                                            DECE~IBER, 1, 1960 - GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN                                   N U M B E R   5


                                                                      that  God was .good  fdr  Adam -and Eve, and for all the

                                                                      creatures inhabiting $. *            ' 1


                                                                          Even today, after so many years, and after the curse of

                                                                      God is evident, you can still see that God is good: The psalms
          JEHOVAH'S GREAT GOODNESS                           -.       -tell us that His goodness crowns the seasons, so-that the hills

                                                                      and the valleys clap their hands. All things still testify of this
           "Oh, how great is Thy goodness, z&iEh Thou  hast
                                                                      goodness of God.
             laid up for them that fear Thee; which Tholt
             hast  wrought for them that tmst in Thee before
             the sons of w&en!"                       Psalm 31:19         Listen to David in psalm 65 : "Thou  visitest the earth,
                                                                      and waterest it : `Thou greatly enrichest it with the river of
   Thanksgiving !                                .                    God, which is full of water : Thou prepsreSt,  them. cGrn,  when

                                                                      Thou hast so provided for it; Thou whterest  the ridges
  What is it?

                                                                      thereof abundantly : Thou fettlest the furrows thereof : Thou
   If you want an answer-to that question you better look
                                                                      makest it soft with showers: Thou blessest  the springing
strongly at Jesus. Or, rather, you better listen sharply to
                                                                      thereof. Thou crownest  the .year  with Thy goodness ; and
Jesus.                                                                Thy paths drop fatness. They drop upon the pastures of the

   If anyone, Jesus was thankful.                .                    wilderness i and the little hills rejoice on e-very  side. The

                                                                      pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also &re  cover&d,
   To be thankful you must know God. And you must know

                                                                      over with corn ; they shout for joy, they also sing."
Him in His great goodness.

   Every school child of the Church knows that Jesus cried                Thus it is in all lands, among all peoples, in all the ages

at the end of His- life : "Father, into Thy hands I commend           of the hiStory  of this world.

My Ispirit  !" Btit  there are not many who know that Christ
                                                                          There is a constant  testimony from all things surround-
was singing His own psalms when He uttered that cry. You
                                                                      ing.us and permeating             which tell of the goodness .of the
find the quotaiion  in this 31st psalm.                                                         us 
                                                                      Lord.
   What a ,psalm!  Full of the outpouring .of sadness and
                                                                          His goodness prevents us in the morning, and is round
grief. It is the outpouring of the suffering of Jesus, suffered                                                                               -.
                                                                      about us the whole day and night.
before to so&e extent in David.

   But, as it happened so often, at the conclusion of this.               All created things cry out in plain language, telling us

psalm we hear the. voice of gladness again..                          that God is good !

   And we. have chosen one of those verses for our thanks-                The whole of mankind in all places and in all times arise

giving meditation.                                                    in the morning, and they say : I am hungry ! And God stands

                                                                      ready everywhere: Hk loadeth  us with His benefits ! We
                          * * * *                                     have eaten, we smile and say : 0, but that ta$ed  good ! `Paul

                                                                      said it to the  heath&:  "filling  our hearts with food and glad-
   God is goodness. It is one of ,Hisnames.  It te!ls ci that
                                                                      ness."    Let us quote the whole verse: "Nevertheless He left
His liniitless  Being is good ; t&t all I%s thoug%t$'  wcn-ds  and
                                                                      not Himself without witness, iti that He did goody and gave
works are .good.. : _
                                                                      us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts

   Indeed, .God is the only Good for His cr,eatures.                  with food and gladness," Acts 14:17.

   That is revealed to all of us.                                          He -did so to the good and the evil, to His saint and the

   If Paradise the first told  us anything, it certainly told `is     m u r d e r e r .   .
                                                                                  _. ~.-


                                                                                                                   -.


98                                           `THE  S.?-ANDAXD.  BEARER                                                      `s.



       0, but there iS a beautiful sljeech  of God anent His               The Lord Christ spoke of this special kitid of goodness

goodness.                                                               in His application of the parable of the rich fool, when He

                                                                        said : "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, artd is

                                                                        not rich toward, God!"
                           * 8 `* *
                                                                           That other kind of -goodness makes you rich in God.

                                                                           Again, Jesus spoke of this goodriess  when He said : "But

       But, beloved reader, David is not speaking of that good-         lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven . . ."
ness here. I spoke of it, because I am writing a meditation                But of the  goodnesses of this earth, the Lord Jesus said:
of Thanksgiving, and then. men expect yoti to speak of the              "For  what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world,
good things which God gives to mankind, be they good or                 and lose his own soul? or what shall a man  give in exchange
bad. Neither is there any question about it : He did and does           for his soul ?"
good from heaven incessantly.
                                                                           Is it then -bad  to possess of these earthly goodnesses of
       I would only warn you and say that this goodness of God          the Lord ? No, as long  as you possess them as not possessing ;
with  respect to the natural thihgs  is noI:common  grace!              as long as you use them as a means to an end, and not an

       When God gives fruitful seasons `and much wheat and              end in. themselves.

corn to a reprobate farmer, then He indeed proves that He                   Pray : `Give us this day our daily bread ! And do your
is a good God, but He does not give grace in those things to            work as well as you know how. Do riot labor for the bread
the reprobate. Things, no matter how sweet to the taste of              that perisheth, but rather look to that Goodness of which
man, are not grack.                                                     my text speaketh.

      You may be loaded down with the good things of creation               How great is Thy goodness !.
 on this Thanksgiving Day, and be hated of God from eternity
                                                                            Both laid up, and wrought for God's people.
to eternity.                                                                                                                                      :,__ :-
                                                                            What is it?                                                           _
       .If a man is of a reprobate mind and receives his riches of

 the ear& God is proving in all these things  that this man is              You now, there are two worlds, two earths and two

 bad. The more God gives him,. the inofe  lie breaks  out ,in evil.'    heavens ; there are two works of the Lord.
       `_ .' .              .-.
       On the other ha+,*  GO< may deprive you of many good                 The first earth, heaven, world and work of God was the

 things .in this life; so that yo&  shiver of the cold, and are         creation and providence of the world in which we now live

 black from hunger, and yet He may l&e  you very,..mu&.                 and have our being.

 Witness the saints that died in great want. Heb. 11:36-38.                 That world we and the devils have corrupted. And so the
 Also, learn the lesson of` .Psalm  .:-73..  Asaph in* want is          wrath of God was revealed from heaven. And all things are
 gloriously glad, whilk  the wicked in abundance are  sliding           loudly crying for a judgment day.
 ado&i the slippery places to' hell.
                                                                            But at once after the fall of our first parents God started
       ,No, dear ones, the question on this Thanksgiving Day is         a second work ; He revealed at once a second world : the
 not how much you have of the earth's treasures, but whether            world of His eternal good pleasure.
 or not you have that other goodness, the goodness of my,text.
                                                                            The first world and work was but a picture of this
 Let's look at that.
                                                                        second and last work of God.

                             * * * *
                                                                            And if this first world was beautiful, what shall I say

       Oh, how great is Thy goodness!                                   of the second ?

       What goodness  ?                                                     .David  looked at this second world and  cried: Oh, how

                                                                        great is Thy goodness . . . . !
       The goodness "which Thou hast laid up for them that

 fear Thee !"                                                               Elsewhere the Holy Ghost tells us that no eye hath seen,

                                                                        no ear  hath heard and it has not come tip in the heart of
       Again: what goodness?
                                                                        man what the Lord God hath `prepared for them that love
       The goodness `"which Thou hast wrought for them that             Him.
 trust in Thee before the sqns  of men !"
                                                                           T h a t   i s   t h e   g o o d n e s s   o f   m y   t e x t .   :
       Yes, this is another kind of goodness of God. It is a

 .different  commodity than corn .and wheat, silver and gold,               It is the goodness which is laid up in heaven for all

houses and lands,  health and life. on earth. These latter              God's. elect people. Peter sfieaks  of these same goodnesses

 things are the subjects  for discussion on Thanksgiving Day            when he speaks of the inheritance which is kept for us in

 on the pa;t  of those that know not God. I am sorry to have            heaven. The writer to the Hebretis calls them the things

 to say it, but it is true, and it makes my heart sad.                  hoped for and the things not. seen.


                                                   T H E   S T A N D A R D   BEARstiR                                                                                                                                                      9             9



        -Moses had a glimpse of them on the Mount, and his face

     shone~with   h e a v e n l y   g l o r y .                                                            T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

                                                                                       Semi-monthly, except  monthly  dwing  June,  July  and August
        And these  goodnesses are also "wrought" for them that
                                                                                        Published by the R&O-D FREE PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION
     trust in God before the sons of men.                                              P. 0. Box 881, Madison Square Station, Grand  Rapids 7, Mich.

         "Wrought," what does that mean?                                                                           Editor-Rm.  HERMIAN HOEK~EMA
                                                                                       Communications relative to contents Should be addressed to
         Oh, beloved, thereby hangs a beautiful story. It is the
                                                               .-                                      Rev. H. Hoeksema, 1139 Franklin St., S. E.,
     story of Jesus our Lord.                                                                                                    Grand Rapids 7, Mich.

                                                                                       All matters relative to subscriptiotis  should be addressed to Mr.
         God wrought this goodness `in the sending of His only                                          James Dykstra, 1326 `W. Butler Ave., S. E.
     begotten Son in- our flesh, and in the midst of the wolvej:                                                            Grand Rapids 7,. Michigan

     who made Him cry from His birth to His death on the cross.                        houncements  and Obituaries must be mailed to the. above
                                                                                       address and will be published at a fee of $2.00 for each notice.
     That Son `is the great SIN BEARER-  of the world.  He
                                                                                       R
     came to correct what we had broken. He came to bear our                            ENEWAL: Unless a definite request for discdniirmance  is re-
                                                                                       ceived it is assumed that the sdbscriber  wishes the subscription
     curse, our death, our damnation, our eternal guilt. And He                             to continue without the formality of a renewal order.
                                                                                                                   Subscriptioti price: $2.00 per year
     bore it all away.
                                                                                            Second Class  postage `paid at Grand  Rapids, Michigan
         And because He was God .to be praised forever, He
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    f
     earned, He merited a world of good things that are infinitely

     superior to the old world.                                                                                                       COh"l?EN?`S

                                                                                 M
       - And  how -do ydu  know that you are partaker of these                        EDITATION-
                                                                                            Jehovah's Great Gy odness                                          . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9 7
~
 goodnesses ?                                                                                          Rev. G. Vos

         All those that  fear the Lord, and all those that trust in                                   -
                                                                             EDITORIALS 
     Him before the face of men!                                                            Fast Disintegration.. . . . . . . . . .._~ _.............................: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  ..lOO
                                                                                                  Rev. H. Hoeksema
         Those  are the  earmarks of the spiritual  millionaires !
                                                                                 OUR DOCTRINE-

       Yes, Thanksgiving Dgy  is already past when you read                                 The Book of Revelation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

     this.                                                                                             Rev. I-1. Hoeksema

         No matter, every day is thanksgiving day for you when.                  A CLOUD OF WITNESSES-
                                                                                            Moses Rejected By His Brethren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
     you fear God, aid trust Him before the face of the whole
                                                                                                       Rev; B. Woudenberg
     world. _
                                                                                 FROM HOLY WRIT-
        Look at those things for they are -visible by faith.                                Exposition of I John 2:18-21........  :.........................................  106

                                                                                                       Rev. G. Lubbers
         Look at them,  and marvel, wonder, atid  break forth in
                                                                                 FEATUBE  AKTICLE- "
     thanksgiving.                                                                          The Miracle of Bethlehem.....
                                                                                                                                                                    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108

                                                                                                       Rev. R. Veldman
         Praise Him  for His great goodness in Jesus the Lord!

     Amen.                                                                       CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH-
                                                                                            The Church and d e Sacraments.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . lld
                                                                     G.V.
                                                                                                       R e v .   H .   V e l d m a n

                                                                                 SHOULD OUR ADOLESCENTS BE ENCOURAGED-TO PARTAKE
                                                                                            OF THE LORD'S SWPER.....:.......,.......:.......................................  1.12
                                                                                                 R e v .   H .   C .   H o e k s e m a

                                                                                 DECENCY AND ORDER-
                                                                                            Combating Heresies.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..: . . . . . . . ,114
               Christian School Teachers and                                                       _ Rev. G. Vanden  Berg:
                           Teachers-To-Be:
                                                                                 ALLAROUNDUS-
                                                                                            Faith, Love and . . . Controversy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
         Whereas the L&eland  Protestant Reformed Christian                                 Scotland Celebrates IUS Reformation.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .llB
     School Society plans to.open its own school for the second                             A      New Translation . . . . . . . . .._.......................................................  117

     semester (Jmuary, 1961)'  the board encourages ALL .in-                                           Rev. H. Hanko

     terested teachers and teachers-to-be to inquire for further                 CONTRIBUTIONS-
                                                                                            Reply to Brother A. D. McClure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  ~~.llS
     details. It is requested that a&icants  include name, credits
                                                                                                       ,Rev.  H. C. Hoeksema
     or .degree,`  experience if any, and expected salary. It is desir-                     A Knotty -Problem _. _. . . . ..________.......~  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
     able that this inform&ion reaches the undersigned on or be-                                       Vernon Graeser

     fore December 31, 1960.                                                                 Rep&t of Eastern Ladies'-!  League.. __.. . . :.. . . . . . 119
                                                                                                        Miss A. Reitsma
                                          GILBERT GRIESS,  Secretary                                                     CHURCHES  . . l..............................................  :..I . 120
                                                                                 NEWS &oM O
                                        Route 1, Box 282                                                         U R
                                                                                                        Mi. J. M. Faber

                                          L o v e l a n d ,   C o l o r a d o



                                                                                                                                                 -



                                                         .


loo                                         THE.STAND.PRD.B:EA.~ER.
                                                       _ ._.



                                                                        Christian Reformed Church at all or, at least; not unless the
            -E I? I T.0 R.1 A is                                .j      Three Points are retracted.
                                                                            This, to my mind, ,is the fundamental reason why the

                                                                        special schismatic synod addressed their last letter to the

                     F a s t   Disint.egration                          synod of the' Christian Reformed Synod.

                                                                            And I am bold to make two predictions :
       This article, as the reader will understand, is simply a
                                                                            1) First, that the. Synod of the Christian Reformed
continuation of my last editorial on the above named subject.
                                                                        Church will refuse to retract the Three Points. If they should
I was busy with a few comments on the letter which the
                                                                        ever do this, they will, at the same time, have to condemn
schismatic synod sent the Christian Reformed Synod.' This
                                                                        the actions .and decisions of Classis  East and West of the
I now continue.
                                                                        Christian. Reformed Church .whereby  they cast out Reformed
       2. To my mind, there is a contradiction in this letter of"
                                                                        ministers -and  consistories from Itheir midst. This, indeed,
the schismatic synod. They admit that the Three Points are
                                                                        would be perfectly proper, but my prediction is that they
not Arminian or Pelagian. They also promise that, if they
                                                                        will never do. this.
are received back into the Christian Reformed Church, they
                                                                         . 2j Secondly, that in spite of the fact-the Christian Re-
will not strive or agitate against the Three Points. On the
                                                                        formed Church will not retract the Three Points several of             I
other hand, the Christian Reformed Synod, in 1960, ex-
                                                                        the schismatics, ministers and members, will go back to the
pressed that "we do not require submission in the sense of
                                                                        Christian Reformed Church anyway. For they are not Prot-
demanding total .agreement  with the Three Points ; we rec-
                                                                        estant Reformed and, therefore, they feel that there is no
ognize and bear with scruples which you may have, in the
                                                                        reason for their separate existence.
expectation that we together may come eventually to a better
                                                                            That the latter is true is evident, not only from what
understanding  of the truth ; and not bar those who have
                                                                        some of them said after the letter addressed to the Christian
certain misgivings or divergent interpretations as long as
                                                                        Reformed Synod was adopted by their synod, but also from a
they refrain from propaganda for their interpretations." Yet
                                                                        letter that John De Jon,
                                                                                                     0 wrote .to their special synod and
they, the schismatic synod, virtually ask the Christian Re-
                                                                        which .I quote here in .fuil :
formed Synod to retract the Three Points or,' at least, to
                                                                            "Esteemed Brethren :
remove their binding power and make them of none effect.

This is a flat contradiction.                                               "Whereas our congregation is considering joining the

       It seems to me that the -door of the Christian Reformed          Christian.Reformed Church on a local basis, through Classis

Church, if not wide open to the schismatics, is, at- least,             Sioux Center, particularly in case our churches as a denom-

unlocked. All the schismatics have to do is turn the knob               ination do not (at least not at this time) declare themselves

and walk right in. Why, then, ask the. Christian Reformed               synodically.in  favor of reunion with the ,Christian  Reformed

 Synod to retract the Three Points ?                                    Church, we would like to know whether it is necessary for us

       Perhaps the reason is this request may be. found in one of       to receive permission from our synod to do with our proper-

the grounds that are offered for `it, namely, that -"By  this           ties as we deem proper and advantageous to our local group.

. action you would serve us and enable us to. practise  this               ;"If  it is the opinion of our Synod, as it is ours, that

unity with far less danger of splintering in our churches."             ultimately the Synod has control of the local properties, in

If this means anything, it surely -signifies that- there is. still a    case: the local group dissolves or joins another denomination,

faction in the schismatic churches that do not want to sub-             we hereby request that the Synod goes on record as giving us,

scribe to the Three Points, that do not agree .with.the                 locally; the right to do with our properties as we deem best.

statement that they are not Arminian or Pelagian, and that                  "The reasons why we come with this request are evident.

do not even want to promise that they ,will  not agitate against        Let us mention some of these reasons :

them. If I understand the situation- correctly, there are                   "1. We want to do the proper thing over against our

different factions among the schismatics :                              churches. and the commitments we have made in re church

       1 j There are those that wish to go back to the Christian        relationship.

Reformed Church regardless of the Three Points. They are                   `"2. The consistory of our (former.) Edgerton  dhurch

really of the opinion that. they are not Arminian or .Pelagian          came with a similar request and received a `favorable reply

and, therefore, are perfectly willing to subscribe to them. Or,         fro'm the Synod of .1959.     (-See  ActsTof  .Synod of 1959, pages

perhaps, they do not even give it a thought whether or not              7 0 - 7 2 ) .                     ._

.they, the Three Points, are Arminian and Pelagian.                         "3. We want to satisfy our own people that we are doing

   -2) Others are ready to join the Christian Reformed                  the proper thing and. act. in harmony with-or with the

 Church on the conditions prescribed by the synod of that               approval of our Synod. -

church in 1960, namely, on the promise that they will not                   "4. We also hereby want to safeguard ourselves (if that

agitate against the Three Points.                                       should be necessary) over against outsiders who may claim

   .3) But, finally, there are also those that consider the             to have a right- to our properties.

Three Points un-Reformed and that do not want to join the                   "5. Having sought contact with Classis  Sioux Center of
                                     . -,


                                         T H E   ST-AN,D.;ARD  B E A R E R                                                       101

                                                                                                                                              I

the Christian Reformed Church with a view to eventual                  "What Synod meant by-further study is difficult for us

reunion, we also want to be able to tell these brethren, if it      to determine since the term is not defined. In the light of,

should come to reunion on a local basis, that we have clear-        the advice of. the committee of pre-advice we suppose that

ance from our Synod.                                                Synod desires advice regarding the moral as well as the

   `<We gladly leave it up to our Synod as to how you,              legal aspect.

brethren, want to formulate what we hope will be a favor-               "Legally it has, of course, been determined by the courts

able reply to our request.                                          that we are the Protestant Reformed Churches. From the,

   "Finally, it may not be amiss -to state here that we have no     moral viewpoint we ask Synod to consider the following:

intention whatever that any person, members of our congrega-            "First of all that this recognition of the courts has been

tion, will financially benefit from an eventual. sale of our        received and acknowledged by our Synods. We have retained

properties, should that be the ultimate outcome of the matter.      the name and functioned under it. We have also used all the

   "If we should eventually sell our properties and simply          properties allotted to us through litigation. Never has Synod

disband, dissolve and disintegrate as a local group, we would       been contested in this action from a moral viewpoint. Sec-

see to it that the moneys would be given to worthy Kingdom          ondly it should be borne in mind that both on the congrega-

causes.                                                             tional as well as the synodical level we have more.than  once

    "Wishing you the guidance of the Spirit in all your             approached the Hoeksema group to divide these funds. With

deliberations, we remain your brethren in Christ, etc."             all these attempts we failed to,receive  recognition, leave alone

    From the above letter it is very evident that what we           consideration of our proposal.       _

wrote is true, namely, that many of the schismatids  will go            "Your committee is of the opinion that the funds referred

back to the Christian Reformed Church even if the synod of          to are legally and morally the property of the Protestant

that church will not retract the Three Points.                      Reformed Churches, including the house on Alexander St.

    What was done with this letter is not quite clear since         and that Synod can use them or dispose of them according to

in its discussion the schismatic synod met in executive ses-        its own discretion. In view of this opinion we advise Synod :

sion. What we `do know is that their synod appointed a                "Regarding the funds :

committee to report on the matter. And the report of this               "There was on Feb. 1, 1960 a balance of $27,486.11.  We

committee contained the following items : 1. That they advise       advise that we in the distribution of these funds do not con-

synod to receive this letter. 2. That they advise synod to          sider such funds that no longer exist or for which our

follow the precedent of the Edgerton  case in this matter           churches at present are not assessed. Further, that there was

and send them a reply as found in Art. 71 of the Acts of            at that time $14,249.46  in the Mission Fund and $3;225.10

-synod 1959. 3. That they advise synod to urge Hull not to          in the Foreign' Mission Fund. We advise that this entire

leave the schismatic churches before the matter can be              sum be placed in our present Foreign Mission Fund. Also

decided denominationally. 1                                         that the amount of $1,918.22  which at that time was in the

    Plain it is, however, that they received this letter, which     Student Fund be placed in our present Student Fund. That

was, of course, illegal because it, evidently, was sent directly    then the balance be pro-rated into our current funds on the

to synod without first seeking the advice of classis. Besides,      basis of our present synodical assessments per family.

it is also evident that their synod did not censure De Jong             "Regarding the house on Alexander St., S. E., Grand

and Hull for this separatistic action as the true Protestant        Rapids, Michigan. This house has of course been sold to

Reformed Synodflwould  have done. Instead they urged Hull           Rev. Petter. According to the financial report of the synod of

to wait with the matter of uniting with the Christian Re-           1960 a sum of $6,816.29  was received from Rev. Petter for

formed Church until the matter could be settled denominal           rent and down payment. This money was placed in our

tionally. This I learned from the party that reported to me.        Domestic Mission Fund. The committee advises that this

    I still have another report which concerns the matter of        amount and all the payments to be received from this `sale

the funds that were in the treasury of the Protestant Re-           be placed in a Reserve Mission Fund."

formed Churches at the time when the schismatics left our               This report was adopted.

churches. This report reads as follows:                                 I will make no comments,in  this report of the committee         -

    "Esteemed Brethren :                                            and its adoption by the schismatic synod. Only a few remarks :

    "Article 77 of the Acts of Synod 1960 contains a report             1. We heartily agree "the funds referred to are legally

of this same committee regarding these funds. There was on          and morally the property of the Prot. Reformed Churches."

the floor of Synod a motion to pro-rate these funds with                2. By this time it also ought to be very evident to all,

the Hoeksema group. Our mandate thereupon, is found in              the schismatics included, that what they call "the Hoeksema

the following two articles of the minutes according to which        group" are the only Prot. Reformed Churches in existence.

the committee is re-appointed to further study the matter               3. That, therefore, only the so-called "Hoeksema group"

 of these funds, as well as the,matter  of the mission house on     have the only legal and moral right to these funds.

 1144 Alexander St., S. E., Grand Rapids, Michigan, and                 For the rest we will have to wait till our .synod  has

 come with its advice and recommendation.                           expressed itself on this matter.                            H.H.


102                                            T H E   S".ANDARD   B E A R E R .                             .- .
                                                                        `.

                                                                        the beast it was said that it had been wounded to death, but

11 0 U R D 0 6 T.R- 1-N E 11                                            that the wound was healed. At that time we referred to the
                                                                        kingdom of mighty Nimrod, which also aimed at universal

                                                                        world-power, but which was .distinct  from all the forms of

               THE BOOK OF REVELATION                                   the world-power that succeeded in this particular, that it

                                                                        consisted rather of a confederation of all the different tribes
                            P A R T   T W O
                                                                        and peoples that existed at the time, rather than of the domin-

                                                                        ion and aggrandizement of one particular nation at the .ex-
                         CHAPTER SIXTEEN
                                                                        pense of the rest. They all spoke one language. They all were
                   The Mystery of the Beast                             .of one mind. They all combined in one purpose, to establish

                                                                        the kingdom of the world and exalt themselves against God
                         Revelation 17 :7-14
                                                                        Almighty. But by the separation and confusion of their

       And, in the, third place, we must also remember that this        language and counsel that mighty dominion had received its

universal kingdom shall nevertheless be.realized  in the future,        deathstroke, a stroke, however, which shall be healed in the

and that this complete realization of the beast shall form the          future, when' that same world-power shall appear in the

ultimate outcome, the historical product, of all that,  have            same form once more, as a great and powerful federation, as

gone before. If therefore you would have a full picture of              a league of nations that shall be of one mind. If we recall

this beast, of the antichristian world-power, you must not              this, it seems to me the interpretation .of the seemingly.

merely think of the final manifestation, but just as well of            mysterious words, "the beast that was, and is not, and shall

the historic process through which the beast has passed. And            come out of the abyss," cannot be difficult. The beast did

it is-this complete picture of the beast which is drawn before          exist also in its proper form at the time of the building of

our eyes in the words of our present passage. The seven                 the tower of Babel. Then a great and mighty federation must

heads, then, represent different stages of development through          have been formed, for they were already building their central

 which this beast has passed in the various kingdoms that               city and tower. Then they were of one mind and purpose.

existed before its complete manifestation, while the ten horns          Then the beast revealed himself in his proper form. And

 reveal to us the final formation, or league of kings; that shall       therefore, in that sense the angel can say, "The beast that

 be of one mind and completely realize the ideal of the beast           was -. . . ."    .It was in the dominion of ancient Babel and

for a- short time. And, for the same reason, `we are called to          mighty Nimrod. But in that sense the angel also could truly

 study this picture of- the beast, first of all, in its historical      say,     "It is not . : ."    Surely, there was mighty world-
appearance, and, in the second place, from the point of view            power at the time. The Roman Empire had sway over prac-

of its ultimate formation.                                              tically all the world. It had `succeeded by the strength of its

       As to its historical development, we must, first of all, call    legions and by its mighty organizing power to extend its
your attention to the apparently dark expression that the               dominion over all the important countries of Europe and
 beast was, and is not, and yet shall come up out of the abyss.         Africa and Asia. It was a world-power that might be called
 Three times this is repeated in the text; and therefore it will        universal.- But it is not true of the Roman power that it
 be of importance that we understand the significance  of this          resembled the ancient federation of Nimrod. For in the
                                                   .&z.-
expression, In the first place, it must be clearto us that this         Roman Empire they were not all of one mind. It merely con-
                                                            -
is asserted of the beast as a whole. We must make a:distin&             sisted of one mighty nation that had subdued a number of
tion between the beast in principle and the beast in its com-           others and for that reason ruled the world. And therefore,
plete manifestation. And we must remember that .the beast               however mighty the Roman Empire may-have been, it was a
never entirely disappears from the scene of history. He is              strength of, force, not of purpose. They were one, not be-
always there in some form. Even in John's time the angel                cause they were of one-  mind, but because they were sup-
interprets that one of the heads is, exists, so that also then          pressed by one single nation.     And therefore, in John's time
the beast appeared in one of his heads. Butthe  beast does not          the beast was not. But the same beast shall again appear in
always appear in ,his proper and full manifestation. He does            the future. Again the nations of the earth shall unite, shall
not appear in his full and complete aspect?And  therefore it            be of one mind, shall all give their power to the beast, and by
is of the beast as a whole that the text says that "he was, and         a great. league, or federation, shall succeed in establishing a
is not, and comes up out of the abyss," or again, that "he              universal world-power, having sway over all things.

was, and is not, and shall be." Many have.been the interpreta-                  In the second place, we must pay attention to the seven

tions that have been given of this mysterious expression. It            heads, indicating seven different manifestations of the world-

seems to us that it makes us think immediately of what we               power in history. As we have remarked, the picture of the

read in chapter 13 about the deathstroke that was healed. You           beast in our text places before us the historic development of.

 remember that in that chapter we had a picture of the full             the world-power, as well as its final formation. And the

manifestation of the world-power of the beast in its ultimate           former is symbolized in the heads. That this is the case is

formation and appearance. And of that final manifestation of            plain from the language of the angels. He tells us about these


                                                   T H E .   STANDyARD-BEARER                                                            103
                                                                                                                   _-
I

          heads that one is, that five have fallen, and that one is not,      their high .and  powerful exaltation. And therefore, the heads

          yet, evidently pointing to succession. The ten horns evidently      refer to seven -mighty dominions.

          indicate a number of world-powers existing all at the same             In this light it is not difficult to understand the rest of

          time ; but there is succession - past, present, and future -        the angel's explanation of the mystery of the beast. He says :

          in the number of heads. .Now what does the angel tell               "Five are fallen, one is, the other is not yet come." Taking
                                                                       US
          about. these heads ? In the first.  place, he tells us that the     our starting point at the one that is, we can make no mistake

          seven heads are seven mountains. He adds that they are              about it. It is, of course, the one that existed at the time of

          seven mountains on which the woman sittethl  But for the,           John's exile on Patmos, namely, the mighty Roman Empire,

          present we can leave this out of consideration, and discuss         with its sway .over practically all the world. Figuring back

          the relation of the woman to this beast in a future discourse.      from that mighty empire to. the five that are fallen, we obtain

          We now take the interpretation of the seven heads as such.          the result that before the Roman Empire the Graeco-Mace-

          They are seven mountains. As I have remarked before, there          :donian  Empire held sway over all the world, especially in

          are interpreters who take it that these seven mountains refer       the time of Alexander the Great. Before that great Mace-

          to the seven hills .of Rome. The city of Rome was built on          donian  empire, it was the power of the Medo-Persian king-

          seven hills ; and so the woman, which was the city of Rome,         dom that was supreme. It was preceded by the tremendous

          was sitting on the seven hills of the Roman capital. But that       and glorious world-power of Babylonia, having its represent-

     this interpretation is not correct may be plain, in the first            ative king in Nebuchadnezzar. Before the last, the Assyrian

          place, from the fact that the text speaks of mountains, while       Empire was supremely powerful under Sennacherib. And

          the hills of Rome were mere moles, not for a moment to be           again, before the Assyrian Empire we have the-royal power

          called mountains. But in the second place, the angel indicates      of Egypt, as. pictured in Scripture. Thus we obtain the fol-

          that mountains must be taken in the figurative sense of the         lowing five: Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Persia, and Greece.

          word: for he adds, "and they are seven kings." Not merely,          All these are mentioned in Scripture. And besides, all of

          "And there are seven kings," as some would translate, but           them were conspicuous also in their opposition to the king:

          specifically referring to the seven heads of the beast, "And        dom of Israel. Besides, four of .these  six are mentioned in

          they (namely, the heads, the mountains) are seven kings."           the image of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, namely,. Babylonia,

          Now surely, the hills of Rome are not at the. same time the         Persia, Greece, and Rome-the golden, silver, brass, and

          kings of .Rome': and therefore this interpretation will not         iron elements of the image. And therefore, there can be little

          hold.. They stand for strong and conspicuous kingdoms, just         doubt but that the angel, prophesying from the viewpoint of

          as a mountain stands for a conspicuous elevation of the-earth's     John's owns time, `refers to the power ,of the -Roman Empire

          surface, elevating itself above even the smaller elevations and     as the head that is at that period, and to the five represent-

          hills that may appear next to it. Thus, a mountain is sym-          ative powers of the world that have just been mentioned as

          bolic of a mighty empire or kingdom. More than-once it ap-          the ones that have fallen already. The seventh is not yet,         -

          pears thus in Scripture. In Psalm 30:7 we hear David sing           so the angel continues. And when he comes, he must continue

          of -his kingdom : "Thou, Jehovah, hast made my mountain             a little while. That seventh power has not `yet been today.

          to stand strong." In Jeremiah 51:25  we read that the prophet       Ever since the final downfall of the Roman Empire in the

          spells destruction upon the mighty kingdom of Babylon when          year 476, the history of Europe has been a struggle between

          he says : "Behold, I am against thee, 0 destroying mountain,        the various nations of the continent. True, there have been

          saifh Jehovah, which destroyest all the earth: and I will           powerful empires ; but never .has  any succeeded in obtaining

     . stretch out,,mine  hand upon thee, and roll thee down from             undisputed control of the universal power of the world. And

          the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain." In Daniel          since the discovery of a new continent, this has become all

          2 :3!i we read that the stone which is cut loose and symbolizes     the more impossible. It is very plain from history that God

          the kingdom of God will develop into a great mountain,              wills not that any one nation shall gain the complete control

          filling all the earth. And again, in Zechariah 4:7 we read in       over the others, in order thus to realize the kingdom of Anti-

          respect to the world-power that opposes the-rebuilding of the       christ. No, evidently that kingdom shah  be established in an

          temple : "Who art thou, 0 great mountain ? before Zerub-            entirely different way, as .already  has. been discussed before

          babe1 thou shalt become a plain." And therefore, it is nothing      and as also indicated in the words of ou'r passage in an un-

          strange to meet with the figure of a mountain as indicating         mistakable manner.`

          a king and a kingdom.     And as far as the objection is con-                                                                 H.H.

          cerned- that in this case the angel interprets one symbolism

          by another,- that of the heads -by that of the` mountains, if

          the latter must not be taken in the literal sense of the word,                0 Lord my God, how manifold..
          this is sufficiently explained by the fact that the heads do not
                                                                                          The works which Thou hast wrought,
          symbolize' any world-power -not Moab and Edom and
                                                                                        Ofttimes  Thou hast bestowed on us
          Samaria  - but specifically, great and mighty, conspicuous

     _    kingdoms and kings, which -may  be compared to mountains in                     Thy care and gracious thought.


     104                                               T          H     E    -              ST.ANDAI+%EARER                    '
                                                                                                      .-


I                                                                                             he did not want to live as the son of Pharaoh's -daughter ; he
            A CL-Ollp OF WI.TNESSES /
                                                                  .                           was a Hebrew. His love was with the people of his birth.
                                                                                              They were the chosen people of God. For them in their

                                                                                              bondage he grieved.    For their deliverance he longed and
                     Moses Rejected By His Brethren                               =           prayed. He remembered the promise .of God to Abraham
             ' And when he was full  forty years old, it came                                 that after four hundred years they would be returned to
              into Jzis heart to visit lais brethren  the childrmL sf Isrml.                  Canaan, and upon that promise he rested his hope. Time and
                     And seeing one of t@m suffer wrong, he defended                          again ,he  had counted the years and found that the promised
              him,  and avenged him  that was oppressed, and mote
        t       h     e         Egypt&m:  '                                                   day was drawing nigh. There remained only one thing for
                     Fov  he supposed his brethren would have m&v-                            him to do; he had to find his place in the Hebrew nation so
              stood how that God by his hand would deliver them;                              that the deliverance might not pass him by. But was it not
              but they understood Not.                                 Acts 7 ~23-25          quite evident? Israel needed a leader, to guide and direct the
                     And it came to p.ass in those da.ys; when Moses                          forces of the nation. Was there anyone more suited for that
              was grown, that he werct  out unto his brethren, a.nd
              looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian                               than himself? He had the training. He had the ability. He
              smiting a,x He bmw.q  of1.e of his brethren..                                   alone of Israel was prepared for work such as that. It was

                     And he looked this may  and -that. way, g+zd z&en                        Moses' firm conviction that he was to lead -the people of
              he saw that there was YLO  ma.n,  he slew the IEgyptian,                        God. Only one thing stood in the way. The Israelites would
              bad--hid  hiwa ,in the sand.                                                    not have him as their leader. They would not even acknowl-
                     And  when he went out the second day; behold, two                                                              `.
                                                                                              edge his membership in the nation. They looked upon. him
             men. of the Hebrews strove together,: and he said td
              l&m  that did the zewong,  Wherefore. svtzitest  thou  thy                      with distrust and suspicion.    And then there was one more
              fellow?                                       ._                                thing that troubled him. God had not confirmed this calling.
                     And he said, Who made thee a prince and,:a  judge                        Thus Moses had waited for a change of attitude among the
              over us"                                      Exodus `2 :ll-14                  Hebrews,. and for a word of confirmation from God.
            Moses had come into his fortieth year of life, and he

     formed a lonesome figure in-his  wandering through the land                                  Slowly the feeling- of eagerness and anticipation built up

     of Egypt. In `position and appearance he was an Egyptian,                                in the breast of Moses. As he watched the suffering and op-

     and one of the highest rank. He `was known as the son of                                 pression experienced by his brethren, he became more and

     Pharaoh's daughter.              But as he advanced in years he had                      more convinced that something had to be done very soon.

     withdrawn himself more. and .more  from the life of the                                  Finally he could contain himself no longer. It happened one

     court. He had refused to- take a position'in the government                              day as he watched'an  Egyptian beating an Israelite unmerci-

     for which he had prepared.                He had neglected to take to                    fully and without. due cause. Suddenly he saw a plan clearly

     himself a wife from the daughters of the land in spite of his                            set forth in his mind. Here was an opportunity which should

     foster-mother's urgings. Seldomly was he to be found in the                              not be neglected. He would prove to this fellow Israelite

     social functions of the palace, and there was no effort on his                           that he was not an Egyptian at heart; he was ready and

     part to make friends with any men of his own rank. Most of                               willing to take the part of the people of God. Moses was

     his time -seemed to be spent in wandering through the fields                             determined, but he was careful not to neglect due caution.

     and close by the construction projects where the Hebrew                                  Vigilantly he looked about him. No E,yptian  must see or

     slaves were working. Also there he cut a solitary figure. The                            know what he was about to do. The way was clear, for no

     Egyptian taskmasters showed him a fawning- respect. They                                 one else was in sight. Quickly Moses stepped forth .and

     recognized his influential position in the court, but he                                 laying. hands on the Egyptian slew him:  With continued

     evidenced little appreciation for them. Occasionally he spoke                            caution he carried the body away and buried it in the sand

     a kind and sympathetic -word to one `or other .of the slaves..                           where it would not soon. be discovered. Only then did he

     Their responses were curt, if not openly hostile. The He-                                notice that the Hebrew had already departed. _

     brews knew that he was of their own blood ; but he had lived                                With a light heart .Moses  returned that evening to the.

     too long among the Egyptians to be ,trusted.  His Egyptian                               palace. He felt flushed with joy in his accomplishment. Was

     clothes and customs made too much of a rift for them to                                  not the man whom he had rescued even now spreading the

     ignore.         He did not toil in slavery like they did, and how                        word through the .land of Goshen?  Was not the news being

     could mere words remove that difference ? Let Moses speak'                               received with amazement and joy by all who heard it? Now

     as he would, to them he was an Egyptian and not to be                                    all Israel would know with certainty that he had forsaken the     -

     trusted.                                                                                 riches of life among the Egyptians to unite himself with them

            Little did any one realize the turmoil tliat lived `in Moses'                     in their suffering. Surely their attitude toward him would be

     breast. From the Egyptians he received countless offers of                               different on. the morrow. Would they not eagerly receive

     kindness. They sought to give,  him friendship, power, and                               him as one of them ? and maybe even suggest that he be

     glory among the mightiest of the land. In -the court of                                  their leader? With only a slight tinge of fear and misgiving

     Pharaoh personal opportunities never ceased to come. But                                 Moses spent the hours of that,night.

     Moses had no appreciation for these offers of the Egyptians ;                               In. the morning Moses left the palace .with  `a greater L




I .'


                                         T H E   S T A N D A R D   B - E A R E R   _                                          105



enthusiasm than he had known for many ma year. Perhaps             question, "Who made thee a ruler `and a judge over US?"
he would never return. If the 1sraelites:received  him with-       For that question he could not find  an answer. He had no

the gratitude that he expected, he could go to dwell with          appointment either of man or of God. What he had done he

them. It would maybe be only a matter .of days before- the         had done on his own, and he had no `right. He was an in-

people would be sufficiently organized to rise up in rebellion     truder and an impostor. Uncalled of God and unwanted of

against the Egyptians. With the blessing of God upon them          the people, he had received only what he deserved.

they would throw off the yoke of- Egypt and return- with              Immediately the problems  came  to Moses of where he

power into Canaan.                                                 should now go. If his brethren held no love or respect for

   As Moses approached the place where the Israelites were         him, they would soon report his misdeed of the previous day

working he looked about him for signs of the..new  and ap-         to their overlords. Soon even Pharaoh would know and he

preciative attitude. It was then that he saw a new opportu-        would be called into question. Perhaps even now the sum-

nity for him to establish himself more firmly with his people.     mons was awaiting him. He could go to the palace and

He saw two Hebrews striving together. The day before he            defend himself. His word would undoubtedly stand against

had availed himself.of  the opportunity-to show himself to be      the accusation- of a mere Hebrew slave. In that way his

a strong and able defender of the people of God. Now he            position in the palace and in Pharaoh's family would be

would show himself as a wise and discerning judge of p,eople.      secured. But that would require of him a false oath before

He would watch to see which of .the  two -was in the wrong         the king. It might stand before man, but for it he would be

and then take steps to reconcile them to each other. By            held guilty by God. Even more it would mean that he would

this they would know for sure that he was capable of being         be forever separated from the people of God. The Israelites

their leader.                                                      would recognize him as guilty even though Pharaoh did not.

   Finally Moses approached the two brethren that were             All possibility of his-being restored to the covenant people of

struggling together. With a tone of voice as gentle and            God would be forever gone.     When their deliverance would

understanding as he could make it, he addressed himself to         come it would pass him by. j

them. -"Sirs,"  he said, "ye are brethren, why do ye wrong            The only other alternative would be for him to flee the

one to another? Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow ?'               land. This would be sure to incur the wrath of Pharaoh, for

   But the response was far different from what Moses had          it would be as much as an admittance of guilt. It would

expected. The man who was evidently in the.wrong  turned           constitute a public acknowledgment that he had taken the

upon him. There was no shame, no guilt, no.repentance upon         part of a Hebrew slave over-against the ruling power of the

his face. There was only a bitter sneer and from him came          Egyptians. Never again would he be able to return in peace

the retort, "Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us ?           to the palace. The riches and glory of the royal palace would

intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian ?" and    be forever lost. He would .be  a hunted man, unwanted in

with a rude shove he pushed Moses away.                            all of the land of Egypt.

    In amazement and dismay Moses looked about him at the             We read concerning Moses in Hebrews 11, "By faith he
others, but wherever he looked it was the same. There was          forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he
no- kindness, no gratitude, no sympathy or understanding.          endured, as seeing him who is invisible." Moses stood before
On the faces of all were to be seen only sneers, distrust,         a choice between Pharaoh- and God. Only by remaining in

hatred, the same as always only now even more bitter.              Egypt and defending himself with a false oath could Moses
Moses turned and fled.                       I                     maintain `the position of favor before Pharaoh which he had

    There are disappointments in the lives of men which at         known all of his life. In fleeing, Pharaoh's wrath would be

the time often seem impossible to endure. We think of Elijah       aroused, and he would be disowned as the son of Pharaoh's

when driven all alone into the wilderness until he cried unto      daughter. Henceforth his life would be worth nothing more

God that he might die. We think of Peter that night after          than that of any Hebrew slave. But with Moses there-was an

he had denied his Lord and he went out to weep wretchedly          awareness of more`than just the attitude of Pharaoh toward

bitter tears. Such was the despair that tore at the heart of       him. He was conscious of .the presence of the invisible God.

Moses as he was retreating from the sneers of his brethren.        As powerful a ruler as Pharaoh might be, the favor of God

The whole of his life had served to the building of the dream      was to Moses much more important, and God would never
                                                                   I .
that now lay crumbled about him. It had been the one thing         condone an oath falsely sworn. Moses was a man of faith

only that he had really desired, because he believed in God        and the presence of the invisible God could not be forgotten.

anqloved the people of God. But he had underestimated the              It was a solitary figure that made its way toward the

ingratitude and hardness that still dominated the hearts of        wilderness of Midian.  He had thought to be going this way

Israel. They did not want a deliverer. In spite of all their       at the head of a great nation, but he was now going all alone.

hardships, theywere  still bound with lust-to the fleshpots of     He had thought to be going in power, but now he was

Egypt. That was their reason for rejecting-the love of Moses,      fleeing for his life. He had thought to be going in joy, but

    Still as Moses retreated there was one thought that he         now his-heart was rent in sorrow. There was yet very much
could not drive away. In his ears .continually  rang the           that Moses had to learn..                                 B.W..

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


                                                                     either hostility or. substitution. If it expresses hostility it
11  F R O M   H O L Y   WRI-T 11 means that this Antichrist and these -antichrists in the text
                                                                     are against Christ. They are his enemies ; they deny his very

                                                                     ,existence.  If it expresses mbstitutiom  then they appear as the
                Exposition of`1 John 2:18-21                         false christs, such as we read of in Matt. 24:5, 11, 24. Thus

                                                                     in Matt. 24 :4, `5 we read : "And Jesus said unto them, Take

                                                                     heed that no man deceive you, For many shall come in my

       Twice it has been our privilege to call attention to the      name, saying, I am `the Christ ; and shall lead many astray."

meaning of the concept "last hour" in Scripture in general,          In this passage the tervvz  is not really antichrists, but false
both the Old and. the New Testaments, and might come to              Christs. .Now this need not detain us long. For these false-

some rather definite conclusions.                                    christs are not "for" but they are "against." For he that is

                                                                     not for Christ is against him, and`he that does not gather
       We need not repeat these conclusions here at great length.
                                                                     scattereth, Matt. 12 :30: Even though therefore the hostile
It is sufficient to our purpose to remind the reader of the
                                                                     opposition to Christ is here emphasized, the intent of replace-
following salient points.
                                                                     ment is not absent.
       1. That the term "latter" times in- the Old Testament
                                                                         It is quite evident-from the text that the Antichrist and
Scriptures refers to the future time when God will fulfil His
                                                                     the antichrists here are persons. They are men,  and also
promise (s) to Israel in the sending of His only begotten Son.
                                                                     women. The point is that they are ,not .evil  angels or the
  2. That these times are "latter" and "last" time'(s) be-
                                                                     devil himself, nor must we think. of this simply as antichris-
cause of the prophetic perspective of the Old Testament
                                                                     tian teaching. As -was said, they~  are when, p't?r.sons.  That
Seer, through whom God spoke His word. Such we noticed
                                                                     such is the case is very.evident from the text and context.
in the case of Jacob blessing his sons (Gen. 49:1-8)  and in
                                                                     We call attention to the following:
the blessing .of Balaam upon Israel (Num. 24314)  `as weli
                                                                         1. This is indicated by the-plural antichrists, as well .as
as of Isaiah in his prophecy concerning' the future of the
                                                                     from what is said of them, "They went out from,  us" and "if
heavenly Jerusalem (Is. 2 2) and of Moses when he pro-
                                                                     they had been of us they would have remained with us."
claims the unchangeable mercies `of Jehovah upon his people
                                                                     Now this clearly indicates that these are persons in flesh and
notwithstanding the carrying away of them, into Babylon
                                               .                     blood, people who once were living with the believers in
(Deut. 4 :30).
                                                                     Christ.
       3. This is emphatically corroborated~  by what we read in
                                                                         2. That the Antichrist is a'human  person, a certai.n  man,
the Gospel of John concerning the "hour:' of Christ. This is
                                                                     appears from the fact that of him it is said that he "is
the God-appointed time,. the appropriate time, the only pos-
                                                                     coming."    He will be more than a. mar;ife&atiion  of -evil  in the
sible "hour" in which God is revealed in the flesh, Christ is
                                                                     abstract. He will be a man in flesh and blood. Was not the
glorified, the church saved, and presently `all things made
                                                                     Christ such a rear  ,&an too while upon earth ?
new. `This was indicated and, clearly taught in such `passages

as John 2 :4 ; John 4 :2I, 23 ; John 7 :30  and 8 :20.- A very         3. Besides, if the antichrists are men, .then  surely the

clear indication of the meaning of the hour we noticed in the        text teaches that Antichrist is a man to come, and- not siniply

sacerdotal prayer of Christ in John 17.                              a power, influence, teaching. Is it not abundantly clear also

       Such we noticed in'the past two essays on I John 2 :18-21.    from I John 2 :22-27 that. the deceivers, who are `liars, are

  _ We now stand before the question as to why the `coming           men and women, with whom the church must rub shoulders

of the Antichrist and antichrists is an infallible earmark of        in this world ? And are they not men and' women in flesh

the "last hour."                                                     and blood; whom.we  may not receive into our house, neither

       The first question before which we are placed is : Who is     bid them godspeed in II John 4-ll ?  These are the "many

the Antichrist, and who are the antichrists in I John 2 :i8-21?      deceivers" who have gone out into the world. They were

       The name "antichrist'~  (anti-christos in Greek) appears      once in the church, but they have gone forth from the church

in-  this form only four times in the Bible. And, it `is note-       "into the world" and now they do nothing but deceive! They

worthy, that this name only appears in the-  epistles of John,       deny that Jesus is the Christ.

to wit, in I John 2 :18,  I John 2 i22,  .I John 4 :3 and II John        To see the great implication of denying that Jesus is the

7. This doesnot mean that the Scriptures do not indicate,            Christ is to see the meaning of anti-&&t.  The term Christ

both in the Old Testament and in .the  New Testament the             means : anointed one of God, the Messiah, John 1:41. And

coming of the .Man  of Sin, Antichrist. See Daniel ,9 :27 and        according to the second Psalm this anointing can only come

also Matt. 24:15.                                                    upon the Son. Thus it is in the decree of God. Wherefore

       We shall see more of this presently concerning the-general    tie read : " I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me,

teaching of Scripture concerning the `antichrist."                   thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee." Psalm 2 :7.

       There is some difference of opinion amongst interpreters      -And; again, we read in Acts 2 :36  : "Let all the house of Israel

of Scripture concerning the force of the preposition anti-           know assuredly, .that God hath made him both Lord and

in the composite antichrist. The. preposition can express            Christ, this Jesus whom ye have crucified." We see here that


                                          T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                                     107



only the Son of God can be Lord and Christ according-to.             Now this is not said of any child of Adam, of mere man

the Scriptures.                                                      born- from a woman by the will of man, John 1:13. He is

 We therefore repeat: that the greatness of the sin of               simply born. We do not come into this world. We are a,
anti-C1&sf  can only be seen when we'note that in the Gospel         part of this world, of this creaturehood. We did not pre-
of John as well as in the.letters'the terms "Christ" and "Son        exist. We were made in the `beginning. But Christ was the
of God" are synonymous. Christ is God. This is a thesis worth        eternal Word, and He did not became  in the beginning, He
proving. Unless this is seen we, will not understand the strong      zw+s  in the beginning, and He was God. And He cayle  into
language of John when he says: "We know that we are of               this world! He assumed our flesh and blood. And therefore
God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one. And we               to deny "that He came into the flesh" is to deny the Deity of
know that the Son of. God. is come, and hath given us an             the Son, His eternal pre-existence and transcendency. And
understanding, .that we know him that is true, and we are in         he that denies this'has the spirit of antichrist. Antichrist is
him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the          against the Son of God in the flesh. For this fact, this reality
true God and eternal life? All religion which does not hold          of his being very God, true God, is the cornerstone of the
to this truth, to the Head, the Son of God, is idolatry.             church's salvation. That is the glory of the nations: And
Wherefore John says : !`Little  children, keep (guard) your-         therefore it must not be denied that "Jesus is come in the
selves from idols," I John 5 :18-21.                                 flesh." Mere man is born. Mere man does not come in the

                                                                     flesh. And this greatness of the Incarnation must be denied
    To prove this thesis we will call attention to the following
                                                                     by antichrist. `However, we maintain:           - _
passages from. the Gospel of John. Peter says to Jesus in
                                                                            1. Christ is God.
John 6 :69  : "And we believe and are sure that thou art the
                                                                          2.. Christ is God in the flesh, the eternal Son.
Christ, the Son of .the living God." And this is basically
                                                                            3. He that denies that this eternal Son came in the flesh
what Peter confesses in the regions of Caesarea Philippi  as
                                                                     i          s             a&&ist.
recorded in Matt. 16:17:  "Thou art the Christ, the Son of
                                                                            Before we close this essay and write the final period, we
the living God." And this was "revealed" to him by the
                                                                     would point `out that it should be quite evident that there are
heavenly Father. Martha confesses in- connection with her
                                                                     many antichrists in the world today and that they have been
hope and faith in the blessed resurrection: "I believe that
                                                                     in the world, having gone forth from the church, fomenting
thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," John 11 :27.
                                                                     their lies against the Lord and against His anointed.
And Thomas says when he sees the print of the nails in Jesus'
                                                                            Not all deniers of the Son of God do this outright and
hands : T'My  Lord and my God." And the keynote of this all
                                                                     consistently.
we have in the so-called "Prologue" of John's Gospel: "and
                                                                            However, all Unitarians fall in this class. Modernism
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt -among us, and we be-
                                                                     today .who  will speak of the man Jesus, the Master, the
held his glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
                                                                     Teacher of. Galilee. They are- antichrists. Think of the Jeho-
full of grace and truth !" John 1.:14.  And not to forget what
                       . . .                                         vah's Witnesses, those messengers of `darkness, who come to
we read in John 1 :18  : `~No man hath seen God ,at, any time,
                                                                     your -door as angels of light. I remember distinctly that a
the only begotten Son of God, who is ever in the bosom of
                                                                     woman, -some  sixty-odd years old; .came  to our door at
the Father, he bath declared him unto us."
                                                                     Loveland, Colorado. She desired to sell the K'atchtower.
   land this truth John would underscore also here in the
                                                                      She was from Kingdom Hall.. I interrupted her memorized
letters to' the churches. Thus in I John 2 :22  it is stated that    story with "Is Christ God?" She answered with an emphatic
the "antichrist" is he who `Zdenies  that Jesus is the Christ."
                                                                      "no."    I told her to leave my door and not to return. As she
Now it might .be'  objected that the Itzsman  Jesus' the man
                                                                     stumbled,down  the steps she said over her shoulder : "But the
Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ ; he has an anointing, a calling
                                                                     Bible says too that He is the Son of God." I repeated : "Does
and ofice  in .life.  But that does not prove- that he is God i?L
                                                                     that mean that He is then also `Son of God, very God ? "
the fteslz. However, be not deceived. For John continues in           She answered "no." She left and never returned. And I had
this verse and says that such a one does not have the Father
                                                                     not received her into my house, nor bidden her godspeed, and
or the Son. He does not have either qne. He does not                 had no fellowship in her evil.
know Him. For the Son reveals the Father, to `whomsoever
                                                                            That is the crucial question..
He wills. For he that confesses the Son, as Son in the flesh,
he has the Father. And therefore he that denies the Son is                  Well, may we in these days in which we remember the
antichrist. He is antichrist in that he does not desire, but         birth of. our Savior underscore this truth of the eternal Son
                                                                      of God in the flesh, lest with all the "holiday. spirit" we forget
opposes both the Father and the Son. That is the deep root.
He hates God. He hates God in the flesh, Immanuel, God-.              or deny the Christ of God, and be antichristian!

with-us. He does not want the Lord of glory. And therefore                  There is no "Christmas" without Christ, and there~  is no

he denies the person of the Christ, the Son of God.                  _ Christ except it be God come into our flesh, Immanuel (I++

    For notice `that; according to I John.4 ~2,  the one who' is      with -anti-us  --el-God)  . God-with-us !

not antichrist is `born put  of God. He speaks through the                  For in Bethlehem's manger lay the Lord of Glory !

`Holy Spirit. He says Jesus Christ is come  into tlzk  flesh.                                                                      GIL.


 108                                       T H E   S T A N D A R D .   BE.ARER
                                                                      :
   .       . .

                  THE .MIRACL-E  OF BETHLEHEM                        of both she came to ever greater clarity of conception, so that

                                                                     we are now able -to confess, briefly but comprehensively:

        The Christmas season is with us once again. What a           "That God's eternal Son, Who is and continueth true and

 wonderful time it is for the church of Jesus Christ! And            eternal God, took upon Him the very nature of man, of the

w-hat an amazing thing it is that we are privileged to com-          flesh and blood of the Virgin Mary, by the operation of the

memorate these days - the miracle of Bethlehem ! The; is             Holy -Ghost; that He might also be` the true. seed of David,

your salvation, centrally realized in the eternal Word be-           like unto His brethren in all things, sin excepted." Catechism,'

come flesh. There the wonder of all wonders, the Incarna-            Lord's Day 14. (-See also articles 18 and 19 of our Belgic

tion, is accomplished via the sign of all signs, the Virgin           Confession.)

 Birth. There infinite justice and equally infinite grace unite            ,That  Infant of Bethlehem, therefore, is God's eternal Son,

to give life out of death, light out of darkness, blessed hope       the Second Person of the adorable Trinity. That Son is the

for utter despair; beauty for ashes, heaven for hell. All this       one and only person involved in the miracle of the Incarna-

 in the night wherein Jesus was born-for. lost and damn:             tion. Christ is no human person, nor is he two persons

worthy sinners like you and me ! Blessed Christmas ! "For            somehow.      "The Word became flesh." "God so loved the

 unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,            world that He gave His only begotten Son." Whenever the

which is Christ the Lord !"                                           Mediator says "I" the eternally begotten of the Father

        Therefore it was on that occasion, and no other, that the    speaks, no human person in any sense of the word.

angelic hosts filled Ephratah's night with their joyous refrain,'          That Infant, personally the Son of God, is, according to

 "Glory-to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will         the divine nature, true and eternal God. This He remains

toward men."          Never before in history had this happened ;    forever' and ever. Coessential with the Father and the Holy

never after. Is it a wonder?                                          Spirit, the Son lives eternally the full divine'life  in the full

        Come then, let us go even unto Bethlehem, and see this       divine essence. His are-all the divine names and attributes.
thing which is come to pass, this mystery of godliness, this         `He is and forever remains true, righteous, holy, omnipotent,
 Incarnation of the Living God, this miracle of Bethlehem.           immutable God. This is in no way changed by the Incarna-
 Who is this wondrous Infant, Whom shepherds and magi                tion. Wherefore it is written concerning that same Infant:
and a throng no man can number' from all nations and tribes          "Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the
and kindreds  worship as' their Redeemer ? What is that              flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever;"
thing that came to pass that first Christmas night, so blessed       Remans-  9 :5.

to the heart of God's church ? .Who  lies there in that blessed            However, that Infant is God's eternal Son, Who is and

manger ? What happened.?                                             foreverremains  true and eternal God, in the nature pf man.

        Wise men of the world, devoid of all grace, "go to           The Son became God and man, even so, that while He, as
Bethlehem, glance at the manger, at that Child .so `like all         God, lives the full divine life eternally, He, as man, lives `the
other children apparently, and conclude in their carnal self-        full human life in a perfectly human way.

confidence: nothing out of the ordinary has happened. An-                  That, briefly and simply, is the incomprehensible but in-

other baby was born, this time to Joseph and Mary. It hap-           finitely glorious miracle of the Incarnation of the Word, "the

pens all the time. True, .he was destined to be illustrious          thing which is come to pass." That is the miracle of Beth-

above all other men. He was endowed with special gifts with          lehem.

a view to a special task among men. Even so, he was mere                   Concerning this union of the divine and the' human

man, nothing more.                                                   nature .in the one person of the Son of God, the Church of

        Others, unbelievers as well, -have gone to Bethlehem,        Christ, as early as the year .451, has emphasized: that they

studied the child, and concluded: that child is neither .God         are "inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, and inseparably"

nor man. He is a sort of intermediate creature, made in              united.

eternity by God and come into the world in the mere form,                  Never, therefore, -inay these two natures of the Mediator

the appearance of the human nature.                                  be -confused, that is, fused into one. That has been and is

        The church of God, however, has confessed from the           being done by all who conceive of the Christ as a sort of

moment "this thing came to pass" : it is the mystery of god-         God-man, theanthropos,  a being who is neither God nor man,

liness ! That babe is not a mere infant among infants. He is         but a mixture of the two. Of course, then all is lost. Then

God and man, the promised Redeemer. His name is Won-                 God' does not remain God, and man does not remain ++UUZ.

derful, Counsellor,  the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father,         Then Creator and creature are fused into one and you have

the-Prince of Peace! God blessed forever! True, this mys-            fallen into pure Pantheism. With an eye to this heresy we

tery of godliness was not at- once so clear to God's church,         confess that the .two, natures are united "inconfusedly."

that she could formulate and circumscribe the entire doc-            Never do they become one. The unity must not be sought in

trine involved in the simple and clear-cut language we now           the natures, but in the one person who lives in and through

have in our confessions. This took much study of the Scrip-          both natures, in the one as God, in the other as man.

tures, and much controversy too. However, after long years                 By the same token neither nature may be presented as


                                                                                   ;


                                             T    H    E         ST.ANDARD  BEARE.R.                                                  109
                                        -


 having undergone any essential change in the Incarnation.:            did not.coi-ne  in'the likeness of flesh, nor did He come in the

 True, the Son of God came in the form of a servant, in the            sinful flesh. In either case we would have no Redeemer.

 likeness of sinful-flesh. Even so, the Godhead did not change.        He came in the likeness of sinful flesh,~and  thus became like

 True, too, the human nature was endowed with special gifts            unto us in all things.

 by virtue of its miraculous union with the divine. Even so,               Sin excepted! He knew no guilt, because He was not a

 the human nature remained wholly human, in Bethlehem and              human person and guilt is reckoned to the person. And He

 forever more.                                                         was without stain of sin, because He was conceived by the

      The two natures -of Christ, so the church continues to           Holy Ghost .and  preserved from all pollution in Mary's womb.

 confess, are "indivisibly" united. There was nothing lacking              "Born of the Virgin Mary !" Oh, wonder of wonders.
 in either nature, to be filled in, somehow, by the other. The         There is the miracle in the physical aspect of the Savior's

 complete human nature was united with the complete divine             birth that corresponds to the mighty miracle of Bethlehem

 nature, and that is the single  person of z%e Son of God.             itself, the Incarnation.

      Finally, the divinity and humanity of the Mediator were             How the modern world opposes this miraculous concep-

 "inseparably" united. Both extremes, therefore, that of con-          tion and birth of the Lord Jesus we know. Scoffing at the

 fusion as well as separation of the two natures, stand con-           whole idea she says in her arrogancy  and consummate

 demned. Again, however, the unity must never be sought in             stupidity: it is scientifically impossible that a child should be

 the natures as such, but only in the one Person, Who iives            conceived without the will of a man. Setting herself up as

 in and through the two natures.                                       an exegete as well she posits : the word "virgin" in Scripture

      Truly, the mystery of godliness is great! God manifest           also refers to. a young married woman. It has this connota-

 in the flesh  ! Eternally incomprehensible to us mortais, yet         tion in Isaiah 7 :14,  "A virgin shall conceive and bear a son:"

knowable unto salvation.                                               And turning theologian this same modern world postulates :

                                                                       it is not necessary that Jesus be born without the wil1  of
                               ****.
                                                                       man ; the Son could as well have assumed humanity' of both

      How could this thing come to pass ? That wonderful               Joseph and Mary.                      _

 Infant must have been born in a wonderful way ! And so                   To the world as scientist we reply: we know very well

 He was!                                                               that in the course of human events it is not the usual thing

      He was "conceived by the Holy  Ghost, born of the Virgin         for children to be conceived without the instrumentality of

.Mary."  Thus that Christ-child, so like and yet so unlike all         the male. However, why should it be deemed impossible.? In

 other children, was born in a way, so like and yet so- unlike         the last instance all children are conceived, not by man, but'by I
                                                       _
 the birth `of any other child.                                        the mighty will of God. Why then can God; Who "alone is

     He ,was  born of Mary. Hdw simple, how perfectly natural,         God, not do without the medium of mortal man, if such be

 how like the birth of any child 1 Jesus' mother was `simply           His desire ? Is the Creator bound by His own creature?

 one of the women of our human race, like any other covenant              To the world as exegete we say: Really, it makes no

 woman: And .Yet, how significant are these words :.."Born             difference to our .present  subject what the. word "virgin" in
 of `. . . Mary."                                                      Isaiah 7:14  may or may not mean. Matthew could not state

      Thus we know, that the Son of God became very,' that is,         more clearly than he does, that Mary was still unmarried

real man. Born as all children are born, out of one of the             when "found with child of the Holy Ghost"`; that for that

women of our'race, He assumed 0%~ flesh and bloo'd.  He was            reason Joseph "was minded to put her away privily," suspect-

not a- foreign'&  to our race, nor was the blood He shed on            ing her of infidelity and dishonor; that while in that state

,Calyary  strange blood. In that event, it could never have            of mind the angel of the Lord came to Joseph to tell him

atoned for our sins. He was one of us.                                 that he must not fear to take -Mary to wife, "for that which

      Thus we know, too, that God's Son assumed the .flesh             is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." -One may deny

and blood of the children. And this was necessary to save              the Virgin Birth, but certainly not -without wilful  rejection of

 His elect. He had to be of the seed of Abraham, out of the            the Word of God itself.          . . -                    .

house of David, like unto his brethren. Born of Mary He                   To. the world as theologian we say: it was no doubt

became all this. Here, if ever, we must stress the covenant            necessary from every point of view that Jesus be born with-

line. IsraeI's  Redeemer must take hold of the human nature            out the will of man. This necessity follows from the very

in the very core of the covenant of God. He must come as               fact that it took-place in this manner. Whatever a modern

the..Elect  of all the elect, and hence out of and in their very       world .may think-of this argument, to us it means everything

m     i    d    s    t    .                                            that God brought His. Son into the world `in just this way.

      Out of Mary He assumed the weakened  human nature.               It was necessary in order that all the world, and the church

Christ took our flesh and blood, not as Adam bore it before            in particular,- might .know that the Infant of Bethlehem was

he fell into sin, but as Mary herself bore it. He assumed              indeed the promised Messiah. It was necessary, because that

the corruptible, mortal, weak human nature. Truly, He                  which is of the-flesh is flesh ; because mere man could never

 came in the likeness of sinful  flesh, ,Rom. 8 :3. Mind you, He                           (Continued on page 119)


                  llci                                             T ' H E -   STPNDARD.   B E A R E R
          I

                                                                                            continues this infallible guidance of the Spirit in His Church.
                                                    For The Fait                            Only, .of course, this infallible guidance of the Holy:. Spirit
                                                                                            occurs in the pope at Rome. The Mystics, however, although

                                                                                            conceding the infallibility of the Scriptures, maintain that

                               The Church and the Sacraments                                the Holy Spirit is also given to every man,as  an .inward'
                                                                                            teacher and guide, Whose. instruction and influence are the

                              TI-IE TIME OF THE REFORMATION                                 highest rule of faith, and sufficient, even without the Scrip-

                                                                                            tures, to assure the salvation of the soul.

                                    VIEWS ON THE CHURCH
                                                                                                First, Mysticism has no support in the Scriptures. Now

                                           -FORMAL PRINCIPLE.                          ~    it is true, on the one hand, that we do read in the Word of

                                                                                  .         God of revelations which the Lord gave to individuals. This
                                                                                                                      .~
                                                 ( c o n t i n u e d )                      is certainly true in the Old Testament. In the Old Dispensa-

                                      .                                                     tion the Lord revealed His Word to certain privileged per-

                    : The most prominent among the Quakers were George                      sons.' However, these persons were -selected persons of God,

                  Keith, Samuel Fisher,,and  William Penn. .The  last named                 chosen to be prophets, authorized by the Lord to receive and

                  was a man of a British admiral, and he proved his sincerity               impart His Word to the people of God as they anxiously

                  by the sacrifices and sufferings to which. his adherence to a             awaited these revelations from, the Lord. In the Old Dispen-

                  sect, then despised and persecuted, subjected him. Anyone                 sation the Word of God was very incomplete. The first Scrip:

                  who is somewhat familiar with American history has surely                 tures, Genesis through Deuteronomy, were not given by God

                  heard of William Penn, His name is associated with the state              until, Moses.    So, these prophets were Divinely appointed

                  of Pennsylvania.                                                          messengers to receive and impart His Word. And; in the

                                                                                            New Dispensation, the Lord chose His twelve apostles to be
                          Quakerism extols the inner testimony of the Holy Spirit.
     I                                                                                      the Divine media of His Word. However, the written Word
                  The guidance of the Holy Spirit is its -fundamental principle.
                                                                                            of-God  has. now been completed and the Scriptures are,  the
                  The Quakers, although acknowledging thevdivine  authority
                                                                                            full and complete revelation of the Will of God, of all that
                  of the. Holy Scriptures, make far less of them than other
                                                                                            one needs to know `unto his salvation. And, on the other
                  evangelictil  denominations. They make little of the Church
     ~                                                                                      hand, it is also true. that.the Lord has promised His Church
                  and.its.@dinances  ; of the Sabbath; of a stated ministry; and
                                                                                            His Spirit to guide it into all the truth, if only we under-
                 nothing `$f;the sa%iments  as external brdinances  and means
                                                                                            stan,d that this guidance of .the Spirit does.@ merely operate
                I .of grace. Indeed,. according to B.arclay,  `a leading figure and
                                                                                            in an individual but in His Church., But.. this-truth can never
                  exponent in this @&?nent,'  the&are many things" the Chris-
                                                                                            be divorced from the Scriptures., -Hence;  we have ,the~.promise
                  tian-needs to know v$ch  are not contained in theScriptures.
                                                                                            of the Lord that He will guide His Church by His Spirit into
                  In these matters he is guided by the Holy Spirit. There are
                                                                                            all the truth of His written Word. It is, of course, true that
                 matters, :for  example, such as : whether he is to preach, and,
                                                                                            the Holy Spirit is,a Teacher,: =Without  -His inner operation
                 if called to preach, when, where, and .what  he should preach ;
:                                                                                           in our hearts and minds we will never be able to see the
               where he is to go and what he ought to doin  any given
                                                                                            beauties of His Word. The Spirit must open our eyes that
                 em$$$cy.  .So, `the Spirit teaches us, when anId  where we
                                                                                            we may see and our 4ears that we .may  hear. He must work
                  are'to'pray,  and what we'are  to pray for.             !`Q-
                                                                                            in us the gift of spiritual illumination and. discernment. But,
I                         Many, of course; .are  the objections to this Mystical
                                                                                            this inner .operation  of the Holy Spirit, however .immediate
                 Theory, `We can, of course, speak of Mysticism in a -good
                                                                                            and irresistible it may be of itself, never occurs in the con-
                 sense of the word. Christianity is surely mystical-ma very
                                                                                            sciousness of the people of the Lord apart from the- written
                  real sense of then .word. It is .true  th,at the Lord has access to
                                                                                            Word of the Lord. Spiritual discernment is surely the design
                 the human soul., There is a very real and intimate association
                                                                                            and effect of the Spirit's teaching. But He never speaks or
                  of the children of God with the alone blessed God. Besides,
                                                                                            testifies apart from the, Word. There is no consciousness of
                 it is also- true that the Lord has spoken at sundry times and
                                                                                            salvation in separation from the written Word of God. : p
                 in diverse manners to the children of men:  That which eye

                 hath not seen, ear hath not-heard, and what could never enter                 Secondly, Mysticism is contrary to what we read in

                 into the heart of man has been communicated to the children                the Scriptures. It is not .only true that it finds no support in

                 of men by the living God. Holy men of old have spoken as'                  *the Word of God, but it "is also contrary to what we read in

                  directed infallibly by the Spirit. of God. This is Divine in-             it. In' the prophecy of. Isaiah `the people of the Lord are

                  spiration. All inspiration is necessarily revelation, although            commanded to return to the law and to the testimony. If `in

                  all revelation is not necessarily inspiration. Inspiration is             this they fail, they would see no light. Throughout the Scrip-

                 Divine revelation ,as it moved holy men to .write  unerringly.             tures we read the constantly repeated expression.: Thus saith

                 the Word of God. Now Romanists will admit the infallibility                the- Lord. Men were required to believe what was' com-

                 of the written Word of God. However, they contend that the                 municated to them and not what the- Spirit had' revealed to

                 Scriptures are not sufficient in themselves, and that the Lord             every or any individual. And in the New Dispensation' Christ


                                         T    H    E         ST.AN.D,ARD  .BEARER                                                      1 1 1


commands His Church to go out into all the world and preach         Testament teach us? This, that a rejection of the prophets

the gospel to every creature, and he that believeth and -is         of the L;brd-and  of His Word always went hand in hand with.

baptized shall be saved. We surely&  feel the thrust of this.       a seeking after other gods and of the things that are below.

This means, pf course, that whosoever believeth this gospel,        And this surely lies in the very nature of the case. The Word

and not merely what the Spirit has revealed to one individu-        of God alone is a lamp before our feet and a light upon our

ally. The preaching of the gospel is presented as a power of        path. There is no `operation of. the Spirit of God in the

God unto salvation. And so `the Church of God has been              consciousness of the believer except in conjunction with the`

commanded by the Lord to. preach the gospel. And it is also         Word of God. If we depart from these Scriptures we will

for this reason that provision was made for this ministry of        simply follow the dictates of our own natural heart and mind.

the' gospel. Mysticism emphasizes the inner enlightenment of        And my natural heart and mind will invariably lead me

the Holy Spirit and speaks with considerable disdain of             away from the living God and into the things of sin and

trained ministers of the gospel within the Church of God. But       evil. And this is ever the case throughout the ages ! What

this is surely not according to the, Word of the Lord. To           characterizes people-who do not honour the Word of. God and

preach the gospel `one must study the Scriptures, the Word of       study the Scriptures ? Sound and thorough knowledge of the

God, and this demands constant application of self` to this         truth? Are these people noted for their staunch defence  of

work. The apostle Paul admonishes his spiritual son, Timo-          the gospel and the fundamental principles of the Word of

thy, to be a' workman approved of God and exhorts him I to'         God? Are they-noted for their allegiance to the doctrines of

divide the Word of God rightly. Do not the riches of the            election and reprobation, to the depravity of man and the

Scriptures and the calling. to study. the Word. of God not          particular efficacy of the cross, to God's irresistible grace' and

imply that we can never have a'ministry too well trained in         the certain glory of the believer? Hardly ! They have no

the work of exppunding  the Word of.the  Lord?                      knowledge of the truth at all. They care not for any fupda-

                                                                    mental principles and teachings of the holy Scriptures. .`Tliey

  .Thirdly,  we may also say of Mysticism that it is contrary       are as little children who are swept along by every. wind of

to fact and experience. .It is simply `an  undeniable fact that     doctrine. They iend a hearing -ear to every revivalist they

the Word of God is a lamp before-.-our feet and a light upon        may. encounter, regardless how he may distort and corrupt
                                                                                    . .
our path:i:And  this implies that without the Word of God' we       the Wor.d  of God. Every kind'of heresy makes an impression

have no lamp before our feet and no. light upon our path.           upon his childish soul. They are not strong in the Lord and

Without the Word of God we-err and stumble in darkness.             in the power of His might. They'have  no conception of the

This is simply true to life. Mysticism would have -us believe       whole armour, appear to sense no, reason whatever to put it
                                                                                                                                  .
that by the inward operation of the Holy Spirit saving knowl-       on, do not know that we are called to put on this entire

edge of the truth and of our Christian duty is given to the         arm&r  `of the Lord, and.  have no- idea whatever that that

individual. man. `But all experience teaches us that without        which holds this armour  together is the girdle .bf truth. They

the written Word of God people are ignorant. of, Divine             feel no particular `need to defend the gospel inasmuch as the

things. The sun is not more obviously the source of light           intents and purposes~  of evil men.  to corrupt it escapes their

than the Bible is the source of till knowledge. There is no         attention .completely.  They see no enemy. of the living and

true knowledge of the Lord, apart from the Word of God.             true, gospel `of the Lord.~ They cannot discern between what

History plainly teaches us that if and when men depart from         is right and. wrong, cannot distinguish the enemy. from .a

the Word of God they corrupt the truth and lack all true            &end.  Thk'admonition of the apostle that we must rightly

knowledge of the truth. Without the true knowledge of God           divide the .Word'  `of truth means absolutely nothing to them.

there can be no true religion. Without the true knowledge of        They do not know the ways of the Lord.~  `It is simply. a fact              -

the Lord we cannot entertain any proper .af?ections  toward         that we cannot. see with&..tt; light. And it is just as true that

Him. The true knowledge of God is never found where there           it is impossible for us to see without the Word of God.

is no knowledge of His Word. There can be no holiness               History.teaches-us  this abundantly and we do well-to main-

without the truth. The Scriptures are the only source. to us        tain this principle of the Scriptures and hold on to it with all

of all saving and sanctifying knowredge.  -What  happens, .for      the powers the Lord has given us.

example, when the study of the Scriptures is neglected or                                                                         .. ET.

ignored ? What is the history of the Church of God in the
                                                                                              `-
Old Dispensation ? Does. not the prophet of .-the-  Lord' com-

plain that the people perish because there is no knowledge of

the Lord ? We read in Jeremiah 4.,:22 : "For My people is              -            Vow and pay ye to Jehovah,

foolish, they have not known Me ;' they are sottish children                          Him your God forever own,

 (stupid, senseless children, H.V.) , and they have none under-                     All men, b.ring  your gifts before Him,
standing : they. are wise to-do evil, but to do good they have.
                                                                                      Worship Him, and Him alone ;
no knowledge." What is, therefore; the .result  when people
                                                                                    Mighty. kings obey and fear Him,
 depart from .the objective:revelation.  of the Lord ? They be- - ; _
come foolish. -and:as.:  sottish children.' What does the `Old                -.    .: Princes bow before `His throne.    :.;!
  L


112 -'                                     T H E   STA-NDARD~BEARER-



       -SHOULD OUR ADOLESCENTS BE                                      this term we understand the period from approximately 12
           ENCOURAGED TO. PARTAKE                                 %    years of age to approximately 15 years of age. That this is
                                                                       the meaning of our subject is plain from the fact that other-
                OF THE LORD'S SUPPER?                      -'
                                                                       wise our `subject proposes nothing extraordinary. After all,

   This was the subject of discussion at the fall meeting of           most of our covenant youth make confession of faith and

our League of Men's Sqcieties.  And it was suggested that my           partake of the Lord's Supper in late adolescence. Besides, it

introductory treatment of the subject should appear in writ-           is exactly this question that has been discussed occasionally

ing for the benefit of all and to stimulate further discussion.        in our circles and that has recently been raised again by some

Seeing that I have just finished the treatment of our C&ons            in connection with a recent discussion of the discipline of

and have not yet begun.my  treatment of the N.ethe&ind  Con-           members by baptism. Hence, we shall have especially our
fession under my usual rubric, discussion of the above subject         early, or younger, adolescents in mind when we try to arrive

can conveniently be inserted at this point.                            at some conclusions in regard to our subject.

   It goes without saying that this. subject is of important               Finally, there is the term encowya.ge  - a very broad term

practical significance, and is, in fact, close to our hearts. For,     indeed. It could mean ecclesiastical encouragement; it could

first of all, it concerns our covenant youth, who ought `to be         include merely parental encouragement. It could include

very much the concern of every parent and every elder and              merely the exercise of spiritual influences -preaching, cate-

pastor. And, secondly, it concerns the celebration of the              chism, personal admonition and pastoral labor. It could also

sacrament of communion, a matter which is at once of signif-           include encouragement by. ecclesiastical decision, adoption of

icance and of interest to every, believer. Hence, we need.             a general rule or policy which either merely allows or that

spend but few words on the interest and the seriousness of             definitely prescribes and stipulates participation in the Lord's

the subject.                                                           Supper by such covenant youth of 12 to 15 years old.

   A brief definition of terms is essential,. first of all,. for an        Now there are many aspects and ramifications of this sub-
intelligent treatment of the subject. We are all aware what            ject, all of which it is impossible to treat in a brief introduc-
is meant by the Lord's Supper. But let us stress a few                 tion of this kind. However, we may present our thoughts
important .elements.  The Lord's Supper-is the second of the           under the following three main sub-questions : 1. Should our
sacraments, one. of the means of grace that are appointed for          early adolescents (covenant youth of 12 to 15 years old) be
the strengthening of our faith. It is the- sacrament of cov-           encouraged to partake of the Lord's Supper @fore  they make
enant communion and fellowship, even as baptism is the                 confession of faith ? 2. Should early adolescents be en-

sacrament of incorporation in the covenant of grace.                   couraged to partake of the Lord's `Supper by making ea.rly
In distinction from' baptism  - as-becomes especially plain            confession of faith ? 3. Should our adolescents- in any sense
in infant baptism -. it is -characterized as a sacrament               and to any degree be encouraged to partake of the Lord's
by conscious and active participation in the part of believers.        Supper ?
In baptism we are passive: we are baptized. In communion

we are active: we paytake,  we eat and drink the body and                                           .

blood of Christ. Moreover, it is to Se remembered that the
                                                                                                  * * * *
means of grace are essentially'one.  The Lord's Supper be-

longs with and follows upon ,baptism,  essentially cannot be

and therefore by us may not be separated from baptism. And.

the two sacraments, in turn, belong with the preaching of

the Word as the primary means of grace.                                    I. Sho,uld  covenant YOU%  of 12 to 15 years otd be en-
                                                                       cotimged  to partake of the Lord's Supper b4ore  they.nzake
   The next term requiring definition is adolescents; The
                                                                       confe.sTion  of faith.7
age -of  adolescence is the age of youth. Taken broadly, it

covers the years from 12 to 20, although we must always                    By way of introduction, let me state: first of all, that I

remember that you cannot mechanically break- life up .into             `can  nowhere find that this idea was ever considered by Re-

exact periods. One could say much of the characteristics of            formed churches ; nor can I find that any concrete plan or

this period. These are in many ways one's formative years.             thoroughly developed proposal of this kind was ever advanced

They- are also the years in which the individual begins to             by any Reformed authority. A suggestion along these lines

assert his independence, whether for good or for evil. I think         is made by the Rev. H. Hoeksema in his treatment of Lord's

we must remember especially in connection with our subject             Day XXVIII in -"Eating  and Drinking Christ," pp. 14, 15 :

that adolescence is the .age  of transition. It is the age in          "The church consists of believers and their children. Other

which one is partly a child, yet not completely a child any            members there are not in the -church  in the world. In the

more ; it is also the age in which one is to an extent grown-          church, therefore, one is either a professing believer or a

up, yet not completely an adult. However, in our subject the           child that has not yet come to years of discretion. But one

term must be more narrowly defined. Obviously the subject              who remains a baptized member and never confesses his faith

is concerned with the Ijeriod  of e&y  adolescence. And by             in the Lord Jesus Christ is a monstrosity that certainly should


                                                                                                                        .


                                           -. T    H     E          STAN.DARD'  BEARE-R'                                               113
                                                        .._


be eliminated by proper disciplinary measures. In the Church.             this early,participation  in the Lord's Supper is beneficial

of the Refugees in London it was customary to demand of                   and produces fruit as a means of grace-that the require-

   members to make confession of `faith and come to the                   ments should be rather stringent. -If 12 is the age when one
its 
Lord's table when they reached the age of 18 or 20 years.                 partakes of the Lord's Supper, and 15 is the age for confes-

After this age they were no longer considered as members of               sion of faith, then 21 (the age `of aduithoodj is certainly

the church of Christ in the world. Now it may be true that                becoming a relatively late ages for not having made confession

this rule was too stringent. Various factors may have to be               of faith.

taken into consideration that. make it impossible always to                 However this may. be, let us now consider some possible
apply a rule of this nature. Nevertheless, it must be con-                arguments in favor of such a plan, I will present them very
fessed that this practice'was.  based upon a principally sound            sketchily.
conception of the church as the gathering of believers and
                                                                              1) Such a plan would be in harmony with the fact that
their children.
                                                                          baptism and the Lord's Supper belong together and are
        "For the samereason  I often wonder whether the practice          essentially one and inseparable as sacraments, and that there-
of our churches not to administer' the Lord's Supper to                   fore those who are baptized have a right to the Lord's` Supper
children before they have reached the age of adolescence is               and ought to partake of it as soon as they are able.
not an error. Surely, long before they reach this age, they
                                                                              2) A covenant child in the period of early adolescence is
are able to discern the Lord's body. There is, it seems to me,
                                                                          quite able to discern the Lord's body, is thus able to .partake,
not sufficient reason to withhold from them this sacrament,
                                                                          and therefore ought to partake of the-Lord's Supper.
by which they are nourished with the body and blood of

Christ and in which they commemorate Christ's death, until                    3) In this way the Lord's Supper may actually serve as a

they have finished the course in catechetical instruction that            means of grace, along with the preaching of the Word and

is required in-  -our churches and are capable of making a                with baptism, not only for adult members of God's covenant

complete confession of faith. Let it rather be demanded of                but also for our children, at least when they reach the age of

them that they continue to attend catechism until they have               12. Thus our covenant youth would reap the advantage of

finished .the course, but in the meantime, let them partake of            having their faith strengthened through the means of this

the Lord's Supper at least at ,a much earlier age than is                 sacrament, and so instead. of being a goal attained throztgh

usually the custom in our churches."                                      confession of faith the sacrament of communion would be a

                                                                          powerful means to lead covenant youth fo confession' of. faith.
        More than a rather indefinite suggestion, however, the
                                                                              4) Early participation in the Lord's Supper would serve
above cannot be called. Apart from this, I have heard oral
                                                                          the purpose of making co,venant  youth more conscious 
suggestions of this idea,      and, incidentally, also heard it                                                                         of
                                                                          their actual place in the church, would `thus-.bind  them more
claimed that this was the theory and practice of John Calvin
                                                                          closely td the church, cause them to "live along,' with the
- a matter to which we will return presently.
                                                                          church, and would thus also serve as a means of restraint qs

        Hence, we can but outline a hypothetical plan, which              far as a worldly and ungodly life is concerned.

might contain the followin,
                              0` elements. 1)All  children of be-             5) This plan is in harmony with the usual mamler  of
lievers, when they reached the age of 12 years, would have                conversion in the sphere of, the'covenant:  While public con-,
the communion table opened to them, either by permission or               fession of faith is necessary, it his  too often equated with. a.
by definite, binding rule, and that, too, prior to confession of          so-called "conversion experience," whereas actually conver-  -
faith. It would thus become common practice in our churches               sion is a gradual process for covenant youth. It is therefore
that covenant children would partake of communion when                    much more realistic to take our children along with us to the
they reached the age of 12. 2) -Such children would be                    Lord's table as the expected and natural thing in their relig-
required to continue their catechetical training, and confes-             ious life.        .
sion of faith would be expected of them when they reached
                                                                              6) This plan is in `harmony with the position that bap-
the age of 15 or 16 years.     3) If. in the interim between the
                                                                          tized adolescents do not "join church" or become `members
`age  of 12 and the age of 15 or 16 such children would reveal
                                                                          of the church through confession of faith, but are already
an attitude of indifference `or opposition toward their cate-
                                                                          members of the church from their infancy, and are therefore
ehetical  instruction or toward `the means of grace in general,
                                                                          also subject to discipline and some form of excommunication
or if they walked in an ungodly manner, they would be barred
                                                                          in case of indifference and impenitence:
from the Lord's table. 4) If such adolescents made no con-

fession of faith by the age of 16, they would begin to be the             .' What do you think of the above ? Can you perhaps ad-

objects of discipline, with a view to eventual excommunica-               duce more arguments ?

tion in case of impenitence by, say, the age of 21. Others                    My`own answer to Question I is a very strenuous and
might`propose variations of this plan, some with less stringent           decisive No. And my reasons I will give next time, D.V.
requirements. But here we have at least -the  main lines of
.such a plan. -.And besides, it might be expected - if, at least,                                                                 HC.H.


 114                                           T H E   STAN,DAR~D   B E A R E R
                                                          .-.

                                                                         21.:27).  She is the earthly manifestation of the Kingdom

        D E C E N C Y             a n d   O R D E R   11 of- heaven. Against her the powers of hell shall rise but will
                                                                         not prevail. Even though her belligerent policies are fre-

                                                                         quently the subject of mocking criticism by the church that

                     Combating Heresies                                  has neither the spirit nor power to engage in warfare, this
                                                                         does not induce her to relent in her battle. A spirit of paci-

    "To  award  off false doctrines and errors that multiply en--        fism she can never tolerate for she is called unto a spiritual
ceedingly through heretical zewitings,  the u&isters and  eldess         battle in which she, with sobriety and vigilance, must fight
shall use th.e ~.eans .of teaching; of refutation, of warning,           her roaring enemy, the devil himself, and his countless co-
aizd  of admonition, as well ix the vxinistry  of the Word as            horts, the propagators of false doctrines. To accomplish,this
in Christiari  tsaching  and family  visiting..`?                        her chief weapon is the Christian ministry of the Word in
                                             -Article 55, D.K.O.         the form of teaching, refutation, warning and admonition.

                                                                               It is simply incredible that members of the church can be
    Ministers of the Word are enjoined in the Form for
                                                                         found who object at the first sound of the preacher mention-
Ordination to `rrefute  z&h the Holy Scriptures; all scJ&%s
                                                                         ing a current or historic controversy in the preaching. Yet
and heresies which are,repngnant  to the puye  doctrine." Con-
                                                                         such people there are. They have no objection to the preach-
cerning this refutation of false doctrine, the same Form points
                                                                         ing as long as it remains expository. They even express
out the teaching of Scripture in Titus 19, "That  a minister
                                                                         agreement with it and testify that they are instructed. by it.
utust hold fast the faith@1  Word of Go'd, that he may! be able
                                                                         However, as soon as the elements of refutation? warning, and
by sound doctrine both to exhort and convince the gaiti-
                                                                         admonition are brought into the preaching, they express dis-
sayers."
                                                                         contentment. -It is alright,  for example, in their viewpoint, to
    With respect to the Elders, the form for Ordination ex-              expound the doctrine of the total depravity of man in the
horts,    "Ta.ke  heed tha,t purity of doctrine and gddliness  of        light of Scripture. but the preacher must not demonstrate in
life  be minta.ined  in the Church  of God," a thing that is ,im-        this exposition that the heresy -of common `grace is a `denial,
possible except through constant- vigilance and warfare                  of this truth. Or again, it is comforting to be assured from
against every form of heresy and ungodliness that seizes                 the Word. of God that Jehovah is unchangeably faithful in
every opportunity to `infiltrate into the church. In the prayer          maintaining and fulfilling His promise to His people, but do
of the congregation, which concludes this form, God is im-               not mention the indubitable truth that those who teach the
plored to, "replenish  these vnen (Elders and Deacoryl)  with            heresy of a general, conditional promise to all deprive the
the gifts of-wisdom, coumge,  discretion, and benevolence so             people of God of this assurance. It may be agreeable to bring
that the elders ++uy  take diligent heed u.nto the doctr;ine  and        forth from the Scriptures the truth concerning the necessity
conversation.in  keeping out the wolves from the sh!?epfold  of          and significance of the two natures of Christ, but you ,must
thy beloved Son; and in a5dmonishiug  and re$rovm~~  dis-                not burden the congregation by .showing  them how this has
orderly persons."                                                        been denied by many heretics already in the early centuries

    Professors, of Theology are also bound under the Church              of the new dispensation as well as in the present day. Though

Order to      "expotmd  the Holy Scripture af>d to vir$dicate            many other examples may easily be given, we will mention

soz&nd  doctirine  against heresies a-nd  errors" (Art. 18). In          just one more. There are those who express joy in hearing

the Form that is used to install them into their office, they            the truths concerning God's eternal covenant of grace ex-

are enjoined, among other things, to caution those whom                  pounded but who object vociferously when the prqaching,  `in

they instruct "`in  rega*rd  to the errori and heresies of .old,  but    expounding these truths, points to the heresy of those who,

especially of the new da.y."                                             either because of a total lack of a covenant conception or be-

                                                                         cause of a distorted view of the doctrine of the covenant,
    All of this, plus the provisions of the article of the Church
                                                                         oppose Christian schools and a distinctive program of Chris-
Order that is quoted above, tends to emphasize the im-
                                                                         tian education - specifically, Protestant Reformed Educa-
portance of this aspect of the Christian ministry. The church
                                                                         t i o n   1
that neglects the task of vociferously combating heresy is

like an unfortified city in time of war. Her destruction is in-               It is not our desire to attempt to explain the motivation

evitable. Once the enemy has established his camp in her                 of those that oppose controversial preaching. This would

midst, nothing restrains him from `rspoiling  It& through                be rather difficult to do although it is not at all impossible to

philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men and after          suggest several possible reasons that may be the cause of this
the rudiments of the world" (Colossians 2 :A). He has then               attitude. Rather than doing this, for these reasons are not

only to lie in wait and with his cunning craftiness deceive              in the least complimentary, it is better that those who resent

and carry -away-  her members by every wind of doctrine                  controversy in the pulpit ask themselves in all seriousness

(Ephesians 4 :14).  Strong is the church that is militant in             why they feel as they do. Are there sound reasons for this

the truth and casts out of her fellowship "any thing tha.t               attitude ? We have yet to hear them. Do they themselves

defiles  a.nd  works a.bou&ation  O'Y makes  a lie" (Revelation          know why they disagree with the view expressed by the-


                                            T H E   STAND-AR0   B E A R E R                                                        115


Reformed fathers that "heresy must  be wmded off by metins-            That this is' th&  case in this instance history has `clearly

of the mi&stry  of the fjord"?  Is their reason spi&zmZ oi             proved.:..And  the  reason for this is not difficult to find. It

carnal?                                                                is twofold. In the first place, the church that shelters heresy

    As far as the preacher is concerned, he has no choice in           can no longer fight heresy. This is a spiritual impossibility.

the matter. This we must understand. He does not publicly              If this article is maintained and enforced, every elder and

attack heresy because he wants to. The Church Order as                 minister in the bhurch  would before God be under the obliga-

well as his own prom&e  at the time of his ordination demands          tion to refute and warn  against the pernicious heresy of com-
of him that he shall use the ministry of the Word to Combat.           mon grace and the well meant offer of salvation to all men
with refutation and warning all false doctrines and errors.            without` distinction. This they do. not want to do and, con-

This he cannot do by keeping silent. On the `other ham!:  ii           sequently, it is spiritually impossible to vigilantly oppose

his preaching is ant&hetica,l,  as it should be, he cannot avoid       other errors and false doctrines of the same and lesser magni-
this. This is made clear in the following quotation from               tude. One cannot embrace Satan and his lies on one side
Cltztrch Right, by Rev. G. M. Ophoff.                                  and plunge a sword into his other side.

    "The only effective means of warding off false doctrine               In the second place, the very nature of the heresy that

and error is sound preaching of the gospel in the pulpit and           is sheltered in the chur6h  makes antithetical preaching in?-

in the catechism class. arid bn ho'use  or family visitation.          possible. This heresy concerns the preaching of the Gospel..

Article 55 requires that  false doctrine and error be exposed          When heresy concerning this is maintained there can be no

in thcpreaching  of the gospel, thus reqttires  that the preach-       more warding off of heresies through the preaching. Con:

ing of the gospel be antithetical, that is, controversial. It means    troversy ceases when the antithesis is taken out of the preach-

that the `church of Christ through its teaching and ruling             ing.as is also the case when the heresy of common grace as

ministry must oppose God's yes to Satan's nay and God's nay            applied to the preaching is adopted. The preaching of a

to Satan's yes. This is antithetical preaching of the Word             general grace of God to'all  men without distinction is no more

of God. Refusal of the church to engage in antithetical and            a sword that cuts or a savour of life unto life and of death

controversial preaching is a s&a of first magnitude  (Italics          unto death. It is impotent to ward off the ~God-dishonoring

mine ---G.V.d.B.)  ; it is treason against the cause of God and        heresies of men that in countless forms deny His absolute

the truth. With Satan in the bottomless pit and the wicke4             sovereignty and right to %ave  mercy ZG~JOZ.  wJ801ut  He will

in the place of everlasting desolation, t+re  will be no mo:`e         have mercy and to Jtardeti W~ZOWL  He wills" (Romans 9 :18).

need of antithetical preaching of the Word. But as yet                 Why then retain such an unde&able.  provision in the
Satan is not in the bottomless pit. He'is going to and fro             Church Order. that demands militancy of a pacifistic church?
on ,the  earth, ever active in opposing. his yea to God's nay          The answer is simple. -There is no reason and, therefore,
and his nay to God's yea. How then c@ the church or gny                let & drop the article and don't require our ministers and
individual Christian imagine that antithetical preaching is            elders to be forever combating heresy. In this way, the
not a necessity and a solemn duty in this present dispensa-            "peace" of the church can be maintained.
tion of the world ? Should someone offend against our per-
                                                                          A citadel without defence  ! A city unprotected ! A depos-
son or steal our purse or insult our wife or child, we would
                                                                       itory for every wind of doctrine ! A .coveted  prize and easy
be ready for controversy and much of it, for debate, argu-
                                                                       prey for the enemy. Such is the church that desists from
ment, combat,, not only verbal but fistic perha&.  But this
                                                                       "warding off false doctrines and. errors by means of the min-
ethical opposition to God, contradicting, and off ending against
                                                                       istry of the Word of God."
Him, and, the truth- that is another thing with us. For
                                                                                                                             G.V.d.B.
that's only, God."

   This "sin of first magnitude" is comr$tted  by the Chris-
                                                                                Withhold not Thou Thy grace from me,
tian Reformed Church if and when the,pro&sed  revision of
                                                                                0 Lord, Thy mercy let me see,
the Church Order  is adopted. I have sought in vain through

that proposed revision for an article that even faintly. re-                      To me Thy loving-kindness show,

sembles Article 55 of the Church Order as rewritten in 1905                     Thy truth be still my stay ;

by the Synod of Dort and adopted by the Christian Reformed                        Let them preserve me where I .go,
Church in 1915. The closest thing.to  it is that the provision                  And keep me every day.
of Article 1s concerning the duty of Prdfessors bf Theology

to warn against heresy is retained. The provisions that call                    Let all who seek to see Thy face
fdr ministers and elders to ward' off heresy through the
                                                                                `Be glad and joyful in Thy grace;
preaching of the Word is omitted.
                                                                                  Let those wlno  Thy salvation love
   Is this omission intentional ? One is strongly inclined to
                                                                                For evermore proclaim,
question the motivation of this. Does not the-omission of this

article clearly imply  that the church no longer. desires  to                      0 praise the Lord"Who dwells above,

combat heresy? It has no more desire to be con&&ersial.                         And magnify His Name.                 -


116                                                    T H E   STANDAI&D  B                     E      A    R    E    R


                                                                                                     ing its foundations. Love cannot be de cement that

       ALL-AROU.ND                                                                             binds the church unless the bricks with which we build
                                                                                                     are the truth of God."


                                                                                         With the sentiments of this article, there cannot be any

F&h, Love asd  . . . Controversy                                                      disagreement by those who love the Reformed faith. In fact,
                                                                                      in this day of false tolerance and hypocritical love, this'point
       When controversy arises ,in the Church of Christ over                          is- worth emphasizing again and again. _
false doctrine, and when the truth is vigorously defended
                                                                                         It is certainly, true that the one who introduces false
overagainst such false `doctrine, those' who are guilty of
                                                                                      doctrine into the Church or initiates views contrary to Scrip-
heresy often accuse the defenders of the truth with lacking
                                                                                      ture is himself violating then law of love. He is seeking, by'
in the Christian virtue of love. This has happened often in
                                                                                      his efforts, to destroy the Church of Christ; and this, by no
the history of the Church ; this has .happened  recently in our
                                                                                      stretch of the imagination, or of Scripture, can ever be called
own history ; this is evidently happening at present in the
                                                                                      love.
Christian Reformed Church.

                                                                                          On the other hand, it is equally true that one who defends
       Under the above title, Rev. Henry R.,,Van Til, Professor
                                                                                      the truth of God and puts' forth every effort to resist false
of Bible at Calvin College, addresses himself to this problem.
                                                                                      doctrine is himself revealing love in the highest sense of the
in the October 28 issue of The Banner. He speaks of the
                                                                                      word. He is revealing his love for the Church of Jesus
fact. that there are voices raised in the Church. in defense of
                                                                                      Christ, for the brother who walks in error and whom he
doctrines and views which are'  contrary to the- Reformed.
                                                                                      longs to correct; and in these things, he reveals the love of
tradition of the Christian Reformed Church, and that thos.e
                                                                                      God, whic`h after all must be the root of all love. He is jealous
who attempt to defend the Reformed tradition overagainst
                                                                                      for God's honor and glory in the Churdh  and in her confes-
these views are considered as lacking in love. Some of the
                                                                                      sion, and will leave no stone`unturned to see that God's name
positions and views he mentions are the question of admitting
                                                                                      and cause is defended.
lodge members -into the Church, the `denial that the covenant
of grace is the true foundation of Christian education, the                               Yet the point  also bears emphasis that love requires more
calling of the doctrine of eternal reprobation and the doctrine                       than merely publicly defending the truth in the lecture room _

of infallibility into question. He writes :                                           and on the pulpit as well asp in the Church press. Love re-

                                                                                      quires also faithful and concerted action through Consistory,
         .              "It may not- seem strange to, some, but. to this ob-
                                                                                      Classis  and Synod to see to it that those who care not at all
              *      server it is passing strange that anyone-may propound
                     any idea at any time and `introduce a change in policy           for the truth and openly repudiate it are censored. If one

                   or principle or interpretation of Scripture without dis-           tiho introduces false doctrine is merely answered in the pulpit.

                     turbing the peace-but alas and alack,  the moment any            and the press without any attempts made to remove those who
                     other person opens his mouth to challenge such a change          persist in their views, one falls into the danger of backbiting.
                     or such a .neu!  interpretation, he is said to be disturbing
                                                                                      A false view publicly expressed may be publicly repudiated.
                     the peace not only but he is accused of not loving the
                     brethren, of being a self-appointed heresy hunter, of            But ecclesiastical action is also necessary for the protection

                     thinking himself a watcher .upon the walls of .Zion.             of the truth. This the conservative element in the Christian

                        "Paul is quoted as suggested above (`But now abideth          Reformed Church should do. This also is, love.

                     faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these

                    is love.`, H.H.) to settle the issue  - `the greatest of these    Scotland Celebrates Its Reformation
                     is love!' That is the end of the matter! Do not answer

                     the argument! Just brand the opponent as a loveless                  In a rather lengthy news item in the November 7 issue

                     person, that will be-quite enough."                              of Christianity Today, attention is called to the fact that in

       Rev. Van Til goes on to offer some exegesis of this pas-                       October of this year the Church of Scotland celebrated its

sage from I Corinthians 13 and makes the point that the                               400th anniversary. In August of 1560, the Scottish Parliament

defense of the faith is a necessary calling of the Church of                          ratified Protestantism's victory over Rome by abolishing the

Jesus Christ, as Paul in more than one place in his letters                           papal jurisdiction and the mass in- Scotland and approving

also insisted. This is not at all a violation of the Scriptural                       the Calvinistic Scats Confession.

injunction which calls the saints to live by love. And he con-                           John Knox was the chief leader of the Reformation in

cludes his article by pointing out that after all, to introduce                       Scotland, and was one of the authors of the Scats Confession.

false doctrine into the Church is in itself a denial of love.                         He stood in .the tradition of Calvin and introduced what has

Says he,                                                                              become known as Calvinism into his `country. The Scots-

                        "Tndy,  love is the f&llment  of the law, but anyone          Confession is a good confession and indeed-.predominantly

                     who propagates false doctrine under the cover of love            Reformed. And the Church of Scotland .has  been known
                     is perverting the very law pf love as revealed in the            throughout post-Reformation history as a strong Reformed
                     Scriptures. Love is the tie that binds kindred hearts in
                                                                                      Church. From articles that have recently appeared in Church
                     Christian fellowship,, but it may never become a city of
                     refuge for those who undermine~the  church by destroy-           papers written by Scottish divines, one gains the impression


                                          T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R - E R                                                         117



that there is still a remnant of this Reformed and Calvinis&         James Version. The Protestants will not accept the Romish

tradition in Scotland. But from the speeches that were de-           approved version, nor will the Roman Catholics accept the

livered at last month's celebrations, it seems as if at least the    King. James Version. This translation is intended to be one

chief leaders of the Scats Church have, drifted far from the         acceptable to all Protestant denominations and to the Roman

Reformed line. The Most Rev. Arthur M. Ramsey deplored               Catholic Church, as well as to Jewish Churches. The new.

the fact that the Reformation had lost some of the good ele-         translation is intended to be published in thirty paperback

ments of ,Roman  Catholicism during the Reformation. The             volumes by `Doubleday Publishing Co., the first volumes to

Very Rev. George F. MacLeod  condemned as idolatry any               appear in January of 1962, while the last ones are expected

attempts of the Church to look back at the Reformation and           to come off the press in 1966.
                                   .
at the creed which the Reformatron produced. He advised                ,..Thk.avowed  purpose of this new translation is to find a                         _
the Church not to "try to recover" the Reformers' insight,           "c&&on  Bible" which -will win acceptance for theological
but rather to "look at our modern environment and see what           -discussions  and for ecumenical movements. It is however also
it says to us." He called for "the true line of the Reformers'       hoped, &ough  with some pessimism; to be a translation
. . . a renewed doctrine of man's' worth in a machine age, a         that will be so commonly accepted that it can be used for
recovery of a sense of mankind's unity, and an energetic             reading in the public schools!: Now, when the King James
search for church unity." He said nothing of Knox's views            Version is read in the  public schools; Catholic parents pro-
and the other Reformers' views concerning the fundamental            test; while when the Douay Version is read in these same                                   c
doctrines of Scripture and of the Reformation, but coolly
                                   .-                                schools, Protestant parents protest; or when some other
passed them over.                                                    version is read, atheists protest' against a violation of their

    Other more conservative leaders in the Scats Church are          freedom of religion. But the hope is that this translation will

worried about the fact that there are-vast differences in the        be protested by none, and will receive the legal sanction of

theological opinions of ministers with respect to cardinal'doc-      the United States Supreme Court.

trines of Scripture, that Church membership has been greatly            If such a purpose motivates this new translation, one
on the decline, and that the Church has lost much of its sense       would almost expect that the lowest common denominator of,
of tradition..                                                       all ~these  groups will. color the translation. It is simply a fact             ..

    The Mission Committee of our Churches, in beginning a            that any translation is to a certain extent commentary. This
broadcast in Monaco this past year, intended this. broadcast         cannot be avoided. So also the American Revised Version is

to- reach especially the Reformed people in England, Scotland        also colored by definite mo'dernistic  views. It will be interest-

and Ireland. Whether there are remnants of people who hold           ing-to see the results of these efforts.

fast to the Reformed truth. we .will  probably learn in time                                                                        H. Hanko

through correspondence sent to us in response to our radio

sermons.


A New Translation.                                                               GOD THE CONQUERING KING

    I received in the mail a Catholic weekly newspaper this               t 0  Z i o n ,   ` t i s   t h y   God's~command           ~

past week. The name of it is, 1. think, "Operation Under-                 - That thou in strength securely stand ;

.standing."    It is said to be "Our Sunday Visitor Edition" of               .O God, confirm and strengthen still,.

the national Catholic weekly. Where or .by whom it is                          Thy purposes in us fulfil.

printed is not said. It appears, from one of the articles writ-

ten, as if it is printed in Austin, Texas. It is interesting                   0 Thou, Whose glorious temple stands

because it includes many articles on a variety of subjects                     In Zion, famed through heathen lands,

from a strictly Roman Catholic point of view. Its main                         Kings shall Thy power and glory see,

purpose seems to be to try to assist any attempts made be-                     And bring their presents unto Thee.

tween Protestants and Catholics to open discussions to try to

find a common .ground  of unity, and explore possible ecumen-                  Thou wilt rebuke the fierce and strong

ical movements between the two branches of Christendom                         Who hate the right and choose the wrong,

split since the Reformation.                                                   And scatter those who peace abhor,

 An interesting article appears in this~paper  which tells of.                 The nations that delight in war.

a new translation of the Bible which is coming out shortly

-and which is the fruit of the efforts of scholars both Prot-                  The heathen princes yet shall flee

estant ,and  Roman Catholic. It is intended as a translation                   From idols and return.to  Thee;                ."

that will be acceptable to all kinds of Churches and denomina-              Earth's sinful and benighted lands

tions. Now the Roman Catholics cling to the Douay Version                      To God shall soon stretch out their hands.                       '

of the Bible, while Protestants generally prefer the King                                                                     Psalm 68 :l-4

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


                                                                           doctrinally corrupt hymns could not find their way into the

                                                                           church.      Once a church decays doctrinally, however, and

                                                                           such bad hymns are introduced, they contribute to more

                                                                           decay.

                 Reply to ,&other  A. D. McClure                               7. However, the issue in our churches is concretely
                                                                           whether we shall, in addition to the Psalm-versifications,
Dear Brother: - -                                                          introduce other fait&d  versifications of Scripture.. What,
        Thank you for your contribution in our November 15                 from the viewpoint of principle, can be against this ?
issue. Though you have only recently. joined the ranks of                     Thank you again for your contribution. And : call again !
our subscribers, and though this "hymn-discussion" really                                                                            H.C.H.
began with remarks of mine in an editorial report on Synod

in the July 1 issue, rest assured that we `do not consider it

presumptuous to write on the subject, Our magazine is open:                                      A Knotty Problem
                                          -....
and you are welcome. By ,the same token; you will expect a                     One of the questions that seems to plague the Protestant

reply, I am sure.             -                                            clergy is the oft repeated one : "Why do people miss church ?"

        Permit me to .reply briefly as follows :                               While reading the October issue of The Chzti~h  Observer
   I
        1.    I' believe'it  must be granted that our English "Psalter"    the undersigned found this question discussed again. Without

is far from perfect. Recently I cited an example in this                   going into. the reasons given .by-.this  article, I would like.

regard ; and I repeat that such examples could be multiplied.              to make a few comments. The first is this - that the greater

1. also concede that our' English "Psalter" is more faithful               part of the clergy of the Protestant Churches direct their

i n   c o n t e n t   t h a n   o u r   Dutch"`Psalmboek."   .             inquiry outward, away from the church, seeking to find the

        2. Let me repeat that in'our present metrical versions of'         answer by diligently searching `into the inner recesses of the

the Psalms we do not have literally the. inspired Wbrd  of                 hearts of their church members. The common assumption

God, but' simply versifications based on and derived from the              of many. ministers is that the people are indifferent, lazy,

Psalms. <The issue before us therefore is not that of the-                 unconcerned about the Bible and their Savior.

inspired `Word `of God versus the uninspired poetry of the                     "Ah !" they say, "if only we can wake up -these  sleepy,

s a i n t s .                                                              lukewarm,      worldly Christians.    How much they could

  3. ., Without. at all going into the question `of the validity           contribute. .How  much the -Kingdom  `of God would advance !

of our Christian holidays, I am sure you will concede that in              I've just got to do something to stir up these people to their

our church music we wish' to celebrate the wonders of grace`               responsibilities."    And so they reason within themselves.

connected with these holidays. And I frequently find it-                       I might tell you ,of a certain gentleman whom I know,

difficult to choose selections from our "Psalter" which clearly            who stopped going to the Reformed Church. He had his

and directly refer, for example, to the incarnation, the resur-            reasons. -It seems that one Sunday as he took his accustomed

rection, the outpouring of the Spirit, etc.                                place in church eager to hear God's Word, that he was not

        4. In that same connection, let me assure you that I do            spiritually nourished. That particular Sunday the congrega-

not consider the Psalms to be the .Song. Book of the, Old                  tion was treated to sermon entitled "How a Boy Scout Won

Testament only.- And I would be the last to dispose of our                 the Award for God and Country.`:

"Psalter" too. But you will have-to  concede that the outlook                  You guessed it, the boy sco.ut was an elder's son.

of the Psalms is definitely "Old Testament." And. I see no                     On another occasion this gentleman confessed that he

principial  reason why the church of the new dispensation                  was simply amazed when another officer of. the church pre-

must be confined to. the Old Testament viewpoint in its'                   sented his. 12-year-old son. for baptism. ~ Seems somehow

singing.                                                                   he had never gotten around to having his son baptized al-

        .5. As far as. the saints of the New Testament are con-            though he himself was and had been an officer- of that church

cerned :                                              .                    for sometime.

        a. It cannot be proved that-they confined themselves to                Many other irregularities were observed, but being a very

the Psalms. . ~.                                                           patient man, the gentleman. of. whom I am telling you,

        b.    There is indeed evidence that good, sound hymns were         still hoped and prayed for the best. What finally drove him

used at an early date in the ancient church.                               from-the church (I have it from himself) was the sermon on

        c. We' surely need not confine ourselves to songs which            the "Crucifixion of Christ." In very eloquent terms the

other New Testament saints used. The believers are as free                 Reverend told how Christ suffered, bled and died for the sins

to versify the rest of the Scriptures as they are to versify               of the whole world. Yes, when Christ hung dying from the

the Psalms.                                                                cross he said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what

        6. I very much doubt -whether- the church is corrupted             they do."

by hymns &&ally. I would rather think that the `church.                       The gentleman remembers in particular the last semence

`(and also the individual believer) must first be doctrinally              of that sermon where the minister hastened- to add, `~If~Chri,st

corrupt, or at least lacking in doctrinal alertness. Otherwise             forgave everyone why can't you and I do the same ?"


                                               TH.E STAN,D:AR?  B$ARER                                                                            119
                                                                          ,.               . . . .

     The gentleman, who I dare .say,  was as well yei;sed  ifi                    day. when the tower and the tower builders shall be Snail,.

Scripture as some ministers began to think a little. Said he.                     destroyed,  and. the saints called unto the Heavenly tabern&e ;'

to himself, "If Christ forgave everyone-as the Reverend says;                     where forever they shall be united tinto the Lord Who

why is there a hell ? Would God send someone to hell whom                         elected, regenerated, called and delivered thein unto everlast-

Christ had forgiven ? What did Christ mean when  he said to                       ing salvation. .. :- -.'

the Pharisees, `Ye are of your father the devil, apd  the lusts                       We sang Psalter No. 276 whi1e.a  collection was taken.for

of your father ye will do.'         Are these fprgiven  too ? These               our own High School.

same people He called white washed sepulchers. Everybody                              Mrs. Marin&from  Hudsonville  gave  a piano $0 entitled

forgiven ?'                                                                       "The Holy City."

      Suddenly he felt uneasy in his pew, within him arose                            The business of `the evening was taken care of and the
slowly but surely a deep  conviction that he didn't belong                        new officers were introduced. .In. closing we sang Psalter No.
there. As he went out the  church dbor  that bright sunny                         374.. Mrs. M. Jonker our new.president  closed our meeting
morning, as he paused to shake hands with  the niinister,  if                     with prayer. Refreshments were serve-d  .in. the. basement,
you could'have listened closely, you would have  heard him                        which we always enjoy.
say to the minister, "Do you still call yourself Reformed?"                                              ;         ; Miss A. Reitsma, Reporter

      If you observed closely as-  well as listened you would have

seen the Revere&l's face blush a little as .he braced'  himself,                                THE'MRACLE  OF BETHLEHEM
                                                                                      _
gave the gentleman who asked him a. hearty handshake and                                              (Contintied  from page  109)     r-                   .,

repiiecl  iti a boisterous voice, "Certainly, as much as ydu do."                 beget  a nature fit td be the.  habitation of the: eternal. Son

 I\jIay   I   s u g g e s t   i n   closing this article, that although the       bf God ; and because miy the eternal God Himself can
cpngregation  isn't perfect and could improve, `that all -mini                    prepark  such  a nature  in the Womb of the virgin  Mary.

&ers  who ask the question, "Why don't people attend                                  To the world in whatever capacity, we say: you refuse to

Church?" first lo& into their own heart,  itito :i$i  own                         accept this miracle of the-  Virgin-  Birth only b&z&se  ydh

denomination, and, $xttiines  and s&nons.  Maybe they  ha+:                       refuse"to  ac&pt  the miracle of the Incarnatioti:  &self-.  --YOU
overlooked soriething.                                                            cannot believe the one' be&se  ydu`will  nbt  believe the other.. .

:     "Fifst  cast the beatin`ol;zt  -of thirie:  dwii  eye, then Shalt'thou      For.  one who believes the incarnation, there is nothing &ore

see .dlearly  to cast the mote' dut of thy br'dther's  eye."                      easy to believe' i&n the. virgin.  $i?th.  In fact, t&e  more

T u c s o n ,   A r i i o n a   .'              '  V e r n o n   G r a e s e r    deeply we enter-  into tl% ' T'carn?tion  itself,  the. more deeply

                                                                                  .we feel thit"it  is `as' propel' a's in&&ble  that sach a mira$e

                                                                                  shotild  invdlve:a  c&res$nding  &radle  in' the `physic21  aspe.@

           Report of Eastern Lti.di&s'  `League                                   of the.l%rth.  -:Wi&  the late Prcjfegoi:'  B. W~&~ld::we  $2~;
                                                                                  "T' Christianity, it would- have `be& uianatural  if the-birth of
     : The, Ladies' League' m&ing  was held..October'  20`at our                  the Savior had been natuial.".           - . ' .
First Protestant .Reformed  Church. `The meeting was opened                           Hence, the confessioh  of the church df all ages-  stands :
by hinging  Psalter No. 237 and Psalm-42:1,  which we sang                        "`Conceived by the Holy Ghost, b&-n  of the  Virgin Mary."
in Dutch. Our present president, Mrs. M. Schipper, read                           Thus .the Holy Spirit, not the will of man,, is tile ,efficie.nt
Genesis 11 -the first  nine verses. At this tin&  she opened                      cause of the conception. And Mary kecame  pregnant by a
with ,prayer:  A ladies' double- duet  sang,  "I Hear in the                      direct work of God Himself, Whb  thi-ough  the. -Spirit @e;                     - -
Air,"    accompaniid  by Mrs. Holstege. This number was                           pared `humanity in the most blessed among women; and w&h
given.. by our, Hudsonville. ladies..            1 .                              that divin&ly  conceived-`humanity united the Person of the'                    .

     1 Our speaker for the evening Rev.. k. Schipper was in-                      Son of God. A`profoun$  mystery, you say,? Of course! Is

troduced. He spoke on the .topic  "Confusion of Tongues."                         riot' all conceptibn  an tinfathomable  mystery ? How then

      Rev. Schipper spoke to us about. the confusion'of  tonguks.                 shall the Incarnation be anything else?

First, the histsrical  occasidn  for if .sec?xid,  the' modern at-                    Wonderful thing that is' come  to pass !

tempt to overdome  .it' and third, the attitude' of the Church                        Thus, and thus only.can  that Infant of Bethleheni  be our

over against it. Then the speaker called our attention to the                     Head and Redeemer,' Who cari  pl'epare  &ma1  salvation for

attitude of the modern church Over against the tower building                     us and us for eternal salvation.

and overcoming the confusion of tongues is not one of an-                           Thus, and thus only can He-be the Lamb 01 `God,.without

tithesis by synthesis. Finally brought out what our attitude                      spot and blemish; in Whom we hatie reconciliation with the

should be. How we should  react in respect to the building                        L i v i n g   G o d .

of the 4ower  ? -Our  attitude will be one of hope. The true                        Thus,  and' thus only can He apply that reconciliation and

church of Christ will therefore be watching and sober, their                      perfect redemptidn to His -own and preseptly  glorify them

lamp: $ill -be bu+ngl           All  their senses will be* focused on             for@ver  more. - " -

the parotisia,  that second and' final coming of the Lord &f                          Blessed miracle of Bethlehem !        '
                                                                                                                      -
.&r$ to, take -to Himself His precious bi-ide. That is the                                                                                    -  R . V .


                                                      ---.- -i -7-

                                                                      .
                                                         THE STANDARD BEARER ,; -. - --- --. -'-' -~

                                                                                                                  .

                                                                                          Radio Committee-' . ~
                                                                                                                       (`With  most grateful ~andhumble  thanks

                                                                                          to our Sovereign ~God-we  have-  now begun our 20th year :of

                                                                                          conti,nuous  radio -broadcasting. ~`Thankful  also-that the Lord'

                                                                                          has again granted- Ls the privilege of recording our beloved

                                                                                          pastor, Rev. H. Hoeksema,  for another series of radio- ser-

                                                      N o v e m b e r   30,   1 9 6 0     inons- beginning ~SundXy,,-  Dec.`- 4,. and- :Zontin&g  T thro'ugh
                                          ._
                                                                                          April 2. Included in the series -are`:  `a Christmas Day sermon,
    Creston's congregation has extended a call to. the Rev. A.
                                                                                          and a message treating the glorious resurrection of `our. Lord
Mulder.of  -Kalamazoo.              . -1 -. . _ `1
                                                                                          Jesus Christ.. The .remainder  `of .the- series will be sermons
    The joint consistories of Isabel and Forbes have -placed                              based -on the visions of the'Apostle  John as they are recorded
the following ministers on trio: Revs. G. Lubbers, R. C.                                  for us in the Book of Revelation,' chapters 5 and 6. The first
Harbach and A. Mulder.                                                                    three topics of the series are: "The Vision of the Sealed

    Jeremiah's prayer, "0 Lord;, I know that the way of man                               Book," "An Important Challenge," "The Lamb That Stands.

is not in himself; it' is not in man that .walketh  to direct his                         As Though It Had Been Slain,,' followed by the Christmas

steps. 0 Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thy                                  Day message, `!The  Sign of the Christ Child." We further

anger, lest thou bring me to nothing," was the basis for an                               report that in the very near future, perhaps in a week or two,

applicatory  sermon preached by` Rev. G.-Van Baren  after the                             a "News Sheet" will be printed and distributed in our con-

communion service in. October. Doon's communicants were                                   gregations, and mailed to the radio listeners. This sheet

comforted with. this portion of God's Word as their pastor                                relates highlights of the past years of our radio endeavors,

led them in the contemplation.of  that Man of God's confes-                               and also reveals information regarding the present and-future

sion of complete contentment in God'sydirection  of His chil-                             plans of the Radio Committee. Be on the lookout for this
                                    .
d r e n ' s   w a y .          .                                                          little paper, and in the meantime (and each Sunday) listen

                                                                                          to the .Reformed  Witness Hour. Remember our mailing ad-
    A brief glance at any of :our church bulletins suffices- to
                                                                                          dress - P.O. Box 8, Grand Rapids 1, Michigan.
cause us to realize how varied .the study of. the-  Scriptures is

in the weekly work of our ministers. A-recent  bulletin from                              -.    First Church Ladies'. Aid Society held their annual Bazaar

Edger-ton reveals that Rev. Woudenberg's study concerns:                                  and Baked Goods Sale Nov. 17 in, Adams St. School Gym.

the:letter to the Gal&i&s,  on which-he  is preac@g.a.  series                            The society members donated the fruit of their handiwork-to

of sermons ; the Book ofRevelation,  which is being treated                               the. sale, the proceeds all going. to the various Kingdom
in- the Young People's Society; the Gospel according to John,                             causes usually remembered by the society when they empty

which the Ladies' Aid Society is currently examining;. the                                their coffers for distribution.
Book of Romans, which is the study of- the Men's Society;
                                                                                                Bztlletin  
besides the Bible History and Doctrinesof the Church;.which                                                    quotes "Simply to will. belongs to man: to will
                                                                                    :     what is evil, to- corrupt nature ; to will what is good, to
occupies -the catechism classes.                                                  .._
                                                                                          `grace . . . whatever good is in the human will is the work of
   -&&&i~  q_uote:  What we should-  pray for in-the  morning                             pure grace:" Calvin.
of the Sabbath : I`For  him who dispenses the` Word:. that his
                                                                                                Sunday, Nov. 20, the Protestant ReformedrMen's  Chorus
tongue may be touched withy  `a coal from Gods. altar.;  that
                                                                                          provided the Sunday Music Hour in the Chapei  of the Pme
God would warm his heart who is to help.warm  others.`.Your
                                                                                          Pest Hospital. The program was opened with prayer by Mr.
prayers may be a means to, quicken the minister..Some -corn-
                                                                                          Charles Westra, member of the chorus, and closed by the In-
plain they find no benefit by the Word preached, `Perhaps
                                                                                          stitutional pastor, Rev. R. Heynen. The repertoire included
they .did not pray for their minister as they should; Prayer
                                                                                          such songs as, "0             J &us    Grant Me Hope' and Comfort,"
is like the whetting and sharpening of an.instrument  which
                                                                                          "Nearer My God To Thee" and a traditional English Christ-
makes it cut better.".
                                                                                          mas song, "A Child This Day Is Born." The singing was

    Holland's Men's Society- was *host to the :men  .of. First                            interspersed with organ selections by Miss Karlene Oomkes
                                                                                                                                 _'
Church Monday, NOV.-~.  Bible discussion was .on the: twenty-                             of First Church.                       I

second chapter of the Book of Revelation'and  after recess,                                     `You  `may' find the correct formula, given` by the Holy
Mr. .S. De Vries, of the visiting society, gave an essay on the
                                                               . .         . .            Spirit, whereby we may provide an invigorating atmosphere
topic, "`The:Son.  of -Man;".                                                       -,
                                                                                          for the well-being of our Christian .walk  on earth-for us

   The Senior Mr. and Mrs. Society, of First Church, had                                  and our children-in Colossians 3 :16, "Let the word of

an open discussion on the `very timely -subject,  "Woman                                  Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom ; teaching and ad-

Suffrage" on the after recess program, Nov. 9, the day after                              monishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual

the National Elections. I ,. -                                                            songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
                          .

 - We have received the-following contribution from the                                         . . . i see`yoii   i n   c h u r c h . .         -_     J.M.F.


