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A  REF'ORMED  SEMI-MONTHLY  MAGAZINE



IN  THIS ISSUE


   Should OPs and RPs Unite? (3)

   A Continuing Presbyterian Church

   Billy Graham On Original Sin

   Covenant Confidence

   The Home Library





                                    Volume XLIX / Number 6 / December 1.5, 19 72


122                                                        THE STANDARD BEARER



                        C O N T E N T S :                                                              THE STANDARD BEARER
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Editorials

                                                Editor's Notes
                                                             Profi H. C. Hoeksema

IT ISN'T THAT WE DON'T TRY. But our plans and available by about February 1. And here is good news:
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Hopefully; our second, corrected, printing will be article in this issue reminded me to inform you that


                                                    THE STANDARD BEARER                                                           123



our seminary has a good many mimeographed pub- Epistle to the  Romans, Chapters l-3  (Rev. H.
lications. In many instances these would be useful Hoeksema), $2.50
not only to ministers and students, but to all our
people. Even in those which may have some Greek and Ancient Church History (Rev. G.M. Ophoff), $1.50
Hebrew in them you will find much helpful Ancient Church History (Prof. H. Hanko), $2.00
instruction; but many also do not contain any foreign
languages which you have to skip. If you are on our Medieval Church History (Prof. H. Ha&o), $2.50
Theological Journal mailing list, you will automatically
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Journal. For the time being, I will list just a few titles Hoeksema), $1.50
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Hoeksema), $3.00                                                    these, too, will be announced when ready.


                           Should OPs and RPs Unite? (3)

   In connection with the Rev. John J. Mitchell's reply preferred to speak of freedom rather than of
to our first editorial on this subject, we promised to neutrality. 2) That dispensational&m is another matter;
write further on both the subject of premillennialism neither church allows for it officially. 3) That "few if
and the subject of Arminianism. In the present any of us are concerned about the millennial question,
editorial we devote our attention to the matter of so long as no one is agitating for his view to be the
premillennialism.                                                   only tolerated one;
   It may be well, first of all, to review the positions 3. To this I replied briefly in the Nov. 15 issue that I
taken.                                                              do not believe that there is room under the
1. In my first editorial on this subject I pointed out Presbyterian confessions for premillennialism, not even
that the matter of premillennialism is apparently left for the non-dispensationalist type, and that especially
an open question in the "Proposed Basis of  IJnion" in our times there should be unity in faith on the matter
between the two denominations. It is proposed that of eschatology (the doctrine of the last things.)
among the doctrinal standards be included "The text
of the Westminster Larger Catechism in its original WHAT  IS HISTORIC PREMILLENNIALISM?
form, with the amendments adopted by the Reformed                      It is well that we try to answer this question first, so
Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod in reference to that we may all know what is under discussion.
answers 86-89 which seek to ensure neutrality in                       There is a difference between what is called `historic
regard to the eschatological sequence . . ." At that time p r e m i l l e n n i a l i s m " a n d   "d i s p e n s a t i o n a l i s t
I   p o i n t e d   o u t   t h a t   t h i s   d o e s   n o t   a d o p t premillennialism." The latter maintains a hard-and-fast
premillennialism, but opens the door for it. I separation between the old and new dispensations,
suggested: 1) That confessional neutrality on such an between the Jews as the `kingdom people" and the
important matter is wrong; means that in effect the church as the body of Christ. Moreover, it denies the
church has NO confession  .about this. 2) That kingship of Christ over His church, maintaining that
premillennialism is not consistent Presbyterianism, and Christ is Ring of the Jews, but head of the church.
that if it also involves dispensationalism, there is much Historic premillennialism is supposed to hold to a
more involved than Answers 86-89 of the Larger premillennial view of the coming of Christ, but not
Catechism. 3) That the OP Church should be careful to include the above dispensationalist elements which
about this, in view of the fact that an earlier attempt at are traceable chiefly to Darby and Scofield.
neutrality on premillennialism failed:                                 For the purposes of this discussion I had really
2. The Rev. Mitchell replied: 1) That neither the OP wanted to find a concise presentation of this historic
nor the RO has an official position; that he, however, premillennialism from the pen of a representative of


124                                                        THE STANDARD BEARER



the RP Church. I turned to the  Systematic Theology  of,                             14. That the golden age also is to be characterized
Dr. J. Oliver  Buswell, Jr., who for many years taught at                         by the removal of the curse from nature so that the
Covenant Seminary of the RPC. And while he has a                                  desert shall blossom as the rose and the wild ferocious
very lengthy and detailed (and to my mind, very                                   nature of the beasts shall be changed.
unsystematic) explanation of his premillennial                                       15. That during the Millemrium great numbers of
eschatology, I   f a i l e d   t o   f i n d   s u c h   a   c o n c i s e        the Gentiles will turn to God and be incorporated
                                                                                  into the Kingdom.
presentation. I therefore turned to  Loraine Boettner's                              16. That while many remain unconverted and
The Millennium,  a worthwhile- study on this subject,                             rebellious at heart they are not destroyed, but are
though Boettner himself is a postmillennial. In this                              held in check by the rod-of-iron rule of Christ.
book I find the following summary, pp. 141-143:                                      17. That during the Millennium Satan is to be
          The premillennial system is considerably more                           bound; cast into the abyss, and so shut away from the
       complicated than either the post- or amillennial                           earth.
       system and, consequently, it has also been attended                           18. That at the close of the Millennium Satan is to
       with greater diversity of opinion among its advocates.                     be loosed for a short time.
       But despite these differences it has been characteristic                      19. That the Millennium is to be followed by a
       of both schools of Premillennialism to hold:                               short but violent outbreak of wickedness and
          1. That the Kingdom of God is not now in the                            rebellion headed by Satan which all but overwhelms
       world, and that it will not be instituted until Christ                     the saints and the holy city of Jerusalem.
       returns.                                                                      20.  That the forces of wickedness are to be
          2. That it is not the purpose of the present gospel                     destroyed by fire which is cast down upon them from
       age to convert the world to Christianity, but rather to                    heaven.
       preach the gospel as a witness to the nations and so to                       21. That the wicked dead of all ages are then to be
       warn them of and make them justly subject to                               raised in the "second ressurrection," judged, and with
       judgment; also to gather out of all nations God's                          the Devil and the wicked angels cast into hell.
       elect, the Church saints.                                                     22. That heaven and hell are then introduced in
          3. That the world is growing worse and will                             their fullness, with the new heavens and the new
       continue to grow worse until Christ comes to                               earth as the future home of the redeemed, which will
       establish His Kingdom.                                                     constitute the eternal state.
          4. That immediately preceding the return of Christ                         Historic Premillennialism holds that the coming of
       there is to be a period of general apostasy and                            Christ will be preceded by certain recognizable signs,
       wickedness.                                                                such as the preaching of the Gospel to all the nations,
          5. That we are now in the latter stages of the                          the apostasy, wars, famines, earthquakes. the
       Church age and that the return of Christ is near,                          appearance of the Antichrist or Man of Sin, and the
       probably to occur within the lifetime of the present                       Great Tribulation. Many think that they see some of
       generation.                                                                these signs at the present time. Dispensationalists, on
          6. That at Christ's coming the righteous dead of all                    the other hand, hold that there will be no further
       ages are to be raised in the "first resurrection."                         signs, all the prophecies relating to events before the
          7. That the resurrected dead together with the                          coming of Christ having now been fulfiied, and that
       transfigured living saints who are then on the earth                       the return of Christ therefore may occur literally at
       are to be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.                           "any moment"  - even for the righteous their
          8. That the judgment of all the righteous then                          heavenward movement being the first indication they
       takes place, which judgment consists primarily in the                      have that Christ has come.
       assignment of rewards.
          9. That before and during the tribulation period                      Now I am not saying that the premillenialists in
       the Jews are to be restored to the Land of Palestine.                  either the Reformed Presbyterian Church or in the
          10. That at the mere sight of their Messiah the                     Orthodox  Presbyt&ian Church agree with all of the
       Jews are to turn to Him in a national conversion and                   above points. As Boettner also points out, there is wide
       true repentance.                                                       variation among  premillennialists. Nor do I say that a
          11. That Christ at His coming destroys the                          theologian like Dr.  Buswell agrees  in  his  Systematic
       Antichrist and all his forces in the battle of                         Theology  with all of the above; in fact, I would say he
       Armageddon.                                                            do es not. But the above is a generally accurate
          12. That after the battle of Armageddon Christ                      description. And having made a comparison, my
       establishes a world-wide Kingdom with Jerusalem as                     judgment is that in the main it is also a fairly accurate
       its capital, in which He and the resurrected and                       description of the line followed by Dr.  Buswell.
       transfigured saints rule for a thousand years in                         I also want to point out that the distinction between
       righteousness, peace and prosperity.
          13, That during this reign the city `of Jerusalem                   historic and dispensationalist premillennialism is a
       and the temple are to be rebuilt, the feasts and fasts                 rather fluid one, and that the danger, both doctrinally
       and the priesthood, ritual and sacrificial system                      and historically, of the former  developirig  into and
       reinstituted, though performed in a Christian spirit                   giving way to the latter is by no means imaginary.
       and by Christian worshippers.                                          Historic premillennialism, at best, is inconsistent


                                                                       THE STANDARD BEARER                                                                             125



  Presbyterianism not only; but it is also  inconsistent                                    system, but that they definitely exclude it as a
, premillennialism.  If one follows its emphasis on a                                      possible interpretation.
  literalistic interpretation of Scripture and its emphasis                              Even from this point of view, in our opinion, the
  on a special place and special treatment of the Jews in                            OPC would do well to think hard and long before
  the economy of salvation to their logical consequences,                            consummating a marriage with the RPC. Part of the
  one must needs end in dispensationalism. In other                                  problem, however, is that the OPC itself seems to be
  words, the seeds of dispensationalism are present in                               open to premillennialism. And this is bad!
  historic premillennialism.
    Nor am I alone in this opinion. Dr. Boettner writes                              THE AMENDMENTS TO THE
  in the work cited above, p. 158 :                                                  LARGER CATECHISM
          It is important to keep in mind that                                           The Proposed Basis of Union, we have seen, will
      Premillennialism and Dispensationalism are not                                 include the (Westminster) Larger Catechism as
      synonymous terms. Premillennialism is the broader                              a m e n d e d   i n   A n s w e r s   8 6 - 8 9   b y   t h e   R e f o r m e d
      term, and includes all those who believe that Christ                           Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod, in 1964. At
      returns before the millennium and that He will rule
      personally on earth for a thousand years.                                      the time of my first editorial on this subject I
      Dispensationalism on the other hand includes only                              s o m e h o w   h a d   t h e   i m p r e s s i o n   t h a t   t h e s e   w e r e
      those Premillennialists who follow Darby and                                   amendments which were added by  synodical decision
      Scofield in dividing the divine plan into dispensations                        by way of footnotes. Now, however, I have received
      during each of which God deals with the human race                             f r o m   t h e   R e v .   M i t c h e l l   a   t r a n s c r i p t   o f   t h e s e
      on the basis of some specific principle. Thus  all                             amendments; and I find that they are actually changes
      Dispensationalists are Premillennialists, but not all                          made in the text of the Larger Catechism itself. This, I
      Premillennialists are Dispensationalists. At the present                       believe, is more serious than the addition of some
      time, however, the great majority of Premillennialists,                        kind of footnotes or declaratory statements.
      p a r t i c u l a r l y   i n   t h e   U n i t e d   S t a t e s ,   a r e        But before I comment further on this, let  me quote
      Dispensationalists. Most of the Bible institutes, as                           these amendments. I will first quote the original,
      well as the minority of theological seminaries that
      teach Premillennialism, are dispensational. There is a                         italicizing the part which is omitted or changed.
      logical connection between Premillennialism and                                Immediately following each clause or sentence which
      Dispensationalism. Most of those who take                                      is changed the amended version will appear in brackets.
      Premillennialism seriously and become enthusiastic                                    Q. 86. What is the communion in glory with Christ,
      about it go on to adopt Dispensationalism  (italics                                   which the members of the invisible church enjoy
      added, HCH) But, conversely, we believe that most of                                  immediately after death?
      those who become convinced of the errors of                                           A. The communion in glory with Christ, which the
      Dispensational&m proceed to throw Premillennialism                                    members of the invisible church enjoy immediately
      overboard too.                                                                        after death, is, in that their souls are then made
    And again, on p. 375 Boettner writes:                                                   perfect in holiness,  and received into the highest
          On the other hand we believe that the principle of                                heavens, where they behold the face of God in light
      literal interpretation which characterizes all types of                               and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their
      Premillennialism leads to serious error in that it fails                              bodies, which even in death continue united to
      to recognize the truly spiritual nature of the Kingdom                                Christ, and rest in their graves as in their beds, till at
      in this world as manifested in the Church and sets                                    the last day [till at the return of Christ] they be again
      forth instead an earthly, political kingdom; that it                                  united to their souls. (Etc., without change.)
      promotes a superficial method of Bible                                                Q . 87. What are we to believe concerning the
      interpretation;, and that it is seriously handicapped by                              resurrection?
      its pessimistic view of the future. (Boettner's                                       A. We are to believe, that at the last day [last time]
      postmilletial.ism  shines through in that last charge,                                there shall be a general resurrection [there shall be a
      of course. HCH) In its radical form it divides the plan                               resurrection] of the dead, both of the just  &d
      of salvation into mutually exclusive and even                                         unjust: (etc., without further modification).
      conflicting dispensations, sets law over against grace                                Q. 88.  What shall  immediately  follow after the
      and the Church over against the K.ingdom, speaks                                      resurrection? [What shall follow after the
      disparagingly of the Church, and teaches a restoration                                resurrection?]
      of Judaism during the time of the  millennial                                         A.  Immediately after the resurrection shall follow
     kingdom. While Historic. Premillennialism is a much                                    the general and final judgment of angels and men; the
     less erroneous system than is Dispensationalism, it is                                 day and hour whereof no man knoweth, that all may
     only wish&l thinking which assumes that the two can                                    watch and pray, and be ever ready for the coming of
      be logically separated and kept in watertight                                         the Lord. [After the resurrection of the just and the
     compartments. The two systems are basically the                                        unjust shall follow the fmal judgment of angels and
     same and must stand or fall together. (italics added,                                  men. That all may watch and pray and be ready for
     HCH) We believe that we have shown that the                                            the coming of the Lord, the day and hour whereof no
      Scriptures not only fail to teach the premillennial                                   man knoweth.]


126                                                 THE STANDARD BEARER


       Q. 89. what shall be done to the wicked at the day of    position, but has permitted freedom in this area, this
       judgment?  [What  shall be done to the ticked when       betrays a looseness with regard to the confessions. For
       they are judged?]                                        it is clear to me that the Westminster Confession and
       A. At the day of judgment, men they are judged,          the Larger Catechism definitely shut out the
       the righteous having been caught up to Christ,] the      premillennial view, do not allow neutrality or freedom.
       wicked shall be set on Christ's left hand, (etc.,
       without further change).                                 And if there is liberty on this important matter, is
                                                                there not liberty on other confessional matters? And
  It should be kept in mind that the intent of these then, finally what do the confessions mean?
amendments was not to endorse a premillennial view,               In the second place, looking now at the nature and
but to change the wording so as to permit it, that is, to content of these amendments, it seems to me that the
ensure neutrality, or freedom.                                  confession of the church as to what constitutes the
  In a letter accompanying the above transcript, the truth of Holy Scripture is very vitally at stake here.
Rev. Mitchell wrote to me: "So far as I know, First of all, it seems evident that the amendments to
Orthodox Presbyterian feeling is that these changes are
not endangering to the basic doctrines of the faith and the Larger Catechism involve a change from a
                                                                narrower, stricter view to a broader, more inclusive
are acceptable on that ground. The OPC has not
required its office-bearers to subscribe to any view. For admittedly the purpose is to provide for
particular millenial position, but has permitted freedom, or neutrality, as to the eschatological
freedom  i'n this area. (Our subscription to the sequence. In other words, it is to  allow something
Westminster Standards permits of some exceptions on which was not allowed by the  origin4 Westminster
the part of office-bearers, such exceptions to be Larger Catechism. This in itself is not good. It
permitted according to the judgment of the ordaining constitutes retrogression, rather than development and
body.)"                                                         progress in the expression of the truth of the Word of
                                                                God. It constitutes broadening rather than refinement.
EVALUATION                                                      Secondly, in close connection with the preceding, this
  There are, it seems to me, several aspects to this would seem to imply that the church is less able to
proposal which merit consideration. Now that I have understand the truth  ,of the. Word of God and to
complete information, it appears to me that this is an declare what Scripture means today than in the
extremely serious matter - much more serious than I seventeenth century, when the Westminster creeds
had first thought. And I believe that Orthodox were written.  Then  they were able to state that truth
Presbyterians ought-to view this proposal with extreme so specifically that it excluded the premillennial view;
seriousness, if not alarm.                                      today,  according to these RPC amendments they are
  Here are my reasons.                                          no longer able to be so specific. This, to my mind, is an
  In the first place, I believe it is a serious mistake to unrealistic view of the progress of dogma as well as of
make and to allow changes in a confession unilaterally, the perspicuity of Scripture. Thirdly, this  calls in
i.e., by one denomination in the Presbyterian family. question the perspicuity of Scripture. Are the
Footnotes or declaratory statements are one thing. Scriptures so vague, so lacking in clarity, so difficult to
Even editing the language or `improving the translation understand that it is not possible to distinguish from
may be permitted. And a single denomination could them whether Christ's coming is premillennial or not?
conceivably even write a ~2ew confession. But I believe Are they so vague that we cannot discern clearly from
that no single denomination may tamper with the them whether there is one, general resurrection of the
Westminster Larger Catechism, or any confession for dead or two; whether there is one final judgment of all
that matter, all by itself. The Westminster Confession men, or two? And, finally, this entire attempt at
and Catechisms are the heritage of  all (true)                  "neutrality" simply means that the churches who
Presbyterians the world over. If they are to be adopt this position say, in effect, "We have no
changed, the Reformed. Presbyterians cannot do this confession on these matters. We are not able to say
by themselves. And if they do change the Larger what the truth of the Word of God is on these
Catechism, then they no more have the right to call it matters." In other words, it is contrary to the church's
the Westminster Larger Catechism. It has become a calling to be a confessing church.
different document. To me this is not a matter of                 In the third place, it seems to me that these
indifference, especially not in our day of decreasing amendments go beyond the ensuring of neutrality. I
respect for the Reformed confessions.                           say this not only because as changes from the more
  On the other hand I cannot appreciate the Orthodox specific to the less  specific  they practically  invite
Presbyterian attitude as described in Editor Mitchell's premillennialism. But in my opinion the change in
letter. I do not have in my possession the OPC form of Question and Answer 89 definitely  adopts  an aspect
subscription. But it seems to me that if it be true, as         of the premillennial view. It certainly means that the
Mr. Mitchell writes, that the OPC has not required its          "rapture" has already taken place  prior to  the
office-bearers to subscribe to any particular millennial judgment of the wicked, while it does not mention the


                                            THE STANDARD BEARER                                                  127



separate judgment of the righteous and the separate course of history that these premillennial expectations
resurrection of the' wicked. Notice: "When they are were false? Mark you well, I say without hesitation
judged, the righteous having been caught up to Christ, "when," not "if." For this shall surely happen! The
the wicked shall be set on Christ's left hand . . ." This premillennial sequence is not that of Scripture. And
not only makes room for the premillennial sequence, it the Scriptures shall certainly be fulfilled! And this
introduces that sequence itself into this Answer. If this means that premillennialism will be concretely proved
is not true, then this answer is certainly in need of false !
further clarification before it is accepted as being         But if this be true - and it is - then how great is the
merely "neutral."                                          responsibility of the church which allows these
  Finally, let no one say that the matter is not of great premillennial teachings and which allows the sheep of
importance or that it does not concern the faith. This Christ to be wrongly instructed and misled! And do
is never true, of course, of  a?y aspect of the truth not forget: the elders of the church will have to give
which can be determined in the light of Scripture. But account for the souls of the sheep left in their charge!
let us, in this specific instance, take careful note of      For all these reasons, I would suggest:
what is involved. I ask the reader to turn back to the 1. That the Orthodox Presbyterian Brethren ought not
summary of premillennialism which I quoted from to approve a merger which will give official license to
Loraine Boettner. Notice that these amendments to premillennialism and which will undoubtedly lead to a
the Larger Catechism obviously make room for all that large influx of those committed to premillennialist
is included between item 6 and item 22. They make teachings.
room for a thousand years more of history that is full 2. That it would be better far that the Orthodox
of significant events. And they make room for an Presbyterian Church take cognizance of the seriousness
altogether different sequence of events. Mind you, of this premillennialist error and of the fact that the
these are events which very directly concern the hope heritage of Westminster allows no room for it, and that
and the expectation of God's people. Can you imagine they then would insist that subscription to the
the disappointment, the disillusionment, the subordinate standards does not allow for
temptation to depart from the faith on the part of premillennialism. This would be consistent
those who have been led to have premillennial Presbyterianism.
expectations when it shall become evident in the


All Around Us

                     A Continuing Presbyterian Church

                                                 ProJ: H. Hanko

  We have reported in this column from time to time published and will be submitted to the General
developments in the Southern Presbyterian Church in Assembly in 1975 for adoption. The entire confession
which, while the denomination as a whole continues has appeared in the pages of the Presbyterian Journal
on its increasingly liberal course, conservatives make and is being discussed in a series of articles.
preparations to preserve a denomination which is loyal       We cannot enter into a detailed discussion of the
to the Westminster Confessions. These matters have proposed new confession in these columns, nor is that
also been discussed in the columns of the  Standard important. It is sufficient to observe that, should the
Bearer  by John Richard De  Witt, a minister in that new confession be adopted, the entire confessional
denomination.                                              basis of the Southern Presbyterian Church will be so
  Because all these matters will continue to be completely altered that the entire confessional
discussed in the future, also by the editor of this paper, character of the denomination will be in keeping with
we shall not enter into detail concerning recent the liberal and modernistic trends so much in vogue in
developments. However, there are two matters which our day.
ought to be mentioned to keep our readers up to date.        It is not surprising therefore that the conservatives
  The one is the appearance of a new confession. In oppose this confession and see it as an attempt to steer
1969, the General Assembly of the Southern the denomination away from her historical
Presbyterian Church commissioned a committee to confessional position.
prepare such a new confession. The draft has now been        The second development of note is the formation of


128                                             THE STANDARD BEARER



a new presbytery (approximately equal to our  classis) the  "Presbyterian Journal's  editor, advocate remaining
called the Vanguard Presbytery. On September 7 six within the denomination until the merger with the
ministers and ten elders signed a resolution agreeing to N o r t h e r n   .Presbyterian  C h u r c h   a c t u a l l y   i s
"covenant together to form an association to be consummated. One of the reasons why these choose to
known as Vanguard Presbytery, a Provisional remain within the denomination for the time being is
Presbytery for Southern Presbyterian and Reformed because they see greater hope of keeping their
Churches Uniting."                                             property when finally they leave. This hope is based
  What is striking about this development is that this upon the so-called "escape clause" in the present plan
"covenant" was signed by men who belong to of union which gives opportunity for congregations to
congregations which have already withdrawn from the withdraw without penalty within a certain time after
denomination.                                                  the merger is consummated. But those who have
  The movement reveals a division of sorts within the formed the Vanguard Presbytery believe that the time
conservative element in the Southern Presbyterian has come now to sever ties since it has become obvious
Church. While many are alarmed at the liberal trends that there is no hope of restoring the denomination as
within the denomination, these same conservatives are a whole to her historical confessional basis.
divided over precisely how to proceed. Many, including

                                A Victory -For The Amish
  The Amish have been in trouble with the courts for education beyond the eighth grade was a serious threat
a long time. Their troubles revolved around the to their religious beliefs. While the Court did not strike
question whether Amish children should be made to go           down as being unconstitutional present laws which
to school beyond the eighth grade. The laws in the require a child to go to school until he is sixteen years
country generally require that all children are required old, the Court did make an exception in the case of the
to attend school through age fifteen. The Amish did Amish and spoke of the fact that a balance had to be
not keep these laws and Amish children discontinued sought between these state laws and the religious
school upon completion of the eighth grade. Their convictions of the Amish.
claim was that further education would harm the                   This is a significant victory and it will, no doubt,
religious training of their children, for it would tend to have implications for others who have established their
wean them away from the religious beliefs of the own school systems for the religious training of
community. The issue therefore became one of children. Specifically it means that, at least for the
freedom of religion. While some Amish had already time being, there is less threat of government control
moved out of the country to seek religious freedom in of our own schools. How long this will last is another
South America, others stayed here and fought to battle question, of course. But in the meantime we can be
through the courts.                                            thankful for such a decision; and it ought to be added
  Last summer the Supreme Court handed down a incentive to pursue our calling to instruct our children
decision in which the Amish won a very notable with diligence and faithfulness.
victory. The Court upheld their contention that

                                    The Problem Of. Death
  Death has always been a grim spectre for men. There not the end of existence, but that "something" exists
is something ambiguous about man's attitude towards beyond death. He may, as some philosopher once said,
death. On the one hand, he considers death as being describe death as a leap into the great unknown. Yet
normal. Especially from the evolutionary viewpoint, the fact is that he knows, from the voice of God which
death is the normal end of all living things. And he cannot be stilled, that death is abnormal. He knows
accepts it as such. So normal does he consider death to that death is part of the punishment for sin. He knows
be that he will, when he is filled with despair seek with a conviction that will not be put down that death
death actively by taking his own life. He tries to ushers him into the presence of the Judge of heaven
believe that death is the end of existence and that, in and earth. Yet, for the sake of the semblance of peace
the evolutionary process, death fits somehow into the which he must maintain, he cannot admit this.
great scheme of things. On the other hand however, he             Two very striking evidences of this have recently
cannot escape a certain fear of death. He tries                come to my attention.
desperately to avoid it as long as possible. He tries to          The one concerns some comments made on the
still any voices which speak of the fact that death is subject by a columnist who is, at present, waging a


                                                       THE STANDARD BEARER                                                   129



lonely war against a rare form of leukemia.  In a recent more commonly known as "Death Education and
column he discussed with the public his views on the             Suicidal Behavior." The purpose for this course is to
matter. Asking the question what it is like to live with aid students in understanding death so that they will
this disease, he writes:                                         be able to face the reality of death squarely and live
       Oddly enough, it hasn't been as bad as it sounds.         happier lives without the threat of death hanging over
    There have been some moments of fear, and some               the  heads. From the fact that this course is the second
    pain (a marrow test is not fun). There have been a           most popular course in the curriculum (sex education
    few times when I felt very sick, and when my blood           is first), the conclusion is made that the fear of death is
    was so thin as to put my life at risk. But when you          more  general and more deeply seated in people than is
    feel sick enough, you don't much fear death, and             often supposed.
    even half-welcome it. In such ways, God tempers the
    wind                                                           Death is the one reality that even the most
             to the shorn lamb.
       . . . I wish I could claim that the past year has         optimistic scientist and the staunchest believer in
    given me profound spiritual insights, but it hasn't. I       evolution cannot explain away. It is always the ringing
    was an agnostic before I got sick, and I am an               of the death-knell which smashes the optimism of the
    agnostic still. . . .                                        unbeliever to pieces.
       If there is a God, why did He choose them                   The Christian alone  is1 able to face death squarely
    (children who have the disease)? Mind you, I am an           because he knows and receives by faith the truth
    agnostic, not an titheist. But if there is a God, He         concerning death. It is, according to the Scriptures, not
    surely "moves in a mysterious way."                          normal, but horribly abnormal, for it is the judgment
       It may seem a bit fatuous to say so, but what has
    surprised me most about this experience is how nice          of God upon sinful man. God, in fierce anger against
    people are. Most of us live out our lives behind a           the  sinner who seeks to set himself up in God's world
    thick outer tegument (covering), or carapace (shield         as lord and master, drives wicked and rebellious man
    or shell), that separates us from other people. The          out of the world through the  dool: of death into
    threat of death breaks the carapace. It makes you            everlasting destruction in hell. This is the truth
    deeply dependent on other people - in my case, my            concerning death - a truth which, ultimately, not even
    wife, my family, my doctor, my friends and                   the unbeliever can successfully evade.
    colleagues, above all my wife. Once the carapace is            But the believing child of God hides himself beneath
    broken, you realize how amazingly nice - there is            the shadow of the cross of Calvary, for he knows that
    really no other word for it - most people are.               in that cross is the victory over death. His Lord Who
       When I first got sick, I came across a sentence in        conquered death, rose again mighty and triumphant.
    an old piece by Winston Churchill: "For the rest, live       The believer alone of all men can sing: "0 death,
    dangerously; take life as it comes; dread nought; all
    will be well." I repeat it like a talisman. . .              where is thy  sting? 0 grave, where is thy victory? The
                                                                 sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
  In another magazine appeared an article which But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory
discussed the recent introduction into the curriculum through our Lord Jesus Christ." I Cor. 15 :55-57.
of a college course  labelled  Health 476, but which is

                                   Billy Graham On Original Sin
  We quote from a brief news item in a recent issue of               that man is totally depraved and cannot will on his
Christian News:                                                      own accord to believe Christ. He agrees with Erasmus
       Innocent children are not sinners according to                and takes issue with Luther on this important
    Billy Graham and some other new evangelists.                     doctrine. (See "Of Free Will, Or Human Powers."
       Graham wrote in a recent column published in                  pp. 6-8.)
    newspapers throughout the nation: "Innocent                    We might add a couple of comments of our own.
    children have not wilfully sinned, and therefore, are          Billy Graham not only agrees with Erasmus
    not `transgressors of the law' or sinners. True, they        overagainst Luther, but he also agrees with Pelagius
    have the capacity to sin, and when, of age, will             overagainst St. Augustine. It was Pelagius who first
   -inevitably sin. But, until they do sin, they do not          introduced the idea that all children are born as a
    come under the judgment of the law. The whole
    trend of Scripture teaches that the innocents who are        "tabula rosa"; i.e., in a morally neutral condition.
    too young to accept Christ intelligently, are safe in        There sin, when it appeared, was not due to any defect
    the arms of a just and holy God."                            in their nature, but to evil habits learned from others.
  Christian News  adds:                                          The  Arminian always essentially adopts this position.
       The Bible however, teaches that all men are born          Once he denies the total depravity of man, he must
    in sin and are sinners. Graham rejects the Scriptural        sooner or later go all the way. He must sooner or later
    doctrine of original sin and the Scriptural doctrine         take the position that sin is not in the nature, but in


130                                          THE STANDARD BEARER



the act only. Thus, denying a sinful and corrupt be in the act only. We do not often take seriously the
nature, he can never take sin seriously. And hence, words of our own Heidelberg Catechism when it, in
more and more, drifts, into the position of modernism discussing what we believe concerning the forgiveness
which teaches the essential goodness of man. of sins, remarks: "That God, for the sake of  Chriit's
Arminianism is always incipient modernism.                    satisfaction, will no more remember my sins, neither
   There is a note of warning here also. It is very. easy my corrupt nature, against which I have to struggle all
for all of us to forget that fundamental truth that sin is my life long. . . ." The implication is that my corrupt
always in the nature. I mean now, not so much in our nature is my responsibility for which I must seek
theology as in- our own daily walk and confession of forgiveness every day  - as the  publican did in  JesuS'
sin. We so easily fall into the trap of considering sin to parable: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner. "



Meditation

                       Th,e Saint's Personal Testimony
                                                     Rev. M. Schipper

          Tome and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul."
                                                                                              Psalm 66: I6

  It is getting to be that time of the year again when before his God. But he is also prepared to tell all of
inventory is taken. Everyone who is in business knows God's people what that accounting was. He calls to all
what that entails. It is the time when you go through the children of God to hear him as he counts and
your stock to determine precisely how much you have recounts in detail what his God has done to his soul.
on hand. And after this has been ascertained, you can Here we have a. saint's personal testimony of his
proceed to discover how much you gained or lost spiritual status.
during the course of the year. It is the time of                I will declare what He hath done!
reckoning, of a giving account. If the business has             When the psalmistjiveshis  account, he has nothing
conducted a perpetual inventory, such an accounting is to say of himself.
not difficult to produce. Whether you like or don't like        How  contrarjr is the word of God here to the
it, this procedure is inevitable, and absolutely attempts of natural, sinful man to exalt himself!
necessary at the end of the year.                               It is universally characteristic of men, of the men of
  And as we are in the providence of God brought to the world the world over, and especially at this time of
the end of another year, it is well that we also take an the year, to make great boast of their own
accounting of our spiritual status. 0, surely, also here accomplishments. They even make plans to do greater
there would be nothing wrong with the taking of a things. If their business has suffered losses, they will
perpetual inventory. If all is as it should be, we will be call in their efficiency men to discover the cause, and
prepared to give a correct assessment of our spiritual seek their advice as to how to overcome them. If they
stock at any moment. This would, indeed,  ha've a have made great gains, they will encourage themselves
salutary effect on our lives each day of our earthly to do even better.
existence. But somehow,, as the years of our life go by,        This is true of men even in the religious sense.
and as each year comes t,o its end, we have a special Churches and church-related organizations, and
occasion for taking such a spiritual accounting. It is religious organizations not related to the church, make
then, perhaps more. than at any other time, that we great boasts of their expansion, their missionary
realize how fast we are running to the end of our time, programs, "the large number of souls they have won
when the final reckoning will take place. We suggest for the Lord." Men are conceived of as co-workers
that you and I do exactly that as the seconds tick away with God. God, so-they say, does His part; and we do
that bring to an end this year of ,our Lord 1972.             our part. And, no doubt, if there still are churches
  It appears that the psalmist, according to the words which assemble on a New Year's Eve, they will not fail
of our text, had done precisely that. Not only did he to tell the Lord about all their accomplishments during
make an accounting of all that God had done for his the year that has passed by.
soul; so that he `knew. exactly what constituted the            If there is room for man to boast, I suppose the
substance of his spiritual status, and `how he stood psalmist could have done a little boasting too. Had he


                                             THE STANDARD BEARER                                                131


not faithfully gone up with the worshippers to the elective love and mercy, in the hope of eternal life and
house of God? Had he not without fail presented to glow.
the priests his sacrifices and offerings to pay his vows      0, indeed, what an amazing work of God had been
which he made when he was in trouble? 0, indeed, he performed upon the soul of the psalmist!
had not failed to offer bullocks upon the altar! But          What amazing work of grace is it which He performs
when it came to the actual accounting, there was upon the soul of every child of God!
nothing in it that moved him to exalt himself.                That soul He sprinkles with the blood of atonement
  It is all what his God has done!                          which speaketh of better things than the blood of
  This is' the tenor of the entire psalm. Listen to him bullocks. That soul He sanctifies by the Spirit of
in the first part of the psalm: "Make a joyful noise Christ, that it once more finds delight in the service of
unto God, all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of his God, and a walk of new obedience. That soul now lives
name: make his praise glorious. . . Come and see the in the consciousness that it shall never die, though the
works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the physical, psychical aspect of it perishes with the body
children of men." And again in the middle of the in the grave. That soul is so full of grace of God in
psalm, "0 bless our God, ye people, and make the voice Christ Jesus, that it cannot constrain itself,  - it must
of his praise to be heard: which holdeth our soul in life, speak!
and suffereth not our feet to be moved." He has in            I will declare what God hath done unto me!
mind some of the `trials and afflictions whereby the          How God-honoring is the personal expression of
Lord had tried and proved His people, in which trials that soul!
He was always motivated by His great love for them,           That soul which has been so operated upon by the
and out of which trials the Lord had always delivered grace of God moves the tongue to speak of its personal
them. Whatever the works of the Lord were, they were experience. The psalmist is over-whelmed, and
very great. Not only to His people in general, but also ecstatically he calls out, Come and hear: and I will
to the psalmist in particular.                              declare what God hath done unto me! The tongue of
                                                            such as with the psalmist have experienced in the soul
  Hence in the accounting, he exclaims: I will declare the work of grace, cannot be silent.
what He has done for my soul!                                 In this season of accounting, what have you to say,
  Evidently the psalmist is not thinking merely of that my reader, of what the Lord has done for your soul?
aspect of his nature which animates the body, and             What is your testimony?
constitutes the seat of his earthly mental, physical          You understand, of course, that when God showed
existence, though this was not to be excluded. Rather, unto your soul His lovingkindness, when He poured
he had in mind his soul from its spiritual point of view. into it all the graces of Christ Jesus, He did not do all
It is possible, of course, to distinguish the soul of man that simply to redeem you and make you to share in
two-fold: from-its physical, but also from its spiritual all the blessings of salvation. Rather, His work upon
aspects. For when God made man out of the dust of your soul was done with a view to His own glory and
the earth, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of praise. Does not the Word of God throughout make
life, and man became a living soul, he was made by this plain that all the work of salvation which God
divine act at the same time both a physical, psychical, performs must end in His praise? Indeed, it does. Isaiah
as well as a spiritual being. As such he was able to be in expresses it well: "This people have I formed, for
distinction from the animal, an image-bearer who myself: they shall shew forth.my praise."
reflected in a creaturely way the very image of God.          He who has truly been touched by the hand of God,
The soul of man, therefore, is that part of man's nature who has tasted of His saving grace, has nothing
which is the seat of his life; which animates his body whereof to boast in self. Fact is, it lies in the very
and mind, as well as his spiritual being. When God does nature of the work of God in us that it makes us very
something for the soul, as He did for the soul of the small in our own eyes. It humbles us into the dust.
psalmist, He not only provides for that soul in its When it is finished, this work of God's grace in us
physical, psychical aspect, so that the psalmist may deprives of all our vain glory. All you can see is the
continue to live in the body on the earth; but He also work of God. At the same time that work of God's
provides for that soul from the point of view of its grace in us loosens our tongue, so that it must declare
spiritual aspect. And as we said, undoubtedly it is this only what God has done to your soul.
that the psalmist had chiefly in mind. The Lord had           And do not misunderstand the psalmist. His was not
given to that soul the life of regeneration, had given an attempt to give vent to a sickly, mystical experience
unto that soul a new obedience, had given unto it to of which he wants to tell, an experience which came to
taste His saving grace. In one word, the Lord had given him at a certain hour, and under peculiar
to that soul all the saving benefits of Christ Jesus. It circumstances, an experience which he insists you
could rejoice in the forgiveness of sins, in its must have like him, or you cannot be saved. Nay,
justification before God, in the knowledge of His rather, here is a child of God who is so overwhelmed


132                                          THE STANDARD BEARER



by the sovereign, saving grace of God that he cries out: who, by the grace of God, have come to love and serve
"Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will Him.
declare what that great God did for my soul."                 A most fit audience!
   Come and hear!                                             Which will come and hear!
   All ye that fear God!                                      And with the psalmist will take up the refrain! Not
   0, indeed, this testimony is not directed to every only will they say to the psalmist, yea, God has indeed
man, and all men. All men are not able to understand been gracious to your soul; but they will say with the
such a testimony. Wicked men, like swine, would psalmist, Come, all ye that fear God, and we will
trample such testimony in the mire. Jesus said, "Cast declare together what God hath done unto us.
not your pearls before swine, lest they trample them          When we gather at the end of the year in our houses
and turn again and rend you."                               of prayer, and as this year 1972 breathes out its last
                                                            moments, let us all say it together before the face of
   But the intended audience of this blessed testimony our covenant God: How great, 0 God, is the work of
is all those who fear God. You know who these are, Thy grace which Thou hast performed upon our souls!
don't you? They are they who also experienced the             And God shall be glorified!
work of God's grace upon their souls. They are they           Amen!


The Day of Shadows

                             Covenant Confidence
                                                 Rev. John A. Heys


  Why did it have to happen?                                murder of Lamech, and the progress in sin of the sons
  Many a parent has asked that question, if not of Lamech that furthers the quest of man for the lust
audibly, then in his soul, "Why did it have to happen of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,
to my child?"                                               the things in the world, which John speaks of in I John
  And try once to imagine the grief, and the deep 2: 15 and which he warns us not to love. The world has
despair that would have filled the souls of Adam and a big "jump" on the church numerically at the very
Eve, were it not for the grace of God, to learn not only dawn of history.
of the murder of their second son by the firstborn, but       It would seem with the eyes of unbelief that God is
also of his thoroughly ungodly attitude, utter always a step behind the devil. 0, it would probably be
contempt for all the things of God, and complete conceded that in the long run God is still going to win
separation from the sphere of the church of that day!       out, since He is mightier and wiser than the devil. But
  Indeed, God gave them another son in the place of without that faith that sees God as the sovereign Lord
Abel. But why did it have to go this way? Why could of heaven and earth, Who does all His own good
Abel not have lived, even if Cain would show his pleasure, without faith in God as the ALMIGHTY Who
depravity and would depart from. the presence of God?       has the devil completely and entirely in His control,
  But is this not a time when the church ought to be Who alone is God so that Satan is no little god besides
growing instead of the world? The seed of the serpent Him, it would look to be all wrong. This forward leap
has a tremendous advantage here already. God did not of the world while the church receives no seed. to
give to Adam and Eve another son until Adam was one replace Abel seems to predict defeat for the church, or
hundred thirty years old. And when Seth is born Cain        at least a desperate struggle to survive and to over-
already has grandchildren. In the world there is a come.
population explosion, that is, in comparison with what        Again we ask the question, "Why did it have to
is taking place in the church.                              happen?"
  Daughters were born to Adam and Eve without a               In answer we may point out that Adam and Eve -
doubt, even though no literal mention is made of this and we, as we give serious consideration to this history
fact. Cain got his wife that way. He married, and had which God preserved for us  - must learn certain
to marry, his sister in order to have a wife. And truths. First of all, the awfulness of their own sin must
through his sister-wife he begins a city of utibelievers    be impressed upon their minds. It was but a simple act
that develops in sin to produce the arrogance and of eating a piece of forbidden fruit, as far as its


                                                   THE STANDARD BEARER                                               133



  outward aspects were concerned. But it was the deed hear Goliath's cry come up out of the land of Nod,
  of an inner rebellious heart of hatred against the living    "Give me a man that we may fight together. I bruised
  God. It was an act of idolatry in that it was, as Paul       the heel of Abel. Give me another of those religious
  writes to the Ephesians, 5: 5, an act of coveting God's fanatics that we may see what will come to pass of that
  position. And now they see the awfulness of the promise of bruising my head!" And Adam and Eve had
  rebellion that came to dwell in their hearts, when they      to answer, "As of the moment we have no man to
  see the murder and wholly unspiritual attitude of their      fight God's cause." Yes, that is what they would have
  firstborn over against all his evil way. They learned        said. It would not have been, "We have no man." It
  their own misery by what they saw in the development         would be, "As  vet,  as of  the moment, we  have not
  of their sin in the life of their firstborn. They learned    been given a man, but we expect one!"
  the doctrine of total depravity without going to a             And the proof of this is in that name which Eve gave
  theological school. They began to understand the             to this son who finally appeared on the scene, when
  spiritual death into which they had fallen the day that      they were one hundred thirty years old. For she called
  they ate of the forbidden fruit. They learned to             him Seth, which means "appointed." And she explains
  understand what that seed of sin sown in paradise by         that name as meaning that "God had appointed her
  their act of rebellion can and will produce..                another seed instead of Abel whom Cain slew."
    They had, also to learn - as well as we do still today       Actually the word Seth comes from a verb which
  - to trust God's promises and to wait patiently for means to place or to put. Now this can be explained as
  Him to execute His own good counsel. It must have            a replacement, and Seth was Abel's replacement; but
  been trying for them. For they had the promise from          the beauty of the truth here is not to be missed.
  no one less than the Almighty God that they would            Adam's and Eve's disappointment in the death and
  have a seed that would destroy the seed of the serpent.      murder of Abel, in the wicked walk of Cain, and in the
  They were looking squarely at that seed of the serpent fact that God gave them but daughters when the whole
  with heavy hearts. For he was their flesh and biood,         covenant promise demanded a son, is over, And they
  and these were their grandchildren. Nothing can              are no longer disappointed because God has appointed
  change that! And let us not be so foolish as to think        a son in Abel's place.
  that grandparents today are more human than Adam               Covenant confidence  is what explains this name.
  and Eve. They were the first human beings, and               Covenant confidence is what Adam and Eve retained
  everything that we find in ourselves, we got from them,      all through these years. But they also learned to be
  also our grandfatherly and grandmotherly "pride" and         patient. For our covenant God cannot be hurried, has
  concern.                                                     His own schedule, and will keep it to the minute.
    And after God gave them two seeds - although at              Let childless covenant husbands and wives take
  first they had no way of knowing which was the seed          heart. The child they desire and for which they pray
  of the woman and which was the seed of the serpent,          may not come for many years. It may not come at all.
  nor even whether both were not the seed of the               We have no promise that all believing husbands and
  woman - and the seed of the serpent kills the seed of wives are going to be blessed with children. But we
  the woman, God gave them nothing but daughters!              have no word of God either to childless parents who
  Frustrating? Discouraging? Well, what do you think?          pray for such a child that God is not going to put the
    For one hundred thirty years, and certainly for a          wisdom of learned men to naught; and we have seen it
  considerable period of time that began with the              happen time and again that those told that they would
  murder of Abel, Adam and Eve longed for a son for            have no children received them at the moment that
  the sake of that covenant promise. They rejoiced when        God saw fit to give them to them And if He does not
  daughters were born. They did not despise or resent          give them children, let them take heart in the truth
  them. Their disappointment since Abel's murder was           that He gave us His Son, and rejoice in that truth that,
  not a hatred or resentment against those daughters. It       Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given (Isaiah
  was not resentment against God either. It was                9:6) Who is THE SEED of the Woman Who gives us the
  disappointment that as yet they did not receive that         victory over Cain and his whole brood of evil doers,
  seed of the woman.                                           including the Antichrist and Cain's spiritual father, the
    Their faith did not leave them, though at times it         devil, the serpent himself.
  was sorely tried, and doubts arose and controlled them         And in the light of this birth of Seth unto Adam and
  for periods of time. They still looked for the Christ by     Eve we can understand that statement that follows -
  looking and waiting for that male child to be born who       and is added immediately after the recording of the
  would take Abel's place. But doubts did arise.               birth of Seth's son for that very reason - that "Then
Impatience did trouble them Their wicked son begat             began men to call upon the name of the Lord."
  sons, and these begat more wicked sons. The                    The nucleus of the church is now established in the
  Antichristian kingdom of that day prospers while the         human race. To it Adam and Eve belonged together
  covenant community seems stopped. You could almost           with their believing daughters - one of whom had to


134                                          THE STANDARD BEARER



be Seth's wife - but now we have a third generation oi1 now, although it is such a very small church, it is the
-believers, a father, son and grandchild in the sphere of church of God of that day, and it begins to manifest
the church. And even though the godless community itself as such before the world of unbelievers.
in the land of Nod was far greater in its numerical          The antithesis that became evident in the two
strength, here is the little flock of God's church, the sacrifices of Cain and Abel, took on a sharper focus,
handful of believers that stand as a witness over against and revealed an ever widening, spiritual generation gap
the whole world.                                           between Adam and Cain that now becomes even more
  They began to manifest themselves also as a church,      distinct in Cain's going out from the presence of God
and as a band of believers. They called upon the name      to begin to establish the kingdoms of this world, and
of the Lord. This does not mean that now men began in the little band of believing seed of Adam and Eve
to pray to God. Adam and Eve had done that from the        meeting to call upon the name of the Lord. World and
day of their expulsion from Paradise. Cain and Abel        Church are becoming quite distinct.
did that; only, as Solomon points out, "The sacrifice        And do not forget that it all began with one family,
of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord; but the with two people, a husband and a wife. Out from them
prayer of the upright is His delight." But even Cain issued these two seeds; and out from God came the
called upon the name of the Lord in an outward,            Spirit to put enmity in the hearts of some to be haters
formal sense.                                              of the serpent and his brood and to be lovers of God.
                                                           That, and that only explains that in Adam and Eve,
  No, they began to assemble on the Sabbath, to meet and down to this day in their spiritual seed, there is
together, to live in the exercise of the communion of      covenant confidence. Dark as the days ahead may be
saints. And God had made this possible by giving to        when the seed of the serpent will do all the violence he
Adam and Eve another believing son, and to this son a      can against the seed of the woman that calls upon the
believing son. Now they could .hold religious services name of the Lord, that Spirit of God, because of the
with their families. Now they could meet together and      obedience and death of THE SEED of the woman, will
speak with one another about the truth that God had        keep covenant confidence in the church until Christ
revealed to them concerning Himself, for that, after all returns.
is His name. They called on His name.                        Christ is actually the Seth that replaced Abel. And
   Adam could not do that with Cain, for he went out He is the one Who presently brings all the spiritual seed
from the presence of the Lord and was through with of Adam to live with Abel in the glory of God's
Him, because He would not accept His sacrifice. But kingdom.



Studies in Election

                                     Its Resistance
                                             Rev. Robt. C Harbach

  Another objection to the truth of predestination is      predestination assumes that God fulfils His purposes
that it precludes the use of God-ordained means. The       without the use of instrumental means and secondary
objection arises from a wrong inference, inferring that    agencies. God, indeed, has chosen His elect, not on the
predestination means that something is bound to            foresight of their faith, but  to  faith,  to  salvation, and
happen entirely apart from any means. Some, then,          to every saving good. But it still remains that God from
think that there are people who will be saved although     the beginning hath  so  chosen  you "through  (and not
remaining utterly ignorant of the gospel, never see a      apart from) sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the
Bible, never hear a preacher of the Word, nor ever hear truth" (II Thess. 2: 13). So that sanctification of life and
the name of Christ. The objection would be to the          faith are not conditions to be met for the realization of
point if it were made, not to the Reformed doctrine of salvation, but are a very part of the chosen-to salvation.
predestination, but to that strange conception of Salvation has its beginning~in  regeneration, its continu-
predestination which ordains ends without any regard ance in faith and sanctification of life, and its end in
to means. Then the objection would be legitimately glorification.
leveled against a Mohammedanized predestination,             God ordained, to save His people by means of faith
which would be fatalistic and Deistic. For this strange    and sanctification. To say that the elect will be saved


                                                 THE STANDARD BEARER                                             135


absolutely without the use of means is absurdly             Jerusalem! thou that killest the prophets, and stonest
impossible. We are not thinking of man's means, but         them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have
God's means, the means He has ordained and                  gathered thy children together, even as a hen
commanded to be used. Abraham was ordained to be gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would
the father of many nations. Was he so ordained              not!" This outcry of Christ's is said to be incompatible
without the use of means? To say so, would be like          with Calvinism's (and therefore Scripture's) irresistible
saying he would be, even if he had died in infancy.         grace, since it teaches plainly that the will of God can
Hezekiah was ordained to live fifteen extra years, but      be resisted and the desire of Christ (God!) can be
could he have so lived without food or sleep? The           frustrated. Such reasoning flies in the face of what is
decree of God was revealed to Joshua that he-would the heart of Scripture truth, that God is God. Prove
conquer Jericho, but could this have been realized if that the decrees of God can fail, and there is proof that
Israel had sat down under their own fig tree with God is not God. There you have the central error of
folded arms? God had also ordained how the city was Arminian thinking. On this passage John Gill wrote,
to be taken.                                                " . . . this Scripture . . . they are ready to produce on
  There are the heathen. Some of them God has               every occasion against the doctrines of election and
ordained from all eternity to life and salvation. He has reprobation, particular redemption, and the irresistible
ordained that some of them shall call upon the name         power of God in conversion; and in favor of sufficient
of the Lord. They have never heard the name of the          grace and of free will and power in man. .  ." Notice
Lord. But they shall hear it and call upon His name,        what Christ in these words does not say. He does not
and "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord         say, How often I would have gathered you, and ye
shall be saved" (Rom. 10: 13). They really cannot call      would not. Nor, I would have gathered thy children,
on one they do not know or believe. For "how . . .          and they would not. He said, "I would have gathered
shall they call on Him in whom they have not thy  children,  and ye would not." The Lord does not
believed? and how shall they believe in Him whom teach here that it was His purpose to gather all
they have not heard? and how shall they hear without mankind without exception, nor that He wanted to
a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be       convert persons who would not be converted. We have
sent?" (10:  14f,  ASV). God does deign to use the          here two wills, the will of Christ and the will of man.
agency of human instruments, as preachers, and the Christ wills Yes. Man wills No. Christ says, I would.
preaching of the gospel, unto the salvation of His elect Man says, I would not. The question is, which of these
people.  ,Does this make salvation dependent upon two wills shall have its way? for one or the other must
man? Not when it is all dependent upon His furnishing,      be sovereign. Either "I would" must win out, and then
setting forth, using and blessing, the means!               "thy children" must be gathered, or "ye would not"
  Arminian resistance to this truth appeals to certain      must win out, and then they cannot be gathered. When
Scripture passages which are imagined to be opposed         the Lord says, "I would," can man's "I will not" stop
to it, passages. such as, Prov.  1:24,25; Isa.  65:2 and Him? "Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He!"
Matt. 23:37. The last mentioned reads, "0 Jerusalem!

                                  Its Proclamation
  Doctrinal preaching has all but died out in this          doctrine, where is the standard of  judg,ment?  The
generation. Even where the Heidleberg Catechism is          "Christ,-not-doctrine" philosophy is impossible. Christ
still read from the pulpit, it is often used only as a      cannot be known, understood, recognized nor received
springboard to digress into anecdotal orations. The         unless He is preached. Without doctrine He cannot be
Word of God, by its very nature, demands preaching          preached.
that is both doctrinal and practical. The  Belgic              Why is the great truth of election almost exclusively
Confession is doctrinal in emphasis. The Heidelberg         omitted from the pulpits in the land? One reason is
Catechism is personal and practical in emphasis. Where      because of ministerial laziness. Most ministers do not
the Heidelberg Catechism is still faithfully studied and    care to spend much time in the study. When you
used there can really be no valid claim that we need        discover the long list of Communist-front connections
more experiential preaching, and not so much dry            some "ministers" have had, you know they rarely, if
doctrine. Sometimes you hear it said, "More of Christ,      ever, made use of the study,in the work of the church
not theology," which presents, really, a foolish,           and of the gospel. Real study is physically and
dangerous outlook. There is no way to test practical        mentally taxing. It takes much more painful effort to
preaching, as to whether it is sound, if it be divorced     prepare a series of sermons on the doctrine of the
from the doctrine contained in Scripture. Without that      church than to present addresses on prayer, missions,


136                                         THE  STANDARd  BEARER



and ecumenism. Sound expositional preaching requires        the center channel. He is a very warm pulpit orator
intensive study of Scripture and hours of perusal of the whenever Religion goes in his silver slippers. He is
older biblical works. Many ministers, if they do put in     often seen walking with Religion on the avenue when
as much as eight hours a day of work, spend it in           the sun is shining, and, during parade, riding his float,
visiting, in laboring for the advancement of Socialism,     when the people are applauding him. He was able to
and in "concentrating" - on the golf course. They           build a struggling church into a thriving cathedral with
know nothing of "Give attendance to reading . . . take      a great following, because, as he humbly puts it, he
heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine: continue in        always had the luck to jump in with the present way of
them" (I Tim. 4: 13, 16).                                   the times, whatever it was, took his chances, and came
  Another reason why predestination, and preaching out tops. Ask him why he never finds time to preach
in harmony with this great heart-truth, is absent from      the truth of election, and he will inform you that he
so many pulpits is because of a love for popularity. A      could easily prepare a sermon on the subject fifteen
preacher, so enamored, aims to please his auditors. He minutes before retiring on Saturday night, but that at
will preach only to crowded audiences. He intends to        the only, and eleven o'clock, service his people would
conform to public opinion, because he would rather not know what he was talking about. Besides, he adds,
hear, "Welcome to the club!" than to overhear the           "I shall never desert my old principles, since they are
remark after sermon, "What can he possibly be talking harmless and profitable." By this he means that for the
about?" To borrow from Bunyan: although he goes by          question posed he cannot stand the sight of you, and
another name, he is a Rev. By-Ends. He is from the          must hurry off to those who will be honored by his
town of Fair-Speech, a pagan cultural center. The           presence and glad of his company. If you should call
two-faced Janus is worshipped there. His family tree        after him the word of the inspired apostle, "For if I
bears such twigs as Mr. Smoothsayer and Mr.                 yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ"
Anything. He is a favorite with the young people,           (Gal. 1: lo), he will retort, quickening his pace, that he
somewhat of a sportsman, a sculler, proficient at           is used to all manner of evil speaking against him
looking one way and rowing another. The minister in         falsely, for Christ's sake. One thing he never learned,
his hometown was a Dr. Two-Tongues. From him he             either from his finished education or his fashionable
soon learned the art of using two tongues with one          connections,  - the difference between suffering as a
mouth. He made a fortune as a result of his socially        Christian and being a scandal to the very name of
acceptable marriage into the long-standing family of Christianity! Nor can he honestly say, "I kept back
the Fe&rings. Before every church service he dials the      nothing that was profitable unto you. For I have not
weather bureau. He must always know which way the           shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God . . .
wind is blowing. For he never preaches against wind         Wherefore . . . I am pure from the blood of all men"
and tide. He always sculls with the current and down        (Acts 20:20, 27, 26).



In His Fear

                                The Home Library

                                                Rev. D. H. Kuiper

  This article is meant especially for the young man        people still do read. It is certainly the case that we live
who asked last summer for help in choosing                  in perilous times when men are lovers of self and
worthwhile books for his bookshelf. Here was a person       pleasure more than lovers of God. It is true that at the
who had not been overly conscientious in his studies as     present time as never before, other things clamor for
a youth, nor had he spent much time with books. Now our attention: sporting events, television viewing,
as a husband, father, and office-bearer he felt the need    endless programs. It is also true, in general, that the
for reading of literature that would provide growth in      membership of our churches is not as well posted in
these various functions, that he might be a workman ecclesiastical matters as it was, say, twenty-five years
approved of God. His approach is correct. It is not too     ago. Yet we believe there are still those who read. And
much to hope that there are many others who                 perhaps these lines will serve as an inducement for
understand this.                                            others to forsake less worthwhile activities in order to
  Nor, I hope, is it overly optimistic to think that        take up this edifying pastime. Reading is more than


                                               TH'E STANDARD  BEARER                                                137



edifying: in this day of ignorance,  apostasy,  and             I. Books that Aid in Studying the Bible. Since the
spiritu~ decline it is necessary. Besides, once reading is    Bible is the ultimate source of all truth in this world,
established as a habit, it is a joy!                          the study of the Word of God itself may not be
  Writing in the June, 1969 issue of Banner of Truth,         neglected. In addition to reading at the table and
John F. Murray asks, "Why are so many Christians dis- preparing for society, we ought to read from the Bible
inclined to make use of the vast amount of Christian large sections at a sitting, whole books at a time. A
literature that is readily available and at a very reason-    further suggestion is that whenever we begin to read at
able cost?" His answer, in part, is that it has been esti-    the table a new book of the Bible, it might be
mated that only two percent of the population (in             advantageous to first read from an introduction those
England reads any books at all after leaving school.: He      sections which describe its place and  p'urpose  in the
finds the reason for Christians not reading more in the Canon. If you are of a mind to study a particular book
failure of church members to have a real Christian out- in depth, or if your society is doing so, you will likely
look, or as Murray says, "uplook."                            wish to purchase a commentary; by all means consider
  Before we offer a concrete suggestion for the build- the commentaries of that "prince of exegetes," John
ing of a home library, two points should be made. First,      Calvin.
we ought to be aware that the art of reading, and the         Behold He Cometh, Rev. H. Hoeksema, Reformed Free
art of the teaching of reading, have come a long way in         Publ. Ass'n
the last few years. Programmed reading in the                 Bible Dictionary, M.Unger, Moody Press
elementary schools, a system which stresses sounds as         Commentaries, ( especially John Calvin's) Eerdmans
well as the writing of newly learned words at a rate          Cruden's  Unabridged Concordance,  A.  Cruden, Baker
consistent with the individual child's ability, has           Introduction to the N. T., H.C. Thiessen, Eerdmans
resulted in little first-grade students reading several       Introduction to the 0. T., E.J. Young, Eerdmans
hundred words after as little as two months of                The New Bible Commentary; Revised, Eerdmans
instruction. Many are the children who can read               The New Bible Dictionary, J.D. Douglas, Eerdmans
intelligently anywhere in the Bible after one year of           II.  Books of a Doctrinal, Confessional Nature.
school! This says much concerning the perspicuity of          Although there are many study guides available for the
Scripture, but also tells us we have reading children in      Heidelberg Catechism and the Westminster and other
our homes. Surely the reading of the Bible and related        confessions, there is a need for a book on the Canons
materials is the basic aim of a Christian school reading      of Dordt. Perhaps the R.F.P.A. could investigate the
program, and therefore is the basic skill to be obtained.     possibility of putting into book form the thorough
Now that our children have made such a rapid                  analysis given the Canons of Dordt by Prof. Hoeksema
departure at the starting gate, shall we allow them to        about twelve years ago in the  Standard Bearer.  It is
wander aimlessly into that ninety-eight percent of the        assumed that the Standard Bearer, Beacon Lights, and
populace that does not read after schooling is                our Sunday School paper are received.
completed? Clearly this advantage ought not to be lost,       Absolute Predestination,  J. Zanchius, Sovereign Grace
but every effort should be made in the home to                  Union* *
provide our youth with reading material of a Christian        Calvin's Calvinism,  John Calvin, Eerdmans
content. In the second place, books are meant to be           Institutes of the Christian Religion,  John Calvin,
read! It is easy to buy books and place them on a shelf         Eerdmans
permanently, but what a waste. Interior decorators will       The Reformed Confessions, The Psalter,  Eerdmans
provide the pseudo-intellectual with book-binding by          The Triple Knowledge, Rev. Hi Hoeksema, R.F.P.A.
the foot, turning the family room into an impressive          Reformed Dogmatics, Rev. H. Hoeksema, R.F.P.A.
"library." But we are not interested in that, are we? A         III. Books that Reveal God's Hand in History. If the
few, well-thumbed books are to be preferred over              maxim "those that refuse to study history are doomed
many shelves of shiny volumes. Buy carefully, rotate          to repeat it" applies to the arena of wordly affairs,
the switch of the television set to the extreme left          how much the more is it true of the Church as she
position, gather the family together, and read!               battles a foe that is common to every age.
  The following suggestions are representative, not ex-       A History of the Christian Church,  W. Walker,
haustive. All the books mentioned are not recommend-            Scribners**
ed with equal heartiness. Admittedly, in many cases, A History of Christian Missions, S. Nerill, Eerdmans
preference has been given to those books found on my          The Church in History, B. K. Kuiper, Eerdmans
shelf. It is suggested that a few books in each category      The Reformation  of  the 16th Century,  R. Bainton,
be purchased at the outset. Further growth will be              Beacon Press
determined by an individual's preference.                     The Protestant Reformed Churches in America, Rev.
  Also, further recommendations, as well as addresses,          Hoeksema, R.F.P.A.
prices, etc., can best be obtained from your pastor.*           IV. Books that Aid in the Defense of the Faith. If
Happy reading!                                                the city of Athens came daily under the bombardment


  138                                            THE STANDARD BEARER



  of new. ideas, the American church scene more. And         God. There is an abundance of material of this nature,
  we must have an answer; not only concerning the hope good when Biblical, worse than nothing when not.
  that is in us, but also concerning false doctrines and     These can be recommended.
  heresies that would destroy the Christian's hope.          Pilgrim's Progress, J. Bunyan ***
  In the Beginning God, H.C. Hoeksema, R.F.P.A.              Preaching and Preachers,  D. M. Lloyd-Jones,
  Roman Catholicism, L. Boettner, Pres. and Ref. Publ.           Z o n d e r v a n
     Co. (Baker)                                             Rejected of Men, Rev. Hoeksema, R.F.P.A.
  The Bible, God's Word, T. Van Kootem, Baker                Ruth, the Satisfied Stranger, P. Mauro, Baker
  The Bondage of the Will, Martin Luther, Revel1             The Mystery of Bethlehem, Rev. Hoeksema, R.F.P.A.
 The Flood, A. M. Rehwinkle, Concordia                       The Sermon on the Mount,  D.M. Lloyd-Jones,
  Thy Word Is Truth, E. J. Young, Eerdmans                       Eerdmans
  The Four Major Cults, A. Hoekema, Baker                        There is another category that ought to be included
  What About Tongue Speaking, A Hoeksema, Baker              here, one that would contain books for children. We
     V. Biographies and Autobiographies. The reading of hesitate to make a listing of children's books because,
  this type of material is not done as much in our aside from the  Child's Story Bible  by Catherine Vos
  country as in England and Scotland where the Puritan       (Eerdmans), there is not much that is very good. Let
  fathers especially are held in high esteem.                the parent choose wisely at the local library, and let the
  Here I Stand (a life of Luther), R. Bainton, Abingdon parent decide the merits of such children's series as
     Press, (Mentor, ppbks)                                  Jungle Doctor Series,  etc. Until the child can discern
  The Confessions of St. Augustine,. Augustine,* * *         for himself, we ought to be careful on what we allow
_ The Journals  of  George  Whitefield,   G. Whitefield,     him to unleash his reading appetite.
     Banner of Truth.                                        * The Bookstore Manager, Prot. Ref. Seminary, 1145
  The Man God Mustered (Calvin), J. Cadier, Eerdmans              Franklin S.E., Grand Rapids,  Mich, 49507 may
  Therefore Have ISpoken, G. Hoeksema, R.F.P.A.                   also be contacted for many books at various
     VI. Devotional Reading. There are times when the             discounts.
  mind is  not. up to the rigorous pursuit of `some          ** Out of print: used copies available.
  doctrine, but when the soul needs the gentle leading of ***By various publishers: paperbacks available.
  the Word as it has been explained by some man of



  Taking Heed To The Doctrine

                                  A Defense of Calvinism
                                                         ( 3)
                                                  Rev. David Engelsma

     The gospel proclaims the perseverance of the saints.    God's free mercy, that they (the saints) do not totally
  Jesus said: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know            fall from faith and grace, nor continue and perish
  them, and they follow me: And I give unto them             finally in their  backslidings:  which, with respect to
  eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall themselves, is not only possible, but would
  any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father,              undoubtedly happen; but with respect to God, it is
  which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is     utterly impossible, since his counsel cannot be
  able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my       changed, nor his promise fail, neither can the call
  Father are one" (John  10:27;30). Jesus gives eternal      according to his purpose be revoked, nor the merit,
  life to every one of His sheep, and not one of those       intercession and preservation of Christ be rendered
  saints shall ever perish. It is impossible that anyone ineffectual, nor the sealing of the Holy Spirit be
  could pluck a saint out of God's hand, that is, effect     frustrated or obliterated" (V,8). John 10 makes clear
  the falling away of a saint. The reason is not the         that there is a necessary relationship between this
  strength of the saints themselves, but the power of the    doctrine of the perseverance of saints and the doctrines
  grace of our faithful God ("My Father . , . is greater of election, limited atonement, and irresistible grace.
  than all"). The Reformed confession, the Canons of The perseverance of saints is the fruit of them.
  Dordt, expresses the truth this way: "Thus, it is not in Perseverance depends upon election (there are certain
  consequence of their own merits, or strength, but of men who are Jesus' sheep and they are the sheep, in


                                               THE STANDARD BEARER                                                            139



distinction from others, because "My Father . . . gave         God is not dead, but merely sick, that'is, not, dead, but
t h e m   m e "  - these tie preserved). Perseverance          alive. The only alternative to limited atonement is the
depends upon limited atonement ("I lay down my life            teaching and belief that Christ died for each and every
for the sheep"). Perseverance depends upon irresistible human being. This fundamentally alters the cross. For
grace ("I give"  - not: "I  tiy to give," or, "I offer that some men do go lost hardly anyone denies.
eternal life,  depznding on their free will," but:  - "I       Therefore, if He died for all but some still perish, His
give unto them eternal life; and they shall never              death did not atone, but merely made atonement
perish").                                                      possible; it did not actually satisfy God's righteousness
  The gospel proclaims unconditional, eternal election         by bearing and bearing away all punishment for all the
as the source of all of this salvation in Christ, election     sins of all for whom  Christ died, but it merely made
of some accompanied by the reprobation of  others;             satisfaction possible; it did not redeem, but merely
This truth is on the very face of the entire Old               made redemption possible. Then this great and terrible
Testament Bible: God chose Israel unto salvation,              question arises: Who now must make atonement,
rejecting the other nations. Deuteronomy 7:6-8 tells           satisfaction, and redemption  actual?  The only
Israel: ". . . the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a       alternative to irresistible, or efficacious, grace is the             j
special people unto himself, above all people that are         teaching that God's call to salvation and the grace of
upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set his           the Holy Spirit depend upon the free will of man and
love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more            that they, therefore, can be frustrated and fail. The
in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of           only alternative to the doctrine of the perseverance of
all people: But because the Lord loved you . . ," The          saints is the teaching that the saints can perish, -any of
New Testament likewise teaches election as "the heart          them and all of them. The only alternative to the
of the Church." In John 6:37, Jesus says, "All that the        doctrine of election is the teaching that the source and
Father giveth me shall come to me . . ." Our coming to         foundation of salvation is man's choice,  man's
Jesus, that is, believing, is due to the Father's giving us    decision, and that God's choice of a man depends upon
to Jesus, that is, election. Ephesians  1:3,4 teaches:         man's decision for God.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus                 In the end, there are two, and only. two, possible
Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings       faiths. The one maintains that all mankind lies in
in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath             death; that God in free and sovereign grace eternally.
chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,           chose some; that God gave  Chris't to die for those
that we should be holy and without blame before him            whom He chose: that the Holy Spirit regenerates them
in love." God the Father elected some men ("us")               and calls them efficaciously to faith; and that the
unto' holiness and eternal salvation from eternity             Spirit preserves these elect, redeemed, and reborn
("before the foundation of the world") for no other            sinners unto everlasting glory. This is Calvinism. The
reason than His love and free grace, and this election is      other faith maintains that fallen man retains sonie
the source of every blessing. Romans 8:29,30 asserts           spiritual ability for good, some life; that God's choice
God's predestination, or election, of some men as the          of men depends upon their exercise of the ability for
fountain of all salvation: "For whom he did foreknow,          good that is in them; that Christ's death.depends  upon
he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image          that good in man; that the work of grace by the Holy
of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many          Spirit  depenc@.upon  that good in man; and that the
brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he           attainment of final glory depends upon that good in
also called: and whom he called, them he also justified:       man. This is the foe of Calvinism. Calvinism proclaims
and whom he justified, them he also glorified." Romans         salvation by grace; the other faith preaches salvation
9 goes on more fully to develop election, as well as to        by man's will and works.
teach reprobation.  -                                            Calvinism is the gospel! God's gospel is the message
  There can be no ignoring of these doctrines, called          of wholly gracious salvation. This does not mean that
"Calvinism"; if they are not preached and confessed,           Calvinism is not offensive. It is. Calvin took note long
they are denied. Every preacher, every Church, every           ago of  the offensiveness of the truth that he taught,
member of every Church must take a stand regarding             with reference specifically to total depravity:
them and does take a stand. It is impossible not to. For
they are essential elements of the gospel, and the                    I  am not unaware how much more plausible the
gospel is such that something must be said about it.               view is, which invites us rather t.o ponder on our good
                                                                   qualities than to contemplate what must overwhelm
Whoever rejects Calvinism embraces the  only-                      US   with shame  - our miserable destitution and
alternative, which is opposed to Calvinism in every                ignominy. There is nothing more acceptable to the
point. The only alternative to the doctrine of total               human mind than flattery . . . if a discourse is
depravity is the teaching that there is yet in man,                pronounced which flatters the pride spontaneously
though he be fallen, some good or some ability for                 springing up in man's inmost heart, nothing seems
good, in and of himself; man apart from the grace of               more delighiful. Accordingly, in every age, he who is


140                                              THE STANDARD BEARER



       most forward in extolling the excellence of human    save. Nothing and no one can nullify or defeat the
       nature, is received with the loudest applause        blood and Spirit of Christ crucified. The gospel of the
       (Institutes,  11,1,2).                               cross is this message: "So then it is not of him that
But the offensiveness of Calvinism to men is nothing willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that
other than the offense of the cross of Christ. In sheweth mercy" (Romans 9: 16). Because this is the
Galatians 5: 11, Paul speaks of "the offense of the message of Calvinism, Calvinism is offensive to men. It
cross," an offense that ceases only in the preaching of is offensive to proud man to hear that he is spiritually
a cross-denying heresy. The cross of Christ, which is       dead, totally devoid of anything pleasing to God,
the very heart of the gospel, is not pleasing to man, or unable at all to save himself, nothing more than a child
acceptable. "But we preach Christ crucified, unto the       of wrath. But this is the judgment passed upon him in
Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks                  the gospel - and in Calvinism. It is offensive to proud
foolishness" (I Corinthians 1:23). The cross of Christ man to hear that salvation is exclusively God's free gift
as the cross of the eternal Son of God in our flesh and sovereign, gracious work. But this is what the
shows the extent of fallen man's misery. His misery is      gospel - and Calvinism - proclaim Exactly because of
such that he can be saved only by the death of the Son this, Calvinism is good news! It is gospel, glad tidings!
of God. Fallen man is utterly lost, completely ruined,      As the message of grace, it comforts us and all those
dead in sin. The cross shows that, salvation is of the who, by the grace of the Spirit, believe in Christ. Only
Lord, wholly of divine grace, and that salvation is not     this message provides hope for lost, sinful, and
due, in whole or in part, to man's work, man's worth,       otherwise hopeless men. There is salvation, only
or man's will. The cross as the cross on which the because salvation is gracious.
Prince of glory died has power, efficacious power, to                          (to be concluded)



Book Reviews

                                   Preaching Yesterday And Today

PR  EACHmG YESTERDAY AND TODAY;  Carey and finds the answer to be the doctrines of grace as
Publications Ltd., 5 Fairford Close, Haywards Heath, taught by the Puritans and as personally experienced
Sussex RH 16  3EF, 1972;  45p,  88pp.  (paper). by Whitefield himself which formed. the content of
[reviewed by Prof. H. Hanko]                                Whitefield's preaching. Hulse emphasizes that such a
  The material of this book contains several of the return to the Puritans is necessary if preaching today is
papers delivered at the first Evangelical and Reformed to regain its power.
Conference in South Africa in April, 1971. The                The second chapter, written by Jim van Zyl, is
Conference dealt with the calling of the Church to entitled           "Free Will or God's Grace? Luther's
preach the gospel.                                          Reformation Conflict With Erasmus."
                                                              This is an interesting chapter discussing the whole
  The first chapter in the book is entitled "Revival,       controversy between' Luther and Erasmus on the
Preaching, and the Doctrines of Grace Illustrated from      question of free willvs. the bondage of the will. van Zyl
the life of George Whitefield." It was prepared by emphatically takes his stand with Luther and discusses
Errol1 Hulse, minister of the Cuckfield Baptist Church the relationship between the doctrine of the bondage
in England and editor of Reformation Today.                 of the will. and the command of God to all men to
  Whitefield was a great figure in the 18th Century in repent. He finds here an insoluble problem, but insists
England, probably preaching to more people than any that both are taught in God's Word and that both
other minister before the days of modern therefore, must be maintained by the evangelical
communications. Although a contemporary of the preacher.
Wesleys,  Whitefield  parted ways with them because           He condemns "hyper-Calvinism," but is not clear on
Whitefield was a Calvinist and could not accept the         what he means by this.
Arminianism of the Wesleys. Preaching wherever he             In chapter 3 David Kingdom discusses "God's
had opportunity, even often in the open air, Whitefield Church and Scriptural Evangelism." He offers
was the despair of the organized Church, but was also       devastating criticism of modem evangelism and gives
responsible for religious revival in England. Hulse         suggestions for evangelism that are according to the
examines in this paper Whitefield's power in preaching      Scriptures.


                                               THE STANDARD BEARER                                                   141



  The same author, in chapter 4, discusses "Secularism when I came to you, came not with excellency of
and the Gospel." This paper is by far the longest and          speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony
most technical. The author includes a brief though             of God. For I determined not to know anything among
interesting and accurate history of secularism and you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." I Cor.
discusses the calling of the Church in making the              2: 1,2. Kingdom makes no mention of this, but rather
gospel relevant to this secular age. Leaning heavily on leaves the impression that our struggle with secularism
Dooyeweerd, he gives a criticism of secularism and             is purely intellectual.
presents the gospel as the only cure. There were                 One of the nicest chapters in the book is the last
especially two aspects to this paper with which we             one, written by  Janme du Preez and entitled "The
found ourselves in disagreement. The first was what in Implications of Biblical Theology for our Preaching."
our opinion is a wrong description of the relation             The author develops the thesis that our view of what
between the Renaissance and the Reformation. While             the Bible is will also determine our preaching. He takes
the point is not discussed in detail, the author seems to      the position that Scripture is the inspired Word of
suggest that there were many similarities because the          God, that God has revealed Himself through Christ,
Renaissance greatly influenced the Reformation. (cf. p.        that Scripture is the record of this revelation, that
62.) He ends a paragraph on, this subject with the             salvation history is covenant history which is
words: "Thus though religiously the Reformers turned progressive in nature and which reaches its purpose in
their backs upon the synergism of Renaissance                  the coming of the Kingdom of God, and that this alone
theology they accepted the Renaissance concern for             gives glory to God. In developing all these ideas, du
exact `historical scholarship and interest in a rational       Preez shows how these truths affect preaching and are
form of the Church." While, in a limited sense this is         related to true preaching of the Gospel. This is a most
true, insufficient attention is given to the deep spiritual    excellent chapter.
difference between the Renaissance and the                       The book as a whole is very worthwhile. We heartily
Reformation. Secondly, in offering suggestions as to           recommend it to our readers and urge them to obtain
how evangelism must attack secularism, the author it. We also commend those involved for what must
pays insufficient attention to the very heart of the           have been a most interesting conference and wish that
gospel. Paul, when discussing his approach in Corinth          such conferences could be held in our own country.
to the secularism of his time, writes: "And I, brethren,


                                               Apocalyptic

APOCALYPTIC,  by Leon Morris; Wm. B. Eerdmans                  material which has recently been written on this
Publishing Co., 87pp., $1.95 (paper). [reviewed by             literature and (most of) which takes the position that
Prof. H. Hanko]                                                this literature is the key to the understanding of the
                                                               New Testament. Morris disputes this claim although he
  Apocalyptic literature includes ancient writings holds that a study of this literature. is important to
which deal especially with the subject of the end of the       gain a broader understanding of many passages in
world. Morris has brought together in this book Scripture.



                                       Millennial Studies

MILLENNIAL STUDIES, A Search for Truth,  by                      In connection with the revival of eschatological
George L. Murray; Baker Book House, Grand Rapids,              studies however, there is an increase in the number of
1972; 207 pp., $2.95 (paper). [reviewed by Prof. H.            those who hold to premillennial views. This book is
Hanko]                                                         intended to be an examination of and Scriptural
  There is today an increasing interest in problems of answer to premillennialism. The book was first printed
eschatology. This can be only for the good since in 1948 and is now reprinted for the fourth time. It is
Scripture tells us that we live in the era of the Lord's good that the book has wide distribution, for it is
return; and all such studies which are based on the excellent. The author' served in various pastorates in
Scriptures cannot but remind the child of God of the           the United Presbyterian Church, but taught History of
final consummation of all things.                              Doctrine for a number of years in Gordon College. He


142                                          THE STANDARD BEARER



has made a thorough study of premillennialism, and to be explained. These passages discussed include the
finds that this view, though so popular, especially         references to Daniel 7 and Revelation 20 which form
among fundamentalists, is entirely lacking in Scriptural    the cornerstone of premillennial thought.
support. The author traces premillennialism                    We do not always agree with the author's exegesis.
throughout the history of the Church and observes, This is particularly true of his assertion that all the
correctly in our opinion, that, while Chiliasm was signs mentioned in Matthew 24 of the return of Christ
taught by some in the early Church, it never was were fulfilled at the time of the destruction of
generally received by the Church and never gained Jerusalem, and that they have no reference at all to the
creedal status. He also points out that the Chihasm  of
the ancient church was a far cry from the end of the world. While we are aware of the problems
dispensational-premillennialism so rampant today.           of interpretation, we cannot understand how it is
  The author examines all the various aspects of possible to limit this important chapter to Jerusalem's
premillennialism: its dispensationalism and separation destruction by the armies of Titus in 70 A.D. This is
between Israel and the Gentiles; its idea of the rapture, particularly true of vs. 3 where the disciples specifically
of the seven years of persecution, of the earthly ask concerning the Lord's coming and the `end of the
millennium established in Canaan for the nation of world; of vs. 13, 14; of vss. 29-31, etc.
Israel. He points out by numerous Scriptural quotes            Nevertheless, we not only recommend this book to
that all these ideas are inventions of men and have no our readers, but urge them to purchase it so that they
Scriptural support.                                         may have the ability to give answer to all
  But of added value to the book is the fact that the premillennialism. The book is eminently readable and
author treats the various passages to which is written for all God's people. Even our young people
premillennialists refer and explains them as they ought can easily read it and profit from it.



               The Westminster Confession And Modern Society

THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION AND MODERN theological and ecclesiastical emphasis of the
SOCIETY,  by F. N. Lee; Scottish Reformed                   Westminster Confession, I would also attempt to
Fellowship; 16 pp., 8p (pamphlet). [reviewed by Prof.       apprehend twentieth-century man with the
H. Hanko]                                                   non-theological and non-ecclesiastical emphasis of the
  The subtitle of the pamphlet which was first Westminster Confession and of its sister document, the
presented as an address by the author to the Faculty Westminster Larger Catechism."  `(p. 5) In this
and students of Faith Theological Seminary in               connection he refers to the discussion in the creed of
Philadelphia reads: "How May We Confess Christ in a the ten commandments, the teachings on spheres of
Tw en  tiethCentury Expression of the Westminster authority, employer-employee relationships, etc. The
Confession of Faith to a Changing Hostile World?" The reason why all this, as taught in the creed, can be
author has divided his address into three parts. He         brought to society at large is that "God not only gives
writes: "Let us then first of all discuss this              a special revelation and special grace to His Church,
twentieth-ten  tuvy society  which is becoming but He also gives His general revelation and His general,
increasingly hostile to the confession of Christ. After or common, grace to all other societal spheres outside
that, let us proceed to examine the way in which the the Church as well." (p. 6)
Westminster Confession  confesses Christ, to Whom             The author does insist however that the doctrines of
twentieth-century society is becoming increasingly the creed are also important; he insists on the
hostile. And, finally, let us consider whether we as maintenance of the Calvinism of the creed overagainst
twentieth-century Christians may and should confess all Arminianism and Amyraldianism. (p. 6) He spends a
Christ today  differently  from the way in which the lot of time discussing the covenant of works and its
Westminster Confession did in the seventeenth               relevance to modem problems, but the discussion here
century."                                                   is not too clear.
  After describing today's society as "affluent,"             In the third part of the pamphlet the author turns to
"highly mechanized," "undisciplined," and "Godless," the question of the revision or alteration of the creed
he goes on to point out  .specifically how the              as being necessary to make it relevant. He believes that
Westminster Confession can  "oe made relevant. After        while the Church may alter her creed, she should not
giving a brief outline of the Confession, the author        do this except to "replace certain obsolescent words
writes: "Consequently, while upholding the primary          and phrases in the Confession by more understandable


                                                THE STANDARD BEARER                                                 143



current terminology." (p. 13). It is in this last part of these spheres of life) are free to form their  own
the book that we find some of the most interesting, Christian confessions specifically for their own spheres
discussion. The author seems to have come under the just as the Church did when it formed the Westminster
influence of those thinkers in this country who, in the      Confession for the Church sphere." (p. 16).
name of Calvinism, want to make the Church's                   This last is a key point, of course, for it is the final
Confessions ecclesiastical confessions only. Asserting` answer of the author to the question posed in the
that the Church has to work for a Christian family, a        subtitle. Hence, although there is much worthwhile in
Christian school, a Christian nation, Christian business,    the book, we cannot agree. with this all-controlling
and Christian cultural associations, he writes: "All (of conclusion.



                               Bible Characters And Doctrines

BIBLE CHARACTERS AND DOCTRINES,  Nadab to                    providing sketches of Bible characters. Suggested
Boaz &The Character of God, by E.M. Blaiklock and J.         scripture readings, a selection of questions, and themes
Stafford Wright; Elkanah to David/The Holy Trinity           for further study complete every article. The series will
by E. M. Blaiklock and Geoffrey  Grogan; Wm B.               include a total of 16 volumes, each containing material
Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1972; 128 pp., $1.50 for three monthsuse."
(paper). [reviewed by Prof. H. Hanko]                          There seems to be no. specific plan to the books as
                                                             far as correlation between the doctrinal sketches and
  These two books are two volumes in a new series of the description of Biblical characters is concerned.
Bible study aids which are intended to be used on a And, while they make for some interesting devotional
daily basis. The description on the cover reads: "Each reading, the doctrine is sketchy and the character
volume consists of some 90 articles, half of them studies. seem often to be psychological descriptions
focusing on important biblical doctrines, the remainder rather than studies of the Biblical data.




                                      In Place Of Sacraments

IN PLACE OF  SACRAMeNTS,  A study of Baptism                 author (unsuccessfully) attempts to persuade the
and the Lord's Supper, by Vemard Eller; Wm. B.               Church that she has erred in her traditional celebration
Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1972; 144 pp., $2.95 of the sacraments and must thoroughly revamp the
(paper). [reviewed by Prof. H. Hanko]                        whole of her celebration, if she is to return to
  This is a very interestingly written book in which the     directives  Of Scripture*


        -

                 ANNOUNCEMENT                                must be in the hands of the Stated Clerk 10 days prior
  The Faculty of the `Theological School of the              to the  convening  Of this  session.
Protestant Reformed Churches is happy to announce                                            Jon Huisken, Stated Clerk.
that Seminarian Arie den Hartog has -been licensed to
speak a word of edification in our churches.                                              NOTICE
                          For the Faculty,                     An Officer Bearers' Conference will be held, the
                          Prof. H-C. Hoeksema, Rector        Lord willing, on January 2, 1973, at Hope Protestant
                                                             Reformed Church at 8:00 PM. Professor H. Hanko will
                       NOTICE                                speak on the subject: "What can the Consistories do to
  Classis East will meet, the Lord willing, in regular       promote better Young People's functions, such as
session on January 3, 1973, in Hope Protestant  outings?,,
                                                             spiritual youth activities, societies, conventions, and
Reformed Church. Material to be treated at this session              . .                               P. Knott, Sec'y.


THE STANDARD BEARER
          P.O. Box 6064
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506


144                                           THE STANDARD BEARER


                                News From Our Churches

   In the November 5 bulletin of Southeast Church bulletin from Hull. The printing is handled by what is
appeare.d the following announcement concerning Rev. called the Reformed Witness Committee. "This
Schipper:                                                  committee," we read in the bulletin, "is made up of
   "In the evening service today your pastor will be nine members (three from  Doon, Edgerton, and Hull
calling to mind ten years of the ministry of the Word churches) with the ministers as advisors. It meets once
in your midst. On November 4th he preached his every other month to conduct the work of witnessing
inaugural sermons, and on November 1st he was to those in our area. At each meeting, the pamphlet is
installed by the Rev. C. Hanko, who, on that prepared for mailing. This requires no folding as
memorable occasion, preached on Colossians 4: 17 - before, the printer now folds them, only the bundling
`And say to Archippus,  ,Take heed to the ministry and addressing."
which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill      These committees, along with others in our
it.' "                     *****                           churches, are obviously diligent in what we consider to
   Our missionary and his'wife arrived in Grand Rapids be the calling of the church with respect to the work
on Tuesday, November 21, the beginning of a short of church extension and church reformation. Perhaps
vacation to be spent with family and friends here in we can conclude with these words from the Loveland
the states. They plan to return to their labors in Church Extension Committee report: "We are thankful
Jamaica soon after the first of the year.                  to God for these means and we pray that He will
                           *****                           continue to use them toward the glory of His name."
   A November bulletin of Loveland's congregation                                   *****
announced that "the pastor speaks this week on `The          From the Loveland School Ledger we learn that our
Triune God' on our Reformed Witness radio program." school there has a total enrollment this year of
That radio program is one .of the current projects of thirty-five children. Miss Beverly Hoekstra and Miss
Loveland's Church Extension Committee. We say one Barb Zandstra still conduct classes in the church
of the projects. According to a recent report from that basement; but, according to the October Ledger, plans
committee, it (the committee) has "once again complet- to change that are progressing well. Land has already
ed a full year of service of spreading God's holy word     been obtained and leveled, and a building fund has
abroad by means of pamphlets, a Reformation Day lec- been established with a view to the erection of a new
ture, and the selling of Reformed books published by                                 `.
                                                           school building.
the Reformed Free Publishing Association." Further                                  *****
along in that same report we find that, "beginning           From Mr. Vander Wal we have received a copy of a
Sunday, September 24, we are going to sponsor a letter "re: Introductory Offer of the Standard  Bearer. "
15-minute  radio program over KLOV. The speeches are News concerning the success of this introductory offer
to be delivered by Rev. Engelsma. Each speech will be is interesting all by itself; but this letter is even more
broadcasted two times  - once on Sunday at 10: 15          so, by virtue of the fact that it comes all the way from
A.M., and once on Thursday at  lo:15 P.M. on               Johannesburg. We quote:
KLOV-FM. It is set up for thirteen weeks."                   "Greetings from South Africa. Some time ago I
  The distribution of pamphlets is an important part received a copy of the 
of the work of the committee. Pamphlets sent out                                      Standard Bearer  all the way
during the past year, according to the report, included from friends in New Zealand. I liked it very much and
the following titles: "Resurrection of the Saints," would now ask if it is possible for me to accept your
"Final Judgment," "Our Future Glory," and introductory offer of ten issues for two dollars. A draft
"Children, Heritage of  ,the Lord." To quote a little for two dollars is enclosed.
more from the newsletter, "approximately 55 0 copies         "In passing I must just add how much I have
of each are mailed out, most of them locally. We appreciated the writings of the late Herman Hoeksema.
receive these pamphlets from the-Edgerton, Doon, and To date I have read his commentary on the Book of
                                                           Revelation 
Hull mission committee. They are printed in Hull in                       - Behold He Cometh and the first volume
                                                           of the 
large quantities and are also sent to Pella, Redlands,                Triple Knowledge.  Real meat indeed. These
                                                           writings have really been of great encouragement."
and First Church in Grand Rapids."                           And, we might add, a letter such as this is of no
   For information concerning the printing of those small encouragement to us.
pamphlets we can, conveniently, turn to a November                                                            D.D.


