A PERIODICAL FOR YOUNG AND OLD

FEAR OF MAN’S OPINION A DANGER TO THE YOUNG

“The fear of man” does indeed “bring a snare” (Proverbs 29:25). It is terrible to observe the power which it has over most minds, and especially over the minds of the young. Few seem to have any opinions of their own, or to think for themselves. Like dead fish, they go with the stream and tide: what others think right, they think right; and what others call wrong, they call wrong too. There are not many original thinkers in the world. Most men are like sheep, they follow a leader. They dread the idea of going against the current of the times. In a word, the opinion of the day becomes their religion, their creed, their Bible, and their God.

The thought, “What will my friends say or think of me?” nips many a good inclination in the bud. The fear of being observed upon, laughed at, ridiculed, prevents many a good habit being taken up. There are Bibles that would be read this very day if the owners dared. They know they ought to read them, but they are afraid: — “What will people say?” There are knees that would be bent in prayer this very night, but the fear of man forbids it: — “What would my wife, my brother, my friend, my companion say if they saw me praying?” Alas, what wretched slavery this is, and yet how common! “I feared the people,” said Saul to Samuel; and so he transgressed the commandment of the Lord (I Samuel 15:24). “I am afraid of the Jews,” said Zedekiah, the graceless king of Judah; and so he disobeyed the advice which Jeremiah gave him (Jeremiah 38:19). Herod was afraid of what his guests would think of him; so he did that which made him “exceeding sorry,” — he beheaded John the Baptist. Pilate feared offending the Jews; so he did that which he knew in his conscience was unjust, — he delivered up Jesus to be crucified. If this be not slavery, what is?

Young people, I want you all to be free from this bondage. I want you each to care nothing for man’s opinion when the path of duty is clear. Believe me, it is a great thing to be able to say “No!” Here was good King Jehosha-phat’s weak point, — he was too easy and yielding in his dealings with Ahab, and hence many of his troubles (I Kings 22:4). Learn to say “No!” Let not the fear of not seeming good-natured make you unable to do it. When sinners entice you, be able to say decidedly, “I will not consent” (Proverbs 1:10).

Consider only how unreasonable this fear of man is. How short-lived is man’s enmity, and how little harm he can do you! “Who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man, which shall be as grass: and forgettest the Lord thy Maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth?” (Isaiah 51:12–13). And how thankless is this fear! None will really think better of you for it. The world always respects those most who act boldly for God. Oh, break these bonds, and cast these chains from you! Never be ashamed of letting men see you want to go to heaven. Think it no disgrace to show yourself a servant of God. Never be afraid of doing what is right.

Remember the words of the Lord Jesus: “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Only try to please God, and He can soon make others pleased with you. “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7).

Young people, be of good courage. — Care not for what the world says or thinks: you will not be with the world always. Can man save your soul? — No. Will man be your judge in the great and dreadful day of account? — No. Can man give you a good conscience in life, a good hope in death, a good answer in the morning of resurrection? — No! no! no! Man can do nothing of the sort. Then “fear not the reproach of men, neither be afraid of their revilings: for the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool” (Isaiah 51:7–8). Call to mind the saying of good Colonel Gardiner: “I fear God, and therefore I have none else to fear.” Go and be like him.

(Adapted from J. C. Ryle)

BIBLE QUIZ

Dear Boys and Girls —

Since it is again December, the end of the year will soon be here, and also that day about which much is spoken — the birth of the Lord Jesus as a child in Bethlehem. We hear it almost everywhere — in churches, in schools, in stores, etc. Everyone knows it is Christmas.

But does everyone know the true meaning of Christmas? In the city of Bethlehem it was also much talked about after the shepherds had reported what they had seen and heard. But few understood what it meant. If we read Luke 2, we find only a few words spoken by the shepherds, and that is in verse 15 — “Let us now go even to Behtlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made knownunto us.” If the Lord had not shown them and made it known unto them, neither would they have understood the meaning of what they saw and heard. And so it was also with Joseph, with Mary, with Elizabeth, the wise men, and John the Baptist — if the Lord had not made it known unto them, they would have been like all the others. It must also be shown to us and made known to us by the Lord, shall we know the true meaning of Christmas. May we beg the Lord much - “Lord, give us eyes to see and hearts to understand.”

The first letters of the answers will spell out five of the words spoken by the shepherds.

Send your answers to me at the following addresses: Garret J. Moerdyk, 1104 Roseland Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001.

The angel said, “Behold, I bring you good ________ of great joy which shall be to all people.”

A multitude of the heavenly host praised God, saying, “Glory to God in the ________.”

They also sang, “On ________ peace, good will toward men.”

John the Baptist said of Jesus, “Behold, the ________ of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

An angel came to Mary, and said, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall ________ thee.”

The scribes told Herod that Christ would be born in Bethlehem, for the prophet had written, “Out of thee shall come a Governor that shall ________ My people Israel.”

Because Zacharias believed not the words of the angel, he was told, ‘‘Behold, thou shalt be ________, and not be able to speak.”

Zacharias spoke of his son, saying, “And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the ________.”

What was the name of the widow who was also in the temple at the time when Simeon took the child Jesus in his arms?

Simeon came by the Spirit into the ________ when the parents of Jesus brought Him there for the first time.

In the song of Mary she sang, “He hath filled the ________ with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away.”

Elizabeth said to Mary, “Whence is this to me, that the ________ of my Lord should come to me?”

An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying,” ________,

and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt.”

When Herod was ________, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.

Simeon said, “Lord, . . . mine ________ have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people.”

The wise men asked, “Where is he that is born ________ of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east.”

Joseph was told that Mary would have a son, and that he should call his ________ Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.

Jesus and His parents lived in Egypt, fulfilling the words of the Lord spoken by the prophet, “________ of Egypt have I called My Son.”

An angel of the Lord appeared unto Joseph in a dream, and said, “Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy ________.”

When Jesus and His parents returned out of Egypt, they lived in ________, as the prophet had said, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

The answers to the quiz of last month are as follows:

ACROSS

1. longing - Psalm 107:9

6. harp - Psalm 108:2

8. awe - Psalm 4:4

9. one - Psalm 53:3

10. as - Psalm 11:1

12. blessed - Psalm 33:12

14. arise - Psalm 44:26

16. dot

17. side - Psalm 91:7

18. teach - Psalm 27:11

19. r,d, - Psalm 132:1

20. say - Psalm 91:2

23. re - Psalm 150:6

25. surely- Psalm 23:6

27. see - Psalm 115:5

29. Amen - Psalm 89:52

30. so - Psalm 42:1

31. heaven - Psalm 119:89

32. hungry - Psalm 146:7

34. in - Psalm 31:1

35. en - Psalm 90:3

36. far - Psalm 103:12

37.o,t

38. sin - Psalm 51:5

39. tender - Psalm 103:4

40. He - Psalm 23:2

DOWN

1. labour - Psalm 127:1

2. owl - Psalm 102:6

3. needy - Psalm 86:1

4. instrument - Psalm 33:2

5. gods - Psalm 136:2

6. heads - Psalm 24:7

7. past - Psalm 90:4

11. seek - Psalm 27:8

13. so - Psalm 90:12

15. reason - Psalm 90:10

20. dren - Psalm 128:3

22. ye - Psalm 147:1

24. even, I - Psalm 50:7

25. save - Psalm 54:1

26. en

28. earth - Psalm 24:1

30. sure - Psalm 19:7

31. his - Psalm 37:25

32. had - Psalm 124:1

33. go - Psalm 43:2

36. f, n

Answers to the quiz have again been received from the following boys and girls —

Jeanette Slingerland (2)

Janice Stapel

John Stapel

Tammy Kaat

Jeff Kaat

Joel Van Ravenswaay

Alane Van Ravenswaay

Larry Slotsema

Shirley Slotsema

Tammy Troff

Sharon Van Grouw

Biran Van Grouw

Marv Van Tilburg

Leah Van Tilburg

Rhonda Van Voorst

Debbie Kamp

Tom Kamp

Bill Kamp

Marilyn Kamp

Susan Van Ess

Rick Van Ess

Kris Rademaker

John Rademaker

George Van S trien

Rebecca Markus

Helen Hendricks

Barb Hendricks

Mary Kamp

Betty Kamp

Linda Kamp

Henry Kamp

Nanette M. Mast

Margot Mast

Joanne de Bruin

Joan Lugthart

Val Lugthart

Jim Rosendall

Laura Rosendall

Kathleen den Hoed

Joleen den Hoed

Arthur den Hoed

Maryjean den Hoed

Ella Kieboom

Arline Kieboom

Alma Van Beek

Anden Van Beek

Joann Van Beek

Trudy Van Veldhuizen

Gary Van Veldhuizen

Bobbie Van Veldhuizen

Karen Van Kekerix

Elizabeth Sisco

Gloria Rus

Harold Rus

Howard Rus

Harlan Rus

Virgil Rus

Leonard Frens

Sharon Frens

Mary Frens

Julie Frens

Marilyn Van Ravenswaay

JoAnn Van Ravenswaay

Esther Van Ravenswaay

Marilyn De Maagd

Karel Kalee

Debbie Kalee

Cheryl Kalee

Joy Lynn Mast

Jane Mast

Neil Mast

John Blok

Gary Blok

Karl Van Oostenbrugge

Mary Van Oostenbrugge

Donna Zaremba

Denise Zaremba

Paul Greendyk

Billy Greendyk

Alida Greendyk

Kathy Van Bemden

Carol Van Bemden

Jonathan Van Beek

David Van Beek

Teresa Vander Meulen

Frances Vander Meulen

Joyce Vander Meulen

Sidney Vander Meulen

Harmen Vander Meulen

Gerda Grisnich (2)

Peter Feyter

Jeanette Slingerland

Marguerite Kroesbergen

John Korevaai

Abraham Korevaar

Andy Korevaar

Adrian Korevaar

Hank Verhoef

Paul Verhoef

Mark Heystek

Arthur Denbak

Mark Meeuwse

Dan Meeuwse

Bill Kroesbergen

Maria Boonzaayer

Karl Boonzaayer

Ruth Boonzaayer

Ellen Polderman

Marianne Van Hoepen

Arie Van Vugt

John M. Goeman

Karen Goeman

David M. Goeman

Rose Pluim

Jerry Pluim

Gloria Pluim

Janet Bouma

Rhonda Grisnich

Tim Van Stelle

Andy Van Stelle

Lana Den Hartigh

Laurie Den Hartigh

Janny Van Wingerden

Jackie Walma

Tunis Sweetman, Jr.

Jenny Sweetman

Daniel J. Sweetman

Janet Sweetman

Judy Sweetman

Gladys Van Bochove

Rhonda Van Bochove

Constance Kooiman

Joan Van Zweden

Mark Van Zweden

John Van Zweden

Janet Van Zweden

Mary Van Zweden

John Van Hoepen

Duane Alan Rus

Lori Lynn Rus

Kenneth Ymker

Donna Marie Hubers

Helen Hubers

Marcia Hubers

Harriet Hubers

Billy Van Wingerden

Kenneth Van Wingerden

Carol Mol

Ruth Bouma

Albert Bouma

Mary Veltman

Amy Mieras

John Vander Boon

Elizabeth Van Giessen

Albert Van Grouw

Kathy Van Giessen

Audrey Kievit

Mary Kievit

Bobby Greendyk

David Greendyk

John Verhey

Elwyn Hoogendoorn

Gywen Hoogendoom

LaRae Hoogendoom

Ruth Van Grouw

Ronald Van Wingerden

Paul Van Wingerden

Steven Boluyt

Gordon Boluyt

Nancy Vande Stouwe (2)

Todd Vande Stouwe (2)

Bonnie Bouma

Linda Vande Waerdt (3)

Wayne Vande Waerdt (3)

Cheryl Grisnich

Wendy Grisnich

Billy Van Wijk

Melanie Van Brugge

Susan Blaak

BiUy Blaak

Ruth Ann Van Dalen (2)

Jan Van Dalen (2)

Benny Oudshoorn

Bill Oudshoorn

Diane Oudshoorn

Wilma Oudshoorn

Irene Van Heek

Carla Van Grootheest

Nancy Kwekel

David Kwekel

Henry Vandenberg

Cordy Vandenberg

Jeanette Vandenberg

Paul Vandenberg

John Vandenberg

John Martin Vander Wiele

Jane Ellen Vander Wiele

Alma Van Beek

Joann Van Beek

Janny Van Wingerden (2)

Nellie Slingerland

Jannie Slingerland

Adrian Bush

Nicholas John Bush

Glenn Rozeboom

Marie Rozeboom

Bill Droogers

Corrie Overeem

Joanne Overeem

Jenny Freda Overeem

Casey Overeem

Kathy Overeem

Margaret Den Boer

Willem Den Boer

Jacob Van Dalen

Linda Schelling

Kent Schelling

Beth Schelling

Brenda Schelling

Jonathan Van Dalen

Mariene Van Veldhuizen

Ruth Van Dyke

David Van Dyke

Joyce Vanderknyff

Robert Vanderknyff

Kaye Vande Berg

Jane-Marie Korevaar

Evelyn Jane Korevaar

Wilma Korevaar

Gary Van Giessen

Randy Van Giessen

Bobby Boerkoel

Ruth Boerkoel

Neal Boerkoel

David Etelman

Ruth Etelman

And again we shall answer the letters which we have received —

ANDY KOREVAAR — Thank you for the picture, Andy. Four boys with lots of energy ought to be lots of help around the house. We enjoyed our trip to Holland, but there is no place like home. We were happy to hear that your little brother was much better again.

JANET BOUMA — We haven’t seen much snow yet, Janet, but the snowy months are still ahead of us. I would imagine that Montana has much more snow than we do in Michigan. How far are you from Choteau? Do you have much trouble getting to church in the winter months?

TAMMY TROFF — Have you read both of the books which you received from Sunday school, Tammy? Good books make such fine gifts, as they can be kept for many years. Thanks for the picture, too. With letters and pictures we learn to know our young friends that much better.

IRENE VAN HEEK — I see that you would also like a penpal, Irene. You didn’t tell me exactly how old you are, but I would guess you are about twelve. (Irene’s address is R.R. No. 2, Valmar Road, Port Alberni, British Columbia). Let us know if you don’t hear from someone.

JANET VAN ZWEDEN — Again we see that young children can also die, Janet. When we are young we don’t think much about this, especially if we are healthy. The Lord Jesus said, “Suffer little children to come unto Me”, knowing that they also have need of Him. How busy we should be in seeking the Lord’s blessing for our souls.

BILLY BLAAK — Did you sell quite a lot of candy during your school sale, Billy? It is probably not so easy to sell when lots of other boys and girls are also selling it. We were happy to hear that you enjoy the Bible quizzes. It is our prayer that the Word of God may be blessed to many young hearts in these days.

CASEY OVEREEM — October is really quite early to have much snow, Casey. I see you are already looking forward to tobagganing. Do you have some nice hills nearby? So you have a lot of potatoes to sort? Do you always work at that chore willingly?

RUTH ANN VAN DALEN — We are all quite well, Ruth Ann. After a long period without rain, we are happy to see the rain fall again. But if it rains more than we think we need we are again complaining. How seldom do we stop to think that it is the Lord Who giveth us the rain.

SUSAN BLAAK — Yes, Susan, we should be happy that we have God’s Word to read and study. When we hear about those people among whom Rev. Kuijt is working, we can see what a great blessing we have. Did you see his pictures when he was in Grand Rapids?

MARGARET DEN BOER — I am too late to wish you a good trip to Holland, Margaret, since you will be there, D.V., when this issue arrives at your house. But we do hope it may be a safe trip, and that you will write us about it after you return. In what part of Holland do you stay? Since I have been there, I know a little bit about it.

JANNIE SLINGERLAND — Those months do go by so quickly, Jannie. We have just finished with the one Bible quiz and it is time to start on the next one. And when there are not quite so many names, we wonder if the quiz was too difficult, or too easy, or too long?

SCHELLING CHILDREN — Thank-you for the pictures which you sent. They have been added to my album with all the rest. I suppose Kathryn is also anxious to be old enough to join in the Bible quiz when she sees the rest doing it.

To all of our young friends, we would like to say “Thank-you” for another year of hard work in answering the quizzes so regularly. As we have mentioned before, we hope that the Lord might bless His Word to many hearts. He has again spared us together through another year; may the Lord also protect us in the year ahead of us, teaching us the way that we should go. We can not earn it, we have not deserved it, but may He do it “for Jesus’ sake.”

With love,

Your friend,

“Uncle Garrett”

FIERY COALS

An Old Year’s Evening Narrative

It was Old Year’s evening.

Farmer Jansen had looked over the bills which he yet had to pay, and then, provided with a well-filled purse, had gone to town to pay his debts.

It was dark when he returned home. The farmer was in a thankful frame of mind. At this milestone he could write, “Eben-ezer,” saying, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us!”

He had seen the hand of the Lord; He had helped him through sicknesses and adversities; the harvest exceeded expectations, really! How dark the future had looked, but the Lord had led him in a fatherly way and had blessed him with his wife and children.

The farmer now reached his farmyard. It was clear weather, and the moon was shining brightly. His attention was suddenly arrested by a shadow which seemed to slip inside the workroom. Or was he mistaken?

The outside door of the workroom was seldom used, and in the evening it was usually bolted. Therefore the farmer was surprised that it had now been opened.

He now reached the door. Putting his hand on the latch he swung the door open. Through the small panes of the window the moonlight shone inside. Mr. Jansen’s sharp eyes searched the room … and there, against a beam, stood Joris!

Joris was a poor man, who had been without work all winter. The farmer knew him very well. Yet that same afternoon he had come to the farm asking for work, but Mr. Jansen had none, and Joris had left him.

“Joris!” said Mr. Jansen, “What about that empty bag under your arm?”

The laborer did not answer; trembling, he stood before his judge, and he looked sideways to see if there was not a way through which he could escape.

“Did you unbolt the door of the workroom this afternoon?” questioned the farmer.

“Yes, Sir.” Joris had sought the farmer in the workroom that afternoon, and while he was not looking, he had unlocked the outside door so that he could steal in the evening.

The farmer understood it all, and he said, “Joris, Agur’s prayer certainly should be our prayer — ‘Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me.’ For if we become poor then we run into the danger of stealing, Joris, and the name of our God shall be dishonored.”

The laborer was silent for a moment; his throat seemed paralyzed. Then, with quivering lips, he said, “We are so dreadfully poor, Mr. Jansen … my children are suffering from hunger this evening!”

It sounded like an accusation in the ears of the farmer, for he had an abundance that day. “Come with me into the house,” he said briefly. Joris wanted to come on behind, hoping that he could somehow escape. But the farmer said, “You go first!”

The table was covered with good food when both men entered the room. Mrs. Jansen and the children looked very much surprised when the farmer came into the room with poor Joris. But now the farmer said, “Sit down, Joris, and I hope that it will taste good to you!”

So Joris drew himself to the table. The farmer prayed to God and asked His blessing upon the food. Everyone was in a cheerful mood at the table, and the heart of the farmer was melted and deeply humbled, beholding so many mercies with which the Lord had compassed him.

When they had finished their supper the farmer said, “Come along with me to the garret, Joris . . . where is your bag?”

The laborer had thrown the bag down in the workroom. He got the bag, and together they went to the loft.

The farmer opened the bag and put a large ham into it, besides some sausages. “You shall have a happy Old Year’s evening, Joris!” declared the farmer.

But this was too much for the poor man; the tears came into his eyes, and he burst out in sobs.

The farmer was moved with compassion. “It is cold,” he said, “come back with a wheelbarrow, and we will give you some coal also!”

Thus Joris had a glad Old Year’s evening; there was joy in his family. And the farmer also had a good evening, for he had communicated of what the Lord had given so richly!

(submitted by Rev. J.V.Z.)

ON POPULAR FALLACIES

For general purpose, a “fallacy” may be defined as such a mis-statement of the true facts as is apt to mislead, and calculated to deceive. By a “popular fallacy” we mean a fallacy which has been repeated so often that it has caught hold of the popular mind to such an extent that its truth is hardly ever questioned. In a loose-thinking age such as ours, fallacies abound on every hand, and nowhere more than in the religious world. We are naturally adverse to self-examination as to our religious beliefs and, when doctrines are taught which are flattering to human nature, we tend to cleave to these and to reject the clear testimony of God’s Word. It was this that caused the Sadducees to raise questions by which they hoped to confound the great Rabbi of Israel. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). The following two fallacies are only some of the many which have a firm hold on the mind of the people and need to be guarded against.

The first is that ‘God is a universal, heavenly father, and that all mankind are His children’. In the preaching and praying and in religious books of all descriptions, this fallacy is drummed into the ears of the public as God’s Truth until it has become an accepted dogma. In our humble opinion, this doctrine has been productive of more agnosticism and atheism than any other perversion of the Word of God. The recorded lives of many, particularly agnostics interested in politics and social welfare, reveal that their rejection of Christianity is based on this very erroneous doctrine. “If God is a heavenly father,” they say, “why should there be all the squalor, misery and war that is the common lot of mankind?” From this their own point of view the argument seems quite logical and they accordingly turn their back on Christianity. But they err, “not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God.” Their rejection of Christianity is based on a fallacy - “apt to mislead” and “calculated to deceive.” In relation to the human race, God is the universal Creator, the universal Law-giver, the universal Judge, but not the universal Father. To the Jews, who presumptuously claimed, “We have one Father, even God,” Christ declared in the plainest terms, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do” — a clear description of the state of every Christ-less soul (John 8:41–44). All who have God as their Father have Him as such because they were adopted into His family by virtue of their union to Christ. Being born again and united to Christ by faith, they are not only justified, but as heirs and

joint-heirs with Him, they “are received into the number and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God.” All others, however, amiable and even religious, belong to the kingdom of darkness, are serving Satan, and are led captive by the devil at his will. Hence the squalor, crime and war with which the face of the world is scarred. Let us be on our guard, therefore, and let us remember that if we have not Christ as our Savior, we have not God as our Father. “If God were your father,” said Christ, “ye would love me” (John 8:42).

The second fallacy we may notice is that ‘although we may have different beliefs, we are all journeying to the same destination,” which is confidently affirmed to be Heaven. This idea is the fruit of that liberal charity which smiles benignly on error and only feels uncomfortable when truth shows her colors. We may mention two of the popular illustrations used to impress this teaching on the mind. The first is the application of the old saying that “all roads lead to Rome,” which is given a Christian appearance and set down as “all roads lead to Heaven.” Thus the unbelieving “Higher Critic”, as he goes on in his path which leads over the lofty pinnacles of “Advanced Hebrew Learning” and “The Scientific Method” and “Modern Scholarship”, and many another fancy conceived in the mind of man, fully expects to be in eternal glory with the lowly pilgrim travelling through the valley of Baca and hoping to appear at length before the Lord in Zion. Another common illustration is the “train” method. Here each denomination or faith is compared to a carriage. All the carriages, though separate entities, are joined together going to the same “destination.” How often are these expressions heard - “We are all worshipping the same God;” “We all have the same Bible;” “We are all on the same journey.” Surely such fallacies are some of the means by which the god of this world blinds the minds of those who believe not. The Word of God makes it plain that there are but two roads. One — the broad way, the end of which is destruction and the entrance to which is a wide gate. “Many there be which go in thereat.” The other is the narrow way, at the end of which is life and the entrance to which is a strait gate. “And few there be that find it.” The strait gate is Christ revealed by the Holy Spirit to the soul. Those to whom Christ is thus made precious are on the narrow way and walk contrary to the course of this present world. All others are on the broad way and, unless delivered, will certainly perish with the devil and his angels.

Let all our young people carefully weigh what they hear in the light of God’s infallible Word, especially from those religious instructors with whom they may come in contact. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). (Young People’s Magazine).

THE BIBLICAL PRESENTATION OF THE GOSPEL

It requires to be pointed out that there is an orderin presenting the Gospel, and it is the business of those who preach to observe that order: unless they do so, nothing but disorder will ensue and spurious converts will be the issue of their labors. If due attention be paid to the word of God, it will not be difficult to discover what that order is: the proclamation and enforcing of the Divine Law precedesthe publication of the Divine Gospel. Broadly speaking, the Old Testament is an exposition of the Law, while the New Testament sets forth the substance and benefits of the Gospel.

The Gospel is a message of “good news.” To whom? To sinners. But to what sort of sinners? To the giddy and unconcerned, to those who give no thought to the claims of God and where they shall spend eternity? Certainly not. The Gospel announces no good tidings to them:it has no music in it to theirears. They are quite deaf to its charms, for they have no sense of their need of the Saviour. It is those who have their eyes opened to see something of the ineffable holiness of God and their vileness in His sight, who have learned something of His righteous requirements from them and of their criminal neglect to meet those requirements, who are deeply convicted of their depravity, their moral inability to recover themselves, whose consciences are burdened with an intolerable load of guilt and who are terrified by their imminent danger of the wrath to come, who know that unless an almighty Redeemer saves them they are doomed, that are qualified to appreciate and welcome the gospel. “They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.”

Now that natural man has no realization of the desperate sickness of his soul. He is quite unconscious of what spiritual health consists of, namely personal holiness. Never having measured himself by the Divine standard, he knows not how far, far short he comes of it at every point. God has no real place in his thoughts and therefore he fails to comprehend how obnoxious he is in His sight. Instead of seeking and glorifying the One who made and sustains him, he lives only to please self. And what is the means for enlightening him? What is the sure “line and plummet” (Isaiah 28, 17) for exposing the crookedness of his character? The preaching of God’s LAW, for that is the unchanging rule of conduct and standard of righteousness. “By the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3, 20) – its nature, as rebellion against God; its exceeding sinfulness as contrary to Divine holiness; its infinite evil, as deserving of eternal punishment.

“I had not known sin but by the law”(Romans 7, 7) declares one who formerly had prided himself on his integrity and righteousness. God’s Law requires inward conformity as well as outward: it addresses itself to the motions of the heart as well as prescribes our actions, so that we are sinless or sinful just in proportion as we conform or fail to conform to the Law both internally and externally. Just so far as we have false ideas of God’s Law do we entertain false estimates of our character. Just so far as we fail to perceive that the Law demands perfect and perpetual obedience shall we be blind to the fearful extent of our disobedience. Just so far as we realize not the spirituality and strictness of the Law, that it pronounces a lascivious imagination to be adultery and causeless anger against a fellow creature to be murder, shall we be unaware of our fearful criminality. Just so far as we hear nothing of the awful thunders of the Law’s curse shall we be insensible to our frightful danger.

It has been rightly said: “The Gospel has such respect to the Law of God, and the later is so much the reason and ground of the former, and so

essential to the wisdom and glory of it, that it cannot be understood by him who is ignorant of the Law: consequently our idea and apprehension of the Gospel will be erroneous and wrong just so far as we have wrong notions of God’s Law” (S. Hopkins). The excellency of the Mediator cannot be recognized until we see that the Law demands flawless and undeviating obedience on pain of eternal damnation, and that such a demand is right and glorious, and consequently that sin is infinitely criminal and heinous. The essential work of the Mediator was to honor and magnify the Law and make atonement for the wrongs done to it by His people. And they who repudiate this Law, or who view it not in its true light, are and must be totally blind to the wisdom and glory of the Gospel, for while they never see sin in its real odiousness and true ill-desert they are incapable of realizing or perceiving their deep need of the Divine remedy.

That salvation which Christ came here to purchase for His people consists first, in the gift of His Spirit to overcome their enmity against God’s Law (Romans 8, 7) and produce in them a love for it (Romans 7, 22), and it is by thiswe may discover whether or not we have been regenerated. Second, to bring them to a cordial consent to the Law, so that each genuine Christian can say “So then with the mind I myself serve the Law of God” (Romans 7, 25). Third, to deliver them from the curse of the Law by dying for their sins of disobedience against it, Himself bearing the penalty in their stead (Gal 3, 13). Consequently, they who are experien-tially ignorant of God’s Law, who have never heartily assented to it as “holy, just and good,” have never been sensible of sin in its true hideousness and demerits, have never been subject to a super natural work of grace within them, are yet in nature’s darkness, strangers to Christ, still in their sins, having felt neither the strength of sin nor the power of the Gospel.

Again: the order which is to be observed in the presentation of the Gospel is exemplified in the appointment of John the Baptist. He was the forerunner of Christ, “going before to prepare His way” (Isaiah 40:3). John came “in the way of righteousness” (Matthew 21:32), crying, “Repent ye” (Matthew 3:2). A saving faith in Christ must be preceded by and accompanied with a heart-felt sense of the true odiousness and ill-desert of sin. An impenitent heart is no more able to receive Christ than a shuttered window is able to let in the rays of the sun. None but the humbled, contrite, broken-hearted penitent is ever comforted by the Lord Jesus, as none but such will ever desire Him or seek after Him.

(A.W. Pink)

THE LORD OF EVERY PLACE!

Lo! travellers enter Bethlehem’s gate,
Arrived from some far-distant land;
They seem to be of high estate
And hold rich presents in their hand.

They swiftly pass from street to street,
Nor need they fear to go astray,
Nor need they ask the men they meet
To guide them in their unknown way.

For see where shines a beauteous star;
On it they fix their joyful eyes;
That heavenly guide has led them far,
And now it lightens Behtlehem’s skies.

But, lo! it stops, its course is done;
On Mary’s roof it sheds a light;
Enter! there dwells God’s blessed Son
Enter! enjoy the glorious sight.

But where is He, the Lord of all,
Who made the heavens and earth and seas?
Behold Him there, an infant small,
Lying upon His mother’s knees!

Their Lord full well the strangers know,
And humbly worship at His feet,
Joyful their golden treasures show,
And burn their precious spices sweet.

O happy they who knelt that day
Before the lovely infant’s face,
And who believed, though clad in clay,
That He was Lord of every place!

Submitted

He will abundantly Pardon.(Isa. 55, 7).

Never did we take so much pleasure in sinning as God doth in forgiving. Never did any penitent take so muchpleasure in deceiving as God doth in

giving pardon. He so much delights in it that He counts it His wealth; “riches of grace”; “riches of mercy,” glorious riches of mercy. No attribute else is called His riches.He sighs when He must draw His sword; but when He blots out iniquity, then it is, “I. even I, am He that blotteth out your transgressions for My Name’s sake.” His delight in this is equal to the delight He hath in His Name. This is pure mercy, to change the tribunal of justice into a “throne of grace;” to bestow pardons where He might inflict punishments; and to put on the deportment of a father, instead of a judge. CHARNOCK.

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