                                   he

                             tandard

                                           earer
                                                        -..

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


IN  THIS ISSUE

      Editorial:
        Should OPs and RPs Unite?

      Meditation:
        Christian Contentment

      Critique:
        "The Gospels In Current Study"

      Signs of the Times:
        What Did "Agnes" Say To You?





                                          Volume XL VIII / Number 21 / September 15, 19 72


482                                                          THE STANDARD BEARER


                             C O N T E N T S :                                                            THE  STANDARD  BEARER
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                                                                               Editor-in-Chief: Prof.  H. C. Hoeksema

Editorial -                                                                    Department Editors::  Mr.  Donald   Doezema,   Rev.  Cornelius   Hanko,   Prof.
   Should OPs and RPs Unite? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .483                Herman  Hanko,   Rev.  Robert   C.  Harbach,   Rev.  John  A.  Heys.  Rw.  Jay
                                                                               Kortering,   Rev.  George   C.  Lubbers,   Rev.  Marinus  Schipper,   Rev.  Gise  J.
                                                                               Van  Earen,  Rev.  Herman   Veldman.  Rev.  Bernard  JNoudenberg
Meditation  -
   Christian Contentment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .485            Editorial Office:  Prof.  H.  C.  Hoeksema
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Editor's Not es

   This Issue completes Volume 48. An index to this you early shoppers, here are some worthwhile
volume will be found in this September 15 issue. We Christmas gift ideas also! And to those of our readers
give thanks to God that we have been enabled to who have been enjoying our introductory Ten for Two
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now, the Lord willing, the Standard Bearer will have good book!
reached its Golden Anniversary.
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  Attention All Readers! Enclosed with this issue is a                            Special Attentisn  is called to Prof. Hanko's detailed
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you have just renewed your subscription, take book was considered important enough to merit
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year. You won't  find a better bargain than this. For Prof. Hanko's usual All Around Us.


                                                   THE STANDARD BEARER                                              483


Editorial

                              Should OPs and RPS Unite?
                                                      Prof H. C Hoeksema

  For some years talks have been held and efforts have softer  .approach in dealing- with the apostasy."
been put forth toward a union of the Orthodox Whatever may be the truth of McIntire's  allegations on
Presbyterian Church and the Reformed Presbyterian this score, this new group became known eventually as
Church, Evangelical Synod. The former is the the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. This new group,
denomination which was formed in the mid-1930's of course, received its doctrinal heritage from the Bible
when Dr. Machen was expelled from the Presbyterian Presbyterians. As reported in the Standard Bearer, Vol.
Church (Northern) because of  his battle against 38, p. 93, it reaffirmed its premillennialism.
modernism. Perhaps to many of our readers it is best Presumably, it also carried along an Arminian heritage.
known through its (unofficial) connection with And it also inherited what are sometimes called
Westminster Seminary. The Reformed Presbyterian "strict" views on Christian liberty. At the time of the
Church, Evangelical Synod, is itself the product of a Standard Bearer  report just mentioned, this
previous merger. And since this fact is rather closely denomination has about 70 congregations throughout
connected with the proposed union now under the country. Now it is this Evangelical Presbyterian
discussion, it is necessary to explain the rise of the          Church (which two separations back was united with
denomination with which the Orthodox Presbyterian what is now the Orthodox Presbyterian Church) that
Church now proposes to unite. When the Presbyterian in 196 5 united with the Reformed Presbyterian
Church in America (later called the Orthodox Church (a church in the Covenanter-Secession
Presbyterian Church) was established in 1936 under Tradition) to form what is now known as the
the leadership of Dr.  Machen and others, there soon Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod. At
became evident rather serious differences of views the time of the merger, the new denomination was
within the new denomination. These differences reported to number about 100 congregations and some
concerned chiefly premillennialism and matters of 10,000 communicants, (cf. Standard Bearer, Vol. 41,
Christian liberty (the use of alcohol and tobacco). p. 373).
Ultimately these differences gave rise to a separation in         It is this latter denomination - for a large part once
the new group, with a segment forming the Bible united with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church  -
Presbyterian Church in 1937 - the church which still which is now busily engaged with the O.P.C. in seeking
today is associated chiefly with the name of Dr. Carl union.
McIntire.  From the start the Bible Presbyterian Church           The status of these union efforts at present is as
has been strongly premillennial in its doctrine, and has follows:
modified the Westminster Confession and the Larger                1. The Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian
Catechism to provide for its premillennial position. Church, Evangelical Synod has adopted the "Proposed
Moreover, the Bible Presbyterian Church also adopted Basis of Union."
a Declaratory Statement which is Arminian, as follows:            2. The General Assembly of the Orthodox
       In adopting the Confession of Faith this General         Presbyterian Church acted in this year's session also to
    Synod (the first General Synod of the BPC) declares:        adopt it "with the further provision that the
       First: its fm and glad belief in the realitfr  and       Committee [on Ecumenicity and Interchurch
    universality of the offer of the Gospel to mankind.         Relations] be instructed to seek to improve this
    We believe that Christ's atonement is sufficient for
    the sins of all, adapted to all, andis freely offered to    statement in joint meeting with the [Fraternal
    all men in the `Gospel. We believe that no man will be      Relations] Committee of the Reformed Presbyterian
    condemned except upon the ground of his sin.                Church, Evangelical Synod, for inclusion in a Plan of
       Second: with regard to the salvation of those            Union."
    dying in infancy we do not regard our Confession as           3. Both the Assembly and the Synod instructed
    teaching or implying that any who die in infancy are        their respective committees to "prepare a Plan of
    lost.                                                       Union to be submitted to the 1973 Synod and General
  In 1956 there was a further division within the Bible Assembly."
Presbyterian denomination. According to Dr. Carl                  4: The earliest possible date for the actual union
McIntire, this defection began in 1954 "under the would be in 1974. If both the O.P. Assembly and the
leadership of the Rev. Francis  Schaeffer, Dr. Robert R.P. Synod should approve a Plan of Union in 1973,
Rayburn, and the Rev. Tom Cross, who felt that the then it would still have to be voted on by the
church could get a great deal farther if it would take a Presbyteries (classes).


484                                                      THE STANDARD BEARER


       In the June/July issue of the Presbyterian Guardian,                Do I think the OPs and RF% should unite? Yes,
Editor John J. Mitchell, who voted this year in favor of                though it is a cautious and perhaps reluctant
the proposed Basis of Union but who seems                               affirmative. . . .
nevertheless to have some misgivings about it, reports                Having aired his own view, Editor Mitchell expresses
on these actions of the O.P. Assembly arid of the R.P.              the desire to see the views of others on this subject. He
Synod. He also publishes the "Proposed Basis of does not say whether by "others" he means "insiders"
Union." And among other .comments on the matter, he or "outsiders"; and so, here is an "outsider's" view.
states: "The O.P. General Assembly did not specify                    Without presuming to give either an affirmative or
what improvement it desired in the Proposed Basis of negative answer to this question, I offer the following
Union.  The discussion preceding adoption of this considerations.
instruction to its committee indicated that some                      In the first place, it seems to me that an
commissioners (A commissioner is similar to our ecclesiastical marriage should be transacted either with
synodical delegate. HCH) wanted additional material, complete enthusiasm or not at all. A reluctant "I do"
particularly in the area of Christian liberty, the need to and one with misgivings before it is ever consummated
avoid sectarianism and schism, and an emphasis on the bodes ill, it seems to me, for a marriage. This is true for
sovereign grace of God in man's salvation, as well as two individuals who contemplate marriage; I believe it
other possible concerns.                                            applies equally to the union of two churches. If the
  In principle, the broadest assemblies of the two reluctance and misgivings continue after the marriage is
denominations have, therefore, given  an affirmative consummated, they may become the cause of marital
answer to the question: Should OPs and RPs unite?                   difficulties and, eventually, of a divorce suit. One will
  Yet, apparently the decision is not with complete reproach the other for being railroaded, for being
enthusiasm, either on the part of the Rev. Mr. Mitchell deceived, for not living up to the agreement, etc. And
or on the part of others in the O.P. C. In expressing his the end will be ecclesiastical trouble. In fact, if Mr.
persqnal views on the matter, Editor Mitchell writes as Mitchell's report on the reasons why the O.P. General
follows:                                                            Assembly wanted improvement in the "Proposed Basis
           The recommendation ,passed, by a very large              of Union" is correct - and there is no reason to think
        majority, both in the O.P. Assembly and the R.P.            it is not correct  - then there are serious enough
        Synod. The undersigned voted in favor this time.            misgivings already. And I would suggest that indeed
        Why? and why did so large a number agree? For some
       it was probably done with enthusiasm and full                the  0-P. Church should insist on clearing these up
        conviction that merger was right. For others it may         before it says a final "I do." Surely, marriage merely
       have been reluctant, with concern for the problems to        for the sake of marriage is not to be recommended.
        be solved and perhaps with a little nostalgia at the        The O.P.C. has steered clear - rightly, I believe - of
        thought of becoming only a medium-sized frog in a           organic union with the Christian Reformed Church.
        larger pond. For others it was done because they felt       But let it not contract a potentially troublesome
        it was the Lord's will in spite of the difficulties and     marriage with the R.P. Church, as it were, on the
        adjustmetits required.                                      rebound.
  A little later, after mentioning some points of                     In the second place, in my opinion some important
agreement, Editor Mitchell writes:                                  matters have indeed not been cleared up. This is
           But aren't there differences? Of course there are.       important. Marital harmony - also on the ecclesiastical
        Yet I believe it is fair to say there are no differences    level  - requires unity, unity in the truth of God's
        between the two churches that are not also to be            Word. It will not do at all to ignore differences, to try
        found within each of them. No doubt there will be
        some tense moments in any united church, as old             to "live with" important differences. Indeed, this does
        frictions are rubbed afresh. and new problems arise.        not mean that there must be complete agreement on
        But certainly both churches have had many such              every little detail. But it does imply fundamental
        experiences in the past, with strong differences of         agreement in doctrine and life, in confession and walk.
        opinion, strenuous debates and protests.                    It seems to this writer that these are lacking. And here
           The basic question is simply whether the Spirit of       are my reasons:
        truth will so overrule our contentious natures that         1) There is much attention paid to the matter of
        together we will grow to a fuller maturity after the        Christian liberty in these merger talks; and indeed, in a
        image of Christ. The Reformed Presbyterian brethren         practical sort of way this can be a grave source of
        may need to continue to grow in appreciation of the         trouble. It was a troublesome thing in the early years
        liberty we have in Christ free from the                     of the O.P.C. And I do not know how much opinions
        commandments of men, even as the `Orthodox
        Presbyterian brethren need to grow in patterns of           have hardened or softened in the intervening years. But
        holy living that bring honor to the name of our Lord.       while much attention is paid to this matter in the
        It will not be easy, and there may be some whose            Preamble of the "Proposed Basis of Union," I cannot
        consciences will not allow them to remain in such a         see that these statements settle much of anything.
        united church.                                              They leave the impression on me of a sort of


                                             THE STANDARD BEARER                                            485


compromise, of a glossing over of differences, of similar failure if the proposed merger results in a large
agreeing to disagree. And this is a potential source of influx of died-in-the-wool premillennials?
flare-up of the old trouble.                                 3) There is the very important matter of
  2) The matter of premillennialism is apparently left Arminianism. Anyone who is acquainted with the little
an open question. In the section of the "Proposed brochure by Murray and Stonehouse on the  Offer of
Basis of Union" dealing with the Doctrinal Standards the Gospel  and with the treatment of Dr. Clark in
there is included the following: "The text of the by-gone years may have doubts about the strength of
Westminster Larger Catechism in its original form, with the O.P.C. over against Arminianism. But evidently the
the amendments adopted by the Reformed O.P. commissioners have doubts as to the strength of
Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod in reference to the Reformed Presbyterian Church on this score. Why,
answers 86-89 which seek to ensure neutrality in otherwise, would they want an improvement in
regard to the eschatological sequence. . . ." True, this emphasis on the sovereign grace of God in man's
does not  adopt  the premillennial position, as do, for salvation in the "Proposed Basis of Union?" And while
example, the amendments to the Westminster I am not personally acquainted with the Reformed
Confession and the Larger Catechism made by the Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod, nevertheless,
Bible Presbyterian Church. It only seeks to ensure judging from their background in the Bible
"neutrality." I suppose this means that in the proposed Presbyterian Church, I would expect considerable
new denomination one will be able to be pre-, post-, or Arminianism among them. Nor do I find the
amillennial. Now, in the first place, confessional "Proposed Basis of Union" to be strong and specific on
neutrality on an important matter like this, even if it this score in this day of rampant Arminianism.
were possible, is wrong. Eschatology is, especially          In the third place, Editor Mitchell suggests that
today, an important part of the church's confession. there are no differences between the two churches that
Neutrality simply means that the church will have NO are not also to be found within each of them. If this be
confession about the eschatological "sequence," as it is true, it is nevertheless not a reason to proceed with
called. In the second place, - as the Standard Bearer merger. And if it applies to the differences which I
pointed out at the time of the original conflict about have mentioned above, then it is  surely  a reason to
this matter circa 1936 - premillennialism is at best not avoid merger. For I venture to say that then a merger
consistent Presbyterianism; and if it is premillennialism will only result in a strengthening of whatever
plus dispensationalism (as is true of consistent legalistic, premillennial, and Arminian elements there
premillennialism), then it is not Presbyterianism at all. are already in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. And
For then there is much more involved than Answers this will surely not result in the fulfillment of Mr.
86-89 of the Larger Catechism. Then the unity of the Mitchell's fond hope that "Perhaps we shall see yet
church and the kingship of Christ are also involved. In again a Presbyterian church in our land with the
the third place, it seems to me that the O.P.C. should strength to challenge the apostate churches and the
be extremely careful on this score. Is it not true that size to provide a fellowship for  all. those of like
the very attempt at neutrality on premillennialism precious faith throughout the land." Why not? Because
failed  in the conflict which gave rise to the Bible the truly Presbyterian character of such a church will
Presbyterian Church? And is there not a danger of be jeopardized!



Meditation

                           Christian Contentm.ent
                                                Rev. Mr. Schipper

           "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye
           have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say,
           The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. "
                                                                                       Hebrews 13: 5,6.

  How frequently the Word of God sounds its warning God to flee from covetousness!
to be not too concerned about earthly things, nor to         "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,
have undue anxiety respecting the future!                 where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves
  How deliberately Scripture exhorts the people of break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves


486                                           THE STANDARD BEARER


treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth It is largely the power that rules the world. All the
corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor world becomes concerned when the dollar inflates or
steal. " "No man can serve two masters: for either he deflates. Money              controls the lives of men,
will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will corporations, and commonwealths.
hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve         And how many there are who love money only for
God and mammon." "Therefore I say unto you, take money's sake! In the solitude and quiet of  thenight
no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye the miser will rise to sit and gloat over his shining
shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put shekels.' He knows the power of each coin. There he
on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than sits, allowing each silvery piece to be assessed with his
raiment? " "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: bony fingers. Oh, the satisfaction expressed on his face
for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the as he counts and recounts his horded gain. Gradually
things which he possesseth." "Be not anxious for the his pile increases, yet he dare not use any of it, lest
morrow, for the morrow shall take care for the things some part of his- life should be lost. Oh, the sense of
of itself." Such were the exhortations which the Lord `security and safety it affords him!
Jesus directed to His disciples in His great sermon from       Though the text says literally: "Be free from the
the mount. And the apostle Paul, writing to his son love of money," we must not conclude that
Timothy, warns: "For the love of money is the root of covetousness consists only in the love of money. It is
all evil: which while some coveted after, they have the carnal passion that hankers after the world and its
erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through things. Often it is characterized by and attended with
with many sorrows."                                          dissatisfaction with one's present condition. The
  Such warnings, and many more could be quoted, covetous man is the grumbler who is never satisfied.
show plainly the frequency wherewith Scripture warns Nothing in this world or another seems to satiate him.
against anxiety over earthly things.                         If he has money, he wants more. If he has no money,
  And the actual life and walk of the children of God he grumbles because he has not.
in this present world shows that this note of warning          Covetousness is a great evil!
cannot be sounded too often. Especially is this true in        A deeply rooted sin!
our day. Today it is necessary to emphasize the need           Chief characteristic it is of the depraved and sinful
of the grace of contentment.                                 nature! By nature we are not rich toward God. By
  Christian contentment!                                     nature we turn away from the Fountain of all good.
  What is it?                                                The sinner seeks himself, apart from God. What God
  It is the very opposite of worldly covetousness!           ordained as a means to an end, he makes an end in
  And worldly covetousness may be conceived of as itself. It is small wonder then that covetousness marks
consisting, in the first place, of the aggressive sin of all his walk and conversation. He is not satisfied with
seeking and grasping after the things of this world. bread for today, he wants more. He must be able to see
Such covetousness in its urge to acquire may often be ahead, and have assurance that his basket will be filled
bold and aggressive; while it may also be free in for a long time to come.
scattering and squandering as it was eager and                 Because of covetousness the sinner, the world, will
unscrupulous in acquiring. In the second place, worldly do most anything. For the love of money, a man will
covetousness may also assume a more passive mood. It murder his fellowman, and lose his own soul. The
may seek to retain, and by accumulating to multiply employer will suck the life's blood out of his
that which it already has amassed. It is the miser's sin.    employees; while the employee will seek refuge in the
And therefore, according to its nature, will be cautious power of strike and boycott. The rich will oppress the
and even sometimes timid. It does not necessarily poor, and the poor will curse the rich. The big will
always cast off the outward show of piety and swallow up the small, and nation will rise against
uprightness. It is perhaps this latter sense that is nation.           Totalitarian states operating under the
stressed in the text; though the first sense is not philosophy of communism will seek to exploit capital
entirely excluded. The word that is translated and distribute its wealth; while democratic nations will
"covetousness" in the text means literally: "love of arm themselves to the teeth, and challenge the
money."                                                      exploiters with threats of war.
  Money! Money! Money!                                         It is hardly imaginable what this world would be like
  Magic word! Worthless in itself! You cannot eat or if covetousness were taken out of it.
drink it. You cannot clothe yourself  -with it so as to        Yet, it is evident that the world of sinful men will
protect yourself from the heat or cold. But as a not change. The evil can only progress, and become
medium of exchange it provides you with the key to steadily worse.
all the treasures of the world! With it you can obtain         But to us, to the church of Jesus Christ, the
food and drink, clothing and shelter. With it you can exhortation comes. -"Let your conversation be
get for yourself pleasures, honor, power, and influence. without covetousness!" This is, of course, a negative


                                                    THE STANDARD BEARER                                                  487


  admonition which is necessary because so long as we                   But the text, as we pointed out, assumes that we
  dwell in the flesh the inclination is toward                       have the fulfillment of our present needs. It says: "Be
  covetousness.                                                      content with such things as ye have." And one who is
         The positive exhortation, however, lies in the rest of content says: "I have enough. I crave no more. The
  the text, -"And be content with such things as ye lack of more does not fill my heart with envy or
  have!" Christian contentment! Again we ask; what is malice. My heart and soul are at peace with my
  it?                                                                outward circumstances."
         Understand well, contentment does not mean to be               Contentment is a grace!
  indifferent. It does not assume the attitude so often                 Which the natural man does not possess. Which only
  seen in the world of "I don't care." One who assumes the child of God receives as a gift ofChrist.
  such an attitude is in Scripture called "the sluggard."               And it lies in the very nature of Christian
  He is the one who is satisfied to let others do his work,          contentment to lay hold on the promise of God: "I
  or to bring to him his daily bread. In the deep sense will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
  this is nothing more than covetousness in another                     Such a promise of the Lord was spoken by Moses to
  form. Nor is contentment that attitude of mind that Israel and especially to Joshua as a word of
  never longs for the fulfillment of our earthly needs, encouragement prior to their entrance into the landof
  that never desires bread when hungry, or craves water Canaan. "Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor
  when thirsty.                                                      be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that
         On the contrary, contentment is that inner state of doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake
  the soul which is in harmony with one's outward thee." (Deut.  33:6,8). And after Moses' death, the
  circumstances, The text presupposes, as all Scripture Lord spake directly unto Joshua the same comforting
i teaches, that we have our present needs supplied. The words: "There shall not any man be able to stand
  Psalmist observed that the righteous is never forsaken, before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with
  nor does his seed go begging bread. He does not go Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor
  hungry, naked, homeless; but at the same time he has forsake thee." (Josh.  1:5). Later David spoke these
  no promise of surplus. He has bread for today and no same words to Solomon his son: "Be strong and of
  more. He has a house to live in, though it is not a good courage, and do it, fear not, nor be dismayed: for
  palace. He has all his needs fulfilled, but does not the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will
  bathe in luxury. He has enough for today, but knows not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished
  nothing of tomorrow. Normally this is the way the all the work for the service of the house of the Lord."
  Lord in His providence cares for us each day.                      (I Chron. 28:20).
         But the question arises: Suppose that I do not have           Verily, the source of the peace of contentment must
  enough for the present? What then?' The Lord has a be sought in the grace of Christ, and in His
  way of bringing about situations like that, you know. unchangeable, unfailing promise, -"I will never leave
  What will we do then?                                             thee, nor forsake thee."
         Should we rebel, and say that the way of the Lord is          And the one possessing this grace of contentment,
  not right? Should I then take matters into my own and relying on this precious promise of God, will also
 `hands, and go out and steal, and, if necessary to obtain give a confident expression of this contentment as the
  what I need, perhaps murder? The answer to these Word of God in our text clearly indicates.
  questions is, of course, negative.                                   "So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper,
         Rather, the Christian assumes the attitude so aptly and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
  expressed by the apostle Paul to the Philippians: "Not               Such confident expression one finds reiterated in
  that I speak in respect to want: for I have learned in the Psalms. Listen: "The Lord is my light and my
  whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength
  both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Ps. 27: 1). And
  everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be again, "In God I will praise his Word, in God I will put
  full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me."
 =need. I can do all things through Christ which (Ps.  56:4,11>.  And once more, "The Lord is on my
  strengtheneth me." This can only mean that because side; I will not fear: What can man do unto me? (Ps.
  he possessed the grace of contentment as a gift of 118:6).
  Christ, he could also endure hardship, suffer hunger,                Such confidence is not the expression of mere
  and in the final analysis be willing to die if it was the stoical indifference!
  Lord's will to remove him from the scene of the                      It is the expression of the boldness of faith!
  present through the lack of bread.

                           No one is so intolerani  as a liberal advocating CHANGE in the name of tolerance.


488                                          THE STANDARD BEARER


Critique

                      "The Gospels In Current Study"
                                                     Prof H. Hanko
                              THE GOSPELS IN CURRENT STUDY, by Simon
                              Kistemaker;  Baker Book House, 1972; 171 pp., $2.95
                              (paper).

  The rise of higher criticism has sharply divided the       I do not know the reasons why conservative scholars
ecclesiastical world into two distinct camps. There are so often do this. Perhaps there are various
the higher critics in the one camp who approach the explanations. It is, e.g., customary for conservative
Scriptures as a human document and examine it as scholars to make a distinction between what is
they would examine the writings of any ancient traditionally called "the divine element" and "the
author. They refuse to believe that the Scriptures are human element" in Scripture. (Cf. in this connection
the Word of God. Their approach is one of unbelief. In the important series of articles which were written by
the other camp are those who maintain that the Prof. H. Hoeksema and which have just been
Scriptures are infallibly inspired; that they are concluded  in  the  Theological Journal.)  And perhaps
therefore, the authoritative Word of God; that they this distinction leads them to place so much emphasis
constitute a unique book differing from any other on the human element that the divine element is
book which has been written. The key then, to the forgotten.
understanding of the Scriptures is faith - a faith which      Then again it sometimes appears as if conservatives
receives the Scriptures as God's Word and bows in are overly sensitive to the charge that, if they maintain
humble submission to them.                                  inexorably, the truth of infallible inspiration, they are
  The trouble is that, increasingly in our day, there are less than scholarly. This criticism seems to hurt, And,
those in the latter camp who, while they receive the in an effort to appear scholarly, they answer the higher
Scriptures as the Word of God, nevertheless no longer critics on their own ground of rational argument and
recognize as fully as they ought, that the only key to lose the approach of a humble faith as the way to the
unlock the Scriptures is indeed faith. While they surely mysteries of the Word of God.
do not accept the presupposition of the higher critics        Whatever may be the reason, Kistemaker in his latest
that the Bible is only a human document, nevertheless book has fallen into that error. This is particularly sad
they permit themselves to use the tools invented by because Kistemaker is considered to be a conservative
the higher critic as the means to gain entrance into the New Testament scholar and many look to him for
teaching of Scripture. And, when they are called upon leadership in the defense of the truth concerning
to give answer to the destructive criticism of these Scripture. After teaching for a while in Dordt College
higher critics, they permit the higher critics to choose in Sioux Center, Iowa, he went to the Reformed
the battleground and engage in the conflict on terms Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi, a
dictated by the enemy. The result is that they attempt conservative Seminary in the Southern Presbyterian
to answer higher critical studies with the weapons of tradition.
human reason and rational argumentation as these              His book is intended to examine recent
methods are divorced from faith. They forget that the developments in the field of New Testament studies,
battle is not between two sets of arguments based on particularly as these studies have dealt with questions
available evidence, but is, rather, a struggle between relating to the four gospel narratives. In the first two
faith and unbelief. They forget that the result of the chapters, which are intended to be introductory, the
battle is not determined by who has superior author discusses some of the more .recent manuscript
knowledge or whose arguments are the most fmds and the influence they have had on  textual*
convincing, but that the outcome of the battle is studies, and gives a brief introduction to the field of
determined by the victory of faith over unbelief.           textual criticism. In chapter 3, under the title
  When they fall into this trap, the results are "Criticism," the author discusses "Source Criticism,"
uniformly bad. They, in the course of their "Form Criticism," `  ` Red action Criticism" and
argumentation, lose sight of the truth of inspiration, "Audience Criticism." Chapter 4 deals with
fail to give a proper place to the fact that Scripture is hermeneutical problems, particularly with the question
God's Word, and end up making all sorts of of the historical reliability of the gospel records. In
concessions to the higher critics which finally rob the Chapter 5, Kistemaker discusses how the gospel
Word of God of its power and truth.                         narratives came into being and their relation to the


                                                THE STANDARD BEARER                                                        489


oral tradition which was present in the Church from this repeatedly. In discussing the form critics,
the days of Christ. Chapter 7 deals with the gospels Kistemaker writes:
individually and discusses such questions as                        On the positive side of our evaluation, we do
dependence (whether the gospel writers were                      express our appreciation to the form critic. By means
dependent for their material on each other or on other           of his scholarly studies on the formation of  the
documents or on both), authorship and purpose in                 Gospels, he calls every serious reader of the New
writing. The final chapter deals with three theological          Testament to reconsider the period of oral tradition
questions which arise from the gospel narratives: What           most seriously. The form critic invites the student of
                                                                 the Bible to study  the background of the four
is the origin of the name "Son of Man?"; What is the             Gospels anew. And that ia an invitation no one may
origin of the name "Son of God?"; and, Is the                    decline. (p. 49.)
historical evidence sufficient to justify the historicity      Now this may be so. But the question is: Do we
of the resurrection of Christ?                               need  the form critic for this? The fact is that,
  Now, the altogether strange part of the book is that historically, students of Scripture have already done
there is, in the whole of the book, almost no mention this before higher criticism ever made its appearance.
made of inspiration. Two or three times this doctrine is       Further, in discussing the redaction critics,
referred to, but then only in passing. One such Kistemaker writes:
reference, quoted in its entirety, reads:                           what shall we say about redaction criticism? Now
       We believe that the Holy Spirit stood behind the          that the pendulum has swung back from extreme left
    author of the Second Gospel, so that the Holy Spirit         and is now, so to speak, on its way to center, should
    is the primary author and Mark the secondary author          we be grateful to the Gerrnan theologians who have
    of this Gospel. We begin with the Holy Spirit and end        studied the interpretation of the Gospels as redaction
    with the Gospel writer. (p. 59)                              critics? what are the results to which they have come
  I am not saying that the author was obligated to               in their studies?
spend a large part of the book in spelling out and                  For one thing, we are thankful that the redaction
defending the truth concerning the inspiration of the            critic looks at the Gospel in its totality. . . . The
Scriptures. But one would expect, in a book of this              redaction critic sees the personality of a redactor in
sort, that a conservative scholar would have not only            the individual Gospel who ia working out his own
                                                                 theological purpose. (pp. 57,58.)
made clear what the doctrine of inspiration is, but
would have shown how this doctrine must be the final           Must we be thankful because a higher critic looks at
answer to the higher critics. Or, if he chose not to do the Gospel as a unity? Really, now. Have not faithful
this, one would expect that he would, at least, answer students of Scripture always done this ever since the
the various problems which the higher critics ask time of the Reformation, and even before? And we
within the context of inspiration. But he never does praise the critic because he tells us that the redactor of
this. Always the critics are answered on their own the Gospel is working out  his  own theological purpose?
grounds. The truth of inspiration has no role to play. It Whose theology is contained  in. the Scriptures? The
is politely and continuously ignored.                        redactor's? Or is the theology God's?
                                                               What is so troubling about this is the fact that the
  It is but natural to expect that, when this is done, basic issues are lost sight of in this kind of approach.
concessions of major proportions are made to the The higher critics stand on the ground of unbelief.
higher critics. These concessions are not on peripheral They refuse to receive the Scriptures as the Word of
matters, but are on matters which strike at the very God. They treat them as historical documents. And,
heart of the Church's confession of the truth. And the although they may differ as to the precise nature of
inevitable result of such a procedure will be that these historical documents, they agree completely that
Kistemaker also will soon go the way of those who the Scriptures are of human origin. They rule out of
deny the Scriptures altogether.                              their thinking from the very outset that' the Bible is
  We do not intend, in this review, to discuss God's Word. The battle is very real between the
exhaustively the contents of the book. But the serious believing Bible student and the higher critic. It is the
charge which we have made ought to be substantiated. battle between faith and unbelief. Are we now going to
What concessions does Kistemaker make?                       pat these enemies of God and His Church, who seek to
  Perhaps not of critical importance, but nevertheless rob God's people of the Holy Scriptures, on the back
of significance is the fact that  I&emaker often has and express gratitude to them for all the marvelous
praise for the work which the higher critics have done. benefits they have given to us as they systematically go
This is a rather customary procedure in our day. No about destroying God's Word?
matter how violently one may disagree  with the                It can, of course,`be  argued that the higher critic has
writings of an individual, one seems almost to be called attention to problems which exist and has thus
obligated by the manners of the times to find `forced the believing child of God to answer these
something good to say about him. Kistemaker does arguments. There is no question about that. This is, as


     490                                          THE STANDARD BEARER



     a matter of fact, the way the truth is usually developed development of this doctrine. And we need not thank
     in the history of the. Church. Unbelief attacks the Pelagius for his destructive errors even though it was
     truth; and the Church is called upon to defend it. And, the immediate occasion for the development of the
     in defense of the truth the Church develops that truth truths of sovereign grace on the part of Augustine.
     as it is contained in the Scriptures. But we need not, I      We must never forget that the battle is between faith
     think, thank Arius for denying the divinity of Christ and unbelief.
     even though his foul attack on this truth led to the                           (to be continued)


     From Holy Writ

                               Exposition of Hebrews II:22
                                                     Rev. G. Lubbers

       The writer now cites the faith of Joseph. These Old with the children of Israel. Who does the writer have in
     Testament saints suffered and died in faith and hope; mind when he speaks of the children of Israel? The
     they were long in patience, and thus they obtained the term "Israel" has various meanings in Scripture.
     promises! The Hebrew Christians had need of patience. Sometimes it refers simply to old father Jacob, who
     It is true that when they first believed they had received this name when he returned from  Haran to
     endured a great fight of afflictions; scorn and Canaan after his twenty-year stay there with Laban his
     contempt had been heaped upon them for the faith; uncle. It was at the brook Jabok that the Lord came to
     they had been made a gazing-stock in the world; they Jacob and wrestled with him; the Lord took the
     had not been ashamed to cast their lot with those who initiative in this mighty wrestling till the breaking of
     were their fellow-sufferers, but had joyfully taken the the day. It was then that the Lord said: "Let me go for
     spoil of their goods, knowing that they had in heaven a the day breaketh." And then Jacob with strong crying
     better and an abiding treasure!                             and tears besought the Lord for His blessing, saying, "I
       Had the writer noticed the element of living by faith     will not let thee go, except thou bless me." Then the
     and seeking a better country on the part of the Lord said, "Thy name shall no longer be called Jacob,
     patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, here he points but Israel, for thou hast as a prince power with God
     out the vision of the dying prophetical faith of Jacob and man and hast prevailed." (Gen.  32:24-32) But
     and Joseph. Both were men who were moved by the "Israel" also refers to the twelve tribes as they become
     Spirit of God; the Spirit of Christ which was in them       a nation. It was "Israel" which went down into Egypt,
     and all the prophets, when they spoke of the sufferings and then the name refers to the nation, both the
     to come upon Christ and the glory to follow in the          children of the promise and the children of the flesh.
     heavens above. In each case the Lord brought their (Rom. 9:6-16) Nevertheless, the Israel of God is the
     prophesying to pass; they let the light of the promisory people which walks in the faith of Abraham; these are
     and prophetic word shine more and more unto the the sons of the promise, that the purpose of election
     perfect day!                                                might stand.
       This was all performed  by faith!  It was the faith         To understand this word "children of Israel" we
     which is the substance of things hoped for, the must bear this truth of election in mind; for Israel is
     evidence of things not seen. By this faith the elders the people of God as the Christ, the Son of God, will be
     obtained a good report. Without this faith it is            born from them. He is Immanuel, God-with-us. For
impossible to please God; he that comes to God must              from this viewpoint Israel is God's First-born son, as it
believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those            is written: out of Egypt have I called my Son! (Matt.
who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11: l-6).                      2: 15; Hos. 11: 1) Hence, not simply one of the nations
       Such was the faith of Joseph as delineated upon in        of the world had been brought into Egypt, but the
Hebrews  11:22. Writes the text,  "`By faith Joseph,             church of God was in Egypt, removed from the
when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure             promised land where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had
of  the children  of  Israel; and gave commandment               sojourned as strangers.
concerning his bones"                                              Had it been a mere seventy sguls which went do&
1                                                                into Egypt at the time of the great famine in all the
A TIMELY PROPHECY (Hebrews 11: 22)                               earth, it did not remain thus. For Israel increased
       Joseph dwells in Egypt as a prince, but his heart ir      greatly, and they were living in the best of the land.


                                               THE STANDARD BEARER                                                   491



Their land was fruitful, an irrigated garden beside the Israel into Egypt and caring for them there, Joseph
Nile river; they enjoyed their onions, leek and garlic, as must now prepare Israel for the great event of God's
well as their cucumbers and melons, for which they so deliverance from Egypt by his great and mighty hand!
ardently and sinfully longed, later in the wearisome,            It is to be the prophecy of a man about to die.
hot journeying in the wilderness. (Numbers 11:4,5) We            It was indeed timely; it was timed by the Lord Who
may be certain that as long as Joseph lived he determined the times before appointed for the nations
`cnourished Israel" in the land of  Goshen.  From a as well as the bounds of their habitations. (Acts 17: 26)
purely materialistic point of view Israel never had it
better. During the almost seventy years that they had JOSEPH MAKES MENTION OF THE EXODUS
been in Egypt they had settled down in  Goshen  and (Hebrews 11: 22)
were becoming a well-organized nation, according to              It ought to be observed that the text says "made
their tribes and their leaders. Had Israel not moved mention of." Someone made the observation to me
from the first to the third and fourth generations? Do that this "made mention of' is a rather weak way of
we not read, "And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of expressing this in the present day English; in fact, it
the third generation. .  ." (Gen.  50:23 a) Forsooth, it was stated that the present day young people would
was time that a prophetic word came to Israel of the not even understand this language. The latter would
"exodus" which God would bring about to  fulfil His merely think of a casual reference to the "departure"
promise that Israel would dwell in the land of Canaan! of Israel. Joseph spoke of it in passing. This point
Israel must not dream and plan about remaining in raised has merit. But anyone, who is deeply desirous to
their present soft nest in Egypt.                              know the meaning of "make mention" in the English
  This was the situation in Israel when Joseph's life is       of the times of Ring James, will discover that "made
drawing to a close. From this viewpoint it was indeed a        mention" referred to a special,            explicit, and
timely prophecy, which the Lord sends to Israel from           meaningful bringing up of an important point. Here it
the lips of Joseph. However, it is also a timely               refers to the great fact of the "Exodus" which God
prophecy when we see that Joseph must bring this               will bring about through Moses His servant.
message to the Sons of Israel at the close of his life. It       Joseph did not simply remember the promise of
is then that Joseph has a message concerning the future        God when he spoke to the children of Israel; but he
"exodus" of Israel out of Egypt.                               made  me&ion  of it. He called it to mind; it was not
 Joseph's life was coming to a close; it was ending in         something new and unheard of for the people of Israel
a ripe old age. He had served his generation, and now in their generations. He reminded Israel of their
he will be gathered to his people. There is really no          destiny as a nation, according to the sure promises
more work to be done for Joseph, except that he must           made to the fathers. And these promises will not fail;
make preparation for his death, one would say; and He Who hath promised them is faithful, and He cannot
then he could be buried amongst the princes of Egypt           lie. The word of God will not fall out! Had God not
in one of the Pyramids. But this Joseph, whose entire          said to Abraham, "Lift up now thine eyes, and look
life was really the fulfillment of the prophetic dreams        from the place where thou art northward, and
which God had given him, still has a task to perform.          southward> and eastward, and westward: for all the
This one, who was great in Egypt, a prince and ruler in        land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, to thy seed
the land, is an Israelite at heart. All that he had done in    forever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the
Egypt was that, under God, he had kept a great people earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the
alive. That was his life's calling. And he will finish the     earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise,
work to the end.                                               walk through the land in the length of it and in the
  What an eventful life Joseph lived. He was born the          breadth of it; for I will  give it unto thee?" (Gen.
eleventh son of Jacob in  Padan-Aram from Rachel,              13: 14-17) Of this Joseph reminded Israel. But there
Jacob's most-beloved wife. When he was some five               was also an expressed word of God concerning Israel's
years old, he went to the land of Canaan, where he             going down into Egypt. Had not the LORD appeared
lived till he was about seventeen years of age, after          unto Abraham in a vision, assuring Abraham, saying,
which he was sold into Egypt by his brothers as a slave        "Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield and thy exceeding
to the Ishmaelites. The latter in turn sold him as a slave     great reward?" It was in this vision that the LORD
to Potiphar, an Egyptian. Here in slavery and in               revealed to Abraham what would befall the great
imprisonment Joseph lived for some thirteen years till nation which would come forth from his loins - would
he reached the age of thirty years. And now, some be by a son born of the promise, Isaac - and how this
eighty years later, Joseph is about to die. He has lived       nation would become great and be in a strange land for
most of his life in Egypt; it is more than one hundred         four hundred years. Thus we read in Gen. 13: 13-16,
years that he had lived there in the providential              "And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy
guidance of God, who meant it for good!                        seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and
   At the end of this life, which was busy in bringing         shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four


492                                                     THE STANDARD BEARER


hundred years . . . but in the fourth generation they                 Somehow through the years Israel learned to say:
shall come hither again; for the iniquity of the Amorite We must prepare to leave this land. We will return to
is not yet full."                                                   the land of Canaan; the mouth of the Lord hath
  Yes, there was much to make mention of. Joseph                    spoken it.
could preach a good sermon and could outline the                      And thus spoke Joseph by faith!
meaning of Israel's stay in Egypt and then make                       He believed this word of God; he clung with all his
mention of Israel's departure from Egypt. And Israel                heart to the word of the promise. And thus in faith he
must have understood what Joseph was saying, that it                makes mention of the "Exodus." He did not see all the
was according to the rule of faith. And the Holy Spirit             details. This was only for Israel to know as God
must have worked faith in the hearts of Israel, so that             unfolded His ways at the burning-bush to Moses at the
they saw their stay in Egypt in the perspective of the              mount of God. But the fact he saw, and he preached it.;
Divine promise which will not and cannot fail.                      by it he lived and died in faith!



Signs of the Times

                            What Did "Agnes" Say To You?

                                                          Rev. G. Van Baren

  Yes, "Agnes" talked. She had a message of God to                      people. Near by, a lOO-yd. levee break drove several
you. Did you hear what she had to say?                                  hundred people in the area near Rio Vista to high
   One could hardly miss "Agnes." Her name made the                     ground. And in Rapid City, S.D., where floodwaters
headlines in the daily newspapers. It was featured                      killed 226 early in June, Charles Childs, head of the
prominently in news magazines. Radio and television                     missing persons office, reported that the list of those
made extensive references to her. Time declared in its                  unaccounted for, which initially included about
July 3, 1972 issue:                                                     4,500 names, is now down to 124.
         The most ravaging storm in U.S. history started as           It strikes one's attention, does it not? How often in
  a tiny blip on radar screens, a knot of tropical air              recent years have we not heard the statements, "worst
  masses forming near the island of Cozumel in the Gulf             in history," "worst in a century," "worst since records
  of Mexico, a few miles east of the Yucatan peninsula.             were kept." These statements are applied to storms
  Quickly, awesomely, it built into the fiIst hurricane of          both in this country and in other parts of the world.
  the year, christened Agnes, a turbulent mass 250 miles            Some such statement was made concerning the
  in diameter drawing unusually heavy amounts of                   hurricane which devastated Mississippi a few years ago.
  moisture from the sea below.                                      Some such statement was made concerning the tropical
        First Agnes crashed through Florida and Cuba and
  seemed about to peter out as it moved inland. But then            storm which killed thousands in what was East
  it turned out to sea off Virginia, recharged its depleted         Pakistan. Some such statement was made concerning
  energies and slammed back onto the northeast                     the floods which recently struck North Vietnam.
  mainland, already saturated by a week of nearly                   Similar statements have been made concerning floods
  incessant rains. By the weekend, at least 96 people were         in the Philippines.
   dead and more than 120,000 had been evacuated. Five                Now, without doubt, vast devastations occurred in
  states - Florida, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania               many other periods of history. News reports rather
  and Virginia - had been declared disaster areas, and              customarily report present disasters, and then compare
   damage estimates ran into the billions. Robert M.               them with known disasters of the past. Usually other
  White, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric               disasters in the distant past seem as frightful as those
  Administration, pronounced the flooding produced by               which we have experienced in our lifetimes.
  Agnes "the most extensive in the country's history."
  Nor was only the voice of "Agnes" heard.  Time                   MAN'S REACTION
continues its article by reminding its readers:
          Oddly, Agnes was not the only flood news in a               Of course, the response of man generally is that he
       grim week of troubles around the globe. . . . Irrigation    has experienced one of the "quirks" of nature.  .Man
       canals overflowed around Phoenix, Ariz., drenching          can explain what happened. He can tell of the various
       desert land that is normally parched. A hastily built       air masses which collided. He can explain how a
       earthen dike gave way in Andrus Island in the               hurricane picked up vast quantities of water over the
       Sacramento delta, forcing the evacuation of 1,400           ocean. He is ready enough to acknowledge that there


                                                    THE STANDARD BEARER                                                  493


     was a "disaster," but he hastens to add that it was a          every home. Man is more aware in recent years of the
     "natural)' disaster.                                           fact of disasters than ever before.
       Man also makes provisions to avoid such disasters in            God sends all this in our times as signs. Do you see
     the future. After one of these "disasters," man devises        them and recognize them for what they are?
     more fool-proof methods to give advance warnings so               What did "Agnes" say? First of all, she said that
     that the lives of people may be saved in the future. He        God is angry with the wicked. She said that the wicked
     makes plans to dissipate the fury of these storms              will not escape the wrath of God. She said that all of
     through his scientific discoveries. He will control the        this is but a foretaste of that wrath of God which shall
     winds and the waves.                                           be revealed in the last day, Psalm 7: 11 explains, "God
       Yet, the storms strike; often the worst in recorded          judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the
     history.                                                       wicked every day."
       But man refuses to see the hand of God in it all. He            And again, "Agnes" spake of the great power of our
     recognizes not the wrath of God. He sees no indication         God. What is man in the face of such violence? What
     of the nearness of the end of this age.                        are the works of man's hand that they should
       And what did YOU hear "Agnes" say? Or, have you              withstand this proof of God's power? Man builds his
     given it no thought at all?                                    cities. He guards them with dikes and walls. He plans
     God acts                                                       to direct the course of the river so that it will serve
       Our readers will doubtlessly agree that God sent             man. But when God comes with His rain, He destroys
     "Agnes" and all of the other storms which struck this          the work of man's hand in a moment. In light of all of
     country and others. Not one hair falls from our heads          this, how dare man raise his fist against the living God?
     without the will of our heavenly Father (Luke 12: 7);          How dare man take His Name in vain? How dare man
     does not He then also govern the storms which strike           ignore His Word? Yet man persists in doing exactly
     this earth? God controls all of His creation (Psalm            that.
     147).                                                             Finally, we do have also a reminder of the nearness
       Christ Himself reminds us that "natural" disasters           of Christ's return. That will not be tomorrow, but
     are signs of His return on the clouds of heaven. He            doubtlessly it will be soon. We know not the day and
     states in Matthew 24: 7,  ". . . And there shall be            the hour. But we are reminded to watch. Do you think
     famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers            of that as you read of the disasters which come upon
     places."                                                       this earth? "Agnes" was only one link in the entire
       We see then the providence of God in which He                chain of events which must precede the coming of
     directs all events, also these "natural" disasters, so that    Christ. But we are called to observe the links as these
His purpose may be realized and His Son may return.                 are manifested before our very eyes.
     "Agnes" was a striking example of this.                          Why are we to be reminded again of all of this? Not,
       But you, perhaps, object that God has always sent            of course, because we are inherently pessimists.
     these things in the past too. Why should "Agnes" have          Strange, but some regard an,awareness of the signs of
     any special message then for us?                               the end as being pessimistic. But this is not meant to
        First, some of the most devastating disasters of            be such at all. A pessimist is one who looks on the dark
     history have struck in our own lifetimes. I would              side of everything. A pessimist is one who thinks that
     remind you again of the many instances one reads,              these evil days are going to continue indefinitely.
     "The worst in . .  ." Note that fact also in future            Rather, we are called to be realists - that is, that we
     accounts of various disasters. It must not escape your         recognize events for what they really are. Let us not
     attention.                                                     fool ourselves. When all the signs of the times are
       Secondly, more people are being affected by these            viewed together, the child of God sees clear evidence
     disasters than ever before. This is perhaps naturally the      that the return of his Lord is at hand.
     case, for there are more people living on the earth than         Actually, one who sees the signs  aright, one who
ever before. Nevertheless, we may not forget that                   views these as evidence of the nearness of Christ's
     Scripture reminds us of the death and destruction              return, is an optimist. He looks at the bright side of
which precede the end  - as a sign. Revelation  6:7-8               things. The signs include many things which might
points this out when the fourth horse is described.                 perhaps trouble us - especially persecution. But we can
       Thirdly, these "natural" disasters are more widely           rejoice, for our redemption draweth nigh.
known over the entire earth than any disaster of past               Optimistically we confront the signs of our times,
ages. By means of radio, television, and newspapers,                knowing that soon our Lord returns. Rejoice, for "the
the awfulness of the disaster is brought into virtually             Lord is at hand." (Phil. 4: 5).

I                             Know the standard, and follow it. Read the Standard Bearer
I                                                                                                                              1


494                                           THE STANDARD BEARER



The Day of Shadows

                               Sneering  Defiance
                                                Rev. John A. Heys

  Pride is sin.                                              We may ask God questions. How often have the saints
  No one will argue about that. But consider also that       not asked God in prayer, "Shall I do this or that?"
all sin is an act of pride. It makes no difference what      Jesus Himself on the cross cried out, "My God, my
form sin assumes, it makes no difference whether it is a     God, why hast thou forsaken me?" When the Jews
sin against God directly, or indirectly as a sin against     asked  Him by what authority He performed His
God in a sin against the neighbour, sin always is an act     miracles, He countered their question with a question
of pride. And it is such because it always is an act of      as to the baptism of John. To answer a question with a
elevating one's will above God's will. It is pushing         question is not, therefore, of necessity an act of pride.
God's will aside to decide for oneself what is good and      But Cain's question was one of pride that was
what is evil. And that certainly is a proud thing to do.     sneeringly spoken.
To ignore the will of one your equal, and to think that        It is an act of pride to lie to God as Cain did when
your way is better is not always pride, though it may        he said, "I do not know." What pride there is in an act
be foolishness. But to think that one's way is better        of trying to hide the truth from the all-seeing eye of
and wiser than God's is conceit, and the work of a           God! How haughty and conceited we are whenever we
proud mind.                                                  lie to each other, for in this we behave as though we
  Adam's and Eve's sin of eating of the forbidden fruit      have also hidden our evil from God. That proud heart
was then an act of pride. Cain's offering up his fruit of    not only says, "I do not need to speak the truth," but
the ground contrary to God's instructions given to           it also says, "I can hide my sin from the eyes of God
Adam, and heeded by Abel, was an act of pride. His           by my speech." No, we do not say that audibly, or
act of taking away from Abel the life that God was           even perhaps consciously - for God is not in all our
pleased to give him again was a deed that revealed a         thoughts, sad to say  - but whenever we lie to each
proud heart and mind that would not bow before God           other, we do so because we think that this is the way
and His will. And every time that we commit a sin of         in which we can cover our sin, or cover someone else's
any kind, we are proudly elevating our will over God's       sin. And then we walk as though there is no God in
and saying by our deed, "I am a god to myself!"              heaven. And that is a proud way to walk for one whose
   For this reason Scripture says that God sees the          every breath of life comes from that God in heaven,
proud afar off and is nigh to the humble. The proud          for in Him we live and move and have all of our being.
are men who are sinful, men full of sin. The humble            To continue and to say, "Am I my brother's
are men who are sin-haters, men who hate the sin they        keeper?" was for Cain a stronger manifestation of his
know  is, within them. The proud want no salvation           haughty attitude before God. Implied in his question is
take note of the pride of the Pharisee in Jesus' parable     the question, "Do I have to answer to YOU for my
who wanted no salvation but praise from God - while          brother?" Now these were grown men, and it was not a
the humble seek it in the confession of their guilt and      case of bigger brother watching over  - and maybe
in casting themselves upon God's mercy. The proud baby sitting for - little brother. Abel was well able to
dishonour God, the humble always honour Him with             take care of himself and "shift for himself' the day
being an holy God.                                           they came to sacrifice. He took care of a flock of
   Having shown his pride, when he came with the             sheep, and that means that he was able also to take
offering he had invented, and having rejected the good       care of his physical needs and life as fully as Cain
counsel of God when he was told to fight sin that was        could. It might seem as though Cain had a point here,
crouching at his door, to rule it and not to let it rule     then, in his question to God.
him, Cain proceeded in pride to take his brother's life.       But be careful not to take such a position. His
But he does not stop there. The awful haughtiness of         question must be taken in the light of his lie. His lie, "I
his sinful heart drives him forward to more and more         do not know," meant - because he did know - "I am
sin. And sneeringly he answers God, when He comes            not going to tell you." (More evidence of his pride.)
with the question, "Where is Abel thy brother?" That         And his question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" was
question he answers not only with a bold lie, "I know        then a question of defiance. Together they may be
not!," but with another question, "Am I my brother's         paraphrased thus, "I am not going to tell you; and
keeper?"                                                     what right do you have to ask me?" The question,
   Who really was he to ask such a question of God?.         "Am I my brother's keeper" can only mean in the


                                            THE STANDARD BEARER                                                  495



context, "Did YOU make me his keeper?" His                  has not only been spared all these years what Cain,
question is addressed to God, not to his father and         Korah, Dathan and Abiram  - to say nothing of the
mother. And to God he directs the question, "Am I           whole world of ungodly destroyed by the flood - are
responsible before YOU for where my brother is?"            experiencing, but  he  also retained  his keen mind, his
What pride it is that manifests itself so quickly after     gift of leadership and the like.
the seed of sin had been planted in the soil of this          The psalmist says, "Many are the afflictions of the
earth. What a vicious plant was already at this stage of    righteous"; but it would seem that  the- "common
history showing its devilish fruit! That little speck of    grace" that the devil and the wicked enjoy and which
dust called Cain dares to defy the holy and almighty        gives them less afflictions than the righteous, is to be
God!                                                        desired in this life above God's saving grace. Perish the
  And he rushed headlong in his pride to more words         thought! For these .afflictions work for us a far more
of defiance when God pronounces the punishment that         exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while the
will come upon him. God's Word does not humble him          prosperity and health and wealth of the ungodly only
but hardens him. God tells him that the ground will be      increases their punishment in the life (death) to come.
cursed for his sake. Wherever he will go, God will send     For he who has a penny, and does not serve God
drought and/or insects to devour what he tries to grow.     therewith will be punished. But he who is a millionaire,
He will not prosper materially no matter where he           and does not serve God therewith will be punished that
goes. And he will be a fugitive and a vagabond because      much the more.
men will seek him to slay him for his dastardly deed.         God pronounced the death sentence upon Cain, and
Sneeringly and defiantly Cain laughs in God's face. He      then He put a mark on him so that it would not be
ridicules the whole idea of his punishment. His words,      executed. This God did not in His grace, but in His
"My punishment is greater than I can bear," are not a       providence. Cain had work to do which God decreed
confession of guilt, are not a cry of the awfulness of for him; and he may not die till that work decreed in
his crime. He is not speaking of a guilt he cannot bear,    God's eternal and unchangeable counsel has been
but of a punishment he cannot bear. And what he             finished. He must bring forth the generation of the
means is that if God will so curse the ground for him,      viper's brood that will fill the measure of iniquity that
he will soon die of hunger, and the punishment is over.     will be visited by the flood. He must live to produce a
And if men seek him to kill him, the day will come          generation that will in time bring forth Judas Iscariot,
when they do take his life, and then it is all over. As     Caiaphas, and Pilate to shed the blood of our salvation.
the Atheist of today, Cain believes that man dies like      He must become the father of a multitide that will in
the beast of the field. The wages of sin which is death     proud defiance produce the man of sin, the Antichrist,
to him means only physical death. He ridicules, as so       who will oppose all that which is called God, or that is
many do today, in the church world, the idea of an          worshipped, so that he as God sitteth in the temple of
everlasting punishment in the lake of fire. They, too,      God, showing himself that he is God (II Thessalonians
say that it is more than man can bear. There is no          2:4), so that the full measure of iniquity may be
everlasting hell fire. And though they may not teach it     realized, and the way may be prepared for Christ to
as defiantly and sneeringly as Cain, they, nevertheless,    return to bring Abel and the whole seed of the woman
speak what they learned from this proud sinner.             to glory with body and soul.
  Now Cain deserved to die. And God, Who in effect            Therefore Satan likewise is still free-while some evil
pronounced the death sentence upon him, nevertheless        spirits are reserved in chains of darkness. There is no
put a mark upon him so that the physical aspect of this     grace of God in this to the devil, although there is
punishment, namely, death at the hands of men, did          grace in this for the elect children of God. This is the
not take place-at least not for many, many years, and       work of God's providence according to which He uses
we are not told that he ever died at the handsof men.       all His creatures, the devil and his host included, for
But let us be sure that we understand that this sparing     the fulfillment of  His good counsel. Satan must live
of Cain's life was no "common grace" of God upon            and be free, after he fell into sin, to tempt not only
him. All of God's grace comes from the cross of Christ,     Adam and Eve, but also even to tempt Christ. Did not
that very cross that Cam despised when he refused to        the Spirit drive Jesus into the wilderness to be
come with a bloody sacrifice, and when he slew him          tempted? (Matthew 4: 1). He must be healthy and alive
who was a type of The Seed of the Woman.                    to enter Judas Iscariot. And in His providence God sees
  Let us never confuse God's grace with His                 to it that the wicked receive what they need for their
providence. Satan's life has been spared almost six         works because His grace is upon us. It was and is saving
thousand years. He has never had a sick day, in fact,       grace that Satan has his freedom today. Only it is not
although countless numbers of sinners since Cain's          grace upon him, but upon us. Peter explains that so
death for centuries have been in the torment of hell.       beautifully when he says in II Peter 3: 9 that God is
Does Satan receive some "common grace" from God             longsuffering to us-ward, not to the wicked who abuse
because he has these goods gifts? Consider, too, that he    us. He not only waits with the return of Christ until all


496                                                  THE STANDARD BEARER



Christ's sheep have been born and reborn into the to prepare the way for His glorious return. It is a work
kingdom of heaven, but also gives the wicked all the of His providence as far as the wicked are concerned,
gold and silver, the health and life they need to realize             but always a work of saving grace, the only kind of
all that which is necessary, first to send Christ in our grace God has, towards His elect, whose cause is served
flesh and to have Him slain for our salvation, and now by these wicked with their lives and talents.


Contending for the Faith

                                  The Dockine of Atonement
                                                THE REFORMATION PERIOD
                                                   THE SYNOD OF DORDT
                                                          THE CANONS

                                                                H. Vetdman

  Continuing our discussion of the doctrine of the                            Finally, this contradicts the article of faith according
atonement of Christ as set forth by the fathers of                        to which we believe the catholic Christian church.
Dordt in Head II of the Canons, we now turn our                         These articles in which are set forth the errors of the
attention to the Rejection of Errors of this Second                   Arminians are of the greatest importance. And they
Head. These sections of the Canons, called the                        are certainly significant also for this reason, that,
Rejection of Errors, and setting forth the negative recognizing these errors as being taught in our present
aspect of the truth, constitute a fundamental part of day, we may recognize them as Arminian. When, for
this Reformed creed or confession. It certainly speaks example, it is taught today that Christ died for all men,
of weakness when churches, who formerly and when the distinction is made between the
incorporated these articles in their confessions, now intention and efficacy of the cross, then we may
omit them. How important it is, not only that we set immediately recognize this teaching as having been
forth  and. maintain the truth, but also that we are                  condemned by the fathers of Dordt. The history of the
constantly on the alert to fight and oppose all heresies              development of doctrine may well lead us also in this
that are repugnant to that truth! May we as churches respect.
ever continue to be faithful in this calling which our                  In this article, the Arminian heresy is exposed that
Lord Jesus Christ always lays upon His church in the Christ was ordained by the Father to the death of the
midst of the world. May we constantly strive to                       cross without a certain and definite decree to save any,
recognize the wolf also, and especially when this in order that the necessity, profitableness,, and worth
enemy of the true gospel appears as an angel of light of Christ's death. might have existed and might remain
and in sheep's clothing.                                              complete in all its parts, even if the merited
  The first error of the Arminians and rejected by our redemption had never in fact been applied to any
fathers of Dordt in Art. I of this rejection of errors, person. The Remonstrants taught that the death of
reads as follows:                                                     Jesus Christ would lose nothing of its significance even
         Who teach: That God the Father has ordained His              if no one actually would be saved. Regardless whether
       Son to the death of the cross without a certain and            anyone be actually saved, that death would retain
       definite decree to save any, so that the necessity,            completely its worthy, necessary, and profitable
       profitableness and worth of what Christ merited by             character.
       His death might have existed, and might remain in all            To this we may answer, in the first place: what kind
       its parts complete, perfect and intact, even if the            of logic is this? Imagine, if you please, that none would
       merited redemption had never in fact been applied to           actually be saved! We may certainly assume this. The
       any person. For this doctrine tends to the despising           teaching that the efficacy of the death of Christ upon
       of the wisdom of the Father and of the merits of               the cross is dependent upon the will of the sinner
       Jesus Christ, and is contrary to Scripture. For thus
       saith our Saviour: "I lay down my life for the sheep,          certainly implies that the living God does not
       and I know them," John 10: 1527. And the prophet               determine the salvation of any sinner, but that only
       Isaiah saith concerning the Saviour: "When Thou                that sinner is saved who wills to be saved. And this
       shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see          teaching that Christ's death upon the cross becomes
       His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure          effective only when the sinner consents to be saved
       of Jehovah shall prosper in His hand," Is. 53:lO.              certainly leaves room for the possibility that no sinner


                                              THE STANDARD BEARER                                                   497


will be saved. All the living God can do is offer sinners     forgiveness of sins except the believer. Of course, in a
His love and salvation. But whether that sinner will          certain sense this is true. It is certainly true that only
acccept  it is dependent upon that sinner. But,               the believer actually receives and enjoys the forgiveness
assuming, then, that no sinner is saved, what kind of         of sins. But we do well to remember; the distinction
logic is it to teach that the death of Christ loses           between the Arminian and Reformed views of
nothing of its significance, profitableness and               salvation and of the death of Christ. According to the
worthiness? How profitable, I ask you, is the death of        Reformed view, the believer enjoys the forgiveness of
Christ when it actually saved nobody? And what                sins because Christ died for him and bestows this
about its worthiness? So, also in this respect the heresy     forgiveness of sins upon His people through faith. But,
of Arminianism does not make sense.                           according to the Arminian, Christ died for me because
  Of course, this nonsense the Arminians were                 I believe in Him. According to the Remonstrant, the
compelled to teach and maintain. They, we                     efficacy of the cross is strictly dependent upon the
understand, made separation between the merit and             free will of the sinner. The fathers of Dordt are,
the application of that merit of the death of Christ. As      therefore, very correct in their appraisal of the
far as the application of this merit is concerned, they       Arminian view of the death of the cross. The Father
presented that as dependent upon the free will of man.        has indeed ordained His Son without any certain and
Christ did not die for a definite people, but merely in       definite decree to save any.
general, in order to establish the possibility of               However, the question still persists: in the light of
redemption and reconciliation.                                the fact that the Arminians really believe that God
  We have already called attention to the fact that, in       ordained His Son to the death of the cross without a
these articles of the Rejection of Errors, the fathers of     certain and definite decree to save any, how can they
Dordt present what they believe to be the errors of the       teach that the necessity, profitableness and worth of
Arminians. Now it is certainly true that our fathers are      what Christ merited by His death might have existed,
correct when they declare that the Remonstrants               and might remain in all its parts complete, perfect and
taught that the death of Christ would lose nothing of intact, even if the merited redemption had never in
its significance even if no one actually would be saved.      fact been applied to any person? We understand the
The Arminians certainly taught this. 0, it is true that       question: how can the Remonstrants maintain that the
they, in the second point of the Remonstrance,                death of Christ retains its profitableness and worth even
declared that Christ has obtained by His death upon           if none be saved through that death of Christ upon the
the cross redemption and the forgiveness of sins. But         cross? How can that death of Christ be considered as
they also declare that Christ obtains this for all men        worthy and profitable even should none be saved? Of
and for every man. Now we should bear in mind that            course, this, we know, is not true. If Christ did not die
the Arminians, in their view of divine predestination,        atoningly then it is impossible for anyone to be saved.
and as expressed in their first point of their Five Points    If Christ did not die atoningly, then He did not pay for
of the Remonstrance, declare themselves in favor of a         any sin. Then the sin of no sinner is paid. And if my
conditional predestination, that the Lord has                 sin and guilt are not paid, my salvation is impossible.
determined to save those who shall believe on His Son         However, this is the position of the Remonstrant,
Jesus, and that therefore they believe in a divine            namely, that, even should none actually be saved, the
predestination upon foreseen faith. As far as God is          death of Christ nevertheless retains its profitableness
concerned, therefore, His love is conditional and             and worth. How, upon the standpoint of the Arminian,
universal. It all depends upon the free will of the           can he maintain this nonsense? The answer is obvious.
sinner. Whether God will save him depends upon his            You see, the Arminian believed that Christ upon the
desire and willingness to be saved. God, therefore, does      cross simply earned the possibility of our salvation, He
not determine who shall be saved, but it is man who           did not merit salvation itself, only the possibility of
determines this. However, that the fathers appraise the       our being saved. Well, regardless, then, of the question
Arminian view correctly is also evident in the light of       whether anyone be actually saved, it still' remains a fact
the Arminians' second point of their Five Points of the       that the Saviour did merit the possibility of our
Remonstrants. Now it is true that the Arminians here          salvation, and this fact, according to the Remonstrant,
declare that Christ died for all men, head for head. So,      is not affected by any man's salvation.
should anyone accuse the Remonstrants of teaching               How do the fathers of Dordt refute this position of
that the Father has ordained His Son to the death of          the Arminians? Well, in the first place, they declare
the cross without a certain and definite decree to save       that this view tends to the despising of the merits of
any, the Arminians might retaliate with the remark            Jesus Christ. How true! In these words, the fathers
that they certainly do believe that Christ died for men,      maintain that Christ's death has significance and
inasmuch as they believe that Christ died for all men.        meaning only if He shed His blood for definite persons,
But we must call attention to the fact that the               who are also actually delivered and saved. Of course! A
Remonstrants also add that no one actually enjoys this        death of Christ that does not actually save anybody is


498                                           THE STANDARD BEARER



surely without meaning and significance. A death of the wisdom of God? To deny this power of the cross is
Christ that is dependent for its efficacy upon the will certainly the denial of this wisdom of the Lord.
of the sinner itself does not save, itself is not Besides, one surely changes the wisdom of God into
redemption, is void of any meaning. Man's salvation, unspeakable folly by presenting the cross of Calvary as
therefore, is not dependent upon the cross of Christ, dependent upon the will of a sinner. God, then, would
and this means that actually nothing happened at the send His own Son into our world of sin and guilt and
cross of Calvary as far as the actual salvation of the death and present that priceless gift of His Son as
sinner is concerned. The fathers of .Dordt  are certainly dependent upon a sinner? How foolish! Would the
correct when they declare that the Arminians despise Lord, I ask you, "take a chance" as far as the blood of
the merits of our Lord Jesus' Christ; fact is, they His Son is concerned? Is it possible for one drop of
actually deny these merits.                                   that precious blood to have been spilled in vain? Isn't
  Secondly, the fathers declare that the Remonstrants it foolish for me to spend millions upon millions of
are wiser than God in their view of the cross. Again we dollars for something and then not even be sure
say: how true! Is not the cross of our Lord Jesus whether I will ever possess it? And this view must be
Christ, as reconciling the world unto Himself and as applied to Christ's death upon the cross? How foolish!
redeeming His own from all the power of sin and guilt


Bobk R eziews
                          S O L V I N G   P R O B L E M S   I N   M A R R I A G E
SOLVING PROBLEMS IN MARRIAGE, By Robert                       Openness in Marriage," "Learning Acceptance,"
Bower; Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1972;              `Creating     Healthy     Self-Images,"     "Improving
148 pp., $2.45 (Paper). [Reviewed by Pro$  H. Hank01          Communication," "Developing an Identity," etc. If the
                                                              psychology of the book were thoroughly Scriptural,
  There has been an abundance of books on marriage            there would be benefit to the book. But it is not. In
rolling from the presses these last few years. No doubt       fact, the author's theology leaves much to be desired.
the nature of the times is the explanation for this. Dr.      For example, in a footnote on p. 51. the author writes:
Bower, professor of Practical Theology and Pastoral           `"The doctrine      of justification    includes God's
Counseling in the School of Theology at Fuller                acceptance  and love of his children in their present
Theological Seminary, and Professor of Clinical               position. This is to be distinguished from the doctrine
Psychology at Fuller's Graduate School of Psychology,         of sanctification which deals with God's encourage-
has added another.                                            ment of his children to  grow  and to improve their
  The book is hardly a worthwhile addition to one's           Christian life."
library, however. It is psychologically orientated rather        There is still  -the need of a good sound book on
than Scripturally grounded. A reading of the chapter          marriage which can be used by those who wish to build
titles already makes this clear: "The Need For their marriage on the truths of Scripture.

                               N E W   T E S T A M E N T   W O R D   S T U D I E S
NEW TESTAMENT WORD STUDIES, Vols. 1 and 2,                    illustration of the spirit of his studies is afforded by
by John Albert  Bengel; Kregel Publications, Grand            the theme chosen for his inaugural at Denkendorf,
Rapids, Michigan; 1905 pages, $29.95 (Reviewed by             "true godliness the surest road to true science."
Prof. H. C. Hoeksema)                                            New Testament Word Studies is a new title for the
  These are two worthwhile volumes in the Kregel              translation of Bengel's  chief exegetical work, Gnomon
Reprint Library. Although these volumes are a bit             of the New Testament. This is a reprint of the English
expensive, yet considering their size and the value of        edition by Lewis and Vincent, Philadelphia, 1860-61.
the material which they contain, the price is not             It should be noted that this work, as may also be
exorbitant.                                                   deduced from its size, is much more than a word
  Who was John Albert  Bengel? He was a German                study. It is rather a brief and suggestive commentary
Lutheran theologian, of a somewhat pietist inclination,       on the entire New Testament.
who labored during the first half of the eighteenth              With the understanding, of course, that such a
century, especially as professor at the cloister-school of    recommendation does not imply one hundred percent
Denkendorf, a seminary for the early training of. agreement - as might not be expected in any review of
candidates for the ministry. He was an early scholar in       a commentary  - I recommend these two volumes as
the field of textual criticism of the New Testament. An       worthwhile additions to any minister's library.      .


                                                   THE STANDARD BEARER                                              499


             A   B I B L I C A L   M A N U A L   O N   SCIENEE  A N D   C R E A T I O N
A BIBLICAL MANUAL ON SCIENCE AND                               cannot give the contents of the book in detail. A listing
CREATION, by Henry M. Morris; Institute for                    of the chapter headings will give some indication of its
Creation Research, 1972; 80  pp,,  $1.50  (paper).             contents. "`Order and Design in Nature," "The Nature
[Reviewed by Pro5  H. Hank01                                   of Physical Processes," "The Testimony of the Fossil
  This brief book is intended to be a companion                Record," "The Structure of Living Systems," "Origin
volume to the  Science and Creation  Sen'es,  also             and Nature of Man," "The Origin and Structure of the
published by the Institute for Creation Research and           Universe," "Creation, Evolution and Modern Science,"
reviewed earlier in these columns.                             "Age and History of the Earth." It also has two
                                                               appendices on "Biblical Arguments for a Worldwide
  The purpose of the book is explained in the Preface:         Flood, " "New Testament References to Genesis l-l 1."
       This book has been prepared in order to meet the           The interesting part of the book is that it spends a
    need for a concise treatment of the Biblical               great deal of time on important Biblical themes which
    perspective on creation as confirmed by the facts of       relate directly to the scientific questions involved in
    modern science. The almost universal prevalence of
    evolutionism in our modern culture, especially in the      creationism vs. evolutionism. It demonstrates vividly
    schools, makes it urgent that. Bible-believing             that the whole of the Scriptures and their authority are
    Christians and their churches have a clear                 involved in this controversy.
    understanding of Biblical creationism and are able to        Interestingly, the author writes on pp. 20, 21:
    make an intelligent and effective counter-attack           "Many creationist scientists today are actively doing
    against this pervasive system of evolutionary              research on these problems and the scientific basis of
    humanism.                                                  so-called, "flood geology" is becoming stronger all the
       The BIBLICAL MANUAL ON SCIENCE AND                      time."
    CREATION covers eight of the major issues involved           Many, even within the churches, have attacked the
    in the subject of origins, giving the Biblical and         publications of this organization as being unscientific
    theological aspects of each. Although the MANUAL           and untrustworthy. We have yet to read, however, of a
    is designed for independent study it also parallels the
    eight books of the SCIENCE AND CREATION                    single particular instance where the "science" of these
    Series, which were prepared specifically for use in the    men is proved to be bad. General condemnations will
    public schools and which, therefore, are limited           not work.
    strictly to the scientific aspects of these topics.          While we need not agree with all the conclusions of
    Concurrent or subsequent. study of the MANUAL is           these men and all their interpretations on every point,
    thus necessary to obtain a more complete picture of        we are grateful that there are those who give their time
    creation and its true significance than can be obtained    and abilities to explain science in the light of God's
    from the Series alone.                                     Word and not God's Word in the light of science.
  While some of the material in this book can be                 This book is easy reading and is recommended to
found in the author's other writings, this brief manual        teachers and pastors, but also to parents and young
is of considerable value. The book, along with the             people. Purchase it; you will not be sorry.
publishers, not only condemns all evolutionism, but              Editor's Note. For those interested in obtaining
also takes a strong stand against theistic evolution and       their publications, the new address of this organization
progressive creation. There is insistence upon an is: Creation-Science Research Center, Suite I1 7, 4250
absolute antithesis between creation and evolution. We         Pacific Highway, San Diego, California 921 IO.

                                        M A S T E R S   O F   D E C E P T I O N
MASTERS OF DECEPTION, by F. W. Thomas; Baker                   where one is reminded of the saying: "A bad argument
Book House, 1972; 162 pp, $2.45 (paper) [reviewed              in defense of the truth can do more damage than a
by Prof H. Hankol                                              good argument against it." But on the whole we found
  This book is subtitled: "An Expose of the Jehovah's          this book interesting and helpful.
Witnesses, with clear-cut suggestions for refuting their         Many people have had the experience of having
teachings." It is written by a layman and is of                Jehovah's Witnesses come to their door. This book can
considerable value in the understanding of the evil of         be valuable assistance in such circumstances. Yet we
Jehovah's Witnesses and in answering them on the basis         remind our readers of the words of John in II John,
of Scripture. The author pulls no punches in describing        10,ll: "If there come any unto you, and bring not this
the doctrinal departure of this sect and in condemning         doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid
them for their many sins. Sometimes the interpretation ,him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is
of Scriptural uassages is erroneous. and there are Dlaces      nartaker of his evil deeds."


500                                               THE STANDARD BEARER



                WEDDING ANNIVERSAR Y                                  Classis East will meet, the Lord willing, on October
  On September 1, 1972, our beloved parents                         4, 19 7 2 in the Southwest Protestant Reformed
         MR. AND MRS. MELVIN WIERSEMA                               Church. Material to be treated in this session must be
celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.                          in the hands of the Stated Clerk at least ten days prior
  We, their grateful children and grandchildren, are to the convening of this session. Consistories will
thankful to our covenant God for the  many  years  of Please consider this t0 be an official announcement.
love and instruction they have given us.                                                                        Jon Huisken
  It is our prayer that they may continue to                                                                    Stated Clerk
experience the Lord's blessing in their remaining years
as they have in the past.
                                      Their children:
                             Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Lotterman
                                 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Heys                                NOTICE!!!
                             Mr. and Mrs. Robert Noorman               The Annual Membership Meeting of The Reformed
                             Mr. and  Mrs.  Wihiam  Masselink       Free Publishing Association will be held, the Lord
                        Mr* and  Mrs*  Marvin  Mastbergen           willing, on Thursday evening, September 28, at 8 P.M.
                                  Mr. and Mrs. Carl Wykstra in the Hope Protestant Reformed Church. Our speaker
                                      and 20 grandchildren.         at this important meeting will be our Editor in Chief,
                                                                    Prof. H. C. Hoeksema. Prof. Hoeksema promised that
                                                                    his speech  - entitled THE STANDARD BEARER
                                                                    AND FOREIGN CONTACTS  - will be limited to a
                ANNIVERSARY NOTICE                                  twenty minute synopsis. The board urges ALL
  On August 15, 1972, our parents and grandparents,                 members to be present. A special appeal is made to the
          MR. AND MRS. STUART BYLSMA                                YOUNG MEN of our congregations to attend this
celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.                          meeting and become acquainted with this important
  We thank our Covenant God for preserving them for kingdom activity.
each other and for us these -many years, and for the                                               The Board of the R.F.P.A.
covenant instruction we were privileged to receive                                                             G. Bol, Sec'y.
from them. We pray to God for His continued blessing
upon them throughout their earthly walk.
                                  Mr. and Mrs. Gary Bylsma
                                          Christie and Stevie
                                              Marcia Bylsma                     RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY
                                Mr. and Mrs. John ten Haaf              The Men's Society of the First Protestant Reformed
                                 Phyllis and Sharon Bylsma           Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan, wishes to express
                                                                     its heartfelt sympathy to one of its members, Mr. Rein
                                                                     Harkema, in the loss of his wife
                    ANNIVERSAR Y                                                      CLARA HARKEMA.
                                                                        May our gracious Father comfort him by His Word
   On September 4, 1972, our parents and                             and Spirit, and strengthen him in the hope of the
grandparents                                                         saints.
         MR. AND MRS. BERT VAN MAANEN
celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.                                                               H. Meulenberg, Pres.
   We thank our Covenant God for preserving them for                                                         Art Bult, Sec'y.
each other and for us these past years. Our prayer is
for God's continued blessing on them in the years to .
come.
                                       Their children:
                               Mr. and Mrs. Gary Horstman                                  NOTICE!!!
                                   Mr. and Mrs. Roger Buys              An Office Bearer's Conference will be held Tuesday,
                                                         Brenda      October 3, 1972, at 8 PM, at the Southwest Protestant
                                                          Alvina     Reformed Church. Prof. H. C. Hoeksema will speak on
                                                           Carol the topic  - "FAMILY VISITATION." All past and
                                                           Evert     present office bearers are invited to come and enjoy a
                                                          Janice     pleasant evening together.
                                     and their grandchildren                                                 P. Knott, Sec'y.


                                                                         THESTANDARDBEARER                                                                                         501


                                                         Index To Volume 48
                          TEXTUAL INDEX                                                      Anglican and Catholic Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HH 299
Text                                                                  Author Pane            Ammal Reports, RFPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                70
Deuteronomy 13: l-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS                       Appreciation, In
                                                                                      410                           . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JMF    370
                                                                                             Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) . HV                                   15
Genesis 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAH        63    Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) . I-IV                                 67
Genesis 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAI-I      84    Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) . HV
Genesis 1:l                                                                                                                                                                        139
                 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAH     35    Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) . HV                                  151
Genesis 2:20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAH          159    Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) . HV                                  185
Genesis 2:21-25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAH             183    Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) . HV                                  209
Genesis 3:22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 294              Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) . HV                                  260
Genesis 12:1-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL            43    Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) .  HV 273
Isaiah49:16a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..M S            458    Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) . I-IV 321
Matthew 1: l-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HH-HCH                 133    Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) . HV
Matthew 10:32,33                                                                                                                                                                   351
                             . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RDD      222    Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) . I-IV
Matthew 12:40                                                                                                                                                                      378
                       . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH     229    Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) . HV 404
Luke2:13,14.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS              125    Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) . HV 445
John10:27-30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..M S              434    Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) . HV
John 19:2-5                                                                                                                                                                        469
                   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH     266    Atonement, The Doctrine of (Reformation Period) . HV
John19:17.. . . . . . ..i......................M S                                                                                                                                 496
                                                                                      295    Attack - Dr. James Daane Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH
Acts 14:3                                                                                                                                                                          163
                . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH    369
Romans 8:15,16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS               386                                        -B
Romans 12:20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 397                  Baptism, The Mode of the One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RCH                       181
I Cor. 15:50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 230              Beginning, The Perfect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAH                 35
ICor.15:51,52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS              314    Bible ConfuseYou,Howto  Letthe . . . . . . . . . . . . .HH                            283
Ephesians 5: 15-21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL           306    Bible, The Pilgrim and The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DHK 211
Ephesians 5:15-21.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL 427                 Bible,ThePilgrimandthe(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DHK 233
Ephesians 5: 15-21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL 471              Blessing Jehovah's Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS                102
Hebrews 11:7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .GL           21                                        -C-
Hebrews 11:8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .GL             43    "Charismatic Renewal" Meeting, A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                    106
Hebrews 11:9,10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .GL                88    ChildandLordoftheChurch,The.. . . . . . . . . . . ..M S                               362
Hebrews 11:9,10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL              137    Children, Bringing Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JK 380
Hebrews 11:13-16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .GL              155    Children, Commanded to Bear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JK                      187
Hebrews 11:17-19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL             207    Children, The Heritage of the Lord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JK 256
Hebrews 11:20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL 258               Choose Today . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RDD              41
Hebrews 11:20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL 278               Chorus, Heavenly Gospel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS                  125
Hebrews11:21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..G L 278                 Church, The Pilgrim and the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DHK 275
Hebrews 11:22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL 490               Confessing our Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RDD                157
I Peter 2:4, 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS         7    Confession of Faith (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RDD 222
I Peter 2:6-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS         30    Confession of Faith (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RDD 281
IPeter2:9,10.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS              57    Confession of Faith (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..RD D                355
IPeter2:11,12.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS               74    Confronted By the Same Issues - Sequel . . . . . . . .HCH                             461
I Peter 2: 18-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS         194    Contentment, Christian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS               485
I Peter 2:21-25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS          218    Continuing In The Things Learned . . . . . . . . . . . . .RVO                         418
I Peter 3:1-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS        250    Convocation Address:
IPeter 3:7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MS        342       Rejoicing at Jehovah's Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH                     3
IIPeter 3:14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MS          146    Cornerstone, The Precious . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS                   30
Joshua24:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..RD D               41    Covenant Counsel, God's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BW 371
Job19:26................................HC  H                                         230    CovenantLifeofGod,The.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BW                        302
Psalm103:1,2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS             102    Creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BW 424
Psalm 119:162 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH                                                        a-
Revelation 12:5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MS             36;    Daane, A Word of Warning to Dr. James . . . . . . . . . JAH                           213
                                                                                             Dead Speak, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAH             349
                                                                                             Defiance, Sneering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAH 494
                           SUBJECT INDEX                                                     Devil,WhyNotthePoor? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH                        27
Subject                               -A-                             Author Page            Disasters, Impending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .GVB               280
Abortion, A Footnote on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HH                   32    Discipline in the Christian
Adoption, The Spirit of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS 386                      Home and School (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .TDV 231
"Agnes" Say To You, What Did? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .GVB                          492    Discipline in the Christian
AndJesusInTheMidst  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS 295                        Home and School (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .TDV 254


502                                                                      THE STANDARD BEARER



Disobedience. The Conseauences of . . . . . . . . . . . . . HH                       80    Hebrews, Exposition of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL                21
Divorce, Do-It-Yourself. :. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HH 105                 Hebrews, Exposition of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL                43
Door Open Wide, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 341                   Hebrews, Exposition of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL                88
Dordt, The Synod of                                                                        Hebrews, Exposition of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL 137
   (see under: Atonement)                                                                  Hebrews, Exposition of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL 155
                                                                                           Hebrews, Exposition of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL 207
                                      -I%                                                  Hebrews, Exposition of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., . . . . . . . GL 258
Ecumenical Developments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HH                   10    Hebrews, Exposition of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL 278
Ecumenicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HH         79    Hebrews, Exposition of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL 278
Editor's Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HCH          2    Hebrews, Exposition of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL 490
Editor's Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH          26
Editor's Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH          98    Help Meet, An. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAH           159
Editor's Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HCH        122    Husbands, Love Your Wives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JK                   114
Editor's Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 242            Infinite,ReachingForthe . . . . . .;. . . . . . . . . . . . .GVB                     220
Editor's Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HCH 290           Involvement, A Personal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAH                 13
Editor's Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 388            Issues, Confronted By The Same . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 243
Editor's Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 436            Jamaica, News From . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL               19
Editor's Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HCH 461           Jamaica, News From . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL              333
Editor's Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HCH 482            Jamaica Mission, Sketches on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL 454
Education, The Concern of the                                                              Jamaica Mission, Sketches On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GL 473
   Reformation for Christian (7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DE                  11    Jesus' Sheep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS        434
Education, The Concern of the
   Reformation for Christian (8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DE                  61                                    -K, L, M-
Education, The Concern of the                                                              Key `73, More On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HH            475
   Reformation for Christian (9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DE                 153    King,AsTheMockKingThe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 266
Education, The Concern of the                                                              Knowledge, Dwelling in the House of. . . . . . . . . . . . MS                        342
   Reformation for Christian (10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DE 329                     Laborers Exhorted, Christian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS                  194
Election: Its Character . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RCH              165    Leaving and Cleaving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAH              183
Election: Its Exemplification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RCH                   69    Lying Prophets and Lying Wonders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS                      410
Election: Its Exhibition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RCH 319                  Marriage, The Pilgrim and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DHK 347
Election: Its Evidences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RCH 357                 Marriage, The Pilgrim and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DHK 376
Election: Its Justice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RCH             91    Masterpiece, God's Earthly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAH                  84
Election: Its Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RCH 298               Mission of The Church, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RDD                    90
Election: Its Resistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RCH 447              Movies, The Christian and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HH 247
Election: Its Supralapsarian Character . . . . . . . . . . .RCH 205                        Music, Some Interesting Notes On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HH 476
Election: Its Supralapsarian Character . . . . . . . . . .RCH 297                          MysteryoftheLastMoment,The.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS                            314
Exhorted to Walk Honestly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS                 74                                        -N-
                                                                                           Nakedness, Shameless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAH               252
Faculty Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     36    Netherlands, Evidences of
Faculty Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    108       Doctrinal Drift in the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HIi               9
Faculty Letter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     324    Netherlands, The Breakdown of
Faddist Or False Teacher? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH                 50       Doctrinal Discipline In The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH                   77
Fathers, Provoke Not To Wrath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JK 304                       New Theology and Old . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 437
FearofTheLord,The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JK                   65    News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DD                   23
Following in Christ's Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS              218    News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DD                   47
Formula of Subscription, A New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HH 225                        News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DD                   71
                                                                                           News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DD                   96
                                      -G                                                   News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DD                  119
Generation Gap, The Initial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . JAH 452                    News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DD                  143
Generation. The Standard Bearer and the Next . . . . .JJH                            53    News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DD                  168
Genetic Timetable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-III       204    News From Our Churches
Gereformeerde Kerken, Developments in the . . . . .HCH                              270                                        . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..D D    192
                                                                                           News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DD                  216
Gereformeerde Kerken, Developments in the . . . . .HCH                              292    News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DD                  240
Gereformeerde Kerken, Developments in the . . . . .HCH                              316    News From Our Churches . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DD                  264
Gereformeerde Kerken, Developments in the                                                  News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DD                   288
   (A Laodicean Decision) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 338                   News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DD                  311
God, Who Quickens The Dead . . . . . . . . . . . . HH-HCH 133                              News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DD                   336
GoodThingstoCome,AShadowof... . . . . . . . . . JAH 402                                    News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DD                  360
Gospels In Current Study, The. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HH 488                      News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DD                  384
Government, In Submission To . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS                   170    News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DD                  408
                                  -H, I, J-                                                News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DD 432
Hands, Engraved On His . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS               458    News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DD                  456


                                                                     THE STANDARD BEARER                                                                                       503


News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DD 480                  Stewardship, Good . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CH               59
News From Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DD 504                   Synod of 1972 - ASummary . . . . . . ;. . . . . . . . . .HCH 414
NewYear's  Survey, A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HH 148               Temple, Built Into a Holy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS                      7
New Zealand, Developments In. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH                    99     TEN for TWO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 291
New Zealand, Developments in (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 123                        Theatrical Entertainment,
New Zealand, Developments in (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 174                           The Christian and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H.H 345
New Zealand, Developments in (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 197                        The Greatest Is Love,
New Zealand, Developments in (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 227                           An Examination of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DE                81
New Zealand, Geelong, and Orthodoxy . . . . . . . . .HCH 462                             The Greatest Is Love,
                                  -0,  P-                                                   AnExaminationof........................D  E 111
Obeying Parents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JK 449         Tongues-Speakers, Discipline of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HH                     106
Officebearers' Conference - Pella . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DHK 334                     Triune Life, God's - The Source
OPs and RPs Unite, Should? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 483                       0fAllVirtue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i . . . . BW 353
Paradise Lost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAH 429        Tuition, The Matter of School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CH 323
Peace, Pray for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .GVB       179                                   -u, v, w, Y-
Pella's Good Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 175               United Kingdom, News from the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SRB                          116
Pentecostalism In The Light                                                              United Kingdom, News from the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SRB                        369
    Of The Bible (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RDD 391            Varia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..HH        al
Pentecostalism In The Light                                                             Viewpoint, An Insider's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH                  173
   Of The Bible (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RDD 420             Viper's Brood Strikes, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAH 467
People, The Nobility of Gods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS                57    Wars and Rumors of Wars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .GVB                    135
Pilgrim Life, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DHK 130 WartoEndAllWar,The.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAH 374
Poll, An Interesting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HH 476 Where Are You? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAH  308
Pollution.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..C H     94    "Who in the World?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HH 366
Prayer Amendment, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HH             104    "Who in the World?" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HH .393
"Preaching and Historical-                                                              Wife, The Christian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JR              17
   Critical Research" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 364 Wife, The Spiritually Adorned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS 250
"Preaching and Historical-                                                              "Word of God" or "Words of God" . . . . . . . . . . . . .HH 300
   Critical Research" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 389 Word, Rejoicing at Jehovah's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH                                  3
                                  -Q, R-                                                Worldliness Within the Church, Increasing . . . . . . .GVB 400
Question Box:                                                                           Worship, Calvin On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HH 477
   Baptism, About Infant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HCH 443,464 Yours, AllThese Are . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAH                                   63
   "Coals of Fire," As to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 397
   Genesis 3:22, As to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 294                                          BOORS REVIEWED
   Job 19:26andICor.l5:50,Asto . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 230
   Jonah,AstotheSignof.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HCH 229 Book                                                                                                      Page
   Offer, As to the Well-meant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 272 Abortion: The Personal Dilemna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .406
Reach Out, An Examination of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DE                 81    Apostolic History and the Gospel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190
Reach Out, AnExaminationof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DE                   111    The Bible on the Life Hereafter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142
Repudiation - Reformed Journal Style . . . . . . . . .HCH 16 1                          The Bible: God's Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478
Request to Questioners, An Urgent . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 197 A Biblical Manual On Science And Creation. . . . . . . . . . . . 499
RES and Scripture, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HI3 34 Christian Perspectives On Sex And Marriage . . . . . . . . . . . .477
RESorWCC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HH        104    A Commentary On The Revelation  of  John . . . . . . . . . . . .383
R.E.S., The P.R.C. and the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 245                 ThetireofSouls................................14  1
R.E.S., The P.R.C. and the (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HCH 269                   Divine Inspiration  of The  Bible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S 18
Robbery, Attempted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAH 235 Earth  `s Most Challenging Mysteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478
Rubric,ANew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .GVB            39    GodLoves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..4 6
                                  -S, T-                                                The God of Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .286
Sanctification, Diligent in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS       146    The Growing Church Lobby in Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Schools, More on Government and the . . . . . . . . . . .HH 203                         The Heart of the Yale Lectures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S 90
Seminary, About Our . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HW 286               The Judgment of Jonah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Seminary Building Drive Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .GVB 466                     The Lord's Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
Seminary Graduation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HCH 4 13 Masters of Deception. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1. . . . . . ,499
Separation, On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HH      128    New Testament Essays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .382
Signs, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .GVB     86    New Testament Word Studies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 498
Southern Presbyterian Church,                                                           Samuel Willard: Preacher  Of Orthodoxy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 1
   Crisis in the (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JRdW       176    Solving Problems In Marriage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . 498
Southern Presbyterian Church,                                                           The Science and Creation Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .238
  Crisisinthe(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JRdW         199    ATheologyofTheHolySpirit.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Standard Bearer (The): A Force                                                          Until You Bless Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
  To Preserve A Heritage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JJH            53     Wisdom The Principal Thing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 382


THE STANDARD BEARER                                                                                  SECOND CLASS
          P.O. Box 6064                                                                             POSTAGE PAID AT
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506                                                                     GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.

504                                               THE STANDARD BEARER



                                News From Our Churches

   The following trios have been proposed recently by couple of bulletins we learn that "the convocation
the council of Hope Church (Grand Rapids): for exercises of our Loveland Protestant Reformed
pastor, Rev. J. Heys, Candidate R. Van Overloop, and Christian School will be held . . . August  29,  in the
Rev. B. Woudenberg; for home missionary, Rev. R. auditorium of the Loveland Protestant Reformed
Decker, Rev. D. Engelsma, and Rev. D. Kuiper. At a Church. Rev. Engelsma will speak on `Reformed
congregational meeting held on August 21, Candidate Principles of Education.' " From Hull's bulletin: "In
Van  Overloop  was elected from the former, an":, Tev.            keeping with the opening of school, a special
D. Kuiper from the latter. Candidate Van Overlooi :--is convocation will be in  Doon church on Monday,
also received the call from Forbes, North Dakota.           -~    August 28, at 8 P.M. Rev. Kortering will be the
   From Hull's bulletin of August 13 comes the speaker." And we mustn't forget the Seminary. Grand
following message concerning Rev. Kortering: "Our Rapids' area bulletins read, "As all schools are again
pastor received the call from our Theological School to opening, so also is our Seminary. (September 6) is
be professor in the branches of pastoral theology. Convocation night, and the Theological School
 These include homiletics (sermon making), poimenics Committee invites you to enjoy this program at our
 (pastoral care),  liturgies  (proper worship), etc. as Southwest Church."
 determined by synod in 1971. Let us direct our                                            *****
 prayers to God that He may give guidance in this                   Remodeling of the auditorium of our church in Hull
 difficult decision."  i                                          made it necessary that worship services be held in the
       During Rev. Schipper's absence (for vacation), the Community Building on August 27 and September 3.
                                                                                           *****
 pulpit at Southeast was filled, on August 20, by two of            From a March bulletin of First Church comes this
 our recent graduates from the Seminary, W. Bekkering bit of Reformed Witness Hour Correspondence: "I
 and M. Kamps. Southeast's bulletin noted that "these would like to remain on your mailing list. I am inclined
 brethren will be leaving soon for their charges:  WE             to believe that you are one of the very few that
 Bekkering to our church in Randolph, Wisconsin, and proclaim the whole truth or Word of God. . . .
 M. Kamps to our church in  Redlands,.  California."                "Rare it is in this day to hear a faithful witness
 Southwest, incidentally, planned a farewell program uphold the pure doctrine of grace without any mixture
 for Candidate and Mrs. Bekkering, to be held on of Arminianism. May God bless your labors and enable
 September 15.              *****                                 you to continue your witness in the midst of this
                                                                  world. While this world will never receive your witness,
       Some of our teachers, and prospective teachers are         there are many strangers and pilgrims who will enjoy
 also pulling up their stakes. For the school year which it."
 will, by the time you read this, have already begun, no            Also in connection with  xthe work of the Radio
 less than three members of First Church planned to               Committee, there's the following contribution
 leave the city of Grand Rapids. Carol De Jong heads concerning a request from a foreign country: "They
 for South Holland, Illinois; Mary Looyenga for (of the Radio Committee) wonder how in the world
 Edgerton, Minnesota; and Barb Meyer for Doon, Iowa.              requests for the printed copies of the Radio Sermons
 Peter Brummel, who has taught for the past three years come from Tasmania, Australia. Certainly the stations
 i n   o u r   S o u t h   H o l l a n d   s c h o o l ,   i s   t h e   n e w broadcasting the programs cannot reach Australia.
 teacher-administrator in our school in Edgerton.                 Nevertheless, a note was addressed to and received by
 Quoting from the June issue of the  Reflector,  "We the Radio Committee for printed copies of the Radio
 wish Mr. and Mrs. Brummel God's richest blessings as messages. Indeed amazing! Also, many requests from
 they embark on their new teaching.assignment and as the Iowa listeners, the California listeners, and several
 they reestablish their home in Edgerton, Minnesota." from the Western Michigan listeners. But  - from
 That prayer for God's blessing is ours, of course, for all Tasmania - that really stumps the Committee!"
 of our teachers, whether they begin a new assignment                As you may have guessed, that came from the pen
 or continue in an old.                                           of Mr. H. Vander Wal,  Standard Bearer  business
                            ***is**                               manager, and also active member of the Radio
       Several of our schools hold convocation exercises          Committee.
 prior to the commencement of the school year. From a                                                                     D.D.


