A PERIODICAL FOR YOUNG AND OLD

WE … AND OUR SABBATH OBSERVANCE”

In my previous article I stated that the Christian Church of all ages has had to fight against both legalism and antinomianism. This is not strange as inthe heart of each of us are both the legalist (Pharisee) and the antinomian (Sadducee). The legalist seeks his righteousness before God and eternal life in works of the law; the antinomian abuses liberties to do his own will. Those who have received a new heart know to their dismay of their existence within their own heart. In the holy war which the Christian Church in general and each child of God has to fight, there are seasons when the legalist has the upper hand and also seasons when the antinomian has the upper hand. The true child of God is neither reconciled to the one nor to the other, but because of the imperfection of their sanctification, the different seasons just mentioned do occur.”

When the Lord has the upper hand, then there is a walking in the narrow pathway which lies between legalism and antinomianism, but as a rule those seasons are rare, especially in the dark times in which we are living. Blessed is he who constantly fears both the legalist and the antinomian in his heart and church, and who constantly prays with David as in Psalm 139, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” God will lead and help them to fight the good fight of faith in order to enter into the narrow gate, and will enable them to arrive in the celestial city, of which the founder and maker is the Lord.”

God gave the sabbath to man for his well-being. This well-being would not just be in finding rest for one’ s body after six days of labor, but also to seek and find rest in God for one’ s soul. Before the fall it was a delight for Adam and Eve to hallow the Sabbath Day, but after the fall there is no delight in the natural man in any of God’ s commandments. If, through regeneration, one receives a new heart, then a delight in doing God’ s will is restored in principle, but all the days of their life God’ s children have to fight with another law in their members, the law of sin, that captivates them and makes them to sigh with Paul, “for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not” (Romans 7:18).”

During the ages many rules and regulations have been set up to regulate the Sabbath observance. Because of the desecration of the Sabbath, even worldly rulers, at the request of the Christian Church, made very strict rules to eliminate this evil. But because of the depravity of the heart, those rules have never been very effective. Man always tries to make or to find loopholes by which to escape obedience or to justify obedience. On the other hand, making exact rules and regulations regarding what should and should not be done on the Lord’ s Day has proved to be a very hard and even dangerous thing for the Christian Church. It was hard because of the ever changing circumstances which called for new regulations and interpretations, often causing friction and differences of opinion even between true children and servants of God. It was dangerous to make such regulations because of the danger and harm of legalism to spiritual life, through which a man-centered religion is effected instead of a Christ-centered worship.”

Differences of opinion about the proper sabbath observance have existed throughout the ages between true children and servants of God. Those differences are due to differences in insight in God’ s will and to differences in the amount of grace God’ s children receive. Because we do not find clear regulations in the New Testament as to how the Lord’ s Day is to be observed during the hours not occupied by attending public worship services, many questions have been submitted to synods for clear-cut answers. They usually were — may we do this; may we do that? Is this per-missable? Is that forbidden? It is remarkable that, generally speaking, the synods of the Christian Church very seldom gave explicit answers to such questions. In the explanation of the meaning of the fourth commandment in the Heidelberg Catechism, our fathers carefully avoided giving a list of things to do or not to do. They emphasized the general rule of attending public worship services and behaving oneself during the rest of the day as becomes a christian, leaving it to the conscience of the christian to regulate that between God and himself. However, the Westminster Confession, which has been of tremendous influence for the English-speaking Christian Churches, spoke in more detail about the way in which one should observe the Sabbath Day.”

More about that next time, D.V.”

Your friend,”

Rev. A. Elshout”

112 Pratt Road”

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001”

BIBLE QUIZ”

Dear Boys and Girls,”

This month we have arrived at the sixth commandment. Probably this is also a commandment of which you would say (if you didn’ t know differently), “This has nothing to do with me! I do not kill.” To help you understand what this commandment means, you will find an article elsewhere in this issue which explains it. Please try to read it or ask your parents or an older brother or sister to read it for you.”

The first letters of the answers will spell out the words of the sixth commandment.”

Luke, in listing the twelve apostles, wrote, “and Judas Iscariot, which also was the__________.””

Esall said in his_________, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.””

When Jezebel was killing the prophets of the Lord, who took 100 of them and hid them in two caves?”

Who did King David arrange to have killed so that he could have his wife?”

Reuben said to his brothers, “________no blood, but cast him (Joseph) into this pit.””

Haitian had a gallows made fifty cubits high in order that Mordecai might be__________.”

Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, “Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save __________.””

Into the den of what animal was Daniel thrown because he prayed to God?”

Herod sent and slew all the children in and around Bethlehem from ________ years old and under.”

Who did Jezebel arrange to have killed so that her husband could have his vineyard?”

Because of his __________and those that heard it, Herod commanded that the head of John the Baptist be given to the daughter of Herodias.”

In John 8 we read that the devil “was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the________.””

Cain said, “Am I my brother’ s _________?””

In Mark we read that Barabbas had committed murder in an_________. (meaning a revolt or rebellion)”

When the barbarians saw a viper bite Paul, they said, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom though he has escaped the sea, vengeance suf-fereth not to__________””

In I John we find written, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer; and no murderer hath eternal ________abiding in him.””

(Your answers should be sent to me at 1104 Roseland Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001)”

Answers to the quiz of last month are as follows:”

“Honour Father and Mother” Exodus 20:12”

Honour Malachil:6”

Obeisance Exodus 18:1-7”

Nazareth Luke 2:43-51”

Obey I Samuel 15:22”

Uzza II Kings 21:23-26”

Rechabites Jeremiah 35:1 -6”

Father’ s Luke 2:4849”

Absalom II Samuel 18:33”

Timnath Judges 14:14”

Heth Genesis 25:8-10”

Esall Genesis 26:34-35”

Ruth Ruth 1:6-16”

Abraham Genesis 22:8”

Nisroch II Kings 19:36-37”

Dipped Genesis 37:31-32”

Mordecai Esther 2:20”

Obey Ephesians 6:l”

Thy John 19:25-27”

Hairy Genesis 27:18-23”

EU I Samuel 2:22-25”

Right I Kings 2:19”

Answers were received from the following boys and girls:”

Janice Polderman”

Ellen Polderman”

Elise Polderman”

Sandy Van Giessen”

Gary Van Giessen”

Randy Van Giessen”

Bruce Blok”

Joanne Beeke”

Marilyn Van Ravenswaay”

JoAnn Van Ravenswaay”

Esther Van Ravenswaay”

Marty Anker”

Jim Westrate”

Tim Westrate”

Steve Boluyt”

Gary Rozenboom”

Henry Kamp”

Mary Kamp”

Linda Kamp”

Betty Jean Kamp”

Donna Zaremba”

Denise Zaremba”

Mary Jean Vander Male”

Lilly Ann Vander Male”

Marilyn DeMaagd”

Dave Verhey”

John Verhey”

Bill Van Den Toorn”

Chuch Van Den Toorn”

John H. Van Beek”

Amy Kaat”

Richard Rosendall”

John Rosendall”

Tim Van Stelle”

Laurie Spaans”

Robert Verbeke”

Kevin Verbeke”

Henrietta Stapel”

Rudolph Stapel”

Janice Stapel”

John Stapel”

John Blok”

Maria Boonzaayer”

Karel Boonzaayer”

Esther Boonzaayer”

Gary Blok”

Cornell de Kok”

Henry de Kok”

Jany de Kok”

Cheryl Grisnich”

Rhonda Grisnich”

Wendy Grisnish”

Joan Lugthart”

Val Lugthart”

Alvin Roskam”

Gloria Roskam”

Jeff Roskam”

Raymond Rieder (2)”

Kristine Rieder (2)”

Andrew de Kok”

Herby de Kok”

John Rademaker”

Kristi Rademaker”

Dan Meeuwse”

Mark Meeuwse”

Julie Frens”

Mary Beth Frens”

Sharon Frens”

Laura Rosendall”

Henry Rosendall”

Marinus De Vos”

Marilyn Thompson”

Harian Rus”

Melvin Rus”

Gloria Jane Rus”

Mary Bakker”

Alan Bakker”

Russell Derksen”

Roger Derksen”

Jane Derksen”

Duane Van Der Brink”

Karen Easterhoff”

David Greendyk”

Billy Greendyk”

Alida Greendyk”

Carol Van Bemden”

Andy Walma”

Jackie Walma”

Rhea Bolle”

Karl Van Oostenbrugge”

Mary Van Oostenbrugge”

Janet Van Driel”

Susan Van Ess”

Richard Van Ess”

Dartene Velier”

Joy Velier”

Jay Velier”

Randy Teunissen”

John Martin Vander Wiele”

Jane Ellen Vander Wiele”

Maryjean den Hoed (2)”

Kathleen den Hoed (2)”

Joleen den Hoed (2)”

Arthur den Hoed”

Ruth Van Grouw”

Raymond Van Grouw”

Walter Harinck”

Arlene South way”

Helen Harinck”

Peter Southway”

Marinus Harinck”

Niel Harinck”

Gerarda Grisnich (2)”

Cheryl Kalee”

Debbie Kalee”

Karel Kalee”

Jenny Lee Sweetman”

Tunis Sweetman, Jr.”

Ariine Kieboom”

Ella Kieboom”

Billy Van Wingerden”

Kenny Van Wingerden”

Neal Boerkoel”

Ruth Boerkoel”

Larry Vande Vendel”

Howard Vande Vendel”

Linda Vande Vendel”

Sharon Vande Vendel”

Kay Meeuwse”

Ruth Meeuwse”

Anna Moore”

Carl Moore”

Neil Mast”

Jane Mast”

Joy Mast”

Albert Bouma”

Mark Heystek (2)”

Charles Willekes”

Patricia Noorlander”

Bobby Greendyk”

Nick Greendyk”

Tom Greendyk”

Adrian Bush”

Nicholas John Bush”

Neeltje Heykoop”

Cornelia Heykoop”

Helen Zomer”

Kenneth Noorlander”

Gretta Noorlander”

Duane Alan Rus”

Arie Van Vugt”

Marlene Van Veldhuizen (2)”

Cindy Hoogendoorn”

Gene Hoogendoorn”

Perry Hoogendoorn”

Linda Remus”

Janet Remus”

John Remus”

Teresa Vander Meulen”

Frances Vander Meulen”

Joyce Vander Meulen”

Harmen Vander Meulen”

Sidney Vander Meulen”

Kenny Overbeeke”

Leonard Bolle”

Donna Lynn Densel”

Christon de Leeuw”

Gerrit de Leeuw”

Elizabeth Geerling”

Peter Feyter”

Wilma Korevaar”

Evelyn Korevaar”

Jane Korevaar”

William Slingerland”

Judy Slingerland”

Della Vanden Brink”

Stephan Vanden Brink”

Roy Vanden Brink”

Andy Korevaar”

Abraham Korevaar”

Janet A. Sweetman”

Judy Sweetman”

Mary De Meester”

Linda Bleeker”

Mark Bleeker”

Dave Bleeker”

Dave Pluim”

Rhea Stubbe”

LaRae Hoogendoorn”

Gywen Hoogendoorn”

Casey Overeem”

Kathy Overeem”

Joanne Overeem”

Jenny Overeem”

Bill Moerdyk”

Kenneth Rus”

Daryl Van Den Top”

Eldon Van Den Top”

Darlene Van Den Top”

Gloria Van Den Top”

Judy Van Den Top”

Joyce Van Den Top”

Jane Van Den Top”

Miriam Kuperus”

Aliene Kuperus”

David Kuperus”

William Grisnich”

Geraldine Grisnich”

Peter Grisnich”

Helen Grisnich”

George Van Strien, Jr.”

Mary Van Tilburg”

Leah Van Tilburg”

John Neels”

Beverly Southway”

Barbara J. Southway”

Joan Spaans”

Ralph Van Zweden”

Joan Van Zweden”

John Van Zweden”

Janet Van Zweden”

Mary Ellen Van Zweden”

Mark Van Zweden”

Alane Van Ravenswaay”

Denise Van Ravenswaay”

Shirley Rus”

Launa Teunissen”

Judy Teunissen”

Arnold Rus”

John Vandenberg”

Cordy Vandenberg”

Henry Vandenberg”

Nancy Vande Stouwe”

Paul Vandenberg”

Todd Vande Stouwe”

Arlene Wallenburg”

Wanita Wallenburg”

Jeanette Vandenberg”

Barbara Sue Kamp”

Richard A. Kamp”

Robert Kamp”

Marianne Van Hoepen”

John Van Hoepen”

Rhonda Van Voorst”

Rhonda Grisnich”

Wendy Grisnich”

Cheryl Grisnich”

Willem Den Boer”

Margaret Den Boer”

Albert Van Grouw”

Martin Van Wyk”

Diane Oudshoorn”

Cornelius Van Wyk”

Billy Van Wyk”

Billy Oudshoorn”

Gladys Van Bochove”

Wilma Oudshoorn”

Jonathan Van Beek”

David Van Beek”

John Oudshoorn”

Martin Oudshoorn”

Jean De Jongh”

Bill Droogers”

Debbie Droogers”

Peter Koppert (2)”

Elizabeth Koppert”

Christine Koppert”

Nelly Koppert”

Alice Koppert”

Hermina Faye Hubers”

Donna Marie Hubers”

Helen Hubers”

Marcia Hubers”

Amy Mieras”

Kathy Verwys”

Susan Verwys”

Alfred Hup”

Ruth Ann Van Dalen”

Margaret Den Boer”

Susan Den Boer”

Jeanette Slingerland”

Janet Groen”

And it is time to again answer the letters which we have received —”

DIANE OUDSHOORN - We’ ll make your letter the first one this time, Diane. I don’ t think we will be travelling to the west this year. Weren’ t you planning to make a trip to Michigan? Sixty feet of snow certainly is a lot of snow, even though it is up in the mountain.”

SUSAN VER WYS - You are correct, Susan; the plucking of the ears of corn by the disciples on the Sabbath can be found in three different places. At least the answer is the same, whichever text you use. I am sure that happens more often.”

JANY DE KOK - We were real happy to have you join in answering the quiz, Jany. You had one Utile mistake in the 19th question — it should have been found in I Timothy instead of II Timothy and therefore was Alexander instead of Philetus. Are you the oldest in your family, or are some of your brothers older?”

CORNELIUS VAN WYK - We also had an ice storm recently, Cornelius. It is quite surprising how heavy this is on the trees, causing many branches to break. Did any of your electric power lines break? It is not so easy to get along without electricity today.”

JOHN ROSENDALL - It was nice to hear from you, John. As you can see, our list of names has grown longer again this month. Do you ride the bus to school? What is your teacher’ s name?”

RAYMOND RIEDER - I am glad you like the book we sent you, Raymond. How long did you manage to keep your garter snake? What kind of food did you give it? In the Bible we read about snakes, but they were then called serpents.”

AMY KAAT - Thank you for the pictures, Amy. Now I should know who you are when I see you. Did your grandfather and grandmother tell you about their trip to Michigan? We had a nice visit with them. Say Hello to Timmy for me.”

GARY ROOZENBOOM - We have had a few days of spring, Gary, but today it is snowing again. At this time of the year everyone is anxious for the nice weather. I have seen a number of robins and that is a good sign that nice weather isn’t too far away. MARTY ANKER - Thank you for your long letter, Marty. We were sorry to hear about your cousin in New Jersey who passed away. It shows that we can not be sure that we are going to grow old. The Bible tells us that that day shall come as a thief in the night, often when we least expect it.”

ARLINE KIEBOOM - Miss Herfst also showed her slides of Nigeria to us in Kalamazoo. It gives us a much better idea of what things are like there when we can see pictures of it. I hear you have been growing quite a bit lately. Do you think we will still recognize you?”

MARIANNE VAN HOEPEN - Your quiz answers were all correct, Marianne. Is John feeling better again? I have not seen any boys and girls playing marbles lately. But I do remember how much we played marbles when I was young. My daughters get Good Friday and the following week for spring vacation.”

RHEA BOLLE - Thank you for the picture, Rhea. I suppose you do look different with glasses on. You won’ t mind them so much once you become used to them. I know where your grandfather lived. Do you live in the same area?”

GERALDINE GRISNICH - I sure can get names mixed up. But I shouldn’ t have that problem anymore. Until today our snow was all gone, but now we have some on the ground again. I’ m sure it won’ t last too long. The text I mentioned was in Psalm 127.”

DELLA VANDEN BRINK - We are all quite well, Delia. I guess the time for chinooks is here again — at least several wrote me about them. The first time one of the boys and girls wrote me about them, I had to look the word up in the dictionary. Say Hello to your parents.”

MARK HEYSTEK - When we were at your church last summer, Mark, we didn’ t realize we were so close to your home. When do you have your catechism class? Say Hello to your teacher for me. It is too bad that the Banner of Truth doesn’ t always arrive on time. Second class mail can easily be delayed. Thank you for the picture.”

MARY VAN ZWEDEN - Is your eye all better, Mary? We hope so. Did you give the new rabbit a name? We certainly would like to visit your family again. Or are you planning to come to Michigan this summer with your camper?”

PETER FEYTER - It is best when the snow doesn’ t all melt at once. How are you getting along in School, Peter? We are still talking about the visit we made at your farm. Give our greetings to your parents, brothers, and sister.”

JEAN DE JONGH - It was nice to hear from you again, Jean. We saw Rev. Kieboom in Grand Rapids last week. I see that you would also like a pen-pal. We will print your address and see if it might bring results. (Jean DeJongh, P.O. Burgessville, Ontario, Canada. Jean is 14 years old).”

WILLEM DEN BOER - What kind of dog do you have, Willem? Is he going to be a big dog or just a little dog? It is nice that you can work for your father in your spare time. Is there a lot of cement work to be done at this time of the year?”

GRETTA NOORLANDER - We were glad to hear that your mother was feeling better again, Gretta. Marty wrote about a young mother who died, and also in our congregation a young mother died, leaving five small children. How thankful we must be if we have a mother to care for us.”

CHERYL GRISNICH - We did not have so very much snow this winter, Cheryl. I suppose the ice on the pond has all melted away by this time. Is the pond located on your farm? It probably isn’t too easy to keep it smooth for skating.”

BILLY VAN WYK - How long was the hydro off, Billy? It can get quite cool rather quickly when the heating system isn’t working. Years ago people did not have to depend on electricity for so many things as we do today.”

CHRISTON DE LEEUW - We are happy to have you join in answering the quiz, Christon. If I remember right, Coaldale is east of Lethbridge. Am I correct? Did you type the answers yourself. They were very neatly done. We hope to hear from you again.”

JEANETTE VANDENBERG - You wrote a nice long letter, Jeanette. How did the report card turn out? Better than you expected? We were glad that you liked the book which we sent. There are many lessons to be learned from it.”

GERRIT DE LEEUW - I live right in the city of Kalamazoo, Gerrit. It is about fifty miles south of Grand Rapids and about 150 miles west of Detroit. My youngest daughter is fifteen years old. Do you help in milking the cows?”

ELIZABETH GEERLING - Is your father back to work again, Elizabeth? It is always better to be careful after an operation. But it is not so easy to sit home when you feel you should be working. Your answers to the quiz were all correct.”

GERARDA GRISNICH - I see that there are two letters from you this time, Gerarda. I will try not to get you mixed up with your cousin again. It took a month or two to find out that there were two of you with the same name. Our greetings to Opa and Oma.”

SUSAN DEN BOER - We hope to hear from you every month, Susan. Do you have a lot of snow in Port Alberni? They tell me that in the city of Victoria there is never much snow, but I guess you do live quite a little to the north.”

RALPH VAN ZWEDEN - Yes, Ralph, the birds are migrating back north again. We can see robins every day now. What wonders there are in nature, as they were created by the Lord. The birds have an instinct to let them know when they should go south and when to return again.”

KRISTINE RIEDER - Thank you for your letter, Kris. It was nice to hear from you. We are glad that you liked the book. Good books are something that you can keep all your life. There is one book which is the best book of all. Do you know which one that is?”

CASEY OVEREEM - You have a large family, Casey. In the Bible we read that David had seven brothers. Do you know if he had any sisters? Do you help with the farm work, like feeding the pigs, cleaning the barn, and such things?”

‘JANE KOREVAAR - We were glad to have you and your sisters join with us, Jane. It seems that we have quite a few new boys and girls this month, which we are glad to see. We, of course, hope that all may learn to know God’ s Word better, and that the Lord might bless it.”

NELLY KOPPERT - Say, Nelly, you have lots of birthdays in your family all on the same day. In the Bible we find that two birthdays are necessary for each of us. Can you tell me where I find this? Say Hello to your parents for us.”

PATRICIA NOORLANDER - We read in the Bible, Patricia, that Satan told Adam and Eve a he in the garden of Eden, and he is still doing this today. Therefore we must go to God’ s Word to learn what is the truth, especially about religious matters. Don’ t you think that is correct?”

JOHN VAN ZWEDEN - How did your project about water turn out, John? Did you get a good mark? We don’ t realize how precious water is unless we must be without it. Do you know of a boy in the Bible who almost died of thirst in the wilderness?”

MARGARET DEN BOER - What a nice long letter, Margaret. We were happy to hear from you. Do your new neighbors have children your age? Or do you already have lots of boys and girls in your neighborhood? What do you feed your gerbil?”

RICHARD ROSENDALL - I was glad to hear that you are a good helper for your mother, Richard. There are always lots of ways that boys can help. Do you help with the dishes? I know I did quite a few dishes when I was a boy.”

PAUL VANDENBERG - It looks as if you have many reasons for working real hard at your music lessons, Paul. We read that David could also play well on a musical instrument. I’ m sure you know what it was. Do you know of other musical instruments mentioned in the Bible?”

DEBBIE DROOGERS - Your nephews certainly outnumber the nieces, Debbie. If you had one more nephew, you would have three times as many nephews as nieces; if you had one more niece, you would have half as many nieces as you have nephews. There is a problem for some of the good arithmetic students to figure out — how many nephews and nieces do you now have?”

HENRY VANDENBERG - You print real nicely, Henry. Perhaps some day we will be able to hear your choir sing. How often does the choir meet? What other subjects do you like real well in school besides physical education?”

MARGARET DEN BOER - We are happy to have you join in answering the quiz, Margaret. I notice we have two with the same name. Is the other Margaret your cousin? I might get confused sometime, just as I did with two Gerarda Grisnichs.”

CHARLES WILLEKES - Another new member for our list of boys and girls who answer the quiz. Welcome, Charles, there is always room for more. Do you live on a farm or in a city? I am thinking there are also those who uve outside the city, but still don’ t live on a farm.”

ROY VANDEN BRINK - The weather is usually quite changeable, Roy, but especially at this time of the year. One day spring weather and the next day snow is quite common. Did you have your spring vacation already, or don’ t you get a week off in the spring?”

JUDY SLINGERLAND - How are you getting along, Judy? I imagine you will be glad to see your parents home again. Did they have a good trip to the Netherlands? Have you ever been there? I suppose you would have liked to go with them.”

HELEN GRISNICH - It sounds as if you like lots of snow, Helen. I like snow too, but am glad when the spring weather comes again. Your mother must like house plants. Does she have quite a few different kinds or mostly the same kind?”

RAY RIEDER - What do you plan to have in your garden, Ray? Will it be a big garden? I suppose the baby chicks are growing rapidly. It is quite interesting to watch them come out of their shells. Does Marty Uve near to you?”

JOAN VAN ZWEDEN - I was thinking that your house sets on a hill, Joan, so I was surprised that you would have a problem with water in your basement. I know that your back yard slopes away from the house. Or am I all wrong?”

CHRISTINE KOPPERT - Are you taking piano lessons, Christine? There seem to be quite a few boys and girls who are taking either piano or organ lessons. Have you been writing to your pen-pals? Letters are nice to receive, but it means that you have to write them also.”

RHEA STUBBE - We hope also to make a trip to Sheboygan sometime this year, if we live and all is well. And we are quite a bit closer than you are. Did you finish reading your book, Rhea? There is much to learn in the Bible, even from the animals.”

JANET VAN ZWEDEN - Now that you have your ice skates put away, Janet, what are you doing now — bicycling, roller skating? How many rabbits do you have now? It sounds as if they get lots of attention. Do you help care for them?”

DUANE VAN DER BRINK - It was nice to hear from you, Duane. How old is your brother? Do you live on a farm? I suppose you are busy going to school every day. But summer vacation is only a few months away, which will give you lots of time to do other things.”

KEN NOORLANDER - You do Uve a long way from Norwich, Kern That is almost as far as we are from Grand Rapids. I was happy to see that you had to do a little searching to find the one answer. Were they quite easy this time?”

MARK VAN ZWEDEN - You are the last one this time, Mark. We were sorry to hear that your best friend had moved away. Where did he move to? He probably felt bad about it too. Seek the Lord Jesus as your friend, Mark; He would be the best friend you could have.”

Many thanks, boys and girls, for your wonderful response in answering the quiz. The pleasure it gives me in seeing so many who answer makes the work a pleasure too. Our best wishes to all of you.”

With love,”

Your friend,”

“Uncle Garret””

THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT”

Do you remember how many tables of stone there were on which the Ten Commandments were written? Two. There is another question I want to ask. When I was a little boy this question was asked me and I gave a wrong answer to it. One day the minister was catechising the children in the church to which I went, and he asked us this question, “How many commandments were there on each of the tables?” None of the other children answered the question, so I thought I would. I was a little fellow and had not learned much about the commandments, but I understood enough about division to know that half of ten is five; and, thinking that it was the most natural division to make, I spoke out and said, “Five on each, sir.” The minister shook his head and said, “No, that is not right.” Then he went on to tell us that the commandments when written on the two stones given to Moses were divided, not according to number, but according to subjects. He told us that these ten commandments all referred to two great subjects, our duty to God and our duty to our neighbor. Our duty to God takes in four of the commandments. Our duty to our neighbor takes in six. And so there were four commandments on the first table and six on the second. I never forgot the lesson I learned that day.”

Today we begin with the second table. The fifth commandment was the first on the second table. With this begins the subject of our duty to our neighbor. What are the words of the fifth commandment? “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Notice, dear children, how this second table of the commandments begins. God is going to show us our duty to our neighbor. How does He begin? Not by telling us how kings ought to reign, or soldiers ought to fight, or how merchants ought to conduct their business; but how boys and girls ought to behave at home! This is the most important thing for every young person to consider. God thought it important enough for Him to write it with His own finger on a table of stone. That shows us how very important it is. When you want to do anything well, you must be careful to begin right. And so, if you begin to put up a house and lay the foundation wrong, or to build a ship and make a mistake in making the keel, you will have to take it all down and build it up again. It is very important to begin right. It is so in everything. And it is so in trying to do our duty to our neighbor.”

The fifth commandment shows us how we must begin to do this. We must begin at home. You show me a boy or girl who is not a good son or daughter, who does not honor father and mother, and I will show you one who will not make a good man or woman. What does the fifth commandment require us to do? To honor our father and mother. To honor our parents means to obey them. But then our obedience must be the right kind, or else it will be no honor to them.”

The other day I was coming from New York. In the seat before me in the car sat a woman with two children, a boy and a girl. They were going out to Ohio. I was sorry to see that the children didn’ t seem to mind much what their mother said. After a while I saw the mother trying to get something out of a basket on another seat. I thought perhaps she had some cakes or candy in it and she wanted to give these to the children to make them mind what she said. But when she got the basket open, she drew out from it, not cakes or candy, but a rope about one yard long and as thick as my little finger. It had a knot on each end of it, and she doubled it up, held it in her hand, and shook it at the children whenever she told them to do anything. She would say, “John, sit down there,” and shake the rope at him. Down John would sit. “Mary, move over into that other seat.” “John, put down that window this minute.” John obeyed instantly. He knew what would come if he didn’ t. These children obeyed their mother, but did they honor her? No they did not honor their mother; they honored the rope. That kind of obedience might be called rope’ s-end obedience. It isn’t good for much. The motive that leads to it is the fear of punishment. This is a wrong motive. But if we want to have right actions, then we must be sure and have right motives. We ought to obey our parents because it is the will of God that we should do so, and because we love them; These are the proper motives for obedience to our parents.”

(Young People’ s Magazine).”

THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT”

This is one of the shortest of the ten commandments. There are only four words in it. The second commandment has ninety-one words in it and the fourth has ninety-seven. It is wonderful to note how very short God’ s laws are. Here is God’ s great law against killing written out in four short words or sixteen letters. Now, if you go to a lawyer and ask him to show you one of man’ s laws against killing, you will find it very different from this. He will go to his bookcase and take down one of his law books and turn to the chapter on killing; then, if you compare that chapter with this thirteenth verse of Exodus 20, you will see what a wonderful difference there is between God’ s law and man’ s law. “Thou shalt not kill.” This is the commandment we are to consider today.”

It is one of the most important of all the commandments. But, you notice there are no limits put to this law. It would seem, when we first look at it, as if it were unlawful for us to kill anything. Can this be the meaning of the law? Certainly not. You know we all eat meat. Every day we have on our tables beef, veal, chicken or fish. The oxen or sheep or calves, from which this meat came, were killed before those joints of meat could be obtained for our tables. The butchers killed those cattle. Was it wrong for them to do so? Not at all. God has given us permission to kill these animals. He created them to provide food for man. Again, in some parts of the world, hungry wolves and savage bears prowl about. They devour the farmer’ s sheep and do great mischief. The farmer tries all he can to kill these savage beasts. Is it wrong for him to do so? No. Again, suppose a wicked man knows there is money in a certain house. He resolves to get it but before he can do this, he will have to kill the people in the house. This he does, and, clutching the gold which he coveted, he goes away. But soon he is found out. He is proved guilty of murder. He is condemned to be hung. Is it right to put him to death? Certainly. God tells us over and over again in the Bible, that “the murderer shall be put to death.” Some people say that these are Old Testament laws, but that the New Testament has set them aside. This is a mistake. It is true that the New Testament breathes a spirit of peace and love in our intercourse with one another; but it says nothing to magistrates about not putting murderers to death. I only remember one place in the New Testament where the duty of a ruler or magistrate, in this respect, is spoken of, and there St. Paul tells us that the ruler “beareth not the sword in vain, for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” It is perfectly plain from this passage that the New Testament as well as the Old teaches us that it is right for magistrates and rulers to put murderers to death. If we pretend to say that it is not right, we set ourselves up as being wiser or kinder or better than God. Well, then, it is plain that there are some limits to this commandment. Now we come to the commandment itself. “Thou shalt not kill.” There is one question to be asked and answered here. What does this commandment forbid? It forbids injury to the lives of others; and injury to our own lives. We may do injury to the lives of others by our actions and feelings. If a man meets another in the woods and plunges a dagger into his breast that he may get his watch and money, does he break this commandment? Yes. But, suppose that, instead of getting his money in this way, he makes a poisonous drink and sells it to the man without telling him what is in it: would this be breaking this commandment? Yes. It is just as bad to kill with poison as to kill with a dagger.”

Suppose I am a king. I don’ t think my country is large enough. I want to have part of my neighbour’ s country. I raise an army and march into that country. The king of that country brings an army to oppose mine. A great battle is fought. Twenty thousand men are killed. Who killed these men? I did, of course. Perhaps I never fired a single gun or shed a single drop of blood with my own hand; yet every drop of blood shed in that battle would rest on my head. Remember this when you read about what are called great heroes and conquerors. This commandment then forbids all actions that would injure the Uves of others. Suppose it should be found out that chickens were a great nuisance; that they gave rise to a dangerous disease and that it became necessary to prevent them from increasing; what would be the effectual way of doing it? To break all the eggs that were laid. Yes, do this and the chickens would soon disappear. Now, just what eggs are to chickens, feelings are to actions. Control the eggs and you control the chickens, control the feelings and you control the actions. This is just what God’ s law does. It comes into our hearts and teaches us to control their feelings. It tells us that — “He who hateth his brother is a murderer.” 1 John 3:15”

Suppose you should find that in one corner of the room in which you sleep, there was a nest of young rattlesnakes; and that any time they might spring out of their nest and bite you; what would you do? Search the room, find out the nest, and have the young snakes killed. That would be the only wise and safe course. But let me tell you that in the corner of your heart there may be something worse than a nest of rattle-snakes. Is anger or hatred allowed to dwell there? If so, that is worse than a rattle-snake. If you do not overcome it, it may spring up suddenly sometime or other, and make you a murderer in a moment. Oh! watch against these young serpents. And if you find them in your heart, take that heart to Jesus and ask Him to give you grace, His grace, to resist and overcome them.”

- Young People’ s Magazine”

YOUTH DAY CONFERENCE”

As announced last month the Youth Day Conference will be held in Kalamazoo July 1st, the Lord willing. It is hoped that many will be again able to attend, both from near and afar. Our May issue will contain further details.”

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