                                       T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                                465

      gedoopt kind het recht geeft op Christus  en op
      al de zegeningen des heils.                               The Change At The Last Moment
  B. En wij handhaven:                                                     Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all
   1. Dat God zekerlijk en onfeilbaar Zijn belofte                       sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in
      vervult  aan de uitverkorenen.                                     the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the
   2. Dat wanneer Hij zoo Zijn belofte vervult en                        trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
      Zijn verbond bevestigt,  de uitverkorenen geen                     incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
      stokken en blokken  worden,   ma&r  dat ze  ver-                                                    I  Car.   15:51,  52.
      plicht zijn en gewillig om hun deel van het  ver-           Christ is raised. And therefore, our faith is not
      bond te vervullen, dat is, om den Heere hunnen           vain, we are no more in our sins, and we are not the
      God lief te hebben met geheel hun hart, met              most miserable of all men. The resurrection of our
      geheel hun verstand, met geheel hunne ziel en            Lord Jesus Christ, Who died on the cross for our sins,
      al hunne krachten, de wereld te verzaken, hun            is the central fact of salvation, the assurance of our
      oude natuur te dooden, en in een nieuw godzalig          justification, the sure ground of our hope of final
   leven te wandelen.                                          glory. For He arose as the firstfruits, and the harvest
   3. Dat de grond voor den kinderdoop  bet bevel              is sure to be gathered in. This, in general, is the con-
      Gods is en het feit dat naar de Schrift  Hij Zijn        tents, of the Word of God in that glorious chapter on
      verbond opricht in de lijn van opeenvolgende             the resurrection-gospel in I Cor. 15. And in the last
      geslachten.                                              part of that chapter, the Word of God  .through  the
 IV. Bovendien spreken de Protestantsche Gerefor-              apostle explains the nature of the resurrection, and  of.
meerde Kerken uit :                                            the change that shall take place through that final
  A. Dat ze geen genoegen kunnen nemen met de                  wonder of salvation, as well as the necessity of that
handelingen van de Gereformeerde Kerken in  Neder-             change. For this corruptible must put on incorruption,
                                                               this mortal must put on immortality, weakness must
land waardoor :                                                be replaced by power, dishonour by glory, the natural
   1. Zij van  synodale  zijde zekere leerstellige  beslui-    body is to be changed into the spiritual body, and as
      ten aan de kerken oplegden, en deze besluiten            we have borne the image of the earthy, so we shall
      bindend  maakten voor de kerken voordat deze             also bear the image of the heavenly. "Behold", so the
      gebruik konden  maken van het recht van protest.         apostle writes, "I shew you a mystery ; we shall not
   2. En waardoor ze vele plaatselijke ambtsdragers            all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in
      hebben afgezet.                                          the twinkling of an eye: for the trumpet shall sound,
  B. En zij gelooven en handhaven de autonomie van             and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall
de plaatselijke kerk.                                          be changed." And it is especially to this change of
                                                               the last moment that I would like to call your atten-
                           *  s :tJ                            tion.
   Indien de synode de hierboven genoemde proposities              It is well that we remember from the outset that
aanneemt, dan adviseeren wij :                                 the change of which the apostle speaks, and which is
                                                               to take place at the last trump, is called a mystery.
   3.. Dat de synode dit geheele document onderwerpt           And a mystery is a truth that is related to the king-
      aan de goedkeuring der kerken.                           dom of God, that cannot be ascertained from the things
   2. Indien geen bezwaar wordt ingediend, dit aan             that are seen, that is not discovered from anything in
      te nemen op onze volgende synode.                        this present world, that transcends all our present .
   3. Dit in den tusschentijd  aan te nemen als een            experience that can only be known by revelation
      werk-hypothese voor onze Zendingscommissie               through the Spirit of Christ, and apprehended by
      en voor onze zendelingen als grondslag  voor de faith through the same Spirit. That there will be
      organisatie van kerken.                                  such a moment, a final moment, in which the dead
                      Met eerbied onderworpen,                 shall be changed incorruptible, and the living shall
                             Uwe ,Commissie  :                 be changed into immortal glory, is a truth that, al-
                                                               though it does not and could not possibly contradict
                                   Ds. R. Veldman              our present experience, certainly lies far beyond our
                                   Ds. Gerrit Vos.             reach and scope of our present knowledge, and trans-
                   Ouderlingen:  J.  Dotter,  en               cends it. Philosophy can never conceive of such a
                                   Wm. Huisken.                moment. Evolutionism cannot attain to it. The nat-
                   Adviseuren.:    Prof. H. Hoeksema           ural mind cannot grasp  it.. It is a mystery that could
                                   Prof. G. M. Ophoff.         only be revealed to  t.he apostle by the Spirit of Christ,


468                                  T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R
                               a.
and that we can apprehend only by faith in Christ.          our youth like the eagle's, and in unfading strength
It is the final wonder of grace. We can see nothing         we shall stand for ever. And our present bodies are
but death, corruption, desolation. No wisdom of man         in dishonour. Sin has covered them with shame. But
can ever reach beyond the dark despair of the grave.        after the transformation of which the apostle speaks,
But Christ  is  raised.    And the Spirit of the risen      they shall be glorious, perfectly reflecting the pure
Lord revealed also this mystery, that the dead shall        knowledge, the righteousness, and holiness of the
be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed.       image of God in heavenly beauty.
   What is the change of which the apostle here                But the transformation of the last moment shall
speaks? From the context it is evident that he refers       bring about still other changes. In the  chapter  the
to the change of our bodies, and in connection with         apostle speaks of this when he makes the distinction
that change, of the complete transformation of our          between a natural or psychical and a spiritual body,
whole mortal, corruptible, earthy existence. Through        and between the image of the earthy, which we now
the transformation of the last moment, our bodies shall     bear, and the image of the heavenly, which we shall
not be anihilated, but they shall be raised to glory.       bear after the last moment. It is true, also our resur-
Essentially they shall remain. Even as the body that        rection  body shall be material, but we must remember
is laid in the grave is material, so the body of the        that all matter is not the same. The seed of the
resurrection shall be material. Even as our present         flower you sow, that dies in the earth, is presently
body is human, distinct from the bodies of the animals,     revealed in the beautiful flower that grows on its
so the future body shall be human, a perfect instru-        stem. The tulip seed ultimately yields the bulb, yet
ment for the reflection of the image of God in man.         it is the same body. Ice melts into the fluid water,
And even as our present bodies are individual, per-         and water evaporates into invisible steam, and yet the
sonal, all different from one another, adapted unto the     material is the same. Thus it is also with respect to
individual souls that dwell in them, and express them-      the transformation of the last moment. Our present
selves through them, so through the change of that          bodies are of flesh and blood. They are taken out of
last moment we shall each receive his own body. The         the earth, and they are natural and earthy. With them
seed that is sown in the earth and dies, and sprouts up     we belong to the present world, and to no other. We
again, does not lose its identity. When wheat is sown       belong to the sphere of things that are seen, and that
it is wheat that is harvested. The same is true of the      are temporal. To the earth we are bound with a
resurrection of the dead. Through the transformation        thousand ties, on the earth we are dependent, from the
of the last moment we shall remain essentially the          earth we are sustained in our present existence, we
same, and retain our personal identity.                     have earthly senses, earthly sensations and percep-
. Yet, we shall be changed. This transformation             tions, earthly experiences, and the scope and limits of
shall, no doubt, consist first of all in this that death    earthly things we can never transcend. The heavenly
and all its effects shall be swallowed up and completely    things we cannot see or perceive in any way. To give
removed. Our present bodies are mortal, through the         us some idea of these they must be revealed to us in
change of the last moment they shall become immorta1,       earthly forms and symbols.
for this mortal must put on immortality. Because our           Hence, we must be changed. For God has prepared
earthly bodies are subject to and under the dominion        for us a kingdom, a city, a heavenly house. And that
of death, they are corruptible.      They exist in the kingdom we could never inherit, that city, the New
sphere of corruption, and to the power of corruption        Jerusalem we could never inhabit, that house we could
they are exposed. All through our earthly existence         never enter in our present body. The apostle  ex-
this corruption reveals itself, in every form of disease    presses this necessity of a radical transformation of
and disorder, until the complete disintegration of our      our bodies in the preceding verse where he writes:
`bodies is an accomplished fact in death and the grave.     "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot
Dust we are, and to dust we return in the most literal      inherit the kingdom of God ; neither doth corruption
sense of the word. But through the transformation           inherit incorruption." That kingdom is spiritual, but
of the last moment this corruptible shall put on  in-       we-are natural; it is incorruptible and everlasting, we
corruption. On the other side of death, after the last      are corruptible and temporal and mortal ; that king-
moment, there will be no more forces of corruption          dom is heavenly, we are earthy. If, say this were
that eat into our bodies to destroy them. Corruption        possible, we would be placed right in the midst of that
shall have no more dominion over them. Our present          heavenly and everlasting kingdom, we would not be
bodies are weak. In them our days are numbered able to function in it. We could not see it, hear it,
within the span of three score and ten, or four score       have fellowship with it, inherit it, possess it. How
years. Even without any special disease, they wither        could we ever perceive and have contact with the things
and die, as the flower of the field. But the bodies of      that are heavenly through our earthly senses? With
the resurrection will be strong. In them we shall renew     them I have no contact with the heavenly spirits, I


$66                                   T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

must inherit the kingdom of God. Flesh and blood           is joined. An appendage is not an essential part of
cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and  corruption         that with which it is connected, but most everyone
cannot inherit  incorruption.       Hence, we  musk be     thinks it is and the result is confusion. Practically, of
changed. And the kingdom of God is not a certain           course, the transfer is considered complete when it is
temporal and earthly millenium, but the everlasting made out, and is usually so announced to the congrega-
kingdom of glory, in which all things shall be united tion. Further, few receipts of acceptance are received
in Christ, and God shall be all in all. Secondly, the within a reasonable time, if ever. When they are re-
text tells us  deiinitely  that this moment shall come at ceived I doubt if they are ever officially recorded.
the sound of the last trumpet. And without thinking           Incidentally, I can not understand how one Pro-
of a literal trumpet, we may find two ideas in this        testant Reformed Church can refuse or hesitate to
figure of speech. First of all, there is the notice that accept a transfer from another Protestant Reformed
it is the last, the final call convoking all the saints    Church if the transfer has been properly executed.
for everlasting worship in the heavenly tabernacle of         I think we should find out-what  we mean to say
God in the New Jerusalem. And, secondly, it will and then say what we mean. Therefore, I was very
not be something secret, that will not be noticed by       happy to learn that the  Synodical  churches of the
men, but a public and universal call, like a loud          Netherlands intend to seek revision of the Church
trumpet blast, like the voice of an archangel. For the     Order.      Of* course, I was even more happy to learn
trumpet shall sound, and the dead will .be raised in-      that we were invited to participate in this revision.
corruptible, and we shall be, changed. It is the final                                      Fraternally,
moment, the moment of the public justification of all                                          Arie De Borst.
the saints in everlasting glory.
   To that moment we look forward in hope ! With
a view to that moment we suffer patiently, and die in
peace.    Looking forward to that blessed hope, we                                                July `7, 1.950
will keep ourselves unspotted in and from the world        Rev. H. Hoeksema, Editor
through the grace of Him that called us into the           The Standard Bearer
fellowship of His dear Son.
                                             H. H.         Dear Brother Editor:
                                                              Will you kindly place the following in the Standard
                                                           Bearer ?
                                                              I am sorry to note that the contribution of -Mr.
                 Contributions                             Feenstra in the July 1st issue of the Standard Bearer
                                                           was approved for publication without any comment.
                                         June 3, 1950      Certainly the brother's insinuations  are-of too serious
Rev. Herman Hoeksema, Editor                               a nature for mere publication without anything more.
1139 Franklin Street, S. E.                                For it is evident that the author's sole purpose is to
Grand Rapids, Michigan  '                                  attack a minister of the gospel, an officebearer in good
                                                           standing, in order to expose him to the churches as
Dear Editor:                                               being heretical and in need of disciplinary attention.
   Permit me a small space in our Standard Bearer             Mr. Feenstra may accuse the undersigned of judg-
to make a few remarks concerning our Transfer of           ing motives or of driving the matter to absurd ex-
Baptized Members form, which can be found on page          tremes, but if the Rev. Andrew Petter is guilty of un-
69 of our Church Order.                                    sound doctrine to the degree that Mr. Feenstra in-
   I have no objection against the form itself but I do    sinuates then no one will deny that the disciplining of
have against the appendage or addition. The form           Rev. Petter is past due. Mr. Feenstra not only con-
proper states, "At . . . . request we hereby transfer      cluded his article with a passionate and sentimental
. . . ." Now "hereby" can never mean "thereby" or          prayer for Brother Petter's conversion from the error
"upon condition of" or "after acceptance of". "Here-       of a conditional theology, but he boldly states that the
by" simply means "right here and right now". But brother has no longer so much as the right to write
when we look at the appendage or addition the matter       under the heading of "Among Our Treasures". And
becomes ambiguous. The addition states, "The above to bolster or prove this bold assertion Mr. Feenstra
mentioned shall be considered still a member of the        not only insinuates that the Rev. Petter denies what
. . . ." To me this notice states exactly the opposite     is the peculiar doctrine of our Protestant Reformed
of what the certificate itself states. Now, most any Churches, but what is the very heart and content of
dictionary will state that something joined to consti- all that is Reformed. And if Brother Petter may no
tutes no real part of the thing or system to which it longer as much as write!  under the heading "Among


                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                        469

cannot see the risen Lord, I cannot behold God face to       of the dead.
face. And how could I possess and inherit an ever-               But at the moment of the last trump we shall not
lasting kingdom in my present body that can hardly           all sleep. Some shall still be living their earthly life.
last the span of three score years and ten ? We must         The Church may be comparatively small, but it shall
be changed.          A                                       never be completely destroyed, not even through the
   It is, in our present condition, of course, impos- fierce persecution of Antichrist, and the final  tribula-
sible to conceive in detail exactly of the form and          tio through which, according to the plain teaching of
properties of our resurrecton body. When we think            Scripture, it must pass. Hence, not all the believers
of the various appearances of the risen Lord to His          shall sleep the sleep of physical death.
disriples in that marvellous period of forty days be-           However, whether asleep or alive at the moment
fore His ascension from Mount Olivet, we realize that of the last trump, we must all be changed. The dead
His glorious body was  q,uite different from that which      saints shall not be left behind, the living saints shall
He assumed in the likeness of sinful flesh. The dis-         not enter in as they are: we must all be changed. For
ciples realized it, and they were amazed. Sometimes,         those that fall asleep the necessary change will be ac-
when He appeared to them, as they were gathered and          complished through death and resurrection. Physical
the doors were shut, they thought that-they saw a            death is the negative part of the transformation. When
ghost. At other times they wondered, and some even           we die, flesh and blood, that can never inherit the king-
doubted whether it were He. Yet, it was the same             dom of God, have their end. Corruptibility then is
Lord, and the signs of His suffering might be seen in        accomplished in complete corruption. All that remains
His body. And we shall be made like Him. Our pre-            of the organism of our natural and mortal bodies is
sent bodies of humiliation shall be made like His glor-      their dust. And the positive part of the transforma-
ious body. This corruptible shall put on incorruption,       tion will take place in the resurrection, for the dead
this mortal shall put on immortality, the image of the       shall be raised incorruptible at the sound of the last
earthy shall be transformed into the image of the            trumpet, and the dust of our dead bodies shall be
heavenly, our natural bodies shall be changed into           changed into the glorious organism of incorruptible
spiritual bodies. We shall have heavenly eyes to be-         and immortal beings, that bear the image of the hea-
hold the things that are heavenly, and heavenly ears         venly *Lord. But for those that shall not sleep, this
to hear heavenly things. We shall have bodies, to be         transformation shall take place without death, all at
sure, but they shall not be of flesh and blood, for flesh    once, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. Per-
and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Bodies          haps, as a reward of the'ir special battle and tribula-
they shall be in which we shall be able to ftinction  in     tion in those last days, they shall not see death, but
the everlasting and heavenly tabernacle of God, and          suddenly be transformed into glory, and inherit the
in which we shall be able to see Him face to face !          kingdom prepared for them from before the founda-
   This transformation of the last moment will assume        tion of the world.
a `twofold form, that of the resurrection of the dead,          The moment of which the Word of God here speaks
and that of the sudden change of the then living.            as the twinkling of an eye, shall definitely be the last
   We shall not  all sleep, the apostle writes, referring    moment of history, and,  .at the same time, the begin-
to the sleep of physical death. And when in this             ning of everlasting glory. Even as the "beginning"
passage, and in other texts, the Word of God speaks          of  ,Gen. 1  :l denotes the first moment, the  alpha of
of death as a sleep, it may not be understood as teach- history, so the moment of the last trumpet denotes the
ing that there is a sleep of the soul, or of the human       end, the omega, of the present age, but also the begin-
spirit. For, it is plain from other parts of Scripture       ning of the age to come, the everlasting kingdom of
that the soul of the believer shall enter into the glory     God. I say this advisedly, and in opposition to those
of the heavenly house of God immediately after death.        who would place this moment some time before the
The believer's exit from his present, earthly house, is      end, and before the tribulation of the latter days.
at the same time an entrance into heavenly glory. Be- There is no ground in Scripture to assume that the
sides, it should be plain to all that in First Corinthians faithful- will be taken out of the earth before the  final
the Word of God is not speaking of the soul at all, but      coming of Christ, or before the tribulation that must
throughout of the body of believers. Nor is it possible      still be expected. On the contrary, Scripture warns
for the spirit of man to sleep. Even our earthly rest        us everywhere that exactly the faithful must expect
at night is only a sleep of the body, during which our       that tribulation, and that they must watch and pray,
spirit may be, and often is, very busy. Thus also it is      and be prepared.
with the sleep of death.     The spirit of the believer         And surely, the words of I  Car.  15:52  place this
passes on to the heavenly house, but the body sleeps,        moment at the very end. For, first of all, let us not
until it shall be awakened and reunited with the glori-      overlook that the necessity of the change of which the
lied soul in the last moment, that of the resurrection       apostle speaks must be found in the fact that the saints


                                             T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                          i         467
 Our Treasures", he certainiy may not and should not                                                                                         i
 stand in the midst of the church posing as a minister
 of Christ who "brings forth things old and new" from                              OUR DOCTRINE
 the treasure of God's Word.                                                         -..                           ___._
     If Mr. Feenstra is convinced of what he writes he
 certainly has grievously erred in not following the                                The Idea Of Creation                         c                (1
 God-ordained and Scripture-taught method of treating
 an office bearer of Christ who is in error. And the                                How Corrupted By The  WoPld.
 Standard Bearer, on the other hand, has erred in that                      We were busy in our previous article with the
 Mr. Feenstra's accusations were published without                      absurd attempt to explain the origin of the world with- .
 comment. For accusations they are-and that of the                      out the revelation of the Word of God. And we con-
 worst kind.                            .                               cluded that article with the statement that we must
     However, the undersigned would kindly advise Mr.                   therefore reject. any conception of the origin of the
 Feenstra to definitely ascertain whether his evaluation                universe which would seek that beginning in a prin-
 of the Rev. Petter is as correct as he fanatically as-                 ciple of Materialism, be it in the Monastic or Dualistic
 sumes. We personally want to assure brother Feen-                      sense of the word. Besides the theory of Materialism
 stra that, both through Rev. Petter's writings and our                 the theories of Pantheism and Evolution have also been
 personal discussions with him about these matters,                     advanced to explain the origin of the universe.
 the Rev. Petter endorses, preaches and teaches all
that the Reformed Church, as represented by our Pro-                    The theory of Pantheism.
 testant Reformed Churches, stands for. And we chal-                        Pantheism is also called the "Emanation Theory".
 lenge brother Feenstra to prove by a product of his                    The world is a necessary emanation, a proceeding out
 own sincere study of Rev. Petter's writings that the                   of the Divine Being, is God as He comes unto Self-
 Rev. Petter is the man portrayed to us by the insinua-                 manifestation' and consciousness.      Pantheism means
 tions in Mr. Feenstra's article of July 1, last.                       literally: All is God, and identifies God with the world..
    In closing we wish too express our conviction that                  God and the world are essentially one. This concep-
 articles so lightly attacking office-bearers in good                   tion does not teach that God is in the world but that
 standing ought not to be published without a public                    He is the world. The world is God as He attains unto
 apology. Besides, rather than so soon rushing into                     Self-consciousness.
 print with accusations we would do better to rush to                       This conception of the origin of the universe must,
the erring brother personally with a good measure of                    of course, be rejected. First, it is contrary to all that                       ,
the love of Christ.                                                     the Word of God teaches us of the living God. On the
                                                                        one hand, it is a denial of the Lord's transcendency.
                Yours in the cause of Christ,                           The transcendency of the Lord is that Divine perfec-
                                              A. Cammenga.              tion which proclaims the truth that He is highly ex-
                                                                        alted, above all things. This virtue of the Lord must
                            * *  *  *                                   not be understood in the local sense of the word, as if
                                                                   L    He, in that local sense of the word, is exalted above
                           ANNIVERSARY                                  this world. We, then, conceive of the Lord's transcend-
                                                                        ency in the sense that God begins where the world
  We take pleasure in announcing the 50th wedding anniversary           ends. We, then, are upon the earth and He is in .
of our dear parents,                                                    heaven. The world, being created and therefore finite,
                  Mr.  and Mrs. N. J. Yanker                            has a boundary, and above that boundary line sits the
on Tuesday, August 8, 1950.                                             Ancient of Days, the living God of heaven and earth.
  We are thankful to the Lord for giving us the privilege of            Thus we have understood the transcendency of Jehovah
enjoying the fellowship of our Christian parents these many             in a local sense of the world. However, the Scriptures
years. We pray that they may enjoy the Lord's blessing in the           teach  us'that also the heaven of heavens cannot con-
climbing ,of the years.                                                 tain the Lord. God is not "shut up in heaven". `He
                        The grateful children:                          cannot  be confined to time and space. He is not a
                                  Mr. and Mrs. John Yonker              creature but the Creator. That the Lord is the Trans-
                                  Mr. and Mrs. James Arnold             cendent One signifies, however, that'  I-Ie is essentially
                                    and five grandchildren :            exalted above all things, also the heaven of heavens, '
                                  Nicholas, Stanley, Carol, and
                                  z;dYonker  and Catherine              that he is  essentially   to be distinguished from the
                                        0                               creature, that He is the Wholly-Other, the absolute and                    .
Qpen house at the home of their son,
J&n Yonker, 1758 Acorn Street,                                          infinite God, that, whereas all things,  ,being created,
from  7:OO to  IO:00 in the evening.                                    are characterized by the laws of time and of space, He,

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

the  Greator  also of time and space is eternal and          hand there are pleasures forever more. And in Acts
infinite. That the theory of Pantheism is a denial of        X7:24-25  we read: "God that made the world and all
the truth of God's transcendency must be self-evident.       things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and
It simply identifies the living God with the creature.       earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
And, on the other hand, the theory of Pantheism is a         Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though
denial of the Lord's Immanency. God's immanency              He needed any thing, seeing He giveth to all life, and
signifies that the Lord is in all things. In the Lord we breath, and all things."
move, live, and have our being. Or, as we may read              Thirdly, we must reject the theory of Pantheism
in Ps. 139 :7-12 : "Whither shall I flee from Thy spirit?    because it impugns, is an attack upon the holiness of
or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend the Lord. If God be the world He must be morally
up into heaven, Thou art there. If I make my bed in          responsible for all the evil and corruption in the world.
hell, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of         Fact is, to identify Him with the world must imply
the morning, ,and dwell in the uttermost parts of the        that we also identify Him with, the evil and corruption
sea ; Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right       in the world. Unless we divorce Him completely from
hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall      the world's corruption, advance the theory that there
cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea,       is apart from the "good God" also an *`evil god", and
the darkness hideth not from Thee ; but the night            thereby teach a dualism which is fully as hopeless as
shineth as the day : the darkness and the light are both     Pantheism. We need not show, I am sure, that to
alike to Thee." Speaking of God's immanency we,must          identify the living God also with the evil and corrup-
bear in mind that God is  &n all things. This surely         tion in the world, is contrary to .al.l that Holy Writ
implies that He is in all things ccs God. This means teaches us in regard to the holiness, truth, righteous-
that we must constantly bear in mind that He is the          ness of the Lord, Who is too pure of eyes than that
Transcendent One, the  absolute.and  infinite and eternal    He should behold iniquity.
God, the Wholly-Other, the living ,God Who is to be dis-        Finally, the theory of Pantheism must be rejected
tinguished from the creature, never to be identified         because it destroys all religion. If the Lord be the
with that creature, that therefore, as God, He is in all     world then there is no God but only the world. This
things. And we must also remember, in connection             should be a self-evident truth. Then there is no God
with this truth, that He is  sin all things. This does       exalted above this  world:  God is the world. Hence,
not mean that He is all things, as the pantheist would there is no ,God, only the world. But, this is the de-
have us believe, but that He is  +n all things, and then     struction of all religion. If this be true, one shudders
as the living God. Hence, the truth of God's trans-          because of the inevitable consequences. All  prayer-
cendency teaches us that the Lord is in all things by        life will be impossible. There will not be such a thing
His Spirit, that He constantly upholds and sustains          as the responsibility of man. The element of sin will
all things by His almighty power, that He is constantly      have been ruled out of the universe. This lies in the
"in touch" with the universe and every part of that          nature of the case. There will be no life of prayer.
universe. That Pantheism is a denial of this truth of        To whom shall we pray? There is no God. Hence,
the Lord's immanency must also be self-evident. Pan- there is none to whom prayer can be made. The same
theism declares that God is the world and therefore `thing applies to the truth of the responsibility of man.
not in the world. Pantheism identifies God with the          If the living God be ruled out of the universe to whom
world ; the truth of God's immanency emphasizes that         will the creature then be responsible? We certainly
the Lord is in the world, us God, and therefore to be        cannot and will not be responsible to one another.
distinguished from that world.                               This implies that all control and restraint of the ac-
       Secondly, the theory of Pantheism must be rejected    tions of men and devils will have been removed out
because it is a denial of God's infinite goodness and        of this world. And, of course, Pantheism also denies
perfection. This conception of the origin of the uni-        the element of sin. Sin is transgression against the
verse would have us believe that the world is God as         Lord. The removal of the living God out of the uni-
He attains unto Self-consciousness. If  *this be true        verse necessarily implies the removal of sin. This,
then it would follow inexorably that the world is need- we say, lies in the nature of the case. For all these
ed by *God, that the Lord without the world is incom-        reasons we must reject the pantheistic conception of
plete. God, then, needs the world to come unto Self-         the origin of the world.
consciousness. To teach by implication, however, that,
the Lord needs the world is an evident denial of the         The theory of Evolution.
Scriptural truth that He is the God of infinite good-           We need not enter into a detailed discussion of the
ness and perfection, the eternally Self-sufbcient  God,      theory of Evolution at this time. We intend to return,
eternally blessed in Himself and surely not in need of       the `Lord willing, to this conception of the origin of
any creature. Indeed, according to Ps. 16, at His right things when we discuss the creation of man. I' We may


                                     TtiE   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                        471

say at this time, however, that Evolution is the theory     may also observe that the world does not reject the
which has attempted to trace the origin of man to           Scriptural account of creation because they cannot
its very beginning, and has set forth he conception         understand Scripture's account of the Divine begin-
that man developed from an animal, the higher animal        ning of things. Nowhere does the Word require of us
from the lower, the animal from the plant, the organic      that we understand the Divine account of the world's
from the inorganic, and has traced the inorganic finally    creation. Besides, the world cannot understand the
to something which flew off the sun. We would ob-           creature and its own absurd attempts to ascertain the
serve at this moment that the theory of  EvoIution          origin of the universe.
clearly demonstrates that man, when attempting to              There is only one explanation for all the attempts
explain and attain unto the origin of things, can never     of the world to disregard the account of Holy Writ and
arise above the creature, that which is finite. He          seek the origin of the things in the things themselves.
must constantly move about in the sphere of that which      The world's wisdom is foolishness, spiritual foolish-
has been made, and must always find the origin of the       ness. The world is ever prompted by unbelief. And
things in the things themselves.                            unbelief is not ignorance but the wilful rejection of
,411 these attempts of the world a  cl.ear demonstration    the living God. The world  idoes not accept the Scrip-
of  the foolishness of the world.      -,                   tural record of creation because it hates the living God
                                                            and refuses to acknowledge the Sovereign Creator of
   Finally, all these attempts of the wisdom of the         the universe.
world to ascertain the origin of the universe clearly
demonstrate that, once we have forsaken the God of                                *  + *  x
the Scriptures, we must descend into the very depths
of the absurd and the ridiculous.
   The worId does'not  reject the Divine origin of the           The Creation Of The Work.&  An Act Of Gad's
universe because this scriptural conception contradicts                        Omnipotent Will.
the human mind. Because something transcends the
human mind, cannot be understood, comprehended by           The creaticun  of the world in time presents an intcrcsl-
that human mind does not necessarily mean that it           ing piob  tem.
also therefore is contradictory to our understanding.          The Scriptures declare, in amazing simplicity, that
It cannot comprehend the Divine creation of the uni- the things that are and develop had a beginning. We
verse, that He .by the Word of His almighty power           read in the Word of God of "before the mountains
called the heavens and all their host into being, called    were," and "before the ages began," etc. And we,
them by name. It is surely beyond my finite under-          in our thinking, cannot liberate ourselves from this
standing that the living God created the heavens and        idea of time.
the earth, the sea and all that in them is, that He did        It is exactly because of this element of time, and
so in the space of six days, yea, simply by His Divine      also because of the fact that we ourselves are creatures
speaking.    However, just because this mighty fact         of time, that the fact of creation presents itself to us
cannot be camprehended by the human mind does not           as such a difficult and unfathomable problem.  .Coing
necessarily, imply that it contradicts my understand-       back in our thoughts we must, of course, finally arrive
ing. I may not understand the fact of creation, but it      at that first moment when all things received their
is surely not contradictory to my thinking that an          being. And then, before that first moment in time,
almighty Creator created the heavens  and the earth.        lies for us nothing but the mysterious, the hidden, the
I may not, e.g., understand the resurrection of the         quiet depths of eternity. But it is exactly then that
dead, but it does not contradict my human mind that         many questions press themselves upon us. How must
the living and almighty God can and does resurrect          we conceive of that eternity, and wherewith shall we
the dead. That I cannot comprehend the fact of crea-        fill it; what activity occurred then, before the creation
tion simply verifies the thought or fact that the finite    and Divine providence went into effect? What did
cannot comprehend the Infinite, the temporal, the           God do before creation? Do not the Scriptures teach
Eternal.                                                    us in John 5 : 17 that the Lord of heaven and earth is
   Neither does the world reject the Divine, origin of      Purest Action, never characterized by a moment of
the universe because they would be "scientific", believe    idleness? We read in John 5 :17 : f`But  Jesus answered
only in "facts" and in the things which they can            them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." Did
"know", It is simply a fact that the world itself re-       the Lord, when He called the heavens and the earth
sorts to theories instead of facts. Nowhere has any-        into being, change from idleness to activity, from rest
one succeeded to explain or prove the various tran-         to,  labour  and activity? How can we harmonize the
sitions from the inorganic, the plant to the animal,        creation of the universe, the change from "nothing-
the animal to man. A4nd, in connection with this, we        ness" into an act of creation, with the immutability,

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

     the unchangeableness of Jehovah? How can we con-            fied. We involuntarily think that, at the time the
     ceive, in that time transcending eternity, of a moment,     world was called into being, God was already count-
     in which the Lord proceeded unto the act of creating?       less, endless ages old. Yet, the Scriptures declare in
     And why is it that He chose exactly that moment?            Ps. 90 :2 : "Before the mountains were brought forth,
     Why is it that the creation of the universe did not         or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world,
     occur ages before? Thus writes the late Dr. H.  Bs-         even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God."
     vinck in his Reformed Dogmatics.                            We do not read in this text that before the mountains
        All these questions, we may readily understand,          were brought forth. . . . God was, but: Thou art God.
     thus the professor continues, have evoked various ans-      Time, as we shall presently see in connection with
     wers. The Pantheist seeks to identify God with  th8         Genesis 1  :I, is itself a creature, brought forth by the
     world.        According to him God and the world  are       living God. God, however, is eternal. With Him there
     identical.      God is the world, time and eternity are     is no past, present, ol-future. He never waits until
     essentially the same.      However, this is impossible.     a certain moment to, do something; to say that the
     Time is created, is itself a creature. Eternity never       Lord waited until the first day of creation is impossible
     began, is therefore not created. To identify God with because,, prior to the world's beginning there was no
     the world, time with eternity is simply impossible.         time, no succession of days and weeks and months and
     To this we have already called attention. Others taught     years.
     that matter is eternal, that God is not a Creator but          Besides, as we have noted in previous articles, God's
     that creation itself is eternal. The world, then, had       work is eternal, and that  ,always  implies that it is al-
     no beginning. It is eternal, the eternal self-revelation ways perfect. It is true that the world was created
     of the Lord. Against this conception, principally pan- in six days and that on each of those days something
     theistic, we have already expressed our objections. To new was brought forth. Yet, as far as the living God
     declare that matter is eternal is absurd. It is simply is concerned, His work is always eternal, perfect and
     a fact that nothing in this world exists of itself and      complete, never charactized  by-a succession of events.
     also that nothing in this world can perpetuate its own      The Lord never works piecemeal. That we do not
     existence. There is simply no creature that owes its        understand this lies in the nature of the case ; how-
     existence to itself and there is no creature that can       ever, we should not forget that neither does the god-
     maintain its own existence. All things or creatures         less philosophy of the world certainly have a solution
     die and no creature controls its own life. To declare,      of the problem. As far as the Lord's own ,life is con-
     therefore, that matter is eternal contradicts reality.      cerned, therefore, it is not true that He once created
     To counter with the remark that, although the ",L'ea-       but- rather that His work of creation is eternally per-
     ture may die, matter is nevertheless eternal, so that       fect and complete. Hence, in God's eternal thoughts
     t.hat creature passes on into another creature leads        and counsel, the beginning of the universe and also
     to countless absurdities. The fact remains that, even       the end of all things, everything is constantly eternal,
     if this were true, no creature can control or maintain      perfect, complete. As God knows Himself, perfectly
     itself. A third attempt to solve the enigma declared        and completely, He also knows eternally all things, is
     that, although it is true that the world is created out     constantly beholding and rejoicing in His eternal and
     of nothing, God began to create from eternity, that,        perfect "blue print" of all things.
     alt.hough  the present world is not eternal, innumerable       And the question: why, then, did God create the
     worlds have preceded our present world. This, we            world when He did, can be answered, as far as the
~    understand, is no solution. It simply ignores the prob-     undersigned is concerned, by one one answer: God's
     lem, moves it infinitely forward and ahead. One al-         sovereign will.    This is the clear teaching of Holy
     ways remains before the question: But how long ago          Writ, which emphasizes throughout the sovereign will
     was it that the first world began? And all these "solu- of the living God, as in Ps. 33:6, 115:3,  135:6, Isaiah
     tions" again verify the truth that man will teach non- 46:10,  Matt.  11:25, Romans  9:15  f-f., Eph.  1:4 f.f.,
     sense and absurdities rather than recognize the simple      Rev. 4:11,  etc. We will quote only Psalm 115 :3 and
     but also majestic presentation of the Word of God.          Psalm 135  :6 : "But our God is in the heavens : He hath
         The question relative the beginning of the world        done whatsoever He hath pleased. . . . Whatsoever
     knows but one answer: the universe is the product of the Lord pleased, that did He in heaven, and in earth,
     God's sovereign and omnipotent will. To be sure, from in the seas, and all deep places." For the rest it does
     our point of view, the world could have begun ages          not behoove us to concern ourselves with questions
     before its actual beginning. Also, in connection with       merely to satisfy our personal curiosity and for the
     the question concerning that which may have e-&ted          sake of our own personal entertainment. The Lord
     and what the Lord may have done before He made              does all things as `He pleases and according to `sover-
     the world, we must bear in mind the fundamental idea        eign and unfathomable wisdom.
     that time and eternity are not to be confused or identi-                                             H. Veldman.


                                        T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                                       473

         Prof. Ii. Schilder Replies                                  the covenant and on baptism and more such With the request
                                                                     to publish these articles and answer the questions.
                                                                         Remark. This is not altogether correct. What I
    Some time ago, the readers will recall, I sent Prof.             sent the professor is one  (dutch) article-not  two-
K. Schilder a list of questions for him to answer in                 and two batches of questions (likewise written in
"De Reformatie",--questions bearing on the Heynsian                  dutch).  The article was not long; it was short. It
conception of such matters as the promise, the COVE-                 filled but a sheet and a half 8 by 11 in. in size. The
nant, and the sacrament of baptism. The professor                    material was typewritten and unspaced. That, to my
has replied not to my questions but to my friendly and               mind, is not a long article. The professor continues:
earnest petition that he answer them as he had prom-
ised to do some two and a half years ago. He lets it                    I thought it over once. But I can't begin with it. Too, I do
be known (De Reformatie, June 10) that he is decided                 not believe that I am obligated, also not because of friendship.
not to grant the request+--decided, in a word, not to                    Remark. Whether the professor was obligated to
answer my questions. And he advances several. rea-                   publish and answer my questions is a matter to which
sons. Let us hear the professor.                                     I shall attend presently. But as I see it, he was cer-
                                                                     tainly under the moral necessity of publishing my
                     POLEMIEK   AMERIKA                              article. And the reason is obvious. That article cor-
   Van Rev. Ophoff  uit  Grand Rapids  ontving  ik twee lange        rects a wrong statement of the professor about me ;
artikelen met een reeks van vragen en nog eens vragen over
verbond en doop en zoo meer. Met verzoek, die  artikelen op te       and it thereby removes the wrong impressions that the
nemen en de vragen te beantwoorden.                                  statements must have made upon the readers of "De
   Tk heb er eens over nagedacht. Maar ik kan er  niet  aan          Reformatie." (The professor stated that after our con-
beginnen. Ik geloof ook  niet ertoe verplicht te zijn, ook niet      ference with him two and a half years ago I had but
van wege de vriendschap. Wij hebben in Nederland tegenwoor-          one question left).
dig zoo onze  &gene kwestie-tjes die behandeling vragen. Ze
hebben ons eerst gebonden  aan for-mules.  Toen zijn ze gaan             The statement of the professor was objectionable
zeuren over beschohwingen  achter  de formules.     En vandaag       especially because it could not help but leave on the
zetten ze heele boomen  op over de beroemde kwestie of je van        readers of "De Reformatie" the impression that on the
Godswege verplicht bent, een kat in den zak te koopen voor de        meetings of the conference I had put many questions
kerk.                                                                to the professor, and that he had come so wonderfully
   En nu kan ik niet laat ons zeggen: 20 nummers volschrijven        close to convincing me of the rightness of his views
over kwesties, die al lang behandeld zijn. Want al de vragen,
die Rev. Cphoff stelt, zijn door mij uitvoerig besproken.  Cok       that'after  the conference I had but one question left.
waar hij bij was in Grand Rapids. Hij had daarna nog een             All the others had been satisfyingly answered. Now'
vraag. Ik  zei- `t was na de conferrentie: stuur die maar op.        this is not true. The professor therefore should have
Het gebeurde nooit. En nu krijg ik ineens een legio andere, en       cooperated with me in correcting his wrong statement
al lang beantwoorde vragen.                                          and in removing the wrong impressions that it  left-
   Een opmerking. Rev. Ophoff stelt mij de vraag:  leeren  de
vrijgemaakte kerken niet dit en dat? En dan volgen enkele            cooperated with me toward this end by publishing my
door hem geredigeerde formules.                                      article. The professor continues :
   IMijn  antwoord is: neen! Onze kerken hebben niets  anders           We have in the Netherlands at this time our own questions,
dan wat in. de belijdenis  staat.                                    that call 
  Overigens: indien er nog vragen zijn, dan zouden we, stel dat                    for  treatment. They (the synodicals) first  binded  us
                                                                     to credal formulas, Then they went to harping on views back
Rev.  Hoeksema naar Nederland zou  kunnen  komen, ze nog eens        of the formulas. And today they chat about the famous  qaes-
weer grondig kunnen "doornemen". We hebben met de predi-             tion whether for God's sake you are obligated to buy 
kanten   Kok en De Jong gesproken; en  dvie  hebben  alleen maar                                                                 a  cat in
goede dingen  van Rev. Hoeksema en hunne kerken gezegd. Het          the bag for the church.
zou  prettig zijn,  als Rev. Hoeksema ook eens kon komen.  `Tot         And now I can't fill let us say 20 numbers (of "De  Refor-
mijn blijdschap lees ik, dat hij weer geregeld kan arbeiden.         matie") writing about matters that have long ago been treated.
                                                                     For I have elaborately discussed all the questions that Rev.
IS  een  rustig gesprek niet beter dan honderd artikelen? Wil
men schrijven-ook  goed. Ik denk er in dit geval anders over:        Ophoff puts to me. Also in his-presence in Grand Rapids.
wij hebben officieel dezelfde belijdenis over en weer en staan           Here the professor states his reasons for his refusal
dus anders tegenover elkaar dan b.v. het geval is  tusschen  de      to answer my questions. First he has a controversy
synodocraten en ons.      Want die hebben  een  vierde formulier     with the synodicals  to wage in his paper. It therefore
van eenigheid plus een  valsch kerkrecht. Daar moet dus  geschre-    would not do for him to devote say  20 numbers of his
ven worden.     Hier (in de relatie tot de  Prot.  Ref. Churches)    paper to answering questions already treated in full in
mag dat wel, maar behoeft het niet.                                  my hearing. That would be an unjustifiable interrup-
    Thus far the professor. What we have here is his                 tion.
entire reply. Allow me to translate and insert my re-                    But let us pause here for a few remarks. Would
marks as I proceed.                                                  the professor need twenty numbers of his paper for
                     POLEMICS   AMERICA                              answering my questions? Twenty numbers of "De
   From Rev. Ophoff out of Grand Rapids I received two long          Reformatie": is a lot of space ; filled, it would form a
articles with a series of questions and still more questions on      book of some three hundred and forty-five thousand

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

and six hundred words (35600). Does the professor                   different. They are the very questions I put to the
mean to say that he would need that many words to                   professor after the conference with some related ques-
answer my questions? I can't believe it. Let me ex-                 tions added. As was just stated, none of them had
plain why I can't believe it. The time consumed by                  been discussed on the meetings. After the conference
the total of the meetings of our conference with the                I put them to the professor for the first time. Fact is,
professor was not more than 30 hours (3 days of  S                  I read them to him: for I had written them down. In-
hours and' one day-the last-of 6 hours. Total:                      stead of discussing them with me he advised me to send
30 hours). At the most 20 of these hours went to the                them to him, at once promising to publish and answer
professor for the exposition of his views. Speaking                 them in "De Reformatie". These are the facts. Rev.
rapidly he may have uttered during the total of these               Lubbers, who was present in the auto, is my witness.
hours not more than 144000 words. He tells us that                  And another thing. Let me concede for the sake of
on the meetings of our conference he elaborately dis-               argument that the questions I recently sent the pro-
cussed all my questions but one. If so, that discussion             fessor were different, why should that have deterred
could not have exceeded 144000 words, even if he did                him from answering them? The question is pertinent
nothing but discuss my questions. Why then should                   seeing that all these questions bear on the matters in
he need 345000 words to answer these same questions                 dispute between the Liberated and the Protestant Re-
in "De Reformatie"? Perhaps the professor does not                  formed. And why should my questions remain un-
want me to take him too literal here.                               answered because I waited two  yearsand  a half with
       But is it true that on the meetings of the confer-           sending them? Besides, that I finally did come to it
ence the professor fully discussed all my questions-                is really the professor's fault He said that after the
the ones I sent him recently-save one? It is not                    conference I had but one question left. To prove the
true, as all who were present well know. I can show                 statement wrong I sent him a legion of questions, to
that it is not true. Consider with me that in all my                use one of the professor's own expressions. Yet he re-
questions  I approach the matters of the covenant and               fuses even to  pub%.sh   my questions,  iet  alone answering
the promise etc. from a legal angle-a thing that was                them.
not done on the meetings. Underlying all my questions                  The professor once more :
is the one basic question: how can the non-elect bap-                  One remark. Rev. Ophoff puts to me the question: do the
tized have a legal right to Christ and the benefits of              Liberated Churches teach thii and that?
His atonement? In other words, how can there be a                      Remark.  I purposely refrained from asking: do the
promise of God to the non-elect baptized bestowing                  Liberated Churches-mark  you, churches-teach this
on them the right to be saved, if Christ died not for               or that? I knew better than to ask such a question,
them? It can also be stated this way: how can it be                 seeing that the Liberated churches-the  institute-
said that the non-elect baptized are objectively saved              take no stand regarding the matters in dispute be-
in Christ, if Christ atoned not for their sins. Neither             tween us. But every individual Liberated does. And
with this yuestion nor with any of the rest of my ques-             so, having in four propositions set forth in my com-
tions were we, including Prof. Schilder, occupied on munication to the professor the views on the promises
our meetings. And here is the proof. Rev. G. Lubbers                and baptism that, according to my recollections, he had
has supplied me with an elaborate written report of                 defended on the meetings of our conference, I put to
all that was spoken by the professor on the one hand                him the following questions:
and by Rev. Hoeksema and the rest of us on the other.
What the report reveals is that at no juncture in the                   1. Is this now the doctrine that the professor set
discussion were any of my questions even touched                             before us as his own?
upon. Fact is that I had received no opportunity to                     2. Is this not the doctrine of Heyns?
put any of them to the professor on the meetings of the                 3. Are in general the leaders among the Liberated
conference. I shall enable the professor to check on                         addicted to this doctrine of Heyns?
this statement of mine by sending him a copy of that                    I proved by a quotation that Ds. H. Meulink, Liber-
report. The professor continues :                                   ated, is of the conviction that such is indeed the case.
                                                                    Quoting Heyns as quoted with approval by Meulink, I
   Thereafter (after the conference) he still had cme question.     concluded with the statement: This is the doctrine of
       Remark. I do wish that henceforth the professor              Heyns. Also of the Liberated ? Also of Dr. Schilder ?
would refrain from repeating this. It simply is not                     And the professor replies :
true. Now back to the professor :                                      My answer  5s: no! Our Churches' teach nothing else than
   I said-it  wa$  after the conference: just send it up (that      what is contained in the confession.
one question). It never happened. And now  all at once I  re-           Remark. That, it seems to me, is not an answer
ceive a legion of different questions already answered long ago.    to  these questions of mine. It is rather an evasion of
       Remark.  The questions I recently sent are not these questions. Besides, that the Liberated churches


                                         T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                            475
teach nothing else than what is contained in the con-
fession does not necessarily imply that they do not                                    A Call For Help
teach that Heynsian doctrine. They do necessarily
teach that doctrine, if it is their conviction that it  is-               Some time ago we were asked to organize a society
is contained in-the confession.                                       of those who would be willing to underwrite the ex-
    The professor continues :                                         penses of ministers who came to us from the Reformed
   For the rest: if there are still questions, then we could, sup-    Episcopal Church in`response to our radio broadcast-
pose that Rev. Hoeksema at some time or other were able to            ing, and who are planning to study in our Seminary.
come to the Netherlands, once again thoroughly treat them.                Letters and pledge cards were sent to the ministers
We have spoken with the ministers Kok and DeJong;  and they           or clerks of our Churches with the request that they
have said nothing but good about Rev. Hoeksema and his church-
es. `It would be nice if Rev. Hoeksema could come once. To my         distribute them among their constituency. Several
joy I read that he can regularly do his work again. Is not a          of our people it appears have wholly or in part mis-
peaceful discussion better than a hundred articles?                   understood the idea and purpose of this project. Hence,
    Remmk.       We certainly still have questions. As                we are publishing this brief explanation.
many as we ever had. And the reason is obvious. Our                     In February, 1948, in response to a broadcast on the
questions are not being answered. I can see that a                    Reformed Truth Hour sponsored by the Protestant
peaceful discussion by word of mouth has its advan-                   Reformed Churches of Oaklawn and South Holland,
tages. But what I can't see is that this should have                  a minister by the name of Rev. James A. McCollam,
stood in the professor's way of answering some simple                 rector in the St. Andrews Reformed Episcopal Church
questions. Yes, a .peaceful  discussion has its advan-                of Chicago, corresponded with the undersigned relative
tages providing, of course, the parties to the discus-                to the truth heard on our program. `We answered him
sion refrain from treating each other's questions as the              by sending much of our literature, which he read and
professor treated mine. For no justifiable reason, as                 which persuaded him to inquire more perfectly con-
far as I can see, he refused to answer them.                          cerning the truth. He became so interested that we
    The professor finally :                                           soon- came into personal contact with him, and' since
                                                                      then have had regular weekly meetings in which he
   If they want to write-good. In this case I am of a differ-         was instructed in our Protestant Reformed truth. He
ent opinion. We, Liberated and Protestant Reformed, have the          also became instrumental in spreading abroad our do&
same official confession, and thus stand over against each other
differently than for exampIe  is the case between the synodicals      trines to others of his fellow ministers in his Church.
and us. For they have a fourth form of unity and a false              With the result that shortly after the Revs. Emanuel
church Polity. There, writing is a necessity. Here (in the re-        Emanuel of Chicago and Robert C. Harbach of Somer-
lation to the Protestant Reformed churches) it is permissible         ville, New Jersey, also became vitally interested. These
but not necessary.                                                    men became so convinced that they have decided' to
    Remark. So then, if two communion of churches                     leave their Churches, and have sought entrance into
have the same confession, debate or discussion by the                 our school with the Theological School Committee.
written word is permissible but not necessary. But if The Committee has accepted them. They hope to begin
one of these communions have a fourth form of unity                   their studies next September, D. V. The truth has
plus a false church polity, debate by the written word                made such an impact that they no longer can stay in
is a necessity. I don't grasp this either.                            their own Churches. They feel themselves called of
    Another remark. The professor does not believe                    God to minister. in our Churches should the Lord be
that also friendship obliged him to answer my ques-                   pleased to use them. All three of these ministers are
tions.    But I wonder whether he would deny that                     young married men, and two of them have families.
friendship should have  constrained  him to answer my                    Naturally this raises a problem for us as Protest-
questions and especially publish my article.                          ant Reformed people. None of the three have any
    In conclusion. I am very sorry that the professor                 material resources enabling them to study for three
refused to answer my questions. My main purpose years with no source of income. And our Churches
was to have the professor cooperate with me in remov-                 have a ruling that no married student may receive
ing misunderstandings between Liberated and Protest- help from the E. B. P. (Student) Fund. So the Theo-
ant Reformed in the matter of doctrine. That was a logical School Committee asked us to organize a society
good purpose, wasn't it?                                              composed of all our people who are willing to help these
    I shall put forth another effort. I myself shall                  men through the three years required for study in our
answer my questions and then put to the professor one                 School. Some of you will remember that a similar
question, just one, namely, whether he can conceive of                procedure was followed to help the late Rev. W. Verhil
my questions being answered differently, if answered                  through our School. So we have precedent to follow
correctly,                                                            in this ease.
                                            G. M. Ophoff.                Those of our people who have met these men or

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

have heard them speak have been greatly elated  ever        we support them or not. Of course, their training in
the fact that the Lord has given us the evidences of        our School will be impossible unless they receive aid.
blessing in them. For years we have been in contact            What is the nationality of these brethren? One is
with ministers of the Christian Reformed Churches,          Irish, another is Greek, and the third is part Dutch
but with no response. Now unexpectedly the Lord             and Scotch. However, when you talk with them it
opened the door to these men who are willing to make        does not take you long to discover that they are sin-
great sacrifices, leave their Churches and every source     cere children of God who love the same truth we love.
of income to become ministers of our Protestant Rc-            Will these men be able to work with our Dutch
formed heritage. The Lord has shown to us that His          people? If the fellowship that our two Churches in
truth is not only the possession of those of Dutch          Illinois have had with them is an indication, we have
descent, but He has His children also among other           no  fear that they will not fit in with any of our
nationalities and other denominations.                      Churches and our people.. All who have met them of
    We believe there is room in our Churches for all        our Churches have been greatly attracted to them.
those who will subscribe to our doctrines no matter            Are their wives in perfect agreement with the
what their nationality may be. These brethren have          stand of these ministers?. Their wives are not only
told me that they would desire to preach these doc-         in perfect agreement, but they urge their husbands to
trines, but if the Lord does not open the way to the        make these great sacrifices for the truth's sake.
pulpit in our Churches, they are still convinced that          Are these men leaving their Churches because they
they cannot remain in their Churches. They would            see they can better themselves financially or obtain
rather die for the truth's sake.                            larger congregations in our Churches? They are well
    So there we have it, my brethren! The Lord is           aware that they can expect no rosy future in our
giving us not only to see the fruit on our labors, but      Churches from a material point of view. They have
He is laying on us the responsibility of providing for      no material interests at all in joining our Churches.
those in need. At the beginning of this movement we         We have painted the picture as black as we could to
were told that these men would be required to spend         test them.          -          i
all their time in study. Naturally, therefore, we fig-         What will happen to these brethren after they
ured that  $g,OOO.OO  a year would be necessary for         finish their study, and they should receive no call from
their upkeep. They will have to rent homes, pay mov-        our Churches ? This is a question we cannot answer
ing expenses to Grand Rapids, pay Christian School          because we do not know what the Lord has in store
tuition and their own tuition to our School, buy books,     for them. We do believe though that should there be
and consider the normal expenses of any family. Now,        no call they will then serve our Churches in another
however, we learn that opportunity will be given them       capacity. On the other hand, we believe that the Lord
to work a little in spare time. This ought to cut down      first calls His servants to prepare by giving them the
somewhat the proposed $3,000.00  we set as our goal.        talents etc., and the final call is also from `Him through
We are asking therefore that our people who are will-       His Church. We can safely leave this matter in His
ing and able, send us their contribution before the         hand to dispose of it as He wishes.
first of September so that these brethren will have no         Do these brethren intend to return to their Church-
worldly avocations to weary them while they devote          es after they finish their schooling with us? No ! They
their time to study.                                        ,have no such intention. Should our Churches be in-
    Here follows some of the questions which arose in       clined to use them in a missonary sense elsewhere, that
the minds of some of our people not acquainted with         ,is something to be considered later.
this project. Perhaps you have other questions which           And now, brethren, let us get back of this thing
we shall be happy to answer if we can. Have these and do our best to make it possible for these brethren
men left their respective Churches, or are they wait-       to study in our School. If you have not the ready cash
ing to see whether our people will support them? They       to contribute, may we at least have your .pledge so
are in the process of leaving their Churches. You must that we may have some assurance you will help them?
not forget that they are in a different position than       We have received cash gifts and pledges ranging from
ordinary members who can just ask for their papers.         $5.00 to $500.00 so far. Approximately $1200.00 in
They are ministers who are leaving the Churches they        cash and pledges has been received already, and there
served. This takes more time since it would be un-          are several of our Churches which as yet have made
ethical to leave without a strong testimony and they        no contribution.
must abide by the rules of order to which they sub-            Please send your pledges and contributions to the
+ scribed when they became ministers in their Churches,     undersigned :
also the rules for leaving. By the middle of August                                   Rev. M. Schipper
they all will have severed completely their connections.                              Box 121
 They are determined to come to us regardless whether                                 South Holland, Illinois,


                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                            477

                                                                     In our text we see Jesus performing the will of the
             FROM HOE-Y WRIT                                     Father, that is, Jesus is performing the will of the
                                                                 Father  while  He tarries beyond Jordan, while He
                                                                 tarries' He is hastening to the help of Lazarus, Martha
                                                                 and Mary.
         Exposition Of John 115, 6                                  Let us read the text. John writes : "Now Jesus '
   The text here reads literally as follows : "Now Jesus         loved Martha,  .and her sister, and Lazarus. When
loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When                  kewfore  He heard that he was sick, He abode at that
therefore He heard that he was sick, he abode at that            time two days in the place where He was."
time two days in the place where He was."                           It is quite evident that the reason for Jesus' tamy-
   It is not very probable that there is anyone of the ing at fhat time is to be seen, `(not merely  sought)
readers of these lines who is not acquainted with the            as told us by the evangelist, in His  great love.
account of John, as given here in this chapter, eoncern-            In the first place this is evident from the construc-
ing the sickness, death and raising. of Lazarus from             tion in the original Greek of this sentence. The particle
the dead. Who has not been told this account repeat-             "now" is explanatory. It explains why Jesus abode
edly from the days of his childhood ?  `To ask this              still at that time in Perea, the place where He was.
question is to answer it.                                        This is for us a very conclusive and revealing detail.
   However, not all will immediately perceive, that              Did we say: detail? Well,  that will pass if we only
the chief point of the Holy Spirit through John is not           remember that this is not seriously meant. It really
at all to give us a mere human account of the raising            is ,not a detail, but a fine touch of John as we so often
of a man from the dead, but that we here are dealing             find in his Gospel-account. In these fine points John
with the reuela&ion  of tite Son of God in our flesh and         always lets the light of heaven fall on the event he is
blood. Not all will immediately perceive this, I say.            speaking of,.    And then, what we call details, are
Yet, this is the very  evident intention of the writer.          nothing less than the fundamental pattern of the work
   This is perfectly clear in the first place from the           of Christ in which He brings all things in heaven and
fact that John gives us the entire message of his Gospel         on earth to their Divinely appointed end. The motive,
in the well-known "Prologue", the first 18 verses of             that moves Christ here to abide still at that time in the
chapter 1. In this section it is clear, that John is             place where He was, is:  Jesus' love.
speaking of the Son of God, the Eternal Word in the                 This is the love of Christ that passes all under-
flesh, whose glory he had seen, glory as of the Only             standing. It will take eternity to comprehend with all
Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. As              the saints what is the length and breadth, the height
such this Son is He in whom grace and truth have                 and depth of it. Of this love John speaks and again
become a reality for all of God's people, whether Jew            gives us a "fine touch" in chapter 13  :l, where we
or <Gentile. We all have received from His fulness,              read the meaningful verse, "Now before the feast of
yea, grace for grace. The-fact that John places this             the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour was come
so emphatically on the foreground in his Gospel,                 that He should depart out of this world unto the'
which he writes to the believers out of the Gentiles,            Father, having loved His 0~12 He lowed them:to the
should tell us to look for this truth in each chapter of         end."'  ,This is the love of *God in Jesus, it isthe law
the Gospel-account. Does John not write in the last              of God in His inward parts, as He comes to perform
chapter "but these are written, that ye may believe              the will of God for all of His own. Compare Psalm.
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of .God: and that be-          40 :6-8 and Hebrews 10 :l f.f.
lieving ye might have life in His name"?                            If we bear this in mind, namely, that it is the love
   If such is the case, then John gives us the key to            of the Son of God in our flesh, that we here see in
understand the point of his Gospel account.         It is:       operation in our text, then  manly matters come to stand
1. That we might believe that Jesus is the Son of God.           before our eye in bold relief. In the first place, a new
2. That believing in Him we might have life in His               light falls on the seeming great disappointment of
name.                                                            Martha and Mary. When we read this account of
   Surely we do well therefore in seeking to see this            the sickness and of the subsequent death and burial
also in the words of our text ; in our text as it stands         of Lazarus, the thought will not down, that somehow
,in the immediate and in the more remote-context. We             the saying "a friend is born in the hour of need" in
shall, therefore, insist that our text reveals to us the         this case is not true. Here we would then be inclined
Son of God in our flesh, as He came into this world              to say: This friend left his friends in the lurch in their
to save His people from their sins. None of us shall             extreme moment. Is that not the natural yet sinful
He lose, but He will perform the will of- God to the             and wicked speech of the Jews at the grave: "Could
very utmost, namely, raise us from the dead in the               not this man that .opened he eyes of him that was born
last day.                                                  .s    blind, have caused that this man also should not die?"

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

        Oh, to be sure, there is disappointment and grief    afterward. And now He, who had spoken His own
 in the hearts of Martha and Mary. Had they not in word of old through the prophets, stands on earth to
 the moment of their trial at the sick-bed of Lazarus        bring this word to realization as the Christ, the great
 thought of Jesus? Had they not put all  their'confi-        office-Bearer.    He is the prophet who receives the
 *dence and hope in Him, who was wont to meet at their       Spirit not with measure, so that He fully understands
 home. Yes, He is now not in  Judea  for  the fury of the will of God and is able to perfectly read the will
 the Jews' sake, but if He does come to Jerusalem, does      of God, and each step of the way consciously walks
 He not lodge under their friendly, hospitable and be-       the way  propheticahy  to the Cross. And the way to
 lieving roof. Surely they trusted in Him in this hour.      the Cross is connected with the sickness of Lazarus.
 Mary who loved to sit at Jesus' feet, and who under-        The chain of events will be: Lazarus' sickness, Lazarus'
 stood so very much of the Gospel, that she even anoint-     death, Jesus' return to Judea, His raising of Lazarus
 Jesus in view of His burial-this Mary surely set all        from the dead, the final and ripened outburst of the
 her hope in Him. . Ah, there was also Martha, who,          hatred of the Jews, which will lead to their ripened
 indeed, had been reprimanded by Jesus for being con- and unmoved determination to kill Him. Yes, Caia-
 cerned about many things. "But this Martha too be-          phas will speak of the expedience of one man dying
 lieved in Jesus. Just listen to her when Jesus asks her     for the people (laos in Greek) and not the whole nation
 the well&own question recorded in verse 26 "believest       perish by the hand of the Romans. These steps Jesus
 thou this". Hear her confession of faith. Says she,         sees as the Prophet.
 "Lord I have believed that thou art the Christ, the Son        His still remaining at this time is therefore, `the
 of God, that should come into the world." There had         "time" of Lazarus' death as this again is taken up into
 never been any doubt in her soul concerning His being       the times and seasons that the Father has put into the
 the Christ, Messiah, the Anointed of God. She be- prophetic agenda of the Son in humiliation. And Jesus
= lieved, had always believed that He was the Chief          will read these steps in the agenda of the Father and
 Prophet, our only High Priest and Eternal King              die according to the Scriptures.
        And so at the bed-side of Lazarus they look unto        Yes, He is here too the High-Priest. He loved
 Jesus for help They send a messenger unto Him, say-         Martha and Mary and Lazarus; He saw them not as
 ing: Lord, He whom thou befriendest (lovest) is sick.       some friends at a lodging place in  Bethany,  but rather
 An appeal is made to the tie of the love that friends       did He behold them as engraven  in the palms of ,God's
 have for,each  other. And what friend does not under hand, as being ever before the Lord as His "own".
 similar circumstances hasten to the aid of his friend.      And thus He loves them. It is the love here of the
 But Jesus remained yet at hat time-at the time of           merciful High Priest, who bears all His own in love
 Lazarus illness-in the place where He was! He did           upon His heart. He loves them as the Anointed of
 not hasten to  Bethany.      Nor does He speak His word     God. Surely, this will necessitate the momentary dis-
 of authority to heal Lazarus as He had done in the          appointment of all appeal to thR friend. But this is
 case of the son of the Centurian. Compare John 4 :46-       necessary to lay the eternal and new foundation of the
 50. He does nothing of the. kind.         .                 Testament in His blood. And so momentary disap-
        However, Jesus  does do something!                   pointment is eternal gain. The "friend" is proven to
        He performs the will of the Father as Prophet,       be a complete Saviour !
 Priest and King in obedience, in the state of humilia-         Here we see in golden letters : Greater love hath no
 tion even unto the death of the Cross.                      man, than that a man lay down his life for his friends.
        Listen ! Jesus opens His mouth to speak. And         For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet, per-
 what He says is not a detail that we may gloss over         adventure for the good man some would even dare to
 with impunity. It is the highest wisdom that is spoken.     die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in
 The light of the more sure prophetic word falls into the    that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
 "dark place" of the sick-room in `Bethany. This sick-          But Jesus is here also the King. He is King-Priest
 ness is not unto death, but in behalf of the glory of       in humiliation. He is not merely King of glory. He is
 God. . .  ."     Heaven's light falls in the darkness of    also King when He possessesHis  soul in patience, when
 earth. It is the beacon light of prophecy,shining  more     He speaks the Word authoritatively. In so doing He
 and more unto the perfect day.                              is King in subjection, the perfect Candidate for the
        Let us try to understand this a little better.       King in glory. Faithful in all things He is set over all
        When Jesus thus stands here and opens His mouth      things.
  surely He is the Prophet spoken of by Moses in Deut.          Jesus saw all things. He knew when the hour had
  18:15.  He is' the Prophet by whose Spirit the pro-        come, but also  hxows what leads to this hour. And
 phets of old were anointed so that they searched out        this knowledge is the perfect sacrifice of Christ. The
  the time and.the manner of the time of the suffering       Prophet, Priest and King are one!
 that would come upon Jesus and the glory to follow             Now it is clear what John means when he says:


                                        T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                     479

"Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and  :Lazarus.       the things of the Kingdom of heaven. The Church
When therefore He heard that he was sick, he abode          handles spiritual things and we are so carnal. Pray
at that time two days in the place where He was."           for the speaking and no less for the hearing of the
   Jesus tarries. It is true. But He does this simply       Word of God. Your pastor is a mere human being,
because He loved them so.                                   having all the weaknesses which characterize also you.
   Here are the thoughts that are deeper than  oldi         Pray for him. And what a wonderful thing it is if,
thoughts and the ways that are higher than our ways.        before the minister has come in, hundreds and perhaps
Christ works our complete salvation. He brings about        more hundreds of prayers have been offered for him
the complete salvation of Martha and Mary and Laz-          and for one another. Do our services sometimes fail
arus. All things work together for their salvation          because there has been no praying?. Does the minister
here.                                                       sometimes fail because there have been no prayers and
   Yes, while tarrying here in Perea, Jesus lays the        do you. come away from the service barren and un-
new and eternal, foundation of our salvation. And the       touched because you have stood too near the Pharisee?
reason : Simly because He loved us with the love where-        In some churches the prayer before service is post-
with He also loved Matha, her sister and Lazarus.           poned until the members have all taken their places,          *
                                          Geo. Lubbers.     and then there is a moment ~of silent prayer on the
                                                            part of the entire congregation. This probably arose
                                                            from the practical difficulty which develops when one
           I N   H I S   F E A R                            member is engaged in the pre-service prayer and
                                                            another member is trying to get past him to the vacant
                                                            seat beyond, and a third is standing in the aisle, wait-
              We Go To Church                               ing. This does not make for good order. I prefer the
                         (continued)                        individual, spontaneous prayer, but in either case let
                                                            us come to God, believing that He IS and is a' rewarder
              You Pray Before Service.                      of them that diligently seek Him.
   I have seen people come to church, hurry to the             And if there is time left before the service begins,
pews, tumble into a vacant place and then sit and look      what shall you do? Read the bulletin? Of course.
around as if they had entered some kind of museum.          There is news in the church that is vital to you. There
Some enter the church as if it were a sales pavilion.       is a touch of the communion of saints in reading a well
Judging by the way some examine the suits  and dresses      written bulletin. Someone is sick, someone has died,
and hats of the others one would think thtis mistook        a baby is born, someone is needing help, a new family
the church for a style shop. All this is unworthy of        has joined the church, that is all vital to you, since the
our approach to the divine service.                         congregation is a Body and you are one of its many
   When we take `our place in church  wc see that           members., Is there still time after. you have read the
pulpit, we realize where we are and what we do there.       bulletin, why not read the Catechism Lord's Day which
We offer a silent prayer. This is a custom. yes, but        your pastor will treat this morning or the portion of
it is a custom motivated by a real prmciple. Your           Scripture which he has chosen for his text. It's listed
prayer is a spontaneous response to your God. It is         on the bulletin and it's there for your advantage. And
the necessary approach to your  ,God.  Hoiy ground.         now you still have time to read an article or two from
Take off your shoes. That is, come humbly. We have          the Canons or the Belgic Confession. And did you
not come here to buy ,or to sell, to laugh or to .shout,    ever read the Form for Excommunication or the Form
we have come here to worship and to confess our sins.       for the Re-admission of excommunicated members?
We have come here to bow our necks under the yoke           It's worth .our while to read them.
of Christ Jesus. We have come to drink of the water
of life. Or did we come with some other purpose?                             The  Organ Is Heard.
Remember the Parable of the Sower. Some heard the              "Praise Him with stringed instruments and organs"
Word and did not understand, some heard and  imder-         {Psalm 150 :4). Therefore we have organs and pianos
stood. Don't forget that the Word of God breaks             in our churches. The organist is aware of Psalm 150  :4
down, plucks up, hardens, destroys, blinds,. uncovers and therefore commences to praise God with the in-
sin and condemns iniquity wherever it is found. Will        strument off to the right of the platform.
you come proudly? Will you come as the Pharisee one            Our Church Fathers, who. accorded the pulpit the
time came into the Temple ? No, but you will come as        central place in church, were quite suspicious of  i the
the  Publican  came and you will pray his prayer for        organ at first. They were cautious lest the pipe organ
God taught it to him.                                       should vie with the pulpit for the place of honor. And
    Pray for the Word and for ears to hear it, for a        how could the organ serve, the pulpit? If the organ
heart that will receive it and eyes that can perceive       institutes' a service of its own, it were better to have


480                                     T H E   `ST"K@-DARD   B E A R E R  -

no organ at all. Concerning the piano Dr. A. Kuiper            highly classical music so you will have to take  what   1
did not hesitate to call it the "worldly piano" (E Vote        am going to say next with a grain of salt. If the pulpit
III, 368). Today we use both, because we believe that          is going to preach something classical, perhaps the
stringed instruments can help to tell the praises of           organ could help it along best by playing something
God and can sustain the singing of the congregation.           classical also But we don't have classical pulpits
I remember the days when one of the men of the                 do we? I won't quibble with you about classical music,
church who had knowledge of song would conduct the             although I fear that it does not edify. The most edi!fy-
singing, and that without benefit of any instrument.           ing for the common worshippers is that the organist
I can still see him standing up in front, with a big           plays something which the man in the pew can ap-
psalm-book before him. He would give the pitch and             preciate and interpret spiritually. Something which
at once his voice could be heard throughout the entire         is familiar, something which lifts up his heart to God
church. Just that quick all joined in the singing. If          and prepares him for the Word of <God which is shortly
a certain se&ion  of the congregation would sing too           to be preached unto him. What is played is important,
slowly or begin to flat, you could hear his void;?:  boom      how it is played is important also. In the Netherlands
out above all the others and he never failed to @ep            there are guide-books for organists in the Reformed
them on their course. But those days are gone. We Churches.                        Do we have them in this country also?
now have the organ to sustain us in our singing. A             Perhaps so, but I've never seen one yet. A beautiful
worshipping church is a singing church. Some'church-           rendition of a beautiful song does so much to prepare
                                                                              I
es perhaps make too much of singing, but singing is            us for the service of God.
a proper part of the worship and it ought to remain                                           Smite Beg&w
that by everyone taking part. in the singing. But now                 At the sound of the organ the  Consistory  prepares
I ought to get back to the organ again. It has just            itself to commence the service. One of its members
started playing.                                               offers a short prayer. This prayer should not be long,
The  organ+iets  its notes be heard and the sweet              to make it long is often to destroy its effectiveness.
cadences fill the auditorium. The organist holds an                   The door opens. The Consistory enters the church.
important place, don't let's overlook that.        I  don't    The organ decreases its volume, it dimenuendos  until
know  how much YOU take the OrgaIliS~  for granted (We         its   tones   die  away   in  a  hush . . . a calm, and the Mys-
take so much for granted), but we should nqt take
him or her for' granted. They hold an important place          tery has come again. God's people meets its God. In
                                                               the presence of God. All is hushed and quiet.
in our service. We probably do not consider the organ-                The service proper begi'ns.
ist and her importance very much and likely we never                                                              M. Gritters.
speak a word of appreciation or encouragement to
them, but they fill an important place in the whole                                            * ,* * *
                                                                                    ,r  .A
of t;he Sabbath  service. How important their place is                              il TI I N   iMEMORIAM
can best be felt if the people should come to church                 Den  l&en  `iuli' behaagde het  de  Heere,.qm  onze geliefde
some Lord's Day and there were no organist.  Per-              moeder en grtietmoeder
haps, to appreciate the work of these artists, the                                   MRS.  KLAASJE KOOIKER  `.           :
church should worship once without the benefit of the in den ouderdom van 84 jaar, 4 maanden en 12 dagen, door den
                                                               dood uit ons midden  weg te nemen.                             .I
organ.                                                               Zwaar valt ons dit verlies maar wij treuren niet aIs degenen
       The task of the organist is not to provide  a little    die geene hope hebben, daar zij ons die blijde venekering heeft
service of its own, their task is rather to prepare the        achtergelaten, dat ook zij meer dan overwinnaar  is door Hem,
rjeople for and to support the people in the service           Die ens Eefgehad  he&.
which will shortly begin. The tones of the organ must                               Namens de bedroefde familie:  '
call forth the: awake, awake, awake my soul to praise,                                          ' Mr. Herman Kooiker
                                                                                                  Miss Mary Kooiker
let us come bowing down before God and let us bring                                               Mr. en Mrs. Klaas Kooiker
Him our worship. Everybody get  re&iy  for'thk Con-                     _                         Mr. en Mrs. John Kroeze
sistory to come in. It may be a pensive tone which                                                Mr. en Mrs. John Kooiker
the organ raises, a confessional perhaps, a shout of                                              Mr. en Mrs. Arie Van de Weide
triumph, a call to repentance, or any such tone. It                                               Mr. en Mrs. Peter Van Kalsbeek
                                                                                                    Vier en de&g kieinkinderen
would be good if the organist knew  what   ihe pulpit is                                            en  zeven achter-kleinkinderen.
going to bring that morning so that the or&n may
sustain the pulpit from the very be'ginning.        Unless      '                               NOTICE!
the pulpit is going to preach about moonlight and                     Classis  West of the Protestant Reformed Churches meets
roses, the organ must not play it; the pulpit will no';        Wednesday, September 6, at  Oskaloosa,  Iowa, at  9:OO   A. M.
                                                               Lodging  resellrations  to be arranged with P. T. Kelderman,
preach about a home on the range, therefore the organ          R. R. 2, os~aloosa, lowa.
will not play that either. Personally I don't appreciate  :                                                      M. Gritters, S. C.


VQLUME XXVI                        September  1, 1950 - Grand Rapids. Michigan                               NUMBER ?i

                            --                                         And He said, A certain man had two sons. . . .
      MEDITAT*flN                                                      It is not difficult to see who this father is, nor the
                                         I  w  AF                 identity of the two sons. Just read the introduction
                                                                  to the three parables of which this one is the climax.
          The Prodigal Son                                        And also the-parable itself shows very clearly who are
                                                                  represented here.
                                                                       In the first two verses we hear that at this time
            "And He said, A certain man had two sons, . . . ."    of Jesus' sojourn all the publicans and sinners drew
                                            Luke 15:11-24.        near unto Him for to hear Him. Those poor folk
   Almost twenty centuries rolled past since our Lord had noted that there was a very distinctive note and
Jesus first told a simple story. But all that time could appeal in the words of the Lord. Irresistibly they
not tarnish the glory and beauty of God's love for His were drawn to Him. One of their number was so
erring child that throbs in its simple wording. It touched by the Divine spark, that his name is enrolled
stands there still: a testimony of tender compassion, among the 12 apostles of the Lord. His speech acted                        '
of a gentle, though irresistible power, the power of upon them like water to the weary and thirsty soul.
God unto salvation, coming to fruition in the miser-                   But do you notice the haughty company of.Phari-
able sinner, yearning for the home of his Father.                 sees and Scribes? They stand afar off and they mur-
   That story is relived time and again. It is re-lived mured,  saying, This man receiveth sinners and eateth
wherever the light of *God's countenance penetrated with them! Poor deluded souls. Without realizing it
the darkness of sin, enwrapping the world in its deadly their voice sounds the sweetest note of the Gospel.
folds. In the broadest sense, it is the history of all the Yes, indeed, Jesus receiveth the sinners and eateth
                                                                  with them
people of God. All you who know God and are by                                 .
grace making merry before His face shall recognize                     God be praised forever!
your own auto-biography. 0 yes, you shall recognize                    But they meant this speech as a cutting  rebuke.of
the history of your wayward sinning, your experience the Lord's actions. Such low folk as sinners and publi-
of Father's irresistible drawing, your subsequent  hun- cans ought to be left alone. They were too vile to
ger and yearning for home and streams of living water, attempt to influence them for good. Jesus revealed
your return to God and the wonder of heaven's re-  - what manner of man He was.                                      `, .
ception  where your weary heart found solace in the                    Note that this occasion moved Jesus to speak the
arms of God.                                                      parables of which the story of the Prodigal Son is the
   And when your eyes may fondly rest upon the best climax.
robe you wear, you shall grow silent in humble acknow-                 A certain man had two sons.
ledgement that the pure white linen that clothes the              '    We recognize the three parties involved. The father
Prodigal Son was washed in the heart's blood of the               is God ; the older son is the pharisee and scribe ; the
Lamb of God.                                                      younger son is the publican  and sinner.
                                                                       Do not overlook the fact that both sons are brought
                                                                  up in the house of God. Neither of the two sons is a
   Yes, you have guessed rightly, it is the story, the            citizen of that far country into which the younger son
parable of the Prodigal Son, related in Luke 15  :11-24.          will  SoOn  travel.    They are born in the line of  ,the

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

covenant of (God. Christ calls them in different places It is the work of regeneration wrought by God alone.
the children of the Kingdom.                                 When that new birth comes to the consciousness  of the
                                                             sinner, he begins to be in want.
                                                                But note now the wickedness of our carnal nature.
                                                             Rather than co-operate with God we will always try
       But the younger son is heartily tired of the atmos- to maintain our sinful course.
phere in the house of God. Listen: And the younger              This younger son joins himself to a citizen of that
of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion far country. No, he had never become natural&d  in
of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them the world.              The distinctive marks of the covenant
his living.                                                  child remained. He joined himself to one of its repre-
       Now what in the world could be that portion which sentatives. And note also that this citizen knew no
God gives to the younger son, a portion which he is want.            He had swine in the field. And over these
about to squander?                                           swine he would set the son of father's house.
       There is but one answer: it is lordship over self.       There you have the mercy of the wicked. The
This younger son had been under the  discipiine  of swine are the unutterable flesh to the Jew. This citi-
father in the church of God from his youth. And in zen revealed the attitude of the world over against
the house of God there is but one life: obedience to father's child. Is it not typical of the attitude of the
God in all their living. From morning to night there world to everyone who has done her bidding and is
is but one speech in the fellowship of God and that          brought low and miserable in its service?
speech is: Thus saith the Lord !                                But he took the job; And when he would satisfy
       And the younger son was more than sick of it.         t.he craving hunger that was divinely wrought in the
       Note the callousness of his sinning. His thoughts depth of his heart, he would fain fill his belly with
become words : Give me lordship'over  self!                  the husks that the swine would eat. But no one gave
       And not many days after the younger son gathered unto him. There you have the tender mercies of the
all together and took his journey into a far country world.
and there wasted his substance with riotous living.             Then he came to himself! A  ,very nice and fine
       The thoughts of sin became sinful words and the point here on the way to the heart of God! It means
words  crystalized  into deeds.                              first of all that this boy was a stranger to himself.
       That far country is the wicked world. There every-       How true. Every sinner is a stranger to himself.
one does as he pleases. No one wants to know the He does not realize what he really is according to the
will of God. They are the captains of their soul and ordinances of his creator. Neither does he know what
the masters of their fate. Riotous living is found horrible  carricature he has become in his sinning.
there. According to the original word, it is a life          Man who is to be brought to the home of God needs
that destroys life. That country is far from the point an introduction to himself.
of view of the house of God. And its citizens are on            Strange and striking: when he sees himself and
the way to still greater distances. In the end of time realizes that he is a son of God, he also remembers
their place shall be so far from the proper house of his Father's house, the scenes of his youth.
God, and that is heaven, that the place is called: outer        Listen to him: How many hired servants of my
darkness. -4 great gulf is fixed between that dreadful fat.her  have bread enough and to spare, and. I perish
place and the abode of <God.                                 with hunger !
                                                                Indeed, that is the condition at home. There is the
                                                             bread of life. There is the love of God and His tender
                                                             care even over the hired servants!
                                                                But he will go deeper than that: I will arise and
       And when he had spent all there arose a mighty go to my father, and I will say unto him, Father, I
famine in that land and he began to be in want.              have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am
       There you have the first proof that his father had no more worthy to be called thy son, make me as one
not forgotten him. We saw a son that went very far, of thy hired servants.
but now we are going to trace a love that stayed very           It is the speech of the converted soul: he begins
near. When this son had drunk to the very bottom of to condemn himself. Oh do not tell me that this self-
t,he cup of sin, there arose a famine. And if you would condemnation is the natural flower that grows in the
like to enquire into the nature of the hunger it pro- garden of our carnal hearts. No mere sinner will ever
duced, be sure to take into the account the 17th verse. come to this point of himself. It is the fruit of the
This famine is a very particular famine,: it produces Spirit of God. Ezekiel will tell you !
hunger for the bread of father's house. Therefore we            Here it is: A new heart  aIso  wilI I give you and
may rightly conclude that this famine is sent of God. a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away


                                    T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                               483

the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you confesses his unworthiness to be- called a son of God,
an heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within but he does address him as Father.
you and cause you to walk in my, statutes and ye shall       Ah, the boy .could  not do otherwise. Father dwelled
keep My judgments and do them.,                           within him; it is the Spirit of `adoption through the
   And  then  shall ye remember your own evil ways . which we cry :Abba! Beloved Father!
and your doings that were not good, and shall loath          But the picture' is not yet complete: Father will
yourselves in your own sight for your iniguities and not even answer his confession, at least not to him.
for your abominations! Ez. 3626, 27, 31.                  He is silent in  Bis lovingkindness. But He does ad-
   There,-that portion, of the speech of God Himself dress Himself to the' servants : Are they ,perhaps  the
is a nice commentary on the speech of the Prodigal angels? At any rate: What do you say, My son? NY
Son. It shows that also the conversion of God's people more worthy? Well then, I will give you the  wor?!z
is wrought by the Spirit of God. And only in that of another: Servants .bring hither the best robe, the
way will God receive all the glory. Jesus said it also robe `of priority: the fine white linen of justification
in another place: No man can come to Me, except the which My Son Jesus Christ has earned for just such
Father which hath sent Me, draw him ! 0, always sinners as this, my boy. And again, get  \the ring of
remember that our God must have all the praise for the sealed faith and put it on his hand.
the way of salvation, because  of  Him,  through  Him,       And instead of being a hired servant in the house
and unto `Him are all things!                             of his Father, he shall put on his feet the shoes of
                                                          the service of his ,God  !
                                                            Moreover, bring hither the fatted calf; slay it and
                                                          prepare it and let us be merry, for this my son was
   Well, the young man arose, and  came to his father. dead and is alive again, he was lost and he is found!
                                                             Yes, my friends, and they did begin to be merry!
   That was a difficult journey. The closer he came           It is the merriment of heaven. The glee of the
to the house of God, the slower he walked. And I can angels. The song of adoration before the face of
understand it and so can you if you have walked this God.
same journey.                                                 Is there someone among those who read this that is
   David would say : I dare not raise mine eyes !         weary and heavy laden?  Are, you thirsty for living
Shame does cover our faces. This father had been water  ,or hungry for the bread of Father's house?
so wonderfully good to us and we were so abominably          Are you?
wicked.                                                       Then this parable is especially for you. Arise and
   But, o wonder, continue the story and you will go to the Father: He shall run to meet you, fall on
sing of gladness: When this boy was yet a great. way your neck and kiss you.
off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran,         His gladness and the angels' gladness, together with
and fell on his neck and.kissed  him.                     the gladness of your marvelling soul shall make heaven
   What tender love of father! What wonders of musical forever !
compassion !                                                                                                 G. Vos.
   When he was yet a great way off.                                                *  *  *  *
   Yes, father had never forgotten the son and we
must notice the fine point here that father stood at
the gate, waiting.                                                         WEDDING   -ANNIVERSARY
   Oh, we know it, father knew he was on the way            0-n August 25, our beloved  parents
and expected him. And he evidently saw the slow                             Mr. and Mrs. Albert Rhoda
approach, the shameful, embarrassed behaviour of the :elebrated  their 25th wedding anniversary.
penitent.                                                   As each `year  goes by we realize the blessing that is ours in
   Imagine, God running to meet you when you are having Christian parents.
ashamed to come to Him. And that embrace and the            Our'  prayer  is that in the years to come God's grace may
kiss of God is Jesus Christ the Lord. And that kiss       richly dwell in them, and that they may have the peace uf God
                                                          which passeth all understanding.
of God. is purchased by the blood of His heart.                                  Their grateful children:
   Eternal love of God founded on the cross of Cal-                                       Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Rhoda
vary. What miracle of grace and beauty !                                                 Robert
   Well, the boy begins to stammer his confession:                                       Jeanette
Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight,                                    David
and am no more worthy to be called thy son !                                             W i l l i a m
   That confession is born of the love of God in his                                     Richard
                                                                                         Ronald
heart. But there is a pathetic contradiction here: he Ho+nd, Michigan


484                                                                                                              T H E   S T A N D A R D  #BEARER

                                 The StandardBearer
           Semi-Monthly,   except  Monthly   in  July  and  August                                                                                                                              E D I T O R I A L S
                                                                                                                                                                                      6
                                                     Published   By
                       The  Reformed   Free  Publishing  Association
                              `Box  124,  Sk.  C.,  Grand  Rapids,  Mick                                                                                                                             The Convention
                                      EDITOR  : -  Rev.  H.  Hoeksema.
Contributing   Editors:  - Rev. G. M. Ophoff, Rev. G. Vos, Rev.                                                                                                                            Most of my readers know to which convention I
R. Veldman, Rev. H. Veldman, Rev. H. De Wolf, Rev. B. Kok,                                                                                                                            refer in the heading of this editorial. It is the Con-
Rev. J. D. De Jong, Rev. A. Petter, Rev. C. Hanko, Rev. L.
Vermeer, Rev. G. Lubbers, Rev. M. Gritters, Rev. J. A. Heys,                                                                                                                          vention of the Federated Young People's Societies in
Rev. W. Hofman.                                                                                                                                                                       our Protestant Reformed Churches. It was the Tenth
     Communications relative to contents should be addressed to                                                                                                                       Convention.
REV. H. HOEKSEMA, 1139 Franklin St., S. E., Grand Rapids,                                                                                                                                  The writer attended the Convention and would give
Michigan.                                                                                                                                                                             you a brief report, and more than a report.
     Communications relative to subscription should be addressed                                                                                                                           I can understand the expressed sentiment of the
to Mr. J. BOUWMAN, 832 Reynard St., S. E., Grand Rapids 7,                                                                                                                            main speaker, the Rev. H. Hoeksema. He was about
Mich. Announcements and Obituaries must be mailed to the                                                                                                                              to give the inspirational address, the keynote speech.
above  address and will be published at a fee of $1.00 for each
notice.                                                                                                                                                                               In other words, his speech was supposed to enthuse
Renewals:-Unless a definite request for discontinuance is re-                                                                                                                         the convention, to inspire them, an inspiration which
ceived, it is assumed that the subscriber wishes his subscription                                                                                                                     would outlast the convention proper, and send the dele-
to continue without the formality of a renewal order.                                                                                                                                 gates and visitors home to their societies with renewed
Entered as Second Class Mail at Grand Rapids, Michigan.                                                                                                                               zeal for our beloved Protestant Reformed principles.
                                 (Subscription Price $2.50 per year)                                                                                                                  But, said he, the truth is that when I look upon this
                                                                                                                                                                                      vast throng of Protestant Reformed young people, you
                                                                                                                                                                                      enthuse me! You inspire me! And I feel the urge to
                                                                                                                                                                                      speak  ex tempore, being led by the wondrous inspira-
                                                                                                                                                                                      tion you have given and now give me !
                                                                                                                                                                                           However, the speaker did not follow the impulse.
                                                        CO'NTENTS                                                                                                                     He was convinced that it would be better to present
MEDITATION-                                                                                                                                                                           his prepared speech. And he did.
        The Prodigal Son . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 481                       As always, the speaker would present the young
                 Rev. Gerrit VOS                                                                                                                                                      people with an inspirational address, but he did not
EDITORIALS-                                                                                                                                                                           believe in the silly notion that inspiration consists in
        The Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . ..*.................*.....*.......... 484                                                  a cheap moving of the superficial feelings and emo-
                Rev. G.  VOS                                                                                                                                                          tions: he would endeavor to give them the wholesome
        De Nabijheid Van Het Einde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  ..486 inspiration which the Word of God alone can provide,
            _ Rev. H. Hoeksema                                                                                                                                                        namely, inspiration with contents: the very contents
OUR  DOCTRINE-                                                                                                                                                                        of the sound doctrine of the Word of God.
        The Idea Of Creation. (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . *.4x9                                                  And then he proceeded to unfold his theme. He
                 Rev. H. Veldman                                                                                                                                                      was supposed  .to speak of the "Significance of the
I'HE  DAY OF SHADOWS-                                                                      -                                                                                          Power of Godliness". The latter phrase was the theme
        David's Adultery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..-............... 493 of the convention, and was taken from II Tim. 3:5:
        David and Uriah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  ti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 495                 "Having the form of godliness, but denying the power
        I Have Loved You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  _ . . . . . . . . . .._. 497
                 Rev. G. M. Ophoff                                                                                                                                                    thereof: from such turn away."
                                                                                                                                                                                           The President of the convention, our genial col-
CONTRIBUTION-                                                                                                                                                                         league, the Rev. Bernard Kok, had read Dan. 6, the
        Contribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 498
                Rev. J.  W. Van Weelden                                                                                                                                               well-known history of Daniel in the lions'  .den, and
                                                                                                                                                                                      from it the speaker took his point of departure. He
SION'S  ZANGEN-
        Verlost Uit Het Diensthuis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 498                                                pointed out that in that history we see a manifestation
                                                                                                                                                                                      of the Power of Godliness. Daniel was so faithful in
FROM HOLY WRIT-                                                                                                                                                                       this virtue that even his enemies could find no occasion
        Exposition Of John 13:34-35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 501
                 Rev. Geo. C. Lubbers                                                                                                                                                 for accusation before the face of king Darius. And he
                                                                                                                                                                                      pointed out that there can be no manifestation of this
IN HIS  FEAR-                                                                                                                                                                         power of godliness without the essence of that power
        Called To His Praise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..-..................................  1593
                 Rev. J. Heys                                                                                                                                                         being present in a man. Then, after quoting several
                                                                                                                                                                                      texts where this power is mentioned, he pointed out
i


                                        T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                   485

that this virtue is found mostly in the pastoral epistles, God calls us unto the working out of our salvation just
showing hat this virtue is severely practical. It refers because He worketh in us to will and to do of His good
to our living.                                              pleasure ! Such was the sentiment expressed.
   Our speaker spoke on the theme and developed                And then godliness is'profitable for all things, then
three thoughts : I. Godliness  ; 2. Its power; and 3. Its we can walk `with God in all of our lives, then He is
exercise.                                                   with us and then all things work together for us unto
   Space forbids a detailed report, and therefore I will good! It  isthe God-ordained way unto eternal life!
restrict myself to the highlights of the speech.               It was truly inspirational. There was rapt atten-
   Under the first point he spoke on Godliness as being tion.
the Knowledge of God, of the true God, as manifested           I am sorry that space forbids me to give like treat-
in our Lord Jesus Christ; a deep and abiding conscious- ment to the other two' speeches. `The Rev. L. Vermeer
ness of this true ,God  in Christ; reverence, fear and spoke on. the Danger of Denying the Power of Godli-
love of this  ,God  ; and a practical manifestation of the ness, and the Rev. Peter De Boer spoke on the Possi-
above in every walk of life, and here he referred to that bility of Possessing the Power of Godliness. Both
well-known and favorite motto of Calvin:  Coram   Dee!      speeches were well worked out and were  listened to
Standing before the face of God ! Young People! in all with profound  interest'by  our young people.
the manifestation of your life, so live as standing be-        The Rev. Vermeer sounded a grave warning against
fore the face of God, in your church life, your social .having  the mere Form of Godliness while denying the
life, in your choice of life's partners, in business and power thereof. And he pointed to the context where
in every walk of life !                                     eighteen sins are enumerated, sins `which are com-
   Under the second point the speaker dwelled on this mitted by them who have the mere shell of godliness.
virtue as a power. And he highlighted this power in Unhappy people!
contrast to what the world calls power, emphasizing            Overagainst that we must shun them, and cling to
that this power is a spiritual power.        The power of the beautifully contrasted virtue, which is really the
Godliness has nothing to do with natural power such clinging love of God ! We must, by the power of godli-
as atom power, hydrogen power, electric, steam, air ness, determine and purpose in our hearts not to defile
and sea power. All this power is as grass. And we ourselves, `but to reach out for the Fountain of our life,
must never seek this kind of power. Our danger al- and that is the God of our salvation, such as we see His
ways lies in the assumption of this natural power. We Face ,in the Lord Jesus Christ !
must  definitely  look away from this unto Jesus Christ        Of great worth is the power of godliness!
the Lord. In Him this true power of Godliness had its          The Rev. De Boer spoke at our banquet. And it
beautiful climax: There never was any display of true was a treat for our young people and for' us to hear
power such as resided in Christ. He is the virtuous him. He spoke of the possibility to possess the won-
One par excellence. He always was faithful. In Him drous virtue of godliness.
Corccm  Dee had its highest manifestation. He always           He posed the question: How can I as covenant
stood before God's face consciously. And did all to His youth possess'this wonderful virtue?
glory and honor.                                               The answer he found in I Tim. 4 :7, 8 : "But refuse
   Power of godliness is the power of contentment:          profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself
a surrender to God's way always !                           rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth
   Power of Godliness is a quiet and peaceable life ;' little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, hav-
no strikes or boycotts as we see around us in the in-       ing promise of the life that now is, and of that which
dustry and labor circles today.                             is to come."
   The Power of Godliness causes us to stand before            He emphssizesd  the two words exercise  and thyself,
God's face so as to perform our part in the Covenant,       and then enlightened the youth about this procedure by
as referred to in the Baptism form.                         enumerating and explaining a few Do's and Don't's.
   And finally, the speaker gave us his convictions on         Do not lose self in bodily exercise, though good in
the third question, namely, the Exercise of this Power ,itself.
of Godliness.                                                  Do not believe profane and old wives' tales, which
   It does not mean a weak, sickly, mystical contem-
plation or some such silly notion. The power of godli- is undoubtedly false doctrine.
ness is something severely practical: we must be con-          Do take an active part in the institution of the
scious, active Christian Calvinists.                        preaching of the Word. Be always there, and actively
   The words of admonition which lie in the text of listen to the glorious Word.
the Convention is an appeal of the Word of God unto            Do take active interest in society life. Exercise
the work which God has begun in our hearts and yourselves in the work of the society of young people.
minds. This power is not in words but in deed ! Our            Do practice the grace and the virtue of godliness


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by the grace of God ! In friends, companions, in all
of your lives !                                                          De Nabijheid Van Het Einde
       And all of this through the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ.                                                                Door velen, die uit de Schrift leven, en  hunnen
       A word of appreciation for two persons or group wandel "eerlijk houden onder de heidenen," en die
of persons.                                                         ernst  maken met de belofte van de toekomst van onzen
       First for the outstanding leadership of our presi- Heere Jezus Christus, wordt onze tijd aangevoeld `als
dent, the Rev. Bernard Kok. To no little extent the in bijzonderen zin des woords eschatologisch.  Ik zeg
success of the convention was due to his spirit of kind- "aangevoeld", want de indruk, dat we leven in het
ness, friendliness and loving devotion to the call that laatst der dagen, dat het einde aller dingen  niet ver
came to him in this .presidency.          He quitted himself kan zijn, en dat de Heere  Zich haast om te komen, en
of this task to an admirable degree. Personally I am te verschijnen in Zijne heerlijkheid, is niet zoozeer het
sorry that we cannot have him as our perennial presi- gevolg van opzettelijke berekening, als van een  spon-
dent. In one word : he is good !                                    taan "aanvoelen" van het bijzonder karakter van den
       And here my conscience strikes me: How about tijd, waarin we leven door hen, die, levend uit Gods
that fine young man, that personal friend of mine:                  Woord, de verwachting van de toekomst van  onzen
Johnnie.  Hofman ! ? How must that foregoing  state-                Heere Jezus  Christus als eene levende hope in de ziel
ment make him feel? For you must know that he was, dragen,  en die met de Bruid aller eeuwen bidden:
chosen to take the place of the Rev. Kok.                           "Kom,  Heere Jezus !" De geweldige dingen  die rondom
       No slight was intended!                                      ons in de wereld geschieden, de openbaring der geesten,
       Let me make amends, if needs be, by saying this:             de zucht naar gelijkschakeling en vereeniging, de gees-
perhaps John will make an even better president than telijke oppervlakkigheid, die allerwege  zich openbaart,
our friend Bern. If so, he will be a very good one. de toenemende liefde tot de wereld en tot de  dingen  die
And we wish him and our beloved Protestant  Reform-                 in de wereld zijn,-deze en andere kenmerken van den
ed youth our Covenant God's choicest blessings `for the geest des tijds maken den indruk, dat we leven in de
coming season !                                                     dagen, die onmiddelijk aan de komst van onzen  Heiland
       And finally, we must mention the group of persons op de wolken des hemels vooraf gaan. Luider, en met
of the Second Church with their able minister, the Rev. sterker aandrang dan ooit roept de Schrift ons toe,
John Blankespoor !       They spent many weary hours,               door de dingen,  die geschieden : "Het  einde aller dingen
before and during the convention, in order to make it is nabij; zijt dan nuchteren, en waakt in de gebeden."
the success we witnessed.                                              De vraag komt echter op of deze indruk in het licht
       To them I would say: all that work, done as unto der Schrift te rechtvaardigen is, en of we ons van dit
our God, shall not be without its reward. There is                  "aanvoelen" van onzen tijd als in bijzonderen zin des
a reward which you have in our hearts. We value your woords eschatologisch rekenschap kunnen geven. En
work highly. And there is reward with Jesus: He bovendien, bijaldien dit werkelijk het geval mocht zijn,
carries it in His heart, and He shall reveal it in His is bet een niet minder  ernstige vraag, welke beteekenis
glorious Day !                                                      dit bijzonder eschatologisch karakter van onze dagen
                                                     G. Vos.        heeft voor ons leven in de wereld. Tot welke levens-
                                                                    , houding dringt en roept ons de verwachting van de
                         *  *  *  *                                 toekomst des Heeren?
                                                                       Wat bet eerste bet&t, mag in het algemeen worden
                                                                    opgemerkt, dat de Schrift heel de tegenwoordige be-
                       IN MEMORIAM                                  deeling doorgaans voorstelt als staande in het teeken
  On the evening of the 4th of fily, it pleased God to take unto    van de toekomst des Heeren. Ze wordt door die toe-
EIis eternal home our beloved husband and father,                   komst beheerscht. Altijd  worden  de geloovigen  ge-
                                                                    roepen  om als in die toekomst te leven en te wandelen
                          Peter Visser                              in het midden  der wereld. In zijne prediking op den
at the age of 44 years and `7 days.                                 Pinksterdag verklaart  de apostel Petrus de teekenen
  Our loss is great and  $ainfully  felt, yet we are &nforted in    en wonderen, die de uitstorting  des Heiligen *Geestes
the knowledge that death for hi was gain, and that God doeth        vergezelden, als behoorende tot den aanvang van den
all things well.                                                    dag des  Heeren,  waarvan reeds Joel had geprofeteerd.
                     The sorrowing family,                          Heel deze bedeeling wordt daardoor vooral gekenmerkt,
                             Mrs.  Dena  Vissei                     dat de Heere is komende op de wolken des hemels.
                             Mr. and Mrs. Harold De Groot           Had Hijzelf niet getuigd voor den hoogepriester : "Van
                              Joan                                  nu aan zult gij zien den Zoon des menschen, zittende
                              Arlene
                              Linda                                 aan de rechterhand der kracht Gods, en komende met


                                          T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                         489

~      En wat is, als het we1 is, de vrucht van  dezen  in-
,druk, dat het einde aller dingen  nabij is, en van deze
sferke verwachting van de  toekomst  des Heeren?                            OUR, DOCTRINE  I  :L-
Zeker niet, dat we nu maar lijdelijk gaan wachten op
de komst van den  Zaligmaker,  en  onze  roeping  ver-
waarloozen.           :Integendeel,  met  bet oog op die komst           The Idea Of Chatioi (4)
zdllen we juist  als voor het aangezicht des Heeren
leven, en in elke levensfeer onze roeping  zoo getrouw                The Creation  Of  The World, An Act  Of  God's
mogelijk betrachten, overvloedig zijnde in het werk                                 Omnipotent        Will.       -
des Heeren, wetende, dat onze arbeid niet ijdel is in                We noted, in our previous article, that the creation
den Heere. Bovendien zullen we waken en bidden, en of the universe constitutes a difficult and unfathom-
houden hetgeen we hebben, opdat niemand  onze kroon               able problem. Many questions have been asked with
neme.           De Heere waarschuwt  `ens, dat es dagen te respect to the beginning of the world and various ans-
verwachten  zijn, waarin zelfs de uitverkorenen  ver-             wers have been `given. We concluded the article' with
leid zouden  worden,  indien  bet  ,mogelijk  ware.  Het the observation that the Lord does all thingsw'as  He
past ons dus  op onze  ,hoede   teezijn.  Tegenover den pleases and according to sovereign and unfathomable
geest onzes tijds, en `de t'endenz  om alles te vervlakken wisdom.                                              -i.r
en gelijk te schakelen; `alIe kerken te vereenigen ook               For the rest, it is neither wise nor edifying to con-
ten koste van de waarheid  Gods, sta ons ernstig pro- cern ourselves with questions which are not. answered
test, en houden we vast  aan de waarheid van Gids in Holy Writ, and which are asked merely for the sake
Woord. Niet in verflauwing der grenzen, maar veeleer of our own personal entertainment and to satisfy our
in de kennis van en het handhaven der goede  belijde-             own personal curiosity.
his, moet onze kracht  worden  gezocht. We  moeten
aandoen de volle wapenrusting Gods, opdat we den Furthermore, it is of the greatest importanc,e to main-
geestelijken strijd tot bet' einde toe `mogen  strijden,          tain that creation is an act of God's omnipotent q&l.
en alles verricht hebbende staande blijven. En zonder
den gordel'der  waarheid, zal die wapenrusting ons niet              In connection with this, we may call attention, first
baten,,`noch  ook  zonder  het zwaard des  Geestes,   het         of all, to the fact that God's creative act has. been
Woord van onzen  ,God.                               I            generally defined as a making of something out of
     :  ' En voorts zal de verwachting van den  `dag  d>s nothing. We read, for example, in Lord's Day 9, in
Heeren ons een spoorslag  zijn, om  adze kleederen  on-           connection with the first of the twelve articles of our
besmet te bewaren in het midden der wereld.  ' Want faith : "That the eternal Father of our Lord `Jesus
immers, het heerlijke-van die  ve`rwadhting  is bovenal,          Christ, Who of nothing made heaven and earth with
dat we, als Hij komt Hem gelijk zullen zijn. En een all that is in them. . . ." And in' the twelfth article
iegelijk, die deze hope op'Hem  heeft, die reinigt zich-          of our Confession of Faith we read, in part: "We
zelven'  gelijk Hij rein is! Zoo dan, mijne geliefde believe that the Father' by the Word, that .iS, by `His
breeders,'  weest;t:standvastig,  onbeweeglijk, altijd over-      Son, has created of nothing the heaven, the `earth, and
v&dig "zijnde  in het ierk des Heeren, als die weet,              all creatures, when it seemed good unto Him giving
d&t uw arbeid  niet ijdel is in den Heere !                       unto every creature its being, shape, form, and several
           1                                        H. H.         offices to serve its Creator; that He also still upholds
                                                                  and governs them by His eternal providence and in-
                                                                  finite power for the service of mankind, to the end
                                                                  that man may serve his God." .The difinition of crea-
                                                                  tion as that act of God whereby He made something
                                                                  out of nothing is therefore a very common definition.
                *'    MEMBERSHIP MEETING                             Moreover, one must approve the reason why this
      The Annual Membership., Meeting of the. Standard definition' was adopted. The fathers wished to express
Bearer will be held Thursday evening, September 28, with this definition that the act of creation was ex-
in, the basement of the First Prot.  Ref. Church. Board clusively Divine. The Lord, they would emphasize, is
m@nbers  are to be elected, reports will be given by the Creator; He did not merely form or mold sub-
Seqretary  and Treasurer, and other business conducted stances already present. `This would imply an eternal
the& might come before the, meeting.                              materialism. God simply created out of nothing; there
                                                                  was nothing; the Lord simply called everything into
      Please reserve this date and plan to attend.           '    b e i n g .
                                                                     This does not mean, however, that this definition
                              Reformed Free Publ. Ass'n.          should therefore continue to be accepted without critic-


 490                                   T H E   STAN'DARD   B E A R E R

 ism. We are able to lodge serious objections against was nothing outside of Him. He alone is from eter-
 it. First, it is purely negative and does not present nity.         We must also remember constantly that the
 to us the positive Scriptural idea. It does not inform Lord is the all-sufficient God and the absolute Good,
 us with respect to the true, actual significance of the    Who lacks nothing and is never in need of anything.
0 act of creation. We are simply told that  "to create In that  infinite God the Son is the expressed Image of
 means to make something out of nothing." But, the          His Person and eternal existence, the eternal and per-
 question remains: What, then, is the Divine act of fect reflection and shining forth of all the Divine per-
 Creation? Secondly, it is a fact that nowhere in Holy fection and attributes. The Lord knows Himself eter-
 Writ does the word, create, have this significance. nally out of the Father, in the Spirit, and through the
 In Genesis 1 the act of creation is presented as an ,Son. In the Son `God beholds Himself eternally in all
 act of the Lord's almighty speaking. In Ps. 33:6 we the glory and beauty of His eternal perfection, sees
 read : "By the word of the Lord were the heavens           and loves Himself eternally through the Son. The Son
 made; and all the host of them by the breath of His is the Word, the eternal and essential Logos or Word,
 mouth." And in Romans 4  :1'7 we read : " (As it is the essential and eternal "Word" of God, in Whom the
 written, I have made thee a father of many nations,)       Father, in the Spirit, speaks of His own infinite per-
 before Him whom he believed, even God, Who quicken-        fections even eternally, so that the Son is the expres-
 eth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as sion of all the thoughts of God, the eternal revelation
 though they were." And, thirdly, it is an undeniable of all the glorious perfections of <God's infinite being.
 fact that this definition does not apply to all the crea- Hence, that Son, that Word is also the Wisdom (Pro-
 tures which the Lord made. We know, e.g., that God verbs  8), because it is in and through that Word that
 did not make man out of nothing. And therefore this God sees and knows also eternally all the works of His
 definition was altered, and to it was added the idea hands. And it is in this sense that the eternal reality
 that to create means to make something out of noth-        of all things, God's counsel, lies in the everlasting God,
 ing or to make something out of entirely  `unfit ma- and that the Lord eternally sees and has before Him-
 terial.                                                    self the reality of all things.
        As far as the words are concerned whch are used        To create, therefore, is that act of God whereby the
 in Holy Writ (to denote the act of creating) we would      Lord, by an act of His omnipotent will, slices off, cuts
 remark the following. The words which appear in off the things which are eternally in His counsel, and
 the Hebrew Old Testament are:  bara, yatsar, and gives them an existence, not independent of Himself,
 asah, and in the Greek New Testament we have:              but nevertheless in essential distinction from His being,
 poiein,  platein, and ktizein. The words:  bara and so that God does not become the creature, but God and
 ktizein, mean literally: to split, to cut or carve, to cut the creature remain everlastingly distinctive. This is
 off, and in that sense: to form, bring forth, create,      important. To create, we say, is an act of God's omni-
 The other words give us the more general conception potent will. Creation, therefore, has been called by
of giving being and existence to something.          They that will of God into existence. Hence, the creation
 who would contend that the act of creation refers to must not be viewed as an emanation of God, did not
 the almighty power of God whereby He makes some- flow out of the Lord's very being, is not merely an
 thing out of nothing concede the fact that these words extension of the Lord, or the Lord as He comes to Self-
 are not merely used in Scripture in that actual sense consciousness and manifestation-this pantheistic con-
 of the word but also in a secondary sense, when the ception of the heavens and the earth is foreign to all
 Lord made use of material that was already in exist- the teachings of Holy Writ. Neither did God simply
ence,  but which could not of itself have produced the busy Himself with materials already present. We
 result indicated. If this latter be true, and it is, then have already noted that also this theory of an eternal
 we should certainly discard the definition that the        Materialism is contrary to the Word of the living God.
 act of creating is an act of God whereby He makes          It is simply a fact that the Lord, in the act of creation,
 something, out of nothing.                                 called, omnipotently, the things into being and exist-
        Bearing in mind that. the words:  bara and ktizein, ence.
 mean literally: to cut, cut off, we would interpret the       Besides, this idea of creating is surely according to
 act of creating as that act of Jehovah whereby He by the Word of God. That the act of creating is an act
 an act of His omnipotent wiil cut the things off His       of God's almighty, omnipotent will, that all things
 et,ernal counsel, thereby called them into existence, owe their existence to this irresistible word, calling
 not as if they now. exist independently of the ILord but of God, appears first of all, from the Scriptural ac-
 nevertheless in essential distinction from His own count of creation in Genesis 1. Reading this chapter.
 Divine Being. We must bear in mind that before the we must be struck by the fact that repeatedly we road :
 beginning of the world God  S, not that He was (to         "And God said". Moreover, this is also verified by the
 which we have already called attention). Also, there rest of the Word of God. We read in Ps.  33:6: "By


                                    T H E   S T A N D A R D   .BEARER                                          461

the word of the Lord were the heavens  made ; and all realizes the counsel of His election ,in the others whom
the host of them by the breath of His mouth." In the Father has eternally given unto Him. Our speak-
Romans 4 :17 we read : "(As it is written, I have made ing is always concerning the things that are ; God's
thee a father of many nations,) before Him Whom speaking is always creative, therefore wholly sover-
He believed, even God, Who quickeneth the dead, and eign, and for this reason also strictly unconditional,
calleth those things which be not as though they were." exactly because this speaking of the Lord never follows
And the same thought is expressed in Isaiah 48 :13 :       upon the things, always precedes them, and is there-
"Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of tl-e earth, fore never conditioned by anything. How is it possible
and My right hand hath spanned the heavens: mhdn  I to speak of "conditions" when the speaking of the
call unto them, they stand up together."                   Lord is irresistible and always first?
   Hence, when God created the heavens and the earth,
and all the things that are therein, He called into                             T h e   C r e a t o r .
being the things that are not as if they were. We,
being creatures, call the things that are, speak only      We  must beware of the error,of  T&theism.
of the things that exist. The things must exist `before       Tritheism' is a word which means literally: three
we are able to speak of them. This lies in the nature gods. The Father is indeed the Creator of heaven and
of the case. We ourselves are creatures and can there- earth, but this, then, must not merely be understood
fore only speak of the things that exist. Only, the as referring to the first Person of the Trinity. That
same characteristic is often ascribed to the living God. the Father created the heavens and the earth is readily
Election, then, is the eternal love of God which is understood, but this is often regarded as referring to
based upon foreseen faith, and Reprobation is based        the first Person of the blessed Trinity.
upon foreseen unbelief. God saw beforehand who                Neither is the error of Tritheism taught in our                        `I"
would and who would not believe. He elected those Confessions.  i It is true, that, reading them hastily
who would believe and reprobated the others who and superficially, one might be tempted to draw this                            ,
would not believe. The point is, that the faith of some con&lusion.  We read, e.g. in Art. 8 of our Confession .
and the unbelief of others precede the Lord's election of Faith: YAccording to this truth and this Word of
and reprobation.    Man's faith or unbelief is first; God, we believe in one only God, Who is the. one single
the  ,Lord's  counsel of election and reprobation follows. essence, in which are three persons, really, truly, and
Hence, the existence of things (the faith and unbelief eternally distinct according to their incommunicable
of men) is first, precedes God's knowledge of them. properties ; namely, the Father, and the Son, and the
This, we understand, is the arminian conception of Holy Spirit. The Father is the cause, origin, and the
God's counsel of, election and reprobation. Man, we beginning of all things visible and invisible ; the Son
have noted, knows the things only after they,  eixst. is the word, wisdom,  and image of the Father; the
Now he proceeds to apply the same principle to the Holy Spirit is the eternal power and might, proceding
living God. Wicked man has simply made a "God" from the Father and the Son." It might appear from
like unto himself. God, however, is God. His speak- this article that the cause and origin and beginning
ing does not follow upon the things but precedes them, of all things is attributed to the first Person of the
is always first. He` speaks the things and therefore Trinity. Besides, the first article of our twelve articles       `
they exist. His' speaking precedes the things and is of faith reads: "I believe in God, the Father, Almighty,
the cause of their existence. Thus it was in creation. Creator of heaven and earth." Moreover, reading our
God spake and the heavens and the  .earth   apd all the Heidelberg Catechism superficially, one might be
things that are therein received their being. This tempted to draw the conclusion that also its authors
Divine speaking also applies to the preaching of the believed in a certain Tritheism. Answer 24, in con- .
Gospel. Always through the gospel the Lord speaks nection  with the question concerning the division of
and it is, He commands and it stands. Even as He the twelve artcles  of faith, reads: "Into three parts:
spoke the light in the week of creation and that crea- the first js of God the Father and our creation ; the
ture received its being, so the Lord also speaks light, second of God the Son and our  ,,redemption  ; the third
spiritual light in the sin-darkened hearts of His elect of God the Holy Spirit and our sanctification." And
people, life in their hearts of death, the love of God in Lord's Day 9, in answer to the question, "What do
in their hearts of hatred and enmity. God calls, irre- you believe when you say: I believe in God'the Father,
sistibly, and we come unto Him. And even as the Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth?", we read:
Lord works sovereignly and speaks irresistibly in the "That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
hearts of His elect people, so He also loperates sover- Who of nothing made heaven and earth with all that
eignly in them whom He has hated and reprobated is in them, Who likewise upholds and governs the same
from before the foundation of the world, and works by His eternal counsel and providence, is for the sake                  (
out His counsel of reprobation in them, even as He of Christ His Son my God and my Father. . . ."


 692                                  T H E   S T A N D A R D  <BEARER

   However, it is abundantly clear that our fathers did Holy Ghost Who sanctifies us immediately or through
 not believe in the error of, Tritheism. Already in the Whom our sanctification is  immedjately  affected."
 same eighth artiqle of. our Confession of Faith which And in reply to a similar objection he writes: "The
 we. quoted in part' we read : Nevertheless, God is not Divine works are indivisible, but the order and manner
 by this distinction divided into three, since the Holy of operation or working proper to each of the three
 Scriptures teach us. that the Father; and the Son, and persons must be maintained. For all the Divine per-
 the Holy Spirit have each His personality, distinguish- sons perform the outgoing works of God ; but the fol-
 ed by Their properties ; but in such wise that these lowing order must be maintained: the Father does all
 three persons are but one only God." That the error things of Himself through the Son and the Holy Ghost,
 of Tritheism is not taught in the  Peidelberg  Catechism the Son does all things of the Father and through the
 is also abundantly clear. In Lord's Day 8, .in answer Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost does all things of the
 to the question: Since there is but one Divine Being, Father and the Son through Himself. It follows there-
 why do you speak of three, Father, Son, and Holy fore that all the  ,persons  create, redeem, and sanctify:
 Spirit ?, we read: "Because God has's0  revealed Him- the Father mediately through the Son and the Holy
 self in His Word that these three distinct Persons are Ghost; the Son mediately through the Holy Ghost;
 the one, true, and eternal God." Obviously the purpose the Holy $Ghost  immediately through Himself, mediate-
 of this answer is to maintain that the three distinct ly through the Son, in so far as the latter is mediator."
 Persons are the only true and eternal God, and that, This quotation speaks for itself. Ursinus declares
 therefore, these three, Persons, although to be dis- here, e.g., that he rejects the conclusion which some
 tinguished, are never. to. be separated in any work of deduct from the Catechism, namely, that creation is
 God's hands. They, do not constitute three individual ascribed to the Father, redemption to the Son, `and
 gods (this would be Tritheism) but always the one sanctifi+ion to the Holy Spirit in the exclusive sense
 only true God.  i                                          of the word, so that each of these works belongs ex-
        Besides, that the Heidelberg Catechism does not clusively to the Person to which it is ascribed. This
 intend to teach the error of Tritheism is also evident distinction merely ! indicates the order of operation
 from the explanation of the Heidelberg Catechism by proper to the Persons of the Godhead. That the
 Ursinus in his "Schatboek", his explanation of the Father is presented here as  the,Creator  is merely be-
 Catechism, and we quote this quotation of Ursinus cause a creator reminds one of the beginning, from
 as it appears in the book of Rev. H. Hoeksema, "God's whom all things are ; and whereas the Father in the
 Way Out", pages 119-120. Ursinus, in his Schatbo'ek,       Trinity  ,is the source of the  G.odhead,  therefore the
 meets the following objection: "Creation is here as- work, of creation is  .ascribed  to Him. The Son is He
 cribed to the Father, redemption to tpe Son, sanctifica- Who personally assumes our flesh and blood, suffers
 tion to the Holy Ghost. Therefore the Son and  the and dies. And the Holy Spirit is He Who establishes
 Holy Ghost did not create heaven and earth ; neither dwelling in our hearts, to live within us and. within
 did the Father and the Holy Ghost redeem the human the Church forever. But this does not mean, however,
 race; nor do the Father and the Son sanctify the that all these works do not belong to all three Persons.
 believers."    And this objection Ursinus answers as The truth is surely that the ,Triune  God creates, the
 follows : "We deny the consequence which is here, de- Triune God redeems, the Triune God sanctifies. And
 duced, for creation is ascribed to the Father, redemp- this thought is repeated by Ursinus in the latter quota-
 tion to the Son, sanctification to .the Holy Ghost, not tion. We read, do we not : "For all the Divine Persons
 exclusively, i.e., in such a manner hat these works do perform the outgoing  works. of God. . . .the Father
 not properly belong to all persons. . . . By this  dis- does all things of Himself through the Son and the
.  tinction  is merely indicated the order of operation Holy Ghost, the Son does all things of the Father and
 proper to the persons of the Godhead. To the Father through the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost doesall things
 is ascribed the work of creation, not exclusively or to of the Father and of the, Son and through Himself.
 Him alone, but because He is the source of the God- It follows therefore that all the Persons create, redeem,
 head, and of all the Divine works, and therefore also and sanctify."          It is evident, therefore, from these
 of creation. For all things He did, indeed, create out quotations that the error of_Tritheism  was far from
 of Himself through the Son and the Holy Ghost. Re- the minds of the authors of the Heidelberg Catechism.
 demption is ascribed to. the Son, not exclusively or to                                               H. Veldman.
 Him alone, but because it is the Son Who immediately
 performs the work of redemption. For the Son only                                    NOTICE!
 is become a ransom for our sins, He alone paid the            Classis  West of the  Protestartt   Reformed Churches meets
 price for us at His cross, not the Father, nor the Holy Wednesday,  September  6, at  Oska.loosa, Iowa, at 9:00 A. M.
                                                             Lodging reservations to be arranged with P. T.  Keldemnan,
 Ghost. Sanctification is ascribed to the Holy Ghost, R. R. 2, Oskaloosa, Iowa.                                         : L
 not exclusively or to Him alone, but because it is the                                               IN. Gritters, S. C.


                                      T H E   S T A N D A R D   BEARj3.R"                                         493

                                                              thing amiss. How then  could he ,;have been taking
            THEI  DAY  OFSHADOWS                              upon his lips that language.
                                                                 It happened in an evil hour on,,&r"evening.     David
                                                              had spent some hours in repose,.. Rising from his bed,
                                                              he walked on the roof of "the  king%.   :house',' which
                 David's Adultery                             must have been built on the edge of  I@,. Zion, so that
                                                              one could thence look down into the.court  of the Lower
                                                              City, where was the house of Uriah. David was not
     David's fall was deep. He committed adultery and long up and about on the roof of.. his house when he
 followed it up with murder. He committed those sins looked down thoughtlessly,- without, evil intent, it should
 not alone in thought and inclination, of heart, but in be supposed. But in the language of the proverb, he
 the deed as well. He could come to that only by de-          should have let his eyes look right on and his eyelids
 liberately stifling conscience and by voluntarily giving straight  .ahead  (Prov. 4  :25). For looking down he
 the reins to his awakened lusts. iris sinning was found himself peering, like some  ,modern  window-
 gross.      In degree of intensity, ~ blood-guiltiness, and peeker, into exposed places of his neighbors' houses,-
 dogged opposition to God's law, it was a different sin- places exposed to his eye because of his elevated posi-
 ning than that on which the apostle delineates when, tion. .The result was that "he saw a woman washing
 speaking from experience, he complains, "For what I herself ." As a partial explanation of his reaction, the
 do I allow not: for what I would, that I do not; ,but        text reveals that the "woman was .very,  beautiful to
 what I hate, that I do (Rom. 7 :15)  ." Reference here look upon." Itmust not be supposed that her purpose
 is to the involuntary  riotings of the sinful flesh of       in bathing there was, to attract his attention. For
 the saints. The apostle must not be taken to mean that would make her ,a profliga;te.  Besides, there is
 that, despite his earnest endeavor to lead, by the grace     no basis for such an assumption. . .:,
 of Christ, a godly life, he was walking in all manner           Seeing the woman, he wanted her for himself. But
 of `gross sins, which are a disgrace to the  church,,~and_ whose daughter was she? And, if married, who was
 worthy of punishment by the authorities. Any man her husband? He had need of knowing. So he "sent
 can curb his lusts and live decently. That requires no ,(his servant in waiting) and inquired after the wo-
 grace. The ungodly do it right along, clean the `out- man" of the personnel of his court and not of the
 side of the platter, so.to speak, out of considerations of neighbors of the woman, it is best to assume. That
 self-advantage. But no man can stop sinning. The' the answer returned was in the form of a negative
 saints in this life cannot stop sinning. Despite their question may indicate that the woman-was otherwise
 hatred of sin for Christ's sake, and all their efforts to
 be holy, they feel many infirmities and miseries in kllOWlL            It also may denote surprise at the king's
                                                              interest in her: They said,  `,`Is not this Bathsheba,
 themselves. Their'faith is imperfect. They lack zeal, the. daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah, the Hittite?
 in the service of C&d;' Sin, they find, works in them        On hearing this he did not lose interest in the woman
 all manner of concupiscence, tainting all their good and dismiss her from his mind. On the contrary, the
 works. When they would do good, evil is present with relayed information caused him to take further and
 them, as a law, a necessity, not to be repelled, bring- instant action. For the;narrator  goes on next to relate
 ing them against their will into captivity to the law without a. single interposing statement, "And David
 of sin which is in their members. Such is their com- sent messengers and took her. . . .~" that same even-
 plaint.                r  -,'  :                             ing, it' may be. The notice, "And she came in unto
     But a man must be a: saint, and the ,saint must be       him," negates the assumption that she was carried off
`spiritual `and not  carna&so  to complain, and to be by force. The use of force, was not necessary. For
 allowed so to- complain.,! Under the constraint of there was no reason, known to the woman, why she
 Christ's love, he must be-putting on Christ. That should have refused to see the king. For ,David, cer-
, David did not do at the time. On the contrary, he tainly, was keeping his designs on her locked;$  his
 yielded himself to his lusts;,and  allowed them to sweep bosom. `They were known only to himself.  cSo the
 him into the deeps of sin and hell. What folly, what woman went to David in willing obedience to his sum-
 hypocrisy it would have been for him to have wailed mons as little suspecting what he w,anted  of her.                  1
 at the time, `what I would71ive for Christ'and walk             But if she was a virtuous woman, and it must be
 in newness of life-1 do not,; but what I hate-appro- assumed that she otherwise was, `how did David get
 priate in my carnality my neighbor's wife-that I do,' his way with her? By a false emphasis on his royal
 and then to have followed up that wail.with the prayer, authority, it must be, and by threats, and flattery.
 `0 wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from There was no other way. And she as motivated by
 the. body of, this death.' For a,;long  time he refused fear, and ,perhnps  by vanity and ambition, submitted
 to admit to himself, and to God *that  he had done  any-     herself .to David with little, if any, opposition, And so


4 9 4                                T H E   STANDARD:,sBEARER

she participated in his guilt. For she could have dis- the category of wicked men of whom the prophet says
armed his lust by right argument directed to the man that they assembled themselves by troops in harlots'
of God in him. As a,last  resortshe could have warned houses ; that as fed horses in the morning every one
that she would expose him through crying out.                of them neighed after his neighbor's wife (Jer. 5  :8, 9).
   Uriah; so the text reveals, was a Hittite. Being a           Yet, certainly, he was far from being a more or
Hittite, the race of men to which he belonged was one less innocent victim of his lusts. His eyes had lighted
of the group of  Several'Canaanite  nations originally on the woman as by chance and not by the direction
marked `by the ban of God for destruction.         "Thou of his will. But from  athis point on he did voluntarily
shalt utterly destroy them." So at Deut.  30:17.  The pursue sin. He looked on the woman again now with
nations named for extirpation include also the  Hittites.    eyes filled with adulteries. Not only that. Setting
All the humans without distinction of sex and age had his vile imaginings, his perverse thought-images, be-
to be smitten by the sword. No covenant might be fore his mind's eye, he held them there, and he there-
made with these peoples. No mercy might be shown by persisted in arousing and stimulating his lust, until,
them. Marriages with them were strictly forbidden. as overwhelm,ed  by his lust, he could no longer' resist
And the reason given is "that they teach you not to do the temptation to give it expression.
after their abominations (Deut. 7 :l-4).                        But why, if David was a believer, did he submit
    In the light of this data it is not hard to imagine      himself to his lusts and take the woman, instead of
the reasoning to which David resorted in his attempt following the impulses `of the man of God in him and
to justify his appropriating Uriah's wife. Uriah was getting himself in hand? To say that he was carnal
a .Hittite  under the curse of God. On this account his is but to state the reason in David;  it is not to give the
union with Bathsheba was invalid and non-existent full explanation of his fall. The always returning
in God's sight, and therefore any `Jew could take her question is why, instead of opposing his carnal self,.
without clashing with the divine prohibition: Thou he allowed it full expression. It is plain that to ade-
shalt not commit adultery.      That such was David's ~ quately explain David's fall-his taking his neighbor's
reasoning is clearly suggested by the text. On learn- wife-we must end with it in  aGod. God temporarily
ing that Uriah was a Hittite, so the text reveals, he        gave him up to uncleanness through the lusts of his
in all likelihood the same evening sent messengers and flesh to do the thing not convenient. Why did God do
took her.                                                    that? In Rom. 1 we read of God giving up the heathen
    But David's reasoning was false. From Uriah's -to. uncleanness through the lust. of their own hearts
head the ban of God had been lifted. For possessing, to dishonour their  o-&r  bodies between themselves.
as he did, the tiircumcision of the heart he was a Jew We know why God did that. The reason is stated.
in the true sense.    His marriage, therefore, was a They glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful.
sacred thing. But this is not saying that if Uriah had They changed the truth of God into a lie. . . They
been an avowed heathen, it would have been allowable did not like to retain  ,God in their knowledge. Had
for David to take his wife.                                  David in some measure similarly been offending? The
    There is a reason why David tried to justify his Lord had taken him from deepest obscurity and set
doing before the bar of his conscience and..before  the him in a throne, even making him the head of the
tribunal of God. The reason is that he was filled with heathen, so that a people which he knew not served
dread of God's anger. He wanted to enjoy the pleasures him and strangers submitted themselves to him (2
of sin with impunity and in peace of heart and mind, Sam. 22 :44). His military successes had been astound-
which, of course, is impossible as he was made to ex- ing. He had overthrown all the nations that had been
perience.                                                    menacing Israel from north to south. On their ruins!
    Yet, however unspiritual, David was not  wick,ed at he had founded an empire as vast as any of the great
heart. He was not in his sinning seated in the chair kings of the East. Had David in the midst of this pros-
of scorners, with his mouth set against heaven and perity and glory exalted himself in his heart against
with all his thoughts being that there is  ,no God. On God? Hezekiah, like David, excelled as a God-fearing  2
the contrary, though according to his sinful flesh he, king. `!He did  that which was right in the sight of
in the words of Nathan, was despising God's com- the Lord,  accordmg  to all that his father did. . . .
mandment, he was a believer also in his fall. The love He trusted in the Lord God of Israel ; so that after
of Christ was in .him, so that, as to the heart ,of his him was none like, him among all the kings of Judah,
dispositions, he still feared God, delighted in His law, nor any that were before him. For he  clave to the
and hated sin, including his contemplated adultery. Lord and departed not from following him, but kept
Even his vain attempt to justify in the sight of God his commandments,  dvhich  the Lord commanded Moses"
his adultery, however carnal by itself, sustains this        (2 Kings 18 :2-7). This was Hezekiah. Yet it is also
judgment of the man. He had not pursued sin; but stated of him that, as healed and saved of God from
he had been surprised by sin. He must not be put in ;the hands of the Assyrians, "he rendered not again


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                                                        ---..-        -'                                                                                            `---     "     :           "-
                                                           ..-.  -          `I                  _.            ,.                                                                          "




1


                                           T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                                                                        495

        according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart things. It is well, if only the spectacle of David's vile `
        was lifted up." 1 Not until the wrath of God was upon doings does not cause us to say by ourselves: God, I
        him did he humble himself for the pride of his heart thank thee, that I am not as other men. . . . or even
        (2 Chron. 32 :24-26). David was a sinful man. Would as this David. That is what the Pharisee said. But
        it be so strange if his heart was lifted up?                              let us instead smite the breast and say: God be merci-
              Is there anything recorded of David that plainly ful to me a sinner. For that is what David said later
        points to this? There is. First to be mentioned is his                    as a penitent.                          And David was justified. But the                                     '
        polygamy. Knowing that one day the people of Israel Pharisee went to perdition, though he may have been
        was to be ruled by a king, Moses, speaking for God, a paragon of virtue. Many of them were.
        had said, "Neither shall he-the king-multiply wives                         There are sins worse than David's adultery. To
        to himself, that his heart turn not away"  (`Dem.                         refuse to repent of sin is worse. Men go lost for that,
        17 :17). Yet, in willing ignorance of this divine pro- however decent and respectable they may be. But
        hibition, when he perceived that the Lord had estab- they who repent and forsake their sins are saved, be
        lished him king over Israel, and shortly after his re-                    they publicans and sinners.
        moval of the seat of his government from Hebron to                               Not  Iike David? Paul did not say that. "I am
        Jerusalem, he "took him more concubines and wives carnal, sold under sin," is `what he said. And he
        out of Jerusalem" (2 Sam.  5:12,  13) ) . His doing, thanked God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
        besides showing that he was pampering his lusts, be-                             Not Iike David? "By the grace of God I am what
        speaks pride. The pattern of his marital life had now I am." PauI said that too. And Christ said "that who-
        become distinctly pagan.                                                  soever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath al-
              Also to be mentioned is his entrusting the conduct ready committed adultery with her in his heart." Lov-
        of the war with the Ammonites to Joab, while he tar- ing sin, thinking, and desiring sin, we commit sin al-
        ried in Jerusalem. His place was not in his palace but ready in our heart, though for every reason except the
        in the field with his soldiers. His inertness strongly one reason .that we love God, we allow it no expression
        suggests that he had become luxurious. He could not in word and deed. Yet we say we are not like David?
        have been walking with God. For it was during this                               Then this other word of Christ to the effect that '
        interval that he was overtaken by his adulteries.                         from within, out of the heart of men proceed evil
              Finally, his very adulteries-his summoning into thoughts, adulteries,  for&&ions,  murders,. thefts,
        his presence a neighbor's wife for purposes of adultery, covetousness, wickedness, deceit lasciviousness, an evil
        while this neighbor was away risking his life on the eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness and defile the man.
        battlefield for the cause of God, bespeaks not alone Is our heart cleansed? If not, then, truly, we are not
        unbridled lust but colossal sinful pride as well. And like David. For his heart was c'leansed, that is, he was
        what an insult to the face of the woman for him even a regenerated man, though in him, that is, in his flesh, ,
        to make mention to her of his adulterous design on her there dwelt no good thing.
        person. That alone, required a good deal of brazen                                                                                         G. M. Ophoff.
        nerve.
              David's heart was lifted up indeed. And so he had
        need of being humbled. And God did humble him.
        He gave him up to vile affections to defile his own
        body and that of his neighbor's wife. Thus he sinned                                                        David and Uriah                                                . .
        a.boundingly,  even adding sin to sin in his effort to
        avoid being found out. But if sin abounded, grace did                            Having according to the law  (ILev. 15 : 18) washed
        much more abound. For he repented and was for- herself from her uncleanness, Bathsheba returned to
        given. And he continued to repent the rest of his her home. But she conceived. Her sending David tid-
        days even as God in His mercy continued to lay upon ings that she was with child, was therefore a cry of
        him His strokes in punishment of his sins. As seated distress and a warning to David.                                                                 /)
        in the sanctuary before God's face, he had once prayed,                          But `what was David to do? Their adultery could
        `Who am I; 0 Lord God? and what is my house, that be concealed, only by the employment of deceit, that is,
        thou hast brought me hitherto?" By punishing sin in by his passing off Uriah as the father of the child born
        him with sin and thereupon magnifying His grace in in adultery, or, should that prove impossible, by his
        him, the Lord taught him who he was: a sinner saved murdering Uriah and marrying betimes his wife. So
        by grace. And he was no longer proud. But these David had but one choice. He must allow his adultery
        are matters of which we must speak later.                                 to become known ; make public confession of it. There
              We decry David's sins. We set them before us and was no other right way out of his predicament. But
        are astonished ; and we ask how a man making men- David decided to conceal his adultery by the employ-
        tion of the name of the Lord could do such wicked ment of wickedness. It can be explained. He could


       -allozV his sin to become known only at, great!  co&, per- `&ith my wife? as thou livest andthy soul lives& I will
       ,haps at .the cost of his life and of the life ,ofBathsheba.     `not  :do this thing."'       <  2 
                                                                                                        .,.     .
       "For in Israel adultery was a dapital crime." "And the             . If Uriah `was  unsuspectiii$,'  which is not likely, his
       man that committeth  adultcry,&h  anotheiman's wife, -reply. bespeaks a magnificent zeal of God's service.
       even he that committeth adultery with  his: neighbor's .If he had heard'iyhisperings'and  was filled with sus-
       wife, the adulterer and the adulteress: shall surely be pi&on and dist,t`i-ust, ,his reply as to his own intentions
     .put to deah" `(Lev.  2O:lO.' See also Num.'  5:12-81; was also an indirect denunciation of David's carnal
       Deut. 22 22). But he should have believed that only wky of life in time of war.: For David was doing just
       by his willingness to lose his life could he  save,it. He, that : he was'eating and drinking and lying with his
       should have considered; too, that though he should wives and with his neighbor's wife, with the ark and
       succeed in concealing `his sin by, the, employment of Judah and Israel abiding in tents and with Joab and
       wickedness, his sin would nevertheless find him out. the army of Israel encamped in the open fields.
       For God is not mocked.  And. with Him there is no                   `Uriah had meant every word. It was no time for
       respect of persons.                                              indulging life's pleasures. There was a war with the
           His sin was secret.. And  kis wanting to keep it heathen in progress . He would return to the battle
       secret  wc&l not have been wrong, if keeping it secret at once that same hour. But David restrained him.
       could only have been accomplished without the employ- He would try to.get him to go home by the,employment
       ment  !of wickedness. There is no  virtu: in making of trickery.  ,That required just a little time.                    One
       public a sin that is secret, if there be no necessity.           more day would do. "Tarry here today also," were his
       But David was under necessity of God's .c&vn will as orders to Uriah,", and tomorrow I Will let thee depart.
       revealed. in the divine prohibitions, "Thou, shalt not So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day." David called
       bear false `witness," and, "Thou shalt not kill". , Dijcspis- `him `to his table and made him drunk in order thus  %a
       ing God's commands, David chose the forbidden way                sec&$,,,his  spending the coming. night with his' wife.
       out of his troubles.       .                          "     i    l$t. the., night'found him lying on his bed with the
           His.purpose  being, as was stated, to pass off Uriah servants of David. .,He had not gone down to his house.
       as the fatherof  the child, David commanded Joab to `The  .&ine  may'have stupefied his mind and-dulled his
       send him the.,Hittitet  ; David addressed to m-m .ques- ,senses ; it  `had not broken down his determination not
       tions bearing o,n the.progress  o.f, the war, his aim being to, cohabit&e with his wife. It almost compels  ,us
       to hide from bun. the..real  purpose of ,his being called `to  don&de  that he had been told of the affair with
       and to make it app'ear  that he was summoned to ren- Bathsheba and was unwilling to be used as a tool:
       der a. military report. ., f'And. ,when  Uriah was- come ,:. But now David took recourse to a new`artifice  that
                                                                        made murder his minister. He commanded Uriah to
0      unto him, David demanded of,him how Joab  did, and
       how the people did, and how the war prospered.:' return to Joab, and- placed in his hand a letter in  prhich
       TJriah could  :enlighten  the king. For he was not a he  instructed.Joab  to place Uriah in the hottest of the
       soldier of ordinary rank.       He was one of David's battle and then to withdraw from him that he might
       mighty men." He had command in the army.                         be .smitten and die. Thus Uriah had to  be., gotten rid
           David finally dismissed Uriah to his house. He of in such a way that would make it seem that he was
       sent after him literally "something taken  up"-doubt-            the victim of the ordinary fortunes of war.           . .
     ' less a dish of honor for him to enjoy in his house. But              Why David wanted Uriah murdered is, clear from
       Uriah, did, not act according to David's will but he the sequel of the narrative.  3 He wanted to make  Bath-
       remained in the door of his `palace;' `%here"he  spent sheba his wife. And not alone that. He wanted also
       the night "&ith  all the se'rvanfs'of  his lord," that is,       to make her his wife the sooner the better. Hence "it
       with `the royal court  offi&&  or `the body-guard.               came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter
           Hearing that Uriah had not gone down to his own to Joab. . . .". thus wrote this letter so soon as it had
       house, David *was much `perturbed, better said, frantic. become clear to him that Uriah was determined not to
       He was not getting his way with Uriah. Ordering cohabitate with his wife. The reason for David's haste
       him into `his presence, he rather severely upbraided is obvious. He must be married to Bathsheba long
       him for his strange behavior. He said to him, "Gamest enough to allow him to deny that the child was. begot-
       thou not from thy journey? Why then didst thou not ten prior to their marriage, begotten; in a word, in
       go down to thy house? as much as to say: What ailest a d u l t e r y .
       thee; Uriah. And Uriah replied, "The ark of God,                     As to Joab, though ignorant of the reason of the
       and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents ; and my lord command, he obeyed and became a partner in David's
       `Joab,  and" the servants of my lord-of my lord Joab,            murder. Joab observed  ,the city, his purpose being to
       he `mean&--are  encamped in the open fields ; shall I discover that part of it most diflicult to defend. For
       `then go in&mine house to eat and to drink,' and to lie there the valiant men would be to fight in the sally.

                                                        .


                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                          497

 Having discovered such a  ,,place, Joab, placed there
 Uriah and his company. The enemy went forth into                          I Have Loved You
 the field. There was a battle in which a number of
                                                                 1
 Israelites including. Uriah were slain.                              "The burden of the word of th.e Lord
    Joab rendered a report of the battle to David                      to Israel by Malachi.
 through the agency of a messenger. Joab feared that                   I  have  loved you,  saith  tie  Lord.`:
 David's anger would rise at the hearing of the spilling                                         Mal. 1:2a.
 of the blood of his own men. Joab's fear  spake.well           It is the Lord who is speaking to His people. And
 for David. It shows that he really loved his men and the word that He speaks to them is the message they
 was sparing of their lives in battle. Joab. anticipated always have need of hearing. It is the message that
 what David might say by way of complaint. He might He loves them. And he has been telling them so from
 ask why they approached so near the city and whether the beginning of time, through the ages of the past.
 they did not know that the enemy might shoot from And -He will be telling them so through the ages of
 the wall. He might direct attention to Abimelech, the the future and everlastingly; For this word of God to '
 son of Jerubbesheth i.e., Gideon, who was killed by a His people `*I love you" is gospel ; it is the essense
 millstone cast uppn him from the wall by a woman. of the gospel. And His gospel He had been proclaim-
 Should David thus complain, the messenger must tell ing to His people from the beginning. Right after
 him that Uriah too  was  dead.                              the "Fall of Man" He said, "I will set enmity between
    The messenger came to David and rendered hi's thee and the woman, between thy seed and her seed,
 report. The enemy went forth into the field but was he shall bruise  tliy head and thou shalt bruise his heel."
 beaten back by the,Israelites  who were upon them even That was gospel. `It was the-Lord proclaiming to the
 to the entering of the gate of their city. The shooters church-there represented by our first parents-say-
 shot from off the wall, and a number of Israelites were ing ti His ill-deserving and condemnable yet chosen
 killed including Uriah.                                     people, who  .had just disobeyed the commandment of
    The messenger knew nothing of the content of the God and made common  cause,with  Satan, that He loved
 letter. He thus believed that Uriah's death was charge- them unconditionally and unfailingly, so loved them
 able to no one but to himself. Of his own accord he that He gave,, His `only begotten Son, ithat believing .
 had approached too near the enemy wall, which, of they might  ,have life abundantly. And everlastingly
 course, was true.                                           His word, to them will be : my people I love thee."
    This time David's wrath kindled not. Now that               No mere ,man could tell them, that God loves them,
 Uriah was dead, he was too relieved to be angry. We that is,`tell them so that they know in itheir  hearts that
 must take notice of his reply to Joab. "Let not this it is true, - n o mere man," I say, whoever that man
 thing-the death of Uriah- be evil in thy sight." To might be ; no mere human preacher of the word, who-
 get rid of Uriah David had to make the unscrupulous ever that preacher might be, could tell God's people
 Joab his confidant in sin; at least to an extent. It was that He loved them. It is God who does so by speaking
in reply to the condemning voice of Joab's conscience in their. hearts His gospel of love and reconciliation,-
 and also of his own, that he says, "Let not this thing the Gospel as preached by His servants called unto the
 be evil in thy sight," and adds, "for the sword  devour-    ministry thereof.
 eth one as well as the other." Uriah's death had to            So there is but one correct answer to the question:
 be attributed to chance, to the fortunes of war. It was how does a man know that God loves him. And that                  \
 not a sin chargeable to David  an{,to Joab. Such was. answer is: God tells him. And that is the only reason
 his reasoning.                                              that. any. man knows, can know. God tells him. And
    Now follows a word of encouragement; Joab shall to this may. be added that the only people who do know
 make his battle strong against the city and overthrew are the believers, the elect of ,God.
 it. With these words shall the messenger encourage             Here, I believe, we also have' an answer to the ques-
 Joab.                                                       tion whether God loves the, wicked. To avoid con-
                                                             fusion I must speak here of reprobated wicked. Does
    Uriah was now dead. Tidings were sent to Bath-           He love them? Allow me to counter with this ques-
 sheba. When the days of her mourning were past, tion: Lived there ever a reprobated wicked one with
 David took her and she became his wife. And she the testimony of God in his soul that God loves him?
 bare him a son.                                             I can also state the question thus: is there one case
    But the thing that David had done dispIeased  the on record of God telling a reprobated wicked through
 Lord.                                                       the preaching of the gospel as sanctified to his heart, or
                                       G. M. Ophoff.         by direct revelation that He loved him? There is not
                                                             such a case on record, is there? It has never happened,

                                                      .

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

has it? And it will never happen. Well then, let me
ask: If God loves also the reprobated wicked, why                          S I O N ' S   Z A N G E N
doesn't He tell them? But He doesn't. All that He
tells them is that He is angry ,with them every day,
and that He is against them. And therefore they are
afraid and have no peace. For they are wicked.                        Verlost Uit Het Diensthuis
        The only men who have in their heart the testi-                           (Psalm 114; Slot)
mony of God that they are loved of God are the
men who are not wicked. And these men are the be-                 Toen we de vorige  maal stilhielden bij dezen psalm
lievers, the elect of God in Christ. To these people, as zagen  we, dat Christus  Jezus de vervulling is van het
 speaking by His Spirit in theirbearts, God says : I love eerste en tweede vers. Hij is den Drie-Eenigen God
you, and to these people only.                                 geworden tot een heiligdom en Hij is Gode geworden
        Christ said: Blessed are ye. . . . for thine is the Zi jne volkomene heerschappi j .
 kingdom. Did He say that to the wicked and to the                 En Jezus is dat Gode geworden langs den bangen
 pure of heart? Nay, but to the latter only. And whom weg van eene onuitsprekelijke slavernij. De  uitred-
 does He comfort? Only they who mourn. Not also ,ding van Israel en Juda uit de klauwen van Egypte is
 the wicked. And who inherit the earth? Only the type van de uitredding van  Jezus,  uit den eeuwigen
 meek. Not also the violent. And who shall be filled dood. God zegt in het Nieuwe Testament: Ik heb Mijn
 with righteousness? Only they who hunger and thirst. Zoon uit Egypte geroepen. En een, beeld daarvan heeft
 Not also the`satiated. And who shall obtain mercy? de historie gezien toen  het volk Gods onder het Oude
 Only the merciful and not also the cruel. ' And who Verbond al. juichende uit Egypte toog.
shall see God? Only the pure  of. heart, not also  the            Jezus is de groote Eersteling.
 impure. And who shall be called the children of God?             En indien gij van Jezus zijt, dan wordt ge in Hem'
 Only the peacemakers. Not also the warmongers.                en door Hem Gode tot een heiligdom en tot eene vol-
   It seems to me that, everything considered-and by komene heerschappij.                Dan begint ge te stamelen:
 everything I mean the Scriptures as corroborated by Spreek, Heere, Uw dienstknecht of dienstmaagt hoort!
 experience-God does not love the wicked (reprobat- Dat heeft Jezus volkomenlijk gedaan voor U en voor
 ed). God loves His people and He tells His people mij. En Hij leert ons door Zijn Woord en Geest om
 that He loves them. If He loves the wicked why does dat gedurig te  doen in de heiligmaking.
 He not also tell them, too, that He loves them. But He '          Totdat de dag aanbreekt, wanneer we dat volmaakt
 never does. Does it not shut us up to the conclusion zullen  doen in het Nieuwe Koninkrijk. Daar wachten
 that He does not love them? that the love, -the grace w e   o p .
 of God, is not common, but particular?                            Nu verder.
                                         Cr.  M. Ophoff.  ~        "De zee zag het en vlood, de Jordaan keerde achter-
                                                               waarts."
                                                                   De Heere en Zijn Heihge',Geest  hebben haast in dit
                                                               vers. Tusschen het vlieden der zee en het achterwaarts
                     C o n t r i b u t i o n s keeren van de wateren  dgs'Jordaans liggen maar liefst
                                                               veertig lange jaren.
 Brother ,K. Feenstra :                                            En de gedachte is, dat alle veertig jaren  dit wonder-
                                                               werk van  SGod gezien hebben.
        In your contribution published in this paper last          Het is een wonderlijk werk,. dat God  werkt.
 July 1st you wrote that the Rev. A. Petter has no                 Het wonderlijke is, dat Hij het leven roept  uit den
 right to write "Among Our Treasures" in Concordia,            dood. Dat hebben de  wateren  van de Roode Zee gezien.
 "for among our treasures is especially this one: name-            Daar staat Israel. Ze  zijn. gekomen tot  aan het
 ly, that we are unconditionally saved -by grace alone, Roode ,Meer. Voor hen liggen en dreigen de kokende
 and through faith which is the power of God alone."           golven. Op zij van dit martelaarsvolk verheffen zich
  ' Where has the Rev. Petter ever even so much as             de bergen,  en achter  hen briescht de duivel in de legers
 hinted or suggested that he opposes this glorious truth? der Egyptenaren. Er is angst in het leger van Jakob.
        I write this in the interest of keeping the records        Maar daar komt God!
 straight and in defense of one who himself maintains              0 ja, er is het zwaaien geweest van den staf van
 firmly like John Calvin the unconditionality of sal- Mozes. Maar ik zou U wihen  smeeken om U niet blind
 vation.                                                       te staren  op dien staf. Achter  en boven dien staf is
                            Fraternally in Christ,             het blikken van God op de zee die Zijn volk bedreigt.
                                Rev J. W. Van Weelden,         Wie zou niet voor de kokende  baren  van de zee terug-  s
                                Sioux Center, Iowa.            dienzen  ?'


                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                        501

                                                             one another. Indeed Jesus here refers to the very
          FROM HOLY WRIT                                     essense of the keeping of the law of God.
                                                                It is for this very reason that he does not give
                                                             a  prohibition. He does not come with the "thou shalt
                                     '
      Exposition of John 13:34-35                            not", but rather with the positive: "Love ye one
                                                             another".
                                                                The second matter that strikes our attention in
   In this essay we would call attention to the words this commandment of Christ is, that Jesus in speak-
of Jesus spoken at the occasion `of the institution of ing of the keeping of the law of God, directs attention
the Lord's Supper in the upper-room. We refer to only to the second table of the law: that we love one
the following from Jesus' mouth: "A new command- another, or: that we love our neighbor as ourselves.                     ,
ment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even This fact is indeed noteworthy. Let us ask ourselves
as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. the question why Jesus here thus speaks.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love one for another."                               It ought to be clear, first of all, that no one should
                                                             jump at the hasty conclusion that Jesus in speaking
   It  will not be gain-said by anyone who carefully of the Second Commandment forgets about the First
reads the text, that the central and all-controlling Commandment. Pray, how could Jesus exclude from
subject of Jesus is: love for one another. We should         His teaching the  l?irst and Great Commandment,
notice that this content of the new commandment, namely, that we love the Lord our God ,with all our
namely, that we love one another, is not merely stated heart, with all our mind, with all our soul, and with
by Jesus in  a  very off-hand way. It is not a mere all our strength? Would Jesus standing here at* the
detail in the text, nor is it a fragmentary statement. table of the New Testament in His blood disjoin in
On the contrary, it is a complete statement of the His High-priestly soul and in His prophetic mind,
central and all-controlling commandment of Christ to what He at an .earlier occasion had shown to be joined
His disciples, and to all who will believe through their together? Would that upon which all of "the law
word of preaching.                                           and the prophets" depend, simply be set aside here?
   Attend to the following in the text.                      To ask this question is to answer it.
   In the first place notice that Jesus repeats this            Nay, the Son of Man does not forget any of all
"love  for one another" not less than three times. the words of God ; least of ail of the primordial re-
Says He: I give you a new commandment:  That ye lationship of the two tables of the law; of that law
love one another.  Again Jesus qualifies this love by which He has a perfect ear to hear and which he at
adding : "Even as I have loved you in order that ye this moment is Fulfilling in His humiliation to the
also love one another" . And,  finally, the Saviour Cross !
adds: All shall know that ye are'my disciples by this           But, then, why does Jesus here not say: And this
ear-mark: that ye hcc've love one for another.               is the new commandment, that ye love God above  atl.
   The commandment here is: the mutual love that Why not? Someone may remark that this is a dan-
believers in Christ. have for each other, the love of gerous question to ask.. Then, too, it may be objected
those who gather as guests at the table of the fellow- that it is impossible to answer such a question as to
ship of the New Testament in His blood.                      why Jesus did not express a certain thought-content.
   Two matters stand forth in bold  .relief in this The latter we readily grant. Still we would like to
commandment of Christ to us.              The first is, that determine from the Scripture just what the purpose
Jesus, in here speaking of our loving  one another, and intent is of Jesus' words here spoken in the
places His finger upon the very heart of the law upper room. It is from this point of view that we
of God, He touches upon the spiritual covenant  bure ask: Why did Jesus say just these words here re-
of God's law. This is not a mere cataloging of pre- corded in the text under consideration, and why did
cept upon precept, and of commandment upon com- he, in the light of the correct interpretation of he
mandment, here a rule and there a law; so that. we words spoken, not speak differently. And so we in-
can look it up in file number so and so. The com- quire: why does Jesus here make the content of the
mandment of Jesus does not at  all  allow  for a di- new commandment: that we love one another?!
vision into greater and lesser commandments, nor                The  ahswer  is undoubtedly to be sought in  !he
does `it allow for a sphere of indifferent things. fact, that Jesus is here standing at the table of the
(adiaphora). Nor is there left any room for a mere New Testament in His blood. He is standing in the
externalization of the commandments, a mere keep- midst of His brethren. And they are brethren  ouly
ing of the letter of. the law. All this is radically cut because of what He is doing and because of what He
off by Jesus in this one commandment, that we love shall do for them in this night in which He is  be-


502                                   T H E   .STANDARD  B E A R E R

trayed. He will, by His blood, break down the middle really is the Second Commandment like unto the First
wall of partition consisting in commandments and and Great Commandment. It is a part. of the Great
ordinances, and will reconcile all His brethren unto Shamah, of the "Hear, Israel, the Lord our God is one
G&d, making them, one new man. So he makes peace Lord  !" And taken in this sense it indeed is not a new
for all His own whether they be Jews or Gentiles, commandment at all,  ,but the  oZd commandment of
male or female, bond or free, Barbarian or Scythian.       God. For is this not the commandment that was in
All are one new man in Christ, in which  He is to be       the mind of God when He spoke by Himself, when He
all in all.                          :                     spoke in monologue:, Let us make man after our image
       Well, now, since Jesus thus stands here He speaks and likeness? And was this not the implied command-
of the commandments to  t,hem as they are consti- ment to Adam in Paradise? And did not this com-
tuted the new manhood, the new creation of God in mandment stand, even after the fall and before the
Christ. And He says: love one  another.  For in this Prot-Evangel was spoken to Adam and Eve in Para-
loving of one another in Christ we know that we            dise? And is this not the essense of the law for all
have passed  .frorn  death into life. It is this brother men inside and outside of the covenant-sphere, even
whom we see that Jesus speaks of. In fact all the from Adam to Moses ? And is it not the heart of the
brethren see each other. Him we must love. Shall law given at Sinai, even though it is there accompanied
we then love God too? Yes, but we cannot be' loving with thunder, lightnings, darkness and tempest? Is it
God whom we do rqt  see if we do not love the breth- not the law as sung of by Psalmists, prophets, and by '
ren whom we see. I John  4:20. And to this John bards of old ?
adds: And this  commandment  have we from  him+               Surely, this must be the old, old'commandment.
that, he who loveth God, love his brother also ! Jesus,       Yet, Jesus calls it new. New it therefore must
therefore, does not separate the first and the second surely be. And we do well to give heed to this light
commandment, but He brings `the matter of our lov- of the Prophetic Word in a dark place. New com-
ing God "down to earth" in His new commandment mandment ? What does it mean?
that we love one another.                                     Probably the key to the proper interpretation is
       Loving each other as brethren and sisters is an given us most clearly and unmistakeably in 1 John
indication that we love God with hearts that are in- 23, 8. "Beloved, no new commandment write I unto
deed purified from an evil conscience, by hearts that you, but an old commandment which ye had from the
have been established before God by almighty grace beginning : the `old commandment is the word which
and saving love. It is a remarkable fact, that Jesus, ye heard. Again, a new commandment write I  u,nto
in instructing His disciples in the  Bermon on the you, which thing is true in him and in you, because
Mount, also teaches concerning the will of God for the darkness is passing away, and the true light al-
all who enter into the Kingdom. In Matt.  2:19  f.f., ready shineth."
Jesus speaks of the righteousness that is more over-          Now in this passage we would notice especially the
lflowing  than that of the Pharisees and Scribes. Then latter part, it sheds light on the notion of the "new
He shows that He indeed did not come to destroy the commandment". This new commandment is the "thing
law and the. prophets by illucidating in detail upon that is true in  .the Church and in Jesus". It is the
the commandments contained in the S&ond  Table of shining of the true light. It is the manifestation of
the"Luw  of God. It is here among men that we are the love of `God through Christ in His church in the
in the proving grounds of our being perfect; of our world.
being children of our Father in heaven.                       But why is it called "new"?'
                                                              The answer is no doubt, that Christ has ,come. to
       It is for this latter reason that Jesus here gives take away all of the sins and the guilt of us who be-
the content of the New Commandment to  be. that we lieve, the sins and guilt of all of His own given Him
love one another.                                          by the Father. In so doing God performs a new work
  There is still another element in this word of Jesus under the sun. He makes all things new! All things
to which I wish to call attention at this time. We are made new in the new Covenant in ,Christ's  blood.
refer, of course, to the fact that Jesus calls the Com- He remembers our sins no mare and He writes His
mandment that we love one another a  stew  command- law "through the preaching of the Word and by the
ment. We ask: in what sense of the word is this operation of the Holy Spirit into our hearts, so that
commandment new? Does this imply that this is the we are a very  willing  people in the day of this His
first time that this commandment had ever been pro- power. This willingness is a new willingness, it is a
mulgated from the lips of Jesus, or from that of the love and delight in the commandments and precepts
prophets who came before Him?                              of God. The redeemed, the renewed Church, the new
       When we look rather carefully at this command- creation of God sings: 0, how love I Thy law, it is
ment that we  tove one another it strikes us that it my meditation all the day.

                                             .


                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   .BEARER                                            503

   Christ has made the law of God  $or us new, fresh,      do not forget that other side of the picture. You are
,lovely. What the law could not do in that it was weak a child of The King. In His heavenly house you shall
through sin Christ hath performed in the likeness of everlastingly dwell. Its blessedness you shall taste for
sinful flesh, condemning sin in the flesh, that the  just evermore.    But He has `also made you to be a king.
demand of God be fulfilled in us.                          He has given you a realm over which to rule.
   And now this just command is the object of our             You may be an invalid who is not able to move a
love. It teaches us wisdom, we who are the simple. limb or finger. You may lie so very still with almost
It comes to us as a command, indeed! Yet, it is a new complete paralysis of your body, and yet you remain a
commandment  !. l?or it comes to us as we are believers king. Your realm may be very small. The subjects
and it stimulates us to believing action of love. Of you rule may be very few in number, but through all
believing action of having love for one another. And your conscious life you remain a king. And as king
so the newness of God's work comes to manifestation you must rule every member of your realm with a rod
before the eyes of all men in this: that we have love      of iron that there may be praise to the Living God.
one for another.                                             Our kingdom varies, of course. You and I do not
  Standing at the table  .of the New Testament in rule the same realm. The subjects of your kingdom
His blood, Jesus preaches the Post-Communion Sermon. are not those of mine. When we try to rule the sub-
Well, may we emulate this sermon as the church has jects `of another's kingdom warfare and strife ,result,
always done.     Let us learn to love each other not and that is not to the praise of God. You have your
merely in words, but to manifest it towarh  one another own realm. Rule it well! What is your realm? Let
in very deed.                                              us begin as closely to home as we can. Count the ten
   Loving ,one another we will silence the contempt fingers on your two hands. They are your subjects.
of those who are without. We shall indeed be a pe- Your eyes, your ears, your mind and heart, yea, all
culiar people of the living God in the midst of this the members of your body are the subjects you must
world. So let. us keep this new commandment, whether rule to the glory of God's name. Rule them well with
                                                           a rod of iron that they see no evil, speak no evil and
we be rich or poor, great or small, owing each other
nothing except to love one another.         The new com- hear no evil. The royal priesthood of God does not
mandment entails a wondrous debt. It must always take those eyes and ears into the movies of the  ,world.
be paid and yet is still always owed !                     Of course not! But neither does God's priestly king
                                                           take those eyes and ears and put them before the god-.
                                           G. Lubbers.     less nonsense and filth of today's radio and television
                                                           programs ! Beware ! You have been given those eyes
                                                           and ears to use in the fear of the Lord to His praise.
                                                           And as we `wrote above, you may lie so very still on a
                                                           bed of paralysis, but yet you have a realm over which
          ,IN  H I S   F E A R                             you must rule, and your lot is not at all an easier.one
                                                           than he who is free to move and go about as he pleases.
                                                           Watch that mind and heart! How we can rebel in our
                                                           thoughts and desires, how we can murmur and com-
           Called To His Praise                            plain about God's way with us ! There is indeed a defi-
                                                           nite calling of the afflicted to rule well his mind and
Kings and Children. of The K&g.,                           heart. A,kingly priest he still is, and as `such he must
                                                           continue to function.
   The first line of the chorus of a rather well-known        Of course, it has pleased God to give some a greater
hymn reads thus, "I'm a child of The King, a child of realm to rule than others. Besides our own individual
The King". The stanzas which  preceed  this chorus lives and members which must be subjected to the law,
speak of all the glory and beauty of The King Whose of God, we are given external, material things to em-
children we are. And, of course, the implication is ploy in l%s service. To this one He gives houses and
that since He is so rich in treasures of "wealth untold", land, gold and silver. To another He gives other pos-
we too are extremely rich and blessed as His children. sessions which relatively are his. All is God's, and
Now this thought we do not wish to deny at all. All therefore must be used to serve Him. But relatively
things are ours. The meek shall inherit the earth.         in the sphere of men there is individual possession
And that which is prepared for us is pictured to us of goods. It has pleased God to give things to one indi-
in the book of Revelation in such glowing terms that vidual for his stewardship denying  all others the right
one is dazzled by the beauty of it all.                    to take these things from him.  ,411 I have is God's;
   Sing then of your inheritance and praise God for it. but all I have is not my neighbor's, and what God gave
For you are called to His praise! But at the same time my neighbor to employ in His fear, He forbids me to

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

take from my neighbor. Relatively, that is, in relation older children in your hGng.dom  not only attend their
to our neighbor's and all other men, we do have private catechism class but also that they  come knowing their
possessions. These, whatever and whichever they may lessons perfectly. As king you  must insist that they
be, are also the things over  which we must exercise take the time every week to learn their, lessons.               In
our kingship. We may not invest our money in a way fact, as king you should not allow them to leave your'
which furthers sin. Our possessions may not be our house the night of their catechism class without deter-
idols which we worship and wherein we put our trust. mining for yourself that they do know them ! It is so
In no way at all may our possessions be pressed into easy for the king (the father) to let .the queen (the
the service of the devil or his antichrist. You are a mother) give all the instruction and teach the children
king over them to see to it that they are instrumental their answers, but as king you must yet supervise and
in the glor%cation  of Him from &Whom all things have see to it that your children are also doing this which
been received and Whose all things are absolutely.            belongs to the fear of the Lord. They may be taller
       Did you ever stop to consider your kingship in the than you and have a better education than you have
midst of your family? A king has rational, moral had, it makes no difference, before God you are their
creatures over whom he rules, for whom he makes king.  ,Do not abdicate, because God will still consider
laws, whom he judges and upon whom he invokes the you the king and hold you as responsible as He did Eli.
penalty for disobedience. In that relationship the And let your chldren  know that you `are king for God's
father and head of the house stands over against his sake and that you rule them and insist on these things
whole family. That family is his kingdom, and it is not to show your authority but for the glory of God.
his responsibility before God to see to it that all these Do all things in love.
subjects, his wife and all his children live to the praise      Of course, to do this all as God's king as His kingly
of God. This responsibility is taken. so lightly today. priesthood you must be a prophet and priest of God.
`We so quickly talk of the rights of the woman, of our You must know Him and your mind must grow in the
children. And especially when our children have reach- knowledge of Him for Whom you rule all these things.
ed the years of discretion and begin to assert them- You must as His priest by His grace dedicate all these
selves, the parents so quickly concede that these young things in His service. Only when these are true will you
men and women in their homes do after all have their rule them and employ them to that end. Mind, heart,
.own rights and responsibilities. We like to wash our and strendh, these you have and all three must be
hands of the whole business and say that they are united in the service of God. Then the man of God is
old enough to know for themselves. That is true, but perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work.
as long as they are in your house, you are the king              And the reward of this kingly priesthood for its
over themi whose calling of God is to insist that they faithful reign over the things entrusted to its care is
walk in the fear of the Lord. Your calling is yet to the privilege to rule over more things in the New
rebuke, to admonish, to instruct and to point them to Jerusalem. In the parable of the talents Jesus declares
their calling. Just read I Samuel 3 and learn what that it is said unto the faithful stewards, "well done,
the Lord says of Eli concerning his mwied sons with good and faihful servant; thou hast been faithful over
whom he labored daily. God declares to Samuel that a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:
He will destroy the house of Eli because  ". . . . his enter thou into the joy of the Lord." And again in
sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them the parable of the pounds it is said of the faithful
not." By the way, this also applies to the men whom servant, "Well, thou good servant: because thou hast
you have hired to work for you. You may, you mu,&             been faithful in very little, have authority over ten
insist that they refrain from taking God's name in cities." Note how the idea of authority and kingship
vain. You may well do, as is.often  done, place a sign are indicated in both these passages as the reward for
, in your establishment reading, "No profanity allowed", faithful stewardship here below. Truly God's people
but then the violator must also be punished. If he is,and  in perfection shall be a kingly priesthood.
 continues and refuses to heed, you  must refuse him
work in your establishment.        He may be a skilled           Called to His praise you are with mind, heart, and
 mechanic you cannot replace, an excellent salesman strength. Prophets, priests and kings of the Most
 or the like, but your business must be dedicated to the High God ,you  are by His grace. Walk worthy then
 Lord by you as His priest and must be ruled over and of the vocation wherewith ye are called, so that all
 carried on by you in His fear as His king. And surely that which you do redounds to His glory. And by
 must you do this in your home over your own flesh God's power and grace is His  ovvn word realized that,
and blood. Insist on their faithful and regular Sab- "This people have I formed, for myself; they shall
 bath attendance. And in the months that lie just ahead show forth My praises."
 of us be sure that as king that you insist that also the                                             J. A. Heys.


VOLUME XXVI                       September 15, 1950  - Grand Rapids,  Mich.                                     NUMBER 22
                                                                        The living Christ is behind all Christian Education
      MEDITATION                                                     worthy the name.                     + .
                                                                        So also here in the history of Hannah and Samuel.
                                                                        Hannah received grace in tie eyes of the Lord.
                                                                        And because of that wondrous grace, she longs and
 Education, Pleasing To The Lord yearns and prays for a son.
                                                                        And then we hear of education that pleased the
              "For this child I prayed; and the Lard hath given      Lord.
            me my petition which I asked of Kim; therefore alsd
            I have lent him to the Lord: as loug  as he liveth he
            shall be lent to the  Lord.   And he worshipped the         Education that is godly!
            Lord there."                                                What wondrous boon from the Lord !
                                                I Sam. 127, 28.         Samuel's godly education finds its never-begun-.
   No, the beginning of godly education of the child                 beginning in the wakes of eternity before the world
Samuel was not with Hannah. I think that we strike                   was.
here at the outstanding weakness of Christian Edu-                      Samuel in all his glory is a beautiful thought of
cation today. We begin in history and not with God                   God.
in eternity.          '                                                 And to bring that eternal thought to realization
   If  tie should follow the prevailing trend of our day             God will set His marvellous deeds in action.
we would begin with yearning, longing, supplicating                     Hannah is operated upon by Word and Spirit.
Hannah. Oh, she did so desire a man child !                             And she began to long and to pray to God.
   But all such begin is fundamentally pelagian.                        We find here on her knees before the face of God
  Attend to Hannah's prayer in the second chapter:                   in Shiloh.
"The Lord killeth, and maketli alive: He bringeth low,                   The fat man, Eli, is watching her. He beholds
and  lifteth up"! And also the 35th verse, where the                 moving lips but no words. But Hannah "was in bitter-
Lord is speaking: "And I will raise Me up a faithful                 ness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept
priest."                                                             sore."
   No, we must not begin with Hannah. We must                           How must we explain the bitterness and the sore
not begin with history where men and women are                       weeping? This woman had an adversary.  Rlkanah,
praying, longing, working and sweating to bring: edu-                her husband,' had a second wife. And she was a bad
cation for their children.                                           one. She plagued Hannah continually.  ILater, much
   We must begin with God.                                           later, in'her glad song she will refer to this bad woman,
   W,e wrote above this meditation : Education, pleas-               and she will call Peninnah her adversary, her Satan.
ing to the Lord !                          .                         We read of that woman that she would provoke her
   Well, nothing pleases God but  His own work.                      sore, for to make her fret. You see, that bad woman
   Behind all Godly Education stands God's eternal                   had many children, but  ,God  had shut up the womb of
counsel.                                                             poor Hannah.
   That is so with regard to all things. How much                        Can you see the reason for her weeping and great
more to the things that stand in direct connection with              travail before the  f,ace  of the Lord?
the Christ of God. We read of that Christ that the                       But God had sent that spirit of supplication and of
Lords' good pleasure shall prosper at His hand !                     prayer. All true prayer is a gift of  #God. Make no

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

mistake: all, absolutely all, prayer that originates with         `How differently does the wicked world and the
man is abomination to the Lord. He only exults in the         s i n f u l   f l e s h   a c t .
prayers which He originates in the depths of the hearts            They say : here is the given : passion, the woman,
of His children.:                                             and the will of man ! And the result is : we beget us
  ,Sd also here: God listens to poor Hannah, as she           a child or we refuse to beget LB a child. It lies with us!
weeps bitterly: `Oh God! give Thou  met.a  son, and I         the triumphant ( ?) cry of the boldness of sin !
promise Thee that. as long as he shall have being on               And as to Godly Education? The world will never
this sorry earth, he shall be returned unto Thee!             want it for their children. These children are theirs,
       Thus she prayed, and  .she prayed often.               and they will do as they wish with regard to them.
       A petition and a promise to `God !                     They will give them away, they  wiIl return them and
       If I may beget the son of my petition, Lord, I will    lend them, but it is unto sin and the world. Andfthey
give him back to Thee in godly education: Shiloh shall        will build their Babylons of worldly Education ! And
be his school !                                               they are imposing places.
                                                                   But Hannah, i.e., Grace of God, does differently.
                          -         -                              They will return them to the Lord. And that re-
                                                              turning action will last "as long as he liveth". When
       And the Lord heard. Hallelujah ! He always hears       Hannah breathed her last breath, it was the prayer:
the prayers which He inspires. They are His own               Lord, be .merciful  to my seed for Thy name's sake !
work, and He will crown those works. I think of the           God's people always pray for their children. They
beautiful and Biblical thought: Strengthen that which         know that they belong unto God.
Thou hast wrought!                                                 Hannah does differently.
       Yes, He heard.                                              No, Samuel would be a sorry fit in a Public School.
       Hannah bare a son and she called his name Samuel :     That will never do. And so he goes to Shiloh.
the petitioned of the Lord!                                        And Shiloh is the House of God.
       Names are important. Note how the history of                How superbly fitting! Samuel in Shiloh !
Godly  E'ducation began on -earth. In harmony with                 Oh, I know that Hophni and Phinehas are there and
the eternal plan and thought: Samuel, the mother              they are a bad lot. But it did not deter Hannah. There
bears the wonderful name of Hannah, which means:              was no other House of God at that time in history,
grace !                                                       otherwise Hannah would have sent him there. It was
       Grace begets Samuel ! Who would not sing?!             all there was. In spite of the wickedness of Hophni
       Covenant mothers ! There is your name!                 and Phinehas, and in spite of the carnality of Eli, God
       Yes, Hannah  js a wonderful type of Covenant           dwelled in Shiloh. And Hannah knew it.
mothers of all the ages. They pray for their children              And so she made him a little Coat, and she did so
-even  before they beget them. All the heavenly citizens      from year to year.                   And he went to the Christian
which shall inhabit the new Kingdom are products of           School at Shiloh.                        .
the Grace of God. Hannah, Anna the prophetess, Jo-                 I thought on these things when I saw the vast
hanna: it is all gra,ce, grace of God.                        parade of children passing my window on their way
       Oh, the mothers, the Christian mothers, mothers        to the Christian School which had just opened its doors.
who are bearers of the grace of `God, they are so im-         `Our Hannah's also think of the little coats, from year
portant in the chain of salvation. ,God thinks so. Note       to year. And there they went: trim and fresh and
that he prepared David, the man after His  0~ heart,          young. They were on their way to Shiloh.
in the generations that came before: Ruth, the  Moab-              Education, pleasing to the ILord !
itess. There must be a sweet singer of psalms in the
time appointed. Behold, its preparation: the sweet
maiden Ruth, in the fields of Bethlehem-Efratha!                   But it is so long ago. What is the meaning for us?
       Hannah's name is grace, and she also found grace            It is this: Shiloh is first in your heart. In your
in the eyes of the Lord.                                      heart is the Home of ,God. And you are sending your
       And she begat her son, and called his name Samuel.     children every day to the Christian School in your
Her subsequent action, is in harmony with the former          heart. That is, you return the children God gave you
yearning and prayer. God hears her prayer, and now            unto Him in your heart first of all. Peter would say
she will do her part in the Covenant: she will educate        much later : Sanctify the Lord *God in your heart ! And
him in the fear of the Lord.                                  that means that your heart is made the Lord's sanc-
       Hannah knows the Lord, and therefore she also          tuary. So that all in that heart is dedicated to the
knows the calling that came to her: this child must be        Lord. You and all your heart's life is bowing down
returned unto Him that gave him.                              before the Lord's throne, and that throne is established
       He must have Education, pleasing to the Lord 1         in your heart,

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                                        T H E '   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                          507

   Mothers! You know that you bear your children              stood before Me, yet My mind could not be toward this
in your heart day and night ! Well then, you give those       people." It shows that Samuel was, a mighty man of
children to God in your heart first of all. And second,       God, and a mighty man of prayer. Do you not see the
you give them to God in your home. The atmosphere             preparation of all this might in the sobbing, weeping,
of your home is the atmosphere of Shiloh, the House           yearning and supplicating Hannah? Do you not see
of God. And third, you return your children unto God          the preparation of mighty Samuel in his God-fearing
in Bhiloh, and that is the Church of God. They go to          mother?
church on Sunday, whether they want to or not. You               0 what a calling we have as fathers and mothers!
establish habits for them. You prepare their little              Fruit? For Israel he became a great blessing. He
coat from year to year and you take them to Shiloh.           led them in the battle against their bitter enemies and
You do not ask: My darling, would you like to go to           they had the victory. And one of his last acts was the
church with Mother? Oh no ! You say : Children, pre-          anointing of the good King David;
pare yourselves, put on your little coats, and follow me         The name of Samuel was blessed in~Israe1.
to Shiloh.                                                       That we then may bring up children that will be a
   And in all such doing, Hannah works out the gov-           blessing to the church ! nijay God give it!        :          9
ernment of Elkanah. He is the head of the family, and .
his wife, Hannah, is his right hand.                                                 --
   And, fourth, you send the litttle Samuels to Shiloh,
and that is the Catechism. And you will Mow if they              For Hannah?
know their lessons. And you acquaint them with the               I. would have you sit down with your Bible and
proper atmosphere in Shiloh, and train them to answer         read her song of chapter 2. It will be worth your
to that atmosphere in perfect behavior in the House           while.
of God. And, fifth, you send them to Shiloh, and that            She began to sing. And her song is beautiful. It
is the Christian School. And Shiloh for us is the Pro-        gives all the praise `to Jehovah. And that is comely.
testant Reformed School if there is one in your  neigh-          When Hannah was used by God to bear God-fearing
bourhood. And if there is no Protestant Reformed              children, and when she saw them at Shiloh, that is,
School in your neighbourhood, you will try with your          in heaven with God, she was satisfied. She had heaven
husband Elkanah to get one. You will join the Gideon          in her heart, and if that prevails, you are going to sing.
bands to obtain one. But in the meantime you will                A last glimpse of Samuel.
not send your little  (Samuels  to the public school. Oh         He was but a little lad, and very obedient. He took
no ! God forbid ! They are lthe petitioned of the Lokd !      his place in the Christian School at Shiloh, and I would,
Their background is the beautiful thoughts of Eternal         as a last word, show you the great benefits of Christian
Covenant Jehovah. They belong to Him, and there-              Instruction, worthy the name.
fore, they go to Shiloh, and that is the Christian               He. laid himself down in the place appointed, and
School.                                                       the Lord began to call him : Samuel, Samuel !
   In fine, you and your husband Elkanah say all the             He went to Eli, thinking that this teacher had call-
days of the life of your children: Lord, here are Thy         ed him. But this Christian School teacher sent him
children! We have petitioned them of Thee, and Thou           back to his place. This happened again and again.                  !
gavest them to us, and now we return them to Thee !              At last the teacher perceived that the Lord had
Use them, o our God ! use them in Thy blessed service         called the lad. And so he said to Samuel : Go, lie down,
at Shiloh !                                                   and it shall be, if He call thee, that thou shaIt say,
                                                              Speak, Lord : for Thy servant  heareth   !
                                                                 Now I would ask you to take away the .historical
                                                              cloak which clothes this incident, and see the wonderful
   And what is the fruit?                                     worth of Christian Education: `they teach the  ,child
   Well,. for Samuel  .that ,he became a mighty man of        how to answer the Lord when .He calleth !
the Lord. The text says that he worshipped the Lord              And what an answer!
there. Oh, let us always have the proper atmosphere              It is exactly the answer we would have our children
*for our children so that they may be able to worship         utter before the face of our God. Speak, Lord, Thy
the Lord there. Yes, Samuel became a mighty man of            servant heareth, or, Thy handmaiden heareth !
God. He became prophet, priest and judge of Israel.              When our children are taught to do this, we. are,
   The singer of Psalm 99 is bidden to chant of him:          happy with Hannah. And we, the Christian parents,"
Samuel among them that call upon My name !                    are ready to sing the song of Hannah.
   He must have been a mighty man of prayer. When                And we say with her: "My heart rejoiceth in the
things went bad with Israel, and the prophet deremiah         Lord !"
would intercede, God said : "Though Moses and Samuel                                                        .G.  Vos.

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                                     T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                                    509

the calling of the Rev. Cammenga (though, of course,             In the first place, we must not forget that not I,
he has the perfect right to answer Mr. Feenstra, if he but the Rev. Petter started this controversy in public
wishes to do so), but it is the calling of the Rev. Petter    in Concord&x.    It was he that began to  <defend parties
to reply to the criticism of Mr. Feenstra of Redlands. instead of parts of the covenant, thus virtually pro-
   However, if the Rev. Cammenga chooses to do so, posing a relative difference between the Creator and
he may write again in reply to the contribution by the creature. It was he that defended conditions in
Mr. Feenstra that appears in the present issue.               the covenant of grace and that spoke of the covenant
                                               H. H.          of works., And he it was that maintained that faith is
                                                              a condition unto salvation. Now certainly these public
                                                              propositions defended in  ConcorcEia could not possibly
                                                              go unchallenged or be answered in private. What is
                    Comment II.                               taught in public must be publicly weighed in the
                                                              balance.
                                                                 But aside from this, can we as Protestant Reformed
   The story `is being circulated that I grossly mis-         people no longer stand sound controversy about the
represent the views propounded by the Rev. A. Petter. truth? I do not believe it. And at any rate, I cannot
It is even said not only that I misunderstand him, but possibly agree with those that would bar all  contra-
also that I intentionally distort his views. This last versy from our public discussion. As long as we avoid
statement is, of course, a lie, pure and simple.              all personalities and hatred and carry on our debates
   Let me emphatically state here that I have nothing only with a view to the truth, to defend it and to de:
personally againsts the Rev. Petter; or, to state it posi- velop it, controversy is certainly for our benefit and to
tively, that I esteem him as a brother, and I challenge our instruction.
anyone to point out to me where in my articles I have            And therefore, with malice toward none I will  con-
written anything derogatory to his person. It is not  -, tinue to fight for our Protestant Reformed truth, both
his person, but his views that I did, and still do; oppose, `by the spoken and the written word as long" as God
and that, too, without any personal motives, but for the leaves me in this tabernacle.
love of our Protestant Reformed truth;                                                                               H. H.
   As for missunderstanding the brother as some aver                                    `i
that I do, I must grant that possibility in the abstract.                      ,-aocB0
But in the concrete I must most emphatically deny it.
    In the first place, I believe that I am able to under-                                                     .  *
stand English terms. And to `me the term condition
always denotesa prerequisite, whether to receive some-
thing or to have someone do something for anyone.                THE TRIPLE KNOWLEDGE
                                                                                                    I
In that sense I must understand the term in the sen-                                                                            -
tence, "Faith is a condition." Nor can I grant anyone
the right to use the term in a different sense than that      An Exposition Of The Heidelberg
of the usus loquendi.  '                                                           C a t e c h i s m
   Besides, the main issue of our controversy, namely,
that faith is a condition, is nothing new, but  repre-                               PART TWO
sents a view that has been proposed and still is main-
tained  by many that call themselves Reformed.                            O f   M a n ' s   R e d - e m p t i o n
   And finally, in my articles I have openly asked the                          LORD'S  DAY' XXIX.
Rev. Petter as well as others to show me in what re-                                          5?
spect I misrepresented him. Neither he nor anyone                The Lutheran Doctrine Of Consubstantiation.
else has made the attempt: Hence, I cannot believe
that I do misunderstand the brother.                              Reformed theologians denote the Lutheran view of
   If anyone is guilty of misrepresentation, it is not I, the Lord's Supper by the term  consubstnntiatiort.
but-the Rev. Petter. Repeatedly he has made the at-'             It is not exactly a' Lutheran term, although it is
tempt, and that, too, in spite of my emphatic denial,         accepted by the Luthe$ans  as substantially a. correct
to represent me as if I too believed in conditions. And representation of their view. By the term we mean
the same is true of the controversy he had with the that the Lutherans teach in distinction from the  "sacra-
Rev. H. Veldman and the Rev. G. M.~Ophoff.                    mentarians", as they call the Reformed, and in dis-
   Some would prefer to keep this controversy out of tinction too from the Romish doctrine of transubstan-
our papers and from the eyes of the public.                   tiation, that in the Lord's Supper the body and blood
   But why, pray?                                             of Jesus Christ is really and substantially present in,

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

with, and under the signs of the bread and wine on the         and drinking is after all some spiritual and super-
table of the Lord.                                             natural process.
       It is a well-known fact that at the time of the Re-        It is well known that the Lutherans base their vie'w
formation a schism arose between the Reformed and especially on a literal interpretation of the words spok-
the Lutherans about the question of the Lord's Supper.         cn by the Saviour at the institution of the Lord's
.Although the reformers agreed on all the great doc-           Supper in the night in which He was betrayed, espec-
trines taught in the Scriptures, they could not agree ially the words as taken from Matt. 2626~28:  "Take,
on this point. And although several attempts were eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave
made to effect a reconciliation, they all failed. And          thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
that the controversy was rather sharp and bitter, at for this is my blood." Luther insisted that these words
least on the part of the Lutherans, may be discerned must be taken literally. And the same is emphasized
from the very language of the  Formula of  CcFncord,           in all the Lutheran confessions. Thus, for instance,
a Lutheran confession adopted in the year 1576. For in the Formula of Concord, under the article De Coena
there we read in the introduction to the  arti'cle on the Domini,   we read:  YVe believe, teach, and confess that
Lord's Supper :                                                the words of the testament of Christ are not to be
       "For a solid explanation of this controversy it is      otherwise received than as the words themselves  Iiter-
first to be understood that there are two sorts of             ally sound, so that the bread does not signify the absent
eacramentarians.       For some are exceedingly gross body of Christ and the wine the absent blood of Christ,
sacramentarians ; these in perspicuous and plain words but that on account of the sacramental union the bread
openly profess that which they think in their heart, to and wine are truly the body and blood of Christ."
wit: that in the Lord's Supper there is nothing more              In the  Saxorz   Vtiitation   Articles  we read in the
present than bread and wine, which alone are there chapter under the heading  De  Coena  Sacra,  Article 1:
distributed and received with the mouth. But others' "That the words of Christ, `Take and eat, this is my
i are astute and crafty, and thereby the most harmful body ;' `Drink, this is my blood,' are to be understood
of all the sacramentarians ; these, when talking of the in the simple and literal sense as they sound."
Lord's Supper, make in part an exceedingly high                   Proceeding from the literal interpretation of the
sounding use of our mode of speaking, declaring that words of Jesus at the institution of the Lord's Supper,
they too believe in a true presence of the true, sub-          the ILutherans  teach the following :
stantial, and living body and blood of Christ in the              1. That the body and blood of Christ is really and
holy supper, which presence and manducation, never- substantially present in the signs of the bread and
 theless; they say, to be spiritual, such as takes place by    wine at the Lord's  $upper.     This is plain from the
faith. And yet these latter sacramentarians, under Augsburg  Confession, Art. 10: "Of the supper of the
these high sounding phrases, hide and hold fast the Lord they teach that the true body and blood of Christ
same gross opinion which the former have, to wit:              are truly "present under the form of bread and wine
that, besides the bread and wine, there is nothing more and, are there communicated to those that eat in the
present or taken with the mouth in the Lord's Supper. Lord's Supper and received. And they disapprove to
For the term  (spiritu   alitieer)  signifies nothing more to those that teach otherwise. Wherefore also the oppo-
them than the Spirit of. ,Christ, or the virtue of the site doctrine is rejected." Again, in the Formula of
 absent body of Christ and His merit  which  is present; Concord we read: "We believe, teach, and confess that
but the.y think that the body of Christ itself is in no in the Lord's Supper the body and blood of Christ are
way whatever present, but is contained above in the truly and substantially present, and that they are truly
 highest heaven, and they affirm that it behooves us           distributed and taken together with the bread and
by the meditations of faith to rise on high and ascend         wine." And in the same  Form&  of  Concord   the
into heaven, and that this body and blood of Christ are errors of the sacramentarians are rejected, who teach:
to be sought there, and in no wise in union with the "That the body of Christ in the holy supper is not re-
bread and wine of the holy supper."                            beived  by the mouth together with the bread, but that
       It is not easy to understand clearly just exactly only bread and wine are received by the mouth, while
what is the meaning of the Lutheran doctrine of con-           the body of Christ is taken only spiritually, to wit,
substantiation.      Do they teach that the literal and by faith." And again we read: "That the true and
`natural flesh and blood of Christ are masticated by natural body of Christ which hung on the cross, and
the teeth and swallowed by the mouth together with the true and natural blood, which flowed from the side
the signs of the bread and wine in the Lord's  Supper?         of  ,Christ, are exhibited and received." And once more
Some of their statements do indeed leave the impres- in the same confession it is stated: "That the body
sion that this is their view. But in other parts of the and blood of Christ are received in the supper, not only
Lutheran confessions it is emphasized that this eating spirituahy,  which might be done out of the supper;


                                    T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                         511

but by the mouth, with the bread and wine; yet in an         presence of his body and blood, inasmuch as the es-
inscrutable and supernatural manner; and this for a          sential property of the human nature itself which he
pledge and ascertainment of the resurrection of our          had assumed could by no means bear or admit of this."
bodies from the dead."                                       Hence, they do not deny that the body of Christ is
    2. This real and substantial presence of the body        local, but rather maintain that it is local in a different
and blood of Christ in the signs of the Lord's Supper,       sense from that in which our present bodies are local,:
however, must not be explained from any words of             so that Christ can be everywhere, both in heaven and
consecration spoken by man, but rather from the omni- on earth according to His human nature.
potence of Christ, Who sitteth at the right hand of             3. The Lutherans emphasize that the body and
.God,  by the union of the two natures in Christ. For        blood of Christ are received not by faith only, but also
thus we read in the Formula of Concord in Article 5          by the mouth, so that together with the signs of the
under the chapter on the Supper of the Lord: "Now            bread and wine in the Lord's Supper they also eat
the foundations on which we rest in this controversy         literally the body and blood of Christ. Again we quote
with the  sa,cramentarians  are the following, which,        from the  Form&a   of  Concord:  "We believe, teach, and
moreover, Dr. (Luther has laid in his larger confession      confess that the body and blood of Christ are taken
concerning the Supper of the Lord:                           with the bread and wine, not only spiritually through
    "The first foundation is an article of our Christian     faith, but also by the mouth, nevertheless not caper-
faith, to wit: Jesus Christ is true, essential, natural,     naitically, but after spiritual and heavenly manner,
perfect God and man in unity of person, inseparable          by reason of the sacramental union."
and undivided.                                                  4. Finally, the Lutherans teach that not only be-
    "Secondly: that the right hand of God is every-          lievers, but also unbelievers receive, eat and drink the
where, and that Christ in respect of His humility, is        body and blood of Christ. And once more we quote
truly and in very deed seated thereat, and therefore as      from the Formula of Concord :. "We believe, teach, and
present governs, and has in his hand and under his           confess that not only true believers in Christ and such
feet, as the Scripture saith (Eph.  1:22), all things        as worthily approach the supper of the Lord, but also
which are in heaven and on earth. At this right hand the unworthy and unbelieving receive the true body
of God no other man, nor even any angel, but the Son         and blood of Christ; in such wise, nevertheless, that
of Mary alone is seated, whence also he is able to effect    they derive thence neither consolation nor life, but
those things which we have said.                             rather so as that receiving turns to their judgment
                                                             and condemnation, unless they be converted and re-
    "Thirdly: that the Word of God is not false or de-       pent (I Cor. 11:27,29).
ceiving.                                                        "For although they repel from them Christ as a
    "Fourthly: that God knows and has in his power           Saviour, nevertheless they are compelled, though ex-
various modes in which he can be anywhere, and is            tremely unwilling, to admit him as a stern judge. And
not confined to that single one which philosophers           he no less present exercises his judgment over these
are wont to call local or circumscribed."                    impenitent guests than as present he works consolation
    The Lutherans teach, as is well-known, the ubiquity      and life in the hearts of true believers and worthy
of the human nature of Christ. Christ is not con-            guests."
fined to heaven, but is everywhere according to the             And in the  Saxon Visitation Articles  we read:
human nature after His ascension. By this they do            "That the body and blood of Christ are received orally,
not mean the same as divine omnipresence or immen-           not only by the worthy, but also by the unworthy, who
sity.    But they signify that Christ, not only by His       approach them without repentance and true faith ;
Spirit and grace, but according to His human nature          though with different effect. By the worthy, they are
is not confined locally to heaven, but is able to be pre-    received for salvation; by the unworthy, for judg-
sent wherever He wants to be. And therefore it is            ment." .
possible for Him to be present in and under and with
the signs of the bread and wine on the Lord's table.            This, then, is the Lutheran doctrine concerning the
And they express this again in the Formula of Concord,       Lord's Supper. We have intentionally quoted rather
in the rejection of errors. They reject the errors of        extensively from the official confessions in order to
those who teach: "That Christ's body is so confined          avoid misrepresenting their view.
in heaven that it can in no mode whatever be likewise            Now as to the fmal scriptural basis of this whole
at one and the same time in many places, or in all           conception, namely, the literal interpretation of the
places where the Lord's Supper is celebrated." Or            words of the Lord spoken at the institution of the
again, they reject the errors of those who. teach : "That    Lord's Supper, we claim that it is quite impossible to
Christ could neither promise nor impart the substantial      take ,these  words literally for the simple reason that

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

       at the moment of the institution of the Lord's Supper        This is the bread which came down from heaven: not
       the Lord was still present .in His natural body and          as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead : he.that
       blood. His body was not yet broken, and His blood            eateth of this bread shall live for ever." And again,.
       was notyet shed. It follows that the Lord cannot have        in verse 47: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
       meant to say that the bread which at the time He held        believeth on me hath everlasting life." It is very
.      in His hand was identical with His body and that the         evident, therefore, that eating the bread of life and
       wine in the cup which at the time He offered to His          believing in the Lord Jesus Christ are identical. It is
       disciples was identical' with His blood. Hence, the          therefore not by literal manducation, but by faith alone
       figurative interpretation : "This signifies my body and      that we can eat and drink the flesh and blood of Christ.
       blood," not only gives good sense, but is the only pos-      And the Lord Himself in opposition to the sense put
       sible interpretation.                                        upon His words by the people of Capernaum said:
          Besides, the natural flesh and blood of Christ are        "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth
       no more. In the Saxon Visitation Articles it is stated :     nothing ; the words that I speak unto you, they are
       "That the true and natural body of Christ which hung         spirit, and they are life." It is plain from these words
       on the cross, and the true and natural blood, which          that the literal eating of the flesh of Christ and the
       flowed from the side of Christ, are e,xhibited  and re-      literal drinking of His blood have no significance what-
       ceived." But this is impossible. The natural body            soever.
       and blood of Christ as  Be received them from the               Besides, it is a well-known fact that in Scripture
       virgin Mary exist no more in that form  ,and cannot be       the. word  is must frequently be understood in the figur-
       received and exhibited, His body was broken and His          ative sense. Thus in the sentence, "The seven ears are
       blood was shed, and he received an altogether differ-        the seven years," the sense evidently is: "The seven
       ent, a spiritual and heavenly body. And this spiritual ears signify the seven years." And the same is true
       and heavenly body belongs to heaven and is locally in        of such propositions as: "I am the living bread ; the
       heaven. And when Christ at the institution of the            seven candlesticks are the seven churches ; the field is
       Lord's Supper offers His flesh and blood to eat and to       the world." And therefore it is certainly thoroughly
       drink, it can only be understood in the figurative sense     scriptural to interpret the words of Christ, "This is
       of the word, in the sense, namely, that we partake of        my body," and "This is my blood," in the same figur-
       the sacrifice once offered on  thz cross. And this we        ative sense.
       do by faith only.
          Moreover, that the eating and drinking of the flesh          The conception of the Lutheran Church concerning
       and blood of ,Christ is an act of faith alone is evident     the Lord's Supper constitutes a curious mixture of the
       from John 6, a chapter that is often referred to as          physical and the spiritual. For after all, natural eat-
       indirectly having reference to the supper of the Lord.       ing and drinking is a purely physical act. Yet, by this
       For from this chapter it is evident that eating the          physical act, according to the Lutherans, we are sup-
       flesh of Christ is equivalent to believing. This is evi-     posed to eat and to drink the real and substantial
     ' dent from John  6:35: "And Jesus said unto them, I           body and blood of Christ.. Yet at the same time they
       am the bread of life: he that  cometh to me shall never      reject the idea that we can literally manducate the
       hunger ; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."    body of Christ and swallow His blood by that physical
       And again, in verse 51: "I am the living bread which         act, but insist upon it, that in the (Lord's Supper we
       came from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he           perform a spiritual and supernatural act of eating and
       shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is       drinking. Again, according to them unbelievers and
       my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."      unworthy receive the body and blood of Christ as well
       But in verse 40 Jesus had said: "And this is the will        as believers and worthy ; and it is certainly difficult to
       of him that sent me, that everyone. which seeth the          see how unbelievers and unworthy can perform a
      Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life:         supernatural and heavenly act, even apart from the
       and I will raise him up at the last day." And once           fact that the literal eating and drinking of Christ's
       more, in verses 53-58  we read: "Then said Jesus unto        body and blood could possibly be to` the condemnation
       them, Verily, verily, I'say unto you, Except ye eat the      of the partakers. And therefore we must reject the
       flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have        Lutheran view of the Lord's Supper as unscriptural
       no life in you. Whoso  eateth my flesh and drinketh          and impossible. -4nd, as we remarked in connection
       my blood hath eternal life  ; and I will raise him up at     with the Romish doctrine of transsubstantiation, also
       the Iast day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my            the Lutheran conception of the Lord's Supper is ex-
       blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and          posed to `the error that grace is in things. And the
     ' drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As          living Christ and all His grace can be received only
       the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the            spiritually and by a living faith.
       Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.                                                     H. H.


514                                    T H E   STANDAR.D   B E A R E R

liere genade, valsch? De Heere oordeele tusschen u            how.ever,  has also cooperated in the organization of
en ons, en de Heere geve onze kerk in Hamilton Zijne          congregations in Canada. Last Sunday, Aug. 13, a
genade.                                                       congregation was organized in Georgetown, about 43
       Zn verband  met deze geschiedenis .wenschen  we u      miles distant from Hamilton, which consists almost
het volgende te vragen:                                       exclusively either of members of the Protestant Re-
       1; Heeft Ds. Hettinga opdracht ontvangen  van de       formed Church of Hamilton or of members with whom
Vrijgemaakte kerken van Nederland om alzoo op te              the consistory of Hamilton was laboring. Rev. Het-
Sreden? Is hem de kerkelijke opdracht gegeven om              tinga was in the immediate vicinity of Hamilton last
gemeenten te organiseeren, en dan. we1 uit leden  die         week, has not been in contact with the pastor or the
#tot  onze gemeente behooren of onder onze bearbeiding        consistory of our congregation, has talked with some
waren?                                                        of our members. The result is that some of these
       2.. Heeft Ds. Hettinga het recht om onze schaaps-      members have  affiliated  themselves with the new con-
kooi (Hamilton's gemeente) binnen te dringen, Hamil-          gregation of Georgetown.
ton's leeraar en kerkeraad te negeeren, om aldus met             That Rev. Hettinga did not seek contact with
leden  onzer  gemeente te onderhandelen? Valt Ds. Het-        Hamilton's minister or consistory is because he, ac-
tinga niet daardoor onder het oordeel van Johannes            cording to his own statement, had no desire thereto.
10 : 1, 14? Indien onze kerken, volgens het herhaalde-        And that he was not interested in a conversation with
lijk getuigenis van de Reformatie, de ware Kerk van           the pastor or consistory is because of what the Rev.
Christus  zijn in Amerika en Canada.                          Veldman had said. The pastor of Hamilton had de-.
       3. Wat zou uwe reactie  wezen indien de Protestant-    clared that; if that brother organized churches without
sche Gereformeerde  Kerken aldus in Nederland zouden          an ecclesiastical mandate and Xf he entered the sheep-
optreden? Wij meenen dat uwe synode van  Amers-               fold without appearing before the porter (Hamilton's
foort,  1948, besloten heeft om "deputaten te benoemen        consistory) , he was guilty of the sin mentioned in John
en hun te machtigen om met onze kerken in contact te          lO:l, 14. If that minister wishes to look up our mem-
treden, teneinde het scheppen van de  relatie van  cor-       bers we may surely see his crkdentials. If he would
responderende kerken voor  te  bereiden"-zie  Supple-         speak with our sheep then it is surely more honorable
ment bij uwe Kerkenordening, bladzijde 21. Is Ds.             and more honest to' proceed to the shepherd and  con-
Hettinga optreden en handelwijze alhier in harmonie           sistory of those sheep, than to enter .the sheepfold by
met  dit besluit?                                             climbing over the wall. This the Rev. Hettinga did
       4. Heeft de gemeente van Georgetown het recht          not do.
van bestaan naast onze gemeente in Hamilton?  Heb-               That the pastor of Hamilton expressed himself
ben wij dan twee ware kerken van Christus nu in de-           thus was not because he would avoid a discussion with
zelf de omgeving ?                                            Rev. Hettinga, although such a discussion could not
                 Namens de Kerkeraad van de                   bear an  official  character in any sense of the word.
                 Hamilton Prot. Gereformeerde Kerk,           We would never be able to judge the Liberated Chur-
                                  Pres.  - H. Veldman         ches of the Netherlands in the light of what Rev. Het-
                                  Scriba - T. Hart.           tinga might say, and the liberated brethren and sisters
                                                              here would never be able to judge the Protestant Re-
Trandativn  :                                                 formed Churches in the light of what the pastor of
                                                              Hamilton might say. Such inofficial discussions can
 AN OPEN LETTER FROM HAMILTON TO THE                          sometimes be very dangerous. If the pastor had erred
 DEPUTIES FOR CORRESPONDENCE  OF THE                          in his judgment of the brother out of the Netherlands
                 REFORMED CHURCHES                            then he still could have come to him. And, he surely
                     (Maintaining Art. 31)                    could have knocked at the door of Hamilton's  con-
                                                              sistory.  That the pastor expressed himself thus was
       The under$gned  would call your attention to that      only to warn the members of the congregation against
which has lately occurred in the congregation of              tlhe appearance of Rev. Hettinga (zijn optreden) . He
Hamilton. Is it possible that the Reformatie can take         sjlspected how the pastor from the Netherlands would
this article over out of  t&Standard  Bearer?                 speak with the members of his congregation. In this
       Since last week Rev. Hettinga, liberated minister      h:e apparently. did not err. Rev. Hettinga, liberated
out of the Netherlands and now visiting for some time         minister from the Netherlands, knows exactly how he
in America and Canada, has been busy in the vicinity          must converse with liberated immigrants! What he
of Hamilton. His Honor came from the Netherlands              must say to  ,them!    He, visiting these people, also
to visit several liberated families, occasioned by the        those who are members of the Hamilton Protestant
fact that consistories in the Netherlands had receved         Reformed Church, maintains and defends his concep-
several letters from these immigrants. Rev. Hettinga,         tion of Baptism, and reminds them of the fact that

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

                   Contribution                              questions. As Gonsistories we must bring an answer.
                                                             to our next Synod. Therefore we need as much light
                                                             as we possibly can receive. Now I realize that Synod
                                      Sept. 2, 1950          only can interpret its own actions. I don't expect the
Esteemed Editor:                                             Acts of Synod to answer these questions either. But
    Having heard about the Declaration of Principles surely someone can shed some light on the matter.
of the Protestant Reformed Churches drawn up by                               Yours in the cause of His Church,
our last Synod and later read them, several questions                                               J. Blankespoor.
arose in my mind. Especially so since they appeared Note of Editor:
in print without any explanation regarding their origin,        Reply in next issue of the Standard Bearer, D. V. '
purpose, etc. Now  I personally have received some
information about. them, but there certainly must be
many of our people who know next to nothing about
their appearance. However, with the information  I
have I still have several questions. Since Synod formu-
lated these principles that body  would'logically  be the                       Contribution
one to approach, but this being impossible I am asking       Dear Brother,
these questions of the delegates to Synod, hoping that
some one can give me some light on the matter. Pos-             Is  i.t not somewhat strange, that after all the articles
sibly one of the members of the committee who pro-           that were written by the Rev. Petter, wherein he
posed this declaration to Synod can answer them.             Seaches a conditional theology, that so many still say
   1. I am informed that the Mission Committee re-           that the Rev. Peter does not mean it that way? And
quested Synod to draw up a form regarding our prin- that he means something altogether different from
ciples for those (especially in Canada) who request          what he writes. When you consider the educational
organization. On the basis of this Synod drew up this        background and the studies for years under the most
declaration. Now my question is this: Is it  church-         capable and greatest theologians of the world, I  say  is
politically correct to make such a  d.eclaration  on the     it not strange, when a common church member writes
basis of a request of a committee? Doesn't this violate an article defending the  ,truth  of unconditional salva-
the rule of Reformed Church Polity that all matters          tion, that every word he writes is pregnant with mean-
must come to Synod via Consistory, Classis,  etc. ?          ing, even his motives are judged. You write and I
   2. Is this declaration exclusively for those outside      quote : "For it is evident that the author's sole purpose
of our denomination, or also for our own people?             is to attack a Minister of the Gospel, an office bearer
   3. It seems to me that the declaration is mainly          in good standing, in order to expose him to the Chur-
directed at the Liberated Churches. Only a small por- ches as being heretical and in need of disciplinary at-.
tion is given to the repudiation of the common grace         tention".    In this instance I feel you are judging
theory, church hierarchy,. etc., while a large portion' motives, and you have no right to do this. For to
directly ,and indirectly is devoted to the repudiation       expose  Reverend Petter to the churches  was' far from
of the Liberated views of the covenant and baptism.          my thoughts when I wrote the article in question. I
Am I correct in drawing this conclusion?                     did not have to do this, as the Reverend Petter did this
   4. I gather that these principles are meant to be         himself, when he wrote the articles, but I do stand op-
an explanation of the Confessions, not another con-          posed to his conditional theology. I wrote: "And un-
fession. Does this imply that our Confessions are  am-       less we are unconditionally saved `there is no salvation
`biguous on these points so that these truths cannot be at all."
clearly proven from the Confessions without this de-            It was therefore in the light of everything that was
claration of principles? Does this then also imply that written by the Rev. H. Hoeksema and Rev. Ophoff and
our missionaries, ministers and people are not able to       Rev. Veldman, which articles I underscore as having
state the same without them?                                 been in harmony with Scripture and our Confessions
   5. What is the difference between a declaration           over against the conditional theology of Rev. Petter,
and a form? I've heard a few people call this a fourth       that I wrote: "For do you not realize that you have
form.     What technically is a form or confession?          lost the right to write under the heading of `Among
What historically are the conditions that necessitated       Our Treasures', for among our treasures, we have
the formulation of confessions? Have the Reformed            learned to sing, "Welzalig hij die al  zijn kracht en
*Churches ever set a precedent in making declaration         hulp alleen van u verwacht". To me a conditional
of the Confessions? If so, in what conditions did they theology is just as much of an error as the common
do so?                                                       grace theology. I therefore cannot see wherein I have
   Will some one kindly give me an answer to these           erred.


                                    T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                           517

   Further you write,  a"We  personally want to assure        dorven is dat hij dat niet meer kan, en ook niet meer
Brother Feenstra that both through Rev. `Petter's             wil  doen,  dat ontslaat hem niet van zijne  verant-
writings and our personal discussions with him about          woordelijkheid.    De Heere doet de mensch immers
these matters, the Rev. Petter endorses, preaches and         geen onrecht,  als hij van hem eischt om datgene
teaches all that the Reformed Churches as represented         te  doen  dat hij  niet  meer kan volbrengen. Die dat
by our Protestant Reformed Churches stand for".               leert is tech zeker we1 goed  Prot. Gereformeerd. Stelt
There was something wrong then, was there not, for            Gods Woord  bet ons niet altijd voor dat wij den Heere
you to personally discuss with Rev. Petter "about these       zoeken  moeten? En wij  weten ook uit Gods Woord
matters".                                              I      dat zij die den Heere zoeken alreeds van Hem gevon-
   But, Reverend Cammenga, things are not fixed that          den zijn. Maar dan gaan we maar niet zoo zonder
way. Only by a public apology are matters straighten-         slag'en  stoot naar den hemel toe. Dit is  we1 duidelijk
ed out. That is what you expect of me, too, is it not?        uit hetgeen de  -apostel   Paulus ons zegt in Filippensen
Will you please explain to me where I erred, by rejed-        3 vers 12, daar staat : Niet dat ik het alreede gekregen
ing the Conditional Theology of Rev. Petter, and under-       heb, of alreede volmaakt ben, maar ik jaag er naar,
scoring the Unconditional Theology of the Reverends           of ik het odk grijpen mocht, waartoe ik van Christus
H. Hoeksema, G.  M.  LOphoff,  and H. Veldman.                Jezus ook gegrepen ken. Broeders! ik acht niet, dat
                                                              ik zelf het gegrepen heb. Maar een ding doe ik, ver-
                              Yours in Christ,                getende hetgeen achier is, en strekkende mij tot het-
                                       K. Feenstra.           geen voor is, jaag ik maar het wit, tot den prijs der
                                                              roeping Gods, die van boven is in Christus  Jezus. Wij
                                                              zijn op reis naar het hemelsche  land, niaar daar zijn
                                                              we nog niet. Wat  worden  we in Gods. Woord  ver-
                                                              maand om wakende en biddende zijn. We zijn hier
                                                              in het strijdperk; zonder strijd geen kroon. Daarom
                                                              zegt  Paulus:  do&  aan de geheele wapenrusting des
                    hgezonden                                 geloofs, en ook dit gij hebt nog niet ten bloede tegen-'
                                                              gestaan strijdende tegen de zonde, en wandel met
                  EEN OPMERKING                               vreeze den tijd uwer inwoning.        Volharden tot het
                                                              einde. Niet verachteren in de genade. Niet omzien
   Het is goed  dat we bij de Gereformeerde beginselen        naar hetgeen  achter is. Gedenkt  aan de vrouw van
scherp de wacht houden. Maar als we lezen wat.broe-           Lot! Die  staat zie toe dat hij niet valle.  Toen de
der K. Feenstra schrijft in the Standard Bearer van           .Heere  Israel verlost heeft uit het diensthuis van Egypte
1 Juli, dan wordt  bet  we1 weer duidelijk drt we de          toen  gingen ze niet maar zoo langs de gebaande wegen
volmaaktheid nog lang niet bereikt hebben. Laat ons           naar het beloofde land Kanaan toe. Neen, de Heere
nog eens zien wat hij schrijft. Hier  volgt het : "0          voerde hun eerst naar die bange en vreeselijke  woes-
Brother Petter, may the God of all grace show you             .tijn, waar geen water was om te  drinken,  en geen
the terrible error of a conditional theology. For, do         brood om te eten. Daar heeft de Heere hen beproefd
you not realize that you have lost the right to write         of zij in zijne wegen wilden  wandelen of niet. En wij
under the heading of "Among Our Treasures"? For               weten hoe het  toen gegaan is. Allen die uit Egypte
among our treasures, we have learned to sing, `Wel-           gegaan zijn van twintig jaar oud en daar boven zijn
zalig hij die al zijn kracht, en hulp alleen van u ver-       in de woestijn gestorven, en ze hebben dat uitermate
wacht. . .  ."    Kom broeder, wees wat voorzichtig,          goede land waar ze naar toe zouden, dat van  melk en
want ge  beleedigt  Rev. Petter, en ge bedroeft de  lezers    honing was vloeiende, niet eens gezien. Behalve  Kaleb
van The Standard Bearer. Moet hetgeen u aanhaalt              d.e zoon van Jefunne, en Jozua de zoon van Nun; want
uit Gods Woord als bewijs dienen dat Ds. Petter               zij hebben volhard den Heere na te volgen.          Zelfs
dwaalt? We1 broeder, laat dan eens weer van u hoo-            Mozes en- Aaron zijn niet in' alles getrouw geweest
ren, want het gaat  tech niet aan om hem te bestrijden        aan de  bevelen des Heeren. In de  eerste. brief van
met zijn eigen belijdenis, met hetgeen hij  altijld zoo       Paulus aan die van Korinthe zegt hij dat deze dingen
duidelijk geleerd heeft. Zou hetgeen Rev. Petter ons          hun overkomen zijn ons tot voorbeelden, opdat wij
kracht duidelijk te maken niet slaan op de verplich-          geen lust zouden hebben tot het kwaade. Als we daar-
tingen die ,de Heere ons opgelegd h&t? Dat wij aan            aan denken wat is het dan noodzakelijk dat we altijd
zijne  bevelen   denken  om die  te  doen. Doe dat en gij     weer vermaand  worden,  dat het ons altijd toegeroepen
zult leven. U zegt dat een mensch geen stok en blok           wordt, Bekeert u! Bekeert u, want de Heere onze God
is, dat zijn we goed met u eens. Dat een zondaar dood         is heilig .
is door de zonde en de misdaden, dat ontslaat hem niet                                        Henry De Mulder,
van zijn  plicht  om God  te dienen. Dat hij zoo  ver-                                           Rock Valley, Iowa.,

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

                                                                            He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and
         THE DAY OFSHADOWS                                                  the rock of my `salvation.
                                                                            Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings
                                                                            of the earth.

David's Right Hand In The Rivers                                          But the thoughts here expressed are too great to
                                                                       allow us to end with them in David. In the  final
                                                                       instance the king in Israel's throne is Christ. His
   The 22nd chapter of 2 Samuel is a song of David hand did God set in the sea ,and his right hand in the
in which he passes in review all God's mercies toward river& Him did God make His firstborn, higher than
him. As will be recalled, I have already. presented the kings of the earth. He set His own right hand in
some comments on this song of a general nature. Let the heavenly, far above all principalities, and power
us now attend more closely to some of the lines con-                   and might, and dominion, and every name that is
tained in its last section-the lines in which David,                   named, not only in this world but also in the world
speaking to God, declares:                                             which is to come: and hath put all things under His
        Thou hast kept me to be the head of the heathen: a people      feet and gave Him to be the head over all things in the
        which  I knew not shall serve me.                              church" (Eph. 1:20-23)  .
        Strangers shall submit themselves to me; as soon as they          David's empire was vast, comparatively speaking.
        hear, they shall be obedient unto' me.                         As the anointed of the Lord in Israel's throne,  `he had
        Strangers shall fade away, and shall be afraid out of their    dominion over many heathen nations. But, to quote
        closed places.                                                 from a previous article from my pen, Christ's dominion
                                                                       extends to the utmost bounds of the universe. It in-
       As was already explained, the heathen of which cludes every creature, animate and inanimate, rational
David here makes mention were in the first instance and irrational, angels, devils, and men. All things
the nations that dwelt within Israel's ideal boundaries have been put into His hands. Vested is He with all
not under the ban `of  `God. Through David's warfare power in heaven and ,on earth, and by virtue thereof
and in connection with it the Lord subdued the people he reigns in the midst of His enemies the world over,
one and all under, David made them to submit them- and simultaneously through the ages of this dispensa-
selves to him, render him obedience, and pay him tri- tion of the world gathers His church, which is His
bute as his vassal-kings and with him as their head.                   body and of which He is head and Saviour.
       As was explained, the heathen of which these lines                 Christ being a king of such dominion and power,
make mention were all the nations that dwelt on the well may the prophet (Ps. 2) ask, "Why do the heathen
west side of the Euphrates-Israel's ideal boundaries rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?`-the
on the east. Through David's warfare and in connec- people, the nations of the earth (vs. 1). Their kings
tion with it, the Lord subdued these peoples one and.                  and rulers take counsel together, against the Lord-
all under David, made them to submit themselves to the triune Jehovah-and against Christ His anointed
him, and pay him tribute as his vassal-kings. It means King. They say: Let us break their bands assunder,
that as king. of God's chosen people-the people of and cast their cords from us (vs. 2) ; that is, despising
Israel-David reigned also in the midst of the heathen as they do, Christ's  .claim upon their homage and
-Israel's enemies-of the heathen of his empire. And obedience, they resolve to free themselves of His do-
a vast empire it was, stretching, as it did, from the                  minion and of the dominion of His God (vs. 2).
River Euphrates on the east to the Mediterranean on
the west and on the south to the River Nile.                              But their ragings. are vanity. He that sitteth in
       With these ways of God with David before our the heavens laughs: Jehovah holds them one and all
eye, we can understand the Lord's say&g  by the mouth in derision (vs. 4). He will speak to them in His
of the prophet (Ps. 89  :20-2'7) :                                     wrath and terrify them in His sore displeasure. (vs. 5).
                                                                       His terrifying speech will be to the effect that he has
        I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I         established His King-Christ Jesus-upon the hill of
        annointed him.                                                 His holiness-the Mt. Zion that is above; that this
        The enemy shall not exact upon him! nor the son of             king is His Son, begotten of God this day; that, ac-
        wickedness afflict him.                                         cordingly, for the asking,  ,,God will give Him. the
        And I will beat down his foes before him, and plague them      heathen for His inheritance and the uttermost parts
        that hate him.                                                 of the earth for his possession. He will break them
        But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him:            with a rod of iron ; dash them-these anti-Christian
        and in my name shall his horn be exalted.                       kings and their kingsdoms-in pieces like a potter's
         I will set his hand al& in the sea, and his right hand in     vessel, in a word, utterly destroy them, first, in the
         the rivers.                                                   point of view of right, through His obedience  unto the


                                    T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                        519

 death of the cross; second, actually, as the King ex- them as the mire of the street, and did spread them
 alted (vss. 6-9) L And this in glaring evidence of the abroad (Ps. 18 37-42).
 vanity of their raging.                                        That also in his wars with the heathen of his
    Let now therefore the kings of the. earth be wise, world and in his victories over the heathen David
 and the judges of the earth instructed. Let them serve typified  ,Christ is proved by all the promises given
 Jehovah with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Let him. The words of these promises are too great to
 them kiss the Son-God's King-revere Him, submit have all their meanings exhausted in David. They
 themselves to His authority and trust in Him-lest could reach their fulfillment only in Christ.
 He be angry, and they perish in the way, when His                                                 96. M. Ophof.
 wrath is kindled but a little (vss.  10-12). Blessed are
 they that put their trust in Him (vs.  12~).
    Underlying this psalm is the distinction between
 Christ as King of His church whom He bought with
 His blood and to whom He has been given to be the                      S I O N ' S   Z A N G E N
 head over all things in it; and the same Christ as the
 Lord of all things including the worldly states and
 their rulers with Satan their prince. The church,                Niet Ons, `0 Heere! Niet Ons
 which is His body, He rules by His indwelling Spirit,
 grace and word.                                                             (Psalm 115; Eerste Deel)
    As to the `kings of the earth and their kingdoms,           "Niet  ons, o Heere! niet ons, maar Uwen naam
 they, too, are in His hand,-so that He uses them in all     geef eer, om Uwer goedertierenheid, om Uwer  waar-
 their wickedness for the promotion of the ends of His       heid wil."
 kingdom, while at the same time making them to pass
 away-dashing them in pieces, in the language of the            Wat een hemelsch begin !
 psalm-as He has done with them. As Jehovah's king              Hieraan zult ge de genade onderkennen !
 on Zion's hill He thus reigns also in the midst of His         Want dit getuigenis gaat dwars tegen onze zondige
 enemies.                                                    natuur in. Van nature zeggen wij het juist andersom : -
    These Messianic explanations alone can satisfy the       Het is ONS, o Heere ! Het is ONS !
 meanings of the words of this psalm (Ps. 2). Plainly           En het is niet Uw naam, maar het is onze naam
. the psalm is a direct prophecy of the exaltation of        die eer en heerlijkheid moet ontvangen !
 Christ at the right hand of God and of .His reign in           We zullen ons een  NAAM   maken.  Gedenkt  aan
 that exalted position. But the prophecy takes its rise      den toren van BabeI.
 in David and the historical events that cluster about          En waarom?                    .
 his person as Israel's king. The kings of the earth-           `Omdat de trotschheid ons levensmotief is.  Bet
 Ammon's king and Moab's king and the lords of the           vleesch, het zondige vleesch  leeft de grootschheid des
 Philistines and the Syrian Hadarezer and .the king's        levens.
 tributary to him, in a word, all the heathen kings of          Maar wanneer  *de genade ons gevonden heeft, dan
 his earth-fearing his growing power, took counsel           worden  de  rollen omgekeerd.
 against him as bent on his destruction. But the Lord           Dan wordt het geheel anders. Dan gaat ye net
 then, too, laughed. For He had anointed David His           andersom oordeelen als te voren.
 king upon Zion, and had promised to set his hand in            Aangaande Uzelven? Dan zegt ge : 0 God ! wees
 the sea, and His right hand in the rivers and to estab-     mij, den armen zondaar, genadig!
 lish His throne forever. And so the nations plotting           En aangaande God?
 his ruin were doomed.. He, the Lord's anointed, broke          Dan zegt ge: Niet  ens; o Heere! niet ons, maar
 them in pieces. In his own language, "I have pursued        Uwen Naam geef eer, om Uwer goedertierenheid en
 mine enemies, and destroyed them ; and turned not           Uwer waarheid wil!
 again until I had consumed them, and wounded them,             Let er op, dat dit een gebed is ! Daar zit iets  ont-
 that they could not arise: yea, they had fallen undtr       zaglijks in.
 my feet. For thou hast girded me with strength to              Stelt het U voor: hier `bidt een mensch om zijn
 battle: them that rose up against me hast thou sub-         grootste nooddruft: Hij hunkert er naar, dat Gods
 dued under me. Thou hast given me the necks of mine         Naam geprezen wordt.
 enemies, that I might destroy  thenr that hate me. They        En deze mensch beseft, dat hij niet bij machte is
 looked, but there was none to save; even unto the           om dit zelf te doen. Hij bidt God om er tech voor te
 Lord, but he answered them not. Then I did beat             zorgen, dat niet hij, maar dat God Zelf alle eer ont-
 them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stomp         vangen mag.


                                      T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                             521

                                                               tions into a meaningful and fruitful discussion is to
                FROM HOLY WRIT                                 begin with the matter stated under 5, namely, what is
                                                               implied in draw&g nigh unto God.
                                                                  Now it ought to be clear to the intelligent reader,
   Exposition Of Hebrews 10:1&25                               that in order to understand what it means  to draw  near
                                                               unto God, it is necessary to understand, that, according
                                                               to all of Scripture and particularly in the book of Heb-
                               I       .                       rews, ,G6d  is always confronting us with Himself as the
    Beginning with this  a-rticle  we hope to write a          living God.
short series of essays on the passage of the Word of              Thus we read in this chapter, the  31st verse, "It is
God recorded for us in Hebrews 10 : 19-25.                     a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
    This passage of the Word of  ,God is at once in-           And in a more indirect way, the same reality concern-
structive unto godliness in  .Christ Jesus as well as an       ing God is expressed in Hebrews  4:12,  13. For the
exhortation unto a more perfect reliance upon the              Word of God is quick (living,-Zoon gar o logos tou
great grace and mercy in Christ our Lord. The whole            Theou) and powerful (active) and sharper than any
passage bears a hortatory and warning character. In. two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder
it the readers, and we with them, are warned against           of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and
falling back into unbelief and exhorted unto believing         is a discerner of (quick to discern) the thoughts and
boldness and full assurance of faith.                          intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature
    These verses are indeed pregnant with thought.             that is not manifest in His sight; but all things are
They are simply replete with Old Testament symbolism,          naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we,
with the symbolism used by holy men of God moved               have to do".
by the Holy Spirit to make known the way and plan                 Surely this is a strong picture of the living God as
of salvation through earthly forms and symbols. We             He confronts us with His holy Word. That God is the
do well to take notice of these forms and to believe           living God is surely evident from the living Word.
that they are God-given aids to us to give us a clearer        Only the  Ziv&g  God speaks such a living Word in Jesus
understanding of the only way unto God, the Father.            our Lord. The Word of God convicts of sin, righteous-
    The text that we refer to in this article reads as ness and of judgment, but it aiso is the God-inspired
follows  : "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter      Word that is profitable to instruction, correction, ad-
into the holiest #(holy  pluce) by the blood of Jesus, by      monition and reproof.      And this Word is the very
a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for            tangible evidence in the heart and conscience of every
5~s.~ through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, and hav-    man who hears that God is the  living God. He is not
ing a great (a high) priest over the house of God, let         a dead god ! He does not have eyes and does not see,
us draw near with a true heart in the full assurance           and ears and does not hear, a mouth and that does not
of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil con-        speak. But He is the living  ,God,  who comes to stand
science, and our bodies washed with pure water. . . ."         before us in all the glory of His divine perfections.
vss.  19-22.                                                      It is this God with  Whom we have to do!
   Looking at the text before us we notice that the               The original Greek states this literally thus: "With
symbolic elements in the text, which call for our be-          whom the matter or account with us is". `When we
lieving consideration are :                                    bear  this matter in mind, namely, that God is the
                                                               living God, then the message of the writer to the
   1. The idea of the "holy place" and of "boldness            Hebrews really comes to stand before us in over-awing
to enter into it."                                             relief. It means that we must and may and can and
   2. The Scriptural meaning of the "veil" in the              should draw near unto the living God, the God whom '
temple and how this veil is related to the "flesh" ,of         all the angels worship and adore !
Christ.
   8. What is it that makes Jesus so uniquely a High              Unto  &n we are to draw near!
Priest in the house of God in distinction from the              . Surely this must not be taken in a mere geographic
High Priests of the Old Testament temple or taber-             sense. This refers to a drawing near in the spiritual
nacle?                                                         sense of the word. It is an act, or activity of faith
   4. What is the meaning of "hearts sprinkled from            that is energized by love and that finds its seat in the
an evil conscience" and bodies washed with pure water?         "heart".
   5. And lastly, what does this all mean for us in               This drawing near we do from  believing hearts.
"drawing nigh unto God with a *true heart in the full          The text emphasizes that the following concerning
assurance of faith" ?                                          the heart:
   Probably the best way to organize all these y,ues-             1. `That we must draw-near with true hearts!


     1    522                                       T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

             2. That this drawing near is a matter of a heart            a true heart is one that is sincere in purpose. It is
          that is sprinkled from an  civil conscience.                   one that believes in Christ with a hearty confidence.
             3. That drawing near must thus not be done with             It is a heart that appropriates Christ and His Holy
          doubt and hesitance and fear, but that it must be done         Spirit with all of His benefits. Such a true heart is
          in the full as+rance of faith.       (                         a pure heart. It is one that is purified from  the,yu%
             It is upon this theme of faith, and the full assur-         of sin.
          ance of faith as a drawing nigh unto God, that the                 In general we may state, that to be purified from
          writer to the Hebrews will further illucidate in the           the guilt of sin, means that we have the assurance of
          remainder of this epistle. Particularly masterful and          the foregiveness of sins through the redemption in
          instructive is what we read in Hebrews 11. But this            Christ Jesus. Having this we sing in joyful and glad
          latter we only remark in passing.                              strains: 0, the blessedness of the man whose sins are
             What calls for our attenton now is what is implied          forgiven, whose iniquity is covered. Blessed is the
          with true  hearts. Drawing nigh unto God is not mere-          man to whom the Lord does not impute sin. And hav-
          ly a matter of a rational-moral creature. It is a matter       ing this glad assurance songs of deliverance fill the
          of the spiritual side  oft man's moral  .nature.      It is    night watches ! For in having our hearts sprinkled
          out of the heart that the issues of life are. This is          from an evil conscience the awful, the terrifying sense
          not merely true of the good heart, but this is equally         of damn-worthiness is gone. Rather we then have the
          true of an evil heart. As the heart is so is the man.          sense, the comfortable assurance of the favor of God !
          This Jesus teaches us in Matthew 15 :19 concerning                 More particularly we notice that this our having
          the evil heart: "For out of the heart proceed evil             true hearts, hearts that are sprinkled from a evil con-
          thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication, thefts, false      science, is a sprinkling which we undergo by faith. It
I         witness blasphemies. These are the things which defile         is true we undergo this sprinkling by means of faith,
          a man." And also the good man brings forth good                by means of the act of faith. Believing (pisteuontes)
          deeds from a "true heart" by faith.                            we undergo this sprinkling, that is to say, God works
                 Now a true heart is opposed not to an unreal heart,     in our hearts the glad assurance of the forgiveness
          but rather to a heart that is  eth.tially false. An ethic-     of sins. When this is our portion and surely with this
          ally false heart is one that does not believe in Christ        portion as our inheritance the lines have fallen unto us
          Jesus, does not keep the commandments from gratitude           in pIeasant places, then we know that our sins,are  gone
          and hence does not live to  ,God's  praise. A true heart       up to the very moment, up to the very present. The
          stands right with God, because the love of ,God is shed        ,Greek  here uses the perfect passive participle.  (reran-
          abroad in it. It is a heart in which the Holy Spirit           tismenoi) . This tense expresses action  completed up
          of Christ  dzuells,  and is a heart which. receives the        to the present.
          Spirit with all of His benefits.                                   Hence, this is a constant activity of faith, it is an
                 Such is a true heart.    *                              unbroken  l&e. It refers to an uninterrupted operation
                 It is with such a heart that God is worshipped in       of the Spirit which we at once undergo and which at
          spirit and in truth.       Here the dominion of sin is         once we also receive by faith. The sprinklng is the
          broken. Sin does not here reign. Here from a good              operation of the Spirit by means of the Word and
          heart those who receive the gift of righteousness reign        Sacraments, while our receiving,it  by faith is also the
          through one, namely, our Lord Jesus Christ. Such               operation of the Holy Spirit in our hearts by which we
          is a true heart. In it the truth dwells, the darkness          `claim these mercies of forgiveness  as our own!
          has been dispelled and true light already shineth.                 Indeed, therefore, shall there be such a drawing
          Such a man is not a liar, nor is he a hypocrite, but           near unto God in the full assurance of faith, then there
          he is a true worshipper of God. His heart is true,             must be an uninterrupted activity of faith which re-
          genuine, real. ,He loves God and His commandments              ceived the constant gift of forgiveness, so that one
          and trusts Hm as the God of His perfect and complete           knows himself righteous before God.
          salvation.                                                         Then one says : Although my conscience accuses me
                 Of such a heart the writer to the Hebrews speaks.       that I have kept none of God's commandments, yea,
                 But there is a second element emphasized in the         that I have transgressed them all, and am constantly
          text. It is the matter of a heart  being  sptinkkd  from       prone to all evil, yet I believe that I am as righteous
          an evil conscience. And this matter of a heart sprin-          before God as if I had never sinned, yea, as though I
          kled from an evil conscience is not merely a truth by          had fulfilled all righteousness, since I received the
          itself next to that of a true heart, but is rather a very      righteousness of God in Christ with a believing heart!
          essential element in a true heart-a heart where sin                                (to be continued)
          has lost its dominion. For we would remind you that                                                     G. Lubbers.
                    ,e


                                    9x3~   S T A N D A R D   ' B E A R E R                                        523

                                                            one sentence has control over his life and death. In
            I N   H I S   F E A R                           that sense men speak also in our times of freedom
                                                            from  ,fear. And indeed, in that evil sense the term
                                                            denotes something of which we wish to be free. But
    Beginning with this issue the undersigned has been      in the Old Testamen't  Scriptures especially we read
asked to write for this rubric in our Standard Rearer.      repeatedly of the fear of Jehovah. Thus you read in  !  ~
And although this rubric has appeared in the Standard       Proverbs 13 : "The fear of the Lord is the beginning
Bearer  for several years already, and is therefore not     of knowledge ; but fools despise wisdom and instruc-
new to the readers, this is nevertheless a new begin-       tion," And again in Proverbs 9 : 10 : "The fear of the
ning. A new beginning it is both from the point of          Lord is the beginning of wisdom ; and the knowledge
view that the undersigned has not previously written,       of the holy is understanding." Thu,s the poet of Psalm
except occasionally, in any of our periodicals, and cer-    86 petitions : "Unite my heart to fear thy name." And
tainly from the point of view of the fact that to read      finally, we read in Psalm 25 :14 : "The secret of the
"In His Fear" is far different than writing for this        Lord is with them that fear him, and he will show
rubric.    We must therefore make one another's ac-         them his covenant." Now it is very plain that "fear"
quaintance as reader and writer.                            in this connection must not be understood in the sense
                                                            of terror. Certainly the terror of the Lord is not the
    ,4nd the key to becoming acquainted is understand-      beginning of knowledge or of wisdom ; nor is the
ing. We must reach an understanding with regard to          prayer of the child of God, "Unite my heart to be
three factors, chiefly. First of all, we must be agreed     terrorized by thy name." Nor, surely, is the secret
and understand well the purpose of this rubric, its         of Jehovah with those who are filled with terror be-
aim, the limits of its contents. In the second place,       fore Him.
we should be agreed as to the way in which that pur-
pose is to be attained. And finally, we should agree as        But it is in this Scriptural sense of the term as we
to the attitude to be assumed over against what shall       have cited it in the above passages that the title "In
be here written. Concerning each of these factors we        His Fear" is a fitting one indeed for such a practical
shall say a few words in this introductory article.         rubric. But then we must understand that by the fear
                                                            of the Lord is meant, objectively, the entire revelation
                                                            of the Lord from the point of view of His precepts.           ~
                                                            And "in His fear" means then that we are instructed
Purpose                                                     in and consequently walk in the sphere of that revela-
    If you will take the trouble to check back to the       tion of our Lord's precepts. It means that there is
time when the present division into rubrics was intro-      and must be harmony between our being and life and
duced, you will discover that this section of our maga-     those precepts of the Lord.
zine was intended to cover the field of education, mean-       And subjectively the fear of the Lord really implies
ing, of course, Christian Education, in the strict sense    all that is implied in our religion as it is implanted
of the term. To a large extent this limitation has          in our hearts. All our faith, our hope and love, our
been observed, and the various writers who preceded         confidence and trust in Jehovah, is expressed in that
the undersigned wrote on various subjects of an edu-        one word : the fear of Jehovah.
cational nature, although not always.                          Really on those two elements of the fear of the
   With this issue the field is broadened. My mandate Lord the whole sense and purpose of such a rubric as
from the editor defines the purpose of this rubric as       this hinges. And both are necessary. Except there be
being to write on so-called "practical" subjects, sub-      present faith and hope and love and confidence and
jects which concern the life of the child of God in the     trust,-gifts of the grace of God,-there can be no
midst of the world, in home, in church, in school, in       positive purpose in speaking of the revelation of Je-
private and in public life. We have a wide choice of        hovah's precepts.* And it is the positive purpose of
subjects, *therefore,  and we shall try to touch on live    this rubric,-in that sense, namely, that we must all
issues.                                                     be educated, it is still an educational rubric,-that we
   And "in His fear" must, of course, be the mark of        should be trained in the precepts of the Lord. Yes,
the life of the Christian. The fear of the Lord our         we must all still be trained and continuially  be trained,
God, Who is one Lord, must be the guiding principle         children and parents, young and old, in those precepts
of all that we do as His children in the midst of the       of the Lord, in order that our faith may respond,
world. Fear, we may remind ourselves, should not            "Lord, unite my heart to fear thy name."
here be taken in the evil sense of the word. The slave
fears his master, and at his approach he crouches with      Princ$e and Practice
fear of punishment. The defendant fears the judge,             It must therefore be evident by now also that in
and he trembles at the thought that this judge with         our method we shall be guided by  .the rule that there

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

is always a very close relation between principIe  and          shah be our goal, after inquiring into the principle of
practice between  ,Christian principle and  Christan            the thing, to try to apply that principle of Holy Writ
practice, or, if you will, between ,things doctrinal and        to various aspects of our present day life.
things practical.
       And yet it may be well that we understand this           Attitude
rule and agree upon it from the beginning. For in
our day doctrinal things and practical things are often            We must therefore be careful as to the attitude we
con(trasted,  placed at opposite poles in our thinking.         assume when such expositions of principle and appli-
How often does one not hear the complaint made that             cations of principles are made. Writings such as these
so and so is far .too doctrinal in his preaching and that       are apt to tou,ch  us where it hurts, touch both you and
this minister should preach more practica1  sermons?            myself. They  shah do that because  of  the fact  that
Or how often, even in matters of church polity, does it         we are not at all perfect, but have much need in all
not occur that one will say that a matter is true in            our way in the midst of this world of being trained
principle or in theory, but that in practice the opposite       in the fear of the Lord.
is true*? And thus principle and practice are fre-                 Our attitude must be in the first place an. attitude
quently divorced.                                               of  humihty.    We must above all be ready to bow be-
       The result of such an attitude is without fail that      fore the Word of  ~God, when it becomes clear to us
soon, if not immediately, after one forsakes a certain          what the principle taught in God's Word is., We may
soundly Scriptural principle, and no longer founds his          in no sense question it, argue against it, stamp it as
practical life upon that principle, the practice also           idle theory or idealism. But in faith we must receive
becomes faulty, sinful, and empty or superstitious.             that Word as the end of all debate. And in that con-
We would therefore propose the following proposi-               nection as Protestant Reformed people we must be will-
tions, which may serve us as a guide in this matter             ing also to be yoked by our Reformed Confessions,
of principle and practice.                                      even as we profess them to be Scriptural.
       1. There is never a practice which does not have            And when principles, Scriptural and confessional,
behind it a principle. Even those who pride them-               are applied, when it becomes clear what the importance
selves on being practical, down-to-earth, hardheaded            of a certain principle is for our life, we must also be
realists, in distinction from men of principle, are never-      careful in our attitude. Certainly we may not treat
theless acting upon some principle, whether they state          things merely as matters of philosophical discussion.
their principle or not.                                         By all means we may not read with our mental eye
       2. Fundamentally, we can speak of only two prin- ,upon  the neighbor. But our attitude must be expressed
ciples,-the  principle of faith and the principle of sin.       in the question : "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?"
For "all that is not of faith is sin." There is no half-        and in the prayer: "Give me grace that I may do it,
way ground, no neutral territory.         There is only a       and may more and more forsake the evi1 of my way
right or a wrong. 4nd in writing of the fear of the             as it is made clear to me in the light of Thy Word.'
Lord for God-fearing people this must above all be                 Then we shall learn the fear of the Lord. Then
kept on the fore-ground.                                        we shall know the  #Lord. Then we shall be wise unto
       3. AI1 other things being equal, that is, the faith      salvation. Then we shall experience the truth of that
and hope and trust being equal, he is better equipped           blessed Word : "The secret of the Lord is with them
to live a life in His fear, who is more firmly founded          that fear Him, and His covenant is with them that He
in sound doctrine.                                              might cause them to know it.'
       4. There is never a principle which is not practical,                                       H. C. Hoeksema.
or, positively stated, all principles are practical.
       It must therefore be clear that if we are to walk
in His fear, we must first of all be instructed in His
fear.      Scriptural and Reformed principles must be
clearly expounded and clearly understood, in order                              MEMBERSHIP MEETING
that we may have a firm basis for all that we do.                 The Annual Membership Meeting of the Standard
4nd therefore we shall in the course of our writings            Bearer will be held Thursday evening, September 28,
frequently be obliged to turn to Scripture and the              in the basement of the `First Prot. Ref. Church. Board
Confessions and ask the question before ought else:             members are to be elected, reports will be given by
"What is the principle of the thing?" And having Secretary and Treasurer, and other business conducted
done that, we shall never have to grope around and that might come before the meeting.
wonder what our calling is. For there is no contrast,             Please reserve this date and plan to attend.
after all, between principle and practice. Christian,
living is simply Christian principle applied. And it                                   Reformed Free Publ. Ass'n.


                                                                                                                                        T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                                                                                                                                                                                        525

                                           Index To Volume 26                                                                                                                                  Ephesians 5:14 . ..s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . r . . . . . . . .                                       21 1
                                                                                                                                                                                                          Continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..".............................. g.2                                                   44 2
                                                                                                                                                                                               Hebrews 6:4-8
                                                                                                                                                                                               Hebrews 10:2g.*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...*.-.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H:H: 155 7
                     INDEX  0.F SCRIPTURE PASSAGES TREATED                                                                                                                                                                                   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  .H.H. 156      7
                                                                                                                                                                                               Hebrews  10:19-25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.L.                                    521 22 '
                                  Text                                                                                                                                         Page No.        Hebrews   12:5,   6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..-.......  G.L.                                        68 3
  Deuteronomy  31:16 ................................. I.............. p,uFi                                                                                                    350 15                    ,C;ontinued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.L.                94 4
  I Samuel 1:27,  28 ..... .................................................. :.G:V: 205 22                                                                                                   I Peter 4:7 . . . . . . . . ..I..................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               g.;                     y;             1:
  II Samuel 7:1-17 ...... .i.. ............................................ G.M.O.                                                                                                            Revelation  21:27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 II Samuel 7:17-29 ...................................................                                                                                                          z
                                                                                                                                                               G.M.O.                  1':
 II Samuel 8:1-14 ........................................ %. ............G.&LO.                                                                                                281 12
 Job  35:lO . . . . .. . . . . . .
                                                          ................................ .......................... G.V. 457 20
 Psalm 68 :20-21 .............................. ................................ G.V.                                                                                            73
 Psalm 92:14-16 .................................................... .......... G.V.                                                                                                                                                  INDEX OF SUBJECTS  TRE2ATED
 Psalm 109 ................ .................................................... G.V.
             Continued                                                                                                                                                                                                     Subject
                                                ............................................................... G.V.                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Author Page No.
 PsaIm  110                                                                                                                                                           .g                         ,t             2'                                                                 -A-
              Continued
 :psa~ 111 ............-
                                                  ........................................................................................................................                    Among Our Treasures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . K. Feenstra 452 19
                                 ...................................................... ................. G:V:
             Continued ................................................................ G.V. 140                                                                                        E     Answer to Rev. A. Petter-An . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i . . . . . . H.V.                                                                           412 18
             Continued ............................................................... G.V. 162                                                                                         '7    Answer to Rev.  HowerzyI . r.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .G.M.O. 209 9
              Continued
 Psalm 112                                      ................................................................                                                                185     8                Continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . r........... r . . . . . . . . . .._........ G.M.O. 233 10
                                 ...................................................................... ..Z:T: 210                                                                      9                Continued . ._. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * . . . . . . * . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
             .Continued ...............................................................                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     G.M:O. 257 11
                                                                                                                                                                                -234 10
              Contided ................................................................ Z:                                                                                                    Appeal  -  Comment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W.H.
                                                                                                                                                                                253 ii                                                                                                                                                                                    70           3
              Continued C..........................................~ ...................                                                                                        284 12        Arm of the Lord Revealed-The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.M.O. 424 18
              Continued ................................................................ 2: 306 13                                                                                            Attribute of God-Is Faith an * . . . . . . . . . . . . A.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H.H. 157 7
 Psalm 113 .......................................................................                                                                                              355    15     Attributes of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..*....-...
              continued                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           H.V. 9 1
                                               ................................................................ E: 378 16
             Continued
                                 .......................................................................................................................................                                 Continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..-...............................
                                                                                                                                                                                403 17                                                                                                                                                            H.V.                    34 2
 Psalm 114                                                                                                                                                             g-F 426 18                        Continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.V.' 57 3
             Continued .................................. .............................. G:V: 498 21
 Psalm 115
 ,p~tlm 146:.15'. ..................................................................                                                                                            ix9 22                                                                                             -4%
                                            ............................................................. .....g-v"
 Isaiah 23:6,  7 ............................................................ G.M:O:                                                                                                          Beauty for  A+hes ...................................................... .G.V. 49 3
 Isaiah  25:8 .................................................................... G-V. 169                                                                                             8     Begenadigen des Heeren-De .................................... G:V. 409 18
 Isaiah  53:l ............................................................... G.M.O. 424 18
 Isaiah 
 Isaiah 53:2
                     53:3, $ ..`;`. ........................................................                                                                                                  Book Reviews:
                                                                                                                                                               G.M.O.           137     6
                                                      ....................................................... G.M.O.                                                                                     Dagflnale ................................................................ H.H. 515 22
 Isaiah  53:9,  10 ............................................ ............. . .p!&.g
                                                                                                                                                                    ... 4%  -f                           De  Heilige   Gee& ............................................... H.H. 202 9
 Isaiah 53:11,  12 ........................................................                                                                                                   . 449 19                   De Kleine Profeten, bij Ridderbos .;i.. ....:.;. ....:..H;H. 343 15
 Isaiah 61:3a ...................... ............................................. G.V.
 Isaiah  62:6,   7                                                                                                                                                                                        De Opstanding, bij Bouma ................................ H.H.                                                                                                 30            2
                                                                                                                                                                     2;          ;z     x
Habakkuk 2  :4b ............................................................................................................................                                    433  19                  Ephese, Philippenzen, bij  Grijdanus ............... H.H. 300 13
Zephaniah 1:12 ....................... ....................................... G'.V: 193 9                                                                                                               E p i s t l e   o f   P a u l   t o   t h e   Galatians-Th&y                                                                                                                       '
Zephaniah  3:12                                                                                                                                             ..&. g 193 9                                              Lightfoot ........................................................ H.H. 326 14
Malachi  1:2a ..................................................................................................................... . . . 497 21
Mark  16:16 ....................................................................                                                                                                                         Geloof en Heiliging, bij Berkhouwer .............H.H.                                                                                                           31 2
                                                                                                                                                                                247  11
Mark  16:19 .................. ..- ............................................. E? 361 16                                                                                                               Geloof en  Vdharding,   bij Berkhouwer ............H.H. 300 13
Luke 2:8-14                                                                                                                                                                      97 5                    Genesis, by Lange ................................................ H.H. 224 10
Luke 2:12 ........................................................
                                                                   L.. ................................................................................               ET: 121  6                Geschiedenis der Godsopenbaring, bij
Luke 15:11-24 ................................................................                                                                                                 4x1  2i                                Bavinck ..... ..a..........- ...............A..:.................H:H.                                                                              31           2
Luke 23:27-31 ...............................................................                                                                                                   265 12
Luke 24:13-34 ............................................................... dV:                                                                                                                        Het Boek Genesis, Vol. 1, bij Aalders ...........
                                                                                                                                                                                313 14                                                                                                                                                           H.H. 202                             9
John 4:13,  14 ............................................................... G.V. 337  15                                                                                                              Het Boek Genesis, Vol. 2, bij Aalders ..........JH.H.   2 0 3                                                                                                                9
John 11:5,  6 . . ................................................................. G.L. 477 20                                                                                                          Het Boek Genesis, Voi. 3, bij Aalders ............H.H. 203                                                                                                                   9
John 12:42 ................... A ................................................ H.H. 133 6                                                                                                             Het Christelijk Leven, bij  Brillenburg-
John 13:34,  35 ................................................................                                                                                                501  2 1
John  19:18 ........................................................ L.. .........GG.?                                                                                                                                Wurth .............. ........................................ ..e..H.H. 343 15
                                                                                                                                                                                289 13
Acts 2:1-4 ........................................................................ G:V: 385 17                                                                                                          Kerkhistorische Lijnen, bij Van Itterzon ........H.H. 203                                                                                                                    9
Acts  2:21 ...............................................................................................................................................                                     .-\
                                                                                                                                                                               271 12                    Om Woord en Kerk, bij Schilder .................. .H.H.                                                                                                      103             5
Acts  2:37                                                                                                                                                           HH.::     272 12                    Peper en Zout, bij Voila ................................... .H.H. 343 15
Acts  16:30 ................................ .................... ..... ...........H:H: 293 13
Remans   2:1,  2                                                                                                                                                                                         Praedestinatie-Onze Verkiezing in Christus,
                                              ................................................................                                                                 217  16
Romans 4:11-16 ........................................................... gz 104 5                                                                                                                                   bij Vander Zanden ....................................... H.H. 108                                                                                              5
Romans 
Remans 6:14
                          g:6-8.. .....................................................................................................................                                                  Progress of Doctrine in N. T., by (Bernard.....dH.H. 224 10
                                                                                                                                                 .......... f-E 1%                     t                 Rondom Het  Gemeene-Gratie  Probleem, bij
I Corinthians 
I corinthians 11:31
                                          11:11, &.Z..................... .                                                               .............................g g. 217 10
x corinthians 15:58                                                        .......-.                                                                                                                                  Ridderbos ............................... . ...................... H.H. 203                                                                                     9
                                                                                              ..................................                                               465 20
                                                                 ..................................... .3.. ............. G.L:                                                                           The Trial  and Death of Jesus Christ, by
Ephesians 2:1-3 ............................................................ G.L. !"4"2 l9 6                                                                                                                          Stalker ................................ ..-.................... :.;H.H. 326 14
            Conthmed ..:. . ......................................................... G.L.                                                                                                               Uit De Wereld Van Het N. T., bij Sizoo ........H.H: 108                                                                                                                      5
                                               .................................................. _.                                                                  G.L.
                                                                                                                                                    ..........                 :kz     i
            Ezs?E:: ..............................................................                                                                                                                      Veel Vragen-Een Antwoord, bij  Francken ....H.H. 343 15
                                                                                                                                                                               213     9
Ephesians 2:4-10
                                              .........................................................................................................................z: 236  10
           chdhl;l                                                                                                                                                ..G:L: 263  11
                                              ................. .............................................. G.L. 308 13
            Continued ............................................................... .G.L. 331 14                                                                                            Call for Help-A ............................................ M. Schipper 475 20
            Continued ..... ..~..........................................- ...........                                                                                         356 15
            Continued                                                                                                                                                                         Called To His Praise ............................................... J.A.H. 167                                                                                                         7
                                              ............................................................... .2::: 380 16
           .Continued ...................................... ...................................................................................                               405 17                   Continued ............................................................ J.A.H. 191                                                                                             8
           Continued                                                              ..".                                                                              .4i:k 429  1x                       Continued ............................................................ J.A.H;  215 9

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

                Subject                                                   Author Page No.                           Subject                                                      Author Page No.
Called To His Praise (continued from previous page)                                                        kontinued ............................................................... H.V. 204 9
       Continued ............................................................ J.AH. 239 10                 Continued ................................ .."........................... H.V. 226  1.0
       Continued ............................................................ J.A..H. 268 12               Gontinued ............................................................... H.V. 251 11
       Continued ............................................................ J.A.H. 311 13                 Continued .................... :`......................................... H.V. 300 13
       Continued ............................................................ J.&H,, 538 15                Continued ............................................................... H.V. 326 14
       Continued ............................................................ J.A.H. 383 16                 Continued ...........i................................................... H.V. 346 1.5
       Continued ............................................................ J.A.H. 134 18                .Gontinued ............................................................... H.V. 371  1 6
       Continued ............................................................ J.A.H. 545 19                Continued ......................................................... ...... H.V. 394 17
       Continued ............................................................ J.A.H.     502 21       Covenant+Different Views of  the-
Change at the Last Momen-he ............. ..". .......... H.H. 465 20                                       (Continued from Vol. 25) ................................ H.H.                       54  .3.
Change in Kalamazoo ................................ H. G. Kuiper 354 15                                   Continued ...........
                                                                                                                                    . .................................................. H.H.    78    4
Christ Brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter ......G.M.O.                                   89  4 Covenant-on Breaking the .................................... G.M.O. 351 15
Christ Sees His Seed ........................ ..`. .................... G.M.O. 491 17                 Covenant-The Idea of the .................. ................... H.H.                       78    4
Christians--Are We ? .............................................. J.A.H. 167                  7     Creation-The Idea of (see under Idea o f Creation etc)
Collection-The ............................................................ M.G.         23     1     (Creator-The (see under Idea of Creation etc.)
Comments on Rev. Petter's Article ..................... G.M.O.                           40 2
Common Grace ............................................................ W:H.           46     2                                                - I I - -
Conditions--As to ........................................................ H.H.          28 2
       Continued ............................................................... H.H.    52     2     David and Hamm ..................................................... G.M.O. 397 1'7
       Continued .........._................................................... H.H.     76     4     David and Uriah ......................................... I...._.......  G.M.O. 495 21
       Continued ............................................................... H.H. 100       5.    David's Adultery ..........-......................................... G.M.O. 493 21
       Continued ............................................................... H.H. 124       6     Davidts  Decision to Build the Lord a House........G.M.O.                                  230 10
       Continued .............................................................. H.H. 196        9 David's Prayer .......................................................... G.M.O.               254 11
       Continued ........ .._................................................... H.H. 220 10          David's Right Hand in the River ........................ G.M.O. 518 22
       Continued ............................................................... H.H. 244 11          David% Wars and Their  SigniEcance ............... G.M.O.                                  281 12
       Continued ......... ..w................................................... H.H. 269 12              Continued .......s. ................................................... G.M.O. 350 15
       Continued ............................................................... H.H. 292 13          Declaration of Principles-A Brief ....................... H.H. 436 19
       Continued  l........." ................................................... H.H. 316  14              Continued ................................................................ H.H. 460 20
       Continued ............................................................... H.H. 365 15'         Doings in, Doon ............................................ J. Vanden Top                 96    4
       Continued ............................................................... H.H. 388 17
Contributions:                                                                                                                                    --I!.&
       A Change in Kalamazoo ..................... H.G. Kuiper 354 15
       Among our Treasures .......................... K. Feenstra                        452 19       Editorials :
       Correspondence ....................................... J. Howerzyl                207    9           An Answer to Rev. A. Petter .................... H.V. 412 18
       Declaration of Principles ................J. Blankespoor                          516 22             An Important decision ........................................ H.H. 436 19
       Doings in  Doon .................................... J. Vanden Top                 96    4                 Continued ....................................................... H.H. 460 20
       `Een Opmerking .................................... H. D. Mulder                  517 22             An Open Letter to the Liberated ................... . `HR. 148 7
       Form for the Transfer of Members by                                                                  As to Conditions ............... _. ............................... H.H.              28 2
              Baptism ............................. ....... A. H. De Borst 466 20                                 Continued ....................................................... H.H.          52 3
       Hamilton's Request for a Collection ............J.  Ton 225 10                                             Continued ....................................................... H.H.          76 4
       Mother's Apron Strings ........................ K. Feenstra 353 15                                         Continued ....................................................... H.H. 100 5
       Nieuws Uit Hamilton, Canada ............. .._.....J. Ton 225 10                                            Continued ...................... .: ............................... H.H. 124 6
       Letter ................................................ Prof.' C. Veenhof 126            6                 Continued ....................................................... H.H. 196 9
              Continued .................... ..-....... Prof. C. Veenhof                 151    7                 Continued ....................................................... H.H. 2 2 0   10
              Continued ............................... P r o f .   C .   Veenlhof   172  8                       Continued ....................................................... H.H. 244 11
       Rehoboth ........................................................ J. Koster 335 14                         Continued ....................................................... H.H. 269 12
       Rejoicing in Oak Lawn ................................ J. Buiter 281 12                                    :Continued ....................................................... H.H. 2 9 2   13
       Reply to K. Feenstra ..........-...........A. Cammenga 466 20                                              Continued ....................................................... H.H. 316 14
        Reply to K. Feenstra ................ J. W. Van Weelden 498 21                                            LContinued ....................................................... H.H. 365 15
       .Reply  to Rev. A. Cammenga ................ K. Feenstra 516 22                                            Continued ....................................................... H.H. 388 17
       Smyrna-Hamilton ............................. W. Wildeboer 179                           8           Comment I ........................................................... H.H. 5 0 8   23
       That or He ? . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .
                                            ....................... G. Ten Elshof 378 16                    Comment II ............................................................ H.H. 509 22
        Voor Onze Nederlandsche  Emigranten  in                                                             Correspondence ...........C ...................................... H.H. 102 6
              Canada ........-.................................. W. Wildeboer 179               8           Correspondence with the Reformed  ChurcheaHH.                                        341 15
       Yes or No ..................................................... D. Jonker 212            9           De Nabijheid van het Einde ............................ H.H. 486 21
Convention-The ........................................... I..............G.V. 484 21                       For Our Synod .................................................. H.H. 390 17
Correspondence with Prof. C. Veer&of .................... H.H. 102                              5           Geen Mislag, Maar Rake  Slagen  en Nog Wat..H.H. 294 33
 Correspondence with Prof. Ophoff ..................... ..e ...J.H. 207                         9            0, Die Leer Van Ds. Hoeksema ........................ H.H. 318 14
 Correspondence with the Liberated  Churchea.....J.D.J.  141                                    6           Open Letter to Prof. Holwerda ....................... ;H.H.                            6 1
 Correspondence with the Reformed  .Churches........H.H.  341 15                                            Prof. Veenhof's Letter and Comment ............H.H. 128 6
Counsel of God-The ..................................... ..-..........H.V.                82 4                    Continued ...................... .a................- .............H.H. 152 7
       Continued ............................................................... H.V. 109       5                . Continued ........................................................ H.H. 173 8
        Continued ............................................................... H.V. 134      6            Protestant Reformed ............................................ H.H. 268 12
        Continued ............................................................... H.V. 158      7            Reformed Ecumenical Synod-The ................ H.H. 340 15
       Continued ............................................................... H.V. 182       8           The Change at the Last Moment ................. ..H.H. 465 20

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

                           Subject                                                                                                  Author Page No.                                             Subject                                                                                                   Author Page No.
Editorials:  (-continued  from previous page)                                                                                                                                                                                                         -J-
           The Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  I..... G.V. 484 2 1
           The Standard Bearer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.                                   4    1    Jehovah il`Lt Adonai . ..I..............................................                                                                         G.V.  65  3
Een Open Brief T.Jit Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..-- H.V.                                                       513 22              Continiued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.V.     91 4
Eigengerechtige Veroordeeld-De . . . . . . . . . . . . ..I............. G.V. 217 lo                                                                                   Jerusalem Searched with Candles . . . ..I............ . . . . . . . . . . G.V. 193                                                                                `9
Exposition of Ephesians 2:1-3                                                                                                                                         Jesus' Gift of Living Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.V.                                             337 15
           (See under Texts-Eph.  2:1-3  etc.)                                                                                                                        Jesus in the Midst-And . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..e............................ G.V. 289 13.
Expcsition  of  Ephe:ians  2:4-10                                                                                                                                     Jesus the Man of Sorrows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.M.O.                                                       38 2
           (See under TexteEph.  2:4-10  etc.)                                                                                                                        Just Shall Live by Faith-The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.V.                                                          433 19
Exposition of I Corinthians 15:54                                                                                                                                                                                          .
           (See under Texts-I Cor.  15:58  etc.)                                                                                                                                                                           . .                      -           I            (          -
Exposition  r;f John  11:5,   G                                                                                                                                       King-The Office  .bf . . . . . i . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..I....... .`.,. . . . . . . . . . J.A.H. 503 21
           (See under Texts-John  11:5, 6 etc.)
Exp%ition of  Hebrews-
           (See under Texts, Heb. 10:12-2ci)                                                                                                                                                                                                         -IL--
Exposition of John 13:34,  35                                                                                                                                         Lof Des Naams-De .............................. .........:.I:.........G.V. 355 15
           (See under Texts-John  13:34-35  etc.)                                                                                                                             Continued ................................................................ G.V. 378 16
Exposition of the Heidelberg Catechism-An                                                                                                                                     Continued ............................................................... Giv. 403 17
           (See under Triple Knowledge, etc.)                                                                                                                         Lord's Supper-The Institution o f the .................... H.H. 222 10
                                                                                                                                                                              Continued ................................................................ H.H. 248 11
                                                                                -F-                                                                                   Lord's Supper--The Significance of the .............. .H.H. 323 14
Faith a Condition According to the  Scripture?......H.H.  244 11                                                                                                              Continued ............................... -............................. :.H.H. 344 15
          Continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.    271 12              Continued ................................................... .............H.H. 368 16
          Cjontinued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  H.H. 292 13       Lord's Supper-The Symbolism of the ................... H.H. 297 13
Faith--An Attribute of God?-Is . . . . m...  . . . . . . . . . .._........ H.H. 15'7                                                                             7    Lutheran Doctrine of Consubstantiation ................H.H. 609 22
For Our Synod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  H.H. 390 17                  Lovensstof ..................................................................... G.V.                                                                       73          4
Form for Transfer of Members by Raptism
Form for Transfer of Members by                                                                                                                                                                                                                     -M-
           Baptism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. De Borst 466 20
Fredom Under Grace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ _................  H:H.                                                    31     2    M e d i t a t i o n s :
                                                                                                                                                                              A Truly Happy Man ................... ........................ G.V.                                                                                  2    1.
                                                                                                                                                                              And Jesus in the Midst ....................J.. ................. .G.V, 289 13
                                                                                -G-                                                                                            Beauty for Ashes ..................................... ............G.V.                                                                            49          3
GeEn Mislag, Maar Rake Slagen  en Nog Wat........ H.H. 294 13                                                                                                                  De Begenadigden Des Heeren .................... i....... G.V. 409 18
Giving-The Collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                                                              ................... M.G.                     23    1            De Eigengerechtige Veroordeeld ........................ G.V., 217 3.0
Glory of Christ the Heavenly-me ................... G.ti.0.                                                                                               137    6            De Heere is Opgenomen ...................................... G.V. 361 16
God Dio  Psalmen  Geeft .....................................
                                                                                                                              . .......G.V. 457 20                            De Verrezen Heiland  V&schenen   aan de
God's Omnipotence ....................................................... H.V.                                                                             37    2            Education, Pleasing to the Lord ........................ G.V. 595 22
          Continued ................................................................ H.V.                                                                  57 2               Emmausgangers ................................................... G.V. 313 1 4
Gospel HeraldeThe ........... _. ................................... G.V.                                                                                 97     5            God Die Psalmen Geeft ........................... .._....... G.V. 457 20
                                                                                                                                                                              Heaveh's Entrance .............................................                                                                                    241    11
                                                                                -H-                                                                                           Het Teeken Christi ...........". ................................ l2-G
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     . . 121                  6
Heaven's Entrance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.V.                        241 11              Jerusalem Searched with Candles .................... G.V. 193                                                                                                   9
Heere is Opgenomen-De . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.V.                                            361 16              Jesus' Gift of Living Water ............................ G.V. 337 15
Heidelberg  Catechism-Exposition of                                                                                                                                           Lovensstof .........I................................................... G.V.                                                                       73          4.
           (See under Triple Knowledge etc.)                                                                                                                                  Pentacostal Blessings .......................................... G.V. :385 17
Historisch of Waar Geloof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                                                       The Gospel Heralds
                                                                                                                                           H.H. 133 6                                                                                       ........................................... G.V.                                      97          5
Home Mission News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                                     The Just Shall Live by Faith ............................ G.V.
                                                                                                                                          W.H. 334 14                                                                                                                                                                            433    3.9
Hamilton's Request for a Collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. Ton 225 10                                                                                     The Nearness of the End .................................... G.V. 145                                                                                           7
                                                                                                                                                                              The Prodigal Son ................................................. G.V. 481 21
                                                                                                                                                                              Tot  Weenen  Geroepen ........................................ G.V. 265 12
                                                                                -17                                                                                           Volkomen Heil ..................................................... G.V. 1169                                                                                   8
I Have Loved You ................................................... G.M.O. 497 21                                                                                            Zwijgt Niet! .............................................. ............G.V.                                                                        25          2
Idea of Creation-The ................................................ H.V. 417 18                                                                                     Mother's Apron Strings ............................... K. Veenstra 353 15
          Continued .............................................................. .H.V. 446 19
          Continued ................................................................ H.V. 467 20                                                                                                                                                   -N-
          Cmtinued ................................................................ H.V. 489 21
Important Decision-An ........................................... H.H. 436 19                                                                                         Nabijheid Van Het Einde-De ....................... _. ...... H.H. 486 21
          Continued ................................................................ H.H. 460 20                                                                      Nearness of the End-The.. ......................................... G.V.                                                                                   145          7
Infant tF%aptism  and Its Ground ................................ H.H. 102                                                                                       5    Niet Ons, 0 Heere! Niet Ons .................................. G.V. 519 22
         Continued ................................................................ H.H. 177                                                                     8
         Continued ............................................................... H.H. 200                                                                      9                                                                                  -o-
Tnfralapsarianism-Supralapsariantism  and  '                                                                                                                          Omnipotence  of God ................................................... ZX.V.                                                                               37          2
           (See  under  Supralapsarianism etc.)                                                                                                                               Continued ................................................................ H.V.                                                                     57          3
h. His Fear ............................................................... H.C.H. 523 22                                                                             Onr  Breaking the Covenant ................................... G.M.O. 351 15


                                                                                                                                                                                     -~~  13
                                                                                                                            T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

                          Subject                                                                                                       Author Page No.                                                  Subject                                                                                                     Author Page No.
Opcm Letter from Hamilton ........................................ H.V. 513 22                                                                                                          Conltinued ................................................................ H.H. 177                                                                        8
Open Letter to Prof. Holwerdn ................................ H.H.                                                                                               6     1              Continued ............................................................... H.H. 200                                                                           9
Open Letter to Rev. Petter-An ................................. H.V. 275 12                                                                                                            ,Continued  (Lord's Day 28) ................................ H.H. 222 10
Gpen Letter to the Liberated ...............................                                                                                   1I.H. 148                7               Continued ................................................................ H.H. 248 11
                                                                                                                                                                                        Continued ............................................................... H.H. 297                                                                         13
                                                                                  -P-                                                                                                   Continued ................................................................ H.H.                                                                    323 ,114
                                                                                                                                                                                        Continued ............................................................... H.H. 344 15
Pentacootal  Blessings ................................................... G.V. 385 1 7                                                                                                 Continued ................................................................ H.H. 368 16
Power of a New Life .................................................. H.H. 443 19                                                                                                      Cwntinued (Lord's Day 29) ................................ H.H. 415 18
l:`riest--`l'he  Office of ................................................ J.A.H.                                                                              431    18               Continued ................................................................ H.H. 441 19
         Usntinued ............................................................ J.A.H. 455 19                                                                                           Continued ............................................................. H.H. 509 22
Prodigal Son-The ....................................................... G.V. 481 21                                                                                         Truly Happy Man-A ............................................... G.V.                                                                                          2      1
Prof B. Holwerda's Address .................................. G.M.Q. 112                                                                                                5    Two Telegrams ................................................ J . D . J . - B . K   1 8 1   3
Prof. K. Schilder Replies ........................................ G.M.O. 473 20
Prophet--The Office of ......................................... ..J.A.H. 190                                                                                           8                                                                                      -v-
         Continued ............................................................ J.A.H. 215                                                                              9
         Continued ...I....................................................... J.A.H. 239 il.0                                                                               Van Ganscher Harte .................................................... G.V. 117 5
         Continued ............................................................ J.A.H. 236 12                                                                                           Continued ................................................................. G.V. 140 6
         Continued ........................................................... J.A.H. 311 13                                                                                            Continued ............................................................... G.V. 162 7                                                                             a
         Continued ........................................................... J.A.H. 358 15                                                                                            $?ontinued ..................................... ........................... G.V. 185 8
         Continued ............................................................ J.A.H. 383 16                                                                                Veracity of God-The .................................................. H.V.                                                                                     9 1
Protestant Reformed ................................................... H.H. 268 12                                                                                                     Continued ................................................................ H.V.                                                                     34 2
Psychopathic Hospital for Mentally Defective                                                                                                                                 Verlost Uit Het Diensthuis ....................................... G.V. 426 18
         Children-A ............................................................ G.V. 120                                                                               5               Continued ................................................................ G.V. 498 21
                                                                                                                                                                             Verrezen  Heiland   Verschenen   aan de  Emmaus-
                                                                                  -Q-                                                                                                    wwv+De ....................................................... G.V.                                                                               313     14
                                                                                                                                                                             Vloekpsalm-Een (continued from Vol 25)............G.V.                                                                                                         13      1
Questions:                                                                                                                                                                              Continued ............................................................... G.V.                                                                      42      2
         Baptism of Adopted Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H.H. 250 11                                                                        Volkomen  Heil ................................................................ G.V. X69 ' 8
         Does John 12:42  refer to Historical or Saving
         Faith? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.    133     6
         1s Faith an Attribute of God                                                                                                                                                                                                                          -w-
                                                                                                  . . . . . . . . . ..a _ ..__m......... H.H. 157                       7
         Questions for Dr. Schilder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..a.......... G.M.O. 302 13                                                                                We Go to Church ........................................................ M.G. 407 17
         Continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  *..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .G.M.O.  325 14                                          Continued ................................................................ M.G. 478 20
                                                                                                                                                                             Wishful Thinking, Lies and Slander ................... J.A.H. 260 11
                                                                                  -R-                                                                                        Word to You Rev. Hofman~A.. ............................ G.M.O.                                                                                                13      1
Reformed Ecumenical Synod-The ........................ H.H. 340 15
Rehoboth ............................................................... J.  Koster                                                                                                                                                                             -Y-
                                                                                                                                                                335    14
Rejoicing in Oak Lay, .............................. John Buiter                                                                                                281    12    Yes or No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D. Joriker 212                         9
Reply to K.  Feenstra ............................. J. Van Weelden 498 21
Reply to Mr. Feenstra ............................. A. Cammenga 466 20                                                                                                                                                                                                 I
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 --%
Reply to Prof. K. Schilder ...?.l.:. ........................... G.M.O.                                                                                          61     3
         Continued ............................... .: .......................... G.M.O.                                                                          85     4    Zalig is den Heeren Vrees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..m........  . . . . . ..__ G.V. 210                                                                 9
Reply to Prof. Veenhof .......................................... G.M.O.                                                                                         16     1                Continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.V.    234 10
Reply to Rev. Petter ............................................... G.M.O. 375 16                                                                                                       Continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.V.      258 11
Risen Christ--The ........................................... .......G.M.O.                                                                                     449    19                Continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.V. 284 12
                                                                                                                                                                                         Continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  * . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              G.V.  306  1 3
                                                                                                                                                                             Zwijgt Niet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.V.         25 2
                                                                                   -S-
Significance of David's Wars-The                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Index by Rev. James Howerzyl.
          (See under David's Wars etc.)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Standard Bearer-The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.                                            4
Supralapsarianism and Indralapsarianism                                                                                      . . . . . . . . . . . . H.V. 346 1;
         continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.V.            371 16
         Continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.V.         394 17



Teeken  Christi-Het ................................... i............... G.V. 121                                                                                       6
Tot Weenen Geroepen .................................................. G.V. 265 12
Triple  Knowledge-The (Lord's Day 27)
          Continued from Vol. 25 ..................................... H.H.                                                                                      54     3
          Continued ................................................................ H.H.                                                                        78     4
          Continued ................................................................ H.H. 102                                                                           5


