* VOLUME XXIV;                  ._          April 1, 1948 - Grand Rapids, Michigan.                 -  ~.  -'       NUMBER  13:

                                                                         liefde in .onzen Heere Jezus Ghristus! Roept  het allen
      ,.MEDITA-T IO-N                                                    toe : De Heere is waarlijk opgestaan !
                                                                                                *  *  *  *

                                                                            Gods werk is altijd.wonderlijlf  : Jesaja zegt ervan,
              Maria!- - Rabbouni!                                        dat Zijn wegen. hooger zijn dan onze wegen, en Zijne
                                                                         -gedachten  hooger dan onze gedachten..
              "TJezus  zeide tot haar: Maria! Zij z&h omkeerende,           Ik  dacht daaraan, toen ik Maria zag bij het graf
            zeide tot H&m: Rabbouni! hetwelk is. gezegd, Mees-           van Jezus, weenende van verdriet. En toen ik Jezus
            ter."-Job 20 *16
                      . . .                                              zag. die haar toesprak : NIaria !
              "En als Jezus opgestaan was des  morgens vroeg                In de raadskameren van, God Drie-Eenig, in die
            op den eersten dag  .tder week,  verscheen.  Hij  eerst      nooit begonnen eeuwigheid, is Hij bezig geweest met
            aan  Maria- Magdalena,. uit  welke  Hij  .zeven  duivelen    de vraag :. Wien zullen Wij. het verrezen  Kindeke Gods
            uitgeworpen had."-Markus~ 16:9.                              het eerst,doen  zien? Wien zal het gegeven worden om
                                                                         `voorhkt eerst de lieflijkste openbaring van Ons ver-
     Het is waar,. dat-de  Heilige Apostel Paulus Jezus, bondsleven gade te slaan?
 en Hem gekruist, in het middenpunt zet der  heils-                         En toen heeft de Godheid ,gezegd:  Dat moet Maria
 historie, maar `dan als den gekruisten Heiland die-op- Magdalena zijn !
 stond ten derde dage, naar de Schriften.                                   0, gelooft het gerust: er zat Goddelijke logika ach-,
     Het kruis .zonder de opstanding nut ons niet; het ter dat besluit. Misschien zullen we het kunnen be-
 ware het vreeselijkste fiasco, dat go U zoudt kunnen grijpen straks,' wanneer geen maan meer schijnt, en
 denken.                                     z                           we `zullen wandelen in het  voile licht. Nu begrijpen
     Maar neen,` Jezus is waarlijk, opgestaan, en is van we het niet.
_. Simon gezien~! In dien jubelkreet beluisteren we het                     Stelt het U voor : Maria Magdalena ! De vrouw die
begin van de hallels des hemels, hallels `die de zalen eertijds rondliep met ieven duivels-die haar bei'nvloed-
 van het Huis Gods zullen doen daveren van ongekende                     den, bedierven, verwoestten. Een ieder was als ver-
 blijdschap tot in alle eeuwigheid.                                      bergende het aangezicht  voor haar. Zij moet een
    Voor vierduizend jaren was. de aarde niet dan &n                     vreeselijk mensch geweest zijn. .
 groot kerkhof geweest.. Maar nu werd de aarde open-                      _ En nu is het we1 waar, dat zij zevenvoudig verlost
 gebroken ;!, i-iieer nag; de .smarten  van den eeuwigen, was uit een zevenvoudige:ellende,  maar men geraakt
 dat is,  den  tweeden dood, werden verbroken ; heete zijn eerst verkregen reputatie onder de menschen niet
 tranen  afgewis&t,  en het  Kindeke Gods werd  weg- gemakkelijk kwijt: Ik hoor het gefluister: daar gaat
 gerukt tot voor .den troon van God.                                     de duivelsche Maria ! Het is-moeilijk sin het in  te
    Van Jozefls. h6f begint'de victorie: bet vlammend denken,  want wij hebben nu het Evangelie, en de ge-
 zwaard keert$ons' niet meer van de wandeling op. het stalte  van Maria Magdalena is ons van der jeugd aan
 pad des lever&`ltot  den boom des levens, ~tot. de ge- ingeprent als zeer aanvallig en lieflijk:`. Zelfs de klank
 meting van bet eeuwige leven, daar boven bij ,G,od  !                   van haar naam is als `een ruischende, -zachte melodie :
    Want Jezus stond op, vroeg in den morgen van den Maria Magdalena !
eersten dag der week: de e.erste  Zondagmorgen, begin                       Maar niet toen ,de stakkerd op aarde rondliep. Ik
 van'een ruste die nimmer zal eindigen. Voorts zal Hij, denk, dat zij de minste geacht wierd, onder de discipe-
 en ,zullen wij,- inblikken in het volbrachte werk van len. Die eenigzins bekend is met onze zondige, valsche,
 God. Almachtig, het  `werk  van Zijn onbegrijpelijke met vooroordeel behepte, het aangezicht aannemende


 2 9 0                               *i` ti E,    S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R   d

 en verkeerd-kromme menschelijke  natuur,' die weet,              de anderen, zorgden voor des Heilands kleederen, en
 da.t wij bet niet toestaan, dat `het vroeger. vuil,e van wat er verder noodig was voor Hem dien zij beminde.
 onzen medemensch te spoedig vergeten  wordt. `.' ",' .           met al de kracht van haar verloste ziel.
  ,. Zij mocht meeloopen, en zij mocht `Hem dienen,                    En zoo volgde zij Hem, "van de eene stad en vlek
Wien zij beminde met haar geheele  ziel. Zij mocht tot de andere", zooals Lucas het  ens verhaalt. Zij
?meeloopen  van het Galilea der heidenen tot hkt Juda kleefde  Hem achteraan.
 der prinsen van Israel.                                          Die aanklevende liefde noemen we.  "pathetisch'.`,
    Maar het was genoeg voor Maria . 0, zij ZOLI het U ofschoon zij ons de schoonste reactie biedt op de eerste
 vuriglijk verzekerd hebben :  bet is genoeg: als ik pure liefde van onzen God in Christus Jezus, den Heere.
: slechts mee mag loop,en,  om Hem te hooren, Hem te . Maria, in haar onbaatzuchtige wederliefde, is een monu- .
iien; missehien meehelpen om Hem te dienen!                       ment van .de liefde Gods die steeds een echo wakker
    Ik geloof, dat we bewijs hebben in deze historie roept in ons verloste hart.
cm aan te nemen, dat'niemand Jezus ~66 bemin'de als                    En toen was die laatste vreemde en bange reis ge-
M a r i a   Magdalena.                                            komen vanuit Galilea naar Jeruzalem. Het zou de
    .Want : "verscheen Hij QQrst aan Maria Magdalena",  _ laatste reis zijn.
en denkt gij misschien, dat het er voor bladvulling bij-               Velen spraken in den kring der discipelen die'.Jezus
staat : "uit welke Hij zeven driivelen uitgeworpen had"? volgden op die laatste reis. Allerlei gesprekken wer-
    En zoo, al  .redeneerende  en lezende de Heilige den er gevoerd, onderling, of. met Jezus. Vaak sprak
Schriftuur, zien we misschien meer van de eerder ge-              Hij .alleen,  en zijne hoorders  zwegen en waren onder
noemde %odd.elijke  logika dan we eerst we1 meenden.              den indruk gekomen van de verandering die over Jezus
Het schijnt meer en meer te  passen,  dat eerder be- gekomen was. Hij had Zijn aangezicht tot Jeruzalem
sproken raadsbesluit van God Almachtig in de eeuwige gewend, wetende, dat zij Hem zouden kruisigen. Hij
raadskameren.                                                   ' had van die vreeselijke dingen gesproken op de reis.
    Wie zal .Hem eerst mogen zien?                                     Maar we hooren geen woord van Maria Magdalena.
    Maria- Magdalena natuurlijk !                                      Kunt ge U voorstellen hoe het haar te moede was
    Zulks is Goddelijke orde.                                     geweest. bij het aanschouwen van d.e laatste dingen
    Laat ons heel stille zijn. De liefde van ,God in die in de stad des grooten Koninks?
vroegere duivelsche Maria heeft haar eischen: het is                   Zij heeft geweten van stap tot  stap, wat er  ge-
immers altijd God~die  Zijn Eigen werk beloont?!           '      schiedde. Van de opperzal waar het pascha gegeten
                                                                  was, over de beek Kidron,  dat bange Gethsemane, de
 -Maria ! Zie, hier ben Ik ! Zie, hi.er ben `Ik ! '               verraderlijke actie van Judas, de inhechtenisneming
    Rabbouni ! Mijn geliefde Meester !                            en verhoor voor Ann-as en Kajafas, die brullende massa
    Wondere, aanbiddelijke, eeuwige, Goddelijke  lo- voor het rechthuis van Pilatus, en dan de tocht naar
gika !                        -_                                  Golgotha.. Maria had alles gezien en gehoord, of het
                                                                  was haar verteld. In elk geval, zij had haar plaats
                          8  *  *  * .                            gezocht en gevonden, om met een schreiend hart te
                                                                  zien naar Hem wien zij beminde. Lucas zegt ons, dat
    Maria was een der vrouwen die-Jezus  gevolgd waren `Zijne bekenden die Hem gevolgd waren van Galilea,
vanuit ,Galilea,  en die Hem dienden van hare goederen.           met de vrouwen, van verre stonden en zagen dit aan.
Zoo lezen we het in Lukas 8 :2 en 3. Maria kwam van                    Smarten van de liefhebbers van Jezus.
het vlek of dorp Magdala, vanwaar haar naam. En                   En  onder hen, de schreiende Maria.
met die andere vrouwen volgden zij Jezus en Zijne dis-            -
cipelen om  Hgm te dienen.                                                               $4 8  Q  *
    Meer kumlen we dan ook niet verwachten van hen.
Maria geeft ons niet den indruk, dat zij sterk theolo-                 Ook bewees zij hare liefde voor Jezus.
gisch aangelegd was, in den zin, dat zij diepe theolo-                 Toen het volk naar Jeruzalem terugkeerde,  slaande
gische gesprekken kon volgen. 0, we bedoelen niet,                op hunne `borsten, toen was zij gebleven. Want toen
dat zij tegen ,de dogmatiek was, of dat zij minder gaf            straks Jozef en Nicodemus kwamen met volmacht van
.om de  .leer die naar de godzaligheid is. 0 neen. Ik             Pilatus om het `lichaam van Jezus van het kruis te
stel mij voor, dat zij aan de lippen van den Heiland nemen en "eel-baa? te begraven, toen was Maria Mag-
hing als Hij sprak. Maar zij komt ons voor als een                dalena daar. Wie naar huis  iging, ging naar huis,
vrouw die groote capaciteit had'voor de dienend.e  liefde. maar de liefde tot Jezus waakt. Ze wil weten wat er
Zij, met de anderen, diende Hem van hare goederen. worden zal van het stoffelijk overschot  van Hem die
Zij mocht .gaarne voor Hem zorgen in het toereiken haar alles was.                                                   :
van een frissche dronk in de hitte des zomers, of het                  Het lichaam van Jezus was voorzichtig 10s gemaakt
gereed maken van bet- eten langs den weg. Zij; met van de nagelen, en in den nieuwen hof van Jozef neer-


  I                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   REA-RER
                                                                       r'                                                     291
 gelegd. Maar tegenover .het graf zaten de vrouwen, discipelen  waren naar  h&s gegaan. Men kon niets
 en misten niets van alles wat er geschiedde. We lezen meer doen.
 in bet Evangelie van Lucas, dat zij wilden  weten zelfs         Geliefde lezer, toen de' geheele wereld Jezus ver-
 `"hoe Zijn lichaam gelegd was".                              doemde en bespotte, of niets zeide tot Zijn verdediging,
        Zonder twijfel hebben zij dan ook- gezien,hoe die was er een moordenaar die het voor Hem opnam.
 twee  mannen .honderd ponden gewicht mirre en  aloe             En  toen alle discipelen het eindelijk opgaven en
 gebracht  hadden,  om het lichaam van Jezus  te  bal- naar huis gingen, toen was er eene vrouw die' het niet
 semen. Doch dit belet hun niet om plannen te beramen op kon gesen. Ik stem U toe, zij zocht en bleef zoeken,
 voor hunne eigene eerbewijzen aan het lichaam van een dooden Jezus. Maar in al haar- zoeken naar dien
 hun  wonderen  Vriend. Dienzelfden Vrijdagavond, al dooden Jezus, brandde haar hart van de levende liefde
c1 is het dan ook met brekende  harten, hebben zij de' Gods.
 specerijen klaar gemaakt voor het lichaam van Jezus.            Luistert naar het Woord: `<En Maria stond buiten
 Doch des Zaterdags-rustten  zij naar het gebod, Vrome bij het graf weenende."
 zielen !                                                        God heeft het gezien, en Hij beminde haar.
        Maar des morgens vroeg toen het nog donker was,
 op den eersten dag der week, .maakten  zij zich op om           Jezus heeft het gezien, en' Hij zal straks haar hart
 uiting te geven aan al de liefde van hun hart. Z,ij doen opspringen van vreugde.
 spoeclden  zich naar den hof van  Jozef. Maria  Mag-            De Engelen Gods zagen het, en zij hebben zich tot
 dalena is zoo gemakkelijk de eerste en de leidster in Maria gewend en haar een belijdenis der liefde afge-
 dien droeven stoet, dat haar naam soms alleen genoemd nomen : "Omdat zij mijnen Heere weggenomen heb-
 wordt in de verhalen.. Zij was de ziel van deze  be- ben !"
 weging.                                                                           ~  *  *  :i:  *
        Ongekunsteld, eenvoudig, en daarom zoo schoone
 openbaring van de wederliefde <die het hart doet bran-          -Maria !                                   -..
 den om tech wat te "doen" voor Jezus!                           Rabbouni !
                          *  * *  *                              Het zijn maar twee woorden. Meer niet.
                                                                Maar er zit het eeuwige Evangelie in.
        Doch,  och arme, wat is dat?                             266 roept Jezus Zijn liefhebbers.
        De Steen is afgewenteld van het'graf. De conclusie       266 geven zij het antwoord der liefde.
 wordt direct getrokken  :. Jezus' lichaam is weggenomen.        Hij is opgestaan. Vraagt het aan Maria. Ze heeft
       IJlings keerden zij weer tot de stad om deze schen-    er van. gejubeld na die bange dagen. De discipelen
 nis van het graf aan` de discipelen te melden.     Dezen, hebben eerst wat gelachen, misschien Maria wat be-
 Petrus en Johannes, haastten zich om zich te verge- rispt vanwege dat "ijdel geklap". Maar ze konden de
 wissen -van de waarheid van het ,vertelde.      De andere paaschvreugde haar niet ontnemen.
 vrouwen bleven  in. de  stad..  Doch ook hier zien we           Zij is nu in den hemel, en zij ziet'al maar naar dat
 wederom de groote liefde van Maria. Zij kan niet Aangezicht. Ik denk, dat zij vaak denkt aan den hof
 in de stad blijven zoolang het lichaam van haren dier- van Jozef.
 baren Heiland niet gevonden is. En zij volgt Petrus                                                        _               G.V..
 en Johannes.  Doch komt bij het graf, nadat de  dis-
 cipelen terugkeerden.
        En dan lezen we het ontroerende tafereel van Maria
 bij het ledige graf. Het zijn maar eenige woorden.
 We zijn geneigd om er over  heen te lezen.  Doch ik
 zou U willen smeeken om dat niet te doe+ De teeke-                            WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
 ning is van den Heiligen Geest. Misschien geeft het              On April 3, 1948, the Lord willing, our beloved parents,
 ook ons begeerde antwoord' op de vraag waarom de                 :          ,MR. and  &IRS. PETER DYKEMA'
 Heere ,God geoordeeld heeft, .dat Maria de eerste zou
 zijn die den bpgestanen Heiland zou aanschouwen.             hope to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary.       -'
        "De discipelen dan gingen wederom naar ,huis."            We are indeed thankful to our covenant God for sparing
        Wat zouden ze anders  .doen? Dit was het einde them for. each other and us. May the Lord  conti;lue  to bless
 immers? Jezus was vreeselijk  vernederd.  Zijn einde them in the future as- in the past.
 was. de grootste schande geweest. Hij was gehangen                                       Their grateful children:
`aan het hout en was een vloek geworden. .Men kon                                            Mr. and Mrs. Peter Fedder
 het U met de Heilige ,,Schrift  bewijzen. En zoo ging                                         Kenneth Lee (grand-son)
 men nggr huis. De vrouwen, Petrus en Johannes, alle Grand Rapids, Michigan.


   292                                                                                                               T H E   STA.NDA~RD   B E A R E R

                *-                    The Standard Bearer
          Semi-Mgnthly, except Monthly  in July and  Aug&t                                                                                                                                               EDIT.ORI&iS                          :            '
                                                          PGblished   B y
                          The Reformed Free, Publishing Association
                                                      1463  Admore  St., S. E.                                                                                                                         The Covenaqt Controversy
                                          EDITOR: - Rev. H. Hoeksema.
  Contrib+ng  Editors: - Rev. G. M. Ophoff, Rev. G. Vos, Rev.                                                                                                                                                           6.
   R.  V,eldmsn,  Rev. H.  Veldman,  Rev. H. De Wolf, Rev. B. Kok,                                                                                                                                        With Whom Established. (cont.)
   Rev. J. D. De Jong, Rev. A.  Aetter, Rev. C. Hanko, Rev. L.
   Vermeer, Rev. G. Lubbers, Rev. M.  Gritters, Rev. J. A. Heys,                                                                                                                                 In, our last ,editorial  on the covenant controversy, D
   Rev. W.  Bofman.'                                                                                                                                                                         we were treating that wonderful passage of Coll.
     Communications relative to contents should be  <addressed  to                                                                                                                           1:13-19. And we intimated that we would like to say
   REV. GERRIT VOB, Edgerton, Minnesota.                                                                                                                                                     more on that score, but that this would wait for further'
     Communications relative to subscription should be addressed                                                                                                                                . .
   to MR. GERRIT PIPE, 1463 Ardmore St., S., E., Grand Rapids,                                                                                                                               issues..
   Mich. Announcements ahd Obituaries must be mailed to the                                                                                                                                      What we had in mind is that part of the  .above
   above address and will be published at a fee of $1.00 for each                                                                                                                            Scripture which speaks of the fact that all things are
   notice.                                                                                                                                                                                   created by.Him'and for Bim, and also that He is before
                                     (Subscription Price $2.50 per year)                                                                                                                     all things.          I
   Entered as Second Class Mail at Grand Rapids, Michigan.                                                                                                                                      `This Scripture is very illuminating to an under-
                                                                                                                                                 ,                                           standing of the Covenant of  ,God, especially. to an
                                                                                                                                                                                             understanding of the question, With whom is that cove-
                                                                                                                                                                                             nant established?
                                                            C O N T E N T S ,                                                                                                                   You see, the question remained the last time we
                                                                                                                                                                                             wrote on this text: But if Adam lived 4000 years be-
   MEDITATION--'                                                                                                                                                                             fore the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, how then can
            Maria! - Rabbouni! ..I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289                                       -God establish His covenant with Christ first of all?
           R e v .   G .   Vos                                                                                                                                                               How can Jesus Christ be the firstborn of every crea-
   E D I T O R I A L S '                                                                                                                                                                     ture ?
            The Covenant Controversy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  L.292
                      Rev. G. Vos                                                                                                                                                               ~The answer to that question we find in the above
                                                                                                                                                                                             quoted part of Coll. 1. All things are not only made
 O U R   DOCTRINE-                                                                                                                                                                           by Him, but-they are made for Him ! What wonderful
            Our [Covenant God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
                      Rev. H. Veldman                                                                                                                                                        light is thus shed..on the first Adam in the first para-
                                                                                                                                                                                             dise ! Adam and Paradise are. there for Jesus $!hri.st!
   THE DAY OF  SHADOWS-                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ..-
                                                                                                                                                                                             It certainly .means  that God made all things with a
            The Priest in Nob Slain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  :298 view to Christ, with Christ as its ultimate fulfill-
                      Bev.  G. M. Ophoff                                                                                                                                                     ment.
   THROUGH THE AGES-                                                                                                                                                                             If we grasp. this Biblical truth we will be spar.ed
            The Papacy During the Period'of the Reformation . . . . . . ...300
           .Eating the Lord's Passover (continued) ; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301                                                                             the erroneous conceptions that speak of reparation,
     .                Rev.. G. M. Ophoff                                                                                                                                                     but we will speak of exaltation, and fulfillment.
'  S T O N ' S   Z A N G E N -                                                                                                                                                                  Adam was created in the image of God, and when
            Eeuwige Goedertierenheid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303                                               coming to himself, he at once experienced that he stood
                      Rev. G. Vos                                                                                                                                                            in covenant communion with God. The love of God
   I N   H I S   F E A R -   '                                                                                                                                                               a,nd the intimate fellowship of friendship was his
            False Doctrine and The Fear of the Lord . . . . . . J.................  305                                                                                                      immediate portion. He loved ,God and was his friend.
                      Rev. J. A. Heys                                                                    --                                                                                  And he experienced that God loved him, and that He
                                                                                                                                                                                             was his great Friend. Thus Adam lived in the state
   FROM HOLY,  .WRIT-                                                                                                                                                                        of righteousness.  ~
            The Objective of Christian Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
                      Rev. C. Hanko                                                                                                                                                              @istakenly, this `relation has been named the cove-
                                                                                                                                                                                             nant of works. We will not at this juncture say any-
PERISCOPEi                                                                                                                                                                                   thing regarding this matter. It has been done by our
            Reflections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
                      Rev. J. Howerzyl                                                                                                                                                       leaders in past times.
   CONTRIBUTION-                                                                                                                                                                                 But I would point out here. that (Adam stands in
            A Change, But Essentially Nothing`New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311                                                                                        Paradise in the r.elation of love and, friendship with
                         J. H.  Kprtering, Holland, Mich.
              ,-                                                                                                                                                                             the ever blessed God, for the sake of Christ. Adam
                                                                                                                                                                                             was created. f or Him, remember? -              ,.(


                                              T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                   2 9 3

        What does that mean?                                            Let us see.
         First, that Adam was a picture of the Christ of                `Go with me to the language of the fathers: They
      God who was to come. Attend to this that the Scrip- speak in the Formula of Baptism of the second part
     ture speaks of the first -and the second, or the last,          of the covenant. Well, that second part is laid in
     Adam, which is Christ. Especially in Romans 5 : 12-21 the mouth of the second party, or the party of the
      do we find'this matter explained by the .apostle  Paul.        second part. IAnd that must be man. Now notice how
      He draws a parallel between Adam and Christ, and               God asks of man "new obedience,' namely, that we
     note that he proves how both are covenant heads, cleave to this one God, Father, Son, and Holy #Ghost;
     representative and responsible covenant heads with that we trust in Him, and love Him- with all our hearts,
     respect to those'whom they represent.              -L           with all our souls, with all our mind, and with all our
         Second, Adam must prepare the way before.Christ.            strength ; that we forsake the world, crucify our old
      He must fall into- sin and so pave the way for the             nature, and walk in a new and holy life."
     revelation of the eternal covenant of God which shall              I think it is because of the fact that we hear this
     make heaven musical forever.                                    portion so very often, that we have become rather
         Yes, Adam falls away from God through his wilful callous to the content.
      disobedience, and he breaks the bond which united               What tremendous things are here. spoken of! I
     him with God from his side, but attend to the Gospel:           would like to ask you: Who ever did all this? Who is
     ,he falls backwords into. the arms of Christ. I would there among all the children of God, including such
      ask you in all seriousness : if th.ere had not been the men as Job and Samuel and Abraham, that could ever
     relation of covenant love and friendship in Christ, do all the things that are here enumerated. The next
      where would we have been?, When the first bond time a child is baptized in your church, read this por-
      breaks away, we see the eternal `bond of love of God           tion very carefully, and then say: but no one ever did
      and His marvelous friendship which was hidden under this!                         '
     the first which we broke,                                          What must we think in the face of this of that
         Third, only in this way is the wisdom of God're- boasting language which we hear so often and which
     .vealed. It was His good pleasure to r.eveal  unto men always is an offense to our ears, namely, when we
      how wondrous He is in His lovingkindness and good- speak of' "assuming our covenant obligations" !
      ness. The Lord God wanted to show to you and to me                Read those covenant obligations, again and. again,
      how great is His love and grace, so that myriads of and. . .  .weep!
      men and of angels would stand before the throne of                No, perhaps `it is not wise that I would attempt to
      the Godhead and sing His praises forever. Well, He set you a-weeping, it is not necessary. Another has
      has shown this great wisdom in Jesus Christ the Lord. done that for you.
      Adam falls away, and must make room for the revela-               And that other who wept for you, has taken all the
      tion of a love which is past understanding. Imagine:           covenant obligations upon Himself and He has, also ful-
      He comes and stands in the room and the place of all filled them.
      God's .elect children. He takes upon His head all the             He has shown a new obedience.
      sin of His people and becomes a curse for them. And               .The old obedience was shown by Adam in Paradise.
      standing thus .before  the Godhead, He is smitten and And that was relatively easy for ,him. He was created
      cast away into eternal death.                                  .in the image of God,. g;ood and upright. And He walked
         And in this way the Lord reveals to .us His eternal with God, knew Him .at the cool of day. It was his
      covenant of grace.                 L                           joy to love his Godand to walk in intimate communion
         The second Adam "is Jesus Christ .the Lord. And with Him.. And God smiled on him.
      He takes upon Himself the covenant obligations of the           But Christ has shown the new obedience, such as
      first Adam, but He fulfills them in hellish torture. no man ever did. ' This obedience is new in the sense
      The covenant -of-,God is a relation of love and friend- that it was never seen before on earth. A new obebi-
      ship between God and His image bear.er. Well, here ence, for He loved God while God struck Km down in
      He stands, nay, He hangs on the accursed tree. Pre- hell., That is something different from Adam's life in
      sently we cannot see Him anymore: He has departed              Paradise. And Christ' never ceased loving God, even
      to the darkest depths of God-forsakeness. But I would though it pleased. God to bruise Him with an eternal
      assure you that He still loves God and still-is His friend.    bruising. He 1oved'tGod  ,even for the righteous wrath'
      He.is very faithful in this covenant.                    .     sake that burned Him in unspeakable anguish.
         Therefore, it has always hurt -me when I' heard                 `That, my dear reader, is fulfilling covenant obliga-
      that there &re Reformed theologians that deny that tions. Let us not talk so glibly of fulfilling our cove-
      Christ is the Head of the covenant of- grace, -or that nant obligations in the face of .such Gethsemane and
      God established His covenant with the Christ, and              Golgotha.
      t h r o u g h   H i m   w i t h   us.                              Oh yes, -we must trust God- and love Him with all


I                                                                                                                                 I


        294                                             T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R
                                        -                                         ..-.
                                                                                               :  .
        our hearts, with all our souls, with all our. mind, and                           -
        with all our strength ! I would ask: who of you ,ever.                                               O       U       R            bOCTRIKE
        ca.me anywhere near such a description of actual
        human endeavor to please your covenant God. Don't
        you feel ashamed of your lack?
                   Well, Christ, the covenant Head of the covenant of                                          Onr  Gw&-mt  Chid
        grace,. with Whom God established His eternal cove-
        nant, representing you and me, and all God's elect                                                   Go&s Covennnt .and Th,e Promise.
        people, this Christ has loved God exactly like that;                                           ,Godls covenant with man, we have maintained thus
        He is-the party of the second part par excellence.                                far, is wholly unconditional. To be sure, our calling
                   And He also forsook the world. Oh, how He did.! and covenant obligation must be maintained. We `must
        He forsook that `world so much that they hated Him believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and hope unto the end.
        as no other.                                                                      We must fight the good fight of faith that `no man may
               But we?                                                                    take our crown. We must put off the old man with all
                   Read it and pray for forgiveness. We take the his evil works and lusts and put on the new man which
        world along with us in cherch when we hear. the cove- is created after God in true righteousness and holiness.
        nant obligations read within our hearing. Listen to We must r,epent  and turn from evil unto the Lord and
        David: Wend, wend mijn oog van d' ijdelheden af! love Him .with all our heart and soul and mind and
        "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity !" Ps. strength. Moreover, we also have a word to address
        119 :37.                                                                          those, in the name of the Lord, who walk not in the way'
             :, And He crucified our old nature. And it is well of His `precepts. `Of course, not' a word of peace and
        that He did.' `It is exactly that old nature which keeps life and comfort. Not even an Arminian can address
      . us from doing the will of Cod. But He crucified it, and a word of comfort and life to those who continue to
        nailed it on the accursed tree.                 '                                 walk in the `ways of sin. To them we declare that they
              The liberated brethren will not believe that Christ are responsible for their iniquity, that the wages' of sin
        is the head of the covenant of grace. I can but marvel is death, that the Lord requires of them their repent-
        at this. Why, He is not only the head of the covenant, ance and will hold them. accountable, yea, that they
        but He fulfills all the covenant obligations of the second who have known the way of truth but have not walked
        part too.                                                           .-            therein will be beaten with double stripes. Indeed, our
                        He- does that juridically on the cross. His love of churches maintain the responsibility of man. But,
             God is so intensive that it is enough for all the cove-
                                                             .,                           this does not annul or weaken in any sense of the word
        nant children for all eternity.                                                   the unconditional `character of the covenant' of the
                        And He does that spiritually, subjectively, within Lord with man. God's covenant is wholly uncondition-
        you and me.' Even when you and I do love Him a little al. This, we noted in-our preceding article, is taught
             and walk in a new and holy life, such as the covenant throughout the Scriptures. Such. is also the clear
        of .grace demands, even then w.e must copy Paul who teaching of our Baptism Form, to which we also called
       ,. said. one time : I live, but no more I, Christ liveth in attention. Let  us therefore emphasize the uncondi-
      i: mi.!                   ,._.                                                      tional character of  ,God's covenant and our calling.
I            I When we hold that Christ is'the~ Head of the Cove=                         Our calling, our obligation to walk in all the precepts
        nant pf, grace, and' that He fulfills. its obli.gations  on                       of the `Lord is not ,&he condition but the fruit .of Je-
       `the Cross, and through His Spirit in us, we are in har- hovah's covenant with us. This; we noted, does not
       `men-y with eternal wisdom of God: But he that glorieth,                           excuse man when he tramples the precepts of the Lord
        let him glory in the Lord!                                                        under foot.. However, man's responsibility and duty
        I.  I                                                      -  6. Vos.             to serve the Lord must never be presented as contra-
        :                                      .'                                         dictory to the unconditional character of the grace of
        :.                ..                                                              the Lord our God.                                      _'
                                                                                                             God's Covenunt and the Promise-
                                                                                                                   Inseparablzj Connected.
                                             CLASSIS EAST
       .:          I                                                                                   That God's covenant with man and the promise are
     _ will meet in regular session Wednesday, April  7 at inseparably connected is evident from many things.
                                                                                          This is evident, first of all, from the struggle ,which is
             9 :00 A. M., in the First Protestant Reformed Church being waged in the present day in the Netherlands in
       of Holland, Michigan. Consistories please report on regard to the issue of the Covenant. Dr. H. Ridderbos,
       the overture from Creston.                                                         professor at the theological school `of the Reformed or
             `
              .                                        D. Jonker, S. C.                   "Synodical" Churches in the Netherlands, wrote a


                                     T H E   STANDARD':BEARER                                                       295

 pamphlet ,entitled "The Promise of the Covenant. of and the promise. On pages 265-271, wh,en discussing
 Grace." He evidently associates, as is evident from the so-called "Covenant of Redemption" or "Counsel  -.
 this title, the two concepts "covenant" and "promise". of Peace" between the Father and the Son, `the pro-
 -4ccording to the Liberated  ,Churches all  -are in `the fessor speaks of Requirements and Promises. And
 covenant and the promise is for all: SLY+ is the pre- speaking of the `contents of -the Covenant of Grace.
 sentation of the views of these churches as appearing        (page 277) he speaks of the Promises of God and the
 in this pamphlet of Dr. Ridderbos; page 6, and we Response .of Man. It is evident, therefore, that Pro-
 have no reason, it seems to me, to doubt the truthful- fessor Berkhof surely associates the Co.venant of Grace
 ness of this observation of .Dr. Ridderbos. `This quota- and the Promise. And the same is also true, we know,
 tion from the pamphlet, `"The Promise of the Covenant of the  .late Prof. W. Heyns. He sought the essence
 of Grace", reads as follows : "If one asks, what prompts -of the covenant'in the promise. And the -promise, we
 the grieved or departed brethren (did these brethren lcncw, he explained in the Arminian sense: That -God
 simply withdraw'from the Reformed Churches or were established His covenant with LIS and with our children
 they cast out ?-the Christian Reformed Churches of simply meant, according to the late professor? that
 our land also prefer to speak of us as having with- God promised or offered His salvation to all. The:
 d.rawn,  whereas it is a fact that we were cast out- sacrament of baptism he explained as a. seal of God.
 H.V.) to lay thereupon such great emphasis and even whereby the Lord confirmed the salvation of all, gave
 to disrupt the church for that  .reason, rather than to all without distinction the assurance that He would                      .-:.
 submit to the confession of the church, then one must bestow upon :Btm eternal life and glory. Be thi.3 as                      --:
 refer to the collectivist  point of-procedure of. their con- it may, it .is a fact, therefore, that a.lso the late Pro-
 ception. According to them all children of  :the be- fessor `Heyns associated  the covenant and the promise.
 lievers are comprehended in the ,Covenant in the same           Thirdly, this connection between the covenant and
 sense, they all receive in the same sense the whole the promise is also evident from the sacrament, the
Baptism and the entire promise. That is the great; sign and seal of the covenant. ICircumcision was the
all-controlling thought of `their entire conception, be- sign of ihe Covenant in !;h(- (Old Dispensation. This
 cause otherwise, so they believe, one should fall short sign, admnistered to all the male children of beiieverri.
 of the certainty of the Covenant and th,e *certainty of consisted in the cutting awa.y .of the foreskin. Is it
 faith within the Covenant." (The translation is of the not evide:~i;  therefore, that tnis sign was a-pictur? of
 undersigned). The meaning of this passage is clear:         God's realization of His promise in and `through Jesus                     __
 if we merely preach that the promise is only for the        Christ, >I'rT,it;  Son, our Lord-? `It was a symbol, was it
 elect, then the sacrament of baptism cannot b,estow not, of the realization of our redemption through thz
 certainty.and assurance because one must know first blood. of Christ-the sign itself was bloody. And,
 whether he is in. the covenant and any assurance, there- besides, it also directed the attention of the believing
 fore, must be based on anassumption-we must as- Israelite to the fact that the Christ would come into,
 sume of our children that they are elect. The Liberated our f.lesh and blood in the organical life of the cove-.
 Churchesof  the Netherlands declared that they demand nant. And Baptism is the sign of ~the covenant in the:
 certainty and will therefore have nothing to do with' New Dispensation. In our Baptism. Form we read. in.
 an assumption. And as far as the Reformed Churches. paragraph 2 of Part One: "In like manner, when we
 of -the Netherlands are concerned in this present con- ar,e baptized in the name of the Holy Ghost, the Holy               -
 troversy, although they would maintain that the prom-       Ghost. assures us, by this holy sacrament, that He
 ise is only for the  *elect, yet they, too, wish to say will dwell in us, and sanctify  LIS  to be members of
 something of or for .aZk the children of the believers.     Christ, applying unto us, that which we have `in Christ,
 They proceed from the principle of presumptive re- namely, the washing away of our sins, and the daily -
 generation and teach that we must assume the regener- renewing of our Lives, till we shall finally be presented .
 ation of all the children who receive the sacrament without spot or wrinkle among the assembly of the
 of baptism. However, it is evident from this conflict elect in life eternal." In other words,.the  Lord assures
 in the Netherlands, that a discussion of the Covenant us inthe holy sacrament of Baptism that He will realize
 must revolve about and include a discussion ,of the         a.nd fulfil His promise of salvation in us even unto
 promise.                                                    the uttermost. It is evident, therefore, also from our
      That `God's covenant with man and the promise are Baptism Form that the sacrament of the covenant
 inseparably connected is evident also from the writings' and the promise of God are inseparably connected.
 of Reformed theologians of the past. We have already            That the covenant of IGod with man and the `prom-
 quoted from Dr. Ridderbos of the Netherlands. We ise are inseparably connected lies in the very nature
 could also quote from men as Kuyper and Bavinck in of the `case. Fact is, they .are inseparable. We would
 support of this contention. Professor Berkhof, in his not merely affirm that the heart of the covenant is the
 "Reformed Dogmatics" surely associates the covenant promise, understanding the promise now in the Re-

         /I
 .                                                                                                            -_
                             \


  296                                 T H E   S T A N D A R D   BEA,RER

_ formed'sense of the word. This would imply that the be inseparably connected "and that our conception of
  establishment of God's covenant with us consists in the one must also determine our conception of the
  His bestowing upon us of His promise of salvation. other, lies in the very nature of the case, It is#clear,
  But we would affirm that the heart of the promise is therefore, why a discussion of the covenant must also
  surely the covenant and its realization. `This is surely include a discussion of the promise.
  true. of Genesis 3 : 15, where we read : "And I will put                     The Idea of The Promise.
  enmity between thee and the woman, and between                   God's promise must not be confused with an offer.
  thy seed and her seed ; it shall bruise thy head, and There is, of course, a fundamental difference between
 . thou shalt bruise his heel." What does the Lord prom- a promise and an offer. An offer always presupposes
  ise here, at the very dawn of history, in this key-text three things. It presupposes, in the first place, a will-
  which discloses to us, fully and completely, all of his- ingness on the part of him who makes the offer to be-
  tory? Merely that He will grant His Church, in Christ, stow something. God, then, declares His willingness
 `the victory over all her enemies? This, to be sure, `is to bestow salvation upon all. It presupposes, in the
  implied in this text of Holy Writ.' But notice, God will      second place, that the Lord actually offers this salva-
  put enmity between His people and the party' of the tion to all. Mind you, this- does not mean that He
  world and of darkness. And enmity is nothing- else announces or proclaims to all His salvation. We also
  than the. love and friendship of J.ehovah.    Hence, ,Gocl    believe that the Lord proclaims His salvation to others
  promises here that He will put His love into our hearts,      besides the elect. But an offer implies that the Lord
  and grant us the eternal victory, the' victory of His declares it to be His Divine desire and intention. that s
  eternal and heavenly tabernacle.  +nd this is also all may accept the proffered salvation. And, an offer
  ta.ught in Gen. 17 :7-8 : "And I will est'ablish My cove- presupposes, in the third place, that man, the recipient
  nant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee in           of this-offer of salvation, is also able of himself to ac-
  their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a cept this invitation. God offers salvation ; man must
  God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will accept it.
  give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land             Let us now attempt to read the word "offer" in-
  wherein thou art a stranger, al1 the land of Canaan, stead of "promise" into the following passages. We
  for an everlasting possession ; and I will be their God." read in Gen. 3 :15 .the oft-repeated words : `$And I *will
  Notice how the cov.enant and the promise are identified put enmity between thee and the woman, and between
  here. God is promising Abraham something  here- thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and
  what? He promises His friend in this passage that thou shalt bruise his heel." Need anything be said
  He will establish His covenant with him and with his here? Does the Lord offer His love to the seed of the
  seed for an everlasting covenant. And what will the woman? If so, who, then, would ever fight the battle
  Lord establish with Abraham and his seed when He of the Lord? The Lorcl zvill put enmity, etc. He does
  establishes with them His covenant? The Lord de- not offer something here:. He promises to do some-
  clares that He will be a `God unto him and to his seed thing. In Gen. 12 :2-3 we read: "And I will make of
  after him (see 2 Cor. 6 :16-U and-our reference to this thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy.
passage in a previous article, Feb. 1 issue). And all `name-great.; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will
  this, we read, will be realized in the land of Canaan bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth
  for an everlasting possession. As Reformed `people thee: and in thee shall all. families of the earth be
 .we are aware of the fact, of course, that the land of         blessed." Doesn't the text sound absurd if you insert
  Canaan in. the Old. Dispensation was a type and symbol the word "offer" into this p,assage?  Besides, does not
  of the heavenly Canaan. Fact is, Abraham himself, Holy Writ inform us that both, Abraham and Sarah,
._. we read in Acts 7 : 5, never received any inheritance in had died as far as the bringing forth of children was
 . that earthly land of the Old  Testam"ent.  Hence, in concerned? In Deut. 9 :26-29 we read : "I prayed there-
  Gen. 17 :7-8 the Lord promises to Abraham that He will        fore unto the Lord, and said, ~0 Lord God, destroy not
  Cause him and his seed to be His people for,ever in the Thy people and Thy inheritance, which Thou hast re-
  heavenly renewal of all things in glory. And this deemed through Thy greatness, which Thou  hast
  promise is identified with His covenant in this passage brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Re-
  of Holy Writ. Christ, Who is centrally our salvation, member Thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ;
  the outpouring of the Holy Spirit by Whom we receive          look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to
  Christ and His salvation, the new heavens and the their wickedness; nor to their sin : Zest the land whence
_ new earth (and all this surely constitutes the-estab- Thou broughtest us out say, Because the Lord was not
  lishment of `God's covenant, communion and friend- able to bring them into the land `which He promised
  ship, with us) are surely held before us in Holy Writ them, and because He hated them, He hath brought
  as the content of the blessed promise of. the Lord. them out ot slay them in. the wilderness. Yet they
  Consequently, that the promise and the covenant should are Thy people and Thine inheritance, which Thou
         .


                                                                                                  I

                                                                                                                           o


                                       T       H        E             STANDARo,;-,:BEARER                              297

  broughtest out by Thy mighty power and by  ~`l?hy these all,`having`obtained a good report through faith,
  stretched out arm." Does Israel's entrance into Ca- `received not the promise." It is a fact, we know, that
  naan, in this passage, depend upon the people? Fact these did receive the proniise as far as the annoudce-
  is, they had sinned, were utterly imworthy. And fa"ct ment is concerned. But the promise from the view-
  is also that Moses here appeals to the faithfulness of point of its content they had,as  yet not received. And
  the Lord. The Lord had promised Abraham, Isaac, to this the apostle makes. reference- in the .following
  and Jacob. Moses here pleads upon the promise of the verse, vs. 10. Sometimes we read of promise ii1 the
  unchangeable Jehovah. In Ps. 105 :42 we read: "For singular as in Hebrews 11:39 and then again of prom-
  He remembered His holy cromise,  and Abraham His ises as in 2 Car., 1:20. The distinction is clear. When
  servant." Why, according to the context of  these             Scripture speaks of the promise in the singular it refers
 words, did the Lord  open the ,rock. that the waters. to the one, great, promise of salvation in Christ Jesus,
 gushed out, and why did Jehovah &isfy them with our Lord.' The plural f`promises" refeu's to that prom-
 quails and with  .bread from heaven? `Did  He  off& ise of the Lord from the aspect of its many variations.
 these  to His people ? He did so only because He ?e- Finally, the content of the promise of God is viewed
 membered His promise to Abraham. It would be ab- from several. points of view. At times the content of ..                           -
  surd, would it not,  to  read.  "offer" here  8 &t&ad of the promise is identified with the Christ, as in: Gen.
 . promise?       In the following passages from Isaiah, 3:15; 2 Cdr. 1:20; Is. 9:6; Deut. 18:15; Num. 24:17.
 chapter 9, verse 6 and chapter 59; verses 16 and 21, In' Acts 2 :33 and in Eph. 1:13 the Holy Spirit is identi- ,
 we have the Lord's promise of salvation to His people fied with the promise. In the former passage He is
 in Christ, and how `ridiculous they would sound if that called the "promise of the Spirit" and in the latter
 salvation were actually an offer instead of a prdmlse          passage we read of Him  ai the "Spirit of promise".
  of the Lord : "For unto us a child is born,' unto us `a son Acts 2:33 emphasizes the truth, not only that He is
 is given: and the government shall be upon His shoul- the promised Spirit, but that #he Spirit Himself is the
 der: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsel- promise, because in Him the actual realization of God's
lor,  .The Mighty  God, The Everlasting Father, The promise of eternal life occurs. In 2 Tim. 1  :l and
 Prince of Peace. . . . And He saw that there was rio 1 John 2 :25 we read of the "promise of life". In 2 Pet.
 man, and  wondeted  that there was no intercessor:             3 :4 the apostle Peter, speaks of the "promise -of His
 therefore His arm ,brought salvation (did He dffer it future". And in Rom. 4  :13 the promise which the
 -H.V.?) unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustain- Lord gave to Abraham assured that man of God that
 ed Him. ,. . . As for Me, this  .is My  covenant- with he would  become  .the "heir of the  worl,d". All these
 them, saith the Lord ; My Spirit that is upon thee, and various passages speak, essentially, .of the same prom-
My' words which I have  .put in thy mouth, shall  not ise of the God of our salvation, but merely from slightly
 depart `out of thy mouth, nor out of the motith  bf thy different  viewpoipts.
 seedj  .nor `out bf the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the          In the light of all this, we'would define the promise
 Lord, from henceforth and for ever." How  could the as the announcement of the eternal Jehovah, that He,
 word of God express  *this absolute and positive and and He alone, in and because of and through Christ
 certain language if the matter of our salvation were Jesus, our Lord, atid by His Spirit, the Spirit of the'
 to be regarded as an offer? And.so we cduld continue. riBen and highly exalted Lord, will bestow tipon His
 We' could'refer you to Rom.  9:24-26,   Heb. 11, Acts people,.   whom  .He -sovereignly  el&ted,  and who by
 13:23, and a h&t of other passages. The promise of nature are conceived and born dead in sins and tres- -
the Lord, whereof we `read over and over again in the passes, the life of His blessed covenant fellowship' in
 Scriptures; is never to be confused with an offer. To
  .                                                             eternal and heavenly perfection, and that in connection
 -the contrary, it is. God's announcement, not of .what o with the glorious renewal of ,a11 things, and using all'
 He universally offers and we must accept, but of tha,t things unto the realization thereof as means. It is this
 which He, alid He alone, will perfokm,  faithfully-and 1 promise of salvation in ,Christ Jesus which enabled  the 1
 irresistibly.                _1                                child of God throughout the :Old Dispen&inn to endure
                   The Content  of  the  h-on&e.                all the sufferings of this present' time, only 1:-"ause         '
       We need not dwell `at'l&igth on this point, because this promise was the pledge of the eternally faithf$
 of the nature of these articles. We can be brief. Sdme-        God. The unspeakable glory .of this promise but also
 time+ the word "promise" emphasizes the idea of "God- the certainty. of it sustained the child of God in the
 delijke toezegging", the Divine pledge, ,God's announce- midst of all his trials and afflictions. And now we
 ment, although e+& then one can never separate the purpose to show in subsequent articles the particular
 pledge frdm its content, that which is pledged-the and wholly .unconditional character of this promise or '
 .word probably used in this sense in Acts 13 :23. In these nromises of the alone blessed God, the God of OUP
 Hebrews 11:39, on the other hand, the emphasis falls salvation.
 upon-the content of the promise. We read there : "And                ,                                  d H.  Veldman.


             L.



        298                                       I-rtiE  STANDAR-D   BEARER

                                                                          clear. Seeing that David to all appearances is a servant
                     THE. DAY OF SHADOWS                                  of such excellencies, how could Ahimelech and his
                                                                          brethren in office be expected to surmise that he con-
                                                                          sljires against the king? But how about the priest's
                       The Priests in Nob Slain                           supplying David with food and arms? Ahimelech
                                                                          deems it wise to let that matter rest and to concentrate
                   As we have seen, - Saul- hears David has men with      on the charge that he enquired of God for David.
         h.iti. The king's heart is moved. To him it is the "Did I today begin to enquire of God for him," is the
         certain indication that at any time now the-son of question he now puts to  the king. And  his answer,
         Jesse will deal him the blow that will hurl him and his "he it far from me."He speaks the truth here. This
     hou,se from the throne. The king is terrified.  .He is is proved by the omission'of  the supposed doing of the
         persuaded in his heart that the' mhole people, including priest  in chapter 21. The  .co@uding  word? of his
         his fellow tribesmen; have forsaken him to a'man and defense are significant, "let not the .king impute any-
         gone over to the side of David. Calling together his thing unto his servant, not to all the house of my
         `officers of state, he lodges against them the most out- father; for thy servant did not know of all this matter
         rageous charges. The servants of Saul stand speech- little or great." `This precisely is the point that he is
         less all bnt,one  and that one Doeg the Edomite. Hear- arguing, namely, that he was ignorant of the  whole.
       ' ing Saul wail, "and there is none of you that is sorr-y matter-the matter .of David's conspiracy against the
         for me," he can contain himself no longer.  H.e tells king. Hence he had helped the fugitive, supplied him
         the king about the supposed treachery of the highpriest with bread and a sword, in his innocency. In $,eading
         Ahimelech. He saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob; this ignorance the priest sides'with  Saul against David.
         And the priest inquired of the Lord for him, and gave            What he says to the king is in effect this, `I believe
         him victuals and the swdrd of Goliath.                           thee, o king. It is as thou  sayest.  David is a rebel.
                                                                          Z-la conspires against thee. He seeks thy life. For he
                   The king summons into his presence Ahimelech'and would be king. Had I only known, I would not have
      , the whole priestly family with him ther.e in Nob. Says given him bread and arms. I did that in my ignorance.
         Saul to them, "Hear now, thou son of Ahitub." The And, certainly, my ignorance is pardonable. For, as
         priest replies; "Here am I my lord." Saul continues, far as `anyone can judge, David is the most faithful of
         "Why have ye conspired against me, thou.and  the son all thy servants. He comes and goes at thy bidding.
         of Jesse, in that thou .hast given him bread, and a And besides, he is thy &n-in-law. He occupies a most
         sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he honorable position in thy house. That he of all men
         should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?"         should be conspiring against thee! Who would have
                   Ahimelech's doing is to the king the proof that the thought it!'  -
         priest and the son of Jesse are on6 by a common pur-                Such is verily the thrust of Ahimelech's defense
         p&e to rid  th6 nation of  Saul in order that the son before Saul., In a moral aspect, Ahimelech and Doeg
         of Jesse may reign in his stead. This beitig for Saul are &en of a class. Both side with Saul against David
         an established faet, he concludes that the priest sup- -Doe& to advance his mate&l -interests ; Ahimelech,
         plied David with food and arms and enquired of ,God              to save his life.
         for him with the intention of doing what he could to               (Some interpreters absolve Doeg from enmity against
         help the kebel achieve that purpose.                             David, maintaining that he merely stated the fact, to
                   The priest replies in defense of himself. His words    which the malicious interpretation w&s given by Saul
         are obscure. .One tl+g is clear, however: Ahimelecb alone. But this does not  hgree' with what  Sani had
       I takes thought only of His own life ; accordingly, his 0 just said against David. He had accused David, be it
         sole aim is to clear himself of the king`s baseless charge indirectly, of conspiring against him, to which he had
      _  J.A.r
          `*I order that he may live and ndt die. His effort to added the complaint that there was none of his serv-
         prove himself innocent even leads him to side with the ants that would reveal to him tihat we& on. As it
         king against David.                                              was in response to this complaint of the'king that Doeg
                   He first directs the1 king's attention to what David had replied, it follows that his purpose was to present
         appeared to be to him, namely, of all Saul's servants Saul with the evidence of the priest's complicity.; and
         the most faithful. "And who is so faithful among all this necessarily implies that he openly sided with.Saul
          thy servants as David?" are his words. Further, the against David.
         nriest wants Saul to understand that he cannot be                   So, too, are there some who maintain the integrity
         blamed for thinking David to be a servant of such of Ahimelech. But this can be ddne only in the way
         virtue. &or he continues, "which is the king's son-in- of failing tom read aright what is written. In saying
          7gw, z.nd goeth at. thy bidding, and is honourable in l-0  ?aul, "For not did know thy servants about the
I Ihine house?"\ The point to Ahimelech's argument is whole of this matter either. little or great (so reads


                                      THE  STAN~IARD'~~EARER                                                          299
         I





  the original text), the priest had reference to. David's them. They  .must have been spirituaily akin to the two
   supposed conspiracy and not to the charge of conspir- sons of  tili--iiophni and Phinehas,-both of whom
  acy that the king had just lodged against Ahimelech died in one day in punishment of their sin of desecrat-
  and the rest of the priests' in Nob. The priest meant. ting tne Lord's orzerings:  Hence, it was ,God"s  will to
  to clear himself of Saul's carge. Wha.t  would--he have destroy this family of priests in .order that the word
  been contributing toward the achievement of his aim, whicn He spake against them by the mouth of His
  had he said to the king, `I know nothing at a!1 of' a          prophet might go  mto  lUl%hnent,   -.kehoid  the days
   conspiracy against thee on my part and on the part of         come, that 1 will cut off thine arm, and the arm of
  my brethren in office.' That would merely  be to deny thy iather's house, that there shall not be an old man
  the charge. But the priest must do  mor,e: He must in thine house." We see- irr the ticriptures  the curse
   prove to Saul that he is guiltless. And his proof is or' God operative in this house through the years. The
  that David is the last man whom anyone would sus- lirst to fall were Eli and his two  so&. `l'hen the
                                                                      `.
  pect of conspiring against the. king ; that, as far as rhilistines, flushed with victory over tne  Israelites,
  anyone can judge, the son of Jesse of all Saul's se+           hgstepe'd  to Shiloh, where they killed many priests, all
  ants is the most loyal ; and that, such being the case, of whom were descendants OX lthamar serving *under
  he, the priest, supposing him to be a just man out on tili. The neirt to strike at this house was Saul. I-Ie
  the king's business, supplied him with Arms and bread          pronounced this whole house guilty of conspiring
  in total. ignorance of his criminal' action against the against him.
  king. Hence, the text in the original reads not, "And             `I'he first to be felled by Saul's sword were the 85
  I know," but, "and I knew nothing of the whole mat- priests who, in obedience to his summons, had appeared'
  ter." And so, too, the priest's statement, "Far be it m his court to  answer to that charge. To his guard
  from me." It looks directly to. the statement that pre- he issues the following order, "Turn and slay the priest
  cedes, "Did I begin that day to enqtiire  of the Lord for of the Lord ; because their hand also is with David,
  him?" `As was said, Ahimelech speaks the truth here. and because they knew when he fled and did not shew
  Though he had given David bread and a sword, he had            it to me." But the servants of the king refused to put
  not enquired for him of God. How plain that he was forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the Lord.
  trying desperately hard to establish his innocence be- `I'he king commands Doeg, and he obeys. Then going
  fore Saul. Hence, the adverb then in his statement, to. Nob, he smites "with the edge of the sword both
  `"Did I then begin to enquire of the Lord for him that men and woman, children and suckling& and oxen, and
 * day," is hot found in the original text. Thus the state- asses, and sheep, with the ,edge of &he sword."
  ment stands more or less alone as far as the preceding            Saul, including Doeg, is `a rod in God's hand by
  utterances of the priest are concerned, "And who is so which the Lopd once `more smites Eli's house and the
  faithful aniong all thy servants: . . .")                      house of his father. Even so; Saul is fully responsible.
      Ahimelech's defense of himself is not without some And his sin is great, be it ever so true that those priests
  strength.       For, whereas David is actually innocent deserved that stroke. The Lord had not commanded
   (a thing that the priest now denies) ,it follows that him. In slaying those priests, he was thinking only of
  it is true what the priest says, namely, that to all ap- himself, of the wrong that he imagined they were doing
  pearances no one is more  16yal  to  Saul than David, hCm. .
  and if so, the priest can be excused for having held              One of the sons of Ahim~lech, named Abiathar es-
  him to be such a servant. Yet, the priest has ensnared' caped, and Carrie to David. He told him all that had
  himself by  his' own words. For he has now agreed taken place.  D,avid's answer is significant, "I knew
  with Saul that David is a rebel. Saul can now insist, it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, ,that he
  and he does insist,`that this must also have been plain would surely tell Saul i I have occasioned the death of
  to the priest all-along. Accordingly, Saul declares that all the persons of thy father's house." That is true.
  he shall die, he and his father's house. These are his David has occasioned the death of these persons ; but
  words to the.priest, "Thou shalt surely die, ~Ahimelech, the ,blame' is not hi? but solely Saul's: David had all
  thou and all thy father's house." By siding with Saul the right to request Ahimelech for bread and arms.
  against David, the priest had signed his own death- But he sinned in -lying to the' priest. But he is not on
- warrant. He should have put to Saul Jonathan's q&s- this account'in the least to blame for the catastrophe
  tion, "What hath David done, 0 king, that thou  ac- that overtook the priests in Nob.
  cusest him of conspiring against thee." We may con-             As to the house of Eli, eventually it fell through its
  jecture that God would have saved the priest out of own wickedness in the person of this very Abiathar,
  Saul's hand, had he done right. But Ahimelech and the son of Ahimelech. When David was old and
  his brethren in Nob are of the house of Eli and of the stricken iri years, Abiathar &ipported' Adonijah, tiho
  house of Eli's father, Ithamar. They are on a whole wanted to be king. Solomon was crowned, and Ado-
  unprincipled men. There was no true fear of God in nijah once more began @ plot, his aim again  .btiing
    I.6"  -  -                                              i                           J


 300                                       T H E   `S T A `N D A R D   B E A R E R   .                               c

 to seize  the  .kingdom  ; and now, too,  -Abiatha$  was their votes to the `emperor Charles in, favor of his
 among his supporters. Calling himlinto his presence, beloved teacher Adrian, and could easily have ac-
 Solomon told him that he deserved to die and ordered counted for their choice without recurring to any in-
 .him to his fields, and thus thrust him out from being spiration of the Holy Spirit.
 priest unto the Lord, I Kings 2 :26. The fall of Abiathar .       Adrian was born at Utrecht  on March 1459, of an
 was the fall of the whole house of Eli's father.               obscure family. His parents were humble people.  As-
 r                                          G. M. Ophoff;       cording to some, his father, Floris, was a weaver  ;.
                                                                according to others a brewer's servant, and accord-
                                                                ing to still others a ship carpenter. From childhood
                                                                Adrian showed, an uncommon inclination to learn ;
                                                                and his father procurred for him a place in the pope's
          THROUGH THE AGES                                      college at Louvain, where poor children were taught
                                                                and reared upon charity. He soon distinguished him-
              ,                                                 self above all his fellow-students;. and such was .his
      The Papacy During The 
                                    . .        Peri&            industry  that, when the rest were all in bed, he dsed
                                                                to spend great parts of the night in reading by the
              Of The Reformation                                light qf a lamp that was kept constantly burning in
                                                                the church. Thus at the age of seventeen he entered.
                   ADRIAN VI. - 1522-23                         the university of Louvain, where he became a teacher
                                                                of philosophy in 1488. But he was chiefly occupied
      Leo having died, the cardinals; to whom fell the task with the study of theology ; and became a professor of
 of electing a ne.w pontiff, shut themselves up in the divinity at Louvain.              In this capacity he, wrote afld
 conclave for that purpose. (The conclave is the set of         published a commentary on the Fourth Book of the
 rcoms  within which, since 12'74, the ctirdinals of the        Sentences and some other pieces,. all of which have
Roman Catholic Church are secluded while choosing come down to our time. There are also in existence
 a new pope). `Their object was to'choose a pope who some'letters, written b$ him after his elevation to the
 would- respect their privileges, secure the political im- papal chair, and  ,among them one to the elector at
 portance of the papacy, and be acceptable to' Charles V Saxony,' exhorting him, in a most .friendly  manner,
 and'Henry VIII, king of England. There were several to abandon the protection of Luther, and `adhere' to
 possible candidates for  the papal  .office. Likewise, the doctrine of the church. Believing that the spread
 there were several .political  parties in, the contilave ;     of learning would solve the difficulties of the times,
 they w-ore  sharply divided ; and the struggle between he employed revenues that were awarded him by
 them was intense.  4~ the cardinals could not  agrke           several ecclesiastical appointments, in foutiding a col-
 aUloligst themselves, spme of them. proposed cardinal lege. The emperor  Maximilian chose him to educate ,
 Adrian, whose name was not on the list. Adrian was his fatherless grandson, `Charles, who was to become
 unknown in Rome, but had a reputation for piety. emperor Charles V. Adrian conscientiously fulfilled
 Hence, the reforming party hailed his nomination               his duties. By his learning and uprightness he gained
 with delight. Its leaders e%?$led  his learning ,a,nd the the lasting  reipect of his royal pupil. As a ruler
 ma.ny excellent qualities with which he was endowed ; Charles employed him in his affairs. .                   j
 and the result'.was that he was chosen. His election              In ecclesiastical matters, (Adriai was associated,
 was unanimous ,and was ann&&ed  to the people of both in Germany and in Spain, with the party that
Rome, who heard it with bewilderment. For Adrian. desired reform. But he was opposed to the learning
was  an. unknown foreigner; and the cardinals  could            of the Renaissance and to the so-called New Theology.
 give no reason for his election. They stood mute               Still mere was he opposed to Luther. As a member
before the Roman mob, who screamed out their curses of the theological. faculty of `Louvain, he made the
 upon their treachery for-robbing Italy of its pope,            statement that Luther's heresies w'ere so plain that
 by electing a stranger, absent in a `distant countl;y,         not even a novice in theology could make such mis-
 one who had never  seeI? Italy; who was utterly un- takes and that all that was necessary to secure their
 acquainted with the customs of the court of Rome ; co=ndemnation  was to quote Luther's words with scrupu-
had never had the opportunity of ingratiating himself lbus accuracy. When Luther's ,case was being tried at
with,.any of. the cardinals ; even being scarcely known Worms, he wrote to .the emperor Charles that it would
 co them by name. The cardinals, to excuse their step, be pleasing to God and necessary for his good name
 alleged the inspiration ;of the Holy `Ghost, which, they as emperor to send to Rome for punishment a heretic
 said, often moved them to elect one whoti they had who had been condemned by the pope. .
 never once thought of before. But fact is that the                Charles had appointed Adrian viceroy over all his
 greater part of the cardinals had  privtitely pledged          Spanish dominions ; and in that high station he  re-
                                                                                                                          i. ;
                                                                                                                          .-r,
                                                                                   \.


                                       T H E   S T A N D A . R D   B E A R E R                                      301

   ceived.  the unexpected news of his election to the
  `sovereign pontificate. That news he received at Vic-             Eating The. Lord's .Passover
  toria, a town in northern  Spain. At fi&t he was in-
  credulous ; but he was compelled to receive the tokens                  .          (continued)
  of  s rejoicing and marks of reverence of the towns-
  people. Then followed the numerous proffers of ser-             So then, it is the people of Israel who eat the pa&-
  vice and petitions for places; he put them all aside,       over. For the  passoper  is a holy thing. This being
  saying that he would do nothing till he had, received a     true, it may be ea,ten  only by that people, righteous and
  letter from the cardinals`donfirming his election. This holy, not certain1-y by themselves, but in Christ. Th&t
  came one February 9. In- this letter the cardinals earn- ihe passover  lamb was a `ho!y thing is plainly brought
  estly entreated him to repair, with all speed to Rome,      out by thti text. `The text states that it was, had to.be,
  where the sad situation of the affairs. of Italy made a lamb without blemish, and a male of the first year.
 his presence absolutely necessary. But Adrian did Nothing of the lamb, as prepared for eating, might be
 nothing, except take up his abode in the Franciscan left until the morning ; that wh`ich remained of it until
  convent, where he kept aloof from all.petitioners..  Men the morning had to be burned with fire. None of its
  began to .wonder whether he would accept the papacy -flesh might be carried abroad out of the house. It
  or no: They accused him of making light of so, high might not be eaten raw.. None of its substavce  might
  a dignity. Finally on February 16 he announced his be wasted- by its being sodden with water. It there- _
  decision. He had accepted the papacy. as trusting in had to be roasted with fire.
  God's grace. But he did not  enibark for Rome until            And it had to be dished up whble and entire- even
  the second of August. *On the- 27th he arrived at the with its head and purtenances  and with all its bones
  gates of the city. Here all was confusion. A plague in an unbroken state. The text reads .here,  "And nei-
  devastated' the city. No preparation had been made ther shall ye break a bone th&eof." This all has signi-
 . for the pope's reception ; but the next day the public     ficance in the higher things of Christ's work and cove-
  entry into Rome was made. The pope was attended by nant.- Christ's bones were tiot broken, neither was his
  the college of cardinals, by the clergy in a body, by flesh wasted in the grave. And this in fulfillment of
  the magistrates, the nobility, and immence crowds of the voice of  prophkcy, `"A bone of him shall not be
  people.    But the cardinals followed the procession broken." In Holy Writ, broken bones signify a brdken,
  with sad hearts. The  preiious day  th? dean of  .the wasted, and &solute  spirit ; that is, a spirit wasted by
  college of cardinals had addressed the pope in a speech despair or rebellion, or  by, both. Thus we read in
  which expressed the desires of all serious lien in Rome, Psalm 34, "`Many are the afflictions of the righteous ;
  who had long hoped for measures of reform. Adrian but the Lord delivereth him c# of them all. He keep-
  was to free the church from all evils, and reform it        eth all his bones ; not ?ne df them is broken. `Evil shall
  according to the canons, allowing himself to be served slap the wicked; and they that hate the righteous shall
  by the advice of the cardinals and relieving their be desolate. The Lord redeemeth  the soul of his.ser-
  pover,ty. `To this Adrian replied that reform must be- vants ;- and none of them shall be desolate. The  ex=
  gin with themselves. He  to&t them that they must pression, "The `Lord keepeth all his bones",. the bones
  henceforth refrain -from sheltering evil-doers in their of the righteoup, looks to the Lord's keeping the right-
  palaces, and allow the officers  .of the law to make eous, their soul aqd spirits, in many afflictions, so that '
  necessary arrests. Itthen  .dawned upon the cardinals their spirits are not -dissipated  by unbelief, despair,
  that the new pope might be  contempl&ilig  refqrms and rebellion, but cleave unto ,God;  resting their case
  that might not be to their interests. They feared. that with him, and awaiting his salvation. Thus in the
  the customs of the Renaissance popes were to be swept words of the psalmist, they also pray, "All my bones
  away, .and that a new era was to begin.        \    -       shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, which delivereth
                       * (to be continued)                    the poor from him that is too strong fo> him, yea, the
                                         G. MI. Ophoff.       poor and the needy from him that spoileth him" Psalm
                                                              35:lO. Then  we- come also upon this prayer in the
                            ~~                                Psalms, "Make me to hear. joy and gladness that the
                                                              bones which thou hast broken may rejoice."
A'ttention  !   !                                                So Christ, our Passover, in the midst of His troubles,
                                                              God kept Him, all His bones, His spirit, so that with
                      MINISTERS  CLASSIS EAST                 all God's billows passing over Him, He still cried, "But
                                                              thou art holy,  10 thou that- inhabit&t the praises of .
     The Minister's Conference will meet on Tuesday, of Israel. But be not far from me, 0 Lqrd my strength,
  April 6 at 9 :30 A.g. in the Fuller Ave. Church.            haste thou to.help  me. Save me f ram the lions mouth
               __-                  W .   Hofman,   Se&y.-    . . . . And I will declare thy name unto my brethren."
        .


          /
302

So was His -spirit. kept in trouble out of all of which lessriess. For -leaven in Scripture is ,a figure `of the
the Lord delivered Him. And  df this keeping of principle of sin as it operates in the essence of fallen
Christ's sbirit, thus of His sustained perfection in the man's being and as still active in the flesh of God's
hour of severest trial, the unbroken bones of the pass- believing people. But Christ.is the lamb of God with-
over lamb, yea, Christ's own unbroken bones were the           out spot or blemish. And such a highpriest becanie us,
token.                                                         who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners
   And further the children of Israel must eat the and made higher than the heavens. AAnd such a high-
p+ssover so the text -tells us, with their loins girded,       priest is ,Christ . He is therefore, as the lamb that has
their shoes ori their feet, and their staff in their hand ;    been slain, the.bread unleavened and on this account
and they shall eat it with haste, for it is the Lord%          the true bread of His people. And as to the bitter  herbs
Passover. Those feet clad with shoes, the gir'ded  loins, with which. the passover  must be eaten-these herbs
and the hands holding the staff, denote' that .their  hour iook in, the first instance to Christ's nameless sorrow,
of deliverance had struck and that the `journey to to the travail of his soul by which He, in the language
Canaan is to be undeptaken. And it is a terrible jour- of the prophet, justified many. This lamb of God, as
ney, for it takes them through the wilderness, through He has been slain, this bread unleavened, the holy
a world that lieth in darkn.ess,  thus that world of which Christ, God's believing people eat, truly eat; and eating
Satat .is thk prince, and where they therefore must Him they have in them His life. `This being true they,
wrestle not again@ flesh and blood, but against prin- too, are bread unleavened, a holy lump in Christ. `And
cipalities, against powers, against the rulers of the therefore the command comes to them that they eat the
darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness Lord's passover  with`alarm. For they know how God
in high places. But for their perilous journey,  the           loathes sin, transgression, unrighteousness. The evi-
people of God are well prepared. For in obedience to dence is before them. In this very hour with them
His command, a command that He efficaciously speaks eating the-Lord's Passover, He reveals His wrath over
in their hearts, they take unto themselves the whole Egipt's unrighteousness. What is more, the very pass-
armour  of God. Their loins are girt about with truth; over they eat bespeaks God's loathing of sin. For they
and they have on the  breastplaty  of righteousness. eat a passover  that has been slain for them. They
And their feet are shod with the preparation of the ,eat the flesh of Him, Christ Jesbs, whom God in His
gospel of peace ; and faith is their shield, and hope great love of them, smote, bruised for their iniquities
their helmet, and the woi"dl of God theis-sword. Thus in order to make it right for Himself to condemn sin
they are able t9 stand in the evil day and having done in their flesh and to conform them according to Christ's
all to stand. B&ides the world  throukh  which their image, in order that, as thus `conformed, they might
journey takes them is bafpen, fruitless. It is a terrible see4God as He is in Christ's face. And therefore they
wilderness indeed. Should their ,lives have to be sus- shall eat their  passover  with alarm. What does it
tained by what grows theke in that wildern&s, they all mean.? It means that in the love that ,God shed abroad
would needs have to perish. So the Lord prepared for in their hearts, and as knowing the terror of the Lord,
His people-for these strangers and pilgrims in the `they always be alarmed by the `sin that still dwelleth
earth-His Passover, Christ, the Lamb of God, which in their flesh, in order that, as so alarmed, they mortify
is made' umnto them wisdom, rightebusness, sanctificti-        their mkmbers which are upon the .earth that the light
tion and redemption. And His flesh is meet and His             of' the life of Christ that they have in them abiding
blood is drink indeed. And they eat, must eat, their may shine forth, so that men may see kheir good works
passoyer  in haste, according to the word appearing in and glorify their Father who is in heaven. And this
the original, with alarm ; for, so the text concludes, they also do. For by His' mercy they truly eat the
it is. the Lord's-  pa&over.    Certainly, the meaning is Lord's  passover  with joy  in. their hearts indeed but
not, cannot be, that God's believing people live in with joy mingled`wiih  grief. For well ,do +hey realize
constant dread-of being destroyed with the wicked that their obedience as yet is but a small principle in
when Christ comes in judgment over Egypt. Such a them ; th& in their. flesh there dwelleth no good thing,
dread is an insult to Christ and to Christ's `God. For so that what they hate they do, and what they would
God so loved them that He gave His only begotten Son they do not;and they cry, "Who shall deliver me from
that believing they might not perish with the wicked the body of this death." Verily, as mindful of their
but have life e'verlasting. Just how this command of spiritual bondage, they eat the Lord's passover  with
God is to be understood is plainly indicated by two bitter herbs. For what is this grief of the eaters of
other command`s appearing in the text,-the com- the Lord's,  passover  but the  ,fruit of the travail of
mands, namely that they eat the Lord's passover  with          Christ's soul in them. And therefore do these mourn-
unleavened bread and with bitter  hekbs.         This un- ers,. who eat the Lord's Passover, have good hope. They
leavened bread, too, is, in the first instance, a figure trus,t in God through Christ. `"And they thank Christ
of Christ; it is a figure of Christ in His absolute sin-       Jesus their Lord. And the Lord speaks in their hearts .
                                                                                          _
                                                                               _


                                     `T H E ' S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R   <                                        303

His word, this word, "Blessed are they who mourn ;:for ik aan Hitler, aan Joe Stalin, aan al die wreedaarden
they shall be comforted." And  comforted are these die alles willen dwingen, keeren en wenden, naar hun
mourners indeed. For they know by Christ's spirit wil, en naar hun wil all&%! Er zijn er die gedroomd
and His word, that they -have Christ's God as their hebben in de gagen' van Munich, dat. Hitler tevreden
exceeding great reward.                                           zou zijn met het land der Sudeten. Of dat Joe Stalin
                                       G. M. Ophoff.              tevreden zal zijn als hij dien ring van staten van West-
                                                                  Europa te pakken heeft. Ach neen,-  het zijn" altemaal
                                                                  droomen. De mensch der zonde, de dictator, is dan
                                                                  alleen tevreden 7 ?) wanneer hij alles aan zich onder-
                                                                  wierp. En hij zal het straks ver brengen.. De repre-
            SION'S  Z A N G E N                                  ' sentent van alle goddelooze menschen, de mensch der
                                                                  zonde,  de ~Anti-Christ,  zal straks ill een soort tempel
                                                                  zitten, en hijzelf, en de andere menschen d&r zonde,
          .Eeuwige  Goedeitierenheid                              sullen het zichzelf en elkander vertellen, dat de mensch
                                                                  Cod is, dat zijn koninkrijk pver alles is.
                     (Psalm 103; Slot)        *                      En die trek van Hitler en Stalin zit ook in ens; in
                                                                  elk mensch. Er is een spreekwoord in Nederland, dat
    De dichter  eindigt met denzelfden klank waarmede zegt : "Mijn haan zal koning kraaien Y
hij zijn schooti'lied inzette :' Loof den HE,ERE, mijne              Daarom I ge moogt Hitler gerust verslaan ; ge inoogt
ziel !       1                                                    gerust Uw entente vormkn van democratische landen
     M.aar vooraleer  hij dien laatsten klank doet hooren, en regeeringen, die zich bewust stellen tegenover het
zal hij ten slotte het geheel heelal toeroepen en  op-            dictatuur van Stalin ; indien ge echter gedenkt, dat toen
roepen oin den HEERE te loven.                                    I-Iitler verdween, Stalin kwam; en als we hem straks
     Deze psalm is verheven en  schoon: zijn karakter             vermorzelen, er een ander  la1 komen. En dat proces  za-
is streng theologisch: ,God is alles van eeuwigheid  tot gen we geschieden van de allereerste eeuwen tot aan
in der eeuivigheid:  het schoonste kenmerk van ware den huidigen dag toe. Hitler en Kai'n gelijken op elkaar
godsvrucht.                                                       als tweelingbroeders. Lam&h, Nimrod en Nebuchad-
    ."De HEERE heeft Zijnen troon in de hemele?  be- nezzar zijn hetzelfde genr'e als Stalin en wat er verder
vestigd, en Zijn koninkrijk heerscht over alles !"                vu&. uit het verziekte  brei.q van den  hooginoedigen
     Het woord bevestigd komt van een wortel die be- me;;sch geboren staat te worden.
teekent recht, rechtop, en daarom vast, en onbeweeg-                 En ge vindt dat vuile uitwas in elk mensch.
lijk te zija. Het werkwoord wordt hier gebezigd  .in                  Ge vindt dat vuile uitwas 66k in ?le kerk' van den
den causalen vorm.                                                Heere Jezus Christus. Vraagt het maar aan de ouder-
     De troon is zinnebeeld van macht en regeering : de lingen die uitgaan, twee aan twee, om fe vermanen,
troon is het hoogste in het koilinkrijk.                          te bestraffen het hoogmoedige  hart in de gemeente.
     De HEERE dpet dien troon vast, onbeweeglijk zijn Aanschouwt het bij alle leden der goe gemeente, bij
in het mid'den des hemels, zoodat Zijn regeering uit- Xders eri volgelingen. Ontdekt het in Uw eigen hart :
gaat over alle  scbepselen. Dat Hij de hemelen `koos mi jn haan zal koning kraaien !
voor de plaats waar Zijn regiment uitgaat over' het                  Nu is er maar EEN dien het dictatuur past, en die
goheele heelal, komt hier vahdaan, omdat Zijn heerlijk- CENE is God!
heid op het hoogst schittert in de hemelen. De aarde                 Mijn vers zingt daarvan.
is de voetbank Zijner voeDen.                                         De HEERE heeft Zijn troon  bevestfgd,  en Zijn
     En die troon, die regeering van den HEERE, is koninkriJk heerscht over alles.
over  &es! En dan zullen'we dit woord hier  moeten                    En dat -Hij zulks doet ligt aan het f&t, da; Hij, de
nemen in zijn meest omvangrijke beteekenis : het sluit `%hepper~en  Onderhoudey is van alles wat bestaat.
in hemel en aarde en he1 ;. de menschen, de eilgelen en
de duiveien ; de goeden en de kwaden ; het goede en het               Nu moet daar n6g 6-i ding bij gezegd worden  : Zijn
kwade; de bewuste en de onbewuste schepselen, tijd, dictatuur  is. ook  goed, want Hij  is de Goede bij  uit-
ruimte en de eeuwigheden. Ret sluit alles in.            -        nemendheid. Het is  t.roum al wat Zijn hand  beval;
                                                                  bet staat op recht en waarheid pal, als op onwrichtbare
     Dit -vers deed me denken  aan Hitler.                        steunpilaren. Dat kmit ge nooit zeggen van des men-
     En verder : aan het gjf, dat Sat&n ons inspoot in het s&en dictatuur. Vraagt het aan de stakkerds die ge-
eerste  Paradijs.                                                 zucht, gebloed en gesehreid  hebbeni  in de concentratie-
     Qm met het laatste te beginnen: het gif, dat Satan kampen van.alle eeuwen. Als wij de baas willen spelen,
ons  insljoot  aan den  mor:gen  der_historie  is  juist dit,     dan gaat alles krom en vuil te. w&k. Dan worclt,  er
dat wij sinds dien tijd God  willen zijn.  fin God te geleden.
willen zijn is de zucbt van het dictatuur. En zoo dacht               Wat een-rustige gedachte te midden van het rumoer


                     I     ,





 304                                     THE,  STANDAnD   B E A R E R

 der volken als ik  weten  mag, dat de  troon Gohs  be- t&&jd-komen  de bevelen Gods tot hen.om dit of dat op
 vestigd  is in alle eeuwen, dat er werkelijk niets ver-          aarde te doen. `Ge kunt er van lezen in de Schrift. Er
 keerd gaat, dat alles een openbaring is van het regi- was-wat te doen met het lichaam van Mozes, Elia n;loest
 ment  <Gods. Onze  vaderen  hebben het zoo juist  uit- naar den  hemel gebracht  worden,  de stad  .Gods   be-
gedrukt in het artikel, dat handelt over de voorzienig- veiligd, Lazarus had-d_en laatsten adem uitgeblazeti en
 heid Gods: Hij beschikt zeer we1 en rechtvaardiglijk mdest  voorzichtig naar boven gebracht, er moest wat
 zijn werk, en do@ het, o6k wanneer de duivelen en gezongen wordep  iri hemelschen klank in Efratah's
 goddeloozen bnrechtvaardiglijk handelen. 04 wanneer velden, of ook, er moest gestreden worden tegen Satan
 zi j zeggen : wetende,. dat  I&j de duivelen in toom en zijn `engelen, kortom, keer op keer komen de woor-
 houdt. . . .                                                     den Gods als  bevelen tot de  `Engelen Gods, en dan
          Zijn koninkrijk heerscht  oyer, alles!                  stonden zij gereed om dat wobrd Gods te doen.
          Als we uit dat beginsel altijd leefden, d.an zouden        0 ja, cl& Engelen #Gods zijn zeer gehoorzaam. Het
we steeds kunnen zingen: In de grootste smai+en blij-             is hun leven om te doen wat God beveelt. .
 ven onze harten in den Heer gerust!                                 En die Engelen Gods nu worden opgeroepen door
         ' Zoo  kuimen' we.  eenigzins  verstaali hoe de  geY& den HeiligenOGeest  om den HEERE te loven.
 sp&eerde  diehter verder gllen en een ieder oproept om              001~ dat hebben we gehoord.
  Hem te loven.                                                      In het jaar toen de kolling  Uzzia stierf zag Jesaja
          Looft den Heere, Zijne Engelen, gij krachtige  hel- de hemel  geopend. En door de .geopende  deur zag en
  den die Zijn woord doet; gehoorzamende de stem Zijns hoorde hij de engelen Gods. En zij werden  niet moede
 woordb!                                                          om al maar te zingen ronclom  den troon <Gods : Heilig !
          -0 ja, die Engelen Gods!  -       :                     Heilig ! Heilig ! is de HEERE der heirscharen, de
          Gods volk is zeer  .geinteressee?d in het stuk der gansche aarde is van Zijne heerlijkheid vol!
  tingelen  Gods. Van kinds af aan gevoelt men zich tot              Wat schoon lied des lofs!
  de Engelen aangetrokken. En leert Gods Woord niet,                 Wie wordt niet weemoedig als hij van zulk lieflijk
  dat zij  allen~  gediellstige  geesten zijn, die tot dienst zingen  hoort? Weemoedig, want wij hebben er zoo
  uitgezonden worden  om dergenen wil die de zaligheid            weinig van.'
 be@rven zullen?.' En dan is daar ook die schoone tekst              Lo0f.t Hem, gij Erigelen Gods !
 in Mattheus 18, waar de Heere Jezus zegt van Gods                   En zij doen het. Zij hebben het al voor,bijna zes
  volk, dat-"hunne engelen in, de hemelen altijd zieti liet       duizend  jaren gedaan. Ook worden  zij niet moede dag
  aangezicht Mijns Vaders die in de hemelen is." Voorts en nacht om al maar te loven.                      ..
  Bunt ge betierken in alle plaatsen in de Heilige Schrift           Loven is, als ge bet den HEERE vertelt al zingend&.
  waar spl'ake is ban de Engelen Gods, dat zij ieer ge'in-        Poe lieflijk en  goed, hoe krachtig en wijs, hoe  recht
  teresseerd zijn in ons.  `Orn nu  maar  &n plaats te            en heilig Hij is. Boven is als gij Zijn deugden  op-
  noemen, denkt dan aan den nacht toen Jezus geboren &,. noemt al zingende.
  Wat jubelen en zingen van "eene menigte des hemel-                 En dat gij dat doet van harte, dat gij er schik van
  schcn heirlegers" ! -'Ik kan niet nalaten om ook nog hebt om h&t Hem te vertellen wat indruk`zijn  deugden
  te wijzen op die plaats waar Jezus zegt hoe cle Engelen         op U  maken.
  blijde zijn `als Gods volk- bekeerd wordt : dan is er              De opzet in het volgende  vers" is nog  breeder  :
  groote blijdschap in de hemelen.                                "Looft den- PEERE,. alle Zijne `heirscharen;gij  Zijne
        Nu  dan, die Engelen Gods zijn "sterke  helden".          dieliaars die Zijn. welbehagen doet !          -
          Penkt ge hier niet onwillekeurig  aan dien barigen         Eeist was het een beroep die alleen tot de Engelen
  nacht toen `de heirlegers  der goddeloozen roniom Jeru- Gods gericht was, doch nu komt het woord. tot "alle
  zalem  lagen? Ze  hadden in hun  generaal den God               Zijne  he+charen". Het sluit nu in alle machten en
  des hemels en'der aarde gelasterd, en nog we1 in Zijn krachten des hemels. Het komt nu tot alle Gods.wagens
  iverk als Jehovah, de VerbondsGod,  die niet verlossen boven `t luchtig zwerk die tien en tien maal. duizend.
  kon.                                                            sterk zijn. Verdubbeld in getale !
          Toen moet God gezegd hebben tegen &n van. die              En al die dienaars doeti Zijn welbehagen.. .En Zijn
       "sterke helden" : Gaat naar de aarde en.  vqnietig welbehagen is Zijn wil. : .Het heeft den Heere behaagd
       185000 van die spotters! En  slechts   6Bn  engel Gods on? Engelen, om machten en krachten te gebruiken tot
       ging van tent tot tent en in den morgen waien zij allen    de verwerkelijking van Zijn eeuwigen wil. En dat is
  doode lichamen.                                                 goed. Daarin bestgat het geiuk van het creatuur, het-
  .       En Jezus kende die helden.  In de dagen van !&jn zij het hemelsch of aardsCh is.
 ,groote smart dacht Hij aan die helden:  `"Of meent gij             Nu dan, die bPeedere  ma&a `van hemelsche dienaars
       dat Ik ,Mijnen Vader nu niet kan bidden, en Hij zal moeten Hem loven. Stelt h&t 0, voor, indien ge kunt.
 .Mij meer dan twaalf legioenen Engelen bijzetten?`:              Maar `t zS1 niet gaa;l. We kunfien er over mijtieren,
          Diet krachtige  helden  doen Gods' woord. Van tijd we kunnen  trachten  er in  te  komen,  maar het  ~011;


                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   tiEARE&,                                          30;

 beeld zullen we niet zien totdat  v&vuld is hetgeen call God's people rebels? And did he not thereby deny
 Johannes `zag op het  -eiland Patmos. Geen wonder that blessed doctrine of justification through the blood
 dat Johannes.er van getuigende spreekt van een geluid of Christ? Did he not in effect deny that though our
 als van zeer groote  wateren.  _ Het geheel moet een sins be  as  scarlet,.:they   sha.ll* be as white as snow?
 ontzettende indruk geven. (Alle oogen .naar deli troon, Did Peter not deny Christ thrice? Did he not thereby
 alle  harten  Vol van de heerlijkheid van Hem die op deny salvation through Him? Did he not deny that
 den troon zit, alle monden open oni te zingen van God,. Christ is the Messiah? And these were elect, regelier-
 te  zingen !                                                ated children of God. Nd, the point we make here is
     En dan het laatste iers:  Looft den  HEE,Rl$ alle that ,God's people never .are moved by the fear of the
 Zijne werketi,  aan alle plaatsen Zijner heerschappij !     Lord when they maintain arid confess false doctrines.
     Wel, dat sluit niets uit. Hier moet het woord cclle     When Moses or Peter OY you and I hold on to a false
 qpgevat in zijn  me+st omvangrijken zin. Het sluit doctrine, it is just exactly because we are not at that
 zelfs de duivelen `en de he1 in. De verdoemenis is ook moment  living from the principle of the fear of the
 een van *Gods werken. En de he1 is ook plaats van Zijn Lord. Our  deli.ght and  defence  of false doctrines is
 heerschappij.                                               the work of our old nature rebelling against the new
   Het'is onuitsprekelijk  mooi  om hiervan te iingen. life that is- within us. The old nature hates the truth
 L%t er op, dat  overal  `God werkt, en dat alle rderen `and is constantly rebelling again& it. The ,old man is
 en bewegen een openbaring zijn van Zijn heerschappij.       always struggling to keep us from living in .His fear.
 Antithetisch. Hier rust men van allen angst en vreeze.      When we let the old man hold sway over our members,
     Looft Hem, gij  creaturen!  Looft  Hem tot in alle our hearts and our minds, we find delight in the lie.
 eeuwigheid.                                                 But the moment we begin to live from the principle of
     En gij, mijn ziel, loof gij Hem bovenai!                the fear of the Lord, we hate that lie and  -reject it
     Dit laatste is de vorm waarin de uiteindelijke kla;nk immediately.     Peter's  tears were the external  mani-,
 va.n dit lied gegoten werd door de psaimberijmers.          festation of his return to the fear bf the`Lord. IAnd so
     Er is geen ander geluk, dan naar bet Aangezicht te      it is with every elect, regenerated child of God whd
 staren, vol te worden van Zijn deugden, en dan te zin- for a time was living from the principle of sin which
 gen, te zingen!                                             was in him from birth. The fear  of, the Lord can
                                              G. Vos.        only produce a d.elight in thzd$h.
                                                                `A few examples of how achild of #God will behave
                                                             when he is not motivated by the fear of the Lord ap-
                                                             peared upon the pages of The Standard Bearer last
                 IN  HbFEAR                                  month;  ,One of `our Home Missionaries wrote of the
                                                             spiritual  ipdifference he found  i.n the Northwestern
                                                             section of our country. ,One individual is reported as
      False Doctrine and The Fear                            having said that he did not see how Rom,ans 5 :ll-13
                     Of The Lord  `- --                      could be in the Bible. Another individual is reported
                                                             to have remarked that it made no difference whether -
                                                             ace was a Baptist or Methodist as long as he went'to
 .4n Impossible Delight.                                     church and read his Bible; While one is living fr6m
     It is quite `impossible for one who fears the Lord the principle of the fear of the Lord, he cannot make
 to find delight in false doctrines. The fear of the sdl  statements. We will not judge whether they are
 Lord can never find pleasure in teachings which de- truly Gocl's children. We will leave that to be revealed
 part from the truth. We have called your attention to by `God Himself in' the great day of judgment, but we
 the fact that false doctrines cannot produce the fear arc not at all afraid to say that such speech does not
 of the Lord and that the fear of the Lord never b&gs        proceed forth from the fear of the Lord. To say the
 forth false doctrines. It is well now for us to consider very least, the fear of the Lord would move one, who
 the above fact that those who fear the Zord cannot heard such things for the first time to go and look it
 iind delight in those false doctrines already formed up. And having found it, that individual if moved by
 ard wherewith they come in contact.                         the fear of the Lord, would bow before it .as the truth.
     Let  is first of all make our stand clear. We do        It is the flesh that moves us to reject a certain pas-
 not say that God's people never find delight in the-lie.    sage of God's Word or else try to reason its teachings
 We do not,. say that you will never find an elect, re- away to defend dur owti preconceived views. But the
 generated child of God maintaining and spreading false fear .of the Lord will never lead one to do these things.
 doctrines.      That we would never dare to maintain.       `. The other. side of  the  pibture is revealed in that
Theye are too many instances in Scripture as well as         apphrently  gracious  gestur`e `of crediting all churches
 today which testify against that. fact. Did Moses not with the truth and tliereby  upholding menibership in


   7
   306                                 T H E :   S+ANDA.RD  B E A R E R

   any and every church. The very separate existence-of is the `question of Christian education in the day school
  these  denoqinations is already a testimonial of the first satisfactorily answered before the decision. is
  fact that they have different views of the Scriptures. made to move away. Such.a move was not and cannot
   To say that it then makes no difference to which one have been made because one was led by the fear of
   a `person belor& as long. as he goes there is to say the Lbrd. Whether we like to admit it. or not, such an
  that after all it makes no difference whether we believe act was motivated by the principle that man can and
  the truth concerning God or whether we believe the lie. may live by bread alone. The bread of life is not of
   1; fact it is equal to saying that God approves of these    enough importance. If only we get a crumb now and
  false doctrines taught in these churches, and that He then we can cut'off the moldy crusts for our children,
   is not- at all particular which phase of the lie you em- then we will be all right. Such is the reasoning behind
  brace, for in the one you embrace one form and in the        such' a m&e. `One may not consciously have gone
   other you embrace a different form of the lie. Such through that mental process in coming to his decision,
  an attitude over against false doctrines can never pro- but such is the underlying principle of his act. The
   ceed from-the fear of the, Lord. Instead it shows a fear of the Lord will never allow anyone to behave
  profound disrespect for the preciousnesF  of His Word thus. We repeat that we will not judge of these either
   and for the glory bf His name. The fear of the Lord whether they are truly elect, regenerated childr.en of
   always moves one to find delight in the truth alid.in all ' God who do these things. But we are sure of this th&
  that glorifies God's name. As we remarked before, the" if they are, by God's brace the fear of the Lord will
  feal" of the Lord moves one to be afraid of saying. or soon& or later cause them to regret their action and
   believing anything which is  not to His honor and to hunger and `thirst for the `preaching of `the truth as
  glory, and surely such a person will never maintain, they were wont to enjoy it.
  defend or be satisfied with the lie r to any degree or          Such may still say `that they hate false doctrines,
  in any form.                                                 that they still hate them and that their delight is still
          There is a growing tendency towards this phase
                            _ _ __.                            in the truth, but they surely are not letting the fear of
   6% living outside rather `t?iFn in the fear of the Lord. the Lo?d lead them. We are reminded of righteous Lot
  We can stay right at home in our owb d.enomination           who did `exactly this same tkling, and that he escaped
   to see this. We need -not go to the pacific ndrthwest       the destruction God's wrath poured out on Sodom and
  nor to any denomination outsidle  our own to see this        Gomorrah `was due only to God's grace.  He moved
  very  .thing  p%&ced  ofi"ati increasing scale. As `we       away from Abraham and into the fields.  of.. sin for
  rush toward the end of time and the measure of iniquity material gain. It was not the fear- of the Lord that
   of the world becomes full; we see an increase in in- led him in his choice. But he was an elect, regenerated
  difference and unconcern for  th.e truth and things child of God, and Peter states that he vexed his right-
   spiritual. In an increasing way we can see the pro-         eous soul wi.th the unlawful deeds of the world about
  phecy of Paul to Timothy being realized that the time him. There you have the fear of the Lord working in
  &ll cc&e when m&n will not endure sound doctrinei hjs soul ! `But in his choice of a -dwelling place the fear
   but after their own lusts shall heap to themselves of the Lord took.no `part. And even then, in spite of
  teachers, having itching ears, so that they turn their this vexing of his righteous soul he hid almost liter&
   ears  atiay from the truth and shall  be turned unto to be ,dragged out of the city. The angel had to take
  fables. See II Timothy 4 :l-5.                               him by the  hand.. And remember Lot's wife ! Re-
          Young couples today marry so easily without .ever member likewise the history of Naomi's husband,
  having considered the matter of whether the union Elimelech ,and her two sons. They never returned to
   takes them away from the truth and into a church the'land of Canaan when they left for material gain.,
  wher8 false -doctrines are taught. And even realizing           We therefore emphasize this t`ruth that the fear of
   that it will take them away fr&i a sphere where the the Lord cannot find delight in false doctrines. It is
   doctrine glorifies God and into a sphere where He can- quit6 impossible. Consider again what we wrote be-
   not and does not come to His own in the preaching, fore that .false doctrines always deny God His glory.
  they often show a desire for this change- rather than        Can he who loves God and has a deep respect and rever-
> to break the earthly friendship which demands it. ence for Him then f&d delight in'those doctrines which
 ' Such a marriage is'not transacted nor practiced in the      dkny Him His glory?. Of Course  not. Such an one can
   fear of the Lord. Or else for eaythly gain, for worldly only find delight in the truth which glorifies God; And
   a.dvancement,  foi honor and fame some will move away because he finds-no delight in false doctrines, he will -
   from the sphere where they know that  the truth is maintain the truth, defend it and fight for it. In the.
   preached and will separate themselves, if not for good, next installment of this department we intend to call
  then for long periods of time from the doctrines which your attention to this fact that the fear of the Lord
   the fear of the Lord maintains. Whether there is a opposes false doctrines a@ seeks no compromise of
   church that preaches the t&h is not considered, nor any kind.                                         J. A. Heys.


                                       THE  S T A N D A R D   -BEA'RER                                                307..

                                                                 be forced to speed up the establishment of our own
                 F R O M   HOLY.  W R I T                        schobls. But even in that case, we must be sure that
                                                                 we build on an absolutely firm and sure foundation,
                                                                 according to t&e criterion of Scripture itself.           ~
     The Objective of Christian                                      We may well place ourselves anew before the ques- -
                                                                 tion, What is the. real objective, the purpose of `Chris-
                           Education                     t       tian eclucati&l? What-is the ultimate goal of the train-       .'
                                                                 ing -of covenant youth in the Christian Schools?
       If  anyon: should question the nroprietv of intro-
  ducing a subject of this nature on-a. miniiterial con-            Theme :
  ference on the basis that the Christian Schools are
  not directly related to the church as institute, I would             THE OBJECTIVE  ,OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION.
  readily agree. That is, I would,want  to definitely main-                   I.  The Principle Involved.
  Jain @that the training of the covenant child is first of              II. . . The Objective.
all, not the responsibility of the church, but of the
  parent. This prificiple'must never be sacrificed at any             III.       The Application in the School Curriculum.
  cost. But Christiari education .is a matter sufficiently        The  Pwkiple IkuoZvecl.                             . .
  weighty' to meGit consideration in any group that is
  interested in the doctrinal, spiritual and practical is-          All of us are aware of the fact that there are chiefly
  sues that arise within the sphere of the church. More- two Christian School systems in America. The one
  over, our ministers have so much. contact with their is the Lutheran parochial system, the other is repre-
  own local Christian Schools that they ,are necessarily sented by the National Union of Christian Schools.
  interested in the matter from their own peculiar aspect.          The Ldtheran Evangelical Schools of America re-
      The one apology I would offer is, that I am no gard the infallibility 0% the. S&#,ures as the premise
  authority on the subject of Christian pedagogy. There for their philosophy of education. In the "General
                                                                                                   . . . . .
  are others  in our midst who  have had far more ex- Course of Study," published-by the Lutheran Schools,
  perience in this respect, -and who can therefore do we find the following statement, "`The Bible  js the
  much to enhance and enrich $he discussion by their primary source of knowledgd.,  ._ The Christian educator
  more  extensive knowledge of the subject. This may by no means disparages evidences of science and postu-
  serve as an introduction tq create. a worthwhile' dis- .lates the reason, but he grants them a place only in
  cussion.                                                       those areas of human interests whose exploration di-
      It is not a trite  .bugbear to state that alarming vine  Revelation  has left to the mind of man, and he
  phenomena have made their appearance in the realm fearlessly objects whenever these evidences and postu-
  of  ,Christian  education during the past decade. In la,tes presume on holy ground. The Christian educator
  some communities, outsiders who have little or no n.ot only admits divine revelation as a source of *know-
                                                                                                 ..1."
  contact `with the church have been received into the ledge  ; he regards it` as the only absolutely reliable,
  schools, .and their wright there has. been tenaciously iliviolable source of knowledge. He believes that God,
  defended. I need only remind you of the recent stir who  spedks  in the Bible cannot err, that`however, the
that this issue has aroused in  ,the  ,Chicago  Christian        evidences of `science and the postulates of reason ate
  High School. Besides that, no one can ignore the pre- subject to error. Therefore. he makes the truths of
  sent trend toward a `nation-wid& Christian School ex-          divine revelation and their application the fundamantal
  pansion program, threatening to undermine the very premises in his philosophy of education."
  system  ?tself. Are these phenomena only a natural                In passing it may be remarked,  that the matter of
  result of a thoroughJy sound Calvinistic conception of plenary and verbal inspiration  inight be more positively
  Christian education, so that their appearance must be expressed, but that nevertheless, it is well- to establish
_ lauded and encouraged? Or  are they the outgrowth              such a premise when speaking of the fundamental
  of a philosophy that has been busy undermining the pl:inciples of Christian education.
 Reformed principles of doctrine and life for  so;ne                The truths of Scripture that are considered funda-
 time? Are they the product of the theory of common mental to all education are briefly expressed as follows.
 grace brought into practice in our pr.esent school sys-            1. There is `one cod, Who is three in ljersons and
 tem? The latter seems to be the case.                                one in essence.       k
     There is certainly- occasion fo; all of us to be on
 the alert to watch the development of these latest trends          21 He is the Creator of all. Man was created in
 in the School movement. Ultimately our churches may                  His image..           '
 "-delivered  at the Ministers' Coriference  of  Classis  W&t      3. Every creature is born in sin, under the wrath
 01:  nhd   4 ,   1948.                                               because' of the fall .o$ our first .parents.    r


        .

308                                       T H E   S T A N D A R D   - B E A R E R

       4. Atonement is only through the cross .bf Christ,        earthly career in' perfection ,and has through sin be-
             and salvation is only by faith in His name.         come disintegrated. It has fallen into a state of utter
   .  3. The world is a preparation for eternity.  L,ove         confusion and ignorance. The -Christ&n teacher finds
             to God is the basic `principle of religion ; a love, the child to be a bundle of' disintegrated tensions and
             not merely as a duty, <or duty's `sake, but God     re actions. He  f:inds that there is within his pupil
             demands love from a pure he&t.                      even a constant warfare such as the apostle Paul freely
                                                                 confessed to be in his life. - It is obvious that--such  a
       Ou; criticism would be that these truths are too view will have a far-reaching be.aring upon the con-
general to have any specific value. They leave room tents, methods and objectives of education." Who can
for all such errors as general atonement, a universal refrain from adding, they certainly will!? If  state-
offer of salvation, etc. And since the Lutheran school .ments l&e these were not so vicious, they would verge
system is parochial, the id&a of covenant training by on the ridiculous. The wiiter goes on to explain that
the parents is absent.                                           the child was created inthe image of God, "intellectual-
       I hav? also had occasion to peruse the "Course of ly God-like, emotionally God-like, and volitionally ,God-
Study for Christian Schools" published by the National like." The result of sin is that the child is. now a
Union of Christian Schools in 1947.                              "disiptegrated image-bearer." Therefore "redemptive
       The first ptirt of this book is detioted  to a "philo-    education is needed." "The cause of disintegration
sophy of Christian Education," written by Prof. Henry must be removed to lnake integration possible; To put
Schultze, stressing the fundamental principles' upon .it differently, the image of God that has been defaced
which Christian education must be founded. This dis- by sin must be restortid  in `order to effect unification.
sertation treats the following subjects : 1. What is the . . . . ,One cannot make a pupil God-like and leave sin
nature of reality? 2. Who and what is the pupil? there. And except we make him God-like by God's
3. What is Christian education?                                  grace and with His help we are falling short of the
       Indealing.with the first quest&, he first gives a highest calling  df Christian  .education."
short resume of the various answers of philosophers                 In conclusion the following definition is given :
of the past. Thereupon he gives the answer  qf the "Education is the restorative process for `giving sight
Chrigtian as follows, -"The Christian does not deny the to the blind, hearing to the deaf, release to the prisoner,
existence and the reality- of individual things. They recovery to the sick'."
are all created-by God-&tid have distinct, though- de-              Many objections could be raised.against this philo-
pendent,  existence. They are in no sense God. Nor is            sophy of Christian education. No one can help feel
God in any sense these things. `The independent-things tlnat any modernist would be quite ready to undersign
are the embodiment of divine ideas, which may be these statements. In fact, no one can take offence of
called universalia." This reality is further described them, except the man who loves the Reformed heritage.
as "secondary forms of reality". God's thoughts are                 Although the author stresses- in his introduction
first, `things are but the embodiment of these thoughts,         that education must be theocentric,  it b&omes increas-
so t.hat we can read God's thoughts in the creatural             ingly evident that he regards the objective of Christ&
and providential forms  pf reality:            Since God is a education as purely anthrop&ent$c,  dealing centrally
unity, there is also a unity in back of these realities.         with a disintegrated image-bearer, in whom &he image
%Iowever, "due to the fall df man this hivine plan of of God must be restored; to make him God-like.
self  pevelation has-been  seriously disrupted. The re-              We might add, that total depravity is denied, the
cipients of the revelation became incapacitated to read atoning death of Christ is silently ignored,  and sanctifi-
the handwriting of God as it inscribed the thoughts of -cation is confused with social tietterment,                Besides,
 God. back of the world at is was made and as it was _ many statements could'be adduced to show that the
developing. Ev.en the forms'of revelation became dis- author has allowed himself to be carried' away by the
 rupted and were no longer able to reveal perfectly. Kuyperian Restitution theory. .
the divine creatural and providential forms. To meet                 But these critical remarks must be made only `in
I this deficiency, God introduced the device known. as passing. What. is plainly evident, is the fa& that the
 Special Revelation. . . . .Without  this Light the world wpole  idea of God's co'venailt  is sought for ili vain.
will remain a disorganized, disintegrated, and confused              There is' not one word in this whole philosophy that
 conglomeration of incongruous materials. It is like a in any way r'efers  to Christian educatiori  as c6venant
 puzzle book of pictures that refuse to be placed in a training. The fact that our Christian Schools are but
 form that is  intepr.etable.                                    `an outgrowth of the honie, and-th&t.they  are the ful-
       In anewer to the question, - Who and what is the fillment. of the obligation of covenant parents. to train
pupil  ?, the following general statement is made, "Chris- their children in the fear of the Lord, is sadly l+cking.
 tian educators are committed to the propqsition that These things'. have an ,absolute `certainty among us,
 the pupils represent a humanity that has begun its that they need no further proof whatever. We should


                                     T H E " S T A N D A - R D   B E A R E R                                       309
 by all means expect that a "philosophy of education"
would contain very definite statements about God's                        .. PERISCOPE
 covenant, the place of the child in the co&ant, and
 the obligation of covenant parents to train the child
 in the Sear of the Lord. We even have a right to ex- JZeflectiqn. . . .
 pect that emphasis be laid on the fact that Christian
 Schbols are parental schools, established by the'parents,        With the hope in our heart that his words may be
entirely. independent from the local congregations, in heard and acted upon we call attention to an address
 order that parents may fulfill their covenant obligation deliver&d, before a Calvin Alumni gathering, by the
 overagainst  their children. And furthermore, that Rev. Harry R.  Boer, Missionary to Nigeria of the
 covenant training marks Christian education as unique Christian R,eformed Churches, and published in the
from any secular education.. But all this is entirely Cal&z Forum of January, 1948.
foreign to the basis laid down for the present Christian         .He begins by calling attention to the difference in
sphool system.                                                influence which has been exerted upon the Netherlands.
         What is more, these things are even denied. The and America by their respective Calvinistic groups and
 distinctiveness of Christian education is said to, be, find! in this respect' a  serioue shortcoming in this
.that it.is neither atheistic, nor-pantheistic, nor deistic, country., "In Ame'rica the Calvinists are living their
but theistic. It acknowledges-God; the Creator Who life largely without the encouragement and stimulus
 prtividentialiy reveals His thoughts. in His creation, that spring from opposition and  ciiticism. . . . I
even though this revelation hag become s&iously dis- greatly fear that  wk are gradually being absorbed
rupted in a disorganized, disintegrated and confused by)the Ameriaan activistic spirit. . . . the rut"of activ-
                                                                                  .
conglomeration of incongruous materials. With the ity, doing, organization,  without adequate reflection on
aid of the light of Scripture the thoughts of God must ultimate bases and ultimate ends, and on means grow-
be searched out and the image of `God must be restored ing out of the first and suitable to achieve the second.
in a fallen humanity. Man must think God's thoughts, We have built buildings-churches, seminaries, col-
and will God's will, to be of service to God and man. leges, high schools,  gr'ade schools, hospitals-but when
That becomes the objective of Christian education.            we contemplate the writings of the ministers, prdfes-
         Thereby the idea of the antithesis is entirely wiped s&s, teachers and doctors who give leadership in these-
                                                              inslitutions  we can register only keen disappointment.
ijUt.      -The distinction between the church and the
world, between God's covenant people and a world of . . . . There is being discovered in unexpected quar-
reprobation is destroyed. That the church lives in the ters a.n alarming ignorance as to what Calvinism really
m2lst of a wicked world; and that she has a peculiar is 2nd implies.                        -7 ^._~__         0
                                                                                              --.
calling to bring Up her spiritual seed in the fear of            "How shall the trend be turned and a more vital
the Lord, even in the midst of a `world of wickedness, era in American CalviniBm be ushkred in? (When we
has no place in the whole system. No  wondek that reflect on this question thoughts and.possibilities  multi-
,the present Christian School system totters on its foun- ply themselves. They suggest activity especially on
elation:                                                      two fronts-fronts on which we have done almost noth-
  It needs" no lengthy proof among us that Christian ing, but -with respect to which we think that we are
education worthy of the name is covenant training. ,the piople and wisdom shall die with us. I refer to
That is of fundamental significance. And that must ihe field of Theology and Educatioq.
orlee more receive all the emphasis.                             "American Calvinists of Dutch extraction manifest
  Bearing this in mind, we may define Christian a sense of theological superiority that would not be so
education as cbvenant trailiing,  which proceeds from irritating were it not's0 complacent. . . ." After dis-
the parents, who with their spiritual seed are included cussing the absence of a truly theological journal' a-
in i&d's covenant, and therefore are called to live-as mong the R,efortied  Calvinistic element in this country
pilgrims and strangers in the world, fulfilling their the author continues by pointing out .that such a jour-
divine calling as His covenant. people by .proclaiming        nal would be,a step.in  the right direction and suggests
the gloriqs .of God, each in, his own peculiar place in SIX& of those things, which should' be discussed and
life.                                                         published in it. `Four specific questions come to mind,.
                       (to be continued)                      the open discussion of whi;h can be neglected only at
                                              C. Hank&        the price of making ourselves guilty of sidestepping
                                                              issues that stand prominently and concretely before us.'
                                                              1) Is the &chatological question going to die with our
                                                              esteemed K,romminga?  (This refers probably to a pro-
    "0 give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for test of Dr. Kromminga to the, statement in Art. 37 of
His mercy endureth for ever."-1  Chron. i6 :34.               our Confession that the number of the elect is- complete

                              .


   910                                   THE  STAND,ARD  B                E    A    R    E    R      -

   at the coming of our Lord  Jesus Christ-this is of
                                           -                     with the result that `"Parents and especially teachers,
   course denied by Premillenialists and also by Dr:Krom-        board members and ministers will begin (if they have
  minga. The Synod of the Christian Reformed Church- not already begun) to regard the Christian School as
   es decided `to drop the matter in view of the demise of       an average public school in charge of .Christian  people."
   Prof.  Kromminga'.-J.H.).  As a mad world hastens And he pleads for a further study and development of
  frantically and pell-me11 to its dark destiny should we the educational principles underlying  oilr Christian
   not renew our study concerning God's message about educational system.
   the eschatos? (the end-J.H) . 2) Has  th.e last word             .And' he begins .his conclusion of this interesting
be& spoken about  lCommon  ,Grace?  Leading spirits article with the following observation : "You, may say,
   in and out of the Reformed Churches in the Nether- Physician heal thyself. What have you done, and
   lands and in America do not `think so. The Barthians what right have you to lift up the critical voice? I
   are grappling with it. Can we  claini theological in- have done nothing ,&d I am. not sure at all that I can
   tegrity if we avoid it? 3) The covenant question is           do anything. But I have one thing, I possess one quality
   an issue so burning in the Netherlands that it has.split      which justifies me in my own mind in speaking as I do :
  `our sister- denomination. Can we square' it with good I am disturbed, I am intensely concerned about the
   theological conscience and with our conf.ession  of the future of the church I love and about the `Reformed
   coqmunion  of saints to withhold from our brethren life which it represents. What concertis me so deeply
   ihe benefit of our study and. to ignore a matter that is the pervasive lack of concern about the dangers
   so greatly burdens them? .4) Synodical decree forbids con?ronting our religious heritage not only among our
   discussio;l  aboyt the Unidersity question in our church laity but especially among large sections of o'ur leader-
   papers. Does this mean that there should be no dis- ship, the being satisfied with a smoothly running ec-
   cussion at all? Many in our circles believe that an clesiastical machinery, the much speaking but little
   a.ggressive  Calvinism will stand or fall with a Reform- thinking about our "Reformed Position", the compla-
   ed university. Should not this matter be considered           cent resting behind the Maginot Line of our. incompar-
   fufiy and freely by the deflecting  -minds of the church? able creeds while an'insidious Fifth Column of indif-
          "The fear has been expressed that discus&on of ference to it all is developing under our very noses: . ."
   these issues Will plunge the church into unhappy con-            Once more we .can only applaud these sentiments-
   troversies. What!  .Is the prophet's office and voice rbgaidless for the moment  where the author's intended
   to be restricted by such unworthy fears? Are we so development would lead him. We are and must never ,
   weak and timid that the theologian dare no longer be be afraid of discussion, of light ,of study, yea, of free
   theologian free and unfettered to shed public light ofi and open study and discussion of every question, bbund
   problems  t-h&stand inrthe midst of the church? Will only by the Word of and the Confessions !
   God who would have His revelation unfoldgd  bless with                                :i:  * :b  *
  ' pea&e  in Zion silence in those who are called to explore
   His Word? ,.Let us. study, and write. Let us fear only Beginrkng at Jerusalem.~ . . .
   this-that we shall fall short in "our duty as free -Re-
   formed theologians."                                             In the recent numbers of "The Banner" the Rev.
          We do not know Mr. Boer personally, but certainly Harry Blystra; Home Missions isecretary  of the Chris-
   congratulate  hiin on the above stand: Certainly as tian Reformed, Churches,  ,has been developing the
 Protestant Reformed people  tie must agree that a theme of mission work beginning at Jerusalem.
   thorough and complete study and discussion of &very              It is not our inte'ntion  at this time to review his
   issue on the basis of the Word of God and the Reform- articles as a tihole  but rather to confine ourselves to
   ed Conf&sions is the only possible way of dealing with thd one question, where atid' what is Jerusalem? Mr.
   th.e multitude of problems which confront us in these Blystra states .in  Th'e `Bawner  of Feb. 6, "This Jeru-
   days. :And if wee may :jeterpret Mr. Boey's article as        salem as' stated  previously, .ig for us none other than
   a protest against that ecclesiastical strait-jacket-ism the community, the city ,and the land of our habita:
   which is so well known to us-once more we heartily tiori". , From this- he had previously drawn the con-
   agree and-appladd his stand. `There must be freedom cl&ion that we must begin dur work with our neigh-
   for discussion and debate within the' Confessions else
                                 0                               bors, the unchurched in our own communities and ex-
   tie dry .up and die !                                         pand it to the foreign mission field; If we understand ..
          And. thus also we agree with much of which he has Mr. Blystra correctly, then he would rriake Jerusalem -
   to say with, regard to the second field-that of Edu- a geographic-social  concep%and  interpret it by our
   cation. In this section he points out that we have been immediate neighbors, geographically and socially.
   overly concerned with the externals, buildings, organiz-         To -this conception several difficulties attach them-
   ation, etc., without giving ourselves, account of the         selsies- immediately, it seems to me. In the first place,
   real meaning and purpose df the Christian schools,. why did Christ say .Jerusalem  ? Was it `not true th&


                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   B 'E A R E R                                            311

 most'if  not all of the disciples were Galileans? (Was' of life'fldwing  from the throne of God, that they eat
 Judas Iscariot perhaps the only exception to this?)            and drink without money.
Why did Jesus  nog'mention the home town of every                  These regular Lord's Day services become a haven
 one of His disciples ? And in the  second plade why of rest and peace to the weary and tired pilgrims, the
 Judea next after Jerusalem when we know that many poor and broken hearted ones, the fatherless and the
 if  not all lived in Galilee? And why  Samaria next strangers, the orphans that were estranged-from God
 instead of Arabia or Idumaea -or other neighboring in the shackles of sin. The slaying Word in the mouth
 regions? And finally the question arises, does this- of God's faithful servant, through the power of #God's
 view do justice to the concept Jerusalem?                      grace conforms the whole Church with all their weak-
    It seems to tie that Jerusalem must be taken in an ness, sins and faults, to the blessedness of the children
 ecclesia'stical  sense rather than in the geographic-social of God as given by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount,
 sense in which it is taken in these articles. Jerusalem        Matt. 5 :3 to the end.* `Thisis endless, for the children
 was the center, the heart of the church of that time.          of God need this .Divine- service every seven days to
 There in the heart of the church which had corrupted keep them from stumbling. And every day anew this
 itself must they begin their' preaching. And from blessed message must be brought to them. ,qoung and
 that ecclesiastical center the work must be extended.          old must be fed, till God's work of sanctification is
 And this must also be the rule for us today.                   complete and'they enter into the promised rest. This
                                        J. Howerzyl.            has no end till~th@ very last elect is born, and Christ
                                                                comes on the clouds of heaven.
                             : ---                                 Therefore when God called His servant, Rev.' Hof:
                                                                man, to labor in another part of His vineyard, He also.
                                                         <,`
                                                           _    Temembered  our congregation at Holland by again
      A Change,                                                 sefiding untd us another servant, Rev. B. Kok. For
      &I& Essentially Nothing New                               the entire church as it reveals itself in the midst of
                                                                this world is God's church, and all Gdd's faithful
                                                                Servants are bearers of the same fundamental truth,
    ?uring the past several months it has been revealed the Gospel of the Promise. T@e \church therefore re-
 through the Lord's guidance, that our congregation at ceives. her Ministers as the Servants of the Lord, and
 Holland received another Pastor and Shepheid.  And as such loves these Brethren, for they set forth unto
 although this is a change in that we no longer hear her the Bread of Life;
 the voice of our former pastor Rev. W. Hofman,  and               Therein the congregation of Holland also rejoices,
 nbw hear our present pastor Rev.  `&. Kok, essentially that whereas Rev.  Hofman-- has -faithfully labored
 nothing new has taken place in that both of these              amongst her in the Word of `God, the administration
 beloved brethreJ1  set forth to us the Word of Life;           of  &he  Sacranients,   an<  all-  6ther activity connected
    Fop the Seyvants of `God have on their shoulders with his aOffice, borids of  love' and friendship. were
 the Holy Office of Ministers of the Word, shouting established which will stand unto0 all eternity. And
 forth the glad tidings of the Gospel, the Power of God although many of these relatidnships were temporarily
 unto salvation. The Church through its Divine Public broken-off by Rev. Hofman accepting the call of Home
 Worship becomes an I&itution  radiating light in the Missionary, yet they shall be, realized in its fullest per-
 midst of darkness: The Body of Christ the believers fection in the glorious Kingdom of our Lord and Sav-
 preach the Word through its ordained Office, the iour Jesus Christ. For also therein essentially .noth-
 Minister of the Lord. Through the very nature of the ing old has been left behind by Rev. Hofman and his
 Church as Institute, one Body of Believers with Or- family when $he Lord called them, away from" the Hol-
 dained Offices, the proclamation of the Gospel. is a land congregation. For under the Lord's blessing his
 light `flowing into a sin-darkened world. The. entire la.bors  shall stand unto all eternity, that he performed
 institution rel,resents  its Head, Christ, for Christ used in our midst. And although the Lord called him to a
 this Institution with its ordained #Offices  as?the Priest- vastly .different  .field- of labor as Home Missionary of
 hood of the Gospel, by which the children of God that          our churches, yet essentially nothing riew`has taken
 sit in the darkness; .are~ slain, in order that being re- place,  for Rev. Hofman remaineth the Servant of the
 newed by the ,Spirit, they may be offered `to the Lord. Lord preaching the Gospel, the Word of <God, the power
_. This is -a gracious arid merciful work through, God's of God unto salvation.
 Almighty grace working in their hearts inwardly.                  Thps on October 5th, 1947, Rev: Hofman delivered
 And the Service being public in nature; that is, with his farewell sermon to the-Holland congregation, choos-
 its doors open to the weary and heavy laden, the peni- ing his themes from'the following portions of Scrip-
 tent, the broken and contrite in heart being fed the ture. II Thess.  3:l. Finally, brethren, pray for  us.
 bread of life, with .&heir  thirst quenched by the waters      And II Thess. 3 :16 : Now the Lord of peace himself


                               I                                                                                                                  I
                                    /
                                                                                                                                                  i
                                    /                                                                                                             I

                                         -.                       =- i.__
   312 .                                        :1-O              THE                  STAN,~DARD                                         BeEARER                                .-               \

  give jrou peace always by all means. The.Lord Ibe with                                                                                               I N   MEMORIAM-
                                                                                                                                    i-
  you  all. This was-followed `on the evenitig of October
  17th. by a  congregai$onal  farewell social to Rev.' and                                                        Whereas'our  Heavenly Father in His wise and loving provi-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                '
  Mrs. Hofman and family, wishing them God's blessing dence, on February 25, 1948; took out of this life
  in their new field of labor;  .'                                                                                                               M;t.  D I R K   MoNkMA .
      And ill as much as it pleased God `to take from us the English Men's Society of the First Protestant Reformed
  our beloved former pastor and brother, Rev. Hofman; Church  of  Grand  Rap@, Michigan expresses  its  since:e   s,ym-
  He again made bur hearts glad with rejoicing in giving pathy to Mrs. D. Monsma  and her family  in the loss of their
  US  another  Servqnt,  -to  go. before  US  and.  break:  the                                               beloved  husband  and  father.
  Bread  .of Life. That Word, pure and  .unadultqrated,                                                           Ma-Y, our God comfort them abundantly through His Word
  feeding us unto the way of life. That Word feeding                                                          and Spirit, and sustain them by Kis grace in these loriely  days.
 the `youth, .of Godrs Covenant in Catechism and other                                                                                                                Mr. A. Van `Tuinen, Pres.
  midweek activities. Thus our hearts .were  filled &in .---                                                                                                          Mr. 0. Vander Woude, Sec'y.
  thanksgiving and gratitude td God, that He again -gave                                                               ,
  us His S$vant our beloved Pastor and Brother, Rev.                                                                                                    - A - -
  B; Kok.                                                                                                                                                                                                                .
      Installation services of -Rlev. Kok took Dlace
                                                                          .L           on the                                                          I N   MEMORIAili
  evening of Dec. 18, 1947. Rev.  J.`De Song charged
  both Rev. Kok  and'.the Holland congregation in a                                                               The English Men's Society of the First Prgiestan: Reformed
  sermon delivered on the following text, I Peter 5:2:                                                        Church of Grand Rapids, M.ichigan, hereby gives expression to
  Feed the -flock of God which is among you, taking the its condolence with its fellow member, Mr. G. Stadt, in the recent
  oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly, not death of his father,                                                                               :
                                                                                                                  .
  for filthy lucre but of a ready mind. Neither as be`ing                                                                                              M         R          .                H         .      STADT--
                                                                                                                                                                                                  .,.
  lords over God's heritage but being ensamples to the of Grand Rapids, Michigan: -May the God $alJ grace and mercy
  flock. Prayer was offered and the form of installatibn. comfort the bereaved that thyy may confess `-`He do&th all+.hings
  was read by Rev. Hofnian.  The benediction was pro- well."
  nounced by -thF newly installed pastor..                                                                                                                            Mr. A. Van  .Tuinen,  Pres.
      The fol!owin&  Lord's Day Rev. Kok delivered his                                                                                                                Mr..O. Vander' Woude, Sec'y.
   inaugural sermons to our congregatioh,  choosing his
i  . themes from the following portion of Scripture, Phil.
   1:9-10,  And this I pray that your love may abound yet.
  more and  m-ore in knowledge and in all judgment;                                                                                                    I N   MEMORIAM
  That ye may approve things that are excellent that ye                                                                                   r
  may be sincere  aild without  offence till. the day of                                                          The English Men's Society of the First Protestant Reformed
   Chri@. Gal. 6 :14, But God forbid that I shoul'd gloky,                                                    Church  expre&es  its sincere sympathy to -Mr. G.  Z?vak and
   save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, .by'whom' family in the sudden bereavement of their wife and mother,
  the world is crucified urito me, and I urito the world.                                                                                              MRS.  G.  ,ZWAK
      On December 30th the Holland congregation gave a                                                            May _thi Lord comfort  and sustain the sorrowing family in'
   reception social to Rev. and Mrs. Kok and family; wel- t?eir sorrow in these lonely days.
   coming them into their midst.  I                                .=  :  .* .  "  ,.                                                                                 Mr. A. Van Tuinen,  Pres.
      And although a change did, take plack iti that `the                                                                                                             Mr. 0. Vand&  Woude, Sec'y.
                                                                                                                                                                       "
   Polland .congregation' received another pastor, essen- -
  tially nothing new took  piace,  for  OUP beloved past&
   Rev. tiok`continues to set forth to us the satie Word of
   God, which is the -power of God unto salvation, throu&                                                                   _ CHRISTIAN  SCHOOL TEACHERS
   Jesus Christ our Lord.                 ,.                                                                                  ,'               P L E A S E   N O T E !
             The Consistory`of the 1st Prot. Ref. Church,                                               .;
                                                Holland, Michigan.                                       .        The.Hope  Piotestait  Reformed Christian &hool &
                                                                                                              m need of `a teacher for the lower grades for the season
                                                 J. H. Kortering, Clerk.                                      beginning in September. If you are able to serve us in
                 .:                                                             ~    _-            ~
                          -                                  -                               ._               ,this capacity, please give this hotice your earn&t and
                                                                                                              prayerfdl considertition taking into account the prin- ~
                                                                                                              ciples wh?ch we as Protes'cant  R&formed people `are
     "Not by  works  of righteousness` which  we `have called upon `arid privileged to maintain. Write; call,
   done but accorditig  to His mercy He saved us."                                                            or visit Mr. J.  `La.nning, 1268  .Wilson  Ave.,, S. W.,
                                                        /            -Titus 3 : 6.                            R.F.D. No:5, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Phone 64i7391.


