarom dat secure for himself the title of father of the faithful.
  het bedenken des vleesches vijandschap is tegen God ; The church had need of such a father, of one capaci-


                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                        117

  tatted by faith to set himself against the reasonings ceived." Since the Lord had promised Abraham that
  of nature, and to lay hold on the Lord as One who         in Isaac his seed would be called, His failure to .re-
  would surely in his own time make good His word ; spond to Isaac's entreaty would have amounted to a
  for the faithful, during the entire period of their denial of self. Whereas `He cannot deny Himself, Isaac
 earthly pilgrimage, live by a word of assurance that had to ask in the firm conviction that he would receive ;
 the antitypical replica of Isaac  - the incarnate Word and it was only upon his intercession that the Lord
 of God, Christ Jesus,  the  t;p-ue seed will appear. In    would prolong the line of blessing. Whereas He is the
 the fulness of time He came. In our nature He was author of prayer, this cannot mean that as man He
 seen as the man of sorrows, without form or comeli- must be prevailed upon by entreaties to make good his
 ness or beauty, despised and rejected of men,              word. It does mean, however, that He will not bestow
 acquainted with grief; for He bore our griefs and sor- His gifts until the recipient by His grace has been
  rows and was wounded for our transgression. Having rendered receptive. When the promised good is de-
  fmished the work the Father had given Him to do, he sired not only but sought for from the Lord as a for-
 ascended to heaven and took his seat at the Father's feited gift of grace the evidence is there that the
 right hand. And so we, too, are again asked to live by proper frame of mind and heart is present, and the
 the promise of His return. And in Him, though now Lord is then ready to he entreated.
 we see Him not, yet believing, we rejoice with joy             In Jacob, Isaac and Rebekah's salvation was bound
 unspeakable and full of glory. Now the one grand           up so that as often as Isaac would approach the throne
 pattern of this life of faith is the career of Abraham. of grace in behalf of his wife, he was praying for his
 For how long he waited for the  fulfilment  of the prom- very salvation. And when they both had been trained
  ise of the seed !                                         to look away from self and from their natural fitness
     But this is not all. Isaac, being the seed of prom- to produce seed, when, after a long period of waiting,
 ise, was also capacitated by grace to offer  himself up they had been taught to lay hold on Jehovah as their
 for a burnt offering. He was thus made to project him- only hope, as the God of their salvation, the promised
 self as the grand type of the suffering Saviour. Abra- seed was given. The appearance of this seed, then,
 ham and the faithful of the old dispensation could was preceded by a prolonged spiritual struggle on the
 know now that the promised salvation could only reach part of the parents  - a struggle from which they
 them through the channel of a slain and resurrected emerged as victors, having conquered by prayer. The
 seed, whose shed blood must be received as a covering birth of Jacob and of Isaac as-well, is so much more
 for sin.                                                   evidence that Isaac, as to the heart of his dispositions,
     Having offered himself, Isaac had to  a?&  extend was indeed one of the Lord's worthies who fought the
 served his purpose. True, he must still beget and good fight.
 bless Jacob.     Aside from this, however, he largely         During this period of Rebekah's barrenness, Isaac's
 ceased, in a positive sense, to be useful to the Lord. behavior compares most favorably with that of his
 His interests were too much centered upon the venison father during the prolonged period of Sarah's barren-
 of his profane son. About the time his sons attained ness. Instead of seeking a remedy such as Abraham
 to manhood, he developed some glaring imperfections did in connection with Hagar, he resorts to ardent and
 so that it became apparent that after all he was but a constant prayer.
 type.                                                          The `barrenness of Rebekah was not the only trial
     The sacrifice of Isaac, then, served a double pur- that crept into Isaac's life. There was a famine in
 pose. It brought into play all the hallowed energies of the land, distinguished from the famine in the history
 Abraham's soul, so that in responding to the divine of Abraham. Taking his father as an example, Isaac
 command he, by grace and through the mediation of resolved to go to Egypt for relief. Before he had op-
 the sacred record, projected himself as the great en- portunity to set out, however, the voice of the Lord
 sample of godliness. Secondly, the execution of the is in his ear, commanding him to remain where he
 command constituted Isaac the one great type of the was, namely, in Canaan. At the time of this vision, he
 suffering and dying Saviour.                               was dwelling in the near vicinity of Gerar, the resi-
     That Isaac, though in his advanced years dence of Abimelech, king of the  Philistines.  Hither
 to much taken up with his son's board, was a man of Isaac had repaired to escape the ravages of the-famine.
 faith, and that this faith to the very end continued to Here the Lord said to him, "Go not down into Egypt;
 assert itself as a working principle in his life is evident dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of; sojourn in
. enough.                                                   this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee,
     The first trial in which he was led after his marri- for unto thee and unto thy seed, will I give all these
 age was the prolonged barrenness of his Rebekah. countries, and I will perform the oath which I swore
 Twenty years he waited for his offspring, during which unto Abraham thy father; and I will make thy seed to
 time he entreated the Lord for his wife. He prayed multiply as the stars of heaven, and I will give unto
 in the conviction that she would receive ; for the Lord thy seed all these countries ; and in thy seed shall all
  was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife con- the nations of the earth be blessed; because that Abra-


118                                    T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

ham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my com- of Isaac with Rebekah, the true relation becomes
mandments, my statutes, and my laws."                          known, the king sends for the offender and chides him
       It is to be noticed first of all that Isaac here re- for his subterfuge. He forthwith charges all  ,his
ceived the patriarchal blessing, not through the chan- people, under penalty of death, not to touch Rebekah.
nel of his father, but from the Lord directly. To the             Abraham's marvelous prosperity incited the envy
original blessing no essentially new elements were and the alarm of Abimelech. Said the king to him:
 added. What impresses us, further, is the causal "Thou art mightier than we." Abraham is ordered to
 relation between the fulfilment of the promise and in get him out of the land. So he `departed and pitched
the  first instance the obedience of Abraham and in the his tent in the valley of Gerar and dwelt there.
 second instance the obedience of Isaac. "Because                                                               G. M. 0.
 Abraham obeyed my voice, will I make thy seed to
 multiply." And as to Isaac, the Lord will be with
 him, provided he sojourn in Canaan.                                  VADER, ZIE UW KIND HEEFT PIJN
       The covenant fidelity on the part of the patriarchs
 and on the part of the people of God in general does not                   Vader, zie  - Uw kind heeft pijn.
 enter in, as we already remarked in previous essays,                         En niet rusten wil mijn denken  -
 as either the meritorial or efficient or sovereign cause                   Geef mijn hart nu stil te zijn,
 of their salvation. Yet there is the closest connection                      Wil mijn ziel berusting schenken.
 between the two. The current teaching of Scripture                         Ach, ik ben zoo zwak en moe,
 is that only the just appear in Zion before the face of                      Al  mijn kracht is nu verloren -
 the Lord. These just ones, though by themselves sin-                       Vader, sluit Uw armen  toe,
 ful and ill-deserving, are the chosen in Christ before                _      Dat ik bij U word herboren.
`the foundation of the world that they should be holy
 and without blame before Him in love, and thus con-                        0, het schrijnen van mijn smart
 stituted by His grace the obedient servants of God.                          In de leegte van mijn leven !
 It is they and none other who are privileged to enter                      God, heb ik U trot& getart,
 the joy 0.f the Lord. And their obedience is the  good-                      Wil mij deze  schuld vergeven.
 enough reason for their final redemption.                                  Nu is mijn opstandigheid
       As to Isaac, the test of his faith consisted in this                   Neergestild  - ik zoek te  rusten,
 that with the promised land converted into a death-                        Maar mijn hart vraagt nog altijd
 house by a famine, he must continue dwelling in it in                        Om de lippen,  die mij kusten.
 the firm conviction that Jehovah will provide. And
 out of this trial Isaac by the grace of God emerged                        Ach, ik had zoo lief, mijn God  -
 victoriously. He continued to dwell in the land which                        `k Droeg mijn  liefde  door de dagen
 the Lord told him of.                                                      In de vreugd om Uw. gebod,
       1saac"s  faith was rewarded. We read of him that he                    Dat mij gaf zoo schoons  te dragen.
 sowed in-the land, and received in the same year an                        `k Weet'het we1 Uw weg is goed
 hundredfold. And the Lord blessed him. "`And the                             En Gij zult Uw kinderen leiden -
man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until                           `k Weet wel, dat ik rusten moet
 he became very great. For he had possession of flocks,                       En  mijn hart tot U bereiden -
 and possession of herds, and great store of servants."
 It is plain, that what the sacred narrator wishes to                       `k Weet zelfs, dat ik eens moet komen
 impress upon his readers is that the prosperity of Isaac                     Tot het buigen van mijn hoofd;
 partook of the character of the miraculous. In Isaac's                     "Wat God gaf heeft Hij genomen
 case this material increase was the sign of Jehovah's                        En Zijn naam zij steeds geloofd!"
 favor.                                                                     0, ik weet het, wil vergeven
       His career at Gerar shows one dark stain, however.                     Dat mijn hart niet stil kan z$jn:
 The inquirer of the people respecting his relation to                      `k Voel `t gemis voor al mijn leven
 Rebekah alarmed him. Following the example of his                            Nog te brandend als een pijn.
 father, he passes her off as his sister: "For he feared                    Vader, neem mij in Uw  armen
 to say, she is my wife, lest, said he, the men of the
 place should kill me for Rebekah ; because she was fair                      Zacht,  zooals een moeder doet.
 to look upon." There was an element of truth in the                        Dat mijn ziel om Uw erbarmen
 declaration. Rebekah was a distant relative of his. It                       Weer vertrouwend worden  moet . . . .
 appears from the record that Isaac's suspicions were                       Vader, wil in mij genezen
 groundless. At no time during his long stay at Gerar                         `t Wilde schroeien van de pijn -
 was Rebekah apprehended either by the king or by                           En laat mij dan dichter  wezen
 any of his servants. When, through the intercourse                           Bij U, dan ik nu kan zijn . . . .


                              A   R E F O R M E D   S E M I - M O N T H L Y   M A G A Z I N E
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Vol. VII, No. 6                                               DECEMBER 15, 1930                                         Subscription Price, $2.50

                                                                                  ficance of final judgment all by itself. Mighty billows
           M E D I T A T I O N                                                    of destruction, each consisting of three lesser waves,
                                                                                  three times three, announced, announced, not an-
                                                                                  nounced, each more terrible than its predecessor, each
                                                                                  carrying its message of evil forebodings and filling the
                 ASHES OF OPPRESSION                                              hearts of men with dark apprehension of more horrible
                      And they took  ashes  of the furnace and                    things to come, until the wrath of God seems gathered
                   stood  before   Pharaoh;   and  Moses   sprinkled
                   it  up  toward   heaven   .  .  .  .                           up in that one mighty billow of destruction that left all
                                                                Ex.  930.         the first-born of Egypt dead in its wake . . . .
   Mighty waves of divine judgment came rolling over                                    They came, the first three, the bloody river, the
Qc.vpt-                                                                           everywhere present frog, the lice-producing soil, mock-
   They came, now announced by the God of Israel ing at Egypt's gods, exposing them as worse than
through His servant Moses, a cruel king with a wicked vanities  ; leaving the magicians helpless either to re-
advisory council of foolish wise men standing cynically move or to  imit&e,  forcing from them the cynical con-
expectant, now without warning, striking suddenly, fession: this is the finger of God !
woeful harbingers of that final judgment that will                                      They came, the second three, swarms of flies and
come upon the ungodly with the swiftness of light- insects that devoured them, grievous murrain among
ning.                                                                             the cattle leaving horses and cattle, sheep and oxen,
   They came, destructive upon the house of bondage; camels and asses dead in their stables and on the field,
humiliating its gods that were exposed in their im- sore boils ongan and beast, ,leaving..,even  the magicians
potency to protect their humble worshippers in the so unsightly that they were ashamed  to appear before
midst of these fearful catastrophes against the hot Moses with these unmistakable marks of defeat on
anger of Jehovah ; bringing to nought the wisdom of their faces !
the wise, whose wisdom proved incapable of providing                                    They came, the third three, with. implacable cer-
means either to prevent or to remove the horrible tainty, destructive hail and fire that leaped over the
plagues; devastating the land, killing man and beast, ground, smiting the barley and the flax; clouds of
causing every living creature to groan and writhe in locusts stripping the country of every green thing  ;
agony . . . .                                                                     darkness that could be felt, a final warning of the dark
   They came, not as natural phenomena, in which and terrible night .of the fourteenth of Nisan and of
the wise of the world might merely perceive the fatal the approach of the Angel of Vengeance !
and unavoidable "finger of God," but as mighty signs                                    It came, finally, fatally, irresistibly, in the stillness
and wonders, clear manifestations of the powerful arm of night, the-Angel  of the Lord passing with the swift-
of Jehovah operating mightily in the land for the real- ness of lightning from home to home, from the palace
ization of His covenant-promise, for the salvation of of the king to the mansions of the magicians to the
His chosen people, for the execution of vengeance upon dwelling of servants and peasants ; till all Egypt awoke
the cruel oppressor of His beloved, urging on a wicked with a terrible cry of soul-agony and every house be-
and cruel and proud monarch quickly to  6ll his meas- wailed the death of its first-born!                                          `:)
ure of iniquity, that he might be destroyed forever . .                                 It had come, because the Lord of hosts was willing
   They came in quick succession, all the vials of to show His wrath and manifest His divine power over
God's anger being emptied within the space of one the vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction; and be-
year, in groups of three times three, the tenth plague cause Jehovah had counselled to deliver His people
distinct from them all and standing with terrible signi- with a mighty arm !


                                             ~_- __
1 I;I 122                                 T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                     ---_-.

         It had come, because a proud king, mere speck of subjection to the yoke of merciless bondage to which
      dust of the balance, had exalted himself against Him, they had been subjected by a king and a people that
      had wantonly oppressed His beloved, had hardened his could have no rightful dominion over them? They
      heart and refused to let His people go !                    had submitted, they had labored and toiled, they had
         Mighty waves of judgment !                               bent their backs under heavy burdens and groaned,
                                                                  they had baked brick and tilled the soil. And what had
                                                                  been their wages ? Ashes and worse than the ashes
                                                                  that were taken from the furnace of their affliction.
         Ashes of oppression!                                     Hard words, mockery and reproach, the whip of the
         By these the terrible significance of the last plague taskmaster lashing their backs at the slightest sign of
      of the second group was symbolically explained to the rebellion, oppression and cruelty, the attempt to choke
      hardened king.                                              their male children at birth, the command to drown
         Without forewarning it was inflicted.           *        them in the river as soon as they saw the light of this
         Of the first of this series of judgments the king had world, - such were the wages Egypt paid for the toil
      been apprehended as he went down to the river, not to of slavery! And such were the things represented by
      bathe but to worship, seeking protection perhaps, with the handfuls of ashes now scattered by the man of
      the gods of Egypt in this battle between them and           God toward the heavens . . . .
      Jehovah. The warning, however, he did not heed, the            Ashes of oppression !
      plague of the flies and insects was inflicted, and soon        Cannot the `ungodly understand?
      the pests so filled the land, that one could not set his       Have not the people of God been laboring in the
      foot anywhere without arousing swarms of them. Nor furnace of affliction throughout the history of the
      did the plague break the king's heart, for, though he Church in the world ? Have they not been oppressed
      at first appears to repent and makes promises to let by the powers of darkness, mocked at and made a re-
      the people go, no sooner does the Lord send relief than proach of all, exiled and chased into holes and
      the proud monarch hardens his wicked heart.                 dungeons, gone hungry and thirsty, cold and in want,
         It was probably in his palace, that he received the whenever it pleased an ungodly world to reveal its
      announcement of the second of this series of judg- bitter enmity against the Most High and His people?
      ments. This time the king not only fails to heed the Have they not been killed by the sword all the day
      warning, but pays no attention to the plague when it long, burnt at the stake, subjected to the most in-
      is upon the stricken country, grievous though it were. human cruelty, sawn asunder, whenever they were
         The third came without warning. There was some- found to be faithful witnesses of the light? And did
      thing peculiarly threatening in this omission. For it not the judgment of the world come, when they cruci-
      warns the king, that in the end death and destruction fied the Prince of Peace, the Lord of Glory, because
      will overtake him suddenly. The announcements be- they loved darkness rather than light? . . . .
      fore the infliction of the plagues might leave with the        Woe unto you!
      king the impression that he would always have- time to         Woe unto you, 0 king and wise men,.-nd  servants
      escape ; the unannounced judgments are like those and taskmasters of Egypt, that exalt yourselves
      louder peals of thunder amid distant rumblings that against the living God and against His people, oppres-
      forewarn of the fact approaching storm. Besides, this sing them with labor without wages, wantonly lashing
      third of the second series of plagues assumed an espe- them into submission, staining your hands and your
      cially threatening aspect by the symbol of the ashes of souls with their blood ! . . . .
      the furnace scattered toward heaven by the man of              Woe unto you, ye ungodly, that have shed the
      God. Thus the Lord had commanded Moses and blood of the righteous, from the blood of righteous
      Aaron: "Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, Abel to that of the Son of God and from the blood of
      and let Moses sprinkle. it toward the heaven in the the Lord of Glory to that of the last soul that will be
      sight of Pharaoh." And thus the man of God did, choked to death by cruel Antichrist! . . . .
      standing before the king. And the ashes of the furnace,        Woe unto you, for the ashes remain in the furnace !
      thus scattered toward the heavens, became sore boils,          Woe unto you, for they are scattered toward the
      breaking forth upon man and upon beast! . . . .             heavens as a mighty cry of the saints that have suf-
         Ashes of oppression !                                    fered at your bloody and wicked hands, a cry for
         Could the proud oppressor of the people of God fail justice, a cry for vengeance, a cry increasing in volume
      to understand their terrible meaning?                       as the ages roll by and rising to Him that sitteth upon
         Those ashes were taken from the furnace in which the throne !
      the people of God had prepared bricks for the great-           Woe unto you, ye rich men ! Weep and howl ! For
      ness of Egypt. Was it not clear as the sun in the           the unpaid hire of the Iabourers that have reaped
      heavens at noonday, that these ashes represented the down your field and the cries of them that reaped are
      toil of Israel and its fruit, the labor of God's people entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Ye have
      and their wages ? What had been their labor but cruel lived in pleasure on the earth, ye have been wanton, ye


                                      THE  S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                             123

have nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter, ditional. He will let the people go, on condition that
ye have condemned and killed the just . . . .             the Lord will let him go first and the plague is re-
   Woe unto you, for the cry of the souls under the moved! And thus he had revealed that his humiliation
altar in heaven, of them that have been slain for the was false and feigned. For true repentance is con-
Word of God and for the testimony which they held, cerned with God and righteousness, with sin and guilt,
mingles with the prayers and sighs of the oppressed and desires forgiveness and peace; false humiliation is
saints in the world: "How long, Lord, holy and true, concerned with self and selfish interests and only longs
dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them to escape punishment in the service of sin!
that dwell on the earth ?" . . . .                           Thus it had been with Pharaoh !
   Woe unto you!                                             And the plague had been removed! The Lord had
   Think ye, that the Lord, holy and true, will not hear fulfilled the condition of the wicked king!
the cry of the elect that rises in His ears day and          Not, indeed, as if the Omniscient did not search the
night ?                                                   depth of the king's heart and knew not that his re-
   Think ye, that He will not avenge the blood of them pentance was false! But, first, the ungodly must have
that are dear to Him as the apple of the eye?             no semblance of an excuse left; never may the wicked
   Oh, but He will avenge them quickly! Be patient, king be able to say, that he promised and that God
therefore, brethren !                                     would not. Secondly, remember that God is no man,
   Behold, even now, the ashes that are scattered to- and that, though He will let the sinner go once and
ward the heavens, become a sore boil !                    twice, the latter can never escape from His mighty
   Even now it is breaking forth with blains upon man hand; judgment is sure to come. Thirdly, it is the
and upon beast!                                           surest sign of His wrath and anger, that He allows the
   The Lord of hosts is come to remember the ashes wicked his way and will, for a time, remove the hand
of oppression !                                           of his vengeance from him. For His child He will
   Woe unto you !                                         chastise till he stands corrected and sanctified in
                                                          eternal glory ; the wicked He will give according to the
                                                          desire of his wicked heart, till he will be plunged into
                                                          eternal destruction ! . . . .
   Ashes of oppression ?                                     Thus the king's heart had been hardened.
   Scattered by the man of God and breaking forth as         When the plague was removed his wicked heart
sore boils upon man and beast ! What a sign !             reasserted itself and became manifest in its true nature.
   Does not the cruel tyrant of Egypt see and under- How easy it was for him to persuade himself not to
stand ? Does he not stay the hand that is about to let the people go, as soon as God's oppressing hand had
sprinkle the ashes before the face of Jehovah, the God been removed ! It was merely a question of victory
of Israel? Will he not repent and humble himself? for his wicked heart over his temporary fears !
Will he not be mindful of all the cruelty and oppres-        Now, in the presence of Moses scattering the ashes
sion those ashes represent? Will he not attempt to of the furnace toward the heavens, he paid no atten---
ward off the terrible judgment that must follow when t i o n !
the Most High answers the cries represented by these         Though the plague comes without forewarning, im-
ashes? . . . .                                            pressing on his mind that he will quickly descend into
   He will not!                                           destruction; though the sign of the sprinkled ashes
   For the Lord hardened his heart !                      clearly speaks the language of wrath and vengeance
    Oh, fear had been struck into the heart of the king, and impending judgment; yet he heeds it not ! . . . .
once, twice and again !                                      For the Lord would destroy him and hardens his
   At the commencement of this second group of judg- heart. He sets the ungodly on slippery places to de-
ments it had appeared as if he would really humble stroy them . . . .
himself. But his humiliation had been false and pre-         He will avenge His people!
tended. It had been rooted, not in sorrow and re-            Be patient, brethren!
pentance for his sin, but in fear of judgment and in                                                        H. H.
the desire to remove that implacable hand of the Lord
far from him.      He had made an attempt to com-
promise and to bargain with the Most High ! Sacri-           The Girl's Society of the Byron Center Protestant
fice ye to your God in the land ! he had offered. No, Reformed Church will have its annual Sale of plain
he would not obey, he would not let the people go, he and fancy needlework in the town hall at 730 o'clock,
would continue oppressing them; but they might try Dec.  18. Refreshments will be served.
to appease their God by sacrificing in the land ! This
having failed, it had appeared that he would finally
surrender to the Lord of lords and comply with  His                 Zoo gij uw weg met God wilt tree%
request. But even then, his surrender had been con-                 Loop nooit vooruit,  dan Ioopt  ge alleen.


128                                   T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

                                                            previous Synod, e.g., to continue and bring to comple-
COMMENT ON THE REPORT OF THE INTRODUC-                      tion this work of preparing a collection of  Church-
                     TION OF HYMNS                          songs in the English language, taking every possible
                                                            care  that the songs of such a collection shall be sound
       The point we made in our previous comment on in content and suitable for us in our public worship:
the report of the committee is that the committee in           "(a) because it is the prerogative of the con-
delineating on the matter of the introduction of Hymns gregation to give expression in her singing to that
in public worship obscured the issue it sought to prove. which is expressed in all other parts of public worship,
As was said, the question, properly stated, is not namely, the blessings of redemption as revealed in
whether the New Testament Church may regulate its Christ and the praise of the triune God of salvation, -
public worship or whether the free song shall be used as brought to light in the  Kew Testament revelation,  -
alongside of the Psalms, but whether in public service to do that not only in the language of the dispensation
the free song shall be used alongside of versified scrip- in which God spoke through prophets, but also in the
tures. The free song or Hymn we defined as the versi- language of the dispensation in which God has spoken
fied religious experiences and sentiments of fallible to us through the Son ;
personages. We may add by way of explanation that              "(b) because  - whereas the New Testament
if true and genuine, these experiences and sentiments scriptures contain no collection of songs, as was given
not only agree with the Word of God, but may be said to the Church of the Old Testament, and whereas it
to be the Word of God which as so much seed fell in would be in conflict with the testimony of Scripture
the well-prepared heart of the saint and brought forth concerning the glory of the New Testament, that the
fruit in the form of a sacred song. It was pointed out New Testament Church should be deprived of a pri-
that of necessity this song is inferior to the versified vilege which was granted to the Old Testament
scripture. The latter is the ,versification  of revealed Church, viz., to have songs in harmony with the New
truth as apprehended and reproduced by personages Testament revelation, as the Old Testament Church
- prophets and apostles - who could not err. The had songs in harmony with the Old Testament revela-
former (the free song) is the versification of the re- tion - the securing of such songs must be regarded
vealed truth of God as it dwells in the heart of the as a task which was entrusted to the New Testament
fallible believer whose powers of apprehension are Church itself, and for which it was qualified by the
subject to error and often do err. Though the versi- outpouring of the Holy Spirit . . . . " (Report, p. 32).
fied scripture is no exact reproduction of the original        With much of what the above-cited selection asserts
text, it must nevertheless be conceded that there is a are we at one. Unquestionably it is the prerogative
vast difference between this scripture and the free of the New Testament Church to give expression in her
song.  The.committee,  too, virtually grants this. We singing "to the blessings of redemption as brought to
quote : "We fully agree with the statement that there light in New Testament revelation." However, if, as
are no Hymns which can equal the Psalms in voicing the Report declares, the versified Scripture excels the
the depths of spiritual life, the depth of spiritual dis- free song, why did not the committee urge the Church
tress and misery, of penitence before God, of a strug- to express these blessings in the form of versified New
gling and triumphant faith, of praising and glorifying Testament scriptures? The committee shall have to
God." Page 23 of the Report.                                admit that the only reason the songs of the Psalter
       It seems to me that an admission of this kind is excel the Hymn is that these songs are versified scrip-
fatal to the entire argumentation of the committee. If tures. That it is exactly this feature that constitutes
the versified scriptures (of both the Old and the New them a .collection  of incomparable sacred poetry - a
Testament) would and do constitute a collection of in- poetry that, as we remarked in our preceding article,
comparable sacred poetry, why then urge the churches shares as none other, the strength, the beauty, the
to introduce the free song? The committee, if it sublimity of the infallible Word of which it is the
deigned to reply, would in all likelihood point to its versification ; for what the poet did was to tie himself
reasoning found in the Report which reads: "But such down to the Word so that his song is expressive of the
speaking from the depths of spiritual life is certainly mind of the Spirit as no other song can be. Well, then,
not the only good quality of the Church-song. It must why recommend introducing the Hymn? This ques-
be admitted that the spiritual song which speaks the tion, too, the committee answered in its Report.
language of the glory of salvation in Christ as revealed       Attend now to the assertion: "The New Testament
in the New Testament has a virtue of its own which scriptures contain no collection of songs, as was given
the ~S&IIS could not possess. Therefore we need both, to the Church of the Old Testament." We deny this.
and may profit from both, without exalting one at the As was said, the New Testament is interspersed with
expense of the other, or casting one aside because it hymns,  - hymns of unsurpassing power and beauty.
has a different character than the other." And once            However, the question arises, what the committee
more (the committee) : "To grant the request of the may have meant by its assertion that the New Testa-
Classis Grand Rapids East, . . . . submitted at the ment scriptures contain no collection of songs, no


                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                        129

poetry, therefore. If by poetry was meant a metrical that Reformed Protestantism, better than any other
composition, it is true that only the  Hebrew scriptures Protestantism, succeeded in apprehending the truth'!
contain songs. However, the meter of the Hebrew                 How should a group of churches, let us say of Re-
verse is of no use whatever to the hymnologist. His formed persuasion, supply itself with a collection of
whole task consists in translating this verse and in hymns that are Reformed? What is the course to be
transferring the thought circulating through it from persued  here ? Not certainly that of the Christian
one rhythmical mold into another, so that from the Reformed churches. What course did these churches
point of view of this versifier the Old Testament scrip- persue? We will let the Report speak:
tures are as destitute of songs as the New Testament            "The committee on the question of introducing
scriptures. Well, then, how can the absence of metrical Hymns wishes to present the following report to your
composition in the New Testament scriptures be taken honorable body.
as the sign that it is the task of the Church to supply         "The matter of introducing Hymns in Public Wor-
itself with free songs that set forth truths found in the ship was brought up for the first time at our previous
New Testament scriptures? Whereas, from the point Synod as a matter of great importance, calling for
of view of this versifier, all the scriptures are devoid special attention . . . .
of metrical compositions, why not place the church be-          "The preadvisory committee of the previous Synod
fore the task of providing itself with a collection of was favorably disposed to the matter. It judged that
songs with a content gleaned from the entire field of an investigation as to the legitimacy of such an in-
revealed truth? The reply of the committee in all troduction  of Hymns was not necessary, and even in-
likelihood would be, that this task at least in part has advisable. Such investigation was not deemed neces-
been completed. The Psalms of David have been versi- sary because in the excellent overture of Classis Grand
fied. Indeed! Why, then, not urge the church to com- Rapids East the right to sing Hymns in Public Wor-
plete this task instead of putting up a plea for the free ship had been clearly shown.          It was deemed in-
song ?                                                       advisable since such an investigation would involve a
    But perhaps the committee used the term hymn, loss of time of two years, whereas immediate action
psalm or song as the signification, not of a metrical was needful . . . .
composition, but of language of exalted thought. If so,         "It (the committee) advised therefore that- Synod
it shall have to be admitted that hymns are to be found should adopt the overture of  Classis  Grand Rapids
in the New Testament scriptures as well as in the Old. East, viz. :
    Let us now set out on a different train of thought          " (b)    To take the necessary steps for procuring
by raising the question: What may be the objections such a collection of Hymns to be used in our Church
against the introduction of the free song in public iservices.
worship? As the report asserts, from the point of               "The Synod apparently considered this preadvise  to
view of principle there are no objections against this radical. In its stead a substitute motion was adopted
song. We will even*go  all the way with the committee in which Synod declared that it had no objection to the
and say that the churches would have reasons to re- introduction of Hymns in Public Worship, but never-
joice were they in the possession of a collection of theless judged it necessary,-in view of the practical
hymns fit to be introduced in public worship. This and' historical objections, voiced at Synod, that a com-
raises the question, what requirements the free song, mittee should make a special study of the entire ques-
fit to be used in public worship, ought to meet? The tion. Therefore Synod decided :
answering of this question will provide  "us with an            "1. To appoint a committee whose work should
opportunity of advancing our practical objections to be:
the hymn.                                                       " (a)    To make a thorough study of the matter and
   The first requirement is doctrinal soundness. The consider it from all points of view;
free song must be sound. The committee, too, empha-             "(b)     To investigate whether or not a satisfactory
sizes doctrinal soundness. We quote: "Naturally the number of hymns can be found, suitable for use in our
freedom to use Hymns in Public Worship concerns worship.
only such Hymns as are sound, i.e., in agreement with           "2. In case a  suflicient number of such Hymns
God's Word. Hymns of another nature may not be can be found, to compile these and present them for
considered. Thus the Church must be very careful approval to the Synod of 1930; moreover to publish
not to permit Hymns that cannot stand this test. The the text of these Hymns deemed suitable six months
adoption may not be a matter of local option, but must before said Synod." (Report. pp. 6 and 7).
be judged and  dedided  by the Church as a whole." So           In brief, then, the Christian Reformed churches,
far the committee.                                           met in Synod, appointed a committee to search for
   Doctrinal soundness, then, is the  tist requisite. hymns for public worship. The hymns found were to
Me thinks, however, that we are duty bound to insist be compiled and presented to the next Synod for ap-
that a collection of hymns fit for public worship ought proval. The committee set itself to its appointed task.
to be Reformed ; for isn't it the conviction of all of us       Both ecclesiastical and temporal boundaries were


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ignored and the entire field of sacred poetry combed local flock, and preached but once. The text of the
for hymns. This is evident from the great variety of creed or confession, on the other hand, is printed for
names accompaning these songs. At the end of about perpetual use. It is preserved as a standard of truth
a year and a half members of the committee had agreed to do service as a bond of unity, as a common floor for
on some hundred and ninety-seven songs-These,  deemed a group of like-minded churches to stand upon. It is
suitable, were presented to the following Synod for the formulation of the truth that dwells not' in the
approval.     As the committee sensed how extremely heart of the lone individual, but in the joint hearts of
unreformed, yea let us  sa.y wicked, it would be, to a distinct group of believers.
refuse to give the laity a voice in the matter, the text       Now, then, the church-song. Should it be classified
of the aforesaid compilation was published, and the with the sermon or with the creed? And the answer
common member urged to supply himself with a copy is ready: With the creed by all means. For this song
of this text for study in order that in the intervening as the creed is preserved for perpetual use. As the
half year (mark you, half year) this member might creed it is or should be expressive of the truth that
arrive at certainty respecting either the doctrinal dwells in the joint minds and hearts of that particular
soundness or unsoundness of the selections of the com- group whose names it shares.
mittee. Preposterous ! At the end of a half year,              I think we are now ready for the question how a
mind you, the churches were asked to be done with distinct group of believers go about the business of
their study of the committee's selection and to place supplying themselves with church-songs? Not surely
upon it their stamp of approval.                            as the Christian Reformed churches, met in Synod,
       Of late years the action of some of the outstanding went about this business. Pray, when in the history
figures in the Christian Reformed denomination have of Protestantism was a distinct body of believers ever
been of a most baffling and perplexing nature. Combing known to have appointed a committee of seven men to
the entire field of sacred poetry for hymns ! Proposing traverse land and sea in search of suitable material for
that the churches at the end of a half year be done with a creed, and to be done with its task after a year and
their study of the selection made. Amazing !                a half that the body in the following half year might
       What are your objections, someone may interpolate. prepare itself to approve the findings? Yet something
You would still ask this? What is such a sacred song? equally as strange recently happened, if the creed and
How should it be classified? The Report of the Com- the church-song are like phenomena. The Christian
mittee contains an answer. We again quote: "It in- Reformed churches, met in Synod, instructed a small
dicates (this absence of precepts relating to congre- group of seven churchmen to scour the entire field of
gational singing) that the task of providing New Christian literature for church-songs. A year and a
Testament Church-songs, to be used alongside of the half passed by. The  seven report that their task is
Psalms, is left to the Spirit endowed the New Testa- completed, and the brotherhood which they served was
ment Church itself. Such has been the judgment of allowed a half year for a study of their findings. And
the Church from old. Since the New Testament con- if these seven churchmen could have had their way
tains no Confession and no Church Order, the Church about it, the churches they represented would have
itself has provided these, fully convinced of its right been singing their selections the first Sabbath after
and duty to do so. The same principle that has guided the expiration of that half year.
the Church in regard to these requisites, also holds           What may be the objection to a creed or church-
good in regard to New Testament Church Hymns . .  " song obtained in the above-described manner? Like a
(Report, p. 17).                                            machine, a creed or hymnal, so obtained, is constituted
       One more quotation: "Against the use in Public of parts fit together; while creeds and hymnals worthy
Worship of songs that are fully in agreement with the of the name .are things that grow in the soil of the
Word of God there can be no objection as to their joint hearts of that distinct group of believers whose
contents . . . . Scripture teaches us that in Public name they bear. Scripture time and again compares
Worship the free expression of divine truth in human truth to seed which, when falling in good earth, brings
language is in accordance with the will of God and forth fruit, it may be a hymnal, a creed, a prayer, a
divinely instituted. This appears from the fact that sermon or some other good work. Materials gathered
the Lord has ordained preaching and praying in Public from the four corners of the vast field of sacred liter-
Worship . . .  ." (Report, p. 17).                          ature and thrown together in one pot may make pot-
       The committee classified, and correctly so, the pourri but no fruit. Fruit grows.
Church-song with the Confession, with the sermon, and          It seems to me that the Christian Reformed
with the free prayer. The three do not differ essen- churches should be satisfied with nothing less than a
tially. It was the Church apprehending and assim- hymnal that is fruit, yea Reformed fruit. A Reformed
ilating revealed truth that gave us the creed, the song, hymnal is something more than a conglomeration of
and the sermon. There are, however, some differences the off-scouring of the earth. Such a hymnal is the
to be noticed. The sermon is an individual exposition spontaneous ejaculation of the truth of God as it dwells
of a particular passage of Scripture, delivered to a in the joint heart of a brotherhood that is Reformed.


                                   T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                    131

   The Report often speaks of the task of the New sermon or creed can be. Not the sermon, not the creed
Testament church. Attend to the following: "Because, is sung, but the hymn and that repeatedly year after
whereas the New Testament scriptures contain no col- year. Thus it gradually embeds itself in the soul of
lection of songs, as was given to the church of the Old the singing assembly. The reason, then, why the song
Testament, and whereas it would be in conflict with selected for public worship should be doctrinally sound
the testimony of Scripture concerning the glory of the is exceedingly great. When was the Christian church
New Testament, that the New Testament church ever known to have made, appraised, and approved a
should be deprived of the privilege which was granted creed in the space of two years? Never. Besides,
to the Old Testament church, viz., to have songs in creeds are not made nor imported, but grow, The
harmony with the New Testament revelation, as the committee, however, needed but two years to import
Old Testament church had songs  rn harmony with the and appraise a hymnal, as if the task of appraising a
Old Testament revelation  - the securing of such songs hymnal, and of sensing the errors that might be cir-
must be regarded as a task which was entrusted to the culating through it, is a light one that can be per-
New Testament church itself and for which it was formed overnight. To appraise a collection of songs is
qualified by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit . . . " a tremendous task. It is a task to which the committee
(Report, p. 32).                                         and the brotherhood it represented is not equal as we
   So, then, it is the task of the New Testament shall prove.
church to secure songs that are in harmony with New         Another thing.     When the Christian Reformed
Testament revelation. We will not deny that the New churches will have appraised and approved the com-
Testament church has a duty in this respect. It seems mittee's selections, what will be their assurance that
to me, however, that the committee should have passed their appraisals are correct? What will constitute the
in its thinking from the New Testament church in basis of this assurance? And the answer is ready:
general to the various.distinct brotherhoods, yea, to its The ability of these churches to appraise in a brief
own brotherhood  - the Christian Reformed churches space of a few years some hundred and ninety-seven
- and tllereupon faced the question in what task the hymns. It means that this basis will be characterized
absence of church-songs in agreement with New Testa- by great weakness ; for, to begin with, the appraising
ment revelation might involve this particular group shall have to be done by a few men. Or does H. J.
of churches. Strange that the committee failed to do Kuiper imagine that the majority of the members of
this. Isn't the' Rev. H. J. Kuiper aware of the fact his churches will go to studying his selections? He
that the Christian Reformed churches or let us say, the ought to know better. I assure him that these hymns
Reformed churches, constitute a distinct brotherhood will not even be made an object of serious study by the
duty bound before God to live and exhibit its distinct- majority of the clergy.
iveness not only in its creed but also in its hymnal?       Nevertheless, let us assume that at least the clergy
Or can it be that H. J. Kuiper refused for some reason will take more than a passing notice of these hymns,
or other to come nearer hcme? However this may be, will the verdict it renders be so reliable as to be fit to
the committee should have  laid..hold  on and gotten be- do service as a guarantee that the hymns appraised
fore its eye the specific duty of the Christian Reformed are either fit or unfit for public worship? Our answer
churches respecting the matter of church-songs instead must be an unmistakable  no. Fact is, that no group of
of delineating in its report on such self-evident matters churchmen, however capable, could render a  safe-
as the privilege of the New Testament church to wor- enough verdict respecting the soundness of a collection
ship God in the language of New Testament fulhlment.     of hymns, it had studied but a few years.
   Well, brethren, what may be your task? Not to            Bnd how about the creed? Jsn't it true, that the
traverse, as you have done, land and sea in search of truth circulating through the creed in some instances
materials for a  potpourri, but to grow on your own for more than a century was carried about in the
native soil a hymnal that features your distinctiveness. hearts of men, talked about, discussed, contested,
   Is Reformed Protestantism of today equal to this viewed from every angle, before being cast into a  fixed
task? It is doubtful ; for the task calls for men with form and raised to the rank of a doctrinal standard?
poetical ability, for men who understand and love And H. J. Kuiper and his fellows would introduce into
Reformed truth, and who as lovers of the truth dwell public worship a hymnal assembled and approved in
on a high spiritual plain.                               two year's time, - a hymnal that, if in error, would
   So we are placed before the choice of importing a turn out to be a far more formidable instrument of
hymnal or keeping ourselves to the versified scripture. corruption than a lying creed could ever be? Amazing!
The Christian Reformed churches choose to do the            In his report, H. J. Kuiper freely admits that the
former. And the Synod of 1928 would allow the Reformers, and in particular Calvin, were opposed to
churches a half year to appraise the committee's selec- hymns ; but, he (H. J. Kuiper) adds, that their attitude
tions. This is astounding, if it be considered that a to the free church-song, which in their time and cir-
song in error, is even a more formidable instrument of cumstances was undoubtedly correct does not necessi-
corruption in the church than either the erroneous tate that our attitude be the same today  ; for, says


132                                  T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

Kuiper, "they also expressed themselves as opposed to          Kuiper has it, then, that Calvin's reasons were
bell-ringing and such things, yet it does not follow valid, and his method sound. The thing to do now is
that we must follow suit."                                 to ascertain whether for reasons equally as cogent
    We heartily agree, of course. However, what ought Calvin's stand and method should be taken and adopted
to be ascertained is : For what reason was Calvin op- this day.
posed to hymns ; was this reason valid ; does this same        The first of the aforesaid reasons still applies. As
reason exist this day? If so, H. J. Kuiper will be ever, the Psalter is a collection of incomparable sacred
compelled to admit that he, as Calvin, should have ex- literature. As to the second reason, apparently it does
pressed himself as opposed to the free church-song.        not exist today. The problem confronting the Chris-
    Let us, then, institute an inquiry into Calvin's rea- tian Reformed churches is not how* to cleanse their
sons for rejecting the free song. H. J. Kuiper did this worship from a collection of obnoxious songs, for these
for us and was so obliging as to insert his findings  in churches are as yet Psalm-singing churches. However,
his report.    We quote: "Calvin had emphatically they are now contemplating introducing hymns so that
favored Psalms. In a foreword to a small collection of the problem confronting them is how to prevent the
versifled Psalms he wrote (namely Calvin, G. M. 0) : obnoxious hymn, whose number is legionary as Kuiper
`What Augustine has said is true, that no one can sing admits in his report, from gaining entrance into their
anything worthy of God unless he has received it of public worship. Who can't see that the task of ridding
God. Therefore, however diligently we may seek and permanently, of course, public worship from the un-
search, we shall find no songs more suitable to do this desirable hymn is identical to the task of barring from
than the Psalms of David, which the Holy Spirit has public worship this hymn? Well, then, if the best way.
inspired. In singing these we are certain that God to eliminate this song is to maintain the singing of
puts the words in our mouths, as if He Himself were        Psalms, it must follow that the best way to keep out
singing in us to extol His glory.' " (Report, p. 20).      this song is to maintain the singing of Psalms.
   One more quotation that reads: "For to all those           However distasteful this line of reasoning may be
things (namely, to organs and bell-ringing, etc.) Rome to Kuiper, he shall have to make it his own. He ad-
had attached superstitious powers and influences. In mitted too much to allow himself to cast this reasoning
such circumstances it is necessary to refrain from         and the conclusion to which it leads from him and stili
eating meat for the sake of the King's business.           lay a claim to intellectual honesty.
   "Public Worship also, the singing included, was            Kuiper has it then that there is no-better way to
entirely corrupted by Rome.        The congregation no keep public worship pure than to maintain the singing
longer sang. It had been silenced by the choir as the of Psalms ; that the individual or group of individuals
people wanted to listen to its beautiful strains . . . . taking this stand is deserving of appreciation and re-
And as to the contents of the choir singing, the free spect, for he gives evidence of firmness  and discern-
song had gained the upperhand, these free songs were ment. Well, then, why introduce the hymn? One can
mainly songs of idolatrous worshipping of saints, and with ease imagine the counter-argument that will be
among them,-unnoticed by the people, who did not un- forthcoming. Kuiper will  -.-say  _ (in private) : True-
derstand Latin, but not unnoticed by the clergy, ditties enough, the best way to bar the undesirable hymn is to
of a decidedly immoral nature might be heard as part maintain exclusively Psalm-singing. However, there
of the service." So far Kuiper.                            is another way, though not as good, yet equally as
   Calvin, then, was opposed to hymns for two rea- effective.
sons, to-wit: the hymns cannot compare with the               What, pray, may that way be? Combing the entire
Psalms of David, as the latter were inspired by the field of sacred poetry for hymns and submitting these
Holy Spirit; the hymnal in use was a collection of dis- for a half year to the churches for appraisal and ap-
reputable songs and thus unfit. And, instead of sup- proval? That surely is no way to do,!
planting this hymnal by a better one, Calvin intro-           In attempting to remove the objections to the free
duced the versified  Psalms.                               song, the committee often fell into some strange rea-
   Did Calvin, according to Kuiper, do right? Were soning - reasoning that indicates as plain as can be
his reasons for barring hymns valid? Indeed! At- that eyes remained closed to the real nature of what is
tend to the following from Kuiper's pen: "Small advocated. One example. In reply to the objection
wonder therefore that also in this respect a thorough that the majority of the existing hymns are indeed
reformation was considered imperative. And there leavened with Arminianism, and that the danger of
was no better way to eliminate these pernicious songs bringing this pernicious doctrine into the church along
than to introduce and strictly maintain the singing of with the hymns is far from imaginary, the committee
Psalms. The decided stand of the Reformation fathers, remarks: "That by far the majority of Hymns are in-
even in respect to things of minor importance, deserves deed leavened with Arminianism remains to be seen.
our appreciation and respect. Theirs was no foolish . . . . But even if it were so, the argument would not
narrowness but rather evidence of discernment and effect the case. For first of all it cannot serve as an
fimness" (Report,  p. 21).                                 argument against hymns as such. Many public prayers


                                    T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                         133

are sent up which are not worship of the God who has name  i'hristian   Reformed. Well, then, let this  Pro-
revealed Himself in His W70rd, but from this it does testantism show that it has the Spirit. This it does,
not follow that public prayer as such should be con- not by importing a hymnal, but by growing on its own
demned" (Page 36 of the Report).                             native soil a hymnal that will exhibit the peculiar
   How brilliant a reply !     How conclusive ! How workings of the Spirit on this soil. H. J. Kuiper should
fitting ! How much wiser we all are after reading this. cease prating about the Spirit-endowed New Testa-
Prayer as such is not to be condemned because the ment church and place before his fellows their real  '
prayer of the ungodly is, let us say, an abomination. task. And if it appears that the Christian Reformed
The question is, however, what to think of a church- brotherhood is not equal to this task, let its leaders
man who urges his fellows to select from all the be honest enough to admit it and advise maintaining
prayers sent up, some two hundred for perpetual use the singing of Psalms instead of engaging in meaning-
in public worship instead of advising them to let their less argumentation about the task of the Spirit-en-
prayers be good fruit that grows in the soil of their dowed New Testament church.
own heart.                                                      Finally, H. J. Kuiper labored to prove that no prin-
   Prayers and hymns are miniature sermons. Is the ciple objection can be raised against the singing of
clergy of the Christian Reformed churches wont to hymns. It is self-evident that he is right in this. How-                           :
scour the whole vast field of sacred literature for ser- ever, it ought to be plain enough now that what is ob- I'
mons instead of making their own?                            jectional from the point of view of principle is to im-
   The committee makes much of the  fact that the port a hymnal when the specific divinely-imposed task
church of the new dispensation is capacitated by the is to grow a hymnal on native soil.
Holy Spirit to fulfill its task. We quote: "And in the          Herewith we take leave of the Report. In a fol-
fourth place, it is a movement that would utilize a lowing article we purpose to answer the question:
treasure given to the church in the course of time by What could have moved H. J. Kuiper and his fellows
God Himself. The fact that in the New Testament to advise importing a hymnal and introducing this
church no collection of spiritual hymns is given, as importation in public worship? An examination of
the Psalms were given to the church of the Old Testa- Rev. Kuiper's selections will tell us. An examination                    _'
ment, has been used as an argument that the New of these selections will bring to light that they con-
Testament church is not supposed to have New Testa- stitute a hymnal that taken as a whole is far from be-
ment songs for Public Worship as the Old Testament ing distinctively Reformed.
church had Old Testament songs for that same pur-                                                       G. M. 0:
pose.    The argument, however, amounts to setting
aside the fact that to the New Testament church the
Lord has given something better, viz., the Holy Spirit.                    COMPLETE IN CHRIST
The Holy Spirit was given to dwell in and to remain
with the church as a substitute of the Saviour Him-                 Complete in Christ? 0 blissful sound,
self, and to endow it with the necessary spiritual gifts              Let saints with wonder tell;
for fulfilling its calling. Through the guidance of the             `Tis full redemption wrought by blood                `.
Holy Spirit the New Testament church has provided                     That saves from sin and hell.
for many things which in the Old Testament had been
given by the Lord through Moses. What right is there                Complete in Christ  I `tis wondrous grace,                            I.
to make an exception of New Testament songs?" (Re-                    In God's electing love,
port, page 24).                                                     That gave the Church a hiding-place,
   We will concede the point the committee made in the                And sealed the same by blood.
above selection. We have one fault to find however.
What was before said, applies here: The committee                   Complete in Christ! are all the heirs,
should have come nearer home. The various,distinct                    Their names are writ above ;
brotherhoods entering into the make-up of the New                   The price was paid on Calv'ry's hill,
Testament church must be recognized and taken ac-                     In sweet atoning love.
count of when delineating upon the duty of the Church
respecting the hymnal. As was said, there is a Re-                  Complete in Christ ! `tis heaven on earth
formed Protestantism ; and this Protestantism believes                To feel the same within;
that it received more of the spirit, and therefore appre-           When unctuous power attends the word,
hended the truth better, than any other Protestantism.                The saints rejoice therein.
The Spirit dwells in the New Testament church indeed.
However, He dwells in the Christian Reformed Pro-                   Then let the Church now sing the song,
testantism in a way in which it pleases Him not to                    In strains of noblest joy ;
dwell in the church at large. If H. J. Kuiper refuses              And in the land of sweet repose,
to admit this he must urge his churches to drop the                   Where bliss shall never cloy.


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nclannen ; dat de Belijdenis uit den boezem der  keEken          conservatisme,  dat maar bij het oude wil blijven, juist
spontaan moet opkomen. Er is zeker niets op tegen, omdat het oud is, moeten wij niets hebben. Het strekt
er is zelfs alles voor te zeggen, dat het opstellen ge-          den Gereformeerde Kerken niet tot eere, dat het
schiedt door de leiders, die daartoe het meest bekwaam schijnt, alsof onze vaderen  meer dan drie eeuwen gele-
mogen worden  geacht. Doch dit neemt niet weg, dat               den het laatste woord hebben gezegd over de  Gerefor-
ze uitdrukking moeten geven aan hetgeen in het hart meerde waarheid. De belijdenis moet leven. En als
der kerk leeft aangaande de zuivere belijdenis der ze leeft zal ze vanzelf groeien.
waarheid. Zal het ooit tot uitbreiding of tot verbete-              Maar zeker is het, dat het voor ons persoonlijk vast-
ring der Belijdenis komen, dan is het dus beslist  nood-         staat,  dat men de lijn der Gemeene Gratie zal  moeten
zakelijk, dat de kerken zelven rijker worden  in de ken- loslaten ; dat men oog zal moeten hebben voor de orga-
nis en genade van onzen Heere Jezus Christus, in de nische  ontwikkeling aller dingen  als realiseering van
kennis van Zijn Woord. Eerst dan, wanneer de kerk den Raad des Heeren Heeren, zal er werkelijke  voor-
alzoo rijker is geworden, zoodat ze de volheid en zui-           uitgang komen, niet in de philosofie der wereld, maar
verheid harer kennis niet voldoende ziet uitgedrukt in in de ontwikkeling der waarheid, die naar  den Woorde
de aangenomen Belijdenis, kan er sprake zijn van  uit- Gods is.
bouw.                                                               Als de oogen in Nederland en hier nog eens, door
       Dit was ook in Nederland niet het geval.                  Gods genade, mogen opengaan voor deze waarheid, dan
       Er is, na  X618-`19,  geen wezenlijke vooruitgang  ge-    is er hoop.
weest in de kennis der Gereformeerde waarheid.                                                                  H. H.
       We1 is er een weer opbloeien gezien van de oude
Gereformeerde waarheid, vooral in het  laatst der vori-
ge eeuw. We zullen het niet ontkennen.
       Er is zeer veel  geschreven, over allerlei onderwer-                     THE NATIONAL CRISIS
pen, die verband  houden met de ontwikkeling der Gere-
formeerde  waarheid.                                                The beginning  of the war xGth  the Philistines-
       Maar wezenlijke vooruitgang is er niet geweest. The young prince Jonathan, here mentioned for the
Zelfs is dit niet zoo met betrekking tot de belijdenis op first time, slew the garrison or officer (the Hebrew per-
het stuk der Heilige Schrift. De Proeve,  door Deputa- mits us to transIate  oficer) placed by the Philistines at
ten aan hun rapport toegevoegd, leverde hiervan het Gibeah for the collection of tribute. What impelled
duidelijkste bewijs. Zij behelsde metterdaad niets him was his faith in God and his pious grief at the
nieuws.      Ze was geen blijk van vooruitgang op dit national indignities which his country and thus the
stuk.                                                            Lord endured at the hands of the  Philistines.  No
       En er is, in de laatste  jaren  ook achteruitgang  ge- further details are given of the origin of this partic-
weest.                                                           ular quarrel, Jonathan, however, everywhere appears
       Achteruitgang in de leer. Want de ontwikkeling as the perfect type of a warrior conscious that his help
der Gemecne Gratie-leer liep metterdaad niet in  Gere- standeth in the name of Jehovah. He is everywhere
formeerde banen. Deze theorie kan nimmer in  over-               the  ,first in courage, in activity, in speed. He is a
eenstemming  worden  gebracht met de lijn van het slender and well-made figure, a man of personal beauty
Gereformeerde denken  en belijden. Ze strijdt er tegen. and his swiftness of foot had gained for him the name
En dat niet alleen,  maar zoolang  men er tech hand en of gazelle. That the attack was made in reliance upon
tand aan wil vasthouden, staat ze ook alle ware voor- Jehovah is evident from the notice in the following
uitgang der Gereformeerde theologie in den weg. En chapter respecting the second heroic feat of Jonathan.
daarmede ook de verrijking der kerk in de kennis van He says: "Come let us go over to the garrison of the
Gods Woord. Ze sluit de oogen voor de eigenlijke lijn uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work
der Heilige Schrift.                                             for us, for there is no restraint to the Lord to say, By
       Achteruitgang ook in het leven. De leer der  Ge- many or by few."
meene Gratie heeft  we1 degelijk den weg gebaand tot                The word "smote" signifies that Jonathan with his
een verregaande vereenzelviging met de wereld.                   thousand men had inflicted a total defeat upon the
       Daarom is het thans geen tijd om te komen tot uit- Phi&tines.            Saul as the commander-in-chief of the
breiding van de Belijdenis, hoezeer sommigen het ook army immediately commands the herald to blow the
mogen wenschen, dat ze wel zal plaats hebben; hoezeer trumpet throughout -all the land of Israel and to an-
ook wij de poging prijzen en waardeeren, om tot uit- nounce the deed of Jonathan, for he knew that the
bouw en verbetering der Belijdenis te komen.                     Pbilistines would soon be upon him.
       Dit laatste voegen we er aan toe, om misverstand             The Phi&tines hear what had happened. They
te voorkomen.                                                    immediately mobilize and set out with thirty thousand
       Men meene niet, dat wij van overtuiging  zijn, dat chariots and  siir thousand horsemen and many people
ooze Drie Formulieren van Eenigheid op  verschillende            for the scene of the revolt. The entire military force
punten niet voor verbetering vatbaar zijn. Van star constituted a great host for multitude as the sand that


                                    T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                     143
                                                   .
is on the sea-shore. Having come up they pitched at disgrace, which to bear would have been worse than
&Ii&mash eastward from Bethaven. Thus did they ad- d e a t h .
vance in great rapidity and in strong force to avenge         Who were the six hundred? What made them re-
themselves and to re-establish their authority.            main? Their faith in God? If so, they constitute the
   The Israelites also realize that they had aroused remnant according to the election of Israel.
the ire of the Philistines and at the sight of this in-       Samuel failing to appear, Saul consecrated the
numerable host the people carnal and destitute of faith people to battle. Knew he not that only in the way
quake with fear. Saul had been obliged to retreat of obedience could he and the men of Israel expect to
before the oncoming host from Mickmash to  Gilgal, sit- emerge from the impending conflict a victor? That he
uated in a valley, where he awaited the people sum- sacrificed showed that he could tie the Lord down to
moned to battle by the trumpet. Fearing that at any His own institutions. No matter whether he ought not,
moment the Philistine host from its elevated position Jehovah must come to his rescue if only the sacrifice
would swoop down into the Gilgal valley, very few peo- is brought. God, therefore, is controlled by His own
ple rallied about Saul. Their recognition of danger institutions.        In his mind, therefore, Saul transfers
expressed itself in three ways: partly they hid them- the sovereignty of God from God to the sacrifice. It
selves in caves and in thickets and in rocks and in high means that he deifies the sacrifice. This sin of deifying
places and in pits ; some of them went over the Jordan the sacred institutions of Jehovah was always the out-
to the land of Gilead and Gad, mountainous regions to- standing sin of the Israelitish nation. In the words of
ward the source of the Jordan and  difllcult for the the apostle they rested not in God, but in the law.
Philistines to enter; only a small part of the people Of this sin Samuel at a later period accuses Saul when
trembling came to Saul.                                    in response to his reply that he' had spared the best
   Saul was  ;to wait, as was said, seven days for cattle for sacrifice he (Samuel) tells him that disobe-
Samuel. But Samuel tarried As can be seen, Saul is dience is idolatry.
put to a most severe test. The people were scattered          But this is not all. Consider that the army had
from him fearing that the enemy might strike before been reduced to six hundred men. What was such a
they had been consecrated to battle by offering and band compared to the innumerabIe  host of the Phili-
prayer. Should this happen, they thought, the battle stines? Surely, it must have occurred to Saul that he
would surely go against them. Here we see Israel and his unarmed band would be wiped off the face of
resting in the ceremonial law instead of in God. Espe- the earth if Jehovah refused to come to the rescue. He
cially on the seventh day, the hearts of the people must must have seen that his only salvation lay in obedience.
have been filled with -evil-forebodings respecting the So that his act must have been the giving vent to a
future, for Samuel tarried. The thought must have rebellious           spirit and considerable dissatisfaction
taken hold of them that the Lord was still displeased aroused by Samuel's delay. For he must have known
with them for their recent great sin of asking for a that a small band of six hundred, though consecrated,
king; and, having resolved to deliver them into the must needs go down in defeat before an over-
hands of the Philistine host, forbade Samuel to con- whelming majority unless God forbade. -Hence he could
secrate them to battle. Such must have been the voice not help but to have sensed the absolute necessity for
of their accusing1  uncleansed  conscience in this great obedience.
crises. Their behavior shows them up as destitute of          There is also another reason that helps to account
faith, as incapable of hiding in God when great danger for Saul's act. By sacrificing he thought to be able to
threatens. The Lord places them here in most narrow put his frightened people at ease so that they would re-
straits .to test them. The fact is that the test shows turn and attack themselves to his person. It means
them up as carnal for they all fled with the exception that he trusted not in Jehovah, but in the arm of flesh.
of a few. However, from the point of view of nature, As we shall see the Lord provided him with the un-
there was every reason why they should leave the scene mistakable evidence that he acted the part of a fool
of conflict with the greatest possible haste. There when he disobeyed the divine command and sacrificed
was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of the in the hope that his soattered forces regaining their
people. Only Saul and Jonathan were armed.                 confidence would rally about him.
   It can be readily seen that Samuel's tarrying put          Let us now direct our attention to the behavior of
Saul to a severe test. He had already waited seven Samuel in this great crisis. Samuel was at Shiloh. It
days. The people were leaving him in great numbers. may be safely assumed that he, too, had heard the blast
When all had left but a paltry six hundred, he could of the trumpet and the announcement of the slaying of
contain himself no longer. Even the greater part of the Philistine custom officer at Geba. He well knew
his picked army of two thousand must therefore have that insurrection on the part of his people would be
Aed. How was it to be explained that Saul. a man desti- immediately followed by an invasion of the Philistine
tute of faith, stood his ground? His natural courage host. Yet he permitted day after day to go  .by before
bore him up. Then, too, it must not be lost sight of setting out in the direction of the rallying point of the
that had he fled, he would have heaped upon himself nation. Did he not realize that without his presence


     144                                   T H E   S T A N D ' A R D   B E A R E R
                                                                            .
     at  Gilgal the people instead of attaching themselves to feet were swift to deliver the message with which
     their chief would scurry to safe places of retreat, and Jehovah would send him to the nation or to the indi-
     thus play their country into the hand of the adversary? vidual whether the message were one of bliss or one of
     Did he not sense that the longer he tarried, the  lower doom. In the presence of sin therefore, the demeanor
     the courage of the people would sink? That as a re- of this prophet would invariably take on a stern and
     sult of his failure to appear, a great consternation severe aspect for he loved God. However, beneath this
     would take hold of them and render them unfit for stern exterior beat a heart capable of the deepest pity
     the conflict?  In brief, did not Samuel realize that by for the rejected ; a heart that would bleed while the
     tarrying he was courting a national disaster? Such lips pronounced doom. How did he not continue to
     thoughts did not trouble him at all. His was the con- mourn for Saul long after the Lord had rejected him!
     viction that the Philistine hosts could not stir without        Saul spied Samuel coming and he goes out to meet
     the will of God.                                             the aged seer. As he.enters  his presence, he salutes
            The question arises whether Samuel's conviction him, seemingly without embarrassment, insensible that
     reposed on solid ground? It was, for there had been a he had committed a heinous sin. Can it be that Saul felt
     national repentance, genuine enough on the part of the not pangs of conscience; that he thought it a small
     remnant.                                                     thing that he had overstepped his bounds? His reply
            Samuel therefore tarries. He must tarry for Saul to Samuel clearly indicates that he was aware of the
     and the nation must be put to test. So the Lord willed. censurableness of his act. Said he: "I forced myself
     and Samuel dared to tarry for he was pre-eminently therefore and offered burnt offering." The fact that
     a man of faith. Saul, however, was destitute of faith. he had to force himself shows that this self had first
     Hence he looked at events transpiring about him with to be overpowered. What was this self other than the
     a carnal eye. He saw not the hosts of the living God voice of his conscience. In brief this courtesy of Saul
     encamped about his living people. His point of view was sheer effrontery. What he tried to do is to un-
     was that of nature. He saw only the Philistines but          mask the seer. By his friendliness and sweet manners
     could not look beyond them to see God. So that as he he thought to throw the prophet into such a mood that
     saw it the situation was becoming graver by the hour. every attempt at rebuke would end in failure. But
     And whereas his help was not Jehovah but his scat- Samuel's ire was made of sterner stuff than that which
     tered forces, he could not resist the urge to sacrifice. quickly evaporates into thin air under the rays of a
            No sooner had he sacrificed or Samuel appears. His feigned graciousness. His indignation was no mask
     arrival in the near vicinity of  Gilgal enables him to but a holy zeal that was a part and parcel of the man.
     take in the entire situation - the Philistine host en- Instead of returning the salutation, Samuel said, What
     camped on the  Mickmash plateau,  Gilgal nearly de- had thou done? Saul replies, Because that I saw that
     serted and the general trek of his people. How the the people were scattered from me' and that the
     spectacle of this flight must have grieved his pious         Philistines gathered themselves together at Mickmash
     soul! Where was faith? Well did he realize that the          and that thou earnest not within the days appointed,
     newly chosen king had been put to most severe test. therefore said I, the Philistines will come down~upon
     Did he stand the test? Must have been the  -question         me to Gilgal ; and I had not made supplication unto the
     that was uppermost in his mind we may imagine.               Lord.
     Eager to know he hastens his step. He is now in the                                                           G. M. 0.
     village. What he saw as he approached that small
     assembly of men that had stood their ground filled his
     soul with dismay. The smoke of the sacrifice was rising
     heavenward. His command had been disobeyed. The
     king upon whom he had set his heart had proved unfit
     and must now be told of his rejection. A great grief,                            V E R T R O U W E N
     we may imagine, mingled with indignation now took                Schoon  ik bevangen word' door schrik,
     hold of Samuel. It must have been with a heavy heart                  En angst mijn ziel doe beven,
     that the aged prophet conti.nued on his way.                     Hij wenkt  - en in een oogenblik
            Our delineation of the mental state of Samuel upon             Heeft mij de vrees  begeven  ;
     his discovery of Saul's disobedience reposes upon solid          De wolken breken voor mijn oog,
     ground.      Saul's disobedience must have greatly in-                En `t zonlicht schijnt weer van omhoog.
     censed him for he was a great lover of Jehovah. Hence
     he would constantly discover in himself the irresistible         Zoo moog' het, o mijn hart, eens zijn
     urge to meet every deflection on the part of his people               In d' allerlaatste stonden  ;
     with stern rebukes, to denounce their  apostacy  and to          Zijn hand verzacht' de stervenspijn,
     unflinchingly hold up before them the great disaster                  En beef ik voor mijn zonden -
     that would be sure to overwhelm them in the event                Ik klem mij vast aan `s Heilands kruis
     they forsook the Lord. Because of his deep piety, his                 En reis getroost  naar `t Vaderhuis.
I


