A PERIODICAL FOR YOUNG AND OLD

BAPTISM BY IMMERSION OR SPRINKLING??

In my previous article concerning this subject, I stated that both modes of baptism, immersion and sprinkling, are fit means to signify the cleansing of sin by the Blood and Spirit of Christ. Some may say that immersion or total submergence in the water better signifies cleansing than does the sprinkling of a few drops of water upon the forehead of those being baptized. If you have ever witnessed a baptismal service in which persons were baptized by immersion, you will have noticed that the persons being baptized were dipped into the water for not more than one second. The minister and the persons to be baptized put on special clothing before stepping into the water. Standing in the water, which is deep enough to dip a person completely into the water either forwards or backwards, the minister administers baptism in a moment’s time.

Does now that quick dip into the water better signify the cleansing from sin than does the sprinkling of water on the forehead? Is the filth of the body really taken away by a bath of just one second? Would we not say of a person who took such a quick bath that his “cleansing” must have been very superficial and incomplete? I cannot see that less instruction and understanding as to the real meaning of those “washings” is needed for baptism by immersion than for baptism by sprinkling. A moment’s bath speaks just as little of a real complete cleansing as does a few drops of water. At both modes of baptism we are required to think. We have to think of a signified cleansing, which is real, not because of the amount of water used, but on account of God’s promises based on the Work of Christ.

Our Baptist friends say that there is no Scriptural example of baptism other than by immersion. They invariably refer to the example of the eunuch of whom we read that he, together with Philip, went down into the water and came up out of the water. To our Baptist friends this is a very solid proof and example of baptism by immersion. Is that true? They and we must always realize that the Bibles which we have are translated Bibles. I am sure you know that the New Testament was written by the immediate inspiration of God in the Greek language. In all controversies of religion we must appeal to the original text, as only that text has decisive and final authority. It is a special blessing of the Lord that He gave to some men the ability to learn other languages. In that way it is possible for those who do not know Hebrew or Greek to find out from their writings the meanings of words directly inspired by the Holy Ghost. It is true that even among the greatest scholars there are differences of opinion about the best interpretation of certain words, because, as all know who have learned a foreign language, some words can be translated in different ways.

Many of our Baptist friends will insist that their interpretation of the Bible is right. We on our part do the same and therefore it is likely that the controversy will continue until the last day, at which time all differences between God’s children will disappear forever. In the meantime we should not condemn one another, but try to search honestly for the truth and not be ashamed to defend our standpoint and stick to our practices, as we do not follow our own imaginations or human inventions when baptizing by sprinkling. In our churches many sermons of excellent Baptist ministers have been read, proving that it is not in enmity that we protest against their viewpoints and practices concerning baptism. However, this should not be interpreted as a weakness, as if we do not know how to defend our views, or as if we think that there is at least as much biblical ground for their views and practice as there is for ours, or as if our Baptist friends have more biblical grounds than we do.

The words translated by “into … and out of” (the water) may as well be translated “unto, to and from,” as has been done in the King James translation hundreds of times. Those words convey no other meaning than that Philip and the eunuch went down and stood in the water while the eunuch was being baptized by Philip. In that posture, baptizing could easily be done by pouring or sprinkling water upon him, and, when the ceremony was ended, they both came up out of the water. There is as little ground for immersion in every other instance of baptism recorded in the New Testament as there is in this case. Is it then not true as maintained by our Baptist friends that the Greek word “baptizo,” which is always used in the New Testament for baptism and subsequently translated into the word “baptism,” can have no other meaning than to immerse? Next time more about this, D.V.

Your friend,

Rev. A. Elshout

112 Pratt Road

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001

BIBLE QUIZ

Dear Boys and Girls,

There is a story in the Bible about David which I am sure you all know. The army of the Israelites were on one side of the valley and the army of the Philistines were on the other side of the valley. Each day the giant Goliath came out from the camp of the Philistines to defy the Israelites, daring them to send out a man to fight with him. When David came into the camp to see his brothers and heard Goliath, he said, “Who is this Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” David was willing to go out against the giant, not to show that he was such a brave man, but, as he said to Goliath, “that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” And the Lord helped him so that Goliath was slain.

We can see what God will do for those who seek His honor and put their trust in Him. May we also learn to acknowledge Him in all our ways, for He is still the same God, calling unto us to seek Him while we are young.

All the answers to our questions this month will be found in the books of Ruth and I Samuel. The first letters will spell out six of the words mentioned above which David spoke to Goliath.

Elkanah said to his wife Hannah, “Am not I better to thee than _____ sons?”

What did Goliath wear upon his head?

What did Samuel call the stone which he set up, saying, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”

Where was the house of Samuel, where he judged Israel and built an altar unto the Lord?

To what place did King Saul go to enquire of a woman having a familiar spirit?

Who was the son of Phinehas that was born after his father had been killed?

When Saul did not kill Agag as commanded, Samuel said to him, “To obey is better than _____.”

To what cave did David escape and four hundred men with him when fleeing from Saul?

Ruth said, “Thy people shall be my people, and thy _____ my _____.”

Doeg slew all the people in Nob, the city of the priests, and also the _____, asses, and sheep.

Goliath said to David, “Am I a _____that thou comest to me with staves?”

When Samuel anointed Saul as king, he said, “Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be king over his _____.”

Who refused to give food to David and his men in the wilderness, but his wife did so, and later told him about it?

Ruth said to her mother-in-law, “ _____me not to leave thee.”

What did Ahimelech the priest give to David besides bread when he was fleeing from Saul?

In what city was Samuel buried?

What was the name of one of Jonathan’s brothers, who was slain in the same battle with him?

Unto the gates of what city did the Israelites pursue the Philistines after Goliath was killed?

When Samuel died, all the Israelites were gathered together and _____him.

Answers to the May quiz as follows —

“We Will Serve The Lord”

Window Joshua 2:17–21

Earth Joshua 7:20–21

Walls Joshua 6:20

Ibzan Judges 12:7–8

Lion Judges 14:5

Lord Judges 7:18

Sun Joshua 10:12

Ephraim Joshua 24:29–30

Razor Judges 13:2–5

Valour Judges 11:1

Eglon Judges 3:14–25

Tola Judges 10:1

Heber Judges 4:18–22

Ehud Judges 3:15

Lapped Judges 7:5–7

Oak Judges 6:11–12

Rahab’s Joshua 2:1

Deborah Judges 4:4

During the month answers were received from the following boys and girls:

Eleanor Meeuwse

Ruth Meeuwse

Martha Vander Male

Mary Vander Male

Lilly Vander Male

Marilyn De Maagd

George De Maagd

James Westrate

PhUlip Kaat

Carol JoAnn Mol

Jay Mol

Robert Louis Mol

Barbara Sue Kamp

Richard Kamp

Nancy Drost

Betty Jo Mast

Neil Mast

Jane Mast

Arline Kieboom

Ella Kieboom

Betty Vander Waal

John Vander Waal

Tim Vander Waal

Amy Mieras

Henry Rosendall

Laura Rosendall

Joanne Beeke

Joan Lugthart

Val Lugthart

Debbie Vos

Don Vos

Tunis Sweetman, Jr.

Jenny Lee Sweetman

Bobby Van Grouw

Janet Arlene Sweetman

Judy Sweetman

Alma Van Grouw

Carol Van Bemden

Peter W. Kievit

Sheryl Spaans

Marcia Spaans

Shirley Slotscma

Steve Slotsema

Sue Slotsema

Annette Koutstaal

Curt Jenison

Donna Lyn Zaremba

Linda Mae Kamp

Betty Jean Kamp

Mary Ann Kamp

Denise Carol Zaremba

John Verhey

Dave Verhey

Marianne Van Hoepen

John Van Hoepen

Todd Lee Van Middendorp

Delia Vanden Brink

Janet Van Driel

Betty Ann Vander Valk

Alane Van Ravenswaay (2)

Denise Van Ravenswaay (2)

Dianne Van Ravenswaay

Marilyn Van Ravenswaay

JoAnn Van Ravenswaay

Esther Van Ravenswaay

Janet Van Grouw

Peter Feyter

John Neels

Albert Van Grouw

Carolyn Van Grouw

Paul Vandenberg

Danny Meeuwse

Cordy Vandenberg

Janetta Vandenberg

Arie Vandenberg

John Van Wingerden

Billy Van Wingerden (2)

Janny Van Wingerden (2)

Joan Velier

Darlene Velier

William Grisnich

Mariene Van Veldhuizen

Charles Van Veldhuizen

Ray Grisnich

Peter Grisnich

Ellen Van Ginkel

Gloria Van Den Top

Judy Van Den Top

Joyce Van Den Top

Gordon Boluyt

Bill Boluyt

Frances Vander Meulen

Joyce Vander Meulen

Gary Blok

John Blok

Bruce Blok

Jim Van Giessen

Tom Blok

Kathy Van Giessen

Teresa Vander Meulen

Joyce Van Veldhuizen

Cheryl Berman

Lillian Berman

Judy Teunissen

Lanna Teunissen

Judy Koedam

Hans Kuperus

Miriam Kuperus

Arlene Kuperus

Albert Bouma

Sharon Bouma

Stephan Vanden Brink

Roy Vanden Brink

Tommy Greendyk

Julie Frens

Mary Frens

Billy Greendyk

Marsha Koedam

Marguerite Van Den Brink

Henry Van Den Brink

Marty Anker

John Van Woudenberg

Casey Blom

Bobby Blom

Nick Greendyk

Mark Heystek

Roelie Stapel

Henrietta Stapel

Janice Stapel

Rudolph Stapel

David Greendyk

Tonia Vander Waal

Billy Van Wingerden

Gary Vander Waal

Wilma Droogers

Beverly South way

Barbara Southway

Tom Kamp

Billy Kamp

Joyce Kamp

Ruth Lynn Kamp

Ruth Boerkoel

Neal Boerkoel

Randy Teunissen

Mark Teunissen

Edna Vander Meulen

Billy Droogers

Debbie Droogers

Art Vander Waal

Alice Mocrdyk

Esther Boonzaayer

Ruth Boonzaayer

John Oudshoorn

Martin Oudshoorn

Billy Oudshoorn

John Marinus Goeman

Carla Schelling

Diana Oudshoorn

Ruth Van Grouw

Gary Roozenboom

John Van Zweden

Ralph Van Zweden

Joan Van Zweden

Mary Ellen Van Zweden

Janet Van Zweden

Melvin Jay Rus

Gloria Rus

Harlan Rus

Gywen Hoogendoorn

Arnold Rus

Shirley Rus

Linda Rus

Joanne Spaans

Gert Spaans

Janet Remus

John Remus

Robert Greendyk

Alida Greendyk

James Van Tilburg

Mark Van Tilburg

Mary Van Tilburg

Mineva Ymker

Daniel Ymker

Rhonda Grisnich

Wendy Grisnich

Christine Koppert

Alice Koppert

Peter Koppert

Nelly Koppert

Elizabeth Geerling

Joanne Geerling

Martin Peter Vlietstra

David Vlietstra

Janice Vlietstra

Jeff Kaat

Tammy Kaat

Raymond Rieder

Marianne Van Hoepen

John Van Hoepen

Randy Vande Stouwe

Nancy Vande Stouwe

Donna Marie Hubers

Helen Hubers

Hermina Hubers

Caren Nicuwenhuis

Mary Jean den Hoed

Arthur den Hoed

And now it is again time to answer our letters received —

MARIANNE VAN HOEPEN — Your letter is first this time, Marianne. I hope you had a happy birthday and that you may have many more of them. More of the books have arrived, so we are busy sending them out again. You should have received them by the time this issue arrives.

RAYMOND RIEDER — You are right, Raymond, there was a mistake in the 6th question. Quite a few boys and girls pointed that out to me. It was quite nice to meet your cousins and uncle and aunt when they were in Michigan.

RHONDA GRISNICH — We hope your mother is feeling much better again, Rhonda. You probably don’t think about all the work she does until she is away from home. Then you soon find out what a lot of work there is to do.

CHRISTINE KOPPERT — How did you do in your swimming tests, Christine? Were you able to do all the floats? If you did, you are a better swimmer than I am. Do you plan to be at the Youth Conference in July, if all is well?

ELIZABETH GEERLING — How is the garden doing, Elizabeth? It sounds as if you have lots of variety in the garden. I suppose you are already eating some of the crop. Do you do some of the weeding, too? Ordinarily the weeds grow faster than the vegetables.

JOANNE GEERLING — Even though we don’t care for the rainy weather, Joanne, it is very important to make the grass green and to make the flowers bloom. How were the examinations? Did you do real well on all of them?

ALICE KOPPERT — We are all quite well, Alice. I hope you are feeling better again. Robert was just a little fellow when we saw him last, so I don’t think I would recognize him now. Be sure to say Hello to him for me.

TODD LEE VAN MIDDENDORP — I am glad you liked the book, Todd. The measles really paid a visit to your house, didn’t they? How much school did you miss? Did many of your friends in school also have the measles? If one has it, there are usually others.

RALPH VAN ZWEDEN — Have you used the new camper yet, Ralph? I can imagine that you are anxious to go travelling now that you have it. Where do you plan to go during vacation this summer? Maybe someday you will be able to come to Michigan with it.

WILLIAM GRISNICH — It is no wonder you had some trouble finding the answer, William, especially since I told you to look in the wrong chapter. I will try not to let that happen again, but it is so easy to make mistakes.

JOHN REMUS — It sounds like you had an all-day fishing trip, John. It is nice that you have a lake near your home so that you can do this. Do you go fishing often? What did you do with the turtles which you caught?

BILLY VAN WINGERDEN — It was nice to have you join in answering the quiz, Billy. You did real well in answering the quiz. What do you have growing in the greenhouse now? Does Arie live near you? Say Hello to Kenny and Tommy for me.

MARTY ANKER — 1 don’t think we will be visiting Iowa this summer, Marty, although we do hope to do so again sometime. Have you taught your parakeet to say anything? We hope that your brothers may be spared, and may return home again in the near future.

MARK HEYSTEK — Are you happy that school is out again for the summer, Mark? What do you do all the time during vacation? Do you have your own strawberry plants? I suppose you and your friends can always find something to keep you busy.

PETER KIEVIT — The answer which I said was in the first chapter of Leviticus was found in the first chapter of Numbers. I really don’t make mistakes on purpose, but I think it makes everyone work extra hard. I hope your birthday was a happy one.

JOHN VAN ZWEDEN — My parents enjoyed their visit in Iowa, John. Do you still remember when we visited at your house? Maybe that is too long ago for you to remember. What do you have in your garden this year? I hope there aren’t too many weeds.

JANET REMUS — Do you have lots of different flowers in your garden, Janet? We don’t have too many flowers in our yard. They look real nice, but one must have lots of time to take care of them, which I don’t seem to have.

PETER GRISNICH — How much did your pig weigh when you first had him, Peter? I suppose you gave him plenty of food, so that he would put on lots of weight. Do you know where we read in the Bible of a young man who was so hungry that he would have eaten the pig’s food, but no one gave him any?

JANET VAN ZWEDEN — You were right, Janet. Moses was eighty when his brother was eighty-three. There was another man mentioned in the Bible who was eighty years old. He met with David after Absalom was killed. Do you know who he was? Perhaps Joan will have to help you find this one.

ROELIE STAPEL — We are all quite well, Roelie. You mentioned that the teachers are piling on homework, suddenly realizing that school will soon be over. That is real human nature — just as man by nature does not think about his final end until he becomes sick, so that the end appears to be very near. That is why the Bible sends us to the ant to consider her ways.

JOHN NEELS — There seem to be quite a few birthdays in May, John. Some time I will have to make a list of them. We have been having nice weather recently, although for tonight they are predicting a possibility of frost.

JOAN VAN ZWEDEN — I can imagine that all of you felt quite sad when the baby rabbits died. How many were there? Have you ever seen the Pacific Ocean? It sounds as if you are going to have a nice vacation trip, if all is well.

RAY GRISNICH — What are you doing during the summer, Ray? Do you miss school? I am sure there is always lots of things to do on a farm, so you shouldn’t ever have nothing to do. I notice you are real alert and catch all our mistakes.

JOHN VAN WOUDENBERG — We sing in one of the Psalters, “All nature joins in singing a joyful song of praise.” And this can be seen especially in the spring, John. Give our greetings to your family.

MARY ELLEN VAN ZWEDEN — It looks as if we have about reached the end of our letters again, Mary Ellen. Do you read all of the letters we write? We hope all of the boys and girls also read the stories and articles in the Timothy section.

ANNETTE KOUTSTAAL — You wrote that your name was missed, Annette, but possibly it showed up in the following issue. We try real hard not to miss anyone, but I suppose it does happen sometime.

LINDA REMUS You have two birthdays in May in your family, Linda. I hope you may have many more of them. Are you being real helpful this summer when you don’t have to go to school?

This finishes our letters until next time, the Lord willing. We hope all of you may be back with us again next month. Perhaps I will have an opportunity to see some of you at the Youth Day Conference in Norwich. When sending in your answers to the quiz, mail them to Garret J. Moerdyk, 1104 Roseland Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001.

With love,

Your friend,

“Uncle Garret”

BIRDS OF THE BIBLE THE RAVEN

The raven is the first bird mentioned by name in the Bible. Noah doubtless chose this bird to scan the flood waters because of its size and strength, being able to fly far and wide, and — because it is a scavenger — being able to feed on the dead bodies of any birds or animals floating on the water. We read that it flew ‘to and fro until the waters were abated’ (dried up).

We can also read of ravens bringing food to the prophet Elijah at brook Cherith. Ravens no doubt visited this place because of the water, trees, rocks and the abundance of small birds and wild creatures on which they could feed. The Bible says that the ravens brought Elijah bread and meat, morning and evening, but just exactly what kind of food this was is uncertain.

When Jesus was telling his disciples that God would take care of their needs, he pointed out that God cared even for the ravens and fed them too.

GOD THE ONLY SOUL-MENDER

The soul is more precious than the body. We need a God that can save the soul. We all have many sins that must be pardoned. We have a conscience, a something within which troubles us and makes us feel uneasy on account of sin, and we want to have this conscience quieted and made peaceful. We have wicked hearts that must be made new and good, or we never can be happy; and we need a God who can do this for us.

Suppose I break the main-spring of my watch; it won’t go. I try to mend it, without success. I ask one of you to do it. You shake your head and say, “I cannot do it.” I take it to a shoe maker; he can’t either. I take it to a carpenter, a wheelwright, a blacksmith, a lawyer, a doctor, but none of them can mend it. After a while I take it to a watchmaker; he understands all about it. He puts in a new spring, and the watch goes as well as ever.

Now the soul is like a watch; sin has broken the mainspring; it won’t go as it should; we need someone to mend it. We need a new heart, just as the watch needed a new main-spring; but the soul-mender is the only one who can do this. To try to get this done in any other way, is like carrying your broken watch for repairs to a shoemaker or a blacksmith.

There was once a man in India, a heathen, who felt that he was a sinner. His conscience troubled him dreadfully about his sins, but he did not know how to get rid of them. He had spent several years in consulting the priests and visiting different temples in the hope of obtaining relief. He did all that he was told, but it did him no good. At one temple he was told to take a long journey on his hands and knees. He did it but was no better. He washed in various fountains, he fasted till he was worn to a skeleton, he did many things, but none of them helped. At last he was told to put pebbles in his shoes and travel to a distant temple where, if he made an offering to an idol, he would be relieved. He did so, but in vain.

Sadly he returned home, still with the pebbles making every step a torture. Wearied with his journey he halted one day in the shade of a grove where a company was gathered listening to a stranger. It was a missionary preaching the Gospel. The poor heathen listened with great interest for the missionary was preaching on the words, “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin.” He showed how Jesus was able and willing to save all who came to Him. The heart of the heathen was drawn to Jesus. He took off his shoes and threw away the pebbles, exclaiming, “This is the Saviour I need. Thank God, I have found salvation.”

The poor man had been carrying his broken soul to useless helpers. Like the shoemaker and the blacksmith with the watch, they could do nothing with it. At last he found the soulmender and all was right. Jesus says, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else.” “Besides me there is no Saviour.” We need a God who can save.

(Young People’s Magazine)

YOU TELL ON YOURSELF

You tell on yourself

By the words you speak, by the friends you seek,

By the way you employ your leisure time,

By the use you make of your dollar and dime;

You tell what you are by the things you wear,

By the spirit you, your burdens bear,

By the kind of things at which you laugh,

By the songs you sing, just a paragraph;

You tell what you are by the way you walk,

By the things of which you delight to talk,

By the manner in which you bear defeat,

By so simple a thing as the way you eat,

By the books you choose from the well filled shelf,

In these things and more — you tell on yourself.

(Gospel Tract and Bible Society)

“IT WONT SINK”

The sun had nearly set. The old sailor sighed deeply, and then suddenly turning to me he said:

“I was once captain of a smuggling boat. I remember well one morning, just at daybreak, we discovered a coast guard boat in the distance. We had on board a heavy cargo of tobacco, and we stood to make quite a bit of money if we could land it.

“The coast guard was still a long way off, but we knew that if she gave chase we couldn’t possibly get away because our heavy cargo slowed us so much. We hoped at first we might not be seen, but alas, we soon saw the coast guard crowding all sail and turning her course toward us.

“We all knew what would happen if we were taken. Not only would the boat and cargo be confiscated, but we would all be sent to prison. For a time there was a dead silence while we stared at each other in dismay. The coast guard was coming up fast behind us. Suddenly I thought of a way out. ‘Mates,’ I cried, ‘There’s no hope for us by running away — but let them come! They will only find an empty ship’.

“Hastily we first rigged sail at the stern of the ship to screen us from the sight of the customs men; then sending part of the men below, I set them in line to hand up the packages of tobacco and pitch them overboard as they came up.

“How we did work! All was quiet; nothing was heard but the splash of the tobacco dropping into the sea. The cargo was going down fast. “Cheer up, men,’ I cried, ‘we’ll soon be finished with it’. Just then I saw the ship’s boy was too tired to go on, so I sent him to see if the coast guard was very far off.

“In a minute he came rushing back to me, pale as death. He just gasped out, ‘It won’t sink!’ and fled below.

“In a flash we understood what he meant. I ran to the stern of the ship, and what a sight that was! The sun was just rising behind us and there, in that long line of light, were the packages of tobacco bobbing up and down in our wake. And the first package in the line reached right back to the oncoming coast guard boat.

“Helplessly, we stood and stared at it. The proof of our guilt was there spread out for all to see. We were lost, and in our ears rang over and over those fatal words, ‘It won’t sink’.”

The old sailor stopped speaking for a moment, and then went on again: “In those days my heart was far from God. I belonged to the world. From time to time, though, I had serious thoughts, and then I would resolve to correct my ways and change my course. But resolving is one thing; doing is another. I still went on in the same old ways, and as soon as we were free I went back to smuggling.

“About three years after all this happened, I went out in a boat on the river one night. It was New Year’s eve, and in spite of myself my thoughts went back in review of my past life. I saw myself when a child kneeling at my mother’s knee to say my evening prayers. Again I heard her tell me of One Who came down from heaven to bring life to the world, and at this I sighed deeply. The more I thought about my past, the more horrified I was. God had created me, and I had lived and was still living as though there was neither God nor eternity.

“That night I went down on my knees in the boat and prayed that God would come to my help. After this I would be another man. I resolved not to touch a drop of liquor, and to avoid all bad company. I made many more resolutions like that, what I would do, and what I wouldn’t do, and soon began to have a very good opinion of myself. Then on further reflection I saw that there were a lot more things I ought to clean up, or lighten the ship, as we say. I must throw overboard everything that ought not to be in my boat. My life was to be completely changed. My resolutions were getting more serious and positive every moment, my heart grew lighter, and I was happy in the thought that I had become a new man. As a finishing stroke I decided to sell my ship and go home to my mother.

“Having made this decision, it seemed as if everything must be in perfect order. I had taken up the oars to go back to land, when suddenly the moon broke through the clouds and cast its beams like a band of silver across the water to where my boat was lying — but why should I start and shiver? What should it remind me of? The memory of that certain morning when, chased by the coast guard, I had cast the cargo into the sea, came over me with overwhelming power. I saw again the ship’s boy’s frightened face, and heard his cry, ‘It won’t sink’!

“How blind I was! I had tried to lighten the ship by casting the cargo overboard and there, behold, it was floating behind me like an accusing line stretched up to the throne of God. All that I had done, said, or thought, was there before the face of God, and ‘it would not sink’! Fool that I was, I thought I could drown all my wickedness in the sea of eternal forgetfulness, without a thought of the holiness of God. If I had been able from that moment on to do only what was good, it would not have changed the evil done in the past. What good was it to be forming good resolutions for the future, and to pitch the old cargo overboard, when it would not sink. Tears of despair filled my eyes. I was hopelessly lost.

“While in this state, seeing neither relief nor safety, I remembered the teachings of my faithful mother. Hadn’t she often told me about Jesus, the Saviour of sinners? Hadn’t He died on the cross for sinners? And if I should turn to Him now wouldn’t His precious blood wash away even my many sins? Wasn’t there grace and mercy even for me?

“All at once everything was clear before me. Yes, the Lord Jesus had died for me. He had borne the punishment of all my sins. ‘Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more’ (Hebrews 10:17) was the passage that came to my mind. Such a joy as filled my heart then! Lighthearted, entirely relieved of my burden, I turned my boat toward the shore, and, a new man, I stepped out on the land. I had gone out a lost sinner, but I was coming back redeemed by the Lord.”

Unsaved reader, be assured of this, “God requireth that which is past.” (Ecclesiastes 3:15). “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13).

“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7).

(-Cheering Words)

ENTER YE IN AT THE STRAIT GATE

1 slumbered and dreamed, and behold! a gate,

At whose shining portals a thousand wait;

Yea countless hosts to that gate repair

But few there be who find entrance there.

One there was who travelled along,

Until she stood in that wearied throng;

If I might tell, from her childish mien,

Few were the summers the maid had seen.

She, as she stood in that crowded place,

Earnestly peered in each sullen face,

Whispering: “Oh! let me pass, I pray;

I seek the gate of the narrow way.”

“What! you, little Faith?” they scornfully said;

“Scarce have you slept from your cradle bed!”

“True,” she replied, as she passed them by;

“Yet there are saints as young as I.”

Said one: “The Warder, who keeps the gate

Cares not that thousands before it wait;

Hears not our angry voices, nor heeds

When often we reckon our righteous deeds.

Say, then, how will you admittance gain

When we have waited so long in vain?”

“Nay,” she replied, “If I kneel and pray

He’ll open the gate of the narrow way.”

Short was the prayer; from her heart it sped,

Lo, the Warder hath turned his head

Smiling, He looks on her infant brow;

See how the hinges are moving now!

Vainly they told how rough was the track;

Many an one would have held her back;

But the Warder’s voice was loud and clear:

“Forbid not the children to enter here!”

She passed through the gate; she did not stay,

And wistfully gazed up the narrow way,

And wished she could tread it; she longed to depart,

And thanked the Warder with grateful heart.

“Come back!” cried the World. “Come back! for thee

Pleasure, and beauty, and wealth shall be;

Joy in thy heart, and gold in thy hand;

All I have is at thy command!”

“World!” she replied, “your pleasures die,

Your riches take wings, and away they fly;

Soon is the beauty of youth decayed;

Heavenly treasures can never fade.”

“Come back!” cried the Flesh, “nor endure in vain

Thirst and hunger, and cold and pain;

You cannot tread where the Master trod;

You are a mortal and He was God!”

With humble voice she was heard to speak,

“The spirit is willing, the flesh is weak;

Christ is my strength, in Him I trust;

He will remember I am but dust!”

“Come back!” cried the Devil; “Why enter there?

Is not the broad way passing fair?

It leads to heaven; ‘tis smooth and gay;

Thousands are smiling along that way!”

“Satan, I know there!” she replies;

“Get thee behind me, father of lies!

Thou who art longing to sift me as wheat,

Soon shall be trampled under my feet!”

“Come back!” cried they all, “beware of the storm:

How strong the thunder, how frail thy form!”

“The tempest,” she said, “will pass me by;

I’m under the Rock that is higher than I.”

So onward she travels, until at last

The sorrow, the care, and the pain are past.

How fair the city! the saints how bright!

Her eyes are dazzled with heaven’s light.

Who sitteth upon the great white throne?

Who claimeth the empire for his own?

From whose shining lips doth the mandate go —

Of eternal life, of eternal woe?

One angel in white the maid arrays;

One gives her a harp to sound His praise;

She would cover her face with seraph wings;

For her friend, the Warder, is King of kings!

And Faith eternity’s reign shall spend

In joys of heaven which never end;

She thinks no more, in the perfect day,

How strait was the gate, how narrow the way.

Augusta L. Dawson (Y.P.M.)

THE BIBLE

Daniel Webster once affirmed, “If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but, if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity. The Bible is the Book of all others, for lawyers as well as divines, and I pity the man who cannot find in it a rich supply of thought and rule of conduct.”

When Sir Walter Scott lay dying, he summoned to his side his servant and said, “Read to me out of the Book.” “Which book?” asked his servant. “There is only one Book,” was the dying man’s response — “The Bible!”

T-E-L-E-V-I-S-I-O-N 1970

T-heif of morals, thief of time,

E-vil bent and full of crime,

L-eading young and old astray,

E-ver from the narrow way.

V-ending venom like a snake,

I-nto minds of small and great.

S-atan’s hissing loud and clear,

I-nto poor deluded ears.

O-nly Christ can set them free,

N-ever more its dupes to be.

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen