 V O L U M E   X X I V              , January  1-5, 1948  - Grand Rapids, Michigan                                    N U M B E R   8
                                                                       lot because of the offenses and injuries that are in-
    ~-~MEID~T.A,~T  1.m                                                flicted upon you by others.
                                                                          Well, if others are an offense to us because oftheir
                                                                       deeds and words, we are at" once inclined to even the
                                                                       score : an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. A n d
                          "Love'!. ,                                   if'the truth be told, we would like to return the damage
                                                                       inflicted upon us with interest.
                                                                         Such is the natural impulse of every man, be he
          "Charity suffereth long,  and is kind; charity envieth       child of' God or wicked.       1
           not; charity v&n?eth n'ot itself, is not puffed up..?'         But not so love !
                                                -1 Cor.  13:4.
                                      -.                                  Love suffereth long. Love has the capacity to
    In the first past of the chapter-from which the texts take punishment, unjustly inflioted upon one. It will.
 were chosen for our past meditation,`the apostle shows bear undeserved ill-treatment, and reproach ; has the
 how without love in the heart, all show of good.works                 capacity, for instance, to suffer the robbing of one's
 is without value or benefit. Love must be the root goods,, good1 name, place in society, or one's very life,
 from which our good works spring, if they are to war- without stricking.  back, without revenging one's self.
 rant acceptance of the God of our salvation, with their                  But not, you understand, because a man who is'
 deserved reward. To speak and to sing beautifully,                    longsuffering is devoid of a sense of justice and right-
 as `to form. and sound and appearance, without love,                  eousness. Oh no, a longsuffering .man has a keener
 is nothing but sounding brass or a tinkling symbol. sense of equity than the unhappy man who does the
L It is as such a very abomination in the ,ears of God. inflicting of all the, undeserved abuse on his fellow
 To speak concerning God, to be deep and penetrating man.
 and ingenious in thought and action, without love, is                    .Nd, but this `is the other element of longsuffering :
exactly  ndthiny. To have a show of mercy., so tha.t you you bear it all in patience, and that is the virtue to
 unclothe yourselves'to feed the poor, without love, is wait, ,the capacity to wait for the Lord, who will surely
 without profit for the doer.  ilea; even though you requite all evil. _ ---  :
 would give your life asan offering for others, without                   Now we have the full picture. Longsuffering is
 the Divine. motive of love, there would be no gain at the virtue to bear evil and pain and misery, unjustly
 all for the self-inflicted martyrdom:                                 inflicted,' while he will wait for the coming of the:
 And the reason is plain.              ~                               Judge who will avenge His elect that cry day and night
    God is the God of love. Love is the fountain from to Him.
 which springs His own love-life. All that God does is                    That, my friends, is not easy to- do.
 motivated by His love. His every thought, word and                       We would rather institute our `own private juclg-
 action is a manifestation of His love. This virtue of ment day.
 God is so fundamental in Him that'.He tells us how His                   We would. rather strike back, and .do it. hard and
very name is Love. Love is God, and God is Love.                       fast, endeavouring to mete out the full measure of our
    And we are made in His image. Therefore:                           wrath.
                          * *  *  *  -'                                   But if `we have love in 0~71" heart, we will desist,
                                                                  l
                                                                       and -wait. We will wait for .God.         I
    Love suffereth.long  and is kind!                                     God is also longsuffering. I am sorry I put it that
     Suffering here means the suffering `that is your way. It is really wrong to  .write  like that. God is
                                                                                                            .


170                                           *fHEe.   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

not  &+o longsuffering. Our longsuffering is not ori-                           Mieha has painted his picture. A kind man is
ginal, but i1t is original with God.                                  i,.    one who loves mercy.
             God :suffereth  long.                                              And the Gospel has shown his face: it is Jesus
             We could write a book on that. ,On se&id thought, Christ. He is the .kindest man who ever walked the
we!..need  not.: The Book is written already. God's earth. He could be moved with compassion -when He
     longsuffering is written on the,`.earth, on the oceans saw the misery of those He loved.
     and-on the heavens. The whole sorry world's history                         The Holland language has a good word for the
is a; commentary o$`.His waiting, waiting, waiting I                         virtue of kindness. No, it is not vriendelijkheid, but
0, do f,ear a waiting God! Hedoes not come at once                           "yoede&ierenheid".    It expresses the full idea' of the
to  ayenge the wrong. He  has*the  capacity to bear                          Scriptural word  kinclness. It is that virtue where
evil, wrong, reproach,  curses;`bI@dshed,  for  eentur-                      everything in your whole being is urgent to the well-
     iesl                                                                    being of the object of,your kindness. You want to be
             Attend to the awful. Cross of*-Golgotha  !                      good to them. No, it does not merely mean that you
             God can behold His Son in the hand of the evil.                 desire to bestow all manner of good things on the
     They hate Him, they, pour out all the vials of their object of your kindness, but you really. want to give
wrath over the Innocent! `They take Him in their vile y o u r s e l f !
hands and arrange His arms and legs on the accursed                             Attend to the origin of that virtue : it. is God Him-
tree. They hammer the nails into His holy flesh. `His self.
blood flows.                                                                    God is kind.
         0 God! How canst Thou behold all this evil!?                           God's kindness is that love of `God wherein His
     Here is the answer: He suffereth long. He has whole Being constrains .Him to be good to the objects
suffered for centuries.                                         -_           of' His kindness, with the expressed desire and deter-
             And He has two reasons for His virtue of wait- mination to give Himself to them for time and for
ing:                                                                         eternity.
         Reason one: His people must be cultivated in the                       God's kindness to us is ,Christ Jesus the Lord.
throes of suff,ering. They must be born in adversity,
and `be built up in blood and tears of their suffering.                         And, the end of that kindness is that glorious state
They must all come to conversion. And that takes                             where God will be all and in aZZ.
time, much time : II Pet,er 3 :9. And with regard to                            So then,,if you have the love of :God in your hearts,
the suffering Son, God waits. I Jesus must be-so treated you are kind to your neighbours. You have the inner
by  .the howling mob of God-haters. He must lay the urge to be good to them, to give yourself to them, to
foundation of the New Jerusalem in His holy blood.                           beam upon them and to make them feel that you mean
     Reason two: the wicked must be revealed to be their welfare. "Be ye kind one to another, tender-
wicked. God must be just when He judges. That is: hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's
when the judgment falls, the whole world of men and sake hath forgiven you !" Eph. 4 :3.2.
     angels, wicked and, good, must see clearly that the                        What unspeakable comfort to know that `God is
punishment is commensurate to the crime; Therefore chyeesos over us!
t.he crime in all its foulness must be manifested. There-                       What consolation in the midst of the-bitter, cruel,
fore this terrible history. Let him that is filthy, be hard, and cutting world of devils and men who do
     filthy still !                                9       ,                 their utmost to tear ~7s and inflict their wounds on the
             Oh yes, God suffereth long. Because He i.s Love !               innocent! `Their very tongues are spears and swords:'
             And it is for th.at, reason that His people, His ehild-         the poison of asps is under their lips. In the midst of
ren, practice the same longsuffering. They h,ate evil,                       it, we know that the Lord is mindful of us.. All His
.but they will not avenge themselves. -They wait for mind is that-we shall be blessed forever, that we shall
     God.                                                                    feed on His glorious Image, .and that is Jesus ! God is
                                                                             kind over us!
                                *  *  * *                                       And He proved it in the gift of Jesus.
                                                                                I have said that the kind man .gives himself, rather
         .And meanwhile, they are kind!                                      than his gifts.                                _
             The root meaning of this word is that you. are fit                 Well, what did the Lord do?
for  ,use, useful, virtuous, good. Therefore, it is used                        He gave Himself so intimately to you that the
for the state of manageableness, mildness and pleasant- church has fought for ages and struggled to clearly
ness. It is opposed to all harshness, bitterness, hard- see and understand the two natures of Jesus. God
ness and sharpness. A kind man does not hurt or and man are united, for God is kind. "I in them, and
pierce  you with many sorrows.                                               Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in `one!"
*            A kind, a really kind man, is a pleasure to know.               John 17.


                                                  T H E   S T A N D A R D   BEA.RER                                          171.

          0, givk Thou me the succour  of Thy Spirit ! Psalm is their portion-then love tells you what to do from
1 1 9 .                                                             the hgart : you will say : Your heaven is my heaven !
          Then the love of God will be spread `abroad in 8my I am sincerely glad  ,,with you. The one smile  `en-
      heart ! Romans 5 :5.                                          .gendered  two  smilks. The one heart that burst with
 D        Then, then  I  shall be kind to my fellows! I Cor.  f;z,  found  it' counterpart' such  is  the  nature  Of
      13 :4.                                                            ,611, that we would. emulate it !
                                        c
                                   8  .*  8  *                          When you are in heaven, and time is ended ; when
                                                                    you begin your .eternal song, you. may be certain that
          But there is more.                                        God will smile at all this joy and happiness ! Notice:
          Love envieth not!                                         you will enter into the joy of you; Lord! L
          Envy. is the capacity to burn, to be hot in the pur-          Love, moreover, vaunteth not itself!
      suit of someone or something. It is used in  ,God's               He that vaunteth himself is the nortorious braggart,
      Word.for  both good and evil endeavour.                       the vainglorious ,fool !
          Here it is the foul fruit of hatred.                          And I would beg of you. not ;C,o search too far for
                                                                    this boaster of evil things. He is very near to every
          Envy is the hatred. of the natural man overagainst        on;!  of  us
      his neighbour, eith& in prosperity or adversity,                  It is found in the wicked heart of man.
          When the brother prospereth, envy is not to be con-           We went to school with the devil.
      soled. It gnaws its heart out in the beholding of suc-            IOf Anti-Christ it is said that he spoke great things.
      cess of the neighbour : it should not happen .to# him.        Worthy son of the devil. He must have spoken great
      An envious soul cannot see the prosperity of his fel-         things too, on the morning of creation. The devil,
      lows. All the good things that he. hath ought to be when he was still an angel, also sang for joy when
      mine ! All the success he hath should be mine ! I can-        God completed His work of the creation of men and
      not see that my.brother fares well.                           the hosts of the earth.. But later he spoke great things
          It is already evident among us as children.
                              .                                     against the Almighty and to the angels that were under
           When the little girl is oh so glad with her new him. And they listened to him. The result? A verit- '
      dress, and hastens to school to show it and to wait,          able host of wicked demons that speaks great things
      eagerly wait for .the glad and appreciative response,         against God and His Anointed.
      ~envy rears its ugly head even when we are small. The             And he taught men.
      dress does not exist! We have not seen it! And                    So that all men speak wicked things against-God.
      when the poor little girl will exceed in boldness and             Jude the apostle, wrote of them. Listen: "and of
      call attention- to the boon which made her so happy, all their hard speeches -which ungodly sinners have
      the others will spurn and turn away. `,                       spoken against Him !" Here you have the  brag-
           Instead of kindness there was envy.                      garts !
           And another little heart is hurt.             .              A man that vaunteth himself- is always blowing his
           Multiply this in- the, millions, and apply it to all own trumpet. He has much to say of himself;
      of us in all circumstances, and you. will have discalvered        And over against it, there is only one seemly be-
      a world of suffering.'                                        haviour  ; we should. never vaunt ourselves, but we
           Our dress,' our goods, our person,-  our children, should grow very still. And even then we should not
our all-it is good, praiseworthy, glorious! But the trust our mouths: we should lay our hands on our
      other? It should not be'; it should not happen. I, mouths! It will happen in the day' of days. `"That
      capital I, must be glorious. in my little heaven. It is every mouth may  be stopped  !" When God shows
      the age-old sin: `we are our own little god, and there H'
                                                                      imself, no one will dare to  ,vaunt himself  any-
      must nqt, there dare-not, be any god. than we !               more.
           Oh, the foul plant of envy !
           And all this is but negative language. Instead of I                                  * *  Q  *
      envious we should have love. `Love is not envious,
      saith Paul.-                                <                     And love is not puffed up!
           Translate it into its opposite, and what have                To puff one's self' up is a necessary corollary to,ali
      jrou?                                                         vaunting. I may be found out in my boasting. So  I
          `This: you will rejoice with those `that do rejoice, will make myself greater than I really am.
      and you  .will weep with  *those  that weep. Such is              I will tell you  ,what love does. She has learned
      love !                                                        from the lowly Jesus to be humble- and quiet !                   `,
          If someone approaches you, overflowing with happi-            0 God ! be merciful to ~7s the sinners ! And give
      ness for this and' that, and such and so, and when us Thy love !
      every word tells you of all this delirious happiness that'                    _.            .;-'             -G. V.


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       172                                                                                                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   B.EARE;e

                                            The Standard Bearer
 ,'                   Semi-Monthly, except Monthly ,in `July &d August                                                                                                                                                   E D I T O R I A L S   `.  :'
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                                                        1463 Ardmore. St., S. E.                                                                                                                                      The Covenant Controversy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1  '
                                               EDITOR : - Rev. .H.-Hoeksema.                                                                                                                                                          -I.-      :       `_     ~.'
       Contributing Editors: - Rev. G. M. Ophoff,, Rev. G. VOY,  Rev.                                                                                                                                                           INTRODUCTI~~V
       R. Veldman, Rev. H. Veldman, Rev. H. De Wolf, Rev. B.  Iiok,
       Rev.  J.  D.' De Jong, Rev. A.  Plaiter,  Rev. C. Hanko,  Rev;  L.                                                                                                                                       The undersigned ,does not know whether or not he
       Vermeer, Rev. G. Lubbers, Rev. M.  Gritters, Rev. J. A. Heys,                                                                                                                                        will be enabled to finish a contemplated  ser'ies  of
       Rev. W.  Bofman.                                                                                                                                                                                     editorials on the above `theme. (And the `reason is
         Communications relative to contents should be addressed $0                                                                                                                                         plain.. He is appointed to substitute for the regular
       REV. GERRIT VO,S, Edgerton, Minnesota.                                                                                                                                                               Editor-in-Chief, the Rev. H. Hoeksema, who is con-
       .  Communicatioes  relative to  subscriptioni  should  be addressed                                                                                                                                  valescing from a recent illness. And the stipulation
       to MR. GE,RRIT  PIPE, 1463 Ardmore St., S. E., Grand Raiids,                                                                                                                                         reads that as soon as our Editor is able to resume his
       Mich:  `Anqouncements  and Obituaries must be mailed to `the                                                                                                                                         rubric or rubrics,, he simply acquaints his. substitute
       above address and will be published at B fee of $1.00 for each                                                                                                                                       or substitutes, and that will be the end of. their work.
       notice.                                                                                                            :                                                                                 And if I take into account the  latest  news from the
                                          (Subscription  P&ce  $2.50  per year)                                                                                                                             Pacific. coast, he may soon reappear bn the pages of
       Entered as Second Class Mail at Grand Rapids, Michigan.                                                                                                                                              our Stand&d Bearer. May God grant it to him and to
                                                                                                                                                                                                            us in His grace.
                                                                        -.-                                                                                                                                     However, even if we have to halt our series before
                                                                                                                                                                                                            its cqmpletion, no htirm will be done, since our Edit&
                                                                                                                                                                                                            will' no doubt at once enter upon the same /theme and'
                                                                                                                                                                                                            bring it to its conclusion.
                                                                 - CONTENTS  -                                                                                                                                 But something must be written about the contro-
       MEDITATION  :-                                                                                                                                                                                       versy .of the Covenant .and related matters. Our people
                                                                                                                                                                                                            l:a.ve a right to knob how we stand over against the
  LOVE : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 L:iberated Churches anent this do&rifle, as well as our
               Rev.  G. Vos.                                                                                                                                                                                stand with respedt  ,to the Reformed Churches in the
                                                                                                                                                                                                            Netherlands;
EDITORIALS  z--                                                                                    _.                               .-
                                                                                                                                                                                                               It will not be easy-to write about this controversy,
 . THE COVENANT CONTROVERSY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172                                                                                         and that for more than one reason. First, because of
              Rev. G. Vos. .                                                                                                                                                                                the fundamental nature of this subject. It touches
                                                                                                                                                                                                            `upon all the fundamental-truths' of Scripture: pre-
  OUR DOCTFINE  . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..~~.~....~........................................... 174
                                                                                                                    `_                                                                                      destination, Counsel of Peace .(so-called) , the eternal
        Rev. H. Veldman.
                                                '                                                                                                                                                           cou.nsel  of God, the Covenant in all its phases, the
                                                                                                                                                                                                            sacraments, especially Holy Baptism,  the question as
  THE DAY OF SHADOWS . . . . . . . . . . . . * ".....". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17s                                                                        to who is in the covenant, and their part in that cove-
  THROUGH THE AGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...182                                                             nant, the promise, and the question of the heir of the
              Rev.  G'.  &. Ophoff.                                                                                                                                                                         promise, etc. Second, because of `the `danger involved
                                                                                                                                                                                                            in criticising the Liberated.Churches.    It has happened
  SION'S ZANGEN . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183,                                     more than once  .that the brethren of the Reformed
              Rev. .G. Vos.                                                                                                                                                                                 Churches would use such criticism in order  to attack
                                                                                                                                                                                                            the Liberated brethren in a way that is not seemly.
  I N H I S FEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..~.............................185
             Rev.  i. Gritters.                                                                                                                                                                             Third, because the battlefield  -is far away. -It has
                                                                                                                                                                                                            taken us many weary weeks, and even months,' to wade
  FROM HOLY WRIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .187                                                 th.rough the  volumi,nous  material that came to our
              Rev C. Hanko.                                                                                                                                                                                 hands: And I am aware of the fact that I have not
                                                                                                                                                                                                            read all that was written on both sides of this contro-
  INGEZ,ONDEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  ;: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                                                                                                                                              189           versy.    Sd I am afraid that I will make mistakes in
                                                                                                                                                                                                            the proposed series. Still, I did qot thirik it right to.
  PERISCOPE . . . . :...`I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                            '
                                                                                       . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189    ho!d back because of all these -reasons. Again, 
             Rev. W. Hofmkn.                                                                                                      _'                                                                                                                             our
                                                                                                                                                                                                            people hake a right to k&w how matters stand;             :
                                                                                                                                                                                                               Now then, &specially because of one of. the reasons

                                                                                                                                                                  .


                                         .THE     STAND-ARD            BEARE.                                       .1'13

 mentioned above I feel constrained in this introduction Imagine! the Lord Jestis.Christ appoints elders to rule                        :
to outline in how far we tire agreed with the Liberated          the flock, to admonish those that are gone out of the
 churches, maintaining Art. 31 of the Church Order of            way, to punish the impenitent, to banish the wolves
 Dordt, the reason, nameiy, that the opposition might            ollt  df the fold of Christ. That truth is abundantly
 use us to hurt our liberated brethren.             1            taught in God's Word. No one disputes it. But wait I
    When news of the split in Holland came to us, even           Here is a body of `men who are commissioned to . a
 befoce the. Netherlands was entirely liberated from the         classis or a synod with definite and limited instructions
 Nazi hordes, we were saddened to hear that`Dr. Schil-           from the first instances of the rule, namely, the con-
 der had split the church of our .fathers. The -first dis- slstory of the elders of the church. That they go at
 patches sounded gloomy indeed. However, there was               all, that they are delegated at all, has its reason and
 one tiling in those early dispatches which put us on            cause in a practical matter, this` namely, that there
 riur  guakd, namely, the reiterated statement that Dr.          are thiligs to do in Cod's churches that no, olie church
I  Schilde~`s  "behtiviour, tone, and actions" &lent the         can very well do alone, such as the caring fol: a Theo-
 controversy were so uncouth,' out of order, and un-             logical School, Home and Foreign Missions, Examilla-'
' seemly. As  on6  corr'espondent  put it very naively:          tion of those that are called to the Holy Ministry, etc.
 "You' could do nothing with him !"                              But, lo and behbld, what they tire doing today: They              :
    Thst $ut us on o& guard, for we. know the tactics            suspend and depose office bearers of consistories and             i
 of those who militate against the truth. If they  can- congregations without any regard for the fact that
`not overcome the man who stands for the truth, they             Chfist gave Hi&Church- elders for that very purpose!
 will attack him on his behaviour, his crudeness, his            There have been cases where the minister of a certaid             :
 barbarous tactics, and so forth. Make a study of it in church was suspended from office, while the church
 the ages' that are past, and you will note tliat "all the       where  he belonged and where he `was subject to the
 reforineks  were  io accused.          In 1924 we were also     rule and oversight by the elders, knew nothing of this
 accused bf th.e same thing. We have not forgotten the fact. Later it was told them by letter.
 repeated -accusation: you can do nothing with Rev.                 I ask: is not such action principally the same, as
 Hoeksema. He hangs on  like. a bulldog ! We  thank              Roman Catholicism ? The  only difference is that in
 God ,that he did!       .                                       the latter there is one, nian who,rules: ihe Pope. In
    Yes, that put us on 6ur guard,  -and I am glad it the Reformed Churches of the Netherlands (and also
,did"                             `,                             here in America) it is a body `of a few men who.call
    Later, we received word from both sides, officially,         themselves a Reformed synod. And, still more evil,
 and otherwise. An. ever growing flood of  pspers,               it is sometimes one or two men who give leadership (  ?)
 ma.gazines, ,pamphlets,  brochures, and personal testi-         -+&ho dare do the things that belong to the body of
 mpnies  appeared in our mail. Also  De Reformatie elders of each instituted church. (Remember in this
 appeared again; and still later, we received the various connection the voices  6f men.  ,like Hepp and H. H.
 acts o$ synod, from both sides.                                 Kuyper at the Synod of 1939.) Looking at that synod
    One thing became clear from the start: the church- of 1939 we can now see that coming events cast. their'
 es of our fathers had corrupted themselves w.ith `re-           shadows .before !                                            :
 spect to Reformed Church. Polity. Rev. Toornvliet                  0s yes, it became very clear to us at.the  very first
 niay say  `thtit the  dogmatic  side of the question or         aftey the liber&ioh of, Holland that the brethren. who
 debat weighs  heavier than the church-political side were cast out suffered the same misery we endured in
 of that samk question or debtite,  but I assure you that        1924 and 1925.
 it `is difficult td take a definite stand on that question'.       ~Ahd the pesult was-that we at once felt drawn to
 It iyould .be iiiteresting to m&k& a profound stulfly of        t h e m .
 the corkuption  of the chtirch of the past which resulted          But later we read De l&f&matie: knd tit first we
 iti the rise of the papacy, and` determine' to what ex- wei-e shocked. We noted that the break had come on
 tent the ltidicrous travesty-of the Body `of Christ was tine Covenant of Grace issue, ,with related matters su'ch
 caused by dogmatic error or by church-political h&esy.          as the promise, baptism, etc. And the stand of the
    Be  I;hat as it  may :  we'saw clearly that.  -the  Re-      liberated  &liurches  reminded   us  of,  the stand of the
 forrhed Churches were no longer Reformed with, re- late Prof. Heyns, who had applied pelagianism to the
 sl%ct  io `the' Chu&h-Right' of' our fathers. Evlen  a s doctrine of the Covenant of grace. . In fact, the name
 in  Am&i&a,  those churches "had `arrived at Roman of Prof. Heyns' and his wo?ks were mentioned in one
 Catholicisti  with respect  to  the  ojfice of  the king. of the f&t issues of De Reformatie after the liberation. ::, `:
 Not.  the  i~++titut~d instances of Christ, that is, the        of Holland.  Long  quotations,aDpeare$  in the writings  '
 elders, but the Classis and the Synod shall rule the            of Rev. Bremmer to show t&at all. the children of_God's
 body  6f Christ.     This error is so glaring, that we people, ,blect  and reprobate alike; have a right to "the - i
 marvel how sincere people can be taken in  by it.               offering or giving of Christ in  tlie promise".  (De
                                                                                                         \
                                                                          `                                   .


174                                             T H E   STA.NDARD  B E A R E R

Reformatie,  July 13, 1945. The second issue after the
liberation of Holland. Here follows the whole quota-                                      OtJR DOCTRINE
lion. I translated: "No, unto all comes the same call-
ing of the Gospel, and that calling is earliestly meant
by God. They a% seriously called, say the Canons of                                         Our Covenant- God  _,
Dordt, and Christ is offered unto all in th~.Gospel,  this
Gospel is confirmed by God with precious  oaths, and                            We concluded our previd& article with the begin-
it is a great boon, this calling.,by the Gospel, and this                    ning of, ou'r attempt' to kstablish our `conception of the
offer or this giving of Christ in the promise. It comes                      Covenant in the light-of Holy Writ. ' The covenant of
$0 all, elect and those that are aot-covenant-children                       God with man is the commu&on of friendship between
with the testimony of God, that they a!1 have `a right                       the living God and His people in Ch?ist Jestis., Adam,
tp  it."                                                                     ive noted, was created',in  that' iivind` relationship of
       I could quote stronger statements than this one,                      friendship ,to the living God.`. We reject the theory of
to show that they teach how every child of God's people                      a  "covenant."`of  Works". .HistoTically  this theory is ,
have a right to this giving of Christ and all His bless-                     of recent origin. Today it is generally accepted as
ings in the promise.                                                         constituting a part of the  l&formed  heritage.  .. We
       Another matter which made is pause and `question                      reject it, firstly, because of its utter lack of Scriptural
~3s the matter of the so-called- conditional  protiise.                      evidence,. and, secondly, because, fundamentally, it de-
If: we are to .enter heaven sire have to fulfil certain .nies the Christ. And we considered it extremely signi-
cqnditions. Also on this point, Ithere& 3bundant proof                       ficant that, `when Adam tramples God's covenant under
from the writings of the liberated@&hren.                                    foot but the Lord maintains it, the Lord maintains His
       Suffice it to say at this juncture that we were                       covenalit by setting enmity between the seed of the,
suspicious, to say the least. .  /  :                      :                 woman and that of the devil.         Enmity' against the
       However, person-al contact .was sought x@$Q ,Prbf.                    world is, of course, the friendship of God. This does
Dr. ,K. Schilder, and. we awere  ve.ry.. desirous to have not mean that the Lord &lists the aid of His people
him come tq our shores,in order th?! he might be ab!e                        and that together they withstand and oppose the wiles
to shed light on the aboye a-n4 r@?iy other. questions. +nd >attacks  of the devil and oj the kingdom 6f dark-
Wi!hout gqing into. details, I .titin say in .dl `sincerity                  ness.      Fact is  th& all things are for our sakes
that this contact of recent months has. been a great                         and that also the kingdom of `evil must work together
blessing for both Dr. Schilder and for us. We under- for the good of God's people and the realization of Hi+
stand one another much better than heretofore. Not kingdom. Genesis. 3 :15 does teach us, howevei, that
that we are agreed on the  Covenant questions. But the Lord maintains His covenant by calling His people
this : much misunderstan$ing  has been removed. From into a living relationship of friendship with' Himself
both sides. Allow me to mention just one `thing from and that He thereby makes them His people and party
each side: *One, we know now that all pelagianism  is                        also in the midst of a.world which lieth in darkness.
wholly foreign to the conception of the covenant and
baptism on the part of Dr. Schilder. We arrive at the                                 God's Covenant w8it.h  His People is His Own
same destination and conclusions, but along a different                                         Covenant am-l  Eternal.
+ay. More about all this later.  .Twp, Dr.  ,Schilder
now $nows `why we detest and wholly reject `the late                             God's covenant, according to Holy Writ, is eternal.
Prof. Heyns' conception of the covenant, and biptism ;                       We read in Genesis  L7:7: "And I will establish My
you may have the proof *in one of his rec& a?ticlei in                       covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee
D                  e                      R$ormatie.;..                      in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be
       But I  must close here. My space is-filled. More                      a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee." Notice
about these matters later, D.V.                                              that the essence of the covenant, according to.this text,
                                                           G .   V .         is expressed in the words: "to be.a God unto thee, and
                                           ,
                             -                                               to thy seed after thee.", He will be our ,God, love us
                                                                             a& bless us. And this covenant is an everlasting
                                                                             covenant. This thought is repeated in verse 8, where
            Since  th+ Father's arm sustains' thee,                          Canaan, is  .mentioned  as an everlasting possession.
                   P e a c e f u l   b e . ;                                 Notice that also unto Abraham the land df Canaan-.is
         When a chastening hand restrains thee,                              promised as an everlasting -possession, Yet, in Acts
                   It is He.                                                 7 :5 we read : "And .He gave him none inheritance in it,
            Know His love in full completeness                          '    no,-not so much as to set.his foot on." That Abraham
            Fills the measure of thy weakness;                               received the land of Canaan. as an everlasting posses-
            .If  He- wound thy spirit sore, ~                                sion can only be understood if we bear in mind that he
            Trust Him more.  .'                                               received it as such in its eternal, heavenly reality


                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   BEA.RER                                            iii5
 whereof the earthly Canaan was- but a sign and sym-           away of the old man of sin and the putting on of the '
 bol. The Scriptures, therefore, teach us that God's new man 6f righteousness and holiness, a truly fitting
 covenant signifies His eternal dwelling with His own          sign of God's covenant with His own.
 in the heavenly Jerusalem.
     That God's coven&t is eternal is also emphasized              Scripture Speaks of God's Dwelling With Man. ,,
 in Ps. 89 :l, 4, 28 and Ps. 111:9, where we read: "I            The Scriptural coriception  of the covenant does not
 will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever: .with my merely rest upon Scriptural, passages which speak
 mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all .gener- literally of "eoven8nt". Words such as, "abide, dwell,
 ations. Thy seed .will I establish for ever, anp build up     tabernacle, temple" also express  the covenant  .idea.
Thy throne. to all generations.  Selah. My mercy will          Repeatedly Holy Wrjt ipeak's of a dwelling of God with
 I keep for him for evermore, and My covenant &all             man.. Permit us to quote  2  .few, of such passages.
 stancl   fuse  with him. . . . He sent redemption unto        "Lord, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? who shall
His people : He hath commanded His covenant  for dwell in Thy holy hill? He  that  iyalketh  .uprightly,
 ever : holy and reverend is` His name." -                     and worketh  righteousness, andcspeaketh  the truth in
     Notice also, according to Holy Writ, that God's           his heart."-Ps. 15 : 1-2. "Surely goodness and mercy
 covenant with His peopie is .His own covenant. "And shall follow me all the days of my life : and I will
 I, behold, I establish My covenant with you, and with. dw,ell in the house of the Lord  fdr ever."-Ps. 23  :6.
 your seed after you."-Gen.  9 :9. "And I will establish "One thing have I desired of theL%ord,  that will I seek
 My .covenant wit& you ; neither sha!l all flesh be cut. after; that I may dwell in the house of tl% Lord all
 off any more by the waters of a. flood; neither shall         the days of my life, to, behold the beauty of the Lord,
 there any more be a flood to destroy the eapth."-Gen.         a.nd to enquire in His temple."-Ps. 27:4. "Blessed is
 9 :ll. "And I will establish My covenant between Me           the man whom Thou choosest,  and causest tb abproach
 and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations         unto Thee, that he way dwell in ,Thy courts: we shall
 for an everlasting covenant, to -be a God unto thee,          be  iatisfied with the goodness of Thy hous&, even of
 and to thy seed after thee."-Gen.  17:7. These texts          Thy holy temple."-Ps,. 65  :4. "Thou' hast ascended on
a.re important not only because they emphasize the high, Thou hast led captivity captive: `Thou hast re-
 monopleuric  character  ,of the covenant. Indeed, "I ceived gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that
 -will establish My cdvenant between Me and thee." It the Lord God might dwell  amofig them."-Ps.  68:18;
 is God, therefore, Who establishes the covenant. Hence,       "My soul longeth, ye&, even fainteth for the courts of
 His "Me" appears in the text before "thee". But to the Lord : my heart aiid my flesh cry out for the living
 this we will call attention `later in another connection.     God. Blessed are they that dwell in.Thy house: they
 Of interest at this time is the fact that "And I, behold,     will be still praising Thee. Selah."-Ps.  84:2, 4. "He
 I establish My covenant with ybui &id with your seed that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall
 after you." It is His own covenant which He `estab-           abide under the shadow of the Alniighty."-Ps.  .91 :l.
 lislies  with man. IGod Himself is a covenant God. And "He that worketh deceit shall  n'ot dwell  within  &I$
 God% own covenant is that blessed life of the Triune          house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in My sight;"
 God wher.eby  He eternally knows and joves and seeks          ?PS.  101:.7.    "If thy childr.en will keep-My  `cov&iant
 Rimself .as the Triune God in the bond or sphere of           and My testimony that I shall teach them, tlieir `child:
 eternal Divine perfection. It is that blessed life of ren shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore. For I
 %he love and frendship of God, which' eternally char- the Lord hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for His
 acterizes the living God, which He bestows upon His habitation: This.is  My rest for ever: here will I dwell;
 people so that He inducts them into His own .covenant         for I have desired it."-Ps. 132  :12-14. "Behold, how
 life' and makes them partakers of His Divine nature good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell to-
 according to the measure of the creature.                     ge_ther  in uriity !"-Ps. 13`3 :l. Vurely the righteous
     This also explains why' circumcision, and later           shall give  tlianks  unto Thy name: the upright shall
 baptism in the New Dispensation, was the sign and, .dwell -in Thy  presence."-.Ps. 140  :13.                `fAnd what
 se&l of that covenant, even ,as we may read it in Gen.        agreement hath the temple of+%#d  `tiith Ydols? for ye
 .17?iO : "This is My covenant, which ye shall keep,           are the temple of the living"%d; as God hath said,
 between Me and Thee and thy seed after thee ; Every           1 will dwell iri them, And walk in them ; and I will be
 man child among you shall be circumcised." To enter their God, -%lid .tliey' shall be My `people. Wherefore '
 into the covenant of the Lord signified that we become        cdnie out from among them, and be ye separate, saith
 partakers ,of His life, that we enter `into a livir@`Yela-    the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing ; and I. wi!l
 tionship wi,th Him, that we become holy even & the            receive you, ahd will  be a Father unto you,  and ye
 Lord Himself is holy, that-+e' are dedicated tinto `Jeho- shall by My sohs, and `daughters; sai$h ,tlie Lord Al-
 vah even as Jehovah is eternally d(ed&ated  untb: I%&         mighty."-2  Car'.  6:16-l&.  `It is well to note in this
 self. Therefore the sign of that covenant is circum-          latter passage from' 2 Corinthians -that for God to be
 cision, the sign and seal which speaks of the cl.&ting- `our God and for us Fo be His people is identified with


 176                                 T H.E    %TA.NDARD               BEARER

the ,words : "As God hath said, I will dwell in them,        atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ. What a beauti-
 and walk; in `them". The id,ea of :fellowship is surely ful but also mighty symbol of the covenant as the rela-
beautifully expressed in this latter passage.                tionship of living fellowship between the Lord and
  t `This idea of God's dwelling with His people is fur-     His people in Christ Jesus. And if we now may call
ther emphasized in the Scriptures by the tabernacle or       attention to the monopleuric character of the covenant
temple.of the Old Dispensation as God's dwelling place between God and man, that is, to the fact that this
with His people. "And let them make Me a sanctuary ;         fellowship is of the Lord alone, we will be able to
that I may dwell. among them."-Exodus `25 :8. The understand that also that mighty symbol of the Old
same thought is expressed -in Ex. 29 :44-46: "And I          Dispensation was wholly of Jehovah. Not a single
will sanctify the tabernac1.e  of "the congregation, and     detail of the temple was entrusted to Moses. Not a
the altar : I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons,    solitary detail was left to      .
                                                                                            the mgenuity of man. Moses
to minister to Me in the  priest3 office. And I will         received the plan of the temple, even into minutest
d.well among the children of Israel, and will be their       details, from the Lord. .Even as our living fellowship
God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their' and communion with the Lord is solely of the Lord, so
God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt,       also the temple of the Old Dispensation was exclusively
that I may dwell among them: I am the Lalrd their            from the mighty God of Jacob. ,
G o d . "
    We understand, I am sure, that these texts do not            Enoch, Noah, Abraham C'allecl  Friends of God.
refer to an insignificant `incidental or meaningless de-
tail of the  IOld Testament. The temple of the Old.             The idea of the covenant is not only expressed in
Dispensation constituted the heart and core of. the the Scriptures by words such as "abide, dw,ell, temple,
entire Old Dispensation. All of Israel's life,, it's  re-    etc." The word "friend" or "friendship" also appears
ligious-ceremonial-civil life' was expressed by it. and      in. Holy Writ. "And Enoch walked with God: and he
inseparably connected with it. To refer to the temple was not; for God took him."-Gen. 5 :24. "But Noah
of the old day, therefore, means to point to the entire found grace in the eyes of the Lord. These are the
Old `Testament. All God's dealings with His people generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and per-
throughout th,e Old Testament are. described, symbol-' fect in his generations, and Noah walked with God."
ized `by the temple that had been erected upon Mount -Gen. 6  :8-9. "And the Lord said, Shall I hide, from
Moriah.. And, indeed, what a beautiful symbol it was!        Abraham that thing which I do ; Seeing that Abraham
The tabernacle consisted of the Holy of  Holies, the -shall surely become a great and mighty nation and all
Holy' Place, and the Outer Court. In the Holy of the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I
Holies, in distinction from all other  holies of  holies     know him, that he will command his children. and his
of the heathen which contained' an idol of  .wood  or        household after him, and they shall keep the. way of
stone or,gold, we see the ark of the covenant. In that the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord
ark was the law of the ten commandments. Covering may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken
the ark was the mercy seat. And extending from the of him."iGen.  18 :17-19. "And Jehoshaphat stood in
mercy seat were the two cheribims, facing each other,        the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house
thereby giving the,  appearance  of a throne. In the         of the Lord, before the new court, And said, 0 Lord
Holy Place we behold the seven-armed golden. candle-         God of our fathers, art not Thou God in heaven?. and
stick, the table of shewbread, and th.e altar of incense.    rulest not Thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen?
This mighty symbol of the temple of the -Old Testa-          and in Thine hand is there not power and might, so
ment speaks a language which is clearly understood.          that none is able to withstand Thee? Art not Thou
The temple speaks of a dwelling-place, where  G.od rules     our God, Who didst drive out the inhabitants of this
over them and in th,em by writing His law into their land before Thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed
 (the law in. the ark of the covenant). Morea'ver,  the of Abraham. Thy friend for ever? And they dwelt
Lord's fellowship with His own. is further character- therein, and have built Thee a sanctuary therein for
ized by-the mercy seat, that is, by. the fact that our       Thy name, saying, If, when evil cometh upon us, as the
communion with Him and His reigning in our ,hearts           sword, judgment, or pestilence or famine, we stand
by His Word is possible only in the way of atonement,        before this_house, and in Thy presence, (for Thy Name
for none shall again be received into favour with God        is in this house). and cry unto Thee in our affliction,
except the justice of the law of the Lord be fully satis-    th.en Thou wilt hear and help."-2 Chron.  20:5-g.
fied. All this is clearly expressed by the temple upon .These beautiful words were. uttered by the king  .of
Mount Moriah. It was a mighty symbol of  ,the fact ,Judah,  J*ehoshaphat,  at the time when the king of
that the Lord had established His communion in the           Judah was being threatened by the children of Moab,
midst of Israel; in Israel alone, and that He ruled over     of. Ammo& and `others besides the Ammonites. And
them not by force or coercion but by His Word and            finally we read in-James .2 :23 : "And the scripture was
Spirit and that only in the way of  atonem(ent,  the         fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it


                                        T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                         .177

  was .imputed unto him for righteousness : and he was hosts is His name; and thy. Redeemer the Holy One
  called the Friend of God."                                    of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall be called."
       Enoch, Noah, and Abraham walked with God and -1s. 54  :,5. "Turn, 0 backsliding children, saith the
  were, therefore, the friends of God. Qne who walks Lord ; for 1 am married unto you : and I will take you
  with God is surely a friend of the Lord. This walking one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring
  of these heroes of faith with God did not consist of a        you to Zion."-Jerk  -3 : 14. In .Matthew 22 :l-14 Jesus
  certain mystical awareness of the presence of God,            likens the Kingdom of heaven unto a certain king who
  of God's -nearness, `in the imier secrets or recesses of made a marriage for his son, and the reference. is
  the heart. That they walked with the Lord does not            clear: the Lord is speaking of the marriage which the
  refer to a deeply mysterious communion with Jehovah.          heavenly Father made for His Son, our Lord Jesus
  This walking, however, refers to a clear, welldefined         Christ. In Matt.  25:1-13 we read of the parable of
  consciousness of the covenant, in which God and Einoch,       the Ten Virgins, five of whom were wise and five of
  as also  ,Noah and Abraham, were friends, intimately whom w'ere  foolish. And of these virgins we are told
 - associated with one another. They knew Gcd, loved that they took their lamps and went forth to meet tile
  the Lord, served Him, walked in the way of His com-           bridegroom.  In Eph.  5:25-33 we have that beautiful
  mandments, confessed His Name and did so in the portion of Holy Writ where the apostle speaks of the
  midst of a godless world. Gen. 5:24 presupposes that mystery concerning Christ and the church. Also in
  the, enemies of Enoch looked for En&h but they could this latter passage the marriage idea stands strongly
  not. find him. Of Noah we read that he was a preach- upon the foreground. And in Revelation 19 :7 we read :
  er of righteousness and he surely testified against ~a        "Let us be glad- and rejoice, and give honour to Him:
  wicked world that was rapidly ripening for judgment; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife
  And Abraham, upon arriving in the land of Canaan,             hath made herself ready." The `prophets, Isaiah and
  alone served the Lord God and that. in the very midst Hosea,  `speak repeatedly of the Lord as our Husband
  of idolatrous heathens. Indeed, they were servants            and married to us inb the bond of' faith: Indeed, the
  of the Lord. And they talked with God and God with Scriptures repeatedly liken the relationship between
  them, and `Jehovah revealed unto them, confidentially, the Lord and His people to the marriage state.
  as a Friend to His friends, all the secrets of His heart.        That the Scriptur,es  speak of the relationship be-
  To Enoch the Lord revealed that He would come with tween God and us is. therefore a reciprocal, mutual
  ten thousands of .His saints, to execute judgment upon        agreement or contract. This is true of the marriage r
  all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them          of a man and his wife. They indeed.bind themselves
  of all their ungodly deeds which they had ungodly com- to mutual promises and obligations. But this cannot
  mitted, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly be applied to the relation between the Lord and His
  sinners have. spoken against him (Jude 14-15) , To people. Fact is, according to Isaiah 54 :5, the Lord is
  Noah Jehovah revealed the judgment of the world also our.  Redeemer.  This certainly  signifi,es that the
  which would presently sweep down upon that >world living God made us and also that He redeemed and
  in the form of the flood. And also to Noah the Lord bought us out of the power of guilt and sin and"dark-
  revealed His plan of salvation, making known unto ness. And in Eph. 5 :25-33'we read that Christ loved
  His servants the dimensions of the ark which would            us, sought us, found us, saved us. We did not love
  serve unto his saving and also unto the saving of his         Him, seek Him, find Him. He loved and sought .and .
  house. And repeatedly God also communes with Abra-            found and saved us. Hence, of mutual promises. and
 `ham. `He reveals unto His friend, the father of  be:          obligations, of a mutual agreement and contract we
  lievers, that He would give him a seed, an innumerable        camlot  speak .in'connection with the marriage of the
  seed, that he and his seed would inherit the land of living God and His people in Christ Jesus. However,
  Canaan for an everlasting possession, but that- their that God's relation to us is called a marriage relation
  inheriting of the promised land must be preceded by a         is because the Scriptures emphasize the idea of ie-
  great oppression.  #And also to Abraham does God              lationship,  of friendship, of love, in which relationship
 ; reveal the destruction of the cities of the- plain, Sodom    the Lord is our Husband and we are His children and
  and -Gomorrah. Hence, of. Enoch and Noah and Abra- servants. And, this-relationship between the Lord and
  ham it-is true that they enjoyed the most intimate com- His own is such that .it cannot be broken, that it is
  munion and fellowship with the Lord. They were truly inviolable, `not because of us but because of Him Who
  fri,ends of God.                                    d         is  our. Maker and our Redeemer. He has united us
                                                                unto Himself, in and through Christ Jesus, His Son
        Goi's Relationship `CYitji His. people.Called in        and our Lord. Consequently, this marriage between
  :         .Scripture a Marriabe  Relationship.                the Lord and His people is eternal, an unchangeable .
       Repeatedly Holy Writ likens the relationship be- covenant relationship of love and friendship, in which
  tween the Lord and His people to a marriage relation- He is our God and we are His friend-servants. now
" ship. "For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord' of
                                                1               and forever.                                   H. V. _


178                                   THE  ,`S!i!A~ljARb   B@ARE,R
          -                                                     the conversation immediately without having  to go
          THE `DAY, OF Sl!d.DO!VS                               far and thereby' running the risk of arousing the sus-
                                                                picion of -an understanding, with David.
                                                     I---           The meeting between Jonathan and Saul takes place
   `.
   .I :. "" D&id's `Trust In G&l "                           , the following morning. Jonathan speaks good of David,
                                                                to `Saul to see how he reacts. He says to Saul, "Let
  3.                                                            not the king sin. against his servant, against David;
        ,$f is bscoming more and more plain that the Lord because he hath not- sinned against thee, and because
is taking the ,kingdom from Saul and giving it to that his works have been to' thee-ward good ; for he did- put
"neighbour" better than he. `Saul se& and knows but his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the
he  ,pe@sts in fighting  ,God.' His  heart is  h,ard and Lord wrought a great `salvation for all Israel.: thou
always harder. It is a hardening process  b:y which sawest itj and didst rejoice :wherefore then wilt thou
Saul is, being visited characterized by clearly discern-         sin against innocent blood, to slay Davicl without a
ible stages. The first Istage  in'the process was reached c a u s e . ".
w.hen  ~$$ml  .began to eye  David;.  Next he  .sta.bbed  at      There is more in Jonathan's words of reproof to
David' with his javelin. David  had&-to leap in order Saul than appears on the surface. Just why does Stiul
to `avoid being pierced through. `Advancing in sin,              want.David killed? He does not name the reason; for
Saul schemes: to slay David by the sword of the Phihs- h.e has none that are valid before God. He may not
tines. David was not. slain: He lived as kept by the wa,nt David killed on the ground that the Lorcl has
Lord. Then the princes of the Philistines go forth,              appointecl  him to rule in Saul's stead. For the'throne
and, David behaves himself wisely and his name is in Israel belongs to ,Gocl, and in it He may seat whom-
mu& set by: Unutterably grieved;" Saul now makes soever He-  will.,,  Besicl,es,  Saul's deposition was in
another advance in sin. He calls on Jonathan and on punishment of his rebellion ; and the punishment was
all his servants to. co-operate with him in putting David just. But is David perhaps gulty .of criminal action
out of the way. "And Saul spake to Jonathan his son against Saul?' Is he plotting against Saul's life?
and to `all.his servants; that they should kill David" Is he by means fair and fowl: undermining Saul's
(19:;).                                                          influence with the people ? In no `way is David work-
         This speaking of .Saul `can be explained. His at- ing against the king either openly or secretly. He is
tempt .to put David out  .of the way by weapons of willing that the Lord give him the kingdom ; and while
duplicity having failed dismally, the intensified. bitter- he abides the Lord's time, he does Saul nothing but
ness <of his hatred of the son of `Jesse, calls for these good, as Jonathan ,points out. He slew the Goliath of
drastic orders.. And Saul `chooses to obey the call. .the Philistines ; and ever since.Baul took him into his
That in doing so he .discovers to men his. .evil heart,          service permanently, he has been fighting Philinistines.
does not deter. him. He will endure that disgrace, if This being true, why is Saul seeking David's life?
only he succeed in ridding the land of David..                   The king does not say. He names no crime. He can-
         As for Jonathan, like David, he has suspected for not.' It means that his persecuting David is wanton
some time that there is ,in Saul the will. to kill the-son rebellion against God: He wants David killed because
of Jesse. He now knows it to be true. For Saul has he,  Saul; refuses to'submit to the sentence of his deposi-
spoken: .plainly.:~' Jonathan's only thought is of David.        tion. To maintain himself in power contrary to the
For his. delight `is in him. He rushes into David's              revealed will of God, he will shed innocent blood. This
presence to speak words of,warning  and to counsel his           is the thrust of Jonathan's words of reproof to Saul.
beloved friend: YSaul my father seeks to' kill thee.,"              `But there is still this question. If David has no
are&is; first words-, to, David. His agitation of  Sad           designs on Saul's life, if he does the king nothing but
is great. Without pausing to allow David to reply he good, why should Saul want him killed?' His refusal
continues :almost in the. same breath to tell him what           to submit to the sentence of God does not fully explain
now to do, "And now take heed to thyself, I `beseech             it. .`This is the reason. He camlot believe that David
th.es, {in .the morning, -and dwell in a secret piace- and ,is not purposed to kill him and to destroy his seed.
hide thyself, and I will commune withi my f.ather ,of            after'him. This is proved by what he said to David
thee-; and what I see that I will t-e11 thee." His Purpose       sometime later.    These were his words,  `IAnd now,
is to sound his .father  and learn his real. mind. Con- behold, I know well that thou -shalt surely be. king,
sidering Saul's conditi,on-his soul is periodically be- and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in
ing .tsoubled  by an evil spirit from the LordLJonathan thine hand. Swear now therefore to me by the Lord,
believes that he still. has reasons to doubt t;hat his that thou wilt not cut .off, my seed after me, and that
father really wants David killed. But Jonathan will thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.
know. The place he named is perhaps one to which 24 :19, 20) : Saul imagines that either h&i&t slay
S-u1  is accustomed often to go. Here he will speak              David or be destroyed by him, he and his seed:  This
with Saul -in order to be able to tell David the-result of partly' explains Jonathan's .talkin.g to him as he does. ;


                                      T H E   S T A N D A R D .   B E A R E R                              P     -     I.19

  His words are calculated to make the king see that of he and his seed; This being.for the moment his con-
$1 ,men'David is least intended to do him harm. Did viction, he swares that he will do David no harm, so
  he not put his life in his own hands and kill the Phil&-    that m taking that oath he, as always'. is motivaked  `by
  tine?  I's it then not contrary to all reason to  even      sheer love of self and df his own cause. Besides;: he
  suspect him of wanting to do Saul injury? `Can't the shrinks from shedding %mocent blood-blosd  that.:,,is
  kihg believe that h'is fears, of David are groun.dless  ? actually innocent. But: the trouble with Sati is. that,
  David is  innocent. Should not the king recoil from except in rare moments,.`he  believes that David .pur-
  shedding innocent blood? There is no cause.                 poses to .kill him and &at thereftire'his blood is not
     Saul imagines, it ii,plain;  that the sentence of de- innocent `but guilty. His' `sin comes in here that he
  position and of the loss of his kingdom necessarily im- hi& David guilty though all the evidence. points to
  plies the slaying of himself and the extermination of his  i:mo+~ce. But Saul's great  sin is that in  dil the
  his seed after him by his divineIy-appointed  successor, a&ion he takes against David his sole aim.is. to main-
  David. And fearirig  David, Saul naturally hates him.       tain himself in power contrary to the -revealed will of
  And .hk hates David. not only because he perceives that God.                          `.'                              c 8
  the Lord has actually appointed. him to r&ign in. his          So for the moment Saul is at peace With thk`wo'rld,
  stead, but also becagse he imagines that l&+id's in- with-pavid'and with himself, yet not actually so. Fo,c
  crease necess&rily  spells the `destruction of Saul and his peace is war  againsVGod. He is' at ease in  .his
  his whole house even by the hand of David. If Saul mind and happy because, lie imagines, wills to imagine,
  could free himself of, this imagining, he would- hate that, whereas David wil~&?Zhim no harm, he,has notli-
  David still, but he would not fear him as he now does       ilig to ,fear of the sentence%f  .God pronounced over him
  at' least. If it were not for Saul's great dread of David' by Samuel. Ai&therefdi%?~his  peace'may not continue.
  and for. the hatred that this dread genders in him, ,Soon  he will  again be  p&gued   &d  terrokized   *in.  his
 it- is doubtful whether he would go to all th& trouble       soul:. by the lie. that David;and all men? seek his .life.
  to slay David to which he  ha;s already gone and to         And he twill be greatly .afraidl. ' ,And -in that fright' he
  which he is still to go. From now on Saul w'ill perse-      will  again go to persecuting  DaVd and so continue
  ,cute David with a zeal and persistency that is truly to fill his measure of guilt ifi order that he may. be
  wonder-inciting. What will impel and sustain him destroyed. But before his. end comes he will confess
  therein.is the hatred an,d the dread that the aforesaid     once and again that he seeks :t&e life: of + just man
imagining genders.       This is fully proved by Saul's       aind that the lie `by which. he allows. `himself t6 be
  reaction to Jonathan's words of reproof.' Saul heark-       disturbed and tormented is a. lie ?indeed'..;:T
  ens t&the voice of Jonathan. He even  swares, "As              As to Jonathan, Saul's vowing td. desist. from seek;,
  the Lord liveth he-David--+hall not `be slain." Jona- ing David's `life, strikes joy to his soul. H& seemls:  to
  than's words have made an impression. They put to believe that Saul has permanently been brought to his
  sleep Saul's fear of David So convinced is he for           senses, so that it will be'safi: for David to- return to
  the moment of the folly of his f'ear of the son of Jesse Saul's court. Jonathan does not know his father. It
  that he promises under oath to desist from seekitig'his     can't be. expected .that he shotild,;  for he is but .a. man,
  life.  .Undoubtedly  Saul takes himself serious. Is he and. he lias not .our Bible io `lay bear to him .Satil's
  no longer.  the old Saul? Has he `undergone a radical heart. Saul perhaps is a  tiystery  even to himself.
  change of heart?  ,Not at .all. He is the same  self- It may be that he is unable to .explain why at one `time
  absorbed.  man- of -yesterday. This can easily be under- he is wholly at ease concerning the son of Jesse `and
  stood, too, in the light of the following cqnsideration.    why at another time he allows himself to be driVeK to
  It doesn't seem to occur to Saul that the Lord is going     distraction by the thought that David wants ,to kill
  to give David the throne and the kingdom  in the way him. Yet  h& could know and  .withotit a  doubt: does
  of `David's non-employment of force or `of violence or know that it is the hand of God upon him in puhish:
  of any other kind of &ful and forbidden means-thug          ment of his rebellion.
  give David the kingdom exactly in the way df his `dcing        David, too, thinks it safe for him to return'to. Saul.
  Saul only good and.not any evil. To Saul's mihd.David       Fbr he `allows Jonathan to lead him to Saul, "and he
  can become king only in the way of his slaying Saul was in liis presence as in times past."
  and can secur,e.  his throne only by destroying Saul's         A3 was said, the two hundred Philistines that
  seed- after him. .And he.firmly believes that David is      David  slew for .their foreskins  mu& have formed an
  purposed to do that very-thing--slay Saul and destroy enemy garrison sdmetihere  in Judah not mentioned in
  his seed- after him-and- that he will strike as soon as the sacred narrative.. @earing of the disaster by which
  he can be certain that he has the people back of him'. it had been overtaken, the Philistines' Swear vengeance
  But. Jonathan has now succeeded in persuading hini and .mobilize .for ywar,` and err-long.. their armies as
  that David is ihtended to do him no harm -but `to `cio headed by the pi+ices of the land are `encamped sotie-
him only good; and- he concludes therefore that, as far where on the soil of Judah, poised rfor battie. In the
  as David .is. concerned, he is going to continue ,in power, words  of the nhrrative, "The:princes  of the Philistines


 180                                 T'HE-  S T A N D A R D -   BEARE-R

went forth" (18  :30). As we have seen further, of his wrath and terrorizes his soul so that Saul again
David's behaviour in this new crisis it is stated, "And carries on,as though he were mad, which indekd he is.
it .dam& to pas& after they-the Philistine princes ,with And but one thought races through  .his mind:-the
their armies-went forth, -that David behaved himself so& of David must die. Seeing his plight, the servants
more wisely than all the servants of Saul ; so ,that his     call David. And he  corn& and plays  width his hand,
name was precious" (18 :30). We saw, too, wherein that Saul may .once  more  be healed  by the strains of
his wise `conduct consisted, must have, consisted. As music. For David is unsuspecting.  IApparently he is
in the former crisis so now: he speaks to the terrified      ignorant of the cause of Saul's malady. Besides, the
people the language of faith, exhorting them to fear king has'sworn, "As the Lord liveth, he shall not be
not but to trust. the Lord to save them. *And, as was slain." And David believes. that Saul hoids his oath
stated, he also must have, made raids upon the Philis-       sacred, especially so since he must be convinced of
tine encampment ;' and the Lord, as working for, him,        David's innocency.  ISa& listens to the strains of music,
laid his terror on the he&s of those heathen, so that when all at once, as by a sudden impulse he hurls at
they kept themselves to the place of their encampmept        David the Javelin that is in his hands. David leaps
instead of spreading over the territory of Judah and         and the missile, flying past him, lodges in the wall.
Benjamin for plunder and. murder. `The result was                  David flees to his house.  B.&It this time there is
that David's nime was precious (18 :30). The people no abatement of Saul's madness. He is fully deter-
were unspeakably ,grateful to him. As. yas stated, mined to ma.ke an end of David in the morning. But
the result of ,it all upon- Saul was that his flear and      David may make his escape during the night. To
haf;red of David increased by another long leap and          prev.ent this, Saul encompasses about David's `house
bound. In the language of the narrative, he was yet with a watch, and instructs the watchmen to slay him
more afraid of David, and he became his enemy. con- in the morni'ng. But it seems ,that David still is unable
tinually (18 29). Finally, unable to contain himself to believe that Saul actually thirsts after his blood.
any longer, he spake to Jonathan and his servants that       For
                                                             _L      apparently it requires considerable argument on
they should cooperate in killing David ; and David is the part of lYI,ichal  to induce him to flee for his life.
compelled tb .gO into hiding.. Allowing himself, .as we "And Michal, David's wife, told him saying, If thou
have just seen, to be persuade'd  by Jonathan thalt David save not thy life tonight, tomorrow thou shalt be
means to `do him no `harm, Saul vows to desist from slain.". Her words prevail. He allows himself to be
seeking his life ; and David is again free to fight tlie     let down through a window: "and he went and fled
Philistines, which  he also does. Rejoining his men, and escaped." But it will soon be morning. `And
he goes out and fights that Philistine army that llad the servants  uf Saul, who came to take David, discover-
invaded Israel's territory ; and he slays them with a;       ing that he has fled, will take after him. And he being
great slaughter; and they f!ed before his face (lg :8).      but a short while on the way, they will soon overtake
   So had the ,Lord delivered His people. A.lso this         him. Thus to facilitate his  .flight, the daughter of
crisis has passed. And he through whom the Lard              Saul, in her love of David, takes recourse to trickery.
wrought is again David. The joy of the people is But in doing so, she incidentally b&rays the spirit of
unbounded ; and David's name is more precious- than          her home. She has there Teraphim-the old  Chaldean.
ever. All are glad with the exception of one man ; and household gods, which were, perhaps  .associated  with
that man is Saul. He reoeives the tidings of David's         fertility.  She must  be  secgetly worshipping at the
great victory, and his countenance falls, and he be- shrine of these gods. If not, why has she' them there
comes strangely silent. `The narrative does n&, dis- in her house?, It seems- that the Teraphim has the
close what goes on in his soul. It is `not necessary.        form of a man, judging from the use which she now
From all that it revealed of Saul and es'pecially  from makes of the image. She places it in David's bed, ar-
the notice that now follows-"And the evil spirit from        ranges about its head folds of camel's hair, and covers
the Lord was upon Saul, as he sat in- his ho&e with          th.e whole with a cloth or ! !uppergartient" to represent
his javelin in his hand. . : ."-it is easy to coinjedture    David sick abed. The servants  comk  to take David,
what goes on in Saul's soul. He thinks of Qa,vid and and Michal tells them that he is sick. Whether t&y
of his most recent achievemerit  on the battlefield, and     dee what `is stipposed  to be David lying there in the
the acclaim of the people. And his anger again burns bed, 6r whether they are satisfied that -she speaks the
like a fire in him. And once more he is afraid. For ti&h and thus leave without investigating for them-
it comes to pass. The kingdom is being rent from him.        selves, is not stated. Be `this as it may, considering
and it is being given to a neighbour better than he!         that they came to take David that he Fight be slain,
And he curses' David in his soul. Saul's heart is again it is strtinge  that they allow themselves to be prevented
open to the vile influences of the evil spirit from the by his suPposed  sickness. If he must -be killed, what
abyss. And it tiomes upon him and troubles his soul does it matter whether he is sick or well. Saul orders
as beforetimes. By its lying whisperings that the son        the servants to bring up David to him in the bed, that
of Jesse will yet be his undoing it feeds the flape of he may slay him. The servants returri.. And, behold!


                                     T H E    STA,N';ARD  .BEAR.E.R                                                    181

an image in the bed. The strategem has worked.                 Saul relied to do-bperate  with him, as Dadid's  wife, in
David is by this time too far on hiss way td be over- putting David out of the way.
taken. The danger h-as passed.                                    It  can- be imagined that Saul is furiously angry
    David's faith is now being put, and for many `days         with Michal: It must be at this time that he gives '
to  conic will be put, to a severe  trial: For Christ's        M&ha1  to Phatiel, the son of Laish, to wife. Saul thus
sake he must endure being ialsely ,accused and perse-          gives  hey over to a life of sin. The mariage vow is
cuted relentlessly by an insanely jealoug and godless          sacred in Israel ; and adultery is a capital crime. But
king, as assisted by courtiers as godless as he, and what cares Saul, as long, as he is avenged on Michal
who continually will be-inflaming the king against for having helped David' escape. It is ,revealing that                                 .
David'by their lies and slandkrs (24 19) ,-by this lie Michal allows herself to be joined to another man.                            .
that David seeks his hurt. But when he is reviled"                David flees to Satiuel,  who resides, in Ramah. To
he may not. revile- again, may David ; and when he             whom else will David- turn?. Samuel fears God. The
suffers, he may not `threaten ; but he must commit word of God is with him. And it is- he who, as God's
himself to God that judgeth righteously'. And Dsavid           prophet, anointed David. It is with Samuel, there-
endures by the Lord's mercy. His confidence in God fore, that David seeks refuge ; it is to him that he .pours
is strong. The triumph of his' faith is well reflected         out his heart and from whom he receives the spiritual
in the prayer for deliverance from- his enemies that solace and encouragement that he is needing in this
forms Ps. 59 of our Bible. It reveals, does this prayer,       dreadful hour. "So David fled, and escaped, and came
what  go,es on in David's soul with his house surrounded       to Samuel to Ramah, and told hiti all that Saul had
by Saul's menials. The psalm reads in part :                   done to him" (19 :18).
         "Deliver me froin mine enemies, 0 my God: de-            In Naioth in Ramah dwells a company of pro@h&s
         fend me from them that rise yp against me.            of whom the seer is president.            They form a free
                                                               asqociation of truly God-fearing Israelitish men for
         Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save - the revival and nourishment of the spiritual life of the
         me from bloody men.                                   people in tho!e degenerate -times. They studied the
         For, lo, they lie in wait' for my soul : the mighty 1a.w of God and the history bf God's gracious dealirig
         are gathered against me: not for my transgres- with His covenant people ; and they went forth among
         sion, nor for my sin, 0 Lord.                         the people to testify of the living `God, of His Word,
         They run and prepare themselves without my and His righteous and graciqus' dealings. They w.ere
         fault: awake to help me, and behold.                  inwardly. united by the .impulse  of the Holy Spirit ; and
         `Thou therefore, 0 Lord of hosts; the Lord God of in their assembli&  `in Naioth-a word meaning .dwell-
         Is.ra&l,  awake to  visi:t all the heathen: be not ings: dwellings of prophets-they gave forth inspired
    meiciful to any wicked transgressors.                      discourse,. telling ,God's praises, praising His name,
         They return in the evening: they make a lnoise        and declaring His marvelous works. This was their
         like a dog, and go round about the city.              prophesying.. Hence, they are called prophets;  ,a@
         Behold, they belth out with their mouth: swords they prophesy under. Samuel's lead.
         are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear.         In the quiet retreat of these prophets David now
         Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for    takes up his residence. `?And he-David-and Samuel
         God is my defence."                                   went and dw,elt in Niaoth." David's rest in this .place
                                                               is of short duration. It is told Saul, saying, "David is
    He endures, do& David, and his faith is rewarded. at .Naioth in -Ram&h". Sati1 sends messengers to take
God gives him the kingdom. And all his enemies are             David. Their arrival in Naioth is sudden.  Time.for
`eventually cut off ., For he makes God his expecta- flight there is not. David is trapped. But the Lord
tion.                                                          now comes to the rescue. The messengers arrive dur-
    It is told Saul how he was deoeived by his daughter ing the meef;ing.of  the prophets. As they listen to the.
Michal. "Why hast thou deceived me so,"' Says he inspired discourse, ,the Spirit seizes also on them, and
to' Michal, "and sent away my enemy, that he is es- they, too, prophecy ; and gorie is their, will to capture
caped?" Her answer is SO obviously a lie as to border          David. `They may. have been reprobated, every one
on open mobkery. Says she to Saul, "He said unto me,           of them,; yet, like the men in the parable of the sower,
.Let me go ; why should I kill thee ?" As if Michal had they receive the word with joy, and in their ecstatic
been so determined to hold David captive` as to have ravishment they cannot will to bring themselves to
compelled  h&n to threaten her with death-in order to perform their mission. Hearing of it  Sainl hardens
get her to release her hold-on him. As if that image his heart; and .sends still other messengers, who are
that they had found in David's bed did not tell a differ-      siniilarly affected.         Still other messengers are sent,
ent story,-&11  that she had helped David -get away and they, too, prophecy. Then Saul himself goes; and
a.nd had put to  woik all her womanly ingenuity to, whell still a ways off, the Spirit comes also on him,
facilitate his flight. And this is the daughter on whom and he continues his way prophesying. The internal.
                                                                                                                                I
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`182                                   T H E      STAND&RR   .BEARER

 excitement raises his temperature. &riving in Naioth, indebted for his election to the pontifical throne to
 he casts off his clothes because of the inward heat; `Ferdifiand  of Naples. `He repaid the debt by comply-
 and' he prophesies before Samuel in like mafiner, sings ing With all the wishes of his patron. His extortions
 divine praisks. The ec$acy completely overcomes him, were. notorious. He set for sale all the offices of the
 so that he falls unconscious and li'es down naked all church, `&gh.teen  new papal secretaries paid 62,400
 d&y and all. night. This gives David just th&t  much ducats into the papal treasury for their appointments.
 time to make his get-away. He flees from Naioth and                Innocent published a decree allowing concubinage
 comes to Jonathan. But Saul hardens his heart, and in Rome to clergy and laity alike. It declared`celibacy
 perseveres in persecuting David.                                contrary to the law of God and hurtful to the honour
                                                G:`M. 0.         of the clergy, seeing that almost all the clergy had
                                                                 concubines, or mistresses. The moral degeneracy of
                         --                                      the clergy, from the: highest to-, the lowest is further
                                                                 indicated by :he presence in the Holy City of 6,800
 ,                                                               prostitutes. This could-be expected with the supreme
            THR~UGHTHEAGE~                                       bontiff arid the sacred.senate  setting' examples in lose
                                                                 morals. Many of the cardinals led lives notoriously
                                                                 scandalous.         They dwelt in palaces furnished With
               Renaissance  hpes  .'                             princely  splendour  and numbered their servants by
                                                                 the scores. They set the fashions in extravagant dress
               INNOCENT VIII.  1484-1492                         and sumptuous banqueting. They had their stables,
                                                                 kennels and falcons.
        This pope, whose real name was Loran.zo Gibo;               Though sinner ;that he was, Innocent was `an im-
 was born in Genoa, 1943. At the death of his prede-             placable enemy of heretics. It remained for him to
~ cessor, Sixtus IV, pandemonium reigned supreme in call a relentless crusade against the Waldensians of
 Rome. The nobles and the cardinals barricaded their Italy and France. In a bull of May 5, 1487, he en-
 homes in mortal fear of the mob that rioted in the joined the king of France, the duke of Savoy and other
streets.  .Houses were broken into and robbed. The princes to take up arms against them and exterminate
 instigators of the wild confusion was the aristocracy. them "as venomous serpents". 1 Their worst crimes
 What it aimed at was to intimidate the. papacy into were that they did not allow women to ireach, denied
,renouncing  its claims to the .headship of the politictil       the real presence of Christ in the Lord's supper, ad-
 government of Rome. Quiet was restored when the jured oaths, extreme u&ion, infant baptism, and re-
 two leading families  responsjibje  Yor  `the disorder jected the doctrines of purgatory and prayers for the
 agreed to withdraw from the city. The cardinals now dead. French Waldensianism was as good as blotted
 assembled for the election of a new pope, and Gibo I out.                      )
 was chosen. He had sat up `all night. securing by
 promises of benefices and money the votes of all but               In his last sickness, Innocent was fed by a, wom&`s
 six of the cardinals. The next morning two cardinals milk. He left a'fortune of 1,200,000 ducats, 48,000 of
 awakened the six who had not been approached. which were distributed, by his re@st, among his rela2
 "Come"~  they said, "let us make a pope". "Who?" tices.
 asked the six. "Cardinal Gibe". "How is tha.t ?" they
 countered.     "Whil&. you were drowsy With `sleep, we                Pope Alexander VI-B&gia. 1492-1503.
 gathered all the votes except yours," was the answer.              Like his predecessor, Innocent VIII, Cardinal Rod-
        After the  el,ection  -the aristocrat family  of. the rigo Borg& bought the spiritual crown of, Christendom
 Orsini returned, and lawlessness  an'd confusion were with promises of ecclesiastical offices and `money, His
 again rampant in Rome. Women w,ere kidnapped dur- "elevtition  to the papal throne  occurred in his 61st year.
 ing the knight: The corpses of the murdered were found He had been cardinal for 37 years. D`uring these years
 in the streets in the morning. The life of the pope-            he was laden with ecclesiastical .offices by his uncle,
 Innocent VIII-was so greatly endangered by the dis- pope Calixtus III.
 turbances of this family-the Orsini-that he had to                 Alexander was highly gifted  intellectually. Had
 save himself by tin alliance with Naples.                  5    he used his natural endowment  aright he might have
        Innocent the VIII was a voluptuous sinner. He been one of the most .brilliant popes in the annals of
 was the unmarried father of sixteen children, all of papacy.. But he was lacking in moral principle. He
 whom he openly acknowledged. He  :loved ease  .and was easily the most cgrrupt of the popes of the Renais-
 was without ideals. He did not foster wars":as several sance period. During his reign the papacy sank into
 of his predecessors had done, but he engageld  in the           its deepest  mora!   degradation  since the days of the
 crimes of extoriion 2nd luxurious indulgence. He was ' pornocracy in the 10th century.                                  _-


                                   T H E   STANDARTi'  B E A R E R '                                             j33

    Alexander was the unmarried father of seven child-
 ren, all of whom he' acknowledged.. The conspicuous                 SI.ON'S ZANGEN
 features of his career as pope were, besides his dis-
,solute way of life, his passion to -advance, the worldly
 fortunes of these children, themselves notorious fo<
 their gayety, escapades, marriages, worldly distinction         Het Gebed Eens Verdrukten
 and crimes. Th&misfortunes and the scandals of the                        (Psalm 102 ; Vijfcle. Deel)
 papal household were several. In  1497, Alexander's
 son of 24 years, the duke of Gandia, was mysteriously          we hebben een en ander maal gezien eti gehoord  de
 murdered. The perpetrator of the crime was never klacht van een verdrukt kind Gods.
 known. Alexander was discofisolate;  for he was pas-           En tie haasten ons er aan toe te voegen, dat we het
 sionately fond of, his children. He declared that he beeld van den Messias gezien hebben in al de klacht
 loved Don Juan more than anything in the world, and van den  ellendige. Er kwamen  stemmen tot ons die
 that if he had seven papacies he would give them all alleen pasten op Christus. En'onder die verschillende
 to restore hiS son's life. IAS bowed down under the uitspraken is we1 cle voornaamste tiaar de zanger van
weight of his grief, his thoughts turned to reforrhing zichzelf zegt, hoe hij "gansch ontb!oot" is. Dat moogt
 the church. But his reformatory zeal was soon srJent ; ge we1 zeggen van een gewoon mensch, cloth dan moet                   '
 and for the next two years he  .was wholly occupied ge terstond spreken van het betrekkelijke, van het
 with the marriage and careers of his children, Ceasar relatieve. Niemand onder ons werd ooit "ontbloot"
 and Lucretia.                                               in  absobuto. Maar  we1 cle  Christus Gods: Hij werd
   Another fearful tragedy of the Borgia family was 266 diep weggedrukt,  clat  .Hij  .eindelijk   klaagt hoe
 the murder of Lucretia's husband, the duke of Besiglia, Zijn  wezen versmolt. En `toen ried Hij ons aan Hem
 to whom she had born a son. The pope's son, CeaBar;         niet meer "menschj' doch een worm te heeten.
 openly decla&d that he had been the murderer.                  Evenwel,' de zanger had zich gesterkt in God.
    Alexander's  last achievement for his family was            En die sterking ging streng theologisch te werk.
 the marriage of Lucretia to Alfonso, son of Hercules,       Hij sterkte zich in @t prijzen van God en Zijn deug-
 duke of Ferrara, in 1502.  ,The duke was a widower den.
 andL24.  Though the  po&`s  diaghter was only  21 at         Oak zag cle zanger het glorieuze resultaat. De hei-        *
 the tim@. ,she ,had been four times betrothed and twice denen  z&n,  a& vrucht van al iijn  tiood en lijden,
 married. But as the husb%nd of Alfonso, she lived a den Heere vreezen. God zal er voor zorgen, dat al die
 quiet and domest$c  life till her deatli in 1519. She was bange  geschiedenis  beschreven wordt, zoodat de  na-
not forty years when she died. Her  soti,  Herculles,        volgende geslachteli het mogen hooren, en door lezing
~ was the husband of Renbe, the princess who welcomed e&an tot den Heere getrokken mogen. worden.
 Calvin and Clement Marot to her court.                         Doch  ,ook hier zien` we,  clat  h&t groote motief en
    The scandals of Alexander's reign were fi&+lly  end- hoofddoel theologisch  is : "opdat men den Naam des
 ed by death. It is reported that he died of  ,poison,       Heeren vertelle te Sion. . . 1"
 which he had prepared for a cardinal, but which was            God moet en zal gegerd ; Hij behoort tot Zijn eer
 accidentally put into his own cup. The day before he te lromen.
 died he played cards in bed with some of his cardinals.        Die lof is de die@. des Heeren.
 At the approach of death he received the  eubharist            Lof is dit, dat men tiol wordt van het deugdenbeeld
 and extreme  un,ction.  Death finally came to him  in van God, en dan getuigt van al hetgeen men hoorde,
 the presence of fivit memb&s of the sacked college.         zag, proefde en smaakte ;an God. Uit men dan dit,
    Few were the acts of Alexander that bore nolt the met een van liefde braiidend hart, clan looft hen, God.
 aspects of depravity. He was the pope to accom:plish           Dit wordt gedaan te Sion, en te Jeruzalem: twee
 the task of. the slaughter of the family `of th.e Colonna. namen die ons hetzelfde voorwerp toonen, hoewel uit'
 It was the last blow dealt to the Roman .aristo&acy,        verschillend oogpunt.
 and thus t.he teniporal dominion of the p?pacy was             Sidn,  zooals we eerder gezien hebben, is de berg
 finally assulyed in the city of Rome.                       Gods. Dat is Sian letterlijk. Als ge wilt en kunt, dan
                                                             is die berg ilpg te zien. Ge behoeft slechts naai Pales-
    There are at beit only two acts of Alexander that tina te reizen, en daar zult ge hem zien.'
 do not have the aspect of depravity. Alexander canon-         1 Naar. de idee, is Sion de verhooging der aarde, die
 ized Anselm a saint. Secondly, in 1493 he divid,ed the door hen vloek ontzettencl verlaagd,- was. Die aal;de
western world between Portugal and  Spain- in two wordt door God `opgezocht om tot in hemelsche hoogte
 bulls. The documents make mention of `Christopher verhoogd en verheerlijkt te  worden. Sion  beteeke&
 Columbus `as a worthy man, much to be.praised.              dat God omneer komt, en dat Hij de lage aarde, met
                                           G.  M.`O.  y Zijn menschen, omhoog  trekt. Daarom is de berg


      l&i&                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

      Sion en al de vroegere en latere altaren %n sprake.                     Wat heerlijkheid zit in iit vers! Hoe zien we het
     Het altaar van  Abe!, en die hem volgden,  zeide:  de lieflijk gebeuren van Gods geslachten op weg  naar
      aarde is verhoogd'!                                                c@il                  hemel!
       Die  s$mbolisehe en typische sprake  v&n het Oude                      De ,Baptist  kent geen verbondssfeer : bij hem kan
      Testslment  is  .vervulcl  in Jezus Christus. Hij is zeer .Go:od net zoo goed te hooi exrte  gras trekken  als `Zijn
      letterlijk de omne'er-komende  God die tot -in cle diepte          volk trekken in cle geslachten. Maar het is tegen dt
      der hel nederdaalt om Zijn volk te vinden en omhoog Heilige Schrift om 266 te leeren. God watidelt door de
t      e           trekken.Reden waarom Jezus  Christus als ons geslachten heen, `van Vader tot kind en kleinkind. . En
      heerlijk` altaar hangt  .op Golgotha.  Daar  hangende              zoo komen er "volken te zamen" die tezamen reizen
      grijpt Hij, en vindt U en mij, mijn broeder. Daar naar de eeutiigheid  en uit hun hulkjes stappen als ze
       0;~ Golgotha is een vreeselijke diepte. De afstanden              aankomen aan de stranden der eeuwigheid. Er komen
      in de diepte.zijn.  peilloos.       '                              koninkkijken  aan die de saamhooring verstonclen. Over-
            En naar het motief Gods is die berg de aanraking Al, wa&i- ge. de keik Gocls ziet, merkt ge het, hoe er een
      van God en Zijn mensch in.Goddelijke  min. Sion, Gol- saamhooring is die ons .inniglijk verbindt. Zoo is het
      gotha, Jezus is de, kus Gods die Zijn volk van eeuwig-             altijd geweest.door  de eeuwen heen. Ge kunt het zien
      heid tot in eeuwigheid  ber$nt.  1                                 in aen eersten- clienst der .offeranden. Adam, Eva en
            De profeten hebben dat van verre gezien, en ge- hun  kinderen   offeren den He&e. In de ark was er
     ' loofd.        E& van hen jubelde bij den aanblik: "De slechts  Ben huisgezin. Abram en Izak en Jakob  be-
       goedertierenheid en waarheid zullen elkander ontmoe-              hooren tezamen., Verder  zijx  `er de twaalf geslachten
      ten, de gereehtigheid  en vrede zullen elkander kussen." Israels.  '
       Psalm 85 :ll.                                                          En in het Nieuwe Testarq$ is het niet anders. Ik
            Jeruzalem  is dezelfde gedachte: God en mensch denk, clat dit de reden is waarom er bloedverwanten
      vereend in verbondsmin. De stad van eeuwige vrede. waren in den smallen kringlvan Jezus' Ap.o.stelen. De
       Doch het oogpunt nu is cle Tioltooii'ng  ervan, de kroon Heere trok "huizen", en we hooren van een man clie
       van dat werk der verzoening. Het volk woont met discipel was, en clie vier dochterb had die profeteerden.
       zijn God tezamen in een stad.                                     De stokbewaarder  verblijdde zich, dat hij eti "zijn huis"
            En dat het dezelfde.  gedachte ens' geeft als de berg geloofden.
       Sian wordt duidelijk, als -we zien dat Jeruzalem naar                  En de van, God gezondene apqstelen verkohdigden
       den  hemel  gegaan is  toen  Jezus  opvoer.  Hij en  Jeru- bet' Evangelic,  hetwelk was voor  ;`u en uwe  kinde-
      `zalem belichamen &n gedachte: God en mensch ver- ren".
       eend tot in ekuwigheid.                                                 Zij  allen  worden   "veriaderd".      '
            God heeft  Zich wonderlijk  geopenbaard  door de
       eeuwen heen, in de xchepping, de onderhoudin'g en het                   Hier in Amerika mag men we1 eens spreken van
                                                          _     _.._.
       bestuur der aarde en des hemels. Hij toonde klaarlijk een onding: "to join t&e church", sprekende van jonge- .
       God te zijn in de geschiedenis.                                   liedeti clie belijdenis deden en toegang verzochten  tot
        Evenwel,  ik,wilde U vragen: is er een werk Gods, den taiel des Heeren. Vandaag zegt men: Ik trad toe
       dat uitblinkt boven hetgeen Hij deed in Christ& Jezus, tot de kerk ! En nog we1 dat mooie woord : "to j&n)' !
       onz& Heiland ? Kunt ge  ergelis een glinsterende ,Ge vindt die gedachte in den brief aan Efeze, in dat
       schoonheicl  aanwijzen die de schoonheid  van Golgotha woqderschoone  vers  4:16. Welnu, dat "joining" doet
doet verbleeken ?                                                        de mensch nooit. Dat doet God. De volken  eh de
                                                                         koninkrijken  worden  "vergaderd".  Wanneer zullkn
              Nu begrijpen we het vers: Men looft God op den we d&t eens goed zien ,en beleven?  Dat schoone vers,
       berg Sion en in de stad Jeruzalem.                                zBoeven genoemd, is geheel.  en al passief. Het is God
            Vandaag gaat men naar de kerk om God te loven.               die het  lieflijke.  lichaam van Jezus  ineen zkt, doet
       Niet omdat Hij niet groot en heerlijk `zou zij:n bij het grqeien, tdtdat het den vollen wasdon bekomen mag.
      groene gras en den boom en de veelheid d.er sprekende                    En die vergaderifig der volken is, .opdat  zij. "den
     schepselen.  Maar omdat Zijn werk in  Christus het  Heere  dienen"  `mogen
       schoonste is. Dat werk is het w&k Gods ip centralen                    ' Godsdienst,         *
       zin. En in cle kerk'is het werk ,God in Chiistus Jezus
       het een en al. Paulus had zich vast voorgenomen om                      Het eefiigste  doe1 van den mensch.
       te hidden van het volk niets te weten dan Jezus Chris-                  Staat en .toestand des levens des Menschen, waar-
       tus en Hem  gekruist.                                             door hij een ongekend geluk ontvangt. En dan niei
              Daar zingi men blij in'lieflijke psalmen : des Heeren als loori,  `doch in' deli  ditinst van `den' l'evenden God
       hand doet groete  k?acht!                                         z        e      l     f         .
              "Wanneer de  volken  tezamen  zullen  tiergadercl   -            Toen. ik nog heel jong &as hoorde ik een oudoom
       worden,  ook de koninkrijken, om den Heere- te die- zeggen : al was er .geen he1 tot straf, en geen" hemel tot
       nen".                                                             loon, dan zou ik nog den Heere willen dienen.


                                     T H E   `S T A N D A R D   BEARER                                              it35
      Godsdie&t ! Ons geheele wezen is er op aangelegd. jaren.              Hij is `weggenomen in het  "midden Zijner
Alleen in dien dienst is er geluk, vrede, rust.                 jaren" !                                                    ,
      Ik denk aan de Engelen Gods die altijd gereed staan          Maar Gods jaren zijn van geslachte tot geslachte.
claarboven in den hemel.  Sprak, God dan, dan vlogen               Jezus zoekt  steun in Gods eeuwigheid.
zij henen, blijde,. inniglijk blijde, om te doen wat Hij           Jesaja sprak van die eeuwigeid die in onze'zonde
b e v a l .                                                     en de toorn over onze zonde voer. "0pd;lt wij be-
      Ach, leefden we 21% !                                     houden wierden" !
     Plotseling  worden  w;! er  aan herinnerd, dat hier           En het is de Eeuwiiheid  van God die dan ook Jezus
een mensch aan het woqrd  is die zeer veel moes.t  lij- uiteindelijk (wat onzin !) uit de diepte ophaalde.             "
den. Temidden van zijn opsomming  der deugden en                   En nu nog wat roemens.
der werken  Gods, snikt.hij. He$ is tils met een kindje,           En het verband  is duidelijk. Jezus zal zingen van
clat zeer lang schreide. Moeder nam het op in liefde- Gods  woKdere  daden. In schepping maar ook in de
rijke  Armen. En het kind glimlachte door de tranen herschepping.  Hij  zegtj'dat God  het.was die de aarde  .'
`heen. Straks antwoordde  het kind en het prees moe- ~- grondde en Zijn handenwerk in. de hemelen toonde.
der.                                                            ;En bij het vergaan derzelve, bij hun veroudering, zal           '
      Do& plotseling komt er nog een snik.                      God Zich bewijzen als de God &ens riaam de Eeuwige
      Zoo is het hier.                                    - is.             _     '
      Met welgevallenj met inwendige blijdschap, had de            Daarom zal uit de brandende en versmeltende mas,sa
zanger gezongen van God in Sian en in Jeruzalem, van            een nieuwe wereld komen. En het doel? Opdat de
de vergadering der volken en hun dienst van God.                kinderen  van Gods knechten mogen  wonen. En het                 I
      Maar daar kwam we&r de schrijnende smart: hij             zaad van -Gods volk bevestigd worde.
moet nog snikken.                                                  Zoo weet de zanger, dat de verlossing komen zal.
      Luistert.: "Hij heeft tiijne -kracht  ob den weg ter-.      Zoo wist Jezus, dat na den bangen, eeuwigen nacht         .
ni.der gedrukt, mijne dagen heeft Hij verkort. Ik vati  onuitsprekeljjke.  kommer en ellende, het  wonen
zelde:  Mijn  :God, neem mij niet weg in het  midden            met God te voorschijjn zou treden.
mijner dagen;  Uwe  jaren zijn van geslacht tot  ge-               Verlossingen. van Jezus !
slacht."                                                           Het wolien van de kinderen  der kdechten  Gods!
      Bij `het neerschrijven van deze klacht  moest ik             Bevestigd tot in eeuwigheid. Vastgezet op den
telkens een neiging onderdrukken om naar den slleutei berg van Sion in het hemelsche Jeruzalem. De tranen
te grijpen op mijn schrijfmaqhine, die de kleine let- worden  uiteindelijk gedroogd.
ters in hoofdletters verandert. Want ik geloof zeker,              `Orn `t  ecuwig  tielbehagen!
dat ,het Jezus is die hier klaagt in Zijn pyofeet,  en al-                                                    G. V.              *
z.oo Zijli Eigen lijden in Zijn- volk vooruitljjdt.
      Het spijt me nu, dat ik het niet deed, want alleen
Jezus kan dit vers in zijn juisten toonaard zingen,.
.     Vrage: wie kan ieggen, dat al zijn kracht op den
weg  tgr neder gedrukt is door zijn. God? Wie kan                                 IN'BIS FEAR
zeggen, dat God zijn dagen verkort heeft?
      Evenwel, gaat naar Gethseinane  en Golgotha., en
de .verzen zijn. daar vervuld.                                                    GROWTH IN PRAYER
      0  ja, ik weet, dat de zanger 66k leed, en dat hij          In a former article we' attempted to describe the
zijn eigen leed hier heel werkelijk bezingt. MaaIr we need for growth in prayer life.. There is, we said, al-
hebben  te  doen met de Heilige  Schrift hier, en er is ways the ,danger of falling into custom-praying -and
ons'door Jezus geleerd, dat Zijn Persoon,  werk, lijden, into formalism. ?;herefore  we should ever be on .our
st&ven,  en opstaan, in "alle de Schriften" getoond g u a r d .
werd, opdat wij geen "dwazen" zouden zijn, do& ge-                 How now may we enrich our prayer.s and how may
loov`en wat de profeten van Hem getuigden.                      % bring about the necessary `variation and how ini-
     0 ja,  bet. past. Het past'geheel en al.                   prove our choice and use of words? To  that  thetie
      Jezus' kracht `is op den weg gedurig terneder ge- iv.e devote this article:
drukt. God sterkte Hem, en wier;. Hem weer neer.
Hij sterkte,Hem  opdat Hij -verder kon lijden. Op den                                   LEARN!
weg ! En wat een weg ! De v&-c dolorosa,  de weg van               `Teach us to pray, said one of the d+ciples to Jesus,
oheindig   lijden.  Verdrukkingen  v&n Jezus!  `.  *            and Jesus responded with the Lord's Prayer; H&e,
      En -Zijn dagen zijn verkort. To& Jezus stierf met prayer is also something in respect to which we have
e.en eeuwig sterven was Hij nog  maar  d&e-en-dertig            to be taught. None bf us. ought to. imagilie that he


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       186                                   T H E   S T A N D A R D   33Ei.R.ER

       has attained perfection, rather every one of us daily. which we read at the family service, and then attach
       feels how many imperfections  cling to this holy  en-         our. prayer closely- to what was read. This will also
       d,eavour. And therefore we should be interested in help us to acquire variation and`will immensely enrich.
       learning to approach perfection. Our ainbition should our- family prayers. If, after a passage of the Bible
       be : how may I improve and `enrich. my praying?               has been read and discussed, there follows a prayers
              Some people say:' I can't put my thoughts into in connection. with what was discussed, a wonderful
       words.  when I pray. We all feel the truth. `of that and an effective service results. If e.g. at the table
       remark in our own prayer' life. But. this is `not to we read Proverbs, chapter 8, about Wisdom crying at
       be accounted as something which is simply there and the gates and the entry of the city, how appropriately
       can never be removed. I g?ant., that certain people our prayer may center about our need for this Wis-
       have greater ability to pray than others,  a.nd some          doni, the necessity of knowing Christ Who is that Wis-
       people have very remarkable prayer-gifts. But in- dom, the importance of giving heed to the voice of
       stead of this discouraging us or making us  f,eel  in-_ wisdom as it lifts  its voice in church and  .hoine,  to-
       ferior, it ought, to inspire us to approach pepfection.       gether with the request that the various members
       Let us not say: I cannot put my thoughts into words of the family may diligently seek this wisdom. This
       when I pray. Remember that children have difficulty produces an effective unity and meanwhile enriches
       to express themselves, but the mok`e they observe and         our prayers. Important therefore is that each reading
       the mqre they practice what they observe the more of  the Word of God leave `an impression upon your
       proficient they become in this. And thes,e  people must soul. . i ., then you will be able to. pray, I assure you
       realize that when it comes to doini business, buying, of that. And the more you read your Bible the more
       selling, etc., Jhey have no difficulty whatever in ex- you grow in prayer.
       pressing themselves in huridreds  of ways. Have you
       ever asked yourself then uihy it is that in every other                       LEARN FROM OTHERS.
       sphere of life you can express jrourself very fluently,
       but when it  comes to prayer  YOU claim  you. are so               Valuable it is also that we listen carefully to qther
       handicapped ? Can this possibly be due to the fact saints when they pray; and thus learn from them.
       that you have exercised  .yourself in and  practised None of & is self-sufficient, none of us is beyond the
       diligently at the one but have neglected  .the other? need of having to learn, and it is good to learn from
       If  ,y~u applied yourself half as diligently to your the saints.               Follow  them, carefully when they pray,
       prayer life as to your `business life would you still pray along  with them. Observe the requests which
       have to complain that you' cannot pray because you they make, the petit&s,  the thanksgivings which they
       lack swords ?                                                 utter, and the more we do that the more we ourselves
              Learn and practise, practise and learn.                will copy their example and thus enrich our prayer
                                                                     `life.           `.        D
                  L E A R N   F R O M   `S-CRIPTURE.                      This is especially valuable in the home. Naturally
              If it is our- desire to express ourselves more ade-    it is incalculably valuable in church also, for the minis-
       qu&ely in-our prayers, how could we ever do it than ter, unknowingly perhaps, is teaching the saints  ti,
       by absorbing more and more of the Word of God. pray also when he engages in the congregational pray-
       Scripture is replete with prayers which we may make er (that is, if the saint does not fall asleep during the
       our own. Scripture-is full'of promises, the fulfillment prayer. . . . which has sometimes befallen you, I sup-
       of which we may request for ourselves and others; pose). But in the homes especially, iY'here  the Fern-
       Scripture abounds Girith  exhortations, the obedience to ! bers of the family must be taught to pr$y, it is so yalu-
       which we may beseech God for His grace. All this abl,e that the fathers tea'ch them by himself praying in
       will tend to .enrich our prayers.                             their midst.
              I do not believe ministers ought to preach their            I recall yrhen I was a boy, staying at a certain home
       s6rmons in their prayere,  but the congregational pray- where the family iYas supposed to render what men
       er may attach itself to the sermon and that will help were wont to call "silent  ,prayer".            I recall how my
     tp attain variation as well as enrichment in prayer, b          thoughts `drifted. all over the world until I finally set-
          -A minister told me one time that in his congrega- tled upon counting the tick-tacks of the clock, mean-
       tional prayer he sometimes followed &e Prayer Per- while ,, keeping, an ear, open for the sigh which the
     feet, advancing from one petition to the other and head of the' family uttered when: the prayer was sup-
       broadening out on each petitionsas  .he proceeded. Have posed to end.- It stands to reason that such a home
       you ever tried that?                                          exercises no instruction in prayer.       But in homes
       IAnd have you  evep read Calvin's  prayer%3 They where there are high-priest fathers the youths are in
       are surely worth reading.                                     a position to  leain the exercise of Christian  .prayer
              In our family praying I believe we can develop'our and soon enough can practise it for themselves.
     praying if we give good. heed to the Bible  .passag&            :' We would say then: `give good heed to the prayers


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                               T H E         STA??DARrj              B.EARER                                          187

which you hear from the saints and learn from the request comes on a very short notice. 80 together
them.                                                         we'll hope that this emergency is of a short duration.
                                                                  It is always interesting to note that Scripture is
                MEDITATE THEREON.  .*                         its ow_n interpreter. <One passage often throws valu-
   Psalm 1 speaks of the righteous as meditating upon able light upon some other passage, or' one se&ion upon
the Word of God day and night. Psalm 111 speaks some other. Sotie eew aspects are discovered. some
of the Lord's works as being. sought out of all that important facts are brought to our attention-.
hape pleasure therein. Psalm 139 :17 "How precious                A passage of that nature we have in James 5 :ll.
are also thy thoughts unto me, If I should count them         "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have
they are more than-the sand". Then, falling asleep in heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of
recounting God's thoughts, lo, "When I awake I am the Lord : that the Lord is very pitiful and *of tender
still with Thee". A soul that thus meditates upon (God,       mercy."
up& His mejesty, His works, His m~rcy,,`etc.,  will, I           `In passing, we do well to note that JameS is spur- _
would say,  spon&neously  develop in prayer and en- ring `the readers on to patiently persevere in the midst
rich th.4 contents of his -prayers. For. prayer is an- qf the trials that beset them in their present sojourn
other `form of meditation.                                    upon the earth. $Ie realizes, as becomes evid.ent  from
   I remember how one of,my Christian school teach-           the first six verses of this chapter, that they must
ers one time rendered his close `of day prayer, and           often suffer in the hands of wicked men, who are
just.`at that time there was a heavy electrical shower,       sometimes even reck&ed  among the members of the
with the rolls of thunder vibrating the building  in          church. These wick.ed men are often in power, using
which  we were. The  teach& glorified God with the their power to oppress the righteous. And because
words of Psalm 29 "`The voice of the Lord shaketh. the        these righteous refuse to resort to force to  .obtain
wilderness, the voice of the Lord is powerful,' it is full justice, it is often necessary for them to endure  af-
of' majesty, . .  ." This  came from a soul that was liction while they voice their protest and' continually
meditating upon the mighty works of the Lord and. the send up their prayers  to Him Who sees all things and
meditation of it flowed over his lips into -an edifying judges `righteously.
and for me nev.er to be forgotten prayer. .'                      James admonishes tF.em to be patient in the midst
   God's people is a praying people.                          `of their sufferings, always confident that vengeance-
   May we grow in prayer  .until the  day. when our belongs to the Lord, Who will recompense every man
prayers shall be perfect, when we shall no more stam-' according to 11% works, whether good or evil. That!
mer as even the best of us do now, but when we shall          day of recompense-is not far off, for the coming of
pray in perfection. Meanwhiles may we grow up onto the Lord draweth  nigh. Already the Judge stands tit
Him who taught us to pray and sends forth His Spirit t h e   d o o r .
through whom we pray and ever, while we pray, Him-               s As an incentive, these righteous are reminded of
self prays for us -in the heavenlles.                         the saints who have gone before. James tialls to mind
                                                M. G.         particularly the pkophets,  who were especially privi-
                                                              leged `above their contemporaries to be mouthpieces of.
                      ---                                     the Lord. Yet their unique  privilkge  carried with it
                                                              an added amount of suffering. These are otitstand-
                                                              ing examples of those' who suffered affliction. And
              FROM HOLY WRIT . . 7 they persevPr.ed  steadfastly, patiently bearing the suf-
                                                              fering that befell them.
                                                         E       And  theli  &he refers  ito the example of Job. Even
                                                              in that  clay they had often heard of the proverbial
              The Patience 0% Job                             patience  of Job.  I They need  only  b.e  feminded   66 it.
                                                              Thev `have also. "seen the end of the Lord", that is,
   This is an `emergency measure. We are sorry to             the purpose of, the Lord in all His dealings with His'
hear" that Rev. Lubbers is ill, which prevents him servant Job. For the T,nrrl had his `oWn wise purpose
from filling this department for the present. Our in afflictinp him as He did. The' history of Job teaches .
readeri will be disappointed that his  regudar series         us t.hat "`the Lord is full of nits and of tender m&y."
of articles on the "Signs In- The Gospel ,Of Jbhn" will           Job undergoes a tr?:nl of his f&k. It need hardly
not appear for a few issues, awaiting his  recov8ery;         be said that this trial `comes from God. All things,,
May the Lord speedily restore him to .health that he          in&din% every  happeninp  and all creatures, are  .`in
may soon resume his various duties afiong us.                 the hands of the IAlmicd+v. Who is absolutely sovereign
   Quite reluctantly I take upon. myself. ,to tempor-         in all His w6rks. The devil who wants to make Job
arily fill the space allotted to -him: But under the cir;     utterlv miserable. the SabPans and Chaldeans who de-
eumstances, I was also reluctant to refuse, even though       light in  rbbloing him of his  possessi&, the  wind and


 ,188      '                          T    H    E          STANbARD   BEARE,R

 the fire that destroy what remained, are but so many             Not as if true patience is t$ natural virtue in which
 instrumepts in the'hands of God Ito carry out.His.  pur- some men excel above others. A mere natural patience
 pose. Even Job's wife who turns against him in his is often @thing more,.than timidity, verging on cow-
 hour of distress, `and his three friends who piove to ardice.          It could' never have persevered under the
 be such miserable comforters, are serving the purpose Z%r;tih of this kind of a trial. His patience was an act
 fcr which God intends to use them.                            of faith, which. is a gift of  g&e, powerful enough
     `That becomes increasingly evident as we .read the to bear up under -every. affliction and able t@ sustain
 book of Job:. God brings His servant td, the attention him in all his distreses.
 #of. tlle.devil;.  reminding him -that this man stands in        Not as if true patience is a natural virtue in which
 the righteousness of Jesus Christ, is sanctified1 to walk .perience,  you find that he slips into sin, sinks deeper
 in a new qbedience,  with the -fear of God in b.is heart,     a:ld deeper into the mire that threatens to swallow him
 so that he simply abhors evil.  (1:8). The Lord also `up. At the end` of  tihapter one it can still be said,
, gives Satan power-  to deprive. Job of all his earthly "ln all this Job sinned not, nor charged God fdolishly."
 pc,~s~ssions,  but setting .a limit beyond which even the But in chapter two, v&se ten, this statement is  re-
 power of darkness cannot go. Job is perfectly right, pea&cd only with definite r&ervations. There we read,
 wl:en he declar,es  that the same Lord Who gave him ."In`ail this did not Job sill with his lips." But ih the
 all these things has  .also taken `them  again. (1':21). third chapter this can no more be said, for he curse_s
 The conclusion of the entire book expresses emphatic- %e day of his birth. - He -even reaches a stage that is
 ally that the Creatdr of all is alinighty in .power  and \T/ell-il.lgh  despair. Until' finally he is forced to  izon-
 unsearchable in all His ways.                                 feSs  to God, "Behold I am vile; what shall I answer
     J.ob's faith is ,put to the test. His suffering is-not    T1;e.J :"' (40  :4). And again, "I abhor myself, and r&
 the common lot of humanity, btit is the unique suffer- pen: in dust and ashes." (42:6).
 ing of a servant of God.  l%e does not  mere1.y  suffer          Yet even so his faith triumphs, for true patience is
 a great natural loss and a serious physical ailment, a gift'of God. Jdb does not understand God's dealings
 but he bndergoes a spiritual struggle. He suffers-for with him, but he acknowledges his trust in the Lord.
 righteousness' sake.  His faith is always brbught in "Though He-slay me, yet will I trust in Him." (13 : 15) .
 yuestion. .A11 the powers of darkness are plo,tting  to- Although he knew that he was a sinner and was ready
 gether with the wicked intent of undermining his to confess his sinfulness, he also knew-that he was just
 faith.                                                        in the .sight of His Maker, in the confidence, "I know
     The devil is the first to challenge it: In answer to that my Redeemer liveth." (19 :25). And although he
 God's challenge to t'ake note of His servant Job, th> could not poSsibly .explain .why all this misery should
 devil. remarks : "Does Job fear God for naught?" The come upon him, he never entirely `gave .ub his hope in
 implication is, that man's religion is a matter a9 utility. the salvation of God. "And  thoudh  afte? my skin
 He serves God for his own  persolial interests. De- worms shall destroy this, body, yet in my flesh shall I
 prive him of all that is most precious to him, 2nd he see Gtid," (19 :26).
 will readily throw up his faith in God. To prove his             Who c&n fail to see the purpose of the Lord in all
 point the %devil  is ready to deprive the mari of %bd of `-this?, For he shows clearly in this whole history "that
ail his earthly posse&ions, and when that fails `to bring He is full of pity and of tender mercy".
 t.he desired result, he is ready to afflict him 60 sorely        God's pity is rooted in His love. It is the manifest-
 tillat death is more attractive to him than life.             ation of His love towards the objects of His love in
     Even Job's wife turns-against him, urging him to distress.  H.is sympathy goes out- to them. Not as a
 curse  #God and die. And his friends  acctise  him of mere passing sentiment that arises for a moment-and
 having committed gross sins that have brought `these soon fades away. But He yearns for them, grieves
 1;isitations  of God upon him: They proceed from- the over their afflictions and pities them as a father pities
 assm~ption that prosperity is  an  ungrring sign' of his children. He is eager to deliver them and to .be-
 God's favor, while` adversity is necessarily -always a stow sotie great good upon them.
 token of His curse. -This  man has been prosperous,              He is also of tender mercy. The Dutch calls Him
 b.ut now .he is utterly *miserable. The' conclusion must an' "Ontf,ermer".        God  do& not  merely   entertains"a-
 be, that he is now receiving a just'recompens;e  for his      strong  d.esiTe to deliver  His people `from all their
 sins, God's visitations are upon him, sa that he is troubles;  .but He is also able to do so. He does not
 doomed to go to the graye childless, as an outcast Lvho       stand by in desperation, but He is mighty to save.
 is cut off from the land of the living, like a tree that `Therefore God's mercy means, first of all, that He is,
 has been.  uproo+d,  never to `rise again. And when intensely interested in .the welfare of I&s people, so
 Job pleads his innocence in this matter, he is branded that even %-hen He sends them afflictions, He does so
 as an unrepentent, self-righteous hypocrite.'                 in His compassion for them. It me&ns, moreover, that
     You have. heard of the unique suffering of this He will not -allow them, to suffer one`moment longer
 righte'ous  man. You have also heard of hi? patience.         than, is necessary for their good. Their tears  ?are
                         ..


                                                                                                .

                                    T H E   S T A N D A R D   BEARERS

precious in His sight. And it means finally, that He het geheel qijn bedo,eling  niei was orn de beide Dss.
delivers them at. the earliest possible moment and be-. een handje te ,helpen in het verrichten hunner werk-.
stows upon them the great good of His eternal salva- zaaniheden, omreden ik van hunne plannen niets wist;
tion. In. all these things He shows that .He is full of Doch de, reden dat ik Canada ter sprake bracht `bestond
pity and of tender mercy.                                            hierin, omdat ik in &t artikel van Ds. Knqtt in "Con-
   That was also His purpose in  .ihe affliction of c.ordia" van Nov. 27, geen ,woord  las van toekomstig&?
Job.                                                     r           plannen over Canada, en ,dat bevreemde  mij. En waar`
   The three friends are put to shame. Before their                  nu. in "The  Standard   Bearer'.' van Dec. 15 de lezers
eyes Job is justified and restored to his former .position           worden  uitgenoodigd getike te, gev.& aangaande Let,
of honor before God. His potiessions  are doubled, his               werk der Zending,  neem ikraii de gelegenheid gebruik
family;is once more complete. It becomes evident th.at               eei paar ten beste te  g&en,  doch  veroorloof  me de
the Lord often chastises those whom He lovks.                        vrijheid ze `rechtstreeks in  dk Standard Bearer' te
   Job is humbled to the dust. He' learns the in- plaatsen, omreden  on$&  Zending  eed publiek  belang
valuable lesson, that he is a great sinner, prone to all             is  "; w,elk ons allen aa&aat,  en ten  tweed,e  omdat de
evil, &able to fall and never able to stand in his own wtikzaamheden en  pia,&en` in  b,eide bladen  zijn  ge-
strength. He learns to distrust himself; to become bit- publiceerd, en alzoo de *enken .odk publiek behooren
terly afraid of his own weaknesses and td trust entire- te wolden gegeven zal er een vruchtbare discussie door,
ly in his God.                                                       ontstaan.
   And God is vindicated. He' is the living God; al-                    1i-1 de eerste  plaats dan zou `ik de beide z&heliqg-
mighty in power and sovereign in all that He does.                   leeraars willen aanraden, leer grondig de Nederlqnd-
How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways sche taal, en wanneer ge ,die goed machtig zijt vestig
past finding out! His work withstands the fiery trial u dan in .C$nada, Quebec, Montreal of Toronto, dicht
`chat He sends. His grace is sufficient, His pity is great bij de  daar  ter plaatse  immigration hall of  bij de
and `His mercy is boundless. He is ever faithful, for aanlcgplaats der  Holl&dsche.  booten  in `Quebec en
He; changes never. Therefore His people are~not con- Montr.eal.                   En dan bestaat de  mdgelijkheid,  zooals
sumed.                                                               Hoboken een toevluchtsoord  geivordeg  is  .onder  `den
   The  cbnclusion of the  matter is, that God never zegein des Heeren icroor  vele immigranten, dat er. in
punishes those  whom  He loves. He does chastise.them een den havensteden van Canada een, tehuis van onze
but His chastisements prove that He deals with them kerkengroep kan  worden opgericht waar onie  Hol-
in love as His sons and daughters. He does send af-                  landsche stamgenoten met raad en daad kunnen wor-
lictions, but He does it to purge, not to destroy.                   den geholpen.                                                     .~
 "We count them blessed who endure." And  right-                        Adverteeren.  in "`De R&format%e", zou de zendings-
lyso!,                                                _  .:          zaak zeer kunneti bevorderen.                      `_
   To expr,ess  .it iri the words of Jesus. "Blessed are                De Zending gaai ons @en Ban, het is de zaak van
ye `when men shall revile you, and persecute f&i, *and               G b d s   K d n i n k r i j k .
shall say all manner of evil against ~you falsely for My                                                J .   R .   VanderWal.
sake. Rejoice and be  .exceedingly glad, for great is
your reward in heaven; for's0 persecuted they the pro-
phets which w$re beSore you."                                           .
   He who so endures td the end shall be saved.
                                               C. H.                               PR.RISCOPE

                                                                     Con.dolences and  Co&ratulations.  . . .
                                                                        We recently received word froni the Rev. G. Lub-
                  _'  Ingezon&.j  i  .'                 - 7 bers that he has been ill for the past four weeks. H e
                                                               A has been unable to occupy` his -pulpit in. Randolph,
   Toen ons artikel al..in Edgerton was met h&t ver- Wisconsin. since December 7. He writes :  "Fiyst it
zoek om geplaatst  te worden  in The Stand'ard Bearer,               TV& `flu' i then it was `coligestion  in lungs', but blood
vernamen we de plannen van de Mission `Committee,                    test shows undulant fever. I lost `18 pounds but have
om Ds. De Jong en Ds. Kok.naar  Canada te zenden, om ragained 8. Incessant fever, goes up to about 101-6
daar eens  fiol'+oogte  te. nemen  naar de stand van                 every day. Can rest in the Lord's way."
zakep dangaande de Hollaildsche emigranteli.                            We extend our heartfelt sympathy to our brother
   Toeri ik dat hoorde,  was er ge&  tijd meer om de                 in his affliction and join with hiti in the prayer that
Redacteur  te verzoeken  mijn artikel niet te plaatsen,              the Lord -may give him grace sufficient for the way
doch .de.Tlezers  zullen bij nu we1 hebben begrepen dat He leads.                                                                 .
                                                               `I


                                                                                                                             I


 19g                                        T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

    Clasgis East, which met on January' 7, also took              "6. Considering God's deepest motive with it, and
 cognizance bf the illness of <Brother  Lubbers and de- with an eye to the eventual effect of this expression
 cided to grant  Ran,dolph  "liefd.e-beurten,,  during the of goodness, it cannot be spoken of as grace or mercy
 incapacitation of their pastor.                               in the full and deep sense of the word. God links it
                         :!:  :/: $  :)c
             ,                                                 up with the coming of- His wrath. He hardens the un-
    On the other hand, we are happy to be &ble to re- godly through it, and so works in'it, that the legitimacy
 port that the news from California concerning the of eternal punishment becomes very obvious.
 Rev. H. Hoeksema is encouraging. In a recent lett`er,            "From the above it becomes evident that we can:
 he wrote that he had walked about a half-mile without not conclude from God's judgment over believers, a
 his cane and had twice walked down-town in Bell-              certain unfavorable attitude toward these beli&ers.
 flower, a distance of about 3 miles, with his "aid".          And just as well, we cannot conclude from God's good-
 The Rev. Hoeksema is enjoying and "soaking;up" tl,ze          ness to the ungodly, a certain favorable attitude to-
 California sunshine at the home of his son-in-law, the wahi these ungodly.
 Rev. L. Doezema. He expresses his confidence that                "It was no one less than Calvin'who warned against
 the Lord is continuing to lead him in the way of re- this hasty and superficial judgment.
 covery. We thank and praise our God,. with our broth-            "In his exposition of  J.er. 33  :9 for example, he
 er, for His goodness..                                        points out that the prophet exhorts the Jews to extol
    Christian  gkeetings to both brethren and all the          God for His grace (gratia) which is the first cause
 Lord's sick and afflicted!                                    of their trust  (`primtin  ficluciae   causam) . "For the
                                                               origin of all God's blessings, `or the fountain from
                                                               which all good things flow, is the,favor of God in being
                                                               reconciled to us. .He may, indeed, supply us bounti-
 "common Grace" and God's Attitude Towards                     fully with whatever we may wish, while yet he him-
 the  Ungodly.  . . .                                          &f is alienated,from us, as we see to be the case with
    We continue with the transcription of the article the ungodly, who often abound in all good things; and
by C.  V.  under the above  title from the  Reformatie hence they glory and boast as though they had God
 of Nov. 22, 1947. We suggest that you refler briefly as it were, in a manner bound to them. But-whatever
 to the first part .of this transcription which appeared       God grants and bestows on the ungodly, cannot, pro-
 in the Jan. .1 issue of the Standard Bearer. PFof. Veen- perly speaking,  (prorie loquendo)  be deemed as an
 hof cotitinues  as follows :                                  evidence of his favour and grace; (testimonium favoris
    "In correlation to all that which has been said con-       et gratiae)  but he thus renders them more unexcusable,
 cerning "the beginning of judgment", as it comes to while he treats them so indulgently. There is then
 the house of God, we can note the following concerning no saving good,  (sa&tare  bonum)  but what  flows
 God's goodness towards the ungodly:                           from the paternal love of God. We .must now see how
    "1. Taken by itself, all that which the wicked re-         God becomes propitious to us. He becomes so, when
 ceive of good gifts in every respect, is a manifestation he imputes not our sins to US. For except  parcjon  gd.es
I of God's grace or favor: it is always completely unde-       before; he must necessarily  be adverse to us;  for as
 served; yea, forever forfeited.                               long as he faoks on us as we are, he finds in us noth-
        "2. In the conferring' 6f much good yet unto the       ing but what deserves vengeance. We are therefore
 ungodly (for example, in the offqre of salvation) there always accursed before God until he buries our sins.'
 is revealed that justice is, pot $et accomplished, has         " `How is it, then, that God not only maketh his
 not yet become `absolute. They still live in the `day of sun to rise on the evil and on the good,`-so Calvin
 g r a c e '.                                                  asks in his Institutesi III, XXV, 9-`but that, for the
        "3. When ,God's goodness is thus spoken of, refer-     accomodations  of the present life, his inestimable liber-
 ence is not thereby made to the deepest motivle of God's      ality is diffused in the most copious abundance? Hence
 dealing with the ungodly. The -manner of God's deal- we see, that things which properly belong to Christ
 ing with them, when thus .expresed,  is "according to its     and his members, are also extended to the impious;
 essential nature by, itself':                                 not to become their legitimate-po&ession, but to render
        "4. So understood, this expression of goodness them more inexcusable. Thus impious men fri?quently
serves, in the final analysis, to increase their respon'si-    experience Gsd's beneficence in remarkable instances,
 bility and hence, aggravates their judgment. This which sometimes exceed all the blessings of- the pious,
 demonstration of goodness is subordinated, therefore,         but which, nevertheless, are the means of aggravating
 to the execution of God's eternal judgment over all their condemnation.'
 those who reject Him.                                            "It is evident frdm the above that in the last analy-
        "5. This expression of goodness is only temporal.      sis one can hardly speak of a two-fold attitude of God
 It is but the `beginning' of goodness. Finally, the           towards specific  individuali.
. ungodly, receive only greater punishment.                       "There is in God an attitude of grace towards the


                                                                                                                                                              _,          ,.`&..
                                                                                                                                                                                    i,;
                                                                                                                                               5  .  . ._:           '





                                                  T H E ' S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                                         -.- 191

.elect. This attitude governs all dealings and orderings                                            Crash in `Algiers
with the elect. All of God's work for and in them is                                                Takes Lives of 9
designed and  d,etermined  by this gracious. attitude.                                                  :g * $
,Also the evil and the suffering which God so often                                                  Man Slugged,
allows to come to his own. (And all of God's dealing                                                         Robbed
with the elect serves to enhance God's greatness in the                                                 :p  :g  :i:
wonderful, everlasting glorious manifestation of grace                                              T w o   A r e   K i l l e d
to sinners.                                                                                         In Flint Crash
   "But besides, there is in God an attitude of wratlz.                                                 :F :p 4
against;  all the reprobate. And that disposition .per-                             ;  `Fl$ARS LACK OF INSULIN
meates all of God's speech and dealing with the repro-
bate. It di,rects  and motivates all His deeds for and in                                       Argentinian Sees Rise in
th.em. Also the goodness which God manifests to th.em                                                   D i a b e t e s
in this dispensation is finally governed by this disposi-                                               *  :g  *
tion of wrath. Through this manifestation of goodness                                          NOME FIRE LOSS $40,000
also, God's wrath comes to its final full disclosure.                                                   :i:  :F 9
And the end of all God's work with and in thepemand                                            Ex-Policeman Owns Killing
shall be the reflection of His greatness and righteous-                                                 :i:     :i:  $
ness in the complete bursting forth pf wrath over the                               YOUNG KILLER GIVEN DEATH
damned in the eternal fire."
   N. B.: As we wrote at the beginning of  the fi?st                                )            Reno Seeks "Example". 1
installment of the above translation which appeared                            .                     for Hoodlums
in the last issue, this subject is one of especial interest                                            :F       :F     *
to us in this comitry. We hope to hear and read mlore                               FLOODS  PjERIL DUTCH AREAS
of the discussion of "common grace" from the Nether-
lands.- In the meantime, we will refrain from com-                                               Waal and Yssel Rivers
menting on the above. We are motivated by several                                                     O v e r   B a n k s
considerations. In the first place, we expect and look                                                  ::c  :i;  *
                                                                          i
for further discussion and development of this subject                                           Corn Borers May Slice
from the Netherlands.. In the second place, as  we                                                     1948 Crop
have `also' found in the controversy  regar'ding  the                                                   :F  :i: :F
covenant, hasty judgment and criticism of our breth-                                                  Red  M e a s l e s
ren from across the sea  often leads to  un&;srrantecl                                               Sweep  ,Ottawa
conclusions and stifles friendly and fruitful disctissi'on.                                             :g *  *
Finally, so much has been written in the past, both                                             New York Police Charge
iii the `Standard Bearer and elsewhere, that it should                                         `Woman Held Up 2 Hotels                  . .
not be difficult for the brethren in the Netherlands to                                                 :`p 9  :i:
determine the position pf, our Churches in respect to                                               Seriously Hurt               . .
the theory of "common grace". Hence,. we expectantly                                                  By Attacker
await to hear mor6.                                                                                          Q :i:  *
                                                                                         tiL010DS WIDEN IN 3 STATES
Signs  of the Times. . . .                                                               .~             .-
               NEW DUTCH DRIVE SEEN                                                             Hit' Oregon, Washington,
                                -            -                                                      . Idaho, Areas "
                  Ceace-Fire Agreement
                    Demanded ia Java
                               * $4     Q Y                              The above ar.e. just a few of the many  cheadlines
                     Reports Marine                                  that could be quoted. They are all taken from a single
                     Killed in China                                 issue of the Grancl Rapids, Press which appeared on
                       :ir           * JF                            Thursday, January 8, -1948.' The same could be dupli-
               Two `Escape "Certain Death"                           cated any day, from any daily newspaper, anywhere in
                As Blast Levels Home Here                            the world. In fact, these which we quoted might be
                               *  * :i:                              termecl "mild" in comparison to those which appear
               PLANE CRASH TOLL. IS 17                                quit@ generally;  thc  Press  is a very conservative
                                                                     journal.
                  Two Federal Aides Die                                  These headlines literally scream at us: -"Watch and
                          in Georgia                                  Pray, for the time is at hand", How real and vital
                                                                                                                                  _
                                                                                                                            .


                                               /
                                                                          .                                                                                          I                      :      .--
                                               i                         '     /                                                                                          /
                                               !         :
             19%                                                                                    T H E                  STANDAjtD.  ihflRE.R                                             I,.
                                 A                                                                                                                             -                   ;                      ,i
                                -?
             the words of .Christ-be&oinB  fb;r us in the days `in whiih. van  C&s& is en  claai:`%ti van  on&  E&it  w.&ieer
             we live:' "And ye- sli&. h&ar of wa& and iumours of"-";,  ook zij gel&vi& den He&e Christus aanneemt, wordt
                                                                                                                                              -_      .-
             wars :-see that dye be not, trtiubled-: for all these things `o,ok alles tran haar, en Iran' zij van dat. alles `ne$nen en,
             mu@ .&me to pass, b,tit,&he  end iS not yet. For nat'ion                                                                 g&nieten  vira$ qok het hafe is. Eens wordt htiar dan '
             shall lise against n&ion,. $pd kingdom against king- 001; clema&t en-gelegeilheid ontnomelz  ,als zij zich niet
             dom :' `and %here shall be famines;  and. pestilences, and bekeert en den  Heere Jezus  geloovig  aanneelylt, om
             earth,q,uakes  in .divel:s .&tice$.  `_ All these are .the begin- wecle&ecbtelijk  van' dat alles oo!c %aar iets te nemen
             ning of  sorrow%"  I"  :.  :  1,                                                                       `.          `.    ter  genieting.  De diefstal, die-haar dan'nu1nog  moge-
                  And how  cotifprting for the child  ,of God, in the                                                                 lijk `is, wordt haar eens onfiogelijk.  .Fa&orn zegt de
             midst of it.&, to"Ye'member  the.Word  of C&%$ : .`These                                                                 Heere HEERl$ alz66,: Zie, Mijne knechten zullen eten,
             things I hgve ,spoken  unto you, that in me ye might clodh'gijJiecl&  zult hongeren  ;  &ie,  Mijnb  knechten  iul-
             Lave  .peac&-   1n"the' world ye  `slitill have tribulation:                                                             l&x  drinken,  doch gijlieden  zult  -dorsten; zie,  Mijne
             but,be of gdo$ cheer-; I- have- overcome tl!e world."                                                                    knechten  .zullen blijde zijn,  doch  gjjlieden  z&t  be-
     .-                                             *                :s  4:  :i:                                                      schaamd.iijiz;   zie, Mijne knechten   iullen jul&en van
              . $h~~.&llowmg. article  by* Prof.  8.  `Greydanus  ap- goeder harte; maar gijlieden zult schreeuwen van wee-
             peared in                                                                                                                dom d& harten, en van verbreking des gee&es zult gij
                                      De I$efom,@ie of `Nov. 15,. 19,4'7. We believe
           it timely: and' l&&cal character- makes it of value for huilen, Jes: 65 is. 13-14.
             `our readers:, We.had. originally intended to coridense                                                                     Alles is  ,uive,  n.1.  voor u, geloovigen in  Christus
            -arid translate it but lack of time forbade. -Many of Jezus.
             us cain ,stiil r&d. the. Holland and $1 should be able to                                                                   Wat kunnen wij dan geni&eri en ken leventje van
.  1.~:  lit,something  from it.  -                                                      -                   . .                      pleiiier leiden. Denk -u eens in. Dan is bet bier van
                                                                                                                           ~
                                                                                    .
                         --v                                                                  .~                                      ens; en de jenever, en de brandewijn, en de cognac,
                                         7.                   ,'                    -
                                         .,                                                                                           en. d& :tiha&pagne.      Wel, dan  kuri  `zn we  drinkgezel-
                         .._          VEROVERING  .DER  `WERELD                                                                       schappe opr.&hten.
                  e                                                                                                                      Natuurlijk  christelijke.               Cpstelij,ke  bierclubs,
                       Dr. A. Kuyper S?. schreef eenk,: "Geen .duimbree,:l                                                            christelijke  b&idewijn-                 en Jenkververeenigingen,
            is'er op heel `t erf van ons mensehelijk l&en, waarT;an                                                                   christelijke  `champagne-socigteiten.  Want  nasuurlijk,
             ,de Christus; die slier Souver@in is, niet roept; "Mijn 1" wij moeten belijdenis doen van ens. Christelijk geloof:.
             Dat komt we1 overeen met hetgeen de apostel Paulus                                                                       D&t alles `is niet Bet onze om onientwil, door ons eigen
           aan de CorinthiErs  schreef : alles is uwe : hetzij Paul:~s,                                                               We&,  maar ons  getichonken  om  Christus" verdienste
             hetzij  !Apollos,  hetzij  Cef&, hetzij  d@  wereld,  lxtzij                                                             en doqr X&m OqS :gebadig  gegeven. Het is alles eigen-
             lcvienj hetzij dood,  het&ij tegenwoordige, het-ij  toe-                                                                 lijk het  qijne. Maar  omdit  wij van Hem zijn en in
             komeude  dingen, zij zijn alle uwe ;  doch  gij-  zut;  v&l;                                                             Hem g.elooven, daaroti is het ook pan ons. En daarom
             Chrisxb, en Christus is ian God, ,I Car; 3.vs. 21 `3%                                                                    moeten wij da! oak doen uitkomen, open1ij.k  a.h.w. pro-
                  WIT,, d.w.z., die v&n Christus zijn,' allen, die v~;aarlijk                                                         clameeren. En daarom bij alles er.bij : christelijk, en
             ;I, JTLeni  gelooven,  zijli onnoemelijk  rijk: de arm&o a::&:                                                           dat voorop.    Op die wijze beiijdes wij d,an vbbr allen,
             $f  oi:i'rli.j:i;:~ goederen,  en. de  mildst met die gtfedel'en                                                         d&t het alles ,in waaiheid van- Christus is, en dat het
             bcden&, de zieke en lijd'ende en kieine eve;l'r;e$r a!s dx+                                                              het onze sl&hts is. in Zijne gemeenschtip,  om en door
             gezonde, .sterke.                      De :g&%n&e  -eii o&anzienlijke  niet                                              Hem,  Torider  ekriige  qerdienste  onzerzijds,  tiit loutere
             n!i:ider  dan `ddehooggeplaatste  en in macht en staat vex*- genade.
           . -hex ene.                                                                                                                   Derhalve : ch?istelijke drink- en drankgezelschap-
                       11~lles is uwe : lev&n en dood.,' tegenwoordige en toe-                                                        pen, christelijke bier-en .jen&eq-  ,en brandewijngloe-
             kdmeinde  dingen, heel de wereld met al wat er ii1 ex 01)                                                                pen,  christ$ijke  champagnegelag~?&
'            is ; allcs, want. dat `is van Christus, Wiens elgendom
     /                                                                                                                                 Maar daar  kan het  natuurlijk niet. bij blijven.
             gij  zljt, en dus is alles obk het uwe  oni Zijnen%i: en                                                                 Alles iB immers bet. uwe, d.w.z. den geloovigen in Chris-
             door Hem.                                                                                                                tus Jezus. ,Dus ook voetbalspel  en bridge-en kaartspel.
             -         Als alles: `van" ons is, dan is' niets van de wereld.                                                          Want die voetballen e< ,die kaarten behooren tech ook
             Tusschen  .%lles en  niets is geen middelding.  Het-kal?                                                                 toi alles. Dat is  ,dus ook het  uwe; het onze.  En  dus
             niet  zijn  : alles het  tiwe, en  ook,`all&,  of veel, of  eeti                                                         mogen we daarmee ook spelen. Natuurlijk christelijk.
             `weinig  van."d& %vereld!                               Want wat van de eereld is,                                       Dat spreekt. Christelijk voetbalspel, christelijk kaart-
             veel' of weinig,. heel veel, of zeer weinig, is &et van u.                                                               en bridgespel. Evenals christelijk, bier- en jenever-
             Daar is dus geen ,ontkomen.  aan : Is alles -van bns, gel en cognac- en champagnedrinken. Natuurlijk, het moet
             loovigen `in Christus Jezus,' da'n is niets van d,e wereld                                                               alIes in mate en wijze christelijk toegaan. We zetten
             die Hem vervir&Fpt. En dus plee$ die wereld, in het-                                                                     dan voor `alles ook het woord christelijk. -
             geen zij,neemt en geniet, diefstal. Hetzij veel, hetzij                                                                      En dan is daar nog me&r.
             iveinig, dat zij' n&mt, zij neemt en geniet d& niet het
             Ifare, niaar het &ze, zij steelt het onze, d;w.z. hetgeen                                                                                       ( Wordt Vervolgd)


