VOLUME XXIII                              July 1, 1947  - Grand' Rapids, Michigan                                     NUMBER 19

                                                                       natuur dooden, en in een nieuw godzalig leven  wan-
                             HTATIQN                                   delen. Wig daarentegen een vriend der wereld wil  iijn,
                                                                       die zal een vijand Gods gesteld  worden.
                                                                            Dit legt  beslag op heel ons leven. SOok  op. ons  ver-
                 Net  v-de  Meesters                                   stand, op ons  denken, op ons spreken. Door een levend
                                                                       geloof in  Chpistus  staan we, als vrienden Gods, in Zijn
                                                                       verbond ook met den  dienst der tong. Door het levend
                Zijt  riiet  vele  m(eesters,   rmijne  broeclew! geloof  beheer%xht, spreekt onze tong de wijsheid, die
             wetende,   dat  wij te  meerddr  oordeel  edlen v& boven is, die is "ten  eer&e-zuiver,  daarna  vreed-
            I  onthxngen.    Want  wij  stipcikden  allen in zaam, bescheiden, gezeggelijk, vol van  barmhartigheid
            vele. . . .                                                en goede vruchten,  niet,  pactijdig  oordeelende,  en~onge-
                                            Jak: 3.-l, ,%`a.          veinsd." 3 : 1'7.
    Zijt  n i e t   v e l e   mee@x& !                                      Daartegenover nu staat een dood geloof,  `een geloof,
    .Want wat  rqtfigheid is  bet; mijne broeders, indien              dat  iekand  beweert te bezitten, maar dat  zich niet
ie&nd zegt, dat hij  bet geloof heeft,  ev hij heeft de                openbaart in de werken. Zulk een "dood geloof"  open-
werken niet ?                                                         baart  zich op het gebied der tong hierin,  daf het  nier
   .Kan dat geloof hem zalig  maken? . . . .                           spreekt in  "zachtmoedige wijsheid", de wijsheid, die
    Zoo is nog altijd het onderliggende  perband.                     van  6oven  komt,-maar de wijsheid der wereld,  we&e
    We1 begint Gods Woord hier  bet hoofdonderwerp                     is "aardsch,  natuqrlijk,   -duivelsch." Ze werkt gekijf
van  den,brief van Jakobus van eene bijzondere zijde  te               en  .tweedracht,  twisten en vechterijen, nijd en  twist-
                                                                      gierigheid. En;het schijnt wel, dat dit kwaad.sterk  toe
bezien, en  op eene bepaalde phase van het leven Gods
vo&, als vrienden Gods in de wereld, toe te  passen. Dit - openbaring kwam onder de geloovigen, de  "breeders"
hoofdsituk   wordt ingeleid met eene waarschuwing om                  aan  wie Jakobus  schrijft. Noch  oak is die sterke  open-
te waken, tegen de zonde van  meester te  willen zijn, en             baring van dit  gruwelijke-kwaad beperkt tot" de  ge-
geeselt dan voorts het kwaad  v+ eene booze tong, van meente van dien tijd.  All9 eeuwen door  werd,`en  oak
het zondige spreken in het algemeen, en  dit  .alles in               thans nog wordt  do& de booze tong, de tong, die door
vergelljking met en in  tegenstelling van  de wijsheid,               het vleesch beheerscht wordt, door de wijsheid, die
die van boven is.                                                     a'ardsch,  natutirlijk, duivelsch is, ontzettend  veel  kwatid
    Docll,dit.alles  staat  in  llaUW  verband  met-het  hoofd-  gesticht onder de broederen. 'It IS een vuur, dat nim-
onderwerp  van den  geheelen brief: door een  letiend                 mer.geheel  uitgebluscht is, en dat  telkens weer  oplaait,
geloof in Christus, een geloof, dat uit  IHem, en in Hem,  _ om dan, eer  bet, weer  on&r de  controle der genade  ge-
en door Hem, en tot  IHem werkt, zijn  ,we vrienden Gods bi-aeht kan  worden, zijn  veu;woesting  rondom  zich  ver-
geworden,  (en wandelen  we als van Gods partij in de                 spreidt*
wereld.         `.                                              .-          Zijt niet  Vele meesters;  ,mijne  breeders!          .
   In den brief  San Jakobus  vait de  tiadruk: op ons deel                 Niet als  een woord,  ~dat~ in het  Tierleden  eens  ge-
in God verbond!                                                       sproken werd door een zekeren Jakobus, en  watirvoor
   En dat deel bestaat  imtiers daarin, dat we den                    destijds bijzondere redenen  waren,  maareals  h&`Woord
Heeve  oIlzen_ God .liefhebben met geheel  ons hart, met              Gods,  dat,+or  den Koning Zijner Kerk tot haar,  t6t
geheel  onze ziel, met geheel ons verstand,  .en met al  Y:  ons.gericht wordt,  moeten we. het  hooren;  `:'                _
onze krachten,  clat we ons  vertrouw'en alleen op  Hem               -.    Reeds  eerdei" had Jakobus, tegen dit kwaad  gewaar-
stellen,  Eem  aan  hangen, de wereld verlaten, onze oude             schilwd.                                        ~.


I                       i                                                                                   ._
                434                                             T H E            STA.NDAgfj,  B E A R E R

                             "Ekn  i,egelijk  mellsch zij  rasch. om  te  hooren,,t?aag ben niet van  nc$e, dat iemand hen leere.  `Op de
                om te  spreken."  1:19. En' oak:  "Indien  iemand onder vraag : "Maar waarom wordt gij een Christen  ge-
                u dunkt, dat hij  godsdienstig  is, en hij zijn  tong  niet in                                    naamd? antwoord de  .geloovige van den nieuwen dag :
                toom houdt, maar zijn  hart'kerleidt, deze godsdienst "Omdat  ik door het  geloof-.een lidmaat van  Christus
          i s                  ijdel."  1;2;6.                                                                    en  alzoo Zijner  zalving deelachtig ben, opdat ik Zijnen
                             En nu bestrijdt hij dit kwaad,  -niet  niet  vleesche-                               .naam  belijde, en  mijzelven tot een levend  dankoffer
                iijke,  maar-met geestelijke wapenen.  Hij  vat de zaak                                           Hem offere, en met een  yiije en goede  consci5ntie in
                niet  van den  buiter&nt  aan, om yerbetering, refor- dit leven. tegen de zonde en den  duivel, strijde, en  hier-
                matie  aan  te'  br,engen,   maar. van den  binnenkant,~  om namaals in eeuwigheid met Hem over' alle schepselen
                berouw en bekeering te werken.                                                                    regeerc."
                             Hij schrijft niet een  yet  sop  steenen tafelen,' m_aar                                   Allen zijn profeten!
                hij beroept  zich op de wet  der vrijheid.                        :.                                    loch, dat allen nu ook daadwerkelijk profeten.waren!
                             .Geloof; is  zonder de  werk.eri dood.  -Get'ba&  niet.                                    Dat zou  im.mers  beteekenen, dat  allen vervuld  waren
                -Het- qi&@t.ni&t  zalig. Het  lev&d geloof  b,rengt  vruch-                                       met  .de  iyaarachtige  kennis..Gods, die  door  ,Geest en
          ten voort,  pok de  vr.ucht   van een  geheiligde tong.                                                 Woord in hart en verstand. gewerkt  wordt, niet  ma&r
                             Het  +od-geloqf is  rasch'om  te spreken,  tra`ag om  te                             met theoretische kennis der waarheid, die opgeblazen
                hooren.  IHet  vi1  meester  -zijn.                                                               maakt, maar met de  geestelijl& kennis des-geloofs. E n
                             IHet levend -geloof hoort- graag.      Het wil  !di,&ipel hoe  meer van die kennis  er in de gemeente gevonden
                zijn !                                                                                            word&- hoe beter. Het  zou' beteekenen, dat  allen van
                             -Leerjongen van Christus  !                                     .I                   die  keqnis  ook'sljraken;  Set  m&P in koude,  intellectu-
          .                  Zijt niet vele meesters!                    _,-                 .'        _ __ eele  discussie,.  niet om  onze eigene  geleerdheid te open-
                                                                         -,a:*                                    *baren, of pm-gelijk te-  hebben, maar in de liefde vaa
                 2..                              -                                                               `Christas,,-  tot  openbaring van `de heerlijkheid  Zijnei
                                                   -.                                                             genade,  .en om het goede voor Jeruzalem te zoeken, en
                ~  ? Niet vele onderwijzers!                                                                      hit  weliijn der  broeder,en. Het  zqu-inhouden, dat we
                             Dit  tech' is de  beteek&iis van het woord, dat  `bier                               de  e e n   d e n
                                                                                                                                  .a+er uitnemender zouden  achten dan  ons-
                d o o r   "mees&r?  i s , v e r t a a l d ,   _ _   r                               ~ .  .'       zelven,  bAdat  we immers  allen van  Christus  zijn, en
                -.' Gemee@e,  last  tech in u de  toestand niet heerschen,                                        dat we slechts  ells  leerjon&e$  v&  I+m  ~elk&d&`willen
                `waarin  velefi  waarin de  .meerderheid  vari u,  waarixi -&;leiwijzeq,   verm&en,`ei  vertroosten.
                `straks  allen onderwijzer  willen zijn !                                                               "Och,  &t  allen profeten  waken!
                 Laat ons dit  goed verstaan.                                                                           Niet `zoo, dat ieder op zichzelf,  nlleen  meester  wi_l
                             In den  goeden zin des woords is  heit  eefi  .kostelijk                             zijn, om  alle-and&en- te  b&chouw& en te  "behandelen
                iets,  wanrieer eene gemeente vele  didaskalo~,   vele  onder,-                                   als  x&e.  ieeFjongens  i  maar  &d,  -cl&t  alleri  cet alleen
                `wijzers  heeft. Noch ook  geldt dit  uitshiitend van die                                         uit  Chrlstus   will&^  on&angen, en' tezamen-  wo&&en
                bijzondere klasse van onderwijzers, die in `den  bij- liet hunne  gavei- tot  .`opbouwing van het  lie&am van
                zondeken  zin des woords,  h,etzij in het  ambt van leeraar                                       (&ristus!w                  -             -       .-
                                                                                                                   ~                   ,-
                of ouderling, hetzij  daarbuiten, in de  zonda&chool, of                                                Dat is immers  ,001~  geen "meesterschap," en  zek&
                de  chri&elijke dagschool, tot de taak van het onderwijs niet  hit  meest&schap,   kaarop  cods. Wodrd  bier doelt.
                zich geven en geroepen  Fijn.  ,Zeker,  00k die  gerrieente                                             Zoo  verstaan, zfjt dan maar  vele  clidaskaloi,~ vele
                is  te benijden, waarvan gezegd kan  worden,  dat ze in meesters,  vele  `qnderwijiers,   m>jhe  bioeders  !^
                                                                                                                                                             _
                dien bijzonderen zin vele onderwijzers heeft, vele  werk-                                               Als.  leerjongens vah Chris&s onderwijzers van
                krachten, die  bekwaaln.  en gewillig zijn om  bezig te elj<an;ier                                                     !,           `~'           c .     .'
                zijn in het onderwijs der gemeente, van jong en  oud,                                                   Als eene  openbaring van het  nieuwe verbond,' tie
                in de  leer en  in.den weg der godzaligheid. Maar in  nag vervuiling ban de  be1ofte'i~"`I.k   ial Mijne  wetten  iri hun
                breederen zin  mag gezegd  worden,  dat  "vel,e meesters" verstand geven,  ,en  in  hunne'harten zal Ik die  inscl&j-
                in de  gemeente zeer te begeeren zijn, ja, dat  niet  alleen ven;  en Ik zal  bun  tot een  aGod zijn, en zij zullen  %Iij
                velen, maar  allen, als  staaide in het ambt aller  geloovi-                                      tot een  +oll; zijn. Ei  zij-zullen niet  leeren, een  iegelijk
                gen, geroepen  zjjn-om  e!lrander  Je  ond.erwijzen,   $eiver-                                    zijnkn'  naaste,' en een iegelijk zijeen broeder : Ken den
                manen, te  vertroosten,  te dienen  tot elkanders  opbou-                                         Heere ; want zij zullen  Mij  allen kennen van den  kleine
                wirig in het  geloof, en  alzoo tot  opbo.uwing der  ge-' on&r hen tbt den  gro&@ onder  he?."
          '                  meeqte!       -                                     0                   .:     /           Ailen  zittenb  o p   d e   schoolbanken;  om  z&h  dook',
                              Ocb,' dat al Gods volk profeten  waken!                   -                         Ch;istus~t~'  la&i  inder&jzk&.
                              Zqo is het  inyners, in den grond der zaak,  in  de  ge-                                  Ailen:vervuld   met, en  gellid door  Zijnen Geest,  ge-
                meente vail  den. nieuwen dag.                                                                    bollden   aan-  Zi$n  Woord.
     *                        De Geest is  tiitgestort op alle  vleesch!                                                .kllen  j u i s t   daaroi  obk  e e r e n d   e n   z&lie&   d e n
                              ;&Allen hebben de  zalving van den Heilige,  en~ze  heb-                            d 'i e n s t   d e s   -Woord.-                               -


                                                      T         H        E                STAN~DARD-  `BEA~Rl3B                                             435

  I&  d a n   .allen  e l k a n d e r   o n d e r w i j z e n d !   -    -                Niet de  verheerlijkigg van  &-&3x$, niet de  op-
          !Heerlijke  verhoudi@                                                   bouying en het  geestelijke welzijn der broederen, maar
                                    `,                                        *. , eigen eer. heeft dezermeester op het oog !
                                                                                          Zijt niet vele meesters, `mijne broeders !
                                                                                          Och, als ge  66n zulk een  tieester in uw  midden hebt,
           Zijt-ni%t   v e l e   m e e s t e r s !         -                      hebt ge  ,reeds een centrumen  &on van twist en  twee-
           Want het  meestef  willen zijn is uit den duivel!                      dracht !                                                                                      .
           Een  f'mee&er"  tech is iemand, die het weet, die het                          Hebt ge twee, dan  moogt  g& voortdurend ellende
`-  nlleen  weet, en die voor zijn klas staat, om het  dleen. v e r w a c h t e n .
  te zeggen.                                                                      M a a r   " v e l e   m e e s t e r s ", eilieve, met hen is geen
          -De  -klas, wel, die bestaat immers  louker uit  legr- huis meer  te houden!                                             *
  lingen. Hij, de onderwijzer, de  meester,_weet  .het  al,                          Dan  v i e r t   d e   duiqel  hoogtij  !-
  leen:  Daar, in de  klas, is de  verhouding  niet--`zoo,  datt-                         Want hun wijsheid is niet uit het geloof. Hoe
  meester en leerlingen  bezig zijn  tc$ elkanders opbou-  - dooder  .het geloof, hoe meer zulke meesters!
  wing  .en  ondertiijzing. Er is slechts-  &n  meester; de                               IHun wijsheid is natuurlijk, aardsch, duivelsch, en
rest  .zijn discipelen.                                                           vertoont  de duivelsche  trekken van  onz&erheid,  twisit-
           Last  bet, mijne broeders,  -onder U  alzoo niet zijn,                 gierigbeid,  on$eschefdenheid, ongezeggelijkheid, wreed-
  dat velen, dat ten  slotte  allen tegenoder alle  inderen heid, geveindsheid. . . .
  ins de gemeente die  hotiding, de  houding' van zulk  ,een                       Neen,  breeders, niet vele  meesters  ! .
  "meester", die het  alleen  wee;t,.en ook alleen wil  tieten,
  aagnemen !
           Ztilk een nieesterschap wortelt niet in de liefde  ,van                  :                                      ,
  Christus,  ep is geen vrucht des geloofs,  maaz komt op
  uit  hetzelfde beginsel des ongeloofs, dat  zich uitsprak                               iMijne breeders !                                                      L
  in het  Goord van hem, die altijd van  zichz@ven spreekt,                               10, ja, het  zij?  tech de broeders, die aldus  worden
  en-die  juist daarom altijd de  leugenaar is:  `(Gij  q,& vermaand !
  als  ,G&l zijn,  k&nende  h&  goed en  bet  kwaad." Zulk                                `t-Kan immers  tiel, dat  oak de  breeders  elka$eri;
  een meesterschap wordt beheerscht door den geest uit $00'  gaan  bemeesteren  ! Er is dan  we1  geioof,   Gaar  ,er
  den afgrond, zit nooit op de' schoolbanken  .van  Chris-                        wordt niet uit geleefd. Er is dan  we1  leGen,  maar.het
  tus; heeft  ;een hoogen dunk van zichzelven, is  opge-                          wordt  niet  geopenbaard. We hebben immers slechts  -
  blazeq.          !Hij, die dat  meesterschap   zoel& zoekt  zich-                een  klein.  be&nsel dezer  nieuwe.&ehoorzaamheid, en de
  zelven, plaatst  zichielven op  d&n troon van zijn eigen                        bewegingen der zonde  woelen altijd in onze  leden.
  katheder in de gemeente. Hij  zegt van zichzelven:                                `Breeders, ja;  maar,  met de  dure  roeping om  zich  te
  "IK weet het, en  3k weet het alleen  ; IK heb kennis-en bekeeren  I                                         L
                                                                                                 I .-
  wijsheid, IK heb een  "d&p- inzicht in de  waarheid;                                    Deze  `-`llleesters"  moeten--gaan   le&n, als  in  c&@ag
  MIJN woord alleen  m&trworden gehoord."  Hj is
   -_                                                                              des  oorde&, en dan  daarbij:be&enken, dat wij  all&in
  nooit discipel,  qok niet van Christus. Hij  i s   Iouter vele  opzichten,  op allerlei  yijz,, met woord  endaad;-
  meester. Op alle anderen  &et  hij dit  de hoogte neer :                         struikelen, en dat  bet  we1 voor  de hand  ligt, dat het
  zij zijn de leerjongens! De anderen uitnemender  ach-                            o zoo gemakkelijk  is? om in woorden te  struikel,en!
  ten dan zichzelven, is hem  eenvbudig  ondenkbaar.                                      Zoo  leveride, in het bewustzijn van eigen zyakheid
           Daarom spreekt deze  meester dan ook veel.                              en geneigdheid tot struikelen, en als  ir_l den dag der
           Hij is altijd  aan het woord.                                           openbaring van het  rech6xaardig-oordeel  Gods, zullen                                            .
         \  S t e e d s   i s   h i j   anderee  aan  bet  onderwijzen..  E n ze---bedenken, dat hun  meesterschap straks meerder,
   "m&ester" zijnde,  onderiwijst.   -hij  hichzelSe& nimmer.  - zwaarder oordeel.  huti-  z+l.  brengen,.  `Want  wij  moeten
   En als hij gesproken heeft, is het  uit.  -Tegenspraak                          allen  geopenbaard  word&n  soor den rechterstoel van
  kan niet geduld  worden.. Deze  meester" "meestert"' Christus, binnenst buiten gkkeerd, gewaardschat en.
   onder den dienst des Woords,  ..toestemmend   knikkendi                         h&t  licht  van:Gods heilige wet,  opclat  .eeri  ,?egelijk  weg-
   als  rle prediking  h&m gelijk geeft, nadrukkelijk  "neen"                      drage hetgeen in het lichaam, geschiedt, het zij  gbed
   seliuddend over alles wat zijn "onderwijs"  tegefi- hetiij kwaad.` En, o; zeker, er is vergeving. Er is
   spreekt. Hij "meestert",  zoodra. hij uit de  kerk stapt,                       geen verdoemenis voor degenen, die in  Christus  Jezus
  `zich stellend in  d.en dienst des-  Boozen, om het zaad- zijn. . . .
   des  Woord& zooveel  tiogelijk- weg te  rukken.' Hij                                   Maar, mijne broeders, in  den.weg%an uw duivelsche
   "meestert" in  ~gezels'chap  en op de  vereeniging,: hij                        meesterschap   hebt. gij  daaraan-to?h geen  houvast  I                                 -
   "meest&t"  altijd  en  overal.                     -                                   Werkt-dus  LIWS  zelfs zaligheid, en  bekeert tl!
           Hij "meestert"  zelfs  tiog in zijn  openb&r gebed!                            Met  vreeze.en beving!                        .  _ .              1         '
          En het  doe1 is altijd eigen IK.                                                                                                          k, H              .


436                                                                                                                           T H E S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R
                                                                                                                                                                 ~~-
                                         The  Standard   Bearer
                   Semi-Monthly, except Monthly in July and August                                                                                                                                                                   EDIT,ORIALS
                                                            Pablis'
                                                                                            hed   B y
                              The Reformed Free Publishing Association
                                         .                                                                                                                                                                                  Sarcasm, Sophistry, Evasion,
                                                        1463  Apdmore St., S. E.                                                                                  >'  -
                                              EDITOR : - Rev. II. Hoeksema.                                                                                      .                                                                           Ok-What?
Contributing Editors: - Rev. G. M. Ophoff, Rev., G. Vos, Rev.                                                                                                                                                              The reader will, no doubt,  r,ecall that some time ago
R.  Veldman,  Rev.  H. Veldman, Rev. H. De Wolf, Rev.  B,  Kok,                                                                                                                                                        I reflected on a remark made, in  Concorc& by Mr. Geo.
Rev. J.  ,D. De  Jong,  Rev. A.  Petter, Rev: C.  Hanko,  Rev. L.
Vermeer, Rev. G.  Lubber<  Rev. M. Gritters, Rev. J. A. Heys,                                                                                                                                                          Ten Elshof,' and my request that he either explain
Rev. W.  Bofman.                                                                                                                                                                                                       `himself or apologize.
Communications relative to contents should be -addressed to                                                                                                                                                               The brother delayed answering a long time. At the
REV. H. HOEKSEMA, 1139 Franklin, St., S: E., Grand Rapids,                                                                                                                                                             time of this writing it is about the end of May,  and.I
Michigan.                                                                    .                                                                                                                                         just received the reply.  I  .arn sorry that I could not
      Communications relative to subscription should  .be addressed.
to MR. GERRIT PIPE, 1463 Ardmore  St.,  S: E., Gra.nd Rapids,                                                                                                                                                          publish it -in the issue of June 15, but this time of the
Michigan. All  Announcements,  and Obituaries must be sent -year I have to work ahead for our Standard Bearer
to the above address and will not be-placed unlelss  the regular                                                                                                                                                       because of the busy week of synod, and my vacation
fee of $1.00  accompanies  the notice.                                                                                                                                                                                 following that week. The result is that my copy of
                                 (Subscription Price $2.50 per year)                                                                                                                                                   ,June 1.5 is finished. Nor; considering that Mr. Ten
Entered as Second  Class Mail at Grand Rapids, Michigan.                                                                                                                                                               Elshof waited more than three months with his ans-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       wer, would  ,it seem necessary` for me to change my
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       schedule of work to  accomodate him.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          But seeing that so long a time intervenes between
                                                                         - `CONTENTS  -                                                                                                                                my request to him and his reply, it may be expedient
MEDITATION  :-                                                                                                                                                                                                         to-remind the reader of what I wrote. Here it is :
NIET                                     .VELE                                           MEESTERS
                                                                                   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..."..................i 433                                  At  the close of an article in  Concorclicc  Nov. 28, 1946,
                Rev. H.  Hloeksema.                                                                                                                                                                                    defending Ladies Aid Sales, Mr. G. Ten Elshof dropped
EDIT~RIAG  c                                                                                                                                                                                                           a remark that should not pass unchallenged. I quote:
SARCAS,M, SOPHISTRY, EVASION, 0.R WHAT ? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 436                                                                                                                                           "Perhaps if the brother would make an exhaustive
EXPOSITION OF THE -HEIDELBERG CATECHISM . . . . . . ...1438                                                                                                                                                            study of the reasons why our various church expenses
                R e v .   H .   Boeksema:                                                                                                                                                                              are continually rising and who are doing this and why,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       and that at `company expense', we shall have some-
DR. RIDDERBOS AND ARTICLE 31 . . . . ,....,............,....  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 441 thing more concrete. to discuss."
                Rev. G.-M. Ophoff.                                                                                                                                                                                         This remark has nothing to do, of course, with the
DE DRIEWERF  HEILIlGE . . . . . . . . . . . ;..: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  * ..,........
                                                                                                                                                                                                445                    debate about the sales conducted by our  Ladi.es Aid
                Rev. G. Vos.                                                                                                                                                                                           Societies.    It is not my purpose to become a party in
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       that debate. Nor is this necessary. The arguments
IN HIS FEAR. ..I. . . . . . . . . . . * . . . . . . ...! . . . . . . . . . . . * . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                                                                                                                                                448                    raised against such sales in the-debate will not prevent
                Rev. J. A.  Heys                                                                                                                                                                                       our ladies to continue, with a free conscience, to devote
CONTRIBUTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 450 their time and efforts to the support of various causes
                Frank Rottier, Lansing Ill.                                                                                                                                                                            such as the Standard Bearer, Christian Schools, our
THE SYNOD OF 1947                                                                                                                                                                                              - own School, and the like.
                                                                    . . . . \ . ...,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  j . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  .`451                                  Only, instead of being  com-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 I pared to the money `changers in the temple, our ladies
                Rev. `C. Hanko.                                                                                                                                                                                        `deserve a word of commendation and encouragement.
PERIS'ClOPE . ..., . .I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 454                                But  .the remark, at the close of the article by Mr.
 ,Rev.  W                         .             Hofman.                             _                                                                                                                                  Ten Elshof must not pass unnoticed. Perhaps, it will
                                                                                                                                                                                    6                                  be challenged in  Concorclia,  but  up  to the present I
                                                                                                                                                                              *I                  1                    .have.not,noticed any  .reflection on this remark.
                                                                                                                                                   !                  2.                  ,,                             In the brief. paragraph we quoted above, the brother
                                r,7 :  I.                                                                                                                                                                              makes  some very evil suggestions and insinuations;
                                                           '  CLASSIS EAST. i                                                                               '                                                          and, by implication, is flinging serious accusations
will meet  in regular session, D.  V,, Wednesday, July 9,
                                                        .  .-:                                                                                                                                                         against some parties in our churches, and against  our
at 9 :00 in the' morning at the Prot. Ref. Church at                                                                                                                                                                   churches in general. as  .a denomination.        Concerning
Hudsonpill.e, Michigan.                                                                                                             D. Jonker,  S. C.
           _                                                                                                                                                                                                           these insinuations as such, I would say:


                                                      T-HE  S T A N D A R D -   BEARl$R                                                         437

                1. If there is  .any truth in them at all, the brother        would reflect unfavorably upon yourself and, be very
        should have-  brbugl@  his objections and indictments foul indeed.
        to  t$.e proper ecclesiastical gathering rather than shout                    In  the first place, had your `intention -been  any
       them from the housetops in  Cone&&                      ..- .          other  than that which I have mentioned above, viz., to
              2. If the  b;btheJ,  neverthejess,   conGder@::  ik more        publicize this  matter.,and  shout it  from'mqre  and  o,ther
         l&o&r to publish his  -indi&ments:;  to  tke  tiorld, he             $ousetops, you undoubtedly  wotild- have directed  a
         &oGld-  ha% `dearly  -stated'  .them,  rakher-  :th@  moye_  - simple  inquiry to  tie-through the paper in which the
        about in  thG  foil air of' day&V,insinuations.                        pakagraph appeared.. No, one  would have felt under
                3. If J&y ai;e r&.true;  and:.the  brotherlcannot sub-        obligatioP:to  -answer  3% all unless it were  sa.  `dir&ted.
I            siantiate   theti,.  he  _sh&ld openly  retra&  =them,  and:--- For
                                                                              -        exahple;   &6uld  --I write  .in  the'  "P,tiblic   :Pulse" of
         c&fess.  h i s   wkong.   .-  ;                                       "The Chicago Tribune", I  w&d not  eirpect  the. editor
                                                                               of "The New York  T"mes" to  call me to. account.
                Let him,  therefor`e,   answer his own questions :                    Secondly, proof that you wanted to call this matter
                                                                              to the attention of  .the public,  is- the forcefulness of
                1. Are  ou?c  chtir,ch  expenses:  continually rising at a. your statements. You have  ri-sked much  by'the very
        rate disproportionate to the rise in the general-cost of              manner in-which you have commented. On the face
       living; and of -wages, and to the need of `our churches?                of it, the careless  r,eader might be led to conclude that
                2:`Wh~  are  d&g this except the' proper parties,?            you were very provoked  with.the author of that para-
                3..  Why a&they d&g this, .if `notfdr the well-being           graph. And  sd, the very manner of, your' remarks
        df our churches, and for the  cause  6f  God's'.kingdom?              leave rdom for no other conclusion. You  .have wagered
                4: Are they  doing this "at company's expense," i.e.,         both my name and the possibility that the reader might
        ki$&+t proper, authorization from the company itself? con.clude that  it was a very uncharitable and vicious
        &  $t.the company itself  doing this,  quite according to             attack and one which might cast an unfavorable light
        tbp-  @corpqra&n laws of this company  tq which  `also                 upon yourself, for the sake of. arousing interest and
        brqther Ten Elshof. subscribes,  heat is, -the Church possible correction of an  :undesirable  colidition. .It .was
             Order ?                       ^ _: ..                            a courageous thing  to do and I did  not.mind for I  .am,
                                                                              if need be, expendable.                                      '
                Indeed,  we  rne$  -have something more concrete to
                                     .:  -.
         discuss !                   .           .                                    In-the third  ilace, it' is evident that you have  chbsen
        ~                                                                     thjs`means  .for publicizing my  paragra.ph  by  the.  fact
             1 -Thus I wrote in the  issue of' our paper of  Feb.~l5.         that you have singled it dut; and although since that
              `%ow, I`  hardly think that the reader  can imagine             time others  haye  written matter from which equally
       my astonishment when I -received the following reply :                      "foul" conclusions could have  been drawn-you  wer,e
                                                                               silent. For instance, by  infer,ence and  simplb deduc-
       Esteemed-Editor :  .--                                                 tion, our young people were accused of attending mo-
                                                                              tion picture  theat,ers and again,  the clergy was accused
                The time has `come to break the silence  ,whicb                    of bowling, and there was not a word of protest.  Why?
      '  shuouded-the  paragra$h  of mine which  you.reprinted                     Because you did not deem it of  &ficient importance to
             in'. the Feb..  15th  iSsue of The Standard Bearer. For               publicize. And again in your  writingi concerning-our
             the sake  of. your readers it  ii expedient to do so. I          brethren in the  Net&erlands,`olie `of whom even states
       &ae_  dela$ed deliberately  thougll -not  ma-liciolisly.                that  you? covenant-view is  unScriptura1,   thejre is `no
              -. It should have been' quite evident to  our readers                sharp outcry. And, that you.  h&e singled out my
             that you  too  are in full accord with the sentiments             paragraph and directed the attention of  the readers to
             erpressed  in that paragraph. It is quite evident that                it so forcefully; causes me to rejoice.  You  have done
             you~<.too  .,-were  1  awafe of `the conditions which led -to         our  d&omination a favor and I thank you for it.,
             this remark of mine. And all I can  say. is  that I am                   And, the happy result or fruit of my tick on the
         very grateful  that you have seeq fit  ,$ publicize this              fing&s..which you have-enlarged-to a stab of the heart,
        Ternark  egactly in the `manner  ti@cp- you' liave.                    has been  .a healthy  speculatjon and consideration of
              So  cdgriizant  ,were you of  th$,,peed  for calling this this  `matter  by'otheys  and at  ieas$  an'.earn& attempt
:       matte?
      ,..-..          to- the attention  .of  our  -pq?ple%hat  ydu  ev@n al- )`to  c~~~~ct  if! at  ,$l  pos+ble such matters as  they  m&y
       t,!  1.6wec)],yourself  `to  becoqe involved in  a.  lAyman's'  d'e- have  .found..  A+,`@th$gh  y&r method.  02  arous$g-
      !  1 : bate-l  :&-.an :unmentionable and purictumated*  sul$ject such" i&e&&:  Vvas'  &iusilal ahd  ritiky, `it  w&s  none-the-
         even  $0 the-  extent-.that you admitted -publicly  th@ you .le& effective.                                                 `_
             did'it. foolishly. Such humility we had not expected.
                                                                                                                 .Respeotfully,
        .,  -And  qow, we shall-proceed  to  protie that such must
       ..have  beeky&r  jqtention and that any other conclusion                                                        George Ten Elshof.
                        ,     -:     `2


            2



      438                                              T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R ' E R

      :           .I-  asked  .myself  the question : what is this,  Fa,?casm,                                  .
      sophistry, evasion, or all of  th,em?                   (                         `lJl@  TRIPLE  :  MNOVi7LEDtih  `.
      .. ,  It  certairily.is   ,evasion, since `the brother does not at                                        ./                                                                     -"'
 all  give account of his  statement in  Concordin,  or try
$0  `answer my Questions ; nor does he apologize.  ;  !                                 - An Exposition Of The Hbidelberg
.-                That  it  Ss meant as a bit of sarcasm is quite  pos-                                                (Xechism.,                                           .                    -.
,.sibl& Those that  are somewhat  acqtiainted with the
.brother%  writings in the past, cannot have  fai!ed to                                                                   Part  T            w       o           .                               -
      hotice'tizat his soniewhat able pen is frequently spoiled
`by.`  a'  sarcistic note,.  ofheri very much misplaced and                                                     Of Mad's  Redemption  -                               :                a         L
                                                                                        `.                                                                                                   .." --
~.0ffim3ivii                                                                                                          L&d's  D a y   XXIII:  .-  :                                           --  `1
                  Tl$  tirgtim&nt is Certainly  a.striking  bitt of  sophis-
&y, like the well. known syllogism : "This  is your dog  ;                                                                    1,.  - --  1                 :                                     i
                                                                                                   _                                  ,.          ::..:                     :
Ithis, dog is a  mother ; this dog is your mother." I  tiill                                            Th_e Idea Of  Justificatiqn.  (cant;)
,..not even make the attempt to show  the folly of his                                                                          i                                                 .
      arguments; which, I trust, is plain to every -sound                                     It should be plain,  th&,Vih&;  in this life;  when  the
: mind; Nor  .can  9 believe that the writer himself is of                              grace of justification  is applied  to" the  iinner,' so  that
such a subverted mind that  .he takes  his own arguments                                he  hears'.the  justify&  &-d$(`6f   `Gbd,   a n d   & p r o -
 +eriously.                                                                             priates  it unto- himself, he  finds  &hin  himself a double
' . -,Fact is, however,  that he makes me a. liar. He testimony, the one  condemn&+  the  oth&r acquitting,
;  doIdly  t&lls oui  .l;e&ders that I rebuked his statement, the  `bne accusing him that he  &as.  tr&sgce,&ed   and still
.as&ibed to  `hiti  :  "sdme very evil  -suggesti6ns `and  in-                          transgresses all  t&e  cdmmandments.  6f  iGod, the  other
".S;i~~ajji(jns," accused him  .df "flinging  seribus  $ccdsa- justifying him,  &id  decla&?& so perfectly right-
tionB  agdn'st sdme  par'ties in our  chu&hes;and  against eous  in the sight of  _  God, as- if  he'  ne&r had or' .co&-.
i our  churc&s in general  as a  -denomili&.tion," told him mitted  a n y   .sin:
,.tlrat:  h&:,+hduld  not-  hair+ shouted  th&@ remarks from                                  And  yet, these two testimonies, both of  whi& are
      the housetops but have taken  them to the  p'roper   ati- of  ,God,  an!  a?e,truej'are  not so related that they dual-
.clesiasitical  assemblies  ; and all the while I agreed with istically contradict and oppose each other,  sp that the
Ihim,  was -glad that he published them,  and  used. the believer finds himself in two states, that of righteous-
_,  op.bortunity  ,to give them-still wider publication !                               ness and  that of  -cpndemn&ion, but  soi that faith has
..' It,  &s'alo_ng time  ,ago that I read  &ch a perversion the  viotoy'y,  .a&l- the .-justifying  berdict,  of  ,God  bver-
of one's statements, and of  sotie's  mdtives.                                          comes  the-' accusing testimony of his natural con-
_. B d t   rathe;  thaii  enter'  int6  his  aygtiments,  l&t  m e science.                               `1
a,esur@ the brother.:                                  ~.
                                          ,                                                   Never, as long  a,% the believer  is in the flesh,  iS thk
                                                                                        voice of his.  conScience.  that he has-: sinned. and does
            1. That I-do  tiot at all agree with: the  stat@ment he                     sin daily  silentied: For no  rn&$ how far  .advanced
      ltiade  ,in  Conc&dia,  atid that I  d,etest the sentiment                        he  may be in  .t&,`way. of  grace,  .&lwtijrs  `he has but a
expressed in it.                                                         `> .           small  begin@g.&  the.new obedience, and  the  .motioris
                  2. That I do not beliede that  there  is-any truth  iii               of sin  that  .are:.ih,  his members are very active. Al-
      h i s   i n s i n u a t i o n s   whatsoev&.   '  ,,
                          .                                                             ways he is  clee@$  c&scious  of  his-  6in,  and.. of his. being
                  3, That I deny that our Church expenses. have been worjhy of  c&d&m-&ion and  death,  .in  h&&elf.  Be-
 ,;a&$ at a  ?atk  that.& disproportionate to the  gene@                                side?,  ins the  -flesh,  :he is still connected:  with* `the  &oie
      rise in wages and cost of living.                                                 human. race,  ana. the sin of the,  r&e, in  IAdam,. is his
                                                                                        sin.  :Of al! this his conscience  bear-s  tesfjimonc. He is
           .  --4.
             *        That I do not believe that our brother is  groati-                guilty. in  .Adam, he is corrupt by  patu&  he daily  in- .
      ,ing under a, financial burden. as- far as the -church-                           creases  his..guilt by  -his actual  s"in, Indeed,  the `Cate-
., budget is concerned.  -                                   .I              .,         chism expresses it  qui.te correctly  wheq  $?'  teaches us
1  .5; That the  .amounts  necessary for- the various                                   `to corif ess : `;my conscience  aecu,% `tie,` `that  -1 have
`c$uses in our  chu.iches  are fixed by the proper bodies,                              grossly  transgressed  all the  co&n&drii&t% of' `God,
      and  with:,the  consent,.of "the company."                    .              !    and  kept none of them,  -land  aril':  s&i  -?nclined' to all
                                                                                                                                     . ..
      `. 6. That it  `is,  hi& time that the biother  tffer a                           e v i l . "
      double apology,  i.e.,, for having made his statement  ia                               Yef, when the grace of' justification.&  applied to'
      Concordin,  and for ,the evil motives he ascribes to me                           that sinner, he  is  c,onscious  of, another testimony. It
      i n   t h e   a b o v e   r,eply.                                                 is  the testimony of the Spirit of  Ch>i&;  wrotiiht  in his
                   `.-:? .                                               H.  I$         cons&tisne% by  the Gospel,  recei<ed  `by' faith,.  as&-


                                                                                T.H'E  S T A N D A R D .   BEARER   ..                                                                                                                                                                        439 <I
             __,  _  _  ..-...           -                                                                                                                                                                                                _  -..  .I-.  ._.                       -_
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        x
            ing  .him  thabt-.he is: perfectly righteous, "even so, as.  if                                                                                      -And  .again:  -  -                                                              .,:.             -`":                       :                 :
            I:  nev,er had had, nor  cbmmitted  .any sin: yea,  as: if I                                                                          _                     "Hdw blessed'is  he whose  trespass                                                             '                                       `-
            had. f ully accomplished all. that  ,obedi.e.nce which Christ                                                                                                     .Hath freely been forgiven;                                                               .               :                 ._
     haps accomplished for me."                                               ,  ,:  I .            `.                                                                        Whose  siti is wholly covered  :                                                                       :.
             -Buf,,.as  -w%s  .said,. these two -witnesses, `the one of                                                                                          `_           Before  t h e   s i g h t   o f   h e a v e n .   ..                                                  .                                '
            our natural conscience, the other of our liberated  con-                                                                                                          Blessed, he to `whom Jehovah  '
            science  in the Spirit  of-Christ,  are not  df equal value                                                                                                  I Imputeth  *not `his sin,  '  -                                                         -`
            &nd-powef.  .                      .,     ., ,                    "                                                       .'                                Who -h&h  -a `guileless spirit,
                       The justified  ,believer   does not say : I  am'both right-                                                                                     Whose  h'e$rt   i s   t r u e   w i t h i n . "  .-                                              '
'  ._  e&s  and-un-righteous,  acquitted and  condemn6d,  worthy                                                                                                                                                                                       Ps. 32.                                                       '
            of. eternal death and an heir of  everlas@g life.                                                                                     The righteousness of justification is- an imputed
             `On the  &&t&y,` the verdict of justification, wrought                                                                              righteousness; a perfect righteousness, an everlasting
            by  t;he Spirit of Christ, through the Gospel, in his                                                                                righteousness, a wholly transcendent and victorious
            heaFt,  is Completely  victoriqus, overcomes., transcends,                                                                           l^ighteousness..                                                                                                            :                 . . . .
            swallows up the accusing testimony  of.his natural  con:                                                                              1. .For. God  justifieth the ungodly.!                                                                                                      `.  .'
            science.              Standing before the tribunal of the sole                                                                                                                                        -
            J u d g e   qf  h e a v e n   a n d   e a r t h ,   `by,  f a i t h ,   h e   d e c l a r e s :   (,-  '                                                                                . .                      .                                    -                                 ..
            "Though  I  have  sinned,,-and- do sin,  yet  I am perfectly                                                                                                                                                :
            righteous.~ Though I am accused on  -every. side, from                                                                                                               ~      _.                 _.           .'                                  ,                 _                            _
            &thin and from without, and though I  cbnfess that                                                                                                                                                                    2..             -
'           ali these accusations are true, yet, in spite. of it all,                                                                                  :
            I know  th&t God -declares me free from sin and guilt,  1                                                                                                    _               _ 
                                                                                                                                                                                       T h e   ,.Groun3  ,,,Of                              .          _
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Ju&ification,'
            alid worthy of eternal life and glory."                                                                                                                    "Hqw  a&  th'ou  rightedus before  God?"
     _                 The deep  reason for this victory of faith is that it                                                                      .' In this  ,questioh, the  Catecliism inquires,  .not only
            tilings`to God Who justifies the ungodly.                                                                                            `i&o the idea and nature-of the  believer's'righteousn&s,
           : Justification  is the  f  oygivekess  of sins !                                                     _                               but  also intb its- Way and `its ground; It answers' this
                       It is  the  &doptioq.unto'sons of God.                                                                                    question by  pointiiig  to Christ  as the sole  ground,  of.
                       The justified sinner is  -he  ,."that worketh not, but-' .ouY  rigl$eousness in the  words :  "Nottiithstandir$$
            believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly."  Roti. 4  :5. God,  without'  ani  mefit  of -mine,  .but only of  mere
             .' By faith, he shouts  .triumphantly : "If God .be for                                                                             grace,  gran&  and imputes to me, the pedect  s&tiifaci
            us, who can  be against  US? He that spared. not his                                                                                 tion,  righteotisness,   .and  holiness. of Christ." `And
            &n Son, but delivered him Up for us all, how' shall                                                                                  again,  in-  `a&wer to the  `n&%t  question :  - "Why.  stiyest
            he-  n6t with him also freely give us all things? Who                                                                                thou  th& thou art` rikhteous by-faith only?" it teach&  :
            shall lay any thing to the charge of  {God's  elect? It is                                                                           us  ai  follo+s  : "Not  `that I  ati acceptable to God on
            God  t h a t   justifieth.  Wlio is he that  condetineth? It                                                                         a&otint  of the  wortliifiess  bf my  f8ith;' but" because
            is  Ch@t that died,  yea,,%ther  that is  ri,sen again,                                                                              only  the  &isfa&ion,` righteousness, and  hblintiss  qf
            whb is kven at the right  fiand of  IGod, `who also maketh                                                                           Chiist;   i                                   s                         tiy`rightequsness   before'IGod."
          ihtercession   f o r   u s . "   R o m .   8   ;31:34.                                                                                  " To seek an answer  to- the  qiiesfion: `what is  the
                       He that  ?,eceives the unspeakably blessed grace of                                                                       gkoiihd of the  b&liever's  -jiX&ifi&tion?' is by no  me&is
            justification  does'.not say.: "my conscience accuses me  _
                                                                                                                                                 stip&fluous.                             Spdn&&ously;   f8ith  iristitutes this in-
           no more, I have no sin  ;" nor does he declare  dualistic-                                                                            quiry. Saving. faith is  hot a certain,  `vague;  my@ical,
            ally : "I  tim  .guilty and righteous before God;" but                                                                               feeling.  .. It-is a  certa-in knowledge  df sill that  God-has
      - he  Gas the victory by, faith,  .and properly expresses his                                                                              revealed  -in  IHiS  .Wbr'd.  The  urge  td  .give  acc'dunt  df'
     .  g,onderfully blessed experience of God's justifying-, itself,  td be able  to  indicz&e its own reason  &rid ground,.
            grace thus : "though my conscience accuses me, yet                                                                                   is  illhere& in `faith.  '  Mtirebi;er,' it is fdr  its  bwn gel-l-
            am  I  perfectly:righ!teous  before the judgment seat of                                                                             being that it give  a clear  accou& of the' ground  oti
            God.!"                 _          '        I          _.                                                                             which' it  rest&- Especially-with  ie&a?d  to the  `grace of
                                                                                                                                                 jtistificatioh;  this-is iniportant. The' ch%r'e`r the undeir-
                                                             :                                       .:
            .,  ~".He  s i n g s - :                               _. .                       _            -                     ~               sfafidiig  -of the believer  iri  r&$ect  td the  gromid  df
                                                                                                                                                 his  righteotisness   before God,' the  more  he. will regard
                          "Lord, if  Tliou shouldst  mdrk'transgressions,  _                                                                     all other  groutid  as'sinking   sand,:ptit  all his confidence
                               In Thy  presenc`e  wKo  shall stand?                                                   .`.                        in Christ `only,  -and' enjoy  .the'  true  peace that  passeth
                       -  But  .with  The@  th@r@   i s   forgiveness,                                                         r a          l               l             understanding.Ofi the' other hand, if  h&  be  cc&
              . . I
               - : k. That  Thjr  natie  rnajr  f6ar  @oinma;nd."                                           ..'                       .' fused in his  mind  concertiing` the sole ground' bf, his
                                   *___ ,              `.c              -_
             q*          -+                                                   ._            yps*.13().  .  ..  :,  .'
           .,  _                                                                                                                                 j&t&&ion,  fail to rely  -on it  alone,  ,aiid  `try.  ts  make
                                                                                                                                                                                               1


  4 4 0   ..*                              `TH.E  -  S-TA.ND.A.kD`  B E A R E R "

  his faith,  his piety, his good works, his: religiousness,            the  same as justification. W,e must  have,  an. answer to
  `or anything of self, a part  .of  .his righteousness  .before        the `question  :. on  .what ground does the verdict of Him
 God, he will expose himself to  the accusing voice of                  who cannot lie  rest that the  sinner is righteous and
' his own conscience, and the temptation of the devil,                  worthy of eternal life?.
  which are always on the  .alert for the attack  td deprive                How can' God reveal Himself as the One that  justi-
  him of the assurance. of  jUstification,.and;  as a result,           fies the `ungodly?
  of the joy. of salv'ation.          j        .                            That there is no  .ground for  stich` a justifying  ver-
       Now,  ithe  inquirji  cqncerning  the  gpound  of- our           dicta in man himself has already become sufficiently
  justificatidn proceeds  .from the correct assumption that plain.
  God's Verdict. whereby  ZIe declares  us free from all.                   Besides, in the next  Lord's,.  Day,. this is emphasized
  guilt,  p'erfectly  righteous, and worthy of eternal.  life,          otiize more.
must have a basis in fact.                                                  It is not to be found in anything man  is: or  d-O-es,
      -In deepest sense; it proceeds from the truth  that- has done  or will  do; Even after his being  regener'ated,
  God Himself is  true holy; righteous, and just.  IHe called,' converted; sanctified, the  ground  .bf God's ver-
  cannot deny Himself. He is truth, and all  I&s works                  dict  wher.eby  he is justified is never in the sinner. I t
  are verity.     If  He renders the -verdict- that- we  .are           is not  becaus'e of his faith, or because of the  *good, works
  righteous, that sentence must be based  on truth. He is he  perfernis by faith,  that God-declares him righteous.
  the- ,-righteous  ,One. For He is.  tlie implication of all           Nor can these. add anything at all to his  righteotisness
  infinite -perfections. A light is He, and there is no                 before God. The  sinner.is justified  befdre,he is  regefi-,
  darkness in Him at all.  IH;@ will is ever in harmony                 Grated; It is on  the ground of his  justifitiation  that he
w i t h   IHis  o w n   b e i n g . If; therefore, He declares us       receives  till. other blessings of -grace.        H e n c e ,   .the  I
  righteous,  His verdict is itself based  on  H,is own right- grduid of his righteousness is never in man.
  eousness. And Be is just.  ,Always He rewards the                         It is`outside of man, outside of the sinner himself.
  good with good, and the evil with evil. If He, then,                     .The ground of the verdict of God justifying- the'
  declares  ns worthy of  eterrial life, this declaration must          ungodly is Christ alone. In Christ the righteousness
  be in accord with His own. justice.                                   of God is revealed, that is,  the gift of righteousness of
       It follows that God  can& simply pardon  the sin-                which-God is the sole Author, which He conceived from
  ner, that  js, excuse him. frdm paying the penalty  fey' before the foundation of the world, and  which He alone
  hi,s  sin. This is  dften done by. human magistrates.                 realizes and bestows on the sinner in  the moment `of
  And,. perhaps, because of the  .impe@ection  of -human                his  .justification by faith,, is Jesus Christ Himself. In.
  justice  th&e is rpom for such a manifestation of  mercy              Christ, God reveals Himself as the Reconciler, as  the
  tind leniency.  A.man is  ticcus'ed  of murder. There is              ,&e that is righteous and just even when  ,!E%e justifies
  no  qbjective,  direct proof that he committed the crime.. the ungodly. For "now  the righteousness of God with-
  Ther,e are  .no  eyewitnes.ses.   .Y.et,. circumstantial  evi-        out  the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law
  dence is  SO heavily against  him' that the jury  ,returns, and  the prophets : Even the righteousness of  ,God which
  a verdict  of. guilty, and the judge sentence-s him  td is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all. them                            _  -
  &nd his life in  the  .electric  `chair. As a last resort,            that believe: for there is no difference: For all have
  an appeal is made to the governor, and he, reviewing                  sinned, and  corn& short of the glory of God  ;`  Being
  the case,  tind hesitating  .to let a  man, pay the penalty justified freely by his grace through the' redemption
 ,of death for  ti crime which he may not have committed,               that is in Christ Jesus: Whom  IGod hath set forth to  be
.~  changes his sentence into life-imprisonment.            Later,      ti propitiation. through faith in his blood, to declare his
  perhaps,  when it  appears that no further' evidence is               righteousness for the remission of sins that.  are past,               -
  discotrered  against the. condemned man, he  pa.rdons                 through the forbearance of  IGod; To declare, I say, at
h i m   entir.ely. But this is not possible with God. There             this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and
  iS no possibility of an error when He judges.. Besides,               the. justifier of him  that believeth in Jesus;," Rom. 3  :21-
  such'pardoning  is-no justification. And God justifies                26.. "Fqr when we were yet without, strength, in due
 the  ungqdly.                                                          time Christ died for the ungodly. For  scar.cely for  :a
  . Nor is it possible to make an appeal to the mercy                   righteous man will `one die: yet  peradventure for  `a
  of. God, in distinction from, and in conflict with His                good man some  qould even dare to die. But God  co@-  j.
  righteousness,  .to  $,xp@n  $he  fact that `God  pqrmits`.
                                                            ,  I,,      mendeth his  lo@  tow+,rd us, in that, while we  w(@,
  the sinner to go  freg.  :,,For  $&d:%,   tierex,  i,s  pey,qr  ig    yet  sinners_i',Chri$  die+for  ,us.*  Much  niore  then,`be%g  I
  conflict with  @iis righteousness`. All His  `virtueb  ar.e           now justified by his blood, we shall be.  ,4aved,e:fr.Q+El':'
  orie in Him.  IHis mercy is ever just and righteous; and              wrath through him. For if, when we  wer,e  enemi&$
  His  righteousnbss  is ever  _ truly merciful. And! again,            we were  ,reconciled to God by the death of his  .S&;,   ,,.
  e+&  -if; regardless of justice and  righteousnetis, God              much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved  b&%$
  would  ticquit `the sinner,: such acquittal would not be              life." Rom.  5-r6-10. And again: "There is  there@&


                                                  T H E '-   S T A N D A R D .   BEARER-                                                                   441

ilow no condemnation to them which are.  iin Christ `c&sist in an -act  bf love.  .For man must  lo;e God with
Jesus. . .  `. For what.  the law  coulg not do, in that                   all hisheart, and mind,, and soul, and strength. That
it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own                         is the demand of the law of  .,God,  and that demand  is
Son in `the likeness of sinful  flesh, and `for sin,  .con-                unalterable: Hence, when Christ, the Son of God,
cletilied sin in the flesh." Rom. 8  :l,  3; "And all things               assdmed thk form of a servant,.  and- entered into the
are  of  ,God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus                  state of man, he was obliged to keep that  lag of love.
Christ, and  hat11  given--us the  -mini&y of  -reconcilia-                And  ~&ti,  as  .the Servant of God,  IHe entered into
tiofi:  To  wit,,that  God  was in Christ  &e>onciling the .the state of sinners, it was  ,?@is calling. to love the
world unto himself,  not  imputing-their  trespasses,  &to                 Lord his `God, even in His  .wrath,  ey:.n when,_ in  the
them;.  an&hath.col~mitte~ unto  .us the  w-or<  pf recon-                 hour of  judgment God poured all  the vials-of His wrath
ciliation.".  II  Car.: 5  :18, 19. It is in Christ that "we               and indignation over His head. This is  what Christ
have  &demption  through his blood,  the  fprgiveness  of                  did. He  did.so  all His life on earth. In the state of a
sins, according to the riches of his grace  ; Wherein he                   servant, and that, too,  in the state of sinners;: He func-
bath  abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence." tioned before the face of God in  peyfect righteousness
.Eph.  .1:7, 8. For he "was  delive?ed for our offenses,                   and  holiness. He never faltered. Step by step, as the
and.. was raised again for our justification." Rom.                        shadows of death and wrath deepened, He remained
i :25.                                                                     obedient. And finally, He `entered into  -the deepest
      The righteousness of Christ, therefore, a righteous-                 death and desolation, and became obedient even unto
ness which is of  God, prepared by  IHim for us, is the                    the death of the  cross.  Ali  the: righteousness  of God
ground of  Our justification.                                              against  Sin  I& perfectly fulfilled.  Be satisfied for
      Let us consider, first of all, this  rightequsness  as  it           sin.
is in Christ,  and,.secondly, the justice of God in  imput--                     And  Cod raised  %$irn from the dead!                             -
ing this  righteousn&s of Christ to  !s.                                           That resurrection from the dead of the Son of
      Christ is  th.e justified One par excellence. And His                Gdd in the  flesh.is God's sentence  that; His  Servant'is
justification  is the justification of all the elect, of `all              justified. .
t h a t   b e l i e v e - o n   H i s   n a m e .   o                                                                                            -H:`H.
  To understand this, let us consider -that Christ is                                        .
the Son of  ,God,  tl@ only begotten  ,God,- that is in the
posom of the Father.. On this confession rests  $he
whole-  ,of the truth concerning our Justification.                If,.                    ~+HX@I  P O L I T Y   -
Christ is not very God, if  He. is  not the  ,God of our
salvation Himself, the very  found,ation  c$ this truth is
removed. But He is God of God, co-eternal with the                                   Dr. Ridderbos and Article 31 `-
Father, and with the Holy Ghost. He came in the
flesh. He, the Lord, Who  iS  above the law, came under                              If anyone complains that he has been  wropged by
the  ltiw. He came in the  state  of -men. He became a                               the decision  of a minor assembly;  he shall have                               `--
servant, and must  function as a servant,  \fie, the  Son                           .the right  to- appeal to  a major  ec6lesiastical as-
of  ,God in human nature. Even that was an act of  iHis                              sembly, and whatever may be agreed upon by.a
own,' freely performed. He was not of necessity born                             majority  -vote  s h a l l .   b e   c o n s i d e r e d   s e t t l e d   a n d
a son of Adam, He  freely assumed  auk  f&h and blood.                               binding, unless it  c&n be proved to conflict with
What is more, coming  under the law,  ,He  eritered into                    _        the word  of;God or with the articles of the  Churtih
the state of sinners. He was not a sinner. The guilt                               . Order,  as  long  .as they are  not changed by a  gen-
df Adam could not be imputed to Him, for He was,                                   era1  s y n o d .
personally, the Son of God. The corruption of the                                  In my previous article  I, stated that there are  t&o
human nature  .could not touch Him, for  `He'was con-                      possible ways in  which this article. of the Church
ceived by the Holy  .Ghost. He  was holy  and righteous.                   Order can be construed.                     Rightly considered there
He knew no sin. But  iHe entered into the state of                         are  `threk possible ways in which this article can  be
sinners.      l!Ie tqok  the  legal  fiosition, before God of a            construed. In  order to bring out the issues as clearly
sinner. He assumed the  respqnsibility  : for sin.                In       as possible and to make it easier for me  ,to prove  iny
that state it, became His obligation  to: pay the penalty                  former  co@entionS,  I- must restate these possible con-
for sin. He  myst  not merely suffer the,  pullishment                     structions in a slightly different way.                         1.
!for sin, which is `death : He  mu&  ac&$y  pay. for `sin.  -
He must cancel the debt of sin, if, in the state in                                Cons&&i&   `I :  -
which Ee had voluntarily entered, He was to be justi-                                  .If  any one-let us say a  cpnsist&y&o&pIains
fied.     And to cancel. that  a&b!,  H&'  myit satisfy  -the                        that  it  has,  been,-wronged by  t& decision of a
righteoti&ness  of God.             This  satitiftiction  could. only                minor assembly-this would have to be  classis-
 -


   442                                       T H E   S T A N D A R D   BEARER

           this  .eol)sistory shall  have, the right. to appeal to a     . synod, should it  fo? conscience' sake refuse to
           major assembly-this would have to be synod-                          sdbmit  to the decision while protesting it., Should
          ) providing it submits to the classical decision in                   it succeed in convincing synod, the  .synodical de-
         the meantime,  wkile  proksting  it-in the event it                    cision shall cease to be binding but not otherwise.
           refuses,' which it is in duty. bound to do for con-                  For  classis  and synod  ,shall_ cease to be binding
          science'.sake, it shall be deposed and expelled from                  but not otherwise. For  claSsis and synod must
           the fellowship of the  &urches-and  whatever                   a l w a y s   b e   o b e y e d .
           may -be agreed, upon by a majority yote of synod                    This interpretation, though it calls for the suspen-
           shall be  considered  .settIed and binding and the           sion and deposition of the aggrieved consistory,  shoulcl
           complaining consistory shall be deposed by  order            it for  constiience? sake refuse to submit to the  de-
           of synod unless  the synodical decision, be  .pro.ved        cesion that it protests, nevertheless allows it  the right
           to conflict with the word of God  ;  that is to say',        of appeal., In this it differs from the  interpretati.on
           unless  there be an aggrieved.  tine-the  same  con;
               /                                                        under I).  :But  for. the rest, it is just as hierarchic&l.
           sistory or  some other' consistory, it makes little          Which of these two interpretations is that of-the doc-
           difference-persuaded that the  synqdical decision tor? The  inte?pretation  mzder  (IT for certain  -atid
           is in conflict with the wdrd of  IGo-d  ;  this consistory perhaps the interpretation under I). I  iay perhaps,
           shall have the right to appeal  .to synod in the             because. the doctor does not express himself in his
           attempt to prove to this assembly that its decision          "Keykscheuring" with sufficient clarity to allow us to
           is unscriptural, providing. it submit to the  synodi- say anything but  perhaps. The interpretation under I)
           Gal decision  i;vhile protesting it  ; in. the event it      is certainly impossible for all  the reasons that  `1 enu-
           refuses, it  lqses its right of appeal and shall be          merated  in my previous article.- I need not repeat
           deposed by its  classis by order of synod.                   these  reasoris. As  wa! stated,  t6e interpretation under
          ds a  guarkntee of the appellant's  iight of appeal,          ?I) is just as hierarchical. The only difference is that
   the above  ihterpretatioti of the article is meaningless.            it allows the  appellant-tionsistory+$.e  right of ap-
   For. it allows the appellant- this right only .on the  im-           peal yet not actually but only apparently.  For.~a de- ,
   possibly  -condition-impossible in that God must be                  posed consistory has lost- all its rights, including the  '
   obeyed rather  thain -men-that- he submit to the  de- right  to. plead its own case on the floor of the major
   cisiqn. while protesting it. Besides the interpretation
              `-  ~.                                                    assemblies.      Hence, it is really burdened by all the  _
   certainly  1s hierarchical throughout. It binds the  con-            objections that encumber the interpretation  under I).
   sistories  to the major assemblies hand  `and foot. For
it invests these' assemblies with key-pbwer over the                           Con&ruction III :
   consistories   and  &oea not even allow a consistory for                        If, let us say, a consistory complains that it has
   consdience:  srike  tb withdraw `from  th& federation. of                    been wrdnged by the decision of a minor assembly
  .churches intact, that is, -without being deposed by                         -classis-it shall have the right to appeal to a
  :  classis. For it -rules that if such a consistory refuses                   major  assembl&&nod-without  being deposed
  .  t0  be. bound by the decision of the major assembly                        by  classis for refusing  to  submit,to the  r&ssical
  I that  it protests, it shall  Abe deposed by  classis.                       de&ion that for  6onscience  sake it must protest;
  .  .'  Constr&tioxl  II :                                                     and whatever may be-agreed' upon  by a majority
                                                                                vote of synod shall be  consiclerea  settled and bind-
   :         If,  l& us' say, a  con,$$ory  corn&ins  thai'it  ha;              ing unless  the synoclical decision be proved to
   ,..  `.been wronged by the decision of a minor assembly                      conflict  with the word of  -God  ; that is to say, un-
           -classis-it shall have the right to appeal to a                      less there be  ari aggrieved one-the same  consist-
           major assembly-synod-but not without being
            suspended by  classis  should it  refuse to submit            ,     ory or some  otlier  consi&oryLpersuaded that the
  I:                                                                            synbdical decision conflicts with the  worcl of God  ;
           to the  cl&sical decision that for' ,cpnscience sake                that consistory shall have the right to break with
            it must `protest ; and whatever may be agreed upon                  the denomination for conscience  sak;' without  '
            by a majority vote of synod' shall. be considered                   being  cleposed by  classis.      i
            settled and binding  uxiless the synodical decision
            be pioved `to conflict with the word of God ; that is,             Characteristic of this interpretation is that it is
            unless' there be an aggrieved one-the same con-             strictly non-hierarchical.. For it rules  that  consistor-
            &story or some other  consist%&-persuaded  that ies shall not  bqdeposed  for rejecting decisions of major
           the synodical decision  conflicts with the word of           assemblies- that for conscience' sake they must protest.
            God ; that consistory shall have the right to  ap- Accordingly, in  i.ts final  se&ion,  it guarantees  to. the
        -I  peal to synod in the  attempt to prove the synodical        aggrieved  consistFry. the -right to break off its con-
            dscision unscriptural to this -assembly but not             nections . with -the  .clenomination for conscience' sake
         without its being deposed by  classis by order of .s@hoat  &equiring that the consistory be  deposecl on


                                                                                _. --
                                             T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R   .                                        443

 this account by `classis. And thus it truly guarantees  - is,right. It is difficult to grasp the point  ,to the  ,doc-
 the appellant the right of protest.                                     tar's argument here: Certainly the article -31 rules
    Yet, naturally, the exponents of the view that                       that classical and synodical decisions shall not militate
  classis  rightfully deposes  officebearers raise several               against the Church Order. The ruling was necessary. .
 objections to this interpretation, Let us consider these                Classical and synodical decisions in conflict with the
 objections one by one.  i                                               Church  ,Order spell the destruction of the very basis
  `: 1: It is said that the interpretation under- III) does              on which the churches federate. With this basis de-
 vioience to the plain sense of the article (31). We deal                strayed,. the -federation cannot function;. Thus, why
 here with an old objection.,  .The  -Rev.  .G.  .XIoeksema, the fact that- the article rules as it does should prove
 too, raises it in his brochure. He writes.:                      -      the interpretation under III) wrong  andthat  under II)
                                                                         right, is hard to see..
         ` ' "Let us first consider  articie-31. As already                 3. It `is said that the interpretation under III)  .is
            stated in a previous chapter, the words, `unless it          hopeless subjectivism. So-Rev. G. Hoeksema and  also.
            be proved to conflict', etc., are explained, `unless         the doctor and all the others. But the charge is false..
            someone consider it proved for himself that  it" What the interpretation in question does- is to  free-
         c o n f l i c t s . ' IAgainst  this explanation we have the    the churches from the overlordship -of the.  classis.
         .  .=' `following objections : It is contrary to the very       (synod) `but only to subject them solely- to -the author-
   w o r d s   t h e m s e l v e s . `Unless it be proved' simply        ity of the Scriptures, as administered by the local
            cannot  meani `unless someone consider it proved'.           pastors and teachers. Hence, it is  not. true that, on
            Then words no longer have any meaning. The                   the ground of the interpretation under III), the de-
            words themselves,  funless it be proved' have an             cisions of major assemblies do `not bind those who do
  .~~       objective background and objective implications.             not agree with them  ; that, in other words,. they are
         - Two parties are implied, the one that seeks to                never binding (G. Hoeksema) . `Also according to our
            prove something, and the party or court' before              interpretation of the article 31, these decisions are
            whom proof  .must be brought and who must be                 binding on every  m-ember of the church, except on
            convinced.  ~Only then can it be said that some-             those who `are` persuaded that they contradict the
            thing is proved, And that is what the article de-            scriptures, yet also on 
            mands : `unless it be proved`."                                                          such,  if they want to remain'
                                                        I                in the church.
          But it. will have to be admitted that as far as the              4. It is said that the interpretation under III) legal-
  form of its words are concerned, the expression  "un- izes rebellion against  classis (synod)..                      The fallacy
                                                                                                                       7;
  less: .it be proved" can just as well be taken to mean,                of this `reasoning- lies in its proceeding from the er-
  "uniess someone consider it proved for himself that                    roneous view or theory that  classis (synod) is  .a man-
  the decision contradicts the Scriptures.                   That one    datory power to which the churches  are. subject..
  shall not allow himself to. be bound  bythe decision."                 Whereas  classis is not such a power, it is impossible
          21 As we. have seen, Dr. Ridderbos, too, maintains, to legalize against.  classis rebellion. This being true,
  that the interpretation under III) does violence to the                Classis  cannot rightfully depose a consistory for dis-
  obvious sense of' the article. He calls attention  to.the              obeying it; for consistories owe  classis no obedience.
  fact that the article declares not only that  the'classical            And therefore the interpretation under III) is correct;
-  *(synodical) decision shall be settled and binding, un-               it is the only permissible one.
  less it be proved to  conflict  with the  worcl  of  Go& but               5. It is said that the interpretation under  .III)
  also  .that it shall be considered settled and binding,                "involves. an unintentional. but nevertheless terrible
  unless it be proved to conflict  with the  adicles~of the              denial of the kingship of Christ." The part of this
  Church  Order. Now it cannot be said of  the Church sentence included in the quotation marks is from the
  Order, says the doctor, that we may never submit-to                    pen of  (G. Hoeksema. iHe continues, "We are all agreed
 something that, to our mind, militates against it.                      that the one great dominating principle of Reformed
  From this it is plain,. he concludes, that article 31                  Church Polity is the kingship of Jesus Christ over His
  speaks of something else, among other things of that                   Church. But here again we must not be satisfied with
  which shall be valid in the church, and thus speaks not a phrase. We must give it real content; we must make
  at all of the will of God according. to which members                  it. mean something, yea, everything in practical church
  of Christ's `Church must reject classical and synodical government. In a word, we must  &  ihg will of Christ
  decisions of which they  ,are persuaded that  -they  mili-             speak through `t-he rules  o$ the Church."
tate against' the Scriptures. In other words, as a                          :Qf course! we -are heartily agreed with the senti-
  sentence element of article-31, the phrase "or with the ment that Christ alone is  ,king of  IHis Church and that
  articles `of the Church Order"  plainly:+ells.  us  that the therefore we must let His will  n_s  revenled  &a the Holy
  interpretation under ,111) is  wrong and-that the doc- Scriptures-this by all means should be -added- speak'
  tor's interpretation of  the.~article~the  one-under- II) through the-rules of the church. This being true, the
                               '


 444,                                  .   .   ..THE   S T A N . D A R D   B - E A R E R

following questions. are pertinent. Does Christ re-              depose.office bearers. To answer  ,this,~question.  in the
quire deposition of office bearers, by  classis (synod) ? negative is to interpret article 31 as  wae  -iind it inter:
is this His will as revealed in the Scriptures? Or does          preted under III) in this writing; while answering
Holy Writ plainly enough teach that it is His will               the question- in the affirmative means that we adopt.
that  classis refrain from that action? The exponents            the interpretation under I). and II).
of the views we  here.oppose should be, very clear on the            It is a different question,  of. course,  whether.& is
points that these questions raise before  they. advance          the will  .of Christ that the consistory  lallow members
the heavy charge that the interpretation under III)- to leave the church for conscience' sake without its
involves a terrible denial of the kingship of Christ.            censuring them for so doing.. This,  .we believe, is
Fact is that in the Scriptures (New Testament) the               the will of Christ, For the Scriptures, teach that the
local congregations with their office bearers  every- jurisdiction of the consistory extends only to the mem-
.where appear as subject to the word of Christ as                bers; and one who leaves. terminates-thereby his -mem-
mediated' by the' prophets and the apostles and as               bership. But G.  ;Hoeksema is of- the-conviction that
ministered to them only by the local pastors and teach- the  con&tory must refuse to recognize the withdrawal
ers of their own  *choosing and not as ministered to             and apply censure, when the withdrawal or resignation
them also by a  classis `and synod. This is `stating             is flat and absolute, to use his own language. What
the matter correctly. For, verily, `to say that  classis         he means is plain from the following lines from his
 (synod) is a judicial power to which the local churches         pen."    (But) as long  .as the affiliations are sought  -
and their pastors are subject is to say that`also  classis       with a church that we can recognize as  -a part -of the
was appointed by Christ. officially to minister His              great body of Christ, those who leave us are not with-
word unto"  then churches. IOnly if this were true, can          drawing from  the, true `church. And the Protestant
it be maintained  that,a  consistory must be deposed by          principle of pluriformity forbids the exercise of disci-
 classis for rejecting classical and  synodical decisions.       pline leading to excommunication. But flat and ab-
 But  wher,e in all the New Testament Scriptures does            solute resignation, especially to escape discipline,. is a
 classis (synod)  ,appear as  sUch powers?          Nowhere.     sin before God and His church, and renders one liable
 Doesn't this mean anything? It does, certainly. To              to discipline, even though Christian censure cannot,
 us it means that the system of church government we. in such a case, run its usual somewhat. leisurely course."
`here oppose is an invention of man. Some, to prove              That flat and absolute resignation-to escape a  cleseirvlecl
 the point, direct `attention to the so-called synod  in, discipline  .is a great, sin before God, no. one, of `course,
 Jerusalem, but unjustly so, however, as here we see' denies,                     _
 in operation the infallible authority of the apostles.              And then G. Hoeksema puts this question, "If mem-
   G. Hoeksema puts the question, "Must the church bers must be allowed the right to depart. to some other
 of Jesus Christ recognize the right of withdrawal, for          church of less pure formation, as long as it is an
 any reason whatsoever, as  k~ legal right  guaranteed by evangelical'church, must not the same right be granted
ecclesiastical law?" And'his answer, "If so, the church to a consistory?", His answer is that of all those whose
 declares legitimate what it knows that Christ the King views we here oppose. It is this, "A consistory  ,elected
 condemns.          And' this is. from `its very nature an -im- by a Christian Reformed Church, has no other right
 possible- position. Such withdrawal, being contrary than  to  serve as a  Christian Reformed  co&istory.   `A,s.
 to the will of Christ the King, must result in disciplin-        soon  ,as it refuses to  -.serve as such; it makes itself  0
 ary action on the part of the church. And not the               unwothy of office, and liable to censure. . . . as mem-
 member's desire to resign, but only ecclesiastical cen-         bers they have the same privileges as all other mem-
 sure can finally result in a legal severance of the             bers. But they cannot leave a certain church or  cle-
 tie."        -           -       '                              n.omination  ayl  ta"ke their  off& with them." ,Our re-
     These lines from G. Hoeksema's pen are confusing.           ply is this: `The offices that Christ instituted in  !His
 The question should be  soLstated  as to bring out the          church are rights and tasks that He  .fixed in the local
 real issue-should therefore be stated thus: Is it the            church. It therefore must follow that when the local
 will. of Christ that the churches declare in their Church        church leaves the denomination it takes with it its
 Order that. common -members, office  .bearers, or  con-          offices and office bearers as in office. Besides, who
 sistories  shall have the right to leave the church for         is `there to depose the consistory, if all the key-power  ~
 conscience' sake without their being deposed or cen-             is concentrated in. it ?-
 sured on this account by  classis  (synod)  3  If such  ,be       6: It is  said.that  the interpretation  und.er III) ren-
 the will of Christ, and we are convinced that it  is,* the ders the- binding character: of the decisions' of the
 churches are not guilty of. declaring legitimate what major assemblies wholly  illutional. As was `said, this
 Christ the  king.condemns; It should be-realized that,          would be true. only if common members, office bearers
 rightly. considered, the only  and, real issue that. article     and  consistories   -w.ould  haveto be allowed permanently
 31 involves. is whether  classis  (szJnod) can. rightfully to -refuse to  .be bound- by-classical and  `synod&al   de-


                             \
                                        T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R ,   '                                        445

  cisions deemed unscriptural, though unable to prove               the local con&stories. This solution, too, sets  classis
  them  .to, be of such a character to the satisfaction of          before  us  as the  monarchial bishop of the churches  ,and
  the  churches_on their  major' assemblies. It follows             verily implies the institution of the office of such a
  from~the nature of matters that the churches are not bishop by Christ through the apostles. And so it. goes..
  obliged  to, allow a consistory to persist indefnitely in         Each comes with his own solution. And -this to us is
  pronouncing a classical or  synodical decision unscrip-           so much more proof that the viewsthat we here oppose,
  tural and on this ground to refuse to be bound by it; are not defensible.
  after they even once  ,and-again have treated the con-                                     1-                    G. M. 0.  -
  sist&s  .protest on their major  .assemblies  without
  being convinced of the error of their decision..
   A  final, observation. As was  -just stated, the issue
  raised also by article 31 is whether  classis (synod)                        S I O N 'S   Z A N G E N
  rightfully  .deposes office  `bear,ers.  Upon our answer
  to-.this  question depends our interpretation of the
' article. It is our conviction that according to and in
 the light of the Scriptures . (New Testament), the                             - De Driewerf Heilige
  Confession, and the Church  .Order on a whole, the                 GILAd                  (Psalm 99)
  major assemblies  donot have-that right. And we are
  `satisfied that we have made this plain in this series                 Tot driemaal toe  worcit  ons hier toegezonden; dat
  of.articles. `It is hard for us to understand, therefore,         de, Heere  `God heilig is.      En door  velen. is hij  ver-
  how;the. exponents of the views we here oppose can be             geleken bij het driemaal  roepen van Heilig, Heilig,,
  just'as  insistent that, according to the Scriptures, our iHeilig is de  Heer.e in het gezicht van Jesaja, of het
  Credal Standards and the Church  (Order,  the major               roepen der engelen en gezaligden in het gezicht op
assemblies do have the right -to depose office bearers..            P a t m o s . Anderen, merken op, dat we dezelfde  zaak,
  And what especially mystifies  us: is their persistently hebben in den zegen van Aaron. Ik denk, dat we hier
  denying  that the system of Church Government that                zeker te  doen hebben met een psalm die de trinitarische
they  ,manage: to -find in the Church Order is not. the gedachte in  zich heeft.                   Bovendien, die trinitarische
  hierarchy  pure. and simple. What should set these                gedachte ligt  overal in de Heilige  .rSchrift, want het
  depines  to thinking is that` they are so little agreed           is God die  spreekt door het Woord, hetwelk door den
  amongstthemselves as to just why and how the major IHeiligen   *Geest geinspireerd is.
  assemblies can rightfully depose office bearers. As we                 Het begin is grootsch, geweldig, boezemt ontzag.
  have seen; G. Hoeksema's solution' is that the  classis                "De  H,eere regeert : dat de volken beven ;  Hij, zit
  (synod) is a, permanent consistory with full  con- tusschen de cherubs  ; de aarde bewege  zich  !I'
  sistori,al powers.  :The&Ite   Dr. H. Bouwman Came with               We  zullen nooit moede  of'inat  worden om gedurig
  the solution that when there  .is need of a power to  de: nadruk  te  leggen',op de waarheid zoo groot als  `gewis,
  pose -a' rebellious consistory, all the consistories trans-       d,at God  regeert. Dat behoort bij Zijn God-zijn. Een
  fer their key-power to the  classis (synod) and thereby           God die  niet  alles regeert is  geen God.
  bring it into being temporarily  *as: a major consistory               Hoe diep en allesomvattend is-die belijdenis.  Niets
  with `power- to depose office bearers, but that,  .when bestaat- er, of `het  iigt in  `s Heeren hand `en Hij  be-
-the crisis is past,' this power  .reverts to the `local  con-      w,eegt het, doet  bet. bestaan, bestuurt het en dringt
  sistories  .with the major consistory again a common              alles tot Zijn eind-doel. Och, dat dit zoo is met het
  classis.   - Dr. Ridderbos  simplyappeals  `to -article 36. of    brute schepsel en het starre stof, kunnen we nog  we1
  the Church Order.       He says that this article vests           belijden met een hoogmoedig hart,  doch dat Hij ons
  classis with mandatory power over the consistories                hart in  .Zijn hand heeft en dat hart,  hetzij het  goed
  a.nd `that this settles the `matter.  - But it doesn't; of        is of kwaad, beweegt  tot Zijn  doel, zie, daar  willen we
  course. The doctor is obliged to  .make plain how in the          van nature niet  aan. Het vernedert ons zoo heel  diep !
  light  .of the teachings  -of Scripture, the Confessions,         Tenminste, de `booze mensch denkt, dat  zulks  vernede-
  and the Church Order  dn.a whole; it can be  r-ight for           ring met  zich  .brengt. Evenwel,  goed  beschouwd~is.
  this article (36) to invest the  classis' with that power.        het geen vernedering,  doch een groote en heerlijke
  If he can't make this plain; he will have to conclude             zaak.     Laat mij een beeld gebruiken..  - Zeg,  -dat de
 `either that  ,the fathers  .of  Dordthanded' down to the          grootste" en heerlijkste mensch U bezocht en zeide:
  churches a heretical Church Order or that his inter-              Ik  Wilde  .U gaarne de hand drukken!         Ik ben mijlen'
  pretation of the article is wrong; Still others in their          ver gekomen  oln'U-  te zien en even heel dicht bij U en
  attempt to explain how  classis (synod) can rightfully met U verkeeren. Hier is  `mijn hand  ; laat  ens  samen
  depose office bearers tell-  us  that the  classis' receives      wat praten!     0; ge  zoudt U  verheugen over zoo  iets.
  its  key-power'from Christ directly and thus not from             Ge zoudt het nooit  vergeten en er op pochen tegen


   446` .                                 irtiE  S T A N D A R D '   -BEAR'E-R-   ..
                                                                                        .~ .           _.-

  iedereen.,  !tk heb'het  we1 gemerkt somtijds, hoe  `vire er       : Die  vrees en dat beven zijn radikaal anders dan
  hoog op  gadn-als we een zeker groot  mensch  gezi& en h'et sidderen der  -duivelen vanwege  .Zijn dichte  nabij-
  gesproken hebben. Ik heb  we1 eens een  vyouW hooren              heid. De wortel is  liefde,-.  Bet is het ontzag voor de
  !zeggen,  toen het ging  `over een beroemde dominee :  ,Hij       .ontzaglijke  niajest&van  God. En dan is  `t.goed.
  heeft  mij" gedoopt! En  dat werd gezegd met een  ge-                 Ik ben van  overtuiginb,  .dat- de Heere  bier de  volken
  zicht,  alsof ze zeggen  Wilde: wat denk je daar  nu  we1         oproept om te beven-in  aanbidding,.en niet om te beven
v  v a n ?                                  .                       ,vanwege Zijn  grootewu?aak,--   En,ik grond dit  ge?oelen-
        En, och arme, dat  zijn  i&aar  menschen  wiens  adem       op de  reden die  God~aangeeft-  om voor Hem te  btiven.
  in hunne neusgaten is. En  dan- zijn we direkt over               Die grond  is deze: "iHi.+ zit tusschen  .de cherubs  !"      -
`t paard getild,  .als  ,ze ons slechts toelachen  willen  en           Dat  qiet  op het  wonen Gods  in het  .Heilige- der  .Heili-
  even dicht bij ons staan. Ik heb het eens gezien hoe              gen. Daar  ivas  de  ark&-d&-verbonds,   En.op  diz arke
  een groot mensch een vergadering toesprak, en  aan  he't          was een  verzoendekstil..  En  -op. dat deksel was  bet..
  einde gekomen  tian  &i&l  red&,  ging  hij van  h@t podium       geplengde bloed.  _  :En&  er,  wareli twee  afbeeldinger?  van
  af en zette  zich neer op de  eerste plek die--hij kon  &-        Engelen Gods die.  zich- vooroverbogen over het deksel
  den, vlak naast een gewoon lid der gemeente, En gij               eri met  uitgebreide  ~vieu.gien:  dat. verzoendeksel . over-
  hadt  bet aangezicht  van.  d.ien. man  tioetkn  .zien ! Hij      schaduwen.      Nu.   dan,. de Heilige Geest  g,etuigt   bier,
  blank van  Sergenoegdheid, dat die groote in Israel               d& .God daar. tusschen -die .Engelen .zat.        I
  naast hem kwam  te  zitten: Zoo'langs zijn  .neus weg,                Daar. zit een  schoone gedaahte  .in.- Het  .wil zeggen,
  keek hij in `t rond of men het  we1 zag ! En ik schrijf           tiat ark en deksel,  bleed. en  engelen,.  dat het  al!&  te-
  dit niet om die  arm&eenvoudige man in `t zonnetje te             zamen een  shoone Goddelijke.  gedacbte  vertolkte. -Die
  zetten want ik  ,geloof dat ik  zelf een  -beetje  jaloersch      a%ke  sprak  vali Gods- verbond,  dat.  bleed: van  d&betere
  was op hem, dat die geleerde niet  naast mij kwam te              dingen des verboizds, cle betere-  dingen van -onbegrijpe- _
  zit-ien.                                                          lijke  .zolidaarsliefde,. en- de overschaduwing der  engclen-
        En  dat- is maar  een menschelijk gedoe,  do& het           zag op de zegenende en bewarende  handen Gods. We.
  gaat hi&  .over  %od. En Die is zoo wonder groot en               lezen, dat  Jezus, met Zijn  armen zegenende uitge-
  maje'stieus.   Nu  dan, als  die God ons leert, dat  !!3j         str&kt over Zijne discipelen, omhoog gevaren  is-  na&
  niet ver is van een iegelijk van ons, dat Hij ons in `t           den  hemel.-  Daar heeft men  hetzelfde als  bier. God is  j.
  .harte  grijpt  hen dat zoo al onze  yegen in Zijn hand           de  groote.  Weldoentir  van Zijn volk. Hij  woont.  tus-
  zijn : ik  .vraag U : wat vernedering zit  da-ar in? In           s&en de cherubs. Hij gedenkt  aan Zijn verbond `tot
  bet geheel  $iet! Het is eigenlijk,  goed beschouwd, een          in eeuwigheid. Hij heeft  gedacht  aan  Zijti liefelijke
  heerlijke.  efi,-glor&uze  verhooging. 0,  vlak bij God           genade, Zijn trouw  aan- Israel nooit gekrenkt.
  te. zijn: het is de  `hemel zelf.                                    Als gij  daarin komt, hoe kunt ge  dan.niet. beven?
      Waaroti  &toot  d e   m+sch  d e r   zonde  zich  dar.  aan Alles beeft in  ons'bij.het zien en ervaren van  zull;' een
  deze        tiaarheid?                                            majesteit,  liefde,  trotiw-en  danbiddelijke   genade.  Beeft ,
        Er  is slechts  &5n  antwoord: het is  omd&  hii  pelf dan met Uw  popeleizd:ha?te.,.
  God wil zijn! Riep een goddeloos  &ens& niet in arren                 "De Heere is  groat in  Sian, en  Hij_ is hoog  boven
  moede: Ik ben de  kapitein `van mijn  ziel;  ik ben de            allk volken." .              _            -
  meester van mijn ziel?! Arme, dwaze, blinde man!                      Daar hebt ge  eeti-,toevoeging die  ohs-  aan-  tioet
  bet is  iri- `t geheel'niet  waar.  ,God alleen regeert.          sporen om  tech  te beven-van ontzag.. Hij  % dicht  bij.
        Er  blijft  niets anders  over voor den mensch  dan  :e     ona. Hij is niet  te groot om iri  ohs kieine arme hart
  beveri. Dat zegt de psalm. De volken beven!                 ..    te  wonen.  J&  `maar  /Hij is  .tegelijk de Groote!  ,Z6&  _
   .. Er is  eeli  twee&lei  -beven.                                grodt, dat  ik  er geen  Soorstelling- van kan vormen.
        EI! is het sidderen en het  beyen vanwege de  haat ,Eerst  dacht ik dat  God de aarde vervulde,  .en  dat  het  *
  die de slaaf koestert voor zijn  meester. Dat is  hei  sid-       pverige van God  er buiten  uit'  stak;  M%ar  er is mij
  cleren voor  IGod,  waarin de  .duivel ons voorgaat. -De          geleerd en  -verkla&rd,.  dat  he't  266 ook  n&t is. Xet  i s
  wortel is  haat. Men wil  .zoo ver mogelijk van  God              waar, dat de  hemel  &er  hemelen Hem niet kan  bivatten,
  wei. Als Hij dan  tech nadert  tiet Zijn  vitigeren die           doch men  1eQrde mij, `dat de  Transcendente God elk
  voi zijn van  heilige  iyraak,.  din  beeft de  mensbh   de$      oogenblik  alle  dingen  66k raakt.  OVeral  loopen we
  zonde en de duivelen, met Satan  &a; hun hoofd beven              tegen de ontzaglijk  `gro&e God  aan.  Langzamerhand
  eh'  sidderen  oak.                                               isen  ik gaan  zien; dat  de  idee,  d& Hij'  zitih  met het
    '  iflab de gemeente van  Christus  wordt  doe?*  .rien.        oniienlijk  kleine`  bemoeit,  juist Zijn  grootheid in  hei
  TlelTigen  Gee@ ook toegeroepen  Frn zijns zelfs  &&g-            licht  stelt..  80,  .onze God is zoo wonderlijk groot.  1
  heid met  ~vreeze  :eri beven uit te werken. En- de :;eden            En  Zijn. grodtste grootheid  -(als. ik mij zoo mag
  wordt ook aangegeven. Het is omdat God in  bns  -h.erkt.          uitdrukken) is in  Sian..  Daar  z&n we een  grootheid
  Hij is vlak bij U, o gemeente  !.  WeYkt`  dan,  `doch werkt      van God die ons  d.o&  dtiizelen.
  met  vrees en beven.                                                  Is het niet  onuitsprekelijk  iroot van Hem om Zelf              '


                                                  `THE  S T A N - D A R D   .BEARER .                                                                                         447
                          .  .-  _  _  _ __  _     _                                                       .".           ,-.,_            ._     _
  riaar de  hei  te.  gaaa, om  :U,,er  van  te redden? Is' het- uitspreekt in bevende aanbidding. De- Naam is nabij :
  niet  groat,  .om  slagep en  ~~&l:ie~ien  op  ,te  vang&;  6rn              dat  is  Jezug. En  266 nabij, dat Hij in U  woo@. Door
 doorstoken  te  wbrdeq.,  "dqor.  i&t volk, dat Hij  aan  `t. Geest en `Woord. komt .Hij in U.
  zaligen is op dat  zelfde,  oogcqblik? Zal ik een  voor-                         %n  we  beminnen. dien Naam.  We hebben Jezus
 beeld aanhalen?,  .Teywijl'  Petrus  vloekt,  ,bidt  Jcizus!                  lief, omdat  Hij de  uitdrukking is  vati Gods reine liefde
  D u i z e l t   g e   niet  b i j   zulk-e$n   grootheid?                    D i e   o n s   e e r s t   b e m i n d e   i                                 . .
     Die  gro$heid..zien.  de  Japanners  en de  Chineezen                         Dien Naam  looft gij !
  niet. Daar moet ge  yqor  in Sion  tionen. Daar zingt                          Dat. mag  z&i gezegd. Want  [God bereidt  Zich lof
  men` van die  duizeiingw&kkecde   grootheid :  Uw,  goed-                    uit den mond zelfs van  zuige$ngen en jonge  kindel"en.
  heid,  Heel-,  i s   heqelhoog:.  .Zijne  goedertierenheid  i s              De  lHeere zorgt er voor, dat  er  van' uit het middeh  deep
 geweidig  o v e r   d i e   Hem  .yreezen.              '                     wereld een gezang van lof opklimt- tot in den`hemel toe.
      ,O, Heere, waarom  mocht ik geboren en  opgeschre-                       Dat doende  zijn,die  levers yan God het zout der aarde.
  ven  worden te  Sian? -We  .zijn  niet. beter  :dan de  kaf-                 Het maakt de aarde  smakelijk vodr God. Als er geen
  f e r s   e n   Hottentottq.   W e   aanbidden;  .                           lovende kinderen. van God meer zijn,  clan. is  bet  vobr
      En waar  de.dingel?  dan  slzoo zijn, zoo komt de  ver-                                                                                                                 .:.
                                                                               eeuwig uit met de wereld.
  maning': "Qat  zij  Uweri  grogten en  vreeselijken Naam                         Wat is lof?                     .'
  loven die heilig  .is  !J'                                   :                Lof is als ge de heerlijkheid van den Naam Gods
     Micha zal ons  -bier  onderwijzeti.  Die  ziener heeft                    uitipreekt: We hebben eerder gezegd, dat des Heeren
  ons gezegd, dat we in  dell  `Naam Gods Zijn  Wezen                          Naam  uitgestrekt  is  over.@  de  weTken  !&jner  handen.
  zien.  Wat in de diepten  van het  .Goddelijke   Wezen                       Welnu, als ge al  die sprake van  den'  Natim opvingt. zoo
  zingt en jubelt, wordt  oils getoond in den. Naam. 0,                        zijt ge  aan het spreken,  zingen, jubelen gegaan. Meti
  die Naam van God. Hij is zoo  lieflijk, en zoo zoet                          looft, o Heer !  U%.  wonderen  dag  &an dag !
 ' voor  `t hart en voor het verstand.  AIles glinstert  en                      Eli  g e   k u n t   d i e   spralie  v a n   den  N a a m   nerg&s
  schittert  in dien  Naam van God. Het  komt van dien                         schooner zien  geopenbaard  dan in het  :  W~ord~   van
  Naam, dat de hemelen glorie  vqtellen,  -bij dag en bij                      God. De geheele- Bijbel is-  eigenlijk een kommentaar
  nacht.  lHet is de werking  van  dien N&am waardoor                          op. dien Naam. En dan vooral in het  centrum van  die
  de  bobmen des velds'de  handen tezamen  klappen;                            Naamsopenbaring,   en  da+ is Jezus  Christus  de,  Hee@.
      Die Naam kwam zeer  ?.abij.                                              Vooral  als, wij hem zien in Zijn  Zelf-offeu;ande.                                       0' ja,
      Ik moet  bier  denken  aan een lied, dat ik vele  jaren                                                             .
                                                                               bij het kruis  worden de  heflijkste   liedqen gezongen.
  geleden hoorde in `t oude vaderland.  .Mijn zusters                          Ik moet er steeds  aan  denken, dat in  h+.centr&ux  trq.
  zdngen het zeer vaak.  -.Er  ruischt,  l?ngs de wolken  een                  den  hemel,  : nadat  h$t Beest en' ,de.  oud6[  slang,  vodr
  lieflijke Naam, die  h&me1 en aarde  +ereenigt  t.e zaam.                    eeu%ig  weg zijn, clan zal gezien  :lvo,?den`  bet  Lati
      Die  Naam, die nabijgekomen  Naam, van God,  is                          statinde als geslacht.  D&s de Heere  kil  ens. tot in
  Jezus  Christus,  cle Heere. ,                                               tieuwighkid  herinneren  aati het  schoonster'en  lieflijk&e
      Die Naam is  266 ontzettend dicht bij ons  gekomen, v a n   d i e n   Naam.'                                                                                 -     _
  d a t   -wij Hem  noemen  Immanuel..  ,God met  oils.  l%e                     Daarom  si;.atit   a2` clan  -oak van dien  Naain dat  hij
  Naam is  266  dich_t bij ons, dat de kerk er  eeutien over                                                                                           _-
                                                                               heilig is.
  gevochten heeft, om  ey  zich een  ,voorstelling  vafi te                        Heilig  l<ome.  van  een,  wdo& dat  snijclen  beteel&&
  vormen,  ,en die  voorstellini  neer  te leggen in  .eeil  be-               snijding in den  dn van afzondering. En dat  is. de
  lijdenis. En ook  zelfs in die belijdenis,  getvrocht' in                    negatieve  -beteekenis van den naam. D%,Naam  is-g?oot
  het  ,cdncilie van  Chalcedon,  bevredigt het  hart niet.                    encvreeselijk juist  oltidat hij heilig is. -God is  afgezofi-
 Zijn adekwate  uitdrukking ontving  `h&t niet aldaar. derd van alle  duisternis, vuilheid en  -booshei$  !&I
  Doch het  is- het be&e wat we  konden  voortbr&lgen.                         tibsoluut  afgezofiderd,  d a t   h e t   Woorcl.  z e g t   clat  H i j
  De Heilige  S&rift  spreekt er van,  doch kalm, lieflijk,                    "v~r~e is  tran  6ngereclitigheicl". Hi j ziet  immeix  `t`vaii
  on-dqgmatisch,  schoon. Ik zie een man op zijn  imiegn ver" met gramschap  aan, den  ijdlen `waan  der  trot6che
  liggell  ; hij  stamelt  : Mijn Heere en mijn God ! . En hij                 zielen?                                         :*
 had het  oak op Jezus die in menschelijke  gedaantevooti                          Maar heilig  beteekent  .ooli iets positiefs. De  DO&
  -hem stond. Die hem  noodigde om Hem  aan  t,e  raken. tieve beteekenis van heilig is toegewijd te`zijn  agti  bet
  Wie raakt. "mijn Heere en mijn God"  aan?  Siddert goede, het heerlijke.
  ge niet? Beeft ge niet  iq aanbidding,  bij  bet zien en                     D a a r o m   bemirinen-   w e   deli  NGam.  Den  jnaam;  te
  -kennen  v a n   z u l k e   mysteri&?                            1     I    zien en  $e  bewofideren is de  hemel, daarboven bij God!
    Want  tie kennen dien  .Naam.   - We mogen de  .ade-                                        .i                                               .'          G:  V:  _
- kwate uitdrukking van  dien-Naani  niet  kimnen vinden,                                                                .-                                         _
  het zij zoo. Het eindige kan het  (Oneindige,  niet  bevat-                                                                        .                                   ;i,
  ten.    Maar  ik verzeker U, dat een  oude eenvoudig                         NOTICE  !,-- As is customary,  The Standard  Beau'er
  `vrouwtje dat den Heere  vreest Zijn Naam kent en                            will not be published on the 15th of' July.                                    :               `.
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 448        _                                T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A K E R                                               -
                                                                       ,.                        .  ._ . .
                                                                    previous number last  year. He pages  thrdugh  recovdti
                    IN HIS  FEAR'?                            j kept by his `predecessors of generations before to see
                                                                    whether such  things  occhYr6d before. He feels  cc?m-
                                                                    forted to find that  cert&n  sections suffered  stick  flqods
                 . Living In  His  F&k                              of equal or  great_er  proportion  .bef?re. His fear abates
                                                                    when he learns  `that  wet and dry  sp&lls  come in  cycles,
-A Precious Peace.                                                  and-he is sure that  things will  return to normal'in the
     Tremendously  fiestructive weapons of warfare  are             near future. He can  e&n  e%plaifi. (to his own satisfac-
being developed and produced! Political intrigue is                 tion) what happens and causes an  .earthq&ke,  ail  in
.,being practiced on every side! Treaties are ignored               worldly  wistom he erects  I& buildings  .accordingly in
.and broken !            Nations  ire plotting against nations !    those sections  ,where he is  su?e the  .m&t violent earth-
Men lust' and  have  hot  ; they kill  tind are riot satisfied ! -Quake& will occur. .           I
`Trouble and unrest are to be seen on every side! And                        When  `it- comes to the deeds -of his  fellowmen, he
t&e  Word- of God prophecies that perilous times. are               is not so -easily  freid` of  his fear and anxiety.               tie
soon.coming for the saints of God! `What a present it               knotis from experience  thtit the sword and war only
is in which we live, and what a future lies  bkfcre us              embltt&rs his enemy and makes him  ;ow all the more
and our- children!                                                  earnestly to  se"ek vengeance at the  fir&  opportunity.
     Even in the realm of  liature`today  we have abun-             He knows that today after all the  talk of World  Wars
dant evidence of what'lies before  us. The miseries and             I  2nd II about making the world safe for democracy,
afflictidns endured today and which will be exper-                  the world `is not any safe? from aggression and war
ienced increasingly in the future are not all man made.             than it `ever was. The cheery optimism so freely  ex-'
War and bloodshed, deceit and treachery  .may be  ol'rs             pressed during World War `II  .that there  woulcl be  `no
because of the depraved heart of tlie natural man.                  `third world war is  n&e+ heard  anymore today. Today
But  floods  and  p&tilence, crop failures and  dpau&ht             men talk of preparedness,  atid they mean  preiaredness
are not to be ascribed to the work. of `man in every                for war. To- seek to  St&n  the'incoming tide  of war-
instance. Indeed-much of the starvation and pestilence              fare and  blo&hecl,  appeasement  has again  $een tried
in war-torn Europe is  exatitly  to be  charged to the              and is continuing to  be  $dminis&&d. B&.this is  &&k
guilt `of godless- men and their lusts. However what                just. exactly because  &&  has riot  rid:himself  &f  i$e
we experience today iii our own `land is something                  fear of another war. He advocates  one'world for the
q u i t e   d i f f e r e n t .                                     very same reason. It- is `not th&he r&lly Gants `vne
     That we have  had a strangely cold and wet Spring world, but he is  beg&&g  to think that this  wT11 be the
is  known to all. `Whether we live in Michigan, Illinois,           sdlution. It will  not solve the problem because  "Ihe
Wisc'bnsin,  Iowa, Minnesota, California or  Montalia,              clay  and. the iron  will never  mix -as  &e well-knov and
`we  are by our own  expkriences or by the' emphatic                as, the figure is used by God  I&n&elf  to show His
Xtness of radio and press, aware that our  cou~try.and people that  thkre'  is`  no  p&ace  all&t.   froin  Chrjst  o.nd`
`even sections of Europe are  experientiing an extremely @Iis Spirit'and `cross.  - `We have reference  Jo the  dream
cold and wet Spring. Thousands of  acres of  corn  have- of  Nebucliadneziar-   which God g&e to him  atid in
been.  destroyed by  floodi. Thousands more of corn,                tihich he  saw an image with a head of  golcl, breast
oats  and rye will not- materialize because, the soil in            of silver,' belly of  .&ass, legs of' iron, and feet of iron
which these crops  were to be sown could not be worked mixed  with  cliy. The kingdom of the Antichrist can-
due to its exceptionally wet  condition. Snowstorms                 not succeed  ancl  p?&entiy  the clay and iron which for.
have  been experienced in certain sections of our  coun-            a time seemed  tb  fdim one world  viii separate &cl  t,hat
.$iy on& week before Summer is officially  her4  accord-            great battle  qf  krtiegeddon shall  he  waged  b&veen
ilig to the calendar.. The driest- Spring  ir, one hundred          the  Antichristian world power and `God  and-  Ma.gog.
and fifty `years is  the lot of anothkr section  of our             But for a time man derives a littlk respite- `from his
country and hoards of insects invade fields of  riperiiilg          fear by believing that he can' make one  vjbr!c~ and
&rain devouring tons of food  upon  tihich  m&n  co%ted             save himself. arid his-family  fro&.the ravages  bf  srar.
for  his needs  land his income.               ' "                     `But what of the'child of  God?, He has  mo% to  fc!ar
 These things speak to the  liste%ig child of `God.                 than the unbeliever,  has he not?  ?He  suffers-M:ith  the
                                                                                                                            .
.Th@  iinbeliever goes his way `cursing these  works  o$            ungodly  iti  fl&d  &a  -drought,  in  famine and  pestiler&+
`God`  ana  ,God'  H&self.  iHe  goes  ori in his  folly  and His sons die upon  the'b'attle  field,  his'.hArn<-is ruined
apart'from the Word of  IGod.seeks to find  out  what               with-the  shells  `&d bombs  that fall, and his  f&ily  !ikei
causes all these things  Z&d brings him so much  misery,            wise `is killed.  - But  eiren  -iti  pkace he  cannot  f&l work:
uncertainty and fear.  IHe turns his telescopes upon  _ because he refuses  to-  sv.%ar  allegiance to man and
the sun and  counts'the  sun spots and is  encouraged to            nian-m;?d.e institutions  `ab&e   -his God and because he
note  .that the  number is greatly -increased over  ihe
                                                 u                  refuses. to follow. the  :pY.$$ice of doing to others  what
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                                                                                       -     \
                                                 *HE  STANDARD  BEARER                                                               449

 they have done to you. And  presently.he will not.  ;be trust and confidence in  `God. He believes that God is
 able to buy or to-sell&because  he will not worship nian                the Lord  -and  that, His cause will  -ever  triukph. `He
 and  deny Christ and His cross.,, The  virorld is  lining up            believes in Christ Jesus His Son as his  Saviour who
 against the church today as never before.  -And. that                   came into our flesh that He  might redeem and Who
 goes for the world in the church too. Various move- comes again in judgment to vindicate His people and to
 ments are under way today to unite denominations by                     usher in His blessed kingdom upon  tl-ieir earth.  `He puts
 c.ornprotiisi;rig   with* the  ;lie: It only goes to make a             his trust in Christ and eagerly looks for His' return.
 strofiger   fals@ church which shall the better be able to                `.He who fears the Ldrd and lives in that fear is
 fight  agaiilst the true church. And in the last- days,                 not like those-  pf whom we  wrote in the former in-
 Christ tells: us,  they.,shall` try  `.if "it were.  possibli;  to      stallment of these thoughts- concerning living in His
 deceive the very elect.              From a fleshly viewpoint,          fear. They are not- as those  <vlzo said that they be-
 dreadful is the future that lies before-the  church.,,                  lieved that a certain daring man  cbuld walk on a  wife
  Floods  and, pestilence, droughts and  farnineS  are                   cable across the deep chasm of the  Niagara  River push- -
 ahead. T,his present wet, cold  Spying-  simpl,y  shotis'us             ing a wheelbarrow in' front of him with  B man in it,
 what  .can- happen and will happen on  a. greater scale                 but who did not have faith enough to be the man in
 in the future. The-sun will be darkened, and we shall that  wh.&elbarrow;  Those  who  Eive in His fear  safely,-
 enjoy only part of its light and heat. Pestilence and                   and  cohfidently put their trust-in Christ.. -They do  tiot
 famine will naturally  fqllow as a result,  for. life and               simply  saz~ that they believe that  he can carry them               . .
 the growth- of our food require `a certain amount of                    safely through all the storms of opposition and physical
 sunlight, and disease germs abound where it  iS kept                    agonies of  qhis life to the other' shore of bliss  and
 out or greatly diminished. For. the child of God such                   eternal life, but they lean heavily upon Him and by
 a season as we have just experienced causes him to                      God's grace place their whole life in His hands. ~'
 think of the  cbming judgments of God upon.the  tiorld.                 Precious peace  is theirs! Fear is gone, that is,
      Then, too, when we read of  so.many train wrecks,                  the fear of the world, fkar of the devil, fear  `5f earthly
 airplane crash&, hotel fires, and other disasters which                 <ear. They live in the fear of the Lord and are free
 take thousands of lives  every year and especially of                   from fear and cares. They are confident that Jehovah
 late we  b&gin to wonder how fast we are approaching                    is their' light and their salvation and that therefore
those days of the seven trumpets when no longer are                      there is nothing nor anyone to fear. They know that
 one fourth of the inhabitants' of this earth killed by                  He is the fortress of, their life and that they need not
 the- sword, by hunger, death  and:be&ts of the field                    flee from  .anythjng  or'anyone. Living in  His fear is
 ,(l?ev. 6  :8), but  iilstead when one  thifd? shall perish             living in His sphere,- that  is'living  ili the  sphtire- of His
 of-men and all living creature's (Rev.  83-l;   9:18);                  covenant `and grace, They live consciously in the
   What then shall the child of  God do as he lives in                   experience of  Cod's loving smile living  m the enjoy-
 these last times which on the basis of God's unalterable ment. of the fact that the light of  IHis countenance  iS
word. shall only beconie worse?. Shall he  .conceive  arid               u`pdn  them which is His loving smile or smile of love;
 beget  childPen? What- anguish and-pain of soul it may                  He'who lives by  faith,`or  if you -will, lives in His fear,
 tause him  to' see them. snatched from his bide  either                 is confident of all these even while he endures  many'
* to fight and lose their lives  .in.:those wars which even              things painful to the flesh and  the future  looks'omin-
 the unbeliever despairs of  gtemtiing or' else by the                   ous. A precious peace it is to  live in His fear.
 Antichrist who will seek to  tbrment them as  punish-                       Living in  his fear, we are confident that all will
 nient to the patient `who will not  t&k6 his mark Upon his              be well and even now is well With us and our  tihildren:
 right hand or forehead ! Atid  -iYhat of the multitude of               The Triune God never worries. He  never fears  tihat
 subtle temptations which seek to destroy or prevent                     the devil  sind his  h&t will do to His elect  people  and
 the faith of our covenant  youth? Is it safe for the                    their seed.  lH& is  .th& All Mighty  .One. There is no
 church to b&get  childretiwith a view to  the dreadful fu-              power outside and besides His; Therefore  all things,
 ture? What  shtill  thechild of  iGod do who  liSe3 in these            absblut'ely  till `things  occur  extictly  according to His
 days of confusion  tihich  .indicate more trouble ahead?                et'ernal counsel, and  liothing and- no one is able to
   He will live in  the. fear of  the Lord ! And the  pre-               prev'ent `the execution of any one of  IHis  decre&. God
 cidus peace that passeth all  titideY&tandmg  will be his;              cannot fear. Living `in His  fe&;`the  fetir of `awe arid
Therefore it is a foregone conclusion that he will not                   rever&`ce, the  fizaf of  trust  ati&eonfidence, we live' in
 f&l  to- bring  `f@rtli.  th'e  cot;e&nt. seed "of the "future          Hig  spliere,  And.  the'$Y;fect peace of God we also enjoy;-
 esi@ii though it  `rnm$$   `tieair  `grief of  `six11  to  -hiti and    We, that  iB, our'hearts and minds;  ar.e in the  s'ph&e of
 great agony of body and soul for that  seed which he                    His' love and grace. `We cast all our  car&s upon Him.
 will  b.ring  fbrth: He will have  -pre'cious peace in the              We take our burdens  td the Lord and  leave  thim  there.
 m i d s t   o f   trouble  z&d  s t r i f e .   `.  *          .._      That. is-living in His fear. Living'in  His  fear; what
    That he  Years the  Lo&l  m&tins that-he  $&es all his               a  precidus peace!                               `J .   A .   H .
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   _.                                                                                                                        .~
450:.                                                       THE.                s*.&NDAR'D               .JBEA&ER                   -           -  ..-.-  -  -.-.  _ _
              2.                                                                        iri the  m&jority rules  witliout. the  nee.d of recognizing
                                  z(J&rijj&ion   ,:  :.  l  "  `I'  t                   any higher being or law.                         .-  ~..  I          .-           1
                                                                                            This  ..deino'cracp is  purer  .Communism,   .for it de-.
Dear Editor:                          -          '                                      strays by  iis  ow!n existence.and functions the authority.  '
                                                             1                          of our.  re'publican  government. -For our citizenship
    `E would  like to add my  approvtil  and  support  to                               is already bound together through a  government.~re-
your- editorial  on, "`A CLOSED  `BHOP~  WITH A LOOP-' s.ponsibility   that- is. a  -&EPUBLIC,. wherein  .we  a-s a
H6LE"i  `howkver,  -we  ar'e  tiastini time  and.  en@gy people,. have. voluntarily pledged ourselves, to mutual
try-i@ to convert  .the Christian  ~-Labor  Associ&ion  tp                              aid `and protection with justice. toward all,  through
a Christian Labor Association. But' t6  ktrengtlien  and                                the  process.of  DEMOCRATIC government by a FREE
fbrtify those of  likk faith,  hit is  &ill` that  such things                          people,
be published.                                         1           -. -                      Let us. look farther,: yet closer to the  things mork
  ,Co&det   ih6.c. L. A..  as  it  is  establ@hed   and lead                            dear to us. Why is  it that when  the C. L. A. leader-
by. its leader&i&. In the first  .place,  the  const&ution                              ship had the  6hance of its life -to.  establ.ish the evils
s+s. forth and plainly. states  in-  its conception  ,&hat                              in the worldly neutral. unions, having its own secre-
its  ,AIiVI.  is  to.  ORGAfiTZE   WQRKERS-that  its  FUR-                              tary on  `& church committee with the instituted author-
PQSE is  tp  ESTABLIS-H  JUSTICE  in the sphere of                                      ity to draft  Chribtiati-  Conscience legislation  on.  the)
labor and industry-that it  PRO,MOTI?%  the MATER-                                      matter, that. then  he,* could,. by.  the Scriptures, prove
IAL  IN!l?ER$?,S,T   of workers through  practicil  applica-                            that' Neutral Union  .Membership is. Compatible with
tion- of Christian  p&ciples  in  collecti~~~~  bargaining                              Church Membership ?   IAnd  t h e n   a p p e a r   bef,ore  t h e
AND  OTHER  means of MUTUAL AID  .o?  PROTEC-                                           Senate Committee Government of our  land and uphold
.TION.                      -               _ .                           `_            before  ,them  the.SACRED RIGHTS and  H,OLY CON-
         Analyze  l&e above conception and' i&e ybu -al-                                VICTIONS of the Christian religion, and say  that,:
ready  havie. all the answers. Then  C..  L-, A. must out                               and many are they, who CANNOT JOIN many  fibor
of necessity be the authority on Christian  principles-                                 unions because of CONSCIENCE SAKE. Yes,  M?:
must  be-the authority to judge-must be its own pro-                                    Editor, it is the same  mati in leadership `that  when
tectorate-must be its own mediator and  savior, with                                    befbre- Church authority can prove with  the Scrip-
the' job as  set forth  to-"ORGANIZE, WORKERS".                                         tures compatibility  to. them, and when before  gbvern-
And  -how must they do it?  Thkough  the democracy                                      meizt authority upholds that  for  consc?ence sake many
p r o c e s s   o f   .membership  a s s e m b l y .                                    cannot- join them. You figure- it out-1 can't.                              _
         The-  Corqnunists  have the same  puqiose. and life                                Such an  unholy disregard for authority. is a mock-
view. But to say the C. L. A. is  a.Cotimunist  organiz-                                ery. Think  `it over  again.1 The C. L. A. had within
ation would be pery funny and  would intimidate, their. & own hands the occasion to establish authority on
wrath terribly,,  .but that the C. L. `A. has the same                                  the entire matter and  hehce  be an  authority-  thereby,
idealology and. is upon the  selfsame  .road as to the                                  represehting the` Chri&tian.Conscience   with the  BACK:
Communist  is.- most assuredly the  : unadulterated                                     I$+G.   df the  Church institute itself in  &he field of  `eco-
tyuth.              '  7                                                                nornibs and labor; then uses the Christian  i&gion  -
         Read  the March issue of the  C. L.  A.,herald  which                          Scripttir& to prove coriipatibility  do the, gddless neutral
contained the material for  -your  .editorial,"and you                                  unibns  f  -thitn;   -when' the occasion  -arises to  appear. be-
will  also find therein the Oral  Statetient `made `at a                                fore:  government authority, uses. the self same Chris-
hearing before the  !Senate Committee of  otir govern-                                  t&i religion' and  ChEi'stian   tionscience,  to attempt his'
ment, wherein the  C. L. A., propagates for DEMO-                                       victory, by declaring that  for-  CHRIsTIAN. CON-
CRACY  rights of government as  do'~ all the -others                                    SCIENCE- SAKE MANY CANNOT JOIN' MANY  OF
of like color, the C. I. O., the A. F. of L.  .and  ,other                              T H E   L A B O R   U N I O N S .   p.            -            -.
pressure  p o w e r   d r u n k e n   .groups.                      "              ~     _  ' Whom  do+  `sutih  .a leadership represent? Does it
         Noiv  ,what is a DEMOCRACY? It `is the right of                                repr@seht  the Christian  `C&.stiikfice? It cannot. Does.
government by the people. In other  words- the C. L. A.                                 it  represerit  fu'ee men?  IHoW  can it? `It only repre-
too wants a deniocracy wherein they have the liberties                                  sents  %lie-C.`L.`A.   and `uses  any  kind `of argument to
of government to establish justice `in the economics                                    gtiin its end, "TO  ORGANIZE. WORKERS",  for' its
of both, labor and  indtistry;   thkou&the  membership                                  o w n   h o n o r   -and  glorjr.  _  -                 -  -  `.
process of self-imposed  authority.~   That.is-  Commun-,                                    Thus the  ,C.-`L.  !A. is -its  `own  democracy, `with' its
i&m rights. And that is what every labor union wants,                                   dwri  alitho?itjr of  `gove&nient, for its  own  selfwilled
ev&y monopbly, every cartel; and even  sutih  orgaliiia-                                p,jrljo&e  an,eJ  ehd.  "                  :'            -
tions as the Tri State  &On Set Exchange wants also.                                        `There-are no bther  ans-iv&i:s or  tionclnsions   to  such
The rights  tb  colitrol their ends- bf  o+ganized   &iteE-                             delusions ; the C. L. A. is its  $wn  fudge,`  i&  otih  p&de;
prize, or social realm, by democracy  gdvernqent  where-                                it&.-  d@n  savior   atid  media$o?  of  `la.bor  -arid  indu&Eial

              .


                                                            T-H-E  STANDA,RD.  B$~A.REB                                                           `451

      inju$tices  .arid recognizes no bther authority  but its  - hast established them for  corretition:                              Thou  art of
      own. This.  same hell-raising  Iicefitiousness rules the                      purer  &yes than to behold evil, and  canst not  look!.-On
 _ C. 1. O., the-A. F.  of  L., the monopoly, the carte!,  and iniquity.:  wberkfore  lookest  Th'ou upbn them that  dBa1
      many  .extihaliges  o,f control,  +ll--working  put through                   treacl@rtiusl$,   alld holdest Thy tongue when the  wickecl
      democracy organization the destruction of  our-  re-                          devoureth the man that is more righteous than he.?
      public for their own- selfish and  .righteous. advantages. . . . . But  .the  just;shall live by his  faith."  Rathtir
      No  governme@  .of a land, can stand when  hep people                         t-hall  g.iye' a resume of this sermon, I would  ?ef er you
      become .a law by themselves and for themselves, with- to the  forthcoining Acts of  Syribd  Ghere you.  call- find
      out  a-suprenie.  dic@tolqhip ruling them with  its firing                    the sermon in its entirety.
 -squads.                                           1                                  The first regular  s&sion began on Wednesday  mo&-
 '  T h e   c l o s e d   sh@-restraint  o f   t r a d e - b o y c o t t   o f      ing with  the usual devotional&.  !A11 the delegates were
 -activity  :-strikes   L absolute control of prices  - and                         present with the  exce&ion of Mr.  `Nick Yonker  of  &lr
      m&ny  .other element's of forceful organization demo-                         Grand Haven` chi.>ch. .`rhis is the  fir& meeting  `sf
cracy laws  whekeby they  rule supreme,  b$ themselves,                             bur synod that  Mr;  Yanker  was  not  abl.e to  atterid,
 and  .foi"  %i.&m%el%.es,-  has turned. a peace-loving people                      but  this- time his health did not  per&t  ..him  to  &&.
      into a.  vidual  @ll  Qf their own making, and woe untp                       Tlie Rev., P. De  Boe'r' served  as delegate  `in&e&d  `:of
 .  th&e  ,meti:  %hd  -carry `with them. the mark of such                          R eq. L.  Vermeer, -and the Rev.  k.' `Petter  came in  the
      allegiance,fol:.qf such is NOT the Kingdom of  Heaven                         place  -of,-Rev.  A,  Cammenga.   tone of the first  duti,&
 I  btit the  rb&`@:to  .hell, wherein contempt,  *hatred, envy of the synod w&s  to  choose'dfficers..  Rev.  J.  De  Jdng
      an& selfishness leads  `to  its eternal end. For what men                     was chosen as president, and Rev.  C,  isanko- as  vice-
  .do'in'thei?  laEqrs,   the>  dd  unto'the CHRIST.                             -  preside&.      T h e   R&v.  I?.  D e   Bo'er  ,be&me  synodical
                                               Frank  Rottier, Lansing Illinois.  - secretary and Rev.  J.  He& his  as&taqt.   $/.Ihoh- de-
                         ,.`.                 .'
                  ,_            _ . .                                               pencls upon  good leadership for a pleasant  and success-
                         - .                                                        ful  gathetiing.-  The fact- that the work moved  %long
                                `.
 -          .                     I..                                               snioothly and  &$dly can -be  &edited  tc a  great *extent
           .                    :_ . .                                              to tlie -capable  lea`dership  of -`Rev.` De  Jon& . Nor is
                                                                                    the work' of the secretary to be slighted,-  `In. many
                   -.: The  Syinod  .Of,  1947  -                          .        ways he has the  -most difficult task of all,  lol"  up& him
                                                                                    .rests tlie  ~espon&lit$  of keeping  an accurate  re&o&l
                  . .                                                               of all the decisions  as rapidly as  thejr  a&  inade. An
         ,The.  i$47.  SylioJ  _ of  our. Protestant Reformed assistant in that  woik  is  by.no.  means a non-essential
      C h u r c h   i s   gow'  a   m a t t e r   o f   h i s t o r y .   "  Everyolie  w h o   cog  i n   the  machinery:  -  q  _  '
      was  present will agree that  t&is was -a significant                          The  tiork  was  d&de;1  under.  three  main `headings
      gathering  becquse  ,of the weighty and far-reaching                          as. follows :  ,( 1)  Matters-pertaining   fo  th;&  theoldgictil
      clecisions  that `were made.  .For four and a half clays                      schbol  ; (2)  .M&ters  pertaining' to missions,-  ancl (8.)
 '  Synqd-met  .and- deliberated. The  work moved along                             Tlle matteri  .of Psalter revision plus  .other  .unciassified
 smoothly and -rapidly. Harmony. and unity prevailed.  lnatters.                                             .
      True  Ch$$~an  fellqwship  was, enjoyed both during                              `One `of  thk- most  imp&ant  &atters  in `regarcl  i;o
      t&e  sessibni;   ?itqd during- the periods  .of recess. Andc &r theological school was the graduation of three
      everyone. appreciated  ,the friendly hospitality  ~shown, students, who were also declared  candiclates for  the
      ancl the  splelidid meals served by  qur host church, the c@&iistry   iii our  tihurches. The three students,  -Homer
      Prote&atit  Ileforiled Church of  S&h  Hollancl, Illinois.                    Hoeksema; Edward Knott. and  Gerard  Vanden  Be?g,
       -  Sytiod   "o&%e& On  the- evening of June 3 with the had finished  tlleir  cdurse of studies at the  theologic&
      ctistbma?g  pr&&dical sermon delivered by the Rev.                            schboi and were presented  to  syliod for their final
      G.  Vds.  A&ybu.`may  know, it is customary that the `examination.                              Then biggest part  bf two days  was de-
      president  -of  -fhe former synod preaches this  pre-                         voted to this  @xainitiatic?n  on the floor of the synocl,
      stilodical  sie$mo& so that it fell to Rev. G.. Vos to                        kondi&ed  by.the professors H. Hoeksema  and G. M.
      concluct  the&  se.rvices. The  syn?dic?l delegates, the                      O'phdff. To  some it  might seem that this' is a lot  -of
      `sfudeilts `of  &r.: theological' school and a fairly good '  time for a whole  gsthering to  spend on an eiaminakion,
      r&pl;esentatibn  from our churches of  South  iHolland                        yet it  lnu'st  ilot  b&  ,fofgotten that this  ekamihation is
      anti  Oakl&n- were edified by the sermon-rendered                             very,  essefitia?   an`d  itipoxtant, also for  the'  ijvelfare   df
      bjr -Rev.  Voti; who  iri his  .otin unique  way. spoke to us, our  chupches. `Ori Thursday morning  `th&e  $tudents
 . taking his  text from Habakkuk  1:12, 13  and 2  :,4b :                          we?e given the'  opportunity-to preach their sermons.
      "Art `Thou  klot from everlasting,  10 Lord- my  (God, Student,  Hoekskma  spoke  6n  the text in Isaiah 40 : 1, 2  ;
      inine Holy One? we shall not die. `0 Lord, Thou  ha+                          student  Knott preached` on Isaiah 53  :5; and  stuclerit
      6rdained them for judgment;  ind 0 mighty God, Thou                           Vanden -Berg  pre`ached on Isaiah  .55  :6, `7.         All three
                                                                                                                  -._
                                         a                                                             ..
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                               -.
                          i
   .452                                       THE  STAdDARD  B E A R E R

   sermons gave proof that these young men were cap-                seven years.  ' Yet, -with a view to the large  .amount
   able of expounding the Word of God to the edification            of work performed by Rev. Hoeksema in the past,
   of God's church. The afternoon session was devoted               and the necessity  oft conserving his strength as-much
   to an examination in Dogmatics. ,On Friday the exam- as possible, synod felt that this proposal is for the
   ination was continued in other branches of study by              welfare of God's cause as represented by -all--of- our
   both the professors, and  Rev!  iHanko was appointed             churches.        Also in this we see the guidance of  (God's
   by. synod to bring the examination to a close by  a-brief        hand, and commit  R.ev.  aoeksema in his deliberations
   examination in  `Practica.        Thereupon synod decided        on this matter  untothe guidance. of the Holy Spirit.
   unanimously to declare all three of these young men                      Thirdly, synod decided to introduce a post-graduate
   as candidates  .for the ministry. in our  chuqhes. They ,,course in our theological school. Although the `minis-
   were informed of this  ,decisi.qn by the president, who          ters. in the vicinity. of. Grand Rapids will be given the
   addressed them briefly with a few well-chosen words,             opportunity to- take this post-graduate course,  it has
   after  which the whole. assembly united in thanksgiving -the- -definite pur-pose of preparing. someone for  _ the
   and prayer, and in the singing of the doxology, This             professorship in  our. school. A certain  sum- has been
   is always an impressive -moment at any  synodical                set aside for the yearly support of the individual who
   gathering, especially because we are made conscious              accepts the appointment for this post-graduate--work.
   of  `the fact, that it is God Who calls to the ministry          In a later, session it was decided to extend the -appoint-
   and. gives His appointed-servants to His church. May             ment to candidate Homer Hoeksema, who- was-given
   God's blessing  accqmpany these candidates, and may              three weeks to deliberate and decide  on'this appoint-
   their  future'field of labor soon be pointed out to them         ment.
 by the Shepherd of the flock. May God also make                            The matter of missions also took a prominent--place
   them a blessing in our Protestant Reformed Churches.             in the deliberations of our synod. Both the matter of
      We may add, that the commencement exercises for               home missions and of Foreign missions  weretgiven due
   these-graduates were held on Monday evening, June 9,             consideration.-~                 . .     _  _ . .
   in the church where`synod met. Besides. a few musical                    In regard to the matter of home missions, a  de-,
   numbers by a ministerial trio, student Knott delivered .cision was made to  calls two missionaries to labor in
   an oration, and the Rev. Hoeksema, rector of the                 the field together. In times past we have been  privi-
   school, gave the commencement address.               These ad- `leged to have one missionary  .in  .the field, whose work
   dresses will, no doubt, appear in the Standard Bearer            the Lord prospered.- But for the last few years our
   for your perusal.                    I          "                churches have called repeatedly; yet failed to obtain
    Three more significant decisions were made in                   another man for this work. In: the meantime,- our
   regard to our theological school.          _                     home mission work has  ,not been at a stand-still, but
       First, synod decided to correct an oversight of the          two ministers have repeatedly devoted their time to
   past.  _ To, date  .the-two -professors, Rev.  lHoeksema  and    this  .work,  often two of them laboring `together in a
   Rev.--Ophof-f have faithfully labored in our school' for
                                      .-.                           certain  field..'  Those.who `have  taken.part in this work
   a number of years, yet they have never been  d-uly  ini all agree- that' this' makes the-work much easier, and
   stalled as professors with the regular form for ordina-          proves far `more desireable than to lay the entire  `re--
   tion, The Theological School Committee has been                  sponsibility upon one man.                      The synod .of 1946 also
   charged with the mandate to carry out this ordination            already considered  the. proposal to -place two men in
   before the next school' year commences. The Lord                 t.he field instead of one. At that time  tile committee
   willing this ordination  will, take place in the early           of pre-advice recommended `this very strongly to the
  part, of September.                                               s y n o d   s t a t i n g :                                      c
    .Secondly,  it was decided to give Rev. H. Hoeksema                     "1.` This is a sound Scriptural principle.  ,(namely,
   one year to consider the feasability of laying down              tobend~ out two men together) with respect to mission
   his -work in the congregation `to become "full-time" labor. Cf: Luke 10 : 1; Acts 10 23 ; Acts 13  :2, etc.
   professor in our theological school. Synod proposes                      "2, The testimony- of our  -own men who have ex-
   to provide him with a salary -commensurate to his                perienced this manner of  lab&eq&esses  its  desire-
                                                                                                                                                  ,,~
   needs and also to furnish him with a home in the                 ability.                                              `.              .~  -,  :.
: . . vicinity  of. the- school. In case the Reverend should                "3. This arrangement would  promote~greateref-,
   decide to follow  up  this proposal, he will  be.,,g&en  a       ficjency, dispatch and, thoroughness. of  .' our -mission,
   leave of absence  1  #for one year, beginning  i in,,  the  Pall "wo'&.  j::."             ,-       '     ;,          :,,; .*:,  !_  ._ .  -  -       I
   of.  1948,`to.  give him an opportunity to prepare some                  "4 "..T& ' ia'$anke&knt  i'$ould `pra~i$e >`&&ffi&$.
   of the books he has contemplated writing; The gather-            and succession- during vacations, -attendance `of meet-
   ing was'somewhat reluctant to pass this decision, real-          ings; investigation. of new -fields, acceptance. df calls,
  izing that strong ties have been established between              etc.                     -'
   the pastor and his congregation during the past twenty                   "5. It would not increase the expenses, so `as to
                                                                                                                                r


                                      T H E .   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E `R                                        $53.

  make it prohibitive from a financial point of view." ation that already some years ago Prof. Schilder was
   (See Acts of Synod, 1946, page 69).                          the only one to raise any  defence of our denomination
    `. For some reason the synod of 1946 did not adopt          as a lone voice in the Netherlands,, and since that time
  this advice of the committee of pre-advice, but pro-          has expressed himself as being in agreement with our
  posed the possibility of asking some neighboring minis-       stand against the theory of common grace.             Our
  ter to periodically assist the missionary in his work.        churches will, no doubt, welcome the  ,opportunity to
  Since we have had no missionary in the field during           give the professor a hearing in our midst. It need
  the past year, this proposal had not been tried out.          hardly be added; that Mr. K. Van Spronsen, who visited
  But in reviewing the whole matter,  the. last synod           every session of our synod, and took special interest
  felt that this decision of 1946 would never prove  prac-      in all  our deliberations because of his relation to the
  `ticable  if an attempt were made to carry it our. Synod      Liberated Churches in the Netherlands, was more than
  felt at the same time,' that the prospects of  *getting pleased with this friendly gesture toward professor
  two men to labor in the field in conjunction with one         Schilder by our Synod.
  another are far brighter than of getting one man who              There is also contactbetween us and the Reformed
  must carry- the responsibility -and the burden of this         iGerman) Church in `the United States'. Although
  work alone. Some time in the near future, the calling         they had no representative from their  classis in our
  church, the First Church of Grand Rapids, will most           midst, there was a letter of greetings from their repre-
  likely be faced with the  dut.y and privilege of calling      sentative, who stated that it was impossible for him to
  two home missionaries. May our God, in His infinite           attend our sessions. Synod appointed the Reverends
  grace, make our churches spiritually fit to send out          J: Blankespoor and A. Petter to represent us at their
servants unto this labor.                                       next classical gathering.
       In this connection it can be said that the Rev; H.           The third important . matter  bro.ught  to the at-
 Hoeksema `has been requested to translate  hiss "De tention of'this `synod was the matter of Psalter reprint
  Geloovigen En Hun  Zaad" in the English language.             and Psalter reyision. As you know, our churches were
  Since he hopes to assume this work of translation him-        busy during the past, few years preparing a revision
  self, the Lord willing, he will make whatever revisions       of our present Psalter. There is one committee active.
  he deems fit, in order to bring it to date.  - This bro-      in examining the various songs and tunes, and another
  chure has received a wide reception in the Nether-            busy with. the liturgical forms in the back of the Psal-
  lands, and since it deals with such a timely subject as       ter. Both of these `committees presented their report,
the covenant of  :God,.it will surely prove to be a great       but their-work is by no means finished. A work of-this
  asset to our mission endeavors in our own country.            kind should be done carefully and thoroughly, if it is
       The matter of foreignmissions was also given some        to have a real value `for our churches. The general
  consideration.  .. The Mission  Committ,ee proposed to        opinion seems to be that it will still take some years
  attempt obtaining stations for broadcasting in the            before we are ready to use the revised Psalter in our
  Netherlands and other Dutch-speaking communities. -services.
  Some -investigation has already been done in regard to            But that does not mean that nothing will be done
  this matter, and it seemslikely that broadcasting time        to relieve the present shortage of Psalters in our
  can  beTobtained at a very nominal sum. We may hear            churches. An opportunity has offered itself to reprint
  more of this in the future.                                   the present Psalter in its present form, with only slight
       `The Mission  &Committee has also been mandated           changes, in sufficient number to tide us over until the
  to investigate some foreign mission  fie;ds, where we         new Psalter is ready. There will be one addition intro-       '
  may be able  to.begin labors of our own through our            duced into this reprinted Psalter. The Rev.`John !Heys
  own foreign missionary at some future date. In the            has.prepared  two chorales on the Lord's Prayer, which
: meantime, the  -churches are advised to begin taking up        have been adopted- by synod and will appear in this
  collections for this foreign mission project.       These      Psalter.'
  collection can be forwarded to our  synodical treasurer,          There are `always certain matters that appear on
who has charge of  all'the  synod&al funds. Such col-            the.agenda of  a,synod, which defy all classification.
  lections surely need no further  `reCommendation  among           Among these "varia" may be mentioned, first of all,
  u    s    .                                                    the matter of subsidies for our needy churches. Two
       Synod further decided to seek closer contact  .with       of our' churches' informed synod that they felt they
  the Liberated! Churches of the  iNetherlands  through          could now get along without further financial aid, ex-
 ' its Committee for Correspondence. And since Prof.             pressing their. appreciation for the aid received in the
  Dr. K. Schilder has informed us of his intentions of           past.  *Other  churches were granted aid as advised by
  visiting America next fall, Synod decided to recom- their respective Classes.  .,
  mend to our churches to open our pulpits to  Prof;                `Then `there was the matter of  our, new Church
 -  9childer: `This was done especially under the  consider-     `Order.    By this time  .most of. you know that our'             '


g-4,                                   T H E   STANDA-RD   B E A R E R
              -----..
churches have  .I@-ally published  their own Church              opinio,n$  :are welcome and I have not yet visited with
Order. It still contains the  eighty-si-x:   articles..of the    any-group in which the chairman drew definite con-
Church Order.  .of  Hordrecht (unchanged), but the               clusions at  "the close of' the discussion.
various decisions of our combined classes and synods                  A particular society which. I visited at various
have been added under the articles to which they per-            times was busy discussing the Epistle to the Hebrews.
tain.. You will  .also  find other valuable material in          They had been busy with this for some time and were
$his new Church  ,Order;  which.should have a place in           foilowing  the. outlines of the Federation which treat
every Protestant `Reformed home,           The price is one      the material text for text. Since the society met only
dollar, and you  can obtain your copy from the  stat,ed          once every other  week,.it is evident that this manner
clerk,  D.  Jonker, 1239 Bemis St. SE., Grand Rapids.            of discussion results in being busy with one Bible book
   What is also of interest to many of us, is the fact           for several years; The-result is a discussion of the
that. the synod has compiled a Year Book. This Year              text rather than of the Scripture;. For all the trees
Book contains information  '  abo.ut  all-. our. churches,       they lose sight of the forest.. I was also unable to
our ministers, our theological school, the various com-          discover that they found any. relation between various
mittees of our synod, etc. `There has been a great               groups of texts and still less a unified concept of the
demand for a year book of this nature for some time.             w h o l e   E p i s t l e .          -
It will  -prove interesting, informative and important                "The last time  -I was present the discussion con-
to  all.of us. This  .year the year book will  .appear  as a     cerned the eleventh chapter of [Hebrews: `the gallery
suppl,ement  to.the Acts of Synod, 1947, which will soon         of the faithful', or, as the apostle himself writes  :- `the
be offered for sale. Every family will want the 1947             cloud  of witnesses'.- During the discussion the ques-
Acts with the Year Book.              .                          tion was, raised whether it speaks  :here of `saving
   Finally, adecision was made to hold the next meet-            faith', since the life of Samson: and' Rahab the harlot
ing of synod, the Lord willing, in the First Protestant          and  the.  Israelitish' people themselves, who `by faith
Reformed Church of  TGrand Rapids, Michigan.                     passed-through the  Red, Sea', seemed to indicate that
    You` will agree that many, and weighty `decisions. something else than- `saving faith' -was `meant. The
were made. May the Lord cause His blessing to rest               ensuing discussion brought out that it' had always
upon that which meets  His approval. And may we                  been  ,tauglit: that there  .were various sorts of faith.
experience His blessing and grace' upon our churches             That besides saving faith there-  was'also historical
also in the future.  -                                           faith, .-temporal. faith,-.  and. miraculous faith.                 Upon'
                                   C.  kanko,, Reporter.         this the question was discussed what sort of faith
                                                                 all those mentioned in the eleventh, chapter might
                                                                 have had. When, finally, someone made the observa-
                                                                 tion- that the `Holland translation read `door `HET
                                                                 geloof" and that the definite article  ,certainly referred
              `- P E R I S C O P E                               to saving: faith,  .he was answered that the English
                                                                 translation did  ,not contain the definite article -but
               ~(~ontinued from last issue)                      simply stated `by faith'.                       Finally it was decided `to
                                                                 write.and ask the Professor of Greek at  Calvm'College
y.  IS. Views  U.  s.                                            concerning the original text and that this `would prob-
   "Whoever comes'-from the Netherlands to America               ably  - shed more- light on the matter.  land  this. all
and lives here for a while, is struck with the super-            occurred under' the leadership of a minister who had
ficiality that reveals itself in almost every aspect of          s t u d i e d   a t   C a l v i n   C o l l e g e .
American life. This is also true of the Church-society           "This is  - a clear indication of `how shallow the
                                                                                                           -.
life; the. organizations for young people, men and . study of the Scriptures is in America, even among
women.      It is not customary, for example, that a the ministers. They have no insight  -into, the organic
member give an introduction to the material to be dis-           connection, the  pervading~line of a Bible book or the
cussed but the group simply comes together, usually principle thought  -of' argumentation that  the-  Scrip-
under the leadership of the local minister, and after            lures present. When,  inreply to  .a11 this foolish  rea-
reading the Scripture portion to be handled simply soning, it was pointed out that the Apostle is busy
begins discussing without preparation or  introduc- in this chapter to bring to  -a climax all that he- had
tion.              i                                             written before and that the  IHoly Spirit struggles, as
    "There is a -Federation of Men's Societies which it were, to make it plain to the believing Jews what
prepares outlines for the Bible study but these lack the meaning of the service of the shadows was and
any essential methodology. `A few general remarks  .A how the saints. in the Old Testament `embraced this
are made' and several questions added, but for the               as seeing the things not seen and believed, and that
rest each  .is free to draw his own conclusions.         All     the content of faith is: Jesus Christ,. next to which  -


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                                                                                _    _-_-.   `
                                                                                             .  _.-..   .  .-  _  .______._  -  .  -.  .  .

  there is no other faith, and that the. whole of this ment  and..that  *`is--the  .-main:thing;  for that he will
  eleventh chapter loses all sense and meaning when pay;:  .:.  .: . - . _ ;  - . .  c  .`:;-  \P  .-
  one takes away this Scriptural concept of faith, no                     . "Naturally, this pragmatism also overshadows the
  one understood what was said. This is a great pity,,               Church  and--society   iiffe.  I:.!IJo~`.a-.Netherlander the  ques-
  for thus one no longer has a Holy Scripture but  the               tion often arises  ,how=:$he.-.American can continue to
  Bible remains a closed book.  .I blame this to the super-. live in this  spiritual~$&erty.  What is there left if
  ficiality with which they handle  all. things  -that  con-         this pragmatism  %sE;lf  has.  ino  .answer for the  ques-
  tern the spiritual life in America.                                tion  :  `does  .it.  w&k%.  ~  *For even in the prosperous
        "There- is -no desire for serious investigation and          America  .appearances:give  evidence of the fact that                     `I
  study. of the fundamentals.         They do not read in there:.are9problems  which cannot be worked out through
America. Their main concern is for a `society' which pragmatism; America today is- much different than
  is purely a social gathering, and if this can be attained.  .it;:was twenty years ago, And the morrow will pre-
  through the medium of the men's societies they  -are-  .`sent another entirely different picture.. Hence, if the
quite satisfied.      They look at one with,  amazen~ent             reformed youth. shall stand in.  that'..future they must
  when it is related that `a Netherlands society member              have a deeper spiritual understanding than they now
  often presents an introduction of from twenty minutes              possess. Here the `organizations of `the, men's and
  to' a half-hour upon the material to be treated and                ladies' societies can light  then way if- they will concern
  that,. in preparation, a study is made of sources and              themselves . with serious study rather  - than holding
  commentaries,. This is all radically strange to  Amer- mere social gatherings.
  . .
  lea.          -                                                    _    "As  being.typical of the specific Holland character;
        "I believe that this is all  co&ect,ed with the mater-       it  `was once said :  `one Hollander-a theologian ; two
  ialistic character which marks the American life and               Hollanders-a church ; three .iHollanders-a church
  because of which the abstract things no longer have                schism.' If I `have found this to be true anywhere,
  the place. they' shomd have. America lives out of the              it is  tertainly :in America.                        ,
  principle of pragmatism. `Does it work', they ask.                       "At this' moment. I am sitting in the study of a
  Is it practical and what does. it accomplish?. For that            minister of the Protestant Reformed Churches. His
  reason they understand.  the. mechanical things  ; know            home. is situated among surrounding mountain peaks
  exactly how an automobile is  put' together, for this              in a small and secluded spot in the Middle West. This
  knowledge he can use in his daily life. But that which             little place is more than a thousand miles removed
  belongs to the more remote spiritual principles-has                from the Pacific where I  *spent the winter.. Today is
                                                                                                                                    .~
  no interest for him  ; they are of no -practical value.            `Good Friday  .`and all the. world round about is white                    ,_
. This also explains the low esteem of the intellectual              with snow. When I wrote-my first piece for  De Refor-
  and almost total lack of interest for all- that which              ?netie, during Christmas week, I was  in the midst of
  has no practical value. Science is  only `worthwhile as            blooming flowers' and trees of  ripening'oranges1 Now
  it can be made to serve the enrichment of his family,              on. Good  ,Friclay I am' here  .where even the grass is
  his herds and his land ; and-so he uses it. Art  ~does not         dead and snow and ice are everywhere. Even  so,.the
  interest him at all. He does not know how to enjoy                 sun is  .shining with a  brilliance unknown to us in                             -
  a fine poem and has no desire for, or a concept of his-            Netherlands and the atmosphere is sereen and rare:
  tory.. The development and political` trends of `other             We are situated here more than  1606 meters above.
countries are only of importance as they concern                     sea-level while all round about rise the massive  mo&
  America or,  .to the extent that they concern him per-             tain peaks, as a protective wall enclosing  US  -in the
                                                                                                                     .
sonally.                                                             valley.
        " `Does it work?`, and if it  .does not work;  i:e. if            "`This is America  ; a  iand of the greatest contrasts
it does not fit into the scheme of his  materialisti&                and extremes.
  thinking, it  is- of' little import.. This does not  -mean               "But what I began to say : here, in this little place,
' to say -that he is bound to the dollar; This is no more            tliat is called `Amsterdam' and so small that `one would
  true of him than it is that the Hollander is concerned.            not even find it on the map, live  (Hollanders;  `It is a
  about the  g&den. He gives a great deal for  ,Church               tiny settlement. The first Hollanders came here in
  and school. Large sums are given for the maintenance the 80's of the last century. They are farmers and
  of the schools. But also in this case the principle                .have only about three months of the year' in which to
  holds : `Does  it,work?`,  i,e: does it, have practical value..    work the land  ; for-the rest it is winter here. But in
 Ed&a&n is secondary. More concern -is given to these three months the land produces in abundance.
  sports than to study.. The means of  ,education  are the           Yet` this small settlement has  .-two churches, one is
  same as in the public schools.          They use the same          the Christian Reformed Church' and' the other is the
  .readers,~ the same history books and the same gram-               Protestant Reformed Church.' You can understand
  mars. But the children are kept in their  own`environ-             then, that when  Ifirst drove through this little village
                                                                                                                               *
   ,       .


       4           5         6                T H E .   S T A N D A R D   BEA.RER
                           ,  -
       and saw the tvvo churches ahnost nexLto-one another, and a .pretention  of liturgy which does' pqthing  more
       the proverb which I wrote above unconsciously rose              than  camogflage an  innel:  ihoilowness  and  emptii
       in my mind.                                                     n e s s .
              `tone must certainly depiore this course of. eve&.          "We know  that we are not agreed with these
       All. came. from, the same fatherland, are inter-related Chtirches  in every respect. They have still another
       by ties of blood, have been driven to unity by the .covenant conception than we have ; which, if I upder-
       .natu_re- and elements .of the place .in_which  they iitre      stancl  it correctly, is again to be understood only
       and yet .are divided -and. separat.ed. -1s it possible that tipon the background of Americanism and its church
       this is all ydue merely to the `three points' of common life. It is to be seen as a sincere and hearty r&istance
       grace:? Certainly not. The .more I become aaquainted to the spirit of Americanism which pervades almost
       with the Church .questions  in Anierica the more I be- all the churches pf Amekica. The essence of the striv-
       come convinced that there are many poi@s of similar- ing'of the -Prqtestant.  Reformed Churches is,an ardent
       ity between the struggle whi& we haire in the Nether-           desire to maintain the rich heritage of the Reformed
       lands and that which the Rev. Hoekse%-we&  through              and -Scriptural truth.
       in America.                                                        "I have also received the impression in as far as I
              "The cause is mush deeper than tierely a question have contacted these Churched, that this purpose also
       of a portion of dogmatics. In the Netherlands the               lives in the hearts of the members. They know what
       schism finally came on the question of the Covenant,            they believe ancl are able to speak about- it. I do not
       but it could just as well, have begun on an entirely            find here the conformity and  self-compl&ency  and
       different issue. Essentially the schism was already spiritual lethargy. One need not be surprised at this,
       present. Fundamentally it was a question of world for these people struggle against the stream and the
       and life view; more of an ethical than a dogmatic and           winds are contrary to them. They are only small
       church;political crisis. I believe that in America ex- groups and-`must be resigned to bear a certain.renuncia-
       actly the same is true,                                         tion and scorn. It is not pleasant (gemakkefijk) to be
              "In s.o far as I have contacted -the Christian Re-       Protestant Reformed. It is, however, not  true that
       formed Churches and discerned from their publica-               they have loosed themselves from the ChrYstian  Re-
-      tions, I receive the impression that they are fiervaded         formed Churches because they  haSe a d&ire to be
       Vith a spirit of self-satisfactioil;  pf self-complacency schismatic. Besides the fact  that they consider the
       and self-sufficiency, which, in many  r.espects, resembles      deposition of Rev. Hoeksetia and others .a great in-
       what we in the Netherlands also experienced in the justice, they are also convinced that the maintenance
       years immediately preceeding  the war. I have pointed of the Reformed truth for themselves and their child-
       out before many instances in which, .accordilig to my ren demands this separation.
       opilQoti, these churches are thus deluded. Above all             "Naturally there are also dangers `threatening
       there is the tendency of conformity to the American them, and I believe they also see these. They are
       life,.which, in as far as it is yet religious, is eharacter-    slightly prone,  .it would seem, to tend to a certain
       ized by a pious tint of humanism and ap unscriptural            onesidedness. Due to a fear-for arminianism ancl dis-
       ,desire for  mass-conver&on,  while their own church appearance of the antithe@  they have come to a cerl
       life is marked by boundless superficiality. They pre- tain onesidedness  which may lead to consequences that
       sent a pretentious appearance but are hollow with- that should not be admittecl. But I believe they them-
                                   .                           2
       in.                                                             selves also see these things.
              "The Rev. Hoeksema already discerned this danger            "Nevertheless, it remains a deeply  cleplorable
       many years ago and his reaction against' it revealed
                                        ,                              fact that the Rev. Hoeksema was cast out in 1924.
       itself in his opposition to the teaching of common              He is as completely reformed a& the best in America.
       grace. He saw that the antithesis between the Church By their  actiori the Christian Reformed Churches
       and the world was disappearing in America. His sustained a. grievous loss. They coulcl not -get along
       agitation against the teaching `of common grace must without this man. `He saw the dangers which they
       be understood on this ba'ckground if one will `under- did not see, and with which they now have t'o strdggle I
       stalid anything at all of this struggle. That all hap-          in an ever increasing measure, while they no longer
     pened  more  t&n twenty years ago now. And now                    possess the  .stamina  of resistance to  statid against
       when one makes acquaintance `with this group of t h e m .
       -Churches he discovers here, the essence of character                    (To be co+&ed in the next fssuej .                I
       and f&m that is closest to that of the true Regormed                       .                                W.. H.
       Churches in the Netherlands. -This reveals itself in
       both the preaching and liturgy. The Protestant Re-
       formed Church have kept themselves free from the NOTICE! - As is customary, The Standard Bearer
       Americanistic influence of methodism, arminianism, will not be published on the 15th of July.


