A PERIODICAL FOR YOUNG AND OLD

PALESTINE

My dear young friends,

Recently the country of Palestine, about which we have been writing, has been very much in the news. The attention of people in all parts of the world has been focused on the situation in the Middle East. The Arab world was at war with the Jewish. The little country of Israel was surrounded by the hostile forces of Jordan, Egypt, and their allies. But within a week Israel emerged victorious. That part of Jerusalem which belonged to Jordan was quickly taken and the enemy was driven further and further back until the fact of the Jews’ victory could be no longer disputed. At the time of writing, the United Nations Organization are endeavouring to work out a satisfactory settlement in Middle East affairs. Thus, Scriptural prophecy is being fulfilled in our own age, although we may not be able to discern the times. We can at best but see through a glass darkly.

As we intended to write about some of the places in Palestine, we may fittingly start with Jerusalem, because it is so much in the news and because it is so frequently spoken of in the Scriptures. Above all, it was the scene of Christ’s sufferings and death.

Jerusalem is the chief city of Palestine. It is situated on a high plateau, surrounded on three sides by deep valleys. On the east, west, and south there are sharp drops; the decline on the east side totals 3,800 feet to the level of the Dead Sea, which is 14 miles distant. To the north, however, there is a level table-land. This hill-top position gives the city a most majestic appearance.

In 1830 the Rev. Robert Murray McCheyne paid a visit to Palestine. He wrote in his diary as follows, about his visit to Jerusalem: “In approaching Jerusalem we came up the Pass of Latroon. The last day’s journey to Jerusalem was the finest I ever had in all my life. For four hours we were ascending the rocky pass upon our patient camels. It was like the finest of our Highland scenes, only the trees and flowers, and the voice of the turtle, told us that it was in Immanuel’s land.… We stood at the turning of the road where Jesus came near, and beheld the city and wept over it.… We lighted off our camels within the Jaffa gate. There is so much to describe, I know not where to begin. … We visited the Sepulchre, and a painful sight, where we can find no traces of Calvary. The same evening we rode up to the Mount of Olives: past Gethsemane, a most touching spot. Went round most of the places to be visited near Jerusalem — Rephaim, Gihon, Siloa’s Brook ‘that flowed fast by the Oracle of God,’ the Pool of Siloam —the place where Jesus wept over the city; Bethany — of all places my favourite — the tombs of the kings. Such a day we never spent in this world before. The climate is truly delightful — hot at midday— but delightful breezes at morn and even.”

Many gates are mentioned in the Bible by which travellers passed into or out of the city, which was of course otherwise surrounded by an impenetrable wall. The positions of some of those have been apparently located, while others remain a mystery. There was the Golden Gate, the Damascus Gate, the Joppa (Jaffa) Gate, and the Fountain Gate, to name but a few. Some of those gates are still in use. David enclosed the city with the wall on capturing it from the Jebusites. Jebus, the Jebusite stronghold, became Jerusalem, the city of David. Further fortifications were added at various times. This wall was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar (II Kings xxv: 10) and was later rebuilt from the old material by Nehemiah, as it recorded in the Book of Nehemiah.

Jerusalem had many notable buildings during the various stages of its existence. Foremost among those was the Temple, erected during Solomon’s reign. Solomon also built a magnificent palace. Both the temple and the palace were destroyed when Jerusalem was laid waste by Nebuchadnezzar. Later another Temple was built, when the city was repeopled by Zerubbabel and his followers. Once more the Temple was destroyed and again rebuilt by Herod, who also adorned the city with many other beautiful buildings. At this juncture, the Lord came into this world to work out salvation for sinners.

In A.D. 70 the city and the Temple were once again ravished by war as Christ had foretold. The city was later rebuilt by the Romans as a Gentile city but the Temple never was rebuilt. In the 7th century Jerusalem was captured by the Persians, recaptured by the Romans, and later surrended to the Arabs, by whom in 691 the “Dome of the Rock” was erected on or very near the Temple of Solomon. In the 11th century, the Turks captured the city. As a result of the Turkish occupation the Crusades were fought, but apart from brief intervals Jerusalem remained in the hands of heathen nations until 1917, when it was captured by Britain. Until the latest combat between the Jews and the Arabs, which we mentioned at the beginning of this letter, Jerusalem has been in recent years a divided city.

The old part of the city has been in Moslem hands, while the western part of the city has been the capital of the Republic of Israel. This division caused bitter animosity between Jews and Moslems.

Still Jerusalem survives, and still Jerusalem is a city to be reckoned with, and how wonderful it would be to see this present spiritual wilderness rejoicing in the Lord. May that day speedily dawn!

(Young People’s Magazine)

Bible Quiz

Dear Boys and Girls:

As this year it is the month of April in which we observe Easter, I have made our quiz to cover that event and the life of the Lord Jesus in the days before this. All of the answers can be found in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, so this should make it an easy one for most of you. The first letters of the answers will spell out the words with which two men were greeted as they returned to Jerusalem, as found in Luke 24.

Who said, “I will not believe, except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, etc.”?

They led Jesus from Caiaphas unto the _____ of judgment.

To what village were Cleopas and his companion going?

The Jews said, “It is not _____ for us to put any man to death.”

One of the _____ struck Jesus with the palm of his hand.

Jesus prayed in the garden, “Father, if thou be willing, ____ this cup from me.”

The Jews came not into the judgment hall, lest they should be ____.

Judas said, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the _____ blood.”

And when the _____ hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

What did Mary say to the Lord Jesus, when she recognized him at the sepulchre?

And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them which had made _____ with him.

Whom did they compel to bear the cross of Jesus?

Whom did they say that Jesus was calling when he cried with a loud voice on the cross?

And he was _____ with the transgressors.

And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being _____ , The place of a skull.

Pilate said, “Thine own _____ and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me.”

One of the malefactors said, “For we receive the due reward of our _____

Pilate knew that the chief priests had delivered Jesus for _____

The chief priests and _____ persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

The angels said, “Why seek ye the living among the _____?”

The answers to the quiz in the March issue are as follows:

“Keep His Commandments”— Ecclesiastes 12:13.

Keturah —Genesis 25:1

Exodus 20 Eli —I Samuel 2:25

Pharisees — Matthew 22:34–40

Honey —Judges 14:8

Isaac — Genesis 22

Shelomith— Leviticus 24:10–16

Calf —Exodus 32:4

Obey —I Samuel 15:22

Miriam —Numbers 12:1–10

Molech —I Kings 11:7

Achan — Joshua 7

Nadab —Leviticus 10:1

Deuteronomy 5

Midian —Judges 6:1

Earrings —Exodus 32:2–4

Noah —Genesis 6:8

Tables of the

Testimony —Exodus 32:19

Serpent — Genesis 3

Missionary Corner

TIMOTHY MISSION FUND

During the month of February gifts totalling $60.00 were received for our mission fund. Many thanks for these gifts, and also for the postage stamps received from quite a few of our readers. Checks in the amount of $100. each were sent to the Bethesda Clinic in Nigeria and to Mr. and Mrs. Jan van Woerden in Rhodesia, which left a balance in our fund at the end of February of $17.40. The work which we are thus able to support is best described in the letters and acknowledgments shown below. From the Mission-field in Spain (Spanish Evangelical Mission)

Making my trips through Spain with the Bible van, I lately arrived in Vich, a Spanish town having 23,000 inhabitants. Vich is an important town at a distance of 68 kilometers from Barcelona on the way to France. The town is 100% Roman Catholic. The Bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese has his residence there, and it contains innumberable churches and monasteries. Consequently there are in Vich many monks, nuns, seminarians, priests, etc.

After I had parked the van, I perceived that I stood close to the door of a monastery. Soon many priests and seminarians passed by. They cast a quick glance at the literature displayed. Some passed by with an air of disdain, others with curiosity. Two elderly Roman Catholic clergymen stopped by, soon were aware of what kind of literature I offered. They said, “It is Protestant,” … and hurried off.

Then a priest about 40 years old drew near. He stopped at the Bible van and attentively considered the books. He started a conversation and said he would like to buy some doctrinal literature. He was quite friendly. I handed tracts to many thousands of passers-by that day. I gave some more material to a few really seeking persons, with whom I had a discussion. They returned home in silence with a Bible or a New Testament and a word from my heart.

Brethren, the Lord has opened a door not only in Catalonia, but in all Spain. We must not be negligent in taking advantage of these opportunities, in case the doors close again, and we are left to lament our negligence. We must not leave for tomorrow what we are permittted to do today. We have realized how insufficient one van is for Spain. Let us pray that the Lord may supply one for each region. Even when we see the difficulties of supporting just one van and one worker, we are sure that with the Lord all is possible. And it does not worry Him or impovorish Him if we ask for much.

We ask all children of God who read this to lift up to the throne of Grace our projects. Pray with us that the Lord may guide us to the second worker for His ministry, as well as for the van he will take charge of.

Yours in the Lord’s service, Genaro Redero

From Brazil

(Wycliffe Bible Translators)

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your gift of $50.00 to the work of Bible translation for the Maxakali Indians.

This past month we did not spend time with the Indians as we had planned. God overruled. The unusually heavy rainfalls in the tribal area wiped out seven bridges and made the dirt roads impassable. We travelled north to Teofilo Otoni where we had to leave the asphalt highway, and that was as far as the family could get. We spent our Christmas Day in the little hotel room watching it rain outdoors. After four days, unable to find anyone who would risk taking a family in, the children and I took the night trip back to Rio by bus, and Harold found a jeep driver who would take a few men with no baggage as far in as he could get. Some 36 kilometers from the Post, Harold arranged for a horse to take the Indian Otavio the rest of the way in to the tribe. All in all, the trip turned out to be rather expensive.

You may remember that we had planned to do a final check on the Gospel of Mark before publishing and that we had wanted to do this in the tribe during the children’s six week Christmas vacation from school. The classes started again on January 24, so now we must try to make the trip, leaving part of the family behind. David is in the fifth grade and Jimmy in the fourth, and neither of them can afford to lose an entire month of school. If I would teach the children as formerly, I would have no time to help with the check of the Gospel of Mark. Some fellow missionaries have offered to take the boys during that month in order to facilitate the early publishing of the scripture portion. Annette is in the first grade, and it is a pity to take her out of school, but she is only five and too young to be left for that length of time. This is the first time that Mom has been separated from the children for more than a few days and it will be very hard.

Thanking you again, and thanking the Lord for you,

Feb. 12, 1968

From New Guinea

Dear Friends,

Our heartfelt thanks for a gift you made to Wycliffe Bible Translators in December. You see, my wife and I benefited from the generous gift when our support for this time from our homeland was at a low level, and so it enabled us to carry on our work and to keep out of debt. Thank you all so much — for your interest in missions, too, and may the Lord bless you each one in your lives and service for Him.

We are Australians from Sydney and came to New Guinea nearly three years ago with our four children. They remain at our beautiful Highland Base of Ukarumpa for schooling for the half of the year that Gwen and I are living in a native style hut in a native village of the URI tribe (people numbering 2,000; some whose language has never been worked in before). By God’s grace we will give them enough of the Bible for them to understand the gospel. It is a long tedious job but such a privilege.

Thank you all once more.

Yours Sincerely,

Tom Webb (New Guinea)

During the past month answers to our quiz were received from the following:

Jane Zevenbergen .. Peter Zevenbergen .. Brian Zevenbergen .. Steve Vander Jagt .. Cheryl Berman .. Susan Slotsema .. Steven Slotsema .. Sally Slotsema .. Dave Verhey .. Kris Vander Male .. Martha Vander Male .. Mary Jean Vander Male .. Lilly Ann Vander Male .. Lillian Berman .. Ruth Meeuwse .. Mike Meeuwse .. Dianne Van Ravenswaay .. Marilyn Van Ravenswaay .. JoAnn Van Ravenswaay .. Bruce Blok .. Tom Blok .. Annette Koutstaal .. Thomas Kamp .. Lyna Bouma .. Gary Roozenboom .. Joyce Kamp .. Ruth Lynn Kamp .. John W. Kamp .. Gilbert Koutstaal .. Karen New-house .. Gail Hoogendoorn .. Peter Kievit (2) .. Davil Mol . .Marilyn De Maagd .. Louis De Maagd .. George De Maagd .. Carol Wallenburg .. Wanita Wallenburg .. Arlene Wallenburg .. Geri Moerdyk .. Mike Mol .. Joan Mol .. Leonard Mol .. Joanne Beeke .. John Van Zweden .. Joan Van Zweden .. Donna Lyn Zaremba .. Conrad Schipper .. Case Schipper .. Susan Vander Boon .. Bob Vander Boon .. Dave Vander Boon .. Janice Kaat .. Roger Kaat .. Jim Bleeker .. Linda Kay Bleeker .. Sandy Van Giessen .. Sheryl Van Giessen .. Gary Van Giessen .. Frances Vander Meulen .. Teresa Vander Meulen .. Janet Arlene Sweetman .. Judy Elizabeth Sweetman .. John Mast .. Ken Lugthart .. Valerie Lugthart .. Christine Koppert .. Alice Koppert .. Peter Koppert .. Thomas Greendyk .. Cheryl Verblaauw .. Nick Greendyk .. Robert Greendyk .. Phillip Kaat .. Betty Jo Mast .. Russell Easterhoff .. Edward Easterhoff .. Laurie Ellen Easterhoff .. Eleanor Vlastuin .. Douglas Vlastuin .. Donald Vlastuin .. Larry Van De Vendel .. Howard Van De Vendel .. Bill Berkenbush .. Barbara Jean Berkenbush .. Henry Rosendall .. James Westrate .. David Alan Spaans.

Daniel Spaans .. Laurie Spaans .. Marsha Koedam .. Roelie Stapel .. Rudolph Stapel .. Henrietta Stapel .. Peter Feyter .. Billy Moerdyk .. Alice Moerdyk .. Conrad Vlietstra .. Bernie Vlietstra .. Bill Timmer .. Barb Timmer .. Esther Boonzaayer .. Marilyn De Vries .. Konnie De Vries .. Rhonda Grisnich .. Wendy Grisnich .. John Vander Waal .. Tim Vander Waal .. Betty Vander Waal .. Herbert Van Den Houten .. Jean Van Tilburg .. Janet Van Driel .. John Van Wingerden .. John Van Woudenberg .. Joe Van Woudenberg .. Eddy Van Woudenberg .. Elisabeth Van Woudenberg .. Betty Joosse .. Bill Boesterd (2) .. Sharon Bouma .. Jane Verblaauw .. Janet Van Sweden .. Alane Van Ravenswaay .. Denise Van Ravenswaay .. Stephan Vanden Brink .. Delia Vanden Brink .. Sander De Jong .. Deloris Klarenbeek .. Betty Van Stelle .. Mary Van Stelle .. James Van Giessen .. Judy Koedam .. Gertrude Spaans .. Dena Spaans .. Joanne Spaans .. Mike Van Unen .. Ronnie Van Unen .. Billy Van Den Toorn .. Andrew Van Den Toorn .. Mariene Jo Van Den Toorn .. Wilma Droogers .. Billy Droogers .. Debbie Droogers .. Janetta Vandenberg .. Arie Vandenberg .. Cordy Vandenberg .. Shirley De Visser .. Leonard Van Grouw .. William Van Grouw .. Corney Van Wyk .. Billy Van Wyk .. Arlene Kuperus .. Hans Kuperus .. May Van Wyk .. Corrie Van Wyk .. Randy Vande Stouwe .. Nancy Vande Stouwe .. Beverly Southway .. Corinne Van Veldhuizen .. Joyce Van Veldhuizen .. Arnold Van Veldhuizen .. Mark Teunissen .. Randal Teunissen .. Betty Jean Kamp .. Linda Mae Kamp .. Mary Ann Kamp .. Alan Van Wingerden .. John Van Wingerden .. Sjaane Van Wingerden .. Janny Van Wingerden .. Billy Van Wingerden.

And again it is time to answer our letters received—

JOAN VAN ZWEDEN — I was glad to hear that you were feeling better again after having the mumps, Joan. We do not think much about the blessing of good health until we are sick. Have you started with your organ lessons again? Be sure to practice every day.

JOHN VAN ZWEDEN — Did you have the mumps, too, John? Usually if someone in the family has it, everyone gets a turn. It is quite unusual to hear about grass fires in February, but with very little snow, everything is quite dry.

CONNY BOESTERD — It was real nice to hear from you, Conny. In fact, I see that I have two letters from you. We send the stamps to the Netherlands, and they sell them there. So we do put them to good use. I imagine your baby brother gets lots of attention, doesn’t he.

BILL BOESTERD — I have two letters from you, too, Bill. It must be one set of answers arrived too late for the previous issue. You must have seen robins much earlier than I did, because it wasn’t until but a few days before the first day of Spring that I saw one. Say hello to “Sam” for me.

CORRIE VAN WYK — You must be real fast at working out riddles, Corrie. But everyone got the right answer, even though they had to work on it a little longer. You did real well on your report card. Do you think you can raise your grade in Science ?

MARTIN OUDSHOORN — How was your report card, Martin? Better than you expected? Have you seen a picture of how your new church will look? Is it going to have a basement? You will have to write me more about it. How far will you be from the new location?

TERESA VANDER MEULEN — It doesn’t look much like Spring today in Kalamazoo, Teresa, as we have several inches of snow. We are happy to hear that boys and girls are looking forward to receiving the Banner of Truth. Do you read the articles and stories also?

SANDER DE JONG — Congratulations to the new parents and also to you, “Uncle” Sander. I imagine you were happy it was a boy. I suppose you are working extra hard in school now in order to be able to go to Holland. I certainly hope you may have a safe trip.

WENDY GRISNICH — It was very nice to hear from you, Wendy, and we are happy to have you join with us. Do you have many animals on your farm? I suppose you have many things to keep you busy when you live on a farm. I hope you will write again.

PHILLIP KAAT — We haven’t had much snow this Winter either, Phillip. I imagine farmers would rather see a lot of snow in order to have more moisture in the ground. Or isn’t that correct ? You can tell I’m not a farmer. You were correct on the question I gave Roelie; I’ll have to think of another one.

DELORIS KLARENBEEK — I am glad you liked the booklet we sent out, Deloris. I am sure there was much to learn in it, and I hope that all the boys and girls read it carefully. Everyone seems anxious for Spring after the cold, Winter weather.

JUDY KOEDAM — I was happy to hear from you again, Judy. Yes, the answer to Gary’s riddle was “Daniel,” and your answers to the quiz were all right, too. Where did you get the pretty stationery? I imagine your brothers are happy to see you come home from school every day.

ALICE KOPPERT — Robert is getting to be a big boy already, Alice. I suppose you help to feed him, and play with him when he wants attention. Your new church must be fairly well along if they are working on the inside. When do they expect to have it finished?

BETTY JOOSE — That is a real good idea, Betty, to check out your answers with Karen. Both of you shouldnt make the same mistake, that is, if you make any at all. How are Linda and Jake? How far do you live from Karen’s house?

PETER KIEVIT — I have two letters from you, Peter. Do you like History? Or do you like Geography better? Stamp collecting should make these subjects more interesting. It seems there are stamps commemorating many important dates.

DELLA VANDEN BRINK — Your answers were all correct, Delia. Also the answer to the riddle. I imagine you would like to have your cousins visit you this Summer. Have you ever been in South Dakota where they live? I would think that would be quite a trip.

STEPHAN VANDEN BRINK — Is recess the part you like best about school, Stephan ? Or do you like other things equally as well? I’m sure you wouldn’t learn much if you didn’t get some reading, writing, and arithmetic. You will have to write me more about what you are learning in school.

WILMA DROOGERS — You really raised your average on your report card, Wilma. Must be you studied harder. Do you think you can raise it some more before the next marking period ends ? Of course it is impossible for everyone to be at the top.

JOHN, JOE, EDDY and ELIZABETH WOUDENBERG — It was nice to hear from all of you. Were you happy when school was closed because of snow? Or would you rather go to school? I think everyone likes a day off occasionally, so maybe you didn’t feel too badly about it.

ANNETTE KOUTSTAAL — I’m sure you found your name listed in the following issue, Annette. It takes a month longer before the names appear because they have to be sent in quite early so that the printer has time to print the paper and get it out in the mail. Write again, won’t you.

JAN KAAT — We have another riddle this time, Jan. See if you can come up with the right answer. It seems everyone likes a riddle. The snow didn’t stay with us too long this past Winter, that is for sure. I suppose you would rather have lots of snow on the ground.

LYNA BOUMA — Thank you for the stamps, Lyna. We have sent several packages to Mr. Polder, and his is very happy to receive them. So send them when you can. Have you ever visited your cousins in Michigan? If you live on a farm it is not always very easy to get away.

MAY VAN WYK — I’m surprised at all the names and letters I have this month, May. It makes us happy to see them all come in. Some have little mistakes, but we know that everyone tries hard. And we make mistakes, too, even though we try not to.

ROELIE STAPEL — I’m glad to see you worked out the question I asked, Roelie. A number of the others answered it also. It appears that Methuselah died during the same year in which the flood came. I will try to have another one for you next month.

BILLY DROOGERS — Do you have names for the baby calves, Billy? I suppose you help take care of them. Or do your sisters do that? Yes, I think everyone likes the Spring time. It is a very nice time of the year.

DEBBIE DROOGERS — Your letter is last this time, Debbie. Your birthday is already past when I am writing this, but I hope that you may have many more. Since you wrote a riddle, we will see if the boys and girls can solve it. So here it is.

A man of the Old Testament

The first letter is in “big,”
But not in “small.”
The second letter is in “this,”
But not in “that.”
The third letter is in “that,”
But not in “this.”
The fourth letter is in “pig,”
But not in “swine.”
The fifth letter is in “day,”
But not in “night.”
The sixth letter is in “hay,”
But not in “straw.”
Who is he?

And that finishes them for this month. And we hope that all may be spared to be with us again next month, the Lord willing. So much can take place from one month to the next, and we must be spared from day to day.

With greetings to all,

Your friend,

“Uncle Garret”

BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES

A. C. Dixon, a Baptist preacher, who was born in the mountains of Virginia, relates the following:

Years ago there was a certain school in our section whom no teacher could handle. The boys were so rough that the teachers resigned.

A young, grey-eyed teacher applied, and the old director scanned him and then said: ‘Young feller, do you know what you are asking? An awful beatin’! Every teacher we have had for years has had to take it.’

He replied, ‘I’ll risk it.’

Finally, he appeared for duty. One big fellow, Tom, whispered, ‘I won’t need any help; I can lick him myself.’

The teacher said, ‘Good morning, boys; we have come to conduct school!’ They yelled at the top of their voices. ‘Now I want a good school, but confess I do not know how unless you help me. Suppose we have a few rules. You tell me and I will write them on the blackboard.’

One fellow yelled, ‘No stealin’!’ Another yelled, ‘On time’! Finally ten rules appeared.

‘Now,’ said the teacher, ‘A law is no good unless there is a penalty attached. What shall we do with the one who breaks them?’

‘Beat him across the back with his coat off.’

‘That is pretty severe, boys; are you ready to stand by it?’

Another yell, and the teacher said, ‘School comes to order!’

In a day or so, ‘Big Tom’ found that his dinner was stolen. Upon inquiry the thief was located — a little hungry fellow, about ten. The next morning the teacher announced, ‘We have found the thief and he must be punished according to your rule — ten stripes across the back with the coat off. Jim, come here!’

The little fellow, trembling, came up slowly with a big coat on and fastened up to the neck, and pleaded, ‘Teacher, you can lick me as hard as you like, but please don’t make me take my coat off!’

‘Take that coat off; you helped make the rules!’

‘O teacher, don’t make me!’

He began to unbutton, and what did the teacher behold! Lo, the lad had no shirt on, but strings for braces over his little bony body!

‘How can I whip this child?’ thought he. ‘But I must do something if I keep this school.’

Everything was quiet as death. ‘How come you to be without a shirt, Jim?’

He replied, ‘My father died and mother is very poor. I have only one shirt to my name, and she is washing it today, and I wore my brother’s big coat to keep warm.’

The teacher, with rod in hand, hesitated. Just then ‘Big Tom’ jumped to his feet and said, ‘Teacher, if you don’t object, I’ll take Jim’s licking for him!’

‘Very well, there is a certain law that one can become a substitute for another. Are you all agreed?’

Off came Tom’s coat, and after five hard strokes, the rod broke. The teacher bowed his head in his hands and thought, ‘How can I finish this awful task?’

Then he heard the entire school sobbing, and what did he see! Little Jim had reached up and caught Tom with both arms around his neck. ‘Tom, I’m sorry I stole your dinner; but I was awful hungry. Tom. I’ll love you till I die for taking my licking for me! Yes, I’ll love you forever!’

—Author Unknown

(This story, which was submitted for publication, may or may not be a true story, but gives a very good example of what a substitute is. It shows that ‘Big Tom’ had sympathy on Jim to such an extent that he took the licking which Jim had deserved by stealing.

In the Word of God, and especially in Isaiah 53, we read of Christ as the substitute for all the millions of elect, whereof Abel was the first to enter into glory without spot or blemish, bought with the price of the blood of God (Acts 20:28). Bead Isaiah 53 carefuly and prayerfully, asking for an understanding heart, as did the Ethiopian in Acts 8:27).

“He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

THE TWO MALEFACTORS

Sovereign grace has power alone
To subdue a heart of stone;
And the moment grace is felt,
Then the hardest heart will melt.

When the Lord was crucified,
Two transgressors with him died;
One, with vile blaspheming tongue,
Scoffed at Jesus as he hung.

Thus he spent his wicked breath,
In the very jaws of death;
Perished, as too many do,
With the Saviour in his view.

But the other, touched with grace,
Saw the danger of his case;
Faith received to own the Lord,
Whom the scribes and priests abhorred.

“Lord (he prayed) remember me,
When in glory thou shalt be.”
“Soon with me, (the Lord replies)
Thou shalt rest in paradise.”
This was wondrous grace indeed,
Grace vouchsafed in time of need;
Sinners, trust in Jesus’ name,
You shall find him still the same.

But beware of unbelief,
Think upon the hardened thief;
If the gospel you disdain,
Christ, to you, will die in vain.

ARE YOU BORN AGAIN?

This is one of the most important questions anyone can be asked. Jesus Christ says, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:3).

It is not enough to reply, “You have been baptised, and go to church, and suppose you are.” Thousands of baptised people have none of the marks and signs of being born again which the Scripture has given us.

Would you like to know the marks and signs of being born again? Give me your attention and I will show them to you out of the First Epistle of St. John.

First of all, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin”; and again, “Whosoever is born of God sinneth not.” (I John 3:9 and 5:18).

A man born again, or regenerate, does not commit sin as a habit. He no longer sins with his heart, and will, and whole inclination, as an unregenerate man does. There was probably a time when he did not think whether his actions were sinful or not, and never felt grieved after doing evil.

In one word, sin no longer pleases him, nor is even a matter of indifference; it has become the abominable thing which he hates. He cannot prevent it dwelling within him. If he said he had no sin, there would be no truth in him (I John 1:8). But he can say that he cordially abhors it, and the great desire of his soul is not to commit sin at all.

Secondly, “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God.” (I John 5:1).

A man born again, or regenerate, believes that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour by whom his soul can be pardoned; that He is the Divine Person appointed by God the Father for this very purpose, and that beside Him there is no Saviour at all. In himself he sees nothing but unworthiness, but in Christ he sees ground for the fullest confidence, and trusting in Him, he believes that his sins are all forgiven. He believes that for the sake of Christ’s finished work and death upon the Cross he is reckoned righteous in God’s sight, and may look forward to death and judgment without alarm. Ask him whether he will rest his hopes of eternal life on his own goodness, his own amendments, his prayers, his almsgiving, or his church — and see what he will reply. Ask him whether he will give up Christ, and place his confidence in any other way of salvation. Depend upon it, he would say, that though he does feel weak and bad, he would not give up Christ for all the world. Depend upon it, he would say he found a preciousness in Christ, a suitableness to his own soul in Christ, that he found nowhere else, and that he must cling to Him.

Thirdly, “Every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him.” (I John 2:29). The man born again, or regenerate, is a righteous man. He endeavors to live according to God’s will, to do things that please God, to avoid things that God hates. His aim and desire is to love God with heart and soul, and mind and strength, and to love his neighbour as himself. His wish is to be continually looking to Christ as his Example as well as his Saviour, and to show himself Christ’s friend, by doing whatsoever Christ commands. No doubt he is not perfect; none will tell you that sooner than himself. He groans under the burden of indwelling corruption cleaving to him; he finds an evil principle within him constantly warring against grace, and trying to draw him away from God; but he does not consent to it, though he cannot prevent its presence. In spite of all shortcomings, the average bent and bias of his own is holy, his doings holy, his tastes holy, and his habits holy. In spite of all his swerving and turning aside, like a ship beating up against a contrary wind, the general course of his life is in one direction — towards God and for God. And though he may sometimes feel so low that he questions whether he is a Christian at all, he will generally be able to say, with old John Newton, ‘T am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am.”

Now what shall we say to these things? What they can say who hold that regeneration is only an admission to outward Church privileges, I am sure I do not know. For myself, I say boldly, I can come only to one conclusion. That conclusion is, that those persons only are born again who have these marks about them, and that all men and women who have not these marks are not born again. And I firmly believe that this is the conclusion to which the Apostle wished us to come.

Have you these marks? ARE YOU BORN AGAIN?

COMMUNIST TACTICS

One of the common tactics employed by the Communist outlaws is to breed contempt for all constituted authority.

Sections of the student world are stirred into frenzied riots over social disorders and racial problems that no government can easily solve.

Gangs of young hoodlums have no hesitation in tagging the law enforcement official as the “dumb Cop.” And other age groups are being brainwashed into a spirit of lawlessness through incessant press and radio reports about police brutality.

Edgar Hoover says: “For years it has been Communist policy to charge police brutality in a calculated campaign to discredit law enforcement and to accentuate racial issues. The riots and disorders of the past three years clearly highlight the success of this Communist smear campaign in popularizing the cry of police brutality to the point where it has been accepted by many individuals who have no affiliation with or sympathy for the Communist movement.”

The modern mania of leniency toward criminals is contrary to God’s principle of punishment that “all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness.”

DICTATORIAL POWER

Sometimes ruthless dictators root out rotten spots that decaying democracies dare not touch. In Greece the coup led by the army brought down the democratic government, and one of its first orders was to ban the wearing of miniskirts by young girls and long hair by the young men. Will moral corruption ruin our institutions?

ADDRESSES FOR TIMOTHY CORRESPONDENCE

Timothy Section—

Thomas Moerdyk

1222 Vassar Drive

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001

Timothy Mission Fund—

c/o Miss Adriana Kievit

1121 North Westnedge Avenue

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007

Timothy Bible Quiz

Garret J. Moerdyk

1104 Roseland Avenue

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001

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