                                     THE  S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                                         487
                                                       ---.-       ___._---..____  ..--I..  - .-.. ___ .-.. l-" II_ .._....-._ ll_l
 op het spreken  der apostelen en niet ook op hun schrij-       uitspreekt, dat de S&rift `t Woord Gods is, zooals God
 `oen. Bovendien hebben we  aan het einde der  S&rift Zelf, door het Wonder der Genade, het in menschelijke
 nog een geheel bijzondere openbaring van Jezus Chris- taal tot ons doet uitgaan.  Dit Wonder der Genade,
 tus, die God Hem gegeven heeft, om Zijnen  dienst- waardoor wij thans de  Schrift  als Gods Woord mogen
 knechten te toonen de dingen,  die haast geschieden bezitten, houdt, zooals we! vanzelf spreekt, veel meer
 moeten,  Openb. 1 :l. En de getrouwe Getuige zegt van in dali de graphische inspiratie of theopneustie. Het
 deze openbaring: Zalig is hij, die lee&,  en zijn zij, die houdt ook in heel het Wonder der historie, waardoor
 hooren de woorden dezer profetie en die bewaren  het-          God Zichzelven aan Zijn volk heeft geopenbaard, het in
 geen in dezelve geschrevm is, Openb. 1:3. Johannes het leven  roepen van die historische omstandigheden in
 ontvangt dan ook het bepaalde bevel, dat hij moet  op- het leven  van Gods volk in de wereld, zoowel als, meer
 schrijven   hetgeen hij gezien heeft, Openb.  1:l. Tot in ,het bijzonder, in het leven van de  heilige  schrijvers,
 zevenmaal toe ontvan@  Johannes het bevel: schrijf die noodig  waren,  om het organisme der Schrift  tot
 aan den engel  der gemente, en heeft hij we1 waarlijk stand te  doen  komen. Want immers, de Schrift is niet
 letterlijk opgeschreven, wat de  Guest tot de gemeenten maar een Woord Gods, ze is I&et Woord Gods. Ge kunt
 zegt, Openb. 2 en 3. En aan het einde van hetzelfde niet aan haar toevoegen, noch van haar afdoen, zonder
 boek lezen we : deze  woordcn  zijn getrouw en waarach- haar te schenden. Ze is een organisch geheel, dat ons
 tig, cap. 22 :6. En ook: Want ik betuig aan een iege- openbaart den God onzer  volkomene  zaligheden in
 lijk, die de woorden der profetie dezer boeks hoort : In- Christus  en dat overeenkomstig den Raad des Heeren.
 die iemand tot deze  dingen toedoet, God zal over hem Wie over  organische inspiratie spreekt  of schrijft, zal
 toedoen de plagen, die in dit boek geschreven zijn. En dit voor de aandacht  moeten  houden. En wie de idee
 indien iemand afdoet van de woorden des  boeks   dezer van deze organische inspiratie eenmaal verstaat, houdt
pprofetie,  God zal zijn deel afdoen uit het boek des ook vanzelf op te spreken van een menschelijke factor.
 levens en uit de heilige stad en uit hetgeen in dit boek Er is geen menschelijke  factor  in het Wonder der  Ge-
geschreven is.                                                  nade, waardoor de Schrift tot stand kwam. Doch het
    Voeg daar .nu nog aan toe, dat  schier  overal  God of zou ons al te ver van ons onderwerp afvoeren, zouden
Christus  of de Geest des Heeren qls het getuigend en we thans trachten de  idee eener organische inspiratie
sprekend Subiect in de S&rift voor ons optreedt, en te  ontwikkelen.  Misschien  doen  we het later in een
dat op sommige plaatsen de Schrift  zelfs met het spre- aparte artikelenreeks. Zeker  is het, dat het voor onze
kend Subiect wordt vereenzelvigd, en het zal tech alles- Schriftbeschouwing van de grootste beteekenis is, dat
zins verklaarbaar niet alleen,  maar ook volkomen ge- dit geschiede. Daarom hadden we dan ook zoo gaarne
rechtvaardigd en juist moeten worden  geacht, als de gezien, dat Dr. U. een anderen, den rechten weg ge-
Kerk aller' eeuwen die Schrift  als boek aanvaard heeft kozen had, om zijne gedachten voor de aandacht der
en qog aanvaardt, als het eigenlijke Woord Gods. Het kerken te brengen. Het spijt mij, dat de zaak zulk een
is maar niet in het gesproken  woord der profeten, maar droevig verloop heeft. Want ik zou niets liever gezien
overal  in de Schrift, dat de profeten voor ons staan met hebben, dan dat de Kerken in Nederland  zich voor de
het alles voor zich opeischend, absoluut  gezaghebbend:         roeping  hadden zien geplaatst, om zich -over vele dezer
"Zoo zegt de Heere !" De Pentateuch is' vol van de  uit- `dingen  eens uit te spreken. Maar misschien zou dit "
drukking : Tqen sprak de Heere tot Mozes ! En het is, een mooi onderwerp kunncn worden  .voor een Interna-
 voor wie de 0. T.-ische  profetie bestudeert, een bekend tionale Conferentie van Calvinisten. Ofschoon Schil-
feit, dat het Subiect  God en het  subiect  de profeet  dik- der nog altijd schijnt te meenen, dat ik op sulk een
 wijls slechts met moeite, soms in het geheel niet te on-` Conferentie geen plaats zou kunnen hebben (ofschoon
 derscheiden zijn, alsmede, dat het soms Israel als volk, ik volhoud, dat ik daar juist zou moeten zijn) , tech zou
 soms het overblijfsel naar de verkiezing der genade, ik thans reeds voor bespreking op  zulk eene  Conferen-
 soms Christus Zelf is, terwijl het tech in den grond der tie dit onderwerp in overweging  willen geven:  De  id&
 zaak altijd hetzelfde  Subiect  is, dat als de Knecht des eener organische  S&rift-impiratie.
 Heeren  sfirekend  en handelend in de  S&rift optreedt.           Een rolgende keer nog iets over enkele bepaalde
 Alleen in dit  Iicht is het ook te  verklaren,  dat de Schriftuurplaatsen in  verband  met het  -getuigenis der
Schrift  in Rom. 9 : 1'7 kan zeggen : Want de Schrif t zegt     S&rift aangaande hare eigene inspiratie.
 tot Farao : Tot ditzelve heb `Ik u verwekt, opdat ik in u                                                             H. H.
 mijn kracht bewijzen zou. En in Gal.  353: En de                                          -         -
 Schrift,  tevoren ziende, dat God de heidenen uit het
geloof  xou rechtvaardigen, heeft tevoren  aan Abraham               The Christian School Movement
het evangelie verkondigd. Immers wordt ook in
deze Schriftuurplaatsen de  Schrift  eenvoudig met God                             Why a Failure?
vereenzelvigd.                                                                                  x .
    Als we al deze elementen in het zelfgetuigenis der
"Schrift  samenvatten, dan zeggen we zeker niet te veel,           In the last part of the fifth of the "specific prin-
indien we vasthouden, dat het op overweldigende wijze ciples" the authors declare why and how it is possible


                                                             .


488                                   T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R
                            -~                                            --                                            --._..-
for man to realize himself as the image-bearer of God the members of school-boards : de ,intimis non judicant
and to reconstitute the sin-perverted world into the cura~tores  scholae  g,rammaticae.  It is quite impossible
Kingdom of God. It reads as follows: "This is possible for members of the school-boards, when they confront
at least in principle thru Christ, who is not only the the task of appointing teachers, to determine whether
Creator (as the Logos), but also the recreator."                  or not a certain applicant has the fear of God in his
    I want to call the attention to this, apparently so heart and the determination to live it out in his pro-
profound language, only in passing. Its nonsense is fession.
glaringly apparent. It is not clear whether the authors              I, therefore, suggest something of a more objective
intended, in this last sentence, to adduce two separate nature in the following paragraph:
grounds, one for each statement made in' the fifth                   In determining the Course of Study of the Chris-
"specific principle," or whether the whole sentence is to         tian School the principles heretofore set forth should
be understood as one double ground for the possibility be adopted as a basis for the entire curriculum. And
of both preceding statements. In the first instance of the teacher, upon whom rests the responsible task
their  meaning.is,  that it is possible for man in general of carrying  out this Course of Study, it shall be re-
to realize the image of God, as it is left in him after           quired, that he present a testimonial from a consistorg
the fall and by common grace, thru Christ as the of a Reformed Church and a diploma from a Reformed
Creator or Logos ; while it is possible to reconstitute Normal School. It shall ulso be required of him that
the sin-perverted world thru Christ as the re-creator. he express full and. whole-hearted agreement with the
In the second instance they intend to say that both basic principles heretofore set forth and that he de-
are possible for both reasons. But whatever they in- clare his purpose to make of the teaching-profession no
tend to declare, the nonsense of it remains and is very stepping-stone, but his life-task.
apparent. For, no more than it is possible for man to                In closing this series of articles let me present now
realize the image of God through the Logos, or to con- the entire platform of principles as we suggested that
stitute or establish the world through the Creator, no it should be rewritten:
more is it possible for him to realize the image of God
through Christ or to re-establish the world thru the                                     SPECIFIC  PRINCIPLES
re-creator.  WC: do not realize the image of God, neither            1. The Bible is from beginning to end the written
do we constitute or re-constitute the world. Both are Word of God, given by infallible inspiration. All
absolutely the work of God through Christ.            The school administration, instruction and discipline shall
authors here are not only shooting at the moon, but be based on it and permeated by its teaching, for we
they are also flattering themselves, that it is possible acknowledge that the fear of God is the beginning of
to hit it.                                                        wisdom.
    But we must still call attention to the closing para-            2. God, Who created and sustains all things and
graph of these "specific principles." It reads as fol- governs them according to His sovereign counsel; Who
lows : "In determining the Course of Study to be is Triune and, as such, lives an eternal covenant-life of
offered, in preparing the lesson material, in giving the friendship in infinite perfection ; from eternity--  chose-
daily instruction, the above purpose should be consci- and in time forms a people unto Himself, to stand in
ously present as the all-embracing objective. To ac- covenant-relationship unto Him in Christ Jesus their
complish this great task, the teacher must have the Lord, that they might walk in all good works which He
fear of God in his heart and the determination to live ordained for them and in all their life in the world
it out in his profession; and he must utilize to the full should be to the praise of His glory, children of light
whatever light God's Special Revelation sheds upon the in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.
various realms-of human knowledge."                                 8.          From a fallen and wholly depraved human race,
    The last part of this paragraph, describing the re- and in the midst of a world that lieth in darkness, a
quisite qualifications of the teacher, does, indeed, point crooked and perverse generation, God saves His elect,
to something very desirable, that, namely, the teacher establishing His covenant with them and their children
must have the fear of God in his heart and the de- in the line of continued generations, forming them by
termination to live it out in his profession. But, in His sovereign grace in Christ into a people of Himself,
the first place, it may be doubted, however desirable it that t,hey  might be His friends, and, living in every
may be, however necessary such spiritual qualifications sphere of life from the principle of regeneration thru
may be from the viewpoint of the teacher, whether it faith, they should show. forth His praises and walk as
is strictly necessary in order to carry out the Course children of light in the world.
of Study. The authors become somewhat pietistic in                   4. In the midst of and in distinction from the evil
this paragraph. But, in the second place, this circum- world that lieth in darkness and is perverse in all its
scription of the qualifications of the teacher cannot ways because of sin, it is the calling of the people of
possibly serve as a working-principle for the School-             God to live by grace from the principle of regeneration
boards in the appointment of teachers. If I may apply a.ccording  to the will of God in every sphere of life, in-`
an  old  phrase,  well-known in ecclesiastical spheres, to dividual, family, social, industrial, political and ecclesi-


                                                  T H E   ,STANDARD   B E A R E R                                      489
--_~-."                        _____.----
astical, so that they may be children of light in the
midst of a crooked and perverse generation. Hence,                              Pharaoh's Daughter                            '
they insist that ail education, that must prepare their               Pharaoh's daughter delivered the infant Moses
children for such an all-sided Christian walk in the from the murderous clutch of the tyrant. The Rever-
world, shall.be  adapted to this purpose.                          end Van Baalen's  comment on her deed reads as fol-
   5. It is the objective of the Christian School to lows: "The king's daughter also comes in for a word
furnish the pupil with an education which in all its of appreciation. The foes of Reformed doctrine printed
branches is rooted in the principle of the fear of God in a brochure that there was nothing but selfishness
Gas the beginning of wisdom ; and thus to co-labor, in and sinfulness in this noble woman. `The baby was a
its own proper domain, alongside of and in distinction pretty baby, and so she desired it from a  m&e selfish
from the home and the Church, to equip the pupil with motive.' Scripture says, `She had compassion on him,
that knowledge and wisdom which is necessary in because he wept.' To decry compassion as sin is not
order that he may be able to walk in the midst of the only contrary to human nature, although that is bad
world worthy of the vocation wherewith God calls His enough, but it is worse, it is a denial of the great work
people, and that the man of God may be perfect, thor- God's common grace is able to work even in the hearts
oughly furnished unto all good works.                              of unregenerated men and women. Noble impulses
   6. In determining the Course of Study of the do not arise from sinful tendencies of depraved human
Christian  School the principles heretofore set forth uature. To deny the work of God's Spirit because we
should be adopted as a basis for the entire curriculum. prefer a single. track system of thought tc `the plain
And of the teacher, upon whom rests the responsible indications of Scripture is a grievous sin and one that
task of carrying out his course of study, it  shall be cannot but result in an unchristian attitude toward
required, that he present a testimonial from a Con- mankind in general. Let us rather pray that those who,
sistory  of a Reformed Church and a diploma from a do not have the heart-renewing grace of God may
Reformed Normal School. It shall also be required of never put the Christians to shame by their noble deeds
him that he express full and whole-hearted agreement of charity. Humility over against men as well as to-
with the basic  priticiples heretofore set forth and that ward the Lord is befitting the Christian." So far the
he declare his purpose to make of the teaching profes- Reverend Van Baalen.
sion no stepping-stone but his life-task.                             So then to insist that in the natural man  is found
                                                          H. H.    nothing but selfishness and sinfulness is to show one's
                                                                   self up as a foe of Reformed doctrine. Rev. Van Baalen
                                                                   will agree that our `Catechism and the thirty-seven
                      HERKNIEXJWS                                  articles of the Belgic Confession may be taken as the
                             Drietal te :                          standard of Reformed doctrine. Question 8 of the
   Hudsonville,  Mich.,  Candidaten Gritters, Kuiper  en Catechism reads: "Are we then so corrupt that we are
Ds. Kok.                                                           whollv  incanable of doing any good? And the answer :
                        Beroepen te :                              Indeed we are ; except we are regenerated by the Spirit
  Holland,  Mich.,  Cand. M. Gritters.                             of God." According to this teaching natural man is
   Oak Lawn, Ds. J; De Jong van Doon, Iowa.                        wholly incapable of doing any good. Article 14 of the
                     Aangenomen naar :                             Confession reads in part:  "7wtving   co,>-mcpted   Ibis
   Redlands, Calif., Ds. G. Vos van Hudsonville, Mich. whole nature;  whereby he made himself liable to cor-
                                                                   poral and spiritual death. And being thus become
                        -         -          -                     wicked and perverse and corrupt in all  1~2 ways' hath
                              NOTICE                '              lost all his excellent gifts . . .  ." From the Canons
                                                                   this excerpt : "There remains, however, in man since
   A meeting of the board of the  Refprmed  Free Pub- the -fall the glimmerings of natural light.. . . . Nay
lishing Association will be held Wednesday, August 3, ,further  this light man in various ways renders wholly
at  7:45 P. M. in the basement of the Fuller Ave. church. polluted. a.nd holds it in unrighteousness . . . . "
                                                                      Considering the statetients  : "Wholly incapable of
                 STRENGTH FOR TODAY                                doing any good . . . having corrupted his whole
                                                                   nature . . . . this light man in various ways renders
            "My grace is sufficient for thee."                     wholly polluted , . . . " pondering this text from the
              Oh, ask not thou, "How shall I bear                  Proverbs (Prov. 17  :10) "the tender mercies of the
            The burden of tomorrow?"                               wicked are cruel . . .  " one cannot help but  .being
              Sticient for the day the care,                       struck with amazement at the assertion of the reverend
            Its evil and its sorrow:                               that in our appraisal of the daughter of Pharaoh's
              God imparteth by the way,                            compassion, we reveal ourselves as enemies of the Re-
              Strength sufficient for the day.                     formed truth.    In saying this  wonian's  compassion


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490                                                                      T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R
I .,.,.,.,._- __._^  __-... ".._ll__-^_"  ..." ^ ,........................_.._"  ..- -----.-^." ..." ..- _"              __..__.. II-- ..___ - _.__ "-l.ll"~--"
was cruel, we literally repeat Scripture. What is more, the period this paper had its run, it was a settled
it was not so very long ago that the leading divines of matter among the clergy of the Christian Reformed
the Christian Reformed denomination of churches churches that as the Rev. R. B. Kuiper expresses it, the
openly taught this very thing. I quote: "Now observe mercy, compassion of the wicked is cruel, that the  so-
the folly of certain men! They say: `We are not con- called good works of the wicked are sin. As late as
cerned about the form of religion, but only about 1920 R. B. Kuiper was still publicly defending this
charity. But the fact is that these very men cannot doctrine, even calling it fundamental. And he did well;
possibly love mercy. For they are spiritually dead, for it is that. And lo, today Van  Baalen brands us
and no unregenerated person can be charitable in the enemies of Reformed truth because we teach that ac-
full sense of the word, can do works of charity worthy cording to Scripture the compassion of Pharaoh's
of the name.'                                                                                                  daughter was cruel, because we cleave to what was
       "My last statement may seem to you to be alto- considered by the Christian Reformed divines to be
gether too sweeping. You point to charitable institu- one of the basic tenets of the Christian religion. Prof.
tions many and large, supported by children of the Ten  Hoor and Rev. R. B. Kuiper affirmed that the
world. You call attention to such an organization as tender mercies of the wicked are cruel, that is, sin ; our
the Red Cross,  controiled  largely by the irreligious. Confession literally asserts that natural man is wholly
You remind  me that the children of light are often put incapable of doing any good if not regenerated by the
to shame in points of deeds of mercy by the children of Spirit of God. Van  Baalen on the other hand main-
darkness . . . .                                                                                               tains that Pharaoh's daughter, a woman devoid of the
      "`I reply that when two men are ?Joini  the same life of regeneration, was capable of a compassion that
thing they are not doing the same thing . . . .                                                                as to its core was not sinful, not selfish. Now the
       "An outward act as such amounts to nothing. It reverend shall have to admit that a compassion not
is the"person  behind the act that puts real content to it. sinful is holy and that an unselfish deed is a good work
And we believe do we not that man as he is by nature done to the glory of God. Who, I ask in all candor, is
is totally depraved and therefore unable to do any the enemy of Reformed truth, we or the Rev. Van
really good thing? That  is  one of the very funda- Baalen? Who has changed, who has slidden from the
mentals of our faith.                                                                                          foundation truths of the Reformed Protestantism, he
       "How then, can unregenerated man do a tiork  of or we? And the answer: he, not we.
charity deserving the name? Only the Christian can                                                                The reverend then should have written: It cannot
do that. Christian charity and the charity of the world be gainsayed that the plain teaching of the Scripture.-
are essentially different. .I wonder whether that may and the Reformed Confession is that the works and
not have been in Solomon's mind when he said: `The dispositions of the natural man are sin.  Scripttire
tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.'  " So far the literally asserts that the tender mercies of the ungodly
quotation. W'hat we here present is taken from a writ- are cruel. This, however, I deem to he a lie. It is my
ten record of a public address delivered by the Rev.                                                           conviction that the natural man is still a creature of
R. B. Kuiper, before the Association of the Christian true nobility. land I make &old  to afirm that anyone
Psychopathic Hospital, convened in the month of Sep- defiying  this is an enemy of. the truth.
tember of the year 1920.                                                                                          Van  Baalen wrote: "To decry compassion as sin
       Consider further this from the pen of Prof. F. M. . . . . . is a denial of the great work God's common
Ten  Hoor: "Zij bezaten niet het zaligmakend geloof, grace is able to work in the hearts of unregenerated
maar alleen het wonder geloof. En met dit wonder ge- men and women." We reply that this great work must
loaf kan men nog onwedergeboren zijn . . . .  Beoor-                                                           be denied as God Himself denied that He is engaged in
deeld  naar den wil van God met betrekking tot onze any such work when He said by the mouth of the wise
zaligheid, kan men zulke  menschen geen goede boomen,                                                          king that the tender mercies of the ungodly are cruel.
en hunne werken geen goede werken noemen . . . .                                                                  Van Baalen : "Noble impulses do not arise from sin-
Geven aan de armen,  aan de kerk, aan het Christelijk ful tendencies of depraved human nature." This state-
onderwijs, is een  goed werk. Zeker is het goed  in den ment taken by itself is absolutely true. The reverend
zin dat het voordeelig is voor hen of voor de zaak waar-                                                       should have added: `Whereas human nature is totally
aan men geeft. Doch  dit maakt een werk voor God nog and wholly depraved, no noble impulses arise from it.'
niet  goed  . . . . Net geven aan armen kan uit men-                                                              Van BaaIen:  "To deny the work of God's Spirit be:
schelijk medelijden of ook uit een algemeen Christelijk cause we prefer a single track system of thought to
plichtsgevoel voortkomen. En het  doe1 bij dat  alles the plain teachings of Scripture is a grievous sin . . "
kan zijn eerzucht. Zulke daden  zijn geen goede wer- We heartily agree with the reverend. However, this
ken, geen goede vruchten, en bewijzen dus ook niet dat sin is not ours ; for we neither deny the work of God's
de boom goed  is . . . ." Vol. XIII, No. IX, p. 468, De Spirit nor prefer a system of thought to the plain
Gweformeerde  Amerikaan;  I have in my possession teachings of God's word.
the twenty-three or more volumes of the aforesaid                                                                 Evidently the reverend will have nothing of a single
magazine. Perusing its pages one discovers that in track system of thought. We have a right to infer


                                  THE  S T A N D A R D B E A R E R                                             491

therefore that his system runs on two tracks or roads. ular paragraph of his writing we quoted. It reads:
Questions arise here: are we to conceive of this broth- "Humility over against men as well as toward the `Lord
er's mental train as running on the two tracks at once is befitting the Christian." It is plain that the un-
in a given direction or is &is train running now on the christian attitude the reverend had before his mind is
one track in one direction than on the other track in that of pride. He reasoned thus: "The doctrine of
the opposite direction. If the former, the reverend total depravity inflates a man, genders in him in-
may dispose of the one track and speak of "my single ordinate self-esteem. The result is that this man op-
track system of thought." For a train proceeding in poseth and exalteth himself above all that is called
any given direction is in the need of but one track or God or that is worshipped. From these dizzy heights
way. Fact is, however, that the train of the reverend's he looks down with contempt on God and man."
thought is in the need. of two tracks indeed ; for this       I reply that it is psychologically impossible for a
train is not one but two, and the one train proceeds in man, who knows himself to be by nature a totally de-
a direction opposite to that of the other. What may praved creature, to exalt himself. The deeper the
be these two trains of thought the reverend rides? thought, I am by nature guilty, condemnable, ill-de-
The one is that of the doctrine of absolute election and serving, wholly depraved; God is my only hope. 1 say,
reprobation and of total depravity; the other, that of the deeper this thought embeds itself in the heart of a
the doctrines of God's willingness to save all head for man, the smaller he becomes. The doctrine of total
head and of the nobility of the natural man. Consider depravity strips a man of every imaginary adornment
that these doctrines are contradictory so that the mind and sends him naked to Christ. It pricks the bubble of
pursuing them must move along over two different his self-conceit so that actually brought under the con-
tracks. Now it stands to reason that the reverend's viction of sin he sees the good man vanish into thin
mind can be riding but one train at a time. Now he is air. It is exactly he knowing himself as a child of
riding the train of right thinking. See him there redeeming grace who lies prostrate at the feet of God
slumped in yonder seat. We approach the gentleman and that can love his enemies, bless them that curse
and say to him: `Ah, my friend, riding the train of the him, do good to them that hate him, pray for them
truth today? You have come to realize then that the which despitefully use him and persecute him. It is
train you boarded in 1924, the train of Pelagius, rushes only the child of grace, one realizing that in him, that
its passengers ever deeper into the deep darkness of is, in his flesh, dwelleth no good thing, who will hang
eternal night ?' Instead of replying: `Yes, brother, my on God and come under the yoke of Christ. And this
eyes were opened to my plight,' the reverend, strange is true humility. The man knowing himself as wholly
to say, flits back to the train of Pelagius on the wings depraved is a man poor in spirit. He mourns, is meek,
of the contention, `The natural man, despite his de- hungers and thirst after righteousness. How say you
pravity, is a creature of true nobility.' We take after then that the man who knows himself as being by
him. Finding him we shout in his ears: `Friend, you nature wholly carnal, is the proud man?
have lighted on Pelagius' train?' No sooner has this          Who, according to the reverend, is the humble man?
                                                                                          ."  ---~
warning left our mouth, than the reverend flits back Not he convinced that in- his flesh there dwelleth no
again to the train of the truth on the wings of the good, but the man who says in his heart: `In my flesh
contention: `The nobility of the natural man is with- and in the flesh of every fallen creature there dwelleth
out real spiritual worth." So he continues to flit from much good. Let me not therefore imagine that the
one train to the other as convenience dictates. Let no elect of God, those chosen unto eternal life, are the
one say that I now deal unfairly with the reverend., I only people whom He loves and visits by His sanctify-
judge him out of his own mouth. And what came out ing grace. Such an imagining is thoroughly vain. Be-
of his mouth is the testimony that his mind runs on sides the redeemed there is still another people  - the
two tracks.                                                world of reprobated men - whom He loves, sanctifies
     We would strongly urge this brother to keep to the unto His service and empowers to come to the fore as
train of truth. This flitting from one train to another a people of true nobility. Let me be mindful of this
- what a hazardous pastime. Some day in flitting ever, lest I become proud and despise in my heart this
back to the train of truth, he will miss his footing. world of reprobate men.'
And what then?                                                Such is indeed the reasoning from which the re-
     Van Baalen once more: "To deny the work of God's marks of the reverend sprang. What are we to think
Spirit . . . . is a grievous sin and one that cannot but of it? And the answer : This reasoning militates
result in an unchristian attitude toward mankind in against Scripture. The plain teaching of Holy Writ is
g e n e r a l . "                                          that the elect are the only people of His eternal love
     So then according to the reverend the doctrine of capacitated by His grace to praise Him. Let me quote
total depravity genders in the hearts of the children of a few scriptures: "But ye are a chosen generation, a
God an unchristian attitude toward mankind in gen- royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people ;
eral. What the reverend meant by this unchristian that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath
attitude is evident from the last sentence of the partic- called you out of darkness into His marvelous light . . "


 4 9 2                              T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R
 _I_.-___""  ..-..
 Let the reverend point to a single text in which appears a daughter whose word seemed to be law, she would
 a people, other than that chosen unto eternal life, have gotten her way with the child, had she determined
 showing forth the praises of God, and thus showing to have it permanently returned to its mother.
 itself up as a people of true nobility. There is no such                                               G.  Iv/I.  0.
 people; for the apostle continues: "Which in time past
 were not a people, but are now a people of God; which
 had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."
 So then, in their unregenerated state, while still walk-
 ing in darkness, the members of this Christian com-                             Belangstelling
 munity were not a people in a spiritual ethical sense.         In de Baarrmhe  Rerkbode  van 15 Juni 1.1. toont Ds.
 Those included in Christ are the people, the only S. Datema van Driebergen (Ned.), die op zoo aardige
 people. Does this truth as it dwells in the heart of the wijze brieven schrijft  aan zijn vriend Tychicus,  be-
 redeemed gender pride? To the contrary, this truth langstelling in onze Kerken en vraagt hij naar onzen
 worketh humbleness. Consider that the members of welstand.
 this holy commonwealth are by nature as vile as the            Hij schrijft:
 others ; for they were called out of darkness. Knowing         Y'ychicus, we hebben w.eer de langste dag.
 themselves solely as the product of His sovereign and          "Een jaar geleden  had ik juist mijn reis naar Cali-
 almighty grace, they glory not in themselves but in fornie aanvaard, - had ik den Zondagmorgen  aan
 Him.                                                        boord van de `Rotterdam' mijn eerste preek op zee  mo-
    According to the reverend, what must prick the gen houden.
 bubble of our self-conceit is the knowledge that God           "Hoe zou  onze Dr. Los het maken  op de Amerikaan-
 loves all men head for head and that all men undergo sche Synode?
 the sanctifying i&luence  of His grace. Where did the          "Hoe zou het daar gaan met de zoogenaamde Hoek-
 reverend get this? Certainly not from Scripture. What sema-kerk, die  zich heeft losgemaakt uit het oude  ver-
 strange reasonings they will fabricate to bolster up band?"
. their theory!                                                 Allereerst mijn oprechte dank aan Ds. Datema voor
    Wrote the reverend : "Humility over against men zijn belangstelling. Ik veronderstel, dat hij gaarne
 as we1 as toward the Lord is befitting the Christian." hoopt, dat het ons als kerken welgaat.
 How true this is ! But does humility consist in rea-           In de tweede plaats kan ik den vriendelijken  broe-
 soning sin away? Or is this humility, to let ourselves der mededeelen, dat het van onze kerken mag worden
 be bound by the word of God?                                gezegd, dat zij onder den zegen des Heeren bloeien.
    It is not at all difficult to show that the compassion Wij mogen leven in de overtuiging, dat we met onze
 of Pharaoh's daughter was cruel. The spectacle of the kerkelijke beweging in den weg des Heeren wandelen
 ark amoung  the flags incasing  a weeping infant must en dat we daarom ook den zegen des Heeren mogen ge-
 have risen before her eye as representative of an act nieten. We mogen ons bovenal daarin verblijden, dat,
 by which she was being besought to spare- the child ofschoon menschen ons hebben vertrapt en uitgewor-
 and to order it returned to the bosom of its anxious pen, nu spoedig  acht jaren  geleden, wij nog altijd de
 mother. And the Egyptian princess had compassion waarheid van. Gods  Woord, de zuivere Gereformeerde
 on the child and spared its life. But instead of placing waarheid mogen bezitten, liefhebben, handhaven en
 it in the arms of its parent, she claimed it for herself. ook eenigszins ontwikkelen. En de Heere geeft ons
 It was of little concern to her that as a result of her ook plaats, zoodat we van die waarheid, temidden van
 cruel theft some mother would waste away from grief. veel verslapping en afwijking, ook mogen getuigen
 It may be objected that orJy  by making the child her buiten den kring onzer kerken. Ook mochten in begin
 own could she spare its life. The objection is not sus- Juni van dit jaar een vijftal  jonge  mannen, die  zich
 tained by the sacred record  oft her actions. This record aan onze school daartoe  hadden voorbereid, door onze
 plainly shows that she was accostumed to having her kerken tot candidaat worden  gesteld en geeft de Heere
 way about things, and did pretty much as she pleased. ook aan die candidaten  een veld om te arbeiden, zoodat
 Consider that without consulting the king, she resolves wij nog niet voor de vraag staan, wat we tech moeten
 by herself to adopt the child and to pay the Hebrew doen met een surplus  candidaten.  En we mogen ook in
 woman wages for nursing the child for her. She agreed een gestadige uitbreiding ens verblijden. We groeien
 to pay wages not out of the kindness of her heart but niet als een wonderboom, maar we zijn  sedert 1925  tech
 to encourage the nurse to properly care for the child. uitgegroeid tot een kerkelijke  gemeenschap van. zeven-
 To this child her heart went out because she, too, saw tien kerken. Broeder Datema heeft zeker we1 gehoord,
 that "he was a goodly child." Had it been deformed dat we es in Redlands, waar  hij verleden jaar eenigen
 or otherwise ill-favored she would have left it among tijd vertoefde, een flinke gemeente hebben bij gekre-
 the flags. But the child was well-favored. Instantane- gen. En in de stad mijner inwoning bouwt thans de
 ously she resolves to keep it. And she shows that derde Prot. Geref. kerk haar eigen kerkgebouw.
 her resolve will be honored. The point is that, being          Eindelijk moet ik nog wijzen  op een tweetal  fouten,


496                                          T H E - S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R
             --.-- ............_II.......       -_ll___llll_--l.                --..-                 -.-           -"..l_
                                                                He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth,"
I                              Explanation                             The reasoning of the apostle is obvious. He shows
                                                                that Scripture and thus God Himself unmistakably de-
       In this article I complete my explanation of some        clares that He hath mercy on whom He will have
criticism I brought to bear upon certain statements mercy and hardeneth whom He will unto His glory.
found in Rev. Van  Baalen's  explanation of the Sunday What God does, does unto His everlasting glory, such
school lesson. The statements in question read: (a)                 is the implication,  is,  must be, just. Mark you, the
The supra teaches that God passes him up with his reply of the apostle reads not, `The sovereign decree
saving grace apart from all considerations to his sins ; of reprobation is just because it reposes on sin as its
(b) You can believe that God hated Esau apart from ground or reason,' but, `That God hath hardeneth
all consider&ions to his sinfulness.                                whom He will is just because He actually does it.' The
       My correction read : "Reconsidering the reasoning underlying thought here is, `Whatever He does must be
of the reverend, it occurred to me that what he had just for He is God.'
before his eye was reprobation as an eternal decree or                 However, the imaginary opponent with whom the
decision and not reprobation as an actuality; a his- apostle dealt was not satisfied. Paul has him raise an-
torical phenomenon. Only the latter and not the other question, to wit, `Why doth He yet find fault? for
former reposes on sin as a  sticient ground. That who can resist His will?'
the reverend's exposition, that particular section of it               "The objector then,`! so we wrote in our pamphlet,
now under consideration, turns upon the decree of "has grasped the force and the implication of the
reprobation is evident from his reference to the rea- apostle's reasoning. The question is, however, whether
soning of the apostle  Paul  in Romans 9. So then, the the doctrine of the preceding verses yield this con-
criticism  I[ brought to bear on the specified statements clusion, the conclusion namely, `No one can resist His
is misplaced ; for they set forth the truth." So I wrote. wil.' In the mouth of the objector the complaint is.
        Let me enlarge on this a little. Reprobation is to vile slander. What the objector means to say is that
be defined as that sovereign and just decree of God the reprobated sinner is hardened irrespective of what
whereby He  o&n&d  some to eternal damnation. The he can do about- it, is hardened therefore against his
emphasis here falls on the t,erm ordained. The point own will and better self. If God would only withdraw
is that the sole reason for the oFdinu.tion  to eternal and permit this better self to assert itself the hardened
damnation is His sovereign will. To place alongside one would obey and not rebel. The sinner, according
of this reason  another  is to destroy it. The first ques- to the reasoning of the objector, is being compelled to
tion here is : Does God ordain some unto damnation for say no to the Almighty, though he would say yes.
the sole reason that He wills or also -because those Hence, God cannot find fault. What has the apostle
whom He wills to damn are sinners. That is to s&y, is to say to this? Nothing directly . . . The opponent
the sole reason here His zoill or His will plus sin <as a           feels certain that the objection he raises compels the
ground or sufficient reason. If the latter be true the apostle to concede that his doctrine is inconsistent with
view that His will can be and actually is the absolutely human accountability and therefore shall have to be
sovereign reason for the decree of reprobation must be relinquished. But the apostle is not to be silenced. In
     relinquished. We know, however, that God is sovereign, replying, however, he purposely refrains from cavill-
     that His will therefore is the sole reason for the decree ing with his opponent about the matter of human re-
of election and reprobation. Such is the teaching of sponsibility, for the reason that all such complaints
     Scripture. Quoting the apostle Paul: "For He saith rise not from a sincere perplexity, from an- earnest
     to Moses, I will have mercy upon whom I will have desire to know the truth about the matter, but from a
mercy." And again: "Therefore hath He mercy on stinking pride that dare to cavil with God, and
     whom He will have mercy, and whom He will, He challenge his claim upon His moral creatures.
     hardeneth."                                                    Grievances are they that spring from a sinful unwill-
        Another question is whether the decree of repro- ingness t6 believe that with God there can be no un-
     bation as associated solely with His will is just. Paul righteousness, from a vile stubbornness that against
     raised this question: "What shall we say then?" He better knowledge refuses to concede that whereas God
     asked : "Is there unrighteousness with God?" And is God, and man his creature, a thing formed, God can
`his answer: "God forbid. For He saith to Moses, I do with man according as He wills. The apostle there-
     w2l have mercy upon whom I will have mercy, and I fore frames a retort designed to rebuke the apostle's
     will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. stinking pride and to expose the blasphemous root-
     So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that         thought from which the complaint springs - the root-
     runneth, but of God that  sheweth  mercy. For the thought, namely, that God hath no right to do with His
     Scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same pur- moral creatures as He wills. Attend to the apostle's
     pose have I raised thee up, that I might show my reply, `Nay, but 0 man, who art thou that repliest
     power in thee, and that my might be declared through- against God? ShaIl the thing formed say to him that
     out all the earth. Therefore hath He mercy on whom formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the


                                       T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                         497
----I___  .._                                      "_1_1-                                      -I__  _._..                -._
potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make             According to Bavinck Reformed theologians gen-
one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?" erally first admitted that according to the plain teach-
   The apostle would say, "Who art thou, 0 man, to ings of Scripture the decree of reprobation is abso-
challenge God's claim upon thee? Who art thou, that lutely sovereign and thereupon cast the doctrine from
have the vile courage to call God to account. Indeed, them with indignation. It is unbelievable that they did
who art thou a man? Consider for a moment who thou this. What they did is in Bavinck's own words:  "Zich
art: a lump of clay,  by thyself;  impotent, lifeless, with- er voor wachten dezen wil Gods van alle natuur te
out power to make anything of thyself at. all, either a ontdoen en in puur willekeur te laten opgaan." This
vessel unto honour, or a vessel unto dishonour. Con- ,is something quite different than to reject the doctrine
sider, 0 man, that God is thy sovereign Maker and of the absolute dominion of God.
therefore has a right to do with thee as He wills."              To be sure, there is nothing arbitrary  (willckeu-
   The reason then that an absolutely sovereign decree rig) about the absolutely sovereign will. For the de-
of reprobation is just, is not that it reposes upon sin creeing God is actuated by love for His glirious Self.
as a  sufficient ground. The reason that the apostle He decrees with a view to Himself, the enhancement of
gives here is that God, being man's Maker can, may, His name, with an eye singled to His glory, with Him-
do with him as  He  zuills. In other words, the sov- self before His mind as an ultimate goal. If Bavinck
ereignty of God operating as dissociated from sin as wrote the truth, what a strange move the aforesaid
its grounds is just because He is God. As to the.execu-       theologians made. Were they perhaps confused in
tion of the decree of reprobation, here sin enters in as their thinking as to this matter?
a means. And the actual damnation of the reprobated                                                           G. M. 0.
wicked has sin as its meritorial cause.
   That the decree of reprobation has its sole cause in
the sovereign will of God is the view of Reformed the-                                RUST
ologians in general. Dr. G.  Vos of Princeton lets Per-
kins say in his behalf: Zoo antwoord ik ten eerste, dat                 Komt  ook het leed daarbinnen
de verwerping zooveel belangt de eerste daad, d. i.,  zoo-                 In `s harten kamerkijn,
veel  aangaat  het voornemen om het schepsel te  verla-                 Tech - grooter dan de smarte
ten en de rechtvaardigheid daarin te bewijzen volstrekt                   Zal mij de Helper zijn !
en absoluut is, dat leeren en gelooven wij.                             In al mijn zielsbezwaren,
   And Bavinck : `LDe voorstanders van gemina  prae-                       In `t leven, hard en ruw,
destinatie hebben dit ook ten allen tijde erkend als het                Zijn al mijn sterkte-bronnen
ging om de souvereiniteit Gods, om de stellige en on-                      Tech, Heer, alleen in U !
dubbelzinnige getuigenis van zijn woord, om de niet
weg te cijferen'feiten der historie, dan waren  zij even                Al ga `k op harde wegen,
onverbiddelijk als de apostel  Paulus en  wilden zij van                   Ik voel tech  geenen nood.
geen toegeven en bemiddelen weten. Dan kwamen  zij                      Gij, sheer, zijt met`lJw  liefde
soms tot harde uitspraken, die het Pelagiaansch-ge-                        Tech sterker dan de dood.
zinde hart van den mensch hinderen kunnen. Zoo zeide                    Hoe ook de  winden  gieren
Augustinus eens, dat God ook dan niet kon beschuldigd                      En `t water opwaarts stuw -
worden,  als Hij sommigen onschuldig had willen ver-                    Tech zijn mijn levensbronnen
doemen . . . . Immers er is onderscheid tusschen het                       Alleen, alleen in U !
besluit der verwerping en de verwerping zelve. Het                      Mag ook mijn kracht vermind'ren
eerste heeft zijn laatste en diepste oorzaak alleen  in                    En eenzaam worden `t pad,
Gods wil;  maar de verwerping zelve houdt met de                         Ik zal gemoedigd voortgaan,
zonde rekening." Bavinck, Dogmatiek, Vol. II, p. 414.                      Gij houdt mijn hand gevat.
   These passages are also found in my former article.                 \ Spert  zich een afgrond open,
The view that comes to the surface in them is that the                     Waarvoor ik sidd'rend gruw  -
sole cause, reason, for the decree of reprobation is the                 Tech zijn mijn ziele-bronnen
will of God, that He ordained some unto damnation                          Alleen, o Heer, in U!
without  ally consideration to sin.
   But what is anyone to think of a statement of this                    Mag ik Uw gunst  maar smaken,
kind : "Maar desniettemin, al kan een opgenblik zoo                        Dan ken ik geen gemis,
gesproken worden  tegenover iemand, die `meent God                  . Dan is mijn toekomst veilig,
van onrecht te mogen aanklagen, bijna alle Gerefor-                        Mijn staat voor God gewis.
meerden met Calvijn  aan het hoofd, hebben ten slotte                    En daarom kan ik danken
zulk een dominium absolutum (absolute dominion)  be-                       Al schreit mijn ziel ook nu -
slist en met verontwaardiging verworpen." Dogma-                         Want d' eeuw'ge vreugde-bronnen
tick, Vol. II, p. 413, 414.                                              * Heer Jezus, zijn in U !


498                                   T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R
             --...                          ..--.-_.-- -._.                  -..._"-lll_--           _"_."       -    -
                                                               until Synod would have expressed itself finally on the
  A Catechism On the History  `of the                          matter, the congregation would, no doubt, have been
         Protestant Reformed Churches                          scattered and destroyed. It is, therefore, the height
                                                               of folly to speak of a possibility that the Consistory
             XIV. FINAL, CLASSICAL  ACTION  .                  and  pastor  might have submitted and waited till Synod
   1.  Did the Consistory and pastor of the Eastern of  1926.
Ave. Church submit to and abide by the decisions of                4. Did the congregation remain firm in all these
Classis Grand Rapids East regarding their deposition troubles and adverse circumstances?
and suspension ?                                                   They stood on the basis of the truth as one man.
   By no means. The Consistory continued to function Besides, the very evident unrighteousness and injustice
as the proper and legal consistory of the congregation the  Classis  had evinced in all its transactions and de-
and the pastor continued to preach for them, regard- cisions had served the purpose  of knitting the members
less of Classical bulls.                                       more closely together still. There was surely nothing
   2. Must not this procedure of the Con&tory  and that could scatter them or induce them to return to
pastor be considered an act of mutiny and rebellion? the Christian Reformed Church. This they have
   It necessarily must be considered such from the abundantly proved by  the@  attitude in all the phases
viewpoint of the Classis,  but in reality it is not such of this bit of history.
at all; for:                                                       l-3. But what became of the small minority-element
   a. It can never be mutiny to obey God more than that opposed the Consistory and stood with the
men, even though the latter may call it such.  Con-            Classis  ?
sistory and pastor were duly called by the Church, and,            Classis  aided them to reorganize as the Eastern
therefore, by God to function in their respective offices Ave. Christian Reformed Church.
and to minister unto the congregation of Eastern Ave.              6. What was the mode of procedure in this
No classical decisions could possibly relieve them of matter ?
this calling before God.                                       The Classical Committee called a meeting of the
    b. Even if Classis had actually possessed ecclesi- "faithful" members in the Sherman St. Christian Re-
astical authority to depose  Cons&tory  and pastor, the formed. Church, for the purpose of electing new office-
latter  lvould still have been obliged to oppose this bearers.
authority of men, for the simple `reason that they had             7. Was this meeting properly announced on two
always adhered to Scripture and the Reformed Con- consecutive Sundays from the pulpit of the Eastern
fessions.                                                      Ave. Church?
    c. But  Classis had no authority over the  Con-                This was not even attempted. The overwhelmingly
sistory and pastor of Eastern Ave., though they large majority of the members, that were opposed to
assumed it. And where there is no authority there the Classical decisions, occupied the Eastern Avenue
can surely be no mutiny or rebellion.                          Church-.building.
    d. Besides, though the decision of  Classis regard-            8. `How, then, did the Classical Committee pro-
ing the  Cons&tory  of Eastern Ave. was certainly ceed in this matter?
ambiguous, by it the latter was not formally deposed               They placed a number of printed cards in a couple
and it certainly had a right to function outside of of stores by which they tried to obtain the signatures
Classical bonds.                                               of all that desired to remain "faithful" to the Classis.
    3 But would it not have been more expedient, with And they announced the congregational meeting that
a view to an amicable settlement of the matter, if the was to be held for the purpose of electing a new con-
Consistory and pastor had nevertheless submitted until sistory in the Grand Rapids Press. The meeting was
Synod would have expressed itself on the matter held and the small minority group was organized.
finally?                                                          `9. Did the minority group make any attempt to
       This was often alleged by those that claim to be our settle the property question in a brotherly way?
friends. Yet, it will readily be seen how impossible               They did not.
this would have been from a practical viewpoint. A                 10. Did they make no attempt at all to secure
congregation of four hundred and fifty families stood possession of the property?
behind the Consistory and pastor and opposed to the                Yes ; almost immediately they appealed to the
Classis. This large flock must be cared for and it was secular court, the result of which was that an injunc-
the calling of the Consistory to shepherdize this flock. tion was served on the Consistory and pastor of East:
With the Consistory they stood outside of the denom- em Ave. summoning them to appear in court at a
ination of Christian Reformed Churches and the specified date to show cause why they should not at
Classis had made no provisions for them at all. Synod once vacate the church building and surrender the
would not meet till a year and a half later. If the property to the reorganized gxoup.
Consistory and the pastor of Eastern Ave. had been                 11.  Did the Consistory willingly surrender the
willing  to acquiesce (which they were not) and wait property?


                                        T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                          499
____I-^....                                              -.--11
    No; in the beginning of Jan. 1925 they appeared in should prove impossible he would render a verdict a
. court to show cause why they should retain the prop- `week later. No settlement having been reached the
erty.                                                       same judge then rendered a preliminary decision, that
    12. But did not the Act of Incorporation clearly the contending parties should. occupy the building on
assign the property to those that remained faithful to alternative Sundays till the matter was definitely
the denomination?                                           settled in the courts. This decision, received with very
    It most certainly did.         `                        evident joy by the minority group but with equally
    13. How, then, could the Consistory expect to evident grief by the majority, and impossible from a
retain the property?                                        practical point of view, was, however, on the following
   The Consistory expected to keep the property until day reversed by, the Supreme Court of the State of
Synod had finally expressed itself in  the  matteF.   It Michigan.  So that the deposed Consistory and pastor
must be remembered that no secular court renders a with their congregation were held to be entitled  to the
decision in ecclesiastical matters pertaining to prop- property until the matter should have been finally dis-
erty questions as long as the broadest ecclesiastical posed of in the courts.
court rendered no decision. This had not been done in          16. Did the suspended pastor in the meantime
our case. The Synod of 1924 had adopted three points preach for the congregation that had been placed out-
of doctrine, had declared that the pastor of Eastern side of the denomination of the Christian Reformed
Ave. did not agree with these points of doctrine, but       Churches?
that he was fundamentally Reformed and in harmony              He preached for them regularly.
with the Confessions of the Christian Reformed                 1'7. Did the Classis,  then, take no further action
Churches.        They had not disciplined the pastor nor with regard to him?
advised to such action. The matter of the suspension           It did. On the twenty-first of January, 1925, the
and deposition of the pastor, therefore, was not finally pastor received the following missive:
settled.       Neither had Synod expressed itself on the       "Rev. H. Hoeksema,
Classical action regarding the Consistory of Eastern                  Grand Rapids, 
Ave. Hence, the Consistory was certainly justified in                                   Mich.
expecting that they could hold the buildings till such         Dear Bro. :--
time as Synod had finally disposed of the matter. And          "The Classical Committee hereby informs you, that
this was their plea.                                        a special meeting of Classis Grand Rapids East is to be
    14. But would it not have been more in harmony held on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1925, at 9 :00 A. M. at. the
with Scripture to abandon the property and leave it         Creston Christian Reformed Church, at Grand Rapids,
to the minority, instead of pleading the matter before Mich.
the worldly court?                                             "At this meeting`the question will come up, whether
    Not at all. It must not be forgotten:                   Classis shall proceed. to depose you from the office of
    a. That the pastor and Consistory of Eastern Ave. the Ministry of the Word and the Sacraments in the
were summoned to appear before the secular court. Christian Reformed Church.
An injunction was served on them.and they had to de-           "We inform you of said meeting of said Classis  for
fend themselves. No attempt to come to an amicable the purpose that you can be present and show cause
settlement had been made at all.                            why you should not be deposed from. office.
    b. That the Consistory certainly was called to seek                         "Fraternally yours,
and defend the well-being of the congregation. It was                                     The Classical Committee."
not their personal property they sought to retain, but             18. Did the pastor appear in person at this meet-
 the property of the congregation.                          ing?
    c. That it was a practical impossibility to provide            No, he preferred to send a written reply to the
a su-itable  place of worship for a congregation of four above Classical summons.
 hundred and fifty families upon so unexpected and                 19. What reply did he send?
 sudden notice.                                                    It here follows:
    d. That the Consistory was firmly convinced that,
 both legally and morally, the property belonged to "To Classis Grand Rapids East,                            d
 them and not to the small minority group, as Iong as              Christian Reformed Church of America,
 the matter was still pending and waiting for the final            Assembled Jan. 28, 1925.
 disposition of the Synod of 1926.                                 "Dear brethren  :-
    15. What was the outcome of these preliminary                  "The undersigned, Herman Hoeksema, hereby
 court-proceedings?                                         acknowledges that under date of the 20th of January,
    First the judge of Kent County Circuit .Court, in- 1925, he received from the Classical Committee of
 stead of rendering a decision, proceeded to lecture and Grand Rapids Classis  East a certain communication by
 gave the parties one week in which they might come registered mail as follows : (Here follows copy of com-
 to an amicable settlement. In case such settlement munication)  .


                                                                                                                    ,
    500                                         T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R
    II_-..-...^ _                  .  .._-.-...  ^_,.-__^,_-I.---"     -_-..-                           -.-_..- ..- ~-
           "In answer to your communication the undersigned                 b. Whether the suspended pastor of Eastern Ave.
    respectfully submits the following :                              should not immediately be deposed?
           "1. Said communication presents no charges or                    And both questions had their background, as be-
   accusations against the undersigned which might or came evident in the course of the proceedings, in a
   could be the basis for any action on the part of said third: How can the minority group best be assured of
    Classis Grand Rapids East in attempting to depose the the possession of the church property?
    undersigned from the office of the Ministry of the                      A committee was appointed to consider these  prob-
   Word and the Sacraments  ins the Christian Reformed lems and serve  Classis  with their advice.
    Church. .                                                               21. But was not the "deposed" Consistory  cer-
           "2. No grounds are presented in said  communica-           tainly deposed by Classis? Why, then, should Classis
   tion for any action on the part of Classis Grand Rapids consider once more what to do with respect to it?
   East against the undersigned.                                            Evidently, Classis had nothing more to do with a
           "3. The undersigned is not informed as to what he Consistory that had been declared outside of the de-
   must answer or show cause to in the matter of said non$rational  bonds. Legally it could decide absolutely
   proposed action by  Classis  Grand Rapids East, and, nothmg with respect to that Consistory. Yet, the fear
   therefore, is not able to present any answer or show was  not unfounded, that with a view to ultimate  pos-
   any cause until such time as he is so informed by session of the church property on Eastern Ave., `the
   definite charges and accusations as to why said Classis Classical decision with respect to that Consistory might
   should attempt to depose him.                                      prove too weak, because Classis itseIf had decided to
           "4. Further answering said communication, the express that final determination of the matter must be
   undersigned says :                                                 made by Synod. And if, according to the very decision
           "a. That he is the regularly elected and ordained of  Classis   itsel'f, the matter of the deposition of the
   minister of the Eastern Ave.  C'nristian  Reformed Consistory had not been definitely determined, how
   Church and has complied with all the rules and regula-             could they expect to secure the property at this time?
   tions, government and discipline of said church and                      22. What did Classis  decide in this matter?
   denomination. That he has signed the Formula of                          This is not quite clear. Classis met in executive
   Subscription in use in said Christian Reformed Church SeSSiOIl, IlOt  Open t0 the public. And ll0 Official  report
   of America and has not knowingly, wilfully or inten-               was received by the writer of this Catechism. In sub-
   tionally  departed therefrom. That he is at all times, stance, however, it appears that  Classis  decided to
   as long as he is a minister of said Christian Reformed make its former decision regarding the Consistory of
   Church, willing and ready to abide by the decisions of Eastern Ave. definite and final.
   the assemblies, unless such decisions may lawfully be                   23. What decision was taken concerning the
   appealed by him to a major assembly. That upon the pastor?
   determination of any such appeal by such major                          As might be expected,  Classis  decided that he
   assembly he is likewise willing to abide by such de- should be deposed from office.
                                 --~-
--  ~ termination and decision.                                            24. Did not the pastor- receive a personal and
           "b. That he has appealed from any pretended official notification concerning his' deposition from
   action heretofore taken against him by  Classis  Grand CIassis ?
   Rapids East to the next General Synod of the Chris-                     No; Classis  remained faithful to its own methods
   tian Reformed Church, and that said appeal  is still and manners, devoid of even common decency to the
   awaiting the determination of said Gene&  Synod.                   very last. By its stated clerk it sent the following
           "c. That he hereby respectfully appeals  -to the note to the pastor:
   next General Synod as to any action or pretended  "Mr H  Hoeksema
   action that  Classis Grand Rapids East may take                          *  .            ,
   against him at this time, and further asks and  de-                     Eastern Ave.,
   mands that he be furnished with a copy of all proceed-                  Grand Rapids,  Mich.
   ings and charges made against him so that he may                        "Dear Sir  :-Classis Grand Rapids East, in session
   have full opportunity to defend himself and show cause Jan* 2gr  1g25y  resolved  :
     _          _
   why he should not be deposed.                                           "To refer Mr. H. Hoeksema to the official reports
                      "Respectfully submitted,                        which will be published in De Wachter and The
                                                H. Hoeksema."         Banner.
                                                                                        "Yours respectfully,
           20. What action did  Classis  Grand Rapids take?
           An official report of the proceedings was never sent                                      "B. Sevensma, S. C."
   to the pastor of Eastern Ave. But according to one of                   25. Of what is this final note of  Classis  a clear
  the delegates. Classis deliberated about two questions : testimony?
           a. What to do with the "deposed" Consistory of                  Of the same spirit of personal envy and hatred that
   Eastern Ave. ?                                                     characterized this page of ecclesiastical history from


                                          THE  S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                            501
      .___^  -            - --.l--l--_-  --...-..-.                                                              - -   -.....  -
the very beginning. St cannot be denied that this little church ; and the ordinary offices of the post-apostolic
notice is a worthy and proper close of a very corrupt church which again are of three kinds: of the office of
chapter in the history of the Christian Reformed ministers of the gospel, of the elders, and of the
Churches.                                                       deacons. All these offices have this in common that
                                                       H. H.    they are divine institutions.
                                                                   This and the foregoing article deals with the
                                                                ordinary office of minister of the word. I affirmed in
                                                                my previous article that he performing the duties be-
                  Our Church Order                              longing to the ordaniry office and in particular to the
                                                                office of ministers of the word must be one called by
                       ARTICLE  III                             Him; for so I wrote, the office is Christ's, He there-
   The former article dealt with the matter of the fore who serves without being called is a usurper and
lawful calling. The views expressed are in the need of a thief.
some explanation and amplification.                                From the very beginning, so I continued, Christ
   I set out with the statement that the Iawful  calling called His servants. And they in turn knew themselves
to the ministry of the word belongs to a class of call- as called ones. The prophets and the apostles heard
ings that pertains to the offices Christ instituted in His the call. All knew themselves as called and it was
church. Resides this call to the office Scripture speaks this knowledge that made them bold and courageous.
of still other callings, to wit, (1) the creative call of          Christ still calls His servants. -4nd His call today
God ; (2) the ethical call coming to all men head for is as actual and real and genuine as any call ever ex-
head ; (3) the saving or irresistible call that comes to tended to prophet or apostle. Any man who cannot
the regenerated only.                                           say, I know  I  am called, should not enter upon the
   As to the creative calI, it consists in the Almighty sacred ministry of the word.
calling those things which be not as though they were.             The view that God still calls a man to the special
Things non-existent appear as the result of this call- task should not strike the &&ever  as strange. For the
in, so that the relation it sustains to things is the behever  is one with the conviction that today as well
calling of creative cause.  When  God said, Let there as  At any time in the past God communes and enters
be light, light came into being. Likewise the saint, by into a vital contact with His people, that He calls them
nature dead through trespasses and sin, appears when out of darkness into light, binds His word upon their
He calls. And His word never returns to Him void but hearts, speaks according to their hearts, testifies with
accomplishes that which He pleases arid prospers in their spirits that they are His children, and works in
the thing whereunto E$e sends it. How infinitely potent them the assurance that they are the called, the elect.
this.. word! He created the heavens, and stretched If there is this living contact between God and every
them out; spread forth the earth and that which believer, it is certainly not saying too much to say that
cometh  out of it, giveth breath unto the people upon He makes known unto a man that it is His (God's)
it, and spirit to them that walk therein. He calls His will he enter upon the ministry of the gospel, and
Servant in righteousness, holds His hand, keeps  Him,. genders in his heart the  assurance  that he is called---
and gives Him for a covenant of the people, for a light As was said, the manner in which He called the
of the gentiles, Isa.  &:5, 6.                                  prophets and the apostles and the manner in which He
   As to the ethical call, it is the command of God, calls men to the ministry of the gospel may differ some-
resounding in the soul of man, to forsake sin, eschew what. With Moses He communicated face to face, as
evil and to turn to the living God. It is through this a man speaketh with a friend. Unto the other prophets
call that He hardens the vessels of wrath fitted to de- He made Himself known in visions and dreams and
struction. It is a call with a content derived from the dark speeches. The apostles were called by Christ
word of God.                                                    directly. To Paul also, Christ spoke by means of an
   Those quickened by  E-Em are irresistibly  calIed  ; audible voice. This manner of communication was
called are they out of darkness into His light by the           peculiar to that period in which sacred history was
Spirit in the Word He spake by the mouth of the made. After the death of the last apostle this form
prophets and apostles.                                          of communication ceased. The question was raised how
   Finally, there is the call to the special office, which from that day on Christ calls, and how a man may
must be defined as that act of God whereby He makes know that he is actually called of Christ. The question
known unto the man of His choice that it is His will was answered thus: Today Christ calls through the
he enter upon a special service in the church. The em- congregation. If the Spirit binds this outward call,
phasis falls on the term special. For every call is unto this voice of the congregation, upon the heart of the
the service of God, yet not unto a special service.             one called, he, the called one, knows, feels in his heart,
   One finds `in Scripture three kinds of specia1 offices, is convinced, has the assurance, that he is actually
to wit, the theocratic offices of the Old Testament dis- called of Christ, and the voice of the congregation be-
pensation ; the extraordinary offices of the apostolic comes for him the very voice of Christ. For his own


502                                    T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R
-_-_-  ""-..                     _- ._...-. - .._       --.--.."                        .-..          _I__.-.._
consciousness, Christ speaks to him as directly and as question would be quite superfluous. That the one
plainly as He spoke to any prophet and apostle. This called  .received  the majority of votes is a fact that
is the lawful calling of art.icle 3 of the Church Order. could be varified by the physical senses, the eye and the
It also bears the name of  outward  calling. This term ear.         If this were the meaning the question would
outward must be retained ; for it is expressive of the read: `Dost thou believe the report that came to thee
fact that the true, actual calling is something different that the majority of the members of the calling church
than fancy, a mere desire, or a passing mood ; it gave thee their vote.' The force of the question is very
signifies, this term outward, that the calling is a voice plainly this: `Dost thou feel in  thine heart that the
that comes from without, a voice issuing not from the Spirit lawfully calfed  thee through the church and that
heart or flesh of a man, nor in the last instance from thou  art. therefore called of God Himself.' And the
the congrcgatipn, but from the congregation as the final paragraph of the call-letter reads thus: "Now,
very agent of the Spirit, a voice therefore that is ex- dear Reverend Brother, may the King of His Church
pressive of the very heart and mind of Christ. But so impress this call upon your heart and,give  you light,
this call is also inward in that it is carried by the that you may arrive at a decision that is pleasing to
Spirit into the consciousness of the one called and Him, and if possible for us mutually gratifying."
made to resound through the chamber of his heart. If          As to the calling church, it, too, ought to fee1 that
a man fails to hear in the voice of the calling church in calIing it functions in a spiritual-ethical sense as the
the voice of Christ, he is not called, no matter how Spirit's agent. Will a church feel  .this, it must be
brilliant he may be and no matter how many titles he spirtual.  The task of  callng a  ministe? is no  play-
succeeded in gaining.                                      work ; it is a most serious business. The individual
       The question arises then whether in every instance member should know that he must attend to this task
the voice of the congregation is the unmistakable sign as one who has earnestly prayed for grace to act not
that he to whom this voice comes for the first time is upon the impulses of the flesh but  upoh  the impulses of
being called by Christ. It cannot be  ; for there are the Spirit. Especially the consistory who makes the
men in the ministry of whom it must be said that they trio should know this. A majority may have prayed
missed their calling. A man therefore may receive a with its lips, of course, for the guidance of tlie Spirit
call from a congregation without being actually called and yet permit itself to be led by the flesh. This, of
of Christ. That this happens is certain.                   course, is not saying that a call extended by an un-
       A certain minister of Reformed persuasion, with spiritual brotherhood may not be  binded on the heart
whom I once conversed on this very matter, confided of the called  qne and the conviction crystallizes in
to me that as he felt about it this talk of a man being his soul that the call is cf God. Nor do I mean to say
called of Christ is nonsense. This call at least had not that the failure on the part of the called one to accept
come to him. He had never heard it. He felt not in must always be taken as the evidence that the calling
his heart that he had been called of God. Asked why church took no notice of the direction in which the
he had chosen a ministerial career, he replied that he finger of .God pointed.
could have studied fordoctor or lawyer as well. And            It is for various reasons of vital -importance that
this deplorable mental state told on him. As a minister the office-bearer and in particular the `minister of the
he was most incompetent. He had no insight into gospel know himself as being one called of God. When _
truth and was altogether incapable of prolonged and incessantly harassed by the unspiritual  men  of
sustained effort in his study. He felt not the urge to the flock, a great despondency may creep over his soul.
investigate Scripture. His soul was harassed by the- Like the prophet Elijah he may then in his mind go
ology as by something irksome. This was evident a day's journey in the wilderness and request for him-
enough; for.at the time that I talked with him, he was self that he may die. He may say, it is enough now,
specializing in sociology. And in the meantime his 0 Lord, take away my soul ; for I am no better than my
flock was starving. Who would want to maintain that fathers. Such speech surely betokens an unbecoming
this man was called of Christ. Yet upon leaving school frame of mind, a spirit unduly cast down. Yet into
he had received. some three calls from as many con- this frame even the true servant of God, one actually
gregations.                                                called, will sometimes work his mind. Then he takes
       Again I say, the lawful (outward) call must be- to flight and sitting down by himself under a juniper
come inward. This plainly enough was the stand taken tree in the wilderness begins to imagine strange things,
by our fathers. For one of the questions put by the among other things this that he even he only is left.
Form of Ordination of the Ministers of the Gospel And overwhelmed with self-pity he wails as did the
reads : "I asks thee, whether thou feelest  in t1@/ heart prophet of old, I have been very jealous for the Lord
that thou art lawfully called of God's church, and God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken
therefore of God himself, to this holy ministery."    The Thy covenant, thrown down Thy altars, and slain Thy
meaning of  this question cannot be: `Dost thou feel in prophets with the sword . . . . and they seek my life
thy heart whether thou didst receive the majority of to take it away. Such is the  fraiIty even of the
votes of the church that called thee . . . .  ' Such a strongest of His servants. The Lord, however, does


                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                     503
-__._--   .._  -           --.___               --.__-
not forsake. His called one. He foIlows  him with His
goodness and mercy on the foolish flight to the wilder-           Hoe Een  Cdlectant  Tegen De
ness, prepares for him there a table, arouses him from                      Dingen Aanziet
his spiritual lethargy, and bids him, eat. And the serv-                        ( 
ant eats and his  so& is refreshed. Thereupon the Lord                           INGEz~NDEN)
in His mercy brings him to his senses by carrying into         Vergun me, geachte Redacteur,  als mede-collectant
his consciousness the question, What doest. thou here. voor onze Standard Bearer, eenige  dingen neer te  pen-
And the called one returns to his task.                     nen die me als collector weldadig hebben aangedaan.
    Consider further that also the servant of the Lord         Eenige weken  geleden  werden we door de R. F. P.
carries about with him the body of this death. This A. board uitgezonden om eenige extra gaven bijeen te
body is a glutton, is a lover of a life of ease and pleas- verzamelen voor het blad, dat een waardig bestaan
ure, insists on thinking of the ministerial career as a heeft gekregen in ons  midden, maar ook in andere
license for unrestrained idleness. This body is adverse kringen niet kan worden  gemist ; wanneer men tenmin-
to all sustained effort in the study and cannot will to ste de waarheid liefheeft, en in Gereformeerde  banen
prepare proper nourishment for the flock. How dare wiI  wandelen.
anyone enter upon a ministerial career without the             Indien het mijne'  medewerkers is gegaan als mij,
assurance in his soul that, being actually called, God dan moet ik eerlijkheidshalve bekennen,  nu juist niet
will continue to empower him to cope with this body? zooveel van deze "drive" te hebben gedacht. Niet  als-
It is exactly the knowledge of being called that the of er ook maar eenigszins op gezinspeeld mag worden,
Spirit continues to so apply to the heart of the called dat ons volk niet wil geven, want dit is we1 anders  ge-
one that it constitutes the backbone, so to say, of his bleken in het verleden, doch meer in het bijzonder om-
resistance to evil and his devotion to duty.                dat het ook voor ons Prot. Geref. volk een buitenge-
    And as to the church, if it would fare well it must wone tijd is in deze dagen van schaarschte *op econo-
lawfully call and earnestly pray that in the event he misch gebied. In onzen  geestelijken strijd echter  zijn
called heed the call he may do so as one upon whose ook deze dagen blijde dagen.
heart the call has actually been impressed, as one             We hebben echter ook nog een taak als klein ker-
therefore who feels in his heart that he is called of God. kengroepje van God ontvangen, die  naar de mate des
    The church must lawfully call. The mystics, so we Heeren kerke verzwakt en verwaterd in allerlei leer en
wrote, will have nothing of the lawful (outward) call- dogma, een zeer moeilijke taak is, en meer en meer
ing. Such a community of believers must soon come to wordt. Onze kerk doet mission werk, en ook ons blad
grief. For a church not lawfully calling must receive is een zendingsblad.
all prophets, false and pure, good and bad.. Aside from.       Ik weet het, er wordt  soms niet zoo malsch gespro-
this, whether an individual is fit to enter upon the ken en geschreven  over ens zendingswerk ; vooral vroe-
ministry of the word is a matter to be settled not by de, vooraan staande  mannen van Chr. Geref. huize
the individual but by the church. This is a right given meenen, dat dit ons werk niet gegrond is.
to the church by Christ. And this right the church            --We moesten, zoo zegt men, maar naar de heidenen
must exercise. It is a right that the church is capabie gaan.
of exercising, for is has the anointing. It is therefore       Nu, broeders, als onze beweging niet uit God is, zal
well equipped to appraise those who desire the office, Hij er  we1 voor zorgen, dat het geen  schade  veroor-
to make a proper selection, and thus to detect those zaakt aan Zijne zaak.
not qualified. Finally, it is a matter of rigid justice        Ik zou er echter we1 eventjes op willen wijzen, dat
that the church select those by whom it must be fed, ons zendingswerk we1 gegrond is, en Gods goedkeuring
and to depose those pastors who desecrate their  oflice.    zeker wegdraagt ; waarvan ook de laatste  georgani-
Finally, one not lawfully called is one not  calIed of seerde gemeente een sprekend bewijs is. Feiten zijn te
God. If he  nevertheIess  enters upon the ministry of sprekend om ze nu maar ten eenenmale weg te cijferen.
the word, he appropriates that to which he has no           Doodzwijgen kan men ze ook altijd niet, alhoewel  dit
right. The brotherhood that permits such a one to misschien we1 het beste is, wanneer men tenminste
function in its midst is rightly considered without a kerkje  wil spelen en het niet zoo bijzonder precies
pastor. Such a church, denying the offices instituted neemt met `s Heeren ordinantien.
by Christ, does not exhibit the features of the kingdom        De geleerde Dr. (Radio-vragen beantwoorder)
of heaven and cannot come to the fore as a city of God weet bij dezen tijd zeker ook wel, dat men ons niet
upon a hill. It therefore misses its calling, and must altijd voorbij kan zien.
finally disappear from the face of the earth as a dis-         We gingen  als collectanten ons uitsluitend bepalen
tinct community. This our fathers well understood. bij de lezers, die tot onze kerkengroep behooren. Om
They therefore decreed that no one shall be permitted buiten  ens kerkverband te gaan, werd door de Board
to enter upon the ministry to the word without  having niet raadzaam geacht, en zou misschien ook niet baten.
been lawfully called thereunto.                             Nochtans werd ons als collectors we1 eens een dollar-
                                            G. M. 0.        tje door menschen, die niet bij  ens behooren, ter hand


                                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. VIII, No. 22                                                         AUGUST 15, 1932                       Subscription Price, $2.50

                                                                                    Geographically and physically they were not sepa-
             M E D I T A T I O N                                                   rated from the nations of the world. True, they were
                                                                                   separated in their own land, shut in by mountain and
                                                                                   desert and sea. But if Jehovah had purposed to sepa-
                        In Safety  Alone                                           rate Israel in this local and physica sense of the word,
                                                                                   He could have prepared for them a land in some for-
                             Israel then shall dwell in safety alone.              saken region, never visited by strangers even so that
                                                            Deut. 33 :28a.         the world would never know of Israel's existence. But
                                                                                   such was not the position of the land of promise. It
    Alone, dwelling alone:                                                         was situated in the very center of the world, it was the
    Yet, dwelling in the midst of the world !                                      very navel of the earth, it was surrounded by all the
    Distinct, yet in its distinction not isolated, in the great nations of the earth, and as its history clearly
world, yet, not of the.world,  - such is the unique, the reveals, the eyes of all the world were always upon it!
peculiar position of the people of God !                                              But Israel must dweEZ alone !
    For, Israel shall dwell in safety alone.                                           In the midst of the world, a spectacle to all, yet
    Not merely exist, but dwell alone !                                            alone !
    Their position, as far as earthly relations are con-                              And the deepest cause of this necessary isolation,
cerned, is not like that of an isolated tribe or nation, the cause that determined their separation, was Israel's
that live on an island in a far away corner of the God, Whose name is Jehovah. He had chosen them, in
 world, separated from all the rest of the world's order that they might be a people peculiar unto Him.
nations, without means of communication. From the He had called them, in order that they might be a holy
viewpoint of their earthly life and subsistence they are nation, consecrated unto God. He had formed them,
not like a beleaguered city, shut in by the forces of the in order that they should proclaim His praises. He
enemy. Such isolation is external and accidental.. Its had given them His covenant, in order that they might
cause and reason are not to be found in the isolated love Him and His precepts, that they might walk in
people, but in external  circum&anjzes.  They exist, they His way and look for His salvation. They had their
 do not dwell alone, and their isolation cries ,for the own life, individual, social, religious, determined all by
removal of those circumstances that  cause.  it!                                   their relation to God, concentrated about Jerusalem,
    But Israel shall dwell alone!                                    "-4           the temple, the most holy place, the dwellingplace of
    The peculiar position of the,  people of God in the Jehovah. And they must keep separated from the
world is not due to circumstances, to accidental condi- nations about them, their gods, their rites, their power,
tions, to external causes, but to the peculiar character .their mode of living, their sons and their daughters . . .
of the people themselves.                                                              Safely, in order to be safe, Israel must  dweI1 alone.
    They have their own peculiar origin, their own dis- Its isolation is its strength. Amalgamation is their
tinct calling, their own life, language, habits and destruction.
customs, ideals and aspirations, faith and hope and                                    And still Israel, the Church, must dwell alone.
love, way and walk . . . .                                                             They need not, they must not go out of the world.
    For, they have their own God, and they are God's As Israel of old they must dwell in the midst of the
Own  peculiar  people !                                                            world. The eyes of all the world must needs be upon
    Such was the character of Israel, dwelling in the them.
land of Canaan.                                          --.--._.                      Yet, they must; dwell alone !

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

       For, they are a chosen generation, a holy priest- the nations of the world? . . . .
hood, a holy people, a peculiar people, called out of             And is it different with the history of the Church
darkness into the marvelous light of God, in order that of the new dispensation?
they might shew forth His praises and virtues. They               Was not the Church, whenever and wherever it
are called to be holy. And this calling determines their attempted to dwell alone in the midst of the world,
whole life, in every sphere, and causes them to dwell hated and despised, harassed and persecuted, denied a
alone.                                                         place in the world, so that her very existence seemed
       And every relationship that violates their peculiar impossible, she was threatened with extinction? And
position and calling must be broken or avoided.                was not, and is not even tcday,  that Church successful,
       In the wor1d, but not of the world!                     rich and flourishing, that forsook this principle of  iso-
       Their safety is in their isolation !                    lation and knew how to adapt herself to the world?. . .
       Israel shall dwell alone !                                 Always there have been, and there still are, multi-
                                                               tudes that oppose this principle and maintain: Israel
                           -    -    -                         shall not and cannot dwell alonei  . . . .
                                                                  Alone, - in the midst of the world !
       Alone, -- in the midst of the world!                       A precarious position !
       An apparently precarious, dangerous, impossible
position !
       Be not too hasty in your determination to join the
company of this isolated people, for it is a tremendous           Precarious, yet safe !
thing  to say and, for the flesh, an impossible thing to          For Israel shall dwell, alone indeed, yet with God !
accomplish, to be alone in the world with God !                   No matter how many may fear and reveal their
       To be God's people, mark you well,' God's people, aversion to Israel's isolation, no matter how apparently
not the peopIe of a god of your own imagination, but Israel's history may witness that this isolated position
of God Who is really GOD, of God, Whom the world in the world is untenable, the fact remains, that in
does not know, does not want, hates and refuses to order to be safe Israel must, indeed, dwell alone.
serve and glorify ; to carry His life in your heart, to           In  this isolation lies her safety of God's people.        '
know His covenant and keep it, to be of His party in              Not her safety from a carnal and worldly viewpoint.
the midst of the world and shew forth His praises,  - Their isolation may invoke the wrath of all the  worId,
that is tremendous, dangerous, impossible to the flesh. may bring upon them the  fury-of the powers of  dark-
To risk it with God alone requires the most absolute ness. Name and position, yea, very life may be denied
and implicit trust in Him! . . . .                             them because of their living according to this prin-
       For, this people that must dwell alone with God in ciple of isolation. Yet, Israel's safety is in its dwelling
the world, is, in an earthly sense, still of the world, for alone. Its safety from a spiritual aspect. If Israel
their earthly existence and subsistence dependent on would maintain its identity, would be God's people, it
the world. They are related to that world, they need must needs be separated from the world.
the food and drink, the clothing and shelter of that              Neither does Israel's history contradict this truth.
world.        It seems absolutely essential for their well-       The old-covenant people, the nation of Israel, in-
being according to the standard of the world, that they deed, ceased to be and was swallowed up by the nations
do not dwell alone, that, instead of incurring the ill- of the world; but not because it dwelled alone and
will and hatred of the men of this world, they seek chose to be God's people, but because it refused to
their friendship. For, they are few in number and dwell alone and served all the gods of the nations !
small in power. And they sit not on thrones and in the And not in those churches that followed the principle
high places of the earth. Their entire earthly position, of adaption to and amalgamation with the world is the
for every possible carnal viewpoint, pleads for com-           Church of Christ preserved in its strength and beauty,
promise and amalgamation with the world.                       however mighty and successful they may appear, but
       And .does not history offer the same plea?              in the Church, however small and despised, that chose
       Was ever a nation more harassed than Israel of the to dwell alone !
old dispensation? How it was hated by all the nations             The Church that would. save its life. in the world
of the world, because it would dwell alone, because , shall lose it!
Jehovah was its God! How they complained in bitter                But the Church that will lose its Iife in the world
woe, that they afflicted them from the nation's youth; for Christ's sake, for God's covenant's sake, shall save
how they could truly say that the enemies plowed upon it unto life eternal !
the nation's back and made long their furrows ! And               This Church is safe !
did not the attempt of Israel to dwell alone, in the end,         For it dwells, alone in the world, but with God !
prove an utter failure? Was it not led into  captivity?           And the everlasting arms are beneath!
Did not the nations of the world rule over it? Was                And if God be for us, who can be against us?
not the nation finally destroyed and scattered among               God is the everlasting! He is from eternity. He
                                                                                              s


                                       T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                                    5 0 7
             I-.           __.I                                                                                               II_.-
is before the world was and ordained all things, even
also the isolated position of His people in the world,                                   Het Werk Gods Zien
the enemies that surround and threaten them, and so                             Mozes, de man Gods, was opgeklommen op de vlcu-
ordained it all that all things must work together for gelen des gebeds en staande op de bergtoppen des  ge-
good to them that love Him. And He is to eternity. loofs zag hij God als de Toevlucht van  alle geslachten
The first and the last. The All-wise. The Almighty. der kinderen  Gods. Zijn blik tuurt terug in het grijze
He never wearies. He never slumbers. He never verleden en ziet weer de bange jaren van den tocht
sleeps. He never grows weak. He never falters. He door de nare wildernis ; zijn blik werpt hij over de
is God, God alone. And His counsel shall stand and He vreeselijke  jaren  in het gbddelooze Egypte;  terugblik-
shall do all His good pleasure !           The everlasting kende ziet hij in vergezicht het trekken der vreemde-
Rock! .  ., . .                                             .I"          lingen. Ja zelfs over Noach  en het gebruis der schui-
    And He is the dwelling of His people.                                mende golven dwaalt zijn oog en speurt  alle de  ge-
    He loves them. He is their refuge. He supplies slachten der kinderen  Gods tot op den struikelenden
their want. He cares for them. He protects `them Adam.
against all their enemies. Without His will they can-                           En het steeds wederkeerende tafereel dat hij  aan-
not touch them. He bears them up in His everlasting schouwt is dit, dat de Heere een Toevlucht was voor
arms, bears them through all the tumult and turmoil alle die geslachten. Met Hem wandelden zij en bij
of the nations, through raving powers of darkness to Hem woonden ze.
eternal glory ! . . . .                                                         Maar zijn blik speurt verder. Staande op de top-
    Israel shall dwell alone in the world !                              pen der bergen  ziet hij dat God de vreeselijke Schep-
   Alone with God!          -                                            per is van bet geheele heelal:  "`dat Gij de aarde en de
   Dwell in safety !                                                     wereld voortgebracht hadt  !"
                                                  H. H.                         Totdat zijn blik duizelt in den oceaan  der eeuwig-
                                                                         heid.  Verder  .kan hij niet. "Van eeuwigheid tot  ecu;
                                                                         wigheid zijt Gij God!"                     *
                                                                                Dan komt zijn bIik weer langzaam terug en keert                    '
    Dit nummer, en ook het volgend nummer van ons weder van het aanschouwen der duizelingwekkende
blad, verschijnt in verkleind formaat, om onze redactie eeuwigheid en ziet dat alle geslachten weggegaan zijn,
een poosje verademing te geven.                                          terugkeerden tot de verbrijzeling des stofs. Hij ziet
                                               Redactie.                 de eeuwen, de geslachten, de jaren  versmelten. En ze
                                                                         gingen weg vanwege de majestieuze stem Gods die hun
                                                                         onverbiddelijk toedruischt van boven: "Keert weder,  '
                                                                         gij menschenkinderen !"
                           NOTICE                                               Alles wordt overstroomd door dien eeuwigen God.         '
    The Sunday School of the First Protestant Re- Op, zijn eelst is alles maar een nachtwaak. een slaap,                                     ,,
formed Church has published another pamphlet writ- een gedachte, een damp in `t verschiet.
ten by Rev. H. Hoeksema, entitled, "The Sojourner's                             En de kwaliteit  dier overstrooming proeft hij als           .'
Sabbath."                                                                toorn, grimmigheid, verbolgenheid Gods. Want alle
 ' We have also published a third edition of "The die geslachten  waren  vuil en zondig, alles ging mank,
Biblical Ground for Baptism of Infants."                                  struikelde en viel. Hij zjet God die sterk is in toorn                        "
    Both booklets are available at 1045 Niagara Ave., over zonden en wrange vruchten geeft van moeite en
S. E., Grand Rapids, Mich.                                                verdriet.
    We would like to remind the readers of these                                En dan pauzeert hij. Zijn hart breekt  en zijn ziel
pamphlets of sending in names and addresses of parties schreit. Hij kan zoo niet verder.                                                :
interested in these booklets.                                                   Hij scheurt zijn b1i.k weg uit het smartelijk verle-
    Funds contributed to this work are.appreciated.                       den en ziet op Gods arme volk. Hij weet zich de Mid-
    All requests are to be mailed to The Sunday School delaar des Ouden Verbonds en pleit voor de Kerke Gods
Mission. Publishing Society, 1045 Niagara Ave., S.  I$., der eeuwen. Hij roept het uit in de droefheid zijner
Grand Rapids, Mich.                                                       ziel: Houd tech op, Heere, ga zoo niet verder. "Keer
                                                                          weder, Heere, tot hoe lang? En het berouwe U over
                                                                          Uwe knechten."
                                                                                Voorts smeekt hij om verblijding voor de geslach-
                    BEHENDMAKING                                         ten der kinderen  Gods. Ja, hij vraagt zelfs, dat die ver-
   Classisvergadering staat, D. V., te worden  gehou-                     blijding hun deel mag zijn in dezelfde mate, dat de
den Woensdag, 7 September 1932, om negen uur in den drukking Gods hun deel was.
voormiddag  te Grand Rapids, Mich., in het Fuller Ave.                          En de inhoud van die afgebeden verblijding, de weg
kerkgebouw.                                                               waarlangs het volk van God zal zingen  van geluk is
                                 M. Vander Vennen, S. C.                 wel, dat zc de we&en Gods mogen  Zcunnen a%?z.  "
                                                     ,,            I     ..     .       .'  .


                                  T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                       513
       ---.-.                              __--_-                          _.             111111 ..- -" _....-
hij ook niet het  verband  tusschen het gebeurde en het
doe1 Gods.                                                                Beauty For Ashes
   Zoo werkt God zijn raad uit altijd, overal  en elk          Throughout the ages there is a people that dwell
oogenblik. We1  mag dan de vraag opkomen: Maar hoe in darkness, that dwell in the land of the shadow of
dan moet men verklaren de verantwoordelijkheid der death. And so horrible is their position that the holy
menschenkinderen?     De mensch is immers een vrij prophet characterizes their habitation as being  n  goke
wezen, zal men den geloovige toewerpen. Hij heeft of their burden, a staff of their shoulder and a rod of
tech een wil en met dien wil is hij vrij. Hij kan naar their oppressor.
de stad gaan of hij kan thuis blijven, zooals hij wil.         But, oh wonder of grace, away in the distance they
En zooals hij zulks kan willen in alle vrijheid, zoo is saw a great light. That light was so unspeakably
hij ook zedelijk vrij, doende wat  goed  is of wat kwaad lovely and charming that they began to be joyful be-
is, naar eigen wilsactie. Zoo heeft het ongeloof vroeger fore God's face as men rejoice when dividing the spoil.
gesproken en zoo spreekt men vandaag weer. Maar For that light was a harbinger of deliverance. That
het antwoord mag in het algemeen gedaan worden:             light would break asunder the bonds of darkness and
Wie zijt gij, o mensch, dat gij tegen God antwoordt. death. That light would set them in light as when the
God zegt : Ik de Heere doe al deze dingen. En dan be- sun is in his strength, that light would cause them to
taamt het den nietigen mensch te zwijgen en te aanbid-      dry their tears and make them break forth in jubilant
den. Doch  ook moet men niet vergeten, dat de mensch songs before the very face of God.
nooit souverein'vrij is gelijk God zulks is. God doet          And the holy prophet, standing in the light of
inderdaad al wat Hem behaagt, en dat behagen Gods is special revelation, utters the majestic  name of i&at
een eeuwig welbehagen, aan niets gebonden dan aan           light : Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Zichzelf.  Doch des menschen vrijheid is beperkt tot Father, Prince of Peace. It was the very face of God,
het aardsche en het geschapene. In de sfeer dus van Jesus Christ, the Beloved.
het geschapene en het nietige, is ook zijn wil geschapen       Harken! He speaks ! Very much later in the
en nietig. Hij heeft een geschapene vrijheid, die nooit prophecy of Isaiah l$e begins to speak and breathlessly
tot de eeuwige goddelijke vrijheid opklimmen kan. we listen to Him who gave Divine answers on earth:
Daarom al blijft de mensch een willend  subject van alle The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me !
zijne werken, en juist daarom kan en zal hij moeten            And then He tells us in soul-stirring language
blijven de verantwoordelijke, die tot in eeuwigheid ver- which is the labor that He is about to do : I shall preach
antwoordelijk blijft voor  alle zijne  daden,  in Gods gIad tidings unto the meek, I shall bind up the broken-
souvereine vrijheid, voert Hij Zijn raad uit, ook door hearted and those who pine away in dungeons I shall
en met de verantwoordelijke mensch.                         open up the prison so that they will go free.
    Dit leerstuk geeft de kerk des Heeren een onuit-           And that labor we find characterized in figurative
sprekelijke troost,  zegt dit artikel verder. Gelijk als language when He says: "To appoint unto them that
de Catechismus in  Zondagsafdeeling  9 zegt, dat de mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes !"
God en Vader van  onzen   Hee> Jezus  Christus door            Beauty for ashes ! What glorious Gospel of deliver-
Zijn raad en voorzienigheid alle  dingen regeert en  on- ance? When once the significance of these few words
derhoudt, onze God en Vader is. Met een eeuwige is brought home to our inmost heart we also shall re-
Vaderlijke liefde,  is- Hij begeerig Zijne  kinderen  in joice as when men rejoice when dividing the spoil.
Zijne eeuwige woning te brengen. Dat is zijn doe1 van          Beauty for ashes. What does it mean?
eeuwigheid. Met dat  doe1 regeert Hij niet  alleen  die        Ashes has a terrible speech. Ashes in Scripture is
kinderen, maar ook alle  dingen.  Alle  dingen  zijn in imagery for that which is powerless and nerveless, that
Zijne hand, en onder Zijne heerschappij, alzoo dat geen which is without animation and where all resistance is
haar van ons hoofd kan vallen zonder den wil des gone out of. It is the consumed, the chilled to death,
hemelschen Vaders. Ze zijn dus volkomenlijk veilig. that which is absolutely gone out.
 Ook in het  midden  van een Gode vijandige wereld ; ja         But beauty, and especially when considering that
 zelfs  als de duivel zelf hen tegenstaat. Want Hij houdt the original uses a word which means the .beauty  of
 de duivelen in toom, met alle zijne trawanten. En al- ccdornmen&  is just the opposite of ashes. Ashes is ob-
 hoewel al die vijanden van de Kerk des Heeren haar ject of abhorrence, while adornment is object of ad-
 schaden willen  en hen zelfs de zaligheid willen ontne-    miration. The word used here is imagery for pomp,
 men, door verleiding en list en vijandschap, nochtans splendor and magnificence. Adornment is that which
 kunnen ze niets vermogen, want God houdt ze in den evokes ecstacy  in the beholder. It is imagery for gold
 toom door Zijn almachtige kracht en dat van oogen- and silver, pearls and rubies, silk, purple and fine linen.
 blik tot oogenblik, totdat Zijn raad is volvoerd, Zijn Hence it is the figure used in Scripture for the costliest
 volk is verheerlijkt, en het zal gebleken zijn, dat God and the most beautiful, the most splendid imaginable.
 God is van eeuwigheid tot in eeuwigheid. En die God            Remembering their individual meaning and view-
 is onze God.                                                ing our text in the general background of Divine
                                       L. VERMEER            Revelation it ought not to be difficult to understand


5     1    4                         T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R
                          .._ ~ .--.--                                       II_--
what is the sense of the Holy Spirit when this Scrip-        name ; they gather in His house throughout the land ;
ture tells us that this Wonder Child shall give beauty there are Christian nations and peoples galore.
for ashes.                                                   8 Thus they are drilled and so they speak. The
     For the whole of God's Word tells us that man,          beauty of the Lord is thrown for a scramble among the
fallen man is like unto an ashheap in ugliness and filth.    dogs. If you do not grasp it it will be your own fault.
Then we can understand that man, as he fell away The Lord offered it to you : become beautiful, why do
from God, is hung about and permeated with death, so you not?
much so that Scripture calls him dead in sin and tres-          And on the  holydays  of the church everything glit-
passes. So that the objects which receive beauty for ters and glistens. All seem beautiful. The .devil him-
ashes in their ashy state are without animation, power- self appears in the glistening robes of an angel of light.
less and nerveless, consumed, gone out, chilled to death. And the whole world shouts : Beauty for ashes !
Small wonder that the holy prophet characterizes them           But it is not true!
as a people dwelling in the land of the shadow of death.        "Them that mourn in Zion." The beauty of the
     But what of the beauty?                                 Lord is not given to the worId but it is distributed in
     The greatest beauty that the Bible knows of for Zion. You must be an inhabitant in Zion.
fallen man is the priceless communion with the  ever-           Where is the world in my text? It is not in it !
blessed Covenant Jehovah. In that communion man Not even all in Zion receive this beauty of the Fovenant
rests and is at peace. There he can sing and dance communion with God.
and break forth in jubilant cry. Give man the com-              All of Zion keeps holiday; .it is true. All of Zion
munion with God and he becomes oh so beautiful. It adorns itself with the name of Jehovah, who is blessed
changes his entire life. You would not recognize him for ever, Amen! It is true. But they do not all receive
again. There is  su'ch a difference that this text says :    beauty for ashes. There is a second limitation. Not
Beauty for Ashes! What a difference between the all are Zion even though called by that beauteous name.
sparkling rubies and an  ashheap.                            There is a people dwelling in Zion which are at ease.
     Beauty? The beauty of the Lord? It is the jewel They also dwell in the darkness but they like it. They
of regeneration, the sparkling of a new life from hate the light of the face of God. And when the light
heaven. It is the heavenly voice of God, calling His appears they close their eyes and gnash their teeth
child to Himself in notes that are so enchanting, that against it and do all they can to obliterate that light,
once heard we can never forget them. It is the glisten- to extinguish it to put forth their every endeavour.
ing light of conversion when the weary heart experi- When the Light of light appeared in the Person of the
ences the healing balm of Gilead and tears are wiped         Son of God they nailed Him to the accursed tree and
away by the comforting grace of the Spirit and Word shouted in wanton godlessness: Let His blood come
Divine.. It is the priceless peace of God that passeth upon us and our children. Ever before that Cross and
`all understanding, when justified the soul cries out in ever after they that dwell at ease in Zion have tortured
strains that float upward to the delight of angels: It is and maltreated all those in Zion that spoke of that light
well,- it is well with my soul ! It  is the sweet knowledge and that loved that light. Even unto this present day,--
that all my sins are forgiven and that when my earthly They do not receive the beauty of the Lord. They re-
pilgrimage is ended I shall be satisfied with the image ceive His fury. They shall see whom they pierced.
of my God ! Oh, then, then I shall be satisfied. What And seeing Him they shall weep for all eternity.
priceless beauty ! What heavenly adornment is the               No, the recipients of the beauty of the Lord are
communion with God.                                          those that mourn in Zion. They that mourn for their
     This Wonder-Child is revealed here as giving sins, they that mourn before the face of God because
beauty for ashes. So that the message is that the ashes they have in Adam and in themselves behaved abom-
shall entirely disappear. And that the beauty. of the inably, transgressing His law and defiling His name.
Lord shall come in the place of it. So that the godless-        They are the spiritual kernel of Israel. They are
ness is taken out of my soul entirely and the beautiful the foreknown of the Lord. They are the elect of the
sons and daughters of Almighty God appear in the living God, who are regenerated by the Spirit of grace
Beloved Son of His right hand. Oh, I know it, such and henceforth led by Him along the quiet waters until  '
will never be on earth. But we know that such shall everyone of them shall appear before Him in the
be a blessed reality when all earth's strife is ended and Heavenly Zion. To never sin again, but sing for ever-
the weary soul of God's people shall be liberated and more. They are characterized by meekness, by  broken-
that for all eternity.                                       heartedness, by knowing themselves captives and in
     But who receive these priceless jewels?                 prison, the mourning ones and those who have a spirit
     And today the whole world crieth : Unto all ! Such of heaviness.
is the current conception. At least it will be given            They only receive beauty for ashes.
unto all that want it. Almost everyone one may chance           And, mark you, well, they do not earn it: "II10 give
to meet upon the streets of Sodom and Gomorrah owns unto them !" It is freely given. It is not offered unto
unto  h.imself  the beauty of Christ. They bear His them if  haply they may be inclined to accept the beauty


                                                                              T H E   S T A N D A R D  B E A R E R                                                                            515
                   - .__...-...... "..-.-". ..-_. - ..^I............._..._  ^ ..-....................  ^...^^ .-.....-.. _._"._                                                .-._
of the Lord. No. By irresistible grace the Lord adorns
His children. And the more grace and beauty they                                                                                              Nieuws Uit Kalamazoo,  Mid.
receive the more they continuously wake up to the fact                                                                                     Dat hoort ge niet zoo vaak, zult ge misschien zeggen
that the Lord is making them conform to the beauteous of.  denken.  En we  stemmen  u toe, dat dit waar is.
face of Jesus.                                                                                                                          Wij behooren dan ook niet tot de beroepsschrijvers en
   What glorious gift and how happy is the man whose zijn ook wat bang. Ook zijn er nog we1 andere rede-
trespasses have freely been forgiven !                                                                                                  nen waarom we zoo weinig van ons lieten hooren, rede-
   Still, my brother, grow still for a little. There is nen, die velen uwer we1 bekend zijn, althans kunnen
one more word in my text. And that word is pregnant zijn.
with meaning. It is the word appoint.                                                                                                      Oorspronkelijk dateert onze geschiedenis, met die
   To  appoint  unto them. Behind the glorious gift van Dss. Hoeksema en Ophoff, vanaf 1925. Tot op 1926
lies the appointing of  the'Lord.  "TO appoint" He came. behoorden we dan ook bij de gemeente, die nu op'zich-
Those two words mean oh, so great a humiliation for zelf staat en den naam draagt van de Protesteerende
the Wonder-Child. They spell out eternal  death.  They Eerste Christelijk Gereformeerde Kerk te dezer
mean the bearing of the full burden of the wrath of plaatse.                                                                                      Toen  echter  in het najaar van 1926 onze
God that burned us into an ashheap.                                                                                                     kerken een eigen kerkverband vormden (nu onze  Bra-
   To appoint, to prepare, to set in order, to labor to testantsehe' Gereformeerde Kerken) en onze vroegere
come to pass, the travail of His soul, the agony on the Leeraar en Kerkeraad weigerden  zich bij onze kerken
cursed tree, broken flesh and poured out blood, the te voegen, meenden we aan deze zondige afscheiding
blood of His spotless heart!                                                                                                            niet mede te mogen  doen.  VooraI   mocht dit niet  om-
   To appoint ! It means this: TVly God! My God ! dat er hoegenaamd in geen  enkel punt der leer ook
Why hast Thou forsaken me?"                                                                                                             maar het allergeringste  verschil  bestond.
   Have your feasts. It is well. The Lord wills it.                                                                                        Noodgedwongen, terwille van de eenheid, die we als
Have your holidays. It is well. The Lord has insti- het lichaam van  onzen  Heere  Jezus  Christus  moeten
tuted them. Adorn yourselves with the adornment of openkaren, althans naar eulk een openbaring ook naar
godliness and sanctified endeavor. And in the midst of buiten dienen te streven, zij het dan ten koste van een
it ail: "Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion! veel kleiner getal dan we verwacht  hadden,  hebben we
But - remember in the midst of your feasting, you het verband  niet kunnen vaarwel zeggen waarmede we
received beauty for ashes only because He received in het belijden der waarheid  Ben  waren.  Het is  dan
ashes for beauty!                                                                                                                       ook juist om die eenheid, dat we in de vreeze des  Hee-
                                                                                                                         G. V.          ren tot nog toe ons Ben met onze kerken weten. Alleen
                                                                                                                                        te staan, zonder dat er verschil is in belijdenis, is naar
                                                                                                                                        Gereformeerd belijden zonde voor den Heere. Ook al
             GELOOF,HOOP  EN LIEFDE                                                                                                '    zouden persoonlijke  zaken  aaneensluiting moeilijk
       Wanneer gij  vraagt : waarom, waartoe? '                                                                                         maken, zoo meenen we, mogen daarom deze persoon-
       Als gij van `t droevig.vragen  moe,                                                                                              lijke redenen niet zoo zwaar wegen, dat een .opzichzelf
       Erkennen moet dat gij niets.weet,                                                                                                staan daarvan het gevolg werd. Daarom meenen we,
       Wees tot aanbidden dan gereed,                                                                                                   neen, zijn we er vast van overtuigd, dat we recht  van
                  Geloof !                                                                                                              bestaan niet alleen hebben, maar evenzeer zijn we er
                                                                                                                                        van overtuigd dat we  als gemeente op een hechten
       Als  u omhult des levens  nacht,                                                                                                 rechtsgrond staan. De geschiedenis op te  halen,  gelijk
       Geen vriend, geen helper aan u dacht,                                                                                            deze  zich lokaal heeft afgespeelh, is nergens  goed  voor
       Zoo weet dat God u trouw behoedt,                                                                                                en doet niemand eenig nut.
       Hef op uw hoofd met blijden moed,                                                                                                    Alleen terwille van de waarheid schrijven we en
                  I En hoop.                                                                                                            zijn er van overtuigd dat een kerk of gemeente welke
                                                                                                                                        opzichzelf wenscht te staan, om andere redenen dan
       Als u een ander heeft gekrenkt,                                                                                                  hierboven genoemd, in de wateren  van het Independent-
                                                                                                                                        isme is verzeild geraakt. En waar de Kerk van  onzen
       Terwijl  ge in liefde hem gedenkt,
       Hij tot u komt met rouw en smart,                                                                                                Heere Jezus Christus  wezenlijk een is, en iedere lokale
                                                                                                                                        gemeente er naar moet streven zooveel mogelijk die
       Zoo druk vergevend hem  aan  `t hart,
                   Heb lief.                                                                                                            eenheid naar buiten te openbaren, hebben we dan ook
                                                                                                                                        door Gods genade, die heilige  roeping niet durven ver-
                                                                                                                                        zaken.
                                                                                                                                            Daarom was het voor ons een blijde dag, toen we
    "If the Lord will" does not only mean "I am uncer-                                                                                  uit een tevoren gemaakt drietal Ds. Verhil  hadden  be-
tam,"  but "I want the Lord's plan, and none other." roepen  en hij ons het bericht zond : Na ernstige en bid-
The "If" is because of affection to Him as well as con-                                                                                 dende overweging kom ik met vrijmoedigheid tot u
sciousness that He can intervene.                                                                                                       over om u te helpen.


  516                                    T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R
  _____ -_-                                          -                                                      ___- _.. ~_
         Op den  29sten Juli werd onze leeraar bevestigd.
  Bij deze gelegenheid sprak Ds.  H. Hoeksema de  predi-                      Our Church Order
  katie uit. Z.Eerw. had tot  tekst Jesaja  58:1,  "Roep                                  ARTICLE  IV
  uit de keel, houd niet in, verhef uwe stem als eene  ba-                         The lawful calling of those who have not
  zuin, en verkondig mijn  volk hunne overtreding, en                            been previousIy  in office, consists:
  het huis Jacobs hunne zonden." Een, ernstige en tevens                           First, in the election by the consistory
  zeer gepaste predikatie beluisterden we. Onwillekeu-                           and the deacons, after preceding prayers,
  rig kwam de vraag op : Hoe kan een zondig menschen-                            with due observance of the regulations
  kind dan  tech voorganger zijn. Dat kan ook nooit,                            ' established by the  con&tory for this pur-
                                                                                 pose, and of the  ecclesiastica ordinance,
  tenzij de voorganger zelf zijn ongerechtigheden kent                           that only those can for the first time be
  en behjdt  en nooit tracht te verbergen, noch voor zijn                        called to the ministry of the word who have
  God, no& voor de gemeente welke hij het Woord be-                              been declared eligible by the churches, ac-
  dient.                                                                         cording to the rule in the matter; and
         Na de predikatie werd Ds. Verhil door Ds. G. Vos                        furthermore with the advise of classis or of
                                                                                 the counsellor  appointed for this purpose by
  bevestigd.                                                            .        the classis.
         Wij zijn blijde dat de Heere het zoover  we1 met                          Secondly,  in the examination  both of doc-
  ens gemaakt heeft.  We1  zijn we de kleinste der  ge-                          trine and life which shall be conducted by
  meenten in ons kerkverband, ofschoon onze Ds. al heeft                         the  classis, to which the call must be sub-
  opgemerkt, dat er in de ark ook slechts acht waren,                            mitted for approval, and which shah take
  doch we hebben goeden  moed. Natuurlijk yerwachten                             place in the presence of three delegates of
                                                                                 synod from the nearest classis.
  we ook geen groote dingen,  we weten dat groei in- en                            Thirdly, in the approbation of the mem-
  uitwendig niet het werk van een mensch is, ook niet                            bers of the calling church, when, the name
  van een leeraar. Groote  dingen  naar de maatstaf der                          of the minister having been announced for
  wereld zijn ten slotte nog geen groote  dingen voor den                        two successive Sundays, no Iawful  objection
  Heere. `We1 gelooven we, dat we ook in deze stad toe-                          arises; which approbation, however, is not
                                                                                 required in case the election takes place
  komst hebben, er zit  bier nog meer volk, dat de  waar-                        with the co-operation of the congregation
  heid, zooals we die belijden, verstaat en begeert. En                          by choosing out of a nomination previously
  boven alles als de Heere werkt, wie zal het dan kunnen                         made.
  keeren? Hij heeft voor ons gezorgd in het verleden en                            FinaJly,  in the public ordination in the
  Hij is immers de Getrouwe die nooit verandert, anders                          presence of the congregation, which shall
                                                                                 take place with appropriate stipulations and
  waren  wij er zeker niet meer geweest. Onze hulpe is                           interrogations, admonitions and prayers and
  in Zijn Naam ook met het oog op de toekomst.                                   impositions of hands by the officiating min-
         Wij bedanken bij dezen  onzen  Consulent Ds. H.                         ister (and by other ministers who are pres-
  Hoeksema en de andere leeraars, die OILS  het Woord                            ent) agreeably to the Form for that pur-
  bediend hebben  voor de verleende hulp. En natuurlijk                          pose.
-- -onze studenten, waarvan we nu weinig meer zullen             " Article 4 haste do with the calling of those who. --
  zien en die bijna  allen  in de gemeenten mogen dienen. have not been previously in office. The calling of those
  Zegene de Heere ook hen evenals onzen  herder en leer- already in office takes place according to a prescrip-
  aar en zegene Hij al onze kerken. Dat  is onze  wensch.      tion (Art. 5) that from the very nature of things omits
         Namens den kerkeraad der Protestantsche Gerefor- the examination and the ordination. It should be
  meerde kerk te Kalamazoo,  Mich.,                            noticed further that in the article now under consider-
                                     G. Dusseljee, Scriba.     ation the calling appears as comprised of four ele-
                                                               ments : Election, Examination, Approbation, and Or-
                                                               dination. In this essay I purpose to confine myself to
                         REPENTANCE                            the first of these, namely, the Election.
                                                                  The question here is: what is the proper method of
          On bended knees, replete with godly grief,           election? In replying, I set out with a presentation of
          See where the mourner kneels to seek relief,         the various methods that are and have been `in vogue
         `No "God, I thank Thee," freezes on his tongue,       in Reformed churches: (a) Election by the consistory
          For works of merit that to HYim belong;              with the approbation of the congregation. This is the
          Deep in his soul conviction's ploughshare  rings,    method or manner of election prescribed by our
          And to the surface his corruption brings ;           Church Order. (b) .Election  by the consistory without
          He loathes himself, in lowest dust he lies,          the approbation of the congregation. This was the
          And all abased  "Unclean,  unclean," he cries,       method followed by the Reformed churches in France.
          From his full heart pours forth the gushing plea,    (c) Election by the consistory from a nomination made
          "God of the lost, be merciful to me  !"              by the congregation. Such was the usage in the Neth-
          The light of life descends in heavenly rays,         erland Refugee-church at London. (d) Election by the
          And angels shout, and sing, "Behold, he prays."      congregation from a nomination made by  *the  consist-


                                             T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                   517
            II...... ___^ ..^ -^" .._.. -         ..__.-llll--                       ___^. - ._.....-     .---. -.-
ory. It is fairly certain that this method originated Our fathers felt this. This accounts for it that the
with Calvin. (e) Election by the consistory with ap- minutes- of more than one Reformed ecclesiastical
probation of the civil magistrates. This manner of assembly (Reformed synods) of that day asserts that
election was advocated by Zwingli and highly favored the task of electing to the office is one to be performed
by the national Synod of Wezel, 1568. It was thought by a body other than the congregation.
to be an effective instrument for excluding the intrigue             Scripture leaves us not in the dark respecting the
of unscrupulous men aspiring to the  o&e, for bridling method to be used in electing to the office. We find in
the inordinate and blind strivings of the populace, and Holy Writ various notices having a bearing on this
for curbing the carnal ambitions of tyrannical elders matter, and in addition the principles by which the
who would lord it over the church. (f) Election by the aforesaid engagement should be governed. Let us at-
classis without the approbation of the congregation. tend to these notices and lay hold on these principles.
Whereas co-operation between consistories and the This done, we will have supplied ourselves with an in-
pious magistrate could not be hoped for, the Synod of strument for appraising correctly the above-cited
Wezel (1563) declared that the matter of electing to methods.
the office could be safely entrusted to the assembly of              We turn first of all to Acts 6. The first six verses
ministers and elders of the majority of churches as of this chapter is a record of the election of seven dea-
soon as the territory over which Reformed  Protestant-            cons : "And in those days, when the number of the
ism had spread should be divided into classes. (g) An disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of
election that follows a method known among us as the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their
"vrije stemming." Where this method is followed, widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then
the consistory as a ruling body distinct from the con- the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto
gregation is not allowed to function in the matter of them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave
electing to the office. The congregation only selects. the word of God and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren,
And its choice is the sole choice, supreme and final.             look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full
This manner of procedure is being pursued by many of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint
Reformed and German Reformed churches in this over this business. But we will give ourselves contin-
country.                                                          ually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And
   As to these various methods of electing to the office, the saying pleased the whole multitude : and they chose
anyone at all acquainted with Reformed, let us say, Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Ghost, and
Biblical, principles of Church government can see at a Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon,  and
glance that several of these methods, those under b, e,           Parmenas, and  Nicolas  a proselyte of Antioch ; whom
f, g will not do at all. The methods under cd, c, and d they set before the apostles: and when they had
are Biblical. The method under d is the one used by prayed, they laid their hands on,them." There are still
our own Protestant Reformed churches.                             other Scriptures. Of Timothy it is stated that he was
   It was under the stress of circumstances that our chosen of the churches to travel with the apostle Paul
fathers would sometimes upon their ecclesiastical as-             (ILCor. 8 :19). To Titus-the apostle  w&es : "For this
semblies declare themselves as being in favor of ex- cause I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in
cluding the congregation from the electing to the office. order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in
Reformed Protestantism as a movement had just be- every city, as I had appointed thee ; . ." (Titus 1:5).
gun. It was a movement with a constituency that had The same apostle's admonition to Timothy reads : "Lay
broken with the Roman Catholic Church. A great hands suddenly on no man" (I Tim. 5  22). A  hnal
many of the seceders were carnal, unprincipled people, notice found in the Acts of the Apostles: "And when
who had bidden the mother church farewell under the they (Paul and Barnabas) had ordained them elders in
impulse not of a love for God and truth but of a hatred every church, and had prayed with fasting, they com-
for Rome's yoke - a yoke that for several reasons was mended them to the Lord, on whom they believed"
also most irksome to carnal men. In not a few Re-                 (Acts 14  :23).
formed congregations this element was in the majority.               So, then, the seven deacons were chose%  by the con-
It predominated even in many consistories. What is gregation, or more correctly, by the multitude of dis-
more, the Reformed churches of this period were with- ciples and ordained, appointed, by the apostles. The
out a theological school of their own where prospective notice respecting Timothy is of no worth in this con-
ministers of the gospel could be educated in the Re- nection as it states not what part the office-bearers
formed faith. As can be expected, there was a great took in this election. Titus was told to ordain. elders.
scarcety  of capable preachers in those days. The selec- And the admonition that came to Timothy plainly im-
tions had to be made from a class of men comprised plies that he had received a similar charge. In the last
largely of itinerant preachers, seceding monks and scripture quoted, Paul and Barnabas appear as ordain-
priests. Many of these were unfit from every point of ing, that is, appointing, elders.
view. For a reason already given many congregations                  These are the only scriptures that have a bearing
could not be trusted with making the proper selection. on the matter at hand. But they say enough. They


     Fl8                                 ` T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

     clearly teil us what constitutes a lawful calling, namely,        This is a strange reasoning. If until the time of
     an election by the congregation and an approbation the election "of the seven deacons, the church at Jeru-
     amounting to an appointment, election, by those con- salem is to be regarded as an unorganized mass of
     trolling, governing, leading and supervising the elec- Christian converts, and if the aforesaid election is to
     tion in the apostolic church the apostles and their be thought of as an act whereby these converts organ-
     helpers and today the consistory. From these scrip- ized, it follows that from the record of this transaction
     tures we learn exactly what part the rulers of the             it cannot. be inferred that in the matter of the elec-
     church (apostles, evangelists, consistories) on the one tion of office-bearers there must be this co-operation
     hand and the congregation on the other hand took in between consistory and congregation; for if the eiect-
     the calling. Consider that the twelve (apostles) called ing of deacons was an act whereby this Jerusalem
     the multitude of the disciples to them and bade them,          Christian commonwealth organized, it must needs fol-
     Look ye out among you seven men of honest report. . .          low that, at the time of organization this community
     The correct inference is then that the  rulers of  the was without a consistory. If so the election that took
     church take the initiative. The apostles further set place did not spell co-operation between consistory and
     down the spiritual requirements for the office. Those congregation, and thus from the record of this election
     chosen must be men of honest report, full of the Holy nothing at all can be inferred. Fact is, however, that
     Ghost. In stipulating who might be selected, the this church was from the very outset being governed
     apostles as elders of the church exercised their right to and shepherded by the twelve apostles and thus by a
     control and govern the election. This right they again consistory. For the office of the apostles included the
     exercised when appointing those selected. The act of common offices. The apostIes  were at once the teach-
     appointing was not a mere formality, an acquiescing in ers, the shepherds, and the deacons of the church. The
     the choice of the congregation, but an. appraisal and          twelve were serving tables. From this service they
     approval of the work done. It was an act that implied now wished to be relieved to give themselves exclu-
     and still implies the right to disapprove of and reject sively to the ministry of the word. Because the rela-
     the ones chosen if deemed unfit. The final act con- tion they sustained to the church at Jerusalem was also
     sisted in the Iaying on of hands, that is, in the ordina- that of pastor and deacon, the part they took in the
     tion. It is plain what part the rulers in the church are election of the seven has normative value, and likewise
     to take in the lawful  cahing. Being leaders, rulers, the part the congregation took in this election.
     governors, supervisors (so they- are called in Scrip-             The method of eIection  inaugurated by the apostles
     ture) it is their duty to assert themselves as such also is, must be, in agreement with the character of the
     in the matter of the lawful calling. As servants of office of ruler and with what the church as a result of
     Christ they must see to it that no unfit persons be the outpouring of the Holy Spirit has become, namely,
     vested with the offices.                                       a matured Christian commonwealth.
         As was said, the above scriptures also tell  us.what          As to the offices, they are Christ's institutions.
     part the congregation takes in the lawful calling. The Those holding them are His agents. They have author-
     congregation .mzcst  bc allowed to &ect its office-bearers.    ity, that is, the right to proclaim His word. --Authority
     Such is the unmistakable  teaching of these passages.          in the sense of rule, dominion, necessity, right to liber-
            Some deny this and maintain that all that can be ate and to-condemn inheres in the Word, so that the
     inferred is that the election of office-bearers must be authority belonging to the common office is the right
     made a matter of co-operation between consistory and and duty to proclaim the word that by itself rules, corn-d
     congregation and that the joint action must be led and forts, binds and looses. It is to this word that those
     controlled by the former body. So Prof. Heyns: "Zoo- ruled may submit to, and not to the word or will of the
     veel laat zich uit deze plaatsen met goeden  grand  be-, office-bearer. The apostles, therefore, as obedient and
     sluiten, dat er bij de verkiezingen van ambtsdragers pious servants of Christ shrank from imposing their
     voor de  plaatselijke  kerk samenwerking moet zijn van will upon the congregation and thus Iording it over the
     ambtsdragers en gemeente, ilsook dat in die verkie-            heritage of God.
     zingen  de ambtsdragers de leiding  moeten hebben,                The New Testament Church is a spiritual major
     maar meer dan dat is er niet uit af te leiden."' The and must be dealt with as such. Said Christ: "These
'    question arises why we may infer exactly so much and things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with
     no more. The professor's answer reads: "Meer tek- you. But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom
     sten die rechtstreeks betrekking hebben op  verkiezin-         the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you
     gen zijn er niet, en in die welke wij hier aangegeven all things, and bring all things unto your remembrance,
     hebben, gaat het over de verkiezing van een apostel whatsoever I have said unto you . . . . Henceforth I
     door het lot, of over verkiezingen van ouderlingen en call you not servants ; for the servant knoweth not
     diakenen bij de  stichting van gemeenten. Van een ver- what his lord doeth: but  I  caI1 you friends ; for all
     kiezing  in een georganiseerde kerk, waar een wettige things that I have heard of my Father I have made
     kerkeraad bestond, is er in het geheele N. Testament known unto you . . . . 1 have yet many things to say
     geen  sprake."                                                 unto you . . . . when the Spirit of truth shall come,


                                          T ' H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                               519
_... "" ..-_.... ---..^_-_---                                                                          -..- --..... ^^ .^..._, ll_l_
He will guide you into all truth . . . " These promises
were fulfilled. The church now knows. It has attained                                Ongeloof lijk                         ;
to spiritual maturity. The congregation has the anoint-                               ( Ingezonden)
ing. It is therefore well able to appraise those who
desire the office and to make the proper selection. This         `Tot deze conclusie  zal een ieder lezer van dit artikel
the apostles understood. They therefore allowed the komen, als hij even indenkt wat er  we1 niet geopperd
brotherhood great freedom in the matter of the calling wordt als behoorende tot het terrein van de "Gemeene
to the office. They led, controlled, appraised, approved Gratie." 1Men  moet niet te licht denken  over het aan-
and appointed and thus held the reins of government, gehaalde. Het is een gaan tot in uitersten. Het anders
did riot submit these reins to the congregation ; but zoo prijzenswaardige werk van wijlen Dr. W.  Geesink,
they allowed the multitude of the disciples to select the "Van `s Heeren Ordinantien,"  bevat gedachten, waar-
persons for the office.                                        van het ongelooflijk is  ~dat ze door een- Gereformeerd
    We will continue this in a following article.              denker worden  geopperd.
                                                   G. M. 0.       De eerwaarde schrijver behandelt in het derde  deel
                                                               van dit werk  onder   ,anderen het "Eerste Gebod," in
                                                               verscheidene hoofdstukken. Hoofdstuk drie onder dit
                                                               Gebod handelt over "De Valsche Religie. De lagere en
                            COMFORT                            hoogere natuur-religies"; terwijl het vierde hoofdstuk
                                                               het heeft over "De Valsche Religie. De zedelijke  reli-
              Sometimes a light surprises                      gies." Zooals duidelijk is, gaat het hier over I`afgo-
                 The Christian while he sings ;                derij." "Afgoderij nu wil niet anders zeggen dan de
              It is the Lord who rises                         religieuze vereering van een valschen God." 1) De
                 With healing in His` wings:                   auteur is  zich dus  we1 bewust, dat de religieuze  veree-
              When comforts are declining,                     ring van een valschen god afgoderij is, en handhaaft
                 He grants the soul again                      dit standpunt tevens met zijn tegenstelling van het
              A season of clear shining,                       Christendom en andere religies. Zoo zegt hij:  "Het
                                                               Christendom is niet maar de hoogste, doch de eenige
                 To cheer it after rain.                       (godsdienst) . . . , alle andere religieuze verhouding
                                                               is afgoderij." 2) Nu ligt het in den aard der zaak, dat
              In holy contemplation,                           alle afgoderij zonde is voor God, en dit wordt natuur-
                 We sweetly then pursue                        lijk ook door den geleerden schrijver erkend, als hij
              The theme of God's salvation,                    zegt : "De afgoderij is niet maar een lagere trap van
                 And find it ever new:                         ontwikkeling, maar zedelijk slechts zonde  voor God." 3)
              Set free from present sorrow,                    Tot zoover zijn wij het met het geschrevene eens,  be-
                                                               halve dat de afgoderij in alle opzicht zonde is  voor
                 We cheerfully can say,                        God, en niet alleen zedelijk, zooals Dr. G. dat wil. Doch
              Let the unknown tomorrow                         nu komen de hoogtepunten.                            -.~
                 Bring with it what it may.                       Op een Hegeliaansche wijze wordt er onderscheid
                                                               gemaakt tusschen afgoderij en afgoderij.  "Oak hier
              It can bring with it nothing,                    zijn gradaties," 4) zoo schrijft Dr.  Geesirik.  Hij  on-
                 But He will bear us through ;                 derscheid tusschen "natuur-religies, en z.g. ethische of
              Who gives the lilies- clothing,       .          zedelijke religies, van welke de laatste hooger staan
                 Will clothe His people too:                   dan de eerste." 5)
              Beneath the spreading heavens,                      Zelfs tegen deze onderscheiding als zoodanig is
                 No creature but is fed  ;                     niets op te merken, doch echter we1 tegen de Hegeli-
                                                               aansche voorstelling van "gradaties," die Dr. G.  hand-
              And He who feeds the ravens                .     haaft.  Deze natuur-religie behoort, volgens den  ge-
                 Will give His children bread.                 leerden schrijver, hetwelk ook op te merken is uit de
                                                               alreeds aangehaalde titel van dit hoofdstuk, tot de
              Though vine nor fig-tree neither,                lagere graad van valsche religies, terwijl de zedelijke
                 Their wonted fruit should bear,               religie behoort tot de hoogere graad. De vraag dringt
              Though all the fields should wither,             zich naar voren, waartoe deze  gradatie'?  Is het dan
                 Nor flocks nor herds be there:                werkelijk zoo gesteld, dat' in de laatste instantie God
              Yet God the same abiding,                        rekenschap houdt met de soorten van valsche religies
                                                               naar een gradatie? Zijn ze niet alle verfoeilijk voor
                 His praise shall tune my voice,               Bern?  Dr. G. zegt hiervan: "wijl de religie tot het
              For while in Him confiding,                      wezen van den mensch behoort, zij door de zonde we1
                 I cannot but rejoice.                         vervalscht,  maar niet vernietigd is, en verder, dat er


