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  VOLUME -XXIV                                 December 15, 1947 - Grand Rapids, Michigan                                . . .                         N U M B E R   6
                                                                      .4          the man who would:.prepare  the way of the Lord.
         1  `ME-DITAT  I O N And presently, when the Dayspring from on High,
                                                                                 and that is the Saviour, was  a&u&y  born in Bethle-  -
                                                                                  hem, -a singing heaven visits the earth, the hosts of
                                                                                  the angels gather in the night of Bethlehem, and they
.  The  ]Dayspring`  Frbm On High                                                 have  left. us the heavenly meter  - of. their jubilant
                                                                                  symphony.             -
                                                                                     Hark ! the herald angels sing !
                  "To give `knowledge of salvation unto His people                ' Again, there is a song in the heart`of men, humble
                  by the @emission of their' sins, through  the tender men, they are but shepherds, but when they have seen
                  mei-cy of our  `God; whereby  *he Dayspring from on the glittering Light from on high, -they return, and
                  highQ hath' visited  us; to give light to  .the&   that sit     returning they sing their song- of  .the praises of
                  in  daSkness  and in  the  ,shadow of death,  -to guide Jehovah.
                  our feet into the  way of peace."                                  And, finally,. we  hear: the trembling tones of a
    I                                               L u k e   'im-79.             Godfearing duet: Simeon and Anna. They have seen
         While .I write these lines, and also while you read the wonder-Child,' and they sing of the God-given
  them, we are in the days of advent; when we look for-. Redeemer.  ._
  ward to the day when we shall commemorate the gift                                They tell me that early in the  -morning there is
 `of Jesus to the world of God's goodpleasure.                              .     a veritable chorus of birds. that sing their happy
         And I have taken my text from the history of the                         song : the night of darkness is past!
  first advent, from the history when -the. remnant of                               This earthly symbol of hacpy birds is fulfilled, in
  God's people made--merry and sang the song of re- the church, surrounded by  the. angels of Go.d, sing-
  demption. In fact, my text is part of a -song which                             ing in the morning of redemption: Jesus is born today !                            -
 was sung by Zacharias, the father `of John the Bap- Glory to God in the highest !.
  tist. -                  _                                                         Shall we then not' sing?
         Those days of the first advent were .d.ays of ,great                        Oh yes, indeed, we will sing again and again of
happiness.           And we can. understand it that- God's Jesus, until our song shall be made perfect there where '
  people, and also the angels; started to- sing: The great the Dayspring shall have ascended to the'height of
  theme of their singing isthat .which shall make heaven heaven, and the darkness is forever gone. We shall
  musical forever: the unspeakable Gift of the Heart of sing -of -our Redeemer!
  God to His people.                                             _
         Let us see.                                                                                         Q    :p              *     *
                                                                                                                                             -
         Even the unborn child in Elizabeth's womb sang                              The Dayspring from on High !
  for joy:. the child' leaped for joy *when `it heard. the                           Whomever He may be,. He came to dispel.the  gloomy
  voice of the mother of Jesus;                                                   darkness of death.
         `That mother,' Mary; sang her song of great rejoic-.                        Oh yes, when Jesus came itwas night. Also that
  ing, when- she-heard the unbelievable report : the ,Sav; is divinely ordained. Jesus must be born in the depth
  iour was coming, and- the Triune Go-d had appointed of night in- Bethlehem.. . That is-in keeping with the
 her to be His.mother.                   :-                                       state and condition of those whom He would visit.
         And Zacharias, seeing the fulfillment of prophecy,                          And what -a night! -                 -                       &
 broke forth- in jubilant singing. He saw in his son                                 There was deep darkness in Zion;


                                             I
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 122 .                                     I'HE  STANDAR.D  B E A R - E R

     Darknesq  is absence of the light, and spiri.tually  it sin!" And the host of angels sang of -the `rmen of
 is absence of all goodness an'd virtue. And it `is also            God's goodpleasure."
presence of $11 evil and wickedness.                                   16 is because the "peopl&`" are so blessed that we
     Darknes! is utter impotence to `see, t6 walk &nd ~ commemq?ate  the dajrs of advent and the Christmas
$0 live.                -                                           day. .
    And by Divine decree: those that walk in darkness                                       :i: $  :,: :$
shall not have the light of life.
    And the objects of. thiswonderful  song of Zachariah               Look, if you can, into the Face of that Daysping !
are those that `"sit" in darkness and in the land of the               I say : if you can, .for it is tantamount with look-
shadow of death. The picture is horribly complete.                  ing-into  the golden lustre of Divine mercy!    The Son
    A horribly complete picture, for that word "death" of  ,God comes with the- glory of God's unspeakable
tellsVus the, terrible quality of the darkness atid the             pity and  co?nmiseration.
gloom that surrounds them.                                             Let US look at that Dayspring!
     D,clrkness  of death ! I,t iQ the folly of the natural            Yes, it is. imagery. It is the sun in his rising.
mind,- the crookedness of unrighteous, souls, and the               The Dayspring from on High is the sun when it ap-
corruption of the entire nature of nian. It is the very  pears at the, horizon and sheds its golden lustre,
opposite of the beauteous image of God which adorned prophesying:of  a day when all shall be bathed in light,
us originally. ,                                                    light, glorious light, all the Day of Eternity ! I would
     Such is the night of Bethlehem.                                shout it from the housetops : There shall- be no night
     Oh,ilet us not gloss over this awful fact. If you do, there ! And why not? Because it is the place where
yen will never be abfe to sing the Christmas carols of the Dayspring has run His course. Eternally He shall
the heavenly host of angels. Exactly in the measure. stand and shine at the zenith of the heavenly heaven
that you see the, gloom of the night of s<n and guilt,              of God.
 do you see also- the glittering and the shining Light of              Oh yes,- it is Jesus Christ the Lord.
the Dayspring from tin High.                                           You knew it all along. You have heard of Him so
     The song of Zachariah' is about those people that much and so often. When you could scarcely speak,
 sat in `darkness and in the shadow of death !                      they told you of that CChristXhilci. It was the theme
                             8  *  $  *                             of the whole life of, your forebears, of your progeni-
                                                                    tors, your te&chers, your pastors, your friends, your
     But attend to &e name which he gives to them,                  whole world of thought, expression and action. Oh
a. name that spells singing and, rejoicing, `the jubilant yes, we knew it! The Dayspring from on High is the
                                                               .
 &y and the God-given anthem of. praise.                            blessed Son of God `who comes to us with healing in
     What ii it? It is the name "His people" !                      His wings. rShal1 we then not make merry on Christ-
     That possessive pronoun  .,means infinitely  moree mas `eve? If we did not the very stones and the rocks
than mere possession. -Does not God possess every- would organize their Christmas programs.
thing and everyone, be he wicked or good, be he elect                  And we will continue.to  look into the golden lustre
 or reprobate?                                                 of Divine mercy, fo? that is Jesus Christ.
    They are His people because He loved them .from                    It is in the text: look at it! Through the  tinder
all eternity. It is a possessive `pronoun indeed, but mercy of our God!
i'c tells LZS of the relation of 4oving possession. It  t&s           I Mercy! Divine compassion !  -It is God, tenderly
 of a love that never knew a beginning.  &s  `did as                commiserating with the miserable object o,f which we
 Jehovah is. so old -iS the love which sends                        spoke above. Mercy always has to do with misery;
                                                  you, your
 Christmas, and your Christmas-Child, and your Christ-                 Jesus is the Mercy of Triune God !
mas Jay ! You are His people, and it'is for tha,t reason               And this' li?ercy  has visited us. God came to you
that the Dayspring from on High will visit you again                "on company".
 a n d   a g a i n .                                                   He did so, long, long ago.
     And that Dayspring,  ~whomever we mean, will visit               First, in  the- Word of Promise in the first  Para-
 3roti because you became a sinner in time, and since He dise. Oh that seed of the woman ! Well, here she is :
 loves you kternally,  He loves you even when you were the final woman : Mary the mother of `Jesus.
 sinners,  -and sat in. the darkness of the  shadow of                 The "people",  Mis `people, clung to that promise
 death.                                                             throughout all the ages. with their attending death
    You dare not speak any different on.that glorious               and' ckwkess.    They loved to bring forth children,
 day when you remeniber the song of `the angels. One and they hoped for the redemption of Israel.
 of the m.ost important of the heavenly host has told                  Second, He came in the humble citv of Bethlehem.
j it -to Mary : "for He shall save His people from their There is the Dayspring from on  High. Careful, do  -

                                                                                       .


                                                     THE STA.NDARb BEARER                                    a               i23
                                              ,L-
      not stumble here in this smelly barn. Come, do not be           Man ! No m$.tt& whd you are : do you know I/`OLI~
      afraid,   coine closer if you want to  see  the. "golden sins and misery?
      lustre" of a Sun that shall shine unto all  etel;nity  !        And have you learned to bewail them before the
      -Oh yes, you are right: He -lies in the sour-smelling Face of Him who KNOWS ALL AND EVERY SIN
      manger, the place  wheu?e beasts of the field' slaver YOU  COMMIKTED! A good question to begin your
      and munch and eat. their fodder. Oh yes,. you are -right.    festivities when the days of advent ar'e over and when
      There is ho mistake.                                         the ADVENTEID  ONE came!
        _ All this misery, this poverty, this degradation is          Well then: this is the ,Gospel of Christmas. This
      a picture of the darkness of the shadow of yodr and is the result of the shining Dayspring froln on- High:
      my death.                                                    He took all you: sins away, never to return. There %6
          But it is also the visiting of that D&spring. It is remission of sins.
      the eternal mercy of your and my ,God, blessed for--           .-It means that when *you appear -before the Judy-
      ever !                                                       ment Seat, you shall hear Jesus say to God :' I will not
          He came.                                            i that this one and that one and all the others there a&
          He visited me.                                           here, descend into the pit: I HAVE FOUND A RXN-
          And He proved  His mercy in His coming. The SOM!                       :
.     dirty stable, the animals, the sour-smelling- manger,           Remission of sin means  that +hen finally you will
      the swaddlingclothes, the poverty-stricken and for- see the glorious Face of God, that this Face will be
      saken mothe; and `"father" are .so many proofs that wreathed in smiles of goodpleasure in you, and you,
      -He came in order to shine on me, and ta continue to and you!
      shine on me, until all my darkness is gone and I do             He will be silent in `His love regarding all  yoilr
      not have to spend my eternity in the outer darkness of sin, and He'$hall be voluble in His words of welcome
      hell. He went there for me.                                  on. that first day in heaven. At the door  yen will
          Such is the Light of the  Dayspring that visited hear `Him say: Welcome home my son, my daughter`!
     you and me.                                                   Your sins are forever gone. Come in and inter into
          In accents sweet it is a song of mercy of God. He the joy of' your Lord!
      tias moved with our misery and absorbed it. Yes,                And why?
      that is the right word.' It is absorbed. In all my af-
      l&ions He was afflicted. Carry over this cypher  and            Because of Christmas !                      .~ .
      carry it over and over again,. unto all eternity, for Hk        And that knowledge  He gives. And that knowledge
      bore  ouy' eternal sorrows. Reason why His name is we embrace.                               _
      also Man of Sorrows.                                            And though we smile in that knowledge through
          Shall we then not sing on Christmas eve?.                our tears of suffering, here in the midst of devils and
          We shall sing and we shall teach the little ones to wicked men, we smile nevertheless,, for Jesus gave us
      sing until the sun and the moon shall shine nq more.         the knowledge. of salvation, by the remission of our
          And then Z-Ie shall continue to shine.                   griedous sins.
          Oh yes, shine on Christ of God, Sun of righteous-                                  *  :I:  * $2
      ness Golden lustre, Bearer of Divine mercy of- Thy
      G o d !                                                          But there is more:. t'o guide our feet into the way
                               :g  :j:  :I:  :i:                   of peace !
                                                                       Peace is the harmoiy between your. heart and the
          And the result?                                          heart of God. When His heartbeat and ydurs beat in
          Has Christmas a fruit?                                   uniso& and you know that, then you taste peace. In
         Zacherias shall sing also of that.                        a figure: whep you sing a song with God and when
          Listen to him : To give knowledge of_salvation unts your voices  merge  and you sing as one. Then  yx~
      His people `by the remission of sins . . . to guide our have peace.               '
      feet into the way of peace !                                     The way to that peace is the Chris&-Child.
          To give knowledge of salvation bg th.e ~emissio~z  of        His name is the Prince of Peace.
      SinS!
          Who is there among you who has not tortured him-             And He- has made peace through His heart's blood.
      self with the thought of his or her terrible sins? Do            He is the.great Peace-maker.               .
     you remember  the nights'when' sleep fled and slumber             And Christmas tells me that He takes your hcnd
      vanished from your tearstained -eyes? Do you re- /and leads you on the way `of peace to the place where
      member the nights when you uttered unheard groan- your peace will eternally flow like a river I -
      ings, shed "dry" tears, gave irent to sighing and MLW-           Blessed night when Jesus was born !
     muring?              ,
                   . I                                                                                                 G. V.  -.


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     1 2 4                                                                                                           T H E                         S T A N D A R D   BEARE&                                                                   ~'

                                          The `Standard Beglrer                                                                                                                -
                     Semi-Monthly, except Monthly in July' and August                                                                                                                            ` E D I T O R I A L S   -
                                                            P u b l i s h e d   B y
                                The.Reformed  Free Publishing Association
                                                         1463 A&more St., S.. E.                                                                                                           A Question .Regarding Paul%
                                              EDITOR:  -. Rev. H. Hoeksema.                                                                                                               The Grand Haven adult Bible Class sends rnk the
   Contributing  1 Editors : -  Rev.   .G. M. Ophoff, Rev. G.  `c;os,  Rev.                                                                                                           following question :
   R.  -V,eldman,   Rev.  H. Veldman, Rev. H. De Wplf, Rev. B.  Kok,
   Rev. J. D. De Jong, Rev. A.  Platter,  Rev. C.. Hanko, Rev. L.                                                                                                                     "Editor, Standard Bearer .                                           -
   Vermeer,  Rev. G. Lubbers, Rev.  ?`I; Gritters, Rev. J. A. Heys,                                                                                                                   Grand Rapids; Michigan.
   R e v .   W .   Bofman.                                                                                                                                                            D e a r   E d i t o r : -
         Communic+ions  relative to contents should be addressed to                                                                                                                       We would appreciate having your opinion voiced
   REV.  GEBRI?'  VO'S,  Edgerton, Minnesota.  "                                                                                                   -                                  with respect to the following:
         dommunications  relative to subscription should be addressed
   to MR. GERRIT PIPE, 1463 Ardmore St., S. E., Grand Rapids,                                                                                                                             "It is, .of course, impossible to determine the exact
   Mich.               Announcements and Obituaries must be mailed to the -time of .~one's regeneration but to explain the apostle
   above'address and will be  publish'ed  at a  fee.of  $.l.OO for each                                                                                                               Faul's religious zeal prior to his conversion, (Phillip.
   notice.                                                                                                                                                                            3 :6) is it probable. that he was already regenerated
                                          (Stibscription  Price $2.50 per year)                                                                                                       and'that this zeal was a fruit of that work? Or was
   Entered as Second Class Mail  .at Grand Rapids,  ,Michigan.                                                                                                                        his regeneration and` conversion simultaneous and if so,
                                                                                                                                                                                      from whence arises this zeal?"
                                                                                                                                                                                      -- Thantiing you, we eagerly -await your reply.
                                                                                                                        /                                                                                          F r a t e r n a l l y ,
                                                                                                   ._
                                                                                                                                                                                                              Grand iIaven Adult Bible Class.
                                                                                                                                                                                          In answer the following:
                                                                        - CONTENTS -
                                          -. ,                                                                                       .                                                   1. The Editor, that is, the pev. Hoeksema is _not
   MEDITATION  :-                                                                                                                                                                     available at this time to answer your question. How-
   THE DAYSPRIN,G FROM ON HIGH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121                                                                    ever, the undersigned "subs" for him, and therefore, I
              Rev. G. Vos.                                                                                                                                                            will do my best.
                                                                                                                                                                                          2. The texts, pertinent to this question:  are, among
   EDITORIALS  z--                                                                                                                                                                    others, hhe following :
   A QUESTION REGARDING PAUL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124                                                                         Philipp. 3 : 6 `: "`Concerning zeal, persecuting the church ;
_ REGRETTFULLY  PASSE,D  BY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125 touching the righteousness which is in the law, blame-
              Rev. G. Vos. .                                                                                                                                                          less."
                                                                                                                                                                                      I Tim.  1:3: "Who was before a blasphemer, and a
   OUR DOCTRINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I.. : . . . . . . . . . . .._..._....... ..,.............................  126                                                          persecutor, and itijurious: but I obtained mercy, be-
              Rev. H. Veldman.                                                                     '                                                                                  cause I did it ignorantly in unbelief."
                                                                                                                                                                                      `II Tim. 1:3 : "I thank Gocl whom  I serve fro& my fore-
   GOD'S PEOPLE LIVE ALONE' -...: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 -fathers with pure conscience. . . ."-
   THE DAY OF SHADOWS ..: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133                                       Acts  9 :3-8; 22 :6-11; and 26  :12-l&
                                                                                                                                                             o-
              Rev. G. M. O&off.                                                          .  *'                                                                                            2. There are two inaccuracies which crept  into you?
                                                                                                                                                                                      thinking, `and which we better trkat first. They are ;
   SION'S ZANGEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..I............................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 a. The idea that the mistaken zeal of Paul could Hague
              Rev. G. Vos.                                                                                                                                                            been the fruit of his regeneration. There is only one
                                  0                                                                                                                                                   fruit of regeneration, and that is conversion; b. The
   IN HI'S FEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..I . . . . . . . . . . . . .  f . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..I . . . . . . . 139    idea that regeneration and conversion could possibly
              R e v .   J .   A .   Heys.                                                                                                                                             be simultaneous. That is impossible.  Regeneratios
                                                                                                                                                                                      is the root of  conversidq.  Proof: ad a. Regeneration
   FROM HOLY `WRIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 `is the quickening of l&e new man in Christ: II Cor.
               Rev. G. C. Lubbers.                                                                                                                                            `i 4  :6 ;  and II Cor. 5  :17. It is through the  operaLion
                                                                                                                                                                                      of the Holy Spirit of Christ in the  heart  bf' man;
   PERISCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  .._.......... 143 i;hrough which he becomes "one plant with Christ".
               Rev. W.  Hofman. .                                                                                                                                                     And you will understand that no mistaken zea!, sinful
                                                                                                                                                                                       zeal, such as of Paul in. his unconverted state, cou!cl


                                           T H E   S T A N D A R D   BEAR.ER.  _                                            125

 possibly spring from that holy seed which is ill the.
 regenerated man's heart. See also I John 3 :9. ad b.                          Regrettf'ullly  Passed By                            _
 See I Pet. 123. There yod have proof that regenera-
 tion and conversion cannot be simultaneous; To be                     Our readers will remember that  .our Editor at
 born again in that text constitutes the whole process:               various  occasions enlightened you on the First  R&'
 regeneration in the narrow sense, namely, in the sense formed Ecumenical Synod which was held in Grand
 that we are suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye, made Rapids, Mich.; from August 14 to Adgust 30, in 1946.
 alive in Christ ; and also conversioti which i;s its &nit               The Christian Reformed Church (es) had also dele-`
 and-which  is a' continual process . That this is so with            gated a number of men to that Synod which claims
 respect to that text is plaill when we note how the n?an to be Reformed, but which did some things which are
 is. born again oute of seed and through the Word. `The v e r y   u n r e f o r m e d .
 result of. the two is the new birth. Again: wheu ive                    These delegates brought their rQport.to~  the.i$ynod
 speak of regeneration ia the narrow sense of the word,               of the Christian Reformed Churches `which was held
 we have. in mind the  implantivg of the new seed l&t summer in Grand Rapids, Michigan. *That we did
 through the immediate operation of the.. Holy Spirit not comment on their report and our portion in it, is
 of Christ. But when we speak of the new birth in the                 because I did no_t get a copy of, their acts iri my pos-
 &oader  sense of the word, we have in `mind the q;zick-              session until recently.
 ening of the inner man, plus the coming of that .life in               -Yes, we have had our portion in that report, and
 his consciousness,  -namely,  his conversion.  And ac-               I think you have a right to know' about it.
 cording to my opinibti,  the text in-- question (I Pet.                 The Ecumenical Syilod decided to express itself on
 .1:23) pictures both: bbrn 1. out of seed; -and 2.                   the foundation of such Synods.      (For the benefit .of
_ through the Word of God.           :                       :        those among .yon who do not know the lineaning of the
     3. Now  tibout the heart of your question: how word ecumenical, I would give you the meaning as fol-
 must we explain the zeal of Paul before he was con-                  lows :` It refers to a synod of the Reformed Ch&ches
 verted? In answer to that question I would say that that are-found in the whole wide world; and therefore
 Paul's zeal in persecuting the church of Christ was it ts a synod`that is or claims to. be (sic) universal.)
 -neither the fruit of his regeneration, nor of his con- -Well the Ecumenical'Synod decided to make the found-
 version, but sprang from- purely carnal motives and ation to be "`the -Holy Scriptures- if the old and the
 was to be  coizdemned..  We know that the Jews had                   New. Testaments as- intefpreted by the confessions of
 the oracles of God, and that there were many devout `the Reformed Faith, n$mely, and then follows a list
 Jews also, at the time that Christ sojourned on earth.               of those  Re'for-ti@d  Confessions, among which are
 But the `zeal of Paul was plainly no. devotion to God.               found  bur  own  Three  Forms  of Unity,  namely, The
 Attend to what he himself says about  tha$ zeal in Belgic Confession, The Heidelberg Catechism .and the
 I  Ti`m.  1:3. He calls himself a blasphemer, and a `Canons of Dordt.                             1.
 p-ersecutor  an< injurious. But what to my mind is the                  On page 48 of their Acts they' say as follows : "All
 plainest proof for the stand that Paul's zeal was carnal             Churches which profess the Reformed faith  tire to
 is found in Acts 22 :3, where we read: "I-am verily a be invited unless they fail to exercise discipline in the
 &an which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia,               case. of --departure;  from the.Refoftied  faith."
 yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, `and               Now I do -not believe that' I am prestimptuotis  or
 taught according to the perfect manner .of the..Iaw of               byerly proud when I `say. that 1. expected that. our
 the fathers, and was iealous  toward God, CLS ye a21 are             churches  .would   be invited to such an  Ecumenic'al
 this day!" Note that Paul compares his zeal before @nod-of the future'.' I wtiuld &tin go.one  step farther
 his co&ersion to the zeal of the wicked Jews that sur- ahd'say that the whdle Christian Ref&ned'Chur@i  (es)
 round him and that thirst for. his blood. Of that zeal know that we are Reformed.
 he himself says in Romans 11:7 that it did not obtain                  But that is not the point I wish to make. It is not
 that for which it sought after, namely, justification by             a subjectiye  question at all. They went on record to
 the works of the law, but that the election obtainecl it.            state.zthat  all churches that profess the  .Refo@m&d
     I would conclude therefore. and say that the zeal faith would be invited. Further, they enimierate  -a
 of Paul was carnal and- very -sinful ; indeed, the zeal              list' of Reformed  `Confessiohs,,.  and` our Confessions
 of Paul before his conversion is so worthless that he are' among the list.                   So the' only  proper-   6onclusion
 himself in: the verses followirig upon the verse you sent -would be that they address our Synod and request- Us
 in, counts all those things a loss for Christ. .See Phil. to se&delegates to their  Ecumenical`synod.
 3 :7 and especially- verse 8.                   m                       But no, such is fiat the- case. Listen  tb what thev
   .Hoping  that `I may shed sorrie light on. your ques- say. First they  enumerate a list of  ?hurches  which
 tion, I am yours in His service,                                     they  will invite, and then: they say this about our
                                                      .-     G."v.    churches : "Your-delegates  also regret the fact that


 1            2         6                  . T H E   .STANDARD   B E A R E R

 they are unable to advise synod to ,e&end an invitation t&row outside the pale 0; the chu!rches men that love
 to participate in the next Reformed Ecumenical #Synod            the Reformed truth.
 to the Protestant Reformed Church (that should have                 And when the so-called Ecumenicals  get together
 read Churchesj since we believe in the conceptiofis  of in  H&&d,  Michigan,. they build  ~the  .graves  of the
 Reformed Church Polity and .also try to practice it. prophets, and say: if we. . i I, you know the rest.
 G.V.), since your degelates are conpinced  that as long             It is a sad case.
 as the Protestant Reformed Churches assume t$e posi-                Not that we-are not invited. I doubt if our synod
_ tion and attitnde-as expressed in the official communi- would have sent delegates to a synod which at its very
 cation addressed to the Christian  Reforme'd Synod of inception corrupted true Reformed church polity such
 1943, Acts 1.943, Art. 161, attempts in the direction of         as they did in the case of the Liberated churches.
 ecumenical friendship with the Protestant Reformed I doubt if our synod woilld delegate men and. expend
 Churches `are futile."                                           money for such a conglomeration of  _ weak-backed
      Please note, that the abbve ground for- their de- would-be Calvinists who prove-at  every turn that they
 cision militates against their accepted ground fbr the .are devoid of the true love of Reiormed truth.
 invitation of, possible churches to the general synod.              But it is sad when we see this wicked action by
 They said: all churches that profess the Reformed men who call themselves Reformed. We are sad for
 faith are to be ipvited. And now they say: we will not their sake.
 invite the Protestant Reformed ,Churches because they               And it is. a sign,of  the times.             G. V.
 sent us `a bad letter, or they sent us a0 letter which
 proves that they are not, the kind of people one would
 associate with.
      But here is the real reason: 1. They do not like*                  OUR  D O C T R I N E   '
 us because we  a& Reformed, even fun&mentally Re-
 formed ; see Acts of the Christian Reformed Synod of
 1924 in re decision relative the Three Points,  2: `Hence, '                 Our Covenant God
 they must find an alibi in the face bf their own action ;
 the alibi is found in a letter which we sent not in 1943              The Propriety of Discussing the Covenant
 bUt in 1940.                                                                         At This Time.
      It is a sad case. The action of the delegates to the        Reformed writers- or theologians  pf the  pa& have
 F..R.  E. S. is really very unfair and evil too. `What did not always accorded the subject of the Covenant the
 .we write in that letter? We reminded them of their same  place.  in their discussion or treatment of Re-
 sins in throwing outside  the pale of their  churches            formed dogmatics. The late Professor Bavinck of the
 faithful of*fice  bearers. Wti reminded them also -of'th&ir Netherlands, in his `$Gereformeeyde  Dogmatiek".  treats
 evil action in raising the `error of common grace to. an this subject in his Christology, the dbctrine concern-
 accepted dogma in the  church. of God.                           ing the Christ. Prof. L. Berkhof,  iti his "Reformed
      The bY;ethren need not ,exclude us oti account of that Dogmatics", discusses the Covenant in Anthropology,
 letter since tie to@ teem  very.humbiy  that, and I qu'ote : the doctrine ,of man. The i&e Dr. A. ;Kuyper of the
 "we on our part gladly Confess that we aie far .from             Netherlands speaks of the Cov&ant immediately prior
 having attained to perfe&ion, and hereby express our to Christology and  folloiving  ucon `his discussion of
 willifigness to ,rec&ive and consider whatsoeyer  admoni-        the fall of man and its -consequences. Others, among
 tidns  you. may deem proper to' give  -us, either with whom also the late Prof. Ten Hoor, treat this subject
 regard to' our doctrine 6r to our conversation. . . ." in  Soteriology,  the doctrine  of. salvation. Until now
 I ask you in all serioushe&  : `is -it `proper to exclude        we have discussed the Knowledge of God, the ratio&
 such peopje  from your R. E. S. since they &n$essedl$            proofs of His existence, God's Revelation in tFe Holy
 are Reformed and et&ally prove thems&lves'tractible,             Scriptures, His !Oneness,  and the doctrine of the Trin-
.&s is clearly @oven from the above excerpt ?                .    ity. W-e now purpose to continue our contributions
  - But no, the brethren reveal all to clearly  `tihat iS         to the rubric, "Our Doctrine", with a series of articles
 the real object. They'have proven it also in,the &se             on the Covenant. We believe that a series of articles
 of `the Liberated Churches. They condemned,  them on this subject'can be of benefit to the readers of our                    .
 also, and without hearing one' word fioril l;he other            Standard Bearer, particularly to our Protestant Re-.
side, a  side  th& counts 100,000  soulS. They  `want  a~ formed  young people.            We are  ako convinced that
 social get-together' at stated` times ; they `want "eeti         Gdd's living fellowship and relationship with His
 onderorisje", not `a ruggedly  Reforined  Synod. Our people, His "covenant fellowship with His own, is in-
til:eBent   generation  of `would-be Reformed theologians -separably  connected  with His own being  and  life-
 hate `the? ver$.`heart  of Ref orrried theology. &id these theplogians, such as Kuyper and Bavinck, have recog-
 %rt$  lie         e.nipCy words, This can be  proveri.   - They nized and.`given  expression to this truth. @Je believe


                                    T H E   S T A N D A R D   BE~ARER.~                                          i i i

the trinitarian life of God. to be the basis of the Lord's    Prof..Heyns. He declared the promise to constitute
covenant fellowship' with us. Hence, having treated the essence of the covenant. And, inasmuch as he
the doctrine of the Trinity-in our last article, we would applied the promise to :all, he placed all within the
at this time begin our series of articles on the covenant.    covenant in the. essential sense. of the word. And,
                                                              although Prof. Schilder, during his visit among us,
            A  Twmeidously  `Jital Subject.                   vehemently rejected the Heynsian conception of Bap-
 The subject of the Covenant is of tremendous and tism and the Covenant, also. the Liberated Church of
vital importance.  I$is surely Scriptural. The Word the Netherlands seem to desire to say something posi-
of God speaks of a relation between God and man ir            tive for  all the children of believers. The writer of
various ways. The Scriptures speak, -among other this article is  df the conviction that the most im-
things of : the covenant; God's dwelling with man and         portant question for the believing parent is not the
man's dwelling with God, Enoch's and Noah's walking           salvation of this particular child or children. God's
and talking with God, the tabernacle and temple of the covenant and the realization of that covenant is and
Old Testament, Abraham as the friend- of God, God's must remain the supreme question. The church gives
eternal tabernacle with tian in the new heavens and birth to a twb-fold seed. And in this we muit be willing
upon  the'new earth. Of importance is this subject, to be a s,weet-smelling  savor of Christ, in them that are
however, not only because of the emphasis which it saved, and in them that perish-2 .Cor. 2 :14-16.
receives in Holy WY'it, but also because of the many             Fundamentally but two conceptions of the covenant
questions which it occasions within the heart and are possible. The covenant is either a means unto an
mind of the child and church of God. Should we speak end, or it is the end itself. The covenant is either. the
r?f parties or of parts in the covenant? ,Our Protestant way -of salvation or a contract which ,God has sover-
Reformed Churches prefer to speak of "pa&" instead            eignly established with man unto his salvation, or it is-
of "parties". Also our Baptism Form speaks of "parts" salvation itself, the expression of God's eternal and
in the familiar expression: "Even as in all cuvenants : blessed fellowship with His people in Christ Jesus.
there are contained two parts". Prof. K. Schilder of
the Liberated Churches of the Netherlands, however,                   Various Conceptions of the `Coignunt.
prefers to speak of "parties" . . This was emphasized            The first conception of the covenant to whiEh we
bp him during his recent visit among us. He spaIke cf would call attention is that of the late Prof. Heyns.
God as the large or  capitdl  <`P" and of man  `as the        He sought the essence of the covenant in the promise.
small "p". In all' justice to the learned theologian of However, we must bear in m&d that he -did not under-
the vetherlands it *must be noted that he spoke of the        stand the promise in the Reformed sense of the word.
large "P" and the small, "p" exactly because he would         The promise, according to the Holy Scriptures and
emphasize the  infinite  distinction which exists between understood in the Reformed sense, is the word of
God  .and man. Repeatedly he emphasized that he Divine faithfulness whereby He declares unto His
spoke of God and 6f man as parties in .-the covenant people that he will bestow upon them the eternal  salta-
not because' they must be considered *independently tion which He has laid away for them from before the
in any sense of the word. Nevertheless he preferred foundation of the world. The Reformed conception of
to speak of God and of man as the capital "P" and the         the promise is not that of an offer but exactly that of
small "i" respectively.. &nd the reason which prompts -a promise. And in a promise  the question whether we
him to make this distinction is that, although we must        will receive something is determined &oZeZy by him who
`maintain the infinite distinction between ,God and man, gives the promise. But Prof; Heyns understood the
we must nevertheless not lose sight of the fact that          promise in the  sen,se of an offer. God's promise of
man, as a moral-r'ational creature, assumes an .active        salvation was therefore an offer of salvation. And,
part, plays an active role within the sphere of the c&e-      according to him, this off& of s$vation is-extended to
nail-t. Another question; always of vital interest. for all. To support this view, Heyns advanced his pela-
the anxious child of God, is that which concerns the gianism as applied to the baptism of infants. The
position which our children occupy within th.e cove- professor was well aware of the f&t that, according
nant. Must we regard, presuppose them to be. regen- to the Holy Scriptures, -all are conceived and born in.
erated? This is the,position  of the Reformed `Church- sin and therefore wholly unable to accept this gracious
es of the- Netherlands today. In this they follow the offer of salvation. He, therefore, advanced the theory
conception as conceived and developed by the late Dr.         that the Sacrament of Baptism confers upon each
4. $uyper.  According to Dr: Kuyper,  presupposed re-         child a sort of qualifying grace, not saving grace,
generati-on is the ground for the baptism of infants. eliabling that particular child to acceljt th,e promise or
Or, must we regard all our children as essentially of offer of salvation which would later be extended to
the covenant, as covenant-children in the essential him in the preaching of the gospel.
sense of the wqrd ? This was the position of the late            This Heynsian view of the covenant is impossible.
                                        . .  _


 1 2 8 ;                           T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R `

In the first place, it must be rejected because-it is        ing away of our sins, and the incorporation into
guilty. of Pelagianism!  It declares that each child is      Christ's death and resurrection. -But the Spirit? Does
rendered able,to accept the "offered salvation" without He witness and seal unto us the bestowal of the bless-
regenerating grace.Man, -therefore, is not wholly ings of the Father and tne-Son? Not at all. He will
corrupt. apart from the  .regenerating  grace of God,        do this, if only we  accelJt  the proferred blessings of
This is Pelagianism.     Secondly, this view must be salvation. The Father and Son on the one hand, and
rejected  because it contradicts the Scriptures, Paul, the Spirit .on the other hand, `therefore, are not in
confronted-in Romans 9 .by the promise of God on the complete accord. .
one hand and by the destruction of thousands of Israel-         A second view of the covenant to which we  ,would
ites and. thei*r evident damnation on the other hand,        call attention is that which conceives of-the covenant
declares that the word. of God (the promise) had not as a contract or mutual agreement, with mutual stipu-
taken none effect exactly because the promise had lations and obligations. Prof. Berkhof's definition of
never been extended to all. According to  -Paul in the covenant, virtually the same as the definition of the
Remans-9 the objects of the promise are not all who          late Prof. Ten Hoor (page 121 of his Gereformeerde
are called Israelites but only the true Israelites ac-       Dogmatiek), page 2'77 or' his Reformed Dogmatics,
cording to election. Thirdly, the Heynsian view must reads : "The covenant of grace is-that gracious- agree-
be rejected because it involves a virtual denials of the     ment between the offended God-and the offending but
Trinity in its interpretation of the first part of our       elect sinner, in which ,God promises salvation through
Baptism Form. According to our Baptism Form, and fait-h in Christ, and the sinner accepts this belieyingly,
we quote,: "Second : .Holy. Baptism witnesses .and seals promising a life of faith and obedience." We should
unto us the washing away of our sins through Jesus note in this definition that God promises salvation
Christ. Therefore we are baptized into the Name of through. faith in Christ, and the sinner must' promise
God, the Father and the Son.and the Holy Spirit. For faith and obedience. Older theologians, such as Mas-
when we are baptized into the Name of the Father,            tricht,  also regarded the covenant as such a mutual
God the Father witnesses. and seals unto LIS that He         agreement or contract (see Standard Bearer, Vol. 1,
makes an eternal covenant of grace with us and adopts No. 12, pages 15-16). We must bear in mind; in our
us for-His children and heirs, and therefore will pro- evaluation of this conception of the covenant, that it
vide us with every good thing and avert all,evil  or turn was maintained that the covenant  of, God with man;
it to our profit. And when we are baptized into the as far as' its origin, beginning, and establishment is
Name of the Sonj the Son seals unto us that He washes        concerned, is solely of God, "monopleurisch". Never-
us in His blood from all our sins, incorporating us into theless,  in its essence it. is presented as a contract and
the fellowship of His death and resurrection, so that mutual agreement. This conception of the covenant
we are freed from our sins and. accounted. righteous is based, among other things, upon the so-called "coun-
.before God. Likewise, when we are baptized into the se1 of peace" or "counsel of redemption", in which the
Name of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit assures us          Father and the Son `are described as entering into
by this holy sacrament that He will dwell in us, and such an agreement or contract, the Father requires
sanctify us to be members of Christ, imparting to us' obedience, et&, and promising eternal life to the Son,
that which we have' in Christ, namely the washing and the Son promising obedience and expecting eternal
away of -our sins and the daily renewing of our lives,       life of the Father: Another .proqf for this conception
till we shall finally be presented without spot among of the covenant is seen in the text which is regarded as
the assembly of the elect in life eternal." Heyns, in a. fundamental expression -of this covenant relation-
that particular part of this quotation which deals with      ship: `7 will be a God unto thee and to thy seed after
the work of the .Holy Spirit, laid all emphasis upon the thee, and. ye shall  beg My people." God, therefore,
word "will", "that He wiZZ dwell in us", and emphasized promises to be our God: And we must respond and
that this will or desire of the Holy Spirit to apply the     promise to be God's people.' Besides this text, many
blessings of Christ unto us was independent upon our other texts are quoted in which. the obligations of the
acceptance of the gospel or willingness to permit this people of God (hope,, faith, love, etc.,) are mentioned
sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. And this involves in Holy. Writ.
us  in a virtual denial of the Trinity.    The Father has       Also to this-conception of the covenant we object,
made an eternal covenant of grace  witli us and adopted Such a conception of the covenant `is indeed possible
LIS  to be His children and heirs-this is a fact. The        among men. Among men a covenant must be regarded
Son has washed us in His blood and incorporated us           as a mutual agreement or contract. Men can stand
into the fellowship of His death and.resurrection-this,      over against one another on an equal footing. But.th&
too, is a fact. The Father and the Son have, therefore,      is surely impossible as far as the relationship between
witnessed and sealed. unto this eternal covenant of the living God and man is concerned. God is the-living
grace, the adoption unto children and heirs, the wash-       ,God. He is the infinite Creator of heaven and earth.


                                       TH'E  STA.NDARD   :BEARER                                                      129

  The entire universe, not merely man therefore, is less        God and man unite. This third power is, concretely,
 *than a drop of water on the bucket and a'particle of `Satan, and in general the ungodliness into which the
  dust on the balances. .`Hope, faith, obedience, the- gifts    godliness, which originally had been laid into the
  of the grace of God, are not to be regartied as the con-      creature, could turn about." In the last statement _
  ditions upon-which.God's covenant with us is realized,        Dr; A. Kuyper refers to the possibility of our holiness
  but as fruits of the Spirit of God in Christ Jesus. and righteousness and godliness becoming corruption
  Hence, God's work is always unconditional, whereas and unrighteousness and ungodliness1                     Hence, the
  our personal or covenant obligations are nothing else         meaning of this learned theologian is clear. Dr. Kuy-
  than what is. required of us because of the nature of per conceived of the covenant between God and~man as
  the grace.-of God. God's grace is such that it saves us       an alliance against, Satan and sin. When later in the
  as moral-rational creatures ,and therefore causes us to       same book Dr. Kuyper discusses the Covenant of
 work and to will according-to His good pleasure.               Works he again declares that Adam not only received
     A third conception of the covenant is that which from God the calling to exercise dominion, but also the
  regards the covenant as a way of salvation. This view mandate to protect and ,defend Paradise and the entire
  is closely related to the conception of the covenant cosmos in behalf of God against the devil.
  as a contract or agreement., : ,,God, `establishing His          Also this conception of the Covenant we consider
  covenant with us, makes kr?own  unto us the way of            impossible. We- reject this view mainly because funda-
  salvation.    This way of salvation is faith in Jesus mentally, it gives us a dualistic conception of the realiz-
Christ, our Lord. This, then, is the significance'of ation of God's covenant. Sin and Satan are `presented
  God's covenant with man. To this we object that, if           in this view dualistically. God and Satan are presented
  the covenant of grace be merely a way of salvation, here as standing over against each other, and-the Lord
  it is necessarily -only temporary and comes to an end         and man conclude an alliance with the purpose of
  a,s soon as the,salvation`has been attained. However, thwarting and frustrating the Evil One.  Of course,
  according to the Word of God, God's covenant is .pre-         Satan is the adversary of God. The very name "Satan,'
  sented  as an eternal covenant. This does not mean signifies "adversary".               This, however, must not be
  merely that it is unbreakable, that, according to Prof. understood in a' dualistic sense of the word as if the
`- Berkhof"God  remains forever true to His covenant" devil can in any sense frustrate or -op.pose  the work
  and will therefore grant life in the way of faith. But of the Lord. That the devil is the. enemy of God must
  the covenant itself is eternal, is never annulled, abro- be understood spiritually. Spiritually he hates Je-
  gated. God will dwell forever with man.                       hovah. Spiritually he attempts throughout the ages
     A fourth conception of the covenant to which we to frustrate the realization of God's covenant and the
  would finally call attention is that which regards the coming of His Kingdom.               However,. in this. Divine,
  covenant of God with man as an alliance against a realization of His Covenant and' Kingdom sin and the
  third party. This view of the covenant was advanced           devil must -not. be viewed dualistically as- if they -are
  by the late Dr. A. Kuyper. In his "Di.ctaten   Ddgma-         opposing the work of the Lord and that the .Lord, in              ,
tick',,  locus de Foedere, pages 3-5  we- read, and we spite of all their evil efforts, manages to realize-His
  translate : "The idea of the concluding of a covenant counsel. Fact is,  sin-and Satan serve the Lord and
  signifies .in the most pregnant sense an alliance be- the realization of. His covenant. This is surely the
  tween two or more persons, families, tribes, or empires, testimony of Holy Writ. "I form the light; and create
 with the purpose to defend oneself with united strength darkness : I make peace, and create evil : I the Lord do
  against a third power, from whom danger does or can all-these things"-1s;  45 :8. Andy in I Car.' 3 :21-23 we*
  threaten.     The concept "covenant" falls under the read : "Therefore let no man glory'in  -men. `For all
  genus, "alliance", but it is a species of this genus, and     things are your's ; Whether Paul, or  ~Appollos, or
  its specific character lies in the uniting of self to ward    Cephas, or. the world, or life, or' death, or things pre-
  off danger. . . . Whereas  the. concept "covenant" is sent, or- things to come ; all are you.rs  ; {And ye are
  applied to the relation between God and man, not only         Christ's  ;. and Christ is Gods." And -therefore the
  in the present day but also in times when the conclud- church of the living God can take the cry of victory -
  ing of a covenant was generally understood as an upon their lips of 2 Cor. 4 :15; "For all things are for .
  alliance against a third and dangerous power, hence, your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the
  in the ,Covenant of Grace as well as in the Covenant of thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of ,God."
  Works, we may not lose out of sight this character of         Indeed, we must fight the good fight of faith. And,
  being: united-against a third party. Also the conclud- the Lord enables us by His grace- to fight that good
  ing of a .covenant  of God with man presupposes, as fight against sin, Satan; and all the powers of hell.
.. background, the existence and operation of a third           Nevertheless, we are. more than conquerors, and all
  power, .which threatens God in His honour as well as          things, also sin and Satan, work  ' together for our         m
  man in his position and future, and against which eternal good and salvation.                          .


             ,130                                     T H E   S T - A N D A R D   B E A R - E R   .

               -               :  _    Conciusion.              _          for my forces. And Pharaoh, hearing does indeed  ..
                     We conclude, therefore, that the covenant must not    conclude that the wilderness shuts them  .in.         For
             be, understood as a promise (and surely not in the Pharaoh's heart is in the Lord's -hands to desire, will,.
             arminian sense), or as a contract or agreement with think, conclude and, speak, and do exactly as the Lord
             mutual stipulations and obligations, or as a, way of wills that he shall think and do. And the Lord con-
             salvation inasmuch as the covenant according to the tinues, "And I will. harden Pharaoh's heart,- that he
             Word of God is an eternal covenant, or as an alliance shall follow after them; that I may be honoured upon
             against sin and Satan. Rather, God,s covenant is the Pharaoh, and upon all His host; that the, Egyptians
             `highest to which man can possibly attain. God will may know that I am the Lord.`,, And the Lord does
             forever dwell with man.;. It constitutes the very es- harden Pharaoh's heart;- so that the narrative con-
             sence of eternal.life-f`For this is-eternal life, that we tinues, "And the heart of Pharaoh and his servants
             know the one and only true #God, through -Jesus Christ was turned-mark you, was turned, turned by the
             `Whom': He' has sent,`-John 17 :3. God's covenant is Lord-against God's people, and they said, Why have
             the relationship of living friendship between God and we done this, that we have let Is.rael go `from serving
             His people in Christ Jesus, His Son and their Lord. us;" And accordingly, he made ready his chariot, and
             To this we will call attention, the Lord willing,` -in took his people with him,, including all the chariots
             `subs@uent   a r t i c l e s .                   EL v.        of Egypt, so we read. And the text continues, "And
                                                                           the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt,
                               .'                                          and he pursued after th.e children of Israel." Shall we,
                                                                           with these scriptures before us, maintain that God
                                                                           was all the time purposing and striving to save Phar-
                . ".' .: God% People Live Alone                            aoh but that, according to His changed purpose, He
                                                                           nevertheless destroyed him, because Pharaoh would
              ;til.cw;!a".*                                                not let God do anything with him but to destroy him?
             nd! -We n'ow&rn.-tothe  book of Exodus, the 14th chap- In a word, shall we with these scriptures before .us,
             ter, `and' the last clause of the 19th verse thereof, and make of God an impotent diety, a football of Pharaoh?
             read, "so that. the one came not near the othe.r all that      Indeed, as sovereignly hardened by the Lord, Phar- .
             n i g h t . , '                                               aoh pursues after God's people. Now according to
           :`j The. families of -Israel, the last time we left them, the scriptures, also the doings of God, presented above,
             iwere. eating the Lord's  passover  in their respective have a bearing-on the higher things of Christ's work
             ho:mes:  And in the `same night the- Lord went out in and His, kingdom. The Scriptures tell us that the
             th$midst  of the land of Egypt and- the firstborn in relation these doings of God obtain to the higher things
             the land of Egypt died by the Lord's plague, .as He had       of Christ's work, is that of prophetic type or picture,
             -said. There was a great cry throughout all the land if you will. As has already been explained and also
             of Egypt; such as there was none like it, and shall not proved with the Scriptures, .Pharaoh and the Egypt of
             .be-like  it any more Pharaoh and his servants came the Exodus narrative  -is the type, the prophetic picture,
             down to Moses, and they bow themselves to him, and of that devil-worshipping, God-defying,. immoral,' civil-
             say, "Get thee out, and-all the people that follow thee." ized, refined cultured, holy-seed persecuting and  Satan-
             .?l%eyh. are: urgent upon the people that they .inay send inspired consort of evil powers, that crucified the,
             them out in haste ; for they say, "we' shall all be dead      Christ, and through the ages of this present dispensa-
            *men;`,.  So the people of Israel take their journey and tion of the world, persecuteth Christ's church with
             encamp  in.XEtham on the fringe of the wilderness. the aim to destroy it out of the earth. It is verily this
             If they continue on the road that. they have taken-           anti-Christian coalation of dark.. principalities, that in
             the straight road to Canaan- they will shortly arrive and through the Pharaoh and the Egypt of the oppres-
             atCanaan's  borders. But they depart from this road. sion and as represented by this Pharaoh and his Egypt,
             !l?heyturn southward and march. to Pi-hahiroth, be- follows the people of Israel, the church of God, in their
            t.ween  Migdol and the Red Sea, at which' place, arriv- track. Lifting up their eyes and beholding Pharaoh
             ing, they encamp; In leaving. the straight road to with all his people and with all the chariots of Egypt,
             Canaan(the  children of Israel have followed the in- marching after them, the people of Israel are sore
             structions of the Lord. Said the Lord to Moses, "Speak afraid. These people are no cowards. The mighty
             unto the'children of'Israe1, that they turn and encamp Egyptian host comes approaching them from the north.
           before  -Pihahiroth between Migdol and the sea, over There is no escape in that direction. Eastward is the
            against Baal-zephon ; before it ye shall encamp by the Red Sea. To the west and south rise foreboding moun-
      s      sea. ' For `Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel,       tains: -Escape is, impossible.  Defence  is madness.
           r 5Ihey: are. entangled. in the land, the wilderness hath       From the point of view of nature, their plight is hope-
~.           shut them in. Thus they have fallen into a ready trap less, their doom sealed. These people then must not
                                                                                                                    .

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

  be accused of lacking in natural courage. Who among promised. land of their abode through the sea of .His
 ~mortals  wquld not be terrified by such a predicament? wrath. and judgment; for He wants Pharaoh and the
 What these people-this redeemed people of God -- Egyptians in that sea. For in that .deep He .purposes
  lack, is not what men call courage, but taith,-faith in once more and permanently to put all His': plague&
  their God, in His promises, in His wonderworking upon Pharaohs heart and upon the heart of the Eg$@
power. Their lack of faith is serious. It is a great tians, and with the Egyptians knowing and confessiti&
  sin. For it means that even with all God's marvelous that He is  the.Lord, to deliver His  people-  from`..tl%&
  works as performed in their .behalf still fresh in their clutch forever by drowning them, `the .Eg$ptians;~%
  memory, they still refuse to discern that there is no the deep . And, therefore, the way to the Father's
  limit to His power to save them out of any trouble, in house must needs lead `through `the. deep of divine
  t.hat with Him all things are possible;, that He, their wrath and judgment, in order that- this separation.
  God-the God  iof their redemption, as He  .has just between Israel and the Egyptians. may  -be permanent&
  proved Himself to be, is just as willing as He is able ;    effected through the Lord's coming in judgment upon
  and that therefore the-thing for them to do-is to trust the wicked, the, defiers of His name and- the spoileZ%
  in Him in their present plight and be still, and follow of His peopie..  There is no other way by which `God&
  where. Jesus leads them.                                    people can be saved from.the world, from that vile.c&i
   And. verily, He is leading them this very moment. sort of evil powers of which Satan is the prince; sav&l
  For we read right here in the narrative, "And they from this dark coalation, unto Christ's God;:  thati@e
  took their journey from  Succoth and encamped in way .of. Christ's coming in judgment over it, and :de-
  Ethem. . . . And the Lord went-before them by day stroying it by the breath of His nostrils. And there -is
  in a pillar of cloud, .to lead them the way; "and by night no other way by which the Lord can get him honour
  in a pillar of fire, -to give them light; to go `by day     upon Pharaoh and upon His chariots and horsemen;
  and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by than by the. way that leads through the deep. There;
  day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the fore that deep of divine wrath and judgment cannot
people." This pillar of cloud that the narrative in the be circumvented. This way must be pursued by the
  19th verse of chapter 14 identifies' with the angel of. redeemed of God to the'end. And the end. is glory' for
  God, is the visible manifestation of Christ Jesus, and all such who know Christ in the power of His resur-
  in His face of Christ's God, the triune Jehovah. `And                                                     ,.  :,.
                                                              r e c t i o n .
  He goes before them, leading them at this juncture               But the people of Israel are-. unmindful of: this in
  to the Red Sea. But that precisely is their difficulty. the terror of their unbelief. They are afraid  `to.-.go.
  If the Lord actually means well with them, should the       forward. And in their fear they cry out unto the Lord;
  not by another mighty demonstration of His power It is the cry of unbelief, as is also evident`from what
  destroy that advancing Egyptian host right-there and they say to Moses. They. say to him, `"Because .th'ere
  then. But the-Lord does not destroy that advancing were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us. away to
  Egyptian host right then and there. But He leads His die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou so5 dealt
  people to the Sea, as if their deliverance from that with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt ?" `This .bitter
  dreadful hour could possibly come to them through complaint, `though directed to Moses,' is really meant
  that Sea.. It cannot be. Entering that sea, they will for God's ears. The fearful complainers have more
  perish. All will be  -drowned.  Such is the reasoning to say to Moses, namely, this, "Is `not this the `word
  of `the unbelief of those terrified Hebrews. It is well that We did tell thee in Egypt, saying; `Let us `alone,
  that we understand that we have, to do here with un- that we may serve the Egyptians ?- For `it had been
  belief. But let `us not fail  .to confess with-tears of     better. for us to serve the Egyptians'than  ,-that  we
  true contrition of heart that this' same unbelief dwells should die in the wilderness."' They'iirgue as"though
  in us, in our flesh-1 speak now of God's people--and theLord, while they were still in Egypt, had demanded
  that as often as it gets hold of our tongue, we `go to of them to choose between His perpetuating their  bon&
  voicing these same sentiments of unbelief. For the `-age-under Pharaoh and His slaying them in the desert:
  fact of the matter is that night reigns on this earth, -and as though God, having set -aside thkir.`choice  `of
  the fearful night of sin and unrighteousness ; and over having their bondage perpetuated, had appointed- them
  it the wrath of God is being revealed.from heaven in a to death in the wilderness. So' `the&reason and this
  sea of judgments that flood the earth. And we are with God's Gospel, .as preached to them by Moses and
  just  as' fearful of that sea as were those terrified, as confirmed by all the wonderful works that the Lord
  Hebrews, just as slow to believe that we can go into had performed in their behalf still fresh in the'memoj$
  the midst of the sea upon the dry ground and be saved ies. And what a wonderful gospel he had preached to
  by its" water from Pharaoh and his hosts as `were them. "I have heard your groanings", He, th!e~~Lorcl,
  they.  -                                                    had said to them, "and I have remembered~my$&!
        But it `is the Lord's will ,to lead ,His people to the nant `and 1 will bring you out from'under'the b&d&&
                                                 a
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      132                                  `THti  STAND,&RD  B E A B E R                                   _

      of the Egyptians, and I will rid you of their bondage,       the other all that night." Mark you, the one comes
      and `1 will redeem you with an out&tretched  arm, a& not .near the other- during. all this awful night of sih
      with great judgments: and I will take you. to me for a that now. reigns on the earthya night. of sin of which
      people, and I will be to you a <God  ; and ye shall know the setting of the sun of righteousness in paradise was
      t&t I am the Lord your God, which. bringeth you oat the commencement. The  Egypti-ans  come not near
      from your burdens of the Egyptians. And -1 will bring the people of God and the latter come not near the
      you into -the land, concerning which I  sware to give Egyptians. Let Us read this picture aright. What it
      it. to Abraham, to .Isaac, and to Jacob ; .and I will give teaches, verily teaches, is ,that in the sphere of the
      It _you,,for  an Inheritance." What a marvellous mes- realities of Christ's kingdom, the children of the world
      sage of peace with $vl-+h the` Lord had come :io them. and the children of God? in the spiritual+thical sense
     And-. how -copious the' evidence with which He has are separated. The one knows not the other, spirit-
      already `provided them, that He me&ns to do as He ually. And how can it be otherwise? For what con-
      has  dromised.   And  y& holding the truth under in &d hath .Christ  with Belial? what pa+ hath he that
      unrigl$eousness,  they dare to tell Him to His face that believeth with, an infidel? What agreement hath the
      He. has. appointed them to, death, and that acc'ordingly     temple df God with idols ? And speaking now to~,God's
      He is how about to sla,y them thrbugh the agency of believing people, "ye are the teniple of the living God
i     the Egyptians. 0, the  sinfulness   pf- sin ! And this       . . . . Whereforecome out from them and be ye separ-
      v;ho!e argument of theirs springs from their unwilling- ate, saith the Lord. . . . and I wi!l receive you." And,
      pess,  to  f+w where the angel of the Lord; Christ mark you; the se@aration  is permanent. And the one
      Jesus,  lqgdeth. They will not  to  enter   into the deep. came hot near the other, all the night." And the true
      @oses attempts to silence &he' voice of their unbeliei       children of God do dwell alone. F,or the matte? is of
      by. telling them that presently they will see the Llprd's    the  LoGd. He is darkness to the Egyptians.  Y+, He,
      salv&ion.    "Fear not," says he -to them, "stand  still,    the Christ, is Jight. But the light, the gospel of the
      and see the,salvation  of ihe! Lord, which he will shew Christ, is in them darkness. For Christ sovereignly
     you this dz@;' for the Egyptians whom. ye have seen           hardens `them through that Gospel. ~ And therefore, as
      toda$;.ye  shall see them no more forever." Yet Moses,       so hardened, they hold under the `truth in unright-
      tqo, seems not td perceive &&at salvation is to cdqe to eousness, brand the truth a lie. It means that even
      them through that sea and that, the way of escape.  lies t.he light that is in theni? is darkness. And if so, how
      in the deep. Being therefore at a loss to know and to great is that darkness in them. (And it is all `Christ's
      say just hogthe Lord is to save them from that dread-
        .                                                          work. For He is darkness unto the Egyptians. How
     -ful hour, h&i too, cries u&o the Lord, while he should       then, in the light 03 these truths and facts, can the
      be telling the,people  to go fqrwakd. He, too, is deserv- Gospel be grace to the Egyptians? It is  not. But as
      ing of rebuke therefor'e;wehich  he also receives. Says to His people, to them Christ gives light in all. this
      the  L&d to  him, "Wherefore  criest thou unto  nie? terrible night. Upon His people, He lifts up His coun-
      Spea&,:u.nto*the  children of Israel that they go. forward, teliance,  bright with the joy of the love that *God bears
      thus go where Christ leadeth," go into the deep, in them,  the  106  ace&ding to  which He takes them to
      order that the separation may be effected in that deep.      His heart in Christ and saves them unto Himself. So
      "Therefore, Moses, speak unto. the children of Israel        does the angel of the Lord make separation between
      that they go forward." The.Lo_rd contixlues, "`But lift the Egyptians and His people, even before the latter
      up thy rod, instead of  cryingL',unto me," and stretch       enter the deep. Indeed, it is ,only because  God's be-
      out thine hand over the sea, and divide it:  and the lieving people do .live alone, that they are willing by
      children of Israel shall go on dry grgund through the the mercy of God to  enter into that  deep. The man
      midst of the sea. And I, behold, I will  haTden the who is not living alone will return to the camp of the
      hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow thee:         Egyptians sooner or later and make his peace with
      and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all          Pharaoh against God's people. Thus, it is just because
      his host. And the Egyptians shall know that I am `the        God's people do: live alone, that Pharaoh pursues them
      Lord.  .Therefore  Moses, speak unto the children of into the deep. But when the night is spent, and the
      Israel that they go forward."- And now the Lord acts. everlasting day is at hand, Christ will look.unto the
      According to His purpose that there be separation be- wicked, who persecute His people even in the $eep and
      tween His people  and the Egyptians, the Angel of God,       during all the night-look unto the wicked will Christ.,
      which goes before the camp of Israel, removes, so we And ZIis countenance. will wear a  teprifying frown.
      read, and goes behind His people, and stands behind The  Errptians  will be afraid. Terrified, they will
      t h e m . So, Christ comes' between the camp of the turn and flee only to be overwhelcled  by the floods of
       Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and He, the~christ,       God%  tilger.  Thait  $1 be the final,  compl&te,  and
       is darkness to the Egyptians, but He gives light, by        permanent separation  betvireen  -His people and` the
       night to His people, so that the one comes riot near
        .                                                          Egyptians.  ~SO will the Lord, through  t&e destruction


                                          T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R "   \                                     I.38

       of the wicked, save His people from the wicked &to                  he, was healed from his sufferings.by the strains
       Himself. The Lord does verily  make  separation be-                 of  music: The simple explanation is that Sad
       tween His people and the world. What God has separ-               does not recognize David.  .Th_e reasons are  .not
       ated, let no man, by his vain philosophy join together.             revealed ; but a good conjecture is that David had
       God's people dwell alone.. And on this  accpunt,  and               long been.absept  from cburt; that Saul had seen
       on this acepunt  only, do, they go on dry ground through           -him  ,only in moments of madness, .&h&h were
       the sea of God's wrath and anger. Though the.suffer-                rare; and that Abner was absent from court when
       ings and the tribulation of this preserit time must be              David was there; and that David's personal ap-
       also their portion, yet they go on dry ground through               pearance had undergone a change).
       that sea of tribulation. Nay, more, it all works to-              Having killed and beheaded the giant, Davidare-                            a
       gether for their good. And they are saved, but only turns to the camp of the- Israelites with the head. of
       because they live alone.            ,       G. M. 0.           the giant in *his hand. Arriving, in the headquarters
                           _                                          of the camp, which is in Jerusalem (verse 54), he is
                                                                      led into the presence of Saul by  IAbner-. (verse  $7);'
                                                                      Saul's question as to David's identity can now be &ns-
             THE `DAY OF SHADOWS                                      wered. So the king himself puts to David the. ques-
                                                                      tion, "Whose son  a?t  ,thou, young man?" David re-
                                                                      plies, "I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehem-
             Jonathan's Love Q$ David                                 ite" (verse 57): No& follows a somewhat long ~co&
                                                                      versation between the two, the content of which is n&t
          So had David slain the giant Goliath of the Philis-         revealed ; but it must exhibit anew David'.s fa'ith in' the
       tines. Seeing their champion dead, the Philistines flee. tionder-working power of Jehtiva$ `and` in His. .readi-
       They should have &me to the Hebrews and said, "We ness to save His people out..of  all their troubles -in the
  are thy servants." .So they had promised by the way  of their keeping covenant fidelity. For among
       mouth of the giant ih ihe event he should be killed.           the silent listeners to that conversation is. also,:Jona-.
       "If he. be able to fight with me, alid to kill me," these than, whose soul by the time .the conversatio&.is<&nded,
 . had been his words, "then will we be your servant&`. is knit to the.soul of David. An:d he loves.David  as his' .
 Such had been their  $roposal. And it had been ac- own soul. So it is'. stated (18 :l) . The binding ties
       cepted by David's fighting with their champion. But here are spiritual. For the trust of, Jonathan like
                                                                                                                            ..'
       the impossible had happened. Their  chamision  was o that of -David, is in, the Lord, and-not, like the.trust.of
       killed. And the -Phil&tines now flee. To be sure, they Saul, in the arm of flesh. ,, show ma&elo&ly the Lord _
       had not intended to keep them to their word. Doubt- had worked for him,in that first.crisis  !. He gave Jona-
       less it even had not occurred to them that -perhaps than the victory over that mighty Phil&tine  army that
 there would be a word for them to keep. They were too                wasp pitched in  Michmash. And his victory was his
       confident-that the victory would be to their champion. faith. So now the two of .ihem---Jonathan and David
       But yonder the fowls of the air feed on his beheaded           -suddenly `find each other in the Lord. Thei ire one
       carcass. .The reproach of the armies of the living God by a cbmmon faith in Christ.                         . .
       has been wiped out.                                               The conversation having ended, David expresses
          We n&t now go back to verse 40 (of chapter 17)              the desire to returli to his father's house. .(This the             .
which  stat-es  that, as equipped  iyith staff and sling text at 18:2 plainly presupposes). .But Saul will not
       and the shepherd's bag containing the. five smooth hear  of. it. He orders David to stay with  him (and
       stones that he had taken out of the brook, David draws Saul took him that day), and takes the son:of Jesse
       near to the Philistine. Seeing him go (verse 55)) Saul into his service anew. :-The fir.st acguaintance  had re-                             i
       inquijres of Abner, the captain of the. host, `whose son       sulted in Saul's loving David: greatly' (16  :21). But
       this youth may be. Abner replies that he cannot tell. here in this section the: narrative is silent regarding
       As his soul liveth, he cannot. The king instructs hiti         Saul's feelings toward  Dayid. The king  cermanently
       to find out. "Enquir.e thou `whose sdn the stripling is," attaches him to his COUT'~; But it. is not stated that
       are his words to .Abner.                                       he is motivated .by: love of David's person. Something
  I         (This se.ctioti-17  :55-58-in  which Saul repeated-       remarkable has  " taken place in between time.               The
            ly asks, "Whose son is this," is not in conflict wilth    Goliath-of the Philistines has beeti slain by this-strip-
            16:16-23, a passage according to which David ling, David, the son of Jesse.. Doubtless, Saul"already
            was described to Saul at the o&set as the son of begins  to look  iskance at David in the fear that he
            Jesse of Bethlehem ; Saul, after having put him- might turn out to be that "neighbor, better. than he" .
            self  into communication ."with Dayid's  father by to whom the Lord has -given .the kingdom. ,If so, it
            a message, took David into his service; and David         explains his interest in David, his wanting .to know                     -
            played before the king's face with the result that &ho this "stripling" is  ; and also his insisting that


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         1;34:                                THE STANDARD. BEARER.                                 - .              t

        Davd permanently abide at his court. He wants to of `the enemy. Returned from the chase of the Philis-
        keep David with him in, or&& to. be able to control. tines, the Hebrews spoil their tents. It was  aa telling
        and check on his mov_ements.      David, he thinks, is .a vict~ory. And the instrument through whom the Lord
        man to be watched. Thdugh he meaneth not so, Saul has wrought mightily- is Qavid.                                      .'
        opens theway wherein-David is trained for the duties             The fame of his accomplishment spreads with speed
        of the office of king. So does the wrath `of Saul serve throughout the whole land of Israel. David's name
G o d 's   counsel.                                                   is on everyone's tongue. So it comes to pass (18 :6)
          . . But as to Jonathan and:David,  that same day they as Saul and hiti men of war return from the chase of
        make a covenant,  because Jonathan loves  Dlavid as the Philistines that the -women come out of the cities
        his own soul (18 :$) . And Jonathan strips himself of ' of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul "with
        the robe that is upon him, and gives it to David, and tabrets; with joy, and' with instruments of' music".
        his garments even-to his sword, and to his bow and to And the women  &swer one another  as. they play.
        his girdle. Jonathan's doing has greatest significance. And they say, "Saul hath slain his  :thousands,  and
        `Recognizing- in David that "neighbor" .to whom the David his ten thousands." It is a bold and meaningful
        Lord has given the kingdom;  .Jonathan  ,in  contra-          folk-song.- It is the voice of the people declaring that
        opposition to  Saul, who is on the alert to kill that in th&ir hearts David by his victory over the giant has
        "neighbor" `the moment he makes his  appetirance,             obtained all `the consider&ion and that Saul has ob-
        waives by this his doing all rights to Saul's &rone.          tained none., True, they do credit Saul with having
        He willingly perceives. that by the decree of (God the        slain his tholl.s?sands. Bit this is but their way of tell-
        throne  .belongs to David. By the grace  of. God he ing hiti that in the-crisis that l&s just passed he has
        submits to God's will ; he honours David  ati his, lord really done nothing for his people. And what they
        and~king, goes over. to his side, and makes with him a- say is true. Saul is fully aware that the deep signifi-
        covenant. The articles of this covenant, though per- cance of this song is its showing  th&t the Lord is
        haps not voiced by the covenanting par.ties  at this time; a&ally taking the kingdom .from. him and giving it
        are revealed in the sequence. `Jonathan will do all- in to that "ileighbor" who is better than he. And he also
       his power to save David from the wrath of Saul                 concludes, and rightly so, that this "neighbor" hai
         (20 110). David- will show Jonathan kindness as long made his appearance in the person of David. But-  ih-
      _ as the- latter' lives,  .and not only him but after his       stead of submitting.to  the will of God, as Jonathan has
        decease also his house forever, then when the Lol:d           done, he continues to harden his heart. `It means that
        hath cut off- the enemies of David &very one from the c liow he is that much mofe determined to maintain him-
      _ face of the earth  (20:15, 16). Jonathan is an excel-         self in the position of king contrary to the- revealed
        lent saint. He.hates Saul, his father, for Christ's sake. will of God. Hence, the narrative states  ,that "Saul
        For David is Christ. He is willing that David be all was very wrath, and_ the saying displeased him ; atid
        and he nothing. rSo does he find his soul in the way of he said, They have ascribed upto David ten -thousand,
        lqsing it for ,Christ's sake. _ And he acts under the im- and to me' they have ascribed but thousands ; and-what
        pulse of the love-that God sheds abroad in the hearts of cati he h&e more than the. kingdom  ?" This is follow-.
        His people. For it is stated once and again that. he          ed by the statement, "And Saul eyed David from that
__      loves David as his own soul.                                  day and forward," @yes him with the view of availing-
           -We must now go back to verse 52 of chapter 17.            himself of. the. first opportunity to kill him.
      As was said, when the Philistines see their champion             . Yet Saul does, not dismiss David from his service,
        dead,  .ihey flee, without trying to battle. With the however much he now hates him. This is not strange.
       * enemy in flight, the men of Israel and of Judah arise,       It is wholly congruous .with his determination to de-
        raise the battle cry, and pursue the enemy. It is not stroy David. Only by- keeping David with him at
        the working of faith that we here behold,-faith in            court can he' eye him.
        the wogder-working power of  the Lord. Tracking                  As to David, he goes whithersoever Saul sends him,
        down fleeing Philistines calls for no faith. All that is "and behaves himself wisely. His `suddey  elevation to
        needed for such an undertaking is common sense to. the honorable position which he takes at Saul's court,
       . . . ta'ke advantage of a rare opporturiity. And the Heb- dqes not turn his head, so that, as blown up with pride,
        rews have this sense and also the will to'act upon it.        he does things not fitting. It soon becomes evident
        The Philistines are a' perpetual m&ace.  .`After his to all that his .endowmenlts a&e exceptional. None are
        converdation  with David,. Saul ,too, tykes  to the field,    as brave as David, and as wise and, true, and withal-
        as is indicated by the narrative at 18 :6. With Goliath as hunible and mipyetentious. His ability as a leader
      .  out. of  th'e  way,. he again is the brave man of yore.      of men is just as outstanding. A remarkable young
        .The Hebrews pursue the Fhilistines to the gates of man, this son  .of Jesse,-a  ian fit to be  .king. B u t
        Ekron and of Gath and on the road as far as Shaarim.          Saul's hatred of him becomes fiercer, by the day, as
        The roads to these cities are littered with the wounded       also his determination to destroy. him. But this does
                                                                                                                          _
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                                    THE  S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                           135

not prevent the hardened king from making the best taken offen&. His once again having appeared in
possible use of him. He sets David over the nien of         Saul's presence to heal his spirit by strains of `music
war, that is, appoints him commander of a body of would seem to indicate that he is not yet aware that
soldiers. David is now a military officer. And he is Saui hates him and wishes him cleag. Doubtless, he
accepted in the sight of all the people, even' in the ascribes the assault to Saul's illness, and believes-that
sigh% of Esad's servants (verse 5 of chapter 18) . No he did a thing of which in his normal moments he is
one objected to his promotion. All are pleased, even not capable. But  he  will soon learn  differetit.   -And
the official's* at Saul's coult. None are envious and even now Saul's assaults must have the effect of put-
jealous.  The loveliness of David's character wins to ting him on his guard. This is its purpose.
his side even them.           ,                                     Having  ifi his moments of delirium tried to kill
   Then it -comes to pass "on the morrow" dou.btless        David, $Saul, being the kind of man he is-a reprobate,
shortly after Saul's return from the chase of  the          far advanced in sin-is  .certain that David will  re-
Philistines ,and on the. day following-the kindling of .taliate in kind. He imagines that it cahnot be other-
his fierce wrath by the sqng of the women, that the         wise but that David  iyill &ail himself of the. first'
evil spirit from God comes upon Saul; and he prophe-        opportunity to kill him.- And he concludes that the
si.es in  hiss house.    The narrative sheds little light attempt is sure to succeed. For he perceives that the
dn the exact nature of Saul's affliction. This much. Lord is with David, and will help `him overcome :Saul.'
is plain, however. It is a  severe mental and emo- And so- the Lord will; but not in the way that Saul
tional disturbance that is brought over him by God- imagines-thus not in' the way of David's laying
through the agency of an evil spirit from the abyss violent hands on Saul. This is the- forbidden way.
in punishment of his  ,rebellion.  .Saul refuses to sub- Saul therefore has nothing to fear from David as such.
mit to, his sentence of deposition and of the loss For David fears Ged: ,He has no ambition to be kinf.
of `his kingdom. He will be king ; and accordingly he Though the anointed of' the Lord, he has no idX?niicJll
has begun to eye David. With the evil spirit once of usurping Saul's place  in--the   kingdom   by~n!teans  ot
again upon him, he prophesies in his house, so it is violence, nor by any other  -means for  th& matter.
stated.- But his condition `of mind is not that of true He still is the mlassertive  and unobtrusive strip&
prophetic elevation and enthusiasm but. rather that of yesterday. True, he came to  the scene of battle;
of a strange  a;nd mysterious  frengjT,delirious  excite- but not of-his own will b:LZt as sent by his father to
ment. And his prophesying is anything but edifying. salute his brethren. He fought with the giant and
For it is plain that he is fully aroused as to all the Filled him, but only bec+&e he- was `under necessity in
.badn&s  that dwells in his flesh. David plays with -that the faith  o$ all the others continued to  Z-alter.
                                                              .,
his hands before him as at other times in order that' And that he`has taken up his residence at Saul's court
he may again .be healed from his sufferings by the          and is now  ati_officer in  +he king's army is -wholly
strains of music. Catching sight of David, he casts Saul's doings. David had nothing to do with that.
the javelin that is, in his hands as he says, ?I will smite Had lie been permitted to ,follow his own' inclinations,
David even unto the wall." David avoids the missile he would haye, speedily re'turned  to his father's house,
and removes from Saul's presence. Saul's behaviour after  having slain the giant. Neither  is. it his fault
lays Gear his soul. There is murder in his heart, the that'now he is jbeing held by the `people in much higher
will to destroy David, -whom liti .rightly takes' to be esteem than Saul. This is God's doing. He gave vic-
that "neighbor"  better  than he. However, in this tory over the giant, because David made God his ex-
attempt on `David's life, he acted not according to plan    pectation. It may betruthfully  said, therefore, that
but in obedience to a sudden, diabolical impulse. His the thought of working Saul  out of his throne by
reaction to David's presence stirprises perhaps even stealing the hearts of the people  i?  fuitherest from
himself. He-meant not to do that. A strange influence Dav-id's mind.  ,And this is right. The Lord himself
impelled him. But he is  n&e the less responsible. will destroy. Saul through the agency  of the Philistines _
He will not submit to the sentence of God, has  all         in. the finai battle of Saul's life with this enemy of
along been nourishing a powerful grudge against his, God's people. And David must abide the Lord's timk,'
divinely appdinted successor, and recently has begun which he does. Though once and again the opportun-
tb eye David. The result is that his heart has beconie ity presents itself -to him for making an end of `Sau!;
a playground for the-devil. Saul should take warning. he forbears.  .Such  iS the  .Lord's will  for him-will
But he doesn't. He persists in fighting God, and thus that he refrain from trying to capture the throne by
continues to go from bad to worse.                          the employment of force. Sd doing, he puts his trust
   As to David, Saul's attempt upon his life astonishes in the arm of flesh and not in the Lord. So doing, he
also him. .He must not have expected that. ,For his will be  desatroyecl,  as Saul is. now being destroyed.
ccnlscience  is clean. He is confident that he has done Like Christ, David must overcome the world as he
nothing at all at which  Saul could  rig@Yfully   have encounters it, now ip 3h.e person of Saul, by fdith, that


1 3 6                                `i  T H E    S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

 is, as standing immovable iri the faith that the Lord tain over thousands. For by this .promotion  `David
 will give him the kingdom in the Lvay of loving obed- must be `futher trained for the throne. What it shows
 ience, of obedience even unto dea'th, if need be.            is that Saul's heart and, speaking in general, the hearts
         Certainly, then; Saul has not a .thing to fear from of all men are in God's hands for the Lord -to tuin. as
 David as such. Yet, after his abortive attempt on            He wills, and that `therefore also the reins of, the'moral
 David's life, Saul lives in mortal dread of David. He government of the world truly are in God's  hands.
 imagines,that  with %lavid around his life is in constant Saul, too, as well .as the Pharaoh of the Israelite op-
 peril. Saul therefore removes David from his presence pres'sion  hardens his heart.but  he does so ijnly as sover-
 by making him a captail?. over a thousand (18 :13).          eignly hardened by the Lord. Truly, ,God is God and
 This must have been a kind of promotion that made it         not Saul is Gbd.
 necessary for David to absent himself from  Saulrs               It is f&her stated here that .becautie  the Lord was
 court to be with his men in the field. Unintentionally       with David "He took His Spirit away from~Sau1," and
 and this time to safeguard his life against an imagin-- bestowed it on David, the sacred narrator would have
`ary foe, Saul as an agent.6f God continues to open the       added,  had he been of a mind to complete the sentence.
 way wherein David must be trained for the duties of Thus the Lord, as has already been pointed out, has
 the office of king ; and thus at-once opens the way that ce`ased  to qualify Saul for his office by awakening,`
`leads to the throne: Also in his new position David ripening, and sustaining in him his natural abilities,
 behaves himself wisely. And he goes out and comes inclu+ng also his natural,. -slumbering courage. For
 in before all Israel- and Judah, making war on the it is plain that Saul was naturally a brave man, a man
 Philistines and on other adversaries of God's people.        every inch a king in the natural sense. But the Lord
 The result is that he increases still more. He rises ceased tb qualify him. And this is also evident. From
 still higher- in the loving esteem now of all the people.    that moment on Saul ceises to takk the field against
 "All Israel-and Judah loved David, because he went Israel's enemies., It  means'that his natural courage
 out and in before them"  (18:16).  :Saul from his now fails him. In the final battle with the Philistines
 point of view-he wanted David out of the way-could we find him ins the grip of a paralyzfng  fear. For in
 llot have done a more foolish thing than he did, when        the sight of God he is a deposed king judicially. `Israel's .
 he made David captain over his thousands.-. But the          real king is David. It is he therefore who now makes
 thing is of the Lord. The Lord's purpose iS that David war on the adversarieg of God's people; and thereby
 reign.      And all things, definitely Saul's wrath and he endears himself'to the whole nation.' For the Spirit -
 foolishness, must and .actually do serGe that purpose.       of God  iS upon him. .The Lord  iti with him. As to
 In his ethical opposition to God's will, Saul is all the     Saul, he spknds the remaining days of his `life in
 time and in everything he does servillg  God's counsel       persecuting. the righteous David. When the measure
 and promoting the ends of- God's kingdom.                    of his guilt is full, the Lord slays him by the hand of
    ,And  ;seeing that David in his new, position "be-        the  Philist.ines.    For then the Ldrd has done with
 ha.ves himself very wisely'!, thus perceiving that he him.                                               G. M. 0.
 continues to increase; Saul "is afraid of David", that
`is, his dread of David increases in proportion. Going
 from bad  to worse, instead of repenting; he in his                                                                 :
 great wrath now begins to plot. against David's life,                                 N O T I C E !
 something that hithertoo he has not done. But, as               We have received several orders for "The History
 was said, he goes from bad to worse. He persists in of the' Protestant Reformed Church& in America',
 hard&fig  his heart and this  a_s clearly perceiving which have not yet been filled. The' stock of bound
 that, as opposing David in the attempt to maintain           copies of this book is exhausted at present but more
 hbself in power,`he fights God. .He clearly perceives will be available soon. As soon as these .are received
 this. This must be the implication of the statement          from the binder they will be sent out. May we urge
 (verse 12) that Saul was afraid of David, because the all our Consistories and members who `are inter&ted in
 Lord `was with him, and was departed from Saul." procuring this work to send orders-to : The Mission
 But, as holding Lmder the truth in unrighteousness,          Conimittee, 1210 Logan St., S. E.; Grand. Rapids 6,
 Saul rushes on in his mad course-a cours'e that ends in Mich. Price:  ,In lots of 25 or more: $1.65 per copy
 hell. But we m&t on&e more examine the statement             postpaid, single- co,pies : .$2.00 postpaid. Please make
 last quoted. What it states directly is that Saul's fear check or money order payable .to The Mission Com-
 of David was due to the. fact that the Lord tias with        mittee. The response for this  re-print has been  be-
 David, that is, because the Lord was on-David's side .yond  exp&tation,  so if you desire a copy  .we would
 against. Saul, He makes the latter afraid  -of David urge you to send in your order soon, that you may .be
 and this with the purpose that the fearful king may          assured -of receiving' this valuable work by. the Rev.
 rid himself of D&id's presence by making him cap-            H; `Hoeksema.                  e Mission Committee;


                                     T H E   STA-A'DARD,  BE'ARER.                                                    137

                                                                we1 eens gevraagd: wie waarborgt mij, dat er weer
    ~ SI'ON'S  ZANG-EN                                          niet iets gebeuren zal zooals in den hemel ten over-
                                                                staan van Satan, en in het Paradijsten  oraerstaan  van
                                                                Eva en Adam?. En dan is bet antwoord : Jehovah !
     II& Gebed                                                  Hij is eeuwiglijk de `getrouwe VerbondsGod  van Zijn
                        -- Eeris  Verdrukten                    volk !
             -  (Ps& 162; Derde Deel)                   .           En zoo  blijft  oak Zijn  gedachtenis  van  geslaeht
                                                                tot geslacht!                        `.
   -Met  he& vers, dat nu  iolgt begint  een' nieuw  ,ge-           Wat schoone gedachten  dringen zich- hier aan- ons
deelte in den psalm:     Het eerste deel, van bet. eerste op. Ik denk  aan mijn grootvaders en  gToo@qoeders,
tot het twaalfde vers, getuigde van groote smart van-           die ik, alle vier goed gekend heb. Ook heb ik hen ge-
wege verdrukking door menschen en door God, en vraagd naar hun ouders en grootouders. En ze -heb-
dan ~66, dat God de menschen gebruikte 0% den zan- ben ervan verhaald,  toen ik nog heel jong was.  En
ger te  ,benauwe&..                                             in later- jaren is er troost uit geboren. Ik.. zag zelfs
   En we  mochten zien, dat in  dien zanger; die het zes godvreezende zusters van een grootmoeder. Ook
werkelijk kwaad ,te verduren had, Jezus Christus Zijn dud-ooms en neven. Ik heb. kennis aan een godvree-
lijden  vooruit iqng. De psalm is sterk Messiansch zend  voorgeslticht.  Hoe wonderlijk  werkt God Zijn
gekleurd;                                                       vreeze uit in de  geslachten..  De  e& vertelt het  aan
 get einde vooral van  dat, gedeelte sprak van de den ander, al rondgaande rondom Sion om  tech maar
smarten van Messias. ~Hij  vergeleek   ,Zieh met een zijn torens efi `zijn paleizen goed te zien. En Wat die
afgaande schaduw, en de "groote-toorn" Gods had Hem ouden en grijzen gezien hebben, werd ons verteld in
verdord als gras. M& ruikt  bier `het  vuur en de               onze  prille  jeugd. Wat was het anders dan  "Utie
zwavel.                                                         gedachtenis"? Die gedachtenis werd duidelijker toen
   Doch nu zal zich de zanger sterken. Hij zoekt en we naar `de catechisatie, de Christelijke  school en de
vitidt steun. En zooals het altijd gaat in het Konin-           vereeniging gingen. De  predikatien   waren eerst  tie1
krijk Gods, de zanger vindt zijn sterkte in God. "Van wat diep voor mij.. En later  kwanien  de mooie uit
Wien het  yblk  iijn.  sterkte  heeft  !" Of: "Hij  D is de leggingen .vanaf de pre'ekstoel. Nog wat ,, later lazen
kracht van hunne kracht!`+'                                     ye, en zagen .en zochten en vonden voor ons zelf.
   En dat gaat streng  theologisch  in zijn stijl. Hij              Ik vTaag U : wat'kunt ge stellen in he plaats van de
moet beginnen met de dtiugden Gods. In die deugden verbondsdpvoeding ? Het welbehagen van den Drie-
ligt zijn smart, do& ook.zijn lieil.           -                Eenigen Verbonds Jehovah gaat door Jezus, hand ge-
   L,et er op, dat terwijl ,hij zichzelf vergeleek bij een lukkiglijk voortin de geslnchten!
afgaande schaduw, die a8n ,`t verdwijnen is, hij God
ziet als de eeuwig Zijnde, di.e beklijft tot in alle eeuwig-        God zorgt er voor,  d& Zijn  geda6htenis.voortge-
heid : "Maar Gij, HEERE, blijft in eeuwigheid, en plant wordt van -Vader  tot `kind tot kleinkind, tot aan
Uwe gedachtenis van geslacht tot geslacht.!.'                   het einde der wercld.        ,-       I
   loch arme, wat zal ik daar van schrijven tot vey                 Vrage : is 1 de, gedachtenis  -van Jehovah voorwerp
d;uideZijking ? Wie zal den eeuwigen God verklaren in van levende bespreking in Uwe woning? Merkt ge
Zijn  eeuwigheid?  Hij blijft in  eeuwigheid, dus Hij het, dat de Heere Zijn gedachtenis aan `t ,voortplanien
loopt nooit weg, kan niet opzij gezet, vergaat nirrimer,        is in Uwe geslachten?
houdt nooit op <an te bestaan. Het zit  zelfs in Zijn               "Gij zult opstaan, Gij zult U ontfermen over Si&,
naam : Jehoyah. Die naam heeft als stam het werk- want de tijd- om het genadig te zijn,-want de bestemde
woord-ZIJN.  Reden waarom God tot Mozes kon zeg- tijd is gekomen!"  I
gen : IK ZAL ZIJN heeft U tot dat volk .gezonden !                  Die eeuwige' God izu heeft een raad, en in dien raad
   Neen,  we  kunnen den  Eeuwig Zijnde niet  ver- heeft' alles zijn bestemden tijd.. Van dien bestemden
klaren, maar we  kunnefi  Hem.   we1 kennen. En die tijd spreekt dit vers. Er was een lange nacht.geweest,
kennis, al is zij  266 wonderbaar, dat we er niet  b*ij een nacht van .asch eten en tranen drink& : denkt hier
kunnen, tech weten we, dat daar een onuitsprekelijke maar weer aan Jezus Christus op den bodem der hel:
troost in, ligt voor ons. Laat me het z&5, en dap een Neen; ik kan niet ten volle verklaren'hoe iemand den
beetje eigehaardig,  mogen zeggen : de. naam Jehovah eeuwigen dood.kan sterven, en.er tech weer uit.,k6men,
die "in eeuwigheid. blijft",  !tnaakt,  dat w.e gerust naar maar ik weet, dat Jezus er weer uit kwam. Ten volle
hen  hemel   ktinn& Feitien. We behdeven &et bang. te verklaren kap ik het niet, maar ik denk, dat we hier
zijn om ons geheel en al aan Hem toe te iertrouwen.             aan twee  dingen  moeten  denken.          Eerst, de groote
De  tiaam  JEjHOViAW  getuigt  ervan,  dat we eeuwig Lijder l&ed uit liefde; en, tweedens, Hij was God en
en altoos veilig zijn. Hij blijft er, Hij.verdtiijtit  nim- mensch, zoodat we stamelen van "ecu eeuwige waar-
mer,-,en-Hij blijft juist omdat Hij Jehovah is. Ik heb dij" die bij het lijden bijkwam, en van een Altiachtige

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

      kracht en energie die Hem  ondersteunde.   Dloch ook is. Ik moet daar wat aan toevoegen. Ik denk, dat ge in
      dan vermenigvuldigen  zich de vragen,  random een die Hollandsch vertaling van het Grieksch woord  charis
      Jezus die den eeuwigen dood stierf en er mee &x& een  tamelijk  goede  verkZur& van het woord  charis
      kwam !      Mag ik het eens heel eigenaardig  zeggen? hel&. Genade is lieflijkheid, aantrekkelijkheid, schoon-
      Het neemt een Gdd om den t;porn van een God weg                h&d, bevalligheid. En zoo is het ook als dit woord ge-
     te  dragen !                                                    bruikt word&  tegenover een zondaar die de he1 verdien<
             Hoe het dan odk zij : er kwam een `*bestemde  tijd" heeft. En zoo kwam men er toe om in die gevallen               L
      in Gods raad om :Sion genadig te zijn. Centraal is dit te spreken van onverdiende  gunst. Als we maar goed o
      vervuld in den hof van Jozef.. We kunnen daar we1              voor de aandacht houden, dat genacle rijker, breeder
      eeuwigheden  verwijlen. Die hof jubelt van dit vers. beteekenis heeft dan net maar  .onverdiende  gunst.
      Er kwam  geiade voor den schreienden  Jezus; Er Men  Ban: immers tot God zeggen:  Zij,t U genadig
      kwam een stem die Hem toefluisterde in dat nieuwe Heere!,? God is immers een genadig God, afgedacht
      &af : Waak op, Mijn Zoon!           En Hij stond op, en van de schepping, de val, de wederopneming  van men-
     . zweefde tklsschen de .zwachtels vandaan. De  zweet-           schen ? Genade is  tech een deugd van God? Het
      dock  liet.  $Iij  achter. 0. wonder der wonderen  ! Er eeuwige  Wezen is  lieflijk! Wel; dat is de  diepsce
      werd geen  ritseling  geh.oord.      En kwam niet  ken beteekeliis van het woord genade. Hij is  gracieus!
      vouwtje  bij die iwachtels bij. Hij zweefde weg van            Hij is de bevallige, de  schoone, de lieflijke tot in
      de plaats fler dooden, Sion leefde, jubelde, zong Gode         e&wighe{d, ook dan wanneer er nooit geen menschen
      lof. Ge gelooft tech, dat Sion eigenlijk Jezus Christus g e w e e s t   waren!  ~
      is? Sion is de  plaats  cop aarde die  dobr God gekust            En zoo Wilde ik spreken ten overstaan van Sion,
      werd. Het is de plaats waar ,God en rjlensch'tezamen           en dat is eerst Jezus die opklom vanuit den eeuwigen
      wonen, minnen, lieven en loven. Het is de plaats waar dood.
      God en mensch tezamen worden.  "De lofzang klinkt                 En dan die van Jezus zijn. Er'is een bestemde tijd
      uit Sion's zalen tot U met, diepst  o&zag. Daar zal om hen genadig te zijn. En als ge dan dat volk ziet
      men U, o God, betalen,  geloften  dag bij dig! Nu dan, vanuit het oogpunt  hunner zonde,  schuld en  doem-
      er is niemand op wien dit .beter past dan op Jezus.            waardigheid, dan moogt ge spreken van onverdiende
      Jezus is de aanraking Gods, die den mensch aanraakt gunst Gods, want ~dat is ze.
      met een eeuwig intieme aanraking. We noemen Hem                   En als die tijd daar is, dan staat God op. Dat wil
      in  navolging yan de Heilige  Schrift: Itimanuel: God zeggen, dan komt ey een openbaring van verlossingen.
      met ons. Die aanraking van God en mensch was eerst Dan ontfermt Hij  Zich onzer. Ik zeide:  openbaring.
     vreeselijk : daar bloedde men met bloed dat zeer goed           We moeten hier oppassen en geen creatudr rhaken van
      was, beter dan het bleed van Abel. Wanneer de` ge-             God. Vaak geeft ons de Heere een blik in Zijn doen
      rechtigheid en de prede (voor menschen) elkaar kus-            en .laten,  maar dan spreekt en toont hij ons de dingen
      teti, zoo  vl&ide daar het Bloed.  Doch. de bestemde in  anthropombrfen  vorm. God staat eeuwiglijk op,
      tijd brak aan, en Hij` bloedde met een eeuwige blo'e-          God is altijd barmhartig en genadig aan. Zijn volk.
      ding verscheen blinkende in den hof van Jozef:                 Evenwel,  z&ks is niet altijd ons geopenbaard. De
             God was Jezus genadig ! Kan met dat zeggen ? Is Heeke doet bet deksel van de verlossingen Jakobs eraf,
      genade geen "onverdiende gunst"? Dat zegt men tech en dan zieri we datgene wat. eeuwiglijk voor Gods oog
      altijd? Genade is verbeurde gunst Gods. Dat is niet is. Hij ziet Sion's muren altoos. Hij ziet nooit-zonde
      alleen ,een bmschrijving van genade geworden in onze in Jakob, maar Jakob ziet ze wel, en weent.
      tijden,  doch het is bijna verhoogd tot een axioma !
             Laat ons eens -lien. Lukas `vertelt ons, dat Jezus        `En de Heere doet ons tieten, dat die bestemde tijd
      toenam in.wijsheid en grootte, en in genude bij God en er is, want Hij werkt in ons. De knechten vati God
      de menschen. Dus Jezus had genade bij God. Onver- ontvange:;  een welgevallen  aan zijne steenen,  ep mede-
      diende gunst?  -Dat is  tech onzin? Ziet ge niet, dat lijden met zijn gruis. Dat is het volgende vers.
      genade niet altijd onvtirdiende  gunst is? lAls de Hei-           Als de tijd er is om weer een ander kapittel van
      lige Geest in de profeten van het oude testament Jezus de verlossingen Jakobs te openbaren, dan komt er ook
     ziet, ,dan zegt Hij van Jezus: genac8e  is uitgestort op beweging beneden op de aarde. Als Jezus komen moet
      Uwe lippen !       P`s.  45:3b. En  toen Jezus  sprak en op de aarde, dan zorgt God er voor, dat er godvruch-
      preekte in de synagogue van Nazareth, toen verwon- tige der,ders klaar zitten in de velden rondom hunne
      derde men  zich over. de  genadige  woorden die Hij w&chtvuren. Dan zorgt  Gdd er voor, dat de god-
1     sprak.      Ik weet  wei, dat de  Hollandsch6 vertaling vruchtige Simeon zueht en wacht en bidt. Dan is er
      bier spreekt van aangename' woorden, doch dat is een een zeer godvruchtige moeder die zwanger is en din-
      verkeerde vertaling. Het Engelsch heeft hier gracious gen, ,Goddelijke  dingen, in. haar h&t overweegt. Dan
      words, en dat is correct.                                      is er die stille Jozef.
             Ik zeide daar, dat de Hollandsche vertaling verkeerd       De Heere zorgt ervoor, dat er een volk is dat wel-


                                        T H E   S T A N D A R D   BEARERit;/                                           139

  gevallen heeft aan de Steen&n van Sion en medelijden            Fat  zegt ge van het  we&en  der  kinderen  Gods,
  heeft met het gruis van Sian.                   -,           omdat -zij vergruisdwerd&?
      Tracht  eens om daar in te  kimen. Er  zit een              De ware kinder-aard doet wondere dingen !
  grodte schoonheid in.                                          Ze doet U wandelen als God ! Ef. 5 :l, 2.
      Welgevallen  aan de  steenen  van  :Sion.         _                                                     G. V.
      Medelijden met Sian's jquis.
      De  steenen,  zegt  Petrus, zijn  ,G6ds volk die door
   God uitverkoren zijn en  dierbaar, en die  gebsouwd
  worden  als "levende steenen  tot een geestelijk huis,                      .IN  H1.S  FIZAR
  tot een heilig Priesterdom,  om geestelijke offeranden
  op  te offer&, die Gode  aangenaain zijn door Jezus .
   Christus." I Petr.  2.          o                           The Reformation And Our School
      Welgevallen  aan die  steenen  te hebben  beteekent
, dan ook ,dat ge met innerlijk welbehagen neerziet op                               Movement
  het wonderwerk van God die Zijn volk bouwt door                                      (Continued)
  Woord en Geest. Hetzelfde is aangenaam. Gode, zegt
  Petrus. Dus -als gij het 66k aanziet met welgevallen,        Cowection: In the next to the last par&graph of the
  zoo bewijst ge het ware `karakter van het kindschap last installment of this department a glaring error ap-
  Gods. Het is een goed kind dat naar zijn Vader aardt,        peared.      There you  .read,  `"And what, is it but the
  zegt men. En dat is waar.             c                      worthy activity of our Protestant Reformed parents
      Medelijden  te hebbel?met zijn gruis, beteekent, dat in this vicinity. . . . to protect our children from the
  het  lijden- en de smart van Sion de Uwe zijn. Het dangerous world and life ;iew Of light and darkness,
  toont,  dat  &e  66%  zijt met Sion, dat eenzelfde  levee    election and reprobation and of righteousness and
  beide in  Sian. en in U  woon;ti      Ge zoekt den vrede unrighteousness."          It should have read thus, "And
  van Jeruz@em,.en  als er de oorlog heerscht, dan bloedt what is it but the worthy activity of our Protestant
  het in Uw hart. Dan betoont ge een ware Sioniet te Reformed parents in this vicinity. . ; . to protect our.
  zijv. Het bange tegenovergestelde vindt ge bij  .hem children from the dangerous world, and life view of
  die God en Jezus en daqom oak Sion  haat. Nazaten            common grace which more and more seeks to deny the
  van  .Edom,  die ,toen  Jakob hem voorbijging, op weg sharp antithesis of light and-- darkness, election and
  naar Babel in bange ballingschap, luidkeels  lachte en. reprobation and of righteousness .and'unrighteousness;
  hoonde en spotte met h&t "gruis" van Sion.
      Die medelijden hebben met Sion's gruis zijn het.
  volk, dat he& altijd opneemt voor Sion's, en dat is Gods,       Sitice that is the historical background of our
  zaak' op aarde.                                              school movement, it is to be understood that the Refor-
                                                               mation of 1517 has significance for this school move-
      Welnu,  als God  266 werkt in de  harten  vari Zijn ment. In general of course the Reformation of 1517
  volk, als Hij krachtdadiglijk Zich ,betoont  in hun hart explains the existence of all present Christian schools.
  en  ,yerstand en ,alle genegendheden,  dan is zulks een      Without .that reformation we' ,would all still be under
profetie, dat  & wat op  komst is. Dan is het  oak de the lie of Rome and. have no Christian schools of our -
  tijd dat Hij *weer  een stuk van Zijn raad openbaart,
dat  ,Hij opstaat om  t'e  .werkeri.  Weer eens, niet dat dWJ1.           Now that  cod has realized this reformation,
                                                               we have protestant churches all over the world, and
  God verandert,  ten goede of ten kwade (des neen!) ,         we have protestant Christian stihools  likewise.
  maar omdat Hij zoo doende aan `t openbaren gaat,, en            Yet  .the Reformation of 1517 has special signifi-
  ons verder inleiden  .wil in de heilgeheimen van Zijn cance .for us as. we seek ways and means Ito establish
  icrbond.  Hij dekd het in de tijden van Bethlehem,, a new school for the defense of our'own world and life
  van Jozef's hof en van'de opperzaal bij het geluid van       view and for the instruction in the doctrine as taught
  gedrevene stormen van Gods liefde in Zijn Gee&.              iq our churches. The reformation of 1517 says two
      En wij mogen ook  aan `t  zingen  gaan, want `de         things to us in this movement. First of all it en-
  Heere is aan `t .opstaan in onze dagen. Hij zegt luide,      courages us and tells us that God's blessi< &uly rests
  dat de tijd oin Zich te ontfermen  aanstaande is.            upon such mo+em&ts which seek to defend and pro-
      Ter `eener zijde : de gdddeloozen maken bet. grnw& mote the old truths of Scripture over against  tiew
  lijl! gelijk nooit te vor'en, er, ter anderer zijde: hoewel heresies that arise. Time fails tb shdw this blessing
  hun'getal kleM is, er'is weer een `volk, dat medelijden      of .God tipon the churches of the Reformation. Let me
  heeft  lziet het gruis, de  bange vergruizing !  _  _        simply call your  att@on  -to  one  thing. It is  .in the
   " Vrage: hoe staat ge tegenover den Steen  eti- de' -churches of the reformation that by the grace of God
  steenen   vari Gods wonderwerk?            .                 and His blessing tipon them those three qonument'al


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   2440                                       T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

  works;  The Heidelberg Catechism, The Belgic  Con- Reformed, the teachers would still be incapable of
  .fession,  and  $he Canons  bf Dordrecht were brought teaching from the world and life view which recognizes
  into being. These churches of the reformat&i were total" depravity, e&Z&ion sqd reprobation and the anti-
  >le.d  so deeply into  the truth  .because they had not thesis of- Genesis 3 :15. Their acceptance and belief
  departed from it.               Where in the Roman Catholic in common grace prevents this. Thus the Reformation
  church today will you. find anything to compare with of 1517 tells us to go forwa6d. Even as it would have
  these three works?              Through all these  yea.rs since been folly and tremendously dangerous for the reform-
  Luther's day where is there one' piece of w&k pro-              ed people of Luther's `day to send their children back
  duced by Rome that can sta?d in ithe shade of these to the Roman Catholic church for instruction, so, it is
 three wqrks of  t&e  pr'otestant  *churches? It is- not folly and tremendously dangerdus for us to send our
  difficult to see where. God's blessing rests. So let us children back to those who put us out because we held
  today  .not look at numbers and size, but let us  `be on to the old scriptural`truths of election'and reproba-
  assured by whart God accomplished in the churches of tion and of the total depravity of man. The Reforma-
  the reformation in the ages past that God will also tion  03 1517 says to us, "Go forward, and never go
  bless  our school  mo+em&izt as well as  our churches. backwards  !"
  He will lead us ever more deeply into the truth, if we              Our school movement then also has significance for
  do not. forsake it.--                                           the Reformation of 1517. You ask whether it is not
       Therefore the-Reformation of 1517 also speaks  to          a conceited stand to-take to maintain that our little
 \ us  and tells us  t_o go forward. We may believe that school movemefit to build an eight or pen room school
  OUI! stand in 1924 meets with ,God's~ approval. because has significance  for the Reformation  qf  1517? Not
 of the blessings He `bestowed upon the churches which            at all. Indeed our little school.  moveinent can in no
  took a similar stand in  .1+%7, but by virtue of that way exert any ilifluence  upon that which has happened
  very same thing we have the calling then to go- for- hundreds of years ago. It can tieither  add to nor take
  ward. To  esitablish  our own schools for the defense           away  from that important  hi&orical fact. Yet we
  and  developmerit   of.  the  truth is the only thing left would  have. you consider what we said at  ,the very
  f o r   u s .                                                   beginning. We may speak of the Reformation of 1517
       You--may say that it is quite different today. We          as The Reformation because it was the greatest refor-
  have not been put out of th& present Christian` schools mation in history, but there  were many refbrmations
  as Luther and his followers were put out of the Roman           which followed and continued the good work begun in
  Catholic church. That is true, but I assure you. that 1517. Our reformation: -of 1924, together with our
  if Luther and his followers had been willing to send preselit school movement which grows out from it, is
  their children back to the Roman Catliolic ch~~?ch for          a continuation of that reformation of 1517. It also is
  instruction, they would not have been rejected either.          a return to the old truths of Scripture which were
  I am quite sure that even today, if you were willing being denied and rejected.  `-
  to pay the tuition, you could enroll your child in a                Our school movement then signifies that the `love
  Catholic school. Our children are nof put out of the for the truth which manifested itself in 1517 is still
  present Christian schools ; but after tiYenty-three  years alike. It signifies that the Reformation of* 151? was
  of struggle to  protect our children in these schools not in vain. It signifies that the Spirit, whose w&k
  from that dangerous world and life view of -common              resulted in the Reformation of 1517, is-still working
  grace wh& have we accomplished? `After twenty-thre"e            jn His church. It signifies that there still is, by virtue
  years of protest and struggle we still find our children        of the operation of this same Spirit, a people who ap-
  coming'home  and &king whether it is true that the preciate the truth and the?leliverance He wrought in
  two murderers on 6he cross had an equal chance to 1517.'
  be saved. Thus they had-been taught in school. After              ..L I wotild like to leave that last thought with you
, twenty-three years of fighting against Arminianism as I  bring this brief talk to a close. We, especially
  our ;children still come home singing glaringly Armin-           as we are active in this school  movement of our own,
  ian songs. And on the positive side how much have are the only ones who can and db properly appreciate
  we accomplished to get those who believe an other the Reformation of 1517.. ,Other  denominations may
  world and life  vietv to teach our children' our own celebrate it and do celebrate it, `but .they `cannot ap-
  world and life. view? As- fa-r as the dootrine is con- preciate it as we can. ~ Those who practice hierarchy
  ceY;ned, we were put out of these schools also in 1924.         themselves may celebrate the reform&ion which de-
  In them we may ndt and cannot have our world and livered the' church from the. hierarchy of Rome, :bdt
  life view taught. No matter -what we may `do to the they cannot appreciate that  deliveranc'e.   Their hier-
  preient Christian  schools, they will never become archical practices show that they do not appreciate
Protestant Refdrmed Christian schools. Even if  the the~priticiple  of the autonomy of the local church. Their
   school board wou!d  be one hundred percent Protestant return to Rome's error shows lack of love for the


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                                                  T H E   STA.NDARD  B E A R - E R .                                              141

      principle  that was violated, and such cannot appreciate for$here  with what He calls "mine hod?. And this
      what took'place when the church was delivered Z?om `-hour" is consistently the gPeat wonder of grace real-
      Rome%  hierarchy. The same can be said in .rega.rd  to ized in' Christ's suffering and death, and of His resur-
      the appreciation of' the truth maintained by the Re- rection   fu'om the  de&d and ascension unto the right' _
      formers. Those who themselves teach the lie cannot hand of God., What we here say about this `<wine" is
      appreciate the fact that the church was freed from the                not a bit .of philosophy, but it is the very sense of the
      lie in 1517. They may celebrate that fact, but t&hey                  Iioly Spirit. Our  interpret`ation, therefore, does jus-
     cannot appreciate it. The particular form of the lie tice to every element in the text.
      may have been different in 1517 than in  1923. The.                       The Son of God, Mary's firstborn son, at this w&d-
      degree of departure may not be as great. But those -ding feast  manifested His'glory. So `John informs us
      who take only a step in the- wrong direction, by that                 in verse 11. It seems to tis, and it is sustained by the
      very step show- less appreciation. for the i-ight direc-              Gospel account here, that Jesus here does all things
      tion'than those who have.not  takeli  this step. We have very'intention&lzJ. And.all that he does and says here
      held on.to the truths of total depravity and of election mchgnifies the sign; and takes away the last shred .of
      a,nd reprqbation  which are the truths of Scripture. And doubt that He performs a miracle. It all must serve
as long as we do;  .we are the` &es to appreciate the to call attention to Him ; `He must come to stand in the
      fact that God brought the church back to the truth lime-light. When the wonder is accomplished those
i         n             1517..                                              who are-,present must have seen in him more than a
         And so let us go on in this school movement. Let mere man.
      us be assured that it meets  with God's approval. Let                      . `.      They must, also see something else than a
                                                                            niaglcian-.    The majesty of the God of Israel must
      us hold on to that which God has given us to defend have been seen. Here must be seen the great power
      and maintain. Let- us contiliue the good wol;k  of the of -God, the same powey that shall be displayed in the
      Reformation of 1924 and provide our children-with in- raising of the Son ,oui of the dead.
      struction that is  bas'ed  on the' truth we have been                     For do& Jesus -here not perform this sign over
      called as reformed churches to defend, maintain `and against the interference of -Mary? And is. this Mary
      proclaim.                                          J. A. H.           not called `"the mother of Jesus" in this narrative df
                                                                            John? And is not the blood that Jesus has in His
                                                                            veins from this Mary ? ,Out of her He is &s-far as the
                   FROM HOLY .WRI%'                                         flesh is concerned, of the seed of David. She is His
                                                                     -      mother.  She had borne Him  urider-her  heart.  She
                                                                            had sucked Him.as a babe after she had `"brought Him
                                                                            forth as her fi$born Son and laid Hc& in a manger".
               The Beginning Of Signs                                     _ This mary, the mother of Jesus, is also present at the
                                  ( J o h n   2:1-11)                       wedding feast. We are not told whether she was
                                                                            mereljr  a guest, oy: that she was there helping-to serve.
        The conclusion that we may draw from the data That she was present in the latter capacity does not
-r-` given in our former article, seems to.be that the "wine" necessarily follow from the fact that she tells the
      IS chosen by Christ as a--picture .of -His perfected work             servants  "whatsoev&  He tells thee, do it." This she
      as the -Son of Man. For wine, we saw, is the product could very weli have instructed the servants to. do even
      of what we have at the end 6f the entire process of                   as a mere guest, after Jesus .had rebuked and corretted
      firmentation. It can be developed-no more. It is aged, her. What seems to be important about her presence
     perfected. So too- with Christ's work, when it is com- at  thi3 feast is, that she is the mother of' Jesus. In
      pletely perfected, there will be `no possibility of bring- that capacity she acts here on the feast as we shall
      ing it further. That will be when the Son shall for- presently see. And over against all that this Mary,
      ever reign iti glory as the First-born of all creatures, `the mother of * Jesus would do here at this wedding
      the First-born out of the dead. Col.  1:15-l&  This feast, Jesus performs this sign.
      perfection of the work of Christ will be realized ten-:                  For what would  Mary do? What does she have
      trally in "mine hour" (verse  4)) when He shall suffer in tiind when she comes to Jesus and tells Him "they
      and die and rise aggin, and shall thus make all things have no wine". Did she mean that Jesus should run
      new.                                                                  an errand for her, and go and purchase some wine?.
         We feel confident, that in thus interpreting the We think not. And our reasons for not thinking that
' meaning of the chafiging of the water into wine, we                       Mary had this in mind is first of all, the reply that
      are not arbitrarily explaining it. It is the only inter- Jesus gibes to her: Woman what have I to do with
      pretation that fits with the'idea of ihe "glory" that it thee ; mine hour is not yet come ! Mary has great plans
      must "ma&fest". Besides it shouid not be overlooke$,                  in her mind for  hey son. He must come and stand
     that Jesus Himself connects what pe is about to per-                   here in the limelight as her son. But Jesus sayS: in


 142                                  .   T H E   STANbARD  B E A R E R

this matter of my glory there is nothing b&we&.  me             spoken audibly in the ears of the people: This is my
 and you. This is a  matter of  m&e  hour, in which I           beloved Son, in `whom my good-pleasure  is ! After
 will attend  @holly to and be busy in my Father's that JesLis had been led by the Holy Spirit into the
 business, whose will I am come to perform. And in wilderness to be.tempted of the Devil. And now Jesus
 that particular relationship you are to me no other had returned. And John the Baptist had. pointed Him
 than any other woman. Indeed you are the blessed out to be the Lamb of God that bear&h away the sins
 amon.g women, but this matter you are to me just like          of the world; This John the Baptist was now sending
 any other woman in  Isra,el. "Woman" what  is there his followers to Jesus. And, whqt .was more significant
 ia. this matter betwe&  you and me'! There is simply still, was that Jesus was now even gathering His
 nothing.. Surely r`woman" all men from now on shall apdstles  alrea$y. Yea, .He is here present with them
 call you blessed. It shall b& confessed in. my church at the feast.
 `2orn from the virgin  Ma-ry", but  -that will alsp be            This  puts Mary into, actions! The  .time has come.
 tine. limit of what will be said of you. Here the chprch- Her Son will be called great, Son of the Highest. The.
 will place the period! From there on it will indeed be: hour has str.uck  ! So khinks -Mary. Hence she says to
 Suffered under Fontius Pilate, was crucified, dead Jesus : They lack wine !
 and buried, descended into hell, etc. But in this latter          We said : do not be `too severe with Mary.' For this
 you have not one ipta a part. That suffering of mine Mary had received God's revelation concerning this
 Hour is wholly  .nline. Indeed, as far as my birth Son again and again. Always she saw more. But
"from, a woman" is concerned, .I am born frbm thee,             she could not possibly' so put the pieces together that
 but as I come willingly`"under  the la@ to redeeni all she could see what we see today. ,:She did.not  see what
 who' are under the law, and to thus, as the Father's we see, What we see is due to Christ's death having
 Firstborn amo%g many brethren, tq bring deliverance become a realit?, and also because He had ascehded
from bondage, and from be@g sol+ under sin-to liberty on high and sent His Spirit to lead us, the whole church
 to all my brethren, this is wholly my m$tter. I will           into all truth. And under the guidance of this Spirit
 tread the wine-press oP the wrath of God alone; ,(Gal.         the church confessed the twelve articles of faith. But
 4 :5, 6) . Shall, I mean something to you then you Mary Mary could not confess this. It did not become, neither
 ,must learn to see in me not merely your firstborn Son,        could it be clear to hkr. Presently on Pentecost also
 but God's  onljr-begotten  Son, who according to  the          Mary shall hear and- understand the mighty words of
 firm decree will sit on Davici's. throne, ;the firstborn       God. Also she is  py;esent  with  the first church on
 -1 God, Lord of -glory over all !                              whom the Spiht is poured  forth.
        From this we can see what  M'ary had in mind.              But as yet she does not see.
 She would have-Christ ,show His ,glory..  That He will            Yet she belongs to those violent who would take
 do only after it- has become  pefectly clear to Mary the kingdom and its glories by force !            a*
 and .also to all of us who read John's account, that this         ,Oh, h&d rioi Gabriel himself, the angel who stands
 is wholly His glory as the Son of God in the flesh, yes,       befol"e  God; come and told her of what was to befall
 in our flesh.                                                  her? That she was to have a son, and thus she wo,uld
        But let u$ ndt be too severe in our criticism of this be the blessed among women, for that her son would
 Mary, the mother of Jesus. Was she not after all the sit on the throne of David, that he would rule over the
 mother.of Sesus? And was there ever a worn&  who. house of Jacob, and that of His kingdom, even as
 had .such a wonderful and for the flesh terrifying ex- Daniel has already seen in the night visions (Dan. 7)
 perience? Was this Jesus not after all her son? Could there would be no `end?, And could Mary ever forget
 she `penetrate into the depths  of this mysterious child that Word of Revelation declaring to her that  she.
 of hers? Is not the great -Mystery of godliness wrap- would have this son without a `man ? And then was
 `ped up in Him?                                                there not that marvelous and wonderful experience of
        Let us try to mlderstand  Mary just a bit.              going to Elizabeth, the mother. of John the Baptist,
        If we do this it tiill aid us to understand the need    and that equally marvelous prophesying of herself?
 of this sign of Jesus, as a  heginning  of signs  ov&          And had in those terrifying days of her pregnancy not
 against all flesh. _                                           the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph telling him
        Had not that which had haipefied fin the last while that whs.t .was conceived in Mary's womb, was of the
 brought to a head all that Mafy had pondered about             Holy Spirit,, and that -she was the Virgin of whom
 now these little more than thirty years? `What had             Isaiah, the prophet had already spoken? Was this
 happened?) Jesus was now thirty years old and had not already much to ponder in the heart? But had not
 gone to John'the'Baptist to be baptized of him that all the word of the Lord been more and more plentiful,
 ri.ghteousness  might be fulfilled.  `At. this time  the and that, too, always concerning this her son? When
 very heavens had opened, had they not, and the Holy in that night in which she had given birth `io this Son,
 Spirit had descended upop Jesus? And had God not               liad not shepherds again told her that an angel had


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                                                    _       -




                                        - T H E   S T A N D A R D .   B E A R E R                                           143

 appeared to them in that night, telling them of the                in an entirely new field, there were com@elling reasons
 Saviour. who was born unto them, unto all the congre- Why this field was chosen for the beginning.. For the
 gation, and that the sign which had been given them,               same reason. it is ndt expected that their stay in this                  -
 was that the babe would be found wrapped in swad-                  neighborhood will be as extensive as it would were this
 diing clothes and lying in `a manger? Mary had had an entirely new opening. However, there were severd                                      _
 no other place to put the child, and possibly had noth-            colisiderations  which caused the Mission Committee in
ing else to wrap him in, but `God had so directed their conjunction with the calling Consistory to send our
 path that even this poverty is a sign, a word of revela-           Missionaries to Byron Center.
 tion !                                                             In the first place, it had often been expressed to                  .
     Shall we still be severe with the mother of Jesus? the Mission C&nmittee,  by members of our churches,
     Had not the Wor,d of God been further multiplied either those living in the vicinity of Byron Center or
 to her? What about that significant name that was to others, that there was some desire amongst. our
 given to Jesus on the eighth day : His name -shall be              people to attempt to re-organize there:, Upon the basis
 called Jesus, for He shall save His peopl^e  from their of these expressions the Mission Committee had made
 sins. Was this not great revelation? And then too                  a preliminary investigation and found that it might
 on the. fourtieth day in the temple, whkn they pre- be possible to re-establish in' Byron Center. In the
 sented their firstborn; presented Him according to secqnd place, it was a fact that there were several
 the law of Moses? Was this not strange. Simeon families who are at present scattered amongst various                                             _
 can now di2 in peace. It is the, light of the nations churches in Grand Rapids, and vicinity, who might
 and the glory of the people of Israel! And this child form a nucleus for a congregation. (All of these fami-
 would be unto a fall and rising of many in Israel, and             lies travel great distances at present and a church ifi
 ti Sign that would be contradicted. Then there would Byron Center wo$d be much closer to them. It was
 c&he these wise men from the east. The very stars                  also rumor&d that in this ared there were others inter-
 of the heavens must serve this .child. And they had                ested in our cause who had never been with us ; this
 iyorshipped  Him in her presence. Soon they were to                hds also proven $0 be the case. Finally, since there
 flee into Egypt. .There they must remain until. God was no other obvious field the Mission Committee and
 would call them back again. And by special appoint- Consistory of Fuller Ave. decided to send our mission-
 ment- and direction of. Go.d they again come to dwell in aries to investigate. We might also add, that'from  the
 Nazareth.                                                          point of view of all the arrangements necessary to the
 -' All seems  $0 be quiet again. Other children were resumption of our mission lab&s, as also for the new
 born in the fa.mily. Literally Jesus had become Mary's missionaries, beginning here would give us an oppor-
 first-born  Son. Always he is obedient. There must                 tunity "to get our feet on the ground", so to speak.
 have be& a marked contrast betwken Jesus alid the                     Since their induction in the work,`the missionaries .
 other children. Coul `a day have gone by that Mary's have labored rather extensively in this field. Many
 attention was not called to this? But, again suddenly prel.iminary  dbntacts were made both amongst our own
 the Lord has called everything so freshly to her mem- ,families and others. "From these it was determined
 ory when the child is twelve -years old. -We know the              that there  tias a definite possibility for a  Prot'estant
 gospel account. Jesus is after, three days of searching, Reformed Church in Byron Center. A general meet-                                             -
 found by His parents in the temple, asking<and answer- ing was  called  for  the  evening of November 21, to
 ing difficult questions with the doctors of the  law. which all those  inteiest&l  were invited. After dis-
 Upon Mary's reproof this child had said: Wist ye not               cussing various matters, such as organizations and
 that I must be busy in my Father's business?                       location, it was decided to hdld preaching services once
                    (To be continued)          .           G. L.    each Sunday ip Byron Center. Through the gener-
                                                                    osity of the Methodist Congregation of Byron Center
                                                                    we were able to secure their building both fdr this
                                                                    initial meeting and for services each  Sund.ay after-
              :     PE&I'SCOPE .                                    noon: The first Sunday meeting was held on Novem-
                                                                    ber 30. An  audience of  80-85 individuals, represent-
                                                                    ing about 20 families, was present. Needless to say,
              Him~e Mission News                                    both the indi&duals  present and the missjonaries  were!
                                                                    greatly encouraged by this large-attendance.
 Present Activity. . . .                                                                                             The fol-
                                  -.                                lowing week a somewhat smaller group was present,                                  .
   , Undoubtedly, most of our readers know that at due  -in  part.  to the fact  many  -from  Hudso&ille at-
 present our Missionaries, the ,Rev. `W. Hofman and tended their oivri service; there to hear the Rev. B. Kok
 E. Knott.,  ar'e labor,ing in Byron Center and vicinity.           preach his farewell sermon at that time.
 Although the work there .is of a different nature than                It is planned to continue these services ancl con-
                                         .-


. ,_- ' 144                                      -THE STAP$:@!!RD         BEA.RER-

-  tacts for a time. Shortly after the first of the year,           The whole situation is still fluctuating. Many are
    it is expected that another meeting will be I&led at or will- be, moving from their present places. Many
    which. the question of organization will be discussed more newcomers are expected in the future.- Since we
 a$ decided  ufion . In the  meantime,~  we  herewibh   ex- 1 ave -no churches in Canada nor anywhere near these
    tend a cordial invitation to any of our people in the people, and since`they cannot possibly be quickly mold-
    ~vicinity of Grand -Rapids, Hudsonville; etc., to .meet- ed .into a separate group, nor even, perhaps, with a
    with us occasionally. Our meetings are held at 2 :3O        great deal `of labor, it seems that for the present at
   .7. M. each Sunday in the Methodist Church, which is         least, Canada does not offer a promising field of activ-
    one block south of the main street ,of Byron. We feel ity. This is especially true during the winter months"
    that your attendance will not `only increase your inter-    that are upon us, since many of these families are
    cst in our labors. but will also encourage this new settled in farm areas off the main highw.ays on poor
    group.. Let's see you there sometime !                      roads. At the same time we can assure our people
                            :I:  3:  :,:  :,:                   that the Mission Corn_mittee  plans to continue its in-
                                                                vestigation and will do all it can in Canada. In the
    C.unadn.  i . .    -                                        meantime, we would suggest that if anyone. of our
                                                                readers have. any acquaintances or relatives settling
         As is well known, the Province of Ontario; Canada,     there. they would greatly appreciate gifts of clothing
    has received several hundred Dutch immigrants and           and household articles, since these are lacking to them.
    more are expected to` arrive next spring. Naturally
    we are greatly interested in these friends from the .old                                    ::< :i: 8 :!:
    Fatherland. Having .been informed of this immigra- I~~~nviyrdtion  to the U. 8. . . .
    tion, both of.~our Classes, at their last meetings, dis-
    cussed the possibility of contacting these People. Since      In connection with the above the Mission  Com-
    there were many. problems <and. questions as to pro- mittee has also received several letters from indi-
    cedure both Classes referred the matter .to the Mission viduals and families in the Netherlands who desire to
    Committee.                                                  come either to this country or-Canada. Many of these
         Recently, the Mission -Committee reviewed these letters were' referred to. us by the Rev.-H. Hdeksema
    overtures and took action... The consistories of our and the Consistory of Fuller Ave., the original recip-
    Creston and Hudsonyille churches were asked to re- ients. These letters and the entire matter of investi-
    lease their pastors that they might investigate the gating and acquiring information regarding entrance.
    situation. During the weeks of November 14 and 21           into the U. S. was given into the hands of our mission-
    the Revs. J. De Jong and B. Mel< journeyed to Canada        aries. They-are, at present, also busy corresponding
  . to gain preliminary and first-hand information ; while with these brethren in the Netherlands, as well as with
    their charges at home were filled by our ,missionaries.     the proper officials in both countries,  to. gain the
         It is difficult to make anything like a comprehensive necessary information to aid these prospective immi-
    and authoritative report of their' findings since both grants. It is expected that in the near future, some
   their time and contacts were necessarily limited. They definite plan can be worked out for- a c0mmitte.e to
   `did, however, meet several of these, families and en- handle this matter.
    joyed visiting with them'; being well received. Gener-                                      *  +  :j:  I  :i:
                                                                                           _
    ally we may say that the situation in Canada is un-         Where Next  ?  ?  ?  Z.
    settled. Most of the immigrants are of limited means.,                                            -.
    in every respect. They have little material wealth, are        That, of course, is always an interesting question
    practically without transportation facilities ,and few for speculation and discussion. -There are many rum-
    possess any means of communication, such as radio, ored possibilities of interest. In order that the Mission
    etc. They are also usually seperated  .from one another     Committee and calling Church may be better able to
   by great distances, and nowhere is there.a great con- decide this question, we have written to all of  our.
    centration of them in any one center. They are un- ministers and consist&es requesting suggestions and
   acquainted\ with our Churches and our specific doc- information regarding -fields. We are' happy that
   trine and preaching, and are quite generally satisfied several of our Churches have shown their interest in
   with the status quo. The Christian Reformed Church, this work by. a prompt reply. May we hear from the
  having both the means and facilities at hand in ,Canada,      rest soon? We would also be pleased to hear from any
   has done a! splendid job of receiving them. and aiding individuals having suggestions. Address your letters
   them to get settled in .Canada. These churches, there to -the Revs: W. Hofman and E. Knott, 1210 Logan St.,
   present, are doing .a11 they can to provide the immi-        S. E., Grand Rapids 6,  Mich. Above all we request
   prams with worship services and transport them great your prayers for us in this our mutual work of the
    distances to these services.                                Lord.         _                                      W.  H .
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