TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE

Sioux Center, Iowa

January 22, 1952

Dear Friends:—

A storm is raging without; we are having a snow storm today. But, do you really know that a storm also rages within the heart at times? During such a storm the soul can also be in great fear. God has a people on earth who truly have an experimental knowledge of such storms and their distressing fears.

Young friends, you also have storms in your life. Difficulties, reverses, crosses and losses. And truly, it can be very perplexing unto you when you have to overcome them all alone and by yourself. Some people seem to think that our boys and girls do not have any perplexities in life. Those people ought to read some of the letters that we receive from our young friends. Yes, you also have storms in your life. We especially think of our boys in the service, standing there alone, far from home and friends, in the camps, surrounded by cursing and swearing, and where the temptations are very great.

My young friends in service, I hope that the Lord may enable you to bow before Him constantly. May you call earnestly unto Him, for with Him is deliverance. And, although it may be ever so stormy, yet when the Lord appears then there is a calm and stillness. Isn’t that a wonderful service? Men under arms, let me tell you this. You have been called into the service by the national laws and had to leave your friends and families to enter the service. However, there is another service which is still far more noble and glorious. The blessed service of a life of grace. I certainly hope that you may often sigh after that service and that you may be engaged therein. Hearty thanks to you young men for your letters which I have received, write at any time, and whenever we can we will write personally in return.

Now we must again answer a few questions.

The first question is this: May we let our little children pray, since they are unable to pray in their state of nature?

Perhaps you think this to be a rather wonderful or unusual question. Nevertheless, I am glad that this question is asked in public. But what shall we now answer? “No my friends, just let them fold their little hands in silence and they need not even utter a word, because they cannot pray anyway?” Ah, my friends, that would certainly be a very very sad example for me to write such a thing. That would indeed be a bordering on the grounds of false passiveness which is already found entirely too often. Would you know what our answer is? It is this: man must definitely be quickened by the Spirit of God in order to enable us to pray in truth. This is an eternal truth. And we do not agree with the so called jubilant Christiandom, who can ever thank and pray, without ever being regenerated and truly converted.

Therefore the question now arises, may then unregenerate persons and children not pray? That will be the greatest folly indeed. That would be such stupendous foolishness that words can never express the extent of misery that would result therefrom. Because, you must indeed consider well that if such were the case then man will neither be able to sing in church anymore. Then may follow this question: well, if I am an unregenerate then I need not go to church either. Now then, where, oh where shall we end if we teach and believe such things that our little children may not pray. Against that kind of a doctrine—”I cannot pray”—we have the very doctrine that “in God” it is most definitely possible. Dear parents never be ashamed to teach your dear children a simple little prayer. The Reverend G. H. Kersten defines it in his explanation of the 45th Lord’s Day of the Catechism thus: “Must an unregenerate person pray and give thanks unto God when he partakes of his regular meals? Should he bend his knees and bow his head in prayer to God when he arises in the morning and retires at night? Yes, indeed, for it is most becoming to man that he acknowledgeth God as the Source and Fountain of all good. Parents be sure to impress this matter upon the hearts of your dear children. You must indeed teach them such things when they are in their early infancy.” Do you hear that instruction dear parents? May we be brought to realize our solemn responsibilities and obligations more and more as parents. And what is your solemn duty dear children? We are favored to live under the dispensation of the Gospel, therefore, we are in duty bound to pray, and to pray constantly— “O Lord bless Thy most Holy Word unto my soul!!” Ah, children never hesitate to bow your knees before the Lord in prayer. Never be ashamed to ask a blessing from the Lord while at your work. And parents, no matter what man may say, never be ashamed to teach your children to pray unto God that He may make them a real true praying soul. Have you indeed forgotten the questions you were asked at the time of Baptism? There you have definitely answered, “yes!”

The second question that we have to consider this time is in connection with what I wrote, in our last letter, about a woman who is not in accord with our doctrine. Her question reads: why did the male children have to be circumcised, under the Old Testament dispensation, and not the females?” Perhaps our inquirer thinks, now I’ve got them, they certainly can never answer that one. Well, my friends, this is a very simple question to answer. What is the answer? Simply this: “Every man child in your generations,” in Israel, must be circumcised. Let us indeed read the Bible with attentiveness. Gen. 17:10–12. But, now you may ask: Why so; why only every man child? The answer is: Because the woman was reckoned or considered in the man under the old covenant. That was so in those times when the church lived under the servitude of the law. Once again, let us understand this point well, the woman was reckoned and considered, or, as it were, included in the man. And, in the man, she too was circumcised indeed.

It is again time to close. May the Lord keep us from being swept along with the spirit that is in opposition to infant baptism. And when men repeatedly ask: where is it recorded that baptism has come in the place of circumcision? Then we repeatedly answer: read Colossians 2:11 and 12. The Colossians were definitely circumcised in baptism. This is therefore as a seal to that very grace, which has come in the place of circumcision. Since the children had to be circumcised, therefore, it was not necessary that an express new command, to baptise infants, be given. Friends, we earnestly warn you of the various sects and spirits who deny the doctrine of infant baptism. Cleave fast to the old paths of Truth. Do not follow in the paths of those Baptists. And, although, John Bunyan and J. C. Philpot were Baptists, ‘tis true, yet they were indeed altogether different Baptists than most of those in our present day. They indeed kept a fast hold of the doctrines of the Free and Sovereign Grace of God. But alas in this day and age there are many, and perhaps most of them are staunch advocates of free-will, who, if it were possible would even deceive the very elect of God. Therefore, beware, and hold fast the truth and search it diligently. This is the desire and prayer of your ever mindful friend, in a village of Iowa, covered by a snow storm at present. We are favored, however, to be enjoying the warmth of our study which is also a fruit of the goodness of God toward us. Most hearty greetings my friends, till next month, the Lord willing and we are spared.

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