                                tam1arc

                                   I         earer


1 A   R E F O R M E D   S E M I - M O N T H L Y   M A G A Z I N E


  IN THIS ISSUE


       Meditation:
          Desiring The Milk Of The Word

       Editorials:
          Is Common Grace Still. The Issue?                               . . __'

          Rank Universalism

       The Abortion Issue
         (see: All Around Us)

       When The King Calls
         (see: In His Fear)


                                                 Volume  XLVIIlNumber  21 /September  l-5,1971


482                                                       THESTANDARD BEARER


                           CONTENTS:                                                                THE STANDARD BEARER
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   Desiring The Milk Of The Word . . . . . . . . . . . . .482              Editor-in-Chief: Prof.  H.  C. Hoeksema
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                                                                           Herman Hanko, Rev. Robert C. Harbach, Rev. John A.  Heys. Rev.  Jay
Editorials -                                                               Kortering, Rev. George C. Lubbers,  FFev.  Marinus Schipper,  .Rev.  Gise  J.
                                                                           Van  Baren, Rev. Herman Veldman, Rev. Bernard Woudenberg
   Is Common Grace Still The Issue? . . . . . . . . . . .485               Editorial Office:  Prof. H. C. Hoeksema
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Meditation

                              Desiring The Milk Of The Word
                                                              Rev. M. Schipper

             "Wherefore hying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil
            speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
            if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. "
                                                                                                                  I Peter 211-3.

  Wherefore! . . .                                                         speaking in the preceding chapter, especially the last
   This word indicates that there is a very close connec-                  part. There the apostle had instructed the saints rela-
tion between the words of our text and the preqding                        tive to the fact that they had been born again from
context. In fact, it points up that our text is a logical above, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible,`by
conclusion to that of which the apostle had been the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever. He


                                             THE STANDARD BEARER                                                483



also informed them that the Word whereby they were mind, and heart, and being. It is to pursue after that
born again is also by the gospel preached unto them. which one knows is essential, is necessary to fulfill a
And this is done in such a way that this new life of great need.
regeneration is brought to living consciousness in them.      Here it is imperative that the babe in Christ desire
   In our text the apostle stresses the point that this earnestly the pure, unadulterated milk of the Word. As
new life must be fed. The new man, shall he continue, the sucking infant zealously probes with his nose for
must be nourished. However, shall he be properly fed, the nipple of the breast of his mother to procure his
he must feed on the pure milk of the Word. Moreover, food, so the child of God is to desire both breasts of
shall we be truly ready to feed on the pure milk of the the Word of God, the Word as contained in the Old
Word, all the wickedness mentioned in the first part of and New Testaments, the whole inspired Scriptures.
the text must be done away.                                   As newborn babes!
   Desiring the sincere milk of the Word!                     Beautiful comparison!
   What does this mean?                                       The natural child before its birth is connected to his
   You realize, of course, that the apostle here is speak- mother by the umbilical cord through which it pas-
ing in a figure. The figure is that of a newborn child in sively is fed by the mother. But as soon as the child is
the natural sense of the word whose first cry is for the born and that umbilical cord is cut, the child is on its
natural milk which his mother is able to supply. Milk own. And the very first cry of the child is that it may
in this natural sense has in it all the ingredients for be fed from the breasts of his mother. He will not stop
body building.' It is an indispensable requisite to the crying until he has found physical satisfaction in the
physical health and well-being of the child. Naturally milk his mother is able to supply.
the newborn child is not able to masticate strong meat.       So in the spiritual sense of the word the newborn
It must be fed pure, unadulterated milk. However,           child of God will desire the pure milk of the Word. 0,
when the text speaks of newborn babes and of milk it do not -misunderstand the Word of God here! The im-
refers to spiritually newborn babes in Christ, those plication is not that when the child of God grows older
who have been born again from above, and by the that he should desire anything else upon which to feed.
Word of God which abideth for ever. And the milk to Or, when the born again child of God grows older that
which the apostle refers must also be understood in the its desire for the pure milk of the Word weakens.
spiritual sense of the word. It is with good reason that    Rather, we ought to see that the apostle here is simply
the translators added to the term "milk" the phrase drawing a comparison between the natural new-born
"of the Word." These words do not appear in the origi- infant and the spiritually new-born infant, and showing
nal text, but as indicated in the translation, they are. with emphasis what his desire ought to be and the
properly understood. The spiritual milk which the spir- eagerness with which that -desire ought to be displayed.
itually newborn babes in Christ ought to desire can be Always the regenerated child of God ought to desire
nothing else than the divinely instituted means of the milk of the Word, as the natural new-born child
grace, the Word of God, which is proclaimed in the desires the breasts of his mother.
gospel.                                                       Shall this desire for the Word be what it ought to be,
   Furthermore, according to the original text, the it will also be necessary that the child of God lay aside
apostle describes that milk in a twofold way. First of all wickedness as described in the first part of our text.
all, he speaks of rational milk. This expression does not This list which the apostle enumerates is not intended
appear in the translation, but it is important that we to be exhaustive. Surely all sins, even those not men-
see the importance of this. When the apostle uses this tioned in the list, must not stand in the way of his
term with relation to the milk of the Word, he does so realizing the desire for the Word. However, all the
to emphasize the fact that the Word has to do with the wickedness here .mentioned is peculiarly that which is
mind and heart. He is reflecting on the fact that the found in the church of Christ, where one is to feed on
soul, in distinction from the mouth, must feed on that the pure Word of God.
which is spiritual and rational. And this is precisely        We have not the space to dwell on this list of wick-
what the Word is able to do. It will feed the mind and edness the apostle sets forth. As suggested above, the
heart of the spiritually newborn babe. In the second apostle could have said: "all wickedness." He could
place, the apostle describes that milk of the Word as have included in this such sins as: adultery, stealing,
sincere, that is, unadulterated, without any foreign ad- disobedience, profanity, idolatry, etc. But these are in-
mixtures. As in the natural sense the child will spew tentionally omitted, in order that he might especially
out adulterated milk, so in the spiritual sense the child mention those wickednesses which one finds especially
of God must have pure, unadulterated milk of the in the sphere where the Word is preached, and which
Word, lest it nauseate him and he spew it out.              make it impossible to be rightly and spiritually fed by
   This is what the newborn babe in Christ should de- the Word.
sire!                                                         Take note of the text! Malice, that is, the wicked-
   To desire is to long for, to strive after with all the ness which takes delight in cruelty that is meant to


 484                                            THE STANDARD BEARER


 hurt others. Guile, that is, that wickedness which de-       If so be ye have tested that the Lord is gracious!
 lights to set traps whereby oneself or others are de-        This last is found in italics in the original text. And
 ceived. In close connection with guile, hypocrisies, that this indicates that this part of the text is in part a
 is, to wear a mask as a stage player, in order to feign quotation. The reference is to Psalm  34:8, where we
 oneself to be other than he is. Envy, that is, that read: `0 taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is
 green-eyed monster that  camrot allow another to be the man that trusteth in him."
 esteemed more than self, or that cannot stand to see         The thought that should be projected here is the
 another to possess more than self. And perhaps the fact that the apostle does not add this part of the text
 most wicked of all, evil speakings, that is, those wicked as a condition which we are to fulfill, as the translation
 utterances, done in the dark, whereby one murders might suggest, but the words can better be translated,
 another with the tongue.                                   "seeing that ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious."
    These all are to be put away from us! Allowing them       The born again child of God has through regenera-
 to remain can not only spoil the proper reception of tion received new spiritual taste buds, and along with
 the Word upon which we are to feed; but also make it regeneration also receives a new and living power of
 impossible to zealously desire to be fed with the Word. faith, whereby he is able not only to feed consciously
 All of these must be put away from us so completely on the pure Word of God, but also to taste subjectively
 through the grace of sanctification that not one of how gracious that Lord Jesus Christ, presented in the
 them can interfere with the longing of our hearts after gospel as the God of his salvation, is.
the Word, nor rob us of its proper reception with our         When we were children, occasionally we were given
 regenerated hearts and minds. All these are not only a box of Cracker Jack for a treat. On the box appeared
 the common sins found in the Christian church, but a slogan: "The More You Eat, The More You Want."
 they are the present evils found in our old nature, As far as we know, you may still read this slogan on
 which always clings to us, and against which we daily the box. We are not so sure that we always desired
 have to fight.                                             more Cracker Jack simply because we ate some. More
   Put them away from you, and desire with all the probably we desired more because of the prizes such a
 love of your regenerated hearts the pure Word of the box contains. But, beloved reader, it is absolutely true,
 gospel that is able to save your souls!                    that when the regenerated child of God has tasted the
    That ye may grow thereby!                               goodness and grace of Christ Jesus his Lord and of His
    Into salvation!                                         saving power, the more he will desire to `feed on that
   The apostle does not allow the figure of the new- Word and that grace continually.
 born child to fade from the picture. The only reason         Never will that child of God relish the preaching of
 why such a child seeks for and feeds on milk is that it the Word that is mixed with the philosophy of man.
 may grow, develop. Such is also the significance of the Nor can he endure false doctrines that militate against
 purpose of the newborn babe in Christ. The only dif- the Word of God. Should he continue to be fed with
 ference between the figure and the reality is that the these admixtures, he will continue to spew them out,
 newborn babe in Christ does this consciously, while or pine away in hunger.
 the natural newborn babe does not realize what it is         On the other hand, when he continues to feed on
 doing. The child of God must not only desire to feed the pure, reasonable Word of God, he will not only
 on the Word, but also to grow in the grace and knowl- taste how gracious the Lord has been to him, but he
 edge of Christ. The translation has omitted the phrase will grow into the fulness of that salvation which the
 "into salvation"; but we see no reason why these Lord has prepared for him. He will be enabled to put
 words should have been omitted. It stands to reason away from him every sin that would,hinder the proper
 that if the new birth of which the apostle has been reception of the Word, and feed on that Word, which
 speaking is spiritual, and the rational, unadulterated has the power to cause him to grow into the fumess of
 Word of the gospel on which the new life is to feed is the salvation which the Lord graciously has prepared
 spiritual, that the purpose of the feeding process for him.
 should also have a spiritual aim, that is, to grow and       0 taste and see that the Lord is indeed gracious! For
 develop in the Christian experience of the saving grace He with sovereign grace has redeemed you with an
 of Christ. This should be the aim of all sound Christian everlasting salvation!
 growth.


                             REMEMBER THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE R.F.P.A.
                                            SEPTEMBER.30,  FIRST CHURCH


                                                   THE STANDARD BEARER                                                 485



        Editorials

                         Is Common Giiick Still- The Issue? (3)
                                              EXHIBIT NO. 1 : THE "DEKKER CASE"

                                                      Prof H.C. Hoeksema

          Some weeks ago we began our discussion of this cisely the seriousness of these matters. As long as you
       subject - a discussion which was interrupted by neces- view doctrinal differences as mere differences between
     ~ sary editorial attention to other matters. At that time man and man, between theologian and theologian; as
i      we promised to demonstrate that common grace is in- long as you view complaints concerning ills in the
       deed still the underlying issue, the issue which lies at church as legitimate or less than legitimate "gripes"
       the basis of many ills which plague the Christian Re- against a human institution; as long as you consider the
       formed denomination today  - ills of which many church to be man's; so long you can take half-way
       complain though they do not seem to see their cause. measures, or you can find  a solution that will satisfy
       While we recognize the fact of almost fifty years since all, and you can make accommodations. But as soon as
       the Three Points of Common Grace were adopted by you stand  coram   Dee,  before the face of God, things
       the Christian Reformed Synod of 1924, and while we are altogether different!
       recognize the fact of the attendant progress and doc-         From this point of view, we must remember that
       trinal development which have taken place since that there was fundamental departure from the Reformed
       time, it is our contention that there is a definite con- faith in 1924. There was church political corruption
       nection, a connection of cause and effect between perpetrated in 1924. There was ecclesiastical injustice
        1924 and the state of affairs today. And it is, there- committed in 1924. The Christian Reformed Church
       fore, our contention that those who are or who claim has never made the slightest move to correct this. And
       to be interested in reformation in the Christian Re- the Christian Reformed Church has continued down
       formed Church today must recognize this connection; through the years to reap the. evil fruits of its wrong-
       and if they would achieve genuine and successful refor- doings ever since. Be not deceived: what a man soweth,
       mation, they must go to the root of the difficulties and that shall he also reap!
       repudiate the errors of 1924 and return to the true           From this same point of view, it is high time that
       Reformed position with respect to the sovereign, par- those who are concerned about the present tendencies
       ticular grace of God. One may attempt to turn the in the Christian Reformed denomination and who are
       clock of history back a couple of decades to a more interested in reformation should face up to the reality
       conservative era in the Christian Reformed Church, that no half-way measures will do, and that should
       when the fruits of the errors of the Three Points had half-way measures be attempted, the church will only
       not yet become as evident as today. One may attempt find itself afflicted by the same sickness and paralysis
       to ignore the issue and may imagine that somehow which makes it impossible to keep out the poison of
       reformation may be achieved without going to the Arminianism and universalism and world-conformity
       heart of the problems. Neither of these courses of ac- which has for so long been eating at the vitals of the
       tion will make the problem go away.                         Christian Reformed denomination.
          For not only is there an intrinsic doctrinal connec-       Whom do I have in mind when I write thus?
       tion between 197 1 and 1924, and not only is there a          In general, first of all, whom the shoe fits, let him
       clear line of development from 1924 to the present; put it on.
       but there is also a spiritual, ethical connection. -God,      More specifically, I have in mind a movement like
       the God of His church, the God Who calls His church the Association of Christian Reformed Laymen, a
       to be His witnesses, the God Who calls His church to group who have recently come in for severe and funda-
       reformation, will not be mocked. He calls His church mentally unjust criticism from  Tlze Banner  and for
       not to partial obedience to the truth of the gospel. He whom I have deep sympathy, but whom I must never-
       calls His church not to partial reformation. He calls His theless sympathetically criticize and counsel to change
       church not to partial repentance - and remember, re- their ways. I have in mind, too, the movement of the
       formation always implies repentance! But ,He calls His Christian Reformation Church, which, as I suggested
       church to full and complete reformation and obedi- before, did not really accomplish reformation in the
       ence to the truth of His Word. Nothing less will do full .sense. I have in mind, further, a considerable group
       before the face of God, Who is righteous in all His of people (and these are from various denominations
       ways, also in His dealings with the church. This is pre- of the Reformed tradition) who are seeking refuge in


     486                                                    THE STANDARD BEARER
I


     the working toward a kind of conservative fellowship p?esent  time. And let me hasten to add that no one
     of a generally Reformed and Presbyterian brand, who will deny that they are in themselves good things.' All
     are satisfied to be evangelical, but who are not con- these good things of this present time, according to
     cerned to be purely and specifically Reformed. I do this view, are a manifestation of God's gracious atti-
     not know whether they are working toward or at least tude to all men.
     keeping the options open for the eventual formation of               But we must not forget that when the Synod of
     a new denomination, which would then be an amalgam 1924 attempted to support its view from the confes-
     of concerned and conservative elements from various sions of the Reformed churches, it unwittingly fell into
     apostatizing denominations of the Reformed and Pres- the Arminian error of general grace. When in its refer-
     byterian household. But I do know that I have seen no ence to Canons II, 5 and Canons III, IV, 8, 9 and its
     evidence of a willingness to return completely and appeal to such passages as Romans 2:4, Ezekiel 33: 11;
     wholeheartedly to the Reformed faith. These, too, I and Ezekiel  18:23 the Synod speaks of the "general
     would warn that they should not be satisfied with offer of the gospel" as a manifestation of the grace of
     half-way measures - especially not for the sake of size God to all the hearers, without distinction, then this
     and numbers.                                                       First Point lapses into the Arminian conception that
       But now let me turn to my subject proper.                        the saving grace of God is intended for all men individ-
       Exhibit Number 1 in evidence of the fact that the ually. For it is evident that the gospel involves saving
     common grace doctrine of the First Point of 1924 is grace.
     still the underlying issue is the "Dekker Case." Perhaps             Hence, there are two theories involved in this First
     I should not say the "Dekker Case," but the sad con- Point. The first we may designate by the term common
     clusion to the "Dekker Case," the failure and inability grace. This is supposed to be a grace, not saving, which
     of the Christian  ReforI'ned Church, after long study is common to godly and ungodly, elect and reprobate,
     and debate, to condemn the rank Arminianism and manifested in the bestowal upon men in common of
     universalism taught by one of its seminary professors, the good things of this present time. The second is the
     Prof. Harold Dekker, and supported by many others. error of general grace, a grace of God which is saving
       It may be well, in this connection, that we remind and which is intended for all men individually, or at
     ourselves of the First Point. It reads as follows:                 least for all men who hear the preaching of the gospel.
               Relative to the first point, which concerns the fa-        Both of these views are clearly implied in the First
            vorable attitude of God towards humanity in general         Point. And it would not be difficult to demdnstrate
            and not only towards the elect, synod declares it to        from many writings subsequent to 1924 that this was
            be established according to Scripture and the Confes-       indeed the way the defenders of the First Point under-
            sion that, apart from the saving grace of God shown         stood matters. What they would. never admit, of
            only to those that are elect unto eternal life, there is    course, was that either of these teachings was errone-
            also a certain favor or grace of God which He shows
            to His creatures in general. ,This is evident from the      ous and that neither of them finds support in Scripture
            Scriptural passages quoted and from the Canons of           and the confessions.
            Dordrecht, II, 5 and III, IV, 8 and 9, which deal with        The opponents of the Three Points, particularly the
            the general offer of the Gospel, while it also appears      late Revs. Herman Hoeksema and George M. Ophoff,
            from the citations made from Reformed writers of            not only criticized the explicit errors of these pro-
       the most flourishing period of Reformed theology                 nouncements; but they also repeatedly predicted that
            that our Reformed writers from the past favored this        the Arminianism with respect to the preaching of the
            view. (Note: The Scripture passages quoted in sup-          gospel which is expressed in the First Point would
            port of this point were Psalm 145:9; Matthew 5:44,          eventually lead to more Arminianism. More than once
            45; Luke 6:35, 36; Acts 14:16, 17; I Timothy 4:lO;          they prophesied that ultimately the error of the  First.
            Romans 2:4; Ezekiel 33:ll; and Ezekiel 18:23.)              Point would ultimately lead to a denial of particular
       Let us remind ourselves further, in this connection, atonement and the teaching of general atonement, for
     that actually this First Point of 1924 contains two example. This can be shown from their writings.
     errors. .The first is the etior of the Kuyperian theory of           What happened after 1924?           _
     common grace. For when this point declares. that                     The Synod had directed that these doctrines be fur-
     "apart from the saving grace of God shown only to ther studied and spelled out. However, after the initial
     those that are elect unto eternal life, there is also a post-l 924 flurry of writings, Christian Reformed theo-`
     certain favor or grace of God which He shows to His logians were virtually silent about common grace. They
     creatures in general," it intends to express the avoided further polemics. They also failed to heed the
     Kuyperian view that God is gracious to all men in com- injunction of their own synod to develop these doc-
     mon, elect and reprobate, godly .and ungodly, when He trines. The Christian Reformed Church began to follow
     bestows on them the things of this present life, such as a two-track theology; and when confronted by the in-
     rain and sunshine, life and health, wealth and posses- consistency of these two tracks, refuge was sought in
     sions, gifts and talents  - all the good things of this the "mystery." Even the discussion with the De Wolf


                                                THE STANDARD BEARER                                              487



group in the late 1950s showed no fundamental change         3) The Doctrinal Study Committee explicitly refer-
in position, either for better or for worse.               red to_ 1924 at length, ,was at pains to defend the idea
  Then in 1962 Prof. Harold Dekker threw the de- of a general well-meant offer of the gospel (without
nomination into mild turmoil by maintaining that God any general atonement basis), and maintained, too, the
loves all men with a redemptive love and that Christ idea of universal,`non-saving benefits of Christ's atone-
died for all men, so that it was proper to say to any ment (something which 1924 did not do: it failed to
man, "God loves you," and, "Christ died for you." In relate so-called common grace to the cross!), and even
other words, he taught the errors of a universal re- tried, but failed dismally, to present in harmonious
demptive love of God and of general atonement. I say relationship the general offer and the election of God.
"mild turmoil" because it .is simply amazing that in an      4) Whenever, on the floor of Synod  - and I was
officially Reformed denomination a seminary profes- present, - the discussion turned to the doctrinal issues
sor could get away with such Arminian and universalis- involved, 1924 and its doctrine of the general offer of
tic pronouncements and not be promptly suspended grace inevitably became involved.
and de osed. Instead, you will recall, discussion, de-       5) At the conclusion of the "Dekker Case," the Rev.
bate,  Til
      an study went on for several years. The conclu- Wm. Haverkamp wrote concerning Synod's decision:
sion in 1967 was that the Synod refrained from "One thing became indeed very plain from the entire
adopting certain recommendations of its own Doc- history, namely, that among the participants in the
trinal Study Committee which condemned Prof. discussion and in the reports about the case there was
Dekker's position and gave the professor an official never any disagreement about the question whether
light tap on the knuckles, not, mind you, for false Scripture teaches the well-meant offer of grace."
doctrine, but for making ambiguous and abstract state-       But is the connection between 1924 and 1967 an
mevzts,   (cf.  Acts  of  Synod  of  the Christian Reformed intrinsic connection? Was 1967 an inevitable doctrinal
Church, Articles 144, 177.) In other words, it has now development of 1924?
become possible in the Christian Reformed Church to          To this question also the answer must be affirma-
make pronouncements which are of the rankest Armin- tive.
ian character, and to do so with impunity. Prof.             Consider, in the first place, that the principle of the
Dekker's doctrinal position concerning the love of God First Point is that of  universalism.   True, in 1924 the
and the atonement stands today uncondemned!                attempt was made to say "both . . . and." But 1924
  Notice the development, both in corruption of doc- and its First Point principally contradicted the funda-
trine and in perversion of discipline:                     mental distinction of election and reprobation. It made
   1) In 1924 officebearers were deposed and expelled God's grace common and general. From that point,
because they refused to subscribe to the First Point, once the principle of particularism was fundamentally
insisted that God's grace is always sovereign and for contradicted, it was but a matter of time before it
the elect only, both in the things of this present time would be flatly denied. And when the time came, there
and in the preaching of the gospel, while Synod itself was no way of stopping it. Principles work through,
gave testimony that those who were so disciplined you see!
were Reformed in the fundamentals.                           Consider, in the second place, that 1924 left a void
  2) In 1967 Synod not only failed to discipline but which cried out to be filled. With respect to the error
refused even to condemn the doctrinal statements of a of the well-meant offer of salvation, the question was
seminary professor who proposed doctrines which are repeatedly asked: how can God offer to all men that
literally Arminian and directly in conflict with the Re- which He does not have, namely, salvation? For in
formed confessions.                                        1924, of course, no one yet wanted to say that Christ
  But is there a connection between 1924 and 1967? died for all men. But the question was left without an
  Consider the following facts:                            answer, except the wholly unsatisfactory answer that
   1) No one who wrote about the so-called "Dekker this is a mystery. Again, it was but a matter of time
Case" could do so without reference to 1924. Every- before someone would frankly face up to that question
one would expect, of course, that from the Protestant and fill that void, accepting the consequence of the
Reformed direction reference would be made to 1924. Arminianism of the First Point with respect to the
But Prof. Dekker  ,hirnself and those who supported preaching of the gospel. This, in effect, is what Prof.
him (notably Dr. James Daane, but also others) argued Dekker did. He said, in effect: the general, well-meant
cogently that they were only carrying to its proper offer of the gospel is possible because Christ died for
consequence the position of 1924. And Prof. Dekker's all men. "There is neither need nor warrant for retain-
opponents immediately felt bound to defend the tradi- ing the concept of limited atonement, as it has been
tional, but inconsistent interpretation of 1924.           traditionally used among us." And again, no one could
  2) The Synod itself, in appointing a study commit- possibly stop Prof. Dekker! Principles work through!
tee and giving it a mandate, was aware that the pro-         Do not make the mistake of thinking that I am con-
nouncement of the First Point was inevitably involved. centrating on Prof. Dekker. I am not!


488                                            THE STANDARD BEARER



  My point is that the Christian Reformed Church to- Journal, by carrying an article by a non-Christian Re-
day is impotent and even unwilling to do anything at formed writer, openly propagated not only Arminian-
all about Arminianism. In fact, Arminianism is de-. ism, but complete universalism. And to date no one
fended and supported. And there is little sensitivity for h&raised a voice against it!
the beautiful Reformed truth of salvation and against           What is the answer?
the Arminian pseudo-gospel. This is, of course, also the        Repudiate 1924 and its First Point! Unless you do,
reason why both officially and unofficially the you are fundamentally impotent to maintain the  Re-
churches can support all kinds of wildly Arminian formed faith over against complete Arminianism, and,
evangelism movements such as that of Billy Graham ultimately, total universalism.
and Campus Crusade. In fact, recently the  Reformed


                                Rank  lhiversal~ism
                                               ProJ: H. C. Hoeksema

  Elsewhere in this issue we made reference to the fact, necessarily shared by the publisher, or every
Reformed Journal's propagating of rank universalism, member of the editorial staff, or every non-staff con-
be it through the pen of a non-Christian Reformed tributor, or every advertiser. Moreover, no one, unless
writer. The reference was to the July-August issue, in he expressly so states, presumes to speak in the name
which an article by Gracia Fay Ellwood appears. The of any business firm, school, church, institution, per-
article is entitled "Birth of a New World." On page 2 it son or group of persons." A very neat negative state-
is introduced as follows: "The article "Birth of a New ment!
World" was originally a sermon preached in St. John's           Yet the following facts remain:
Episcopal Church, Los Angeles, on December 6, 1970.
Gracia Fay Ellwood is the author of Good News from              1) On its cover the Reformed Journal calls itself "A
Tolkien's Middle Earth  (1970), two essays exploring Periodical of Reformed Comment and Opinion."
the mythical world of the trilogy  The Lord of the              2) Someone, presumably the editorial staff (?) must
Rings. She holds the M.A. degree in theology and liter- have decided to place this article in this "Periodical of
ature from the University of Chicago Divinity School." Reformed Comment and Opinion."
  There is much in this so-called "sermon" which                3) No member of the editorial staff anywhere ex-
could be criticized. In fact, there is no gospel in the presses any disagreement with this or any other part of
entire article. But here is the section, at the end of the    the article. The article is simply placed as a presumably
sermon, to which we had reference:                            worthy contribution in "A Periodical of Reformed
  "What sort of supernormal events shall we look for?         Comment and Opinion." The conclusion would seem
Our creed says that Jesus will return in glory, and that to be warranted that the article is placed as belonging
his Kingdom shall have no end - that is, no limit, for in the category of "Reformed Comment and Opinion."
he is Lord of all. I am not sure just what it means that        One tends to expect almost anything in the  Re-
Jesus will return, but we can be sure that it means formed Journal - anything, that is, except Reformed
more, not less, than the wildest and most beautiful comment and opinion
thing ever imagined. If his Kingdom shall have no limit
we can expect that every moment of past time will be            But this universalism is about the worst thing they
transformed; that is, every human being that ever lived, have published recently.
every animal, every blade of grass will be revealed as          I would like to see a repudiation by a responsible
transformed and charged with the glory of God.                representative of  the.  Reformed Journal,  and, along
  "Let us hasten the great day! For he is able to do far with it, some thorough-going "Reformed Comment
more abundantly than all we ask or think!"                    and Opinion" about the entire miserably modernistic
  I have reference especially, of course, to the state? a r t i c l e .
ment that  ". . . every human being that ever lived . . .      ,Or do the members of the editorial staff (Harry R.
will be revealed as transformed and charged with the Boer, James Daane, Lewis B. Smedes, George Stob,
glory of God."                                           .! Henry Stob, Nicholas Wolterstorff)  agree  with this
  Perhaps some would excuse such rank heresy from modernism and call it "Reformed Comment and
the  Reformed Journal  by means of the  statementtin Opinion?" Let them say!
the masthead, "The comments and opinions published
in the  Reformed Journal  are not, by reason of that


                                             THE STANDARD BEARER                                                  489



All  Aroun.d Us

                                  The  Abortibn Issue
                                                   Prof H. Hanko

  In the last issue of the  Standard Bearer we  were culiar way to put the question; and it is of little help.
talking about the recent legalization of abortion and The argument is, of course, that if the foetus is alive at
the controversy which is surrounding this issue. We the moment of conception, then abortion is murder.
discussed the fact that the central question involved in But if it is not alive until some later point in its devel-
abortions is the question of a violation of the sixth opment, then abortion performed prior to that time
commandment: "Thou shalt not kill." And we noticed cannot be called murder. Physicians refer to this when
that this question must be answered by defining the they speak of the time when a foetus becomes
nature of the foetus. The question that is asked there- "viable." And generally speaking, they refer to that
fore is: When does the soul enter the body of the un- time when the foetus can live outside its mother's
born child? Those who ask this question do so on the womb. But, we are sure, this is not the proper ap-
grounds that if the soul enters the body at the moment proach to the question either. The all-important ques-
of conception, then the foetus is living and abortion is tion is: What is here meant by "life?" From one point
murder. If the soul does not enter the body until some- of view, there is no one who can deny (be he believer
time later, perhaps as late as birth, then abortion is not or unbeliever) that the foetus is alive from the very
murder, but can be compared with an operation in moment of conception. This is true because every cell
which the tonsils are removed.                              is living. The cells which go to make up trees are living
  We suggested in our last article that this was a poor cells. The spermatozoa and the ovum which, when
way of framing the question. It is alleged by some, also united, result in conception are living. And the result-
in the Church, (and we quoted in this connection ant fertilized ovum is alive.
somewhat at length from an article by Dr. Henry Stob)        But if by this question of being alive is meant the
that there is no Scriptural data which indicates to us time when a foetus is able to live outside its mother's
the time when the soul enters the body. We are in- womb (usually at about six months), there is little
clined to agree with this. But the reason is that the more help given to the problem. Just because a foetus
question is wrongly framed. And when one asks wrong is not yet able to live outside its mother, does not
questions, one always gets wrong answers. To ask the mean that this foetus is only a mass of tissue similar to
question, "When does the soul enter the body?" is to an appendix. It does not even mean that this foetus is
make a false and anti-Scriptural distinction between nothing else but a  human-being-in-the-process-of-
soul and body which really makes more problems than becoming, as Dr. Stob avers. This is a most foolish line
it solves. The old idea, originating in Greek philosophy, of reasoning for it pleased God that people, human
is that the body is some sort of container into which beings, men and women would be born through this
the soul is put. In this container the soul resides for a process of development which begins at conception
bit; and, when death arrives, the soul escapes from its and continues even beyond birth until a person is ma-
prison and is free from the fetters of the body. Scrip- tured physically and psychologically.
ture never speaks of man in this fashion. Already in          If one persists in asking these kinds of questions, it
connection with the creation of man, Scripture tells seems to me that no certain answers will ever come and
us: "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the no positive directive of Scripture will ever be found.
ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of          But Scripture takes quite a different view of the
life; and man became a living soul." Gen. 2: 7.             matter. It looks at man, above all, as a person. After
  We do not want to go into detail in a discussion of all, the animals as well as man, are called in Scripture,
this important text in this article, for it would lead us living souls. The distinction between the two is finally
far away from our subject. But it is certainly clear on that man is a personal being; the animals are not. And
the very face of it that man, as a complete creation of this is, after all, what murder is all about. Murder is not
God, is called "a living soul." To ask the question, the killing of a tree. It is not the killing of a flower. It
therefore, "When does the soul enter the body?" is to is not even the killing of a dog or a lion or an antelope.
obscure the issue. No help can be expected-from Scrip-" Murder is the killing of a person.
ture in seeking an answer to such a strange and unbibli-      This, it seems to me, is the distinction that needs so
cal question.                                               badly to be made. It is not our intention either in this
  Others have phrased the question in this way: When article to discuss at length the whole question of what
does the foetus become alive? This too, is a most pe- is meant by "person" in Scripture. This would involve


490                                           THE STANDARD BEARER



us in spiritual and psychological discussions which of a child yet-unborn, it always speaks of this child as
would detain us in our discussion of abortion. Suffice being a person in a very real and literal sense. In Job
it to say therefore, that in connection with the incarna- 10:8,  ll, 12, Job opines: "Thine hands have made me
tion of the Lord Jesus, this is precisely the distinction and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost
which Scripture makes. Scripture is very clear on one destroy me. Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh,
fundamental point in connection with the birth of and hast fenced me with bones and sinews. Thou hast
Christ. Jesus Christ united in the Second Person of the granted me life and favour, and thy visitation  bath
holy trinity the divine nature and the human nature.         preserved my spirit." Notice that Job speaks of himself
His human nature was a complete human nature both before the time of his birth as a person. Perhaps some-
as to body and soul. The distinction therefore, in what less clearly, the Psalmist -does the same in Psalm
Christ's incarnation is a distinction between His divine 119:73: "Thy hands have made me and fashioned me:
Person and His human nature. And it is this distinction give me understanding, that I may learn thy command-
which is applicable also to men. It is far better and far ments." The same general idea is expressed in Isaiah
clearer to distinguish between person and nature than 49: 1, 5: "Listen, 0 isles, unto me; and hearken, ye
to force on man some mechanical distinction between people, from far; The Lord hath called me from the
body and soul.                                               womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made
  But if we phrase the question in this  .way, then it mention of my name. And now, saith the Lord that
becomes immediately apparent that Scripture has a formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring
great deal to say about the question of abortion. That Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet
is, Scripture does not deal directly with the moral shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God
question of whether abortion is right or wrong. You shall be my strength." It makes no principle difference
will not find a single text which explicitly prohibits whether the reference here is to Israel as a nation
abortion. And this need not surprise us, for Scripture is formed from Jacob, to the prophet Isaiah himself, or
not a  codebook of moral precepts in which every prophetically, to Christ. The point itself is clear
moral contingency of life is completely discussed and enough. God deals with men as persons from the mo-
moral directives explicitly set forth. Scripture deals ment of conception.
with fundamental principles. And it expects that the           More clearly, David expresses this very beautifully in
regenerated and enlightened child of God will have the Psalm 139: 13-l 8: "For thou hast possessed my reins:
sanctified wisdom to apply these principles to his walk thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will
and calling in the midst of the world. In fact, that praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
which is objectively set forth in the Scriptures by infal- marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth
lible inspiration is subjectively sealed upon the hearts right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I
of the people of God by the operation of the Spirit so was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the
that they may know the will of God in all things. lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my sub-
Perhaps the unbelievers cannot understand these Scrip- stance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my
tural principles. But Scripture does not bother about members were written, which in continuance were
them. They are blinded by their unbelief. But the eyes fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How-
and hearts of God's people are opened and they know precious also are thy thoughts unto me, 0 God! how
the truth.                                                   great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they
  There can be no doubt about it at all that Scripture are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am
speaks of the foetus, as yet unborn, as a person. This is    still with thee." It seems difficult to imagine that
evident from many passages of Scripture. Let us turn David, in describing the wonder of his formation in the
to some of them to illustrate this point.                    womb of his mother and ascribing it all to the mysteri-
  In the first place, in a general way, we may say that ous work of God can refer only to a blob of tissue. He
Scripture always speaks of a child as yet unborn as a        speaks emphatically that he personally was made in
person, a human being. This is always true. Whenever secret and wrought by God's hand.
thebirthof a child is announced, its conception and birth      From another point of view, there are some texts
is spoken of as the conception and birth of a  child.        which speak of activities which can only belong to that
Scripture does not speak of the conception of a mass of a person. In Gal. 1: 15, Paul speaks of God separat-
of tissue, of the conception of a  human-being-in-the-       ing him from his mother's womb. It might be objected
process-of-becoming. It speaks of a person and talks of that this means the moment of Paul's birth; but the
that child as a person from the very outset. This was preposition here means literally "out of' and could
true when God annouced Isaac's conception and birth quite possibly refer to the fact that even before Paul
to Abraham and Sarah. The same is true of the an- was born, God had set Paul aside to be an apostle to
nouncement of Samson's birth, the birth of John the the Gentiles. (cf. vs. 16) If this is true, then surely it
Baptist and many others.                                     means that God dealt with Paul as a person even before
  In the second place, when Scripture speaks directly he was born. This essential idea is much more clearly


                                                 THESTANDARD BEARER                                                  491



set forth in the case of the prophet Jeremiah. In ex-. unite.Himself  with our flesh; not at some later point in
planation of His call to Jeremiah, God tells the Christ:s  life after birth (as some ancient heresies in the
prophet: "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew early Church maintained), but from the moment of
thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb I conception. He was the eternal Son of God in our flesh
sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the from the moment conception took place in Mary's
nations." Jeremiah 1:5. It is expressly stated here that womb. Paul states emphatically in Galatians 4:4: "But
God sanctified and ordained Jeremiah before he was when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth
born. Surely God sanctifies and ordains persons only. his Son, made of a woman, made under the law." And
The text seems conclusive in this respect.                    Paul writes to the Philippians: "(Christ) made himself
       The instance of John the Baptist is similar. The of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a
angel Gabriel told Zacharias in the temple that John servant, and was made in the likeness of men." Phil.
would "be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall 2:7. Indeed, it seems to us to border on the blasphe-
drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be mous that Christ was anything else but the eternal Son
filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's of God in our flesh from the moment of conception.
womb." Again the preposition is literally "out of", and And the Church has always confessed: "I believe . . . in
the sentence reads: ". . . out of his mother's womb." Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by
But more importantly for our discussion, we read that the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary."
when Mary, the mother of the Lord, entered the home              What then is the conclusion of the matter? Scrip-
of the pregnant Elizabeth, Elizabeth's babe leaped in ture, after all, gives very clear and unmistakable guide-
her womb. Dr. Stob does not find this text in any way lines in this question of abortion. Scripture never
conclusive. But the fact of the matter is that John's speaks in any other way of the unborn child but as a
leap in the womb of his mother was a response to the person. To take that life is to take the life of a person.
presence of Mary, the mother of Christ. And, as such, And that is murder, nothing less. We have said before
it could be the act of a person only. No doubt it was a that there are surely instances when even taking the
miracle and served to announce to Elizabeth the life of the unborn child is not murder. This is true, e.g.,
presence of the mother of Christ not only, but the when the life of the mother herself is threatened. Then
presence of Christ Himself. But the miracle was never- the life of the mother must be weighed overagainst the
theless, performed in such a way that a personal action life of the child. No one in the Church of Christ so far
was performed by John before he was born whether he as I know, with the exception of Roman Catholics in
himself was conscious of it or not.                            the past, have denied this. But these circumstances are
       And yet, conclusive, it seems to me, is the fact that different. One life is then set overagainst another.
Christ Himself was personal from the moment of con-              But when unborn children are killed for reasons
ception. This assertion is stated here as proof that the physical, social, psychological  - all of which are ul-
foetus is a person on the grounds that there is an timately selfish, then murder is indeed the crime com-
analogy between the conception and birth of Christ mitted.
and our conception and birth. But this analogy is jus-           But how fearful then becomes the legalization of
tified on the grounds that Scripture itself tells us that abortion. Not only are thousands and hundreds of
Christ was like unto his brethren in all things - except thousands of murders of unwanted children committed
sin. Although His birth was miraculous in that Christ in this country every year; but these very murders are
had  no  earthly father and that conception took place legalized. The law, instituted to protect human life, is
by the operation of the Holy Spirit, there is no reason turned against human life. Who can predict when this
at all to conclude that there is a fundamental dif- will end? Sanctioning coldblooded murder in one area
ference between Christ's conception and birth and of life will inevitably lead to the sanctioning of murder
our's with respect to the point we are here making. in other areas of life. God is not mocked. What a man
Surely Christ was a person from the moment of His sows that shall he also reap.
conception. The Second Person of the trinity came to


In His Fear
                                When The King Calls
                                                ./ -. Rev. John k. .Heys
                                                                 `L
       She had a beautiful voice, and she knew how to use        It was one of those voices that stands out and makes
it.                                                            you aware of the fact that here is something truly


492                                           THE STANDARD BEARER



exceptional. Hearing a voice like it you hold on with ofhell for usj%nd  that it was a great sacrilege to pray
your soul to each note, and then enjoy the next one to God in song that He would not spare us that terrible
fully as much, even when the words are not under- woe. He" understood that the work of Christ on the
stood. Not that she did not pronounce each syllable as cross had for its purpose delivering us from that awful
perfectly and clearly as she sent forth from her mouth suffering. To his mind came the text of God Himself,
notes that were perfectly in pitch. But the full, rich "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him
sound would so grip you that you often forgot to listen up for us all, how shall He not also with Him freely
to the words.                                               give us all things.9" Romans 8:32.
   Some would say it was prophetic. More likely it was        When he and Dee went out, they often had some
a matter of wishful thinking that her parents, who like- very lively arguments about the teachings of their re-
wise were skilled musicians, from the day of her birth spective churches. Her training was quite superficial,
called her Melody. It was to her, however, a matter of and Bill was able to get a few points across, and to
constant irritation to bear such a unique name; and open her eyes to the truths that she had never. been
early in those years when inescapably she became a taught. One evening she bluntly said that she did not
teenager, she succeeded in getting her friends  - and believe all this stuff about many being called and few
what was harder, her teachers - to call her Dee.            chosen, and believed that the doctrine of election was
   It, hardly need be stated that she was often featured a theory drawn up by some who wanted to deny the
in the high school programs both-within and without responsibility of man. That is, she believed this until
the school, except that this explains how she met Bill.     Bill pointed out to her that Jesus Himself had said in
Well, no, they would have met anyway, because they Matthew 20: 16 that many are called and few are
went to the same high school. And though they not chosen, and again in Matthew 22: 14 as well as in other
only were members of different.churches  of denomina- passages. He also pointed out that Paul speaks in Ephe-
tions that differed greatly in their interpretation of sians 1:4 of some being chosen in Christ from before
Scripture, but also lived on opposite sides of the city, the foundation of the world.
it was inevitable that they would be in the same class        There were times when they broke up because of
for various subjects. But because Bill was also a tal- their inability to agree on the proper interpretation of
ented musician, who likewise could hold an audience Scripture. Yet musically they needed each other and
spellbound, particularly when he played the organ, he were soon back together again. Bill did refuse to go to
was chosen to accompany Dee. He could make an prison with her, after she persuaded him to do so that
organ talk. Give him an organ, large or small, he always one Sunday afternoon with a group of other young
managed to get something out of it that you were people. That night he asked her why they went to
surprised was in that organ. This explains his role as those who had fallen the lowest, and why they went to
accompanist for Dee, and why there sprang up a very murderers and the vilest and most immoral people to
intimate friendship between them.                           tell them that God loves them and to offer salvation to
  You might call it a "natural," and say that they them,  while they, on the way to prison, had not
certainly were meant for each other. You could not stopped to do this to those respectable, law-abiding
rightly call it a "spiritual." Bill had a very sound, strict but unchurched people that they had met.
and Biblical training. He knew the truths of his church,      At times  - and this bothered Bill no little  - Dee
was well versed in the Scriptures, and not only knew spoke very flippantly and derisively of the sovereignty
the attacks upon the truth but how to refute them. of God, and drew the point of the responsibility  ,of
For this reason he would never have sought an intimate man so far that by implication the sovereignty of God
friendship with Dee. For he knew the doctrinal posi- was completely denied. Bill strove patiently until he
tion of her church and believed it to be dishonouring got her to see that if we lose the sovereignty of God,
to God, as all false doctrines are.                         we have no responsibility of man left. "Look", he said,
  Dee, however, was not too particular about the "If God is not sovereign, why do we have to give
words of the songs which she sang. The melody, the answer to Him?" Dee was honest to admit this point,
harmony and rhythm were the principal thing with and Bill assured her that he did believe the responsibil-
her. It was the music, not the message, that determined ity of man. He quoted Luke 22:22 which declares that
for her whether she would sing-the song or not. There Judas betrayed Christ as  God had determined it,  but
was, for example, that song - to call it a hymn would Jesus also adds, "Woe unto that man by whom He is
not be correct at all  - that has that terrible line in it betrayed," and thisspeaks of man's responsibility.
that goes something like this, "Don't spare me any-           But let's face it, they were caught up in a natural
thing that you endured for me." It made Bill shudder love that- always brought them together again. Bill's
because he examined the words and tested them with parents sent many prayers to the throne of grace that
Scripture. It was not simply that his church wouldnot Bill might not throw away the truth for a wife, and
allow such words to be sung in or out of his church. that he might remain firm in the truth. Dee's parents
Bill understood that Christ endured the awful torments were not that concerned. Being skilled musicians they


                                                           THE STANDARD BEARER                                                                         493



took to Bill even with his different viewsof  Scripture... been taught to give up those things of the flesh which
"We are all going to the same place," they said, "only                        could,.be  gotten only in the way of sm. And he did
on different roads." And they did rather like the strict                      consider it sin to sing that which denies God His glory
discipline maintained in Bill's church. There was some-                       and corrupts the truth of God's Word. But Dee noticed
thing  good about that. "Better it is," they philos-                          that same strange look in Bill's eyes that she had no-
ophized, "to see her in a stricter church than in one                         ticed when earlier in the evening he came to pick her
more broadminded than our own."                                               up for their date..
  As the hymn has it, "God moves in a mysterious                                  "Dee", he said, "I have news for you. I cannot ac-
way His wonders to perform." The matter was quickly                           cept this offer  ,of the contract. I do not have to, as I
coming to a head. Bill and Dee were approached by a just pointed out to you. But I cannot either. This noon
recording company and offered a contract to make a in the mail came a notice from my draft board that I
series of albums. At first both were quite excited and                        must appear for induction into the army. And, Dee,
just as flattered. But then the old problem returned.                         this is no offer for me to enter the army, it is a com-
Some of the songs that Dee thought did the most for                           mand. If I do not heed it, I sin, and I will be con-
her voice  - the glory of God in song now was an                              sidered by our government to have committed a crime,
afterthought, even though she claimed to be the "evan-                        for which I will be punished.
gelical" type who loved to sing for the "saving of
`souls" L- were those that denied the sovereignty of                             "Think it over once. Does my draft board have more
God in the sphere of our salvation and made Him de-                           authority than God? Is it more sovereign than He is? Is
pendent upon man and his "free will." When Bill our government vested with more power and authority
threatened not to sign the contract, if she would sing than God? Our government does not punish those who
any of these songs on the album, Dee remained                                 do not volunteer to serve in the army in answer to its
adamant and said that her father could accompany her call extended through advertising. It offers a place in
on those songs. But Bill let her know in equally clear the armed forces together with certain benefits in an
language that he would not appear on the same record                          effort to get a volunteer army. But it does not punish
with such songs that exalted man above God, denying those who do not enlist. And it never calls them in to
Him -His glory to give it to a creature. Both of them give an answer as to why they did not heed that call. In
went home with troubled thoughts.                                             fact it often rejects those who do accept its offer of a
  It was not easy for Bill, but he held to his point.                         place in the armed services. But once it has given you a
And it was Dee who broke down to call him some days physical, classified you, and called to you to appear for
later and arrange for a date the following evening to induction, it will haul you in for an answer as to why
discuss this matter further.                                                  you resisted them and disobeyed their command. -.
"Bill", she said that night, "Why don't we accept                                "Is the call of the gospel a call or simply a desire like
that offer of a contract? If you will agree to this first that of a government that wants a volunteer army but
album, and we establish a name in the record world,                           cannot punish those who do not volunteer? Or is it like
I'll promise not to sing any songs that you do not like the government when it sends the call of a military
on the subsequent albums. Ifwe can just get people to                         draft for one to appear for induction?
listen to us on the first album, look at the field we will                       "Consider God to be like the recording company
have for future albums. Didn't Paul write to one of the                       that can be disappointed and that has no power other
churches which he served that he caught them with than to offer a contract, and you not only deny God's
guile?"                                                                       sovereignty but also man's guilt before Him when man
  "No", Bill said, "I certainly would like to cut an rejects his "offer of salvation." See Him as the Scrip-
album or two or three. But we do not have to do this. tures present Him, see Him as the God Who remains
We do not have to accept this offer of a contract. If we                      sovereign in  every  step of our salvation, Who com-
do not, the recording company will be disappointed, mands men to repent and believe, and you can under-
and according to you, we will hurt ourselves. But stand the teachings of Matthew 11: 21-24 and of John
surely we are not committing some kind of sin when                            12:48 that God will  judge and punish  men for not
we turn down an offer. The recording company cannot believing in His Son and for not receiving Him as their
fine us, punish us, get court action against us for Saviour. When the King calls, it is a command, and the
turning down their offer. We may hurt ourselves ma- subjects have no choice. One day they will have to give
terially, but they will have no right to hurt us for an answer not only for their transgressions of His holy
turning down their offer."                                                    law, but also for not believing in His Son as the
  Dee was ready to stamp her foot and unleash a bar- Saviour. Yea, for this is breaking the first command-
rage of hot words upon Bill, for this did mean so very,                       ment and dealing with Him in the call of salvation as
very much to her. It did to Bill  as  well, but he had                        though He is not God."

      When we "spiritualize" that which is not spiritual, we tell a spiritual lie, (for instance, when we apply Biblical terms to a social gospel).


494                                          THE STANDARD  BEARER


Contending            for  the Faith  ,(  s                                :
                                                        .!
                                                   I

                            The- Doctrine 6f Atonement
                                         THE REFORMATION PERIOD
                                             THE SYNOD OF DORDT

                                                 Rev. H. Veldman

   Before we quote the Canons of Dordt in connection and is revealed throughout all the Scriptures."
with the presentation of the doctrine of the atonement          Proposition VII: "But that external calling, which
of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is well to quote from the parts I have related, demands as necessary for itself
opinions as expressed by several delegates attending these things: the promise and sending of the Son
the great synod of Dordrecht of 1618-l 619. These (which formerly should occur and now has occurred),-
opinions are of great .importance. We quote from the and the redemption, that is, the payment of the price,
Acts of the National Synod of Dordrecht, and the to atone for sin and thus satisfy God, that He would
translation is by the undersigned. We realize, of course, not require another sacrifice for the sins of any man,
that these quotations do not constitute that Synod's being satisfied with that only and all-perfect; and that,
official decisions. These official decisions are expressed to reconcile the people, no other satisfaction nor other
in the Canons. But they are of importance, because merit be necessary; provided (which must be done in
they reveal to us the mind and line of thinking of these      the remedies) that there be an appropriation of the
delegates and how these opinions finally led to the general and salutary or saving medicine." - notice,
Canons. In our preceding article we remarked that not please, that Martinius, speaking here of the one and
all the delegates at this Great Synod were equally only sacrifice of Jesus Christ, speaks of the appropri-
staunch Calvinists. When, then, we quote also from ation of a medicine which is salutary or saving and also
these delegates who were sympathetic toward the common or general.
Arminians, this is important, inasmuch as it reveals to         Then, notice what he sets forth in Proposition VIII:
us that this synod rejected these opinions when it "If this redemption, as a general benefit, shown to all
finally formulated and adopted the Canons. It is for men, is not presented as such, then the preaching of
this reason that also these weak expressions or opin- the Gospel, without distinction, and in general having
ions are important for our understanding of the commanded the Apostles to be administered to all
Canons.                                                       peoples, would have no true foundation."
  First`of  all, we call attention to the opinions as ex-       Martinius makes a two-fold distinction, as in Prop-
pressed by the theologians of Bremen, Matthias osition XVII: "But those matters (concerning the
Martinius and Henricus Iselburg. These men were not death of Christ, H.V.) must also themselves be ex-
staunch Calvinists, especially the former, Matthias plained carefully. He has satisfied for all evil, and has
Martinius. We listen, first of all, to Matthias Martinius. merited all good, with a twofold exception, the one
He speaks of two matters: the death of Christ for all referring to matters or things, the other to persons." -
and also of the death of Christ as only for the elect.          "The exception with respect to matters," he writes
Speaking of the death of Christ for all, he presents the in Proposition XVIII, "is that Christ did not satisfy,,
following propositions:                                       neither willed to satisfy, for the continuing.  impeni-/
  Proposition I: "There is a certain general love of tence, much less for the continuing obstinacy, whereby/
God to men, whereby He has loved the entire fallen that benefit is despised, or reproach is committed:
human race, and has earnestly willed the salvation of against the Benefactor, such as the wilful or wanton
all."                                                         slander of all those who sin against the Holy Ghost,
  Proposition II: "The execution of this love to men Heb. 10: 26."
appears in the outward calling without distinction,             And then we have this dark and ambiguous state-
which befalls the elect and reprobates, although God, ment by Martinius in Proposition XXI: "The Lord has
according to the freedom of His disposition, neverthe- also merited for all men grace, but not for all men that
less, always completely righteously, passes by many." grace which is connected with the special election.
  Proposition VI: "Therefore this (the external Which then? that namely, which is promised under the
calling, H.V.) is a certain execution or setting forth condition of faith.. For indeed, all men are promised
(uitvoering), belonging without distinction to the elect forgiveness of sins and everlasting life, if they believe.
and reprobates. Now, a general setting forth of grace Consequently we see here that the conditional forgive-
depends upon a general Divine love.* Which the most' ness of sins and salvation belong to all men, but not
prominent and upright Theologians also acknowledge,. the promise to give power and set in operation where-


                                            THE  STANDARD,BEARER                                                  495



by the condition is fulfilled. For these men must fulfill Did he ever have that right? Does not the cross of
of themselves, by virtue of the power of the Divine Christ stand alone, as far as its power and efficacy are
commandment. Whoever cannot do this, they cannot concerned? Does that cross earn for all men the right
do this through their own fault." Does. this language to be saved and ,the unbeliever loses that right through
not remind us of the struggle in our churches in 1953, his unbelief, impenitence and obstinacy? In Proposi-
when our churches were confronted by the statement tion VII Martinius speaks of the gospel as in itself a
that "God promises eternal life to everyone of you, savor of life unto life. Why does he not speak of the
provided that you believe?"                                gospel as being also a savor of death unto death? Yes,
  We conclude these quotations from Martinius on the he does speak of the gospel as being a savor of death
general character of the death of Christ, as we quote unto death, but notice how he says this: he does not
Proposition XXV: "From what has been said, it seems say that the gospel is a savor of death unto death, but
to me, that upon all the questions which are presented that it becomes a savor of death unto death, and that it
by this Article, one can easily answer, and this is appar- becomes a savor of death unto death for the unbe-
ent, that the meriting and the obtaining (for often the liever, and this, mind you, accidentally, through their
old and the new viewed these as one, although the own fault. Of course, Martinius must express himself in
obtaining is a little less and more general than the this manner. How can anyone believe in the death of
meriting); and that it is not all in conflict with each our Lord Jesus Christ as for all men and also maintain
other to say, that Christ died for all men, with the that that death was accomplished only and exclusively
intention to save, and thus, in this manner did not for the elect? And this delegate also reveals his weak-
die."                                                      ness when he speaks of the errors of several against this
  Martinius, we observed in the beginning of this second article concerning the death of Christ. Mind
article, did not only speak of the death of Christ as for you, he considers it an error to teach that "Christ did
all men, but he also speaks of this death of our Lord as not die in any sense of the word for those who are
only for the elect. However, speaking of the death of lost." And he also considers it an error to teach that
Christ as only for the elect, his propositions are few, "the decree of the special election or reprobation of
only seven in number. How weak he is, is evident in certain persons cannot be in harmony with the univer-
propositions V through VII:                                sality of the death of Christ"; he denies, therefore, that
  Proposition V: "And whereas faith, which is the the one necessarily excludes the other. However, we
means to appropriate unto oneself, is given to these, repeat: the Canons of Dordt rejected this view of
the other general benefits, which I have said come Martinius.
forth out of the fountain of general election, pass the      Next, we would call attention to the opinions as
unbelievers by, not remaining with them, and they expressed by the theologians of Great Britain. Inciden-
flow over only into the elect, as being of profit to tally, also these delegates cannot be considered to be-
them only ."                                               long to the group of the staunch Calvinists. In fact, we
  Proposition VI: "Whoever despises the sacrifice of understand that one of these delegates later joined the
Christ, accomplished upon the cross, loses all right camp of the Arminians. It will, therefore, be interest-
which he could have to it; and consequently he in- ing to hear also from these men. These delegates pre-
creases his condemnation. Whoever also disdains the sented to the Synod their views concerning the second
invitation, presented in the gospel, deprives himself of article of the death of Christ in six propositions.
the same unto similar destruction."                          Their first proposition reads as follows: "Out of
  Proposition VII: "Thus Christ, in Himself appointed special love and intention, as of God the Father, so
unto resurrection, is unto some a fall; and the Gospel, also of Christ, Christ died for the elect, in order that
which in itself is a savor of life unto life, becomes for He should obtain for them the forgiveness of sins and
the unbelievers a savor of death unto death, acci- everlasting salvation and bestow them upon them
dentally, through their own fault."                        infallibly."
  Mind you, these are the articles or propositions of        To this proposition they add the following com-
Martinius on the death of Christ as only for the elect. ments: "The first proposition posits that the elect shall
Indeed, these articles no Arminian would hesitate to have infallibly forgiveness of sins and everlasting life,
endorse. It is well to quote them, in the light of the out of the death of Christ, and that out of the special
fact that the Canons refused to endorse them. What love and intention of the Father and of Christ. This is
does Martinius mean when he writes that whoever established by the Scriptures which prove the power of
despises the cross of Christ loses all right to that sacri- the death of Christ, as it concerns the elect: John
fice? Of course, the unbeliever despises the cross of 11:5 1, That Christ should die for the people, and not
Christ, and, so doing, renders himself unworthy and only for that people, `but also, in order that He should
increases his condemnation. This the Scriptures abun- gather the scattered children of God in one. Eph. 5:25,
dantly testify. But what does he mean when he  de- Christ has loved the Church and given Himself for it, in
clares that that unbeliever loses all right to that cross? _ order that He should sanctify it, etc.; with which


496                                            THE STANDARD BEARER



words the intention of Christ as offering Himself is set      remark that,.,the theologians, in this statement, do not
forth, insofar as it concerns the infallible or sincere
                                                    (.  c     say  that,ithis love and intention of the Father and of
(onbedriegelijke) bestowal of salvation." To this state-      Christ~concerns  only the elect.
ment, of course, we cannot object. We can make the


From Holy Writ
                           Expositiori -of Hebrews
                                                   Rev. G. Lubbers

E&OCH'S TRANSLATION THAT HE SHOULD NOT In Colossians 1: 13 we read "Who (the Father) hath
SEE DEATH (Hebrews 11: 5)                                     delivered us from the power of darkness, and  hath
  The Bible states that it is appointed unto man once         translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." Here
to die. (Hebrews 9:27) That is the rule for every man         the apostle is referring to the act of grace in Christ
since the Fall of Adam in Paradise. Through one man           whereby we are completely brought from sin and
sin entered into the world, and through sin death, and        death, by means of regeneration, calling, justification
death passed on to every man. (Romans 5: 12) All men in the hope of the final glorification. Christ is the first-
must go into the grave of corruption, either awaiting         born of the full harvest, and we shall, therefore, with
the resurrection unto life or to receive their body to        him arise in the blessed resurrection. That too. is
enter into the destruction and desolation of hell. There      "translation!" However, here is a translation in which a
are a few exceptions to this rule of dying and to being       regenerated saint, who has already been translated
raised in immortality of life. Paul calls this a              from death to life in Christ, is so changed from the
"mystery." Writes he in I Corinthians 15:51, 52 "Be- earthly house of this tabernacle that he is completely
hold I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but translated without needing to pass through the act of
we shall all be changed, in a moment in a twinkling of dying; he did not see death.
an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound,         We agree with Calvin that we need not speculate
and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall here as to details. We have but to accept the Scripture
be changed!"                                                  account, and try to understand from the text some-
  There were two saints in the Old Testament that did         what of the reasons for it. In a word: it was a reward
not "see death," that is, they did not die as other men       of the Lord for faith!
and women, and then be buried awaiting the resurrec- ENOCH HAD RECEIVED TESTIMONY THAT HAD
tion. Abel was the first thus to die, be it then as the BEEN RIGHTEOUS (Hebrews 11: 5)
first blood of all the saints under the altar. But not so       Surely this testimony which Enoch received cannot
was the case with Enoch, Elijah and perhaps Moses.            merely refer to the fact that the Scriptures give Enoch
These did not see death. The phrase "not to see death" this testimony. There are those who would thus inter-
we find also in the New Testament Scriptures. In Luke         pret and limit the meaning of the phrase "before his
2:26 we read that it was revealed to  Sir-neon by the         translation he received testimony." We believe that this
Holy Ghost "that he should not see death before he            does not do justice to' the phrase "before his transla-
had seen the Lord's Christ." In the Genesis account of tion." In that case this phrase must mean that the
the generations of Adam that we read "Noah was not            Bible states that he was righteous before he was trans-
found, for God took him." It was an act of God differ- lated. Now this is true enough in itself, but it does not
ent from the common way in which God removes men              do justice to the tremendous life's struggle of three
from the earth. It was not through death! There was hundred years of walking with God. Besides, the form
not a funeral for Enoch. And there was no burial of his       of the verb is perfect passive tense. It means that
body. And no one went about to announce his death.            Enoch had testimony all through his weary years that
The text-gives the impression that evil men sought for        he was righteous up to each present moment. He was
Enoch as well as the righteous, even as men did in the        truly righteous in the sense that he was justified by
case of Elijah. (II Kings 2: 16-l 8)                          faith in the blood of the Lamb. However, the emphasis
  This translation was a wonder of God's grace, a prey        here  seemsz, to fall on the fact that Enoch was sub-
figuration of the changing of those, elect, who will,be       jectively righteous by the Spirit of sanctification and
still living on earth when Christ returns in the glory of     life. His life was such that he walked with God. He was
His Father. The term "translate" is used only of the          not perfect in the sense of the teaching of perfec-
elect, in the bringing about of their salvation in Christ.    tionism. But he had a great delight in the law of God


                                              THE STANDARD BEARER                                                 497



after the inward man. He sought out diligently to do ENOCH'S TRANSLATION WAS A REWARD FOR
the will of God and confessed all his  sinsand short- HZS FAITH (Hebrews 11: 6)
comings and failures. He preached in his day and              The text uses a very strong statement here. It is true
exemplified his own preaching in an exemplary godly and solid at the Rock of Ages Himself. It is this: that
life. No, he was not a recluse, a man who withdrew without faith it is  impossible  to be well-pleasing to
himself from the affairs of life and the problems of the    God. Enoch has the testimony that he was  well-
church of Christ in his day. He stood in the forefront pleasing to God every step of the way. He was in a
of the battle, wielding the sword of the Spirit, the        completed state up to the present that he was  well-
Word of God. With the shield of faith he quenched all pleasing to God. This is indicated by the perfect infini-
the fiery darts of the Evil One. And having done all he     tive "euaresteekenai" which is best translated "that he
stood! Yes, he stands in the battle also when he has had pleased God."
run the race, and has fought the good fight, he stands!       But how could a sinner like Enoch be well-pleasing
  For the day in which Enoch lived was a very evil          to God? That is the question which is not merely
day!                                                        academic; it is a practical consideration every day in
  It was a day in which the church of God began to          the life of every Christian. Only by faith can a man be
commit spiritual whoredom with the world, the sons just. The just shall live by faith. And apart from faith,
of and daughters of Cain. The waves of  worldly- saving faith, it `is impossible to please God. This is
mindedness swept over the earth and would engulf the exemplified in the lives of the entire cloud of witnesses
faithful church. No, it was not yet persecution which here singled out one by one in Hebrews 11, but this
Satan used. It was seduction of the sons of God by the must have been true of Enoch in a singular way, that
daughters of men. It was the sin of amalgamation of the Lord translated'him that he should not see death.
the church and the world.                                   For faith was brought to a mighty test in the case of
  And in this world, both in the church and in the          Enoch. He lived in evil times in which men were not
world, the name of Enoch was well-known. His voice heavenly minded, but more and more there was a fall-
was. heard far and wide. And the testimony in the ing back into perdition.
hearts of both the righteous and of the wicked was            Now the faith of Enoch was the substance of things
that  ,Enoch  .was a righteous man, who stood for the       hoped for, the evidence of things not seen! Enoch
cause and the kingdom of Christ in the world. This was walked by faith and not by sight, in regard to the
all "before his translation." Enoch was a faithful          coming of the Lord and the judgement of both the
witness, and' he preached, according to Jude, against       righteous and the wicked. When the Lord comes, the
the wicked. And his preaching has a very eschatologi-       righteous shall be raised from the dead and taken up
cal note. Writes Jude "And Enoch also, the seventh into glory. Enoch lived as Paul, who writes concerning
from Adam, prophesied to these, saying Behold, the his hope and trust upon the living God, while he labors
Lord  cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to exe-       and suffers reproach. Enoch looked for the reward.
cute judgment and to convince (convict) all that are          And thus, by faith, Enoch is translated., His faith is
ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which         rewarded, his hope is realized, his earnest expectation
they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard          of the Eschatological is pre-figured in his own transla-
speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against          tion. Enoch's end on earth is the great "Amen" of God
him." It was preaching that spoke of a day when Christ      to his servant's life and preaching. It was more sure
will judge the living and the dead. Such was the preach-    than even Enoch felt in his heart all his life-long. And
ing of Enoch. Enoch was a prophet of God who spoke          it is a picture of the church lifting up her head even in
in God's name, and he championed the cause of the           these last days, looking for the coming and blessed
LORD of hosts, who dwelleth between the                     return of Christ!
Cherubims. And this judgement will begin at the               For Enoch life can be cast into a syllogistic form of
house of God. (I Peter 4: 17; Jude 14, 15)                  reasoning. It is as follows:
  Thus preached Enoch!                                         1. No one can please God without faith.
  And preaching for three hundred years, and walking          2. Enoch was well-pleasing to God.
in godliness, he did not simply have a good reputation        3. Enoch had faith, as-the substance of things hoped
and name, but he had the testimony of God, all                   for, the evidence of things not seen.
through his life and in this present time, through the        Enoch believed that God is. This was for him no
Scriptures both of the Old and New Testament, that he       philosophical inquiry concerning the meaning of Deity.
was righteous.                                        ,.    No, it was for him a childlike trust in His heavenly
  He was righteous by faith! This point the churches' Father, in His providential care. He believed that God,
of the Hebrews must clearly understand,  *lest they in      who cares for the sparrow on the roof-top, was his
their battle should slip back into perdition. Rather        Father, who would not allow a hair to fall from his
they must believe to the final obtaining of the redemp-     head without his will. He dwells in the secret-place of
tion in Christ. Thus did Enoch gain the victory!            God, under the shadow of the Almighty, calm and


498                                            THE STANDARD BEARER



secure amidst the rising floods which lift  pp their             And the answer to this life of faith is that it was a
heads. Thus Enoch seeks out God's will in the safety of life placed: on the altar of consecration here, which, in
confidence in God. And this faith trusted that God             a twinkling of an eye, was continued in the Vision Dei
would reward him, take all his tears in His bottle, and in glory forever!
wipe away all tears from his eyes.


Studies in Election                                                                                                       I~
                                 Its Exemplification
                                               Rev. Robert C. Havbach
6. Its Exemplification                                         wisdom. The Canaanites had the fulness of number.
  Election  and. reprobation are plainly evident But what had Israel? What, apart from Jehovah, was
throughout the Old Testament. In the case of the excellency of Israel? Would we think to choose a
Abraham, who is the father of all them that believe, nation, hard-hearted, stiff-necked, carnal, unapprecia-
before God called him out of Ur, he was of an idola- tive and rebellious? Was it because Israel had one milli-
trous stock which worshiped false gods. There in that gram of goodness? Was it because Israel had an atom of
heathen environment "the God of glory appeared unto "common grace?" Or was it not rather that God chose
our father, Abraham," but not to the other citizens of Israel in absolute sovereignty? Is it not rather that God
that city. The Lord reminds us, "I called him alone, never works from the point of view of what is in the
and blessed him."                                              creature, but from what is found in Himself, in His
  Then there is the case of Jacob. He and his brother,         own will?
Esau, were born of the same father and mother, twins.            Then in the New Testament, why did the Lord
They stand as the classic example of election and re- choose angels to deliver the message of the birth of His
probation in the words, "For the children being not Son? Why not have kings or emperors make the glori-
yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that ous announcement? Why did He choose poor shep-
the purpose of God according to election might stand, herds to first receive the news? Why not the representa-
not of works, but of Him that calleth: it was said unto tives of government, or the ecclesiastical leaders in
her, `The elder shall serve the younger.' As it is written,    Jerusalem? If angels must bring the glad tidings, why
`Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated"' not have them do so in the temple? This is what we
(Rom. 9: 1 l-13). Why did the Lord choose Jacob in would think, but our thoughts are not God's thoughts.
preference to Esau? He was not particularly winsome,             The Lord himself, at the beginning of His ministry
whereas Esau was of a much more attractive personal- in Nazareth preached His first sermon on the truth of
ity. Jacob proved himself deceitful and could lie a election and reprobation. "But I tell you of a truth,
string of lies five times in nauseating succession. Yet many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when
God came to him when he had nothing, deserved noth- the heaven was shut up three years and six months,
ing but condemnation, only to promise him everything when great famine was throughout all the land; but
and to protect him everywhere he went.                         unto none of them was Elijah sent, save unto Sarepta,
  Consider next the case of the nation of Israel. God a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And
chose that nation. He set His love and favor on it, to         many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the
the exclusion of all other nations. He provided the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving
passover  lamb for that one single nation. There was no Naaman the Syrian" (Luke  4:25-27). Moses and Paul
lamb of God for the other nations. To the Israelites preached the same predestination: "I will have mercy
God had declared, "You only have I known of all the on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on
families of the earth" (Amos 3: 2), i.e., I have, from the whom I have compassion. Wherefore He hath mercy
beginning of the ages, known you with a knowledge of on whom He will, and whom He will He hardeneth."
love -you, only you, have I so loved. But all the other, But the people, unwilling to tolerate this great truth,
heathen nations I would that they should walk in their "When they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
own ways. They shall be My battle axes, My weapons and rose up, and thrust Him out of the city" (vss.
of war, that with them I may break in pieces and de-           28,29). Take note of the fact that not the people off
stroy the kingdoms of this world. Why did the Lord the streets manifested this hatred of the truth and its
choose Israel, and not the other powers?  .The unique Proclaimer, but "all they in the synagogue"! In
Chaldeans boasted the advantage of antiquity. The this connection, remember that the servant is not
Egyptians were experts in the whole range of worldly greater than His Lord. What, conceivably, would


                                            THE STANDARD BEARER                                                499



Christ's attitude to such a response be? Certainly this: human race, who has this good? "There is none
"Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said; I thank Thee,  0 good, no, not one." Then if there is none good, where
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast are the good works God is supposed to see? If by the
hidden these things from the wise and the prudent, and deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified, neither can
hast revealed them unto babes; even so, Father, for so any works be the basis of election. Then the reason
it seemed good in Thy sight." What should be our God chooses people is because He chose to choose
attitude to the preaching of this truth? This: "In this them. He chose them because it was His will to choose
rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but them. He did not choose them on the basis of their
rather rejoice because your names are written in foreseen faith (there is no such `faith'). He chose them
heaven."                                                  on the basis of His own eternal grace. "Not according
  In the early history of the church, we have the old- to our works (not of him that willeth, nor of him that
est of the evangelical confessions, the Waldensian, runneth), but according to His own purpose and grace
which says of election, "God saves from corruption which was given us before the world began.' God does
and damnation those whom He has chosen from the not elect men on the ground of faith. For faith is
foundations of the world, not for any disposition, faith` a gift of God. But that does not mean that God
or holiness He foresaw in them, but of His mere mercy     bestows faith on those He foresees would take it.
in Christ Jesus, His Son, passing by all the rest accord- What God foresees, if He foresees anything, is that
ing to the irreprehensible reasons of His own free w.ill man will not take it; that he must be given grace
and justice" (from The Doctrines of Grace, G. S. so that he will want to take it. Election is not on
Bishop). Also from The History of the Churches of the the basis of something seen in man, but on something
Valley of Piedmont,  by Samuel Morland, London, in God-grace.
1658, we have the following Waldensian statements           Arminian radio preachers, every so often, will admit
of faith. "Christ . . . died for the salvation' of all that there is an election in Scripture, but then they
those that believe" (p. 33). "We believe that there is    proceed to becloud the scriptural election, and present
one holy Church, which is the congregation of all the     one of their own, which is not a sovereign election, but
elect and faithful ones from the beginning of the world one entangled with free will. Their parroting of some
to the end" (p. 37). "All those that have been and shall few favorite Bible texts no longer conveys the aura
be saved have been elected of God before the founda- of scholarship. Nor is the way they often quote Scrip-
tion of the world" (p. 40). "It is impossible that those ture fair or complete. They frequently quote  the,
that are appointed to salvation, should not be saved. words, "him that  cometh unto  .Me, I will in no wise
Whosoever upholds free will denieth absolute Predes- cast out." Why is it that they repeat and repeat this
tination and the grace of God." "God so loved the misquote? Why do they not also quote the first part of
world, that is to say, those whom He has chosen out of the text, "All that the Father giveth Me shall come to
the world" (p. 65). "The Church is the company of the Me"? Why is it that we never hear them repeat, much
faithful . . . having been elected before the foundation less preach, on such texts as, "NO man can come unto
of the world." "All the elect are upheld and preserved Me except the Father. . .draw him," or "Ye have not
by the power of God. . .they all persevere in the Faith chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you
unto the end" (p.. 67). The first statement quoted at that ye should go and bring forth fruit," or "I speak
the head of this paragraph is also found on p. 64 of not of you all, I know whom I have chosen" or Christ's
this book. "By the holy catholic Church is meant all words from His high priestly prayer, "I pray not for
the elect of God, from the beginning of the world to the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me"?
the end, by the grace of God through the merit of           That unconditional election is the doctrine taught in
Christ, gathered together by the Holy Spirit and fore- Scripture is apparent from the intense hatred Satan has
ordained to eternal life, the number and names of always had against it. He attacks the truth, not error.
whom are known to Him alone who has elected them; The people of Nazareth were enraged against this
and in this church remains none who is reprobate" (p.     truth. Many of Jesus' disciples refused to walk
79). Compare that first statement with our own further with Him because He preached this truth in His
Canons of Dordt, which say, "This election was not bread of Life discourse. Romanism, seed-bed of
founded on foreseen faith, the obedience of faith, or Pelagianism and Arminianism, opposed this truth in
any other food quality or disposition in man as the England, France and the Netherlands with murder and
prerequisite, cause or condition" of election (I, 9). The massacre. Today, Rome still opposes this truth under
Canons were especially written against the philosophy the guise of an angel of light, as the leading unifier of
of Arminius. His rotten errors were rampant long be- the ecumenical, world church. Modern churchmen de-
fore he was born, as implied by the Waldensian creed..    spise it under the pretense of  zeal for God's honor,
  The humanist we call an Arminian has always said, ridiculing the truth as that which makes God a cruel
"God chooses people because he foresees their good, monster. Next time, D.V., we will show how apostate
their faith and good works." But in the whole Presbyterians have done this.                    (To be continued)


500                                                  THE STANDARD BEARER



               ATTENTION, MEMBERS!                                              PESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY
                     The Annual Meeting                                The  Ma&ha Ladies Aid Society of the Hull Prot-
                                of                                   estant Reformed Church hereby expresses its sincere
       The Reformed Free Publishing Association                      sympathy to our President, Rev. J. Kortering and his
            is to be held, the Lord willing, on                      family in the death of his sister,
                     September 30, 197 1.                                           MRS. KEN SCHUITEMA.
                         at 8:00 P.M.                                  May the God of all grace comfort the bereaved and
                              at the                                 sustain them in their sorrow.
           First Protestant Reformed Church                            "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most
                 in Grand Rapids, Mich.                              High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I
                                                                     will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress:
  Classis East will meet in regular session on October my God; in Him will I trust." Psalm 91: 1,2.
6, 1971 at the Hope Protestant Reformed Church.                                               Mrs. Egbert Gritters, Vice Pres.
Material to be treated in this session must be in the                                             Mrs. Nellie Brummel, Sec'y.
hands of the Stated Clerk at least ten days prior to the
convening of the session. Consistories will please con-                          RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY
sider this as an official announcement in the appoint-
ment of their delegates.                        J. Huisken, S.C.       The Mothers' Circle of Hope Protestant Reformed
                                                                     Christian School of Grand Rapids, Michigan mourns
                         NOTICE!!                                    the loss of a faithful member,
                                                                                 MRS. KENNETH SCHUITEMA
  An Office Bearer's Conference is to be held, the whom the Lord took home on Monday, August 9,
Lord willing, Tuesday evening, October 5, 197 1, at the              197 1 and hereby express our sympathy to the be-
Hope Protestant Reformed Church, at 8:00 P.M. All reaved family. We believe and are comforted with the
past and present office bearers are urged to attend. greatest assurance that, in life or in death, we are not
Prof. H. Hanko  will speak on the subject  - "Is it our own, but belong to our faithful Savior Jesus Christ;
proper to use the Office of Deaconate to collect funds                 "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His
for the various causes we represent, such as the saints." Psalm 116: 15.
schools, THE STANDARD BEARER, etc."                                                                Mrs. Jake Kuiper, Sr., Pres.
                                                P. Knott, Sec'y.                                  Mrs. Gerald Cnossen, Sec'y.

                      IN MEMORIAM                                                RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY
  The members of the Ladies' Society of the First                      The Consistory of the First Protestant Reformed
Protestant Reformed Church of Holland, Michigan ex- Church of Holland, Michigan, extends its sincere
press their heart-felt Christian sympathy to Mrs. J. H. sympathy to one of its fellow members, Deacon Ervin
Kor  tering, Miss Lafern Kortering and Miss Erma Koertering, in the recent death of his sister
Kortering in the death of their daughter and sister,
                MRS. KEN SCHUITEMA                                                MRS. ELOISE SCHUITEMA.
  May our covenant God comfort them by His Word                        "Yea though I walk through the valley of the
and Spirit." "For me to live is Christ, and to die is shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with
gain." Philippians 1: 2 1.            The Ladies' Society of the me: Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.? (Psalm
                                      First Protestant Reformed 23:4).
                                  Church, Holland, Michigan                                                 Rev. J. A. Heys, Pres.
                                          Mrs. J. A. Heys, Pres.                                              M. Haveman,-Clerk
                                         Mrs. P. Dykstra, Sec'y.
                                                                                 RESOLUTION OFSYMPATHY
            RliSOLUTION  OF SYMPATHY                                   The congregation of the Protestant Reformed
  The Martha Ladies Aid Society of the Hull Prot- Church of Hull, Iowa, herewith expresses their sincere
estant Reformed Church expresses its sympathy to sympathy to their Pastor, Rev. J. Kortering and family
one of its members, Mrs. Floyd Jansma, her husband in the passing of his sister
and children in the loss of their infant granddaughter
                SHARI LYNN JANSMA. .                                                MRS. KEN SCHUITEMA.
  May our God comfort the bereaved in their sorrow                     May the bereaved be comforted in the Word of God
and grant them His peace. "The Lord gave, and the found in Psalm 116: 15, "Precious in the sight of the
Lord hath taken away: blessed be the name  of.rthe                   Lord is the death of His saints."
Lord." Job 1: 21.                        Rev. J. Kortering; Pres.                                          Mr. Tim Kooima, Pres.
                                 Mrs. Nellie Brummel, Sec'y.                                      Mr. Bert Van Maanen, Clerk


                                                                                   THESTANDARDBEARER                                                                                                       501


                                                                Index. To Volume 47 
                                                                                     :,*,          `                                                  -
                                                                                              3
                            TEXTUAL INDEX                                                                      Atonement, The Doctrine of (Second Period) . . . . . H.V.                                   64
Text                                                                        Author Page                        Atonement, The Doctrine of (Second Period) . . . . . H.V.                                  117
Exodus14:15b.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..M.S.                                   146    Atonement, The Doctrine of (Second Period) . . . . . H.V.                                  133
Deuteronomy  13:1-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                                    29     Atonement, The Doctrine of (Third Period) . . . . . . H.V.                                 182
I Kings 2:44-45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B.W.                             91     Atonement, The Doctrine of (Third Period) . . . . . . H.V.                                207
I Rings 1836-40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS.                               50     Atonement, The Doctrine of (Third Period) . . . . . . H.V.                                229
IKings  19:1-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M.S.                            50     Atonement, The Doctrine of (Third Period) . . . . . . H.V.                                253
II Chronicles 1:7-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B.W.                           376         Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) H.V.                                      279
Psalm  1:6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M.S.                          26     Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) H.V.                                      303
Isaiah 43:5-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS.                             2    Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) H.V.                                      327
Luke 2:34b,  35b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.                             98     Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) H.V.                                      357
Luke  24:25-27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M.S.                         314         Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) H.V.                                      381
John1:18.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..G.L.                                14    Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) H.V.                                      397
John  18:6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M.S.  .266                           Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) H.V.                                      446
John  19:19,20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M.S                          290         Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) H.V.                                      472
II Corinthians 4:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS.                               74     Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) H.V.                                      494
Colossians 1:24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                         270         Australasia, Concerning the
II Thessalonians 2: 13,14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.                             410            Doctrinal Tensions in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                     151
Hebrews 6:19,2Oa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.                            386
Hebrews 10:19:23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                                                                 -B-
                                                                                    G-L.           112
Hebrews 10:24,25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                               Baptisms, Various
                                                                                   .G.L.                                                 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                                                   162                                                                                      R.C.H.       261
Hebrews lo:25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                            Baptism, Various Baptisms Exemplifying One . . R.C.H.
                                                                                   .G.L.           184                                                                                                   477
Hebrews lo:25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .G.L.                          209         Books Reviewed:
Hebrews 10:26-31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                              Better Living Through Christ
                                                                                    G-L.           210                                                           . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.      167
Hebrews 10:32-34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.L.                                         The Bible, Natural Science, And Evolution
                                                                                                   259                                                                              . . . . . H.H.       405
Hebrews 10:35-39                                                                                                  Bible Study Books
                            . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                                                . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                                    G.L.                                                                                                         H.H.    166
                                                                                                   260
Hebrews lo:39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                                                 Christian Apologetics
                                                            .! . . . . . . .                                                                       . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                                   .G.L.                                                                                                        H.H.     167
                                                                                                   283
Hebrews 11:l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                          Christology of the Old Testament
                                                                                    G.L.                                                                              . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.         237
                                                                                                   284
Hebrews 11:2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                            The Contemporary Preacher And His Task
                                                                                    G.L.                                                                                            . . . . . H.H.       238
                                                                                                   307
Hebrews 11:3-40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                             The Crisis of Piety
                                                                                    G.L.                                                     . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H.H.
                                                                                                   307                                                                                                   383
Hebrews 11:3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                            Critical Quests Of Jesus
                                                                                    G.L.                                                             . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.        263
                                                                                                   308
Hebrews 11:4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                              The Dead Sea Scrolls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                                   .G.L.                                                                                                        H.H.
                                                                                                   355                                                                                                   143
Hebrews 11:5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                              A First Book Of Daily Readings
                                                                                   .G.L.                                                                            . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.       407
                                                                                                   496
IPeter1:6,7..                                                                                                     For Sinners Only
                        . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                                            . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                                    M.S.                                                                                                        H.H.
                                                                                                   170                                                                                                   166
I Peter 1:8-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                          GodInTheDock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                                    M.S.           194                                                                                      ..H.H.       310
IPeter  1:13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                          A History Of Preaching, Vol. 2
                                                                                   .M.S.           218                                                            . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.         237
IPeter  1:14-16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M.S.                                       The Holy Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                                                   242                                                                                          .H.H.    143
I Peter 1:17-19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.                                      The Holy Triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                                                   338                                                                                          .H.H.    309
IPeter  1:20,21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M.S.                                       Letters To Polly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                                                   372                                                                                          H.H.     309
IPeter 1:22,23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M.S.                                        The Message Of The Old Testament
                                                                                                   434                                                                    . . . . . . . . . . H.H.       166
IPeter  1:24,25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M.S.                                       One Moment With God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                                                   458                                                                                          H.H.     143
IPeter 2:1-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M.S.                                      Our Guilty Silence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                                                   482                                                                                          H.H.     237
IPeter 4:7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M.S.                                    Preaching From Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                                                   122                                                                                          .H.H.    ,166
IJohn2:1-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                            Reformed Bishops And Catholic Elders
                                                                                    G.L.                68                                                                     . . . . . . . H.H.        143
Jude24,25...............................G.L.                                                                      Somewhat Less Than God:
                                                                                                        43           The'Biblical  View Of Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H.H.                       238
                            SUBJECT INDEX                                                                         The Spirit Of The Reformed Tradition . . . . . . . . H.H.                              333
Subject                                 -A-                                Author Page                            Springboards For Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.                       333
A.A.C.S. and Christian Schools, The                                                                               What's New In Religion?
                                                        . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.                                                                   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H.H.
                                                                                                        34                                                                                               215
Abhortions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                             Whose Land Is Palestine?
                                                                            .J.A.H.                                                                        . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.      143
                                                                                                   325
Abortion On Demand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.                              451                                               -c-
Abortion On Demand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . lH.H.                               461         Calvin Seminary and the New Hermeneutic . . . . . . . H.H.                                129
Abortion Issue, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.                           489         Canons, Something Bad Happened To The . . . . . H.C.H.                                    316
Amusing and Confusing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .J.A.H.                                231         Catalogue Folder, About Our New . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                              292
Anchor  ofthe Soul,The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . `M.S.                             386         Catechism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C.H.             16
Antithesis, A Question of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.V.B.                                 272         Christ Capturing His Captors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.                     266
Arntzen (Dr.) Resigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H.H.                            278         Christmas, AWhite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .J.A.H.                   131
Atone For Sin, Did Christ? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.                              343         Christmas Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C.H.                164
Atonement, The Doctrine of (First Period) . . . . . . . H.V.                                            10     Circle, Full? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.              102


502                                                                   THE STANDARD BEARER



Common Grace - An Encouragement                                                          Election  - Its Exemplification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.C.H.                498
   To Worldliness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.V.B.         3.63    Election - Its Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . :. . . . . . . . . . R.C.H.          90
Common Grace Still The Issue? . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                   341     Election - Its Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.C.H.          141
Common Grace Still The Issue? i . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                   388     Election - Its Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.C.H.          178
Common Grace Still The Issue?                  . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.    485     Election  - Its Scripture Proof. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.C.H.               399
Communication Gap, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C.H.              428     Election  - Its Scripture Proof. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.C.H.               429
Concordia, Discord At . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H.H.            250     Election - Its Well-spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.C.H.             180
Confession, Request for a New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.               297     Election  - Its Well-spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.C.H.            233
Confessing With Thy Mouth                                                                Election  - Its Well-spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.C.H.            285
   the Lord Jesus, About . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.            463     Emphasis, A Shift of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J.A.H.          12
Confess With the Mouth, Why Not? . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                      268     End, The Approaching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.             122
Contacts, Encouraging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.             149     Evolution, Proof for? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H.H.           106
Contributions:                                                                           Exhortation To Love  Fervently&r . . . . . . . . . . . . M-S.                     434
   SignsoftheTimes,.AsTo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H.W.                 331                                          -F-
   Verbal Inspiration, As to                                                             "Father Groppi" Again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.V.B.               81
       Billy Graham and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.C.H.           332     Father-Teenager Conversation, A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C.H.                  206
   Worship, As To Changes                                                                Flowers, Hope For our Fading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .J.A.H.                  470
       intheorderof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J.K.,Jr.           331     Freedom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J.K.     87
Convocation Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.              29
Covenant Distinctiveness,                                                                GamblingStillASin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.            451
   Training Our Youth In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..J.A.H.            160     Gathering of the Israel of God, The . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.                    2
Covenant Distinctiveness,                                                                Gems From Scripture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-H.            351
   Training Our Youth In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .J.A.H.             188     Generation, The Now . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-H.          474
Creation and Evolution in California Schools . . . . . H.H.                      104     Genesis l-3 Prophecy,Are? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H.H.                60
Credibility Gap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.       293     Gereformeerde Kerken, Canons in the . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                        316
                                    -D-                                                  Gereformeerde Kerken, The Crisis in the . . . . . . H.C.H.                        101
Devil Is Dead, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .J.A.H.       423     Gereformeerde Kerken, Decision of the . . . . . . . H.C.H.                        125
"Devouring Flame . . ." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C.H.          37     Gereformeerde Kerken, Latitude
Doctrinal Tensions "Down Under," The . . . . . . . H.C.H.                        173        inTeachingforthe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H.H.             224
Doctrinal Tensions "Down Under" . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                     196     Gereformeerde Kerken, Letter to the . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                      415
Doctrinal Tensions "Down Under" . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                     220     Gereformeerde Kerken, Protests in the . . . . . . ; . . . H.H.                      9
Doctrinal Tensions "Down Under" . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                     244     Graduates, A Word for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.D.D.              374
Drugs on Campus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.         226     Graduates, A Word to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.D.D.             452
                                    -E-                                                                                       J-j-
Earthly Affairs, The Pilgrim's Involvement in . . . . . D.E.                     135     Heart ,Transplants, A Footnote To . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.                   10
Earthly Affairs, The Pilgrim's Involvement in . . . . . D.E.                     157     Hebrews, Exposition of (see Scripture Index)
Editor's Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.       76     Hebrews, Exposition of the Last Part of . . . . . . . . . G.L.                    112
Editor's Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.    125     Hermeneutic, Calvin Seminary and the New . . . . . .H.H.                          129
Editor's Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.    149     Holy In Our Conversation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.             242
Editor's Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.      172,    Home, Formula for the Christian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J.K.                  468
Editor's Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.      341     Hope, Eternal Ground Of Our Present . . . . . . . . . . M.S.                      372
Editor's Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.      362     Hope Perfectly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS.      218
Education, The Concern of the                                                                                             -I-J-K-L-
   Reformation for Christian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D.E.             20     Inventory, A Time For Spiritual . . . . . . . . . . . . . .J.A.H.                 349
Education, The Concern of the                                                            Israel Commanded To Go Forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.                     146
   Reformation for Christian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D.E.             58     Jamaica, Memories and Musings of . . . . . . . . . . . R.C.H.                     235
Education, The Concern of the                                                            Jamaica, Mission News from . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.L.                66
   Reformation for Christian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D.E.            110     Jewel, A Precious . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .J.A.H.         255
Education, The Concern of the                                                            Joshua's Long Day Again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.               33
   Reformation for Christian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D.E.              180     Joy Amidst Sorrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.          170
Education, The Concern of the                                                            KingCalls,WhenThe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..J.A.H.                491
   Reformation for Christian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D.E.            213     KingOnTheCross,The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.                 290
Education, The Concern of the                                                            Listening, Are You? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .J.A.H.           281
   Reformation for Christian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D.E.            257     Love That Hates, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .J.A.H.            394
Election - Its Confessional Expression . . . . . . . . R.C.H.                    286                                         -M-
Election - Its Confessional Expression . . . . . . . . R.C.H.                    329     Marriage, A Bit More About . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C.H.               404
Election - Its Confessional Expression . . . . . . . . R.C.H.                    353     Marriage, A Divine Institution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J.K.             322
Election  - Its Implication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.C.H.           429     Mary's Babe A Contradicted Sign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.                   98
Election  - Its Implication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.C.H.           454     McIntire and Ky - A Wicked Alliance . . . . . . . . . . H.H.                       32
Election  - Its Implication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.C.H.           .475    McIntire and the A.C.C.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H.H.             154
Election  - Introductory Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . R.C.H.                   35     Merger News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H.H.      ,9
Election  - Introductory Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . R.C.H.                   89     Minister and the Church Order, The . . . . . . . . . . R.G.M.                     444


                                                                   THE STANDARD BEARER                                                                                  503


Mistake, Masters of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J.A.H.      211                                         -R-
Mountains Quake, Although the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C.H.              300      Reformation, And More Reformations! . . . . . . . . . M.S.                       50
                                   -N-                                                 Reformation Day 1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C.H.            57
"New Eye Opener Tract," As To That . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                       5      Reformation, The Heart-Beat of the . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                    53
NewYear,Wishesfora.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.             203      Reformation, The Heart-Beat of the . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                    77
New Zealand, An Open Letter to                                                        Reprobation, As To Dr. K. Runia On . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                      196
   the Reformed Churches of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.          295     `Reprobation, Dr. K. Runia on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.               220
News Feature - South Holland Church . . . . . . . . . . . . .                 3 11    Reprobation, Dr. K. Runia on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                244
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D.D.             23     RES Interim Committee, Letter from the . . . . . . . . H.H. -155
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D.D.            47     Return of  the.Glorified  Lord, The . . . . . . . . . . . G.V.B.                  18
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D.D.             72     Return of the Glorified Lord, The . . . . . . . . . . . G.V.B.                    38
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D.D.            96     R.F.P.A.  - Annual Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            45
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D.D.           119     Risen Lord Expounding The Scriptures, The . . . . . M.S.                         314
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D.D.           144     Rock Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.    277
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D.D.           168     Rock Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H.H.     321
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D.D.           192     Rock Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H.H.     401
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D.D.            215     Runia@r.K.)ToKampen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                   421
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D.D.           240                                         -S-
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D.D.           264     Saintly,But Faintly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .J.A.H.           62
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D.D.            287     Salvation, Divine Ordination Unto . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.                 410
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D.D.            311     Salvation in Christ, Receiving Our . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.              194
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D.D.            335     Satan Worship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.     250
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D.D.            359     Science and Human Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.            176
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . i . . . . . . . D.D.           384     Seminary Building, Our . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.V.          437
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D.D.            407     Seminary Graduation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.             439
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D.D.           431     Sensitivity Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.      204
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D.D.           456     Sex,The Sanctity of.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J.K.           226
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D.D.            480     Sheep, Fear-filled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .J.A.H.       305
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D.D.           504     Sneek, The "Verontrusten" and the Synod of . . H.C.H.                            175
                                 -O-P-                                                Sojourning In Godly Fear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.            338
Organizational, Is the Christian's Calling? . . . . . . . . H.H.              320     Soli Deo Gloria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.     440
Parents, Obedience To . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.D.D.          301     Solomon As Judge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B.W.            91
Parochiaid Is Dead! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.    127     Solomon's Choice of Wisdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B.W.                376
Parochiaid, The End of? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : . . . . H.H.        450     Standard Bearer In His Fear, The . . . . . . . . . . . . .J.A.H.                  93
Pope, An Infallible? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H.H.      249     Standard Bearer In His Fear, The . . . . . . . . . . . . .J.A.H.                 108
Preaching, Practical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.D.D.     139     State Aid To Schools In The Netherlands . . . . . . . . H.H.                     344
Preaching, Practical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.D.D.     186     Synodof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..H.H.               412
Presbyterians, Union of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.' 276         Synod, Two Major Decisions of . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                   416
Proposal C - Michigan's Antiparochiaid                                                                                    -T-
   Amendment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.        56     Ted & Alice & Groppi . . . and Grace . . . . . . . . . G.V.B.                    363
Publication News - The Triple Knowledge . . . . . H.C.H.                       28     Thanksgiving, Grace Abounding Through . . . . . . . . . M.S.                      74
Publications, Two Recent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.           437     Thanksgiving 1970, Candid Camera on . . . . . . . . . . C.H.                     106
                                   -Q-                                                Theological School Building Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.                  392
Question Box:                                                                         Translations of Rev. H. Hoeksema's Writings:
   Baptism, About the Validity of. . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.               390        Believers And Their Seed (Chapter XI) . . . . . . . . . . . .                  70
   Believers And Their Seed, About . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                  85     TwoWays,The.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.            26
   Colossians 1:24, As To the Meaning of . . . . . . H.C.H.                   270                                     -u-v-w-
   Communion, About Close . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.            422     Universalism, Rank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.          488
   I Corinthians  3:12-15, About . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.              86     "Verontrusten" and the Synod of Sneek, The . . H.C.H.                            175
   Divorce and Remarriage, As To . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.               153     Versions, Of Many . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H.H.            8
   Glory, About Recognition in the State of . . . . H.C.H.                    190     War, The Christian and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H.V.           345
   Lord's Supper, As to the Form for the . . . . . . H.C.H.                   318     Weddings, Something About . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C.H.               252
   Marriage Regulations in Leviticus . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.               114     Wedding, The Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J.K.           425
   "New Theology," Questions about the . . . . . . H.C.H.                      22     What For? (A Question of Antithesis) . . . . . . . . . G.V.B.                    272
   "Offer of Grace," About the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.              42     Why Are YouHere? . . . . . . . . . : . . . . . . . . . . . . .J.A.H.             448
   Prayer Days, Why Does Not Classis Proclaim? . H.C.H.                       115     Will, Doing the Father's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .J.A.H.           378
   Professors Eligible To Be Called? . . . . . . . . .,. H.C.H.                41     Woman's Liberation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.H.          251
   Prot. Ref. Doctrine, About Instruction in . . . . H:C.H.                   201     Word,DesiringTheMilkOfThe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M.S.                      482
   Witnessing, About . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.       465     Word, God's Eternal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.         458

           If the Social Gospelers were in business in the Prodigal Son's day, they would have given him a bed and a
           sandwich - and he never would have come home!


                                --- -- - ---~


 THE STANDARD BEARER
          P.O. Box 6064
Grand Rapids; Michigan 49596


504                                             THE STANDARD BEARER


                                News From Our Churcheg
  The August 29 bulletin of Southeast Church had a               Recreational activities included an outing at Lake of
section entitled "Church News." It very nicely took           the Woods, boat cruise on the Chicago River, and a
care of the news concerning calls, `so we'll borrow it.       view of Chicago and vicinity from the top of the John
"Candidate R. Miersma has accepted the call extended          Hancock Building.
to him by our church in Isabel, S.D. Rev. C. Hanko has          The "Federation Board Message," in the Convention
received the call to Hudsonville, Mich. Rev. Harbach Booklet, included these lines, written by Gary
has declined the call to be Home Missionary."                 Bouwkamp, the Board president: ". . . it is our calling
                           ********                           as host and visiting societies to stand out as true dis-
  Actual bulletin quotations are often more interest-         ciples of Christ, in all activities, from sports to discus-
ing than summaries thereof. Something is lost in a sum-       sion groups, from business meetings to banquets and
mary - the immediacy, perhaps. So we'll present a few         speeches, constantly reminding ourselves that every-
more quotations, this time from a couple of August            thing must be done to God's honor and glory." If that
bulletins of our Redlands' congregation. They read as         attitude was characteristic of the conventioneers as a
follows:                                                      whole, then the experience must have been what South
  "A pulpit exchange has been arranged between Rev.           Holland Young People's Society tried to make it - a
Woudenberg and our pastor for the next two Sundays.           truly great convention.
Rev. Hanko plans to take his family with him, and also                                 ********
plans to do church visitation in Lynden at the same
time."                                                          The doors of our day schools have opened for the
                     /
  And from another: "Rev. Hanko has a classical               1971-1972 season. Notice was made, in the "High-
appointment next Sunday in Forbes, N. Dakota. He              lights" of Hope School, that this year "marks a
plans, at the same time, to do church visitation in the       quarter-century of the operation of Hope School." The
mid-west, and also to attend  classis in Isabel on the        school administrator, Mr. John Buiter, goes on to write
1st of September."                                            that "with thankful hearts we can look back and to the
  It's at that meeting of Classis West, incidentally, that    future, thanking God  .for His faithfulness in making
Candidate R. Miersrna was to be examined, prior to his        this school possible. By the Grace of God the school
ordination as minister of the Word, and installation as       has been maintained and has grown much over the past
pastor at Isabel.                                             twenty-four years. There have been changes and
                           ********                           growth over these years, but one factor has remained
  The radio broadcasting of one of the worship serv-          constant, God has allowed us as parents to maintain
ices in our church at South Holland, Illinois, was begun      instruction based on His Word, which changes not."
August 1. The service will be broadcast weekly, over            Mr. Buiter adds that, "One change in the school
station WLNR-FM, on Sunday afternoon, from 5:30 to building this year will be the remodeling of the old
6:30. The prayer of the congregation was that "by this        furnace room, office, and kitchen into a central library
means we may give witness to the truth of the Gospel room"                             ********
of our Lord Jesus Christ."
                           ********                             The students of our Seminary have also reached the
From South Holland we have this "advance notice," end of their summer vacation - though four of them
which is advance even for The Standard Bearer (though might question the use of that term, "vacation." Mr.
just barely): "Professor Herman Hanko will lecture Van  Overloop spent the first part of the summer
September 17th on the subject `The Christian and the preaching in Forbes, the second part in  Doon. Mr.
Film Arts.' "                                                 Bekkering spent the first part in Doon, the second in
                           ********                           Forbes. Our church in Randolph was supplied till July
  The Protestant Reformed Young People's Conven-              18 by Mr. Slopsema, and after July 18 by Mr. Kamps.
tion was held in South Holland this year, on Aug.               Our "vacant" churches must certainly appreciate the
17- 2 0. The convention theme was "Disciples of work of these students, and we have no doubt that the
Christ." The three speeches, "Mark of Discipleship," students not only benefit from the experience, but also
"Costliness of Discipleship," and "Freedom of Dis- enjoy this foretaste of the work for which they are
cipleship," were given by Rev. Kortering, Rev.                diligently preparing.
Schipper,  and Rev. Van Baren, respectively.                                                                       D.D.


