    \TOLUA,fE A~XIX                        FEBRUARY 15, 1963 - GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN                              NUMESER~O

                                                                     Here is the answer: be ready!
         M E D I T A T I O N                                II       There is no other answer.

                                                                     You see, the household of God is on earth, both in the

                                                                  earthy and in the heavenly.
                 BE YE ALSO READY                                    In the earthy you are created right in the midst of that

     "Therefore be ye also ready: for-in such ari  hour as        household, and there is a.word  of God that gives you a
       ye think not the Son of man  come&. Who then is a          mandate for the things, the earthy things, of that house-
      fnithful  and wise servant, whom his Lord whe'n he          hold. The things of that household need tending. And you
      con&h  shall find so doing. Verily I sa4y unto you,         are to do that tending. You must be a good child, father,
       That He shall make him ruler over all H&Y  goods."         mother, worker, etc.

                                              Matt. 24: 44-47      But we are not first of all concerned about this earthy

                                                                  part of the household-of God.
   The Son of man is coming!
                                                                     There is a spiritual side to the household of God. I
   How often have you heard that? Very often.                     purposely'use the word "side," for the earthy and the spirit-

   And not only that, but you also heard about the signs of       ual unite in the work of the servant. All earthy things are

His coming, such as many Christs will come, but they are          taken up in your spiritual labor for God.

liars; wars and rumors of war; there will be pestilences and         YOU dig into the soil for God's sake. You work for your
earthquakes; the Church will be persecuted; false prophets;       master for God's sake. You are a good parent, wife, hus-
the Gospel will be preached in all the earth; the Great           band, citizen of America for God's sake, etc.
Tribulation near the end; signs in heaven such as that the
                                                                     In the accompanying parable this tending you are to
sun will be darkened, the moon refusing to give its light,
                                                                  perform is called: "to give them meat in due season."
the stars falling from heaven, and the powers of the heavens

shall be shaken. And the very last sign will be the Sign of          Everyone of us is confronted with manifold duties, and

the Son of man in heaven. And no one knows what that last         there is the measure of the gift of grace.

SIGN is, no not one.                                                 And standing with your two little feet in the midst of

   And after that last sign Jesus will surely come, and           God's Universe, He says to you and to me: "Work for the

come immediately.                                                 night is coming!" And in that night you cannot work any-
                                                                  more. After all the work is done there comes the judgment.
   And at that coming the Trumpet will sound, the elect
                                                                  And that judgment shall be as your work has been.
will be gathered from the four winds, the dead' raised; and

the judgment throne set to look upon and to judge the living

and the dead.

   But no one knows the day or the hour of that coming.
                                                                     That tending requires faithfulness and wisdom, accord-.
   It will be as the day of Noe. (Noah)                           ing to the text.
   And the day of Lot.
                                                                     What is it?

                                                                   -Well,  faithfulness is to be true and trustworthy in the

                                                                  performance of your duty, especially in the fulfilment of

   What must we do about this?                                    promises, obligations and vows.

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


   And wisdom is the virtue to walk in the best way, and             I do not know anymore how a certain author expressed

to use the best means in order to arrive at the greatest         it, but it goes something like this: And Adam and Eve,

purpose for your life: the glory of God!                         hand in hand, began their weary way, through this earth

                                                                 to heaven.
    Oh brother!

                                                                     What a weary way.
   You see, all of us who are true Christians are witnesses

of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord.                                 Writing as I did above I am crucifying myself.

   And all your tending is fulfilled in that witnessing. Your        Yes, I mentioned both Lot and Abraham.

whole life must be a testimony: God has visited me! And              Both travelled to heaven. But what a difference!
what a visit!
                                                                     How often we walk as Lot did, and how little as Abra-
    Look at Moses! He visited God and God visited with           ham did.
him.      (Note how I used the wrong order. God visited Moses
                                                                    Lot found himself in the cave of Zoar, committing in-
first, and as a consequence Moses visited with him.)
                                                                 cest.
   Moses stumbled down that mountain. There he comes!
                                                                    Abraham found himself ever looking to the city of
What a sight!
                                                                 Jerusalem, ever seeing the day of Jesus Christ.
   His face shone of Divine glory. What glorious witness-
ing. Everyone in Israel saw the sight. And as a result they          Lot has his offspring: the enemies of God's Israel: Am-
                                                                 mon and Moab. Abraham has his offspring: the believers
trembled, quavered, and prayed Moses to cover his face.
That was also their sad mistake.                                 of all the ages.

   No, your face does not shine like Moses' face.                   Yet, God is pitiful to Lot: he may bring forth the mother
                                                                 of Jesus: Ruth.
   But God and Christ visits you just the same. And the
result should be seen, heard, and observed.                          Yes, oh yes, a thousand times yes, God is pitiful to us
                                                                 upon whom the latter ages have come: "For I will be mer-
   When God visits you, you are a better carpenter, father,      ciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their
mother, child, citizen, elder, deacon, minister, member of       iniquities will I remember no more." Heb. 8:12.  "He bath
the church.                                                      not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according

   Your life gives testimony of the gift of grace.               to our iniquities." Psalm 103:lO.

   You are a witness, that is, you tell what you have seen           If it were not for these words of God I could not go on.

and heard.

   Your life shows how adorably lovely God and Jesus are.

   In two ways: i                                                   Yes, Jesus is coming!

   Number one: filled with holy enthusiasm you fight the             From our sick viewpoint His coming is very slack. It is
good fight of faith against the devil, the world, and against    now almost 6000 years.

the power of evil that resides within you. (And that last            How much more we know not. It seems so long.
battle is the worst of all.) You set your face like a flint
                                                                     T h e   r e s u l t ?
against the lie in all its filthy forms. And you sing of the
truth.                                                               The world is fast asleep in the sleep of death.

   Number two: you are a pilgrim: you march through this             The false church is also asleep. You can hear their
sorry world as a pilgrim. You look not at Sodom as Lot did,      snoring.

but you look to the City that hath foundations. You have             The true church often slumbers, hence this admonition
the love of God in your heart, and your deepest and fondest      to be ready.
yearnings are for God, for Christ, for heaven and its perfec-        In an hour we think not, He will come: like a thief in
tion.                                                            the night. A thief takes off his shoes when he breaks into

                           * tr 0 0                              our house, or has rubber soles.

                                                                     And therefore we must be faithful and wise. Always.
   Why?
                                                                     You see, when you are ready, that is, when you are
    The Son of man will return.                                  working in God's household, it makes no difference when

    There is an end to the dispensation of the household of      He comes. For then we are found working to His glory.

`God on earth.                                                       There was a time when a catechumen asked me the

   It started in Paradise.                                       reason why we should not go to the theatre.


                                           T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                                                                                                                               219
                                                                .,             : :


       Well, there are many reasons why we should never go
there, and I told him. Among those reasons I said: Would                                    T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R
                                                                          Semi-monthly, except monthly during June, July and August
you like to be there when Jesus comes? He answered me                      Published by the REFORMED FREE PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION
NO.                                                                                                     Editor - REV.                                               H
                                                                                                                                            HmhfAN                      OEKSEMA
       Would it not be wonderful to be in church when He                  Communications relative to contents should be addressed to
                                                                          Rev. H. Hoeksema, 1139 Franklin St., SE.;  Grand Rapids 7,
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                            Q 0 0 Q                                                                           neatly written or typewritten.
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shall find so doing.                                                      must be mailed 8 days prior to issue date, to the address below:
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                                                                              RENIGVAL:  Unless a definite request for discontinuance is
not be in church when He comes.                                           received it is assumed that the subscriber wishes the subscrip-
       Blessed!                                                              tion to continue without the formality of a renewal order.
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       It means that you shall be full, full of all which you

need according to the nature of man. It means that you                                                                     C O N T E N T S
are filled with the goodness of God. It means that you are            h~k+XXTATION  -

satisfied with His image. It means that you are filled with                    B e Ye Also Ready . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
                                                                                          Rev. G. Vos
the communicable virtues of God. It means that you are

lovely and comely.                                                    EDITORIALS -

       No, you do not have to wait until you are in heaven in                  Arminius and Arminianism _. . . _. .220
                                                                               Rank Arminianism in Calvin Seminary . . . . . . . . . ..___.___..............  220
order to be blessed. You are blessed here when you are                                     Rev. H. Hoeksema
working the work of God, even though that blessedness is

only a small principle.                                               OUR DOCTIUNE -

       But it also shows that all the work in the household of                 Preservation and Perseverance                                                  . . . . . . . . . . . ._. _____..... .._  ,222
                                                                                          Rev. H. Hoeksema
God carries its own reward.

       It shows that only the things of the Kingdom of God            A C&oun  OF WITNESSES -
have abiding, lasting, eternal value and blessedness.                          The Capture of Jericho ..__......................................................                                                                226
                                                              DO
                                                                                          Rev. B. Woudenberg
not envy the wicked in their laughter, joy, happiness and

glee. It's hollow, vain, and does never satisfy.                      FROM HOLY WRIT -

       What Augustine said is true still, even today: a man                    Exposition of I Timothy ____.  .._ . . . . . . ..__.....  ..__  _.. 228
                                                                                           Rev. G. Lubbers
cannot rest except he rest in the arms of God.

       Blessed, for He will make him ruler of all things.             IN HIS FEAR -

       But that must wait until you are in heaven.                             The Love That Conquers ._..._.............................................,..                                                                   230
                                                                                          Rev. J. A. Heys
       Beloved, I wonder, I continually wonder what that shall

be.                                                                   CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH  -

       However, it is better that you and I be ready for His                   The Church and the Sacraments __ __..... . .._. __........_.__ ..232
                                                                                           Rev. H. Veldman
coming.                                                      G.V.

                                                                      THE VOICE OF OUR FATHERS -

                                                                               The Belgic Confession __, . . ._._.  __ . . . . . . . . . .._.._.. . . ..___.....  ..__ 234

                      Notice for Classis West                                              Rev. H. C. Hoeksema


       Classis  West of the Protestant Reformed Churches will         DIXXNCX  AND OADER  -
                                                                               Matthew I8 ._. ___ . . . . ..___  ._. ._._  . ..236.
meet, the Lord willing, in Doon,  Iowa, on Wednesday,                                      Rev. G. Vanden  Berg
March 20, 1963, at 9 A. M.
                                                                      ALL AIIOUND  Us -
       The consistories are reminded of the rule that matters                  News from Trans World Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  238
for the classical agenda must be in the hands of the Stated                    Merger Talks __. _. ._.. ._ _____ ___ _..... . ..____...... .__.  ____ 239
                                                                               A Foiled Attempt to Escape Persecution                                                                   239,
Clerk not later than 30 days before the date of Classis.  And
                                                                                           Rev. H. Hanko
all matters that are to be brought to Synod must also be

presented at this classis.                                            NEWS FROM OUR CHURCHES __.________.._.........................................,....,.                                                                    2401
                                                                                           Mr. J. M. Faber
                              REV. H. VELDMAN,  Stated Clerk                                                                                                                                                              -_


320                                        T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R
                                                                   -2.                        -      -     -

                                                                       2. .Faith  is imputed for righteousness because it ap-
 jE D I I- 0 R I A L s,                                            prehends the righteousness of Christ.

                                                                      3. Faith is imputed for righteousness because of its

                                                                   instrumental operation.
               Arminius and Arminianism
                                                                      Arminius holds that the first of these propositions is the

       As to the divinity of the Son of God and the opinion of     correct one. He complains that "It is on this ground th&

Arminius concerning this truth, we will be brief. This brev-       I am accounted to hold and to teach unsound opinions con-
ity is not because the subject is not important, for it is. Nor    cerning the justification of man before God." And he also

is this brevity observed because Arminius did not err in           explains the proposition which he claims to be correct in

regard to this doctrine, for he did. But it is because we          the following way. First, sinners are accounted righteous

are rather interested in what he teaches concerning the            only by the obedience of Christ. Secondly, the righteous-

truth of predestination and related doctrines such as sov-         ness of Christ is the only ground or cause on account of

ereign grace, the free will of man.                                which God reckons the sinner righteous. Thirdly, God

                                                                   imputes the righteousness of Christ only to believers.
       At the University of Leyden at the time, Arminius

proposed the subject of the divinity of the Son of God and            I am afraid that it is exactly on this point that Arminius

with respect to this subject he laid down the proposition          was accused of holding unsound doctrines. For, do not

that the Son had his essence from the Father. In the dis-          forget that, according to him, faith is an act of man. 0, to

putation which followed, one of the students objected that         be sure, he cannot perform this act except by grace, that is,

the Son was autotheos, that is, essentially God of himself.        by the assisting and co-operative grace of God. But it is

He argued "`that the word (autotheos, H.H. ) was justly ap-        an act of man by which he, nevertheless, obeys the com-

plicable to the Son of God" in the sense that he was es-           mand of the gospel by and through himself. He does not

sentially God of himself, "and that the essence of the Father      believe that all is grace. He does not believe that grace is

could not be said to be communicated to the Son and to             always first. He does not believe that the natural man can-

the Holy Spirit . . . but that it was in perfect correctness       not believe in Christ and that he is wholly dead in sin. Why

and strict propriety common alike to the Father, the Son,          not? Fundamentally because he does not believe in pre-

and the Holy Ghost."                                               destination, in election and reprobation, except on the basis

                                                                   of the foreknowledge of God. He believes that God chose
   This Arminius denied. He claimed that the Son had his
                                                                   those whom he foresaw and foreknew  that they would
divine essence from the Father. The opinion of the student,
                                                                   believe in Christ, and that He rejected those whom He
according to him, "was at variance with the word of God,
                                                                   foresaw and foreknew  that they would not believe in Him.
and with the whole of the ancient Church, both Greek and
Latin, which had always taught, that the Son had his Deity            This is the fundamental reason why Arminius empha-
from the Father by eternal generation."                            sizes that faith, as an act of man, causes the righteousness
                                                                   of Christ to be imputed to a sinner.
   Yet the student was correct. For there is one divine                                                                      H.H.
essence and it is within that divine essence, common to all

the three Persons, that the Son is generated by the Father

and the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son.

   But let this be sufhcient  and let us rather turn to what            Rank Arminianism in Calvin Seminary

Arminius has to say about the doctrine of justification.
                                                                      It is evident from the article in the ReformerZ:  Joz~rnul by
   First, in par. IX, he states: "I am not conscious to my-        Prof. H. Dekker that he felt that he had in mind the doc-
self, of having taught or entertained any other sentiments         trine of the Three Po&ts.  This is evident from the texts he
concerning the justification of man before God, than those         quotes as well as from his quotations from the Canons of
which are held unanimously by the Reformed and Prot-               Dordrecht which he also makes. These quotations are also
estant Churches, and which are in complete agreement with          made, by the Synod of the Christian Reformed Church
their expressed opinions."                                         convened at Kalamazoo in 1924.

   Then, he quotes Rom. IV-:%. "Faith is imputed for                  And also the editor of The Banner, evidently, saw the

righteousness." On this passage, according to him, there           similarity between Prof.  Dekker's article and the Three

are three possible interpretations:                                PO+MS,  for in his criticism of Prof.  Dekker's article he can-

                                                                   not help to refer to and to defend especially the First of
   1. Faith itself as an act of man, performed according
                                                                   those Three Points. Writes he:
to the command of the gospel, is imputed by God for

righteousness, "and that of grace; since it is not the right-         "In inquiring just what the Bible has to say about all

eousness of the law."                                              this it is necessary to be very clear as to precisely what the


                                         T H E   S T A N D A R D   .-BEARER                                                 221


question is. Let it be clearly understood, then, that this is    all persons promiscuously and without distinction, for it is
not a matter of common grace, or of a certain favorable          God's good pleasure that all men in the whole world shall
attitude of God to all mankind."                                 hear the gospel."

   And at the close of his article, the editor refers to some       Is it possible that the fathers of Dort could have meant

of the decisions of the Synod of the Christian Reformed          to insert an article of this nature in the Canons?

Church in 1959 which also deal with the common grace                Of course not!
question.                                                           The article surely does not make the promise of God
   Nevertheless, I repeat that Prof.  Dekker can always          general and to all men.. It is very particular. It is limited
appeal for his stand to the First Point of 1924. Do not for-     on every side.
get that one of the grounds which the Synod of 1924 ad-
                                                                    To be sure, the article teaches that the gospel must be
duced in support of the First Point or in support of the         preached to all nations and persons promiscuously and
expression that "there is a certain favor or grace of God        without distinction. And it is to be accompanied by the
which He shows to his creatures in general,, is "the general     command to believe and repent.
offer of the gospel."    Nor do forget that in his pamphlet
"The Three Points In All Parts Reformed,,, Berkhof wrote,           But do not overlook that this article of the Canons adds
in explanation of Ezekiel 33:ll  the following words: "Are       "to whom God in his good pleasure sends the gospel.,, Even
these not words of tender mercy, in which a Father begs          the course which the gospel takes in the world is deter-
                                                                 mined by God's good pleasure.
His apostatizing children to return to Father's house and to

the heart of Father." p. 22. (Translation from the Dutch is         Moreover, according to the article in the Canons, the

mine, H.H. )                                                     promise of the gospel is not to all men, but only to those

   Now, mark you well, all this is written in support of         that repent and believe.    And faith and repentance are
the statement that God is gracious to all his creatures . . .    gifts of God and they are bestowed-only on the elect.

to all men! If God is filled with mercy to all men does He          Prof. Dekker also quotes Canons III, IV, 8 where we

then not love all men?                                           read:

   I do certainly not agree with Prof. Dekker. His views            "As many as are called by the gospel are unfeignedly

are, as I express in the heading above these articles, rank      called. For God hath most earnestly and truly declared`

Arminianism. But if I were in his shoes and a case were          in his word, what will be acceptable to him; namely, that

made against me, I would surely appeal to the Three Poiizts      they who are called should come Lmto him. He, moreover,

as explained by Berkhof and also by H. J. Kuiper, in order       seriously promises eternal life and rest to as many as shall

to prove that I was in full agreement with the officially        come to him and believe on him."

declared doctrine of the Christian Reformed Church.                 Also this article is quoted by the Synod of the Christian
   But I was going to discuss the passages from the Confes-      Reformed Church in support of the declaration that God is
sions which Prof.  Dekker quotes in support of his position      gracious in the preaching of the gospel to all that hear it.
that God loves all men.                                             Prof. Dekker quotes this article to prove that God loves
   First Prof.  Dekker quotes from Canons II, 5: "Moreover       all men. But, apart now from the fact that the Canons as
the promise of the gospel is that whosoever believes in          a whole teach the very opposite, also the above quoted
Christ crucified, shall not perish but have everlasting life.    article certainly does not teach that God loves all men.
This promise, together with the command to repent and               It teaches :
believe, ought to be declared to all nations and all persons
                                                                    I. That the external calling by the gospel is serious.
promiscuously and without distinction to whom God out of
                                                                 Latin, serio.  It is serious for all that hear, whether for the
his good pleasure sends the gospel."
                                                                 elect or reprobate. It is serious for the reprobate because.
   Now, I am confident that even Prof. Dekker understands        they, too, hear the call to repent and believe. That in and
very well that this part of the confessions does not teach       by themselves they cannot and will not, and cannot will to,
that God loves all men.                                          do this makes no difference as to the seriousness of God's
   Let us put this to the test by replacing the limited          calling. And it is serious for the elect because this same

clauses that occur in this article of the Canons by the words    calling is applied to their hearts so that they do repent and.

"all men."                                                       believe.

   Then you obtain the following:                                   2. It, moreover, declares that it is pleasing to God that

   "The promise of the gospel is that all men shall not          the called leave the way of evil and wickedness and, in the
perish but that all men shall have everlasting life. This        way of repentance, should come to him. Again I say that-
promise, together with the command to repent and believe,        no man can do this of himself and the reprobate will and.
ought to be declared and published to all nations and to         can never do this, but this does not change the fact that


I .222                                          T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R

    they are responsible before God. And the elect,, by the

    grace of God, may know that they will not be rejected for

    it is pleasing to God that they come unto him.

       3. And to all this is added the particular promise that
    to all that believe and come to him he will give rest and                                    CHAPTERVI

    eternal life. This is not for all, but only for them that be-
    lieve and come unto him, that is, the elect.                            PRESERVATION AND PERSEVERANCE

        Besides, the Canons, from which Prof. Dekker makes                                       (Continued)
    the above quotations, teach the very opposite from that

    which he attempts to make them teach.                                 In the confessions of the- Reformed churches this truth is

       Thus, for instance, in I, 6, we read:                           especially developed in the {Canons of Dordrecht, Chapter

        "That some receive the gift of faith from God and others       V. We must remember that Arminius himself, who died in
    do not receive it, proceeds from God's eternal decree, `for        1609, did not directly deny or oppose the doctrine of the
    known unto God are all his works even from the beginning.'         perseverance of the saints. But nevertheless he expressed
    Acts 15:18.  `Who worketh all things according to the              serious doubts, and certainly wanted to have the doctrine
    counsel of his own will.' Eph. 1:ll. According to which            of the perseverance of the saints settled at a synod. And
    decree he graciously softens the hearts of the elect, how-         the same is true of the Articles of the Remonstrance. It is in
    ever obstinate, and inclines them to believe; while he             opposition to this that our fathers of Dordrecht composed
    leaves the non-elect in his just judgment in their own             the Canons. In the fifth chapter they emphasize that a final
    wickedness and obduracy.       And herein is especially dis-       falling away from grace is impossible, and.that therefore
    played the profound, the merciful and at the same time the         God preserves, and, as a fruit of that preservation, the saints
    righteous discrimination between men, equally involved in          in Christ persevere.
    ruin; or that decree of election and reprobation, revealed            In the first five articles of this Chapter V of the Canons,
    in the Word of God which, though men of perverse, impure           our fathers first of all emphasize that the remnants of sin
    and unstable minds wrest to their own destruction, yet to          are still in the members of the saints. Thus, in Article I we
    holy and pious souls affords unspeakable consolation."             read: "Whom God calls, according to his purpose, to the
                                                                       communion of his Son, 
       Or, to quote no more, in Canons II, 8 we read:                                          OLU- Lord Jesus Christ, and regener-
                                                                       ates by the Holy Spirit, he delivers also from the dominion
       "For this was the sovereign counsel and most gracious
                                                                       and slavery of sin in this life; though not altogether from
    will and purpose of God the Father that the quickening and
                                                                       the body of sin, and from the infirmities of the flesh, so
    saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should
                                                                       long as they continue in this world." Then, in Article 2, the
    extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the
                                                                       Canons teach that from the old nature that is still in them
    gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to
                                                                       spring daily sins of infirmity. But, according to Article 2,
    salvation; that is, it was the will of God, that Christ, by the
                                                                       the fact that these daily sins of infirmity reveal themselves
    blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant,
                                                                       in the Christian nevertheless causes him to be sorry over
    should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation
                                                                       sin and to humble himself before God and to fly for refuge
    and language, all those and those only, who were from
                                                                       to Christ crucified, and also constantly to press forward to
    .eternity  chosen to salvation, and given to him by the
                                                                       the goal of perfection. Then, in Article 3, the Canons teach
    Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which to-
                                                                       that by reason of these remains of indwelling sin and also
    gether with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit,
                                                                       by reason of the temptations of sin and of the world, the
    he purchased for them by his death; should purge them
                                                                       saints would certainly fall away and could not persevere,
    from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed
                                                                       if it were not for the eternal faithfulness of God, Who
    before or after believing, and having faithfully preserved
                                                                       powerfully preserves them unto the end. In Article 4 we
    them even to the end, should at last bring them free from
                                                                       are taught that "Although the weakness of the-flesh cannot
    every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own
                                                                       prevail against the power of God, who confirms and pre-
    presence forever."
                                                                       serves true believers in a state of grace, yet converts are
       This is Reformed.                                               not always so influenced and actuated by the Spirit of God,
                                                             H.H.      as not in some particular instances sinfully to deviate from

                                                                       the guidance of divine grace, so as to be seduced by, and

                                                                       comply with the lusts of the flesh." And therefore the

               All those that set their love on Him                    believers must constantly be busy in watching and prayer.

                  Shall full salvation know,                           If they neglect this, they may fall into some gross sins, as

               But wicked men and wicked ways                          is evident from the fall of David, Peter, and other saints,

                  The Lord will overthrow.                             described in the Word of God. In Article 5 the Canons still


                                          T H E   STAN.DARD   B E A R E R                                                   223


speak of the infirmities of the flesh and of its being possible    tion, does not suffer them to be tempted above that they
to fall into some gross sins.    And by these gross sins they      are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to
may sometimes lose the sense of God's favor for a time.            escape, that they may be able to bear it. I Cor. 10:13,  and
                                                                   by the Holy Spirit again inspires them with the comfort-
   However, in Article 6 the Canons already teach that
                                                                   able assurance of persevering."
the.  complete falling away from grace is impossible: "But
God, who is rich in mercy, according to His unchangeable              This certainty of their preservation and of their perse-
purpose of election, does not wholly withdraw the Holy             verance certainly does not inspire in believers a spirit of

Spirit from his own people, even in their melancholy falls;        pride, or make them carnal and profane. On the contrary,

nor suffers them to proceed so far as to lose the grace of         it is a source of humility, reverence, piety, patience in

adoption, and forfeit the state of justification, or to commit     every tribulation, and induces the believers to pray fer-
the sin unto death; nor does he permit them to be totally          vently and to constancy in suffering and in confessing the

d.eserted,  and to plunge themselves into everlasting de-          truth and rejoicing in God. And when, after they have

struction." In Article 7 the Canons explain this impossibility     backslided, they stand again in renewed confidence of

of the saints falling away from grace entirely: "For in the        perseverance, this conftdence  does not cause in them licen-

first place, in these falls he preserves in them the incorrup-     tiousness, "but it renders them much more careful and

tible seed of regeneration from perishing, or being totally        solicitous to continue in the ways of the Lord, which he

lost; and again, by his Word and Spirit, certainly and             hath ordained, that they who walk therein may maintain

effectually renews them to repentance, to a sincere and            an assurance of persevering, lest by abusing his fatherly

godly sorrow for their sins, that they may seek and obtain         kindness, God should turn away his gracious countenance

remission in the blood of the Mediator, may again experi-          from them, to behold which is to the godly dearer than

ence the favor of a reconciled God, through faith adore            life: the withdrawing whereof is more bitter than death,

his mercies, and henceforward more diligently work out             and they in consequence thereof should fall into more

their own salvation with fear and trembling."                      grievous torments of conscience." Canons V, 13. It is

   And this is further explained in Article S, and again I         especially by the preaching of the gospel and by the use

quote: "Thus, it is not in consequence of their own merits,        of the sacraments that this perseverance of faith is wrought

or strength, but of God's free mercy, that they do not totally     in the believers. And finally, "`The carnal mind is unable

fall from faith and grace, nor continue and perish finally         to comprehend this doctrine of the perseverance of the

in their _ back&dings;  which, with respect to themselves, is      saints, and the certainty thereof; which God hath more

not only possible, but would undoubtedly happen; but               abundantly revealed in his Word, for the glory of his name,

with respect to God, it is utterly impossible, since his           and the consolation of pious souls, and which he impresses

counsel cannot be changed, nor his promise fail, neither           upon the hearts of the faithful. Satan abhors it; the world

can the call according to his purpose be revoked, nor the          ridicules it; the ignorant and hypocrites abuse, and heretics

merit, intercession and preservation of Christ be rendered         oppose it; but the spouse of Christ hath always most

ineffectual, nor the sealing of the Holy Spirit be frustrated      tenderly loved and constantly defended it, as an inestimable

or obliterated."                                                   treasure; and God, against whom neither counsel nor

                                                                   strength can prevail, will dispose her to continue this
   In the following articles of Chapter V of the Canons
                                                                   conduct to the end." Canons V, 15.
they explain that believers may have the assurance of their

preservation. But this assurance does not spring from any             It is also in the nature of the cas.e that all Pelagians

peculiar revelation,    apart from the Word of God, but            and Arminians deny and combat this plainly revealed

springs from a three-fold source: in the first place, from         truth. `And the deepest cause of it all is, of course, that.

faith in the promises of God; in the second place, from the        they deny sovereign -election and reprobation. They do,

testimony of the Holy Spirit, witnessing with our spirit           indeed confess to believe in a counsel of God in respect to

that we are children of. God; and finally, in the third place,     the salvation of the elect. But it is a counsel that turns

from a serious and holy desire to preserve a good con-             upon the axis of the free will of man. God foresaw that-

science and to perform good works. Not indeed as if                some would accept the gospel, and others reject it; and the.

believers are always fully assured of their salvation and          former were elected unto faith. But God also foresaw

of their preservation and perseverance unto the end: they          that there was a way, a way of conflict and battle, between

have to struggle, and under grievous temptations they are          that beginning of salvation and its end. God foresaw that

not always aware of this full assurance of faith. Thus we          in that way many would fall away, and not persevere in the-

read in Article 11: "The Scripture moreover testifies, that        faith, while others persevere even unto the end. And only

believers in this life have to struggle with various carnal        the last, namely, those that were foreseen by God to,

doubts, and that under grievous temptations they are not           persevere unto the end, He hath chosen unto everlasting-

always sensible of this full assurance of faith and certainty      life. Even as the beginning of the way of salvation rests.

of persevering. But God, who is the Father of all consola-         in and depends upon the free will of man, so its continu--


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ante is dependent upon the same will. It is not surprising,        they are ready for the conflict, and desire his help, and
therefore, that the Arminians, holding such an erroneous           are not inactive, keeps them from falling, so that they, by

view of election, must teach a possible falling away from          no craft or power of Satan, can be misled, nor plucked out
grace. This was already suggested by Arminius himself,             of Christ's hands, according to the Word of Christ, John

according to the `Writings of Arminius," I, p. 254. There.         10:28,  `Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.'

he writes under the caption, "The Perseverance of the              But whether they are capable, through negligence, of for-

Saints," as follows: "My sentiments respecting the persever-       saking again the first beginning of their life in Christ, of

ance of the saints are that those persons who have been            again returning to this present evil world, or turning away
grafted into Christ by a true faith, and have thus been            from the holy doctrine which was delivered them, of losing
made partakers of His life-giving Spirit, possess sufficient       a good conscience, of becoming devoid of grace, that must
powers or strength to fight against Satan, sin, the world,         be more particularly determined out of the Holy Scriptures
and their own flesh, and to gain the victory over these            before we ourselves can teach it with the full persuasion

enemies, yet not without the assistance of the grace of the        of our minds."

Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ also by His Spirit assists them             It is quite evident that in the above quotation the
in all their temptations, and affords them the ready aid of        Remonstrants were true disciples of Arminius because they
His hand; and, provided they stand prepared for the battle,        literally quote from his writings, from which I quoted
implore His help, and be not wanting to themselves,                before.
Christ preserves them from falling. So that it is not possible
                                                                      It stands to reason that, like all heretics, also the
for them, by any of the cunning craftiness or power of
                                                                   Arminians appeal to Scripture for their view of the POS-
Satan, to be either seduced or dragged out of the hand of
                                                                   sibility of the falling away from grace. They refer, for
Christ." Thus far, of course, Arminius seems to teach the
                                                                   instance, to the fact that the Scriptures themselves exhort us
final perseverance of the saints. However, that this is not
                                                                   to perseverance and self-preservation. Thus, we are ex-
true the following quotation will verify:
                                                                   horted to endure unto the end, Matt. 24:13.  Eternal life is
   "But I think it is useful and will be quite necessary in        promised to them who by patient continuance in well-doing
our first convention, or synod, to institute a diligent inquiry    seek for glory and honor and immortality, Rom. 2:7. Thus
from the Scriptures, whether it is not possible for some           we are also exhorted to abide in Christ, and that whoever
individuals through negligence to desert the commence-             does not abide in Him, as the branch in the vine, is cast out,
ment of their existence in Christ, to cleave again to the          John 15:1-4.  The final glorification of the saints, according
present evil world, to decline from the sound doctrine             to Scripture, depends on the keepitig  of the faith, Col. 1:33.
which was once delivered to them, to lose a good con-              It binds upon our hearts and consciences to give the more
science, and cause divine grace to be ineffectual."                earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at

   And then, at the close of this same chapter, Arminius           any time we should let them slip, Heb. 2:l. Only if we

writes : "Though I here openly and ingenuously affirm, I           hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end,

never taught that a true believer can either totally or finally    are we made partakers of Christ, Heb. 3:14.  We must

fall away from the faith, and perish; yet I will not conceal,      labor and give diligence to enter into the rest, lest any

that there are passages in Scripture which seem to me to           man fall after the same example of unbelief, Heb. 4:ll.

wear this aspect; and those answers to them which I have           If the church of Ephesus does not repent and remember

been permitted to see, are not of such a kind as to approve        whence she is fallen and do the first works,  Christ will

themselves in all points to my understanding."                     come unto her quickly and will remove the candlestick out

   And he closes this same chapter with the following              of its place, Rev. 2:5.  The church of Thyatira  is admon-

words : "On the other hand, certain passages are produced          ished to hold fast that which she already has until the
for the contrary doctrine (of unconditional perseverance)          coming of the Lord, Rev. 2:25.       The church of Smyrna is

which are worthy of much consideration."                           exhorted to be faithful unto death; and unto those that are

   It is therefore plain that, to say the least, Arminius          faithful Christ promises the crown of life. Rev. 2:lO.  And
doubted the final perseverance of the saints.                      the church of Sardis is addressed as follows: "Remember
                                                                   therefore how thou hast received-and heard, and hold fast,
   But this same error was rather clearly expressed in the
                                                                   and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come
Remonstrance of 1610, Article V: "That those who are
                                                                   on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I
incorporated into Christ by a true faith, and have therefore
                                                                   will come upon thee." Rev. 3:3. And again, the church of
become partakers of his life-giving Spirit, have thereby
                                                                   Philadelphia is    admonished and exhorted as follows:
full power to strive against Satan, sin, the world, and their
                                                                   "Behold, .I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast,
own flesh, and to win the victory, it being well understood
                                                                   that no man take thy crown."
that it is ever through the assisting grace of the Holy

Ghost; and that Jesus Christ assists them through his Spirit          What conclusions the Remonstrants draw from these

in all temptations, extends to them his hand; and if only          passages is self-evident.    In .the  first place, they conclude

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

that seeing that Scripture exhorts us to persevere and to be      branched  that are cut off from the vine. And again, they

faithful and steadfast unto the end, it must be plain m           appeal to Hebrews 10:26-31,  where the author writes:

itself that such perseverance and steadfastness depend upon       "For if we sin wilfully  after that we have received the

our own will and exertion. Admonition presupposes not             knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice

only responsibility for that unto which we are admonished;        for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and

but this responsibility presupposes, in turn, that we who are     fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He

thus admonished also are able to follow up the contents of        that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or

the same admonition. Hence, it depends on us. In the sec-         three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose

ond place, the Arminians insist that in these Scriptural pas-     ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath tt-odden  under foot

sages the final salvation is presented as dependent upon          the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the cov-

our giving heed to and following up the admonition. Who-          enant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and

ever fails in this respect falls away and becomes reprobate;      hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we lmow

but whoever is faithful and perseveres unto the end receives      him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will

eternal life. Salvation, according to the Arminians, is always    recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall

contingent upon our act of abiding in Christ. In last in-         judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands

stance, this is an act of our own. Hence, according to them,      of the living God."                                      H.H.

it is abundantly plain that perseverance and final salvation

depend on man's own free will. And finally, these passages
of Scripture also presuppose the possibility that some do not                       MANIFOLD MERCIES

abide in Christ and are cast out.                                         God saved His people from distress

   They also appeal to those passages in Scripture that                   -4nd  led them through the wilderness;

seem to point to examples of falling away from grace. Thus                Then mountains trembled in their place,

they point to Hymenaeus and Philetus, who departed from                   The heavens were bowed before His face.

the truth, claiming that the resurrection from the dead had               With copious showers Thou didst assuage
already occurred in the past. II Tim. 2:17,  18. And they                 The thirsting of Thy heritage,
point to Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom the apostle de-                    Thy congregation dwelt secure;
livered unto Satan, that they might learn not to blaspheme.               Thou, God, art gracious to the poor.
I Tim. 1:2O.  Again, they refer to the false teachers that
arose in the church, denying that the Lord had bought                     The Lord sent forth His mighty word,
them, and that bring upon themselves swift destruction.                   And shouts of victory were heard;
II Peter 2:I. And they point to those who, after they have                The women came, a mighty throng,
escaped the pollution of the world through the knowledge                  To join the glad triumphant song.

of Christ Jesus, are again entangled in those same pollutions             When God His chosen people led,

and are overcome, and whose latter end is worse than the                  The kings and armies turned and fled;

beginning. For thus writes the apostle, "It had been better               The hosts of God victorious fought,

for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than,                And home their spoils and trophies brought.

after they have known it, to turn from the holy command-                  God's people rested, free from care,
ment delivered unto them." II Peter 3:20,  21. And the apos-              In glorious peace and beauty fair;
tle concludes: "But it is happened unto them according to                 Their mighty King did overthrow
the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit  again;              The hostile kings like driven snow.
and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."
                                                                          All mountains unto God belong,
II Peter 2:22.  Of all these examples the Arminians pre-
suppose that these apostates had been really partakers of                 But Zion's holy mountain strong
the grace of regeneration and faith, and that they lost all               Above them all the Lord loves well,
                                                                          And there He will forever dwell.
this grace through their own unfaithfulness and apostasy.

                                                                          Great hosts to holy wars have tied,
   They also refer to certain passages of Holy Writ in
                                                                          The armies of the living God;
which, according to them, the possibility of final falling
                                                                          Among them He reveals His face,
away from Christ is literally taught. Such passages are, for
                                                                          The God of justice and of grace.
instance, Romans 11, where the apostle speaks of branches
that are cut off on account of unbelief, and where he warns               Thou hast ascended up on high
the believers that they must not be highminded but rather                 And captive led captivity;
fear. If God did not spare the natural branches, they must                They come with gifts; who did rebel,
beware lest He also does not spare them. At the same time,                That with them God the Lord might dwell.

they also appeal to John 15:2,  where the Lord speaks of                                                            Psalm 68


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                                                                    and teachers gave. But the feast took on rich meaning for
     / A CLOUD OF WITNESSES /                                       them just having entered Canaan and remembering the
/                                                                   events of that night when the deliverance from bondage
                                                                    had begun. Under the sign of the lamb's blood they had

                   The Capture of Jericho                           been brought into the promised land of true rest.

                                                                       The next morning when Israel awoke, they were re-
           By fa,ith  the walls of Jericho fell down, after they    minded of how completely the history of their deliverance
           were compassed a.bout  seven da.ys.  Hebrews 11:30       was accomplished. For the first morning in many, many

      T                                                             years no manna was found lying on the ground. Hence-
       O the inhabitants of Canaan, the fact struck home with

a cold grip of terror.       They saw and heard and heard           forth they would eat only the grain and fruit of this prom-

again of Israel's passage through the river Jordan. What            ised land.

could they do against power like that? Paralyzed with                  But upon Joshua there still remained the duty of car-
fright, they turned to their cities and locked the gates and        rying on.     Israel had been brought into Canaan, but they
waited. They dared not to stir.                                     still had to spread out to fill the land. The Canaanites were

      In contrast was the exultation which the children of          still there waiting within the fortifications of their many
Israel felt. Had any one had any hesitation about entering          strong cities. They would have to be rooted and destroyed.
the land of Canaan, there was no longer any reason for it           Contemplating the difliculties  that lay before them, Joshua
to remain. With a mighty demonstration of power they had            made his way alone to examine from a distance the walls of
crossed that great river on dry ground. Not one of the              Jericho. This city was known to be the biggest and strongest
inhabitants of the land had come out to meet or challenge           city in all the land. Here would be the first and greatest
or t-$eaten  them. The fruitful fields and vineyards lay            test of Israel's power overagainst the fortified strength of
bef&e  them unprotected, ready to be taken, while the               Canaan. Into a city so strongly sealed up, how could they
Canaanites huddled with terror in their cities. They looked         ever penetrate?

upon the monument of twelve stones taken from the river's              Suddenly, as Joshua walked alone, there appeared be-
bed and marveled at the greatness of Jehovah who had                fore him a man whom he did not know with a drawn sword
performed this all.                                                 in his hand. Always the ready soldier, Joshua extended to

      At last the time had come that the reproach of Egypt          him the military challenge, "Art  thou for us, or for our
against Jehovah was removed. It was the Egyptians who               adversaries?"

first had suggested that Jehovah was leading Israel forth              The answer which came back was more than Joshua
to destroy them in the wilderness, and repeatedly this ac-          could ever have expected, "Nay; but the captain of the host
cusation had been taken up and made anew by the unbe-               of the LORD am I now come."
lieving in Israel. So widespread had this wicked reproach
                                                                       Joshua, the man of many battles, was not one to flinch
ilnally  become that Israel had been turned back to spend
                                                                    before the enemy; but before this announcement he fell in
yet forty years in the wilderness as punishment for its sin.
                                                                    complete submission upon his face. In fear and meekness
During those years of judgment even the sacraments of the
                                                                    he asked, `What saith  my lord unto his servant?"
Old Testament covenant, circumcision and the Passover,
were withheld from the children of Israel. But now God                 Neither was the meekness of Joshua misplaced. The
had returned in grace to His people, and the promise of             answering command only reaffirmed its propriety, "Loose
entering the inheritance of Abraham had been fulfilled be-          thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou
fore their very eyes. All Israel could only confess that the        standest is holy ground."    Quickly with reverence Joshua
promises of Jehovah had been faithful and true. The re-             obeyed. This was undoubtedly the angel of Jehovah God.

proach of Egypt had been removed.                                      As Joshua bowed worshipfully before his God, the most

      To mark the full return of Jehovah's covenant love, the       astounding battle plans were issued to him. Jehovah said

command was given that the Old Testament sacraments                 to Joshua, "See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and

should be restored. First all of the male members of the            the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.  And ye

nation born during the wilderness wandering were circum-            shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round

cised. This included all who were below forty years of age.         about the city once.     Thus shalt thou do six days. And

It was the strongest testimony Israel could receive that            seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of

Jehovah was keeping the covenant of Abraham their father            rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city

with them. No sooner was this accomplished than the time            seven times,. and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

was there for the keeping of the Passover. Most of the              And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast

children had never taken part in this great ceremony. They          with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the

only knew of it from the descriptions that the older people         trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and


                                          T H E   S T A N D A R D   B E A R E R                                              327


the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall    ing fee&g of uneasiness, they were able to hide it quite

ascend up every man straight before him."                          well. By the fifth and sixth day, the whole thing began to

                                                                   look somewhat humorous. They found themselves able to
   They were strange orders which Joshua issued when he            reinterpret the whole thing as a frustration on the part of
returned to the camp of Israel. Everyone realized full well        Israel and its army. The people were circling around and
that before they could proceed any farther they would have         around because they did not know what else to do. The
to break down the great and strong fortifications of Jericho.      blasting of the trumpets was only some futile attempt to
For that the orders which Joshua gave could only have              call down some enchantient  upon the city. Once again
appeared to be so much waste of time. In fact, had this            smiles were seen and laughter was heard, mocking insults
generation been as hard hearted and rebellious as their            were hurled down upon the procession of Israel. Jericho
fathers had been, they might well have refused to follow           began to feel quite confident that their walls contained
stich  foolish instructions. But they had had many years to        the answer to the power of Israel's God.
contemplate the unfaithfulness of their fathers, and they
                                                                      It was on the seventh day when all was brought to its
had themselves in recent days experienced other works of
                                                                   climax. The people of Jericho awoke that morning to the
Jehovah's power and grace which the human mind could
                                                                   sound of Israel's trumpets, for already before the dawn the
not fathom. Exactly as Joshua commanded, they prepared
                                                                   procession of Israel's people had begun to march. Around
themselves for a great religious procession. It was evidently
                                                                   the city they went; but this time they did not return to their
a procession in which the Ark of the Covenant would be
                                                                   camp; they continued to go around the city again. Again
placed in the position of honor. Before and behind the
                                                                   and again the procession proceeded around. To the people
ark would .march  the warriors of Israel, while immediately
                                                                   on the walls the whole thing began to seem almost comical.
preceding it were to go seven priests of Israel with large
                                                                   Taunts of derision were hurled down upon the children of
trumpets in their hands. The importance of the procession
                                                                   Israel and curses against their God; but never a word an-
was to center in the presence of Jehovah in the midst of
                                                                   swered back. To the children of Israel their movement was
Israel, symbolized by His ark. The trumpets as always
                                                                   as a solemn act of worship and in reverent silence they con-
were there also to announce the approach of Jehovah
                                                                   tinued on their way.     The wickedness of their enemies
God.
                                                                   would not distract them.

   One can well imagine the tension which filled the city             It was then on the seventh day when late in the day the
of Jericho on the day when first this great and mighty             seventh encirclement of the city had taken place, that sud-
procession approached the walls of their city. Had it been         denly the feet of Israel ceased in their marching. As the
any other army, they might have considered it more lightly.        Canaanites watched in astonishment, the priests lifted their
After all, the walls of their city were known to be quite          trumpets to their lips, giving forth with a mighty, resound-
impenetrable. But somehow this did not afford its usual            ing blast. It was only then that the lips of Israel, so long
comfort. They had heard and seen too much of the God of            silent, opened and broke forth with a great shout. And the
Israel to have much feeling of security left. They watched         mighty walls of Jericho, so long impenetrable, began to
the marching of Israel's army fearful lest at any moment           waver, to crumble, to topple amid screams of anguish and
some new and miraculous power should suddenly consume              clouds of dust. With a leap and a shout of victory the army
them. First it was the blast of the seven trumpets that struck     of Israel arose and scrambled into the midst of the city..
fear into their hearts; and then there was the solemn, silent      There was none to fight; there was none to resist; the vie-
march of the men of Israel that was so disconcerting; every-       tory was the Lord's; the strength of the land of Canaan.
thing was so strange and mysterious, far beyond anything           had been crushed by the miracle of His power.
they had ever experienced. All the while that vast army
                                                                      When finally the clouds of dust had blown away and.
circled their walls the people were troubled, and only after
                                                                   one could look about to examine the ruins, there was one-
it returned back to Israel's camp did anyone have any sort
                                                                   thing that immediately attracted attention. There was one-
of a feeling of relief.
                                                                   small part of the wall still standing. On it was built a.

   But then again the next day it began all over again.            house, and from it there dangled a heavy cord of scarlet..
Once again the inhabitants watched. Again their hearts             Nad any looked 60 that window during the encircling march.
shuddered at the sound of those trumpets, and they felt            of Israel, they had surely seen a face covered with hope-
uneasy before the silent and mysterious march of the               and confidence instead of the fear and derision upon all the
people. But this time it was not so new, and they were able        others. This was the home of Rahab. In accord with the-
to relax more quickly.                                             promise of the spies, it`had been preserved, together with.
                                                                   those who were in it. By faith Rahab had been preserved.
   When on the third and fourth day the same thing was             from the destruction that had fallen upon her own city.
repeated, the people of Jericho could almost begin to act

somewhat indifferent. Although they still had an underly-                                                                  B.W--

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


                                                                     &xtrine  of godliness. Apart from this, man is without God

                                                                     and without hope in the world. He is God-less. He is very

                                                                     religious outside of Christ, as is attested by all the pagan

                                                                     religions. All try to find God if ever they might touch Him.

                                                                     But it is all ungodliness. The secret is not really known to
                 Exposition of I Timothy                             them. For Christ is the manifestation of God, and He is

                                                                     justified in the conscience of every man who hears Him
                         (I Timothy 6:6-10)
                                                                     that He is God in the flesh, Immanuel. Angels sang of Him

                                 a.                                  in Bethlehem-Ephratha, and they visited Him upon earth

                                                                     at various times (did they not ascend and descend upon
   We noticed in our former essay that Paul condemns very            Him? Tohn  1:51),  and they ever stoop to behold Him in His
severely and justly those who teach another doctrine than            suffering and the glory to follow. I Peter 1:12.  And the
what Paul has taught concerning the relationship of slave            apostles being sent out and empowered from on high
and master in this present world as sanctified in Christ our         preached God as manifested among the nations of the earth,
Lord. He dares to say that only his teaching is that ac-             Him in the midst of the world. And the end of this mani-
cording to godliness. It is the norm of all godliness in the         and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed in
social relationships.     Those who teach otherwise, refusing        festation of the mystery of godliness is &at God will be
to give heed to the sound words of Christ Jesus, are puffed          manifested in Christ in the final glorification in the church
up and they know nothing; such are men of corrupted                  in the New Jerusalem.
minds; they are bereft of the truth in Jesus. Yes, they                 Such is the objective mystery of godliness. And it is
speak of a life of godliness.          They have only the form of    "great." It is great because God is great. He is greit in
it, however, denying its very power. They think of godli-            power, wisdom and grace, and His greatness is unsearch-
ness only as a way of gain, that is, of advancement eco-             able. Now any teaching which is "according to godliness"
nomically, socially, in this present world. They equate pure         must fit with this great work of God. Only they who draw
worldly advancement with godliness.                                  the lines straight in doctrine, in the great historical facts

       From such Timothy must depart. He must give them              of the Christian religion, can draw them straight also in

no ear, nor must he in any way condone them. On the                  matters of a Christian life.
contrary he must teach what true godliness is and instruct              It ought to be observed that the Christian life too is
men and women to walk in godly contentment. Wherefore                denominated "godliness." Such a person who lives a godly
we read in verses 6-10: "But  godliness with contentment             life lives this in confession and walk, and in that order. Of
is great ga,in.  For we brought noth,ing  into this world, (and      such a person we say: He is sound in doctrine and upright
if is,) cef-tain  we can carry nothing out. And having food          in walk. Should one not be sound in doctrine, he cannot
and raiment let us Z?e therewith content. But they that will         be upright in walk.      Only .they  who confess that great
be rich fall into temptation and snare, a,nd into ma.ny  fool-       mystery of godliness walk in this godliness.
ish and h~@~l  k~sts,  which drown m.en in destruction and              It seems to us that the term "godliness" must be taken
perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil:            in our Scripture passage both in the objective as well as
which while some coveted kifter, they have erred from the            the subjective sense of the term, with emphasis on the
faith, and pierced themselves through with manly sorrows."           latter. It is then tantamount to a walk in thankfulness, or
       What should by all means not go unnoticed is Paul's           as Paul phrases it in I Tim.  15 "Now the end of the com-
usage of the term "godliness," particularly in this first            mandment is love out of a pure heart, and of a good con-
epistle to Timothy. With this end in mind-that it shall              science, and of faith unfeigned." This is the death-blow to
not go lmnoticed  -we propose to give a little more atten-           all moralism and legalism; both are condemned. For we
tion than usual to the term in Scripture in general. Thus            must not forget that godliness is placed by Paul in the com-
we shall be in a more favorable position to see why godli-           posite of Christian virtues in verse 11, which must be
ness is the secret of real and permanent gain, quite contrary        pursued.    These virtues are righteousness, godliness, faith,
to the false and sinful notion of those who are in a con-            love, patience, meekness. From this is it evident that "god-
stant state, up to the present moment, of being bereft from          liness" is walking in a righteousness consisting in the keep-
the truth.                                                           ing of the commandments from a pure conscience in Christ

       There probably is no more comprehensive and massive           Jesus. It is a having died unto law that we may live unto
~statement  of what constitutes real godliness than what Paul        God. It proceeds from true faith and is motivated by the
writes in this same letter, chapter 3:16.  He speaks of the          love of God. Then we sufEer all manner of evil from evil
mystery of godliness, that is, what God's revealed meaning,          men, but we are, notwithstanding, filled with a mildness
content and purpose is in godliness. Apart from Christ's             of disposition, a gentleness of spirit which is called meek-
incarnation - God's manifestation in the flesh - there is no         ness. For the meek shall inherit the earth.

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


   Such is practical godliness.                                      What is to be a component part of godliness in this evil
                                                                  and unjust world of men? It is the ingredient which Paul
   Such is a manifestation of a living faith which confesses
                                                                  calls "contentment." And even as godliness is a gift of grace,
the great mystery of godliness as signaled above.
                                                                  so it is with contentment. Contentment in Scripture is a
   But-there is more to be said about godliness. Godliness        far cry from the contentment of the pagan. He is never con-
is a gift from Christ, who is God in the flesh.' Christ has a     tent. He may try to fabricate a certain contentment which
divine power by which He gives unto His own all things            he calls self-sufficiency. Then if he is a Stoic, he may try
that pertain unto life and godliness. We have this godliness      to be content in denying the reality of hardships and afflic-
by knowing Christ with a living and an experiential knowl-        tion as affecting his soul and life. Only God, however, is
edge. We must know Him as the One who has called us               self-sufficient. He is the Most High God. He is great; He
irresistibly to His great glory and virtue. Godliness is that     alone is content in Himself. But our contentment must
which is promised unto us in Christ Jesus. One who is             always be a contentment of godliness which learns to kiss
godly is a partaker of the ,divine  nature; he is conformed       the rod of affliction because we know that all the evil and
to the image of God. II Peter 1:2. The godly man has              poverty which God sends us in this life does not and can-
escaped from the corruption which is in the world through         not separate us from the love of God, but must needs be a
lust. He has the law of God inscribed in his heart; he is a       means in God's hand to work for our eternal salvation and
partaker of the New Testament in Christ's blood.                  glory. What greater gain could any mortal have than this?!

   Godliness is associated very closely in Scripture with the     Yes, such godliness which has in it the ingredient of con-
virtues of patience and brotherly kindness and the great          tentment is great gain!

love which energizes faith. Now patience is a gift of God            It is that which is promised for this life and the life to
which is received and learned in affliction for Christ's sake,    come. I Tim. 453. In this life it is the assurance of eternal
and is the power to bear evil in the hope of the final reward     glory, and that nothing shall be lacking us. The Lord with-
with Christ which He has promised to those who love Him.          holds no good thing from them who walk uprightly. All
And the godly man is sweetly reasonable. He does not              these things are added unto us. The contented person is not
avenge himself but is mindful of the Word of God: the             busy trying to attain a false Utopia, an imaginary island, the
Lord will judge His people!                                       ideal of a perfect social, political life here on earth. He

                                                                  knows that Christ's kingdom is not out of this world; he is
   Suppose now that a Christian is in the position of a
                                                                  in the world yet he is not of her. The perfect kingdom will
slave to an unjust and exacting master. How is his godli-
                                                                  be in glory of the new heaven and the new earth where
ness revealed? By throwing off the yoke in revolution, or
                                                                  righteousness shall dwell.
by striking for higher wages, or by waging a "class struggle,"

improving the conditions in the world by revolution to               Such contentment is born from godliness which sings of

better one's lot, or taking counter measures to maintain          the great mystery of God in Christ Jesus. He has Christ in

one's freedom? The false teachers in Paul's day would ad-         him, the hope of glory. He is a child of the King and will

vocate such a policy in the name of godliness! Then one           presently be joint-heir in reality with Christ over all things.

begins to preach a social or anti-social gospel. The virtues      He lives by sound and health-affording words; his soul is

of meekness and -patience are here as unknown as they             healthy in thankfulness. He richly enjoys what God grants

were in the vocabulary of the Greeks and Romans, world            him in this life, ending in the Giver in thanksgiving, and

conquerors. By their fruits ye shall know the false prophets,     he knows that presently he shall have all things.

even though they cry very loudly: Lord, Lord, have we not            Evaluating this life, he sees that he brought nothing
cast the demons of slavery out this world? But Christ shall       into this world. He did not need to. Adam found creation
say: Depart from Me, ye workers of iniquity. I never knew         ready for him and waiting, and so do we. And when our
you. You never did champion the cause of-the Son of God           threescore years and ten are ended "death is the leveler of
manifested in the flesh, seen of angels . . . and taken up in     all men"; the rich and the poor are alike. None take or are
glory! Matt. 7:15-24.  The number of those who teach ex-          able to take anything along of all the riches they have car-
actly such a social gospel in our day from the pulpits and        ried on one heap. God will see to it that -whether nations
cathedras  are literally legion when they must stand up and       or individuals have it-it will again be scattered to be
be counted, and their number is increasing like mushrooms         gathered, never to be taken along out of this world. How
even in churches which once were the salt of the earth.           instructive is here the parable of the rich man! Soul, thou
These have lost their savor and are good for nothing but          hast laid away for many days. Take thine ease: eat, drink
to be cast out; they are deceivers and being deceived!            and be merry! But that night his soul was required from

   Such is the world of the anti-Christian church!                him. Whose shall these things be?

   It is the broad way that leads to destruction; many               But the man of godly contentment is rich in God!
there be who go in thereat!                                                                                                 G.L.


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                                                                       lets, Him do so? Or the man who preaches a love of God
                                                                       that leaves  nothing to chance, that will not let us go and

                                                                       conquers us before we can so much as will that salvation?

                                                                       Who preaches a love that is sweet and tender and wonder-

                                                                       ful? The man who proclaims a well-meant offer, an invita-
                 TheLoveThat  Conquers                                 tion, a tender plea and a lbve  that begs you to let it save

       The love of God is a favourite subject in the church            you? Or the man who speaks of a love that calls irresistibly

world of today.                                                        and takes hold of that door of our heart, opens it and enters

       Hundreds upon hundreds of hymns are written that                it before we have the desire to be saved? Who loves more

speak of the love of God. There is one in particular that              deeply? the Saviour who merely offers to save you, who

expresses the idea in our theme, be it from the negative               promises to save you upon the condition that you declare

point of view. Its first line is addressed to that love of God         yourself willing to be saved? Or the Saviour who reaches

in the words "0 Love that will not let me go." That is a               down and saves you even from your stubborn, wicked heart

love that conquers.     And that is the kind of love that has          that does not want salvation?

value and comfort for the child of God.                                   That love of God is wonderful! Let us say it again a
       Sermons by the thousands are preached to extol that             little differently to appreciate that fact! That love of God
love of God; and the texts in Scripture that speak of that             is full of wonder! That love of God causes a wonder to take
love of God are used over and over as the basis for such               place. It pierces the hardest heart. It softens the heart of
sermons. Everyone knows John 3:16.  One is not at all                  stone. It never takes no for an answer, for it does not ask
surprised to find it on billboards along the road, on the              us whether we want to be saved until it has already ptit the
trunk of the automobile ahead and in almost any corner                 d&ire  for salvation in us.    "It is God," Paul writes to the
where the public may see it.                                           Philippians, "that worketh in you to will and to do." Philip-

       Missionaries use it as their word of approach to the up-        pians 2:13.  GOD works in us to will.  God works in us to

churched. "God loves you," they will say to all whom they              WILL.  The will for salvation does not come from us. it is

meet. "We preach a God Who loves all men." And those                   not in that heart to accept a Jesus Who stands outside

churches which will discipline the wayward,`insist that the            knocking to get in with His love. Listen! By nature we are

doctrinal I's be dotted and T's be crossed are rebuked for             spiritually dead! DEAD we are by nature. The man inside

their lack of that love of God.                                        that heart on the other side of the door where Jesus is sup-

       But, O! how often is that love of God sold short!               posed to be knocking is DEAD. Will he open the door?

       So often it is presented as a love that WILL let me go.         Will he even hear the call of Jesus to let Him come in and

       A loving Saviour stands at the door pleading in love to         save? A love that desires to save the dead but lets the dead
be let in. In His wonderful love He wants to save us, to               go because they do not hear and open up, is a love that
save everybody. And yet He turns away after we have                    does not conquer and is quite worthless to the dead sinner.
repeatedly turned Him away. His love was not great                     But so great and so wonderful is that love of God that it
enough to stay there and make us let Him in. He loves, but             performs the wonder of making us alive spiritually by enter-
our hate has overcome His love. He loves, but I-Iis love               ing it before we even hear the call.

cannot conquer our rebellious hearts. He loves, but it is a             We said that "Jesus is supposed to be knbcking" at the
powerless love. He loves, but it is a love that can and does           door of the heart of a dead man, because Revelation 3:20
after our death change to hate and put us in hell. It is a             does not speak of Jesus knocking at the door of man's heart
love that lets us go to our ruin. 0, indeed, it is a love that         but at the door of the luke-warm church at Laodicea. And
sent Christ all the way to hell, but still after all this sacrifice    men are urged to repent and be zealous. Jesus is not speak-
and grief it lets us go, if we do not accept it before it is too       ing here to a group of heathens who never heard of Him
late.                                                                  before. This -is an established church. He is speaking to
       Such is not the love of God of which the Scriptures             chz&~,  members. 0, it is a corrupt church. It is a spirit-

speak.                                                                 ually indifferent church. Christ is not preached there any-

       Pray tell me, which is the greater love of God, the love        more. And the congregation is no longer fed with Christ,

of the Arminian which a man can lose, which can frustrate              the bread of life. People cannot sup with Christ there;

and make void? or the love of the Scripture that conquers              and He does not feed His people there because the "angel"
the proud heart of man and will not let him go but flows               - that is minister who is supposed to be God's messenger -

into that heart and makes it will salvation? Who is it really          does not preach the Word of God but instead men's philos-

that preaches the love of God? Who really understands the              ophies. But there are some of His elect people even in that

beauty and wonder of John 3:16?  Is it that man that main-             church, regenerated children of God whom Christ loves.

tains that God watlts  to save all and loves all men head for          For note that He states in verse 19, `As many as I love, I

head and soul for soul but is not able to do so until man              rebuke and chasten." To these He calls as He stands out-

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


side of that church-for He will not fellowship with e&l          a man  go. It tyill  let him down. It will meet him halfway

doers or come into a gathering where men are not gathered        and perhaps a little farther, but it is not a love that will go

in His name, that is, He will not come there to sup with         all the way and save to the uttermost. It will come all the

His people and feed them with the truth. And because by          way to the heart but will not enter it. He is not after all
far and large the bulk of those church members are spirit-       the alpha and omega, the first and the last in our salvation.

ually dead and therefore cannot even hear Him call, He           We are first. We are before that love of God. 0, that love

calls, "If any man hear my voice and open the door (of the       may be eternal. God had it in His heart long before the
church), I will come in to him and will sup with him, and        foundation of the world, but my desire for salvation was
he with me." It takes living men to hear and living men          and must be in my heart before His love could save me!
to open the door. It takes men whom the love of God has             Why does a man want to believe that kind of a "gospel"?
already conquered and not men that this love of God would        which is no gospel. What good news is it to me to be told
like to conquer. God's love is not frustrated and hindered       that God's love will let me go? What comfort do I find in
by and dependent upon the whims and fancies of totally           being told that although God so loved the world that He
depraved men. And-  opening the door then means casting          gave His only begotten Son, God's love for me can do me
out that false teacher, denying him the pulpit, deposing his     no good until I let Him? God does not love me enough to
carnal office bearers who have no interest in the things of      overpower    my carnal will.      He loves me enough to
Christ and His kingdom, whom neither the corruption in           offer salvation, to promise it conditionally, to invite me to
the church disturbs nor the truth as it is in Christ delights    His kingdom, to coax and plead with me, but it will let me
but are luke-warm on all spiritual matters. The door of the      perish, if I ado not find in my soul enough love for Him to
church has been closed to Christ. The Consistory has made        give Him the green light to go ahead and save me. Why
it plain that Christ is not to come into their services. That    does a man want to believe that and then call that the
is, a Christ with a virgin birth, with an atoning death, with    gospel, good news?
                                                                    Nav, Arminianism presents a God Who makes salvation
a divine nature, with a call to spiritual separation and an
                                                                 possible  but does not save. Calvinism presents a God Whose
holy walk of consecration to God may not get in. He is
                                                                 love is so great that He supplies every single bit of the sal-
never preached but ridiculed and called an impostor. The
                                                                 vation He has decreed for His elect. The will to be saved
fear of God is not in that church. And some have kept that
                                                                 HE supplies. He provided the .Christ, the cross, the Spirit,
door closed by not demanding that this modern, blasphe-
                                                                 the pardon and glory. But He also provides that will in
mous, God-insulting so-called social reformer, friend of the
                                                                 His elect whereby they become the "whosoever" that will
masses, social mixer be cast off the pulpit and out of his
                                                                 and the "`whosoever" that believe in this Son that God sent
office in the church of Jesus Christ.
                                                                 to save us. The angel said .to Joseph, "Thou shalt call His
   Christ, according to Rev. 3:19,  in His love rebukes and.     name Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins."
chastens. How would you explain that part of the text when       He did not say that He would like, would try, would offer
you speak of Christ standing at the door of the heart of         to save. As God's messenger he said that Jesus would save.
man pleading to get in.2 Does He rebuke before He knocks         Which, I pray tell me, which is the greater love? Which is
or after you open the door? Or does He rebuke you for not        the better news, the gospel? That God's love is so great that
opening the door.?    What relation is there between that        He wants to save but leaves it up to the individual whether
rebuke and His love? And what does the repenting and             he will open the door of his heart and receive this salva-
being zealous have to do then with the whole picture? It         tion? Or that God's love is so great that it never takes "No"
is so easy to pick a sentence at random, isolate it from the     for an answer and fills the elect child of God with the desire
context and from the rest of Scripture and prove any point       to be saved? Is it a love that will not let me go? Or is it a
of false doctrine you prefer that way. Without giving any        love that lets go after a period of fruitless pleading and
exegesis and simply quoting this very text of Revelation         begging? Is it a love that can and does terminate the mo-
3:20,  "proof" can be given that the power of the Risen and      ment of man's death? Or is it a love that knows no end?
glorified Christ is not equal to that of the sinner. "Proof"     The Arminian of every hue must believe in a changeable
can be given that Matthew was in error when he quoted            God and must admit that there is a limit to the love of God.
Jesus as saying, "All power is given me in heaven and in         It is powerful and strong and gentle till the man dies; and
earth."    Or even that Jesus misspoke Himself when, after       then suddenly in all the hate of a righteous God He inflicts
His resurrection, He claimed that all this power was given       all the torment of hell! Can you really of such a love sing -
to Him in heaven and on earth. Matthew 28:X For &rely                         The love of God is greater far
if He has not the power - either strength or authority -to                    Than tongue or pen can evev  tell:
enter the heart of one He loves and loves to save, His arm                    It goes beyond the highest  star,
is shortened and His power too little. He knocks because                      And rea.ches  to the bwest hell.
He has no right to enter. He wants to save but He cannot            Jesus says, "No man can come unto me, except the
because of mighty man.1 The love of God in Christ will let                           (Continued on page 237)


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                                                                     b&efit  by His death. And one of the necessary conditions

         Contending For The Faith                                    He declared to be baptism. So, if an infant dies without
i                                                                    baptism, it lacks the application to itself of the benefits of
                                                                     Christ. And the possibility remains, therefore, that a person

          The Church and the Sacraments                              for whom Christ died may never be saved.
                                                                              According to Rome, the sacrament of baptism is the

          THE TIME OF THE REFORMATION                                sacrament of regeneration. In this connection we wish to

                                                                     quote what Rome has set forth in the Canons and Decrees
                VIEWS ON THE CHURCH                                  of the Council of Trent in its fifth session concerning orig-

                                                                     inal sin, under the heading: Decree Concerning Original
               BAPTISM (ROMISH VIEW)
                                                                     Sin.

     Rome, we noted in our preceding article, contends that,                  That our Catholic faith, ttithout which it is impossible
whereas the Protestant conception of the sacrament of bap-           to please God (-notice,  please, how Rome here distorts the
tism is superficial, its own conception of this sacrament is         text of Heb. 11:6. Rome speaks here of Catholic faith,
rich and profound. The Canons of the Council of Trent on             without which it is impossible to please God, whereas
the subject of baptism are brief and comprehensive. The              Heb. 11:6  simply speaks of faith without which we cannot
Canons anathematize those who teach that Christian bap-              please God - H.V. ), may, errors being purged away, con-
tism has no superior efficacy to that of John the Baptist;           tinue in its own perfect and spotless integrity, and that the
that true, natural water is not essential in the administration      Christian people may not be ca&ed about with every wind
of this sacrament, or that the language of our Lord in John          of doctrine; whereas that old serpent, the perpetual enemy
3:5, "Except a man be born of water, etc.," is to be under-          of mankind, amongst the very many evils with which the
stood metaphorically; that heretical baptism if performed            Church of God is in these our times troubled, has also
in the right way and with the intention of doing what the            stirred up not only new, but even old, dissensions touching

Church does is not valid; that baptism is a matter of in-            ori.ginal  sin, and the remedy thereof; the sacred and holy,
difference, and not necessary to salvation; and also those           oecumenical  and general Synod of Trent - lawfully as-
who deny the propriety, necessity, or efficacy of infant bap-        sembled in the Holy Ghost, the three same legates of the
tism.                                                                Apostolic See presiding therein -wishing now to come to

     Rome believes that baptism is absolutely necessary unto         the reclaiming of the erring, and the confirming of the wav-
salvation. In fact, it renders the efficacy of the cross of          ering -following the testimonies of the sacred Scriptures,
Calvary and the blood of the Lamb of God as dependent                of the holy Fathers, of the most approved councils, and the
upon this sacrament.      Of interest, in this connection, is        judgment and consent of the Church itself, ordains, con-
what the Fathers Rumble and Carty have to say about the              fesses, and declares these things touching the said original
significance of Christ's redemptive work upon the cross. In          sin :

answer to Question 807 in Volume III of their Radio Re-                       1. If any one does not confess that the first man, Adam,

plies, "Was Christ's death for the remissions of sins use-           when he transgressed the commandment of God in Para-

less?," they answer as follows: "NO. That is evident from            dise, immediately lost the holiness and justice wherein he

the fact that some are saved through that death who would            had been constituted; and that he incurred, through the

not otherwise be saved. Here let me explain the character            offense of that prevarication, the wrath and indignation of

of Christ's redemptive work. By his sin, Adam forfeited for          God, and consequently death, with which God had pre-

himself and all his posterity any right to heaven. And we            viously threatened him, and, together tith  death, captivity

are all born in spiritual bankruptcy as far as our inheritance       under his power who thenceforth had the empire ,of death,

of eternal supernatural happiness is concerned. Now Christ           that is to sagI,  the devil,  and that the entire Adam, through

died to atone for the sin of Adam, and make it possible              that offense of prevarication, was changed, in body and

for men to recover their right to heaven. But He Himself             soul, for the worse; let him be anathema.

laid down the conditions by which our souls would benefit                2. If any one asserts, that the prevarication of Adam

by His death. And one of the necessary conditions He                 injured himself alone, and not his posterity; and that the

declared to be Baptism. If an infant dies without Baptism,           holiness and justice, received of God, which he lost, he

therefore, it lacks the application to itself of Christ's merits.    lost for himself alone, and not for us also; for that he,

But that does not mean that His death was useless in                 being defiled by the sin of disobedience, has only transfused

itself. The soul in whose case the conditions appointed by           death and pains of the .body into the whole human race,

Christ are not verified, fails to benefit by the all-sufficient      but not sin -also, which is the death of the soul; let him be

pri.ce  He has paid." Hence, Christ merely died to make it           anathema: -whereas he contradicts the apostle who says:

possible for men to recover their right to heaven. But He            By one mnn  sin entered into the world, and                  sin death,
                                                                                                                        112~  

Himself laid down the conditions by which souls would                atzd  so death passed upon all men, ilz whom all have sinned.


                                         T H E   S T A N D A R D .   B E A R E R                                           233


   3. If any one asserts, that this sin of Adam -which `in       have striben ZawfullzJ  shall be crowned. This concupis-
its origin is one, and being transfused into all by propaga-     cence, which the apostle sometimes calls sin, the holy

tion, not by imitation, is in each one as his own - is taken     Synod declares that the Catholic Church has never under-
away either by the powers of human nature, or by any             stood it to be called sin, as being truly and properly sin in
other remedy than the merit of the tine  mediator, our Lord      those born again, but because it is of sin, and inclines to
Jeszcs Christ, who hath reconciled us to God in his own          sin. And if any one is of a contrary sentiment, let him be

blood,  being made unto  us justice, sanctifkxtion,  and re-     anathema.

demption; or if he denies that the said merit of Jesus              This same holy Synod doth nevertheless declare, that
Christ is applied, both to adults and to infants, by the         it is not its intention to include in this decree, where
sacrament of baptism rightly administered in the form of         original sin is treated of, the blessed and immaculate
the Church; let him be anathema: For there is no other           Virgin Mary, the mother of God; but that the constitutions
name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be               of Pope Sixtus IV, of happy memory, are to be observed,
.~avecl.  Whence that voice: Behold the lamb of God, behold      under the pains contained in the said constitutions, which
him who taketh  a.way  the sins of the world; and that other:    it renews.
As mamy  as have been ba.pized, have put  on Christ.
                                                                    The last paragraph of this quotation from the Canons

   4. If any one denies, that infants, newly born from           and Decrees of the Council of Trent is certainly contrary

their mothers' wombs, even though they be sprung from            to all the teachings of Holy Writ and also in conflict with

baptized parents, are to be baptized; or says that they are      other decrees as set forth by this council. The synod's

baptized indeed for the remission of sins, but that they         doctrine on original sin does not apply to the virgin Mary.
derive nothing of original sin from Adam, which has need         But, why not? Elsewhere, in these decrees and canons,

of being expiated by the laver of regeneration for obtaining     the Romish Church declares that children born of parents

life everlasting -whence it follows as a consequence, that       who have been baptized and are therefore delivered from

in them the form of baptism, for the remission of sins, is       original sin are not therefore free from original sin. Upon

understood to be not true, but false - let him be anathema.      what possible basis can it be true that Mary should be

For that which the apostle has said, By one man sin entered      exempt from this original sin? We know, of course, that

into the world, and by sin death, and so death passed upon       there is not the slightest Scriptural proof to substantiate

all men, in whom all ha,ve sinned, is not to be understood       this position of Rome.

otherwise than as the Catholic Church spread everywhere             Secondly, in many of these decrees and ~canons  the
hath always understood it. For, by reason of this rule of        Roman Catholic church refers to Scriptures that speak of
faith, from a tradition of the apostles, even infants, who       baptism. Again and again they quote John 5:3 which
could not as yet cqmmit  any sin of themselves, are for          speaks of a man being born of water and blood. And
this cause truly baptized for the remission of sins, that in     invariably the Romish Church interprets this "water" or
them that may be cleansed away by regeneration, which            "baptism" as referring to the sacrament of baptism. With
they have contracted by generation. For, unless a man be         this, as such, we have no dispute. We will concede that,
born again of water a,nd the Holy Ghost, he can n.ot  enter      when the Scriptures speak of baptism, there is a reference
into the kingdom of God.                                         to the sacrament of baptism. But we surely maintain that

   5. If any one denies, that, by the grace of our Lord          the sacrament is meant only because it is a symbol of the

Jesus Christ, which is conferred in baptism, the guilt of        real and true baptism which takes place upon the cross

original sin is remitted; or even asserts that the whole of      of Calvary and through the Spirit of .our  Lord Jesus Christ.

that which has the true and proper nature of sin is not          In support of this we wish to quote one passage from the

taken away; but says that it is only rased, or not imputed;      Scriptures, Romans 6:3-4: "Know ye not, that so many of

let him be anathema. For, in those who are born again,           us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His

there is nothing that God hates; because, There &s `no           death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into

condemnation to those who'are t&y  buried together with          death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by

Christ by baptism into death; who walk not a.ccorcling  to       the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in

the flesh, but, putting of  the old man, and putting on the      newness of life." That this text refers primarily to Christ's

new who is created according to God, are made innocent,          death upon the cross and that we were baptized then into

immaculate, pure, harmless, and beloved of God, h&s              His death surely is evident from verse 4. Notice, please,

indeed of God, but joint heirs z&h Christ; so that there is      that our being buried with Him by baptism into death
nothing whatever to retard their entrance into heaven.           precedes what we read concerning His being raised from

But this holy synod confesses there remains concupiscence,       the dead by the glory of the Father. Hence, this baptism

or an incentive (to sin); which, whereas it is left for our      precedes His resurrection, and took place, therefore, at His

exercise, can not injure those who consent not, but resist       death.
manfully by the grace of Jesus Christ; yea, he who shall                                                                 H.V.

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


                                                                                 our Confession sets forth the proof for the preceding article.

       The Voice of Our Fatheis                                                  And the very first fact that draws our attention is this rather
                                                                                 unusual procedure of devoting an entire lengthy article to

                                                                                 proving such a basic and, we would say, almost axiomatic

                                                                                 truth. I think we may say that if our Confession proceeded
               The Belgic Confession                                             in this manner in regard to all the rest of the articles of

                                                                                 faith, there would be a good many more than thirty-seven
                          ARTICLE  IX                                            articles, and our Confession would have become a very

                                                                                 lengthy and ponderous document. Indeed, Scriptural proof
             Ail this  we know, as well from the testimonies of
                                                                                 is also offered in other articles of onr Confession; but here
          holy writ, as from their operations, and chiefly by those
          we feel in ourselves. The testimonies of the Holy Scrip-               we see the unusual procedure of devoting a separate article
          tures, that teach us to believe this Holy Trinity are                  merely to the proof of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

          written in many places of the Old Testament, which are                 Besides, we are probably inclined to think that this truth of
          not so necessary to enumerate, as to choose them out                   the Holy Trinity is so basic and so generally accepted as a
          with discretion and judgment. In Genesis, chap. 1:2G,
                                                                                 most fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith that it is
          27, God saith: Let us make man in our image, after our
          likeness, etc. So God created man in his own image,                    hardly necessary to take pains to prove it. No one can be
          male and female created he them.            A n d   G e n .   3:22.    called a Christian, and no church can be called a Christian
          Behold the man is become as one of us. From this                       church, that denies that God is one in Being and three in
          saying, let us make man in our image, it appears that                  Persons. Hence, why all this bother?
          there are more persons than one in the Godhead; and

          when he saith,  God created, he signifies the unity. It                   This leads us to state some of the reasons which, in our
          is true he doth not say how many persons there are,
                                                                                 opinion, occasioned an article of this kind. In the first place,
         but that, which appears to us somewhat obscure in the
          Old Testament, is very plain in the New. For when                      there is the obvious reason that just exactly because this
          our Lord was baptized in Jordan, the voice of the                      doctrine of the Trinity is the most fundamental doctrine of
          Father was heard, saying, This is my beloved Son: the                  the Christian faith, it was necessary then, and it still is
          Son was seen in the water, and the Holy Ghost appeared                 necessary today, that this doctrine be very plainly founded
          in the shape of a dove. This form is also instituted by
                                                                                 upon Scripture, and that the faith of the church and of its
          Christ in the baptism of all believers. Baptize all nations,
          in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the                  members should be very articulate on this score. I would

          Holy Ghost. In the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel                   emphasize this, especially because of the very common
         thus addressed Mary, the mother of our Lord, The                        tendency to relegate the truth of the Trinity to the realm of
          Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the                  those difficult, obstruse, and abstract theological matters
         Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also that holy
                                                                                 which we can never understand anyway and which we can
         thing, which shall be born of thee, shall be called the
          Son of God: likewise, the grace of our Lord Jesus                      better accept without going into them too much. Not only

          Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the                  should this article of faith be very clearly set forth in our
          Holy Ghost be with you. And there are three that                       Confession, but it should also be very firmly fixed in the
         bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the
                                                                                 minds and hearts of the children of God. Every child of
        Holy Ghost, and these three are one. In all which
         places we are fully taught, that there are three persons                God should be able to give an account of his faith in the
         in one only divine essence. And although this doctrine                  Holy Trinity on the basis of the Word of God. This is
         far surpasses all human understanding, nevertheless, we                 highly necessary if the church is ever to maintain and pre-
         now believe it by means of the Word of God, but                         serve this truth. And let me add: this necessity is a practical
          expect hereafter to enjoy the perfect knowledge and
                                                                                 one. The denial of the Trinity is more common than is
         benefit thereof in Heaven. Moreover, we must observe
         the particular offices and operations of these three                    sometimes thought. And the Christian should be able to

         persons towards             The Father is called our Creator,           stand his ground when he comes into contact with these
                             us. 
         by his power; the Son is our Savior and Redeemer, by                    deniers of the Trinity. In the second place, I would suggest
         his blood; the Holy Ghost is our Sanctifier, by his dweli-              a historical reason for this painstaking proof. Our Confes-
         ing in our hearts. This doctrine of the Holy Trinity, hat11
         always been defended and maintained by the true                         sion belongs to Reformation times. And one of the primary
        Church, since the time of the apostles, to this very                     aims of the Confession was to show, over against Xome  and

         day, against the Jews, Mohammedans, and some false                      its ecclesiastical and political adherents, that the Reformed
         Christians and heretics, as Marcion,  Manes, Praxeas,                   believers were not a sect, were not heretics, but held to the
         Sabellius, Samosatenus, Arius, and such lilce, who have
                                                                                 Christian faith. And there is no truth, as far as the history
         been justly condemned by the orthodox fathers. There-
         fore, in this point, we do willingly receive the three                  of the church is concerned, that is more ecumenic  in char-
         creeds, namely, that of the  Apostles, of Nice, ancl of                 acter, that is more the heritage of the church of all ages as
         Athanasius:  likewise that, which, conformable thereunto,               far as its confession is concerned, than the doctrine of the
         is agreed upon by the ancient fathers.                                  Holy Trinity. In the creeds of the church this doctrine goes

  In this second article on the doctrine of the Holy Trinity                     back to the time when there were no denominational divi-


                                          T H E   S T A N D A R D   .BEARER                                                  235


 sions at all, when the church was not Romish, but Cath@lic        readers probably know that many of these people have a

 in the true sense of the word. The latter part of the article    rather amateurish knowledge of the original languages and

 makes a point of this too, in its reference to the .fact that     of the various original readings of certain texts. They have

 `this doctrine of the Holy Trinity hath always been de-           not really been schooled in Hebrew and Greek and in tex-

 fended and maintained by the true Church, since. the time         tual criticism.    But they have learned a few facts about

of the apostles, to this very day, against the Jews, Moham-       some favorite Scripture texts which they like to use. Sus-

medans, and some false Christians and heretics," etc. More-       pecting this in the present case, I immediately put this to

 over, in this point (mark you well, on the basis of Scripture     a test, and cited the text that is also quoted by our Con-

and its authority) the Reformed churches express their            fession, that of I John 5:7, "For there are three that bear

agreement with the "orthodox fathers." Hence, Rome could          record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy

never accuse the Reformed believers of departing from the         Ghost: and these three are one." Now it so happens that

orthodox faith. In the third place, the article gives a clue      this particular text has rather poor backing in the original

when it reminds us of the frequency with which this doc-          documents. You will find, for example, that it is com-

trine has been attacked and denied. It was certainly neces-'      pletely omitted in the American Revised Version, though it

sary in the past that the church, on the basis of Scripture,      appears in our King James Version. I merely call attention

should defend this doctrine very explicitly. And this de-         to that now, without discussing the merits of the question.

fense even came down to the difference of a single letter         But, as expected, my opponent immediately called attention

when it came to the deity of the Son.                             to the fact and made bold to say that this was a spurious

    And matters have not really changed since the time that       reading and that I could not use it- to prove the Trinity.
our Confession was written. There have been many varieties        Thereupon I replied: "I thought you would say that. And
of denial of the Trinity since then. There have been the          I want you to understand that the doctrine of the Trinity
Socinians, from whom have developed the modern day                does not depend on that one passage. But if you want to talk
Unitarians. It is a little known fact; but the Arminians also     about the original, let me point you, in the first place, to a
attacked the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. And today there        very  strong passage, John 1:18,  where you read: `No man
are many modernist churches who do lip-service to the             hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is
Holy Trinity, who speak the language of Scripture and who         in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him'." I
employ much of the terminology of Scripture and the con-          pointed out that this text is strong proof already as it reads
fessions, but who in actual fact deny the Triune God. Most        above. But I added that there was very good ground for
of these attacks centered in some way on the Person and           an even stronger rendering, namely, "the only begotten
natures of our Lord Jesus Christ; and, of course, those who       God," instead of the "only begotten Son." And I concluded
denied the true deity of the Mediator (cf. Article X) at          that I had at least shown that there are two Persons in God:
once denied the Trinity also. Besides, today there are            the Father and the only begotten Son. Faced with this first
various sects, outstanding among which are the Jehovah's          step of my proof, my opponent, who was a private nurse in
Witnesses, who deny that God is Triune. Some of .the  dis-        the same hospital where I was visiting at the time, suddenly
ciples of these sects are very zealous about peddling  their      had to "go back to her patient," and did not wait for any
heretical wares, even from hduse to house, and rather adept       further proof.

at ensnaring the unwary and sometimes implanting doubts               But the moral of this little story is that the b&ever
in the minds of people of God concerning such a basic truth       should be well-posted as to this truth of the Holy Trinity,
as that of the Trinity.                                           and should be able to defend it on the basis of Scripture,

   By way of illustration, I may tell a personal experience.      because there are all kinds of opponents of this doctrine
As a rule, I will not waste my time` with these disciples of      even today. Some of them are very blunt in their denial;
the lie when they knock at my door. I have learned to tell        others are more clever, and their errors are more pernicious
them that they are false prophets, to inform them that they       and deceptive. But over against them all, the Christian
cannot even be called Christians in the broad sense of the        must hold fast his profession. And therefore, our Confes-
term, that they do not believe the Scriptures, that they deny     sion is not by any means out-dated in its defense of this

the Triune God, and that therefore there is no common             iXUth.                                                H.C.H.
basis for discussion between us. For if you allow them to

"get their foot in the door," they will involve you in a long

and fruitless argument.    But some years ago - in fact, the                  The vile may plot against the just,
summer after I graduated from seminary-I rather un-                           Who in the Lord Jehovah trust,
expectedly met one of these over-zealous "Witnesses." Upon                      But God will scorn them all;
learning that I was a candidate for the ministry, she bluntly                 The Lord their coming day shall see,
confronted me with the challenge that I could not prove                     When broken all their power shall be,
the doctrine of the Trinity from Scripture. Some of our                         And ruin on them fall.

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


                                                                   `Woe unto the Church then that neglects this calling and for

11  D E C E N C Y   a n d   O R D E R   11 the sake of external unity, worldly prestige, numerical
                                                                   growth and other carnal considerations condones sin and

                                                                   tolerates within her fellowship doctrines and practices that

                                                                   are in conflict with the Word of God. She has lost her

                          Matthew 18                               glory. Her savor is gone. The light on the candlestick
                                                                   cannot continue to glow. Although she may gain massive

       Error in doctrine and offensive conduct are set forth in    recognition in the world as a man-formed institution, she
                                                                   is devoid of the distinguishing mark that identifies her as
Article 72 of the Church Order as the two evils that neces-
sitate ecclesiastical discipline. This has been the Reformed       a manifestation of the body of Jesus Christ.

position since the days of the Reformation. Various synod-             But Article 72 of the Church Order speaks of a duty of
ical decisions of the past bear this out. The Wezelian Con-        believers that is equally serious and must be performed
vention of Reformed Churches in 1568 decided "that one             prior to th@ disciplinary work of the church. The rule clearly
who advocated strange teachings and heresies, secretly or          prescribed by Christ in Matthew 18 must be followed. And
publicly, should be disciplined (Chap. VIII, 7), and also          that rule is familiar to us for the passage alluded to is well
that one who led an evil life should be censured (Chap.            known. It reads:
VIII, 9) ." The first regular Synod, Emden,  1571, maintained
these two causes for discipline (Art. 26). Following synods           "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go
also maintained this position which is succinctly expressed        and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he
in the answer to question 85 of our Heidelberg Catechism:          shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will
                                                                   not hear thee, then take with thee one or two. more, that
   "Thus: when according to the command of Christ, those,          in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may
who under the name of Christians, maintain d.octrines,  or         be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it
practices ~inconsistent  therewith, and will not, after having     unto the church . . ." (vs. 1517a).
been often brotherly admonished, renounce their errors and
wicked course of life, are complained of to the church, or            Again the choice of following this prescribed rule of
to those who are thereunto appointed by the church; and            Christ is not optional. Even though we could think of a
if they despise their admonition, are by them forbidden the        number of reasons that would constrain us to either keep
use of the sacraments; whereby they are excluded from the          silence or openly publish the matter when one offends us in
Christian church, and by God Himself from the kingdom of           doctrine or life, we cannot disobey the command of Christ
Christ; and when they promise and show real amendment,             without suffering hurt. Such is the testimony of Scripture.

are again received as members of Christ and his church."              "Son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house

   By "errors in doctrine" is meant any teaching that is in        of Israel; therefore thou shah hear the word at my mouth,

conflict with the truth of the Word of God. "Offensive con-        and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, 0

duct" denotes practices that are inconsistent with the pro-        wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak

fession of the Christian faith and are therefore in conflict       to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die

with the revealed will of God. Though we may distinguish           in his iniquity; but his blood will  I reqbe at thine  hand.

between doctrinal and practical error, the two can hardly          Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn

be separated because of the fact that doctrine is life. As         from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his

one thinks in his heart, so is he and so he manifests himself.     iniquity, but thou hast delivered thy soul." Ezekiel 33~7-9.

It is impossible to profess the truth and live the lie and so
                                                                      The point of the 72nd Article of the Church Order in
also one cannot believe the lie and live a sanctified life.
                                                                   citing the rule of Matt. 18 is to prescribe the proper manner
Doctrine and life are inseparable because all of our doc-
                                                                   in which offense that is private  in charmter is to be removed
trine concerns fundamentally our relation to God and our
                                                                   from the church. If the sin is public in character and creates
entire life is expressive of this relation. This forms the very
                                                                   general offense, the private treatment of it in'the way of
basis on which God shall judge every man according to his
                                                                   Matthew 18 is impossible and the church (consistory ) must
works. Man's thinking,- willing, speaking and doing shall be
                                                                   make it a matter of their concern. "As long as the sin is of
unveiled and then his life's profession will be justly evalu-
                                                                   a private character, not giving public offense, the rule
ated and judged. Sound doctrine will not be condemned
                                                                   prescribed by Christ in Matthew 18 shall be followed."
but every evil work shall be punished.
                                                                   Now this is no mere technicality that may be by-passed at

   This necessitates that the church administer discipline         random. It is a fundamental, spiritual law of the Kingdom.

for the purpose of saving every brother who walks dis-             An offended party may not evade this rule by publishing

orderly or professes doctrines contrary to the Scriptures.         and making public an offense that in itself is private in

This is not done by choice but by the command of Christ.           character and then expect that the church will treat the

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


matter. The latter may of necessity follow but in that case       Standard Beare?,,  Vol. 37, page 204, Rev. Lubbers makes an

the offended party himself must be treated for the sin that       interesting point on this passage.

is obvious.                                                          "Then, too, there is an interesting feature here in the

   Such things do happen when the fundamental thought             text which should not be overlooked. It is a matter of arith-

and purpose of Matthew 18 is not kept in mind. This              - metic.  We are enjoined to take one or tu;o with us as wit-

purpose is a very exalted one. It aims at saving or gaining       nesses in order that every word may be established by tt~o

the brother who has sinned. Sin, whether taken in general         or three. The point is that the one who takes the witness

or specific sins, is a vicious monster or beast that crouches     with him, be it one or two, is himself represented by Jesus

at our door awaiting the opportunity to destroy us. He            as being the original witness. He cannot slip out from

beats us down with his vile paw and clutches us in a deadly       under the matter in which he has `risen up' in judgment

grasp. The only escape is through repentance, confession          against the brother. He will needs have to cast the first
and forgiveness of sin by the blood of the cross. When then       stone. He is one witness. When he takes one witness with

one sins . . . against us . . . we must go to such a one to       him there are a resultant two witnesses and when he takes

try to deliver the offender from the power of that sin by        two witnesses with him there are three witnesses as a result.

directing him unto repentance. Then only can he have the          Two witnesses are sufficient and three are allowed."

peace of forgiveness and know the blessedness of God's               Make sure that these are rcjitnesses!  And that they re-
favor. And it stands to reason that the one against whom         main witnesses! Witnesses take no part in the deliberations
the sin is committed must go to the offending party because      but only attest to what is seen and heard. Let them observe
to him the confession of sin must be made. Oh, it is true         carefully, taking note of all that is said for the adamant
that the offending party is obligated to go to the one whom      sinner cannot hide his evil. His conduct and speech betray
he has offended and voluntarily confess his wrong but the        him always. But the text further indicates that the wit-
one offended must not wait for this to happen. He cannot          nesses must also form and eAxpress  a judgment concerning
wait. He must go to gain his brother.                             the matter. If what they see and hear is convincing, they

   This is not an easy thing to do. We all, sinners that we      must show this to the impenitent. If he refuses to hear also

are, stand daily in need of the same correction, rebuke and      them, the matter must be brought to the attention of the

admonition. To approach a brother who is snared in a             church.

particular sin requires a spirit of meekness and humility for        By the "church" the Form for Ordination of Elders and
without this the motive of approach will be revenge rather       Deacons informs us "can in no wise be understood of all
@an salvation. A sinful war will then ensue rather than a        and every ,member  of the church in particular, but very
conquest over and conviction of sin. This must be a work         properly of those who govern the church, out of which they
of love, purest love that flows from the heart of God through     are chosen," With them is vested the power "to bind on
us unto the brother. Following Matthew 18 in a formal way        earth what is bound in heaven" and `to loose on earth what
is not observing the rule of Christ at all even though it may    is loosed in heaven." Painstaking labor is bestowed upon
externally appear that we have done so. It must be our           the sinner and where impenitence persists he is excom-
deep concern over our brother's spiritual welfare that must      municated and also by the command of Christ he is con-
lead us in our attempt to show him the error of his way.         sidered as "a heathen man and publican."
And in that same love we must stand ready to show him the                                                              G.v.d.B.
error of his way. And in that same love we must stand ready

to hear and be shown where we may have given occasion to
the very sin by which we have been offended. Then we                                      IN HIS FEAlR

can talk with the brother about the matter of sin.                                  (Continued from page 231)

   All of this must be done alone. Oh, how much easier it         Father draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."

is to gather a company about us that will take sides with         John 6:44.  Ah, but that is love that conquers! That is love

us and then go to the brother. How much more convincing          that will not let me go and does not leave it up to me! The

a large number will be that can prove he is wrong. But           Father, in a love that leaves nothing to chance, leaves it not

this may not be. Go to him alone. That is the only way           for a dead man to open the door of his heart, draws from

for the matter must remain between thee and him and, if          within in an unfathomable love. For as the rocky tomb did

possible, a reconciliation made in the presence of God alone.     not hold the glorified Saviour, the stony heart of the elect

Then God forgives and you forgive and all is resolved. Thou       sinner will be pierced as those on the day of Pentecost were

hast gained thy brother. A soul is saved from death. A           "pricked" in their hearts. He enters and works IN that heart

multitude of sins is hidden (James 5:20).                        and not simply upon the outside of it. God's love conquers.

   What if the offending brother will not hear? Then do              Rejoice in this good news.1    God's love will not let His

not leave him in his sin but take with thee witnesses. In        people go!                                               J.A.H.

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


                                                                                          As always, I pray God's constant guidance and direction

11  A L L   A R O U N D -   U S   11                                                  for your fine  radio program and all your varied service in
                                                                                      proclaiming the gospel. May He grant full measure of His

                                                                                      peace, His presence and His unfailing love.

                                                                                From Lancaster, England:

NEWS FROM TRANS  WORLD RADIO                                                              I was very pleased to receive your "Reformed Witness

                                                                                      Hour" Broadcast Textsheets. Please would you send me a
       Towards the end of last year Trans World Radio gave                            schedule of your broadcasts through radio stations and also
our Reformed Witness Hour a more favorable half hour of                               send me some more Broadcast sheets, and add my name to
broadcasting time.        Formerly our program was scheduled                          your mailing list for future issues.

early in the morning - from 8:00 to 8:30 Now it is being                        From Cheshire, England:
aired from 11:OO to 11:30.  The result has been an increase                              Please iind  enclosed P.O. for lo/-, being small donation to
in the amount of mail response. Some of this mail we wish                             help you financially in the one and only cause to spread the

to share with our readers.                                                            Gospel of our Lord and Saviour  Jesus Christ.
       There is first of all a letter which was received from the                        I was listening in to your broadcast yesterday on the 41
                                                                                      Metric band, and was joyed with the message. If you have
station itself. This letter reads in part:
                                                                                      a written copy of the message in Revelation, I would be very

            I am enclosing some letters which reached us directly in                  thankful.

         Monte Carlo. The requests have been answered and the letters           From Middlesex, England:
         processed.
            We are having an excellent response to the Sunday morning                    During the last few weeks I have been blessed by your
                                                                                      ministry over Trans World Radio.
        programs, perhaps the best response we have had since be-
         ginning on the air October'l6,  1960. Reception conditions are                  I would be pleased if you will send me a copy of the
                                                                                      address on "The Beast Out of the Sea" -Rev. 13, which was
         good, and there is an ever increasing number of listeners.
            Your program is well produced, and well received in the                   a special blessing to me. I would be very grateful if you
         target area, not only in Great Britain, but as you notice, by                placed my name and address on your mailing list.
                                                                                         May the Lord continue to bless your efforts in your Radio
         some of the enclosed mail, there are listeners on the Continent
         as well.                                                                     Ministry.
            We thank the Lord for the opportunitywe  have of working                     Yours by SOVEREIGN GRACE,

         together to present the message of Christ during these critical        From Worchestershire, England:
         days.
                                                                                         I wonder if you could possibly send me about six copies
       The following letter is from Essex, England:                                   of the sermon that was broadcast last Sunday morning 11:OO

                                                                                      - 11:30  A. M. Jan 6th from Trans World Radio, 41 metres.
            I have just been listening to some of your Programmes.  I
        have enjoyed them very much. The Reception was not too                           I am not quite sure about the title, but it was about the
         good this morning and I would be glad to have the message                    call to separation.
                                                                                         I enclose 2 reply coupons to cover cost of postage.
         given today by Rev. Schipper.  The message is entitled "The
                                                                                         How do you interpret the verse in Scripture which says,
         Beast Out Of The Sea".      The invitation was given at the end
        for any who would wish for a copy to write in. If you have                    "A man born of God cannot sin." And what do you say or
                                                                                      think of what Jesus said in reply to a question -If you would
         any previous copies of this subject (re: the tribulation, etc.)
                                                                                      enter into life, keep the commandments. St. Matt. 19:17?
        I should be glad to have them if possible.

            Thank you very much. May God bless your ministry to                 (Note: Any questions such as the above are answered
         Believers. I am seeking to introduce your programmes to            by a committee of the Mission Committee, while the re-
         others. So many do not have the Short Wave Radio.
                                                                            quests for radio sermons are filled by the Radio Commit-
            I do so look  forward to next Lord's Day morning and to
        your further message on this subject.                               tee. )

   From Bournemouth, England:                                                   From London, England:

            Another year is fast ending and I send most sincere thanks                   I was listening to your English Program from Monte Carlo
         and appreciation for your faithfulness in sending me the                     on the 41 metre band and I heard your announcer mention
        monthly semron  copies. It is so helpful to study them more                   that you had a free calendar for listeners who write in. (Note:
         deeply and to recall their original broadcast. So I do not want              this letter was sent directly to the station in Monte Carlo, and
        to lose any of them.                                                          was forwarded to our Radio Committee by the station. HH)
            We have excellent reception at present, apart from                        Therefore would you please send me one. My favourite
        occasional trouble through bad weather conditions. There has                  Programme is the one of the Reformed Church from 11:00 hrs.
        been very severe frost and fog with severe gales during the last              till 11:30  hrs.  I wrote in about your station giving a reception
        2 weeks-and reception has suffered at times-but both                          report when you first started Trans World Radio Programmes
        Sundays have given complete perfection-so your own pro-                       and were testing some time ago and you promised me a card
        gram was brilliant clear.                                                     which I have not yet received.

            On the cover of sermon copy received today is a list of
        pamphlets for free distribution. Would you please send me a             From North Ireland:

        selection of these? I am sure I can profitably use some.                         Could you please send me the sermon entitled "The Name
            NOW may I wish YOU  all the true joys and blessings of                    of the Beast", offered by you on last Sunday morning broad-
        Christmas. Each year I feel that it may be our last before                    cast. We listen regularly to this broadcast and reception is
         our beloved Lord returns.                                                    generally good here, although interference sometimes occurs


                                                    T H E   S.TANDARD   B E A R E R                                                      239


         in the form of a beat-note with an adjacent C.W. channel.            olic Church--involve  51.5 million members in 76,000 local

         Usually fading is negligible except on the earIier  T.W.R. trans-    congregations. If these talks should eventually result in
         missions.                                                            complete merger, that would be quite a denomination.
             Perhaps it may also be of help to you or T.W.R. to know             It is interesting to note that the Polish National Catholic
         that on last Sunday's Reformed Witness Hour there was a very
         distinct lack of treble and thus intelligibility.                    Church does not stand in the tradition of the Protestant
             Incidentally, if you have any copies of the first sermon on      Reformation at all. It split from the Roman Catholic
         Revelation 13, could you send one of these as well.                  Church about 75 years ago, and has recently been studying,

       From West Germany:                                                     with the Romish Church, the possibility of re-admission. It
                                                                              seems as if the possibility of this denomination returning to
             I would be extremely grateful if you could send me a copy
         of the New Testament in English. I have often heard the              Rome does not daunt the passionate lovers of Church

         Reformed Witness Hour and other features on your Thursday            merger.     Perhaps it can, in fact, serve as a future door to
         morning programme.                                                   Rome.
       One of the striking features of the mail responses is that,
while some correspondents speak with favor of all the radio                   A FOILED ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE PERSECUTION

broadcasts heard over Trans World Radio, others mention                          Recently the news media reported concerning a group
particularly the Reformed Witness Hour and the distinctive                    of evangelical Christians from Russia who tried to escape

note in the preaching.            Evidently there are those being             persecution behind the iron curtain by appealing for asylum
reached who are not only able to distinguish between most                     to the American Embassy. They were refused and returned
of what goes over the air today and true Reformed preach-                     to the Russians.
ing, but who also love this Reformed truth and appreciate                        Thirty-two men, women and children travelled 2,400
it.                                                                           miles from a mining town in Siberia to the American Em-
       When we receive this mail from England, Ireland, Scot-                 bassy in Moscow.      They made the trip in four days and
land and the countries on the continent of Europe, we are                     arrived cold and hungry, carrying their children, some of
impressed with the fact that surely our radio ministry is                     whom were ill. They risked their lives travelling this far
reaching into many foreign homes and bearing its fruit.                       and surging past Soviet militiamen who guarded the em-
There is no doubt that God causes His truth to be heard                       bassy gates. They told of persecution for their faith. They
in the world and that this truth comes through our radio                      were harassed in public worship, forbidden to commem-
programs. For this we have abundant reason to be humbly                       orate the Christian holidays, and, in some instances, threat-
grateful.                                                                     ened with separation from their children so that they
                                                                              could no longer teach and care for them.
MERGER TALKS                                                                     Newsmen in the embassy were not permitted to speak
       Some time ago, and reported on previously in this                      with them. And, while they were being given coffee and a

column, four large denominations agreed to discuss the pos-                   snack, Soviet officials from the foreign ministry were sum-

sibilities of merger. Eugene Carson Blake, Stated Clerk of                    moned by the Americans in the embassy. When the officials
the United Presbyterian Church of the U.S.A.,. suggested                      arrived with plainclothesmen, the six men, twelve women

that the UPUSA and the Episcopal Church invite the Metho-                     and fourteen children were herded out of the embassy into

dist Church and the United Church of Christ to join in talks                  waiting buses that quickly transported them to the railroad

of merger. Bishop James A. Pike, a bishop in the Episcopal                    station and a train headed for points north. The pleas of

Church, quickly seconded the suggestion. Since then these                     the refugees and their warnings that they would surely be

four bodies have all officially agreed to join in merger talks,               killed if they were returned to the Russians made no dif-

and have already held preliminary investigations and dis-                     ference.

cussions.                                                                        American officials attempted to justify their action by

       Apparently this is not enough. There has been another                  appealing to a ruling that prohibits embassies in foreign

recent development. The executive committee of these                          lands from serving as asylums to refugees -which, if true,

churches has accepted two other denominations into the                        pushes the responsibility on the government of our country.

merger talks. These two denominations are the Disciples                          Two things are clear.     On the one hand, this is further

Of Christ and the Evangelical United Brethren. Another                        evidence of the fact that the Church behind the iron curtain

Church - the Polish National Catholic Church - was also                       must indeed bear the brunt of persecution these days. On

invited to join, but has not yet acted upon the invitation.                   the other hand, America, boasting loudly of her concern

They will do this sometime this month.                                        for religious freedom, is not prepared or willing to help the

       These Churches were invited to join in the discussions                 people of God who suffer persecution for their faith in

because all of them were, prior to the proposal of Blake,                     other lands.

carrying on merger talks with one of the original four                           This same thing could happen here in this country to

bodies.                                                                       those who love the truth and are determined to maintain it.

       The six Churches - excluding the Polish National Cath-                                                                    H. Hanko


                                                   /. ._. ..-.-.-.. _. . . . .
2    4    0                                   kim STANDARD  BEA'R~ER


                                                                         copy. I ~tiould  .not .wish to lose the blessing which these
     NEWS FRQM OUR CkURCHES                                              bring. It is so good to study them at leisure and more
                                                                         deeply. ~1 have learned many new truths from your fine
               "`All  the saints salzste  thee . . J' PHIL. 4:21         radio broadcast over TWR - your various speakers are all

                                                                         so gifted as Bible teachers -making difficult parts so easy

                                                 Feb. 5, 1963            to understand: There is always blessing, comfort and
                                                                         encouragement in every message. . . . I remember all your
     Rev. G. Vanden  Berg, of Oak Lawn, has received the                 special needs every day in my personal prayer. . . . May
call from Hope Church of Grand Rapids.                                   God bless, guide and  direct all your ministry and supply
     Grand Rapids' Southyest  Church has extended a call to              all your needs. Sincerely in His Name, Miss ___.______..............
Rev. J. Kortering, of Hull Church in Iowa.                               ..""..`......""....., Bournemouth, England."

     The complaint is often heard among church-goers that                   Our Missionary has taken up his labors in Houston,
seminary students sound so much alike that it is difficult to            Texas, his new address: 4413 Phil St., Bellaire 101, Tex.
detect the identity of their alma.  mater from their sermons.            The bulletins from Houston depict regular worship services
Sunday, January 27, First's church's pulpit was occupied                 like ours, but preceded by a Sunday School session  at
by one of her sons, Seminarian Robert Decker, preaching                  9:30 A. M. Rev. Lubbers is beginning his work, in the
on, "Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden, and I will                Sunday School with material concerned with the "Begin-
give you rest." Contrary to the above mentioned complaint,               nings" of Genesis 1; and his sermons proclaim the truth of
the sermon preached in First Church that evening (and in                 God's Word as delineated in the beginning of the Heidel-
other churches previously) clearly divulged the identity of              berg Catechism. May these beginnings develop and yield
the seminary in which he receives his training. The                      fruit, "some  thirty fold, some sixty and some a hundred."
ch.wches  thank you, Professors!
                                                                            Hudsonville's Young People's Society was host to the
     Oak Lawn's Young People's Society requested per-                    Junior Y.P.S. of First Church Sunday afternoon, February 3.
mission to have charge of the church library, which was                  Mr. Zwak, president of the host society, led the Bible
granted by the consistory.                                               discussion and Mr. Bos, president of the visiting society,

                                                                         had charge of the after recess activities. The program
     Lynden's Pastor was the speaker January 6 on "Lynden
                                                                         furnished by the visitors included a reading by Barb
Time", a feature of Radio Station KPUG. Rev. Harbach's
                                                                         Meyer, `<If  Jesus Should Come To Your House"; a clarinet
topic was, "Is the Sermon on the Mount Christianity?"               .
                                                                         solo by Shirley Bouwkamp, "`The Holy City"; and a trom-
     Severe wintry storm forced cancellation of many of                  bone solo by Gary Bylsma. Mary Kregel was at the piano
our church services  this winter. These, too, ape from the               to accompany the musical numbers.
Hand of our God, `<who  sendeth forth his commandments                       Randolph's Adult Bible Class, in an after recess pro-
upon earth . . . . who giveth snow like wool . . . . who                 gram, discussed Isaiah 63:17a,  which reads: "0 Lqrd,  why
casteth his ice like morsels". If the Lord sent them to test
                                                                         hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our
us would He have found the stay-at-homes engaged in
                                                                         heart from thy fear?"      Rev. van Baren  asked, "Was this a
activities comparable to that of           the Christians of the
                                                                         proper question of Isaiah, or did he have a mistaken idea
Last Days whose services will be canceled by their civil
                                                                         of God's ways?"
lords? Was our activity  one of foretaste of the Rest laid
away for the saints?                                                         Advance notice: Southeast's Young People's Society is
                                                                         sponsoring a program February 17. The Hope Choral
     Cont&u+ion of the Radio  Committee: Did you know                    society has been scheduled for that event. All music
that the broadcast of our Reformed Witness Hour over                     lovers in this area are cordially invited to enjoy an evening
Trans World Radio continues to produce the greatest                      of sacred music with them.
volume of response received by the corresponding secretary
                                                                             "Quiet thoughts" found in Sou:&east's  bulletin: "Sin may
of the Radio Committee? These Trans World broadcasts
                                                                         come upon thee by surprise, but do not let it dwell with
are heard in England at 11 A. M. and in Western Europe
                                                                         thee as a. guest."
at 12 noon. Any of you who have relatives or friends in

the Armed Forces in the British Isles or Western Europe                      Ministers and/or consistory clerks: What happened to

might pass aldng this schedule to their "special service-                your New Year's resolution to send in your bulletms  as

man". We are sure that hearing our Distinctively Reformed                requested?

Radio Program in a foreign land would be almost as wel-                      Well, what do you think, was  that a proper prayer
come as a letter from home. The following letter is typical              of Isaiah?
of the responses received from there: "Dear Friend, Please
note the slight change of address for my monthly sermon                      . . . see you  in church.                                 J.M.F.


