                                                                                                                                -       .I
   VOLUME  X X I V   _                         ' June 1, 1948 - Grand.Rapids,  Michigan _.                           NUMBER 17

                                                                           bekeeren, en dan.zouden  bun- de zonden tergeven wor-
        -."Mti D.IT AT, i QN                                               den.  En dat mag  riiet  geschjeden!
                                                                              Zegt het mij : kunt ge een vreeselijker tekst vinden
                                                                           in geheel. Gods Wobrd?-                         .
                                                                                                  *-  * 8 * .
   Heit Verktaan van de Vckborgenheid                                         Ge moet niet n'eerzien op de ,discipelen,  dat zij naq
   ,            "En ~+ls Hij nu ,alleen  was, vraagden Hem degenen         Jezus toegingen, om wat commentaar op iijn preek
              die omtrent Hem waren,  met de twaalve,  naar de ge-         die. Hij zoo juist  uitgesproken.  had. Want het was
              lijkenis.  EnsHij   zei&e  tot hen: Het is  u gegeven te     een zeer. eigenaardige preek geweest. Wij hadden niet
              vecstaan de verborgenheid van h$. Koninkrijk Gods;           anders gehandeld. Maar hier zit het hem: wij weten
              maar  ,degenen  die  buiten  zijn, geschieden  alle  deze    de dingen veel beter dan zij. Wij hebben het voorrec+t
              ,dingen  door gelijkenissen, opdat zij ziende zien en
              niet bemerken, enhoorende hooren en niet verstaan,           .om.al de aqtwoordeh,  en al de verklaringen van Gods
              opdat ,zij zich ni.et  ter eeniger tijd bekeeren en h& de    openbaring voor ons te hebbcn in den Bijbel die nu af
              zonden vergeven  worden:" -Markus  4:10-12.                  is. Doch ,denkt  er aan, dat op dit tijdstip er nog niets
        Dit is tegelijkertijd ien schoon maar ook een ver-                 geschreven was van het Nieuwe  Testament. Tweedens,
  schrikkelijk woord. Ik kan geeri woorden vinden die de Heilige ,Geest was nog niet.uitgestort,  waardoor wij
te  .sterk  zouden zijn om vooral de verschrikkelijkheid de  dingen geestelijk met elkandeq  kunnen vergelijken
  van sclit tioord eenigzins te benaderen.                                 en geestelijk tezamen verstaan.            .
                                                                            Ja, Jezus had gepreekt. En wat een eigenaardige
        Stelt `het U voor, indien ge het kunt : er zijn onge: preek. Het  :was  ,een gelijkenis. Hij sprak van een
  lukkige men&h& die goecE moeten zien,' want de eigen- zaaier die uitging om te zaaien. Het klinkt alles zoo
  aardige woordkeus wordt  g:el&uikt die zegt, dat zij                     dood gewoon. Er was natuurlijk zaad geweest dat bij
  xiende  moeten ken. Dus zij .moeten  vooral goed zien.                   het gad, dat bet land doorsneed,. neefgevallen was. Het
  En hoewel zij nog zoo goed zieti, tegelijkertijd moet,en                 werd  niet. verborgen door de losse, .rulle aarde, en `de
  zij' niet bemerken. Zoo ook, mo&en  zij goecl hooren,                    vogeltjes haddeli in `t geheel geen qoeite om het zaad
  want ze  `moeten  hoorende hooren, en  toeh niet  ver- te zien  Bn op te eten. Ander zaad.  tias  gevallen  ip
  staan.                                                                   plaatsen waar.de  ploeg niet door kon, want het was
        En ging het nu over onversehillende  dingen, zoo&                  steenachtige  .aarde.  Van .dat zaad had Jezus gezegd
  de kunststukken van beroemde schilders, of kunstrijke dat het spoedig opkwam en wies, doeh dat toen de zon _
  beeldbouwwerken, dan was het niet zoo erg;                               kwam, dit gewas verbrandde. Het derde  soort was het
        Maar, neen, bet. gaat hier over het meest belang-                  .zaadj dat .tereeht  kwam temidden. yan de ,doornen,  en
  rijke van al Gods werken: de verborgenheid van het toeri die doornen opwiesen,. werd het. opschietenfle ge-
. Koninkrijk Gods! De dingen van dit Kbninkrijk moe-                       was verstikt. En, eindelijk, had ,de  Heere, Jezus ge-
  ten zij ziende  zlen en  hporende hooren.                Doch  ds        sproken van het zaad, dat .viel `in goede aarde.. Die
  alles gezegd ten gedaan is ten overstaan van die dingen                  aarde was 10s ,en. rul ; nam het zaad gaarne in zich op ;
  en `van die menschen, dan moet het resultslat zijn, dat                  deed het opgaan .en was@ ; .en dit .zaad braeht yeel-
  zij niettegen'staande dit zien. en hooren, tech niet be- v@dig voort : dertig-,  zestig-, en honderdvoud.
  merken en verstaan.                                                         Tot hiertoe was Jezus gekomen met Zijn preek ,en
        En onomwonden voegt de Heiland ix ook ljij wat ik denk,. dat de discipelen zich afgevraagd hebben :
  het resultaat zou zijn als deze menschen auel zouden wat .zit nu tech in zulk een alledaagsche gesehiedeqis?
  bemerken en verstaan. ,In dat geval zouden zij zieh Deze  dingen kunnen we  w,el  honderdmalen  zien  ge-



                                                                                                                                              :


   386 _                                '  *I'BE  Si`ANDAl$D  B E A R E R
   0beuren rondom.o& We hebben deze dingen van onze                      En dat Kbninkrijk heeft;een  verborgenheid.
   prilste jeugd af gade geslagen. Zit daar  &I leering                  Daar  spr~eekt  de tekst  -an. Dat is eigenlijk het
   in?                                                              zwaarste  wooed  in den  _tekst.  Daar draait  alles om
          Maar- wacht even,! De Heere is nog niet klaas.            -heed.
          Hij voegt aan die "story" no2 66n zinnetje toe.                Van die verborgenheid des `Koninkrijks zegt Jezus
          En dat 6&e zinnetje is dit : "Wie. ooren heeft or%        twee dingen..
   te hooren, die hoore  !"                                              Eerst, dat er sommige menschen zijn die de ver-
          En ,ik denk, dat oti den will6 van'dat laatste-  zin-     borgenheid van het Koninkrijk Gods  .verstaan. En
   netje de discipelen, na de .preek,  naar Jezus kwamen            dat is het onuitsprekelijk zalige van den tekst. Als ge
   om te vragen : Heere, verklaar ons die gelijkenis ! Met d& hebt ; als dat U deel wordt of nu al is ; als dat U
   -andere woorden: zij beseften, dat er meer achter zat:           "mag  gkbeuren",   dart. maakt het absoluut geen  ver-
 Met moest een eigenaardig soort "ooren" hebben, om                 schil hoe het met U gesteld is op rdeze aarde, want daq
. deze "story"  te verstaan.                                        is alles Uw dienstknecht, met slechts &5n opdracht  van
          Het gaat over het verstaan van de verborgenheid           den levenden .God, namelijk . deze : breng dien mensch
   des Koninkrijks der hemelen !                             i_     in Mijn  armen ! Alles is dan een middel om U  te
                                  * *  *`
                                        *                           zaligen.                                                    i
          Het Koninkrijk Gods !                                          Tweedens, dat er andere mensehen zijn die' de
          Wel, dat Koninkrijk i's niet van deze wereld,  of van dingen van het Koninkrijk we1 zien en hooren, maar
deze aarde.                -.                                       nimmer opmerken of verstaan. En dat is `onbeschrijfe-
          Hier Op aarde is en zijn er we1 Koninkrijken, maar lijk rampzalig: Dan is alles U tegen,' want IGod is U
   .ik moest- ze eigenlijk niet geschreven hebben met een           tegen. Ik kan er  niet  genoeg   inkbmen.   ."
   hoofdletter.        Dat zij.n ze niet waard. Zij hebben               Vreesejijke dingen van de wrake,  Gods .zitten er in.
   allen hun  oorsprong te  danken   aan Satan. Hij is de                De  toorn.  Gods blijft, verblijft, beklijft  ,over   `de-
 opperste  Prins van alle aardsehe  koninkrijke'n.           Hij    zulken tot in alle eeuwigheid. '
  inspire&t de volkeren, de machthebbers der  wereld,                    0, niet te verstaan de verborgenheid des  .Konin-
  `,den mensch der zonde.                                           k     r      i    j    k    s    !
          Er is ook 6Bn wet in al die koninkrijken. Het is               Beter, veel bete?, die moleqsteen  om den nek, en in
   `(de wet der zonde `en des doods":.  Er zijn vele vormen         de diepten der oceanen !
  ,`van de koninkrijken der aarde, doch dit karakteriseert                                      *  *  *  .Q
   allen: zij zijn tegen God.en Zijn Gezalfde. Het  zijin                Het lieflijke Koninkrijk der hemelen!
   zondige koninkrijken. "'                                              Lieflijk, als het ons gegeven is' om te. verstaan de
          Maar dit is bet- Koninkrijk (Gods.                        verborgenheid &van.
          En het is ook het Koninkrijk der hemel&.                       Vreeselijk, a& de .dingen van. dat wondere Konin-
          Dit Koninkrijk heeft God tot een Koning; in het `krijk slechts geschieden voor mij. . Want dan zie en
   aangezicht van Jezus Christus den Heere. Deze laatste hoor ik die diqgen wel, doeh ik bemerk en ve&ta .er
  heeft het  Kotiinkrijk,  het regiment, de  regeermacht            geen zier van. Ik  zie. en,  hoor genoeg om  mij. alle
 ontvangen van God, omdat Hij het verdiende. `Ge kunt onschuld te benemen, doch niet genoeg om. mij te be-
   het ook 266 zeggen: ,dit Koninkrijk van God is tevens            keeren  en om te .ervaren,  dat mij cle xonclen vergeven
   van Jezus Christus, want God heeft het doen zakken               fworclen!
   en zinke? op het reine, lieflijke, en gehoorzame bloed                La&t ons eens zien : de. dingen van' het Koninkrijk
   van. Jezus Christus.                                             Gods geschieden door gelijkenissen.
          Dit Koninkrijk is het Koninkrijk der hemelen, om-              Wat mag dat beteekenen?
   dat 8.de ,herkomst, de Koning, de wet, de burgers, en                 Dat bet@ekei?t  dit: In het algemeen; dat de dingen
   alle karaktertrekken  ervan hemelsch zijn..                      van het eeuwige Koninkrijk door de tijdelijke, aard-
          Dit  Koninkfijk komt ons toe vanuit Gods Raad,            sche, natuurlijke dingen afgespiegeld worden.  De g'e-
   waar het uitgedaeht is; tezamen met al zijn historie             heele ~ aarde met al haar geschiedenis is een symbool,
 t en  alIe zijn  bijzonderheden,  tot in het geringste( ?)         6&n machtig symbool van het Koninkrijk Gods. Let er
   onderdeel toe.'                                                  eens op,. als ge de moeite ( ?) nemen zou, om de ruim
          De virervi-g tot dat Koilinkrijk is door den Heiligen' dertig   gelijkenissen,  die Jezus  uitsprak, in hun  ver-
   $Geest  van Jezus Christus, qitgestort op den .Pinkster-         band te bestudeeren, +oe al ,de relaties en. betrekkiggen
   dag. En het zal vervuld worden  op. den dag van den van het aardsche leven door Jezus gebruikt worden,
   H e e r e   J e z u s .   -                                      om ons iets te vertellen  v&n  bet. Koninkrijk Gods.
          Daarom leest ge keer ?p keer, dat dit Koninkrijk          Soms  komen; die gelijkenissen  voor in groepen, en
   aan `t komen is. Ge moogt zeggen, dat het ingeluid is dan zegt  Jezus keer op keer : Het Koninkrijk der
   van het oogenblik der sche.pping af aan. tStraks llopen hemelen is gelijk  aan. e  ? . en dan volgen die groepen
   we daarop terug te komen.                                        van gelijkenissen,


                                               *          T          H             E                STAND;ARD   BEAR,ER  :i              38'7

              In bet bijzonder, hier in deze.gelijkenis,  zegt Jezus,              Dat zijn de uitverkorenen ten eeuwigen leven.
          dat de dingen van het Koninkrijk Gods den goddeloozen                    Dat volk ontviilg een geestelijk gezicht. op de ditigen
          geschieden door gelijkenissen.                                       van Gods Koninkrijk. Zij zien `dat Koninkrijk zelf,
           Daar zit iets zeer vreeselijks in.  De&t U een god- omdat zij yedergeboren zijn: Joh. 3.
          delooze boer, die zijn zaad zaait. Hij gaat door de                      En zij verstaan ook. de  averborgenheid van dat
          zelfde beivegingen  `en ervaringen die door Jezus in de Koxiinkrijk.                             '
     . gelijkenis geschetst werden. Als ,die boer ietwat intel-                   ' Wat is die verborgenheid?
          lectueel  uitgevtillen  is, kon hij we1 een dissertatie  schrij-         Paulus  heeft  he%  aan Timotheus verteld. Het. is
          ven over de zaai'ing en het vierderlei resulta&. M,erkt  dit : God, `geopenbaard in het vletisch !
          ge he$. we1 hoe goed die man `gezien en gehoord heeft ?                  Het is dit:  toen er geen weg meer was om  `Gods,
          Ziende ziet hij en hoorende ,hoort hij.                               volk tot in Zijn Goddelijk Hart te brengen, toen heeft
              I-ret wordt nog vreeselijker in de gelijkenis van God een weg bedacht in Christus Jezus.-
          het onkruid en het goede graan. Er zijn a!tijd boeren                    Dit is het : toen wij in ,Gods aangezicht sloegen in
          die in het najaar aan `t  branden gaan. Het onkruid arren moede, toen heeft God die vreeselijke schuld en
     ,was bijeen gegaard en is  goed droog.  Eh nu  neemt zonde op Zichzelf gelgd, en  toen is Hij Zelf naar de
          hij een lucifertje  .om  bet  alles  aan  te steken.        Het he1 gegaan voor U eil voor mij, in den Zoo? Zijns w,el-
     brandt. Hij staat er bij, en keurt het goed ! Is `t niet behagens in de  mgnschelijke  natuur.  '
          vreeselijk? ,Hij`staat daar op zijn veld bij.een gelijke-                En toen. zijn die bevoorrechte uitvqkorenen,  die in
     nis van de hel, met zijn verschrikkelijke verbranding.                     zichzelf   nie'cs  beter.  waren dan de anderen, voor die
          ,Ge ktint nog verder gaan. Die ongelukkige staat bij                  openbaring  van  Gods  verborgenheid.gaan   staan.  Zij
          een gelijkenis van zijn eigen verbranding in de tweede                staan daar' en blijven er staan tot in alle eeuwigheid.
          dood, en h?j Jceuyt het goed! `.Ziende zag hij en hoorende Zij  ,&aan  random  het  kruis van  Jezhs  die  daar  hangi
          hoorde hij van. Gods Koninkrijk en in natuurlijken,                   ,te brullen in diepe,  w?nt eeuwige  duisternig. En
          aardschen, tijdelijken zin, en keurde het alles goed.                 zij  willen niets anders hooren hier  op,  aarde,  dan
     `Natuurlijk! Want al Gods werken zijn  goed en  lo-                        die verborgenheid van het Koninkrijk Gods. Zij wil-
          gisch ! Er kleeft niets ongerijmds  aan. Dat ~21 de len niets anders`hooren, dan Jezus  Christus en Dien
          geheele kosmos straks zien en zullen alle duivelen en                 gekruist.    En. dat  zullen zij  willen zien. tot in  alle
          goddeloozen toestemmen.                                              `eeuwigheid. En dat  zullen zij ook zien.  '  En niets
              Velen zijn `er geweest die zich gestoot&  hebben,                 anders. Denkt aan dat lammetje, staande als geslacht
          beide aan dezen tekst, en aan hen die dezen tekst willen              in  bet  midden  van  ,den  troop..  In het  midden,` want
          handhaven.              D .                                           da.ar richt zich al .de belangstelling van (Gods volk en
              Dan zeggen zij : zoo is er geen verant&oordelijk- vail Gods &gelen op.
          &id voor den verworpen mensch.             ~                . .          En zij zien op die verborgenheid om slechts  &n
             Maar let er op: zij zien, ziendk; zij hooren, hoorende.            reden. En die  B&e  reden is, omdat dat aanzien zoo
          M.a.w.,-ze  hebben het  goed verstaan, En zij keuren                  onbeschrijfelijk is. Denkt hier  aan de beschrijving
          het ook goed.                                                       ' van  den `"allerkostelijksten  Steen  jaspis".,  Jaspis is
              Past het nu toe.                                                  de kleur van Gods licflijke hart in Christus Jezus den
              Straks zien en bemerken zij  ; straks hooren en                   Heere. Dat t+ zien` is ,de jubel des geluks. Dat te zien
          verstaan zij, dat God Zijn oogst binnenhaalt in de is de hemel, daar boven bij God.
          eeuwige scheuren.       Straks ziet de duivel, dat  #Gods                Ten slotte, let er nu ,op, dat men h@t Evangelie des
          volk  schittert  in. groote lieflijkheid. En dan  zullen E(ononkrijks hier gepreekt ziet door den besten Predi-
          de. duivelen en de. goddeloozen 66k zien, dat zij zelf ier le
                                                                                    d  ooit Zijn tekst 
                                                                                        '                  verkoor: En,dat is Jezus Chris-
          verloren gaan,  verbrand  worden  met een eeuwige  tUS,  de  Zone  Gods.
          verbranding.                                                           . En Hij predikt door ,gelijkenissen met het voor6p
              En hier iS het punt: zjj zullen-dat eeuwiglijk goed-              gezette doel, met .het tweelgdige  doel, om te trekken
          keuren, .even zooals zij de gclijkenissen goedgekeurd de gekenden, en om te verharden de verworpenen.
          hebben op aarde.                                                         Er zit, een schoone  les in deze preek van Jezus.
              Verstaan en bemerkt hebben -ze het in bloot natuur--..               De les is. deze : Het Evangelic is naar de intentie
          lijken zin. En  PauhiS zegt er  dit  .van': opdat  zij'.niet Gods, aan de eene zij,de ,een openbarende,, trekkende,
          te verontschuldigen zouden zijn.                                      zaligmakende  macht; en,  near de andere zijde, een
              Verschrikkelijke, geestelijke blindheid !                         verbergende, verhardende  en oordeelende  macht en
              Ontzettend. oordeel over den schuldigen, verkeerden, kracht  Gods.  _  _
          goddeloozen, verworpen mensch.                  j  r                    Jezus wist nooit van een aanbod van genade aan
                                   *  4  *  *                                   allen  .die onder Zijn Woord  kwameq.
     ,        Maar er zijn -er altijd ge&e&t die verstonden de,                    &aat ons niet wijzer willen _zijn dan Jezus, maar
          verborgenheid  vali het  Koninkrijk Gods.                             aanbidden, aanbidden !-                       _  :GT.Jos,.  _

I                                                                                                                                                I


                                                                            t,
             3&                                                             1                                                              T H E                                       ST.ANDARD  B E A R E R

                                                        The  Stqndard  Beare;  1
                               Semi-Monthly, except Monthly in July and August
                                                                            Publis.h.ed   `                                                       B              y
                                           The Reformed Free Publishing Association
                                                                        1463  Axdmore St., S. E.                                                                                                                                 I    Two  L e t t e. r s
                                                            EDITOR:`- Rev. H. Hoeksema.
        Con&ibutin~g  Editors:  - Rev. G. M. Ophoff, Rev. G. Vos, Rev.                                                                                                                                              ' Here follow two letters which I received recently,
        R.  V,eldman, Rev. H. Veldman, Rev.  H..De Wolf, Rev. B. Kok,                                                                                                                                              and which, I think, have precedence over the matters
        Rev. J. D: De Jong, Rev. A. Petter, Rev. C. Hanko, Rev,  I;.                                                                                                                                               I have been engaged in, namely, the Netherlands con-
        Vermeer, Rev. G. Lubbers, Rev. M. Gritters, Rev. J. A. Heys,                                                                                                                                               troversy, and the Rev. II. J. Kuyper series  in  The
       `Rev. W.  Bofman.                                                                                                                                                                            1              Banner.
                  Communications relative a to contents should be addressed to                                                                                                                                        I have attached a brief answer to both letters.
      ' REV. GERRIT VOS, Hudsonville,' Michigan.
                  Communicatiorm  relative to subscription should be addressed                                                                                                                                       `Brother Bessel De Jong writes:
        to MR. GERRIT PIPE, 1463 Ardmore St., S, E., Grand Rapids,                                                                                                                                                 Esteemed Editor of `"The Standard Bearer" :
        Mich. Announcements and Obituaries must be mailed to the
        above address-and will be published at a fee of $1.00 for each
                                                                   ,                                                                                                                                                                  H O W   S T R A N G E
        notice.
                                                        (Subscription Price $2.50 per year)                                                                                                                           Having' read the report of the classical meeting
        Entered as Second Class Mail at Grand Rapids, Michigan.                                                                                                                                                    h.eld April 8, 1948 at Holland, Michigan, I `would like
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   to make the following remarks.
                                                                                                                      .,                                                                                              In the first place in regard, to the answer `a con-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   zistory  received on their request for advice in a disci-
                                                                 -  !,                                                                                                                                             pline case. This request <was ,declared  out of order on
                                                                                                                                                                              `.                                   the single ground given, that they, n.l., this consist&y, .
                                                   -
        .                                                                         CoNTENTS                                                                                                                         had not .takena decision on the matter, and that they
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   further were referred to the definite stand of the  classis
        M E D I T A T I O N ?                                                                                                                                                                                      in this matter.. Now this seems very strange to me,
                             Het Verstaan Van .de Nerborgenheid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...! . . . . . . . . 385                                                                                   n.l., this ground given by classis. Of course no decision
                                      Rev. G. Vos                                                                                                                                                                  was taken ; why ask for advice when it has been deter-
        EDITORIALS-                                                                                                                                                                                                mined what to do in a certain matter? Then there' is.
                            Two Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l................................  388 certainly no need for asking advice. I was always of
                                      Rev. G. Vos                                                                                                                               -                                  the opinion that a classis was an advisory body, where
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   a consistory could come with their problems,,. which
        THE  TRIPLE KNOWLEDGE-                                                                                                                                                                                     they themselves could not satisfactorily solve. But I
                             An Exposition of the -Heidelberg Catechism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 391
                              R e v .   H .   H o e k s e m a                                                                                                                                                      seem to .be mistaken ; we must make decisions on mat-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ters first, and then ask for advice what to do. Is this
             .              Van Boeken :.T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393 the right conception of Art. 41 D.K.O.?
                                      Rev. H. Hoeksema                                                                                                                                                                For someone a certain thing may seem to be simple,
        OUR  DOCTRI-NE-                                                                                                                                                                                            because. he stands on the ,outside, but for those involved
                             God's Covenant'and  The Promise ..: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394                                                                         it may be a little more complicated.
                                    `Rev. H. Veldman                                                                                                                                                                 Besides we possess not all the wisdom of Solomon,.
                                                                        I  :                                                                                                                                       therefore we have our broader gatherings (at least
        THE DAY OF SHADOWS-                                                                                                                                                                                        should have). I for one was very much disappointed
                  A b i g a i l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 398
                                      Rev. G. M. Ophoff                                                                                                                                                            with the attitude of classis in this case. -Why not at
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   least ask the reason for this request.
        S T O N ' S                                                               ZANGEN-                                                                                                                             I think it not. very brotherly `when a  cons&tory
                             Majesteit En Heerlijkheid . . . . . . . :.: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 401                                                 seems to have a problem. to deal with, to tell them
                                      Rev. G. Vos                                                                                                                                                                  simply. "go home and be warm", instead of reaching
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   out the helping hand: It. sure does not. strengthen the
     F R O M   H O L Y   W R I T -                                                                      ,
*                                                                                                                                                                                                                  confidence in each other, neither the, consciousness of
                             We And Our Children, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  ;.404
                                      Rev. C. Hanko                                                                                                                       . .                                      unity.
                                                                                                                                            .:                                                                        Secondly, this consistory was referred to a decision
     .   P E R I S C O P E -                                                                                                                                                                                       of classis, or definite stand, which was taken years ago,
                             Holland Immigration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  .,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                                                                                                                                                         406       not considering the many changes, developments, com-
                               `. Rev. J. D. De Jong                                                                                          *'
                                     .                                                                                                                                                                             plications in these years. Are we probably afraid to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   discuss the matter anew? Could it maybe reveal-things


                                          !i'H@  S T A N D A R D   BEARER                                                   389

      and conditions we do not like? Or persons we like to          has taken a stand, we have to treat you. In other
      spare for various reasons? But that would be partial w-ords,  in all delicate cases, where a  con&story  is
a     and that we may not be. If this is the right way to `afraid to burn its fingers, they could hide behind a\
      treat a request for' advice, then Art. 41 D.K.O. has to       decision of PAPA, that is, the Classis.
      my mind no. sense whatsoever.                                    d. If you should ask: but what is the use then of
          I like to make also another remark in regard to the       question 4 under article 41? Then my answer would
      "Overture of Creston".                                        be, first, that yen' witnessed an. example of the use of
          How strange that classis could -not find a single this question during our last  C'lassis  gathering. A
      ground.. for .rejecting Creston's request, and neverthe-      Church asked for advice, and they received it. Classis
      less, rejects it, grounds or no grounds. And a few said : we have not the right in a concrete case to simply
      days later we could read abundance of grounds in the          lay down a rule for you to follow. You, the Consistory
      Standard Bearer. Strange that at once light came,             are enjoined by Christ the King, to institute censure
      whereas at classis it was dark as night. I wonder what in this case of an offending brother.               Second, the
      synod must do now with this document.            It seems     question 4 is asked with. respect to the right pro-
     strange to me that only four of the consistories had a         cedure to follow in the government of your church,
      report on this matter, whereasalso the others had the         or relative the interpretation of  L an article of the
      opportunity to discuss  it. before the  classis. And al-      Church  order. But at no time may the  Classis take
      though there were three in'favor, and one opposed to it,      the initiative in a censure case.
      and the others had no official report, -it was neverthe-         e. I do not like the insinuations which, crept into
      less rejected without grounds. Strange indeed ! We your article. You are judging  .motives, and by impli-
      insist upon having all instructions sent to the various `cation and insinuation, you are painting a bad picture
     consistories, and when this is, ,done 4 out of 12 pay          of the brethren that constituted Classis East at its last
      seemingly no attention to it. This also does not indi- gathering.  Yo,u said  :, "Are we afraid'to discuss the
      cate -much mutual interest. I still believe that the matter anew? Could it maybe reveal things and con-
      paper formulated by Creston's consistory will not be          ditions we do not like? IOr persons we like to spare
      in vain, regardless of the d,ecision of classis, and we do    for various reasons ??' All such judging can work out
      well to consider the implications of both sides.              is, first,. self-righteousness ; second, bitterness ; and,
         When a consistory is called upon `to inform the third, grieving of the Spirit of God. If you. know of
      congregation as. to financial matters, before taking concrete cases that are corrupt, say so, and follow the
      action, is a classis or synod so much higher body with `golden rule of Matthew 18, and `if that does not help,
      much more authority, so that they can lay burdens on the way of consistory, classis, synod.
      the people without their opinion or consent,?
         I sure believe that our people .are`willing to give,          1. In re the Creston overture, would answer you :
     even to sacrifice it need ,be, but they should and must           .a. That the 6 or 7 consistories which failed to give
      be informed as to the necessity of it, and not simply         a definite answer to the overture which was sent to
     `told to pay.                                                  them for study and decision by classis, are at fault.
                                            Hessel De Jong.         If we had  ,done so,  classis might have acted differ-
                                                                    ently than they did now.
     Subscript:                                                        b.  Thtit your last question is answered. in our recent
         I would answer this latter as follows:                     editorial when we stated that any person, or consistory
         1. As to the advice  wh.ich Classis East gave to a         ha.s the right to protest against any decision of synod
      Consistory  i                                                 which they think is not' according to the Holy Scrip-
         a. This matter has occurred time and again. A tures, the Confessions, or the. Church Order.
      Consistory would come to Classis with its problem of                                                       G. Vos.
      censure, and `expected Classis to take a stand anent
      the sin or sins committed.                                                                           '
         b. But this whole  idea,`is incorrect. Art. 41 does        Brother Van Putten writes:
      not have that meaning;. -' Note that the second question
      implies that the consistory exercises discipline, which D,ear  E d i t o r :
      is also agreeable to articles 71-80. These latter articles       In re Creston overture, and the question as such;
      show clearly that the Consistory is the,body  that insti- `please allow me a little space in the Standard Bearer
      tutes discipline.'         -                                  on : "Delegated, and/or Assumed Power".
         c. Suppose that a .Classis would give such advice             I can see the value of Creston's IOverture. However
      .to a Church. In such case a consistory could. simply I believe they should have stated their objections clear-
      hide behind' such action of Classis,  and say to the of-      ly in protest, rather than to come with a beclouded sort
      fending brother : we hate to do it, but since the Classis     of, advice. I cannot see any cause for alarm in re our
                                                                                          *


      '390                                 .THB  S'r.ANbAliD  B E A R E R

      rules of order on this point, as I believe they are fool-      There `isn't anything wrong here. They then have
      proof enough to avoid what Creston's Consistory fears          done a fine piece of work to report progress. However,
      tebe the ease. However this does not say that in spite if this extra  proposecl project is. not known to the
      of this fact, that the Synod may be guilty of asaumecl churches at ail; and the Synod passes on it without
      power, or- of exercising a power it does not possess.          the hmoiuleclge a%cl approval of the churches; then the
      What other power does a  Classis, or  /Synod possess           Synoll  e?+rs.  This committee appointed, works on an
      then delegated power? None ! To maintain the other,            adopted  project, which is the will of the churches,
      would be equivalent to upholding the Christian Re-             (delegated power). But if this committee comes with
      formed, as well as the Reformed Churches of the                something foreign to the churches, and proposes same
      Netherlands `in their hierarchical powers (although to Synod ; and then the Synod just adbpts this to make
      we would not mean to do so) we would then have a               it binding without due regard of the churches, then
      greater-greater  consistory  which has power within blame the Synod foi this. They should have known
      its own bounds &part from the churches to do as it. better than to assume  po'wer  they do not possess.
      deems fit. True: Synod is not obligated to first ask           Rather than passing. this measure they should have
      all the churches if it may raise the assessment of the         referred it to the churches for study and adoption at
      churches in accordance with the needs of an establtihecl       a later date. The rtiles of order are not at fault here
      prbject, if and when this- amount remains within the           either, for mission. activity is an adopted measure, of
      reasonable  scope of ability to pay,  .for the accepted the churches ; and the synod&al d&legates have the right
      or proposed projects with which our churches are               of the churches (standing right) to deal with this
      acquainted.' .,This is self-evident, because Synod repre-      project  seniibly,  reasonabl-y, with wisdom, for the
      senting the churches at large is delegated with this           welfare of God's Kingdom ;-bit not beyond the reason-
      power to ,do just' those things because this belongs to able ability of the churches to pay. That is, one mis-
      its jurisdictipn so to do, since it pertains to the well-      sionary; not two, unless the churches are aware of this,
      being of the churches at large,  as also because no            and have. sci proposed to do. Then this second mission-
:     classis can represent the churches -at large. However,         ary naturally was not ; nor has ever been on the agenda
      in the final analysis, Synod has yet no more than of the churches, classis nor Syndd, and is a misnomer
      del;egatecl  pow.&. That is to say, they (synod) only.         (as far as the, clelegatecl  power is concerned), and the
     ..decidk together on those issues which were born within        delegates have received no power to act on same. Thus
the_ heart  of. the  churches, proposed to, or through               it will- have to be  refeired to the churches.           If so
       classis to Synod since they affect the churches at adopted  -by the Synod (just because the committee
      large, and of necessity belong to that gathering of the        proposed it) then I would like to have anyone make it
       churches. But all that is to be treated there must            plain where this power was acquired to do so. I don't
      appear. on the agenda. of Synod, through the proper think that the D.K.d. allows this; neither our rules of
      channels, in accordance with, the D.K.O., or the rules         order;  .just so (when we read these rules) we bear
      61 order, etc.                                                 in mirid at ali tim.es, that the delegate has only gelegated
              I hear some one say: "This we all know".  Hoti-        and no other power. And if we bear this in mind it
      ever I'm not to certain of this. For as it appeared            seems to me the difficulty will be solved. Any adopted
      from what I have read so far on' this subject in the           project t&at has come from out of the bosom of the
      Standard Bearer, and `also Classical R,epo?t ; then I          church, having appeared on the agenda at one time or
      gather that there  is a difference of opinion on  delegated    another can lawfully be treated at Synod, acted upon,
     vs. assumecl power, and what power Synod really does            etc., for which our delegates to Synod receive power "
      possess. My answer to this is : only delegated pow& ;          each time again, and we full'y trust them to act wiSely
      and let us not forget this either! This is very, very          with discretion and with ' reason ; and when so done
      important! For as ioon as we pass by, or lose sight there pvill be few or no protests. I cannot ,see where
      of. this fact then we'll have plenty high-hand&d power Synod is0 hamstrung at any time if and when it acts
      coming down from the TOP ( ?) ruling over the chur- on tile proposed measures before them. After all no
      ches at large, which will provoke plenty protest, bitter-      one would maintain that the Synod has a collegistic
     ness and havoc which may never be done.                         power.    The Synod only represents the churches at
              If it is true (?) that the Synod of 1947 has over-     large to do,what they would have them do. `Of course
      stepped its bounds ; then we should not blame the              always to bear in mind that this. must remain within
      committeeh,   op committee,  b&t the Synod. After all,         a reasonabie outlay of money `of which the churches
      the committee may come with its work (for which it             can approve, and afford to, pay. But if the` SynocL  takes
      has beefi appointed) and lay their reports and findings        on an  assume,cl  poiuer,  insteacl  of  a  clekegatecl  power,
      before the.Byliod  ; as also the committee certainly may then the result will be to end up where the churches
     also propose to have two missionaries, instead of one,          in the Netherlands find themselves ; as also where we
     if they find it- would. be to so much <better advantage.        :zow find ourselves due to the assumed power of the
                                                   ,


                                                  T &I E       S T A ND A R D.. B.E-,A,R  E R                                     391

     Christian Reformed Churches in 1924. Large fires
have small beginnings. Let's be careful. It isn't a
question of raising the assessments from $5.00 to                               THE TRIPLE  `KNOWEDGE
$12.00, for that can be borne if this is for an adopted
project;  or a properly proposed project proposed by
the churches.  But the point of argument is (as it                            An Exposition :Of The Heidelberg
     seems to me) how far dare we as.Synod go outside of
what the churches have proposed to do. And then I                                                 Catechism
     say: Ride it out of order, to be act& upon; and refler                                _
     it to the churches first So you will have power delegated                                     PART TWO
to act on same, and thus preserve and establish the
welfare and pe&ce of the churches, and God's blessing                                            Lord's Day XXIII'
     will rest upon us.                                 H. Van Putten.                                   3Y.
                                                                                     ,THE  <GROUND   O F   JU!STIFICATION
     SUBSCRIPT :                                                                          (cont. from page 441, Voi. 23)
         My answer can be very short here: To my know-
     ledge, the last Synod nor  allyone writing in  def,ense                     Such -is, eSide'ntly, the implication of the Scripture
     or in criticism of that Synod, his taken the stand that .in Romans 4 :25 : "Who was delivered for our trans-
     Synod has assumed power. We all take the Reformed gressions, and was raised again for our justification."
     stand that all power of Synod is delegated her by the                    Christ, we must remember, went into death, not for
     churches.                                                                His own but for and with our sin. He knew no sin.
                                                                G. Vos.  /    But he was made  sin for us. Never could He have
                                                                              been raised from the dead if He had not fully atoned
        D                                                                     for our transgressions and satisfied the justice of God.
                               `IN MEMORIAM .                                 He would have been swallwed up of death. But God,
                                                                              by raising Him from the dead, gave Him testimony
             It pleased our heavenly Father to take  away from us our         that, as the head of His people, He <vas righteous, and
     dear mother, grandmother, and  great-grandmothey,                        therefore we are righteous in Him. Herice, the resilr-
                           MRS. ANDREW KNOTT                                  rection  of Christ  iS the Word of God  cblicerning our
                                                                              justification.  And : "If thou shalt confess with thy
     at the age of ,S7 years, who passed away April 29, 1948.                 mouth the fiord Jesus,-and shall believe iti thine heart
                                          Mr. and Mrs. Peter Knott            that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
                                          Mr. and Mrs. John Kerk.stra         saved." Romans  10:9.
                                          ,Mr. .and Mrs. Henry Knott
                                     -_ Mr. and Mrs. John Knott                  (And this righteousness of God in Christ is an
:                                             23 grandchildren  '             &ernal righteousness, worthy of:eternal  life. Adam in
     Grand  Rapzds. Michigan.                .22 great-grandchildren.         the state of re`ctitude  was righteous, too. He w$s with-
                                                                              out sin. And therefore he, too,. was worthy of  life?
                                                                              And he did live and, in the way of obedience, lie would,
                                                                              no  `doubt have continued to live. But his life was
                      25th  WEDDING ANNIVERSARY                               earthy, and never could he have been foUnd worthy of
             On Wednesday,' June 2, 1948, the Lord willing,                   that higher state which' the Bible calls eternal life,
                                                                              and which could be attained only through the death
                            WIzLLIAM  BRUMMEL                                 of the Son of God. Not only was it impossible for
                                      and                                     Adam to have attained to that higher glory in the
                        MARY, BRUMMEL (nee Voss)                              heavenpi  tabernacie, but it was equally impossible
hope-to celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversary.                             for him to have merited it. But Christ is worthy of
             We, their grateful children, thank our covenant God that  j the resarrcction, of life eternal. He is the Son of God
     it has been His &ll to spare them for each other and us through          in human nature. And He humbled Himself deeply,
                                                   \
     these yeam.                                                              into death and hell, in perfect obedience of love. Hence,
        "He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him."               it w& entirely according to the justice of God that,
                                                           Proverbs 30:5      in the same measure that He humbled Himself He
                                                                              should  be highly exalted and attain to the state of
                            Arlene Ruth and fiance Thomas A. Rhoda            immortality  and eternal glory. Such  is the teaching
                            `Deane Mae                                        of Philippians 2 :6-11: "Who being in' the form of God,
*Grand Rapids, Michigan.                                                      thought it no robbery to be equal. with God : But made


3 9 2                               T H E   S T - A N D A R D   B E A R E R
               .                                                                                I
himself of no reputation,~ and took upon him the form between Adam as the head of all mankind and Christ
of a servant, aid was made in the likeness of men:           as the Head of the elect. If through the  offence of
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled him+         one many be ,dead, the grace of God and the gift by
self: and became obedient unto death, even the death grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, has there-
of the cross. Wherefore  rGod.also hath highly exalted fore abounded unto many; and the free gift is of
him, and given him .a name which is above every name :. many offences .unto justification; and "as .by the of-
That at the name of Jesus. every knee should `bow, fence of one judgment came upon 311 men to condemna-
of things in heaven and things in earth, and things tion ; even so by the righteousness of on& the free gift
under the earth ; And that =&very tongue should con- came upon all men unto jutitification of life. For as .
fess that Jesus  .Christ is Lord to the glory of God by one man's disobed?&ce.  many were made sinners,
the Father." Christ's righteousness is an everlasting so by the obedience of dile shall mzlny be made right-
righteousness, and in Him we .are worthy of eternal          eous." Romans  5:.X-19.  Hence, in His death Christ
life.                                                        stands before God as the Head of all the elect. He
    This righteousness is imputed to us. The Cate- suffers and dies on account of our transgressions, and
chism explains, that We are righteous only through is raised on account of our justification.                 (In  .the
faith in Jesus Christ, "so that,`though  my conscience original we have here  dia with the accusative, and,
accuse me, that I have grossly  .transgressed  all the therefore, the preposition for should, strictly speak-
commandments of God, and kept ndne of them, and ing, be gendered on account of.)                     According to this
am still inclined to all `evil ; notwithstanding, God, with- relationship of Christ and His people, :t is according
out any merit of mine, but only of mere grace,. grunts to perfect. justice that the righteousness of Christ is
and &nputes to me, the perfect satisfaction, righteous-- imputed, to us.
ness atid holiness of Christ; even so,' as if I never had       Hence,, we can distinguish several steps in. our
had, nor committed any sin: yea, as if I had fully justification..                       -           .
accomplished all that obedience which Christ has  ac-           First of all, we can speak of our justification from
`complished for me." The question is : how is this im- et&nity. We are justified in the decree of election
putation possible? Is there not rather a double in- from before the foundation of the world. About this
justice involved in this reckoning of Christ's righteous- truth there was at one time a dispute in R&formed
ness to us? Christ, the innocent, the perfectly kight-       Churches. Some, evidently afraid to over-emphasize
eous, is condenined to death and hell ; and we, guilty the counsel of God, maintained that' one could speak
sinners, go free and are considered worthy of eternal only  df justification by. faith. They denied eternal
life. Would.not such imputation, in any human cpurt justification. The Conclusions of Utrecht settled this
of justice, be considered the height of injustice? How matter as.follows  : `"Concerning the second point, the
then can God justify the ungodly by simply imputing eternal justification, Synod declares that this expres-
a. righteousness which is .not ours, but which Christ sion itself does not occur in our Confessioiis, but that
hath obtained for us, to them? In this connection we on that'account  it may not be disapproved any more
must remember that Christ and His people are before than the expression Covenant of Works and such like, '
God a legal corporation of which He is the Head and which are `simply theological terms; that it is incor-
all His people are the members. This corporation was rect to say that our Confessions know only of a justifi-
established by God Himself in His eternal election.          cation out of and through faith, seeing that both the
We are chosen in Christ before the foundation of the Word of God in Romans 4:25 and our Confession in
world. Eph. 1:4. In the same way Adam is the .head Article 20 emphatically speak of an objective justifica-
of all mankind in the legal sense .of t$e word. In that tion sealed in the resurrection of Christ, which, in
capacity he sins for all, and in him we  tire all con- order of time, precedes subjective justification ; and
demned. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered .into further, as concerns the case itself, all our churches
the world, and death by sin ; and so death passed upon heartily believe and confess that Christ in the counsel
a!1 men, for that all have sinned." And again:. "For of peace has given Himself from eternity as sur&y-for
the judgment was by one to condemnation.". And His people, and has taken their guilt upon Himself,
again : "By one man's disobedience many we& made even as He thereupon, through His suffering and death
sifmers." Romans 5 :12, 16, 17, 18, 19. From all these on Calvary gave Himself a ransom for us and recon-
passages  it is plain that thdre was a legal relation ciled us with `God, while we were still enemies ; but
between Adam and the human race, so that they that it must, be maintained just as definitely, on the
formed a corporate body of which Adam was ihe head basis of the Word .of ,God and of the Confessions, that
and all men are the members.  -The same is true of we, personally, become partakers of this benefit only
Christ and the elect. In this respect Adam is the by a true faith ; reason why the Synod karnestly warns
figure of  l%m that was to come.  Remans  5:14. And against every presentation of the matter which either
`the apostle Paul, in the same chaiter, draws a parallel     denies the eternal sukety  of Christ for His elect or the


  I                                   THE  S T A N D A R D   .BE&kER'                                                   393

  demand of a true faith to ,become justified before God               .-
  in the tribunal of the c&science."                                                Van, Boekei
       And this is' correct.                                  ON.& G%LOOFSBELIJD&NIS,  CZOOY~ J,. G. Feenstru.          .
        We ,do not become righteous before Gag in $ime, by Uitgever : J. H. Kok, N. V., Kampen, Nederland.
  faith,- but  we,  are righteous in the tribunal of  ,God
 from before the founclation'of the world. ,God beholds          Dit boek, dat bijna vijfhonderd  bladzijden beslaat,
  us in eternity, not as sinners, but ai perfectily  right- is een verklaring van onze Nederlandsche  Geloofs-
 eous, as redeemed, as justified in Christ. Hence, we belijdenis. Het is  &genlijk veel meer  clan een  ver-
  read in Numbers 23:21: "He bath not beheld iniquity klarjng ; veeleer is het een beknopte, op de Confessie
  in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel." gegronde dogmatiek. Het is daardoor zeer rijk van
  And in Isaiah 49 :`16 : "Behold, I have graven thee upon inhoud.           Tech is het zeer  populair,  in glashelderen
  the palms of my hands ; thy walls are -continually be- .stijl geschreven, want Ds. Feenstra heeft de gave om
  fore me." And  in,  Remails  8:29, 30: "For whom he zijne gedachten in heldere bewoordingen weer te geven.
  did foreknow, he also did predestinate'to be' conformed Bovendien heeft hij' de Gereformeerde waarhe$ lief
  to the image of his Son, that he niight be the'-firstborn en is zijn  uitgebFeide  verklaring van de  Belijdenis
  among many brethren. Moreover whom he did pre- zeer zuiver.  Aan al onze lezers, die nog  Holl&dsch
  destinate, them he also called: and whom he called, verstaan en lezen, bevelen wij de studie van dit bo&
 -them  he also justified: and whom he justified, them he gaarne aan. Het zou uitnemend dienst kunnen doen
  also glorified,"                                            als leidraad in onze vereenigingen, die de Nederland-
       And this is, indeed,,the  comfort df faith. Faith in- sche Geloofsbelijdenis  behandelen.
  Christ tak,es hold upon eternity, and knows that thei%         Ekn  opmerkipg.        Het is mij niet  recht duidelijk
  is no condemnation, that there never was condemna-          (waarschijnlijk den  sehrijver zelf ook niet) wat hij
  tion for them whom God hath ju&$ied.                        op pag. 446 schrijft over het "in  Christus  geheiligd".
                                                              van de eerste  doopsvraag :  "Geheiligd in  Christus is
       Secondly, this justification is objectively realized een. verbondsrelatie, die niet `slechts' een uitwendige
  arid historically grounded in the death of Christ. heiliging is, die de inwendige heiliging niet  buiten-
  Christ died  for all the elect. He atoned, once and sluit, maar ook niet altijd insluit, positief tot God
  forever, perfectly for all the sins of those whom the `en Zijn dienst, en negatief tegenover de zonde en de
  Father  has given Him from before the foundation wereld.".
  of the world. Hence, in the hour of judgment on the            Vraag : wat bedoelt de -schrijver `met : "die de in-
  cross  they are all justified forever. Their sins  can wendige heiliging niet buitensluit, maar ook niet altijd
  never be imputed to them anymore, and they have a insluit ?"                                                 H. H.
  right to eternal life. More than nineteen centuries
  ago the debt of their sins was paid, and they are right-                    _
eous before God.                                              BIZONDE CANONIEK VAN DE  BO~KEN VAN HET NIEUWE
       Thirdly, in the  rekurrection  of Christ they, the TESTAMENT. DEEL I. Door Dr.  $`. Greydanus.
  elect, have God's own assurance of justification. For Uitgave van J. H. Kok, N. V., Kampen, Nederland.
  even in  His glorious resurrection. they are in Him,
  and with Him they are risen.                                   Dit is  `geen  populair,  maar een wetenschappelijk
                                                              werk.    Het is het eerste deel van een Inleiding of
        Fourthly, this justification is declared in the Gospel. Isagogiek op de eerste. vijf boeken van het Nieuwe
  For, the Gospel is the declaration of the righteousness; Testament, n.l., de vier Evangeli&,  en de Handelingen
  so that,  iti the  *Gospel,  we have our legal `citizens' &es Apostelen.
 papers in the eternal Kingdoin of #God.                         Zooals te  verwachten  is van Prof.  `Greydafius,  be-
        Fifthly, we `receive this righteousness  _ by faith heerscht het geloof, dat de Bijbel IGods Woord is, ge-
  only, not indeed as if faith were another ground for he!1 het werk. Reeds aanstonds omschrijft hij de
  our justification, but -simply as the means whereby Canoniek als "die wetenschap der Theologie,  welke den
 we are ingrafted. irito ,Christ, and become partakers        Canon. . ; .als met. Go$ldelijk..  gezag bekleeden regel
  of all His benefits. About this question we must say voor ons .geloof en leven. . . . .tot object van qnder-
 more in'the next chapter, in connection with question zoek heeft". . . . En dit standpunt `wordt gehand-
  s i x t y - o n e .                                         haafd do& heel het boek heen. Het werk is de vrucht
        And, finally, we shall.be justified in the revelation of van grondige en degelijke studie, zooals we dat van
  the righteous' judgment of God, when our righteousnesi deli Kamper  hoogleeraar gewoon zijn.
 in Christ shall be universally revealGd and recognized,         :Soms hadden we iets meer verwacht.-  Vooral is dit
  ti.nd. our public adoption unto children and heirs $11 het geval aan het einde van ,des ppofessors  bespreking
 f a k e   p l a c e .                                        van het  synoptisch  prbbleem.
 "                                        H. Hoeksema.          Gaarne bevelen we, dit werk bij onze predikanten


       *394                                         `T H E   S+ANDAR-D  B E A R E R

        aan. Naast de vele "Introductions", die er ten onzen
        reede bestaan, neemt dit werk.wel .een bepaalde plaats                        OUR DOCTRINE
      iti..                                                 ,H. H.
                                    -          -

        DE THEOLOGISCHE C%LTUURB&HOUWING VAN ~AERA-                           God's Covenant and The Promise
*       HAM KUYPER, door Dr. S. J. Ridclerbos.
        Uitgaver J. H. Kok, N. V., Kampen, Nederland.                                             (Romans 9)
               - Dit is een `proefschrift, een  lijvige  disertatie  van       We concluded our previous article with the remark'
        335 bladzijden. Na een historische  ori&.tatie,  handelt that the promise of God, according to Romans 9:6-8,
        de schrijver over de ,Grondslagen*der  Cultuur, pp. 29- is particular and wholly unconditional. It cannot be
        213, waarinpatuurlijk  vooral Kuyper's Gemeene  Gratie .true,  writes the apostle, that the word of God has taken
        besproken wordt. Dan volgen er een paar hoofdstuk- none effect. God's promise never fails. This, applied
        ken over "de uitzichten", en over "`d.e verwerkeling der -to the phenomenon of Israel's rejection, can only be
        cultuur", pp. 214-265: En eindelijk biedt Dr. Ridder- understodd if we bear in mind, in the first place, that
        pas o,m Zijti beoordeeling, tevens inhoudende de critiek "in Isaac shall thy seed be called." The children of
        van anderen.                                                        the flesh are not the children of God ; the natural seed
                Het is jammer', dat Dr. Ridderbos geen notitie ge- of Abraham are not all children; only the children of
        nomen.  heeft van onze critiek op Kuyper's gemeene the promise  .are counted for the seed. Hence, the
        gratie beschouwing vooral zooals die te tinden is in promise of God never fails inasmubh as that promise
        "V3n Zonde en  Genade." Hij  geest er  althans met was never intended for all. And, in the second place,
       ,geen enkel woord blijk van. Dit is des te meer tref-                the promise of God is only intended for the children of
        fend, qmdat  Dr. Hepp, onder wiens begeestering Dr. R. the promise. And the children of the promise are the
        zijn proefschrift  blijkbaar gesclzreven  heeft,. met onze children born of the promise, by the power of the
        critiek tech zeker we1 op de hoogte zal zijn. Ook heeft promise.               Hence, the promise `of. God never fails for .
        Dr. R. het z.g.n. probleem der gemeene gratie niet in it is God Himself Who fulfills His own promise in the
        zijn voile beteekenis doorschouwd.                   H. H.          people of His eternal good pleasure. .
                                    -          -
                                         .-                                    Verses  10:13.  - We quote:  ."And not only this;
                                                                            but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by
      RET BOEK ESTHER, cloor Dr. G. Ch. AaZcZers.                           our father-Isaac;  (for the children being not yet born,
        Uitgever J. G. Kok, N. V., Kampen, Nederland.                       neither having ,done any good or evil, that the purpose
                Deze comtientaar op bet boek Esther behoort in de of God according to election might stand, not of works,
     series  "Korte Verklaring Der Heilige  Schrift".  Ze is but of Him that calleth:) It was said unto her, The
        in  glaslielderen stijl geschreven,  voor' ieder, die nog elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob
      Hollandsch  lezen kan onder ons, leesbaar.                            have I loved, but Esau have I hated."
                De Canonische beteekenis van het Boek Esther be-               Let us note the following facts here. In the first
        schrijft Dr; Aalders  in de volgende woorden : "`Haman's I' place, verse 13 of, this passage of the  Wor:d of  `God
        booze raadslag is in wezen een poging van den duivel must retain its full significance. Attempts have been
        om de komst van den Christus te verhinderen. Wan- made to Weaken this text, to read here: Jacob have
        neer die aanslag gelukt ware, ?ou de .Goddelijke  toe- ~,I loved, but Esau have I loved less. Also Hodge would
        zegging, dat het overwinnend  vrouweilizaad  uit het ascribe this interpretation to verse 13 of this chapter.
        geslacht van Abraham zou geboren worden  niet in ver- This interpretation, however, is impossible. And this
        vulling zijn gegaan. Dan zou de Silo diet uit Juda ge- -is abundantly evident froin Malachi 1 :l-4, where we
       .boren zijn, de Messias i&t-uit  de lendenen van David read : "The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel
      zijn voortgekomen. Het boek Esther teekent ons des- by Malachi.' I have' loved you, saith the Lord. Yet  `,
        halve een geweldige  episode in den ontzaglijken w&s'-, ye' say, Wherein hast Thou loved us? Was not Esau
        telstrijd tusschen de slang enhet.vrouwenzaad,  en het Jacob's brother? saith  the'~Zord;  yet I loved Jacob,
        iaat .ons zien,. hoe het vrouwenzaad over den Satan And I hated Esau and laid his mountains and his
      triumfeert.          D$arin ligtl de groote beteekenis van dit heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.
        boek, daarom, heeft het zijn plaats in den Kanon ; het Whereas Edom saith, We are, impoverished, but we
        predikt ons `den onwederstandelijken heilsraad Gods will return and build the desolate places; thus saith
        tot behoudenis vafi zondaren in Christus, den eenigen the  L.ord  of hosts, They shall  -build,  but I will throw
        en volkomen Zaligmaker."                                            down ; and they shall call them, The border of wicked-
                Dit'is juist gezien.                                        ness, and, Thy people against whom the Lord hath
                ,Gaarne bevelen we dit werkje bij onze lezers  aan.         indignation for ever." The meaning of these words
                                                             H. H.          is clear. The hatred of the Lord toward Esau,  ac,


                                    T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                        395

 cording to this passage, does not merely imply ihat from these historical blessings implied nothing less
 Jehovah loved .Esau less than Jacob, but it is hatred than' the separation from ,God's ete?nal covenant.' There
 which will lay Edom desolate ; yea, they are a people ,was no salvation in the Old Dispensation apart from
 against `whom the  Lor,d hath indignation even for ever. Israel. Hence, the `election of Jacob and the rejection
    -Secondly, this election and reprobation of Jacob of Esau must indeed be regarded as an' election and
 and Esau must be applied to them, personally. The reprobation unto. eternity. Ne_ed  we prove that this
 attempt is made to nationalize their election and  iepro- is the idea of the apostle according to the context?
 bation.  (God, it  is said, would not hate individuals, Does he not write that he could wish himself accursed
 such as Jacob or Esau. ,The words of' the  apostle from Christ for the sake of his brethren according to
 must be understood in a national sense. Jacob and the flesh? Does he not speak of the great heaviness
 Esau are meant here as nations. And even as God's and continual sorrow of  his heart exactly because
 love of Israel as a nation does not imply that all the Israel, as according to the flesh, does not share the
 Israelites were true children of the Lord, so also promise of the Lord, a promise which saves `even unto
 God's hatred of the descenda&  of Esau, Edom, does the uttermost? Besides,,verse  13'speaks of the Z~ve of
 not necessarily imply that all the Edomites were there- the Lord toward Jacob and the hatred of Jehovah upon
 fore children of wrath and of disobedience. In support      Esau. And does not  yerse  11  c+clare of the purpose
 of this view attention is called, first, to the fact that -of God that it according to election m&y stand?
Malachi speaks of Edom, and, secondly, that the Lord            -What <does this passage then teach us with respect
 Himself declares to Rebecca (Gen. 25  :23) that two to our present subj'ect, the particular and unconditional
 nations or peoples would be born of her. To this we ,.character of God's promise? Paul is discussing in
 answer, in the first place, that any interpretation of Romans .9 the Word of promise of `God and asserts that                      ,'
 this passage which would nationalize the exp?ession        that promise did not fail, even though  many Jews
 of verse 13 must necessarily include the two persons,      perished in the wilderness and the nation later was
 Jacob and Esau. We do not deny that Malachi speaks rejected because of its rejection of the Christ; In
 of Edom and that the Lord declares to Rebecca that verses 4-6 he establishes the truth that the promise
.. two peoples would be born of her. However, to these of Jehovah never fails because it is particular and -is
 peoples surely belong the twin brothers, Jacob and realized by the Lord Himself. And in the verses lo-13
 Esab. But, in the second place, the passage in Romans the apostle continues  to- confirm this truth in the
 9 is surely and undeniably  persona&  We read of example of Jacob and Esau. Notice, please; the similar-
 Rebecca and Isaac and of there twin sons, Jacob and ity of Jacob and Esau. They have the same parents.
 Esau, and that the elder- would ,serve the younger. In This could not be said of Isaac and Ishmael. They. are
 the book of Genesis we are told that Rebecca inquired twin brothers and are therefore of the same age. In
 of the Lord before the birth of her two sons. We are fact, Esau is. the older of the two. They have been
 familiar with the answer of the Lord. Surely, what- born and raised in the same-covenant sphere. FrQti a
 ever the Lord told her was literally fulfilled also in natural point of view they liave, therefore, everything
 the lives of her two sons. Besides, Rebecca inquired in common. Why, _ then,. according to the text, did
 of the Lord, did she not, `concerning the two sons that Bsau not receive the promise? Was the promise meant
 were in her bosom and it is with respect to them that for him as well as for Jacob ? Was it a covenant privi-
 Jehovah answers her. And, finally, the apostle, Paul, lege or blessing for' Esau  tha,t he was born in the
 is speaking in this context in Romans 9 of the children sphere of the covenant?- .Is it true that he did not
 of Abraham. He is not speaking here of peoples, of receive the promise because he rejected it? Indeed,
 nations, but of the natural children of Abraham. And he rejected the covenant of the Lord, trampled.it  under
 having spoken in verses 6-8 of Isaac, he continues in foot, and became in that sense a covenant breaker.
 verses lo-13 and calls attention to the individual child- To be sure, he revealed in all his actions. that he desired
 ren of Isaac and Rebecca. Verses 10-13, therefore, no part of the covenant-fellow&p of the Lord, that he                      .
 call our attention to the twin sons of Rebecca.            was carnal and therefore loved the things below rather
    Thirdly, -Jacob's election and Esau's repyobation       than the things above. But, goes this imply that $he
 a.re an election and `reprobation unto salvation. Also promise of the Lord therefore failed in him? Was the
 this has been disputed. What we read here, it is said, promise of eternal life also meant for him and did
 is merely temporary and temporal. Esau, and his the  Lorfl reject him  because he rejected the Lord?
 descendants, too, tias merely rejected in the sense that How clear and. beyond the shadow of every doubt is
 he was cut off from the historical, temporal blessings the answer of the apostle ! .. Paul declares that the
 of the Old Dispensation. This we grant. Esau and Lord hated him before he ever did evil. For, we read,
 his descendants were indeed cut off from the covenant the purpose of IGod accord&g to celection  must stand,
 `of God in the historical, IOld Dispensational sense of that: is, God fulfills `His purpose as He has eternally
the word.,  Byt, to be cut off in the Old Testament willed it. Hence, Jacob and Esau illustrate the sever-                b

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

eignty of God. The promise of Jehovah did not, fail His-mercy and compassion is not prompted by the will
in this instance because it, was Divinely intended only of' man but by His own sovereign will. Notice'; the
for Jacob. `The promise of the Lord is particular and promise is particular and unconditional. The promise
unconditipnal,                                            of salvation is Divinely realized in those to whom the
   Verses 14:18. We quote i "What shall we say then? Lord wills to be merciful, upon whom He wills to be-
.Is there unrighteousness with God? `God forbid. For _ FLOW it.
He saith to Moses, -1 will have mercy on whom I will          In verses 17-, 18 the apostle calls our attention: to
have mercy, and I wili have compassion on whom. I the example of Pharaoh. That the Lord raised up
will have compassion. So then it is not of him that Pharaoh. does not merely mean that. He elevated the
willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of `God that shew- Egyptian  monafch t.o the throne. This would hardly
eth mercy. For  ,th@.  sdripture saith unto Pharaoh, exhaust $he meaning  of the apostle as f8r as the im-
Even for this same purpose have I raised thee tip, that mediate context is concerned. In verse  17 we read
I might sh&w My power + thee, and that My name that the Lord `raised him up in order to shew His
might be de&red throughout all the earth. Therefore power in him and that His name might be declared
hath He mercy on whom He will have `mercy, and            tizroughout  all the earth. And the following verse
whom He will He hardeneth."                               declares that f`whom He will Hehardeneth." All this,
   In the verses 14-16 thb apostle maintains the saver- we say, hardly exhausts the meaning of the apostle
&gn mercy of God and the fact that He is righteous when he declares that the Lord raised up Pharaoh in
because He is `God. The question `which is asked in the sense that He elevated him to the Egyptian throne.
verse 14, "Is .there unrighteousness with God?, knows We must bear in mi.nd that the Lord raised up Pharaoh.
but one answer. And that answer reads: God forbid. Pharaoh, according to the position which he occupies
Is `God unrighteous? . That is an impossible question. in Holy Writ, is the vain, utterly foolish, and wicked
That question arises within the heart of the natural Egyptian monarch, who conceived of the.  nionstrous
man.. ,God is God! He  dcies not merely act righteously. absurdity to question and oppose Jehovah's sovereign-
He is righteousness. IAnd all His acts are verity and ty. As that wicked, monstrously godless, and foolish
judgment. In verses 15 and 16 the sovereign mercy king he was raised up by the Lord. Step by step the
of God is clearly  set, forth. This mercy, we read, is Lord hardened hiti, so that he would increase in his
not of him that willeth, nor- of him that runneth, -but wicked and inconceivable foolishness. It is true that
alone of God that sheweth mercy. And emphatically we  also ?ead in the IScriptures  that he hardened his
we read: "I will have mercy on whom I will have -own heart. Fact is, the Lord  always operates, not  '
mercy, and I will have compassion on whom.1 will have apart  .from or contrary to the will and inclinations
compassion.       Moses, too, was compelled to learn this of .man, but in harmony with the evil heart of man,
lesson in the wilderness. To him also the Lord re- so that the Lord's operation and the lusts and inclina-
vealed that His mercy and- His favor did not rest upon tions of any individual man are always in complete
the entire people that had been delivered out of the liarmony  with each other. Pharaoh, therefore, step
land of Egypt,, but that He would have mercy upon by step increased in his abominable wickedness and,
whom He would have mercy, and that He will have foolishness. But we_ must remember that the Lord is
compassion on whom He will have compassion. Hence, sovereign and that He hardened that monarch's heart,
the teaching of these verses, as far .as the particular sb that Pharaoh, in all his foolishness and wickedness,
and unconditional character of God's promise iS con- was willed as such and raised up bi the living God.
cerned, is clear. Does the mercy of the LoYd  depend Do we not read-that the Scripture said this beforetime
upon us?. Must we first will that mercy and compas- ,to Pharaoh? Did not M&es,  in the name of the Lord,
sion of Jehovah? Dqes it ever depend upon our willing- tell the. Egyptian monarch beforetime what the ILord
ness and headiness  to accept or receive it? And, must would do unto him (Exodus 9 ~13-16)  ? . The hardened
we also pun to the end? This is the Arminian presenta- Pharaoh, therefore, is the fruit of the sovereign opera;
tion, is it not? We must not  only will the mercy of tion of -the Lord. This is in harmony, .not only ,with
God as far'as' our initial receiving of it is concerned, the, Scriptural account in the book of Exoclus,  but also
but we must also contiime &o.will  it unto the end. We with the context. of these words in Romans 9. Only
must not only be willing to begin the race; but we must then cari we understand the apostle when he declares
Z&O' iun that race to iis very end. - The Arminian de-    in verse 18 that "whom He will He hardeneth." And
ciar&, therefore, that it is of him that willeth and of only then do we understand the Word of God when
him that  iutineth. But, what saith the Scriptures? we read in the verses 19-21 of the Potter and the clay.
The Word of the  ,Lord declares unto us that God's           Upon the word -of #God concerriing  the Divine rais-
mercy is upon hind to whom He wills to be" tierciful, ing up of Pharaoh follow the well-known words of,
and His compassion is ppon him to whom He wills td verse 18: "Therefore hath He mercy on whom He
shew compa&ion.  -`God, therefore, in the bestowal of will have mercy, and whom He will He  h,ardeneth." '


                                          T H E   S T A N D A R D       B E A R E R                                     397

       From a certain point of view these words are a repeti-     repliest  against ,God ? Shall the thing formed Say fd
      tion of what we read in verses 15-16. Both-passages him' that formed it, Why ha& thou mad& -`me thus?
      `speak of the sovereign mercy of the .Lord. The differ- Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same
       ence between these passages, however, is worthy `of lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto
       note. In verse 18 the apostle adds: "and whom He dishonor ?"
       will He hardeneth." This latter thought; we readily           Let us note the foll&ing." "rhe question of verse 19,
       un.derstand, receives all the emphasis in  connection      asked by the natural man to refute the truth of the
       &h what we read in the Scriptures concerning Phar- Lord's absolute sovereignty, is .a wicked question and
     aoh. We probably  might not be too hesitant to sub- <devilishly untrue. The wicked sinner here, if you
       scribe to the first part of ve?sf: 18. If asked whether    please, presents the truth as if h& would `serve the
     . the mercy of the L&d is sovereign we probably would Lord but cannot because he cannot resist God's will,
       not hesitate to give an affirmative answer. However, as if God ever works contrary to the will of man as a
      we' might be hesitant to subscribe .to the second part moral-rational agent. This is surely the wicked import
     of this particular text. To say that the sovereign.will 01 the question asked in this text.. It is a fact, how-
       of God is $he cause of our salvation is not difficult. ever, that thege is never any cojnflict between God and
       But, we shrink back from the declaration tha& the will man. The Lord always works sovereignly but also
       of the Lord, is also the sovereign &use of the unbelief always through man as a  moral agent. Never does
       and wickedness of the sinner. The Arminian certainly an ungodly man complaiq because of his wickedness.
       refu'ses  td endorse this statement of the apostle in      The. vessel of dishonor is perfectly or completely in
       verse  18. And  the reformed man of  infralapsarian harmony with the sin and darkness of his, evil being.
       persuasion is equally timid and hesitant as far as the     The question df verse 19 is, therefore, obviously wicked
     " endorsement of this declaration of the apostle is cori- and devilishly untrue.
       certied.    He does not hesitate to assert' that we are       God, we read, is the Potter and man is the clay.
       saved only of Divine, sovereign mercy. But, when The clay whereof the apostle speaks, that which the
       discussing the reprobate sinner and his eternal desola- Lord makes according to thg text, is not merely man
       tion, he would rather say thslt the Lord l.eaves him in `as far `as his natural, earthy existence is concerned.>
       his misery, or, to quote the apostle now in the. infr&     To teach merely that #God makes men would certainly
       lapsarian sense, I would read verse 18 as follows:         not provoke any adverse comment from the natural
     t`Therefor4' hath He mercy on whom He will have man. The Lord, we read, makes vessels unto dishonor.
-      mercy, and He refuses mercy to whom He wills to re- These vessels of dishonor are-,evidently  the reprobates:
       fuse mercy." Yet, we vust not hesitate to endorse Them, we read,, the Lord makes. Indeed, we must
       also this statement of the apostle. The Scriptures, maintain man's responsibility. It is surely true that
       then; not only, teach that the Lord sovereignly bestows the Lord. never operates contrary to the. will and de-
       m,ercy and salvation. But they are equally clear and sire of men. The Ldrd, indeed, works through the will
       l&id in their presentation of the truth that He sover- of man. Bit. it is equally true that, although the
       eignly hardens. Unto the one He gives salvation and Lord works through the will of man, He works sover-
       mercy, sovereignly; the other He hardens, also sbver-      eignly. The responsibility of man is, therefore, not
       eignly. The Lord is responsible not only for the light to be regarded as a truth which runs parallel to the
     but also for the darkpess, not only for the  chil'dren       truth of  God's sovereignty,. or even contrary to it,
       of the light but also for the children of darkness.        but it must be viewed  as included-in it, as subject to
           Indeed, also this text establishes the  particular     .the truth that the Lord works all His good pleasure.
       and unconditional character of the promise of  `God.       And the truth is indeed that God has the power, the
       That promise of  .God is surely not for all. Fact is, sovereign right and autlzority to do as He pleases, to
       the Lord is merciful but He also hardeneth; He not glorify His Name as ,He would,. to make of the one
       only gives life but He also killeth ! ' And then people lump vessels unto honor in whom His soul delighteth
       continue to prate .of an offer of salvation, of a desire and to .make of the other lump vessels unto dishonor
       of the Lord to save. all who tiea: ,&he gospel, when, whom His soul hateth. Andy both are formed by the
       according to the Scrip%yres  it is God Who, during the Lord, according to His sovereign good pleasure.
       preaching of the gospel of God, softens the hearts of          We, therefore,, conclude  .that it is not man who
       some` but hardens the others whom  He hates from determines God, but it is the Lord Who determines
       before the  !oundation of the world. We may surely man. Hence, the promises of the Lord are never, ac-
       conclude, that the &ord realizes His promise sover&gn- cording to .this portion of the Word of God, contingent
       ly only in the elect.                            I         upon man. Romans 9 clearly sets forth the particular
           Verses 19 :21.' We read : ."Thou wilt say then ynto    and whoily unconditional character of the proinise of
       me, Why doth H$ yet find fault? For who hath re- the God of our salvation.                   .
       sisted His will? Nay, but, i0 man, who art thou that                                              H. Veidmin.
                                                                                 .

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

                                                                     him. Ten days after, the Lord smites the man, that
                  THE DAY  OF  &ADOWS  '                             he dies. But the Lord's anger is pure, He being holy
                                                                     God. But a man's anger is <depraved and totally so, *
                                                                     except he be born again. `That which is born of God,
                                  Abigail                            the new creature in Christ, in obedience to the Lord's
                                                                     command, and as constrained by the love of God, is
                Having heard Nabal's  reply, David's ten men turn    angry and sins not. The anger of the believer, if and-
         their way ; they go again, and come to report to their in so far it proceeds from the principle of grace  in-
         leader. David's anger burns. "Surely," says he to           created in him by Christ's Spirit is holy like God's
         his men, "in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath     anger. But the anger evep of the holiest of men never
         in the wilderness, so that nothing, was missed of all       proceeds solely from that principle.. jt is always mixed
         that pertained to him: and he hatli requited me evil with so much of sinful flesh, as are all the good works
         for good." And now follows his orders to his men, of the believer. ,On occasions, his anger may be wholly
         "Gird on every man his sword". He explains his              out of the flesh. Then it is thoroughly carnal. Carnal
         orders, "So and more also do God unto the enemies of `anger is a terrible thing in its wickedness. Carnal
         David, if I leave of all that pertaineth to him by the anger at bottom is hatred of God and of the neighbour,
         morning light any thtit pisseth against the wall."          and thus murder, the sinful will to destroy ,God. Carnal
                But David may not slay Nabal ! , Nowhere in all the anger is self-absorbed ; it is lawless and violent. It'
         law can he read of  <God's commanding that men be worships at the shrine of an idol, and that idol is the
         put to death or punished in any way for sins such as        carnally angry man himself. Holy apger, on the `other
         that committed by Nabal. Shutting bowels of compas-         hand, is at bottom'love of God and hatred of all that is
_~       sion from him who has need-this w.as Nabal's offence        of sin and of sinful flesh. Holy anger is God-centered; a
         -is a great sin ; but it is not a statuary  offence  in     it worships in the temple of  (God. It is wise,  law-
      . God's law-book, to be punished by men. The heartless         abiding, dignified, calm, w@olly self-possessed, persist-
         tiretch may not be apprehended and made to -pay with        ent and strictly impar'tial. There is no respect of per-
        his life. God will take care of the man. That David          sons with holy anger. The man thus angry first of all
         was a wall unto Nabal's  possessions in the wilderness      and persistently seizes upon himself to crucify his
         does not alt& the- matter any ; nor that he is not a        own members which are upon the earth.           He is a
         common member of the theocracy. <God  did not author- humble man. He takes the beams out of his own eye.
         ize that contemplated killing, either in his law or by -He is careful always to keep his own slate. clean before
         special  rev&ion to David. Hence, if he carries out         God by constant confession of sin in tears of true con-
         his intention, he commits murder on a scale horrible trition of heart.
         to       co&empl.ate.                                          David's  anger was carnal on that occasion. At
                David is a God-fearing man. How, then, could such least there is a large element of carnality in it. For,
         a decision have formed in his soul? It can be ex- though. there be no divine authorization, David wants
         plained. Though fundamentally and as to the heart of to rid the-earth of Nabal and of all that is his. He is
         his dispositions a new creature in Christ Jesus, David      angry with Nabal because the man evilly treated--him,
         is a sinful man. In his flesh there dwelleth every sin David. Certainly, he can't find, it within himself at
         including carnal wrath `and hatred which is murder.         this time to pray for Nabal and to bless the man as
         Second, Nabal has. afforded him- the vilest of `treat- Davicl's enemy. But the Lord in His mercy keeps His
         ments. By his wicked insinuations, he cut David to the servant from carrying out his murderous intention.
         quick, moved him to the core. The result was an erup- He does so through the wise counsel of Nabal's wife,
         tion of anger on the part of David, terrible in its         Abigail, the woman of good understanding, and beauti-
         violence.     It is not a wonder. David was already fvl of -form.. Her  att+tion is directed  td what has
         driven to distraction by Saul's persistent attempts on taken-place by one of the servants. `His report may
         his life. So, in his rage and by sudden impulse he de-      reveal that he has already spoken to Nabal but to no
         cides to slay Nabal for what the man has done. It does avail. For the servant states with reference to Nabal,
         not occur to him that he first should inquire `after        "He is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak
         God's will. Nor does he pause to analyze his motives.       to him." Either `the servant had advised Nabal to do
         In his blind fury he is not even capable of self-inspec-    well by David, or; having witnessed the treatment that
         tion. But one thought races through his mind ; it is had.,been afforded David's men, had urged his master
         that  Nabal is worthy of death-and that he is-and for his own good to change his  attityde  and make
         that Dayid is the man. to inflict that punishment.          amends. But  Nabal had refused to be advised. He
                Not that David should not be aniry with Nabal.       may have driven the servant  from\ his presence by
         He, should ; for Nabal is wickgd and has done wickedly. threats and curses. So in his anxiety the servant turns
         The L&d, tqo, is angry with Nabal in His hatred of          to  his mistress. "Behold," sayi he to Abigail, "David


                                                                                                                       1
                                   T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                       399

sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our think that he now pursues a course that ends in blood-
master and he railed on them.  But the men were            guiltiness ! By all means he must be kept' from pro-
very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither gressing on that course. another step. She will show
missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant him the evil of his way. And she is confident that he
with them, when we were in the fields. They were a will receive instruction, being, as he is, a righteous
`wall unto us both by night and by day, all the while man, susceptible to wise counsel. And God will speak
we were with them keeping the sheep.' ' The servant her words of reproof in his heart.  [Surely,  He will
may have said these same things to his master, but. keep His servant from coming to blood.
to no avail. Perhaps he had even spoken to him, in           In this confidence she pursues her way and comes
substance at least, the words of warning that he now down in the covert of a hill, probably a depression be-
dire&s  to his "mistress, "Now, therefore, know. and tween two mountain peaks. Here is where the enraged
consider what thou wilt do  ; for evil is determined       David and four hundred of his men-they have already
against our master, and against all his household. . . ." set out to go to Nabal-encounter  her. She meets up
Why also against all Nabal's household including not       with the band, and the moment she gains sight of
only the servants but even and above all Nabal's  wife?    David she  chastens and alights off her ass. Once in
The servant's reasoning here is doubtless this, "David his presen, she falls before him on her face; she bows
holds us all responsible ; for he concludes,, as also he herself to the ground and ends in falling at his feet.
has a right to conclude, that the only explanation of Her mode of doing reverence to him is pre-meditated.
Nabal's evil treatment of him is that all we and           It reveals her conviction that he is the divinely ap-
especially thou agreed that it was right and just. He      pointed king of her people. It betokens her submis-
will conclude, will David, that Nabal would have pur- sion to him as to her king and lord. And it tells him,
sued a different course, if only we and thou had so        better than words can, that she is .a woman grieved
advised and insisted. If therefore  .thou valuest' thy in spirit and that she comes to him a supplicant.
life and the lives of thy servants, know and consider "Upon me, my lord, be the blame,." Such is her
.what thou wilt do. Just what action thou art to take,     first supplicant cry. She wants to take all the blame
is not for me to say. But this I know: it is futile to     on herself; her desire is that he hold her solely re-
.take up the matter with Nabal. For .he is such a son sponsible and deal with her only and put Nabal out of
of Belial, that a man cannot talk with him. I know,        sight. Yet (vs. 25) she saw not the young men of
for I have tried. `And, we all know each of us from his    David, whom he did send, thus knew nothing of Nabal's
.own experience with .the man."                            contemptuous behavior. Still it is not impermissible
 It is plain that what the servant means to tell his       that she be allowed to take all the blame on herself.
mistress is that it is entirely up to her alone to avert .For as Nabal's wife, it was her bounden duty to keep
the pending disaster. Abigail understands. Being. a herself fully informed of the doing of that man, the
woman of good understanding-God-fearing, and in- more so as she knew him to be a son of Belial. But
telligent-she also instantly perceives that the only this is not saying that  Nabal's wicked behavior re-
way open to her-is that she go to David. and straighten garding David was due to.her  failure to be watchful.
out the dreadful matter with him. Making haste, for           Is her request that David deal with her only being
there is no time to lose, she assembles a present of       granted? She assumes that it is. For David is silent.
various articles of food:-two liundred loaves,  .two       Taking courage, she beseeches him to allow her to
bottles of wine, five sheep ready dressed, five measures speak in his audience and hear the words of his hand-
of parched corn, an hundred clusters of raisins, and maid. Her earnest advice to' him is that he dismiss
two hundred cakes of figs. The entire collection is Nabal from his mind, meaning that he must not any
laden on an ass. All is done without the knowledge of ,longer allow himself to be  ' perturbed, so violently
Nabal. In obedience to her instructions the servants       shaken, by the evil that `man of Belial; even Nabal,
go on with the present, herself following. It is a has done to him, it- being that he is what his name
difficult  .task to which she finds herself addressed. signifies: foolishness is his companion. These are
David is in an evil mood. He smarts under.  Nabal's        her precise words, "Let not, my. lord, I pray thee,. re-
insults. And his anger is fierce. How. is `she to deal gard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name
with the man? What is to be her  ,approach?  She is is, so is he : Nabal is his name, and folly is with him."
concerned about David perhaps even more than about This is David's fault precisely. He permits Nabal to
herself and the household, to, which she belongs. Is drive him to crime. He is that agitated by the man's
heaot the Lord's anointed, sent of God to reign over       evil treatment of him. ~AS intoxicated by his wrath,
His people? What man can do the works that he doeth he can think only of Nabal and of what he will do the
except the Lo.rd be with him ! He fights God's battles, man, when he has once set his foot on the soil of his
and evil hath not been found in him all his days. He estate. Should he allow himself to be thus affected
is the hope of Israel, and thus ,also her hope. And to     by the wickedness of godless men! He must desist


400                                  Ti!IE  S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R   \

from brooding over  Nabal's insults. He must stop ing tom blood-guiltiness. The main purpose of her mi's-
allowing the wickedness of the man toward him to             sion being achieved, better said, having been achieved,
poison his soul. This is what-she means. But should she can present her present, "And now the blessing
she of all the members of Nabal's household, not have which thine`handmaid hath brought unto the Lord, let
.raise.d her voice in protest ? `The question is there in it even be given unto the young men that walk with
David's soul. As if reading his thought she continues,       the feet of my Lord." It is another  .feature  of her
"but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my wise procedure that she offers,the present-with which
lord, whom thou didst send."                                 she not only designs to make good her husband's neg- `-
       Thus admonishing him, she is confident that .the l&t, by dispensing what he ought to have offered, but
Lord sends her words upon his heart, so that he lays         also means to express her confidence and joy at his
aside his wrath, as discerning its wickedness, and in receiving the words of her rebuke and repenting of
his heart bewails his folly before the face of. God. In his sin-not to David himself but to his men.
a word, she is confident that grace again triumphs in           He being thus kept from rushing to his ruin, she
him. Perhaps also she can tell by the look in his eyes       now can confidently implore him to forgive the tres-
and By the new expression on his face. _ Be this as pass of his handmaid,' "I pray thee, forgive the tres-
it may, she knows, and thus jubilantly and -with firm        pass of thine handmaid." Certainly, he will not with-
conviction exclaims, "Now' therefore my lord, as the hold the requested pardon ; `he may not. "For", says
Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing that the         she to him, "the Lord will certainly make my lord a.
Lord hath withholden thee from coming to blood, and          sure house. . . ." The house that she knows the Lord
from avenging thyself with thine  .own hand, thine will make him is, in the last instance, that temple of
enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, shall be        living stones of which Christ is the chief cornerstone.
as  Nabal." Her words are most revealing.  Nabal             and in which he and she and all the `elect of -God will
stands out in her mind as a man cursed of God and            dwell, each in his own place, as God's children, for;
thus. doomed to destruction, . he- being an enemy of         given of God and clothed .by Him with `heavenly per-
#God and His people, as his most recent behavior has         fection and glory in Christ. Certainly, then, he will
so clearly brought to light. ,She affirms that all David's forgive her,-he, whom so much has been forgiven.
enemies shall be like that vile man. They Will be He must forgive her ; for they, he, and she, are one by
driven by the curse of God into everlasting desolation.      a common faith' in Christ.      They are brother and
For  Davi.d,  whom they persecute, is the beloved of         sister in the Lord. And what is it that tells her th:at
God, as is evidenced .by. the Lord's withholding him the .Lord, without fail, will build him this house? The
from coming to blood. Such is her reasoning. She fact that he fights the battles of the Lord, and that evil
wants to make certain that (God receive all the credit.      -evil here in the  sens.e of wickedness-hath not been
Therefore  she. speaks of the Lord's withholding his found in him all his days (vs. 28). There is that evi-
servant rather than of his repenting. She understands        dence in his life that he is the Lord's righteous servant
that the latter is the fruitage of the- former, thus per- and that the Lord is with him. And yet, so she con-
ceives that in saving David from his adversaries the tinues, a man is risen to pursue him; and to seek his
Lord rewards His own work in him.                            soul,  but he need have no fear. For his soul is bound
       It is especially the sentences. last examined that    in the bundle of life with the Lord his God, or in the
bear witness to her wisdom-her sanctified intelligence       language of the  Neti Testament scriptures, his life
and tactfulness, which were truly remarkable. These          is hidden with Christ in God, so that, when Christ shall
gladdening utterances-and gladdening they are : it appear, he together with all that love His appearance,
is gospel that she here preaches to him-say more than        will appear with Him in glory. But! as to the souls
what they litterally, according to the form of their         of his enemies: them shall God sling' out, as out of.
words, express. They say this, `Know well, my lord,          the. middle of `a sling. `They shall be destroyed by the
that thou runnest the way of the wicked. Thou com-           holy fury of the Lord at His coming. And it shall
est to avenge thyself with thine own hand. Repent!           come to pass, when the Lord shall have done to her
or thou wilt be as  Nabal.' These are stern words,           Lord (vs. 30) according to all the good that He' hath
setting forth David's contemplated doing in its right spoken concerning him, and shall have appointed him
light. `They form. a rebuke, that she may not fail to        ruler over Israel ; that. this shall be no staggering or
administer. But rather than do it directly, she wraps        stumbling to him, nor offense of heart unto him,
up the words of her rebuke, so to speak, in her gospel;      either that he has shed blood causeless, or that he has
for she wants to avoid offending him. And being a avenged himself; but when the Lord shall have deait
righteous man, he, by the mercy of God, hears, and well with her `lord,- then let him remember his hand-
the silent response of his heart is, `I have sinned. Lord maid. Then let him, as the shepherd of SGod's `chosen
be merciful to me a sinner.'             -.                  people, not forget her but share the goodnesses of -God
       So is.she instrumental in keeping .David from com-    bestowed upon him also with her. Thus how unutter-


                                    T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                             401

ably sad it would have been, she also means to tell pursue thee and seek thy soul, have no fear; for the
him, had the Lord through her agency not kept him soul of my Lord shall be' bound up in the bundle of
from coming to blood. And how grateful he should life. . .  ." The text; however, as rendered in-  .the
be that the Lord in  ,His mercy was mindful of His            English A. V. gives the only, proper sense. It must
servant. How could the Lord have done to him all by all means be retained. What tells her and all the
the good that He ha,d spoken, had He not kept His             God-fearing in Israel that the Lord will build David a
servant from carrying out, his murderous designs.             sure house is exactly his having fought. the Lord's
    David has understanding of this. And he is peni- warfare and that no  wickeclnesa   ha.s been  fqund in
tent and jubilantly grateful. Says he to Abigail, him all his days. This last statement has reference
"`Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, j which sent thee espetiially  to his blameless and good behaviour  toward
this day to meet me ; and blessed be thy advice, and the man-king Saul-who already for many days has
. blessed be thou, which hath kept me this day from           been seeking his life to take it.  iAnd it is therefore
coming to blood, and from avenging myself with my with reference to Saul's persecutions of David, that
own hand." He takes no credit to himself for- the .she continues, "Yet a man is risen to pursue thee,
change of his,mind  and heart. He is too keenly aware and to seek thy soul.)
of his own nothingness. He is too `filled with horror                                              G.-M.  O p h o f f .
at this most recent eruption of carnal wrath on his
part. As the sequel of his response indicates,. it demon-
strates to him anew that apart from~ Christ's grace he
is nothing at all but a vile, undone, and' lost sinner
.without "strength ; as abandoned by his, `God, capable                S I O N ' S   Z A N G E N   1
of producing out of himself only corruption. For these
are his words, "For in very deed, as the Lord God of
Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting                  Majesteit En  Heerlijkheid  -
thee, except thou hast hasted and come to meet me,
surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morn-                          (Psalm 104 ; .Derde  Deel)
ing light any that pisseth against the wall." So,`look-          We hebben den zang gehoord van den gemspireerden
ing away from self, he blesses the Lord ; he blesses the      profeet die de  dingen der aarde bezingt,  dingen en
advice and this wise woman through whose instrument- zaken die de majesteit en heerlijkheid van Jehovah
ality the Lord has kept him. He accepts her present;          openbaren. Hij maakte gewag van het  licht en de
and these are his parting  -words to her, "Go  LIP  in wateren, de wolken en de wind ; hij zong van de Enge-
peace to thine house ; see, I have hearkened to thy           len Gods die,  als de  wagens boven `t luchtig zwerk,
voice, and have accepted thy person."                         uitgezonden  worden om Zijn Woord  te  doen,  gehoor-
    <These final words of his are significant., He has        samende het. bevel Zijns monds. Maar hij had ook .
accepted her person; it is for her sake as well'and for       gezongen van de aarde en hare afgronden, van bergen,
the sake of those members of her household minded as          van de fonteinen die de aarde verzadigen, als de vrucht
is she that the Lord has. kept him from coming to             van Gods wondere werken.
blood-guiltiness. There are righteous in that house-             Hij ial nu gaan spreken van den mensch, den koning
hold of  Nabal, whom the Lord will not have slain             der schepping.
with the wicked.. Not only would David have  corn-               Hoe wonderbaarlijk is de  zorg.  Gods voor den
mitted the sin of avenging himself with his own hand, mensch !
had the Lord not kept him, but in .addition  he would            Hij is zijner gedachtig en "doet het gras uitsprui-
have slain the righteous with the wicked. It is also ten voor de beesten", want die beesten zijn er om melk
the horror with which  .this thought fills him that en boter, vleesch en vet, kleed en schoeisel `te geven
brings to his lips those words of praise and that con- aan het pronkjuweel van de gansche schepping : en
fession. It is to herself and to the innocent members         dat  is_hij die beeldrager Gods is. Het gras en het beest
of her household that she, .too, has reference, when she en het groene kruid -zijn er f`tot dienst des menschen".
says, "That this shall be no grief to thee, nor offence       Zelfs de koning  wordt van het land gediend. En al
 of heart to my Lord, that thou hast shed blood cause- die dienst wordt hier vertegenwoordigd door "het
 l e s s . "                                                  brood,`, hetwelk #God uit de aarde, doet voortkomen.
    (There is an exegesis of Abigail's  discourse0 that          Maar de mensch is.gevallen  van zijn troon.
throws the verbs of its last section, into the future or         En God zorgt nog voor hem, maar hij ziet het niet,
the subjunctive, thus, "for my lord will fight the battles    en wil het niet zien.
of the Lord, and no evil-evil then "in the sense not of          Let er op, als ge weer eens in een restaurant Uw
wickedness but of calamity, so this exegesis has it- middagmaal eet. Ziet het hoe zij als de beesten zich
will be found in `thee all thy days.. And should a mew werpen op het voedsel, hetwelk de Heere uit de aarde


  4          0    2                       T    H    E         SFAND.A.kti:   >B*EARER  (

  deed .vqortkomen.       De mensch is gevallen,  doch de des.  drank&!,  zoqals  +aak  gedaan wordt. Er  &t geen
  Heere  zorgt nog poor  ,hem, want er zijn beesten,  en duivel in den wijn of in den sterken drank. 0 neen.
  gras en h'et groene `kruid. Nu al voor bijna 60 eeuwen Maar de duivel zit  in den mensch die xich te  buit'en
  zorgt de Heere voor de rechtvaardigen,  maar ook voor            gaat aan wi$ en &en sterken drank. En dan zegt de
  de  onrechtvaardigen.  Elk stukje brood is een  predi-           Heilige  Schrift, oneigenlijke taal bezigende  : "De wijn
  katie voor de goddeloozen. -Elke dronk waters is een is een spotter, de sterke drank is woelachtig." En dat
  woord.  God,s dat tot hen zegt: dat water is  van Mij, bier veroordeelende taal gebezigd wordt voor wijn en
  maar ik geeft het U on?. Uw idorst  te lesschen. En Ik drank, niet met mate, maar in overmaat gebruikt, is
  geef het U uiteindelijk, opdat gij zeggen zoudt: God is we1 duidelijk, als we merken op wat er volgt : "al wie
  God, en moet door mij en door een i"eder geprezen en             daarin dwaalt, zal niet wijs zijn."- Spreuken 20 :l. Het
  geloofd worden  vanw@e-Zijn  majesteit en heerlijkheid.          is zonde om te clwalen-in het wijn- of sterken drank
        Maar wat  doen zij?                                        dr inken.
        Ge weet  bet.          -                                      We besluiten deze zaak dan met het zeggen, dat ge
        Zij verderven  bet.' `Bls lzij bij de tafel zitten, be-    best.een dronk wijns moogt nemen, als ge het lust, niet
  laden met de gaven Gods die goed zijn, dan verzwelgen ondervragende om des gewetens wil. Het is een schep-
  zij het,  ionder  aan  Hem te  denken.       En  denken zij      tie1 Gods en gegeven aa,n U om Uw hart te verheugen.
  nog  aan Hem, dan  verderveq   zij het nog meer. Dan En dat is juist wat de wijn doet, met mate genomen.
  zeggen zij bij elken mondvol : Ik haat God ! Ga. weg IIet eerste en sobere effect is, dat ge blij gevoelt. Maar
  van mij : ik heb geen lust aan de kennis Uwer wigen!             past dan  bp, en  ia niet verder. Het is immers zoo
  En er zijn schatten van toorn die opgestafield worden            ook met alle anldere  goede gaven en volmaakte giften?
~ tegen den  dag,d.p oordeels.  .`.  i                             Eet Uw broocl, maar wordt geen gulzigaard die meer
        Eigenlijk moesten wij  bewii`st zijn elk oogenblik eet, dan  zijn lichaam behoeft. Ook hij zal de kwade
  van de groote `gaven en.volmaakte  -giften die gedurig- effecten van zulke overmaat ervaren.
  lijk afdalen van God, den Yader der lichten.                         Er is echter nog B&e zaak die in verband  met den
        Vrage:  -wat zoudt ge  doen  -in&& God Uw  adem            wijn en zijne verheuging geiega moet worden.
   even inhoudt, zeg, voor vijf minuten? Ik zal het U                  En het` is dit : de wijn is symboliek voor de ver-
  zeggen: ge zoudt verstikken. Roemt en prijst Zijn heffirig des levens. Dat is ook de leering van het won-
  naam dan tot in eeuwigheid.
        "                                                          der toen Jezus. het water veranderde in wijn. En dan
       . . . . en den wijn die het hart des menschen ver-          nog  we1 ter gelegenheid van een trouwpartij. Al is
  heugt, doende het aangezicht blinken van olie; en het het, dat het water 66k dient tot symboliek van het
  brood dat het hart des menschen versterkt."                      eeuwige leven, tech is de gewone sprake van water het
        Er zijn  dwazen die zeggen, dat de mensch geen             alledaagsche,.  het aardsche, in tegenstelling van het
  wijn mag  drinken.        Er `zijn  zelfs kerken die  zich       hemelsche.    En als alle trouwpartijen, die  bier,  06
   Christelijk noemen, die geen wijn  `schenken  bij het aarde typen waren van de bruiloft des Lams, ten einde
  heilig Avqndmaal des .He&en,  maar die bessensap df zijn, dan zal de groote en eindelijke en eeuwige trouw-
   druivensap  drinken. Als zij ook  tiitgenoodigd   waren         partij geopenbaard worden; en dan zal Jezus den wijn
   geweest bij de bruiloft van Kana, waar Jezus het nieuw  schenl<en  tot eeuwige verheffing en verheuging
  water in wijn veranderde, dan  hadden  .zij zeker  ge- van het leven  des uitverkoren menschen. Wat is de
  iegd : Foei, Jezus van Nazaieth,  hoe kunt ge tech water eeuwige zaligheid voor ons landers, dan dat door het
   in tiijn veranderen! -Neen,  dank U hartelijk! Ik ben wonder van genade alles wat aardsch, tijdelijk, verdor-
  heiliger dan,,Gij  ! Ik gebruik geen wijn!'                      ven en  nat.uurlijk was tot in  alle  eeuwigheid  zal zijn
        Laat mij het hier vrijuit mogen schrijven, dat hemelsch,  eeuwig,  heerlijl! en  geestelijk.  En van  ciat
  h&t woord voor wijn in mijn tekst hetzelfde Hebreeuw-            groote heilsfeit is de wijn een duidelijke sprake. Een
   ache  wqord is, dat in Genesis gebruikt wordt bij de weiilig wijns kleurt Uw leven, klaart de nevelen op,
 : geschiedenis van  Noach   `die  te veel wijn drdnk en verheugt Uw hart en werkt zelfs genezend op Uw ge-
   dronken' wierd. Ik zeg dit, omdat er zijn die denken,           stel. Denkt in dit verband  aan het advies van Paulus
   dat alle plaatsen.waar in den Bijbel het wijndrinken aan Timotheus.
   aangeprezefi `wordt als goed, geen sprake is van wijn               Ten besluite: dit  wordt geschreven doqr iemand
   die  [emand  dronken kan  maken,  maar van wijn als             die, geen wijn lust, eh als hij het tech soms gedronken
   druiyennat, dat ongegist is. Dat nu is niet waar.               heeft, het slechts deed omdat het zoo gul aangeboden
        Trouwens, uit onzen tekst dien we hier behandelen wierd ; of den wijn zelf schonk voor hen van wien hij
   meet het t'och ook we1 duidelijk zijn, dat het gegiste wist, dat zij hem da,nkbaar en matig gebruikten.
   nat bedoeld wordt, want de tekst zegt : "den wijn die               SOok doet God "het aangezicht blinken van olie".
   .ht?t hart des menschen verheugt".                                  Date ziet op deD Oostersche gewoonte om zich met
        De  wijn.is  goed. En wijndrinken is  goed.  Het, is olie en liefelijkxiekende  zalf te begieten of te bestrij-
   broote' dwaasheid om, b.v. te spreken van "den duivel           ken. Dan verspreidde men een aangename` geur, en


                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                                 403

 dan  blond  ioo  iemands gelaat van welzijn. De toe-             En hetzelfde, maar in andere vormen en gelegen-
 passing van wat bier geleerd wordt is, m.i., het schen- heden,  geschiedt er tien en tien  maal  duizend  malen.
 ken en het gebruiken van  lux@artikelen.  Het is nu           Verdubbeld in getale.
eenmaal een feit, dat (God veel meer schenkt dan net              Zegt bet mij : is  Gods geen oyervloeietide  Fontein
 maar wat we behoeven om ziel en lichaam tezamen te            van alle goede en volma8kt.e giften?
 hotiden.    God kon ons nu alvoor 6000 jaien hebben               ". . : . en het brood dat het hart des menschen
i doen leven, door ons juist genoeg te geven voor eten,        sterkt."
 drinken, kleeding en onderdak. Als we van nu aan net              Ja, dan is er die sterking van het hart des men-
 maar droog brood met water kregen, wat huiden van             schen. Arbeid mat af. Dan kdmt er loomheid en dof-
 dieren of wat lappen goeds om `bet lichaam, en een heid. De man hijgt naar den avond. En hongerig
 ieder een klein hutje tot onderdak, dan kon het ook.          en moede komt bij thuis.
 Dan leven we  oak. Maar de Heere heeft nu al voor                 Maar de tafel is vol  geladen. En hij eet. Straks
 bijna 6000 jaren van den hemel  en van de aarde, door         wascht hij  zich wat, en ziet hem nu  aan. Hij  lacht
 alle  `dingen  luidkeels geroepen:  "11~ ben de  OVER-        weer; roept zijn lieve kinderen  rondom zich ; kan zelfs
 VLOEIENDE Fontein  al!er  goeden-! En  daarom hebt stoeien en spelen met hen; of hij werkt nog wat in `.t
 ge veel lekkernijen (in ons bidden  spr.eken  we  soms        tuintje. Er is kracht  gekomen  in zijn hart. Hij heeft ge-
 van  "bet vette der aarde"), smakelijke  dranken (te geten. Eet en drinkt : de reis zoude voor U te ver zijn !
 veel om op te noemen), meer dan &5n pak kleeren, en               Hoe vaak heeft God dat al-niet gezegd tot de ontel- -
 meestal geriefelijke huizen om in te woonen. Er is bare scharen volks van alle tijden en landen en eeuwen ?
.veel meer luxe dan we beseffen. Vraagt het aan de                 Maar, geliefde lezer, bier valt de gedurige tiadruk: .
 Europeanen die de bezetting  der Nazi's meegemaakt            God do& het!
 hebben.  Ik denk dikwijls  aan die boeken van  som-               En Hij doet  het `met een reden, en doel.
 mige leeraars die in.de concentratie-kampen zaten,. en         ' Paulus sprak eens .tot de heidenen. ' Toen heeft `hij
 dan schreven over etenswaren die zij soms  vonden.            ook gesproken van ,deze dihgen. En toen heeft Paulus
 Zij noemden dat "organiseeren". Zoo was er een van gezegd, dat `God in Zijn voorzienigheid alle deze dingen
 die stakkerds die een klokhuisje van een appel "ge-           doet "opdat zij den Heere zouden zoeken, of zij Hem
 organiseerd" had. Een van de Nazi-beesten had een             immers tasten en vinden mochten, hoewel Hij niet
 appel  gegeten tot op het klokhuisje toe, en toen weg- verre is van een iegelijk van ens."
 gesmeten. Maar voor dien dominee was het een heer-               NC-dan : wat is daarvan terecht gekomen?
 lijke versnapering.                                               Ik zal het U zeggen. Wat den heiden aangaat, die
    Ik hoor, dat er soms heele hammen gevonden  wor-           hebben het verdorven, en tot datgene wat geen God is
 den, en heele brooden' in de vuilnisbakken der men-           gezegd : Gij zorgt voor mij, en ik zal u loven! En dat
 schen die  volop,  in de luxe-artikelen zitten.               is God-tergende af goderij.
    11~ ben bang, dat. het rijke Amerika,  dat vol met            Wat het verfijnde heidendom aangaat, dat te mid--
 luxe zit,  straks  oak een les zal  moeten  leeren in het     den van de ware Kerk leeft, die hebben het ook ver-
 "organiieeren".                                               dorven, doch veel vreeselijker,  want, toen God gedurig-
    In elk geval, de Heere geeft meestal volop.                lijk zeide tot hen en tot hunne kinderen: Eet, drinkt,
                                                         _'
   Er is water.                                                ivant ,de reis zoude voor U te ver zijn ! toen hebben
    En dat is goed.          _                                 zij gezegd : We kunnen het best zonder U ! We haten
 ' Er is ook  brood.                                           U en we haten alles wat ons aan U herinnert !
    En te zamen met  @et water zijn die  ttiee  gaven             En wat Gods volk aangaat, die hebben het ook vaak
 Gods het voornaamste voor den mensch in zijn aardsche tiedroven. Wie denkt altijd aan God en aan Zijn aan-
 leven.                                                        biddelijke voorzienigheid,  wa&rdoqr  wij gevoed,  ge-
    Maar ziet dan de overstrooming van heerlijkheden           laaft,  gekleed,  en gehe&l en al verzorgd worden,  ster-
 die God met brood en wafer schenkt: en huivert!               kende  ons hart en doende &s aangezicht blinken' van
    Er is oak wijn tot verheffing des levens, en opdat         welzijn? Antwoord : niemand.
 ge oogenblikken mocht hebben van een eigenaardige               Wat moeten` we dan doen als ons antwoord op zoo.
 verheuging des harten. Niet dwalen erin, ,maar met            groote liefde Gods over ons?
 mate gebruiken.                                                  Atin het begin van den p'salm staat Uw en mijn ant-
    En er zijn de  lux+artikelen.  loch  `arme, hoe zal woord : "Loof den Heere, mijne ziel; o Heere mijn `God !
 ik ze opnoemen. We zitten er overvol in. Bij het              Gij zijt zeer groot, Gij zijt bekleed met majesteit en
 schrijven denk ik aan een man ,die voor jaren er een          heerlijkheid  !"
 ellendige wagen ob ha hield. Maar het .ging heni goed,           *God moet tot Zijn eer komen.
 en er kwam een splinternieuwe  wagen van het laatste             Het is we1 eens goed oni den 104dein psalm te lezen,
model. Hij stoomde voorbij met zijli familie en de man te overdenken,  te beleven! Lof is  betamelijk,  o zoo
aan `t rad. Zijn aangezicht bionk!                             betamelijk!                                G .   V o s .


404                                 TH~PSTANDARD   B E A R E R

                                                            through the-fall of our first parents; the ihhiid is con-
            FROM HQLY WRIT                                  ceived and born in sin, and -all too. soon reveals the
                                                            depravity. of its parents. Even in that respect we
                                                            see ourselves in our children.,
           We And .Ouf Children                                As, our Baptism  For& expresses it, with  refey-
                                                            ence'to Psalm 51, "we with our children are conceived
    The  expr&sion "we and our children" is  by no and b&n in sin:" We are all subject to  death.  Both?
means unfamiliar to those ,who are at all acquainted        physically and spiritually death reigns over us. The
in Reformed circles where the. truth of God's covenant mother watches her new born child wiih'untiring vigil-
is still, cherished as .our peculiar heritage. It is only ance, because she realizes how readily death can snuff
natural for them'to speak in one breath of themselves       & that little spark of iife... Suffocation, drafts, germs
and ,their children, whether in their discussions, in       and physical-ailments seem ready and waiting to make
their conversations,  oi in their prayers. But just the child their prey. And as the child grows older
because it is so common, its trem&dous implications the dangers seem t`o multiply rather than de&ease.
are liable to escape us.                                    But believing parents are much more aware of the
    It is indeed a Scriptural expression. In Psalm          dreadful  pow& of spiritual death  +hat has become
115:14 we read, "The Lord shall increase you more the lot of all mankind. They know the depravity that
and more, you and your children". And in Acts 2 :39,        poll&s out natures even as we enter this world, for
"For  tihe promise .is unto you, and to jrour children,     "who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not
a.nd to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord     one !" Job 14 :4. We -are ail by nature dead. in tres-
our God shall call." Moreover whenever God reveals passes arid sins, we and our children.
His covenant to His friend-servaints, He' also -includes       Nothing can possibly deliver .us from that dominion
their spiritual seed'in the line of natural generations,    of. death, except that God has eternally prepared a
Baying, "And I will  eskablish My  covena& between          neiv organism in Christ Jesus. (God Himself has taken
Me and thee and thy seed after thee in their genera,        unto Himself a new family of chosen saints in Christ.
tions," Gen. i7 :`7. :Cf. also `Gen. 9 :9, etc; While Joshua` Into 6 lost world of ,sin and death came thq promise
vows before all Israel,' "As for me and my house, we        of God, "I will but enmity between thee and the woman,
will serve the Lord."                                       and between thy seed an,d her seed ;. it shall bruise thjr
    But why quote more, since the organic idea. ex-         head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Gen. 3 :15. The
pressed in these  words is basic to all the Scriptures. ' thing to remember is, that these words were spoken
The G-gut&c Mea.                                            to the Tempter, who deceived our first parents. The
    The  hdrnan  ra.ce is an organic unity. When God        promised seed of the woman is Christ, the Head of
created the angels, He called them into being all at the    the new ,organism of the elect. `The seed of the devil
same time as one large organized host. But He created are his spiritual sons, who follow his guidance and
the human race as an organism that has its origin in walk in his ways. The enmity which God establishes,
our first parents, Adam and. Eve. God formed our already precludes the overthrow of the powers of dark-
nature in Adam, who was taken from thk dust of the ness atid the complete triumph.of  the `elect believers in
earth. To Adam He gave Eve, as flesh of his flesh           their Head, Christ Jesus.
and bone of his bone, thereby instituting  the holy            Christ is the true vine,- and those who belong $0
state of matrimony. And out of the union of these           Him aYe the branches, John 15 :l. He and His people
two the whole human race is born. God .established  a form a. unity, one temple, on? church, one. family of
relation of parent and children as a family unit. `God, a royal priesthood 2nd a ,holy generation. Eter-
Each  tinit has its own'place in the'organism, and thus     nally they shall show forth their perfect unity to the
serves,to  bring forth the sqm total of humanity, accord- glory of the Father. ,God always knows them, regards
ing'to the purpose of the Most High. As children of them and deals with them &as a sinless and righteous.
father Adam we form one great family, the family of people in Christ.                ,
the human race. _            I                                 Even Christ, according to the flesh, is `born .out of
   This is such an -i@egral part of our earthly exist..     .the organism of the humtiri race, yet as the covenant
.ence that it hardly impr&ses us. ., It is only natural     seed of the woman. tie is a son of IAdam, of the family
that mankind comes into existence by propagation.           of Seth, in the generatibns  of Shem, the seed of Abra-
We take it for granted that the child looks, like its       ham, ,the Lion of Judah's tribe, the heir of the throne
parents, possibly more like the one than the other,         of David. By a wdnder of grace God preserves His
but more than likely bearing a resemblance to both.         elect,. even in the midst of `a sinful -and stiffnecked
He even has  the nature and  char&teristics of his          generation, in order that tiut, of &hose elect believers
parents, which manifest themselves already early in the Christ might be`born. Only grace made it pbssible
life.    And because that nature has been corrupted         that the Holy One` shobld be born out of the unholy.


                                                                                                          1
                                      T H E   STANDAR-D   B E A R E R                                                    405

  Only the wonder of. grace .brought  the living Son of charge. Their early influences  can'never be erased.
  God into the' world, taking His human nature from t6e         The child is cor+&an..lx  IeaYning to follow, the example
  dead root of `Jesse. He came in the-likeness of sinful `.and to` walk  in  ihe footsteps of his parents. Thus
  flesh, yet without sin.                                       covenant  :parents  realize their bbligation to "train up
      Always, even after  l?entecost,  God continues to the child in the way that he must go".
  gather His church in the line of the generations of               From this follows' that <God  .also visits the sins of
  the'believers. He does not gather them and deal with the  .fathers  upon the  children..  In the  da@  03 the ,
' them as isolated' individuals snatched out of the mass        Judges the fathe& failed to instruct their children in
* of mankind, but assembles His church in the historical        the mighty works of the LoPd, and as a result thhe next
  channel 6f families, causing His coven&t to, pass from        generation departed from the Lord to serve  ai1 the
!father to son: He assures the believers by His Spirit abominations of the heathens. In the history of the
  and Word, that the promise is to them and to their kings of Israel we r"ead repeatedly, that they walked in
  children, and to all that'ake  afar off, as many as the the sins of Jeroboam the son' of Nebat, who made
  Lord their God  shall call. According to His Word             Israel to sin. The succeeding kings never departed
  they behold that their sons and daughters prophesy from those sins, but only added thereto, until God
  and their young men see visions, and their old men banished Israel out of the land. @ways according to
d r e a m   ,dreams.                                            the second commandment, "For I the *Lord thy God am
  A Corporal Responsibility.  ..-,                              a jealous.;God,  visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon
      From this follows a corporal responsibility. The the children unto. the third and fourth generation of
  organic unity of the human race i~ncludes  a legal solid- them that hate Me."
  arity. God created us as a corporation, mutually re-             There is, of course, also an individual responsibility.
  sponsible to each other, so that the head of. the corpora-    The children who do not walk in the sins of their
  tion is respdnsible for the deeds of its members, and         fathers are not held responsible for those particular
  the members are-responsible for the deeds of the head.        sins.' Every man is punished for his own sins. But
  We. are all responsible for the transgression of Adam         that  ,does not exclude a corporal responsibility and
  in Paradise. He was our representative head, so that guilt. Examples from Scripture  cotild be multiplied
  when he sinned the whole corporation sinned in him.           in:abundance. Think of Korah, Dathan and Abiram
  And as' a result, his `transgression is iniputed .to all who rebelled against the servants of God, with the
  unto death and eternal condemnation.         This is the ,result that their families were swallowed up by the,
  plain teaching of IScripture  in those significant. p&s-      earth with them. Or of Achan who was stoned with
  sages. of Romans 5. _ "Wherefore,  ,a,+ by one. man sin his sons and dtiughters  and all his cattle. Or even of
  entered into the world, arid death by sin ; and so death      Gehazi, from whose ,house the leprosy did not depart
  passed upon all men, for that all have sinned;" Verse 12. forever.       Also when David  cbmmi~ted  the sin with
  Again in verse 15, "Through the offence of one many Bathsheba he experienced .chasiisement of the Lord in
  are dead." And in- verse 18, "`For by the offence of his own family, for the sword did not'depart from his
  one judgment came. upon all rhen .to condemnation." house all his days. But when he sinned as king, by'
  Here it is plainly stated that although one man sinned,       counting the,.people  contrary to the command of God,
  we all sinned in him, wherefore the death sentence is thb pebple bore the affliction.
  executed upon all who sinned. We are "all polluted               The wonder  of grace is, that God also shows mercy
 ,tiith sin from the moment of our conception, and this         unto  thotisatids  of them that  love Him and kiep  Hii:
  sinful nature we pass on to our children from genera- commandments. He uses the elect believers to bring
  tion to generation..                                          forth and instruct the covenant seed in the ways of the.
      Likewise, the tihole human race, the nations and Lord. He assures His people that wheii children are
  .the families, and all the individuals includftd in them, trained up iri the w$ay of the Lord, they will not depart
 are mutually responsible to .each other.. How evident frolrl' it, not even when they are old. In that confidence
  this is in the relation between parents and their child-      believing parents  bdild schools arid churches. They
  fen. The. infant a&ves in this world without a stitch         determihe `what instrtiction the child shall receive, in'
  of clothing on his back and without the slightest con- which school and in' which church. Nothing but the
  cern about his own welfare, He has arrived, and it is puie, unadultertited  miik of _ the Word is good enough
  left to the respqnsible parties to clothe him, feed him for the coming generation, for to them must be en-
  and care for  hip. Upon the parents rests. the full trusted the' heritage of the truth, in order that they
  responsibility  for  the child for the next eighteen of may be the purest m,anifestation of the Body of Christ
  twenty-one years. They teach it to sit up, to walk and        upon, the earth. , ,Thus they rejoice in the promise,
  to talk. By,woid and deed, by instru&ion  and admoni- "Blest the man' that fears Jehovah, walking. ever. in
  tion, but especially by example, they continually ..make      His  way. . .  .'  .' He shall see his children's children.,
  indelible  impres'sions  upon this highly; susceptible and peace upon Israel. L:                          C; Hanko.


        406,.                                     T H E        STANDAR-6   `BEARfiR

                                                                       te komen in een zekere stad of dbrp, hetzij in Amqika,
                     PERISCQ'PE,                                       hetzij in  Canad&.
                                                                          Wij kunnen ons voo&&llenx dat u nag .vele vragen
                                                                       heeft voor dat u tot een voile en besliste keuze in dezen
         DE PROTESTANTSCHE GEREFORMEERDE                               kunt komen. We stellen dat op prijs:. het vraagstuk
                               KERKEN   +                              der Kerk is van zeer groat gewicht. Met het oog op
                             .(  Slot  Volgt)                          verdere voorlichting zijn ye ook gaarne bereid  om u
           We zouden nog we1 heel wat meer dver cieze kwestie          vek;der van dienste- te zijn. Er is in -hef verleden reeds
       kunnen schrijven en over*  het verschil tussehen onke veel over deze dingen geschreven, ook in de Hollandsche,
       kerken en de Christian Refbrmed  `Chtirch, maar. we taal.
       hebben daar thans geen ruimte voor binhen dit -be-              U zegt misschien: "Wij komen net uit Nederland
       perkte bestek. pals u dit boekje leest en-u vraagt straks       en daar  waren ook  -kerkelijke  moeilijkheden en  ee&
       eens iemand, hetzij predikant of meelevend lid van de kerkelijke scheuring in den boezem dkr Gereformeerde
       Christian Reformed Church: "Wat moet ik daar nu Kerken, en we zijn we1 wat strijdens-moe;  moeten we
       van denken,  is het waar wat die Protestantsche Gere- hi& nu 6ok moeite`hebben?" We. kunnen u heel goed
     formeerden beweren.?," dan zal men u daar misschien verstaan. Ne&, moeite behoeft  u heelemaal niet, maar
       verschillend op antwoorden*  Het kan zijn.. dat men u we1 is het uw roeping om een kerkel'ijk onderdak te
       het volgende antwoord geeft :             "Die Protestantsche zoeken en te vinden, eq~.tyij zijn er van overtuigd dat
       Gereformeerde men&hen zijn fanatiek aangelegd en als u werkelijk van harte de Gereformeerde leer lief-
       drijven huil supra-lapsarische leer ten top, u moet zich heeft dan behoort u bij ons. Dus, is het uw roeping
       ma5r niet te veel van hen aantrekken". Het kan ook niet Om alle dingen maar voor zoetekoek  aan te nemen
       zijn dat men u te kennen geeft dat men liever niet over         doch te onderzoeken of, ,deze dingen  alzob zijn gelijk
       deze  dingen praat want het is  tech  maar  .een  over-         wij u meedeelden.
       dorschen van oud stroo. Oak, kan het gebeuren.  dat                Volgaarne geven we toe dat `de volmtiaktheid' ook
       men zoo langs den neus weg opmerkt :' "Ja, die -men- bij lange na niet in onze  kerken wordt gevonden.
       schen `hebben hun mgoeie punten wel, ze zijn eigenlijk Anderzijds zijn we er ook van qvertuigd  dat door Gods
       ook ~$1 stoer ,Gereformeerd,  maar het is jammer dat genade de aloude, zuivere,  Gereformeer,de  prediking
       ie uit orize Kerk geloopen zijn. Doch we kunnen er nu in onze kerken wordt gevonden; En we zijn heelemaal
       niets meer aan doen en er valt- heel moeilijk met hen niet bang of een  proeve  daarvan`zou  u, als  Gerefor-
       te praten." Wat bet antwoord ook moge zijn, tot Allen meerde, ten voile bevredigen.  De grondtoon van onze
       die dit lezen zou ik willen zeggen: "U mbet u zoo maar prediking is immer weer : "`God op.het allerhoogst  ver-
       niet van all& bp de mouw laten spelden en u moet niet           heerlijkt en de mensch op het allerdiepst  vernederd."
       te haastig rioch het een no&het .ander gaan gelooven." Om kort te gaan,' wij gelooven  en belijden dat God alles
       Als u het werkelijk van harte.eens zijt met de Christian -is en de mensch niets: Dat het Gode behaagd heeft in
       Reformed Church dan hoort u daar thhis en'dan moet Zijn.soeverein welbehagen Zich een gemeente ten eeu-
.      u daar uw kerkeiijk onderdak zoeken. Maar als u de wigen leven te verkiezen, en om dit volk t& doen sma-
       zuivere, onverminkte, `aloude `Gereformeerde waarheid           ken de heilgeheimen van Zijn Verbond, om Zijn eigen"
       liefheeft, dus niet in <de leer der Drie Punten g&looft,        Verbondsleven in hen te openbaren en hun daar eeuwig-
       dan hoort  u thuis in een Protestantsche Gerefdrmeerde lijk in te doen laten deelen  naar de mate vari het crea-
       Kerk. Dat we  u met deze  dingexi kennis steilen is, tuurlijke. Hei hemel-leven is de hemelsche en eeuwige
       wat ons betreft, niet een zaak van kerkjelspelen,  noch         veewerkelij.king  van Gods Verbond. Dat volk en. dat
       uit  haat tegen de Christian Reformed Church, noch              volk alleen heeft Hij eeuwiglijk lief. Voor dat volk
       omdat we kerkscheuring zoeken, maar uit liefde voor gaf Hij Zijn Zoon in' den- dood .des kruises. Dat volk
       de waarheid Gods. En niets zou ons aangenamer zijn alleen bewijst Hij `genade,  en dat volk leeft uit genade
       dan dat de Christian Reformed Church het van h%rte              en moet hei vap dag tot dag leesen om uit genade te
       met ons eens was. En als u nu lid van e&n onzer ker- leven. En daarom werken  dan ook alle .dingen mee ten
       ken wilt worden  terwijl u rdit door omstandigheden-van goede dengenen ,die IGod lief hebben, die naar Zijn voor-.
       het oogenblik qiet mogelijk is omdat er geen' Protes-           nem@n geroepen zijn. En wat de prediking des Wobrds
       tantsche  Gerefortieerde  Kerk in  uw stad` of dorp is, betreft, men beschuldigt ons we1 eens dat wij alleen
       dan heeft u tech we1 terdege' een roeping van Gods voor de  yitverkoren&   willen preeken. Die bewering
       wege om alles te doen wat in uw vermogen'is om daar zelf is natuurlijk onzin. Hoe zou dat toeh ooit kunnen?
       verandering in te brengen. Als~Gereformeerd  belijder Neen, wij gelooven in een  algemeene prediking  aan
       die de waarheid `liefheeft zooals voorgestaaii  en gepr`e-      allen die onder het gehoor komen, maar de inhoud des
       dikt door onz`e kerken moet u aansluiting zoeken met Evangelies  wat de belofte betreft is altijd particzclier.
     , gelijkdqnkenden  ,en contai3 met onze kerken. Wij van           Daarom is de prediking des  Woords..dan ook altijd
       onzen kant willen u gaarne `helpen-om  tot kerkformatie Toor den een een reuke des l&ens ten leven en voor


                                      T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                            407

 den ander een reuke des doods ten  doode.  De  ver- ten  ,dat in geheel ons  1,even  openbaren.  - En om dit
 korenen worden  getrokken, geroepen uit de duisternis          ge'estelijk  vreemdelihgschap in praktijk te brengen is
 .der  zonde tot Gods  wonderbaar   licht, ze  worden   yer- geheel iets anders dan om Dooper&h te leven. De twee
 troost, opgebouwd in het allerheiligst geloof, maar de hebben  in- het geheel  `ni&s niet elkander gemeen.
 verworpenen   worden   ,onder diezelfde prediking  ver-           Is  u een sterke voorstander van Christelijk onder-
 hard. En dat zeggen wij  niet,  doch leze  leer;  zooals wijs? Ook daarin zijn we het van harte met u- eens.
 elk Gereformeerd mensch  dat verstaat, is gegrond op Er is clan ook geen kerkgemeenschap waarvan het per-
 de  &hrift zelve. God is geen koopman en Hij  biedt            centage kinderen die naar cle ChrisJelijke School gain,
 noo@ Zijine. genade aan aan eenig menseh, maar Hij             hooger is, dan V&J de Prot%stantsche  Gereformeerde
 wepkt  -bet geloof en de zaligheid krachtdadelijk  in al Kerken.          Wij. gelooven `in een  distinctief-verbonds-
 degenen die Hij ten eeuwigen leven verkoren .heeft. matige opvoeding over de geheele-iinie:  gezin, kerk en
 Maar als God ,dan nooit genade aanbiedt, hoeveel te s c h o o l .
 minder zou Hij ooit welmeenend de zaligheid aanbieden             Heeft u de Gereformeerde belijdenis lief zooals uit-
 aan degenen voor wien naar' Gods Aaad die.-zaligheid gedixkt en saamgevat in de  .Drie. Formulieren van
 niet was bestemd &n voor wien Christus nimmer heeft .E%igheid?-  Dat is ook onze belijdenis zonder dat onze
 geleden en is gesLorven. Met. allen eerbied gesproken, kerken daar -eenige bindende bepalingen aan hebben
,God kan.niet aahbieden wat niet bestaat. -We moeten toegevoegd. El! die belijdenis is voor ons niet een
 niet met woorden schermen en ook  inoeten we den doode letter maar een belijdenis w`aaruit ens waarnatir
 mensch nimmer in `t gevlij  kdmen, maar we moeten              we, door de genad'e Gods, willen leven.
 ons immer weer buigen voor de  Schrift en vragen:                 IGelooft 11. dat genad,e  niet in de dingen alszoodanig
 "Wat z&t Gods Woord?!'                                         zit maar in~de gunste Gods in;en,over die dingen? Ook
    Wij gelooven en belijden tevens ook van harte dat wij zijn- het in dezen hari;elijk met u eens, gelijk ook
 Christus de i(oping Zijner .Kerk  is dewelk@  Hij regeert reeds overvloediglijk uit dit geschrift is gebleken.
 door Zijn Woord en Geest. En in nauw -verband hier-               Gelooft u dat alle dingen medewerken ten goede
-mee houden we ook vast aan het `Gereformeerde,  Schrif-        dengenen die God liefhebben  en naar Zijn voornemen
 tuurlijke b,eginsel dat elke plaatselijke kerl: een plaatse- geroepen zijn, maar dat ook alle  dingen den verworpene
 lijke openbaring  is van het lichaam van Christus. Van- medewerken ten kwade ? Weer zeggen we : `SOok dat
 daar mdan 061~ dat we we1 zeer terdege gelooven dat er         zijn we hartelijk met u eens, want dat, leert `de Schrift
 een. kerkverband moet bestaan, dat er Classical& en zooals o.a. duidelijk blijkt uit Psalm `73."
 Synodale vergaderingen tioeten zijn voor het weliijn             . Gelooft u`in de voorzienigheid *Gods over alle, dingen,
,der plaatselijke kerken die overeestemmen in de leer ingesloten de zonde, en dat ten allen tijde met de alge-
 en de belijdenis. Doch uit &et voorgaande vloeit tevens heele en volkomene  '  ..verantwoordelijkheid  van den
 dat we.streng willen vasthouden aan de aptonomie der menseh? Ook in dezen verschillen we niet met u. Wij
 plaatselijke  kerk.  ,Classes   en Synode zijn.  we1  meer-    gelooven niet in het stuiten yan de zonde van .Godsiirege
 dcre vergaderingen maar geen hoogere  besturen of in het hart van Xet individu waardoor Cte mensch eigen-
 vergaderingen  die een hoogere. maeht bqzitten da6 die lijk beter wordt dan liij werkelijk is (eeti leer die te-
 der plaatselijke kerkeraden. We zijn bang iran de higr- kort doet aan de totale verdorvenheid van clek mensch) ,
 arehie;  temeer omdat we aan.den  lijve hebben onder-          maar tie gelooven zeer terdege dat alle dingen. geschie-
 v&den dat he6 hi&&chisel1  kerkrecht  er geweldig toe dew naar den Raad #Gods en .dat alles staat onder Gods
heeft  meegewerkt  dat het bij ons in  i924 tot een voorzienig bestel. In dezeli zijn we het van harte eens'
 scheuring kwam en een eigen kerk-formatie.                     met dnze belijdenis, zooals o.a. uitgedrnkt  in de Reidel-
    De ruimte ontbreekt  ons om verder uit te weiden bergs&e  Catechisinus,  Zondag 10, Nederl. Geloofsbel.,
1 over deze dingen. Er zijn'misschien enkele vragen die Art. 13, D'ordtsche Leerregels III, IV, 1, 4, enz.
 u nog gaarne zag .beantwoord.      We zullen u in dezen           Gelooft u dat de mensch buiten .de zaligmakefide
 bevredigen, maar dit in6et we1 heel in .het. kort. Ge- genade om geen goed kan doen dat wezenlijk geestelijk-
 looft  u ill de antithese?' Dat is .een  -van onze grond- zedelijk goed is ep voor Gocl kan bestaan? Dat hebben
waarheden die we belij,den  en door Gods genadie trach- w'ij  altijd  geleerd. Het is alleen door  wedqrbarende,
 ieli te beleven. We zeiden aritithese,  niet een antithese almqg&de genade dat een mensch Gode welbehaglijk
 die verwaterd  is +ot dual&me. We zijn .vuur bang van kan zijn, hetzij in natuurlijke, bur&rlijke of  geeste-
het dualisme.                                                   lijke..dingen. Want .wat uit het vleesch is dat is zonde
    Is u een felle tegenstander van wereldgelijkvormig-         en kan Gode  diet  behag?n. En zelfs  de  allerheiligste
heid? 061~ daarin zijn we het hartelijk met u eens. El- heeft nog maar, een klein beginsel der volm@kte-.ge-
 is geen gemeenschap  tusschen Christus en Belial. En hoorzaamheid, hoe zou de qtuurlijke mensch dan ooit
dat  be'ginsel  we& door op elk terrein  vati het  leveh.       iets kunnen doen dat Gode welbehagelijk is?
 We zijn  we1  iri de wereld maar niet van  dti wereld,            Maar waarom nog meer genoemd? Alle fundamen- ,
geestelijk zijn we vreelndelingen  en bijwoners en moe-r teele stukken der `Gereformeerde  leer zijn ons lief en


 -~ 4p8                                       T H E   STANDARD  B E A R E R

  worden  door onze kerken gepredikt.  en `geleerd,  zooals :..                                                      ,eALL  TO  SYNOD
  de uitverkiezing, de  `soever&in$eit   .Gods, het  plaats-                                  The Consistory of the First I%otesta;nt Reformed
  beklee'de!ld  lijden en ,sterven van Christus vdor de Zij-. `cllurch being designated the calling ch&ch .by the last
  nen, de komst van onzen Heere en Zaligmaker op de                                Synod, hereby notifies the church'es that Synod will
  wolken (een dag die we met rassche schreden tegemoet . convene  qn June 2, 1948. The pre-synodical prayer
 gaan) , &e zuivere bediening ban Woord en Sacramenten                             service will be held in the- auditorium `of, the First
  en dc handhaving van de Christelijke tucht, enz., enz.                           Church Tuesday, June i, at 8 :oO P.M., with Rev. J.
      Heeft u eeli keuze gedaan? U moet een ketize  doen                           De Jong, president of the 1947 Synod, conducting the
  in betrekking tot .de Kerk: Waaron?  wij Protestants&                            service.         The first session of Synod on  W$nesday
  Gere'formeerd  zijn ,en wat wij als'kerken leeren is uit A.M., will be held at our Fourth Church and. all suck
  het voorgaande duidelijk  gebleken en behoeft voor u                             ceeding  sessions at  tile  First Protestant Reformed
 thans niet meer een vraag  te zijn. En nu  u dit alles
                -                                                                  Church. Requests for lodging will kindly be forwarded
  weet is het .vraagstuk der Kerk voor u temeer beklem-                            to the undersigned.
  mend. Waar staat U? . . . . Gaarne willen we u van                                                                 Consistory First Prot. Ref. Church,
  dienst zijn. ook door verdere voorlicht'ing.                                                                        By-Sidney  De Young, Clerk
      Moge de Koning  der  Kerk  u  verder  Zijne  ge@de                                                  f                       1001 Franklin St., S. E.
  verleen& ofidat  ge ook in deze, voor u, nieuwe wereld,                               .:                                          Gr&nd Rapids 7,lMichigan.
  een oplossing moogt zoeken voor het geweldige vraag-
  stuk der %erk op een wijze die, de goedketiring  heeft                                                                     -          -         -    -                           s
  van onzen hemelschen Vader.                                                      N           o    t          i      c      e                    t    o            the
                                                      J. De Jong.
                               *  *  $                                                                   MEMBERS  #QF THE R. F. P. A.
                                                                                         You are hereby requested to submit your choice of
      Any of our consistories  or members who desire this pamphlet                 persons to be considered fbr ndmination of new Board
  for distribution mavI   urocure
                          -           them bv addressing a  reauest
                                                              a         to         nembers.
  the Mission Committee-1210 Logan St., S. E.; Grand Rapids,                        _ Please forward names- promptly to :
Michigan.                                   The Mission  Committke.                                                               M. J. Wotidenberg,  Sec'y.
                     :                                                                                                            1042 Worden St., S. E:                      .
           '  -WHO IS -INTERESTED ? ? ?                       .                                                                   Grand Rapids 7, Michigan.
    We received a letter recently from the Netherlqnds
  which "reads in `part as follows : "Mag ik tevens nog
 - iets U &vragen? Het zdu mij zeer verheugen,. indien
  ik ook verschill&de  kerkelijke bladen uit Amerika toe-
  gezonden  kreeg, en  ik.wil dit ook  betalen,  maar dat                                                      I                   N                             .MEMORIAM
  geeft zooveel moeilijkheden, ,dat `er ongeveer geen be-                                      In het stellig  weten  &  vast  vertiouwen van
  ginnen aan is. Reeds meer dan eens heb ik het gepro-'                                 het &are geloof is heden tot Christus, zijn Hoofd,
  beerd door middel van de boekhandel; maar het gelukt                                  opgenomen  mijlle geliefde Zwager
 me maar niet. Zou het tiogelijk'zijn,  dat'menschen in
  Amerika of Canada hun kerkelijke bladen, na gelezen                                                    Dr.  SEAKLE  GREIJDANUS
  te hebben, en die waarschijnlijk dan weggedaan wor-
  den, mij toezenden zouden? Graag Wil in ruil daarvoor                                 weduwnaar van Mevrouw M.  GSEIGDANUS-KRUITHOF,
. kerkelijke bladen van Holland; nad&t ik ze gelezen heb,                               in leven Hoogleeraar  aan de Theologische Hoogesohool van
  toezenden aan hen, die er zich voor interesseeren. In-                                De Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland te Kampen.
  dien U, b.v. een adres of meerder adressen kunt geven,                                       Ridder in de Orde  van den Nederlandschen Leeuw.
  tot die ik me in deze zaak wenden k&n, dan ook reeds
  bij voorbaat mijn hartelijke dank. U begkijpt,  dat h.et                              in den ouderdom van `77 jaren.
  niet slechts gaat over Amerikaansche  bladen,' die, in
  het Hollandsch geschreven zijn'; juist ook de in het                                                                     MEDE UIT NAAM DER FAMILIE,
                                                                                                                    A. A. >J. VERBRUGGE-Zevenbergen.
  IAmerikaansch  gesehreven bladen zou ik  willen  ont-
  v a n g e n . "  _                                                                    KAMPEN,' 19 Mei 1948,
      Anyone. interested ip this opportunity to exchange                                Vloeddijk 112.
  `papers can correspond with '                                                                           -
                                          Ds. A. J. Bos .                               De begrafenis  ,is bepaald op Maandag  ,24  Mei
                                          A 207                                         op de Algemeene Begraafplbats' te Kimpen; ver-
                                          Heerjansdam  '                                trek van bet ,sterfhuis  te 2 uur n.m.
                                          N e t h e r l a n d s               %


