GIFTS RECEIVED FOR MISSIONS IN JULY 1971

CLASSIS EAST SOURCE AMOUNT

Friend in Prospect Park Gift 10.00

CLASSIS MIDWEST

Friend in Grand Rapids Gift 25.00

St. Catherines Ch. Col. and Catechism Col. Collections 2605.96

Friend in Grand Rapids Gift 25.00

In G. R. Ch. Col. Gift 25.00

In G. R.Ch. Col. Gift 75.00

Friend in South Holland Gift 5.00

CLASSIS WEST

Friend in Oshaloosa Gift 125.00

CLASSIS FARWEST

Sunnyside Pentecost Col. Collection 246.90

Chilliwack Pentecost Col. Collection 359.11

Chilliwack Ladies’ Circle Gift 1500.00

TOTAL: $5001.97

Dear Friends;

Through the goodness of the Lord we are able to list a good income for the mission work. In the name of the committee we want to express our hearty thanks for your gifts. May the Lord bless you and your gift. Oh, friends pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We would like to let you know that at present Rev. Kuijt is in great danger. One of his helpers that went along with him to the new tribe of Nipsanma has been killed by the cannibals, and you can imagine there is a great unrest. Rev. Kuijt is remaining among this tribe, but Mrs. Kuijt and children have been taken out, on account of the great danger in which they are in, because of the hostility of the heathens. We can see that there is no room for the truth in the heart of man, enmity against God is always to show itself. May the Lord strengthen and protect Rev. Kuijt that he may be made faithful in the deepest trials. We also thank the children of St. Catherines for their generous catechism collection for the mission. I hope that old, middle-aged, young people and children may be given a desire to give something for the mission work, how small the gift may be let us do what we can do. We give so much of our money for things that have no value. The Lord loveth a cheerful giver, not that we are begging, only that we give you our advice. Greetings from the Mission Committee.

American General Mission Fund

Netherland Reformed Churches of America and Canada

John Spaans, Treasurer

Plankinton Box 106 RR1

South Dakota 57368

TIMOTHY MISSION FUND

During the month of July gifts totalling $126.00 were received for our mission fund, which we again acknowledge with sincere thanks. Checks in the amount of $100.00 each were sent out during the month to the Wycliffe Bible Translators and to the Spanish Evangelical Mission. The balance at the end of the month was $7.40. Gifts for our fund should be sent to Timothy Mission Fund, in care of Miss Adriana Kievit, 1121 N. Westnedge Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007. In addition to your generous gifts, may you also remember the labors performed in the mission fields in your prayers.

MISSION-BIBLE SCHOOL

NOTES OUT OF THE CATECHISM CLASSES

OF REV.J. FRAANJE

Lesson 4 part 2—Continuing with the incommunicable attributes of God.

The third incommunicable attribute is called Eternity. The word eternity is used in two different senses in God’s Word.

Sometimes eternity means the eternity with a beginning but without an end. Sometimes it is spoken of as having no beginning and no end.

Respecting the Divine Being, eternity is expressed in Psalm 90, “From everlasting to everlasting thou art God.”

There is, therefore, neither a beginning nor an end. Eternity is as such an incommunicable attribute of God.

As the church speaks of it in Psalm 89, namely ,”I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever;” there is a beginning to that eternity. It will begin directly after natural death. Accordingly, God’s children shall enter into eternity with eternal bless that will never end.

On the other hand, there will also be a beginning of eternity for the unconverted. That will be a dreadful eternity; eternally abandoned of God.

After death, whether in eternal bliss or in eternal wretchedness, there will be no succesion of time as there is here, just as there is no succession nor end of time with the Lord.

Do you know where you can prove that to me from God’s Word?

Answer: 2 Peter 3:8 “That one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

The catechism proceeds, now, with the question, “Where is God?”

Answer: God is present everywhere. This is an attribute called omnipresence and is the 4th incommunicable attribute.

Evidence of this attribute is clear in Jeremiah 23:24 “Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.”

This attribute, Omnipresence, (being present everywhere), is not only to be understood of His operations but also of His essence (His actual being) because He works by virture of His essence.

O, boys and girls, do you ever think about this fact that the Lord is always present at every place in this world?

He can see you anywhere and anytime, even though you are in remote places. He is an all knowing and all seeing God. Do you think about this, boys, when you are busy doing something evil and you say to yourself, “If father or mother just does not see this”, that the Lord knows and sees, even though you do it so very quietly?

I am confident, if the all knowing God was always in your thoughts, you would not sin so calmly and easily as you are doing now. Isn’t that true?

Now you try to hide all the bad things, as far as possible, from your parents or others, but, remember this, if you hid yourself one hundred yards deep in the earth, the Lord knows exactly the unspoken thoughts that are in your heart. Nothing is hidden from His sight.

I once read about two boys, who were planning to commit a serious crime. One of them said, “Where shall we do it, so that no one will see it?”

“That is something we must think about,” said the other. “Wait, I know a fine place were no one can see us.”

“But won’t God in heaven see us there, too?” said the first boy.

Then his companion became angry and said, “If you must talk that way, we had better not do it, because God is everywhere and in that place, too.”

The all knowing God arrested their consciences so much, that they did not dare to execute their plan. Although God knew exactly the evil intention that was in their heart, they were spared from doing the evil deed.

So, boys and girls, never try to seek a place to do evil, where you think no one can see you, because as you remember, Psalm 139 says:

“O, Lord thou hast searched me and known me.

Thou knowest my downsitting and my uprising,

Thou understandest my thoughts afar off.

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.”

As soon as you are tempted to do something that no one should know about, remember that passage. Perhaps, like the two boys, you may be spared of doing evil.

Do you know a better purpose for which to seek a hiding place?

It would be a place to confess all your sins to the Lord and pray that you may come to know how great your sins and miseries are and lament them.

If it would happen that He would make you to feel your sins as they truly are before Him, there would be no small sins, they would all be great sins. Do you know why? Because the sins are done against a kind God.

Listen to me now. I shall try to make you understand how evil it is to sin against God.

You know that we desire and do commit sins as soon as we are born.

Isn’t that true? It is because these actual sins are a result of our inherited original sin. But, how do we acquire original sin? Are we created with it? Of course not!

No, we through our own coveteousness and the tempting of the devil have deliberately committed the first sin. We are now so unfortunate, that we find sin to be ever present with us. Before that time we carried the image of God. The image of God, which we possessed, consisted of knowledge, righteousness and holiness, which means: we knew God, had no guilt and were holy.

Through our first sin we lost that image and now cany the image of the devil.

Can a person with the image of the devil be in heaven?

No, the devil himself, because of his revolt, was thrown out of heaven.

What is necessary then?

That we receive the image of God again, that is: that we are at peace with Him. That we become holy again through Christ, that our guilt be taken away, so that we can, in Christ, be pure before God. Then we would have knowledge, righteousness and holiness again.

We see according to the Word of God that man carried the image of God in three different states.

Can you tell me what they are?

Answer:

1. The state of integrity before the fall.

2. The state of grace, when God converts a person and once again presents him His image and,

3. In the state of eternal bliss as redeemed souls in heaven.

I hope that you eventually understand the divine attributes of God which were the subject of the few questions you have memorized. Then you will also discover what strength is comprehended in the immutability of God, and incommunicable attribute of God. “For I am the Lord, I change not, therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

The class time has about ended, so, we cannot continue further.

Hellenbroek made the answer so clear that we need not add much more to it, for He often changes in His explanations.

Our lesson states: “This repentance in God is only a change in His work, not in His will and essence, Numbers 23:19,” God is not a man that He should lie; neither the son of man that He should repent.”

When it is written, that He changes places; that He comes somewhere and goes away again, it is but a change in the degree to which He shows His presence; not in the real presence itself.

So we see plainly that God’s incommunicable attributes are one and the same with His Essence. They are recognized by special features only to accommodate our manner of understanding.

O, how precious all the attributes of God will become to you if God converts you in your lifetime, because these attributes are God Himself.

Also, you will become very conscious of how you miss God and His image even if you are ever so young.

There was once a little girl who was asked why she held God’s people in such esteem and went to see them so often. “Oh,” she said, “These people have had restored to them something which I still lack.” “What is that then?” they asked her.

“They have been restored into communion with the Lord again,” she said, “and they know Him, and Christ has taken their guilt away; but, I still carry the image of the devil and am not reconciled with God.”

May you also discover this and never have rest, until, through grace, you are restored into God’s favor through faith in Christ.

(More on the attributes in the next issue)

MEMOIR OF THE REV. WILLIAM TENNENT (Cont.)

II

As soon as circumstances would permit, Mr. Tennent was licensed, and began to preach the everlasting gospel with great zeal and success. The death of his brother John, who had been some time settled as minister of the Presbyterian church at Freehold, in the county of Monmouth, New Jersey, left that church in a destitude state. They had experienced so much spiritual benefit from the indefatigable labors and pious zeal of this able minister of Jesus Christ that they soon turned their attention to his brother, who was received on trial, and after one year was found to be no unworthy successor to so excellent a predecessor. In October 1733, Mr. Tennent was regularly ordained their pastor, and continued so through the whole of a rather long life; one of the best proofs of ministerial fidelity.

Although his salary was small (it was under 100 L), yet the glebe belonging to the church was an excellent plantation, on which he lived, and which, with care and good farming, was capable of maintaining a family with comfort. But his inattention to the things of this world was so great that he left the management of his temporal concerns wholly to a faithful servant, in whom he placed great confidence. After a short time he found his worldly affairs were becoming embarrassed. His steward reported to him that he was in debt to the merchant between 20 L and 30 L, and he knew of no means of payment, as the crops had fallen short. Mr. Tennent mentioned this to an intimate friend, a merchant of New York, who was on a visit at his home. His friend told him that his mode of life would not do, that he must get a wife to attend to his temporal affairs, and to comfort his leisure hours by conjugal endearments. He smiled at the idea, and assured him it never could be the case unless some friend would provide one for him, for he knew not how to go about it. His friend told him he was ready to undertake the business; that he had a sister-in-law, an excellent woman, of great piety, a widow of his own age, and one peculiarly suited in all respects to his character and circumstances. In short, that she was every thing he ought to look for; and if he would go with him to New York the next day, he would settle the negotiation for him. To this he soon assented. The next evening found him in the city, and before noon the day after, he was introduced to Mrs. Noble. He was much pleased with her appearance; and when left alone with her, abruptly told her that he supposed her brother had informed her of his errand; that neither his time nor inclination would suffer him to use much ceremony, but that if she approved the measure, he would attend his charge on the next Sabbath and return on Monday, be married and immediately take her home. The lady with some hesitation and difficulty at last consented, being convinced that his situation and circumstances rendered it proper. Thus in one week she found herself mistress of his house. She proved a most invaluable treasure to him, more than answering every thing said of her by an affectionate brother. She took the care of his temporal concerns upon her, extricated him from debt, and by a happy union of prudence and economy, so managed all his worldly business that in a few years his circumstances became easy and comfortable. In a word, in her was literally fulfilled the declaration of Solomon, that “a virtuous woman is a crown to her husband, and that her price is far above rubies.” Besides several children who died in infancy, he had by her three sons who attained the age of manhood; John, who studied physic, and died in the West Indies when about thirty-three years of age; William, a man of superior character, and minister of the Independent church in Charleston, South Carolina, who died the latter end of September or beginning of October, A.D. 1777, about thirty-seven years old; and Gilbert, who also practised physic, and died at Freehold before his father, aged twenty-eight years. Few parents could boast three sons of a more manly or handsome appearance; and the father gave them the most liberal education that the country could afford.

Mr. Tennent’s inattention to earthly things continued till his eldest son was about three years old, when he led him out into the fields on a certain day. The design of the walk was religious meditation. As he went along, accidentally casting his eye on the child, a thought suddenly struck him, and he asked himself this question: “Should God in His providence take me hence, what would become of this child and his mother, for whom I have never taken any personal care to make provision? How can I answer this negligence to God and to them? The impropriety of his inattention to the relative duties of life, which God had called him to, and the consideration of the sacred declaration, “that he who does not provide for his own household has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel,” had such an impressive effect on his mind that it almost deprived him of his senses. He saw his conduct, which before he thought arose entirely from a deep sense of divine things, in a point of light in which he never before had viewed them. He immediately attemped to return home, but so great was his distress that it was with difficulty he could get along; till at once he was relieved by a sudden recurring to that text of scripture, which came into his mind with extraordinary force: “But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance; the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance.” Such, however was the effect of this unexpected scene on Mr. Tennent’s mind and judgment that ever afterwards he prudently attended to the temporal business of life, still, however, in perfect subordination to the great things of eternity; and became fully convinced that God was to be faithfully served, as well by discharging relative duties in His love and fear, as by the more immediate acts of devotion. He clearly perceived that every duty had its proper time and place, as well as motive; that we had a right and were called of God to eat and drink and to be properly clothed; and of course that care should be taken to procure those things, provided that all be done to the glory of God. In the duties of a gospel minister, however, especially as they are related to his pastoral charge, he still engaged with the utmost zeal and faithfulness; and was esteemed by all ranks and degrees, as far as his labors extended, as a fervent, useful, and successful preacher of the gospel.

His judgement of mankind was such as to give him a marked superiority, in this respect, over his contemporaries, and greatly aided him in his ministerial functions. He was scarcely ever mistaken in the character of a man with whom he conversed, though it was but for a few hours. He had an independent mind, which was seldom satisfied on important subjects without the best evidence that was to be had. His manner was remarkably impressive; and his sermons, although seldom polished, were generally delivered with such indescribable power that he was truly an able and a successful minister of the New Testament. He could say things from the pulpit which, if said by almost any other man, would have been thought a violation of propriety. But by him they were delivered in manner so peculiar to himself, and so extremely impressive, that they seldom failed to please and to instruct. As an instance of this, the following anecdote is given, of the truth of which the writer was a witness.

Mr. Tennent was passing through a town in the state of New Jersey, in which he was a stranger and had never preached, and stopping at a friend’s house to dine, was informed that it was a day of fasting and prayer in the congregation, on account of a remarkable and severe drought, which threatened the most dangerous consequences to the fruits of the earth. His friend had just returned from the church, and the intermission was but half an hour. Mr. Tennent was requested to preach, and with great difficulty consented, as he wished to proceed on his journey. At church the people were surprised to see a preacher wholly unknown to them and entirely unexpected ascend the pulpit. His whole appearance, being in a traveling dress, covered with dust, wearing an old-fashioned large wig, discolored like his clothes, and a long meagre visage, engaged their attention, and excited their curiosity. On his rising up, instead of beginning to pray, as was the usual practice, he looked around the congregation with a piercing eye and earnest attention, and after a minute’s profound silence he addressed them with great solemnity in the following words: “My beloved brethren! I am told you have come here to-day to fast and pray; a very good work indeed, provided you have come with a sincere desire to glorify God thereby. But if your design is merely to comply with a customary practice or with the wish of your church officers, you are guilty of the greatest folly imaginable, as you had much better have stayed at home and earned your three shillings and sixpence (at that time the stated price for a day’s labor); but if your minds are indeed impressed with the solemnity of the occasion, and you are really desirous of humbling yourselves before Almighty God, the heavenly Father, come join with me, and let us pray.” This had an effect so uncommon and extraordinary on the congregation that the utmost seriousness was universally manifested. The prayer and the sermon added greatly to the impressions already made, and tended to arouse the attention, influence the mind, command the affections, and increase the temper which had been so happily produced. Many had reason to bless God for His unexpected visit, and to reckon this day one of the happiest of their lives.

The writer having requested of the present Rev. Dr. William Tennent a written account of an anecdote relative to his uncle, whom had once heard him repeat the account verbally, received in reply the following letter:

Abington, January 11th, 1806.

Sir — The anecdote of my venerable relative, the Rev. William Tennent, of Freehold, which you wished me to send to you, is as follows:

During the great revival of religion which took place under the ministry of Mr. Whitefield and others distinguished for their zeal and piety at that period, Mr. Tennent was laboriously active and much engaged to help forward that work; in the performance of which he met with strong and powerful temptations. The following is related as received in substance from his own lips, and may be considered as extraordinary and singularly striking.

On the evening preceding public worship, which was to be attended next day, he selected a subject for the discourse which was to be delivered, and made some progress in his preparations. In the morning he resumed the same subject, with an intention to extend his thoughts further on it, but was presently assaulted with a temptation that the Bible which he then held in his hand was not of Divine authority, but the invention of man. He instantly endeavored to repel the temptation by prayer, but his endeavors proved unavailing. The temptation continued, and fastened upon him with greater strength as the time advanced for public service. He lost all the thoughts which he had on his subject the preceding evening. He tried other subjects, but could get nothing for the people. The whole book of God, under that distressing state of mind, was a sealed book to him; and to add to his affliction, he was to use his own words, “shut up in prayer.” A cloud, dark as that of Egypt, oppressed his mind.

Thus agonized in spirit, he proceeded to the church, where he found a large congregation assembled, and waiting to hear the word; and then it was, he observed, that he was more deeply distressed than ever, and especially for the dishonor which he feared would fall upon religion through him that day. He resolved, however, to attempt the service. He introduced it by singing a psalm, during which time his agitations were increased to the highest degree. When the moment for prayer commenced, he arose, as one in the most perilous and painful situation, and with arms extended to the heavens, began with this outcry, “Lord, have mercy upon me!” Upon the utterance of this petition he was heard; the thick cloud instantly broke away, and an unspeakably joyful light shone in upon his soul, so that his spirit seemed to be caught up to the heavens, and he felt as though he saw God, as Moses did on the mount, face to face, and was carried forth to Him with an enlargement greater than he had ever before experienced, and on every page of the Scriptures saw His Divinity inscribed in brightest colours. The result was a deep solemnity on the face of the whole congregation, and the house at the end of the prayer was a Bochim. He gave them the subject of his evening meditations, which was brought to his full remembrance, with an overflowing abundance of other weighty and solemn matter. The Lord blessed the discourse, so that it proved the happy means of the conversion of about thirty persons. This day he spoke of ever afterwards as his harvest-day.

I am yours with esteem, William M. Tennent

While on this subject, we may introduce another anecdote of this wonderful man, to show the dealings of God with him, and the deep contemplations of his mind. He was attending the duties of the Lord’s day in his own congregation as usual, where the custom was to have morning and evening service, with only a half hour’s intermission, to relieve the attention. He had preached in the morning, and in the intermission had walked into the woods for meditation, the weather being warm. He was reflecting on the infinite wisdom of God, as manifested in all His works, and particularly in the wonderful method of salvation, through the death and suffering of His beloved Son. This subject suddenly opened on his mind with such a flood of light that his views of the glory and the infinite majesty of Jehovah were so inexpressibly great as entirely to overwhelm him, and he fell almost lifeless to the ground. When he had revived a little, all he could do was to raise a fervent prayer that God would withdraw Himself from him, or that he must perish under a view of His ineffable glory. When able to reflect on his situation, he could not but abhor himself as a weak and despicable worm, and seemed to be overcome with astonishment that a creature so unworthy and insufficient had ever dared to attempt the instruction of his fellow-men in the nature and attributes of so glorious a Being. Overstaying his usual time, some of his elders went in search of him, and found him prostrate on the ground, unable to rise, and incapable of informing them of the cause. They raised him up, and after some time brought him to the church, and supported him to the pulpit, which he ascended on his hands and knees, to the no small astonishment of the congregation. He remained silent a consider able time, earnestly supplicating Almighty God (as he told the writer) to hide Himself from him, that he might be enabled to address the people, who were by this time lost in wonder to know what had produced this uncommon event. His prayers were heard, and he became able to stand up, by holding the desk. He now began the most affecting and pathetic address that the congregation had ever received from him. He gave a surprising account of the views he had of the infinite wisdom of God, and greatly deplored his own incapacity to speak to them concerning a Being so infinitely glorious beyond all his powers of description. He attempted to show something of what had been discovered to him of the astonishing wisdom of Jehovah of which it was impossible for human nature to form adequate conceptions. He then broke out into so fervent and expressive a prayer, as greatly to surprise the congregation, and draw tears from every eye. A sermon followed that continued the solemn scene, and made very lasting impressions on all hearers.

The great increase of communicants in his church was a good evidence of his pastoral care and powerful preaching, as it exceeded that of most churches in the Synod. But his labors were not confined to the pulpit. He was indefatigable in his endeavors to communicate in private families a savour of the knowledge of spiritual and divine things. In his parochial visits, he used regularly to go through his congregation in order, so as to carry the unsearchable riches of Christ to every house. He earnestly pressed it on the conscience of parents to instruct their children at home by plain and easy questions, so as gradually to expand their young minds, and prepare them for the reception of the more practical doctrines of the Gospel. In this Mr. Tennent has presented an excellent example to his brethren in the ministry; for certain it is that more good may be done in a congregation by this domestic mode of instruction than any one can imagine who has not made the trial. Children and servants are in this way prepared for the teachings of the sanctuary, and to reap the full benefit of the word publicly preached. He made it a practice in all these visits to enforce practical religion on all, high and low, rich and poor, young and old, master and servant. To this he was particularly attentive, it being a favourite observation with him “that he loved a religion that a man could live by.”

(To be continued)

ALL KINDS OF TROUBLES

According to the Word of God in Job 5:7, man is born unto trouble. In the state of rectitude there were no troubles, but through sin we have wilfully brought these troubles into the world, and our life is full of them. In Job 14:1 we read, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” Everyone receives his share, for it is true, “There is one event to the righteous and to the wicked.” The Lord teaches us in His Word, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.” Ps. 34:19 In the hour of death God’s people shall be delivered from all troubles. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. Heb. 4:9 And that is a rest from all unrest.

But as long as God’s people wander here on earth the troubles shall remain. One of our deceased ministers used to say, “Our crosses may be changed in this life, but they are not taken away.” That is experienced. We must reap what we have sown, and that reaping is not easy. Then it is revealed what man really is. Submission gives us rest, but that does not grow on the field of our own heart. By nature there is nothing in us but rebellion, wickedness, and enmity, biting the rod, opposing the ways of God, and more than can be named. We could mention more, but we better not. Why not? I think it would give more offence than edification. The Bible says, “All things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” It is better to mourn over such things than to make them known. Our carnal mind is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

The renewed portion of this new man does not sin, but through God’s persuasive and conquering grace he may sometimes bow under God and accept and take over the fall of Adam. That new portion wills what God wills, and desires only to follow the Lamb wherever it goes. Sometimes the soul may come with all its troubles to God and under God, and so follow after Him. If that were not so they had long ago fainted under their burdens. The Lord sometimes gives His people a breathing spell and a refreshing so that the way would not be too much for them. Christ once said to His disciples, “Rest a while.” Christ bore the curse of the cross for His people, and His people may partake of the blessing, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes.” Ps. 119:71. I would like very much to add a few Unes, and write more about these matters, but then this piece would become too long.

There are special reasons why I wrote “All Kinds of Troubles” above this piece. In addition to the many labors that rest upon our shoulders in and outside of our own congregation, we are burdened with various questions and difficulties that are time and again laid before us. It is almost impossible to give answers to all questions. Our own life is full of troubles, and we ourselves constantly need advice and instruction, for the older we become, the more we see our foolishness. We never thought we would have to learn to know ourselves as the fools of Ps. 75:4. Notice also what Christ called the men of Emmaus in Luke 24:25. But enough of that.

Continually questions come from our own congregations, but also from outside of our denomination. It is not my intention to answer these questions publicly, because they usually concern personal or family matters. The people concerned would not want that, but would appreciate having the matters kept confidential. That is to be understood.

ON DEATH

Nothing has a greater tendency to fill the mind of man with awe than the thoughts of DEATH. The greatest hardships — the severest trials — the most potent enemies, have been endured with fortitude, patience, and courage. But when the pale messenger has arrived, demanding the soul to quit the body, and leave the lifeless clay, to be consigned to the silent tomb to mingle with its mother earth, fortitude and courage fall, and patience is exchanged for solicitude. Even a distant view of death has made strong men to tremble; they have shut their ears to the passing bell, turned away their eyes from the funeral procession, and avoided the place where the pit was opened to receive a fellow-mortal! But surely such a conduct bespeaks a load of guilt — the most egregious folly. To banish the thoughts of death while in health, is to invite an enemy to take us by surprise; while a holy familiarity therewith has a tendency to disarm him of his terrors, take away his sting, and to make him who was once a king to have the appearance of a kind messenger. It is here we see the effect of death in striking colors — at the grave. That stately form, which God Himself created, and breathed into it the breath of life, now becomes a lifeless — yea, offensive lump of clay. Those limbs, which were once active and vigorous, are now become a motionless heap of mouldering dust. “Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return.” But this is not all. Death has a sting, whose poison is not extracted by the wreck of nature. No! It has reached the soul; and unless it be extracted by sovereign grace in time, it will pierce us through with many sorrows for ever — for ever. But if this sovereign remedy be applied, and the soul by it be regenerated, then the nearest prospect of death may be viewed without dismay — yea, more, with joyful anticipation; and, like an inspired apostle, we may sing, “There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which Christ the righteous Judge shall give me; and not to me only, but to all that love His appearing.” “Absent from the body, present with the Lord.” “To die is gain.” To be with and like Christ.

Death meets the sinner as an armed foe,
Strikes deep his sting, and sinks to endless woe.
The saint meets death, a messenger of peace,
Receives his summons, and ascends to bliss.

J. Irons

THE PROSPECT OF DEATH

Some days before the last stroke of paralysis that closed the mortal career of the Lord’s servant, Mr. Ambrose Serle, he penned the following remarks:

“I know not when, where, or by what disease I shall die. This I leave, with entire submission, to the will and disposal of my heavenly Father, Who hath engaged Himself to do the best for me; Who has promised to make all my bed in my sickness, and Who has conquered death for me through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is, however, no slight affair to be dissolved from the body, and for the spirit to fly into the other world. It requires no ordinary degree of faith and patience to meet it well, and as becomes a Christian. May I never presume on my own strength, wisdom, or righteousness, but depart hence as He enabled me to live upon the mercy, help, and righteousness of my Lord and Savior, Who hath engaged Himself to me by a thousand ties, not one of which, I trust, shall ever be broken. Lord, help me to believe, and help Thou my natural unbelief! Stand by and support me, by Thy Holy Spirit, in my dying hour. Let not Satan prevail over the weakness of my mortal frame, but strengthen me with especial might by Thy Spirit in the inner man, that, while the outward man sinks in decay, I may meet what is terrible to nature with holy calmness, and with such composure of soul as may glorify Thee, and encourage my Christian friends to rejoice in Thy goodness towards me, and to be encouraged for themselves! O let me depart in peace, for my eyes have seen, and my soul hath tasted, Thy precious salvation!” Submitted

EVIDENCES OF THE FLOOD

In our last article we saw how the universe, with its countless globes all moving in perfect order and exact timing required the bringing into being of unimaginable energy, exquisite spacing and perfectly controlled motion, which only an Almighty Being with infinite wisdom could have brought about. What most “scientists” forget however, when claiming to discuss the origin of the universe, is that it is not merely the placing of the sun, moon and stars which is involved, but the very formation, or creation of them in the beginning and that is entirely beyond man’s greatest powers of reason to fathom. This is what no scientist is able or ever will be able to explain. The Bible gives the perfect explanation: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” and in Hebrews 11:3 we read, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” and in Psalm 33 v 6 we read “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth”. This was all completed before science even began or man was formed. But seeing there is not one shred of evidence for the pretended tremendous age of the earth it is significant that the appearance of the rocks, both igneous and sedimentary, agrees with the implied teaching of the Bible that there was volcanic action, with up-lifting of the sea-bed in the first part of the flood, and it seems there was much lowering of it towards the end of the flood, when the fountains of the great deep were stopped, see also Psalm 104:8 & 9.

It has long been taught, since Lyell stated his theory of Uniformity, that the sea-bed has been quiet and undisturbed for many millions of years, although it passes the imagination that anyone could believe this. It is now however, quite clear that this is not the case. It had been thought that the deepest parts of the ocean-floor were covered with a deep-water type of deposit of considerable thickness which had slowly settled through vast ages, but when borings of several parts of the sea-bed were made, it was found that the deep-water deposit was very thin, and was lying on top of layers of shallow-water deposits. So the sea in many places must have been shallow not so very.long ago, a few thousand years perhaps but not several millions and it must have sunk since.

In addition, Dr. K. Landes, Chairman of the Department of Geology at the University of Michigan, writes, “Can we, as seekers after truth, shut our eyes any longer to the obvious fact that large areas of the sea-floor have sunk vertical distances measured in miles?” (Illogical Geology).

These recent findings agree well with the implied teaching of the flood account mentioned above.

It was after the gradual sinking of the waters that the tops (or heads) of the mountains were. seen. Now several modern geologists believe that the mountains show evidence of considerable uplifting during the most recent period of geological activity, which of course was the later part of the flood period. And hundreds of volcanic mounts in the oceans prove that there has been vast volcanic activity on the sea-bed. All these facts, taken together fit exactly into the pattern of the flood account without the need of any of the ridiculous adjustments required to try to make them fit often incongruously into the vast age theories, where they do not fit anyway.

The facts which we have been considering prove beyond doubt that the whole earth has been flooded right to the tops of the highest mountains. This is very clear from the fact that shoals of fossil fish are found on the tops of our highest mountain ranges, while these mountain peaks mostly consist of sedimentary matter, showing that the water overflowed them to leave the water-laid deposit behind. The Bible tells us that the water prevailed upwards to a further depth of 15 cubits, which is half the height of the Ark, and which would allow it therefore to float safely over the highest mountains if necessary.

This article is intended to put together the main facts which we have considered so far.

We have seen how the oldest nations on earth have accounts of a world-wide flood in their histories and traditions, which state that one family of people, and two animals of every sort were saved in an Ark. This fact alone speaks volumes.

We know that vast areas of the earth, in fact three quarters of its surface, are covered with water-laid rocks of various depths and composition, which nothing but a world-wide flood could have left. There are vast shoals of fossilized fish in many places, miles in extent, in which the fish clearly died violent deaths and were buried immediately, in some cases before the colour of the scales changed. The waters which did this must have been thrown across the continents by submarine earthquakes of considerable size, while the waters themselves must have contained rock material which would fossilize the fish quickly.

Beds of fossils of almost all types of animals known today are found in all continents, always in distinct species without a single connecting link between any of them, so there is no evidence of evolution, and many evolutionists have had to admit it. A famous one, Sir Arthur Keith said, “Evolution is unproved and unprovable.”

A salt sea 12,500 feet up in a fold of the Andes mountains could only have been left when the seas covered the highest mountains. In many other parts of the earth there is abundant evidence that vast lakes or seas of salt-water (also left by the flood) existed in earlier times, e.g. 1280 A.D. when Marco Polo mapped several, but they have dried up and now only the salt basins are left.

The numerous caves, on high ground in all continents, crammed with the bones of a motley crowd of animals show how these animals fled to these caves from the rising waters.

Dinosaur footprints and large human footprints found together in the fossilized bed of the Paluxy river show that these huge animals instead of dying out millions of years ago, were living on the earth with men. Huge Dinosaur graveyards, Mammoth graveyards and those of horses and other animals show them to have been drowned, and buried in water-laid diluvium.

Fossils of reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates cannot indicate long periods when the earth was filled with one or the other of these kinds of animals, as claimed by evolutionists, for if they had spent millions of years in peaceful development they would have left no fossils anyway since fossils only form relatively quickly, under sudden burial. Nearly all fossils show violent deaths, mangled remains, and quick burial. Nothing but the effects of a world-wide flood could have left these innumerable fossils, and sedimentary deposits of varying thicknesses from a few inches to many thousands of feet.

As no apeman has ever been discovered, but the human remains in the lowest deposits are similar to people of today, while many of them are finer specimens than we are, this agrees exactly with the Bible account.

And yet the words in II Peter, chapter 3 are true, telling us that in the last days scoffers will be willingly ignorant of the judgment of the flood, and will seek to ignore the final judgment by fire foretold in the Scripture. But just as only those in the Ark were saved, so only those who are saved by Jesus Christ will “not perish, but have everlasting life” W.G.

A TRUE MINISTER

The preacher that has not the doctrine of Christ, has not God, let him be who he will. It is an honor to withdraw from, yea, to be cut off and cast out of any church, when the preacher and the congregation have done with Christ, if the person withdraws, or is dismissed, with a good conscience. Jesus never revealed Himself, as the Son of God, to the blind man restored, till He heard that the Rabbis had cast him out. Many in our days who could find no rest in a dwindling congregation, nor any peace under a declining and degenerate ministry, have been comfortably received, as sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty, when they have been separated, and come out from among them. The ministry that does not stir the soul up, settles it on the lees. If it does not enlighten you, it will blind you; if it does not establish, it will stagger you; if it does not enrich you, it will beggar you, if it does not reveal Christ, it will obscure and hide Him; if it gathers not to Him, it will scatter from Him; if it does not quicken, it will deaden the soul. An uninspired preacher can be of no use to a starving soul, nor to a living soul; he cannot describe the case of the former, nor break the bread of life to the latter; I long sought relief from these, but all in vain. He must be a star in the Lord’s right hand that guides the benighted sinner into wisdom’s ways. The ministry of the letter can do no less than kill; it is the ministry of the Spirit that giveth life. The good Lord direct thee! So prays,

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