 VOLUME XXIII                                October 1, 1946 - Grand. Rapids, Mi.chigan                              NUMBER 1
       -MEDITATIONS                                                loovigen, die door den Geest en door het Woord ont-
                                                                   dekt werden aan eigen boosheid en verdorvenheid, aan
                                                                   eigen ,schuld en doemwaardigheid voor God ; en die
                                                                   door dienzelfden Geest en door datzelfde Woord o-eleerd
                                                                                                                     a-------
   Zalig Door Em Werkend Gelsof                                    hebben om hun hope `der verlossing alleen in Jezus, als
                                                                   den eenigen grond hunner zaligheid te zoeken en te
              Wat  nuttigheid is  bet;  mijne  broecl&i~~- vinden !
           indien iemancl `zegt, dat hij het geloof heeft,              Hij toch weet het, .weet. het omdat hij alzoo door
           en  hij heeft de werken niet? kan dat geloof God geleerd werd, dat er van de werken van den na- -
           hem  ealig  maken?  In&en er  nai een breeder tuurlijken mensch, niets, maar dan ook volstrekt niets
           of xuster naakt xouden xijn, .en gebrek xou.clen        goeds te zegg,en valt. Bij hem is niets anders dan een
           hebgen  anti  dageliijksch  voeclsel; En  iemancl vuile bron van ongerechtigheden.               In den weg  der
           van  u tot hen  zou seggen: Gaat  henen in werken is er dus voor hem geene zaligheid, niets dan
           vrecle, wordt warm, en amrdt verxadi&; en verdoemenis te verwachten. Hij weet ook, dat geen
           gijlieden zouclt hun niet.ge?jen de nooddruf- werken, hoe goed obk, hoe,volmaakt en zonder zonde
           tigheden des lichaams,  wat nuttigheicl is dat 1 ze ook zouden zijn, bij den levenden God ooit iets
           Aboo ook het geloof,  indiqa  bet  .cle-  zoeyken zoud,en  kunnen verdienen, de schuld der zonde nimmer-
           niet heeft,  is  bii  sichxelvek  cloocl.  c           meer'zouden kunnen uitdelgen.. En hij b,elijdt  boven-
                                               J a k .   2:14-17. dien, dat ook zijne werken als vruchten des geloofs in
                                                                  -dit leven tech nimmer volmaakt zijn voor God, met
    Kan dat geloof' u zalig maken?                                allerlei zonde en boqsheid bezoedeld zijn, dat hij nog
    Niet: kan  bet geloof, maar dat geloof  LI-  zalig slechts een klein beginsel der nieuwe gehoorzaamheid
 maken?   ' .                                              ~'     heeft, `en dat hij -daarop  nimmer de hope zijner zalig-
    Het geloof, dat gij zegt te bezitten, maar dat zich           heid .zoL1 durven fundeeren*
 op geenerlei wijze openbaart in de werken, het dood               I Zoo leert hetde S&rift overal.
 geloof, zoo ge wilt, kan dat u zalig maken?                            En in den brief van Jakobus vindt  ge het  .niet
    Neen, ook `hier.leert  de Schrift niet, dat de zalig- anders.'
 heid, in welken zin dan ook, uit de werken is.                         Imm,ers stelt zich de S&rift ook hier niet tegenover
    Zeker, men' heeft deze en dergelijke plaatsen we1 `degenen, die, belijden, dat ze alleen. door. het geloof
 zoo, verklaard. Jakobus zou dan leeren,  dat het tech rechtvaardig zijn voor God, maar trekt zij de tegen-  _
 maar op de werken,.  niet op het geloof, op de werk,en in        stelling tusschen een dood en een werkend geloof.
 tegenstelling met het geloof zelfs; aankomt. ,Het geloof              Het eerste  draagt  geen  vrucht,  bet  `tweede   wordt
 alle,en ma&t den me&h niet reehtvaardig.  Neen, hij juist door'de vruchten gekend.
wordt zalig, of doordat hij uit zichzelven de werken der              Het tweede is h,et waarachtig geloof, dat zalig maakt.
wet volbrengt, of door. de we&en, die uit het geloof. '               In het eerste schuilt geen kraeht tot za'ligheid..         -
voortkomen; maar in elk geval is het niet het geloof,                  .Kan dat geloof u zalig maken,?                :
maar zijn. het de werken, die den grand. onzer reeht-
yaardigheid voor God zijn.                                                         I                            .
    Hoe zou in dat geval hetgeen Jakobus hier leert                 _.  _               .
indruischen tegen heel de leer der S&rift !                       Dak            geloof?.         ..
6 . En tevens tegen alle waarachtige ervaring der ge-                 ,O zeker, het geloof. maakt. zalig,! .
                                       .-                                       -  s


2                                        THE         S..TANDAl$b            BEARER

       Want immers, al ons heil is in Christus alleen, en            Maar dat geloof?                              0
het geloof is de levensband aan dien rijken Christus.                lHet geloof, dat ge se& te bezitten? Het geloof, dat
       In Christus is de volkomene voldoening voor al.onze geen werken  heeft, en dood is?
zo?den,  verzo8enifig  met God, verg,eving der misdaden,             Wat zou het u tech baten? Hoe ZQU het u tech halig
eeuwige gerechtigheid, kindschap Gods, en eeuwig maken,  daar het LI niet in levensgemeenschap  met den
leven. In ,Hem is genade voor genade," de vqlkomene God uwer volkqmene zaligheid in Christus stelt ?
verlossing van zande.  en dood, de voile bran van alle            , Dat geloof is dood !
kennis en wijsheid, de Funste  Gods en de gemeenschap                Er zit geen perking in; het clraagt geen vrucht !
der vriendschap met den DrieBeniiye. Want Hij is ops                 a0 ja, er is iulk een. dood geloof, ofschoon het met
van ,God geworden wijsheid, en rechtvaardigheid, en              het  waarachtig en  zaligmakencl  geloof  riiets gemeen
heiligmaking, ten verlossing.                \                   heeft, behalve de bloot verstandelijke aanvaarding van
       Hij is dit alleg als hoofd der zijnen, H,em van God       spmmige waarheden. Ge gelooft, zbo schrijft Jakobus
gegeven v66r de grondlegging der wereld, gegeven ook iri het aehttiende vers van ditzelfde hoofdstuk, dat
in den tijd.                                                     God een eenig God is. Zal dat geloof u zalig maken?
 I Roofd der zijnen is Hij  in,rechteXjken zin,.zoodat Immers neen.; veeleer is het tegendeel waar: de dui-
Zijne  gerechtigheid   bun wordt  toegerekend,  uit  onge-       velen gelooven het ook,, en zij sidderen.
houdene genade ; en zoodat alle heil, dat in :23em is, hun           Zoo gelooft ge misschien vele dingen.
heil is. Ze hebben er voor God recht op, niet omdat ze               visschien  gel,ooft  ge, dat God de w!ereld heeft ge-
ook maar in het allergeringste  iichzelven dat recht heb- schapen, clat l%j de Heer is aller dingen, dat er zonde
ben waardig gemaakt; integendeel, iq weerwil van het in de wereld is-ingekomen,  en dat ook gij zelf zondig
feit, dat ze het geheel en al. verbeurd hebb&, en dat ze         zijt; misschien gelooft ge zelfs wel, dat. Christus de
het zich elken dagj ja, elk .oogenb!ik opnieuw onwaardig .Zaligmaker der wereld is, en tiog veel ieer.
maken ; maar louter en alle&, omdat God het voor hen                 Maar `t laat u overigens  koucl!
he&t beschikt, en ;Zijnen Bool> heeft gesteld tot een
Hoofd van alle uitverkorenen. Hoofd der zijnen i.s Hij             Wat zal het  u al  baten  of ge  `al  aan  `eene  tafei  LI  -
ook in qrgqis&en zin, zoodat Ret heil, dat in.' H&I is, `scl$kt, rijk vborzien  van de heerlijkste spijzen, en ge
hun sTechts. kan toekomen in geestelijke geme,enschap            ziet er naar,, en ge stemt toe, dat de spijzen heerlijk
qet Hem,, lHij Zichqelveq  en al Zijne weldadep  aan hen zijn, .en ook noodig tot ondkrhoud van uw aqrdsche be-
moet meedeeleri,  ten zij uit Hem, maar dan 6ok uit Hem s&m  ;  maar ge  roert ze  Get geen  vinger.  3an, en ge
aileen,  alles moeten trekken, wat tot hunne zaligheid weigert te e&n en te drinken?
van noode is.                                                        Wat baa$ .het,- of g,e een doode paal in den grond
 t Daaroq is bet, dat het geloof allee?, rnaar o&ze]<er          steekt, al is de grand ook nog zoo vet, en al bemest ge
z+g q+akt.                                                       dien p+l `ook e&en dag ? Zal die doode paal, waarin
       get, ware  gyioof  to'ch is  de  leaensband  i-n  &  aan geen werking zit, straks uitbotten, en vruchten  dragen?
dien Christus. Het is, ollze ziele door ,Gods genade toe-         Wat baat het, of op den  heldepen  middag al een
gebqachte eil ingewerkte geestelijke  kracht, waardoor touw hangt aan den zolder in uwe woonkamer, en. ge
&j met al haar levensvezelen. dien Chcistus aankleeft, bevestigt aan het eind van het touw eeli lichtbolletje,?
hare. levenswortelen  in dien Christus, .zooals  Hij in d,e      Zal dat straks, als de nacht is ingevallen, uwe `woon-
lgeilige  SFhrift ons is geopenbaard,  diep en vast  iti- kamer kunnen verlichten?
slaat, zoodat wecBQne  plante met Hem worden,  Hem.                 EQ wat baat het `LI, of ge al aan den levenden God
zljn  ipgeljjfd,  en  nu al onze  zaligheid  +&en' in Hem gelooft, en voor Hem- siechts kunt sidderen?
viqden  en uif; Hem trekkeq.                                         Wat zaligheid zit er in een bloot yerstandelijk toe-
       Van nature staan we iB verband  met den eersten stemmen,  dat ge zondig zijt, als het u niet in droefheid
Adam.  1                                                         naar God op de kniegn brengt, om uit te roepen  : 0 God !
     E n   i n   d a t   verband,   uit  rechtelijk  ooypunt-   `be- wees mij zondaar genadig !
schouwd, wordt zijne schuld de onze, en zijn we van                  02 wat nuttigheid heeft het- al,  da$  ge'  we1  tse-
bet uur onzer ontvangenis af vecc@emeljjk  Voor God,             stemt,  dat de zaligheid in  Christ;ls is,  maar ge  hel$
kinderep  des. toorns ; en uit organisch .oogpunt  bezien,       geen honger en dorst naar de gerechtigheid, en ge
brengt de gemeenschap met ons  geslacht in dien neeqit nimmer uwe toevlucht tpt (Hem, om uit Hem te
eersten Adam ons niets dan verdorvenheid en dood;                ontvangen  genade voor genade?                                     .'
       Maar door het  aeloof staan we in  lev'er&emeen-              Een geloof, dat '~1 niet rech$v@rdigt,  niet heiligt,
schap met den tweedlen  tiensch, den laatsten Adam, uit niet in, beginsel  vqlost van d_e macl$ der ongerechtig-
wgen we ontvangen genade voor genade, g.ecechtigheid heid, opdat ge Gode  vruchteq zqudt dragen, wat nuttig-
en leven.                                                        heid heeft dat?                                                          :
       ,Q ?ekey, &$ geloof maakt` zalig !                        _ Zalhetuzaligmaken?              `
                                                                                                     ;      ,/          T     -.


                                            T H E       .STANDARD  BEAR.ER                                                           3

           Dat  geloof ?                                              - `0, `t is waar, dit alles blijft hier `ten deele. Want
                                                                    we hebben nog slechts een klein beginsel der nieuwe
                                                                    gehoorzaamheid.
                                                                    , De werken des geloofs  stain in het  teeken  van
           Het geloof is eeti werkend geloof.                       strijd, strijd met de wereld,`maar ook met onszelven.
           Het leeft en daarom draagt het vrucht.                        iV@,ar -tech, het geloof leeft, en daarom is er geen
           Uit Christus, op Christus, door  Christus en tot geloof, geen waarachtig geloof, dat geen vrucht draagt.
        Christus werkt het ware geloof.                                  Maar  dat  geloof? Het geloof, dat  zonder de  wer-
           Het werkt  uit Christus. Want ,Christus werkt door ken is?                         ~
        het,geloof in ons, in heel ons bestaan, in hart en ver-          Hij werkt niet uit Christus, op Hem, en tot ;EIem.
        stand ,en wil en al ons begeeren  ,en verl&ngen. Of om-          Wat nuttigheid is l'iet? . . . .
        gekeerd,. en j.uist `doordat Christus in ons werkt, liet
        geloof werkt uit Christus.
           Die werking des `geloofs is eene werking van het
        diepe hart, van waaruit de uitgangen des levens zijn.           `Dat geloof ?                                     .
        En als het hart door het geloof uit Christus werkt, dan          Zal dat u zalig maken?
        werkt het in eene richting, die de lijnrecht tegenov.e&-         De tekst wil ons met een voorheeld  duidelijk maken,
      gestelde is van de richting der zonde. De laatste  is die hoe ijdel en vrqtihteloos  en onzalig zulk een geloof zon-
        der vijandschap, en eicht .zich tegen God ; de eerste is    der de werken is. Let wel, dat ctlt de bedoeling is van
      die der vriendschap, en gaat naar `;God uit, getrokken h&t voorbeeld, .len niet om aan te toonen, wat een dood
        door den band des v\erbonds. Leven we d&r het geloof, geloof in onderscheiding  van `een levend geloof doet.
        dan leven we uit Christus  het leven der vriendkchap             Het zeggen van iemand, dat hij het geloqf heeft,
        Gods. En als het beginsel der vriendschap Gods in het terwijl zijn geloof zonder de werken  blijft, is  gelijk
        hart leeft, dan  konit er in den zondaar eene diepe         aan het `doen van' iemand, die zijnen naaste gebrek ziet
        droefheid naar God, een vragen naar God, een honger lijden, hem verzekert van zijne harterijke liel'de en deel-
        en dorst na9,r de gerechtigheid, een hartelijk berouw rieming,  hem bet allerbeste toewenscht, hem ,inniglijk
        over de zonde, verlangen naar vergeving en yerlossing.      toebldt;  4at hij spoedig qiJ zijn nood en ellende mag
         lHet geloof werkt nit Christus.                            verlost worden,  maar weigert hem in zijn nood te hel-
           Maar het richt zieh ook dp Christus. Het kent Hem; pen. Zoo tech is het de bedoeling van het beeld. Een
        gaat naar Hem uit, zoekt Hem, eigent zich .Hem  en -al      broeder  of zuster heeft gebrek, is naakt, heeft geen
        Zijne weldaden toe, verlaat zich op Hem met lijf en dagelijksch b&d.                 En gij zijt in staat om  hem  te
        ziel,  troor tijd en  `eeuwigheid, en  zich  alzoo met een helpen.  En als ze bij u aankloppen, verzekert ge ze
        hartelijk vertrouwend op !H,em zich latende zakken en van uwe deelneming, en zegt :  ,Gaat  heen en wordt
        zinken, werkt het den vrede met God, in het bewustzijn warm en verzadigd. Maar ge steekt geen hand  uit
                                                                                                                          ~
8       van de vergeving der zonden: den vrede, die alle vq-        om hen te Belpen.
       stand- te boven gaat.                                             Wat nuttigheid is er in zulk betoon van liefde met
           Uit  Christus werkend,  werpt  zich het  @loof op het woord zonder de daad?  -
        Christus.                                                        Kan het den naaste uit zijn nood verlossen, of `hem
           En zoo'werkt h,et door en tot Hem.                       t r o o s t e n ?   i
        -. Ik leef door het geloof des Zoons van God, maar               En wat nuttigheid heeft nu iemands dood geloof,
        niet- ik: Christus leeft in mij, en ik leef alleen door     zijn zeggen, dat hij gelooft,  zijri verstandelijk  toe-
       -H#em. Zoo is het, en zoo blijft  bet. Geen oogenblik stemmen  van de waarheid des geloofs, zonder dat zijn
        leeft de geloovige  10s van zijn Heiland. Zooals de         geldof uit en op en. door en tot  Christus  werkt, en
        wijnstok in de ranken leeft, zoo' leeft Christus in ons, vrcichten van gerechtigheid  ,en leven'voortbrengt?
      en .zoo blijft ons geloof alleen door lBem werken.                 Zal dat geloof hem zalig maken?
        Maar door Hem werkend, werkt het ook tot Hem.                    Bet laat hem in zijne zonden, in zijnen dood. Geen
           Want dOor het geloof leeft Hij in ons, is Zijn wil sprankje van zaligheid komt er in zijne doqe ziele.
        ons willen, Zijn, bedenken ons bedenken.     Hij  maakt,         Maar het geloof iaakt zalig!
        ons gewillig en bereid  Hem voortaan te leven. Zooals            Zalig in de blijdschap der vergeving, in de vrijheid
     - de  wijnstok in de  ranken  leeft, en door de  ranken der verlossing, in de goede` conscientie, waarmee het
       vruchten voortbrengt, zoo draagt  Christus door het strijdt, in d&n vrede met God, in de gemeenschap  -der
        geloof vruchten in ons. We zijn der w,ereld gek?uisigd      vriendschap. . . `;
       en de wereld ons, en wandelen als vrienden Gods in het           In de hope op de volkoinyne verlo&ing !                _i         ,'
       midden  der wereld tot prijs der heerlijkheid van Gods        . Zalig voor eeuwig,!
       genade in den Geliefde,. .                                                                                :.,-I.  H.  .=`;::i


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                              T h e   Ref'ormed   F r e e   P u b l i s h i n g   A s s o c i a t i o n                                                                                           Ecnrnenicall  Synodical  Probkms
                                                        1463  &dmore   sib., S. E,

                                             EDITOR:  i Rev.' H. Hoeksema.                                                                                           ,                            Recently, there was assembled in Grand Rapids
Contribdtitig  Editors.:  - Rev. G. M. Ophoff, Rev. G. Vos, Rev.                                                                                                                            what, was called the First  Ecumenical  Synod of Re-
R.  Veldmaq Rev. H.  yeldman,  Rev. H. De Wolf, Rev. B. Kok,                                                                                                                                formed Churches. The rieader  knows what iS meant by
Rev. J. D. De  Jting,   Rev:  A.  l%tter, Rev. C. Hanko, Rev. L.                                                                                                                            a synod: it is the broadest gathering of a group of
Vermeer, Rev.  ,G. Lubbers, Rev.  M.  G?itter.s, Rev. J. A. Heys,                                                                                                                           Reformed churches.       The term ecumenical signifies
Rev. W.  Hlofman.
      Communication; relative to contents should be addressed to                                                                                                                            universal, world-wide. So that, strictly speaking, an
REV. H.  HOEKSE,MA,  1139  Franklin.8t.,  S. E., Grand Rapiclq                                                                                                                              ecumenical synod is a synod that represents all th&
Michigan.                                                                                                                                                                                   Reformed churches, over the whole world. This First
      Communications relative to subscription should be addressed                                                                                                                           Ecumenical  ,Synod of Reformed Churches, however,
to MR. GERRIT PIPE, 1463 Ardmore St., S. E., Glrand Rapids,                                                                                                                                 represented only three groups of churches that profess
,Michigan.  All  Announoements,  and Obituaries must be sent
to the above address and will not be placed unless the regular                                                                                                                              the Reformed faith : the Reformed Churches of the
fee of $1.00  aocompanies  the  nsotice.                                                                                                                                                    Netherlands, those of .South-  Africa, and the Christian
                                  -(,Subscription   -Price $2.50 per year)                                                                                                                  Refdrmed Church( es) of our country.
                                                                                                                                                                                                  Some of the questions that were presented to this
Entered as Second Class. Mail  Iat Grand Rapids, Michigan.                                                                                                                                  gathering for discussion will, no doubt, be of interest
                                                                                                                                                                                            to otir readers. We will, therefore, devote a little space
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      .
                                                                                                                                                                                            to them in our paper:


                                                                        -  CPNTEM'IX  -                                                                                                                            A SYNOD?

MEDITATION  :-                                                                                                                                                                                    `One of the first problems upon which the assembly
ZALIG DOdR EEN WE,RKEND ,GELOOF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  ..- 1 `deliberated was, whether or not it was really a synod.
            -Rev.' H. Boekkema.                                                                                                                                                             This was an important question, not merely, and not
                                                                                                                                                                                            chiefly, because the newborn infant must have a proper
EDITORIALS  I-                                                                                                                                                                              name, but especially  loecause  of the closely related
-E?CUMENICAL SYNoDICAL PRGBLEMS . . . . . . . ..I...................... .4                                                                                                                  question of authority. What authority did this "ecu-
EX?OSITION  ,OF THE HEIDELBERG CATECHISM . . . . . . . . . . . 6                                                                                                                            menical synod" have? This would not have been such
            Rev. H.  Boeksema.                                                                                                                                                              a difficult question to answer if the gathering had
                                                                                                                                                                                            proceeded from? the basis of the proper, Reformed con-
`THE ARK OF GOD DELIVERED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10                                                                ception that a synod is never a body  with highest  x
FRBDERItiK IT, AND THE PAPACY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13                                                                              authority over the churches it represents, but only
       Rev. G. M.  Oph6ff.                                                                                                                                                                  their broadest representative gathering, whose de-
EEN-LIED DER RUSTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..~...............
                                                                                                                                                                                  15        cisions are never absoiutely binding, except in as far
            Rev. G.  Vois.                                                                                                                                                                  as they are iri harmony with the Word of ,God, and are
                                                                                                                                                                                            accepted as $uch by the churches.
GODLY INsTRUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16                                                                             It is a body of
                                                                                                                                                                                            delegates, and delegates cannot possibly have tiuthor-
            Rev. M.  Gritters.                                                                                                                                                              ity over them that send them.
OUR  BYPTISM  FORM (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18                                                 Such was the view of such men `as Kuyper and
R e v .   C .   H a n k o . '                                                                                                                                                               Rutgers, and they never grew weary of warning the
                                                                                                                                                                                            churches not to permit the major assemblies to assume
RROM HOLY  W,RIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..~...........................................20' the power -of superior and supreme courts, and to en-
            Rev. H. Veldman.                                                                                                                                                                croach upon -the autonomy of the local churches. ~~~i+~
PERISCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . .  .,, . . . . . . . , . . .
                                                                                                                                                                                  22        But the men assembled as the First  Ecumeni&.   -
            Rev.,  W.  Hofman.                                                                                                                                                              Synod of ,Refqrmed  Churches did not have this c$tiL
                                                                                                                                                                                            ception  of a synod. According to themj' `a synod dh$B
PERISCOPE (First Ecumenical Synod) ..*....*.*......................... 23                                                                                                                   real authority, and its decisions are binding up& 811
            Rev.  IW Kok.                                                           I
                                                                                                                                                                                            the churches they represent.     It is a sort 03 sul&%tie
-                        -
  -  ._  __/_  "  __-_.  *_  .-.-                                                                                                                                                           court, rather than a major .as&ml$y. kith this deno-


                                       T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                         i5

   @ion of  th`e name synod in their minds, they  cona        paratory, in order that the way may be paved for a
   fronted the question: what is this present- gathering larger and more ecumenical gathering."
   to which we a$e delegated?                                     The reader will notice that the answer to the ques-
       And so they faced a dilemma.                           tion concerning the character and authority of the so-
       For they must either, relinquish the name synod,       called first ecumenical synod is given in the first and
   and admit that their decisions could not have binding third propositidns.
   power for the churches, and this they did not like ; or        The logic of the first proposition is somewhat diffi-
   they must maintain the name, and with the name also cult to follow. Even though the statement that the
   the authority for which it stands in their circles, and assembly in question was a regular representative of
   thus become a sort of super supreme court, lording it churches, convened  to consider ecclesiastical matters
   even over the synods of their respective churches. And in an ecclesiastical manner, which is, at least, debat-
, they felt that this was impossible.                         able ; it does not follow that it was a synod, and cer-
       `The difficulty was all the more serious, because tainly not a supreme judicatory. The assembly, eager
   there was nothing by which the assembly could be to retain the name synocl, jumped at conizlusions. Thte
   guided. There is no established set of `rules for such first proposition is guilty of begging the question.       -_
   an assembly as an Ecdmehical Reformed Synod: the               Yet, although the assembly -maintained the name,
   Church `Order  does not mentibn such gatherings. And it did not dare to assume the authority df a  sydod.
   there are no precedents. There never was an Ecu- The third proposition, though its implication is not
  menical Synod' before in  hi&ory.      There were  tee very clear and definite, evidently means that the author-
   ancient ecumenical councils, of course ; but these actual- ity of this first ecumenical synod was delegated, and
  ly represented the one catholic church over the whole determined  by the respective synods' represented by the
   world, and they could not serve as a prototype of a difserent  d e l e g a t e s .   :
   synod that was supposed to represent three distinct            In other words, although tKe assembly called itstelf
  church-groups. And even the Synod of Dordrecht of a synod, it admitted at the same time that it was not a
   1618-19 could not se?ve as a precedent, for, although synod.
  delegates from Reformed churches in other lands had             Virtually, the question was left unanswered.
  been invited and were present, they only served in an
  advisory capacity, and the synod itself was strictly
  national.
       What  to, do  aboilt  `this?                             THE ACTTON OF THE NETHERLAND SYNOD
       After a lively discussion, in the course of  &hich
  different names were suggested, such as convent, con-                         J U S T I F I A B L E ?   .
  f erence, council,  nssembly, the following propositions        This  qtiestion,  too, was considered by the  F&t
  were adopted.                                               Ecumenical Synod of Reformed Churches.  `Th.e dela-
       "1. The present assembly bears the character of a g&es from the Reformed Churches of the Netherlands
  Synod  because it is a gathering of Churches which, were instructed by their Synod to present the matter
  through *duly appointed delegates, convene to consider to the assembly in Grand  Ripids, and to decide on
  certain ecclesiastical matters in an ecclesiastical man- various phases of it. There developed a discussion as
  ner *                                                       to whether it would be advisable to place this matter
      &2. The foundation of this Synod is the Holy on the agenda of the ecumenical, synod. Especially
  Scriptures as interpreted by the  Forins of Unity of some of the brethren of the Christian Reformed
  the zespective  Churches which take part in this. as-       Chtirches  were afraid of the thing. Some expressed
  sembly ; and the purpose for which it meets is in the the fear that it- might involve their churches into the
  main to seek that which is most conducive to the same troubles they had in the Netherlands. They .did
  general edification of the participating Churches, and not want  to. become involved. As  Prof. Berkhof ex-
  to give a united witness of the faith once for all de- pressed it : "The views condemned "in the Netherlands
.livered unto the saints.                                     are also present among us, if we decide on that phase
      "This purpose the  participa$ing  Churches try  &I there would be a danger." Others were convinced that
. reach by. expressing their ucity in Christ, by strength- it would be definitely contrary to the "mind of  .the
  ening. one another in the faith, and by assistihg `one      Sjmod" of the CChristian Reformed Churches to take up
  `another to maintain soundness of doctrine atid prac-. the matter. IOthers, however, ivere not so afraid. Also
  tices ;                                                     the delegates from South Africa were isfavor of mak-
      "3. In how far and in which case the decisions of ing some*statetient  regarding the question. The nesult
  this Synod are'binding depends upon the instructions was that the matter was placed on the agenda of Synod.
  given to the delegates .by .their respective Churches ; On the advice of two committees, S%od adopted. the
      "4. This Synod aims at being foundational and pre-      following conclusions :.
                                                                   I


                                                             ,_                                       -
     6                                    T H E   S T A N D A R D   BEARiR

          "Synod informs the Reformed Churches of the the `Church of the Netherlands,' and as one of the
"Netherlands that in its judgment in case one is con- `grounds of this declaration the statement was adopted
     vinced that a Synod makes an unwarranted doctrinal . that "Synod should b5e an assembly to which doctrinal
     pronouncement, he is not justified to bring about a appeals may be addressed." It assumed,  therefork,
     rupture unless he has exhausted all the possibilities the position of a suprem,e court after `all. That is the
     provided by the Church Order for procuring a' revision danger of adopting a name ! When the assembly de-
     and the Churtih insists on maintaining its position con-       tided to call itself `a synod, it was stipulated that it
`trary to his conyietion concerning the truth."                     would assume no other authority than was delegated
          As to the doctrinal impljcations  of the Netherland       to them by their respect;ve  churches. The delegates
     schism, the following declaration was adopted :                wlere not at all  instlructed  by their  churches to take
          "Your ;Committee  is of one mind, that the `Declara- up the matt@r of the controversy in the Netherlands.
     tion of 1946' is-in conformity with the Scriptures and In fact, "the mind of the-Synod" of the Christian Re-
     the Cneeds. We recommend Synod to adopt this, judg- formed Churches was opposed to it ! Yet, the assembly
     ment as its own."                                              assumed the authority to express itself on the matter.
          We cannot refrain from offering a few critical re-           Let the Reformed Churches be warned!
     marks on these acts of the assembly.                              Without having any voice in the matter, the Chris-
,         In the ~first place, in our' judgment, it can hardly' tian Reformed Churches are now on record as having
     be considered an act of Synod at all, but only a "nice" taken a stand in opposition to the "Liberated Churches"
gesture by a few delegates from two church groups                   of the Netherlands.
     respecting the decisions and actions of a third. Con-             And by imilication;  they have now officially con-
     sider that the delegates from the Netheiland Churches demned IHeyns !
     could not vote on the matter, unless they would become                                                                 J3-. H.
     judges in their own case. It is not recorded that they
     refrained from. voting, or that the Synod requested
     them to refrain ; but I may well take for granted that
     they did not commit such an.  .ethical error. But  in
     that case, we have no decision of the Synod here at all,
     but only the expression of the delegates of two church           THE TRIPLE KNOWLEDGE
     groups concerning the acts of a third, a sister church.
          Besides, the party ' that i's, by implication, con-
     demned by these conclusions of Synod,  i.e.;a delegation        An Exposition Qf .The Heidelberg
     from the "Liberated Churches," was not present. The                                     Catechism
     Banner informs us. that, with respect .to . the second                                      Part Two.
     conclusion quoted above, "it was adopted without a
     ,dissenting vote, Practically no discussion preceded                              0.f Man's Redemptiorl
     th.e decision." But, if one conside& that no cepresent-                                Lord's Day XXI
     ation  .of the "Liberated Churches" were present to
     .defend  their s$e of the case ; and .that, moreover, the                  Q. 54.  mat believest thou  .concerning" the  ,`,holy
     Committee. that reported on the matter consisted of six                  caiholic  church' .of Christ ?
     members of Synod,; and that the delegates from the                         `4. That the  ,Sqn of  ,God from the beginning  IN
     Netherland  __Churches' could. not vote and certainly                    +he  en!d of the world,  gathens,   d&ends,  *and  .pre-
     would not dis&nt,  so that there. were only very few                     serves to himself by his Spirit and word, out  .of
     left that could disagree and cast a dissenting vote ;                    the whole human race, a  churoh  chosen to ever-
     there id nothing. wonderful. or even worthy of mention                   lasting life,  agreeing  in true faith; and  +hat I am
     in the remark of Th!e Banner.                                            ahd for ever shall ,remain,  ,a living member thereof.
          In the light of these facts, this particular act can                  Q. 55. What do you understand by the communion
     hardly. be. given .the weight of a decision by an ecu-                  of saints ?
.menical   synod. It represents the  ,opinion of a few                          A. First,  .that all and every one, who. believes,
     men. It is a sort of a vote of confidence, a friendly                    being members of Chr&t,  are in common, partakers
     gestupe,  no more.                                                       of him,  and of all his riches  (and gifts; secondly,
          Secondly, let. us also note that in adopting these                  thak every one must know it to be his duty, readily
     decisions, the Economical Synod assumed,. after all,                     ,and cheerfully to employ his gifts, for the advantage
the authority of a synod. To motivate and justify its                         and salvation of other  .membens.
     act of taking up the matter of the Netherlands con-                        Q. 56. What believest thou concerning "the  for-
     tr.oversy,  synod decided to declare : "that it has author-              givenesls   o f   s i n s   ?"                           `.
                                                                                                                            2..              I
                                                                                                                       .
     ity to take up the case of `Ecclesiastical Difficulties in                  A. .That `G.oc$  for the sake of Christ%  satisfaction,
                                                                                                                ?


                                                    T H E   S T A N D A R D           B E A R E R                                   ,..9"

                   will no more remember my sins, neither my corrupt               This implies that the essence, the attributes, and
                   xature, against which I $ave to ;sitruggle  all-my life     the calling of the church are not to be  determiried2
                   long; but will graciously `impute! to me the righteou's-    empirically, that is, by that` whicli `we observe of the
                 9  neas  `of Christ, that I may never be  condemneid  be-     church as she historically .exists in2 the world through-
                   fore the tribunal of  God.  -
   '        I                                                                  out the ages, or -philosophically, in the way of human
                                      . .      i
                                       1.                                      contemplation, but .from God's -own revelation. in the ,
                                                                               Scriptures. The church is  nbt a human institution.
                        The Idea Of The Church.                                Men do not bring her into existence. God alope deter&
         The text of the above translatidn is substantially mines her being, nature, purpose, and calling, (even as:
correct.                                                                       He alone gathers and,preserves  her. Hence, it is from
         It cannot  be. denied that our instructor, in the His Word alone that we can derive our knowledge con-
twenty-first Lord's Day, is rather liberal, in present- cerning the church. And whatever men may postulate B
ing to the pl;eacher  material for one sermon. Not only about her nature and calling that is contrary to the
are all the three questions and answers it contains .Wqrd of God must be rejected. It is only on the basis,
pregnant with meaning, and may the preacher find of  .Scripture, through God's,  own revelation, that. one
difficulty to do justice to the subject matter of the                          can say: "I believe an holjT catholic. church."
fifty-fourth question alone, in one sermon; but he may                             The truth of this becomes apparent immediately,
also meet with a difficult struggle to comprehend all as' soon as we compare. the contents of the .faith of
the material offered here, under one theme. H,e will,                          the church and of the individual believer, as expressed
no doubt, find it far mor,e convenient and also more                           in the ninth article df the Apostolicurn, with the actual-
profitable to devote a sermon to each of these three                           ly existing church in the world.' According to our.con-.
questions and answers.                                                         fession,  the church is  catholic.  This words means,
         Question and`answ,er fifty-four deal with the sub- universal, over the whole world. The .Romish church
ject of the church.                                                            claims the right to this -epithet for itself alone, and in.
         And, as might be expected when so broad and im-                       popular usage, even among Protestants, the term is
portant a subject is expounded in one brief answer, in frequently so applied This; however, is not correct,.
fact, in a single sentence;  every ilause and phrase o$ and we should avoid this usage. In our confession the
it is loaded with significance.                                                word catholic does not refer to the Romish church in,
         It speaks of the idea of the church, as the gathering distinction from the Protestant church, but designates.
of the elect; of the Builder, or Gtitherer,  of the church :                   the true chupch, as she exists in the who16  world, and
the Son of God ; of the. whole out of which this elect is one in faith. E&t the confession that the ihureh is,
church is gathered :. out of the whole human race, as it catholic, and, therefore, one in faith, cannot possibly
exists in time, from the beginning to the end of the be based on experienoe. For where does this bnity and.
world ; of the agent and means whereby this church catholicity reveal itself in the world? Hopelessly, the:
is gathered : the Spirit and the word ; of the unity and                       church appears to be ti house divided against itself.
catholicity of the church : agr,eeing  in $rue `faith ; of                     Especially since the time -of the Reformation of the'
the believer's personal assurance of his membership sixteenth century, the trend  of, the history  of the'
of the church: of w.hieh  I am a member; and of the                            church has been in the direction of constant secession.
pr&ervation of the church and its members: the Son                             and division. Confessions have  been multiplied, and
of God defends and preserves the church, and I shall they ofteri contradict .one another on, many essential,
for ever remain a member thereof.                                              points of the Christian faith. .There  seem to be many
         The church, let it be noted, is here considered as an                 Christ's, many faiths, many baptisms, many hopes
object of faith.' `The Catechism is expounding the- of our calling : +he church is not one and catholic, but.
-first part `of the ninth article of the Apostolic Confes-                     split up into many denominations an< sects, all clamor-
sion : "I believe an holy catholic church." This means, ing to be the true church. And the modern attempt'
of course, "I believe that there is such a church, which to overcome this disruption, and to realize the mani-
is both holy  and catholic." We believe in God the festation of the unity and catholicity of the church of
Father, in Jesus' Christ, `in the IHoly `Ghpst,  but we do                     Christ  ,here upon  .earth, by burying  d;ur differences,,
not believe in the church, still less in zany particular putting away our cr'eeds,  and establishing one catholic
manifestation or institute of the church in the world.                         church at the expense of, rather than on the basis of
For to ,believe  in someone means that we put all our the true faith, is worse than the division itself. Never-
confidence in him, and to place our trust in anyone theless,  in spite of the division manifest in what is
or anything besides the triune God is idolatry. But called church on earth, the believer maintains that the,
we believe that the church exists, that she is gatherted                       church is one and universal, agreeing in true faith.
out of the whole world, and that' she is holy and For "there is one body, and one Spirit, `even as ye are,
e%tholic; agreeing in true faith,                                              cailbd in one hope of your etilling. Ohe Lord, one faith,


   8                                         T H E      STAND.AR?   B-EARER
                                                                  -
  -one baptism,. one God and Father of all, who is above               idea of the church. She,ig the spiritual body of Christ-
  all, and in you ali." The faith of the Church concern- thdt is, the body of which Christ is the head and be-
  ing itself is based on the Word of God.                              lievers are members. For God has revealed kis  ex-
        The same contrast between the confession con- keeding  great power in that He raised Christ from the
  cerning the church `and her appearance in the world                  dead,  set-Him at  IHis  .own right hand in heavenly
  exists with respect fo her holiness. In the world the places, and put all things under His feet, "and gave
  church never appears as `a holy communion., Fact is                  him to be the head over all things to the church, which
  ihat she is polluted with sin, and that, frequently,, in             is his body, the fulness. of him that filleth all in all."
  her historical manifestation she appears more corpupt                Eph.  1:20-23. And again, in that  marvellously   prd-
  than the world out of which she is called. Strife and found and beautiful  passagk,  Col.  1:15-20,  Christ is
  dissension, hatred and- envy, bloody persecutions, the described as the firstborri of every creature, and that,
, killing of the prophets, lust for power and filthy lucre,            too,' as the first begotten of the dead, by Whom; and
  -these and many other corruptions mar her appear- urito Who, all things are created, "and he is the head
  ance. It is always in Jerusalem that Christ is kill*ed.              of the body, the  church: who is the beginning,  th'e
  But in spite of this corrupt .and defiled appearance of firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might
  the church on earth, the believer, nevertheless, insists have the preeminence." And the same term to denote
  that she is holy. For be derives his knowledge of the the church is found in the twenty-fourth v&se of, this
  church, not from experience, but from Holy Writ.                     same chapter : "who now rejoice in my  sufgerin'g for
  And, according to Scripture, the church is a com- you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions
  munion of saints, "a chosen generation, a royal priest-              of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the
 >hood, an lioly nation, a `p&&liar  people"; in order that            church." Again, in I Cor. 12 :12,1.3, the apostle writes :
she "should shew  forth  the praises of him who hath As the body is one, and hath many members, and all
  called her (you) out' of darkness into his marvellous the members of that one body, being many, are ,one
  light." I Pet. 2:9.                                                  body: so also is ,Christ. ,For by one Spirit are we all
        For an answler to the question : what is the `church? baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gen-
  ye will, therefore, have to turn to the Word of God. '               tiles, whether we be bond or free ; and have all been
                                                                       made to dripk into'one Spirit."
        Scripture describes the church in various terms                   The chukch, therefore, is the body of Christ.
  and by mea&. of' different figures,, but they aIT refer                 In harmony with this idea, the Bible uses similar
  to- the ehureb as one organic whole, the people of God               figures to describe the.idea of the church. She is com-
_ in Christ, redeemed and called  out of then world, living-. parsed, by our Lord, to the vine` and its branches : Christ
  in- fellowship with the triune ,God, through Christ, in is the vine, b'elievers are the branches. knd even as
  the Spirit, and reflecting the glory of the grace of `God            the branches live out of the vine, so believers have their
  in the Beloved. The name for church, in the `Old T,esta-             life in Christ, and only when they abide in Him can
  ment iS Kahal, which simply means gathering or con- they bear fruit. John  15.:1-5. In the well-known
  gregatiori,  and is  esljecially applied  to. Israel as the eleventh. chapter of the epistle to the Romans, the
  people. of God. Israel- is the congregation of Jehovah,              church of all  .ages is compared to an olive tree, on
  Num. 16 :3 ; 20 :4 ; or the congregation of God, Neh. which branches are grafted in that represent the elect
  1-3  :l  ;, the congregation of Israel,  Detit.  31:30 ; or,         from Jews. and Gentiles.
  simply,  the congregation, Ex. 16  :3 ; Lev. 4  :13. A                  From a sligthly different viewpoint, the church
similar word, ekMesia, is-used ifi the New Testament,                  is presented as the temple of God, the city of. God, the
which also denotes a  ,gath,ering of people, though it                 new Jerusalem, or, mount Zion.         Thus the apostle
  denotes' the additional idea of- being called out. IOur              writes in I Cor. 3 :16, 17 : "Know ye' not that ye are
word  church is of a somewhat*uncertain  origin, but is                the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwell&h
  probably derived from  kuriakon, meaning  the house in you?, If any man defile.the  temple of God, him shall
  of the Lord, and is used to denote the building as well              God destroy; for' the temple of God is holy, which
 as the congregation that  .gathers there for  w0rship.c temple ye are." And in II Cor. 6 :16-M: "What agree-
  The Scriptural name for church, therefore, pr&ents ment hath the temple of God with idols? for ye dare
  her as a gaFhe?ing,  an assembly, call'ed out of the world the temple of $he living God ; as God gath said, I will
  fo? the purpose of reprksenting  God's cause, of wor-                d-prell in them, and walk in them ; and I will be their
  shipping, serving, and glorifying Him.                               God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come
        COf significance are the more or less figurative de- out from among tllem,  `and be- ye separate, saith the
  scriptions of the Church, which the Bible offers. `There Lord, and touch not the unclean thing ; and I will re-
  is, first of all, the well-known term "body of Christ," ceive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall
  which, perhaps, more than any other term offers us &my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."
  a rather concise and comprehensive denotation of the                 Believers are called the household of God, "built upon

                                        .


                                      ,.

                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                            .9

 the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus          From a pile of one thousand bri.cks, you may remove
 Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone ; in whom one third or one half, or you may add as many as you
 all the building fitly framed together, grotieth ints a like, and the result remains the same: you &ill have a
 holy temple of the Lord ; in whom ye also are builded       pile of bricks. But this is not the ease with a temple,
 together fey an habitation of God in the Spirit." Eph.      or any other edifice.. A temple is not a pile of building
 2 :19'-22. `And."Jerustilem  which is abbve is free, which material, wood and steel, brick and mortar, but it is a
 is the mother `of us all." Gal.  4:26. Believers of the well ordered, beautiful,  harmoliious  whole, represent-
 new dispensation, therefore, are said to have come ing one dominating idea, and serving a common pur-1
 "unto mount Zion,. and unto the city of the living God,     pose. Each individual .part, each stone and rafter; each
 the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innum,erable  com- pillar and beam, each door, and window, and each orna-
 p,any of angels, to the general assembly and church of ment fits into- its- own place, and serves its own pur-
 the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to .God,    pose; and together they express the idea of the bnild-
 the Judge of all, and to. the spirits of just men made ing. The same is true of the members of a bsdy. The
 perfect. Heb. 12:22; 23.                         *          human body  .is not an arbitrary number of members,
     From the above passages, to which many more but a complete and perfect unity, a well organized
 might be `added, ?&y be deduced with regard to the whole, and every member derives its significance from
 idea of the church, first, that she is not a mere multi-    the fact that it occupies its own place in the whole,
 ,tud#e  of people, but a harmon&s whole, a unity, domin- and serves .its purbose  in the body. This is also true
 ated by, and expressing one idea: the glory ,of God in with respect to the church of God. It is a  spiri$ual
 Christ ; secondly, that it is not a society, that comes into temple, the dwellingplace of God with men. It is a
 existence by men bariding together to realize a common `well ~organized body, the body qf which Christ is the
 purpose, but a living, spiritual organism developing -head and all the .elect are members. It does, therefore,
 from and dominated by a common principle of life, not Consist of an arbitrary liumber of individual be-
-the life of Christ; and, thirdly, that her nature and lievers, without any connection or organization, but is a
 scope are not at' all determined by the will of her well organized,  ' harmonious whole. Tbe number  ijf
 members, but by*the will of Christ her head.                individual members  that must constitute this whole is
    Let us look at each of these elements a little more no more determined by the members themselves, o? by
 closely.                                                    the will of men, than the number of stones that con-
                                                             stitute the masonry of a beautiful temple is determined
    We .must constantly .bear in mind that we are not by the stones or by the will of the dealer` in building
 discussing the church as she appears on earth, but material. The whole and its parts,' as well as the place
 as she is revealed in Scripture, and is an object of our    each part must occupy, and- the purpose eabh'part  niust
 faith.. Even though the church is in the world, and         serve in the' spiritual temple which iS the church of
 becomes manifest on earth  ,s the gathering of believers Christ, are determined by the Architect before the
 and hkr children, throu&  the institute, and through world was. The church is a pkople, not a mere number
 the confession and walk of believers, yet, the. church      of redeemed ; it is a nation, not a multitude ; it is a
 is a spiritual organism, and as  snch  essentially in- royal priesthood, not an arbitrary number of priests.
 visible.' ?/loreover,  on earth we eever see more than And the purpose of this harmonious whole is that it
 the manifestation of a very small part of the church, may b,e a dwellingplace of the living God, in which
 as she is being gathered throughout the ages, from God, through Chrisi, and in the Spirit, exercises fellow-
 generation to generation. Ideally, however, the churbh ship, the fellowship of friendship, with His people,
 is the body of Christ as she exists eternally in the they taste that the Lord is good, and reflect His glor-
 counsel of God, and of which all the elect are members,     ious grace,  shewing forth `the virtues of Him that
 those that have already gonle on into glory, %hose that @alled them out of darkness into His marvellous light!
 are still in the world, and those that must as yet be
 gathered from future generations ; the whole church,           This is tile implication of the words  of our Lord
 as once she shall be. presented' to the Father without' in John 6 :37: "all that (not : all those, but all that)
 spot or wrinkle, to dwell. in the tabernacle of, God for the Father giveth tie shall come to me, and.him that
 ever.                                                       cometh to me I will in no wise cast oui.             _  _'
   That church is a unity, a harmonious  whole, con-            And thus we understand that the Catechism touches.
 sisting of a definite number of parts or members, each the heart of the matter, when, in the fifty-fourth an?-
 of which occupies its own place, atid serves its own tier it speaks. of the church as the gathering of- the
 purpose in that whole;  The church is not, a mere elect: "the Son of God. . . .gathers, defends,, and pre-
 crowd of redeemed people, consisting of an arbitrary serves. to himself. . L .a church chosen to everlasting
 number of individuals, td which one may'add, or which life."
may be diminished without changing its essential idea.                                                   I&H:      -.,


 1       0                            T H E          STAN,DARD  B E A R E R   ~

                                                               to the ground. Dagon had not lost his `equilibrium and
        THE DAY OF SHADOWS                                     fallen by his own weight. For, if so, how was it to be
                                                               explained that the image had remained standing thru
                                                               all the years of the past. Nor could the fall of Dagon
                                                               have been the work of a human. What Philistine
        The Ark Of God Delivered                               would want to harm Dagon ! And as for the  tiossi-
                                                               bility of some Hebrew having committed the foul deed,
      `The Ark had fallen into the hands-of the Philistines. that was far too remote. There were no Hebrews
 In the.language  of the Psalmist, the L&d had delivered living in Ashdod. The position of Dagon as he lay on
 .His strength  .into captivity, and His glory into the the earth was also revealing. He was fallen upon his
 enemies' hand." And the question was what the -Philis- face to the earth before the Ark. In `a word, the testi-
 tines would do with God. By the treatment that they mony that the Lord had done it was conclusive ; and
 afforded God's Ark and His people, they heaped con- the  Philistines-the  men of Ashdod-with this testi-
 t&ipt upon His name. The. Ark they brought into mony in their hearts as put there by the `Lord, were
 .- Digon's temple as an off erihg to him by whose assist- -rationally convinced though unwillingly and to their
 allee they imagined that they had achieved  the  vic- great dismay,-convinced were they that  J,ehovah is
 story ; and  they  iet the Ark  near  _Dagon's  image, in     the Lord and that Dagon is vanity. For the doing of
 order that bi this position it might set forth for all        God-it was a  miracle0 that He performed-uttered
 the Philistines the subjection of Jehovah to  Dkgon.          just this speech. Yet the men of Ashdod, holding' the
 Tliu$ it is plain that all. their thoughts,  were that truth in unrighteousness, took Dagon and set him in
'  Jehdvah' was an impotent and fallen deity, worthy his. place again to be worshipped and adored by, them ;
 <`of their scorn. But this is not all.  /Having. put to for the Lord hardened their hearts.
-slight `Israel's armies, `they had hastened' to Shiloh,          But the following day at the same, early hour they
.-massacred  its. inhabitants and slain Gbd's priests and returned, to the temple of .their deity ; and saw that he
 this.aS fired hy the vile ambition to destroy His service was again fallen on his face- to the ground before the
 `and  membry  from the face  df the earth. So did  `;he       Ark of God, but this time with disgraceful damage to
Philistines deal .with' Jehovah, now that they thought his image. The head of Dagon and both the palms of
 that 1l3e' was in their power. As was stated, if ever a his hands were cut off upon the threshold. `Only the
 lheathen  .pedple w&e  worthy  ,of  dooti,, it  .was these ,stump  of Dagonkthe  fi.sh-stump,  if he was a maritime
Philistines  at this juncture in their  hi`story.   - Such deity-remained to him. Also the speech that rose
 offences aiainst the divine majesty, the insults Such from t,his doing of God was clear and untiistakeable.
 `as  they were heaping  upon. God's  n&me'  called for        It set forth Dagon' and the entire coalition of  anti-
 severest punishment.     It was time for God to act.          Christian powers, represented by him, as prostrate
 The Lord must  noti  :b&ing forth His  A?k not before Ch'rist, beaten and destroyed by the rod of His
 apart from but through the agency of  the  Philis- moqth  and by the breath of  His.lips.  It  reyealed to
 ti&s and thtis in the way of `their being made to. know the Philistines, did this doing of the Lord, the, suprem-
 sind'  confes_s that  .Israel's God is the Lord' and that acy of Israel's God over all the not-gods of the heathen,
 D&gon is  .v&ity.    Further the Philistines  m&t `be definitely  .over Dagon, the vanity of the worship of
 jddged and the punishment  meted out to them must these gods and the foolishness  .of trusting in them.
 b.e `commensurate with their `tiffenie`with them justify- And the Philistines-the men of Ashdod-understood
 ,ing  ,G6d by confessing that His `strokes are  dotibly       as instructed by t&-Lord; for they were rational men,
 deserved.' If these -purposes were to be achieved, the and what was known of God through His treatment
 .Lord  must multiply iZIis siglis and wonders in the land     of their idol was revealed in them. Understand did
 of ihe Philistines, harden the Philistines, while .at tlie they that .IHe with whom they had to dq was Israel's!
 same time binding His plagues upon their hearts.              mighty God ,and ,that ther,efore  the thing for them to
 r `The Lord first laid His hand upon Dagon and do  was to turn from their decapitated idol with its
;spared the .Philistines.  Early in the morning the men cut-off palms, serve, honor, and obey this God,. and
 of Ashdod wint to the temple to learn how their deity Y;elease their hold on His Ark.
 had fared during the watches of the night in the                 But the Philistines would not hearken.; they would
 presence of the Ark  .of God. That they feared the not b6. wise, as' it was- the purpose  of ,God to destroy
 worst is. indicated by their being on hand at that them. Though the nothingness of Dagon had been fully
 early hour. Thus they were not too surprised at dis- exposed, and though  it had been cleakly demonstrated
covering that Dagon .was fallen upon his face to the unto them: that .the Jehovah of the Hebrews  was the
 earth before the Ark of the Lord. The conclusipnwas God,' they persisted in' cleaving tiith their hearts to
' inescapable that the only solution of the plight of their    Dagon and: to do him horn&e.  ' EVeri the threshold
 _ idoKtia6' Jehovah, His unseen hand casting his image where  Dagon's' image had falleli came to' be regarded


                                      T H E   S T A N D A R D .   B E A R E R                                      ,711

  by them .as ground too sacred for their feet to tread. 3 wonder of grace ; its purpose was the. deliverance of
  "Neither the' priests of Dagon, nor any that came into        the Ark through. judgment; and _ the same must -.be
  Dagon's house, tread on the threshold  of Dagon in said of the plagues that accompanied it. These plagu&
  Ashdod unto this day.".                                       with ali their attending misery and destruction, belong
     As the Philistines were unwilling  tq be instructed in the category of the ten plagues of Egypt and this
  by the voice of God as it had come to them through by virtue of identity of purpose, of the foe to be over-
  His dealings with their idol, He now  laid His hand come, of the God to be vindicated, of. the interests to                   L
  upon them. He smote Ashdod and the coasts thereof `be promoted, arid the people to be saved. The :Egypt
</with a so:e disease. The text in the English version of the oppression reappeared in.the.Philistines,.  and.the
  makes mention of emerods (an  obsol&te   f&m for Pharaoh of that Egypt in the Philistine lords. .Theyi~
  hemorrhoids), a word denoting a' paipful  s,welling           were one by common, aim and. .purpose,  by a comtion
  formed by' the dilatation of a vein at the anus,.hence        haughty pride, rebellion, utter contempt of the Lord
  piles. But the Hebrew text  tis  ophelirn, singular, and His people, and persistent and determined,opposi-
  ophel from the verb aphal to swell up, to be tumid. tion to God's will. As the Egyptians, so the Philistines,
  tHence an ophal is a hill ; but the word is used as the       they persisted to the end in hardening their hearts,
  designation also of a tumor and in  g&era1 of any and accordingly their plagues grew in severity. ~.This,
  swelling appearing on the body of men and beasts. too, is plainly indicated in the text. Verse 6 is a state-
  Further on in the narrative it is stated that the rrien       ment to the  eff,ect.  that the hand of the Lord. was
  of Gath. . . , had opheliti-tumors  pr, boils-in their heavy upon them of Ashdod and that He  d#estroyed
  secret parts. But the Hebrew text reads, "that the them and smote  .them  with emerods. But in Ekron
 -men of  Gath  had,  ophelim breaking out on them". according to verses 11 and 12, "there was a deadly
  It .may also be therefore that the divine visitation con-     destruction throughout the city" so that "the, cry' of
  sisted in the Philistines being smitten with boils' from the city went up to heaven."
  the sole of the foot to the crown of the head. The               The men of Ashdod, to r.eturn now to these men,
  affliction was exceptionally grievous and deadly in its       said, "The Ark of the God of Israel shall not abide
  affect, what  ever its nature may have been.          The with us: for his hand is sore upon us and upon Dagon
  sacred text plainly brings this out. So at verse 12 our. god. Thus they openly, declare that the severe                            ,
  (.of chaptel-  5) ,* where the statement occurs, "And the     humiliation of Dagon had indeed been the work  6-E
  men that died not werae  smitten with the emerods : and the Lord. Of this they had been rationally. convinced
  the cry of the city tie& up to" heaven." There is' a all along. But holding the truth in .unrighteousness,
  suggestion her& and elsewhere of two distinct plagues they had refused to admit it either to themselves or to
and #even of three.. The thought conveyed seems to be           one another. But they concluded that they .could ill
  that the wrath of God so operated as to effect the            afford to prolong their silence,  now that they per-
  speedy death of many either immediately or by a, ceived that the scope. of the working of divine wrath
  plagbe  not mention.ed  in the text and that all the rest had been so widened as to include also them. Their
  were tormented by the plague of emerods. So, too, at very lives were now at stake.. And what was dearer to
  verse 6, "But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them than life:.. Something had to be done .abotit the
  them of Ashdod, and  he destroyed them and smote Ark or soon all would be dead men. So they reasoned _.
  them with ererods, even Ashdod and the. coasts there- among themselves, for they w,ere  afraid now, though
  of." Here, tab, the text plainly distinguishes' between harder of heart than ever as is indicated by their re-
  a divine working consisting in the Lord's destroying action to the Lord's dealing with them and Dagon.
  them and that working of lHis according to which he           *hey sent and gathered all. the lords of the Phil%tines
  smote the survivors with emerods. `The text ~suggests . unto them, and said, What shall we do with t@e Ark of
 that the hand of the Lord was heavy upon the Philis- the God of Israel? Why should they have asked that?
 tines in still another way : It wasted their land, that is,    They well kneti what they should do with the Ark of
 the produce of the field, by mice. That there was such Israel's God. They knew that they should reverently?
  a l,and-plague  is indicated by the after mention nf the returp it to its place. And they knew, too, that the
 trespass offering of the five golden mice, according to hand of Israel's  God was heavy upon them because
 the number of the lord's of the Philistines. The most they obstinately refused  to do' just that. Implicit. in
 `promin,ent  character of the field-mouse, especially in this knowoledge was the rational conviction that the.
  southern countries, is its greediness in eating and rapid plagues that rioted among `them were the revelation
increase. At times these animals, so it is related, of the wrath of Israel's God. Yet in the same breath
 multiply with rapidity and suddenness, `ravage. the that they gave expression to this conviction, they asked,
  fiblds far atid near, and produce famine and pestilential "What shall  w,e do with the Ark of Israel's  God?:
  diseases among the inhabitants of the land. But the This amazing obstinacy on the part of the Philistinei                -
 larid-plague that was vi&ted upon the Philistines was can be exljlaihed. They want&d tq imsigine  that their.


                                          I                               4'
  12,                                 T H E   `STANDA.RD,   B E A R E R

  capture of the Ark formed `the undoubted testimony And so they. did. They let the Ark be carried about
  that they had emerged, victorious from a warfare,with       to Gath and thus chose death for the men of Gath,
  Israel's mighty God and that therefore ;His .people-        did these Philistine lords. Yet it must not be supposed
  the people of Israel-were theirs now and forever for that this was admitted either by these lords or by the
  them to `enslave and exploit, persecute and kill as they Gathites. Especially these lords were stouthearted
  might choose, with Jehovah standing helplessly by,          men. I And they had to be for they were the leaders
  unable to do anything about it at all. Their sending among their people, In times of national stress they
  away, the Ark to its place would be for those proud men must scoff .at fear and by their word &assure the fear-
  to admit that they' were bowing before a will-the will fnl,  strengthen the weak, uphold the faltering and
 ~-of Israel's God-that' no man can resist and live.          inspire all to deeds of daring. And so they did also in
  In a word, their sending away the Ark would be a con- the present crisis. And the sacred text plainly indi-
  cession on their part that all their imaginings were cates their reasonings. They said, now to the men                 *
  absurdly vain, that thus it was still true that Jehovah of Gath, whither the `Ark had been carried about, "It
  is the God of all the earth ; that, being God, all crea-    was not the hand of God that smote us-the men of
  tures., definitely the Philistines, are so in His hand that Ashdod-it  &as chance that had happened unto us?
  without ,Bis will they cannot so much as move ; that, The reasoning is thoroughly atheistic. As far as the
  this being true, they had not overcome Jehovah- but earth and its fulness is concerned, God is not.. Hence
had been overcome by  !Him, and that therefore their the plague that had rioted among the men of Ashdod
  recent victories on the. battle-field were, rightly con- could have had nWothing to do`with God and with the
  sidered; no victories at all by at bottom catastrophic presence of the A.rk among them, and the treatment
defeats.                                                      they had afforded it. There was no connection what-
  `So the Philistines, now that the Lord had shifted ever. The plague had just happened, and; according
  His `attack from Dagon to themselves, were in a state to the law of averages, would not happen again, at
  of great perplexity of their own creation,. to be sure.     least for a long time. Hence the Gathites had nothing
  On account of reasons cited above, they refused to to worry about, now that the Ark was being carried
  send away the Ark to its place. On the other `hand, about to their city. Such was the thrust of the reason-
  they well knew that, as persisting in holding the Ark, ing of these Philistine lords. And it seems that their
  they were all'dead  men. This then was their problem : words took eff,ect, that the Gathites, tiere reassured.
  how could they persist in holding the Ark of  <God,         For we do not read that they objected to having the
  without being crushed by His power. It can also be Ark in their midst.
  stated thus: how could  they make good their claim             Yet despite their atheistic boasting, these Philis-
  that they had conquered ,God,- without perishing by tine lords were anything but at ease. The testimony
 .His hand. That was their problem precisely.; and for of God in their hearts that they were in the grip of. the
 that problem-it was one of their own creation-they Almighty was too clear and strong. But they were
 could find no solution, as there was none. But they hard-hearted men-were these lords. So, holding the
  were not yet ready to admit defeat. For the Lord was truth in unrighteousness, they had resolved to put the
 hardening their hearts.  r Perhaps the Philistine lords matter to a test, and thus persisted in tempting and
 knew the way out of their quandary. They had hope. contempting God. This is largely the explanation of
  "So they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philis- their having ordered the removal of the Ark to Gath.
 tines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the The ,Gathites,  they insisted, would be none the worse
  Ark  .of the  ,God of Israel?" And verily, these lords for having the Ark in their midst,`.and so the fear
 had the answer, so they wanted to imagine. They said of their countrymen-which fear they also shared but
 to the men of Ashdod, "Let the Ark of the  ,God of without admitting it; for they w'ere stout-hearted men
  Israel be carried'about  to Gath." But that, they well -that the men of Ashdod had been smitten by God,
  knew, was not the way out of their troubles. As  con- would be proved groundless.
 f.essing that Jehovah is the God, and as humbling                 I                                   G.  iii. 0.
  thlemselves under His hand, they must release their
 hold on the Ark, and instead of carrying, it about to..
 Gath, send it away to its place. Certainly the revela:
  tion of  God's- wrath was not limited to the city of                          `
                                                                                - ATTENTION  -  -
 Ashdod. Jehovah was the God of all the earth, with
  a power  aimighty. and everywhere present. Yet, so                       Theological School Committee
  the lords of `the Philistines gave answer. For they            A very important meeting of the `Theological School
 were as obstinate as were the <men of Ashdod ; as vain       Committee will be held the evening of `October 9 in the
  in their .imaginations ; as unwilling to send the Ark to    Fuller Ave. Church.
  its place, and thus-:as determined to hold it captive.                                   Rev. J.-A. Keys, Sec'y.


                                   T H E   S T A N D A R D .   B E A R E R                                      13

                                                            the kingdoms of the earth as well. As has been ex-
        THROUGH THE AGE8                                    plained in previous articles, according to the prevail-
                  ,,                                        ing opinion in those ages, church and state form the
                                                            one Christian commonwealth. As time went on, the
                                                            popes insisted with growing emphasis that in this
    Frederick II, imd The Papacy s                          commonwealth the bishops of Rome, thus the pope,
                                                            is the supreme judicial power. In  .the language of
    Under the above .title Through The Ages the under-      Innocent III, he, the pope, is `entrusted not only with
`signed placed a series of articles on the subject of the dominion of the church, but also with the rule               /
 The Rise and Decline of the! Papacy. In this article       over the whole world. He is at once king and priest.
a return is made to that subject. Before continuing All things in heaven .and on earth and in hell are
our story, it may be well to get our bearings. As was subject to Christ. So are they all to the pope. .He
stated, in the apostolic churches, there was legal          can depose princes and absoive subjects `from their
 parity of those whom the Scriptures describe as oath of  .allegiance. He may enforce submission by
bishops, -presbyters, pastors, and teachers.     But at- placing the whole nation under the interdict. Princes
the close of the second century we find the local' have authority in separate lands ; the pope over all
congregation, including the ministers and the elders lands. All kings are his vassals  and- receive their
and the deacons, ruled by a new dignitary, who alone domains from him as a grant. Such were the claims
bore the title of .Bishop. In the first period he had of the popes. But, needless to say, with these claims
jurisdiction only over the local consistory. This new .of the papacy, the kings and emperorsof Christendom                  '
power was the germ of the papacy and is known in . were ill agreed. According to them, the pope is subject
history as the monarchial or hierarchical bishop, and to the emperor, not the emperor to the pope. The
`the govern;ment  by such bishops was given the name result was that each-emperor and pope-strove to
of "Episcopate" from the ,Greek  "Epi-skopeoo" mean- subject the other to himself, or to free himself from
ing to oversee. In the first period the monarchial the yoke of tlie other, when the other would momen-
bishops had. jurisdiction each over his own flock only; tarily prevail. It is this struggle between emperor
But in process of time, the authority of each  .was         and pope for world dominion that forms largely the
extended over several churches. What is more, in history of the church of the Middle Ages.
course of time, they fell into differing ranks according       The last pope with which we were occupied is
to the ecclesiastical and political .importance.  of their Innocent III, 1198-1216; This pope, as we have
several seats of authority. On the lowest level stood       seen, went far in making good. the papal claims to
the-bishops of the country churches, who had juris- world dominion. Under Innocent III the papacy reach-
diction over all the churches located in their respective ed the height of its worldly power. His first act was
districts. The next highest rank was occupied by the to subjugate Rome to his authority. He made himself
. city bishops. Among the later  tow,ered  the bishops the all-controlling power in the kingdom of Sicily.
of the chief cities of. the civil provinces of the Roman    The Italian cities  .swor.e allegiance to him. He dic-
empire. In the-East  they were called metropolitans-        tated the emperial `succession in Germany. Here the
from the Greek, metra mother and polis city, hence          emperor and his rivals sought his favor and strove
mother  city-in the West  Arch&shops.         They had to surpass one another in their concessions to him.
jurisdiction over the bishops of the provinces. Upon By the interdict he humbl.ed Philip Augustus of France,.                    '
them devolved the care of the churches of the whole when the latter tried to impose restriction upon the
provinces. Above the metropolitans stood the  fiv,e clergy in his domain. John of England received an
bishops called patriarchs. They were the bishops of identical treatment and was even compelled to acknow-
the four great capitals of the Roman empire-Rome, ledge his kingdom a fief or gift of the papacy and agree
Alexandria, Antioch, and Constantinople, to which' to pay a tax to the pope of a thousand marks annually.
was added the bish0.p  of Jerusalem. The joint rule The rulers of Spain, Norway, and Hungary, the princes
of these five extended over the whole Christian ,church.    of Poland, Dalmatia, and even. of Bulgaria, bent in
This was the episcopate in its completed form-a form l o w l y   s u b m i s s i o n   to.his  d e c r e e s .
which it attained by the fourth century. It may be             That Innocent went so far in realizing the pre-
compared to a body with five heads.                         posterous and anti-Scriptural claims of the. papacy,
   But soon the idea was conceived that the patr.iarch can be explained. Firstly,. circumstances favored him.
or bishop of Rome enjoyed a universal jurisdiction There was not one able ruler in all his patriarchate
over the whole Christian-church, laity and clergy alike, to oppose'him. All of them, as was stated, were weak
including the other four patriarchs. But this is not and unstable or-servile men, nonentities, eager to kiss
all. In process of time; the bishop of Rome, who took the pope's toe for a crown, and fearful of his thunder-
the name of pope, laid claim to. a jurisdiction over all    ings. Secondly, this Innocent was great in his shrewd-

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

 ness as worldly politician, and thoroughly unscrupu             When Frederick was crowned in 1212, he vowed to
 lous  in the choice. of the means for realizing. his am-.    engage the Turks in war for the liberation of Jeru-
 *bition.  In pushing his claims for world domonion he salem.          Honorius III  (1216-1227))  t the successor of
 made full use of those two mighty weapons at his dis-        Innocent III, urged him to keep his vow, but he de-
 posal, the key-power- (excommunication .and the. inter- layed during the entire pontificate of this pope, and
 dict) and the sword power. This latter he exercised          even engaged in repeated wars with the states of the
 not directly but through the agency of the temporal Church in Nothern Italy. This doing signaled  .the
 rulers favorable to him. Like all the popes, he was commencement of his struggle with the papacy for
 a warmonger in his lust for power.                           the possession of its `dominions in Italy. Should he
        But scarcely was Innocent (III) in the grave when succeed, the temporal power of the papacy would be
 Frederich II of the Hohenstaufen line began to .oppose       limited to a small and uncertain erea at best. Gregory
 the world pretentions of the papacy. The result was          IX  (1227-1241), the successor of Honorius, was a
 a gigantic struggle between the two that filled the vigorous and brave pope, famed' for his  -eloquence
 period 1216--1250-a struggle that ended in the de- and thoroughly at home in canon law. He insisted that
 struction of the Hohenstauf,en line, and, in the-complete Frederick fnulfill his vow made at his coronation in
 humiliation of the empire, and thus in the temporary         1215 and again in 1220. Frederick bestirred himself
 victory of the papacy in Germany and Italy. c,Frederick      but within three days after setting off to se,a,.he gave
 II was the grandson of Frederich Barbarossa, and the         up the expedition, asserting that he had been driven
 son of IHenry VI, who had added Sicily to his domains back by an epidemic.              But the pope was furious.
 by his marriage with Constance the Norman princess,          Frederick had supplied the pope with a pretext for
 who gave to Frederich the warm blood of the south.           pronouncing against-him sentence of excommunication.
 When but two years old the Romans made him their             The sentence was read in the church at Anagni, and
 king, and when his father died a year later he .became       the clergy extinguished their lighted tapers in token of
 king of Sicily. Soon after the mother died, and Fred- the emperor's going out in darkness. The pope justi-
 erich, then a boy in his fourth yeari passed under the fied his action on the ground of Frederick's breaking
 care,of Innocent III. Due to the influence of the pope his oath, casting aside all fear of God, and having no
 he was chosen to the German throne in his eighteenth r,espect for Jesus Christ. In 1228 the sentence was
 year.     When Innocent died Frederich was not yet repeated and all the places where the emperor might
 t w e n t y .                                                be were placed under the interdict. In the same year
        Frederich was remarkable for the beauty of his Frederick actual1.y went forth to war with the Turks.
 person. The expression of his countenance was noble,         In reply the pope excommunicated him for the third
 intelligent and benevolent. I-le was highly educated time. Notwithstanding the expedition was successful.
 and a patron of art and learning. He was versed in Entering Jerusalem as a conqueror, Frederick crowned
 Greek, Latin, German, French, and Arabic. The himself king. Yet on his return from his expedition
 university of Naples was one, of his founding.  the          to Europe he was  excommunicted  a  .fourth time. It .
 was a humanist and as such a forerunner of the shows that the real interest of the pope lay not in see-
 Renaissance. He wrote poetry and cultivated astrology.       ing Jerusalem delivered from the Turks-this had
 Historians are kxtravagent in their praise -of him. One now been accomplished-but in keeping Frederick
 `says that "in mere genius, in mere accomplishments,         under the ban of the papacy in order to ruin him
.Frederich  was.. surely the greatest prince that ever politically and socially; for Frederick had plainly re-
 wore a crown." Another sees in him "`one of the solved to establish his sovereignty in Italy. This
 greatest personages in history." A third avers that fourth excommunication was followed by an attempt
 "with all his faults he was one of the most complete on the part of the pope to destroy Frederick with his
 and gifted character of his century." Dante put him pen. He likened the emperor to the beast in the Book
 in hell. Priestly chroniclers had much to say of his of Revelation which "rose OL& of the sea .full of words
 cruelty and immorality. Certain it is that he was            of blasphemy and had the feet of a bear and the mouth
 legally married four times and that he kept a harem.         of a `lion, and like a leopard in all its parts, opens its
 Caring little for `German soil-he. was an Italian by mouth in blasphemies against God's name, His dwell-
 birth-he held his court at Palermo in  Siciliy, which ing place, and the saints in heaven." IHe `called Fred-
 he called the "Happy City". As to whether the man            erick "the son of lies, heaping falsehood on falsehood.
 was a Christian or an infidel, opinions among histor-        robber, blasphemer, a wolf in sheep's clothing, the
 ians differ. According to Neander, Frederich denied dragon emitting waters of persecution from his mouth
 revealed religion. Pope Gregory IX charged, him with like a river". .Frederick  in turn likened the pope to
 making Christ an imposter.           But some leave the      "the rider on the red horse who destroyed peace on
 question of his faith an open one, while others hold the earth." And what w,ere  these `two fighting about?
 that. he was a sincere &Catholic.                            Verily for .the earth, the pope as well as Frederick.


                                  T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                          15

Gregory died in 1241 at a-great age-died in fight- de goddeloozen. Ze zijn rechtvaardig, eerst, in .Chris-
ing for the earth, for the retention of the states of tus. Ze worden gerekend als rechtvaardigen. En `die
the church in Italy to which Frederick was laying toerekening `is van eeuwigheid. Nooit heeft God zonde
c l a i m .                                                gezien in Zijn volk. Van alle eeuwigheid zijn ze in
                  (To be Continued)                        Jezus  #Christus gerekend. En wat die  Christus  ,doen
                                           G. M. 0.        zou voor hen, is hun van alle eeuwigheid toegerekend.
                                                           Tweedens, zijn zij rechtvaardig in het diepst van hun
                                                           bestaan.    In hun diepe hart zijn ze  rechtvaardig..   :
                                                           Rechtvaardigheid is die deugd, waardoor we in al ons
                                                           willen steeds in harmonie zijn met het hoogste  goed.
       :sIows  ZANGEN  h En dat hoogste Goed is God. Welnu, volgens Gods
                                                           L Woord staat het vast dat Gods volk in hun diepste hart
                                                           altijd Gods geboden doen. Johannes zegt immers, dat
                                                           wie uit God.geboren is-niet zondigt? (Hij verstout zich
               Een Lied De+ Ruste                          zelfs en zegt, dat hij niet zondigen lean. Want Gods
                (Psalm 92 ; Derde Deel)                    zaad blijft in hem. Straks zullen  w.e de bewijzen daar-
                                                           van ook zien in het verband.
   Deze psalm moet bij uitstek gezongen worden  op             Nu dan, de Christen groeit in de woestijn als'een
den rustdag : het is een lied der ruste; Het eerste ge- ,palmboom. Een palmboom  is schoon onder de boomen
deelte van den psalm bezingt de grootheid en DDE lief-     des wouds. Recht omhoog, statig, met.schoone  bladen
lijkheid Gods. De laatste akkoorden zullen getuigen die met aanvallige buigingen zich verheffen. Ook zal
van Gods werk in Zijn volk ; God is glorieus en de         Gods volk wassen als de cedarboom van Libanqn. Ook
heerlijkheid ,Gods wordt ook gereflecteerd in Zijn volk. de cedar  boomen  zijn  mooi  en aanvallig onder de
   Het oog en het oor van Gods volk'zijn open, zoodat boomen.  De palm en de cedar  onder  de  boomen  zijn
ze niet bedrogen worden door hetgoddelooze  volk, dat waardige beelden van het volk des Heeren.
hen omringt. Hoort het maar : "En mijn oog zal mijne           En nu komt de toepassing van die beelden. `Die
verspieders aanschouwen, mijne ooren zullen het hoo-       in het Huis des iHeeren geplant zijn, dien zal gegeven
ren aangaande de boosdoeners die tegen mij opstaan." worden te groeien in de voorhoven onzes Gods."
   De goddeloozen, die de kerk omringen worden hier            Wat ligt hier veel in !
gekenmerkt als "verspieders". Het is een woord, dat            Het Huis des Heeren ! Wat is het ?            '  "  :
ons de goddeloozen teekent &Is valsche menschen. Ze            Het Huis des Heeren is eerst de Tempel of de
omringen Gods volk en bespieden hen. Ze wachten tabernakel. Het is de plaats waar Jehovah Zijn volk
gieriglijk of misschien het arme kind ,Gods zichzelven `ontmoet. In het Heilige der heiligen woonde God tus-
bloot zal geven voor hunne aanvallen. Maar er is geen schen de cherubim, boven het verzoendeksel van de
groot gevaar: Gods  voll<- ziet  ze en weet met welke arke des verbonds. En Benmaal des jaars kwam ,Gods
goddelooze motieven zij bezield zijn. Ergens staat er volk in hun Hoogepriester voor het aangezicht van
geschreven, dat Gods volk zich wachten en voorzichtig- ,God om met Hem gemeenschap te oefenen. Evenwel,
lijk handelen zoolang  de goddeloozen hem omringen. moest die priester komen met onschuldig bloed van het
Voorts hoort dat volk de bodsdoeners die altijd tegen offerdier.  9 In het heiligdom woonde God ook met Zijn
hem opstaan. De gedachte komt op: waarom doet dat volk. Daar waren de toonbrooden die telkens getuig-
volk  tech zoo vreemd. Vooraleer ze  beginnen  met den van het feit, dat God Zijn volk spijzigde. En de
hun vuile werk hebben ze den strijd al verloren. Want lkandelaar  vertelde, dat door den lHeilige  Geest het volk
God strijdt immers voor hen? En die strijd voor Gods van God het licht der wereld was.                        _  "
volk begint al hierin, dat zij al de plannen van de            Al die  dingen zijn vervuld in Christus. In `Hem
goddeloozen kennen. Dat zegt de dichter  hier. Mijne komen  alle lijnen tezamen. Hij is Jehovah die Zijn
ooren hooren immers de boosdoeners?                        volk bemint, doch Hij is ook de vertegenwoordiger van
   Niettegenstaande al die verspieders `en die boos- het volk. Hij is de gerechtige God die voldoening
doeners zal het tech altijd goed gaan met Gods volk,       eischt, doch Hij is ook de priester die Zich .Gode  op-
want-"De rechtvaardige zal groeien als een palmboom, off,ert. Hij is God te prijzen tot in alle eeuwigheid,
hij zal wassen als een vederboom op Libanon.",             die een verterend vuur is voor de goddeloozen, doch
   De palmboom  wordt in de woestijn gevonden. Het Hij is ook de Gever van het bloed, dat beter dingen
beeld gaat op, want de aarde waar Gods volk verkeert       spreekt dan het bloed van Abel.
is een ware woestenij voor hen. En tech gaat alles wel.        Hij is het Huis zelf. `Want in Hem ontmoeten God ^
Ze groeien. Dat bewijst ook hun naam. Zij zijn recht-      en mensch elkaar. Daarom is Zijn naam Immanuel,
vaardigen. Neen, niet in zichzelf. In iichzelf, van God met ons.
nature is Gods volk oak' onrechtvaardig,' juist zooals         Die in het Huis des `Heeren geplant zijn, beteekent

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

              .
dan ook : Die in Christus Jezus-geplant zijn ! Want zoo               Bij ,het einde, .nabij het graf, als de dagen onzes
is het. Wij Christenen zijn in Christus Jezus geplant.         levens weinige  me&  .zijn,  ,dan  putten we ons uit om
Wij waren in Hem van ,eeuwigheid. Doch we worden vooral te getuigen van de gerechtigheid Gods. De
ook Hem ingeplant in den tijd. En die inplanting is tekst zegt, dat die oude man al maar getuigt, "dat de
de- wedergeboorte. Van dat punt des tijds af aan leven Heere recht is !" Waarom tech? `Omdat de mensch van
we uit Christus.                                               nature al maar het tegenovergestelde zegt. En omdat
       Welnu, die Hem zoo ingeplant zijn, dien wordt ge- die dude man God zoo- innig liefheeft. Ziedaar  .de twee
geven om te groeien in de voorhoven  ,Gods. Waar r e d e n e n .
God woo&,  daar mogen wij groeien. Is het niet ver-                  ~ Wilt ge de geloofsbelijdenis-hooren, de persoonlijke
rukkelijk schoon? God wandelt .in de voorhoven van geloofsbelijdenis van een zeer oude man? Luistert!
Zijn eeuwig Huis. En wij mogen daar groeien. En "IHij is mijn Rotssteen! En in ,Hem is geen onrecht$"
zoo zal God ons eeuwiglijk aanschouwen en zullen we Het is als de hemel zoo schoon.
wandelen voor Zijn liefiijk aangezicht.                               Hij is mijn Rotssteen!
       Let  aer nu op, dat alle werkwoorden hier passief              Zijn naam is Jehovah. De Onveranderlijke. Ik
zijn. Gij wordt geplant! Schreeuwt het uit tegenover- kan mij op Hem verlaten voor  tijd en eeuwigheid.
de Pelagianen ! JOns wordt gegevm te groeien !' Brult Alle mijne eigen  rotsen  zijn. weg. God nam ze' weg,
het in de. ooren van de vrije wil drijvers! Er is              een voor een. Ik ben nu oud en ik vertrouw op Hem
niemand die zich op kan dringen aan den Almachtige. alleen.
Wat zeg ik? Er is niemand die het ook maar wil. Er              . En in Hem is geen onrecht.
is niemand die het aandurft om nabij-God-te-zijn ! We                 Ik ben nooit beschaamd uitgekomen. Hij bedroog
zijn allen bang van God van nature. De god van den mij nooit. Het is zelfs godslasterlijk om het te  be-
vrije-wil drijver is een afgod. ~                              denken.
       En waarom? Hier zijn veel antwoorden. Ik zal, ze               Mijn God is recht,  Het .is de  hemel op aarde om
niet  allen geven. Ik geef U het belangrijkste  ant- het te mogen getuigen.
woord:  .God wordt verheerlijkt in Zijn Eigen werk                    Geliefde lezer, ik heb `getracht om iets te schrijven
alleen!                                                        over een sabbatslied. Ik zal eindigen. met een diepe
       Maar wat beteekent het nu om te groeien in de vraag: Is het U-een genot om God te verdedigen? Om
voorhoven Gods ?                                               door goed gerucht en kwaad gerucht van harte met
       Het. eerste gedeelte van den psalm is daarop het Hem te wandelen? Hem blindelings te volgen?
antwoord.  lHet is het loven van God. Het is het                      Wie daar volmondig het ja op kan geven wordt
psalmzingen van Gods volk. Het is het verblij,d zijn bedoeld in dezen psalm.
in den 2Heere..        Het is  .het muziekmaken voor Zijn             Zij loven God ten allen tijde.
                                                  I
a a n g e z i c h t .   `                                                                                       G. V.
       Vers 15. en 16 zullen er ook van spreken. Hier zijn
ze.: "In den grijzen ouderdom zullen zij nog vruchten
dragen; zij zullen vet en groen zijn, om te verkondigen'
dat de Heere  recht is: Hij is mijn rotssteen, en in
Hem is geen onrecht !"                                          I              I N   HIS  F E A R .
       Het eigenaardige van Gods volk is, dat iij met den :'
ouderdom al beter  word,en.          Dat is ook het  eigen-
aardige  van den palmboom. Een oude palmboom  geeft
het beste en het meeste in zijn-ouderdom. Ik denk, dat                         Godly  Instruction
dit ook een van de redenen is waarom Gods volk ver-
geleken wordt bij een palmboom.                                Introduction  :
       Dit zit zoo: een kind Gods heeft de eeuwigheid, `de
eeuwige jeugd in de ziel. Zoo zult .ge er 001~ iets van                                JOB'S CASE:
zien,, dat als zij oud zijn, ze tevens vet en groen zijn.            Job, amid his sufferings desired above all one
Als  ge iemand wilt `ontmoeten die ervaren is in de thing, namely, that he might either find a talisman
Schrift en ervaren in de genade, dan moet ge bij de            (lawyer) to plead his cause with God, or that h.e him-
ouden zijn. Ik weet wel, dat er uitzonderingen zijn. self might appear before God to set his arguments in
Doch dat is de wet in Gods koningkrijk. Aan het begin order before lHis face. More .than once we -hear him
verkondigt een rossig gekleurde hemel,  dat we verlost lamenting : "0 that I  .might find Him", and again,
zijn in  ,Christus  Jezus. Bij het einde, als de haren `"0 that' one would hear me, my desire is that the
grijs worden  en het lichaam zich buigt naar het graf, A,lmighty would answer me", and again, `(0 that one ,
dan stamelt de grijsaard van den lof des Heeren.- Hij might plead for a man `with ,God `as. a man pleadeth
is vet en groen.                      q                        with his' neighbor,,. It is: evident that Job desires to


                                      T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E 'A R E R   `..                                     17

 get into the Court House, bring his `arguments there,                    A COUR.SE ,OF INSTRUCTION.              -
 and, being justified over against his three friends, at
 least have the satisfaction of seeing the truth vindi-            It is while Job is in that frame of mind that God
  cated before he died of I this awful disease. Withal,' does.,suddenly,  appear to  &is servant Job. The Lord
 however, notice that Job would like. to talk with `God answered Job out of a whirlwind, .we read.
 as a man pleadeth with his neighbor.                              The first thing, as it were, God  iays to him is,
     Job's cause is indeed a righteous one. The three ."Job, you don't talk WIT/H me, 1 &nlk TO YOU". Not
 friends were wrong when they argued that? his disease the plane of neighbor to neighbor, but the plane of
 came upon `him for some certain sin to  w.hich he             Sovereign and dependent. God is not someone on a
 cleaved: They accused him falsely when they mention           communicable level, surely He `is not one to whom  we
certain sins by name and concluded that  Job..  must ca'n run with arguments as if ,God needed light, cor-
 have indulged in  sue? sins. They were wrong. God' rection or instruction. God is not a utilities concern                   _
 Himself testifies that, Job is a righteous man, that is,      or head of a public service, but God is God. Job was
 he is not `guilty of the sins that were mentioned.            a saint who lived in the very early morning of the
 Job himself is' SO convinced of his integrity in 1 this       Day of  ,God's Revelation, and the very suffering of
 matter that he cries out that: until he die he will notr      Job must impress him -and all ,who read this Book
 let loose of his righteousness. Neither does God ever         with the eternal fact that God is God, and .this fact
 demand that he let loo&e of it.                               must become more and more emphatic ati revelation
     So Job wants to carry his cause into* God's presence goes on.
.- and he desires -that ihe Judge of heaven and earth            `One might expect the book of Job to end  with'an
 should vindicate him before his wife, the three frien&,       oration by God declaring the  rel&on between time
 the devil and SK                                              and eternity, between the righteous a*nd the wicked,
                                                               the now and the then, but'nothing of the kind takes
                     AN ATTITUDE.                              place.
    Job intimated m&e than -once that he could desire             God is God.
 to argue with God about all that had taken place. "0             And -man is man.
 that I could' find Him", he exclaims.  IHe looked for          -  D u s t .       ~
 God everywhere, before him, behind ,him, above him,              Dust must not talk. God talks and man listens.
 everywhere, but he could `not find God. ln the mean-             When therefore ,God begins to talk to Job we find
 time the disease was consuming him, his  ,friends             God asking him a hundred. questions. And the first
 seemed  -to .be triumphing. . . . 0 that he could get         thing we find is that Job falls upon his face and says,
 his arguments before God ere it is too late.                  "BEH'OLD,  I AM VILE", and at once he follows this
    If he cannot- find God, would then that He would D with "I will lay my hands upon my mouth". But God
 appear. Job would welcome His appearance, he would continues to talk to Job. In a little while we hear                           -
 `rejoice and b-e glad. He wants to talk with God.             Job saying, "Declare thou unto me" ,and finally he
    As a neighbor talketh with his neighbor, that way          concludes with theie well-known words, "I abhor my-
 J6b would like to talk with *God.                             self and repent  in dust and ashes". Job is now a long
    But God does not appear.             _                     ways away from the man-to-man frame of mind, no
    And Job grew more and more impatient.                    /- more does he think in terms of "neighborly conversa-
    Have you never, dear reader, felt a desire in your tions" and arguments. Job is on his' face.  IHe found
 heart to argue with  ,God? To talk with Him as a hiinself an ash-heap and the longer God talked the
 neighbor talks to a neighbor? A desire to see Him,            more he buried himself in the ashes.'
 that He would make His appearance so that y&u could              That is the proper attitude for the creature to
 arrange  your arguments before His face? If  your assume toward the Being called ,God. No `other atti-
 cause is a'just orie and you are convinced that your tude befits the reverence which belongs to God.
 cause is `just, haven't you ever felt the desire rising          God must be acknowledged as the  Infinite, the
 in your heart that God would.come to vindicate truth Sovereign, the wholly other, the Independent.                    `.
 over ^against unrighteousness ?                                 .Man as the finite, the dependent, dust.
    There is present with Job a certain frame of mind,            God must be seen as in heaven, robed in majesty.
 a mental attitude wherein he places <God  in the "neigh- and glory, thousands of holy angels forming His train.
 borly" plane, on the man-to-man plane, on the "seeing" Man in the dust, hiding among the ashes.
 plane instead of faith's plane. .Job revered God with'           Even our Lord Jesus Christ realized it His task
 extreme awe for he loved his God, byt he wanted to to humble Himself into the lowest .hell, .knew it His
 "talk to God" and on that poi& Job has to be careful, calling to become utterly nothing before God, and'
 and Job no doubt had to learn these things through            He succeeded in becoming a worm and no man. At
 his sufferings.                                              that point `He was exalted above the highest heavens.
                                                                                            I ~


       18.         -                           T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

       In Christ there is fulfilled what is faintly exhibited iti                criminately of, all her children, knowing that not every
       the course of ,Job's instruction, and although the. Book one is an heir of the kingdom of God and of  His'
I of Job ends with a thousand questions, with no ans-                            covenant, since all are not saved? Or `the question
       wers, Golgotha afterwhile supplies the answer.                  "         could be put in this form, On what basis must all the
          But to return to the point.
  3                                                                              children born in the scopk  of the covenant be baptized,
               God the Infinite . . . man the finite.    '                       even though all are not saved? And that raises the
                                                                                 related question, What is the purpose a'nd the effect
                  GOD'S METHOD OF INSTRUCTION.                              :    of baptism bn those who receive the s'acrament?
               It is important. to notice now what means the Lord                   `There is by no means unanimity in the Reformed
       used to lead Job to that proper attitude of humility' circles on the answer to these questions. Especially
       before Him., Noteworthy it is to see along which way during the past fifty years this matter has  aroused.
       the Lord moved to' gender in Job that frame of mind much discussion and disagreement, and today it has
       which is so acceptable to Him.                                            stirred up new interest by the recent split that took
               God as it were sets Job on a chair and lets creation place in the Refortied Churches of the Netherlands.
       pass before his eyes. God calls upon the mighty works                        Especially two outstanding. views should be men-
       of His hands to  bririg Job to  tlie acknowledgement tioned in passing. There is the view of Dr. A. Kuyper,
       of God's sovereignty and man's, finiteness.                               which bases the baptism of' infants on a presupposecl
               God sometimes lets iHis mighty acts in history, such yeg&zeration.  According to this view, all the elect
       as the Exodus, the  t&v&s through the  de&t, the are regenerated at`birth, and are baptized as already
       crossing of the Jordan, the conquest of Canaan, etc.,                     "`sanctified in Christ". Now in order to baptize all  -
       pass in review before His people, to amaie and assure children born in the scope of the Covenant, we must
       and humble them. But in this instance God calls upon assume that this is true of each child that is baptiied,
       the very elements of .crea$ion  to impress His servant                    even though we know that this is not -always the ease.
       with His majesty and greatness.                                           Each child must be considered regenerated and sancti-
                              (To be Continued)                                  fied in Christ, also as far as its covenant training is
                                  `.                          M.,G.              coicerned,  until, as it grows up, the opposite appears.
                                                                                 ,Our main objection to t'his view-is that we are baptiz-
                                                                                 ing on an assumption, and one that we know' is not
                                                                                 always true. We are shutting `our eyes to the reality,
                        Our Baptism Form (6)                                     and assuming ground for baptism.         Nor  dqes our
                                                                                 Baptism' Form speak as if it were merely assuming
                                                                                 something, but is very positive throughout. It states
               Thus far we have treateh the expository part of %hat "holy baptism witnesseth'and sealeth unto us the
       our Baptism Forti, discussing first the sacrament ?f washing away of our sins." And that this includes
 baptism, and secondly the necessity of infant baptism.                          our children is plain, for it definitely adds that' "in-
       This brings us to the actual ritual, which deals with                     fants are to be baptized as heirs of the kingdom of
       the administration df baptism to our covenant seed.                       God and `of His covenant." Again it says of those
               The Form reaches the conclusion: "Since then same children, that they are conceived and born in
       baptism is come in the place of circumcision, therefore sin, yet that "they-are sanctified in Christ, and there-
       infants are to be baptized $ts heirs of the kingdom of fore as members of His church ought to be baptized."
       God and of His covenant. And parents are in duty And in that same positive tone, denying every pre-
. bound further to instruct their children herein, when sumption, it gives thanks to God that "`Thou hast for-
       they shall arrive to years of discretion."                                given  UB and our children all our sins through the
               You will have noticed that it is said indiscrimin- blood of Thy beloved Son Jesus Christ, and received-us
       ately of all the children of believing parents that they through thy Holy Spirit as members. of Thine only
 m&t be baptized as heirs of the kingdom of God and begotten Son, and adopted us to be Thy children, and
       of His covenant. Later the Form speaks of "our child- sealed and confirmed the same unto us by holy bap-
       ren", without  anjr further distinction,  `as conceived tism."
       and born in sin, 6r$et  snnctifiecl in  Christ." And in                      Then there. is the view of the late Prof. W. Heyns,
       the prayer of thanksgiving we thank and praise God                        tihich  iS plainly an attempt to apply the "free will"
  `that He has forgiven us and our children all our sins                         error to the sacrament of baptism,. According to this
       and received us as members of Christ and adopted us view, God establishes &is covenant with all who are
       tq be His children ; all of which is confirmed by bap- baptized  iq  the  &urch,.  The covenant consists of a
       tism.                                                                     promise that God has established an eternal covenant
               H&e we again meet the ever-recurring problem,                     of grace with them, has redeemed them and sanctified'
  How. is it possible for  .the church to speak so indis- = themsin Christ, and is willing to dw.ell in them by His


                                    T H E   S T A N D A R D   -BEARER                                                19

 Spirit to bless, them forever. This promise conies to Hoeksema. To summarize this very briefly, I would
 ai who are baptized. But it is cond%ional, contingent present the following.
 upqn. their acceptance. The. promise comes to all, but          1. It is an `established fact, according to the Scrip-
 only'those who accept it in faith, and thereby fulfill ture, that %God gathers His church in the line of con-
 their `ipart" or obligation in the covenant, are actually tinued generations throughout the history of this pre-
 saved. Those who reject the promise are covenant sent world. This is evident, sinFe God establishes,His
 breakers, and are therefore cast out.                        covenant in the line of generations. Gei. ,17 :7, "And
    This latter view is being defended in the Nether- I will establish My covenant between Me and thee and
 lands by the Schilder group, de CGereformeerde  Kerken       thy seed after thee. in their gerwrations, for an ever-
 onderhoudende Art.' 31 K.,O. It is difficult to under- lasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy
 stand that these Liberated Churches do not see the seed after thee." This is also plain from' the figure of
 implications of the free will error in this view, and the vine and the olive tree. John 15 :l-6 ; Rom. 11: 17-
 that-they should imagine that they can escape it. I( For 21.
 a more complete .analysis of these different vi,ews  be         2. Therefore thkre is always a twofold seed within
 sure to read or reread the editorials appearing in the the scope of God's covenant. There, is a natural seed
 Standard Bearer during the past year, from #October          as well as a spiritual seed ; chaff as well as' wheat;
 15, 1945 to April 1, 1946.)                                  carnal Israel as well as spiritual Israel. Though only        `~
                                                              the -elect  are included in the covenant, -all for a tinie
     It must surely' be maintained that God's promises are under the covenant. `This idea is on-the foreground
 are never conditional, but are always yea and amen in in the parable of the tares, where both the whe&t and
 Him. They can n.ever  be contingent upon God's own the tares grow up together iti one field until the harv-
 fulfillment, for! in that case the condition falls away,     est, when thk wheat is gathered into- glory, but the
 since all that ~God promises He will surely do. Nor tares are burned. Matth. 13 :24-30, 37-43. Thissame
 can God's promises be contingent upon- the acceptance idea is found in the parable of the draw-net. The
 of man, for then they can never be realized. The latter net sweeps through the sea of this world, wherever
 is exactly the Pelagian error that has been introduced       God sends it, gathering everything that comes before
 Into the covenant doctrine by Prof. iHeyns. As we had it, both good and bad, which remain together in the
 occasion tom notice in the past, this view is also in con- .net until the final separation in the .day of judgment.
 flict with the Baptism Form itself. `The Form very           Matth. 13 :47-50. Thus we also read in I Cor. 10 :l-5,
 clearly states that "God's part" in the covenant is that     "Moreover,' brethren, I would not that ye should be
 Be accompl,ishes  all from beginning to end, both in the     ignorant how that  ali our fathers were under `the
 establishment and realization of His covenant. It is all     cloud, and all passed through the sea ; and were all
 of God, that no flesh may gloky. "God the Father wit- baptized untb Moses in the cloud ahd in the sea.; and
nesseth and sealeth unto us, that He doth  Fake an            did all eat the same spiritual meat ;, and did .a11 drink
 ,eternal covenant of grace with us. . . . `The Son. the same spiritual drink ; for they drank of that
 sealeth mlto us, that He doth wash us in His blood spiritual Rock that followed them ; and the Rock was
 from all  our sins. . . . The Holy Ghost assures us,         Christ. But with many  of "them God was not well
 that He  will (not `is willing to' if we will but allpw pleased ; .for they were overthrown in the wilderness."
- Him  ; but positively will in the future) dwell in us,      See also Rom. 9 :3-16.
 and sanctify us to be members of Christ." Therefore             3.  Accokding to the will and purpose of God, all
 the Form states ?lefinitely  $hat our children are con- must be baptized. This was true of circumcision in the
 ceived and born in sin: yet are sanctified in Christ.' old dispensation, for Esau was  circumcized  as well
 This can only mean that by nature they are dead in as Jacob. And this is likewise true of baptism in the.
trespasses and sin,. but that ,God in [His infinite mercy     new dispensation. All who are within the Scope  of.
 delivers them from the power and dominion `of sin  with- the covenant must bear its mark, elect and reprobate
 an inner cleansing of the hea& even as it is signified alike.  Whitih accounts for it that. they receive the
 by baptism. Therefore we can also thank God that He Yi?aYPk already in their infancy.
 has forgiven us and our children all bur sins, received         4. .This baptism, as also the preaching of the Word
 us as members .of -His Son, adopted us to be iHis child-     and the celebration of the Lo?d's Supper, has a two-
 ,ren, and sealed and confirmed the same to us and our fold effect. It serves as a savor'of life unto life for
 children by holy baptism. Eyery condition simply dis- those who believe, `but as a savor of death unto death
 appears.    The good work which  ,God has begun He for those who despise that which is holy. "II Cor. 2:
 will also surely finish.                                     14, 15; I Cor.. 11:29 ;' Heb. 6 :l-8.
     loveragainst  both of these views our Protestant ,Re-       From this follows that baptism is of tremendous
 formed Churches hold what may be`called the "organic significance, not only for .the' child that is baptized,
 view", as developed in recent years by the Rev. H.. nor Only for the ,parents  who present their children


233 .                               T H E   S T A N D A R D ` B E A R E R

for baptism, but also for the whole church which ad-
ministers the sacrament to her covenant seed.
   It has sigllificance  for the child, because ,God lays               FROM HOLY wwr
this mark of distinction upon his forehead already in
his earliest infancy, which will always distinguish `him                 James 1:l: - "James, a servant of ,God  and'of the
from anyone born outside of the  .scope  of the cove-                    Lord Jesus  Christ, to the twelve tribes which  <are
nant. -This mark takes on added significance as the                      Iscattered abroad,  ,greeting."
child grows up. Either he will appropriate unto him-
self that sign of the covenant by a .living faith, worked The Author of the Epistle.
in his heart by the Holy Spirit, and will .re&lize that
it is Gdd's sovereign grace that lias chosen him from           The author of this epistle directed to the twelve
eternity, saved him by the cross, and takeli him into tribes in the Dispersion is undoubtedly James, the
the family of.the redeemed since his earliest infancy.       brother of our Lord Jesus Christ as according to the
`Or, on the other: hand, he will despise the holy things, flesh. The Scriptures speak of more than one James.
as Esau did, and will bring greater condemnation upon In the list ,of the apostle, according to Matth. 10, Mark
himself, justifying ,God in :His judgment.                   .3, Luke 6, and Acts  1:13, we read of  two who bear
   It is also rich in significance foxi th@ parents, be- this name: ,James,  the son of Zebedee, and James, the
cause it assures them that God gathers His church son of Alphaetis. Neither of these two James can be
in the line of generations. Although we bring forth a considered to have written this epistle. James, the
natural seed, sold under sin, God takes out of our son of Gebedee, commonly called James the `Greater
children the heirs of the work% to come. %od  assures        or the Elder, was slain with the sword by King Herod,
,us that iHe will be our God and the God of our seed         according to Acts 12. Because of the `early date of
after us, so that His church will never perish :from         this Herodian murd.er James, .the son of Zebedee, could
the earth until the end of time; And believing parents not have written this epistle. `Of James, the son of
may rejoice that they in their small1 way are instru- Alphaeus, we read nothing in the  S&iptu?es except
mental  toward the ingathering of God's church and that he appears in the list of the apostles. Against the
the coming of His kingdom.                                   claim. that he may have been the author one may
   And it also has significance for the church. After object that the .writer  of this epistle does not add&s
all; it is the church who baptizes her covenant seed.        himself to the church of God as an apostle of the
Upon her rests the obligation and the .privilege  to lay Lord Jesus Christ.            This claim to the apostleship
the &ark of th@ covenant upon the chi!dr.en God gives appears in -the great majority of the epistles ; and in
her. Each time baptism is administered the believers those epistles where, e.g., the apostle' Paul does not
are reminded of the promises and blessings of ,God,          present himself to his readers as an apostle (see Phil.
unto the strengthening of their faith.        Each time      1 :I, I Thess. 1 :l, II Thess. 11) the ,epistles  themselves
they are made conscious of their responsibility within, clearly establish the apostleship bf the author: Fact
the covenant, and spurred on to the new obedience.           is, then,, it is exactly because this writer. is not an
Each time the sacrameni  condemns all unfaithfulness apostle that he does not ad,dress  himself as an apostle.
tind calls us to renew our vows before our Gocl in the `We may conClude, therefore, that the writer .of James
midst of his church.                                         cannot refer to one of the apostle. This leaves but  *
 - Baptism, like the preaching of the Word, is a power one possibility: James, the brother of Christ. Of this
of ,God' unto salvation unto all who believe, for it is a James we read that, at an early period in the Acts
means of grace.                                              of the Apostles, he appears as the head of the church
                                              C. H.          at Jerusalem (see Acts 12 :17, 15 :13 f.f., 21:18).  Paul
                                                             calls him the brother of the Lo?d in Gal. 1:19 and in
                                                             Gal. 2 :9 the .apostle  reckons him among the pillars of
                                                             the church. Moreover, he is the brother of the `writer
                                                             of the epistle of Jude, and, according to `the narrative
                   - ATTENTION  -                            sf Josephus, suffered martyrdom about the year 63.
                                                             It is true that the writer of the epistle of'Jam& does
           ,  Ministers  -  Class& East                      not address himself a`s the-brothel of Christ. To this
                                                             we will call attention later. Only, what beating could
   Due t6 the Conference with the Reformed Church his relatioliship  of flesh and blood-to the :Christ pos-
in the U. S. the Board has decided to postpone the           sibly have on the writing of an infallible epistle to the
October  Con-flerence  of Eastern Ministers. The next church of the living  Gdd? In fact, it is exactly be-
meeting will be held at the time of the January Classis.     cause this relationship of flesh and blood has no sig-
                              Rev, W, Hofmtin, Sec'y.        nificance  v&&ever that the holy  writer  refrains


                                    T'HE  S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                             il     *

from introducing himself as such to his readers. `Time      in the world, is not of the world. And yet we must
and  spgce forbid  us:  to  elaboiate on  this particular assume otir place in the midst of that world, .shewing
subject. We may safely coriclude that James, the forth the praises of Him Who hath called us out OF
brother of Christ according to' the ?iesh,. heai of &       darkness into His marvellous light.  `To that  cl-+rch
church at Jerusalem, is the ,writer of the epistle.         Jesus speaks. And .it is only as that church that we
                                                            can hear and c receive his word. Whosoever would be
T h e   A d d r e s s e e s .                               a friend of the world finds nothing in this .epistle  which
    This epistle is addressed to the twelve tribes which can be-of any cornfork  to him. James' addressees are
are  scattfred abroad. We read literally of  t&e "12 a very particular group of people. They are the friends
tribes which are in the Dispersion". It is evident, in of  <God in the midst of an adulterous- world. They
the first place, that the.writer of this epistle is writing alone are comforted and admonished and `exhorted by
t? Jews. The  .expression "12 tribes" clearly indicates this holy writer.
that  lames is addressing Jews.  Besidesi  there  are' The Address. )
expressions in the epistle which also lead us to this
conclusion. We read of Job, of Elijah, of the early T James introduces himself to hi's readers in  this-
and latter rain-these references were familiar .to the      epistje as a "servant of God and of the Lord Jesus
Jews. Secondly, however, it is evident that the holy Christ." Fir& of all, the- names of "God" and "Lord
writer is not writing merely to Jews, but to Christian Jesus Christ" must not be understood as coordinate,
Jews. `This is established  throughput  the epistle.        so that the holy vtrriter  would.be a se&ant equally of
Dpes not James introduce himself to his readers, not both, of God and of Christ. The meaning of this ex-
as a Jew, but as a "servtint of the Lord Jesus Christ"? pression can be interpreted as forlows: James, a ser-
Does he not repeatedly address them as "his beloved         vant of God through the Lord Jesus Christ. It is
brethren" Clearly,  therefore, the author  debignates true, of course, that Jesus Christ, being. Immanuel,
himself as a Christian and his readers as his beloved is God in the flesh. However, he does not refer to .
brethren. And in several places in the epistle he dis- tlie Lord Jesus Christ according to tHis Divine nature.
tinctly affirms that they stand with him on the same He has already mentioned God, `and when he speaks of,
ground of faith, In chapter 1:18 he declares that God the Lord Jesus Christ he is referring to the Christ
has begotten them `by the word of truth ; in chap. 2 : 1    according to the human nature. The relationship in
he reminds them of their faith of the Lord Jesus Christ which Christ stands to us, and in which we, through
of glory ; in chap. 2 :7 he speaks of the goodly name       Christ, stand to God immediately suggests that James
(that is, the name of `Jesus Christ which was invoked       is' a servant of God through the Lord Jesus `Christ.
upon them; in chap. 5 :7 he ,exhorts the+ to p&tience,      Notice, in this connection, the often recurring triple
pointing ,out to them the nearness of the coming of appellation of the Saviour. James speaks. of iHim as
the Lord ; and in chap. 2 :16 f.f., he ,evidently supposes the Lord Jesus Christ.        These names are Christ's
that they had one and the same faith with hiMself.          most `common names in Holy Writ, often appear to-
James is therefore addressing Christian Jews. It is gether although not always in the same order. J&us
for -this reason that he addresses these  Christiavi        is He because He- is the revelation of Jehovah as -the
Jews as the "twelve tribes". The expression "12 God  of. our salvation. Jesus means : Jehovah saves.
tribes" was commonly used to designate the Israel of        Christ JesuS is He as He &ves us as our Chief Prgphet,
God of the Old Dispensation. The fact that James            Only High Priest, and Eternal King. And our Lord
addresses the Christian Jews as the "twelve tribes" Jesus Christ is He -because, having saved us .as Christ
indicates that; to him, they are the t&e Israel of .God.    Jesus, He is become our Lord Who has bought us with
Thirdly, the writer is addressing the "twelve tribes in     His own precious blood, to Whom we owe allegiance,
the Dispersion". It is (evident, also from the original and Who preserves and protects us unto the end.
text, that "Dispe&ion" is a proper name. As such it            Secondly, James calls himself a servant of God and
was expressive of a locality outside of Jerusalem. The of the Lord Jesus Christ. The word %ervant" means
Christian Jews lived in that locality because they had      literally "slave". It is well that we retain,this  original
been driven into. it by persecut?ons. For *his reason meaning. The word is used in the Scriptures, as in
our translation reads "scattered about". The original Eph.  6:6, with reference to the  people of  .God in
word "`Dispersion,, has  "`been  translated "scattered general. The same thought is expressed by our  IHeidel-
about". To understand'this we need. but be reminded berg Catechism in the first Lord's Day where we.read
of the  persec&ion of the  Chui;ch by Saul, according that we are not our own but belong unto our faithful
t o   Acts  9 .                                             Saviour Jesus Christ. The child  df God delights in
    This church of God, the Christiap Jews in the Dis-      calling himself the slave of God and of Christ Jesus.
persion, is a picture of the church of God throughout By nature we imagine ourselves to be our own masters;
the ages. Throughout the ages ,God's cause, although        the captains of our: own lives and destiny, having re-
                                          0


22                                   ,!i?`HE.  S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

fused .in Paradise to be the servants pf\:God,., Now,
however, we are the slaves (servants) of. God ,and of                     -                 PERPSCOPE
the Lord Jesus Christ. The expression  "serva&S
(slaves) of God and of the Lord, Jesus Christ" does
not merely mean that we serve God and the Lord Jesus A  Differeizt  A&em . . .  .;
Chpist, but that we are His slaves, slaves of  ,God.
through the Lord Jesus Christ.  Thii implies three                Most of our  readers  `will remember Dr. G. Ch.
things.  IF signifies that God bought us through the Aalders,  professor in the Free T$iversity of Amster-
blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.  ;Hence,  we  btilong          dam, in connection with the, letter,`which- he wrote to
unto God. It also implies that w.e, belonging unto ,God inform and enlighten the American public, concerning
                                                                                                ,..
an,d the Lord Jesus Christ, must serve them. A slave the controversy in the  Nethe$ands, `and which  ap;
does not his own will but that. of his master. The pear,ed  in the August  1945 issue of  th? "Missionary
same applies to the Christian. And; finally, to, be a          Monthly". At that time, as you recall, he severely,
slave of God, through Jesus Christ, implies that He is criticized and condemned Dr. K. `Schilder, and others,
fully responsible for our welfare and will protect and and blamed them for the breach in the Churches of
fully  &are for  u8.  We understand that, to be such a the Netherlands., In that letter, among other things,
slave of God through the Lord Jesus Clirist is expres- he wrote as `follows: `fPerhaps  you have not  as yet
sive of the highest freedom and of everlasting life- heard of the great trouble which is caused in our
then we again `move about freely in the sphere to              churches by Dr. Schilder and a number of his friends
which we, by virtue of our creation, are adapted, to           . . . . The General Synod of Sneek, . . .  .came  at
wit, the service and fellowship of the living God.             last to a decision . . . . extremely moderate, condemn-
      `The word "slave'l is also used in the Scriptures,       ed merely a `few rather extreme opinions, but made a
however, with reference to the holy writers of the firm stand in defense of Reformed  -`rheology .  `. .  `.
Word of God ,(see,  besides our text, Rom. 1 :1,  -Gal.        avoided every declinatory utterance  fegarding  the
,l:lO, Phil.  l:.l, Titus 1  :J, II Pet.  1:l).  Jar&s is a    ideas of Schilder. The result was that this decision
servant of God and of Christ, indeed, in the same sense received the `approval of our people, which gave great
in, which this .applies to all the people of God. But he satisfaction . . . . Schilcler  was not satisfied . .  b  .'
is such also in a particular sense of the word as a they caused much noise and some churches refused to
writer of Holy Writ. He  do,es not introduce himself acknowledge the decision of Synod . . . . the result
as the brother of Christ according to the flesh. This was that Synod avowed the complete legality. of the
would be.of no significance. Bond of flesh and blood decision in question . . . . Synod investigated the
are of no significance in the Kingdom" of God. But he remonstran&s accurately but could- not come to any
is a slave of God and of  Christ Jesus. This means,            other result but that the Synod of 1905 was riglit. . . .
especially in this text, that he `will not' write his own iHe (Schilder-W.H.) was rebuked but he rkfused to
will,  but only the will of God, revealed unto him admit that he was mistaken. And thus Synod, after
through the Spirit of Christ  ,Jesus, his  L'ord-1-he is having shown an almost  ilicomprehen&ble  patience
completely  ih the servile of God through Christ.              was finally obliged to suspend him a$ professor and
                                                               emeritus-minister . . . . I write you so soon that I
      Thirdly, we notice the greeting. This word  .was         might enlighten you and tell you .how things ar,e in
used commonly as a salutation, a greeting, at. the be-         reality . . . . The fathers  6f the Separation would turn
ginning of letters (see, e.g. Acts 15 :23). It is derived themselves over in their graves, if  they could hear
from'a  wqrd which means "to rejoice, be glad". As how the' pupils of Schilder fight against 1905 . . . .
such it. was a greeting to the addressee of a letter,          But neverthel+s, the schism in our churches is lament-
wishing him joy and peace. Only, we must understand            able, and those who ,began this opposition will never
that Jam& here is greeting the church as the servant be able  to excuse their attitude.  ' It is a great sin
of -God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, the text against ,God and the hea&ly King of the Church."
conveys to us, not James' personal greeting, but the              This same Dr. Aalders (or is he the same?) was a
greeting of God, through James, unto His church. We            delegate from the Gereformeerde Kerken  to the Ecu-
have here the inspired record of God's salutation to menical Synod held recently in Grand Rapids. We
His people, God's greeting of peace and .joy, which He would like to quote a portion of the r.eport of the pro-
bestows upon us, which is therefore always upon us; ceedings as it was contained in the "Banner" of Sep-
and which salutation of peace and joy we can' also             tember  6,. 1946: "The matters suggested for the
consciously experience in the prayerful reading of and Agenda by the R,eformed Churches of the Netherlands
instruction, also applied by the Holy Spirit, in. the concerned chieflydthe recent difficulties which led to a
Divine Scriptures.                                             schism. Should `these. be discussed? . . . . . In this
                                              H .   V .        connection Prof. Aalders made a rather long speech,


                                     T$.%'  S T A N D A R D   %AjREh                                                     23

  in substance as follows: `We can see from the Agenda             I. Synod declares that it has the authority to take
  that the Churches of the' Netherlands have not wished up the case of "Ecclesiastical Difficulties in the Church
  to lay many points on the table of Synod. But our of the Netherlands" `since :
  Synod (Note that : the SYNOD i.e. the -Synod of the              A. Synods may assist member-churches of ihe Ecu-
  Geref. Ker1~enLW.H.)  has deliberately instructed us menical Synod in their difficulties when requested to
  to place before you our ecclesiastical difficulties-not do so-a principle already embodied in the principles
  because we want you to enter' into every detail. you which the Reformed Churches of the Netherlands and
  have been preserved from tihe trouble which has deeply the Christian Reformed Church have  laig `down in
  moved our Church. We do `not -want you %o ldecdme             inter-church coqrespondence,
  entangled in it.- But Synod felt that it would greatly           B. No review ofa concrete' disciplinary cases is re-
  profit us if this Ecunienical Synod, of a rather limited quested of us ;
  kiqd, could giye us some advice, Hlave w,e acted right-          C. Synod should be an assembly to which doctrinal
  ly or  zayongly? (Italics  ours4W.H.).  A decision was appeals may be addressed.
  made 
   _,      ip 19,05. It was accepted and taken over by the         II. Concerning the question from the Netherlands :
   Chrjstian Reformed Church. It had brought peaceful !ESeri if the  Synbd of the Reformed  <Churches might
  &d fraternal  intercoarse ainong us.' Unfortunately not be right would this justify a rupture in the
  enough, the old question was resurrected and a grava-         Church; the following advice was adopted: Synod in-
  !nen was brought in against the decision of 1905. We forms the Reformed Churches of tha Netherl+mds,  that
  had to consider  it. Now we put before you the ques- in its judgment, in case one is convirced that a Synod
  tion: Are there reasons based on Scripture and the makes an untiarranted  doctrinal pronouncement, he
   Confession to justify us in our judgment of the grava-       is hot justified to bring about a rupture unless he has
  meti? .  .`. . our Synod has instructed us to put the exhausted all the possibilities provided by the Church
  qqe&ioiJ.   ._ . .  ."                                        Order for -procuring a revisidn and the Church insists
         Perliaps, now you see the reason for the beading on maintaining its position cpntrary  to his conviction
 of. this  &ic!e. When we read this report our minds concerning the' truth.                           ir
  immediately returned to the letter of Dr. Aalders  of a          III. Concerriing the question of Synod's evaluation
  year ago and several questions popped up : Is `t$is a of the declaration which the Reformed Churches of
  different  Aalders? If not, what happened to  .a11 his the Netherlands formulated in regard to the Covenant
  conviction and certainty of a year ago?          What a of grace and baptism, Synod decided to appoint .a
' strange time to ask `Are we right or wrong', `after special committee to investigate whe%her  the Declara-
  the deed has been done' and the oppouent  d,efeated and tion of 1946 is in conformity, with the Scriptures and
  condemned. And that the SYNOD, which perpetrated the Confessions and to.  report to this Synod. (Here
  the deed, should now ask, for. proof from Sciipture and follow the  names of committee members and  id-
  the Confessions, didn't they have these? And if they visors-WJH.) .
 did not, how  ~could they ever do such a thing? Is. it,           In a later session a Committee presented the follow:
  perhaps, that Dr. Aalders and his Churches djd not ing recommendation regarcling the matter. It  tia$
  .expect the results .that followed? Were they merely adopted without  ,$ dissenting. vote. Practically no dis-
  trying to get rid of someone and did their fire-cracker       cussion~ preceded the decision, the delegates having hacl
  turn out to be a bomb? What are the answers to these the opportunity to study `the Declaration>  beforehand
  and many others. question? Undoubtedly, time will and `apparently agreeing with it. The decision is as
  tell. In the meantime we look forward with renewed follows : (This was- preceedecl by' heading and intro-
  eagerness to hear the ,OTHER SIDE ; and look forward ductory remarks concerning method of  .study  ancl
  with interest to the approaching visit. of the Rev. Van       arriving at decision ; if interested  consult Banner re-
  D,ijk, official delegate of the Liberated- Churches.     :    Serred  to above-W.H.) .
  Decision . . . .                                                 `Your Committee is of one mind, that the fDeclara-
    In connection' with what we have written above- it tion of 1946' is in con_formity  with the Scriptures and
  might &so be interesting to note the decision of the the Creeds. We recommend Synod to adopt. this jndg-
  Ecum&ical  Synod. We  qyote from the "Banner" of ment as its own'."
   September. 13, 1946:                              I.                                                     W .   iH.
         `KOn. `Tuesday morning of the second week the
   Ecumenical Synod was ready for `the consideration of
  twd Committee reports.' Report number two, dealing
  With Synodls Agen.d~a, was read by- Dr. Jacob T: Hoog-                   FIRST ECUMENICAL  SYNO.I;)
  stra. The following decisions regarding the "Ecclesi-
  astical ?if@ulties in t.he Church of the Netherlands"            "The first Ecumenical Synocl of Reformed Church-
  w e r e   a d o p t e d :   -.                                es" met in Grand Rapids, Michigan durin~g the middte


                                                                                             .--
24                                TB4Q  S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

lands,  Die Gereformeerde Kerken  of South Africa,          aizdlatter part of the month of August. It's delegates
and the Christian Reformed Church of North Ame&& represented De Geref.ormeerde  Kerken of the Nether-
,Seventeen delegates were present  : four from the Neth- lems. Thus  .our sense of oneness  woulcl also be ex-
erlands; three from  South Africa, and ten from  the pressed, and greater unity might be promoted in our
Christian Reformed  Chbrch. They were as folldws:           confessional life, and in our Calvinistic  aetioti." I                      f
from the Netherlands, Dr. G.  Ctiarles Aaldcrs, Dr. these purposes could be reached upon the basis of the
Gerrit C. Berkhouwer, both prof,essors  -. at the Free Word of God and our Reformed Standards it would be
University of Amsterdam, Dr. Jacob, Hock, pastDr at a cause of rejoicing indeed.                            .=
The Hagbe;  and elders Mr. Abraham W?rnaar  ; from              At the first session there was considerable differ-
the churches of South Africa,  @of. Dr.  Stephanu?          ence of opinion as to the authoritzj of an Ecumenical
Du To& Dr. P. J. S. Klerk, and elder Dr. H. G. Stoker;      Synod.  &me were of the opinion that such a body
from the Christian Reformed Church, Prof. L. Berk-          should have merely strong moral authority, others that
hof, Prof. D. H. Kromminga, Rev. E. F. J. Van Hal-          it should have binding legal authority. If the latter
sema, Rev. I. Van Dellen,  Dr. Jacob T. Hoogstra, Dr.       opinion-' should prevail then _ such gatherings would
[Herman Kuiper,  and the elders Dr. Edwin Y. Monsma,, surely lead to Roman Catholic I%erarch&                            .'  `_
Dr. Lambert  Floks$ra,  Mr. Gerrit Buist, and Mr. Frank
Keegstra.                                                       It was int'eresting to note that the. ~&I% Africin.
      The undersigned and a few more of our ministers       churches requested that the rnatt%$`&~  `Common Grace'
took advantage of the opportunity to attend the open-       should be placed upon  the.$&$enda.                   Evidently the
ing session of this body, and a few of the succeeding brethren there are not satisfi$`with  the deciSions  in re
sessions. Time did. not permit `us to attend all the this matter made by the C&ristian, R&formed Church,
sessions although we would have deemed it profitable and by the  Ge'reformeerde~-Kerken.  It appears from
if we could have. It was a rather impressive gather- the  ireport of the  BanneY;;  however, that the "Synod!`,  "
ing to see together delegates from Reformed Churches        did  not see fit to  .give this matter a place  upon  %$:
in three different continents gathered together to dis- Agenda.
cuss tiatters pertaining to the welfare of God's Church                                                                B. K.
in the midst  of. this world. I can well understand                                     .
that in an ever shrinking world,?with its ever increas-.
ing complex problems, that there is a desire on the
part of Reformed ,Chur&es to seek closer fellowship
with one another. However I have purposely placed
the heading of this article "First Ecumenical Synod of                          - ATTENTION  -                                     /
Reformed Churches" in parenthesis, for I do not be-
lieve that this gathering could be properly so-called.          Classis-East will meet in regular session D. V.,
It wtis but the gathering of a select  group of Reformed Wednesday, October 9 at 9 o'clock A.M., at Fuller Ave.
church&; while others were ignored. If it w&s to be         C h u r c h .
an. Ecumenical (world-wide) gathering of Reformed                                            D. Jonker, Stated Clerk.` v
Churches it certainly should have included such de-
nominations as the Christelijke Gereformeerde Keyken,
and "De Vrij.gem.aakte  Kerken OnderhSoudende  Art. 31"
of the Netherlands, the Reformed Churches of America,
-the Reformed Churches of the  U.  `S. also  oQr own
Protestant Reformed  Ch%rch`es,   the  Hungarian  Re-                                  IN  MEMO'RIAM
formed Churches, the Orthodox Presbyterian Churches,
and others. Certainly there are differences between            The  Englkh ,Men%  Society of  the Fkst  Prot,estant  RefoFed
these various Reformed denominations, but we should         Church  lof  ,Grand  Rapids, Michigan, hereby wishes `to express
be willing to discuss these differences upon the basis      its- heartfelt  Isympathy  to our fellow-member, Mr.  A..*Wyohers
of the Word of. God and our Reformed Standards. I and family, in the loss of their wife and mother
agree with the remarks of the president of this gather-           /          M R S .   ,GERTRUDE  WKXIE~S   .'
ing,  maie in his opening statement, "It was often
felt, not only here, but also in the Netherlands and in        May the  ,Goi of all  gaace  comfort the brother  qnd children
South A.frica, that an even closer contact was highly 5n this  thei,r bereavement, by the  as,surance that she has gone
desirable, since  jt might lead to a better understanding to her Lond and Saviour.
and appreciation of * each other, and since it would                                   The English  Men,&  Society
enable us to discuss common problems together, and                                               James  &ok,  Pres.
to work together toward the solution of difficult prob-                                          Otto  Vander  Woude, Sec'y..'  s
                                                                                `._


