                                   T I-i E _ . _  _
                                             S T A'ND1Z-RII-~`-I3-E-X-R-~~                    .  .---  .,-

And when you spread forth your hands, I will hide mine          But why must this tree be spared? IsraeI  accord-
from you."                                                   ing to its reprobated shell was permanently barren.
    Full was He of their sham piety. He took no de- But consider that this shell housed an elect nucleus, a
light in it. It wearied Him. He could not away with          remnant according to the  elction,  some of them all
it. It was iniquity and thus an abomination unto Him.        ready present, others still walking in darkness and still
So when upon one of His tours Christ came upon the           others yet to be born. It was for the sake of these that
replica of Israel the barren fig-tree by the wayside, He,    the Dresser petitions the Lord of the vineyard that
discovering that despite its green foliage, it bore no the tree be spared for another year. And as a result
fruit, cursed this tree. And its subsequent withering of the labor still to be expanded upon them, the seed
was prophetic of the judgments of God that would soon of  eviI-doers   - even now most ill-deserving  - will be
overtake Israel, God's barren fig-tree.                      without excuse in the supreme sense.
   The tree as to its reprobated shell is doomed. For           So far a season, the exalted Dresser through His          .
three years now Christ, the Dresser of the Church, had servants, preaches to Israel Christ crucified and resur-
labored with this tree, exhorting it to repent, calling it rected. And as many hearts as the Lord opened heard
to the service of God, and setting before its eye the and believed and were saved. But others continued to
heavenly kingdom He  was  to merit and establish and ripen for. judgment to come. Finally, Jerusalem was
Himself as the Saviour and Redeemer of His people, overturned, the nation in its capacity of type, of an
as the Lamb of God that taketh away the. sin of the          emblem of the things unshakable, was destroyed. The
world.      He had performed many miracles and thus shadow tree was cut down and with it the race of
supplied this tree with the undisputed evidence `ihat men by which it had been corrupted perished forever.
He came from God. But His words and deeds found And the church - the true fig-tree - as shorn of its
no response in Israel's heart. They despised and re- typical dress, lived and will live forever more on the
jected Him and esteemed Him not and finally in their new earth as God's fruit-bearing planting. Jerusalem
fury affixed Him, the Lord of glory, to the cross. This is now above.
was the climax.            .                                    But has this parable no universal message? It has.
   Then said God to Christ, the Dresser of the vine- The Jerusalem above is manifest in this world. There
yards, "Behold these three years I come seeking fruit is stih the church now spread over the whole earth and
on this fig-tree, and find none ; cut it down ; why cum-     comprised at any one time of all those lying within
bereth it the ground ?"                                      the scope of the dragnet that is being drawn through
   Several centuries previous to this, God in His just .the generations of men. It, too, is the planting of God.
wrath had likewise threatened to destroy the apostate To it He comes, is coming today, seeking fruit. Is the
nation. Israel had danced about the golden calf and          tree barren and does the Planter sqy to the Dresser,
had shouted as it danced, "There be thy gods, 0 Israel,      "Behold, I come seeking fruit on this tree and  tid
ivhich brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." .And       none, cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground?" And
the Lord saw. "Behold," He said to Moses, "Behold, it is the Dresser about to begin His cutting?
is a stiff-necked people. Now Iet me therefore alone,           Set the fig-tree of the present before your eye and
that my wrath may wax hot against them and that I perceive its resemblance to that typical tree at the
may consume them. And I will make of thee a great time when the planter came and seeking fruit, found
people."     But Moses would not let the -Lord  alone. none.
"Lord," said he, "Lord, why dost thy wrath wax hot              I put these questions with definite phenomena be-
against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out fore my eye. Know that the Christian church (and I
of the land of, Egypt with great power, and with a think now not of a certain denomination of churches,
mighty hand . . . . Remember Abraham, Isaac and but of the church as it is spread over the whole earth,
Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine          nominal Christianity, if you will) is openly and boldly
oyn self . . . .  " And the Lord repented of the evil repudiating the Christ. They, who in the words of the
which He thought to do unto His  peopie.                     sacred writer were once enlightened, tasted the
   The nation - God's fig-tree  - was spared but heavenly gift, were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
during its subsequent career continued to add insult tasted the good word of God and the powers of the
to injury and ended with vending its terrible spite worId to come are in amazing numbers fahing away,
upon the very Christ.'  <Then God again said this time crusifying to themselves the Son of God afresh and
to the very Intercessor Himseif, "Cut it down, why           putting Him to open shame. This was again most
cumbereth it the ground?" But the Dresser of the forcibly brought home to me by what I read recently .
`vineyard said, this time not by the mouth of one of His     in one of the official organs of the Christian Reformed
pre-figurations,  but by His very own mouth (for the churches  - The Banner.  I refer now to Prof. R. B.
word had ,become  flesh), "Lord, let it alone this year Kuiper's reflections on the present crisis in the Pres-
also, till I shall dig about it and dung it. And if it       byterian Church, appearing under the caption, "West-
bear fruit, well; and if not, then after that thou shalt     minster Versus Princeton  - A Doctrinal Issue.`" The
cut it down."                                                article contains a selection from last year's  mid-


 i44                                          +HE  STAti'b~R'ij  B'tiAk~ii                                                          _"         I-
pp-11_--                                   _.. "._--_ .-... -.._                                                               -
                                                                               "     "
gelijk bij elke aanbieding slechts volgen op aanneming and support many of the methods that are being'  em-
en  toeeigening  van bet aangebodene, en zoo die niet ployed at the present time.
volgt, vervalt de aanbieding en wat er toe behoort van-                                   To these we purpose to refer in the present article.
zelf.  Maar  tocih een inbezitstelling voor zoover een                                    The first category of methods followed are those
aanbieding op het aangebodene een recht geeft, dat that involve a denial of the freedom of the Christian
men zonder de aanbieding niet kan hebben,  hetrecht                            Schools. Our schools are no parochial institutions ;
namelijk, om er als het zijne mee te handelen, het te they are no Church-schools; they are free schools,
nemen en  zich toe te eigenen, een recht dus van genade- schools of the parents, upon whom is incumbent the
rijke beteekenis.                                                              obligation of instructing their children, organized for
    "Ook deze beschrijving van het Evangelie als een the purpose into a society for Christian Instruction,
aanbod van genade, en we1 een algemeen en voor allen electing from their own number an executive board.
welmeenend aanbod van genade, is op Gods Woord ge-                                        Hence, it is upon that society that also rests the
grond en in onze Belijdenisschriften opgenomen als een task of solving the  financial problems of their own
stuk van de Gereformeerde leer.                                                schools in their own way.              If, for any reason, the
        "De uitdrukking `aanbod van genade' komt in de schools incurs a debt, the debt is theirs and theirs only.
S&rift niet voor, maar de zaak zooveel te meer, want And they cannot possibly shift the responsibility to
die is te vinden  in elke in Gods Woord voorkomende pay their debt to any other party or organization.
Evangelie verkondiging."                                                                  Yet, the attempt to make  such a shift of responsi-
        In hoeverre dit laatste waar is, namelijk, dat de bility is frequently made in recent years.
                                                                                     And the easiest party' upon whom this responsi-
zaak "zooveel te meer"  ' `n de S&rift voorkomt, moeten                        bility of paying for the instruction of the children. in
we later onderzoeken, als we op `de door Heyns aange-                          the Christian Schools can be loaded is, naturally, the
haalde teksten ingaan. Wij zijn in elk geval blij met
de  er.kentenis,  dat Heyns met zijne redeneering ten Church.
                                                                                          I say naturally ; for, no one  will deny, that the
slotte uitkomt bij eene beschrijving van het Evangelie,
die in de S&rift niet voorkomt. Dit is voor Heyns niet Churoh is deeply interested in the existence and main-
van veel gewicht, maar voor wie uit de Schrift  wil rede- tenance of the Christian Schools, neither that she has
neeren van des te meer gewicht, omdat de S&rift ove-                           a moral obligation with respect to them. Consistories
rigens op allerlei wijze het Evangelie omschrijft, zoo'                        certainly have a calling to labor for a one hundred
als we straks hopen te zien.                                                   per cent attendance of these schools by the children of
        Het is thans genoeg, indien we zien, dat we,  volgens                  the church committed to their charge. Besides, although
 Heyns, het Evangelie zouden  moeten omschrijven als they have no direct supervision over the Christian
 volgt :                                                                       Schools and cannot have, they are, nevertheless, in-
        Het Evangelie is de blijde boodschap  Gods aan een terested in the character of the instruction that is be-
reddeloos verloren wereld, waurin  God wekmeenend aun ing offered in these schools. Besides, especially in
 alle menschen de vergeving der zonden aanbiedt,  heri recent years, the Church is considered an easy medium
                                                                               to collect money. And thus it is but natural, that
 daardoor  in be&  stellend van de xaligheid,  maar zoo,
 dat zij dit heil moeta aannemeni .e71, dat de inbezitstel-                    when a shift of financial responsibility is contemplated
ling van Godswege  door menschen  wordt verijdeld,  in- by school-boards, the first party that presents itself to
 dien ze het heil verwerpen, ook nudat God hen d%ngend                         their minds is the Church.                      P
 tot het hail heeft uitgenoodigd.                                                         Mark, I am not referring to requests for collec-
        Het is ook van belang,  dat we goed  duidelijk hebben tions or free gifts by the Churches to &he Christian
 gezien, dat Heyns tot heel deze voorstelling van het Schools. Neither am I objecting to the custom of some
 Evangelie niet komt door studie van.de Heilige.  Schrift.                     Churches, that present an annual budget to their con-
        We zullen verder zien, tot welke voorstelling van gregational meetings, to specify a certain amount to
 het Evangelie we komen op grond van en door ernstige be raised during the year for the support of the Chris-
 studie van Gods Woord.                                                        tian School attended by their children. This is per-
                                                                               fectly proper; it involves no violation of the principle
                                                                    H. H.
                            -                                                  of the freedom of the Christian Schools; it does not
                                                                               imply a shifting of the responsibility from the society
         Financial Problems of Christian                                       to the Church. The society, in that case, remains the
                                                                               responsible party.
                            Schools                                    6  I               But T do refer to the method of approaching ~the
                                 I    I                                        consistories of the various churches, whose children  at-
                                                                               tend a certain schod, in such a way that the implica-
        In our last issue we made a suggestion as to a pos- tion is clearly as if these consistories as such were re-
 sible way of dealing  with the financial difficulties of our sponsible to shoulder the debt of the schools.
Christian Schools properly and effedively.                                                Here is an illustration.
        We also then stated that we could not agree with                                  A certain school runs a ,deficit, partly due to the


                                                                               --.  --.-.  ~.              _.^  _  .-.-. __- ~-- ~- .__-.__I_C1_


                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                                       345
                           -                                -.            -             -.- ..^_ ^____-
  fact, that many of the children did not pay their tui- condition is  so poor and your Iove for the Christian
  tion, or paid it  only in part. The schoolboard allow School is  so lukewarm, that you will not sacrifice for it ;
  this failure to pay tuition to continue until their debt        but while you will not sacrifice freely for the cause
  is considerable and a serious financial problem is facing according to the best of your ability, we realize that
  them. The children of four different churches attend you will give for an entertainment what you will not
  the school. Tlhe board now composes a list of all the give for God's Kingdom; we will, then, entertain you
 ,children delinquent in the payment of their tuition, to get some money !"
  classifies them according to their church-connection,              And such giving is abominable in the sight of God.
  and approaches the consistories with these lists, sug-             If our Christian Schools must stand or fall with
  gesting that the church is obliged to pay the deficit.          these entertaining benefit-programs, they will fall !
     This is wrong.                                                  Secondly, these programs are to be condemned be-
     It is principally a mistake, for the school is a cause of their very frequency. Hardly a week passes
  society-school, a school of the parents. The children do of late, but several programs are offered for the enter-
  not attend the school as members of the church, but as tainment of the people, sometimes three or four or even
  children of their parents. Delinquent tuition. cannot more on t.he same evening. It occurs to me, if in these
* possibly be regarded a debt of the church. And never serious times, in which the economical and political
  should it be so presented to the consistories.                  structure of the entire world threatens to totter and
                                                                  collapse, the peopIe  of God must congregate, they could
     It is also practically a very serious error. For, the do so for better purposes than to be entertained.
  schoolboards in this way, by requesting that the con-              And this brings me to mylast objection.
  sistories  pay them a lump sum in such cases, seriously            Tlhese programs, as to the content of what is
  interfere with the work of the deacons. Parents that offered, are often a disgrace to the people of God and
  are unable to pay their tuition should apply to the to the cause of Christian Instruction.'
  deacons for aid. And the deacons should, before render-            I do not speak of all programs that have been and
  ing such aid, properly investigate as to the need of the that are offered for this purpose.
  family applying. All this would run in proper chan-                A program may very well be edifying, when the
  nels if the schoolboards simply refused to accept chil- people of God gather for spiritual enjoyment, for in-
  dren unless they pay their tuition; if, then, the parents       struction and prayer, or for the praise of God in song.
  would ask for aid from the deacons ; and the deacons               But when the silliest plays, drama's, comedies and
  would not be deprived of their opportunity properly to dialogues and other such worldly thrash, are offered to
  perform their calling.                                          the Christian public, and when such methods must be
     The method illustrated above is principally and empIoyed  in order to elicit a little money out of the
  practically wrong. It should not be employed at all.            people for the support of Christian institutions, the
     Another group of methods are those that are in whole thing becomes too abominable to even be called
  violation of the Christian character of our schools.            ridiculous.
     I am now referring to the many benefit-programs                 I would not hesitate at all to suggest: Ye, that are
  that are offered for the purpose of helping to support really in need of such si.lIy nonsense in order to offer
  the Christian School.                                           your money for the Christian School, keep your money
     These have been multiplying of late till it becomes and leave the support of God's Kingdom in the world
  fairly nauseating to read their announcements in to them that are willing to seek first the Kingdom of
  papers and bulletins.                                           God trusting that all things  wilI be added unto them !
     Again, I am not condemning the custom of render-                                                                        H. H.
  ing an occasional program, `providing it be of a sound
  and specifically Christian character (all other pro-
  grams ought to be strictly and severely condemned),
  and of taking an offering at such occasions for some                                  IN MEMORIAM
  Clhristian  cause.                                                 Whereas it has pleased our Heavenly Father to take away
      Such a program cannot be called a benefit-program. by death on April 23, 1933, at the age of seven months, the
                                                                  infant Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roertering,
      By the latter I mean programs that  are especially                                    LOIS ELAIN,
  prepared and offered for the purpose of supporting the             The  con&tory hereby expresses their sympathy to our
  Christian School or any other Christian institution or fellow  cons&tory  member and Mrs. Koertering and family in
  cause and that is in desperate need of extra gifts and their bereavement.
  collections.                                                       That the God of all grace comfort the bereaved through His
      I do not care to make it a secret that such methods,        sustainiug  grace, and that the affliction be `sanctified to the
                                                                  hearts of us ail, knowing that all things work together for the
  in our opinion, ought to be despised by Christian good for those that are called according to His purpose of grace.
  people.                                                            The  Consistory of the Prot. Ref. Church at Holland, Mich.,
      First of all, because the implication really is: "we                                        Rev. M. Gritters, Pres.
  know that you still have money; only your spiritual                                             II. A, Van Putten,  Clerk.


             .


 34 6                                         T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R
 .-_ .". ..-_               --.. ~-- _--.                                                                          .-.-. ".l.lllll_l  -.... -
                                                                     to them in His Spirit and will have led them by His
          Jesus Washeth the Feet of His                              Spirit into all truth and thus also in the truth incorpor-
                              Discip'les                             ated in His washing of their feet. Then they will
                                                                     know, and shame will cover their faces as often as
           Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus          they will return in their minds to their petty quarrel-
         knew that his hour was come that he should depart out       ings in which they had persisted to the very last. Then,
         of this world unto the Father, having loved his own         when they will understand, they will contemplate the
         which were in the w,orld,  he loved them unto the end.
           And supper being ended, the devil having now put          vile ambitions that stirred in their bosoms and despise
         into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's WC,  to betray    themselves. And when against the dark background
         him;                                                        of their carnality, Christ will rise before their minds
           Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things        in all the glory of His love and obedience, how they
         into his hands, and that he was come from God, and          will praise !
   went to God;
           He riseth  from supper, and laid aside his garments;         How great the love He bore them! How matchless
         and took a towel, and girded himself.                       His obedience ! How firm His determination to offer
           After that he poureth water into a basin, and began       Himself! How the zeal of God's house consumed Him!
         to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the      Consider the incentive, the impulse of His washing
         towel wherewith he was girded.              John x3:1-5     their feet. According to the record of John, it was be-
     So reads the account of an action of Christ that fore the feast  ofthe Passover. He knew that His hour
 perhaps as much as anything He had ever done set had come that He should depart out of this world unto
 them to wondering. They were totally at loss how to                 the Father. He knew that the only way leading out
 explain the deed.          Their codscience must also have of this world would take Him through fire and water,
 smote them: for not so many hours ago they had again into the company of strong bulls of  Bashan  who would
 been disputing among themselves who was to be the beset Him round, gape upon Him with their mouths,
 greatest in the Kingdom. They had entered the room as a ravening and a roaring lion. He realized that on
 where they were now supping with soiled feet, as they this way He would be a reproach of men, and despised
 had been on the way. All the equipment needful for of the people, that all they seeing Him would laugh
 a footbath  was at hand : the basin, the towel and water.           Him to scorn, shoot out the lip, shake their head and
 Custom now called for some menial labour consisting say, "He trusted on the Lord that He would deliver
 in the washing of feet. There was none other than Him; let Him deliver Him, seeing He delighteth in
 themselves to perform it. But no one of their number Him." He knew that in the abyss into which the way
 would deign to be servant to the others. For the ambi- descended all the waves and billows of God's wrath
 tion of all was to have the dominion, to attain to the              would go over Him. Yet He was resolved to go by this
 highest possible seat in His Kingdom. The mother of way - the way, that would lead Him over Golgotha
 two of their number had even a,pproached  Him on the with its terrible cross, into death and through the
 matter. Could her sons each sit on His right and left grave. Such was His resolve ; for He knew that only
. hand when He would  htive come to His own. Little the way of the cross led out of this world. And out
 do they at this juncture understand that citizenship in of this world He should now pass, wanted to pass.
 the Kingdom spells service. This He will  noir teach                    Out of this world! What a terrible and woeful
 them. So He washes their feet.                                      reality this word zoorld  signifies !  World stands for sin,
         The meaning of this action of His is easily grasped : for this earthy, for corruption, misery, woe, suffering.
 I, your Lord and Master cleanse you, my own, from all Say world, dnd you say wrath, curse, damnation, death
 your sins in My blood that I am now about to shed for and endless hell. And there is such a world - a world
 you and for many. Know then that the labour to which where the curse of a righteous and holy God is, must
 He now stooped was symbolical. The poured water be, operating; a world of corrupt men over whose
 pointed to His blood; and the dust that clave to thei               unrighteousness the wrath of God must be revealed.
 feet, to their sins, to the guilt and filth in which they There is a hell where God's wrath must burn eternally,
 had been conceived and born and which produced in and a grave that must constitute to this hell the gate-
 them all sorts of sin, being in them as a root thereof. way. There must be death, dragging man to this grave.
 And as He had poured water into a basin, so would He Sin must have dominion ; for `man in Adam, his cove-
 now pour His iife and thus provide Himself with the nant  *head,  embraced the lie of the devil and shook his
 means for their cleansing.             Yea more, He Himself vile fist in the face of God.
 would do the actual washing. So would He, their Lord,                   There is therefore this world. Into this world He
 serve them and all His people, that they, as cleansed,              had come. And the hour was now that He should de-
 might show forth the praises of God forever.                        part out of this world unto the Father. And the Father
         Now that His hour had come, this is what He tells was ready to receive Him. For though in this world,
 them once again. Though they understand not what He had not been of this world, but with all His strength
 He doeth, it does not matter  ; they will understand here- had persistently sought and preached a heavenly king-
 after when He as the Christ exalted will have returned dom, had set His affections upon things above: life and


                                   T H E   STANI)AKU  fSl3AfdEli                                                                 ST1
"---__l_..      ---- _______            ~I" .-.-.._ -.-- _..............__  - ..-...........-...-.-.......
immortality, glory and dominion for Himself and His they may also be. This He will do, knowing that for
people. And for the joy that had been set before Him, this very purpose the Fat,her has given into His hands
He had thus far chosen to endure the cross and despise all things: Judas who betrays Him; the devil whose
the shame. Satan had dangled before His eye another. tool Judas is, the wicked who even then were plotting
joy without a preliminary cross. But all attempts to against His life and wiIl soon be clamouring for His
enduce  Him to choose the devil's earthy, God-provoking crucifixion. All things are in His hands. All  po\Ters
and therefore doomed kingdoms had met with a dismal that be: death, life, angels, principalities, powers,
failure. Steadfastly He had set His face toward Jeru- things present, things to come, height, depth and any
salem. Had He listened to the temptor  - which He other creature. So, as one in whose hands has been
could not do - this world would have closed in on Him given all things, He enters His hour. It means that
and with it He would have passed away, disappeared they lay hold on Him because He wills and that without
into the depths of death forever. But He had not His will they can do nothing. All things are His.
yield,ed. He could not, though His temptation had and Hence He will suffer as one who reigns. He will die
continued to he actual enough. Thus He had been triumphant over death, hell and the grave. And when
quick of understanding. Righteousness had been the He shall be lifted up, He will draw all men to Himself
girdle of His `loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His because in His hands are all things.
reins. For the Spirit of the Lord had rested upon                                    This He knows. And He knows, too, that He came
Him. And this Spirit will abide with Him. The Lord from God, that God has called, sent and upheld Him,
had promised. He will therefore pass out of this world, that the Spirit of God is upon Him, that He might
not alone by Himself but with His people with whom bring forth judgment to the gentiles; that the Lord
He is eternally united.                                                       has called Him in righteousness, holds His hand and
   Out of this world will He pass  ; this world with its keeps Him, gives Him for a covenant of the people, for
sin' and misery, with all its woe and suffering, and a light of the gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring
with its curse, its death and its hell. But how will this out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in
be possible? Consider that He is united to a people by darkness out of the prison house.
nature dead through trespasses and sin, children of                                  Verily, He came .from  God. This He knows. And
wrath, deserving of curse and death and hell, children it is evident that this He has willed ; for He has spoken
therefore who enter into the very make-up of this God's words, declared God's wisdom, performed God's
world and whose sin expose them to the very wrath by works. Him, the Father, He has glorified. His name
which this world must be consumed and involve them He has manifested unto the men which were given
in the very fate by which this world, according to the .Him out of the world.
righteous judgment of God, must be overtaken. How                                    "And went to God" through suffering to be glori-
can He pass with these unto the Father, to dwell in fied with the Father's Own Self with the glory which
the Father's house, to walk in the light of the Father's He had with Him before the world was. This He knew
countenance, to enjoy the Father's fellowship and to and willed. Will did He to enter His hour that has
be blessed by the Father forever? Know that he will now come upon Him as one who came from God and
bear the griefs of His own, carry their sorrows, be went to God. And the unmistakable proof of this is
wounded for their transgressions, be bruised for their that, now that His hour has come, He washes their
iniquities. The chastisement of their peace will be feet. Here we have to do with an act that is truly
upon Him, and with His stripes they will be healed. expressive of all He knows, of all He wills, expressive
He will bear their curse, atone for their sin, swallow of His firm and abiding purpose, of the intent of His
up their death unto victory. Thus will He deliver them pure heart, of His hallowed dispositions, of His atti-
from this world, from all that this world stands and                          tude toward the Father. It is an act, this washing of
calls for, and pass with His own unto the Father, be- their feet, that must be received as the unmistakable
cause He takes the way of the cross. Loving His own sign that He knew and was resolved to continue as the
He will love them unto the end.                                               obedient servant of the Father, that therefore He was
   Such was His resolve. And to this His firm de- not the victim of circumstance or the hopeless prey of
termination, He gives expression when He washes their the devil's henchmen in that dark hour but Lord
feet. Through this act He declares unto them, though supreme  whtj brought a voluntary sacrifice well pleas-
they do not ,ti yet understand, that He will cleanse ing unto the Father.
them from their sin and in so cleansing them set them                                 He knows  - the Father's will ; knows that He
in heavenly places. And by this same act He declares must go by the way of the cross. And how well He
unto the Father that He comes; that His delight is to knows. Has not the devil put into the heart of Judas
do the will of His God.                                                        Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him? And He knows
   His will He will do. He will offer Himself and thus this. Also through the action of this traitor the Father
prepare a place for His own in the Father's house. And declares unto Him that His hour has now come, now,
as the exalted Christ He will return to them in the that the very man which did eat of His bread lifted up
Spirit and receive them unto Himself that where He is his heel against Him. How the action of this man must


     -
     ikm                                     `I'HJi S'l'ANDARD  B E A R E R
                                   ___.-. I__- . "" ..-. "-.-."  ..-.. "- ..-_ I           --.-         ^-.._" -...- __I_
     have stung Him, cut Him to the quick. But the Father
,                                                                                   my sin in Thy blood. I will not to be saved by Thee
     will glorify Him. How great the comfort, the knowl- from my sins.                               I will to perish.'      That this is the
     edge of this affords Him. How He set this glory be- meaning of his saying is evident from Christ's reply:
     fore His eye ! How it occtipies  His mind ! When Judas "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me." The
     is gone out, He speaks to them of this glory: "Now is full, deep meaning of this reply  Eleter  at this juncture
     the son of man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.                         is not at all capable of grasping.       Yet Christ has
     If God be glorified in Him, God shall also glorify him spoken the word that immediately brings him to his
     in Himself, and shall straightway glorify Him."                                senses. If the Master washes him not he is without
        He washes their feet.  Re knows, therefore. But t,he Master altogether. And his refusal to yield will
     His disciples do not know. Had they understood they constitute the evidence that Christ is not his. But if
     would not have been disputing among themselves who the matter stands thus, if his being washed by the
     was to be the greatest in the kingdom. Their disputing Lord somehow goes ,hand in hand with his belonging
     finds its explanation in the circumstance that their `to the Lord and having a part with Him, let the Lord
     conception of Christ and His kingdom is earthly. The wash him, not only his feet but also his hands and
     sad fact is that the lines of  t,hought  they are pursuing head. For, though he can find no place in his thought-
     has not as its point of convergence the suffering serv- structure for a suffering Messiah, his soul cleaves unto
     ant of Jehovah, but a servant that is the product of Christ in love. "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part
     their own imagination. Christ had set before their eye with me" are words that pierce his  aheart. "Lord," he
     the truth about Himself often enough. But too shut therefore instantenously replies, "Lord, not my feet
     in were they by their own thought-structure to per- only, but also my hands and my head." So does he
     ceive the truth. Also the speech that comes to them blunder from one extreme into the other, because he
     through His washing their feet fails on deaf ears. They loves and because, loving, he understands not and is
     are therefore ignorant of the purposes of God. And carnal.
     their ignorance is, at least to an extend, willing.                               Yet, though without understanding and carnal, and
        It could be expected therefore that the washing of this applies to all the others with the exception of
     their feet by their Lord and Master fills their heart Judas the betrayer, he is essentially clean, the pos-
     with amazement and resentment. In their minds they sessor of the life of regeneration, and thus a lover of
     have seated Him in a throne. And here He is bending and a believer in Christ. Therefore Jesus saith to him:
     over their feet as some slave. His behaviour is per- "He that is washed needeth not `save to wash his feet,
     haps as vexing as astonishing to them. What will be- but is clean, every whit." So the washing of the feet
     come of their dreams if He persists in making Him- comes to signify the daily sanctification.
     self of no reputation among men?                                                  Having washed the feet of all of them, Christ,
        The Lord's action was especially provoking to the drives home to their hearts the lesson contained in His
     impetuous and blundering Peter. But he keeps silence act - a lesson that corresponds to the immediate occa-
     until the Lord comes to him. Then he speaks : "Lord, sion of His act: the unwillingness of the one to serve
     dost Thou wash my feet?" `The others permit Thee the others. He says to them:  "Ye call me Master and
     to perform this labour upon them. And they permit Lord: and ye say well; for so 1 am. If I then, your
     it to their great shame and discredit. They should Lord and Master have washed your feet; ye also ought
     know better but do not. Their feet Thou dost wash.                        to wash one another's feet."
     But dost Thou, thinkest Thou, to wash my feet . . . .                             This, surely, they can understand - understand
     Thy, my Lord, my Master. Do masters wash servants' that they must serve one another. This, certainly, is
     feet. It is a thing unheard of, Lord. And Thou art the point here and not  that'henceforth  they must in a
     Lord, yea, the very Son of God!'                                          litera sense make a practice of washing each other's
        Peter's remonstrance springs from a strange mix- feet. It is a spiritual service to which Christ here
     ture of ignorance, pride and genuine, ardent, love for refers. It is a service consisting in the one restoring
     Christ. But in replying, Christ touches upon His lack the other who has been overtaken by a fault, in con-
     of understanding: "What I do, thou knowest not now; sidering one another to provoke unto love and good
     but thou shalt know hereafter." But Peter is not to works. It is a service consisting in the one warning
     be reasoned with. Taking little notice of what Jesus the other if he be unruly, in the one comforting the
     says, he retorts with considerable vehemence and final- other if he be feebleminded, in the one supporting the
     ity, as if he were t,he master and Christ the servant:                    other, if he be weak, in the one praying for the other
     "Thou shalt never wash my feet." He has spoken. Let if he be spiritually sick. It is a service that consists,
     Christ hear.                                                              in- the words of Paul, in the one member working for
        Had Peter become suddenly aware of the implica- the perfection of the other and for the edifying of the
     tion of his refusal to allow Christ to wash his feet, he body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the
     would  *have been shocked beyond measure. His saying, .faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God . . . .
     "Thou shalt not wash my feet" is, rightly considered,                            The one shall wash the other's feet, not as  t.he
     equal to the saying, `Thou shalt not cleanse me from lord of the other but as his servant. Consider that


                                                                   TIIE  STAT\fBARij   B E A R E R '                                                                   339
      --"-" ------..--  "--.--..^.--"-.~."... _".." -.-. "." ...-." ---..__ ^^ ._____....,......  _                                                           -.--_-
the. proud wicked man will give you service, will deign God, He, together with the Father and the Spirit, is
to wash your feet; but he, insists on doing so as your triune God, the one perfect being, sufficient unto Him-
lord but not as servant of Christ and of His body. self and the overflowing fountain of all good. The
His vanity finds its explanation in the fact that He has whole earth is His and the fulness thereof. And as
never been washed by Christ. He deems himself a Mediator He is one in whom the fulness dwells. He
perfect man who of himself can render you a perfect therefore is not in the need of us, of our cleansing, of
service. He would even serve God by washing His feet. our bread and water, of our .comfort  and instruction.
   We must be servants of .Christ. For He only is our But we need Him, the  gIorihed  Christ. For He is our
Lord. And He washes His own, those given Him by peace,  our wisdom, our justification and sanctification,
the Father, not as their servant but as their Lord. And our resurrection and  life,`our  way, truth and life, our
their Lord He is. For He cleansed them in His very very covenant. We can praise Him and magnify His
own blood. He reclaims them from death by His own name if He works in us the will to wor'k and to do.
word of life. He rules them by His Spirit. Of the But we cannot proffer Him anything that He does not
grace He pours in them, He, too, is the fountain, for possess, or give Him anything that He now has need
He is God.                                                                                             of as one being in want.. Therefore in giving content to
   If He, who is Lord, washes feet, they who are serv- our service He says not, "Wash My feet, and whereas I
ants certainly should not recoil from this work. For am hungered and thirsty and naked, a stranger, sick
the servant, certainly, is not greater than his Lord. Let and in prison, - feed Me, give Me to drink, clothe Me,
Ilim therefore engage in this work as one washed by take Me in, come to Me in prison" ; but He says, "Wash
Christ, as one who knows that through this washing one another's feet ; do it all unto my brethren." And He
he was made Christ's servant.                                                                          assures us that in as much as we have done it unto one
   It ought to be plain then that the servant is one                                                   of the least of His brethren, we do it unto Him.
poor in spirit  whose service is so much good fruit that                                                  So, then, the only way we can serve Him is to serve
can be borne because he who serves abides in Christ. one another; and serving one another we serve Him.
Only the service that is the expression of a faith'that But though we cannot serve Him in the above described
lays hold on God as the fountain of truth and grace                                                    sense, He can serve us, be .of infinite service to us.
has true worth in the sight of Heaven. It is. this serv- For by nature we lie in the midst of death, are blind,.
ice only that Christ had before His eye when upon a lame, and halt, sit in prison and in darkness. And how
certain occasion He said to His disciples: "but he that He serves His own. For them He shed His very blood.
is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and In that blood He cleansed them from all their sins and
he that is chief, as he that doth serve."                                                              blessed them with all spiritual blessings in heaven. And
   Opposed to this service is that of the proud, who He takes His own unto Himself. They `shall appear
lord it over Christ's heritage, the masters, who' usurp before His face in Zion. And He serves them as their
Christ's place in His Kingdom and carry on as though Lord and God ! Shall we not then, who are His serv-
the flock were tlneir  exclusive possession upon which ants, serve one another, and by serving one another
they may impose their very own wills and which they serve Him. The servant surely is not greater than His
may exploit in the interest of self. These, too, will Master !
serve ; but in serving they seek self. They will wash                                                                                                      G. M. 0.
the feet of others but will be washed by no one, not
even by Christ; for they say, "we have no sin." They
will judge others but will be judged by no one. They
stand ready to remove the mote from the eye of the                                                        Op Zondag, den 14den Mei,  hadden  onze  geliefde ouders
brother with their own eyes full of beams. They would                                                                    THEODORE  WIERSEMA
                                                                                                                                     en
be fountains without first drinking of the living waters                                                    LAMBERTHS CORNELIA  WIERSEMA-.De  Glint
that Christ gives. They would strengthen others with- het voorrecht hun 25-jarige  echtvereeniging te herdenken.
out first being strengthened thornselves  and comfort                                                     Dat de FIeere  hen nog verder vele jaren  moge sparen  is de
others without first being comforted themselves. In a wensch en bede van hunne dankbare Kinderen  en Zuster.
word, they serve as lords who imagine that from them,                                                                                 Mr. en Mrs. Melvin Wiersema
through them and unto them all things are. In serving,                                                                                Henrietta
they'seek and deify self. `Their service, therefore is                                                                                Jeanette
                                                                                                                                      Hilda
an abomination in the sight of God. Were He to admit                                                                                  Winifred
them into heaven they would even insist on washing                                                                                    Winifred De Glint          '
His feet.
   Know, then, that the servant is the greatest in the
kingdom of heaven if he be truZ~ servant. But servant                                                            I need not know the path ahead ;
of who? Of God, of Christ, whose exclusive possession                                                               My Savior's walked that way,
he is. But consider that for Him nothing can be now                                                              And knows each step that I should take.
done that will benefit Him personally. For being very                                                               He'll show me day by day.


352                                 T H E   S T A N D A R D ' B E A R E R
-..-.._"                          ."__l_l_ll^.-l-  ll.-             _-----               __--."--~-
                                                              The Sender is ultimately God. He alone :has author-
                 Mission Questions                         ity to send and to determine what shall be proclaimed.
   Miss Wilh. W. of Gr. R., Mich., asks:                      The One that is sent is centrally Christ. He is the
                                                           Anointed of God, appointed over the entire house of
       E d i t o r : -                                     God. He is the Servant of Jehovah, sent to preach
   Will you kindly give some light on these questions? liberty to the captives, to open the eyes of the blind, to
   What is the Scriptural meaning of mission-work? comfort all that mourn in Sion, to be a light unto the
                                                           Gentiles, even unto the ends of the earth. He is the
   In what way should it. be done and who can do it? chief, principally the only Prophet of God, Who is
   Is there any difference between witnessing for anointed to reveal the whole counsel of God respecting
Christ (as every child of God is called to do) and doing our salvation. And He carries out His mission from
mission-work, as this term is used so often in our day? the beginning even to the end of the world. That is the
                                                           reason why our Heidelberg Catechism can explain in
   Answer :                                                Lord's Day 21, that the Son of God from the beginning
                                                           to the end of the. world, gathers by His Word and
   An elaborate essay might be written in answer to Spirit a church chosen unto eternal life. He did so
these questions. Nor would it, perhaps, be superfluous through patriarchs and prophets in the old dispensa-
or impracticable to develop the true conception of the tion. He did so personally during His public ministry
work of mission in the light of Scripture. So many on earth. He did so through His apostles after His
different notions appear to be in the air about mis- ascension in heaven. And He still does so through His
sions, or, what is, perhaps, still worse, so much  so-     Church in the world. But always it is He that is the
called mission-work is carried on that is not based on missionary, the Servant of the Lord, that by His Word
any principle at al, neither seems to care about the and Spirit gathers His Church, chosen unto everlasting
principles that ought to motivate all our work, also life.
mission-work, that it cannot be considered out of place       For this reason the work of mission is now carried
to develop and emphasize the truth in this respect. But out by Christ through the agency of His Church in the
we shall not attempt to do this at present. Only to world, by His Word and Spirit. This is evident from
emphasize the chief principles that lie at the basis of the Lord's final commission, which He confers upon the
all true mission-work may be regarded as sufficient in apostles. Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel
answer to the above questions.                             to every creature ! Go ye, therefore, and teach all
   By "mission" in the strict sense of the word, must nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
be understood that official work of the Church by which \of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to
she carries out the testimony of the truth, preaches the observe whatsoever I have commanded you  ; and, lo, I
gospel to those that are  in' darkness, that  fiave never am with you alway,  even unto the end of the world!
heard of the truth in Christ or that have  weaned away But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost
so that they ,have become strangers to the gospel.         is come upon you ; and ye shall be witnesses unto me,
   As  s the very word implies, mission-work is the both in Jerusalem and in all Judaea, and in Samaria
execution of an official task, the work of one that is and unto the uttermost parts of the earth! MB. 16 :15 ;
officially sent and can speak with the authority of Him Matt.  28 :18, 19 ; Acts 1:8. It is evident that here the
that sent him. As an ambassador has `an official mis- Lord  detiiteIy sends the apostles, but them as repre-
sion, so that he alone is empowered to carry it out, to senting the New Testament Church, to carry out the
deliver the message with the authority of the govern- work of preaching the gospel. For, that not only the
ment that delegated him, so the missionary has an apostles are meant is evident from  .the scope, the uni-
official calling, an official task to perform, an official versality of the task. This, that-the work of mission
message to bring, and he speaks in the name of His belongs to the Church, is also evident from the example
Sender. Mission-work, then, implies three elements : of the sending forth of Barnabas and `Paul by the
1. That there is one that sends. 2. That there is one Church of Antioch and from the rest of Scripture in as
that is sent. 3. That there is a mission that must be far  `as it has bearing upon this work. It is evident
carried out by him that is sent, that there is a message from the very fact, that Christ has definitely instituted
to be delivered. The relation between Him that sends His Church and committed unto her the ministry of
and him that is sent is one of authority and obedience.    His Word. The task of mission, then, is incumbent
Only he that sends determines who shall be sent, to upon the Church, and the Church carries out this work
whom  ahe shall be sent, with what message he is to be through its office-bearers.
sent and how the task is to be carried out. And only          From this it is evident, that not every individual
when the proper, appointed, delegated party carries out upon his own initiative and authority is a missionary
the work, when that party strictly adheres to his in- or may to pretend to be such. It is true, that all be-
structions in the Name of the Sender, can we speak of lievers are prophets, priests and kings. It is also true,
mission-work.                                              that by their confession and walk they are witnesses


                                   THE  S T A N D A R D   BEARER                                                 353
                            "     _lll_-- ~.-                         .____^_  -             ---~-
                       i
of Christ. But it remains a fact, nevertheless, that
Christ entrusted His Word and the preaching of that                    Psalmen. In Den Nacht
Word not to the individual Cikristian apart from the           Daar is  echter  een  volk, dat niet  psalmzingt  en
Church, but to the Church, and that He Himself has jubelt, ook in den nacht. Volgens bet getuigenis van
willed to institute His Church that she might function Elihu is er een volk, dat schreeuwt vanwege den arm
as a whole through its office-bearers.                      des grooten. Daar zijn  menschenkinderen  die,  wan-
   This is also evident from the very task of missions. neer de schrikwekkende schaduwen van den nacht  zich
It is rather comprehensive. It consists of preaching samenpakken over hun arm hoofd, in wanhoop  en ver-
the gospel, in instructing in the whole counsel of God, twijfeling terneer zitten; die den Naam des  Allerhoog-
in teaching all that Christ commanded, in administer- sten uitdrukkelijk  lasteren  vanwege de plage die hunne
ing the sacraments, in instituting the Church, wher- tent naderde ; menschen,  die al kermende den adem  uit-
ever Christ brings His Body to manifestation. Thus blazen.
the apostles understood their commission. Just con-            Ze zeggen niet: "Waar~ is God, mijn Maker, die
sider the example of the apostle Paul. He certainly psalmen geeft in den nacht?"
preached the gospel, baptized, either personally or            Neen, die menschen, dat geslacht vraagt veel liever
through his helpers. But he also instructed them that naar redders en hulpbetoon van  beneden.  God, hun
were converted in all the counsel of God, laboring day Maker, zijn ze vreemd. Vreemdelingen voor God en
and night with tears among them. Through his- labors hun hart.
churches were organized in-many places, in Lystre and          Daartegenover staat een particulier volk, dat we1
Derbe, in Ephesus, Philippi, Thessalonica, Corinth and zegt : "Waar is God, mijn Maker, die  psalmen geeft in
many  ether places. These Churches were instituted den nacht  ?"
with elders and deacons, with the ministry of the Word         Allerlei  soort van gezang wordt evenmin bedoeld.
and of the Sacraments, they maintained their public Ook de wereld heeft zijn zangen in den  nacht. Want
worship, excersized discipline over their own members hoewel de nacht eigenlijk niet de tijd is om te zingen,
and cared for their `poor. Hence, Paul did not consider bralt men daar  tech zijn liederen uit. Eigenlijk hoorde
his work finished when he preached the gospel, but con- dat zoo niet.  Naar de  scheppingsordonnantien  is de
sciously aimed at the instituted manifestation' of the nacht duister en de tijd voor slaap,  opdat  de mensch
Body of Christ.                                 .           rusten mag van den arbeid zijner handen.
    In conclusion let me make this remark, that even           Tech  zing-t de wereld, die naar God niet vraagt,
today, Christ sends whomsoever and whithersoever and haar liederen in den nacht.
whensoever He wills, He prepares the field, He points          We gedenken  aan de  twee  uitersten. Beiden hebben
out the field to His Church, He prepares and calls and we gehoord.                                                    .,
separates the men for the field. And the Church must           Daar is dan eerstens het gebral en getier van het
follow Him and go where and when He calls.                  openbaar goddelooze volk, dat in brooddronkenheid en
                                              H. H.         verregaande liederlijkheid zijn lusten botviert en zegt  :
                                                            "Komt herwaarts, zeggen zij, ik zal wijn  halen,  en wij
                                                            zullen sterken drank zuipen ; en de dag van morgen zal
                                                            zijn als deze,  ja grooter, veel  treffelijkerl"  En  dat
                                                            doen  ze in den  nacht  het liefst.  Voorbijgaande hoort
                                                            ge die vergaderplaatsen  w&rgalmen  van hun gezang.
                    OP DE LENTE                             De tong slaat dan dubbel; harmonie is er niet in hun
                                                            zang; de keel wordt al heescher: ja, al walgelijker, tot
De  planten botten uit ; de vruchtenboomen bloeien ;        in den diepen nacht  toe, bralt men zijn Iiederen uit.
Weldra  aan tak en twijg wordt weer de vrucht gezien,           Doch  er is ook een ander uiterste.
Och, mocht ook ik, in `s Heeren hof geplant, er bloeien,        Het zijn de vergaderplaatsen van dezelfde wereld,
En aan mijn Hovenier mijn liefdevruchten bien!              doch het is de  nette wereld. Het zijn de heeren en
                                                            dames van fatsoen. 0, neen,  we1  foei  tech,  hier wil
                                                            men niet zoo onharmonieus doen.  Het verhjnde mensch-
Hoe dor en levenloos de velden mogen `schijnen,             dom trekt  zich met `walging terug van gindsch donker
Mocht ook mijn ziel aldus, na lang en droevig kwijnen, drinkhol, waar men we1 zing-t, doch waar ,men zich `niet
In `t naad'rend voorjaarsuur ontspringt het leven weer. stoort aan het liefelijke en datgene dat welluidt. De
Weer levend door Gods Geest, ontluiken, Hem tot eer ! fatsoenlijke mensch wendt  zich met walging van gind-
                                                            schen zanger, die zijn dronkemansliederen  uit-
 Gij, schepper der natuur, die Uw verbond blijft houden, schreeuwt, terwijl het speeksel door zijn baard sijfert.
                                                                Neen, er is nog een ander soort gezang dat weer-
 En na de winterkou de lente keeren doet,                   klinkt in den nacht. Het zijn de gehoorzalen, waar de
 Gij zijt dezelfde nog poor wie Uw Woord betrouwden, groote artisten  hun verrukkelijke minneliederen zin-
 En geeft  na koude en dood weer voorjaar in `t gemoed. gen,  waar men  kwinkeleert   als het  vogelken  of  waar


                                      T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                         355

Ieide dat schreien hun in de ziel. Hij versmelt hun het De  psalmen in den nacht. Dan jubelt  Paulus in het
wezen. Hij schildert hun de zondeschuld voor. Hij kerkerhol; dan snikt Luther, en, tech, al zingende snikt
doet hun eerst weenen.                                     hij.
   En dan, ja dan, komen de zangers, de hemelsche                  De hemel  leert ons zingen,  broeder ; God leert .ons
zangers van boven-  om het volk van God te onderwij-       een hemelsche harmonie ; want het lied der verlossing
zen. Dan leg-t  de hemelsche wijsheid hun een lied op zal gezongen.
de lippen. Dan breekt de duisternis des  nachts en moet            En  a1 zingt dan de nachtegaal in droeve accoorden
plaats maken voor het morgengloren der verlossing. in den nacht: zijn trillers en slaan is zoet. Want hij
"Het volk dat in duisternis zit zal een g-root licht zien." zing-t het lied der hope. Der eeuwige hope.
    Kom, ga met mij,  naar  Efrata's velden.  Het is                                                           G. V.
nacht.
    En de herders, de godvruchtige herders, hielden de
wacht  bij de kudde.
    Veertig eeuwen was het duister geweest.                                                                  1%
    O! ja, het is we1 waar, dat er eenige Iichtstralen                             Contribution
van uit den hemel  gezonden waren. Er was een gezang                  Dear Editor :-
geweest der nachtegalen der Goddelijke profetie. Doch
he? Licht der wereld toefde te komen. Zoo scheen het.              May there be a little space in the Standard Bearer
    En ook in die eeuw zongen de herders Gods: Zou for this piece.
God Zijn gena vergeten?           Nimmer van ontferming            The Illinois Division of the Federation of Young
weten?   Zal de nacht dan eeuwig aanhouden. Geslacht Men's Societies of the Christian Reformed Church had
na geslacht strompelde daarheen, rimpelde en hinkende their mass meeting in the church of Rev. Huisjen, First
stortten ze in de duistere doodskuil. Zou `t menschdom Englewood, Chicago, on Wednesday evening, March 29.
dan vergeefs op aarde zijn geschapen?                              The President of the division had a few opening
    Het was stil in dien nacht.                            remarks. He said : "The young people of today are not
    Doch  plotseling omscheen hen een hemelsch licht. satisfied with a few old slogans of old. Our young
En een Engel  stond bij hen. Die Engel  zong eerst niet ; men must provide leadership. In all spheres of life,
hij sprak en bracht de blijde boodschap. Doch hoort they must dare to say things which the crowd doesn't
ge niet die nauwingehouden trilling zijner stem? Hij        dare to say ; they must dare to go where the crowd
Iran, die bode des hemels, hij kan bijna niet spreken. doesn't dare to go."
Hij wil zingen.                                                    After a few psalter numbers bad been sung, Dr.
    Danr komen de heirscharen des hemels aan. Wat Bouma spoke on the subject: "Facing New Issues."
een geklapwiek  der hemelsche vleugelen. En, verruk- The issues of our Christian Reformed church were
kelijk, klinkt het harmonieuze gezang. Daar is er niet much a case of leaving our isolation, he said.               (Dr.
een die verkeerd zing-t. Daar in Efrata  vie1 niet een Kuyper said that in our isolation is our strength.) Dr.
dissonant.                                                  Bouma  went on to say, "We have in our day all kinds
    Wat is het  thema?  Jezus, de Zoon van God, het of issues we must face. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did
hart van den Vader, is gekomen. De duisternis der not have any issues. Our young people are not like the
zonde en der schuld is gebroken, voor eeuwig gebroken. foregoing generations, that they believe things because
 En hoor  : Ge wordt hemelsch  zingen  geleerd. Zing het their fathers believed them. Our ministers from the
 tech na, het is zoo lieflijk!                              pulpit must not only preach the Cross of Christ on Sun-
    Het is een psalm der verlossing in den nacht. Jezus day, but must also give light on the economic issues -
 is geboren!                                                give more intellectual sermons.
    En dat geslacht  der kinderen  Gods hebben hunne               "The issue of the older generation was loyalty to
 Iofpsalmen  der verlossing van der Engelen lippen over- the church, and the service of the Lord, with their
 genomen. Ret  hapert   we1 wat, we  Bunnen  nog niet families. But we, in our day, are having all kinds of
 266 schoon  zingen  als de hemelboden, doch we worden      issues to face. There are two kinds of issues : those of
 door den Eigen Geest van Jezus geleerd.                    faith, and those of an ethical nature.
    En van geslachte tot geslachte zingen de kinderen              "Why are we Reformed? What about the Modern
 de liederen des Hemels. Het moet we1 toegestemd, dat creation idea, evolution and the like? The ethical issues
 bun stem vaak breekt onder `t zingen. Want er is nog are - birth control, how many children shall we raise;
 zoo veel van dien nacht die ons verontrust. We wande-      divorce ; and when war is declared, shall we go to fight
 len nog vaak door de  valleien  des doods. Het hatelijk again? We must have the facts of science and we
 gevogehe  en de duivelen roepen  hunne metgezellen toe must face these facts with an open mind, and with
 rondom ons. Daar is den Booze die bespringt. Want those facts of science, and with an open mind, we must
 hij haat ons gezang; hij walgt van de lieflijkste  accoor- go to the Bible."
 den.                                                               When I heard this there came all kinds of question
     Doch God, onze Maker, blijft Zijn psalmen geven. marks into my mind. One was, wasn't that same idea


the reason why the church threw out Dr. Jansen?              whom He wills, and shows mercy to whom He wills -
   Then a delegate from the Michigan division, or the not to make this world a good place to live in, but to
treasurer, brought greetings from their division, and testify that the works of the world are corrupt, and
this brother started with saying: "We must surely face that it has to fill up its cup of iniquity is the issue.
the issue, because the foundation of our financial That God's people are a light in the darkness, that we
structure is shaking, and the institutions which were are as sheep in the midst of wolves.
thought to be sound may now be unable to stand the              I received the idea that Dr. Bouma is afraid of the
pressure. But we <have a high calling. Not to get our Antithesis. It is not our issue to get our economic
names in the headlines of newspapers, but in our own structure in shape. The church of the old dispensation
small way do what we can to get things straightened of which Dr. Bouma said they had no issues, when it
again in our economic life, to the glory of God." That was dark economically, when the enemies came, when
was all this delegate had to say about the calling of trouble arose all around, they went with the issue to
the young men.                                               God, and they said: In the way of judgments we have
   This sounds like being in a political meeting, but it expected thee, Lord. To thee is the longing of my
was not. It was a mass meeting of the flower of the soul.. They said,  I am  gIad, Lord, that through these
church. The great Dr. Kuyper would have wept like a dark days we may look for Thy coming. My soul longs
child if he had heard all this. They missed the one for thee. (Speech of Rev. Hoeksema.) That was the
great issue.                                                 issue they missed throughout the entire meeting. 0,
   Was there no issue for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? might the young people's societies of the Christian Re-
They had the same issues as we have, but Dr. Bouma formed churches grasp that idea - but I am afraid
did not see anything of it. Their issue was : "Is God's they will not.
covenant on earth being realized and do you know any-           Am so glad God has given us a church who sees
thing about the Promise?" This is what Rev.  Hoek-           those things, and  let our prayers be, that our own
sema said in his speech.                                     young people may see that one great issue. May we,
   Is it so, that the foregoing generation just said and before long, have our own Federation of Young Men's
confessed things because their fathers said so? Must Societies.
that saying of Dr. Bouma go by unchallenged? He                                                          D .   K o r t
repeated it more than once. I need not comment, our             Oak Lawn, Ill.
blood starts to course with more speed through our
veins when we think of it.
  " What was their issue? And what is our issue?
How many children must a family have? When God                                    JEZUS  ALiEEN
says, God's people, because of my covenant with them,                Hoe vaak wordt smarte hier uw deel,
must bring forth my children and be fruitful, does that                Hoe vaak treft bitter leed ;
leave any issue? Divorce? When God says, what I                      Dan wordt het leven u te veel,
combine ye shall never put asunder - an issue left?                    Zoo gij uw God vergeet.
Creation? Consider it with the facts of science, and                 Maar ziet ge op Hem, Die `t al regeert,
with an open mind to the Bible? Never, Dr. Bouma !                     Dan staakt ge uw droef geween  ;
When science says it were six periods, then the un-                  Der wanhoop  dan den rug gekeerd,.
educated, whom you put down all through your speech,                   En naar uw Jezus heen.
those earnest people of God of old, God's heritage, and
the earnest young people of the day say  - by the                    Stort uit uw hart voor Hem alleen,
word of my God, when He spoke it was there. I would                    Hij biedt den  waren troost;
say it did not take God all day, when He spoke it was                En is het nacht  nog om u heen,
there. In six days - never mind the facts of science.                  Hij spreekt. De morgen bloost.
   The issue of Abraham of the foregoing generation                  Hij wischt uw heete tranen af,
which Dr. Bouma never mentioned, is not what that                      Verheldert weer uw oog,
young man of Michigan said - that it is the calling of               Hij wordt uw steun, uw sterke staf
the societies to help to get the world into a sound shape              Op `t pad, dat voert omhoog.
again, but to work and pray that God's covenant may
be realized on this earth, that God's people may stand               Tot Hem ook heen met al uw schuld,
together, and sing as we did in Holland in our division                Die zondedienst u gaf:
of Young Men's Societies. Waarmede  zal de jongeling                 Hij heeft het al voor u vervuld,
zijn pad; door de ijdelheen omsingeId  rein bewaren?                   Hij neemt het al u af.
Gewis als hij het houdt naar `t heilig blad, etc.                    Hij heeft den losprijs  gansch betaald, .
   That we as God's people may know the funda-                         Geen ander, Hij alleen.
mentals of the Word of God, that we may know that                    Welaan  dan, langer niet gedraaId,
God is souverein who through all His ,pleasure  hardens                Maar naar uw Jezus heen.


                                                               people therefore to- which he has no right. He will
             The New Generation                                afflict this people and make it serve with rigour. He
                                                               will make its life bitter with hard bondage, in mortar
    And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field.
 generation. We enter now a new period in the history He will say to the Hebrew midwives: "When ye.do  the
 of the people of Israel. Consider, once more, that the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, . . . . `if it
 ofFspring,  the seed of Abraham, is  now  in Egypt. It be a son, then ye shall kill him ; but if it be a daughter
 was Egypt that the Lord had selected and prepared to then she shall live . . . .  ." He will charge all his
 serve His people as a temporary abode. The ruling people saying : "Every son that is born ye shall cast
 dynasty of this land, favorably inclined to Joseph for into the river . . . .  " The children of Israel shall
 the services he had rendered Egypt, continued, without sigh by reason of the boridage  ; they shall cry, and their
 a doubt, to be in power `long enough to permit the chil- cry shall go up unto God. And He will hear their
 dren of Israel to increase abundantly without any out- groaning, and remember His covenant with Abraham,
 side interference. And from the notices of Scripture Isaac and  with Jacob. He will look upon the children
 we gather that the land of Goshen  was not at least to of Israel and have respect unto them. And they shall
 any great extend occupied so that in this land, emi- see what He will do unto Pharaoh. With a strong
 nently suitable to the shepherd, the Israelites could hand he shall let them go, and with a strong hand he
 multiply without rubbing shoulders, so to say, with shall drive- them out of the land. Thus the Lord will
 the Egyptians. And the danger that Israel would blend bring them out from under the burdens of the Egyp-
- with the E,oyptians was absent. Because of their occu- tians, and He will rid them out of their bondage, and
 pation they were an abominable people in the sight of He will redeem them with a stretched out arm, and
 the proud people whose neighbors they had become. with great jud,ments. And He will take them for a
 Thus did the promise of a prodigious seed go into  ful- people, and will be their God which bringeth them out
 Nment.                                                        from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And this
    But the Lord was now about to  fulfil the entire people will sing: "The Lord is my strength and song,
 promise and that as it had expanded in the mouth of and He has become my salvation: He is my God, and I
 the patriarch Jacob. Before the prophetic eye of Jacob will prepare Him an habitation: my father's God. I
 had risen, it will be recalled, a land with his seed es&b-    will exalt Him . . . . "
 lished in it. Even to Abraham the Lord had said:                 The aggregate of these events, it will be seen, brings
 "Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in into sharpest relief all the features of the divine scheme
 a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and of redemption. The entire program so enhances the
 they shall afflict them  .four hundred years. And also power and wisdom of God, that to the believing mind
 that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and there can be no doubt that He is able to save to the
 afterward shall they come out with great substance. . . uttermost His people  - save them unto His everlasting
 But in the forth generation they shall come hither 2m-Y.
 again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full."        Herewith we have sketched in brief that section of
 Israel, then, enters upon its career of an oppressed the history of the.  church, the history of revelation,
 people  with all the details the realization of which recorded in the book of Exodus.
 would turn out to be the initial fulfilment of the prom-         Between the revelation the church last received and
 ise on a low earthly plain. It was this  fulfilment  that the appearance of the Lord to. Moses more than three
 gave to the church of the new dispensation a grand centuries elapsed. But the church enters this period of
 type of salvation as to its negative and positive side.       silence knowing what is to befall it. For the Lord had
    Herewith we have presented the Lord's reasons for through His prophets revealed in broad outline the
 bringing the children of Israel in Egypt. Rightly con- history He would make. There was to the church a
 sidered, the entire history that will now be made must word of rich consolation - a word that would be the
 be construed as an earthly realization and unfolding staff of life to believing Israel.
 of the promise and as an typical-prophetical exhibition          Let us now turn to the details of this history. After
 of the things contained in the promise. The book of giving the names of the children of Israel that came
 Exodus is truly a gospel with a typical dress. It there- into Egypt, the sacred record states that "the children
 fore comes to us with a message that is of universal of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and
 significance.                                                 multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty ; and the land
    The Lord is now about to do great things. The was filled with them." What we are to think of here
 new king will not know Joseph.           He will volun- is a miraculous multiplication of the holy seed. Its
 tarily .be of a mind to forget the services Joseph had rapidly increasing numbers alarmed the Egyptians.
 rendered his people. He will transform Egypt into a              There now follows a notice to the effect that a new
 house of bondage for God's people. In doing so, he king arose up over Egypt who knew not Joseph. The
 will make himself worthy of being destroyed ; for it is reasoning of his heart is given. He said to his people:
 God's people whom he will enslave aad oppress - a "Behold the people of the children of Israel are .more


 mighty than we : come let us deal wisely with them ; Joseph and his brethren or whether he was a twig of
lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when their another family that had gained the ascendancy some
 falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies time after Joseph's death is a matter that must and
 and fight against us, and so get them up out of this may with profit be considered only if brought to our
 land."                                                     attention by Scripture. And the testimony of Scrip-
    There is a view, reposing upon certain data derived ture stands. it can neither be re-inforced by coincid-
from Egyptian monuments, that this new king repre- ing nor overturned by contradictory testimony of the
 sented a dynasty comprised of native kings  -  a profane historian.
 dynasty other than the one that was in power at the           Now all that can be gotten out of Scripture on this
time of Joseph's accession. This change is held to be the point is that a new king arose who knew not Joseph.
 solution of the hostility of this new king to the Jews. Whether or no this king represented a ruling house
 A clear statement of this view and of the conclusion other than that in power during $nd some time after
 drawn from it is found in the work of Edershein on the Iifetime of Joseph, Scripture does not say. Hence,
 the history of Israel. He writes: "In general, our the point is of no importance. Besides, so scanty and
knowledge of Egyptian history is derived from the unreliable the data that can be derived on this matter
monuments . . . . and especially from the historical from secular sources, so many, and so divergent the
work of Menetho, an Egyptian priest who wrote about many, conclusions drawn from this data that to attempt
the year 250 B. C. . . . . Like most heathen Chron- a statement is like taking a leap in the dark. So
ologies, Menetho's catalogue of kings begins with gods, little is known of Egypt's ancient kings.
after which he enumerates thirty dynasties, bringing           The "new king" did not know Joseph. Did he not
the history down to  343 B. C. . . . . We know that         know in the sense of not having heard or in the sense
 under the twelfth dynasty the whole of Egypt was of not being willing to recognize Joseph and the service
united under one sway. As we gather from the monu- he had rendered Egypt? Very  likeli the latter; for
ments, the country was in a high state of prosperity though some two hundred years must have intervened
and civilization.    At the beginning of the twelfth between the death of the last benevolent king and the
dynasty we suppose the visit of Abraham to have taken rise of the first oppressor, the salutary deeds of Joseph,
place.     The reign of the twelfth dynasty lasted his policies in the crisis that had occasioned his rise
more than two centuries, and either at the close or at to power and especially the system of taxation in-
the beginning of the thirteenth dynasty we place the augurated by him were outstanding events and must
accession and rule of Joseph." The author we now have been entered into the record of Egypt's history
quote goes on to say that the period beginning with the and could therefore not pass into oblivion.
forth king of the thirteenth dynasty to the accession of       The rise of the "new king" marks the division of
the eighteenth dynasty was occupied by the rule of the period of Israel's stay in Egypt. For three con-
shepherd  .kings,  a foreign and barbarous race of in- secutive centuries they lived  umnoIested  and in the
vaders, hated and oppressed by the real Egyptian following of their pursuits prospered. They were
people,- and hostile to their ancient civilization and allowed to retain their possession of the land originally
religion. The author contents further that "the king granted them, and that  Iand was the richest province
who knew not Joseph" again represented a new and in Egypt, and even now, it is said, could support a
native "ruling house" that had come into power as a million more inhabitants than it numbers. The river
result of having expelled these "shepherd" kings. The Nile divides into seven mouths as is well known. On
author ends with saying that only under a powerful the most eastern of these the land of Goshen extends
native ruler could the redivision of the land and the toward Canaan.          Those of the Israelites who were
rearrangement of taxation, which Joseph proposed, keepers of sheep found excelIent  pasturage for their
have taken place.                                           flocks on the border-land ; while those who took to
    Now it must be admitted that all this makes inter- tilling the soil would be attracted to the banks of the
esting reading. But the whole, it seems to me, is too Nile. Some even took up their residence in the cities,
shot through with supposition to be of much account. where they gained a knowIedge  of the Egyptian arts
Besides, it makes absolutely no difference as far as our and industries.
 understanding of the divine idea embodied in that por-        It can be expected that the people of  IsraeI in this
tion of sacred history with which we now deal, whether period of peace and undisturbed pursuit of joy devel-
or no the testimony of the monuments can be received oped a strong attraction for Egypt. Goshen was this
as reliable history. We have no real use for this testi- people's cradle, the land of its birth. It could be ex-
mony, no matter how true, as the record in Exodus is pected that they would relax their hold on the' promise
as complete as it need be.                                  and would say in their heart, "This land is good; here
    The matter of importance here is that a new king we will dwell." Their hope must have lost some of its
arose, ill-disposed toward the people of God. Whether vigor during this period. Joseph's last word had been
he was an extention of a line of kings whose first that the Lord would bring them up. But an ever in-
section had assumed an attitude of benevolence toward creasing number of them, it may be imagined, began to


                                                                                          _  ~_.- _ __. .__"---- -~---^ -


                                            T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                            ~___--  -  -  3 5 9
                   --- ..--.... ^l-"._".--.".."^  ^ ".-"...~-----                  "...__"           -~                     ".."..^l..-..-
ask themselves why they should be brought up  at all. enemy in time of war and fight themselves  free. But
Was Canaan a better place to be than  Goshen?                        They how will he prevent this? By setting them to building
knew when the Lord was due to come ; for He had told treasure cities, under the supervision of task-masters,
their father Abraham. But during this era of pros- who are to afflict them with their burdens. `With  this
perity, a feeling of sadness would creep over their soul device in execution, the king will have removed the
as often as it would occur to them that their stay in male population from  Goshen  and scattered them over
Goshen was to come to an end. How their afFections                         Egypt. Thus divided and scattered, they will not be
wer'e set on this land ! How they came to love its able to make common cause with the foreign foe should
gardens and fields, yielding rich crops! How they he appear. The hard labour,  the king hopes, will serve
could feast on its cucumbers, and its melons, and its to effectively check the growth of the nation. Such is
leeks and onions and garlick and the fish with which the king's wisdom. But it stands opposed to the wis-
the river Nile teemed ! They could not forget these dom of God. The Lord will provide the king with
dainties.     Even after the exodus on their way to unmistakable proof that his wisdom is foolishness and
Canaan, they wept and weeping said: "We remember that He alone is wise. This proof is the circumstance
the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucum- that the more they afflict them, the more they multiply
bers, and the melons . . . . "                                             and grow. Thus, through the very abuse of the king,
   Yet there were the true people of God in whose the Lord increases His people, produces an effect the
hearts and convictions the promise had struck deep very opposite from that contemplated by the king, and
and lasting root. But were they standing in their faith? thus defeats the king by his own contrivance. The
We do not read of them saying during that time of king must conclude that his device is foolishness and
quiet, "Come, 0 Lord, Come quickly !"                                      that God only is wise.
   Then rose that new king, who knew not Joseph, and                           Consider that the foolishness of those who taunt
who said to his people, "Come, let us deal wisely with God is at once wickedness. Necessarily so' as it con-
them."       Consider that the wisdom of this king is, stitutes the antithesis of the wisdom of God. The
must be, abject foolishness. Why was it this? Say king's wisdom is thus as ungodly as it is foolish. This
that this king failed to see, as a certain writer puts it,                 has now been demontrated to him. And the king is
that his policy was sure to make them wish the very now in the possession of the unmistakable proof of
thing that he was blunderingly trying to prevent; add, this. But does he now admit the self-evident and re-
by way OE explanation, that the only way to make men pent? Nay! Instead he cleaves to his foolishness, uses
glad to remain in a community is to make them at home the same foolish method with even greater vigor and
there; that the sense of injustice is the strongest dis- thus develops into a still greater fool. We read: "And
intregating force; that, if there is  `<a dangerous class" they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in
the surest way to make them more dangerous is to mortar, and brick, and in all manner of service in the
treat them harshly; that, further, it was a blunder to field all the service wherewith they made them serve
make lives bitter for hearts also were embittered; that was with rigour." And what is the result? The same
the people by the king's tactics were ripened for revolt, as before: "And the people multiplied and waxed very
and Goshen became less attractive, - say all this if mighty."
you will, but bear in mind that, having said. this all,                       After vainly attempting to secure the co-operation
you have failed to penetrate to the heart of the matter; of the midwives, the king charges his people to cast
failed, therefore, to uncover and present the true rea- every son that is born into the river. He thought the
son why the "new king's" wisdom was abject foolish- command wise. But the Lord exposes it to our view as
ness.                                                                      unutterably foolish. As a result of this mandate, Moses
    Consider that this king in his action and policy has as incast by an ark is laid in the flags by the river's
pitted himself against the Lord, sought to prevent the bank to be taken compassion on by `Pharaoh's daugh-
Almighty and wise God from realizing His designs re- ter. And Moses became as the Lord's instrument the
specting, His people. Therefore he was a fool and his scourge of Egypt and the Saviour of Israel. How fool-
devices foolishness. No one can work against God. ish that command, rendered foolish by God. And how
Even through the instrumentality of the very devices wise He is, that He used the wicked actions and devices
of the wicked He brings to pass all He purposed, de- of this king as the best means to attain to His pur-
feats the wicked, and thus shows up their wisdom as poses.                                                             G. M. 0.
being vain.
   As to the "new king" he must have been acquainted
with the hope of Israel. He must have known the                                               BEKENDMAKING
aspirations of God's people, as also the time of the                          Classis-vergadering staat, D. V., te  worden   gehou-
Lord's coming. But instead of falling in line with the den Woensdag, 21 Juni 1933, om negen  uur in den  voor-
purposes of God, he resolves to hold a people to which middag in de Creston Protestantsche Gereformeerde
he has no right. But how will he retain them? By Kerk te Grand Rapids, Mich.
making it impossible for them to join themselves to the                                               M. Vander Vennen, S. C.


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                                                                                                For, He is unchangeably holy, with a,holy Self-love
                                                                                           loving Himself as the sole Good and the overflowing
                                                                                           Fount of all good, constantly, eternally; willing, too,
                                                                                           that all shall love Him and acknowledge that He is
                                                                                           good.
                  Angry With His People  1                                                      And in that unchangeably holy Self-love, the anger
                                   And they forsook the Lord and served                    of the Most High is as constant as His holiness ; it
                                 Baa1  apd Ashtaroth.                                      always burns, it always is hot against the workers of
                                   And the anger of the  L&d was hot                       iniquity;`it cons&ntly  consumes all that is corrupt and
                                 against Israel . . . .                                    blazes against them, that refuse to glorify Him. Not a
                                   Whithersoever they went out the hand of                 sudden  ebullition of ilI temper, vanishing as quickly as
                                 the Lord was against them for evil . . . .
                                                                 Judges  2:13-15.          it bursts forth, but a constantly burning fire, kindled
                                                                                           from within the unfathomable depths of His eternally
    In the crucible of God's anger God's people are adorable Being, is the anger of the Lord !
purified.                                                                                       It burns against all iniquity. And when the `people
    With the wicked it  is-not so.                                        `.               of God stand in the place of unrighteousness and walk
    For, He is angry with the wicked every day. And in the way of perverseness, the anger of the Lord
they flee from His burning wrath, always descending on burns against them.
the steeply declining way of sin, hastening to destruc-                                         `j%us it was with the people of Israel of old.
tion, till they sink into the pool that burneth with fire                                       They forsook the Lord and followed after  Baa1 and
and sulphur, where their smoke goeth up forever and Ashtaroth ! God's covenant people they were. Jehovah
`ever.                                                                                     had given them His reveIation-and  His law, and they
    But against His people God's anger burns until they knew Him ; and they were to be holy unto the Lord,
are cIeansed  from their iniquity.                                                         separated from the nations ; and He blessed them with
    As they often foolishly would pursue the way of sin, the blessings of His covenant in the land in which He
turning their faces away from Him, the living God,, had planted them. Him, their God, they forsook. They
toward hell and destruction, He hems them in from deliberately dismissed Him from their minds and from
every side; His hand turns against  them  for evil their hearts and from their lives. They refused to keep
whithersoever  they go, Ieaving open to them the nar- His precepts as they were delivered unto them by His
row way of righteousness and life only, that toward it servant Moses ; forsook His service, forsook His sanc-
they might turn to life and liberty!                                                       tuary, forsook the blood of atonement!
    For, often God trieth the righteous, as silver is tried                                     And they served Baalim and Ashtaroth !
by fire.                                                                                        Baa1 is Bel, Lord. The  sungod  he was supposed to
    His hot anger against them is the anger of love.                                       be  &nd as such the lord of heaven and the source of all
    Of holy love, sanctifying!                                                             blessings. Not only in Babylonia was he worshipped,
                                                                                           but also by the Canaanites and the surrounding  nations.
                                                                                           Many Baalim there were. IQ fact, each locality had its
                                                                                           own Baal. When times were normal he received from
                                                                                           his worshippers  his incense and: his burntofferings. But
    The anger  o$ the Lord was hot!                                                        when his wrath was thought to be manifest in times of
    It always is, against all sin and iniquity.                                            calamity and distress, his servants would appease him


  36Z                                           THE,  S.T.ANDARf)   B E A R E R
               -.__-"  ""." -_.^ ..--... "" .._ -.".." .._^_ ________-  .._. _ _.__ -____I_            - .-.- -.-_l____"-___"__."
  by human sacrifices, especially by the sacrifice of chil- something very distinctive,.; in this burning wrath of
  dren. And Ashtaroth represented the female counter- Jehovah against the peopIe  of His love. `
  part of the masculine Baal. Like Baalim there were                              For? why, pray should Israel become immediately
  many Ashtaroth and their worship usually was con- the object of His oppressing anger, as soon as they
  nected with immoral rites.                                                 forsake Him and turn to the Baalim and Ashtaroth ?
     These Israel served.              For them they forsook Why should they feel God's afflicting hand upon them
  Jehovah !                                                                  the moment they bow themselves before the abomina-
     Not, indeed, because of misunderstanding! Knowl- tions of the heathen?                                ~
  edge is no virtue and sin is no intellectual mistake.                           Did not also these nations serve Baalim and  `Ash-
     But these gods were carnal gods and their worship taroth  ? Did not also they commit the same wickedness
  was a carnal worship, and serving them the people and lewdness as did Israel? Did they not ,constantly
  could follow after the lust of the flesh.                                  live in rebellion against the living God ? Why, then,
                                                                             should the anger of the Lord burn so hotly against
     `Always the lust of the flesh prefers the idols of our Israel and not against these nations?. And why should
  imagination to the service of the living God!                              these nations be caused to rejoice, when the hand of
     And thus Israel forsook their Holy One, to follow the Lord delivers His people into their power;  so'that
  after the abominations of the heathen ! Thus always they are victorious over the people of God? Behold,
  the Church forsakes the living God, in order to put her these are the ungodly ! Pride compasseth' them about
  trust in the vanities of men, that, indeed, are impotent as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Car;
  to save, but allow full sway to the lust of the flesh, the rupt they are and loftily they speak of oppression.
  lust of the eyes, the pride of life !                                      Baalim and Ashtaroth they serve every day and God is
         Yet, how was it possible?                                           not in all their thoughts. Yet, they prosper and are
         How. can God's people forsake Him? Are they not victorious over the people of God and rejoice in their
' His workmanship, the fruit of His grace? Is there,                          victory. And when God's people turn to these same
  then, a falling away of the saints ? God forbid ! He abominations but for a moment, and bow themselves
  never forsakes the work of His hands. But, first, not before tlie vanities which these heathen serve daily,
  all the seed of Abraham is spiritual seed ; not all are                     the anger of the Lord burns hotly against them and
  children of the promise ; the carnal element is always the hand of Jehovah is against them for evil  whither-
  present, is often strong, is always striving for pre- soever  they turn ! . . . .
  dominance, both in the old and in the new dispensation.                         Is  .God angry with His people only, when they sin?
  It is not all Israel that is of Israel. And wistfully this                      Does the fire of His holy wrath consume them alone,
  carnal element constantly has its eyes directed to the when they forsake Him to serve Baalim and Ashtaroth ?
  Baalim and Ashtaroth, to the  warId  and its lust; it                           And is He not also filled with wrath against the
  cannot rest till it sees the Church prostrate before the wickedness of those nations ?
  vanities of the heathen. Its doctrine is always false ;                         Oh, but He is ! He is angry with the wicked every
  its way is always corrupt; its intentions are always day. His face is against them for' evil, though His
  wicked. And, secondly, the spiritual seed is far from hand do not seem to be. His curse is in the house of.
  perfect. Easily they are lulled to sleep. They fail to the wicked, prosperous though it may appear to be.
  watch and pray. They cease from fighting the battle. And even when He causes them to be victorious over-
  The evil men they do not remove from their midst . . . His people and when He delivers these into their hands,
         And before they know the carnal element predom- He does so in His constant wrath and anger over them.
  inates, has its representatives in the sanctuary, among Instruments they may have to be in the hand `of the
  the prophets, in the pulpit and in high places, and they Lord to chastise His people, yet, they are instruments
  that should be rooted out from among the people of of wrath ; ' and in serving their purpose they become
  God become leaders among them . . . .                                       more than ever vessels of wrath fitted  unto destruc-
         And they lead them astray !                                 .        tion and realize themselves as such. For, not to execute
         Gradually, with subtlety., very wickedly they teach the will. of God, neither  acknowledging~  that they are
  them to forsake the living God !                                            but the instruments in the hand of Jehovah, do they
         And they lead them to the shrines of Baalim and chastise His people, but with devilish joy they oppress
  Ashtaroth !                                                                 them, would destroy them, rejoicing in the opportunity
         Where God's anger burns hotly?                                       to afflict them. And in their temporary success they
         Burns against His people !                                           work out their final damnation, heaping up treasures
                                                                              ofwrath....'
                                                                                  .There  is an anger of eternal wrath, that burns
                                                                              against the workers of iniquity to their destruction
                                                                              even in the way of prosperity.
         Against Israel is His anger hot.                                          A phenomenon that, in this world, often gives rise
         And it cannot escape our attention that there is                     to the anxious query: do not the wicked prosper? . . .


                                         `J.-H&i   ;li'f'ANJJAi-GJJ  .kil!.iAKE.K                                         363
-...                   -.--^__                                                            -....                    __A_-
        Yes ; they do ! But remember, it is a dreadful thing day long. They caused them to be in bondage, to suffer
  to' prosper in' the way of iniquity. For, back of that hunger and thirst, to be in constant fear of their life,
   prosperity in the way of perverseness and iniquity to become a reproach and a byword among the
   there is a divine anger that purposes to lead YOU  to         nations . . . .
   eternal darnnation  !                              L             Yet, always it was the hand of the Lord that was
         And do not the righteous suffer? Does not God's against them for evil. They sought a way of escape
   anger burn against His people?                                from that encompassing evil Hand and found none !
         Yes ! But remember, there is an anger of eternal Gladly would they have pierced the rock-wall that en-
   love, that burns against you, not to consume but to           closed them, that blocked their `way to prosperity on
   heal, not to destroy but to save, not burn you but your every side. And if they had but been able they would
   sin, to burn it away, to purge you from it, till you shall have removed that Hand of the Lord, not knowing that
   stand before Him that is holy and righteous, without it was Jehovah's, and would have escaped, with their
   spot and blemish, and may dwell in His house forever! Baalim and Ashtaroth, fleeing from Jehovah and run-
         A blessed thing it is to be afflicted in the way of     ning to destruction.    And they turned hither and
   iniquity, for the motive of that affliction is the holy thither, always with their vanities, always in the way
  I anger of eternal love, that leads you to eternal glory ! of iniquity and perseverseness. For, they were foolish
         Against Israel God's anger burned hotly! For, He children. And always they would find the way of escape
   loved His people with an eternal love, unchangeable and cut off by that evil Hand ! Whithersoever they went
   sovereign. But He loves them  fort His Name's sake ! they found defeat and shame, oppression and shame
   He loves them as He loves Himself! He loves them as and humiliation! Hedged about were they, with their
   He conceived of them before the foundation of the Baalim and Ashtaroth, with adversity ! . . . .
   world, as He engraved them in both the palms of His              Until they understood!         L
   hands, holy, righteous, spotless, glorious, precious in          And dropped the lie that was in their right hand !
   His sight . . . .                                               And forsook the Baalim and Ashtaroth, in order to
         Hence, when they forsake  I&m and turn to the return to the Rock of their salvation !
   Baalim and Ashtaroth, His anger burns against them               Then, the evil Hand would be removed ! Then the
   hotly !                                                       way would be open, the way of victory and freedom,
         The anger of His holy love !                            the way to prosperity and glory. For, then it was the
                                                                 way of righteousness, the way of the Lord. And in
                                                                 that way they could be saved and taste that the Lord
                                                                 is good!
         Salutary was this anger of the Lord !                      The hand of the. Lord had saved them from the
         In purpose and in actual effect salutary for God's vanities of the heathen!
   people !                                                         Purged they were by the anger of Jehovah !
        Salutary just because whithersoever they went out           The saving anger of His holy love !
   the hand of the Lord their God was against them for
   evil !For, they would go out for victory and everywhere
   they would meet with defeat. And in this defeat they             In the crucible of God's anger His people are saved !
   met with the hand of Jehovah that was always against             Yet, only because they are His people, chosen in
   them, that hemmed them in on every side, so that there Christ from before the foundation of the world!
   was no outlet to success and victory.                            If it were not for Him, Israel could never be cast
         He it was, that gave them into the hands of their into the furnace of God's anger and emerge, purged
   enemies that spoiled them. On the surface it would not and glorified. In that furnace, all the history of Israel
   seem so. And not immediately they would perceive witnesses it, they must perish, were it not for the
   and acknowledge that it was the hand of the Lord that mighty'Immanue1,  the Lion of Judah's tribe !
   was against them for evil. It was the nations round              But He is their Head forever!
   about them that afflicted  them, apparently not the Lord         And in the fulness of time He comes and takes
   Whom they had forsaken. Yet, it was of Jehovah. By upon, Himself the iniquity of them all! And freely,
   the hand of the Lord was Israel strong so that one willingly, as the obedient Servant He steps into the
   could chase a thousand ; by the hand of the Lord were crucible of God's anger, that the fire of God's wrath
   the nations made powerful and victorious over Israel. may burn against Him and may burn the sin of His
   He it was that surrendered them into the hands of the brethren away forever and ever! And He descends
   spoilers !                                                    into the depth of the death of the cross !
         And sore they were distressed!                             But He emerges! For, He is risen!,'
         For, the nations rejoiced in their power over them !       And we are justified ! Purged :from sin forever !
         They hated them and bereaved them of all their             Zion is redeemed thru justice
   substance ; they oppressed them and killed them all the                                                 ,.    H. H:

                  .


                                                             reached a stage where the only way to their pocketbook
                 Our Church Order                            is via their love for fineries and via their stomachs.
       (The Budget System and Other Matters)                     The question may be raised here whether the so-
                                                             called budget system is to be classified with these un-
   In my last essay on the Church Order, I dealt with savory methods for raising money. Some good men
the last section of Article 11 that reads: "On the other are of this conviction. In their denunciation of the
hand the Consistory as representative of the congrega- system they are serious enough. Yet it could be shown
tion, shall also be bound to provide for the proper sup- that much of the opposition to the budget springs from
port of the ministers.`.' This, we saw, is a duty imposed sheer stinginess, avarice, mean covetousness. There
by Scripture upon every member of the church.                is money for everything but for the church. And the
   When should contributions be collected ? According budget, as it exacts from every member the promise to
to the Catechism the offerings for the poor should con- shoulder his share of the burden (if of burden we may
stitute an integral part of the Sabbath service, but not speak in this connection), as it calls for an equal dis-
so the offerings for the maintenance of the ministry tribution of expenditures and for systematic giving,
of the gospel and of the schools. "What," so the ques- is hateful to the man who only with great difficulty can
tion reads, "doth God require in the fourth command- part with his money.
ment ?" And the answer: "First that the ministry of             Let us briefly explain and appraise the budget and
the gospel and the schools be maintained ; and that I, consider some of the arguments raised against it. The
especially on the Sabbath, that is, on the day of rest, primary meaning of the word  budget  is  bag,  wallet
diligently frequent the church of God, to hear His word, with its store or content. This word has been adopted
to use the sacraments, publicly to call upon the name by the economist and made to signify it will be noticed
of the Lord, and contribute to the relief of the poor as the financial statement made by the treasurer before
becomes a Christian." There is a reason for counting the legislative body of a nation, and comprehending a
the offering for the poor as belonging to the actions general view of the national debt, income and expendi-
comprising public worship ; for this offering is most ture, ways and means, etc, with the proposed plan of
distinctly a priestly function that together with the taxation for the ensuing year. From this a notion may
other engagements brings the worshiping congregation be gained of what is meant by a church budget. When
into relief as an assembly comprised of kings, of pro- the consistory opens a budget it lays before the congre-
phets and of priests unto God. This is not saying that gation at the beginning of the fiscal year its financial
the other offerings are not equally as essential and estimates and plans. These estimates have a bearing
obligatory.                                                  on such items as salaries, maintenance of the church
   History shows that congregations do not always properties, etc. The consistory, to illustrate, calculates
bring up spontaneously the sum needed for the main- that in the coming year a sum of 200 dollars will be
tenance of the King's business. This has led to the needed for fuel and light and another sum of let us say
invention of various schemes for stimulating the flow 2,000 dollars for salaries. It suggests further that the
of money into the treasury of the church. There is the congregation decide to spend 1,000 dollars for repairs
practice of dividing the seating space of the edifice into of church buildings. The estimates having been given,
sections over which differing prices are hung.       The the congregation receives opportunity for questions and
most desirable seats are then leased to those willing remarks. Finally a motion is called for that the esti-
to pay the price. This practice is to be frowned upon mates and plans be approved by the congregation. The
as it calls into being unwholesome situations. It allows carrying of the motion implies that the congregation
the rich by the purchase of the highest priced seats to now assumes full responsibility for the proposed expen-
set themselves off from the poor and places the  worship-    ditures and promises to raise the sum needed to make
per of wealth in the church in a position to say to the them. And the sum that each individual member has
rich, to the man with a gold ring in goodly apparel, Sit pledged to pay is equal to the number resulting from
thou here in a good place, and to the poor man in vile the division of the total sum by the number of members.
raiment, Stand thou there, or sit here under my foot- In other words, each member has promised to con-
stool. This evil is somewhat lessened if the prices are tribute his share if able. This is the budget system as
made uniform.                           .                    to its essence.
   There are other such stimulants all of them of a             The merits of this system appear when viewed
questionable character. We think now of the custom, against the background of its opposite. The consistory
so much in vogue today and consisting in converting makes no estimateions and plans ; hence, it has nothing
the edifice into a bazaar or into a restaurant where men to lay before the congregation. Expenditures are made
can come to buy what they may covet in the line of without the knowledge of the brotherhood. As a result
fancy articles or what they desire in the way of food. each member gives blindly, haphazardly, in total ignor-
Here we have to do with a spectacle sorry enough - a ance of the state of financial affairs, without knowing
spectacle evidencing that the brotherhood driven to whether the sum collected each week or month defrays
these extremities is comprised of members having the expenses that were made. The result happens to

                                                                                      c


                                                                                                       _-~~     -.
                                   t      -
                                                 __-_I_.~_-~-l""-~_-__-__
                                                T H E   S T A N D A R D  BEAREk  .~                                               369
            -.-.-..-.  -_II_ --...  _-                                                     -_-
be that debts accumulate. Finally the  poweq  company the budget spells system and order. And without these
shuts off the current and the coal company will deliver no church can long endure.
more coal only on the condition that the old bill first                     No one can and does object to this system. Every
be paid. So the congregation suddenly finds itself with- member  without a single exception calls for it. Pray,
out light and fuel. You say that the picture I here what legitimate objection could be sustained against
paint is not true to life. I agree. No consistory by the system. Is it wrong for the` con&tory to estimate
its silence will permit a crisis of this nature to arise in the expenses for the coming *year and to publish its
the life of the flock it shepherds. If a shortage occurs, estimation? This, it seems to me, is its solemn duty.                          I
it notifies the flock to the effect and the following Sab- Should not the member be willing to calculate the sum
bath the want will be filled. And at the end of the year for which he must be held responsible and if able regu-
it publishes a statement comprehending a general view larly contribute this sum? Who dare deny it. It may
of all the expenditures that were made. Such a state- be doubted whether a member with means who fails
ment the congregation demands and is entitled to. But in this has the Iove of God in his heart; for such a one
know that this acquainting the flock at  regular times says, As far as I am concerned the church may founder.
with  its monetary condition and this publishing at the                     Some opponent  ,of the budget, reading this, may say
end of the year of a statement from which the flock f;hat he is heartily in favor of the system so defined but
may learn how the money that was collected during that what he is so vigorously opposed to is the require-
the year has  be&n spent and for what purposes it was ment that consist in each member offering his share in
used is, rightly considered, the essential feature of the sealed envelopes bearing his name or number. Con-
budget. Whether the needed sum'be published at the sider that, this manner of &-iving is no feature of the
beginning of the year in the form of estimates or at the budget system proper. It could be dispensed with and
close of the year in the form of expenditures makes no the system proper retained; for the system as such con-
essential difference. When the consistory does either- sists in the consistory estimatitig what will be or was
it opens a budget. If so, it ought to be .plain that a needed for the maintenance of the service, in the con-
budget is indispensible.  How can the members give, sistory  publishing its estimation and in the members
how can they be expected to give, if they are not told calculating the share for which they must hold them-
how and for what purpose their contributions are to be selves responsible.                        The manner of giving neither
used. Even the most vigorous opponent of the budget makes nor undoes the system proper. Only when the
system demands that the consistory shed this necessary members refuse to calculate and to contribute their
light. It means that without being aware of it he share, is the system destroyed.
clamors for the budget.                                                     But why should anyone object to the method of                          '
                                                                         giving that consists in each member offering his right-
   Now  it shall have to be admitted that it is far better
to publish the sum needed at the beginning of the year ful share in sealed envelopes bearing his number?
in the form of an estimate than at, the close of the year                Because, one may say, the method spells  compuision  for
in the form of disbursements.                                            the member. Where he otherwise gave gladly, spon-
                                               For if published as an
estimate, the congregation  has opportunity to approve taneously and freely, he now under the stress of the
                                                                         aforesaid method gives begrudgingly and unwillingly.
or disapprove and to assume full responsibility for
what it sanctions. But at the end of the year, all the And  the fault lies with the method. In appraising this                                          __
congregation can do is to complain if there be sums it reasoning, let me set out with saying that the method
deems wrongly spent. A budget opened at the begin- or requirement in question cannot possibly serve to
`ning of the year may save much trouble.                                 curtail his freedom as a giver, if his heart is right to-
                                                                         ward God, if he thus is truly spiritual. Consider that
   Consider, further, that no one opposed to the budget the spiritual man loves Christ and is devoted to His
would be in favor of giving the consistory a  fr.ee hand cause. Moreover, he knows himself as a steward and
if it came with some new plan-the execution of which bis possessions as a trust, as an estate he holds for the
called for the expenditure of a Iarge sum of money. benefit of the Kingdom. He therefore places at the
Every member, including them opposed to the budget, disposal of' Christ what is' Christ's, to wit, himself to-
would insist that the congregation appraise the plan gether with all he possesses. This is his delight. He
and set a limit to the sum  that might be spent. Only is therefore a cheerful,  loving,'  spontaneous,, giver.
when. the expenses to be made are the running, ever This man, though he makes use of a method of.giving
reoccurring and constant expenses of which everybody distasteful to him, must, in spite of the method, con-
has knowledge does the one opposed to the budget per- tinue to contribute to the maintenance of the service,
mit the consistory to enter the  &rear  without first stating gladly, willingly. For he loves Christ and the gift is                          '
how it intends to use the money that will be collected.                  for Christ.
It  all goes to show that. if this opposer would. only go                   You have a dear friend in dire need of your finan-
to the trouble of becoming acquainted with self, he cial aid? Though the channel in which your aid niust
would discover that he is actually in favor of the bud- reach him is distasteful to you, you come to his rescue
get-system with all his heart. So it appears then that willingly. This hateful channel cannot kill your ardour,
                                                                                                                             0


J'70                                  `i'H.t$  S'l+ANDARD  B E A R E R                                                          '
             ____.-                  .." _---_ - ..- -.-_.--~-                               ."".^ .._......._............I.
dampen your seal, quench your love, curtail your free- career : ",4nd if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord,
dom as a well-doer. `in spite of this hateful method to choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the
which you are bound,' you may give- as often and as gods which your fathers served that were on the other
much as you please. And because what you do pleases side of the flood, or t.he gods of the Amorites, in whose
you, you are supremely free.                                land ye dwell . . . Let the carnal member strutting
   A member of the church, who is at heart a willing about behind the mask of a fabricated righteousness
and cheerful giver, is, must be, free in his giving in throw off his mask and show himself. Let him take an
spite of the method to which he is bound  ; for the pre- open stand. Let him reveal his choice, leave the church
cept of Christ, "Maintain my services", is the very and go to his Baals.
elerjnent in which this member lives and moves. For            I have also encountered this objection. Inaugurate
him the law spells the highest type of liberty in spite the budget system of giving and you greatly embarrass
of the particular method of giving in use. This man the poor as they cannot pay their full budget. But
is supremely free in his giving. He may give as fre-        should a man, if poor, allow his poverty to embarrass
quently ahd as much as he likes. And when he gives him? Such embarrassment. is pride ; and pride is sin.
he does the thing that pleases him. And no method can May we, in `ascertaining the worth of a system, take
dampen his joy.                                             account of sin?    Surely no.             C&ry this argument
   So then, if any member choosing to tie himself down through and you shall be compelled to end with saying
to the method of giving in question perceives that he that the deacons should refrain from providing in a
gives begrudgingly, let him be honest and say, The poor man's need if by doing so they embarrass him.
fault lies not  with the system of giving. This is quite       Then there is this argument that the unwilling
impossible. But the fault lies with me. S am carnal, giver should be labored with not in private but in pub-
sold under sin, unto me therefore the good precept of lic from the pulpit instead of placed in the straight-
Christ is a prick against which I kick.                     jacket of a budget system. His conscience should be
  . Someone may say, I agree that the method of giving aroused and  .his slumbering love awakened by proper
now under consideration cannot possibly  curtaiI the preaching.         With a love aroused and a conscience
Christian liberty of a spiritual member as far as his       quickened he will spontaneously give. A flock com-
giving is concerned. But consider that all members are prised of, such members  - of members alive to their
not spiritual. Not all in the church are lovers  bf God. obligations  - is not in the need of a budget system of
&lust it not be conceded that the method in question giving. Herewith I agree most heartily. But consider
spells compulsion for these. The amount they qow con- that public preaching to bear fruit must be supple-
tribute is considerably larger than the amount they mented by private admonition, instruction and comfort,
contributed when not tied to a system. But they give directed to the individual conscience and suitable to the
now not because they love but because they do not wish needs of the individual heart. Food, it must be, espe-
to expose themselves to the consistory. Should not this cially prepared for the lone sheep - for to be par-
method be discarded for the sake of these. For the taken of in private by this sheep alone. Now the in-
Lord, certainly, can take delight in a cheerful giver stitution that places the pastor in a position to ad-
only.                                                       minister in the supreme sense to the individual needs
        This argument, too, is faulty. Consider that this of the lone sheep is house-visiting. Christ was much
member begrudges the Lord the dime that he formally engaged-in this kind of work. He was in private con-
gave when not bound by a system as well as the dollar       versation with Nicodemus  and that in the very heart
that he now gives. Know that the entire service as to of the night. He gave hours of His time to the woman
all its features is irksome to him. He attends catechism at the well with no one present but she and ,HimseIf.
not under the impulse of a love for truth but to keep How often He appears in Scripture as alone with His
peace with his parents ; and he attends divine services disciples, explaining to them some sermon that He had
under the stress of opinion, to save his name.' Carry preached and  t'he meaning of which they had failed to
this argument through and you shall be compelled to grasp or directing their minds to some new point of
end with saying that for the sake of these no offerings doctrine. This laboring with the lone sheep in the quiet
should  be. taken at all, nay worse, that for the sake of bears fruit. Every pastor, I dare say, has a sheep
these the doors of the church should be permanently once erring and in whose heart the public preaching
closed.                                                     seemed to find no response, but who softened and came
        Should not the members give under the impulse of to repentance because some private preaching, directed
love? To be sure they should. And if they give under to his individual conscience  and prepared for his pri-
any other impulse, their giving, no matter how liberal, vate need, was applied to his heart by the spirit.
is sin. A giver without the love of Christ in his heart        Also in the matter of giving, the pastor must labor
seeks not Christ in his giving but self. Rightly consid- privately with his sheep. But if this labor is to bear
ered, he is therefore a worshipper of Baal, despite his fruit, he must know his sheep also as to their willing-
outward show of piety. This man should take to his ness to contribute to the support of the service. And as
heart the admonition of Joshua given on the eve of his the system of giving, here under consideration, con-


                                             .


                            -~~-__.    .             .I."..XCIIIC--.                        ~.         .--__        -...     ---.         .     -..     -
                                       T H E   - S T A N D A R D B E A R % %                                        371

 tributes to this knowledge, it is to be recommended. We certainly must give in secret if there is no cogent
     There is also the argument based on the exhortation reason for making our gifts before the eyes of men.
 of Christ to His disciples: "Take heed that ye do not But for our giving according to a system that makes
 your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise it possible for the pastors and shepherds to supervise
 ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. our giving, there is a good reason as I shall make plain
 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound presently. The deep meaning of Christ's admonition
 a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the syna- cited above is that we must give to the glory of God.
 gogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of The budget system of giving surely does not render
 men. Verily, I say unto you, they have their reward. this impossible.                                   ,
 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know             Those who object to the budget on the ground that
 what thy right hand doeth; that thy alms may be in it can be used by the consistory as an instrument foi.
`secret: and thy ,father  which seeth in secret Himself ascertaining what is being given  r by each member
 shall reward thee openly." Mat. 6 : l-4. So these words should consider that even without this system not
 of Christ may be appealed to in support of the conten- merely the consistory but the entire brotherhood knows
 tion that under no circumstances are we allowed to what each member should donate and actually is don-
 give in public or to bring to the attention of others our ating if a member alive to his responsibilities. For con-
 giving? He who places this construction upon these sider that the maintenance of the service requires a
 words, and then has the daring to draw conclusions, definite sum, that  this sum is known to every member
 ends with floundering in a veritable pool of absurdities. as at the close of the year written reports are issued
 How could the deacons administer to the needs of the of all disbursements.             Hence, every member knows
 poor if no one but themselves not even the poor they what sum constitutes his rightful share and that of his
s help might have knowledge of their deed? On the fellow member. This knowledge alone renders it im-
 Sabbath the congregation offers its gifts. The `one possible to heed in a literal sense the above-cited man-
 member does so in the presence of the other. Each date of Christ. So, there can only be one of `two reasons
 knows that the other gives. All give under the very eye for one refusing to make use of the budget: either he                                   '
 of the deacon taking the offering. Maintain the above is opposed to having the consistory know that as a
 interpretation and you shall have to denounce this member of the brotherhood he responds properly to
 particular feature of public worship. When the widow his obligations ; or, if he fails in this, he is intent upon
 gave .her *mite she gave her entire substance and elicited keeping his failure a secret. Now the action of a mem-
 a word of commendation from Christ. But according' ber who refuses to make use of the budget for the latter
 to the above interpretation, He should have condemned reason is, though sinful, at least rational. But the
,the act as it was done in public. As many of the mem- member, unwilling to make use of the budget for the
 bers of the church at Jerusalem as were possessors of ,former reason is a conumdrum. For why should he be
lands or houses sold them and brought the prices of the bent on with-holding from the consistory the knowledge
 things that were sold, and laid  them down  at the that he, as actuated by love for Christ, performs his
 apostles'  feet. As a result the apostles knew that these duty.
 persons gave. Were they rebuked for exposing them-                But someone may may, there are some members
 selves in their capacity of givers to the apostles? To who donate much more than what the_b_udget  calls for.
 the contrary, their deeds Scripture places under `our Their failure to make use of the budget, finds its ex-
 eye as the tokens of the Spirit's power to conform the planation in their resolve to withhold from the  consis-
 lives of the predestinated ones to the image of His Son. tory the knowledge that they do more than the average
     It is plain that the above interpretation will not do member. Indeed! But consider that if these members.
 at all. The truth of the matter is this: Christ de- are well-to-do people with a good name they suggest
 nounces the doings of the hypocrites who made an open by their very failure to make use of the budget that
 show of their vile liberality that they might have glory they contribute liberally to the cause of the Kingdom.
 of men. It is first of all an evil motive that Christ It means that their manner of giving defeats its very
 strikes at. The deed that sprang from the motive was purpose.
 a true reflection of its vileness. These people sounded           Gonsider, fmally`that  the calling of the pastors and
 trumpets before them in the synagogues and in the            rulers in the church is in the words of the sacred
 streets. Their behavior was as absurd as the motive writer to take oversight of the flock of God, to watch
 from which it sprang was evil. There was no reason for the souls of those over whom they have the rule as
 for their noise except the reason that men, taking notice they that must give account. And the flock should also
 of their sham generosity, might give them glory. But 1 will this, and thus place itself as to its entire walk or
 is the act of devout Christian men consisting in their conversation under the supervision of its pastors. It
 offering their rightful share in sealed envelopes to be should allow the pastors therefore to take oversight
 classified with the crazy and wicked commotion of those aiso of its giving. No member should say that he has
 h y p o c r i t e s   ?                                      no need of this and forthwith withdraw himself from
     Let us understand this exhortation of Christ well. under ,the eye of the shepherd. Attend to the words


372                                  T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R
                                         --"..--.--.--
of Paul: "And he gave some apostles; and some,
prophets ; and some, evangelists ; and some pastors and                        Tot Den Bornput
teachers; for the perfecting of the  saints,`for  the work
of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:         Ergens heeft iemand gevraagd:  Wat is voor den
till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the mensch het hoogste  goed?  En het antwoord luidde:
knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto         (Het  genieten  van  de) Verbondsgemeenschap der
the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: . . " vriendschap met den Eeuwig-Volzaligen God.
   Who of us has already come unto a perfect man,                Dat zal we1 waar zijn, al is Let ook, dat die definitie
unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of nu niet letterlijk 266 in de Schrift  voorkomt.. Het is
Christ? No one. Hence we are all, the pastors them- dan ook een echt-Gereformeerde definitie en rust niet
selves included, in the need of pastors who would have zoozeer op een tekst of reeks van teksten, alswel op het
oversight of us. There is a reason for the presence of geheel der Godsopenbaring in de Schriftuur die heilig
such admonitions in Scripture as these: "Let us con- is.
sider one another to provoke unto love and to good               Tech zijn er weI uitdrukkingen in die. Schriftuur,
works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves to- die dezelfde gedachte kortelijk weergeven; soms oak
gether, as the manner of some is ; but `exhorting one         door middel van beeldspraak.
another: and so much the more as ye see the day                  Een dier uitdrukkingen die het hoogste goed  voor
approaching." *Who always stands so firm as not to. den mensch vertolken vloeide van Asafs  lippen :  "Nabij-
be in danger of falling? And the sin of failing to give .God-te-wezen  !" Hij zingt dan ook  dharvan:  "maar
as we have been blessed is too serious. The spiritual mij aangaande, het is mij goed nabij God te wezen.  . . "
life of a man, addicted to this sin, cannot possibly             Overal  teekent  ons de S&rift den vrome in smart,
flower.                                                       wanneer hij die nabijheid Gods derven moest. Dan
    It ought to be plain, however, that the reason a droogt zijn kracht als een potscherf; dan kleeft zijn
consistory introduces the budget cannot possibly be to tong aan `t gehemelte, dorstende in de woestijn ; dan
supply itself with an instrument for gaining a knowl- ligt hij in het stof des doods.
edge of what is being given by the congregation and              Als God Zich verre houdt, barst  de profeet  uit in
by each member in particular. He who thinks so, has tranen : "Om dezer dingen  wil ween ik ; mijn oog, mijn
a mistaken idea about the budget. From the very soog vliet  van- water, omdat `de trooster die mijne ziel
nature of things the  ~consistory  can and does come zqude  verkwikken, zlerre zIa% mij is."
into possession of the knowledge apart from the budget.          Ziet, dan is  bet niet  goed.
The shepherds in the church may certainly for the                Dan ervaart Gods volk het hoe bitter het is  wanneer
benefit of those entrusted to their care put to them ze dreigen te vergaan. Want zie, die verre van U zijri,
collectively and individually the question whether they zullen vergaan.
are supporting the service according as they have been           En nu weteli we wel, aan den eenen kant, dat Asaf
blessed.    If the purpose of the budget was to learn hier spreekt van de verworpenen, die vanwege het van
what each member is giving, or to shake out of their God afhoereeren door Hem worden uitgekoeid;  en, aan
pockets a few pennies, I would be heartily opposed to den anderen kant, dat Gods volk ook in de grootste
it. The flock as a whole and the individual member ellende nooit van God verlaten is - tech weet dat volk
in particular should be trained by a proper ministry of door  ervuring,  wat het zeggen wil om ver van  den-  -
the word to give spontaneously for Christ's sake. The Trooster der ziel te zijn.
one in whose heart the word finds no response had                Neen, voqr  ons bewustzijn is God niet altijd nabij.
better keep his money. A budget opened for the pur;              En die ervaring brengt weedom.
pose of increasing the flow of coin into the treasury            Want dan is het niet goed.
of the church is an instrument of darkness and works             Dan vergaan we voor ens beseffen. Dan schijnt het
untold harm. Besides, the lesson of experience is that wezen te versmelten. Dan schijnt het, alsof al de baren
the budget system does not make people give. The              en al de golveq over ons arme hoofd heengaan en we in
reason a flock makes faithful use of this method of oneindige diepten van smart en rouw zullen wegzinken
giving is not the method but their love for the service. met een eeuwige wegzinking.
The sole purpose of opening a budget is to bring order           Net is nu eenmaal een feit, dat de mensch niet kan
out of chaos. And there may be no other purpose. A jubelen van moeilijk in te houden geluk, tenzij hij
budget opened with the aim of stimulating giving, with staan mag in de koesterende stralen van "`t Licht dat
the aim of accomplishing what the word is held to be van Zijn Aan'zicht straalt." Alleen dan,  wanneer  de
unable to accomplish is a hidious institution. Let no milde Zegenader Zijn vriend'lijk hart voor  ens  geestes-
one think, therefore, that in considering the usual oog opent en we dat door Woord en Geest ervaren, zul-
objections raised against the budget, I arose to the len we opspringen van vreugde. Want dan zien we het
defense of this system conceived of as an instrument Eeuwig Licht der liefde Gods.
for torturing unwilling members into parting with                Schijnt  die eeuwige Zonne ook maar even onder te
t h e i r   m o n e y .                      G. M. 0,         gaan ; trekt daar ook maar voor een korte spanne tijds


 380                                    T H E   ,STANDARD   B E A R E R
                       --.-                                                                                       .-..-
 het gebod op gebod konden hem niet bevredigeti  en 6ok
 hij gevoelde het `t gansche systeem der Ieiders verrot                      From the Far West
 was. Jezus' godsdienst past  alleen bij  h,et hart, van
 verloornen, gaf vrede, vergeving der zonden, blijdschap                           Redlands,   Calif.,  April 25, 1933.
 en hope. Zou hij  zich dan voor anderen schamen  1 Een Rev. H. Hoeksema
blik en woord van  IsraeIs  leiders beteekende tech al heel
weinig, hoe geheel:  anders die blik en het woord'van              De& Brother :-
Hem, Die Mattheus riep.                                            May I again use our Standard Bearer to give to  our
        In de tweede plaats, noodigt Mattheus ook anderen readers a few thoughts which came to me. In our last
om met hem dit merkwaardig feit met  een' feest te  be- letter ye wrote that we were thankful to our God for
sluiten. Neen,.hiet  uit de Farizeti; dat ging niet, want having a  Protestaht   Reformgd Church in  `Redlands,
deze hadden den medicijnmeester niet van noode, zij .CaIif., and .the longer we are with  the b&&en,  `, `the
waren  gezond. Het zijn zondaren, geestelijke  kranken more we enjoy their fellowship. I like to think of our
die behoefte aan Jezus hebben, en zou dan Mattheus church here, as in King David's time, when he was in
niet de eerste de beste gelegenheid aangri j pen, om maar the wilderness. Every man who was hea$y'  of heart
zooveel mogelijk van' deze zieken in Jezus nabijheid te went out to him. And Uney were w&ome1.
brengen. ' Het ken ook niet anders, de tollenaren  be-             God's people have need of communion `&ith their
kioorden  nu eenmaal niet in het gezelschap van Isr&els        God. first of all, but also communi6n  with the saints.
oversten thuis en werden in navolging van deze, door Peace, joy and brotherly love seem to `prosper. We
aUrn  aIs uitvaagsel behandeld.                                @are one another's joy, but also their sorrows ; and
    Het Iijdt geen twijfe1  of Israels oversten zijn nog thereby  heIp. carry one another's burden. And what,
meer verbeten op den Heiland. Hij brengt in Mattheus b blessing for those whom are `able and willing, yes
roeping duidelijk aan het licht, dat Hij met het patri- constrained by God to do this, and. realize. that it is
otisme zelfs*met  een godsdienstig tintje  niets te  maken more blessed to give than to receive.
wil hebben. Hij doet hen anderzijds duidelijk gevoe-               Our new church building is about completed. We.
l&, dat hij den persoon  van den mensch niet aanneemt,         have been using the same ?or severaI  weeks. How nice
zich niet stoort  aan de traditie en voor Hem  alle men-; to have a ch&ch home of our own. And. such a neat
schen   gelijk  staan -' geen enkele die hem  uit zekere building, very well arranged, plenty of room and well
meerwaardigheid trekt. En aI evenmin leggen eenige ventilated. We certainly do appreciate: it. By using
godsdienstige  v&richtingen  iets in de schaal ati Jezus it just about every evening during the week for our
oordeelt. Daarvan getuigen  a1 de werken des Heilands, meetings. And Bible classes, and two services On Sun-
het gaat  alleen  om  de eeuwig-geestelijke  dingen. Van day, and Young  PeopIes  Society. May it please, God
alles waarvan de profeten gesproken hadden  is Jezus de to let us have it many pears ; that His `word may be
venulling. Hij is des menschen  Zoon  en  de. Zone rightly proclaimed here to His glory; that many may
Davids en het is vooral het laatste dat niet minder dan be reborn here, `and with a new life serve, our Covenant
vijf en zestig maaI d6or  Mattheus wordt ievonden  in God ; that the old time.religion  may be proclaimed ; that
zijn Evangelie. Jezus is de Messias, de Zoon van David God may be glorified and sinners may be  called  out of
ligt  als door gansch zijn `boek heengeweven.                  sin unto our Savior Jesus Christ; that His light may
   ZeE een dienaar zijnde van den machtigsten keizer be shown here.                                 .-
der  wereld in zijne dagen, wordt Mattheus verwaardigd            We also enjoy-meeting our Protestant Reformed
te spreken tot zijn volk, dat hem als een `outcast' be-        ministers, .whom supply Los Angeles church, and when
schouwde en behandelde,  over den Koning Il;raels,*  de they exchange pulpits with  OUT  minister. By doing so
Koning der Koningeti  en den Heer der  Heeren.                 we get acquainted and at the same time .they are used
                                                               by God to comfort  His, people and not  oliry the breach-
                                                  w. v.        ing of the word, but we enjoy reading our Standard
                                                               Bearer, and I must admit right now, that mine eyes
                                                               were opened to many an error. I got out my Acts of
                                                               Synod of 1924, to read them over and said, "How is it
                                                               possibIe that Hoeksema and Danhof had to be put out.".
                                                               And I must aIso say here brethren,' "Keep on proclaim-
                    BEKEN-DMAKING                    -,        tig that there are not two wills with God, and at God's
   Classis-vergadering  staat, D. V., te worden  gehou- appointed time He will show us His `why' and: `what
                                                               for'. This all had to be."
den Woensdag, 21 Juni 1933, om hegen  uur in den voor-            There is room here in Califoria  for the truth; let it
middag in de Creston  Protestantsche Gereformeerde be proclaimed from the house tops. The Lord is adding
Kerk te Grand Rapids, Mich.                                    to His church Iiere, more coming by letter, others mak-
                                                               ing confession. The Lord is providing the money and
                               M. Vander Vennen,  S. C.        talents for our church here.



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                                                                          THE-         Srr-~A-jyjJAK'U       -HjAKK,fin-       .-        ~.        .         ZIV..

                                                                                                                                 .-_-.--- -_..._....            .-
                             "  ..."   II........................."      .._-   -.-        --  ..-__I   --- ~-.
---


   We had a severe earthquake in Los Angeles and
Long Beach, but a large  part of it is all built up again.                                                           The Barren Fig-tree
And dear readers,, do not think that everybody has                                                      Wrote the apostle John to his fellow Christians:
moved away from these towns ; no, things are going on "Little children, it is the last  tinie . . . .  " He here
as usual. Look at San Francisco ; what has a population refers to a period that set in with the advent of Christ
three times as large now as before its quake. These and that will stretch itself out to Christ's second com-
quakes do not destruct any more then a wind storm in, ing. Another designation of this period is the term
Iowa.                                                                                               "New Dispensation". So we are living in the last time
   We who believe that not a hair will fall from our and, judging from certain signs to which I purpose to
heads without our Heavenly Father's will, we feel just call your attention in this writing, in the last season
as safe here as any where else. Every day we thank of this time. There is the fig-tree  - the church  -
and praise Him for His greatness here.                                                              set forth by Christ in one of His parables as barren.
   We have mountains here on three sides of us, some The parable reads: "A certain man had a fig-tree
12,000 ft. high. And as the mountains are round about planted in his vineyard ; and he came and sought fruit
us, so is our God also round about His people.
            %                                                                                       thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the
                   Yours in His Fatherly love,                                                      dresser of his vineyard, Behold these three years I come
                                                                              Barney  Lee&          seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none: cut it
                                                                                                    down ; why combereth it the ground? And he answer-
                                                                                                    ing said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I
                         LIEFDE GODS                                                                shall dig about it, and dung it. And if it bear fruit,
           Liefde Gods ! wie kan doorgronden                                                        well ; and if not, then  after  that thou shalt cut it down."
                 Wie gij zijt en wat gij geeft?                                                     Luke 12 :6-9.
           Wie uw zaligheid verkonden,                                                                  The entire argument here turns in the first instance,
                 Die begin noch einde heeft ?                                                       upon the church of the old dispensation  - the  Israel-
         Als het hart  aan u gelooft,                                                               itish commonwealth. And it rose before the penetrating
           Valt de doornenkroon van `t hoofd.                                                       eye of the Savior as a fig-tree that at the time of `ihe
           Liefde Gods ! waarvoor ik knielde,                                                       framing and speaking of  t&is parable bore no fruit
                 Bron van heil en levenskracht !                                                    for its owner. This it was in duty bound  to do. For
           Eeuwig  rustpunt  mijner ziele,                                                          it belonged not to itself but to him. For by him it had
                 Hemelsch Licht en `s werelds nacht!                                                been planted. In his earth it was rooting. His ground
           In uw stralerr,  waar ik ga,                                                             it  cumbered  and upon his soil if; fed and thrived. The
           Wandlen  me alle Englen  na.                                                             tree, therefore, was not its own but its planter'!. For
           Liefde Gods ! in u geborgen,                                                             him it should have existed. To him it should have
                 Blijf ik uit der zonde strik,                                                      yielded its strength by growing for and proffering him
           Macht'loos dringen angst en zorgen,                                                      fruit. But the tree bore no fruit. It took all and ,gave
                 Zelfs de dood verliest zijn schrik;                                                nothing. Though not its own, it was a tree devouted
           `t Spooksel wordt een vreegezant                                                         to self and thus ended in self. So it failed to realize
           Met d' olijftak in de hand!                                                              the purpose of its planting. What an abominable tree !
                                                                                                    And can you conceive  ,of anything more. useless than
           Liefde Gods ! Gij rust der moeden,                                                       such a tree? W'ho among men would venture to arise
                 Steun der zwakken, troost. in smart,                                                to its defense and. attempt to excuse its behavior?
           Veilige ark op `s werelds vloeden, '                                                      Everyone would agree that the tree  deseryed  to be cut
                 Heeling voor `t gewonde hart.                                                       down and to be cast a prey to the flames.
           Manna,  dat de ziel verblijdt,
           Toevlucht in verzoekings-ti  j d !                                                            Consider that this tree is Israel - the church. Set
                                                                                                     now this people before your eye as to the relation  it
           Liefde Gods ! o zielsverblijden,                                                          sustained to i&s God, as to the history it had made and
                 Vaste hoop voor  `t droef gemoed,                                                   as to the state in which Christ found it. Israel the
           Die de zwartste wolk van `t lijden                                                        Lord had chosen to be a special people unto Himself,
                 Zoomt  met zilvren morgengloed.                                                     above all people that were upon the face of the earth,
           Wat mij hier geloof deed saan,                                                            not because they were more in number than any people ;
           Zal ik namaals eens verstaan !                                                            for they were the fewest of all people ; but because the
           Liefde Gods ! Gij liefdezonne,                                                            Lord loved them, and because He would keep  $he oath
                 Alle heemlen door verspreid !                                                       which He had sworn unto their fathers. Therefore
           Gij zijt ook mijn levensbronne,                                                           He had brought them out with a mighty hand and
                 Nu en tot in eeuwigheid !                                                           redeemed them out of the house of bondage, from the
           Staamlen moog' mijn jubellied,                                                            hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt (Deut.  7 :6-8). Forty
           Van u zwijgen, kan ik niet.                                                               years the Lord led them in the wilderness. And He


 I.l...?Y                                   I  ~i`.mci'-'  a  `J.`;`K.N  U-A  R-U    $3  E A  R  E  R
 ---..---"..-.-  ..." -....... ".._                                            ._                 -_-I__--___.
 fed them with manna, which they nor, their fathers Lord; burntofferings of rams,. the fat of fed beasts,
 knew not that He might make them know that man the blood. of bullocks, lambs and he-goats. Israel
 doth not live by bread only, but by `every word that appeared before the Lord  .and tread His courts, brought
 proceedeth out  .- of the mouth of the Lord. Their oblations, burnt incense, kept. the new moons and the
 raiment had not waxed old upon them, neither had their Sabbaths, called assemblies and solemn meetings, ob-
 feet swelled those forty years. As an eagle stirreth served new moons and the appointed feasts, spread
 up her nest, fluttereth over her  young?  spreadeth abroad forth its hands and made many prayers (Isa. 1: ll-15),
 her wings, taketh them, beareth them up on her wings  :' compassed sea and land to make one proselyte, swore
 so the Lord alone did lead Israel, and there was no by the altar, payed  tithe of mint and anise and cummin,
 strange god with Him. And He brought Israel in a strained at a gnat,  builded the tombs of the prophets,
 good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and and garnished the sepulchres of the righteous and said
 depths that spring out of valleys and hills ; a land of that if they had been in the days of their fathers, they
 wheat, and barley, and vines and fig-trees, and pome- would not have been partakers `with them in the blood
 granates ; a land of olive oil, and honey ; a land where' of the prophets.
 they did eat bread without scarceness, and where they                          What a beautiful aspect this green and luxuriant
 lacked nothing in it; a Iand whose stones were iron, dress gave to the tree. -.And it may be expected surely
 and out of whose hills they dug brass. In that land He that this foliage is the glorious cloak, the bright and
 had brought them to possess it, and had cast out many splendrous effusion, the visible manifestation of hidden
 nations before them. These the Lord delivered unto fruit (hidden by the leaves) that the tree bears, -
 them.           And they smote them and utterly destroyed of the weightier matters of the law written in the
 them.                                                                    tables of the heart, of mercy, faith, poverty in spirit,
             So the Lord had established'Israe1  for a people unto contriteness of heart, meekness and hunger and thirst
 Himself and that he might be unto him a God as He after righteousness.
. had said. And Israel was made to suck honey out of
 the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock ; butter of kine,                     So the planter of this tree 1. the Lord God - came
 milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed and sought fruit thereon in the season of the tree's
 of  Bashan,  and goats with the fat of kidneys of wheat; fruit-bearing. But,  lo;`I-Ie found none! Instead of
 And he drank the pure blood of grapes.                                   faith, He found unbelief; instead of humbleness, pride ;
             God's fig-tree was Israel. He therefore should bear instead of love, hatred ; instead of mercy, cruelty ; in-
 fruit for God; and thus exist for Him. His command- stead of contrition, hardness of heart ; instead of
 ments, statutes and judgments Israel shouId  keep ; His poverty of spirit, a bold and vain ego that vaunted it-
 name he must confess ; for His truth he should witness  ; self in its heart, a heart full of dead men's bones and
 His glories declare ; and His praises sing. For by the of all ,uncleanliness,  extortions and excesses; So did the
 Lord he was planted. And in His earth he was rooted. Planter discover that the appearance of the tree belied
 His ground he cumbered  ; upon His soil he fed. His its true nature ; that thus He had to do with a pIanting
 was that honey out of the rock and the butter of kine that was a hypocrite, devouring widow's houses
 and the milk of. sheep. His were the lambs and rams and shutting up the kingdom of heaven against men  ;
 and goats and the fat of those kidneys of wheat and a child of the devil, making the proselyte for which
 the grapes whose blood they drank.                                       he compassed sea and land twofold more the child of
             And how this fig-tree thrived as a planting of the hell than himself; a  biind guide, a fool, only outwardly
 Lord. Israel waxed fat, and was grown thick and was righteous and within full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
 covered with fatness. But Israel-bore no fruit. He                        (Mat. 5.) , Astounding!       This luxuriant splendrous
 took all and,gave nothing. Though not his own, he was foliage, this treading of God's courts,~this  bringing of
 a tree devouted  to self and thus failed to realize the multitudinous and multifarious sacrifices, this making
 purpose of his planting. He forgot God which made many prayers, this tithing, this compassing sea and
 him, and lightly esteemed the rock of his salvation. He land to make proselytes, this building of the tomb of
 provoked the Lord to jealousy with strange gods and prophets, - was a mass of glittering sins.
to anger with his abominations. And he sacrificed unto                         You feel constrained to gainsay this? Hearken
 devils, not to God - devils, the very image of his very then unto God's own appraisal of the worth of all this
 own and vile self so that in sacrificing to these gods, commotion: "To what purpose is the multiple of your
 he sacrificed to self. He, the planting of the Lord, sacrifices unto me . . . . I am full of the burntoffer-
 placed the gifts of heaven in the service of strange ing of lambs . . , . I delight not in the blood of bull-
 gods. What an abominable tree !                                          ocks . . . . When no more vain oblations; incense is
             It was also a lying tree. Peculiar to a fig-tree is an abomination unto me . . . . the new moons and
 its  foliage betokening that it is laden with fruit. Israel, the Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away
 grew a rich foliage and thus assumed the aspect of a with it: it is iniquity, even the solemn meetings. Your
 fruit-growing tree, though no fruit was to be found on new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth;
 it. Israel brought a multitude of sacrifices unto the they are a trouble unto me ; I am weary to bear them.


And when you spread forth your hands, I will hide mine         But why must this tree be spared? Israel accord-
from you."                                                  ing to its reprobated shell was permanently barren.
    Full was He of their sham piety. He took no de- But consider that this shell housed an elect nucleus, a
light in it. It wearied Him. He could not away with remnant according to the  cl&ion, some of them all
it. It was iniquity and thus an abomination unto Him.       ready present, others still walking in darkness and still
So when upon one of His tours Christ came upon the others yet to be born.' It was for the sake of these that
replica of Israel the barren f&-tree  by the wayside, He, the Dresser petitions the Lord of the vineyard that
discovering that despite its green foliage, it bore no the tree be spared for another year. And as a result
fruit, cursed this tree. And its subsequent withering of the labor still to be expanded upon them, the seed
was prophetic of the judgments of God that would soon of evil-doers  - even now most hl-deserving  - will be
overtake Israel, God's barren fig-tree.                     without excuse in the supreme sense.
   The tree as to its reprobated shell is doomed. For          So far a season, the exalted Dresser through His
three years now Christ, the Dresser of the Church, had servants, preaches to Israel Christ crucified and resur-
labored with this tree, exhorting it to repent, calling it rected. And as many hearts as the Lord opened heard
to the service of God, and setting before its eye the and believed and were saved. But others continued to
heavenly kingdom He was to merit and establish and ripen for, judgment to come. Finally, Jerusalem was
Himself as the Saviour and Redeemer of His people, overturned, the nation in its capacity of type, of an
as the Lamb of God that taketh away the. sin of the emblem of the things unshakable, was destroyed. The
world.      He had performed many miracles and thus shadow tree was cut down and with it the race of
supplied this tree with the. undisputed evidence that men by which it had been corrupted perished forever.
He came from God. But His words and deeds found             And the church - the true fig-tree - as shorn of its
no response in Israel's heart. They despised and re- typical dress, lived and will live forever more on the
jected Him and esteemed Him not and finally in their new earth as God's fruit-bearing planting. Jerusalem
fury affixed Him, the Lord of glory, to the cross. This is now above.
was the climax.           .                                    But has this parable no universal message? It has.
   Then said God to Christ, the Dresser of the vine- The  lJerusaIem  above is manifest in this  worid. There
yards, "Behold these three years I come seeking fruit is still the church now spread over the whole earth and
on this fig-tree, and find none ; cut it down ; why cum-    comprised at any one time of all those lying within
bereth it the ground?"                                      the scope of the dragnet that is being drawn through
   Several centuries previous to this, God in His just the generations of men. It, too, is the planting of God.
wrath had likewise threatened to destroy the apostate To it He comes, is coming today, seeking fruit. Is the
nation. Israel had danced about the golden calf and         tree barren and does the Planter say to the Dresser,
had shouted as it danced, "There be thy gods, 0 Israel, "Behold, I come seeking fruit on this tree and find
which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." And none, cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground?" And
the Lord saw. "Behold," He said to Moses, "Behold, it is the Dresser about to begin His cutting?
is a stiff-necked people. Now let me therefore alone,          Set the fig-tree of the present before your eye and
that my wrath may wax hot against them and that I perceive its resemblance to that typical tree at the
may consume them. And I will make of thee a great time when the planter came and seeking fruit, found
people."     But Moses would not let the -Lord alone.       none.
"Lord," said he, "Lord, why dost thy wrath wax hot             I put these questions with definite phenomena be-
against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out fore my eye. Know that the Christian church (and I
of the land of. Egypt with great power, and with a think now not of a certain denomination of churches,
mighty hand . . . . Remember Abraham, Isaac and but of the church as it is spread over the whole earth,
Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine         nominal Christianity, if you will) is openly and boldly
own self . . . .  " And the Lord repented of the evil repudiating the Christ. They, who in the words of the
which He thought to do unto His people.                     sacred writer were once enlightened, tasted the
   The nation - God's fig-tree  - was spared but heavenly gift, were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
during its subsequent career continued to add insult tasted the good word of God and the powers of the
to injury and ended with vending its terrible spite world to come are in amazing numbers falling away,
upon the very Christ.' *Then  .God Again  said this time crusifying to themselves the Son of God afresh and
to the very Intercessor Himself, "Cut it down, why putting Him to open shame. This was again most
cumbereth it the ground?" But the Dresser of the forcibly brought home to me by what I read recently
`vineyard said, this time not by the mouth of one of His    in one of the official organs of the Christian Reformed
pre-figurations,  but by His very own mouth (for the churches  -  The  Banner.  I refer now to Prof. R. B.
word had become flesh), "Lord, let it alone this year Kuiper's reflections oh the present crisis in the Pres-
also, till  1 shall dig about it and dung it. And if it     byterian Church, appearing under the caption, "West-
bear fruit, well; and if not, then after that thou shalt    minster Versus Princeton  - A Doctrinal Issue." The
cut it down."                                               article  contains  a selection from last year's  mid-


 VS.7                                                                                                                             1
 November issue of Christianity Today that states : "Dr.          The Christian church of today crusifying to itself
 William Adams Brown of New York City, in a recent' the Son of God afresh. Now there is but one step be-
 article, printed in  The Union  Semimry  Review  of tween Modernism and true Christian orthodoxy and
 Richmond,  J&ginia, stated that the declaration issued that step is L Pelaganism.          Consider in connection here-
 in 1924, commonly called the-Auburn  Afirmution, was with our own deposition for a reason none other than
 signed by `professors of every Presbyterian Seminary this that we preached consistently the doctrine of  the
 but one.' He was referring, of course, to Princeton sovereign grace of God.
 Seminary. Since. that time, however, an official state-          The Christian church of today crusifying to itself
 ment, signed by the president of its faculty and the the Son of God anew. It therefore must be and is a
 president of the board of trustees, has come from that tree that bears no fruit. It exists not for God but for
 institution commending signers of the Auburn Affirma- itself and in all its activity, including its many prayers,
 tion to the confidence of the church despite the fact seeks itself, prostrates itself at  .the shrine of Baal.
 that they are on record not only as affirming that the Even the light of the people of God in the church is
  Bible contains errors, but as denying that such doc- with few  excepions  under a bushel. There is much
 trines as the virgin birth of our Lord, His bodily resur- weeping among Christians today but not on account of
  rection (and by implication His return in other than a sin but on account of financial losses that must be sus-
  spiritual sense) and His death as a sacrifice to satisfy tained. Believers, too, are being oppressed but not  be-
  divine justice and to reconcile us to God are essential caus& they witness for the truth but because along with
  doctrines of the word of God and the standards of the the others they worked for the bread that perisheth
  Presbyterian Church."                                        instead of for God.
         Understand the meaning of this statement. Pro-           A  barren fruit-tree is the church. It means that it
  fessors of every Presbyterian Seminary but one (the is a veritable sepulchre filled with dead men's bones.
  Presbyterian) and of this one the president of the Yet this tree now, too, is beautiful without. It covers
  faculty and the president of the board, went on record itself with a luxuriant foliage comprised of good works
  by their signing of the Auburn Afllrmation  or by their that are vile. There is this-same bringing of many
  defense of the signers of this document, as deniers of .sacrifices, treading of God's courts, and the making of
  the doctrines of an infallible Scripture, of the virgin many prayers, but with hands full of blood. The church
  birth of Christ, of His bodily resurrection and-of His now, too, yea the very despisers of the cross, compasses
  vicarious atonement.                                         sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is
         Then there is the case of Mrs. Buck, noted mission- made, they make him twofold more a child of hell than
  ary and novelist, but thoroughly modern in her beliefs, themselves.         "The institution of the ideal," "flaming
  whom the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions  re- passion for the ideal of righteousness on the part of
) fused to dismiss. Quoting  The Literary Digest:  "A our citizens" are phrases with which the air is laden.
  motion to present an overture to the next General               This tree will be cut down and, judging from its
  Assembly asking the assembly `to take care to elect to present state, soon. When the elect will have been
  positions on the Board of Foreign Missions' only per- brought into the fold, the church as to the seed of
  sons whose views are doctrinally sound was defeated, evil-doers in'it will be destroyed. But the tree as to its
  and the presbytery adopted a motion commending the elect heart is imperishable and will be seen in glory in
board, and directed that this resolution be forwarded the day of Christ. And for this church the divine
  to the General Assembly."                                    Dresser prays and will pray to the end.
         This same condition prevails in other large denom-
  inations. The church today is crusifying to itself the                                                           G. M. 0.
  Son of God afresh. It began to do this openly and
  boldly during and shortly after the Reformation. About
  1650 there occurred an eruption of unbelief that be-
  came more and more violent with time. Christianized
  paganism then began to shed its pagan shell and the                                 IN MEMOEiIAM
  beast from the abyss came forth. For reasons we can-            Vrijdagnamiddag, den 5den  Mei 1933, nam de Heere tot  Zich;
  not consider now, the subterranean stream of unbelief onze geliefde Man, Vader en Grootxader,
  left its dark cavern then and continued its course                               MATTHEUS VERHIL,
  above ground. The children of darkness became out-
  spokenly wicked. WorIdy philosophy raising its foul in den ouderdom van 69 jaar en 4 maanden.
  head everywhere, became loud-mouthed and began to               Zijn heengaan is voor ons een  zwaar  verlies, voor hem
  challenge in the name of reason the claims of the echter  een ingaan in de rust die er  overblijft  voor het volk
  Christian religion. The convulsion is known in history van God.
  as the Enlightenment which I define as that movement                                          Mrs. M.  VerhiI
  consisting in the washed Christianized paganism re-                                             Kinderen  en Kleinkinderen.
  turning like a sow to her wallowing in the mire.                Grand Rapids, Mich.


