          196                                                                                                                       T H E   STANDARjD  B E A R E R

                                              The Standard Bearer
                 Semi-Monthly, except Monthly in  July and August                                                                                                                                                              EDIT,OEiIALS
                                                                   P u b l i s h e d   B y
     ,                     The Reformed Free Publishing Association                                                                                                                                                                                                    I
                                           Box 124, Sta. C., Grand Rapids, wch.                                                                                                                                    Kuiper's Parable Of The Jealous
                                                   EDITOR:  - Rev. 8. Hoeksema.
     Contributing Editors:  - Rev. G. M. Ophoff, Rev. G.  VOY, Rev.                                                                                                                                                                            Fisherman                       *
          R. Veldman, Rev. H. Veldman, Rev. H. De Wolf, Rev. B. Kok,
          Rev. J. D. De Jong, Rev. A. Petter, Rev. C. Hanko, Rev. L.
     Vermeer, Rev. G. Lubbers, Rev. M. Gritters, Rev. J. A. Heys,                                                                                                                                                   In the Banner of December 31, 1948, the editor
          Rev. W. Hofman.                                                                                                                                                                                        writes :
           Communications relative to contents should be addressed to
     REV. H. HOEKSEMA, 1139 Franklin St., S. E., Grand Rapids;                                                                                                                                                          "We should not fail to mention the yigorous  way in
     Michigan                                                                                                                                                                                                         which our Church is taking hold of the work among
           Communications relative to subscription should be addressed                                                                                                                                                our Dutch immigrants in Canada.
     to MR. J. BOUWMAN, 1131 Sigsbee St., S.E., Grand Rapids 6,                                                                                                                                                         "The Home Mission Board has shown commend-
          Mich. Announcements and Obituaries must be mailed to the
     above address and will be published at a `fee of $1.00 for each                                                                                                                                                  able foresight in giving early and effective attention
     notice.                                                                                                                                                                                                          to the spiritual needs of there immigrants. A  num-
                                              (Subscription Price $2.50 per year)                                                                                                                                    ber of able ministers have responded to the call to
          Entered as Second Class Mail at Grand Rapids, Michigan.                                                                                                                                                     1abor.m  this field, in many cases at great personal
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      sacrifice.    All honor to them for their devotion!
.                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Though our Church  may. enter another period of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      rapid expansion because of its mission work in
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Canada, our  fir;? consideration should not be denom-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      inational self-interest but the spiritual needs of the
                                                                      C O N T E N T S                                                                                                                                 immigrant families.          .
          MEDITATION-                                                                                                                                                                                                   "Probably few of our readers know about the latest
            Tot Den ,Bornput . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193                                      developments in our  ,Canadian  field. For the past
                              Rev. G. Vos                                                  *                                                                                                                          twenty years or more our Church has been laboring
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      there. .Now the Protestant Reformed Church and one
          EDITORIALS-                                                                                                                                                                                                 of the classes of the Reformed Church have entered
            Kuiper's  Parable of the Jealous Fisherman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...*... 196                                                                                                                  that  field. Recently one or more  reprerentatives  of
                             Rev. H. Hoeksema                                                                                                                                                                         the former distributed propaganda literature to the
          THE TRIPLE  KNOWLEDGE-                                                                                                                                                                                      worshipper:  who were leaving the services in one of
            An Exposition of the Heidelberg Catechism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198                                                                                                             our Ontario congregations! We wonder how their con-
                             Rev. H. Hoeksema                                                                                                                                                                         science can approve such tactics.
          OUR DOCTRINE-                                                                                                                                                                                                 "As to the Reformed Church, when its representa-
            The Attributes Of God _.........................................: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202                                                                                           tives made known to us their desire to do mission
                           Rev. H. Veldman                                                                                                                                                                            work among the Canadian immigrants, they were
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      asked not to work in places where our Church is al-
     THE DAY OF  SHADOWS-                                                                                                                                                                                             ready established or working.        But `now they are
            Ishbosheth Slain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..~...................................................205
                              Rev. G. M. Ophoff                                                                                                                                                                       seeking a foothold in Chatham  and Hamilton where
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      our denomination has two congregations and is doing
          STON'S  ZANGEN-                                                                                                                                                                                             its utmost to minister to the spiritual needs of the
            Liefdevol, Schoon  Zwaar Getergd                                                                                                                                                        908
                                                                                                                   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1         i m m i g r a n t s .
                              Rev. G. Vos                                                                                                                                                                               "Tbe whole situation reminds us of what sometimes
          [N HIS  FEAR-                                                                                                                                                                                               happens in the summer on our inland lakes.  ,4 for-
            Training For Life's Calling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  210                                                                 tunate fisherman may anchor near a hidden  brush-
                              Rev. J. A.  Heya                                                                                                                                                                        pile-good cover for fish-and make a'  .fine catch.
          FROM HOLY WRIT-                                                                                                                                                                                             His fellow-fishermen on the same lake who may be
            The Multiformity Of The Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  W3                                                                                catching little or nothing come in closer and closer-
                              Rev. C. Hanko                                                                                                                                           .                               at times so close t,hat the biting suddenly stops.
          PERISCOPE-                                                                                                                                                                                                    "We wonder what effect this rivalry in Canada is
            Quiz * . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . % . . . . . . . . . . * . . . . *..* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  *...*...**  . . . . . . * . . . . . . . . .
                                                                                                                                                                                                    215               going  to,have  on  tlie immigrants ? Will it be for their
                    Rev. W. Hofman                                                                                                                                                                                    spiritual benefit ? Will it promote' the Kingdom of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      God?"


                                   T H E   S T A N D A R D '   B E A R E R                                       197

   It is rather striking that the situation in Canada Reformed truth, but in self-aggrandizement, in the
and the mission activity of the Protestant Reformed enlargement of its own membership.
Churches there should remind the editor of that "un-          In the second place, it implies in the very nature
fortunate fisherman". The illustration certainly shows of the case a spirit of envy and jealousy. Why should
that he judges everybody by himself, for as the Dutch not that first fisherman, who already has made a fine
proverb has it: "Zooals de waard is, zoo vertrouwt hij catch, in true common grace-lobe, of which the editor
zijn gasten.`" (That is : "As the host is, so he trusts of the Bamaer  is supposed to have a good deal, invite
his guests.")    Besides, the illustration also  clearl: his fellow-fishermen, that have caught little or noth-
reveals that the editor's conception of mission work ing to come to the brush-pile and to the favorable
and church extension work is not a very exalted one. fishing spot, rather than try to gain a monopoly of the
He writes indeed: "Though our Church may enter good fishing-ground in the lake? And why should
atlother period of rapid expansion because of its mis- not the small and despised Protestant Reformed Church
sion work in Canada, our first consideration should share a little in the fruit of the work in Canada and
not be denominational self-interest but the spiritual enlarge its own membership?
needs of the immigrant families." But the illustration        But the editor-must not apply this parable of the
of the fortunate fisherman points nevertheless in fisherman's story to the Protestant Ref. Churches.
the direction that the denominational interests of the        It, is very evident that the Christian Reformed
Christian Reformed Church are first and that the Church does not care much about real Reformed truth,
spiritual needs of the immigrants are of second con- if they only can enlarge their membership. This is
sideration.                                                very evident from the attitude they assume in Canada
   We may indeed cast this ,illustration in the form over against the members of the Reformed Churches
of a parable, as follows: The mission work of the under Art. 31 of the Netherlands. By decision of the
Christian Reformed Church is like a fortunate fisher- Ecumenical Synod of the Reformed Churches in the
man on one of our inland lakes,. who having anchored Netherlands and South Africa and the Christian Re-
his boat near a hidden brush-pile-good cover for fish formed Churches here they condemned the stand and
-is making  a  fine catch. But he notices with envy the action of the Liberated Churches in the Nether-
that the other fishermen on the same lake, who were lands. They refused to establish official correspond-
catching little or nothing, come in closer and closer, ence with these churches and they warned. against
till the biting suddenly stops. Thus far the parable.      the coming of one of the representatives to this country,
                                                           Dr. Schilder, by an official notice in their church papers
   And now the interpretation of this parable.             of the  Synodical  Committee of the Christian Reformed
   That fortunate fisherman is, of course, the Chris- Churches. Besides, unofficially they repudiated Heyns'
tian Reformed Church. The inland lake is Canada. view of the covenant; and again, unofficially they
And the spot near a hidden brush-pile, where the adopted the theory of presumptive regeneration, of
fisherman anchors his boat, is some center in Canada- which the Liberated Churches must have nothing. In
let us say, Hamilton-where the Christian. Reformed         1926 their Synod officially adopted the hierarchical
Church is laboring and has been laboring for some form of church government, according to which a
time. But the fisherman is jealous and envious of a synod and classis can .depose  consistories,-a stand to
few poor fellow-fishermen who also'try to catch a little which the Liberated Churches of the Netherlands are
and approach the brush-pile where the fishing is evi- vehemently opposed. Yet, in spite of all this, they
dently good. The first fisherman is envious of his gladly receive members of the Liberated Churches in
brethren in spite of the fact that while they catch little their fellowship. They even allege, according to re-
:)r nothing, he has already made a fine catch.             liable reports, that the Christian Reformed Churches
   Now, what does this parable imply?                      have never taken a stand over against the Liberated
   Pn the first place, it evidently implies that accord- Churches of the Netherlands. All this goes to show
ing to the editor of the Banner the Christian Reformed t,hat the Christian Reformed Church is not interested
Church looks upon the mission work in Canada in the in the Reformed truth nor in the spiritual interests of
light of what is called in Dutch "kerkjespelen". It is the immigrants in Canada, but rather in the enlarge-
evident that the fisherman does not sit near the brush- ment of its own membership.
pile for the interest of the fish, to feed them, but to       And therefore, I repeat that the parable of the
catch as many as possible, both for the amusement of jealous fisherman, in as far as it is supposed to apply
fishing and for a good meal of fish. His motive is         to the Protestant Reformed Churches, is an error.
entirely selfish.  ~Applying  the parable to reality, it The parable only clearly indicates that the editor of
means that the Christian Reformed Church is not the  Banner  judges everybody by himself.
interested in the spiritual welfare of the Canadian           The editor is in a position to know this if he has at
Reformed immigrants or in the propagation of the least read all that we have officially decided and all


X98                                  T H E   STAP;TDARD  B E A R E R

that has been written in connection with our labors in         And it is our sacred calling before God to warn
Canada. :Ele may know that we openly disagree with all that will listen and especially members of the Chris-
the doctrinal stand of the Liberated Churches in regard tian Reformed Church as well as the members of the
to the covenant and in respect to the view of the .cove-    Reformed Churches in the Netherlands that immigrate
nant children. He may know that we have'nd inten- to Canada, to keep far from the corruption of the
tion to organize Heynsian churches in Canada or even `Three Points of 1924 and to shun a church that casts
to receive members in our churches that are imbued          out her faithful ministers and hierarchically lords it
with the Heynsian theory of the covenant. We are over the churches.
not primarily interested in the enlarging of our mem-          That, Mr. Editor of the  Banner,  is our &and. And
bership, but in the Reformed truth pure and simple.         of that stand we are not ashamed.
   And, by (the way,. in spite of the praise and honor                                                    H. H.
which the editor of the Banner accords to the ".,mmber
of able ministers" that labor in Canada, there is a           THE TRIPLE KNOWLEDGE
rather general complaint by the Reformed immigrants
in Canada that they do not preach the Reformed truth  ;
while, in spite of the difference between"us  and the
Liberated Churches in respect to  the covenant, they,       An Exposition Of The Heidelberg
the immigrants, testify nevertheless that from  ou!-
ministers in Canada they hear Reformed preaching.                               Catechism
   But there is something else. The editor writes:
"Recently one or more representatives of the former                              PART TWO
(The Prot. Ref. Churches) distributed propaganda                               LORD'S  D,AY 25
literature to t,he worshippers who were leaving the
services in one of our Ontario congregations ! We                                      4.
wonder how their conscience can approve such tac-
tics." Now, the men from our Churches that labored            Preaching in the Sphere of the Covenant. (cont.)
in Canada assure me that they were not standing by             It is especially for this reason that according to our
the doors of the church in Hamilton when the worship-       conviction children of the covenant are regenerated
pers were leaving the services to distribute their pro- from earliest infancy. Why should God let His cove-
paganda literature. But 1. say : what of it if they did ? nant continue in the line of generations? Why should
Why should our consciences be troubled about such He according to that rule of the covenant bring little
tactics? Why should we not distribute our own liter- children under the influence of the preaching of the
ature, which is purely Reformed, at the very doors Word from their earliest infancy if they were not re-
of any Christian Reformed Church?                           generated? As we said, the dead cannot use means ;
   Let me once more remind the editor of the  &nner and there is no proper reaction upon the preaching of
that we are interested in the Reformed truth and not the Word by those that are spiritually dead. Only
in the enlargement of our membership, small though those that are spiritually living are capable to use the
we are. The editor of the  Banner  must not forget means which the Holy Spirit provides for the working
what took place in 1924. Then the Christian Reform- of faith and for the development and upbuilding of the
ed Church officially adopted the theory of common same. And therefore we repeat : as a rule, barring ex-
grace, not only in the Kuyperian sense of the word          ceptions, the children of the covenant that are elect are
but also in the Arminian sense  ; for they adopted the      also regenerated from their earliest infancy.
heresy that the preaching of the gospel is grace for all       Thus the covenant child gradually comes to con-
that hear, seeing that on the part of God is a well- scious faith, receives the promise, and assumes his
meaning offer of grace and salvation to all that come "part" of the covenant, which according to our Bap-
under the influence of the preaching. Besides, the tism form consists in this, that we are "admonished of
editor of the  Banner  must not forget that in 1924         and obliged unto new obedience, namely, that we cleave
the Christian Reformed Churches cast out from their to this one God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, that we
fellowship faithful Reformed ministers and persecuted trust in him and love him with all our hearts, with all
them by depriving them of their church property. And our souls, with all our mind, and with all our strength ;
the persecution of the true members of the Church of that we forsake the world, crucify our old nature, and
Christ and of its faithful ministers is one of the marks walk in a new and holy life." When the child of the
of the false church.                                        covenant reaches the age of discretion and has always
   We therefore have the same fight with the Chris- walked in the way of the covenant, he is not and cannot
tian Reformed Church as in 1924, and will fight it until be expected to be conscious of any sudden or remark-
she comes to repentance.                                    able change or conversion in his life. To be sure, the


                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                          199
                                                                                               .
change which we call conversion must surely take              because it presumes what is not true according to
place; as the Catechism has it in question 8'7: "Those Scripture, it leaves the carnally minded men in the
cannot be saved who continuing in their wicked and Church, and thus the Church of Christ is corrupted.
ungrateful lives are not converted to God. No un- And therefore, the preaching must be directed not only
chaste person, idolater, adulterer, thief, covetous man, to the elect but also to the reprobate, not only to the
drunkard, slanderer, robber, or such like shall ever godly but  also to the ungodly. It must be so distinctive
inherit the kingdom of God."        The covenant child, that under its influence the reprobate and ungodly
therefore, must be able to give account of himself and cannot remain, but will reveal themselves as haters
be conscious of true conversion, which consists of the of the truth of God and His Christ.
mortification of the old and the quickening of the new           Besides, even the elect and regenerated are not
man. He must be conscious of a sincere sorrow of perfect. There is even as regards them much flesh in
heart that he has provoked God by his sins.  ,He must the Church. Daily they have to strive with the desires
be cognizant of a desire to hate and flee from sin. He and lusts of the flesh, and must be admonished stead-
must be conscious of a sincere joy of heart in God            fastly to walk in the way of the covenant, to hate sin
through Christ and of a sincere delight to live accord- and to fight against it and flee from it.
ing to the will of God in all good works. But in the             Hence, the preaching in the sphere of the covenant
way of the covenant this conversion is not sudden or must always be distinctive. This does not necessarily
marked, but gradual. The question is not when and             mean that it must divide the Church into elect and
where the covenant child was converted or how that            reprobate, converted and unconverted, and address
change was effected in him, but whether he knows              them separately. Rather it means that the whole
that he is converted and reveals his conversion by a Church, as it organically exists in the world, must be
walk in the way of continued conversion in the midst brought under the influence of the very same preach-
of the Church and in the world.         And this entire ing. The same Word must be directed to all; all must
change is wrought through the preaching of the Word. be exhorted to be converted and to convert themselves,
   It stands to reason that the preaching of the Word to repent in dust and ashes; and all must be continual-
in the sphere of the covenant must be both distinctive ly exhorted to walk in the way of sanctification  and to
and upbuilding.                                               live antithetically, as of the party of the living God, in
   On the one hand, it cannot proceed on the assump- the midst of the world. For : "A11 Scripture is given by
tion that all the children of the covenant, that is, those    inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
that are born in the sphere of and under the covenant,        reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteous-
are elect and regenerated. The theory of .presumptive         ness : that the .man of God may be perfect, thoroughly
regeneration, according to which it is presumed that          furnished unto all good works."
all the children that are born under the covenant are           . Such preaching will, of course, have the result
regenerated, is certainly not Scriptural. All  are.?lot       that it is a savor of life.unto  life for those whom God
lsrael that are of Israel; and not the children of the has chosen unto everlasting salvation and a savor of
flesh, but the children of the promise are counted for death unto death for the rest.
the seed. Nor can it be said that those who are under            And under such preaching alone the Church will
the covenant but who are and remain carnal and never be built up and believers will be edified.
come to saving faith or _true conVersion belong to the                          .i
exceptions. The history of the Old Testament Church
teaches quite the opposite: always it was-the carnal
seed that abounded in the covenant of the old dispensa-
tion, and the remnant according to the election of grace                  The. Idea Of The Sacraments.
was saved. Nor does it appear different when we look             The second means of grace are the sacraments.
at the Church in general of the new dispensation. If             In question 66 a general description or definition
we consider baptized Christendom as a whole, it-,would        of the sacraments is found. In question 67 the sacra-
seem that those who have apostatized from the faith ments are described together .with the Word of God
are far more  .numerous  than the faithful believers. as concentrating centrally our attention upon the one
Always, therefore,, there is the carnal seed in the           sacrifice of Jesus Christ which He offered for us on
Church. And the theory of presumptive regeneration, the cross. And finally, in question 68 the number of
that presumes that all the children born in the covenant the sacraments is mentioned, namely, Holy Baptism
are elect, is not only unscriptural, but it is also danger- and the Lord's Supper.
ous. Dangerous it is, not because as the popular  say-           The Heidelberg Catechism defines the  sacramentA
,ing goes, it tends to let the people go to hell with an      as "holy, visible signs and seals, appointed of God for
imaginary heaven ; for that is quite impossible, at least this end, that by the use thereof, he may more fully
where the truth is preached. But the danger is that           declare and seal to us the promise of the gospel, name-

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

ly, that he grants us freely the remission of sin, and         are visible signs and seals of an inward and invisible
life eternal, for the sake of that one sacrifice of Christ,    thing, and God hath joined them to the word of the
accomplished on the cross."                                    gospel "the better to present to our sense, both that
       The following elements may be quoted: a. Sacra- which he signifies to us by his word, and that which
ments presuppose the presence of faith in them that            he works inwardly in our hearts, thereby assuring
use them. This is plainly indicated in the answer to           and confirming in us the salvation which he imparts
question 65, where it states that the Holy Ghost works to  us.`? Thirdly, also this article emphasizes that the
faith in our hearts by the preaching of the gospel and         sacraments are ordained and, therefore, instituted
confirms it by the use of the sacraments. The sacra- by God. In the fourth place, the article, like the Cate-
ments, therefore, presuppose faith. There is no posi- chism emphasizes that the object of the sacraments
tive effect of them unto salvation on the unbeliever.          is the promises of God : they are pledges of the goal
This is true of both sacraments, Holy Baptism and the will and grace of  ,God toward us to nourish and
Lord's Supper. b. The sacraments are signs ;,they are strengthen our faith. The new element which is evi-
visible signs of God's invisible grace. c. They are dently expressed in this article in distinction from
seals, that is, marks of. authority, of the authority of       the Heidelberg Catechism is that the sacraments not
the God of our salvation. d. They are appointed of             only signify and seal the objective promises of God
God. There are many signs, and there may be many               but also "an invisible thing, by means whereof God
seals ; but in order to be sacraments signs and seals          worketh in us by the power of the Holy Ghost." This
must be definitely and especially ordained and appoint- evidently refers to the grace of God as it is wrought;
ed by the God of our salvation. And, e. that which by the Holy Ghost in the hearts of the believers.
_ the sacraments signify and seal unto us is the promise          The first Helvetic Confession, Article 21, describes
of the gospel, consisting in this, that He grants us the sacraments as follows (I quote from the Latin) :
freely the remission of sin and life eternal for the           "The signs which, in the church of Christ, are called
sake of that one sacrifice of Christ, accomplished on sacraments, are two, baptism and the eucharist  (the
the cross.                                                     Lord's Supper). These symbols of hidden things do
       Now, let us also consult other definitions or descrip- not consist of mere signs, but the signs- and the things
tions of the sacraments in the rest of the Reformed themselves. In baptism, indeed, the water is the sign,
symbols.                                                       but the thing itself is regeneration and the adoption
       In Article 33 of the Belgic or Netherland Confes- into the fellowship of the people of God. In the euchar-
sions we read: "We believe, that our gracious God, ist the signs are the bread and wine, but the thing
 on account of our weakness and infirmities hath or-           itself is communion with the body of the Lord, pro-
 dained the sacraments for us, thereby to seal unto us cured salvation (parta  salus), and remission of sins.
 his promises, and to be pledges of the good will and Which things indeed are received as spiritual things
 grace of God toward us, and also to nourish and               by faith, as the signs are received by the mouth of
 strengthen our faith ; which he hath joined to the word the body. For in these things is the whole fruit of
 of the gospel, the better to present to our senses, both the sacraments." It is evident that in this article of
 that which he signifies to us by his word, and that the first Helvetic Confession the emphasis falls on
 which he works inwardly in our hearts, thereby assur- the fact that sacraments considered as a whole do not
 ing and confirming in us the salvation which he im- merely consist in the signs and seals, but include the
 parts to us. For they are visible signs and seals of an things signified, "The things themselves."
 inward and invisible thing, by means whereof God                 The second Helvetic Confession has a very long
 worketh in us by the power of the Holy Ghost. There- article on the sacraments. I quote from the translation
 fore the signs are not in vain or insignificant, so as to     presented by Schaff, Creeds of Christendom, vol. III,
 deceive us. For Jesus Christ is the true object pre- pp. 84, ff. ; the article is too long to quote in its entire-
 sented by them, without whom. they would be of no ty, and therefore let it be sufllcient to quote some of
 moment. Moreover, we are satisfied with the number the main parts of it: "God even from the beginning
 of sacraments which Christ our Lord hath instituted, added unto the preaching of the word his sacraments,
 which are two only, namely, the sacrament of baptism, or sacramental signs, in his church. And to this does
 and the holy supper of our Lord Jesus Christ."                the Holy Scripture plainly testify. Sacraments are
       In the main this description of the sacraments mystical symbols, or holy rites, or sacred actions,
 agrees with that which we find in the Heidelberg ordained by God Himself, consisting of his word, of
 Catechism. In the first place,* it is plain also from outward signs, and of things signified: whereby  ho
 this article of the Netherland Confession that the keeps in continual memory, and recalls to mind, in his
 sacraments presuppose faith: they are ordained and            church, his great benefits bestowed upon man; and
 given to us of God in order to nourish and strengthen whereby he seals up his promises, and outwardly repre-
 our faith. Secondly, also according to this article they sents, and, as it were, offers unto our sight those


                                   T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                     201

things which inwardly he performs unto us and  there-      the signs in the sacraments are drawn from common
withal strengthens and increases our faith through use, things external and visible. As in baptism, the
the working of God's Spirit in our hearts ; lastly,        outward sign is the element of water, and that visible
whereby he does separate us from all other people washing which is done by the minister; but the thing
and religions, and consecrates and binds us wholly signified is regeneration and the cleansing from sins.
unto himself, and gives us to understand what he se- L?ikewise,  in the Lord's Supper, the outward sign is
quires of us." Also in this description we find sub- bread and wine, taken from things commonly used
stantially the same elements as in the Heidelberg Cate- for meat and drink: but the thing signified is the body
chism and in the Netherland Confession, except that of Christ which was given, and His blood which was
also here it is emphasized that the things themselves, shed for us, or the communion of the body and blood
the things signified, belong to the sacraments as a of the Lord. Wherefore, the water, bread, and wine,
whole, and besides, it is said that also the Word, the considered in their own nature, and out of the holy use
Word of God, belongs to the sacraments, and it is even and institution of the Lord, are only that which they
mentioned first.                                           are called, and which we find them to be. But let the
   In the following quotation from the same article word of God be added to them, together with invocation
of the second Helvetic  Confession it is emphasized that upon His holy name, and the renewing of their first
the sacraments are necessarily ordained by  ,God only, institution and sanctification, and then these signs  arz
as well as the fact that they presuppose faith in them consecrated, and declared to be sanctified by Christ.
that use them : "The author and instructor of all sacra- For Christ's first institution and consecration of the
ments is not any man, but God alone: for man can by sacraments stands yet in force in the church of God,
no means ordain sacraments  ; because they belong to in such sort that they who celebrate the sacraments no
the worship of God, and it is not for man to appoint otherwise than the Lord Himself from the beginning
and to prescribe a service of God, but to embrace and has  appoited!  have still, even to this day, the use and
retain that which is taught unto him by the Lord. benefit of that first and most excellent consecration.
Besides, the sacramental signs have God's promises And for this cause, in the administration of the sacra-.
annexed to them, which necessarily require faith: ments, the very words of Christ are repeated."
now faith stays itself only upon the word of God  ; and       Permit me to quote one more significant passage
the word of God is resembled into writings or letters, from this long article ;-significant because it clearly
the sacraments to seals, which the Lord alone sets signifies that in a sacrament the thing signified belongs
to his own letters. And as the Lord is the author of with the signs and seals: "And as we learn out of the
the sacraments, so He continually works in that word of God that these signs were appointed unto
church where they are rightly used; so that the faith- another end and use than the common one, therefore
ful, when they receive them from the ministers, do we teach that they now, and in this holy use, do take
know that the Lord works in His own ordinance, and         upon them the names of things signified, and are  nor,
therefore they receive them as from the hand of God ;      still called bare water, bread, or wine ; but that the
and the ministers' faults (if there be any notorious water is called `regeneration, and washing of the new
in them) cannot hurt them, seeing they do acknowledge birth' (Tit. 3  :5), and the bread and wine `the body
the goodness of the sacraments to depend only upou of the Lord' (1 Cor. 10 : 16)) or the pledges and sacra-
the ordinance of the Lord. For which cause they put ments of His body and blood. Not that the signs are
a difference, in the administration of the sacraments, turned into the things signified, or cease to be that
between the Lord Himself and His minister  ;. confessing which in their own nature they are (for then they
that the substance of the sacraments is given them by could not be sacraments, which should consist only
the Lord, and the outward signs by the ministers of the of the thing signified, and have no signs) ; but there-
Lord."                                                     fore do the signs bear the names of things, because
   The following quotation is significant because it they are mystical tokens of holy things, and because
emphasizes the Word of God as an essential element in the signs and the thing signified are sacramentally
the sacraments : "And as in the old church the sacra- joined together; joined together, I say, or united by a
ment consisted of the word, the sign, and the thing mystical signification,  and-by the purpose and will of
signified, so even at this day they are composed, as it him who first instituted them. For the water, bread,
were, of the same parts. For the word of God makes and wine are not common, but holy signs. And he
them sacraments which before were none: for they that instituted water in baptism did not institute it
are consecrated by the word, and declared to be sancti- with that mind and purpose that the faithful should
fied by him who first ordained them. To sanctify or only be dipped in the water of baptism ; and he which
consecrate a thing is to dedicate it unto God and unto commanded the bread to be eaten and wine to be drunk
holy uses; that it, to take it from the common and         in. the supper did not mean that the faithful should
crdinary  use, and to appoint it to some holy use. For only receive bread and wine without any further

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

mystery, as they eat bread at home in their houses:          judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive
but that they should spiritually be partakers of the         the things done in his body, according to that he  bath
thing signified,  and ~by faith be truly purged from their done, whether it be good or bad"-2 Cor. 5:lO. And,
sins, and be partakers of Christ also."                      on the other hand, the Word of God also maintains the
                                               H. H.         truth that God's knowledge is sovereign and all-com-
                                                             prehensive. Thus we read, e.g., in I Sam. 23:10-13:
                                                             "Then said David, 0 Lord God of Israel, Thy servant
                                                             hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to
                                                             Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake. Will the men of
                                                             Keilah deliver me up into his hand ? will Saul come
             OUR DOCTRINE                                    down as thy servant hath heard? 0 Lord God of
                                                             Israel, I beseech Thee, tell Thy  servanbt.  And the
                                                             Lord said, He will come down. Then said David, Will
                                                             the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the
         The Attributes Of God                          .    hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliver
                                                             thee up. Then David and his men, which were about
                      (COMMUNICABLE)                         six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and
                                                             went whithersoever they could go. And it was told
                      God's Knowledge.                       Saul that David was escaped from Keilah ; and he
   In the third place, theknowledge of the Lord dif-         forbare  to go forth." And in Jeremiah 2  :2-3; 38:
fers from our knowledge because His knowledge IS a           1'7-20 this Word of God is recorded:  "GO. and cry
knowledge of eternal, perfect consciousness. How dif- in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the
ferent, also in this respect, is our knowledge from the Lord ; 1 remember thee, the kindness of thy youth,
knowledge of the Lord! We distinguish, among men,            the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest  af-
`between consciousness and subconsciousness. . Our sub- iter Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not
consciousness is far greater, richer in content than our sown.       Israel was holiness unto the Lord, and the
consciousness. Our life is like unto an iceberg: only a firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shaii
very small part of it extends into our consciousness.        offend ; evil shall come upon them, saith the Lord. . . .
Our hidden thoughts surely exceed the thoughts where- Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the
of we are able to give an account. This distinction, `Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel ; If thou wilt
however,' between consciousness and subconsciousness assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes,
does not apply to the living  ,God. There is in God no then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned
subconsciousness.      His knowledge is eternally perfect with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house: But if
and complete. Thus He knows, first of all, Himself. thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon's princes,
All the infinite life of the living God is eternally and then shall this city be given into the hand of the
completely known to Him. And thus the Lord also              Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou
knows all things. The entire panorama of  a11 things, shalt  ,not escape,out  of their hand. And Zedekiah the
from the beginning to the end of the world, also as  all     king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that
things are related to each other, is constantly before are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into
the Lord.    This eternal "blue-print" is ever before their hand, and they mock me. But Jeremiah said,
Him.                                                         They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the
   Finally, whereas our knowledge is temporal  the voice of the Lord, which I speak unto thee: so it shall
knowledge of the Lord is eternal. Our knowledge is be well unto thee and thy soul shall live." And in Acts
temporal, subject to development. We learn, increase 2:22-23 we read these well-known words: "Ye men of
in knowledge.        Our knowledge of the things round Israel, hear these words ; Jesus of Nazareth, a man
`about us grows, is subject to and determined by our approved of God among you by miracles and wonders
own natural development. The Lord, however, never and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you,
learns-His knowledge is eternal and complete.                as ye yourselves also know." We understand, I am
   ln conclusion, one question remains in connection sure, that these Scriptural passages which teach and
with this attribute of the Knowledge of God: How set forth the sovereignty and all-comprehensiveness of
must we view this knowledge of the Lord in connection the knowledge of the Lord can easily be multiplied.
with the moral actions of man, man's responsibility?            The Jesuits and Remonstrants (arminians) at-
The Scriptures surely teach both. On the one hand, tempted to solve this problem of  ,man's responsibility
the Word of God certainly maintains the responsibility and God's sovereign and all-comprehensive knowledge
of man. We are held accountable for all the things by means of their theory of "Scientia Media". This
we do in the flesh: "For we must all appear before the theory is called "Scientia Media (Middle Knowledge)  "


                                    T H E   S T A N D A R D   BEARHR                                            B0:3

because it stands between God's sovereign knowledge           . Hence, as far as this problem is concerned, man's
of all things and man's freedom to choose his course responsibility and the Lord's sovereignty, we must
of action. God's-knowledge  of our actions is not such, maintain, on the one hand, that the Lord is wholly
according to a leading *exponent of this theory, "that sovereign. God determines all things. This must be
the Lord attains unto this knowledge directly by know- maintained in the all-comprehensive sense of the word.
ing His own purpose to effect it,"  .but indirectly by His One cannot emphasize this truth too, strongly for the
infinite insight into the manner in which men will act simple reason that it must be maintained in the ab.-
under various circumstances ; the Lord sees before- solute sense of the word. The Scriptures use terms in
hand what man's reaction and choice will be and He this connection which a timid soul, I am sure, woul.:
knows accordingly. That the  Lor.d  .knows  all things not dare to use. The Lord controls every word  KY
is only because He sees before hand what man will do,        speak, every step we take, every thought which i. _
so that it is not the Lord but man who determines and think, every movement and inclination and though
controls his course of action.    `This solution of the of our inner life. There is nothing we do or think bu5
problem, we understand, is no solution whatsoever. it is the fruit of the operation of God as He, and He
Firstly, if the acts of -men-must be viewed as indepen- alone, realizes His counsel and does all His good plea-
dent of God's sovereign decree, no knowledge of these sure.         Nothing is excluded from the realm of the
actions is possible. It must be obvious that if man,         Lord's sovereign activity. Secondly, as we, have al-
and not God, determines man's course of action, then ready stated in the preceding paragraph, man's re-
these actions must first occur before the Lord can. have     sponsibility must never be confused with  savereign
any knowledge of them. Secondly, this solution, i`s a freedom. That man is morally free never means that
denial of the sovereignty of God. Not God, then, but he is sovereignly free. Man's moral freedom is rooted
man determines what shall be. And this is a direct in his very being. I am morally free because I sin,
denial of Acts 2  :23 : "Him, being delivered by the never as .driven to it, never as contrary to my inner
determinate counsel and foreknowledge of #God, ye have desires, but always as in harmony with my will and
taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain"; desires. And inasmuch as I know the difference be-
of Rom. 9 :16-21: "So then it is not of him that willeth, tween good and evil, choose the evil and reject the
nor of him that runneth, but of God that  .sheweth           good consciously and wilfully, I am responsible and
mercy. For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even will be held accountable for all my actions. And, third-
for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I          ly, the Lord controls all my moral actions, has sover-
might shew My power in thee, and that My Name eignly willed all my actions, and realizes His will and
might be declared throughout all the earth. There- counsel with respect to me and all the children of men.
fore hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and
whom He will He hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto                               God's Wisdom.
Me, Why doth He yet find fault? For who hath  re-               *God's  Wisdom we define as that attribute or virtue
&ted His will? Nay but, 0 man, who art thou that of the Lord whereby He attains unto the greatest glori-
repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to fication of His Name through the best Divinely ordain-
him that formed it, Why hast Thou made me thus?              ed means.
Hath not the patter power over the clay, of the same            Wisdom is practical knowledge, the ability to use
!ump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto         one's knowledge to the best advantage. This is also
dlshonour?"   ; of Eph.  1:ll: "In Whom also we have irue among men. A learned man is not necessarily a
obtained an inheritance, being predestinated accord-         wise man. This is taught us, e.g., in a passage such
ing to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after as Matt. `7 :24-2'7  : "Therefore whosoever heareth these
the counsel of His own will."; and of Phil. 2 : 13 : "For    sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto
it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. And
OF His good pleasure." Thirdly, this attempt of the          the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds
Jesuits and remonstrants proceeds from an erroneous blew and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it .
conception of man's freedom and responsibility. It was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth
is true that man is morally free. From the viewpoint these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be
of his objective, spiritual life, man is free. He never likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon
sins because he is driven to sin.      The Lord never the sand : And the rain descended, and the floods came,
violates his nature, never acts contrary to our inner, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it
spiritual life. Man always sins because he seeks and fell:  .and great was the fall of it." Apart from the              .
desires the ways of evil and corruption. This consti- spiritual significance of this passage, as it applies to
tutes man's responsibility. However, this moral free- the godly and the ungodly, the significance of wisdom
dom of man must never be confused with sovereign is clearly set forth here. A foolish man builds his
freedom, a freedom which is independent of the Lord. house upon sand ; a wise man builds his house upon

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

     rock. A foolish man does not consider the future and His Name's sake, as an everlasting memorial unto the
     does not build accordingly ; a wise man does consider greatness of His grace and Name. These passages,
     the future and he builds accordingly. A foolish man        which speak of the glory of God's Name, can easily be
     does not reckon with the rains and floods and winds ; multiplied. How often do we not read this refrain in
     the wise man does reckon with these natural pheno- the Book of Psalms !
     mena. The wise man, therefore, is he who uses the             Moreover, to attain unto the highest glory of His
     best means unto the best end. See also Proverbs  6:6. Name the Lord has adapted all things. Also in this
        This definition of wisdom is surely applicable to the the Scriptures abound. In Ephesians 1%12 we read:
     living God. Of Him we read in I Tim. 1:17 that He "Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom
     is the only Wise God: "Now unto the, King eternal, and prudence ; Having made known unto us the mys-
     immortal, invisible, the only. wise God, be honour and tery of His will, according to His good pleasure which
     glory for ever and ever. Amen." That the Lord seeks He hath purposed in Himself; That in the dispensation
     the best end through the best means implies, of course, of the fulness of times He might gather together in
     that He seeks Himself and the glory of His Name.           one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and
     All Scripture surely holds before us that ,God seeks       which are on earth ; even in Him : In Whom also we
     Himself. This is literally taught in the Word of God. have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated ac-
     We read in Rom.  11:36 the well known passage : "For cording to  ,the purpose of Him Who worketh all things
     of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things:       after the counsel of His own will: That we should be
     to Whom be glory for ever." Twice in Eph. 1 :l-12 to the praise of His glory, who trusted in Christ."
     the expression occurs : "That we should be to the praise And in Rom. 8  :28 we are told that all things work to-
     of His glory," and once in this same passage we read:      gether for the good of them who are called according
     "To the praise of the glory of His grace." In Isaiah to God's purpose.
     42 :8 : "I am the Lord : that is My Name : and My glory       The wisdom of God is that virtue of the Lord where-
     will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven    by He seeks the best end, the greatest glory of His
     images." The same prophecy declares in ch. 43:21:          Name, through the best Divinely ordained means. The
     "This people have I formed for Myself; they shall shew Lord is Himself the only wise God. Everlastingly
     forth My praise." And in the verses 22-25 that follow within Himself, as the Triune and infinitely blessed
     we read: "But thou hast not called upon Me,  0 Jacob; covenant God, He is eternally motivated and prompted
     but thou hast been weary of Me, 0 Israel. Thou hast by the Divine desire to rejoice in His own infinitely
     not brought Me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings;    blessed glory and fulness. And in all His works, in
     neither hast thou honoured Me with thy sacrifices. I nature and in Christ Jesus, He reveals Himself as the
     have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor God of infinite wisdom. Of this wisdom the psalmist
     wearied thee with incense. Thou hast bought Me no sings in Ps. 19: "The heavens declare the glory of
     sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled Me         God ; and the firmament sheweth His handiwork: Day
     with the fat of thy sacrifices; but thou hast made Me unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth
     to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied Me with knowledge." Also the one hundred and fourth psalm
     thine iniquities. I, even I, am He that blotteth out is a eulogy on the wisdom of the Lord, reaching its
     thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not climax in verse 24: "0 Lord, how manifold are Thy
     remember thy sins. When the prophet writes in this works ! in wisdom hast Thou made them all : the earth
     passage that Israel did not serve the Lord, did not        is full of Thy riches." Indeed, all the works of God's
     bring unto the Lord the small cattle of their burnt hands proclaim the wisdom of their Creator! How
     offerings, etc., he does not intend to emphasize that      wonderfully all things are adapted to each other!
     Israel's offerings were corrupt and that in that sense     ` Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over;
     they did not serve the Lord. But the main thrust of that they turn not again to cover the earth. He sendeth
     this passage is that we never serve the Lord, never the springs into the valleys, which run among the
     .bring anything unto the Lord. We do not serve Him ; hills. They give drink to every beast of the field:
     He serves us. All our offerings and sacrifices (to use the wild asses quench their thirst. By them shall the
     Old Testament terminology) are of Him. Besides, all fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing
     we do is weary the Lord with our sins and iniquities.      among the branches. He watereth the hills from His
     And it is the Lord, only the Lord, Who blots out our       chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of Thy
     iniquities, and this `He does for His own Name's sake. works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle,
     In behalf of the glory of His Name the Lord has willed
.                                                               and herb for the service of man: that he may bring
     for us a night of sin and guilt, has willed for us a guilt forth food out of the earth ; and wine that maketh glad
     and debt which we could never pay, in order that He the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and
     might appear as the sole Saviour of His people ; fact is, bread which strengtheneth man's heart. The trees
     He does all things, also the work of our salvation, for    of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon,


                                  T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                          205

which He hath planted; Where the birds make their iniquity and all their evil devices and plans, the intense
nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.      raging of the heathen against the Lord and His
The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the    Anointed, all the wars and rumors of wars,-all these
rocks for the conies.    He appointed the moon for things are but means in the hand of the Lord whereby
seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. Thou mak- He is accomplishing His purpose and attaining unto
est darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts      His eternally ordained end.
of the forest do creep forth. The young lions roar            Practically, this truth is of the greatest significance
after their prey, and seek their meat from God. The for the child and the church of God. The Lord can
sun sriseth, they gather themseIves  together, and lay never do things differently. He is always prompted
them down in their dens. Man goeth forth unto his by the highest wisdom, the desire to seek the greatest
work and to his labour until the evening. 0 Lord, how glory of His Name through the best adapted means.
manifold are Thy works! in wisdom hast Thou made Nothing happens by chance. And nothing is irrelevant.
them all: the earth is full of Thy riches."-&.  104  :     Everything occupies its own place in the Divine scheme
9-24.    Indeed, all things are marvellously adapted       of things. The wisdom of God makes all things a
to each other, and proclaim the wisdom of their Crea-      "must". And the new heavens and the new earth will
tor.       *                                               eternally proclaim this adorable wisdom of our God ;
    Especially in the Lord Jesus Christ and in the great then we will forever praise the ,God of our salvation
work of redemption did the Lord reveal Himself as the and thank Him for every step of our present way;
only wise  ,God. Well may the apostle exclaim in Rom. then we will fully realize and understand that "unto
11:33-36  : "0 the depths of the riches both of the wis- the `King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise
dom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His Go<&  be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen."
judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who                                                 H. Veldman.
hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been
His counsellor? Or who hath first given to Him, and
it shall be recompensed unto Him again? For of Him,
and through Him, and to Him, are all things : to Whom
be glory for ever. Amen." For, according  `to this
same apostle in I Cor. 2 :7-9 : "But we speak the wis-           THE DAY OF SHADOWS
dom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom,
which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Which none of the princes of this world knew : for had                    Ishbosheth Slain
they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord         The complaint of David that he lacked power to
of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor bring Joab to justice is followed by the notice that,
ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, hearing of Abner's death, Ishbosheth lost heart. The
the things which God hath prepared for them that           text states that his hands became feeble. He became
love Him." Seeking the greatest glory of His Name in a do-nothing king. His throne had lost its prop. But
`the antithetical revelation of His Name in the eternal seeing that Abner had forsaken him and gone over
renewal of all things the Lord surely uses all things      to David it is not clear why he should have lost heart
as means, also the night of sin and death.                 at this time. Perhaps he did not know or at least,  '
    This surely must lead us to that conception which refused to believe that Abner was carrying out his
would include all things under the sovereignty of God threat. But this is not likely. A better conjecture is
and render them subservient to His good pleasure. that he had~ at least outwardly become reconciled to
The infralapsarian  view of things, which would begin the idea of abdicating his throne in favor of David
with the phenomenon of sin and make no effort to ex- and under compulsion of Abner was even more or less
plain it, must surely be discarded in the light of the     cooperating with him in gathering all Israel to David
supreme wisdom of God. The Lord's purposes and             (he. had returned  Michal to David) but that, learning
results are always identical. He always accomplishes of Abner's assassination, his hands became feeble in
His good pleasure and no creature is able to resist His the sense that, the pressure on him having been re-
will.    Hence, the eternal glory of His Name in the       moved, he took no further action.       This conjecture
heavenly renewal of all things, in Jesus Christ our best accords with the notice that all the Israelites
Lord, surely constitutes the Lord's eternal purpose.       were troubled by the tidings of Abner's death. The
This is the undeniable testimony of the Word of God cause of their concern must then have been that there
in Eph.  1:9-10.  Unto the realization of that eternal now was nobody to take the lead in bringing Abner's
goal  all things must serve. Adam's sin, this present treaty with David to successful issue.
night of sin and death, the devil and all his host and        The text goes on to relate that "Saul's son had two
all the powers of hell and darkness, the children of men  .that were captains of bands ;. . . . By "Saul's

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

son', is meant Ishbosheth. The author seems reluctant wanted to make him a present of Ishbosheth's head,
to make mention of him by his proper name, he being,       thinking thereby to win his lasting gratitude and favor.
as his name signifies, a "man of shame". As to the         For his star had risen; and they were ambition men.
two band-leaders, the name of the one was Baanah           Once in his presence they said to him "Behold, the
and that of the other Recheb. They were two brothers. head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thy enemy, which
Their father's name was "Rimon  a Beerothite, of the sought thy life ; and the Lord hath avenged my lord
children of Benjamin." To remove any doubt on the the king this day of Saul, and of his seed." As slayers
part of his contemporaries that these people were of Ishbosheth they set forth the  faI1 of their victim as
Benjamites, the narrator adds, "For  Beeroth  also was a work of God by which He had avenged His servant
reckoned to Benjamin." The implication is that from of his enemies. They were pious men, were these
its position it might easily be reckoned to another        murderers. They ended with their foul deed in God.
tribe. But these band-masters of Ishbosheth were not But their discourse was not free of ambiguity. It is
living any more in Beeroth. With their fellow Beero- not clear whether the clause "which sought thy life"
thites they had abandoned that place perhaps at the modifies Saul or Ishhosheth.  Doubtless it has direct
time of the Philistine invasion and had fled to Gittaim reference only to Saul. Evidently the thought con-
where they dwelt among strangers "until this day".         veyed is that "this day" the Lord punished Saul by
The reason of the flight of the Beerothites is not         destroying also his seed. But they necessarily meant
stated ; nor is it revealed who they were, or who the      to imply that Ishbosheth was culpable like Saul had
strangers were among whom they now dwelt.                  been. How else could they say that by his fall David
   Before picking up the thread of his narrative the had been avenged also of him? Their reasoning was
writer makes a statement regarding Jonathan's son that he, too, was a worthless man, a profligate char-
Mephibosheth.    He was five years old at the time of acter, a public enemy of the worst ltype and that being
the Philistine triumph over Israel's army at Jezreel such a man, they did well in ridding the earth of him.
and the death of Saul and Jonathan in that battle. Just what crimes they had laid to his charge is not
Terrified by the tidings of that catastrophe, his nurse revealed. Perhaps they had  Iabelled  his opposition to
took him up and fled. Somehow on account of her            David treason, and insisted that it had to be viewed as
haste he sustained a fall that resulted in lameness in a certain indication that he, too, had been seeking
both feet.    The author's purpose in asserting the        David's life to take it as Saul had done.  .And they
statement at this place is not clear. It could not have were confident that David sided with them and that
been to show how, on the murder of Ishbosheth below,"      it would ease his mind immensely to come into the
the kingdom of Saul's house was necessarily extin- possession of the conclusive evidence that Ishbosheth
guished  ;" for there were still five sons of Saul's elder was dead. Their fundamental mistake was that they
daughter Merab and the two sons of Saul's concubine imagined David to be the kind of man who could allow
Rizpah.  (2 Sam. 21). The only purpose the author himself to be served by violence. It must be that they
could have was to prepare the way for subsequent           were still unacquainted even with David's reactions
notices of Mephibosheth.                                   to  .Joab's  murder of Abner, strange as this may seem.
   We are now told that the sons of Rimmon the Beero-         Having'heard them out David tendered his reply.
thite, Baanah and Rechab, went and came to the house       Said he to them, "As the Lord liveth, who hath re-
of Ishbosheth at noon. Their purpose was murder. deemed my soul out of all adversity. . . ." This was
Ishbosheth reclined on his bed in some remote and an allusion to Saul's persecutions of him. Instead of
cool spot. Penetrating into the midst of the house, attempting to deliver himself by the employment of
"they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and violence he had put his confidence in God. And `he
took his head and escaped." How could they do all          had not been put to shame. The Lord had delivered
that without any interference from anyone? Were not him out of all his troubles. Therefore "as the Lord
the servants about? Had the victim no bodyguard? lineth. . . . when. one told me, behold, Saul is dead,
These are questions on which the text sheds little light. thinking to have brought good tidings-Hebrew-he
It says that they took wheat. But even this statement was in his own eyes a bearer of good tidings-l took
is not clear. Perhaps it means that as band-leaders hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, and thus re-
they were used to getting wheat from Ishbosheth for warded him for his tidings (so reads the original text
the support of their men. Distrusted by no one, least here) ; how much more, when wicked men have slain
of all by Mephibosheth, they had easily gained access a righteous person in his own house on his bed? Shall
to his bedchamber. And they must have been well I not Itherefore  now require his blood of your hands,
on their way when their crime was discovered. They and take away your life from the earth?"
pursued their way through the Arabah or the plain             The reference in the first part of David's reply is
of Jordan all that night. Their destination was Hebron.    to the pretended slayer bf Saul. He had reported to
They had need of seeing David who dwelt there. They        David that Saul had fallen by his hand. But accord-


                                   T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                       207

ing to the account of the sacred writer Saul had killed     bosheth's head they buried in the sepulchre of Abner
himself by falling on his sword. Yet hearing his story in Hebron. This was done "on account of the relation
David had ordered him slain. The man's mouth had that had existed between the two men."
testified against him, saying, "I have slain the Lord's       . So had David again resisted by the mercy of God
anointed." The Amalekite-for an Amalekite he was the temptation of employing the weapons of the flesh
-had thought that David would give him a reward to attain to the promised dominion. He had again
for his tidings. David had rewarded him indeed by demonstrated that he was of a mind to come into his
putting him to death. Yet Saul was wicked. For kingdom in the way of trust in God and of humble
one thing he had sought ,the life of David without a obedience to His will of guarding against staining his
cause. Still David had slain this murderer. How much mission with sin and crime. The faithful in Israel saw
more would he not find it in himself to similarly re- and were glad. As moved by  ,God, the tribes of Israel
ward these murderers of the righteous Ishbosheth. The now came to Israel unto Hebron and anointed him king
deed was the more atrocious on account of their hav- over Israel. The tenor of the history shows that it
ing  slain this person in his own house on his bed.         took place immediately after Ishbosheth's death. Thus
A man's house is a domain which no one may enter appeared at Hebron all the tribes of Israel through
u.ninvited. What must become of a land and  i,ts people their representative, the elders (verse  3 of chapter  5),
should crimes such as that committed by these  Beero-       all the tribes except Judah. The elders stated three
thites go unpunished ! Such is the tenor of David's reasons for wanting to raise him to the throne over
reply. Its premise is that Ishbosheth in contradistinc- all Israel.
tion to the wicked Saul was a righteous man. In re-             1) "Behold we are thy bone and .thy flesh." This
ferring to Ishbosheth as such a man, David was not expression denotes blood-relationship in the same fam-
passing judgment on his inward state, as if he meant ily. It here has reference to <their common descent
to hold up Ishbosheth as an Israelite of true essential from one ancestor. "Thbu art not a foreigner to us.
goodness. All he meant io say is that Ishbosheth no We are thy kinsmen by blood. The hostility between
more  khan Abner had done anything that put the  civiC      us and thee must end.    We should trust thee and thou
.Pnagestrates  in Israel under the necessity of bringing us.
him to justice by ordering  him slain.  True, he had            2) Their second ground of the proposal  was the fol-
competed with David for the throne in the territory         lowing, "Also in times past, when Saul was king over
of the northern tribes. But that, as has already been us, thou wast he that leadest out and brought in Israel."
fully explained, might not be labelled  treason, rebel- The expression, "lead out and in" has reference to <the
lion against duly instituted theocratic authority. How- administration of kingdom affairs by David as officer
ever unspiritual, it was not a criminal offence.    For in Saul's court and must also be understood of David's
`David had  not yet come into his kingdom in the terri- military leadership at the time.  The expression "lead
tory of those tribes. David had full understanding of in and out" occurs with references to David in 1 Sam.
this. And being a God-fearing man, he was horrified         18. Here at verse 5 it is stated, "And David went out
by the doings also of these slayers of Ishbosheth. Being whithersoever Saul sent him, and he prospered." Tllis
a God-fearing man, he brought them to justice on the        without a doubt has reference to affairs. For  the
spot.                                                       statement precedes the notice of his appointment to
    "And David commanded his young men, and they military leadership. Both as administrator of affairs
slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and and as officer in Saul's army fighting Philistines,
hanged them up over the pool on Hebron." The dis- David prospered. "For  (the Lord was with him." And
memberment of the corpses was calculated to indicate "all Israel and Judah loved David because he went
the nature of their crime. It was one in which espec- out and in before them." The bonds of fellowship
ially the hands and feet had offended. It was, in a and love which bound David to the people were then
word, murder. The hanging of the corpse, its suspen- formed. And  t,hey  had continued to grow stronger
sion between heaven and earth, was symbolical of the thrbugh  the years.
divine curse. "Cursed is every one that hang&h on a             3) Their last and strongest reason was that David
tree," ,God had said by the mouth of Moses. The hang- had been `called by the word of God to be shepherd and
ing of the corpses over the pool in Hebron was also prince over Israel. "And the Lord said to thee, Thou
done for a purpose. There many persons came and             shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be captain
went. So in this way did David publish his righteous over Israel."
severity against all such evil, as well as his innocence    In presenting their first and third ground they
of the murder. It formed the conclusive evidence that were doubtless knowingly citing' the requirement in
he had no part in the deed. Iit rendered unnecessary Deut. 17  :15, "Thou  shalct make him king over thee
weeping and wailing in public. Had David only dealt whom the Lord thy God shall choose; out of the midst
in like manner with Joab, the murderer of Abner! Ish-       of thy brethren shalt shou make a king over thee."


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  The declaration of the elders is nowhere mentioned            (Sihon) , en wij verbanden alle steden,  mannen en
 -as having been spoken by the Lord to David. Yet the vrouwen en kinderkens: wij lieten  niemand overblij-
  revelation must have been made probably to David ven."
  through Samuel. It was a promise of which David                     En ook vers 3 van- het volgende hoofdstuk, waar
  was the fulfilment only in the first instance. The staat : "En de Heere onze God gaf ook Og den Koning
  true king and pastor of God's people is Christ.              van.Basan  en al zijn'volk in onze hand, zoodat wij hem
     The elders came to David in Hebron. And he made sloegen, totdat wij hem niemand  lieten  overblijven."
  a covenant with them before the Lord. The Hebrew                    Er is veel geschreven door goddelooze mannen en
  expression is  .to  them  and indicates a promise that he vrouwen over deze verbanning en verdelging der  Ka-
  would rule them according to the wil lof God. The naanieten en de andere volken voor het aangezicht
  covenant concluded they anointed him king over all van de Israelieten. Velen hebben dat wreed genoemd.
  Israel. The section closes with a statement of David's En zij hebben God beschuldigd van wreedheid.
  age and of the whole time of his reign. He was thirty               Blinde, dwaze, ongelukkige menschen !
  years old whe he began to reign. The whole time of                  Maar wacht! C,od zal Zich voor de geheele wereld
  his reign was forty years and the time of his reign rechtvaardigen !
  over all Israel was thirty three years.                             Hij zal  clat in den oordeelsdag  doen. Maar Hij
                                        G. M. Ophoff.          deed dat nu al.  Lee&:   Lev.  27:28. Ik  zal het  af-
                                                               schrijven : "Evenwel, niets dat verbannen is, dat
                                                               iemand den Heere zal verbannen hebben, van al  het-
                                                               geen dat hij heeft, van een  menscli of een beest, of
                                                               van den akker zijner bezitting, zal verkocht noch ge-
               SION'S ZANGEN                                   lost  worden:  al wat verbannen is, zal den Heere eene
                                                               heiligheid der heiligheden zijn."
                                                                      Hier wordt duidelijk  geleerd:  1) dat als Israel
                                                               geheele volken verdelgt, dit een gebod van God is; en
   Lief devol, 
          .            Schoon Zwaar Getergd 2) dat het SGoddelijk  motief heiligheid der heiligheden
                                                               is.         P
                 (Psalm 106; Zesde Deel)                              Blijft ge evenwel vragen wat het beteekent dat
     We hadden het over Mazes,  die grootelijks  zondigde volken verdelgd moeten  worden  vanwege de heiligheid
  in de geschiedenis van *die Rots.                            der heiligheden Gods, dan is een antwoord: omdat die
     En de Rots was Christus.                                  volken op dat tijdstap rijp zijn in hun vuile en kromme
     En het resultaat was, dat Mozes het volk IsraeIs          en dwaze goddeloosheid. Denkt hi&, b.v., aan Amelek  :
  niet in het beloofde land mocht  brengen. Die taak .mu er is een mate van goddeloosheid die eerst vol moet
  voor Jozua zijn.                                             zijn. En dan komt de Heilige God om te verderven.
     Nu gaan we verder.                                               0 ja ! God is recht in al Zijn weg en werk.
     "Zij  hadden die volken niet verdelgd, die de Heere              De volken die uitgedelgd zijn door Israel hadden
  hun gezegd had ;"                                            het dubbel en dwars verdiend.        -...
     Leest Deut. 7 :l-4 : "Wanneer u de Heere Uw God                  En God zal het straks duidelijk openbaren in den
  zal gebracht hebben in het land waar gij  naar toe oordeelsdag. Doch wij weten en erkennen het nu al.
  gaat om dat te erven, en Hij vele volken voor uw                    Indien God het geheele menschdom in de he1 wierp
  aangezicht zal hebben uitgeworpen, de Hethieten  -en         op dit oogenblik, dan  hadden  wij het dubbel en dwars
  de Girgasieten en de Amorieten en de Kanaanieten verdiend.
  en de Ferezieten en de Hevieten en de Jebusieten, zeven             Maar er is ook nog een andere ,reden waarom Israel
  volken, die meerder en machtiger zijn clan gij; en de al die volken moest verbannen, en hun niet genadig
  Heere uw God hen zal gegeven hebben voor uw aange-           zijn.
  zicht dat gij  ze slaat, zoo zult gij ze ganschelijk ver-           I@ die andere  rede_n  is, dat zij anders een strik
' bannen: gij zult geen verbond met hen  maken   noch          worden  voor Gods volk.
  hun genadig zijn."                                                  En de geschiedenis heeft het bewezen.
     Er  zijn meer plaatsen in Gods Woord waar dit                    Israel heeft niet gehandeld naar Gods gebod. Zij
  gebod herhaald wordt,  doch dit is voldoende om te hebben vele van die volken laten  leven in hun midden.
  doen  zien, dat de verbqnning der volken en hun yer- En zij akin hun tot een strik geworden.
  delging door Israel van God geboden was.                            Leest maar verder : "maar  zij vermengden  zich
     Trouwens,  toen Mozes het volk nog aanvoerde  aan met de heidenen, en leerden derzelver werken ;"
  deze zijde der rivier, toen  hebben zij al de inwoners,             Er is een  goed Hollandsch spreekwoord, dat zegt :
 op Gods bevel, verdelgd. Leest het maar in  De&.              "Waar men mee omgaat wordt men mee besmet". En
 2:34: `*En wij namen te di& tijd alle zijne steden in         Israel heeft het uitgevonden,


210                                    ,THE S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

naar  de publieke school gaat! En dat is de dood voor ekn ding doen: ge moet U voeden met gerechtigheid
Uw geslacht.                                                en ge moet eten en drinken het Woord van God!
   God alleen weet hoe het er naar toegaat. Van                God mint  zulke menschen.
sommige kerken hoor  ik, dat er slechts  27 percent naar       Ik denk  aan een psalm: Och schonkt Gij mij de hulp
de Christelijke school gaat.                                van Uwen Geest!
   De eene groote reden: omdat men met de wereld                                                         G. Vos.
zich verzwagerde.
   En de geslachten van Gods volk sterven uit.
   Vanwege den grooten  toorn Gods.
   Blijft dicht bij Hem, geliefden.         /
   Schuilt bij het kruis van Jezus. Daar is het goed.                ,IN  H I S   F E A R
   En het land  zelf wordt ontheiligd. Dat  zegt de
tekst ook.
   Er  waren  bloedschulden. En daarom werd het
land ontheiligd. Ik denk, dat dit vandaag ook nog op-             Training For Life's `balling.
gaat. Als ge wandelt in des Heeren wegen, dan zegent
de Heere U. Doch als ge het verderft voor Zijn aange-       Training in the Geography  Class. (cont.)
zicht dan vloekt Hij Uw geslacht. Misschien zult gij           The second element to be stressed in the geography
nog naar den  hemel  gaan. Als de laatste van Uw  ge- class is man's stewardship. As we stated in the clos-
slacht. Maar de  kinderen  en kindskinderen gaan ver- ing remarks last time, the sovereignty of God is funda-
loren.      Zoo is het gegaan met duizende en duizende mental, and only when we beheve  it are we willing and
geslaehten.   Denkt  aan Lot. En ook  aan Cham. Hij         ready to teach geography from that extremely practical
heeft het gehoord, dat de Heere door zijn Vader Noach       viewpoint of man's calling as GOD'S steward.
de vloek uitsprak over zijn zoon  Kansan. Ons hart             In dealing with man's stewardship in the geography
siddert.                                                    class there are two historical facts that present them-
   "En zij ontreinigden zich door hunne werken, en selves for consideration. In the first place we have
zij hebben gehoereerd door hunne  daden."                   the fact that the earth itself has been changed by God
   De laatste clausule verklaart de eerste. De veront-      since its creation. The result is that the geographical
reiniging kwam vanwege de afhoereering van God.             makeup of this earth is quite different from what it
   Ziet ge : Uw Maker is Uw Man ! God is Uw Be- was in the beginning.                 Two mighty works of God
minde in Christus Jezus den Heere.                          realized this. There was the curse which came upon
                                                            this earth after the fall of man, and there is that tre-
    Hij heeft U liefgehad met een eeuwige liefde, en mendously important work of God in the geographical
Hij bezit U van eeuwigheid tot eeuwigheid.                  realm when that world-wide catastrophe of God's
   En toen  ge verloren waart in de historie, toen  heeft wrath, the flood, so greatly changed the face of the
Hij Zijn liefde bewezen door neer te komen in de earth. In other words, man today deals with a differ-
menschelijke natuur van Jezus. En  toen  heeft` Hij ent kind of earth from that which was Adam's when
Zijn liefde voor U verheerlijkt in den kruisdood van first God told him of his calling as steward to "subdue
Jezus. Want Jezus is immers Jehovah-Heil?                   the earth". For Adam and Eve in Paradise most of
    Nu zult ge begrijpen, dat alle zonde tevens hoererij our present day industries would be unnecessary. There
is. Te zondigen is den wil  doen  van den duivel. De was no need of clothing factories. The fur industry
zonde in het begin van de historie is het luisteren naar of which our children learn in geography would not
en het volgen van den duivel. Ziet het in Eva in het have materialized. Even the cattle raising which is
eerste Paradijs.                                            such an important occupation today' would have been
    En als ge zoo wandel,t  in hoererij met den duivel,     out of pIace  there, for not till after the flood do we
dan wordt ge ook ontreinigd. In het begin hebben read that God gives the flesh of animals to man for
we een Hollandsch spreekwoord overgeschreven. We food. This does not mean, of course, that making these
dachten er nu weer aan. Waar men mee omgaat wordt things and following these occupations is in itself sin.
men mee besmet. Gaat ge te lang en te intiem met den But the fact remains, that man today has a different
duivel om, dan gaat ge op den duur duivelsch spreken earth whertwith  to deal. And that tremendous worlc
en duivelsch handelen. En dat is de verontreiniging.        of :!le flood with its accompanying or resultant glaciers
       De reinheid is dat ge Goddelijk spreekt en Goddelijk has likewise given us new problems wherewith to con-
handelt. God is de Reine bij uitnemendheid. En als tend. II Peter 3  :5 surely gives us strongly to believe
ge Zijn kind wordt, dan zijt ge rein. In Uw diepste         that the first world was but one continent, a land
hart.                                                       standing "in the water" and yet standing "out of the
       En om rein te blijven en reiner te worden  meet  ge water". The shipping industry of today which sends


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                                   T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                        211

its merchant  fleet  to ply the oceans and rivers surely, and profitable. All this, of course, canriot  be taught
if carried out at all, would not have reached such tre- the child in geography. But it surely forms the basis
mendous proportions as it now assumes. There would for the proper instruction. It is the principle out of
not have been the need of the modern ocean liners. A v;hich our instruction of geography in the Christian
few small boats to ply the rivers might have been school ought to flow. In the  ChvzXan  school there is
necessary and undoubtedly were used by man up till no room for extolling those who despise the Christ
the time of the flood on the rivers of Eden. The            of ,God  and work feverishly to bring forth their own.
chasms, the mountains, the shifting sands have all And *the child can be taught that a nation is not rich
contributed to the difficulty of laying railroads  but according to the amount of GOD'S aatural  resources
also determined, humanly speaking,  ,urhcrs   they would He has placed within its boundaries,' but that the be-
be laid. And it surely does not hurt the covenant           liever is rich according to his use of these things to
child to have his attention called to the fact that all lay up for himself treasures  in heaven where neither
things are more difficult and that the world is full of moth nor rust corrupt, nor  thievesareak  through and
problems because of man's sin.      .                       s t e a l .
   But in the second place there is the fact that man           Then there is that other change God wrought in
also h&s changed since his creation. The most im- man, the `pysical and psychological change at Babel.
portant change is the spiritual one. He died spiritual- There we have the inception of the various races and
ly, lost his true knowledge, righteousness and holiness. colors. Here again we are, reminded that even before
He lost his sense of stewardship, yea, rather, he raised this there were different natures to be found among
himself up in his own mind above the state of steward men. Jabal, Jubal and their brother Tubal-Cain were
to reach vainly for freedom to do as he thought was by no means alike.             There already you have three
good and evil. Let the child never lose sight of  the- attempts to subdue the earth from different angles.
fact that the natural man cannot use God's creation Jabal deals with the cattle of the field. He exploits
aright,  neither before the flood nor after. Commerce them for his own satisfaction.  Jabal discovers the
and industry are making progress today. They have power of music, how it is produced and how to form
ever since creation, but they are headed in the wrong his own instruments for man's pleasure. Tubal-Cain
direction and are moved by the wrong spiritual im- digs into the bowels of the earth, robs it of its treasures
pulse. There is however, the spiritual change of re- aud pounds or melts it into submission. He has made
generation of God's child, and as a result you find two brass and iron obey and become his servants. Since
men working the same fields, the same mines, subdue-        then man has come a long way. And that he has come
ing the same earth, performing outwardly the same this long may is due to that other work of C;od wherein
deeds, yet the one with earthly aspirations and goals,      He confused man's speech and divided the human race
the other in the fear of God and to His glory. All of into nations, tongues and tribes.           In each of these
the subdueing of the earth by the natural man paves with their own special psychological make-up and
the way for the antichrist. He sees the problems which temperament they followed the paths forged by  Jabal,
the curse and the changed creation have realized for Jubal and Tubal-Cain.             The one domesticates the
man. EIe gropes with the problem and seeks its solu- sheep, another deals with camels. The one lives pre-
tion for this life and for man's glory, for the pride,      dominately on fish, the other cultivates his rice. The
the exaltation of this life. And presently after cen- one race  Froduces  beautiful china having subdued the
turies of strenuous activity, by God's eternal decree, clays God rut in its territory, the other excels in the
he has so subdued the earth that he is ready to adver-      rt-arks  of brass and copper. The one enjoys living on
tise  that the saviour of the world is here. He has or by the sea, the other would think of ilo place but
made the cursed earth yield abundantly for all man- the mountains. And so we could continue. And so we
kind. Berhaps he, for the Scriptures declare that he see the whole earth and all that it contains subdued by
will even be able to call fire down from heaven, shall man and subdued from various angles.
realize his present dream of making real worthwhile             Ih that changed world and among changed men
rainstorms for his crops. At any rate while railing stands God's child too. His mind has in principle
to be a real steward of God in His creation he crucifies    been restored so that he recognizes this earth as sover-
THE CHRIST and sets out to make  his own. Indeed, eignly God's. He believes and desires to be a faithful
he subdues the earth, and every day we read of a new        steward of all that which God brings within reach
conquest, and he testifies today that he will in the of his hand. He cultivates his field to raise from
future subdue uranium and atomic fission much far- God's seed His harvest. He mines God's coal, catches
ther than the present stage. The spiritually changed God's fish, combines His materials and makes various
man working in a wrath-changed world still shouts products because he knows that God so wills it. There
his defiance to God, and he says that he will subdue        can beTno doubt about it that if man had not fallen
it for himself and in. order to make his rebellion safe     he would have dug into the bowels of the earth to

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

discover its riches. But his gold would not have be- together, and all other available space used. And now,
come his god, nor would it be used as material from after doubling the size of our auditorium and arrang-
which to fashion his idols. He would have discovered ing the seats in their proper order, we again find our
the power of fire and subdued it, but he would have auditorium full. Looking back we wonder how we ail
remained its king instead of being enslaved by it.          had managed to find room before.
       And now the regenerated child begins to use these       You can gain somewhat of an idea of what we have
things, all things, here below to serve God. Then he        done to our church by taking ,a piece of paper and
is  thankful for all, recognizes all as coming from God,    blocking off all that which appears to the left of the
and he strives to return it all in service to ,God. And chimney on the picture above. In that way you can
so should his child be taught to see all that this earth see the "before' `and "after" of our church building.
contains as means which are given to us by an allwise,         And further, our well attended ladies society had
almighty God Who is the sovereign Lord of lords and complained about crowded conditions in the society
King of kings. The geography class is a wonderful room. This obstacle has also been removed by adding
place to impress upon the child's mind the greatness a large society room in the basement. We went one
of God, the wisdom of God and the goodness of God.          step further to please the ladies by building in a well
But it is then at the same time a wonderful place to        quipped kitchen. The ladies are looking forward to
teach him that all that which he sees are God-given the opportunity of catering to the delegates to  Classis                        ,
means bestowed that we may serve Him.                       East in April.
       And let him also continue to hold before his own         The plan and the labor was furnished by our men
consciousness the fact that they all pass away soon in the congregation. Each male member donated two
and completely. None of man's industry will enter days work, which kept the cost down to a reasonable
into the new creation. A new order of things still amount. But above all it is good for brethren to dwell
awaits this earth in the day of Christ. A new creature, together also in work. Each with the same goal in
a new spiritual man will be its king. Then a perfect view of the realization of the Kingdom of God.
creature shall stand in a perfect creation serving his          So let us enter the house of God not as to the out-
Maker perfectly.                                            ward form, but drawing near to God to taste that He
                                          J. A. Heys.       is good as our Father and Redeemer. Then, the house
                                                            of God becomes the home of our Father where we can
                                                            go to fellowship with Him. Yea, and more, in Him
                                                            we have put our trust. And of His good works do
                                                            children sing of in their father's house.
                                                                Glory be to *God our Father forever.
                                                                                                                       H. M.

                                                                                        `x       * * *



                                                            :Some  Christians are like wheel-barrows : they have to
                                                            br;  pushed--The Banner.




                                                                                      IN MEMORIAM

                                                                The Mary-Martha Society of the Protestant Reformed
                                                             Church at Manhattan,  .Montana,  hereby wishes to express its
                                                             sincere sympathy with one of its members, Mrs.  P. P. Van Dyken,
                                                             in the  less of her

                                                                                               FATHER
   Our family has become too large for the house,
and therefore, it called for an addition. This was the          May the Lord comfort the bereaved in the hope of the com-
primary reason for our now completed building pro-           ing of Christ and the glory that; follows.
ject. The conditions in the old auditorium were over-
crowded. The seats had been so arranged as to allow                                 The Mary-Martha Society,
only one aisle, the rows of seats had been set closer                                          Mrs. M. Vander Molen,  Secretary.


                                          T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                        213

                                                                    fest in all her glory and splendor in the new creation.
            FROM HOLY WRIT                                          At the same time, the Church is universal, catholic.
                                                                    In the old dispensation the church was gathered within
                                                                    the boundaries of natural Israel, but in the new dis-
                                                                    pensation God gathers His Church out of every nation
 The MuPtiformity  Of The Church * and tribe and people. No national distinction destroys
                                                                    the unity of the true church, which is one according
   The subject that has been assigned to me for this to her internal, spiritual essence; one in Christ. This
evening is bound to have a strong appeal to all those unity will become fully evident in heaven when the
who love the truth of Scripture and who confess their church will be fully gathered and assembled about the
faith in a holy, catholic church, "of which  I am and throne, to show forth the praises of God eternally in
always shall remain a living member." This subject the new creation.
is as interesting as it is important. It is important                  Moreover, we confess concerning *God's Church that
for us who profess the truth as God entrusted it to                 Christ is her Head and she is His body. Scripture
our churches. But it is also important to safeguard sometimes uses the figure of the vine and its branches,
ourselves against the many errors so prevalent in our or sometimes of a body and its members, or also of a
day. If ever, it should now be thoroughly understood temple with  it.9 foundation and its stones. Always
what we believe and profess concerning the church, the idea is, that the church is an elect organism .in
her life and her activity. And at the same time, it is Christ, gathered during the history of this present
necessary for all of us to know how to fulfill our call- time and revealing its full perfection in the glory of
ing in the office of all believers in the midst of the the world to come. Colossians 1:15-U.expresses  this
church, according to the unction of the Holy Spirit most beautifully. There we are told that Christ "is
which we have received from Christ.                                 the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of every
   In discussing the multiformity of the church we creature  ; for by Him were all things created, that
`meet many problems which we can only hope to touch are in heaven, and that are in earth; visible and in-
upon `in this essay. Some of the problems are worthy visible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or prin-
of a broader discussion than we can give them now, cipalities or powers: all things were created by Him,
and may well be considered separately at a later date. and for Him. And He is before all things, and by Him
At this time I wish to stress the idea of the multiform-. all things consist. And He is the Head of the body,
ity of the church as it is set before us in the Scrip- .the church: Who is the beginning, the Firstborn from
tures. Therefore 1 would refer you to its  basis,  its the dead ; that in all things He might have the pre-
munif  estation, and its im@ications.                               eminence.    For it pleased the Father that' in Him
                                                                    should all fuiness  dwell."
                        I.  its Basis.                                 Christ's work was exalted to the highest heavens
   In order.to come to a Scripturally sound conception as a reward on His accomplished work of the cross.
of the multiformity of the church, we must be aware There He received a name above all names as exalted
of certain fundamental principles that are basic to it. Lord over heaven and earth. All power is given unto
A few of these we briefly call to our attention.                    Him, so that God works ou't the counsel of His will
   First of all, it is important that we maintain that through Him. In grace He rules over His church,
we believe a holy, catholic church. The true church of blesses her from heaven, and uses all things unto her
Jesus Christ is both holy and catholic. Although we deliverance and eternal perfection. This includes that
all agree that the church as we see her in her outward              Christ also received the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of
manifestation  here'on  earth is neither holy nor catho- the exalted Lord. And with the Holy Spirit He re-
lic, we immediately remind ourselves that we are not ceives all the blessings of salvation which God has
speaking of the church as we see her with our natural prepared from eternity for His church. Christ is
eye in all the imperfection of sinful flesh, but we are the reservoir, filled with all spiritual and heavenly
speaking of the church as she is the object of our faith, blessings to bestow them upon His people. This is
We believe that the church according to her true spirit- the idea of Ephesians 1:3, "Blessed be the *God and
ual  essense  is both holy and catholic. She is holy, for Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us
God sees no transgression in Israel and no sin in Jacob. with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in
The Lord regards His people as He has chosen her in Christ."
Christ, redeemed her through the blood of the cross,                   Thus we should establish in the ,third  place, that
and sanctifies her as a spotlessly holy and undefiled               Christ comes to dwell in His church through the Spirit.
bride, the Bride of Christ. Thus she will become mani-              It is the Spirit of Christ that is poured out into the
~Lecture  was delivered at a meeting of the  League  of             church. This Spirit works powerfully through the
   Men's Societies at the First Prot. Ref. Church, Grand Rapids.    means of the Word to gather the elect together, and to

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

bless them with the blessings of salvation prepared for things." Thus  aIso there is development and progress
them in Christ. Christ ministers His Word and ap- in the understanding of the Scriptures and in the ex-
plies it by the operation of the Spirit. Ministers are            pression of our doctrines as time goes on. We all are
but ambassadors of Christ, speaking on His authority ready to confess that we do not understand all things
and in His name. Tnus we read in Romans  10:14,  15, thoroughly, but, in fact, we understand all things only
"How then shall they call on Him in Whom they have in part. Yes, the more we  .delve  into the mysteries of
not believed? And how shall they believe Whom they the kingdom of heaven, the more we realize how little
have not heard? And how shall they hear without a we actually know and understand about these things.
preacher ? And how shall they preach, except they                    Yet the fact remains, that God's church is  orte
be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet             church  in her true spiritual essence, guided and blessed
of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring by the operation of the Holy Spirit Who dwells in her.
glad tidings of good things !" Through the ministry The church does not consist of various denominations,
of the Word, and only through that ministry, Christ               which together make up the true church. Then she
bestows His salvation upon His people. Thus He                    would be divided. Even  ,though we may grant that
gathers His church, preserves her in the faith, and there are true believers in various denominations,
causes her to grow in grace through His Word and                  these various denominations do not make up the true
by His Spirit. Therefore we can say with the church church. The church is spiritual, heavenly, and there-
father  Iraneus, "Where the church is, there is the               fore is knit together by a spiritual .bond. She is one
Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is             in the Spirit, the body of Christ, the temple of the
the church, and there is all grace."                              Lord. This is taught us in Eph. 4 :4-6, "There is one
       Finally it should be borne in mind that this church Body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope
is gathered in the line of continued generations of the           of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism.
believers during the history of this present time. Out            One God and Father of all, Who is above all, and
of the natural seed of the believers God takes unto               through all, and in you all." Also in Eph.  2:19-22,
Himself a spiritual seed, ordained unto eternal life.             "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreign-
This fact creates many'difficulties  as far as the natural ers, but fellow-citizens with all the saints, and of the
existence of God's church in the world is concerned.              household of God. And are built upon the foundation
       In the first place, it is not all Israel that is called    of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself
Israel. The carnal seed meets with the church and *being  the chief cornerstone. In Whom all the building
often professes to be a part of it. In fact, this carnal fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in
seed frequently gains the overhand, overrules and op- the Lord. In Whom ye also are builded together for
presses the true church. Cain lords it over Abel. Esau an habitation of God through the Spirit."
maintains himself overagainst Jacob, carnal Israel                   But this oneness manifests itself in a rich diversity.
determines to make  idoIatry  the sanctified religion of There is `no monotonous uniformity in the church, like
the nation, crucifies the Christ, oppresses the faithful.         an army of soldiers passing by in review; or like the
The carnal element always casts out the true church automobiles that run as a steady stream from the as-
and tries to make her life impossible upon the earth.             sembly line. God's church becomes manifest in a rich
       In the second place, only a small part of the church       diversity. ,God is one, yet rich in the diversity of all
becomes evident at any one time in the history of the His virtues. Christ is one, yet rich in all the blessed-
world. God gathers His church from the beginning to ness of His salvation. And thus also the church is one,
the end of time, so that only a small part of the church manifesting the fulness of the riches of Christ.
exists on the earth at any given time. And the church is             We could draw an exampIe  from nature. Although
always separated by insurmountable barriers of space, the heavens are filled with stars, the one star exceeds
race, color and language. There is even a difference the other star in glory. Although there are many
in traits and disposition, as is very evident, for ex- thousands of trees, there are no two alike. Even eac!l
ample, between the white and the black race.                      maple tree has its own peculiar characteristics. Think
       And finally, the church is still in imperfection and also of all the different kinds of animals, yet even no
weakness. Not only that we still see through a glass two dogs are alike. The same thing holds true, and
darkly (in an enigma) I but we also know only in part. even more so, of people. Members of the same family,
There is a development in the process of God's revela- and even twins in the family are never entirely identi-
tion in Scripture, and there is a development in dogma c a l .
ever since the Scriptures were complete. Heb. 1:1,2                   How much more this is true of the body of Christ,
`teaches us that "God, Who at sundry times and in the Church. Scripture compares it to a  ,temple  in
divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers which every stone has its own peculiar place to make
by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken to us up the fulness of the structure. And again Scripture
by His Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of all                    compares it to a body in which every member has its


                                       T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                    215

 own position, its own characteristics, its own purpose..     Him as being a notch or two above Abe Linclon?
 And Revelation suggests the figure of a choir, in which      We just use that for an example, but the same thing
a each member must take his own particular place in           could be said of all the truths of religion.
 order to sing the grand oratorio of Moses and the               "Honestly, we have the greatest respect for all
 Lamb.                                                        our devout. . . . neighbors, setting off for* Sunday
    Thus, we conclude, that this holy and universal           School each week with their Bibles tucked under their
 body of Christ, which is filled and blessed by the Holy      arms; but we have no use at all for the mealy-mouthed
 Spirit, manifests itself even already on earth, and          person who welcomes all, minister, rabbi, and priest,
 finally in heaven, in a rich diversity, that is in the with equal smoothness because he considers them all
 multiformity of the church.                                  equally  worthiess.
                    (to be continued)                            "Get convictions and hang unto them. Make sure
                                           C. Hanko.          they're right. Prove them first to your own satisfac-
                                                              t,ion, and then let no one shake you. Be tolerant of
                                                              others, aIways,  but not to the point of allowing that
                                                              they also have the truth; for if you have the truth,
                                                              and they differ from you, how can they have the truth
                                                              too?"
                 P E R I S C O P E

 Quiz. . . .
    What do you think is the origin of the following? Modern  .Persecution.  . . .
 What do you think of the sentiments it expresses?               "On August 15, the third anniversary of Korea's
 Is it narrow and bigoted?                                    liberation from the Japanese, Tai Han Min-kook, the
    "Surely, we expect an apology from the man who            new Republic of Korea, was formally created and Dr.
 has kicked our bunion or who has sat on our derby,           Syngman Rhee became the first president. The Kor-
 but we don't expect an apology, ever, from a man just ean situation, however, is still very bad, for north
 because he doesn't go to our Church, and we are irked, Korea is still in the hands of the communists, and sup-
 believe us, when someone ends up a discussion of  re-        port for the new regime in the south is far from
 iigions with the remark: `After all, we"re heading for enthusiastic.
 the same place in the next life, but by different roads'.       "A missionary writes : `The Christians (in north
    "That means he thinks one Church is as good as            Korea) under Russia are in a sorrowful  plight-ehild-
 another, which is the poorest piece of bad logic we've ren forced to attend school on Sunday so t,hat they
 ever heard !                                                 cannot go to Sunday School or church. If they dare
    "We expect a man to be positive that the faith he         to go, they receive a reprimand and are forced to
 holds is identical with the truth and that when an- confess that they were wrong for going there-and
 other church contradicts his belief, that other church this before the student body the next day. Then they
 is wrong, absolutely.     There is nothing especially are' beaten publicly. Prayer meetings have been stop-
 praiseworthy about a broad-mindedness that can abide ped. No Bibles may be had. Pastors are fleeing into
 six different answers to the same problem. We. . . .,        South Korea because they are hounded up there and
 it has been said, are as narrow-minded as the multipli- for.ced to teach Communism.'
 cation tables. Six times six is thirty-six and not one          "One of these refugee pastors from north Korea,
 point more nor less. There can be only one  answer-          Rev. Han Kyung Chik, has recently been in the United
 and religious truths are no different from the truth of      States.    He reports that more than three million
 mathematics. Truth is one !                                  refugees have escaped to south Korea, many of them
    "For example: Either Jesus was God or He wasn't.          Christians, since the strength of the Christian move-
 You can hold to one of those, but you can't have both.       ment was in the north. Another recent report places
 .Any church which holds the one contradicts any church the number of refugees at more than four and a half
 which holds the other; and you can't say that the one millions."-From  The Moody Monthly,  December, 1948.
 church is as good as the other because, obviously,
 one's right and the other's wrong.                                                  * *  *  *
    "How could anyone respect a God, enjoining truth
 on us and claiming to be Truth Itself, who was equally
 pleased with those who worship Jesus as the Second Korean Meditation. . . .
 Person *of the Blessed Trinity and those who honor              From time to time we have published news items


'-- - -'-I -- -.                        T H E   STANDARR;~~.~ARER
  or comments about the Protestant Church in Korea.          praise Thee in either grace or trouble, even in these
  From most of these it has been evident that a rather present suffering days."
  strong orthodoxy prevails in this relatively young
  Christian Church. This is also evident from the fol-                             *  * * *
  lowing thought-provoking contribution. We read it                           ;
  and re-read it and thought about it and finally decided    Communism. . . . Be Not Deceived. . . .
  to pass it on. It is taken from the January issue of
  Moody Monthly. According to  the accompanying note            The following is an editorial re-printed from the
  of explanation, the author, Kim  Mossa, had experi- Jan.  15, 1949  issue of  The Southern Presbyterian
  enced a good share of trouble ; both physical and spirit- Journal.    It is signed L.N.B.-Dr. L. Nelson Bell,
  ual. At the time he wrote this meditation he was a Associate Editor of the Journal.
  patient in the Korea National Sanatorium for Tuber-           "Recent press dispatches tell of missionaries who
  culosis. The article states: "Kim meditated on his have stayed in Communist areas and who have, so far,
  troubles and God's grace, trying to see what lay be- been unmolested.
  hind it all. Then one day he came to the English class        "A remark which has recently come from China
  with this contribution from his meditations:               is revealing in the extreme. Speaking of Communist
      "Formerly I thought that grace is better than tactics it states : `First they kow tow (are very polite),
  trouble, and prayed that God would give me grace and then they  iao  tow  (shake their heads in disapproval),
  take away trouble. However, now I am thinking that then they sub tow (cu,t of your head.) '
  grace is not only good for me, but also that trouble          "Christians  must  realize that Communism is dedi-
  is good. I must not forget to pray to receive grace,       cated to the destruction of faith in God, Christianity,
  but also to pray for trouble. The grace that is the and all of the blessings and freedoms which proceed
  by-product in trouble is more precious, and trouble from it. Whenever Communism seems to soften or
  that I receive as a grace is more desirable. If I do not change in its objective, do not be deceived, it is for
  have a right attitude toward grace, then that is a a designated reason and the ultimate`objective  remains
  great trouble to me ; but if I have a sincere behaviour the same.
  toward trouble,  then it should be a good grace for me.       "As the Communist armies advance, there ac-
      "Neither grace nor trouble come and go at my company them the `political division' which proceeds
  will. Even when  1 wanted grace, I found I must be to the establishment of a truly communistic regime.
  put to the most unendurable trouble, and when I did        One of the first steps is destruction of right and
  not want the trouble which came, I found immeasur- decency, persecution and often murdering of anyone
  able grace.                                                owning more t.han  an acre of land, indoctrination of
      "Man cannot create or devise grace, and he cannot children with evil of' every kind and a reign of terror
   drive away trouble by his own power. These come' which ends only when submission through abject fear
   to man only because of the divine will that God may results.
  bless and educate him. Except by divine will, neither
  grace nor  trouble.come  to us; so we cannot choose nor       "Be not deceived-Communism is so Satanic in
   refuse them in our own will.                              its design, so intense in its execution, so opposed to
                                                             everything Christians hold dear, that it must have its
      "As it is, by the Creator's will we have fine weather origin, implementation and supervision from the Evil
   or tempest in our lives; so we have both grace and        One Himself.
   trouble. Never forget to give Him thanks for grace.
   Never forget to pray to Him when you are in trouble.         "Be wise while wisdom and the ability to act on
   It is not only grace to have something and be filled,     that wisdom are still ours  !"
   but also to lose and be lacking. Grace can be good                              *  v *  `li
   and cheerful, but grace is also that which is bad and
   sad. Sometimes weeping is the best grace and laugh-
   ing is the  worst trouble. God does not give us trouble Thi Answer. . . .
   that we are not able to endure. I know that Paul was         The first item quoted under the title Quiz, is one
   aware of the paradoxica1  truth that trouble is grace,    of the regular paid advertisements appearing in many
   for he heard the holy words, `My grace is sufficient      daily papers under the title, Catholic Information and
   for you', when he besought ,God that the trouble might placed by the Knights of Columbus. This particular
   depart from him.                                          one is from a recent issue of  The Bellingham Herald.
      "0 God, which is Thy will-to give grace or trouble     Undoubtedly it also appeared in many of your local
   me? 1 am only afraid that I shall forget to thank Thee papers. We admire, and believe we can learn a lesson,
   in `Thy troublous grace `and that I shall not pray to from the courageous note it expresses.
   Thee in Thy gracious trouble. 0 Lord, let me only                                               W. Hofman,


     VOLUME XXV                             February 15, 1949 - Grand Rapids, Mich.                                NUMBER 10
                                                                            And then comes the text : Be ye therefore  imitators
              M E D I T A T I O N                                        of God !"
                                                                            It is the most blessed thing you can possibly do on
                                                                         earth or in heaven ! *  +  *  *
                       Imitate God!                                         Be ye imitators of God!
                                                                            No, you do not find the word which I have placed
                                                                         in italics in the text. The text says: Be ye therefore
                 "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear child-       followers  of God!
               ren; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved-  us,       If you would ask me: why did you substitute that
               and hath given Himself for us an offering and a           word for the word  followers  in the text, my answer
               sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour."             would be:  be&use  that is the word which the Holy
                                               Ephesians 5:1, 2.         Spirit used in the original language. I will, copy the
        The Holy Apostle Paul admonished the Christians word exactly as it is in the text': mimeetai. And I
     at Ephesus that they should henceforth not-walk  even will add that our word  imitate  is directly derived from
     as the  <Gentiles  walk in the vanity of their mind.                this word.
        The Gentiles have a vain mind. There is nothing                     And so you see that the word follower is really a
     to it. It is like air. There is no substance in it. They commentary of the text, and the word:;r)vhich I use&g6-
     get nowhere with it.                                                for the title of this little meditation is the exact mean-
        ,Moreover,  their vain minds are not merely neutral. ing of the idea proposed in the text. ,God calls us to
     They are very evil indeed.                                          be imitators of Him !
        And the Christians at Ephesus should not `copy                      Wonderful idea  ?
     them.                                                                  Study God in His revelation to you. Listen to the
        They should copy God.                                            way He speaks.        Observe His steps as He walks
      Copying the Gentiles that surround them they through the ages of history recorded for you in the
     would become lascivious and unclean.                                Bible. I would almost say : Taste Him !
        And gather unto themselves the wrath of God                         And then imitate Him. Do as He does. Love as
     which is against all those that do such things.                     He loves. Hate as He hates. Speak His Word. Sing
        But they had no so learned Christ.              -                His Word. Think His Word. Weep His Word. And
        They had heard Jesus, and were taught byHim, as act His Word.
     the truth is in Jesus.                                                 Imitate God all the day long.
        And this Jesus, speaking unto them  -.constantly,                   Be ye therefore followers of God !
     teaching them His own truth, had told them to put off                  Behold your calling!
     the old man and to put on the new man.                                 And ye shall be blessed for time and for eternity.
        Doing that they  would.  be pleasing to God.                        Imitate God !
        For then their walk would be in holiness, in right-                                       *  I  *  *
     eousness and in the knowledge of God.                                  Imitate God, and walk in love !
        Negatively, they would crucify the old man of sin                   That is an explanation of the first commandment.
     and divers lusts, and, positively, they would be "kind To imitate God and to walk in Jove is the self-same
     tn' one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, thing.
     even as God for Christ's sake had forgiven them",                      What does that mean? How am I to understand



L

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

what it means to walk in love? What is love and what           This text is for the child of God exclusively. It
is my walk?                                                 would have no sense at all to say to the unregenerate:
    Your walk is not merely your manifestation in face,     Walk in love! Imitate God!  For you are  His dear
voice and deeds.                                            child! If we did that we would be liars unto God !
    It is much, much more. Your face may be as an              Oh no, but this admonition is for, them who are the
angel's face, but your walk may be like the devil him-      dear children of God.
self.                                                          Who are they?
    Your voice may be ever so `sweet,  so that people          Well, in Paradise we were the dear children of God
are charmed by your conversation, but it is very tie11      in Adam and Eve. These two were .dear children of
possible that your walk is dark as darkness itself.         God. And unto ,&hem .God said : Study Me in My ways
    Oh, but your walk is ever so much more than the ,arid revelation ! And then copy Me in your walk.
way you show yourself before the face of man.               From.,the  heart out, walk in love. Draw' near to Me
    I think that I may say that your walk is you!           in all  .your heart and thought and word and deed.
    And you are as your heart is.                           And you will be happy.
    From the heart are the issues of life.     '               Adam and Eve were happy, dear children of ,God.
    If your heart is godly and good, your walk is bound For a while. -For a very short while.        ..  -
to be good.                                                    For they fell.
    If your heart is evil and dark, your walk is abomin-       They studied the devil, `and imitated him.
able, even though your face may be wreathed in smiles          They followed the devil, and he led them into un-
and your voice ever so wonderful in its tone and            told misery. They did as the devil did, and they cor-
quality.                                                    rupted their way upon the face of the earth. And
    Now then, your walk should be in love.                  so it was that the whole earth was filled with violence.
    And what is love?                                          By nature, we all are walking in the hatred of God
    Love is God Himself. John has told us. God is and of our neighbour.
love. And that means that in all His essence and life          And are very unhappy.
He is bound to Himself in the bond of perfectness.             But  Ctid remembered His covenant of Love.
That is also Scripture. Love is the bond of perfect-         And from the very beginning He called His own
ness. It is the tie that binds the perfect ones together from darkness to light.
in wonderful unity and peace.. In the atmosphere of            He did .ihat by spreading abroad the love of God in
perfection the perfect ones seek one another, find one their heart. He gave them His own image again, but
another and are bound to one another. They find now the image such as it was exalted to the highest
their complete delight in one another. And they will heavens. The love of God in God's elect children is
sing of it forever.                                         far sweeter than the love of God as Adam tasted it
    For love is God, and God is love !                      in his innocent heart. Later  I will come back to that
    ,God walks in beauty. In the beauty of `His own         far sweeter love.
love.                                                          But now the child of God receives that far sweeter
    And you and I?                                          love in the hour of his regeneration, brought to con-
    God tells us in my text to study Him and to  *watch     sciousness in his conversion.
Him how He walks in the beauty of His love, and then           And so some of the sons and daughters of Adam
to imitate Him.                                             and Eve become again dear children of God!
    Imitate God !                                              And to them He says in the words of my text:
    By walking in love.                                     Imitate Me! Follow Me ! Walk in Iove ! For you
                                                            are My dear children ! The child should behave as the
                       8    *  *  x                         Father behaves !
    Imitate God, as dear children!                             Imitate Me by your walk of Iove ? For you are My
                                                            dear child !
    That last phrase strengthens the idea of the ad-
monition.                                                                            It * *  *
    It is entirely comely that you should walk like your       Imitate Me!
Father in heaven walks, for you are His dear child-           But Lord, how am I to know how I must conduct
ren !                                                       myself in this walk of love ?
  And certainly the child should be like unto the              And the Lord has given you an answer. It is in
fether!                                                     the text : "as Christ also hath laved us, and hath given
    Do you notice with me that you can do. nothing Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God!"
with this text with regard to the child of the devil,          This brings me to a mighty and most wonderful
be he in the church or without the church?                  thought. This reminds me of the sole purpose of the


                                        T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                            219'

 whole universe. It is this: God wants to show to                 And to do it: look strongly on Jesus of Galilee!
 untold millions how loveable  He is. That is the reason          Its opportunity ?
 why He created, and recreated. He wanted to show                 Look around you in the church, and with the church,
 us His walk in love.           "      .,_                     into the world round about you, and weep !
     A little while ago I promised you that I would come          There is the fruit of the evil all around you. People
 back to the idea of a sweeter  love? Well, here it is.        walk as the Gentiles walk in the darkness of their
     Oh yes, if you would have asked Adam: Come, tell foolish mind. And in the church there is also a rem-
 me, is God a God of love? he would have grown voluble nant of that dark and evil walk.
 in telling you of the love of God. He would have  *              Your brother will on occasion bind you and send
 pointed you to all created things, himself included, and you to Egypt. You will cry in the pit.
 say and sing of the love of God as it was shown to him           The power of evil, be it in the world or in the
 in the morning and in the night, in the lion and in the       church of Jesus Christ, will lay you low in tears and
 sheep, in the whale and in the eagle. He would point. bitterness.             They will give you bread and water of
 you to the blue canopy of heaven and tell you that it affliction.
 all spoke of His wonderful love and loving-kindness.           " For ,God's  sake, for Jesus' sake and for His right-
 And his song would end with a beautiful stanza about eousness' sake you will be hated and persecuted.
 his own life in Paradise: this God loves me, o stranger !,       Listen to your cry : We are kilied all the day long !
  He loves me and He takes care' of me from morning            It is your cry is it not?
  till night. And when I and my wife sleep' in the                Oh yes, there is ample opportunity to live this
 garden, His care is over me and within me. I laugh text.
 and I leap for joy in this God of my love.                       Do it then.
     But if you were a child of God through Jesus Christ          Walk in love in the midst of the, devils and the
 the Lord, you would have been able to tell Adam of a children of the devil.
  love that is `infinitely sweeter than the love of God           When they curse you, bless thou.
 such as Adam knew. You would have told him of God                When they hate you, pray thou.
 who is now known as Jehovah, who came down to you                When they kill you, forgive them.
  in your hell and in your damnation, and Who in His              Imitate God !
  Son Jesus Christ took all your hell and your -damna-            Walk in His love!
  tion upon Himself in order to annihilate them, and              Prove to the whole universe that you are "dear
 that so completely as though they had never been.             children of God"!
     Oh, you would have told him of the love of God's             Ah, but it is wonderful to be imitators of God !
  walk in Gethsemane and on the accursed tree. And
  all for you !                                                                           * * * *
                   '
     You  would,  have told Adam of a love that would             B u t   w h y ?
come down and become a curse for you. So that you                 That 
  might become the blessed of the Lord.                                    YOU  may be unto God a sweet-smelling  savour  !
                                                                  That is the only purpose. _
     And Adam would greatly wonder at such love.                  When Christ hung on the aCursed  tree, God smelled
     And he would say: I know not! I cannot follow of that sacrifice and He said in the heavens above you :
  you ! Your sermon is too deep for me !                       Oh, but this love of Mine, there on that cross, smells
     `The love of God's walk is infinitely sweeter now sweet! It shall be to My glory and praises forever!
  than it was in that first morning in Paradise where             And so it is.
  Adam slept.                                                     In the midst of the throne shall be the little lamb,
     Adam knew of no forgiveness in the blood of               standing as if slain. It is the reason for all the sing-
  Jesus.                                                       ing of heaven.        *
     He did know of a walk of love, but not of the walk
  of the bloody sacrifice and the burnt-offering unto             If you return evil for evil in evil hatred, God smells
 LGod.                                                         of you, and turns from you in Divine disgust.              .
     God's child in Jesus ! You are infinitely richer             If you love those that despitefully treat you, and
 than that first innocent child Adam in Paradise!              if you live the life of the Lamb of God,, God will re-
     But there is your burden !                                joice in you.
     You must imitate that God who came to you in                 I think of a certain strain of singing: Let God in
  Jesus to prove and to manifest His wondrous love !           His people forever delight !
     Imitate God !                                                Do it, beloved ! Imitate God !
                         *  *  *  *                               Through His wondrous grace in Jesus Christ our
                                                               Lord !
     Oh yes, imitate God !                                                                                    G. Vos.


r~ 220                                                                                                  T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R  (

                                  The Standard Bearer
               S&@-Monthly,  except Monthly in July and August                                                                                                                 EDITORrALS
                                                   P u b l i s h e d   B y
                         The Reformed Free Publishing Association
                               Box 124, Sta. C., Grand Rapids, Mich,                                                                                                          Proposithn Coijcerning
                                      EDITOR:  - Rev.  H.  Hoeksema.
   Contributing  Editors:  - Rev. G. M.  .Ophoff,  Rev. G.  VOY, Rev.                                                                                                       The Covenant Of Grace
   R. Veldman, Rev. H. Veldman, Rev. H. De  Wolf, Rev.  13.  Kok,
   Rev. J. D. De Song, Rev. A. Petter, Rev. C. Hanko, Rev.  L.                                                                                                       In the Dutch paper Eenigheid des Geloofs (Unity
   Vermeer, Rev. G. Lubbers, Rev. M. Gritters, Rev. J. A. Heys,                                                                                                   of  Faith), edited for the benefit of the entire Reformed
   Rev. W.  Hofman.                                                                                                                                               persuasion (gezindte) , there occurred recently several
     Communications relative to contents should be addressed to                                                                                                   articles constituting a colloquium, or correspondence,
   REV. H. HOEKSEMA, 1139 Franklin St., S. E., Grand Rapids,
   Michigan.                                                                                                                                                      between a minister of the  synodical  church and one of
     Communications relative to subscription should be addressed                                                                                                  the liberated. The former is the Rev. E. C. van Tey-
   to MR. J. BOUWMAN, 1131 S&bee St., S.E., Grand Rapids 6,                                                                                                       lingen ; the latter Dr. F. L. Bos.         `-
   Ivlich.  Announcements and Obituaries must be mailed to the                                                                                                       The subject of their discussion was, as might be
   above address and will' be published at a fee of $1.00 for each                                                                                                expected, the doctrinal differences between the two
   notice.
                                  (Subscription Price $2.50 per year J                                                                                            churches, especially in re the covenant of grace in con-
   Entered as Second Class Mail at Grand Rapids, Michigan.                                                                                                        nection, of course, with the decisions of the synods of
                                                                                                                                                                  .the Reformed Churches of 194%`46. ,
                                                                                                                                                                     At the close of their discussion the two brethren
                                                                                                                                                                  offered several propositions concerning the covenant
                                                                                                                                                                  of grace on which they declared to be in mutual agree-
                                                                                                                                                                  ment.
                                                     C O N T E N T S                                                                                                 It is no doubt instructive also for us to study these
   MEDITATION-                                                                                                                                                    various propositions critically and to see how we as
      Imitate God! : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..-............................  217 Prot. Ref. Churches agree or differ with them.
                    Rev. G. Vos                                                                                                                                      Hence, we wish to devote a `few articles to this
                                                                                                                                                                  subject.
   EDITORIALS-
      Proposition Concerning the Covenant o f Grace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226                                                                              The propositions are in the form of a credo, and
                    Rev. H. Hoeksema                                                                                                                              are headed by the clause: "We believe."
   THE TRIPLE  KNOWLEDGE-                                                                                                                                            The first proposition reads as follows :
      An Exposition of the Heidelberg Catechism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,...223                                                                              *`That the new covenant of grace which .God the
                    Rev. H. Hoeksema                                                                                                                              Father established with men through the mediation of
   OUR DOCTRINE-                                                      -                                                                                           the death of Christ (Canons of Dordrecht, II, Rejection
      The Attributes of God . .._.......................................................  226                                                                     of Errors, 4) is the way along which He leads His
                    Rev. H. Veldman                                                                                                                               elect unto salvation (cf. Heb. 9:X; Canons of Dord-
   THE DAY OF  SHADOWS-                                                                                                                                           recht, II, 8) ."
      The Capture of Jebus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229        In the Canons of Dordrecht, II, Rejection of Errors,
                    Rev. G. M. Ophoff                                                                                                                             4,. the errors of  those  are rejected "who teach that the
                                                                                                                                                                  new covenant of grace which God the Father through
   STON'S  ZANGEN-                                                                                                                                                the mediation of the death of Christ, made with man,
      Liefdevol, School  Zwaar  Getergd . . . . . . . . . . . <...r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
                    Rev. G. Vos                                                                                                                                   does not herein consist that we by faith, inasmuch as
                                                                                                                                                                  it accepts the merits of Christ, are justified before'
   FROM HOLY WRIT-                                                                                                                                                God and saved, but in the fact that God having re-
      The  Multiformity  of the Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . .._........................  234                                                                 voked the demand of perfect obedience of faith, re-
                    Rev. C.. Hanko                                                                                                                                gards faith itself and the obedience of faith, although
   IN  AIS  FEAR-                                                                                                                                                 imperfect, as the perfect obedience of the law, and
      Training For Life's Galling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I..... . . . . * . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .237                           does not esteem. it worthy of the reward of eternx?
                     Rev. J. A.  Heya                                                                                                                             life through His grace." And, in the same Canons,
   PERISCOPE-                                                                                                                                                     il,   8, to which the above proposition also refers, we
      Home Mission News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                                                                                     . . . . . . . ,...239        read : "For this was the sovereign counsel, and most
                     Rev. W. Hofman                                                                                                                               gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that
                                                                                                                                                                  the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious


                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   BEAREI?                                            221

 death of His  Son,.should  extend to all the elect, for God they, the elect, become the friend-servants of God
bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith,     in the midst of the world ; they cleave to this one God,
thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation: that is, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, trust in him, love Him
 it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the with all their hearts and minds and souls and strength,
cross, whereby He confirmed the new covenant, should forsake the world, crucify their old nature, and walk
effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation,      in a new and holy life.
and language, all those, and those only, who were from         We may note that even the Baptism Form, like
eternity chosen to salvation, and given to, Him by the Scripture, speaks of the eternal covenant of grace.
 Father; that He should confer upon them faith, which Now, a way is not eternal, but temporal. As soon as
together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy the destination is reached, the way may disappear.
 Spirit, He purchased for them by His death ; should        But the covenant is not a way unto salvation, but is
 purge them from all sin, both original and  aotual,        the destination, salvation and glory, the dwelling of
 whether committed before or after believing; and the people of God with Him in His everlasting taber-
having faithfully preserved them even to the end,           nacle, itself. Now, I say once again that the propo-
 should at last bring them free from every spot and         sition may not intend to offer a precise definition of
blemish to the enjoyment of glory in His own presence the covenant of grace ; nevertheless, for a proper settle-
for ever."                                                  ment of the difficulties between the liberated churches
    And Hebrews 9 :15, another proof text with this         and the synodicals it is very important to define the
proposition, reads : "And for this cause he is the medi- concept  covenant  before anything else.
ator of .-the new testament, that by means of death,           The second proposition reads as follows: "That the
for the redemption of the transgressions that were new covenant of grace consists herein, that we by
under the first testament, they which are called might faith, in as far as it accepts the merits of Christ, are
receive the promise of eternal inheritance."                justified before God and saved, (Canons of Dordrecht
    Notice that in this first proposition the covenant      II, Rejection of Errors, 4)) so that we may live eter-
 of grace, or the new covenant, is here defined as a        nally with Him, and for Him, according to the Word
way along which God leads His elect to salvation.           of the Lord: `And I will be a Father unto you, and
                                                            ye shall be my sons and daughters.' (II Cor. 6 
     Perhaps this is not designed to be a proper  defmi-                                                          :18;
 tion.    The emphasis probably falls on  "elej)`, and cf. the Baptism Form)  ."
 means to say that the covenant includes strictly speak-       To this proposition we still have the same objec-
                                                            tion: still no clear-cut definition of the covenant is
 ing only the elect. Only they accept the merits of
 Christ by faith and are saved. This seems to be the offered. And this certainly is prerequisite. What is
                                                            the covenant? Is it a pact, or contract, or agreement?
 intention of the quotations from the Canons, especially
 of II, 8; and that may even be the chief purpose, of       Is the essence. of the covenant, as Heyns has it, the
                                                            promise?
 the quotation from Heb. 9 :15, for there it is empha-                  Or is it a way of salvation, as it was defined
                                                            in the first proposition?
 sized that "they which are called might receive the
 promise of eternal inheritance."                              Evidently the Canons, in II, Rejection of Errors, 4,
                                                            do not mean to give a definition of the covenant, for         ,
     Yet, the proposition has the form.of a definition.     they simply reject the errors of the Remonstrants,
 It defines the covenant of grace as a way along which who really deny that by faith, in as far as it accepts
 God leads His. elect unto salvation.                       the merits of Christ, we are justified before ,God  and
     And with this we cannot agree.                         saved. And as far as the Baptism Form is concerned,
    According to our conception, for which we can  find     to which this proposition also refers, it certainly speaks
 abundant evidence in the Word of God, the covenant of the eternal covenant of grace and then describes
 is the eternal relation of friendship between God and what our covenant God does for the elect and what is
 His people in Christ Jesus, in which He is their God,      the part of those with whom God establishes His cove-
 their Friend-Sovereign, and they are His people and        nant. And once more I suggest that the brethren in
 His friend-servants; According to that covenant, God,      the old country agree, first of all, on the idea or con-
 their sovereign Friend, establishes an eternal covenant cept of the covenant of grace itself.
 of grace with His people, grants unto them the adop-          The third proposition reads as follows: "That all
tion for His children and heirs, washes them in the the children of the congregation (church) are included
 blood of Christ from all their sins, dwells in them by in the covenant and church of God, and that redemp-
 His Spirit to sanctify them to be members of Christ        tion from sin by the blood of Christ and the Holy
 and to apply unto them all that they have in Christ,       Ghost, the Author of faith, is promised to them."
 "till they shall finally be presented without spot or         This proposition is rather important. It refers
wrinkle among the assembly of the elect in life eternal." to the crux of the difference between the synodicals
 And as a fruit of this work of grace of their covenant     and the liberated. And I am rather surprised -that


 `228                                 THE  S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

the Reverend van Teylingen, a synodical,  can subscribe fore, also disciples of  Christ, because they are born in
in agreement with Dr. Bos, a liberated, to one and the the church, or school of Christ; and hence the :Holy
same proposition on this matter. For, according to          Spirit teaches them in a manner adapted to their
this proposition, all the children of the church are capacity and age."`
really in the covenant. And not only that, but the             In the above quotation Ursinus seems to teach in-
promise of the Holy Spirit is given to all. For notice deed that all the children of those that believe are
that the  7'4th answer of the Heidelberg Catechism, included in the covenant and church of God.
which treats of the baptism of infants, is here general-       Yet, in a later connection Ursinus very definitely
ized and made universal as far as the covenant child- changes this notion and limits it to those infants that
ren, those that are historically comprehended under potentially have the faith. For writes he.: "But, sag
the covenant, are concerned. The Catechism simply our opponents, the church ought to be satisfied with a
teaches : "Are infants also  to be baptized? Answer. profession of faith. This we admit, and would add,
Yes : for since they, as well as the adult, are included that to be born in the church is, to infants, the same
ir. the covenant and church of God; and since redemp- thing as a profession of faith. Faith is, indeed, neces-
tion from sin by the blood of Christ and by the Holy        sary to the use of baptism with this distinction. Actual
Ghost, the author of faith, is promised them no less        faith is, necessary in adults, and an inclination to faith
than to the adult. . . ." etc. But the proposition has      in infants. Those who do not believe, that is, who have
it that all the children of the congregation are included no faith at all, neither by profession nor by inclination,           *
in the covenant and church of `Cod and that they all        are not to be baptized. But infants born of believing
have the promise of the Holy Ghost. Now, we have            parents have faith as to inclination. We also deny
no objection against the proposition that children, as the minor proposition; for infants do believe after
well as adults, are included in the covenant and church     their manner, or according to the condition of their
of God, and that to them as well as to the adults the       age; they have an inclination to faith. Faith is in
promise of the Holy Ghost is given ; but we do object       infants potentially and by inclination, although not
to the generalizing of this proposition and to the          actually as in adults. For, as infants born of ungodly
statement that the promise of the Holy aGhost is for parents who are without the church, have no actual
all the children that are historically under the cove- wickedness, but only an inclination thereto, so those
nant and that are born of believing parents. For we who are born of godly parents have no actual holiness,
certainly believe that God always  fulfills+His  promises but only an inclination to it; not according to nature,
and that He certainly realizes the promise of the Holy but according to the grace of the covenant. And still
Ghost to all the elect and to them only. And as it is further: infants have the Holy Ghost, and are re-
very plain from .Scripture  that all those that are under generated by Him. John the Baptist was filled with
the covenant and that are born of believing parents the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb, and
are by no means elect and that all are not Israel that      Jeremiah is said to have been sanctified before he
are cahed  Israel, we object to the generalizing of this    came out of the womb. (Luke 1:15; Jeremiah  1:5).
proposition.                                                If infants now have the Holy  AGhost,  He certainly           +
    Let us ask first of all what Ursinus, one of the com- works in them regeneration, good inclinations, new
posers of the Heidelberg Catechism, has to say on this      desires, and such other things as are necessary for
subject. In his commentary on the Heidelberg Cate- their  ,salvation,  or He . at least supplies them with
chism he makes the following comments on question everything- that is requisite for their baptism, accord-
and answer 74: first he writes: "Those who are not          ing to the declaration of Peter, `Can any man forbid
yet disciples of Christ, not being of the number of water to them who have received the Holy Ghost as
those who are called, and not believing the doctrine well as we ?' It is for this reason that Christ enumer-
of the gospel, nor obeying the ministry, are not to         ates little children among those that believe, saying,
receive baptism. Nor ought those who feel that they `Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which
are not the disciples of Christ to desire baptism. And believe in me.' `(Mat& 18 :6) . Inasmuch now as infants
the reason why we ought neither to receive, nor desire      are fit subjects for baptism, they do not profane it
baptism, is, because Christ says, first, teach or make as the Anabaptists wickedly affirm."
all nations my disciples, and then baptize them. Hence         Here it is very plain that Ursinus limits the con-
all, and only those are to be baptized according to the     cept covenant children or those that are included in +
command of Christ, who are, and ought to be re- the covenant and church of God, who have the promise
garded as members of the visible church, whether they of the Holy Ghost, and who therefore are proper sub-
be adults professing repentance and faith, or infants jects of baptism, to those that are regenerated and
born in the church ; for all the children of those that have the potential faith, that is, therefore, to the
believe are, included in the covenant and church of elect.
God'? unless they exclude themselves, They are,  there-                                                    H. H.
                                                                         *     _


                                      T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R ;                                  22rs

                                                          food and drink to the soul, no less than bread and wine
  THE .TRIPLE KNOWLEDGE                                   nourish the body."
                                                             Also the Scotch Confession of Faith, dated 1560,
                                                          ir Article 21 emphasizes that the sacraments are insti-
                                                          tuted for. the confirmation and strengthening of the
An Exposition Of The Heidelberg faith of the believers, to seal unto them the assurance                                .
                    Catechism                             of the promise of God and the most blessed communion
                                                          which the elect have with the Head, Christ Jesus.
                                                          And they are not naked and bare signs, but they are
                     PART  TWO                            so efficacious that by baptism we are ingrafted in
           O f   M a n ' s   R e d e m p t i o n          Christ Jesus, to be made partakers of His righteous-
                                                          ness and of the forgiveness of sins ; and by the Lord's
                   LORD'S  D,AY 25                        Supper Christ is so joined with us that He becomes
                            5.                            our very nourishment and food for our souls. But all
                                                          this is effected through the sacraments by the power
            The Idea Of The Sacraments.                   of the Holy Spirit, "Who by a true faith carries us
 . In the French confession of faith, which dates from above all things that are visible, carnal, and earthly,
1559, Article 34, we read the following on the sacra- and makes us to feed upon the body and blood of Christ
ments in general: "We believe that the sacraments are Jesus, which once was broken and shed for us, which
added to the word for more ample confirmation, that now is in heaven, and ap:JearS  in the presence of His
they may be to us pledges and seals of the "grace of Father for us." Besides, the article teaches that the .
God, and by this means aid and comfort our-faith,         sacraments are effectual not only at the moment when
because of the infirmity which is in us, and that they they are administered or when the believers partake
are outward signs through which God operates by of them, but that "they shall bring forth fruit after-
His Spirit, so that He may not signify anything to        wards, as a lively seed sown in good ground. For
us in vain. Yet we hold that their substance and truth the Holy Spirit, who can never- be separated from
is in Jesus Chribt,  and that of themselves they are only the right institution of the Lord Jesus, will not. frus-
smoke and shadow."                                        trate the faithful of the fruit of that mystical action."
   We may note here: 1) That the Word  .of God is But once `more it is emphasized that "all this comes
always the main means of grace, and that the sacra-       of true faith, which apprehends Christ Jesus, who
ments are added to the Word for more ample confirma- only makes the sacrament effectual unto us."
tion. 2) That they are pledges and seals of the grace        The Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England,
of God. 3) That .they  are an aid and comfort to our `dated 1563, (American revision, 1801)) in Article 25
faith, so that also here faith is presupposed. 4) That speaks of the sacraments in general as follows : "Sacra-
they are outward signs, through which God operates ments ordained of Christ be not only badges or tokens
by His Spirit. 5) That of themselves, that is, as mere of Christian men's profession, but rather they be
signs, they are `nothing, but only smoke and shadow,      certain sure witnesses, and effectual signs of grace,
and that their substance and truth is in Jesus Christ.    and God's good will towards us, by the which he doth
   In the same confession, Article 36, it is affirmed work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but
of the Lord's Supper:  1) That through the Lord's also strengthen and confirm our faith in him."
Supper the Holy Spirit feeds and strengthens us with         And in Article 27 it speaks of the sacrament. of
the substance of the body and blood of Christ; and        Baptism as follows: "Baptism is not only a sign of
2) that this is done spiritually and can be apprehended profession, and mark of difference, whereby Christian
only by faith.                                            men are discerned from others that be not christened,
   In Article 37 of the same confession it is empha-      but it is also a sign of regeneration or new birth,
sized that in the sacrament the sign and `the thing whereby, as by an instrument, they that receive bap- -
signified belong together : "We believe, as has been tism rightly are grafted into the Church ; the promises
said, that in the Lord's Supper, as well as in baptism, ' of the forgiveness of sin, and of our adoption to be
God gives us really and in fact that which He there the sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visibly signed
sets forth to us; and that consequently with these and sealed ; faith is confirmed, and grace increased
signs is given the true possession and enjoyment of by virtue of prayer unto God."
that which they present to us." But again it is empha-       And concerning the Lord's Supper it confesses in
sized that this is true only for the believer: "And ,Article 28 : "The supper of the Lord is not only a sign
thus all who bring a pure faith, like a vessel, to the of the love that Christians ought to have among them-
sacred table of Christ, receive truly that of which it    selves one to another; but rather it is a sacrament
is a sign ; for the body and blood of  .Jesus Christ "give of our redemption by Christ's death: insomuch that

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

to such as rightly, worthily, and with faith, receive       by reason of their tender age they cannot perform
the same, the bread which we break is a partaking of them?
the body of Christ; and likewise the cup of blessing           "Answer. Because they promise them both by their
is a partaking of the blood of Christ."                     sureties; which promise, when they come to age, them-
       Also in this confession it is emphasized that faith selves are bound to perform.
is presupposed in the administration and the use of the     "Question. Why was the sacrament of the Lord's
sacraments, and that without faith no one can really        Supper ordained?
or essentially receive the sacraments properly. This            "Answer. For the continual remembrance of the
is emphasized in Article 29 of the same confession:         sacrifice of the death of Christ, and of the benefits
"The wicked, and such as be void of a lively faith, which we receive thereby.
although they do carnally and visibly press with their          "Question. What is the outward part or sign in
-teeth (as St. Augustine said) the sacrament of the         the Lord's Supper?
body and blood of Christ; yet in no wise are they               "Answer. Bread and wine, which the Lord hath
partakers of Christ: but rather, to their condemnation commanded to be received.
do eat and drink the sign or sacrament of so great a           "Question.     What is the inward part, or thing
thing."                                                     s i g n i f i e d ?
       The Anglican Catechism, dated 1549, is rather            "Answer. The body and `blood of Christ, which are
instructive in that it emphasizes that to the sacra- verily and indeed taken and `received by the faithful
ments proper belong not only the outward and visible in the Lord's Supper.
sign but also the inward spiritual grace ; in other             "Question. What are the benefits whereof we are
words,. without the latter there is really no sacrament partakers thereby?             c: c
according to this catechism. We quote:                          "Answer.     The strengthening and refreshing of
       "Question.     How many sacraments hath Christ our souls by the body and blood of Christ, as our
ordained in his church?                                     bodies are by the bread and wine.
       "Answer. Two only, as generally necessary to sal-        "Question. What is required of them who come  to.
vation: that is to say, baptism, and the supper of the      the Lord's Supper?
Lord.                                                           "Answer. To examine themselves, whether they
       "Question. What meanest thou by this word sacra-     repent them truly of their former sins, steadfastly
7nent?                                                      purposing to lead a new life; and ,a lively faith in
       "Answer. I mean an outward and visible sign of God's mercy through Christ, with a thankful remem-
an inward and spiritual grace, given unto us, ordained brance of his death ; and be in charity with all men."
by Christ Himself as a means whereby we receive the             Here too it is plainly emphasized that in the ad-
same, and a pledge to assure us thereof.                    ministration and the use of the sacraments faith is
       "Question. How many `parts are there in a sacra- required, and, in connection with the statement that
ment ?                                                      the' sacrament consists both of the outward visible
       "Answer. Two: the outward visible sign, and the      sign and of the inward spiritual grace, it is evident
inward spiritual grace.                                     that there- can be no true sacrament. except for the
       "Question. What is the outward visible sign or believer. Like the preaching of the Word the sacra-
form in baptism?                                            ments are not a general offer of grace; but just as to
       "Answer. Water; wherein the person is baptized       those who  have:.not  the faith the preaching of the
in the name of the Father, and of the Son/-and of the       Word is always a savour of death unto death, so the
Holy Ghost.                                                 sacraments. are always unto condemnation of those
       "Question.     What is the inward and spiritual that partake of them without faith.
g r a c e ?                                                     In the Irish Articles of Religion, dated 1615, we
       "Answer. A death unto sin, and a new birth unto read of the sacraments in paragraph 85 to 100 ; and
                                                            from it we quote the following: "The sacraments or-
righteousness: for, being by nature born in sin, `and dained by Christ .be not only badges or tokens of Chris-
the children of wrath, we are hereby made the chjldren
of grace.                                                   tian men's `profession, butrather sure witnesses and
                                                            effectual or powerful signs of grace and God's good
       "Question.-    What is required of persons to -be    will toward us, by which he doth work invisibly in
baptized ?                                                  us, and not only quicken, but also strengthen and con-
       "Answer. Repentance, whereby they forsake sin ;      firm our faith in him." Also in this confession the
and faith, whereby they steadfastly believe the prom- truth is emphasized that sacraments are not only unto
ises of God made to them in that sacrament.                 salvation for the believer, but  Zlso unto judgment
       "Question. Why, then, are infants baptized, when and condemnation for the unbeliever. They must not


                                        T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                                225

 be carried about, but should be properly used, and "in the effects-f  th&c&ne  are attributed to the other."
 such only as worthily .receive  the same, they have a But the whole of the sacrament is not effectual in it-
 wholesome effect and operation ; but they that receive self, nor does its efficacy depend on the intention of
 them unworthily, thereby draw judgment upon them- him that administers- the sacrament, but "upon the
 selves."                                                        work of the Spirit, and the word of institution, which
     Baptism, according to this confession, is the "sacra- contains, together with the precept authorizing the
 ment of our admission into the church, sealing unto us use thereof, a promise of benefit to worthy receiv-
 our new birth (and consequently our justification, ers."
 adoption, and sanctification) by the communion which                The sacrament of baptism is not only for the solemn
 we have with Christ Jesus." And "the Lord's Supper admission of the party baptized into the visible church,
 is not only a sign of the mutual love which Christians "but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the cove-
 ought to bear one towards another, but much more a nant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of re-
 sacrament of our preservation in the church, sealing generation, of remission of sins, and of his giving up
 unto us our spiritual nourishment and continual growth unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness
 in Christ."                                                     of life."
     Again, it describes the Lord's Supper as follows:               Of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper it states
 "In the outward part of the holy communion, the body that it should be.observed  in the Church unto the end
 and blood of Christ is in a most lively manner repre-           of the world "for the perpetual remembrance of the
 seNted;  being no other wise present with the visible sacrifice of himself in his death, the sealing all bene-
 elements than things signified and sealed are present fits thereof unto true believers, their spiritual nourish-
 with the signs and seals-that is to say, symbolically ment and growth in him, their further engagement in,
 and relatively. But in the inward and spiritual part and to all duties which they owe unto him ; and to be
 of the same body and blood is really and substantially a bond and pledge of their communion with him, and
 presented  unto all those who have grace to receive             with each other, as members of his mystical body."
 the Son of God, even to all those that believe in his              And as to the relation between the sign and the
 name. And unto such as in this manner do worthily thing signified in the Lord's Supper it states the follow-.
 and with faith repair unto the Lord's table, the body ing : "The outward elements in this sacrament, duly
 and blood of Christ is not only signified and offered,          set apart to the uses ordained by Christ, have such a
. but also truly exhibited and communicated."                    relation, to him crucified, as that truly, yet sacrament-
     And again, that'faith is required and presupposed ally `only, they are sometimes called by the names of
 in the partaking of the Lord's Supper is evident from the things which they represent, to wit, the body and
 the following words : "The body of Christ is given, blood of Christ; albeit, in substance and nature, they
 taken, and eaten in the Lord's Supper only after a still remain truly, and only, bread and wine, as they
 heavenly and spiritual manner; and the means where- were before."                                                      1
 by the body of Christ is thus received and eaten is                 And also. in this confession it is emphasized that
 faith." And like the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church the sacraments are efficacious only to the believer and                    '
 or' England the confession emphasizes that those that that the wicked can receive them only to their con-
 are wicked and have not the faith, although they demnation. In the sacrament of the Lord's, Supper
 carnally and visibly eat and drink the sacrament of faith receives and feeds upon  aChrist crucified and all
 the body and blood of Christ, "yet in no wise are they the benefits of His death. But, on the other hand,
 made partakers of Christ; but rather to their con-              "although ignorant and wicked men receive the out-
 demnation do eat and drink the sign or sacrament  oE            ward elements in this sacrament, yet they receive not
 so great a thing."                                              the thing signified thereby; but by their unworthy ,
     Finally, we quote from the Westminster Confession coming thereunto  are guilty of the body and blood of
 of Faith, 1647: "Sacraments are holy signs and seals the Lord, to-their own damnation. Wherefore all
 of the covenant of grace, immediately. instituted by ignorant and ungodly persons, as they are unfit to
 God, to represent Christ and his benefits, and to  con- enjoy communion with him, so  are  they unworthy
 `firm our interest in him : as also to put a visible differ-    of the Lord's table, and cannot, without great sin
 ence between those that belong unto the church and the .against  Christ, while they remain such, partake of
 rest of the world; and solemnly to engage them to  the these holy mysteries,  or. be admitted thereunto."
 service of God in Christ, according to his word."                   We .have quoted rather elaborately from the Re-
     Also the Westminster Confession of Faith includes formed symbols of the past,  in order to show what is
 a sign and the thing signified in the sacrament as such :       the common conception of' the  :Reformed  Churches of
 "There is in every sacrament a spiritual relation or the sacraments, both of the sacrament of baptism and
 sacramental union, between the sign and the thing of the Lord's Supper.
 signified; whence it comes to pass that the names and                                                         H. H.


%26                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R   ~

                                                               ascribe to God, they always proceed  .from the assump-
             OUR DOCTRINE                                      tion that this virtue belongs to Him in the absolute
                                                               sense.    Knowledge, wisdom, power, love, righteous-
                                                               ness, etc., are ascribed to Him in a unique, that is,
        The Attributes Of  God                                 Divine sense.     His goodness, therefore, is one and
                                                               the same with His absolute perfection. He is pure
                 COMMUNICABLE (cont.)                          EIDOS, purest action. -He need not become anything
                      God's Goodness                           but is what He is eternally. He has no purpose out-
                                                               side  himseIf, but is Self-sufficient,-Ps,  50:9,  f.f., Is.
       The Goodness of God could conceivably be defined 40:28  f.f., Hab. 2  :20. He receives nothing, He only
as that virtue of the Lord whereby He is the implica- gives. Everything needs Him, He needs none or noth-
tion of all infinite virtues and perfections, and there- ing. He always purposes Himself, because He cannot
fore is also the highest and only Good for all  Hiss rest in anything less than Himself. Whereas He is
creatures. Dr. Hepp of the Netherlands has defined Himself the. Absolute Good, the Perfect One, He can
this attribute of God as the Lord's "Self-Desirability". and may not love anything else except in and for Him-
The undersigned would refer all our readers to a self. He can and i-nay not be satisfied with anything
beautiful, clear, concise exposition of the "Goodness less than absolute perfection. When He  4oves  others,
of- God" by the Rey. H. Hoeksema in his book, "God's           He loves in them Himself, His own virtues, works,
Goodness Always Particular"-every Protestant Re- gifts. . . . Therefdre He is absolutely blessed in Him-
formed home should have this book and make a  th&- self, as the implication of all good, of all perfection."
OUgh  study of it.                                             Thus fai Bavinck.         ,
       The goodness of God is generally treated as a              Prof. L. Berkhof, in his Reformed Dogmatics, pages
generic conception. This implies that it is a concep- $0-71,.  describes the goodness of ,God  as follows, and
tion which includes several shades and varieties, such we quote him in full: "The Goodness of ,God. This is
as : love, friendship, mercy, grace, righteousness,  holi- generally treated as a generic  c&ception,  including
nessness, *etc. This explains why the.goodness  of the several  vatieties,  which are distinguished according  tp
Lord has been defined as the implication of all infinite their objects. The goodness of God should not be
virtues and perfections. That the ,Lord is good signi- confused with His kinddess,  which is a more restricted
fies, therefore, that He is  loSe, mercy, pity, longsuffer-    concept. We speak of something as good, when it
ing, righteousness, holiness, etc.                             answers in all parts to the ideal. Hence in our ascrip-
       The late Dr. H. Bav-inck, as one might expect, dis- tion of goodness to God the fundamental idea is that
Cusses  this attribute of God in his Reformed Dog- He is in every way all that He as God should be, and
matics on page 176-178 of  VoIume II. This writer therefore answers perfectly to the ideal expressed
introduces this subject by declaring that the word in the word "God". He is good in the metaphysical
*`goodness", as far as  its original and first significance sense of the word, absolute perfection and perfect bliss
is concerned, expresses a relation rather than an inner in Himself. It is in this sense that Jesus said to the
quality. We, according to this  Iearned  and eminent young ruler: None is good save one, even God," Mark
theologian, speak, e.g., of a good home, a good friend;        10 :18. But since God is good, in Himself, He is also
etc., and thereby express the thought that that home good for His creatures, and may the&fore  be called
or friend is good for us, is good in r,elation  to us. Be- the fons  ornnium   bonorum.   He is the fountain of
sides, what is good for one might not be good for an- all good, and is so represented in a vari.ety  of ways
other. Hence, the word "good" expresses in this con- throughout the Bible. The poet sings: "For with
nection a relation rather than an inner quality. How- Thee is the fountain of life; in Thy light shall we see
ever,. Dr. Bavinck thereupon proceeds to show that the light," Ps. 36:s. All the good things which the crea-
word "goodness", as it appears in the Scriptures, ex- tures enjoy in the present and' expect in the future,
presses more than a mere relation. The Word of God, flow to them out of this jnexhaustible fountain. And
he declares, speaks of goodness as an inner quality,           not only that, But God is also the summum  bonum,
as something which is good in itself, apart from and the highest good, for all His creatures, though in
irrespective of any relation. He writes:  ".&cording. different degrees and according to the measure in
to Scripture God is the implication of ,a11 perfections. which they answer to the purpose of their existence.
All virtues are present in Him in the absolute sense. In the present connection we naturally stress the
In this absolute sense Scripture calls Him good only a ethical goodness of God and the different aspects of it,
few&mes,   `OUDEIS  AGATH0.S  EI MEE  HEIS HO as these are determined by the nature of its objects.
THEOS (No one is good but one, namely, God), Mark                 a. The goodness of  God tow'ards  His creatures in
lo:18 and Luke  18:lS. He is TELEIOS (perfect), general.  This may be defined as that  perfection, of
Matt. 5:&K But whatever virtae the Scriptures may God which prompts Him to deal bountifuCly  and kindly


                                    T H E '   S T A N D A R D   B ' E A R E R                                     227

with all His creatures.  It is the effection which the        as a proof of his contention that God's love also ex-
Creator feels towards His sentient creatures as such. tendqto  the sinner in general.
The Psalmist sings of it in the well known words:                The late Rev., D. Zwier, for many years a writer in
"Jehovah is good to all ; and His tender mercies are the "Wachter", one of the official organs of the Chris-
over all His works. . . . The eyes of  -all. wait for tian Reformed Churches, prefers the definition of the
Thee ; and Thou givest them their food in due season. goodness of God as give.n  by Prof. Hepp of the Nether-
Thou openest Thy hand, and satisfiest the desire of lands. Dr. Hepp defines God's goodness as His Self-
every living thing," Ps. 145 :9, 15, 16. This benevolent Desirability. Indeed, the Rev. Zwier, when writing
interest of God is revealed in His care for the crea- of the goodness of God (see the book of Rev. Hoeksema
ture's welfare, and is suited to the nature and the to which we have already referred) writes concerning
circumstances of the creature. It naturally varies in this goodness in a manner which is thoroughly Re-
degree according to the capacity of the objects to re- formed.          He writes (Rev. Hoeksema quotes him on
ceive it. And while it is not restricted to believers, page 86 of his book, "God's Goodness .Always  Parti-
they only manifest a proper appreciation of its bless- cular") : "When, however, we speak of God's goodness
ings, desire to use them; in the service of their God,        as His self-desirability, all emphasis falls on the fact
and thus enjoy them in a richer and fuller measure. that God's goodness is absolutely unique in  tiharacter,
The Bible refers to this goodness of God in many pas- that it cannot be measured by any human standard,
sages, such as Ps. 36  :6;  194:21;  Matt.  5:45;  6:26; that it far transcends all creaturely goodness. And to
Luke 6  :35; Acts  14:17."  Thus far Berkhof.                 mention no more this-definition of God's goodness
   This quotation of Prof. Berkhof is merely another places on the foreground that which for us must be of
example of the confusion which exists in the Christian supreme importance, namely, God Himself,  - When we
Reformed Church today in connection with the good- think of God's goodness, we may not in the first place
ness of the Lord. On the one hand he would maintain aim at  ourselves,-  but God must be our purpose. God
the  S&iptural  truth that God is truly God and He            is good in Himself, apart from all creatures. He does
alone. Re emphasizes this in the following words, not need the creature to manifest His goodness. When
does he not (and we underscore) : "In our ascription we hear mention of God's goodness, we are so' easily
of goodness to God the fundamental idea is that  He is inclined to think immediately of His disposition to
in  every way all that $ie'as God should be, and there- the creature. And, indeed, we may not forget this.
fore answers perfectly to the ideal expressed  *in the        Usually this is called the outgoing goodness of God.
word "God". Notice also this statement of the pro- And when we speak of this the question is: Who and
fessor, and again we underscore: "He is good in the what is God for us? But when we understand that
metaphysical (here `supernatural') sense of the w&d,          God's goodness is His self-desirability, we place on the
absolute perfection and perfect bliss in Himself. And foreground that ,God  is good in Himself, apart from
on the other hand we read of the same writer, and             the creatures. This idea must precede all others and
again we underscore : "All the good things ,which the receive all the emphasis. In dogmatical works this
creatures enjoy in the present and expect in the future, goodness of God is usually denominated His in-dwelling
flow to them out  of  this inexhaustible  fountain"-notice goodness. And when we treat of this the question is:
that, although this is true in itself; the way is hereby Who and what is God in Himself? Even though God
open.ed  to a conception of God's goodness which must had never made any creature; it would have been
be understood as a kindness toward all men. It is, of eternally true : God is good, absolutely good, His good-
course, in itself true that the things as such which the ness endureth forever. He does not need the creature
creature receives are good and that these things flow to become good. For He is the implication of all good,
unto him out of this inexhaustible Divine Fountain.           of all perfections. He desires Himself, and cannot
But that the professor is opening the way unto a con- desire anything else than Himself as the highest good."
ception of the goodness which must be interpreted And attend to this of the same writer, which the Rev.
as a general kindness toward all men' is evident from Hoeksema quotes of him on pages 87-88 in the same
the following words `which he himself underscores: book: "When we speak of this we must bear in mind
"The goodness of God  toward  His creatures in general that by the outgoing of God's goodness to the creature
r%ay  be  defined  as that perfection  of  God, which prompts this virtue of God does not change its character. God
Him to deal bountifully and kindly with all His crea- is the unchangeable, also with respect to His goodness.
tures."    And the following Scriptural passages are His goodness before the creation of the world does not
mentioned as proof for this conception of the general essentially differ from His goodness after the crea-
goodness of the Lord: Ps. 36 :6; 104 :21; Matt. 5 :45; tion of the world. His goodness remains essentially
6 :26; Luke 6 :35 :- Acts 14 :17. Later, when he dis- the same from eternity to eternity. Also when after
cusses the love of God, which is one of many aspects creation His goodness proceeds to the creatures, it still
of this goodness of God, the. professor quotes John 3  :16    remains essentially self-desirability. In the creature

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

He desires Himself, and Himself only. When He loves shower these gifts and talents upon them every day
the creatures, He loves in them His virtues, works,        in His kindness and benevolence. This, in the light
and gifts. This it is that `Scripture teaches us when of what the Scriptures teach us about the living God,
it says that the Lord has wrought all things for His       is surely an attack upon the goodness of the Lord,
own sake (also the ungodly to the day of evil  ; this      upon the truth that He is in every way all that He
belongs with it and the Rev. Zwier should not have as God should be, the God of infinite and eternal per-
forgotten this. This is exactly the point at issue, for fection. The defenders of "common grace" have for-
this is also God's goodness, His Self-desirability, H.H.) s gotten that the goodness of the Lord include all the
that He formed for HimseIf  a people to proclaim His perfections of God, also His righteousness, holiness,
praises. In all that He does, in the realm of creation justice, etc.
as well as in that of redemption, He seeks Himself as
the highest good."                                                    Significance of God's Goodness.
    On the other hand, the Rev. Zwier would also              In the first place, the goodness of the Lord is that
generalize the matter and speak of the goodness in virtue of ,God  whereby He is the implication, the  sum-
general. He prefers the -term, "general goodness", total of all infinite perfections. I God Himself is good,
to the term, "general grace", because it is broader Thisis certainly the teaching of Holy Writ. We read
and includes such virtues as grace, mercy, pity, com- in Exodus 33 :19 : "And He said, I will make all My
passion, longsuffering, etc. Hence, as soon as he views goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the
the goodness of the Lord from the aspect of the-rela- Name of the Lord before thee ; and will be gracious to
tion of the absolute Good to His creatures, he speaks      whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom
of that goodness as mercy, kindness, pity,  Iongsuffer-    I will show mercy." It is evident from this passage
ing, love, compassion, benevolence, etc.                   that the goodness and Name of  jthe Lord are synony-
    The serious mistake is made in the above.reasoning     mous. The Lord's goodness is His Name. The `Lord
that God's goodness, when viewed in His relation to will reveal Himself in all the beauty of His perfections
the creature, is no longer regarded as God's  Self- to Moses. Notice  aiso the connection between the first
desirability.    This is truly a serious mistake. The and second parts of the  te-xt. It is exactly because of
determining factor is no longer the Lord but it has        the goodness and Name of the Lord that He will not
become man. The goodness of the Lord is viewed as be merciful and gracious  to'all but only to some, and
a generic concept but merely as including such virtues that according to His sovereign good pleasure. Be-
as mercy,  kmdness,  pity, compassion, longsuffering,      cause the Lord is infinitely perfect He is merciful
benevolence, etc., and that from the viewpoint of the and gracious only to the people of His sovereign choice.
creature. However, the goodness of Jehovah also in- This is also the teaching of the Word of God in Nehe-
cludes His holiness, righteousness, wrath, indignation, miah  9:20 and Psalm  25:8: "Thou gavest also  Thy
etc. It is forgotten that the Lord seeks Himself. He good Spirit' to instruct them,  and  withheldestnot  Thy
now seeks man, and man has become the center in the manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for
revelation by the Lord of His goodness. The exponents their thirst. . . .         Good and upright is the Lord:
of a general goodness may then assert, as we noticed therefore will He teach sinners in the way". That the
in the above quotation, that "For He, is theimplication    Lord Himself is good, according to these passages, is
of all good, of all perfections:' -He:  ilesires Himself, evident from the word "instruct" which' appears in
and cannot desire anything else than Himself as the these texts. And in Matt. 19  :17 we read: "And He
highest good", but, in their interpretation of the atti- said unto him, Why  callest  thou Me good? there is
tude of the Lord toward all His creatures in general,      none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter
this maintaining of the absolute and unique goodness into life, keep the commandments."
`of God has become an idle and empty sound. And one           Indeed, the Lord is the God of infinite perfections.
may well wonder how the following statement of Prof. All of Scripture, declares the late Dr. Bavinck, is an
Berkhof ean be true, which we quoted in this article:      anthem of praise on the Goodness of the Lord. He
"This may be defined as that perfection of God which is the Absolute Good, the God in infinite light and
prompts Him to deal bountifully and kindly with all beauty and perfection, Who also is the Triune Lord
His creatures". How is it possible for God, Who is and .as such knows Himself, eternally seeks and de-
perfect and therefore hates the wicked every day, to sires Himself.         In this sense, proceeding from the
deal bountifully and kindly with the wicked,  who. are thought that the Lord is the God of infinite perfection,
surely also included in "all His creatures."? Do we we may speak of the goodness of God as His  Self-
not have a spiritual monstrosity here? The Lord, then, desirability, if we only bear constantly in mind that
showers good gifts upon the children of men ; they He eternally seeks and desires Himself exactly as the
continue to use them against the cause of God in the       only AbsoIute Good.
midst of the world ; and yet the Lord continues to            Secondly, this signiiicance  of the goodness of God


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                                                  T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                          229

           must and does determine the significance of this Divine reveals Himself toward the children of men. This
           attribute as far as the Lord's relation to the creature goodness of God which is constant and operative
           is concerned. To be sure, the Lord. is good in the sense
.                                                                         throughout the ages, for God is the unchangeable God
           that He is the highest and only good for the creature. also in His love and wrath, will ultimately be fully
           To know Him is eternal life, and to experience His revealed in the new heavens and the new earth, when
          love and fellowship fills us with peace and joy. and            He shall take His own people unto Himself in ever-
           blessedness. This applies to God alone. His fellow- lasting glory for the sake of Jesus Christ, His Son and
           ship alone *gives life and joy.                                our Lord, and will visit eternal ruin and desolation
                Moreover, it is also true that God is good to all in upon those whom He has not known from before the
           the sense that He gives good things to all. This does foundation of the world.                         H. Veldman.
           not mean that this is necessarily the interpretation of                               -          -
           Ps.  145:9, where we read: "The Lord is good to all:
           and His tender mercies are over all His works." For
           a clear refutation of the -error of "cornmon grace" as               THE DAY OF SHADOWS
           applied to this particular passage we refer the reader
           once more to the book of Rev. Hoeksema, "God's Good-
           ness Always Particulier".          Nevertheless, it is true              The Capture Of Jebus
           that God is good in the sense that whatever He gives
           to the creature is good. Notice, however, that this               The last matter with which we were occupied in
           emphasizes the truth that the Lord Himself is good. our previous article is the transactions between David
           The rain, sunshine, bread, are good, not merely in the and the elders of' Israel in Hebron. David made a
           sense that the Lord simply bestows things upon the covenant with them before the Lord. The covenant
           creature for his own carnal enjoyment, but in the concluded, they anointed him king over all Israel. As
           sense that they ane perfectly adapted unto the purpose was stated, the section closes with a statement of
           which they must serve. They are good because they David's age and of the whole time of his reign. He
           are adapted to the strengthening of our bodies and was thirty years old when he began to reign. The
           therefore to the service of the living God. But, is `God whole time of his reign was forty years and the time
           not also good, then, when He visits floods, calamities, of his reign over Israel was thirty-three years. This
           wars, eternal hell upon wicked men?                            is followed by the narrative of the victory over the
                Does this, however, imply that  th,e Lord is good to Jebuzites, the conquest of the fort of Zion, and the
           all men in the sense that He is kindly and benevolently selection of Jerusalem as the capital.
           disposed to all? Let us remember in this connection             * The Jebuzites were one of the several great Canaan-
           that God is good in the sense that He eternally seeks itish races (Gen. 10  :6), who dwelt at the time of
           Himself as the Absolute Good. Consequently, this Israel's conquest of Palestine at a place called Jeru-
           goodness of the Lord also implies His righteousness, salem and whose stronghold was Mt. Zion. (The name
           holiness, justice, etc. Because the Lord is ,God and Je,mLsaZem,  which probably means "men of peace",
           seeks exclusively Himself, He blesses those who bless was not given by the Israelites. The place had born
           Him, is merciful to the merciful, satisfies those who the name from time memorial). Joshua in a battle
           come to Him for aid in time of need, hearkens unto had conquered the Jebuzites that dwelt in the surround-
           them who cry unto Him in their distress ; but, also            ing territory (Josh.. 15  :8, 63; 18  :28), but neither the
           because He is the good God, He hides His face from children of Judah, who only got possession of the
           the ungodly, hates the wicked every day, is  fill*ed with lower city (Judg. 1:8) nor the Benjamites, to whom
           wrath toward the profane, has no fellowship with the the city had been alloted (Josh. 18 :28), were able to
           sinner, is unto the wicked a Consuming Fire. In the capture the fort of Jebus on Mt. Zion. In the time of
           description of this antithetical attitude of the living the Judges Jebus, was still called "a strange city, in
     ~     God toward the godly and the ungodly the Word of which are some of  _ the children of Israel" (Judges
           God abounds. The Psalms and Proverbs are full of 19 :12).
           this presentation of the goodness of God. Continually             This stronghold in the possession of the heathen
           the people of God are contrasted with the ungodly, and cast a reproach on Israel which David now with the
           continually the antithetical attitude of Jehovah toward help of God must remove. "The king and his men
           the righteous and the unrighteous is set forth. This went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites,"-the king and
           will become clearer as we continue our discussion in his men, that is, according to the Chronicler (1 Chron.
           subsequent articles of the attributes of God. We con- 11:4), the warriors in Israel who rallied about him
           clude, therefore, that God's Goodness is that perfection from "all Israel" and who were now joined to his
           of the Lord whereby He eternally seeks and desires former band. Mindful of their strength that hitherto
           Himself as the Absolute Good and as such  always               had proved invincible, the Jebusites derided David


230                                  T H E   S T A N D A R D  BE'ARER

by saying, "Thou  canst not come in hither, nay, but rendering, "Let him cast into the waterfall the lame,
the blind and the lame will remove thee: saying, David etc." is untenable. The verb that -this class of inter-
cannot come in hither." (This doubtless is the correct preters render "cast" is  nagah,  which cannot be so
rendering and not, "which spake unto David saying, translated whether in qal or Hiphil. In gal its mean-
Except thou taFce away the blind and the lame, thou ing is only "to reach, touch, strike," the object reached
shalt not come in hither.) Without a doubt the mean- being usually introduced by  b'. In Hiphil it means to
ing is, "Were only the blind and the lame to defend          cause to touch, to join, to raze. There are several
it, thou  couldest  not take the stronghold." This  brag-    other translations of our passage of which we need
gartism shows how great was their reliance on the            take no notice).
impregnability of their citadel city.     "Nevertheless         It must of course be true that the posture of the
David took the stronghold of Zion." The narrator Jebusites as manifest in their resistance to Israel's
adds, "the same is the city of David".                       army and to God, and in their flaunting and derisive
   The Jebusite fortress lay on Mount Zion `(2 Kings woxds,  embittered David and his men and that in his
1931).    It was the highest of the three hills that vexation of spirit and in reference to their taunts
surrounded Jerusalem. The name Zion probably means called them all lame and blind. And this they were
"sunny" mountain.       Some take the name to mean spiritually.           They belonged to a race of men that had
"the dry" mountain (from tzijah "to be dry"). A dis- filled their measure of iniquity. And though now for
tinction must be made between it and Jerusalem, al- several centuries they had. been dwelling in the midst
though the name "city of David" was sometimes given          of God's people, they were still the heathen of yore.
afterwards to Jerusalem.                                     Had they been truly wise they long ago would have
  Verse 8 continues the narrative of the taking of surrendered to Israel without a struggle and cast them-
the fortress. The text here is difficult and has been        selves on. the mercy of- God and His people, as the
variously explained.    The authorized version  trans-       Gibeonites had done. David's soul hated them. "Where-
lates, "And David said on that day, whosoever getteth fore they said, The lame and the blind shall not  -come
up to the gutter and smitteth the Jebusites, and the         into the house." Some take this to mean, "One holds
lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, no intercourse with hateful and disagreeable people
he  shall be chief  and  captajn.   Wherefore they said,     like the Jebusites; Others understand by "in the
The blind and the lame shall not come into the house." house" the temple and assume that the incident oc-
This gives the general sense, but it is a rather im-         casioned the making of a new law forbidding the blind
possible translation. The text reads, "And said David and the lame to enter the temple. The whole state-
that day, Whosoever smitteth the Jebusites and reaches ment is obscure:  .: In. fixing upon its meaning we can
the canal or cateract. . . . And the lame and the            only take recourse to conjecture. But there is no rea-
blind are hated of David's soul. Therefore they said, son why "in the house" cannot refer to the house of
The blind and the lame shall not come into the house." God, the sanctuary. This agrees with the thrust of
The statement is not complete. The protasis is lack- David's words.
ing which the aforesaid version supplies from the book          "So David dwelt in the stronghold (of Zion), and
of 1 Chronicles. Here the text at chapter  11:6 reads,       called it the city of David. And David built round
`Whosoever smitteth the Jebusites first shall be chief about from the Milo and inward." The definite article
and captain. . . ." This remark may rightly be taken prefixed to Milo shows that this citadel already existed
as ,an exhibition of the sense of our passage. David         at the time of the war, `having been constructed by the
inflamed the ardour of his men by holding forth the Jebusites. "David built round about from Milo and
prize of chief in his new army to be gained by him           inward," that is, "while Milo formed the most ad-
who should be the first to reach the gutter or canal         vanced fortification, he built in connection with it and
by smiting the aebusites,  that is, by battling his way out from it on Zion,          1) round  about  the city and
through their ranks. Whether xirtnor, translated gut- citadel for further fortification; 2) inward so that the
ter in the authorized version, denotes a canal or a upper city {city of David or of Zion) was extended by                .
cateract  makes little difference. From the Chronicler defensive edifices, and more aid more covered the
we learn that the-prize was gained by Joab. (Denying mountains". (Erdmann)
that our passage may be filled out by drawing on the            In this conquered citadel David took up his resi-
text of the Chronicler, some translate, "Whosoever dence, thereby making Jerusalem the capital. It was
smites the Jebusites shall cast the slain in the water- a place of remarkable-strength and it lay almost in the
fall or cateract." The explanation of these orders is middle of the land.
then supposed to be that David was "embittered by               The text does not state that David extirpated the
the derisive remarks of the Jebusites", as David's Jebusites. But he did break their power by capturing
words "the lame and the blind are hated of David's           their stronghold which he must also have compelled
soul. are held to indicate. But in the light of the text them to evacuate.


                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                  231

     "And David went on  and, grew great," great as he follows the custom of eastern princes in vioIation
 `shepherd-king and captain over Israel, great in peace of the law laid `down by the Lord in Deut.  17:7,
 and in war, great in power and might and in influence "Neither shall he-the king-multiply wives unto him-
 and prestige both at home and abroad in heathen lands. self, that his heart turn not away." The doing was
 And the source of his growing greatness was God's sinful. It could  .only stem from pride and lust of sin-
 favor. God was for him and therefore all things ful flesh. The harem with ancient men was the symbol
 conspired to work together for his good. To this idea of royal power. Though David's polygamy was not
 the sacred narrator gives expression by the words, held against him as a crime, the Lord, as David's
 "And the Lord God of hosts was with him." This family troubles testify, did not fail to manifest His
 means more than that God was the. author of his displeasure. The statement, "Sons and daughters were
 greatness as king ; it means that God exalted him in born to him," shows that all these summary notices
 His love and empowered him to know  GodIs mercy concerning family and building imply a greater space
 as the author of- his greatness.                         of time than at the beginning of his reign is assumed.
     The first conspicuous example of David's growing David had in all eighteen, perhaps nineteen, sons of
 greatness to which the narrator points is the doing whom six were born in Hebron (2 Sam. 3 :2sq.)
 of Hiram king of Tyre with respect to Israel's king.        As was stated, at the time of Saul's death, the
 Hiram "sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, Philistine had set as their goal nothing short of the
 and carpenters, and masons ; and they built David a conquest of the entire land of Canaan.           And their
 house."    Back of this doing must lay the fact that victory over Saul and his army had brought them
 already for some time Hiram and David had been astonishing success in that direction. By that victory
 friends. From the book of the Kings we learn that they had extended their jurisdiction over the whole of
 "Hiram was ever a lover of David" (1 Kings 5  :l). the West-Jordan tribes with the exception of Judah,
 Was it simply a natural affection such as worldly and must have been exacting tribute. The Israelites
 men feel for their friends or was it at bottom love of had been utterly crushed. This is evident. Even the
 Israel's God? This latter does not yet follow from great dishonor done to Saul and his three sons failed
 Hiram's greeting to Solomon in which he blessed to sting them into a new effort. The anointing of
 Israel's God. These were his words, `tBlessed  be the David as king over Judah seemed not to have dis-
 Lord God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, quieted the Philistines. Xt least they took no action.
 who hath given to king David a wise son. . .  ." (2      They had no reason seeing that Israel now had two
 Chron. 11: 12).    Almost identical words proceeded kings each refusing to recognize the other and by
 out of the mouth of Nebuchadnezzar, who neverthe- whose mutual strife the dominion of the Philistines
 less died a godless heathen. Hiram's sending David was being confirmed. Besides, `David as well as Ishbo-
 supplies and men for the building of his palace must sheth must have been vassal-king of the .Phiilistines
. have been according to an agreement previously made.    during the time of his residence in Hebron. Thus
 Just when these events took place, whether immediate- it seemed that Israel would never again be able to
 ly after the capture of Jebus or some time later after throw off the yoke of the Philistines. Then David
 the two wars with the Philistines narrated below, the availed himself of Abner's help to gather all Israel to
 text does not make plain.                                him. But before he reached his purpose Abner was
     Contemplating these demonstrations of Hiram's assassinated. Shortly thereafter Ishbosheth was mur-
 goodwill toward him, "David perceived that the Lord dered by the two Beerothites. Mindful of David's
 had established him king over Israel, and that he had military achievements as captain in Saul's army, the
 exalted his kingdom  -~for his people Israel's sake." tribes came to him in Hebron and anointed him king
 David's perception was not an imagining originating over all Israel. Herewith the struggle between Israel
 with him but a spiritual insight into God's dealings and the Philistines entered a new phase. Now the
 with him. It was-an assurance that God was with Philistines  found.,that  they were confronted by a man
 him, and thus at once a good conscience toward God. who understood their military organization, who has
 Had David come into power by  the' employment of united about him a well trained army, and who could
 violence this perception would not have been his. And depend upon the support of the whole nation, that
 that he perceived that the Lord had exalted his king- finally seemed to understand that unity is one of the
 dom for his people Israel's sake has significance. I It primary requisites in its struggle, for freedom. Now
 implies the sanctified awareness that he was God's the Philistines did bestir themselves. "And when the
~ gift of love unto Israel and the will to. rule Israel ac- Philistines heard that they had anointed David king
 cording to God's will.                                   over Israel, all the Philistines came to seek David."
     But what is next related of David is not to his      They came from the lowlands of Judah where they
 credit. "He took him more concubines and wives out held sway and from their own land. This invasion
 of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron." Here must have taken place before the capture of Mount

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

Zion. For we read that when David heard of it he                Dezelfde waarheid beluisteren we keer ap keer in.
marched down to the stronghold.  ' This expression den  90sten psalm, waar Mozes, onder meer,  zegt  :
cannot have reference to Mount Zion, for that hill           `fWant  wij vergaan door Uwen toorn, en door Uwe
was so high that invariably the Scriptures speak of grimmigheid  worden  wij verschrikt."                   En om niet
"going up to Zion". The hold to which he resorted meer te noemen, willen wij U ook wijzen op dat ge-
was in a lower position. It was one of the places of sprek tusschen God en Moses, toen  de laatste het bevel
refuge to which David fled when he was pursued by Gods ontving om naar Egypte te gaan ter verlossing
Saul.     For at verse 13 and 14 of the twenty-third         van Gods volk uit de slavernij. Ook daar lezen we
chapter of our book we read that when the Philistines immers, dat "de toorn des Heeren ontstak over Moses"!
pitched in the valley of Rephaim David was in the hold          Hoe zit dat?
near the cave of Adullam." The valley of Rephaim                Hoe kan God in toorn ontsteken tegen Zijn volk
was a plain to the south-west of Jerusalem. These hetwelk Hij liefheeft met een eeuwige liefde?
facts indicate that David now found himself in a pre-           Het antwoord kan niet moeilijk zijn  sls we slechts
carious condition. The Philistines were encamped on twee  dingen  voor de aandacht houden. Eerst, Gods
the height of the plateau; while David was encamped volk is een zondig volk, Zij bestaan uit een mengsel
in a cave of the low country.       His position seemed van goedheid en boosheid. Want allereerst is daar
desperate.                                                   het element in Israel, dat we1 den naam draagt  van
       David enquired of the Lord. He said, "Shall I go Israel, doch desniettegenstaande geen Israel is. Dat
up to the Philistines? Wilt thou deliver them into my zijn de verworpenen .die altijd gevonden worden  onder
hand?" The Lord returned answer, "Go up, and I will          het volk van God. Zij zijn het onkruid in de tarwe.
certainly deliver the Philistines into thy hand." The Tweedens, zijn er altijd veel Israelieten die nog niet
attack was sudden and impetuous as is indicated by wedergeboren en bekeerd zijn. In elk tijdstip van
the meaning of the name "Baal-perazim" which he de historie zijn er kinderen  Gods die nog in hun na-
gave to. the place where the battle was fought. to per- tuurlijke hardigheid des  harten ,opgaan te  midden van
petuate the memory of the victory. Giving the Lord Gods volk. En, derdens, is daar het vleesch van Gods
the glory, he said, "The Lord hath broken forth upon volk zelf. Neemt nu het laatste woord van God, dat
mine enemies before me as the breach of waters," that we aanhaalden, namelijk, de geschiedenis van Mozes
is, as a violent torrent demolishes everything before it,    bij den braambosch. Het was het vleesch van Mozes,
David h.ad rushed upon the Philistines and cut their dat hem deed tegenspreken tegen God, toen  Hij het
ranks in pieces. "Therefore he called the name of that Goddelijke bevel ontving om naar Egypte te gaan. En
place Baal-perizim," lord of the breaches. The Philis- het vleesch van Gods volk is altijd wederstrevend tegen
tines in their mad flight had left behind them their het bevel Gods. Het vleesch onderwerpt  zich der
idols that they had carried with them and upon whose wille ,Gods niet, vGant het kan ook niet. Die in het
aid they had relied. David and his men buried them.          vleesch  zijn kunnen Gode niet behagen. Mozes be- .
                                       G. M. Ophoff.         haagde God niet,  toen  hij keer op keer den Heere tegen-
                        --                                   stond. En zoo is het met een ieder kind Gods. Zonde
                                                             is d'e uiting van ons vleesch, dat altijd wederstreeft.
                                                             Uw en mijn vleesch wordt hier op aarde nooit veran-
            SION'S ZANGEN                                    derd. Daarom is er maar &n uitweg en die is, dat we
                                                             het  vleesch met zijne werken dooden.
                                                                Die drie elementen in Israel zijn het kwade.
 Eiefdevol, Schom Zwaar Getergd                                 Maar te midden van al dat kwade is er het goede
                                                             van den nieuwen mensch in Israel. En dat is zoo pp
                                                             elk tijdstip in de  historic  van Gods volk op-aarde. Al-
                (Psalm 106 ; Zevende Deel)                   tijd is er die kern, dat zaad, het eeuwige leven in het
       De vorige maal behandelden we het droeve feit, dat diepste hart.
Israel  zich ontreinigde vanwege het hoereeren door             En als nu dat volk leeft uit het beginsel van het
hunne daden.                                                 kwade, dan ontsteekt de toorn Gods.
       En vanwege dat droeve feit lezen we: "Dies is de         En het tweede ding, dat we moeten overwegen bij
toorn des Heeren ontstoken tegen Zijn volk, Hij heeft bet huidige probleem  is, dat God de Heilige is.
eenen gruwel gehad aan Zijn erfdeel."                           God kan geen zonde aanzien en niet toornen, neen,
       Dat is een vreeselijke waarheid. We lezen ergens,     zelfs niet in Zijn volk.
dat  "zij zijn wederspannig geworden, en zij hebben             Als Israel zich bezoedelt met de onreinheden der
Zijnen Heiligen Geest smarten aangedaan; daarom is hoererij, dan toornt God.
Hij hun in een vijand verkeerd, Hij zelf heeft tegen            En  zegt nu niet, dat er verandering bij God is,
hen gestreden." We lezen dit in Jesaja  63:lO.               want dat is er tot in alle eeuwigheid niet. God is de

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

    God hoort het geschrei van Petrus ! Hallelujah !             En dan, dan komt het. De  dichter heeft het  ge-
    Dat geschrei van Petrus en dat geschrei van  U            zien : "Geloofd zij den Heere, de God Israels, van
komt voort uit- het nieuwgeboren hart. Judas heeft eeuwigheid en tot in eeuwigheid ; en het volk zegge :
dat niet.                     '        '                      Amen. Hallelujah!"
    En als God dat geschrei van Zijn volk hoort, ge-             Hunt ge U een mooier, een glorierijker slot  in-
denkt Hij tot hun best aan Zijn verbond.                      denken?
    Dat verbond is eeuwig.                                       Het is de  hemel daarboven  bij God.
    Van eeuwigheid tot in der eeuwigheid denkt God               Geloofd zij den Heere! Dat wil zeggen : last ons
aan Zijn verbond.                                             al Zijn deugden zien,  opsbmmen,  uitspreken,  uitgal-
    Wat is het verbond? (Ik beh bang, dat sommige men met lieflijken klank. Iaat ons zingen,  lofzingen
zeer geleerde Heeren hier zullen glimlachen,  en heel `den Heere. Laat ons daarmee  beginnen  en om dan
geleerd fluisteren : Simplicisme !)                           nooit meer te eindigen.
    Ret verbond is dit : de `relatie  van' onbegrijpelijke       ,Van eeuwigheid en tot in der eeuwigheid ! 0,  ik
liefde en vriendschap tusschen God en Zijn volk  & heb  schik van die lieflijke phrase. Hier mag ikhet
Jew  Chtit.as!                                                woord verrui%h&jk  bezigen.
   Die Laatste heeft ook geschreid  .vanuit  de diepten          Uw deel, lezer ? Dit : Zeg : Amen. Hallelujah!
der hel. En God heeft aan Zijn eeuwig verbond  ge-                                                          G. Vos.
dacht.  En Hem gered. Het mocht want Hij legde een
grondslag voor al dat minnen en lieven in Zijn dier-
baar bloed, dat sprak van de liefde der gehoorzaam-
heid.                                                                    P
   En zijt ge nu in ,Christus  Jezus, dan zondigt ge wel,                     ROM HOLY WRIT
                                                                                                                 "  .
doch  dan is er voor U het erbarmen van -Hem die U
in  Christus   bemint.  En dan redt Hij U ! Dat is het                           `.      .
Evangelie.                                                     The Multiformity of The Church
 . Dan berouwt het God en Hij grijpt U en Uw bootje,                     .     (cont. from page 215)
en door bekeering en heiligmaking  die in ons werken
door het geloof, draait Hij U om op de stroomen, de           II.  Its Manifestation.  -,
stroomen van de wegen Gods.                                      When we ask ourselves the question, how does this  -
   En. nu komt het einde van den psalm die ons zoo multiformity of the church manifest itself?, the answer
Iang ophield(`?)  f                                     !     is evident. True multiformity follows from the basic
   Nog twee dingen.                                           oneness and rich diversity of the members.
   Het wordt den  dichter   -wat benauwd.  Hij. denkt            At this point we must pause to refute an error that
aan de huidige'toestand van het  volk Gods.                   has gained widespread acceptance in Reformed circles,.
   Hij zal wat bidden, neen, smeeken tot God.                 and already shows its detrim&tal  influence. I refer .
   Luistert : `Verlos ons, Heere onze God, en verzame1        to the presentation of the muItiformity  of the church
ons uit de heidenen, opdat wij den naam Uwer  heilig- as given by the late.Dr.  A. Kuyper. Dr. Kuyper sought
heid loven, ons beroemende in Uwen lof !"                     the multiformity  in an outward difference, manifest-
   Dat is mooi! Dat is hemelsch  !                            ing itself in various denominations and creeds. He
   Verzamel ons uit de heidenen !                             argued that the holy, CathoIic  church is found in every    .^
   Gij allen  die dit lee&,  ziet om U heen! Ge bevindt denomination, possibly even among the Roman Catho-
U in het midden  der heidenen. Duivelen en godde-             lics and rankest modernists. In fact, each of these
looze menschen omringen U. Vrage: hoe zijt ge te various denominations is a manifestation of the. true
moede  als ge dit  leest?   Voelt ge op Uw gemak? zijt church. They all have the truth in part, since none
ge thuis bij hen ? yeen? Dan zijt  ge,zalig. Dan moet of us are perfect and none oan have the truth in all
ge straks naar den hemel  toe. Dat kan niet atiders.          its purity and perfection. Even the purest manifesta-
   Laat ons eens zien.. Wat zit  achter dit gebed?            tion of the body of Christ may err in some degree, or
   Dit: de zanger is veel  liever in den hemel, tusschen may be  onesided  in the presentation of the truth.
een ontelbare  schare   van-vohnaakt  reehtvaardigen en Therefore we need all kinds of churches. atid creeds
lieflijke troongeesten. Gij ook?                              to present the full truth in all its riches. Each must
   De zanger heeft het ervaren : vaak roemen  wij niet stress some aspect of the truth ; some must fill in
in God. Vaak  loven wij Hem niet, die de Muziek is            where others fail ; one must stress a vital point that
des hemels. God is in de lofzangen Israels.                   another fails to stress. In that way even the super-
   Daarom : verlos ons,  Deere.  onze God!                    ficial  Arminian  can serve to counteract the staunch
    G-e  zult dat nog een poosje  moeten  bidden, mijn Calvinist, may exert influence where the Reformed                        -
broeder !                                                     theologian would fail. Thus even the Baptist, with
                                                  _


                                      T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                      235
r_


his denial of the covenant and infant baptism, may do the `extent that the evil consequences will be borne in
much good f,or the church. He appealed to the example the generations that follow. God will not be mocked.
of a wheel with various spokes, all running toward the Likewise the erring church will experience the dis-
center and meeting in the hub. No matter how far approval of the Spirit. For a time the Spirit will
apart the various denominational spokes may. be when linger there, warning the true believers to repent and
their  differ,ences  are stressed to the limit, they never- to return from their evil way. In fact, if the church
theless are basically one and meet at the hub, that is, continues in that way, Christ will call His own out
`in seeking the ultimate salvation of the church and of her midst and the Spirit will completely withdraw
the glory of God.                                            Himself, as was the case with the church of Laodicea,
         This language is so common in our day, that it may as described to us in Rev. 3. History always proves
hardly be passed by in silence. First of all, it should that'the church that once has departed from the truth
be evident to all of us, that difference in doctrine is and continues in her evil way becomes ever more cor-
not a mere difference of opinion or viewpoint. Nor rupt, only to end up in rankest modernism, rationalism,
is it a matter of ,emphasis, that the bne emphasizes and spiritual decadence.
the phase of the truth, while another stresses some             The true multiformity of the church lies in the
other phase of it. It is a matter of truth or error. diversity of its many members. This is taught in many
Every departure from the truth of Scripture is defi- passages of Scripture. We can refer to Ephesians
nitely the lie, which is born out of hell. Scripture is 4:7-13, "But unto every one of us is given grace ac-
very emphatic in condemning those who teach faIse cording to the measure of the gift of Christ. Where-
doctrine, and even warns us against them. As for fore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led
example, `in Ephesians 4 :14, "That we henceforth be captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.               (Now
no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended
with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men,          first into the lower parts of the earth? He that de-
and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to          scended is the same also that ascended up far above all
deceive". And again in 2 Peter 2 :13, "But there were heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He gave
false prophets also among the people, even as there some apostles ; and some, prophets ; and some, evan-
shall be false teachers among you,' who privily shall gelists;  and some, pastors and teachers; for the per-
bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that fecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for
bought them,, and bring upon themselves swift destruc- the edifying of the body  of Christ, till we all come in
tion. And many shall follow their pernicious ways:           the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son
by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the
O f .     And through covetousness shall they with feigned stature of the fulness of Christ". This is also the
words make merchandise of you : whose judgment now           idea of that well-known passage in 1 Cor.  12:4-12,
of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same
slumbereth not."                                             Spirit. And there are differences of administrations,
         Moreover, it mu& always be borne in mind that the but the same Lord. And there are diversities of opera-
chief mark of the true church is the pure preaching tions, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
of the Word. Where the Word is preached in all its But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every
purity, the sacraments are properly administered, and man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit
Christian discipline is duly exercised, there the Spirit the word of wisdom ; to another the word of knowledge
dwells, and there the blessing if the Lord abounds. by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by
The truth of the Scriptures is th.e foundation of the the same Spirit ; to another the working of miracles  ;
church, with Jesus Christ as the chief. cornerstone. to another prophecy  ; to another discerning of spirits  ;
Ephesians 2 :20-22. Any departure from the truth is to another diverse kinds of tongues ; to another the
apostacy,  a breaking away from the true church to interpretation of tongues  ; but all these worketh that
form an alliance with the false church. The Holy one and the  selfsame  Spirit, dividing to every man
Spirit will never approve of such an action, nor bless severally as He will. For as the body is one, and hath
it, but certainly condemn it. The individual who de- many members, and all the members of that one body,
parts. from the purest manifestation of the body of being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by
Christ will at first experience  prickings of conscience,    one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether
but if he continues in that way will suffer spiritual we be Jews, or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free  ;
blindness and dormancy according to the measure that and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."
he departs from the truth. And the parent who keeps             This same idea we find in the parable of the talents,
his children away from the purest manifestation of where each is entrusted with a certain amount of
God's church will bear the responsibility of misleading talents, either five, two or one, to labor with until the
the children which God has entrusted to him, even to         lord of the household returns. These talents represent

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

so many means, opportunities, gifts and abilities `en- ficial expression of agreement, that is  accecptable
trusted to those who are obligated to serve in God's to all, to which even the world of darkness will not
house.      The faithful servant is guided by the Holy take offence.  And I would dare to predict that these
Spirit to make proper use of these talents in his own       efforts will also meet with success. Yet thereby the
personal life, in fulfilling his calling in the midst of "church" will lose her distinctiveness as God's peculiar
his family, in ministering to the saints, and in witness- heritage in the world, will be swallowed up by the
ing in the world. Adam; Enoch,   Noach,  Moses and all world. She will prove herself to be the apostate
the saints who have lived before us have held their own church, without God and without Christ and without  *
unique place in the midst of God's covenant here on         hope. She will do her part to bring forth the  antl-
earth, a place which only they could occupy with the        Christ,  even the  man of sin which must still be  rc-
gifts entrusted to them, even as they now hold their vealed. The calling of the believers is to have nothing
own peculiar place in heaven.                               to do with  Ithis unrighteous cause, but to come out
        Thus Christ works through all-His saints. We are from among her, "and be ye separate."
God's possession, fellow workers together as  members          Yet we do strive for the unity of the church of
of the same Body, God's temple. "We are His work-           Jesus Christ in the world. If those who pride them-
manship,  created in Christ Jesus unto good works, selves in defending the truth of God's Word cannot do
which God hath before ordained that we should walk it, who can? For we take as our only foundation the
in them." Together the saints make up a mighty choir, Word of God, which has Jesus Christ as its chief
which finally assembles before the throne to sing in cornerstone. We seek unity on that basis, and on that
perfect unison and harmony the song of Moses  aKd basis only ! WB strive for unity by maintaining the
the Lamb.                                                   truth and opposing all that is repugnant thereto. That
HZ.  T h e   Imphations.                                    Word of  ,God is the power unto salvation. And there-
                                                            fore that Word survives all the assaults of the powers
        We have time to mention only a few of the mai;y     of darkness. False teachers may come and go, but
implications of the muitiformity of God's Church.           the Word of God abides forever. Those who are knit
' This certainly implies, first of all, that  w.e must      together in the truth are firmly founded on the one
labor together for the manifestation of the one body and only sure foundation.
of Christ. Its true spiritual unity is hardly  discern-        We seek our unity then, only with those who can
able as far as its outward manifestation is concerned.      agree on the,- basis of Scripture. That unity of faith
It is-  &en  sprely disrupted. There are natural bar-       in the Spirit smmounts  all natural barriers. In that
riers; as was mentioned before, but there are also other respect, the Philistine,* the Moabite, and the Ammonite
barriers created by sin, causing schisms and dis- can meet together to worship in God's temple. Dis-
harmony within the body of Christ. Not those who tinctions between races, between Jew and Gentile,
remain steadfast in the truth are the cause for schism between' bond and free disappear. We are one in the
in the chuich, but those who depart from that one and       Lord. Not in the natural sense, as if we could all live
sure foundation. No one will deny that schism is al- under one roof, or even encourage intermarriage be-
ways wrong, and that every effort .must be put forth tween the various races, but certainly in the spiritual
continuously to strive for church unity.                    sense that we are knit together through one Spirit in
        But then let us be forewarned against the many one faith and in one Lord. The spiritual unity and.
pretended attempts at unity as are put forth in our         fellowship of Pentecost must manifest itself in that
day. Interdenominational youth movements are very true Church of Jesus Christ. They are my father and
popular. National religious associations `without de- mother, my'brother and sister, who do the will of my.
nominational color make their appearance.  WorldLwide       heavenly Father. They, and they only !
church congresses are quite common.         In fact, de-       But the multiformity of the church also implies
nominational barriers are crumbling everywhere as that each member of the body of Christ must make
the various churches unite in seeking a common cause.       proper use. of the talents which  ,God has entrusted to
The various denominations are actually beginning to him. They are not ours to do with as we see fit,, but
discover how much they have in common after all,            they belong `to the Lord. We are only stewards in
and that by uniting their efforts they can be much          God's house, called to labor while it is day in the charge
more successful in reaching their goal. By `uniting entrusted to us. Possibly we complain that we have
they can become a power to be reckoned with in the          but a single talent, while others possess,so  many more.
world: `. But this unity is attained at the expense of We might even try to flatter ourselves with all the
the truth. A true, internal, spiritual unity on the things we might have done if .we had been entrusted
basis of truth is not sought, but an artificial, outward    with five talents. Yet who are we to criticize Christ,
unity is sought on the basis of some colorless, man- Who bestows upon everyone the needed talents accord-
made confession. An attempt is made to find a super-        ing to his place in the body? Moreover, we never


                                           T H E   STAN.DARD   B E A R E R  ~                                                237

      mean anything as individuals, no more than a finger                     My life in all its perfect plan,
      has significance if it would isolate itself from the body.              Was ordered ere my days began.
      We only have significance in our divinely appointed
      place within the body of Christ. In that place we have             And so let us consider the training for life's call-
      all we can do to labor faithfully in the responsibility       ing which the physiology class affords. We reprint
      entrusted solely to us.                                       here that which thk Rev. Gritters has to say in regard
         There are many outlets for our talents. There are          to this subject.
      obligations, or rather opportunities right in our own                                         Physiology.
      families. There is a calling within the church; even
      in the various societies in the church. There is a duty 1. In Physiology we examine the earthy, the body-
      resting upon us wherever we walk, even among sinful                side, of our existence, and contemplate the nature
      men. For our calling is to always "let our light shine             of the earthly house we have of God. In Hygiene
      among men, that they may see our good works," and                  we examine what God ordained rules ought to be
      thus God may be glorified.                                         observed in  order to further the best possible
         Thus we have a foretaste of the heavenly life al-               function of these bodies.
      ready here on earth. When the church is finally as-           2. In Physiology we deal with the "earthly house"
      sembled before the throne it will become fully evident             (1 Cor. .15 :47 and 2 Cor. 5 :l), but always as it
      that every one occupies his own unique place in the                has become through sin. It is a body which lies
      Body of Christ. Each one occupies a place that he                  between  whzt at one time it was and  ,what it
      alone can fill and has a name that he alone can read.              through grace shall at one time be.
      Together, freed from all imperfections, we shall per-              a. This body is of the earth earthy (1 Cor. 15 :47)
      fectly and eternally show forth the praise of the glory               Even apart from sin  ive are earthy, that is,
      of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.          C. Hanko.                  we are bound and confined to the earth, to its
                                                                           atmosphere, food, water, etc. We cannot loose
                                                                           ourselves. from these things, although there
                                                                            is a greater glory in  stor,e for those who be-
                   I N   H I S   F E A R                                    lieve. in God and His Son (1 Cor. 15 :49 and
                                                                            Philippians 3  :21).         As we were created in
                                                                            Paradise, that is, earthy, so we are through-
               Training For Life's Calling                                 out our entire existence. That first creation
                                                                    .      was wonderful, but it was earthy, and God
                                                                           has some greater glory laid up for His people.
      Training in the Physiology Class.                                    It must appropriately be shown in the study
         From m-man's stewardship as taught in the geo-                    of Physiology that however wonderful these `_
II    graphy class to the calling of man which must be                   / bodies are, we must not end there. For flesh
      taught in the physiology and hygiene class is a very                 and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of hea-
      small step. There is an expression to the effect that                ven. If we have no more than these bodies,
      "miss&nary  work begins at home". The:,same  can be                  we are most miserable. Besides, it may be
      said very emphatically of man's stewardship; it. be-                 shown that to go from the earthy to the hea-
      gins at home, and in this instance it surely begins                  venly requires death. . . . and thus in Physi-
      with man's body. If there is a precious possession                   ology show the need of Christ's death and
      which God has given  man, it is his body, his life and               atonement.
      his health. As God's steward he must care for that                 b. But at best it is besides that a bqdy that has
      body far more faithfully than the machinery he oils                  been devastated. and corrupted by sin. The
      and greases and the. buildings he paints and  sleanses.              Heidelberg Catechism in the answer  to Ques-
      And he will have to be taught too thzit his body is far              tion 34 asserts that the body as well as the
      more than a  marvellous  fleshly mechanism. The cove-                soul must be redeemed, (set free) from sin.
      nant child as he comes home from his  Christian school               T h e r e f o r e   :
      may well be heard to sing:                                     (1) On the one hand Physiology shows us  th&
               All that I am I owe to Thee,                                disturbances and sicknesses of the body, all
                Thy wisdom, `Lord, hath fashioned me ;                     reminding us of the presence of sin in our-,
                I give my Maker thankful praise,                           selves and in this world.
                Whose wondrous works my soul amaze.                  (2) On the other hand Phyiology shows us that
                                                                           fallen man is become a "servant of sin" (Rom.
                Ere into being I was bro't,                               6:17).         Sin exploits the body we have. It
          *     Thy eye did see, and in Thy tho't;                         moves it. Fallen man is under the power of
                                                                                    .

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

        sin. He is "sold under sin", serves sin, and is       in the schools of the unbelievers this is surely done.
        not able to free himself therefrom.        By so      But if we do no more, we do not train our children
        doing he gains for himself the "wages of sin"         for life's calling. Here again we must point our child-
        which is death. Moreover under the power              ren to the Infinitely Wise and Wonderful Maker -of
        of the deception of sin he enjoys sin and wil-        these highest of all fleshly physical organisms. How
        fully uses his body in the employment of sin.         can we train our children to care for their bodies and
        Let the teacher show this as she discusses the        to use their members to the glory of  G&d,  if we do not
        members of the body and their use.                    first confess that HE made them and unless we throw
 (`3) Through the Grace of Christ the man of God              in the rubbish heap all that nonsense about our "mon-
        is freed from sin in principle while still in         key ancestry". But if we discard all teachings of
        this life (Rom.  6:18). Hence it becomes our          evolution, which the world and the unbeliever has
        duty to crucify the carnal and evil passions,         not done at all, and then do no more, we are still fail-
        regard our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit,      ing in our calling in regard to the instruction of our
        our members as members of righteousness               children. Simply to keep silent on the subject of man's
        ,and use our bodies in the service of our Cove-       maker, being an attempt to be neutral, is always fruit-
        nant God.                                             less also. Nay, we must reveal to our children the
3. Finally, however, this body still shows the traces         wisdom, the beauty, the power and glory of our God.
  of the perfect workmanship of the creator.                  The Scriptures, and we, teach them to remember their
  a. In part, there is external beauty. But on the            creator in the days of their youth. But then, indeed,
        other hand this beauty has turned to shame,           to the utmost of  our  pow,er we must hold before their
        for the body has to be covered with clothes           eyes the fact that God is their creator, and we ought
         (not for beauty but for shame). On the other         to send them home singing the words above rather
        hand our beauty must not be computed in               than many of the silly, worthless songs they are taught.
        terms of cosmetics and drugstore make-up, but         That which a real course in physiology and hygiene
        our genuine beauty is inward, obedience, piety        requires is another reason why the school where our
        and godliness (1 Pet. 3 :3-5).                        children attend must be a `Christian school in word
  b. There is beauty in the fact that we are fear-            and deed as well as in name.        Only the Christian
        fully and wonderfully made, as' we read in            school can teach the child to understand his own body
         Psalm 1.39 :14. Consider also the symmetry,          and his calling in regard to it.
         the variety as well as the co-operation of all          Let the child then according to his age be shown
         the members (Col. 2 :19), which picture to us        what wonders the `Lord has wrought.' He takes the
         also the unity of the Church which is the            dust of the earth and makes these wonderful bodies.
         Body of Christ. There is that which causes           The finished automobile as it rolls off the assembly
         us to marvel at the adaptability of the various      Iine in some city of Michigan is such a very, very
         parts for service. .* . . not service of sin, but    faint wonder in comparison with this mighty work
         service of God. REMEMBER NOW THY                     of ;God! A body composed of the elements of the dust
         CREATOR !                                            of the earth, a body supported and fed by the dust of
       To train a soldier to use the modern weapons of the ground and a body that presently returns to the
warfar,e  requires far more than -to show him how to dust! . But then too what wonderful things. ,can be
aim his gun and to press the trigger. It surely con- done by that body between its birth and its death!
sists in teaching him to have, if we may use the ex-          Where will you find physical freedom such as that
pression, a "healthy respect" for the destructive power which the human frame. enjoys? Especially today,
he is able to release. In fact he is taught this first man goes where he pleases. He rides on the clouds
lest, after he aims his gun or bombsight, he defeats and through them, rivalling the bird.                He goes to
the very purpose of his training. So to train the cove- the depths of the sea. He burrows into the earth
nant child for his life's calling requires far more than farther than any creature can go. He walks on the
to show him what a wonderful body he has. The earth, he rides swiftly over it. All that and more the
marvelous and harmonious working of all the organs human body which has been created out of the dust
together, the amazingly wonderful position of these enjoys ! But it all points to the Maker and says of
organs with a view to the work they must perform Him that His glory is'  infinite,  that His wisdom is
and their sensitivity as for example that most delicate incomparable. And applied by the Spirit it works
of all organs, the brain, being encased in the bony           in God's child the reverence and. respect which is the
frame of the head for protection, and the heart deep fear of the Lord and makes him aware of his tre-
within the chest behind the "fence" of ribs rather mendous calling with that wonderful,  ,versatile  yet
than somewhere on the surface of the body, should             delicate instrument which God has made for the glory        ~
surely be brought to the attention of the child. And          of His Own Name.                         J. A. Heys.


                                         T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                       239

                                                               children are dedicated to Him."-From the February
                   P E R I S C O P E                           number of Moody Monthly.
                                                               Problems and Criticism. . . . .
     HOME MISSION NEWS  -  -  -  -                                During the past year especially, many and varied
                                                               voices have been raised in the Christian Reformed
         A rather long and eventful month has gone by Church, criticizing and questioning a like varied num-
     since we last reported of our work and labors. From ber of circumstances. Among other things these dis-
     the -first  of the new year we have been holding two cussions have concerned themselves with marriage and
     services each Sunday. One of these has been devoted divorce, unions and amalgamation with the world, mil-
     to preaching in connection with the Heidelberg Cate- lenialism, and prayer for the public schools. Especial-
     chism.    During the latter part of January we also ly this last has produced an amazing raising of "voices".
     held a series of lectures. Two of these were delivered It all began when someone criticized ministers praying
     in Lynden and two more were scheduled for the nearby for the public schools. The flood of counter-voices
     $,own of  Sumas. The series of letters, examining and maintaining that such prayers were proper and called
     criticizing the Three Points in the light of Scripture    for, was so great that the Banner was finally closed
     and the Reformed. Conf essions, was also completed.       to any further discussion of the matter and the Editor
         Thus far the positive results and tangible fruit of himself had to sound a warning note against the impli-
     our efforts has been meager. So much so,' in fact, cations of many of the letters.
     that it seems the Scripture is being fulfilled when it       In respect to all these things, some discussion has
     speaks of the times in which they will not endure been sound and encouraging in the reformatory tone
     sound doctrine. Certainly the times in which we live that it struck.. Much more of it, however, has been
     are not conducive to study and development of the         radical and reactionary. From it all, it becomes evi-
     Truth. And it becomes increasingly clear that the dent that the old struggle is reviving in the bosom of
     day of great things for the Church which maintains that church. Some would fling caution to the winds
     the pure doctrine of the Word is past. In our own and develop honestly and whole-heartedly  along the
     day we may yet see a great struggle to even maintain,     lines of "common grace" modernism. Others realizing
     with what little strength we have, the great Truth the dangers and beginning to see, it seems, ever more
     that God has entrusted to our care. We, too, must clearly the pitfalls of this error, sound a word of warn-
     beware and hold fast; diligently instructing our youth ing and attempt to back-track or still hold to an im-
     to continue in the faith of the fathers.                  possible dualism. At times one is almost hopeful that
         Undoubtedly, through all these things the Lord a` reformatory  .movement  is possible. We wait and
     reveals His will and way to us, as He leads us in         wonder.
     experience and history. With many shortcomings and           How much. and  ,how  far, the error of "common
     failures we stumble after Him ; trusting that His grace" has led some astray is clearly revealed in much
     way is good. Perhaps, He is teaching us to revise our that has been said. It has been written, for example,
     thinking and to expend our efforts in a different direc- in connection with the Public School prayer question:
     tion.                                                     `6. . . . he (referring to the original `writer that op-
                            * * *  *                           posed the practice, W.H.) may be surprised to find
                                                               that in the common grace of a loving Father, God and
        Modern  I'nqutiition  . . . .                          the Bible and Christ  use  still honored  in thousands of
        "Evangelical believers in Spain face many prob- public school rooms of this country whose very coins
     lems beside the open attacks of fanatical mobs on their are inscribed, `In God we trust'." And again in an-
     meeting places. According to law everyone, unless he other connection : "I, on the contrary, do~not  believe
     can prove that he was not baptized in the Roman           that a-millenialists have a well-articulated philosophy
     Catholic priest. Marriage by a Protestant minister is of history, one that includes a Christian conception
     not recognized as legal. To get around this apparently of time, eternity, the validity and carry-over value of
     insuperable difficulty, many evangelical Christian common grace achievements, of historically realized
     couples are reported to write out a secret document, social structures, et cetera." Surely this is reaping
     signed before a notary public, promising to live to- what has been sown!
     gether as husband and wife. They then go to the              The most recent expression comes from a group of
     gospel church for a wedding service, which is not young people who call themselves, The `Youth and Cal-
     always public. `Of course the ceremony is not officially vinism Group. In a small 75 page booklet entitled
     recognized, and the state considers the children of such "Youth Speaks on Calvinism", they have attacked
     unions illegitimate. But the young couples know that what they consider weaknesses and deficiencies, and
     their marriage is sacred in the sight of God and their sound a call to. greater Calvinistic action in every



L

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

 sphere. The most striking and revealing of the eight maanden daarna, voor ons vertrek uit Amerika, heb-
essays which the book contains, is the last, which is           ben we hen nog even bezocht. Hij lag toen  in een lig-
 entitled : "A Road Block". As the title indicates this stoel in zijn mooie pastorietuin, in de nabijheid van,
 is to reveal the barrier that accounts for these de-           dc princesseboontjes, die ik hem nog had zien zaaien
 ficiencies and lack of progress. If it would be re- en die nu als rijpe vruchten aan de stok hingen. Toen
 moved great advances could be made toward a true               ik hem bij dat zaaien gadesloeg, en hij mij lachend
Calvinistic civilization.                                       en"  zwetend tegemoet kwam, had ik hem herinnerd  aan
    And what is this "Road Block"? it is briefly stated de psalmregels: Wie met tranen zaait, zal met gejuich
 in. the following quotation:  "Is a simple taboo of three maaien. . . . Toen  ik aan zijn ziekbed zat, moest ik
 particular amusements (referring to dancing,  card-            opnieuw  aan deze woorden  denken.                            Hij heeft met
 playing, and movies, W.H.) a satisfactory application tranen,. zeer veel tranen, gezaaid, maar ook  aan deze
of our doctrine of common grace to legitimate recrea- man wordt het woord der Schrift  vervuld  i Hij zal met
tional and aesthetic needs?"' Although this position gejuich maaien, reeds nu in dit Ieven  en straks rijke
 has been severely criticized by  .competent  reviewers snhoven   dragen  in  *Gods schuur. Hij is een trouwe
and the Editor of The Bamer, it is, nevertheless, re- dienstknecht, die niet met vlees en bloed te rade is
vealing.          .                                             gegaan."                                                   W. Hofman.
    We would like to maintain that all these symptoms
are  .only secondary. The road itself is an old impass-                                                          -
                                                                  ,
 able detour. The wash-out of "common grace" has                                      WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
 made it an impossible road, and no simple warning
 sign will prevent travellers from rushing headlong                     On Wednesday: February 23,  our  dear parents
 into the ditch of its error.                                                                    DICK HEYS
                                                                                                        a n d
    If the Church has the grace and courage to get off                                   ANNA HEYS-Mulder
this spur-track and return to the main-line of Scrip- hope to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary.
ture the road is clear. We do not ,maintain to have a                  We are thankful to our covenant God `who has given us Chris-
 pleasing answer for the flesh to the problems which tian parents and a home where we'mag know the fear of the Lord
our,,old-nature  and this world can always raise, but                   Our prayer is that God  may  bless them with His grace in the
we do maintain that the Light of &ripture  and not way that lies ahead, and that in all their experiences they may
the man-made philosophy of "common grace" must enjoy that perfect peace which is found in the atoning blood of
                                                                Christ.
 Iead the way ;  di&ult though that may be for the                                      Their grateful children:
flesh to follow in the resulting Christian position and                                            Mr. and Mrs. Henry Veltkamp
 calling in this world of time and history.                                                        Mr. and Mrs. John Heys
                                                                                                   Mr. and. Mrs. Henry Timmer
 " Van Kust Tot Ku&"  - Another Excerpt. . . .                                                     Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Heys
                                                                                                   Mr. and Mrs. George  Kamps
    "De `Synode van South-Holland duurde een week.                                                 Mr. and Mrs. Henry Heys
 Ben mooie avond was het, toen  de drie  candidaten  hun                                           Mr. and Mrs. Sieger Heys
 bul in ontvan'gst namen en Ds. Hoeksema een rede uit-                                             Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Dykema
 sprak over de betekenis van het ambt van de Dienaar                                               Mr. and Mrs. John Braaksma
 des Woords. De gemeente van South-Holland en velen                                                Richard  Heys
                                                                Manhattan, Montana                       and 16 grand-children.
 uit Oak Lawn waren  daarbij tegenwoordig. Het was                                                                    *
 meteen  een gezellig  samenzijn, waarbij vier der predi-                                   -      -       .
 kanten een quartet vormden en hymnes zongen. Dat                                          `"IN MEMORIAM
 is, wat in de Amerikanen altijd aantrekt, men weet                    Den  6den  Januari. behaagde het den Heere om tot  zich  te
 stemming en sfeer te scheppen; van  stijve deftigheid,         nemen onze geliefde echtgenoot,  ,vader,   grootvader,  en  over-
waardoor onze vergaderingen maar al te zeer geken-              grootvader ;
merkt  worden,  is daar nooit sprake. Het blijft altijd                             MR. CORNELIUS SCHUITEMA
gemoedelijk,  ook bij de ernstige en moeilijkste onder-                                                  in den ouderdom van  75  jaren
 werpen en zelfs op de aller gewichtigste vergaderingen.               Alhoewel dit verlies ons zeer  smartelijk   valt, zijn wij den
    "Enkele dagen na deze synode waren we nog een-              Heere dankbaar voor de verzekering dat hij is ingegaan in de
maal de  gasten van Ds. en Mevrouw Hoeksema. De vreugde zijns Heeren, daarin kan onze bedroefde harten  zingen.
 week daarna vertrokken-  zij voor een vacantie-tocht.                                             De  Familie:
 Ds. Hoeksema was vermoeid en hem was rust voor-                                                   Mrs. C.  Schuitcma   (nee   Heemstra)
 geschreven  zloor  zijn arts. Het doe1 van de tocht was                                           Mr. and Mrs. Wm. P. Schuitema
 Bellflower, waar zijn schoonzoon woont. Op deze                                                   Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Schuitema
                                                                                                         6  Kleiukinderen
tocht kreeg hij een ernstige inzinking, zoodat hij  terug-:,                                             1 achter-kleinkind
 vervoerd moest  worden  naar zijn pastorie.       Enkele Grand Rapids, Michigan


